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Chinese coast guard expels Japanese vessels for unlawfully entering waters of Diaoyu Dao

Xinhua) 08:36, March 25, 2025

BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Between Friday and Monday, the China Coast Guard (CCG) expelled several Japanese fishing vessels that had unlawfully entered China's territorial waters around Diaoyu Dao, according to a spokesperson for the CCG on Monday.

In the process, the CCG vessels enforced necessary, lawful management and control measures against the Japanese vessels, and issued warnings to drive them out of the area, CCG spokesperson Liu Dejun said.

Noting that Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands are China's inherent territory, Liu urged the Japanese side to immediately cease all illegal activities in these waters.

The CCG will continue to conduct regular law enforcement activities in the territorial waters of Diaoyu Dao, with the aim of safeguarding China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, Liu said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
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Hyundai has announced a new multi-billion-dollar investment in US manufacturing.

South Korean auto giant Hyundai on Monday announced a multi-billion-dollar investment in the United States, including a new $5.8 billion steel plant.

The plant, which will be based in the US state of Louisiana, "will create 1,300 American jobs," Hyundai executive chairman Euisun Chung told reporters at a White House event alongside President Donald Trump.

The move will also serve "as the foundation for a more self-reliant and secure automotive supply chain in the US," he added.

Hyundai's announcement makes it the latest firm to announce plans to invest billions of dollars into the United States since Donald Trump's return to power in January.

The US president has repeatedly threatened to impose painful tariffs on companies that do not relocate manufacturing jobs to the United States from overseas.

In response, domestic and foreign firms, including Apple and Oracle, have announced plans to invest hundreds of billions of dollars into US projects over the next four years.

"Cars are coming to this country at levels never seen before," Trump told reporters on Monday.

The investment was "a clear demonstration that tariffs very strongly work," he said.

"Hyundai will be producing steel in America and making its cars in America, and as a result, they'll not have to pay any tariffs," he added.

 2025 AFP
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Marco Dozza, Professor, Division of Vehicle Safety, Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden. Credit: Chalmers University of Technology | Hanna Magnusson

Crashes on electric scooters are mostly due to the behavior of the riders, with one-handed steering and riding in a group being some of the largest risk factors. Researchers are also concerned about riders who deliberately crash or cause dangerous situations when riding, a phenomenon that seems to be specific to electric scooters.

This is shown by a study from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, which for the first time examines the causes behind crashes with electric scooters from naturalistic data within an urban environment.

The study, "Understanding factors influencing e-scooterist crash risk: A naturalistic study of rental e-scooters in an urban area," was published in Accident Analysis & Prevention.

The arrival of electric scooters in cities has meant an opportunity to quickly and smoothly make shorter trips. But not everyone is using them to simply get from A to B.

"When working with road safety, it is important to understand that electric scooters not only meet mobility needs in cities but are also used for pleasure. Unfortunately, it is clear that leisure riding in some cases leads to dangerous behaviors that increase crash risks," says Marco Dozza, Professor of Active Safety and Road User Behavior at Chalmers and one of the authors behind the recently published study.

The study is the first of its kind and is an investigation of risk factors and causes of crashes with electric scooters in urban environments. While the findings clearly show that the vast majority of e-scooter riders do not demonstrate risky behavior, the study focused on the safety-critical events.

Using advanced technology and cameras attached to the vehicles, data was collected from almost 7,000 trips with rented electric scooters. This data allowed the researchers to examine the causes of the 61 safety-critical events that were identified, including 19 crashes and 42 "near-crashes"critical situations that could have led to a crash.

A phenomenon that was discovered surprised the researchers and clearly differs from studies of other vehicle types: in 20% of safety-critical events, the rider deliberately created a risk situation, or collision while driving.

Because the incidents were intentional, they were not included in the analysis of crash risks, but Marco Dozza sees significant concerns with this behavior, which he thinks can be likened to a type of vandalism. He points out that there are not the same established social norms for the use of electric scooters as for other types of vehicles.

"This behavior seems to be specific to electric scooters. The lack of ownership because the electric scooters are rented may make the rider feel less responsible for the vehicle and care less about the consequences of a crash," he says.

Odd riding behavior reduces focus

According to Marco Dozza, the study shows that it is primarily the rider's behavior that causes crashes, not the electric scooter as such.

"There are significantly more varied, strange, and dangerous behaviors among electric scooter riders compared to other road users," he says.

And the dangerous behaviors have consequences. The study shows, for example, that riding with only one hand on the handlebar increases the risk of crashing by six times. Riding together in a group, or using a mobile phone during the journey, almost triples the risk of a crash occurring.

"It is not possible to steer and brake with an electric scooter in the same way as with a bicycle, so riding with one hand on the handlebar is significantly more difficultand dangerousthan many people might think. The results confirm how important it is not to be distracted while driving. Looking at your mobile phone or riding with many people in a group can take the focus away from driving and the surrounding environment," he says.

An important takeaway from the study is the importance of experience when riding an electric scooter.

"The risk of being involved in a crash is greatest the first time you ride an electric scooter. For those who have ridden less than five times, the risk is still more than twice as high," he says.

Another conclusion is that the type of trip the electric scooter is used for matters a lot. Commuting to and from work, or to another designated point, leads to fewer crashes than more aimless riding or riding where the user takes detours on the way to the destination.

Unexpected number of incidents with cars

Of the critical events analyzed, almost 20% involved other electric scooters, 16% pedestrians and 5% bicycles. Most critical events, 30%, occurred with cars. As an unprotected road user, you risk serious injury from a car crash, points out Marco Dozza, who is somewhat surprised by the results.

"Since bicycles and electric scooters should be ridden on bike lanes, I had expected more conflicts with bicycles. The fact that so many cars are involved suggests that many crashes may occur when the electric scooter is ridden outside the bike lanes, or when there is no bike infrastructure available," he says.

"The risk of crashes is greatest at intersections, and my impression, even though this is not something that the study has concluded, is that it may be difficult for motorists to see the electric scooter riders in time, especially if they are not riding on a bike path."

According to the researchers, technical solutions can improve the traffic safety of electric scooters. For example, technology can warn of dangerous situations and remind the rider to keep both hands on the handlebars.

Technology can also keep track of how the driver is using the vehicle and identify whether it is being ridden as part of a 'pack' or if the rider is using a phone at the same time. Geofencing can employ this information to automatically adapt vehicle speed to crash risk.

At the same time, Marco Dozza believes that it is behavioral changes, possibly nudged by technology, that can make the biggest difference to road safety in the short run. He is convinced that education and training are important ways to reduce the number of crashes.

"Parents can teach their children to ride an electric scooter in the same way as they teach them to ride a bike. Maybe there is a need for education, and preferably practical training, to be able to rent an electric scooter," he says.

"This is an important research project because it concerns a new, relatively unresearched area where accidents increase in line with use. The results show that a combination of training and technical solutions on the electric scooter can be effective in reducing accidents and injuries," says Rikard Fredriksson, senior expert in vehicle safety at the Swedish Transport Administration and adjunct Professor, Division of Vehicle Safety, Chalmers University of Technology.

More information: Rahul Rajendra Pai et al, Understanding factors influencing e-scooterist crash risk: A naturalistic study of rental e-scooters in an urban area, Accident Analysis & Prevention (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2024.107839
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These structures can be easily relocated or repurposed as communities rebuild. Credit: University of Melbourne

The beginning of 2025 saw wildfires sweep through Los Angelesleaving a trail of devastation, destroying thousands of homes and displacing many more LA residents. According to reports as of early February 2025, more than 18,000 structures were damaged or lost, and more than 200,000 people were forced to evacuate.

The scale of this disaster underscores the urgent need for rapid and sustainable housing that supports displaced people and their families in times of crisis. One promising approach is modular housing.

Unlike traditional construction, which can take months or even years to complete, modular homes are prefabricated in factories and can be rapidly deployed to disaster-stricken areas.

This approach has proven effective in past disasters, and our research shows us that modular housing can serve as both a short and medium-term accommodation solution.

Faster, cheaper and more sustainable

In collaboration with Building 4.0 CRC, our research project explores the benefits of modular housing in bushfire and disaster relief.

Traditional post-disaster reconstruction can be slow and complex, with many affected communities waiting years for permanent housing.

After Australia's 20192020 Black Summer bushfires, almost 19 million hectares burned, destroying more than 3,000 houses and displacing thousands of people.

It was estimated it would take years to fully restore these communities.

Similarly, the 2018 Camp Fire in California saw more than 11,000 homes destroyed. Only 11 had been rebuilt a year later.

To help mitigate delays like this, our project focuses on developing modular prefab housing units that can be deployedquickly. This approach means people affected by disaster can transition from temporary shelters to permanent housing much, much faster.

But we also need to think about the considerable environmental and economic benefits.

Modular housing can incorporate fire-resistant materials designed for long-term use, reducing the environmental impact of disaster relief efforts.

These structures can be easily relocated or repurposed as communities rebuild, making their use much more flexible than traditional homes.

As modular homes can be mass-produced and standardized, they also offer a more affordable solution for large-scale housing crises.

Prefabricated components can be efficiently transported and assembled. Credit: University of Melbourne

Having worked with PrefabAus's members in the Bushfire Recovery Victoria Short-Term Modular Housing (STMH) program which was rolled out following the 201920 bushfires, I've seen firsthand how the implementation of fast and affordable housing solutions can help survivors and their families.

For example, a small modular prefab home with two bedrooms can be built in less than three months.

In the fire-affected town of Mallacoota, around 83 modular units were installed for people who lost their homes and wanted to stay on during the length of their rebuild.

In 2022, about 160 people including 31 children lived in modular homes across East Gippsland, Towong and Alpine shires.

As part of the STMH program, housing fees were matched to public housing rates, making sure that anyone who was displaced could afford temporary accommodation without excessive financial burden.

But our research also aims to address some of the systemic challenges associated with rebuilding after a disaster.

For one, regulatory barriers in many areas require extensive approvals for building both temporary and permanent housing, which slows down reconstruction efforts.

Modular housing can streamline this process through pre-approved designs. As a technical expert at the Fortis initiative, I found that developing best-practice disaster-resilient housing designs, which are made available freely to the public, is very beneficial.

The ability to transport materials for new housing is another major challenge in disaster-affected areas, but prefabricated components can be efficiently transported and assembled, reducing the time and labor required for on-site construction.

This was especially evident in Victoria's Short-Term Modular Housing (STMH) program.

Modular homes helped sidestep some key challengeslike trying to build in remote areas with difficult accessinstead of delivering multiple pieces of modular homes that were assembled efficiently on-site.

A model for LA's recovery

Australia's position at the forefront of modular housing research is a lesson for other fire-prone regions, particularly as we face more frequent extreme weather events.

Our research on prefabricated housing shows how advancements in areas like high-performance building facades, recycled materials and streamlined procurement strategies can enhance disaster resilience.

It also highlights the importance of engaging local stakeholderspolicymakers, government agencies, private developers and displaced residentsto ensure that modular housing projects align with people's needs on the ground.

The devastation caused by the recent LA wildfires demands urgent action and modular housing presents one viable solution for addressing the crisis.

With its rapid deployment, cost-effectiveness and sustainability, modular housing can play a critical role in rebuilding communities and providing stability to those affected.

More information: Prefab Housing Solutions for Bushfire and Disaster Relief Final Report. building4pointzero.org/wp-cont  ded-Final-Report.pdf
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Ironically, Mark Zuckerberg's attempts to muzzle his former employee, Sarah Wynn-Williams, once director of global public policy at Meta, seem to have created a bestseller.

While Meta's legal action successfully prevented Wynn-Williams (who worked there from 201117) from promoting her memoir, Careless People, her publisher has continued to promote it without her.

In the week of its release, the book sold 60,000 copies in the United States. In the United Kingdom, it sold 1,000 copies a day for the first three days.

"This early success is a triumph against Meta's attempt to stop the publication of this book," Joanna Prior, CEO of publisher Pan Macmillan, told the Guardian last week.

The court order that prevents Wynn-Williams from promoting her memoir may also prevent her from responding to requests from lawmakers in several countries to discuss her time at the company, formerly known as Facebook, and "issues of public concern," her lawyers believe.

Requests have come from members of the US Congress, the parliament of the UK, the parliament of the European Union and other sources, reports CNN.

This comes as Zuckerberg, the founder, chairman and CEO of Meta, has committed the company, as Trump's second term begins, to "free expression." "Too much harmless content" is being censored, he says. In practice, this means getting rid of fact-checkers, in favor of a Community Notes program like the one on X, which Zuckerberg cites as a model.

Meta claims Wynn-Williams, a former diplomat born in New Zealand who convinced the company to create her global position, has broken a non-disparagement agreement: signed, it says, after she was dismissed for poor performance. Last week, it called the book "a mix of out-of-date and previously reported claims about the company and false accusations about our executives."

A true insider account

Last year, tech journalist Kara Swisher, in her memoir Burn Book, summed up Zuckerberg as "one of the most carelessly dangerous men in the history of technology"interestingly, given this memoir's title. She also referred to Facebook as "anti-social media."

There have been other books about the company too, such as Facebook: the Inside Story by tech journalist Steven Levy in 2020 and An Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook's Battle for Domination by journalists Sheera Frenkel and Cecilia Kang in 2021.

Some of the company's misdeeds were discussed in these books. But whereas they are based on interviews with unnamed sources, Wynn-Williams, a senior insider, has put her name to them. She refers to the protagonists by their first names, reflecting the rapport they once shared.

From shark attack to Facebook

Careless People starts with Wynn-Williams' story of narrowly surviving a shark attack as a child, despite the complacency of her family and the local doctor. This may be to indicate her strength and resolve. Or perhaps it is a metaphor for the viciousness and indifference she would later encounter at Facebook.

She was initially a big fan of the company, which she saw as a potential force for good. An example of the good work of Facebook in its early days was a randomized control experiment before the 2010 US midterm elections. Some subscribers were sent a message at the top of their newsfeed encouraging them to vote, with a link to polling places and an "I voted" button they could click. This led to an additional 340,000 voters.

Every employee joining Facebook was given a Little Red Book written by Zuckerberg. As Wynn-Williams comments, the book represents "core principles from the supreme leader" who she calls "another MZ channeling his own peculiar form of Maoist zeal."

Over time, Wynn-Williams' admiration for Zuckerberg would wane. Her book is also rather unflattering about Sheryl Sandberg, Zuckerberg's then deputy. The Lean In author is described as drawing people in "like moths to a flame" and expecting female staff to spend evenings helping to promote her book. This was particularly galling, as her book was about empowering women in the workplace.

Sandberg was such a demanding boss, Wynn-Williams was sending her talking points for a meeting at Davos while giving birth. Her doctor was saying: "you should be pushingbut not pushing 'send!'"

Losing faith and breaking things

Wynn-Williams started to question her faith in Facebook (which changed its name to Meta in 2021) when she realized parents working there did not allow their own teens to have mobile phones. "These executives understand the real damage their product inflicts on young minds," she writes.

In 2017, an internal memo revealed Facebook was offering advertisers the opportunity to target teenagers when their posts revealed low self-esteem. For example, beauty products could be targeted to young women when they deleted a selfie. The company was increasingly adding features that were "addictive by design," as they sought to maximize engagement at all costs.

The company was adopting an aggressive stance towards traditional media. Zuckerberg attacked one of his staff for "compromising with a dying industry rather than dominating it, crushing it."

In its drive for global domination, Facebook thought, in the words of one senior colleague, that "the first billion users are the easy billion." Beyond that, there were the technical problems of expanding into countries with low or poor internet coverage. There were also ethical questions about collaborating with autocratic governments.

Wynn-Williams was perturbed when Facebook told China it could help "promote safe and secure social order."

A United Nations investigator described how Facebook played a critical role in spreading hatred of Rohingya and Muslims within Myanmar. In 2018, the chairman of the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar told reporters that Facebook "substantively contributed to the level of acrimony and dissension and conflict" in the public, including "hate speech."

She also worried about the role Facebook played in the first election of Donald Trump, in 2016. It allowed the Trump campaign to target misinformation to people it would most likely influence, she writes. The campaign also used it to discourage groups less attracted to Trump from voting. She was disgusted when Zuckerberg, rather than being upset about this, admired "the ingenuity" of Trump's campaign.

After a meeting with President Barack Obama, Zuckerberg was furious at being accused, accurately, of not taking seriously the problem of untrue stories being widely promoted.

The author warns that, unlike the global leaders he increasingly mixed with, Zuckerberg (now aged 40) could stay in his current position "for another fifty years." His potential longevity is compared to Queen Elizabeth II.

At one stage, Zuckerberg seemed to be musing about a presidential run. Unlike Elon Musk, Zuckerberg was born in the US, so is eligible. But as Levy put it in his book, "no country on Earth has a population as big as Facebook; the presidency would be a step down."

Unanswered questions

Wynn-Williams feels this emphasis on maximizing profits at all costs is unnecessary. Had they wished, the senior people at the company could have been incredibly rich while still displaying some basic human decency.

Meta's famous slogan is "move fast and break things." But increasingly, Wynn-Williams concluded one of the things being broken was community health.

The book is easy to read and the author writes engagingly. But unanswered questions remain. Readers may wonder why the author stayed at Meta as long as she did once she developed misgivings about its impact.

She mentions her serious health issues: she feared losing her health insurance. But surely she had been on a large salary package and could afford to look after herself. She may have been in denial, unwilling to admit her initial admiration for Zuckerberg had been misplaced. Her husband's explanation was she suffered from Stockholm syndrome.

The book would be a more useful reference if it had a bibliography and an index. But it does reveal some important insights about the attitudes of some carelessbut very powerfulpeople.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
After almost a year of research and surveys, the BCS Median Survey Team hopes to use the data collected to collaborate with the Texas Department of Transportation and city of Bryan officials on removing certain medians.

As far as proposing the project and retaining the design firm, [Bryan staff] still blame the medians on TxDOT, but at least they have acknowledged their role in that, data analyst Jack Robbins said. The city is allegedly meeting with TxDOT sometime this week and we did provide them with some recommendations that we sent over this morning and an executive summary on what our recommendations are.

Bryan city staff confirmed officials will meet with TxDOT to explore solutions that address community concerns while prioritizing safety and accessibility.

We will prioritize areas of the greatest concern and try to work on a solution that starts the process of removing the medians that are causing the most issues, a Bryan city official said in a statement.

Nearly one year ago, the BCS Median Survey Team, a grassroots organization dedicated to gathering evidence on why medians dont work in cities like Bryan and College Station, began efforts toward making a change. After months of gathering data and hosting public meetings, the group began to present evidence to officials who could make a change, including at TxDOT and the city of Bryan.

Some common complaints against the medians on Texas Avenue include impact on emergency vehicle response time, reduced business for local shops due to difficulty accessing the storefront and an increase in accidents in some locations. The BCS Median Survey Team has a video on its social media site of a fire truck with alarms having to make a five-point turn to get to the scene of an emergency.

In early February, Robbins said he was receiving pushback from the city after his organization met with TxDOT officials, but not Bryan officials.

In a statement, TxDOT officials confirmed they have been meeting regularly with representatives of the BCS Median Survey group and were open to compromise.

Our office has always been open to engaging the communities we serve and tailoring our projects to address local needs. Anyone interested in knowing the details of our ongoing or planned work are encouraged to contact us directly for the most accurate information, TxDOT previously said in a statement.

While TxDOT told the BCS Median Survey Team that the city approved the Texas Avenue medians  despite concerns from TxDOT that the widening project would not be suitable for medians  Bryan Mayor Bobby Gutierrez argued in a statement that TxDOT agreed to add loons, allowing first responders and drivers to make U-turns safely, and did not deliver.

Instead, it built the medians without securing full project funding for the state-managed roadway, leaving Bryan residents without safe U-turn options, bike-accessible sidewalks, or the promised beautification  only weeds, Gutierrez said in a statement. Texas Avenue is a state-managed roadway, and decisions regarding the removal of medians fall under TxDOTs authority. The City of Bryan remains willing and eager to review and evaluate solutions based on concerns it has clearly communicated to TxDOT. I have repeatedly addressed these issues publicly and met with TxDOTs district engineer to seek solutions for residents.

According to the BCS Median Survey Team, the city of Bryan nominated Texas Avenue for improvements, with medians in the designs, in 2016. During that year, Andrew Nelson replaced Jason P. Bienski as mayor. None of the current council members or Gutierrez served on the council in 2016.

During a Bryan City Council meeting earlier this month, Robbins spoke about the medians. After his allotted three minutes were up, Gutierrez voted to continue the conversation and comment on the city of Bryans perspective regarding the medians.

I do remember going through this process when staff was recommending that we do this thing because it was the only way that we would ever get beautification [funds] to make our city look more like College Station, he said. [Mayor Nelson] and I were both adamantly against the project because clearly I have a vested stake having a business there.  I dont think any business was in favor of the median project.

City Manager Kean Register added that the results of a possible FM 1179 widening project survey showed that an overwhelming majority of respondents, around 67%, said they wanted a widening project without medians.

To close out his comments, Gutierrez expressed his appreciation for the members of the BCS Median Survey Team and their work.

I did have a meeting set up with one of our commissioners to do this and we had a winter storm come through so the meeting got canceled. [The median project] wasnt the topic of the whole conversation but it was one of the topics, he said. Theres a lot of other projects that were working with TxDOT on where we absolutely need them as a partner and they need to know were a good partner as well.

Robbins added: I do believe [the city of Bryan] is entering the discussion. I learned a long time ago that the best way to get the government into action is to irk them a little bit, so we did get a nice statement and this is the first time that I heard the city actually acknowledge their role in the medians.
For Ed Tech Leaders, Student Data Privacy Is Critical  But Missing from the Job Description

A new report from CoSN examines gaps and opportunities in student data privacy at schools and districts across the country. The 2025 National Student Data Privacy Report surveyed 400 ed tech leaders from 39 states and the District of Columbia about their district's privacy practices, the tools, resources, and supports available to them, and barriers to improvement.

While nearly 90% of survey respondents said they oversee their district's student data privacy program, 75% of those ed tech leaders said it's not part of their job description. Seventeen percent of those with data privacy responsibilities said they have not received any training on student data privacy, and 25% paid out of pocket for their training. Still, 88% of respondents ranked data privacy as one of their top two priorities, and 46% said it was their number one priority.

"Despite a lack of employer-provided training or codification of the work of building and improving a student data privacy program as part of a formal job description, respondents clearly prioritized the work," the report noted.

Ed tech leaders' top student data privacy concerns were:

The inability to manage employee privacy practices (cited by 75% of respondents as "very" or "extremely" concerning);

The inability to contain the influx of free and low-cost classroom technologies brought in by teachers (69%);

The inability to enforce internal, employee-facing privacy policies (55%);

The inability to mandate employee privacy training (49%); and

The lack of sufficient district privacy policies to guide practices (41%).

Time and manpower were the biggest roadblocks to data privacy improvement for ed tech leaders, each cited by 60% of respondents. Other barriers included the need for guidance on implementing federal (47%) and state (46%) student data privacy laws, as well as a lack of privacy expertise (38%). Thirty-six percent of respondents cited financial resources as a barrier.

"Setting the stage to establish the importance of student data privacy work within a district does not require the purchase of an expensive tool or technology," the report asserted. "Instead, the first requirement is that, collectively, attention be paid in a way that emphasizes the importance of the work across the institution, and that supports ed tech leadership in effectuating the necessary organizational change." The report's final recommendations for district leadership:

Recognize the work of building and improving a student data privacy program as leadership imperative.

Emphasize the importance of the work with all employees, and create updated job descriptions that reflect the importance of the work for those responsible for building and implementing student data privacy programs.

Ensure that the student data privacy program is adequately resourced  including with adequate policies  and provide training necessary for ed tech leadership to succeed in the work.

Support ed tech leadership in breaking down institutional silos to more effectively implement student data privacy requirements across teams, including by mandating privacy and security training for all employees.

Ensure that all district employees adhere to district policies with consistent enforcement of those policies.

The full report is available on the CoSN site here.
Smart readers like you have by now figured out that I dont care much for partisan politics. I just published a couple of columns here about the bad idea of turning Supreme Court justices into politicians who have to run in partisan elections. Youve probably read several other columns of mine preaching against the involvement of political parties in non-partisan elections for local offices like the school board and the City Commission.

Partisanship tends to drive people apart, making solutions harder. No need for any of that infiltrating the judicial branch of government, or, say, zoning decisions or votes about school attendance boundaries.

The problem at the moment is that parties are trying their darndest to do exactly that. I assume well have to fight that battle again this fall.

Im basically with George Washington, who said in his Farewell Address that partisanship would lead to a spirit of revenge in which party members would not govern for the good of the people, but simply for power.

I should say, though, that political parties can and do play an extremely important and useful role in the grand scheme of things. I think we can take steps to amp up those positive aspects and reduce the harm.

Let me explain.

Parties exist for one basic reason: To win elections. In the U.S., since there are basically two, that means finding issues and positions and candidates, that will beat the other side. If theres a hot issue where the public is wildly in favor of one position, you can guarantee that one side or the other is going to glom onto it.

In that sense they are the antennae, the feelers, for democracy. They can pick up vibrations in the air that can help get their members elected.

In a dictatorship or a monarchy, theres no mechanism by which public sentiment gets sucked up into the machinery of government. Theres no competition for votes, so theres no need for parties, and theres no adjusting for popular will.

Thats an inherently unstable situation, liable to blow up into revolution or collapse from incompetence. History is littered with examples; think of the Russian, French or Chinese revolutions, or the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

I spent a summer in Peru writing a college thesis about the way the hard-core leftist political parties responded to the revolutionary war being waged by the Shining Path, a Maoist guerrilla group. Even in those extreme conditions, the reality is that democracy provided those parties an incentive to work within the system to enact the kinds of changes they wanted. Parties played a constructive role. Note that Peru did not melt down into a Maoist hellhole or chuck it all in favor of a military junta. Basically the leftists had to modify their pitch.

American political parties still do the same thing  they channel public desires into the system of government. Without that, we mightve already had a second civil war.

What weve got now  because of gerrymandered Congressional and legislative districts and the way primary voting is conducted  are parties that reward the extremes. What we need are parties that not only serve as antennae for public opinion, but also as instruments of solution.

We can improve the odds. It will take some effort, but ultimately it is about making moderation more electable. Truth is that the vast majority of us just want a government that works well. While some of us get caught up into the whole red-versus-blue thing, most of us arent really about that.

We need to create ways to incentivize moderation and compromise, and discourage polarization. We could start with the gerrymandering, and something as simple as seating arrangements at statehouses and in Congress. Beyond that, Im not sure, but Im not here to propose a solution. At the moment Im here to say that political parties can truly be part of it.
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Gia xang dau trong nuoc hom nay (3/7) uoc du bao co the giam tu 6,8 - 7,5% so voi ky ieu hanh truoc o. Cu the, gia ban le xang E5 RON 92 co the giam 1.412 ong (6,9%) ve muc 19.118 ong/lit; xang RON 95-III co the giam 1.440 ong (6,8%) ve muc 19.670 ong/lit. Trong khi o, dau hoa co the giam 7,5% ve muc 17.631 ong/lit; dau mazut co the giam 7,2% ve muc 15.730 ong/kg; dau diesel co the giam 7,1% ve muc 17.977 ong/lit.
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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.
A museum that showcases the story of military ground vehicles is now open to the public.

The Tucson Military Vehicle Museum is located on the Pima Air & Space Museum property at 6000 E. Valencia Road. It is operated by the Arizona Aerospace Foundation.

The collection opened with more than 60 military vehicles, including tanks, armored personnel carriers, amphibious assault vehicles and artillery.

Visitors will be able to touch many of the exhibits.

There are 21 restored U.S. and British WWII vehicles from the personal collection of the late Count Ferdinand von Galen, former chairman of the board.

Other vehicles are on loan from the National Museums of the U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Army.

Unless reserved for special events or closed for holidays, the museum will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through May, then 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from June through September.

Tickets range in price for age and military status and can be purchased upon arrival.

Go to tucsonmilitaryvehicle.org/visit for more information.

Other local commercial activity includes:

 TMC Holdings Inc. bought 2.40 acres of land at 10330 E. Drexel Road from Houghton Drexel LLC for $3.4 million. Richard Kleiner, with Picor, represented the buyer. Chad Kouts, with Jump Venture Inc. and Cameron Warren, with Phoenix Commercial Advisors, represented the seller.

 K E & G Real Property LLC bought 47 acres of industrial land at Sunbelt Industrial Center, 8301 E. Old Vail Road, from Sun Growth 1 LLC for $2.9 million. Stephen D. Cohen, with Picor, represented both parties.

 Wane Investments LLC bought a 21,518-square-foot industrial building at 990 S. Cherry Ave. from Gould Family Properties VIII LLC for $2.1 million. Paul Hooker, with Picor, represented the seller. Christopher McClurg and Michael Giuliano, with Lee & Associates, represented the buyer.

 AC PRO, a regional HVAC distributor, bought 15,261 square feet at 8351 E. Broadway from Little Group LLC for $1.6 million. Aaron LaPrise, with Picor, represented the seller. Chris McGlurg and Michael Giuliano, with Lee & Associates, represented the buyer.

 MSE Supplies LLC, which sells laboratory equipment, expanded their Tucson plant to 16,147 square feet at Bay Colony Technology Center, 2705 E. Medina Road, from landlord Medina Properties LLC. Stephen D. Cohen and Alex Demeroutis, with Picor, represented the landlord.
A familiar face is set to lead the Tucson Fire Department.

Sharon McDonough, currently the director of the Public Safety Communications Department for the city, has been appointed interim fire chief until June 2, when she is expected to take over the department, according to a news release Monday afternoon.

Tucson Fire Chief Chuck Ryan announced his retirement last week.

McDonough has served the majority of her 34 years with the city in the fire department, rising in the ranks from firefighter to deputy chief.

Sharon has deep roots in Tucson, bringing to this role more than three decades of service in the Fire Department, progressing through the ranks from firefighter, to paramedic, to captain, battalion chief, and deputy chief, Mayor Regina Romero, said in a news release. Chief McDonough stabilized our 911 Communications Department, which is the frontline for our first responders, and successfully oversaw the implementation of our 311 system connecting Tucson residents to services. Her career is a reflection of what it means to be a public servant.

McDonough would be the first woman to serve as Tucsons fire chief.

I am honored and excited to be returning to my fire family at TFD, where I started with the City of Tucson in 1990, she said in the release. I will deeply miss working directly with my team at the Public Safety Communications Department, where I have proudly served as director for the past four years.

McDonough said she will use her experience there to allow our collective public safety team to find efficiencies and make improvements in service.

I am grateful for Chief Ryans dedication to the safety and health of our community, said City Manager Timothy Thomure, who appointed McDonough to her new post. I wish him the very best in his retirement.

Mike Garcia, the current deputy director of McDonoughs department, was appointed director.

Ryan, the current fire chief, announced last week he would retire effective June 1. Ryan has served as chief since 2019.

In 2007, McDonough was suspended for 30 days in connection with disparaging of the homosexual lifestyle, the Star reported at that time.
PHOENIX  The scientific debate about artificially curbing solar radiation to reduce heat has bubbled over into legislative debate about whether the government and private industry are poisoning Arizonans by spraying chemicals from airplanes.

And now state lawmakers are moving to outlaw the practice of geoengineering entirely.

Legislation that already has been approved by the Senate would make it illegal to intentionally release or dispense by any means any chemical, chemical compound, substance or apparatus within Arizona designed for solar radiation management. And that is specifically defined in SB 1432 as injecting aerosols into the stratosphere to cut the amount of sunlight reaching the planet.

And one form that is occurring, according to backers of the bill, are chemicals being dispersed in the upper atmosphere by aircraft through chemtrails that already are starting to block out the sun.

There is a scientific basis for looking at ways to block sunlight to curb climate change. It has long been known, for example, that pollution from erupting volcanoes can reduce solar radiation and cause cooling.

And there already have been experiments, with even Scientific American noting some efforts. There also is a report in MIT Technology Review saying that, from a technology standpoint, large-scale deployment could occur within five years.

But the debate at the state Capitol instead featured a parade of speakers contending this already is happening. And some like Jodi Burkett were armed with photos of what she called chemtrails  lines in the sky that did not look normal, lines she said that became haze and covering the sun.

And Rep. Joseph Chaplik said there is reason to believe thats already happening.

Ive lived in Arizona almost 15 years, he said, saying what he saw at the time was sunshine, beautiful weather.

And now it seems like in my neighborhood ... youre seeing these in the sky at nighttime or early morning, Chaplik said, not when planes are flying.

All that then led to questions about the effects of all this.

This is poisoning the people, testified Gail Golec.

Golec, who worked to stop the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors from certifying the 2022 election returns, rejected arguments that what people see in the upper atmosphere are contrails  condensation formed by aircraft engines in certain atmospheric conditions  and not harmful.

Theres a difference between chemtrail and contrail, she told lawmakers.

Not all planes have condensation coming out of them, Golec said. If we did, youd go to Phoenix airport, you wouldnt be able to see.

Don Adams told lawmakers that there already are experiments to put reflective metals and chemical compounds, saying there is research that shows these chemicals are resulting in declining crop yields.

On the human end, he said there is an increase in neuro-degenerative diseases, respiratory problems, increased cancer and Vitamin D deficiency.

And Rebecca Peek who identified herself as a government contracting consultant, said that there is an accumulation of aluminum which has been sprayed into the upper atmosphere in soils.

There are actors out there that have seeds that grow in high aluminum environments, she said, including people who are financially backing the development of technology that would dim the suns rays that reach the earth.

All that, according to Rep. Rachel Keshel, shows that there is reason to be concerned  and to act now.

I think that its very disappointing that people like to relate it to tin-foil-hat wearing and Chemtrail Kelli, said Keshel, a Tucson Republican.

That latter reference is to former state senator Kelli Ward from Lake Havasu City who in 2014 organized a forum on her district to address concerns about chemtrails. Ward later said she wasnt buying into the theories, but wanted to provide an avenue for constituents to express their concerns.

This is happening, said Keshel of efforts to cut solar radiation. This is being tested.

More to the point, in voting for state restrictions, she said it is being done without the consent of the people.

So far, though, it has been only Republican lawmakers who have supported the legislation crafted by Sen. David Farnsworth, R-Mesa and a parallel bid by Rep. Lisa Fink, R-Glendale.

Sen. Priya Sundareshan said its not like she doesnt believe that chemicals are being injected into the atmosphere.

But the Democrat said supporters of this measure are missing the point. Consider, she said, testimony about sulfur dioxide being sprayed into the air.

True, said Sundareshan. But she said these chemicals come from the burning of fossil fuels from coal-fired power plants.

The conspiracy theories that are related to chemtrails that in actuality are condensation trails from airplanes are not the problem, Sundareshan said.

The problem is unchecked air pollution that only gets worse the longer we allow it to, she continued. We must have stronger regulations and move our energy generation and our industrial activity towards less pollution-emitting sources.

But so far the momentum is on the side of those who believe that the air is purposely being sprayed with chemicals.

At the very least, some supporter of the measure say that deployment in Arizona of any solar radiation management should await further research.

SRM involves dumping large amounts of toxic chemicals into the atmosphere to literally block out the sun, said Rep. Alexander Kolodin.

Some of the public health impacts of any time you deploy anything into the atmosphere need to be examined, said the Scottsdale Republican. And, more importantly, the people of Arizona really need to buy in to their efforts before they can be deployed.

Rep. Lupe Contreras said there might be something there. But the Avondale Democrat and lifelong Arizona resident said what is missing in all of what was being presented to lawmakers was any actual evidence from any doctor about whether any of this  whether occurring now or not  is affecting human health.

Keshel said theres a good reason for that.

I do think that a lot of the doctors, scientists that have spoken out about this have been silenced, she said.

Fink actually had proposed a more comprehensive restrictions.

Her HB 2056 also would have outlawed cloud seeding as a method of producing more rain.

That, however, drew opposition from Fareed Bailey who lobbies for Salt River Project. While primarily known as an electric provider, it actually has its roots in constructing dams and providing water for the Phoenix area for both agricultural and municipal use.

That got the attention of Kolodin who said that if Arizona is to have enough water  and residents not having to pay $700-a-month water bills  options like this need to be explored.

Finks bill did clear the House in modified fashion but never got a hearing in the Senate. That leaves the Farnsworth proposal as the only one that remains legally viable if it can get through another House committee and approval by the full House.

The final word, however, would rest with Gov. Katie Hobbs.
Adelaide-based production company Breakout Productions, founded in 2020 by former Screentime producer Colin Thrupp, has been profiled in the Adelaide Advertiser for their shark documentaries.

Abandoned Waters, filmed with researchers from Flinders University, was sold to Warner Bros. Discovery during the height of the pandemic.

I sent a one paragraph pitch to a company that we had affiliations with in America, and I woke up the next day asking for me to get on a call with the heads of Discovery USA to pitch it, he said.

We got that show green lit within eight days, largely because Covid shut production down everywhere else, but we could still operate in South Australia. So while Covid was really tough for so many people, it did allow myself an in, to be able to talk directly with Discovery US, which is arguably the biggest producer and broadcaster of factual TV in the world.

Breakout has now produced Raging Bulls and Megasharks of Dangerous Reef for Discoverys Shark Week, three seasons of National Geographics smash hit, Aussie Snake Wranglers, and Super Shark Highway for Love Nature.

Of shark photography he added, I think youd have to go back to Ron and Valerie Taylor, back in the 70s and 80s, to find any other company or producer that could match it in that genre.

Source: Adelaide Advertiser
Veteran actor Lynda Carter is set to be honoured in the US, 50 years after her hit series Wonder Woman.

Carter, 73, will receive The Paley Honors Award, presented by The Paley Center for Media, the organisations highest honour.

In 1975, the television series Wonder Woman made its iconic TV debut, changing the way we view heroes and leaving a lasting impact on pop culture.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Lynda Carters groundbreaking portrayal, which brought Wonder Woman to life with strength, courage, and compassion in a way that resonated deeply with audiences. Lynda Carters performance reshaped television, leaving a lasting mark on media and solidifying Wonder Woman as an enduring symbol of heroism. Her portrayal continues to be celebrated by millions as the ultimate superheroine, embodying empowerment, and inspiring generations of fans.

For fifty years, Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman has remained a beloved figure, and the themes in the show have served as a powerful symbol of justice and integrity while empowering women and girls around the world.
Mariyam Usmani, TwoCircles.net

Adnan, a 22-year-old mechanic, was resting after iftar when one of his acquaintances Raj allegedly lured him outside under the guise of a friendly conversation. It was the evening of March 3, and no one in Adnans family, nor the residents of Gandhinagar locality in Bhopal, could have ever imagined that this young Muslim man would be brutally stabbed to death allegedly by three Hindutva extremists for opposing their communal conspiracy.

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Everyone had gone to offer Taraweeh prayers except Adnans father. The murderers took advantage of this and lured my son out. He was brave and emotional, and I know he would have fought them off, but they were cowards who planned this act in secret, the victims mother, Rizwana Khan, said through tears, reflecting on the loss of her beloved son.

Adnan was rushed to the hospital after the attack, but the doctors declared him dead on arrival. According to the victims family, the three suspected murderers  Lucky, Raj and Shubham  were closely related. Shubham, the nephew of the other two accused, had allegedly been plotting to ensnare a Muslim girl in the locality in a saffron love-trap.

Locals said that right-wing organisations are encouraging their members to target Muslim women.

When Adnan learned about Shubhams alleged plan to manipulate a young Muslim girl from the area, he contacted her family to warn them. The situation was later misrepresented through false rumours to protect the perpetrators.

Adnans elder sister strongly rejected the rumours. This was not about love jihad. My brother did not know any Hindu girl from Shubhams family. What happened here was a Bhagwa love-conspiracy, and Adnan opposed it because of him being a Muslim. He was aware of several such cases happening in our area, and he wanted to stop it. He had no personal vendetta  only a sense of duty, she stated.

Adnan was the emotional and financial support for his family of four, including his parents, brothers Faizan and Subhan and one married sister. He started working as a mechanic at a young age to support his family.

He was everything to us  the pillar of our family. We do not know how to move forward without him. How do these criminals live with such deep-seated hatred for the Muslim community? Their hands are soaked in my brothers blood, Faiza added.

A Lion and a Martyr

The sequence of events began when Raj knocked on Adnans door while he was at the mosque for Maghrib prayers. The second time, when Adnan was preparing to leave for Isha prayers, Raj allegedly came again. This time, Adnans father, Abdul Jalal, invited Raj in to talk, but Raj responded evasively, saying it would not be appropriate to discuss matters in front of the women.

After the murder, the Muslim community rallied with a massive demonstration, demanding justice. The police managed to arrest Lucky and Shubham, but Raj Solanki remains at large.

We have arrested two of the culprits, but we are still searching for Raj Solanki, said Suresh Kumar, the head of Gandhinagar police station.

Adnans mother questioned the arrests, saying, How can they arrest two criminals and leave the mastermind roaming free? This response reeks of political influence and corruption.

The family had no knowledge of any prior dispute between Adnan and the accused. However, Adnan had shared his concerns with his cousin, Gulfam. The family believes the murderers were simply waiting for an excuse to attack Adnan because of his Muslim identity and his outspoken opposition to communal hatred and anti-Islam rhetoric.

He was a deeply religious person, spiritually aware and caring about the well-being of the entire Muslim community. It is clear that these Right-wing groups were threatened by his courage, alleged Faiza, adding, My brother was a lion, and these people are mere wolves. He is a martyr.

Despite the growing climate of fear in the region, the victims family remains resilient, determined to seek justice for Adnan, who died protecting a Muslim girl from a saffron conspiracy.

A conspiracy?

Elaborating on the situation, Adnans cousin Gulfam explained that they had contacted the girls family to warn them about the threat posed by the Right-wing extremists targeting Muslim women.

They have already trapped several Muslim girls in our area, he said. Adnan knew about their plans, and he could not stand by and watch. These Right-wing men target Muslim women in various ways, either through a Bhagwa love-trap or by launching communal propaganda when the girls do not give them a chance to approach.

The family emphasised that Adnan had a profound understanding of womens rights from an Islamic perspective and was deeply aware of the anti-Muslim, anti-women agenda of Hindutva groups that exploit and manipulate Muslim girls.

Those who remain silent in the face of violence and oppression against Muslim women lack true faith. Demeaning and plotting against women are characteristics of Hindu extremist ideologies. Adnan opposed this with all his heart, said his mother, bursting into tears.

We demand strict punishment for the culprits. We feel heartbroken, but we place our faith in Allah  not in people. Insha Allah, justice will prevail, she concluded.
Sami Ahmad, TwoCircles.net

Patna: On March 19, Ekhlaq Sarwer, a B.Tech. (Mining) student, received his Eid gift a little earlier this year. He secured an impressive All India Rank of 4 in Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2025.

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GATE is widely regarded as the key to securing admission to postgraduate courses in Indias top engineering colleges and opens doors to jobs in Navratna Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).

Ekhlaqs score in GATE was 904 out of 1000, with a remarkable mark of 69 out of 100.

Hailing from Pathardih, the semi-urban town of Mohan Bazar (around 16 kilometers from Dhanbad), in Dhanbad district, Ekhlaq is presently pursuing his B.Tech. from BIT, Sindri (Jharkhand) in the Mining Engineering branch in 2021-25 batch. His hometown, which has gained notoriety for its association with violence, served as the backdrop for the Bollywood movie Gangs of Wasseypur that highlighted the regions troubled history.

Ekhlaqs father, Eqbal Sarwer, works as an informal medical practitioner (RMP), and his mother, Khurshida Parween, is a homemaker.

Speaking to TwoCircles.net, Eqbal expressed immense joy and gratitude. Noting the timing of his sons achievement during the holy month of Ramadan, he said, I feel elated as a father when I recall my childhood, which lacked proper resources. My father passed away early, and we had to struggle. But I ensured that my sons received a proper education. Although it was beyond my means to afford an English-medium CBSE school, I made sure Ekhlaq was enrolled there, cutting down on other expenses to make it happen.

He continued, Ekhlaq has always been good at studies, and we encouraged him every step of the way. He has consistently ranked at the top since grade 7. He secured 97% marks in 10th grade and 95% in 12th grade board exams under the CBSE system.

The Sarwer family celebrated their sons success by distributing sweets, with plans for a grand celebration after the fasting month of Ramadan ends, marking a double Eid.

Ekhlaqs father proudly said, We are thrilled that a place once infamous for Gangs of Wasseypur is now in the news for such achievements. The area is improving, and it fills me with pride.

BIT Sindri, where Ekhlaq is currently studying, is an engineering college under the Jharkhand government. Admission to the prestigious institution is based on the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), which also opens doors to top institutions like the IITs.

Ekhlaq had scored around 90 percentiles in his first attempt at JEE Main, securing his place at BIT Sindri. Initially uncertain about his choice of Mining Engineering, he now expresses a deep fascination for the field.

Despite being busy with his academic projects, Ekhlaq shared his preparation strategy for GATE. He began preparing for the examination in September 2024, all while also preparing for his final B.Tech. exams.

My parents were my inspiration for GATE. My professors at college were immensely helpful, and my friends always encouraged me. I used PYQs (Previous Years Questions) and relied on textbooks. I also took test series to keep myself on track, he shared, expressing his hope to join a PSU of his choice when the opportunity arises.

Ekhlaq also emphasised the importance of having a structured routine. I made a schedule for my preparation, designating specific hours for watching preparatory videos and solving test papers, he explained.

He added that focus and time management are essential for anyone hoping to clear GATE. One needs to be clear about what he/she wants to study. Time management is crucial, as is practice, he advises. Shedding nervousness is also important.

The BIT Sindri community celebrated Ekhlaqs success. Dr. Pankaj Pal, the director of the institution, and Dr. PK Singh, head of the Mining Engineering Department, along with other faculty members, congratulated Ekhlaq and the other students for their academic achievements. Ekhlaq has made the institution proud with such a stellar rank, they said, underscoring the significance of his success.

Ekhlaq Sarwers journey from a troubled region to an outstanding academic achievement is not only reflective of his dedication but also to the unwavering support of his family and the transformative power of education.
CLEBURNE  Walls of carefully spaced herb and lettuce plants rise to the ceiling of a massive greenhouse.

Inside Eden Green Technologys 62,000-square-foot vertical greenhouse, over 340,000 plants are stacked 18 feet high.







We have basically shrunk 40 to 50 acres of conventional farming down into an acre and a half, said Eddy Badrina, CEO of Eden Green.

Eden Greens approach to farming responds to many of the issues stressing modern-day food systems. Amid the rise of extreme weather events, its greenhouses can grow produce year-round with less land and water than traditional farming.

Its approach also reduces the emissions and cost of shipping food thousands of miles. Eden Green is right next to a distribution center where it can quickly get produce to major food companies like Walmart, Sysco and the restaurant chain CAVA.

Badrina said Eden Green is part of a growing shift to produce food within the U.S.

I think you are seeing a decentralization, a deglobalization of supply chains and specifically the food supply chain, he said. So in response to that, you can pay more for food and just keep on getting it shipped at a higher price, or you can take ground in growing more things domestically in the U.S.

Challenges of innovation

Critics of vertical greenhouse farming say it has steep startup costs. Eden Green has invested $47 million into their Cleburne facility.

Meanwhile, some researchers say investments in indoor farming could be better spent improving outdoor farming conditions.

Genhua Niu is a Texas A&M professor of urban agriculture. A couple years ago, Eden Green emailed her with questions about their farming practices.

She said there are also limitations to the types of crops that can be grown in a vertical greenhouse. For example, its optimal for leafy greens and herbs but not for growing fruit trees like apples.

However, Niu said vertical greenhouse farming has grown in popularity over the years and will continue to become prevalent.

She said it can produce about 10 to 20 times as much leafy greens as a traditional farm.

Its a controlled environment, so the productivity is much higher than field production, she said.

Despite the growing popularity, some indoor farming companies have shuttered with skeptics pointing to high energy costs.

Eden Green, though, has found a way to navigate the industry fallout, with TIME magazine naming it one of the best inventions of 2024.

One way its trying to lower energy usage is by focusing on the climate around each individual plant instead of the entire greenhouse.

The company creates microclimates through nodules at each plant spot that balance the levels of humidity and carbon dioxide.

So where other greenhouses and other indoor vertical farms are controlling the entire cubic volume of this greenhouse, we primarily are concerned with just one fifth of this greenhouse, Badrina said.

Each plant is also fed a precise amount of nutrient-infused water. Hydroponic farming, or using water instead of soil to grow plants, can reduce water usage by more than 70 to 80%, according to the peer-reviewed journal Materials Today.

Eden Green said it greatly reduces its energy usage by getting about 75% of its light from the sun, and it supplements the natural light with algorithmically-controlled light bars that deliver the exact amount of daily light plants need.

Shamim Ahamed, an assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering at the University of California, Davis, said reducing reliance on artificial light is one way to improve energy efficiency.

He said vertical greenhouses could also use renewable energy such as solar panels or wind, though these require a hefty initial investment.

In terms of increasing sustainability, there is a different approach integrating a renewable energy system in a greenhouse system. It could be [using] renewable power for heating, cooling or the de-humidification system, he said.

The controlled environment of the greenhouse also reduces the need for herbicides and pesticides since there are no weeds and few pests. And it minimizes concerns about the spread of disease through soil or water.

Each of these rows can be shut off from water up there and then shut off from going back into our holding tanks and recycled, Badrina said. So each one of these [rows] is able to be compartmentalized in such a way that it doesnt affect the rest of the greenhouse.

The ability to calibrate each rows light, water and air also makes it possible to do what most greenhouses cant: grow a variety of crops under one roof.

In addition to lettuce, the company grows the 10 most widely consumed herbs in the U.S.: basil, cilantro, parsley, mint, thyme, oregano, sage, dill, rosemary and tarragon.

People are quick to compare the energy efficiency of conventional and vertical greenhouse farming, but Ahamed said its more complicated than that.

You cant just make comments based on that energy. Its not a comparable thing to do, he said.

Vertical indoor farming is significantly more energy intensive. However, Ahamed said the method grows much more produce and also uses significantly less water and land. And Niu said Eden Green presents a compelling way to address future issues with food insecurity, especially in areas with extreme weather.

By 2050, food demand will rise by 70 to 100% due to population growth, according to the USDA.

I think in the near future, such a system would be very useful. It seems to have high land-use efficiency and high water-use efficiency, she said.

More stable and consistent lifestyle

One of the most overlooked factors of farming are the workers who farm the food. While vertical greenhouse farming doesnt solve all the issues that agricultural workers face, it does have some benefits.

Unlike traditional farming, it offers year-round work and less exposure to extreme weather and pests.

A major issue for farm workers has been heat-related exhaustion and deaths, and though vertical greenhouses are touted for being climate controlled, some workers in these spaces have faced dangerous conditions for heat and humidity.

Badrina said Eden Green is aware of these concerns and has put precautions in place for employees since it first launched. Once it reaches a certain temperature in the greenhouse, employees work for 20-minute shifts, are provided electrolytes and have access to cooling stations.

Greenhouses can also offer more stability than traditional farming, which requires workers to travel to different farms each season. Most of Eden Greens employees live in a 20- to 30-mile radius around the headquarters.

Theyre not chasing harvests in California and New Mexico up and down the coast, Badrina said. [It] just provides for a more stable and consistent lifestyle for them.

Thats the case for Janice Castro, 24, who works as an operations manager and lives just 15 minutes away on the outskirts of Cleburne, near Godley.

She started working at Eden Green at 19 and worked her way from harvesting to her current position.

Castro said she started working at Eden Green just looking for a job and ended up staying because she felt invested in the people and work.

You kind of have a lot of different personalities that you get to work with. I really like problem solving as well. So thats also something that I kind of like about this job, having to schedule all of our orders, and how to pivot, she said.

UC Davis Ahamed said vertical greenhouse farming can be sustainable. In the end, it comes down to having the right approach.

As long as you can reduce the energy cost, you are the winner, he said. So it needs the right people, technology, decision-making and crops to make them sustainable.

Eden Green plans to build a greenhouse thats double the current size and hire about 100 more employees. Theres also a vision to eventually expand into vine fruits and plants that are used pharmaceutically.

Ultimately, the company hopes to expand nationally and even globally.
He rose to lead a church reaching more than 100,000 people online and in-person each week across nine campuses in North Texas. At its height, Gateway Church was one of the largest in the nation.

Throughout his four-decade career as a pastor, Robert Morris was known for his Christian books, his massive church enterprise and his knack for public speaking. And it started in Longview, where Morris was raised and began his career as an evangelist.







That career came to an abrupt end in June, when Oklahoma woman Cindy Clemishire publicly accused Morris of sexually abusing her starting in 1982 at her familys home when she was 12. The news sent shockwaves through evangelical circles, where Morris was hailed as an influential teacher and preacher.

Morris resigned that month as senior pastor of Gateway in Southlake near Fort Worth, and he was indicted on five counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child March 12. He turned himself in to Oklahoma authorities days later and was released on bond. His first court date is set May 9, and if convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison for each charge.

The allegations against Morris have been heavily reported in the media, but Morris was making headlines in the earliest days of his ministry in his East Texas hometown.

Lost young man finds evangelistic role

The year was 1982, and 20-year-old Pine Tree High School graduate Morris was living a new life, according to an April 25, 1982, story in the Longview Morning Journal.

About a year before  on Feb. 16, 1981  Morris made his decision for Christ. In December 1981, he joined the James Robison Evangelistic Association as an associate evangelist and started traveling around the country to spread a message  or two, depending on who was listening.

I go to the public schools for assembly meetings and give moral motivational messages concerning patriotism, drugs, alcohol, sex. In Christian schools, I present a Christian message, Morris told the Morning Journal, which was the News-Journals predecessor.

By his own admission, Morris already knew a thing or two about drugs and church.

Born in 1961, Morris was born in Marshall and grew up in Longview. He graduated from Pine Tree in 1979. Two years before he graduated  and four years before he made his decision for Christ  he started what would become his decades-long ministerial career.

In October 1977, he became an evangelist at Longviews Hiway 80 Rescue Mission, where he led singing, preaching and revivals, according to the Longview Daily News, the News-Journals other predecessor. He was a licensed Baptist preacher, led a Gospel singing group called The Way, The Truth and The Life and was a member of Calvary Baptist Church.

Somewhere along the way, he found that selling drugs was a profitable business. In the 1982 story about Morris burgeoning evangelistic work, he confessed that he was a drug dealer and faithful church attendee simultaneously.

I came from a family that was in the church, he said. My dad was a successful businessman, and my parents attended church regularly. I was at church Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night, but I was lost. Even after I started dealing in drugs I still attended church regularly. Thats where I did a good business. One Sunday I sold $600 worth of drugs on the church parking lot between Sunday school and worship services.

The reason for his waywardness, he said, was that he was searching for happiness and, although he had been religious, hadnt given his life to Christ.

Morris allegedly began his sexual abuse of Clemishire in December 1982, about eight months after he told the Morning Journal about his newfound evangelistic adventure with Robison. Clemishire, whose account of Morris alleged abuse has been widely reported, said he began abusing her on Christmas Day. Morris had met her family about a year prior while preaching at her familys church in Oklahoma, the Dallas Morning News reported. He allegedly abused her until she was 17 when he would visit her family.

After high school, Morris attended East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, where he met his wife, Debbie. In 2023, ETBU gave him an honorary doctorate.

He was out for attention

The words that describe Morris in his younger days, according to his family, are rebellious, strong-willed and trouble. In 2010, the News-Journal spoke with Morris and his parents when Gateway Church opened its 206,000-square-foot campus in Southlake.

He was preaching from a young age, his father, Jearl Morris, told the News-Journal. But it was not for the glory of God. It was for the glory of Robert. His mother, Rosalie Morris, said: Yes, he was out for attention. Always out for more attention. It was very troublesome.

But that all changed after his conversion, they said.

Early on during his evangelistic career, Morris was likened to Robison, the man who helped give him a major platform.

Freddie Gage, a preacher who had been involved in Houston gangs, called Morris the most zealous young preacher Ive seen since James Robison, the Morning Journal reported. Elvis Presleys stepbrother  Rick Stanley, a Southern Baptist pastor  similarly called Morris probably the next James Robison or Billy Graham.

The compliments from those two men constituted what the Morning Journal called an impressive resume in ministry at the time. In financial and numerical terms, it only grew. Morris went on to author several books, including The Blessed Life, Beyond Blessed and Take the Day Off. His television program was viewed in 190 countries.

Robison later joined Morris church and attended a White House function with Morris in 2019. Morris served as a spiritual adviser to President Donald Trump during his first campaign. In June, after the allegations against Morris surfaced, Robison spoke out against his now-former pastor and evangelistic mentee.

I was stunned, Robison said. I was aware that Robert had had moral failures in his past. But I had no idea it was crime involving a child. This is totally unacceptable. The way Robert handled it was absolutely incorrect. It was wrong. Abuse of a child should not be tolerated. I would do anything to appeal to Cindy and her family.
QUITMAN  A Quitman woman was sentenced to 30 years in prison for beating an East Texas homeowner with a metal pole.

Ruby Dee Isaacs pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She was sentenced to 30 years on March 18 by a jury.







In April 2023, the Wood County District Attorneys Office said that Isaacs and three other people came to the homeowners property without permission and with weapons in their hands. Isaacs had a homemade metal pole with a sprocket attached to the end.

Read more from our news partners at CBS19.
Multiple incendiary devices were found inside a Tesla dealership in Austin as threats and protests grow against its CEO Elon Musk.

Austin police responded to the electric vehicle showroom on Highway 183 shortly after 8 a.m. Monday following a call of hazardous material. The departments bomb squad determined the devices were incendiary, police said in a statement.







Incendiary devices are usually weapons or munitions designed to start fires and can include bombs, shells and grenades.

No arrests have been made as of Monday afternoon.

This is an open and ongoing investigation, and there is no further information available for release at this time, police said.

Attacks against Tesla dealerships, vehicles and charging stations have popped up across the country in recent weeks as anger grows over Musks role as a key ally to President Donald Trump. Musk, a billionaire businessman and entrepreneur, is spearheading the administrations Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which seeks to dramatically slash federal spending and the workforce.

The FBI said this month that incidents targeting Teslas have been recorded in at least nine states since January. They include arson, gunfire and graffiti.

Protesters have flocked to Tesla showrooms in Southlake and Plano, where they rallied against Musk and his teams access to sensitive information, the cuts they have pushed across various agencies, as well as his potential conflicts of interest.

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas recently joined a Tesla Takedown session that called on organizers to promote March 29 as a day of Tesla protests. That happens to be Crocketts birthday.

All I want to see happen on my birthday is for Elon to be taken down, Crockett said. 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.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi called the attacks nothing short of domestic terrorism and warned of consequences for perpetrators. On Sunday, Bondi also warned Crockett to tread very carefully.

She is an elected public official, so she needs to tread very carefully because nothing will happen to Elon Musk, and were going to fight to protect all of the Tesla owners throughout this country, Bondi said during an appearance on Foxs Sunday Morning Futures.

The Trump administration has come to Musks defense. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urged Fox News viewers to buy Tesla stock, and Trump recently announced he would buy a Tesla and checked out various models with Musk at the White House.

On X, the social media platform he owns, Musk criticized the attacks.

This level of violence is insane and deeply wrong, Musk wrote on X last week, sharing a video of burning Teslas in Las Vegas. Tesla just makes electric cars and has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks.
HA NOI  Viet Nams stock market kicked off the final week of March with a strong performance on Monday, buoyed by a sharp rise in Vingroup-affiliated stocks.

The VN-Index climbed back above the 1,330-point threshold with improved liquidity, although foreign investors extended their net-selling streak for the fifth consecutive session.

On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), the VN-Index gained 8.44 points, or 0.64 per cent, to close at 1,330.32 points.

Despite the markets overall gain, market breadth remained negative, with 117 advancing stocks outnumbered by 179 decliners. Trading liquidity rose to VN19.6 trillion (US$764.5 million), with more than 926 million shares traded.

The VN30-Index, which tracks the 30 largest stocks by market capitalisation, also rose by 12.43 points, or 0.9 per cent, to 1,390.7 points. Among the VN30 basket, 14 stocks advanced, 13 declined, and three remained unchanged.

The market rally was led by the Vingroup ecosystem. Vingroup Joint Stock Company (VIC) hit the ceiling with a 6.98 per cent gain, contributing over 3.7 points to the VN-Index. Vinhomes JSC (VHM) also surged 6.32 per cent, adding more than 3.1 points to the index.

Other major gainers included Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (TCB), up 2.38 per cent, and the Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (VCB), which increased 0.76 per cent. Vietnam Airlines JSC (HVN) and Saigon Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB) also recorded solid gains of 3.99 per cent and 5.53 per cent, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BID) fell 0.89 per cent, Fortune Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank (LPB) lost 1.87 per cent, and Vietnam Rubber Group - Joint Stock Company (GVR) slipped 1.16 per cent.

Analysts from SHS Securities said: The VN-Index remains in a short-term uptrend, with the nearest support level around 1,325 points and stronger support at 1,300 points. The market has recently faced profit-taking pressure and portfolio reshuffling across many stocks after a sustained 78 week rally, particularly as the VN-Index and VN30 approach strong resistance levels at 1,350 and 1,400 points.

In the short term, the current market zone is not attractive for additional disbursement. Although the VN-Index is undergoing a relatively normal adjustment due to sector rotation, many stocks have reverted to more attractive price levels, offering selective accumulation opportunities. Investors considering increasing exposure should carefully assess stock fundamentals, especially with first-quarter earnings results approaching.

Maintaining a balanced portfolio remains essential, with a focus on fundamentally strong, industry-leading stocks in key strategic sectors that align with Viet Nams long-term economic growth, the analysts added.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index also edged up by 0.07 per cent to close at 246 points. Trading value on the northern bourse exceeded VN900 billion, with more than 52 million shares exchanged.

Foreign investors extended their net-selling streak for the fifth straight session, offloading shares worth over VN720 billion on the HoSE.  VNS
HA NOI  VNDirect Securities Corporation has announced its decision to divest its entire stake in Goldsun Food, the company behind well-known restaurant chains such as King BBQ and ThaiExpress.

This move comes less than a year after VNDirect's initial investment in the company.

The securities firm's decision to divest from Goldsun Food involves transferring its entire stake to an undisclosed buyer.

The details of the transaction, including the sale price and the identity of the acquiring party, have not been disclosed.

VNDirect's Board of Directors has authorised the CEO to negotiate terms, identify suitable buyers, and finalise the sale, indicating a strategic shift in the company's investment portfolio.

In May 2024, VNDirect acquired a 5.5 per cent equity stake in Goldsun Food, which translated into a significant 36 per cent voting right within the company, underscoring VNDirect's influential role in corporate decisions.

The investment was valued at about VN78.4 billion (US$3.1 million).

Goldsun Food, established in 2020 through the transformation of Redsun-ITI, has quaickly become a leading player in Viet Nam's food and beverage (F&B) sector.

The company boasts a diverse portfolio of 13 distinct culinary brands, including King BBQ, Tasaki BBQ, ThaiExpress, Hotpot Story, Buk Buk, Khao Lao and Sushi Kei. Operating over 170 restaurants nationwide, Goldsun Food serves approximately 2.4 million customers annually.  BIZHUB.VN/VNS
TEL AVIV  Israeli agritech companies can help Viet Nam increase the productivity and quality of agricultural exports, thus sharing profits, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly uc Trung.

He was speaking at a seminar held on Monday (local time) to promote the Middle Eastern country's agritech in Vietnamese market.

The event, co-organised by agricultural technology company Zemach and the Vietnamese Embassy, brought together Israeli businesses and cooperative associations (kibbutz). They presented various types and advantages of agricultural technologies applicable in Viet Nam, including remote sensing, imaging, sensors, automation, drones, and data analysis models.

A representative from Zemach introduced technologies that support cultivation such as those monitoring soil quality, moisture, nutritional needs, pests, and automated management process. The AgreTech company suggested some sustainable farming solutions using renewable and environmentally friendly energy sources.

The Kinneret Innovation Centre said that Israel, from a very low starting point in agriculture, has achieved success thanks to four main factors  promoting cooperation between farms and agricultural businesses, establishing a common vision for the country and its regions, supporting innovation, and valuing talent.

As a result, despite 60 per cent of its area being desert or lacking water resources, Israel has now achieved food self-sufficiency and also exported freshwater thanks to the seawater desalination technology and the reuse of 86 per cent of household wastewater.

Ambassador Trung gave participants an insight into the development, scale, and potential of Viet Nam's agriculture, highlighting that many agricultural products need a technological push to enhance quality and value.

He expressed his hope that Israeli businesses will not only see Viet Nam as a market for selling technological products and services but also recognise its potential for cooperation for mutual development.

After the seminar, delegates visited the plant breeding laboratory of GinoSar, a company that recently signed a cooperation agreement to transfer high-quality fruit tree breeding technology to a partner in Viet Nam.  VNS
LONDON  Viet Nam can rise as a major international financial centre, both regionally and globally, with a strategic vision that highlights transparency, a skilled workforce, modern infrastructure, robust financial markets, and strong international branding.

That was the message from the Viet Nam Intellectual Society in the UK and Ireland (VIS) who were meeting visiting Vietnamese Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh.

With HCM City ranking 98th out of 121 global financial centres and classified as a 'local specialist' in the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI), released on March 20, Viet Nam has a plethora of strategic options to develop its financial hub.

One approach is to focus on key financial services such as asset management, financial technology (Fintech), and green finance, aiming to become a leading specialist financial centre in ASEAN and, eventually, on a global scale. Alternatively, Viet Nam could pursue a diversified model, offering a full range of financial services, including banking, capital market and insurance, experts suggested.

According to the intellectuals, Viet Nam need not limit itself to a single path. A hybrid approach that combines specialisation and diversification could maximise growth opportunities. Regionally, Viet Nam can capitalise on the trend of companies relocating from China, offering them access to both domestic and foreign capital.

The VIS identified HCM City as a prime candidate to become full-spectrum hub, urging tighter asset management policies, broader investment portfolios, funding for large-scale public-private partnerships and further growth of fintech and green finance sectors.

With its unique geographical advantages, a Nang could carve out a niche in sustainable finance initiatives, such as green and climate finance. By doing so, the city could establish itself as a regional financial centre focused on sustainability.

However, the experts cautioned that HCM City and a Nang should avoid overlapping in their areas of specialisation, which could lead to a 'race to the bottom' that ultimately benefits another country. Instead, each city should focus on its strengths to complement each other.

To attract top-tier investors, Viet Nam must align its financial centres with global criteria: sustainability, digitalisation and innovation. VIS experts proposed raising the foreign ownership limit in Vietnamese commercial banks from 30 per cent to 49 per cent, with a long-term target of 60 per cent. This move is expected to expand the banking sector, improve service quality, align with international standards and lower capital costs.

A transparent legal framework is crucial for fostering trust and fairness. Stock exchanges must operate as impartial intermediaries and the growth of institutional investors and diverse investment models should be encouraged. Professionalising financial intermediaries will improve market quality and facilitate Viet Nams upgrade from a frontier to an emerging market.

Improving corporate governance by adopting international environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards will promote sustainable development. A phased roadmap to attract top global financial professionals, collaborate with international organisations and introduce incentives for overseas Vietnamese talent is essential. Integrating financial English into official training curricula will align Viet Nams financial centre with global standards, according to the experts.

VIS Chairman Professor Nguyen Xuan Huan said as a network of nearly 200 scientists, researchers and financial experts in the UK and Ireland, VIS would be committed to supporting Viet Nams financial aspirations.

Through specialised training, policy research and knowledge-sharing initiatives, VIS aims to train financial professionals, provide expert consultations, and facilitate collaborations between Vietnamese businesses and global financial institutions, according to Huan.

With strong connections in the UKs financial education, research, and market sectors, VIS can help Viet Nam navigate the complexities of capital mobilisation, investment strategies, corporate governance, financial management and risk mitigation. By leveraging international expertise in digital technology, IT security and financial innovation, VIS is poised to play a pivotal role in Viet Nams journey to becoming a global financial powerhouse.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Finance (MoF) is seeking public comments on a draft resolution proposing a 2 per cent reduction in value-added tax (VAT) to stimulate consumption, support businesses and promote economic growth.

The proposal suggests extending the 2 per cent VAT reduction from July 1, 2025, until the end of 2026 for goods and services currently taxed at 10 per cent, lowering them to 8 per cent.

However, key sectors such as telecommunications, finance, banking, securities, insurance, real estate, metal products and mining (except coal) would be excluded. Goods and services subject to special consumption tax, except gasoline, are also not covered.

The draft expands the list of eligible items for VAT reduction, including washing machines, microwaves, data processing services and prefabricated metal products including barrels, tanks and boilers. Additionally, gasoline and oil are proposed to receive tax cuts due to their critical role in production, consumption and overall macroeconomic stability.

According to the MoF, reducing VAT will lower the cost of goods and services, boosting production, business expansion and help job creation. The policy is also expected to benefit consumers directly by reducing the cost of essential goods and services, thereby improving living standards.

The MoF forecasts that the proposed VAT reduction will lead to a decrease in State budget revenue of more than VN121.74 trillion (US$4.8 billion). This includes VN39.54 trillion in the last six months of 2025 and VN82.2 trillion in 2026.

The ministry added that the VAT reduction policy, implemented since 2022 to aid post-pandemic recovery, has provided support worth VN123.8 trillion over the past three years. Over the past two months of this year alone, the tax cut amounted to an estimated VN8.3 trillion.  VNS
Violent escalation, aid blockade prompt UN staff reduction in Gaza

Xinhua) 08:50, March 25, 2025

This photo taken on March 24, 2025 shows the rubble of buildings damaged by an Israeli shelling in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

The UN chief renews his urgent call for the restoration of ceasefire to bring an end to the anguish in Gaza, but Israeli officials have indicated they intend to continue their military activities.

UNITED NATIONS, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Following the killing of hundreds of civilians, including UN staff, and the aid blockade, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has decided to reduce staff in the Gaza Strip, a UN spokesman said on Monday.

"The Secretary-General has taken the difficult decision to reduce the United Nations' footprint in Gaza, even as humanitarian needs soar and our concern over the protection of civilians intensifies," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Guterres, at a daily press briefing.

"The United Nations is not leaving Gaza," Dujarric said. "We remain committed to continuing to provide aid that civilians depend on for their survival and protection."

The spokesman said about 30 percent of the 100 international staff in Gaza, or about 30 people, were being withdrawn. Overall, there are about 13,000 UN personnel in Gaza, the bulk of them working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and most of them are national staff.

Palestinians wait to receive free food from a food distribution center in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, on March 22, 2025. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

"Based on the information that is currently available, the strikes hitting a UN compound in Deir Al Balah on (Wednesday) were caused by an Israeli tank shell," he said.

The strikes claimed the life of a UN colleague from Bulgaria and left six others, from France, Moldova, North Macedonia, Palestine and the United Kingdom, with severe injuries, some of them life-altering, according to Dujarric.

The spokesman told reporters that the UN compound's location was well known to Israeli forces. The secretary-general strongly condemns these strikes and demands a full, thorough and independent investigation into this incident.

This photo taken on March 24, 2025 shows the rubble of buildings damaged by an Israeli shelling in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Dujarric stressed that all parties must always comply fully with international law. Civilians must be respected, and they must be protected. The denial of lifesaving aid must end. The hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally.

"All states must use their leverage to stop the conflict and ensure respect for international law, by applying diplomatic and economic pressure and combating impunity," the spokesman said. "The secretary-general renews his urgent call for the restoration of the ceasefire to bring an end to the anguish."

However, Israeli officials have indicated they intend to continue their military activities in Gaza.

The aid blockade began more than three weeks ago when Israel cut off the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. It is the longest such suspension of assistance since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas raid on Israel.

Displaced Palestinian children are seen among temporary tents next to large piles of garbage in Gaza City, on March 21, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

The UN emergency relief coordinator, Tom Fletcher, said he continues to receive horrific reports from Gaza of more health workers, ambulances and hospitals attacked as they try to save survivors.

Dujarric said several casualties were reported after the surgical department of Nasser Medical Complex was hit and caught fire on Sunday. In Rafah, in southern Gaza, ambulances were reportedly hit in Tal Al Sultan, resulting in several casualties.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the United Nations and humanitarian partners continue to face constraints in providing health services.

"Our partners called for the entry of additional emergency medical teams into Gaza to help health workers already on the ground who are exhausted and, of course, overwhelmed," OCHA said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
HA NOI  Viet Nams Sanitary and Phytosanitary Notification Authority and Enquiry Point (SPS Viet Nam), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has received two new notifications from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) concerning proposals by the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) to amend maximum residue limits (MRLs) for certain chemical substances in agro-aquatic products.

According to notification G/SPS/N/EU/825 from the WTO SPS Committee Secretariat, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is drafting amendments to Regulation (EU) 2023/915 to establish new MRLs for inorganic arsenic in fish and other aquatic products.

The proposed MRLs range from 0.05 to 1.5 ppm, depending on the specific product.

Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) are the highest levels of pesticide or chemical residues legally allowed in food or animal feed, ensuring consumer safety based on scientific risk assessments.

The EU will allow certain products already on the market to remain in circulation until their expiration dates. The new regulation is expected to be officially published and take effect in July 2025.

SPS Viet Nam has warned that this adjustment may directly affect a variety of Vietnamese fish and seafood products currently exported to the EU.

Simultaneously, SPS Viet Nam has also received notification G/SPS/N/GBR/85 from the WTO SPS Committee regarding the UKs proposed changes to MRLs for the active substance haloxyfop-P, applicable to a wide range of food products.

Under the draft regulation, MRLs will be increased for various fruits including oranges, lemons, mandarins, apples, apricots, peaches, plums, grapes, bananas and sapodilla, as well as vegetables such as soybeans and peas.

Conversely, MRLs for carrots, leeks, parsley roots, sunflower seeds, and animal-derived products will be reduced  for instance, the MRLs for carrots, leeks, and parsley roots will be lowered from 0.09 mg/kg to 0.01 mg/kg.

For products not explicitly listed in the draft, the UK intends to apply a default MRL of 0.01 ppm (equivalent to 0.01 mg/kg). The regulation is expected to be issued on June 20 this year and come into effect on 19 December.

SPS Viet Nam has urged relevant ministries, enterprises, and industry associations to promptly study the proposed changes, provide feedback and inform relevant stakeholders to proactively adjust production processes and ensure compliance with technical standards, thereby avoiding potential export disruptions.  VNS
SINGAPORE  The Politburo's Resolution 57-NQ/TW could catapult Viet Nam past the middle-income trap by hinging its future on science, technology, and digital revolution, said Prof. Vu Minh Khuong from Singapores Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency, Khuong said "science  technology not only drives innovation but also demands a fundamental shift in mindset, particularly in national governance, aligning with global trends and resulting in management and administrative overhaul".

Commenting on the targets set for 2030 and 2045 in the resolution, which is on making breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, he urged more specific and tangible goals to be set to make the resolution relevant to the public. For public services, he suggested setting clear goals such as reducing processing times by half or two-thirds or even shifting fully online.

In industry, a clear roadmap should outline when Viet Nams industries will match the levels of Malaysia, Thailand, China, Germany, or Italy by 2030 and 2045, backed by highly capable leaders and strict annual and five-year progress checks. By embracing artificial intelligence (AI) across all sectors, Viet Nam could excel as a world-class medical hub or a drone technology leader.

With drones poised to yield tens of billions of US dollars soon, Viet Nams digital and engineering strengths position it to tap this booming sector. Drawing from Singapores digital transformation and innovation journey, Khuong highlighted the city-states proactive funding strategy.

Singapore provides State budget support for businesses to test and develop new ideas on a co-investment basis, fostering a culture of trust and minimising unnecessary doubts. Its Government focuses on transparency and post-audit oversight, allowing industry associations to manage their funds responsibly. More importantly, Singapore recognises that not every project will succeed, but as long as some deliver significant value, the overall strategy remains effective.

For a diverse and quality workforce, educational models in schools must be highly flexible and meet world-class standards. Khuong praised Singapores strategy of investing in top experts to teach  even if it comes at a high cost  as a model worth emulating. These experts dont just educate a few, they inspire and train hundreds or even thousands, creating ripple effects across entire industries.

Demand-driven education is equally critical. If a company requires 300500 workers, the Government should co-invest in training double that number, thereby supporting existing businesses and attracting new investments.

In his view, success hinges on identifying and empowering the right leaders, whether theyre local talents or international experts, to spearhead these efforts. A crucial first step is building a comprehensive database of specialists across semiconductor, biotechnology, healthcare, and AI. From there, Viet Nam can allocate dedicated budgets and resources to support targeted initiatives.  VNS
THUA THIEN HUE  Work commenced on two large-scale construction material plants in Hue City's Phong ien Industrial Zone with a total investment exceeding VN4.18 trillion (over US$163 million) on Tuesday.

A quartz sand processing plant, financed by Thua Thien Hue-based Creanza Advanced Materials JSC, spans over 12.7ha. The plant has a total investment exceeding VN2.18 trillion and is designed to produce approximately 72,000 tonnes of cristobalite and 1.6 million square metres of quartz stone annually.

Scheduled to begin operations in the first quarter of 2027, the facility aims to supply the domestic market while exporting high-quality cristobalite and quartz stone to European and American markets.

Meanwhile, a super white flower glass factory, developed by at Phuong Glass JSC, covers over 12ha. With a total investment of VN2 trillion, the factory is designed to produce 400 tonnes of glass products per day, equivalent to 19.2 million square metres annually.

The project which is slated for completion in the second quarter of 2027 aims to boost production, promote technology transfer and add value to Viet Nams rare quartz sand resources.

In his speech at the groundbreaking ceremony, chairman of the municipal People's Committee, Nguyen Van Phuong, said these two key projects are expected to drive significant progress in the city's manufacturing industry, contributing to the goal of achieving double-digit economic growth in line with the Government's direction.

He urged investors to allocate maximum resources to ensure the factories are completed on schedule and meet approved quality standards.

The chairman also vowed that city leaders are committed to supporting project implementation, pledging to direct relevant departments, agencies, and local authorities to coordinate closely with investors.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nams stock market edged up on Tuesday, buoyed by renewed interest in banking stocks and improved liquidity on both the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) and Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX). Meanwhile, foreign investors continued their net-selling streak, though at a significantly reduced pace compared to recent sessions.

On the HoSE, the VN-Index rose slightly by 1.6 points, or 0.12 per cent, to close at 1,331.92 points.

Market breadth was positive, with 177 advancers outnumbering 124 decliners. Trading liquidity improved to VN22.4 trillion (US$873.5 million), with more than one billion shares changing hands.

The VN30-Index, which tracks the 30 largest capitalised stocks, slipped slightly by 1.91 points, or 0.14 per cent, to 1,388.79 points. Within the VN30 basket, 16 stocks advanced, 10 declined and four remained flat.

The markets upward momentum was led by the banking group. The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BID) topped gains with a 1.53 per cent increase, contributing over one point to the VN-Index. Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (CTG) followed, rising 1.2 per cent and adding more than 0.67 points to the index.

Other key gainers included Vietnam Rubber Group - Joint Stock Company (GVR), up 1.32 per cent, and Vincom Retail Joint Stock Company (VRE), which rose 3.39 per cent.

On the downside, FPT Corporation (FPT) dropped 1.94 per cent, the Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (VCB) lost 0.45 per cent, and Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MBB) declined 0.82 per cent.

According to analysts at SHS Securities: The VN-Index continues to maintain a short-term growth trend, with the nearest support at 1,315 points  corresponding to the lowest price on 11 March 2025  and stronger support at 1,300 points. After a prolonged rally, the market is experiencing rebalancing pressure as the first quarter draws to a close and investors await new fundamental updates, especially Q1 earnings results.

In the short term, the market remains positively rotational and sector-divergent. The VN-Index is facing normal consolidation pressure from sector rotation. Several sectors such as securities and banking continue to perform well due to optimistic profit expectations, while leading real estate stocks are showing renewed opportunities after a prolonged decline.

A number of sectors, including technology, telecommunications, aviation and insurance, have undergone strong corrections and are now approaching attractive price levels, beginning to stabilise. Many stocks are reaching reasonable valuations, warranting further review for accumulation opportunities.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index declined by 0.59 per cent to close at 244.56 points. Trading value exceeded VN980 billion, with over 58 million shares exchanged.

Foreign investors extended their net-selling streak for the sixth consecutive session, though the volume of outflows eased significantly compared to previous days, with net sales worth nearly VN400 billion on the HoSE.  VNS
HA NOI  HSBC, in collaboration with its Singapore and Viet Nam branches, the Italian Export Credit Agency (SACE), and Landesbank Baden-Wurttemberg (LBBW), has entered into an agreement to provide a SACE Push facility for GELEX Infrastructure JSC.

GELEX Infrastructure is a sub-holding of the GELEX Group, a well-known investor and developer with a focus on sectors such as energy, industrial real estate, social housing, construction materials and clean water production and supply. This partnership aims to support GELEX Infrastructure in its long-term growth and capital expenditure initiatives.

The five-year facility, with a total value of approximately US$40 million, receives SACEs comprehensive financial guarantee covering 80 per cent of the loan. It will support GELEX Infrastructures capital expenditure for investing in its core business, facilitating corporates long-term growth strategies.

The SACE Push facility is financed by HSBC Singapore and LBBW acting as Mandated Lead Arrangers, while HSBC Singapore and HSBC Vietnam play roles of sole ECA Coordinating Bank, Facility and Security Agent and Account Bank.

The deals success once again evidences how HSBCs wide international network, deep expertise and thorough understanding of the local market allows us to meet the demands as Vietnamese companies continue to become more and more sophisticated in their financing needs, shared Tim Evans, CEO and Head of Banking, HSBC Vietnam, Through our strategic relationship, HSBC is honoured to accompany and support GELEX as they continue to grow internationally."

This deal also marks a new stage in HSBC and GELEXs strategic relationship, and opens up more possible opportunities for their cooperation in near future.

The Deputy General Director of GELEX Group, Le Tuan Anh, said This loan will help GELEX Infrastructure access long-term capital in foreign currency, promoting investment activities in our core business. We are committed to effectively using the funded capital to help the company develop sustainably. At the same time, I hope this will be the beginning of both organisations cooperation in other projects in the future.

Launched in 2017, the SACE Push programme aims to promote bilateral trade between Viet Nam and Italy by connecting buyers and suppliers in both markets. This ECA programme provides the guarantee for long-term financing without restricting the nature of goods and with no requirement for available contracts between buyers (borrowers) and Italian suppliers.

Participating buyers may enjoy easier access to funding thanks to SACEs financial guarantee, and receive SACEs economic incentive once a target amount of procurement from Italy is reached within an agreed period from the signing of the facility. Both buyers and suppliers will have opportunities to join SACEs match-making events, increasing opportunities to find suitable business partners.

This is the second time that HSBC has successfully arranged SACE Push facility for a Vietnamese corporate, following the successful deal for Nutifood in 2021.  VNS
HA GIANG  Breakthrough solutions, harmonious strategies, and close coordination between competent agencies and businesses are significant to promote trade between Viet Nam's northern mountainous province of Ha Giang and Wenshan in Chinas Yunnan province, according to insiders.

Despite robust development in their trade ties, the two mountainous localities have not yet capitalised on their immense potential, making trade revenue lagging behind expectations.

Connecting exporters and importers of both sides is the key to bolster the trade turnover, experts said, stating that the organistion of business networking forums provides them an opportunity to share information regarding market, demand, quality standards, and technical requirements for products.

Permanent Vice Chairman of the Ha Giang province Peoples Committee Hoang Gia Long laid stress on the significance of supporting mechanisms for enterprises such as tax and customs incentives, which help them save costs and reduce risks. He also called on competent agencies to join hands, promote cooperation, and create favourable conditions for businesses of both sides to seek partners and expand markets.

One significant hurdle has been the underutilisation of border checkpoints and border markets. While major crossings like the Thanh Thuy international border gate and the Xin Man national border gate continue to operate effectively, numerous auxiliary border gates and border markets remain untapped. Reviving these traditional trading points could substantially reduce transportation costs and stimulate bilateral trade.

The two administrations should also work to improve infrastructure, better customs clearance capacity, and ensure safety during goods exchanges.

Agricultural products remain the cornerstone of trade between Ha Giang and Wenshan. However, Ha Giang's agricultural exports currently struggle to meet the stringent technical standards of the Chinese market.

Vietnamese Consul General in Yunnan provinces Kunming city Hoang Minh Son highlighted the potential for technology and agricultural cooperation. By creating links between Yunnan's science and technology enterprises and Ha Giang's agricultural businesses, both sides can enhance productivity and product quality while increasing export revenue.

Ha Giang, a mountainous province located at Viet Nam's northernmost border, boasts unique products like Shan Tuyet tea, honey, and rare medicinal herbs. By focusing on quality, packaging, and market access strategies, these products could gain broader presence in Chinese markets. The province is targeting US$500 million in cross-border trade this year.

In 2024, the province trade revenue already demonstrated promising growth, reaching $308 million, up 5.1 per cent from 2023.  VNS
HA NOI  For more than 40 years, Lee Byeong-gu, the visionary CEO of Raydel Korea Co. Ltd., has left an enduring legacy in the global healthcare industry. His autobiography, Best Option, unveiled during a celebrated launch at Seouls Grand Hyatt Hotel, offers a compelling narrative that resonates with dreamers and doers alike, illuminating the path for aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide.

Born in South Korea, Mr. Lees entrepreneurial journey began in 1982 when he arrived in Australia with just $600 in his pocket. Undaunted by the uncertainties of a new country, he opened a nutrition store in 1986  a humble yet bold first step into the world of business. However, it was a serendipitous discovery years later that would redefine his life and career: policosanol, a Cuban-developed compound with remarkable potential to combat fatty liver and high cholesterol.

Fuelled by curiosity and ambition, Mr. Lee embarked on a 17,000-kilometre journey from Australia to Cuba to investigate this groundbreaking drug. That decision became a cornerstone of his success. Developed by Cubas National Scientific Research Institute (CNIC), policosanol supports cardiovascular health and is widely credited as a factor in the extraordinary longevity of Cubans, where life expectancy often reaches 100 years. For Mr. Lee, the discovery was both personal and professional  it offered a solution to his brothers health struggles and ignited a passion for improving lives through science.

This pivotal moment inspired him to establish the Raydel Health Research Institute in South Korea. With a clear vision and an unwavering commitment to public health, he partnered with Cuban experts and global researchers to pioneer innovative health solutions, particularly for hypertension and cholesterol management. His philosophy  blending long-term thinking with a deep sense of purpose  propelled Raydel to international prominence.

Today, Raydel thrives as a global enterprise, generating over $70 million in annual revenue and operating in 13 countries, including Australia, Japan, the US, Canada, and throughout Asia. Its flagship policosanol-based products have become a lifeline for millions, enhancing cardiovascular health and preventing life-threatening conditions. Mr. Lees dedication extends beyond business  he spends 120 days a year travelling the world to advocate for heart disease prevention and elevate global standards of well-being.

His contributions have not gone unnoticed. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Lees support for Cuba earned him the Carlos Finlay Order, the nations highest honour for advancements in science and humanity. This accolade reflects his broader mission: to blend innovation with compassion.

In an interview with a correspondent from the Vietnam News Agencys Seoul Bureau, Mr. Lee explained that his story is not about making the perfect decision, but rather about how to approach making the best possible choice. He emphasised that in life, we dont always make the best decisions, and thats perfectly fine. Each choice we make contributes to our growth, and through this process of learning and effort, we ultimately arrive at the best decision for ourselves.

In Best Option, Mr. Lee reflects on a life shaped not by flawless decisions, but by the courage to choose and adapt. Every decision, whether it succeeds or falters, is a step toward growth and better choices, he writes. More than a tale of entrepreneurial triumph, the book delivers a profound message about prioritising health as the foundation of a meaningful life.

For Mr. Lee, the best option is simple yet powerful: to live long and well, empowering each person to embrace a vibrant, fulfilling existence. His journey stands as a beacon  not just for those building businesses, but for anyone striving to make a difference in the world.  VNS
MOSCOW  Vietnamese Culture Week has been held at Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) in Moscow to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification of Viet Nam (April 30, 1975  2025).

The event featured a variety of activities designed to showcase the richness and diversity of Vietnamese culture to the international community.

Its highlight was a gala night titled "Journey of Reunification," which presented the most iconic cultural elements from Vietnams three regions - North, Central, and South - through music, traditional attire, cuisine, and dialects.

Speaking at the event, Nguyen Hai ang, Deputy Secretary of the Vietnamese Party Committee in Russia, emphasised the profound significance of Viet Nams reunification, calling it a lasting source of pride for all Vietnamese people.

He expressed confidence that younger generations studying abroad will carry forward this spirit, helping shape a new era of national development.

Vyacheslav Sokolov, head of student affairs for Asian countries at RUDN, highlighted the growing reputation of Vietnamese students cultural performances within the universitys multicultural and multilingual environment.

expressed his delight at the increasing number of Vietnamese students enrolling at RUDN and his belief that their experiences in Russia would leave a lasting impact, strengthening the friendship between the two nations.

Nguyen Thi Thuong, President of the Vietnamese Student Association at RUDN, underscored the importance of cultural promotion as a key mission for Vietnamese students. As part of Vietnamese Culture Week, exhibitions on Vietnam were held across multiple buildings within the campus. Additionally, international students had the opportunity to enjoy traditional cuisine from different regions of Viet Nam.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Building on impressive growth in international tourist arrivals during the first quarter of 2025, provinces and cities across Viet Nam are launching dynamic tourism promotion campaigns to sustain momentum and meet ambitious visitor targets.

The country aims to welcome 22-23 million international arrivals and 120-130 million domestic travellers this year.

To capitalise on early-year success, various destinations are rolling out engaging programmes to attract visitors.

a Nang will step up its 2025 tourism campaign, "Enjoy a Nang 2025  Diverse Experiences", showcasing fresh travel experiences and exclusive service packages for both local and international guests.

The central city vows to maintain top-notch service quality, ensure safety, and uphold transparent business practices to reinforce its image as a welcoming and vibrant destination.

Meanwhile, central Nghe An Province will mark the Sen Village Festival 2025 and unveil the President Ho Chi Minhs Homecoming statue to commemorate the 135th anniversary of the late leaders birth. Complementing these events will be a sen-themed culinary zone and "One Commune, One Product" (OCOP) showcases, spotlighting local delicacies and crafts.

Quang Nam, another tourist magnet in the central region, will stage a unique exhibition celebrating Viet Nams tourism, cultural heritage, scenic landmarks, and traditional crafts.

The province will also host the Quang Nam International Cuisine Festival 2025 and introduce enticing travel deals during major tourism events like the HCM City Tourism Festival and the Viet Nam International Travel Mart (VITM) in Ha Noi. Notably, it will promote its tourism offerings at EXPO 2025 Osaka in Japan.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  The annual Viet Nam International Travel Mart (VITM) will feature 450 booths, attracting the participation of 60 tourism promotion agencies from both domestic and international markets, eight airlines, 16 countries and territories, along with over 600 businesses, the Viet Nam Tourism Associaton confirmed at a press conference on March 25.

This years event is themed 'Developing Green Destinations, Elevating Vietnams Tourism' and will be held between April 10 - 13 at the ICE Hanoi International Exhibition Centre, at the Cultural Friendship Palace, No 91 Tran Hung ao, Ha Noi.

Particular focus will be on spreading the goal of developing Viet Nam's tourism towards sustainable and green growth.

Speaking at the press conference, Cao Thi Ngoc Lan, Vice President of the Viet Nam Tourism Association (VITA), said it will be building on the VITM Ha Noi 2024 fair, which had the theme 'Viet Nam Tourism Goes Green for Sustainable Development'.

This introduced a new trend to Viet Nam's tourism, developing responsible tourism linked to environmental conservation for sustainable development.

Continuing this, at the 2025 fair, VITM will announce and introduce Viet Nams typical green destinations, attractive and diverse green tourism products to attract businesses and visitors to the fair, Lan said.

At the VITM Ha Noi 2025 fair, visitors will have many exciting experiences through promotional programmes including across tours, airline tickets, hotel rooms, OCOP local products and many attractive destinations across the country.

So far, over 1,200 appointments have been made through the VITM system.

At the fair, the VITA will set up an area showcasing some of the achievements of the digital transformation programme, including introducing applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and robots in the tourism, hotel and service sectors.

Regarding tourism promotion activities, the fair will feature many business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) meetings, as well as various international and domestic tourism promotion activities, introducing products, destinations, promotional packages, and new tourism technologies and trends, along with programmes and tourism events from domestic and international locations.

Within the expo, there will be a forum 'Developing Green Destinations, Elevating Vietnams Tourism' on April 11, which is expected to welcome 300 delegates including representatives from government agencies, tourism experts from Viet Nam and abroad, business leaders and destination management agencies, as well as media agencies.

The delegates will exchange and discuss ideas around the development of green destinations in tourism, implementing initiatives for reaching out and expanding the market for green tourism business models, and promoting digital transformation to boost the development of Viet Nam's tourism in general and green tourism in particular.

The 'Viet Nam Tourism Enterprises and Individuals of 2024' award ceremony is also a regular activity of the VITA, honouring exemplary businesses and individuals in the tourism sector for their outstanding achievements and positive contributions. The ceremony, which covers areas such as accommodation, travel and tourism services, is scheduled for the afternoon of April 10.

At the fair, many localities, destinations, and businesses will organise their specific tourism promotion activities, such as the 'Promote and Promote Quang Nam Tourism' conference, the tourism promotion conference of Bac Giang province with the theme 'Bac Giang  A Green Destination of Viet Nam Tourism' and the introduction of the ITE 2025 exhibition in HCM City.

Visitors can look forward to the VITM art performances, always vibrant and colourful, with special shows for the traditional cultural elements of art troupes from both domestic and international locations, performing on the main stage of the fair.

In addition there will be tuna processing performances by a chef from Phu Yen, cultural art troupes from a Nang and performances from Malaysia, Taiwan (China), and others.

VITM Ha Noi 2025 is not just a tourism fair but also a platform for exchange, cooperation and sustainable development for Viet Nams tourism industry.

VITM Ha Noi 2025 is especially meaningful because 2025 is a year of green transformation and digital transformation in the tourism sector, while Viet Nams tourism is promoting international tourism and building and positioning the countrys tourism brand in the international market, Lan said. - VNS
On March 1, Viet Nam officially established the Ministry of Ethnic Minority and Religious Affairs by merging a ministry-level committee in charge of ethnic affairs with a sub-ministry-level committee responsible for religious matters.

This move, announced at a ceremony in Ha Noi, reflects the countrys broader efforts to streamline its bureaucracy while addressing the intertwined needs of ethnic minorities and religious communities.

Heres a breakdown of what this new ministry entails, why it was created, and what it means for the country.

What is the Ministry of Ethnic Minority and Religious Affairs?

The Ministry of Ethnic Minority and Religious Affairs was established by merging the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, a ministerial-level body, with the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, which was formerly under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The new ministry takes on a dual mandate: managing state policies on ethnic affairs and religious beliefs and overseeing related public services.

It is headquartered at 349 oi Can Street, Ha Noi, and is led by Minister ao Ngoc Dung, a former Minister of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs.

It was officially launched on March 1, 2025, following a parliamentary resolution passed in February.

How is the new Ministry structured?

The ministry comprises 13 departmental-level units, down from the 16 units under the former Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs. This reduction reflects deliberate efforts to streamline operations.

This structure includes nine units assisting the minister in state management functions and four units supporting public service management.

Staffing totals 998 personnel, including five ministry leaders, 79 department-level leaders, and 914 employees.

Compared to its predecessor, the ministry has abolished four units, including the Department of Ethnic Minorities, while absorbing the Government Committee for Religious Affairs.

Previously a directorate-level body with 14 subordinate units under the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Government Committee for Religious Affairs has been re-organised as a department-level entity with seven units in the new ministry.

What will the Ministry do?

The Ministry of Ethnic Minority and Religious Affairs has a broader mandate than the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs it replaces.

Its responsibilities include managing state policies on ethnic affairs across Viet Nam and overseeing religious beliefs and practices, a role inherited from the Government Committee for Religious Affairs.

This dual focus aims to enhance the material and spiritual well-being of Viet Nams 54 ethnic groups, particularly its 53 minority groups, while further promoting the freedom of beliefs and religions.

Why was it created?

The establishment of the ministry serves two key purposes:

Streamlining government operations: Viet Nam has been working to reduce administrative overlaps since the Communist Partys Resolution 18 in 2017, which called for merging agencies with similar functions.

The new ministrys 13 units represent a reduction from the combined 17 units of its predecessor bodies, aligning to cut the number of ministries from 22 to 17 during the 2021-2026 term.

Unified policy on ethnic and religious affairs: Ethnic identity and religion are closely linked in Viet Nam, especially among minority groups. A single ministry is intended to ensure cohesive policymaking, avoiding inefficiencies and lack of coordination that arose when these areas were managed separately.

At the launch ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasised that the ministry reflects the Party and States growing focus on ethnic and religious affairs.

"The goal is to strengthen unity among ethnic groups and religions, contributing to the countrys overall development," he said.

How did this come about?

The ministrys creation is the culmination of years of planning:

2017: The Communist Party of Vietnams Resolution 18 set out a vision to restructure agencies with overlapping tasks.

December 2023: A national conference proposed transferring the Government Committee for Religious Affairs to the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs as a precursor to forming a unified body.

January 2025: The Partys Central Committee endorsed a plan to reduce the number of ministries, including establishing the Ministry of Ethnic Minority and Religious Affairs.

February 2025: At an extraordinary session, Viet Nams National Assembly passed Resolution 176/2025/QH15 formalising the ministrys creation.

March 1, 2025: The ministry was officially launched.

Whats next for the Ministry?

The government has assigned the ministry with specific tasks for 2025:

Education: Partnering with the Ministry of Education and Training to build more boarding schools for ethnic minority students, reducing the need for children to trek dozens of kilometres to school.

Religious Development: Drafting a plan to foster religious growth.

Ethnic Policies: Strengthening policies on culture preservation, leadership training for ethnic minorities, and support for community leaders.

Viet Nams 53 ethnic minority groups make up about 14 per cent of its 100 million people, many living in remote areas with distinct cultural customs and religious practices.

By unifying ethnic minority and religious governance, the ministry aims at a more integrated approach to development, one that could reduce inequality and boost national unity.

As the country enters "a new era of the nations rise", balancing these priorities will be key to its social and political stability.  VNS
Discussing a proposed plan to merge provinces and reduce their number by around 50 per cent, historian Duong Trung Quoc speaks with the Dan Tri online newspaper about a past era, when Viet Nam's provincial structure closely matched today's reorganisation objectives.

Can you briefly outline Viet Nams historical experiences with provincial mergers and splits?

Throughout Viet Nams history, provincial mergers and splits frequently occurred, driven by changes in land area, population, natural conditions, and socio-economic circumstances. Adjustments to administrative divisions have always been essential for effective governance, a universal practice reflected clearly in Vietnamese history.

Viet Nams territory extends from north to south. Under the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), the country's territorial governance became notably stable. Following the defeat of the Tay Son dynasty and the unification of the country in 1802, Emperor Gia Long established Phu Xuan (modern-day Hue) as the capital. It was strategically positioned to facilitate communication between the northern and southern regions, given the eras limited transportation and slow means of communication.

A significant administrative restructuring occurred under Emperor Minh Mang, Gia Longs successor, to create a stable governance model that remains a reference point for today's administrative planning. Minh Mang reorganised administrative units, replacing the older townships system with provinces (tinh). At that time, Viet Nam comprised 30 provinces and the Thua Thien capital area. Provinces were further divided into prefectures, districts, and communes.

The historic division into 31 provinces aligns closely with today's proposal to reduce provinces by approximately 50 per cent, showing that maintaining a smaller number of provinces is not unprecedented in Vietnamese history.

What similarities exist between the 31-province structure under Emperor Minh Mang and the current restructuring proposal?

During the Nguyen Dynasty, Viet Nam had a significantly smaller population than today, and its society and economic activities were far simpler. Under the feudal system, villages funtioned as self-governing administrative units. Each village elected its own chief, who was the sole local official integrated into the state administration.

Yet, there was a common principle: the district and canton levels occupied strategic positions to gather village representatives and maintain connections with the capital. At the state level, the monarchs most meaningful intervention was conferring spiritual legitimacy through royal decrees honouring village guardian spirits. Villages fulfilled their obligations by adequately providing taxes, soldiers and labourers, when required.

Thus, the traditional administrative structure was essentially simple, consisting of just two effective levels. District and canton administrations were mere transitional points, thinly staffed but strategically located for communication.

The most recent major wave of administrative mergers occurred in the 1960s. In the North, recognising that certain provinces were small in area and sparse in population, and considering the socio-economic conditions at the time, the Party and Government merged provinces such as Hai Hung (Hung Yen and Hai Duong merged in 1968), Bac Thai (Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan merged in 1965), and Vinh Phu (Vinh Phuc and Phu Tho merged in 1968).

After national reunification in 1975, the consolidation of various localities continued, reducing the number of provinces and cities to only 38 by 1976.

Entering the oi Moi period (19861990), the demand arose for smaller provinces to better facilitate economic growth and infrastructure development. Consequently, numerous provinces were divided, resulting in a total of 64 provinces and cities by 2004. Following the integration of Ha Tay Province, four communes from Hoa Binh Province and Me Linh District (formerly part of Vinh Phuc) into Ha Noi in 2008, Viet Nam settled into the current structure of 63 provinces and cities.

Considering the historical context of provincial splits and mergers, what do you identify as the most significant difference in the ongoing administrative restructuring compared to past efforts, which will shape the direction of mergers?

Historically, the splitting of provinces generated momentum for regional development. Today, however, development demands have highlighted structural issues within local governance models, necessitating a more appropriate spatial development strategy. The administrative system clearly shows inefficiencies due to excessive bureaucracy, creating numerous bottlenecks in management and operation.

Meanwhile, infrastructure and information technology have advanced dramatically, making it entirely possible to oversee and manage extensive regions remotely.

I fully agree with streamlining the administrative system, including reorganising provinces, potentially eliminating district-level administrations and reviewing communal-level administrations. Along with reducing the number of administrative units, the overarching aim is to enhance their operational quality and efficiency.

As you've mentioned, the criteria and requirements for this administrative restructuring are now fundamentally different. They no longer simply revolve around population size, area or geographical regions, but instead require a new approach to spatial development planning. Has this also been a key point emphasised by the Communist Party of Vietnam's Politburo and the Secretariat?

Regarding the criteria for administrative restructuring, according to Conclusion 127-KL/TW, the Politburo and Secretariat clearly state that when developing proposals for provincial mergers, aside from considerations of population size and geographical area, we must carefully examine national master plans, regional and local planning strategies, socio-economic development strategies, sectoral development, expansion of development spaces and leveraging comparative advantages. These elements should serve as scientific bases and foundational principles for restructuring, fulfilling each localitys developmental needs and aligning with the vision for the upcoming period.

I strongly agree with this set of criteria. As our leaders have pointed out, these principles reflect a strategic vision that extends hundreds of years into the future. Moreover, when merging provinces, we must carefully consider factors such as cultural and historical traditions, geopolitical and geoeconomic positions, as well aslocal identities. VNS
HA NOI  Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's official visit to Viet Nam from March 25-26 is expected to further enhance the newly upgraded comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP) between the two nations, Singaporean Ambassador to Viet Nam Jaya Ratnam told the press ahead of the trip.

According to the diplomat, this will be PM Wongs first official visit to Viet Nam since taking office, following Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lams visit to Singapore less than two weeks ago. While the Party chief was in the island state, the two countries elevated their relations to a CSP, the first between Singapore and an ASEAN country.

However, the sides are not content and are determined to push ahead, the ambassador noted. Wongs visit so soon after Lams reflects the importance the countries place on their relationship and their urgency to build on strong momentum to take bilateral ties to a new era.

Ratnam informed the local press about the PMs packed and intense programme in Viet Nam, focussing on substantive talks with top Vietnamese leaders, including Party General Secretary Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. In fact, Wong and Chinh inaugurated their first annual meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Laos last year.

The diplomat said the major takeaway from the Vietnamese Party leaders visit to Singapore was the reaffirmation of the nations collective commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation. Wongs Ha Noi schedule reflects that agenda  the ways Viet Nam and Singapore can tighten their bonds of friendship to weather the storm together, build up their resilience, and emerge even stronger from current global strains.

Ratnam also said the two nations are natural partners complementary in terms of their competitive advantages and can support each other in areas of comparative weakness.

Their CSP is not just in name but reflects their high level of ambition for the relationship, he assessed. It has also provided a strategic frame to the sides Green-Digital Economic Partnership Agreement concluded in 2023 by PM Chinh and then Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong.

The diplomat went on highlighting two new bilateral initiatives under implementation.

The first is the Viet Nam - Singapore Energy Partnership (VSEP), which involves major investments by both sides in offshore wind power and subsea cables serving as building blocks of a future ASEAN Power Grid (APG). This will position Viet Nam as a regional hub for the green economy. The recent visit of General Secretary Lam also opened up new prospects for bilateral electricity trade cooperation, bringing the two countries closer in this sector.

The second is the sides joint work on carbon credits to help them achieve their respective climate commitments and unlock green investment opportunities in Viet Nam. Singapore is working on the implementation agreement on carbon credit collaboration, with the intent that it be the first between ASEAN countries.

Therefore, the upgrade of bilateral ties to a CSP brings the two countries and economies closer together and contributes to bilateral, regional, and international interests, affirmed the diplomat.

According to him, in 2024, Singapore became Viet Nams second-largest source of FDI with cumulative investments exceeding US$81 billion across approximately 3,800 projects. Viet Nam was Singapores 11th largest trading partner last year and 9th in January 2025.

As Viet Nam enters its new era of high economic growth, Singapores engagement will only increase, the ambassador said.

He expressed his confidence that the future of bilateral relationship is very bright as the nations share a common challenge and are committed to working together for mutual support. The glue that holds our relationship together is our ever-growing people-to-people ties.

Singapore remains a strong supporter of Viet Nams human resource development, the diplomat added. Under the Singapore Cooperation Programme, it has trained more than 22,000 Vietnamese government officials. Over the past two years, Singapore has expanded the scope and scale of such collaborations, especially through the launch of the Singapore Viet Nam Innovation Talent Exchange.

As more Vietnamese work, visit or study in Singapore, and Singaporeans do the same in Viet Nam  these networks of friendships are poised to grow even stronger, which will support our expanding bilateral relations, he said.  VNS
Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to Viet Nam Antonios Papakostas wrote for Viet Nam News on the country's Independence Day, March 25

As the newly appointed Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, it is my privilege to share the special significance of March 25, Greek Independence Day, which this year coincides beautifully with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two nations.

March 25 commemorates Greeces historic struggle for independence, initiated in 1821, after centuries of Ottoman rule. The inspiring call for 'Freedom or Death' mobilised Greeks to achieve sovereignty in 1829, establishing Greece as a free and democratic nation within Europe. Every year, Greeks worldwide celebrate this occasion with pride and joy, reaffirming our enduring commitment to freedom, democracy and peace.

The story of Greece's quest for independence resonates deeply here in Viet Nam, a nation that has also demonstrated remarkable resilience and courage in its own historical journey towards independence. The shared experiences of overcoming adversity and the profound respect for self-determination provide the solid foundation for the strong and lasting friendship between our two countries.

Indeed, this year we proudly mark the golden jubilee of our diplomatic relations, first established on April 15, 1975. Over these 50 years, Greece and Viet Nam have fostered a robust partnership, built on mutual respect, understanding and shared values. Despite geographical distance, our two countries have successfully collaborated across various domains, from political exchanges to growing trade, cultural dialogue and educational cooperation.

This anniversary gives us the opportunity to refresh and strengthen our political dialogue via the exchange of high-level visits.

Cultural exchanges in both Athens and Ha Noi will further enrich our understanding, showcasing Viet Nams vibrant traditions to Greek audiences and introducing Greek history, literature and cuisine to Vietnamese friends.

Our bilateral ties have been further strengthened by continuous support in international arenas. This tradition of mutual support continues strongly today, particularly significant as Greece assumes a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2025-2026.

During our tenure, Greece will champion the principles of Dialogue, Diplomacy and Democracypriorities closely aligned with Viet Nams commitment to international law, peaceful dispute resolution and addressing global challenges, such as climate change, security and sustainable development. Viet Nams recent successful tenure on the Council (2020-2021) enhances the prospects for meaningful cooperation and coordination between our two nations on global matters, reinforcing the voice and interests of small and medium-sized countries in international affairs.

The economic partnership between Greece and Viet Nam has grown positively, particularly following the EUViet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). Yet, considerable untapped potential remains. Greece proudly ratified the EUViet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) early, signalling confidence in Viet Nams economic growth. Both nations recognise exciting opportunities in maritime transport, shipbuilding, renewable energy, tourism, agriculture and education. We are dedicated to facilitating deeper business collaboration, aiming to swiftly finalise pending agreements on taxation, labour and maritime cooperation, providing a clearer legal framework for investors.

The honour of recently presenting my credentials to President Luong Cuong on March 17, just days before our national day, has reinforced my commitment to furthering our friendship. President Cuong highlighted the importance of enhancing investment and trade cooperation and expressed appreciation for Greeces ongoing support in advocating Viet Nams interests within the European Union, particularly concerning sustainable fishing practices and trade facilitation.

We are confident that Viet Nam will reciprocate this support in the framework of ASEAN.

Looking ahead, there is immense potential in expanding tourism between our countries, allowing more Vietnamese visitors to discover Greeces historical landscapes and Greek tourists to enjoy Viet Nams natural beauty and vibrant culture. Strengthening academic links through scholarships, educational exchanges, and heritage preservation efforts will further enhance mutual understanding among our youth.

As we celebrate this dual anniversary, the spirit of unity and mutual respect continues to guide our relations. Inspired by a traditional Greek proverb, 'Unity gives strength', I am confident that Viet Nam and Greece will continue to walk hand in hand toward shared prosperity, peace and deeper friendship in the decades ahead. VNS
HA NOI  Foreign Minister of Brazil Mauro Vieira highlighted the significance of Brazilian President Lula da Silvas upcoming state visit to Viet Nam, stating that it will mark a new chapter in their bilateral relations.

In a recent interview with the Vietnam News Agency, Vieira said Brazil considered Viet Nam a trusted friend and an important ally in the Southern Hemisphere, stressing that the diplomatic ties between the two countries had been built on friendship, cooperation, and mutual respect.

Since Lula da Silvas return to office in January 2023, Viet Nam-Brazil relationship had gained significant momentum, the FM said, adding that Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs historic visit to Brazil in September 2023, the first ever by a Vietnamese Prime Minister, marked a milestone in the renewed engagement between the two sides.

For Brazil's priority areas of cooperation to further strengthen relations with Viet Nam in the coming time, Vieira said at their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro last November, President Lula and PM Chinh took a historic step in elevating the bilateral ties to a strategic partnership, and this milestone reflected the strength of diplomatic relations and the enduring friendship between Brazil and Viet Nam.

According to Vieira, the upgrade of the bilateral ties has underscored the breadth of the two sides shared agenda and common vision for reformed global governance rooted in peace and development. Both countries are committed to pursuing multilateralism, the rule of law, and peaceful settlement of disputes, with the UN at the core of the international system.

"Our societies share aspirations for stability, prosperity, and sustainable development," he said.

Brazil was developing an action plan to implement the strategic partnership, serving as a roadmap for cooperation in key areas such as defence, science - technology, innovation, agriculture, environmental sustainability, and energy transition, the minister said, stressing that these areas would hold great potential for stronger cooperation.

He expressed his belief that new cooperative areas would emerge as the partnership continues to grow.

Brazil highly values its economic partnership with Viet Nam, as reflected in the commitment to expanding bilateral trade with set ambitious targets that requires joint efforts from both countries, according to the FM.

The two countries vowed to raise bilateral trade to US$10 billion by 2025 and $15 billion by 2030.

Regarding the prospect of negotiating a free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), the FM said "since Brazil is a member of the MERCOSUR, every trade negotiation involving tariff concessions requires a decision by its members. We are collaboratively evaluating the most suitable framework for deeper economic cooperation with Viet Nam, considering the economic policies of our nations."

Strengthening economic ties between Brazil and Viet Nam would depend on promoting the bilateral agenda on issues of common concern such as investment, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures, he said, noting that this would foster a more comprehensive economic partnership, which would drive sustainable growth and prosperity for both countries.

On Brazils priorities to address climate change, Vieira said the 30th Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 30), set to take place in Belem, Brazil, this November, would be a turning point in climate action, advancing progress across the five pillars of mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology, and capacity building.

Brazil would give priority to just transition, an inclusive and equitable low-carbon economy, he said, stressing that the transition must promote social justice, reduce inequalities and create opportunities for sustainable and dignified livelihoods.

These priorities would shape the COP 30 agenda. Its success would be measured not only by negotiated agreements but also by the ability to drive real transformative action, he added.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  The Viet Nam Women's Union (VWU) Central Committee, in collaboration with UN Women in Viet Nam, organised an intergenerational forum themed Women and Gender Equality in the New Era in Ha Noi on Tuesday.

The event, drawing about 200 delegates, aimed at acknowledging Vietnamese women's contributions to the country's socio-economic development, and affirming the achievements in gender equality promotion and women empowerment over the 30 years of implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Participants also recommended solutions to enhance the roles of women and the younger generation in advancing gender equality progress in the nation's new era.

In her opening speech, VWU President Nguyen Thi Tuyen affirmed that in Viet Nam, gender equality has always been recognised by the Party and State as one of the major goals, and it has consistently been prioritised throughout the nation building and development process.

Over the past three decades, the country has stayed determined to realise the objectives of the Beijing Platform for Action, with positive results achieved in all 12 areas as outlined in the Platform.

Currently, the percentage of female deputies in the Vietnamese National Assembly, 30.26 per cent, is high compared to others in the Asia-Pacific region. Vietnamese women make up 46.8 per cent of the national workforce, 28.2 per cent of business owners, and 14.4 per cent of Viet Nam's personnel in peacekeeping forces, higher than the UN average of 10.2 per cent, Tuyen noted.

Over the past 30 years, the VWU has always played a leading role in promoting gender equality and empowering women through the implementation of numerous programmes and activities at all levels. It has collaborated with UN Women in Viet Nam to develop and implement various programmes and activities, making significant contributions to the achievements in these aspects, she added.

Caroline Nyamayemombe, UN Women Country Representative in Viet Nam, stated that this forum inspired action to achieve gender equality in Viet Nam's new era  that of the nations rise. It serves as a reminder that it is necessary to unite generations of Vietnamese people  both men and women  as equal partners in breaking down barriers and shaping a future free from discrimination and violence.

The most important is to place young people, especially young women, in leadership positions today, she stressed.

Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam, highlighted that investing more in women and girls to bridge the gender gap in digital skills is crucial, not only for promoting gender equality and transforming occupational discrimination but also for reaping the benefits of the growing digital economy.

With digital transformation identified as a new growth driver in the Politburos Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, Viet Nam must invest in digital literacy training for women and girls, especially in rural areas, she suggested.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam and Singapore should tighten collaboration on science, technology and innovation, and strengthen the connection between private enterprises to participate in global value chains so as to promote economic cooperation, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung said on Tuesday.

Welcoming Singaporean Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng in Ha Noi, Dung affirmed that the upgrade of the bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the official visit to Singapore by Party General Secretary To Lam in early March serves as a solid foundation toward a new height, based on political trust and strategic confidence, enhancing the two countries' collaboration across all areas, particularly in the fields of economy, finance, and investment.

Singapore is currently a major partner of Viet Nam in terms of trade, economy, and investment. In 2024, two-way trade reached US$10.3 billion, marking a year-on-year increase of 14.7 per cent. Singapore is the largest ASEAN investor and ranks second among 147 countries and territories pouring capital into Viet Nam. Singapore has a total of 3,915 valid investment projects totaling over $83 billion. Businesses from Singapore have invested in 18 out of the 21 sectors and are present in 54 out of the 63 cities and provinces of Viet Nam.

The two sides have jointly built many legal frameworks and mechanisms for bilateral, regional, and multilateral cooperation. They are both members of various trade agreements, such as the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The Deputy PM praised the effective operations of 18 Viet Nam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) across Viet Nam, which have effectively met its development needs. He emphasised the need to upgrade and develop new-generation VSIPs with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and enhancing environmental and social responsibility.

He said that recently, Party General Secretary To Lam signed a significant policy aimed at creating breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. The policy focuses on developing a digital government, digital economy, digital society, digital citizens, and a high-level digital cultural industry, which is considered crucial elements for the nations development and key to Viet Nam's growth in the new era.

The Deputy PM said he is confident that the Viet Nam-Singapore Innovation Talent Exchange Programme (ITX) will be effectively implemented in the near future, providing opportunities for young workers from both countries to hone their skills, share knowledge, and gain practical experience in diverse work environments. He urged the relevant ministries and agencies from both sides to continue discussions and agree on the procedures and plans for quick implementation of the programme.

Dung also praised the collaboration between the Viet Nam Innovation Centre and Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research, calling for even stronger ties and the development of concrete programmes and products that will turn commitments into tangible support for businesses in both countries.

Tan highlighted the strong foundations for continued growth in economic, investment, and trade cooperation between Singapore and Viet Nam. The Viet Nam-Singapore Connectivity Framework Agreement is driving bilateral cooperation across five key areas - energy transformation, sustainable development, infrastructure, digital technology, and innovation, he noted. These areas are expected to significantly boost bilateral economic ties in the coming years.

He underscored that economic collaboration remains central to the comprehensive strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Singapore and is a key focus for further growth.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Minister of Defence, General Phan Van Giang acknowledged and congratulated the efforts of all forces participating in the joint parade and march on the 50th Anniversary of the South Liberation and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975).

Inspecting the parade rehearsal held at the National Centre for Military Training No.4 in Ha Noi on Tuesday, he stated that this was an honourable mission and glorious responsibility.

The general said that for the 50th anniversary celebration, armies from other countries also asked to join the Viet Nam People's Army in the parade.

The joy is not only for Viet Nam, the Vietnamese people and the heroic Viet Nam People's Army, but also for all peace-loving people around the world. This is something we highly appreciate and acknowledge, not only when we were still at war and the country was divided into two regions, but now that the country has been at peace after half a century, General Giang said.

Asking that agencies, soldiers and civilians learn from the problems that remain, the defence chief noted that all issues can be overcome with determination.

Military members participating in the parade and march must continue to actively practice and master the movements, according to the tasks for each force.

They should overcome all difficulties, take full advantage of the time to practice and strictly enforce discipline.

The general emphasised that all efforts are recognised for their utmost spirit and determination. At the same time, he assigned relevant agencies to review and ensure timely and appropriate rewards for the march participants.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister of Singapore Lawrence Wong and his spouse arrived in Ha Noi on Tuesday afternoon, beginning a two-day official visit to Viet Nam.

He and his entourage were welcomed at Noi Bai International Airport by Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong, Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Tran Phuoc Anh.

Singaporean Government's leader was accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng, and Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and for Health Rahayu Mahzam, along with senior officials.

This official visit to Viet Nam by PM Wong takes place at a time when the two countries are working to realise cooperation potential within the framework of the newly upgraded Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which was reached during the recent visit to Singapore by Party General Secretary To Lam on March 12.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore, as the visit takes place just over a week after Viet Nam's Party General Secretary To Lam's trip to Singapore, it is a step toward implementing the perceptions and agreements reached by the two countries' high-ranking leaders during Lam's visit.

Singaporean Ambassador to Viet Nam Jaya Ratnam said the major takeaway from the Vietnamese Party leaders visit to Singapore was the reaffirmation of the nations collective commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation. Wongs Ha Noi schedule reflects that agenda  the ways Viet Nam and Singapore can tighten their bonds of friendship to weather the storm together, build up their resilience, and emerge even stronger from current global strains.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered breakthrough policies to revolutionise the education and healthcare systems while chairing a government meeting with the Ministries of Education and Training, and Health in Ha Noi on Tuesday.

The discussion centred on the draft proposals for the issuance of two resolutions on national target programmes, covering education and training development, and public healthcare, population, and development for the 2026-35 period.

PM Chinh ordered the two ministries to integrate feedback from the permanent Cabinet members and the Standing Board of the Governments Party Committee, establish a dedicated task force to review existing policies, and ensure that all plans align with directives from Party General Secretary To Lam. He stated that the final submissions must be concise and focused with specific goals, projects, and timelines to guarantee feasibility and effectiveness.

For the national target program on education and training development, he demanded an approach to human development that cultivates not just academic knowledge, but also ethical character, cultural awareness, and creativity potential.

Specific directives must include ways to improve education quality and promote the responsibilities of teachers, students, State, families and society in education development, he stated, highlighting the need to ensure equitable educational access.

PM Chinh further stressed the importance of mobilisng resources, particularly through public-private partnership, to advance education and training. Other key initiatives include promoting Vietnamese language education and cultural heritage awareness among overseas Vietnamese, fostering international cooperation, prioritising the development of high-quality human resources, improving foreign language proficiency, and tailoring education models to regional and local needs.

For the national target program on healthcare, population and development, the Government leader said it must address current challenges in medical services, meet healthcare requirements and improve population quality, noting enhanced investment in medical infrastructure, equipment, and human resources.

A key focus will be the strengthening of preventive medicine and primary healthcare systems as essential pillars for safeguarding public health. The government aims to ensure that all citizens have regular access to medical check-ups and early healthcare interventions, particularly for children and the elderly.

A critical target is deploying 1,000 doctors to grassroots healthcare facilities in 2025 to foster primary healthcare coverage, he added.

The PM also underscored the importance of the digitalisation of student records and public health documentation.

He urged the ministries to expedite their finalisation of the documents and ensure high-quality submissions for approval.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of its Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation Nguyen Trong Nghia hosted a delegation of the People's Daily of China, led by its Editor-in-Chief Chen Jianwen, in Ha Noi on Tuesday, during which the former called for stronger press cooperation between the two nations.

Nghia expressed his delight at the positive development of the Viet Nam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in recent times, stressing that Viet Nam considers developing relations with China a top priority and a strategic choice in its foreign policy.

He hoped that in the coming time, the two countries will continue to effectively implement the agreements and common perceptions reached by the two Parties' and nations' high-ranking leaders, thus further deepening and elevating the bilateral relations, and building a Viet Nam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

Highly valuing the contributions of press agencies from both countries, including Nhan Dan (People) Newspaper of Viet Nam and the People's Daily of China, in strengthening mutual understanding between Vietnamese and Chinese people, Nghia suggested the two media outlets continue to build on their achievements and maintain their pioneering role in promoting the achievements and prospects of the good friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and China.

He suggested the Vietnamese Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation and the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and press agencies from both countries to foster delegation exchanges and share experiences, theories, and practical insights on Party building and protecting the ideological foundation of the Parties, towards reinforcing political trust, and practically and comprehensively stepping up the bilateral cooperation.

For his part, Chen said the visit had provided valuable insights, noting that the innovative communication methods and creative journalistic products of Nhan Dan Newspaper had inspired his delegation with many ideas for renovating Party journalism.

Sharing Nghia's views on cooperation between the two countries in communication and journalism, Chen expressed his hope that the two side's press agencies will continue to boost their cooperation, contributing effectively to promoting the Viet Nam-China relations.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  A 403km railway linking Lao Cai, Ha Noi, and Hai Phong, will be built to meet the growing passenger and freight transport demands of the countrys second-largest economic corridor, a senior official said.

Nguyen KhanH Tung, Deputy Director of the Railway Project Management Board under the Ministry of Construction, said Viet Nam is currently developing 13 economic corridors to drive national growth.

He revealed that the Lao Cai-Ha Noi-Hai Phong corridor ranks second only to the North-South corridor in terms of transport needs.

"The railway project, with an estimated investment of over US$8 billion, will include 18 stations and 13 technical operation posts," Tung said.

"The locations and scale of the stations, as well as the route alignment, have been carefully calculated based on current demand and future freight transport forecasts."

He added that authorities would consider upgrading some technical posts into mixed-use stations and adding new ones if transport needs increase during operation.

The railway will span nine provinces and cities, starting at Lao Cai Station connecting to Chinas Hekou North Station across the border and ending at Lach Huyen Port in Hai Phong.

The line is expected to facilitate seamless transport links with China, aligning with Beijings 'Belt and Road' initiative and the 'Two Corridors, One Belt' cooperation framework.

The management board is preparing a feasibility study, including plans to train more than 2,400 personnel using project funds to operate the railway once completed.

Tung emphasised that international bidding documents require contractors to prioritise locally produced goods, materials and services.

"There will also be commitments from contractors to transfer technology and train Vietnamese personnel," he added.

Local governments along the route will play a key role in land clearance and resident resettlement, a move Tung believed would speed up the project timeline by empowering regional authorities.

The Ministry of Construction has instructed the board to consult affected provinces and cities on the route and station locations, with all local governments providing written approval.

The feasibility report is slated for approval in the third quarter of 2025, with construction expected to begin by year-end.  VNS
HCM CITY  Starting in mid-April, HCM City will implement traffic restrictions in the vicinity of the Independence Palace for over one month to prepare for the upcoming 50th anniversary of national reunification (April 30, 1975-2025).

Key locations for the celebratory activities will include April 30 Park, Pasteur Street, and Le Duan Street, with preparations scheduled to last until May 12.

The city Traffic Police Department (PC08) has announced that construction for stages and grandstands will take place until May 12.

Certain sections of Pasteur Street will be temporarily closed, specifically the areas extending from Le Duan to Alexandre De Rhodes and from Han Thuyen to Le Duan.

Beginning from April 17, the median strip on Le Duan Street between Nguyen Binh Khiem and the Paris Commune roundabout will be removed to facilitate rehearsals and the official parade.

Restoration efforts are planned from May 1 to May 12, following the conclusion of the celebrations.

During this period, motorists might consider alternative routes to avoid the affected areas.

For individuals traveling to District 3, Phu Nhuan, or Tan Son Nhat Airport, it is advisable to utilise routes such as Pasteur  Le Duan  Pham Ngoc Thach (or Hai Ba Trung)  Vo Thi Sau, or alternatively, Pasteur  Nguyen Du  Truong inh  Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, from which they may transition to other thoroughfares.

For those heading towards Binh Thanh District or Thu uc City, recommended routes include Pasteur  Han Thuyen  Paris Commune  Le Duan or Pasteur  Ly Tu Trong  Ton uc Thang.

Individuals traveling to Districts 5 or 11 may consider the following route: Pasteur  Le Loi  Tran Hung ao, or alternatively, Le Loi  Le Lai  Pham Hong Thai  Cach Mang Thang Tam (August Revolution).

Given the expected high traffic density in the vicinity, traffic police will be actively managing the situation to alleviate disruptions for local residents.

Authorities urge all motorists to exercise caution, adhere to traffic signage, and comply with the directions of police officers stationed in the area.

Viet Nam is commemorating one of the most significant events in its history, the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification.

The momentous occasion will feature a parade with over 13,000 participants, alongside a ceremonial 21-gun salute performed in honour of the national anthem of Viet Nam.

In addition, the air force will contribute to the festivities, showcasing helicopters and aircraft, including the Yak-130 and Su-30MK2 and others.  VNS
HCM CITY  The HCM City High Peoples Court on Tuesday began the appeals trial for Vietnamese real estate tycoon Truong My Lan and 27 accomplices in Viet Nams largest financial fraud case.

The 69-year-old former chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat Group is represented by eight defence lawyers, up from four previously.

In October last year, she was sentenced to life in prison for fraud, 12 years for money laundering, and eight years for illegally transporting currency.

She is appealing her life sentence for embezzling over VN30 trillion (US$1.18 billion) from bondholders, laundering over VN445.7 trillion ($17.5 billion), and illegally transporting $4.5 billion across borders.

The scam affected at least 42,000 victims, leading to significant financial losses and unprecedented protests across the nation.

The court had ordered Lan to repay the full amount that she had fraudulently obtained.

Authorities have committed to returning recovered funds to affected bondholders.

They have seized millions in assets linked to Lan, including properties, shares, and vehicles, and frozen accounts valued in the millions for repayment to bond victims.

In a recent development, authorities announced a compensation plan for bondholders.

The Department of Civil Judgment Enforcement has provisionally seized over VN8 trillion ($315 million) for this purpose and is managing these assets per judicial rulings.

To assist bondholders, a 24-hour hotline at 1900 599802 has been established.

The department is also working with Tan Viet Securities Company to guide them on required documentation for compensation, including ID and bank details.

In a separate trial, Lan was sentenced to death in April last year for embezzling $27 billion from Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB), equivalent to 6 per cent of Viet Nams GDP in 2023.

She also appealed that sentence but her appeal was denied earlier this month due to the unprecedented consequences of the fraud.

Under Vietnamese law, she could, however, avoid execution by returning 75 per cent of the embezzled funds and cooperating with authorities.

Although Lan officially held only 5 per cent of SCBs shares, the court found she controlled over 90 per cent through a network of family members and associates.

Lans arrest was part of an anti-corruption campaign in Viet Nam that has intensified since 2021.

In 1992, Lan and her family founded Van Thinh Phat, which was one of Viet Nams most prominent real estate companies.

The company operates in commerce, hospitality, and real estate, owning significant properties in prime locations, primarily in HCM City.

They include the 39-story Times Square Saigon, Windsor Plaza Hotel, and the Sherwood Residence hotel, where Lan was residing before her arrest.

The appeals trial is expected to last until April 21.  VNS
HA NOI  Two most popular carriers in Viet Nam, the national carrier Vietnam Airlines and the budget carrier Vietjet Air, have both officially banned passengers from using lithium-based power banks during flight.

The ban was issued after an incident on March 21, when a Hong Kong Airlines flight from Hangzhou (China) was forced to make an emergency landing when a power bank in a passenger's personal bag suddenly exploded and caught on fire.

This is not the first time a flight has had to make an emergency landing due to an exploding power bank. On February 19 last year, a Royal Air Philippines flight also had to make an emergency landing after a power bank exploded, filling the plane with smoke.

Many airlines around the world such as Thai Airways International (Thailand), Air Asia (Malaysia) and Air Busan (Korea) have banned the use of power banks on flights to reduce fire and explosion risk.

In Viet Nam, on Monday, both Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air announced that passengers are not allowed to use backup power banks on the plane unless they are removed from their carry-on luggage, placed in an easily visible place and not used to charge mobile devices during the flight. Power banks previously are already not allowed to be left in checked baggages.

Passengers are also not allowed to charge their power banks from USB ports on the plane.

Power banks must be protected separately and completely turned off to avoid activation.

Each passenger is allowed to carry 10 batteries with a capacity of no more than 100Wh.

For a common power bank with a voltage of about 5V, the corresponding capacity will be about 20,000 mAh. For power banks with a capacity of 100-160Wh, passengers are allowed to carry a maximum of two devices.

Regarding spare batteries, previously airlines only regulated not to put them in checked baggage due to concerns about fire and explosion.  VNS
SEOUL  South Koreas National Police Agency is launching a nationwide crackdown targeting organised criminal activity involving foreign nationals, starting Monday and running through June 30.

Authorities from the National Office of Investigation say the operation comes in response to a recent rise in highly organised and increasingly sophisticated criminal operations linked to foreign nationals, particularly in areas such as drug trafficking and vehicle theft.

The police announced that the focus will be on dismantling organised crime groups, targeting economic crimes that impact livelihoods and cracking down on drug-related offences. Officials emphasised that many of these operations are no longer isolated incidents, but instead coordinated by country or region and structured as illegal enterprises.

To respond effectively, joint investigation teams composed of national and local police officers will be deployed from the early stages of any criminal incidents involving organised foreign groups.

Authorities also plan to seize illicit assets before indictments are issued, and to disrupt the flow of criminal proceeds back into organisations operating funds. Cross-border cooperation, including coordination with Interpol, will be used to trace and identify criminal actors operating beyond South Koreas borders.

At the same time, the Korean National Police Agency is promoting stronger protections for undocumented foreign nationals who are victims of crime. Through the Exemption from Mandatory Reporting to Immigration Authorities system, police are not obligated to report undocumented individuals who come forward as crime victims. The goal is to ensure that fear of deportation does not prevent people from reporting offences.

The agency is also offering rewards for credible tips related to international crime and has pledged to strictly protect informants identities.

South Korea had approximately 2.65 million foreign nationals staying in the country in 2024, including about 397,500 undocumented or overstayed individuals. The number declined in 2021 due to COVID-19, dropping to 1.96 million, but has since increased over three consecutive years  reaching 2.25 million in 2022 and 2.51 million in 2023.

Crime statistics show a similar trend. According to the National Office of Investigation, the number of foreign nationals suspected of criminal activity decreased from 35,390 in 2020 to 29,450 in 2021, before rising again to 39,540 in 2022. It dropped to 32,737 in 2023 and then rose to 35,283 in 2024.

While these individuals represent a small share of the overall foreign population in South Korea, police say the nature and organization of some offences warrant increased scrutiny and coordinated enforcement.  THE KOREA HERALD
HAVANA Granma, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of Cuba, has launched a special sub-web featuring rare images and archival materials celebrating the special solidarity between Viet Nam and Cuba, which mark the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year (December 2, 1960  2025).

Released in the same year that Granma celebrates the 60th anniversary since its first issue (October 4, 1965), the sub-web is more than just an archive, it is a visual chronicle of a historic brotherhood. Among its highlights are iconic moments such as Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castros famous declaration: For Viet Nam, Cuba is willing to shed its blood, President Ho Chi Minhs warm reception of the first Cuban delegation on its official visit to Viet Nam, and the sugar-laden ships from Cuba arriving at Hai Phong port.

The sub-web, titled Cuba y Vietnam: Lo del andar (Cuba and Viet Nam: Shared Journeys), launched on March 24, aspires to be the most vivid living museum of this time-honoured friendship.

It brings together a vast collection of materials, including over 5,000 articles from Viet Nams resistance war against the US imperialists, 200 rare colour photos of Ha Noi in the 1970s, and the original transcript of Fidel Castros speech during his historic visit to Viet Nam's central province of Quang Tri in 1973 amid the ravages of war.

Over the past six decades, Granma journalists have stood alongside the Vietnamese people, reporting from the frontlines. Late journalist Marta Rojas, who dedicated her life to covering Viet Nam, once said she felt like a Cuban born in the Mekong Delta. A veteran correspondent, Rojas was the last foreign journalist to interview President Ho Chi Minh. She also witnessed Viet Nams national reunification on April 30, 1975.

Readers can access the special sub-web at: https://www.granma.cu/vietnam-y-cuba. VNA/VNS
While this concept has begun to infiltrate government and business discussions in Vietnam, awareness remains limited and has not yet ignited a systemic transition from conventional linear economy models to more sustainable alternatives.

Luong Pham, country director, Helvetas Vietnam

Vietnams cocoa sector has surfaced as a pioneer in circular economy solutions. Its unique position offers distinct advantages: the sector is substantial enough to convincingly showcase these concepts and harvest meaningful results, yet compact and cohesive enough to work as an effective case study.

Like other agricultural subsectors, challenges persist throughout the value chain: at the production level (soil degradation and erosion, water pollution, and substandard product quality), in processing (fossil fuel dependency, excessive water usage, and waste generation), and in the later lifecycle stages (environmentally harmful packaging choices).

Cocoa production has the potential to do no harm to the environment when properly managed, but best practices are not widespread. Regenerative and circular economy approaches are key to solving the above challenges.

Vietnams cocoa sector teeters at a crucial crossroads. With an annual yield of almost 4,000 metric tonnes of dry beans in 2024, the country dwells as a modest player on the global stage, contributing a mere 0.1 per cent of the worlds cocoa supply. However, its beans have earned the International Cocoa Organizations fine flavour recognition, a status held by only 10 per cent of world cocoa. Vietnams cocoa sector has also magnetised increasing interest from domestic and global companies.

Key players such as Puratos, Trong Duc, Marou, Nam Truong Son, BariaChocolate, and CIC are spearheading advancements in cocoa processing and premium chocolate production. These companies discern the extraordinary potential of Vietnams high-quality beans and are actively channelling investments into the local supply chain.

Concurrently, global trends are favouring Vietnam. Climate change has hit African cocoa production hard, causing a global shortage of about 500,000 tonnes and tripling cocoa prices in just two years.

Vietnam sees this as a major chance to become a top eco-friendly supplier, meeting the growing demand for high-quality beans. Rising prices boost farmer incomes, driving cultivation expansion across Vietnams Central Highlands, the southeast, and provinces including Gia Lai, Lam Dong, Binh Phuoc, and Quang Nam.

Vast opportunities remain to change Vietnams cocoa sector positively. Unlike demanding crops such as durian, pepper, or macadamia, cocoa thrives under proper care, potentially yielding 3.5-4 tonnes dried per hectare, quadruple current averages. This yield level is reachable because farmers now benefit from comprehensive technical support from chocolate processors who provide cultivation guidance and farm monitoring, as well as pest and disease management.

Meanwhile, green investments from private sector and international funds increasingly target cocoas promising landscape, recognising its growth potential. These investments, coupled with sustainability programmes enhancing cultivation and fermentation techniques, could significantly elevate Vietnams cocoa profile.

Moreover, as EU regulations on deforestation take effect in 2026, Vietnams compliance would unlock premium markets hungry for sustainable and traceable cocoa.

Despite these favourable conditions, significant challenges loom: climate change threatens Mekong Delta cultivation with increasing salinisation and heavy metal contamination. Furthermore, while Vietnam produces exceptional beans, its processing capabilities lag globally.

This gap necessitates strategic development of value-added products, such as chocolate, cocoa powder, and butter production, for both domestic consumption and export markets to maximise the industrys potential.

Helvetas Vietnam, through an EU-funded initiative, has championed the integration of circular economy solutions in cocoa production to create value from cocoa waste and minimise ecological footprints. By late 2024, we have demonstrated 14 circular solutions, trained over 1,100 individuals on circular farming, and improved income for about 30 per cent of participants.

The venture has additionally catalysed investments totalling an estimated $115,000 by bolstering cocoa processing companies, collectors, and producers in embracing circular agricultural practices. In parallel, the German Development Agency has also launched an initiative supporting regenerative cocoa production and farmer livelihoods in Vietnam.

Beyond commercial endeavours, these organisations also partner with policymakers to sculpt a robust legal framework for circular economy practices in Vietnams agriculture and fortify the local system to amplify and sustain circular economy principles among farmers and industry stakeholders.

As Vietnam builds its reputation as a sustainable cocoa producer by adopting circular economy principles, it can transform its cocoa sector into a zero-waste, high-value sector. For investors looking to emerging markets with strong growth potential, Vietnams cocoa sector offers an exciting opportunity at this critical moment in time for development and expansion.

Belgium supports Vietnams unique cocoa to take its spot in world market The objective of the cocoa workshop is to create a forum for sharing knowledge and expertise, thereby proposing mechanisms, policies, and technological solutions to promote the development of a sustainable Vietnamese cocoa industry by building a unique Vietnamese cocoa brand in the world market.
The economic landscape of Vietnam has undergone remarkable transformations, positioning it as one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing economies in Southeast Asia. The country has increasingly become a key player in the global market, attracting foreign direct investment from around the world, with the United States standing out as one of the most significant contributors.

Vaibhav Saxena, foreign counsel, Vilaf

As US companies seek to diversify their global operations and establish a more resilient supply chain, Vietnam has emerged as a crucial destination for investment. Furthermore, as part of the broader US strategy for engaging with the Asia-Pacific region, the US-ASEAN partnership holds substantial promise for both the US and ASEAN countries, with Vietnam remaining as a favourable priority destination.

Vietnams economic trajectory has made it one of the most attractive investment destinations in Southeast Asia. Over the past two decades, the country has moved from an agrarian-based economy to one of the leading industrial and manufacturing hubs. Several factors have contributed to this remarkable transformation, such as market-friendly reforms, robust economic growth, trade agreements, and an increasingly favourable business environment.

The Vietnamese government has actively sought to improve the business environment for foreign investors by addressing challenges such as corruption, regulatory uncertainty, and infrastructure gaps. In recent years, Vietnam has invested heavily in its infrastructure, particularly in transportation and logistics, to make the country more attractive for foreign investors.

The US has recognised Vietnams potential and has significantly increased its investment in the country across various sectors, including manufacturing, technology, retail, energy, and services.

The manufacturing sector, particularly in electronics, textiles, semiconductors, finance, energy, and footwear, has been a major area of focus. US companies like Intel, Nike, and Coca-Cola have made substantial investments in the country. Additionally, technology is an emerging sector, with US companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Apple expanding their presence in Vietnam, creating new opportunities for innovation and partnership.

On the other hand, US goods trade with Vietnam totalled an estimated $149.6 billion in 2024 while its goods exports to Vietnam in 2024 were $13.1 billion, up 32.9 per cent from 2023.

This growth is a clear indicator of how the US is integrating its economic strategy with that of Vietnam, paving the way for deeper and more diversified business engagements.

The US-ASEAN business trip represents an important opportunity to further strengthen the economic and trade ties between the United States and the ASEAN region. The ASEAN bloc collectively represents a market of nearly 700 million people, with a combined GDP of over $3.5 trillion, making it one of the most important trading regions for the US.

An official business trip would be an effective way to address shared economic goals, explore new investment opportunities, and tackle regional challenges. It would serve as a platform for US businesses to explore new markets and strengthen existing trade relationships within ASEAN countries.

Key industries such as manufacturing, technology, agriculture, and energy would likely be high on the agenda. A US-ASEAN business trip would allow US companies to forge new partnerships, engage in business matchmaking events, and explore potential joint ventures with ASEAN counterparts.

In addition, ASEAN nations, including Vietnam, face significant challenges related to environmental sustainability, such as pollution, waste management, and the need for clean energy solutions. US companies specialising in renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and green technology could play a vital role in helping ASEAN countries transition towards a more sustainable future. Collaborative efforts in these areas would align with both the US and ASEANs long-term goals to tackle climate change.

With digital transformation accelerating across Southeast Asia, there is significant potential for US companies to collaborate with ASEAN counterparts in fields like AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and e-commerce. The US-ASEAN business trip would provide a platform for US tech giants to share knowledge, collaborate on innovation, and invest in digital infrastructure in ASEAN countries, particularly in Vietnam.

As part of the broader US-ASEAN business association, specific attention could be given to strengthening US-Vietnam collaboration in several areas.

Given Vietnams growing reputation as a hub for technology and innovation, US companies could focus on strengthening partnerships in this sector. Collaborative ventures in AI, fintech, e-commerce, and cybersecurity can drive significant growth in both markets.

Meanwhile, Vietnams infrastructure needs are vast, particularly in the areas of transportation, energy, and logistics. US companies with expertise in engineering, construction, and renewable energy have an opportunity to invest in large-scale infrastructure projects that could benefit both countries.

Meanwhile, the healthcare sector in Vietnam offers ample opportunities for US companies to collaborate in areas such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and healthcare infrastructure. Strengthening healthcare systems through joint ventures and technology transfer can contribute to the long-term health and prosperity of the region.

The growing US investment in Vietnam and the broader US-ASEAN business meet highlight the increasing importance of economic ties between the United States and Southeast Asia. For Vietnam, a dynamic and rapidly growing economy, the benefits of greater US investment are clear: job creation, access to advanced technologies, boosting investments and enhanced trade opportunities.

For the US, Vietnam represents a critical market in the region with vast potential for future growth while tackling shared challenges and seizing emerging opportunities in an ever-evolving global landscape.

PM, USABC discuss deepening partnership in Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception in Hanoi on March 21 for a high-ranking delegation from the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) led by the council's President and CEO Ted Osius, during which he stressed the instrumental role played by the USABC in the growing Vietnam-US economic ties.
The partnership's aim is to enhance Fundiins risk management capabilities, reduce costs, and expand credit opportunities for Vietnamese consumers, especially the unbanked and underbanked. Furthermore, it lays a foundation for Fundiin to explore further collaboration opportunities in the future.

Photo: Fundiin

Although Vietnam's digital finance market has seen rapid growth over the last few years, many consumers still struggle to access secure and high-quality financial services due to ineffective risk assessment systems.

This partnership with Visa marks a pivotal step in strengthening Fundiins risk management framework by integrating advanced technology and adhering to global best practices.

By leveraging Visas expertise in developing best-in-class solutions for credit scoring and combining it with Fundiins specialised data-management technologies tailored to Vietnam, Fundiin believes the accuracy, comprehensiveness, and reliability of its credit scores will be significantly improved.

As a result, Fundiin will be able to improve processing time, increase approval rates, and lower bad debt ratios.

For consumers, this partnership unlocks significant benefits, particularly for individuals with limited or no credit history who often face challenges accessing traditional financial institutions.

With enhanced risk assessment models, Fundiin can help build credit profiles for these individuals, paving the way for larger financial transactions- such as home purchases-at lower costs in the future.

Photo: Fundiin

"Partnering with Visa is a strategic milestone that underscores our long-term commitment to innovation and technological advancement. By integrating cutting-edge risk management solutions, we aim to address a fundamental consumer need, access to secure and transparent credit products at optimal cost," said Nguyen Anh Cuong, CEO of Fundiin,

Meanwhile, Dang Tuyet Dung, Visas country manager for Vietnam and Laos, said, "Visa is dedicated to working alongside fintech partners to foster the development of a modern, secure, and sustainable financial ecosystem. This partnership with Fundiin is more than just a single undertaking - it is a strategic, long-term initiative designed to strengthen risk management, refine credit-scoring models, and introduce financial products that better meet market demands."

Dung added that for consumers, the enhancement of credit-scoring systems not only ensures a more transparent and accurate approval process but also expands access to flexible, convenient, and tailored financial solutions that align with individual financial capabilities.

Founded in 2019, Fundiin was an early entrant into Vietnams BNPL sector, offering a fully automated and online payment solution. The company provides a seamless and stress-free payment experience for consumers while connecting over 800 retail partners to leading brands.

What sets Fundiin apart is its consumer-first approach- eliminating harsh debt collection practices and removing compound interest mechanisms. This ensures an elevated customer experience while reinforcing the companys commitment to providing responsible and quality financial solutions.

Meanwhile, Visa is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories.

Vietnam and Singapore to enhance economic connectivity Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang held talks with Singapore's Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng on March 11.

IFC, SECO enhance partnership to bolster supply chain finance market in Vietnam The International Finance Corporation (IFC), in partnership with the Swiss Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), has launched the second phase of its supply chain finance (SCF) programme in Vietnam.
Cryptocurrencies and digital assets are rapidly developing sectors that carry significant risks for both investors and the broader market (Photo: baodautu.vn)

Hanoi - 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 Vietnam.

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, Vietnam 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 Vietnams 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 Vietnam 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 Vietnam last year reached 105 billion USD, down from 120 billion USD in 2023.

Building cryptocurrency regulations in Vietnam Building cryptocurrency regulations is urgent, with Vietnam integrating deeply into the global economy, especially in digital technologies and digital assets.

Vietnam and Singapore to build legal framework for capital markets and digital assets Vietnam and Singapore reached an agreement on March 12 to develop a legal framework for digital asset management.
What is your assessment of the demand for investment in green infrastructure in Vietnam?

Vietnam has significant demand for investment in green infrastructure, driven by its commitment to sustainable development and the challenges posed by climate change. The governments focus on achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, along with its growth in renewable energy sectors like solar and wind, presents key opportunities. Rapid urbanisation also requires sustainable solutions for transportation, energy efficiency, and waste management.

The growing interest in green financing, including green bonds, aligns with the European Investment Banks (EIB) role in supporting large-scale projects. With international collaboration and Vietnams active participation in climate agreements, there is strong potential for impactful green infrastructure investments in the country.

Nicola Beer, vice president of the European Investment Bank

An agreement between the EIB, which is the financing arm of the European Union, and the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) was signed during your visit to Vietnam more than a week ago. How important is it for green infrastructure development?

During our visit to Hanoi, we deepened cooperation with the SBV to strengthen its green finance system through technical assistance under the Greening Financial Systems programme. Backed by the German government, this support will help the SBV align with global standards, develop sustainable finance policies, and mobilise investment for green infrastructure.

Another important discussion took place with Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi, where we spoke about how to accelerate our 500 million ($544 million) framework loan under an MoU we signed with the Ministry of Finance. This financing is available to the country and could be a crucial tool to support Vietnams energy transition and Just Energy Transition Partnership implementation, and we are committed to working together to ensure its effective deployment.

What opportunities do you see for investors in Vietnams green infrastructure development?

Vietnams green infrastructure development presents substantial opportunities for investors, particularly in sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable urbanisation, and climate-resilient infrastructure.

There is a growing demand for investments in clean energy solutions like solar, wind, and energy storage. Additionally, opportunities lie in the development of green buildings, sustainable transport systems, and waste management solutions.

As Vietnam strengthens its commitment to sustainability and green financing, investors can play a key role in advancing the countrys transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon economy. The support from both the government and international partners further enhances the attractiveness of these opportunities.

These efforts will position Vietnam in the green infrastructure space, fostering greater economic resilience and contributing to global environmental goals.

What are your recommendations for improving the effectiveness of EIB capital in Vietnam?

To maximise the impact of EIB capital in Vietnam, it is crucial to prioritise high-impact, sustainable projects aligned with the countrys development goals. Efficient project preparation, close collaboration with the Vietnamese government, and strong green finance systems are essential for accelerating deployment and attracting further investments.

By focusing on energy security, climate resilience, and green infrastructure, we can ensure that EIB financing drives real, lasting and affordable change for the people of Vietnam and supports the countrys green transition.
Puratos Grand-Place Vietnam (PGPV), a joint venture between Belgiums confectionery manufacturers Puratos Group and Grand-Place Holding, is Vietnams largest chocolate manufacturer. It is now boosting exports to Europe, the United States, Japan, and South Korea. Having been operating in Vietnam since 1994, PGPV currently has two factories  one producing chocolate and powder in the southern province of Binh Duong, and another processing cocoa mass in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre.

Our factories have a designed capacity of 10,000 tonnes. However, they cannot operate at full capacity due to shortages of bean supply. Thus we have to import about 4,000-5,000 tonnes a year from the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, Congo, Ghana, and Ivory Coast. We are purchasing more than 60 per cent of Vietnams total cocoa output on an annual basis, Justin Jacquat, regional cocoa manager of Puratos, told VIR. More than 70 per cent of chocolate in Vietnam used materials provided by PGPV.

Partner networks offer fillip for cocoa industry, Photo: Thanh Tung

Vietnams total cocoa area is estimated to stand at about 2,700 hectares, with an average annual output of as many as 3,000 tonnes.

Over the past few years, PGPV has launched its own Cacao-Trace initiative aimed to purchase cocoa beans from localities. We are boosting cooperation with many farmers households, cooperatives, and domestic companies to purchase high-quality beans and expand cocoa plantation areas in the provinces of Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Phu Yen, Binh Thuan, among others, Jacquat said.

Cacao-Trace is a sustainable chocolate sourcing programme. It not only deals with the challenges in the industry but is an expert in supporting the development of the farmers process, from seeding to taking care and harvesting the cocoa beans, in a sustainable way from.

PGPV is cooperating with more than 2,000 cocoa farmers. Previously, farmers harvested 500-600kg of bean per ha. However, under the companys assistance, the figure has soared to an average 1.5 tonnes per ha within Cacao-Trace communities.

Other companies such as Marou, Trong Duc, BariaChocolate, CIC, and Nam Truong Son are also engaging actively in the Vietnamese cocoa industry.

Purchasing about one-quarter of Vietnams total cocoa output annually, Ho Chi Minh City-based Marou Chocolate currently has 19 stores nationwide, largely found in Vietnams biggest cities. It seeks to open stores in Singapore, France, and Dubai, and many of its products are organically produced. We are continually developing a large network of local partners to directly purchase cocoa beans to produce future organic products. They include cooperatives and individual fermenters throughout 10 provinces, said Vincent Marou, CEO of Marou Chocolate.

In 2024, the companys total revenue grew by 50 per cent, which is also expected for this year.

High prices are encouraging agriculture companies to invest in the Vietnamese cocoa industry, which is full of potential. Marous demand for cocoa and chocolate continues to rise strongly, at 20-30 per cent a year. Cocoa prices have soared by 150 per cent since early 2024 and chocolate prices have followed suit.

Pham Huu Thoi, director of Nhat Thong Dak Lak Agriculture Co., Ltd., has added cocoa to its multisectoral investment and business portfolio since 2020. Thoi has invested about $6 million into developing a high-tech organic farm covering 300ha in Buon Ho town in Dak Lak, including 270ha of cocoa. One tonne of cocoa can be sold at about $8,000.

Cocoa is easy to plant, and boasts great potential for development, while prices are increasing, currently at $9.80-10.60 per kilogramme in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, Thoi told VIR. We produce organic cocoa, focusing on natural farming practices.

It is expected that Nhat Thong will begin exports of cocoa next month.

The EU has been supporting companies like PGPV, Nhat Thong, and cooperatives via a project worth $2.1 million, in producing cocoa for a circular economy. Beneficiaries include 3,500 cocoa producers, 500 employees on cocoa farms, and other cocoa-related businesses. The initiative covers production in the delta provinces of Ben Tre and Tien Giang, and in upland provinces where cocoa production remains strong.

The project has helped farmers and companies improve cocoa quality and production process towards the circular economy, meeting stringent standards and regulations of the EU and the wider world, said Julien Guerrier, Ambassador of the European Union to Vietnam. Previously only beans were used, but now, cocoa pods can be used for making animal feed, organic fertiliser, and even plywood.

The total funding of the Team Europe support in climate resilience, low carbon development and circular economy in Vietnam, including in the energy sector, currently stand at about 2.4 billion ($2.62 billion).
Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Jaya Ratnam (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi  Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's official visit to Vietnam from March 25-26 is expected to further enhance the newly upgraded comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP) between the two nations, Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Jaya Ratnam told the press ahead of the trip.

According to the diplomat, this will be PM Wongs first official visit to Vietnam since taking office, following Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lams visit to Singapore less than two weeks ago. While the Party chief was in the island state, the two countries elevated their relations to a CSP, the first between Singapore and an ASEAN country.

However, the sides are not content and are determined to push ahead, the ambassador noted. Wongs visit so soon after Lams reflects the importance the countries place on their relationship and their urgency to build on strong momentum to take bilateral ties to a new era.

Ratnam informed the local press about the PMs packed and intense programme in Vietnam, focussing on substantive talks with top Vietnamese leaders, including Party General Secretary Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. In fact, Wong and Chinh inaugurated their first annual meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Laos last year.

The diplomat said the major takeaway from the Vietnamese Party leaders visit to Singapore was the reaffirmation of the nations collective commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation. Wongs Hanoi schedule reflects that agenda  the ways Vietnam and Singapore can tighten their bonds of friendship to weather the storm together, build up their resilience, and emerge even stronger from current global strains.

Ratnam also said the two nations are natural partners complementary in terms of their competitive advantages and can support each other in areas of comparative weakness.

Their CSP is not just in name but reflects their high level of ambition for the relationship, he assessed. It has also provided a strategic frame to the sides Green-Digital Economic Partnership Agreement concluded in 2023 by PM Chinh and then Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong.

The diplomat went on highlighting two new bilateral initiatives under implementation.

The first is the Vietnam - Singapore Energy Partnership (VSEP), which involves major investments by both sides in offshore wind power and subsea cables serving as building blocks of a future ASEAN Power Grid (APG). This will position Vietnam as a regional hub for the green economy. The recent visit of General Secretary Lam also opened up new prospects for bilateral electricity trade cooperation, bringing the two countries closer in this sector.

The second is the sides joint work on carbon credits to help them achieve their respective climate commitments and unlock green investment opportunities in Vietnam. Singapore is working on the implementation agreement on carbon credit collaboration, with intent that it be the first between ASEAN countries.

Therefore, the upgrade of bilateral ties to a CSP brings the two countries and economies closer together and contributes to bilateral, regional, and international interests, affirmed the diplomat.

According to him, in 2024, Singapore became Vietnams second-largest source of FDI with cumulative investments exceeding 81 billion USD across approximately 3,800 projects. Vietnam was Singapores 11th largest trading partner last year and 9th in January 2025.

As Vietnam enters its new era of high economic growth, Singapores engagement will only increase, the ambassador said.

He expressed his confidence that the future of bilateral relationship is very bright as the nations share a common challenge and are committed to working together for mutual support. The glue that holds our relationship together is our ever-growing people-to-people ties.

Singapore remains a strong supporter of Vietnams human resource development, the diplomat added. Under the Singapore Cooperation Programme, it has trained more than 22,000 Vietnamese government officials. Over the past two years, Singapore has expanded the scope and scale of such collaborations, especially through the launch of the Singapore Vietnam Innovation Talent Exchange.

As more Vietnamese work, visit or study in Singapore, and Singaporeans do the same in Vietnam  these networks of friendships are poised to grow even stronger, which will support our expanding bilateral relations, he said.
The Vietnamese government wants to develop Ho Chi Minh City into an international financial centre. Will US companies will support Vietnam in this effort?

Ted Osius, president and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council

Many financial companies are in Vietnam as part of the delegation I have been involved in, and all of us are very excited about this effort to ensure that Ho Chi Minh City is an effective, forward-looking financial centre. There are still steps to be taken, and we believe that those will be taken in conjunction with American and other businesses.

I will be moving to Ho Chi Minh City in a few months because I think the opportunities in the city are fantastic. I want to be part of this effort to make Ho Chi Minh an international financial centre.

What is the possibility of the current US administration imposing tariffs on Vietnamese imports?

We think that the risk of tariffs is real. There are reciprocal and sectoral tariffs being imposed on many countries around the world. Vietnam has one of the highest trade surpluses with the United States globally, after China and Canada.

What we are recommending is to take proactive steps to mitigate these tariffs. Were urging the Vietnamese government to buy our liquefied natural gas, aircraft, and agricultural products such as soybeans, fruit, and tree nuts.

Vietnam also should take proactive steps to ensure that transshipments are not occurring through Vietnam, that other countries are not taking advantage of the current situation to shift their goods through Vietnam.

The good news is the Vietnamese government has indicated an intention to be even more proactive in addressing this issue. The opening of the market is particularly important right now, with fairly high tariffs on US agricultural goods. Bringing those tariffs down will allow a level playing field and allow exporters to bring their products into the United States. The government has also been very proactive on the issue of transshipments. There are operations that are critical to Americas supply chain resilience and security.

A lot of these operations are actually run by our member companies, including the ones on this mission, and those operations are not the ones that are targeted. The ones that are targeted are those where other countries are using Vietnam to export their goods to the United States.

So, theres been plenty of collaboration between the US government and the Vietnamese government in this area, particularly with customs and border protection. We think further progress in this area will be welcomed in Washington. Those are the suggestions that we have made during our visit.

It is said that more than half of foreign investors in Vietnam report losses, but have still expanded. What will be the driving factors for the country to pull in more investment?

Given the fact that there is uncertainty globally, companies are going to go to places where they feel they have the best chances of making money, and where they believe that the environment is reliable.

Theres tremendous interest for US companies in Vietnam, because of its high growth rate, the talented workforce and the government which is very responsive to the concerns that our companies put forward and on this last point.

The restructuring that has taken place is viewed positively by so many of our companies. It is seen as a way to ensure that internal obstacles are smoother and easier to overcome, and that is crucial to create a better business environment.

Some companies may be reporting losses, but the foreign investment inflow keeps coming as the companies keep coming, and trade continues to take place. There was a big debate over a long time about Vietnams market economy status.

The fact is, our companies arent really particularly interested in what the US Commerce Department says about such a status. Our companies are interested in the opportunities in Vietnam, and they remain committed to this relationship, and new ones are coming in all the time.

PM, USABC discuss deepening partnership in Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception in Hanoi on March 21 for a high-ranking delegation from the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) led by the council's President and CEO Ted Osius, during which he stressed the instrumental role played by the USABC in the growing Vietnam-US economic ties.

US-ASEAN links attain higher status Given the current global challenges and uncertainties, the US-ASEAN business community is pinning high hopes on new opportunities in Vietnam backed by strong support from the government.
Mary Tarnowka, strategic advisor at Pacifico Energy Group, joined the largest-ever US-ASEAN business delegation to Vietnam last week, and is now optimistic about the investment environment in Vietnam, citing the countrys economic advantages and potential for growth.

She told VIR, Our company is looking to contribute to Vietnams growing energy demands and is interested in a supportive regulatory framework to attract investment. We are exploring opportunities for offshore wind development and are in discussions for additional solar and near-shore wind projects.

Pacifico Energy Group has already invested in the solar farm in the south-central province of Binh Thuan, the first investment by a US renewable energy company in Vietnam, completed in 2017.

The company is looking to finalise a 30-megawatt onshore wind project in the southern province of Binh Phuoc, and is considering much larger offshore wind initiatives.

Pacifico Energy Group was one among over 60 US companies participating in this trip, including Meta, Boeing, Dow Chemical, Apple, Intel, Coca-Cola, Nike, Amazon, and Exxon Mobil.

They are interested in the sectors where the US plays a global leadership role, such as technology, financial services, logistics, manufacturing, energy, aerospace and defence, healthcare, consumer products, and food and agriculture.

Meta is expanding in Vietnam with its footprint being deepened and now wants more. Nguyen Thu Thao, director of Public Policy for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, at Meta Asia-Pacific, shared the companys plans in Vietnam following an announcement late last year about the expansion of production of metaverse equipment in Vietnam to bring to the global market.

The company has been accelerating the process and achieved positive results. It is expected that Meta will create 1,000 more jobs for Vietnamese people in this high-tech field, and will contribute millions of dollars to Vietnams digital economy, she said. We also expect to have Vietnamese-made products serving virtual space technology exports to the global market.

She also pointed out that AI was part of Metas long-term commitment to Vietnam. In 2025, the company plans to focus is working with partners to create the largest-ever database to serve training, fine-tuning, and evaluation of AI models, big data.

The US-ASEAN Business Councils (USABC) mission to Vietnam also created valuable opportunities for Boeing and other members of the US business community to engage with senior Vietnamese government officials and reinforce economic cooperation between the two countries.

As Boeing marks 30 years in Vietnam, we look forward to strengthening our partnership and advancing the countrys aerospace capabilities, said Michael Nguyen, country director of Boeing Vietnam.

Party General Secretary To Lam (R) and President and CEO of USABC Ted Osius (Photo: VNA)

New chapter of interest

In the healthcare sector, interest is also growing. Brian McFeeters, senior vice president and regional managing director of the USABC, noted a health and life sciences mission held on March 20-21, with 12 companies participating.

This year, the focus of the mission was on preventive healthcare. In order to add substance, it worked with a member company and published a paper on advancing preventive health in Southeast Asia and recommendations for Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

Vietnam, along with other countries, to ensure the sustainability of its healthcare system, needs to take more of a preventive approach, and discuss policy interventions and financing steps that can help. This set of recommendations is in keeping with Vietnams national strategy to protect care and improve people, he said.

The United States is now Vietnams second-largest trading partner, while Vietnam has become the eighth largest US trading partner. Ted Osius, president and CEO of the USABC, believed that this record-breaking participation reflects the strong confidence of US businesses in Vietnams future, and the members commitment to expanding trade and investment in this dynamic market.

As Vietnam embarks on a new chapter with a fundamentally reformed and streamlined political system, the US business community looks forward to the positive impact of these changes and to exploring the opportunities ahead, he said.

For the US-ASEAN business community, the 2025 trip was made at the landmark time as the US and Vietnam celebrate 30 years since the normalisation of relations, Vietnams transition to a new phase of economic growth, and tariff risks globally.

According to the USABC, this is an important moment, as the Vietnamese government is implementing sweeping reforms and restructuring initiatives that it assesses will spur economic growth, improve the business environment and create new opportunities for US companies.

Osius said these reforms align closely with the US administrations priorities of fostering resilient supply chains, opening markets, levelling the playing field for US businesses, and strengthening economic and strategic ties between the two nations.

What Vietnams government is doing today will have a lasting impact. It is removing behind the border barriers to trade, addressing key bottlenecks and making the economy more efficient. US companies have been working with the Vietnamese government to navigate these challenges, and we appreciate the governments openness to our recommendations, Osius added.

Highlighting landmarks

During the three-day mission, the USABC delegation held key meetings with leaders from the Communist Party of Vietnam, the government and ministries, with legal and administrative reforms being discussed.

At the meeting Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh showed strong interest in the industries, and US companies raised their expectations about reform, shortening decision-making time, ensuring consistency and stability of legal regulations, and having preferential policies to encourage investment in a number of specific projects and products.

The government leaders asked ministries to quickly solve their concerns. Relevant ministries and agencies are reviewing import tariffs on goods from the US, encouraging increased imports of key US products that Vietnam needs, especially agricultural products, liquefied gas, and high-tech products.

Vietnam is implementing synchronous reforms and boosting institutional improvement and infrastructure, while streamlining the apparatus for effective, efficient and effective operations, and reforming administrative procedures to create better conditions for foreign-invested enterprises, including US ones, to invest and do business effectively in Vietnam, PM Chinh said.

He emphasised the importance of sci-tech for Vietnams development, and asked US businesses to continue to increase and expand investment in Vietnam, especially in areas where the US has strengths and Vietnam has demands such as emerging technology, digital economy, green transformation, renewable energy, logistics, and others.

Daniel J. Kritenbrink, partner at Asia Group, said that this was a challenging and somewhat uncertain period, but in addition to navigating the challenges, businesses were squarely focused on seizing opportunities.

Investors are leading the largest-ever US mission here because the United States and our world-class business community also remain optimistic and bullish on Vietnam. We are encouraged that the Vietnamese leadership has put a new emphasis on the importance of the private sector, on foreign direct investment, and on spurring economic growth, he said.

Christanto Suryadarma, sales vice president for Southeast Asia and South Korea Zebra Technologies Vietnams digital transformation presents significant opportunities for tech firms. Technology will continue to transform manufacturing and transport in the region, and Vietnam is no exception. In manufacturing, we are seeing a shift towards incremental, scalable improvements rather than sweeping transformations. AI-driven predictive maintenance is already helping businesses improve efficiency, while machine vision is enhancing product quality. At the same time, supply chain diversification is becoming a priority as companies navigate uncertainties. To stay competitive, manufacturers are moving from fragmented solutions and adopting integrated platforms that streamline operations and reduce technical debt. High-speed connectivity, especially with 5G, will be critical in making all of this possible. In transport and logistics, AI is playing a key role in optimising supply chains, helping businesses manage vast amounts of data while ensuring more reliable deliveries. Transparency is another major focus  technologies like real-time tracking and RFID serialisation are improving visibility and accountability, which is especially crucial in sectors like cold chain logistics. With Vietnams booming exports and e-commerce market, these advancements will help businesses increase efficiency, reduce losses, and enhance customer experience. Ultimately, companies that embrace AI, automation, and high-speed connectivity will be best positioned to thrive in this rapidly evolving landscape. Loganathan Ravisanker, president Dow Vietnam While US tariffs primarily affect trade between the US and China and other countries, they have indirect implications for global supply chains, including Dows operations in Vietnam. Any tariff adjustments on raw materials and chemical products may impact input costs, but we remain committed to Vietnam as a key growth market in the region. We continue to navigate trade dynamics through localised production, supply chain optimisation, and strategic partnerships. Our key plans for Vietnam in 2025 include expanding sustainability initiatives. Dow is focusing on circular economy solutions, including promoting the use of recycled plastics and advancing extended producer responsibility policies. We also plan to invest in local manufacturing and research and development, strengthening supply chain resilience and supporting innovation in material science for various industries. Another aim is to strengthen public-private collaboration, working closely with the Vietnamese government on regulatory reforms, environmental policies, and industrial development initiatives. Dow remains committed to long-term growth in Vietnam by investing in sustainable technologies, local partnerships, and policy engagement to drive mutual economic and environmental benefits.

Warburg Pincus' Jeffrey Perlman named chairman of US-ASEAN Business Council On December 8, the US-ASEAN Business Council announced the election of Jeffrey Perlman, president of Warburg Pincus, as the 13th chairman of the Board of Directors.
The seminar attracts numerous investors and industry partners, including representatives from the International Semiconductor Industry Group, Qualcomm, and Marvell. (Photo: VNA)

Singapore  The Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, in collaboration with the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA), organised a hybrid seminar on March 24 to introduce Vietnam's potential, advantages, and development strategies for the semiconductor industry.

The event attracted numerous investors and industry partners, including representatives from the International Semiconductor Industry Group, Qualcomm, and Marvell.

In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Tran Phuoc Anh stated that the Vietnamese Government considers semiconductors a key sector of the national economy. In 2024, the Prime Minister issued the semiconductor industry development strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2050, in which the country sets a target of becoming a global hub for semiconductor talent and establishing fundamental capabilities in research, design, manufacturing, packaging, and testing by 2030. The industry's annual revenue is expected to exceed 25 billion USD, with a value-added growth rate of 1015 per cent in the 20242030 period.

He affirmed that the two countries hold great potential and cooperation opportunities, given that Singapore has rich and advanced experiences in this field.

SSIA Executive Director Ang Wee Seng stated that Singapore's semiconductor ecosystem currently contributes nearly 12 per cent of the global semiconductor market and accounts for about 8 per cent of the city states GDP.

Cross-border collaboration will be key to unlocking the next growth opportunities as Vietnam is an emerging player in the industry, with a market size exceeding 18 billion USD in 2024 and projected to rise to over 31 billion USD by 2029, stressed Ang.

Vietnam is rapidly becoming a key destination for investments in innovation, manufacturing, and semiconductors, backed by strong government commitments, an improved business environment, and the countrys strategic positioning in the regional supply chain. It is drawing increasing interest across the entire semiconductor value chain, from design to assembly, testing, and packaging, while its booming electronics and technology manufacturing sectorsparticularly in automotive, including electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and telecommunicationsare driving demand for semiconductors.

These trends align with Singapores key focus areas, offering great potential for collaboration, he said, adding that a crucial factor driving this growth is talent. Developing a skilled workforce and visionary leadership is essential to sustaining innovation, he stressed.

Regarding the future development of the semiconductor industry, representatives of participating businesses suggested that Vietnamese enterprises should focus on researching and developing next-generation electronic devices integrating specialised chips and AI chips, investing in supply chain development, and building relationships with suppliers of raw materials, components, and equipment.

Enhancing international cooperation and attracting investment from major global corporations to gain development experience and access advanced technology, promoting investment in technology infrastructure, gradually building a strong brand, and expanding the domestic market were also recommended by them.

The Vietnam Trade Office plans to organise a delegation of investors and semiconductor industry partners from Singapore to visit Vietnam in the near future to promote investment in this sector.

Semiconductor industry rapidly evolving due to AI Technology experts at the international conference on AI and Semiconductors (AISC) 2025, held in Hanoi, have discussed the relationship between AI development and AI-driven semiconductors, suggesting a symbiotic relationship.
WATERLOO  After proposing cuts of 11 librarians, 17 full-time substitutes and four family support workers, community members on Monday pleaded with the Board of Education to reconsider its decision.

In early March, the Waterloo Community School District laid out plans on how it would cut $16.7 million by the 2027-28 school year to stop the general fund from depleting. Superintendent Jared Smith said the district leadership team tried to minimize staffing cuts for employees who deal with students daily.

But with 116 positions slated to be eliminated in the next two years, many who spoke up at the school board meeting said the district is still cutting boots on the ground staff.

Thirty minutes (was spent) convincing us that this is the right thing to do, were going to protect those people in the trenches, Micki Hartwig, the librarian at Central Middle School, said of the budget presentation meeting. Then, we were informed that the weight of budget cuts would fall directly on students, schools and teachers by cutting librarians, technology, exploratory and staff who provide direct support in those trenches.

Hartwig said this also contradicted the teachers who sit on the Waterloo Education Association board  the bargaining group for educators  who said they did not support cutting librarians, family and student support staff, or other teaching positions.

The district plans to cut 11 of its 17 librarians and media specialists, leaving one librarian at each high school, two at the middle schools and two at the elementary schools. The middle and elementary school librarians would rotate between the buildings they teach in each week.

When asked about whether the WEA approved the librarian cuts, Smith said he did not know.

I know our administrators were fully supportive, our administrative team, he said. I have not spoken to (WEA) specifically about the librarians.

The librarians are expected to be cut prior to the 2025-26 school year, which would save $825,000. Staff whose roles are being cut said they must reapply for their current positions so the district can choose who would be hired.

On the meetings livestreamed video, a microphone picked up Smith talking to Secretary Pam Arndorfer after nearly two hours of public comments regarding tax rate hikes and staff cuts. This audio was not heard at the in-person meeting.

We cant go back on the library decision, he said. Every employee group is going to think they have a chance. Every employee group.

Kristen Hinders, the media specialist for Bunger Middle School, said she sees 21 language arts classes in the library every week.

Asking for librarians to serve the diverse needs of 15 buildings forces our students to pay a hefty price, she said. It will negatively impact every student, put undue burden on staff members and damage building climates overall.

Also the parent of an elementary school student, she worries how this will affect her son who loves his librarian.

He comes home telling me about books they read in class, excited to show me the books he chose for himself and eagerly runs to the library anytime we are in his building, she said. How do I now explain to him that his librarian wasnt seen as valuable, that his time spent with her wasnt viewed as important?

Foster Schneider, 10 years old and wearing a blue suit, hopped up to the microphone to give his insight.

Sure youve got computers, sure youve got teachers, but librarians are different, the Orange Elementary School student said. I think you should really consider this.

Aerz Johnson said, apart from reading, the library has been a place of refuge for her when she did not feel normal.

They have been an integral part of my high school experience because they were safe, nurturing and just an important, wonderful resource for students, she said. They made my presence a gift. They offered the space for students like me or different from me. The library has been a welcoming place because of the staff who staff these places.

West High School student Anders Elliott-Ott said he uses the library for projects and asks librarians for help, but he is more worried about what the lack of library access will do. Although the district is not banning libraries, he said Adolf Hitler is the only person to have banned books and libraries.

What you are doing is fundamentally a fascist view, he said. I understand that our taxes are taking a toll right now, and that you might need to  figure out a new way to use our taxes because of our president defunding our Department of Education.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week to begin eliminating the Department of Education. The department cannot be completely ended without congressional approval, but the order directs Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to return authority to the states.

So what I need you to really reconsider is what is more important  the money or the people, Elliott-Ott continued. Our students come first.

Matt Gibbon, who brought along his daughter who made a We Love Librarians sign with colored markers, said cutting librarians is the dumbest cut.

Thats gonna bite you in the ass when these kids grow up and cant think for themselves, he said. We have a whole country thats tearing apart the colleges, theyre tearing apart thinking, theyre tearing apart learning, and youre gonna take (this) away.

The district also plans to decrease its family support workers from 14 to 10 for next school year for a savings of $240,000. Over the next two years, all 17 full-time building substitute teachers will be laid off for a savings of $400,000.

Carvers family support worker Doris Dedrick said her position helps students and families who are homeless, getting evicted or do not have heat or water.

We do the ugly work that nobody wants to talk about, she said. If anything, we need more social work to help our families to be successful and to stand on their own.

School board members did not make any comments until the end of the meeting, more than four hours after it began. Stacie Mills said keeping residents satisfied by not raising taxes while also trying to maintain staffing positions is difficult.

The family support workers and the librarians are both sets of workers that do touch our students and that was something that we really want to preserve, she said. I understand that we have to cut the budget, we have to find a way to do it. I dont know what its going to look like and that scares me to not know what its going to look like.

She said she realizes people are upset about a large tax rate increase.

I get it, I understand, but Im willing to pay that if I can keep the humans that work with our children in place, she continued.

The financial cut plan was developed behind the scenes over 15 months with input from 40 people including district leadership, building administrators, the WEA and the Waterloo Educational Support Personnel support staff union.

Reductions for the 2025-26 school year will be reflected in the budget, which must receive final approval by April 30.
The case against a Dodge County supervisor who brought a gun onto school property may be closed, but as he runs for school board, Dan Siegmann is questioning the intent of law enforcement related to the incident.

Siegmann, who at the time was a School Board member in the Herman-Neosho-Rubicon district, said he had forgotten he had the holstered pistol on him when he walked into the elementary school on May 14 to meet with the district administrator.

Siegmann said Dodge County inaccurately reported that he was told to leave after the gun was spotted by staff at the school. And while the Dodge County Sheriffs Office asked the Ozaukee County Sheriffs Office to investigate the incident, Siegmann said he suspects Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt did the investigation anyway without the necessary follow-through.

Schmidt said in a statement that an initial investigation was needed before sending the case to Ozaukee County, and that Ozaukee County did in fact investigate the case.

Siegmann was originally charged with a felony and pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor in October. But recently he has begun questioning his arrest and investigation.

Siegmann resigned from the school board prior to being sentenced on the misdemeanor, but he has remained in his position on the Dodge County Board, which he has held for around four years.

He now is vying for a place on the school board again, running in the April 1 election against Zachary Talarek, Scott Winzenried, Colten Schmitt and James Stommel for three seats on the school board.

Siegmann sent out a letter to voters in the HONOR school district on March 4. In the letter, he addresses the arrest that occurred on May 14. He also appeared in a video that was on YouTube about the incident.

In the video, Siegmann accuses Schmidt of releasing a different account of the incident than the school district. He also questions why Schmidt investigated the incident at all.

The sheriff of Dodge County, Sheriff Schmidt, determined that it would be a conflict of interest if he oversaw the investigation, because he and I dont see eye to eye on many things because I am a Dodge County supervisor and I oversee his department Siegmann said in the video.

Siegmann disputed Schmidts statement that staff had noticed he had the gun. He maintains he was unaware he had the gun on his person prior right before he left the superintendents office.

Siegmann, who at the time was a school board member, told the Daily Citizen he was not a risk to the children nor anyone else that day and had forgotten he had the gun holstered on his back. The district also released a statement saying Siegmann was not a threat to the students.

Siegmann said in the video that was released on the Free in Dodge YouTube page that he was working on May 14 when Superintendent Christopher Nesemann asked him to come in and get his Chromebook before the first meeting of the school board, which was the next night. He spent about 30 minutes with the superintendent and did not notice that he was wearing the gun before he got up to leave.

Case is settled with questions remaining

Seigmann was originally charged with a felony, which was reduced to a misdemeanor count by a judge in Washington County, where the case was transferred. Siegmann pleaded no contest to trespass while carrying a firearm, found guilty of the misdemeanor offense and fined $263. The firearm was forfeited to the Ozaukee Sheriffs Office for disposal.

In the letter to voters, Seigmann calls the charge a false charge and said it occurred because of collusion between the Dodge and Ozaukee County sheriffs offices.

Seigmann entered a no contest plea, in which a defendant neither admits nor denies guilt but agrees to the punishment that the court will oppose.

A person is not guilty when there is no evidence to support the charge, Seigmann said. This was an incident of weaponized law enforcement in Dodge County.

After learning of Seigmanns objections, Schmidt produced reports from the Dodge County Sheriffs Office as well as the original investigation from Ozaukee County and follow-up reports from Ozaukee County. The reports went over the timeline from the first calls coming in to the Dodge County Sheriffs Office until a second investigation was done in Ozaukee County to determine if anyone had seen the gun on Siegmann at the time of the incident.

Schmidt said in a statement that he asked the Ozaukee County Sheriffs Office to investigate the incident to avoid a conflict of interest.

To be clear, Mr. Siegmann on more than one occasion, including in his video, admitted to violating the law, Schmidt said in the statement.

Ozaukee County reinterviews witnesses

After the YouTube video was released, Ozaukee Sheriff Christy Knowles ordered that a clarifying investigation be conducted by her staff in which the witnesses were reinterviewed.

Knowles contacted the Dodge County Sheriffs Office after reinterviewing several witnesses about the conflicting information about whether staff had noticed Siegmann was wearing the gun or if Siegmann himself had notified the staff about the gun being on his person.

On March 14, 2025, after interviewing Honor Elementary School staff members Christopher Nesemann and Carrie Smithyman, it was determined their statements were consistent with the statements they initially provided to Dodge County Sheriffs Office, Knowles said in the email sent to the Dodge County Sheriffs Office. The investigation illustrates that Sheriff Schmidts accounts of the incident are accurate. Its unfortunate the release of misinformation can be done so easily and without being verified. I hope the verification of these witness statements can now put an end to any speculation that false information was provided by Sheriff Schmidt, as that was not the case.

Nessemann told the authorities in Ozaukee County that his secretary did notice the firearm and gestured to make Nessemann aware of the situation. Siegmann noticed the attention on the firearm and said, Im illegal, according to the documents released about the recent investigation. Siegmann was told he was not allowed to have the firearm on school property and escorted out of the building.

Nessemann said that a press release that was sent out to parents was worded in way to cause less concern from the parents.

During the meeting, the board member noticed the concealed gun they were licensed to carry was not removed before they walked into the school, Nessemann said in the statement that was sent to parents in May. After notifying me of this, I followed policy and immediately escorted the board member to their vehicle, and they drove off school property.

Nessemann said he contacted a PR firm before releasing the statement.

Schmidt agrees on original investigation

Schmidt said in his statement that the original investigation was done properly.

To be clear, proper investigation into an incident like this requires that initial information be gathered to determine if the activity being alleged could have occurred, Schmidt said. If the administrator had provided information that the incident had not occurred and provided a reasonable explanation, no additional investigation would have been warranted.

The Dodge County Sheriffs Office had gotten reports from people who had seen Siegmann leaving the school. Schmidt said after receiving information from citizens who had concerns about the incident, Schmidt called Nessemann to determine in the concerns were valid.

When that phone call was made, the administrator confirmed the incident and provided a brief overview, Schmidt said in the statement.

As a result of the call, Schmidt determined that there was a need for an investigation and requested the Ozaukee County Sheriffs Office conduct the investigation.

To be clear, simply because the sheriff made the decision to request another agency, does not mean that the sheriff relieves himself of the responsibility to report any information which has been reported to him and as such, the sheriff documented all information brought to his attention for review by the Ozaukee County Sheriffs Office, Schmidt said. The sheriff has the final authority to make this decision and the decision in this case was prudent and handled appropriately.
New carer support programme launches at Nightingale House Hospice

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Mar 25th, 2025

Nightingale House Hospice has launched a new Carer Support Programme to provide vital help and respite for carers looking after loved ones with life-limiting and progressive illnesses.

Recognising the immense challenges carers face, including financial hardship, isolation, and the impact on their own health, the Wrexham hospice has designed a group to offer a much-needed break while their loved ones attend wellbeing sessions.

Julie Jones, Senior Social Worker at Nightingale House Hospice, explained: Our intention for the group is to allow carers a much-needed break whilst their loved ones are safely attending our wellbeing sessions here at the hospice.

One of the main barriers for carers attending a support group is that they feel unable to leave their loved ones.

By running the carers group at the same time as our Wellbeing Programme sessions, we remove that challenge and create an opportunity for them to focus on themselves.

The sessions offer a safe and welcoming space where carers can connect with others in similar situations, reducing isolation and encouraging peer support. They also provide practical guidance, signposting carers to key services such as Northeast Wales Carers Information Service (NEWCIS) and Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).

Julie added: There are numerous benefits for carers.

Primarily, it helps them realise they are not alone. Being able to share experiences, advice, and resources with others in a similar position is invaluable.

Even something as simple as getting out of the house for a couple of hours can make a huge difference.

Our programme offers support, and each meeting is shaped by the carers themselves, ensuring they receive support that is relevant to their needs.

Topics covered include carers rights, community support, financial assistance, self-care, and legal matters such as wills and Lasting Power of Attorney.

Julie emphasised the importance of recognising the incredible role carers play: Carers provide an extremely valuable service, especially those looking after loved ones with life-limiting illnesses.

Carers help their loved ones to maintain their independence and the best health possible.

Its a physically and emotionally demanding role, and if we dont support carers, they risk burnout, which could ultimately lead to people losing the ability to remain at home.

The Carer Support Programme is open to anyone in a caring role who has a loved one connected to Nightingale House Hospice. Sessions take place as a six-week programme on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday from 1-3pm and are open to carers identified through the hospices Wellbeing Programme, Family Support Team, Inpatient Unit, or community healthcare professionals.

For more information about the Carer Support Programme, please email Nightingale House Hospice at info@nightingalehouse.co.uk or call 01978 316800
With a strong reputation for financial transparency and regulatory oversight, Mauritius is positioning itself as a leading forex trading hub in the global market.

Forex Brokers in Mauritius: Licensing and Business Opportunities

Mauritius has rapidly emerged as a top destination for forex brokers seeking a stable and lucrative environment to operate. The countrys robust legal and financial framework, combined with its favorable tax policies, has attracted a growing number of brokers from around the world. With a strong reputation for financial transparency and regulatory oversight, Mauritius is positioning itself as a leading forex trading hub in the global market. As a result, many brokers are looking to secure a Mauritius forex broker license to expand their businesses in the region.

Why Mauritius is Becoming a Forex Trading Hub

Mauritius has been making significant strides in becoming a global leader in the forex trading sector. The country offers a stable economic environment, a favorable regulatory framework, and a well-established financial system that appeals to forex brokers and traders alike. Mauritius is strategically located in the Indian Ocean, making it an ideal base for businesses seeking access to both African and Asian markets. Its advanced infrastructure and modern financial services make it an attractive destination for brokers and traders looking to expand their operations.

Furthermore, the Mauritian government has adopted progressive policies to encourage foreign investment and support the growth of the financial services industry. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing financial services in Mauritius, ensuring that all licensed forex brokers comply with international standards. This regulatory environment provides brokers with the confidence to operate in a transparent and secure market.

Key Licensing Requirements for Brokers

To operate as a forex broker in Mauritius, businesses must obtain a forex license from the Financial Services Commission (FSC). The licensing process is designed to ensure that brokers meet specific financial and operational standards, contributing to the stability and security of the market. The following are some key licensing requirements for brokers in Mauritius:

Registration with the Financial Services Commission (FSC).

Submission of a detailed business plan outlining the brokers operations and services.

Proof of sufficient capital to meet regulatory requirements, which typically involves a minimum capital investment of USD 100,000.

Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations.

Appointment of qualified management and staff with relevant experience in financial services.

Once these requirements are met, brokers can apply for the Mauritius forex broker license and begin offering their services in the country.

Advantages of a Mauritius-Based Forex License

Obtaining a Mauritius forex broker license offers numerous advantages for businesses looking to establish a presence in the global forex market. These include:

Attractive Tax Policies: Mauritius offers a competitive tax regime, including low corporate tax rates and exemptions on capital gains tax for forex brokers. This allows brokers to maximize profits and reinvest in their business.

Mauritius offers a competitive tax regime, including low corporate tax rates and exemptions on capital gains tax for forex brokers. This allows brokers to maximize profits and reinvest in their business. Regulatory Stability: The FSC ensures that licensed forex brokers operate under a clear and stable regulatory framework, providing transparency and protecting both brokers and their clients.

The FSC ensures that licensed forex brokers operate under a clear and stable regulatory framework, providing transparency and protecting both brokers and their clients. Access to International Markets: Mauritius is well-positioned to serve as a gateway to both African and Asian markets, giving brokers access to a wide range of potential clients.

Mauritius is well-positioned to serve as a gateway to both African and Asian markets, giving brokers access to a wide range of potential clients. Reputation and Trust: As a reputable offshore financial center, Mauritius is recognized globally for its commitment to regulatory compliance and financial transparency, enhancing trust with clients and investors.

These advantages make Mauritius an attractive option for forex brokers looking to expand their operations internationally and gain a competitive edge in the forex market.

Obtaining a forex license in Mauritius involves several steps.

The Application Process Explained

Obtaining a forex license in Mauritius involves several steps, each designed to ensure that brokers meet the necessary regulatory and operational standards. Below is an overview of the application process:

Prepare the Necessary Documentation: Brokers must submit a detailed business plan, financial statements, and proof of capital to demonstrate their ability to operate responsibly and meet regulatory requirements. Submit the Application: The application for a forex license must be submitted to the Financial Services Commission (FSC) for review. The FSC will assess the application to ensure that the broker complies with all relevant laws and regulations. Approval and Licensing: If the application is approved, the FSC will issue the forex broker license, allowing the business to legally operate in Mauritius. Ongoing Compliance: Once licensed, forex brokers must adhere to ongoing regulatory requirements, including regular audits and compliance with anti-money laundering and client protection measures.

The application process can take several months, but once the license is obtained, brokers can start offering their services in the highly competitive global forex market.

Opportunities for Forex Brokers in Mauritius

Mauritius offers a compelling proposition for forex brokers looking to expand their operations in a stable and well-regulated environment. The countrys attractive tax incentives, clear regulatory framework, and strategic location make it an ideal destination for businesses seeking to enter the global forex market. By obtaining a Mauritius forex broker license, brokers can take advantage of the growing opportunities in both African and Asian markets while benefiting from the countrys progressive financial policies.

In summary, Mauritius presents a unique and advantageous option for forex brokers seeking to thrive in the international trading landscape. With the right license, brokers can operate with confidence, knowing they are part of a stable and trusted regulatory environment that supports growth, transparency, and financial success.
The University of Nevada, Reno is warning of a scam of an alleged research study.

UNR says the scammers call themselves LionHeart Family Institute, Healthlion Medical Solutions, Trinity Research and falsely claim affiliation with the University.

The scam involves getting people to sign up for a research study by sending an investment of thousands of dollars, which they are told will be reimbursed to them by the University after an initial six-month period. The University does not have any connection to these entities or the alleged study.

People who have been contacted by any of these organizations or believe they may be a target of a similar scam are encouraged to report any potentially fraudulent activity to their local law enforcement authorities. More information about fraud prevention is available through the U.S. Federal Trade Commissions (FTC) Division of Privacy and Identity Protection webpage. In the U.S., fraud can be reported to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

The University encourages everyone to remain vigilant and verify the legitimacy of any research request before participating or sharing personal information.

(University of Nevada, Reno contributed to this report.)
Update (3/24/2025, 12:02 p.m.):

The Nevada State Police has released more information about a fatal crash that happened near Glenbrook last Thursday.

The driver of the Toyota Tacoma involved in the accident has been identified as Stephen Michael Pawlowski.

In the crash, Pawlowski suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital.

After receiving medical care, Pawlowski was cleared for release and transferred to the custody of the Nevada Highway Patrol and booked into the Douglas County Detention Center.

Pawlowski was charged with vehicular homicide, driving left of the center line, failure to wear seatbelt, failure to maintain lanes, and DUI causing substantial bodily harm.

Update (3/21/2025, 3:22 p.m.):

The Washoe County Regional Examiner's Office has released the identification of the man who died in the fatal crash on Thursday, on U.S. 50 near Glenbrook.

24-year old Brian A. Vasquez-Gonzalez of Carson City was identified as the man who died at the scene.

Officials say that the manner of death was ruled an accident, caused by the crash.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office continues to handle the investigation for this case.

Original Story (3/20/2025):

Due to a deadly crash on Thursday, U.S. 50 near Glenbrook was closed in both directions for several hours.

According to the Nevada State Police Highway Patrol Division, the crash happened at around 6 a.m. on U.S. 50 at mile marker 10, one mile east of Glenbrook in Douglas County.

Troopers say a silver Toyota Tacoma traveling eastbound in the westbound lane struck a Subaru Crosstrek traveling westbound.

One person died in the crash, and three other people were injured.

Troopers could not confirm if the driver of the Toyota crossed over the line or was driving in the wrong direction, but they do believe impairment to be a factor.

According to Nevada Department of Transportation, in an online post U.S. 50 is now back open in both directions.

This is an open investigation, and we will keep you informed as new information becomes available.
During the pandemic, restaurants were selling alcohol drinks to-go - but that was only temporary.

A bipartisan bill is currently in the Assembly Commerce and Labor, trying to make it a mainstay.

It was proposed by the Nevada Restaurant Association and is being sponsored by Assembly Democratic Speaker Steve Yeager and Republican Assemblymember Bert Gurr.

Currently, restaurants can only sell alcohol drinks that are finished at the business.

The bill was heard at the committee meeting on Monday.

During the presentation, Speaker Yeager gave three goals with the bill.

The first is to help out smaller businesses and restaurants.

The next is to provide convenience and to disincentivize people from drinking and driving, and the last is to gain more revenue for DUI enforcement.

"I think that this bill can get everyone to stay off the roads," Assemblymember Gerr said. "They can order dinner and a drink and not drive downtown and drink two or three and then have an issue getting a DUI going home. So I think that's an important issue."

The Nevada Restaurant Association says this helps to put the smaller businesses on an equal playing field.

"Grocery stores and retail stores are big corporations that are allowed to get this perk and get this business - and not the small businesses in Nevada; the pillars of the community," said Peter Saba, Senior Government Affairs Manager for the Nevada Restaurant Association.

According to the proposed bill, the to-go drinks would have to be sealed and clearly be identifiable if the seal were broken.

The drinks could be delivered through a ride-share delivery service or through the restaurant themselves.

The person delivering them would have to complete a certified program and get an alcohol education card.

The passing of the legislation would require age verification through what the bill states as a, "scanning technology or automated software-based system."

If the bill is passed a city council, county commission or another form of local government could opt out of participating in it.

An additional fee would be charged to have the alcohol delivered, but the plan is to put that money back into making sure people who drink stay off the roads.

"If you want to participate in the program, there's going to be a fee to have it delivered to your house," Assemblymember Gurr said. "Which will go back into DUI Prevention. There's already funds set up so it will go into that. The proposed fee right now is 50 cents."

"That 50 cent surcharge on each alcohol to-go will go into the ignition interlock device program," Saba said. "Which funds DUI enforcement, DUI prevention, rehabilitation and education. And that is projected to bring in 11 million dollars into the state for those DUI programs."

However, if folks were trying to order drinks to-go, the Reno Police Department reminds residents that drinking in public is not allowed and you can receive a citation.

The only times it isn't if an event gets proper permitting to allow it.

This applies to Reno, as Las Vegas has its own set of ordinances and rules.

The bill will go through more drafting and amendments before it's heard again by the committee in the next few weeks.

If it passes out of the committee, then it will get heard on the assembly floor.

The bill is also wanting to make the Picon Punch Nevada's official state drink.

It's a brandy spirited cocktail that is super prominent in Basque culture, which has lots of roots here in the Silver State.
Thirty-five years after we were stationed in Germany, a couple of guys with whom Id served in the Army put together a reunion. A bunch of us met in Pittsburgh and caught up. And we talked about the four men in our outfit who had since passed away.

Lash Bragan designed his own challenge coin to send to the families and friends of those he sounds for. Allison Joyce

Then, by chance, I saw a documentary about bugles that explained that the taps played at most military funerals is actually just a recording. The person will hold a bugle, but theres a digital device inside the bugle that plays the piece. That didnt seem like doing things to the highest standard. So I decided I was going to learn how to sound taps for those four soldiers.

It wasnt easy, because I had no musical training at all. My family got me a bugle for Fathers Day in 2020, and I studied recordings and videos and practiced for about six months until I felt I could do it right. And it wasnt only the musical part. I watched videos of the master sergeant at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery to learn his movements.

Members only Lash Bragan after he completed Army basic training in July 1985. Allison Joyce

Then, I sounded my tribute and posted a video to my Facebook page, TAPS The Last Salute.  Thats when I started getting requests from people who wanted to honor their deceased family members who were vets, or people they had served with. So I pledged to sound taps in honor of one deceased veteran every night. And then when the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan in 2021, I went down to a park and did a video tribute to the 13 soldiers killed in a bomb attack during the withdrawal. When I woke up the next morning, I had requests coming from everywhere. This has really turned into a lifelong commitment.

After I sound taps for someone, I thank them for their service and their sacrifice in a handwritten note I send, along with a challenge coin, to whoever requested the tribute.

The main thing I learned from the military was discipline. Thats what allowed me to go from zero musical training to being able to do this. I learned that you have to stay with it till you get to the end result.
The FCA will focus on 4 priorities:

 Be a smarter regulator; predictable, purposeful and proportionate. The FCA will improve its processes and embrace technology to become more efficient and effective.

 Support sustained economic growth, by enabling investment, innovation and ensuring the continued competitiveness of the UKs world-leading financial services.

 Help consumers navigate their financial lives by working with industry to boost trust, product innovation and ensuring the right information and support is available for people to take financial decisions.

 Fight financial crime, focusing on those who seek to use the fact they are regulated to do harm. It will go further to disrupt criminals and support firms to be an effective line of defence. Ashley Alder, Chair of the FCA, said: "We want to deepen trust in financial services and shift our collective attitude across financial services to risk. Too often the focus has been on the risks of a decision taken rather than the lost opportunity of taking none. We want to change that so we can spur growth and improve lives." Nikhil Rathi, Chief Executive of the FCA, said: "Our last strategy set high standards and bolstered our operational effectiveness. We are committed to going much further, delivering at pace to meet the scale of change we are facing over the next 5 years. This strategy sets out our priorities, how well become more efficient and effective and make the choices that shape the financial system. Our 4 priorities reinforce one another and we look forward to collaborating with our partners as we become a smarter regulator, support growth, help consumers and fight crime. We are ambitious for the future and committed to enabling a fair and thriving financial services market for the good of consumers and the economy." The strategy sets out how the FCA will change how it supervises to be more efficient. This includes taking a less intensive approach for those firms seeking to do the right thing, significantly streamlining how it sets its supervisory priorities, and reviewing whether it can stop requiring certain data returns. It will also digitise and simplify the authorisation processes so it is easier and quicker to apply, the information received is better quality and follow-up requests are reduced. The regulator also plans to invest in its technology, people and systems. It will support its people to build their digital capability and adopt new approaches to allow it to better handle the 100,000 cases its supervisors assess every year. This will enable it to act faster and more assertively where harm is greatest. As the FCA integrates the Payment Systems Regulator and many of its functions, it will build on the success of Open Banking and launch Open Finance. This will allow for more seamless data-sharing which could unlock product innovation and deliver lower costs, more choice and better information for consumers. The new strategy builds on the FCAs achievements over the course of its previous 3-year strategy. These include making the biggest changes to the listing regime in over 3 decades so its easier for companies to raise money, introducing the Consumer Duty to set higher standards of consumer protection, authorising firms that meet the regulators high standards more quickly, and keeping more potentially harmful firms out of financial services.



1. The strategy comes as the regulator announces how it will follow up on its call for industry to identify ways to simplify and streamline its rules and reduce burdens on businesses.




Indias most influential business leaders took centre stage at Business Todays BT MindRush 2025, held on March 22 at Mumbai. The event saw the unveiling of BT Indias Best CEOs Awards 2025a high-powered list of winners celebrating business visionaries.

Leading the honours, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group, was named Business Icon of the Year, while S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, received the Impact Icon of the Year awar. In recognition of enduring leadership, Harsh Mariwala, Chairman, Marico Ltd, and Anu Aga, former Chairperson, Thermax, were conferred the Lifetime Achievement Awards.

The other winners included Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, Chairman of Narayana Health, recognized as the Most Trusted Leader, and Deepinder Goyal, Founder & CEO of ETERNAL, honored as the Resilient CEO. Praveer Sinha, CEO & MD of Tata Power, was celebrated as the Green Growth Visionary, while Alakh Pandey, Founder & CEO of Physics Wallah, earned the title of Startup of the Year. Dilip Shanghvi, CMD of Sun Pharma, was acknowledged for Services Vanguard, and Sudarshan Venu, MD of TVS Motor, was awarded for Manufacturing & Retail Excellence. Motilal Oswal, Group MD & CEO of MOFSL, was named among The Wealth Makers, whereas Ramesh Juneja, Chairman of Mankind Pharma, was recognized as The Deal Maker. Pieter Elbers, CEO of InterGlobe Aviation, received the Glocal CEO title, and Abhyuday Jindal, MD of Jindal Stainless, was honored as an Urban Visionary. Manish Satyanarayan Nuwal, MD & CEO of Solar Industries, was celebrated as one of the Pillars of Progress, while Tech Titans included Kishor Patil of KPIT Technologies and Sandeep Kalra of Persistent Systems. Finally, Sanjeev Singhal, Former CMD of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, was named the Bharat PSU Icon.

The theme, Vucanomics 2025: Thriving in Turmoil  Turning Global Disruptions into Growth, set the tone for a day of sharp insights and grounded optimism. As global volatility continues to redraw business, the conversations at BT MindRush made it clear that CEOs are looking to leverage technology and capital to turn disruptions into growth.

In a keynote that blended realism with resolve, Kumar Mangalam Birla made a case for strategy over scale. Each overseas acquisition must be driven by clear strategic rationale-securing raw materials, strengthening value-chain resilience, or accessing higher-margin markets with lower volatility, he said, adding that India is firmly on course to achieve developed-country status by 2047.

Chief Guest Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced a national tolling policy rollout before April 1, promising reasonable concessions to commuters, alongside 36 new green express highways and 8.05% returns for infrastructure investors. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, awarded Impact Icon of the Year, framed Indias foreign policy as uniquely non-aligned yet fully engaged. From Russia and Ukraine to Israel and Iran-and from the BRICS to the QUAD-India engages across divides with the mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas, he said. Even after the recent downturn, benchmark indices continue to deliver positive one-year returns, said Motilal Oswal, urging measured optimism on the equity market front.

SEBI Chair Tuhin Kanta Pandey assured that regulatory consistency would remain intact: Taxation has been rationalised; lets not unsettle that certainty. Meanwhile, NSE MD Ashish Chauhan noted a deeper transformation at play: Domestic investors are increasingly becoming a stabilising force even as foreign flows ebb and flow.

As the sessions concluded, the audience gathered for the unveiling of Business Todays annual special issue, honouring Indias finest corporate leaders. The issue was launched by Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and S. Jaishankar, Kumar Mangalam Birla, and India Today Group Chairman Aroon Purie.

The event featured 18 prominent speakers in 13 sessions, attracting over 200 CXOs from across corporate India. The event was supported by PwC as the Presenting Partner, Diageo as the Celebration Partner, Polymatech as the Semiconductor Partner, Becquer Solar Studio as the New Energy Partner, Logitech as the Collaboration Partner, GAIL as the Energy Partner, Sofitel Mumbai BKC as the Hospitality Partner, and Laqshya Media Group and Omark Media Around Life as Outdoor Partners.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has been actively pursuing anti-competitive practices, investigating 35 cartel cases across various sectors in the last five financial years (till March 13, 2025), Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed the Lok Sabha on Monday.

The Minister highlighted the CCI's efforts to foster cooperation in competition law and policy through Bilateral/Multilateral Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). The CCI has signed MoUs with several countries and entities, including Egypt, Mauritius, Japan, Brazil, BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa), Canada, the European Commission, Australia, and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). These MoUs facilitate enforcement cooperation between CCI and its partners, within the bounds of their respective legal frameworks, constraints, enforcement interests, and available resources.

The Minister also stated that India has signed 14 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with its trading partners. Some of these FTAs include a dedicated chapter on competition, mandating that each party take appropriate measures against anti-competitive activities to promote trade, investment flows, and efficient market functioning.

To proactively address anti-competitive behavior, the CCI has established a division for trend analysis and research across economic sectors.

The Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023, has further strengthened the CCI's arsenal by introducing the concept of "lesser penalty plus" under Section 46 of the Act. Consequently, the CCI (Lesser Penalty) Regulations, 2024, were notified on February 20, 2024, replacing the 2009 regulations and establishing a "lesser penalty plus" (LPP) mechanism to incentivize cartel disclosures. The LPP mechanism encourages an existing lesser penalty applicant to provide full and truthful disclosures about a previously unknown cartel to the CCI.

Furthermore, the 2023 Amendment Act has broadened the scope of cartel investigations by incorporating the "Hub & Spoke" mechanism through a proviso in Section 3(3) of the Competition Act, 2002. This provision clarifies that enterprises, associations, or individuals, even if not engaged in identical or similar trade, can be presumed to be part of an agreement if they participate or intend to participate in its furtherance.

The Minister emphasized that the CCI, through its enforcement and advocacy mandate, aims to promote and sustain competition by conducting

market studies, advocacy events, and training, and by undertaking market corrections to eliminate distortions.

In the last five financial years (till March 19, 2025), the CCI conducted 1446 advocacy programs.
Reckitt, the worlds leading consumer health and hygiene company, through its flagship campaign Dettol Banega Swasth India (DBSI), played a pivotal role at the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, the worlds largest religious gathering. Engaging 500 million+ devotees over 45 days, DBSI led a first-of-its-kind hygiene movement, ensuring that cleanliness, health, and tradition were seamlessly integrated into every aspect of the pilgrimage experience. This initiative reaffirmed DBSIs commitment to Viksit Bharat @ 2047, supporting Indias vision of a healthier and more sustainable future.

With nearly a decade of experience at the Kumbh, Dettol Banega Swasth India brought forward its learnings from past interventions in Ujjain, Nashik, and Prayagraj, making Maha Kumbh 2025 its most extensive engagement yet. The campaigns reach spanned all 25 sectors, covering 4,000 hectares, ensuring that hygiene interventions were accessible across the entire Mela. As part of its large-scale impact, DBSI enabled 72 billion handwashing occasions, reinforcing hygiene as a key part of the pilgrimage journey. Recognizing the need for a sustainable approach to hygiene, Reckitt also created a Manifesto for Hygiene, outlining a strategic framework to embed long-term hygiene practices at large religious gatherings and public spaces across India.

Working in close collaboration with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, Akhadas, and key partners, including Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA), AJ Foundation, Plan India, and Jagran Pehel, DBSI implemented multi-faceted hygiene interventions. In partnership with Akhadas, millions of soaps were distributed at food-serving areas, encouraging handwashing before and after meals. To support 15,000 sanitation workers managing 1.5 lakh toilets, DBSI provided hygiene essentials, hands-on training, and digital access to hygiene resources, ensuring long-term sanitation standards. The initiative also extended to millions of Kalpvasis (devotees staying for 45 days) and the Tented Cities for Millions, reinforcing hygiene access in these temporary settlements.

Recognizing the historic significance of Maha Kumbh 2025 as the first-ever Digital Kumbh, DBSI aligned its efforts with technology-driven hygiene solutions to further the goals of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. The introduction of AI-powered tools like the Hygieia for Good Hygiene WhatsApp Chatbot and Hygieia Game provided pilgrims with real-time access to health and hygiene knowledge in seven languages, ensuring that critical information was literally at their fingertips. Thousands of Nukkad Nataks and cultural activations engaged devotees through interactive storytelling, making hygiene awareness an integral part of their spiritual experience. DBSI also leveraged digital channels and social platforms, amplifying its messaging far beyond the Kumbh grounds to reach a national audience.

Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President, Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh and Co-Founder, Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, said, Maha Kumbh is not just a spiritual gathering; it is a collective expression of our values and responsibilities. Through Dettol Banega Swasth Indias unprecedented outreach, we witnessed the power of faith-driven action in inspiring millions to embrace hygiene as a way of life. By integrating tradition with impactful initiatives, this movement has set a new benchmark for public health at such a massive scale, reinforcing our shared vision for a Swachh and Swasth Bharat for all.

Gaurav Jain, Executive Vice President, Reckitt  South Asia, said, Reckitts Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign has always been about driving meaningful change at scale. Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 was an unparalleled opportunity to embed hygiene practices into this historic gathering, and we are proud to have contributed to a healthier, cleaner Kumbh experience for millions. Our efforts, in collaboration with government authorities and community stakeholders, reaffirm our commitment to Viksit Bharat @ 2047, ensuring that hygiene is not just a practice but a way of life and a key pillar in Indias progress toward a cleaner and healthier future.

DBSIs role at Maha Kumbh extended beyond preventive hygiene measuresit also provided critical support during emergencies. In moments of crisis, including challenging crowd situations, Reckitts volunteers, along with Akhadas and district authorities, worked closely with local administration teams to provide immediate assistance, ensuring safety and hygiene remained a priority. Beyond the 45-day event, DBSI continued its engagement through post-Kumbh cleanliness initiatives, ensuring that its impact would extend beyond the Mela, contributing to a long-term vision for a Swachh and Swasth Bharat and Indias journey toward Viksit Bharat @ 2047.

Through multi-stakeholder partnerships, innovative technology, and deep community engagement, Dettol Banega Swasth Indias presence at Maha Kumbh 2025 was more than a campaignit was a movement, setting a new benchmark for public health interventions at large-scale religious gatherings.
The WARC Effective 100, the ultimate independent global benchmark of the worlds most awarded campaigns and companies for effectiveness, and the third and final WARC Ranking, is now released.

Compiled by WARC Creative, helping companies deliver creative marketing that works, the annual Effective 100 Ranking is an aggregate of the results of the most important global and regional effectiveness awards of 2024. The shows tracked are determined in consultation with the WARC Rankings Advisory Board and by a yearly global panel survey.

Anna Hamill, Senior Editor, WARC Creative, said: The WARC Effective 100 showcase the creative and media ideas that drive measurable impact. This incredible body of work acts as a North Star for the industry, both to inspire and to help embed a culture of effectiveness.

The three key themes from this years Effective 100 are:

Long-term consistency pays off: The top ranked campaigns underline the importance of long-term planning, brand building and creative excellence. Work from Dove, Heinz and ANZ Bank built overarching creative platforms, beyond one-off campaigns, to grow new markets, execute brand turnarounds and drive long-term growth.

The top ranked campaigns underline the importance of long-term planning, brand building and creative excellence. Work from Dove, Heinz and ANZ Bank built overarching creative platforms, beyond one-off campaigns, to grow new markets, execute brand turnarounds and drive long-term growth. Tackling systemic challenges: Brands, including Microsoft, KPN and the Mayor London, put their influence and expertise behind tackling systemic problems such as literacy, sexual harassment and bullying.

Brands, including Microsoft, KPN and the Mayor London, put their influence and expertise behind tackling systemic problems such as literacy, sexual harassment and bullying. Innovating the customer journey: Customer journeys are far from linear in the omnichannel era. Brands including Oreo and Mercado Libre got creative with customer journeys, adding fun into the online shopping experience with incentives and partnerships to maximise engagement. Dunkin identified its own baristas as a key part of the customer journey, making them powerful influencers.

#1 Campaign for effectiveness: ADLaM: An Alphabet to Preserve a Culture by McCann New York for Microsoft

The most awarded campaign for effectiveness in 2024 was ADLaM: An Alphabet to Preserve a Culture by McCann New York, for Microsoft. The global tech brand collaborated with brothers Abdoulaye and Ibrahima Barry, who created the ADLaM alphabet to preserve the Pulaar language of the Fulani people, helping fight illiteracy and turn it into a globally recognised and digitally used mode of communication.

This resulted in tens of thousands of new students starting to learn ADLaM, with schools opening in more than five countries. ADLaM Display is available across Microsoft 365 and Google Fonts. Mali is adding ADLaM as an official alphabet in their Constitution. And Guinea has recently made ADLaM part of its sustainable development goals, committing to teach ADLaM to 2 million children in the next 5 years.

Socrates Papazoglou, Managing Partner, McCann New York, said: Being #1 on the WARC Effective 100 is so incredibly meaningful because it not only celebrates the impact of the work, but it also adds to the impact of the work. Every single award this project has received has helped expand interest and literacy for ADLaM around the world.

Abdoulaye Barry, ADLaM Co-Creator, added: We are grateful to McCann and Microsoft for making our story known and for helping our people get the necessary tools to express themselves. All these incredible recognitions are fueling even more interest in learning and using ADLaM. Now more people are using ADLaM in their daily activities. Stories that would have been lost are being preserved forever. This is how we preserve our culture.

In second place is A Piece of Me by Dentsu Creative, Amsterdam, for KPN. The telecom brand partnered with Dutch musician MEAU to create a song and music video to transform attitudes towards online shaming. The song became a gold record gaining over 10 million streams, resulting in a 183% uplift in conversations about online shaming and a 9% increase in brand consideration for KPN.

In third, is The Cost of Beauty by Ogilvy London for Dove. The personal care brand launched the campaign to address the harmful effects of social media, support legislative change through the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and revitalise Doves brand strategy in a competitive market. Dove experienced a 4% growth in US household penetration and a 5.5% increase in value sales.

#1 creative agency: Leo India, Mumbai

#1 independent creative agency: Mischief@No Fixed Address New York

Up from fifth place last year, Leo India tops the creative agency ranking with four campaigns ranked in the top 50, for Whisper, Lays, Flipkart and Oreo.

Rajdeepak Das, CCO Publicis Groupe South Asia & Chairman, Leo South Asia, and Amitesh Rao, CEO, Leo South Asia, said: Being recognized as the most effective creative agency in the world is incredible because it underlines our core belief that true creative thinking is a force that can effect change for people, for the planet, and for business. This is a testament to the culture at Leo India, the talent that calls Leo home, and our amazing clients who together with us continue to believe in the power of creativity to impact a billion.

No change in the second and third places. Ogilvy Mumbai retains its second place, with award-winning campaigns for Cadbury, Vodafone Idea, Sprite, Colgate contributing points. AlmapBBDO Sao Paulo remains in third with four campaigns ranked.

Mischief@No Fixed Address New York claims first place of the independent agencies, and is eighth overall, with two campaigns ranked in the top 100.

#1 media agency: Wavemaker, Mumbai

#1 independent media agency: Fundamental Media, Boston

Wavemaker Mumbai, ranked second last year, takes pole position in the media agency ranking for effectiveness, with three campaigns in the top 100 for Cadbury, Oreo and Colgate.

Ajay Gupte, CEO - South Asia, Wavemaker, said: Being recognized as the No. 1 agency on the WARC 100 Effectiveness global list for the second time is a testament to our unwavering commitment to creativity, strategic excellence, and measurable impact. Effectiveness is at the heart of everything we do, and this honour reflects the dedication of our teams, the trust of our clients, and the power of ideas that drive real business results. We remain focused on pushing boundaries, delivering meaningful brand growth, and setting new benchmarks for the industry.

Starcom Chicago is in second place, with three campaigns in the top 100. Mindshare New York is in third, with two campaigns.

Newcomer to the Ranking is Fundamental Media, Boston, ranked top independent media agency with work for State Street Global Advisors ranked.

#1 Network for effectiveness: Ogilvy

#1 Independent network for effectiveness: GUT

Ogilvy is the most awarded network for the third year in a row for effectiveness. The network has an incredible 13 campaigns ranked, three of which are in the top ten; and five agencies in the top 50: Mumbai, London, Athens, New York and Melbourne.

Mick McCabe, Global Chief Strategy Officer, Ogilvy, said: When you pair unexpected and revealing strategy with unrivaled creativity, the potential for impact is limitless. Being recognized as WARC's most effective creative network for three consecutive years underscores simple truths about Ogilvy's culture: a commitment to consistent excellence, a refusal to take success for granted, and partnerships with exceptional clients who expect the best from us in everything we do. Above all, it's our people who make the difference. This achievement belongs to them.

Rising up the ranks is McCann Worldgroup, in second place, up from fifth last year. The network has ten campaigns, including the #1, and four agencies ranked - New York, Gurgaon, Lima and Toronto. In third place is DDB Worldwide - eight campaigns and eight agencies have contributed to its rank.

Dentsu International and OMD Worldwide entered the top 10 networks this year.

GUT enters the networks table for the first time, claiming top independent network and 20th overall with its Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires agencies both ranked.

#1 Holding Company for effectiveness: WPP

WPP moves up to top the holding companies this year with eight networks ranked. Alongside Ogilvy in first place, VML, Mindshare Worldwide, EssenceMediacom, Wavemaker, AKQA, Hogarth Worldwide and GroupM are all ranked.

Mark Read, CEO, WPP, said: Securing the WARC triple crown underscores the talent and dedication of our teams. These rankings emphasise our commitment to delivering creative and innovative ideas that drive tangible results and growth for our clients. It's a proud moment to see so many of our agencies recognised globally for their outstanding work.

Omnicom is in second place and Publicis Groupe is in third. Hakuhodo DY Group is new to the holding company top ten rankings this year. The majority of the holding companies retained their existing positions this year.

#1 Brand for effectiveness: McDonalds

McDonalds is once again the top brand for effectiveness, extending their winning run to six years. It has five campaigns ranked, Big Enough to Make a Difference, McDiploma, McDrip, The Cactus Plant Flea Market Box, and McCombo APPetitosos.

Dove continues its Effective 100 success, placing second in 2025. Heinz jumps from 24th last year to claim third place. Mercado Libre, Microsoft, and KPN are new to the top ten brands this year.

#1 Advertiser for effectiveness: McDonalds

After a number of years among the top advertisers, McDonalds is seeing its consistency in effectiveness paying off, achieving the number one advertiser spot for the first time this year.

Morgan Flatley, Global Chief Marketing Officer and Head of New Business Ventures, McDonalds, said: Its an honor to be recognized as WARCs most effective brand and most effective advertiser. Creativity is only as valuable as the impact it makes, and this dual recognition is proof that when creativity taps into culture and emotion, it drives growth thats meaningful and measurable. Im incredibly proud of our teams and agency partners that continue to push creative boundaries and deliver Feel-Good Moments that matter to fans worldwide.

Just a few points behind McDonalds is Unilever, which retains its second position. Anheuser-Busch InBev is in third. With its best performance yet, Kraft Heinz Company enters the top ten advertisers.

#1 Country for media: USA

The US continues its dominant run in the effective rankings. Two dozen (24) of the top 100 campaigns are US-based, including four of the top ten campaigns. India (#2), Brazil (#3), UK (#4), Colombia (#5), Australia (#6) and Argentina (#7) all retain their same positions. Peru (#8) and Turkey (#9) having been absent for a few years, are back in the top 10 countries this year.

The top ten most highly ranked campaigns and companies in the WARC Rankings Effective 100 2025 are:
Varsha Chainani has resigned from her role as Senior Vice President and Group Head of Corporate Communications and Brand at Vedanta. She had been with the company since September last year.

With a career spanning over three decades in strategic communications, Chainani has held leadership positions at Adani Group, Mahindra Group, Abbott, IBM, and the Taj Group.

Announcing her departure on social media, she shared, "Im stepping into a new chapterone that allows me to explore fresh opportunities, expand my horizons, and align my professional journey with my passions and values."


Having carved a distinct niche for itself in the probiotic category, Yakult Danone India Pvt. Ltd. launched a quirky and enjoyablesocial media awareness campaign to reinforce the importance of good bacteria to keep a healthy and happy gut. This poignant Social Media campaign will remain live from March 17-31, 2025. This was disclosed by Mr Eiji Amano, Managing Director, Yakult India Pvt. Ltd.

This innovative campaign titled #GutIsBusted starts with the hype that someone has been arrested for weak immunity, bad digestion and fatigue. But later, it is disclosed that it is not the gut but harmful bacteria that are the primary reason for the illness. Hence, among others, Yakult is also a very good solution to increase good bacteria for better digestion and immunity.

Speaking on the occasion, Taku Otsuka, Director of Sales, PR &Marketing, Yakult Danone India Pvt. Ltd., remarked, "Today, world over, people are facing multiple health challenges. The health barometer suggests that 7 of every 10 Indians may be at risk of a lifestyle disorder. While this has been linked to poor nutrition, stress and lack of physical activity, an important determining factor is poor intestinal health. Hence, we have tried to reinforce the link between intestinal health and good health. Through this innovative campaign, we have highlighted the importance of good bacteria in the gut. The concept of probiotics is unique and literally means For Life. The unique probiotic Yakult bottle contains 6.5 billion live Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota, which suppress the growth of harmful disease-causing bacteria and increase the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut."

Detailing further,Dr. Neerja Hajela, Head of Science Department, Yakult Danone India Pvt. Ltd.,elaborated, "The gut functions as a virtual organ ashome to over 100 trillion microbes, which weigh about 2 kg. The communities of micro-organisms areabsolutely essential for the digestion of food, absorption of nutrients, maintenance of a well-developed immune system and production of essential vitamins such as vitamin B. It is pertinent to maintain intestinal balance. Probiotics, backed by decades of research, have been scientifically proven to contribute to the balance of these microbes and, thereby, both improve digestive health and build overall immunity."

According to Ippei Nagamine,Chief Manager of PR & Marketing, Yakult Danone India Pvt. Ltd. "Today, we are present in all 28 states& 6 Union territoriesin India. The health benefits of Yakult are tangible, and there is an upward trend in consumption. There is great visibility about the brand, and we are constantly and innovatively communicating the key messages of our signature products through consumer engagement initiatives at the ground level and on multiple platforms to raise awareness.
Cash Row Sparks Chaos: Allahabad HC Lawyers on Indefinite Strike Over Justice Varma's Transfer 2

The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has launched an indefinite strike in protest against the proposed transfer of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad High Court. The move comes amid controversy surrounding the alleged discovery of huge cash at Justice Varmas official residence after a fire incident.

Bar Association President Anil Tiwari, leading the demonstration at gate number 3 of the court, clarified that the protest is not directed at any court or judge but at those who have, according to him, betrayed the judicial system. Our fight is against corruption and lack of transparency. We demand a complete reconsideration and withdrawal of the transfer order, he said.

The Supreme Court collegium, headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, confirmed its recommendation to transfer Justice Varma, whose judicial work was withdrawn following the cash allegations, to his parent Allahabad High Court. This recommendation was made public in a resolution on the apex courts website.

The alleged cash recovery occurred after a fire broke out at Justice Varmas Lutyens Delhi residence on March 14. Although judicial work has been withdrawn from him, Justice Varma has unequivocally denied any involvement and called the accusations a conspiracy aimed at tarnishing his reputation.

Tiwari stressed that the lawyers are prepared for a prolonged battle, declaring, Until a resolution is reached, we will not resume work, no matter the consequences.
Fadnavis Blames 4 Seats for 2014 BJP-Sena Split; Sanjay Raut Says Break-Up Was Pre-Planned 2

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has revealed that the 2014 split between the BJP and the then-undivided Shiv Sena happened over a disagreement on just four assembly seats. Speaking at a felicitation event for Sikkim Governor Om Prakash Mathur, who was the BJPs Maharashtra in-charge in 2014, Fadnavis said the Shiv Sena insisted on contesting 151 seats, rejecting BJPs offer of 147.

According to Fadnavis, the BJP was prepared to contest 127 seats in the 288-member assembly and even offered Sena the chief ministers post if they agreed to 147 seats. However, the Sena remained firm on 151 seats, citing a declaration made by their yuvaraj  a reference widely seen as pointing to Aaditya Thackeray, though Fadnavis did not name him directly.

Fadnavis also recalled discussions with senior BJP leader Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, indicating that despite their willingness to continue the alliance, circumstances led him to become the states chief minister.

However, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut responded sharply, claiming that the split was not about seat numbers but a pre-planned move by senior BJP leaders. He admitted that Fadnavis personally wanted to maintain the alliance but alleged that the BJP leadership deliberately engineered the break-up.

Despite the split in 2014, Shiv Sena joined hands with the BJP post-elections to form the government under Fadnavis. But in 2019, the two parties again fell out, this time over sharing the chief ministers post. The Shiv Sena eventually split in 2022 after Eknath Shinde led a rebellion against Uddhav Thackerays leadership, further deepening the rift between the once-allied parties.
The Rev. Mark Correll, who was senior pastor of the Cathedral of the Cross in Center Point from 1993-2007. He died on March 18, 2025. He was 70. Correll family photo

When megachurch Pastor Mark Correll came up with ideas to draw in the crowds, his big ideas often turned dramatic.

Correll, who was pastor of Cathedral of the Cross in Center Point from 1993-2007, died on March 18. He was 70.

Hundreds of friends and family gathered to remember Correll in a service March 24 that lasted more than two hours at Metropolitan Church of God.

He was out-of-the-box, hair-on-fire, pedal-to-the-medal non-stop, said the Rev. Armand Egnew, who was associate pastor at Cathedral of the Cross while Correll was pastor.

Correll once came up with the idea of decorating Cathedral of the Cross, an 8,000-seat circular building in Center Point, as the Roman Colosseum, with lions, tigers and gladiators, Egnew said.

He put cars in the church and Harleys on the stage, Egnew said of other themes for sermons.

For Halloween in 1994, Correll came up with a Judgment House featuring a wrecked airplane fuselage, a realistic-looking DC-3 protruding from the back of the church. It was called Air Omega Flight 777, a dramatization of an airplane crash and the afterlife to give people a taste of the ultimate fear - death and damnation.

Group tours arrived in the lobby, set up to look like an airport terminal. The group experienced a crash, then proceeded to heaven, and then to hell, where a demon flew down from a cable and knocked the pilot off a 20-foot stage drop onto a safety-padded landing amidst explosions. After they had hell scared into them, people participating in this evangelical version of the haunted house went to a counseling session where they were encouraged to get right with God.

It was so popular, the church had to take reservations at $3 per person, and more than 3,000 paid to go through it.

Egnew recalls the first sermon he heard Correll preach featured a box of messages from Satan on the pulpit with return to sender marked on it. Correll kicked the box into the audience.

People sitting close to the pulpit had to be ready, he said.

He was going to hit you with something or kiss you on the head, Egnew said.

When Correll became pastor of Cathedral of the Cross in 1993, he inherited a mostly empty 8,000-seat church in Center Point and a $14 million debt.

Correll quickly built back the membership and paid off bondholders over the next three years, taking the church out of bankruptcy.

By the time Correll preached his last sermon as senior pastor at Cathedral of the Cross in 2007, the church had weekly attendance of 3,500 and was one of the largest Assembly of God congregations in the nation.

He unified the church, Egnew said.

He came with so much passion, so much energy, said retired businessman Rod McSweeney, who was a member of Cathedral of the Cross when Correll was pastor.

McSweeney recalled going to do street outreach at the Five Points South fountain with Correll, who said there were satanic influences at work there. He had a gift for spiritual warfare against demonic influences, McSweeney said.

That guy was fearless, McSweeney said. Our church became so bold, on fire for God.

Correll was born Sept. 28, 1954, in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, was raised Catholic and served as an altar boy in his youth. Correll had an accounting degree from Pennsylvania State University and worked as a controller for a printing company for 10 years.

Correll gave up his business career to become senior pastor at Bellwood (Pa.) Assembly of God in 1988, then moved to Parkway Christian Fellowship in Huffman in 1990 to succeed founder Bob Smith as senior pastor.

When Correll was a child, his father was reading to him from the Book of Genesis when they saw a meteorite zoom down from the sky and hit a nearby tree. Correll went and got it, still smoking and warm, and the Hazleton newspaper did a story on him retrieving the meteorite. It was later given to Pennsylvania State University to study, said his son, Mark A. Correll, who spoke along with his sisters, Cassie and Bethany.

I really believe there was a divine purpose to his life, the son said.

Pastor Correll led 45 trips to Israel and knew the streets of Jerusalem better than he did Birmingham, he said. Correll and Sheryl, his wife of 49 years, traveled extensively. Correll took mission trips to Romania, Jamaica, Russia and Zaire as well as Israel.

In 2007, Correll stepped down as senior pastor of Cathedral of the Cross to become an international evangelist with plans to set up an Assemblies of God college branch in Israel.

But he soon found out he had Stage IV lymphoma cancer. He underwent treatment off and on for 17 years, rallying at times, defying the odds. Recently he got COVID and pneumonia and was unable to bounce back.

He was so proud of his family, daughter Bethany said. My Dads life exemplified the love of Christ.
"Panini Pete" Blohme gestures at chef Casey Jones in the kitchen at Ed's Seafood Shed, one of his Mobile-area venues. Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

If you like the idea of seeing a well-known Alabama chef get caught up in an epic tag-team battle that may involve a round or two of charades, youll want to tune in to Food Network on Wednesday evening.

In the newest episode of Guys Grocery Games, Lower Alabama restaurateur Panini Pete Blohme, a frequent collaborator with host Guy Fieri, will join up with a couple of buddies to face off against a team of Grocery Games alumni.

According to Food Network, the episode is titled Guys Favorites. In it, Three of Guy Fieris favorite DDD [Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives] chefs and three of the hottest GGG winners compete tag-team style in 10-minute shifts to create a winners pork dinner. The first shift chef shops for a favorite snack food and piece of equipment selected by a roll of the culinary dice. After each shift, the chefs are given a shot at non-verbal communication by acting out charades or holding up random food props.

Team DDD is Blohme, Jeffrey Stretch Rumaner and Arizona chef John Conley. All have previously appeared on Fieris shows, and all are members of the Messlords, a group of chefs who support U.S. military troops by activities such as cooking at overseas bases.

Mobile-area fans may remember Rumaner joining in as Fieri brought DDD to a series of Mobile-area restaurants in 2023, a tour facilitated by Blohme. Rumaner was featured in episodes on Dauphin Street cantina Roosters and Daphnes Southwood Kitchen.

According Food Network the stakes are high: Ultimately, the team that creates the best and most accurate pork plate will go on a relay shopping spree worth up to $15,000!

I cant wait for everybody to see this one, Blohme said via text. You dont wanna miss it, from the cooking to the penalty box, nonstop fun! Just so grateful the platform this show has given me. Money Ive won in the past has funded the beginnings of the PR Foundation and every time we win, we give it to local causes! (The PR Foundation, founded by Blohme and Robert Kabakoff, is a nonprofit organization supporting military veterans, no-kill animal shelters and people with special needs.)

The episode airs at 8 p.m. Central time on Wednesday, March 26. According to Food Network listings, it will repeat at 11 p.m. Wednesday and at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 30.

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Trey Anastasio had a captive audience in the Alabama Theatre anyway, but the room felt especially rapt when he started gushing about the state and his history here.

About nine minutes into his set inside the historic downtown Birmingham venue on March 22, roughly halfway through his spring solo acoustic tour, the jam band icon reminisced about the state where his band Phish played their first of 17 shows more than three decades ago.

Thank you for having me. Im so happy to be back. I love this state so much, said Anastasio, 60, holding an acoustic guitar while sitting in a wooden chair with a single spotlight fixed on his position on stage. I think weve been coming here since 1990. The first time that I played in Alabama, not Birmingham but in Tuscaloosa.

Sure enough, the eclectic, beloved guitarist and songwriter knows his personal history in Alabama. Phish played their first show at Solomons on the Strip on Oct. 20, 1990, a two-setter bookended with a Funky Bitch opener and the groups epic You Enjoy Myself to close.

Anastasio even remembered the venues name and welcomed anyone who was willing to correct him, as his fan base often does.

I think the first time we played Tuscaloosa was at Solomons. No? Fact-check? Somebody usually calls me out when I get these things wrong, he said, before again correctly noting the bands next Alabama show came at College Station the following March, when they opened for Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit (ARU). We did a lot of touring. We played around here, too. Such good times. We played at College Station. Do you guys know what that is? That was a lot of fun. Really good times.

A much more intimate setting than the amphitheaters and arenas Phish typically players, the Alabama Theatre and the solo format allowed Anastasio to pace himself during a set full of the famed bands beloved hits, like Free, AC/DC Bag, Prince Caspian, Chalk Dust Torture, Bouncing Around the Room, among others, before closing with Slave to the Traffic Light and encoring with Jeff Tanksi on piano.

Early on, Anastasio (who was born in Texas) paid the state a huge compliment, drawing favorable comparisons to Vermont, his home where he formed Phish with college friends in 1983.

Its the weirdest thing, he told the room. Ive said this to so many people over the years  I feel more at home ... Alabama feels more like Vermont to me than any other state. I really mean that.

Anastasio said he gets that feeling whenever he plays shows, referencing Hangout Music Festival specifically.

As soon as I cross the border, I feel like its very similar. I dont know, the vibe is the same, he said. You have a beautiful state here, and I just want to stay here forever. Im happy to be back.

MORE: When Phish rocked Tuscaloosa, my life changed

Saturday marked Anastasios first non-Phish show in Alabama since 2018, when he performed at Iron City in Birmingham that April. He has played Alabama five times in total.

Still one of the most popular touring acts in the world who have also sold millions of records, Phish last performed in Alabama in July 2023, when the band visited Orion Amphitheater in Huntsville for a two-night summer tour kickoff.

As a guitarist, Anastasio is underappreciated outside the jam-band world, AL.coms Matt Wake wrote about the Huntsville show. During the bands first of two sets at their summer tour opener, he did some acid-blues Hendrix-y stuff that shook my soul. Other times his lines were endearing playfully, skipping between the groove like a dragonfly skimming water surface. It takes a special guitarist to make around thousands of people achieve ecstasy at the same time.

Anastasios solo tour will next hit the Walt Disney Theater at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando on Wednesday. It closes April 5 with a show at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, New Jersey.
Country music legend and June Carter Cash and icon Kenny Chesney were among the latest inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Producer Tony Brown was also among the newest members, who were announced during a press conference hosted by Hall of Fame member Vince Gill.

Carter Cash will go in the Veteran Era Artist Category, while Chesney is the Modern Era inductee.

Brown has had a hand in the success of the Oak Ridge Boys, Elvis Presley and more.

I dont have a better friend, Gill said of Brown.

Gill called Carter Cash the matriarch of country music, because of her career as well as duets with husband Johnny Cash.

Carter Cashs children, Carlene Carter and John Carter Cash, were on hand to address the crowd about their mothers posthumous induction into the Hall of Fame.

Gill remembered escorted Carter Cash to the stage at an awards show for a lifetime achievement award.

We walked out there and she handed me her purse. I never said a word, but I was her purse-handler. Its in my resume, Gill joked.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on The Opening Kickoff on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.
If a performer swears enough at Morgan Wallens inaugural Sand in My Boots Festival, could it spell trouble for the future of the Hangout Music Fest?

The seemingly absurd question was raised by discussions at Monday nights meeting of the Gulf Shores City Council. The council approved a critical permit for the festival without drama, but there were hints that the future of the Hangout Music Fest may hinge on how Wallens one-year takeover goes.

The Hangout Fest is at the end of a 10-year franchise agreement with the city; it must be extended or renegotiated for the event to continue after the edition coming up May 16-18. Based on discussions at Mondays meeting of the Gulf Shores City Council, potential issues include a desire on the part of at least one city leader to have more of a say-so in the festival lineup.

Talks on the franchise agreement will follow the festival. The actual business before the council on Monday was routine: The approval of a Public Assembly Permit allowing festival organizers to welcome 40,000 patrons a day to the festival site on and around the citys central public beach.

A lot goes into the permitting process: Organizers must lay out their schedule for occupying the site, demonstrate that a robust public safety plan is in place and meet standards for event insurance, among other things. At last weeks work session and Mondays meeting, Director of Recreation and Cultural Affairs Grant Brown said that the process is familiar to event organizers and city officials and that the plan for the first-ever Sand in My Boots Fest is essentially the same as for last years Hangout Fest.

I can tell you that after doing this for 15 years, that this event, as far as the planning of this event and the safety that goes into this, its quite spectacular, Brown told the council. So were very proud of that.

The council voted unanimously to approve the permit, but only after a detour into a few thoughts about the longer term. This kicked off when council member Gary Sinak complained about hearing an unnamed artist dropping a lot of profanity on one of the secondary stages at the 2024 Hangout Fest.

I dont know who the guy was, who his band was, said Sinak. He was using some God-awful foul language and I thought part of our conditions for approval was [that] they werent to do that  We need to reiterate on that because that goes out to all the neighborhoods and I just dont think its proper. I mean it was bad, it was really bad.

The discussion starts about 17 minutes into the councils Facebook video of the meeting. Brown responded to Sinak by saying that controlling artist profanity is a difficult challenge that city leaders and festival organizers face every year.

The city has some oversight, very limited oversight into which performers can actually perform, Brown said. He said there were safety measures within the documents that could allow the city to pull the plug, if you will, on a performer. But the city has not done so.

Brown said hed pass Sinaks concerns along to organizers but also suggested that they could come up in franchise discussions.

This is the last year of their franchise agreement, Brown said. In order for this event to be taking place in the future, 2026 and maybe years beyond, there has to be another action by this body, and some of that action will be preferenced on what happens in this 2025 year. So this is a year that that needs to be a successful year if they want to continue to have this event in Gulf Shores.

Mayor Robert Craft picked up the thread. Theyre well aware of that, he said. And theyre transitioning into more of, quote unquote, more of a country act and something a little bit different with the Morgan Wallen group bringing a different type of performance here.

Craft said the Sand in My Boots lineup is a mixture, got a lot of the bad stuff still in there that we havent gotten rid of. But its absolutely our opportunity to, if were going to consider something for further, we can have and will have more control over what kind of artists they can bring in here. So I agree with you on that.

While its lineup is predominantly country, Sand in My Boots has been billed as a multi-genre festival. Its non-country side includes rock acts such as 3 Doors Down and The War on Drugs, rappers such as T-Pain and Wiz Khalifa, as well as a smattering of other genres.

Organizers did not speak on behalf of production company AEG Presents or the festival at Mondays meeting and declined to comment afterward.

Brown said after the meeting that he wasnt sure exactly where Craft was coming from with his comment about bad stuff in the Sand in My Boots lineup. As for the bigger discussion of the franchise agreement, he said its just a practical reality that its ripe for renegotiation and possible restructuring  and might be more so after Sand in My Boots puts a country spin on things.

RELATED: Gulf Shores weighs bringing Hangout Fest back, agreement up after 2025

Gulf Shores has changed a lot over the 15-year lifespan of the Hangout Fest, he said, and so has the festival business. Early on, the Hangout Fest helped promote the Alabama coast as a viable destination in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The region might not need a festival-size market accelerator the way it used to, he said.

At the same time, he said, the country-oriented lineup of Sand in My Boots likely will appeal more to patrons within the region, Brown said. It contrasts with the pop eclecticism of the Hangout Fest, which was tailor-made to draw a national audience to a destination experience.

Having achieved a rapid sellout, something that eluded the Hangout Fest in recent years, Sand in My Boots appears to be on track to be a major success. Either way, it may help clarify a picture of a festival scenario that will work for the city and for festival producers going forward.

I think thats what has to be brought to us, said Brown.
The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that requires all public schools to install an emergency rapid response system.

HB 234, sponsored by Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, requires all school districts in the state by 2030 to designate staff members to use mobile emergency rapid response systems, which instantly connect with law enforcement and first responders and give positions on a persons location, and to equip and train them on the devices.

The bill passed 58-30 with 13 abstentions. Most of the votes against the legislation came from lawmakers concerned about funding.

More from Alabama Reflector

Rep. Russell Bedsole, R-Alabaster, said he was supportive of the idea but said schools in his district could not afford to maintain the system.

We would love to have one of those systems where we can just press a button, but we cant afford it, Bedsole said one of his schools told him.

The Legislative Services Agency said there will be a $50,000 limit for the response system that local boards of education would choose.

Baker said the proposed emergency response system includes the floor and room that the emergency happens in, such as in an active shooter emergency. Bedsole, who had a career in law enforcement before representing Shelby County, said law enforcement will follow the sound of gunshots.

Its going to be helpful, maybe, to know where the room that the first alarm set off, but Im going to be listening for gunshots, Bedsole said. You can tell me it was coming from that room, and thats helpful, but that is not where Im going to go.

Baker said the system could also be used for medical emergencies or an accident in a chemistry class.

This is intended to get the most accurate and quickest response that we can to a location, Baker said. Its not all about a gunshot or a shooter.

Rep. Rick Rehm, R-Dothan, proposed an amendment to make the requirement of the response system be subject to annual state school safety funds starting in 2030.

If we are going to give them this mandate, we need to pay for it, Rehm said Thursday.

The amendment passed 102-0.

Some lawmakers were concerned about schools that already have a similar system in place. Baker said those schools would not have to purchase a new, more expensive system under the legislation.

There have been three school shootings so far in 2025, according to Education Week. In September 2024, a gunman opened fire on Apalachee High School in Georgia killing two people and injuring nine. Baker said the high schools emergency response system may have saved other lives.

Because the emergency button that was pressed, they were able to save many more countless lives that mightve been lost had they not been able to get that quick rapid response, Baker said.

The bill now goes to the Senate.
Two historical markers, one related to womens suffrage and another to African American heritage, were recently damaged in the city of Decatur, according to a release from the police department.

While the department said it has not yet determined if the heritage marker was intentionally vandalized, it has confirmed that the National Votes for Women Trail marker was struck by a commercial vehicle.

The marker was erected in 2021 to pay tribute to Ellen S. Hildreth, who founded an early Alabama suffrage club in Decatur in 1892.

Why this act of violence? Devastated is an understatement. I was truly disturbed to see the African American Heritage... Posted by Peggy Towns on Friday, March 21, 2025

We continue to investigate the damage caused to the African American Heritage in Old Town Alabama marker, the release reads.

Tire tracks were found near the sign.

Historian Peggy Towns, who worked to get the heritage marker placed in 2016, said it truly disturbed her when she discovered it had been destroyed.

Why this act of violence? Towns recently wrote in a post to Facebook.

Devastated is an understatement. I was truly disturbed to see the African American Heritage in Old Town Alabama Historical marker vandalized today.

Efforts to reach Towns were not immediately successful.

Established in the early 1900s, Old Town is Decaturs oldest property continuously occupied by African Americans, according to Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area.

In 2012 the neighborhood was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The marker was erected to call attention to the significant contributions the Old Town community had on Decatur, Towns wrote.

I am encouraging you to come forward if you know anything.

Decatur residents have come forward on social media to express their outrage at the signs' destruction.

The destroyers do not understand that the history is written in our hearts, and we will not allow it to be erased, one woman wrote.

How very sad! commented another.

I hope this was an accident and whoever did this will come forward.

Anyone who may have information about the markers has been asked to contact the Decatur Police Department at 256-341-4660.

We understand the communitys concern over the damage and the historical significance of the makers to our city, the release reads.

It will be roughly a year before the city can replace the heritage marker, according to the Decatur Preservation Society.

They added that it will cost thousands of dollars to replace.
In 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture investigated reports of people getting unsolicited packages of seeds from China.(Photo provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Officials say Alabamians should be on the lookout for packages of unsolicited seeds arriving through the mail.

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) has announced it recently received reports of the seeds being delivered to residents across the state through the United States Postal Service.

According to the authorities, the seeds were identified as tomato and onion seeds and tested negative for harmful compounds.

Similar packages began showing up in 2020, with parcels from China containing seeds that were a combination of flowers, vegetables and herbs. That year, ADAI received 385 reports of unsolicited seed packages delivered in Alabama. Several of the packages indicated the contents were jewelry.

Samples were analyzed for identification and tested for unknown compounds, noxious weed seed and invasive species. No dangerous compounds or noxious weeds were detected.

Seeds have also been reportedly showing up lately in other states, such as Texas.

The practice is known as agricultural smuggling, and is the illegal importing and exporting of plants, animals, food or other goods without proper authorization or in violation of regulations.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate said all residents should be vigilant about similar packages.

Recipients should not plant the seeds. If they are in a sealed package, do not open the sealed package.

These seeds may be invasive to Alabama plants or be harmful to livestock, Pate said. Our staff is working diligently to keep Alabamas citizens and agriculture safe.

Report unsolicited seeds received to your county Alabama Cooperative Extension System office or contact the Ag Compliance Consumer Protection Specialist for your territory which can be found at this site.
An overflow crowd of people expressing support for the Fairhope Public Library attend the Monday, May 24, 2025, meeting of the Fairhope City Council in Fairhope, Ala. John Sharp

Supporters of the Fairhope Public Library and some city leaders defended the library Monday days after the states library board voted to cut its funding.

The funding cut generated national attention to a city known as a hub for authors and writers.

The comments surfaced during a passionate public comment period from library supporters who blasted the conservative group Moms for Liberty for orchestrating the $42,000 cut last week.

They also criticized the Alabama Public Library Services (APLS) board and its chairman, John Wahl, for stating in February that the Fairhope Public Library complied with the states new codes directing libraries.

The APLS, a little more than a month later, supported the cut, which has been categorized in recent days as a pause in funding, after hearing complaints about the types of books shelved within the library by Moms for Liberty.

Fairhope City Councilman Jack Burrell speaks at the Fairhope City Council meeting on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Fairhope, Ala. John Sharp

The cut was also approved by the APLS board without pre-notification to Fairhope city or library officials.

I dont like the fact that anyone can go to Montgomery and make some comments and cause a pause in funding without further investigation, Fairhope City Councilman Jack Burrell said.

America allows due process. Im not trying to pick a fight to APLS, but I want to send the message that this is not OK.

Administrative code

A spokesperson for Wahl said he stands behind the APLS decision and the boards authority to promptly address the issue.

Wahl is also the chairman of the Alabama State Republican Party.

It was the first time APLS cut funding to a local library in Alabama since the new administrative code was approved.

I take exception of being called the worst library in the state, Burrell said, referring to statements at the APLS board meeting over criticism that the Fairhope Public Library has refused to relocate books questionable to Moms for Liberty.

I think we are the best library in the state.

He added, We can have a difference of opinion on what is appropriate or not. These are trained professionals (at the library) doing what they think is right by the law and if there is a misinterpretation or something that is missed, well make that right. But I dont think we were given our due process.

Wahl, in a statement Thursday, said the APLS boards vote was to suspend the funding temporarily to the Fairhope Public Library due to non-compliance with the APLS code regarding inappropriate materials shelved in childrens sections.

He said the APLS has a strong track record of safeguarding children from sexually explicit materials.

Wahl also said the code changes made it clear that local libraries had to relocate inappropriate content to 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, Wahl said.

Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan speaks to the city council during its meeting on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Fairhope, Ala. John Sharp

Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan said the code is unclear over what constitutes sexually explicit or obscene materials.

She also said there needs to be clarity on what type of books can be shelved in areas for minors under age 18.

We have childrens categories and teen categories, and we think there are things categorized correctly in the teen section, Sullivan said.

If they are not to be for minors, then that means they wouldnt be allowed in the teen section, either. We need clarification on that as well.

Sullivan said she anticipates an APLS representative will visit with Fairhope library officials on Wednesday.

Fairhope Library Director Robert Gourlay said five books have been moved since January.

He also said that since last year, when the APLS code included a new policy on library cards, 51% of parents have approved giving their children full access to the youth and adult sections with no restrictions.

In Fairhope, the library has a three-tiered library card system: Restricted access cards for teens (ages 13-17), juveniles (ages 3-12), and all-access cards.

The APLS policies says that libraries need to adopt library card guidelines for minors who are under age 18. Their state aid depends on whether those guidelines have been adopted.

The guidelines require parental approval before someone under 18 is permitted to checkout materials within the librarys adult sections.

Criticism

The Fairhope Public Library faces a loss of state funding following a March 20, 2025, Alabama Public Library Service board meeting in which board members, out of concerns over library books inside the library, decided to cut their state funding. file photo

Library supporters who spoke at the council meeting expressed frustration over what they said is an effort by Moms for Liberty that harm a library soon to celebrate its 125th anniversary.

They also argued that the group does not represent the majority of Fairhope residents.

Please stay strong against these loud and dangerous organizations, said Caleb Whitehead of Fairhope.

No one with the organization was at Mondays council meeting.

The groups Baldwin County chapter chair, Rebecca Watson, declined to comment. She was not at the meeting, and told AL.com that she did not watch its live stream.

I would like them to stop forcing their ideology on our community, said Brent Wiles of Fairhope.

Library supporters also claimed the books that are being banned are not pornography.

Some pointed to the book Sold, a 2006 novel that tells the story of a girl sold into sexual slavery in India.

Mette McCall holds a copy of the book, "Sold," during the Fairhope City Council meeting on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Fairhope, Ala. John Sharp

Moms for Liberty wants to shield teens from any information on the bad stuff that might happen to them, said Mette McCall.

The Fairhope resident held up a copy of Sold to illustrate her concerns about having it removed from youth sections as she spoke.

The fact is the presence of this book in the teen section rather than adult sections contributed to the loss of state funding is a travesty.

Gustavo Douaihi of Fairhope said he believes Moms for Liberty and other groups are cherry picking passages in a handful of books and posting them on social media

He said he has read 22 of the 35 books the library initially received complaints about, and that he has not found pornography in any of them.

He also said the common theme with the concerns is that the books deal with LGBTQ issues.

The actions in Fairhope come amid a broader national culture war over library content, specifically over challenges to titles with LGBTQ+ or sexual content.

A few of the books have sex scenes, but context matters, Douaihi said.

Some of them are about sexual assault. They are difficult to get through. Again, the context matters. Are we to assume passages depicting sexual assault is causing sexual excitement? Thats why these people have never read the books (when they) call them pornography.

Fundraising

Supporters who filled the council chambers also praised a recent grassroots effort to raise funds to supplant the potential loss of state money.

As of Monday night, $36,150 had been raised, or 90% of the groups goal in a fundraising effort that began four days ago.

The fundraiser was organized by Read Freely Alabama, a group that has pushed back against Moms for Liberty and Clean Up Alabama in recent years over library disputes.

No, this is not from Soros-funded outside actors that the other side loves to say it is, said Fairhope resident Mette McCall.

McCall, who announced the fundraising efforts during the council meeting, was referencing George Soros, the 94-year-old megadonor for liberal causes who is often viewed by conservatives as a boogeyman.

On that list of donors are your Fairhope neighbors who are protesting the harmful efforts of a small group of people, McCall said.

Sullivan, the citys mayor, said even with the state funding cut, the library didnt risk closure.

The library receives around $900,000 of funding from the city, an amount that isnt at risk of being slashed, Sullivan said.

She said the library system had received two payments from the state this fiscal year, ending Sept. 30.

Sullivan said the total potential cut would be around $21,000, if it occurs. The funding loss would not happen until June.

That amount of funding will not close the library, she said.
Lipscomb Ala. City Hall. The small town is just outside Bessemer in western Jefferson County. Joseph D. Bryant

The hiring of a small towns city attorney is pitting one mayor against another in a political and legal battle thats heading to court.

Leaders in Lipscomb are fighting over the city councils appointment of a new city attorney, whom the mayor said is serving illegally and is part of a plan to seize control.

The Lipscomb City Council recently hired Wayman Newton to represent the town of 2,000 just outside Bessemer in western Jefferson County. The council took the action in a Feb. 6 meeting.

The towns leadership is bitterly divided with council members blaming the mayor, and the mayor blaming the council, for the chaos.

Newton is also mayor of Tarrant, a town in east Jefferson County that is also plagued by hostile and litigious politics.

The council members are in the wrong, Mayor Tonja Baldwin told AL.com. With just over six months left on your term, youre going to make a decision with this much weight? The only reason youre doing it is that you need an attorney thats going to make me do what you want me to do.

Baldwin said the city council illegally hired Newton and called an illegal meeting to do so.

Lipscomb resident Zakeeya Miller Feb 27 filed a lawsuit against the council to block Newtons appointment, claiming that the Feb. 6 meeting was a violation of the Alabama Open Meetings Act.

Millers attorney at the time, Michael Trucks, argued that any person acting on authority granted during said, February 6, 2025 meeting is doing so without valid authorization.

In addition to the allegedly improper meeting, Baldwin said the council lacked authority to hire the attorney because, as mayor, she is the appointing authority.

Newton declined to comment on the conflict, citing the pending litigation. Several council members also declined to comment.

Lipscomb, like Tarrant, has faced years of gridlock as Mayor Newton and his council disagree over basic government operations and blame each other for the dysfunction.

Acting as an attorney Newton is siding with the Lipscomb council that hired him in its ongoing acrimony with Mayor Baldwin.

Still, Baldwin said she will not be bullied by the council nor its new attorney.

Council members had long complained that the previous city attorney Lucien Blankenship favored the mayor in city disagreements. Baldwin on the other hand, said the longtime attorney was simply following the law.

The appointment of Wayman Newton is a challenge, Baldwin said. Im going to take it step by step, day by day.

The council during its Feb. 6 meeting also passed a resolution to reinstate Lipscomb police chief Lanita Neal, a move that Baldwin also called improper.

The town has two police chiefs. Both are being paid, but only one chief is on duty.

Neal is officially the chief but has been off duty since late September 2024, when the mayor placed her on leave pending the results of an unspecified investigation.

Baldwin then appointed acting police chief Jatavius Merritt, whom council members oppose. Council members have demanded that Neal be returned to her post.
The wine section at Piggly Wiggly in Crestline Village is shown in this 2016 file photo. Joe Songer

One of the fine wine consultant positions at a popular Birmingham-area grocery store is now vacant.

Jackson Rhoades, who had been employed in the job at Piggly Wiggly in Mountain Brooks Crestline Village since February 2023, said in a social media post that he had been laid off.

A spokesman for the store confirmed Rhoades had been employed there and no longer holds the job.

The spokesman said he had no further statement, saying the store does not comment on human resource matters.

Rhoades said he moved to the Birmingham area from New Orleans in 2022. He wanted to share a heartfelt thank you.

Efforts to reach Rhoades were not immediately successful.

While this chapter is coming to a close, Im genuinely grateful for the time Ive spent here and the many meaningful conversations Ive made along the way...This transition is bittersweet, and Ill sincerely miss seeing so many of your familiar faces on a daily basis.

While transitions like this are never easy, Im choosing to focus on gratitude - for the incredible customers Ive had the pleasure of serving, the supportive coworkers Ive worked alongside, and the meaningful moments shared in a community Ive come to truly love.

Rhoades added that one of the most rewarding parts of my job was assisting many of our older customersespecially those who may not be active on social media. If you know someone like that who I might have helped, Id be so thankful if you could pass along this message."

Crestline Villages Piggly Wiggly closed after about three decades in September 2013, but reopened in a larger space in 2016. Its wine section has long been a popular component.
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., arrives for a House Republican Conference meeting in the U.S. Capitol on the speaker of the house nomination on Thursday, October 12, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag

After facing a grilling Tuesday from Democratic senators on Tuesday, it remains unclear whether intelligence officials will have to appear before a House committee chaired by an Alabama congressman to answer questions on their roles in the Signal group chat scandal.

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, was noncommittal on whether the panel will investigate the Signal scandal, telling Politico he is still trying to find out what happened.

Efforts by AL.com to reach a Rogers spokeswoman were unsuccessful.

Tuesdays Senate Intelligence Committee hearing unfolded against the backdrop of a security breach where several top national security officials in the Republican administration, including CIA director John Ratcliffe, national intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, texted attack plans for military strikes in Yemen to a group chat in a secure messaging app that included the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic.

The hearing on worldwide threats was not called to address the the group text, but Senate Democrats on the committee chided the intelligence officials in the wake of Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Rosenbergs first-hand account of the chat published Monday.

While Rogers has been an ally of Donald Trump and the presidents administration, last week he broke from Trump over a report the administration plans to withdraw from NATOs top command in Europe as part of an overall military restructuring.

U.S. combatant commands are the tip of the American warfighting spear, Rogers said in a joint statement with Senate Armed Forces Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss.

Therefore, we are very concerned about reports that claim DoD 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, the lawmakers said.

Reached by Politico on Tuesday, Wicker was more open to a Signal investigation than Rogers, telling the outlet, well definitely look into holding one.

On Tuesday afternoon, Trump said well look into it but the FBI wouldnt lead the investigation because its not really an FBI thing.

Are people able to break into conversations? And if thats true, well have to find some other form of device, Trump told reporters. Some people like Signal very much. Others probably dont.
The messaging app that Trump cabinet and administration officials used to deliberate airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen was first approved under the Biden administration, a Republican senator claimed Tuesday.

It is my understanding that the Biden administration authorized Signal as a means of communication that was consistent with presidential recordkeeping requirements for its administration, and that continued into the Trump administration, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said during an appearance Tuesday morning on Fox & Friends.

Senate Intel Committee Chair @SenTomCotton: "The Biden Administration authorized Signal as a means of communication that was consistent with presidential recordkeeping requirements for its administration  and that continued into the Trump Administration." pic.twitter.com/7kgz4O1seO  Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 25, 2025

Signal, the chat messaging app with privacy features including the ability to erase messages after a certain length of time, became the subject of national media attention on Monday after the Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg published a first-hand account of how he was added to the Trump officials' group text.

Included in the Signal chat, according to Goldberg, were Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, whom Goldberg claimed added him to the group text.

Signal is simply another messaging app like the iMessage app on your iPhone or email servers that every administration had set up in which senior administration officials can communicate with each other, Cotton said.

But his claims about the Biden administration authorizing the apps use among staffers is misleading.

While Biden did approve Signal, the app was not authorized for sensitive information, like the Yemen war plans Goldberg said was discussed in the group chat.

John B. Sherman, the chief information officer for the Defense Department in the Biden administration, issued a memo in October 2023 on the use of classified mobile applications in the Department of Defense that specifically placed restrictions on Signal.

Unmanaged messaging apps, including any app with a chat feature, regardless of the primary function, are NOT authorized to access, transmit, process non-public DoD information. This includes but is not limited to messaging, gaming, and social media apps. (i.e., iMessage, WhatsApps, Signal,) the memo stated.

Non-public DoD information was defined in the memo as Department of Defense information that has not been approved for public release.

Goldberg claimed the information in the Signal chat he was privy to included imminent war plans.

A National Security Council spokesman confirmed to Goldberg that the chat appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.

The White House denied Goldbergs claims of classified and sensitive information being disseminated in the group chat.

Jeffrey Goldberg is well-known for his sensationalist spin. Here are the facts about his latest story:



1. No war plans were discussed.



2. No classified material was sent to the thread.



3. The White House Counsels Office has provided guidance on a number of different  Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) March 25, 2025

Jeffrey Goldberg is well-known for his sensationalist spin, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt tweeted Tuesday morning.

She added that no war plans were discussed in the Signal chat and that no classified material was sent in the group text.
Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., questions Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, at Oz's confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) AP

A Democratic senator tore into CIA Director John Ratcliffes sloppiness and incompetence during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing Tuesday.

The hearing focused on the worldwide threats stemming from the scandal ensnaring Trump administration officials who allegedly discussed war plans over a group text that included a journalist.

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., grew frustrated when CIA Director John Ratcliffe told him he was not sure who added Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to the thread on private messaging app Signal.

In Goldbergs first-hand account of the Signal thread, he said his invite came from Michael Waltz, presumably National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.

You dont know that the presidents national security adviser invited him to join the Signal thread? Everybody in America knows that. Does the CIA director not know that? Bennet asked Ratcliffe, who said hes seen conflicting reports about who added the reported to the Signal messaging group.

Ratcliffe, who along with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and FBI Director Kash Patel were among a number of intelligence officials testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee on worldwide threats, conceded it was inappropriate that Goldberg was added to the thread.

When he was added to the thread  youre the CIA director. Why didnt you call out that he was present on the signal thread?" Bennet asked.

I dont know if you use the Signal messaging app, Ratcliffe said before Bennet cut him off.

I do  not for classified information," the Democratic senator said. Not for [military] targeting. Not for anything remote-

Neither do I, senator, Ratcliffe interjected.

Earlier in his testimony, Ratcliffe said he had no opinion of Goldberg, whom Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described as a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist a guy who peddles garbage."

Hegseth, according to Goldberg, revealed specific plans of the airstrikes in the Signal chat.

Bennet said he knew Goldberg and considered him one of the countrys best journalists but I dont use [Signal] to communicate with him.

But you thought it was appropriate, the senator told Hegseth. But Im shocked to find him on a thread hes reading in the parking lot of a grocery store in Washington D.C. And your testimony as the director of the CIA is that its totally appropriate.

Ratcliffe accused Bennet of putting words in his mouth, adding that he never used the word appropriate in his testimony and testified that he used Signal for permissible reasons.

Theres nothing to see here is what your testimony is, Bennet responded. This is just a normal day at the CIA where we chat about this kind of stuff over Signal. In fact, its so normal that the last administration left it here for us. Thats your testimony today.

Under questioning from Bennet, Ratcliffe also testified that he was not aware that Steve Witkoff, the administrations Middle East envoy, was participating in the thread while in Moscow.

This sloppiness, this incompetence, this disrespect for our intelligence agencies and the personnel who work for them is entirely unacceptable, Bennet said.

Its an embarrassment, the senator continued. You need to do better, you need to do better.
This is a guest opinion column

Libraries exist because civilizations have always recognized the power of information. The written word is a source of wisdom, insight, history, and truth. Information has not always been accessible to the masses, and when the masses didnt have access to information, the elite hoarded the information for themselves, sharing only the parts that made them more powerful, hiding away information and ideas that might lead to uprisings and revolutions.

This was true in political empires and in religious empires. The people in power - who did not want their power to be questioned - labeled books as radical and dangerous because they were afraid of the people they ruled over. They labeled books as radical and dangerous if those books contained ideas which expanded the minds and imaginations of their readers.

The elite were afraid that if people learned new ideas, they might find that they believed these new ideas instead of the ones the elite have been peddling. They were afraid that if the people learned critical thinking, they would turn their critical eye on societys leaders. They were afraid that if people learned that conformity wasnt inevitable, they would embrace diversity and bravely stand apart. The elites in power have always been afraid of public education, because educated people might rise up and form a new base of power.

And sure enough, when the people get access to information and ideas, revolutions do happen. Including the Protestant Reformation, the French Revolution, and the American Revolution.

Im proud to be an American, proud that we were founded by people who saw the value of a diversity of ideas, who saw the dangers of a king and an established church, who placed freedom of speech and belief as the very FIRST enumerated right.

America has changed its mind on a variety of issues over the course of our nations history. We have supported slavery and rejected it. We have supported sexism and rejected it. We have supported abortion and rejected it. Im not proud of everything this country has done. We have allowed some terrible ideas to gain power, and we have used that power to hurt people. But at every turn there have been Americans who bravely stood up and spoke their mind in opposition. Many of these people were reviled by the majority when they first spoke, only to later be recorded in our history books as leaders & heroes who ushered in revolutionary GOOD ideas.

I am aware that right now, ultra-conservative ideas are on the rise. Congratulations on that victory, GOP. While I disagree, I respect that each American has the right to hold such beliefs and to express them freely. Those of us with less popular opinions know that we are not entitled to political power. We know that we have to convince and persuade more voters if we want our ideas to become policy. Yet no matter how few of us there are, we are entitled to hold those beliefs and we are entitled to write, publish, and read books that include our beliefs. While the majority rules when passing laws and setting policies, we as a country agreed long ago that there are limits on majority rule. Our Constitution and Bill of Rights guarantee that the minority is entitled to certain rights and protections  such as due process, equal treatment under the law, freedom of speech & religion & assembly.

So while you do currently have the power to appoint the chair of the ALGOP as the Chair of the Alabama Public Library Service Board, you do not have the right to impose GOP ideology on all Alabamians. While you might have the power to cut funding to the Fairhope Library, you dont have the power to ban books that contradict your ideology. Your power ends where our rights begin. We know our right to free speech includes the right to representation in libraries, and we wont be backing down from that position.

I understand you are scared of our ideas and perspectives, scared they are catching on, scared that culture is changing. Its okay to have those big feelings. But let us argue the value of our ideas on a fair playing field. Let us debate these ideas as Americans with the right to our differing opinions. Let us make all ideas available in libraries and let people read what they want. If conservative ideas are, in fact, better than progressive ideas, let them compete freely. The truth you and I both know is that these progressive books are not gathering dust on shelves; they are getting attention because they contain ideas that people want to hear and consider.

Tabitha K. Isner is a business analyst, pastors wife, soccer mom, CASA, activist for government transparency and vice chair of the Alabama Democratic Party.
President Donald Trump said he would be honored to see National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service be defunded by his administration.

Trumps comments were made Tuesday after a reporter asked if he would be interested in taking away taxpayer dollars to the two public services.

Well, I would love to do that, Trump said.

I think its very unfair. Its been very biased the whole group, I mean, the whole group of them. And frankly, theres plenty of the media you have right now. Theres plenty of coverage...So the kind of money thats being wasted, and its a very biased view, you know that better than anybody, and Id be honored to see it.

REPORTER: Would you be interested in defunding and taking away taxpayer dollars to NPR and PBS?@POTUS: "I would love to do that. I think it's very unfair, it's been very biased  the whole group... the kind of money that's being wasted, and it's a very biased view." pic.twitter.com/hegd05Zxr8  Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 25, 2025

The reporters question was in reference to the Department of Government Efficiency sub-committee holding a hearing Wednesday to review funding for NPR and PBS.

The chief executive officers for each public service are slated to testify during the hearing.

Republican lawmakers and presidents have threatened to cut funding for PBS and NPR for years, claiming they both have a liberal bias in their reporting.

Alabama Rep. Dale Strong, R-Monrovia, introduced legislation in February to defund NPR.

Trump indicated that funding for NPR and PBS could be cut by DOGE under the administrations partisan evaluation that it is, waste, fraud and abuse.
Representative Dale Strong spoke at an event unveiling a defense contractor's new facility in Huntsville on March 18, 2025. (Photo by Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images) The Washington Post via Getty Im

North Alabama residents are continuing to flood the comment section of U.S. Rep. Dale Strongs social media with complaints about how difficult they say it has been to reach the congressman.

And one Athens resident claims they were only able to meet Strong at a fake town hall posed for social media where attendees could not ask questions.

For weeks, protestors in Huntsville and Athens have called on Strong to meet with the community and address concerns about aggressive federal cuts made by President Donald Trumps Department of Government Efficiency, run by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Alabamas 5th congressional district, which Strong has represented since 2023, is only behind a handful of congressional districts in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia for having the most federal government workers.

Strong said on Facebook last week that he was glad to visit with so many great folks in Athens.

In an email to AL.com on Tuesday, Strongs office said that he has attended over 1,500 constituent meetings and events in North Alabama in the last two years, sends a monthly newsletter, holds regular mobile office hours across the district, and has reached over 35,000 constituents during numerous teletown halls.

As someone who cares deeply about serving North Alabamians, Representative Strong prioritizes making himself accessible to his constituents, the email read.

Anyone who wishes to correspond with Representative Strong can do so through his website under the Email the Congressman tab or by calling any of his three offices.

But many on social media, and in a recent Washington Post article, have said Strong is avoiding public scrutiny.

I have to speak up, the unidentified commentor wrote on the r/HuntsvilleAlabama page. Im in that picture.

He was visiting a business, and they posted this like it was a town hall. He bragged the entire time about how he and Trump are buddies.

He asked if we had questions, but then kept talking, they continued.

He mentioned Musk. It sucked the air out of the room. Everyone was very uncomfortable.

They described Strongs appearance and the post afterwards as traumatic.

Im a blurry blob but that is me, in a photo, with FAKE NEWS, they wrote.

His post is a lie. He spent 45 minutes there, and it was to show him work we do that could be used by the government. Yet he posted as if he was meeting with us. He is only a liar.

I was glad to visit with so many great folks in Athens yesterday. I gave an update on my work for the people of North... Posted by Representative Dale Strong on Thursday, March 20, 2025

Dale, this makes you look even worse to your constituents, one commentor wrote under Strongs post.

Your little private gathering is not what we have been asking for and you know it. You will forever be remembered for this cowardice.

Several others said they called Strongs office days before the event to ask if he had any public meetings scheduled and were told he did not.

Where was this meeting? another wrote.

Was it open to the public? Was anyone notified of the meeting? Hundreds of your constituents have asked you to have an in person public townhall meeting for at least 2 months!!!!

Earlier this month, House Speaker Mike Johnson encouraged Republican lawmakers to skip town halls, criticizing them for being filled with professional protesters against the Trump Administrations actions.

But a weekend article from the Washington Post details how voters on both sides of the aisle are frustrated with Strongs absence.

When is he going to speak up for us instead of Elon Musk? self-described independent voter Melanie Kolowski said to the publication.

Its cowardly, said 66-year-old registered Republican Michael Bonaker, a substitute teacher whod driven in from a rural town after education cuts had been announced.

Hes hiding.










English News Dialogue, negotiation only viable option in resolving Iranian nuclear issue

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 25 Mars 2025



China will stay in communication and coordination with all relevant parties, actively promote talks for peace, and work toward a just, balanced and sustainable resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue while safeguarding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and promoting international and regional peace and stability.

By He Yin, People's Daily On March 14, a China-Russia-Iran trilateral meeting on the Iranian nuclear issue was successfully held in Beijing. The three parties engaged in in-depth discussions and issued a joint statement, reiterating that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principle of mutual respect remains the only viable and practical option in this regard.



At a critical juncture for the Iranian nuclear issue, the Beijing meeting marked a constructive effort by China, Russia, and Iran to promote a political settlement, providing a platform for enhanced dialogue, consensus-building, and creating favorable conditions for the eventual resumption of negotiations.



With the Iranian nuclear issue at another crucial crossroads, the urgency to gain time for peace has intensified. Relevant parties should be committed to addressing the root cause of the current situation and abandoning sanction, pressure, or threat of force.



The trilateral joint statement called on relevant parties to refrain from any action that may escalate the situation, so as to create a favorable atmosphere and conditions for diplomatic efforts.



The three sides reaffirmed the importance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). China and Russia welcomed Iran's reiteration that its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes and not for development of nuclear weapons, supported Iran's policy to continue cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and stressed the need to fully respect Iran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a State Party to the NPT.



While complex, the solution to the Iranian nuclear issue is unequivocal: full and effective implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).



Iran signed the JCPOA with the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and Germany in July 2015, accepting restrictions its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.



The JCPOA was subsequently endorsed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231. It represents a major achievement in addressing sensitive issues through dialogue and negotiation, a successful practice of multilateralism, and a unique and significant contribution to maintaining regional stability and upholding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.



During the Beijing meeting, China, Russia and Iran stressed the importance of the UNSC Resolution 2231, including its timeframes. While recent expressions of willingness to negotiate were noted, all efforts must adhere to the JCPOA framework, preserve existing consensus, and address all parties' legitimate concerns in a balanced manner.



Amid the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, where regional security continues to deteriorate and hotspot issues emerge one after another, resolving the Iranian nuclear issue is critical to safeguarding global non-proliferation regime and regional peace.



All parties should uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and work toward a widely accepted regional security architecture to achieve lasting stability.



All parties should play a constructive role in easing regional tensions and avoid linking the Iranian nuclear issue with other matters. Otherwise, this would only escalate conflicts and confrontation, further complicate the Iranian nuclear issue, and create new tensions or even crises.



As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a party to the JCPOA, China has consistently advocated for a political and diplomatic resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue, the preservation of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and the promotion of peace and stability in the Middle East.



During the Beijing meeting, China put forward five points on the proper settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue. First, stay committed to peaceful settlement of disputes through political and diplomatic means, and oppose the use of force and illegal sanctions. Second, stay committed to balancing rights and responsibilities, and take a holistic approach to the goals of nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Third, stay committed to the framework of the JCPOA as the basis for new consensus. Fourth, stay committed to promoting cooperation through dialogue, and oppose pressing for intervention by the UN Security Council. Fifth, stay committed to a step-by-step and reciprocal approach, and seek consensus through consultation.



These propositions reflect China's constructive role in addressing the Iranian nuclear issue under new circumstances and demonstrate China's major country responsibility.



The China-Russia-Iran meeting in Beijing marked an important step in the right direction. The history and reality of the Iranian nuclear issue have repeatedly shown that sanctions, pressure, and threat of force offer no solutiondialogue and consultation remain the only viable path.



China will stay in communication and coordination with all relevant parties, actively promote talks for peace, and work toward a just, balanced and sustainable resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue while safeguarding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and promoting international and regional peace and stability.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > Low-altitude economy lifts off as Chinese automakers enter the eVTOL era China expands efforts to boost global e-commerce cooperation Legacy of Tea-Horse Road lives on at China-Laos border Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
Type 054B frigate Luohe in maritime combat training

China Military Online) 08:51, March 25, 2025

The photo shows two tugboats sailing toward the Chinese PLA Navy's first Type 054B guided-missile frigate Luohe (Hull 545) during a recent maritime combat training in the designated sea area of China's Yellow Sea.

The photo shows the Chinese PLA Navy's first Type 054B guided-missile frigate Luohe (Hull 545) firing its main gun at simulated targets during a recent maritime combat training in the designated sea area of China's Yellow Sea.

The photo shows the Chinese PLA Navy's first Type 054B guided-missile frigate Luohe (Hull 545) firing its close-in weapon system at simulated targets during a recent maritime combat training in the designated sea area of China's Yellow Sea.

The photo shows the Chinese PLA Navy's first Type 054B guided-missile frigate Luohe (Hull 545) sailing at sea during a recent maritime combat training in the designated sea area of China's Yellow Sea.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
I am wondering about the ongoing District Judge Blitzkrieg and the Tesla Blitzkrieg and the Bernie-AOC Fight Oligarchy Blitzkrieg Tour. Could this be the Democrat equivalent of the Battle of Stalingrad? If so, the question is: which Democrat astroturf outfit is going to play the role of the German 6th Army?

I have a weird feeling that our Democratic friends really dont know what they are doing. I reckon that the various Democratic Party entities are striking out mindlessly doing same old same old. If its judges, then its about stopping any and all Trump Executive Orders, because. If its Chuck Schumer then its opposing the Continuing Resolution until it isnt. If its the Activist Industrial Complex its getting together to plan the bombing of Teslas, because. If its Bernie Sanders and AOC its a nationwide tour to Fight Oligarchy, because.

Okay. Forget Stalingrad II. It could be that we are watching the latest exciting episode of the Keystone Kops.

I dont know about you, but the last few years have been a real education for me. And its the new independent media that did it. I didnt really know much about the Intelligence Community until learning about the redirection of censorship and media influence from a foreign orientation to a domestic orientation during the Trump era, peaking on the day before Elon bought Twitter. And then I found out that almost everyone who is anyone has their connections with the Intelligence Community: even Katherine Maher, who had some minor role in the IC-led Color Revolutions in the republics of the former Soviet Union, and then went on to be CEO of Wikimedia, and is now CEO of NPR.

Does that mean that Wikimedia and NPR are part of the Intelligence Community?

It seems that regime change courtesy of the IC has been a central part of U.S. foreign policy going back to the late 1940s, and involves a whole universe of NGOs and grant recipients and universities. Even Aussie universities?

Right now, X influencers like Libs of Tik Tok and Insurrection Barbie are publicizing the notion that the Tesla mostly peaceful protests are organized by Action Network, Invisible 50501, and Political Revolution. And they think that ActBlue is helping to fund it. Luke Slywaker says that:

Action Network is a digital organizing platform that partners with various progressive groups, including MoveOn.org, to facilitate campaigns, events, and protests.

DataRepublican says that Action Network takes money from the DNC and Soros Democracy PAC.

I wonder. I wonder if all these left-wing activists and activist groups get their training in various IC-adjacent NGOs. Because the central focus of U.S. foreign policy since 1948 has been soft-power influence and election manipulation, starting with the successful CIA manipulation of the Italian general election in April 1948. Then everyone started doing it, what with the Soviet-backed coup in Czechoslovakia in that year.

Everybodys doing it. So why shouldnt Trump sign an Executive Order or two? Thats Different, according to the New York Times (via pjmedia.com):

Mr. Trump and his allies are aggressively attacking the players and machinery that power the left, taking a series of highly partisan official actions that, if successful, will threaten to hobble Democrats ability to compete in elections for years to come.

As in:

Executive actions intended to cripple top Democrat law firms.

Investigations of Democrat fundraising and organizing platforms.

Ominous suggestions that nonprofits aligned with Democrats or critical of President Trump should have their tax exemptions revoked.

Like I say: all this is a very powerful education in how the Democratic Industrial Complex works. As I understand it, one of the Trump Executive Orders strips top Democratic law firms of their security clearances.

I know. That was my reaction. Law firms get to have security clearances? I had no idea.

Meanwhile, here is a sub-sub-section of the Democratic Industrial Complex on its way to a peaceful protest in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Saturday March 22, 2025.

A number of the peaceful protest signs demanded we Deport Elon. Apparently, the word has gone out from Activism Central that the rights of a South African immigrant job creator and astronaut rescuer like Elon Musk are negotiable, whereas the rights of a mostly peaceful protester like Mahmoud Khalil are sacrosanct.

But I wonder in particular about the Bernie/AOC Fight Oligarchy Tour. I wonder if that will propel the Democrats back into the catbird seat or whether it will prove an absolute disaster. Heres what Sen. Sanders (I-VT) has to say:

Over the course of the next few weeks I'll be hitting the road to have real discussions across America on how we move forward to take on the Oligarchs and corporate interests who have so much power and influence in this country.

Bernie, honey. Every government is an Oligarchy. It means the few ruling over the many. E.g., the socialist Oligarchies of the Soviet Union and Communist China.

Elon Musk need not apply.

Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill blogs at The Commoner Manifesto and runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also get his American Manifesto and his Road to the Middle Class.
The potential dismantling of USAID (United States Agency for International Development) services in Africa presents both opportunities and challenges. While some view this as a loss of critical support, others see it as an opportunity for African nations to assert greater control over their own development. The true impact of this decision will hinge on how African countries navigate the shift, leveraging the advantages of independence while managing the risks that come with it.

USAIDs History and the Path to Dismantling

USAID was created by an executive order from President John F. Kennedy in 1961. As an agency designed to coordinate U.S. foreign assistance, it has played a pivotal role in providing aid to developing countries, including many in Africa. However, while the establishment of USAID was a presidential executive action, its potential dismantling is more complex.

While President Trump, or any sitting president, could influence the operational funding and scope of USAID through executive actions, abolishing the agency would likely require an act of Congress. This distinction is significant because it highlights that such a substantial shift in U.S. foreign policy would need broader legislative approval, not just a presidential decree.

Expanded Advantages of Dismantling USAID Services

1. Increased Self-Sufficiency and Local Ownership

Removing USAID could drive African nations to strengthen their own governance structures, resource management systems, and development models. This shift would foster greater local ownership of projects, ensuring that solutions are crafted and executed by those with a deeper understanding of their communitys unique needs. Over time, this could lead to more sustainable, locally-driven solutions, ultimately reducing reliance on external actors.

2. Empowering Local Innovation and Solutions

Without the safety net of foreign aid, governments may be prompted to adopt more creative, entrepreneurial approaches to addressing economic growth and social welfare. This could spark the development of local industries, start-ups, and initiatives directly aligned with the needs of the population, driving long-term innovation and self-reliance.

3. Strengthening Regional Cooperation

In the absence of USAID, African nations may increasingly look inward, collaborating with each other to solve common challenges. This could foster stronger regional integration, pooled resources, and joint initiatives that address pressing issues such as trade, infrastructure, healthcare, and security, leading to greater regional stability and prosperity.

4. Redirecting Resources Toward National Priorities

Freed from the constraints of USAIDs funding mandates, African governments would gain more flexibility to direct resources toward areas that align directly with their national development goals. Whether its infrastructure, education, or climate resilience, this freedom would allow countries to tailor their policies to fit their most urgent needs, free from external donor agendas.

5. Building Diverse and Strategic Partnerships

The absence of USAID may push African nations to form new partnerships with countries and organizations that align better with their evolving needs. Collaborations with emerging powers such as China, India, or regional bodies within Africa could bring in investment, technology, and expertise that are better suited to the continents priorities.

6. Enhancing Sovereignty and Reducing External Influence

The dismantling of USAID services could signal a shift toward greater sovereignty, with African nations asserting more control over their political and economic decisions. By reducing dependence on foreign aid, these countries would have the freedom to make choices based on their own interests, rather than those of international donors.

7. Promoting Innovation in Social Welfare Systems

Without USAIDs financial support for social programs, African governments may be encouraged to build more innovative and sustainable welfare systems. This could include strengthening social safety nets, investing in education and healthcare infrastructure, and developing more effective, locally-driven responses to poverty and inequality.

Disadvantages: A Balanced View

While the potential advantages are significant, the risks associated with dismantling USAID services should not be overlooked.

1. Loss of Critical Financial Support

USAID currently provides vital funding for sectors like healthcare, education, agriculture, and infrastructure. Its departure could leave a significant gap in resources, particularly for addressing urgent challenges such as poverty, disease, and climate change, potentially undoing years of progress.

2. Disruption of Ongoing Development Programs

USAIDs extensive involvement in health and food security initiatives has resulted in measurable progress in tackling issues like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and malnutrition. The sudden withdrawal of USAID could disrupt these programs, potentially reversing hard-earned gains and leaving millions vulnerable.

3. Loss of Expertise and Technical Support

Beyond financial aid, USAID offers invaluable technical expertise and capacity-building initiatives. The loss of this support could leave African countries struggling to build the necessary knowledge and skills to address complex development challenges, from healthcare system reform to sustainable agricultural practices.

4. Strained Diplomatic Relations

The cessation of USAIDs operations could have broader diplomatic implications. Such a move might be interpreted as a reduction in U.S. commitment to Africa, potentially paving the way for other global powerssuch as China or Russiato expand their influence on the continent.

Conclusion: The Path to a Stronger Future

While the dismantling of USAID services undeniably presents significant challenges, it also opens a unique opportunity for African nations to reclaim greater control over their development. By embracing local innovation, fostering regional cooperation, and redirecting resources toward national priorities, African nations could build a more resilient, self-sufficient future.

However, success in this transition will depend on how well African countries manage the risks and gaps left by foreign aid. If this shift is navigated thoughtfully, African nations could emerge stronger, more autonomous, and better equipped for sustainable growth in the long term.

USAID in Ghana, 2017. Public domain.
The American system was founded on a simple idea: three branches of government, each with its distinct role. The president executes the law, Congress creates it, and the judiciary interprets it. However, at some point, activist judges became more than just referees; they began seeing themselves as emperors, wielding gavels like scepters and rewriting the rules to fit their desires. These black-robed radicals believe they possess more power than the president, and its time for conservatives to confront them as the tyrants they have become.

Consider the immigration saga under Donald Trump. In 2017, Trump issued an executive ordera travel ban targeting countries plagued by terrorism. It was bold, unapologetic, and squarely within his constitutional authority to protect national security.

Then came the activist judges. Federal courts in Hawaii and Washington state blocked the order, with unelected judges like James Robart and Derrick Watson acting as armchair commander-in-chief. Their rationale? Trumps campaign rhetoric caused hurt feelings, so the policy must be discriminatory. Forget the Constitution or the will of the voters who placed Trump in officethese judges concluded that their moral superiority outweighs executive power. The Supreme Court ultimately upheld the ban, but not before years of chaos demonstrated the reality: activist judges do not interpret the law; they create it.

Image by Grok.

Then theres the abortion racket. For decades, Roe v. Wade stood as a symbol of judicial overreach, a 1973 decision concocted from thin air by justices who discovered a right to abortion lurking in the shadows of the Constitution. Fast forward to 2022, when Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health finally overturned it, returning the issue to the states.

Youd think that would settle things, but activist judges arent finished. In states like Ohio and Michigan, lower courts have rushed to block pro-life laws, twisting state constitutions into pretzels to keep the abortion mills operational. These judges dont care that Dobbs stripped their federal protection; theyll concoct new rights faster than you can say living document. Theyre not answering to voters or executives; theyre answering to Planned Parenthood and the progressive elite.

What about guns? After Trumps ATF tried to crack down on bump stocksthose nasty little devices that turn rifles into machine gunsactivist judges swooped in again. 2023, the Fifth Circuit struck down the ban, with judges like Jennifer Walker Elrod arguing that the agency had overstepped.

Fair enough, except the pattern repeats: courts dont just check the executivethey supplant it, deciding policy from the bench. Meanwhile, in blue states, judges uphold every gun control scheme the Left dreams up, ignoring Bruen (2022), in which the Supreme Court demanded strict historical scrutiny. These arent rulings; theyre power grabs, with judges picking winners and losers based on their politics, not the Second Amendment.

The arrogance is staggering. Millions elect presidents, and these presidents are accountable to the people every four years. Judges, however, are appointed for life, so theyre insulated from consequences, yet they behave as if they run the show.

When Trump attempted to end DACAObamas illegal amnesty-by-fiatcourts blocked him, with judges like Nicholas Garaufis in New York asserting that the move was arbitrary. But when Biden pushes climate edicts or vaccine mandates, activist judges support him, and rubber-stamping executives overreach as long as its their guy. The double standard is evident, but the message is clear: these judges believe theyre above the Oval Office, holding veto power that no election can challenge.

This isnt what the founders intended. Article III of the Constitution assigns courts a limited role: to resolve cases and controversies, not to dictate national policy. Alexander Hamilton referred to the judiciary as the least dangerous branch, lacking the purse of Congress or the sword of the executive. But tell that to the modern judiciary, where lifetime appointees like Ruth Bader Ginsburg (before her passing) and Sonia Sotomayor treat the bench as a progressive throne, issuing decrees that undermine tradition and sovereignty. They dont just see themselves as ranking above the presidentthey consider themselves above us all.

Conservatives must act. Demand that Senate Republicans thoroughly question judicial nomineesno more stealth activists slipping through. Advocate for term limits for federal judges; life tenure was never intended to create demigods. And when rogue judges act, eventually, they will force a situation in which governors and presidents find themselves channeling Andrew Jackson: The court has made its decision; now let them enforce it. The judiciary has no armyits power depends on compliance, and we dont have to go along with it.

Activist judges arent the guardians of justice; they are usurpers in robes, intoxicated by their authority. They have transformed courts into super-legislatures, bypassing both presidents and voters. The Right cannot remain passive while these petty tyrants dismantle our republic. Its time to strip the emperors clothes and remind them: in America, the people rulenot the gavel.
Phew! Womens History Month (WHM) is finally drawing to a close. Next year, itd be great if President Trump doesnt issue the annual proclamation recognizing the month.

One of President Trumps most favored policies by voters (66% favor) is making English the official language of the U.S. Part of the justification is undeniably welcome: to cultivate a shared American culture for all citizens. To avoid cross-purposes, how about helping to accomplish the same unifying goal by not issuing the annual WHM proclamation?

Heritage months emphasize multiculturalism at the expense of national identity. History months can be quite divisive by singling out a favored group for special, and sometimes embellished, recognition. Besides, females make up about half of our population, so they should be celebrated, as deserved, all year, rather than bombard hapless onlookers with feminist indoctrination during March Madness.

In almost every facet of life, and throughout the course of the year, women are being affirmed and appreciated. While they are being lauded, less educated white men, in particular, often suffer in despair; some of the underlying causes are rooted in economic misery partially perpetrated by Affirmative Action overreach and DEI. But being more stoic (for better or worse), we dont organize and clamor for recognition of our efforts to build America, and our struggles.

WHM was started in 1987, before the proverbial glass ceiling was shattered; however, a lot has changed in the subsequent four decades including the feminization of America. Their percentage of our total population is stable, even slightly accelerating. Likewise, their labor force participation rates are reaching new highs. If the glass ceiling was once their limit, now not even the sky is the limit as we even let them dock with and enter the ISS through a manhole.

We are approaching our 250th anniversary as a nation. What better time to unify behind out national motto E Pluribus Unum? What better time to recognize America -- and all Americans -- not just favored and sensitive groups? Instead of history months, lets have a heritage year during our semiquincentennial jubilee in which all assimilated Americans can partake.

WHM might have made more sense when it was proclaimed in the 1980s -- heres a list of some of the things they couldnt do back then. Does it still make sense to assign a specific month to foster awareness and understanding of what are now the majoritys achievements and struggles -- while ignoring others?

For true equality, abolish WHM in order to promote shared national values. Eventually, that will reinforce the purpose of one of President Trumps most favored polices (official English) by creating a more cohesive and efficient society.

Image: Public Domain
The headline at SFGATE, a San Francisco news website, grabbed my attention: Fear and anger: California town halls are not going well for Democrats, either. My assumption upon reading that was that people are showing up at Democrat town halls and begging the politicians to start focusing on serious bread-and-butter issues rather than fighting to keep illegal gangsters in America or to chop off childrens genitals.

But then I clicked on the link and saw the articles picture: In the front, theres a man in a mask, matched by a woman in the back who is also wearing a mask. Theres one other man in the picture who looks surprisingly normal. And finally, there are eight raddled, extremely sad-looking middle-aged women (and yes, Im assuming everyones gender). Maybe these people arent the sane Democrats crying out for political moderation; maybe theyre the base...

All questions were put to rest when I saw the authors bylineCannabis editorand read the first paragraph, which ascribes to all Americans the anguish that plagues the Democrat base:

Americans are increasingly concerned about President Donald Trump and Elon Musks gutting of the federal government, with polls showing a majority of people want Musks Department of Government Efficiency cuts to be stopped or slowed down. Thats left Republicans largely avoiding constituents, but it also hasnt been good news for Democrats in California. California Democrats were lambasted at a series of town halls over the past week, with constituents demanding the party do more to stand up to billionaire Musks cuts to government services.

Yup, these are the people who reject the entire notion that the government needs an audit because even its valid functions have been mired in corruption and inefficiency. These are the ones who cant point to any way in which Elon Musk is enriching himself (he did much better under Democrat control because of the money steered to green energy initiatives) but who are convinced that hes somehow lining his pockets by exposing the corruption and inefficiency that leech away taxpayers hard-earned money. These are the ones who believe that its undemocratic for a candidate to promise to clean up government abuse, to get elected with strong majorities in the popular vote and the Electoral College, and then to exercise the presidents constitutional authority to review and make more efficient (and legal) the agencies under his purview.

In other words, the people showing up at these town halls are the base, and they want more of the good stuff that the Democrats have been selling.

The Cannabis editor (real name Lester Black) describes one angry South Bay resident demanding of Rep. Ro Khanna, I want to know why in the world the Democratic Party hasnt fought yet? Black also quotes the OC Register to describe over 1,000 demoralized people who heard from their new Representative, David Min, that he, too, is feeling the same anxiety, fear and anger that so many of you expressed to me. And, writes Black, per the Los Angeles Times, a Los Angeles resident told Rep. Gil Cisneros, I just wish that the [elected] Democrats would match my anger and my fear.

The SFGATE article notes that Republicans are avoiding town halls but forgets to add that this is in large part because organized mobs of Democrats are disrupting them. But the real energy, again, is at the Democrat town halls. Whats important, however, is to understand the nature of that energy, whether disheartened or seemingly on the rampage.

What appears to be happening is that when Democrats hold real town halls, the base is dispirited, as described above. The only positive energy seems to be at the Bernie Sanders/AOC roadshowexcept that might not be real energy at all.

According to data analysis, the attendees at the Sanders/AOC rallies arent organic. Instead, significant numbers are paid professional protestors, with ActBlue and USAID money funding their groupie status. (The fact that these are professional activists, though, doesnt mean they dont represent a threat. Ben Shapiro has a very good analysis about how and why Bernie and AOC are reverting to Marxisms economic roots.)

What is very clear is that, whether paid or self-motivated, the Democrat base has its priorities: It wants big government, even if that government is deeply corrupt and inefficient; it wants to destroy wealth creators in America, even if that means destroying the very industries the base once worshipped; it wants to keep gangbangers and terrorists in America; and it wants to continue the sexual mutilation of children.

Currently, none of these are winning issues. What we have to wish is that Trumps success continues to marginalize Democrats so that even the Sanders/AOC AstroTurf cannot create a winning party.

The Democrats are wandering through the desert in a way akin to the 40-year exile God once imposed upon the Children of Israel. God did so to rid the Israelites of their slave mentality and the pagan beliefs they picked up during their time in Egypt. Thousands of years later, the American voters have exiled the Democrats to rid them of their social, political, and economic lunacy. The question is whether a 40-year political exile will be long enough to do the job.

Image by Grok.
James Jesus Angleton was one of the most fascinating characters in the 20th-century intelligence community. The gaunt intellectual was the famed CIA spy-catcher whose apparent closest friend, Kim Philby, the famed British double agent, duped him. Angletons brief was primarily the Soviet Unions to implant assets in the United States, but curiously, he also had sole responsibility for the Israel file. He had such close relationships with Israeli intel that he is memorialized in Jerusalem with the Jim Angleton Corner observation post.

Last weeks JFK files release included a short document that the Im not antisemitic; Im just asking questions crowd has latched onto. In this 1965 doc, the FBI describes a decade-long arrangement (since 1954) that encodes any information received from Angletons Israeli contacts, specifically regarding the travels of US citizens to Russia via Israel.

The antisemites of today are focusing on an addendum [in the square brackets] that had been redacted until now: CIA Directors permitted Angleton to run several intelligence projects, many of them with [the Israeli Intelligence Service]. Per conspiracy theory math, because the JFK files included this filewhich seems to have no connection to the assassinationand because the Israel part was purposefully redacted for decades, therefore Israel is culpable in a plot against the president.

Public domain.

Of course, for people cognizant of the history of the intel world and rational enough not to blame the Jews for anything and everything, this document is neither surprising nor incriminating. As it is known now, when Nikita Khrushchev gave his career-making 1956 speech excoriating Stalin for his crimes, that speech was stolen, after which Israeli intel gave it to America to disseminate worldwide. This was a propaganda coup that seriously harmed the Soviets and caused many communist sympathizers worldwide to break with the motherland. Some of the intellectual left, their worldview shattered, even turned to conservatism, becoming the neo-con movement that still persists today.

Procuring that speech alone would have sufficed to prove Israeli intels importance to America. However, note that Angletons note to the FBI is dated from 1954, two years before that coup. What had Israels intel done then?

It is still unclear what services Israel had provided through Angleton. But we can guess that it was connected to their presence in Russia. As is known, many of the leading early Zionists came from Eastern Europe, were heavily socialist, even communist in nature, and retained a certain affinity for Russia. The USSRs yes vote on partition in November 1947 was because it viewed Israel as a new socialist ally. One of Ben Gurions top advisors was a spy for Russia (Israel Beer, arrested in 1961).

Conversely, the Israelis must have had a very strong presence in Russia. So, what else did Israeli intel know or do in Russia? Well, for one, there are indications that Stalins death may not have been natural. When he died, the dictator was purging Jewish medical professionals via the fabricated Doctors Plot. There were rumors that the paranoid and homicidal Stalin was considering killing the arrested doctors and then ordering a Holocaust of his own. Was it simply fortuitous that he died before his plan could be actuated? Or, in an irony of ironies, could a doctor have hastened his demise?

But back to the JFK documents. The current misinterpretation of the Angleton document is a reminder that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, especially when antisemitism is involved. However, when one can look at materials objectively and is armed with some knowledge of history and a little cynicism, one can learn much.

Norman Krieg is a pen name.
Canada is giving the wokesters here in the U.S. a run for their money.

According to lifesitenews.com:

The Canadian province of Quebec is moving ahead to expand its so-called religious symbols ban to now include all school staff, meaning no one who works at a school would be allowed to wear crucifixes or crosses of any kind.

Quebecs Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, recently told reporters that the idea of the new bill is to protect students from any religious indoctrination.

The provinces intrepid leader, Premier Francois Legault, is on record as stating: Seeing people praying in the streets, in public parks, is not something we want in Quebec. (Except maybe for Muslims, since they have been doing so routinely.)

Quebec has historically been a Catholic province, the only one in Canada. However, Mass attendance has plummeted in recent years and the provinces birth rate has crashed, as well, the two trends almost certainly linked. Evidence for this is that Quebec now has high rates of abortion and euthanasia, both illustrating sharp departures from tenets of the Catholic faith.

Not surprisingly, the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) is protesting the bill forbidding religious symbols, branding it as unfairly targeting Muslims.

There is no National Council of Canadian Christians.

There is a Canadian Council of Churches (CCC), but it is an inclusive ecumenical body that seeks Christs truth with affection for diversity, so it is utterly impotent in the face of the NCCM, which is anything but inclusive, disdains diversity, and is rigidly anti-infidel. Therefore, the CCCs days are likely numbered. As are Canadas.

Quebec, like most of the West, purports to abhor religious indoctrination. But that is untrue. It abhors indoctrination by certain religions, namely Christian ones, but supports and promotes it by others. And it is perfectly O.K. with political indoctrination, as long as it is performed by progressives and leftists. Crosses and crucifixes may be verboten, but tattoos, nose rings, and LGBTQ symbols/totems are pre-approved.

Canada has become a jokea very bad one.

But many other Western nations are no laughing matter, either.

Willingly giving up your history, traditions, values, and raison detre is not a recipe for good humor. Or long life.

Back to the Future was a popular film that debuted in 1985.

Forty years later, Canada is now so progressive it has gone forward to the past.

It is intolerant of Christianity, if not yet as blatantly as the Roman Empire.

Totems, piercings, and tattoos are rampant. It has governments of the powerful, for the powerful. Babies dying (being aborted) at high rates. Assisted dying and homicide rates are both skyrocketing  and are essentially the same thing. Superstitions like climate change and preposterous notions such as gender fluidity rule the day  and haunt the night. And are used to justify equally preposterous actions and policies. Perhaps worst of all, people are increasingly seen not as individuals, but as tribal members.

Canada can ban religious symbols on school property and/or public spaces but will do nothing to stop the onslaught of Muslims coming into the country. I wonder what would happen to a student wearing a MAGA hat or Trump! shirt to school?

I fear it is too late to make Canada great again (and it once was.) Shariah Law may be coming to a province near you soon. Allahu Akbar.

Image: Grok, via X, AI illustration
Todays news revealed a single theme, namely, the breakdown that occurs when a Western culture abandons God entirely.

The humanist Christianity that arose in the 18th century and lasted through the mid-20th century had a lot going for it regarding societal success and stability. When leftists convinced the West to overthrow Christianity entirely, a whole lot of baby went out with that bathwater. Here are the four recent stories illustrative of the harm done because weve allowed leftists to erase those humanist Biblical norms from our culture.

One. The University of Richmond is in Virginia, which was once a part of the Souths well-known Bible belt. Perhaps acknowledging that heritage, the University is still teaching the Bible...but with a really perverse twist. Professor Rhiannon Graybill (she/her) is a religious studies professor, along with being an advisory board member of the Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies.

Her research and teaching revolve around the Hebrew Bible. Graybill, though, isnt interested in tired old saws about God or morality. Instead, She is especially interested in feminist and queer approaches to biblical interpretation, a focus that sees her talking about unstable masculinity in the Hebrew prophets or focusing on rape and sexual violence in the Bible. You really have to read her webpage page to see the obsessive homosexual spin she brings to the Bible.

Or maybe, instead of reading her webpage, you should just sign up for her Queer Bible class. (Hat tip: Legal Insurrection.) Heres what youll learn:

This course brings together queer theory, sexuality, and the Bible in order to explore what it means to queer the Bible and biblical interpretations. Readings include both biblical texts and queer and trans scholarship on the Bible. Topics may include questions of sexuality, gender identity, and queer hermeneutics, queer time, queer affect, and queer pleasure in the Bible.

It costs $62,600 per year to attend the University of Richmond.

Two. Ireland was once an intensely Catholic country. The Irish took their Bible seriously, which would have included believing in the sexual binary. Thats why the countrys persecution of Enoch Burke is so horrific.

Burke taught at Wilsons Hospital School, which is a Church of Ireland school. (That is, its run by the state but exists under the Churchs aegis.) Burke made the mistake of believing that the Churchs role meant the school actually hewed to Biblical precepts. For that reason, he refused to pretend that a boy in his class was a girl. For this sin, Burke has been fired, fined, and jailed. This persecution recently saw the government seize or freeze all of his money:

BREAKING: ENOCH BURKE SPEAKS AS HIS BANK ACCOUNT IS FROZEN AND SALARY TAKEN BY IRISH GOVERNMENT



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 pic.twitter.com/vePMcODQiL  Enoch Burke (@EnochBurke) March 20, 2025

As a reminder, Islam is now Irelands third-largest religious group, with a steadily growing population. The Muslims would undoubtedly agree with Burkes position, but its equally likely that theyre pleased to see Ireland commit cultural and moral suicide.

Three. In Colorado, a 17-year-old girlautistic and traumatized by her mothers bout with cancerwas shunted to a school therapist without her mothers knowledge. When the girl decided she was trans, she got into a fight with her mother (Cynthia Stein) and fled to the home of JoAnn Smotherman, a one-time teacher at the girls school. Smotherman, in turn, lives with a trans (i.e., fake) woman named Vivian Smotherman. When Stein called the police to rescue her minor child from these people, the police refused to act, dismissed Steins concerns, and even pretended that Steins daughter was, in fact, male.

Regarding the above three stories, all of which revolve around so-called transgenderism, please enjoy this video and be sure to note the mans attack on parents and traditional values, an outlook taught at the University of Richmond, and folded into the governing system in Ireland and Colorado.

WHAT IS THIS THING?!!!! pic.twitter.com/whUrd15ws8  Just Jen R  (@JustJenRX) March 25, 2025

Four. I wrote the other day about young women giving up on marriage and children. I discussed a few possible factors, such as the ease of dating apps, fear of climate change, and the womens unwillingness to accept that men are different from women. What I might also have discussed is the profound narcissism behind the womens refusal to celebrate the difference that makes men so complementary to women, the yang to their yin.

These young women are consistent with American culture as a whole, which is defined by self rather than any element of self-sacrifice. Each of our personal desires becomes the highest goal and justifies any behaviors necessary to achieve that goal. People no longer believe in morals, nor do they believe an omniscient being is watching them. If they can get away without being caught...well, thats all to the good.

When I go to services at my local Chabad House, I am reminded that I am not the most important thing in the universe, that I am being watched and judged by an outside moral force, and that there is an order to human life and society. A country that loses those anchors very quickly lapses into madness.

Image: X screen grab.
Unlike his predecessor, President Donald Trump understands that abundant and affordable energy is absolutely essential to the future of America. Since his return to the Oval Office, Trump has made energy dominance a keystone of his domestic agenda.

On day one, Trump issued an executive order titled Unleashing American Energy, which aims to increase energy exploration and production and protect the United States economic and national security and military preparedness by ensuring that an abundant supply of reliable energy is readily accessible in every State and territory of the Nation.

More recently, Trump posted a message to Truth Social stating that he intends to rapidly boost energy production by authorizing his administration to immediately begin producing energy with beautiful, clean coal.

Although most Americans probably think that coal is an antiquated form of energy, it remains one of the most affordable, abundant, and reliable energy sources on the planet. In terms of energy density, coal is far ahead of any so-called green energy source.

Coal has also been given a bad reputation as being exceedingly dirty and bad for the environment, however, that is not necessarily the case in 2025.

A long time ago, when coal was first used to power the Industrial Revolution, it certainly was considered an environmental hazard. But, over the past few centuries, remarkable progress has been made in ensuring that coal production is as clean as possible.

As the Department of Energy notes, Coal-fired electricity generation is cleaner than ever research shows that a new coal plant with pollution controls reduces nitrogen oxides by 83 percent, sulfur dioxide by 98 percent, and particulate matter by 99.8 percent compared to plants without controls.

Unfortunately, climate alarmists have been quite successful in their quest to rapidly reduce the production and use of coal in the United States in recent decades. But this has come at a high cost.

Since the climate alarmists targeted coal (and all other fossil fuels for that matter) for extinction, Americans have paid the price with higher energy costs and a less reliable grid. Meanwhile, adversarial nations like China have built hundreds of new coal-fired power plants.

The juxtaposition between Chinas unencumbered coal power-plant buildout and Americas sacrifice of its once mighty coal industry is particularly disturbing given that coal will almost assuredly play a pivotal role in the global race for AI and quantum computing supremacy.

These technologies of the future require vast amounts of reliable, affordable, and abundant energy. As of now, green energy sources like wind and solar are not even close to being capable of powering tomorrows technologies.

If the United States wants to remain competitive in the AI arms race, it must embrace coal as a baseload energy source.

Fortunately, President Trump and his energy advisors understand that coal must play a key role in the nations energy portfolio lest we cede future technological superiority to nations that are not aligned with U.S. interests.

So far, Trumps Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, and Interior Secretary, Doug Burgum, have made it clear that they agree with his assessment that the United States must reclaim its mantle as a top producer of coal.

Unsurprisingly, the environmental left has gone apoplectic after hearing of Trumps announcement to increase coal production. They want you to think that reopening shuttered coal power plants or not closing perfectly operational coal power plants will cause the seas to instantly rise and the glaciers to completely melt. Of course, that is absurd on its face.

Human beings have been using coal for hundreds of years, and the planet is still habitable.

For far too long, coal has been ostracized and falsely labeled as a dirty source of energy that must be eliminated at all costs. In truth, great strides have been made to make coal as clean as possible. Moreover, the war on coal has made Americans poorer and our energy grid unstable.

The United States has been blessed with ample coal deposits. Dont fall for the bogus talking points that coal is dirty and bad for the environment. If anything, a strong case can be made that coal is overwhelmingly beneficial and that so-called renewable energy like wind and solar are actually much worse for the environment, cost-prohibitive, and will impede U.S. technological progress during a time when we cannot afford to lose any leverage.

Chris Talgo (ctalgo@heartland.org) is editorial director at The Heartland Institute.

Image: PxHere
Allegedly, a chat among high-level Trump administration officials, including the Vice President, somehow included a reporter for the Atlantic. It looks like a mistake so bad that it would embarrass Biden, but one person has an interesting theory, which is that the reporter was included deliberately to get a message to Europe.

Jeffrey Goldberg, a hard-left, anti-Trump reporter, had the headline and, for those who prefer their administration to be competent, it was stomach-churning: The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans.

According to Goldberg, he learned about the March 15 attack on the Houthis two hours before it actually happened, although he did not broadcast that information. The reason he had this inside knowledge, he says, is because Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, had texted me the war plan at 11:44 a.m. The plan included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing.

Image by Freepik AI.

Goldberg explains that the message to join the conversation came to him from a Michael Waltz via Signal, which is a publicly available, albeit encrypted app, one that journalists often use. Although Goldberg suspected the sender was someone pretending to be Waltz, he nevertheless accepted the request.

Two days later, he found himself part of a Signal chat group entitled the Houthi PC small group. Sure enough, it seemed to be the real deal; that is, a chat including people such as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, all discussing plans to attack the Houthis.

At this point, were Goldberg principled, he might have said, Hey, guys! Are you sure Im supposed to be included in this conversation? But Goldberg is both a journalist and a leftist. Between a scoop and one-upping the Trump administration, that was an impossible option. He and his peers were a bit worried they were on the receiving end of misinformation from people other than the administration but decided that it was worth sticking around for the conversation.

Goldberg goes into great detail about the ensuing Signal talk, but the big headline has been that Vance was not on board with the attack and that the main players feel that Europe is not carrying its load. According to Goldberg:

The account labeled JD Vance responded at 8:16: Team, I am out for the day doing an economic event in Michigan. But I think we are making a mistake. (Vance was indeed in Michigan that day.) The Vance account goes on to state, 3 percent of US trade runs through the suez. 40 percent of European trade does. There is a real risk that the public doesnt understand this or why its necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message. The Vance account then goes on to make a noteworthy statement, considering that the vice president has not deviated publicly from Trumps position on virtually any issue. I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now. Theres a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc.

At a later point, the Vance account wrote to the Hegseth account, if you think we should do it lets go. I just hate bailing Europe out again.

The Hegseth account responded,

VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. Its PATHETIC. But Mike is correct, we are the only ones on the planet (on our side of the ledger) who can do this. Nobody else even close. Question is timing. I feel like now is as good a time as any, given POTUS directive to reopen shipping lanes. I think we should go; but POTUS still retains 24 hours of decision space.

A user named SM (Stephen Miller?) added,

As I heard it, the president was clear: green light, but we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return. We also need to figure out how to enforce such a requirement. EG, if Europe doesnt remunerate, then what? If the US successfully restores freedom of navigation at great cost there needs to be some further economic gain extracted in return.

Goldberg provided screen grabs on this part of the conversation. Theres more, but those are the top takeaways.

The big question at this point is whether we witnessed massive incompetence at the highest levels of the Trump government or whether Goldberg was right all along that he was being usedwhether by actors within the administration working to get a message out or, as Goldberg initially thought, by malevolent people outside of the administration.

Cynical Publius, a conservative on X who claims a military background, offers a different theory. He did acknowledge, via a link to an essay from The Hacker News, that it could be Russian disinformation.

However, the more interesting theory is that this was a set-up, with government officials intentionally mistakenly including Goldberg to get a message out to the European political community:

Re: the Signal chat and The Atlantic article.



The minute I read the chat my very first thought was that Goldberg was specifically and deliberately included so that he would leak what he saw to the public. The idea was to let Europe know just how unhappy American leadership is pic.twitter.com/Ex2aQOhXS2  Cynical Publius (@CynicalPublius) March 24, 2025

The most interesting part of the tweet is the last sentence:

Re: the Signal chat and The Atlantic article. The minute I read the chat my very first thought was that Goldberg was specifically and deliberately included so that he would leak what he saw to the public. The idea was to let Europe know just how unhappy American leadership is with Europe's unwillingness to pull its weight militarily. The backchannel, seemingly accidental nature of that reveal was powerful and I believe intentional. Also, as someone who has read his fair share of Top Secret/SCI war plans, this ain't it. (Emphasis mine.)

Once the tweet got traction, Cynical Publius updated the tweet to acknowledge that this could well have been a dreadful mistake or the work of a single bad actor in the chat. However, he also said that wed be wise not to trust Jeffrey Goldberg based on the latters history:

Alright, listen up.



I threw out a theory that the Goldberg chat may have been a set-up. That theory is getting a lot of visibility.



I still think it could have been. I also think it could have been a mistake. Or it could have been a traitor in the chat.



I don't know, and  Cynical Publius (@CynicalPublius) March 24, 2025

Alright, listen up. I threw out a theory that the Goldberg chat may have been a set-up. That theory is getting a lot of visibility. I still think it could have been. I also think it could have been a mistake. Or it could have been a traitor in the chat. I don't know, and anyone who thinks I cited my "first thoughts" theory for any reason other than to promote discussion is wrong. I will stand by the following, however: The chat Goldberg describes specifically and deliberately talked about classified information being shared on "the high side" (i.e., the classified SIPRNET), and every time Goldberg discusses what HE believes to be classified data he caveats it in the article with the word "conceivably." I will not believe classified info was shared in the open until that fact is proven by someone other than Jeffrey Goldberg. Remember this: Jeffrey Goldberg talked America into the 2003 invasion of Iraq with false stories about a Saddam/al Qaeda connection and he has steadfastly maintained that Donald Trump is a "de facto agent" of Vladimir Putin. My "first thoughts" theory might be wrong. But the fact that Jeffrey Goldberg cannot be trusted to speak truthfully is not wrong.

Taking the whole story with a grain of salt while awaiting word from the administration is a wise way to go, so Ill leave the discussion right here.
Recently, even the left-stream media has acknowledged the lab leak origin of SARS-COV-2, which it called a conspiracy theory five years ago. It is time to take another look at crimes that the Democrat party and its accomplices perpetrated on the American people at the time of the pandemic, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans by denial of treatment.

From the beginning, the Democrat party treated the COVID-19 crisis as another opportunity to seize power. This time, it intended to change electoral procedures to allow voting by mail, inevitably accompanied by fraud. It stoked COVID fears and claimed that voting by mail was necessary for public health, but it was just a means to come to power. The Deep State (which I did not believe existed at that time) joined the Democrat electioneering machine in this endeavor.

The efforts to dramatically expand voting by mail under the pretext of the pandemic became public as early as March 10, 2020. That day, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced a bill establishing nationwide voting by mail if 25% of states declared a coronavirus emergency. On the same day, the CDC amended its page Recommendations for Election Polling Locations (which appeared just a few days earlier), advising the states to Encourage mail-in methods of voting. This was eight months before the general elections.

Image by Chali Pittman/WORT News. CC BY 2.0.

At that time, the US had fewer than a thousand suspected COVID-19 cases and fewer than 40 suspected COVID-19 deaths. W.H.O. had not even declared a pandemic yet, and the CDC was still unsure how the virus was spreading. With so little information in March 2020, giving even current recommendations on matters within the CDCs competence was difficult. Nevertheless, the CDC weighed in eight months ahead of time on the issue far out of the scope of its competence and authority, and this advice accidentally coincided with the Democrat partys wishes.

This brings to mind that Democrats attacked Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, whom Trump had appointed in 2017 to lead the CDC, with viciousness unexpected for this position. Dr. Fitzgerald resigned in January 2018.

With a senile and corrupt candidate, the Democrat party needed an extraordinary dirty action to win the election. Starting on March 16, the Democrat machine put its whole weight behind mail-in voting. Just a sample of publications from March 16 through 19: The virus means well be voting by mail by Marc Elias in the Washington Post, Ten Recommendations to Ensure a Healthy and Trustworthy 2020 Election in the Lawfare Blog, The push for mail-in voting by Politico (in a free version of one of its Politico PRO newsletters, priced in thousands of dollars for the government), and multiple pieces by the Brennan Center for Justice (1, 2, 3). On March 18, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued the countrys first unconstitutional statewide stay-at-home order, to be followed in two days by Illinois and New York.

This is the background on March 19, 2020, when President Trump announced that Hydroxychloroquine-based treatment was a game changer in the fight against COVID-19. This rendered this entire Democrat election strategy dead on arrival. They had to kill Hydroxychloroquine despite its outstanding efficacy, as reported by doctors. Later, they went on to discredit or render all other effective COVID-19 treatments inaccessible, from Ivermectin to convalescent plasma. They even forced or tricked big pharmacy chains into stopping the sale of Quercetin.

Scientists whose research contradicted the Democrat narrative have been discredited and received death threats.

Empirical evidence called for maintaining a healthy lifestyle with social activities, physical exercise, sunlight exposure, regular health care, and targeted protection of vulnerable populations. Instead, Democrat governors, mayors, and deep state officials forced the country into endless testing, masking, and lockdowns. In places like California, lockdowns were akin to statewide house arrest. Exceptions were made for rioting.

Courts provided no relief against any of these measures  denial of essential pandemic treatment, mass house arrests, mandated face cover wearing, and later even forced vaccination with a concoction not approved by the FDA  despite their blatant illegality.

Since the Democrat party got what it wanted and came to power after the 2020 elections, there has been a cover-up. It is time to investigate the horrific crimes committed by it and its accomplices during and immediately after the pandemic and to throw the book at the perpetrators despite their resistance.
Deep within the inaccessible jungle of the southeast Indonesian province of Papua, about 150 kilometres inland from the Arafura Sea, lives the Korowai tribe  a clan totally isolated from the rest of the world. They are hunter-gatherers living in a small society of traditional family ties who need to share all they have in order to survive. Until their discovery by a Dutch missionary in 1974, the Korowai had hardly any contact with the outside world.

The Korowai people live in tree houses ranging in height from 6 to 12 meters, but some are as high as 35 meters above the ground. Usually the houses are built on a single tree but frequently the base of the house consists of several living trees, and additional support is derived from wooden poles. These tree houses protect families not only against swarms of mosquitoes below, but also ward off annoying neighbours and evil spirits.

To build a tree house, a sturdy Banyan tree is selected to function as the central pole. The top of the tree is then removed. The floor frame, made of branches, is constructed first and then covered with sago palm. The walls and roof is made with the same leaves the frame of the house consists of branches fastened with rattan bindings. The flooring must be quite strong as the tree houses often accommodate as many as a dozen people. A dry tree trunk with notches is hung from the bottom of the tree house in order to get up to the house. This ladder shakes with each step and warns the inhabitants that a visitor is on his way up.

The Korowai are excellent hunter-gatherers and horticulturalists who practice shifting cultivation. Since the early 1990s some of them got involved with tour companies selling tours into the Korowai region and generating moderate cash income this way. To consider, they are same people who, less than two decades ago, never knew a world existed outside their jungle.

During the 90s outsiders started exploiting the Korowai region in search of the valuable gaharu (Agarwood). In 1997, 1 kg of gaharu collected by a local Papuan would have a value of about $4.00 when sold to a trader; the gaharu was eventually sold to Middle Eastern and European market for about $1000 a kilo. Gaharu also fuelled a rapid trade in prostitution into the jungles of Papua which has helped contribute to the current AIDS epidemic throughout Papua. Eventually this trade came to an end in 1999.

Several documentaries have been made about the Korowai people and countless articles written. In 1993, a film crew documented the Korowai tree house construction and the practice of cannibalism as a form of criminal justice. In 2011, the Korowai tribe was shown in the BBC documentary Human Planet.

Sources: Wikipedia, PACE
Mono Lake is a shallow salt water lake located in the high desert on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in California in the United States. The lake has no outlet to the ocean causing high levels of salts to accumulate in the waters. As a consequence of its high salinity, no fish live in Mono Lake, but there are plenty of brine shrimp that thrive in its waters. Over two million annual migratory birds use Mono Lake as a stop over and resting place as they fly to South America or the tropical oceans. They feed on the shrimps, lay eggs and hatch their young ones here.

The most unusual feature of Mono Lake are its dramatic tufa towers emerging from the surface. These rock towers form when underwater springs rich in calcium mix with the waters of the lake, which are rich in carbonates. The resulting reaction forms limestone. Over time the buildup of limestone formed towers, and when the water level of the lake dropped the towers became exposed.

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But the drop in surface level was not a natural phenomenon. It started in 1941 when the city of Los Angeles began diverting the streams that fed Mono Lake. So much water was drawn away from the lake that the surface level of Mono Lake fell by 45 feet. By 1982 the lake was reduced to 37,688 acres (15,252 ha) having lost 31 percent of its 1941 surface area. As a result, alkaline sands and the once submerged tufa towers became exposed and a land bridge between the shoreline and an island was formed. The island served as a major breeding area for migratory birds. Until now, the island was a safe haven protected by waters all around, but the newly formed land bridge invited predators such as coyotes to the island, who fed on eggs and chicks forcing the breeding colony of birds to abandon the site.

In addition to migratory birds, several other species spend months nesting at Mono Lake, among which are California gulls. After the land bridge to the Negit Island became exposed in the late 1970s, the California gulls have also moved to nearby islets and have established new, and less protected, nesting sites.

A study conducted in 1988 predicted that if the drying of Mono Lake was allowed to continue, by 1999 the salinity of the lake would increase to a level where the productivity of the brine shrimp would begin to decline. Finally by 2012, the existing lake ecosystem could cease to function because the lake salinities would reach such high levels that brine shrimp and brine flies could no longer survive, thus depriving 1.3 million birds of their food source at the lake.

Based on the report, in 1994, the California State Water Resources Control Board issued an order to protect Mono Lake. The goal is to return the lake to the level of 6,392 feet above sea level. As of July 2012, Mono Lake was at 6,383.3 feet above sea level but frequent droughts in the region have made achieving the goal more and more difficult.

Also read: The Disappearing Aral Lake and the Ship Graveyard of Moynaq

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NASA Landsat 7 image. Photo credit
On December 9, 2009, a curious spiral of blue and white light appeared in the night sky over northern Norway and Sweden, freaking out a section of the public and generating an intense debate among astronomers and scientists as well as conspiracy theorists. Hundreds of people called the Norwegian Meteorological Institute to ask what it was. Everything from anomalous Northern lights, to aliens and trans-dimensional wormhole was suggested. Some even linked the event to the high-energy experiments that was going on at that time at the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland. The light was seen from all across northern Norway as well as from northern Sweden, and was reported to have lasted for 10 minutes.

Unlike many alleged UFO sightings that goes unexplained, the mystery of the Norwegian spiral was solved in just 26 hours after the aerial display. The spiraling blue light was caused by a failed test firing of a Russian Bulava missile.

The Russian Ministry of Defence issued an official statement stating that there was a technical malfunction in the third stage of the Bulava missile, causing the exhaust to come out sideways and sending the missile into a spin.

Such lights and clouds appear from time to time when a missile fails in the upper layers of the atmosphere and have been reported before ... At least this failed test made some nice fireworks for the Norwegians, said Russian defence analyst Pavel Felgenhauer.

The Bulava is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) designed to have a range of 10,000 km, but its repeated failures have been a source of embarrassment for Russia. At least six of 13 previous tests (as of 2009) also ended in failure.

Its not unusual for rocket launches to leave spectacular light trails over the sky. There is actually a term that describes it. Its called twilight phenomenon. Quoting from Wikipedia:

Twilight phenomenon is produced when unburned particles of missile or rocket propellant and water left in the vapor trail of a launch vehicle condenses, freezes and then expands in the less dense upper atmosphere. The exhaust plume, which is suspended against a dark sky is then illuminated by reflective high altitude sunlight through dispersion, which produces a spectacular, colorful effect when seen at ground level. The phenomenon typically occurs with launches that take place either 30 to 60 minutes before sunrise or after sunset when a booster rocket or missile rises out of the darkness and into a sunlit area, relative to an observer's perspective on the ground. Because rocket trails extend high into the stratosphere and mesosphere, they catch high altitude sunlight long after the sun has set on the ground. The small particles in the expanding exhaust plume or "cloud" diffract sunlight and produce the rose, blue, green and orange colorsmuch like a dispersive prism can be used to break light up into its constituent spectral colors (the colors of the rainbow) -- thereby making the twilight phenomenon all the more spectacular.

The twilight phenomenon can be seen in the wake of a Minotaur I launch vehicle during its departure from Space Launch Complex 8 at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., Sept. 22, 2005. Photo credit: Sgt. LeeAnn Sunn-Wagner/Wikimedia

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Apple will probably avoid a fine imposed by the EU over the web browser choice on iPhones. According to a Reuters report, the European Commission will soon shut down its year-long investigation into the Cupertino tech giants default browser choice screen. Its worth mentioning that the EU could have fined Apple as high as 10% of its revenue globally.

Apple has avoided the EU browser choice fine by complying with DMA rules

As per the report, Apple is going to stave off the possible EU fine over its browser options on iPhones after adhering to the Digital Markets Act rules. For those unaware, the European Commission launched a non-compliance investigation in March last year under the DMA. The body alleged that Apples design of the browser choice screen could be preventing consumers from exercising their choice of alternative browsers.

In the iOS 17.4 update, Apple presented a new choice screen to EU users who opened Safari for the first time. It allows them to go for a new default browser from a list of popular options in their region.

However, popular browser makers were still not happy with the new design. Also, Safari remained the default browser for any user who didnt go through the choice screen, and the EU therefore ruled that the companys own browser still had an unfair advantage.

The EU could have fined Apple up to 10% of its total worldwide revenue for not abiding by its DMA requirements. EU fines can also be as high as 20% in case of repeated infringement.

The EU wants Apple to open up iOS even more

Last week, the EU announced that it wants Apple to open up its iOS ecosystem even more to other companies and app makers. It released the guidelines regarding which iOS features could be available to other smartwatches, headphones, speakers, and more. One of the standouts is providing access to iOS notifications to third-party manufacturers. This would allow third-party smartwatches to interact with iOS notifications in a manner currently only limited to Apple Watch devices.

Apple has already heavily criticized the EUs new requirements. The company believes them to be bad for its products and its European users. Apple also argued that the mandated changes would complicate its operations and compromise the user experience.
We often find ourselves needing to convert or merge files. However, not all of us have software installed on our PCs to perform that task. In this case, many of us turn to the internet to search for free online file converter tools. While these file converter tools do the job we need, they could be stealing our info or injecting malware on our devices, warns the FBI.

File converter tools or similar productivity tools are stealing your info

According to the FBIs warning, many of the free online file converters, file joiners, or similar tools are actually covers for tools that steal users private information. Threat actors are also using them for data scraping, injecting malware or ransomware, or similar malicious software on user devices. The warning suggests that its Denver Field Office agents are increasingly seeing a scam involving free online document converter tools.

The warning has also released some technical details regarding how threat actors are stealing user information. It mentions that scammers are using many popular online tools that convert .pdf, .doc and .jpg files to another format to install malware onto users PCs or steal their personal information from the uploaded files. The fake converter tool often advertises its ability to convert or combine files for free. However, the converted files have malware attached to them. These infected files can give criminal access to the victims PC, according to the FBI.

The FBI warning is advising affected users to report. The best way to thwart these fraudsters is to educate people so they dont fall victim to these fraudsters in the first place, said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek.

How to avoid the threat?

The FBI emphasized that education is the best defense to detect and avoid such document converter sites. The agency advised the users to study a converter website properly and keep the anti-virus security software on their computer to the latest version by regularly updating it. Users should carefully verify URLs before uploading their files on an online file conversion tool.

Also, avoid advertisements for free file converter tools at the top of search results in your search engine. Furthermore, users should research and check reviews of any conversion service before using its tools.
For years, the United States has been imposing severe trade restrictions on Chinese telecommunications companies that supply equipment in the country. Donald Trump began by including Huawei on the US Entity List, and the Biden administration continued along the same lines. That said, the FCC, under a new administration, believes that sanctioned Chinese companies have been circumventing the US ban.

Every law has its loophole, or so they say. Often, the wording of laws must be extremely specific to address every potential situation that the sanctioned party could take advantage of. Well, the US Federal Communications Commission believes that Chinese firms like Huawei, ZTE, and China Telecom have been using every potential loophole in the legislation to continue operating in the country, one way or another.

The FCC says it has reason to believe Chinese companies are circumventing the US ban

The FCC has launched a sweeping investigation into companies already on its Covered List. The US government considers the aforementioned companiesamong othersto be aligned with the Chinese Communist Party. Therefore, using their equipment in US telecommunications structures is a potential risk to national security. A 2022 Biden executive order sought to ensure that untrustworthy communications equipment is not authorized for use within [US] borders. This included everything from telecommunications equipment to video surveillance products.

The FCC, now under Brendan Carr, says it has reason to believe that companies on the Covered List still operate in the United States. To do so, they may have taken advantage of the fact that the law does not cover particular types of operations or otherwise. Thus, these Chinese companies are allegedly camouflaging themselves under types of operations not covered by the law. Carr said, These companies are trying to make an end run around those FCC prohibitions by continuing to do business in America on a private or unregulated basis.

Carrs goal is to close any loopholes that have permitted untrustworthy, foreign adversary state-backed actors to skirt its rules. The new FCC chairman came to office with three main goals. First, the agency will seek to reduce US dependence on foreign technology in certain areas. Second, it will seek to mitigate potential vulnerabilities that allow cyberattacks and espionage. Lastly, it will attempt to ensure that the US emerges victorious in the fight against China for dominance in key technologies.
What makes Gemini so useful is its ability to integrate with several Google products and services. Weve seen Google squeeze it into some of its most popular apps, and the company is not slowing down. According to a new report, Gemini will soon integrate with Google Maps even more, and this will help when navigating.

At this point, were still dealing with early information. Google hasnt officially released this functionality, theres always the chance that something could change between now and the official launch. For all we know, the company could shelf the feature altogether, so youll want to take it with a grain of salt.

Gemini could integrate more into Google Maps

The prime use of Gemini is retrieving information. So, if youre using Google Maps, and you stumble on a location that you want to learn more information about, dont you think that Gemini would come in handy? Google seems to think so.

As discovered through a collaboration between Android Authority and AssembleDebug, it looks like Google will bring a new chip when you summon Gemini while using Google Maps. If you recall, when you summon Gemini while using an app, youll see the Ask about this screen chips pop up. You also see an Ask about this video chip if YouTube is open.

Well, once activated, this feature will bring up an Ask about place chip when you call Gemini. When you tap on the chip, Gemini will read the screen and get ready to answer your questions. Were sure that youll be able to ask general questions about the location, but youll also be able to ask for directions to that place.

This is where a caveat comes in. Youll only get information about certain points of interest. So, it will work best if youre looking at specific places on the map. For instance, youre more likely to see information about the Empire State Building rather than the entire state of New York.

Right now, we dont know when Google plans to release this feature, but it sounds like something wed hear about during Google I/O. Well just need to wait for more information to come out in the future.
Summary. The Huawei Pura X foldable launched not long ago, and its official wallpapers are now up for grabs. There are 14 wallpapers included in this pack, and you can download them in their full resolution. These are mostly abstract wallpapers, but a couple of flowery patterns are also available.

We know you love to grab new wallpapers, which is why were covering the ones from the Huawei Pura X. That is the companys brand new foldable phone, an odd new foldable, as its referred to by many.

That device launched very recently, and its a flip phone, but the weirdest one weve seen. Its quite wide, and when you fold it, you also need to rotate it in order to get a vertical cover display. Its both odd and interesting at the same time.

The Huawei Pura X comes with 14 wallpapers which you can now download

In any case, the phones wallpapers have just surfaced online, thanks to YTechb. There are 14 wallpapers included here, all of which come included on the device itself. All of them are also offered in a 1320 x 2120 resolution.

Most of the wallpapers youll find in this pack are abstract ones. Huawei did include a couple of flowery patterns for us to enjoy, and some parallel bars, which can also be considered abstract wallpapers.

If you check out the gallery below, youll be able to see all the mentioned wallpapers. Do note that the wallpapers in the gallery have been compressed, though. If you want to get them in their full size, well leave a download link below the article.

This device launched in China only thus far, and it could stay exclusive to that market

The Huawei Pura X was announced for China only thus far. Were not sure if this phone will be making its way to global markets, but its easily possible it will stay exclusive to China. Its one of those innovative, yet odd products that Huawei probably wants to test out before a wider release takes place.

Download Huawei Pura X wallpapers (Google Drive)
If you own a Meta Quest 3 headset, then we have some pretty big news for you. The company is gearing up to release an update that will bring some neat features. This upcoming Horizon OS V76 update could bring more robust screen sharing and a much-awaited feature.

Its important to note that it will be some time before the official release. Right now, Meta is testing out this release among its beta testers. If youre a part of the beta program, then you should be excited. However, if youre not, then youll be playing the waiting game for a bit longer.

The Horizon OS V76 update could bring some welcomed changes to Meta Quest 3 headsets

Up first, this is for people who typically join group calls in VR. Back in 2022, Meta teased a selfie camera feature that will create a virtual selfie camera with your avatar front and center. Well, this update will bring the ability to use this feature for WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger calls.

X user Luna posted a screenshot of the settings interface for this feature. Youll be able to choose the field of view for your video feed and choose a static background image. Basically, if someone is on a call with you, theyll see a live feed of your avatar.

Screen sharing

The next feature is an expansion of one that has already existed. People who have a Meta Quest 3 headset can screen share what theyre watching on YouTube with other people in Horizon Home. Its a neat social feature to get friends involved with what youre watching. Horizon OS V76 will enable this feature for more 2D apps.

At this point, were still in the dark about many of the details. It looks like this feature will be more generally available for 2D apps. So, you will be able to see what other people are seeing on their Quest headsets. This is a neat feature because its not as easy for other people to see your gameplay in XR as it is for a traditional TV. It doesnt look like this feature will arrive soon, as it may be a few updates away. It might land in V77.
Philips is one of the popular brands that deals in various product segments; it has some of the most innovative smart home products under its belt. Now, it seems Philips will soon expand its smart home portfolio by adding a new smart doorbell, which has just leaked from the Hue app.

Philips upcoming smart doorbell has accidentally leaked from its own Hue app

Leaks are part and parcel of the tech industry; we often have products specs, images, and even their pricing on our hands before a brand officially launches them. However, its very rare to see a brand killing the excitement of a new product, albeit through an accidental leak. Philips appears to be the latest victim of this.

Philips upcoming smart home productthe Hue Secure doorbellhas leaked via its own Hue app. Folks over at Hueblog first spotted a listing for the Hue Secure doorbell on the apps new QR setup menu screen. Thats not all; the graphic image of the doorbell has also appeared in the listing.

Its worth noting that this is the first time we have heard or seen this product. No other reports in the past have ever mentioned anything about it. Well, its not just the name and graphics that have leaked, how it would work is apparently also known now. From the looks of it, the leaked Philips Hue Secure doorbell will connect via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

The doorbell wont use a rechargeable battery

It will reportedly require a wired power connection and doesnt rely on a rechargeable battery. When available, you might be able to set up the Philips Hue Secure doorbell by scanning a QR code on the owners card. All that said, the tech specs of the product have been under wraps.

The publication notes that Philips doesnt have any plan to launch this doorbell before the fall of this year. For more details, all you can do is wait or sit tight for another accidental leak. In related news, Samsung brought over 155 Philips Hue products to SmartThings this month to expand its smart home ecosystem.
The entire tech industry is aware of the difficulties Samsung has been experiencing in some key divisions for several years. The company has been implementing strategies for some time to try to turn the situation around. Its latest Q1 2025 earnings report was not encouraging, but it promised to take action. Recently, Samsungs CEO again addressed the companys slow growth problem.

When a company decides to go public, it must heed investor questions if things arent going well. Investors typically look for the firm to grow alongside its stock price. Thats something that hasnt been happening with Samsung. At times, the stock price has even fluctuated downwards.

Samsungs CEO spoke to investors about the companys growth problem

Samsung held its Annual General Meeting this week. Han Jong-heewho later passed awayand Jun Young-hyun, the companys CEO, had to deal with investor questions. The main complaints were related to the companys slow growth and stagnant stock price amid the artificial intelligence wave.

We were late in reading the market trends and missed out on the early market as a result, said Jun Young-hyun in this regard.

Some of Samsungs main current problems stem from its chip divisions. Were not just talking about processors, like the Exynos, but also memory chips. For example, the Galaxy S25 series uses Microns RAM, as confirmed by both companies. Previous reports had revealed that Samsungs memory chips had thermal management issues. The companys HBM chips, key to AI hardware, have also lagged behind the competition. SK Hynix, another South Korean company, currently dominates this segment.

Samsungs chip design and production problems have not only impacted its own products. The firm has also lost contracts from major clients who prefer to use rival factories and solutions.

US trade restrictions impacted Samsungs finances; company will seek mergers or acquisitions

Additionally, US trade restrictions have apparently affected the companys operations. Samsung had some Chinese companies as important clients. While the restrictions prohibited the sale of the latest AI chip technologies, they did allow the sale of nerfed versions. Samsung used to do this, but the tightening of the restrictions has closed this possibility.

There are some difficulties in conducting semiconductor M&As due to regulatory issues and various national interests, but were determined to produce some tangible results this year, said Han.

Samsungs CEO also said that the firm will actively pursue more meaningful mergers and acquisitions opportunities as one of the measures to address the slow growth rate.

Samsung falls behind its rivals

Reuters had access to a message from Chairman Jay Y. Lee at an internal executive seminar. Our technological edge has been compromised across all our businesses, a transcript of the message reads. Its hard to see that efforts are being made to drive big innovation or tackle new challenges. There are only efforts to maintain a status quo rather than shaking things up, added Jay Y. Lee.

The company will allocate more resources to more tech segments that will lead to greater growth in the medium and long term. Robotics and medical technology are two of these segments. Meanwhile, Samsung is also looking for potential new major clients, such as Xiaomi in the electric car segment. The company is also expected to launch an XR headset and smart glasses this year.
The wait for One UI 7 has been a tumultuous process for many Galaxy device fans. Theyve had to wait months for the new firmware and deal with Samsungs confusing moves. The latest one suggested a possible delay in the OTA rollout for the US. However, it appears the company will release One UI 7 on the originally promised date for US users.

Samsung confirmed this month that it will start the One UI 7 rollout on April 7. The date may change depending on the region, but the process is expected to begin globally next month. For example, subsequent announcements from Samsungs US and Singapore branches mentioned April 10 and 14 as rollout dates, respectively. That said, the blog post with the US announcement had mysteriously disappeared.

Samsungs blog post with One UI 7s US release date has been restored; to start on April 10

Of course, this led many to believe that Samsung would delay the update rollout date again. After all, why else would the company quietly remove the blog post? However, it appears it was all a mistake, and Samsung will release One UI 7 in the US starting April 10. The previously removed blog post is now available again.

Theres no official explanation for Samsungs newsroom blog posts sudden disappearance. However, for many, the most important thing is that the new firmware will arrive on timeafter several months of waitingon their Galaxy devices.

According to Samsung, the Galaxy S24 series, as well as the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, will be the first models to receive the stable One UI 7 update. If you own one of these devices in the US, theres still a chance you wont get the availability notification on April 10. Updates for carrier-locked phones typically arrive a few days later, for example. Hopefully this wont be the case, and the new firmware will reach all eligible devices that day.
Many people know Samsung and Xiaomi primarily for their smartphones and tablets. However, both companies are huge conglomerates with a presence in multiple segments of the technology industryespecially Samsung. Xiaomi recently launched into the electric vehicle (EV) market with great success. Now, Xiaomi is reportedly in talks with Samsung to collaborate on the development of electric cars.

Samsung and Xiaomi could work together in the electric car segment

Jay Y. Lee, Samsung Electronics Chairman, and Lei Jun, Xiaomi CEO, held a meeting in Beijing, according to South Korean outlets. The meeting reportedly focused on working together to further grow the Chinese giants electric vehicle business. The fact that the meeting took place at Xiaomis EV manufacturing plant reinforces these claims.

Its noteworthy that the two executives are meeting for the first time in seven years. So, its a pretty significant development for both the future of Xiaomis electric car business and Samsung Electronics businesses.

If youre not aware, Samsung also supplies key components for electric cars. Exynos chips for EVs are among the most important on the list. In fact, this is one of the reasons why there are voices within Samsung against the companys planned internal restructuring of its semiconductor segment. According to reports, the South Korean giant wants to move the Exynos chip design process to Samsung MX. This would help optimize them better for Galaxy mobile devices. However, it could complicate the sale of Exynos chips to third parties.

Anyway, Samsung also supplies batteries, displays, and other key components. The two firms already have a successful history of collaboration, with Xiaomi consistently turning to Samsungs AMOLED displays, memory, and storage chips for its mobile devices. This good relationship could help drive a deal in the EV segment.

Xiaomi made a successful entry into the electric vehicle market. The Xiaomi SU7, its first model, sold a whopping nearly 137,000 units in its first year. As a result, the companys EV business generated approximately $4.5 billion. The company is ambitious and wants to increase the number of vehicles sold to 350,000 by 2025. Xiaomi also reportedly seeks to expand its EVs to international markets by 2027.

A potentially mutually beneficial collaboration

An electric car-related deal between Xiaomi and Samsung could be beneficial for both parties. It could allow Xiaomi access to key components from one of the worlds leading suppliers. On the other hand, Samsung could gain a new major client, something they have been seeking for some time amid a difficult situation.
Sony is a go-to brand for consumer audio devices, and theyre pretty popular. Along with its more premium offerings, the company has more affordable devices. In 2023, it launched the WF-C700N, and they had some pretty big drawbacks. Well, Sony just announced the WF-C710N, and these aim to make up for the drawbacks that were present in their predecessors.

Coming in at $119.99, the WF-C700N were on the more affordable side of the premium earbuds spectrum, but they disappointed in some areas. The battery life was pretty bad with only 15 hours of combined battery life. Reviewers also dinged the earbuds because of their pretty weak noise cancelation.

The new Sony WF-C710N address some of the issues with their predecessors

These new earbuds come in four different colors: Black, White, Pink, and Transparent Blue. That last one will remind you of a device from the early 2000s. If youre interested in getting a pair, just know that theyre only for pre-order now. Fortunately, the price stayed the same at $119.99.

So, what about the Sony WF-C710N make them worth the money? For starters, they solve some of the issues present in the WF-C700N. Sony doubled the battery life of its 2023s earbuds, and this is a welcomed change. Without the charging case (and with NFC on), youre looking at about 8.5 hours of battery life. In all, you can expect about 30 hours of battery life with ANC on and 40 hours with it off. You can also get upto an hour of battery life on a quick five-minute charge.

Along with that, Sony mentions that it improved the ANC with these earbuds. The ANC was pretty underpowered compared to other earbuds. This is pretty surprising, as earbuds as cheap as the $80 OnePlus Nord Buds 3 came with ANC on par with premium headphones. Itll be exciting to hear how the company improved the ANC in the WF-C710N.

Another major change sees the addition of touch controls on the earbuds. Their predecessors used physical buttons for controls. This is for better or worse, as both physical and capacitive buttons have their benefits and drawbacks. It seems that Sony brought some major changes to these earbuds, and were excited to see how they stack up.
Major smartphone carriers in the US sometimes find themselves in a spot of bother for violating laws due to their business practices. As a result, they face hefty penalties from the authorities. In a similar case, the FCC handed T-Mobile a $92 million fine in April 2024. The authority first proposed this fine back in 2020, when it found out that the carrier was sending customers location data to third parties. Now, T-Mobile is challenging the FCCs decision in court.

T-Mobile has challenged in court the $92 million fine imposed by the FCC

T-Mobile is reportedly challenging the FCCs decision based on a decision from last year by the Supreme Court that stripped the power of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that the SEC cant use in-house tribunals to seek damages. The court ordered that the SEC should rather go to the Federal court, where juries decide a case.

Now, T-Mobile argues that this very ruling by the Supreme Court invalidates the FCCs penalty system. However, the FCC had previously argued that the ruling didnt apply. Thats because companies have the option of refusing to pay the fine or allowing the DOJ to take over the case. If the company chooses the second option, a jury trial would be reportedly possible.

Fortunately for T-Mobile, the FCCs argument didnt convince judges. They stated that the proposed routes require companies to waive legal objections. This was one of the reasons that let T-Mobile and others challenge the FCCs decision in court.

Thats not all; since the carriers had a system in place to keep the customers location data safe, only a limited number of uses were affected by unauthorized access. This very fact also weakened the FCCs case. However, the authority still argues that the carriers didnt do enough to protect the customers data.

The judges asked carriers to handle all customer data responsibly

T-Mobile and other carriers, including Verizon and AT&T, reportedly also argued that the Communications Act doesnt protect certain user data. The companies say that the law only holds them responsible for data related to voice services and not data services. The judges were quite skeptical about this claim. Therefore, they reportedly said that carriers must ensure to protect all data customers share with them. Only time will tell who will walk out of court with a smile.
Anti-salmon farming protestors at Verona Sands in southern Tasmania. There are concerns the Albanese governments bill to protect salmon farming could stop community groups from challenging other projects. Photograph: Ethan James/AAP

The Albanese governments new bill to protect Tasmanian salmon farming has passed the lower house, despite experts warning it could stop communities challenging other decisions, including coal and gas developments, and may not even be effective in its principal aim.

Labors changes to amend the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act sailed through the House of Representatives on Tuesday evening, with 111 votes in favour and 14 votes in opposition, and were due to be dealt with in the upper house on Wednesday.

The government plans to end a formal reconsideration by the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, into whether an expansion of fish farming in Macquarie harbour in 2012 was properly approved.

Environmental Justice Australia, which analysed the draft bill introduced to parliament on Tuesday, said the Albanese government was simply wrong to confidently claim its proposed legislation would only affect the salmon industry in the harbour.

The organisations co-chief executive and lawyer, Elizabeth McKinnon, said the draft bill was not industry or geographically specific, prompting concerns the changes could have much wider ramifications and be applied to other decisions, including on mining, land clearing or housing and infrastructure development.

We fear theyll lead to alarming wide-scale rollback of environmental protections in federal law, she said. These changes  could gut the ability of community and environment groups to challenge destructive projects.

Plibersek on Tuesday rejected criticisms that the changes weakened environmental protections and said they were balanced and sensible changes designed to protect jobs.

The government came under pressure to explain the legislation in question time in both houses of parliament, with Tasmanian Greens senator Nick McKim asking if the bill contains nothing whatsoever that would preclude it from preventing the environment minister from reconsidering fossil fuel projects, other mines, land clearing actions or large industrial developments.

The government leader in the Senate, Penny Wong, responded: These are specific amendments to address a flaw in the EPBC Act.

Secondly, I predict that it doesnt matter what my answer is, youre going to make those scare campaigns anyway, because you dont support these changes.

In the House of Representatives, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said the Greens had never seen a job they dont want to destroy and highlighted the governments efforts to protect the Maugean skate, including $37.5m in conservation funding.

Separate preliminary legal advice to the Australia Institute had earlier questioned whether the legislation would do what the government wanted, suggesting the amendment might not survive a legal challenge if applied to salmon farming in the harbour.



The institutes strategy director, Leanne Minshull, said the governments proposed change to the law would create more chaos than clarity.



We need to have a proper look at the salmon industry outside of the pressure of an election campaign and the politics, she said

Related: The political firestorm over Tasmanias salmon farming  podcast

The reconsideration of the Macquarie harbour decision was triggered by a legal request in 2023 from three environment groups, partly due to concern about the impact of salmon farming on the Maugean skate, an endangered fish species. Plibersek has been reviewing whether the 2012 decision that deemed the farming was not a controlled action  meaning it did not need a full federal environmental assessment  was correct.

Such reviews can be requested if substantial new information comes to light about risk of harm to a protected species or habitat after the decision is made. An environment department opinion released under freedom of information laws suggested that it could lead to salmon farming having to stop in the harbour while an environmental impact statement was prepared.

The new legislation would prevent reconsideration requests by third parties in some cases in which developments had been deemed not a controlled action. It would apply when the minister had specified in their decision that the development required state or territory oversight or management, was already under way, and had been ongoing or recurring for at least five years since the decision was made.

EJA said the absence of specific location or industry information in the wording of the bill meant the proposed legal changes could have implications that extended to many more projects that had been deemed not controlled actions.

Not only has the Albanese government backed away from its promise to fix the broken environment laws in this country  its now quietly removing the ability of community members to scrutinise harmful projects, McKinnon said.

Related: Apoplectic environment groups halt Coalition attack ads to take aim at Albanese over species death warrant

Earlier on Tuesday, the Greens unsuccessfully moved to send the bill to an inquiry by a Senate committee.

The governments rushed legislation to gut environment laws must be scrutinised properly, the Greens environment spokesperson, Sarah Hanson-Young, said on Tuesday morning, adding that the change was being done under the cover of the budget.

Murky legal questions about the environmental consequences must be answered before the Senate rushes this legislation through.

Andrew Wilkie, the independent MP for Clark, which covers Hobart and surrounding areas, described the move as one of the most egregious attacks on our environment.

David Pocock, an independent senator said the legislation was an example of why voters should consider voting independent at the forthcoming election.

[Australians] value nature, and they want to see politicians look to the long term.

On Monday, amid internal angst from pro-environment MPs, the government said it remained committed to broader reforms to strengthen environmental protection and speed up decision-making.

We will consult on specifics in a second term with the states, business and environment groups, a spokesperson said.

 with additional reporting by Henry Belot
Kim Leadbeater is thought to have agreed a delay to her Bill after civil servants told her it was unworkable - Reuters/Mina Kim

Assisted dying has been thrown into doubt after its Labour MP sponsor agreed to postpone implementing the law until after the next election.

Kim Leadbeater, the MP behind the Bill, has proposed delaying the introduction of assisted dying in England and Wales for two years until 2029.

The revised timeline raises the prospect that a new government could abandon plans to establish an assisted dying regime following warnings that the law would overburden the NHS and judiciary.

Ms Leadbeater is thought to have climbed down after civil servants responsible for drafting amendments told her the Bill was unworkable.

This work with the Government has already seen the Spen Valley MP significantly water down her proposals in the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

Moves such as removing the requirement for every case to be signed off by a High Court judge have triggered anger among MPs, making the law less likely to be voted through.

The Assisted Dying Bill Committee finished scrutinising the draft legislation in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Ms Leadbeaters proposal to delay the roll out in England was accepted, despite warnings that the next government could quickly abandon reforms.

Liberal Democrat Tom Gordon cautioned the postponement could be fatal, saying: We also know that no Parliament can bind the next  and that the legislation thats been passed but not enacted and put in place could be quickly abandoned.

In Wales, the future of assisted dying looks even more uncertain. In a surprising move, MPs on the Bill committee voted 12 to 11 in favour of Sarah Olney MPs amendment to require Senedd approval before any changes take effect in Wales.

Last October, Senedd members rejected a motion calling for a law change. Ms Olney said: We should respect that choice and not impose it on them, in whole or in part, without their consent.

On Tuesday, Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary  who opposes assisted dying and has warned of its impact on the NHS  said Ms Leadbeater had backed down after ministers told her the law could not be delivered in two years.

Speaking at a Guardian event, he said he wanted to pay tribute to the MP for her leadership on the issue.

It would have been really easy for her to say hang on a minute, four years, thats twice as long as two years, and will this ever happen, he said. Instead what shes done is work constructively with ministers, listened to the arguments about how long it would take to implement, and shes shown willingness to compromise.

However, a spokesman for Ms Leadbeater insisted that assisted dying could still happen and said 2029 was a backstop.

He claimed the Bill contained even stronger safeguards than when it was first tabled but admitted they would inevitably take longer to implement.

He added: But the four-year limit is not a target, its a backstop. Kim hopes and believes the service can be delivered more quickly if it becomes law later this year.

The controversial Bill passed by 55 votes in November, splitting Parliament, with 330 MPs backing it and 275 opposed.

Since then, it has been scrutinised by a committee of MPs selected by Ms Leadbeater, hearing evidence from medical and legal experts warning that the policy risks undermining end-of-life care and poses a serious risk to vulnerable people.

The committee heard concerns that it would be impossible for the High Court to rule over every case.

The original legislation proposed allowing terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to receive medical assistance to die, following the approval of two doctors and a judge.

The judicial safeguard meant that only cases signed off by a High Court judge would be allowed. However, the retired judge Sir Nicholas Mostyn said it would be impossible, in my opinion, for this to be done by the High Court.

Earlier this month, MPs on the committee voted to remove the oversight and replace it with a three-member panel comprising a psychiatrist, a social worker and a lawyer to make the final decision.

This suggestion is believed to be one of several made by the Ministry of Justice over concerns that the number of assisted dying cases would exacerbate record court backlogs.

Capable of being operable

Speaking in February, Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, said her department had a duty to ensure the Bill was capable of being described as operable.

That means its actually capable of being delivered in the country, and my department and my officials have engaged in that, she said.

Like Mr Streeting, Ms Mahmood has come out against assisted dying, voting against it in November.

Ms Leadbeater has since claimed that concerns over court capacity did not motivate the change, telling the committee that replacing the High Court sign-off with a new system was a strength, not a weakness.

However, the move prompted anger, with 26 Labour MPs accusing her of breaking promises and warning that the changes exposed how haphazard this whole process has become.

On Tuesday night, critics told The Telegraph that the delay was an admission that the Bill does not work and suggested it could prompt supporters to rethink their support.

One opponent said: This shows its a long way from safe. If they need four years to work it out, then it shows this Bill is still riddled with problems.

A Labour source said: Its quite cynical, really. Theyve pushed it back by two years to distract MPs from the Bills current failing, basically letting the Government clean up the mess. But by cynically pushing it into the long grass for other people to fix, theyve pushed it right up against the possible dates of the next election, which isnt very bright.

Chaotic

Jess Asato, a Labour MP, criticised the chaotic process, saying: This last-minute switch demonstrates again just how chaotic this whole process has been with substantial last-minute changes to core sections of the Bill.

Weve seen the NHSs founding principles amended, the High Court protections ditched and now the timeline for the whole process changed. This isnt how good laws are made.

Rachael Maskell, a Labour MP who is against the Bill, said she feared the delay could harm the party electorally, adding: We can see how divisive it is  it would be incredibly bad for Labour to manage this at the same time as an election.

When people hear the detail of the Bill, they are horrified. This is bad for politics and the poor people who may be victims of this process. I am really fearful about where this is going to place us.

Ms Leadbeater is hoping to return the Bill to Parliament by mid-May.
Kim Leadbeater has always been clear that its more important to get the  legislation right than do it quickly, a spokesperson said. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

The introduction of assisted dying in England and Wales is likely to be pushed back by a further two years in a delay that supportive MPs fear could mean the change of law is never realised.

The deferral was proposed by Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP piloting the assisted dying bill through parliament. It means the initial timeline of two years for implementing the law will now stretch to four.

The earliest an assisted dying service is now expected to beoperational is 2029, the year by which the next general election must take place, raising fears among backers of the bill that ministers would be reluctant to push through such a controversial change before voters go to the polls.

A spokesperson for Leadbeater said she hopes and believes the service can be delivered more quickly but that the changes made to the bill since the autumn meant it would inevitably take longer to implement.

The delay marks the latest major change to the assisted dying proposals, which have proven deeply contentious in the Commons and beyond.

The new four-year timeline will only become official once it is approved by the Commons committee scrutinising the bill, which was due to discuss the proposed change on Tuesday night.

Tom Gordon, a Liberal Democrat MP who sits on the committee, said that delaying implementation risks pushing it beyond the next election, where it could be abandoned altogether. We have thoroughly scrutinised and strengthened this bill, ensuring it is safe and robust. Every extra year means more unnecessary suffering for those who cannot afford to wait, Gordon said.

Another MP who supports assisted dying said: I fear it risks politicising it massively  if it has been through parliament and got support of the public then potentially making it an election issue is not desirable at all. It might have been easier just to not have a deadline at all. A third supportive MP said they cant see Whitehall seeing this as anything other than a chance to delay it indefinitely.

If approved, the bill would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales who are expected to die within six months to seek help to end their own life. MPs voted in support of the proposal in November.

The bills supporters had originally intended for it to become law this year and its implementation to begin within two years, in 2027, meaning an assisted dying service would be established well before the next election.

Leadbeaters spokesperson said: Kim has always been clear that its more important to get the assisted dying legislation right than to do it quickly.

The bill now contains even stronger safeguards than when it was first tabled, with a new judge-led voluntary assisted dying commission and multi-disciplinary panels to examine every application. These will inevitably take longer to implement.

But the four-year limit is not a target, its a backstop. Kim hopes and believes the service can be delivered more quickly if it becomes law later this year.

Wes Streeting paid tribute to Leadbetters leadership through this process praising her for constructively engaging with ministers, and her willingness to compromise through the process.

I cant fault the way in which she has tried to engage with people, including critics, on this issue, and thats been reflected in the decision of the bill committee today, the health secretary said in an interview with the Guardian on Tuesday night.

Jeevun Sandher, a Labour MP supportive of the bill, said: All of these changes strengthen the bill. Extending the timeline to make absolutely sure we have enough time seems sensible to me. I hope and believe this choice will be available well before the four-year mark.

Pro-assisted dying campaigners expressed disappointment in the change. Andrew Copson, chief executive of Humanists UK, said: Many other countries already have safe assisted dying laws and none of them has taken more than 19 months to implement them, apart from one that was subject to a court challenge. So it really shouldnt have to take four years.

Opponents said the delayed timeline was symptomatic of wider problems with the bill. Jess Asato, a Labour MP, said: Putting an arbitrary timeline on such a complex issue was never a sensible way to make life or death legislation. This last-minute switch demonstrates again just how chaotic this whole process has been with substantial last-minute changes to core sections of the bill.

In a significant change to the original proposals, last month Leadbeater removed the need for every assisted dying case to be scrutinised by a high court judge after concerns this could overwhelm the court system. Instead, cases will be reviewed by panels including a senior lawyer, a psychiatrist and a social worker.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, the Isle of Mans parliament approved a bill to legalise assisted dying, making it the first place in the British Isles to introduce the change.

The legislation, which will now be put forward for royal assent, will give terminally ill people autonomy and choice at the end of their lives, said Dr Alex Allinson, a GP and politician who introduced the private members bill in 2022.

The bill only covers adults resident on the island for five years and who have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of no more than 12 months. They must also have a settled intention to end their life. Doctors will be free to choose whether they want to opt in to providing the service.
People take an injured man into a car during a civil and military police raid in the Complexo do Alemao favela in Rio de Janeiro in January Photograph: Pablo Porciuncula/AFP/Getty Images

In January, as about 500 police officers carried out a 15-hour raid in one of Rio de Janeiros largest favela complexes, Rafaela Figueiredo de Franca was trying to distract her six-year-old daughter, who has been diagnosed with autism.

To prevent Maria from panicking amid the seemingly endless barrage of deafening gunfire  so intense that it even brought down the wall of a nearby house  De Franca shut the windows and turned on two fans. Its a way of shielding her from the sounds of war, said the mother.

Last year alone, there were 1,258 police raids in Rios favelas: an average of more than three a day.

For some of Brazils 16.3 million favela residents  8% of the population  daily life can resemble that of a war zone: when there are no confrontations between criminals involved in activities such as drug trafficking, extortion and militias, there are police raids that often claim the lives of innocents.

In addition to the deaths and collateral damage to homes and belongings, gunfights take a more subtle and insidious toll on the population. A study by Rios Centre for Studies on Public Security and Citizenship (CESeC) found that residents of conflict-ridden areas are more likely to develop high blood pressure, chronic insomnia, depression and anxiety disorders.

The burden is even heavier on people with autism, who are more prone to hypersensitivity to loud noises.

In 2020, during the pandemic, there was an operation here where the gunfire was so heavy that a nine-year-old autistic boy jumped out of a window because of the noise. Fortunately, he wasnt hurt, said De Franca, who is among the 54,000 people living in the 13 favelas of the Alemao complex, a population larger than 88% of Brazilian cities.

Interactive

After speaking with dozens of other mothers of autistic children in the community, she realised that their childrens suffering during shootouts was a shared struggle, so in 2022, she founded the Star of Maria Stimulation Centre to support neurodiverse families in favelas.

Related: Their husbands and sons were killed by the police. But Brazils grieving mothers are banding together

The group has distributed 500 earmuffs to families with autistic children, and during police raids, its headquarters in the Alemao favela becomes a safe haven where parents and children can seek refuge.

Hearing these mothers stories shook me, said sociologist Julita Lemgruber, who coordinates CESeC and is one of Brazils leading public security researchers. The shootouts toll on autistic children is yet another consequence of the countrys drug policies, which not only cause suffering, pain and death but also have an enormous economic cost to society, she added.

A 2023 CESeC study of seven Brazilian states  including the two wealthiest and most populous, Rio and Sao Paulo  found that they spent R$7.7bn (1.03bn) on the so-called war on drugs. This sum includes judicial costs for prosecuting drug-related cases and expenses for incarcerating those convicted, for example.

With the same amount, 954 new schools could have been built or 396 public healthcare centres maintained across those states.

Supporters of drug prohibition often claim they do so to protect families and make society safer, but we know that the war on drugs hasnt reduced consumption or protected people, said Lemgruber, who in the 1990s served as the director of Rios prison system and as the police ombudsman.

Security forces arent going after the major drug traffickers. Instead, theyre using brutal force in areas where only street-level drug dealing takes place  poor communities where most of the population is Black, she said.

On Wednesday, Brazils supreme court will resume hearing a case aimed at reducing the number of deaths caused by police during operations in favelas.

After a 2020 court ruling set rules for police operations  such as the mandatory use of body cameras and the presence of ambulances  the death rate fell by more than half. But Rios state government and city hall are trying to overturn the ruling, arguing that it is limiting police operations.

Psychologist and physiotherapist Monica Cirne Albuquerque, 57, runs the Movement and Life Institute, a physiotherapy centre in Alemao, and describes her work as dealing with whats left after violence.

People in the favelas live in constant agony  a daily reality of uncertainty and fear, she said.

During the 15-hour police raid in January, Albuquerque spent the timing making video calls to comfort patients. One mother spent hours under the bed with her child  because it was the only place in the house where they could take cover from the bullets, she said.

Interactive

Like De Franca, she has also started distributing noise-cancelling earmuffs to patients.

The demand is so overwhelming that during the last operation, I had to start handing out earmuffs to neurotypical children as well, said De Franca. One little girl stopped me on the street and asked, Auntie, can you give me those things to put in my ears? I get really scared. That had never happened before.
Chris Stark returned to Capital Breakfast after undergoing treatment for testicular cancer. (Getty Images) (Getty)

Capital radio presenter Chris Stark has revealed he feels "like an idiot" for not spotting the signs of testicular cancer sooner.

The 38-year-old recently revealed he has been diagnosed with testicular cancer and urged men to check themselves.

Stark, who has since undergone treatment, wrote on Instagram: "Around a couple of months ago, after a routine trip to my local doctors, I found out I have testicular cancer.

"The reason I want to share this is that I feel like an idiot that I didnt spot this sooner. And although Im effectively cured and it was caught early, my hope is any bloke reading this will perhaps think to check themselves today, or go to a doctor if not sure about any possible symptoms."

Stark went on to share that he has had surgery and undergone preventative chemotherapy to help stop the cancer from returning.

He went on to say that he has made the decision to talk about his health issues to address the "stigma" around this type of cancer and hopes to encourage other men to check themselves, particularly those in the 18-49 age bracket in which he says it is most common.

"Caught early, this cancer is so so treatable," he continued. "I also think its a tricky subject matter to talk about, but Im willing to put my now one ball on the line here if it helps make that conversation less tricky for guys, encourages someone to check themselves and potentially saves a life."

This morning the presenter made an emotional return to Capital Breakfast where he was embraced by co-hosts Jordan North and Sian Welby having taken time out to undergo treatment.

In a clip shared to Capitals official Instagram account, Welby could be heard saying: "Group hug, group hug, We've missed you Chris! We're so glad to have you back!"

Men are being urged to look out for the early signs of testicular cancer. (Getty Images) (Getty)

Testicular cancer - what to look out for?

The NHS says typical symptoms of testicular cancer can include a painless swelling or lump in one of the testicles, or any change in shape or texture of the testicles.

"The swelling or lump can be about the size of a pea, but may be larger," the men's health charity, the Blue Ribbon Foundation explains. "Most lumps or swellings in the scrotum are not in the testicle and are not a sign of cancer, but they should never be ignored."

Testicular cancer can also cause other symptoms, including:

an increase in the firmness of a testicle

a difference in appearance between one testicle and the other

a dull ache or sharp pain in your testicles or scrotum, which may come and go

a feeling of heaviness in your scrotum

How to check for signs of testicular cancer

Checking your testicles for early signs of cancer can help improve survival rates though early diagnosis. And while nearly all men survive testicular cancer, figures reveal if the cancer has spread, survival for five years or more can reduce to 65%.

While mammograms and cervical screenings help identify common tumours in women, testicular cancer has no national screening programme, making it all the more important that men know what is normal for them, to be able to spot when something isn't.

Spotting the disease before it becomes advanced could help a patient avoid chemotherapy, preserve fertility and even save a life.

To check your testicles the NHS recommends the following steps:

Hold your scrotum (the skin that covers your testicles) in the palm of your hand. Use the other hand to gently roll one testicle at a time between your thumb and fingers. Feel behind both testicles  the small, soft tubes at the back of the testicles (epididymis) can sometimes become hard, swollen or painful.

How regularly should people check and when is the best time?

The charity Baggy Trousers UK says the best time to check yourself is after a warm shower or bath as your skin is most relaxed.

The NHS recommends checking testicles regularly (around once a month) for symptoms of testicular cancer and other conditions. This means you can get to know what is normal for you and makes it easier to spot any changes.

It is recommended men check for lumps after a shower. (Getty Images) (Taras Chuiko via Getty Images)

Who is most affected by testicular cancer and is it genetic?

While the condition is most common in men aged between 15 to 49, it can affect anyone who has testicles.

Cancer Research UK says it is often not known what causes most cases of testicular cancer, but there are some factors that may increase your risk of developing it.

There is an increased risk of testicular cancer in people with undescended testicles, with the risk considered greater where the condition isnt corrected and if surgery takes place after puberty.

Brothers or sons of men who have had testicular cancer have an increased risk of getting testicular cancer with some of the increase in risk is thought to be caused by changes in certain genes. But Cancer Research UK says more research is needed to understand how these gene changes affect the risk of testicular cancer.

What to do if you find something unusual

The NHS recommends seeing a GP if you find:

a lump or swelling in one or both of your testicles

one or both of your testicles are getting bigger

your scrotum (skin that covers the testicles) feels heavy, firm or hard

you have an ache or pain in your scrotum or one or both of your testicles

you notice a change in one or both of your testicles that is not normal for you

you have a lump, pain or notice a change in the tubes at the back of each testicle (the epididymis)

If you notice a change or you feel a lump, it is important not to panic. "Most lumps are not cancer but if you do notice anything unusual or anything concerning you should visit your doctor as soon as you can," the charity Baggy Trousers UK explains. "If caught early enough testicular cancer is highly curable."

The charity also points out that many men have one testicle that is larger than the other or find that one testicle may hang lower than the other. This is very typical and is not a reason to be concerned.

Read more about testicular cancer:
Donald Trump has said his national security adviser does not need to apologise after inadvertently including a journalist in a cabinet group chat for top-secret war plans.

Mike Waltz faced calls to resign from both Republicans and Democrats after he erroneously added Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, to a Signal group chat for security chiefs to discuss an imminent strike on Houthi targets in Yemen.

Speaking from the White House yesterday alongside Mr Waltz, the president insisted there was no classified information shared in the group, and agreed Europe had been free-loading off America, echoing some of the messages.

He also said Mr Waltz was a good guy and did not need to apologise. I dont think he should apologise. I think hes doing his best. Its equipment and technology thats not perfect, and probably he wont be using it again, he said.

Asked if he would ban Signal, the president said he did not know. Mr Trump also insisted it was an app that a lot of people in government use, a lot of people in the media use.

Mr Trump also told NBC: Michael Waltz has learnt a lesson, and hes a good man, dismissing the incident as the only glitch in two months and not serious. It was a staffer of Mr Waltzs who had erroneously added Jeffrey Goldberg, Mr Trump said.

It comes after Politico reported several officials within the administration believe that Mr Waltz should be dismissed for his recklessness. One person close to the White House said: Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f---ing idiot.

On Monday, the Trump administration sought to contain the fallout as intelligence chiefs were questioned over the leak at a tense senate hearing.

Mark Warner, a Democrat senator, told members of the presidents top team it was mind boggling none of the defence officials had realised the journalist had been added into the group.

Tulsi Gabbard, the national intelligence director, John Ratcliffe, the head of the CIA, and Kash Patel, the leader of the FBI, appeared before the Senate intelligence committee for a pre-planned hearing. Ms Gabbard and Mr Ratcliffe both repeatedly testified that no classified information was shared in the Signal chat.

However, Democratic senators noted that Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, had laid out operational details of the pending strike, including information about targets, weapons the US would be deploying and attack sequencing, according to The Atlantic.

Mr Goldberg also later told MSNBC members of Mr Trumps cabinet had also disclosed a list of specific targets, including human targets two hours before the strikes took place. Its hard for me to believe that targets and timing and weapons would not have been classified, Senator Angus King said.

Ms Gabbard repeatedly refused to confirm whether she was a member of the group chat, and later dodged a question about whether she had used her personal phone to access the messaging app. I wont speak to this because its under review by the national security council, she said.

The hearing grew heated at times, with Senator Jon Ossoff voicing frustration with Mr Ratcliffe after he answered I dont recall to a series of questions about the content of the Signal chat. These included whether he knew the journalist had been added or if he was aware that Steve Witkoff, Mr Trumps special envoy, had allegedly accessed the app from Moscow, where he met with Vladimir Putin.

The National Security Agency had reportedly warned employees about vulnerabilities in the Signal app a month before Mr Goldberg was mistakenly added to the group chat.

A vulnerability has been identified in the Signal messenger application, reads an internal memo circulated by the NSA in February, according to CBS News.

The use of Signal by common targets of surveillance and espionage activity has made the application a high-value target to intercept sensitive information.

Coverage of the leak has prompted a backlash from Trump supporters and Right-wing media outlets, who have sought to minimise the significance of the security breach and accused The Atlantic of spreading misinformation.

The Defence secretary yesterday accused Mr Goldberg of peddling garbage and denied sharing war plans, shortly after the White House itself admitted the leak had taken place.

Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, accused The Atlantic of trying to weaponise innocuous actions and turn them into faux outrage. Dont let enemies of America get away with these lies, he wrote on X.

In response to criticism from Trump supporters, Mr Goldberg said he was considering releasing further information from the messaging app conversation.

Maybe in the coming days Ill be able to let you know that I have a plan to have this material vetted publicly but Im not going to say that now, he told The Bulwark podcast.

A Trump adviser was quoted as saying: We dont care what the media says. We can easily handle what would kill any other administration. This will blow over.

A senior White House official said: Trump certainly wasnt pleased with this. But all this talk you see about Waltz not lasting is just way premature.

The official added: Theres a Washington feeding frenzy. And we all know that you dont give the mob what it wants.

Several officials told Politico that Mr Trumps reaction was hard to predict; the presidents anger could turn against JD Vance, who disagreed with the strike, or against Mr Hegseth, who shared the most classified parts of the operation.

The information, had it leaked more broadly, could have been used to harm US military personnel, Mr Goldberg and former state department officials said.

Yesterday, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, insisted that no war plans were discussed and no classified material was sent to the thread.

She added: The White House counsels office has provided guidance on a number of different platforms for president Trumps top officials to communicate as safely and efficiently as possible.

08:39 PM GMT

Thats all for now

Thanks for following our coverage. This live blog is now closed.

08:10 PM GMT

The worst possible journalist to invite into a secret Trump group chat

Top US officials could not have picked a worse journalist to accidentally disclose secret military war plans to.

Jeffrey Goldberg, the highly-respected  and at times controversial  editor of the The Atlantic magazine has always been a staunch critic of Donald Trump, his foreign policy and his Maga acolytes.

How the 59-year-old was added to a top-secret unsecured group chat plotting US air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen is still unclear.

He is certainly no friend of the White House.

Read the full story from Iona Cleave here.

07:31 PM GMT

Trump: Waltz shouldnt apologise

I dont think he should apologise, Donald Trump says, again sticking up for Mike Waltz.

I think hes doing his best. Its the equipment and technology thats not perfect, and probably he wont be using it again, at least not in the future.

07:22 PM GMT

Leak something you should look into, Trump tells Waltz

I think its something you should look into, Donald Trump tells Mike Waltz, referring to the security leak.

Mr Waltz answers: We have our technical experts looking at it, we have our legal teams looking at it. Were going to keep everything as secure as possible.

He launches another attack on the media for not covering the Trump administrations successes.

07:20 PM GMT

Mike Waltz breaks silence

Mike Waltz, sitting at the cabinet table surrounded by US ambassadors, hits out at a lot of journalists in this city who have made names for themselves making up lies about this president.

The world owes president Trump a favour, Mr Waltz continues, looking towards the US president, who has come under pressure to sack his national security adviser.

Under Biden global shipping was shut down president Trump took decisive action with his national security team, he continues, referring to US strikes on the Houthis.

Ive never met, dont know, never communicated with Jeffrey Goldberg, the journalist to whom the war plans were leaked, he continued. We are looking into and reviewing how the heck he got into this [chatroom].

Mike Waltz speaks at the meeting - MANDEL NGAN

07:15 PM GMT

Trump: There was no classified information

Donald Trump has finally called on Kaitlin Collins who asks him if his national security team will change their practices after leaking top-secret war plans.

We have an amazing group our nationals security now its stronger than its ever been, he says, adding: There was no classified information as I understand it.

Mr Trump adds that Signal, the app through which the plans were leaked, is used by a lot of people... a lot of people in government.

Donald Trump meets with US Ambassadors in the Cabinet Room - MANDEL NGAN

07:06 PM GMT

Trump shuts down question about Waltz

Donald Trump has cut off CNNs Kaitlin Collins after she attempted to ask him about Mike Waltz, the beleaguered national security adviser.

You said that your national security adviser learnt a lesson - she began, before the president interrupted.

Excuse me, I didnt pick you, he said, moving on to another journalist during the question and answer session.

06:56 PM GMT

Waltz attends White House meeting

Mike Waltz, the National Security adviser, is currently at a meeting that is taking place between Donald Trump and US ambassadors in the White House.

It appears to be a statement of support for Mr Waltz by the US President, who has been under pressure to sack him after he accidentally leaked top-secret war plans to a journalist.

Mr Waltz introduced himself at the meeting but otherwise has not spoken.

Mike Waltz attended the meeting at the White House - MANDEL NGAN

05:13 PM GMT

Pictured: FBI chief fields questions over Signal leak

FBI director Kash Patel faced questions alongside colleagues about a top secret group chat being leaked to reporters - Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg

04:34 PM GMT

Signal app gold standard in privacy, says tech boss

The president of Signal defended the messaging apps security after top Trump officials mistakenly added a journalist to a group chat they used to discuss US strikes on Yemen.

Signals Meredith Whittaker did not directly address the blunder, which Democratic lawmakers have said was a breach of US national security.

But she described the app as the gold standard in private comms in a post on X, which outlined Signals security advantages.

Were open source, nonprofit, and we develop and apply (end-to-end encryption) and privacy-preserving tech across our system to protect metadata and message contents, she said.

04:22 PM GMT

Atlantic reporter may release war planning text from leaked group chat

The editor of The Atlantic is considering release texts about war planning from a group chat of Trump officials to which he was mistakenly added.

In a major security breach, Jeff Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic, was mistakenly invited to a forum on the encrypted messaging app Signal in which members of Donald Trumps cabinet discussed military strikes on Yemen.

Following the release of Mr Goldbergs story, which revealed he was given pre-warning of the bombing raid, members of Mr Trumps cabinet have panned the journalist, with defence secretary Pete Hegseth accusing him of peddling garbage.

Mr Goldberg has now said he is weighing publishing further information from the messaging app conversation to back up his reporting.

Maybe in the coming days Ill be able to let you know that, I have a plan to have this material vetted publicly but Im not going to say that now, he told The Bulwark podcast.

04:08 PM GMT

I dont recall, says Ratcliffe over whether journalist was added to group chat

John Ratcliffe, the CIA director, has repeatedly claimed he does not recall details of conversation on a group chat of top Trump officials that were released to a journalist.

Asked if he knew an Atlantic reporter was added to the Signal group or about JD Vances comments on the forum, Mr Ratcliffe repeatedly said I dont recall.

Senator Jon Ossoff of Atlanta responded: Surely you prepared for this hearing today.

04:04 PM GMT

Gabbard ducks question on whether she used personal phone in group chat leak

Tulsi Gabbard, the national intelligence director, has refused to answer whether she used her personal phone to access a group chat of Trump cabinet officials discussing plans to bomb Yemen.

Asked if she used a work or personal phone to access the group chat during a meeting of the senate intelligence select committee, Ms Gabbard said: I wont speak to this because its under review by the national security council.

Both Ms Gabbard and John Ratcliffe ducked questions on whether the information was classified, deferring to the judgement of the defence secretary Pete Hegseth.

Any information that was related from my perspective or that I observed from the intelligence perspective was not classified information. Mr Ratcliffe said, adding that the secretary of defence is the authority for determining whether or not information about strike patterns or targeting information it is classified.

03:52 PM GMT

Trump officials released general military targets in top secret group chat

Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, has admitted that general military targets were discussed in a group chat of Trump officials to which a journalist was mistakenly added.

I believe there was discussion around targets in general, Ms Gabbard said, before adding that I dont recall specific names of systems or weapons being used.

During a senate intelligence select committee hearing, Ms Gabbard and John Ratcliffe, the CIA director, were grilled on whether classified information was inadvertently leaked to a journalist - a suggestion both of them vehemently denied.

Pressed on whether military strike information should be classified, Mr Ratcliffe said: Pre decisional strike deliberation should be conducted through classified channels.

03:44 PM GMT

CIA director unaware Trump envoy accessed leaked group chat from Moscow

Donald Trumps Middle East envoy allegedly accessed a group chat in which Trump officials discussed top secret plans to bomb Yemen while in Moscow.

Steve Witkoff last week met Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where he is reported to have accessed the Signal forum to which a journalist was mistakenly invited.

Asked if he was aware of Mr Witkoff accessing the group from Russia, in a potential major security breach, the CIA director said: Im not aware of that.

03:38 PM GMT

I dont know how journalist was added to Signal chat, says CIA chief

The director of the CIA has admitted he doesnt know how a journalist was added to a top secret group chat in which senior Trump officials planned to bomb Yemen.

Asked if he knew how the editor of The Atlantic was added to the conversation on Signal, John Ratcliffe said: I dont know how he was invited.

Michael Bennet, the Democratic senator of Colorado, accused Mr Ratcliffe of insulting the intelligence of the American people at a Senate intelligence select committee hearing.

03:25 PM GMT

Trump backs Mike Waltz and brands major security leak a glitch

Donald Trump has backed his national security adviser Mike Walz, dismissing his accidental leaking of top secret war plans to a journalist as a glitch.

The presidents national security adviser faced calls to resign after he erroneously added the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic magazine to a Signal group chat for cabinet members to discuss an imminent strike on Houthi targets in Yemen.

Mr Trump stood by Mr Walz on Tuesday saying: Michael Waltz has learnt a lesson, and hes a good man.

The leak has sent shockwaves through Washington, with much of a pre-schedule senate intelligence committee hearing today occupied with questions surrounding related security concerns.

Read the full story here.

03:19 PM GMT

Hello and welcome to our live coverage

Were bringing you the latest updates on news of the leaked group chat where top members of the Trump administration discussed plans to bomb Yemen.
The questions to CSIRO follow US president Donald Trump signing an executive order in January called Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government. Photograph: AP

The Australian governments scientific agency has joined more than a dozen universities in being sent a questionnaire from the Trump administration asking to confirm whether it aligns with US government interests.

On Tuesday, the CSIRO revealed it had received the correspondence from the US. A spokesperson at the CSIRO said it was aware of a small number of researchers who had received the questionnaire in recent weeks and was determining an appropriate response.

The questions include whether the organisation receives funding from China, whether it is a climate or environmental justice project, and whether it is taking appropriate measures to defend against gender ideology in line with Trumps executive order on gender.

Seven universities including the Australian National University, Monash University, University of Technology Sydney, University of New South Wales, Charles Darwin University, Macquarie University and the University of Western Australia have had their US funding cut on research projects since the Trump administration came into power, the education department confirmed.

Related: Australian university researchers told woke gender ideology among reasons behind Trump funding cuts

Separately, researchers from at least 13 universities who receive US funding have been sent surveys, seeking a response within 48 hours to more than 30 questions to support program determinations, university sources told the Guardian.

Some 40% of Australian publications in the physical sciences involve American collaborators  including on vaccine development, cyclone tracking capability and observational systems that monitor, forecast and respond to extreme weather events.

CSIRO has a number of touch points with the US government as part of our research portfolio, a CSIRO spokesperson said.

As the situation is still developing, it would be premature to speculate on how the changes in the US will affect CSIROs US collaborations and partnerships. However, CSIRO has not received formal advice that our science collaborations will be impacted.

It comes as the federal government is under mounting pressure to respond to the US attacks on scientific funding.

Last week, the Australian Academy of Science called for the prime minister to convene an emergency meeting of the National Science and Technology council to comprehensively assess the extent of Australias exposure to US R&D investment and develop risk mitigation strategies.

Speaking to the ABC on Monday, the education minister, Jason Clare, was asked whether the Trump administrations questionnaires constituted foreign interference, as the National Tertiary Education Union has argued.

No, I dont think it is, he replied. This is that US funded research, US universities working with Australian universities. Ultimately, its up to the US about what research it wants to fund.

Clare said the education department was starting to get more information about the research cuts, which he said emerged from a review the US government had initiated into foreign aid.

Research has been caught in that, he said. The Australian embassy in Washington is working with US departments to get a better understanding of this.

We expect that the outcomes of that review that the US has initiated will be clearer in the second half of April.

Asked if the Australian government would consider filling the funding gaps if they arose, Clare said it wasnt practical to underwrite foreign research.

The chief executive of Universities Australia, Luke Sheehy, told the ABC on Tuesday it was really alarming that Australias largest research funder, equivalent to around $600m a year, was reacting this way.

Related: Trump administration accused of blatant foreign interference in Australian universities over questionnaire on DEI and gender

The United States doesnt gift Australia this money. It is seeking our expertise, and Im really concerned that after decades of collaboration, all of this could be put at risk, he said.

The new administration  are clear that they want to have  an alignment with their worldview and whether or not that $600m of funding will be consistent with that.

President of the Australian Academy of Science, Prof Chennupati Jagadish, said the US had become an unpredictable partner, with threats emerging to Australias strategic R&D capability every day.

Taking a wait-and-see approach to the management of Australias national strategic [research and development] capability is dangerous and the consequences of inaction are profound, he said.

We do know that CSIRO is part of a larger R&D system that Australians rely on to  give us the best chance of staying safe in a technologically advanced world.
Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, has accused the US of putting unacceptable pressure on Greenland  which she has vowed to resist  before an unsolicited visit to the Arctic island by members of the Trump administration.

Later, just hours after her comments, the White House sprang a fresh surprise, as the US vice-president, JD Vance, announced he would join his wife on a trip to the territory this week.

There was so much excitement around Ushas visit to Greenland this Friday that I decided that I didnt want her to have all that fun by herself, and so Im going to join her, Vance said in a video on X.

Speaking for President Trump, we want to reinvigorate the security of the people of Greenland because we think its important to protecting the security of the entire world.

Even before Vances announcement, Frederiksen told Danish channel TV 2: I have to say that it is unacceptable pressure being placed on Greenland and Denmark in this situation. And it is pressure that we will resist.

The Danish leader also dismissed the idea of the trip being a private visit, saying: You cannot make a private visit with official representatives from another country.

Trumps threats to acquire Greenland, she said, should be taken seriously. President Trump is serious  He wants Greenland. Therefore, it cannot be seen independently of anything else, she told Danmarks Radio (DR).

Related: Trumps expansionism threatens the rules-based order in place since second world war

She said: It is clearly not a visit that is about what Greenland needs or what Greenland wants from a visit. Therefore, no matter how we twist it, it is a completely unacceptable pressure on Greenland, the Greenlandic politicians and the Greenlandic population, but it is also on Denmark and thus the kingdom.

Copenhagen, Greenlands former colonial ruler, retains control of security and foreign policy in the autonomous territory, which is still part of the kingdom of Denmark. Trump has repeatedly stated his desire for the US to gain control over the island, which he has said is crucial for American security.

Greenlands prime minister, Mute Bourup Egede, has accused Washington of foreign interference in relation to the planned visit, amid political uncertainty in the territory as coalition talks continue less than a fortnight after a general election.

The US president responded by saying the delegation had been invited by officials on the Greenlandic side. People from Greenland are asking us to go there, he told reporters on Monday.

The Nuuk government, however, disputed that. For the record, the Greenlandic government has not issued any invitations for visits, either official or private, it said in a statement. The current government is acting as an interim government pending the formation of a new coalition, and we have kindly requested all countries to respect this process.

Also due to participate in the visit from Thursday to Saturday are the White House national security adviser, Mike Waltz, now embroiled in an embarrassing security leak, and the energy secretary, Chris Wright.

The territory is led by a caretaker government as the Greenlandic Democrats continue with coalition talks following an election earlier this month. On Monday, Greenlands most US and Trump-friendly party, Naleraq, left negotiations over their belief that Greenland should rapidly declare independence.

Related: Greenland might open a vast uranium deposit to mining. Locals say it could alter their way of life

Kuno Fencker, a member of parliament for Naleraq, which came second to the Democrats in the election, said the party had been thrown out of coalition talks, in part because of the upcoming US visit.

It has an effect because many of the members think that we, especially me, are selling the country to the US, he said, adding that it was not in his authority to do so.

Accusing the Danish media of fear-mongering over the US and Trump, he said: Divide and rule is being used extremely towards Greenland and fear-mongering about the United States. And especially Donald Trump is framed as the big villain, big bad wolf, here.

The White House has said Waltz and Wright will visit the US space force base in Pituffik, in the north of Greenland, for briefings from US personnel, and they are expected to join Vance to visit historical sites and attend a dog-sled race.

The White House National Security Council has said the delegation aimed to learn about Greenland, its culture, history and people.
Democratic senators demanded answers from leaders of the US intelligence community on Tuesday on how the top editor of the Atlantic was added to a group chat discussing airstrikes in Yemen, arguing that the sloppy, careless leak put national security at risk.

The unusual story broke on Monday, when the Atlantic published a piece by its editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, who said he had been added to the group on the messaging app Signal, and watched as accounts that appeared to match top Trump administration officials, including Vice-President JD Vance and the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, debated and then coordinated a wave of bombings targeting the Houthis in Yemen.

Related: White House security leak: whos who in the Signal group chat

Donald Trump has defended his national security adviser Michael Waltz, who Goldberg said invited him into the group.

Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, and John Ratcliffe, the CIA director, both of whom were also in the group, appeared on Tuesday before the Senate intelligence committee for an annual hearing on threats facing the United States, which Democrats used to accuse them of failing to protect sensitive details of US military operations.

I think this is one more example of the kind of sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior, particularly towards classified information, the committees vice-chair, Mark Warner, said.

Signal is a messaging app founded in 2012 that allows users to transmit texts, photos, videos and documents, as well as make audio and video calls. It uses end-to-end encryption, which protects messages against hackers and cyberattacks via an extra layer of security. Several other privacy features, such as the ability to automatically delete messages, have made it popular among communities such as journalists and activists that frequently deal with sensitive information.





Signal is run by the non-profit Signal Foundation and relies on donations to function, giving it a different business model than other encrypted messaging services such as Meta-owned WhatsApp. It does not track user data to the same extent as Meta and publishes its code to allow for public auditing of its security measures. Signal, like any messaging app, is still vulnerable to human error through methods like phishing attacks or spyware which can allow hackers to gain access to users devices. The Signal Foundations president called the addition of The Atlantics editor-in-chief a user error rather than a problem with her apps security.

Gabbard, a former congresswoman who has been accused of sympathizing with Russia and other American adversaries, declined to answer many questions about the chat group, initially saying this is currently under review by the national security council.

The discussion that took place in that Signal chat group was a conversation reflecting national security leaders and the vice-president around the presidents objectives, she later said, while declining to answer if she would have approved details of such a conversation to be revealed publicly, or if she was using a personal or work phone to participate in the group.

Under questioning from Warner, Ratcliffe acknowledged that he was in the group but said the app was approved for use by government officials under the Biden administration and it was loaded on his devices when he became CIA director.

Related: Exploitable flaws: what US adversaries could learn from White House security failure

It is permissible to use to communicate and coordinate for work purposes, provided  that any decisions that are made are also recorded through formal channels, Ratcliffe said.

My communications, to be clear, in a Signal message group were entirely permissible and lawful and did not include classified information.

However, National Public Radio reported on Tuesday that the defense department warned last week not to use Signal because of security issues, even for unclassified information. The warning explained that Russian hacking groups were targeting a feature of the app to gain access to its users encrypted conversations.

Another key question was the physical location of Gabbard and of Trumps Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, during their participation in the chat  as well as what devices they used, including in Russia.

Flight records and Russian media reports suggest Witkoff, who is also involved in mediating talks between Ukraine and Russia, appears to have been in Moscow during the period of the Signal chat.

For her part, Gabbard admitted during the session that she had also been abroad while the chat group was active. She declined to answer whether she had used a personal or government device to participate, citing a White House review she said was ongoing.

The DNIs webpage and reports show that Gabbard was on a week-long visit to Japan, Thailand and India during the period in question.

The Democratic senator Michael Bennet took Ratcliffe to task for what he described as his careless approach to cybersecurity. Youre the CIA director. Why didnt you call out that [Goldberg] was present on the Signal thread? Bennet asked.

This is just a normal day at the CIA, where we chat about this kind of stuff over Signal. In fact, its so normal that the last administration left it here for us, the Colorado senator said.

This swampiness, this incompetence, this disrespect for our intelligence agencies and the personnel who work for him is entirely unacceptable. Its an embarrassment. You need to do better.

Related: Trump dismisses Signal security failure as the only glitch in two months

The FBI director, Kash Patel, said he had become aware of the leak only the previous evening, and could not say if his agency would investigate.

Republicans generally avoided discussing the Signal chat, or said they would address it in a closed session of the committee. After retaking the majority in the Senate last November, the GOP has quickly confirmed Trumps cabinet nominees and shown little interest in defying the president.

Near the hearings conclusion, the Democratic senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia asked the CIA director if he would agree the leak was a huge mistake  to which Ratcliffe replied no.

This is utterly unprofessional. Theres been no apology. There has been no recognition of the gravity of this error, Ossoff said. And by the way, we will get the full transcript of this chain and your testimony will be measured carefully against its content.
The Irish Government has been accused of agreeing a stinking, dirty deal with independents, as a row over parliamentary speaking rights is due to come to a head on Tuesday.

The coalition is bringing forward significant modifications to the standing orders of the Dail, the lower house of Irelands parliament.

The opposition has said it will fight tooth and nail against the measures which the Government insists are modest.

The proposed changes include the creation of new speaking slots for coalition backbenchers and Government-aligned independents, a reduction of time for contributions on debating the order of business, and a halving of slots for Taoiseachs Questions.

Leaders Questions on each sitting day of the Dail is unchanged.

Opposition parties argue the changes are an attempt to dilute their ability to hold the Government to account and to blur the relationship between the independents who have supported the formation of the coalition.

In a rare show of unity, the main opposition parties met to agree a response to the proposals which they believe the Government will force through without a debate.

The row has its origins in the formation of Irelands current coalition involving Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, supported by several independents.

Some of those independents have been appointed as junior ministers while the others had sought to join an opposition technical group for the purposes of speaking time, despite supporting the formation of Government.

The row delayed Micheal Martins nomination as Taoiseach in January and has trundled on despite several inter-party meetings and the intervention of the Ceann Comhairle, the speaker, in favour of the opposition.

This led to a brief reprieve before the dispute was reignited after the Government put forward a new proposal to change speaking time arrangements and suggested it would use its majority to push them through.

The coalition proposals deals with the matter of the government-aligned independents by creating a new designation of other members, rather than the binary distinction of opposition or government.

Opposition parties  Sinn Fein, Labour, the Social Democrats, Independent Ireland, Solidarity-People Before Profit and Aontu  are to protest against that decision when the Dail reconvenes on Tuesday.

There has been suggestion of the potential for widespread disruption, rather than a full walkout which would allow the Government to pass the changes.

The disruption is expected after the Dail reconvenes from 2pm, where there will be a Leaders Questions slot before the order of business is agreed.

Many of the independents which entered into Government negotiations were led by Tipperary North TD Michael Lowry  a former Fine Gael minister of state who was found by a tribunal to have behaved in a way that was profoundly corrupt to a degree that was nothing short of breathtaking.

Mary Lou McDonald, the leader of the largest opposition party Sinn Fein, said: You cant be in government and opposition at the same time  it is really as simple as that. And yet today, the Fianna Fail-Fine Gael Government will attempt a stroke designed to placate Michael Lowry and his group of TDs.

She said the combined opposition will fight tooth and nail against the changes.

Independent Ireland TD Michael Collins said his party would do everything it can to stop the changes which benefit the Government-aligned independents from going through.

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald (Liam McBurney/PA)

He said: Taxpayers of this island have a right to know whats the stinking, dirty deal thats been done inside the Dail  behind the taxpayers back.

Social Democrat TD Gary Gannon also described the proposals as a grubby little deal with Mr Lowry, and said the new speaking-time slot for other members would be akin to the Government marking its own homework.

Labour chief whip Duncan Smith said the changes are utterly wrong.

This Government have attempted to subvert decades of parliamentary practice, theyve collapsed the proceedings of the (committee on) Dail reform.

A side-effect of the row is that parliamentary committees have also not reformed since the general election last year.

Opposition parties have raised uncertainty over whether the Government will seek to use the proposed new technical group for the purposes of getting more representation on committees.

People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy said he suspects the coalition will bring forward another change to the standing orders to use the grouping of government-aligned independents to increase its majority on committees.

Irish premier Micheal Martin has described the Governments proposals as modest and described objections as politically manufactured.

Asked before Cabinet on Tuesday if he had any nerves about potential disruption in the Dail chamber, Mr Martin replied: Not at all.

The Taoiseach added: I think the proposals are balanced, theyre modest. The opposition are losing no time at all, some opposition parties will gain more time, actually.

And it seems to me that there needs to be some rebalancing and enabling backbench TDs to at least get an opportunity.

Mr Martin, the leader of Fianna Fail, said he would continue to be the most accountable prime minister in Europe.

Fine Gael leader and Irish deputy premier Simon Harris likened the potential for opposition disruption to behaviour seen in a creche.

There does need to be a sense of proportionality. Yes, its good to tease things through. Yes, we can have different perspectives. Yes, its a democracy.

But the idea that you would say today we dont like the results of the Dail, were going to walk out and cause chaos. I mean, come on  its not a creche.
Louisa Rolfe from the National Police Chiefs Council called violence against women and girls deeply ingrained. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

Domestic abusers are driving their victims to suicide, police have warned as they admitted to past mistakes and pledged to investigate more hidden cases of violence against women.

The concession came as a new report revealed that deaths by suicide among victims of domestic abuse surpassed the number of people killed by an intimate partner for a second year in a row.

The 1,012 domestic abuse-related deaths recorded in the past four years were described as a grim milestone by Louisa Rolfe, the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) lead for domestic abuse. She said it showed how deeply ingrained violence against women and girls is in our communities.

Of the 262 domestic abuse-related deaths recorded in England and Wales between the start of April 2023 and the end of March last year, 98 were classified as suspected victim suicide following domestic abuse (SVSDA).

The latest report by the Domestic Homicide Project, which is funded by the Home Office and led by the NPCC using live police records, also examined deaths where someone had fallen from a height.

Twenty-two such deaths were recorded across 13 forces during the four-year period. Of these, 36% were recorded as SVSDA and 27% as unexpected deaths.

Three of the women who died from a fall were pregnant at the time of their death, a proportion the report called notably high, considering that just five women in the entire four-year sample were pregnant.

The analysis was carried out in collaboration with the campaign group Killed Women, which has pushed for domestic abuse to be a key line of inquiry for police investigating any death of a woman who has fallen from a height.

In 2024, the Guardians Killed Women Count campaign reported on every woman allegedly killed by a man. At the end of the year, the number of deaths stood at 80.

Rolfe, a Metropolitan police assistant commissioner, told a briefing that she expected to see a rise in the number of manslaughter convictions as a result of a new unexpected deaths policy, which will prompt officers to consider whether domestic abuse could have been a contributing factor in an individuals death.

She said there was a challenge in Britains adversarial legal system when it came to proving beyond a reasonable doubt that there was a causal link between domestic abuse and someone taking their own life.

Of course, the burden of proof should sit with the prosecution, she said. But whats really clear from the research and speaking with families is that in the past, in too many cases, investigators have missed obvious patterns of coercive, controlling behaviour.

I dont think police are missing homicides that are staged [to look like] suicide. However, its very clear that there is more for us to do to be really curious about whats happened, to ensure that evidence at the scene of an incident is very thoroughly captured and explored.

Rolfe also said that she wanted to be able to answer victims families questions and be able to look them in the eye and say that every possible line of inquiry was followed.

She added: Ive met some incredibly impressive families who have felt they themselves have needed to investigate after their loved ones death, and thats wrong, because thats our job, and we must do that.

The report also revealed that 68% of victims and/or perpetrators of domestic abuse were known to the police or another agency, and called for better information-sharing to prevent future deaths.

In 54% of domestic homicides, the perpetrator was already known to the police, and in 90% of SVSDA cases involving a history of coercive and controlling behaviour, the suspect had previous contact with agencies other than the police.

The proportion of deaths that were killings by current or former partners remained at about 30% across the four-year period, the report found.

The 1,012 domestic abuse-related deaths recorded over the four years include 501 domestic homicides  332 by current or ex-partners and 169 by another adult relative. The most commonly recorded risk factors in relation to suspects were mental ill health, a history of coercive and controlling behaviour, alcohol use and drug misuse.

Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, said: The better we understand the links between domestic abuse and homicides, suicides and unexpected deaths, the better equipped we are to prevent them from happening in the first place.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse you can contact the Refuge freephone 24-hour national domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 or visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
A former Russian minister told police he was shocked to learn he was subject to sanctions in the UK, a court has heard.

Dmitrii Ovsiannikov, 48, the former mayor of Sevastopol in illegally annexed Crimea, is facing seven counts of circumventing sanctions between February 2023 and January 2024.

He is said to have deliberately avoided sanctions by opening a Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) account on or before February 2023 and having tens of thousands of pounds transferred to it by his wife, Ekaterina Ovsiannikova, 47.

Ovsiannikova is facing four counts of breaching sanctions by assisting with the payments.

Ekaterina Ovsiannikova, left, and Alexei Owsjanikow leaving Southwark Crown Court (Lucy North/PA)

Ovsiannikovs brother, Alexei Owsjanikow, 47, has denied circumventing sanctions to buy him a Mercedes Benz worth 54,500, as well as spending 41,027 on fees at the Royal Russell School in Surrey for Ovsiannikovs children.

Body-worn footage played to the jury showed National Crime Agency (NCA) officers arresting Ovsiannikov in a residential street on January 22 2024 on suspicion of breaching UK financial sanctions.

During an interview he answered no comment, before telling officers that he hoped no one knew that he had left Russia and he had spent a number of years making it possible to leave, prosecutor Lyndon Harris summarised at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday.

The EU designated Ovsiannikov on November 21 2017, restricting him from entering and accessing funds in member states.

It said his work had compromised or threatened the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

EU sanctions ceased to apply in the UK after Brexit and the country created its own regime, the Russia Regulations 2019.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) designated Ovsiannikov under the Russia Regulations in December 2020 and he remains a designated person.

His name was on the UK Sanctions List public website from December 31 that year. At that time he did not have a British passport.

On August 1 2022, Ovsiannikov travelled from Russia to Turkey and three days later applied online for a UK passport.

It was issued in January and he arrived in the UK on February 1 2023.

That month, he was removed from the EU sanctions list following a previous ruling by the the Court of Justice of the European Union.

On February 7, he emailed the FCDO a form to review his sanctions in the UK.

In March, solicitors Peters and Peters LLP wrote to the same Government office on his behalf about his designation.

During the January 2024 NCA interview, which Ovsiannikov elected to do without a Russian translator, he suggested he had thought he was no longer a designated person in the UK.

A transcript was read to jurors, in which Ovsiannikov said: I believed one year ago that the decision in the European Union, when you were inside the European Union when I applied, and (the) European Court said that my designation was unlawful since September 2020, when the United Kingdom was the member of the (European) Union (sic).

And when I came I found out, it was a shock for me, I didnt know.

He was asked what he gave for the good character requirement on his UK visa application, and responded he was not a criminal and was a positive person for the United Kingdom, Mr Harris told jurors.

He declined to give the pin for either of his phones, stating that they contained privileged legal information.

An investigating NCA officer, who gave evidence behind a screen and was given the alias Alex, told jurors that officers worked out the Pin for one device using CCTV to see where Ovsiannikov tapped the screen.

Most of the uncovered messages between him and Ovsiannikova were about their children and ordinary household matters.

There were none before March 8 2023 about Ovsiannikov being subject to an asset freeze or being unable to bank in the UK.

Messages did not mention concerns about whether he could enter the UK or how they would live while he was designated.

Ovsiannikova was questioned voluntarily about her involvement in the alleged offences eight days later.

She described being horrified by the situation and denied knowing her husband was at the time subject to sanctions.

I was aware my husband had been sanctioned but this had been overturned in the EU, and I had no knowledge that he was subject to an asset freeze in the UK and I dont think he knew either, she said.

Halifax bank notified her in March 2023 that it would close her account, she told officers.

She added that she was able to move some funds but had a few thousand pounds remaining which she withdrew in cash for day-to-day living expenses such as food and clothes.

Ovsiannikova said Im really upset about this situation and the impact on my children, adding that she would never have transferred funds to her husband if I wasnt allowed to, the court heard.

The trial continues.
Former Fun Lovin Criminals lead singer Huey Morgan has announced he is to release his debut solo album after quitting the rap rock band in 2021.

It comes as the 56-year-old prepares to head out on a 21-date UK tour in May, which will see him perform in London, Liverpool and Newcastle among other locations.

Morgan will also tour the UK in May (Creation Management/PA)

Morgan, whose new record will be released in 2026 via independent label Townsend Music, with a new single set for release in September, said of the album: This album, alloyed with my memoir, marks a renaissance for me personally.

My return to music was a long road of redemption and reflection; believing in the power of music to connect with others made it a positive milestone in my life.

My debut album, albeit late, will endeavour to convey these stories, weaved into soundscapes produced to frame them thoughtfully.

His new band features original Fun Lovin Criminals member Mateo DiFontaine on keys, turntables and lap steel guitar.

Morgans oldest friend and bandmate from his side project The Tangiers Blues Band known only as King is on bass, and is joined by Ben Gonzalez on drums and multi-instrumentalist Adrian Gautrey on keys and guitar.

Speaking about the upcoming tour, Morgan said: Touring with my band now brings the hits I wrote a new amazing dimension, and the material Im working on for my debut solo album a workout before the release.

Its a dream come true with some of the best musicians Ive ever played with. If you dig what I do, this is its best representation.

Founded in New York in 1993, Fun Lovin Criminals were originally made up of Morgan, Brian Leiser and Steve Borgovini, and went on to sell more than 10 million records.

The band has scored eight UK top 40 singles and three UK top 10 albums and is best known for tracks such as Scooby Snacks, Loco and King Of New York.

Morgan also hosts BBC Radio 6 Musics The Huey Show and presented a 2019 BBC documentary series called Huey Morgans Latin Music Adventure, which saw him travel to Brazil, Cuba and Puerto Rico.

Tickets for the tour, entitled Huey Morgan: The Fun Lovin Criminal, are on sale now.
Credit: X/ @MOhadIsrael

Hundreds of Palestinians shouted anti-Hamas slogans at a rare protest in Gaza on Tuesday.

Hamas out and Hamas terrorists were chanted by the mostly male demonstrators in Beit Lahia as they called for an end to the war with Israel, witnesses said.

The crowd had gathered a week after the Israeli army resumed its intense bombing of the coastal territory, following nearly two months of a truce.

On the social media network Telegram, at least one appeal to protest was circulating on Tuesday, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency reported.

CNN reported that another message on social media appeared to call for nine anti-Hamas demonstrations across Gaza on Wednesday, while clips obtained by the network showed crowds marching through the streets of Beit Lahia chanting We want an end to the war, it said.

Photos from northern Gaza showed people marching flanked by ruined buildings, destroyed by Israels bombing campaign launched in response to Hamass deadly October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Children carry signs in Arabic proclaiming: We refuse to die - AFP via Getty Images

Reports suggested that further protests had broken out in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, on Tuesday night. The Telegraph was not able to verify these reports.

Protests against Hamas are rare in the Gaza strip. The terror group has cracked down violently on demonstrations in the past, with Amnesty International reporting in 2019 that people had been beaten and detained arbitrarily over protests against the cost of living.

It also said protesters had been subject to torture while in detention.

I dont know who organised the protest, Mohammed, a demonstrator who declined to give his last name for fear of reprisals, told the AFP.

I took part to send a message on behalf of the people: Enough with the war, he said, adding that he had seen members of the Hamas security forces in civilian clothing breaking up the protest.

Majdi, another protester who did not wish to give his full name, said the people are tired.

If Hamas leaving power in Gaza is the solution, why doesnt Hamas give up power to protect the people? he asked.

Israel regularly calls for Gazans to mobilise against the Islamist movement that has been in power in the territory since 2007.

The Gaza Strip has been devastated by more than 17 months of war between Israel and Hamas.

The humanitarian situation again deteriorated after Israel blocked the passage of aid into the territory on March 2 in an attempt to force Hamas to release the remaining Israeli hostages.

Palestinians attend a rally calling for an end to the war, in Beit Lahia - Getty

Since Israel resumed its military operations in Gaza, at least 792 Palestinians have been killed, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

The October 7 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to official figures.

The number of people killed by Israels retaliatory military offensive surpassed 50,000 for the first time on Sunday, according to the health ministry.

Israel says it has killed about 20,000 militants, without providing evidence.

The protests came as the Oscar-winning director of a documentary on the conflict was released from detention on Tuesday, a day after being injured and arrested during a raid by Israeli settlers on his village in the West Bank.

Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the award-winning No Other Land, said he had been assaulted by settlers after filming them attacking a neighbours house and then returning to make sure his own house was not attacked.

The war in Gaza has sparked a surge of violence in the West Bank, with the Israeli military carrying out military operations that have killed hundreds of Palestinians and displaced tens of thousands.

There has been a rise in settler violence, as well as Palestinian attacks on Israelis.
Hillary Clinton  the former US secretary of state who lost the 2016 presidential election to Donald Trump amid a scandal over her use of a private server for classified emails  reacted to Mondays news of a leak of highly sensitive military plans at the White House by saying: You have got to be kidding me.

Clinton punctuated her reaction on the X platform with an eyes emoji and a link to an Atlantic article that revealed how Trump officials inadvertently broadcast plans of US airstrikes on Houthi rebels through a Signal group chat with a journalist reading along.

Trump and his supporters criticized her ruthlessly for her classified emails and private server use before and after he defeated her in the presidential election nine years earlier, even calling for her to be imprisoned.

Among them were some of the participants in the group chat reported on by the Atlantic: the secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth; the secretary of state, Marco Rubio; the Central Intelligence Agency director, John Ratcliffe; and the national security adviser, Mike Waltz.

If it was anyone other than Hillary Clinton, they would be in jail right now, ex-Fox News host Hegseth said on his former network in 2016, as CNN showed in a montage which went viral Monday night.

That same year, Rubio remarked on Fox: Nobody is above the law  not even Hillary Clinton, even though she thinks she is.

In 2019, Ratcliffe told Fox: Mishandling classified information is still a violation of the Espionage Act.

And in a 2023 CNN appearance, Waltz complained about the lack of prosecution over the Clinton emails.

All were appointed to Trumps cabinet after he won his second presidency in November.

On Monday, the White House confirmed the leak reported by the Atlantic but essentially insisted it had been harmless, demonstrating deep and thoughtful coordination between senior officials.

The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security, White House spokesperson Brian Hughes told the Guardian.

Hegseth, meanwhile, insulted the Atlantic journalist who was inadvertently brought into his Signal chat, Jeffrey Goldberg, as a deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes. Hegseth asserted: Nobody was texting war plans, prompting Goldberg to respond on MSNBC by saying he had seen a minute-by-minute accounting of plans to bomb targets in Yemen associated with Houthis.

Asked Monday for his take on Goldbergs report, Trump claimed: I dont know anything about it. Im not a big fan of the Atlantic  but I know nothing about it.

By Tuesday, he reportedly told NBC News that Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man. He also echoed Hughes in claiming Goldbergs presence in the Signal chat had no impact at all on the ensuing military operation.

Clinton served as secretary of state under former president Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013. Her husband Bill Clinton was president for two consecutive terms beginning in 1993.

As Hillary Clinton ran for the presidency, the FBIs then-director James Comey said there was evidence she had either sent or received 113 emails on a private server with information that was classified at the time of the correspondence. Information in another 2,000 emails or so was later classified.

Comey said Clinton had been extremely careless but had not acted in a way deserving criminal charges.
Donald Trump critics aimed ridicule at the president after he publicly demanded the removal of his portrait at Colorados state capitol building, calling it truly the worst.

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump shared an image of the portrait and complained about the painting, saying it was bad and blaming it on Colorados governor, Jared Polis  whom the president insulted as being radically left.

A Republican admirer of Trump actually commissioned the portrait.

Related: Tracking Trump  updates on the presidencys first 100 days

House Democrats said in a statement on Monday evening that the oil painting would be taken down at the request of Republican leaders in the legislature.

The senate minority leader Paul Lundeen, a Republican, said that he requested for Trumps portrait to be taken down and replaced by one that depicts his contemporary likeness.

If the GOP wants to spend time and money on which portrait of Trump hangs in the capitol, then thats up to them, Colorado House Democrats spokesperson, Jarrett Freedman, said.

I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one, Trump wrote in his Truth Social post on Sunday night, and further said the governor should be ashamed of himself!.

It was unclear what triggered Trumps tirade about the portrait.

In two follow-up posts, Trump shared separate images of himself in an apparent attempt to distribute photos that he considered more flattering.

Liberal and anti-Trump commentators laughed at the presidents reaction on social media.

On X, Sam Stein of MSNBC wrote that he was absolutely dying over how Trump was so upset by his portrait that he couldnt resist posting about it. Stein said it was also funny how objectively bad the portrait is.

Former Republican attorney Ron Filipkowski, editor-in-chief of the liberal news website MeidasTouch Network, wrote on X that Trump was the most fragile, sensitive snowflake in history while sharing a screenshot of the presidents Truth Social post.

Another social media account named Republicans Against Trump also shared the presidents post while calling him a petty, insecure baby.

Trump alleged without evidence that his portrait had been purposefully distorted. The president then complained that his Democratic presidential predecessor Barack Obama looks wonderful in his portrait at the Colorado capitol.

Despite Trumps criticism of Polis for the painting, it was actually unveiled by a Republican group in 2019. A former Republican state senator had crowdfunded nearly $10,000 to commission the painting, according to Colorado news station KUSA.

Trump did not have a portrait hanging in the Colorado state capitol for his first presidency, which began in 2017. In 2018, a liberal political activist placed a large portrait of Vladimir Putin  whom Trump openly admires  in the empty space, but it was quickly removed by capitol staff.

That prompted the then Republican state senator, Kevin Grantham, to raise money through a GoFundMe campaign to hang Trumps portrait in the state capitol.

A Polis spokesperson told KUSA that the governor was surprised to learn the President of the United States is an aficionado of our Colorado state capitol and its artwork.

We appreciate the president and everyones interest in our capitol building and are always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience, the Polis spokesperson added.

Trumps Sunday night comments had prompted a steady stream of visitors to pose for photos with the painting before the announcement that it would be taken down.

Aaron Howe, visiting from Wyoming on Monday, stood in front of Trumps portrait, looking down at photos of the president on his phone, then back up at the portrait.

Honestly he looks a little chubby, said Howe of the portrait, but better than I could do.

I dont know anything about the artist, said Howe, who voted for Trump. It could be taken one way or the other.

Kaylee Williamson, an 18-year-old Trump supporter from Arkansas, got a photo with the portrait.

I think it looks like him. I guess hes smoother than all the other ones, she said. I think its fine.

Associated Press contributed to reporting
The then Prince of Wales and his wife met the Pope during a previous visit to the Vatican in 2017 - VINCENZO PINTO/AFP

The King and Queen have postponed their visit to the Holy See next month after doctors advised that the Pope requires an extended period of rest and recuperation after his illness, Buckingham Palace has announced.

They had been due to attend an audience with Pope Francis in a landmark show of friendship between the Anglican and Catholic Churches.

As recently as last week, the palace had been expecting the visit to go ahead, but in a statement on Tuesday it said: The King and Queens state visit to the Holy See has been postponed by mutual agreement, as medical advice has now suggested that Pope Francis would benefit from an extended period of rest and recuperation.

Their Majesties send the Pope their best wishes for his convalescence and look forward to visiting him in the Holy See once he has recovered.

The King and Queen will continue with their planned state visit to Italy, which will take in Rome, the capital, and Ravenna, which is famous for its Byzantine mosaics.

The Pope, 88, was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Feb 14 and underwent treatment for double pneumonia. He spent five weeks there before returning to the Vatican on Sunday.

The decision to postpone the meeting came after doctors revealed that they had considered letting the Pope die during his hospital stay.

Sergio Alfieri, the medical and surgical chief at the hospital, told Corriere della Sera: We had to choose whether to stop and let him go, or force the situation with all the possible medication and therapy, running a high risk of damage to his organs. In the end, we opted for the latter.

Doctors have recommended a period of convalescence of at least two months, and say the pontiff will remain in relative isolation at his Casa Santa Marta residence to reduce the chance of him catching an infection.

The King and Queen had been scheduled to make a one-day state visit to the Vatican on April 8 alongside the state visit to Italy.

They had been expected to attend an audience with the Pope as well as a special service in the Sistine Chapel, with the visit also being held to celebrate the Papal Jubilee.

The King was due to become the first monarch, and Supreme Governor of the Church of England, to visit the papal Basilica of St Pauls Outside the Walls since the Reformation.

Last week, a palace source revealed that the King had written to the Pope during his recent illness and shared hopes and prayers that his health would enable the meeting to go ahead.

The state visit to Italy is scheduled to begin on April 7 and continue on April 9  the royal couples 20th wedding anniversary  and April 10. In Rome, the King is scheduled to meet Giorgia Meloni, Italys prime minister, and Sergio Mattarella, the president.

The monarch will become the first British sovereign to address both houses of the Italian parliament, while the royal couple are also due to attend a black-tie state banquet at the Palazzo Quirinale, hosted by Mr Mattarella. It is thought that additional engagements may now be factored in on April 8.

The King and Pope Francis first met in 2017, when the then Prince and Duchess of Cornwall attended a papal audience at the Vatican at the end of a European tour. The monarch also met the pontiff in 2019 at the canonisation of Cardinal John Henry Newman.
Unwittingly Angela Eagle summed up life under the Tory-Labour uniparty  things started badly and now theyre getting worse - CHP/Parliament TV

I accidentally got added to the Coalition of the Willing WhatsApp group and now know our plan for an attack on Russia. Britain is supplying the drones, tanks, planes and guns. France will provide a dry white from the Languedoc region that pairs well with fish.

I am sick of these freeloaders, wrote Macron, meaning Trump and co. Keir, misunderstanding, said: Dont worry, Liz Kendalls going to cut their benefits. Nasty Liz replied to this with the emojis for thumbs up, naughty monkey and a stick of dynamite.

As Labour morphs into the meanest government since Dickens, rumours swirl that its also reviving the Rwanda plan for processing refugees offshore. A source told me this is untrue: Our plan is completely different  were sending them to Burundi.

The minister called to account for rising boat crossings, however, declined to confirm or deny the stories circulating in the press. Angela Eagle  a sigh in human form  twice told the House Im not going to comment on leaks, in marked contrast to Trump officials who deny things even as their own administration admits them. (Were starting to suspect that hunky moron Pete Hegseth is a double agent for the Deep State.)

Members took it in turn to say happy birthday to Jim Shannon, a DUP veteran genuinely loved by all. Jim sits close to James McMurdock, the silent MP for Reform, who normally isnt allowed into the Chamber unaccompanied but today was minus his responsible adult ... and talking to Rupert Lowe. Ooo!

The two chatted away in a friendly manner, oblivious to the journalists trying to lip-read their banter. I think I caught the words send the bangers back but cannot imagine what it means.

There is no excuse for illegal immigrants to cross the Channel, said Chris Philp, the Conservative shadow home secretary, for France is a manifestly safe country (doubtful: I hear its full of people smugglers).

Does Mr Philp have no compassion?, asked Tim Farron, noting that refugees have experienced horrors we can barely even imagine (ie life in France). Eagle fell back on the old saw that overloaded dinghies and crowded hotels began under the Tories  and it is getting worse! cried Philp, over and over again like the worst kid at the back of the class.

Unwittingly, Philp and Eagle summed up life under the Tory/Labour uniparty. Things started badly; now theyre getting worse. And thats before we hear from Rachel Reeves.

On the WhatsApp group for the Budget  to which my eight-year-old niece was accidentally added because, she too, is a fan of Taylor Swift  ministers scribbled desperate pleas to be spared the cuts.

Touch hospitals and Ill break yer legs, said the urbane Wes Streeting (admirably cruel, says the lobby: a guaranteed future leader). Wibble-wobble-black-bobble, typed Mad Ed, attaching a photo of a mongoose.

Angela Rayner piped up: Im worried how the welfare savings are going to hit the pockets of our core voters  specifically, her.

And, finally, the PM asked Rachel Reeves if she had anything to say about tomorrows Budget? Ill come if theres a free ticket, she replied.
A view of the River Thames from Gravesend, at the proposed Lower Thames Crossing site between Kent and Essex. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA

The transport secretary has given formal approval to the controversial and long-delayed 9bn Lower Thames Crossing, Britains biggest road-building project.

Heidi Alexander granted a development consent order on Tuesday morning to the new road tunnel under the Thames joining Essex and Kent, after the decision had been pushed back again last year by the new government.

The scheme has been officially backed but shrouded in uncertainty for more than a decade, and consultations and redesigns have already cost almost 1bn.

Business and logistic groups welcomed the decision but environmental campaigners said it would worsen pollution and congestion.

The project will comprise more than 14 miles of roads including the 2.6-mile crossing under the Thames near Thurrock, Essex. It is made up of two tunnels each carrying three lanes of traffic in one direction with a 70mph speed limit, linking the M25 to Channel port traffic.

The government hopes private finance will pay for some of the construction, with tolls expected to recoup some of the official 8.95bn baseline cost estimate at 2023 prices. Opponents believe the final price tag will be nearer 16bn.

A government source said: The Lower Thames Crossing will be a key strategic route for drivers, freight, and logistics  improving connectivity between the south and the Midlands, linking up our ports, and unlocking regional economic growth.

This demonstrates this governments commitment to delivering the vital infrastructure the country needs to succeed, and to be on the side of the builders, not the blockers.

The announcement comes on the eve of Rachel Reevess spring statement. The chancellor has made clear her quest for growth-boosting infrastructure projects  particularly those that can be funded outside the public purse, such as Heathrows third runway.

Proponents say the crossing is vital to take the strain off the congested and unreliable Dartford Crossing, which first opened in 1963 and handles the bulk of traffic east of London, including freight from the Channel ports. Dartfords original design capacity of 135,000 daily vehicle crossings has long been exceeded and traffic is persistently delayed at peak times, even without the frequent incidents of disruption or closures.

National Highways, the arms length government body that runs Englands motorways and main roads, will be responsible for building the Lower Thames Crossing. It claims the project will help the UK economy by 200m a year from easing congestion alone.

Matt Palmer, the National Highways executive director for the scheme, said: It will unlock growth with quicker, safer, and more reliable journeys and redraw the blueprint for building major projects in a net zero future by scaling up the use of low-carbon construction and leaving a legacy of green spaces, green skills.

Work will now continue to set out the preferred funding model, with the Treasury potentially still backing the project in full.

Related: Ministers approve 10bn Lower Thames Crossing, road tunnel linking Kent and Essex  UK politics live

Construction could start as early as 2026, with main works expected to take six to eight years, supporting up to 22,000 jobs, according to the Department for Transport (DfT)  subject to funding and any potential judicial review.

John Armitt, the chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, said the projects approval was excellent news and will be welcomed not only by local drivers and communities but also by businesses across the country which depend upon reliable access to Europe, but are often frustrated by delays at the Dartford tunnel.

The Logistics UK chief executive, David Wells, said: Industry is united in its backing for this vital trade route [which] when completed will unlock UK logistics, drive growth and help keep supply chains moving across the whole country.

But campaigners who have already successfully challenged road-building schemes called the decision desperate.

The Transport Action Network director, Chris Todd, said: This is absolute madness. Its a desperate decision to distract from the likely bad news in the chancellors spring statement tomorrow.

Rather than boosting growth, this will clog up roads in the south-east and slow the economy down even more.

Ben Plowden, the chief executive of Campaign for Better Transport, expressed disappointment, adding: We know building new roads increases carbon emissions and fails to relieve congestion, and the Lower Thames Crossing will be no exception. We fully accept the need to meet the transport challenges of south-east England, particularly cross-river connectivity, but an expensive road tunnel is not the way to do it.

The Green party MP Sian Berry described it as a gargantuan waste of money, adding: How many years before a multibillion-pound relief road is suggested to cut congestion on the Lower Thames Crossing by those who want this scheme?

Proposals for another Thames crossing east of Dartford were first laid out in 2009 by the DfT, and the preferred route of the roads and tunnel was announced by the Conservative government in 2017.
The trailer for the Duchess of Sussexs new podcast has been released, with Meghan promising girl talk and advice on how to create billion-dollar businesses.

Confessions Of A Female Founder launches next Tuesday, and is the latest in Meghans flurry of output after her much-criticised Netflix lifestyle series With Love, Meghan and her new brand As Ever.

She tells one guest in the one minute 57 second trailer to think of the experience as being in a dolphin tank rather than a shark tank, asks another whether she is single now, talks about the laser focus needed in business, and finishes her voiceover with: Lets do this, ladies.

Meghans podcast is part of a deal signed last year with Lemonada Media.

The duchesss Archetypes series about female stereotypes in 2022 ran for just one series, and was part of the Sussexes previous multi-million-pound deal with Spotify, which ended the year after.

Against an upbeat soundtrack of Crabbuckit by the Canadian hip hop artist k-os, the snippet begins with Meghan saying: Im Meghan, and this is Confessions Of A Female Founder, a show where I chat with female entrepreneurs and friends about the sleepless nights, the lessons learned and the laser focus that got them to where they are today.

In between excerpts of guests speaking, Meghan says in a voiceover: Were diving into the highs and the lows and the kind of advice that turns small ideas into billion-dollar businesses and of course, were gonna get some girl talk.

Meghan tells one guest: Are you saying youre not single now? Have I missed something in the past couple weeks?

The podcast will also follow Meghans work on her As Ever brand which is soon to begin selling jam, herbal teas, flower sprinkles and ready-make crepe mix.

The former Suits actress adds in her voiceover: And through it all, Im building a business of my own and getting all sorts of practical advice along the way that Im very excited to share with you.

So join me for Confessions Of A Female Founder from Lemonada Media, which, by the way, is also female founded, launching April 8, wherever you get your podcasts. Lets do this, ladies.

At the end of the trailer, Meghan can be heard telling a guest: This is not Shark Tank. Think of this as dolphin tank. Yes, these are very friendly. These are very friendly waters. Its all gonna be good.

It comes just hours after Meghan shared a ShopMy collection of clothing and accessories on Instagram, with a disclaimer that she would receive a sales commission on some products purchased through the links.

The assortment of neutral shirts, trousers, dresses, handbags and sunglasses is described as a handpicked and curated collection of the things I love.

It includes a gold Maya Brenner Happiness Retreat citrine stone necklace, made in collaboration with Meghans former Suits co-star Abigail Spencer, for 383, and a Heidi Merricks ivory silk Windsor gown for 1,072.

Meghan also posted a rare photograph of herself with her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, with their faces away from the camera, on her own account and that of her As Ever brand.

Guests in the trailer talk about the ups and downs of their businesses, with one telling how the numbers began climbing and climbing on their website, with Meghan laughing along with her interviewee.

Another says Ive pissed off everybody. Im broke, and no-ones calling me, to which Meghan responds Oh no.

A third unnamed guests tells the duchess: I knew in that moment that Id rather stand for something than sell a whole ton of product and stand for nothing. You have to detach from the outcome.
The number of people detected trying to illegally pass UK border controls in northern France has fallen substantially but the threat remains high and unrelenting, the UKs borders inspector has said.

An inspection of Border Forces work to deter and detect clandestine entry at the UK-France border found that resources were stretched and officers security operations were closely monitored by smuggling gangs ready to exploit any weaknesses.

Immigration and borders watchdog David Bolt said it was vital for Border Force to invest in staff, detection equipment and IT systems to counter organised facilitations and opportunistic jump-ups.

According to the new report, more work also needs to be done to understand why some migrants enter covertly at the UKs juxtaposed controls compared to crossing the Channel by boat.

More work needs to be done to understand why some migrants enter covertly at the border controls compared to crossing by boat (Gareth Fuller/PA)

The UKs juxtaposed controls, where Border Force identifies people to be refused entry to the country before they leave French territory, are located in Calais, Coquelles and Dunkerque.

The inspection report said in 2016, there were more than 56,000 people detected entering covertly compared to around 5,000 in 2024.

It added that many argue the reason small boat crossings began in the English Channel is because of UK government efforts to boost physical security at the juxtaposed ports up to 2020, when curbing crossings became the focus.

The independent chief inspector of borders and immigration, Mr Bolt, said: The relationship between small boats and clandestine entry through the juxtaposed ports is not well understood.

This needs more attention, not least to get ahead of any displacement effect if new measures to reduce small boat crossings begin to work.

The watchdog added inspectors found there was no clear or compelling evidence of a direct relationship between the two methods of entering the UK, but added: It is likely that a permanent reduction in small boat crossings would have some displacement effect, including to other European ports with ferry links to the UK.

The inspection report, first shared with the Home Secretary in February, was published on Tuesday following a new record number of migrants arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel for the first three months of the year.

Nearly 6,000 people have arrived as of Monday, according to latest Home Office figures.

This is higher than the 5,435 migrants who arrived across January, February and March in 2024  at the time, a record for the first quarter of a calendar year.

It is also well above the 3,793 arrivals in the first three months of 2023 and the 4,548 in the equivalent period in 2022.

Looking at why some migrants choose clandestine entry over small boat crossings, inspectors said cost was relevant, with small boat prices appearing to have no set price.

But the report added: More work is clearly needed to try to plug this knowledge gap.

However, it is reasonable to assume that a key point of difference is the intention of the vast majority of those arriving by small boat to claim asylum at the first opportunity, which over 90% have done, whereas a proportion of clandestine entrants hope to remain undetected in the UK for as long as possible.

Among the seven recommendations, it called for the Home Office to designate ownership of clandestine entries so that improvements can be made and maintained.

It added at the time of writing the report there was no senior leader with overall responsibility for tackling clandestine entry despite it being categorised as the highest priority in Border Force documents.

The Home Office has said the newly formed Border Security Command tasked with tackling organised immigration crime will support the role.

A Home Office spokesperson said: The Home Office acknowledges the need for a co-ordinated approach to tackling the clandestine threat.

The newly established Border Security Command (BSC) will deliver a major overhaul and upgrade in law enforcement marking a significant step forward in the fight against illegal migration and criminal smuggling gangs.

Elsewhere, inspectors raised concerns about fairness over the scheme in place which fines drivers up to 10,000 if a stowaway is found in their vehicle.

The report said most of the problems with the Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme (CECPS) were caused by being under-resourced in terms of staff and systems.

Some drivers who reported people in their vehicles, for example, reported it to Border Force and still got fined, despite managers and policy staff agreeing they should not be.

But the report added: The work required to codify the relevant guidance had not progressed due to a lack of resources.

Inspectors recommended that the Home Office seek regular feedback on the scheme from industry stakeholders and to publish an annual report into how it is working, which the department partially accepted.

A Home Office spokesperson added: Work is already underway to modernise the way the Home Office manages the civil penalty system and since the inspection, the Integrated Platform Management (IPM) system, referenced in the report, was successfully launched in February 2025, updating working practices and driving efficiencies and improvements.
Hotel CCTV of Alshamsi - CHP/Brighton Pictures

A man who flew to Britain from Dubai to have sex with a 13-year-old girl he groomed online was relaxing in a hotel spa and wellness centre when he was arrested by police.

Hamdan Alshamsi, 21, a university student from Abu Dhabi, met the vulnerable schoolgirl on the social media site Snapchat and bombarded her with messages for months.

When she agreed to meet him, he flew to the UK and checked into a four-star seafront hotel in Brighton.

The paedophile then booked an Uber taxi to bring the girl to the hotel where he spent two days sexually assaulting her in his room.

Police who traced the victim to the hotel using her mobile phone, discovered Alshamsi enjoying spa treatments in the wellness centre.

Police mugshot of Hamdan Alshamsi - CHP/Brighton Pictures

He was sentenced to six years in prison on Tuesday after admitting three charges of engaging in sexual activity with a child.

The girls distraught parents said Alshamsi had destroyed their daughters innocence and had left her with severe psychological damage for which she requires ongoing counselling.

Her mother said: He has taken away our little girl. He took away the virginity of a girl who should be learning about sex education at school and not having sex with a grown adult.

She was honest with him and told him her age. He knew what he was doing, what he was coming over here for.

Lewes Crown Court heard how Alshamsi first made contact with the Year 9 pupil on Snapchat last year, telling her he was just 16.

Bombarding her with sexually explicit messages, he offered to travel to the UK so they could meet up.

On Christmas Eve last year Alshamsi flew from his home in Abu Dhabi to Britain and on Dec 27 checked into a 250 a night room at the Hilton Brighton Metropole.

He then booked an Uber to collect the girl from her home and drop her off at the hotel, where he spent two days sexually abusing her.

Police launched an urgent hunt for the teenager and using a signal from her mobile phone were able to pinpoint her location to Brighton.

Detectives spent hours scouring the coastline around the city before narrowing the search down to the hotel.

She was eventually located in a hotel corridor where she told police she just wanted to be with her mother.

A subsequent search of Alshamsis room found condoms, a whipped cream canister, lubricant and vodka he had purchased.

He was tracked down to the hotel spa, where he was relaxing and enjoying luxury treatments.

Victim on suicide watch

The victims family said the girl was so traumatised by what had happened she was now on constant suicide watch and was not allowed to go anywhere by herself.

Her mother told Lewes Crown Court: I am worried she is going to be a volcano and explode in some way. She wants life to be normal but he has taken away our little girl. She has been to a doctor and is on suicide watch.

He knew what he was doing coming over here. He got her to leave home alone.

Will Saunders, prosecuting, said Alshamsi had shown clear grooming behaviour and planned his trip in detail.

He said the grooming and planning was all done with sex in mind.

In mitigation Daniel Darnbrough, defending, said Alshamsi had brought shame on his respectable family and his four sisters were disgusted by his behaviour.

Sentencing him, Judge Mark van der Zwart, said: From your home you used social media to groom and lure a 13-year-old girl from the safety of her parents and siblings. She was just a child, you were anything but. This was appallingly predatory behaviour.

Judge Mark van der Zwart also sentenced him to a sexual harm prevention order and said he would be deported when he is freed.

Speaking after the case Det Insp Sean Booth, from the Safeguarding Investigations Unit, said: This was a distressing case which showed the lengths Alshamsi was prepared to go to engage in sexual activity with a young teenage girl. She was vulnerable, and he exploited her trust.

I would also like to praise the professionalism of our officers from Brighton Response and our Neighbourhood Policing Team who completed an extended search of the seafront and a meticulous search inside the hotel which ensured the victim was brought safely back to her family, and that Alshamsi was arrested swiftly.

Thanks to this work, Alshamsi had no choice but to plead guilty to the offences when presented with the evidence from our investigation.

He said the victim and her family had shown considerable bravery throughout the investigation and she had received one-to-one support from specially-trained officers.

He said: We continue to encourage anyone who has been the victim of child sexual exploitation and sexual offences to come forward and report their experience to us.
More than 1,300 flights were cancelled on Friday following the substation fire that shut Heathrow - Neil Hall/Shutterstock

Heathrow bosses feared that their net zero plans could threaten the stability of the airports power supply, according to a briefing to MPs two years ago.

Nigel Milton, the airports then chief of staff and carbon, warned that its demand for power was likely to double over the next decade as part of a shift to green energy, with all its vehicles due to become electric.

He told MPs on the environmental audit committee that there could be some challenges with the capability of the current electricity transmission and distribution system to deliver net zero.

Mr Miltons comments have attracted new attention after the airport shut down for almost 24 hours on Friday following a fire at an electricity substation, forcing the cancellation of more than 1,300 flights.

The airport had been warned a decade ago that it was overly reliant on very few sources of power to keep it fully functioning.

In June 2023, Mr Milton told MPs that net zero would add to those difficulties as the airport moved towards all-electric ground operations and the use of electricity to liquefy hydrogen to power the next generation of aircraft.

He suggested Heathrow feared its ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, as part of the UKs decarbonisation strategy, could be undermined by the grids ability to provide the power needed.

Credit: X/ @Zain_018

In written evidence to the committee, he said: The key concern for Heathrow, and many large energy consumers across the UK, is securing enough renewable electricity in a timely manner to deliver net zero and maintaining a reliable and resilient supply.

In west London, we are aware there is little spare capacity available ... there is risk that solutions wont arrive quickly enough. Appropriate action is required now to prevent these constraints slowing progress on decarbonisation.

Mr Milton said the airports transition from fossil fuels would require a UK electricity transmission and distribution system that has the capacity and resilience to cope with the significant increase in electrical demand that will be created across west London.

However, he warned that this was not happening quickly enough to provide key parts of the economy, such as aviation, with the net zero energy it would require in years to come.

Mr Milton added: Across the economy, there are concerns that proposed changes to the electricity transmission and distribution network and broader electricity system are not moving at the pace required to provide for future net zero energy requirements.

This is problematic for Heathrow airport, and the aviation sector, given our net zero transition will require a significant increase in electricity demand as outlined above.

Anti-net zero campaigners said the warnings highlighted a wider issue with grave consequences for Britain.

Lord Mackinlay, a member of the Net Zero Scrutiny Group of backbench Conservative MPs, told The Telegraph: Red warning lights are flashing across the dashboard of the countrys energy supply. Heathrow itself had raised concerns about the dash to net zero and energy constancy two years ago.

The situation has diminished still further, with Ed Miliband (the Energy Secretary) going even further and faster with expensive intermittent renewables knowing the shutdown of aged nuclear plants is almost upon us while ramping up electricity demand through EVs (electric vehicles) and heat pumps.

The system will break and high-energy industry will accelerate its relocation abroad for cheaper energy.

Richard Tice, the Reform UK MP, added: This is more proof that Heathrow were grossly negligent. They knew they were over-reliant on the National Grid, yet did nothing about it.

Heathrows job is to provide backup resilience regardless of government policy. Instead, they embraced it with a 74-page net zero statement which is longer than their resilience statements.

Fallout over the closure of Heathrow has continued, with airlines threatening the airport with legal action over the costs they incurred.

Nigel Wicking, the chief executive of the Heathrow Airline Operators Committee, which represents more than 90 airlines, said firms could go to court if they do not get enough money back.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has refused to back Thomas Woldbye, the chief executive of the airport. Asked on Monday whether Sir Keir Starmer had full confidence in the Heathrow boss, his spokesman said: I dont think its for the Prime Minister to offer confidence in CEOs of private organisations.

On Sunday, the head of the National Grid said the airport had enough power to avoid shutting down.

SSE, the energy company, has also added to pressure on Heathrow after confirming that key electricity supplies to the airport continued uninterrupted last week despite the fire that wiped out the North Hyde substation.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police said on Tuesday afternoon it had found no evidence to suggest that the fire had been started deliberately. Scotland Yards Counter-Terrorism Command has ruled out any possibility that the blaze was suspicious and is no longer treating it as a potentially criminal matter.

Mr Woldbye is due to give evidence to a one-off session of the transport select committee on April 2. Heathrow was approached for comment.

Airport industry sources said that like other businesses, and the UK as a whole, Heathrow would need more electricity to decarbonise and deliver net zero. They added that the growth in electricity is related to both energy transition and general business growth and development.
Dr Alex Allinson introduced the Bill in 2022 and said he was hopeful that it would become law later this year - PA

The Isle of Man is set to become the first place in the British Isles to legalise assisted dying.

Terminally ill people on the island will be able to request assistance to end their lives after members of its parliaments upper chamber approved a final reading of an Assisted Dying Bill.

The Bill will now be put forward for royal assent, at which point it will become law.

Dr Alex Allinson, the member of the House of Keys who introduced the private members Bill in 2022, said he was hopeful that it would become law later this year, and that an assisted dying service could be in place by 2027.

Campaigners against the Bill have voiced concerns that legalising assisted dying could put pressure on vulnerable people to end their lives for fear of being a burden on others. They have also argued that the disabled, elderly, sick or depressed could be especially at risk.

But Dr Allinson said the Bill had been drafted through a very careful process, with expert evidence taken into account throughout.

He added that the implementation of the law will involve more consultation, more guidelines, more safeguards and more parliamentary debates in terms of the underlying regulations and secondary legislation.

Dignity and autonomy

As it stands, the Isle of Man Bill is only for adults resident on the island for five years who have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of no more than 12 months, and who have a settled intention to end their life.

Doctors are free to choose whether they want to opt in to providing the service following a previous request from the British Medical Association that this should be a choice.

Dr Allinson told the PA news agency: It has been a long process, but it was something that, when I went into politics, I was committed to try to advance.

Im very grateful to be in the privileged position of being able to bring this legislation through. People have been trying on the Isle of Man for the last 20 years to provide dignity and autonomy for those who are facing an imminent death.

This is legislation probably that will only be used by a very small number of people, but for those people its a very important step forward in terms of autonomy and choice at the end of your life.

Sad day for islanders

Vicky Christian, the chairman of My Death, My Decision Isle of Man, described it as a historic day, but Dr Gordon Macdonald, the chief executive of Care Not Killing, called it a very sad day for islanders.

James Mildred, of Christian Action Research and Education, which is opposed to assisted dying, said: This deeply sad step turns the Isle of Mans long-standing approach to suicide on its head. Under this legislation, the equal value of every citizen living on the island will no longer be affirmed.

He added that the cultural change assisted suicide engenders is a negative one.

Meanwhile, a committee of MPs at Westminster is on its final day of scrutinising a Bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales.

Amendments to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, including expert panels to provide a final sign-off on applications after High Court judge scrutiny was dropped from the proposed legislation, are being considered.

The Bill is expected to return to the House of Commons in mid-May for further debate and another vote by all MPs.

Jerseys parliament is expected to debate a draft law for an assisted dying service for terminally ill people on the island later this year. With a likely 18-month implementation period if a law is approved, the earliest it could come into effect would be summer 2027.

Separately, a vote is expected on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill at Holyrood in the coming weeks.
File image of a Home Office immigration reporting centre in Croydon, London

An asylum seeker with a prominent Adams apple lied to get into the UK by claiming he was a child.

The Iranian, who is now 20, was found by an immigration tribunal to have attempted to deceive authorities by saying he was under 18 when he entered Britain in October 2022.

He claimed he was born in May 2005, making him 17 at the time of entry.

However, an investigation found that the 5ft 8in-tall migrant had the physical characteristics of an older male with a deep voice, fully formed jawline, well-developed bone structure and large ears.

Social workers from Liverpool city council assessed him as being over 18 and estimated that he was born in May 1999.

However, with the support of the British Red Cross, the unnamed man was able to mount a legal challenge.

At an Immigration and Asylum tribunal, Helene Santamera, a project co-ordinator for the charity, said she believed the Iranian was a teenage boy partly because after his arrival he had been gifted a teddy bear that he held and cuddled.

She said he was also visibly more comfortable around children than with adults.

Upper Tribunal Judge Clive Lane ruled he was born in May 2004 and aged 18 when he entered the UK, and that he had chosen to conceal his true age to strengthen his asylum claim.

He ordered the man to pay the councils legal bills of 16,442.

After the British Red Cross offered him support, the council remained steadfast and insisted it would not conduct a new age assessment.

The Iranian was granted permission for a Judicial Review but the case first went before an Immigration and Asylum Chamber.

Migrant tried to make himself look smaller

The tribunal was told he was currently provided with support and accommodation by the Home Office and had been living in hotels.

The councils initial assessment found: [He] presented as approx. 5 feet 8 inches tall with a well-developed bone structure and of medium build. [He] has a fully formed jaw line, prominent Adams apple, large ears and facial features of an adult and appears significantly older than his claimed age.

[He] has the physical characteristics of an older male such as a deep voice. His demeanour was of someone who is not assertive and there was a time during the assessment that he cried and we again offered him an opportunity to take a break but he declined this.

He consistently had a poor posture when sitting [and] talking to us and we took your health condition into consideration, however, he looked as if he was trying to make himself look smaller than he actually is. He told us that he has a condition called Alopecia and this was why he was embarrassed to take off his cap.

At the tribunal, the Iranian argued he did not have any documentation to prove his age.

He said he knew his date of birth was in May 2005 because his uncle used to tell him that his grandfather passed away on the day he was born, and he had seen the date on his grave.

The man said he had never been to school and told the Home Office he worked as a smuggler for about two years from the age of 16. The Iranian argued that UK authorities attached excessive weight to the issue of his age.

Not an impressive witness

Ms Santamera told the tribunal: From my observations of [the Iranian], he is much more comfortable and relaxed with the children that have had their age accepted than he is with the adults...

At a Christmas party during a Friday drop-in, [he] had gratefully received teenage boy appropriate presents and had asked if he could have a teddy bear which he held and cuddled...

I have no reason to doubt the age that [he] has given.

However, Judge Lane said he did not believe some of the Iranians arguments.

He said: I did not find the applicant himself to be an impressive witness...

I was not satisfied that he gave truthful evidence to the tribunal. In the light of all the evidence, I find that the story about the grandfather is a convenient fiction which the applicant ... has memorised to enable to explain why he can recall his false date of birth. It has every characteristic of a learnt response.

The judge added: I find as a fact that [he] is aware of his true date of birth, that the date is not what he now claims it [to] be and that he has sought to deceive the United Kingdom authorities as to his true age.
Admiral Vladimirskiy being escorted by minehunter HMS Cattistock (Foreground) - MoD/Crown Copyright/PA Wire/Edward Jones

The Royal Navy has tracked three suspicious Russian spy ships in the English Channel.

On Wednesday, a minehunter and helicopter were deployed to escort the Admiral Vladimirskiy, a Russian survey ship, as it travelled along the south coast.

The ship, built in Poland in the 1970s, once served the Soviet Union and is now suspected of being part of the Kremlins shadow fleet of spy ships, fitted with monitoring equipment.

HMS Cattistock, which detects and destroys mines, worked closely with the Wildcat, a multi-role helicopter that operates from Royal Navy boats, to keep a constant watch through busy shipping lanes.

RFN Alexander Otrakovsky, a Russian landing ship, and MV Ascalon, a Russian merchant vessel, were later also escorted through the Channel and North Sea.

The two Russian ships had recently left the Mediterranean and were sailing towards the Baltic Sea when they were escorted by the British Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset and RFA Tidesurge, a fleet tanker.

Russian landing ship RFN Alexander Otrakovsky in the English Channel - MoD/Crown Copyright/PA Wire

The operations were revealed by the Royal Navy a week after its warships and helicopters tracked a Russian task group returning from Syria as it passed through British waters.

The same group, including the minehunter, the helicopter, the Type 23 Frigate and the tanker, were used to monitor and report every move of four Russian vessels as they passed through the English Channel and the North Sea.

It was the third time in six weeks that the Royal Navy had shadowed Russian task groups returning from Syria.

Lieutenant Commander Rob Garner, HMS Cattistocks commanding officer, said: Cattistock has escorted a number of Russian warships and government-owned vessels through UK waters in recent weeks and months, demonstrating the Royal Navys operational readiness and steadfast commitment to UK security at sea.

I am extremely proud of my ships companys professionalism and determination to get the job done as we continue to work closely with other Royal Navy ships and aircraft, the RAF P8 force and fellow Nato navies.

The Royal Navy said HMS Somerset had been activated three times to monitor Russian convoys returning from the Mediterranean in the past month.

Commander Joel Roberts said: Somerset has been frequently activated to conduct this type of operation given the tempo of Russian activity around the United Kingdoms territorial and sensitive waters.

He added that the Royal Navy offers deterrence, persistence, flexibility and can deliver or facilitate a range of military and diplomatic options.
Rachel Reeves, whose remit includes a VAT raid on private schools. Now a venerable institution in her constituency of Pudsey has announced plans to close this summer - Paul Grover

A long-established private school in Rachel Reevess constituency has announced plans to close this summer because of serious financial difficulties.

Fulneck School, founded more than 250 years ago in Pudsey, West Yorkshire, said it had made the difficult decision to shut ahead of a legal battle over the Governments VAT raid on private schools.

The co-educational boarding school was established in 1753 and its notable alumni include Herbert Asquith, the First World War prime minister, and actress Diana Rigg.

In a statement on its website, Fulneck announced that it was with deep sadness that it will close on July 8 this year.

Fulneck boarding school, which was established in 1753, has announced plans to shut - APS/Alamy

While it did not directly make reference to recent government policies affecting private schools, the school said a drop in pupil numbers has been combined with a rise in costs beyond our control, which has made the school financially unviable.

It comes after private schools were hit with 20 per cent VAT on their fees for the first time on Jan 1 this year.

Around a dozen schools have directly blamed the tax raid for forcing them to close since the policy was first seriously touted by Labour in October 2023.

Fulneck School said in a statement: Despite the dedicated efforts of the school and the Fulneck trustees to sustain pupil numbers, a continued decline in enrolment, combined with rising operational costs, has made it increasingly challenging to maintain financial viability.

Following a comprehensive strategic review and the exploration of all possible alternatives, the trustees have made the difficult decision to plan for the schools closure.

We understand that this announcement will be distressing for our pupils, parents, staff and the wider school community.

Pupil numbers at the school for three- to 18-year-olds have fallen from 366 in 2017 to 295 at the latest inspection last year.

The private day and boarding school has also racked up significant operating losses over the past few years despite more than 1.5 million in capital funding provided since 2020 by the Moravian Church, its parent company.

The school, which charges up to 40,095 a year for senior boarders, made an operating loss of almost 271,500 in 2022-23 and of nearly 410,000 the year before, according to its latest financial accounts.

A spokesman for the school said it was committed to ensuring that the school year finishes as planned, with all teaching continuing until the end of the school year and pupils completing public and internal examinations as intended.

We are also committed to ensure a smooth transition for all affected and will offer support to our pupils, parents and staff throughout this process, they added.

Most of the schools that have collapsed to date and blamed VAT had amassed serious financial losses or suffered from dwindling pupil rolls over the past years, making them vulnerable to political changes.

However, the sector is bracing for potential further closures when the latest phase of the Governments tax raid comes into force next month.

Herbert Asquith, who attended Fulneck, was the Liberal prime minister from 1908 to 1916 - PA

Diana Rigg, seen during filming of The Avengers in 1964, was a Fulneck pupil - Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty

More than 1,000 private schools in England with charitable status are set to lose their 80 per cent business rates relief from April 1.

The private school sector has also pointed to looming business cost rises after the Chancellor, who is the MP for Leeds West and Pudsey, announced last year that employers National Insurance contributions will increase from April 6.

Ms Reeves, who is gearing up for her Spring Statement on Wednesday, faces a legal battle over the Governments tax raid on private schools, with a judicial review hearing scheduled to take place next week between April 1 and 3.

The Independent Schools Council, which represents more than 1,400 private schools across the UK, will argue that the policy is discriminatory towards certain pupils.

Even if successful, the legal challenge will not be able to halt the VAT policy in its tracks or reverse it.

However, victory in the High Court would rubber-stamp private schools concerns that the policy is unfair and could apply pressure on ministers to grant further exemptions.

At the same time, the Government is expected to face a back-and-forth in Parliament over its plans to strip private schools of their business rates relief after the House of Lords voted against the move last week.

Peers voted by 232 votes to 141 to back a Conservative amendment that axed this key clause from the Non-Domestic (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill.

The Government has insisted that around 50 mainstream private schools in England shut in a typical year, alongside smaller specialist schools and others across the UK.

The Treasury hopes the tax policy, plus plans to remove business rates relief, will raise more than 1.8 billion each year by the end of the decade.

Labour has pledged to spend the money on measures to improve standards in state schools, including by recruiting 6,500 new teachers by the end of this Parliament.

A government spokesman said: Ending tax breaks for private schools will raise 1.8 billion a year by 2029-30 to help fund public services, including supporting the 94 per cent of children in state schools to achieve and thrive.

On average, around 50 mainstream private schools typically close each year due to a range of reasons, including financial struggles and falling pupil enrolments. Fulneck School has been clear they have had a sustained decline in pupil numbers since 2012.

Local authorities and schools commonly support children and parents in these circumstances, we are confident in local state schools ability to accommodate new pupils.
The main thing you should do to protect your genetic privacy: delete your account. Photograph: M4OS Photos/Alamy

Welcome to Opt Out, a semi-regular column in which we help you navigate your online privacy and show you how to say no to surveillance. The last column covered how to stop tech companies spying on your phone as Trump promises mass deportations.

The DNA testing company 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy after months of concern over its financial health and its ability to keep users genetic information secure. In light of the uncertainty looming over the companys future, you should do one thing to protect your privacy today: delete your 23andMe account.

If you have used the service to discover your ancestry via your DNA, the extremely sensitive information you shared with 23andMe may transfer to the companys eventual buyer. While 23andMe has a host of privacy controls that now allows users opt out of sharing their data with scientific researchers or requires the company delete their samples, that could change under a new owner.

Related: DNA testing firm 23andMe files for bankruptcy as CEO steps down

Generally, privacy and civil liberties experts do not recommend using ancestry and DNA testing services. There are few federal privacy regulations that limit how companies can use your information in the US  even your genetic data. How a private company maintains, stores and shares your data is left up to the whims of the people running it. Privacy policies change often and so do executive suites. Not only is your data vulnerable to hacks, it can also be used for various commercial products and shared with law enforcement.

23andMe has insisted that any new owner would have to comply with existing laws around the sale and use of consumer genetic data, but the reality in the US is that only a handful of states legally protect this type of personal information. In California, where this kind of privacy protection does exist, the attorney general, Rob Bonta, has issued an urgent consumer alert encouraging Californians to delete their 23andMe data.

California has robust privacy laws that allow consumers to take control and request that a company delete their genetic data, said Bonta. Given 23andMes reported financial distress, I remind Californians to consider invoking their rights and directing 23andMe to delete their data and destroy any samples of genetic material held by the company.

Theres good reason for concern. 23andMe suffered a massive hack affecting some 7 million users in 2023. The hackers first revealed they gained access to the information when they attempted to sell what they claimed was the data of 1 million users of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and 100,000 users of Chinese descent on a popular hacking forum. In addition to a class-action lawsuit alleging the company failed to notify users of the data breach in a timely manner, the company said it was facing more than 50 other lawsuits in the wake of the hack. Its problems are international, too: the UK information commissioners office issued a notice of intent to fine the company 4.59m earlier this month.

If you are one of 15 mllion people who have already handed over your DNA to 23andMe, what can you do to protect your data?

Related: Why I regret using 23andMe: I gave up my DNA just to find out Im British

How to delete your 23andMe account

The main thing you should do to protect your genetic privacy: delete your account.

Theres a big caveat: the company says it will have to retain some information in its archives even if you delete your account. 23andMe and/or our contracted genotyping laboratory will retain your Genetic Information, date of birth, and sex as required for compliance with applicable legal obligations  even if you chose to delete your account, the companys privacy policy reads.

If youre reading this and you are trying to decide if you want to do a DNA test with one of these private companies, take the above caveat as a big reason not to. Its possible, depending on what state youre in, your data will never be completely erased.

That said, it is still worth making the effort to delete your account and all the data in it. Heres how you do it: Log in, go to settings, and scroll to 23andMe Data. Click view and then scroll to delete data. Click permanently delete data. You will receive an email from the company to confirm your request. (Check your spam folder.) If you dont confirm it via the link provided to you in the email, it will not complete your request.

The company says that, once your account is deleted, you will automatically opt you out of Research and discard your sample.

If you dont delete your account, opt out of sharing your data

If you want to keep your 23andMe account, the next best thing is have the company discard your sample, stop sharing your information and remove you from any future research studies. You can also do this from your settings.

To stop sharing any reports resulting from your DNA test, scroll down to Privacy/Sharing and click edit. From there you should be able to adjust the sharing settings on your reports.

Related: Opt out: how to stop tech companies spying on your phone as Trump promises mass deportations

To ask the company to discard your DNA sample, go back to your settings and scroll down to preferences, click edit and opt out of sharing your sample with the company. The company will discard your sample.

To stop the company from sharing your DNA with future research projects, go back to settings, scroll down to research and product consents and edit the permissions.

These changes are not retroactive. Withdrawing consent to use your DNA in studies will only stop your data from being used in new research and can take up to 30 days.

If you have any specific questions about your account information, you can also email privacy@23andme.com.
Hamdan Ballal is released from a police station in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba. Photograph: Leo Correa/AP

An Oscar-winning Palestinian director who was attacked by Jewish settlers and detained by Israeli forces has been released from detention.

Hamdan Ballal and two other Palestinians left a police station in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba, where they were being held on Tuesday. Ballal had bruises on his face and blood on his clothes.

The three had spent the night on the floor of a military base while suffering from serious injuries sustained in the attack, according to Ballals lawyer, Lea Tsemel.

Ballal told reporters that the settlers beat him in front of his home and filmed the assault. He said he was held at an army base, blindfolded, for 24 hours and forced to sleep under a freezing air conditioner.

All my body is pain, he told the Associated Press. I heard the voices of the soldiers, they were laughing about me  I heard Oscar but I didnt speak Hebrew.

Tsemel, representing the three men, said they received only minimal care for their injuries from the attack and said she had no access to them for several hours after their arrest.

Earlier this month Ballal and the other directors of No Other Land, which looks at the struggles of living under Israeli occupation, appeared on stage at the 97th Academy Awards in Los Angeles to accept the award for best documentary film.

Tsemel said Ballal and the other detained people had been accused of throwing stones at a young settler. They deny the allegations.

All three Palestinians were driven to a hospital in the city of Hebron.

The films co-director Yuval Abraham posted on X: After the assault, Hamdan was handcuffed and blindfolded all night in an army base while two soldiers beat him up on the floor, his lawyer Leah Tsemel said after speaking with him just now.

Related: Like a punishment: witnesses describe Israeli settler attack on No Other Land director

Palestinian residents said about two dozen settlers  some masked, some carrying guns and some in military uniforms  attacked the West Bank village of Susya on Monday evening as residents were breaking their Ramadan fast.

Soldiers who arrived pointed their guns at the Palestinians, while settlers continued throwing stones, they said.

The Israeli military said on Monday it had detained three Palestinians suspected of hurling rocks at forces and one Israeli civilian involved in a violent confrontation. On Tuesday, it referred further queries to police, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lamia Ballal, the directors wife, said she heard her husband being beaten outside their home as she huddled inside with their three children. She heard him screaming, Im dying! and calling for an ambulance. When she looked out the window, she saw three men in uniform beating Ballal with the butts of their rifles and another person in civilian clothes who appeared to be filming the violence.

Of course, after the Oscar, they have come to attack us more, Lamia said. I felt afraid.

West Bank settlers are often armed and sometimes wear military-style clothing that makes it difficult to distinguish them from soldiers.

On Tuesday, a small bloodstain could be seen outside their home, and the cars windshield and windows were shattered. Neighbours pointed to a nearby water tank with a hole in the side that they said had been damaged by the settlers.

Witnesses and residents in Susya said one of the settlers who took part in the attack, from the outpost Ancient Susya, has participated since 7 October in dozens of events in which Palestinians were attacked, expelled from their land, or had their property damaged. In many of these events, he was also documented wearing military uniform or accompanied by others in uniform.

Abraham posted a video on X showing one of the masked settlers throwing a stone at what appeared to be a CCTV camera. He wrote: The group of armed KKK-like masked settlers that lynched No Other Land director Hamdan Ballal caught here on camera.

He added: Hamdan Ballal is now free and is about to go home to his family.

No Other Land, which won the Oscar this year for best documentary, chronicles the struggle by residents of the Masafer Yatta area to stop the Israeli military from demolishing their villages.

The joint Israeli-Palestinian production has won a string of international awards, starting at the Berlin International film festival in 2024. It has also drawn ire in Israel and abroad. Miami Beach in Florida proposed ending the lease of a movie theatre that screened it.

Basel Adra, another of the films co-directors who is a prominent Palestinian activist in the area, said there had been a massive increase in attacks by settlers and Israeli forces since the Oscar win.

Nobody can do anything to stop the pogroms, and soldiers are only there to facilitate and help the attacks, he said. Were living in dark days here, in Gaza, and all of the West Bank  Nobodys stopping this.

Masked settlers with sticks also attacked Jewish activists in the area on Monday, smashing their car windows and slashing tyres, according to Josh Kimelman, an activist with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence. Video provided by the group showed a masked settler shoving and swinging his fists at two activists in a dusty field at night.

Israel captured the West Bank in the six-day war in 1967 , along with the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. The Palestinians want all three for their future state and view settlement growth as a major obstacle to a two-state solution. Most of the international community considers the settlements illegal.

Israel has built well over 100 settlements, home to more than 500,000 settlers who have Israeli citizenship. The 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank live under seemingly open-ended Israeli military rule, with the western-backed Palestinian Authority administering population centres.

The Israeli military designated Masafer Yatta in the southern West Bank as a live-fire training zone in the 1980s and ordered residents, mostly Arab Bedouin, to be expelled. About 1,000 residents have largely remained in place, but soldiers regularly move in to demolish homes, tents, water tanks and olive groves  and Palestinians fear outright expulsion could come at any time.

The Palestinians also face threats from settlers at nearby outposts. Palestinians and rights groups say Israeli forces usually turn a blind eye to settler attacks or intervene on behalf of the settlers.

The war in Gaza has brought a surge of violence in the West Bank, with the Israeli military carrying out widespread military operations that have killed hundreds of Palestinians and displaced tens of thousands. There has been a rise in settler violence as well as Palestinian attacks on Israelis.
Dr Sophie Chandauka and Prince Harry at a reception for Sentebale last year - Brian Otieno/Getty Images

The Duke of Sussexs charity, Sentebale, has been plunged into an unthinkable racism and bullying row as the Prince announced his resignation.

Prince Harry said he was truly heartbroken by the developments but had stepped down in solidarity with the board of trustees, who had all quit.

Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, a co-founder, has also resigned, following a breakdown in trust between the board and Sophie Chandauka, the new chairman who was appointed last summer.

When the trustees asked Ms Chandauka to stand down, she sued the charity in order to retain her position.

The Charity Commission said it was looking into concerns about the governance of Sentebale.

After the news broke on Tuesday evening, Ms Chandauka, a Zimbabwe-born lawyer, responded with a statement accusing the board of abuse of power, bullying, misogyny and harassment.

She appeared to criticise the Duke and the five trustees who resigned in protest, suggesting that for them, Sentebale was a vanity project and that they were using the media they disdain to cause harm.

Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, co-founder of the charity, has also stepped down - Brian Otieno/Getty

She said: There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct.

Discerning readers will ask themselves: why would the chair of the board report her own trustees to the Charity Commission? Why would the High Court of England and Wales accept her application to hear the matter at all if the case had no merit?

Well, because beneath all the victim narrative and fiction that has been syndicated to press is the story of a woman who dared to blow the whistle about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir  and the cover-up that ensued.

Ms Chandauka said she would remain chairman of the board, would now focus on fundraising and would not comment further on the matter.

For me, this is not a vanity project from which I can resign when I am called to account, she added.

I am an African who has had the privilege of a world-class education and career. I will not be intimidated. I must stand for something. I stand for those other women who do not have the ways and means.

In memory of Diana

The Duke founded the charity in 2006 in memory of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, to support children affected by HIV in tiny mountain kingdom of Lesotho and nearby Botswana.

In a joint statement, the two princes said they were truly heartbroken about the developments.

With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as patrons of the organisation until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who have had to do the same, they said.

It is devastating that the relationship between the charitys trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation.

They added: Whats transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this, but we have a continued responsibility to Sentebales beneficiaries, so we will be sharing all of our concerns with the Charity Commission as to how this came about.

The Duke and Duchess with Dana Barnes, Adolfo Cambiaso and Malcolm Borwick at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge benefiting Sentebale in Florida last year - Jason Koerner/Getty

Five former trustees including Mark Dyer, an Army captain and the Dukes long-time mentor, also released a statement confirming that they felt forced to step down for the sake of the organisation.

Todays decision is nothing short of devastating for all of us, but we see no other path forward as the result of our loss in trust and confidence in the chair of the board, they said.

Our priority has always been, and will always be, whats in the best interest of the charity, and its desperately sad the breakdown in relationship escalated to a lawsuit by the chair against the charity, to block us from voting her out after our request for her resignation was rejected.

We could not in good conscience allow Sentebale to undertake that legal and financial burden and have been left with no other option but to vacate our positions.

This was not a choice willingly made, but rather something we felt forced into in order to look after the charity.

We will always be its founders

Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso added: These trustees acted in the best interest of the charity in asking the chair to step down, while keeping the wellbeing of staff in mind.

In turn, she sued the charity to remain in this voluntary position, further underscoring the broken relationship.

We thank all the trustees for their service over the years and are truly heartbroken theyve had to follow through with this act.

They added: Although we may no longer be patrons, we will always be its founders, and we will never forget what this charity is capable of achieving when it is in the right care.

The row reportedly centred around a decision by the new chairman to focus fundraising in Africa.

In December, the charity shifted its operation to southern Africa, announcing that it was part of a strategy to invest in the growth of a locally led organisation and place the most critical senior roles in close proximity to its programmes.

Shortly afterwards, Richard Miller quit as chief executive after five years in the role and was replaced by Johannesburg-based Carmel Gaillard.

Harry speaks at the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup in Aspen, Colorado, in 2022 - Chris Jackson/Getty

Mr Miller said that it was the next logical step for Sentebale and that the time is right for this shift to local leadership.

Last October, Baroness Chalker of Wallasey, the former overseas development minister, stepped down as a director.

Andrew Tucker, another executive, who was known affectionately to Harry as Tucks, has also recently stepped down after almost a decade.

Three new directors were appointed to the board on Tuesday, according to Companies House.

The Duke was inspired to set up Sentebale, which means forget-me-not in Sesotho, the local language, after spending two months in Lesotho during his gap year in 2004. He held a number of fundraising polo events for the charity.

As recently as last October, he travelled to Lesotho to reunite with Prince Seeiso and in December, he attended an event in New York on behalf of the charity.

Sentebale said on Tuesday evening that it had not received resignations from either Prince Harry or Prince Seeiso.

The charity said in a statement that it was pleased to confirm the restructuring of its board to accelerate the transformation of its agenda.

It said the organisation was evolving from one focused on addressing the impact of HIV/Aids on the lives of children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana, to one that is addressing issues of youth health, wealth and climate resilience in southern Africa.
Nigel Farage unveiled Alexander Jones as Reforms candidate for mayor of Doncaster on Tuesday - Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

A message sent from a social media account linked to a Reform UK candidate told Andrew Tate that he was an inspiration, The Telegraph can reveal.

Alexander Jones, a businessman and model in his 30s, was unveiled by Nigel Farage as the partys candidate for mayor of Doncaster at a campaign launch on Tuesday.

The Telegraph has found that a social media account for Mr Joness trading business encouraged Tate to keep fighting the good fight after the controversial influencers release from detention in Romania in 2023.

In response to a post by Mr Tate on X, the account praised the self-proclaimed misogynist as brother.

Writing in the first person, the WitnessInvest account said: Been focused on my business and smashing the gym every day staying disciplined and making moves.

Knowing you have been battling worse demons than me and us all, using you as a motivation. Really happy you are out. Keep fighting the good fight, complete respect brother.

The account also talked about escap[ing] the matrix  a popular analogy among Mr Tates followers.

Another post, in response to a message that has since been deleted, said: $500k then use that on a long weekend with Andrew Tate not just a dinner and learn as much as I can.

The account also replied to a video of Mr Tate, a former kick-boxer, working out in a gym with the word awesome and two fire emojis.

Andrew Tate faces accusations including human trafficking, trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money-laundering - Vadim Ghirda/AP

The revelations will raise questions over the quality of Reforms vetting process, which was rebooted as part of attempts to professionalise the party after a string of embarrassing disclosures last year.

A Reform UK spokesman said: Reform UK does not condone or support the views of Andrew Tate.

The Telegraph has attempted to approach Mr Jones for comment.

Mr Tate, who describes himself as the king of toxic masculinity, has been linked by police to the terrifying radicalisation of boys and young men.

Along with his brother Tristan, he is facing accusations of forming an organised criminal group, human trafficking, trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money-laundering. Both men have denied wrongdoing.

Mr Jones previously worked in property before launching his own foreign exchange trading business which allows people to simultaneously buy one currency while selling another in the hope of profiting from the changes in their relative values. He is listed as the sole director of the business.

He has also done modelling and regularly posts fitness content online.

In comments uncovered by The Telegraph, WitnessInvest responded to a post from an Andrew Tate fan account asking for examples of an obvious sign of low intelligence with the message: Getting the vaccine, being left of centre, look at their friends.

A month later, WitnessInvest replied to a post from the same fan account asking people how they would convince Mr Tate to give them $500,000 using only three words with the phrase: Escape the matrix.

Reform will fix broken Doncaster

Launching his election campaign on Tuesday, Mr Jones described himself as very entrepreneurial and said he had managed a number of businesses online, experience he said could translate into leading the city forward.

He said: Growing up in Doncaster showed me how our communities can be forgotten and failed by politicians who promise much but deliver little.

Doncaster has huge potential, and I am confident that I can unlock it and deliver the opportunities and investment local people deserve.

A vote for Labour or the Conservatives in this election is a vote for more of the same complacency and decay that has held Doncaster back for years. Doncaster is broken. Reform will fix it.

Mr Farage said it was his happy duty to unveil a great emblem of what our political party is, before suggesting that Reform could top the polls among 16- to 24-year-olds.
Nigel Farage speaks at the Reform UK conference on 25 March. Photograph: Ian Forsyth/Getty

The Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, has accused leftwing teaching unions of poisoning the minds of young people against everything this country has ever stood for.

His outburst came after anti-racist campaigners disrupted a Reform UK event on Tuesday where Farage was due to announce the partys candidate for the forthcoming mayoral election in Doncaster.

Eight protesters, understood to come from the Stand up to Racism campaign, heckled Farage and were escorted out of the venue in South Yorkshire, to jeers from the audience.

Describing one protester as a saddo, and another as a loser, Farage criticised the educational establishment for nurturing views such as those held by the protesters.

Thats what you get, folks, when teaching unions in this country are poisoning the minds of young people, not just against Reform, but against everything this country has ever stood for, he told his audience.

Ill make it clear, when were in a position of power, we will go to war with these leftwing teaching unions and make sure our kids are taught properly.

Farage dismissed the protesters as boring and told them to go back to school, adding: We will not be stopped by a ranting student mob, we will fight on and win these elections in Doncaster.

He went on: We know these hard-left organisations are going to do everything  go back to school please, we know whats going to happen. Boring, boring, boring.

They will do everything they can to stop this being a free and fair election. Have a look at that. The anger, the anger, you must be at university.

Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, described Farages attack on teachers and unions as unhinged, and copied from the Trump playbook.

He added: Schools and colleges work to educate our children in a fair and balanced way and to foster respect and collaboration. These are principles that will be alien to the leader of Reform.

It is clear from the exchange in Doncaster that Reform have nothing to say on education and instead seeks to attack teachers and their unions. An unhinged move, copied from the Trump playbook.

Sabby Dhalu, co-convener of Stand Up To Racism, said the group had challenged Farage because he and his party were trying to spread hate and division at a time when we need unity.

Weyman Bennett, another co-convener, said: Reform claims to stand for ordinary people, but its real agenda is one of division and distraction. Farage is a millionaire banker who does not represent working-class interests.

According to the partys manifesto, Reform UKs education policies include plans for a patriotic curriculum, a ban on transgender ideology in primary and secondary schools, tax relief of 20% on private schools and cuts to funding for universities that undermine free speech.

Alexander Jones is Reforms candidate in the mayoral election. Farage described him as young, energetic and exactly whats needed to get Doncaster back on track. Jones said: Growing up in Doncaster showed me how our communities can be forgotten and failed by politicians who promise much but deliver little.
The Royal Navy has shadowed three Russian ships through the English Channel.

Minehunter HMS Cattistock and a Wildcat helicopter were deployed to escort survey ship Admiral Vladimirskiy during its voyage, the Royal Navy said.

The British minehunter worked closely with the helicopter to keep a constant watch through the busy shipping lanes.

Russian survey ship Admiral Vladimirskiy being shadowed by Royal Navy Minehunter HMS Cattistock, in the foreground, through the English Channel (LPhot Edward Jones/MoD/Crown Copyright)

This operation was followed quickly by another, as HMS Somerset and tanker RFA Tidesurge were deployed to escort Russian landing ship RFN Alexander Otrakovsky and merchant vessel MV Ascalon through the Channel and North Sea as the pair sailed towards the Baltic.

The two Russian ships had recently left the Mediterranean.

These latest operations follow a similar mission last week which saw Royal Navy warships and helicopters track a Russian task group returning from Syria.

HMS Cattistocks Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Rob Garner, said: Cattistock has escorted a number of Russian warships and government-owned vessels through UK waters in recent weeks and months, demonstrating the Royal Navys operational readiness and steadfast commitment to UK security at sea.

I am extremely proud of my ships companys professionalism and determination to get the job done as we continue to work closely with other Royal Navy ships and aircraft, the RAF P8 force and fellow Nato navies.

The Russian landing ship RFN Alexander Otrakovsky which was shadowed by the Royal Navy through the English Channel (MoD/Crown Copyright)

HMS Somerset has been activated three times to monitor Russian convoys returning from the Mediterranean in the past month alone, the Royal Navy said.

Commanding Officer, Commander Joel Roberts, added: Somerset has been frequently activated to conduct this type of operation given the tempo of Russian activity around the United Kingdoms territorial and sensitive waters.

In maintaining units at very high readiness to respond, the Royal Navy offers presence, deterrence, persistence, flexibility and can deliver or facilitate a range of military and diplomatic options to support our national objectives.
Fellows of the Royal Society argued Musk had violated the code of conduct with actions such as calling MP Jess Phillips a rape genocide apologist and making swingeing cuts to research funding via doge. Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

The Royal Society has decided not to take disciplinary action against Elon Musk over his conduct, saying that to do so could cause damage to the academy and science itself.

Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO who also owns the social media platform X, was elected a fellow of the UKs national academy of sciences in 2018, apparently in recognition of his work in the space and electric vehicle industries.

However, over the past year calls have grown from both fellows and the wider scientific community for the academy to take action amid concerns Musk has violated the academys code of conduct, with incidents ranging from calling the British MP Jess Phillips a rape genocide apologist to his role in making swingeing cuts to research funding in the US through the department of government efficiency (doge).

The code includes the stipulation that fellows shall not act or fail to act in any way which would undermine the societys mission or bring the society into disrepute.

However, the president of the Royal Society, Sir Adrian Smith, has now made it clear Musk will not face an investigation.

In an email that the Guardian has seen and understands to have been sent to all fellows, Smith noted a variety of deeply held  but in many cases opposing views  were aired at a meeting held earlier this month to discuss matters relating to the conduct of fellows.

But, he added, the council was ultimately responsible for acting in the best interests of the society and that, it seems, does not involve investigating Musks conduct.

Related: Elon Musk survives as fellow of Royal Society despite anger among scientists

The view of council is that making judgments on the acceptability of the views and actions of fellows, particularly those that might be regarded as political, could do more harm than good to the society and the cause of science in general. Council believes that disciplinary proceedings should not be initiated on such grounds, Smith wrote.

The challenges that science is facing today go much wider than any individual and it was felt by many of those present, as well as others who have expressed their concerns separately, that we should focus our energies in making the principled case for science.

The email follows a torrid period for the academy: last summer, Musks conduct prompted a number of fellows to write to the society calling for steps to be taken, with a subsequent lack of action resulting in two eminent scientists resigning their fellowships in protest and more than 3,400 members of the scientific community signing an open letter expressing similar dismay.

Some fellows, including the Nobel laureate and AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton, have even called explicitly for Musks expulsion.

However, others have raised concerns about such a step, noting it could be politically difficult and raise questions about the fellowship of others who have expressed controversial views. Some have also argued revoking Musks fellowship could undermine trust in science.

Smiths letter said a decision not to go down the road of formal disciplinary proceedings should not be taken as meaning that the council condoned attacks on science or scientists, and reiterated concerns about cuts to science funding in the US, the spread of misinformation and disregard of important scientific evidence by the new US administration.



Smith added a letter had been sent to Musk by the president-elect, Sir Paul Nurse, although the contents were not revealed, and stressed the academy will step up advocacy for science and challenge attacks on science and scientists, particularly in the United States.

Related: Royal Society urged to expel Elon Musk as fellows sign open letter

We will also be seeking to engage directly with our fellows in the US, who are the ones most directly affected, and who are best placed to understand exactly what is going on in their fields of expertise and what interventions, if any, on their behalf, would be most effective, Smith wrote, adding engagement with Fellows in the UK would also be expanded.

Hinton was among the fellows who confirmed he had received a communication from Smith, but said its confidentiality prevented him from commenting upon its contents.

I can repeat my own opinion, which is that if the [Royal Society] gives fellowships for promoting science they should take them away for demoting science, he said.

Stephen Curry, an emeritus professor of structural biology at Imperial College London, who is not a fellow of the Royal Society but organised the open letter, said he welcomed efforts to reach out to researchers in the US and the UK, but noted the content of Nurses letter remained a mystery and that Smiths email made no mention of the academys code of conduct.

How can the Royal Society claim to act in a principled way when its turning a blind eye to Musks unprincipled scientific behaviour, spreading misinformation, or failing to speak out against the anti-scientific actions of the administration of which he is a part  and that is something I think hes required to do by the fellows code of conduct, Curry said, adding the academy had not said Musk had not broken the code.

Curry added that the academy was continuing to harm itself by not being open and robust about an issue that had caused concern among fellows.

While they continue to refuse to address Musks contraventions of their code of conduct, their authority to speak for the UK scientific community is undermined at the minute, he said. I dont feel that they speak for me.
England boss Sarina Wiegman says the inclusion of Arsenal duo Chloe Kelly and Beth Mead will bring added quality into the squad for their Nations League double-header with Belgium.

Kelly was not named in the initial Lionesses squad for the February matches against Spain and Portugal but was eventually drafted in to replace her injured Gunners team-mate Mead.

Wiegman has named both wingers in her latest announcement and, with Kelly enjoying more minutes at Arsenal following her loan move from Manchester City in January, the England manager believes they can harm Belgium.

Asked what Mead and Kelly will bring to the team, she said: Quality. What you see at Arsenal is they swap around a bit.

Chloe Kelly and Beth Mead applaud the fans (Nigel French/PA)

They are totally different wing players so they bring something different which helps the team. Thats what I expect with those two, that we have opportunities up front that we can use and harm the opponent.

Its important because you get in a rhythm. What we want is she (Kelly) shows her qualities and shes at her best because it will help the team.

You need the minutes and you can tell shes enjoying it now.

Tottenham forward Jess Naz has lost her place in the squad alongside the injured pair of Laura Blindkilde Brown and Ruby Mace.

Wiegman thinks the 24-year-old Naz has suffered with her performances recently but has still got her in mind for future internationals.

She added: Theres no injury concerns, thats based on selection.

There is high competition and I think Naz had been struggling with form and hopefully she gets that back but she is close to selection.

England began their Group A3 fixtures in February with a 1-1 draw in Portugal before beating Spain 1-0 at Wembley.

The Lionesses will take on Belgium at Ashton Gate on April 4, then again in Leuven four days later.

Wiegman says the result over world champions Spain will bring more confidence into the team before the clashes against Belgium.

She added: I think a lot of confidence, we showed we are still a top team. We had a bit of disappointment against Portugal but I think tactically they did a couple of things really well and we had to adapt to that.

That was a different game. In between these games we had some team meetings and conversations and you could see and feel on the pitch we fought for this win (against Spain).

We knew it was a very competitive game because Spain are the world champions so that brings confidence to the team.

Belgium will give us different challenges and we have to adapt again. Its going to be two tough games but were looking forward to meeting up with the team again.
A foundation named in honour of acting legend the late Sir Sean Connery is helping set up a free summer school to develop Scotlands young filmmakers.

The Sean Connery Foundation will run a week-long residential programme where 12 participants will be guided through a compressed version of the Sean Connery Talent Lab, which is coming to the end of its first year.

The foundation is running the summer school in partnership with the Scottish Youth Film Foundation (SYFF) and the National Film and Television School (NFTS).

Entitled The Sean Connery Youth Talent Lab, the programme is designed to mirror and complement the Sean Connery Talent Lab and is set to take place near Alness in the Highlands.

The foundation is looking for the most talented young Scots, aged between 17 and 22, with experience in the areas of directing, writing, acting, camerawork and editing, to produce two short films lasting three minutes.

The free summer school is scheduled to run from June 15 to 21.

Sir Seans stepson Stephane and son Jason Connery, of The Sean Connery Foundation, said in a joint statement: Our father was a self-taught professional who believed theres no substitute for hands-on learning when mastering a craft.

The Sean Connery Youth Talent Lab will give young Scots an immersive, practical environment to develop their skills, guided by passionate and dedicated mentors from SYFF.

Were thrilled to support this initiative, which will challenge young filmmakers to push themselves, collaborate, and take their talent to the next level.

The Youth Talent Lab aims to work with talented young Scots at an even earlier stage in their careers and support them in pursuing further education and opportunities as they enter the industry.

Teaching staff will include professionals from the SYFF, industry experts, and contributors from The Sean Connery Talent Lab.

The young filmmakers will also have the chance to learn from recent participants of the Talent Lab on what it takes to succeed as they strive to break into the industry.

Scott Mackay of SYFF said: We are honoured to be partnering NFTS and The Sean Connery Foundation in this project.

SYFF has been promoting young talent since inception and this initiative will help further identify and promote talented young film makers from across Scotland.

Alison Goring of NFTS Scotland said: Across the NFTS, we are dedicated to nurturing emerging filmmakers and creating pathways into the industry.

The Sean Connery Youth Talent Lab presents an incredible opportunity to support young Scottish creatives at a crucial stage, equipping them with the skills, confidence and inspiration to pursue a future in filmmaking.

Building on the success of the Sean Connery Talent Lab, we are proud to be part of this new initiative and excited to see the talent and creativity that will emerge over the summer.

Applications for the summer school are open and more information can be found at www.syff.scot/scytl.
Former Spotlight producer Taylor Auerbach was one of several staff who convinced Bruce Lehrmann to give Seven an exclusive interview. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

Taylor Auerbach is suing his former employer Seven over comments the network allegedly made about him last year amid a defamation claim in which the former producer gave explosive evidence about how Spotlight secured an interview with Bruce Lehrmann.

The federal court has not yet released documents in the case, but sources have told Guardian Australia the fresh legal action, filed on Friday, emanates from Sevens public statements about its former employee in response to claims in his evidence in the Lehrmann case.

The former Spotlight producer was one of several staff who convinced Lehrmann to do an exclusive interview after the criminal case for the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins in the ACT was dropped our of fear for her health.

Auerbach became a late star witness when Ten re-opened its defence of the defamation action in April 2024, just days before Justice Michael Lee was to deliver his verdict.

Auerbach swore an affidavit saying text messages and receipts in his possession showed tens of thousands of dollars were billed to Seven while the Spotlight program was courting Lehrmann for an exclusive interview.

In a statement issued after Auerbachs evidence, a spokesperson for the Seven Network said it was appalled by the allegations.

Seven did not reimburse Bruce Lehrmann for expenditure that has allegedly been used to pay for illegal drugs or prostitutes, and has never done so, the spokesperson said.

In the paid interview, which aired in June 2023, Lehrmann said the alleged assault in Parliament House simply didnt happen.

November 2023 marked the beginning of the defamation trial Lehrmann brought against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson for broadcasting the allegation on The Project.

In his affidavit Auerbach alleged his former employer falsely made public statements that he was disciplined as a result of misuse of the company card.

He told the court he had previously settled a psychological injury claim against Seven on confidential terms.

Related: Defamation law means the rape allegations you hear about in the media are just the tip of the iceberg. But we can limit that silencing effect | Jennifer Robinson

After leaving Spotlight in 2023 and signing a non-disclosure agreement, Auerbach was employed by Sky News Australia as an investigations producer but he lost his job at Sky when News Corp published text messages between a Seven employee and a Thai massage parlour and use of a Seven credit card.

In Auerbachs affidavit he said his employment as an investigations producer at Sky News Australia was terminated in March last year as a result of  media reports.

He also provided receipts showing eight separate charges for Sensai Thai Massage on 26 November 2022, totalling $10,315.

Auerbach has always rejected the suggestion he was counselled and sacked by Seven for his role in the Lehrmann matter and gave a press conference in an eastern suburbs park at the time.

It was reported that I was counselled and given a written warning by Channel Seven over my conduct relating to a night involving Bruce Lehrmann  that reporting is inaccurate. As are reports that I lost my job [at Seven] over the incident, Auerbach said.

Seven is yet to file a defence and has declined to comment.
The Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act protects about 15,000 recognised Indigenous heritage in the territory. Gunlom falls (pictured) is a sacred site in Kakadu. Photograph: Helen Davidson/The Guardian

Traditional owners in the NT have launched a scathing attack on the territory government, accusing it of treating them like children in a tick-a-box meeting on sacred site reforms.

The Northern Territory government on Monday announced plans to amend the Sacred Sites Act to reduce the administrative burden on landholders and give developers confidence. The lands, planning and environment minister, Joshua Burgoyne, told the ABC he would make sure that we bring traditional owners along for the ride with us in the reform process.

But a representative body for traditional owners in central Australia said the government had been secretive about the proposed changes.

The Central Land Council represent 75 remote communities and outstations. Its chair, Warren Williams, met with the minister last week over reforms to the legislation.

We asked for information; he gave us platitudes. He disrespected us and treated us like little children, Williams said.

He asked us to simply accept that the governments intentions behind the changes are good. He wouldnt give us any details about the changes or how they would work. All he had was empty talk. No wonder we are all very alarmed.

Do not believe him if he tries to pass off this cynical tick-a-box exercise as consultation with the land councils.

The Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act protects about 15,000 recognised Indigenous heritage in the territory. It is the strongest legislation to protect sacred sites in the country, according to the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority.

In 2016, an independent review under the Labor-led Gunner government made 36 recommendations and called for sweeping changes, including strengthening protections, maximising penalties for breaches and streamlining processes.

Related: Indigenous leaders celebrate as court rejects appeal in landmark Yunupingu compensation case

Burgoyne said the review would be the basis for reforming the act.

Williams said sacred sites belonged to the traditional owners not the government, and urged the Finocchiaro government to work with them to reform the laws.

[The government] should not change the law protecting our sites without consulting traditional owners and native title holders, Williams said. This is not how informed consent works.

Williams told Guardian Australia the CLC was concerned the legislation was being rushed through Parliament, and was working with other land councils to put up a fight about our concerns.

We need time to talk this over with our families, elders and the men in the community, he said.

This is going to affect everyone, we have a lot of sacred trees, mountains - youve got to leave it there, if theres a mining company or road crews doing something on a road they have to leave [the sacred sites] there.

In a statement, Burgoyne said the proposed amendments would improve consistency across legislation and give industries greater confidence.

Any updates to the Sacred Sites Act will seek to strengthen the protection of sacred sites and ensure our regulatory processes provide for safe development in the Northern Territory, he said.

He said the act had not been updated in more than 30 years. Among the proposed changes is making authority certificates  documents that protect sacred sites from damage by setting out the conditions for undertaking work in the area  transferable. They are now issued only for a specific proposal, and any works falling outside it do not have legal protection.

Related: High court rules commonwealth government liable for damage of Kakadu sacred site

Burgoyne said the proposed change would ensure that processes do not need to be unnecessarily repeated and cause delays to development.

Opposition MP and former deputy chief minister Chansey Paech, whose electorate, Gwoja, stretches from the Victoria Highway down to the South Australian border, including the western desert region, said any reforms to the act must protect country.

We cannot let any proposed changes dilute the NT Sacred Sites Act, the Arrente, Arabana and Gurindji man said on social media.

Now, more than ever, we must stand together to protect country. The NT CLP Government must immediately come forward and clearly outline the proposed changes and stop hiding.

The NT government did not immediately respond to Guardian Australias questions.
Pete Hegseth

Donald Trumps cabinet complained about defending free-loading Europe in a secret group chat accidentally shared with a reporter.

In a massive security breach, the Atlantics editor-in-chief was mistakenly added to a forum on the messaging app Signal, in which top members of the Trump administration discussed sensitive plans to bomb Yemen.

JD Vance, the vice-president, raised objections to the plans, which he argued were not in American interests. I just hate bailing Europe out again, he said.

The group chat served as a virtual war room and contained precise information about weapons packages, targets, and the scheduled timings for the March 15 strike on Yemen in which more than 50 people died.

Members of the group included Mr Vance, Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, Mike Waltz, the national security advisor, and Susie Wiles, Mr Trumps chief of staff.

The airstrikes were designed to prevent Houthi attacks on commercial ships heading through the Red Sea to and from the Suez Canal.

Mr Vance wrote: Three per cent of US trade runs through the Suez. Forty per cent of European trade does. There is a real risk that the public doesnt understand this or why its necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message.

Mr Hegseth responded, saying: VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. Its PATHETIC. But Mike is correct, we are the only ones on the planet (on our side of the ledger) who can do this. Nobody else even close.

The US government confirmed the group chat was genuine, but said it was a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials.

The private attacks on Europe come after the Trump administration has berated allies on the Continent for failing to spend enough on defence, and criticised countries like Britain and Germany for stifling free speech.

Reacting to the leak, Mr Trump said he did not know anything about it.

Im not a big fan of The Atlantic. To me, its a magazine thats going out of business... but I know nothing about it.

Mr Hegseth denied the group chat discussed war plans and called the journalist who leaked the messages a guy who peddles in garbage.

Safeguards must be put in place

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle were quick to criticise the cabinet members who used a third-party server to discuss highly-sensitive information.

Mike Lawler, a Republican lawmaker, said: Classified information should not be transmitted on unsecured channels  and certainly not to those without security clearances, including reporters. Period.

Safeguards must be put in place to ensure this never happens again.

Commentators began comparing the saga to the uproar around Hillary Clintons use of her private email account for government business.

Ms Clinton waded into the discussion on Monday, writing on X: You have got to be kidding me.

Democrats have begun demanding hearings to explain the leak.

Representative Pat Ryan said: If House Republicans wont hold a hearing on how this happened IMMEDIATELY, Ill do it my damn self.

Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged the security breach and said it cannot happen again.

Theyre going to track that down and make sure that it doesnt happen again. Clearly, the administration has acknowledged it was a mistake and theyll tighten up and make sure it doesnt happen again, he said.

Jeffrey Goldberg, the Atlantic journalist, said he was added into the group chat two days after receiving a connection request from Michael Waltz on Signal.

Asked about Mr Goldbergs access to the group chat, Mr Hegseth told reporters: Nobody was texting war plans, and thats all I have to say about that.

He accused Mr Goldberg of being a deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again.

On Monday night, administration officials were said to be weighing up whether Mr Waltz should be forced out following the reckless slip-up.

Sources told Politico there were multiple text threads discussing what to do with Mr Trumps National Security Advisor after he accidentally invited Mr Goldberg into the high-level chat.

Half of them [are] saying hes never going to survive or shouldnt survive, said one official.

A person close to the White House said: Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f---ing idiot.

After the US struck more than 30 Houthi strikes in Yemen, members of Mr Trumps cabinet used the Signal group chat to congratulate one another with a flurry of American flag and fire emojis.

Brian Hughes, the spokesman for the National Security Council, confirmed the group chat was real in a statement to The Atlantic.

This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, Mr Hughes wrote.

The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security.

However, the revelations are likely to trigger major questions about security within Mr Trumps cabinet and the handling of highly sensitive government information. The incident has echoes of the scandal surrounding Hillary Clintons private email address, which helped sink her election campaign against Mr Trump.

We will use overwhelming lethal force

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.

Their campaign on boats in the Red Sea was waged in support of Hamas amid Israels bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip.

Mr Trump, writing on his social media platform Truth Social, said his administration targeted the Houthis in the March 15 attack over their unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence and terrorism.

He noted the disruption Houthi attacks have caused through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, key waterways for energy and cargo shipments between Asia and Europe through Egypts Suez Canal.

We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective, Trump said.

Iran has long armed the Houthis, who are members of Islams minority Shiite Zaydi sect, which ruled Yemen for 1,000 years until 1962.

Tehran routinely denies arming the rebels, despite physical evidence, numerous seizures and experts tying the weapons back to Iran.
Donald Trump and Mike Waltz in the Oval Office of the White House on 4 February. Photograph: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Donald Trump defended his embattled national security adviser on Tuesday and said the leak of highly classified military plans was the only glitch in two months, as scrutiny intensified into how top US officials shared operational details for bombing Yemen in a group chat.

In an interview with NBC, the president said, Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man, as Democrats called for an investigation into the sharing of the plans for this months major airstrikes in Yemen on the Signal app. Later on Tuesday, during a meeting with ambassadors, Trump said his administration would investigate the incident but claimed there was no classified information shared on Signal.

Related: Democrats demand answers over White Houses careless Signal blunder

Certainly well look at this, Trump said. But the main thing was nothing happened. The attack was totally successful.

The Atlantic reported that Waltz, who was a congressman representing Florida before being appointed national security adviser by Trump, sent a connection request on the chat app Signal to the magazines editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, on 11 March. Goldberg was then included in a chat group in which detailed information about plans for an attack on the Houthi armed group in Yemen was shared.

Trump told NBC News that Goldbergs presence in the chat had no impact at all on the military operation, and defended Waltz, claiming that the leak was the only glitch in two months, and it turned out not to be a serious one, as the White House sought to downplay the incident.

Asked how Goldberg was added to the chat, Trump said: It was one of Michaels people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there.

Goldberg said he assumed he was being spoofed until the attacks in Yemen occurred exactly as the participants described in the chat.

In his first public comments since the Atlantic story broke, Waltz on Tuesday said: We are looking into and reviewing how the heck he got into this room.

Key figures in the Trump administration, including Waltz; the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth; the secretary of state, Marco Rubio; and the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard; were present in the Signal chat.

On Tuesday morning Gabbard attempted to dodge questions about the leak during a Senate intelligence committee meeting.

Related: Stunning Signal leak reveals depths of Trump administrations loathing of Europe

Senator, I dont want to get into this, Gabbard said when asked by Mark Warner, the senator from Virginia, if she had participated in the chat.

Signal is a messaging app founded in 2012 that allows users to transmit texts, photos, videos and documents, as well as make audio and video calls. It uses end-to-end encryption, which protects messages against hackers and cyberattacks via an extra layer of security. Several other privacy features, such as the ability to automatically delete messages, have made it popular among communities such as journalists and activists that frequently deal with sensitive information.





Signal is run by the non-profit Signal Foundation and relies on donations to function, giving it a different business model than other encrypted messaging services such as Meta-owned WhatsApp. It does not track user data to the same extent as Meta and publishes its code to allow for public auditing of its security measures. Signal, like any messaging app, is still vulnerable to human error through methods like phishing attacks or spyware which can allow hackers to gain access to users devices. The Signal Foundations president called the addition of The Atlantics editor-in-chief a user error rather than a problem with her apps security.

Appearing alongside the CIA director, John Ratcliffe, Gabbard claimed there was no classified material in the Signal chat.

Ratcliffe said that when he was confirmed as CIA director he was briefed by agency officials about the use of Signal as a permissible work use and a practice that preceded the current administration to the Biden administration.

A White House statement released on Tuesday afternoon said: Democrats and their media allies have seemingly forgotten that President Donald J Trump and his national security team successfully killed terrorists who have targeted US troops and disrupted the most consequential shipping routes in the world.

This is a coordinated effort to distract from the successful actions taken by President Trump and his administration to make Americas enemies pay and keep Americans safe.

While most Republicans, including Trump and the House speaker, Mike Johnson, rallied around Waltz, a few joined Democrats in condemning the leak. Don Bacon, a Republican congressman from Nebraska, told CNN the debacle was a gross error for which there was no excuse.

They intentionally put highly classified information on an unclassified device. I would have lost my security clearance in the air force for this and for a lot less, Bacon said. I will guarantee you, 99.99% with confidence, Russia and China are monitoring those two phones. So I just think its a security violation, and theres no doubt that Russia and China saw this stuff within hours of the actual attacks on Yemen or the Houthis.

Related: Pentagon warned staffers against using Signal before White House chat leak

Nick LaLota, a Republican congressman from New York, told Politico: At minimum, its totally sloppy.

Hegseth claimed on Monday that nobody was texting war plans and said that Goldberg peddles in garbage.

Goldberg responded to Hegseth in an interview with MSNBC.

I havent seen this kind of unserious behavior before, he said.

And the secretary of defense, all due respect, in that presentation seems like a person whos unserious and is trying to deflect from the fact that he participated in a conversation on an unclassified commercial messaging app that he probably shouldnt have participated in.
Bernie Sanders speaks at a rally in Tempe, Arizona, on 20 March. Photograph: Rebecca Noble/Reuters

Bernie Sanders said Donald Trump has absolutely created a constitutional crisis in the United States and is pushing the country very rapidly toward an authoritarian form of society.

The independent senator from Vermont has been rallying the anti-Trump resistance on a cross-country Fight Oligarchy tour, drawing some of the largest crowds of his decades-long political career as he taps into rising anger over the presidents stunning power grabs.

In an interview after an event in Tempe, Arizona, on Thursday night, Sanders accused Trump of illegally attempting to dissolve government agencies, including via an executive order, signed hours before the senator took the stage, to dismantle the US Department of Education, which cannot be done without the approval of Congress. He also pointed to the Trump administrations defiance of a federal judges order not to deport a group of Venezuelan immigrants.

Related: Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the courage to brawl for the working class

So yes, I think we are in the midst of the constitutional crisis, Sanders said.

In the dizzying two months since Trump returned to power, Sanders is packing venues across the country  in Republican-held districts and swing states Democrats lost in 2024. The senator said Americans were clearly very disturbed by the daily turmoil in Washington, and that they felt squeezed, stressed and desperate for leaders who are willing to fight for them.

For years, Ive talked about the concept of oligarchy as an abstraction, Sanders said. But he believes the message hits harder now that Elon Musk, the worlds richest person who donated nearly $300m to elect Trump and other Republicans in 2024, is leading the administrations government-slashing effort that includes overhauls of veterans services and social security. Youve gotta be kind of blind not to understand that you have a government of the billionaire class, for the billionaire class, by the billionaire class.

Locked out of power in Washington, the opposition party must learn to fight harder, Sanders said, echoing the calls of angry constituents across the country.

Theres got to be more militancy in the Congress in making Republicans pay a price in one way or another for what theyre doing, Sanders said, calling the Democrats support for the GOP-written spending bill a disaster.

Despite his criticism, Sanders has refused to engage with questions about the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, who is facing calls for his resignation after he paved the way for the bill without extracting any concessions. During an interview with ABC News on Sunday, Sanders dismissed as nonsense a question about whether the New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez should run for the Senate, which some have suggested is a way to primary Schumer. Schumer has remained defiant, and cited his early encouragement of Sanders cross-country tour as an example of his strong leadership instincts.

In the interview, Sanders, a progressive who caucuses with the Democrats and has twice sought the partys nomination, argued that Democrats troubles run much deeper than one person or one decision.

The problem is the Democratic party has no grassroots, he said in the interview on Thursday. Gesturing to the overflow crowd that turned out to his rally with Ocasio-Cortez in Arizona, he said of his colleagues: You tell me how many people are going out?

Sanders popularity comes at a moment when approval of the Democratic party is at record lows.

In his view, the partys descent traces the rise of money in politics, which over time made Democrats reliant on wealthy donors and inside-the-Beltway consultants. While he credited the party with ushering in progress on social issues such as civil rights, womens rights and LGBTQ+ rights, the senator said Democrats have for too long failed to champion an economic agenda that would meaningfully address the concerns of working-class people  an assessment many leaders roundly rejected.

Yet after decades of warning against the ills of corporate concentration and rising wealth inequality, Sanders, a big smile spreading across his face, said he was noticing that more of his colleagues were starting to adopt his populist pitch.

My colleagues are not dumb people. They are by and large very, very smart people. And youve got to be deaf, dumb and blind, not to analyze the solution, he said, noting that Democrats not only lost support among working-class voters, but saw their support decline with young people and Latinos  key parts of the partys electoral coalition. They see those things, they read the polls. And I think some of them at least understand that there has to be a turn around, and theyve got to start addressing the needs of working-class people.

At 83, Sanders has all but ruled out a third presidential run. His joint appearances with Ocasio-Cortez last weekend generated speculation about her political future and whether she was prepared to assume the mantle of his progressive movement.

In the interview, Sanders reflected on how much the movement had grown since he was first elected to Congress in 1990 and co-founded the Progressive caucus: There are dozens and dozens of really strong progressives out there who are, I think, going to be the future political leaders.
Planning for peacekeeping operations in Ukraine is set to continue, despite few signs of progress towards a ceasefire agreement.

Military chiefs from the coalition of the willing are expected to hold further meetings at the UKs permanent joint headquarters in Northwood throughout the week in preparation for a European-led peacekeeping force.

The meetings follow talks between the heads of the British and French armed forces in London on Monday, at which Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and General Thierry Burkhard discussed efforts to galvanise Europes response to the situation in Ukraine.

Admiral Sir Tony said: Europes two leading nuclear powers are stepping up to forge a stronger and deeper partnership that has a vital foundational role to play in the security of the continent.

Todays deliberations will help shape the future of British and French military cooperation, and our shared efforts to support Ukraine with military aid now and after any peace deal.

Planning for a European-led peacekeeping force began at Northwood last week, and is expected to continue over the coming days. (Alistair Grant/PA)

But progress towards such a deal appears slow, with talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, yielding no major announcements on Monday.

US officials have held separate talks with Ukrainian and Russian counterparts in an effort to secure agreement on a partial ceasefire after Moscow rejected a US-Ukraine proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.

On Monday evening, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he expected his officials to meet with the US negotiators again, but did not specify when, and no deal has been announced.

Meanwhile, Number 10 has sought to shrug off comments by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who dismissed Sir Keir Starmers plans for an international force in Ukraine as a posture and a pose.

Mr Witkoff said in an interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson that it was based on a simplistic idea of the Prime Minister and other European leaders thinking we have all got to be like Winston Churchill.

Asked if Sir Keir is worried by the remarks, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: No, the PM has repeatedly said that a lasting peace in Ukraine can only be achieved if we provide real and credible security assurances to deter Putin.

And the coalition of the willing is a group of nations politically aligned to the defence, security and sovereignty of Ukraine if there is a deal, its a deal that has to be defended.
Ukraine and Russia have agreed to pause hostilities in the Black Sea following ceasefire negotiations with the US in Saudi Arabia, the White House has announced.

Both nations have committed to ensuring safe navigation and eliminating the use of force in the sea, where the Russian navy has sustained heavy losses since the resumption of hostilities in 2022.

The announcement follows separate talks between US negotiators and their Ukrainian and Russian counterparts on Monday aimed at securing at least a partial ceasefire.

But the US appeared to signal its intention to ease sanctions on Moscow, saying it would help restore Russias access to the world market for agricultural and fertiliser exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment.

Western nations, including the UK, have imposed a series of sanctions on Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including increased tariffs on Russian fertiliser and agricultural products and prohibiting companies from providing insurance for shipments of certain Russian goods.

The US also agreed to help Ukraine achieve prisoner of war exchanges, the release of civilian detainees and the return of children forcibly moved to Russia.

The White House added that the US would continue facilitating negotiations between both sides to achieve a peaceful resolution, in line with the agreements made in Riyadh.

Meanwhile, planning for a European-led peacekeeping force continues in the UK.

Military chiefs from the coalition of the willing are expected to hold further planning meetings at the UKs permanent joint headquarters in Northwood throughout the week in preparation for a deployment in support of any future ceasefire.
The Sicilian hill town Gangi, with a snowy view of Mount Etna. Photograph: Rob Francis/Alamy

Despite walking for three days, weve seen no one. Not a single hiker, dog walker or shepherd. Instead, golden eagles have circled lazily overhead, stags have boldly held our gaze, and rare blue butterflies have flitted around our booted feet. The silence here is deep and dense, broken only by birdsong.

This is the Madonie national park, also known as the Sicilian Alps, home to many of the islands highest mountains and rarest plants. Its a landscape of 200 million-year-old rocks, rich in fossils. Of raptors and the tiniest of songbirds. Of wild boar, fallow deer and porcupines. Of cyclamen and crocuses. Of the largest holly trees on the planet, and of 65 varieties of orchid. A landscape that is void of tourists, ramblers and Sicilians. For anyone in search of wilderness, solitude and sunshine, I cant think of a better place.

Summer here would be too hot to wander. Spring  when the lush green landscape is dotted with sweet peas and poppies, and villages come alive with religious festivals  and autumn, when we visit, with its pink prickly pears hanging from cacti and rutting stags, are the best times to explore.

The 40,000 hectare park was created in 1989, when its biodiversity and geological rarity were recognised by Unesco as possibly the richest in the Mediterranean. My partner and I are here to walk from its hinterland to its rim on the northern coast of Sicily, not far from the capital, Palermo. Our route follows a section of the newly restored 166km Via dei Frati (The Way of the Friars), a trail once used by itinerant friars, pilgrims, beggars, mystics and missionaries. We shall be walking about 90km of sharp ascents and descents over seven days, starting from the village of Gangi (with views of Etna on a clear day). And yes, a century back, some of the Madonies medieval hilltop-perching villages were infamous mafia strongholds  all of which makes for a landscape as rich in history as it is in flora and fauna. Today, these villages  depopulated, dusty, replete with romantically ruined castles-on-crags and ridiculously ornate churches  are where we sleep.

We dip and dive past monumental oak trees rumoured to be a thousand years old

We booked our guesthouses  in Petralia Sottana, Gangi, Geraci Siculo, Castelbuono and Cefalu  in advance, but could have saved ourselves the effort as we were the only guests. Each day, we head out on quiet country lanes that gradually turn into cattle tracks and then into hidden, winding paths. Here, we must keep a careful eye on the yellow arrows and red-and-white stripes, daubed on rocks and trees, that indicate the Via dei Frati. As we climb, we leave behind the horned cattle, shaggy goats and timid ponies that roam the Madonies verdant pastures. Now, skittish deer and their fawns clatter over the scree that often replaces grassland. Raptors soar. We dip and dive, through steep beech forests, past monumental oak trees rumoured to be a thousand years old, around woodlands of wild pear, ash and juniper.

In these most remote locations, we often stumble across tiny deserted chapels  and wonder how they were built, and by whom. These were vital places of refuge for the friars who once followed these routes, seeking alms in exchange for work.

The Via dei Frati was rediscovered by a Sicilian psychotherapist called Santo Mazzarisi. After walking several well-known pilgrim routes and wondering why Sicily had no trail of its own, Mazzarisi began researching, and then restoring, this ancient path. In 2017, it opened to the public, starting at Caltanissetta in central Sicily and ending at Cefalu on the coast. In the past, pilgrims then crossed the sea from Messina before heading to Jerusalem, but todays route has been designed as eight stages, each ending in a village where food, accommodation and, of course, a beautiful church can be found. For a true pilgrim experience, Mazzarisi suggests visiting during holy week  13-20 April this year  when Caltanissetta hosts processions of life-size statues re-enacting the Resurrection.

Its as though were inside a Renaissance painting, with grazing goats, wooded valleys and divinely slanting light

We join the trail at Gangi because this is where it hits the Madonie mountains. The park contains none of the usual trappings of civilisation so, of necessity, we carry a daily picnic, prepared by our guesthouse, and eat our focaccia sandwiches on sun-warmed rocks. Having explored Gangis museum, which is chock-full of geological and archaeological treasures unearthed from the park, we walk 14km to Geraci Siculo. We are not walking at our normal pace  theres too much to distract us. Instead, we pause regularly to note the birds (buzzards, firecrests, buntings, tits and yellow-feathered serins), to examine the curiously striated rocks that are everywhere, and to exclaim over the remarkably biblical scenery. We feel as though were inside a Renaissance painting: grazing goats, wooded valleys, divinely slanting light.

In Geraci Siculo, we are beckoned into a library by its wizened curator, who proceeds to unlock glass cabinets stacked with 15th-century religious manuscripts. We cannot understand what he is telling us, but the odour of dusty pews drifting from the pages adds to the peculiar sense of time travel.

We continue to hike, upwards, through clouds, to Petralia Sottana, where we spend an additional day climbing Monte San Salvatore, following the scuffed tracks of rootling boar, clambering over granite boulders, and getting pleasantly lost.

Our gelato is made from the sap of neighbouring ash trees and known locally as manna or white gold

From Petralia Sottana, we amble 16km to our next accommodation, an agriturismo called Azienda Bergi, just outside Castelbuono  arriving so exhausted we can barely muster the energy to eat the obligatory four courses of Sicilian cuisine: caponata, pasta with sardines, grilled lamb and gelato made from the sap of neighbouring ash trees and known locally as manna or white gold.

Apart from a stooped white-haired man foraging for fungi, we meet no one on our walk until the fifth day, on a sunny morning, near a car park with a cafe. Were heading to the regions world famous giant holly trees, 20 metres high and thick with scarlet berries, when we hear voices, dogs barking, cars reversing. The sound is such an affront to our ears we pick up our pace, almost running to return to the unpeopled wilderness weve fallen in love with. Minutes later, we are happily alone again until we reach Castelbuono. A taxi is planned to take us to Gibilmanna for the final 9km descent into Cefalu on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Although the route becomes increasingly urban, we are mollified by repeated glimpses of sparkling ocean and the knowledge that Cefalu has not only beaches but a Unesco-listed Norman cathedral among its many treasures.

In the past, we have hiked all over Europe, but  thanks to the strenuous ascents and silent nights  never have we slept so well. And never have we felt so deliciously solitary. If crowds are your thing, this park and the pilgrim route just wont do. But if you like a landscape all to yourself, or a terrain so rich in geological history and so abundant with rare plants, insects and birds that youre forced to walk at an unfamiliarly slow pace, the Via dei Frati will surpass all expectations.

Annabel travelled independently. For information on the route, visit laviadeifrati.it. Inntravel offers self-guided walks, while Esplora runs guided walks in the Madonie mountains. Annabel Abbs is the author of several books on walking, most recently The Walking Cure, published by Bloomsbury for 14.99 under the name Annabel Streets. To support the Guardian and Observer, order your copy for 13.49 from guardianbookshop.com
Planning a dream vacation is always excitingbut for Americans, its not always as simple as packing a bag and hopping on a plane. Even with one of the worlds strongest passports, some places can be surprisingly hard to visit. Travel rules, red tape, and strict visa policies can turn what should be an easy getaway into a complicated process. Here are some countries that give U.S. travelers a tough time.

Bhutan

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Planning a trip to Bhutan sounds magicaluntil you realize the red tape is real. Americans need to book every moment through approved guides, prepay a daily fee, and stick to a rigid itinerary. Although the two nations have a warm, informal relationship, there's no official relationship by agreement or treaty. The lack of direct flights limits wandering off and even backpacking solo is prohibited.

Eritrea

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Good luck getting into Eritrea without some serious patience. The visa process takes forever, and once you land, don't expect freedom to explore. You'll need government permission to leave the capital, and checkpoints are everywhere. The African country has tight control over foreigners. Given its spotty record for human rights, it's a tough and challenging place for Americans to visit.

Turkmenistan

Credit: flickr

Turkmenistan treats tourism like a security threat. Americans rarely get approved; when they do, a government-assigned guide shadows every step. Spontaneous traveling is also on a leash. You'll need an official invitation letter, and even that's no guarantee.

Libya

Credit: flickr

Even if you're bold enough to consider Libya, the visa is nearly impossible. The embassy in D.C. doesn't issue them anymore, and ongoing conflict keeps the borders unstable. Libya has a strained engagement with America. Most tour companies won't touch it. It's a security nightmare that's better skipped unless you have a good reason.

Cuba

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Technically, Americans can go to Cubabut not as tourists. You'll need to qualify under 1 of 12 specific categories, and "vacation" isn't one of them. Even with a valid reason, you'll navigate currency restrictions, tight regulations, and potential legal headaches back home. The communist state is under trade embargoes with the US, which limits their engagements and visits in general.

North Korea

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Let's say you're wildly curious and want to step into one of the most secretive places on Earth. Well, too bad if you're American, for it's not happening in North Korea. The U.S. banned travel there after a tragic incident, and DPRK doesn't exactly welcome visitors. Even before the ban, entry required government escorts, strict rules, and zero room for mistakes.

Syria

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

You'd think Syria, a place with ancient cities and jaw-dropping history, would be open to explorers. It's heartbreakingly off-limits. Years of war, terrorism, and collapsed diplomacy with the U.S. have made it a no-go zone. There's no embassy support, no safe paths, and definitely no American tourist visas. Even journalists struggle to get access these days.

Venezuela

Credit: flickr

Trying to visit Venezuela involves more than packing a bag. Political chaos, embassy closures, and rampant crime mean Americans face a wall of warnings and travel blocks. Even securing a visa is a gamble, and local infrastructure won't make it easy. The US failure to recognize the legitimacy of the sitting government for the 2015 previously elected assembly makes things worse.

Iran

Credit: pexels

Booking a trip to Iran isn't like browsing Expedia. Americans need an approved tour, a government-sanctioned guide, and a notoriously hard-to-secure visa. There's no U.S. embassy there, which closed in 1979, so if something goes wrong, help is minimal. The political relationship doesn't exactly scream "friendly visitor," which makes this culturally rich country painfully out of reach for most.

Saudi Arabia

Credit: flickr

If you're curious about camels, deserts, and those jaw-dropping skyscrapers rising out of the sand, Saudi Arabia might let you inbut only if you follow strict rules. The US ally in the Middle East has strict cultural rules that often weigh heavily on women and government critics. While tourists are allowed now, Americans still face cultural and legal challenges that are often overwhelming.

Russia

Credit: flickr

Booking a Russian getaway sounds dramaticand not in a fun way. The visa process is tedious and requires everything from your life story to your blood type (almost). You'll need an official invitation and a detailed itinerary. Add rising political tension and surveillance concerns, and American visitors aren't exactly being greeted with open arms. One misstep, and you're in trouble.

Chad

Credit: Facebook

Anyone set on visiting Chad must be ready for hurdles. The central African country faces serious security threats, and the U.S. government regularly issues warnings. Embassies are limited, infrastructure is spotty, and travel permits can be revoked with zero notice. Even seasoned travelers struggle here. Getting a visa is doable, but don't expect smooth sailingor a warm welcome for American passports.

Yemen

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Even the most determined adventurer won't crack this one. Yemen's ongoing war, deadly airstrikes, landmines, and humanitarian crises have made it almost impossible for Americans to get in. The U.S. embassy closed years ago, and visas aren't being handed out. Commercial flights are rare, roads are dangerous, and the entire country sits under a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" warning.

Somalia

Credit: Getty Images

Planning a vacation to Somalia is nearly impossible. This East African country's government has limited control, militias rule large areas, and piracy remains a threat. The U.S. strongly discourages all travel, and no embassy can back you up. Even aid workers tread carefully. Unless you've got military clearance, this one's a full stop for American travelers.

Belarus

Credit: flickr

For a while, getting into Belarus has become a bureaucratic maze for Americans. After political crackdowns and worsening U.S. relations, the process got nastier. You'll need a visa, a good reason, and a strong tolerance for government scrutiny. Surveillance is high, and protests have made the regime even more suspicious of outsiders. There's no chance of walking in as a casual tourist.
Bonnie Elizabeth Brown, 25, had graduated from the school, where she was named Homecoming Queen in 2016.

Two teachers at a tiny private Christian school in Georgia are charged with sexually abusing the same student  and more teachers may be involved, according to the accusers lawyer.

Bonnie Elizabeth Brown, 25, and Sherri Delle Mauldin, 60, were both charged with multiple felonies for allegedly abusing the student while they taught at the K-12 Nathanael Greene Academy in rural Siloam, the Georgie Bureau of Investigation revealed Monday. Brown is also a former homecoming queen at the same school.

These women took advantage of their positions as my teachers, the unidentified accuser told 11 Alive in a statement released through attorney Ashley Mitchell.

Bonnie Elizabeth Brown, 25, had graduated from the school, where she was named homecoming queen in 2016. Greene County Sheriff's Office

My school did not protect me as a child, alleged the accuser, without detailing how old they were when the alleged abuse happened.

I see that now, and I hope that these arrests will protect our community and children in it, the accuser said, saying they were relieved at the arrests.

Sherri Delle Mauldin, 60, was arrested on Monday and charged with statutory rape. Greene County Sheriff's Office

The teachers abused the pupil at the school and outside the school, Mitchell told the outlet.

One of the teachers had previously been cited by school officials for inappropriate conduct with the student, the attorney said, without naming which of the two accused.

Mitchell said that there may be more victims  and more abusers.

There is information to suggest that potentially other teachers may have been involved with other victims, she said.

Brown was arrested Friday for having sexual contact with the accuser while employed at the school, where she had graduated from and was named homecoming queen in 2016, according to 11 Alive.

At the time of her arrest, Brown had been teaching at a primary school in Wilkes County. She is charged with improper sexual contact by an employee, agent, or foster parent.

Mauldin was arrested Monday after an investigation by GBI revealed she had also sexually assaulted the accuser while she was employed by the school. She was charged with improper sexual contact by an employee, agent, or roster parent, aggravated child molestation, and statutory rape.

The Greene County Sheriffs Office was tipped off to the abuse last June and asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to look into the allegations.

Nathanael Greene Academy in Siloam, Ga. is a private Christian school with just 12 teachers listed on its website. Google Maps

The Nathanael Greene Academy said neither woman has worked at the school for a year, Atlanta News First reported.

The small school, located about 90 miles southeast of Atlanta, only has 12 teachers on staff, according to its website.

School officials said in a statement Monday that it is aware of the teachers arrests and is cooperating with investigators. The administration and its board of trustees will be holding an emergency closed-door meeting to discuss the matter privately.

NGAs Administration and Board of Trustees will be providing further information following the emergency board meeting, school officials said.

GBI told the Post they are not releasing additional information at this time as the investigation is ongoing.

Once the investigation is complete, the agency will turn the case over to the Ocmulgee District Attorneys Office.

The Post has reached out to the Nathanael Greene Academy for comment.
A man is in custody after police alleged that he killed his twin brother in LaGrange, Georgia last week, according to local reports.

According to 11 Alive and Fox 5, local police responded to a report March 21 of an incident at a home just after 6 p.m.

Upon arrival, officers spotted a 20-year-old man, identified as Kiian Hodnett, with fatal gunshot wounds, the outlets reported.

Kiian's brother, Kiias Hodnett, also 20, was arrested in connection to his death. The local news stations reported that Kiias was charged with possession of a firearm and malice murder.

USA TODAY reached out to LaGrange police for more information.

Victim was shot just before 911 was called

During their investigation, police learned that the victim was shot just before they were called. The LaGrange Daily News reported that officers tried CPR on Kiian at the scene.

A motive in this case is unclear at this time.

LaGrange is about 60 miles southwest of Atlanta.

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Georgia man accused of fatally shooting twin brother: Reports
Bhutan is a tiny Himalayan kingdom that does things differentlyon purpose. Its not even close to a touristy destination since there are no crowds, fast food chains, or tourist-packed beaches here. What you will find is a country that limits how many people can visit each year, values happiness more than economic growth, and, weirdly, even charges a daily travel fee from visitors. SeriouslyGross National Happiness is written into its government policies.

This guide breaks down the real stuff and explores a few things travelers wish they knew before stepping into one of the worlds most unique countries.

You cant just book a flight and figure it out later

Credit: Getty Images

Bhutan doesnt allow tourists to travel solo. If youre not from India, Bangladesh, or the Maldives, you have to book through a licensed tour operator. Theyll handle everythingyour visa, guide, driver, and schedule. Its important to note that this is not optional. The government uses this setup to protect culture and nature.

That Daily Travel Fee Is RealAnd Worth It

Credit: Getty Images

Every foreign visitor pays a $100 Sustainable Development fee per day in addition to the hotel and guide. This fee is intended to prevent mass tourism and fund free healthcare and education for locals. Youre not just paying to be in a unique country but also helping Bhutan stay Bhutan.

Bhutan Has One International Airport

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Paro International is the only airport for international flights, and its definitely not for the faint of hearts. The runway sits in a mountain valley, where the planes zigzag between peaks before landing. Only a handful of pilots are trained to fly here. Its intense, but people say the views are unforgettable.

Dont Expect Flights To Run On TimeEver

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Paros airport shuts down when the weather acts up. Rain, fog, or wind can cancel flights with zero warning, and thats normal in Bhutan. Always plan buffer days at the start and end of your trip. Trust usyou dont want to miss your connection on the way home.

Visa Already Included If You Book Right

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The good news is that you dont need to fill out a visa application. Once you book your tour and pay the required fees, your tour company handles everything. Just make sure your passport has six months left on it. Thats one less thing to stress about before your trip.

Your Guide Stays with You The Whole Time

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Once you land, your guide is your sidekick. They travel with you everywherehotels, hikes, temples, even meals. It might feel strange at first, but most people end up loving it. They handle logistics, share local stories, and help you experience Bhutan through a local lens.

The Capital Doesnt Have a Single Traffic Light

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Thimphu is the only capital city in the world without traffic lights. Locals didnt like them, so they got rid of the one they installed. Instead, traffic police direct cars with practiced hand signals. Its a small thing, but it tells you a lot about Bhutan.

Smoking is Still a Touchy Subject Here

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Bhutan banned tobacco sales years ago even though the rules eased a bit during the pandemic. However, public smoking is still a no-go in most places. You can bring limited amounts for personal use, but always ask your guide before lighting up. Fines are real, and so is the judgment.

Even Easy Sightseeing Means Real Walking

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Bhutan isnt flat, and youll know that when you visit temples or tiny villages. Expect to walk a lotsometimes uphill, sometimes at altitude. The famous Tigers Nest hike takes hours and climbs steeply. Also, make sure to bring proper shoes to make walking easier. You dont need to be an athlete, but you cant skip walking.

The Food Here Brings the Heat

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In Bhutan, chilies are the main ingredient for most dishes. Ema datshi, a dish made with hot peppers and cheese, shows up at almost every meal. The locals in the region love spice. If you dont, let your guide know so they can ask the chef to dial it down without killing the flavor.

Locals Wear Traditional Clothes

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Most Bhutanese people wear their national dress every day. Men wear a gho, and women wear a kira. While youre not required to wear one, dress modestlyespecially in temples or government buildings. Long pants and sleeves show respect, and your guide will let you know whats expected.

Phallic Symbols On Buildings

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Homes and shops often have large, painted phalluses on the walls. But mind you, these arent jokes. For Bhutanese, theyre symbols of protection and fertility. It all ties back to a legendary monk called the Divine Madman. Locals take it seriously, so skip the giggles and ask your guide for the full story.

Dont Expect to Swipe Your Card Everywhere

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Major hotels might take cards, but most restaurants, shops, and small businesses still run on cash. ATMs exist in bigger towns, but they dont always work with foreign cards. Bring enough local currency or exchange at the airport.

Local Language is Appreciated

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Most Bhutanese people speak English, especially in tourism and business. This means you wont struggle to communicate with the locals. Still, learning a few Dzongkha phrases shows respect. Try saying kuzu zangpo la (hello) or kadrin chhe la (thank you). Locals love it when visitors make an effort, even if you mispronounce it.

The Weather Changes Fast

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You might start your morning under clear skies and end the day in cold rain. Thats just how it goes in Bhutan. Pack layers, even in warmer seasons. Always bring a light rain jacket and decent walking shoes. Altitude and region affect weather, so dont rely on forecasts alone.

Power Cuts Still Happen

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Most hotels have electricity, but outages do happen, especially in rural areas. Many places use backup generators, but its smart to keep your phone charged. Bring a portable power bank if you plan to hike or stay in smaller villages. Dont assume youll always have reliable power.

Bhutan Banned Plastic Bags

Credit: Canva

Bhutan outlawed plastic bags back in 1999even before it was considered a sustainable act. Thats over two decades before many countries even talked about it. You wont find single-use plastic in most stores. Visitors are encouraged to bring reusable bottles and bags. Youll notice the country takes environmental protection very seriously at every turn.

Yes, You Can Get Wi-FiBut Dont Count On Netflix

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Most hotels offer Wi-Fi, but its often slow or unreliableespecially in remote areas. Youll stay connected enough for emails or messages. But when it comes to streaming or uploading big files, the internet probably wont work. If you need better data, buy a local SIM card with a prepaid internet plan once you arrive.

Temples Are Sacred Spaces

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Always remove your shoes before entering any monastery or temple. Also, avoid pointing your feet at sacred objects and taking photos without permission. Bhutanese people welcome respectful visitors, but they expect good behavior. When in doubt, just follow your guides lead inside holy places.

Gross National Happiness Is an Actual Government Policy

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This is where this country really surprised us. For them, success isnt measured by money but by Gross National Happiness. The government makes decisions based on well-being, environmental health, cultural values, and governance. Youll feel this philosophy in daily life.

Festivals Bring the Country To LifeAnd Draw Big Crowds

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Bhutans religious festivals, called tshechus, are huge cultural events. Locals wear traditional dress and gather for masked dances, music, and spiritual rituals. Hotels fill up fast during these festivals, so book early if you want to attend. Prices often go up, too.

Bhutan Absorbs More Carbon Than It Produces

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Bhutan is one of the only carbon-negative countries on the planet. Forests cover about 70% of the country, and the law requires it to stay that way. The country limits emissions and invests in clean energy. Visitors enjoy clean air, lush trails, and a rare glimpse at what true sustainability looks like.
Beware of ticks this summer and pay attention to these signs of Lyme disease. Oscar Wong via Getty Images

While the arrival of warmer weather brings the opportunity to spend more time lounging on your lawn or hiking woodsy trails, were not the only ones excited about the long, warm days ahead: Ticks are most active from April through September. And while no one wants a bug bite, ticks are significantly more threatening than most.

These poppy-to-sesame-seed-sized bugs are responsible for the spread of Lyme disease, particularly in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic and upper Midwest. Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States  in other words, its the most common human illness caused by a biting arachnid that spreads a parasite.

While treatable with antibiotics if caught early enough, if its left untreated, Lyme disease symptoms can spread to the joints, heart and nervous system, which is why its important to catch it early (or, ideally, to avoid getting it at all).

Below, infectious disease experts share the most common early symptoms of Lyme disease so you dont end up with a chronic case of it  and how to avoid getting it in the first place.

The Top Early Signs Of Lyme Disease

Dr. Tammy Lundstrom, an infectious disease specialist at Trinity Health in Michigan, and Dr. Sarah Park, an infectious disease clinician who works at the life sciences company Karius in Honolulu, suggested looking out for the following early signs of Lyme disease.

A Bullseye Rash

Formally called erythema migrans, a rash that looks like a bullseye or target is the most common early Lyme disease symptom, according to Lundstrom.

It can be very faint, however, she said. It also may be absent in 20-30% of cases and can be hard to see on darker skin tones.

Park added that this rash typically appears within three to 30 days following a tick bite.

Flu-Like Symptoms

Between COVID, the flu and even the common cold, if you find yourself with achy joints, chills, a fever, a headache or other flu-like symptoms, Lyme disease may not be the first thing on your mind. But these symptoms could be signs of it.

These symptoms can easily be mistaken for a common viral infection such as a cold or flu, Lundstrom said. However, the onset of these symptoms paired with potential tick exposure  for example, hiking in the brush, woodsy areas or tall grass  occurring three to seven days afterward can signal Lyme disease is a possible cause. Be sure to consult with a medical professional, especially if you identify the bullseye rash or develop other noted symptoms.

Fatigue

Sudden fatigue could also be an early Lyme disease sign.

Fatigue is an early sign that is frequently dismissed and assumed to occur from not enough sleep or regular everyday activities like working out, Park said.

Non-Bullseye Rashes

Other rashes that dont look like a target could be an early sign of Lyme disease, too.

A bullseye rash may first appear as a small red bump or a solid red patch that gradually expands, but not everyone develops this type of rash, Park said. Other skin manifestations like hives or discomfort similar to a sunburn can also occur.

Fatigue is one of the hallmark signs of Lyme disease. FG Trade via Getty Images

How To Prevent Lyme Disease

While Lyme disease is treatable when caught early enough, the best case scenario is that you dont get it at all  which is why its key to protect yourself from ticks, be aware of the early signs of Lyme disease, and know when and where youre most likely to get it.

The illness is caused by ticks in the nymph stage, not adults, Lundstrom said. They may be very small, around the size of a poppy seed, and hard to see, but it is important to do a thorough check for ticks after outdoor activities. This includes skin folds and your hair. Early recognition and treatment are key to preventing chronic symptoms such as arthritis, headaches, neck stiffness and facial drooping.

In addition to checking for tinier ticks (remember: the size of a poppyseed!) Lundstrom recommends wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts when hiking.

Treat clothing with 0.5% permethrin or buy pretreated hiking gear, and use EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, she added. Walk in the center of trails for less contact with brush and grass, and always examine skin and clothing carefully and shower to wash off unattached ticks upon returning from a hike.

If you prefer a DEET-free alternative, Lundstrom said picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone are options to look for in an EPA-registered repellent.

Its also important to do regular tick checks if you live in an area with more Lyme disease and to seek help right away if youre noticing any signs that could be symptoms of the disease.

Finally, know that in most cases, a tick has to be attached to your body for 36 to 48 hours before Lyme disease can be transmitted, which is why checking for and removing ticks quickly can make all the difference when it comes to Lyme disease prevention.

While a Lyme disease vaccine may be a possibility at some point in the future, for now, its a reality were living with. So know the signs, wear protective clothing and bug spray, and do regular tick checks this summer. Trust us, you wont regret it.

CORRECTION: A prior version of this article incorrectly referred to ticks as insects, but they are arachnids.

Related...
Six people in Ohio are accused of kidnapping a man and torturing him for seven days, including beating him with a metal bat and depriving him of food and water, according to court documents.

Aaron Bradshaw, 49; Austin Bradshaw, 23; Chance Johnston, 27; David Cessna, 26; Martina Esqueda, 28; and Michael Esqueda, 28, have been charged with felony kidnapping to terrorize or inflict serious physical harm, according to Toledo Municipal Court records obtained by USA TODAY.

The group allegedly kidnapped and began torturing the man at a Red Roof Inn in Maumee, Ohio on March 14, and it continued until their arrest on March 21, an arrest warrant says.

'Unimaginable': Woman arrested after stepson was kept captive for 20 years, police say

"He was being essentially tortured, assaulted, over the time frame of a week," Maumee Chief of Police Josh Sprow told 13 Action News. "His injuries were results of being struck with a baseball bat, struck with fists, elbows, stomping on him when he was on the ground  which over time resulted in multiple fractured bones."

USA TODAY contacted Maumee police on Tuesday but did not receive an immediate response.

Closed handcuffs on the street pavement at night with police car lights high contrast image.

How did the group allegedly torture the victim?

According to the arrest warrant, the group used their hands and a metal bat to beat the victim. They also made the man "stand for extended periods of time" and only let him eat and drink once a day, the court document states.

Additionally, the arrest warrant says the man only slept for 10 hours during a seven-day period. When he was eventually found, he had injuries all over his body, according to the court document.

"The totality of those injuries has not been determined," Assistant City Prosecutor Andy Lastra, who described the case as "extremely disturbing," said, per the Toledo Blade.

Toledo Municipal Court judge sets $200,000 bond for group

A Toledo Municipal Court judge set a $200,000 bond for all six charged individuals, Laura Watt, the chief deputy for the Lucas County Clerk of Courts, told USA TODAY. A preliminary hearing is set for April 1, she added.

The judge appointed lawyers for all six individuals, the Toledo Blade reported. LaRon Bankston, whom the judge appointed for Johnston, requested the court grant his client a lower bond due to him having no prior record and "may have a different level of culpability than the other defendants," according to the outlet.

In response to Bankston, the judge said that while all six were "low risk" in terms of ensuring they appear in court, the nature of the allegations against them and the court's duty to consider public safety justified the $200,00 bond for all of them, the Toledo Blade reported.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ohio group accused of kidnapping, torturing man for 7 days
Amanda Knox is reflecting on her freedom today and "grieving" her 20-year-old self after being convicted of murder while studying abroad in Italy as a college student.

"I've had to learn to grieve for my 20-year-old self because, in a way, she did not survive her study abroad experience, like there was a girl who never had anything bad happen to her, who went there with an open heart and an open mind and then got thrown into this insane experience," Knox, 37, said in a live interview Wednesday on "Good Morning America" about her new memoir "Free: My Search for Meaning."

PHOTO: Amanda Knox appears on Good Morning America on March 25, 2025. (ABC News)

"I wished that me at 37 could be there to say, like, 'Amanda, it's not your fault, and you're gonna be OK. You are," Knox continued. "And everything that you're grieving that's being stolen from you right now, you're actually so lucky because you're going to get it back and you're going to be better and stronger for it."

In 2007, Knox's British roommate and fellow student Meredith Kercher was sexually assaulted and murdered while the two were studying abroad in Perugia. Knox's ensuing case drew international headlines, catapulting her and Raffaele Sollecito, another student she was dating, to notoriety.

Amanda Knox slams new Matt Damon film, 'Stillwater'

Knox and Sollecito were convicted of murder in 2009, but their convictions were overturned on appeal in 2011, the same year Knox was released from prison. Italys highest court subsequently ordered a new trial in 2013, and the two were reconvicted of murder in 2014 before the high court overturned both murder convictions in 2015.

Knox served a total of nearly four years in prison in Italy prior to her acquittal in 2015.

"I've always been claustrophobic so when I found myself trapped in a prison cell, I was obviously, very triggered," Knox said of her experience in prison.

"When I would look at that barred door, that solid steel door that I could not open -- there wasn't even a handle -- I would go into a panic attack," she continued. "But then a small shift to the window, where I could see a bell tower in the distance or if I looked closely, I see bunnies frolicking in the grass, that made it possible for me to center myself, to ground myself, and it's really a beautiful metaphor, again, for how do we frame our existence? How do we frame our perspective? How do we see the world clearly so that we can be effective agents in our own lives?"

PHOTO: Amanda Knox is pictured in an undated photo. Knoxs new memoir, Free, will be released on March 25, 2025. (Lucien Knutson)

Authorities in Italy also charged and convicted another man Rudy Guede in a separate case for the murder of Kercher in 2008. Guede was released from prison in Italy in 2021 after serving 13 years.

Last year, Knox was convicted again in Italy for slander, for a statement she made naming Patrick Lumumba, a Congolese bar owner and her former employer in Italy, in the days following Kercher's murder. Although Knox was sentenced to three years, she was not expected to serve additional time beyond the four years she spent in prison previously.

Amanda Knox re-convicted of slander after speaking out in Italian court

Knox long maintained that she was convicted of a crime she never committed.

"A lot of people ask me, 'Why don't I, like, move on from this experience?'" Knox said. "First of all, I remain wrongly convicted and I am attempting to overturn this wrongful conviction that was based on a retraction of the statements that I was forced into signing. So it's really a Kafkaesque, gaslighting nightmare that I'm continuing to live."

Today, Knox is a podcast host, co-hosting "Labyrinths with Amanda Knox" with her husband and partner Christopher Robinson. She is also a mother of two -- a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old -- and she said she's starting to talk to her children about her experience in Italy.

"[My daughter] Eureka ... she's 3 years old already and asking questions. She wants to know the story of when mommy went to Italy. And I believe in being transparent," said Knox. "I believe in being honest. I don't think that there should be any taboos in conversation between me and my kids, so I always give her very age-appropriate, honest answers. And I've told her the story of when mommy went to Italy, how someone hurt her friend, and then they hurt mommy by putting her in prison and all of that."

"But I think the bigger thing that I want to convey to my kids is not something that I can say, it's the way that I can be," she added. "When I got pregnant with my daughter, I felt an incredible sense of urgency to be OK so that I wouldn't unconsciously pass on my own trauma and my own baggage onto her and so I took the steps that I talk about in my book to address head-on my trauma and I feel like now, I can show her that what it means to go through the inevitable pains of life but still be in a place of being OK."

Knox's personal search for freedom is the focus of her new memoir, "Free: My Search for Meaning," out Wednesday from Grand Central Publishing.

PHOTO: 'Free' by Amanda Knox, 2025. (Grand Central Publishing )

"I think the message and the big takeaway of my book is that all of these external things are happening to us all the time, not just to me," said Knox of her new book. "I happen to have a very big, strange and overwhelming experience, but ultimately, we all sometimes feel trapped and like we're not the protagonist, we don't have a say in our own stories, in our own lives. And I think that it's a shift in perspective that took me a long time to develop, that really made me realize that whatever people say about me out in the world doesn't define who I am. I am not boxed in by their narratives. I can stand up on that box and tell my own story."

This is the second memoir from Knox, who previously released "Waiting to Be Heard," published by HarperCollins in 2013.

"Free" is being released in hardcover, e-book and audiobook editions.

What Amanda Knox says she tells her kids about her experience in Italy originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
Suzanne Kreiter / The Boston Globe via Getty Images







From the archives

In the summer of 1980, the "Food & Wine's School of International Cuisine" section of the magazine published a feature focused on the omelet making prowess of Mastering the Art of French Cooking author, The French Chef host, and subsequent longtime F&W contributor Julia Child. Being the consummate host, she couldn't help but invite a few friends to join the party  including longtime friend and collaborator Jacques Pepin; 60 Minute Gourmet columnist and TV host Pierre Franey; cooking instructors and authors Nathalie Dupree, Perla Meyers, Michael James, and Julie Dannenbaum; and other notable cooks of the era who shared their omelet secrets.







To many people, one of the hard-won battle stripes of a skilled cook is the ability to turn out a creamy, professional-looking omelet in a relaxed batting of the eye. Given today's accelerated daily pace, a speedily constructed, protein-rich omelet, either on its own or filled with any of an unlimited number of fillings, is often just the spur-of-the-moment, elegant sustenance we long for.

We are proud to offer our readers an exclusive lesson with Julia Child, who demonstrated her wicked way with an omelet in F&W's test kitchen. As a valuable bonus, you will also find in this lesson a roster of the favorite omelet fillings of some of America's greatest professional cooks.

No one has done more to introduce Americans to the accessibility of good food in the home than Julia Child, whose most recent book is the best-selling Julia Child & More Company. Mrs. Child's highly professional method of making a rolled omelet is a bit tricky  the eggs are swirled around after they hit the pan, and shaking the pan causes the omelet to assume the perfect shape. If you practice a few times, you'll acquire the technique for life. We've also provided an alternative method that you may wish to add to your repertoire of techniques.  the Editors of Food & Wine

Related: 10 Omelet Recipes for Every Possible Mood

Julia Child's step-by-step instructions for making the perfect rolled omelet

For each individual omelet, use 3 eggs, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, a few grinds of black pepper, 1 tablespoon of water, and 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter, plus another to finish if desired.

1. In a small bowl, beat together for a moment the eggs, salt, pepper, and water; the difference between the yolks and whites should still be slightly perceptible.

2. Heat the omelet pan over high heat. Add the butter and swirl it around the bottom and sides of the pan. When the foaming has subsided and the butter has just begun to take on a golden tinge, add the eggs all at once. They should sizzle slightly as they hit the pan.

3. Let the eggs set slightly in the pan, a matter of a few seconds. Now swirl the eggs around and around, redistributing them. After a few seconds, the eggs will begin to set again but will still be quite creamy. If you are using a filling, add it now, scattering it over the surface of the omelet.

4. Now hold the handle of the pan with both hands, thumbs up. Tilt the pan away from you, then pull the pan toward you in a series of straight, short jerks. The omelet will begin to roll toward you, shaping itself and becoming slightly more set as you jerk the pan.

(You may wish to practice this movement ahead of time, using dried beans instead of eggs, until you are comfortable with it.)

5. Now, using a fork, push the omelet down to the far side of the tilted pan. Holding the handle firmly, rap it sharply near its base with your other fist to be sure the eggs aren't sticking. At this point, the edge of the omelet at the far side of the pan should start to curl up.

6. Grab a warmed plate with one hand. Holding the handle of the pan in your other hand, invert the omelet onto the center of the plate. Push it into shape if necessary, using the back of the fork, and spread a little butter over the top, if you like. Serve the omelet instantly. The entire sequence should take about one minute.









Quick tip

To perfect your rolled omelet technique, Julia Child advises filling a pan with dried beans and practicing the jerking motion until you feel comfortable with it, so you don't waste any eggs.







Related: French Rolled Omelet

Julia Child's omelet pan advice

Julia Child insists that the size of the pan is crucial if a 2- or 3-egg omelet is to set properly. Look for a skillet with a bottom diameter of 7 to 7 1/2 inches and sides about 2 inches high, so the pan can be swirled and jerked back and forth briskly without spilling the eggs. A nonstick surface is desirable.







Quick tip

Though it is unlikely that the omelet will stick to a properly selected and seasoned pan, slight sticking can be remedied quickly by rubbing a bit of butter onto the pan so that it melts and runs underneath the omelet.







If you buy a professional-type steel or iron omelet pan, season it first, following the maker's instructions. If instructions are lacking, heat the pan until quite warm, scrub it thoroughly with steel wool and scouring powder, then rinse and dry it. Heat the pan again, rub it with vegetable oil; and let it sit overnight. Wipe the pan clean. The pan is now seasoned and ready to use. A seasoned pan should not be washed with soap  a mere wipe with a paper towel dipped in oil, or a rinse with warm water, should be sufficient to clean it.

If you should rinse the pan, dry it with a towel, then invert it over low stove heat for a few minutes to dry completely. Then rub it with a little oil and, with a paper towel, wipe it clean.

Related: The 4 Best Egg Pans, According to My Tests

nortonrsx / Getty Images

F&W's "scrambled" and folded omelet method  aka omelet brouille

In addition to Julia Child's technique, you may wish to perfect this alternative method for cooking omelets.

Beat the eggs and prepare the pan as directed in steps 1 and 2 above. Allow the eggs to set for a few seconds, then shake the pan back and forth as you "scramble" the eggs slightly with the flat of a fork, making circular sweeps just above the surface of the pan to quickly mingle the set and liquid parts of the eggs. Instead of scattering the filling over the surface, place it in a band across the third of the omelet nearest the handle (the strip of filling should be at right angles to the handle).

Let the omelet cook, undisturbed, for a few seconds longer, until the top surface is almost, but got quite, set. Then use a fork to fold the third of the omelet neatest the handle over the center. (This will enclose the filling if the omelet is a filled one.) Hold the tilted pan above a plate, let about an inch of the omelet slide onto the plate (the far, unfolded side), then, pushing with the pan, invert the omelet onto the plate it will be folded into thirds. If necessary, pat it into shape with a fork, and, if you like, spread the top lightly with butter.



Related: Travel Around the World in Six Omelets

How to fill an omelet, according to chefs

Now that you have been directed onto the right paths for turning out perfect, creamy omelets, you can fill them as your mood and appetite egg you on. We've asked a connoisseur's clutch of food pros for their preferred omelet fillings, generously sampled below.

Everyone seems to have a favorite. Stanley Marcus (of Neiman-Marcus fame), whose outspoken and thoughtful book, Quest for the Best, voices his concern for the decline of quality in consumer fields while applauding what's left of the worthy, describes, for example, a piperade he enjoyed in a little-known inn outside of Paris, L'Auberge de la Moutiere, run by M. Maurice Carrere. The fillings we offer range from simple, uncooked embellishments to some fairly elaborate preparations.

Once you have tried a few, strike out and start to invent your own  an omelet is a fine way to use up leftovers.







Quick tip

If you are feeling fancy, refer to your runny omelet as an "omelet baveuse" as the French do.







Jacques Pepin's herb omelets

To fill 4 omelets, chop about  cup fresh herbs, such as parsley, chives, chervil, or tarragon, or a mixture in whatever proportions you prefer, plus extra herbs for garnish. Whisk the herbs into the beaten eggs for the omelets. Cook 4 individual rolled or folded omelets as directed above. Sprinkle some additional fresh herbs atop each omelet after rolling or folding it, and serve at once.

Related: Jacques Pepin's Fines Herbes Omelet

F&W's basic cheese omelet

For 4 omelets, use about 1 cup grated flavorful cheese, such as Swiss, cheddar, Parmesan, Monterey Jack, or Gruyere  please your own palate in the matter of mildness or sharpness.

Make 4 individual rolled or folded omelets as directed above, sprinkling a share of the grated cheese over each just before rolling or folding it. If you're using very firm cheese, you may wish to sprinkle it over the surface of the omelet while the eggs are still quite liquid, in order to give the cheese time to meld into the eggs and to melt slightly. If you like, sprinkle additional cheese over each omelet just before serving them, piping hot.



Related: Boursin Omelet







Quick tip:

Pierre Franey preferred to add 1/4-inch cubes of cheese to fillings after they were off the heat, noting that they'd melt after the omelet was rolled.







F&W's easy smoked salmon filling

To fill 4 omelets, cut about  pound smoked salmon into thin slivers. In a small bowl, toss the slivers of smoked salmon with pepper to taste, a few drops of lemon juice, and 1 1/2 tablespoons of chives or scallions. Make and fill 4 individual omelets, either rolling them or folding them, and optionally, top each omelet with a dollop of sour cream before serving them promptly.

Julie Dannenbaum's sorrel and cream omelet

Whisk about 1/2 cup of stemmed and shredded sorrel or watercress into the eggs for four rolled or folded omelets. Heat 1/3 cup of heavy cream in a small pan until nearly simmering, then keep it warm over very low heat. Cook 4 individual rolled or folded omelets and when the omelets are finished, cut three small slits in the top of each, using a small knife. Pour a little of the hot cream into each slit, and serve the omelets immediately.

Related: How to Make the Perfect French Omelet, According to Parisian Chefs

Perla Meyers's Brie and herb omelets

For 4 omelets, use 1/2 cup ripe Brie with crust removed before measuring, as well as 3 to 4 tablespoons of snipped chives or finely minced dill or parsley. In a small bowl, use a wooden spoon to mash together the Brie, whichever herb you are using, and salt and pepper to taste. Spoon a share of the filling into each omelet just before rolling or folding it. Serve at once.

Mrs. Meyers also likes the counterpoint of soft goat cheese with crumbled dried thyme or mint.

Related: Thomas Keller's Chanterelle Omelets with Fines Herbes Sauce

Jacques Pepin's potato omelet  aka omelet paysanne

Jacques Pepin makes a potato omelet pancake-style in the following fashion. It will serve 2 or 3. He first sautes in a 9-inch skillet 3 strips of blanched, cut-up bacon until brown and removes them from the pan. (To blanch, boil the bacon about 5 minutes in a generous amount of water, then drain and rinse it.) Next, he adds a medium-size raw potato, cut into thin slices, to the bacon fat and cooks them until golden on both sides. The sliced and well washed white part of a leek is then added to the pan and tossed until wilted.

About 5 or 6 eggs, beaten with a little salt and some pepper, are poured over these ingredients and the omelet is cooked pancake-style: cook the first side undisturbed until the top is barely set, then flip the omelet (or invert it onto a plate, then slip, uncooked side down, back into the pan), and cook until done to your taste. You could, if you wish, use the bacon-potato-leek mixture as a filling for a rolled or folded omelet as well.

Related: Egg and Potato Chip Tortilla

Michael James' soubise omelet

Michael James recommends an omelet filled with a light onion-rice puree or soubise. Cheese may be added to this preparation, or you may top a layer of soubise with a few just-cooked peas before rolling the omelet.

In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring 2 peeled and sliced medium onions, 3 tablespoons of raw rice, a pinch of nutmeg, and 1 1/4 cups of chicken stock to a simmer uncovered until the rice and onions are very tender. Puree the mixture in a blender, food processor, or food mill, leaving some texture. Add salt and freshly ground white pepper to taste, then fill four omelets.



Related: Try This Simple Trick Next Time You Cook an Omelet







Fun fact

Some mappers of food trends say that the vogue for omelets was started in the late '60s by Rudy Stanish, the noted New York caterer who turned out an endless omelet stream at posh parties. Mr. Stanish, whose legerdemain was displayed in the film Diary of a Mad Housewife, suggested one of his favorite fillings: peach chutney, with a dollop of sour cream on the side.







Nathalie Dupree's dessert omelet souffle

An easily perfected technique advocated by Ms. Dupree produces an omelet with a wonderfully light texture. This recipe should be considered a basic one which can be varied in many ways. Top or fill it with your choice of either  cup of good orange marmalade or fruit preserves; sliced strawberries or other fresh fruit; sweetened puree of ripe pears or peaches; or chocolate sauce.

Preheat the oven to 400. Beat 3 egg yolks with 1 tablespoon of sugar until the mixture is thick and light. Stir in a tablespoon of heavy cream and your choice of liqueur and orange zest; rum or brandy; or vanilla.

Beat 3 egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Stir a large spoonful of the whites into the yolk mixture, then, with a spatula, gently fold the remaining whites into the combined mixture. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter over high heat in a 7- or 8-inch omelet pan that has an ovenproof handle.

When it starts to sizzle, gently pour in the egg mixture and cook over moderate heat until the bottom has set and is lightly browned, about 45 seconds to a minute. Set the pan in the preheated oven and cook until the top is set, about 5 minutes.

Remove the pan from the oven and slide the omelet onto a warmed platter. Gently spread  cup of one of the optional toppings or fillings over the omelet and serve it open, or gently fold it almost in half, using a spatula. Sprinkle the top with 1 or 2 tablespoons of confectioners' sugar and serve immediately.









Quick tip

In France this type of dessert omelet is traditionally served with a lattice pattern burned into the top with a skewer or fer rouge  an hot iron poker.







Related: Khagineh (Stuffed Persian Sugar Omelet)

Nathalie Dupree's savory omelet souffle

The recipe above is infinitely variable  the omelet may be flavored as you wish, the filling may be omitted, and it may be folded or left open. Here are some delicious savory variations for courses other than dessert.

Omit the sugar from the egg mixture and season it to taste with salt, freshly ground pepper, and chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, thyme, or chives. A dash of ground ginger or other spice works well if you're using a vegetable puree as a filling (after cooking, spread the omelet with 1/4 to 1/3 cup pureed cooked, seasoned, and buttered carrot, onion, or spinach, then fold it or not).

Another possibility is grated cheese (Gruyere, cheddar, or Parmesan), alone or with a vegetable puree. If you really want to experiment, Ms. Dupree suggests folding a vegetable puree into the beaten egg yolks just before folding in the beaten whites. This produces something akin to a light vegetable souffle.

Related: Omelet Souffle

F&W's apple omelet flambe

Heat 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a skillet over medium heat until foamy. Add peeled slices of 2 tart cooking apples, tossing them until coated, then cooking over moderate heat, uncovered, until they begin to soften. Toss them from time to time.

Add a tablespoon of Cognac or brandy, stand back, and light with a match to flame off the spirits. Remove the pan from the heat. When the flames die, add 2 tablespoons of fruit preserves and toss the apple slices until they are coated. Fill 4 individual omelets and serve them hot.

Omelets are a leftovers lover's best friend

Evan Jones, whose A Food Lover's Companion is wonderful late-night company, offers these final thoughts on omelets:

"As a writer with an office convenient to the kitchen, I sometimes cook a light lunch, and it is as apt as not to be based on any leftovers that may be in the refrigerator. Interesting omelets. often almost impossible to reproduce, result  especially when there remains some of the pungently flavored country ham we try to keep on hand much of the year. I use scraps of aged ham from Tennessee (or another hill-farm region) to perk up combinations of cooked vegetables chosen for contrast in color. There is usually some frozen duxelles  chopped and cooked mushrooms  too, and this goes well with bland ingredients like cooked chicken, or it adds a certain something to cooked mussels, sometimes to shrimp.

Flaked salt cod, black olives, and crumbs of feta cheese make one of our favorite, faintly Mediterranean, omelet fillings. A good omelet, I'm tempted to say, is like a readable anthology  its contents as varied as one's moods. Putting together a spur-of-the-moment filling is a creative challenge."



Related: Krapow Khai Yat Sai (Thai Stuffed Spicy Basil-Chicken Omelet)

Read the original article on Food & Wine
Boeing (BA) wants President Trump to let it out of a guilty criminal plea agreement the jet maker reached with the Biden administration, according to a report.

The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Boeing is pushing Trump's new Justice Department officials to allow it to withdraw that 2024 plea, in which it admitted that its workers conspired to defraud aviation regulators.

Boeing did not comment on the Wall Street Journal report.

Avoiding a criminal conviction would be a major victory for the company that could allow it to avoid compounded headwinds as it tries to show progress on several fronts more than one year after a door plug blew off a Boeing-made Alaska Airlines (ALK) 737 Max 9 jet.

Criminal convictions can foreclose or suspend a company's right to contract with the federal government and frustrate its ability to secure loans, according to Eddie Jauregui, a white-collar defense attorney with Holland & Knight and former federal prosecutor.

Read more about Boeing's stock moves and today's market action.

President Trump on March 21 announced the award to Boeing of a major contract for the Air Force's high-tech next-generation F-47 fighter plane. (Annabelle Gordon/AFP via Getty Images) (ANNABELLE GORDON via Getty Images)

Those consequences have particular meaning for Boeing, which counts the federal government as its largest customer and also happens to be the country's largest exporter. Just last week, Boeing won a major contract to build a new F-47 jet fighter for the Pentagon.

Admitting guilt was meant to insulate Boeing from facing a criminal trial on the government's allegation that the jet maker misled Federal Aviation Administration officials before two fatal 737 Max 8 crashes killed 346 people in the past decade.

Those allegations initially produced a deferred prosecution agreement reached in 2021, but last year the DOJ notified Boeing that it had breached the agreement after a door plug blew off a Boeing-made 737 Max 9 flown by Alaska Airlines.

NTSB's John Lovell examines the fuselage plug area of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Boeing 737-9 Max on Jan. 7, 2024, in Portland, Ore. A door-sized section near the rear of the Boeing 737-9 Max plane blew off on Jan. 5, 2024. (NTSB via Getty Images) (Handout via Getty Images)

After Boeing and Biden's DOJ officials reached the guilty plea deal last year, they submitted it to a federal judge.

But that US judge for the Northern District of Texas, Reed O'Connor, decided late last year in an order that the deal was insufficient, in part because of its terms governing the selection and conditions for a corporate monitor tasked with protecting against future fraud.

US District Judge Reed O'Connor. (US Courts/Handout via Reuters) (via REUTERS / Reuters)

O'Connor cited provisions in the agreement that included race as a condition in selecting a corporate monitor as "inappropriate" and "against the public interest."

The judge said the crash victims' families opposed race as a consideration in the selection of the corporate monitor, as well as a section that omitted Boeing's compliance with the monitor's anti-fraud recommendations as a condition of its probation.

Families who lost loved ones in the crashes also objected to the deal and called it a "sweetheart" scenario for Boeing. In their objection filed in the Texas court, they said the DOJ made concessions to Boeing that it would not extend to any other criminal defendant.

O'Connor, a former President George W. Bush appointee, has a track record of siding with conservative litigants against the government, according to reporting from Reuters.

Former Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg in 2019, testifying before a Senate committee. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Before Trump took office, Boeing and the Justice Department told the judge they were still working "in good faith" on amending the plea deal.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the two sides are still negotiating changes to the deal and that the proposal is expected to be submitted to the judge by April 11.

There was another legal development this week involving Boeing. A federal judge in Illinois ruled on Monday in a separate case that former Boeing CEOs Dennis Muilenberg and Dave Calhoun, as well as Boeing suppliers, could not be held liable for negligence claims brought by families of victims killed in the 2019 Max crash.

The judge ruled that the plaintiffs lacked evidence that the executives knowingly participated in misconduct.

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Alexis Keenan is a legal reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow Alexis on X @alexiskweed.

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Spring has officially sprung, and with the bright new season comes a craving for fresh recipes that deliver vibrant and flavorful bites.

Chef, TV host and cookbook author Michael Symon joined "Good Morning America" on Tuesday equipped with three dishes that deliver on just that from his latest cookbook, "Symon's Dinners Cooking Out: 100 Recipes That Redefine Outdoor Cooking."

PHOTO: The cover of chef Michael Symon's new cookbook Symons Dinner Cooking Out.' (Ed Anderson)

The Iron Chef, who will return to host season 2 of the hit Food Network competition "24 in 24: Last Chef Standing," airing April 27, shared a great grilled option, plus a salad that's a perfect use for any leftover pita bread and an easy no-bake dessert.

Check out his full recipes below.

Crispy Pita Salad

PHOTO: A crispy pita salad with cucumbers, chickpeas and feta cheese. (Ed Anderson)

Serves 4

"If you've ever had panzanella, the famous Tuscan salad that combines stale bread and summer-ripe veggies, then you have an idea where I'm going with this. In place of the standard Italian bread, I call for crispy-crunchy store-bought pita chips. But like the classic it's modeled after, this recipe is a great way to use up stale pita. Or tear some fresh pita into pieces, toss them in some olive oil and seasonings, and grill them until lightly charred and crisp! Thrifty and delicious!"

Ingredients

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1 garlic clove, grated

1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh oregano

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

2 medium cucumbers, diced (about 2 cups)

2 beefsteak tomatoes, diced

2 heads romaine lettuce, cored and thinly sliced

2 heads radicchio, cored and thinly sliced

1 cup crumbled Greek feta cheese

4 cups pita chips

Directions

In a medium bowl, whisk together the vinegar, garlic, oregano and olive oil. Season with a pinch of salt and twist of pepper. Add the chickpeas, cucumbers, tomatoes, romaine, radicchio, feta, and pita chips, and toss to combine. Garnish with a few more twists of black pepper and serve.

Smoky Grilled Shrimp

PHOTO: A plate of smokey grilled shrimp from chef Michael Symon's new cookbook. (Ed Anderson)

Serves 6

"When it comes to surefire seafood for groups, it's hard to top shrimp. Even for people who say they don't love seafood, shrimp seems to be the exception. The plump, sweet crustaceans are the perfect carrier for any flavor combination you feel like going with -- and they grill up in no time flat! I like to use head-on shrimp when they're available, because I love the presentation -- and I think they taste better! These require at least an hour of marinating time, but they cook in less than five minutes. To prevent sticking to the grill, make sure the grates are preheated, scrubbed clean, and oiled before laying these guys down. If you would prefer to skewer them before cooking them, go right ahead."

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Grated zest and juice of 2 limes

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon light brown sugar

1 tablespoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon ground cumin

2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, for serving

Lime wedges, for squeezing

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime zest, lime juice, salt, brown sugar, smoked paprika, cayenne, coriander and cumin. Add the shrimp and toss to fully coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours.

2. Prepare and preheat a charcoal grill for direct cooking.

3. Cook the shrimp on the hot side of the grill until nicely charred, about 2 minutes per side.

4. Transfer the shrimp to a platter, garnish with cilantro leaves and lime wedges, and serve.

Frozen Raspberry and Lime Pie

PHOTO: A frozen raspberry and lime pie. (Ed Anderson)

Serves 8

"In the summertime, I'm always experimenting with no-bake desserts that are simple to prepare, but still feel special. This one is bursting with bright fruit flavor, with the lime juice and zest somehow making the raspberries taste sweeter. The hardest part of this entire recipe is waiting the couple hours for the pie to freeze before enjoying!"

Ingredients

Crust

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

Grated zest of 3 limes (juice reserved for filling)

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Filling

4 cups fresh raspberries

1 1/2 cups whole-milk Greek yogurt

1/2 cup granulated sugar

Juice of 3 limes

8 ounces mascarpone cheese

1/4 cup raw honey

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon pure almond extract (optional)

1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions

1. Make the crust: In a medium bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, brown sugar, lime zest and salt. Transfer this mixture to a 9-inch springform pan and use a 1-cup measuring cup to evenly press the mixture onto the bottom and one- third of the way up the sides of the pan.

2. Make the filling: In a blender or food processor, combine the raspberries, yogurt, granulated sugar and lime juice, and process until smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl, add the mascarpone, honey, vanilla and almond extract (if using), and whisk to combine. In a separate medium bowl, whisk the cream until it holds medium peaks, about 6 minutes. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold the cream into the raspberry mixture.

3. Pour the filling into the pie crust, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze until firm, about 3 hours. Slice with a warm knife to serve.

"Symon's Dinners Cooking Out" Copyright  2025 by Michael Symon Photographs copyright  2025 by Ed Anderson. Published in the United States by CLARKSON POTTER/PUBLISHERS An imprint of the Crown Publishing Group A division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

Chef Michael Symon's recipes for smoky grilled shrimp, crispy pita salad and frozen raspberry lime pie originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
Columbia protest

A Columbia University junior who was arrested earlier this month during an anti-Israel protest and is facing deportation sued President Trump and other high-ranking officials Monday to stop the feds from throwing her out of the country.

Immigration authorities are attempting to deport 21-year-old Yunseo Chung  who moved to the United States from South Korea nearly 15 years ago with her family  at a time when the Trump administration has said it wants to boot noncitizens whom officials deem a threat to foreign policy.

Yunseo Chung, a legal permanent resident, could face deportation after living in the US for almost 15 years. LinkedIn

Chung, who is a legal permanent resident and has called the US home since she was 7 years old, was not in federal custody as of Monday. Her lawyer would not tell the New York Times where she is other than to confirm she is still in the country.

The college student apparently landed on the feds radar after she and other students were arrested March 5 during a sit-in at a Barnard College academic building in protest of punishments that the Columbia-affiliated school doled out to anti-Israel agitators.

She was charged with obstructing governmental administration and issued a desk appearance ticket by the NYPD.

A few days later, Department of Homeland Security agents visited Chungs parents home searching for her as a federal agent reached out to the student around the same time via text message, according to the lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court.

When an attorney representing Chung contacted the agent, she was told the State Department was revoking Chungs legal status and had an administrative warrant for her arrest, the legal papers state.

The lawsuit also revealed her dorm was among two Columbia-owned residences raided by federal law enforcement on March 13  a development which interim school president Katrina Armstrong said at the time left her heartbroken.

Chungs legal team argued that the actions by the Trump administration were an attempt to chill her free speech rights.

The governments retaliation against Ms. Chung comes in a broader context of retaliation against other noncitizens who have exercised their First Amendment rights, her legal team argued.

Columbia has been a hotbed for anti-Israel protests over the last year and a half. Robert Miller

Officials at the highest levels of the federal government have made clear that they intend to use immigration enforcement to punish noncitizens who speak out in support of Palestinians and Palestinian rights, or who are perceived to have engaged in such speech.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told the Times that Chung engaged in concerning conduct, including when she was arrested by NYPD during a pro-Hamas protest at Barnard College. She is being sought for removal proceedings under the immigration laws.

A small handful of anti-Israel demonstrators have faced possible deportation  most notably former Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil, who was front and center during tense protests last year at the elite school.

Khalil, who arrived in the US in 2022 to pursue a masters degree, initially had a student visa before he became a permanent resident two years later.

He was taken into custody March 8 and is being detained at a Louisiana facility as his lawyers and the federal government clash over his future in the country.

Chung faced a school disciplinary proceeding last year after she plastered posters that stated that members of the Columbia Board of Trustees were Wanted for Complicity in Genocide, but the school ultimately found she did not violate any rules.

The lawsuit, which also lists Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other Trump officials, calls on a judge to scrap the governments deportation of Chung and protect her from arrest in the meantime.

The Post has sought comment from the State Department, the Attorney Generals Office and the Department of Homeland Security.
Suffolk County Police Department Suffolk County Police Officers who helped deliver a baby alongside a highway

Not everyone gets to deliver a baby on the job  but one rookie New York police officer did.

Officer Jonathan Verity had just graduated from the police academy when he and two other officers responded to a 911 call about an "active labor" a few days later, on Monday, March 24, in Shirley, N.Y., according to a press release from the Suffolk County Police Department.

The department said Verity and Officers Joseph Lacey and Brendan Nappi helped a 37-year-old woman deliver a healthy baby girl on the side of a highway amid an ongoing storm at the time.

Happy Birthday, little one! the Suffolk County Police wrote in a celebratory post on Facebook on Tuesday. Three Seventh Precinct officers helped welcome a healthy, happy baby girl on Monday evening in a car on the side of Sunrise Highway.

Related: Elementary School Principal Sleeps on Roof After Losing Bet to Students: Loved Every Minute of It'

According to the police, the baby was born in a Honda Accord during a heavy rain storm along the shoulder of Sunrise Highway. The mother, from Mastic Beach, and her "healthy baby girl" were then transported to the Stony Brook University Hospital by ambulance.

The officers made sure to stop by with gifts in hand. In the photo posted on Facebook, the three heroes can be seen standing in the hospital lobby with gifts. They brought along a stuffed animal with a pink Its a Girl! balloon and a bouquet of flowers.

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.

The day was particularly special for Officer Verity, who graduated from the Suffolk County Police Academy just last week, the police wrote, adding that the mother and her newborn "are doing well."



Howard Schnapp/Newsday RM via Getty Facing west on Sunrise Highway in New York

Related: Emotional Video Shows Police Officer Saving Man from Jumping Off Bridge: 'We Can't Replace You'

Congratulations to the happy family! the department concluded.

People were quick to commend the officers for assisting the mother and baby. Great job for a newbie out in the field. Plus, the other 2 officers who assisted, wrote one Facebook user. You all are amazing! Stay safe and blessed.

Thank you all for your service, wrote another.



Read the original article on People
(Reuters) - Dell Technologies headcount fell by 10% in fiscal 2025, and it reaffirmed its commitment to diversity and inclusion, the AI server maker said on Tuesday.

The company in its annual report said it had about 108,000 employees as of January 31, down from about 120,000 a year earlier, as it continued to take measures to reduce costs, including limiting external hiring and employee reorganizations.

The company also retained the language on diversity and inclusion. "We are committed to equal employment opportunity and continuing to implement inclusive policies that enable Dell Technologies to achieve these goals."

President Donald Trump has called diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives discriminatory and suggested the Department of Justice could investigate if such efforts violate the law.

Companies including Meta and Alphabet have dropped DEI initiatives.

Dell reported a decline of about 5% in its workforce in fiscal year 2024.

In February, the company forecast a decline in its adjusted gross margin rate for fiscal year 2026, hit by higher costs to build AI servers in a fiercely competitive market.

(Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)
Actor Gerard Depardieu leaves the courtroom for a break during his trial for the alleged sexual assaults of two women on a film set in 2021, Tuesday, March 25, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

PARIS (AP)  French actor Gerard Depardieu acknowledged Tuesday that he aggressively subjected a woman who accuses him of sexual assault to vulgar and heated language and that he grabbed her hips but denied that his behavior was sexual as he testified for the first time at his landmark trial in Paris.

The woman told the court that the Oscar-nominated actor behaved like a madman who took pleasure in frightening me.

Day 2 of the Paris trial centered on the 76-year-old actor's behavior during filming in 2021 of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters), where two co-workers allege that he groped them on the set.

The chief judge said the trial will be extended two days to end Thursday.

Depardieu has denied assaulting the women. But in his testimony Tuesday in a packed Paris court, Depardieu acknowledged that he had used vulgar and sexualized language with one of the plaintiffs, a 54-year-old set dresser, and grabbed her hips during an on-set argument about the artistic merits of a painting.

Depardieu said he'd been in a bad mood" because the set was hot, which was hard for him because he is overweight.

I understand perfectly if shes a bit upset, he said in his gruff, deep voice so familiar to cinemagoers. I dont have to talk like that, get angry like that, voila."

But he insisted that he isn't a sexual predator, saying: I dont touch womens butts.

He recognized that the woman may have felt suffocated by his behavior, which he described as a "type of aggression.

But certainly not sexual. Non! he exclaimed, raising his voice.

The actor faces up to five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros ($81,000) if convicted. The verdict isn't expected immediately after the trial.

Plaintiff details alleged assault

After Depardieu spoke first for more than an hour, the set dresser then testified. She described the alleged assault in detail, saying the actor pincered her between his legs as she squeezed past him in a narrow corridor.

She said he grabbed her hips then started palpating her behind and "in front, around. She ran her hands near her buttocks, hips and pubic area to show what she allegedly experienced. She said he then reached for and grabbed her chest.

Thats when I had a reflex of My God.' I tried to free myself, I tried to take his hands away, I couldnt do it," she testified. He terrified me, he laughed, he looked like a madman."

It was very brief, there was no shouting, she said, adding that she'd been too petrified to speak and that he was too strong for her to break free. She said someone came and removed Depardieus hands from her.

I saw in his eyes a pleasure in frightening me, thats what I felt, it's savagery, she said. "He terrified me, and that amused him.

The woman also testified that Depardieu used an obscene expression to ask her to touch his penis and suggested he wanted to rape her. She told the court that the actor's calm and cooperative attitude during the trial bore no resemblance to his behavior at work.

Here, hes exemplary, he doesnt move, hes quiet, he doesnt make any noise," she said. Hes not like that on the film set: He gesticulates, he grunts, he makes remarks to women."

On the movie set, he started saying sexual things, talking about his sexual capabilities, she said.

The second plaintiff, a 34-year-old who worked as an assistant on the film, is yet to testify.

Depardieu says career has taken a hit

Because of Depardieus fame and impact on the French movie industry, his trial is seen as an important test of French willingness to confront sexual violence and hold influential men accountable.

His long and storied career  he told the court that he's made more than 250 films  has turned him into a French movie giant. He was Oscar-nominated in 1991 for his performance as swordsman and poet Cyrano de Bergerac. French President Emmanuel Macron has included himself among Depardieu's many admirers, calling him a great actor who "makes France proud. That was in 2023, when the star was already facing sexual misconduct allegations.

In his testimony, Depardieu said work has dried up as accusations have mounted. Since 2022, he's not had a big-screen lead role.

Thats horrible what theyre doing to me, calling me a big pig! I havent worked for three years, he said.

He also has health issues. The actor has undergone a quadruple heart bypass and has diabetes, according to his lawyer. A court-appointed medical expert determined that hes fit to stand trial, but recommended that the hearings dont exceed six hours, with regular breaks.

The trial represents another reckoning for France and its attitudes toward sexual violence, coming in the wake of the historic case last year involving Gisele Pelicot. She became a feminist icon when she bravely demanded that the drugging-and-rape trial for 51 men tried for horrific abuses against her be held in open court. Many hoped that would make shame change sides from female victims to male aggressors.

Actor acknowledges boorish behavior

Depardieu said he apologized to the set dresser three days after the alleged assault. He said he recognized that she was in shock and petrified.

Im sorry, this is not what I wanted, he said.

He acknowledged to the court that his behavior can be boorish.

Ive always been told I have a Russian nature, I dont know if its because of the drinking or the vulgarity, he said. I have said in black and white that I am a disgusting slob."

But he said he never, ever would have pincered a woman between his legs against her will.

Im not like that," he said.
A humanoid robot from Chinese firm Unitree dances during an AI technology show in Hong Kong on March 15, 2025. - Hou Yu/China News Service/VCG/Getty Images

Spinning bright red handkerchiefs and dancing in step to folk music, more than a dozen human-like robots took to Chinas biggest stage in January, making a splashy debut at the annual Lunar New Year gala.

The remarkable performance, watched by more than a billion people, is a high-profile reminder of how far Chinese humanoid robots have come. Over the past two months, videos of the countrys humanoid robots pulling off moves such as bike rides, roundhouse kicks and side flips have blown up the internet, often amplified by state media as a key potential driver of economic growth.

Even though very few of the humanoids are in mass production, competition with Elon Musks Tesla, one of the acknowledged frontrunners in the field, is heating up. The promise of an I, Robot future, where machines handle household chores and serve as caregivers, has drawn nearly every major tech company in both the United States and China to bet on humanoids or robotics.

Microsoft, Nvidia and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have invested in American humanoid maker Figure AI. Meanwhile, Meta is planning major investments in humanoids, according to a Bloomberg report last month.

Musk, whose Optimus humanoid has sparked global interest since its debut in 2022, predicted last month that the project alone could generate more than $10 trillion in revenue.

While it may take another five to 10 years for humanoid robots to make a real societal impact, they could eventually become the next widely adopted consumer electronics, according to Xi Ning, chair professor of robotics and automation at the University of Hong Kong.

Everybody will need them, like automobiles, like cellphones, and the potential market volume will be huge, he told CNN.

Goldman Sachs projected last year that the global humanoid robot market will be worth $38 billion by 2035. In five years, they estimate that 250,000 humanoid units, mainly for industrial use, will be shipped, while consumers will be buying about one million units a year in about a decade.

Beijing, which is looking to replicate Chinas success in the electric vehicle (EV) market, wants to be at the forefront of that growth.

Its eager to position the country as a global tech powerhouse and build on the momentum of recent Chinese achievements in the field - such as AI startup DeepSeeks reasoning model that stunned the world in January - especially as the US tightens tech restrictions on Beijing.

Despite entering the race later than American rivals including Tesla, Boston Dynamics and Figure AI, experts say Chinese firms are rapidly closing the gap. With their preternatural ability to optimize supply chains and cut costs, Chinese firms are also accelerating the mass production of humanoids.

Playing catch-up

China already dominates the space for industrial robots, deploying more of them every year since 2021 than all other countries combined, according to the International Federation of Robotics, a Germany-based non-governmental organization.

Compared to humanoids, industrial robots typically feature less advanced technology and perform less sophisticated tasks. Theyre widely used in industrial settings for manufacturing or transportation.

As with EVs, Tesla was one of the few big-name frontrunners for humanoids when Musk introduced the project in 2021 and showcased an Optimus prototype a year later. Since then, Beijing has publicly thrown its weight behind the humanoid robotics industry with increasing funding drives and government support.

Tesla's humanoid robot Optimus at its exhibition booth during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on July 5, 2024. - Stringer/AFP/Getty Images

In a 2023 policy document, Chinas Ministry of Industry and Information Technology identified the humanoid robotics industry as a new frontier in technological competition, setting a 2025 target for mass production and secure supply chains for core components.

China started relatively late, but it has its own advantages like a huge market and a relatively complete supply chain for the technology, which enables them to easily develop similar kind of robots at lower price, said Xi at the University of Hong Kong.

Over the past three years, various local governments  including major cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen  have announced plans to establish or have launched investment funds dedicated to developing robotics, totaling at least 73 billion yuan ($10 billion), according to a tally by CNN.

Last month, Chinese leader Xi Jinping chaired a high-profile meeting with the countrys top business executives. Among those seated in the front row was Wang Xingxing, CEO of Unitree, the company behind the viral dancing robots, an indication of Beijings growing focus on this emerging sector.

Aside from Unitree, other major domestic players include Shenzhen-based UBTech, Chinese EV giant BYD-backed Agibot, Beijing-based Robotera and Shanghai-headquartered Fourier Intelligence, as well as EV maker XPeng.

Lack of core technologies

Experts say China still trails the West in certain key technologies, even as it dominates the supply chain. About 56% of the humanoid robot supply chain companies are based in China, according to a Morgan Stanley research report last month.

But China still needs to achieve a breakthrough in core technologies, such as processor chips, high-precision sensor and robot operating systems, to reduce its reliance on foreign technology, said Zhang Dan, chair professor of intelligent robotics and automation at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Artificial intelligence chips underpin humanoids operating systems, guiding their thinking, perception and motion. Many humanoid developers depend on AI chip giant Nvidias products. At its annual developer conference last week, the company unveiled a new AI foundation model for humanoid robots.

Citing national security concerns, the former Biden administration steadily tightened export restrictions on advanced chips that could power Chinas military. Beijing has sought to develop its domestic chip supply chain as part of its self-sufficiency drive.

Additionally, European, American and Japanese companies continue to dominate higher-end components such as sensors, as well as motors and screws that power robotic motions with higher precision and stability, according to a Morgan Stanley report last month.

To overcome those shortcomings, Chinese suppliers are actively trying to do business with Tesla. Many of them have sent component samples for Teslas review, according to P.K. Tseng, a senior research manager at TrendForce, a market analysis firm.

After Chinese supply chain manufacturers supply components to Tesla, they refine them based on testing feedback and then offer the improved versions to domestic manufacturers, he said.

Over time, this creates a cycle of continuous technological advancements, enhancing the quality of the whole domestic humanoid robotics industry, he explained.

Price competitiveness

While technological gaps remain, China has emerged as a price disrupter in the nascent industry.

Shenzhen-based Engine AI released its PM01 model late last year for just 88,000 yuan ($12,175), while Unitrees G1, capable of executing a roundhouse kick, followed at 99,000 yuan ($13,697).

At an event last year, Musk estimated Teslas Optimus to be priced between $20,000 to $30,000. Lowering prices for humanoids would mark a major step to their eventual commercialization and wider adoption.

Beyond startups, established EV players like BYD and XPeng have also ventured into the humanoids space. Experts said years of cutthroat competition and a price war in China have honed their ability to scale production rapidly while driving cost down.

Since the manufacturing complexity of humanoid robots shares similarities to those of electric vehicles, particularly in components like sensors and batteries, EV makers have an advantage in this space, according to Brady Helwig, associate director for economy at Special Competitive Studies Project, a US thinktank.

EngineAI PM01 humanoid robot makes an appearance at the Guangming Culture and Art Center on February 19, 2025 in Shenzhen, China. - VCG/Visual China Group/Getty Images

Late last year, XPeng unveiled its humanoid robot, Iron, with plans for mass production by the end of 2025. Around the same time, BYD launched a recruitment drive to develop its own version, having invested in other domestic humanoids makers.

As the countrys demographic crisis worsens, the Chinese leadership sees humanoid robots as a potential solution to offset the shrinking working force, Helwig said. Chinas population has shrunk for three consecutive years.

If humanoid robots were able to be scaled and deployed widely across the economy, this is the kind of wild card that could really help alleviate that gap, he said.

CNNs Hassan Tayir contributed reporting.

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Jessica Aber, then the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, at the Justice Department in 2023.

Virginia police looking into the death of former U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber say everything they have found points to natural causes.

The investigation into the death of Aber, who was the top prosecutor for the Eastern District of Virginia for over three years, will remain open until the medical examiners office issues a final ruling, Alexandria police said Tuesday.

While the investigation into the death of Ms. Jessica Aber is ongoing, at this time, detectives have found no evidence suggesting that her death was caused by anything other than natural causes, police said in a statement.

Aber, 43, was found by police officers who were called on a report of an unresponsive person at around 9:20 a.m. Saturday, police said.

Police believe she died because of a long-standing medical issue, a friend of the family has told NBC News.

Aber was appointed as U.S. attorney for the district by President Joe Biden on Aug. 10, 2021, and was then confirmed by the Senate.

She had been an assistant U.S. attorney for the district since 2009 and was deputy chief of the criminal division before she was named U.S. attorney, her department biography says.

Aber announced her resignation as U.S. attorney on Jan. 20, the day that President Donald Trump was inaugurated for a second term.

U.S. attorneys are political appointees chosen by the president and can be removed at the will of the president.

Aber "was unmatched as a leader, mentor, and prosecutor, and she is simply irreplaceable as a human being, the U.S. attorney for the district, Erik S. Siebert, said in a statement.
A failed GOP candidate in New Mexico was convicted of orchestrating a shooting spree aimed at Democratic elected officials, including two who certified his election loss, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced Monday.

Solomon Pena, who ran for a seat in the New Mexico legislature in 2022, was convicted at trial of over a dozen charges in organizing attacks on four lawmakers. His involvement included not just recruiting gunmen - who have already plead guilty - but he participated in one of the attacks using a machine gun, according to court filings. From jail he also tried having witnesses killed, federal officials said.

No one was hurt in the shootings, which occurred after Pena's November 2022 electoral defeat. He pressured members of the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners to refuse to certify the results of the election, but despite Penas pressure, the commissioners certified the results.

The dozens of bullets fired in the assaults hit houses, cars and even passed inside the bedroom of a 10-year-old girl, according to court filings and statements from police.

Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa, who was the first official targeted and oversaw election certification at the time, celebrated Penas conviction but said his actions were symptomatic of a growing problem of political violence in America.

We have to send a clear message that violence is not tolerable, period, Barboa told USA TODAY. Without these kinds of precedents set, people will continue to think that they can take the law into their own hands.

The attacks came amid a rash of political violence across the nation, from an angry mob threatening the lives of top U.S. lawmakers certifying the 2020 presidential election results to the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania last year.

Holland S. Kastrin, the acting U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, noted the high stakes of the case.

A cornerstone of our freedoms is for all citizens, elected officials, and candidates for office to be able to participate in our democratic process safely and securely, without threats, intimidation, or the fear of violence or retaliation, Kastrin told USA TODAY. Pena not only orchestrated a violent conspiracy to undermine these bedrock principles but also sought to have witnesses against him murdered. We welcome the well-founded guilty verdicts which both hold the defendant accountable for his violent and reckless actions and affirm the rule of law.

Pena and crew committed the shooting spree between Dec. 4, 2022 and Jan. 3, 2023. They also targeted a state senator, state representative and another county commissioners responsible for certifying election results.

The 40-year-old faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 60 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled yet.

Accomplices Jose and Demetrio Trujillo plead guilty last year and will be sentenced in the spring, federal officials said.

Attorneys for Pena did not respond to requests for comment.

More: Court papers reveal details on former Republican candidate linked to shootings at New Mexico lawmakers' homes

A booking photo of Solomon Pena from the Metropolitan Detention Center. Pena was convicted of organizing a shooting spree targeting Democratic lawmakers.

Emboldened by the highest office: Targeted lawmaker blames Trump

Barboa said she knew exactly what the attack was about the moment she discovered someone had fired upon her house.

I knew right away it was political, she said, recalling seeing the damage done by the bullets that whizzed through her living room and kitchen. That year for the whole entire year we had election deniers coming to every meeting.

The Democratic lawmaker laid the blame for the former GOP hopefuls action squarely on the head of the Republican Party  President Trump.

People don't think that voice from the White House will reach all the way down to someone like Solomon Pena but it does, Barboa said. This could have been so different for him if he had a leader saying something positive, something uplifting, something true.

What to know about the case: Ex-GOP candidate tied to shootings at NM lawmakers' homes appears in court

Who else was Pena after?

The lawmakers that the failed GOP candidate targeted included significant elected officials in New Mexico.

Pena and crew committed shooting at these lawmakers' homes on the following dates:

Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa on Dec. 4, 2022: About eight rounds were fired at Barboas home, according to police. The shooting happened just after 3:30 p.m. and a pick-up truck was seen in the area by neighbors, according to a criminal complaint. A parked vehicle was also struck by gunfire.

State Representative Javier Martinez on Dec. 8, 2022: More than a dozen shots were fired at Martinez's home. His wife, the complaint reads, was home at the time of the attack and heard the gunfire erupt. Neighbors also told police they watched a pick-up truck speed away from the scene.

Former Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie OMalley Dec. 11, 2022: At least 12 rounds were fired at the home of then-Commissioner OMalley, according to the complaint. The attack on O'Malley came just days after Pena arrived at her home. "Debbie recalled that he was upset that he had not won the election for public office," the complaint says. Video surveillance from her home showed Pena arrive at her house in a black 2022 Audi.

State Senator Linda Lopez on Jan. 3, 2023: Police said Pena accompanied his gunmen to Lopez's home and tried to shoot but his weapon - a machine gun - malfunctioned. Another man shot over a dozen rounds from a handgun, including into the bedroom of Lopezs daughter. A preliminary investigation at the home found "sheet rock and dust was blown on Lindas daughters face in bed, resulting from firearm projectiles, passing inside her bedroom overhead."

Barboa and OMalley - now a state senator - certified Penas loss in the November 2022 midterm elections.

Martinez became Speaker of the House for the New Mexico House of Representatives in January 2023.

Solomon Penas conviction demonstrates that political violence has no place in New Mexico. My family and I are grateful that our justice system worked as it should to hold him accountable for his actions, he told USA TODAY. As an elected official, my focus is on making life safer, better, and more affordable for families in our state and ensuring New Mexico remains a place where we respect each others opinions and work together for the common good.

President Donald Trump raises a fist after a shooter fired upon the then candidate at a campaign rally before the 2024 US presidential election. Trump was rushed off stage with blood smeared across his face.

What was Pena running for?

Pena - before orchestrating the shooting spree - was running for a seat in the New Mexico House of Representatives in the November 2022 midterm elections.

He lost a race for House District 14 - which covers part of Albuquerque - against longtime incumbent Democratic state Representative Miguel P. Garcia. Pena got 26% of the vote.

After the November election, Pena had posted on social media it was rigged and he would not concede despite losing his bid for the statehouse in a district that has been held by Democrats for years.

On Nov. 15, he posted an image of himself in a Make America Great Again hoodie, saying Trump just announced for 2024. I stand with him. I never conceded my HD 14 race. Now researching my options.

A spokesperson for the Republican Party of New Mexico did not respond to questions about how Pena became a GOP candidate.

Pena comes 'knocking'

Senator OMalley, the former commissioner, remembers she was asleep in bed when Pena fired on her house.

I was just so surprised, she told USA TODAY. My husband and I sat up in bed at the same time. It seemed like someone was pounding on the door with their fist, boom, boom, boom.

The shooting happened days after the shooting on fellow Commissioner Barboas house and OMalley says her husband suspected a connection.

Later she realized it was the same man that had came knocking around the time of the election.

The two spoke at the gate outside of the house. He was "agitated" over the election results and denied losing. But she didnt think him dangerous.

I thought well this guy is delusional but I didnt think that would translate into what he ended up doing, she said. I think he really thought somehow he was going to be a hero because of his allegiance to Trump and hes now facing a very long time in prison.

Contributing by Natalie Neysa Alund, a senior reporter at USA TODAY.

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: From GOP loser to attempted political killer. Who did he target?
Picture the scene. Its 2003 in Tallinn, Estonia. Taavet Hinrikus, a 20-year-old computer whiz, has just accepted an offer to become the first employee of a little-known video-call startup, Skype. Little did he know then, but it was the start of a multi-decade evolution that would make him one of Estonias first billionaires, spawn dozens of startups, and generate billions of dollars in venture funding across Europe. The idea that you can start using this [video-chat technology] to have voice and video conversations was pretty crazy for a boy who was born in the Soviet Union. But it was also obvious to me that it was going to be an exciting journey, Hinrikus tells Fortune.

Today, at age 43, Hinrikus can add cofounder of payment platform Wise and partner of founder-led venture capital fund Plural Platform to his resume, having steered multiple companies through countless funding rounds. Hinrikuss storyunique at the turn of the centurywould make him a pioneer in a fascinating business trend: In Europe, a surprisingly high number of employees of unicorns like Skype would go on to launch still more unicorns.

Europe's founder factories

It would be an understatement to say that Europes tech scene has undergone a revolution since Hinrikus started his first day at Skype.

The idea that you can start using this [video-chat technology] to have voice and video conversations was pretty crazy for a boy who was born in the Soviet Union... Taavet Hinrikus

Some 1,650 European tech startups have been founded across Europe by former employees of 215 unicorns since 2008, according to data provided by venture capital group Accel and Dealroom.co. The pair provided Fortune with data on European spin-outs of startups in the region, having separately analyzed Europe and Israel starup activity over the21st century.

Certain countries have punched above their weight. Sweden, for example, is a standout performer, breeding the multibillion-dollar businesses Spotify and Klarna. Employees from that pair have founded a further 123 startups. King.com, the Swedish gaming group behind Candy Crush Saga, has seen 43 employees leave to create their own companies.

Skype employees would go on to launch 31 startups in total, including Hinrikuss Wise and the ride-hailing group Bolt. To date, those startups have raised $3.5 billion in funding.

1,650 The number of European tech startups founded across Europe since 2008.

Most founders, around 55%, start their businesses in the same European city where they were first employed. This has helped spawn network effects across Europe that have turned unlikely cities, like Tallinn, into thriving tech hubs.

Repeat founders have also blossomed from the early-2000s scene. Spotify cofounder and CEO Daniel Ek, perhaps the most high-profile founder to emerge from Europe this century, recently announced a new funding round at a $1.7 billion valuation for his health-tech startup, Neko Health, making him a serial unicorn creator.

The question is, why did it take Europe so long to kick-start its entrepreneurial streak? And what changed to allow the continents founder factories to flourish?

Trailblazers

When Netherlander Harry Nelisa partner at American fund Accelwho has operated out of Europe for the past 21 years, interviews a candidate for his company, he always asks the same question: Whats the riskiest thing that youve ever done in your life?

LISBON, PORTUGAL - NOVEMBER 06: Harry Nelis, Partner, Accel, delivers remarks on "Is Europe's tech scene finally heating up?" on the second day of Web Summit in Altice Arena on November 06, 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal. Web Summit is an annual technology conference which brings together a variety of technology companies to discuss the future of industry. This years event runs from November 5- 8 and is expected to attract around 70,000 participants.. (Photo by Horacio Villalobos - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Neliss own answer? Getting married (he says hes been happily married for 30 years now). But a close second might be Spotify. Nelis was part of the team that gave Spotify early financial backing, despite industry experts warning that a streaming music business would never work.

The momentum was almost undeniable, Nelis recalls when asked why he backed it anyway. The product was so good and so easy to use, and the early consumer reaction so overwhelming, the company actually had a chance to make it.

Think of any multibillion-dollar European tech company today, and its likely Accel was involved in its inception. After the group raised Series A funding for U.S. companies like Facebook, Neliss only real mandate in Europe was to find entrepreneurs with big ideas. That daunting brief is probably why he still asks job candidates about risk today.

The biggest mistake in venture is not losing money on an investment. It is missing the outlier, Nelis tells Fortune from Accels London office.

When he first came back to Europe after spending his early career in Silicon Valley, Nelis was struck by an obvious difference in attitude between Americans and Europeans, namely that it was unusual for the latter to pursue building a company instead of joining an established one.

The biggest mistake in venture is not losing money on an investment. It is missing the outlier. Harry Nelis, partner at Accel

Europe has long been accused of lacking the work ethic often associated with Americans. Tom Blomfield, cofounder of British unicorns GoCardless and Monzo, last year accused the U.K. of suffering from a know your place attitude that suppressed entrepreneurship.

Matt Robinson, a fellow GoCardless cofounder and now a partner at Accel, disagrees with that assessment. However, like his colleague Nelis, Robinson did notice a difference in Europeans attitude toward entrepreneurship when he started GoCardless in 2011.

Starting a company was not really an accepted thing to do. You know, when you sit over here and start a company, I think people assume youre unemployed or unemployable, he says.

Some elements crucial to growing a startup, like access to seed funding, were nascent in the U.K. just 15 years ago, Robinson notes.

Those who spoke to Fortune for this article, though, were aligned in their assessment that rather than an attitude overhaul, Europe just needed a few successful founders to show everyone else what was possible.

Ilkka Paananen, CEO and co-founder of Finnish mobile gaming unicorn Supercell, was one of those entrepreneurs working without a roadmap to follow.

"There were very few European tech entrepreneurs who I could call for advice, for the simple reason that we just did not have many tech startups at scale at that time," Paananen recalled.

Nelis says Europes startup founders were role models who made success easier to envision for their successors. One of those would be Plurals Hinrikus, who watched Skype become one of Europes first unicorns.

People know the drill better, Nelis says, noting that new startups come to Accel today with plans to solve big problems in a way they often didnt 20 years ago.

Plurals Hinrikus says his crystallizing moment came when he realized Niklas Zennstrom, cofounder of Skype, didnt possess any magical powers that made him more likely to be a successful founder: He was an average person, just like me. If he can do it, then I can equally do it.

Robinson says the major obstacles in building a startup became easier for him the second time around, namely, attracting the best talent and fundraising.

Since Nelis returned to Europe in 2004, unicorns and decacorns have emerged from Europes VC pipeline, with a centacorn surely inevitable. Robinson spoke to one company that talked ambitiously about becoming the first-ever kilocorn, a $1 trillion private startup.

I cannot imagine saying that or even thinking that back in 2011, Robinson says.

Stick or twist?

Operating a thriving entrepreneurial startup environment brings the inherent and evidenced risk that employees will one day leave to start their own, sometimes competing, ventures.

Tara Ryan, Monzos VP of people experience, doesnt see it as a tradeoff.

Monzo stands among Europes most prolific founder factories. The banking unicorn has spawned 23 startups since its creation. Oftentimes, when a new company is formed out of Monzo, its not just one person departing.

Map shows number of startup created by unicorns' ex-employees in europe

People start their own businesses, but often their founding team or their first handful of employees are also Monzonauts, she says.

This has been something embraced, rather than suppressed. At Monzo, Ryan says, an internal company website celebrates former employees who went on to become founders.

People start their own businesses, but often their founding team or their first handful of employees are also Monzonauts." Tara Ryan, Monzos VP

I dont think it is healthy for employees or employers to try and retain people at all costs, she says.

Accels Robinson goes one further. While at GoCardless, he would tell early interviewees his hope for them was that they would eventually leave and form their own startups.

The European dream

Its worth a wager that Hinrikus, dressed in a hoodie and branded tee, and speaking from Plurals London office, looks as invigorated as he did when he stumbled through Skypes doors on his first day as an employee.

Skype was acquired by eBay in 2005 for $2.6 billion, a now-familiar case of an exciting European startup being eaten up by a much larger U.S. tech behemoth. Its subsequent parent, Microsoft, no longer needs Skype now that Microsofts Teams video-chat function has been widely adopted. Similarly, DeepMind, the pioneering artificial intelligence research laboratory founded in London, is today a Google subsidiary.

Increasingly, though, European companies, driven by growing access to both capital and talent, are managing to stand on their own two feet.

Spotify, Accels risky early bet in Europe, had a market value of nearly $125 billion at the beginning of March. Its Scandinavian leadership team has maintained its grasp on the companys operations as Spotify battles with Apple and Amazon.

Other younger companies across Europe, like Monzo, now face the challenge of growing while maintaining what made them unique as startups. Alex Norstrom, Spotifys copresident and chief business officer, has advice for startups on that journey.

Weve tried to maintain our entrepreneurial energy as weve scaled globally, he says. At Spotify, its always been about having big ambitions and delivering on them.

Supercell's Paananen, meanwhile, thinks Europe's quirks make it easier for founders to stay true to their roots.

"Europe has a very unique, diverse culture, and a unique way of life that we all love  this is a great place to live and grow a family. This should help us both retain and attract the best talent," said Paananen.

Hinrikus spoke of making the American Dream come true for his employees, only in Europe.

I think the scar tissue we have from owning our companies and building them makes us better partners for the next generation, Hinrikus says. Theres probably 100 early employees in various positions, even in customer support, who earned a million dollars from stock options.

Now were showing time and time again that its not an American Dream, he notes. We have the same thing in Europe.

This article appears in the April/May 2025 issue of Fortune with the headline The European dream."

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Falls Township Police Brian Salt

A Pennsylvania fire chief has been arrested after allegedly throwing his infant daughter headfirst because she wouldnt stop crying, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE.

Falls Township Fire Chief Brian Salt was arrested last Thursday, March 20, and now faces felony charges of aggravated assault of a child and child endangerment along with a misdemeanor charge of simple assault, the documents state.



Salt, 36, was released from custody after a family member posted a $50,000 bond on the morning of Tuesday, March 25, records reviewed by PEOPLE show.



The Falls Township Fire Company announced Friday morning that Salt has been suspended indefinitely pending the outcome of the legal proceedings.

During this challenging time, our thoughts and prayers are with the Salt family, the Falls Township Fire Company said in a statement. We understand the impact this situation has on our community, and we are committed to ensuring transparency as we move forward. The safety and well-being of our community remain our top priority, and we will continue to support our firefighters and their families through this challenging time.



Local NBC 10 first reported Salts arrest, which came after doctors at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia became suspicious of the infants injuries and alerted police. According to NBC 10, Salts baby daughter had a fractured skull and Salt said in an interview with detectives that he had dropped his daughter after he lost control of her while she was crying.

Falls Township Police Detective Dennis O'Connell told NBC 10 that it was divulged during that interview that he in fact had taken the child from whats being described as a swing forcefully and then took the child out and then threw the child on the ground as being overly frustrated and child wouldnt stop crying and was being very fussy at the time, the outlet reported.

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.



PEOPLE has reached out to the Falls Township Police Department for more information.

Court records reviewed by PEOPLE show Salt is scheduled to appear in front of a Bucks County magistrate judge for a preliminary hearing on April 2.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was adamant Monday that sensitive war plans were not being discussed in a Signal chat group that inadvertently included a journalist.

Nobody was texting war plans and thats all I have to say about that, Hegseth told reporters in Hawaii when asked about a report in The Atlantic revealing a stunning breach of national security involving high-level Trump administration officials.

Pete Hegseth slammed The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg in his first comments about the incident to reporters on Monday. Fox News

The magazines top editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, revealed in the piece that he was inadvertently included in a group text on the encrypted Signal app with Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, national security adviser Mike Waltz and other Trump administration officials where internal deliberations and operational details about airstrikes against Houthi terrorists were discussed.

Goldberg was added to the Signal chain on March 11, well before the strikes in Yemen were carried out on March 15.

White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes told The Post earlier on Monday that messages included in Goldbergs report appear to be authentic and said the NSC is reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.

Hegseth, in his first public remarks since the scandal broke, slammed Goldberg before denying that war plans were being discussed in the Signal chain.

Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again, the defense secretary said of The Atlantics editor-in-chief.

Hegseth pointed to Goldbergs reporting on debunked allegations that President Trumps 2016 campaign colluded with Russia ahead of the election; his article on Trumps comments about the violence during a 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va.; and his disputed 2020 article accusing Trump of disparaging US troops buried in France as suckers and losers.

So this is a guy that peddles in garbage, this is what he does, the Pentagon chief continued, before discussing the militarys efforts to root out Houthi terrorists in Yemen.

Goldberg claims he was invited to join a Signal chain called the Houthi PC small group two days after connecting with Waltz on the app.

Hegseth appeared to convince Vice President JD Vance that the strikes in Yemen were necessary after Vance initially voiced his concerns about the operation, namely that oil prices could spike and that the US would be bailing out Europe. Obtained by the NY Post

The editor accused Hegseth of lying in an interview with CNN host Kaitlin Collins on Monday night.

No, thats a lie, the journalist said of Hegseths remarks. He was texting war plans. He was texting attack plans. When targets were going to be targeted; how they were going to be targeted; who was at the targets; when the next sequence of attacks was happening.

Im sitting in a Safeway parking lot, watching my phone and realizing, Oh my God, this might be real. I think Pete Hegseth just sent this group actual targeting information, actual sequencing of an attack, Goldberg added.

Meanwhile, Waltz, a former Republican congressman from Florida, is reportedly at risk of losing his job over the incident.

It was reckless not to check who was on the thread. It was reckless to be having that conversation on Signal. You cant have recklessness as the national security adviser, a senior Trump administration official told Politico.

The official said discussions are ongoing with staffers about what to do with Waltz.

Half of them saying hes never going to survive or shouldnt survive, the official told the outlet.

Goldberg was added to the Signal thread a few days before the US carried out military operations against the Houthis in Yemen. ZUMAPRESS.com

A different administration official indicated that Trump has spoken to Waltz since the bombshell report, after he initially told reporters at the White House that he was unaware of The Atlantics report.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including national security adviser Mike Waltz.

The White House did not immediately respond to The Posts request for comment.
Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 Facebook Snake catcher removes brown tree snake from oven

A snake in Australia avoided getting cooked after slithering into a homeowner's oven.

In a March 21 Facebook post, Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers of Australia details how it handled an unwanted reptile in the kitchen.

"Holy heck, check out this Brown Tree Snake that snuck into an oven!" the professional snake-catching service captioned its post, which features a video of the removal job.

In the clip, the snake catcher shares they are in Rosemount, Australia, responding to a call about a "brown-colored snake" behind a "free-standing oven." The video then pans down to reveal that the reptile intruder coiled up in the warming section of the oven.

Related: Professional Snake Catcher Stunned to Find Snake Hiding in Person's Pillow: 'This Is a First'

"Look what we have here," the snake catcher says as he shines a light on the snake and adds that the animal is a "decent-sized" brown tree snake.

The footage of the snake's eviction continues with the snake catcher using a hook to encourage the reptile out of the oven. After several seconds of coaxing, the snake catcher pulls the snake out.

"That does not belong in an oven," the professional says while pulling the "mildly venomous" tree snake all the way out of the appliance.

The clip concludes with the snake catcher putting the reptile in a bag so he can later release it into the wild in a less populated location.

Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 Facebook A Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers professional removes a snake from an oven

Related: Highly Venomous Snake Known as the 'Most Dangerous Cobra' Found Lurking in a Lodge's Toilet

"Tree Snakes are so incredibly skilled at squeezing into tight spaces and making themselves comfortable. We are just glad he got rescued before too much heat was involved!" Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers added to the caption of its Facebook post.

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The snake star of the clip was likely seeking a warm spot to curl up as evenings are getting colder in Australia, according to the post. Other reptiles in Australia have recently found their way into peculiar spots.

In February, Snake Catcher Dan shared on social media that he had to spend over an hour searching a family's couch to find the "highly venomous" snake hiding inside.



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Jennifer Aniston subtly paid homage to her beloved character Rachel Green as she sparked dating rumors with Pedro Pascal on Saturday night. After enjoying a three-hour-long dinner together at the Sunset Tower Hotels Tower Bar, Aniston and the Gladiator II actor were photographed chatting together at the valet areaand the actress looked like shed stepped straight out of an episode of Friends.

Aniston recreated Rachels going to Paris look wearing a 90s-coded black vest over a white short-sleeved T-shirt while out on March 22. Wearing her long blonde hair in a sleek, side-parted style, The Morning Show star swapped the black skirt that Green wore in Friends for cuffed black pants and boots for the outing. Meanwhile, Pascal looked suave as always in loafers, a brown leather jacket, jeans, and a pair of glasses.

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While it's unclear if the excursion was a date, friend hang, or business meeting, the internet exploded with fans shipping the potential power couple. After DeuxMoi shared photos of Aniston and Pascal hanging out together outside as they waited in the valet area on Instagram, one fan commented, OMG its happening everyone stay calm!!! while another wrote, This is the love connection we need right now!

Getty Images

However, several people pointed out that the dinner could be for business instead of pleasure, as some noted that Anistons stylist was there. Others also brought up how the actors recently discussed a potential cameo on The Morning Show during the Critics Choice Awards red carpet last year.

While posing at the 2024 event, Pascal and Aniston were spotted briefly holding hands (while the Just Go With It actress mouthed Oh my god at the camera) as Reese Witherspoon told him there was a really good part for her on the Apple TV+ series if he wanted.

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The Last of Us actor revealed that he was more than game for an appearance, telling the co-stars, Pitch it to me now. Im in. Ill be waiting to hear from my agents. Draw it up. Send me a script. Or just pitch it to me in the room.

The pair are staying mum on the nature of their latest outing for now, but only time will tell whether Pascal and Aniston will be making on-screen magic with a joint projector if theres a new celebrity power couple to watch.

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A federal judge overseeing plea deal negotiations between the Justice Department and Boeing (BA) has scrapped an order giving the parties more time to reach an agreement and instead ordered the giant jet maker to face a jury trial.

The surprise development upends a long-running legal saga that Boeing hoped to end as it tries to show progress on several fronts more than one year after a door plug blew off a Boeing-made Alaska Airlines (ALK) 737 Max 9 jet.

The order from US District Judge Reed O'Connor came one day after the Wall Street Journal reported that Boeing wanted President Trump's Justice Department officials to let it out of a guilty criminal plea agreement the jet maker reached with the Biden administration.

In that 2024 agreement, Boeing admitted that its workers conspired to defraud aviation regulators before two fatal 737 Max 8 crashes killed 346 people in the past decade. O'Connor rejected the deal late last year in part because of its terms governing the selection and conditions for a corporate monitor tasked with protecting against future fraud.

Boeing and the DOJ had been negotiating changes to that deal before an April 11 deadline set by the judge. But on Tuesday, O'Connor ripped up that deadline in favor of a trial later this year in Fort Worth, Texas.

"The Court hereby VACATES its April 11, 2025, deadline in its previous order and instead sets this case for trial on Monday, June 23, 2025," he wrote.

U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor of Fort Worth, Texas in 2018. Photo: U.S. Courts/Handout via REUTERS (via REUTERS / Reuters)

Boeing said, "[As] stated in the parties recent filings, Boeing and the Department of Justice continue to be engaged in good faith discussions regarding an appropriate resolution of this matter."

Paul Cassell, an attorney for some of the plaintiffs families, said, We are pleased with todays order. The families have waited more than four years for justice in this case. In light of todays order, the families wont have to wait any longer than June 23."

Admitting guilt was meant to insulate Boeing from facing a criminal trial on the government's allegation that the jet maker misled Federal Aviation Administration officials before the 737 Max 8 crashes at the end of the last decade.

Those allegations initially produced a deferred prosecution agreement reached in 2021, but last year the DOJ notified Boeing that it had breached the agreement after a door plug blew off a Boeing-made 737 Max 9 flown by Alaska Airlines.

Avoiding a criminal conviction would be a major victory for the company. Such convictions can foreclose or suspend a company's right to contract with the federal government and frustrate its ability to secure loans, according to Eddie Jauregui, a white-collar defense attorney with Holland & Knight and former federal prosecutor.

Those consequences have particular meaning for Boeing, which counts the federal government as its largest customer and also happens to be the country's largest exporter.

Just last week, Boeing won a major contract to build a new F-47 jet fighter for the Pentagon.

The Boeing logo is displayed at the company's factory, in Renton, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

O'Connor on Tuesday in his surprise order set strict courtroom rules and a quick pace for deadlines leading up to the trial date in June.

"The parties are hereby put on notice that Judge OConnor will take the bench promptly at the appointed time for each session without waiting until the clerk or courtroom security officer has called the roll or otherwise ascertained the presence of all necessary parties," a scheduling order filed Tuesday stated.

"If tardiness becomes a problem, appropriate fines will be imposed."

O'Connor went on to instruct that court conferences between the lawyers and the judge, known as bench conferences, must be kept to a minimum.

"Counsel must state the legal bases for their objections without elaboration or argument, unless invited," the order said.

The judge also put particular focus on the period for discovery during which the parties exchange information that can become evidence in the case.

"Absent a compelling excuse," the judge wrote, any evidence requested on time and not disclosed within a reasonable time before the trial will not be admitted in the case.

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China refutes claims of former Philippine president Duterte seeking asylum

Xinhua) 09:00, March 25, 2025

BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday that China has never received any asylum application from former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte or his family.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks in response to media reports claiming that, according to "informed sources," Duterte had sought asylum from China before being arrested under an International Criminal Court warrant.

"Duterte's visit to Hong Kong was a private vacation," Guo told a daily news briefing, adding that the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has issued an official response, and relevant Philippine parties have also commented on the matter.

Guo emphasized that certain claims from so-called "informed sources" are either fabricated or driven by ulterior motives. He urged the media to exercise discernment and avoid endorsing such claims without proper verification.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Christopher Whiteid Riley Strain.

The family of Riley Strain, the Missouri college student whose body was found in a Tennessee river two weeks after he was kicked out of a bar and disappeared in 2024, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Delta Chi fraternity organization and its members

The lawsuit was filed in Boone County, Mo., on March 21, 2025

The family also accuses the fraternity of allowing excessive drinking on the buses transporting members to Nashville and the absence of "proper chaperones" and abandoning Strain



The family of Riley Strain, the Missouri college student whose body was found in a Tennessee river two weeks after he disappeared, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Delta Chi fraternity organization and its members.

The lawsuit was filed in Boone County, Mo., on March 21, 2025  nearly one year after Strain was found dead  and accuses the Delta Chi fraternity of abandoning the 22-year-old student when he needed their help, according to court documents obtained PEOPLE.

In the spring of 2004, the complaint stated that Strain was "first approached about attending the yearly formal in Nashville," but that the student, described as an "often-reserved young man" who didn't usually "go with the typical fraternity flow" said that he wasn't planning on attending.

However, the complaint alleged that his "fraternity brothers continued to pressure Riley about the formal and, after their continued cajoling, Riley agreed to attend."

The Strain family also accuses the fraternity  of which 32 fraternity members and chapter leaders are listed in the suit  of allowing excessive drinking on the buses transporting members to Nashville, not having "proper" chaperones on the trip and "instilling a code into its fraternity members that encouraged or taught fraternity 'brothers' to abandon one another instead of helping one another."

According to an autopsy report, Strain's cause of death was noted as having been drowning and ethanol intoxication, with his manner of death listed as accidental. The report found that Strain had a blood alcohol content of .228, nearly three times the legal limit.



Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK Michelle Strain Whiteid, mother of Riley Strain, in Nashville on March 22, 2024.

Related: New Details About Riley Strains Death Revealed in Autopsy and Toxicology Reports

According to the complaint, on March 8, 2024, Strain and a group of fraternity brothers "boarded four separate charter buses to Nashville," with Strain boarding "without a date." Beer and alcoholic Jello shots were said to be provided on the buses, "although it was supposed to prohibited," the complaint alleged. The group arrived in Nashville later that afternoon.

According to the suit, fraternity members claimed that "within hours" after they arrived, they noticed that Strain "was acting unusual," having difficulty speaking and walking and was "virtually incoherent" by the time they reached the final bar that night.

After being kicked out of the bar, the suit alleged that Strain became lost and that "rather than having the support of his brothers, Riley was abandoned and alone" while his fraternity brothers kept "partying." The complaint went on to allege that they "failed to notice" Strain was missing and instead went to sleep before contacting his parents the following day, who then called police.

Strain's family had no comment when reached by PEOPLE. Delta Chi did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE, although last year, they released a statement saying they were deeply saddened by the tragic passing of our esteemed fraternity brother."

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Strain was last seen by friends after he was asked to leave country music star Luke Bryans bar restaurant in Nashville, according to a previous statement from the TC Restaurant Group, which oversees the establishment.

Following an investigation, the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) Investigators said they did not find "clear evidence that he was served an alcoholic beverage while visibly intoxicated at a licensed premises," despite the fact that evidence showed he did become "intoxicated over the course of the evening."

"While the circumstances of Mr. Strains death are tragic, the TABC investigation into whether he was served alcohol while visibly intoxicated on the night of March 8, 2024, did not result in any concrete evidence in the form of eyewitness testimony or video proof of a violation," read a statement released last June.



Christopher Whiteid Riley Strain

Related: Riley Strains Parents Accept His Diploma in Tears at Mizzous Graduation Ceremony

On the night he went missing, Strain FaceTimed his mother from a different bar sometime before 8 p.m., mom Michelle Whiteid previously told PEOPLE. We FaceTimed for a while, he wanted me to see around, and he was so excited, she said. Then we hung up and he texted me and he was like, It was kind of hard to hear you, but I wanted you to see what was happening. "

"I said, Well, you boys be safe. Make good choices. I love you guys. And he said, I love you, too, " she added. "And thats it, thats the last I have heard from him. The family didn't realize anything was wrong until his wife got a call from his fraternity brothers the following morning.

On March 12, 2024, Authorities shared surveillance footage on X of Strain appearing to stumble as he crossed a street. A local smoke and vape shops surveillance footage, shared with Fox affiliate WZTV, showed Strain on another street on the evening of March 8.

Two weeks later, the Nashville Police Department announced on March 22, 2024, that Strains body had been recovered from the Cumberland River, about 8 miles from downtown Nashville.



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markrday/Getty Stock image of a Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser Aircraft

A man and two children have been found alive after their small plane crashed on a frozen lake in Alaska.

According to NBC News, the three immediate family members were found with non-life-threatening injuries near the wreckage on Monday, March 24.

Alaska State Troopers told the outlet that the family members included a pilot and two juveniles. Police told Alaskas News Source that the two juvenile passengers were elementary and middle school ages.

The outlet reported that the three were found after roughly 12 hours on a Kenai Peninsula lake.

They were taken to a hospital after they were found on Monday morning near the east side of Tustumena Lake, according to NBC News.

LOETSCHER CHLAUS/Alamy Stock Photo Tustumena Glacier in Alaska

Related: 2 People 'Lucky to Be Alive' After Plane Crashes in Tennessee, Narrowly Avoiding Rush Hour Traffic

Alaskas News Source reported that the wreckage was found by a good Samaritan, identified as Terry Godes on Good Morning America, after the plane was reported overdue the night before at around 10:30 p.m. local time.

The man and two young passengers were then rescued by the Alaska Army National Guard around 10:30 a.m. on March 24.

Godes told Good Morning America that he saw a "dark spot" in the while flying overhead.

"At first, I could tell it was an airplane wing and so I made an announcement on the radio that I think I may have spotted them. I could see that there [were] three people on top of the wing. It was really good to see," he said.

After their "very cold, long, dark, wet night," Godes said it was "a miracle" that they survived.

"When I first saw the wing out there, it broke my heart because I know what happens when airplanes break through the ice," he said. "Fortunately, they got out of the airplane in time, either before it sank all the way or they got out through the skylights."



dan_prat/Getty Stock image of a Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter

Related: Rhode Island Couple Survives After Plane Crashes into Bay: 'Were Not Going to Die Today'

Dale Eicher, who reportedly has a background in search and rescue, spoke to CNN affiliate KTUU about hearing that the aircraft had been discovered after starting his own search.

"I called the troopers immediately because I was still in cell service and I knew it was a really good chance that the guy that had found him was not in cell service, Eicher said. I was really shocked. I didnt expect that we would find them. I didnt expect that we would find them alive for sure  it doesnt always turn out this well.

Praising the Kenai community for their help, the pilot's father John Morris said told Alaska's News Source that he had air in my lungs again.

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Morris previously told Alaskas News Source that his son and two others flew from Soldotna Airport on Sunday on a reported sightseeing flight.

Family friend Scott Holmes also expressed his appreciation for the community. My daughter told me there was 420 shares on my post, he told the outlet of his Facebook post calling for help. "Im proud of the guys that stepped up and went out and helped out.

Dennis Hogenson, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), described the discovery as remarkable and good news," per the outlet.

Hogenson added that they still do not know what caused the crash and that they will be interviewing the pilot and recovering the aircraft.

PEOPLE has contacted the Alaska Department of Public Safety and the City of Kenai Police Department for comment.



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Editor's note: The father of the teen girl has been arrested. Click here for the latest update on the case as of Wednesday, March 26.

A missing 13-year-old girl was found dead in an abandoned house in Toledo, Ohio, and investigators are now searching for her father, who is suspected of killing her, police said.

The disappearance last week of Keimani Latigue sent shockwaves through the northern Ohio city located on the western tip of Lake Erie, according to local news reports. After Latigue was reported missing on March 18, Toledo police issued a warrant Sunday for the arrest of her father, who was suspected of abducting her, the department said in a news release provided to USA TODAY.

That man, Darnell Jones, 33, has now been charged with suspicion of murder after Latigue was found dead Monday. A manhunt is underway to locate and arrest Jones, Toledo Police Lt. Daniel Gerken said in a statement.

Toledo police find missing teen girl in abandoned house

Latigue was found dead early Monday when Toledo Police Department investigators searched inside a burned-out house on Miami Street, local outlets reported, including The Blade.

The Lucas County Coroners Office has not provided information about how the girl died, but confirmed to both WTVG and WTOL that an autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

The news release from the Toledo Police Department only says Latigue was "found suffering from apparent fatal injuries."

Latigue's father became a suspect after police said he provided "inconsistent statements" to investigators and was the last known person to be seen with the girl before her disappearance, multiple outlets reported, citing a probable cause affidavit.

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More news: Attorney fatally shot; brother arrested while joining family at scene, Phoenix police say

Family, community mourns Latigue's death

Tiara Kasten, Latigue's mother, was among dozens of people who gathered Monday outside the abandoned, boarded up home to watch as investigators searched the structure, according to local reports.

Some silently stared at the house while others vocally expressed anger and anguish, the Blade reported.

The grim discovery of Latique's body comes after family members spent days organizing search parties, canvassing the community and handing out flyers for any word of her whereabouts, WTVG reported.

Asked about Latigue's death, Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz told WTOL It's hard to put into words just how terrible an event this is.

"Obviously, for the family and friends most directly affected, but really even for the whole community," he said.

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Missing Toledo teen girl Keimani Latigue found dead; father charged
Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK Taylor Schabusiness

"This crime offends human decency, it offends human dignity, it offends the human community. "

Those were the words a Wisconsin judge had for Taylor Schabusiness back in 2024 when he sentenced her to life in prison for the murder of 24-year-old Shad Thyrion.

The 27-year-old mother and wife admitted to decapitating Thyrion while the two had sex and then sexually assaulting his headless body before mutilating and dismembering his body with a butter knife, according to a criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE.

Schabusiness and her lawyer filed an appeal shortly after she was sentenced and convicted, but in a new filing the attorney representing the convicted murderer told the judge that that they are dropping those efforts.

Attorney Gregory Petit said that his client's conviction came after a fair investigation and trial, and that as a result there are no grounds on which they could launch a successful challenge to the ruling, in a no merit order obtained by PEOPLE.

The case will now be closed for good after Petit submits his final order to a judge for the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.

Facebook Shad Thyrion

Schabusiness told investigators with the Green Bay Police Department that she and Thyrion had gone to his home after doing methamphetamine, according to the complaint.

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Once at Thyrion's home, Schabusiness said the two started to engage in sexual intercourse, which then turned violent when the convicted murderer said she began to choke her lover.

Schabusiness would black out while choking Thyrion, but when she awoke and saw the victim was already purple, she remarked she was "already this far" and decided to finish the job, noting in a lower tone of voice that she "liked it," detectives wrote in the complaint.

Schabusiness stated she enjoyed choking him and made comments to detectives asking if they knew what it was like to love something so much that you kill it," authorities wrote.

Court TV Taylor Schabusiness in a spit hood.

Once dead, Schabusiness sexually assaulted Thyrion before mutilating and chopping up his body with a "bread knife," per the complaint.

Schabusiness told deputies she had grown tired by that point and did not have the energy to dispose of Thyrion's body, according to the complaint.

"Schabusiness stated the plan was for her to bring all of the body parts with her but she got lazy and only ended up putting the leg/foot in the van and she forgot the head," the complaint reads.

After Schabusiness left the home, Thyrion's mother went downstairs to check on her son and found his head in a bucket, according to the complaint.

At one point in her interview with police, Schabusiness suddenly said "damn the head, followed by, I cant believe I left the head though.

Thyrion's genitalia was also in a bucket, while the rest of his remains were in scattered bags in the basement and in the van Schabusiness had borrowed from her roommate that day.

A jury found her guilty on counts of intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse and sexual assault for the meth-fueled murder in February 2022.

Schabusiness, 27, never denied the charges against her and did not take the stand in her defense, though she did enter a plea of "not guilty" by mental disease or defect.

The jury ultimately found that Schabusiness was of sound mind.



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North Central Regional Jail Shanna Marie Vannorman

An elderly West Virginia woman was allegedly stabbed to death by her own daughter over the weekend  a little more than two months after reportedly bailing her out of jail on another charge.



Elaine Labenne was found dead inside the home she shared with her daughter, Shanna Marie Vannorman, on Saturday night, March 22, after officers arrived at the scene following a report of a stabbing, according to a statement from the Clarksburg Police Department shared with PEOPLE.

Vannorman, 41, is currently being held in custody at the North Central Regional Jail in West Virginia and has been charged with murder in connection with the death of her 64-year-old mother, according to the police statement.

North Central Regional Jail Shanna Marie Vannorman

WVNews reported that Vannorman was arrested in January on accusations she assaulted a government official. She was also charged at the time with disorderly conduct, according to the outlet, which reported that Vannormans mother has bailed her out of jail on at least one of the two previous charges.

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Clarksburg police chief Mark Kiddy says Vannorman was living with her mother at the time of the alleged murder on Saturday night, according to the statement. Officers from the local Clarksburg Police Department said they arrived at the familys house around 8:45 and found Labenne stabbed to death with a knife, according to authorities.

Clarksburg police told PEOPLE Labenne was pronounced dead at the scene.

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A massive sinkhole in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday.

A motorcyclist died after falling into a sinkhole in the South Korean capital, authorities said Tuesday, in the latest such fatal incident.

The man in his 30s, who has not been publicly identified, was found in cardiac arrest around noon local time on Tuesday, the day after a sinkhole about 65 feet wide and 65 feet deep opened up without warning as he was driving down a street in Seoul, according to the Gangdong Fire Station.

The massive sinkhole appeared around 6:30 p.m. Monday (5:30 a.m. ET) near an intersection in the Gangdong district of Seoul.

A dashcam video geolocated by NBC News showed the motorcyclist plunge into the sinkhole while a car in front of him jolted violently as its rear wheels barely avoided the chasm.

His body was discovered about 160 feet below the center of the sinkhole after an overnight search involving about 40 rescue personnel. Rescuers also found the victims mobile phone and motorcycle.

The search operation, which lasted for 17 hours, was difficult due to the water and soil mixed together at the scene and the entangled heavy machinery from a nearby construction site, an official from the fire station told reporters Tuesday.

It was only after draining the area and deploying heavy equipment to remove the soil that we were able to locate the man, he added.

A woman in her 40s who was passing through the site before the sinkhole opened suffered a minor injury and is now recovering in the hospital.

Sinkholes happen when the ground below the land surface can no longer support it.

The cause of the sinkhole remains unknown. Seoul officials said they planned to conduct a detailed and comprehensive investigation.

We will identify the cause of the accident as quickly as possible to ensure that such incidents are not repeated and that citizens can use the roads confidently, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon told reporters at the scene on Monday.

The sinkhole in the South Korean capital appears to be due to collapse of infrastructure, Andrew Farrant, a geologist at the British Geological Survey, told NBC News in an email Tuesday.

While natural sinkholes are caused by the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone and salt, other sinkholes are formed by the collapse of man-made underground voids, notably old mine workings and tunnels, Farrant said.

Since its hard to protect oneself from a hole suddenly opening up, more could be done to prevent the forming of sinkholes, with a good ground investigation being essential, he said.

Climate change, in particular more frequent and heavy rainfall, combined with increasing urbanization is likely to generate more sinkholes in future, he added.

Seoul officials said a total of 223 sinkholes appeared in the city from 2015 to 2024.

Sinkholes can be human-induced, with some correlated to land-use practices such as groundwater pumping and construction, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The incident in Seoul follows a similar one earlier this year in the Japanese city of Yashio, when a truck and its driver were swallowed by a sinkhole the size of a large swimming pool. The 74-year-old driver was never found after a two-week search.

Officials said the hole was most likely caused by a damaged sewage pipe.

There is no database for sinkholes in the U.S., but according to the U.S. Geological Survey the states with the most reported damage from sinkholes are Florida, Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Pennsylvania.

In December, a 64-year-old woman searching for her cat was found dead in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, several days after she fell into a sinkhole that authorities said was most likely caused by mine subsidence.
A Canadian Muslim woman was targeted at a public library on Saturday in what police are calling an unprovoked attack by a suspect who attempted to remove and set the woman's hijab on fire.

Officers from the Durham Regional Police responded to an assault call at the Ajax Public Library in Ontario, about 50 miles east of Toronto, at around 12 p.m.

Ajax Public Library located at 55 Harwood Ave S in Ontario, Canada.

"Officers spoke with the victim who advised she was in the library studying when she was approached by an unknown female," police said in a news release published Sunday. "The female began yelling profanities at the victim and throwing objects at her head."

Police did not clarify which profanities the suspect yelled at the victim.

Police said the suspect also tried to remove the victim's hijab, and poured "an unknown liquid on it," before grabbing a lighter and attempting to set the hijab on fire.

The victim screamed for help and the library's security intervened, according to police.

"The suspect fled the library but was located by officers a few hours later and taken into custody without incident," police said.

Kaley-Ann Freier, 25, was arrested and charged with two counts of assault with a weapon and three counts of failure to comply with a probation order, police said, adding that "she was held for a bail hearing."

It is not clear if Freier has an attorney at this time.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, police said, adding that investigators are required to consult with the Crown Attorneys office to determine whether the evidence meets the legal threshold for hate to be considered a factor.

Durham Regional Police and the Crown Attorneys Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Police are asking anyone with information on the incident to get in touch with their West Division Criminal Investigation Bureau.

In a news conference held Monday by members of Canada's Muslim community and local Ajax officials, a statement from the victim was read, according to CTV.

"I never imagined that a visit to my favorite, quiet corner of the library would turn into one of the most terrifying moments of my life, the statement read. "I was simply going to study, as I had many times before, when I noticed a woman murmuring and cursing."

According to the statement, the woman attempted to ignore this before the suspect began throwing objects at her, and considered speaking to the librarian, but the "situation escalated" before she could.

I cant stop thinking, What if the lighter had worked? What if my hijab had caught on fire?" the statement read. The victim also shared in her statement that she has daughters who wear the hijab, and fears that this could happen to them has shaken her confidence in the safety of community spaces.

Canada is the leading country among G7 nations when it comes to Islamphobia-related deaths in the past seven years, according to Omar Khamissa, the National Council of Canadian Muslims chief operating officer, who spoke at the news conference Monday.

"What happened on Saturday could've easily increased that number," Khamissa said. "Canadians need to know this, they need to know this especially right now as we're in an election cycle."

Khamissa said he would like to see every party in Canada come up with a plan on how they will tackle Islamphobia and hate ahead of the upcoming elections, which have been moved from October to next month.

In a statement shared to his X account, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said what happened Saturday "is not an isolated incident."

"Islamophobia is real, it is dangerous, and it must stop," he wrote.

New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh called the attack "horrifying."

"This hate-motivated attack is a reminder that divisive rhetoric is a stain on our country and not part of our Canadian values," he wrote on X.






By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA (Reuters) - China and India are likely to try to interfere in the Canadian general election on April 28, while Russia and Pakistan have the potential to do so, the country's spy service said on Monday.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service made its comments at a time when Ottawa's relations with both India and China are chilly. Beijing and New Delhi have denied previous allegations of interference.

Canada was slow in responding to efforts by China and India to interfere in the 2019 and 2021 elections but their outcomes were unaffected by the meddling, an official probe said in a final report released in January.

Vanessa Lloyd, deputy director of operations at CSIS, told a press conference that hostile state actors were increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence to meddle in elections.

"The PRC (People's Republic of China) is highly likely to use AI enabled tools to attempt to interfere with Canada's democratic process in this current election," she said.

Earlier this month Beijing announced tariffs on more than $2.6 billion worth of Canadian agricultural and food products, retaliating against levies Ottawa slapped on Chinese electric vehicles and steel and aluminum products last year.

Canada said last week that China had executed four Canadian citizens on drug smuggling charges, and strongly condemned Beijing's use of the death penalty.

Canada last year expelled six Indian diplomats - including the head of mission - over allegations they were involved in a plot against Sikh separatists on Canadian soil.

"We have also seen that the government of India has the intent and capability to interfere in Canadian communities and democratic processes," said Lloyd.

The Chinese and Indian diplomatic missions in Ottawa were not immediately available for comment.

Russia and Pakistan could potentially conduct foreign interference activities against Canada, Lloyd added.

"It's often very difficult to establish a direct link between foreign interference activities and election results ... Nevertheless, threat activities can erode public trust in the integrity of Canada's democratic processes and institutions," she said.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Sandra Maler)
By Liam Mo and Kane Wu

BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) - China has narrowed the AI development gap with the United States to just three months in some areas, because firms such as DeepSeek have worked out how to use chips and apply algorithms more efficiently, the CEO of Chinese startup 01.AI Lee Kai-fu said.

Lee, a prominent figure in the global artificial intelligence space and a former head of Google China, told Reuters that startup DeepSeek revealed that China had pulled ahead in areas such as infrastructure software engineering

DeepSeek shook the global AI industry when it launched an AI reasoning model in January that it said was trained with less advanced chips and was cheaper to develop than its Western rivals. The announcement challenged the assumption that U.S. sanctions were holding back China's AI sector.

"Previously I think it was a six to nine month gap and behind in everything. And now I think that's probably three months behind in some of the core technologies, but actually ahead in some specific areas," Lee said in an interview in Hong Kong.

Washington's semiconductor sanctions were a "double edged sword" that created short term challenges but also forced Chinese firms to innovate under constraints, he added, pointing out how Chinese companies had developed their algorithms.

"The fact that DeepSeek are able to figure out the chain of thought with a new way to do reinforcement learning is either catching up with the U.S., learning quickly, or maybe even more innovative now," Lee said, referring to how DeepSeek models show users their reasoning process before delivering answers - a capability first developed by OpenAI but not released to users.

China's tech sector jumped into the global race to develop generative AI soon after the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in late 2022 but until DeepSeek's launch, many of the country's tech leaders said they were far behind Western counterparts.

Lee, who also runs his own venture capital firm, founded 01.AI in March 2023, joining other new AI startupssuch as ZhipuAI and Moonshot as well as Chinese tech giants Baidu, Alibaba and ByteDance in building foundational models.

Lee said investing in proprietary models had become "courageous" for AI startups in a market environment dominated by well-funded tech giants and rapidly evolving open-source alternatives.

He said 01.AI will instead focus on practical AI applications - software solutions that help clients better deploy foundational models, he said.

Earlier this month, 01.AI launched Wanzhi, a new software platform that helps enterprises deploy AI technology. The company has already begun generating revenue and projects growth for 2025 to several times the $15 million achieved last year, Lee added.

(Reporting by Kane Wu and Roantree Anne Marie in Hong Kong, and Liam Mo in Beijing; editing by Brenda Goh and Kate Mayberry)
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo Provided by Gov. Joe Lombardo's office

(The Center Square)  Nevada Democrats are criticizing Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo after he supported President Donald Trumps effort to close the U.S. Department of Education.

Last week, Trump signed an executive order to eliminate the department.

Closing the Department of Education would provide children and their families the opportunity to escape a system that is failing them, the order says.

Once this order was announced, Lombardo wrote an op-ed calling it one of the most influential reforms yet of [Trumps] presidency.

Funding for the Department of Education has more than doubled since 1980  yet billions more in funding hasnt contributed to better education results. In fact, its done the opposite, he said in his op-ed.

The governor stated that returning curriculum decisions to the state level will allow for moving past outdated national standardized testing. Instead, he said, this allows focus on fresh accountability for academic achievement and new choices for students and parents.

Education should be about opportunity, and this move will empower states to deliver unprecedented opportunity for every child, regardless of household income or where a child lives, he wrote.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford on Monday criticized the governors support of Trump's executive order.

Fords comments on social media follow his press conference where the Democrat critiqued the governor last week.

On X, Ford said he previously taught public school math. He added, Gutting the Department of Education isnt about efficiency  its about abandoning our students.

Ford also said that when Lombardo talks about local control, he is really talking about being loyal to Trump, no matter the cost.

Lombardo wants to kiss up to Donald Trump? Fine. But he doesnt get to do it at the expense of Nevada students, he said on X.

The same day, Ford posted another post on X stating that Lombardo had sold out Nevadas kids.

Ford recently joined a coalition of other Democratic attorneys general in suing the Trump administration to stop the Department of Educations shutdown.

The Nevada Democratic Party released a statement on Monday saying Nevada residents know the governor will not stand up for the states students. The party accused Lombardo of prioritizing Republican efforts to give tax handouts to billionaires like Elon Musk.

Nevada Democrats said many school programs will be cut if the U.S. Department of Education closes.

Meanwhile, The Center Square previously reported that Nevada students scored below the national average regarding reading comprehension and mathematics.
State Sen. Sydney Batch, D-Wake, speaks about paid sick leave legislation during a press conference at the Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C., on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. NCLeg.gov

(The Center Square)  Legislation to require private employers to offer paid sick leave insurance and to raise the minimum wage were each endorsed by a group of Democrats on Tuesday at the North Carolina General Assembly.

Sen. Sydney Batch, the minority party leader who succeeded longtime leader and fellow Wake County Democratic Sen. Dan Blue, introduced the North Carolina Paid Family Leave Insurance Act, also known as Senate Bill 480. It would require employers to offer insurance for paid sick leave, which would be financed through contributions from both the employer and the employee, similar to the federal Social Security program.

There are so many families that are struggling just to make ends meet, Batch said at a news conference in the Legislative Building on Jones Street in Raleigh. They are living paycheck to paycheck, and they dont have the ability to go ahead and take any leave

She cited a woman who had a baby at 26 weeks and the baby was in the hospital for more than three months. The mother did not have paid leave.

Every single day, she had to leave her child and then come back after hours, Batch said. In a society that is so well resources, it is outrageous that we do not provide paid leave for individuals.

The legislation has a companion bill in the House of Representatives.

Thirteen other states offer similar insurance, according to the bills sponsors.

Another group of Democratic legislators held a separate news conference calling for an increase in the states minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, the same as the federal minimum wage. The states minimum wage has not been increased in 16 years, according to bill sponsors.

Several bills have been filed to raise North Carolina minimum wage to at least $15 an hour.

Thirty states currently have higher minimum wages than North Carolina, supporters of the bills said.

Under the Fair Minimum Wage Act  also known as House Bill 353  sponsored by Rep. Marcia Morey, D-Durham, the state minimum wage would go up to $18 an hour by 2030. The average minimum wage worker would have to work 16 hours a day, seven days a week to make ends meet, she said.

The average North Carolinian cant survive off the minimum wage, she said. We have to protect our workers.

However, critics of a higher minimum wage, such as the National Federation of Independent Businesses, say it is a job killer and particularly hurts small businesses.

The NFIB Research Center estimates that raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour would result in more than 1.3 million jobs lost, 900,000 of the job losses (55%) would come from small businesses, the organization said of nationwide jobs in January.

Mandatory paid family leave is also very unpopular with small business owners, according NFIB, with 94% of members saying in a recent poll that they opposed requiring 12 weeks a year in paid leave.

Both bills, while likely to be supported by Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, face an uphill climb. Republicans have majorities of 30-20 in the Senate and 71-49 in the House of Representatives.
Allentown, Pa., City Hall in 2020.

A Pennsylvania city employee who called police in January to report a noose she found on her desk is now accused of having placed it there herself.

On Jan. 10, LaTarsha Brown called the Allentown Police Department and reported that she found what she believed was a noose on her desk on the third floor of Allentown City Hall when she arrived at work that morning, police said. It's not clear what Brown's job with the city is.

Police shared a picture of the noose with NBC News; it appears to be miniature and made with black thread.

The noose found on LaTarsha Browns desk, according to the Allentown Police Department.

That kicked off an investigation to find a culprit, which included reviewing security video and building access control records to identify anyone who was on the third floor from the night before to the morning of the report.

"Those employees were interviewed, and each was asked if they would provide a buccal swab for DNA testing if needed," police said in a news release published Monday. "Every city employee agreed, except for Ms. Brown. Initially cooperative, Ms. Brown later requested that the investigation be discontinued."

Later that month, the noose was submitted for DNA testing at the Pennsylvania State Police crime lab, and the Lehigh County District Attorneys Office approved a search warrant for Brown's DNA. Her DNA was collected and submitted to a crime lab "for comparison with DNA profiles recovered from the noose."

"On March 10, 2025, the Forensic DNA Division of the Pennsylvania State Police issued a written report indicating that Ms. Browns DNA matched the DNA profile obtained from the swabs of both the outer surface and the inner knotted portion of the noose after taken apart," police said. "No other persons DNA profiles was found on the evidentiary items involved in this investigation."

Brown was charged with misdemeanor third-degree filing false reports to law enforcement and second-degree tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, police said. It is not clear whether she has an attorney or still works for the city.

City Hall and the district attorney's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Pennsylvania State Police denied a request for comment, deferring to the Allentown Police Department as the lead agency.
By David Morgan and Nate Raymond

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday warned that Congress' authority over the federal judiciary includes the power to eliminate entire district courts, as the White House rails against "activist" judges blocking Republican President Donald Trump's agenda.

Johnson, the top Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, told reporters the numerous injunctions issued by judges nationally that have stymied Trump's initiatives were part of a "dangerous trend."

"It violates separation of powers when a judge thinks that they can enjoin something that a president is doing, that the American people voted for," Johnson said during his weekly press conference.

He said the House Judiciary Committee plans to hold a hearing next week "to highlight these abuses" and had recently advanced legislation that would prevent district court judges from issuing nationwide injunctions blocking policies.

"We do have authority over the federal courts," he said. "As you know, we can eliminate an entire district court. We have power over funding, over the courts and all these other things. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and Congress is going to act."

Nationwide injunctions have been issued by judges frequently in recent years, blocking policies adopted by presidents of both parties. Any legislation the House passes to curtail them would face tough odds of success in the Senate, where Democratic support would be needed.

Johnson later clarified to reporters that his remarks were not meant as a threat but to "illustrate that we have broad authority over the courts."

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters it was "outrageous to even think of defunding the courts."

The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts declined to comment.

Johnson's remarks came in response to a question about how the House would address the impeachment resolutions filed by conservative members of his party against six judges who have blocked actions undertaken by Trump and billionaire ally Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.

Republican House members filed them despite long-shot odds of ever securing convictions in the U.S. Senate. Asked about the resolutions, Johnson deferred to the Judiciary Committee.

The judges targeted include Washington-based U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who Trump himself argued should be impeached after he ordered the administration to halt the removal of hundreds of Venezuelan migrants.

That call for an impeachment drew a rare rebuke from Chief U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts, who in a statement said "impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision," which can be appealed.

(Reporting by David Morgan in Washington and Nate Raymond in Boston; Additional reporting by Richard Cowan, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Nia Williams)
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Tuesday he will visit Greenland this week accompanying a high profile U.S. delegation to the territory that U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington should take over.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Trump has said repeatedly the U.S. should take over Greenland, claiming the vast island was important for U.S. national security. The governments of both Greenland and Denmark have voiced opposition to any U.S. takeover. Polls have shown that nearly all Greenlanders oppose joining the United States.

KEY QUOTES

"Looking forward to visiting Greenland on Friday," Vance wrote in a post on social media platform X. The post also had a video of Vance announcing the visit.

"A lot of other countries have threatened Greenland, have threatened to use its territories and its waterways to threaten the United States, to threaten Canada, and of course, to threaten the people of Greenland. So we are going to check out how things are going there," Vance said in the video.

"Unfortunately, leaders in both America and in Denmark, I think, ignored Greenland for far too long."

CONTEXT

Greenland has been controlled by Denmark for centuries, previously as a colony and now as a semi-sovereign territory under the Danish realm. It is subject to the Danish constitution, meaning any change to its legal status would require a constitutional amendment.

The U.S. delegation's Greenland visit to an American military base will also include Usha Vance, the vice president's wife, White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. It runs from Thursday to Saturday.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Ryan Patrick Jones; Editing by Alistair Bell)
Palestinian Academy Award-winning filmmaker Hamdan Ballal was released from Israeli custody on Tuesday, friend and fellow filmmaker Yuval Abraham said, after Ballal was detained by Israeli security forces on Monday.

The co-director of "No Other Land" was detained by the Israel Police following a confrontation with Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Basel Adra -- who shared the recent Oscar win -- told ABC News that Ballal is believed to have been injured in what activists said was an attack by settlers on local Palestinian families.

Ballal was released on Tuesday, Abraham wrote on X. The filmmaker "is now free and is about to go home to his family," he said.

Israel Police confirmed to ABC News that Ballal was among three people released "on conditions that include not contacting other people involved and providing a personal guarantee. The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are expected."

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces said of Monday's incident, "Several terrorists hurled rocks at Israeli citizens, damaging their vehicles" near Susiya, a village located to the south of the southern West Bank city of Hebron.

PHOTO: Hamdan Ballal, Palestinian co-director of Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land,' is detained by the Israeli military near his home in the West Bank, on March 25, 2025. (Raviv Rose/AP)

"Following this, a violent confrontation broke out, involving mutual rock-hurling between Palestinians and Israelis at the scene," the IDF said. "IDF and Israeli Police forces arrived to disperse the confrontation, at this point, several terrorists began hurling rocks at the security forces."

"In response, the forces apprehended three Palestinians suspected of hurling rocks at them, as well as an Israeli civilian involved in the violent confrontation. The detainees were taken for further questioning by the Israel Police. An Israeli citizen was injured in the incident and was evacuated to receive medical treatment."

Israel Police confirmed to ABC News in a statement that Ballal was arrested and taken to Kiryat Arba police station. The force said Ballal was under investigation.

"No Other Land," which won best documentary at this year's Oscars, details the efforts of the residents of Masafer Yatta to stop the demolition of their villages by the IDF and harassment by Israeli settlers. Both Ballal and Adra are residents of Masafar Yatta.

Nasser Nawaja, a field researcher working for B'Tselem -- a human rights organization based in Jerusalem -- told ABC News on Monday that he was with Ballal before the filmmaker was arrested.

"For the past month, there have been attacks every single day," Nawaja said. "The settlers are trying to pressure us to leave Susiya."

PHOTO: Rachel Szor (R) and Hamdan Ballal (L) pose with the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature Film for 'No Other Land' at the Governors Ball following the Oscars show at the 97th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, on March 2, 2025. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

Settler attacks began on Monday morning at around 7:30 a.m. local time, Nawaja said. "We called the Israeli police. When they arrived, they told us, 'The settlers are allowed to graze here.' But it's our private land. It's our homes."

At around 6 p.m., Nawaja said the settlers "attacked" local families, throwing stones at a house and trying to "shoot the family's sheep."

Activist Anna Lippman told ABC News that she and a group of fellow activists were also attacked by stone-throwing Israeli settlers outside the village of Susiya on Monday evening after they arrived to come to the aid of Ballal.

The incident started at the house of Ballal's neighbor, Lippman said, before moving on to Ballal's house.

Adra said he saw two settlers with guns and that most of the attackers were masked.

"Hamdan was just standing there when the settlers came at him too," Nawaja said. "They destroyed the water tanks. And not long after that, the soldiers arrested him. We haven't heard anything about him since."

"Hamdan ran home," Nawaja added. "He got his wife and children inside, and stood in the doorway to protect them. That's when the soldiers arrested him. I got close enough to film it. He was blindfolded, handcuffed, and taken away in a military vehicle -- along with two other Palestinians."

MORE: Trump administration claims Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil misrepresented information on green card application

"Later, I spoke with Hamdan's wife," Nawaja said. "She told me he was beaten. But she's too afraid to speak to journalists. Another journalist tried, and she said no."

"He spent years documenting what was happening to us," Nawaja said. "And now it's happening to him. And we don't even know where he is."

The Israeli military designated Masafer Yatta as a live-fire training zone in the 1980s and ordered residents to be expelled, prompting a 20-year legal battle.

Israel's Supreme Court upheld the expulsion order in 2022, though approximately 1,000 residents remain in place. Israeli forces regularly move in to demolish homes and other structures. Locals say Israeli settlers have also set up several outposts nearby since the court's 2022 decision.

Both Ballal and Adra are residents of Masafar Yatta. The film also has two Israeli directors -- Abraham and Rachel Szor.

ABC News' Joe Simonetti, Ellie Kaufman, Chris Looft and Dragana Jovanovic contributed to this report.

Oscar-winning Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal freed by Israel, friend says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
It's very rare that someone dies on a cruise ship.

When it does happen, it's usually either an older person who has a heart attack or some other sudden illness. In most other cases, it's either someone doing something really dumb, like jumping between balconies or playing dangerous games at the railing, or it's a suicide.

Related: U.S. issues 'reconsider travel' warning for Caribbean cruise port

Accidental deaths are rare occurrences.

A legal website (designed to recruit people to sue cruise lines) shared some statistics on cruise ship deaths.

One study found 623 reported deaths between 2000-2019. (Other studies indicate the number might be higher.)

More than 100 cruise ships have run aground since 1980.

Only 28% of people who fall overboard will survive.

89% of cruise ship deaths are passengers, while 11% are crew members.

Now, another soul has sadly joined that list and Doug Parker has the full story on the March 24 edition of Cruise News Today.

Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise.

Passenger killed at Half Moon Cay

Transcript:

This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker.

Good morning. Here's your cruise news for Monday, March 24.

An investigation is underway following the passing of a female cruise passenger on Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas.

The incident occurred just after 1 p.m. on Saturday when Holland America Line's New Amsterdam was visiting the private island.

Authorities say that a woman was riding a jet ski when she reportedly lost control and struck a rock. Despite efforts by medical personnel, she succumbed to her injuries.

In turn, the ship was delayed returning to Port Everglades on Sunday.

Bahamian police are continuing the investigation.

Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter.

Port closed after boat capsizes; Royal adds new ban

Over the weekend, the port of Jacksonville was temporarily closed after a boat capsized Friday night near the Dames Point Bridge, prompting a search and rescue operation.

As a result, Carnival Elation was delayed returning from its Bahamas cruise because the channel was closed. This, in turn, pushed back Saturday's embarkation.

The ship itself, though, was not affected by the incident.

Royal Caribbean has quietly introduced a new rule banning personal Bluetooth speakers on its private island, Perfect Day.

First reported by Royal Caribbean Blog, the update appeared in the March 15 Cruise Compass aboard Icon of the Seas. It says it wants to keep the island's atmosphere peaceful and family-friendly.

Although not yet listed on the official prohibited items list, the Cruise Compass states that glass bottles and personal speakers are prohibited.

This move follows similar steps last year by Carnival banning Bluetooth speakers.

The ban, though, currently only applies to Perfect Day, not on the ships themselves with Royal Caribbean.

If you have a lead on a story, let us know. Tips@cruiseradio.net.

Here aboard Norwegian Aqua making our way to Southampton.

Supposed to pick up a pilot at 3 a.m. bright and early Tuesday morning.

I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today. Have yourself a great Monday.

(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.
President Donald Trumps promises of a hasty end to the war in Ukraine were given a hard reality check Tuesday, with Russian officials saying that the latest round of ceasefire talks with the United States ended without a written agreement and the Kremlin continuing to bomb Ukraine.

The media had been briefed to expect a statement following discussions in Saudi Arabia, but no such written conclusion was released. In an interview with Russian state television, the first deputy chairman of Russias defense committee, Vladimir Chizhov, blamed the position taken by Ukraine.

They sat for 12 hours and seemed to have agreed on a joint statement, Chizhov told Rossiya 24. However this was not adopted due to Ukraines position, he said, calling the holdup very characteristic and symptomatic.

The White House did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment on the conclusion of the talks.

While both sides have  in theory  agreed to a limited, 30-day ceasefire, Russian President Vladimir Putin has imposed conditions that would essentially constitute a Ukrainian surrender. Meanwhile, Kyiv says the Kremlin is clearly uninterested in peace given that it continues to launch nightly mass drone attacks against the country.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, second right, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, second left, at a previous round of talks in Riyadh last month.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters earlier Tuesday that there were no immediate plans for another call between Putin and Trump.

Ukraine, meanwhile, is still counting the casualties from an attack a day earlier in the city of Sumy  on a dense residential area, a childrens hospital and a school  with authorities so far reporting 101 people injured, including 23 children.

Russia fired 139 more Iran-designed Shahed drones into Ukraine overnight, Ukrainian officials said. They added that while 78 were shot down, others caused damaged in the regions of Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Cherkasy and Odessa.

Instead of making hollow statements about peace, Russia must stop bombing our cities and end its war on civilians, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a statement Monday. Any diplomacy with Moscow must be backed up by firepower, sanctions, and pressure.

Three years after it was invaded by Putin, Ukraine has itself launched retaliatory strikes on targets related to the Kremlins war effort. On Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said it shot down a Ukrainian drone headed for an oil pumping depot that supplies the countrys energy exports.

The ministry said that drone attacks launched by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "confirms his inability to negotiate." It added, "The Kiev regime continues to deliberately plan, prepare and carry out attacks on energy infrastructure."

Russia and Ukraine have continued this mutual bombardment despite agreeing to a limited ceasefire in principle earlier this month. The Kremlin, meanwhile, has issued demands tantamount to a Ukrainian surrender.

There have been subtly differing statements about what this ceasefire might cover, with American readouts referring to energy and infrastructure and the Kremlin referring only to energy infrastructure.

U.S. and Russian negotiators have also presented starkly different accounts of how the talks were going.

While Moscow's representatives have appeared circumspect, American officials have sounded optimistic about the talks in Saudi Arabia, even as a parallel ceasefire agreement brokered by the White House in the Gaza Strip has fallen apart.

One of the heads of Russias delegation in Riyadh, Grigorii Karasin, was more forthcoming, calling the negotiations very useful.

We discussed everything, there was a busy, not an easy dialogue, but very useful for us and for the Americans, he told Russias state-controlled Tass news agency Tuesday.

Of course, not everything was resolved, not everything was agreed upon, he added.

One issue being discussed is the "Black Sea Initiative," which was designed to help Ukraine ship grain abroad while minimizing the impact of sanctions on Russian food and fertilizer exports. Moscow nixed this deal in 2023, complaining the second half of the deal was not being honored by Western countries.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia would need "clear guarantees" to resume the deal, and that these "guarantees can only be the result of an order from Washington to Zelenskyy."

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday that territory and "lines of demarcation" were among the subjects discussed in Riyadh, as well as a proposal by the U.S. to take control of a key nuclear plant in Ukraine.

"They are talking about ownership of the big nuclear power plant in particular," he said. Something like that would be fine with me, he added, calling it a "great meeting."

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy gave his most expansive account yet of the remarkable Oval Office bust-up between him, Trump and Vice President JD Vance last month.

He told Time magazine in an interview published Monday that he was defending the dignity of Ukraine during that discussion.
A Florida woman faces a felony armed robbery charge for allegedly holding up a Dairy Queen at gunpoint  and making off with just $1.50.

Allison Fetting, 44, was already in jail when she was booked Friday for allegedly stealing a tip jar last year containing not even half the cost of one of the chains iconic Blizzard treats, Local 10 News reported.

She was accused of brandishing a black handgun to hold up a Dairy Queen in Coconut Creek, about 37 miles north of Miami, in February last year, according to cops.

Allison Fetting allegedly stole the contents of a Dairy Queen tip jar at gunpoint last year. Broward County Sheriff's Office

When she failed to get the cashier to empty the register, she made off with the tip jar, with the paltry $1.50, authorities said.

No one was hurt in the robbery, police said. Fetting was first arrested on armed robbery charges a day after the robbery by Palm Beach sheriffs deputies.

She was finally booked for the Dairy Queen robbery on Friday while already in custody serving state prison time for multiple robbery and drug convictions, the outlet said.

She is being moved to be held in Broward County Jail, according to the outlet.

While Fetting is accused of committing similar crimes in Palm Beach County, state records showed she has also served nearly three years of a four-year sentence for a conviction for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, battery on a law enforcement officer and grand theft stemming from a 2003 arrest.

Fetting was arrested the next day, but was only booked in Broward County Jail on robbery charges on Friday. Google Maps

She is set to be arraigned on Wednesday.
The White House said Tuesday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a ceasefire in the Black Sea and to implement a ban on attacks on energy facilities by the two neighbors, an apparent breakthrough after American negotiators held separate talks with both countries.

If implemented, the agreements could mark a major step toward a wider deal to end the three-year-long war, which began when Russia launched a largescale invasion of its smaller neighbor.

Negotiators had agreed both countries would ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea, the White House said in two separate statements.

Both statements also said that Russia and Ukraine would stop striking each other's energy facilities.

The announcement came after American officials met separately with Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh.

Russian navy vessels sail near the Black Sea port of Sevastopol, Crimea, on Feb. 16, 2022, less than two weeks before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

While the statements were similarly worded, one about the talks with the Kremlin said the United States would help to restore Russias access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.

In the second statement, the White House said the U.S. and Ukraine had agreed that America remains committed to helping achieve the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.

Neither statement mentioned security guarantees for Ukraine or efforts to regain land seized by Russia, which currently holds around 20% of Ukraine's territory.

Both Russian and Ukrainian officials appeared skeptical that the other side would keep their end of the bargain.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Reuters in a televised interview that the Kremlin could not trust Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and it would only sign a Black Sea deal if Washington issued an order to him to respect it.

We will need clear guarantees. And given the sad experience of agreements with just Kyiv, the guarantees can only be the result of an order from Washington to Zelenskyy and his team to do one thing and not the other, he added.

Zelenskyy also told a news conference that he had questions about how all this will be implemented, adding that there was no faith in the Russians here, but I believe that we will be constructive.

His country was still counting the casualties from an attack a day earlier in the city of Sumy  on a dense residential area, a childrens hospital and a school  with authorities reporting 101 people injured, including 23 children.

Russia fired 139 more Iran-designed Shahed drones into the country overnight, Ukrainian officials said. They added that while 78 were shot down, others caused damage in the regions of Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Cherkasy and Odessa.
The family of a woman who died of strangulation during an overnight visit with her husband at a California prison is questioning why a man convicted of murdering four people was allowed to have family visits.

Stephanie Diane Dowells, 62, who also went by the name Stephanie Brinson, was killed in November, making her the second person in a year to die at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione during a family visit, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The other victim, Tania Thomas, 47, was also strangled during a family visit, Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe said in an interview Monday. The man she was visiting has been charged with murder in connection with her killing, Riebe said.

Stephanie Dowells.

Dowells, a hairdresser, was killed while visiting her husband, David Brinson, 54, who was convicted in the 1990s of murdering four men during a robbery, and sentenced to four consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole.

After Brinson called prison officials at 2:04 a.m. on Nov. 13 to tell them his wife had passed out, officers immediately began life-saving measures and called 911, a spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said. But Dowells was pronounced dead a short time later.

Dowells killing remains under investigation by prison officials and the district attorneys office, the spokesperson said. Riebe said charges are pending prison and autopsy reports.

The Amador County Sheriffs Office confirmed she had been strangled and her death was a homicide.

Dowells son, Armand Torres, 28, and his wife, Nataly Jimenez, said that in the days after Dowells death, Brinsons account of events kept changing, including the exact time and location where he found Dowells unconscious.

He would say, you know, she passed out on the floor, or she was passed out on the bed, Jimenez said in an interview.

Dowells lived in Inglewood, California, with Torres, Jimenez and their 3-year-old son, who called Brinson Grandpa.

Torres, Jimenez, their son and Dowells were all very close, and the couple allowed the boy to accompany Dowells on family visits to Mule Creek Prison twice in the last couple of years.

If I could trust him with my kid, Im thinking, its a green light, Torres said of Brinson, who is not his father. You know, like, everythings fine.

He said his mother told him his son had enjoyed the visits, which was enough assurance for him to trust Brinson around his son.

Torres said he sometimes worried about his mom being with someone who was incarcerated, but he tried to be supportive. He said he was unaware that Brinson had been convicted of murdering four people.

We really love our mom, and we just wanted her to be happy, you know, and she usually came back happy, he said. They talked on the phone every day, everything seemed good. Im all for second chances.

If she was happy, I was happy, he said.

Torres would sometimes overhear his mother and Brinson arguing on the phone, he said, but he didnt think much of it because couples sometimes quarrel, especially when one partner is incarcerated.

Stephanie was always a forgiving person, and she always tried to see the better in people, Jimenez said. Despite their background or anything, she would always try to see the good in them. Thats what she did with her husband.

Torres said his mother and Brinson met before he was born in 1996, and he didnt meet Brinson until about 2016.

Thomas, the other victim, was found unconscious on July 1, 2024, in a family visiting unit, where she was spending time with her domestic partner, Anthony Curry, officials said.

Curry, 48, is serving a life sentence for attempted second-degree murder with an enhancement of intentionally discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury.

He was also sentenced to 13 years in prison for carjacking with an enhancement of using a firearm, a Department of Corrections spokesperson said.

Curry has been charged with murder in connection with Thomas death, but has not been arraigned, Riebe said.

Stephanie Dowells.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation website says some incarcerated people are eligible for family visits, which occur in private, apartment-like facilities on prison grounds and last from 30 to 40 hours.

The visits are intended to support positive family connections and successful rehabilitation, the website says. Death row inmates and people convicted of sex offenses are excluded, as is anyone under disciplinary restrictions, the website says.

The family visits are a privilege, and incarcerated persons must apply and meet strict eligibility criteria to be approved, a department spokesperson said. Only those who demonstrate sustained good behavior and meet specific program requirements are considered.

An online prison operations manual says inmates in family-visiting quarters have to present themselves for a count a minimum of four times in a 24-hour period.

Torres said that no matter the level of supervision, he believes it should be higher, especially for prisoners with violent histories.

I want them to take some accountability for this, the prison, Torres said. Because whats stopping the next person from killing their wife or son or anybody?
My Happy Place is bringing viewers on a trip around the globe with their favorite stars!

The new CNN Original Series, which premieres on Sunday, April 27, explores the deep connection between six A-listers and their most beloved travel destinations that have helped them tap into another side of themselves.

In a PEOPLE exclusive first look at the trailer (above) for the six-episode series produced by Boardwalk Pictures, viewers will be transported to a variety of stunning places with Alan Cumming, Taraji P. Henson, Questlove, Billy Porter, Octavia Spencer and Simu Liu as their hosts.

From Austin to Indonesia, the series will not only show off the beauty of each place, but also reveal why these spots have become each celeb hosts' own personal oasis.

Related: Taraji P. Henson Says She Embarked on a Trip to Bali After Losing a 'Sense of Joy'

CNN 'My Happy Place' trailer

My happy place. One place where I could truly be myself, Porter shares in the trailer of his favorite destination: Mykonos. In his episode, the Pose star reveals how he first came across the Greek island while working on a cruise, and why it has remained one of his favorite places all these years.

CNN Alan Cumming in 'My Happy Place'

Meanwhile, Cumming embarks on a trip through the Scottish Highlands. TheTraitors host, who grew up in Scotland and often escaped to the mountainous region, shares how the area still brings him a deep sense of calm now as an adult.

Heading over to New Orleans, Spencer shares how she first traveled to the city as a college student ready to celebrate Mardi Gras. Ever since, she keeps returning to the Crescent City as it feels like an extension of my personality," she says in the clip.

Related: Simu Liu Details 'Crazy Day' Flying Into Toronto Airport After Delta Plane Crash

CNN Simu Liu in Bangkok

For Liu, Bangkok became one of his happy places more recently after he traveled there two years ago. During his episode, viewers will take a tour of the city as the actor revisits both new and old places.

Theres something about Thailand that just seemed very welcoming to me, the Barbie star explains in the trailer.

CNN Taraji P. Henson in Bali

As for Henson, The Color Purple star says she needed a radical change of scenery, so she left Hollywood in search of some rest and relaxation in Bali, Indonesia. Bali allowed me to find the part of me that I had lost, she says.

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 juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

CNN 'My Happy Place'

Questlove will also take viewers to Austin and share how the city serves as his muse for creative inspiration.

Whenever my schedule clears, I head straight to my happy place: Austin, Texas, the Grammy-winning musician says in the trailer. Theres a level of joy that I get from people that actually appreciate the music.

My Happy Place premieres Sunday, April 27 at 10 p.m. ET on CNN.



Read the original article on People
House Speaker Mike Johnson at the Capitol on March 11.

WASHINGTON  Facing pressure from his right flank to take on judges who have ruled against President Donald Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Tuesday floated the possibility of Congress eliminating some federal courts.

Its the latest attack from Republicans on the federal judiciary, as courts have blocked a series of actions taken by the Trump administration. In addition to funding threats, Trump and his conservative allies have called for the impeachment of certain federal judges who have ruled against him, most notably U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who attempted to halt Trump from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants.

We do have the authority over the federal courts, as you know. We can eliminate an entire district court. We have power of funding over the courts and all these other things, Johnson told reporters on Tuesday. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and Congress is going to act.

Johnson, a former constitutional attorney, later clarified that he was making a point about Congress broad authority over the creation, maintenance and the governance of the courts. Article III of the Constitution established the Supreme Court but gave Congress the power to ordain and establish lower federal courts.

Congress has eliminated courts in the past. In 1913, for example, Congress abolished the Commerce Court and its judges were redistributed to the federal appeals court, according to Congress.gov. And in 1982, Congress passed legislation abolishing the Article III Court of Claims and U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, and established the Article I Court of Federal Claims and the Article III U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who plans to hold a hearing focused on Boasberg and district judges next week, said hes speaking with GOP appropriators about what he called legislative remedies.

We got money, spending, the appropriations process to help try to address some of this, Jordan said, without adding further details.

Attempts to defund courts will be a major flashpoint in bipartisan funding negotiations for the next fiscal year. But Republicans are a long way from making good on these threats.

First, they would need to convince powerful senior appropriators to strip funding for certain courts in their funding bill, in this case the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill that funds the lower courts.

But the appropriations subcommittee that oversees that funding bill is chaired by Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, a former prosecutor, self-described pragmatist and one of the more moderate members of the House GOP conference.

On top of that, House Republicans would need near-unanimous agreement to pass a funding bill that defunded some courts on the floor, which would be a difficult feat given their narrow majority.

The Senate also would almost certainly reject any funding bill or package that defunded the courts. To pass it, Senate Republicans would need at least seven Democrats to join them to defeat a filibuster. And some Republicans might vote against such a proposal.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said eliminating a district court would create "massive, massive backlogs"

"My view is, I'd like to get more Republican judges on the bench," Hawley said. "If we take away seats, we can't do that."

House and Senate appropriators will be working to pass 12 funding bills before the next government shutdown deadline, at the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.

Despite Tuesday's remarks, Johnson appears to be focused on a middle path to push back on federal rulings against Trump as some GOP hard-liners push for impeachment votes against some judges.

In addition to the House Judiciary Committee's upcoming hearing, Johnson said the House will vote next week on a bill from Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., that would bar district court judges from issuing nationwide injunctions.

The judges, especially were talking about district court judges, are overstepping their boundaries, Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., a Johnson ally, told NBC News. Absolutely, I appreciate the Issa bill, he added, and I may go for more, but right now, thats where I stand.
Six months ago, Hurricane Helenes powerful winds and torrential rains caused the most devastating natural disaster in western North Carolinas history, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Now the region is getting hit with a spate of wildfires that have prompted nearly 200 mandatory evacuation orders and the activation of more than 260 personnel to battle whats known as the Black Cove Complex fires.

Is that beautiful part of the state suddenly cursed? Not likely, but the events are interconnected.

The late-September deluge brought by Helene, resulting in widespread flooding and landslides that killed many of the 106 people who died in the state, was followed by a severe drought during a warm winter and early spring, drying out vegetation.

Brett Anderson, a senior meteorologist and climate change expert at AccuWeather, said the hurricane also left behind lots of dead trees and fallen branches, debris that became kindling. In addition, he said, the chances of a damaging blaze have been enhanced by stronger winds than usual and a large number of insects surviving the mild winter and harming trees.

Conditions were primed for blazes

You add all those factors together, it set us up for high fire risk in areas where you dont usually think of big fires, Anderson said. You usually think about the West. But the table was certainly set for fires, at least for this particular year.

Anderson noted that springs have been getting warmer in the central and southern Appalachian regions over the last 30-plus years, making for an earlier start to the fire season as greenery dries out and whatever snow is on the ground melts quicker.

The same thing is taking place in the Northeast, where a lack of foliage cover early in the spring allows much of the grounds moisture to evaporate in the extended sunlight. Last fall was the scene of another weather phenomenon, as an extreme drought set the conditions for the Jennings Creek Fire, which burned more than 5,300 acres across the New York and New Jersey border in November.

Theres not enough long-term data to make an accurate prediction of whether such an anomaly will be common in the future, said Anderson, but it appears that way.

I would not be surprised, he said. Its almost safe to say that, in the next 10, 20, 30 years or so, big fires in the Northeast may not be as rare as they used to be.

SALUDA, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 24: Smoke rises from a mountain ridge near storm debris and heavy machinery at the Black Cove wildfire on March 24, 2025 in Polk County near Saluda, North Carolina. Recovery efforts continue along the Green River in Western North Carolina nearly six months after Hurricane Helene. Three large wildfires have burned more than 3,000 acres as evacuation orders were issued for parts of Polk County. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

Contending with fires in Helene aftermath a 'nightmare'

If thats the case, residents of the area can only hope they dont endure the dual hardships of the folks in western North Carolina. In their efforts to contend with the three wildfires that ignited last week in rural Polk County, only one of which is contained, firefighters are finding major obstacles from Helene.

They include fallen trees and the need to rely on temporary gravel roads to reach remote locations in steep terrain because the hurricane destroyed the previous routes, Blue Ridge Public Radio reported.

 These conditions that we're facing right now is not like we've seen in the past, said Polk County Fire Marshal and Emergency Manager Bobby Arledge, according to BPR News. All the trees and everything that we've had down from Helene has been a nightmare.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Helene aftermath a factor in western North Carolina fires
FILE - Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, questions the witnesses during a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency hearing on Capitol Hill, Feb. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr., File)

Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett mocked her states governor during a weekend appearance, referring to Greg Abbott  who uses a wheelchair  as Gov. Hot Wheels while speaking at a banquet in Los Angeles.

You all know we got Gov. Hot Wheels down there. Come on, now, Crockett, a Dallas Democrat, said about Abbott, a Republican, while addressing the Human Rights Campaign event. And the only thing hot about him is that he is a hot-ass mess, honey.

Abbott was paralyzed in 1984 after a tree fell on him while he was running. The accident severely damaged Abbotts spinal cord. Abbott, now 67, was elected in 2014.

Crockett, elected to the House in 2022, was roundly criticized by Republicans for the comments, an aside she made during her speech to the civil rights group event after she thanked Morgan Cox, a group board member and fellow Dallas resident, according to video of the event posted to Human Rights Campaigns YouTube channel.

Crockett's comments are disgraceful, Texas Sen. John Cornyn posted on the social media platform X. Shameful.

Crockett suggested Tuesday that she was not referring to Abbott's condition. Instead, she posted on X that she was referring to Abbott's policy of sending thousands of immigrants who were in Texas illegally to cities where local policy limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities, such as New York and Philadelphia.

I was thinking about the planes, trains, and automobiles he used to transfer migrants into communities led by Black mayors, deliberately stoking tension and fear among the most vulnerable, the post stated.

Abbott's office did not immediately replied to requests for comment.

Crockett has faced criticism from Republicans for suggesting last week that tech billionaire Elon Musk, heading the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, be taken down.

-

Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa.
Noe-Brooks Funeral Home Joshua Blackledge.

Influencer Joshua Blackledge has died at age 16.

According to local news outlet Carolina Coast Online, he died on Tuesday, March 18, at his home in Newport, North Carolina, though a cause of death has yet to be specified.

Per an obituary shared by Noe-Brooks funeral home, the late influencer  a junior at West Carteret High School with 1.1 million followers on TikTok  was honored with a "celebration of life" on Sunday, March 23. Hundreds of Blackledge's friends, fans and followers also flocked to the obituary site to share their condolences in comments, as they did on his most recent social media posts.

Blackledge's content varied between lip-syncing clips, car content and videos taken with his friends and girlfriend, Emmie Gillikin.

He posted his final TikTok on March 14, a video taken with friends posing by a white truck, and many viewers voiced their disbelief that he died so soon after posting.

Joshua Blackledge/TikTok Joshua Blackledge.

Related: Crafting Influencer Dies Suddenly After Longtime Illness Became 'More Acute' in Final 3 Months of Life

Blackledge's girlfriend, whom he mentioned in both his TikTok and Instagram bios, has posted a number of tributes to the social media star. On March 20, she compiled various clips recorded over the course of the relationship. The video was accompanied by a heartfelt caption.

"Missing this sweet boy right now. never wouldve thought i would have been here without you," Gillikin began. "Josh showed me what love really was even [though] im very young. he never failed to put a smile on my face no matter how mad i was at him ... Even after these past couple days nothing seems real and im feeling all the emotions."

In Blackledge's pinned TikTok posted in November 2024, he mentioned that he and Gillikin met two years prior, and at the time they had been dating for five months.



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A woman leaves the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offices in New York in 2012.

Finalizing applications filed by certain immigrants to become legal permanent residents is being put on hold to comply with an executive order President Donald Trump signed in January.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the part of the Department of Homeland Security that handles citizenship, legal status and other immigration benefits, has suspended processing some applications for so-called green cards to do more vetting of the applicants, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.

Trump's executive order, signed Jan. 20, titled "Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats," called for agencies to "vet and screen to the maximum degree possible all aliens who intend to be admitted, enter, or are already inside the United States, particularly those aliens coming from regions or nations with identified security risks."

CBS News reported Tuesday that USCIS has directed its staff to conduct the additional vetting of refugees or people who were granted asylum and have applied for legal permanent residency, or green cards.

The agency said in a statement attributed to a DHS spokesperson that it is "placing a temporary pause on finalizing certain adjustment of status applications pending the completion of additional screening and vetting."

The statement did not address which applications were affected, whether the pause would affect spending at the agency, how long it would last and other questions asked by NBC News.

Vetting on top of vetting

For refugees and those who have been granted asylum in the United States, it would be a vetting on top of a process that had already occurred, one that is quite rigorous for refugees who are usually vetted overseas before they can set foot in the United States.

Theres a certain amount of documentation you have to provide as a refugee as well as an asylee, Laura Collins, director of the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute, told NBC News. All of these people who are approved for resettlement or to remain in the United States, thats because the United States government already approved them to be here.

People who are granted asylum or admitted to the United States as refugees must wait one year before they can apply for green cards.

Collins said it remains to be seen how the vetting will be carried out and how long the pause will last. She said that in the first Trump administration, USCIS made sure every single blank on a form was correctly filled out.

So if you didnt have a middle name ... they would send your application back and say, Well, you didnt fill in your middle name portion, Collins said. She said its possible USCIS will check social media, things they probably already vet, but asking for another set of eyes or a slightly longer look at it.

Trump took similar steps in his previous presidential term. In his first term, USCIS was directed to go through every application "with a fine-tooth comb," disrupting agency operations, Collins said.

"In slowing down those applications, because USCIS is fee-funded, if you're not processing as many applications, you are not taking in as much money, which means you don't have the capacity to maintain all the contractors and other staff you have, so you start to shrink the agency," she said. "I don't know if that is their ultimate goal."

The Migration Policy Institute reported in 2020 that a drop in the number of applications and an increase in spending on vetting and enforcement were central to the agency's $1.2 billion shortfall in 2020.

From 2016 to 2020, spending on vetting nearly tripled, from $53 million to $149 million, according to MPI, an immigration think tank that has supported immigration reform that includes enforcement as well as a path to citizenship for people in the country without legal status.

People are also vetted during the process of becoming legal permanent residents, or what is known as adjusting their status. From the time they're in the United States through the process of getting green cards, authorities check that they don't have criminal records or something else that would disqualify them from getting legal permanent residency, she said.

The pauses are being implemented just as USCIS has been making headway in its workload. It said in a report on its website that it reduced its backlog of petitions 15% in 2023, the first time in a decade it had cut its backlog. It decreased again last year, by 11.2%.
President Donald Trump gestures as he departs a reception celebrating Greek Independence Day in the East Room of the White House, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump on Tuesday downplayed the texting of sensitive plans for a military strike against Yemen's Houthis this month to a group chat that included a journalist, saying it was the only glitch in two months of his administration as Democratic lawmakers heaped criticism on the administration for handling highly sensitive information carelessly.

Trump told NBC News that the lapse turned out not to be a serious one," and expressed his continued support for national security adviser Mike Waltz.

Waltz, according to an article posted online Monday by The Atlantic, appeared to have mistakenly added the magazine's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, to a chat that included 18 senior administration officials discussing planning for the strike.

Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man," Trump said. He also appeared to point blame on an unnamed Waltz aide for Goldberg being added to the chain. It was one of Michaels people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there."

But the use of messaging app Signal to discuss a sensitive operation has opened the administration to blistering criticism from Democratic lawmakers who expressed outrage at the White House's and senior administration officials' insistence that no classified information was shared. Senior administration officials have struggled to explain why the publicly available app was used to discuss such a delicate matter.

Waltz makes his first public comments

Waltz said Tuesday he was not sure how Goldberg ended up on the chat.

"This one in particular, Ive never met, dont know, never communicated with, Waltz said.

Later Tuesday, Waltz said in an appearance on Fox News Channel's The Ingraham Angle that he built the message chain and that White House technical experts were trying to figure out how Goldberg's contact may have been sucked in.

We made a mistake. Were moving forward," said Waltz, who added that he took full responsibility for the episode.

Trump, for his part, continued to attack The Atlantic and Goldberg and sent mixed messages on whether the administration would change how it goes about sharing sensitive information going forward.

We wont be using it very much in the future, Trump said of Signal. "Thats one of the prices you pay when youre not sitting in the Situation Room with no phones on, which is always the best, frankly."

Trump added, If it was up to me everybody would be sitting in a room together. The room would have solid lead walls and a lead ceiling and lead floor.

One official reported to be on the Signal chain, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, acknowledged during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday that she was traveling overseas during the exchange. She wouldn't say whether she was using her personal or government-issued phone because the matter is under review by the White House National Security Council.

One Democrat calls the mistake an embarrassment

Both Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who also was a participant in the Signal exchange and also testified at Tuesday's intelligence hearing, faced blistering criticism from lawmakers.

"Director Ratcliffe, this was a huge mistake, correct? Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Georgia Democrat, asked.

After a brief pause, Ratcliffe shook his head. No, he said.

Ratcliffe attempted to interject as Ossoff asked a follow-up question, leading the two men to speak over each other.

This is an embarrassment, Ossoff said, silencing Ratcliffe. This is utterly unprofessional. Theres been no apology. There has been no recognition of the gravity of this error.

In the run-up to his 2016 election victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton, Trump urged criminal prosecution of the former secretary of state for communicating about classified information with her aides on a private email server she set up. The matter was investigated, but the FBI ultimately recommended against charges. None were brought.

Clinton was among Democrats this week to criticize Trump administration officials' use of Signal.

You have got to be kidding me, Clinton said in an X post that spotlighted The Atlantic article and included an eyes emoji.

Trump also faced charges for mishandling classified information at his Mar-a-Lago resort following his first White House term. Those charges were later dismissed.

Administration says Democrats shouldn't be outraged

But on Tuesday, top administration officials were insistent the Democratic outrage was misplaced.

Ratcliffe and Gabbard told lawmakers that no classified information was included in the texts about U.S. attack plans in the message chain.

But The Atlantic reported that the messages included precise information about weapons packages, targets and timing, but did not publish those details.

Pressed on whether such information should be classified, Gabbard hedged. I defer to the secretary of defense, the National Security Council, on that question, she said.

Ratcliffe in one exchange with lawmakers said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held the authority on determining whether the information in the message chain was classified.

Hegseth has dodged questions about whether the information he put in a Signal chat was classified. On Tuesday while in Hawaii, he repeated almost word for word his short statement from the day before that nobodys texting war plans, and thats all I have to say about that.

Democrats pushed back, saying the leaked military plans show a sloppy disregard for security, but Ratcliffe insisted no rules were violated.

My communications to be clear in the Signal message group were entirely permissible and lawful and did not include classified information, Ratcliffe told lawmakers in the hearing that was supposed to be focused on global security threats.

Facing heated questions from Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, Gabbard said theres a difference between inadvertent releases of information and intentional leaks. There was no classified material that was shared, Gabbard said.

Warner, though, said the lapse in security could have cost lives.

If this information had gotten out, American lives could have been lost. If the Houthis had this information they could reposition their defensive systems, Warner said.

Waltz in his appearance on Fox said that while all the information in the exchange was unclassified he'd prefer it remain out of the public eye. I certainly want our deliberations to stay confidential, he said.

Calls for an investigation

In response to questions from Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, Gabbard and Ratcliffe said they would participate in an audit looking into administration officials' use of Signal. Wyden said it must be investigated.

Im of the view that there ought to be resignations, Wyden said.

FBI Director Kash Patel, appearing with Ratcliffe and Gabbard at the hearing, said he was only recently briefed on the Signal chat matter and doesnt have an update on whether the FBI has opened an investigation into it. Warner asked for an update by the end of the day.

The White House in a statement Tuesday called the uproar a coordinated effort to distract from the successful actions taken by President Trump and his administration to make Americas enemies pay and keep Americans safe.

Examining the security of Signal

Signal is an app that can be used for direct messaging and group chats as well as phone and video calls. It uses end-to-end encryption for its messaging and calling services that prevents any third party from viewing conversation content or listening in on calls.

In other words, messages and calls sent on Signal are scrambled; only the sender and recipient at each end will have the key to decipher them.

Signals encryption protocol is open source, meaning that its freely available for anyone to inspect, use or modify. The encryption protocol is also used by another popular chat service, social media company Metas WhatsApp platform.

Government officials have used Signal for organizational correspondence, such as scheduling sensitive meetings.

Sen. Angus King, a Maine Independent, said he was flummoxed by Ratcliffe and Gabbard's assertion that no classified information was included in the chat.

Its hard for me to believe that targets and timing and weapons would not have been classified, he said.

___

AP writer Kelvin Chan in London and Darlene Superville contributed reporting.
Striking machinists in Auburn, Wash. on 9/24/24. By Carleen Johnson | The Center Square

(The Center Square)  After Boeing workers went on strike for over seven weeks last year, Washington state may soon provide up to three months of benefits to those on the picket line if a Democratic bill becomes law.

Lawmakers remained divided on Friday after Senate Bill 5041 passed through the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee by a 6-3 vote. Senate Democrats passed the measure off the floor by a party-line vote on March 7 after failing to pass a similar bill last year.

The committees approval on Friday advanced SB 5041 to the House Rules Committee, setting it up for a floor vote. Final adoption would mark a major shift in state law, which doesnt allow striking workers to receive unemployment benefits.

They deserve to know that when they take that step, they have a friend in state government, Rep. Shaun Scott, D-Seattle, said Friday. This is a bold policy that  only two other states have taken up to this point, so we have an opportunity to lead the way on the West Coast.

New York and New Jersey have already allowed striking workers to collect unemployment benefits for up to 26 weeks, with California and others attempting to do so in recent years. Rep. Liz Berry, D-Seattle, said a dozen other states are considering similar legislation offering at least 12 weeks of benefits.

Berry said 12 weeks is the standard and asked her peers to reject a Republican amendment to reduce the benefits to one month. The majority party also rejected five other amendments from their peers across the aisle. If approved, the amendments would have:

Required a study on how teacher strikes could impact students and delayed implementation from 2026 to 2030.Required the unemployment insurance trust fund to cover 24 months of benefits before SB 5041 would take effect.Required the state to stop providing benefits if a court finds a strike illegal.Required striking workers to search for another job while claiming benefits.Prohibited striking state and local government employees from receiving benefits.

House Democrats argued that the amendments would weaken the intent of SB 5041.

If approved, the proposal allows workers to start receiving benefits about two weeks after the first day of the strike. The bill also directs the Employment Security Department to submit annual reports to the Legislature on the frequency and impact of strikes on the unemployment insurance trust fund.

We think its inappropriate to unbalance the bargaining table that forces employers to pay for the cost of unemployment insurance, Lindsey Hueer testified on behalf of the Association of Washington Business during a March 18 public hearing.

Hueer said employer payroll taxes pay for all the benefits, affecting bargaining power as workers can afford to hold out longer. However, SB 5041 only requires the employer whom the workers struck to pay those benefits, limiting a broader impact to other companies.

Many opponents of SB 5041 argue that it would prolong strikes and associated costs to the employer. Meanwhile, supporters call it a financial safety net that levels the playing field for workers.

April Sims, president of the Washington State Labor Council, said SB 5041 will help those workers who need it most.

Strikes are never taken lightly. Its a very difficult decision made during very intense periods of dispute, Sims testified on March 18, but for too many workers, its the only option to elevate to their employer that something is wrong or that their needs are not being met.

Rep. Joel McEntire, R-Cathlamet, called the proposal a counterbalance that sways the leverage too far to one side of negotiations. He said that finding a compromise is often uncomfortable but that uncertainty incentivizes both to find a middle ground and move forward.

If you want to imagine in your minds eye, a guy with a monocle and a top hat and a big mustache just wanting to make profits and money, thats fine, McEntire said Friday, but you have to understand  that is the very thing that theyre losing when a strike occurs.
Serbians are not happy with Jared Kushner's latest real estate venture.

Thousands of protesters gathered in Serbia's capital Belgrade on Monday to protest a project by Kushner  President Donald Trump's son-in-law  to transform a pair of buildings bombed by NATO 26 years ago into a Trump tower and luxury hotel.

The real estate development, funded by a Kushner-founded investment firm, has touched off a firestorm of opposition in the Balkan nation, fed by cascading anger over government corruption.

Kushner's firm plans Trump tower in Belgrade

Monday's protest centered on two buildings in downtown Belgrade damaged when NATO bombed the area in 1999 while the region was embroiled in conflict.

Last year, Affinity Global Development, a real estate firm founded by Kushner in 2021, struck a deal to turn the site of the bombing into a 30-floor, 820,000-square-foot luxury complex, including towers with the signature "Trump" logo, according to design pictures on the firm's website.

Kushner is the husband of Ivanka Trump, President Trump's oldest daughter.

Students protest against a government lease of a site to Jared Kushner, the son in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, for a hotel project, at the former Yugoslav People's Army headquarters, which was destroyed in the 1999 NATO bombing, in Belgrade, Serbia, March 24, 2025.

Per the terms of its contract, the complex must include a memorial of the bombing, according to the Serbian government. "It will include a commemorative civic feature," according to a since-removed webpage from an architecture firm on the project.

But for Serbians who gathered outside the site in the thousands on Monday, the proposed hotel was a slap in the face to its history.

"We protest because this building has been given to someone to make profit," Ognjen Pjevac, a 20-year-old Belgrade state University student who joined the protest, told Reuters.

"It should remain here as it is a testimony to NATO aggression," he added.

Vucic and Trump build ties

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has curried favor with Trump and his allies, including other Trump children. Earlier this month, Donald Trump Jr., Trump's oldest son, also paid Vucic a visit.

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump applaud as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2025.

In February, as the Trump administration sought to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development, Serbian police raided the Belgrade offices of at least two civil society organizations connected to the agency. Prosecutors said the raid was triggered by Trump administration accusations of abuse of USAID funds.

The relationship between Trump and Vucic is still murky, said Kurt Bassuener, co-founder of the Democratization Policy Council, a Berlin-based think tank. "Certainly, there's a lot of ideological connectivity," especially with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is friendly with both leaders, he said.

"The reactionary political spectrum in Europe was waiting very expectantly for Trump to come, hoping that that would put wind in their sails to pursue the agendas they already had," he said. Still, "most of them thus far have been disappointed because they haven't gotten that much air time," he added.

Anger at the Kushner development has fused with anti-government protests, which touched off last November after the collapse of the roof at a train station in Novi Sad, Serbia's second largest city. Sixteen people died in the disaster, including an 18-year-old on Friday.

The disaster prompted accusations of government corruption and incompetence, sparking protests the next month. A rally on March 15 drew more than 100,000 people, witnesses and a security source told Reuters.

"This has been percolating for a very long time," Bassuener said of Vucic, who has been in power for more than a decade. Since the train station collapse, the student-led movement has continued every other Saturday, "crisscrossing" the country and its four main universities, he said.

"It's the sense that there's an absolute lack of accountability," he said.

Kushner's project touches historical wound of 1999 bombing

A Bosnian Serb woman displays a magazine with a picture of late Slobodan Milosevic on its cover as she sits in a bus in the Western Bosnian town of Banja Luka, early 18 March 2006 before departing for the central Serbian town of Pozarevac to attend the funerals of the former Yugoslav president where several thousands of Bosnian Serbs are expected. Milosevic died of a heart attack 11 March 2006.

Monday's protest fell on the 26-year anniversary of NATO's bombing of the building, then the army headquarters of Yugoslavia, a former nation that has since broken apart into multiple countries  Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Slovenia.

The collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1980s threw Serbia and its surrounding states into internal turmoil. Yugoslavia's six republics began to pull away one by one, beginning with Slovenia in 1991. After Albanians in Kosovo rebelled for independence from Serbia in 1991, Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic attacked, killing more than 11,000 and forcibly expelling more than 1.5 million in Kosovo in what the State Department called ethnic cleansing.

In response, NATO launched a 78-day bombing campaign against Serbia, including the strike that damaged the army headquarters in Belgrade, killing some 500 citizens. In investigations after the fact, humanitarian organizations also raised concerns about several factors in NATO's conduct, including the targeting of a Belgrade TV station and the use of cluster bombs, which take a disproportionate civilian death toll.

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Serbians are protesting Jared Kushner's new luxury hotel project
Bluechip Infotech has added email security vendor Sendmarc to its distribution portfolio for Australia.

Headquartered in Delaware, US, Sendmarc focuses on Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance (DMARC) security via a single platform, which includes features such as lookalike domain defense, breach detection and brand indicators for message authentication (BIMI).

Bluechips arrangement with the vendor enables it to target managed service providers (MSP) and resellers with a solution the distributor says is tailor-made for these partners.

Were partnering with Sendmarc to provide channel partners with top-tier email security, preventing impersonation, phishing and spoofing, said Bluechip marketing and alliances director Willy Harsono.

Sendmarcs automated DMARC solution boosts deliverability, trust and compliance  protecting businesses from cyber threats with ease.

Sendmarc co-founder and chief strategy Sacha Matulovich added that the help of distributors like Bluechip is seeing the vendor work towards its mission of providing the best DMARC management platform for MSPs and VARs [value-added resellers].
Managed service provider Northbridge Systems and software-as-a-service (SaaS) log analytics platform Sumo Logic are leveraging their combined expertise and resources to provide security intelligence and analytics through a managed service.

Integrating Sumo Logics cloud-native log analytics platform with Northbridges expertise in cyber resilience will help businesses with real-time security insights. This will enable them to detect, investigate, and respond to cyber threats with unprecedented speed and accuracy.

Northbridge CEO Mike Harte said as organisations continue their digital transformation journey, security and operational intelligence must evolve in tandem.

By partnering with Sumo Logic, were equipping Australian businesses with the most advanced cloud-native log analytics to fortify their defences, enhance visibility and proactively mitigate risks, he said.

This is about delivering security intelligence that enables innovation without compromise.

Sumo Logic general manager for Australia and New Zealand Harry Guy said the combined service addresses the growing complexities of modern cyber security.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Rumours of a possible deployment of Chinese troops in Ukraine - denied (for now) by the Beijing Foreign Ministry - have been received with nervousness by the Russians. In a conflict perceived as distant, Xi Jimping looks to safeguard his own interests, much more than to the obsessive opposition of eternal ally Putin.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - Rumours of possible support from Beijing to the coalition of willing countries to form a peacekeeping force in Ukraine as a solution to the peace negotiations - denied, at least for now, by the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs - are provoking very resentful reactions in Russia, as if China were ready to betray the eternal alliance repeatedly reaffirmed in the meetings between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.

Moreover, Donald Trump's surprising proposals in this phase of talks at the highest levels seem to outline a marginalisation of the role of the Chinese in the geopolitical balance, which certainly appears to be a direct aim on the part of the Americans, but could also be an undeclared intention on the part of the Russians, who don't want to remain subjects of the Celestial Empire.

In recent years, Western countries have accused China of helping Russia in its military actions, not supporting sanctions and continuing to supply Moscow with electronic materials and other dual-use items.

The Ukrainians in particular believe that Beijing is Moscow's main sponsor, and could easily have ordered it to stop the war, given its position as the major partner of a Russia that is much weaker economically; the Chinese, on the other hand, have taken advantage of the conflict to grab many deals in Siberia and many other Russian regions, as well as opportunities in Central Asia.

However, things are not easy to decipher in such a vast area, as the Russian sinologist Aleksandr Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Centre in Berlin for the study of Russia and Eurasia, described in Russia as a foreign agent working for an undesirable organisation.

He says that for Beijing it is important to re-establish peace in Ukraine, and it is not so important where the dividing line between the contenders is: the Chinese are aware that they are not the centre of the world, and that they cannot force everyone to live according to their principles, but on the other hand they know that they are one of the main powers on the planet, at least on a par with America on the other side of the globe.

In Asia, China has a position of total hegemony; in fact, everyone submits to the authority of Beijing and supports its main interests. According to this vision, in an ideal world, harmony reigns, thanks to the strength and stability of China.

Gabuev observes that between Eastern and Western cultures there is a clear distinction in the understanding of a negotiation that is convenient for everyone.

According to the Western win-win model, the balance between the parties must be 50 to 50, or at most 60 to 40, while according to the Chinese mentality it is not a question of proportions, but of positive results obtained by both parties, no matter to what extent: if we do a deal and you earn 99, and I earn only one cent, I still have something to show for it.

Regarding the current war, the Chinese don't understand Putin's obsessive mania of wanting to take everything, without being satisfied with the lot he has already secured.

In any case, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is a matter very far from China's interests, unlike Europe and even America. It is important only insofar as it involves a significant partner such as Russia, a little sister for some time now for China, with a similar political culture and a strategic orientation in opposition to the dominant aims of the United States, in the vision of a multipolar world.

On the other hand, Europe is involved in the conflict, as it is the main market for Chinese products, and is important from a technological point of view, for investments and much more. Ukraine itself has a not inconsiderable significance for China, even if not at the level of the great powers.

The war for China, the sinologist confirms, concerns production, energy systems, fertilisers and metals. What really counts is the price of the most important items, and the war in Ukraine has a very negative effect on all this.

This is why China wants peace, leaving Russia extremely isolated from the West and as dependent as possible on Beijing, the country most willing to defend its interests.
Greenland's Prime Minister Mute B. Egede has sharply criticized an upcoming visit by U.S. officials, calling the planned trip "highly aggressive." He also accused the delegation of exerting power over the island.

The visit, which includes second lady Usha Vance and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, has raised tensions following President Donald Trump's repeated attempts to annex Greenland, a move that has garnered international attention.

Vance, wife of U.S. Vice President JD Vance, will travel to Greenland this week to attend the island's national dogsled race and celebrate Greenlandic culture. According to a statement from the White House, Vance and her delegation will also visit historical sites and learn about Greenlandic heritage. Waltz is also expected to visit Greenland this week, though the exact purpose of his visit remains unclear.

Prime Minister Egede voiced strong disapproval of the visit, particularly Waltz's presence.

In an interview with Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq on Sunday, Egede questioned the need for a national security adviser to visit the island, suggesting that the visit was more about demonstrating power than fostering cooperation.

"What is the national security adviser doing in Greenland? The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us," Egede said. "His mere presence in Greenland will no doubt fuel American belief in Trump's mission  and the pressure will increase."

Egede has been a vocal advocate for Greenland's independence from Denmark and has been critical of the U.S.'s stance on Greenland. The island, rich in rare earth minerals crucial for high-tech industries, has become a focal point in the competition for influence between the U.S., Russia, and China in the Arctic.

Meanwhile,Trump has long expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, either through force or economic coercion. Despite Denmark and Greenland's firm rejection of the idea, the U.S. president remains determined. "I think we're going to get it one way or the other," Trump remarked earlier this month in a joint session of Congress.

Egede's left-wing party, IAInuit Ataqatigiit, lost in parliamentary elections earlier this month, but he remains prime minister until a new governing coalition is formed. Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who is expected to become Greenland's next leader, also criticized the timing of the American visit. He argued that the visit demonstrated a lack of respect for Greenland's ongoing political situation, which includes negotiations related to recent municipal elections.

"The fact that the Americans know very well that we are still in a negotiating situation and that the municipal elections have not yet concluded, they still capitalize on the moment to come to Greenland," Nielsen said, calling the visit a demonstration of disrespect toward the Greenlandic population.

While Greenland is an autonomous territory, Denmark still controls its defense, foreign policy, and other key areas. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed a cautious view, acknowledging that Denmark takes the U.S. delegation's visit seriously, but emphasizing that any cooperation should respect Greenland's sovereignty.

"Denmark wants to cooperate with the U.S., but that should be based on the fundamental rules of sovereignty," Frederiksen stated.

While Greenlandic politicians have consistently opposed annexation, there is openness to agreements with the U.S. regarding rare earth mining, tourism, and diplomatic relations. A poll conducted in January revealed that 85% of Greenlanders do not want to become part of the U.S., with nearly half of the respondents viewing Trump's interest in Greenland as a threat.
by Fady Noun

At least seven deaths in a border area. The fragility of a frontier that has long been a free zone for trafficking and illicit trade. Fears of an escalation with the Jewish state and US manoeuvres for normalisation. In the spirit of the Abu Dhabi declaration, Christians and Muslims celebrate the feast of the Annunciation today.

Beirut (AsiaNews) - The rise to power in Syria of a Sunni Islamist regime and the agreement on the application of United Nations Resolution 1701 in the southern sector have radically changed the geopolitical situation in Lebanon.

The country of cedars is gradually, but with difficulty, freeing itself from the grip of Hezbollah and Iran. However, caught in the crossfire, it must learn to manage the new tensions.

On the border with Syria, with the exception of the border posts controlled by the army, the Shiite Party of God continues to be present, even if it now has to face the army of Damascus, mainly composed of Sunni groups that are still not very integrated.

The latter no longer tolerate the trafficking of goods and people controlled by Hezbollah and the allied Shiite tribes, which prevailed under the dictatorship of former President Bashar al-Assad.

A week ago, violent clashes broke out between Syrian forces and traffickers in the village of Hoch Sayyed Ali. This area near the border is crossed by a river that divides it in two, with one part in Syria and the other in Lebanon.

At least 10 people were killed in the clashes, which only stopped following the forceful intervention of the Lebanese army on 17 March. Furthermore, Damascus accused Hezbollah of having instigated the kidnapping and killing, by traffickers, of three soldiers from Hay'at Tahriri al-Sham (HTS), the core of the new Syrian army, something that the pro-Iranian movement formally denied.

Village on fire

Seven Lebanese were killed in the fighting, including the son of a Shia tribal leader. With the arrival of the Lebanese army, the Syrian forces finally withdrew from the Lebanese part of the village, but not before looting and setting fire to houses.

This incident clearly reflects the fragility of a situation that could easily be repeated, given that Lebanon shares a 330-kilometre border with Syria, with no official demarcation at several points.

Hezbollah's intervention in Syria in 2013, initially motivated by a concern to preserve its communication links with Iran, strengthened its grip on the border villages.

The Shiite clans, who chose to belong to Lebanon in the 1920s, still live on both sides of the fragile border. Until recently, the absence of state control allowed free movement between the two countries, transforming the region into a lawless zone and a free trade area.

And it is precisely to deal with this emergency situation, and others that could occur, that the new Lebanese Minister of Defence, Miche Menassa, will travel to Damascus tomorrow, 26th March, to meet his Syrian counterpart, Mourhaf Abou Qasra. On the agenda will be the smuggling of arms, petrol and drugs, which affects part of the population of the Bekaa.

Israeli reprisals

In southern Lebanon too, the new government in power in Beirut is facing a situation of profound instability. Last week the situation almost got out of hand when three rockets were fired anonymously at Metoulla, the largest city and the one closest to the Israeli border, and intercepted by Israel.

No one claimed responsibility for the attack and Hezbollah washed its hands of it, denying any involvement. However, this didn't stop Israel from going on the rampage and carrying out at least 18 military operations against the South, killing eight people. One of the raids also hit the city of Tyre. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened to bomb Beirut and intense contacts were initiated at the highest levels, with Washington and Paris, to avoid a very dangerous escalation that could cause a full-scale conflict to break out again.

At the moment there are three hypotheses regarding the identity of the perpetrators of the attack from the Land of the Cedars to the Jewish State. The Lebanese army found three makeshift launch ramps in a remote valley north of the Litani River. Some have linked this incident to the resumption of war in the Gaza Strip, others to Israel. It is surprising that the ramps escaped Israeli surveillance, whose drones fly over southern Lebanon day and night.

Finally, some believe that the perpetrators of this attack are rogue elements within Hezbollah; a perspective fuelled by the current phase, in which the November agreement - which in practice amounts to a capitulation - has widened the gap between a moderate political wing loyal to Naim Qassem, the new secretary general, and a military wing represented by Wafic Safa. The arrival in Lebanon in April of Morgan Ortagus, Donald Trump's new special envoy to Beirut, will reveal whether Israeli pressure is just the beginning of a new military offensive, or blackmail to provoke new violence and push Lebanon into normalising relations with the Jewish state.

Joint Islamic-Christian holiday

It is in this climate of tension that Lebanon today celebrates the Annunciation, declared a joint Muslim-Christian holiday in 2010. Considered a milestone in the process of coexistence in Lebanon, this year's celebration will centre on a ceremony in the city of Jbeil, with the participation of local bishops and Sunni and Shiite dignitaries.

The programme includes exchanges of visits between churches and mosques, readings from the Gospel and the Koran and words of praise, simultaneous tolling of bells and calls of the muezzin, as well as psalms broadcast over loudspeakers. The event will end with an iftar, as this year the fasting of the lunar month of Ramadan coincides with Lent.

Everyone, except the fundamentalists, is pleased with the level of civilisation that characterises this celebration, which takes place in the spirit of the Abu Dhabi Declaration of Brotherhood signed by Pope Francis and the Imam of al-Azhar, but which remains without any real popular significance.

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by Shafique Khokhar

The Sitara-e-Imtiaz, one of the country's highest civilian honours, was presented to the Archbishop Emeritus of Karachi. His exceptional contribution to inter-religious harmony and social well-being was recognised. Fr Bonnie Mendes: He has always invited us to look at the good that there is in Pakistan, even in the most difficult moments.

Karachi (AsiaNews) - On 23 March, Card Joseph Coutts, Archbishop Emeritus of Karachi, received the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, one of the country's highest civilian honours, during the Pakistan Civil Awards ceremony.

The 79-year-old cardinal was recognised for his outstanding contribution to interfaith harmony, social welfare and the Christian community in Pakistan. The award, which is the fourth highest honour in Pakistan, was presented by the Governor of Sindh, Kamran Khan Tessori.

Cardinal Coutts  who led the archdiocese of Karachi from 2012 to 2021  was one of 104 Pakistanis and foreigners to whom President Asif Ali Zardari presented the national awards. I am very happy, the cardinal told UCA News.

However, it is nothing historic. Many people, including some nuns, have already received several awards. Catholic priests, activists and social workers congratulated Cardinal Coutts and praised the Sindh government for this honour to the cardinal.

Yousaf Benjamin, Executive Director of DIGNITY First and Managing Director of CYRIL News, congratulated His Eminence on this prestigious government honour.

He said that this award is a testament to his unwavering dedication to promoting interfaith harmony and his tireless efforts in the service of the community. The decision to honour Cardinal Coutts highlights the importance of promoting unity and understanding among all communities, he added.

Aftab Mughal, director of Minority Concern Pakistan, told AsiaNews: For decades, the cardinal has worked to bring peace and unity between minority and majority communities. He promoted peace, justice and the rights of minorities in the country. It is an award that highlights the presence of Pakistani Christians in social areas such as quality education, health services and social work. We hope that this award will bring about positive change in society and promote social cohesion and harmony between the various communities on the basis of citizenship rather than religion.

Speaking to AsiaNews, Michelle Chaudhry, director of the Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation, said: We congratulate Card Coutts: it is certainly a moment of great pride for the Christian community. He is a visionary leader and an ardent supporter of interfaith harmony and tolerance: we are very pleased that his services have been recognised by the government of Pakistan.

Fr Bonnie Mendes told AsiaNews: The Sitara-e-Imtiaz award to Card Coutts was long overdue. A German university had already awarded him a prestigious prize ten years ago. He never stopped sending out a positive message about the country, even when terrorists attacked places like Shanti Nagar, Sangla Hill, Joseph Colony, All Saints Church in Peshawar, Jaranwala and Sargodha. He always praised the ordinary men and women of Pakistan.
After ten years, Indonesia is to lift the ban on emigration to the Gulf, ostensibly because of better protections for migrants. But NGOs lament that economic interests are prioritised over workers protection. Despite a huge workforce, many young Indonesians remain unemployed and poorly educated.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  Indonesia is ready to lift a ten-year ban on allowing Indonesians to seek work in Saudi Arabia, following a new memorandum of understanding between the two countries that ostensibly guarantees greater protections.

Migrant Workers Protection Minister Abdul Kadir Karding made the announcement, saying that the agreement will be signed in Jeddah in the coming weeks, after obtaining the green light from Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

After ensuring that Saudi Arabias labour protection system has improved sufficiently, we will reopen the programme, Karding said at a press conference.

Indonesia plans to send up to 600,000 workers starting as early as June, including 400,000 domestic workers and 200,000 skilled workers, although it is not clear in which sectors they will be employed.

According to government estimates, the deal could generate around 31 trillion rupees (US$ 1.89 billion) a year in foreign exchange.

Karding noted that workers will be entitled to health, social security and life insurance coverage, as well as a monthly minimum wage of about 1,500 Saudi riyals (almost US$ 400 or about 6.5 million rupiah), higher than the minimum wage in Indonesia.

The previous ban came into effect in 2015 following a string of abuse cases involving Indonesian workers in the Gulf countries, including physical and sexual abuse and withholding of pay, a byproduct of the so-called kafala system, whereby workers are tied to their employers, severely limiting their rights or recourse to legal action.

Indonesia first banned emigrating to Mideast countries in 2011, lifted in 2014, and then reinstated after only one year, when Indonesian authorities stopped female workers from travelling to countries with the kafala system, like the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Egypt.

Today, most Indonesian women are employed in other Asian countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. Nevertheless, the Indonesian Migrant Workers Agency received 186 complaints in the past year from Indonesians in Saudi Arabia, making the kingdom one of the countries with the highest number of reports.

In fact, despite the moratorium, in fact, about 250,000 Indonesian workers arrive in Saudi Arabia every year through irregular channels.

Workers' rights organisations have expressed strong reservations about the memorandum of understanding.

Nuharsono, coordinator of Migrant Care, spoke to the South China Morning Post about rampant cases of abuse involving Indonesian migrant workers, the majority of whom are women.

In his view, Saudi Arabias legal system does not adequately protect migrant workers, and lifting the ban reflects more Indonesia's economic interests than any concern for migrants welfare.

Despite its huge workforce, the fourth largest in the world, Indonesia has high youth unemployment, mainly due to low skills. Productivity is very low, even lower than that of Thailand and Malaysia and equal to that of Venezuela.

These macroeconomic data threaten the ambitions of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who revised upwards his economic growth forecasts at the beginning of the year. Yet, the former general recently proposed cuts to education, sparking a backlash among Indonesians.

According to some experts, Indonesia, which has so far invested heavily in infrastructure and new technologies, has neglected investment in human capital.
by Melani Manel Perera

Tamil families in Thaiyiddy were displaced in 1990 by the military. An area of six acres is now home to the Tissa Vihara Buddhist temple. Despite the end of the civil war in 2009, locals have not seen their land returned. With the backing of the People's Alliance for Land Rights (PARL), they are speaking out against forced expropriation and demand justice.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  Tamil residents in Thaiyiddy (Jaffna) were the victims of a truly unethical expropriation after the military seized the area, displaced locals, and remained after the civil war ended in 2009.

We don't want to fight and we still act peacefully. We need our lands without allowing for any further conflict, said people who hold the deeds to the land at a press conference jointly organised with the People's Alliance for Land Rights (PARL) in Colombo on 20 March.

For years, Tamils in northern Sri Lanka have been protesting the illegal acquisition of their ancestral lands. A Buddhist temple, the Tissa Vihara, was built in 2018 on the site where a Hindu shrine once stood.

The construction raises fears that this is part of a plan to erase the local, mostly Tamil Hindu culture since Buddhism is not widespread in this part of the country.

Although the Sri Lankan Constitution gives priority to the protection and promotion of Buddhism, the new temple was built on six acres of private land without the consent of the owners or the approval of local authorities.

At the press conference, several owners of the disputed land expressed their point of view, seizing the opportunity offered by PARL, speaking about their own experiences, and directly addressing the southern media, which often misrepresents their struggle.

However, while Thaiyiddi residents recognise the historic value of the Tissa temple, they appeal to the new government, stressing that they were displaced and oppressed by the forced acquisition of their lands.

The current government, led by the National People's Power (NPP), has stated on several occasions that it recognises the rights of northerners to their lands. But, for this to become a reality, PARL calls on the government to recognise the owners land rights in accordance with the law and to prioritise their claim.

Sukumari Sarujan, a landowner, said a plaque on the temple states it was built entirely with military contribution. How reasonable is it to grab land rightfully belonging to Tamil families and build a Buddhist Temple? she told the press.

Another landowner, Ayyadore Ravindran, 70, who lived opposite the Tissa Viharaya, told the press that when they were displaced in 1990, there was a small temple in Thaiyiddi. In addition, taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Buddhist temple was extended in the area within the maximum security zone label.

A. Sureshkumar told the media that she has lived as a displaced person for 34 years. In October 1989 she obtained title to her land, which is now owned by the Sri Lankan military and the Tissa Temple.

In front of my house, there is a Kovil (Hindu temple) but the access to it has been blocked by the Temple," she said, adding ed that while the temple authorities enjoy locals land, they had to live in rented houses, in precarious conditions. It is not fair and we want back our lands, he told the media.

PARL also calls for a formal investigation into the forced acquisition of land from residents in the north and the east to build a religious shrine and preserve archaeological sites.

They demand that steps be taken to restore the land to their rightful owner, and to ensure that such actions by the state or the military do not occur in the future.

Thaiyiddi residents who own the land say that they want to see their property rights restored, that their struggle in not against ethnic Sinhala or Buddhism; instead, the appeal to the people in the South not to view their demands as something racist.

"This country's law is functioning differently for Tamils and Sinhalese," lamented one participant at the Colombo conference. Everyone can be treated in the same way with a "constitutional change".
The Tokyo District Court revoked the religious movements status. Founded by Sun Myung Moon, the Church was involved in financial scandals over the years, which emerged following the murder of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022. The Church, which will still be able to operate in Japan, plans to appeal, but it loses its tax benefits in the meantime.

Tokyo (AsiaNews)  The Tokyo District Court has ordered the dissolution of the Federation of Families for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), better known as the Unification Church, due to irregularities related to its fundraising practices and after its controversial relations with Japanese politicians came to light.

Todays ruling strips the Church of its status as a religious body, as well as of its tax exemptions, but does not ban its activity in Japan. It is expected to immediately file an appeal, sources report.

The decision comes more than two years after the violent death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. His killer stated that he had acted because the former prime ministers ties to the religious movement, which he blamed for his mothers financial ruin after she made huge donations to this church.

The murder in July 2022 brought to light close ties between the Church and numerous members of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has been Japans dominant political party for decades.

Following the assassination, the party launched an internal investigation, which revealed that about half of all its lawmakers had ties with the religious movement. The case damaged the partys image, eventually leading it to lose its majority in the House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament, in October 2024.

Japan's Ministry of Education and Culture filed a request to dissolve the Church in 2023, a year after Abe's murder, alleging that the group puts psychological pressure on its members.

According to the government, several rulings by Japanese courts document the Churchs coercive practices. We believe our claims were accepted, said Education Minister Toshiko Abe.

The Unification Church rejected the decision, stating on its official website that this ruling was based on an incorrect interpretation of the law and is totally unacceptable to this organization."

It goes on to say that it had adopted structural changes in recent years and that it believed that the legal conditions for dissolution are not applicable in its case.

Founded in Seoul in 1954 by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, who had fled North Korea, the movement gained worldwide notoriety in the 1970s with its mass weddings involving thousands of couples even though bride and groom barely knew each other.

Members are informally called "Moonies named after the founder. Over the years, accusations of financial misdeeds have been repeatedly made against the Church. Moon himself, who built an economic empire in the United States, was accused of tax evasion.

Under Japanese law, the authorities can ask courts to dissolve a religious body if it "commits an act which is clearly found to harm public welfare substantially."

The dissolution order issued against the Unification Church is the third of its kind since the end of the Second World War.

The best known precedent occurred in 1995, when the authorities dissolved Aum Shinrikyo, a sect responsible for the sarin gas attack in the Tokyo subway, which killed 13 people and injured thousands.

The other was the Myokakuji temple, a group whose priests scammed people by saying that they were possessed by evil spirits and had to pay to be exorcised.
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25 March 2025 17:33 (UTC+04:00)

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Turkish police have detained more than 1,100 people, including journalists, since the arrest of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main rival sparked the country's worst unrest in years, a minister said on Monday.

The demonstrations began in Istanbul after Ekrem Imamoglu's arrest last week and have since spread to more than 55 of Turkey's 81 provinces, sparking clashes with riot police and drawing international condemnation.

The popular 53-year-old has been widely seen as the only politician who could defeat Turkey's longtime leader Erdogan at the ballot box.

In just four days he went from being the mayor of Istanbul -- a post that launched Erdogan's political rise decades earlier -- to being arrested, interrogated, jailed and stripped of the mayorship as a result of a graft and terror probe.

On Sunday, he was overwhelmingly voted in as the main opposition CHP's candidate for the 2028 presidential run, with some 15 million people casting their ballots in a show of support for Imamoglu.

Observers said it was the looming primary that triggered the move against Imamoglu, the main political rival of Erdogan who has dominated Turkey's politics since 2003, first as prime minister and then as president.

His jailing drew sharp condemnation from Germany, which called it "totally unacceptable" as Greece said moves to undermine civil liberties "cannot be tolerated".

And the EU warned Ankara it needed to demonstrate "a clear commitment to democratic norms". Overnight, France's foreign ministry said it was a "serious attack on democracy".

On Monday, students at the main universities in Istanbul and Ankara called for a boycott of lectures.

Young protesters were also preparing to hold a rally at 1400 GMT by Besiktas port on the Bosphorus, ahead of the main nightly rally outside City Hall at 1730 GMT.

Sunday night's gathering descended into fierce clashes with riot police kicking and beating people in Istanbul, AFP correspondents said.

Before dawn on Monday, police detained 10 Turkish journalists at home, including an AFP photographer, "for covering the protests", the MLSA rights group said.

Most of them were covering the mass demonstrations outside City Hall, it said, in a move denounced by Imamoglu's wife.

"What is being done to members of the press and journalists is a matter of freedom. None of us can remain silent about this," wrote Dilek Kaya Imamoglu on X.

Since Wednesday, police had detained more than 1,133 people for "illegal activities", Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Monday.

Among them were two lawyers who were defending protesters detained by the police, the Bar Association in the western coastal city of Izmir said.

Imamoglu -- who has denounced the judicial moves against him as a political "execution without trial" -- sent a defiant message from jail via his lawyers.

"I wear a white shirt that you cannot stain. I have a strong arm that you cannot twist. I won't budge an inch. I will win this war," he said.

"Out of a total of 15 million votes, 13,211,000 are solidarity votes," City Hall said, referring to the number of ballots cast by those who were not CHP members.

Faced with the massive protests, Turkey's authorities sought to shut down more than 700 accounts on X, the online platform said on Sunday.
25 March 2025 13:58 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

The opening of the Turkiye-Armenia border on March 21, with the announcement that it would remain open until March 31until trucks return on the same routesparked a somewhat broad discussion in Azerbaijan. However, the issue turned out to be not as simple as it seemed at first glance. Ankara has maintained its borders closed to Yerevan for 32 years, primarily due to both the occupation of Garabagh and Armenia's territorial claims against Turkiye. Since 1993, the border gates have been opened only a few times, and even then, solely for humanitarian purposes, with no economic interests at play.

Armenia, seeking to provide humanitarian aid to Syria, has knocked on Turkey's door, attempting to engage within a short timeframe in regional interests. Perhaps Armenia is considering the Armenians living in Syria, but overall, its actions regarding the Syria issue may send a different message, aligning with the common interests of Turkiye and Azerbaijan. Besides, it has become clear that the discussions surrounding the opening of the border are being conducted parallel to Armenia's efforts to normalize its relations with Azerbaijan.

It is well known that until recent years, Armenia had isolated itself from both Turkiye and Azerbaijan by advancing territorial claims as well as fabricated genocide allegations against both countries. This behavior has kept Yerevan from participating in the region's most significant projects. Following Armenias defeat in the 2020 Patriotic War (the Second Garabagh War), Yerevan experienced a shock effect. In particular, after his return to power post-defeat, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his administration began taking markedly different steps.

In recent days, official Yerevan's growing interest in restoring relations with both Azerbaijan and Turkiye has been clearly visible. Pashinyan's positive remarks regarding constitutional changes and steps aligning with Baku's demands, as well as Armenias interest in opening borders with Turkiye, point to a thaw in relations in the near future. While Yerevan may still exhibit clumsiness on many issues, Pashinyans recent actions strongly indicate that Armenia is leaving behind its past ideology. For example, Pashinyan's administration recently communicated to the public that the fabricated genocide claims have become ineffective and irrelevant. After years of using these claims as a weapon, Armenia has realized that it cannot influence the world with them anymore. The current government has recognized that modern global power is centered around strong economic relations, not outdated traditions, and is now operating from a different political platform. A while ago, the Armenian Minister stressed that the countrys constitution, which had previously been rigid on territorial claims against Azerbaijan, would not change, but now that position has shifted. Even in the matter of opening communications, Armenia is attempting to demonstrate that it no longer thinks the same way as before. While this is largely symbolic, it is considered a positive step by external forces. Armenias dangerous ideological stances and its stubborn, opposing position have long attracted outside forces to the South Caucasus, creating a unique weight in the region and leading to the conflicts continued artificial persistence, like a nuclear reaction.

For example, the Armenian lobby in active operation in Western countries still clings to territorial claims over Garabagh and even twists the legal proceedings of a group of Armenians imprisoned for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Garabagh. While Yerevan's support for such claims casts a shadow over its verbal stance, ultimately, the geopolitical situation forces the Pashinyan government to behave more realistically.

Thus, the temporary opening of the Turkiye-Armenia border at the Alican (Margara) checkpoint can be seen as a signal to Armenia that it will receive a positive response in exchange for its shift in stance. Turkiye, alongside Azerbaijan, is considering Armenias inclination to restore relations, expecting more positive steps in the future.
25 March 2025 11:16 (UTC+04:00)

National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of Novruz holiday, Azernews reports.

"Dear Ilham Heydar oglu,

It is my honor to extend to you my sincere congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of the international holiday - Novruz.

The international holiday of Novruz, celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox, is one of the most ancient cultural heritages of mankind. With roots dating back thousands of years, this beautiful holiday is a symbol not only of the awakening of nature, but also of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, mutual understanding and hard work.

May this beloved holiday bring peace, joy and new achievements to you and all the people of your country," the letter reads.
25 March 2025 14:23 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Azerbaijans religious leaders have sent an official letter to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, expressing concern over the misleading claims made by Bishop Ovakim Manukyan, head of the Armenian Diocese in London, and other British religious figures.

According to Azernews, the letter emphasized that Manukyans statements could distort facts and harm the ongoing peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The religious leaders underscored that Azerbaijan guarantees freedom of worship, with various religious communities coexisting peacefully. They also clarified that the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict was rooted in Armenias occupation of Garabagh, not religious differences.

Addressing the issue of Armenians on trial in Azerbaijan, the leaders stated that these individuals are accused of war crimes rather than being prisoners of war. They criticized calls for their release as inconsistent with justice.

The Azerbaijani religious figures expressed gratitude to the UK for maintaining a neutral stance and voiced confidence that Britain would continue supporting peace and justice efforts in the region.

The letter was signed by Allahshukur Pashazadeh, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office, along with representatives of Azerbaijans Jewish and Christian communities.
25 March 2025 15:37 (UTC+04:00)

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has stated that Yerevan is ready to continue dialogue with Azerbaijan to finalize a peace agreement.

Azernews, citing Armenian media, reports that Mirzoyan made these remarks during a joint briefing with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Mirzoyan emphasized the need for ongoing efforts to reach a mutually acceptable solution, saying, "There is simply no alternative to this." He added that Armenia is prepared to sign a peace agreement with Baku as soon as possible.

His comments follow the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's statement on March 13, which announced the conclusion of negotiations on the draft peace agreement. However, Azerbaijan has repeatedly stressed that for a final peace deal to be signed, Armenia must fulfill two key conditions:

Remove territorial claims against Azerbaijan from its constitution.

Support the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group and its affiliated structures.
25 March 2025 16:49 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Azerbaijan and Brazil have agreed to establish a Baku-Belem route to attract global climate finance, linking COP29 in Baku (2024) and COP30 in Belem (2025).

Azernews reports that Elchin Amirbayov, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan for Special Assignments, highlighted this initiative in an interview with Agencia Brasil.

"We understand that this is an ambitious goal, but if all investors join forces and are guided by political will, I think we can achieve it," Amirbayov said.

He emphasized that a key lesson from COP29 for Brazil at COP30 would be ensuring transparency and involving countries in consensus-building.

"We identified the differences between the parties and found solutions to achieve a historic consensus on climate finance, which was not an easy task," he stated.

Amirbayov stressed that the primary objective of COP summits is for leaders to fulfill their commitments and implement practical solutions in their respective countries. He described COP29 as a great success and underscored the importance of exchanging views with Brazilian COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago.

"Our countries have closely cooperated in the fight against climate change," he noted.

According to Amirbayov, Brazil should "appropriate" the Baku legacy in its COP30 efforts.

"The most important outcome of COP29 in Baku was the achievement of a consensus on financing in the amount of $300 billion to combat the climate crisis," he emphasized.

Beyond climate issues, Amirbayov also highlighted Azerbaijans growing strategic partnership with Brazil.

"Azerbaijan considers Brazil to be an important player in Latin America and sees numerous opportunities for expanding economic cooperation," he stated.

Diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Brazil date back 32 years, with strong political ties and ongoing collaboration in agriculture, civil aviation, technology, education, and energy.
25 March 2025 17:55 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijani law enforcement has seized 13 kilograms of marijuana and hashish from a suspected drug courier during an operation in Bakus Nasimi district.

Azernews reports that the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed the arrest of 48-year-old Jeyhun Kuhi, who had previous convictions. Officers from the Nasimi District Police Department conducted the operation, uncovering marijuana and hashish enriched with psychotropic substances in his possession.

According to Kuhis statement, he was recruited by an Iranian citizen, whose identity is currently under investigation. He admitted that he was instructed to collect the drugs from a secret location and distribute them in exchange for financial gain.

Authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the case.
25 March 2025 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

Germany is still counting on the deployment of American long-range missiles in 2026, which aligns with the logic of the national security strategy outlined in October 2023, Azernews reports.

At the same time, the United States is seeking to reduce its involvement in ensuring European security. The Bundestag has already acknowledged that Donald Trump may reconsider his decision on the missile deployment to avoid worsening relations with Russia. Experts also suggest that the growing rift between the United States and Europe could lead not only to the abandonment of the missile deployment in Europe but potentially even to the withdrawal of tactical nuclear weapons from Germany, as noted in the report.

"The decision to deploy conventional American long-range weapons systems in Germany is consistent with the national security strategy adopted by the federal government in October 2023 in response to the increased threat from Russia," the German diplomatic mission stated.

According to German diplomats, Russia has "long since" enhanced its military capabilities with long-range missiles and cruise missiles, both conventional and capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The Russian Federation "has clearly demonstrated its readiness to use armed force, disregarding international agreements," the German embassy emphasized.

The ongoing discussions about missile deployments and security in Europe are not only focused on military capabilities but also on the broader geopolitical landscape. With the rise of hybrid warfare tactics, cyber threats, and the expansion of China's influence in global affairs, NATO countries are rethinking defense strategies and their alliances. This evolving security environment might require Germany and the United States to re-evaluate their defense commitments, including the role of nuclear deterrence in Europe. Additionally, the potential withdrawal of tactical nuclear weapons from Germany could spark debates about the future of NATOs nuclear posture and the role of European nations in ensuring their own security in an increasingly unpredictable world.
25 March 2025 18:30 (UTC+04:00)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Portuguese counterpart, Paulo Rangel, in Beijing on Tuesday, calling for closer relations between China and Europe as both sides navigate intensifying global trade tensions, Azernews reports, citing Straits Times.

According to a statement from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang emphasized that China views Europe as an important pillar in a multipolar world and supports Europe in maintaining its strategic autonomy. He also expressed China's commitment to working with Portugal to promote Chinese-European relations.

Rangel's visit, the first by a high-ranking Portuguese official in over five years, came at a time when EU member states are increasingly concerned about the possibility of a trade war with both the United States and China. The growing uncertainties in global trade are pushing European officials to seek stronger diplomatic and economic ties with China.

Amidst these developments, top officials in Beijing and European capitals are reassessing their positions. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has been taking a more confrontational stance with both the EU and China, which has led to a shift in global trade dynamics. In fact, beyond Rangel's visit, the French Foreign Minister and Italy's Senate President are also scheduled to visit China and meet with senior Chinese officials this week.

Portugal plays an interesting role in this geopolitical context. While the United States is the primary destination for Portuguese exports outside the EU, Portugal remains the only Western European country that is actively involved in China's Belt and Road Initiative, a massive global infrastructure project that aims to strengthen Chinas trade links across Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Furthermore, last year, Portugal abstained from an EU vote to impose tariffs on Chinese-built electric vehicles, highlighting its more independent stance on Chinese trade policies. This move is in line with Portugals broader approach to deepen its ties with China, which also includes welcoming Chinese investments, particularly in the automotive and infrastructure sectors.

As Europe faces mounting pressure from the U.S. and China, the dynamic between the EU and China, including the role of individual countries like Portugal, will likely continue to evolve. Portugal's unique position as both a key EU member and a partner in China's Belt and Road Initiative underscores the increasingly complex nature of global trade relations.
25 March 2025 19:35 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

South Korean airline Korean Air has signed an agreement with American companies Boeing and GE Aerospace to purchase up to 50 wide-body airliners, totaling approximately $32 billion, Azernews reports.

According to the announcement, the agreement involves the purchase of up to 50 wide-body aircraft manufactured by Boeing, each powered by GE Aerospace engines. The deal was officially signed last Friday.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo (not Howard Latnick) praised the agreement, emphasizing its significance for American industry. "President Biden and I are committed to ushering in a new era for American manufacturing, and today's announcement clearly demonstrates the global recognition of American manufacturing and innovation," Raimondo said in a statement.

She continued, "The skilled workforce at industry leaders such as Boeing and GE Aerospace exemplifies America's unparalleled industrial strength and technological superiority. The Department of Commerce will continue to support initiatives like this, which contribute to the economic revival of our country."

This deal marks a significant step in strengthening the longstanding relationship between South Korea and the U.S. in the aerospace industry. It highlights the growing demand for new aircraft in the aviation sector, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely impacted air travel. Airlines worldwide, including Korean Air, are modernizing their fleets to meet rising passenger demand and address environmental concerns through more fuel-efficient models.

Interestingly, the agreement also underscores the increasing reliance on U.S. technology and innovation in the global aerospace market, with Boeing and GE Aerospace playing pivotal roles in shaping the future of aviation. This deal is likely to contribute not only to economic growth but also to job creation in the U.S. aerospace sector.
25 March 2025 19:05 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

The Austin Police Department in Texas has reported the discovery of several explosive devices at a Tesla dealership owned by Elon Musk, Azernews reports.

According to the police, "suspicious devices" were found on the morning of March 24. Bomb disposal experts (or sappers) later confirmed that the items were indeed explosive, and they successfully defused them. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the investigation is still ongoing.

In response to the incident, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced the formation of a special task force dedicated to addressing attacks against Tesla.

"Acts of violence, vandalism, and domestic terrorism, such as the recent attacks on Tesla, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," an FBI spokesperson told a local TV station.

An anonymous law enforcement source also revealed to ABC News that the FBI has received information about at least 48 separate cases involving attacks on Tesla dealerships, vehicles, and charging stations. The attacks have raised concerns about the growing number of incidents targeting the electric vehicle maker, as tensions surrounding the company's rapid expansion and influence in the automotive industry escalate.

While the motives behind these incidents remain unclear, experts suggest that the growing interest in Teslas success and its disruptive role in the traditional automotive sector may be fueling backlash from various groups. Additionally, the rise of electric vehicles and Teslas technological dominance in the market has likely sparked increased scrutiny and, in some cases, hostile actions.

This case highlights the ongoing challenges for businesses in the rapidly evolving tech and automotive industries, where companies like Tesla face both innovation-driven admiration and resistance. As authorities investigate these incidents, it remains to be seen whether this will lead to greater security measures for high-profile companies in the future.
Border Patrol arrested a Lewiston teen and threatened him and his family with immediate deportation amid President Donald Trump's immigration efforts.

The teenager's mother, identified as Lisseth Herrera, said her 17-year-old son, was excited to leave home for his first day of work to help out with expenses. The teen, Jose Adalberto Herrera, was with his uncle when they were pulled over and detained by police.

Lewiston Teen Arrested by Border Patrol

The mother said that her son frantically called her and said that police were hitting his uncle when they pulled them over. She said that a police officer could be heard telling her son to hang up the phone.

Herrera said that the next morning, she got a call from a man who identified himself as an immigration agent. He allegedly told her that they had her son in custody and had no record of him in the immigration system.

The mother was able to record part of the phone call with the supposed immigration agent. The man said that her son was "probably going to be deported to El Salvador." He added that if she wanted to turn herself in, she could be deported along with him, according to the Maine Public.

When she heard this, Herrera became anxious and desperate because she knew there was nothing she could do for her son. Later, immigration lawyer Kira Gagarin, who is assisting the family, said she had already spoken with the Border Patrol following the teenager's arrest.

The lawyer said that she was not made aware of any threat of the son or the family being deported to El Salvador. Gagarin said that the teenager was in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement and expects him to be released back to his family soon.

Threat of Immediate Deportation

Gagarin said that it was very "frightening" that the Border Patrol was working on detaining minors when the priority should be deporting criminals, terrorists, and drug dealers. The arrest comes after Border Patrol in Houlton shared that an agent assisted a Maine State Police Trooper on a traffic stop for speeding near Falmouth, the Sun Journal reported.

The situation with the Herrera family comes as President Trump continues to ramp up his administration's efforts related to immigration enforcement. Some of the policies that have been implemented include imposing arrest quotas, pressuring officials to speed up deportations, and encouraging agents to detain more people.

Mellisa Adamson, an attorney with the Oakland-based National Center for Youth Law, said that immigration enforcement agents across the United States are frantically trying to increase arrest numbers. This is what is unnecessarily separating children from their families, as per the Boston Globe.

Originally published on parentherald.com
25 March 2025 20:40 (UTC+04:00)

LG Innotek has announced plans to invest 600 billion won ($408 million) into its factory in Gumi, North Gyeongsang, through December 2026. This investment aims to significantly expand its production capacity for chip substrates and camera modules, Azernews reports, citing Korea JoongAng Daily.

The investment was formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with the city government of Gumi on Tuesday. The funds will be used to install new equipment for producing camera modules and flip chip ball grid array (FC-BGA) packages. LG Innotek, which is 40.79% owned by LG Electronics, revealed the details in a statement.

LG Innotek also confirmed that it began producing FC-BGA chipsets for U.S. tech companies in December 2023, marking a significant step in diversifying its portfolio. The company, which is primarily known for manufacturing camera modules for Apples iPhone, expanded into the semiconductor substrate market in 2022 with the production of FC-BGA chipsets. The company had previously signed a 1.4 billion won investment MOU with Gumi in 2022 to strengthen its FC-BGA production lines.

Gumi is a strategic location for LG Innotek, serving as a foundation for our core business operations, said LG Innotek CEO Moon Hyuk-soo in a press release. We plan to grow alongside the local community and collaborate with other firms in the region.

Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho also praised the investment, noting, LG Innoteks investment will provide a significant boost to Gumis local economy. The city is committed to supporting various initiatives that will foster a mutually beneficial relationship between LG Innotek and the local community.

This investment signals LG Innotek's ambition to diversify and strengthen its position in the rapidly growing semiconductor market. The company's shift towards producing FC-BGA chipsets comes at a time when demand for advanced semiconductor packaging is soaring, particularly in industries like telecommunications, automotive, and consumer electronics.

LG Innoteks expansion in Gumi aligns with the broader South Korean government's efforts to promote regional development and innovation in key technological sectors. Gumi, already a hub for high-tech manufacturing, is expected to benefit significantly from this investment as it strengthens its position as a key player in South Koreas semiconductor and electronics industries.
25 March 2025 21:15 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

British oil and gas company Victoria Oil & Gas has filed a lawsuit against Kazakhstan, citing provisions under the Energy Charter Treaty. The claim has been formally registered with the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), Azernews reports.

In April 2021, the company had already announced its intention to pursue legal action against Kazakhstan, seeking compensation for the termination of its contract for oil exploration and production at the Kemerkol field in the Atyrau region. Victoria Oil & Gas alleges that the termination of the agreement resulted in a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in potential revenue.

Energy expert Nurlan Zhumagulov, Director of the Energy Monitor Public Foundation, commented on the lawsuit, suggesting that the motives behind the legal action may be more political than economic. The deposit in question is clearly not worth hundreds of millions of dollars, Zhumagulov said. Its likely that this lawsuit has more political implications than it does economic ones.

Kazakhstan has long been a focal point for energy companies due to its rich natural resources, but it has also been a region where disputes over contracts and resources are not uncommon. In this case, the involvement of the Energy Charter Treatya multilateral agreement aimed at promoting energy cooperation and protecting investmentssuggests that the dispute could have broader implications for international business relations in the energy sector.

The lawsuit comes at a time when Kazakhstans government has been tightening control over its oil and gas sector, prompting some foreign companies to face challenges in maintaining their operations. The countrys legal framework around energy contracts and foreign investments has been a point of contention for a number of international companies operating in the region.

While the economic value of the Kemerkol field itself might be questioned, the lawsuit may reflect deeper tensions over the broader investment climate and political considerations in Kazakhstans energy sector. The outcome of this case could potentially influence future foreign investment in Kazakhstan, particularly in the oil and gas industry.
25 March 2025 14:47 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The delegations of the United States and Ukraine have begun a new round of negotiations on a ceasefire with Russia. The meeting is taking place in Riyadh, Azernews reports via AFP.

"A new meeting is taking place in Riyadh between the Ukrainian and American teams regarding a ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow, an official source in the Ukrainian delegation informed," the media resource states.

Negotiation process for ending war

At the beginning of March, the US proposed a 30-day ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. The Ukrainian side supported this proposal, but the Kremlin has yet to give a direct agreement. Moreover, the Russians put forward a number of additional conditions, including the cessation of mobilization and halting the supply of Western weapons to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

On Sunday, March 23, another round of talks took place in Riyadh between the US and the Ukrainian and Russian delegations regarding the end of the war. During the meeting, Kyiv and Washington discussed a ceasefire in the Black Sea region to ensure free navigation and halt attacks on Ukrainian ports.

The day before, the US held talks with the Russians. The meeting lasted about 12 hours. The reports later revealed that additional talks with the Ukrainian side would take place.

At the same time, the administration of US President Donald Trump hopes to conclude a ceasefire agreement by April 20. However, Washington does not rule out the possibility of shifting these deadlines.

Today, the sources revealed that the US and Russia are preparing a joint statement after the negotiations in Saudi Arabia. Although the content of the statement has not yet been disclosed, the American side in Riyadh has sent optimistic signals to Donald Trump's administration regarding the talks.
Appling County football has been on the cusp of something great for a very long time. The Pirates have made it to the Final Four 3 out of the last
North Korea has significantly raised the foreign currency quotas for its workers sent abroad, a decision that is expected to lead to even more demanding working conditions for laborers in foreign countries.

In Russia, particularly in Sakhalin, North Korean construction workers have seen their monthly quotas for foreign currency double, from 62,000 rubles (nearly $730) per person. A source in Russia told Daily NK that this new requirement has resulted in laborers working longer hours to meet the increased demands. "Because of this order, laborers are being forced to work even longer hours to meet the quota," the source said.

A similar scenario is unfolding in Dalian, China, where North Korean workers in seafood processing plants are also facing doubled quotas. Following a March 10 directive from North Korea, the required amount workers must pay each month has surged from 3,400 yuan (nearly $470) per person. "Workers now face an even heavier burden due to North Korea demanding they pay double the previous monthly amount of 3,400 yuan per person," a source in China reported.

These increased quotas are part of North Korea's broader demand for more "loyalty money" from overseas workers, which is described as crucial in the context of what the government calls the "final year of the Eighth Party Congress." The government has framed this as a "patriotic movement" aimed at generating foreign currency to mark the year as a significant "celebration of victory."

The pressure on workers is palpable as they are now forced to work even longer hours to meet these heightened quotas. "The government already takes most of what North Korean construction workers earn, so saving money was already difficult," explained the Russian source. "Now that authorities have doubled the loyalty cash quota for the 'final year of the Party Congress,' workers complain they won't see a penny even if they work themselves to death."

Many workers had hoped that after several years of hard labor abroad, they could return home with enough savings to start their lives. However, the increase in "loyalty cash" payments has left them questioning their future. North Korean workers "had planned to work for two or three years and return home after saving enough to get married, but because of these 'loyalty cash' payments, they worry they'll never be able to return with enough savings," the Chinese source noted.

Under the current regime, North Korean workers have no means of protesting the exploitation of their wages. Their difficult working conditions are often observed by sympathetic locals. "Young female North Korean workers must obey their supervisors and endure without proper compensation," the source in China said. "Chinese people who are aware of the North Korean workers' miserable circumstances feel very sorry for them."

However, HNGN cannot independently verify the claims.
Killer Whales Return to Oregon Coast with More Than 10 Off Depoe Bay - Video

Published 03/25/25 at 12:06 a.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Depoe Bay, Oregon)  They're back. Orcas have returned to the Oregon coast and basically right on schedule. (Photo / video Kyler Werkheiser / Dockside Charters)

Spring whale watch season is often when they come sauntering into these waters  often, but not always  following either the seal birthing season or even baby gray whales.

A spectacular sighting of them happened Monday near Cape Foulweather, with some aboard Dockside Charters catching incredible photos of them and video in some cases. There were about 10 to 20 killer whales, maneuvering some three miles off the Depoe Bay area.

The first sighting actually came way back on March 11, as those in the Port Orford area reported seeing a few near The Gate  a series of rock structures just off the town. However, nothing else is known about those, or if it's the same group seen two weeks later.

Check out this video Kyler Werkheiser got of the orcas seen from the Samson today! What an awesome experience they got! Book your next trip at www.docksidedepoebay.com or call 541-765-2545 Posted by Dockside Charters Sportfishing and Whale Watching on Monday, March 24, 2025

The Oregon Coast Killer Whale Monitoring Program (OCKWMP) reported Monday's sighting, and Julie Conrad from the central coast and Josh McInnes from British Columbia were able to ID the pod. They are part of the L4 matrilineal group, a family within Lpod.

This group of whales belong to the critically endangered southern resident killer whale stock that frequents the coastal waters of the California Current, said McInnes of the OCKWMP. Their primary range is from southern British Columbia to central California.

These majestic beasties are not here for the baby whales or even the baby harbor seals. McInnes said this particular tribe of orcas don't chomp on those but rather they are fish eaters.



Photo / video Kyler Werkheiser / Dockside Charters

McInness and his group were able to ID the pod: Female L055 (born. 1977), female L082 (born. 1990), female L086 (born. 1991), female L103 (born. 2003), male L106 (born. 2005), male L109 (born. 2007), male L116 (born. 2010), and female L118 (born. 2011).

McInness is a Canadian researcher working with the Marine Mammal Research Unit of the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries and University of British Columbia, as well as running the FB groups for California, Oregon and Washington killer whales.

He told Oregon Coast Beach Connection right now is a good time to start catching sight of orcas along these coastlines  although it's never guaranteed.

Killer whales occur throughout the year off the Oregon coast, but there is a peak in sightings for transient (mammal-eating) killer whales during the months of April-June, he said. This is likely a result of better weather, resulting in more eyes on the waters, but also is likely related to the harbor seal pupping season, with an influx of new and vulnerable pups.

You can see more of the stunning orca encounter here.

Apparently, these guys are not necessarily part of the spring group of orcas, but likely lingerers.

In the winter, southern resident killer whales frequent the outer coast of Washington and Oregon searching for salmon, McInness said. I think there is always a chance of seeing killer whales during Whale Week off Oregon. More eyes focused on searching for whales increases the odds!

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Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

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Regarding the recent Israel /Iran Conflict (the "12 Day War"), culminating in the United States Air Force employing seven B2 Bombers to complete a 33 hour flight, dropping 14 fifteen ton bunker busting bombs on three Iranian nuclear facilities buried deep under mountain rock, which destroyed Iran's nuclear ambitions against Israel and the United States: Should President Trump have unilaterally made the decision to make such a bold decision to conduct this operation, without first running this prospective operation before the US Congress for their approval?

14.29% No, The War Powers Act prohibitions, which requires NO presidential military action without congressional approval.85.71% Yes, the President has Article 2 Constitutional authority to take unilateral military action to protect the American People, providing he does not break congressional codes, which he did not.0% Don't care, never have.
It is already known that crooked Obama Judge James Boasberg, who is abusing his power to try to stymie the deportation of illegal alien gangsters, has been a big Democrat political contributor and active in Democrat political organizations, and that his daughter works for an NGO that tries to stop the deportation of illegal aliens. Now, more information has come out that increases the sleaze around this politically corrupt judge.

It turns out that there was a private invitation-only conference for select judges held in Idaho a few months before the election. Boasberg was paid to attend. Sessions included "Judges in a Democracy" and "State of Democracy". Boasberg had to file an ethics report that he was paid to attend, but many of the details, like how much he was paid, did not have to be included. It was a retired Democrat-appointed federal judge who blew the whistle on the political nature of this conference.

It looks like it is time for a full blown Congressional investigation of these partisan judges with a lot of subpoenas going out, including for all the Obama judges and BIden judges engated in the Judicial Insurrection.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/new-dirt-judge-boasberg-raises-more-questions

Meanwhile, another Biden judge who as part of the judicial insurrection tried to block President Trump's executive order that paused the badly absued "refugee resettlement" program, has been struck down in an appeal to the most liberal Circuit Court of Appeals in the country. In a unanimous ruling, a three judge panel of that Circuit reversed the order blocking the Trump executive order.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/03/surprise-liberal-9th-circuit-court-overturns-biden-judge/
Technology

It was 2010, soon after I had interviewed YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley, one of the star speakers that Cosgrave had somehow managed to lure to the pre-RDS Dublin Web Summit in Chartered Accountants House on Pearse Street.
It's feared that the UK Home Office's new entry requirements will impede the flow of overseas visitors who arrive in the Republic but want to see sights on the north of the border, such as Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

Northern Irelands tourism industry is seeing an increasing number of cancellations from tour groups and individual travellers to the north due to the UKs new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Scheme.

The Home Office has been urged again to reconsider a cross border exemption for the UKs new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Scheme, as it starts to hit Northern Irelands valuable tourism sector.

Since January 8, non-European travellers need to have an ETA costing 10 per person for entry into any part of the UK. It will be required for European travellers from April 2 and will rise to 16 a week later.

The tourism sector here has long expressed fears that many international visitors arriving in the Republic will be deterred from visiting Northern Ireland due to the paperwork and cost.

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: Deepening concerns relating to the ETA Scheme have been continually raised with me by our local tourism industry. Over the last few weeks, I have met with tour operators in both Berlin and the US who also expressed their concerns to me.

Indeed, as the scheme continues to be rolled out and with EU nationals due to require an ETA from April 2, 2025, the concerns of the industry are, if anything, increasing.

Ms Archibald has written to the Home Office proposing options for an exemption.

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire...A

The Minister said the ETA is starting to have a definitive and negative impact on tourism.

I have been advised by representative bodies such as NITA and the Incoming Tour Operators Association for Ireland that the industry is seeing an increasing number of cancellations from tour groups and individual travellers to the north due to the ETA, she said.

NITA chief executive Dr Joanne Stuart said: The introduction of the ETA scheme is already having a clear and detrimental impact on our tourism sector, with tour operators reporting significant cancellations and Northern Ireland being removed from itineraries.

It's feared that the UK Home Office's new entry requirements will impede the flow of overseas visitors who arrive in the Republic but want to see sights on the north of the border, such as Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

Average price of pint to surge above 5 due to April cost hikes, say beer bosses

"The requirement for European visitors to hold a passport in order to apply for an ETA is a major barrier, particularly for key demographics such as younger travellers and older tourists who often dont have a passport and travel using EU identity cards.

We urge the Home Office to reconsider our call for a practical exemption that allows for seamless cross-border travel, she added.
A three-year sentence was today handed to a 38-year-old Belfast man who threatened to kill his ex-partner and two of her relatives.

Imposing the sentence upon James Samuel Clarke, Judge Gordon Kerr KC told him that he will serve half the term in prison and the other half on licence when he is released from custody.
Relatives of a Belfast woman abducted and murdered by an IRA interrogation gang have lost a High Court battle aimed at securing a public inquiry into the full extent it was penetrated by state agents.

Lawyers for the family of Caroline Moreland claimed the UK Government unlawfully failed to order a statutory probe after a major report established infiltration of the Internal Security Unit (ISU) went well beyond the top Army spy codenamed Stakeknife.
Motorcycling

Andrew Irwin reveals his target for a successful weekend as he looks to get British Superbike season back on track
A bid to force a ministers decision to install Irish language signage at the Grand Central Station in Belfast to be put to a cross-community Executive vote has been lodged at Stormont.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins announced earlier this week that the bilingual signage at the new 340 million station would be put in place later this year.

The TUVs Timothy Gaston confirmed in the Assembly on Tuesday that he had lodged a petition to refer the decision back to the powersharing Executive, saying the power to stop the ministers plans lay with MLAs.

Ms Kimmins said the move was disappointing, but not surprising.

Stormont Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins speaking to media in Parliament Buildings (David Young/PA)

The new station is set to become the largest integrated transport hub on the island of Ireland, with services including trains between Belfast and Dublin.

Disappointment has been expressed by the Irish language community that the station, which started opening in phases last year, did not originally include Irish language signage.

But Ms Kimmins revealed her plans to the Assembly on Monday for dual languages to be used on wayfinding, passenger information, safety and welcome signage.

Mr Gaston told the Assembly that he had asked the minister to commit to undertaking consultation and an equality screening exercise on the plans.

He said: She has chosen to impose her will without so much, it would appear, as consulting her Executive colleagues.

I have therefore this morning lodged a petition in the Business Office to refer Minister Kimmins decision to the Executive and subject it to a cross-community vote.

Every member of this chamber who believes the divisive decision of Minister Kimmins should be opposed will add their name to that petition accordingly.

The power to stop the ministers plans, to weaponise Irish both in signage at Grand Central Station and all Translink ticket vending machines, lies in the hands of MLAs.

TUV MLA Timothy Gaston said the power to stop the ministers decision lay with MLAs (Liam McBurney/PA)

The petition needs the support of 30 MLAs for the issue to be referred back to the Executive for review.

Mr Gaston added: The only question is will the DUP and Ulster Unionist members of this House demand equality for our community or will they roll over to Sinn Fein?

I trust unionism will take a stand on this issue and sign the petition to stop this solo run by the Infrastructure Minister.

Speaking to the media at Stormont, Ms Kimmins said an equality screening exercise into the plans had taken place.

She said: I think yesterdays announcement in relation to the Irish language being included on the signs at the Belfast Grand Central Station is a hugely positive development.

This is something that reflects the thriving Irish language community in Belfast and right across our island.

I think that is really important that we have taken that step forward.

She added: It is disappointing but not surprising that the member has made this contribution today.
A man from Northern Ireland who passed away while on holiday in the Dominican Republic has been named as 29-year-old James Gribben from Co Armagh.

A death notice posted by JJ McArdle & Sons Funeral Directors on Tuesday said Mr Gribben died as a result of a swimming accident while on the island.

He was described as the loving son of John and Aideen, dearest brother of Tomas, Brendan and Henry.

"Funeral arrangements will be published when available. Very deeply regretted by his sorrowing family and friends, added the notice.

James father John said his son had gotten into difficulties after going for a swim while walking on the beach.

James Gribben (29) from Co Armagh

News Catch Up - Tuesday 25 March

"The family is devastated by this unexpected tragedy, Mr Gribben told the Irish News.

"James was a wonderful son with a big personality. He will be sadly missed by his family and circle of friends.

Mr Gribbens family are being assisted by the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed earlier that they were aware of the case and were assisting James family.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs is aware of this case and is providing consular assistance, a spokesperson said.

"As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases.
Firefighters are currently at the scene of a serious incident in the area

Emergency Services at the scene in Tower Court in Newtownards (Photo by Kevin Scott)

Emergency services are attending a fire in Co Down.

Police and firefighters are currently on the scene at Tower Court in Newtownards.

It is understood the incident is at sheltered accommodation in the area.

"Officers are assisting emergency services colleagues with the evacuation of residents, said a police spokesperson.

Emergency Services at the scene in Tower Court in Newtownards (Photo by Kevin Scott)

Emergency services attend serious fire at Newtownards fold

"Cordons are in place and we would ask that the public avoid the area at this time. An update will be provided in due course.

Three fire engines remain at the scene, with four operating at the height of the incident.

A number of ambulances are also present, with several fire service response cars also in attendance.

It is understood firefighters entered the building using breathing apparatus.

Neighbours in the area told the Belfast Telegraph they had heard the fire alarm going off in the building earlier on Tuesday afternoon and reported seeing several paramedics, firefighters and police in attendance shortly afterwards.

The NI Ambulance Service (NIAS) said no patients had been taken from the scene.

"The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a 999 call at 18:09 on Tuesday March 25 following reports of a fire incident in the Tower Court area of Newtownards, said a spokesperson.

NIAS despatched two emergency crews to the incident.

Following assessment and treatment at the scene, no patients were taken to hospital.
Agnes was happy and cared for, says granddaughter

From left, Agnes Thompson with her son Roy, son Ralph on his wedding day with his bride Mary, and standing behind is Agness husband Rabbie. Dec 1958. Picture: Liam McBurney

Agnes Thompson with Angela Watt, activities coordinator at Strathearn Care Home in east Belfast, when she turned 109. Picture by Peter Morrison

The granddaughter of Northern Irelands oldest woman has paid tribute following her death at 109 years of age.

Centenarian Agnes Thompson, who lived through five monarchs, 24 prime ministers, 20 US presidents and two world wars, died peacefully in Strathearn Care Home on the Belmont Road last Monday where she lived for the past seven years.

She would have turned 110 later this year. Her granddaughter Jean Hill paid tribute to Mrs Thompson, who was at one point both Northern Ireland and Irelands oldest woman.

The morning she passed, my sister and I had just gotten up to check on her. It was peaceful. She was one of the longest residents there, and she was well cared for, she said.

One of the night carers, who we would never really see during the day, actually turned to me and said that it was an honour to care for your grandmother, so that was a comfort.

People in the home used to tell us that she was the only person in the home that never needed a steady antibiotic.

Id joke now and tell people if you want your loved one to have a happy, long life in a care home, send them to Strathearn.

Agnes Thompson

Born in 1915 in east Belfast  six years before Northern Irelands formation  Mrs Thompson, who was affectionately referred to as Aggie by all her family, was a mother to two sons, grandmother to seven, and had 11 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great grandchildren.

She worked the majority of her life, beginning in a local mill, before moving to a pram factory in Belfast.

Mrs Thompson was married to Rabbie Thompson, who died in 1989, and the pair had two sons, Roy and Ralph.

I always say if my grandmother was from this generation, shed be a successful entrepreneur  a very good one, she was shrewd and a very hard worker all her life, said Jean.

Her funeral was lovely  it was more of a celebration, and myself and my brother spoke about how complimentary she was. Shed always be the first to say something like thats a lovely coat or your hair is lovely  she was filled with compliments and kindness.

Agnes Thompson with Angela Watt, activities coordinator at Strathearn Care Home in east Belfast, when she turned 109. Picture by Peter Morrison

Watch: East Belfast Centenarian celebrates 109th birthday

She didnt go into the home until she was 102-years-old, which is some going. It was only when she was beginning to fall some more, and needed some of that type of care. Im 57-years-old, and it was lovely to have my grandmother for such a long time. Aggie was always there at any family event, she was always so involved.

Whenever you went to see her, she had a card sitting ready for someone in the family  she had all her wits about her and her memory.

From left, Agnes Thompson with her son Roy, son Ralph on his wedding day with his bride Mary, and standing behind is Agness husband Rabbie. Dec 1958. Picture: Liam McBurney

She loved being a part of everything. I remember we had a party for her 100th birthday in Dundonald Methodist, and a woman  much younger than her  came over to her on a rollator, and Aggie walked her back over to her seat afterwards.

Jean said her late grandmother prided on keeping active, even in her 11th decade of life. Aggie was fit, she was walking right up until only a few years ago, until her wee bones couldnt cope any more, she said.

But until then she was up and about. She loved being active, she walked everywhere. Even when she turned 100, youd spot her doing two laps of Ards duck pond. She always ensured she kept active.

Agnes Thompson with her husband Rabbie and their sons, Roy (top) and Ralph, circa 1950

Jean said her grandmother was very well travelled  even up to her late 90s  and loved ensuring she looked well presented everywhere she went.

She went to Scotland, she went to England on trips. Aggie came to Spain with us when she was well into her 90s as well. Her favourite thing that she never missed was the pantomime at the Grand Opera House at Christmas  she was there every single year.

Aggie loved her clothes and lipstick too. She was always like that, she loved her style. Aggie would always tell us that she didnt have much when she was younger, but it was about making do with what you had.

She just loved any event where everyone could be together.

When you say 100, you think of someone who just sits there or lies there  not Aggie. People would never believe us when we told them, or when she told them. We took her out for her 97th birthday, and the staff at the restaurant came out with the candles as 79 because they just didnt believe it.
Revealed | Trimble told PM of concern that judge hearing key case was north Lurgan Catholic

First Minister also told Government 4/5 Provies were on human rights body and that policing role must go to Protestant as three others went to Catholics

First Minister David Trimble pictured in 2001, just months after his remarks to Tony Blair (Toby Melville)

Sam McBride Tue 25 Mar 2025 at 07:39

David Trimble told the Prime Minister that he thought a High Court judges verdict in a legal challenge taken by Sinn Fein would be influenced by him being a north Lurgan Catholic, declassified government papers reveal.
Irish language campaigners blamed the DUP for blocking funding to the sector as they staged a demonstration at Stormont.

Around 200 people, many of them school children, took part in the noisy and colourful protest outside Parliament Buildings on Tuesday morning.

The event was the latest protest action in opposition to 820,000 euro (685,245) of funding cuts announced by the cross-border Irish language promotion body Foras na Gaeilge.

The cutbacks are set to affect groups across the island of Ireland that are reliant on funding allocated by the organisation.

Irish language activists marched up the hill to Parliament Buildings on Tuesday (David Young/PA)

Foras na Gaeilge is jointly funded by the Stormont Executive and Irish government, with the former providing 25% of the budget and the latter the remaining 75%.

The current arrangements require this ratio to be maintained, so one administration is unable to provide additional funding unless the other also agrees to increase its contribution.

Irish language campaigners are accusing the DUP of blocking a proposed change to the system that would allow the Irish government to inject added resources to the sector this year, without the requirement for Stormont to follow suit.

The activists claim the DUP is preventing the proposal being discussed at the Stormont Executive.

DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has previously said she can see no reason to change the current funding model, claiming the proposal breaks the balance between contributions from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Tuesdays protest came ahead of another planned demonstration outside the Dail in Dublin on Wednesday.

Conchur O Muadaigh outside Parliament Buildings (David Young/PA)

Last month, Irish language groups took part in strike action over the funding impasse.

The strike involved more than 40 groups on both sides of the border.

Conchur O Muadaigh, who is chair of Belfast-based community and youth organisation Glor na Mona and also advocacy manager with Irish language promotion body Conradh na Gaeilge, was among speakers who addressed the event in front of the steps of Parliament Buildings.

This series of national protests are hugely significant, he said.

They are building on historic strike action which took place across Ireland last month. The Irish language community once again finds itself outside of Stormont calling for change, for respect and for support.

And we know that we will have to stand our ground and continue to agitate and organise until our concerns are adequately addressed.

We know there is a possible solution on the table, developed and agreed by both finance ministers (Stormont and Irish government).

But we also know that the DUP has now blocked that paper from even coming in front of the Executive for consideration at least seven times since October.

That opposition is leaving community groups and organisations under huge financial pressures, at a time where there is additional funds available in the south to address some of these challenges.

That is not a sustainable position for the DUP and we call on them to reconsider their opposition.

Many of the groups here today are gravely concerned about their futures, the future of their schemes and their services, many of which are now in imminent danger.

We all need a solution and we need it now.

Representatives from Sinn Fein, the Alliance Party, the SDLP and People Before Profit attended Tuesdays demonstration.
The Justice Minister has met with the family of a murdered garda around issues raised in the Dail about defective gun holsters.

Det Garda Colm Horkan, 49, who was originally from Charlestown and was an active member of the Sarsfields club, was murdered while on duty in 2020.

He was shot several times with his own gun on June 17 2020 in Castlerea, Co Roscommon.

Labour TD Alan Kelly told the Dail earlier this month that concerns had been raised around dangerously defective leather pistol holsters.

In an separate incident, Mr Kelly said an accidental discharge of an official-issued garda firearm occurred outside the Israeli Embassy on June 11 2020, just under a week before Mr Horkans death.

The discharged resulted in life-changing injuries to the garda.

Detective Garda Colm Horkan (An Garda Siochana/PA)

Mr Kelly said forensic experts attached to the Garda National Technical Bureau (GNTB) discovered that the holster could engage the trigger and fire the weapon of its own accord.

He added: The holster was so poorly designed, the firearm could be removed from the holster with so-called retention strap fully fastened.

This left the gun open to removal by individuals other than the Garda member carrying the firearm.

This critical health and safety risk later became the subject of a warning notice from the acting head of the Garda National Technical Bureau, given the very real concerns for the safety of Garda members.

Unfortunately, approximately one week later, on the night of 17 June 2020, the late Detective Garda Colm Horkan was murdered with his own official Garda firearm following an engagement with a now convicted murderer, Stephen Silver.

There is no doubt Stephen Silver was the person who ultimately murdered Detective Garda Horkan.

I am now aware, however, that the late detective was wearing one of the defective leather pistol holsters procured from the same equine saddlery in Kildare.

Given what was known about the leather pistol holster removed from the scene of the accidental discharge on 11 June, a week earlier, the question must be asked whether the defective holster should have been investigated for that incident as well.

Mr Kelly said Mr Horkans holster was never presented to the Garda National Technical Bureau for ballistic examination.

Why was Detective Garda Horkans holster not examined by a professional person qualified in the area under the standards required?

He added: Why was there a second report requested into the original incident outside the Israeli Embassy, which, amazingly, contradicted the first report saying the holster was defective?

Why did the Garda Commissioner not issue a section 41 to notify the Minister of the issues regarding the holsters following two incidents, especially after notices had been put on Garda internal systems?

Why did GSOC stop investigating a protected disclosure made in 2019 by someone working in firearms who had concerns regarding the holster? Is the Minister aware it was because of the non-compliance of the Commissioner following a level 4 request?

During the same debate in the Dail, Mr Kelly also raised issues around eight kilogrammes of pure cocaine which been found in a locker in the basement of Garda HQ.

He said the cocaine had been mistakenly dumped by Forensic Science Ireland, an agency within the Department of Justice.

Mr Kelly further highlighted a picture of 392 abandoned firearms left in a container inside Garda HQ, the majority of which the Labour TD said had no documentation.

Asked about the matters on Tuesday, Mr OCallaghan said: After Deputy Kelly raised those issues in the Dail, I had a meeting with the Garda Commissioner the very next day. I raised the issues with the Commissioner.

The Commissioner gave me responses, Im not going to give those responses publicly now.

I also had the privilege of meeting the family of Colm Horkan to discuss some of the issues, and those issues are being considered.

My priority in all of this is the family of Colm Horkan and to ensure that the conviction that was achieved remains upheld.

Silver, of Aughavard, Foxford, Co Mayo, was found guilty of the capital murder of Mr Horkan.

He was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin after a six-week trial.
The Princess Royal, patron of The Butler Trust, attending the trusts annual awards at St Jamess Palace, London. Picture date: Tuesday March 25, 2025.

The Princess Royal was joined by the King when she hosted the annual Butler Trust Awards ceremony recognising criminal justice workers.

Anne presented the awards during the event held at St Jamess Palace in central London in her role as the trusts patron.

The awards recognise and celebrate outstanding people working in prisons, probation and youth justice across the UK.

The Princess Royal presenting the Princess Royal award to Jonathan Firth during the Butler Trust awards (Aaron Chown/PA)

Among the recipients were Jonathan Firth, a prison officer at HMP Swaleside, a mens high security prison on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, who was awarded the Princess Royals Prize for Outstanding Achievement.

It recognised his exceptional work as an officer, during a career lasting more than 30 years, and his unparalleled skill and compassion in working with some of the most challenging individuals.

Charles chatted to the winners at a reception after his sister had made the presentations.

Charles talks with winners of the Butler Trust awards (Aaron Chown/PA)

The Butler Trust Awards were launched in 1985, in memory of former home secretary, Richard Austen Butler.

Anne has been its patron since the creation of the honours and has hosted the prizegiving ceremony every year since.

The trust works to promote excellence in UK prisons, probation, and youth justice by recognising and celebrating outstanding practice, and supporting the development of good practice through awards, training, and resource.
Tug boats shadow the Solong container ship as it drifts in the Humber Estuary, off the coast of East Yorkshire, following a collision with the MV Stena Immaculate oil tanker (Danny Lawson/PA)

A stricken container ship which was involved in a collision with a tanker in the North Sea is to be towed to Aberdeen, according to the Coastguard.

The Solong collided with the anchored tanker Stena Immaculate about 12 miles off the coast of East Yorkshire on March 10, leaving one man missing, presumed dead.

Thousands of plastic pellets, called nurdles, were released from ruptured containers on the Solong and began washing up on beaches on the Norfolk coast, where a clean-up operation is continuing.

On Tuesday, chief coastguard Paddy OCallaghan said: Salvage of the Solong has progressed to enable its relocation to the Port of Aberdeen for safe berthing.

Solong will be under tow by one tug and accompanied by another tug, plus a vessel with counter-pollution measures should they be required.

Tug and tow are scheduled to arrive at Aberdeen later this week.

The Stena Immaculate remains in a stable condition with salvage ongoing.

HM Coastguard continues to support local authorities which are leading the onshore response to pollution, including plastic nurdles, in Norfolk and Lincolnshire.

HM Coastguard will continue to keep the overall situation under close review.

Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Council said last week it had begun removing the nurdles  which are not toxic but could harm wildlife if ingested  focusing initially on a stretch of beaches between Holme-next-the-Sea and Old Hunstanton.

The Solong container ship was carrying around 157 containers when it collided with a tanker in the North Sea on March 10 (Danny Lawson/PA)

Also last week, the National Trust said nurdles had begun to appear on Brancaster Beach in Norfolk and the RSPB confirmed they have washed up at the charitys reserve at nearby Titchwell.

The company which owns the Solong has said that no containers holding plastic nurdles are thought to have been lost over the side of the ship.

It said the pellets are believed to have been released from some of the smaller containers during the intense fires which took a week to bring under control.

The crew of the Stena Immaculate have been praised by the vessels owners for activating firefighting procedures before they abandoned ship.

The firm said that only a small proportion of the jet fuel being carried by the tanker was released in the crash.

A total of 36 people were rescued from the ships following the incident but a sailor from the Solong  named as 38-year-old Filipino national Mark Angelo Pernia  is missing and presumed dead.

The Solongs captain, Vladimir Motin, 59, of St Petersburg, Russia, has appeared at Hull Magistrates Court and at the Old Bailey charged with gross negligence manslaughter and was remanded in custody.
The strategy aims to cut shipping emissions by 30% by 2030 and then 80% by 2040 (Alamy/PA)

Shipping emissions are to be cut by 30% by 2030, the Government has pledged as part of a new maritime net zero strategy.

Larger vessels such as tankers and cruises, which cause the most pollution, will be expected to decarbonise first under the plan, the Department for Transport said.

The new Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy sets out a path to reaching net zero by 2050 by reducing greenhouse gas emissions first by 30% by 2030 and then 80% by 2040 before meeting the final target.

As part of the plan, the shipping sector will be brought under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, meaning operators of the worst-polluting will pay more for their greenhouse gas emissions.

Maritime minister Mike Kane will launch the strategy in Portsmouth on Tuesday.

He said: Climate change is one of the greatest challenges we face today. Working together with industry and international partners, we are driving down emissions in every corner of the economy.

As part of our Plan for Change, were committed to making the UK a green energy superpower, and our Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy will help us build a cleaner, more resilient maritime nation.

Richard Ballantyne, chief executive of the British Ports Association, said the announcement was an opportunity for Government and industry to work together on shared goals.

We look forward to a continued close partnership built on common aims, he said.

Anna Krajinska, UK director at Transport & Environment (T&E), welcomed the commitment but warned targets must be matched by robust policy measures.

T&E welcomes the Governments commitment to reduce shipping emissions by 30% by 2030, 80% by 2040 and net zero by 2050. It is crucial that ambitious targets are coupled with robust policy measures to slash the UKs domestic and international shipping emissions without delay, she said.
A series of separate meetings between American, Russian and Ukrainian representatives have entered their third day as US negotiators shuttled back to discussions with their Ukrainian counterparts in the Saudi capital, a continuation of talks with Kyiv officials that began on Sunday over a potential ceasefire in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, a Kremlin official said on Tuesday that the talks between US and Russian officials in Riyadh the previous day would likely lead to further contacts between Washington and Moscow, but that no concrete plans have yet been made.

The three days of meetings  which did not include direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations  are part of an attempt to hammer out details on a partial pause in the war in Ukraine.

It has been a struggle to reach even a limited, 30-day ceasefire  which Moscow and Kyiv agreed to in principle last week  with both sides continuing to attack each other with drones and missiles.

Russia and Ukraine have also taken differing interpretations of what a possible partial ceasefire would look like, and disagreed over what kinds of targets would be included in a pause on strikes  even after US President Donald Trump spoke to the leaders of both countries to advance a deal.

Yet despite the numerous sticking points  the White House has said a partial ceasefire would include ending attacks on energy and infrastructure, while the Kremlin declared that the agreement referred more narrowly to energy infrastructure  attempts to secure safe commercial shipping in the Black Sea appeared to garner support in principle from both parties, though no specific agreements have been announced.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday told the countrys state-run Channel One TV station that the Russian and US delegations in Riyadh had discussed primarily issues of safe shipping in the Black Sea  a major shipping corridor on which both Russia and Ukraine have ports and coastline.

Mr Lavrov also said that Moscow is up for resuming  in some form, acceptable to everyone  a 2022 deal that allowed Ukraine to ship grain through the Black Sea to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where hunger was a growing threat and high food prices had pushed more people into poverty.

The landmark Black Sea grain initiative was brokered by the UN and Turkey in the summer of 2022. Moscow halted it in July 2023 until its demands to get Russian food and fertiliser to the world were met.

Serhii Leshchenko, adviser to the head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys office, told the Associated Press on Tuesday that US-Ukrainian talks in Riyadh on Sunday had included the security of shipping and infrastructure, including safety for the (Ukrainian) ports of Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson.

Mr Leshchenko added that the Ukrainian delegation would brief Mr Zelensky following renewed talks on Tuesday with the US delegation, adding: Ukraine is ready to support initiatives that will make diplomacy a means of pressure to compel Russia to end the war.

On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the the outcome of the talks in Riyadh has been reported in the capitals and was currently being analysed by Moscow and Washington, but that the Kremlin has no plans to release any details of what was discussed to the public.

Were talking about technical negotiations, negotiations with immersion in details, Mr Peskov said, adding that while there are currently no plans for US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to speak, such a conversation could be quickly organised if the need arises.

There is an understanding that the contacts will continue, but there is nothing concrete at the moment, Mr Peskov said. He added that there are no plans to hold a three-way meeting between Russia, the US and Ukraine.

Senior Russian politician Grigory Karasin, who took part in the Russia-US talks in Riyadh on Monday, told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti that the conversation was very interesting, difficult, but quite constructive.

We were at it all day from morning until late at night, Mr Karasin was quoted by the agency as saying on Tuesday.

A damaged apartment after a Russian attack on Kyiv, Ukraine (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

Speaking about the war in Ukraine, Mr Karasin said Moscows and Washingtons positions do not always align, but that the two parties will continue to look for ways to co-operate, as there is now an understanding that co-operation is necessary to resolve the conflict.

He added that talks between expert groups from Russia and the US could continue.

It came as the number of people injured on Monday in a Russian missile strike on the centre of the Ukrainian city of Sumy rose to 101 people including 23 children, according to the Sumy regional administration.

The strike on Sumy, across the border from Russias Kursk region which was partially occupied by Ukraine since August, hit residential buildings and a school, which had to be evacuated due to the attack.

Meanwhile, Russian forces launched one ballistic missile and 139 long-range strike and decoy drones into Ukraine overnight, according to the Ukrainian air force. Those attacks affected seven regions of Ukraine.

Two people were injured after drone debris fell on a warehouse in the Poltava region, administration head Volodymyr Kohut wrote on Telegram on Tuesday, while two people were injured outside the city of Zaporizhzhia, according to the head of the region.

One man suffered injuries after a Russian drone attack in Kherson, city administration head Roman Mrochko wrote on Telegram on Tuesday.
Actor Gerard Depardieu faces up to five years in prison if convicted (Aurelien Morissard/AP)

French actor Gerard Depardieu has acknowledged that he used crude and heated language around a woman who accuses him of sexual assault and grabbed her hips but denied assaulting her, as he gave evidence for the first time at his trial in Paris.

She told the court that he had behaved like a madman who took pleasure in frightening me.

The second day of the Paris trial centred on the Oscar-nominated actors behaviour during the filming in 2021 of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters), where two co-workers allege that he groped them on the set.

The 76-year-old has denied assaulting the women.

But during more than an hour of evidence on Tuesday in a packed Paris court, Depardieu acknowledged that he had used vulgar and sexualised language with one of the plaintiffs, a 54-year-old set dresser, and grabbed her hips during an on-set argument about the artistic merits of a painting.

Actor Gerard Depardieu with his lawyer Jeremie Assous (Aurelien Morissard/AP)

Depardieu said he had been in a bad mood because the set was hot, which was hard for him because he is overweight.

I understand perfectly if shes a bit upset, he said. I dont have to talk like that, get angry like that, voila.

But he insisted that he is not a sexual predator.

Im not touching the butts of women, Depardieu said.

The actor faces up to five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros (62,000) if convicted. The verdict is not expected immediately after the trial.

The set dresser gave evidence after Depardieu. She described the alleged assault in detail.

She said he grabbed her hips then started palpating her behind and in front, around. She said he then reached for and grabbed her chest.

Thats when I had a reflex of My God. I tried to free myself, I tried to take his hands away, I couldnt do it, she said. He terrified me, he laughed, he looked like a madman.

It was very brief, there was no shouting, she said, adding that she had been too petrified to speak and that he was too strong for her to break free. She said someone came and removed Depardieus hands from her.

I saw in his eyes a pleasure in frightening me, thats what I felt, its savagery, she said. He terrified me, and that amused him.

She said Depardieus calm and co-operative attitude in court bore no resemblance to his behaviour at work.

Here, hes exemplary, he doesnt move, hes quiet, he doesnt make any noise, she said. Hes not like that on the film set: He gesticulates, he grunts, he makes remarks to women.

On the film set he started saying sexual things, talking about his sexual capabilities, she told the court.

The second plaintiff, a 34-year-old who worked as an assistant on the film, is yet to testify.

In his evidence, Depardieu said he had noticed that the set dresser had been taken aback by his behaviour and language. He acknowledged that his behaviour can be boorish.

Ive always been told I have a Russian nature, I dont know if its because of the drinking or the vulgarity, he said. I have said in black and white that I am a disgusting slob.
President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House (Pool via AP)

It comes after it was reported that top national security officials for President Trump, including his defence secretary, texted war plans for upcoming military strikes in Yemen to a group chat in a secure messaging app that included the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic.

The National Security Council said the text chain appears to be authentic.

Mr Trump initially told reporters he was not aware that the highly sensitive information had been shared, more than two hours after it was reported. He later appeared to joke about the breach.

The material in the text chain contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the US would be deploying, and attack sequencing, editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg reported.

It was not immediately clear if the specifics of the military operation were classified, but they often are and at the least are kept secure to protect service members and operational security.

The US has conducted air strikes against the Houthis since the militant group began targeting commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea in November 2023.

Just two hours after Mr Goldberg received the details of the attack on March 15, the US began launching a series of air strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.

The National Security Council said in a statement that it was looking into how a journalists number was added to the chain in the Signal group chat.

In addition to defence secretary Pete Hegseth, it included vice president JD Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio and Tulsi Gabbard, Mr Trumps director of national intelligence.

Mr Goldberg said he received the Signal invitation from Mike Waltz, Mr Trumps national security adviser, who was also in the group chat.

Mr Hegseth in his first comments on the matter attacked Mr Goldberg as deceitful and a discredited so-called journalist while alluding to previous critical reporting of Mr Trump from the publication.

He did not shed light on why Signal was being used to discuss the sensitive operation or how Mr Goldberg ended up on the message chain.

Nobody was texting war plans and thats all I have to say about that, Mr Hegseth said in an exchange with reporters after landing in Hawaii on Monday as he began his first trip to the Indo-Pacific as defence secretary.

Mr Trump on Tuesday in a brief interview with NBC News Garrett Haake downplayed the incident as the only glitch in two months of his administration and it turned out not to be a serious one.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday said in post on X that no war plans were discussed and that no classified material was sent to the thread.

Ms Leavitt said on Monday the president still has the utmost confidence in Mr Waltz and the national security team. Mr Trump told NBC News on Tuesday that Mr Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man.

Earlier on Monday, Mr Trump told reporters: I dont know anything about it. Youre telling me about it for the first time. He added that The Atlantic was not much of a magazine.

Government officials have used Signal for organisational correspondence, but it is not classified and can be hacked. Privacy and tech experts say the popular end-to-end encrypted messaging and voice call app is more secure than conventional texting.

Ms Leavitt said the White House counsels office has provided guidance to Mr Trumps top officials on a number platforms to communicate as safely and efficiently as possible.

The sharing of sensitive information comes as Mr Hegseths office has just announced a crackdown on leaks of sensitive information, including the potential use of polygraphs on defence personnel to determine how reporters have received information.

Sean Parnell, a spokesman for Mr Hegseth, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on why the defence secretary posted war operational plans on an unclassified app.

The administrations handling of the highly sensitive information was swiftly condemned by Democratic politicians. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called for a full investigation.

This is one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence I have read about in a very, very long time, Mr Schumer, a New York Democrat, said in a speech on Monday afternoon.

If true, this story represents one of the most egregious failures of operational security and common sense I have ever seen, said senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, in a statement.

He said American lives are on the line. The carelessness shown by Mr Trumps cabinet is stunning and dangerous. I will be seeking answers from the administration immediately.

Some Republicans also expressed concerns.

Senator Roger Wicker, the Mississippi Republican who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters: Were very concerned about it and well be looking into it on a bipartisan basis.
A Nobel Peace Prize winner from Belfast has pledged not to eat for 40 days in protest of the ongoing war in Gaza.

Mairead Maguire (81) intends to abstain from food for almost six weeks after Israeli airstrikes on the enclave dismantled a fragile truce and  according to the Hamas-run health ministry  resulted in the deaths of more than 400 people.

The activist and co-founder of the Peace People said she was absolutely shocked by what is happening in the Middle East as she called on US and European officials to end their complicity in the conflict.

I just am absolutely shocked by what is happening in Gaza since the war and the policies of the Israeli government are totally against international law and inhumane, she said.

I wanted to join in a sense in solidarity by fasting for 40 days and saying [that] this has got to stop and it can't be stopped by governments changing their policies.

Ms Maguire has been advocating for peace for almost half a century after her niece and two nephews were run over and killed by an IRA gunman who lost control of his vehicle while fleeing the Army.

She went on to lead the Community of Peace People alongside Betty Williams  an organisation which sought to achieve a peaceful resolution to the Troubles.

The mother-of-five said that despite NI being on the brink of civil war at the time, it now stands as a success story which can be emulated around the world.

Northern Ireland is a good example because, we have political problems  but we're a good example where people agreed to do it peacefully and it's a success story, she explained.

I think you can take that example and you can apply it to the Middle East between Palestinians and Israelis you can apply it to Europe you can apply it anywhere people can solve problems through dialogue and negotiation.

Ms Maguire, who passionately promoted education over violence during the conflict, was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 1976 along with several other peace accolades.

What we said touched the hearts of people, she recalled.

The campaigner continued to advocate for human rights and led campaigns for multiple crises across the world such as Myanmar, Iraq, Turkey and China.

Her efforts in supporting Palestine dates back almost two decades when she was shot by a rubber bullet while protesting outside a village in the region.

I was absolutely horrified [to see] Gaza... how the people were suffering, they had, you know, it was absolutely shocking and it's got much, much worse as we all know.

I was deported from Israel three times because I had gone in on the Gaza boat and I was working for the Palestinian people.

Ms Maguires fast began on March 21, two days before further Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 25 Palestinians, including several women and children, according to three hospitals.

She plans to surround herself with family and pray during the 40-day protest aimed at doing something to make it very clear that I totally oppose these policies by the Israeli government.

Egypt has introduced a new proposal in an effort to get the Israel-Hamas ceasefire back on track.
Former President Jair Bolsonaro attends a rally on Copacabana Beach in support of a proposed bill to grant amnesty to those arrested for storming government buildings in an alleged coup attempt in 2023 (AP/Bruna Prado)

A panel of Brazils Supreme Court justices will meet on Tuesday to determine whether former president Jair Bolsonaro and close allies will stand trial on five counts, including attempting to stage a coup.

Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet charged Mr Bolsonaro last month with plotting a coup after he lost the 2022 election to current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Part of that plan allegedly included poisoning Mr Lula and killing Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, a foe of Mr Bolsonaro.

Five Supreme Court justices  including Mr de Moraes  will meet in Brasilia to rule on the charges levelled by Mr Gonet.

Supporters of Brazils former president Jair Bolsonaro take part in a rally on Copacabana Beach in support of a proposed bill to grant amnesty to those arrested for storming government buildings in an alleged coup attempt AP/Bruna Prado)

If a majority votes in favour, the accused will become defendants in a criminal case.

Mr Bolsonaro and his alleged accomplices also stand accused of participating in an armed criminal organisation, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, damage qualified by violence and a serious threat against the states assets, and deterioration of listed heritage.

Mr Bolsonaro has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and says that he is being politically persecuted.

Under Brazilian law, a coup conviction alone carries a sentence of up to 12 years, but combined with the other charges, he could be sentenced to decades behind bars.

Observers say that it is likely that the charges will be accepted.

There is no shadow of a doubt that there are very clear elements that crimes were committed, said Thiago Bottino, a law professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a think tank and university.

The current tendency is that there will be a criminal trial.

Mr Gonet filed charges against a total of 34 people in February.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court will analyse whether to accept charges against eight of them.

As well as Mr Bolsonaro, the court will vote on the accusations faced by former defence ministers Walter Braga Netto and Paulo Sergio Nogueira and ex-justice minister Anderson Torres, among others.

The court will decide on the others fates later on.

Mr Bolsonaro has sought to shore up political support before the possible trial, including by holding a protest on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on March 16.

Local media reported that around 18,000 people attended the rally, based on figures from a monitoring project linked to the University of Sao Paulo.

Mr Bolsonaros allies had hoped to draw a crowd of one million, which led some analysts to say that his ability to mobilise voters is diminishing.

Mr Bolsonaro called on social media on Sunday for a new demonstration on April 6, to be held on one of Sao Paulos main arteries, Avenida Paulista.

As with the protest earlier this month, the former president and his allies will push for Congress to grant amnesty to those in jail for their roles in the January 8 2023 riot, when Mr Bolsonaros die-hard fans stormed and trashed the Supreme Court, Presidential Palace and Congress a week after Mr Lula took office.

In his indictment of Mr Bolsonaro and others linked to him, Mr Gonet said that the rampage was a last-ditch attempt to hold onto power.

Mr Bolsonaro, a former military officer who was known to express nostalgia for the countrys 1964-1985 dictatorship, openly defied Brazils judicial system during his 2019-2022 term in office.

He has already been banned by Brazils top electoral court from running in elections until 2030 over abuse of power while in office and casting unfounded doubts on the countrys electronic voting system.
The United States said an agreement has been reached to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea as it wrapped up three days of talks with Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Saudi Arabia on prospective steps toward peace.

US experts met separately with Ukrainian and Russian representatives in Riyadh, and the White House issued separate joint statements about the talks with Ukraine and Russia.

It said the sides have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.

Details of the prospective deal are yet to be released, but it appears to mark a revival of a 2022 agreement to ensure safe transit via Ukraines Black Sea ports that was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey and was halted by Russia the following year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

Russia had said the agreement failed to ensure safety of its Black Sea exports.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said in televised comments that Moscow is open to the revival of the agreement, but warned Russian interests must be protected.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the talks as the early right steps toward a peaceful settlement.

These are the first steps  not the very first but initial ones  with this presidential administration toward completely ending the war and the possibility of a full ceasefire, as well as steps toward a sustainable and fair peace agreement, he said at a news conference.

In an apparent reference to the Russian demands, the White House statement on the talks with Russia noted that the US will help restore Russias access to the world market for agricultural and fertiliser exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.

The White House statement also mentioned that the parties agreed to develop measures for implementing an agreement reached in President Donald Trumps calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Zelensky to ban strikes against energy facilities in Russia and Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

After the Trump-Putin call last week, the White House said the partial ceasefire would include ending attacks on energy and infrastructure, while the Kremlin declared that the agreement referred more narrowly to energy infrastructure.

Meanwhile, a Kremlin official said on Tuesday that the talks between US and Russian officials in Riyadh the previous day would likely lead to further contacts between Washington and Moscow, but that no concrete plans have yet been made.

The three days of meetings  which did not include direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations  are part of an attempt to hammer out details on a partial pause in the three-year-old war in Ukraine.

It has been a struggle to reach even a limited, 30-day ceasefire  which Moscow and Kyiv agreed to in principle last week  with both sides continuing to attack each other with drones and missiles.
The wife of an Oscar-winning Palestinian director who was reportedly attacked by Jewish settlers before being detained by the Israeli army said that he was beaten in front of his home by three men in military fatigues while another filmed it.

Hamdan Ballal and the other directors of No Other Land, which looks at the struggles of living under Israeli occupation, appeared on stage at the 97th Academy Awards in Los Angeles earlier this month when it won the award for best documentary film.

Mr Ballal and two other Palestinians detained with him were released on Tuesday afternoon from a police station in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba.

Mr Ballal had bruises on his face and blood on his clothes, and the three were driven to a hospital in the neighbouring Palestinian city of Hebron, according to Associated Press journalists at the scene.

Their lawyer, Lea Tsemel, said they spent the night on the floor of a military base while receiving only minimal care for their injuries from the alleged attack.

Lamia Ballal, wife of Oscar winner Hamdan Ballal (Leo Correa/AP)

She had earlier said they were accused of throwing stones at a young settler, allegations they deny.

Palestinian residents say around two dozen settlers  some masked, some carrying guns and some in military uniforms  attacked the West Bank village of Susiya on Monday evening as residents were breaking their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Soldiers who arrived pointed their guns at the Palestinians, while settlers continued throwing stones, they said.

The Israeli military said on Monday it had detained three Palestinians suspected of hurling rocks at forces and one Israeli civilian involved in a what it described as a violent confrontation.

Lamia Ballal, the directors wife, said she heard her husband being beaten outside their home as she huddled inside with their three children.

She said she heard him screaming, Im dying! and calling for an ambulance. When she looked out of the window, she said she saw three men in uniform beating Mr Ballal with the butts of their rifles and another person in civilian clothes who appeared to be filming the violence.

Of course, after the Oscar, they have come to attack us more, she said. I felt afraid.

West Bank settlers are often armed and sometimes wear military-style clothing that makes it difficult to distinguish them from soldiers.

Basel Adra, co-director of No Other Land, looks at a damaged car (Leo Correa/AP)

On Tuesday, a small bloodstain could be seen outside their home, and the cars windshield and windows were shattered. Neighbours pointed to a nearby water tank with a hole in the side that they said had been punched by the settlers.

No Other Land chronicles the struggle by residents of the Masafer Yatta area to stop the Israeli military from demolishing their villages.

The joint Israeli-Palestinian production has won a string of international awards, starting at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2024. It has also drawn ire in Israel and abroad.

Basel Adra, another of the films co-directors who is a prominent Palestinian activist in the area, said there has been a massive upswing in attacks by settlers and Israeli forces since the Oscar win.

Nobody can do anything to stop the pogroms, and soldiers are only there to facilitate and help the attacks, he said. Were living in dark days here, in Gaza, and all of the West Bank Nobodys stopping this.

Masked settlers with sticks also attacked Jewish activists in the area on Monday, smashing their car windows and slashing tyres, according to Josh Kimelman, an activist with the Centre for Jewish Nonviolence. Video provided by the group showed a masked settler shoving and swinging his fists at two activists in a dusty field at night.

Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. The Palestinians want all three for their future state and view settlement growth as a major obstacle to a two-state solution. Most of the international community considers the settlements illegal.

Israel has built more than 100 settlements, home to more than 500,000 settlers who have Israeli citizenship. The three million Palestinians in the West Bank live under seemingly open-ended Israeli military rule, with the western-backed Palestinian Authority administering population centres.
Humanoid robot rental market sees surging demand

09:19, March 25, 2025 By Chen Qingrui ( Global Times

As China's humanoid robot industry has experienced rapid advancements in both technological development and application, a related market segment is also witnessing surging demand: humanoid robot rentals, some industry practitioners told the Global Times on Monday.

"The G1 model from Unitree Robotics has received the most orders, with a daily rental fee of about 10,000 yuan ($1,400). We have five Unitree G1 units, and by early March, all rental slots for the month were fully booked," Yu Jian, general manager of Jike Robotics, a robot manufacturing and rental company, told the Global Times on Monday.

Yu said that due to the strong demand, the company plans to acquire an additional three Unitree G1 units, adding that the rented robots are widely used across various industries, including real estate marketing, the vehicle sector, livestreaming, and education.

Land Mark, another company specializing in robot rentals and digital intelligence services, reported a demand surge for robot rentals following the Spring Festival. The company officially launched its robot rental service in February, and orders and inquiries have been flowing in steadily ever since, Zhao Binran, general manager of Land Mark, told the Global Times on Monday.

"Previously, we received one or two customer inquiries per day, but now we handle 10 to 20 daily, with a significantly higher conversion rate. For every 10 inquiries, we typically secure two or three orders," Zhao said.

The largest share of these rental orders is for exhibition guidance and event planning, accounting for about 50 percent. Another category involves businesses or factories renting robots for daily reception duties over a set period, according to Zhao.

The company had to turn down some rental requests due to overwhelming demand. Zhao said that the company has eight Unitree G1 robots, with plans to reserve three for research and development (R&D) and rent out five. "I find myself constantly debating whether to rent out the robots originally intended for R&D," Zhao said.

This emerging market opportunity is a reflection of China's rapidly growing robotics sector, industry market watchers said, adding that the evolution of humanoid robots is fueled not only by innovative start-ups but also by increasingly sophisticated technological support.

"We are committed to further advancing the robot industry. To this end, we have opened our robot interface data and made numerous software tools available as open source," a representative of Unitree Robotics, the developer of the popular Unitree G1, told the Global Times on Monday, in response to the recent surge in the humanoid rental market.

Some industry players said that China's robot rental industry is not focused on a single brand but is instead gaining a competitive edge through improved after-sales services and maintenance networks. This strategy prioritizes diversity and comprehensiveness, with the ultimate goal of addressing consumers' practical needs for robots.

According to data released by the Chinese Institute of Electronics, China's humanoid robot market is expected to reach a scale of about 870 billion yuan by 2030.

Meanwhile, technological advancement continues in China's robotics industry. A recent research breakthrough, "BeamDojo," developed jointly by the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and other institutions, has attracted significant attention. This reinforcement learning framework is designed to enable humanoid robots to move flexibly on sparse footholds, the Securities Times reported.

It has been applied to Unitree Robotics' G1 humanoid robot, allowing it to easily perform complex tasks such as walking on a balance beam and navigating stepping stones. It maintains precise and smooth movement, even when carrying heavy loads or being subjected to external forces, according to the report.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
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"Remember, this is not a competition. We're all here to learn."

Rosemary Gill, director of education for Christopher Kimball's Milk Street, offers the reminder as four teams of two make their way to the kitchen in the Guest House at Field Farm in Williamstown, where they'll spend the next two days perfecting a single recipe. But before the teams start crafting their recipes, they are getting to know each other and their instructors by preparing an omelette. The ingredients list  butter, white wine, grainy mustard, thick bread, eight eggs, chives, kosher salt and pepper, Gruyere cheese  and directions are sparse. The outcomes are varied. One team has split the mixture and made two omelettes. Another has scrambled the eggs before adding the cheese. One team has grated the cheese, another added it in as small cubes.

Read It "Milk Street 365" by Christopher Kimball Published by Voracious, an imprint of Little, Brown and Company 640 pages $45 TAKE A CLASS Interested in taking one of Milk Street's classes? Milk Street offers online classes and in-person classes at Milk Street's school in Boston. Online classes are available via livestream or as a self-paced pre-recorded lesson. To learn more, visit 177milkstreet.com/school/classes/online-classes. In-person classes run about 2 1/2 hours at 177 Milk St. in Boston. For a list of upcoming classes, visit 177milkstreet.com/school/classes/boston-school.

"This was an exercise in following a poorly written recipe," Gill says as the teams, back in the dining area, compare the pared down recipe to the full recipe. "This is a recipe development bootcamp. That [type of] recipe is what we're trying to avoid this weekend. So, what you have here is what Milk Street believes is a properly written recipe with more prompts: How high is the heat? How long do you cook something for? ... You all more or less made the same thing. But, as you can imagine, if you are a recipe developer, you want them all to come out the same. This is not user error, this is developer error and that is what we work very hard at Milk Street to avoid."

The weekend workshop was part of a Recipe Development Bootcamp, a four-class offering (two in-person and two over Zoom) of Milk Street's In-Person Cooking School, held at the end of January. (I received an invite from Milk Street to observe the first day of the workshop, the first they've done on location.) The participants reasons for being there are as diverse as the individuals themselves. Erica and Mindy, a pair of high school culinary teachers, hope to gain insight into teaching recipe writing to their students. Bruce, a retired fireman from Maryland, loves to cook.

Nannette tells me she's joined the class to be able to pass down family recipes. "I'm Cajun. I grew up cooking with my grandmother and mother," she says. "I want to make sure the recipes taste like just like theirs."

No matter the reason for attending, they're all there for the in-person instruction from Gill and Milk Street Kitchen Director Wes Martin, who will not only offer instruction and insight, but later, one-on-one recipe development mentoring and critique.

Milk Street, Gill says, follows four elements of recipe design: The Why (origin story); The How (selection and treatment of ingredients); The Wow (final touches) and recipe writing. The most important principle of putting together a meal, we learn, is contrast.

"Your meal should not be the same texture or flavor throughout," Gill says. "It needs some sort of diversity of texture and flavor and sensation of flavor  warming, cooling, spicy."

If making a roasted chicken, she said, it's savory, rich, greasy, tender and crispy. Following Milk Street's philosophy, accompanying dishes should include something simple, bright, refreshing and crispy. "One thing I want you to get comfortable with this weekend is talking about your ingredients as adjectives."

Next, the teams were given the assignment of creating a weeknight-friendly hearty vegetarian bean-based soup. The soup could not have more than 10 ingredients, had to use one pot, take no longer than 45 minutes from start to finish and have at least one bean/lentil and three vegetables in it. At the end of the 45 minutes, the soups presented included one inspired by a Syrian Jewish Shabbat dinner that replaced the traditional meatballs with chickpeas; a red lentil curry; a vegetarian pozole and one inspired by a Portuguese lentil dish.

"What could you remove from this dish?" Gill asked one group.

"Could you streamline the process? What if you minced all the vegetables?" Martin asked another group.

Suggestions from the group ranged from adding lime to changing from red to brown lentils to give the soup a "meatier flavor."

One of my favorite soups from the bootcamp drew inspiration from several red lentil dishes, including the Turkish Red Lentil Soup in "Milk Street 365," which was included in the participants' swag bags. (This cookbook has 600 recipes in it and includes comprehensive how-to guides.) Bruce and Nannette used it as a base for their soup, which would also include carrot, onion and jalapeno, fire-roasted tomatoes, a coconut milk broth base, cilantro and lime. I'm sad that I didn't get to taste their final product, but I do love to make this really easy Turkish Red Lentil Soup, which tastes even better the next day.

TURKISH RED LENTIL SOUP

(Excerpted from "Milk Street 365" by Christopher Kimball. Copyright  2024 by CPK Media, LLC. Used with permission of Voracious, an imprint of Little, Brown and Company. New York, NY. All rights reserved.)

Start to finish: 45 minutes

Servings: 4

Krmz mercImek corbas is a traditional Turkish soup made with red lentils, which soften and break down during cooking, adding a rustic texture thats creamy but not starchy or heavy. Some versions include vegetables such as potatoes, carrots or fresh tomatoes, but ours lets the lentils take the lead. The Aleppo pepper brings gentle heat to the dish. If you can't find it, order online or substitute with an additional teaspoon of paprika and 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes. The soup can be made vegan by substituting olive oil for the butter. Dont omit the rice. The grains help thicken the soup.

Jeanne Maguire, Milk Street recipe developer

INGREDIENTS

3 tablespoons salted butter

1 medium yellow onion cut into 1/2-inch dice (about 1 cup)

1 medium garlic clove, finely grated

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 tablespoon sweet paprika

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 cup red lentils

2 tablespoons long-grain white rice

Kosher salt

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons Aleppo pepper (see headnote)

Chopped fresh mint, to serve (optional)

Lemon wedges, to serve

DIRECTIONS

In a large saucepan over medium, melt the butter. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the tomato paste, paprika and cumin, then cook for about 1 minute.

Add the lentils, rice, 5 cups of water and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir to combine then bring to a boil over medium-high. Reduce the heat to maintain a lively simmer, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the lentils and rice are tender and broken down, about 30 minutes. Season to taste.

Meanwhile, in a small skillet over medium, heat the oil, swirling to coat the pan. Add the Aleppo pepper and cook until a few bubbles appear and the oil is bright red. Remove from heat and set aside.

Serve the soup with Aleppo pepper oil drizzled over each serving. Serve with mint, if using, and lemon wedges on the side.

READ IT

"Milk Street 365" by Christopher Kimball

Published by Voracious, an imprint of Little, Brown and Company

640 pages

$45

TAKE A CLASS

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Milk Street offers online classes and in-person classes at Milk Street's school in Boston.

Online classes are available via livestream or as a self-paced pre-recorded lesson. To learn more, visit 177milkstreet.com/school/classes/online-classes.

In-person classes run about 2 1/2 hours at 177 Milk St. in Boston. For a list of upcoming classes, visit 177milkstreet.com/school/classes/boston-school.
The apprehension of immigrants in the Berkshires last week was apparently part of a statewide operation by federal immigration and law enforcement officials.

In total, 370 people were apprehended over the course of a six-day "enhanced targeted enforcement operation focusing on transnational organized crime, gangs, and egregious illegal alien offenders," the officials said Monday.

Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston, a law enforcement directorate within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said 205 of the people arrested during the March 18-23 focus on Massachusetts "had significant criminal convictions or charges," including six foreign fugitives currently facing charges or convictions for murder, drug trafficking, organized crime, and money laundering.

Among the Berkshire detainees was a "Jamaican alien previously deported from the U.S. convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, armed robbery, possession of a firearm, and assault," who was arrested in Pittsfield, according to a statement on the ICE website.

Federal officials said they also seized 44 kilograms of methamphetamine, five kilograms of fentanyl, just more than one kilogram of cocaine, three firearms and ammunition from "illegal alien offenders."

At least 10 people were apprehended across the Berkshires on Wednesday, including two who were plucked from a work site in Monterey, three people at an auto body shop in Pittsfield, and five people in other places in the Berkshires  mostly in Pittsfield and Lenox, according to Fernando Leon, a community organizer with Berkshire Interfaith Organizing who is tracking and following up on these reports.

In at least one case, a child was left with no parents at home, according to state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield.

But details have been scant, and while Monday's announcement broke a weeklong silence by the agency, it provided few if any specifics about the people who have been detained.

"The Commonwealth is a safer place for our residents to live and work because ICE and our federal law enforcement partners arrested hundreds of alien offenders and removed them from the streets of Massachusetts," ERO Boston Field Office Acting Director Patricia Hyde said. "Throughout this enhanced enforcement operation, we targeted the most dangerous alien offenders in some of the most crime-infested neighborhoods in and around Boston."

The agency's news release says arrests were made in Boston, Marlborough, Worcester, Salem, Milford, Lowell, Medford, Wakefield, New Bedford, Pittsfield and West Yarmouth.

During his campaign, President Donald Trump pledged to ramp up the deportation of people in the country illegally, particularly violent offenders.

Trump border czar Tom Homan, who promised to bring "hell" to Boston as he called out Mayor Michelle Wu earlier this year, said Monday he visited Boston at the start of the sweep last Tuesday. The FBI on Monday shared photos of the command center it established to support the federal immigration enforcement effort, including pictures from Homan's visit.

Homan and the Trump administration have said Massachusetts and Boston specifically have "sanctuary" policies whereby they refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement authorities.

Activists have been unsuccessful for years in convincing Massachusetts state lawmakers to explicitly end agreements that give state and local law enforcement the authority to carry out some federal immigration duties. Boston officials say the city's policy that generally prohibits police from engaging in deportation efforts is in line with Supreme Judicial Court rulings and promotes greater overall public safety.
Eagle Archives, July 2, 1957: The Marauders drum and bugle corps will be absent from the 1957 Fourth of July Parade after a split with the Pittsfield Firemens Association, which demanded the return of all instruments amid tensions over name changes and sponsorship.
LENOX  With a mix of familiar faces and newcomers to town politics, the annual town election on May 5 will feature two contested races.

For a Select Board slot, Marybeth Mitts will be seeking her third three-year term, running as an independent (unenrolled in either major party).

She had previously served three terms on the School Committee and has been a leading advocate for workforce housing as a member and former chair of the Affordable Housing Trust Committee.

Mitts also ran unsuccessfully for the 3rd Berkshire District state representative seat vacated by William Smitty Pignatelli last year, a three-way race that was won by Leigh Davis of Great Barrington.

Jared Weber, a board member of the Lenox Community Center and the centers representative on the Community Preservation Committee, is challenging Mitts for the Select Board.

Weber, a Democrat, came in a close third in last Mays three-way race for two Select Board seats, won by incumbents Ed Lane and Neal Maxymillian, the current chairman.

Weber grew up in Framingham, moved to Lenox five years ago, and works remotely for Danos Associates as a corporate headhunter in the financial services industry.

Returning unopposed for his 11th one-year term as town moderator is restaurant owner John McNinch, who also served on the Select Board from 2008 to 2014. As moderator, his main task is referee of annual and special town meetings and to appoint Finance Committee members.

Two candidates are on the ballot for two three-year seats on the School Committee  incumbent Kimberly Winger and former committee member Meghan Kirby.

Last July, Kirby resigned from the School Committee, citing a verbal clash with another member during the committees informal summer retreat. Her term was filled out by former member Robert Munch.

Stepping back from the School Committee last year gave me the chance to see things from a fresh perspective," Kirby told The Eagle. "I spent time reflecting on where I can make the greatest impact: Building on our strong foundation of school safety, ensuring policies reflect the values of our school community, and helping students pursuing noncollege paths access the resources they need to succeed.

Noting that she has been a vocal former member, Kirby pointed out that Ive always asked tough questions and been a strong voice for families, and Im excited for the chance to serve again and advocate for all families in our district.

Theres also a three-way contest for a pair of two-year School Committee slots.

On the ballot are:

 Oren Cass, the current chairman whos founder and chief economist at American Compass, a conservative policy institute;

 James Brooke, a longtime international journalist who worked for The New York Times from 1984 to 2006 and has written for The Eagle;

 Newcomer to town politics Jayson Messenger, a staff software engineer at Google.

As an incumbent last year, Cass polled last in a four-way race for three seats, but he was reappointed to the board after one of the other candidates bowed out.

Unopposed candidates for reelection are Dianne Romeo for Board of Health and Thomas Romeo for assessor.

The sole candidate for a five-year Planning Board seat is Daniel Bross, a newcomer to local government. Hes retired as a former director of several departments at Microsoft and former co-chair of Partnership for Global LGBTIQ+ Equality.

The deadline for candidates to withdraw is April 2.
Over a month after a law permitting accessory dwellings by-right in single-family zoning districts across Massachusetts kicked into effect, the state has released a model ADU bylaw.

In the Berkshires and across the state, some municipalities have been waiting for the model bylaw since Gov. Maura Healey signed the law last summer. Now, they have a blueprint to move forward, and bring their local zoning bylaws into compliance with the new regulations.

The model bylaw does not resolve some of the questions and concerns that the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission felt were not answered in guidance the state released at the end of January. But Cornelius Hoss, the commission's community planning and development program manager, said it does provide a helpful framework for communities, especially those that dont have full-time paid staff and rely on volunteers to address zoning changes.

For communities that have been holding off doing anything, I think it lays out pretty straightforward advice, said Hoss.

For years, Massachusetts has left it up to individual towns and cities to define accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, to set restrictions and to decide whether to allow them at all. But as the housing crisis has deepened, officials looked to streamline regulations and cut away some of the red-tape that has prevented the construction of ADUs.

In August, Healey signed a statewide law to do just that. While the statute has kicked into effect, municipalities in the Berkshires, which has long been home to a mosaic of ADU bylaws across its 32 communities, still have a ways to go in bringing their local bylaws to compliance.

The model bylaw is designed to ease that process by guiding communities through the dos, proceed with cautions and donts when writing or updating their local bylaws.

The dos are items that municipalities should, or are required to, include in their bylaw to comply with state law. They include considering restricting the short-term rental of ADUs, allowing ADUs by-right on lots with a pre-existing nonconforming structure and applying design standards only to ADUs located in historic districts.

Municipalities should proceed with caution with zoning provisions that may be technically allowed under the statute, but require further assessment based on local conditions and priorities. They include considering whether existing dimensional standards in local zoning bylaws may pose unreasonable restrictions for ADUs, given their purpose to increase housing production and provide affordable housing.

Notably for municipalities like Williamstown that currently allow ADUs that are larger than the states 900 square foot limit, the model bylaw says communities are permitted to allow ADUs that exceed 900 square feet, so long as they are permitted by-right and are subject to all the protections afforded to ADUs that are 900 square feet or under.

The model zoning also identifies provisions that municipalities should avoid entirely, as they could render the zoning unenforceable. They include regulating the building code for ADUs, imposing stricter dimensional standards than those that govern homes within the same zoning district and requiring a special permit for the development of an ADU on a nonconforming lot.

Municipalities should adopt the model zoning with modifications to account for local needs and to avoid inconsistencies with their existing zoning, the state says in the document. It also encouraged municipalities to seek legal counsel before adopting their draft zoning to identify any potential inconsistencies.

Hoss said the question now is whether ADU bylaws created before the state issued guidelines are not in full compliance with the state regulations. If so, they will be rejected when communities send them to the attorney generals office for approval.

To get ahead of this, Hoss said the attorney generals office has offered to review draft regulations before municipalities finalize them.
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NORTH ADAMS  The city is poised to sell the former Sullivan School to the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art  if the City Council approves of the deal.

The councils Finance Committee on Monday voted to recommend that the council sign off on the plan, in which the museum would pay the city $50,000 and then invest an estimated $14.5 million into the property at 151 Kemp Ave.

The City Council is set to take a final vote on the sale at its meeting Tuesday. Earlier this month, the council voted to send the matter to committee for further examination.

The city has been trying to figure out what to do with the defunct school since it closed in 2016. A series of previous requests for proposals did not land a buyer, and twice the council has rejected proposals for the property. Mayor Jennifer Macksey called the school an albatross for the city, and noted the city is still paying insurance on the property.

Mass MoCA has a plan to transform the school property into a housing, arts and community space. The redeveloped property would include lofts and apartments, a wellness center, performance rehearsal spaces, a communal kitchen, modular housing and community green spaces.

Morgan Everett, the museum's director of public initiatives and real estate, said there will be 10 single family-homes on the property and around 20 modular units, though what exactly the latter will look like is not yet clear.

Still, councilor and committee member Lisa Blackmer was skeptical of the sale.

I wouldve liked to have seen more housing options, said Blackmer, who also took issue with the lack of details available about the plan. Its hard to vote for something I cant see.

The reason for the lack of details, Macksey and Everett said, is that site evaluation and other preparation cant be completed until the council approves the purchase and sale agreement.

Councilors and residents in attendance Monday wondered what kind of impact this project will have on the citys tax rolls. While Macksey said only the residential parts of the property will be taxed, the exact tax impact isnt yet known because assessors wont get in there until Mass MoCA goes through with the project.

Even if the council approves the agreement on Tuesday, doing so does not guarantee construction is going to start; just that the museum can begin building out its plan.

Once Mass MoCA completes its site evaluation, then there will be a full review of planning and zoning and conservation, and if we have to, parks and rec, Macksey said. This is still a conceptual plan until we get through the due diligence of what the site can really handle.
'The king is not coming back to Massachusetts.' Sen. Ed Markey leads a rally pushing back against President Donald Trump at the Colonial Theatre Senator Ed Markey and a cast of local politicians, organizers and musicians spoke at an event rallying a grassroots response to the Trump administration at the Colonial Theatre on Sunday afternoon.

Since Donald Trumps inauguration on Jan. 20, I have traveled across the commonwealth and heard the same thing. At the Williamsburg Snack Bar, at Miss Flos Diner in Northampton, on the streets of my hometown of Malden and at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, people are fed up with an administration of the billionaires and for the billionaires.

People I meet every day  from the Berkshires to the South Coast  do not want their Social Security or Medicaid cut. They dont want Veterans Affairs or the Department of Education to be gutted or their personal information to become the property of Elon Musk. They dont want our country to bow down to dictators while turning our back on allies.

Massachusetts residents did not go looking for a fight, but make no mistake, President Donald Trump is picking a fight with us.

When Trump and House Republicans say we should cut $880 billion dollars from Medicaid, thats the 2 million people on MassHealth. Half of all children in the state are covered by Medicaid, 59 percent of people with disabilities depend on Medicaid and 70 percent of patients residing in nursing homes rely on it. These are our neighbors, our co-workers and our family members.

Science under siege: The cost of cutting research funding Science cannot be switched on and off at will, said Nobel laureate Joachim Frank from Great Barrington. Drastic government funding cuts threaten scientific research, slowing medical advancements and innovation. Citing the long-term damage to labs, researchers and critical discoveries, Frank urges public pressure on lawmakers to protect research funding.

When Trump and Musk point the Department of Government Efficiency chainsaw at the National Institute of Health, thats a direct attack on us. Massachusetts ranks first per capita in NIH funding and received nearly 6,000 NIH grants totaling nearly $3.5 billion last year. That is funding to find the cure to Alzheimers, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other devastating conditions that affect every family in America. Thats funding and jobs for our world-class hospitals, universities, research centers, labs and health organizations. It is the heart of our innovation economy.

Why science funding matters to Berkshire County The cutting-edge research that led to innovations from the early detection of Alzheimers disease to the development of the COVID-19 vaccine would not have been possible without funding from agencies like the National Institute of Health and the National Science Foundation. What happens if that funding is cut?

I know its hard not to be despondent and lose hope. Its harder than ever to make ends meet. Even without a liar, convict and cheater in the Oval Office, we are confronted with climate change, gun violence, income inequality and racial injustice. Its hard to imagine how we make our world, our communities and our homes the kinds of places our children and grandchildren deserve to inherit.

Lets be clear about why Trump is doing this: It is to pay for tax breaks to Elon Musk and the billionaires who sat behind President Trump, in front of his Cabinet, on Inauguration Day. Its a simple formula: The social safety net gets a raid, the billionaire class gets paid. Elon Musk is taking money out of your pockets, and he is putting it into his.

But they are not going to get away with it. We are going to need to litigate and hold Trump and Musk accountable in the courts. So far, the unconstitutional birthright citizenship order, the unconstitutional federal funding freeze and the drastic NIH grant cuts for critical medical research have all been blocked by the courts. Despite Trumps attacks on the rule of law, our judiciary remains a critical check on Trumps illegal power grabs.

We are going to need to legislate. That means voting against all of Trumps nominees, doing oversight of this administrations rampant corruption and illegal firings, putting Republicans on the record opposing programs that benefit their constituents, and holding all of them accountable on the Senate floor.

Finally, we are going to need to organize. As I listen to people across our state, I hear outrage and disgust at Trumps action. I also hear an unwavering commitment to protecting our neighbors and our values. We know that immigrants built our nation and that diversity is our strength. We know that we cannot have true national security without housing, strong public education and economic justice.

This is an era of resistance, and nobody does resistance like the Berkshires. In 1774, even before the shot heard round the world, the Great Barrington Protest saw local residents stand together to oppose efforts of the crown to eliminate town meetings and seat judges appointed by the royal governor.

Massachusetts has always led the moral and political debates that have defined our nations history. We are where the Revolutionary War began. We gave rise to the Abolitionist movement and Suffragette movement. We are the home of the worlds first public school and where same-sex marriage and universal health care were first enacted. No one knows how to defend democracy better than we do. We are once again being called to be new, 21st century revolutionaries in the face of attacks on our rights and freedoms. We must heed that call.
BOSTON  The state education board advanced regulations Tuesday to further restrict controversial "timeout" and seclusion policies in schools, the next step in a yearslong effort to reduce the use of the practices.

There's been growing national attention on so-called timeout rooms in recent years, as families of students with disabilities have raised alarms about inappropriate use of the secluded rooms to punish their children and keep them out of class for long periods.

In Pittsfield, several teachers and paraprofessionals are on paid administrative leave while the Department of Children and Families investigates allegations of students being placed in isolation at Stearns Elementary School. Parents told The Eagle that pre-kindergarten and first-grade students were detained in a bathroom as a "de-escalating" tactic. Such use of isolation is against city school policy.

Emily LaMarca, the mother of a son with Down syndrome, told the Board of Education in January that her son's teachers began putting him in a timeout room when he was 10 years old, resulting in trauma.

"He was constantly afraid, afraid to go to school, afraid that his teachers would come to our house and harm him. He talked about angry eyes at school and the sounds that his friends made when they were taken to what he called 'the naughty room' in therapy. Cole acted out his trauma by locking himself in the therapy dog's crate, because, in his words, he was a 'bad boy,' " LaMarca said.

Acting Commissioner of Education Russell Johnston has made these rooms a focus of his one year helming the education department in an interim capacity after Commissioner Jeff Riley stepped down last March. He was a special education teacher and administrator before joining DESE, and among other roles he had at the department, served as an ombudsman during efforts to implement the Individuals with Disabilities Act.

Johnston is set to leave the department this week for a superintendent job in Pennsylvania, and the vote that board members took Tuesday to promulgate the timeout regulations for public comment was the among the last they took in Johnston's tenure. The board will vote on whether to adopt the new rules in June.

The commissioner said during a board meeting in January that when he visits a school, his first stop is always asking administrators to see their timeout room.

"I walk into the rooms myself," he said, "I close the door. I look to see what it's like for a student in one of those rooms."

One of the points he made during Tuesday's meeting  which is reflected in the new regulations  is that the department needs to make a stronger distinction between "timeout" and "seclusion."

The new regulations clarify that timeouts are voluntary, where students can opt to go to a private room outside of their classroom as a behavioral regulation tool. Seclusion, meanwhile, refers to the involuntary confinement of a student alone in a room from which they cannot physically leave.

"This improved language really helps clarify that difference between timeout, which is a strategy to be used when students need to self-regulate, and then a very limited, prescribed circumstance that could lead to an emergency use of seclusion. But we need to call it that. We need to say that it is seclusion. It's not timeout," he said.

The regulations aim to codify what the department has issued in guidance since 2021, and impose new updates to those rules that include stricter restrictions.

The updates would mandate that timeout spaces have to be unlocked and an "appropriate size for the student. There's adequate lighting, ventilation, temperature, and free of objects that may be harmful to the student," said Iraida Alvarez, acting executive director of special education at DESE.

If seclusion is used in an emergency situation, the updated rules would add conditions that must be met.

The school would need documentation from a mental health professional that such intervention would not be ill-advised for the student, as well as parental consent. After using seclusion, the school would also be required to notify the child's parents.

Schools that use this intervention would have to require weekly and monthly reviews of data about when seclusion is used, document it, and report it to DESE. The eventual goal is to eliminate the use of the practice, Johnston said.

Board member Michael Moriarty raised concerns about possibly taking away a necessary tool for special educators to control their classrooms.

He said that, while acknowledging that "abuses do exist" he worried the stricter regulations on emergency seclusion was "further constricting behavioral management" and could be seen as "a little tone deaf" to special educators who say they have limited tools.

"In all of those different schools, with all the different contexts and scenarios, how do you anticipate  for an emergency  that prior documentation? And not fall out of compliance and find yourself sued, with your license at risk, with the school's reputation harmed in the media, with all the bad things, when all you were trying to do was maintain an effective learning environment and safe classrooms?" Moriarty said.

The board member added that he did not have his mind made up either way, and would lean on public comment to decide how he'd vote on the regulations in June.

Johnston replied to his concerns that "seclusion is not a behavior management strategy, and that's what we really have to make clear with these regulations."

"We can't say that putting a student in a room and closing the door and observing them from outside is behavior management, and that any conflating of those notions is exactly why we need this," he said.
The world is desperate for hope. Thats no surprise. Watching the news can make a person feel hopeless, and struggling with personal circumstances  especially in times of great suffering or grief  can drain hope. Some people wish they knew how to face another day.

Far more than wishful thinking, biblical hope is real, solid, and comforting. Lets consider why this is true.

Hope in God Surpasses the Worlds Hope

When planning to travel, we might say, I hope a storm doesnt come through. Or perhaps well think, I hope I can find the dress I need at Macys. Thats not biblical hope. Its the worlds hope so. Wishful thinking cannot compare with a believers hope in God.

For Christians, hope is a confident expectation and trust in God, His promises, and future blessings anticipated in Christ. Rather than merely wishing for change, biblical hope is a firm anchor to keep us grounded and is the basis of our transformation. God works in us through the Word and the Spirit as we place our hope in the finished work of Christ.

John wrote, The Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14). Jesus is the Fathers answer to our cry for hope. The hope in the gospel is that Jesus was obedient unto death, sacrificing His life to bear our sins, and then was resurrected to life to secure eternal life for those who trust Him for salvation.

As an old hymn by Edward Mote says, My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ, my righteousness. . . . When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. This is our living hope beyond the grave (1 Peter 1:3).

Hope Strengthens Us When Its Pursued

As I struggled with a challenging medical procedure after a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, I could not speak because of painful lesions in my mouth and throat. Fighting hopeless feelings, I went to the whiteboard in my hospital room and wrote: Choose hope! My hope is in the Lord!

From my hospital bed, I glanced at the whiteboard many times that day and looked up Scriptures about hope. I cooperated with God by intentionally pursuing hope, and nurses and other hospital staff noted the positive change in my outlook. Hope continued to strengthen me throughout my hospital stay.

Living with biblical hope can transform every circumstance in life. Its worth pursuing. John Piper, writing about Hebrews 6:11-12, encouraged Christians to pursue hope until the day God calls them home. In other words, Piper said, with all the zeal of the past that enabled you to work and love in the name of Christ  with all that zeal, keep on pursuing the full assurance of hope to the end. . . . Keep your hope hot!

When we are depressed, it helps to rehearse the benefits we have from the God of hope. When our expectations are in the Lord, recalling His benefits will nourish our hope no matter what we go through.

Hope Grows through Interaction with the Bible

A 2023 State of the Bible report by the American Bible Society found that Americans who prioritize reading and engaging with the Bible are likelier than non-Bible readers to walk with hope day by day.

Tough times might hinder our seeing the big picture of what God is doing in the world and His eternal purposes for each believer. We may become obsessed with our struggle and forget to seek God during our questions or tears. Or maybe were angry with Him for allowing painful circumstances to touch us. But lingering in the Scriptures can help us remember the big picture of our struggles and cultivate our sense of hope.

The psalmist said, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long (Psalm 25:5). Despite all the pressures in his life, including terrible opposition, David asked God to teach him biblical truth while expressing his hope in Him.

Hope doesnt mean that any damage done to our hearts through painful circumstances suddenly disappears. It means we may hurt deeply, but the pain stops controlling our lives. We recognize difficult realities, but through reading, studying, and meditating on biblical truth, we acknowledge that God designs hope-filled purposes for His children amid those realities (Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4). We look to Him for help, healing, and hope.

Hope Rejoices in Trusting God

Jeremiah 17:7 says, Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord. Choosing hope is akin to faith. Biblical hope looks away from the pain to Gods promises in His Word, trusting Him to supply what we need to cope. Through faith, we understand that God is not our backup plan when life falls apart; He is our very life. Our hope is in Him, not some nebulous place away from struggles. So, Christian hope is not pie-in-the-sky hope or feeble hope. Its authentic, trustworthy, and powerful.

Paul instructed the church to rejoice in hope (Romans 12:12). How can we be joyful in hope when going through tough times? Consider the source. Our joy and hope are rooted in the God of hope. While we might experience anxiety, hurt deeply, or lament loss, we can simultaneously praise God because our hope is in Him, not changing circumstances.

Habakkuk was filled with fear and dread when he heard a report about how God would use Babylon to discipline Judah. But with great hope, he chose to trust God in that day of distress. The prophet said, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will be joyful in God my Savior (Habakkuk 3:18). Notice the words yet I will. Saying yet I will was Habakkuks choice. Yet I will means that no matter what happens in life, when our hope is in God, we can praise Him regardless.

Choosing worry or anxiety will not help, but choosing hope helps us trust God when we grow impatient with our circumstances. Psalm 62:5 says, Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.

In Romans 15:13, Paul said, May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. There is action on Gods part and our part. God holds onto us, and we, holding on to our profession of faith in Christ, trust Gods provision. As a result, our lives brim over with hope through the empowering Holy Spirit.

Hope Is Available for Trials and Troubles

The Scriptures offer us a unique perspective on hope for trials and troubles. Hope does not mean life will be easy or that well always get what we want, but it does mean we have a reliable source of strength to endure.

One of the most desperate words in any language is hopeless. Whether we are struggling with a frustrating situation or have been hit broadside with a profound tragedy, desperation and despair feel natural and understandable. But in those times, God reaches out to believers to draw them near.

Psalm 71, likely written by King David, is a psalm of trust and hope in God, particularly during old age and trials. In verse five, he said, For you, O Lord, are my hope. He recognized the source of real and lasting hope! The psalmist expressed both the despair of a hurting heart and the balm for it in Psalm 42:5: Why, my soul, are you downcast?  Put your hope in God; for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Theres that word yet again; its a choice.

When suffering, believers who choose hope reflect on the blessings they have in God. A good example is Jeremiah. First, he lamented his afflictions (Lamentations 3:1-20), but then he recalled Gods attributes: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23). Jeremiah listed three great reasons that sparked fresh hope in God: His steadfast love, His never-ending mercies, and His continuing faithfulness. Focusing on Gods attributes in our trials can give us hope, too.

Hope Is Comforting When We Grieve

Perhaps no circumstance is more painful than the death of a loved one, but Paul never told the Lords followers not to grieve when a brother or sister in Christ dies. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13, he told them not to grieve as others do who have no hope. Biblical hope comforts the soul.

The apostle shared hope-filled words with the Thessalonian believers to encourage and comfort them. Those who hope in God and His Son, Jesus, do not grieve like the world. Thats not to say there is no heartache involved, but the believers hope  their confidence that they will see their loved ones in Christ again  carries them through their pain.

Jesus offered the Samaritan woman powerful words of hope when He said, Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die (John 11:25-26). Isaiah and John remind us there will be no more death when were in eternity with God (Isaiah 25:8; Revelation 21:4).

God holds our lives in His hands from birth to death, and Christ's love in dying for us is at the root of our hope. Someday, Jesus will return, and if we have received the gift of salvation, our glorious, blessed hope is that we will live with Him forever.

Hope Is Part of a Powerful Testimony

While we pursue hope in response to trials, its good to remember that others watch and listen to us as we go through our troubles. Marshall Segal, president and CEO of Desiring God, said, Many will not be curious about the hope within us unless we suffer something that requires hope . . . . When you suffer, think about the people watching you suffer, and what theyre learning about Jesus.

In 1 Peter 3:15, the apostle Peter said we must always be ready to gently and respectfully tell people the reason for the hope they see in us. We might ask ourselves, Do people notice the reality of hope in my responses to tough circumstances?

For example, while interviewing me before a challenging medical procedure, a social worker asked, If things get really hard when youre in the hospital, what will help you  what would you turn to? The question was a terrific opportunity to share without hesitation that whenever life gets tough, its not a what but a who that helps me. I told her, My hope is in the Lord. The social worker smiled, knowing I would be okay.

According to 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, as God comforts us, we can encourage others as they go through their own trials. We can share about Gods faithfulness and provision, which can inspire others to persevere. Hope grows in a caring, supportive community of believers.

Remember: The God of hope wants to give you solid, enduring hope in His Son. Ground your hope in Him and His Word, and keep your hope hot!

Photo credit: Getty Images/molchanovdmitry

Dawn Wilson and her husband, Bob, live in Southern California. Dawn serves part-time with a womens revival ministry, Revive Our Hearts. She is the founder and director of Heart Choices Today, publishes Truth Talk with Dawn, and writes for Crosswalk.com and other publications. Her co-authored book is Truth Talk for Hurting Hearts: Discover Peace and Comfort Through Gods Perspective.
Also known as Songs of Confession, the penitential Psalms reflect themes of contrition, repentance, and reconciliation with God. They are Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143.

Incorporated into worship since ancient times, Jewish followers sang the lyrics of these and other Psalms while worshipping in the temple  a practice popularized during Davids reign. Gods people also recited them during personal times of prayer and devotion.

Following the pattern of temple worship, Paul urged the church to engage in speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. (Ephesians 5:19) Were the penitential Psalms included as part of the liturgy? Perhaps. Regardless, scripture communicates an expectation that Christs followers were familiar with all scripture.

By the late Roman period, influential Christians like St. Augustine promoted the value of the seven Psalmsan act that ensured their widespread use within church services.

The canticles maintained their popularity into the Middle Ages across Europe when the Book of Hours, a devotional, was published. The work featured the poems of repentance with each linked to one of seven deadly sins. These included pride (Psalm 6), greed (Psalm 32), envy (Psalm 38), wrath (Psalm 51), lust (Psalm 102), gluttony (Psalm 130), and slothfulness (Psalm 143).

Time fanned the believers love for the penitential Psalms. During the Reformation , men and women devoted themselves to their study, propagation, and expression. John Calvin and Martin Luther, for example, drafted commentaries focused on the seven Songs of Confession while other theologians translated the Psalms into English and French. Musicians set the penitential Psalms to musicoften Gregorian chant. Soon, people throughout Christendom read, accessed, and sang them at church and home.

The Songs of Confession remained embedded in the church culture for hundreds of years. Poets, playwrights, and composersincluding Bach, Mozart, and Mendelssohnrepresented the ancient words in sonnets, paraphrased productions, and musical compositions.

Today, the Eastern Orthodox Church includes each of the penitential Psalms at various times throughout the year while Catholic parishioners recite or pray these scriptures on Ash Wednesday and during Lent. They are less commonly known as penitential prayers among Evangelical Christians.

Photo credit: GettyImages/Lemon_tm
NURA launches mobile health screening facility NURA Express in Kozhikode

March 25, 2025 | Tuesday | News

Mobile unit will enhance peoples access to health screening services in remote areas of the state

NURA, an advanced diagnostic venture between Fujifilm Healthcare and Dr Kuttys Healthcare, has announced the launch of its mobile health screening facility, NURA Express, in Kozhikode, Kerala. This marks a significant expansion of NURAs health screening service business in Kerala for the first time.

NURAs global partner Fujifilm has been expanding the NURA health screening centres, primarily in urban areas across several countries, to build an environment where more people can access high-quality health screening services. The newly-introduced NURA Express provides corporate health screenings in collaboration with local companies.

The mobile unit will travel to the designated locations, offering cancer screenings and testing of lifestyle-related diseases through on-site CT scans for employees working in an office or factory or living in a particular residential area. The images captured in the NURA Express will then be remotely interpreted by the physicians stationed at the NURA Global Innovation Centre in Kozhikode. The captured images and analyzed test results will be provided to people through a dedicated smartphone app.

In the future, NURA/ Fujifilm aims to partner with local self-governments to establish a system through which the NURA Express can provide municipal health screenings to residents in remote areas. This initiative will contribute significantly to the early detection of cancer and lifestyle diseases for a large number of people.

Commenting on the development, Dr Bilal Thangal T M, Medical Lead, NURA, said, Cancer and lifestyle diseases, such as ischemic heart disease, remain among the leading causes of death worldwide. Health screenings play a crucial role not only in the early detection of these conditionsenabling timely intervention through treatment and health guidancebut also in disease prevention by fostering a deeper understanding of ones health. However, in many emerging countries, access to health screening services remains limited, and the culture of preventive health checks is yet to be widely adopted."
Eli Lilly explores establishment of Centre of Excellence for insulin therapies in India

March 25, 2025 | Tuesday | News

Global CEO of Eli Lilly calls on Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh to discuss strengthening partnership

image credit- pib

Global CEO of Eli Lilly, world's pioneer Insulin manufacturing company, David Ricks called on Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh to discuss strengthening partnership, with a focus on Insulin and Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) therapies as well as biomanufacturing.

Eli Lilly, a global pharmaceutical giant headquartered in the US, has a significant presence in India through its subsidiary, Eli Lilly and Company (India) Pvt. Ltd. The company imports and markets medicines for diabetes, gastric cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other critical diseases. Its operations also extend to Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka through partnerships with local pharmaceutical firms. The talks also covered the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for insulin therapies, as well as clinical trials for advanced treatment options.

Eli Lillys engagement with India comes at a time when the country is focusing on bolstering its pharmaceutical industry, not just for domestic needs but also as a global supplier. The potential establishment of a Centre of Excellence could serve as a critical step in making insulin therapies more accessible, reinforcing Indias role in combating lifestyle diseases.


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Announcing the Hastings Initiative for AI and Humanity

Bowdoin is proud to announce a $50 million gift the largest in our 231-year historyfrom Netflix cofounder Reed Hastings 83 to launch the Hastings Initiative for AI and Humanity.

Read more from The New York Times: Netflixs Reed Hastings Gives $50 Million to Bowdoin for A.I. Program Netflix cofounder Reed Hastings, Class of 1983 The Hastings Initiative for AI and Humanity will be a step forward in Bowdoins growing engagement in this breakthrough technology, and ensure that students graduate well prepared to lead in a world reshaped by AI. Funding and fellowships will allow current and new faculty to explore the pedagogical and scholarship opportunitiesand challengesgenerated by the vast AI revolution. Initial priorities include: hiring ten new faculty members in a range of disciplines;

in a range of disciplines; supporting current faculty who want to incorporate and interrogate AI in their teaching, research, and artistic work;

who want to incorporate and interrogate AI in their teaching, research, and artistic work; and leading conversations about the uses of AI and the changes and challenges it will bring, including workshops, symposia, and support for student research. This donation seeks to advance Bowdoins mission of cultivating wisdom for the common good by deepening the Colleges engagement with one of humanitys most transformative developments: artificial intelligence, said Hastings, who followed his graduation from Bowdoin in 1983 by earning his MSc in artificial intelligence at Stanford.

We aim to develop leaders who can be at home in both the present and future technological landscape. Just as Bowdoin's mission emphasizes the formation of complete individuals who can navigate a world in flux, this initiative will empower students and faculty to critically examine, thoughtfully utilize, and ethically shape AI's trajectory. I know Bowdoin can make a significant contribution to these fundamental issues and that President Zaki, a cognitive scientist, can lead the way. Reed Hastings 83

President Safa Zaki Bowdoin president Safa Zaki, whose research focuses on building and testing computational models of mind, believes that a world recast by AI needs an infusion of humanity. Bowdoin is ideally positioned to meet the challenges and opportunities of AI, said Zaki. Our deep commitment to the liberal arts and the common good position us to think together about what we are going to value in human cognition, and what we will want our AI systems to door not dogoing forward in service to humanity. Ethics, human values, and human understanding inform the technological progress, scientific advancements, and new norms that will emerge from this revolution, said Zaki. As educators, we have a moral imperative to do this work.

We are thrilled and so grateful to receive this remarkable support from Reed, who shares our conviction that the AI revolution makes the liberal arts and a Bowdoin education more essential to society. President Zaki Advisory Committee Members President Zaki has announced the following members of an advisory committee that will help lead the next steps in this transformational initiative.

About Reed Hastings

Reed Hastings at Bowdoin, 1983 Reed Hastings cofounded Netflix in 1997 and built the company into the worlds leading internet television network. He became executive chairman in 2023 after twenty-five years as CEO. Hastings is an active educational philanthropist and served on the California State Board of Education from 2000 to 2004. He is currently on the board of several educational organizations including KIPP and Pahara. He is also a board member of The City Fund and Bloomberg. Hastings earned his BA in mathematics at Bowdoin and a master of science degree in artificial intelligence at Stanford University. While at Bowdoin, Hastings was a calculus peer tutor and a leader of the Bowdoin Outing Club.

Mathematics professor Steve Fisk, 1981 He was first encouraged to study artificial intelligence as an undergraduate by the late professor of mathematics Steve Fisk, as they walked by the Maine Hall dormitory talking about careers related to mathematics. His provocative thinking was infectiousSteve was about forty years too early, but his perspective was life-changing for me, says Hastings. Between Bowdoin and Stanford, Hastings served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Swaziland. He taught primarily high school math and one introductory course in beekeeping.

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Adolescence writer Jack Thorne has said the team behind the hit Netflix show are not the right people to tell the story of fictional murder victim Katie.

The four-part crime drama, co-written and created with This Is England star Stephen Graham, follows 13-year-old Jamie Miller who has been accused of killing his female classmate.

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Asked if they would create a second series focusing on Katie, Thorne, 46, told ITVs This Morning: I dont think were the right people to tell Katies story.

I think there are other makers out there that could tell beautiful dramas about Katie or girls like Katie, and that those shows should be made.

Christine Tremarco, Faye Marsay, Jo Hartley, Amelie Pease, Owen Cooper, Ashley Walters, Robbie ONeill, Hannah Walters and Stephen Graham at a special screening of Adolescence (Ian West/PA)

Our aim was to try and tell Jamies story as fully as we possibly could, and maybe trying to tell her story would dilute that in some way and maybe we would be inadequate for that task.

The second thing in terms of the second series, is, I think Jamies story is finished.

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I dont think theres anywhere more we can take Jamie, so I dont think there is a series two.

Wed love to explore the one shot format in another way. Wed love to tell other stories with it, but I dont think a series two of Adolescence is quite right for us.

The series, which starts with the arrest of Jamie, played by newcomer Owen Cooper, has been at the top of the most-watched programmes on the streaming website globally and has prompted questions in Parliament.

The drama took months of preparation and rehearsals so that each episode could be filmed in one continuous shot, which was praised by viewers of the show.

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The limited series, starring Graham as Jamies father, examines so-called incel (involuntary celibate) culture, which has been blamed for misogyny online, and the use of social media in bullying.

The series has received backing from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and creators Graham and Thorne have accepted an invitation to a parliamentary meeting by Labour MP Josh MacAlister to discuss online safety with MPs.

Thorne said the response to the drama has been overwhelming and added that people have told him Ive had conversations with my kids Ive never had before because of this show.
Ed Westwick and his wife Amy Jackson have announced the birth of their first child together.

The Gossip Girl actor, 37, and his partner shared an Instagram post that included black and white photos of them with their newborn son Oscar.

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The post was captioned: Welcome to the world, baby boy. Oscar Alexander Westwick.

Among the celebrities congratulating the couple in the comments section were TV presenter Stacey Dooley, Love Island star Zara McDermott and former Coronation Street actress Michelle Keegan.

In October 2024 the pair revealed they were expecting when they posted a selection of photos to their respective Instagram accounts which showed actress Jackson wearing a strapless white dress showing off her pregnancy bump.

The couple, who met at the Silverstone motor racing circuit in 2021, got engaged at the end of January 2024 and celebrated their wedding over three days in Italy in August 2024.

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They were legally married in an intimate ceremony in London, with Jackson wearing a vintage Chanel dress and custom-made Maison Michel hat, before flying out to the Amalfi Coast for the celebrations, the couple told Vogue Italy.

The wedding day was hosted at 16th-century castle Castello di Rocca Cilento with panoramic views of the sea.

At the time, Jackson wrote on Instagram: What an unforgettable weekend. Our farewell brunch with friends and family was everything we could have hoped for.

Jackson has a son called Dre from a previous relationship.

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Westwick found fame playing rich schoolboy Chuck Bass in US teen drama series Gossip Girl and has also been in comedy programme White Gold, 2007s Son Of Rambow, and 2011 comedy film Chalet Girl.
A bid to force a ministers decision to install Irish language signage at the Grand Central Station in Belfast to be put to a cross-community Executive vote has been lodged at Stormont.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins announced earlier this week that the bilingual signage at the new 340 million (407 million) station would be put in place later this year.

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The TUVs Timothy Gaston confirmed in the Assembly on Tuesday that he had lodged a petition to refer the decision back to the powersharing Executive, saying the power to stop the ministers plans lay with MLAs.

Ms Kimmins said the move was disappointing, but not surprising.

Stormont Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins speaking to media in Parliament Buildings (David Young/PA)

The new station is set to become the largest integrated transport hub on the island of Ireland, with services including trains between Belfast and Dublin.

Disappointment has been expressed by the Irish language community that the station, which started opening in phases last year, did not originally include Irish language signage.

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But Ms Kimmins revealed her plans to the Assembly on Monday for dual languages to be used on wayfinding, passenger information, safety and welcome signage.

Mr Gaston told the Assembly that he had asked the minister to commit to undertaking consultation and an equality screening exercise on the plans.

He said: She has chosen to impose her will without so much, it would appear, as consulting her Executive colleagues.

I have therefore this morning lodged a petition in the Business Office to refer Minister Kimmins decision to the Executive and subject it to a cross-community vote.

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Every member of this chamber who believes the divisive decision of Minister Kimmins should be opposed will add their name to that petition accordingly.

The power to stop the ministers plans, to weaponise Irish both in signage at Grand Central Station and all Translink ticket vending machines, lies in the hands of MLAs.

TUV MLA Timothy Gaston said the power to stop the ministers decision lay with MLAs (Liam McBurney/PA)

The petition needs the support of 30 MLAs for the issue to be referred back to the Executive for review.

Mr Gaston added: The only question is will the DUP and Ulster Unionist members of this House demand equality for our community or will they roll over to Sinn Fein?

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I trust unionism will take a stand on this issue and sign the petition to stop this solo run by the Infrastructure Minister.

Speaking to the media at Stormont, Ms Kimmins said an equality screening exercise into the plans had taken place.

She said: I think yesterdays announcement in relation to the Irish language being included on the signs at the Belfast Grand Central Station is a hugely positive development.

Ireland Irish language signage to be installed at Grand Ce... Read More

This is something that reflects the thriving Irish language community in Belfast and right across our island.

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I think that is really important that we have taken that step forward.

She added: It is disappointing but not surprising that the member has made this contribution today.
The decision by Dublin City Council to refuse planning permission for 284 homes at Terenure College runs contrary to local and national planning policies, according to an appeal from the developer.

Lioncor has lodged an appeal to An Bord Pleanala about the decision last month by the council to refuse planning permission for the scheme for Fortfield Road, Terenure, Dublin 6.

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The scheme comprises 265 apartments and 19 four-bed houses, with the apartments located across four blocks and one block rising to six storeys.

The council refused permission to the Lioncor subsidiary, 1 Celbridge West Land Ltd, after concluding it had failed to demonstrate that the range of travel needs of the future resident population can be met by the proposed development.

In the one reason for refusal linked to transport issues for the new scheme, the council found that the proposed car parking provision was inadequate to serve the needs of future residents of the development.

The planning authority said the proposal would give rise to unacceptable levels of overspill and haphazard parking on adjacent roads and bus corridors.

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The 11.5-acre development site is located to the northwest corner of the grounds of Terenure College senior school. The main part of the site is an open field that was formerly used as playing pitches associated with the now closed junior school.

The scheme was build to sell compared to the build to rent 364-unit scheme and 21 houses that were refused planning permission two years ago by An Bord Pleanala.

In the comprehensive appeal drawn up McGill Planning associate director Brenda Butterly, she points out that every department at Dublin City Council with the exception of the transport planning department believed that a grant of permission was appropriate.

Ms Butterly said it was very disappointing that the council did not seek further information on the plans or include a condition on the issue of parking.

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Ms Butterly said claims that the development would lead to overspill and hap-hazard parking were "unsubstantiated".

She said the appeal boards previous refusal for the site was made on three grounds and none related to parking.

Ms Butterly said all the grounds of refusal for the previous scheme had been addressed.

She said the proposal was a high attractive apartment development in an established, highly accessible and well serviced urban location within Dublin City.

Ms Butterly said the proposal would provide for an effective and efficient use of these currently vacant, serviced lands.

The appeals board is due to make a decision on the appeal in July.
Delays in progressing the trial of those indicted for the killing of Private Sean Rooney are simply not acceptable to the Government, Tanaiste Simon Harris has said.

Mr Harris said he would be conveying that message in the strongest possible terms during political meetings in Lebanon.

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Private Rooney, 24, from Co Donegal, was killed while on deployment with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) on December 14th 2022.

Private Sean Rooney was killed in 2022. Photo: Defence Forces/PA.

Mr Harris will also visit Irish peacekeepers currently deployed in the country during his trip this week.

The Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs is to stress the need to deliver accountability and justice for the Rooney family.

The trial of those indicted for the killing of Private Rooney was pushed back again in February.

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The next hearing is scheduled to take place in Beirut in September.

Irish Defence Forces soldiers on guard at Camp Shamrock in Lebanon in 2024. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

There are currently 339 Defence Forces personnel serving with the 125th Infantry Battalion based at Camp Shamrock in southern Lebanon.

Mr Harris is set to thank the Defence Forces personnel for their commitment to maintaining peace in the region.

He is also expected to announce increased funding for local community projects.

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Speaking to reporters before travelling to Lebanon, the Tanaiste said: I am very much looking forward today to going to Lebanon to meet directly with Irish peacekeepers  339 members of Oglaigh na hEireann who are serving with distinction in a very troubled and difficult part of the world.

Ireland Harris holds call with tax scam critic in US adm... Read More

I am very proud of Irelands record in peacekeeping over many decades in Lebanon and it is important for me to have an opportunity to thank our troops directly, to hear from them directly and also to have a number of political meetings while there.

I am looking forward to meeting the defence minister and the foreign affairs minister tomorrow where I will have an opportunity to raise the case of Private Sean Rooney.

It is simply not acceptable to the Irish Government that it has taken so long to make progress in relation to the trial of those accused of the murder of Private Rooney and I look forward to conveying that in the strongest possible terms.
An engineer has been jailed for 18 months for his part in a large-scale criminal operations smishing scam on Permanent TSB customers.

Iskilu Awolumate (28), of Hazelgrove Estate, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling the proceeds of crime at an unknown location on dates between March 2020 and January 2021. Most of the counts relate to Permanent TSB customers, and the court heard a Slovakian company was also subject to an invoice redirection fraud.

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Permanent TSB customers were targeted in the smishing in which messages were sent by SMS and bank customers were duped into allowing third parties access to their bank accounts. The court heard 22 accounts were affected but only three injured parties could be identified. None of the money was recovered and Permanent TSB reimbursed the customers affected.

Money from customer accounts ended up in Awolumates account, Garda Sergeant Conor Fleming told the court.

The total value of the money that went through Awolumates account was 25,800. He said there was no reason to believe that money was transferred on or that the accused was just a mule who was being paid 100 per transaction as Awolumate claimed.

Judge Elva Duffy said it was a large-scale criminal operation using Awolumates account wholesale whether or not the court found he was the beneficiary. The judge said this could not be accounted for by working. She sentenced him to two-and-a-half years with the final year suspended.

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The court heard the accused came to Ireland when he was 11 and lived in Tallaght, but he had since moved to the Netherlands, where he now works as an engineer.

Gardai attempted to contact him 13 times through an email address his mother had given them, but he never responded, and extradition proceedings were initiated. However, he eventually presented himself to Tallaght Garda Station. He had a consultation with a solicitor and told gardai he was being paid 100 per transaction.

Awolumate said he was in fear of the people making him act as a mule and believed he was being stalked by them. He has two previous convictions for minor road traffic matters.

Now an Irish national, Awolumate came to Ireland from Nigeria when he was 11 and went to secondary school in Tallaght. The court heard he studied transport engineering in Dublin Institute of Technology while working part-time and with a grant to put himself through college.

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He now works as an equipment engineer in the Netherlands and earns up to 53,000 a year, the court was told.

The court heard there were originally 18 counts on the indictment, most of which pertained to smishing and one for invoice redirection. There were effectively nine injured parties, but gardai were only able to identify three of those.

Defence counsel Sean Rafter BL said Awolumate was of previous good character and has been working hard doing his best. He brought 4,000 to court as a token of his remorse which could be applied to the losses in the case of Permanent TSB and the company which was subject to the redirect fraud in Slovakia.

Counsel said his client did not take responsibility in the beginning but has now accepted responsibility. He submitted that his client was in the lowest category of offending but not in the lowest possible category.

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Sgt Fleming was recalled to give evidence, and Diana Staurt BL, prosecuting, asked the guard what his role was, and the garda said he had investigated a lot of similar cases and he did not believe Awolumate was just a mule.

Ireland Gardai warn bank customers of 'smishing' attacks Read More

After sentence was handed down, Awolumate appeared shocked for being jailed and asked if he could address to the court. Im going to lose my home, said Awolumate, to which Judge Duffy replied, Im afraid you are going to lose your home.

Mr Rafter asked if he could get his affairs in order before going into custody.

Ms Stuart said there was a concern as there were no ties to the jurisdiction. Defence counsel pointed out Awolumates mother is living here and he himself was an Irish citizen.

After Awolumate was led by prison officers into custody, a man who had accompanied him to court handed over 4,000 in cash, which was counted out by Sgt Fleming.
A man who stole his ex-partner's car then led gardai on a chase in Dublin city centre has been jailed for two years.

Neil Robertson (24) pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving, driving while intoxicated, criminal damage, and theft of an iPhone and a car on January 23rd, 2022.

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Judge Elma Sheahan on Tuesday imposed a sentence of two-and-a-half years, with the final six months suspended for 12 months on strict conditions.

The judge said Robertson had placed gardai and the public at significant risk of injury through his actions.

She said the seriousness of the offending was among the aggravating factors of the case. The judge also noted the mitigation in the case, including Robertson's early guilty plea, his level of co-operation with gardai and his circumstances.

The judge noted that Robertson was intoxicated at the time of this offending, and while this was not an excuse, it provided context. She said urine analysis shows he is drug-free, and Robertson has been actively seeking a residential treatment place but has yet to obtain one.

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Judge Sheahan said information provided to the court indicated he had made real progress after previously attending residential treatment. The judge directed Robertson to place himself under the supervision of the Probation Services after his release, to attend residential treatment if a place become available and submit to random drug testing.

She also imposed the mandatory driving disqualification of four years and backdated the sentence to when Robertson went into custody.

Garda Shane Fahy previously gave evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that Robertson had gone for drinks the night before the incident with his ex-partner and two others.

Robertson's ex-partner woke up the next morning to find her car and iPhone missing.

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Gardai on patrol spotted the car heading towards Heuston Station around 7am and signalled for it to stop, but it didn't.

They lost sight of the car, but it was seen driving inbound on the Naas Road at 8.50am.

During the pursuit, the car was seen swerving in and out of traffic several times and did not stop at traffic lights. Other vehicles had to brake sharply to avoid a collision.

The car mounted a centre island, and both tyres on the driver's side blew out. It continued at speed, and sparks were observed. At a junction on Dolphin Road, the car again broke red lights and drove on the wrong side of the road before crossing back to the other side.

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The vehicle came to a stop, and when gardai approached, Robertson took off at speed again, overtaking and swerving in and out of lanes.

At a junction on Grove Road, the car lost control and collided with a grey Toyota Corolla. The driver of the car and a child passenger sustained soft tissue damage and were taken to hospital to be checked out.

Robertson also caused minor damage to the car door of a Garda car when he opened his car door.

He was arrested, and gardai noticed signs of intoxication. A blood sample later taken at the Garda station showed a blood alcohol reading of 84mg per 100ml. Robertson had also taken other substances, including cocaine.

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The court heard that the car Robertson was driving, which was valued at 12,000, was written off while 4,000 worth of damage was caused to the Toyota Corolla. Repairs to the door of the Garda car cost appropriately 350.

Gda Fahy noted that insurance premiums increased for Robertson's ex-partner in the wake of this incident. Her phone was recovered.

A victim impact statement was handed to the court.

Robertson, of Strand Road, Dublin 4, has 17 previous convictions, including road traffic offences, theft and criminal damage.

Gda Fahy agreed with defence counsel that his client was not interviewed due to his level of intoxication.

Counsel said his instructions were that Robertson took the car to get cigarettes while intoxicated and then noticed gardai.

He said Robertson wanted to apologise to all the parties involved.

Gda Fahy agreed Robertson was co-operative and apologetic in his dealings with gardai, describing him as one of the most co-operative prisoners I've ever dealt with.

It was further accepted that Robertson's guilty plea was of assistance and that he provided a blood sample to gardai for testing.
Tanaiste Simon Harris is set to highlight the memory of Irish peacekeeper Sean Rooney during a visit to Lebanon.

Private Rooney, 24, from Co Donegal, was killed while on deployment with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) on December 14th 2022.

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Mr Harris is set to raise the frustration and concern of the Government at the lack of progress in the case during a series of political meetings in Lebanon.

Private Sean Rooney (Defence Forces)

He will also visit Irish peacekeepers currently deployed in the country during his visit this week.

The Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs is to stress the need to deliver accountability and justice for the Rooney family.

The trial of those indicted for the killing of Private Rooney was pushed back again in February. The next hearing is scheduled to take place in Beirut in September.

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Irish Defence Forces soldiers on guard at Camp Shamrock in Lebanon in 2024. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

Ireland Harris holds call with tax scam critic in US adm... Read More

There are currently 339 Defence Forces personnel serving with the 125th Infantry Battalion based at Camp Shamrock in southern Lebanon.

Mr Harris is set to thank the Defence Forces personnel for their commitment to maintaining peace in the region.

He is also expected to announce increased funding for local community projects.
The jury in the trial of a 42-year-old woman accused of being the getaway driver for the murderer of Lisa Thompson have begun watching CCTV footage of what the prosecution say are the defendants movements in the days before the mother-of-two was found dead at her home.

Deirdre Arnold, with an address at Briarfield Grove, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5, is charged that on a date between May 9th, 2022 and May 10th, 2022, both dates inclusive, at a location within the State, did without reasonable excuse an act with intent to impede the apprehension or prosecution of Brian McHugh, a person who had committed an arrestable offence, namely murder, whilst knowing or believing Brian McHugh to be guilty of the offence or of some other arrestable offence.

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Ms Arnold is also charged that on a date between May 9th, 2022 and May 10th, 2022, both dates inclusive, at a location within the State, acted or embarked upon a course of conduct which had a tendency to and was intended to pervert the course of public justice.

In her opening speech on Monday, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions Fiona Murphy SC said the jury would hear evidence that the accused drove murderer Brian McHugh to the deceased's home, where she waited outside "for well over an hour" before driving him away from the scene and later checking him into a hotel in an effort to help him evade prosecution.

It is also the prosecution's case that she allowed her vehicle to be used to dispose of evidence taken from the deceased's home.

Garda Michelle Purcell, from the Divisional Technical Support Unit, on Tuesday began taking Ms Murphy through a montage of CCTV footage showing a woman driving a silver Hyundai Tucson on the evening of May 8th.

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Ms Murphy said it is the prosecution case that this woman is Deirdre Arnold. She said the first piece of footage was taken from an address in Briarfield Grove which the jury has heard is Ms Arnolds address.

Garda Purcell showed footage of the car's movements, including interactions between a man and woman at various locations, over the next hour and 57 minutes.

Earlier, chief State pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan gave evidence to Ms Murphy that she had carried out a post mortem on the deceased on May 11th, 2022.

Dr Mulligan said a cord that appeared to be from a blind was around the deceaseds neck and there were multiple stab wounds on the left side of the chest centred in the area above where the heart is located.

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Crossing over at the front of the neck was the cord of a window blind with a free end which appeared torn, said Dr Mulligan. The pathologist said there was a thin, pale band with some areas of abrasion which travelled around the back of the neck almost horizontally.

Dr Mulligan said on the left side of the front of the chest there was a group of 11 stab wounds covering an area 7cm vertically by 10cm horizontally.

She said there were six stab wounds to the heart, two of which were through and through injuries and further stab wounds in the left lung, one of which was also a through and through wound.

The stab wounds had one blunted end and one pointed end and there was no evidence of any serrated abrasions, suggesting the stab wounds were caused by a knife or a knife shaped object, said the pathologist.

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Dr Mulligan said there were also numerous areas of haemorrhage around the neck.

She said both the asphyxiation due to strangulation and the multiple stab wounds to the heart and chest were fatal injuries and it was very difficult to say which occurred first.

Bloods taken for analysis showed evidence of fluoxetine, an antidepressant and a separate, antipsychotic drug. Dr Mulligan said the combination of multiple sedative drugs could have affected Ms Thompsons actions and reaction but the deceased may have had some tolerance if she had been taking them regularly.

In conclusion, Dr Mulligan said death was caused by a combination of ligature strangulation causing asphyxia and multiple stab wounds to the chest with no contributing factors.

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Ireland Man found guilty of the murder of Lisa Thompson Read More

This morning, John McDonagh told prosecuting counsel he was a born again Christian and had known Ms Thompson for six or seven years after meeting the deceased through one of her neighbours.

He said the last time he saw Ms Thompson was the Friday before she died when she called into his home for a quick visit. He said he spoke to her on the Sunday evening at around 7pm and said she was in great form.

Mr McDonagh said he was aware that Brian McHugh had a fling with Lisa about a year before she died. He confirmed to Ms Murphy he told gardai that about two or three weeks prior to her death, Mr McHugh reappeared and was in contact with Ms Thompson by text.

The trial continues on Wednesday before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath and a jury of seven men and five women.
A young man accused of murdering a 65-year-old who had taken him into his home told gardai he only met the deceased once and didn't want anything to do with him because he looked like a "weird, strange old man".

Brian Ibe (23) told detectives following his arrest on suspicion of assaulting Peter Kennedy, that he didn't "know s**t" about what happened to the older man. He later said: "I know nothing about it, that's what I said in the beginning and I'm sticking to it."

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Mr Ibe, of no fixed abode and formerly of Moore Park, Newbridge, Co Kildare, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Mr Kennedy between April 28th and May 12th, 2020, both dates inclusive, in Newbridge.

He also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to assault causing harm to Garda Brendan ODonnell at Newbridge Garda Station on or about April 29th, 2020.

The jury has been told it is not contested that Mr Ibe carried out the fatal attack on Mr Kennedy. The prosecution contends that the accused was not within the ingredients of not guilty by reason of insanity or diminished responsibility and is not entitled to those special verdicts.

Outlining the proposed evidence last week, prosecution counsel Paul Carroll SC said it is not contested that Mr Ibe carried out the attack and that Mr Kennedy died as a result.

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He said the deceased man, who had just turned 65 and was retired from the probation services, was a kind person who would help people.

The mother of the accused, Martha Ibe, had an issue with homelessness and came to live with Mr Kennedy, with her son moving into the same house around September 2019, when he was 19.

Mr Carroll said that problems arose prior to Christmas of 2019, with disputes between Mr Kennedy and the accused, so Mr Ibe left the house and came to Dublin, where he lived at a hostel run by the Peter McVerry Trust in Walkinstown.

Counsel said that on April 28th, 2020, the accused left the hostel and got a taxi to Newbridge, where he entered Mr Kennedys house through the rear after smashing a window.

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Mr Carroll said that the accuseds mother, who was present at the time, would give evidence that the accused attacked Mr Kennedy with what she believed was a knife, making jabbing motions. She left to get assistance, and when gardai arrived they found Mr Kennedy on the floor upstairs with serious head injuries lying in a pool of blood. He was brought to Beaumont Hospital but died from his injuries on May 12th, 2020.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, Det Gda Seamus Doyle told Mr Carroll that he was present when Sgt Kieran Bruce arrested Mr Ibe on April 29th, 2020 at the Walkinstown Hostel, one day after the alleged murder. Gardai brought the accused to Newbridge Garda Station for questioning.

In his first interview, gardai asked Mr Ibe if he had anything to say about why he had been arrested. He replied: "I don't know shit about that, I would like to know who reported me about it." He said he had been living in Dublin for a few months, having previously been homeless and sleeping rough in Newbridge.

He said he had met Mr Kennedy only once, some months earlier, when he got a taxi from Ballymun to Newbridge to see his mother. When he saw her, he said she was driving a car while "that weird fella you are talking about was in the passenger seat".

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Ireland Man (24) pleads not guilty by reason of insanity t... Read More

He added: "I just said, I'm not getting in the car. Your man was weird."

He said he didn't see his mother again and never met Mr Kennedy again. He said he didn't know where Mr Kennedy lived and wouldn't be interested in knowing. When pressed by gardai on his impression of Mr Kennedy, he said: "He just looked like a weird, strange old man. I didn't want anything to do with him. I said I'd look after myself and I was able for it."

On the day of the alleged murder, Mr Ibe said he left the hostel in Walkinstown only once to go to a nearby Centra. On his way back, he said he fell and cut his hand and he showed the cut to gardai. He didn't know the names of any of the staff who could confirm that he was there that day, he said.

The trial continues on Wednesday before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and the jury of six men and six women.
The Health Information and Quality Authority has found non-compliance that impacted on the delivery of care and support to residents in 10 centres for people with disabilities.

The HIQA has published 19 inspection reports on designated centres for people with disabilities. It found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in the other nine centres.

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Poor governance impacted residents at a centre operated by Horizons. Poor management of safeguarding incidents adversely affected residents wellbeing while improvements were required in areas including residents activities and staff training.

Poor governance was identified by the HIQA at three centres operated by Ability West. Safeguarding incidents impacted residents at one centre while improvements were required in staffing and management in the remaining two centres.

At a centre operated by Cheeverstown House CLG, poor governance increased the risks to residents. Improvements were also required around residents safeguarding incidents and to the premises, the HIQA found.

Poor governance was identified at a centre operated by Saint Patrick's Centre (Kilkenny)/trading as Aurora-Enriching Lives, Enriching Communities. The management of residents safeguarding plans required improvement.

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At a centre operated by Embrace Community Services Ltd, improvement was required in the management of safeguarding incidents.

Improvements were required in managing residents finances and staff training at a centre operated by St John of God Community Services CLG. At a centre operated by the Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG, improvements were required in staff training and supports for residents.

Finally, improvements in the premises and registration conditions were required at a centre operated by Barrog Healthcare Limited.
The Taoiseachs Questions slot in the Dail was not being used as well as the Opposition claims, Micheal Martin has said.

A move to halve the weekly time for Taoiseachs Questions is a factor in opposition objections to Government changes to Dail rules.

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45 minutes is allocated on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for Taoiseachs Questions, separate from the 34-minute slot for Leaders Questions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Mr Martin said the proposed reduction comes as he deals with matters outside the Dail  including the war in Ukraine and the escalating EU-US trade dispute  but he maintained that he would remain the most accountable prime minister in Europe.

He said opposition objections to the Government proposals, which would also create new eight-minute slots on Wednesday and Thursday for coalition backbenchers and Government-aligned independents, are politically manufactured.

The opposition is expected to disrupt Dail proceedings on Tuesday as part of the deepening row over speaking time.

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The Taoiseach said the proposed changes are modest and do not call for efforts to frustrate progress in the Dail.

Five opposition parties met on Monday to agree a response to the Governments proposal to change speaking-time arrangements in order to create a new slot for coalition backbenchers and government-affiliated independents.

The disruption is expected just after 2pm, during the Leaders Questions slot in the Dail.

The row delayed Mr Martins nomination as Taoiseach in January and has trundled on despite several inter-party meetings and the intervention of the Ceann Comhairle in favour of the opposition.

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This led to a brief reprieve before the dispute was reignited after the government put forward a new proposal to change speaking time arrangements and suggested it would use its majority to push them through.

Opposition parties  Sinn Fein, Labour, the Social Democrats, Independent Ireland and Solidarity-People Before Profit  are to protest against that decision when the Dail reconvenes on Tuesday.

There has been suggestion of the potential for widespread disruption, rather than a walkout which could allow the government to continue to pass legislation.

The opposition have criticised the Government proposal, saying it is due to be voted on without a debate, halves the time available for opposing the Order of Business, and reduces the time for Taoiseachs Questions every week from 90 to 45 minutes.

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Asked before Cabinet on Tuesday if he had any nerves about potential disruption in the Dail chamber, Mr Martin replied: Not at all.

He added: I think the proposals are balanced, theyre modest. The opposition are losing no time at all, some opposition parties will gain more time, actually.

And it seems to me that there needs to be some rebalancing and enabling backbench TDs to at least get an opportunity.

Mr Martin said Irish ministers and the Taoiseach are in the Dail more often than their counterparts in other European parliaments by a long shot.

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Pressed on the proposal to halve time for Taoiseachs Questions, he said: Thats the Taoiseachs slot, not Leaders Questions.

Mr Martin added: They werent being used as well as opposition are claiming, by the way. Some opposition leaders didnt participate in that.

But also the Taoiseach of the day has a lot going on in terms of the necessity to get other work done. Particularly in the international situation right now where theres huge pressure on Europe and across the country, the war in Ukraine, the tariff issue, the economic headwinds that could be blowing in our direction.

Theres a lot of issues that demand a lot of attention  and the Taoiseach of the day will be the most accountable prime minister in Europe.

Tanaiste Simon Harris has likened the potential for opposition disruption to behaviour in a creche.

Mr Harris, who was speaking to reporters before a Cabinet meeting and his visit to Lebanon, said the opposition response has been disproportionate.

Asked if he was worried about an opposition walk-out in the Dail on Tuesday, Mr Harris said: No, Im worried about the safety of our troops in Lebanon.

Im worried about making sure we continue to project jobs and investment in Ireland, and really, any sort of political stunts I dont really have much bandwidth for them quite frankly.

He added: There does need to be a sense of proportionality. Yes, its good to tease things through. Yes, we can have different perspectives. Yes, its a democracy.

But the idea that you would say today we dont like the results of the Dail, were going to walk out and cause chaos. I mean, come on  its not a creche.

In particular, Mr Harris said there was an unwillingness to compromise from Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald.
A teenage boy has had both his eye sockets and his nose broken during an assault by a gang of youths in east Belfast.

Detectives are appealing for information about the incident on March 19th.

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The PSNI said the assault, which is being investigated as grievous bodily harm with intent, occurred in the Beersbridge Road area, and was reported to police at about 5.50pm.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses following a report of a serious assault of a teenage boy in east Belfast on Wednesday 19th March.



Full details here: https://t.co/195kJlVwgw pic.twitter.com/Q9X2xXxPpk  Police East Belfast (@PSNIBelfastE) March 25, 2025

A spokesperson said: The victim was walking in the vicinity of the Beersbridge Road when he was approached by a group of youths.

He was then chased by one of the group and assaulted during which he was kicked to the head and face, leaving him with serious facial injuries, including two broken eye sockets and a broken nose.

Detectives are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw anything, or who may have dashcam, CCTV or other video footage which could assist with their inquiries, to contact them in Musgrave on 101, quoting reference number 1291 19/03/25.
Israeli strikes killed at least 23 people in the Gaza Strip overnight into Tuesday, according to Palestinian medics.

The dead include three children and their parents, who were killed in a strike on their tent near the southern city of Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital.

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The hospital has received a flood of dead and wounded since Israel resumed its heavy bombardment of Gaza last week, shattering the ceasefire that had halted the 17-month war.

Israels campaign in Gaza has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 113,000, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not say how many were civilians or combatants.



Palestinians inspect a site hit by an Israeli strike in Gaza City (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants, without providing evidence.

Israel launched the campaign vowing to destroy Hamas after its attack on southern Israel on October 7 2023 in which militants killed some 1,200 people and abducted 251.

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Israel says it only targets militants and blames Hamas for civilian deaths because it operates in densely populated areas.

Meanwhile, the wife of an Oscar-winning Palestinian director who was reportedly attacked by Jewish settlers before being detained by the Israeli army said that he was beaten in front of his home by three men in military fatigues while another filmed it.

Hamdan Ballal and the other directors of No Other Land, which looks at the struggles of living under Israeli occupation, appeared on stage at the 97th Academy Awards in Los Angeles earlier this month when it won the award for best documentary film.

Mr Ballal and two other Palestinians detained with him were released on Tuesday afternoon from a police station in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba.

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Mr Ballal had bruises on his face and blood on his clothes, and the three were driven to a hospital in the neighbouring Palestinian city of Hebron, according to Associated Press journalists at the scene.

Their lawyer, Lea Tsemel, said they spent the night on the floor of a military base while receiving only minimal care for their injuries from the alleged attack.

She had earlier said they were accused of throwing stones at a young settler, allegations they deny.



From left, Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal and Yuval Abraham, winners of the best documentary feature film for No Other Land at the Oscars (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Palestinian residents say around two dozen settlers  some masked, some carrying guns and some in military uniforms  attacked the West Bank village of Susiya on Monday evening as residents were breaking their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

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Soldiers who arrived pointed their guns at the Palestinians, while settlers continued throwing stones, they said.

The Israeli military said on Monday it had detained three Palestinians suspected of hurling rocks at forces and one Israeli civilian involved in a what it described as a violent confrontation.

Lamia Ballal, the directors wife, said she heard her husband being beaten outside their home as she huddled inside with their three children.

She said she heard him screaming, Im dying! and calling for an ambulance. When she looked out of the window, she said she saw three men in uniform beating Mr Ballal with the butts of their rifles and another person in civilian clothes who appeared to be filming the violence.

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Of course, after the Oscar, they have come to attack us more, she said. I felt afraid.
Belarus authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko has been sworn in for a seventh term, and he mocked those who derided him as Europes last dictator by saying his country has more democracy than those who cast themselves as its models.

Half of the world is dreaming about our dictatorship, the dictatorship of real business and interests of our people, Mr Lukashenko, 70, said in his inauguration speech at the Independence Palace in the capital of Minsk.

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Hundreds of opposition supporters living abroad held anti-Lukashenko rallies on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of Belarus short-lived independence in 1918 following the collapse of the Russian Empire.



Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attends a ceremony of military personnel (Belarus Presidential Press Service via AP)

Mr Lukashenko marked three decades in power last year, and his political opponents have denounced the tightly orchestrated January 26 election as a farce.

The Belarus Central Election Commission declared he won with nearly 87% of the vote after a campaign in which four token challengers on the ballot all praised his rule.

Opposition members have been imprisoned or exiled abroad by Mr Lukashenkos unrelenting crackdown on dissent and free speech.

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Months of massive protests that were unprecedented in the history of the country of nine million people followed the 2020 election and brought on the harsh crackdown.

More than 65,000 people were arrested, thousands were beaten by police and independent media outlets and non-governmental organisations were closed and outlawed, bringing condemnation and sanctions from the West.

Thousands of Lukashenko supporters attended Tuesdays inauguration ceremony, where he denounced his critics as foreign stooges who were at odds with the people.

You dont and wont have public support, you have no future, he declared. We have more democracy than those who cast themselves as its models.

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Belarusian activists say it holds more than 1,200 political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, founder of the Viasna Human Rights Centre.

The election was held amid a deep human rights crisis, in the atmosphere of total fear caused by repressions against civil society, independent media, opposition and dissent, according to a statement released Tuesday by Viasna and 10 other Belarusian human rights groups.

They said Mr Lukashenkos hold on power is illegitimate.

Mr Lukashenko has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1994, relying on subsidies and political support from Russian President Vladimir Putin, himself in office for a quarter of a century, an alliance that helped the Belarusian leader survive the 2020 protests.

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Mr Lukashenko allowed Moscow to use the countrys territory to invade Ukraine in February 2022 and later hosted some of Russias tactical nuclear weapons.

Opposition leader-in-exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who fled Belarus under government pressure after running against Mr Lukashenko in 2020, vowed to keep fighting for the countrys freedom.
A series of separate meetings between American, Russian and Ukrainian representatives have entered their third day as US negotiators shuttled back to discussions with their Ukrainian counterparts in the Saudi capital, a continuation of talks with Kyiv officials that began on Sunday over a potential ceasefire in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, a Kremlin official said on Tuesday that the talks between US and Russian officials in Riyadh the previous day would likely lead to further contacts between Washington and Moscow, but that no concrete plans have yet been made.

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The three days of meetings  which did not include direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations  are part of an attempt to hammer out details on a partial pause in the war in Ukraine.

It has been a struggle to reach even a limited, 30-day ceasefire  which Moscow and Kyiv agreed to in principle last week  with both sides continuing to attack each other with drones and missiles.





Russia and Ukraine have also taken differing interpretations of what a possible partial ceasefire would look like, and disagreed over what kinds of targets would be included in a pause on strikes  even after US President Donald Trump spoke to the leaders of both countries to advance a deal.

Yet despite the numerous sticking points  the White House has said a partial ceasefire would include ending attacks on energy and infrastructure, while the Kremlin declared that the agreement referred more narrowly to energy infrastructure  attempts to secure safe commercial shipping in the Black Sea appeared to garner support in principle from both parties, though no specific agreements have been announced.

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Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday told the countrys state-run Channel One TV station that the Russian and US delegations in Riyadh had discussed primarily issues of safe shipping in the Black Sea  a major shipping corridor on which both Russia and Ukraine have ports and coastline.

Mr Lavrov also said that Moscow is up for resuming  in some form, acceptable to everyone  a 2022 deal that allowed Ukraine to ship grain through the Black Sea to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where hunger was a growing threat and high food prices had pushed more people into poverty.

The landmark Black Sea grain initiative was brokered by the UN and Turkey in the summer of 2022. Moscow halted it in July 2023 until its demands to get Russian food and fertiliser to the world were met.





Serhii Leshchenko, adviser to the head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys office, told the Associated Press on Tuesday that US-Ukrainian talks in Riyadh on Sunday had included the security of shipping and infrastructure, including safety for the (Ukrainian) ports of Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson.

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Mr Leshchenko added that the Ukrainian delegation would brief Mr Zelensky following renewed talks on Tuesday with the US delegation, adding: Ukraine is ready to support initiatives that will make diplomacy a means of pressure to compel Russia to end the war.

On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the the outcome of the talks in Riyadh has been reported in the capitals and was currently being analysed by Moscow and Washington, but that the Kremlin has no plans to release any details of what was discussed to the public.

Were talking about technical negotiations, negotiations with immersion in details, Mr Peskov said, adding that while there are currently no plans for US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to speak, such a conversation could be quickly organised if the need arises.

There is an understanding that the contacts will continue, but there is nothing concrete at the moment, Mr Peskov said. He added that there are no plans to hold a three-way meeting between Russia, the US and Ukraine.

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Senior Russian politician Grigory Karasin, who took part in the Russia-US talks in Riyadh on Monday, told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti that the conversation was very interesting, difficult, but quite constructive.

We were at it all day from morning until late at night, Mr Karasin was quoted by the agency as saying on Tuesday.



A damaged apartment after a Russian attack on Kyiv, Ukraine (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

Speaking about the war in Ukraine, Mr Karasin said Moscows and Washingtons positions do not always align, but that the two parties will continue to look for ways to co-operate, as there is now an understanding that co-operation is necessary to resolve the conflict.

He added that talks between expert groups from Russia and the US could continue.

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It came as the number of people injured on Monday in a Russian missile strike on the centre of the Ukrainian city of Sumy rose to 101 people including 23 children, according to the Sumy regional administration.

The strike on Sumy, across the border from Russias Kursk region which was partially occupied by Ukraine since August, hit residential buildings and a school, which had to be evacuated due to the attack.

Meanwhile, Russian forces launched one ballistic missile and 139 long-range strike and decoy drones into Ukraine overnight, according to the Ukrainian air force. Those attacks affected seven regions of Ukraine.

Two people were injured after drone debris fell on a warehouse in the Poltava region, administration head Volodymyr Kohut wrote on Telegram on Tuesday, while two people were injured outside the city of Zaporizhzhia, according to the head of the region.

One man suffered injuries after a Russian drone attack in Kherson, city administration head Roman Mrochko wrote on Telegram on Tuesday.
The head of Turkeys main opposition party visited jailed Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Tuesday after six nights of massive protests calling for his release.

Mr Imamoglu, arrested on March 19 on corruption charges, is seen as the main challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogans 22-year rule.

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His arrest has been widely viewed as politically motivated and sparked demonstrations, some turning violent, across the country.

The government insists Turkeys judiciary is independent and free of political influence.



Anti-riot police officers in Istanbul, Turkey, during a protest (Khalil Hamra/AP)

Ozgur Ozel, the leader of Mr Imamoglus Republican Peoples Party (CHP), arrived at Silivri prison, west of Istanbul, in a convoy of vehicles on Tuesday morning.

After a two-hour meeting, Mr Ozel told reporters that he was ashamed on behalf of those who govern Turkey of the atmosphere I am in and the situation that Turkey is being put through.

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He described Mr Imamoglu and two jailed CHP district mayors he also met as three lions inside, standing tall, with their heads held high proud of themselves, their families, their colleagues, not afraid.

Mr Ozel announced the night before that Tuesday evening would be the CHPs final rally outside Istanbuls City Hall, calling for people to join in.

He also said the party would appoint a member to the municipal council to act as mayor in Mr Imamoglus place, staving off the possibility of a state-appointed one.

Meanwhile, Turkish authorities have been cracking down on journalists as protests grew.

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The Media and Law Studies Association, a civil society group, said eight journalists who were detained for covering protests in Istanbul, banned by authorities, had been brought to the citys Caglayan Courthouse. They are accused of violating the law on meetings and demonstrations, the group said.

Media workers unions have condemned the arrests as an attack on press freedoms and the peoples right to learn the truth.



Protesters face off against anti-riot police in Istanbul (Khalil Hamra/AP)

Demonstrations in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, as well as smaller cities and towns across Turkey, have been largely peaceful with protesters demanding Mr Imamoglus release and an end to democratic backsliding.

However, some turned violent, with officers deploying water cannons, tear gas and pepper spray and firing plastic pellets at protesters, some of whom have hurled stones, fireworks and other objects at riot police.

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Interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said early Tuesday that police had detained 43 provocateurs over what he said were vile insults hurled at Mr Erdogan and his family at protests. Some 1,133 protesters were detained between Wednesday and Sunday, he said earlier.

Mr Ozel and Mr Imamoglus social media accounts posted condemnations of insults hurled at Mr Erdogans mother.

Mr Imamoglu has been jailed on suspicion of running a criminal organisation, accepting bribes, extortion, illegally recording personal data and bid-rigging  accusations he has denied. He also faces prosecution on terror-related charges and has been suspended from duty as a temporary measure.

Alongside Mr Imamoglu, 47 other people have been jailed pending trial, including a key aide and two district mayors from Istanbul.

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Although Turkey is not due for another election until 2028, there is a reasonable possibility that Mr Erdogan will call for an early vote in order to run for another term.

Mr Imamoglu has been confirmed as the candidate for the CHP and has performed well in recent polls against Mr Erdogan.

He was elected mayor of Turkeys largest city in March 2019, in a major blow to Mr Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party, which had controlled Istanbul alongside its predecessors for a quarter of a century.
The United States said an agreement has been reached to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea as it wrapped up three days of talks with Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Saudi Arabia on prospective steps toward peace.

US experts met separately with Ukrainian and Russian representatives in Riyadh, and the White House issued separate joint statements about the talks with Ukraine and Russia.

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It said the sides have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.

Details of the prospective deal are yet to be released, but it appears to mark a revival of a 2022 agreement to ensure safe transit via Ukraines Black Sea ports that was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey and was halted by Russia the following year.



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

Russia had said the agreement failed to ensure safety of its Black Sea exports.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said in televised comments that Moscow is open to the revival of the agreement, but warned Russian interests must be protected.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the talks as the early right steps toward a peaceful settlement.

These are the first steps  not the very first but initial ones  with this presidential administration toward completely ending the war and the possibility of a full ceasefire, as well as steps toward a sustainable and fair peace agreement, he said at a news conference.

In an apparent reference to the Russian demands, the White House statement on the talks with Russia noted that the US will help restore Russias access to the world market for agricultural and fertiliser exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.

The White House statement also mentioned that the parties agreed to develop measures for implementing an agreement reached in President Donald Trumps calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Zelensky to ban strikes against energy facilities in Russia and Ukraine.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

After the Trump-Putin call last week, the White House said the partial ceasefire would include ending attacks on energy and infrastructure, while the Kremlin declared that the agreement referred more narrowly to energy infrastructure.

Meanwhile, a Kremlin official said on Tuesday that the talks between US and Russian officials in Riyadh the previous day would likely lead to further contacts between Washington and Moscow, but that no concrete plans have yet been made.

The three days of meetings  which did not include direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations  are part of an attempt to hammer out details on a partial pause in the three-year-old war in Ukraine.

It has been a struggle to reach even a limited, 30-day ceasefire  which Moscow and Kyiv agreed to in principle last week  with both sides continuing to attack each other with drones and missiles.
US vice president JD Vance said that he is joining his wife on a trip to Greenland, suggesting in an online video that global security is at stake.

Were going to check out how things are going there, Mr Vance said in a video posted to social media.

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Speaking for President Trump, we want to reinvigorate the security of the people of Greenland because we think its important to protecting the security of the entire world.





Looking forward to visiting Greenland on Friday! pic.twitter.com/p3HslD3hhP  JD Vance (@JDVance) March 25, 2025

US President Donald Trump irked much of Europe by suggesting that his country should in some form control the self-governing, mineral-rich territory of American ally Denmark.

As the nautical gateway to the Arctic and North Atlantic approaches to North America, Greenland has broader strategic value as both China and Russia also seek access to its waterways and the nearby natural resources.

The office of second lady Usha Vance said on Sunday that she would depart on Thursday for Greenland and return on Saturday. Ms Vance and one of her three children are set to visit historic sites and learn about Greenlands culture.

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Usha Vance (Allison Joyce/AP)

The US vice president said he did not want to let his wife have all that fun by herself and said he plans to visit a Space Force outpost in the north-west coast of Greenland.

Mr Vance said that other countries have threatened Greenland as well as the United States and Canada.

Ahead of the US vice presidents announcement that he would join his wife, discontent from the governments of Greenland and Denmark had been growing sharper, with the Greenland government posting on Facebook on Monday night that it had not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, told Danish national broadcasts on Tuesday that it was unacceptable pressure.

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Still, Mr Vance is allowed to visit the space base, said Marc Jacobsen, a professor at the Royal Danish Defence College, because of a 1951 agreement between Denmark and the US regarding the defence of Greenland.

What is controversial here is all about the timing, he said. Greenland and Denmark have stated very clearly that they dont want the US to visit right now, when Greenland doesnt have a government in place.

Mr Vance said that leaders in Denmark and North America had ignored Greenland for far too long.

During his first term, Mr Trump floated the idea of purchasing the worlds largest island, even as Denmark, a Nato ally, insisted it was not for sale.

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The people of Greenland also have firmly rejected Mr Trumps plans.
The wife of an Oscar-winning Palestinian director who was reportedly attacked by Jewish settlers before being detained by the Israeli army said that he was beaten in front of his home by three men in military fatigues while another filmed it.

Hamdan Ballal and the other directors of No Other Land, which looks at the struggles of living under Israeli occupation, appeared on stage at the 97th Academy Awards in Los Angeles earlier this month when it won the award for best documentary film.

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Mr Ballal and two other Palestinians detained with him were released on Tuesday afternoon from a police station in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba.

Mr Ballal had bruises on his face and blood on his clothes, and the three were driven to a hospital in the neighbouring Palestinian city of Hebron, according to Associated Press journalists at the scene.

Their lawyer, Lea Tsemel, said they spent the night on the floor of a military base while receiving only minimal care for their injuries from the alleged attack.



Lamia Ballal, wife of Oscar winner Hamdan Ballal (Leo Correa/AP)

She had earlier said they were accused of throwing stones at a young settler, allegations they deny.

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Palestinian residents say around two dozen settlers  some masked, some carrying guns and some in military uniforms  attacked the West Bank village of Susiya on Monday evening as residents were breaking their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Soldiers who arrived pointed their guns at the Palestinians, while settlers continued throwing stones, they said.

The Israeli military said on Monday it had detained three Palestinians suspected of hurling rocks at forces and one Israeli civilian involved in a what it described as a violent confrontation.

Lamia Ballal, the directors wife, said she heard her husband being beaten outside their home as she huddled inside with their three children.

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She said she heard him screaming, Im dying! and calling for an ambulance. When she looked out of the window, she said she saw three men in uniform beating Mr Ballal with the butts of their rifles and another person in civilian clothes who appeared to be filming the violence.

Of course, after the Oscar, they have come to attack us more, she said. I felt afraid.

West Bank settlers are often armed and sometimes wear military-style clothing that makes it difficult to distinguish them from soldiers.



Basel Adra, co-director of No Other Land, looks at a damaged car (Leo Correa/AP)

On Tuesday, a small bloodstain could be seen outside their home, and the cars windshield and windows were shattered. Neighbours pointed to a nearby water tank with a hole in the side that they said had been punched by the settlers.

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No Other Land chronicles the struggle by residents of the Masafer Yatta area to stop the Israeli military from demolishing their villages.

The joint Israeli-Palestinian production has won a string of international awards, starting at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2024. It has also drawn ire in Israel and abroad.

Basel Adra, another of the films co-directors who is a prominent Palestinian activist in the area, said there has been a massive upswing in attacks by settlers and Israeli forces since the Oscar win.

Nobody can do anything to stop the pogroms, and soldiers are only there to facilitate and help the attacks, he said. Were living in dark days here, in Gaza, and all of the West Bank Nobodys stopping this.

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Masked settlers with sticks also attacked Jewish activists in the area on Monday, smashing their car windows and slashing tyres, according to Josh Kimelman, an activist with the Centre for Jewish Nonviolence. Video provided by the group showed a masked settler shoving and swinging his fists at two activists in a dusty field at night.

Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. The Palestinians want all three for their future state and view settlement growth as a major obstacle to a two-state solution. Most of the international community considers the settlements illegal.

Israel has built more than 100 settlements, home to more than 500,000 settlers who have Israeli citizenship. The three million Palestinians in the West Bank live under seemingly open-ended Israeli military rule, with the western-backed Palestinian Authority administering population centres.
A year ago, Nvidia was one of Wall Streets hottest stocks. The semiconductor giant, already a dominant force in the video game graphics market (and, inadvertently, the market for mining cryptocurrencies) successfully expanded to become the sole player in ultra-high-end AI processors, riding a wave of hype to briefly become the worlds most valuable company in June 2024.

As major businesses worldwide announced huge capital expenditure on AI data centres and processing, Nvidia was a major beneficiary, giving it extraordinary weight in major indexes and attracting significant investment from retail shareholders and super funds.

Jensen Huang has had a lot of explaining to do at and around Nvidias GPU Technology Conference. Credit: Bloomberg

But in January, the market was spooked by Chinese AI firm DeepSeek, previously a relative unknown, which released a conversational AI model it said could reason as well as the big American models but was created at a fraction of the cost. Nvidias market cap dropped by $938 billion in a single day. There was something of a rebound in February, followed by another dip.

Chief executive Jensen Huang this month made a case for a strongly resurgent Nvidia, at the keynote for the companys annual GPU Technology Conference (GTC) and in investor interviews. Its not that the US multinational has stopped making money; its most recent earnings update in February would indicate its making more than $3500 per second in pure profit thanks to its truly gargantuan trade in AI and networking tech for data centres. But that means little to investors if the volume of profit isnt growing, and thats where analysts have concerns.
Hamburg: Qantas is poised to take delivery of its new narrow-body, long-range Airbus aircraft, a key step in its domestic fleet renewal and future international expansion.

The first Qantas A321XLR is expected to roll off the assembly line within weeks and enter service by June. By mid-2026, Qantas plans to have seven A321XLRs in operation.

Pictures from the Airbus factory in Hamburg, Germany. Qantas is about to take delivery of the A321XLR.

This is a generational investment in the Qantas domestic fleet, chief executive Vanessa Hudson told journalists at Airbus Hamburg plant, where the first Qantas XLRs were in the final stages of production.

The debut of the XLR comes as airlines adjust to the post-pandemic realities of air travel, with sustained demand from consumers for both premium and discount seats. The XLR features larger overhead bins and a wider cabin, creating more personal space for passengers.
Latitude 66s share price reached as high as 7.8 cents a share, up 20 per cent after the company released a highly anticipated scoping study on its flagship Kuusamo Schist Belt (KSB) gold-cobalt project in northern Finland.

The report confirmed the project as a high-grade, uber-low-cost standalone operation with serious upside potential.

The K1 test pit at Latitude 66s flagship KSB gold and cobalt project in northern Finland.

The study headlined an eye-opening net present value (NPV) of US$310 million (A$492m) after tax using an 8 per cent discount rate and a gold price of US$2500 (A$3968) per ounce. At current spot gold prices, the NPV balloons out to a massive US$433m (A$690m).

More remarkably, the all-in sustaining cost of production is expected to come in at US$1038 per ounce or US$996 after the company receives cobalt credits.
Nobody wanted to be in Canberra for Treasurer Jim Chalmers fourth budget.

Nobody except for Clive Palmer. The billionaire mining magnate and his wife, Anna, flew in on his private jet on Tuesday afternoon to watch Chalmers speech.

Clive Palmer, Trumpet of Patriots chairman, arrives at Parliament House on Budget day. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

And nobody is really sure why he came, least of all the wannabe political chaos agent himself.

Its a lot of hoo-ha about nothing, really, Palmer said of the budget, speaking exclusively to CBD outside Parliament House.
Jerusalem: Israeli settlers assaulted one of the Palestinian co-directors of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land on Monday in the occupied West Bank before he was detained by the Israeli military, according to two of his fellow directors and other witnesses.

Filmmaker Hamdan Ballal was one of three Palestinians detained in the village of Susiya, according to attorney Lea Tsemel. Police told her they were being held at a military base for medical treatment. She said she had not been able to speak with them.

Hamdan Ballal (third from left) with Basel Adra (left), Rachel Szor, and Yuval Abraham won best documentary feature film for No Other Land, at the Oscars earlier this month. Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Basel Adra, another co-director, witnessed the detention and said around two dozen settlers  some masked, some carrying guns, some in Israeli uniform  attacked the village. Soldiers who arrived pointed their guns at the Palestinians while settlers continued throwing stones.

We came back from the Oscars, and every day since, there is an attack on us, Adra told The Associated Press. This might be their revenge on us for making the movie. It feels like a punishment.
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Exclusive Eating outFood Shane Delias Layla wows with a new take on Middle Eastern food In a heritage-listed West End spot, its serving Moroccan-spiced butter chicken and Turkish dumplings with mushroom XO along with seasonal cocktails and 150 wines. Matt Shea March 25, 2025 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

As featured in Brisbanes most exciting restaurant openings of 2025 so far. See all stories .

Shane Delia wants you to know that Layla isnt a theatre restaurant. Yes, its in the Thomas Dixon Centre, home of the Queensland Ballet since 1991. And yes, you suspect a core group of diners will come from those attending shows in the centres 350-seat auditorium. And, yes, the restaurant will be catering for functions in the centres bar and on its terrace. Layla opens this Friday, March 28. Courtesy of Delia Group But its perhaps better to think about Layla, which opens on March 28, as part of the new wave of eateries pulling West End dinings centre of gravity slightly away from Boundary Street, and down towards Montague Road. Its not a theatre restaurant at all, Delia says. Weve nothing to do with the ballet or theatre.

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Well obviously service the people going to the theatre. But this is a standalone restaurant. I want people to come and have a great experience, irrespective of whether theyre going to the ballet or not. Related Article South Brisbanes queen of pubs finally set to reopen Delia has kept shtum over the details of Layla since first announcing the restaurant in mid-November  he didnt even launch the name and branding until a month ago. But good things come to those who wait, apparently. Layla is at the Raven Street end of the Thomas Dixon Centre, in the heritage-listed section of the building, and is a low-key stunner. Laylas heritage digs are a low-key stunner. Courtesy of Delia Group

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Melbourne-based architecture firm Studio Y, which worked with Delia on his bar Jayda in the Victorian capitals CBD, has lent Layla a moody, dramatic interior, with the spaces original 1908-built brick walls (replete with graffiti) complemented by lavish, tactile materials such as blue velvet upholstery, walnut timber, brass accents and blue terrazzo flooring. Clever feature lighting gives the dining room an intimate, cosy feel. Outside, theres a greenery-lined terrace section. It has been given a softer treatment, with beige umbrellas, stone table tops and yellow upholstery. Coal grilled swordfish T-bone with burnt orange and saffron, and extra virgin olive oil. Courtesy of Delia Group Running the kitchen day-to-day for Delia is chef Simon Palmer. If youre a seasoned local diner, theres a good chance Palmer has had a hand in your food at restaurants such as Urbane, Gerards, and then Ecco and Black Hide by Gambaro, where he was head chef.

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When I met Simon, he was really understated, softly spoken, but really knowledgeable and super, super calm, Delia says. I rang people I know have worked with him, and I rang suppliers, and I didnt hear a bad word. Hes on the phone all the time and super passionate. He has a lot of humility and I thought, Heres someone who is going to uphold the values of what were trying to achieve. Roast duck fesunjun with butter-roasted walnuts, pomegranate and fragrant herbs. Courtesy of Delia Group Delia is known for his Middle Eastern food at his Melbourne venues Maha, Maha East, Maha North and Jayda. Layla, though, takes a slightly different tack by introducing influences from traditional spice trade routes, and in particular in the Indian subcontinent. Its inspired by the spice trade, Delia says. Everywhere the Middle Eastern [spices] have gone, theres just so much influence around those areas.

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[But] why does Middle Eastern food have to have such an impact and influence other [cuisines], yet those places that it goes to cant influence Middle Eastern food? Habibbi butter chicken with ras el hanout butter chicken gravy. Courtesy of Delia Group Delia and Palmer have split the menu into starters, and then smaller and larger plates, followed by sides and desserts. To start you might order a Hervey Bay half-shell scallop with carrot hummus, Persian lime and a toasted coconut sambal; king crab dressed with coriander and lime, and finished with charred pineapple and smoked pepper; or a Moorish brisket borek bun with sticky turmeric and chilli jam, and sesame. Smaller share plates include salmon kibbeh nayyeh with burghul, mint, sweet onions and an aleppo sambal, served with Lebanese bread; braised carrots with yoghurt, toasted carraway and curry leaves; Brisbane Valley quail with pistachio crust, served with a fiery tahini tarator; and Turkish beef dumplings with a mushroom XO, sujuk, yoghurt and spiced burnt butter.

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Whipped smoked hummus with pine nuts, lamb and crispy rosemary. Courtesy of Delia Group A shorter selection of larger plates includes a ras el hanout-spiced Habibbi butter chicken; an eight-hour slow-cooked lamb shoulder with smoked eggplant, roast lemon and zaatar sauce; and a coal-grilled swordfish T-bone with burnt orange and saffron. For drinks theres a seasonal cocktail list and a globe-trotting 150-bottle wine list curated by sommelier Darcy Curnow that addresses Brisbanes subtropical climate with a focus on crisp whites and roses, and lighter-bodied reds. Delia says theres also a Single Bottle Club of more rarefied wines selected by Curnow from the groups Melbourne cellar. Shane Delia says Laylas Middle Eastern cuisine is inflected with influences from traditional spice trade routes, and in particular the Indian subcontinent. Courtesy of Delia Group Its been really interesting seeing the reaction from friends and industry friends in Melbourne, when I tell them Im expanding to Brisbane, Delia says. Some say, Good luck, its going to be amazing. What a great food scene. And then other people will say, What are you doing?

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There is a great opportunity in Brisbane, but moneys not enough  I thought more, Well, I think I can contribute something to this landscape that Ive found so impressive, and be part of an amazing movement happening in this city.  Open Tue-Wed 5.30pm-late, Thu-Sun 12pm-late 406 Montague Road, West End laylabrisbane.com.au
Sydney commuters have been spared the prospect of a return to major disruptions on the citys rail network for now after a court threw out an appeal by electrical workers against a months-long halt to industrial action.

The Federal Court on Tuesday dismissed the appeal by the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) to quash orders by the Fair Work Commission suspending industrial action by rail workers until July 1. The court will deliver its reasons for the decision later this week.

Sydney train commuters endured repeated disruptions over many months from industrial action before Fair Work last month halted it until July 1. Credit: Rhett Wyman

In welcoming the courts decision, the NSW government said it provides further certainty to millions of commuters who just want to be able to get to and from work without being held to ransom.

We have shown that we will take all necessary action to protect commuters, and we look forward to the opportunity to continue to engage with rail unions through the Fair Work Commission, it said in a statement.
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 Sally Greenhams husband told friends and family in 1987 that she had suddenly left him one day and that he didnt know where she was, they had no reason not to believe him. It wasnt until five years later that she was even reported missing, with police then discovering she had not contacted anyone in that time, touched bank accounts, lodged a tax return, made a social security claim, or changed her name by deed poll. Nearly 40 years after her disappearance, little has ever been made public about Sally, her life, or the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. She remains on the national missing persons list. No one has seen or heard from her, and the question of what happened all those years ago has gone unanswered. But a WAtoday investigation can reveal that much of Sallys small circle of friends and family  and even the police who investigated her disappearance  believe she was murdered. And they want her case reopened. She was a quiet sort of person, very lovely, very kind, said one of Sallys friends, Margaret McEvoy.

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Sally was 38 years old when she disappeared (not 28 as stated by Crime Stoppers and other official missing persons websites). She had been married to Jeff Greenham for 14 years but could not have children, although Jeff had been married before and had two daughters with his former wife. The couple lived first in Bunbury and then on a property in a small rural town called Bootenal, about 15 kilometres south of Geraldton. The property was home to a small old church, which they slowly renovated into a family home after purchasing it in 1978. Sally worked part-time in an administrative role at the Catholic college and in the early 1980s enrolled in a dressmaking course at the local tech college, where she first met McEvoy. The two became firm friends and McEvoy had first-hand experience of Sally and Jeffs relationship. Sally and Jeff Greenham renovated and lived in this converted church near Geraldton. It is the site where many believe Sally was buried. She was very co-dependent on him, McEvoy told WAtoday.

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He would come to the tech class, drive her there and then stand at the back of the classroom and watch the whole thing and then drive her home. She would want to speak to me, but she would have to run it past him first. It was very odd. Margaret stated that she never saw Jeff be aggressive or nasty towards Sally, but he did treat her like a little girl all the time. She used to dress like a little old-fashioned girl, McEvoy said. And she never had any money. We would go to the canteen and get a cup of tea after class, and she would never come and always said she didnt bring any money that day. By the time Sally went missing, Jeff was on a disability pension, having previously worked as a carpenter and farm hand before an injury put him out of work.

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McEvoy didnt suspect him to be involved in Sallys disappearance at first. I never felt uneasy with him and I never thought, Theres more to you than meets the eye, until later on, she said. How the disappearance was investigated Former WA Police detective Ron Carey was on the major crime squad in 1992, when he was in Bunbury speaking to a couple about an unrelated matter. The woman said to me, Actually, while youre here, could I get some help from you about something? Carey told WAtoday. Ron Carey investigated the disappearance of Sally Greenham. Credit: Phil Hickey They were concerned about [Sally] going missing and the woman had gone to Bunbury Police before, to alert them, but they didnt do anything about it.

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She wanted to report her as a missing person, but they didnt even take a report. Carey, now retired, also led the investigation into the 1988 disappearance of Julie Cutler. It was just a few years later when he and his team looked into what happened to Sally. Carey said after hearing the womans concerns, he spoke to Jeff and was immediately suspicious. We were able to disprove everything he told us, Carey said, revealing police interviewed Jeff two or three times over his wifes disappearance. We found he lied about a number of things. Carey said he wanted to charge Jeff then.

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Students from a prominent public high school in Perths western suburbs have been reported for allegedly discussing plans to sexually assault females, and in some cases passing images of those girls and women around, while on the bus home.

A member of the community, who has remained anonymous, expressed their concern after hearing boys from Shenton College loudly discussing abusing females they knew, including fellow students and teachers, as well as strangers.

Students were wearing their school uniform while making the comments. Credit: Facebook

The Public Transport Authority confirmed it was made aware of the incident, and was working with the school and other relevant authorities.

The WA Department of Education did not directly confirm the group of boys had been reported over the comments and behaviour, but did say they would make every effort to identify any students involved.
Opposition frontbencher James Paterson has declared he will stand by his assessments of underworld figure Mick Gatto and his conduct in the construction industry.

Gatto has featured repeatedly in reporting by this masthead and 60 Minutes as part of the Building Bad investigation into the CFMEU and the building sector.

On Monday, Gatto issued a statement saying he denied all accusations made against him, calling them baseless, sensationalised and damaging to my reputation and personal life.

I have always conducted my business and personal affairs with integrity, he said. I will not allow these falsehoods to tarnish my name.
The winners and losers, how it affects you and our top experts break down what the federal budget means.

Australian workers will be free to change jobs for a pay rise more easily under an Albanese government proposal to ban non-compete agreements that prevent staff defecting to other employers or starting their own business.

Businesses will be barred from forcing non-compete clauses on staff earning less than $175,000, which represents about four in five workers, after the contracts spread from industries such as the law to low-paid jobs such as hairdressing, where they delay job switches by months or years.

The governments non-compete ban is the latest move in its campaign to bolster employee protections. Credit: Digital Vision

About 20 per cent of the nations workers have signed a non-compete agreement, according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics last year, which research from economics consultancy e61 has found could be holding the average workers wage back by about $2500 per year.

The policy, which only applies to new employment contracts, will form a key part of the Albanese governments plan to make the economy more productive and get wages moving, because workers moving to new jobs tend to earn more and put their skills to better use.
Its not only Australians who care about what they have to say. Turnbull has written for Foreign Affairs , the worlds most influential foreign policy journal, about how world leaders should deal with Trump. Abbott regularly contributes to the UK Spectator.

Scott Morrison, for example, is a valuable authority on AUKUS, having spearheaded the pact. John Howards interventions  including that Trumps behaviour has been incompatible with democracy  still make headlines. Tony Abbott is an important contributor to debates about modern conservatism.

Gillards stance is admirable, but it would be a shame if every former prime minister followed her lead. Yes, many of our ex-leaders have towering egos and are obsessed with defending their legacies. But they are also engaging, intelligent individuals who can speak with rare insight about what it is like to be the most powerful person in the country.

Gillard certainly has drawn plaudits from across the political spectrum for her dignified post-political career. She laid out her version of the contentious Rudd-Gillard-Rudd years in a memoir and on ABC TVs The Killing Season documentary series, but rarely comments on day-to-day politics or global affairs. Instead, she has focused on her work as chair of the Global Partnership for Education and, until recently, Beyond Blue .

Next week, Turnbull will host a day-long conference at the National Press Club in Canberra to discuss the future of the US-Australia alliance. He has invited around 100 of the nations top thinkers to discuss questions such as if we are faced with a different, and less reliable America how do we defend ourselves? Its easy to ridicule such an exercise  Malcolm to the rescue!  but it is a commendable attempt to spark conversations about crucial topics. Importantly, Turnbull has invited a broad range of participants  including AUKUS defenders as well as critics  to participate.

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Kevin Rudd became a regular on the international media circuit after leaving politics, mostly because of his expertise on China. He hosted world leaders for discussions while running the Asia Society think tank in New York and published a widely praised book, The Avoidable War, spelling out his view on how to avoid a catastrophic conflict between the US and China. You can hardly find a more important topic than that. Now Rudd has returned to public service, advocating for Australias interests as the nations United States ambassador. He could have a quieter, and more lucrative, life selling his China expertise to private sector clients.

At 81, Paul Keating still makes regular forays into the national discourse, often challenging conventional wisdom and making life difficult for the Labor Party. I had a memorable encounter with Keating at the National Press Club in 2023 when, after asking for his views on Chinas treatment of the Uyghurs, he advised me to drum myself out of journalism. Keating was not a fan of a series, Red Alert, that I had recently co-written for this masthead on the possibility of a war with China. Despite the hostile encounter, I dont think Keating should keep his thoughts to himself. Hes a deep thinker who should be listened to, challenged and debated. After declining to take up his suggestion to find a new career, I have an open request with his office for an interview on global affairs. It would be stimulating to hear his thoughts on Trumps return to office, Indias role as an emerging superpower and Chinas direction under Xi Jinping, even if his views are controversial.

While they may be obstreperous and self-aggrandising, our former leaders shouldnt shut up. Our national debate would be worse off if they all took a vow of silence.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size At scores of pro-Palestinian protests down Melbournes city spine over the past 18 months, thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of people have chanted the deliberately provocative slogan, All Zionists are terrorists. These marches take place under the Victoria Polices watchful eyes and video cameras, and yet, until a few weeks ago, nobody had been arrested for things they said  no matter how objectionable. Again at Sundays rally, the chant rang out along Swanston Street. No arrests were made this weekend either. But on March 7, businessman and Instagrammer Hash Tayeh, the ethnically Palestinian owner of Melbourne restaurant chain Burgertory, was charged after allegedly leading the chant at a rally 10 months earlier. The charge was brought under Victorias Summary Offences Act for using insulting words in a public place. Those found guilty face a fine and potentially a (short) prison sentence. Lawyers familiar with the case say the charge is more usually levelled against those swearing at or abusing police officers during an arrest  its a street crime, not one typically used to control or inhibit rhetoric at protests. However, despite the relatively low level of the charge, one constitutional expert told this masthead it could prompt an argument that goes as far as the High Court to test the limits of free political speech.

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The Jewish Community Council of Victoria is clear that this particular chant crosses a line. Chief executive Naomi Levin said while there was no Olympics with a gold-medal chant of whats most offensive, that chant is particularly egregious because the way my community defines Zionism is so far from the idea of terrorism that it beggars belief. Thats why we need a circuit breaker. Thats how our organisation sees these charges. Zionism is the movement to develop and protect a Jewish nation on the country that is now known as Israel. Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus agreed last year that the label Zionist was used when critics actually mean Jew  because they know that they cannot say Jew. A pro-Palestinian protest in Melbourne in 2021. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Hash Tayehs case will put these arguments squarely into the criminal courts. Since Hamas committed its murderous atrocities in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, sparking Israels brutal military response, Tayeh has become a leading figure in Melbournes pro-Palestinian protest movement.

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He is loud. Hes brash. On Instagram, he is pictured wielding a bullhorn and shouting. This charge relates to his actions leading the chant in four different locations in the city last May. Tayeh admits he is angry. He says 40 family members and two orphans hed been sponsoring have died in Israels bombing campaign against Gaza, which resumed last week when the ceasefire collapsed. He is also the victim of several acts he believes are hate crimes. This makes him a controversial poster boy for a criminal test case about free speech. In November 2023, just a month after Hamas attack, one of his Burgertory outlets was firebombed in Caulfield  a suburb with a large Jewish population. Tayeh immediately insisted the attack was politically motivated. The Burgertory fire in Caulfield. Credit: Simon Schluter Statements that Burgertory Caulfield staff members made to police, sighted by this masthead, outlined dozens of threats and abuse they had received after their boss had appeared at pro-Palestinian rallies  threats that came both in person at the Caulfield restaurant and via phone, they said.

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You guys do not belong here, you wait and see, said one threat, according to staff. After the firebombing, however, police said they believed there was no political motive  a position they hold to. In the background, speculation was rife that the fire might have even been an insurance job. A few months later, in January 2024, two young men, one allegedly involved with the tobacco store firebombings, were arrested and charged with arson. The police brief reveals one of them told an undercover police officer the attack was motivated by the conflict overseas between Palestine and Israel. Despite this, police maintain theres no evidence of political motivation. The insurance company, meanwhile, conducted its own investigation and, in April 2024, it paid out in full. The same month, video evidence shows a petrol bomb being thrown at Tayehs home in Templestowe, igniting and damaging the house near where his son slept. In a statement to this masthead, police said the device had only caused minor damage to the door.

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Later, when a pigs heart and two bottles of beer were left at the door of Tayehs companys Coburg office, police wrote to him: In the absence of any threats, it appears there is an offence of litter that has been identified. Tayeh has believed for many months that Victoria Police have been playing down hate crimes against him. Then, last July, he was informed he would be arrested for inciting hatred under the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act for his chants  a notoriously difficult charge to sustain. No prosecution was ultimately pursued. The Office of Public Prosecutions declined to comment. Victoria Police also declined to answer questions about Tayehs current charges because they were before the courts. [The arrest] raises an issue of the implied freedom of political communications in the Constitution. University of Sydney Constitutional law expert Anne Twomey. Victoria Police also did not respond to allegations that it had minimised a number of hate crimes against him. It declined to explain why it would not comment.

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Western Australia will receive just 2 per cent of new infrastructure funding contained in the federal budget handed down on Tuesday night.

The budget contains $17.1 billion in new infrastructure funding around the country over the next decade, but the only WA project included is $350 million for the Kwinana Freeway widening project promised by WA Labor during the state election.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has delivered the final budget before the federal election. Credit: Getty Images

The funding realises the fears of the WA government, with Treasurer Rita Saffioti on Monday predicting the state would be short-changed on infrastructure compared with the rest of the nation.

The biggest winner from the new spend is Queensland, which has benefited from a $7.2 billion pledge to upgrade Bruce Highway.
People dont know about Mercat de Sant Antoni just yet. I mean, locals do. This 140-year-old space is filled with the residents of Barcelonas Sant Antoni neighbourhood every day, early morning to late at night, people shopping for fresh vegetables and fruit, high-end seafood, classic preserved meats, steaks and sausages. Even snails.

But the tourists havent inundated the place just yet, in the same way they have the Mercat de la Boqueria just a few metro stops away or even the Mercat de Santa Caterina nearby. Sant Antoni retains something of a local feel, where youre more likely to bump into a resident on a fresh food mission than an influencer capturing social media content.

Local market hall Mercat de Sant Antoni in Barcelona, Spain. Credit: iStock

The market is the heart of its Catalan neighbourhood, too, a meeting place, a well-loved spot for the daily shop, and a venue that sprawls at various times of the week with second-hand clothing stalls and book fairs. Its also spectacularly beautiful, a cross-shaped, wrought-iron structure thats survived since 1882.

This market, of course, is not unique in Spain, as it is not in the vast percentage of the rest of the world. Almost every great city in the world has a great market.
London: Relatives of the victims of the MH17 disaster want Russia to acknowledge its role in the downing of the plane as part of any peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine.

A group representing the families of those killed in the tragedy have sent letters to US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, insisting that any credible peace deal brokered by the West must address Russias responsibility.

A devastating way for anyone to die: Debris from Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Credit: Kate Geraghty

Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down by a Russian-made Buk missile over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, while en route from Amsterdam Schiphol to Kuala Lumpur.

The attack, which occurred three hours into the flight, claimed the lives of all 298 people on board, including 38 Australian citizens and residents. The majority of passengers were Dutch, but others came from countries including Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany and the Philippines.
Relations between Greenland and the United States have sunk further as the Greenlandic prime minister erupted over what he called a highly aggressive delegation of senior officials the Trump administration said it would send to the island this week.

Usha Vance, the US second lady, and Michael Waltz, the national security adviser, are among the officials headed to the island, which is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, though US President Donald Trump has vowed to make it part of America one way or the other.

Vance is scheduled to make a series of cultural stops after her arrival on Thursday (local time), separate from Waltz. The national security adviser is supposed to be travelling earlier in the week with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

Greenland Prime Minister Mute B. Egede says the presence of the US national security adviser in Greenland will fuel US belief in Donald Trumps mission to control the island. Credit: AP

Greenlands Prime Minister, Mute B. Egede, said Greenlanders effort to be diplomatic just bounces off Donald Trump and his administration in their mission to own and control Greenland.
"We have to think about how our customers' needs and wants are changing. And we need to give them the assurance and the peace of mind that they're dealing with the right brand, the right person and that should be you," Brad Cramb (pictured), chief distribution officer at Lendi Group, said on stage. "Now the good news is, we don't have to convince Australian consumers that using a mortgage broker is the best option. Seventy-six percent of them already use a broker. What we do have to do, however, is convince them that we are a better broker than our competitors."
Aussie's new and improved smart features are meant to solve this. For example, the partnership with PEXA gives brokers complete access to borrower application statuses, helping to reduce costs, Lendi said. In addition, brokers will have access to conveyancing  or the legal process of transferring ownership of property from one person to another  with the "Aussie Conveyancing" function. This will allow them to track and view the process for customers. The Aussie brand also plans to expand its conveyancing to sell-side customers, such as downsizers or upgraders. In addition, the Aussie brand is introducing the "Aussie for Agents" referral platform, which will connect agents and sellers. And agents will also be able to list properties on the platform.
This collaboration, which follows the introduction of three new or improved services as part of its expansion strategy, aims to bolster the technical capabilities of more than 400 financial advisers across 110 AFSLs, providing them with comprehensive support in various key financial advice domains.
Vegetable, fruit, seed sectors thrive in Yuanmou, SW China's Yunnan

People's Daily Online) 09:20, March 25, 2025

Photo shows fruits produced in Yuanmou county, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Yuanmou County Committee)

Right after the Spring Festival, Huang Lin, a farmer from Yuanmou county in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, eagerly got to work in his fields. Just a few days earlier, Huang harvested his purple cabbage, and thanks to a sales contract with a vegetable procurement company, he made over 70,000 yuan (about $9,672).

Photo shows tomatoes produced in Yuanmou county, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Yuanmou County Committee)

Yuanmou enjoys a frost-free climate year-round, with an average temperature of 21 degrees Celsius, allowing for fresh fruits and vegetables throughout all seasons. It is a key hub for supplying vegetables to the north and is renowned as the "hometown of early winter vegetables." Yuanmou is also home to the largest vegetable wholesale market in southwest China.

Photo shows sugar apples produced in Yuanmou county, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Yuanmou County Committee)

Over 150 varieties of fruits and vegetables thrive here. Every year, around 1.2 million tonnes of green organic fruits and vegetables from Yuanmou are sold to over 200 cities across China and exported to more than 20 countries and regions. During the peak winter-spring season, the Yuanmou market handles up to 5,000 tonnes of vegetables daily, with 3.5 tonnes shipped every minute.

Yuanmou is also known for being a breeding base. Yuanmou's climate is ideal for breeding and producing seeds for cereal crops, cruciferous vegetables, and more.

Photo shows tomato seedlings at a greenhouse in Yuanmou county, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Yuanmou County Committee)

Every year in late autumn, agricultural researchers from across the country flock to Yuanmou, bringing seeds for grains, vegetables, fruits, and oilseeds to carry out breeding work.

In early February, wheat crops sown last autumn in Nanfan village, Yuanmou, began to be harvested. Zhong Jiakai, Party chief of Nanfan village and director of the Yuanmou Nanfan Seed Breeding Association, worked tirelessly from morning to nightselecting seeds in the experimental fields in the morning and sorting and threshing them in the afternoon.

"For wheat, for example, breeding in Yuanmou enables us to achieve two planting and harvest seasons per year, cutting the breeding cycle by more than half. Plus, the variety of crops here creates more opportunities for hybridization," Zhong said, highlighting the region's unique advantages for breeding.

Photo shows seeds used for research purposes in 2024 in Yuanmou county, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Yuanmou County Committee)

In 2004, Zhong founded the Yuanmou Nanfan Seed Breeding Association, leading farmers in producing seeds for grains, vegetables, and flowers. Today, the association works with 98 institutions nationwide, and has completed over 5,600 breeding projects.

According to statistics, every year, 8.25 million mu (550,000 hectares) of wheat and 40 million mu of vegetables in China are grown from seeds developed in Yuanmou. In 2024, the seed breeding area in Yuanmou reached 41,700 mu, with seed production exceeding 4.05 million kilograms.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
THE FORGE Hen Shed, founded last year, marked its official opening on Saturday 8 March International Womens Daywelcoming local women of all ages to celebrate community, creativity and camaraderie.

Melissa Dowling (kneeling) chairperson of the Forge Hen Shed and members with cllr Fergal Browne, cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council at the official opening of the Forge Hen Shed Womens Shed in John Sweeney Park, Carlow

Chairperson Melissa Dowling explained that the sheds origins can be traced back to a conversation during a training programme run by Carlow Regional Youth Services.

Id done some training with Carlow Regional Youth Services. They provided me with some training as part of a level five programme I was doing, said Melissa. And when Catherine Wall was presenting us with our certificates, she asked us what kind of need we saw for the area. I mentioned a womens shed. That was in May last year. And by June we had started to get things together. Once the idea took shape, Melissa began sharing news of the shed on social media and it quickly gained momentum.

It was like a snowball effect. It just went from there, she said. The members gather every Wednesday evening, with attendance ranging from 15 to more than 20. Their ages span from the early 20s to around 80. We have a great variety of ages and a great variety of professions, and theyre amazing women, added Melissa.

At then official opening of the Forge Hen Shed Womens Shed in John Sweeney Park, Carlow, Joan Wall, Lorraine and Sophie Tunstead, Therese Dooley, Phil Walsh, Celine Dooley, Kelly Ronan, Karen Corcoran and Nicola Nolan Photo: michaelorourkephotography.ie

Emphasising that the groups activities go far beyond traditional crafts, she explained: Its not about just sitting down with the knitting needles. We do so many different things. Weve run zumba classes, taken part in Breast Cancer Irelands Very Pink Run, done painting, decoupage, clay work and even DIY classes  learning practical skills like how to hang a picture.

Bethany Dobson, Caroline Lawlor, Lorraine Tunstead and Lisa Brooks at the official opening of the Forge Hen Shed Womens Shed in John Sweeney Park, Carlow

The overarching goal, said Melissa, is simply to foster a supportive network: The aim overall is to just try to get women together to share skills, time and fun  somewhere they can forget about their troubles for an hour or so. Reflecting on the opening-day turnout, the womens shed chairperson said: You can be so nervous coming up to something like this and wondering how its going to turn out, but it went brilliantly. We had a great turnout and hopefully we have even more ladies coming along.

With its doors now officially open at Community House, John Sweeney Park, The Forge Hen Shed looks set to become a hub of connection, skill-sharing and mutual support for Carlows women  true to the spirit of International Womens Day.
Gordon Deegan

Accumulated profits at the firm co-owned by RTEs best-paid broadcaster, Joe Duffy, last year increased to 621,000.

New accounts for Duffys Claddaghgreen Ltd show that the companys accumulated profits increased by 37,913 from 583,086 to 620,999 in the 12 months to the end of April 30th last.

The post tax profit of 37,913 is down sharply on the 62,645 post tax profit for the prior year.

Last year, the firms cash pile declined from 392,169 to 287,954 while money owed to the company by debtors rose sharply from 217,941 to 326,051.

Duffy sits on the board of the firm with his wife, June Meehan and the directors last year shared remuneration and other benefits of 270,000.

The directors pay was at the same level as 2023.

Duffy - who celebrates his 70th birthday in January of next year -became RTEs best paid presenter after the departure of Ryan Tubridy from RTE in summer 2023 arising from the fall-out from the RTE payments scandal.

The RTE 2023 annual report showed that Duffy was the best paid person at the broadcaster receiving 351,000 though as he is a paid contractor he doesnt enjoy the pension benefits that staff members do.

The 351,000 is down sharply on the 404,988 in pay the Ballyfermot man received in 2018 from RTE.

In 2023, Duffy extended his contract with RTE 11 weeks before the payments scandal erupted and the agreement continues until this year.

Asked to comment on any negotiations concerning a contract extension, a spokeswoman for RTE said on Tuesday: We don't comment on individual contracts.

When the payments controversy first emerged in June 2023, Duffy told his Liveline listeners how much he was paid.

He said that the figures that are on my contract are the exact figures I receive, explaining that he is paid 351,000 a year.

That is broken down to a fee of 300,000 for his radio work and 51,000 for television.

Duffy said that said he had signed his current four-year contract in 2019 and in 2023 agreed to a two-year extension.

He said that the extended contract operated under the exact same conditions, no changes and no increases.

The most recent JNLR figures show that 314,000 listeners were tuning in every weekday to Liveline making it one of the most popular weekday non-news radio shows in the country.

Duffy also presents the interview programme, The Meaning of Life on RTE television and is a best selling author.

Each year, Liveline generates substantial advertising revenues for the State broadcaster but RTE doesnt provide a breakdown of advertising revenues generated by each show.

Born in Dublin in 1956, Duffy joined RTE Radio as a producer in 1989. Since then, the father of triplets has worked his way through several shows, first as a reporter on The Gay Byrne Show and then as presenter of several programmes.
Natasha Reid

A cargo handling firm and a machinery manufacturer have been fined a total of 450,000 for breaches of health and safety regulations, which came to light after a Dublin father-of-four was run over by a large machine in Dublin Port.

Nicholas Collier, a 55-year-old haulier, was killed when struck by a container handler, a forklift-type truck used to remove containers, as he worked at the port on August 14th, 2019. The court heard that he could not be seen by the driver of the handler due to restricted visibility.

Belfast-based Scruttons (NI) Ltd and Swedish company Kalmar Solutions AB were before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Monday, where they were each charged with a breach of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act.

Kalmar Solutions AB, previously known as Cargotec Sweden AB, pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the Kalmar container handler was designed and constructed to be safe and without risk to health, by failing to provide appropriate devices on it to remedy hazards due to restricted visibility from the driving position.

Scruttons (NI) Ltd pleaded guilty to failure as an employer to identify a hazard in relation to the operation of the handler, to assess the risks presented by the hazard and be in possession of a written assessment of the risks to the safety, health and welfare of individuals other than its employees.

Padraig McMahon, a senior inspector with the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), showed the court a number of photographs of the handler, which he explained provided poor visibility to the driver as a consequence of its large equipment.

Members of the Collier family, who were in court, left the room before footage of the incident was shown. The footage from a tug parked nearby showed the large vehicle approaching at about 25km per hour, and running over Mr Collier as he stood in the vicinity that morning.

However, footage captured from two CCTV cameras on board the handler did not show Mr Collier at all. The court also heard that the driver of the handler, whose cab was three metres high, was unaware that there had been an impact.

Its a defect in the machine, that this man was driving blind? asked Judge Martin Nolan.

Yes, there are blind spots in the machine, replied Mr McMahon.

And not just reversing, but going forward, remarked the judge.

Mr McMahon explained that such machines will have blind spots caused by the mast but that they ought to be dealt with by a risk assessment.

He said that he had received a safety statement from Scruttons and that risks were addressed in it, including striking pedestrians. However, the safety statement and risk assessment did not address the hazards of driving it with limited visibility, so no control measures were identified to mitigate the risk.

He said that his opinion was that the assessments of risk put in place were not adequate and that, if control measures had been in place, they would have prevented the accident.

The judge asked him if there were any warnings that drivers should stay in their trucks.

Drivers were to stay in their vehicle or close to it, he replied.

He said that, after the accident, control measures were put in place. These included the use of a jeep to escort the vehicle across the port, where the drivers of both vehicles would be in radio contact.

That measure has since been replaced with the incorporation of mirrors onto the machine to allow the driver to see around the mast, and zig zag driving.

Mr McMahon said that he had been provided with the drivers manual by Kalmar and that the issue of restricted visibility had been pointed out in that manual.

However, he said that, where residual risks of collision remained, radar and infrared devices could have been used.

Under cross examination by Ronan Kennedy SC, defending Kalmar, Mr McMahon agreed that Kalmar had volunteered the information to the HSA that there was a blind spot.

He also agreed that the accident had happened on the vehicular carriageway, Mr Collier having left a pedestrian carriageway and moved into a zone where he should not have been.

Mr Kennedy suggested that the visibility problem was something that should have been addressed on the ground by the operators of the port.

Its the industry leader. It operates these machines in every port across the globe, he said of his client, asking if there had been any other accident of this nature in any other port across the globe.

Not, from my research, no, he replied.

The judge said that an easy alteration on the equipment of this machine would have rendered the visibility much, much better.

However, Mr Kennedy said that the forward mirrors would not have prevented this accident.

He explained that the driver now must look left to see right and vice versa, and with braking distance, they would not have prevented this.

Philipp Rahn SC, prosecuting, read out victim impact statements prepared by Mr Colliers wife, Trisha, and brother, Eamonn.

Trisha Collier said that she had been married to Mr Collier for 25 years and that she had known she would marry him on the day they met.

She said that their sons, Sean, Conor, Darragh and Cillian, had always known that he was the best dad in the world, and a fun dad. He had since become a grandfather, but never got to meet his grandson.

She said that family was everything to her husband, and that their home is now sad, quiet and so lonely without him.

He was the glue that kept us together, she said.

She explained that they still dont sleep at night.

It constantly haunts us to wonder if he knew he was going to die, she said. I know every day he misses being with us and that breaks our hearts. We will never get over losing Nick.

Eamon Collier explained that there had been just 18 months between him and his brother, and that they had shared the same bedroom for 18 years.

He said that his brother had brought energy, fun and enthusiasm to the world, but never again would he light up a room he entered.

To witness my parents put their first-born child into the grave is a moment I will take to my own, he said, adding that they were struggling to deal with their loss.

We have a right to a safe work place and practice, he said. He was not afforded this right. As a result, he was deprived of his right to life.

Judge Nolan also privately read statements prepared by his other siblings before making his decision.

He extended the courts condolences to Mr Colliers family. He said that it was clear that he was much loved and had contributed significantly to his family and community.

He said that more could have been done in relation to the forward vision of the container handler, but said that the greater culpability attached to Scruttons.

He said that both companies were very responsible and had health and safety in their minds. However, he said that there were lapses and they must be punished.

Were dealing with a death here, a gruesome death and a death that probably could have been avoided, he said.

He noted that the maximum fine was 3 million, and he imposed a fine of 150,000 on Kalmar Solutions and 300,000 on Scruttons, with six months to pay.
By Cillian Sherlock and Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

The Dail has been adjourned for the day after controversial changes on speaking rights were voted through amid chaotic scenes.

There are questions over the tenure of Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy after opposition leaders indicated they did not have confidence in her.

Ms Murphy adjourned the Dail until Wednesday morning after declaring that the change to the standing orders was carried, despite opposition parties attempting to obstruct the result.

The vote is understood to be 94 to 74, however it was not formally announced to the Dail. Opposition tellers refused to sign the paper, but Ms Murphy said it was carried.

Opposition TDs shouted shame, shame, shame, as Government backbenchers left the Dail.

Video footage posted online by People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy showed Michael Lowry, who is at the centre of the controversy, making a gesture towards the camera as the chants reverberate around the House.

Shame on this government and their Ceann Comhairle. pic.twitter.com/iQJpFISc3c  Paul Murphy  (@paulmurphy_TD) March 25, 2025

It came after hours of chaotic scenes, shouting, interruptions and allegations of misogyny over the speaking rights row as tension spilled across Leaders Questions.

The Government and opposition have been arguing over how four coalition-affiliated Independent TDs should be given speaking slots in the Dail.

After weeks of trying to reach a compromise, the Government pushed through its proposals on Tuesday, using its majority.

Before the vote took place, opposition TDs took to their feet and raised their objections, ignoring pleas from the Ceann Comhairle to resume their seats.

The Sinn Fein team ready ahead of a busy day in the Dail!



We are going in to stand up for you!#SinnFein pic.twitter.com/oFHiSRJdxx  Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) March 25, 2025

She accused members of the opposition of making a holy show of yourselves in front of everyone.

During the lengthy standoff, Ms Murphy ordered TDs to sit down, saying their actions were a disgrace, an absolute disgrace.

Its very clear you have no respect for the chair, none whatsoever, she said.

One of your colleagues mentioned misogyny. Misogyny is what was mentioned earlier.

She then invited the Government Chief Whip Mary Butler to continue with the next item amid a chorus of raised voices from dozens of opposition TDs.

The order of business has been agreed to, I adjourn the House, Ms Murphy said before leaving the Dail chamber as the cacophony continued.

The coalition brought forward significant modifications to the standing orders of the Dail.

The opposition said it would fight tooth and nail against the measures which the Government insists are modest.

The changes will see a creation of new speaking slots for coalition backbenchers and Government-aligned independents, a reduction of time for contributions on debating the order of business, and a halving of slots for Taoiseachs Questions.

Many of the independents which entered into Government negotiations were led by Mr Lowry  a former Fine Gael minister of state who was found by a tribunal to have behaved in a way that was profoundly corrupt to a degree that was nothing short of breathtaking.

In a joint press conference on Tuesday evening, the leaders of Sinn Fein, Labour, Independent Ireland, People Before Profit and the Green Party, as well as an Aontu TD and the deputy leader of the Social Democrats, indicated that they did not have confidence in the Ceann Comhairle.

Asked to raise their hand if they had confidence in Ms Murphy, no representative did so.

This is absolutely shocking  Duncan Smith TD (@DuncanSmithTD) March 25, 2025

Speaking during Leaders Questions, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said: What exactly does Michael Lowry have over you Micheal Martin? What debt do you owe to him?

A former Fine Gael minister, a rogue politician, as you described him, now Kingmaker for your government, a man who you want to sit in both government and opposition at the same time.

The combined opposition has repeatedly sought to meet with you to resolve this matter.

Our offers have either been rejected or ignored. You act in bad faith and to meet your narrow short term need to placate Lowry and co, you now propose to do real and lasting damage to the democratic processes of the Dail.

The combined opposition are not backing down on this matter. We reject your attempt to run roughshod over this Dail and to ram through this motion.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik accused the Government of dragging us back to this absurd technical groups issue in their latest proposal on Dail speaking time.

She said that the Ceann Comhairle had decided that Mr Lowry and three other Government-affiliated independent TDs were not in opposition and accused Taoiseach Micheal Martin of defending the indefensible.

To describe Lowrys group as wolves in sheeps clothing would give them too much credit, but they are certainly a very poor tribute act, she said.

Social Democrats deputy leader Cian OCallaghan called it extraordinary and a shameless political stroke that would make even Bertie blush.

In more than 100 years of this Dail, Taoiseach, never, ever in the weekly schedule, has there been a time slot created where 100 per cent of the time is allocated to the Government, Mr OCallaghan said.

Do you not see something fundamentally wrong with a time slot being created where Government TDs ask the Government Minister, the Government Taoiseach, questions without any input from opposition.

Asked where in the world this happens, Mr Martin said Westminster.

The Fianna Fail leader then took aim at the Labour Party and Social Democrats and said the changes were minuscule.

He accused the Social Democrats election manifesto of being short on detail and said they and the Labour Party were nervous of each other and didnt opt in for coalition formation.

It seems the election result has never sunk in with people on the opposite side. Thats just a reality, Mr Martin said.

After he was repeatedly interrupted while speaking during the heated dispute, the Fianna Fail leader said: I was elected to this House first in 1989, I have never seen an attempt like this.

Opposition parties argue the changes are an attempt to dilute their ability to hold the Government to account and to blur the relationship between the independents who have supported the formation of the coalition.

The row has its origins in the formation of the current coalition involving Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, supported by several Independents.

Some of those Independents have been appointed as junior ministers while the others had sought to join an opposition technical group for the purposes of speaking time, despite supporting the formation of Government.

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald (Liam McBurney/PA)

The row delayed Mr Martins nomination as Taoiseach in January and has trundled on despite several inter-party meetings and the intervention of the Ceann Comhairle in favour of the opposition.

This led to a brief reprieve before the dispute was reignited after the Government put forward a new proposal to change speaking time arrangements and suggested it would use its majority to push them through.

The coalition changes deal with the matter of the Government-aligned independents by creating a new designation of other members, rather than the binary distinction of opposition or government.

Opposition parties  Sinn Fein, Labour, the Social Democrats, Independent Ireland, Solidarity-People Before Profit and Aontu  are protesting the decision.

A side-effect of the row is that Oireachtas committees have also not reformed since the general election last year.

Opposition parties have raised uncertainty over whether the Government will seek to use the proposed new technical group for the purposes of getting more representation on committees.

Fine Gael leader and Tanaiste Simon Harris likened the potential for opposition disruption to behaviour seen in a creche.

There does need to be a sense of proportionality. Yes, its good to tease things through. Yes, we can have different perspectives. Yes, its a democracy.

But the idea that you would say today we dont like the results of the Dail, were going to walk out and cause chaos. I mean, come on  its not a creche.
By Cillian Sherlock, PA

The Justice Minister has met with the family of a murdered garda around issues raised in the Dail about defective gun holsters.

Det Garda Colm Horkan, 49, who was originally from Charlestown and was an active member of the Sarsfields club, was murdered while on duty in 2020.

He was shot several times with his own gun on June 17th, 2020, in Castlerea, Co Roscommon.

Labour TD Alan Kelly told the Dail earlier this month that concerns had been raised around dangerously defective leather pistol holsters.

In an separate incident, Mr Kelly said an accidental discharge of an official-issued garda firearm occurred outside the Israeli Embassy on June 11th, 2020, just under a week before Mr Horkans death.

The discharged resulted in life-changing injuries to the garda.

Detective Garda Colm Horkan (An Garda Siochana/PA)

Mr Kelly said forensic experts attached to the Garda National Technical Bureau (GNTB) discovered that the holster could engage the trigger and fire the weapon of its own accord.

He added: The holster was so poorly designed, the firearm could be removed from the holster with so-called retention strap fully fastened.

This left the gun open to removal by individuals other than the Garda member carrying the firearm.

This critical health and safety risk later became the subject of a warning notice from the acting head of the Garda National Technical Bureau, given the very real concerns for the safety of Garda members.

Unfortunately, approximately one week later, on the night of 17 June 2020, the late Detective Garda Colm Horkan was murdered with his own official Garda firearm following an engagement with a now convicted murderer, Stephen Silver.

There is no doubt Stephen Silver was the person who ultimately murdered Detective Garda Horkan.

I am now aware, however, that the late detective was wearing one of the defective leather pistol holsters procured from the same equine saddlery in Kildare.

Given what was known about the leather pistol holster removed from the scene of the accidental discharge on 11 June, a week earlier, the question must be asked whether the defective holster should have been investigated for that incident as well.

Mr Kelly said Mr Horkans holster was never presented to the Garda National Technical Bureau for ballistic examination.

Why was Detective Garda Horkans holster not examined by a professional person qualified in the area under the standards required?

He added: Why was there a second report requested into the original incident outside the Israeli Embassy, which, amazingly, contradicted the first report saying the holster was defective?

Why did the Garda Commissioner not issue a section 41 to notify the Minister of the issues regarding the holsters following two incidents, especially after notices had been put on Garda internal systems?

Why did GSOC stop investigating a protected disclosure made in 2019 by someone working in firearms who had concerns regarding the holster? Is the Minister aware it was because of the non-compliance of the Commissioner following a level 4 request?

During the same debate in the Dail, Mr Kelly also raised issues around eight kilogrammes of pure cocaine which been found in a locker in the basement of Garda HQ.

He said the cocaine had been mistakenly dumped by Forensic Science Ireland, an agency within the Department of Justice.

Mr Kelly further highlighted a picture of 392 abandoned firearms left in a container inside Garda HQ, the majority of which the Labour TD said had no documentation.

Asked about the matters on Tuesday, Mr OCallaghan said: After Deputy Kelly raised those issues in the Dail, I had a meeting with the Garda Commissioner the very next day. I raised the issues with the Commissioner.

The Commissioner gave me responses, Im not going to give those responses publicly now.

I also had the privilege of meeting the family of Colm Horkan to discuss some of the issues, and those issues are being considered.

My priority in all of this is the family of Colm Horkan and to ensure that the conviction that was achieved remains upheld.

Silver, of Aughavard, Foxford, Co Mayo, was found guilty of the capital murder of Mr Horkan.

He was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin after a six-week trial.
Reuters

Ryanair has launched an annual subscription service that gives members reserved seating, insurance and access to monthly seat sales for 79 per year.

The Dublin-based airline, Europe's largest by passenger numbers, will initially limit membership of the "prime" service to 250,000, which would earn it 19.75 million per year if fully subscribed.

Subscribers can purchase up to 12 flights a year, one each month and will be able to reserve one of the allocated "prime" seats as long as one is available.

The package also includes travel insurance covering cancellations arising from a range of circumstances, delays, stolen baggage and, in most cases, medical treatment.

The airline said customers fully availing of the service and booking a maximum permitted 12 flights a year could potentially save up to five times the subscription cost while even those booking three flights can more than cover their 79 outlay.

Ryanairs chief marketing officer Dara Brady is quoted as describing the offer as "a no brainer".

Rival low-cost airline Wizz last year launched a "MultiPass" subscription service that locks in the price of one flight per month for a set price, with checked-in bag and priority status options.

Spanish online travel booking firm eDreams also has a "prime" service, which offers discounts, ticket refunds and the ability to hold tickets at a given price.
By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Michael Lowry, who is at the centre of a dispute that divided the Dail, stuck two fingers up to members of the opposition as proceedings were adjourned amid chaotic scenes.

Shame! Shame! Shame! came the chorus of opposition TDs, as the Government benches emptied at following a highly contentious vote.

The Governments majority meant it was able to push through significant changes to speaking rules in the Dail, even without the usual opposition teller agreeing to sign off on the results of the vote.

The announcement that the changes had passed caused such a level of objection from the opposition that the Ceann Comhairle adjourned all further proceedings until Wednesday morning.

Mr Lowry later claimed he was gesturing to Mr Murphy to sit down (People Before Profit/PA)

People Before Profit-Solidary TD Paul Murphy took out his mobile phone to film the Government leaving the chamber as they were heckled by a united opposition.

The footage, posted to X, pans to independent TD Michael Lowry, who is seen sticking two fingers up to the camera.

Mr Lowry is at the epicentre of the oppositions ire. The former Fine Gael minister was previously found by a tribunal to have behaved in a way that was profoundly corrupt to a degree that was nothing short of breathtaking.

Despite this, Mr Lowry was a key negotiator for a group of independents who agreed to support the formation of a Government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Some members of the bloc of independents were given junior ministries, while Mr Lowry and others were not.

Since then, the Governments moves to change speaking rights in the Dail to give these Government-aligned independents more speaking time has been described as brazen stroke politics by detractors.

The opposition want these independents to be defined as Government TDs, but the changes made by the coalition allow them to be characterised as other members.

Mr Murphy was forced to end his video after a Dail usher intervened, however, he had already captured an image that came to define the chaotic proceedings.

The opposition immediately seized Mr Lowrys gesture as a metaphor for how it believed the Government was treating the Dail and the people of this country.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin was widely heckled (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mr Lowry later told The Journal that he was gesturing for Mr Murphy to sit down.

TDs are normally not allowed take photographs or videos in the Dail chamber, but the incident was not the only subversion of parliamentary norms on Tuesday.

The leaders of the main opposition parties met to agree strategy ahead of the Dail reconvening. That played out in interruptions that increased in volume and frequency as proceedings progressed.

Watched on from busy press and public galleries, Taoiseach Micheal Martin largely kept his gaze towards his notes as Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald fired the first salvo during Leaders Questions and accused the Taoiseach of making a mockery of the Dail.

Mr Lowry, who entered the chamber several minutes after proceedings got under way, was in time to hear Ms McDonald say that the changes were an utterly absurd spectacle for his benefit.

Independent TD Barry Heneghan laughed and waved (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mr Martin was widely heckled as he defended the Governments stance amid a cacophony of jeers, interruptions and tut-tutting.

He said: I have never before witnessed political parties trying to tell others what box they are in or what group they belong to.

Early in the exchanges, the Taoiseach made a point of saying he had not interrupted anyone. However, the interjections would continue throughout the truncated sitting.

Sinn Fein representatives asked Mr Martin what Mr Lowry had on him, then asking the independent TD for Tipperary North if he wished to make a statement to the Dail.

Mr Lowry and his partner in the independent group, Barry Heneghan, laughed and waved at the Sinn Fein TDs as they continued shouting.

The Fianna Fail leader accused the opposition of engaging in a feigned outrage over modest proposals.

Verona Murphy was berated by members of the opposition as she adjourned proceedings (Brian Lawless/PA)

He laughed down a suggestion from Independent Ireland founder Michael Collins that it was a dark day for democracy, responding: You cant be serious. Come on, its farcical.

Mr Lowry, who at times shook his head and checked his watch, observed from a distance.

By his side sat other independents who had supported the formation of Government, including Mr Heneghan and Gillian OToole.

On more than one occasion, Ms OToole could be seen raising her phone with the flash on.

Tension in the chamber escalated as Leaders Questions drew to a close, with the order of business due to be voted on.

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy read from a hand-written note to say she was moving directly to the Governments motion amid the disorder.

This was met with widespread objection from opposition TDs, some of whom started a slow clap in protest.

Matt Carthy claimed Verona Murphy was doing her office a huge disservice (Liam McBurney/PA)

Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy said Ms Murphy was doing her office a huge disservice and told her she was elected to her post as part of Micheals grubby deal with Michael Lowry.

Ms Murphy twiddled her thumbs and stared ahead as she was berated by members of the opposition during the tolling of bells for the upcoming vote  which passed in favour of the Government.

The opposition said they had not been afforded their opportunity to bring their amendment to the Governments motion, turning their disapproval to the Ceann Comhairle.

Ms Murphys position has now come into question, with the opposition parties refusing to express confidence in her when asked at a press conference on Tuesday evening.

The Dail reconvenes under the new rules on Wednesday morning but with the same opposition objections.
By Rebecca Black, PA

Tanaiste Simon Harris is set to highlight the memory of Irish peacekeeper Sean Rooney during a visit to Lebanon.

Private Rooney, 24, from Co Donegal, was killed while on deployment with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) on December 14th 2022.

Mr Harris is set to raise the frustration and concern of the Government at the lack of progress in the case during a series of political meetings in Lebanon.

Private Sean Rooney (Defence Forces)

He will also visit Irish peacekeepers currently deployed in the country during his visit this week.

The Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs is to stress the need to deliver accountability and justice for the Rooney family.

The trial of those indicted for the killing of Private Rooney was pushed back again in February. The next hearing is scheduled to take place in Beirut in September.

Irish Defence Forces soldiers on guard at Camp Shamrock in Lebanon in 2024. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

There are currently 339 Defence Forces personnel serving with the 125th Infantry Battalion based at Camp Shamrock in southern Lebanon.

Mr Harris is set to thank the Defence Forces personnel for their commitment to maintaining peace in the region.

He is also expected to announce increased funding for local community projects.
FINES totalling more than 600,000 have not been paid at Carlow District Court, according to a recent report.

The figures were released to Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu under the Freedom of Information Act. The Carlow native described the extraordinary amount of unpaid district court fines in Ireland as a slap in the face to the victims of their crimes.

Almost 45 million in unpaid district court fines are outstanding across Irelands district court system since 2020. Across the state, 133,851 fines have yet to be paid in full in our district court system, with 612,058 of these coming from Carlow District Court.

Ms Ni Mhurchu, who is a former barrister, has called for the issue of unpaid district court fines to be included in the upcoming review of the criminal justice system, which was promised in the 2025 Programme for Government.

Expressing her frustrations with the Courts Services, the MEP said: What does this say to the victims who have been impacted by crimes such as drink-driving, assault, theft and shoplifting? We are imposing fines that a percentage of criminals are choosing to ignore and it seems there is little we are doing about it.

45 million would fund a lot of domestic violence refuges, road safety campaigns and extra gardai on our streets. It is time for a get-tough approach to those criminals who feel they are above the law. Our road deaths have been rising in Ireland for consecutive years. How can we expect any improvement in that scenario when those fined for traffic offences may choose not to pay the fine? Ms Ni Mhurchu said that the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014, which came into force in January 2016, is clearly not working in the recovery of outstanding fines.

Clearly, the Courts Service is not implementing the measures set out in the 2014 act. The act allows measures up to and including taking someones social welfare or salary to pay the fines due. Is this being done? The Courts Service will say it takes time to collect fines, but over 2.2m is still owing from 2020 and over 5.5m is still owing from 2021.
CARLOW ARTS Festival has this week given audiences a sneak peek of whats in store for this years festival, with early bird tickets up for grabs and a chance to secure your place at the ultimate homecoming gig.

The festival runs from Wednesday to Sunday 4-8 June and this week announced four shows that will take place during the festival, with some early bird ticket options available.

The highlight is a gig from Carlow brothers Brian and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn, collectively Ye Vagabonds, who will perform a homecoming concert in the George Bernard Shaw Theatre on Saturday 7 June.

With 50% of available tickets already sold within 48 hours of the announcement, youll have to book quick if keen to attend. Ye Vagabonds have got a mega international tour underway, so its a case of London  New York  Carlow to catch the renowned duo of the Irish music scene. Carlow Arts Festival is thrilled to be hosting Ye Vagabonds homecoming show.

Another show announced is H.O.M.E by Fidget Feet and Tobi Omoteso, the first aerial Hip HOpera created in Ireland. H.O.M.E explores the personal stories of each performer through aerial, movement, hip-hop, spoken word, music and opera.

The performance engages its audience viscerally and emotionally, led by a gritty and raw narration by critically acclaimed rapper Wilzee.

On Sunday 8 June, catch a performance of An Ant Called Amy, a story about an ant called Amy (an award-winning ant, one might add), her brother Andy and a Brown Spider. Amy the ant works very hard. When she wins the Employee of the Month Award, Amy feels a happiness that drives her to work even harder. But is she truly content?

Written and performed by Julie Sharkey, this charming and moving story for children aged five to eight, tells the tale of an ant who learns to slow down.

On Wednesday 4 June, ***The Long Shadow of Alois Brunner*** runs at George Bernard Shaw Theatre. This play interrogates the true story of a notorious Nazi criminal who escaped sentencing and the lasting impact his horrendous legacy has had on the world. Carlow Arts Festival is honoured to present this crucial work, which raises searing questions about refuge, justice and hope.

Early bird tickets for H.O.M.E, TheLong Shadow of Alois Brunner and An Ant Called Amy are still available until midnight 31 March. Use code EARLYBIRD to get 20% off.

Also this year, the OHaras Music Stage will be completely free of charge and open to everyone, featuring local and national bands on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The festivals full programme will be announced and on sale in mid-April.

Were thrilled to be bringing back Carlow Arts Festival for its 46th edition with a programme of local, national and international artists, said Benjamin Perchet, artistic director of Carlow Arts Festival.

We still have a lot of great shows, workshops and exhibitions to announce and cant wait to share them with the people of Carlow at our launch in April.
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PPC Ltd and Yellow Door Energy (YDE) have signed a landmark 24.5MW solar power purchase agreement (PPA).

YDE's solar park in Leeudoringstad, North West, will deliver clean electricity to four PPC operations via the Eskom grid. PPC Slurry in North West, PPC Dwaalboom in Limpopo, and PPC De Hoek and PPC Riebeeck in the Western Cape. To achieve a generation of 57.5mkWh of clean electricity in the first year of operation, more than 20,000 solar panels will be installed. It is expected that the shift to solar energy will offset 59,800t of carbon emissions.

The project includes the installation of a 43km overhead electrical line to connect the solar park to an Eskom substation, enhancing grid infrastructure and facilitating access to clean electricity.

Ernesto Acosta, chief operating officer at PPC, said: "We are excited to announce the signing of a solar power purchase agreement with YDE, marking the beginning of a long-term partnership. This agreement is our second partnership to secure renewable energy which further demonstrates PPC's commitment to reducing reliance on traditional energy sources. The project is another step towards achieving our strategic objectives to rebuild a profitable and sustainable."

YDE South Africa CEO, Forbes Padayachee, said: "We are proud to sign this monumental long-term power purchase agreement with PPC. Through this solar wheeling arrangement, PPC is able to secure access to clean, affordable and reliable electricity without further physical constraints on their premises. At YDE, we remain dedicated to advancing renewable energy solutions for commercial and industrial entities, creating local jobs and contributing to South Africa's energy security and Just Energy Transition."

YDE, as the independent power generator, is responsible for financing, designing, constructing, commissioning, operating and maintaining the Naledi Ya YDE Solar Park throughout the term of the PPA.
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CIMAF has signed a new agreement with Gabons Minister of Trade and SMEs, Parfaite Amouyeme Ollame, to strengthen local cement production, according to the Gabonese Press Agency. The agreement is expected to meet growing demand for cement in Gabon and improve the sectors competitiveness.

The memorandum of understanding provides for the installation of a third production line at CIMAF Gabons New Owendo plant, Libreville, increasing capacity from 0.85Mta to 1.85Mta. CIMAF also committed to building a clinker plant in the Ntoum region, which is expected to generate nearly 1400 jobs.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) has awarded its first Roper Corporation Scholarships.

Tammy Chandler, a student in the Computer Support Specialist program, and Hayleigh Cochran, a student in the Business Management program, are the recipients of the scholarship. Both are students at GNTCs Walker County Campus in Rock Spring.

Roper Corporation is committed to supporting the development of skilled workers, and establishing the Roper Scholarship at GNTC aligns with our dedication to investing in education and workforce development, said Luther Ingram, Ropers president and executive director and a member of the GNTC Foundations Board of Trustees. We believe this scholarship will provide valuable opportunities for students pursuing careers in fields that are essential to our industry.

We are so grateful for this generous support from Roper Corporation, said Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president. It is a testament to Ropers commitment to elevating the workforce in northwest Georgia and an outstanding opportunity for Roper employees enrolled at Georgia Northwestern Technical College.

The Roper Corporation Scholarship was established in 2024 and provides financial assistance to GNTC students employed by Roper Corporation. Roper is a wholly owned subsidiary of GE Appliances, a Haier company. The Roper plant in LaFayette manufactures freestanding ranges, wall ovens, electric and gas cooktops and is one of northwest Georgias largest employers with more than 2,500 employees.

Students can be enrolled in any credit program and must work at Roper during the application and award semesters to be eligible for the scholarship. Funds may be used for tuition, fees, supplies, tools or other educational materials.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College plays an important role in supporting Ropers workforce needs by providing specialized training programs and hands-on learning experiences that equip students with the skills required for success in the manufacturing industry, said Ben Canedo, Ropers Human Resources senior business partner and a member of GNTCs Board of Directors. This partnership ensures a steady pipeline of qualified professionals are ready to contribute to Ropers growth and innovation.
Southern Adventist University welcomes Sean Lemon, senior vice president of AdventHealth, to speak on Value-Driven Healthcare Strategy: What factors influence consumers healthcare choices? for the E.A. Anderson Lecture on Monday, April 7, beginning promptly at 6:50 p.m. in Room 3205 of Brock Hall on campus.

As senior vice president of Ambulatory Services and Network Development for AdventHealths Southwest Region, Lemons expertise in healthcare leadership is driving innovation and connectivity as he leads the development and execution of strategies that support the network of care surrounding hospitals in the AdventHealth Texas region.

The E.A. Anderson Lecture Series is an annual feature of the Institute of Ethical Leadership housed within Southerns School of Business. The free series aims to develop and support leaders through education and experience while fostering ethical marketplace environments. Made possible by the generosity of the late E.A. Anderson of Atlanta, Georgia, the lectures promote expertise and perspectives from business leaders from across the country.

Business casual attire is required for all attendees, continuing education credit is offered, seating is limited, and doors close at 7 p.m. For more information, visit southern.edu/businesslectures.

What: Sean Lemon Presents E.A. Anderson Lecture Value-Driven Healthcare Strategy

When: Monday, April 7, 6:50 p.m.

Where: Southern Adventist University

Brock Hall, Room 3205
Erlanger Trauma Services announces this years annual Trauma Symposium at the Chattanooga Convention Center May 22-23.Officials said, "For over 15 years, Erlangers Level 1 Trauma Center has provided specialty education for trauma professionals throughout the region and across the U.S. During the two-day symposium, healthcare providers will learn about excellence in trauma care and be exposed to hands-on clinical practice, developing the critical skills and knowledge needed to treat trauma patients."Erlanger has a tremendous amount of experience putting on the Trauma Symposium after hosting it for 15 years, said Dr.Robert Maxwell, medical director of Trauma Services at Erlanger. Our program committee is comprised of a panel of local experts that bring forward the most current and important topics in trauma. Additionally, we are one of the first symposia that have developed a skills day which enhances didactic learning and critical thinking with practical experience.This year's keynote speakers include Philip Stahel, MD, who will present Disaster Management in the Face of Hurricane Helene, and Victoria Miles, MS, who will discuss the Management of Traumatic Burn Injuries."Please join us for this outstanding educational opportunity that imparts excellent academic knowledge and tactile skills in trauma care," officials said.
Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union is inviting the community to choose one Peoples Choice Finalist in each regional Idea Leap Grant  the credit unions annual program that awards funds to entrepreneurs within TVFCUs 17 county service area. The Peoples Choice Finalist in each area will participate in one of the upcoming pitch competitions in which TVFCU is giving away $75,000 in the Chattanooga, Northwest Georgia, and Ocoee Regions. The remaining finalists who will compete in each pitch night will be selected by volunteer panels of community judges in each area based on recent site visits.Were thrilled to celebrate the 31 semifinalists and share in the excitement leading up to the finalist announcement and competitions, said Tommy Nix, vice president of business and commercial services.With $225,000 in funding available for selected small business owners across our 17-county service area, we want the community to be part of the journey. Thats why weve introduced Peoples Choice Votinggiving everyone a voice in deciding which entrepreneurs receive this valuable support.Semifinalists across all three regions are competing for 15 grants totaling $225,000. At each regional competition, grants ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 will be awarded  first place will receive $30,000, second place wins $15,000 and three runners-up will receive $10,000 each.The Chattanooga-region semifinalists are: Bird Fork Farm Carving Rock Kitchen Cha Cha Masala Chai Dynamic Labels Hinton & Co Hi-Tech Tire & Wheel Auto Repair, Inc. Jordan Ariel Agency, Inc. Scenic City Therapy Tiny Tigers Learning Center Unveiled Bridal StudioThe Ocoee-region semifinalists are: Athens Movie Palace Bigfoot Outfitters Downtown Beauty Lounge Fitted Stitches Flory Custom Woodworking LLC Fraziers Fabrication Positive Reach The Alderman Group Theme Fusion Visionary Motorsports & FabricationThe Northwest Georgia-region semifinalists are: ALL Family Care Bobbi Jo Brooks Fine Art & Photography Gowin Valley Farms Jessie Thorntons United Karate KB Pressure Washing Mariscos El Cuhhhmaron North Georgia Center for Educational Excellence Red Eyed Rooster Coffee Co. Rosie Maes Shankly Elite Training Top End FabricationVoting opens on March 31 at 8 a.m. and closes on April 4 at 5 p.m. To vote, visit tvfcu.com/vote and select a regional competition. Then, watch the semifinalists videos showcasing their business and vote. Each person may only vote once in each competition.This year, pitch competitions for the Northwest Georgia and Ocoee regions will premiere on Local 3 News. Viewers can tune in on May 5 to watch the Northwest Georgia competition and on May 6 for the Ocoee competition, both airing from 11 a.m.-noon.On the evening of May 8, TVFCU will host an in-person pitch competition in Chattanooga, open to the public. All Idea Leap Finalists will present their businesses to a panel of local judges and compete for grants ranging from $10,000 to $30,000. RSVPs for the Chattanooga Pitch Competition will open in the coming weeks. Stay updated by following TVFCU on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn for Idea Leap updates.The Idea Leap Grant, which started in 2018, is an extension of the credit unions Idea Leap Loan Initiative that was created specifically for small businesses in 2016. To date, TVFCU has funded approximately $6 million in loans to emerging and early-stage businesses through the loan initiative and has awarded over $720,000 in Idea Leap grants and related scholarships.For more information about the Idea Leap Grant, visit tvfcu.com/idealeap.
Troy came on strong in the third quarter to secure a 85-72 home court win over Chattanooga and advance to the Super 16 Round of the WNIT.The Mocs got off to a hot start, leading by as much as 10 points in the first half. However, Troy mounted a comeback late in the second half to take just its second lead of the game, but a 3-pointer from Caia Elisaldez at the buzzer sent the Mocs into the locker room with a 37-35 lead.The two teams started the third trading the lead seven times before the Trojans went on an 8-0 run and outscored Chattanooga 13-2 over the final 2:27 of the period to lead 63-51 heading into the final 10 minutes.The Mocs pulled as close as seven points twice in the fourth quarter behind buckets from Elisaldez who score 12 of her game-high 21 points in the final period.This is the second meeting this season between the two programs.Troy came away with a 76-66 win over the Mocs on November 14 at McKenzie Arena.Records: Chattanooga 17-15 | Troy 21-13
Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report.

(If your case is dismissed, just email us your name and date we ran it and we will promptly take off. Email to news@chattanoogan.com)

ALACAMANITROH,ESTHER

7710 E BRAINERD RD CHATTANOOGA, 37421

Age at Arrest:

48 years old

Arresting Agency:

Chattanooga PD

Charges:

CRIMINAL TRESPASSING



BEATRICE,ASHLEY ADELE

1504 TRUMAN AVE EAST RIDGE, 37412

Age at Arrest:

31 years old

Arresting Agency:

East Ridge

Charges:

POSSESSION OF METH (SELL, DEL.

OR MANUFACTURING)POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIABLAIR,UNIQUE MISHAY3099 BUCHANAN WAY APT 234 CLEVELAND, 37323Age at Arrest:29 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:CAHOON,KENNETH EDWARD305 CENTRAL DRIVE CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest:67 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE)CARTER,LOVEST LOUIS3420 PLUMWOOD ROAD CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest:26 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:AGGRAVATED ASSAULTEVADING ARRESTTHEFT OF PROPERTYDOUGLAS,DETORY JERMAINE585 FREEMAN DRIVE COVINGTON, 30016Age at Arrest:30 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:REGISTRATION, DRIVING UNREGISTERED VEHICLEDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEIMPLIED CONSENT LAW - DRIVERSDRIVING ON ROADWAYS LANED FOR TRAFFIC, VIOLATIONEDWARDS,CHRISTOPHER LEE51 GATTIS DR FORT OGLETHORPE, 30742Age at Arrest:29 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:FLOWERS,NICHOLAS COLE1790 HOLCOLM RD RINGGOLD, 30736Age at Arrest:28 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCECONTRABAND IN PENAL INSTITUTIONSCONTROLLED SUBSTANCES SCHEDULE IVFORSHAW,JESSICA NICOLE727 11TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37401Age at Arrest:35 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:BURGLARYGONZALEZ,HARRISON5969 PINEHURST AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest:19 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:RECKLESS ENDANGERMENTGRAY,JOHNATHON HENRY12 BROWNS CHAPPEL RD SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, 37377Age at Arrest:34 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEPASSING SCHOOL BUS (ILLEGAL)HARMON,BRITTANI8201 THRUSH HOLLOW LANE CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest:23 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:FALSE REPORTHAYES,TARAH LASHAY4225 OAKWOOD DR CHATTANOOGA, 37416Age at Arrest:18 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEFTHEFT OF PROPERTYHOLIDAY,JEROME ALEXANDER402 W 40TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37410Age at Arrest:40 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:AGGRAVATED ASSAULT (DOMESTIC)FALSE IMPRISONMENTDRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALEDRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALEHUTCHESON,BRENT ANTHONY128 PORTER STREET SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest:41 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:PUBLIC INTOXICATIONPOSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEHUTCHESON,BRENT ANTHONY128 PORTER STREET SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest:41 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:HUTCHESON,BRENT ANTHONY128 PORTER STREET SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest:41 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:DISORDERLY CONDUCTPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAJOHNSON,JOHN EMMANUELHOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest:44 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:LOLLIS,AEDAN OCONNOR162 SILVER SPRINGS TRAIL CLEVELAND, 37312Age at Arrest:19 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:MINOR IN POSSESSION OF ALCOHOLCRIMINAL LITTERINGMASMELA,JARED EMILIO14 LAUREL LANE CHATTANOOGA, 37412Age at Arrest:27 years oldArresting Agency:Tenn Hwy PatrolCharges:DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEOBSTRUCTING HIGHWAY OR OTHER PASSAGEWAYSEAT BELT LAW VIOLATIONLIGHT LAW VIOLATIONDRIVERS TO EXERCISE DUE CAREMAYWEATHER,TONYADA SANTRALLHOMELESS UNKNOWN, 37917Age at Arrest:40 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICEMCCLENDON,ALICIA LASHONDRA1014 BELMEADE AVENUE CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest:41 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:PETITION TO REVOKE (THEFT OF PROPERTY)PETITION TO REVOKE (IDENTITY THEFT)PETITION TO REVOKE (POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE)PETITION TO REVOKE (POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALPETITION TO REVOKE (THEFT OF PROPERTY)PETITION TO REVOKE (THEFT OF PROPERTY)MILLER,VERONICA LAURYN609 HARVEY LN CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest:22 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEFMORGAN,TOMMY EUGENE289 DENNIS ROAD TRENTON, 30752Age at Arrest:34 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:ASSAULTMYERS,BRITTANY RUTH155 FLINTSPRINGS RD SE CLEVELAND, 37323Age at Arrest:42 years oldArresting Agency:Collegedale PDCharges:NAPIER,SARAH BETH404 RED OAK DR RED BANK, 37415Age at Arrest:43 years oldArresting Agency:Red Bank PDCharges:CONTEMPT OF COURTNOBLE,JAMAAEL ALEXANDER3529 WEATHERVANE LOOP APISON, 37302Age at Arrest:35 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:DOMESTIC ASSAULTOKELLY,JAMIE LYNN170 BACKDRAFT LANE ROSSVILLE, 30741Age at Arrest:39 years oldArresting Agency:East RidgeCharges:DISORDERLY CONDUCTPUBLIC INTOXICATIONPEAKS,WILLIAM HENRY6860 LEE HWY APT 233 CHATTANOOGA, 374212444Age at Arrest:58 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:AGGRAVATED ASSAULT (DOMESTIC)VIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTIONRIDDLE,RICHARD ANTHONY682 COUNTY RD 28 CALHOUN, 37309Age at Arrest:50 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:ASSAULTRUTLEDGE,RUBEN3209 7TH AVE CHATTANOOGA, 374071540Age at Arrest:25 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:SAILES,CALVIN DONNELL1909 RAWLING STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest:49 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:SHACKLEFORD,ANTONIA JADAJA CAR1813 CARSON AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest:20 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:AGGRAVATED BURGLARYVANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEFASSAULTSMITH,BARBARA ANN1512 AKINS DRIVE CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest:43 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:MANUFACTURE,DELIVERY, SALE OF METH VOPSMITH,MARCUS LAVARHOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37407Age at Arrest:46 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:DISORDERLY CONDUCTSYLAR,PRESTON BAILEY1305 VANESSA DRIVE HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest:24 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:USE OF STOLEN PLATESDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSETHOMAS,ERVIN JAMON2108 N CHAMBERLAIN AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest:36 years oldArresting Agency:Chatt St PoliceCharges:DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSETIMBLIN,DANIEL PAUL2103 E BROW RD SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, 37377Age at Arrest:49 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:HARASSMENTHARASSMENTTONEY JR,DYRAL LORENZO3907 CAMILLA STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest:36 years oldArresting Agency:East RidgeCharges:DOMESTIC ASSAULTINTERFERENCE WITH 911FALSE IMPRISONMENTWEBB,DONTRELL NASHOD5139 WOODLAND VIEW CIR CHATTANOOGA, 37410Age at Arrest:35 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:CRIMINAL IMPERSONATIONDRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALEPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAWHITMIRE,DARBY SAM201 SHALLOWFORD ROAD DALTON, 30721Age at Arrest:23 years oldArresting Agency:HC SheriffCharges:DOMESTIC ASSAULTINTERFERENCE WITH EMERGENCY CALLSWILSON,MICHAEL SHANNON6504 MIDDLE DR CHATTANOOGA, 37416Age at Arrest:31 years oldArresting Agency:Chattanooga PDCharges:THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE)

Here are the mug shots:

ALACAMANITROH, ESTHER

Age at Arrest: 48

Date of Birth: 01/22/1977

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

CRIMINAL TRESPASSING BEATRICE, ASHLEY ADELE

Age at Arrest: 31

Date of Birth: 02/17/1994

Arresting Agency: East Ridge



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

POSSESSION OF METH (SELL, DEL. OR MANUFACTURING)

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA BLAIR, UNIQUE MISHAY

Age at Arrest: 29

Date of Birth: 01/07/1996

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

BROOKS, WILLIAM KENNY

Age at Arrest: 53

Date of Birth: 12/15/1969

Arresting Agency: Collegedale PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

BYRD, TYREKE DRESHUN

Age at Arrest: 22

Date of Birth: 08/25/2002

Arresting Agency: Chickamauga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

DOMESTIC ASSAULT

DOMESTIC ASSAULT

THEFT OF PROPERTY

VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF

INTERFERENCE WITH EMERGENCY CALLS CAHOON, KENNETH EDWARD

Age at Arrest: 67

Date of Birth: 12/14/1957

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE) CARTER, LOVEST LOUIS

Age at Arrest: 26

Date of Birth: 08/27/1998

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

EVADING ARREST

THEFT OF PROPERTY EDWARDS, CHRISTOPHER LEE

Age at Arrest: 29

Date of Birth: 09/15/1995

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

ELLISON, JOSHUA D

Age at Arrest: 20

Date of Birth: 02/16/2005

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE IN SCHEDULE II

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA FORSHAW, JESSICA NICOLE

Age at Arrest: 35

Date of Birth: 08/20/1989

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

BURGLARY

GONZALEZ, HARRISON

Age at Arrest: 19

Date of Birth: 02/13/2006

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT GRAY, JOHNATHON HENRY

Age at Arrest: 34

Date of Birth: 02/06/1988

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

PASSING SCHOOL BUS (ILLEGAL) HARMON, BRITTANI

Age at Arrest: 23

Date of Birth: 12/24/1996

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

FALSE REPORT HOLIDAY, JEROME ALEXANDER

Age at Arrest: 40

Date of Birth: 05/17/1984

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT (DOMESTIC)

FALSE IMPRISONMENT

DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE

DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE HUDSON, CHARLES ALBERT

Age at Arrest: 61

Date of Birth: 03/06/1964

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

POSSESSION OF FIREARM WITH PRIOR VIOLENT FELONY CO JOHNSON, JOHN EMMANUEL

Age at Arrest: 44

Date of Birth: 01/20/1981

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

LOLLIS, AEDAN OCONNOR

Age at Arrest: 19

Date of Birth: 01/12/2006

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

MINOR IN POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL

CRIMINAL LITTERING MASMELA, JARED EMILIO

Age at Arrest: 27

Date of Birth: 06/26/1997

Arresting Agency: Tenn Hwy Patrol



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

OBSTRUCTING HIGHWAY OR OTHER PASSAGEWAY

SEAT BELT LAW VIOLATION

LIGHT LAW VIOLATION

DRIVERS TO EXERCISE DUE CARE MCCLENDON, ALICIA LASHONDRA

Age at Arrest: 41

Date of Birth: 07/16/1983

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

PETITION TO REVOKE (THEFT OF PROPERTY)

PETITION TO REVOKE (IDENTITY THEFT)

PETITION TO REVOKE (POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE)

PETITION TO REVOKE (POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNAL

PETITION TO REVOKE (THEFT OF PROPERTY)

PETITION TO REVOKE (THEFT OF PROPERTY) MORGAN, TOMMY EUGENE

Age at Arrest: 34

Date of Birth: 11/14/1990

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

ASSAULT

NAPIER, SARAH BETH

Age at Arrest: 43

Date of Birth: 08/24/1981

Arresting Agency: Red Bank PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

CONTEMPT OF COURT NEAL, CHARLES DANIEL

Age at Arrest: 54

Date of Birth: 07/09/1970

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE NICHOLS, CHRISTOPHER J

Age at Arrest: 19

Date of Birth: 05/18/2005

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

CAR JACKING NOBLE, JAMAAEL ALEXANDER

Age at Arrest: 35

Date of Birth: 08/19/1989

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

DOMESTIC ASSAULT OKELLY, JAMIE LYNN

Age at Arrest: 39

Date of Birth: 02/08/1986

Arresting Agency: East Ridge



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

DISORDERLY CONDUCT

PUBLIC INTOXICATION PEAKS, WILLIAM HENRY

Age at Arrest: 58

Date of Birth: 08/03/1966

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT (DOMESTIC)

VIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTION RIDDLE, RICHARD ANTHONY

Age at Arrest: 50

Date of Birth: 01/21/1975

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

ASSAULT ROLAX, LADARRIUS MEGALE

Age at Arrest: 25

Date of Birth: 06/29/1999

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

POSSESSING A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO GO ARMED RUTLEDGE, RUBEN

Age at Arrest: 25

Date of Birth: 06/19/1999

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

SHACKLEFORD, ANTONIA JADAJA CARRIE

Age at Arrest: 20

Date of Birth: 07/15/2004

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED BURGLARY

VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF

ASSAULT

SMITH, BARBARA ANN

Age at Arrest: 43

Date of Birth: 06/28/1981

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

MANUFACTURE,DELIVERY, SALE OF METH VOP SMITH, MARCUS LAVAR

Age at Arrest: 46

Date of Birth: 02/26/1979

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

DISORDERLY CONDUCT SYLAR, PRESTON BAILEY

Age at Arrest: 24

Date of Birth: 01/22/2001

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

USE OF STOLEN PLATES

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE THOMAS, ERVIN JAMON

Age at Arrest: 36

Date of Birth: 07/13/1986

Arresting Agency: Chatt St Police



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE TIMBLIN, DANIEL PAUL

Age at Arrest: 49

Date of Birth: 04/30/1975

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

HARASSMENT

HARASSMENT TONEY JR, DYRAL LORENZO

Age at Arrest: 36

Date of Birth: 06/30/1984

Arresting Agency: East Ridge



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

DOMESTIC ASSAULT

INTERFERENCE WITH 911

FALSE IMPRISONMENT VIENTOS, BRIDGETT NICOLE

Age at Arrest: 47

Date of Birth: 09/02/1977

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

WHITMIRE, DARBY SAM

Age at Arrest: 23

Date of Birth: 06/28/2001

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

DOMESTIC ASSAULT

INTERFERENCE WITH EMERGENCY CALLS WILSON, MICHAEL SHANNON

Age at Arrest: 31

Date of Birth: 11/02/1993

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 03/24/2025

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE)




The Scott L. Probasco, Jr., Distinguished Chair of Free Enterprise (Probasco Chair) at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, is hosting its 2025 Financial Literacy Lecture online, featuring Dr. Terrance (Terry) Odean, the Rudd Family Foundation Professor of Finance at the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business. Dr. Odeans lecture is titled Coping with Complexity, and will be available free of charge to the public, though registration is required, on Wednesday, April 2, from noon to 1 p.m.Being able to provide Terrys detailed insights and perspective to UTC students, faculty, and staff, as well as the larger Chattanooga community, is a unique and valuable opportunity, said Dr.Claudia Williamson Kramer, UTCs Probasco Chair. Our financial responsibilities continue to become more nuanced and demanding, and its incredibly helpful to have someone like Dr. Odean share how people can successfully approach these ever-evolving decisions through financial literacy.Details about the lecture:Over the last 70 years, financial decisions for U.S. households have become more complex. Workers now have defined contribution plans like 401(k)s or 403(b)s, requiring them to decide how much to save, how to invest, and how fast to spend in retirement. Homeowners also face choices between fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages. Health insurance has become more complex, too. While more choices can help consumers find better products, it can also lead to confusion and poor decisions. Financial literacy education helps consumers make better decisions, given the choices they face.To attend the event online, sign up through this link
A 2010 article by veteran news reporter David Cooper for the Missionary Ridge Heritage Celebration contains an interesting story about the independent city that existed from 1923 to 1929. It can be obtained from the Missionary Ridge Neighborhood Association (MRNA) website and contains many historical and interesting facts about The Ridge.

The title of the article is The Many Aspects of Missionary Ridge.

It also exposes the tactics used to entice the voters to become part of the Dynamo of Dixie, the promises made and not kept, the conditions of the present Choo Choo Chattanooga Trail on the 6.8 miles of pristine concrete paved road that took place in 1930 as part of the municipal inducement to expand the corporate limits of what everyone now predicts will be the next Nashville or Atlanta.

However, David's historical (and accurate) article can be reduced to state that before the evacuation of many prominent citizens to the higher elevation of the joint Tennessee-Georgia municipalities that bear the same name, there was the City of Missionary Ridge which initially fought off the land grab of annexation.

One of the paragraphs by David is particularly pertinent to the modern era and is copied verbatim:

"You could just about count on two hands the roads that scale Mission Ridge, as it was known for many years. The park system provided the first unimproved road that ran continuously along the crest. Then the U.S. government laid the concrete pavement we're familiar with today about 1929-1930. Sen. W.E. Brock was influential in getting that done. He was a Crest Road resident. The paving began below the Sherman Reservation and continued southward to Rossville's LaFayette Road.

When the area was incorporated in 1923, the first mayor was Hamilton National Bank founder, TR Preston.

The Civil War history of Missionary Ridge on November 25, 1863 has been thoroughly documented and it is sufficient to state that the incompetency of Confederate General Braxton Bragg and the perceived courage of renegade ridge climbers including the father of WWII general Douglas McArthur transformed a southern stronghold into a northern victory that would eventually lead to the end of the conflict in 1865.

When the first annexation try in 1929 was initiated by the City Fathers (sorry, ladies, etc.) the residents on high voted against the takeover from below.

What some old timers contend was a legalized bribe to pave the Crest Road with concrete from the Georgia state line to Glass Street, a second referendum was held and the City of Missionary Ridge vanished into history in 1929.

Coincidentally, construction and paving of the now smooth riding, no potholes present, with a panorama view of the Dynamo of Dixie, is available to any tourist or potential homebuyer.

Although the comfortable riding avenues maintenance was entrusted to the federal National Park Service (NPS) under the Secretary of War, a few non-believers content that the minor 10,000 + potholes are being filled with blacktop at Gig City tax payers expense.

The question of who is responsible for repairs to Crest Road remains a mystery?

Perhaps an explanation of the $1,000,000 item for Crest Road in the recently proposed 2025-2026 municipal budget released shortly before the March 4, 2025 election will answer that question.

The eight reservations and monuments along the boulevard are maintained in pristine condition by the NPS, while the 6.8 mile broken concrete road remains a potential legal liability to motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and treasured pets.

It was also noticed before the aforementioned recent mayoral-council races that potholes in selective areas in the former municipal corporate limits were filled but the identity of the bucket and shovel distributor remains unknown.

The question of whether any pothole political preference favoritism is left to the subjective imagination of the readers!

PS: The Many Aspects of Missionary Ridge article by David Cooper is recommended reading.

(Any constituent/voter telephone calls to the offices of the newly re-elected Mayor of Chattanooga and the 3rd Congressional District Representative (senatorial aspirant?) might resolve the perennial question of who is responsible for existing maintenance/repairs on Crest Road in Chattanooga, Tennessee?)

----

If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact him at jsummers@summersfirm.com)
State Rep. Kevin Raper, R-Cleveland, will return to the Tennessee House of Representatives on Thursday, following a successful liver transplant.

Rep. Raper, who represents part of Bradley County, received a liver transplant at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville on Feb. 23. He has experienced a rapid recovery that doctors say is well ahead of schedule, with his new liver operating at full function and no signs of rejection.

Each day is a gift and I am profoundly grateful to the Lord Jesus Christ for His grace and mercy, Rep. Raper said. I give Him all the glory for blessing me with a successful procedure and a speedy recovery. The doctors, nurses and staff who helped me throughout this process provided excellent care for which I will be forever grateful. Im incredibly thankful for the support and prayers from my family, fellow lawmakers, residents of House District 24, and people across Tennessee who have encouraged me and helped me on my way to a full recovery. I thank my community for their continued support and I look forward to getting back to the State Capitol to make life better for all Tennesseans.

As a recent transplant recipient, Rep. Raper is still in quarantine and will be limiting his work to floor sessions and committee meetings until the end of this years legislative session.

He and his wife Lori have two children, Neyland and Manning. A retired educator and former member of the Bradley County Commission, he is serving his second term in the House of Representatives.

State Rep. Kevin Raper lives in Cleveland and represents House District 24, which includes part of Bradley County.
The Academy of Allied Health Careers will be holding a graduation ceremony on Thursday, March 27 at 6 p.m. at the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1505 N. Moore Road in Chattanooga. Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp will be the keynote speaker.The ceremony will encompass the owners introduction Owners Jason and Heather Wilga will introduce the ceremony, which will also include student reflections, along with the graduate presentation, pinning and awards.
Marjorie "Jean" Armstrong, 88, of Chickamauga, formerly of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, went to be with the Lord Friday, March 21, 2025.

She was born to the late Joe T. and Christine Lee Green. She loved working with flowers and taking care of her family. She was retired from the Hamilton County Schools Nutrition System with over 10 years of service.

She was preceded in death by her husband, David Armstrong; parents, Joe T. and Christine Lee Green; granddaughter, Rebecca Christine Cohen; as well as 13 brothers and sisters.

She is survived by her daughter, Lisa (Steve) Cohen; son, Lynn (Pam) Triplett; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 26, from 4-8 p.m. at Lane Funeral Home-Coulter Chapel.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 27, at 11 a.m. Family will receive guests an hour prior to the service. Pastor Steve Camp will be officiating. The burial will follow in Chattanooga National Cemetery.

Special thanks to Victoria Scott and Nicole Anthony of Tapestry Hospice for their outstanding care, as well as Marjorie's niece, Sandra Tilley.

Arrangements are entrusted to Lane Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, Tn. 37415, 423 877-3524, lanefh.com.
The latest edition of Hamilton Counted reports that for a second consecutive year there are declining fatal overdoses as well as a slight drop in countywide violent crime.

Officials said, "This year, we expanded the report to include state-provided education data, offering deeper insights into our public schools. While Hamilton County is home to several top-performing schools, the data also reveals stark disparities, particularly in urban areas where achievement rates fall below county and state averages despite higher per-student funding. Notably, many of the regions best elementary schools are in Hamilton County."

County Mayor Weston Wamp said, "Hamilton Counted has undoubtedly brought our communitys challenges into focus. Now, with two years of data, we have a clearer, data-driven understanding of where we stand on issues ranging from education and crime to

overdoses.



"This year, we expanded the report to include state-provided education data, offering deeper insights into our public schools. While Hamilton County is home to several top-performing schools, the data also reveals stark disparities, particularly in urban areas where achievement rates fall below county and state averages despite higher per-student funding. Notably, many of the regions best elementary schools are in Hamilton County."



"Countywide, violent crime has seen a slight decline over the past year. Non-fatal shootings in Chattanooga dropped by 21 percent, yet the citys murder rate remains high and consistent with recent years. This data, combined with poor public school performance in the City of Chattanooga, underscores the urgent need to invest in alternative education pathways that equip students with the skills to break the cycle of violence and poverty.



"For the second year in a row, fatal overdoses in Hamilton County have declined and are now at their lowest level since 2020. However, the opioid epidemic does not discriminateit affects individuals and families from all walks of life. As we continue to look for innovative ways to meet people in their moment of need, we launched Tennessees first

Overdose Prevention Team, led by Hamilton County EMS, deploying Quick Response Vehicles to deliver life-saving medications and connect individuals to critical recovery resources. This proactive approach brings immediate support into victims homes, tailors assistance to their unique needs, and provides a warm handoff to community organizations that offer long-term care.



"While this report provides a clearer picture of our countys challenges, it is also a call to action. Data alone does not create change - our response to it does. Solving these issues requires more than just government action; it takes a united effort. I invite every company, church, and civic organization to step up and play a role in this pivotal moment in our countys history."

The Hamilton Counted: 2024 Year-End Report is now available HERE, covering data from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2024.


An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in the indictment of a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper.

On Aug. 8, 2024, at the request of 12th Judicial District Attorney General Courtney Lynch, TBI agents began investigating allegations involving Jeremy Wayne Newcome, 48. The investigation revealed that Newcome, while off-duty, responded to the scene of a deadly crash in Pikeville involving a family member who was the driver.

This week, the Bledsoe County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Newcome with one count of tampering with or fabricating evidence, one count of official misconduct, and one count of accessory after the fact.

He was booked into the Bledsoe County jail on a $25,000 bond.
The specialty chemicals group ALTANA achieved double-digit growth in the 2024 fiscal year while once again making significant investments in the future. The company increased its sales by 16 percent to 3,169 million euros (previous year: 2,742 million euros). One growth driver was heightened demand for ALTANA Group solutions, which far outpaced overall market growth. Acquisitions completed in the fall of 2023 and in January 2024 also contributed to this increase. Adjusted for acquisition and exchange-rate effects, sales rose by 7 percent. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) grew by 27 percent to 490 million euros (previous year: 385 million euros), despite substantial costs related to integrating the acquisitions. This improvement was primarily fueled by the significant sales increase. The EBITDA margin reached 15.5 percent (previous year: 14.0 percent).

In 2024, ALTANA increased its already high research and development expenditure by a further 8 percent to 213 million euros. This corresponds to 7 percent of sales, remaining well above the industry average. At the same time, the company invested 180 million euros  30 percent more than in the previous year  in sites, digitalization, and sustainability.

Investing in the future regardless of economic fluctuations The year 2024 has once again demonstrated: our innovative and financial strength, the acquisitions and investments made, and, above all, the resilience of our business model  proven over many years  position us ideally, said Martin Babilas, the CEO of ALTANA AG. Our ability to achieve double-digit growth under persistently challenging market conditions is primarily due to the performance and dedication of our employees worldwide. We will continue to build on our strengths as an innovation-driven, customer-oriented, decentralized specialty chemicals group, investing in the future regardless of economic fluctuations.

Site expansion driven forward In 2024, ALTANA continued to drive the expansion of its global site network across all divisions. At its headquarters in Wesel, detailed planning began for a state-of-the-art innovation, laboratory, and seminar complex, with an investment of 25 million euros. In the fall, the company opened a new plant for wire enamels in Zhuhai, southern China, with a total investment exceeding 20 million euros. Additionally, ALTANA acquired land in India for a new, cross-divisional site and invested in increasing the capacity of its U.S. facilities in Connecticut and North Carolina.

Nearly greenhouse gas-free by 2050 In 2024, ALTANA took a significant step forward in its commitment to climate protection. The company pledged to operate virtually greenhouse gas-free worldwide by 2050, aiming for net zero emissions. This commitment extends across the entire value chain (Scope 1 to 3). Between 2014 and 2023, the specialty chemicals group had already successfully reduced greenhouse gas emissions within its direct sphere of influence (Scope 1 and 2) by approximately 70 percent globally.
Home News BaptistCare executive Lauren Tesolin-Mastrosa arrested for writing book deemed pedophilia

Lauren Tesolin-Mastrosa, an erotic fiction writer and marketing executive for BaptistCare, a Christian nonprofit and one of Australias largest care organizations, has been arrested on child abuse material charges after complaints about pedophilia in her latest book, Daddys Little Toy.

According to New South Wales Police, Mastrosa, who writes under the pen name Tori Woods, was arrested after officers executed a search warrant at her home last Friday.

In March 2025, officers attached to Riverstone Police Area Command commenced investigations, following reports of a fiction novel containing child abuse material, a spokeswoman for the New South Wales Police told The Daily Telegraph in a statement.

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About 12.30pm on Friday, detectives attended a home in Quakers Hill and arrested a 33-year-old woman before being taken to Riverstone police station.

Police allegedly seized several hard copies of the controversial book at Mastrosas home for examination. She was charged with possessing child abuse material, disseminating child abuse material, and producing child abuse material. She was booked, granted conditional bail and expected to return to the Blacktown Local Court for a hearing on March 31.

Daddys Little Toy is a work of fiction that follows the relationship between an 18-year-old girl and her fathers friend, who reveals he has fantasized about her since she was a 3-year-old.

Amazon has removed all copies of the book from the platform, and all Mastrosas social media accounts, including those under her pen name, have been disabled. Her profile is also no longer accessible on the BaptistCare website.

A spokeswoman for the Christian care agency told The Daily Telegraph that while they do not discuss individual employees publicly, they did receive complaints about an unnamed employee and are conducting an internal investigation.

We can confirm that we received complaints regarding an unnamed employee yesterday. As a result of these complaints, the employee was stood down effective March 20 while we undertake an internal investigation, a spokesperson for the company said. BaptistCare takes matters of ethical conduct seriously. Our focus remains on upholding the values and integrity of our organization.

Reacting to the public criticism that her book is promoting pedophilia, Mastrosa argued in a statement shared on her now disabled social media that it is all a huge misunderstanding.

I think theres been a huge misunderstanding. DLT is DEFINITELY NO promoting or inciting anything EVER to do with CSA or pedophilia. What is being said is grossly disturbing and breaks my heart as well as makes me sick, she said.

DLT is fictional and meant to represent the DD/LG world. I understand where I went wrong and that is why I had it removed from Amazon this morning. What happened between these characters, yes, started at a young age. No 1nt3rc0urs3 happened while she was young. YES there were thoughts and I can see how that is frowned upon. Nothing happened like that until she was of age. I know nothing that I say is going to change or fix what Ive written, Mastrosa added.

She begged the public not to attack three innocent people she identified as her cover art designer, her graphics designer and book editor.

As a professional who was hired as her second PA to briefly provide graphic design services to Tori Woods, I want to make it absolutely clear that I had no involvement with or knowledge of the content within the book, Misha Taylor, one of Mastrosa innocent contractors wrote on Facebook. My role was strictly limited to creating graphic elements based on technical specifications provided to me. At no point did I read, review, edit, or contribute to the written material contained in the publication.

Taylor stated that she plans on doing more careful screening of the people she collaborates with going forward.

Had I been aware of the nature of the content, I would have declined the project immediately, she said. I do not condone or support inappropriate material of any kind.
Home News US Christians more pro-Israel, less antisemitic than UK Christians; study examines reasons why

British Christians were less likely to have a high opinion of Jews or express support for Israel compared to their American counterparts, according to a new study backed by a ministry that evangelizes to Jewish communities that analyzed antisemitism among Christians.

Mitch Glaser, a Messianic Jew and the president of Chosen People Ministries, expressed concern about antisemitic views among some Christians, which he warned makes it harder to share the Gospel with Jewish people.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Glaser said hes experienced many things covered in the survey Chosen People Ministries released earlier this month. As someone who was born into a nominally Orthodox Jewish home and later accepted Jesus as his Savior, Glaser wants to help Christians build better relationships with Jewish people.

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Glaser, who has spoken at Southern Baptist seminaries and colleges, said the issue of antisemitism is very personal to him, adding that it hurts him when Christians express antisemitic views.

Ill speak at a church in the South, and then some Christian will come to the back to tell me how much they enjoyed my sermon, and then theyll make a joke about Jews and money, the ministry leader told CP.

Theyre my brother and sister, and I know theyre ignorant, or maybe they really are antisemitic, at least on that trope, he said. I love my brothers and sisters, and I just want them not to do that.

Regarding the research that Chosen People Ministries released earlier this month, Glaser said its helped him understand the current state of antisemitism as the organization works to help Christians pray for and evangelize to Jews. The ministry leader said he hopes to see Christians become more self-aware.

The study, titled A Survey of British Christian Attitudes Towards the Israel-Palestine Conflict: Faith, Politics and Perception, was conducted in December 2024 and compared with data from a related study conducted in March 2024 that included Christians in the U.S.

The researchers surveyed more than 2,000 people who identified as Christians in both countries, using statistical modeling to analyze data across all ages, ethnicities, genders, income levels, educational backgrounds and marital status.

According to the data, 58.5% of American Christians have a favorable view of Jews compared to 50.6% of British Christians. Researchers also found that fewer than a quarter of British Christians (23.6%) supported Israel compared to 42.3% of American Christians; however, 27.6% of American Christians and 37.3% of British Christians said they support neither.

When asked if Jews still talk too much about what happened in the Holocaust, 22% of American respondents agreed that this was probably true, compared to 33% of participants in the U.K.

Kirill Bumin, who co-authored both studies and serves as associate dean of Metropolitan College at Boston University, highlighted several reasons why American participants seemed more concerned about Israel and antisemitism than British respondents.

The researcher noted that frequent interaction with Jews and exposure to their beliefs often correlated with strong support for Israel, citing one of the predictors from the study.

British rarely interact with the Jewish people, both in work settings and in social life, as well as in religious settings, Bumlin told CP. Americans are significantly more likely to do so, particularly in those kinds of mundane interactions at work or in the neighborhoods.

In both countries, however, researchers found that the dual loyalty trope  the idea that the Jewish people are more loyal to Israel than their home country  is one of the most widely accepted antisemitic views in the U.S. and the U.K. Forty-six percent of British respondents and 33.6% of American participants agreed that its probably true that Jews are "more loyal to Israel than this country."

It is probably the most disturbing aspect, in my view, of our study because the dual loyalty trope is really a foundational or a precursor trope to many other antisemitic attitudes, Bumin lamented. This idea that Jews are inherently disloyal or theyre more loyal to some sort of a foreign entity reinforces other stereotypes, such as Jewish control over politics, finance [and] the media.

As the studys co-author explained, once people see Jews as others with conflicting allegiances, then antisemites can rationalize persecuting them or turning them into scapegoats.

So the fact that there is such widespread adherence to this antisemitic trope is incredibly, incredibly problematic and very concerning, Bumlin said.

In response to a series of anti-Israel protests and concerns about a global rise in antisemitic incidents, Chosen People Ministries continues to educate and train Christians. One of the initiatives built by the ministry, the Coalition Against Antisemitism, helps Christians oppose Jew hatred through social media, activism and public events.

We need to show the antisemites that if they want to get to the Jewish people, then they have to come through the Church, Glaser told CP.
Home News Rep. Jasmine Crockett prompts outrage for mocking disabled Texas Gov. Abbott: 'Hot Wheels'

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, stoked outrage and calls for her censure when she mocked Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's paralysis, dubbing him "Hot Wheels" in remarks she made at a pro-LGBT dinner last weekend.



"We in these hot a Texas streets honey, y'all know we got Governor Hot Wheels down there, come on now. And the only thing hot about him is that he's a hot a mess, honey," she said during a Human Rights Campaign event in Los Angeles, California.

"So we out in these hot ass streets with the hot wheels governor who a hot ass mess"



Profound pic.twitter.com/DibDIFcSF3  End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) March 25, 2025

Abbott, who has served as the governor of Texas since 2015, was paralyzed from the waist down at age 26 when an oak tree fell on him while he was jogging during a storm in 1984.

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A multimillion-dollar lawsuit agreement in 1986 guaranteed him monthly payouts for the rest of his life, which he says he has used to pay for years of hefty health costs, according to The Texas Tribune.

Crockett told Politico on Tuesday that her comment "speaks for itself."

Many criticized Crockett for her comments, which the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) condemned as an insensitive and classless indication of the Democratic Party today.

"House Dems' top spox Jasmine Crockett applauded after attacking Texas Governor Abbott for using a wheelchair," the NRCC posted. "Recent polling shows Crazy Crockett as one of the leaders of the Democrat Party. This is who they are."

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., echoed the NRCC.

"FYI to the new spokeswoman for the Democrat party  Greg Abbott became paralyzed after a huge oak tree fell on him, crushing his spine. But sure, go with 'hot wheels,'" he said.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, believes the media would not so easily dismiss Crockett's rhetoric if she were a Republican.

"Crockett's comments are disgraceful," he said. "Can you imagine if a Republican said something like this? It would be on [the] front page of NYT [New York Times] and all over CNN."

Conservative political pundit Scott Jennings pointed out the cruelty of the rhetoric coming from a member of Congress who has been touted as the Democratic Party's future.

"Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, has used a wheelchair since 1984 when he was tragically paralyzed in an accident. Today, the unquestioned leader of the Democratic Party, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, mocks him with the insult 'Governor Hot Wheels," he tweeted.

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk also condemned Crockett for her comment.

"Jasmine Crockett continues to embarrass herself, the state of Texas, and the US Congress by referring to Governor Greg Abbott as 'Governor Hot Wheels,'" he wrote. "This woman is trash."

Crockett's mockery of Abbott is the latest among a recent flurry of controversial comments.

Attorney General Pam Bondi urged Crockett on Sunday to "tread very carefully" after Crockett suggested SpaceX CEO Elon Musk should be "taken down" on her birthday despite the fever-pitch tension surrounding Tesla as left-wing activists have been torching Tesla showrooms and defacing Tesla vehicles.

"On March 29, it's my birthday," Crockett recently said to a protest group that intends to hurt Tesla by getting rid of their Tesla vehicles and dumping Tesla stock.

"All I want to see happen on my birthday is for Elon to be taken down," she said. "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."

After backlash, Crockett later claimed she was not calling for physical violence.

Last month, Crockett used profanity to attack Musk while speaking to a reporter.

"If you could speak directly to Elon Musk, what would you say?" the reporter asked.

"F off," she replied.

In a clip that went viral Monday, Crockett also raised eyebrows by using a violent analogy to describe how politicians such as Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, can be defeated.

"I think that you punch, I think you punch, I think you OK with punching," she said.

"It's Ted Cruz," she added. "I mean, like, this dude has to be knocked over the head, like hard, right? Like there is no niceties with him, like at all. Like you go clean off on him."
Home News Judge blocks Texas A&M ban on drag shows, cites Shakespearan cross-dressing Ruling also references 'Mrs. Doubtfire': 'Performances by men dressed as women are nothing new'

A federal judge struck down an attempt by Texas A&M University (TAMU) officials to ban drag performances across its 11 campuses, ruling that the policy is unconstitutional.

U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal issued the ruling Monday granting a temporary injunction against the universitys policy while a lawsuit filed by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) on behalf of the student group moves forward.

The Queer Empowerment Council, a coalition of LGBT-identified students, had faced cancellation of their event after the TAMU Board of Regents voted in February to prohibit drag performances, citing a recent executive order from President Donald Trump on gender ideology. The board claimed such shows were offensive and inconsistent with the universitys core values of its universities, including the value of respect for others.

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The decision ensures that Draggieland, an annual drag show organized by the Queer Empowerment Council at Texas A&M University-College Station, will proceed as scheduled this Thursday.

In her ruling, Judge Rosenthal emphasized the constitutional protections afforded to theatrical expression like drag, drawing on centuries of historical precedent.

Performances by men dressed as women are nothing new, she wrote. Men have been dressing as women in theater and film for centuries. It is well-established among scholars of Shakespeares literary works that, when his plays were written and performed, female characters were played by young men dressed in womens attire. She referenced the Royal Shakespeare Companys documentation, noting how this practice was standard in Elizabethan England.

Rosenthal further highlighted the evolution and persistence of performances, pointing to the Elizabethan-era works of William Shakespeare.

Women may not have been permitted to perform themselves in Shakespeares time, but that has not been true for many years, she continued. Yet many popular contemporary musicals and films have included male characters dressed in what amounts to drag, including Hairspray (1988), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), and White Chicks (2004). In the college campus context, organizations like Harvard Universitys Hasty Pudding Club have put on performances with male performers dressed in drag in campus theaters for centuries. Those performances continue to this day.

The court found that the Queer Empowerment Council was likely to succeed in proving the ban unconstitutional, rejecting the universitys justifications  including claims that drag could create a hostile environment for women  as insufficient to override First Amendment protections. The ruling cited precedent from the 2010 case, Christian Legal Society Chapter v. Martinez, which addressed the balance between university policies and student expression.

Addressing the universitys objections, Rosenthal posed a critical question: When do performances in which men dress as women cross the line from entertaining to demeaning? The impossibility of objectively answering that question demonstrates why such standards are impermissible as the basis for a restriction on expressive conduct.

She concluded that the First Amendment does not bend to subjective offense, stating: In recent years, the commitment to free speech on campuses has been both challenging and challenged. There have been efforts from all sides of the political spectrum to disrupt or prevent students, faculty, and others from expressing opinions and speech that are deemed, or actually are, offensive or wrong. But the law requires the recognition and application of speech rights and guardrails that preserve and protect all our treasured First Amendment rights. Anyone who finds the performance or performers offensive has a simple remedy: dont go.

FIRE, which brought the case earlier this month, celebrated the outcome. Today is a resounding victory for the First Amendment at public universities in Texas, said Attorney Adam Steinbaugh, who argued the case last week. The court reaffirmed that state university officials cannot block student expression they claim is offensive. State officials should stop trying to score political points at the expense of students First Amendment rights."

Texas A&M, like any public university, has the utmost duty to respect the First Amendment rights of students, said FIRE Supervising Senior Attorney JT Morris. As public officials, they cant banish speech from campus just because it offends them, any more than they could shut down a political rally or a Christmas pageant.

The Queer Empowerment Council, which has hosted Draggieland  a blend of Drag and Aggieland  every year since 2020, celebrated the ruling, calling it another display of the resilience of queer joy, as that is an unstoppable force despite those that wish to see it destroyed. While this fight isnt over, we are going to appreciate the joy we get to bring by putting on the best show that we can do.

The fight over drag shows in the TAMU system goes back to at least 2023, when West Texas A&M University President Walter Wendler cited the Bible and other religious texts to support his decision to cancel a planned drag show scheduled to take place on campus.

At the time, Wendler compared his opposition to the drag show to not supporting blackface performances on campus, calling such displays wrong.

I do not support any show, performance or artistic expression which denigrates others  in this case, women  for any reason, he added.
Home News NHS sides with convicted pedophile against Christian nurse who refused to use wrong pronouns 'Ever since I expressed my Christian beliefs ... I have been a marked woman'

A Christian nurse was investigated and deemed a potential risk after she referred to a convicted trans-identified child sex offender as "Mr."

Jennifer Melle refused to refer to the male patient as "she" while on duty.

The convicted sex offender, who cannot be named for legal reasons, identifies as a woman but had come in for treatment from a Category C mens prison and was recorded in the medical records as male, not female or transgender.

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The Christian Legal Centre (CLC), which is supporting Melle, said the patient became angry when she referred to him as Mr. X and shouted at her, "Imagine if I called you n. How about I call you n? Yes, black n!" before having to be restrained by guards.

She told him, I am sorry I cannot refer to you as her or she, as its against my faith and Christian values, but I can call you by your name.

An internal investigation found that Melles actions could be seen as a potential breach of the code [of conduct].

The Nursing and Midwifery Council code of conduct states that nurses should not express your personal beliefs (including political, religious or moral beliefs) in an inappropriate way.

Melle was accused of not respecting the patients preferred identity and told her actions and behavior had fallen short of the Trusts value of Respect.

She was later moved to a different unit, given a final written warning, and has now been referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Melle is taking legal action against Epsom and St. Helier University Hospital Trust on the grounds of harassment, discrimination and human rights breaches.

The CLC said: The story is the latest in a series of cases where NHS policy supports trans ideology over biological reality. It also follows the publication of the Sullivan report, which revealed that the police are allowing criminals to 'self-identify' their gender on official records.

In this case, policy has led, in the name of inclusivity, to the NHS siding with a pedophile convicted of serious offenses, while pretending to be the opposite sex, over members of staff with Christian and gender-critical beliefs.

Melle said that while she was trusting in Jesus, she was concerned about other NHS workers suffering in silence during similar experiences.

Ever since I have expressed my Christian beliefs under extreme pressure, I have been a marked woman, she said.

I do not feel supported by my colleagues, or the NHS, following the racial abuse and threat of physical violence I received from the patient. I remained professional throughout and always treat each and every individual with dignity and respect.

My conduct throughout this incident and during my career has been fully compliant with the code.

I have been put at risk, but I am being treated like a criminal. Sadly, if you put your head above the parapet and speak truthfully on these issues in the NHS the risk is that you will be knocked down, punished severely and demoted.

The message to me during the investigation is that I should put up with extreme racism and deny biological reality and my deeply held Christian beliefs, for the sake of inclusivity and respecting lies.

Andrea Williams, CLC chief executive, accused the NHS of being captured by transgender ideology.

The Trust cannot force compelled speech on their staff and an urgent U-turn and apology is needed," she said.

We would ask Wes Streeting, as health secretary, to investigate what is happening here.  Its time for government intervention on this matter.

Its time for the government to stop equality and diversity policies being weaponized in the NHS to punish innocent nurses just doing their job.

We will stand with Jennifer for as long as it takes for her to receive justice and with any other nurses who are discriminated against due to this dangerous ideology.

A spokesman for Epsom and St. Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust said: These matters are still subject to ongoing internal proceedings, so it wouldnt be right for us to comment further.

This article was originally published at Christian Today
Home News University of Richmond religious studies course teaches students how to 'queer' the Bible Professor previously authored papers on biblical rape stories, suggested Elisha molested child

A gender studies professor in Virginia whose latest work focuses on rape and sexual assault in the Scriptures is leading a course on what it means to queer" the Bible.

The University of Richmond, a private liberal arts college in Richmond, Virginia, has launched a new religious studies course titled Queer Bible, which invites students to explore the Bible through the perspectives of LGBT-focused queer theory and sexuality. The class, designed to queer the Bible and its interpretations, tackles subjects such as sexuality, gender identity and queer pleasure in the Bible, according to its official description.

Leading the course is professor Rhiannon Graybill, a women, gender, & sexuality studies advisory board member at the university and a scholar of the Hebrew Bible, according to her university bio, which lists her preferred pronouns as she/her.

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Graybill, whose bio describes her as especially interested in feminist and queer approaches to biblical interpretation, is the author of several books, including 2016s Are We Not Men?: Unstable Masculinity in the Hebrew Prophets and 2021s Texts after Terror: Rape, Sexual Violence, and the Hebrew Bible, which focuses on rape and sexual violence in the Hebrew Bible and offers new readings of the rapes of Dinah, Tamar, Bathsheba, Hagar, Lots daughters, Daughter Zion, and the Levites concubine.

The Queer Bible professor has also written a number of journal articles focused on feminist and LGBT-identified approaches to the Scriptures: titles like A Child Is Being Eaten: Maternal Cannibalism and the Hebrew Bible in the Company of Fairy Tales (Journal of Biblical Literature, 2022) and Yahweh as Maternal Vampire in Second Isaiah: Reading Gender and Prophecy with Luce Irigaray (Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion, 2017) highlight her boundary-pushing approach.

In Elishas Body and the Queer Touch of Prophecy (Biblical Theology Bulletin, 2019), Graybill examines a scene from 2 Kings where the prophet Elisha revives the son of the Shunammite woman, and suggests a sexualized encounter between the prophet Elisha and the child.

She writes, When Elisha himself arrives, there are multiple steps to the process. The power to restore life requires time, solitude and full bodily contact. Elisha cannot simply touch the child; he must involve his body more fully. Noting the various bodily points of contact  mouth, eyes, palms, Graybill writes the original Hebrew could imply a kind of whispering magic that, coupled with Elishas positioning of his body stretched out on the boy, suggests a sexualized or intimate encounter.

CP reached out to Graybill for comment on Monday. This article will be updated if a response is received.

Queering Christianitys most sacred book is growing in popularity in academia: Wellesley College  which boasts former first lady Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, and journalist Diane Sawyer among its alumna  describes its own Queer Bible course as "[a]n introduction to the Bible at the intersection of queer theory, biblical interpretation, and the historical study of the ancient Middle East."

The course is classified under its "Jewish Studies Courses," according to the school's website.

Other schools like the University of Central Florida offer a Queer Christian Fellowship, which gives students the chance to form discussion groups around the topic Queer Interpretation of Scripture.

Students are encouraged to attend the weekly gatherings for a reclaiming of faith with a mission to celebrate the inclusive love of God with us.
Home News Systematic targeting: Sudan interrogates, jails 19 Christians

JUBA, South Sudan  Several Christians were arrested in Sudans city of Madani by security personnel associated with the Sudan Armed Forces. Some of those arrested were members of various churches affiliated with the Sudan Council of Churches.

At least 19 Christians were arrested in the city of Madani on various occasions in January and February, area sources said.

Seven others were arrested by security personnel associated with the SAF on Jan. 21 as the group traveled from Barakat to Madani, the capital of Al Jazirah state, according to local reports. They were accused of being supporters of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that has been fighting the SAF since April 2023.

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The members of different churches belonging to the Sudan Council of Churches were on their way to a thanksgiving prayer meeting of a body known as the Inter-Church Committee. Madani is 85 miles (136 kilometers) southeast of the capital, Khartoum.

Attorney Shinbago Mugaddam confirmed the arrests, saying the Christians were initially held in the Joint Military Cell on Nile Avenue in Madani, where they were subjected to extensive interrogation for a week before they were transferred to Madani Prison.

He identified the Christians as Akech Otin, Abraham John, Patrice Saeed, Peter Makuei, Rani Andraws, Ammanuel and James. They have all denied being supporters of the RSF.

Church leaders in Sudan said there was no evidence that the arrested Christians had ties with RSF and called for their immediate release.

A group of Church leaders in the area requested that the Christians be released since they are not supporters of RSF through a letter from the churches in the area, but the Christians remain in prison, Mugaddam told Morning Star News.

Some 94 kilometers (58 miles) from Madani, 12 Christians have been arrested since January in Wad Rawah, Al Jazirah state, on the pretext of being supporters of the RSF, Mugaddam said. Their whereabouts were unknown, he said.

Christian rights groups described the arrests as a systematic effort to rid Sudan of Christianity.

This is systematic targeting of Christians who are arrested without taking them to a court of law to get justice, Mugaddam said.

Sudans military-led government last May approved a law restoring broad powers and immunities to intelligence officers that had been stripped after the ousting of President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. The General Intelligence Service (GIS) Law (2024 Amendment) empowers intelligence officers to summon and interrogate individuals, conduct surveillance and searches, detain suspects and seize assets, according to the Sudan War Monitor.

The amendment granted extensive immunity, shielding agents from criminal or civil prosecution without the approval of the head of GIS. In capital punishment cases, it gave the director authority to form a special court.

Any act committed by any member of the agency in good faith during or because of the performance of his job duties, or the performance of any duty imposed on him, or from any act issued by him under any authority authorized or granted to him under this law, shall not be considered a crime, the laws Article 52 states, according to the Sudan War Monitor.

Sudan was ranked No. 5 among the 50 countries where it's most difficult to be a Christian in Open Doors 2025 World Watch List (WWL), down from No. 8 the prior year.

Conditions in Sudan worsened as civil war that broke out in April 2023 intensified. Sudan registered increases in the number of Christians killed and sexually assaulted and Christian homes and businesses attacked, according to the WWL report.

Christians of all backgrounds are trapped in the chaos, unable to flee. Churches are shelled, looted and occupied by the warring parties, the report stated.

Both the RSF and the SAF are Islamist forces that have attacked displaced Christians on accusations of supporting the others combatants.

The conflict between the RSF and the SAF, which had shared military rule in Sudan following an October 2021 coup, has terrorized civilians in Khartoum and elsewhere, killing tens of thousands and displacing more than 12.9 million people within and beyond Sudans borders, according to the U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights (UNCHR).

The SAFs Gen. Abdelfattah al-Burhan and his then-Vice President, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, were in power when civilian parties in March 2023 agreed on a framework to re-establish a democratic transition the next month, but disagreements over military structure torpedoed final approval.

Burhan sought to place the RSF  a paramilitary outfit with roots in the Janjaweed militias that had helped former strongman Al-Bashir put down rebels  under the regular armys control within two years, while Dagolo would accept integration within nothing fewer than 10 years.

Both military leaders have Islamist backgrounds while trying to portray themselves to the international community as pro-democracy advocates of religious freedom.

Sudan had dropped out of the top 10 of the WWL for the first time in six years when it first ranked No. 13 in 2021.

Following two years of advances in religious freedom in Sudan after the end of the Islamist dictatorship under Bashir in 2019, the specter of state-sponsored persecution returned with the military coup of Oct. 25, 2021. After Bashir was ousted from 30 years of power in April 2019, the transitional civilian-military government had managed to undo some Sharia (Islamic law) provisions. It outlawed the labeling of any religious group as infidels, and thus effectively rescinded apostasy laws that made leaving Islam punishable by death.

With the Oct. 25, 2021, coup, Christians in Sudan feared the return of the most repressive and harsh aspects of Islamic law.

The U.S. State Department in 2019 removed Sudan from the list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) that engage in or tolerate systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom and upgraded it to a watch list. Sudan had previously been designated as a CPC from 1999 to 2018.

In December 2020, the State Department removed Sudan from its Special Watch List.

The Christian population of Sudan is estimated to be at 2 million, or 4.5% of the population of more than 43 million.

This article was originally published at Morning Star News
Home News Trumps worst' portrait to be removed from Colorado state Capitol Republicans raised over $10K to commission painting president detests

An oil painting of Donald Trump, which has hung in the Colorado state Capitol since 2019, is set to be removed following the presidents scathing criticism of the artwork.

The decision to take down the portrait, commissioned by Republicans through a fundraiser exceeding $10,000, was made after Trump declared the painting purposefully distorted and claimed he would prefer no portrait at all over the existing one.

The portrait, created by British-born artist Sarah Boardman, was installed alongside the presidential gallery in Denvers Capitol rotunda. Boardman, known for her depictions of political figures, said in an earlier interview with the Colorado Times Recorder that she painted Trump much like she does all her portrait subjects, in a "neutrally thoughtful, and non-confrontational" way in order to allow people to "reach their own conclusions" about the person.

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President Trump took to his Truth Social platform on Sunday to voice his displeasure, describing the painting as truly the worst and accusing the artist of deliberately distorting his image. By contrast, Trump praised Boardmans portrait of former President Barack Obama, which also hangs in the Capitol, calling it wonderful.

Trump said many people from Colorado had contacted him to voice their dissatisfaction with the painting, adding that he was speaking on their behalf to call for its removal. He also criticized Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, accusing him of weak leadership and linked the portrait controversy to partisan politics.

The paintings removal was requested by Republican state Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, who suggested replacing it with one that depicts [Trumps] contemporary likeness, The Associated Press reported.

The decision was formalized in a letter signed by the legislatures bipartisan executive committee, which includes both Democratic and Republican leaders, according to the newswire.

The artwork has sparked reactions across party lines, with Democrats dismissing the controversy as a trivial matter.

Originally commissioned through a GoFundMe campaign launched by Colorado Republicans, the painting was unveiled in 2019 after reaching its fundraising goal in just 32 hours, according to House Democrats. The effort followed an incident in which a prankster reportedly placed a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the spot reserved for Trump.

The painting has since become a point of contention.

Boardman has defended her work, stating that her portraits are intended to be apolitical and timeless.

In the previous interview with the Recorder, she described her depiction of Trump as thoughtful and neutral, aiming to reflect his place in history rather than make a political statement.

The controversy has drawn comparisons to other instances where the former president has clashed with depictions of his image.

In 2019, during a state visit to the United Kingdom, Trump expressed outrage over a blimp depicting him as a baby in a diaper, stating that it made him feel unwelcome, The Times of London noted.

In her past statement, Boardman acknowledged that presidential portraits often face opposition but maintained that her work seeks to capture the essence of its subjects without bias. There will always be dissent, she said. A neutrally thoughtful and non-confrontational portrait allows everyone to reach their own conclusions in their own time.
Home Opinion Chinas digital noose tightens while the West sleeps

Picture a regime so smug and dismissive of democracy that it brags about crushing lives and freedom. Thats Chinas Communist Party (CCP) today, crowing on WeChat and state rags like Global Times about smashing cults  a fancy way of saying theyre bulldozing churches, jailing and torturing pastors, and strangling all the freedom of all citizens with a high-tech noose unlike anything the world has seen.

While their methods are new, their impulse remains the same. In 1989, Tiananmen Square ran red with the blood of dreamers like Bob Fu, a kid who dared defy the Communist Partys iron fist. Today, hes a Texan with a fire they couldnt kill  and his fight screams a truth were sleepwalking past: Chinas not just crushing its own, its exporting the noose to other countries.

Fu grew up in Shandong, force-fed the CCP line: the partys your god, and dissent means death. But college lit a spark. He joined the Tiananmen protests, shouting for liberty until tanks turned his dream of a better China to ash on June 4, 1989. Hundreds  maybe thousands  died; Fu lived but was branded a criminal, and his world and spirit were crushed. Id reached the end, he said, his voice heavy as he remembered the past. Then a smuggled book about a Chinese believer slipped through, and outlaw American missionaries whispered of a freedom no bullet could touch. Fu grabbed it  a lifeline in the dark.

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He didnt sit on it. By 96, his Beijing apartment was a rebel church, prayers rising like smoke with the State looking to put out fires. The police arrested him and his pregnant wife Heidi for illegal evangelism and dodging the one-child law. They fled from Hong Kong to America with a baby and faith in tow. In 2002, Fu started China Aid in Texas, a voice for the silenced Church. China has tightened the screws. International Christian Concern (ICC) reports that the CCP is boasting about intensified efforts to shred house churches with a Ming Dynasty slur  xie jiao while a sprawling security system tracks and records every move. The Roys Report quotes Fu: Even official (CCP-controlled) churches get hit for sticking to their Bibles. This isnt random  Its a machine, cold and relentless.

Call it the Social Credit System on steroids  millions of cameras and sensors record every citizens movement and electronic trail. The data is fed into one of the worlds biggest databases and then analyzed and watched. It knows your face, your friends and your thoughts before you think about them. It creates a score for you that decides if you work, travel or vanish.

Go to a prayer meeting? Youre flagged. Share the wrong verse or message? Youre done. Associate with the freedom-loving crowd? Your thoughts will be re-educated at special camp for people just like you. Its Tiananmen without tanks, a digital cage where dissent dies silently. Fu faced bullets; todays Chinese face a system that owns their shadows. As you read this, the CCP is not only perfecting this beast (raids and arrests are spiking), but theyre also selling it to tyrants from Tehran to Caracas, exported to any regime with cash and a lust for power and control.

A line from a the Book of Hebrews says, Remember those in prison as if you were there with them (Hebrews 13:3). Its a call from folks who knew all about chains. Fu gets it. He escaped, but millions didnt  executed, caged or carved up for organs while he breathes free in Texas. That gnaws at him, a brutal and beautiful fuel.

So what? Chinas betting well yawn. They think the Wests too fat, too drowsy to care about a freedom-killing machine spreading like wildfire. Prove them wrong. Wake up. Speak out  call your reps and back fighters like China Aid and ICC, but above all, see the beast for what it is. This isnt just about churches; its a world where no one will be free if the CCP blueprint wins. The church in China is not smoldering, rather they turn the CCPs fire into fuel and the church is on fire. The ghosts of Tiananmen are begging us to join the fight. They dont need your tears  just your guts. If liberty is worth a damn, we cant sleep through this.
Home News 68 Tren de Aragua members arrested in less than 1 week; DHS vows to remove 'dirtbags' from US

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security announced the arrest of 68 members of the transnational criminal gang Tren de Aragua, which President Donald Trump has designated as a terrorist organization.

According to a Friday statement, authorities arrested dozens of the Venezuelan street gang members in less than one week. Tren de Aragua has been linked to a range of illegal activities, such as human trafficking, kidnapping, drug trafficking and other crimes.

The Trump Administration and the Department of Homeland Security are committed to arresting and removing criminals from our communities, a DHS spokesperson said in a statement.

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Tren De Aragua is a terrorist organization whose members are rapists, drug traffickers, and murderers, the spokesperson continued. We will continue to make sure these dirtbags are removed from America's streets and face justice.

In less than 100 days, the Trump administration has arrested 394 members of Tren de Aragua, according to Friday's release. Trumps designation of Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization has allowed a whole of government approach to dismantle this criminal terrorist gang," the department stressed.

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.

On March 15, Trump labeled Tren de Aragua an invading force, invoking the Alien Enemies Act to justify deportations. The act is a wartime authority that allows the president to detain or deport citizens of an enemy nation.

I find and declare that TdA is perpetrating, attempting, and threatening an invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States, the proclamation states. TdA is undertaking hostile actions and conducting irregular warfare against the territory of the United States both directly and at the direction, clandestine or otherwise, of the Maduro regime in Venezuela.

Venezuelan citizens 14 years or older who are members of Tren de Aragua and are not naturalized or lawful permanent residents of the United States are liable for apprehension or removal as Alien Enemies. In addition, Trump declared all members of Tren de Aragua a danger to the public peace or safety of the United States.

The Trump administrations efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and criminal gangs like Tren de Aragua have led to debates about the governments enforcement policies.

In a Monday opinion, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg reaffirmed a ruling that blocked the Trump administration from using wartime powers to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members.

The judge wrote that each plaintiff "vehemently denies" the administrations claims that theyre part of the Tren de Aragua gang. According to Boasberg, the plaintiffs are entitled to individualized hearings" to determine if the Alien Enemies Act applies to their case.

"Because the named Plaintiffs dispute that they are members of Tren de Aragua, they may not be deported until a court has been able to decide the merits of their challenge," the judge said.

The Trump administration has been involved in a legal battle this month after it flew Venezuelan detainees to El Salvador following a judges order to turn around. The administration has claimed that two of the deportation flights had already taken off before the order came down.

Tom Homan, who serves as the Trump administrations border czar, said during a Sunday interview with ABC's "This Week that all of the individuals sent to El Salvador were gang members, and that most were part of Tren de Aragua. Homan claimed that the administration had removed 240 terrorists from the United States.

The family members of some of the deported individuals have denied that their relatives have any gang affiliations, as ABC News reports.

During the Sunday interview, Homan promised the administration would not defy court orders. The border czar also stated that the administration still has Title 8 authority to remove illegal aliens and that he doesnt care what [Judge Boasberg] thinks as far as this case.

I understand this case is in litigation through the Alien Enemies Act and well abide by the court order as litigated, Homan said. But my point was, despite what he thinks, were going to keep targeting the worst of the worst, which weve been doing since day one, and deporting them from the United States through the various laws on the book.
Home News Pastor Ricky Floyd was shot dead outside bar after his moral authority to witness was questioned, lawyer says

Shortly before he was shot dead by a woman outside a bar during an altercation in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 12, Ricky Floyd, the late senior lead pastor of Pursuit of God Church in Frayser, argued with her and another man who questioned his moral authority when he allegedly tried to share religious tracts with them.

John Keith Perry, an attorney for Samantha Marion, the 42-year-old woman charged with the fatal shooting of the 58-year-old pastor, told WREG that Marion and a man identified as Steven Newsom, whom she met on the night of the shooting, got into a heated discussion about the Bible with Floyd.

"Reverend Floyd evidently had some, I call them tracts, but the small magazine publication that are of a religious nature, and passes them to the people that are at the bar," Perry told WREG.

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"We are also told the argument centered around how Floyd could tell anyone anything when he, a pastor, was at this bar and grill at 1 a.m.," Perry said. "We are also told that Samantha Marion was getting the best of him in that argument."

Perry said that Floyd grabbed his tracts and stormed out of the bar.

"What was said exactly is not remembered by everybody, but there was no kind of a threat. Or 'I'll see you in the parking lot' or anything like that," said Perry.

Perry said as everyone was leaving outside the bar, Floyd approached Marion, and Newsom got between them. Floyd allegedly knocked Newsom to the ground.

"He stands in front of Reverend Floyd. He's knocked to the ground by Reverend Floyd. And when he does, the back of his head hits the pavement and he becomes a little stunned or dazed," Perry said. "Reverend Floyd then takes the telephone of Miss Marion, and he throws it to the ground and he gives a couple of insults or what have you and then starts to walk off."

At this point, Perry says, Marion picked up her phone and started recording the license plate of the truck Floyd was driving. He said his client had never met him before.



"Whatever triggered him, he was upset with Mrs. Marion," Kevin Massey, another of Marion's attorneys, told the news outlet. "He fought through two individuals to get to her, and watching him from the vehicle and approach her, it was clear that his intentions was definitely not to give her a hug and say, 'Hey, let's work this out.' But he had aggression in his heart and in his mind."

Police say Marion called police to Momma's Bar and Kitchen, located at 855 Kentucky Road in Memphis, at about 1:17 a.m. on March 12 and confessed to shooting Floyd.



Video surveillance footage reportedly shows Floyd throwing Marion's phone and a beer can before hopping into his vehicle and driving away. Marion allegedly walked into the roadway and appeared to record the pastor's vehicle with her phone.



Floyd exits his car and confronts Marion before a witness separates them. As Floyd backed away, police said Marion walked toward the pastor, who was seen falling to the ground and never getting up again.

"It is with great sadness that I address the tragic loss of Pastor Ricky Floyd from the Pursuit of God Church in Frayser. Pastor Floyd was a respected leader in our community, both in Memphis and beyond," Memphis Police Department Chief Cerelyn "CJ" Davis said in a statement after the shooting. "We understand the deep shock and grief this has caused, and our hearts go out to Pastor Floyd's family, his congregation, and all who knew him."

Floyd leaves behind his wife, Sheila, three adult children, one daughter-in-law and two granddaughters, according to the church's website. The pastor is listed as the driver behind several community initiatives.

He also served as president of Eden Estates Apartments, a 52-unit complex in the Frayser community; and president of The Husband Institute, Inc., a boys-to-men mentoring program and the founder of the School of Marriage Enhancement.

His funeral has been set for March 28, the Pursuit of God Church said in a statement on Facebook. Viewing will begin at 10 a.m., and the service will start at 11 a.m. at Greater Imani Church, located at 3824 Austin Peay Highway.
Home News Trump's bid to dismantle Dept. of Education draw lawsuits from teachers' union, progressive groups

The country's largest teachers' union and progressive organizations have filed legal challenges to the Trump administration's attempt to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the National Education Association, along with other advocacy groups and the parents of public school students, filed the complaint on Monday.

"Defendants' steps since January 20, 2025, constitute a de facto dismantling of the Department by executive fiat," argues the complaint, according to a Monday announcement from NEA.

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"But the Constitution gives power over 'the establishment of offices [and] the determination of their functions and jurisdiction' to Congress  not to the President or any officer working under him."

"America's educators and parents won't be silent as Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and [Education Secretary] Linda McMahon try to steal opportunities from our students, our families, and our communities to pay for tax cuts for billionaires," NEA President Becky Pringle said in a statement.

"Gutting the Department of Education will hurt all students by sending class sizes soaring, cutting job training programs, making higher education more out of reach, taking away special education services for students with disabilities, and gutting student civil rights protections," stated Pringle.

"Parents, educators, and community leaders know this will widen the gaps in education, which is why we will do everything in our power to protect our students and their futures."

Another complaint was filed on Monday by the American Federation of Teachers alongside other public school districts, reports The Hill.

Madi Biedermann, deputy assistant secretary for communications for the Department of Education, said in a statement that the process of "sunsetting" the federal department was being done in a proper and lawful manner.

"To date, no action has been taken to move federally mandated programs out of the Department of Education. The U.S. Department of Education continues to deliver on all programs that fall under the agency's purview," Biedermann was quoted as saying.

Biedermann alleged that those suing the administration are "misleading the American public to keep their stranglehold on the American education bureaucracy."

"The union is also forcing the Department to waste resources on litigation instead of the programs the union claims to care about and the kids this Administration is fighting for," she continued.

Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has looked to downsize or completely abolish the Department of Education, arguing in part that the entity has failed to improve education nationwide.

Last week, Trump issued an executive order calling for the closure of the department, saying that such a move "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. This year's 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," read the order.

"Unfortunately, the experiment of controlling American education through Federal programs and dollars  and the unaccountable bureaucracy those programs and dollars support  has plainly failed our children, our teachers, and our families."

The order also stated that the department manages over $1.6 trillion in student loan debt, making the federal student aid program "roughly the size of one of the Nation's largest banks."

"The Department of Education is not a bank, and it must return bank functions to an entity equipped to serve America's students," the order states.

Critics argue that dismantling the department will harm millions of children who rely on federal funding for their education, and such an effort violates the separation of powers because the elimination of the Education Department can only come via an act of Congress.

The Department of Education was created by the Department of Education Organization Act of 1979. The agency spent more than $268 billion in 2024, comprising 4% of federal spending.

"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," said NAACP President Derrick Johnson in a statement last week.

"Don't be fooled, Trump doesn't have your back, he only cares about the billionaire class who will profit from the privatization of essential services, including education. As recent polls indicate, Trump's actions are far out of line with the American people."
Home Opinion The moral monsters of a post-Christian world

The Oscar winner for Best Lead Actress this year was Mikey Madison for her role in Anora. After offering the expected thanks to family, friends, and the films production crew, she thanked sex workers for inspiring the film, which told the story of a young exotic dancer and occasional prostitute caught up in a dysfunctional romance with a Russian oligarch.

I ... want to again recognize and honor the sex worker community. I will continue to support and be an ally. All of the incredible people, the women that Ive had the privilege of meeting from that community has been one of the highlights of this entire incredible experience.

A full-fledged endorsement of an immoral and exploitative profession is especially strange in the post-#MeToo era. As Lila Rose of LiveAction put it,

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Sex work isnt work. Its destructive and evil. It preys on vulnerable young girls and boys. It is not empowering or liberating. It fuels trafficking and abuse.

In fact, the same could be said of the film itself and the actress herself. After all, Madison is a real person whose body was exposed to the world. She was paid for it. Does consent change that she is also the victim of exploitation?

At the other end of the cultural spectrum are Andrew and Tristan Tate, who are famous for espousing a corrupted brand of masculinity. Openly misogynist, the Tate brothers are Muslims who praise terrorist groups, brag about abusing and degrading women, and have been credibly accused of sex trafficking minors. Despite this, some right-wing podcasters celebrated when the U.S. government pressured Romania to release them from prison where, since 2022, theyve faced charges of sexual assault and trafficking of women.

In an alternative form of the same twisted logic that celebrates the exploitation of women by calling it empowerment, the Tates are defended for countering woke, anti-male culture by being awful men. Hopefully, their U.S. publicity tour will be cut short by the Florida Attorney General, who has launched a criminal investigation into the brothers.

Though these progressive movie stars and far-Right podcasters likely couldnt stand one another, theyve embraced the same moral confusion. The praise of sex work or sex abusers does more than illustrate the horseshoe theory. Each illustrates the futility and danger of embracing sexual autonomy as the highest human good and consent as a legitimate form of sexual ethics. There are inevitable, dangerous consequences for individuals and societies that reject the biblical description of human beings, the only idea in the world that has both advanced the dignity of women and restrained the impulse of men.

Several years ago, New York Times columnist Ross Douthat warned critics of Christian conservatives: If you dislike the religious right, wait till you meet the post-religious right. The antisemitism and misogyny of the new right is likely what Douthat meant. More recently, weve witnessed what far-left Christian ethics without Christianity can look like. Perhaps now, we finally have the answer to the question, Can we be good without God? The answer is, We cant know what is good without God.

Thats not to say humans dont try, again and again, confusing their anger or oppression or inflated egos as moral enlightenment or wisdom. In the end, what is proposed is nothing new, only what might be called zombie ethics, ideas that should have died off years ago but seem to come back half-life and wreak further havoc on men, women, and especially children.

Meanwhile, the post-Christian West continues along the moral momentum that Christianity contributed to it, but theres little left of the actual truth that fueled that momentum. When it comes to our conceptions of right and wrong, justice and truth, courage and compassion, human dignity and responsibility, we are running on fumes.

The West will miss Christianity if its ever finally gone. But it need not be, because the central conclusion of the work of Christ is that repentance and renewal are possible. Individuals, families, and societies can return to Truth and be reconciled with God and with one another.

Originally published at BreakPoint.
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Oxfam has raised more than 105,000 from a recent auction of donated books, including a rare Chinese bible.

The bible, donated to Oxfams Chelmsford bookshop in Essex, sold for over 56,000 at Bonhams auction last week.

It was among 23 other books donated to various Oxfam shops which were listed at the auction and raised over 105,000 in total for the charity.

A first edition of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol sold for 16,640 while an autograph by the author quoting the novella went for 12,160.

Other books sold at the auction included a 17th-century manuscript prayer book, which attracted 10,880, and the first English translation of Karl Marxs Manifesto of the Community Party, which sold for 7,040.

Ian Falkingham, Oxfams donated goods strategy lead, said he was absolutely blown away by the sales.

We are so grateful for all our donations at Oxfam, and the many incredible, rare and unique books we are donated, he said.

Bookshop manager speechless at bible sale

Translated by John Lassar and Joshua Marshman, the bible was the first to be produced in Chinese and published more than 200 years ago.

Initially valued at under 800, bidding continued for two weeks before eventually attracting the seven-figure sum.

Nick Reeves, Oxfam Chelmsfords bookshop manager, said: The bible was originally found by some of our brilliant volunteers, Chris Tyrrell and Eleanor Atac, in a pile of donations, who suspected it could be worth something.

When it was put up for auction, it was originally valued at a few hundred pounds, so we never imagined it might go for this much.

We were sat watching the bidding and just seeing it go up and up. When it finally ended, I was in complete shock. We were absolutely speechless.

Its amazing to think that a donation from our shop could help raise that much money for Oxfam. Its just wonderful.
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On March 7, Business Insider published an article with the headline We found a DOGE guy at NASA because his Google Calendar was public.



The article reported that a twenty-six-year-old was listed in one of NASAs internal directories as a senior advisor, and that an image shared with BI shows his name is followed by the letters GSA, an apparent reference to the General Services Administration.

The article was mostly accurate, but the claim in the headlinethat he is a DOGE guyis a conflation that skips over the fact that the General Services Administration is not the same as Elon Musks self-proclaimed Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

Why do I know this, and why does this distinction matter to me? Because the Government Services Administration employee in question is Riley Sennott, and he is my son.

Riley came to the GSA from his job at Tesla. But the path really started in Ukraine. In 2022, as the war was heating up, he volunteered to deliver aid with an NGO based in Kyiv and helped an extraction team that rescued civilians who needed medical care, including an NPR reporter who was wounded while on assignment. He also developed a mapping application of the war zone that improved safety and efficiency for drivers on his team.

That app caught the eye of the recruiters at Tesla, and soon he had a job he had always wantedworking for a green energy company was a goal after college. Last fall, Riley asked his team at Tesla for the chance to lead a relief effort in North Carolina that would deliver Tesla mobile power units to help rural communities ravaged by Hurricane Helene. They got it done by forging a partnership with a local military unit at a nearby National Guard base, which provided a Chinook helicopter. That allowed the team to drop the power units, which are essentially refrigerator-size batteries, along with some pallets of Starlink networks into what had become largely unreachable places in North Carolinas High Country. That spirit of service in Ukraine and North Carolina, and his focus on efficiency and efficacy in his aid efforts, led to Rileys being recommended for a role in DC.

My son works at GSA because of a genuine dedication to public service, not politics or ideology. The GSA describes its purpose as Delivering effective and efficient government services for the American people. It is fair to say that Rileys current work is part of a broad effort that the public has come to know as DOGE, but that acronym and the scorn heaped upon it overlooks the long history of presidents seeking efficiency in government. The GSA was launched seventy-five years ago under President Truman, with the goal of streamlining government operations; its work is part of the same continuum of history that includes successful efforts by Bill Clinton and Al Gore to balance the budget.

Im sharing all this because Rileys situation poses a unique challenge to me, as a journalist and editor who has regularlyand quite criticallyreported on the Trump administration and DOGE. Journalists have an obligation to be transparent about any potential conflicts of interest, or even any perceptions of one. Ive lived by that expectation for forty years. In my own shop at GroundTruth, I disclosed Rileys position at Tesla and, later, in DC; our trusted managing editor saw no need for me to publicly disclose anything more. Riley is an adult, and my coverage was clearly not pulling any punches to help my son. At the large nonprofit news organization where I serve on the board, I informed the executive director of Rileys role as a courtesy, and she had a similar take. Riley has never once asked me to change what I write or to pull back on my views. And I respectfully do not ask him for any specific information about what he is working on. (Riley has refused to speak to reporters who have tried to reach him. For me, there was no special exception. He provided no public comment for this story, although it is fair to say I have developed some solid background material as his father.)

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The Business Insider article triggered a wider reckoningfor my colleagues and for me. At GBHs Boston Public Radio, where I have been a news analyst for more than a decade, the hosts were more adamant that I should acknowledge Rileys work at Tesla and the GSA publicly if I was going to continue to offer commentary on Tesla or DOGE. They were focused specifically on a segment on February 3 when I mentioned a visit to the Tesla plant in Austin that Riley had helped me arrange but which I took on my own; my description may have been a bit gushing, but I was indeed genuinely blown away by the enormous plant. That segment also included my own sharp criticism of the threat by DOGE to dismantle USAID, which would be announced just a few days later. Technically, when I was on air, Riley had left Tesla and not yet been hired at GSAthat would not happen until nine days later. I informed the producers of his situation immediately after the appearance. My presumption was we would have an opportunity to provide context on air at some point, but I have not been on the program since that date. In retrospect, even amid all the uncertainty, it would have probably just been easier for me to let the on-air listeners know at the time that my son was a former Tesla employee.

That said, I have found the spirit of the pushback from longtime colleagues a little perplexing. The GBH producers canceled the on-air segment we had planned last week to talk about Rileys former job at Tesla and current role at GSA, and we ended up missing a chance to frame the full story and its complexity. They said they preferred to just read a clarification instead. Hey, its their show, and of course I respect their choice and understand the desire not to spend too much time on this. But it seemed like a topic for the kind of nuanced discussion that is precisely why I have loved being part of the show for so many years, and why I consider GBH, where I launched the nonprofit journalism organization the GroundTruth Project more than a decade ago, my journalistic family.

Compare this reaction with the story of our youngest son, Jack, and how it has been received by colleagues across the media and at GBH. Jack, who is twenty-two, is the one who first encouraged Riley to join him in doing volunteer work in Ukraine. Later, he worked as a 2024 summer intern in the Biden White House, and then took a leave from his junior year in college to work as a full-time field organizer for Kamala Harris in Michigan.

Many of my colleagues at GBH and elsewhere knew about Jacks internship and campaigning, although it is fair to say some did not. But there was no attempt on my part to conceal that information, and I would have invited any discussion at GBH about how it might have compromised my reporting on Biden.

The emotion, when people hear about Riley, is very different. Some turn cold. Other friends and colleagues have been open-minded and tried to embrace the idea that he genuinely wants to make a difference through public service. We have also experienced utter contempteven among a few who really know him. Riley has received direct threats. The messages are too raw and in some cases too vile to share here. I have suggested to my colleagues at GBH that we should include both Rileys experience at GSA and Jacks time as a White House intern and on the Harris campaign if we want to give listeners a genuinely full disclosure, and perhaps have a discussion about a complex and layered reality within our family.

The experience has left me wondering if all of us in the press corps, myself included, need to think about how we are going to handle ourselves as each side of the national divide seems to have dissolved into a blind rage about the other. Do we have a double standard that may be eroding our objectivity and weakening our journalism? Should journalists whose spouses or adult children serve in the military or in political office or in corporations, for example, always be required to disclose any appearance of conflict? I can see why some would say yes, but it can also get impractical and intrusive. I am not saying there are easy answers here, and it is certainly not easy to keep your balance when you feel like your democracy is under attack. But I do think journalists, myself included, too often find ourselves in silos, and we may be losing that connection to, and affinity with, those who think profoundly differently. We should do everything we can to change that.

As a father, I have shared with my son the very serious risks that I believe Musks DOGE poses to our democracy by breaking the constitutional guardrails that separate the branches of government. I told him that I believe the very first initiative they took, gutting USAID, was not just clumsy but morally reprehensible. He knows I have dedicated many years of my professional life to sounding the alarm about the rising peril for a free press in so many corners of the world, including the United States.

But I have also listened. And I hear Rileys deep concerns about the existential threat posed by a $36 trillion national debt and a government so laden with bureaucracy that it can no longer solve its problems. And I dont know how to answer his questions about why Democratic leaders had so little to say about this issue. He, like so many young people, feels a mounting urgency about the trajectory of the country, and will not sit around idly and let others figure it out. He is just not wired that way. I think all of us, no matter where our political compass is set, should be trying to listen to these concerns, and be part of the solution to solving a looming crisisa point made brilliantly by two progressives, Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, on a recent CNN appearance.

My observation as both a writer and a father is that Riley and Jacks shared desire to do public service, and the respect they have for each other, is something that we can all learn from. Their other two brothers have their own points of view as well. One is a reporter who has been radicalized by watching private equity soak up the profits in the fishing industry, which he both works in and writes about. Another is studying historical preservation and restoring a large dairy barn and is by far the best listener of the four. The brothers conversations at our dinner table or out fishing together have always been intense, but also humorous and loving. When Jack and Riley argue, they argue with each otherbecause they still believe that the other is worth debating.

It often feels like we live in a country that is a house divided, to borrow from Lincolns famous words, but Jack and Riley are not divided, and our house still stands. Through Riley and Jacks example, my wife and I both see a sliver of optimism for the ability to effect change by actually getting out there and being part of something. Were proud of them for trying.

As Jack put it recently, Maybe well just keep arguing. Maybe the fight never ends. Maybe thats what keeps a house standing.


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On Friday, the office of Pete Hegseth, the Fox News host turned defense secretary, put out a memorandum outlining an effort to clamp down on leaks. The impetus for the memo wasnt specified, but it followed on the heels of a New York Times story alleging that Elon Musk was about to receive a briefing on top-secret US plans for war with China, and came amid other, similar threats from across the Trump administration, as I noted in yesterdays newsletter. The use of polygraphs in the execution of this investigation will be in accordance with applicable law and policy, the memo read, adding that anyone found to have made an unauthorized disclosure would be referred to the appropriate criminal law enforcement entity for criminal prosecution. The same day, Hegseth appeared alongside President Trump in the Oval Office to make an announcement about fighter jets. Under the previous administration, we looked like fools, Hegseth told assembled reporters. Not anymore.

Ten days earlier, Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, had received a request to connect on Signala publicly available messaging app that is encrypted, but in no way approved for the secure sharing of classified government materialsfrom someone presenting themselves as Michael Waltz, which is the name of Trumps national security adviser. Goldberg, who is loathed by Trump, initially suspected that Waltz might be an impostor seeking to ensnare him into sharing compromising information for the purposes of embarrassing him. Two days later, the account added Goldberg to a group chat, called Houthi PC small group, that purported to have been established for the purpose of coordinating US strikes on the Houthis, Iran-aligned rebel militants in Yemen who have attacked Israel and international shipping routes; the other members of the chat appeared to include a bevy of very senior officials, including Hegseth and Vice President J.D. Vance. It should go without sayingbut Ill say it anywaythat I have never been invited to a White House principals-committee meeting, Goldberg reflected later, and that, in my many years of reporting on national-security matters, I had never heard of one being convened over a commercial messaging app. He still suspected entrapment, but as messages began to fly, he perceived a high degree of verisimilitude; if this was a hoax, the quality of mimicry and the level of foreign-policy insight were impressive. Eventually, Hegseth shared specific operational detailsabout targets, weapons, and sequencingthat appeared to match real-life strikes in Yemen shortly thereafter. Waltz responded to the strikes with a string of emojis: a clenched fist, a US flag, fire. Another official sent prayers and a flexed biceps.

The chat, it turned out, was real; its unclear how Goldberg came to be added to it, but it seems clear that it was an accident, and that those involved, at minimum, now look like fools. In the Trump era, Ive often complained that journalists seem to have internalized the Watergate-era cliche that explosive information is typically tightly guarded and must be pried from the gloved hands of secret sources in parking garages, when, in fact, Trump says the quiet part out loud all the timebut this was a step beyond even that, the equivalent of John Mitchell inadvertently mailing Bob Woodward a round-robin headed DNC burglars small group. Goldberg, as the saying goes, left the chat and prepared to write a story about it, including by sending requests for comment to those involved; in response, a spokesperson for the National Security Council confirmed that the message thread appeared to be authentic and that officials were investigating how Goldberg had been added. Yesterday, The Atlantic pressed publish and the story immediately, in the magazines own words, broke the internet. Journalists reacted with uniform astonishment. (This almost reads like a Gawker item from the 2010s, Clare Malone, who covers the media for The New Yorker, wrote on X, butit is very much not.) Then there were the memes: Goldberg as Big Bird from Sesame Street sitting conspicuously in a formal business meeting; Hegseth as Roman Roy from Succession accidentally sending an explicit image to his dad; Trump greeting the news by telling a reporter, Youre telling me about it for the first time.

Actually, that last one wasnt a memeTrump really said it when asked about the story at the White House, denying any knowledge of what the reporter was talking about. (The response is also a meme that is widely used to express fake surprise online; it entered currency after Trump said the same thing to a journalist who informed him of the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in 2020.) His supposed ignorance didnt stop him from taking a swipe at The Atlantic, which he described, falsely, as a magazine thats going out of business. (Later, he reposted a Musk repost of a satirical article calling the leak to The Atlantic genius since no one reads the magazine.) Hegseth, for his part, attacked Goldberg as a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who has made a profession of peddling hoaxes and insisted that nobody was texting war plans; responding on CNN, Goldberg called this a lie. Some senior Republicans obfuscated, like House Speaker Mike Johnson, who said that the portions of the chat published by Goldbergwho reproduced aspects of the deliberations but decided not to publish the sensitive intelligence to which hed been privyshowed top-level officials doing their job, doing it well, and executing on a plan with precision. On Fox, host Will Cain echoed the sentiment, telling viewers that while the sharing of sensitive information with a journalist was concerning, the bigger takeaway was the transparent insight into official thought processes; read the messages, Cain said, and I think youll come away proud these are the leaders making these decisions in America. On CNN, the right-wing pundit Scott Jennings said he was shocked, but that the administration had owned up, and that the policy discussion was thoughtful and well executed.

It is, obviously, risible and grotesquely hypocritical for right-wing politicians and their media boosters to minimize or blur the discussion of sensitive matters outside of secure channels, let alone the inadvertent sharing thereof with a journalist. (CNN went where everyone was thinking and clipped together footage of what various officials in the chat said about Hillary Clintons use of a private email server while she was secretary of state. Hegseth: If this was anyone other than Hillary Clinton, they would be in jail right now.) It is, equally obviously, understandable that the story blew up; it raises serious questions not only about security, but the possible violation of records-retention lawsofficials are not supposed to use apps like Signal for official business unless they loop in an official government account; per Goldberg, Waltz set some of the messages in the chat to auto-deleteand the flagrant double standard between the conduct of Hegseth et al. and their barbed recent warnings to underlings not to leak to the press. And that is what we are dealing with here. Were accustomed to thinking of leaks as deliberate acts with a normative hue; in the national security realm, in particular, the word can connote courage or treachery, depending on your viewpoint, but is rarely associated with stupidity and incompetence. As Goldberg notes, however, the chat to which he was added was transmitting information to someone not authorized to receive it. That is the classic definition of a leak, even if it was unintentional, and even if the recipient of the leak did not actually believe it was a leak until Yemen came under American attack.

All this being said, it wasnt just right-wing apologists who wanted to shift the focus from the fact of the leak to the chats contents. Some journalists suggested that Goldberg was wrong to leave the chat when he did, or at least that he could conceivably have stayed; Astead W. Herndon, a reporter at the New York Times, wrote that the decision demands more explanation, and that he came away from Goldbergs article feeling like what we learned feels small compared to what we couldve. Others, especially on the left, argued that Goldberg should have published the operational details that he withheld from his story. Ken Klippensteinan independent journalist who covers national security matters and has previously published documents, like an apparently Iran-hacked dossier on Vance, when major outlets declined to do so (and earned a visit from the FBI for his trouble)argued on X that if the information in the chat was safe enough to discuss in text, its safe enough to publish. He expanded in a post on Substack, in which he accused Goldberg of talking more like a Pentagon spokesperson than a journalist in his rationale for leaving out sensitive details. Asking if a story is in the national security interest rather than the public interest turns the media into self-appointed counterintelligence officers, Klippenstein wrote.

In mainstream-media precincts, its fair to say this was not the consensus view, including at both Foxwhere at least one journalist, John Roberts, praised Goldberg for acting responsiblyand CNN, whose chief media reporter, Brian Stelter, described Goldbergs handling of the episode as patriotic. Wherever you stand on this questionand I would warn against patriotism as a fail-safe guide to news judgment, while acknowledging Goldbergs claim that some of the details could have put people in harms way and noting that its hard to say what extra information he could have published without knowing what the information wastheres no doubt that the contents of the chat were highly consequential. The exchanges that Goldberg did publish showed Vance and another official privately (or so they thought) expressing skepticism about the need to strike the Houthis, at least right away, and the consistency of the move with Trumps other geopolitical aims. (I just hate bailing Europe out again, Vance wrote at one point.) Last night, Goldberg noted to his Atlantic colleague David Graham that its very useful for the public to know that the vice president has a more hands-off approach than other members of the administration. And he offered an assessment of the messages that, in one respect, didnt sound so different from that of Johnson or Cain. The actual conversation that they have is fascinating, and in a certain way impressive, Goldberg said. Its nice to see that theyre disagreeing with one another.

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Whether you agree with striking the Houthis or not, this is clearly a foreign policy matter that demands scrutiny. (The vice president of the United States certainly seems to think so.) And yet, if the specifics were not totally overshadowed in Goldbergs article itself, its fair to say that they did get lost in the resulting media furor (and the flood of memes) and that this is regrettable; as the Washington Posts Ishaan Tharoor put it, its a bit sad that so many more Americans will have debates about the propriety of a group chat about bombing Yemen than about, well, bombing Yemen. Again, the existence of the chat and its jaw-dropping road to publication are extremely newsworthy for reasons (including those cited above) that go far beyond performative national security posturing; clearly, this is part of the reason for the overshadowing. But the bombing of Yemen was not exactly a wall-to-wall story before Goldbergs article came out. Indeed, one could convincingly make the case that there is a consensus in elite media that such developments are the normal course of thingseven, perhaps, a rare area in which Trump is a normal president. (Who can forget Trump becoming president in his first term only after bombing Syria?) And conflict in Yemen has long been tragically under-covered in US media, as CJRs Zainab Sultan wrote in 2019.

A Houthi-run health ministry said that the US strikes to which Goldberg was privy killed dozens of people, including women and children. That tally does not appear to have been independently confirmed, but the fighting has certainly continued: Houthi leaders reportedly tried (and failed) to retaliate by hitting a US aircraft carrier in the Red Sea; according to the Associated Press, the US was still striking targets in Yemen as of this morning. On Sunday, Waltz went on CBS and claimed that the strikes have killed the Houthis head missileer and hit communications nodes and weapon-making facilities, though per the AP, he has not publicly offered further specifics. Some things are only for the group chat. And The Atlantic.



Other notable stories:

Yesterday, separate Israeli strikes in Gaza killed two journalists: Hossam Shabat, who had worked for Al Jazeera, and Mohammed Mansour, who worked for a TV channel aligned with Islamic Jihad, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Per CPJ, the strikes hit Shabats car and Mansours home; the group called for an independent investigation as to whether the strikes were targeted, and for Israel to cease making unsubstantiated allegations about members of the press. (Israel put Shabat on a list after accusing him of belonging to a militant group, which he denied.) Shabat had also reported for Drop Site News in the US, and was working on a story when he was killed. Drop Site published it yesterday, along with a statement holding both the Israeli and US governments responsible for his murder.

Recently, the authorities in Turkey arrested Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and possible future electoral opponent of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the increasingly authoritarian president, triggering a huge wave of protests; security forces have responded with water cannons, tear gas, and mass arrests, while the government has curbed access to social media and flooded pro-government news channels with leaks casting Imamoglu in a negative light, per the Times. Police have beaten or fired rubber bullets at a number of reporters covering the protests, while a media union said that at least eight journalists were arrested at their homes yesterday. And TV networks covering the protests have been threatened with license revocations.

CJRs Lauren Watson spoke with journalists who cover cryptocurrencies to assess the state of that beat and lessons that it might hold for thinking about this moment, with its departure from norms and open grift. The crypto mediasphere tends to be inhabited by those who believe in the cause; reporters coming from outside, trained in old-school financial journalism, can miss the significance of in-jokes, or overestimate coin values, which are easy to manipulate, Watson writes. But some have managed to become immersed in the world of crypto without being swallowed up by iteven if thats just what those who control much of crypto media would like.

In media-business news, Axios reported late last week that Regent, an investment firm that is looking to grow its tech-news portfolio, has acquired TechCrunch from Yahoo. (Alex Wilhelm, a former TechCrunch journalist, shared some thoughts on the deal.) Yesterday, Axios reported separately that the Philadelphia Inquirer is cutting a desk that was focused on covering marginalized communities; ten jobs are reportedly being eliminated. In happier news, The Lever is expanding, including in the audio and newsletter spaces. David Sirota, the sites founder, credited subscriber growth.

And Kat Abughazaleha former researcher at the liberal watchdog group Media Matters for America, who has also worked for Mother Jones and Zeteo while building a following on TikTok for videos skewering right-wing media and disinformationis running for Congress, mounting a primary challenge to Jan Schakowsky, an Illinois Democrat. (ICYMI, CJRs Feven Merid interviewed Abughazaleh last year.) In a launch video, she called on Democrats to grow a fucking spine and oppose Trump.
Protestors gathered Monday (March 24) on the sidewalk in front of the Lyndhurst Tesla Motors dealership, 5180 Mayfield Road, believing that Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno might make an appearance. Moreno did not visit. Jeff Piorkowski

LYNDHURST, Ohio -- When word got out Monday that Sen. Bernie Moreno might be making an appearance at the citys Tesla dealership to speak with employees, protestors made sure they were standing out front of the Mayfield Road business.

A group of about 15 protestors were present Monday (March 24) -- much fewer than the number who have been gathering at planned protests every other Saturday.

The March 15 protest, for example, drew between 350 and 400 people, standing on both sides of Mayfield Road.

On Saturdays when there are no planned protests, some still come with signs to show their feelings about Tesla and its owner, Elon Musk.

Protestors have been gathering across the country to voice displeasure with Musk, upset with his work beside President Donald Trump in forming and carrying out the work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The termination of federal employees and budget slashing has had those on the left complaining that Musk has too much sway in running the government.

As it turned out, Moreno did not come to Lyndhurst on Monday, leaving protestors to hold their anti-Musk signs while urging passing vehicles to honk in support of their beliefs.

Cathy Cobarrubias is the Lyndhurst Democratic city leader and organizer of the protests at Northeast Ohios only Tesla dealership.

As it turned out, the protestors on this day appeared to be just as interested in getting the Republican senators ear as in bashing Musk.

Today, we tried to get as many people as we could on short notice, because we thought Bernie Moreno was going to show up, Cobarrubias said.

I dont know if he will or not, but thats OK, because were still getting peoples attention and I know it will get to him, because everything we do does, eventually.

I know people are fed up with him (Moreno) not responding to anything -- no calls, no emails. Hes not in the office, she said.

We elected him to represent us, and how can he when he wont talk to the people hes supposed to represent.

Cobarrubias said she believes Moreno might visit a Tesla dealership because he sees it as a friendly place where he wont get pushback.

Nationally, those who oppose Musk have, in some instances, taken their opposition too far.

Tesla Motors in Lyndhurst. Jeff Piorkowski

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said that these accused vandals will face the full force of the law.

They include a man who threw Molotov cocktails at cars parked at a Tesla location in Las Vegas, and perpetrators of violent acts involving facilities in South Carolina, Colorado and Oregon, who also face federal charges.

A healthy percentage of Americans believe that Musks work with DOGE is necessary to help reduce the countrys budget and cut into its deficit.

Those who oppose him, however, have been making the headlines, sometimes in unfavorable ways.

Lyndhurst Police Chief Patrick Rhode said that, other than an incident March 15 in which a 77-year-old Fairview Park man was accused of assaulting a woman who showed her middle finger to protestors, Lyndhurst Tesla protests have not created problems for the community and police.

Theyve been, generally, well behaved, Rhode said. There are times when some of the organizers will call us and let us know theyre going to be there, which is quite nice.

They dont have to do that, but certainly that shows an interest in working with law enforcement -- theyre going to follow the rules, follow the laws.

A lot of these groups will have their expectations of behavior on their websites -- stay on the sidewalk, dont interfere with the business, dont go on the street, dont interfere with customers going into the business.

Im pleased that they do that, he said. We certainly recognize their right to free speech, to do what theyre doing, as long as it doesnt negatively impact our businesses or people, property, or safety.

I find comfort in that they at least spell out some rules for the folks they think are going to come and protest.

Said Cobarrubias, We keep everybody safe and let everybody (protestors, who come from communities throughout the area and state) know the rules.

We try to keep it as non-confrontational as possible. Sometimes things will happen, but we are non-violent. No vandalism.

Fellow protestor Laura Ciocia said of the violent incidents involving Tesla nationally: Oh gosh, we dont condone any of that. That is outrageous behavior, and it certainly doesnt represent any of the organizations that we work with.

Ciocia, too, was hoping to see Moreno, also believing he has avoided speaking with constituents.

As for Musk, she said: The issue with Musk is DOGE. Hes not an elected official that has unprecedented access to the federal government, and hes making policy decisions, deciding how money is spent.

And Bernie Moreno, part of his job as a legislator is to control the purse strings and hes allowing this person (Musk) to come in and basically wreak havoc on the federal government.

Ciocia said her experiences with the Tesla/DOGE protests are the first time she has become involved in such an action.

Cleveland resident Meagan Meehan said she was present not only as a Musk protestor, but as a future candidate for Cleveland City Council.

She believes that people from all walks of life should take the opportunity to get involved and perhaps run for office.

Meehan, who started the Mayday Coalition Project, said of current politicians and political offices held, Its practically a family business.

Meehan said she takes part in Tesla protests because we didnt vote for Elon Musk. Why is he looking at our finances? Why is he in office? We didnt vote for him. Is he our vice president?

Meehan, too, said protests should be non-violent.

Rhode said Lyndhurst police are in contact with Tesla employees regularly and pay special attention to the Tesla property during nighttime and overnight hours.

During Mondays mini-protest, Lyndhurst police vehicles could be seen parked nearby to ensure everyones safety.

Rhode said, overall, that hes pleased that nothing violent has happened during Lyndhurst protests, but added, I dont think for a moment that it cant happen here.

Mayor Patrick Ward condemns the violence seen nationally at Tesla dealerships, and is also thankful that no such incidents have happened in Lyndhurst.

These (acts of vandalism) activities are hurting no one but real people, he said. These activities are intimidating no one but real people. And thats an unfortunate thing.

Theyre trying to make a point. I get it. Theyre trying to convey an opinion about whats going on, I guess.

But this type of damaging activity is really hurting no one but real people.

And for all the crying and gnashing of teeth, when youre talking about government action and the impact on real people, some of these activists need to look in the mirror, because theyre impacting real people.

We have been fortunate that the activities here have not been troublesome, he said. We have been extra vigilant.

My police department has been extraordinary. The detectives have been extraordinary.

Our area agencies and investigators have been extraordinary in keeping a finger on the pulse, and I hope that some of the insanity thats going on in some of the other places does not happen here because, again, its most unfortunate.

On Saturday (March 28), protestors nationally are planning a Tesla Takedown Global Day of Action.

Cobarrubias said a protest will take place at the Lyndhurst dealership from 12:30 to 2 p.m. that day.

After noting the date, she added, No violence.

Read more from the Sun Messenger.
Orange High School seniors Olivia Ullner, left, and Camryn Katz receive the Presidents Volunteer Service Award from the Kiwanis Club of Lander Circle. John Driscoll, center, a Kiwanis Club board member, presented the awards. (Photo Courtesy of Orange City Schools)

PEPPER PIKE, Ohio -- Orange High School seniors Camryn Katz and Olivia Ullner have been honored with the Presidents Volunteer Service Award by the Kiwanis Club of Lander Circle for their significant community service.

Camryn and Olivia are the first local students to earn this award since the Kiwanis Club became a certifying organization a little over a year ago, according to a news release from the club.

John Driscoll, a Kiwanis Club board member, presented the seniors with medals and certificates at the clubs meeting on March 19.

The award honors the communitys most outstanding volunteers and recognizes the impact they make, according to the PVSA website.

Camryn was honored for 250 hours of service within a one-year period, primarily to Orange Community Education and Recreations Stagecrafters Youth Theatre, a dramatic arts program.

She has served as student producer and student choreographer for Stagecrafters, overseeing 200 students and collaborating with directors.

She also has been a Stagecrafters teacher for two years.

As a mentor, Camryn works with both OCER and the Orange Inclusive Preschool, assisting children with special needs and their typical peers.

Through Book Buddies, she assists preschoolers in literacy-related programs.

Last May, Camryn received the inaugural Joe Davis/Kiwanis Club Student Liaison Service Scholarship. She continues to work with the organization.

She also was named a Kiwanis Club of Lander Circle Senior of the Month last fall.

I am honored to receive the Presidents Volunteer Service Award from the Lander Circle Kiwanis Club, Camryn said in the news release.

I believe that it is important to volunteer and give back to the community in which you live.

Olivia was recognized at the silver level for more than 175 hours to a variety of causes, including through Girl Scouts of North East Ohio and the Chagrin Falls-based H(e)arts4Guatemala.

Last fall, the Orange resident earned the Girl Scout Gold Award -- the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts of the USA -- and was recognized at an Orange Village Council meeting.

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Olivia -- a native of Guatemala -- set up a new program to collect and deliver eyeglasses and hearing aids to a medical clinic in Guatemala, which she identified through the director of H(e)arts4Guatemala.

She also earned funds to purchase medical equipment for the clinic.

I want to thank Kiwanis Lander Circle for this recognition, Olivia said in the news release. Im very honored to receive this award.

To me, its more than just a medal. Its helping those who need it.

Giving back to the community and helping others is very important to me.

Camryn is the daughter of Nicole and Rob Senor (her stepfather) of Moreland Hills and Adam Katz of Pepper Pike.

I am so proud that my daughter, Camryn, was able to be part of such a terrific organization like Lander Circle Kiwanis, Nicole Senor, a substitute teacher at Orange High School, said in an email.

The lessons she has learned through all of her volunteer experiences are invaluable. These experiences have helped shape her into the young woman she is today.

Olivia is the daughter of Orange Councilwoman Kimberlee Ullner.

Im very proud of my daughter, Ullner said. She has consistently given back to help others in our community and beyond.

She is empathetic and truly cares about others and wants to help.

When asked about the PVSA program, Driscoll said in the news release, The program speaks for itself.

Its a wonderful program where individuals participate and effect change in our world, he said. These kids do wonderful things.

In 2003, the Presidents Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the Presidents Volunteer Service Award to recognize the important role of volunteers in Americas strength and national identity, according to the PVSA website.

This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action too, the website states.

The PVSA has continued under each administration, honoring the volunteers who are using their time and talents to solve some of the toughest challenges facing our nation, the website states.

The Kiwanis Club of Lander Circle provides funding to various clubs and activities in the community.

Most recently, the club provided significant funding to the Book Buddies program, Power of the Pen and Orange High School robotics.

The club earns the money to provide this funding from its annual rummage sale, which will take place this year July 17-19.

For more information about the Presidents Volunteer Service Award, visit presidentialserviceawards.gov.

Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun.
Evan Bunch is carried by deputies from a Cuyahoga County Council meeting on Feb. 11 after disrupting the Pledge of Allegiance. A grand jury on Monday indicted Bunch for felony obstructing official business. Kaitlin Durbin, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio - A Cleveland pastor who was carried out of a Cuyahoga County Council meeting last month while protesting the countys investment in Israel bonds has been charged with a felony.

Rev. Evan R. Bunch, 38, was indicted Monday by a county grand jury on charges of felony obstructing official business, along with misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest, disturbing a lawful meeting and disorderly conduct.

This is the countys ability to say: Stop talking about Israel and Israel bonds. And to intimidate anyone who wants to speak up, Bunch told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer in a phone interview Tuesday.

Bunch, an army veteran and pastor of the Fifth Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Cleveland, was arrested at a Feb. 11 Council meeting by Cuyahoga County sheriffs deputies. He and members of the Palestine Advocacy Group attended the meeting to protest the countys investment in Israel bonds amid the war in Gaza.

After Bunch disrupted the Pledge of Allegiance by singing it loudly and in a drawn-out manner, Council President Dale Miller asked deputies to remove him. Bunch refused requests to leave the meeting before he was eventually carried out by his hands and feet.

A deputy at the scene was transported to a local hospital for a hand injury, according to a county spokesperson. Members of the Palestine Advocacy Group accused deputies of racism and using excessive force against Bunch.

Bunch was released from jail the next day as prosecutors worked to bring the case to a grand jury.

Under state law, obstructing official business is elevated from a misdemeanor to a fifth-degree felony when it creates the risk of physical harm. Bunchs felony indictment claims he created the risk of harm to a deputy.

Bunch and other Palestine advocates credit protests with halting county funds earmarked for Israel. Last month, county officials announced an indefinite pause on investments in long-term bonds.

The freeze affects $3 million out of $16 million in Israel bonds that expired this month, among other investments. County officials said the decision was financial, not political.

Mr. Bunch is becoming a frequent flyer in the criminal justice system, said Lexi Bauer, a spokeswoman for the Cuyahoga County prosecutors office. His last arrest in 2022 was for calling the Beachwood Police Department 94 times and the dispatch center 20 times in one hour.

This latest case is for disrupting a public meeting and obstructing official business. There are limits to a persons right to free speech.

Court records show Bunch was sentenced to an 18-month Veterans Treatment Court program for disrupting public services and telecommunications harassment in 2022. He completed the program in July.

These indictments are just a part of a concert of intimidation toward those who dont want to see our county dollars going toward genocide, Bunch said. The more that we dont exercise our First Amendment, the more they will take away our First Amendment.

A spokesperson for the county declined to comment on the charges against Bunch.
Former site of the mouth of the Cuyahoga River, now Edgewater Marina and the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District's Westerly Wastewater Treatment Plant John Pana, cleveland.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Republicans are pushing to ban foreign adversaries from buying land near critical infrastructure, citing national security risks like espionage or cyberattacks.

But one Northeast Ohio Democrat warns the proposal could also stop foreign born athletes and doctors working in Cleveland from buying homes.

This is a safety issue for Ohioans, said state Rep. Angela King, a Celina Republican, during Tuesdays House Public Safety Committee hearing.

King is co-sponsoring House Bill 1. The bill, much like Senate Bill 88, would ban people and companies from countries on the federal foreign adversary list from buying property within 25 miles of Ohios critical infrastructure.

This would ban people from China, Cuba, Russia, North Korea, Venezuela and Iran from buying near:

military bases

water treatment plants

electricity plants

natural gas pipelines

broadband infrastructure

railroads

dams

Few if any areas of the state would not be within 25 miles of one or the other of these types of properties, according to analysis by the Legislative Services Commission.

HB 1 would let current owners who fall into this camp keep what they have, but SB 88 would force them to sell at no more than the price they originally paid.

State Rep. Juanita Brent, a Cleveland Democrat, suggested that the bills could stop foreign born Cleveland Guardians players or Cleveland Clinic doctors from owning homes in Ohio. She asked how the bills might impact those here legally on visas or green cards. Is there any willingness to work with them?

This does not impact leases, so they can rent, King replied.

The Guardians declined to comment, but King noted that many of these countries dont allow Americans to own property.

They have the option to become a citizen or a dual citizen if they want to purchase, King said.

Pushing China out

Ohio isnt the only state looking to restrict foreign land ownership.

In 2023, 10 states--including Ohio-- restricted foreign farmland ownership, according to the National Agricultural Law Center.

Some even ordered companies to sell.

Arkansas told Northrup King Seed Co., a subsidiary of Syngenta thats held by ChemChina, to divest from 160 acres in October 2023.

In Ohio, Capchem USA might have to sell its battery chemicals production base in Lawrence County if SB 88 passes.

Its a $75 million investment by the Chinese owned company that promises to create 65 jobs.

Ohio did ban foreigners from owning farmland in the states last two-year operating budget. Lawmakers tried to include a 25-mile radius around military bases but Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed it, citing unintended economic development consequences.

DeWines office said its premature to comment on these new proposals.

State Rep. Cecil Thomas, a Cincinnati Democrat, asked King whether a smaller radius around these facilities might be a fair compromise. Indiana, for example, imposed a 10 mile limit.

He also worried about whether China might retaliate against Ohio farmers and stop buying their crops.

I think there needs to be more discussion, he said.

Democrats dont necessarily oppose the idea behind HB 1 and SB 88, though.

Im all about national security. I think its a reasonable thing to do, said state Rep. Sean Brennan, a Parma Democrat.

His only concern was whether countries like Ukraine could one day find themselves on the U.S. foreign adversary list.

How much land do foreigners own?

This isnt a simple question to answer.

According to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, foreign investors and companies own more than about 1.8% of all land in the U.S. and 3.1% of all privately held agricultural land.

The challenge for the federal government and for Ohio is that purchases can be hidden behind shell companies and straw buyers.

We know we will not be able to track every parcel, King said.

Congress looked at updating the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act last year.

Read more: Foreign entities own 500,000 acres of farmland in Ohio. Sherrod Brown seeks crackdown on outside ownership

In Ohio, HB 1 would create a document buyers sign swearing that they arent banned from buying property, and it gives local law enforcement authority to investigate whether the buyer is lying.

If we find out afterwards, King said. We have that record.

Anna Staver covers state government and politics for Cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer.
HB 190 would penalize Ohio public schools for using names and pronouns inconsistent with a student's birth gender without parental consent. John J. LaRosa | For NJ Advance

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Public schools could lose state funding for using student names and pronouns that dont align with their birth gender without written permission from parents, according to a new bill in the Ohio House.

House Bill 190 also penalizes schools if administrators, employees or contractors even ask students for their preferred names and pronouns. The bill says schools could be penalized if the employees or contractor ask students to call them a pronoun or title thats inconsistent with the adults birth sex.

HB 190 would apply to traditional public, charter and STEM schools, but not private schools.

The bill introduced Monday comes as conservatives, including Ohio Republicans, have focused on legislation related to transgender youth.

That includes a bill passed by the legislature late last year, known as the Parents Bill of Rights, which takes effect April 9. It requires schools to notify parents if a student requests to identify as a gender thats different than their sex at birth, among numerous other requirements.

READ MORE: How will Ohios Parents Bill of Rights' affect students? Schools wrestle with complicated questions

Sponsoring state Rep. Josh Williams, a suburban Toledo Republican, said last years bill doesnt go far enough.

We just believe that parents have a say. Its more than a notification. Its not good enough for a school to notify me that my son wants to go by a different name, he said. I think its essential that you get parental permission in order to do that. I think thats a parents choice, and a parents right on how they raise their children. So I would like to see it go a bit further.

Last years legislation doesnt require the state to withhold money from schools for violations.

HB 190 mandates the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to create a procedure for people to complain about alleged violations of the bill. DEW employees would have to investigate each complaint and submit a report to the DEW director.

If the director determines the school or its employee violated HB 190, DEW shall withhold 10% of the schools state foundation aid each month until the director confirms it is in compliance with the law.

Maria Bruno, a lawyer and executive director of Ohioans Against Extremism, an organization that promotes LGBTQ rights and a strong public education system among other policy positions, said right-wing conspiracy theorists believe schools will try to find loopholes in the law so that students can continue to identify as transgender.

Their whole conspiracy is that teachers are acting in such bad faith that they need to be essentially muzzled, she said.

Bruno noted that the new bill might be premature, since years bill hasnt taken effect yet, and the legislature doesnt know what that will look like in practice.

Last years bill requires all local boards of education to adopt policies to comply with it by July 1.

Laura Hancock covers state government and politics for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com.
Blast injures 2 policemen, driver in India's Chhattisgarh

Xinhua) 09:22, March 25, 2025

NEW DELHI, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Two policemen and a driver were wounded after Naxals triggered an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, police said Monday.

The blast went off Sunday evening at Gorela Nullha area in Maded police station jurisdiction in Bijapur district, about 467 km south of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh.

According to the police, the blast took place moments after their vehicle passed through the spot.

"A group of policemen inside the pickup truck had a narrow escape after IED was triggered. Though the vehicle was not directly hit, the three were hit by the shrapnel," a police official said. "The wounded were immediately removed to the nearest health facility."

The police said the contingent was returning from an operation when Naxals attempted to blow up their vehicle.

Last week, 30 Naxals and a policeman were killed in two separate fierce gunfights in the state. Of them, 26 Naxals and a policeman were killed in Bijapur district.

India's federal home minister has resolved to end the Naxalite movement in the country by March 31, 2026.

Reports said 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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
People at a demonstration march ending in front of the US consulate, under the slogan, Greenland belongs to the Greenlandic people, in Nuuk, Greenland, Saturday March 15, 2025. (Christian Klindt Soelbeck/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) AP

WASHINGTON, D. C. - Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance are heading to Greenland on Friday to receive a briefing on Arctic security issues and to meet with U.S. Service members.

Their visit to Pituffik Space Base, a U.S. Space Force facility on the islands northwest coast that was formerly known as Thule Air Force base, will take place in lieu of the Second Ladys previously announced visit to the Avannaata Qimussersu dogsled race in Sisimiut.

Greenlands prime minister had described the visit from Usha Vance as highly aggressive, amid President Donald Trumps publicly expressed desire to annex Greenland, which is currently a semiautonomous part of Denmark. Trump covets the islands rare earth minerals and other natural resources, and views its location as strategic for U.S. security.

In a social media post, the Cincinnati Republican said there was so much excitement around Ushas visit to Greenland this Friday that I decided I didnt want her to have all that fun by herself, and so Im going to join her.

He described Greenlands security as really important, adding that many other countries have threatened Greenlands territories and waterways as a means to threaten the United States, Canada and Greenland itself.

Speaking for President Trump, we want to reinvigorate the security of the people of Greenland because we think its important to protecting the security of the entire world, Vance added.

He said he believes leaders in both America and Denmark ignored Greenland for far too long to the detriment of international security.

We think we can take things in a different direction, so Im gonna check it out, said Vance.

Pituffik Space Base is the Department of Defenses northernmost installation. Operated by the United States Space Forces 821st Space Base Group, it supports missile warning, missile defense, and space surveillance missions.

A press release from Vances office noted that during World War Two, the United States established over a dozen military bases in Greenland to defend the North Atlantic from Nazi incursion. During the Cold War, the United States committed additional resources to Greenland to defend against Soviet missile attacks.

In the decades since, neglect and inaction from Danish leaders and past U.S. administrations have presented our adversaries with the opportunity to advance their own priorities in Greenland and the Arctic, the press release said.

According to Associated Press, Greenlands prime minister warned of American aggression and lamented a mess caused by the visit from Usha Vance that was announced Sunday, prompting her husband to blast Denmark for not doing its job and not being a good ally.

On Monday, Trump said the visit was based on friendliness.

Sabrina Eaton writes about the federal government and politics in Washington, D.C., for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.
GOLD MEDALIST, the agency of Kim Soo Hyun, has filed a complaint against the Garo Sero Research Institute under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.

The allegations are rooted in the distribution of a bootleg video which allegedly contained images of the actor exposing his lower body.

On March 24, 2025, GOLD MEDALIST reportedly said in its statement that the actions of Garo Sero Research Institute were not limited to this, and there were other unwholesome acts.

After the first complaint was filed on March 20, the institute again shared the images and even reportedly threatened Disney+, whose new K-drama Knock Off, starring Kim Soo Hyun, is slated to debut soon.

Garo Sero Research Institute showed the explicit photographs again on their YouTube channel during a live broadcast on March 21. GOLD MEDALIST added that this blatant flouting of legal standards was unacceptable and illegal.

According to the agency, "This conduct constituting an additional felony offense is the kind of indifference to the law and law enforcement. It is an unimaginable act."

Along with the reposting, Garo Sero Research Institute warned that they would publish a tape featuring Kim Soo Hyun if Disney+ did not pull the release of Knock Off.

GOLD MEDALIST also denies Garo Sero Research Institute's allegations about Kim Soo Hyun's similar Crimes in Nth Room case

The agency also said, 'Like all their previous claims, this is a complete fabrication, and of course, no such video exists." The agency then promised to take legal action again against the institute due to their repeated threats and false statement.

Fans and netizens expressed anger over the controversy and what it means for Kim Soo Hyun's project and image.
The Garo Sero Institute YouTube Channel stirred public interest with new allegations against actor Kim Soo Hyun.

As per Pann Nate, the channel's host, Garo Sero, made a hand-tying gesture during a livestream, hinting at evidence connected to the ongoing controversy surrounding Kim and the late actress Kim Sae Ron.

The turmoil began on March 10, when Kim Sae Ron's family alleged through Garo Sero that Kim Soo Hyun had been romantically involved with her since she was a minor.

Subsequent intimate photos of the pair surfaced online, prompting significant backlash. Initially, Kim Soo Hyun's agency dismissed the claims as "completely baseless," but on March 14, they acknowledged that the two dated from the summer of 2019 until fall 2020, after Kim Sae Ron had turned 18.

Amidst this scandal, Lee Jin Ho, another YouTuber, claimed on March 19 that Kim Sae Ron had married a non-celebrity boyfriend, became pregnant, and underwent an abortion.

He provided an audio recording purportedly of a conversation between Kim Sae Ron and a staff member discussing her pregnancy and marriage abroad.

However, Kim Se Ui, a representative from Gaseyeon, firmly refuted Lee's assertions during a livestream on March 23.

He argued that it would have been physically impossible for Kim Sae Ron to have become pregnant and have an abortion within the timeline Lee presented.

"She had only known her New York boyfriend for less than a month," he stated. "So how could she get pregnant and have an abortion by January 8?"

Se Ui further warned that Kim Soo Hyun should be concerned about additional revelations that could emerge, suggesting the implications are serious and potentially criminal in nature.

"This isn't just about dating a minor; it could be beyond grooming," he cautioned.

Adding to the intrigue, Se Ui made a gesture mimicking biting a pen and having his wrists tied, repeatedly questioning, "Mr. Kim Soo Hyun, you like this kind of thing, right?" This cryptic tease has captivated viewers and raised expectations for what might come next.

In response to the escalating situation, Kim Soo Hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, issued an official statement on March 24, announcing they would file an additional legal complaint against Garo Sero.

They reiterated their stance that any claims regarding footage at "Nth Room level" are unfounded. "These claims are completely false," the agency emphasized.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks next to President Donald Trump, in the Oval Office at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 21, 2025. Carlos Barria | Reuters

The White House said Monday it was reviewing how the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine was accidentally added to a group text in which people who appeared to be members of President Donald Trump's administration discussed plans to launch airstrikes against Houthi militants in Yemen. "At this time, the message thread that was reported appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain," the National Security Council said in a statement to NBC News. The statement came in response to an article published Monday by The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg, a veteran national security and foreign affairs journalist. Goldberg reported he had been added to a group chat called "Houthi PC small group" on March 13 via Signal, an encrypted messaging service widely believed to be more secure than other commercial texting applications. In the article, Goldberg described his initial skepticism, recalling that he discussed with colleagues whether the texts were "part of a disinformation campaign, initiated by either a foreign intelligence service, or, more likely, a media-gadfly organization" seeking to embarrass journalists. Goldberg reported that he went on to receive a series of messages on Signal that appeared to come from Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Michael Waltz and other prominent officials in the Trump administration.

U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz gestures in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 7, 2025. Leah Millis | Reuters

Goldberg quoted from the discussion and The Atlantic published screenshots of the Signal thread. He said he had decided not to report information related to the actual military plans that could potentially damage national security. Goldberg reported that the user labeled "Michael Waltz" celebrated the launch of a series of airstrikes against the Houthis on March 15 at 1:48 p.m. ET, seven minutes before Goldberg checked X and saw that explosions were being heard across Sanaa, Yemen's capital. "The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to our servicemembers or our national security," the National Security Council said in its statement. Goldberg reported that he exited the Signal group after he personally concluded it was "almost certainly real." "No one in the chat had seemed to notice that I was there. And I received no subsequent questions about why I left  or, more to the point, who I was," Goldberg wrote. In the article, Goldberg reported that a Signal account labeled "JD Vance" appeared to push back on the airstrike plans, saying in part: "I think we are making a mistake." The same account later replied to a user identified as "Pete Hegseth" and said: "if you think we should do it let's go." In a statement to NBC News, Vance's office said the vice president's "first priority is always making sure that the President's advisers are adequately briefing him on the substance of their internal deliberations." "Vice President Vance unequivocally supports this administration's foreign policy. The President and the Vice President have had subsequent conversations about this matter and are in complete agreement," the vice president's office said. Trump claimed he had no knowledge of the matter, telling a reporter in the Oval Office on Monday: "You're telling me about it for the first time." Read more NBC News How the White House is handling Elon Musk and potential conflicts of interest

Trump holds Cabinet meeting with Elon Musk in attendance

Trump's tariff 'Liberation Day' is a little over a week away but the details are still a mystery

Democrats erupt
Attendees pose for a group photo before the opening ceremony of the China Development Forum 2025 at the Diaoyutai Guesthouse on March 23, 2025, in Beijing. China News Service | China News Service | Getty Images

BEIJING  China courted the executives of major U.S. businesses at an annual conference this week in a sign of how Beijing seeks to offset trade pressures, rather than retaliate forcefully. China has long sought to attract foreign investment as a way to bolster growth, while tapping business interests for potential influence on the White House, particularly under U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S. has twice increased tariffs across all Chinese goods since January, but Beijing has only announced targeted duties and restrictions on a handful of American companies. Conversation on the sidelines of the state-organized China Development Forum this week in Beijing reinforced a more conciliatory stance than official rhetoric this month about how China is prepared to fight "any type of war" with the United States. Chinese conference attendees weren't that focused on what can be done to respond to U.S. tariffs, Stephen Roach, senior fellow at Yale Law School's Paul Tsai China Center, told CNBC. "The questions I've been getting more [are], why is Trump doing this? What is he trying to achieve? What does he think it takes to really make America great?" Roach said. He has attended the event since the early 2000s.

watch now

"My answer is this is an unprecedented period for America's role in the world economy. We're going back to a tariff regime that history tells us can be extremely destructive," Roach said, adding he expects more policy uncertainty in the U.S. and around the world "for a long, long time." U.S. stocks have swung in recent weeks as investors try to assess the economic impact of Trump's changing plans for tariffs on major U.S. trading partners. U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell last week said tariffs could delay progress on lowering inflation in the U.S.

A message of 'reassurance'

At this week's conference, China was trying to send a message of "reassurance"  on how it plans to boost consumption and how the country is headed in a "modestly positive direction" relative to what is happening in the U.S., said Scott Kennedy, senior advisor and trustee chair in Chinese business and economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank based in Washington, D.C. If the U.S. imposes significantly large tariffs in early April, "then you go from managing costs and de-risking to possibly de-coupling," Kennedy told CNBC. "And then that might mean the game is up. So I think the level of anxiety is pretty high. And that's why China is trying to provide this message of reassurance." The Trump administration has threatened a swath of new tariffs on major trading partners starting early April. China has increased its trade with Southeast Asian countries and the European Union, but the U.S. remains Beijing's largest trading partner on a single-country basis. The China Development Forum ran Sunday and Monday. Apple CEO Tim Cook was among the executives who attended, but Tesla CEO Elon Musk was not. "The increased optimism this year compared to last year at the CDF has been just so heart warming," Ken Griffin, CEO of hedge fund Citadel, said during an official panel at the forum. Trump "is committed to American companies having access to a global market," Griffin said. "And the President is willing to use tariffs to seek to enforce this worldview."

First step toward Xi-Trump meeting?

Also on Sunday, U.S. Republican Senator Steve Daines met Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing  the first time a U.S. politician has visited China since Trump began his latest term in January. "This was the first step to an important next step, which will be a meeting between President Xi and President Trump," Daines told the Wall Street Journal. "When that occurs and where it occurs is to be determined." The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Li urged cooperation and said no one can gain from a trade war, according to state media. FedEx CEO Raj Subramaniam, Boeing Senior Vice President Brendan Nelson, Cargill CEO Brian Sikes, Medtronic CEO Geoffrey Martha, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, UL Solutions CEO Jennifer Scanlon and U.S. China Business Council President Sean Stein were also present at Daines' meeting with Li, according to a foreign media pool report. China, the world's second-largest economy, remains a significant source of revenue for many multinational corporations, not to mention a major part of their supply chains. Despite its efforts to bolster international business ties, the country has warned of countermeasures on U.S. tariffs and taken incremental steps. Following U.S. sanctions on Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei during Trump's first term as president, Beijing launched an unreliable entities list that restricts foreign business activity with China. China added Calvin Klein parent PVH and a few other U.S. companies to the list after this year's tariff increases. On Monday, China also said it would soon reveal new measures that would give it a legal basis for countering foreign pressure.

Economic factors
A view of the logo of Novo Nordisk at the company's office in Bagsvaerd, on the outskirts of Copenhagen, Denmark, March 8, 2024.

A version of this article first appeared in CNBC's Healthy Returns newsletter, which brings the latest health-care news straight to your inbox. Subscribe here to receive future editions.

Novo Nordisk is taking aim at its rival, Eli Lilly , with a new obesity drug deal.

On Monday, the Danish drugmaker said it had agreed to pay up to $2 billion for the rights to an experimental drug from the Chinese pharmaceutical company United Laboratories International. The injectable treatment  UBT251  is in early development to treat obesity, Type 2 diabetes and other conditions, so it could take several years before it enters any market.

Novo Nordisk will pay $200 million up front and milestone payments of up to $1.8 billion, along with tiered royalties. The deal gives the company exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize the drug globally, but not in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

Novo Nordisk joins a slate of other pharmaceutical giants, such as Merck and AstraZeneca, that have recently inked relatively cheap deals with Chinese biotech companies for obesity drugs.

"While Trump tariffs and trade war talks continue on, we find it worthy of note that pharma continues to look to Chinese biotech names as a source for cheap early licensing agreements where large pharma can explore the potential of novel mechanisms with limited upfront investment," BMO Capital Markets analyst Evan Seigerman said in a note on Monday.

So, what's different about the new drug?

It takes a three-pronged approach to promoting weight loss and regulating blood sugar. Most commercially available obesity treatments target only one or two gut hormones to produce those effects.

Novo Nordisk's blockbuster obesity injection Wegovy and diabetes treatment Ozempic activate GLP-1. Meanwhile, Eli Lilly's weight loss drug Zepbound and diabetes treatment Mounjaro target both GLP-1 and another gut hormone called GIP.

Researchers say that activating a third gut hormone, in principle, could have a more potent effect on a person's appetite and satisfaction, leading to greater weight loss and added health benefits.

That's exactly what UBT251 does, as it targets GLP-1, GIP and another gut hormone called glucagon.

"The addition of a candidate targeting glucagon, as well as GLP-1 and GIP, will add important optionality to our clinical pipeline, as we look to develop a broad portfolio of differentiated treatment options that cater to the diverse needs of people living with these highly prevalent diseases," Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president for development at Novo Nordisk, said in a release on Monday.

Here's what Eli Lilly has to do with all of this.

Novo Nordisk's newly acquired drug is a clear potential competitor to Eli Lilly's so-called "Triple G" obesity drug retatrutide.

The experimental injection targets the same gut hormones as UBT251, and has shown even greater weight loss than Eli Lilly's existing drugs in mid-stage trials.

Retatrutide helped patients lose 24.2% of their body weight, or 58 pounds, on average after 48 weeks in a mid-stage trial of adults who were obese or overweight. Those who took the placebo lost 2.1% of their body weight after that same time period.

Eli Lilly expects to release results from a 68-week late-stage study in people with obesity and osteoarthritis of the knee in 2025  one of at least nine closely watched clinical trials on retatrutide.

That means Eli Lilly's drug could enter the market years ahead of Novo Nordisk's treatment.

Still, Seigerman noted that UBT251's data from a phase one trial in China on 36 patients is "impressive."

The highest dose of the weekly injection helped patients lose 15.1% of their weight on average after 12 weeks, compared to average weight loss of 1.5% in patients who took a placebo, according to Novo Nordisk's release.

The drug's safety data was consistent with other gut-hormone targeting therapies. The most common side effects were gastrointestinal and the majority were mild to moderate in severity.

"While results are early, we view these signs of efficacy as promising and potentially competitive," Seigerman said.

He added that the new deal may reflect Novo Nordisk's efforts to reposition itself following underwhelming late-stage data on its other experimental obesity drug called CagriSema. It is a combination of cagrilintide  a nascent form of weight loss treatment known as an amylin analog  and semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic.

Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Annika at annikakim.constantino@nbcuni.com.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the White House to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on Feb. 13, 2025 in Washington, DC.

India is open to cutting tariffs on more than half of U.S. imports worth $23 billion in the first phase of a trade deal the two nations are negotiating, two government sources said, the biggest cut in years, aimed at fending off reciprocal tariffs.

The South Asian nation wants to mitigate the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's reciprocal worldwide tariffs set to take effect from April 2, a threat that has disrupted markets and sent policymakers scrambling, even among Western allies.

In an internal analysis, New Delhi estimated such reciprocal tariffs would hit 87% of its total exports to the United States worth $66 billion, two government sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Under the deal, India is open to reducing tariffs on 55% of U.S. goods it imports that are now subject to tariffs ranging from 5% to 30%, said both sources, who sought anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media.

In this category of goods, India is ready to "substantially" lower tariffs or even scrap some entirely, on imported goods worth more than $23 billion from the United States, one of the sources said.

India's trade ministry, the prime minister's office and a government spokesperson did not reply to mail seeking comments.

Overall the U.S. trade-weighted average tariff has been about 2.2%, data from the World Trade Organization shows, compared with India's 12%. The United States has a trade deficit of $45.6 billion with India.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's U.S. visit in February, the two nations agreed to start talks towards clinching an early trade deal and resolving their standoff on tariffs.

New Delhi wants to strike a deal before the reciprocal tariffs are announced and Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch will lead a delegation of officials from United States for trade talks from Tuesday.

The Indian government officials warned that cutting tariffs on more than half of U.S. imports hinges on securing relief from reciprocal tax.

The tariff cut decision was not final, with other options under discussion such as sectoral adjustments of tariffs and product-by-product negotiations rather than a wide cut, said one of the officials.

India is also considering wider tariff reform to lower barriers uniformly, but such discussions are in early stages and might not figure immediately in talks with the United States, said one of the officials.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree speaks during a rally in solidarity "with the people of Gaza" in the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa, Yemen on Dec. 13, 2024.

The Israeli military said it had intercepted a missile over Israel on Monday that had been launched from Yemen, according to a statement.

The Houthis, undeterred by waves of U.S. strikes since March 15, fired two ballistic missiles toward Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, the group's military spokesman said in a televised statement early on Tuesday.

U.S. President Donald Trump also threatened to punish Iran over its perceived support for Yemeni Houthi militants.

Earlier, warning sirens sounded in several areas of Israel, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

The Houthis have vowed to escalate attacks, including those targeting Israel, in response to the U.S. campaign.

Houthis spokesman Yahya Saree said the group also targeted "the U.S. aircraft carrier Truman, using ballistic and cruise missiles and drones."

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.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov during a summit of leaders of nations, which are members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), in Moscow, Russia October 8, 2024.

Russia on Tuesday blamed Ukraine for the deadlock in ceasefire deal talks in the last 24 hours, with the defense ministry accusing Kyiv of carrying out attacks on its energy infrastructure in breach of an earlier agreement to cease such attacks.

Russia's defense ministry accused Ukraine of attacking a power grid on Russian territory on Monday, as well as gas facilities in Russian-occupied Luhansk and Crimea in Ukraine, claiming this showed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's "inability to negotiate" and comply with "any possible agreements."

U.S and Russian officials had been expected to release a joint statement on Tuesday after a day of talks between delegates in Saudi Arabia on Monday, amid ongoing discussions to broker a full 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine after three years of war.

Ukrainian officials then held their own talks with American officials in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday morning, but have not yet commented on the discussions that lasted for around an hour.

There has been no joint statement from either Russian and U.S. officials, as expected, or from U.S. and Ukrainian diplomats following their separate talks.

Ukraine has not commented on the Russian defense ministry's claims and said Monday that Russian forces had carried out deadly drone and missile strikes while it was holding held talks with U.S. officials.

Both Ukraine and Russia agreed last week to pause attacks on each others' energy facilities as a step toward a total ceasefire, but both have accused each other of breaking the agreement since then.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Kremlin said that it would not disclose the content of ceasefire deal talks with U.S. officials.

"Those were "technical" talks so the content of these talks won't be made public for sure. But I again repeat that the results are being assessed by Moscow and Washington and then we can speak of some statements," Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday, according to comments translated by NBC News.

Peskov added that there were no immediate plans for another call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump. The Kremlin official said contacts would continue between the Russian and U.S. diplomats, however.

The Monday talks appeared to focus on a maritime ceasefire deal covering the Black Sea  one of the focal points for hostilities during the war, which led to disruption in the shipping of regional agricultural and grain exports that caused turmoil in global supply chains.

Earlier Tuesday, Russian state media quoted a senior Russian official as stating that the discussions  which lasted 12 hours  had been "detailed and complex."
Check out the companies making headlines before the bell: UniFirst  The stock tumbled more than 10% after Cintas terminated discussions to acquire the workwear provider in a deal that would have been worth $275 per share in cash. In a statement, Cintas CEO Todd Schneider said, "While we continue to believe in the merits of a transaction, we were unable to have substantive engagement with UniFirst regarding key transaction terms. We do not believe further discussions are warranted at this time." KB Home  The homebuilder stock pulled back 8% after its first-quarter results missed Wall Street's expectations. KB Home posted earnings of $1.49 per share on $1.39 billion in revenue, while analysts surveyed by LSEG had penciled in $1.58 per share and $1.5 billion in revenue. KB Home also cut its fiscal 2025 revenue outlook. Trump Media  Shares gained 9% after the Truth Social parent announced a deal with Crypto.com to launch a series of exchange-traded funds and other related products. Trump Media said it plans to launch the funds later this year. Cloudflare  Shares popped 5.7% on the back of Bank of America's double upgrade to buy from underperform . BofA said the network security stock has improving fundamentals and catalysts that can help growth accelerate. Pentair  The water treatment company's stock climbed more than 1% after receiving an upgrade to outperform from neutral at Baird, which pointed to its slide in shares this year as well as long-term drivers as providing a buying opportunity for investors. Oklo  Shares fell nearly 7% after the advanced nuclear technology company posted a steeper annual loss compared to the prior-year period. In a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing , the company also said, "We are an earlystage company with a history of financial losses, and we expect to incur significant expenses and continuing financial losses." Carvana  Shares of the online used car marketplace advanced about 6% after Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock to overweight from equal weight. The firm said its recent pullback affords investors a "unique" opportunity to "gain exposure to a leader in auto retail and fleet fulfillment." American Electric Power  The stock slipped nearly 2% after the utility company said it is offering a $2 billion secondary sale of common stock through Citigroup and Barclays. Illumina  The DNA sequencing and array-based life sciences company rose 1.5% early Tuesday on a Wall Street Journal report that Corvex Management Chief Investment Officer and activist investor Keith Meister will join the board of directors, and former U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner Scott Gottlieb will become chairman, effective Friday. Illumina has slumped 35% over the past three months.  CNBC's Alex Harring, Michelle Fox Theobald and Scott Schnipper contributed reporting.
Here are Tuesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Morgan Stanley upgrades Carvana to overweight from equal weight The firm said investors should buy the dip in shares of Carvana. "A sharp pull-back in the share price offers a unique opportunity for investors to gain exposure to a leader in auto retail and fleet fulfillment." Bank of America upgrades Cloudflare to buy from underperform Bank of America said it sees "improving fundamentals" for the web security company. "The company offers a differentiated approach to AI, and we place a high probability on Cloudflare becoming the leader in AI-as-a-Service (AIaaS), which we expect will be the AI consumption method of choice for Enterprises." JPMorgan upgrades Miniso to overweight from neutral JPMorgan said the China retailer is well positioned for overseas expansion. "We upgrade Miniso to OW from Neutral, mainly on: (1) China SSSG [same store sales growth] to recover; (2) robust overseas expansion." Morgan Stanley reiterates Nvidia as overweight The firm said Nvidia's artificial intelligence chip, known as H20, is a beneficiary of China's AI capex. "Expect H20 to be strong again in the April quarter for Nvidia , with company commentary suggesting that China will make up ~10% or so of the data center segment in April" Deutsche Bank initiates Clearway Energy as buy Deutsche Bank said the clean energy company is well positioned. "We initiate coverage on Clearway Energy (CWEN) with a Buy rating and our 12- month Price Target is $38/sh. Implied upside is 26%." Baird upgrades Pentair to outperform from neutral Baird said the water treatment company is "best-in-class." "Upgrading PNR to Outperform on a meaningful margin expansion opportunity to at/near best-in-class levels (higher conviction around execution/progression of internal initiatives/cultural buy-in) and attractive long-term cycle dynamics/end market exposure." Berenberg initiates Coty as buy Berenberg said it sees a slew of positive catalysts ahead for the beauty company. "With the stock nearing trough relative valuation multiples, we believe the story at Coty is about to become more interesting." BTIG upgrades CrowdStrike to buy from neutral BTIG said Street estimates for the cybersecurity company are too low. "We are upgrading CRWD from a Neutral to a Buy Rating for two primary reasons. First, with the 7/19/2024 IT outage now eight months in the rearview mirror, we think CRWD has much better visibility on forecasts." Redburn Atlantic initiates Marsh & McLennan as buy Redburn says the insurance giant is one of the best positioned. " Marsh McLennan leads the industry with over $24bn in annual revenue, leveraging its global presence, diversified offerings and deep client relationships." Bank of America upgrades Alcon to buy from neutral The firm said the eyecare med tech company is on the verge of an accelerated earnings cycle. "We believe Alcon is on the cusp of an earnings upgrade cycle driven by product launches. In our view, investors were expecting too much, too soon from the product pipeline until management rebased expectations at the end of 2024 and more recently with the FY25 guidance." Piper Sandler reiterates Microsoft as overweight Piper Sandler said Microsoft is best positioned to weather a bumpy macro. "Buy the weakness." Piper Sandler reiterates Tesla as overweight The firm said brand damage is "overdone" for Tesla shares. "However: we think it's incorrect when investors and/or journalists point to politics as the primary driver of Tesla's double-digit y/y delivery declines (in Q1)." Bernstein reiterates Amazon, Walmart and Costco as outperform The firm named several stocks on Tuesday that are best positioned in e-commerce in a choppy macro. "We generally view the likes of AMZN, WMT , and COST as the best positioned to ride a macro storm given the combination of a defensive category mix, relative value, and membership lock-in that comes with each platform. In some ways, an extension of what we've seen in recent years." BTIG upgrades Capital One to buy from neutral The firm said the stock is cheap as it awaits word on the fate of its merger with Discover. "Our positive view of Capital One regardless of the merger outcome relies primarily on the significant excess capital that Capital One has built up since the merger was announced." Goldman Sachs reiterates AT & T as buy Goldman Sachs said in a note on Tuesday that the "upside case is increasing." "We have gained incremental conviction on our bull thesis on AT & T - and continue to see upside to both Street estimates and the stock's multiple - which in our view justifies healthy double-digit annualized returns for the stock."
Frank Bisignano testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on his nomination to be Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, March 25, 2025.

President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Social Security Administration, Frank Bisignano, faced senators' questions on Tuesday as to how involved he has been with recent changes at the agency under the Department of Government Efficiency.

The unofficial government entity known as DOGE has been tasked by the White House to root out waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government, including at the Social Security Administration, which provides benefit payments to millions of Americans each month.

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Following changes put in place by DOGE, including staff cuts and plans to close field offices, the Social Security Administration's phone lines often go unanswered, the website is crashing and "seniors are getting lost in the system," said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee.

The hearing, Wyden said, provides Bisignano, who is CEO of financial payments technology company Fiserv , to "tell the American people whose side he is on"  either the side of American workers or DOGE "bureaucracy."

Fiserv processes 250 million payments per day valued at about $2.5 trillion, Bisignano said Tuesday. The Social Security Administration handles approximately 74 million payments per month, he said.

If confirmed, Bisignano will be responsible for the leading Social Security Administration, which has a "critical mission and numerous operational and customer service challenges," said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho.

"I'm confident you're up to the task," Crapo told Bisignano at the hearing.
US President Donald Trump speaks to the press as he meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 13, 2025 as, seated from L to R, Vice Presient JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he was not upset with national security advisor Michael Waltz after he reportedly added a journalist to a Signal text thread in which top officials discussed pending military strikes.

"Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he's a good man," Trump told NBC News in a phone call when asked if he still had confidence in his top national security aide.

Trump blamed a lower-level staffer when asked how The Atlantic's editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, came to be included in a text thread that included Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

"It was one of Michael's people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there," the president said.

Trump doubled down later Tuesday, telling reporters during a White House meeting that Waltz "will continue to do a good job" and that he does not need to apologize.

Asked if anyone would be fired over the incident, Trump said, "We've pretty much looked into it."

Waltz, sitting near Trump in the meeting, denied knowing Goldberg and said that his team is "looking into and reviewing how the heck he got into this room."

Both men lobbed insults at Goldberg, whose reporting  especially his 2020 article accusing Trump of calling slain U.S. soldiers "suckers" and "losers"  has long drawn the president's ire.

Anna Bross, a spokeswoman for The Atlantic, said in a statement to NBC on Tuesday afternoon that the attacks "follow an obvious playbook by elected officials and others in power who are hostile to journalists and the First Amendment rights of all Americans."

"Our journalists are continuing to fearlessly and independently report the truth in the public interest," Bross said.

Goldberg revealed in a bombshell article Monday that his number on Signal, an encrypted messaging app, had been added on March 13 to a chat thread called the "Houthi PC small group."
Waymo is headed to Washington, D.C., the latest expansion for the small, but promising Alphabet business. The news Waymo One aims to launch its self-driving robotaxi service in the nation's capital in 2026, the company announced Tuesday. Waymo currently operates in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley and Phoenix. It also has a partnership with Uber to service Austin and Atlanta. Before opening in D.C., Waymo will work with local policymakers to tweak existing laws to allow for autonomous vehicles to operate without a human driver inside. Waymo began testing in D.C. last year using manually driven vehicles operated by employees. The company has been gathering data from rides across different neighborhoods to ensure the service will be ready by next year. Shares of Alphabet were up 1% Tuesday. Big picture Waymo provides more than 200,000 fully autonomous paid trips each week, according to the company. It completed four million trips in 2024 and now has a total of over five million rides under its belt. That's still small compared to Uber's daily average of 28 million trips. But Waymo has come a long way from its inception in 2009 as Google's self-driving project. Waymo became a standalone company in 2016 and today has a growing partnership with Uber to help drive growth in the AV market. Waymo One is housed in Alphabet's Other Bets segment, outside its core Search, YouTube and cloud businesses. Alphabet doesn't break out the financials for companies inside Other Bets, but given the significant investment needed to build and scale the service, it's likely the business is operating at a loss. In Alphabet's fourth-quarter earnings , Other Bets reported an operating loss of $1.2 billion. Still, Alphabet continues to invest heavily because it sees a "tremendous opportunity" that requires rapid scale to get more vehicles into more markets quickly, said Alphabet CFO Anat Ashkenazi at Morgan Stanley's Technology, Media & Telecom conference on March 4. Ashkenazi further suggested that Waymo's autonomous vehicle technology could be "the future of transportation" and that it has the potential to be a very meaningful and interesting opportunity for Alphabet. Bottom line The expansion of Waymo's network into new markets is a positive sign, showing it could become another revenue stream outside of its core and already mature businesses. Jim Cramer has previously said Waymo could be a "substantive reason to stay in Alphabet." However, Jim has been downbeat on the Google parent, which has lately been weighed down by multiple antitrust cases and the ongoing threat from AI chatbots biting into its dominance in search. These overhangs have led to the stock falling 10% this year. We last trimmed our position in the tech giant back in December , and currently have a 2 rating on the stock with a price target of $210. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long GOOGL. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
Oil held gains after US President Donald Trump threatened to punish any nation purchasing crude from Venezuela with a 25% tariff, raising the risk of supply disruptions.Brent was steady near $73 a barrel after closing 1.2% higher on Monday, while West Texas Intermediate was above $69 following a four-day gain. Trump issued an order targeting the South American nations oil and gas, which could crimp flows to refiners in China, India, Spain and the US.Venezuelas output averaged 875,000 barrels a day in 2024, or about 0.9% of total global oil production. The country primarily produces heavy, sour crude, which is used to make products such as diesel and fuel oil.Trumps trade policies and retaliatory measures have led to increased volatility across global markets, with benchmark oil futures down more than 10% since hitting this years peak in mid-January. The Venezuela tariff would coincide with other so-called reciprocal levies by the US.China officially resumed imports from Venezuela in February 2024 after US sanctions were eased, making some purchases for the first time since late 2019. Unofficially, the worlds top crude importer has been frequently taking the nations oil for years, according to traders and third-party data providers, which has often been masked as bitumen mix.
If youve been interested/enthusiastic about Chinas DeepSeek AI, youre not alone  Apple CEO Tim Cook also seems impressed with the tech, which he calls excellent  though he fell short of sharing any plans to integrate these models within his companys own AI efforts.

Cook was in China to woo government and suppliers as the company remains anxious to maintain its second largest business geography even in the face of growing politically-driven tensions with the US. Apple shareholders would expect nothing less from company leadership than to work to preserve company revenue. Apples long-standing manufacturing alliance with China also counts for something, even as iPhone sales have declined 25% in the region.

Deep local partnerships

Apple Intelligence, the companys so-far disappointing take on generative AI (genAI), is not yet available in China, but its thought the company has been speaking with local partners and officials to find some way to make it available. Apple is required to work with a Chinese provider of AI services in the market. To that end, it is expected to introduce support for AI models from Baidu and/or the Alibaba Group to replace ChatGPT in Apples implementation. (The assumption about why DeepSeek was not selected is that it is not yet ready to scale to meet the needs of Apples huge customer base.)
As a parent, it can be challenging to keep up with the latest trends and technologies that your kids are using. Social media, in particular, has become a significant part of daily life for children and teens.

Almost every teenager uses social media, with platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram being the most popular. While social media can be a great tool for connecting with others and expressing oneself, there are also concerns about its impact on mental health. The U.S. Surgeon General has highlighted growing evidence that excessive social media use can harm young people's mental well-being.

Understanding the effects of social media on children and teens is crucial for parents. On one hand, social media can provide a sense of community and support, especially for those who feel isolated or marginalized. Many teens report feeling more accepted and connected through social media.

On the other hand, there are risks associated with excessive use, such as increased symptoms of depression and anxiety, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content. Parents need guidance on how to manage their children's social media use effectively, ensuring that it remains a positive experience.

Balancing the Benefits and Risks

Social media can have both positive and negative effects on children and teens. Positively, it offers a platform for self-expression and can connect young people with others who share similar interests or identities.

For example, social media can provide access to information and communities that might not be available locally, helping teens feel more connected and supported. However, excessive use is linked to negative outcomes, including disrupted sleep patterns, decreased physical activity, and increased exposure to harmful content. For instance, teens who spend more than three hours daily on social media are at a higher risk of experiencing depression and anxiety.

To manage these risks, parents can take several steps. First, setting clear rules about device use is important. Keeping devices out of bedrooms can help improve sleep quality, which is essential for mental health. Establishing a family social media plan can also help set boundaries and educate children about online safety.

Open communication is key; parents should talk to their teens about their social media experiences without being overly intrusive, allowing them to explore safely while maintaining trust. By following these guidelines and being mindful of their own social media habits, parents can help their children use social media in a healthy and positive way.

Guiding Your Child Through the Digital Age

In conclusion, social media is a double-edged sword for kids and teens. While it offers benefits like connection and self-expression, it also poses risks such as mental health issues and exposure to harmful content.

By understanding these effects and taking proactive steps, parents can help their children use social media responsibly. Setting boundaries, maintaining open communication, and being role models in our own social media use are crucial strategies. As parents, we have the opportunity to guide our children in using social media in a way that enhances their lives without compromising their well-being.
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When archaeologists dig up an old relic and dont know what it is, they often speculate that it has religious or ritual significance. One reason for this is that some of the best-preserved stuff in history included ancient temples, which had plenty of religious and ritual significance. The other reason is that everyone likes to feel theyre doing something important, and it feels cooler to imagine you discovered a sacrificial dagger rather than a poop knife.

That creates the idea that the entire field of archaeology is about collecting sacred magic artifacts. But plenty of old stuff that gets dug up isnt like that at all. Instead, it leaves you saying, Huh. People back then were just like us. Just a big bunch of idiots.

5 One Frustrated Kids Homework Archaeology spans the entire past of humanity, including both the prehistoric period, for which archaeology is our only tool, and periods within the historical record, where archaeology finds what fell between the cracks. Don't Miss For example, consider the Russian town of Novgorod (no relation to Novigrad from The Witcher  both simply mean new town). Though historical records mention the place from as far back as the ninth century, we dont have newspapers tracking the day-to-day life for peasants during the early years of the Grand Duchy of Moscow. So, a series of manuscripts we discovered in Novgorod, written on birch bark, would seem to be able to tell us a lot. However, the ones we found turned out to have been written by a seven-year-old. His name was Onfim. gramoty.ru Here, he started out writing Bible verses then switched to doodling. It the below piece, we see that Onfim was writing out the alphabet. We conclude this was his homework. But he quickly got tired with that and turned to drawing someone on a horse slaying an enemy. Archaeologists believe that the knight was Onfim himself, and that the enemy was his teacher. gramoty.ru In those days, they sent you to counseling if you didnt think about slaying your teacher. Some of these may be difficult to make out. The one below looks like just a mess of scratches. Fortunately, redoing the sketch as line art makes it more clear. More fortunately still, Onfim added text explaining it. I am a wild beast, he wrote, indicating that thats a wild beast, and the beast is Onfim. He also wrote, Greetings from Onfim to Danilo, which is how we figured out the his name. Advertisement gramoty.ru Danilo is either a friend or his personal nickname for Death. The below sketch is of Onfims parents. Another one has text on it that says, This is my Dad. He is a warrior. When I grow up, I want to be a warrior just like him. This idea  that sons loved their fathers  shakes up everything we ever thought we knew about humanity. gramoty.ru Plus, men had so many fingers back then. They lost them when evolution no longer considered them necessary.

4 The Meat-Shaped Stone The next time youre in Taipei, set some time aside to visit the National Palace Museum. You might get a chance to see the fabulous treasure known as the Meat-Shaped Stone. National Palace Museum Do not lick it! Licking is forbidden. The Meat-Shaped Stone is  get this  a piece of stone that is shaped like meat. The specific type of stone is jasper, and the specific type of meat is pork, as this looks like one particular Hangzhou way of red braising pork belly. Advertisement The stone dates to the Qing Dynasty, but we dont know exactly when it was made or by whom. The museum insists that the piece reveals the dual Chinese veneration of art and food (which is, of course, a characteristic unique to China and not just two things that literally every culture likes). Its a highlight of the museum, naturally, and also occasionally goes on international tours, attracting fans everywhere. The museum also has an exhibit called the Jadeite Cabbage: National Palace Museum Its a cabbage... made of jade. This one is far newer and has little historical importance at all, says the museum. This leaves curators utterly baffled as to why people enjoy seeing it as much as they do the Meat-Shaped Stone.

3 The Mysterious Sex Coupons Advertisement In a couple different Ancient Roman sites, weve discovered metal tokens, which have been named spintriae. On one side of the coin, usually, is a Roman numeral. On the other is an engraving of two people having sex. British Museum The numerals gone from this one, but the sex is there, and its spectacular. These tokens dont all have the same engraving of two people having sex, in the way that every penny will have the same famous head on it. Each of these offers a different relief on its face, showing people having sex in a different position. Advertisement via Wiki Commons This one flatters the male more, and suffers artistically. If these were merely engravings of people having sex, we could call it erotic art and leave it at that. But the nature of these items  two-sided metal discs, with a number on one end  seems to mean theyre coins. They served some utilitarian function, and now we have to speculate about what. Gaston Vorberg Two-sided coins make for terrible art. You cant display both sides at once. One explanation youll see is that these were tokens used as currency in a brothel. You werent allowed to bring the emperors image into the brothel, says the story, so Romans used these coins instead. A lot of people seem to like the sound of this explanation, but archaeologists have to pipe up and point out, We have nothing backing up that theory. Someone just made it up. Further elaborations, claiming that each token purchased the exact sex act pictured on the token, are also popular but dont sound likely. British Museum Man-on-man? Ah, yes. Ol number fifteen. Another theory says these were game tokens. One of these tokens bears a message reading, QVID LVDIT ARRAM DET QVOD SATIS SIT. Online translators tell us that means, Whatever you say, that is enough, but scholars assure us that wed be better off translating that as, Whoever wants to play, let them give sufficient deposit to respond. This seems to fit fine with the brothel theory, but it also fits fine with the idea that these were merely pieces in a sex-themed board game. This part isnt our joke, by the way  this is a legitimate theory. Advertisement John Faithfull Or maybe they were positions a pop star had to assume at various points during a concert. The most interesting observation about these is that some of the exact images can be found on the walls of a different site: the baths at Pompeii. This could be a total coincidence, but apparently these bath walls also have numerals next to the images, suggesting a connection to the tokens. Advertisement To figure out the truth, we must now collect all the tokens and take them to Pompeii, so we can insert them into slots there and see what opens up. This would be a great scene in the Indiana Jones porn parody, whose title is so obvious that we arent even going to mention it here. Advertisement

2 A 5,000-Year-Old Toy Car Lets describe for you an ancient site that should definitely be the setting for that archaeological thriller youre currently writing. Its called Sumatar Harabesi and is in Turkey, close to Syria. Weve found carvings there invoking the Lord of the gods  a god of the Moon named Sin. Sins symbol is a horned pillar, and one of these sits in front of a cave there. Biblical tradition says this place is where Moses lived when he was driven out of Egypt, and the tombs in Sumatar Harabesi go back even further than that. A hundred of these tombs circle a central mound. In one of these tombs, we found an artifact dating back five millennia. Advertisement It was a little toy car. Anadolu Agency Vroom, vroom! Archaeologists found the toy chariot and four toy wheels. The axles must have been made from some material that rotted long ago, but we can figure out how the wheels must have connected with the rest. The toy car had no motor, which is hardly surprising, as motors wouldnt be invented for many thousands of years. You just had to imagine a horse pulling it. Or maybe you could tie it to a pair of mice. Anadolu Agency The zoom pattern made it move faster. Archaeologists conclude that this wasnt some art piece or a scientific model but was a toy, designed for children. They found it in this tomb because it was a tomb for a child. The presence of a childs tomb tells us nothing new  we always knew that most children back then died. But now, we know that kids had cool cars to play with.
There are probably fans who mostly remember the original run of Roseanne for episodes about topics like Roseanne (played by the mononymous comic), her husband Dan (John Goodman) and her sister Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) smoking their old weed stash and getting paranoid, or about Becky (Alicia Goransen) loudly farting at school. Those fans might find The Conners jarring: Becky grapples with alcoholism, then has a baby with an undocumented immigrant who gets deported; Darlene (Sara Gilbert) tries to support her son Mark (Ames McNamara) when he gets punished at school for PDA with his boyfriend; Dan, still working, gets crushed by a vending machine  and all that is before COVID makes the familys finances even more perilous.

It can be tough to watch! But now, the premiere of the shows seventh and final season seems like it might be setting up a series finale that falls somewhere between the realistic bleakness of its run thus far, and the inauthentic fantasy of the lottery arc that closed things out the first time.

Perhaps because there had been some doubt that there would be a seventh season, producers ended Season Six with most of the characters doing about as well as they, or we, could hope. Jackie has retired from running the familys diner, handing it off to Darlenes daughter Harris (Emma Kenney). Harris steps into adulthood go beyond her job: With Darlenes help, she also moves out of Darlenes house and into her first apartment. As Harris exits, Becky decides to change her plan to move out with her daughter Beverly Rose (Charlotte Sanchez); instead, Beckys boyfriend Tyler (Sean Astin) moves in. Darlenes husband Ben (Jay R. Ferguson) gets a generous insurance settlement following a fire at his familys hardware store, and he decides to use it to buy a hardware industry trade magazine. The fire also meant the end of Dans employment at the store, but Bens decision to use part of the settlement to pay off Dans mortgage means Dan can join Jackie in retirement.

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Producers did leave themselves some plot threads to play out in the six-episode seventh season, as the premiere (which airs on ABC tomorrow night) reminds us. Darlene gets a promotion at her college cafeteria job that leaves her less exhausted in her off hours, but it comes just as Bens entire focus is on launching the magazine. Jackies adjustment to her retirement has been sufficiently uneasy for her to pitch herself to return to Lanfords understaffed police force after a multi-decade absence. Mark had better hope she doesnt get that job back, since shes figured out that his amazingly lucrative new job isnt coding for a Fortune 500 company: its illegal hacking, with the goal of saving up for his tuition at the University of Chicago. The premiere also introduces a new storyline: Jackie has found out the family could have standing to sue a pharmaceutical company for Roseannes opioid-overdose death.

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Im not sure theres a more efficient encapsulation of The Conners than that its most potentially hopeful story is derived from its foundational tragedy. But committing to realism has meant that wins for the titular Conners tend to have come at a cost  of the hardware store last season, to name one. Co-showrunner Bruce Helford has said of the titular family, They will never win the lottery, and they will never be rich. And while a share of a hypothetical class-action settlement that could range from a minimum of $3,500 to the mid-five figures (assuming it parallels the actual case against Purdue Pharmaceuticals) might not be much to a TV creator whos seen multiple projects go into syndication, it could be a life-changing amount of money for the Conners. Dans reaction to Jackies suggestion of a lawsuit sends him spiraling back into grief, which elevates Goodmans performance. Latter-day Dan cant really be on par with Goodmans justly acclaimed performance as Eli in The Righteous Gemstones, but in the Conners premiere, Goodman comes alive in a way we havent seen him do as Dan in years.

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Jackies possible return to the police force could test the shows commitment to realism, however. Though police departments actually are facing recruitment shortfalls, producers at The Conners could lose a significant percentage of its audience if it follows the typical copaganda playbook instead of portraying the most likely scenarios with (and attitudes toward) law enforcement from the characters we have come to know in the nearly 40 years since Roseanne premiered. The fact that the show has cast Metcalfs real-life daughter Zoe Perry as Jackies main point of contact with the department would seem not to portend an ACAB narrative; then again, this show does like to zig when youre expecting it to zag. I dont think the show would give the family a legal settlement only for this new cop character to arrest Mark and require the Conners to spend it on his defense, but if any show ever were going to do that, this is the one.

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Earlier seasons have already addressed both Ben and Darlenes difficulty connecting sexually, and her platonic friendships crossing emotional lines, so Im not convinced that going back over old ground is the best use of the limited time available in this short season, particularly when theres new stories the show could be exploring with its youngest adults, Harris and Mark. (That said, there are so many characters to feature that I cant be too exercised not to get a final farewell with DJ.) Still, the marvel of The Conners is that these characters are so well-drawn, precisely performed and sincerely beloved that the franchise not only survived its former stars racist scandals but has thrived without her.

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The Conner family is part of TV history: However it happens, and whatever quibbles we may have, it will be hard to say goodbye.
Chelsea Handler opens her new special, The Feeling, by thanking the homosexual fans whove gotten her where she is today  particularly the gay men, whom she gives a special shout-out for their part in having gotten vaccinated against monkeypox a few years ago so that straight people never had to deal with an epidemic. Handler goes on to share useful public health information about how the disease is spread: anal penetration is the main one, so the CDC said you should avoid it, as if it just sneaks up on you at the bank, Handler jokes. But she also lets straight audience members know that anal penetration is trending, and advises anyone thinking of trying it out for the first time, You have to pick a medium to small male. Cant do that with 50 Cent. No. Jo Koy, maybe, but not 50 Cent.

Thats the thing about a Chelsea Handler special: When you fire it up, you cant say you dont know what youre going to get.

Handler is approaching the end of her third decade as a stand-up comic. Shes also hosted her own talk shows, produced other peoples talk shows, written books, raised money for Democratic candidates and been feted for her allyship to the LGBTQ+ community. That allyship has sometimes been undermined by jokes suggesting that publicly homophobic politicians are actually queer and closeted. Handler has also faced controversies about her fetishization of Black men, her confused attitudes about white privilege and her support of Israel. Not to be reductive, but: yes, all of that does describe a typical white liberal woman in her 50s.

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Handler may not have unlearned all her worst tendencies and ideas, but based on The Feeling  which dropped on Netflix today  she seems to have mostly learned which ones she shouldnt talk about on stage. A few iffy jokes barely qualify as acceptable, like the one about 50 Cent and Jo Koy. Making it specifically about two men Handler dated (including one who made his penis size a matter of public discussion himself) as opposed to a racial generalization of the kind she might have made 10 years ago: thats growth, of a sort. Then theres the story about a classmate named Aaron who was permitted to mutter profanities in the schoolyard because, as a teacher explained, he had Tourette syndrome  which, once a young Chelsea looked it up, she decided she had too so that she could curse out her dad at the dinner table. A joke about this disability was edited out of The Simpsons decades ago, but Handler cannily frames hers as kid nonsense; the butt of the joke isnt Aaron, its the father Handler didnt respect  and, secondarily, Handler herself.

Kid nonsense is a good shorthand for the first half of The Feeling, which paints a clear picture of what young Chelsea was like. She claims her contempt for her parents began at birth, when she saw they had brought her, as the youngest child of six, into a family that afforded her no chance of upward mobility. She became fixated on making money, which she did easily by opening a hard lemonade stand (to parents and anyone over 10  obviously, I had guidelines) and babysitting, saving close to $8,000 as a pre-teen; a formative motivator was taking her first-ever plane ride at age 10 and feeling she was meant to be in first class, which her mother couldnt afford. The triumph she describes at taking a flight the next year with the first-class ticket she secretly booked and paid for herself  and sending her twentysomething brothers to the back of the plane without her  is entirely unsurprising given the woman Handler has become.

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When she wasnt trying to make money, young Chelseas main activity seems to have been sexual self-gratification. This is something, we hear, that she discovered by chance one summer at the familys vacation home in Marthas Vineyard (I know that makes us sound like we were wealthy. We werent. I dont know how my dad got that house. Im sure he stole it from somebody) when a cast on her broken arm bumped up intriguingly against what she calls her Pikachu. All her friends back home seem to have also just learned about this pastime judging by her invitation to a sleepover expressly built around getting the feeling. As a performer, Handler can seem armored, so the extensive excavation of her younger selfs often humiliating sexual adventuring gives her an unexpected vulnerability; it also makes a great case for why Handler doesnt want a daughter for herself who might be like herself.

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Talking about recent events in her adulthood gets Handler into material thats a lot more expected, and a lot less winning. First, theres the story of the first COVID summer she spent, with her siblings, in a rented mansion in Maine. When one of Handlers sisters warns her that its in a right-wing area, Handler intensely describes how excited she was about disrupting a Republican enclave: Ill have sex with all my Black friends and Asian friends, well do anal on the lawn all day long, saluting your fucking flag! It turns out Handler is friends with the Bush twins, Jenna and Barbara, the latter of whom invites Handler and her siblings to Kennebunkport for pickleball. (Handler and I dont agree about everything, but were in lockstep on having heard everything about that sport that well ever need to.) Handler doesnt want to go and risk running into her friends father, former President George W. Bush, and making a scene. But her siblings talk her into going: She just has to get very high first.

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At the compound, even though Barbara had promised Handler that Daddy wouldnt be there, he is; he wants a hug; he wants to show Handler his paintings; and, at her request, he takes a selfie with her. And thats it. Handler has told this story many times prior to its appearance in the special, saying he was a nice guy. I know a certain kind of liberal has decided that any Republican who can manage to behave with more decorum than Donald Trump is respectable. But, again, Handler is someone whos received multiple accolades for her support of the queer community, so she probably doesnt agree with him that queer couples should be barred from being foster parents, that Dont Ask, Dont Tell was a good policy or that a constitutional amendment should have banned same-sex marriage. (We know for sure she doesnt agree with him on Texass anti-gay sodomy law, which he strongly supported as governor until it was struck down in 2000.) I guess Handler thinks repeated mentions of the four edibles she took for this visit make her seem edgier and the story less shameful than Ellen DeGeneress defense of her friendship with Bush back in 2019. I cant say I agree.

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The best proof that Handler thinks Bushs reputation has been laundered is that her name-dropping story about him comes without caveats. Thats not the case with her chunk on her early COVID crush on Andrew Cuomo, though it goes on for so long I wasnt sure if she just hadnt heard that hes become radioactive since then. (She has.) Shes also got a story about meeting Bill Cosby before his scandals had come to light; I wont spoil the kicker, but it does close the special on an ugly, sour note she apparently thinks is cheekier than I do.

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The early going of The Feeling tells us Chelsea Handler has always been herself; maybe the end tells us she always will be. If you feel like hearing from a wine mom type and the ones in your actual life have already told you all their stories, The Feeling might give you exactly the feeling youre looking for.
The comedy stars bowed down at the funny feet of Conan OBrien last weekend as he received the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Adam Sandler, for example, recalled the moment when he heard OBrien would be taking over the late-night slot once held by David Letterman. Right when they said Conan, I swear to God  every fucking guy, every comedian  there was no jealousy. We were like, Fuck yeah! Hes the best, man! We loved you. Youre faster than all of us. Youre nicer than all of us. And Im so happy this life was yours, buddy.

Sarah Silverman lovingly remembered her many appearances on Conans show. Each time, it was just such a magical experience, you know, she said. It's like a first date with someone whos so funny and so charming that you kind of trick yourself into thinking theyre hot.

But not all comedians are so impressed. Kevin Nealon tried to set the record straight this week on the Conan OBrien Needs A Friend podcast. While congratulating OBrien, he reminded his old Saturday Night Live colleague that the Mark Twain honor was a prize, not an award. Seriously, a prize is like a Cracker Jack toy, am I right? Nealon asked. Its a prize. Dont get all excited.

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Youre such an asshole, giggled OBrien, imagining himself as a prize pig wearing a ribbon.

Weve had a good run, man, Nealon said. I worked hard. You got lucky.

I think you believe that, responded Conan.

I think you open yourself up to luck, Nealon clarified. And boy, did you get it.

Despite OBriens alleged lack of humor, Nealon also chastised him for not being in touch with his sadder emotions. Conan admitted he rarely cries, beginning a story about a youth wrestling accident when his elbow got bent backwards.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz, snored Nealon, tranquilized by the mind-numbing banality of OBriens tale.

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You tricked me into telling a real story about my childhood and my mom, and then you totally torpedoed me! accused OBrien, red with laughter.

After everyone insisted that OBrien finish his story, the Mark Twain Prize winner tried again, but he didnt get far. Losing interest, warned Nealon.

The punchline: Conans mom knew it was serious when her son cried, which he never did. A trip to the hospital revealed a shattered elbow.

Nealon was unimpressed. Are you okay with me telling that story to other people? he asked, sarcasm dripping into the podcast microphone. Its such a good story.

Feeling guilty, Nealon tried to end the podcast on a sincere moment of appreciation for OBrien. People love you, he said. Do you know the most watched Hiking with Kevin on YouTube is Conan OBrien? You are so famous, and I think about this a lot. When I go places, I dont get recognized. I think, Conan would get recognized here. You can go to Finland, you can go to China, and they know who you are. Is it hard to be that popular for no reason?

Conan could only put his head in his hands. I dont know why I keep having you back.
Puddy was the original airline raw dogger.

At least according to Patrick Warburton, the actor who played Elaines stoic beau on Seinfeld. Raw dogging, as it relates to airline flights, describes the viral trend featuring travelers who endure entire plane rides without a book, music or movie as a distraction. The practice became so popular in meme-world that the American Dialect Society named raw-dogging its 2024 word of the year.

Years before the trend took off, however, Puddy was staring into the meaningless void. In the Seinfeld episode, The Butter Shave, Puddy and Elaine reconcile after another breakup on a transatlantic flight. All is hearts and flowers until Puddy decides to gaze straight ahead for the entire flight instead of reading a book offered by Elaine. No nap, no literature  just studying the back of the seat rest for hours.

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Elaine tries to accept Puddys choice for a moment before losing it and breaking up with him yet again. I cannot take this! she says. I mean, look at this! Nothing has changed! Weve been back together two hours, and were having the same problems we had 12 hours ago!

Not everyone reacts like Elaine, but some people do think raw dogging is strange and uncomfortable. All that time, simply alone with ones thoughts? Many shudder at the very idea. And now that raw dogging has become a bit of a thing, Warburton has taken to TikTok and Instagram to say he feels a bit responsible for passengers who pull a Puddy.

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Warburton is doing more than offering Puddy proof that hes behind the fad  the comic actor is worried about the mental health of raw doggers. My concern is that somebodys gonna get hurt if you go into this thing blindly, he warns, tapping his temple. Just not reading, not watching something  you better be okay with whats going on up here, inside your ol noggin.

Take it from a pro  Warburton confesses that hes not always comfortable with what is flying around his own brain. At least its weird and entertaining at times, he says.

Just be careful, thats all Im saying, Warburton concludes. Its not for novices.
Phishing has long been a primary source for security breaches  a major issue that, despite years of security awareness training, remains a top cybersecurity concern today.

But thanks to refinements of tactics alongside malign repurposing of AI technologies, the longstanding social engineering technique continues to evolve, and cybercriminals are finding new ways to try to trick users into clicking on bad links. The games (essentially) the same; it just got more fierce.

Attackers no longer just copy logos and spoof domains; they hijack legitimate email threads, embed malicious links in ongoing conversations, and even use compromised business emails to make their phishing attempts look more authentic.
China enters 'Boao moment' after CDF in opening-up push

09:29, March 25, 2025 By Liu Yang, Yin Yeping, Ma Jingjing ( Global Times

The China Development Forum (CDF), one of the country's major international events held after its annual two sessions, concluded in Beijing on Monday, with participants both from home and abroad optimistic about the country's economic prospects, hailing the country's firm commitment to opening-up.

With the conclusion of the CDF, China ushers in its "Boao moment," as the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) is set to kick off its annual conference in South China's Hainan Province on Tuesday. With the theme "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future", this year's event, which will be held from Tuesday to Friday, will focus on development, foster dialogue, explore innovative formats, and value tangible outcomes, all aimed at promoting international development and cooperation, the Global Times learned from the event organizer.

The two major forums once again highlight China's efforts to create more opportunities for cooperation, integrating foreign enterprises into its economic growth while refining policies based on global perspectives, in contrast to certain country's irresponsible moves that escalate global uncertainty and tension, an expert said.

Stage for cooperation

Ding Xuexiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, will attend and deliver a keynote speech at the opening plenary of the BFA Annual Conference 2025 on Thursday, according to China's Foreign Ministry.

Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Honorable Chief Adviser of Government of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus, Kazakhstan's First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk are among the national leaders and government officials to attend the BFA Annual Conference, the forum announced on Monday.

The event will bring together nearly 2,000 representatives from over 60 countries and regions. Over four days, the forum will feature around 50 events and sub-forums and focus on four subject areas: building trust and promoting cooperation in a fast-changing world; re-balancing globalization for inclusive development; accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals for more effective responses to global challenges; and strengthening AI application and governance for innovation-driven development, according to China Media Group.

Ban Ki-moon, chairman of Boao Forum for Asia, said on BFA's WeChat account on Monday that the year 2025 will see such changes manifest themselves in both challenges and opportunities. With half of the world's population and over 70 countries and areas having new leadership in place, the year 2025 must gear up for more complexities, new developments in unilateralism and protectionism, and greater shocks to world peace and global development, which has given rise to renewed worries, concerns and anxieties in Davos, Munich, quite a few international conferences and the wider global community.

In Asia and in Boao, however, we are seeing a different picture and sounding a different note. Asia is not just leading the world in economic development as the chief growth engine and contributor. It is emerging as a technology pioneer and innovation hub, with impressive advances, eye-catching breakthroughs, and down-to-earth applications in AI and renewables. It is a frontrunner and star performer in alleviating poverty, combating desertification, and progressing on other SDGs, setting inspiring examples for its developing peers to follow. In particular, it is a leading voice for multilateralism, free trade, and globalization. The Asian Miracle, to a large extent, is the miracle of globalization and deep integration with the world economy, Ban noted.

On the same day, the media center for the BFA officially opened to reporters from around the world, indicating that the forum is fully prepared and ready to welcome regional leaders, government officials, business executives and scholars from Asia and around the world to promote cooperation and tackle regional and global challenges.

"Amid rising trade tensions, the BFA once again serves as a vital economic cooperation platform for the region, providing an opportunity to foster dialogue at both regional and global levels," Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Monday.

The forum offers an important occasion for Asian nations to address trade pressures, including growing protectionist moves from certain countries that are reshaping global trade patterns, Zhou said.

Green in focus

Since its establishment in 2001, the themes of past BFA annual conferences have consistently aligned with Asia's development trajectory, including sustainable green development.

Stepping into Boao, one is immediately struck by the vibrant greenery  not just the lush tropical vegetation but also the city's commitment to sustainable development. A testament to this is the fleet of electric shuttle buses gliding through the streets and other green facilities available in the region.

In recent years, Boao has been actively promoting green development and building a zero-carbon demonstration zone, making it an important window into China's efforts toward sustainable development, the China News Service reported. In 2024, the demonstration zone achieved a 96.2 percent reduction in carbon emissions, becoming the first region in China to reach near-zero carbon emissions, the report said.

"These practices have not only raised public awareness of environmental protection but also provided a valuable reference for the development of the green economy in Asia and beyond," Bai Ming, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Monday.

At this new historical juncture, China uses BFA as a platform to showcase its achievements in green and low-carbon development, while also incorporating them into broader discussions on its commitment to openness, cooperation, and sharing development opportunities with the world, Bai added.

Bringing certainty to world

The two-day CDF has drawn international attention. "China is seeking to establish itself as a staunch defender of the multilateral economic system against the backdrop of the tariff war that the US has unleashed on its trading partners such as China, Canada, and Mexico," DW said in a report related to the CDF.

CNN reported that "The gathering, known as the China Development Forum, has long served as a key opportunity for exchange between top Chinese officials and foreign business leaders. This year, it has an outsized importance as a platform for informal US-China diplomacy in a moment of uncertainty."

"It's great to feel the atmosphere around the policy-making process here [in Beijing]. There is a lot of enthusiasm and optimism about the possibility of China's economy," Tim Summers, a research affiliate of the Lau China Institute at King's College London and an assistant professor at the Centre for China Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, told the Global Times on the sidelines of the China Development Forum on Monday.

"China's two sessions this year showed a high level of stability and confidence in the years to come. We see that the Chinese government continues to focus on the transformation of the country to high-quality growth. We call it greener, healthier, more digital, and we believe we can really contribute here," Marc Horn, president of German sci-tech giant Merck in China, who will fly to Hainan on Tuesday to attend the upcoming BFA, told the Global Times.

Zhou noted that while US economic volatility and policy uncertainty are forcing world businesses to reassess their strategies, China remains open to all enterprises, offering a stable environment.

These two events once again highlight China's efforts to create more opportunities for cooperation, integrating foreign enterprises into its economy while refining policies based on global perspectives, Zhou said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
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Photo: Bellocqimages/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images

The Tadao Andodesigned Malibu beach house that Kanye West, now known as Ye, nearly destroyed is already back on the market. West purchased the architectural masterpiece from banker Richard Sachs for $57.25 million in 2021 before gutting it, ripping out the electrical and plumbing, and leaving it exposed to sun, surf, and pranksters who swathed the garage in Hanukkah decorations. The ruin eventually sold last September for a mere $21 million to house-flipping crowdfunding entrepreneur Steven Bo Belmont, who raised funds to buy and restore the house to its original condition. Hes now listing it for $39 million.

The concrete house, considered an architectural treasure, is located on the Malibu beach, steps from the water, as shown in listing photos.

The beachfront property now has plumbing, electrical, and a new roof. Its rooms have also been framed out. Glass for the windows, arriving from Germany, is expected to be installed by the end of the summer, according to The Wall Street Journal. All of this is being overseen by architecture firm Marmol Radziner, which worked on the original build, and is costing an estimated $8.5 million.

So why sell now? Belmont told the Journal that the houses carrying costs are approximately $1 million a month, and the sooner he can sell it, the more of a profit hell turn for his investors. It also helps that the Malibu market, owing to limited inventory after the L.A. wildfires, is hot right now (and this house, being concrete, has natural fireproofing). If the house doesnt sell now, Belmont says hell be asking significantly more closer to completion  $55 to $65 million. He claims hes already had offers on the property from other builders and developers in the range of $28 to $30 million, which apparently emboldened him to ask for even more. Of course, buying midway through the renovation also offers the chance for a buyer to put their mark on the house before its completely finished (though hopefully less of a mark than its previous owner left). Or, as Jason Oppenheim of the Oppenheim Group, one of the listing agents, told the Journal, This house is like a Picasso. This is almost like allowing the buyer to pick the frame.

The home, as shown in listing photos, was known for its stunning sightlines. The investor who bought it hired the original U.S. architecture firm that worked with Tadao Ando to restore it to its pre-Ye state. Photo: The Oppenheim Group

The house before Ye demod the interior, as shown in listing photos. Renovation is expected to be completed early next year. The home now has a new roof, electrical, plumbing, and framing. Photo: B) Roger Davies 2012

At this stage, there seems to be quite a bit of interior renovation work left  Belmont doesnt expect the project to be done until early next year. As he told the Los Angeles Times early on, he planned to restore the home as though Kanye was never there. During the two years West owned the home, in his attempt to turn the 4,000-square-foot home into an off-the-grid bunker, he instructed a local worker to paint over marble and cabinetry so that it blended in with the concrete structure and the rest of the house, to replace the stairs with ramps or slides, and to rip out interior details and stunning sight lines whose construction Ando painstakingly oversaw, as reported by The New Yorker. The worker eventually sued West after allegedly incurring health problems as a result of working 16-hour days and sleeping in the roofless shell of a house.

Belmont is apparently looking to focus his money and efforts on another notorious L.A. celebrity home  P.Diddys mansion, last listed for $61.5 million. He offered $30 million for it in November, but the offer was rejected. Undaunted, he has since lowered his bid to $27.5 million.

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STORY LINK Pound to Euro Exchange Rate Close to 20-Day Best at 1.1970

Trade Fears Sap Euro Support, GBP/EUR Close to 20-Day Highs

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The Pound to Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate is trading around 1.1970 and close to 20-day highs at 1.1980 recorded on Monday.The Euro overall has lost ground with euphoria surrounding the German fiscal stimulus fading to some extent while trade concerns are looming large ahead of April 2nd when Trump has threatened to impose substantial tariffs on the Euro area.ING commented; If Donald Trump goes ahead with his threat of more tariffs against the EU next week, it would be a real blow to more exposed economies desperate to reverse stagnating trends.Credit Agricole forecasts that GBP/EUR will advance to 1.2050 by mid-year.Geo-political developments will also continue to be monitored closely in the short term.There have been talks between the US and Russia as well as the US and Ukraine, aiming to secure at least a limited ceasefire with talks continuing during Tuesdays European session.ING commented; Indications that some agreement is building around a full ceasefire would support European sentiment and the euro. Barring that, fading optimism on a quick truce can make generally overvalued (in the near term) European currencies trade on the soft side.The German IFO business confidence index improved to 86.7 for March from a revised 85.3 the previous month and very close to consensus forecasts of 86.8.There was a limited improvement in the current conditions index to 85.7 from 85.0 previously with a sharper increase in the expectations component to 87.7 from 85.6.According to the IFO; In the manufacturing sector, the index rose significantly. In particular, skeptical voices regarding expectations have noticeably diminished. Companies also assessed their current situation more positively. However, order backlogs declined slightly.ING commented; There is no doubt that the German economy will soon experience a cyclical upswing. How long this upswing will last and whether it could become a structural recovery will now highly depend on whether or not the official coalition talks lead to real structural reforms.PMI business confidence data was mixed with a net improvement in manufacturing.Dr. Cyrus de la Rubia, Chief Economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank, commented; Just in time with the beginning of spring we may see the first green shoots in manufacturing.According to Scotiabank, the; The Eurozone economy remains resilient in the face of tariff risks, it would seem.

International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements.

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Whatever happened to the England of Fair Play? That was the line which leapt out at me from The Mail on Sundays report about a nurse disciplined for misgendering a convicted paedophile.

Mother-of-three Jennifer Melle has been hauled over the coals by the NHS because she referred to the burly 6ft criminal  who was brought into her hospital from a mens prison shackled to two guards  by the wrong pronouns.

Patient X, as we must call this individual for legal reasons, tried to attack her physically and in a fit of rage racially abused her. Three times the N-word was screamed at Ms Melle, who came to Britain from Uganda as a schoolgirl.

Yet shes the one in deep trouble after referring to Patient X  who was born male but now identifies as a woman  as mister and he during a phone call with a doctor. As a result, she was disciplined and labelled a potential risk to the public by the NHS Trust which runs St Helier Hospital in Carshalton, Surrey.

Ms Melle subsequently received a letter from the Nursing and Midwifery Council saying it was investigating concerns about her fitness to practise because she referred to a patient in a manner inconsistent with their gender identity. She now fears losing her job.

I defy anyone to read Ian Gallaghers brilliant report in the MoS without being overwhelmed by a growing sense of anger and despair. Patient X is a violent, abusive, convicted paedophile, who posed as a teenage girl online to incite under-age boys to perform sex acts.

At the hospital, while complaining about a urinary infection, this aggressive individual behaved abominably towards Ms Malle, a popular, dedicated nurse with an unblemished 12-year record of service.

Judge for yourself who is the greater risk to the public here. Given the current obsession with race, you might have expected the NHS to be outraged over Patient Xs disgusting N-word slur against a loyal employee of African heritage. But no. Quite the opposite. Misgendering clearly trumps racial abuse in the hierarchy of hate speech. And while Patient Xs identity is protected for inexplicable legal reasons, theres no such sanction on the NHS naming and shaming Ms Melle.

Jennifer Melle, a senior nurse at Epsom St Helier University Hospital Trust, who faces disciplinary proceedings for referring to a transgender patient (a convicted paedophile) as 'Mr'

She said: I was put at risk, but I am being treated like a criminal. Sadly, if you put your head above the parapet and speak truthfully on these issues in the NHS, the risk is that you will be knocked down, punished severely and demoted.

The message to me was that I should put up with extreme racism and deny biological reality and my deeply held Christian beliefs for the sake of inclusivity.

Ms Melle said her father taught her about the England of Fair Play. We used to pride ourselves on our noble tradition of free speech, freedom of thought, freedom of religion. How many times over the years did you hear the expression: Its a free country, innit?

Not any more, it isnt. Ms Melle is simply the latest victim of the totalitarian woke witch-hunt from which there is apparently no escape. Her Christian beliefs no longer count for anything. In fact, they count against her. While every other religion, particularly Islam, is treated with great reverence, devout Christianity is disdained.

The Norwich diocese of the Church of England recently advised against traditional hymns and prayers, which could be considered Eurocentric. A primary school in Hampshire has just scrapped Easter celebrations in order to respect diverse religious beliefs. But not Christianity.

This kind of Far-Left lunacy used to be confined to the more insane inner London boroughs. Now its everywhere in our Through The Looking Glass World, where words mean whatever the arbiters of what is acceptable choose them to mean.

Lives and careers are being ruined, as both public and private-sector organisations clamber on board the DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) bandwagon. Daily we read of people losing their jobs for falling foul of the latest fashionable ideology. I could fill this column week in, week out with examples.

In one of the latest cases, a scientist was forced out of his job at the Porton Down defence establishment because of his gender critical beliefs. His bosses claimed that his belief in biological sex made him a security risk.

Peter Wilkins  another devout Christian  said: Its a scientific organisation, so it shouldnt be unacceptable to use the phrase biological sex. How do you design effective body armour if you dont acknowledge the physical differences between men and women? But right-think takes precedence over reality.

Heres how deep the woke mind virus has burrowed into every sector. The British Antarctic Survey, which oversees research stations at the South Pole, claimed that believing the most qualified person should get the job can be a form of racial harassment. Meritocracy is a microaggression.

Nurse!

What has any of this got to do with an organisation which exists to count penguins and measure ice floes? Theyll be telling us next that polar bears are hideously white.

Only yesterday, we learned that a sewage worker had reportedly been sacked by Severn Trent Water for calling Hamas disgusting terrorists on an internal staff site. Managers considered his words derogatory.

Yet again the feelings of terrorists and their supporters are elevated above sincerely held opinions  and indeed the truth. So much for free speech.

I could go on, but theres not space here to list every victim of the woke witch-hunt. Suffice to say, its all in keeping with the relentless assault on British liberties, designed to control what we say, what we believe, where we go and what we do.

As I wrote in another context last week, the social contract has been turned on its head. The far-Left have seized control of the institutions, including the law. Courts frequently put the rights of criminals, terrorists and illegal immigrants above those of decent, law-abiding British citizens.

From two-tier justice, pro-Hamas marches and the ludicrous Motability scheme, to the billions spent billeting migrants in Lenny Henry hotels, nine million benefit claimants (many with bogus Mental Elf ishoos), police withdrawing from and taking the knee to BLM protesters, you name it, the country is going to hell in a handcart.

We are now living in what, a few years ago, would have been considered a parallel universe. One in which a dedicated nurse can be punished for misgendering a violent, racist, convicted paedophile.

Whatever happened to the England of Fair Play? Gone with the wind. Or, rather, away with the fairies.

As The Kinks lamented 40 years ago: Theres no England now.

Rachel Reeves should order all WFH employees back to the office and make them play musical chairs to the tune of Things Can Only Get Better.

Rachel From Complaints says she wants to see a 15 per cent reduction in the size of the civil service, which has swelled from 456,000 to 540,000 in the past five years.

Ill believe that when it actually happens. It has also been revealed that a return to pre-Covid working is being hampered by a lack of desks. Ten Whitehall departments only have room for 53 per cent of staff.

If Rachel is sincere about cutting headcount, she should order all WFH employees back to the office and make them take part in a game of musical chairs  to the tune of Things Can Only Get Better.

When the music stops, all those without a desk get sacked. Problem solved.
It is not often one interview causes deep anxiety in Kyiv and general dismay across Europes major capitals.

But Steve Witkoff, Donald Trumps envoy to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, managed it in a jaw-dropping exchange with Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News bloviator now occupying the wilder shores of crazy conspiracy theories with his own social media channel.

Carlson is an accredited Kremlin apologist (which is why Putin granted him a lengthy interview last year). As his long talk with Trumps man progressed, it quickly became scarily apparent that so is Witkoff.

Hes spent an impressive seven hours with the Russian president in two recent one-on-one meetings, which has turned him into an enthusiastic Putin fanboy. If he ever needed a job as an official Kremlin spokesman, hed be a shoo-in.

Far from having a single critical word to say about Putin, he assured us hes not a bad guy, that he is gracious, super smart and straight up. All this about a former KGB thug who rules Russia with a totalitarian grip, who has snuffed out any semblance of democracy and who dispatches those dissenters not murdered by state-sponsored killers at home and abroad to the Siberian gulags.

Rather than dwelling on any of that, Witkoff regaled us with stories of how Putin gave him a portrait of Trump hed commissioned from Russias leading artist as a gift for the US President. He added that Putin had gone to church to pray for Trump after last years failed assassination attempt on the campaign trail, not because he necessarily wanted him to be President but because Trump was his friend. If there are any sick bags left, please pass me one.

All this was related without caveat or the slightest circumspection. Carlson lapped it up. Witkoff, of course, has no qualifications as a diplomat or politician, much less as a Kremlinologist. Like Trump, he made his many millions as a New York property developer.

His first encounter with The Donald was at 3am in a New York deli in 1986. Both had been working into the wee small hours on a property deal and were in search of sustenance. Trump had forgotten his wallet. Witkoff bought him a cheese and ham sandwich. Theyve been close friends ever since.

Steve Witkoff, pictured with US President Donald Trump, is the United States Special Envoy to the Middle East

Such are the bizarre routes into The Donalds inner circle, leading to pivotal positions in the US government. Witkoff wasnt even originally meant to deal with Putin. He was hired by Trump to be his Middle East peace envoy.

But after some modest success on that front, Trump thought he should have a crack at the Kremlin, in keeping with The Donalds belief that, for successful property moguls, geopolitics is a piece of cake.

Witkoff speaks of his boss with the same oleaginous deference deployed by all those who surround Trump. Every solution comes from the President, he told Carlson.

Trump had blessed him by giving him his current role. So we can be sure that when Witkoff speaks so endearingly of Putin he is echoing his masters voice.

Yet even in the cosy confines of Carlsons comfortable embrace, unencumbered by a single challenging question, Witkoffs inexperience shone through. He told Carlson the single largest issue in bringing peace to Ukraine was the future of four regions: Donbas, Crimea.... His voice tailed off. He couldnt remember the others. Lugansk Carlson helpfully added. Lugansk Witkoff repeated, both using the pronunciation for Luhansk commonly used in Russia. Neither could recall the others.

Witkoff was referring to Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, the four regions of eastern Ukraine that Russia annexed in September 2022. Donetsk and Luhansk are collectively known as the Donbas, Ukraines industrial heartland. Crimea, a peninsula south of mainland Ukraine, is not part of that area. Moscow annexed it in a separate operation in 2014.

Witkoff claimed all these territories were now under de facto Russian control, implying Ukraine would have to give them up in any peace deal. But not all the Donbas is in Russias hands. It was just one of an alarming number of Kremlin propaganda points he was happy to promulgate. Carlson, of course, left them all uncorrected.

Witkoff claimed that referendums in the Russian- occupied territories of Ukraine had showed the overwhelming majority of people have indicated they want to be under Russian rule, using the same language Moscow had used back in 2022.

Witkoff at a campaign rally for Donald Trump in October 2024

But Ukraine and the Nato allies, including America under Joe Biden, have rightly condemned these votes as illegal and a sham. Yet here was what is now Trumps main man in the Ukrainian peace process effectively giving away huge chunks of Ukraine before proper peace talks have even begun.

He didnt stop there. Witkoff claimed that President Zelensky had conceded that Ukraine could not join Nato. That is untrue. Ukraine has not publicly dropped its desire for membership. Even if it was now Zelenskys reluctant private view, why not keep it as a bargaining chip for the talks?

Yet, fantastical as it may be to comprehend, everything Witkoff had to say was designed to see Ukraine go naked into any peace talks. When Carlson opined that the Ukrainian military was doomed, witless Witkoff readily agreed, claiming Zelensky knew he was being ground down. If so, exactly what is Russias incentive to negotiate rather than just play for time?

Witkoff also averred that it was preposterous to suggest Russia wanted to march across Europe. Perhaps not as far as Western Europe. But Eastern Europe, what the Kremlin refers to as the near abroad? Witkoff should have a word with the Baltic states before being so sure of Russias peaceful intentions.

In a world of cyberattacks, disinformation and malign electoral interference, Russia doesnt have to occupy Eastern Europe to hold sway over it  though, of course, for most of Witkoffs life it did occupy Eastern Europe.

It is tempting to dismiss Witkoff as just another naive businessman out of his depth when confronted with a political master of manipulation, deceit, lies and intimidation  mere putty in Putins hands.

Except that everything he says is aligned with what Trump thinks. Last month Witkoff asserted that the invasion of Ukraine was provoked by Nato expansion. Kremlin talking points dont come bigger than that. It is the settled view of the Trump Right (along with the far Left). Witkoff opposed sanctions on Russia after it seized Crimea. Trump is already talking about loosening the sanctions.

As Witkoffs praise for Putin poured out, he dismissed Keir Starmers efforts to spearhead a European peacekeeping force for Ukraine as a vainglorious effort to be like Winston Churchill. It doesnt get more Trumpian than that: cosy up to your former enemies, diss your longstanding, loyal allies.

For Europe, watching the latest round of peace talks in Saudi Arabia this week without any European participation, there is only one grim conclusion from Witkoffs witterings: Trump sees Ukraine as the enemy from which concessions amounting to conditional surrender must be wrung, while Russia is Americas new ally-to-be, whose grievances have justified its conquests  and which must now be placated as precursor to a new Russo-American alliance.

No wonder theres a collective shudder in Europes capitals as it dawns on them that Trump is not pursuing a just peace for Ukraine but an unjust victory for Russian.
Despite jokes about the Chancellor being 'Rachel from customer complaints', the Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, is a stronger candidate for that role. She has the voice, the vocab and the sense of urgency (ie little) one expects from corporate grievance-handlers.

Yesterday she lumbered into the Commons to explain the foul-up at Heathrow airport.

She was, in a way, magnificent. The detached ennui, the subtle blame evasion, the judicious employment of cliche and acronym: Ms Alexander is a loss to the anger management world. In a different life she could have dreamed of gold at the call-centre industry's annual Oscars, held at some function suite in Brentford.

As it is, the poor love is condemned to sitting all day in the Starmer Cabinet, staring out of the window, waiting for 5.30pm when she can shut the biscuit tin and potter home. She assured MPs that she had been in 'regular engagement with Heathrow'. This was a way of saying 'I've been screaming down the line to that idiot chief executive at Heathrow'.

You will recall that the entire airport was being powered off a single three-point plug, or something like that, and blew a gasket. There was such a big pop that people immediately supposed Vladimir Putin had done it.

For once the Kremlin may have been blameless. Who needs SMERSH when good, old-fashioned British bodging plus a health-and-safety over-reaction can do the job for you?

In the tone you expect from railway announcers telling you to claim from Delay Repay, Ms Alexander droned that Heathrow 'put the safety and security of the travelling public first'. This always means convenience was put last.

Thus did our busiest airport close, hundreds of thousands of travellers were kyboshed and millions of quid went down the khazi.

Despite jokes about the Chancellor being 'Rachel from customer complaints', the Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander (pictured), is a stronger candidate for that role

In the tone you expect from railway announcers telling you to claim from Delay Repay, Ms Alexander droned that Heathrow 'put the safety and security of the travelling public first'

You will recall that the entire airport was being powered off a single three-point plug, or something like that, and blew a gasket

My sister, who teaches classics, was delayed flying to Rome for a week of speaking nothing but Latin. I don't know how Ovid and Virgil would have said 'bing-bong, we apologise for any inconvenience caused', but my big sis' would.

Ms Alexander sounded nicely bored. This is essential in complaints officers. You must not betray a sense of despatch. In call-centre circles that is considered a loss of face. You must make customers think you are doing them a favour.

She spoke fluent bureaucratese, mentioning 'critical national infrastructure' numerous times. 'There will be learnings.' Pointless plurals are a mark of officialdom in backside-covering mode. Throw in jargon, acronyms, a hint of can't-say-too-much-walls-have-ears, and you soon establish moral superiority over the complainant.

An 'unprecedented fire' (translation: there's a first time for everything) had caused the 'power outage'. In Britain we always used to say 'power cut' but Americanisms are another sign of administrative bluster.

The fire was a routine cock-up ('not believed to be suspicious') yet Counter-Terrorist Command was leading the investigation and would 'assist in progressing the investigation at pace'. That 'at pace' was evidence of a professional at work.

The Conservatives fielded a chap called Bacon. He lacked salt. But he was first to say 'hub' and 'stakeholders'. Ms Alexander will be kicking herself that he beat her to it.

Government agencies and departments were referred to by their initials, among them 'DESNEZ', which is Ed Miliband's Department of Energy and Net Zero.

Government agencies and departments were referred to by their initials, among them 'DESNEZ', which is Ed Miliband's Department of Energy and Net Zero. Skinny Miliband (pictured) sat beside her, fiddling with his chin, sucking his teeth, going cross-eyed

Skinny Miliband sat beside her, fiddling with his chin, sucking his teeth, going cross-eyed. He bounced every time Ms Alexander resumed her seat.

Ruth Kelly, a pretty useless minister in the Blair government, was to lead a review. The 'Kelly Review' would look at crisis management.

As for Heathrow, it used 'more power than a small city'. St David's, perhaps. Its managers had eventually solved the power cut by 'powering down and then powering back up'.

That old gambit! Ms Alexander, no grammarian, assured MPs: 'I wasn't sat in the room when they took the decision.' With which she adjusted her call-centre head-set, examined her nail varnish, and pressed the button for the next caller please.
As the cost of concert tickets rises, Gen Z and millennials are willing to spend thousands of dollars to see their favorite artist and share the experience with their social media followers, even if it means struggling with debt.

According to new data from Rakuten, which offers cash-back on purchases from retailers like StubHub and Ticketmaster, despite the rising cost of essentials, Gen Z and millennials aren't willing to sacrifice when it comes to spending money on experiences.

Nearly one third of Gen Z (30 percent) and millennials (38 percent) surveyed said they were planning to use rent or mortgage funds for concert expenses.

Despite skyrocketing ticket prices to see artists like Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Lady Gaga, younger audiences were still welling to shell out big bucks to see their favorite artists, especially after missing out on live music during the Covid pandemic.

In fact, many of these Gen Z and Gen Alpha members hadn't seen a concert before and suddenly were inundated with all of their favorite artists touring at once.

Because of the Ticketmaster monopoly, prices were higher than ever as bots bought up reasonable priced options and resold them for hundreds and even thousands of dollars.

Still, twentysomethings were willing to pay and flocked to social media to explain their controversial choices.

'Unpopular Opinion: No one should have to go into debt and potentially go bankrupt for a three-hour concert,' one Reddit thread about the Eras Tour read.

'Unpopular Opinion: No one should have to go into debt and potentially go bankrupt for a 3 hour concert,' one Reddit thread about the Eras Tour read. Above, Taylor Swift performs at SoFi Stadium on August 7, 2023

Beyonce fans had similar issues, with a Reddit thread declaring 'No concert is worth putting yourself in ruins especially in todays economy and political landscape'

Beyonce fans had similar issues, with a Reddit thread declaring: 'No concert is worth putting yourself in ruins especially in todays economy and political landscape.'

On TikTok, young women share their stories about financing tickets and even taking out loans to be able to see their favorite popstars.

Some people save up, with kids and teens using the family finance app Greenlight to put away $116,000 for concert tickets in 2023, with $75,000 of that going to the Eras Tour.

Others simply put the expensive tickets on credit cards but didn't realize they could be sued for non-payment.

One 32-year-old woman based in Los Angeles went into debt and was even being sued by her credit card company after attending the Eras Tour and spending $6,000.

'I really wanted to see as many shows as I could,' she told DailyMail.com, adding that she kept reminding herself it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Unfortunately, she had no money saved up, because she went to shows in Glendale, Los Angeles, New Jersey, and Sweden.

Buying tickets overseas was 'significantly less expensive,' with the entire trip costing less than her tickets alone in LA.

The server was then served with court documents after she wasn't able to pay the credit card bill. 'I had to contact a lawyer to get the credit card company to agree to a payment plan,' she revealed.

On social media, young people share their stories about financing tickets and even taking out loans to be able to see their favorite popstars (stock photo)

Fans crowded the Estadio da Luz as they waited for the start of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concert in Lisbon on May 24, 2024

She ended up agreeing to a payment plan, is still paying off her debt, and almost had to sell her car to keep up with the payments.

While she doesn't regret attending the concerts, she said 'the stress from the credit card company and potentially being sued was never part of the plan.'

Biopsychologist Dr. Mary Poffenroth told DailyMail.com, 'From a neurobiological perspective, it's no surprise Gen Z and millennials are willing to borrow money for concert tickets.'

'Dopamine, a neurotransmitter that makes people feel good, is already being released in the brains of young adults who are thinking about buying tickets to see Taylor Swift or Beyonce,' Dr. Poffenroth explained.

'This chemical change can trigger what we call the 'hedonic anticipation effect. This means that looking forward to the concert can be almost as enjoyable as the concert itself.'

The Brave New You author said that concerts are 'hard to resist because they can make strong episodic memories,' which 'is especially important for generations that value experiences over things.'

'For Gen Z and Millennials, who've grown up in a shaky worldthink recessions, pandemics, and all that jazz  this isn't just about being impulsive,' Dr. Poffenroth divulged. 'Uncertainty cranks up the brain's craving for meaningful 'now' moments, like a concert, over saving for a future that feels like a question mark.

'The reward of belting out lyrics with thousands of strangers can outweigh the stress of a credit card bill  at least at the moment.'
An expert has revealed the five signs you might be in a 'toxic' friendship with a narcissist, while warning these are 'much harder to spot' than indicators of a narcissistic partner.

US-based Marcela, the creator behind @beyondthebruise on TikTok, regularly shares educational content about the personality type on her social media pages.

One such clip focused on 'narcissistic friendships', with the American content creator explaining that these can be 'just as toxic' as romantic relationships with someone who has a narcissistic personality.

'But,' she continued, 'they're a lot harder to spot.'

Marcela explained that a narcissistic friend will 'make everything about them' while barely showing up for you, or meeting your needs, in her TikTok that has racked up over 42,000 likes and 550 comments.

Several of Marcela's followers appeared to resonate with her observations while characterising a narcissistic friend, including that they 'give nothing back', and even shared their own experiences of having encountered such a person.

Narcissism is an extreme level of self-absorption to an extent that makes a person ignore the needs and feelings of other people around them.

Narcissists frequently dismiss other people in order to get what they want and do not understand the effect their behaviour has on other people.

US-based Marcela, the creator behind @beyondthebruise on TikTok , regularly shares educational content about the personality type on her social media pages

One such clip focussed on 'narcissistic friendships', with the American content creator explaining that these can be 'just as toxic' as romantic relationships with someone who has a narcissistic personality

Dr Sarah Davies, a trauma therapist based in Harley Street, previously explained to FEMAIL: 'Narcissism is very much on a spectrum, ranging from being a little selfish or self-absorbed sometimes (which we can all be), through to "narcissistic defences", to a full-on personality disorder, bordering on sociopath.'

According to Marcela, someone with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) loves the spotlight 'but only when it's on them'.

'They dominate conversations, they'll interrupt you constantly, and they'll shift the focus to themselves, but the second that you need support, they tune it out, they downplay it, they somehow make it about their own struggles,' she continued, while sharing behaviours to watch out for.

If everything feels like a competition with your friend, chances are they might suffer from NPD, Marcela continued.

They might have a tendency to 'one up you' because they treat every interaction as the opportunity to 'prove that they're superior' to you.

The third sign you might be dealing with a narcissistic friend, according to Marcela, is that they disappear when you need them the most.

If you've noticed your friend is only around when things are going well for you, 'when you're fun, and when you're successful', but ghost you and act like you're a burden when you need actual support, it might be time to reevaluate the relationship.

She also highlighted that a lot of their compliments may feel like 'insults in disguise' and recommended listening for these 'backhanded' statements, such as 'I wish I could get away with wearing that' or 'I wish I didn't care about what I ate like you do'.

According to Marcela, someone with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) loves the spotlight 'but only when it's on them'

If everything feels like a competition with your friend, chances are they might suffer from NPD, Marcela continued

She also highlighted that a lot of their compliments may feel like 'insults in disguise' and recommended listening for these 'backhanded' statements

'A good friendship leaves you feeling seen and supported,' she explained

Finally, if you always come away feeling 'drained' after spending time with them, you could be dealing with a narcissist.

'A good friendship leaves you feeling seen and supported,' she explained, 'but a narcissistic friendship leaves you exhausted because you're constantly walking on eggshells around them.'

Reacting to Marcela's guidance, one TikTok user noted how her best friend in middle school 'displayed all this [sic] behaviour'.

'It traumatised me and I'm still trying to unravel all the damage,' they wrote.

Another shared that being friends with a narcissist 'completely changed me' while a third said: 'I'm so glad that I get [sic] rid off my narcissistic friendship, still healing but I'm getting better.'

A forth person replied with a sixth 'sign' that narcissists 'get really mad' when you set boundaries.

'They sure do,' Marcela responded to the TikTok user.

In an interview with FEMAIL, London-based conflict resolution expert Francesca Santoro advised anyone dealing with a narcissist to fight back, and shared the tools people should use to 'beat a narcissist at their own game'.

Several of Marcela's followers appeared to resonate with her observations while characterising a narcissistic friend - and even shared their own experiences of having encountered such a person

She explained that narcissists thrive and, in many ways, feed on your emotions, so it's best to starve them.

'They will manipulate them [your emotions], especially anger' said Francesca.

'Conflict with a narcissist is brutal and unrelenting, the goal is to inflame and destroy you mentally. So don't engage in any way if you can avoid it'.

British trauma specialist Annalie Howling agrees, with the author of the self help book, Unapologetic suggesting 'only put in what you are happy for them to use and critically discard'.

If you must engage with one, keep the conversation light and don't divulge too many personal details, she added.

The experts shared a range of techniques, including cutting off from them to clear your mind, being pragmatic and fact-based, as well as physically drowning them out by usig earplus or other tools.

Arming yourself with expert knowledge is the best line of defence against a narcissist, but if all else fails, it's best to end the relationship - no matter the nature, explained Francesca.

She told those seeking help to 'accept that this is who they are' and to end things right away, although she admitted this 'wasn't always easy or quick'.

'You can't change them... just disengage as much as you can if possible' she continued. 'Leave any relationship you have with them!'

And as Annalie aptly put it: 'Trust your intuition or that of a trusted friend. If something feels off, it probably is'.
Trinny Woodall has revealed the secrets behind her noticeably radiant complexion after what she describes as a 'very stressful' few months.

Trinny, the powerhouse British creator of beauty brand Trinny London, has seen her business skyrocket over the past few years with a loyal and rapidly growing social media following.

Torn between time at the lab developing new products, her podcast, writing a book, family commitments, constant travel and moving house, she was starting to really feel - and see - the impact.

That was, until she discovered her unexpected love for daily meditation - something she admits 'wasn't for her' but now describes as 'profound'.

She's not alone, with many rolling their eyes at the practice and associating it with the 'OTT wellness' crowd despite scientifically-proven benefits.

'I lead quite a stressed life and I was realising that stress, medically, is a really sh**ty place to get to for your body. It just is. It will affect you physically and medically,' Trinny, 61, told FEMAIL.

'So I thought I would take control before I let stress affect my body in a negative way.

'I had two people come into my life and I noticed such a profound difference in how they were [after meditating]. One of them I thought had had a facelift, and the other was just so much easier to sit and chat to.'

Trinny Woodall has revealed the secrets behind her noticeably radiant complexion after what she describes as a 'very stressful' few months

Inspired, Trinny started getting up half an hour earlier each morning and spend 20 minutes meditating with a mantra. She then finds time for a second 20-minute block in the afternoon - even if it's in the bathroom at her office.

'I've been doing it for four weeks now and I really feel a shift. When you're stressed, from an aesthetic perspective, it shows on your face,' she said.

'I feel so much calmer now.'

Trinny has made other changes in her lifestyle too, including cutting her coffee consumption right down and making sure she gets enough sleep every night.

'I'm really into Lion's Mane right now, because I want that energy. I have it in tea every morning and put some collagen powder in it,' she said.

Lion's Mane mushroom extracts have been found to help with inflammation, memory, anxiety and mental clarity in various studies.

'I'm trying to find an alternative for coffee because it's one of those things I really love but also gets me really jittery and affects my sleep,' Trinny said.

'A Lion's Mane Chai gives me that same great feeling coffee does - it sort of tricks my brain. I use a frother to make the almond milk really frothy and pop in some cinnamon and nutmeg in as well because I'm still trying to have less sugar.'

'I lead quite a stressed life and I was realising that stress, medically, is a really sh**ty place to get to for your body. It just is,' she said

Travel with Trinny: My rules for the plane and avoiding jetlag SKINCARE When I travel I decant every single thing I use into small bottles so that I am never without a single product and I've done that for 20 years. I could never travel and not bring my peptides or my favourite things like my microneedle and my gua sha. Travel is about your lymphatic system more than anything because if you are on planes or eating more salt or changing your diet you will get more toxicity in your face which will make you puffier. Having great tools to go through your lymph and really release any toxicity is the first thing you want to do. When I come to Australia I generally always have an LED mask with me and I do a lot of layering. I will do Tip Toe in and Plump Up together as a layer then I will let it dry and do another layer and that gives me that bouncy skin. The thing is with Plump Up on a plane - you need to layer it with something on top. Hyaluronic acid as a gel is the worst thing to have on a plane because on its own it grabs onto moisture. And when there's no moisture in the air like in a plane, it grabs onto all the moisture in your skin. It makes your skin looks dryer. You must put a barrier on top. I put on Plump Up, Bounce Back and then a dry sheet mask for eight hours. I'll leave it on the whole time even if I go to the loo. It was easy when masks were normal because nobody could see how mad I looked. 'When I come to Australia I generally always have an LED mask with me and I do a lot of layering. I will do Tip Toe in and Plump Up together as a layer then I will let it dry and do another layer and that gives me that bouncy skin,' she said HAIR Generally I use Hair Story - an amazing shampoo and conditioner in one which has transformed my hair quality. I've lost quite a lot of hair from Covid and it's taking a while to grow back. Hair Story is better because it doesn't strip or foam and afterwards your hair is hydrated and cleansed and doesn't go greasy. SLEEP If I go to Australia I will be on my time until Singapore and then I will go straight to the time I'm going to and will control that with pills. For me sleep is the most important thing. I want to be sleeping until the wheels land and I do that wherever I go. GUT AND DIET I take a heap of supplements that are very good for jetlag so I take about 5,000mg of vitamin C for the first three days and I take Symprove which is the best pre and probiotic. It's very good if you suffer from acne as well. I think you should triple probiotics when you travel because any gut health is important. I will try and drink a lot of water and eat well. I know that whatever you do on a plane is three times as bad as if you do it on the ground. To me drinking alcohol on a plane is insane Advertisement

Trinny said the Lion's Mane has helped her with memory and focus while the celebrity-beloved oral supplement NAD (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) has been 'really beneficial' for her skin and energy.

She takes four or five capsules of collagen followed by estrogen, testosterone and Magnolia Rhodiola - she says the latter has been a game-changer for her mood.

She also takes a lot of Vitamin C and swears by Glutathione - a powerful antioxidant that may decrease inflammation and reduce oxidative stress in the body.

Trinny has also been a huge fan of Vitamin A, D and K, hormone support capsules and magnesium citrate and supports her supplement routine with a steadfast skincare one.

This, unsurprisingly, is made up of her own products, with moisturiser Bounce Back one of her top recommendations for Aussies as they head into the dry cooler months.

The wildly popular product, which is available in Australia online and at the Trinny London pop-ups, is also part of Trinny's jet lag prevention routine.

'I put on Plump Up, Bounce Back and then a dry sheet mask for eight hours. I'll leave it on the whole time even if I go to the loo. It was easy when masks were normal because nobody could see how mad I looked,' she said.

When asked about her other 'secrets' for a radiant complexion, Trinny said facial self-massage has been a game-changer.

Using just her hands, Trinny massages firmly down her jaw to address what she describes as 'gristle' on her bone.

When asked about her other 'secrets' for a radiant complexion, Trinny said facial self-massage has been a game-changer

'We sag down as we age which is in part due to this stuff that gathers around [the jaw],' she said.

'Your jawline is what gives you that jowly moment so I call what I do cleaning the gristle. It might sound horrible, but I do this, and I'm quite firm with it. You could buy a tool but our hands are free.'

When it comes to exercise, Trinny has swapped regular Pilates for strength training - something she believes is 'crucial' as you age.

'I think having physical strength is something really important as as a woman, I love to feel physically strong,' she said.

'It gives me a rush. It's a simple thing, but I went from four kilo weights to ten, and I feel amazing, strong... fantastic.'

Waking up earlier has also been a game-changer, with an extra hour removing the rushed, frantic energy from her day.

'I do a really nice massage on my skin, I layer my skincare products, I do my exercise, I have my hot water and lemon and I take my supplements. It feels good and I've filled my tank for the day,' she said.

The powerhouse British creator of beauty brand Trinny London, has seen her business skyrocket over the past few years with a loyal and rapidly growing social media following

'I've set myself up as opposed to waking up, being late for everything, rushing, rushing, rushing.'

As for what's next in the skincare world, Trinny has been in the lab working on something 'big'.

After the success of her 'miracle' product The Elevator, which significantly reduces neck lines and wrinkles, she's determined to solve yet another universal 'problem'.

'At moment we are [working on] a nirvana,' she said.

'It's really tricky because it's something that is three things in one and I don't know yet if it's going to do that.

'It's three things that are to do with inflammation of the skin and how you can address that.

'I'm not going to say more, but that's an area I'm really, really interested in. That and the relationship we have with different parts of our body.'

You can shop Trinny's products online and in-store in Australia and find her book Fear Less in all good book stores.
Naomi Watts got her first big break aged 33 starring in the late David Lynch's neo-noir mystery Mullholland Drive.

Her reality is far different from that of her youngest child, Kai Schreiber, who, at the age of just 16, has already established their position on the world stage as a budding model and actor.

It's one of the many reasons that their Australian actress mother, 56, is bursting with pride when it comes to Kai, and regularly gushes on social media about how 'lucky' she is to be their mother.

The model, raised in New York by her parents Naomi and Liev Schreiber, 57, who amicably split in 2016 after 11 years together, launched their career in the 2016 adaptation of The Jungle Book, voicing a character alongside Idris Elba and Scarlett Johansson.

Despite their Hollywood appearance, it's modelling that the 16-year-old is now pursuing after making a showstopping debut at Paris Fashion Week earlier this month - walking for none other than Maison Valentino.

'That's my baby,' Naomi gushed on Instagram alongside footage of the runway, adding, 'I'm squealing with pride. Ilysm'.

Modelling royalty Christy Turlington agreed, writing in the comment section, 'She is beyond! Seriously stunning Kai'.

Kai's voyage into the spotlight continued yesterday, with the teen posing up a storm alongside Naomi at a screening of The Friend at New York's The Cinema Society.

At just 16-year-old, Kai Schreiber (pictured) is making a mark in the creative world - and mother Naomi Watts couldn't be prouder

Naomi's unwavering support for her youngest child predates her modelling career, with the actress celebrating Kai's milestones for some time.

Birthdays are no exception, and in December 2022, Naomi celebrated Kai's 13th birthday on Instagram, with a solo shot of the teen.

'My darling Kai, 13 today! What?!' she captioned the post.

'You shine the brightest light, from the depth of your soul, we feel it. Thank you for choosing me as your mummy. I'm beyond proud of you.'

'Happy birthday baby (baby forever!) we celebrate your mind, your talent, your wit and your incredible courage today and every day.'

Soon after, Naomi marked Kai's high school graduation on Instagram, sharing a photograph of her 'modern family', with her eldest child Sasha, 17, her former partner Liev and his wife Taylor Neisen.

The youngest child of Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber has racked up over 12 thousand Instagram followers

With bleached eyebrows and lightened hair, the model has revealed a new high fashion makeover on Instagram

Naomi beamed as she took to a film premiere with her youngest child in New York City on Monday evening

'Congratulations Kai Class of 2022,' Naomi wrote in the caption, adding the hashtags, #modernfamily and #graduation'.

Naomi continued the proud parent posts with a photograph of herself with her arms around Kai, as the graduate held a bouquet of pink tulips.

'My baby,' she wrote. 'Congrats Kai!'

Naomi has previously discussed her co-parenting approach with Liev, explaining that maintaining a solid relationship is their priority.

'Having a good relationship has always been our endgame, and we've put a lot of energy and effort into making that so,' she told Sunday Times Style magazine.

'It's not always a cakewalk, as they say in America. But it makes complete sense that it is an absolute priority because it really matters to the children.

'You can see how there are so many things that can make a kid feel anxious and knowing that their parents can be in the same room and joyfully, it means a lot to them.'

Meanwhile, on their own Instagram page, Kai, who is signed to the renowned IMG Models, has given a glimpse into their glamorous lifestyle.

Kai donned a Valentino leopard print dress on a Paris Fashion Week debut earlier this month

The glamorous 16-year-old accompanied their mother to the Balenciaga show at last year's Paris Fashion Week

Pictured: Taylor Neisen, Liev Schreiber and Kai Schreiber at 'Doubt: A Parable' Broadway Revival Preview in New York, February 2024

Whether it's highlighting luxury holidays in France, Mexico, and Barbados, or sharing glam selfies, Kai has built up over 12 thousand Instagram followers.

The model has not shied away from sharing political opinions on Instagram Stories, and said they are 'disappointed' to be an American following President Trump's election win.

'I am disappointed to be an American today,' they wrote, continuing, 'I am disappointed in those who voted for a convicted felon over a woman.

'I am disappointed in those who care more about gas prices than a woman's own right to her body and reproductive freedom.

'I am disappointed to see that teenage girls have fewer rights than their grandmothers did.

'I am beyond disappointed in those who chose to vote for a sexual predator, racist, homophobe, and transphobe over a woman. I am disappointed to see that people my age in my generation is in support of such terror.'

The model concluded: 'I am deeply worried for this country and our people. We can do better'.

Meanwhile, on the grid, Kai has showcased a high fashion makeover, revealing newly bleached eyebrows and lightened hair - no doubt done in preparation for her Paris Fashion Week debut.

The model isn't afraid of voicing opinions on American politics and took to Instagram to share their thoughts on the recent election

After observing Dior's Pre-Fall show at the event last year, Kai found themselves on the runway for the French fashion house's hottest designs this year.

The budding model, donning a knit snakeskin mini dress with a feathered collar, uploaded a gallery of photos of her catwalk debut for Valentino, including pictures from behind the scenes in the hair and makeup chair.

'Omg my heart is so full,' Kai captioned the reel of images.

Naomi also shared content of Kai walking for Valentino, including a video which saw her excitedly re-watching the show online.

'Oh my god,' the Hollywood star exclaimed several times as she laid in bed watching her child model for the huge brand.

Meanwhile, Kai's father defended his child amid claims that they secured the position due to nepotism.

The American actor, 57, told TMZ that it's unfair to claim 16-year-old Kai's success is a result of their famous parents.

'I don't have many thoughts for the haters. What if you were a professional actor and your child decided they wanted to do something in this world?' he said.

'Do they have a choice? It doesn't matter. That's her life and she do what she wants with her life.

'I'm super proud of her and I thought she did an amazing job with the show,' Liev gushed.

The comments haven't deterred Kai, and the budding thespian yesterday made a glamorous appearance at a film premiere alongside her mother.

Naomi slipped into a draped maxi dress from Jacquemus with black feathered detailing on her pleated skirts for the occasion.

Meanwhile, Kai opted for a darker black-and-pink polka-dotted jacket with a ruffled skirt and pink top.

The teen accessorised with lace stockings, black leather boots and, no doubt in homage to the brand helping launch her career, a black-and-white Valentino handbag.
Princess Madeleine of Sweden delighted royal fans yesterday after she shared a major career update on social media.

Writing on her official Instagram account, the daughter of King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia revealed the exciting news that she is launching a natural skincare line called MinLen, in collaboration with the popular Swedish brand, Weleda.

In the announcement, the 42-year-old prefaced the collaboration by confirming it was 'private initiative', and and that she would not be using the royal title in the new venture.

The Swedish royal said she was in the process of developing the new line with 'both young and growing families in mind', and expected it to hit shelves at the end of summer.

Sharing the update on her social media account, she said: 'I'm excited to share that I'm launching 'MinLen' a natural skincare line, developed in collaboration with Weleda, a global leader in certified natural skincare.

'MinLen is the first natural, responsible, multi-generational skincare brand in Europe - created with the needs of both young and growing families in mind.'

She confirmed she would be using her ordinary name , Madeline Bernadotte, rather than her royal title, Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Halsingland and Gastrikland.

'Our product range will officially launch at the end of the summer and as this is a private initiative, I will use my name Madeleine Bernadotte in my work with MinLen. I look forward to sharing more with you very soon! @weleda,' she added.

Writing on her official Instagram account, the daughter of King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia revealed the exciting news that she is launching a natural skincare line in collaboration with the popular Swedish brand, Weleda (Weleda CEO Tina Muller, left and Princess Madeleine, right)

Revealing the update online, the budding entrepreneur shared a stunning photo of her donning an angelic white linen ensemble.

Pictured with her arms elegantly folded, Madeleine looked ethereal in the snow white button up jacket and matching trousers.

Her caramel highlighted tresses were worn in thick waves around her shoulders and she sported a soft makeup look with red flushed cheeks and a dark cat eye.

In another photo promoting the upcoming line, Madeleine was also pictured alongside Weleda CEO Tina Muller, who glowed in a white blazer and black jeans.

The Swedish royal family officially bear the title The House of Bernadotte. Their origins can be traced back to Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, a Marshal of France under Napoleon who was elected Crown Prince of Sweden and later became King Charles XIV John of Sweden.

Alongside the announcement, the Swedish palace issued an additional update to confirm their knowledge of the collaboration and to preface that it would no bear any connection to her position as a royal.

'The decision to start the company has been made in dialogue with the Royal Court. The Office of the Marshal of the Realm has assessed that this private business activity can be combined with Princess Madeleine's position as Royal Highness.'

The statement continued by explaining that the princess had not received government funding an would be continuing to carry official duties.

In the announcement, the 42-year-old prefaced the collaboration by confirming it was 'private initiative', and and that she would not be using the royal title as part the project

The Swedish royal said she was in the process of developing the new line with 'both young and growing families in mind', and expected it to hit shelves at the end of summer (pictured with her two daughters)

In the 22 hours since posting, the princess has already received 18,000 likes an dozens of comments from adoring friends and fans offering their congratulations (pictured in 2023)

Continuing in the statement, they wrote: 'Princess Madeleine has not received any of the Riksdag's appropriations for the head of state for a long time and she participates in and carries out official assignments as needed and based on the King's wishes.

'Instead, the Princess has for many years been involved in the World Childhood Foundation and various patronages. The work with these organizations is not affected by the Princess's corporate involvement.

'Since the new business is private and is not connected to the Princess's position in the Royal House, the Princess will use the name Madeleine Bernadotte in business contexts.'

In the 22 hours since posting, the princess has already received 18,000 likes an dozens of comments from adoring friends and fans offering their congratulations.

Princess Martha Louise of Norway, who is also a business woman, commented on the post writing: 'Congratulations! This is so amazing.'

It comes shortly after the princess was delighted royal fans by sharing a cluster of heartwarming family pictures ahead of the festive season.

In the sweet snaps, the Swedes were seen posing in front of a Christmas tree alongside family.

Captioning the post, she wrote: 'So lovely to receive this year's Christmas trees at the Castle together with grandma and cousins'.

The first picture in the adorable selection showed her three children  Princess Leonore, Prince Nicolas and Princess Adrienne posing in front of a Christmas tree with their grandmother, Queen Silvia, and their cousins: Prince Estelle, Prince Oscar, Prince Alexander, Prince Gabriel and Prince Julian.
Americans and Britons have broken out in another furious transatlantic row about which nation offers the best type of Chinese takeaway.

The furious debate which has taken place on both sides of the Atlantic has been raging for years now, but has recently been reignited on TikTok.

A British-Chinese content creator named Heather chimed into the row on the social media platform where she defended how Britons make their own version of Chinese cuisine.

Commenting on a clip from a fellow influencer called Soogia, who is Korean-American, Heather gave her take on the British Chinese takeaway - using her expertise from growing up with parents who run a restaurant.

The original clip from Soogia took aim at Britons over their Chinese takeaways, which often consist of salt and pepper chips, sweet and sour chicken balls and Singapore noodles.

In the US, in contrast, Chinese food tends to consist of crab Rangoon, fortune cookies, chop suey, and General Tso's chicken in cardboard takeaway boxes.

Hitting back at American criticisms of British Chinese takeaway, Heather took to TikTok to 'clear a few things up'.

British Chinese content creator Heather, from London , whose parents own a Chinese restaurant, hit back at Americans who have been left horrified after trying British Chinese takeaway

Heather said: 'British Chinese takeaway food is obviously different to American Chinese food so you are going to expect different menu items. They are not weird, it is just based off a different cultural context.'

Heather, whose family have run their takeaway business in the UK for 60 years, said the cuisine is catered to British tastes and is not trying to be authentic Chinese food.

She added: 'So you are going to find items on the menu like chicken balls, salt and pepper chicken, and yes we do curry sauce.'

Heather also made the point that Americans get Chinese takeaway from restaurants but in Britain we have 'Chinese takeaways'.

She said: 'It's just a shop where it is dedicated to serving freshly cooked Chinese food to go, you don't dine in, there is no option to dine in.

'This means cooking restaurant style dishes is not practical or feasible which is why you wouldn't expect to find traditional Chinese restaurant dishes there.'

Heather claimed the emphasis on the food is affordability, accessibility and something that is 'quick and delicious'.

She added: 'For all the Americans out there that don't get it, its ok, you don't need to understand but there is no reason for you to be hating on something that is slightly different from what you might expect a Chinese takeout to be.'

Heather, who called herself a 'takeaway kid', slammed Americans who called the British version of Chinese food 'weird' because it doesn't resemble authentic Chinese cuisine

It comes after Influencer Soogia (@soogia1) - who has more than 1.7million followers on the app and creates content around her Korean-American heritage - questioned the UK's take on the dish

Elsewhere Heather revealed some Americans were concerned with the phrase 'getting a Chinese', with some claiming it was 'offensive'.

She said: 'It's not meant to be offensive it's literally just Chinese slang , we have shortened the phrase from 'let's get a Chinese takeaway' to 'let's get a Chinese'... it's not offensive at all.'

In another clip Heather pointed out that British Chinese takeaway food is cooked by Chinese people, saying there is a 'rich history' behind it.

She said some comments online around the food are 'ignorant' and 'disrespectful', saying it is 'so tiring' to hear people bash the popular takeaway.

Many rushed to the comments to defend the UK's version of the Chinese cuisine.

One person wrote: 'Theyre acting like they havent got a chain restaurant called panda express????'

Another said: 'British takeaways have a rich culinary history in their own right, back to the early 1900s, from a fellow takeaway kid.'

Someone else wrote: 'Just America yet again realising that the rest of the world isn't a clone of them.'

Many rushed to the comments to defend the UK's version of the Chinese cuisine

A fourth said: 'Its kind of cool that its a blend from people moving here and integrating but adding something of their own, its the most organic form of fusion'.

It comes after Influencer Soogia sparked a debate on the English language when she asked why Britons say they're going to have 'a Chinese'.

She also admitted the phrasing felt 'a little' racist to her - although stressing she knows that it isn't.

In a more recent follow-up video, Soogia explained that in the US putting 'a' in front of a nationality is often said to dehumanise a person from that background, which is why it 'gave her pause'.

'It's like that prompt that's like "tell me something that isn't racist but feels like it",' she said in the viral clip from May 1, which has been viewed 2.5 million times. 'It feels like that!'

She continued: 'I find it so strange that they all call it "a Chinese". Like here in the United States we call it "Chinese food" like we do all other foods...

'So do British people also say I'm going out for a Greek or a Mexican or an Italian or is it exclusively when they talk about Chinese food? I find that so odd.'

Soogia also questioned the selection of Chinese takeaway classics most Brits were piling up on their plates - including signature picks like chicken balls and curry sauce.

In a moment of social media diplomacy, 'born and raised British' creator Olivia Smith ( @whalesandfairytales ) sat down with her 'born and raised Chinese' boyfriend Derek ( @derekjguo_ ) Guo as the pair explained the situation

She was also baffled by seeing chips in the selection, claiming she has never seen the side dish offered at Chinese eateries in the US.

The TikToker said she's more used to seeing other dishes considered Chinese cuisine staples in America, such as Mapo tofu, dumplings and bao buns - questioning why she didn't see any of those in the UK videos.

However, she admitted it could just be what her algorithm is showing her.

Tensions between TikTokers arose on both sides of the pond, as many were quick to criticise Soogia for 'reaching' and senselessly accusing British people of being offensive.

Elsewhere, one British creator who filmed herself eating 'a Chinese' admitted she has since been inundated with 'horrible comments'.

In a moment of social media diplomacy, 'born and raised British' creator Olivia Smith (@whalesandfairytales) sat down with her 'born and raised Chinese' boyfriend Derek (@derekjguo_) Guo to explain the situation.

'We think we have enough qualifications to speak about Chinese food in England,' Olivia said in reply to Soogia's video.

'Outside looking in, her questions are valid but we can answer them.'

The couple first addressed the confusion around whether calling the takeaway 'a Chinese' is offensive.

'They are not racist, they are just English people being lazy,' Derek joked.

'It's short for "I'm gonna have a Chinese for dinner",' Olivia explained.

'We just shorten it - and - to answer the question, would we do it with a Mexican, a Greek, an Italian - yes, 100%. That's just what we say.'

The pair then stressed that Chinese takeaways in the UK are very different from Chinese restaurants - and don't necessarily reflect the nation's food selection across the whole country.
Meghan Markle is reportedly set to 'make millions' from her ShopMy link, which she launched yesterday via her Instagram account.

And among the recommendations shared by the Duchess of Sussex, 43, is a long supported small British brand set up by an ex-Vogue staffer - yet her close pal Misha Nonoo's brand nowhere to be seen.

The 'shop', where links mean Prince Harry's wife will be paid a commission for promoting clothes from other companies if her followers purchase an item through them, features a 120 'boyfriend' linen shirt from cult company With Nothing Underneath.

The striped, button-down ensemble, evoking laid-back chic, is a silhouette often seen in the mother-of-two's wardrobe.

So it's no wonder that she has championed label since years back - with founder Pip Durell crediting Meghan with launching her into the mainstream after being spotted wearing her designs at events like the FORTUNE Most Powerful Women Summit and a shoot for charity Smart Works.

The 33-year-old started up WNU in 2017 - having spent years working in fashion magazines - with sustainability at the forefront.

'I wanted to make something cool, elegant, ethical and affordable; a piece that really could be for everyone,' she told Tatler just three years later, by which point Meghan was already a fan.

'It was such an honour, and even more so because both times she has worn WNU she has been working on charity projects,' Pip gushed, adding that an 'influx' of orders followed the Duchess's influence.

Meghan Markle is reportedly set to 'make millions' from her ShopMy link, which she launched yesterday via her Instagram account

The 33-year-old started up WNU in 2017 - having spent years working in fashion magazines - with sustainability at the forefront

Speaking to Forbes that same year, the founder revealed that Meghan had even written a handwritten letter 'to say how much she liked the company's ethos'.

'I had been contacted by Kensington Palace to say she owned some WNU, but I didn't know if she would wear it publicly. Yes, it was bought anonymously from the site,' she recalled.

'The sales were unsurprisingly huge and the global awareness it created is a game changer for a small brand.'

Pip admitted that Meghan's support 'turned things around for them'.

'The first time was in a behind the scenes video for Smartworks, and then she went to a meeting at a bakery and that image made it to the front cover of The Telegraph,' she told Sheerluxe last April.

'It gave us amazing international growth  and a huge leg up along with a cash injection. That said, it's all well and good when someone opens the door for you like that, but you still have to have the skills and ability to walk through it.

Speaking to Forbes that same year, the founder (pictured in 2017) revealed that Meghan had even written a handwritten letter 'to say how much like liked the company's ethos'

'If we weren't going to make it, we'd still have fallen flat on our face  and by that, I mean if the product isn't good, it won't succeed, even if Kate Middleton is wearing your pieces day in, day out.'

In 2019, speaking to British Vogue, Pip also reflected on how Meghan serves as the perfect clientele for WNU.

'It's incredible that she has chosen to support a small independent British brand,' she remarked.

'My shirts are for women who have a great sense of style, but also want to get on with their day... Business women, mothers, anyone who wants to look good and start working on the bigger things that matter in a day.'

Pip, who has recently given birth to her first child, has from the get-go championed sustainability for her brand and in 2022, WNU became officially B Corp certified.

'I've always been into style over fashion and it really came about when I was working at Vogue when I needed to be polished and put together and a shirt was always a great "uniform",' she told Dotty Dungarees in a recent interview.

'The idea came about then and it wasn't until 2 years later when I finally thought let's see if we could make something cool, elegant, ethical and affordable  a piece that really could be for everyone. The first step was finding a manufacturer (in Twickenham!) to make me a sample and we went from there.

'It's a game of highs and lows that's for sure. But when things go right its really a special feeling  and its true what they say, nothing replaces hard work.'

Pip, who has recently given birth to her first child, has from the get-go championed sustainability for her brand and in 2022, WNU became officially B Corp certified. Meghan pictured wearing a WNU shirt

Meghan wore the 'husband' shirt in white for her first official outing with Prince Harry in September 2017

Meghan brandished the WNU shirt on her ShopMy - amid a selection of other linen shirts from other designers - but nowhere among them were her friend Misha Nonoo's tops.

In 2020, Meghan sported her pal's 174 'husband' shirt to visit her patronages the National Theatre and Mayhew animal welfare charity, both in London, on 8 January - hours before she and Harry announced they were stepping down.

The Duchess, who knows designer Misha from her pre-royal days, wore the pinstripe blue shirt under a 269 navy Massimo Dutti coat and accessorised with her favourite Suetables horoscope necklaces.

She has frequently used her status as a high-profile style icon to shine a light on Misha and her brand.

Meghan wore the 'husband' shirt in white for her first official outing with Prince Harry in September 2017 and chose to wear a skirt from the label when she launched her first solo charity endeavour, the Together cookbook, in September 2018.

She also enlisted Misha as one of her brand partners for the Smart Works charity clothing collection, which was unveiled in collaboration with John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and Jigsaw, in September last year.

It comes as Meghan this week revealed that she is now selling clothes through affiliate links on her online shop - despite claiming she's 'not an influencer'.

The tool is one commonly used by influencers, who can make thousands on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok by wearing and promoting clothes - and providing a link for shoppers to get their own.

The products so far being promoted by Meghan include a sleeveless gown costing more than 1,000; 600 Saint Laurent sandals and earrings which will set buyers back 200 - while other handpicked pieces included brands such as Heidi Merrick, Reformation and J Crew.

In a recent interview with People Magazine to promote her Netflix show, Meghan insisted she's 'not an influencer' and instead views herself as a 'female founder' and 'entrepreneur'.

She also recently launched her new podcast called Confessions Of A Female Founder and released a trailer for it on Tuesday morning.

But, speaking to FEMAIL, PR and branding expert Hayley Knight warned that her latest venture means it's 'difficult to deny' that the Duchess is increasingly adopting 'standard influencer behaviour'.

Meghan Markle has made her 'most overtly commercial influencer move yet' by launching her online shop, an expert has claimed. Pictured in her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan

In the past, Meghan and her husband Prince Harry have emphasised the importance of 'activism and philanthropy' in their work via their Archewell Foundation - but Hayley warns that the addition of affiliate links could now 'cheapen' her overall brand.

'The Duchess of Sussex has long positioned herself as an advocate, humanitarian, and media entrepreneur, distancing herself from traditional influencer culture,' Hayley explained.

'Yet, with this latest move, she is embracing a model that is predominantly about monetising and sales.

'Meghans new shop directly contradicts her claim that shes not an influencer because affiliate marketing is one of the most common revenue streams for influencers.

'Meghan is also showcasing standard influencer behaviour by curating selections of products in order to drive sales, so it is not surprising that she has received backlash for there being a disconnect between her comments and her actions.'

The Duchess, who stepped back from frontline royal duties alongside her husband in 2020, wrote over a screen-recorded video of her new online store: 'Many of you have asked, so here you go! A little shopping to start the week.'

Shortly after the storefront went live, some of the third-party websites - including of Neiman Marcus - went down as the Duchess' fans rushed to get their hands on a pair of tan-coloured Saint Laurent mules that she has been spotted in on several occasions.

The Duchess - whose Netflix lifestyle show 'With Love, Meghan' was renewed for a second season despite negative reviews - is likely to earn a commission or cut on the sale of some of the clothes and accessories she promotes.

The wardrobe comprises mostly elevated basics, including linen shirts, crewneck sweaters, sunglasses, and handbags, in neutral shades like beige, brown, white, black, and navy blue.

Meghan teased there is 'more to come' ahead of the launch of her lifestyle company As Ever, following a significant rebrand and name change from American Riviera Orchard.
The group enjoyed many hits including Gimme All Your Lovin' and La Grange

They might have found fame over 50 years ago, but fans of ZZ Top are still discussing the iconic Texan rock band and how they chose their memorable name.

The group, which was formed in Houston in 1969, consisted of vocalist-guitarist Billy Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard, and bassist-vocalist Dusty Hill for 51 years until Hill's death in 2021.

Gibbons, now 75, formed ZZ Top after his group Moving Sidewalks disbanded after three years in 1969 - and it seems he's to thank for their unique name.

In a recently resurfaced post on Quora, one person asked: 'What does the "ZZ" in ZZ Top stand for?' and people were quick to share their thoughts.

One person commented: 'The legend goes that back in the day, there were two nationally marketed brands of cigarette rolling papers, being "ZigZag" and "Tops."

'These rolling papers were almost exclusively used for rolling Joints, Doobies, and Blunts. The iconic Texas band is said to have taken the name ZZ Top in honor of those products.'

They then added: 'The alternate story is that Gibbons particularly noticed B.B. King and Z. Z. Hill and thought of combining the two into "ZZ King," but considered it too similar to the original name.

'He then figured that "king is at the top" which gave him the idea of naming the band "ZZ Top."'

ZZ Top's Frank Beard, Dusty Hill and Billy Gibbons pictured backstage at Milton Keynes Bowl in England in 1991

Billy Gibbons, pictured here in February, came up with the unusual name for the band

A different person added a similar response and said: 'The name of the group ZZ Top was inspired by BB King. They liked the two initials at the beginning and nobody had taken ZZ.

'Then they decided that if "king" is a top position they would add Top to ZZ so it wouldn't sound like ZZ was at the bottom,' they added.

The band's Wikipedia page seems to support this theory as it states: 'The name of the band was Gibbons' idea; the band had a small apartment covered with concert posters and he noticed that many performers' names used initials.'

During an appearance on Ultimate Classic Rock Nights, Gibbons discussed the origins of the band's name.

The musician said it all happened in 1969 in his band's hangout room, before Hill and Beard came onboard.

'We had a little apartment, a little hangout room that was lined with those rainbow-colored blues posters you'd say nailed to the telephone poll, [listing] who was coming to town,' Gibbons recalled.

As the guys looked at the posters, Gibbons said they realized 'it was odd how many current names had initials - O.V. Wright, D.C. Bender, and of course B.B. King - he was down on this end of the alphabet, then it was Z.Z. Hill.'

'Jeez, ZZ and King, that's a good combo,' Gibbons remembered saying, but decided that ZZ King was too similar to B.B. King.

The group's name was partly inspired by blues legend B.B. King, who is seen here in June 2000

The Texan rock band are known for several hits including Sharp Dressed Man and Gimme All Your Lovin'

'King being at the top, I said, "Okay, so it's gonna be ZZ Top, and that's the way it is."'

ZZ Top are known for many hit tracks, including Gimme All Your Lovin', Sharp Dressed Man, Francine, and La Grange.

Sadly, Hill died in July 2021 at the age of 72 but Gibbons confirmed that ZZ Top would continue with Elwood Francis, the band's longtime guitar tech, on bass, per Hill's wishes.

According to Gibbons, 'Dusty emphatically grabbed my arm and said, "Give Elwood the bottom end, and take it to the Top." He meant it, amigo. He really did.'
This is the moment a millennial couple realised they'd made a very awkward mistake while converting their tiny city car into a campervan to travel the world.

Doug, 32, and Alex, 30, from Oxfordshire appeared on the first episode of the new season of Channel 4's George Clarke's Amazing Spaces on Tuesday night.

They'd purchased a tiny 3.5x2.9m car for 900 for their travels - though host George commented it was 'barely big enough for a family food shop'.

And the challenge was to prove especially difficult given Doug's height at 6ft 2, and the fact they hoped to bring their young and rapidly growing dog, Tagger, along too.

For 2,000, Doug and Alex sought to transform their vehicle by adding a sliding bed section, double bed, kitchen, lighting, dog bed and solar-powered fridge - all to be finished within six weeks.

But with the interior nearly complete and risking 'running out of time' before starting their travels, the couple were forced into a last-minute change of plan.

Tagger, whom the couple rescued on a previous holiday, was growing so big she wasn't able to sleep in the car as planned.

'She can't sleep under the bed,' Doug said, explaining that she would have to sleep in the trailer instead.

During the latest episode of Channel 4's George Clarke's Amazing Spaces, a couple from Oxfordshire converted their tiny city car (above) into a campervan to travel the world

Doug, 32, and Alex, 30, completely reimagined the vehicle adding a sliding bed section, double bed, kitchen, lighting, dog bed and solar-powered fridge

However, as the six-week deadline loomed, they realised that their rescue dog Tagger (above) was growing so big she wasn't able to sleep in the refurbished car as planned

Just seven days later the van was complete, and Tagger had a stylish dog bed of her own in the trailer.

Even George Clarke admitted he was 'insanely jealous' as the couple unveiled their plans to travel to the Arctic in their newly renovated van.

The 'amazing' transformation featured a tight and cozy interior, decked out with curtains, designer lighting and heritage green hardware.

They'd even managed a pull out kitchen space at the end, with a stovetop for cooking and making tea in the kettle.

The solar panels on the roof would mean the couple would be able to life off-grid for weeks at a time while on their travels.

'That's good! That's really neat!' George exclaimed, as he was shown inside the van.

Doug and Alex demonstrated how they would transform the seating area into a double bed in under a minute, tucking in the kitchen area, taking out the dog bed and adding extra cushions.

George said it was 'mind-boggling', particularly when 6ft2 Doug was able to lie down without a glitch.

But with the interiors nearly complete and the couple risking 'running out of time' before starting their travels, Doug and Alex were forced into a last-minute change of plan

By the end of the episode, Tagger had a stylish dog bed of her own in the trailer

Tagger meanwhile was filmed looking happy in her trailer, with a blanket, dog bed and water bowl.

'Small really is beautiful in many ways, if you can make the space work,' George explained. 'Everything becomes more efficient.'

George Clarke's Amazing Spaces aims to 'celebrate the nation's small space trailblazers' and prove that with skill, and a whole lot of heart, anything can be possible.

Elsewhere in the first episode of the new series, he met Oliver and Amber in the Cotswolds.

With Amber pregnant, the couple faced an extraordinary challenge as they sought to renovate a 'big bland' lorry into a travelling home and restaurant business.

By the end of the programme, the couple had achieved their 'biggest dream' - as chef and former circus star Oliver had created an amazing space for their family, including newborn Zeph.

Their restaurant, Josser, is currently in Moreton in Marsh and travels around the Cotswolds, hosting dinner nights and brunches for those nearby.

George also enjoyed an architectural trip to the hillside village of Monsanto, where villages are built into boulders and 'traditional rustic architecture works in harmony with design'.

A view of Doug and Alex's 3.5x2.9m car that they purchased for 900, before it was transformed

The 'amazing' remodel featured a tight and cozy interior, decked out with curtains, designer lighting and heritage green hardware

Even host George Clarke (right) admitted he was 'insanely jealous' as the couple unveiled their plans to travel to the Arctic in their newly renovated van

The village, which has been dubbed the 'most Portuguese village in Portugal', featured 'fairly conventional houses' with one huge twist.

As George explained, 'You don't know if the house is born of the rock, or the rock is born off the house'.

He visited one property known as the 'one tile house', which had a huge boulder for its roof in a piece of stunning architecture.

He even went inside one of the houses, where a gigantic boulder from the hillside entered the living space and bedroom.

George Clarke's Amazing Spaces airs at 9pm on Tuesdays on Channel 4. The first episode of the new series is available to stream now.
Two friends who thought they had booked a flight to San Jose, Costa Rica, were in for a huge shock when they landed in San Jose, California... and the blunder ultimately cost them thousands of dollars.

Lynne, 25, from Brooklyn, New York, was excited to visit the Central American country with her best friend in December 2022.

They boarded a flight from LaGuardia airport to North Carolina, then after a short layover, took another flight to their final destination.

After a long travel day, they were especially looking forward to getting to their hostel in stunning Costa Rica so they could get some sleep.

But instead, they found themselves in a totally different place... as it turns out, they had accidentally booked a flight to a city with the same name in California.

What came next was a travel nightmare consisting of multiple flights, a long layover that saw them sleeping in an airport, and thousands of extra dollars spent on finally getting them to their destination.

Lynne spoke about the unfortunate mishap exclusively with DailyMail.com, and she explained that both she and her friend had booked their flight separately, and neither one noticed that it was to the wrong country.

'We were on FaceTime when we booked it,' she explained. 'We booked it separately but I believe it was me who sent the link.'

Two friends who thought they had booked a flight to San Jose, Costa Rica, were in for a huge shock when they landed in San Jose, California

Lynne, 25, from Brooklyn, New York, was excited to visit the Central American country with her best friend in December 2022

After a long travel day, they were especially looking forward to getting to their hostel in stunning Costa Rica. But instead, they found themselves in a totally different place

At the airport, she said the boarding pass did say San Jose, CA, but she figured CA stood for Costa Rica just like Vermont is abbreviated with its first and last letter.

Throughout the course of their two flights, Lynne said they had 'no inkling' that they were en route to the wrong destination, and it wasn't until they landed in California and were disembarking plane that they finally noticed.

The shock realization came when her friend asked the flight attendant for directions to Santa Teresa in Costa Rica on their way off the aircraft, and the crew member broke the news that they were actually in California.

And while Lynne found the situation entertaining at first, she said her friend was not as amused.

'I was hysterically laughing and my friend was freaking out,' she recalled. 'The airport desks were all closed when we landed as it was midnight. So we found a [nearby] motel.'

At the motel, Lynne said the panic started to set in and she considered booking the next flight back home, but her friend was determined to get them to Costa Rica.

They ultimately booked a flight to Costa Rica from California that left the following night, but it involved a lengthy, overnight layover in Texas, which was far from ideal.

'We ended up sleeping on restaurant benches in Houston,' she revealed.

Lynne told DailyMaiil.com that they realized they had accidentally booked a flight to a city with the same name in California while they were disembarking. They're seen in the airport

They ultimately booked a flight to Costa Rica from California that left the following night, but it involved a lengthy, overnight layover in Texas, which was far from ideal

Despite the pricey and extremely inconvenient mishap, she said once they did finally get to Costa Rica and got settled, the ended up having an amazing trip. They're seen on the trip

After that, they had to take a five-hour drive to their hostel in Costa Rica, and by the time they finally arrived, three days of what was supposed to be a relaxing trip had been wasted.

She also estimated that the ordeal cost them close to $1,500 each.

'With missed nights in the hostel, missed shuttles, new flights, Ubers, motel, etc. [we wasted] at least $1,000 (probably closer to $1,500 though) each,' she shared.

Despite the pricey and extremely inconvenient mishap, she said once they did finally get to Costa Rica and got settled, the ended up having an amazing trip.

And looking back now, two years later, she's able to laugh about it.

'This story is my party trick. It's so funny and people have so many questions,' she joked.

'I don't take myself too seriously and would be lying if I said this is the only silly mistake I've made.'

As for her advice for others who ever find themselves in a similar situation, she concluded: 'Give yourself a few minutes to freak out but then get back on track with a plan to action.

'Don't think about the worst that could happen but the best. I was so close to giving up because of the number of road blocks we'd faced.

'I was convinced the universe was sending me signs to not go. My takeaway is follow through.

'As cliche as it sounds, the toughest journeys can lead to the most rewarding experience.'
Meghan Markle has already added more items to her ShopMy page just one day after she unveiled it to the public - and even included an entirely new category for viewers to shop.

On Monday, Meghan took to Instagram to announce that she would be using ShopMy to post affiliate links to her clothing items and accessories, some of which she would earn commission from.

The app is popular with influencers, as they can profit by simply linking and sharing certain items with followers.

'Many of you have asked, so here you go!' Meghan wrote in text on top of the story. 'A little shopping to start the week. More to come. Link in bio.'

The wardrobe comprised mostly of elevated basics, including linen shirts, crewneck sweaters, sunglasses, and handbags, in neutral shades like beige, brown, white, black, and navy blue.

Among the items she has linked is a $1,415 beige cashmere crewneck from designer Loro Piana, an ivory silk maxi dress by Heidi Merrick listed $1,350, and a pair of loose brown pants for $388 from Brochu Walker.

However, just 24 hours later, on Tuesday afternoon, Meghan had added a few more clothing items to the page, and an entirely new category for her beauty products.

'You've asked me about my nail polish on "With Love, Meghan," - one coat of each, plus a few of my other essentials! Enjoy,' she wrote in an Instagram story Tuesday.

Meghan Markle has already added more items to her ShopMy page just one day after she unveiled it to the public - and even included an entirely new category for viewers to shop

The app is popular with influencers, as they can profit by simply linking and sharing certain items with followers

However, just 24 hours later, on Tuesday afternoon, Meghan had added a few more clothing items to the page, and an entirely new category for her beauty products

Of the beauty items linked included a $245 Multi-Masking set from Tata Harper, an $88 Root Replenish Active Growth Serum from Highbrow Hippie, and Dewy Skin Cream by Tatcha, which retails for a cool $72.

Meghan also generously let followers in on what nail polish she was wearing on the show, adding links to a website called Beyond Polish where you could purchase her $17 light-pink colors from CND, Romantique and Satin Slippers.

But that's not all.

She even shared some more affordable beauty items, like the $9 Lucas PawPaw oil that can be found on Amazon, and the Weleda Skin Food, linking a double pack of the tubes for $40.

Meghan included TikTok-favorite beauty items as well, such as the $10 Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream and $24 Laneige Sleeping Mask.

On the 'my closet' section of her ShopMy, she added a few more understated pieces.

Not only did Meghan include a $345 black wool blazer from Theory, but also a pair of black sunglasses from Heidi Merrick for $225.

But interestingly enough, some of Meghan's beauty picks seem to stray from her previous tried-and-true favorites.

Meghan included TikTok-favorite beauty items as well, such as the $10 Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream and $24 Laneige Sleeping Mask

During a 2017 interview with Allure, Meghan said that her favorite mascara was by Dior - namely, their Diorshow Iconic mascara, which retails for $33.

She also praised the $39 Makeup Forever HD Powder and peachy-pink colored Nars Orgasm Blush, which comes out to $34.

'I play around,' Meghan said when asked about her beauty routine at the time. 'I love Jan Marini skincare products. I've been using their serum lately. It's a nice glycolic one that makes your skin really glow-y.'

She also gave a shout-out to Tatcha, a brand she appears to still use today.

'And I really love the Tatcha Rice Enzyme Powder. It just sort of foams on your face and gives you a really subtle exfoliation,' she shared with Allure.

'I also use Revitalash on my eyelashes, and I swear they are as long as they could ever be,' she added.

Meghan's ShopMy debut comes just weeks after her show premiered on Netflix in early March.

But despite her new show being panned by critics, it has already been renewed for a second season on Netflix.

'I also use Revitalash on my eyelashes, and I swear they are as long as they could ever be,' she added

Meghan's ShopMy debut comes just weeks after her show premiered on Netflix in early March

The eight-episode series saw her welcome famous friends like Mindy Kaling and Abigail Spencer into her home as they cooked together and even made certain home decor items, like beeswax candles.

Markle made the announcement via Instagram just a few days after the show premiered, as she shared a video of some different snippets from various episodes.

'If you're loving Season 1, just wait until you see the fun we cooked up on Season 2!' the mom-of-two wrote in the caption.

'Thanks for joining the party, and an endless thanks to the amazing team and crew who helped bring it all to life!' her message continued, as she tagged the Netflix Instagram account.

At the same time as her Netflix premiere, Markle also revealed some of the products that she will be selling in conjunction wit her new lifestyle brand, As Ever.

Not only does it include pancake mix, but also raspberry spread in 'keepsake packaging' and a limited-edition wildflower honey. The items are not yet for sale.
Her British mother is a successful model and was discovered at the age of 16

This 18-year-old brunette has modelled for the likes of KHAITE and Anna Sui

She may only be 18-years-old, but this dark-haired daughter of a mega rock star and a British model is already making waves in the fashion world.

Having modeled for the likes of KHAITE, Anna Sui, and W Magazine, her latest campaign is with Spanish brand Zara and she looks incredible in a snap released this week.

Sporting an embellished two-piece from the new ZARA X STEVEN MEISEL campaign, this brunette looks totally at ease in front of the camera as she stares down the lens posing with her hands in her pockets.

'So grateful to have been asked to join this shoot, thank you so so much,' she captioned the black and white photo when she posted it on Instagram on March 24.

It's no surprise that this particular individual is already being snapped up by some of the industry's biggest names as her own mother was discovered at the age of 16 by Debra Burns, the owner of Boss Model Management.

Her only daughter is currently signed to dna Model Management, but can you guess who the nepo baby is?

This nepo baby is 18-years-old and looks stunning modelling for the new ZARA X STEVEN MEISEL campaign

The pretty brunette is the first child of a well-known British model and a massive rock star

She regularly posts broody snaps on Instagram to her 11.2k followers

It's Scarlett Teresa White! The only daughter and eldest child of Karen Elson and The White Stripes rocker Jack White.

Scarlett was born in 2006 and is older sister to Karen and Jack's son Henry Lee, who they welcomed in 2007.

Jack, 49, was married to Oldham-born Karen from 2005 until 2013, and the duo decided to co-parent their two children following their split.

Scarlett, who has shared several snaps of her with her guitarist dad on Instagram, appears to have a good relationship with both her mother and father.

Most recently she attended SNL50: The Homecoming Concert in New York City with Jack on February 14.

Scarlett looked chic in a black off-the-shoulder dress as she held hands with her father while they posed for photos on the blue carpet at Radio City Music Hall.

She was pictured with her mom Karen, 46, during Paris Fashion Week in September 2024 when they attended the Valentino Pavillon des Folies Show together.

Reposting the snap of her daughter in the Zara campaign, Karen wrote on Instagram last week: 'There is something serendipitous about Scarlett walking down her own path as a young adult and coming into contact with the incredible people who changed my life when I was her age. Full circle moment.'

It's Scarlett White, the only daughter of rock musician Jack White and British model Karen Elson, pictured here in 2008

Scarlett pictured arriving at SNL50: The Homecoming Concert with her father in February

Scarlett pictured at the Valentino Pavillon des Folies Show in Paris with her mom Karen in September 2024

Six years ago, Karen opened up about motherhood during an interview with Maisonette and revealed: 'For me, becoming a parent is really what made me a woman.

'Up until then, my whole world had been about me. And then Scarlett came along. It was the most humbling experience.'

She continued: 'As parents, we've all had those nights lying awake with a sick child, going on a couple hours of sleep, having to rally the next day to get to work.

'You can't ever switch off, in the most wonderful way. I think becoming a mother really made me grow up,' Karen added.

While Scarlett has seemingly followed in her mother's modelling footsteps, she appears to have an interest in music too.

Not only is she credited on Jack's 2022 album Fear of the Dawn, she also joined him onstage to perform The White Stripes song The Hardest Button to Button back in January 2023.

Posting several pictures from the big moment on social media at the time, Karen wrote: 'Miss Scarlett Teresa White. My beautiful, kind, never wants to be the center of attention with a heart of solid gold daughter.

'What a sweet moment with her papa bear @officialjackwhite Thank you for all the videos and pics Jack, @oliviajeanmusic @davidjamesswanson. I'll stop embarrassing you now Scarlett,' she added.

Scarlett posted this throwback photo of her with her dad to mark Father's Day in June 2024

Jack accompanied Karen as they moved Scarlett into her college dorm in August 2024

Jack and Scarlett were seen in her college dorm having a FaceTime call with an elderly woman

As well as being into music and modelling, Scarlett is also studying and was joined by both her mom and dad when she moved into her college dorm room in August 2024.

Karen shared some personal photos from the bittersweet day on Instagram and captioned the post: 'Big Day, Big Feelings.'

In one snap, Jack is seen sitting on a bunk bed with his daughter, and in another, they're seen side-by-side at her bedroom desk enjoying a FaceTime call with an elderly female, perhaps a relative.

Scarlett is also an avid TikTok user and regularly posts videos of herself modelling different outfits.
A cult-favourite fashion brand has made a comeback in Australia - and for fans, it's like welcoming an old friend home.

Once a staple in Aussie streetwear, European brand G-Star was everywhere in the 2000s and 2010s, worn by everyone from hip-hop heads to fashion-conscious tradies.

The brand is now making a grand return, bringing back its signature structured 'Raw' denim with a fresh, modern twist.

For Aussie fashion lovers who remember the days when G-Star was a status symbol, this revival is a major moment.

The brand's expansion across Australia and New Zealand currently includes major retailers like David Jones, The Iconic, Glue Store, and Culture Kings.

G-Star is also set to open dedicated retail stores across Oceania later in 2025.

The brand was founded in the Netherlands in 1989 and first arrived Down Under in 1998.

G-Star went into voluntary administration in May 2020, shutting down 57 stores and leaving more than 200 workers in the lurch.

Over the past few years, G-Star has been seen on model and actress Victoria Jancke

Once a staple in Aussie streetwear, European brand G-Star was everywhere in the 2000s and 2010s, worn by everyone from hip-hop heads to fashion-conscious tradies

The brand also hosted an afterparty with Belgian designer Walter Van Beirendonck at Paris Fashion Week in 2024

The closure was partly due to the COVID-19 recession.

G-Star's comeback is more than just nostalgia - it's proof that well-made, high quality denim never goes out of style.

Over the past few years, the brand has been seen on model and actress Victoria Jancke and even hosted an afterparty with Belgian designer Walter Van Beirendonck at Paris Fashion Week in 2024.

Add to that collaborations with cultural icons like Pharrell Williams, Snoop Dogg, Burna Boy, and Cara Delevingne, and it's clear G-Star has tapped into a whole new wave of chic.

The brand's raw denim jeans are perfect for an effortless, off-duty model vibe - pair them with a crisp white tank, an oversized blazer, and chunky sneakers for a look straight off the streets of Copenhagen.

Their classic utility jackets make a statement with baggy cargos and a sleek bodysuit.

And denim-on-denim is officially back, so don't be afraid to go full Canadian tuxedo with a structured G-Star jacket and matching jeans.

Helder Borges, Managing Director of Good Products & Co. said: 'For nearly 40 years, G-Star has redefined denim, pushing boundaries and challenging an industry rooted in tradition.

'We want to bring the rebellious spirit and bold vision for the future to the Oceania consumer.'
A popular Japanese snack has taken Sydney by storm, with an Australian audience relishing deep-fried sandwiches stuffed with everything from chicken nanban to ganache matcha.

Age.3, the cult-favourite cafe from Tokyo's Ginza district, has opened an outlet in Sydney, bringing Japan's latest food obsession to Australian shores.

Foodies can find the new cafe on Harris Street in Ultimo, just a short walk from Central Station.

The brand, known for its gourmet take on agemono (fried foods), first gained popularity in Fukuoka before expanding to Tokyo, Hong Kong, and now Australia.

The sandwiches, which start from just $3, have already sparked a frenzy online, with foodies eager to try the crispy creations.

For those eager to get their hands on the viral snack, the store is open from 11.30am to 7pm until March 30, and from April 1st, it will open from 7am to 8pm Monday to Saturday, and 11.30am to 6pm on Sundays.

Breakfast and coffee will be served from 7am to 11.30am, with the fried sandwiches available from 11.30am onwards.

The sandwiches, which start from just $3, have already sparked a frenzy online, with foodies eager to try the crispy creations

Age.3, the cult-favourite cafe from Tokyo's Ginza district, has officially opened its doors in Sydney, bringing Japan 's latest food obsession to Australian shores

Content creator Adrian Widjy posted a reel showcasing his visit to the Tokyo sensation

Content creator Adrian Widjy posted a reel showcasing his visit to the Tokyo sensation.

'I can't wait to visit the Sydney location,' he said.

Many Aussies were similarly excited.

'I'm never ordering anything else while at university,' one excited fan wrote.

'Oh my god - finally!' another added.

The menu boasts over 30 different fillings, blending both savoury and sweet flavours.

Options include chicken nanban, hot grilled keema curry, cinnamon apple pie, egg with fried noodles, and indulgent desserts like mixed berries opera and pistachio cream.

Each sandwich is made using Age.3's signature whipped cream, imported directly from Japan.

Staff have been brought over from Japan to ensure the products meet the standard of the original concept.

Alongside the sandwiches, the menu features Japanese-inspired drinks, including a refreshing yuzu mojito.
Most of us have at least one amalgam filling  some have many more  and the fillings are widely used in the UK.

But since January their use has been banned in the EU because the metal is highly toxic to humans and the environment.

While this ruling does not apply in the UK, dentists here who specialise in the removal of amalgam fillings are reporting increasing numbers of people seeking to have theirs taken out.

And Good Health has discovered that record numbers of dentists are now offering amalgam filling removal services  up from a handful just five years ago to more than a hundred who mention it on their practice websites.

But at a cost of around 80 for each filling, or up to 200 for newer techniques, its expensive, has potential risks  and is it even necessary?

Amalgam fillings are made of 50 per cent mercury  the rest is a mix of silver, copper and tin. Amalgam has been used to fill teeth since 1826 and almost 90 per cent of adults in the UK have at least one such filling.

But the EU says they should no longer be used as exposure to high levels of mercury can cause harm to the brain, lungs, kidneys and immune system.

However, according to the NHS, although amalgam fillings can release low levels of mercury vapour, particularly when they are put in or removed, there is no evidence that exposure to mercury from amalgam fillings has any harmful effects on health.

Most people with amalgam fillings have less than 5 micrograms of mercury per litre of urine because mercury is flushed from the body over time

The British Dental Association takes a similar line, saying that amalgam has been used safely for more than a hundred years  and that the mercury ingested over time is too low to cause any health problems unless someone has an allergy or is sensitive to mercury.

Indeed most people with amalgam fillings have less than 5 micrograms of mercury per litre of urine because mercury is flushed from the body over time, reducing by half every three months, according to the Oral Health Foundation.

The maximum permitted level of exposure to mercury for industrial workers is around 135 micrograms per litre in the US, which is considered safe by medical authorities.

The EU ban on dental amalgam does nothing to change the fact it remains a safe and effective filling material for patients across the UK, says Eddie Crouch, a dentist and chair of the British Dental Association. In the UK, at least, sanity reigns. If your existing amalgam filling cracks then yes, get it removed and replaced. Just dont do it off the back of this ban.

Ben Atkins, an NHS dentist and president of the Oral Health Foundation, agrees: Generally, mercury only gets released when amalgam fillings are fitted or removed. Im a 1970s child and I have them in my mouth. I wouldnt rush to get them replaced.'

Amalgam fillings are quick to place and low cost, adds Eddie Crouch, meaning a total phase-out risks leaving millions of high-need, low-income patients without options.

However, other dentists, including James Goolnik from Optimal Dental Health in London, arent convinced. When we remove a filling, we are not allowed to just put it in a bin, we cant flush it down the sink, he says. It has to be in a special container and has to be taken away as contaminated waste.

I wouldnt want something in my mouth that had to be put away in a contaminated waste.

Dentist Jeff Amos said people are travelling from Spain to get their amalgam fillings replaced

James Goolnik and others argue there are safer materials such as composite resin, glass ionomer cement (glass powder) and porcelain. But what about removing the amalgam fillings you already have? This carries its own potential risks.

They need to be removed with care: while the mercury in a filling slowly leaks out over time, most exposure comes when the fillings are applied or removed, as this can release mercury particles into the blood and mercury vapour can be breathed in.

The Food and Drug Administration in the US warns against removing amalgam fillings unless medically necessary because of the release of mercury vapour during the process, potentially resulting in problems with sleeping, fatigue, memory issues as well as an increased risk of anxiety and depression.

A study in the journal Environmental Health in 1998 found that mercury concentrations in blood were raised by 32 per cent 48 hours after amalgam removal, though went back to normal levels within 88 days.

Yet the EU ruling has clearly worried some. Since its announcement, Asif Hamid, a dentist and clinical director at Prive Clinics, says from having two to three queries per year about removal, he now has five or six patients asking for this per month.

Jeff Amos, a dentist at The Clinic in Brighton, says: People are coming over from Spain and driving up from Devon to get them replaced.

Jack Grainger, 45, a retail manager from London, has just had one of his seven amalgam fillings (in place since his twenties) removed after reading about the EU ruling.

I was waking up in the middle of the night panicking that I was slowly poisoning myself, he says.

This stuff is in my mouth and is going into my body on a daily basis. It might be a small amount, but Im worried about it accumulating over time in my blood and organs. Does it cause Alzheimers, or bladder and kidney issues?

Jack was worried about the mercury vapour and particles released during the removal procedure, so opted to use a dentist who offers safe mercury amalgam removal technique (Smart).

During the procedure the patient has a rubber dam in their mouth (a thin sheet that separates the tooth being removed from the rest of the mouth to stop any bits of mercury being swallowed), and breathes through an oxygen mask  while a high-powered suction is used to prevent mercury vapour escaping.

The procedure costs from 200 for each tooth and it can take 40 minutes to an hour to remove and replace each filling with a white one.

Jack decided to have one filling at the front of his mouth removed to test the technique. He also took a mercury urine test (purchased online) before and after, for while dentists using Smart say this isnt necessary, he wanted to be sure: If the test showed I hadnt been exposed to more mercury, then Id go back and get the rest of them removed,' he says.

What reassured me during the procedure was that I felt Id entered a contamination-free zone. I felt really well protected.

The mercury test was normal, so Im definitely going back to have them all replaced.

He says having the amalgam removed is also giving him peace of mind: I feel less anxious now.
'The odd girl out. Pretending to be normal. Standing on the outside looking in.

These are just some of the ways autistic females have described themselves in many powerful personal testimonies about their lives before finally being diagnosed, their deep social unease exposing their desperation to disguise any visible symptoms of their condition.

For from a very early age they report struggling to find an identity that ensures they are welcomed and included, rather than ostracised and excluded. They try to camouflage or adopt different masks to hide their autistic self. This camouflaging or masking is emerging as a key characteristic of the many autistic women who have, to date, been overlooked in the autism story.

Its an exhausting and stressful strategy, and one which can have a profound impact on their sense of identity and self-understanding.

As I explored in the first part of this exclusive series in Good Health last week, blinkered clinicians have long insisted autism was something just for the boys, with many quoting as proof the statistic that boys were four times more likely to be diagnosed as autistic than girls, and relying on skewed assessments that viewed autism through an almost entirely male lens.

This belief has had a damaging impact on autistic females: girls on the spectrum can feel that they face a double whammy, with the world dismissing their autistic identity because they are not male, and powerful social forces enforcing a rigid view of what they should be like because they are a girl.

One young girl with autism, Grace, eloquently described the difficulties she had: All girls are under immense pressure to fit in and to be a certain way according to what they are told being a girl means. Its even worse for girls with autism because they are also trying to fit in with what being a human means.

Im a professor of cognitive neuroimaging who uses state-of-the-art brain-imaging techniques to investigate autistic brains.

Professor Gina Rippon's new book, The Lost Girls of Autism, will be published on April 3

But I wanted to know more about the autistic girls and women who, because of the boys-only bias of autism science, had rarely appeared in my studies, and who had been diagnosed much later than the males  often been misdiagnosed with everything from bipolar disorder to anorexia.

So I got out from under my scanner and asked them: What is it like to be you? The answers, across all ages, almost universally spoke of navigating difficulties with social expectations, of constant attacks on their self-esteem, of being bullied or called weird; of feeling like an outsider.

It revealed the intense importance to these females of belonging, of needing an identity, of trying to find a place for themselves in a society where they didnt seem to fit, no matter how hard they tried.

And then the positive impact of at last discovering they were autistic: the profound sense of relief that, at last, they had a true identity, they had found their tribe, where their lives and experiences finally made sense.

The question then arises: if a key aspect of autistic experience is of uncertainty about your identity, about who you are, and realising that you dont live up to the expectations of a world that has inflexible views of what you should be like, then this could well extend to wider questions of self-identity, including gender.

Could this be why there are higher rates of gender diversity in autistic populations than in non-autistic populations?

Research shows that rates of autism are between three and six times higher in transgender and gender-diverse populations than in other populations.

Up to 15 per cent of autistic adults identify as trans or non-binary, but the rates are higher among those assigned female at birth, possibly over 30 per cent.

Neuroscientists are starting to compare brain activity patterns in individuals with both autism and gender identity diversity to explore potential overlaps (picture posed by a model)

Understanding this intersection of autism with gender identity is more than just an academic point, it is a real and live health issue: emerging evidence has found that being both transgender and autistic is associated with higher rates of mental health problems. They need our care, help and sympathy.

When academics from the Centre for Applied Autism Research at the University of Bath interviewed autistic adults about their experiences, they described their distress in living in a world which was not accepting of either gender diversity or neurodiversity.

Some of those assigned female had very negative experiences around the trappings of being female, such as sensory dysphoria  physical discomfort associated with autism-related sensitivities, caused by the stereotypical female clothes they were supposed to wear, such as woolly tights or frills. They also report sensory challenges around puberty including periods, such as dealing with the smell of blood and growing body hair.

One of those interviewed commented: Being autistic is like everybody else has got the rulebook and you didnt, so you can understand why gender would come into it because that was in the rulebook you do not get. Autistic girls report a lifetime of being bullied and of being made to feel they dont belong.

Add to this mix the popular conception of autism as a male thing and girls on the spectrum may well feel that they want to be aligned to a different sex, or even to none at all. The drive to belong is as powerful in autistic girls as it is in typical girls, if not more so, so seeking a community different from the one that appears to reject them is understandable.

The hyper-femininity that characterises social media and marketing may also play a part.

If the alleged characteristics associated with your assigned female identity  be it having a serious make-up habit or liking the colour pink  doesnt chime with what you think best defines you, then you may well seek a different identity altogether, especially in order to belong to a group you might identify with: i.e. males. The higher levels of gender identity non-conformity among autistic females could well be a response to this. There are possible biological explanations, too.

Neuroscientists are starting to compare brain activity patterns in individuals with both autism and gender identity diversity to explore potential areas of overlap. One 2023 US study focused on something known as the default mode network, sometimes known as the daydreaming network. This is when youre allegedly not engaged in any particular task, but are actually almost invariably thinking about yourself, or real or imagined events involving yourself.

Using brain scans, researchers looked at the patterns of connections within this network, and between other brain networks, in 45 transgender youths  some non-autistic, others autistic, or with high levels of autistic traits but who had not been diagnosed.

The researchers found evidence of greater connectivity in this network in the brains of autistic transgender individuals, which they interpreted as reflecting higher levels of self-monitoring an ongoing quest for some kind of identity, marked both by persistent self-reflection or repeated self-comparisons with those around you.

Overall, this pattern was more closely associated with those assigned female at birth.

This is consistent with other studies showing much more evidence of self-monitoring in females generally during tasks that activate our social brain, which helps us navigate social interactions (our social satnav).

This part of the brain undergoes dramatic reorganisation during adolescence, and is the time when the signs of autism may become more marked in previously unidentified autistic girls.

Changes in their adolescent brains, together with a vastly more complex set of social demands, undermine the previously hard-won protective camouflage that kept these girls under the radar during their primary school years  which potentially makes their longing for a social identity even more pressing.

Issues of identity have long been overlooked in autistic populations, but they clearly have enormous significance, particularly for females who have been overlooked by the current diagnostic process.

For as well as being deprived of help and support, they may be deprived of an identity.

Adapted from The Lost Girls of Autism by Gina Rippon (Macmillan, 22), to be published on April 3.  Gina Rippon 2025.

To order a copy for 19.80 (offer valid until April 5, 2025; UK P&P free on orders over 25) go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937.
Rachel Villarreal and her partner Anthony Grigsby had saved for years to afford their trip to Mexico City, and it was shaping up to be the holiday of a lifetime.

The pair had meticulously planned everything, from a hot air balloon ride to museum and market visits  even a boat trip down a historic Aztec canal.

But what was meant to be a dream five-day break for the Texas couple turned into a fight for Ms Villarreal's life after she was poisoned.

While on the boat trip, the pair were offered complimentary 'homemade' shots. They were presented in beautifully decorated jars and two were coconut flavored  with Mr Grigsby even taking pictures (shown below).

But within hours of drinking the shots, Ms Villarreal fell ill  suffering from a fever, stomach ache and throbbing headache that left her bedbound.

Two days later, Mr Grigsby woke up to find Ms Villarreal face down on the floor, motionless. When he turned her over, he found her eyes rolled back in their sockets.

In the ER, tests revealed she had been poisoned with methanol, a toxic type of alcohol found in antifreeze and windshield washer fluid.

When methanol enters the body, it is broken down into a highly toxic acid that causes cells to break down and organs to stop working.

Rachel Villarreal, then 36 years old, is pictured above holding the shots that would almost cost her her life. Doctors found after she was hospitalized that these contained methanol, a toxic substance

The four shots are shown above, the two white ones on the right are coconut flavor. Mr Grigsby said they tasted 'good' and there was no sign that they contained methanol. They were the local pulque drink, which is made by fermenting the sap of an agave plant

Ms Villarreal nearly died three times while in the hospital, where doctors said her organs kept shutting down and she was struggling to breathe.

Her brain was swollen and bleeding, suffering inflammation from the methanol that was also causing neurons to start to break down.

She was immediately put into a coma to try to limit the damage by stopping her brain from swelling further.

Doctors also had to cut a hole in her neck to insert a tube to supply oxygen to her lungs because they were not working properly.

Ms Villarreal, now 37, is still in therapy to regain her strength.

She has been left with brain damage to her basal ganglia, the area of the brain involved in motor control, which causes her to sometimes walk a few steps backward involuntarily.

And she struggles to speak because of all the scarring in her throat caused by hospital tubes.

In the Daily Mail's hour-long interview with the couple, more than a year on from the accident in January 2024, Ms Villarreal could manage only nine words because of the pain it causes her to speak. She instead motioned to Mr Grigsby to remind him of events.

She spoke only to say their ages, to confirm they had been together for 'three years' and to say that earlier in the day she had been to 'speech therapy... for my voice'.

Methanol is a byproduct from alcohol production normally formed during the fermentation process.

While commercial alcohol beverages are distilled to remove it, drinks made improperly or illegally do not  and can contain methanol left behind.

Illegal breweries are common in Mexico, although it isn't clear how many people suffer or die from methanol poisoning in the country each year.

In May 2020, early in the Covid pandemic, more than 100 deaths from methanol poisoning were reported in Mexico  Covid restrictions had limited the availability of commercial liquor, leading more people to make their own alcohol.

In November last year, six tourists including an American man died after drinking tainted alcohol at a hostel in Laos, near Thailand.

Warning signs of the poisoning start within 24 hours of drinking the methanol, and begin as headaches, dizziness, vomiting, abdominal pain and blurred vision. Some mistake the symptoms for bad food poisoning.

But without treatment, patients can suffer from seizures, coma, respiratory failure and even death. Drinking as little as two tablespoons of methanol can be deadly.

Ms Villarreal, from Austin, nearly died three times from the methanol poisoning. It took three weeks and $50,000 before she was finally able to fly back to the US

Ms Villarreal in the hospital. Doctors told Mr Grigsby she likely wouldn't survive, and that even if she did she could have brain damage or be blind

There are about 3,000 cases and 24 deaths from methanol poisoning in the US each year, but they are normally linked to children drinking anti-freeze rather than tainted alcohol.

To treat the poisoning, doctors administer ethanol, which neutralizes the methanol and stops it breaking down into a toxic substance.

Mr Grigsby told the Daily Mail there were no signs the drinks contained methanol.

'The coconut one tasted good,' he said. 'The other one, I don't remember tasting it, but, you know, we drank them really fast. It was just like a shot.'

On the ride back to their Airbnb a few hours later, Ms Villarreal said she was feeling sick with a pain in her stomach. Then she vomited.

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She also started to suffer from body aches, a headache, and diarrhea while Mr Grigsby became sick too, suffering from severe headaches, sweating, hallucinations and the 'worst pain ever'.

Mr Grigsby likely did not get nearly as sick as Ms Villarreal because the alcohol he drunk contained a much smaller amount of methanol.

But the pair stayed in the Airbnb for two days and did not call an ambulance, believing the symptoms were food poisoning and would soon wear off.

On the third day, however, after Mr Grigsby found Ms Villarreal face down on the floor he called an ambulance, which took her to the ER.

At the hospital, doctors told him it was 'very likely' that Ms Villarreal wouldn't survive  and that even if she did she might have brain damage, be confined to a wheelchair and could go blind.

After ten days, however, she started to come around  occasionally squeezing Mr Grigsby's hands and starting to wake up.

It was another two weeks until she opened her eyes and began to move again, walking up and down the hospital halls. But scarring from the tubes made it difficult for her to speak, meaning she mostly relied on a notepad to communicate with others.

Ms Villarreal is pictured above with Anthony Grigsby, then 42. The pair, who had been together for three years before the trip, were enjoying their first trip out of the US

Mr Grigsby and Ms Villarreal are pictured above after the boat ride where they drunk the shots and just hours before symptoms started to emerge

She was flown back via air ambulance to a hospital in their home city of Austin, but would repeatedly suffer from a serious chest infection that would lead her to be continuously hospitalized throughout June and July.

Now, more than a year on, she is still struggling to speak  and will likely soon need an operation to remove scar tissue from her windpipe.

Mr Grigsby said they had trouble covering costs while in Mexico. The ambulance taking Ms Villarreal to the ER stopped for gas and told him to pay for it.

In the hospital, his credit cards wouldn't work and his US health insurance (from Aetna) and travel insurance (from Expedia) initially refused to cover the care.

He and Ms Villarreal's family ended up clearing their savings to fund the care and raised $25,000 on GoFundMe before the insurance agreed to cover it. Overall, the bill was $50,000.

After the accident, Mr Grigsby's family and Ms Villarreal's mother and at least one of her sisters flew out to join them.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Aetna and Expedia for comment.

Mr Grigsby said they reported the methanol poisoning to the authorities but, to the best of his knowledge, no follow-up investigation was made and the people who served them the drinks were not arrested.

He said officers simply told them that where they went for the boat ride, Xochimilco, is known as a bad part of town where 'shady' people are, and that this happens reasonably often.

'Just beforehand, my camera roll is full of pictures of boats and the shots, and then the aftermath is just Rachel in the ICU and also her recovering too,' he said.

'These people, they will never know how much damage they did to Rachel and how much they changed her life.'
A young gym fanatic has told of how doctors missed the first warning sign of the advanced testicular cancer that riddled his body with tumours.

Rob, 21, from Delaware in the US, was used to aches and pains, spending a large chunk of his day lifting heavy weights at the gym.

So when he began to suffer with a painful back twinge in February last year, he thought little of it.

'About an hour after leaving the gym my back started hurting really bad,' he told The Patient Story.

'I assumed it was weight-lifting related  an injury from my back.'

As the pain got progressively worse over the following weeks, he decided to seek help from the medics at his college.

However, doctors told him the problem was likely due to exercise strain, and gave him painkillers to get him through the worst of it.

Three weeks later the back pain remained and a new symptom had cropped up  Rob's appetite had all but disappeared.

Rob is a gym fanatic, working out most days and trying his hand at various fitness challenges

After weeks of constant pain he was finally offered a scan that spotted testicular cancer

He went to his local urgent care department, only to be prescribed more pain medication and refused a blood test.

But the following morning his condition took a dramatic turn.

'It was really early in the morning and I was throwing up blood and bile,' he recalled. 'So I knew something was up.'

He went straight to A&E, on the advice of his mother, where doctors eventually agreed to conduct tests including a CT scan and blood tests.

One astute doctor then asked if hed ever had pain or swelling in his testicles.

Rob recalled noticing 'extra firmness' in one over the years, but thought little of it until that moment.

Devastatingly, test results revealed he had stage three testicular cancer  meaning the disease had spread to other areas of his body.

Subsequent scans showed a shocking 58 cancerous tumours that had developed in various tissues and organs.

He immediately began an intense treatment plan, including an 'intense and complicated' surgery, as well as chemotherapy.

Rob has since been told he is in remission, with no cancer detected in his body

Testicular cancer most commonly hits men in their 20s and 30s

Losing his hair was one of the most challenging things about his diagnosis, Rob said.

'You just look sick. I hated the fact that I looked that way, but there was nothing I could do about it.'

Rob has since finished his treatment and tests have revealed that he is in remission, with no cancer detectable in his body.

'That was a really good moment,' he said, 'I was crying with my mum in the room. It's very rewarding to go through an entire battle like that then see these moments of progress.

'You realise you're getting healthier, and you're getting better. It can get emotional, but it's like happy tears.'

Testicular cancer is most likely to affect men in their late 20s and early 30s, according to Cancer Research UK.

The most common symptoms include a lump or swelling in the testicle, a change in shape in the organ or an ache, pain or feeling of heaviness in the area.

It's important to regularly so you know what's normal for you. This makes it easier to notice any changes in the size, look or feel of your testicles, the health service advises.
A UK trial where men who had no symptoms were screened for prostate cancer found hundreds had life-threatening forms of the disease which might otherwise not have been spotted in time, Good Health can reveal.

If the trial, which was confined to two counties in England, had been extended to the whole country, thousands more men with prostate cancer who might otherwise die of the disease could potentially have been detected, says Stephen Langley, a professor of urology at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, and co-chairman in urology of the Surrey & Sussex Cancer Alliance  which led the study.

Professor Langley says hes very hopeful the results, which show that targeted screening is effective, will add to the case for a nationwide programme aimed at men whose age or family history puts them at higher risk of the disease.

Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in England, with 55,000 new cases diagnosed each year. It is responsible for 12,000 deaths annually, but there is no screening for it even though its usually symptomless in early stages.

Currently 45 per cent of prostate cancer cases are diagnosed at a late stage when it is harder to treat and may have spread. By comparison in breast cancer  which women are screened for from the age of 50  26.9 per cent of cases are spotted at this later stage, according to Cancer Research UK figures.

For the new study, 18,000 men without any symptoms of prostate cancer were first given a blood test to check levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein made by the prostate  raised levels can be a sign of cancer.

Men were contacted by text having been selected from the database of 50 GP surgeries in the Surrey and Sussex area.

They were directed to a website which invited them for a blood test conducted by Medefer, an online healthcare company.

The men included were aged 50-70, black men aged 45-70 (who have almost double the risk of prostate cancer) or those whose family history of cancer put them at risk (as well as prostate cancer, this includes having female relatives with a history of breast cancer related to BRCA gene mutations).

The men were advised to avoid sex or strenuous lifting for three days beforehand, both of which can raise PSA, and were given a urine test to check for infection, which can also cause PSA levels to rise.

Just under 5 per cent (4.7 per cent or 865 men) were found to have a raised PSA (generally speaking, either over 3ng/ml or depending on age from 2.5ng/ml to 6.5ng/ml)  they were then sent for an MRI scan for detailed images of the prostate: 343 of these men were then referred for a biopsy and 64 per cent of them (221 men in total or 1.2 per cent of the total tested) were found to have life-threatening forms of the disease.

And this is among men who have no symptoms, says Professor Langley, who presented the results of the Targeted Prostate Health Check, which is the first NHS-funded targeted screening programme to be tried in this country, at the European Urology Association meeting in Madrid last week. The results have now been submitted for publication in a journal.

He believes the approach used in the 18-month trial could easily be rolled out throughout the UK, with these targeted men re-tested every two to three years and with blood tests performed at GP surgeries or via mobile vans.

The decision about whether to adopt screening nationwide falls to the UK National Screening Committee, which has previously rejected it due to the inaccuracy of PSA as a measure, but it is reviewing this, and is due to report later this year.

PSA may give rise to false positives and lead to the over-diagnosis of cancers that may not prove a major threat to health.

There are many reasons PSA can be raised  simply having a bigger prostate can push up the levels, yet previously every man who had a raised PSA would be sent for biopsy [which can be uncomfortable and carries a risk of infection] and we were finding what may be insignificant cancers that would not be a major threat, says Professor Langley.

But the MRI is the real gamechanger in this programme. It can help us determine who really does need a biopsy and who doesnt, he adds. He believes the targeted screening approach could help save many mens lives and I believe would end up being cheaper than treating late-stage prostate cancer as we currently do.

Being selected to take part in the trial was life-saving for retired engineer Richard Flashman, 68, as in December 2022 it revealed he had an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

Its a real shock to be told you have cancer when you dont feel unwell, says Richard, a father of three, who lives with wife Caroline, 68, a retired solicitor, in Guildford, Surrey. I felt so fit and healthy and was leading an active, outdoor life.

After getting a call to say his PSA at 3.8 warranted an MRI, to Richards utter shock this revealed he had two tumours in his prostate. A biopsy graded his cancer as a 9 (out of a possible 10) on the Gleason score which rates a cancers aggression and likelihood to spread.

He opted for radiotherapy and hormone treatment rather than risk side-effects such as impotence, which can follow surgery to remove the prostate.

He says: Im fine now and all my functions are settling back to normal after the treatment. But if it wasnt for screening theres every chance that the cancer would have spread and would have been untreatable by the time I got symptoms.

Amy Rylance, assistant director of health improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said the results of the new trial are very encouraging  both that large numbers of men came forward for screening and that the project successfully identified hundreds of life-threatening cancers in time for a cure.

Tim Dudderidge, a consultant urological surgeon based in Southampton, also welcomed the results. Broadly, I do think screening done with an MRI being the triage for a biopsy identifies lethal cancers without excessively diagnosing the ones we dont really need to know about, he says. But he adds: The National Screening Committee has well-developed scientific thresholds for developing screening and they believe we need another trial to determine the best approach.
A midwife who emigrated from the UK to Australia has revealed the striking pay bump she received when she moved nations, despite doing exactly the same job.

Sydney Graves, originally from Newcastle, said she earns 'about a third extra' after moving to Melbourne in the south east of the country, compared to what she made in the UK.

She claimed, in a TikTok video that's had more than 100,000 views, that midwives and nurses get 'automatically' bumped up the pay scale if they've worked in a hospital for a certain amount of time, regardless of their skill set.

Australian recruitment websites suggest that the average entry level salary for nurses and midwives is roughly $77,000 per year (equivalent to around 37,500).

In the UK, newly qualified NHS midwives can expert to earn around 29,970  roughly 20 per cent less than the Australian pay packet.

Ms Graves, who posts under the TikTok name @ukmidwifedownunder, added that pay grades may differ depending on the part of Australia you live in.

The best advice I would give is to go onto Google, type in midwife or nurse pay scale for wherever you want to go, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, wherever,' she said.

And it will give you an outline on what you would get paid depending on how many years qualified you are.

If you were qualified two years a go it will be in Year 2 and then every year you work, it will go up, she explained.

The midwife described how pay scales are organised in England, with newly qualified NHS nurses working on a Band 5 salary and only moving to a Band 6 once they have been signed off for competencies.

But thats not a thing in the hospital I'm in,' she added.

'You just automatically get bumped up pay scales, doesnt matter about suturing, doesn't matter about cannulation, any of those types of things.

Yes, they are desired but they arent a must like they are back home.'

Since moving down under last year, Ms Graves has published several TikTok clips revealing her experience of emigration  and the stark differences between Australia and the UK.

In one video she described 'a couple of odd things' she's noticed about the nation.

'Food shops, like, the equivalent of Asda and Tesco, are open on a Sunday until late at night,' she said.

Midwives in Australia are said to earn between 20 per cent to 30 per cent more than those in the UK

'I feel like in England, even the 24-hour ones close on a Sunday...but they're just open here all the time.'

In another recent video, she spoke about the misconceptions that surround midwifery.

People think that our job is only is delivering or helping with the birth of a baby.

They dont realise that midwives dont just do one role, they dont just do labour care, they also do antenatal care, and this is a huge part of our job as well as postnatal care.

Last November, analysis from the UKs nursing union the Royal College of Nursing found that between 2021 and 2024, the number of nursing staff leaving the register in England increased by 43 per cent.
Roselia Aguirre was working as a school cafeteria worker when she suddenly came down with a mysterious cough and debilitating headaches.

The 52-year-old El Paso, Texas resident who taught dances to children at her local church was left with pain so severe she couldn't work, according to her daughter, Aide Moreno.

During the summer of 2015, Roselia also began having strokes that caused half her face to droop. For a year, she went to multiple doctors to try and find a cause but would only be prescribed pain medications.

Eventually, she became so sick she had to be hospitalized and underwent brain surgery to remove excess fluid and was then put into a coma to allow her brain to heal.

Still left without answers from her doctors, a weekend physician who saw Roselia's condition suspected she was suffering from something far more dangerous and began testing her brain fluid.

It was then doctors and her family learned Roselia had coccidioidomycosis, a fungal infection more commonly known as Valley fever.

The family fear she caught the fungus during one of Texas' notorious dust storms. The fungus is spread through tiny spores in the ground that may be whipped up by harsh winds.

Roselia Aguirre (left) pictured here with her daughter Aide Moreno (right)

Weakened by brain damage and unable to walk on her own after coming out of the coma, Roselia began attending physical therapy and taking antifungal medications.

However, the treatments couldn't fight the infection and she died on August 24, 2016 from a heart attack. Her death certificate attributed the cause to Valley fever.

Roselia died on August 24, 2016 from a heart attack. Her death certificate attributed the cause to viral fever

Valley Fever - which got its name because a majority of cases are found in Arizona and California - is a deadly lung infection that kills one in 100 people who contract it.

On average, there were approximately 200 coccidioidomycosis-associated deaths each year from 1999 to 2021.

Valley fever is caused by the fungus coccidioides, which is swept up into the air when soil contaminated with the fungus is disturbed by wind or digging.

States usually report a total of 10,000 to 20,000 cases of Valley fever yearly. In 2024, Arizona - where most cases emerge - reported a total of 11,801 confirmed and probable cases of Valley fever, higher than last year's total count of 10,990.

When humans or animals breathe in the spores, they travel through the respiratory tract and into the lungs where they reproduce and spread to other parts of the body, including the brain, skin and liver through the bloodstream.

If it infects the membranes and fluid around the brain and cause life-threatening meningitis.

The disease, for which there is currently no preventative vaccine, can often be missed by doctors or misdiagnosed as pneumonia as it presents with similar symptoms such as fatigue, cough, fever, aching muscles and breathlessness.

Other symptoms include blurry vision, cognitive decline, hearing changes, night sweats, joint aches and a red rash, usually on the legs but occasionally on the chest, arms and back.

There is no current cure and patients are given treatments to manage symptoms.

Evidence suggests the fungus that causes Valley fever lives in the soil of Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, parts of Mexico, Central America and South America.

Since Texas is one of the states that does not require reporting and the number of Valley fever incidents across the area remain unknown, nobody in Roselia's family had ever heard about the disease.

Evidence suggests the fungus that causes Valley fever lives in the soil of Arizona, California, Nevada and New Mexico. Texas is one of the states that does not require reporting and the number of Valley fever incidents across the area remain unknown

Talking about her mother's final days, Aide told El Paso Matters: 'My mom doesn't play around like this.

'What damaged my mom more was we didn't know what it was, so we didn't know how to treat it.

'Mom felt like she was going crazy, Now I want everyone to know it doesn't just happen to people living in California, Nevada, Arizona. It's present [in Texas], too.'

According to Dr Armando Meza, an infectious disease physician at Texas Tech Health, El Paso, who was not involved in Roselia's care, over half of the people suffering from Valley fever do not show clear symptoms and usually only have a cough and fever, like many other common respiratory illnesses.

He explained: 'Sometimes it's not easy to make a diagnosis because doctors just think they have simple pneumonia and give antibiotics, but those patients will not get better, they will get worse.'

There is no proven cure for Valley Fever and patients are usually prescribed rest and given therapies to manage symptoms. Mild cases also tend to clear up on their own.

Doctors may prescribe antifungal medications, but there is no evidence from clinical trials that show these treatments are effective - and antifungal drugs come with the potential for serious side effects.

According to Dr Armando Meza, an infectious disease physician at Texas Tech Health, El Paso, over half of the people suffering from Valley fever do not show clear symptoms

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In recent years, El Paso has been experiencing frequent dust storms that have left residents battered.

While the region used to see about two to three dust days in the early months of the year, it has already recorded eight days of blowing dust this March alone.

The county was placed under a Weather Authority Alert last week after winds blew winds from 35 to 45 mph and gusts reached 65 mph.

Experts have since warned locals that these dust storms are much worse than previous years and can negatively impact their physical health as airborne particles can cause numerous illnesses including Valley Fever.

Multiple local and federal agencies have asked El Paso residents to stay indoors and avoid traveling during these storms.

Since her mother's death, Aide said she tries to ask every doctor and nurse practitioner she meets if they have heard of Valley fever.

She claims that probably two out of three experts she encounters do not know about the disease.

Aide said: 'It's just to spread awareness. Maybe somebody else doesn't have to go through what my mom did, all the experimenting, wondering if it's this or that. Maybe they can figure it out faster.'
Senior health officials have warned bird flu could spark the next pandemic, following a recent 'twist in the story'.

Richard Pebody, director of epidemic and emerging infections at The UK Health Security Agency, said the strain of the virus causing concern, H5N1, has the potential to spark a global emergency similar to Covid.

'H5N1 has the potential to become a pandemic, a future pandemic,' he said in Manchester today.

His comments come after a case of the virus was detected in a sheep in northern England yesterday, the first known case of its kind in the world.

Commenting on that leap between species, Mr Peabody said it was part of how bird flu had changed, compared to when it first emerged in the 1990s.

'Over the past three or four years, its features have changed,' he said.

'Were seeing it in the States, in dairy cattle, in other animals species, and were also seeing it here in the UK, and so were working very closely with colleagues on the animal health side to make sure that the human health side is protected.'

Asked if UKHSA's assessment of bird flu had changed in light of the recent case, Mr Peabody said it was 'a new twist to the story', but added it was reassuring that further infections sheep hadn't been found.

In late January, a patient in the Midlands was diagnosed with H5N1 after close and prolonged contact with a large number of infected birds. Just this week the virus was also found in a British sheep

UK scientists tasked with developing 'scenarios of early human transmission' of bird flu have warned that 5 per cent of infected people could die if the virus took off in humans (shown under scenario three). Under another scenario, the scientists assumed 1 per cent of those infected would be hospitalised and 0.25 per cent would die  similar to how deadly Covid was in autumn 2021 (scenario one). The other saw a death rate of 2.5 per cent (scenario two)

He added: 'As always, it goes into this active, ongoing risk assessment,' he said. 'At the moment, that hasnt necessarily changed.'

His comments come after UKHSA issued a stark warning about 24 deadly viruses that could trigger the next 'Disease X'  a term often used to describe the potential culprit behind the next pandemic.

The body has narrowed the deadliest down to four pathogens it classified as a high pandemic risk  with bird flu one of those which made the cut.

The virus, which has shown a concerning ability to jump between species, has already been detected in one British farmer who is known to have had contact with infected birds.

Meanwhile, the disease claimed its first human victim in the US back in January, killing a 65-year-old with underlying health conditions who was exposed to a personal flock of wild birds.

Another pathogen to make the list is a measles-like virus that could be considerably more dangerous than Covid', according to experts

A leading scientist warned the UKHSA list includes viruses that could be impossible to control by even the strictest lockdown.

Such is the concern that the Government announced the launch of a new reference document that will be constantly updated, to keep scientists and researchers up to date with the latest threats.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data shows there were 1,603 suspected measles cases in England and Wales in 2023. The figure is more than twice as high as the 735 logged in 2022 and an almost five-fold rise compared to the 360 cases reported in 2021

One alarming pathogen is that of the Picornaviridae family, which cause a type of virus that triggers polio-like diseases.

An example, is a disease called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a rare condition which triggers muscle weakness and paralysis.

In January, a 15-year-old boy from Rochdale was left paralysed after contracting AFM, the BBC reported.

Health chiefs have also warned that viruses of the Paramyxoviridae family may also have pandemic potential.

These include measles, mumps and some respiratory tract infections, as well as the Nipah virus  which can spread from bats or pigs to humans  and causes brain swelling and death.

Large measles outbreaks have already been reported around the world as vaccination rates decline.

Last year, 2,911 cases of measles were confirmed in England, the highest number of cases recorded annually, since 2012.

Complications of the deadly illness, that mostly affects children, can include pneumonia, eye inflammation and vision loss as well as brain inflammation, leading to seizures, hearing loss and brain damage.

2018: Congolese officials and the World Health Organisation officials wear protective suits as they participate in a training against the Ebola virus near the town of Beni in North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Other viruses that are 'on watch' by officials include coronaviruses such as Covid-19 and MERS, which has so far killed more than 900 people, mostly in the Middle East.

Mark Woolhouse, professor of infectious diseases at University of Edinburgh, told The Mirror that scientists are most concerned about a measles-type virus.

A novel measles-like virus would pose a threat far worse than Covid,' he said.

Such a virus would have a much higher R number than the original variants of Covid  making it impossible to control by even the strictest lockdown.

An R number describes the number of people that one infected person will pass on a virus to, on average.

This is the kind of pandemic that public health agencies around the world are most concerned about, he added.

Measles cases have been shown to wipe the memory of our immune systems, meaning a large outbreak could see a national rise in other infections.

A 2019 Harvard Medical School study showed measles wiped out up to 75 per cent of antibodies protecting against the viruses or bacteria that a child was previously immune to.

Dr Isabel Oliver, Chief Scientific Officer for UKHSA, said the new virus list is a tool to highlight how scientific research can be targeted to increase UK preparedness against health threats.

We are using the tool as part of our conversations with the scientific community, to help ensure that investment is focused to where it can have the biggest impact.

We hope this will help to speed up vaccine and diagnostics development where it is most needed, to ensure we are fully prepared in our fight against potentially deadly pathogens.

In September 2019, now-defunct Public Health England also reported that increasing antibiotic resistance of bacteria, could also turn into a potential Disease X.
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Theres a moment in the second episode of Meghan Markles new lifestyle show on Netflix when Mindy Kaling makes a confession. By the way, Meghan, I want to ask about your lewk, she says. Your fashion is, like, one of my favourite things.

My who? the Duchess of Sussex responds, before revealing she likes a high-low approach to fashion, pointing out that shes wearing Zara trousers with a Loro Piana top and a Jenni Kayne jumper.

Turns out, Kaling isnt the only one who is interested in her lewk. Yesterday, Markle added a link to her Instagram bio that directs her 2.6 million followers to a ShopMy account where they can shop a handpicked and curated collection of pieces from her wardrobe.

Many of you have asked, so here you go! she announced on Instagram Stories. A little shopping to start the week. More to come. Link in bio .

At the link, Markle offers a glimpse into her summer wardrobe, which comprises silk maxi dresses, strappy sandals and cashmere crewnecks from a number of higher-end American designer brands like Heidi Merrick, Emme Parsons and Brochu Walker.

However, the majority of the products are from upscale high street brands like With Nothing Underneath, Reformation, Polene, Madewell and J Crew.

One of the more affordable items of clothing in the edit is a 99.90 trench coat from Clare Waight Kellers Uniqlo : C SS25 collection. Waight Keller, who was appointed as Uniqlos creative director last year, famously designed Meghan Markles wedding dress for Givenchy.

In a profile of the British designer in The New York Times last year, the Duchess said they have remained close and share a beautiful friendship, adding that she owns several of her Uniqlo pieces, including several dresses and a trench coat.

The trench coat in Markles storefront is cut from glossy cotton twill, features all the traditional design details (think wide lapels, a belt that cinches at the waist and adjustable cuffs) and can be worn buttoned to the right or left side.

It comes in three colours  a classic beige, warm brown and black  and its still in stock in all sizes (XXS-XXL).
Kaitlan Collins used her platform on CNN Monday night to rub the recent group chat leak in Republicans' faces.

She did so on The Source, hours after The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg revealed he had been mistakenly added to the top-secret group chat between several notable security officials.

The chat saw figures like JD Vance, Pete Hegseth, and Marco Rubio openly discuss plans to strike Houthi rebels in Yemen - messages Goldberg received.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz was also present, as was director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. CIA boss John Ratcliffe, Trump adviser Stephen Miller and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles were also present.

Waltz had been the one to add Goldberg in, the White House confirmed. Collins, in turn, devoted much of her show to the breach - welcoming Goldberg himself as a guest and recently floated presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg as well.

Both had stern words about the oversight, but it was Collins who called out Donald Trump directly, toward the start of the show. She started by summarizing the situation, saying an insider close to Trump's team described the camp as being 'stunned'.

She went on to air consecutive clips of Republicans complaining about similar lapses in security from then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was relentlessly roasted for using a private email for communications rather than one provided by the State.

All the politicians seen chastising Clinton in the supercut were among those present in the chat, hitting home Collins' point.

Scroll down for video:

Kaitlan Collins used her platform on CNN Monday night to rub the recent group chat leak in Republicans' faces

'The minute this story published today, it was blasted out in multiple text threads, throughout the administration, viewed by several people I spoke to, as a major unforced error,' she began, before welcoming her guests.

'Aides noted it didnt help that the reporter, Mike Waltz added to this group chat, is one that Trump has a particular disdain for, given his previous reporting on him,' Collins, 32, continued.

'And it also wasnt lost on anyone, in Washington, regarding what Trump used to say about Hillary Clinton, and her use of a private server, or what his now-senior officials once said, either.'

This paved the way for the roughly 30-second mashup, which included statements from Hegseth, Rubio, Ratcliffe, and Waltz highly critical of Clinton's practices.

'If it was anyone other than Hillary Clinton, they would be in jail right now,' Hegseth, then a Fox host, is first heard saying of the Clinton scandal.

'Nobody is above the law, not even Hillary Clinton, even though she thinks she is,' Rubio added separately, not long after bowing out of the Republican race for Trump.

'Mishandling classified information is still a violation of the Espionage Act,' added Ratcliffe, who is set to address Congress this week, along with Gabbard, to address the emerging scandal.

'When you have the Clinton emails, on top of the fact that the sitting President of the United States admitted he had documents in his garage but they didnt prosecute... they didnt go after these folks,' added Waltz.

She did so on The Source, hours after The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg revealed he had been mistakenly added to the top-secret group chat between notable security officials who had been discuss plans to strike Houthi rebels in Yemen. SM refers to trump adviser Stephen Miller

Collins, 32, devoted much of her show to the breach - welcoming Goldberg (left) himself as a guest and recently floated presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg as well

Both had stern words about the oversight, but it was Collins who called out Donald Trump, toward the start of the show. She started by summarizing the situation, saying an insider close to Trump's team described his camp being left 'stunned'

Asked if he thinks someone should be fired over the national security breach, Pete Buttigieg says, Absolutely. I mean, if I made a mistake like this as lieutenant, I would be probably not just fired, but probably indicted and tried and maybe in prison. pic.twitter.com/TEn5NPwh37  Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) March 25, 2025

Clinton - who lost to Trump after the scandal surfaced as a sticking point in the 2016 election - responded to the leak on X, writing: 'You have got to be kidding me.'

While not offering more of a reaction, the tweet also appeared to hone in on the figures' apparent hypocrisy.

At the top of Clinton's X page sits a pinned interview with Collins from October, where she warned Trump was becoming 'unhinged.'

An accompanying caption insists: 'There is no safe haven under authoritarian rule, even if it happens in America.'

Collins, on Monday, went on to present another clip of Hegseth responding the controversy after landing for a meeting with local leaders in Hawaii.

'So youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist, whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes, time and time again, to include the, I dont know, the hoaxes of Russia, Russia, Russia, or the Fine people on both sides hoax, or Suckers and losers hoax,' he said of Goldberg, the Atlantic's editor-in-chief.

'This is the guy that peddles in garbage. This is what he does.'

A reporter proceeded to ask why messages detailing a prospective 'sequence' of strikes against the Houthis had been leaked, leading Hegseth to outright deny such plans were discussed.

She went on to air consecutive clips of Republicans complaining about similar lapses in security from then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton involving emails. All the politicians seen chastising Clinton were among those present in the chat, hitting home Collins' point

After Secretary Hegseth argued nobody was texting war plans," The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg responds: Thats a lie. He was texting war plans, he was texting attack plans."



"When targets were going to targeted. How they were going to be targeted. Who was at the targets. When pic.twitter.com/cKYh5NOIW7  Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) March 25, 2025

'Nobody was texting war plans,' he said, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt keeping the same story, despite Goldberg - in both a report for the Atlantic and his interview with Collins - saying otherwise.

'And thats all I have to say about that,' Hegseth concluded in the clip.

'No, that's a lie,' Goldberg told Collins shortly after, insisting the defense secretary 'was texting war plans, [and] he was texting attack plans.

'When targets were gonna be targeted, how they were gonna be targeted, who was at the targets, when the next sequence of attacks were happening,' he recalled, revealing how the chat included 'attack plans,' locations and identities of targets.

Goldberg added how there was more he didn't publish 'because it was too consequential, too technical and I worry that sharing that information in public could be harmful to American military personnel.'

In his article, Goldberg further noted how 'Hegseth, the secretary of defense, had texted [him] the war plan at 11:44 am on Monday.'

Bombs were seen dropping in Yemen - where cells of the terror group are stationed - around 2 pm.

Buttigieg, Biden's old secretary of transportation, joined Collins later on, saying he believes someone should be fired over the scandal.

Clinton - who lost to Trump after the scandal surfaced as a sticking point in the 2016 election - responded to the leak as well, writing on X: 'You have got to be kidding me'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (pictured) adamantly denied the story - despite the National Security Council appearing to confirm its validity - and called Goldberg a serial liar

When reached for comment, a spokesman for the Pentagon told DailyMail.com: 'We do not have anything to offer beyond the Secretarys remarks'

'Absolutely [someone should be fired],' he told the host.

'I mean, if I made a mistake like this as lieutenant, I would be probably not just fired, but probably indicted and tried and maybe in prison.'

When reached for comment, a spokesman for the Pentagon told DailyMail.com: 'We do not have anything to offer beyond the Secretarys remarks.'
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday embarked on a visit to Brazil to participate in the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum where he is scheduled to prese ...


Fox News host Jesse Watters dismissed the Trump Administration's top secret war plans texting blunder claiming it was 'no worse' than Hillary Clintons email server controversy.

Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, made the jaw-dropping revelation on Monday that President Donald Trump's national security team added him to a top secret chat on the military strikes in Yemen.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz started the conversation on Signal, an encrypted messaging app, to discuss the plans to bomb the Houthis in Yemen.

The group included users identified as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

The story blew up the internet when it was posted and several critics asked why the administration was discussing sensitive material on an app instead of government systems designed to communicate classified data.

However, Watters defended Waltzs mistake Monday and claimed Democrats have had far worse security scandals.

'Did you ever try to start a group text? Youre adding people and you accidentally add the wrong person?' Watters said.

'All of a sudden your Aunt Mary knows all your raunchy plans for the bachelor party? Well, that kind of happened today with the Trump administration.'

Jesse Watters dismissed the Trump Administration's top secret war plans texting blunder claiming it was 'no worse' than Hillary Clintons email server controversy

Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, made the jaw-dropping revelation on Monday that President Donald Trump 's national security team added him to a top secret chat

Watters defended Waltzs mistake claiming 'accidentally' added a 'not a good reporter' to the group and blasted Goldberg (pictured) as a 'hoax artist'

Watters dismissed concerns over a security breach and compared it to Hillary Clinton's decision to use a private email server while serving as President Barack Obama's Secretary of State.

Clinton's email scandal blew up during her race to become the first female president in 2016.

'But its not like they home brewed a server and then bleached it, or kept classified documents in their garages next to their corvette. Im sure it wont happen again,' Watters said.

The Fox News hosts claimed Waltz 'accidentally' added a 'not a good reporter' to the group and blasted Goldberg as a 'hoax artist.'

'Jeffrey Goldberg from, one of the biggest hoax artists around. Well, he heard some things he probably shouldnt have, but could have been a wee bit of a security breach,' said Watters.

Clinton herself trolled the Trump administration Monday after The Atlantic's editor-in-chief revealed he was accidentally added to the group chat.

'You have got to be kidding me,' Clinton wrote on social, using the giant eyes emoji and sharing Goldberg's Atlantic story.

Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign was derailed in part due to her decision to use a private email server while serving as President Barack Obama's Secretary of State.

Her rival, President Trump, consistently attacked Clinton over using the unsecured server, with his crowds chanting, 'lock her up!'

Hillary Clinton's decision to use a private email server while serving as President Barack Obama's Secretary of State blew up her 2016 Presidential campaign

Hillary Clinton wrote 'you have got to be kidding me,' in response to news of a journalist being add to a top secret war plans group chat

President Donald Trump defended his National Security Adviser Mike Waltz (pictured) in the wake of the Signal app scandal

President Donald Trump looks on as military strikes are launched against Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis earlier this month

Trump ordered the strikes against the Iran-backed rebels in Yemen as a warning to Tehran. The Houthi rebels were targeting ships on the Red Sea from countries with ties to Israel, including the U.S. and UK.

Waltz started the principles group on Signal to coordinate on it, naming it 'Houthi PC small group.'

Goldberg had his doubts when he found himself added, admitting he was worried that the text chain was a 'disinformation operation.'

But he also found, as he watched the texts flow, that the statements in it sounded genuine and some of the details matched up.

Trump defended Waltz in the wake of the Signal app scandal, calling him a 'good man' who 'learned a lesson.'

His support comes amid calls for the national security adviser to step down, with one official calling him a 'f***ing idiot.'

Trump told NBC News: 'Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he's a good man.' He blamed staff for the mix up.

When asked what he was told about how Goldberg came to be added to the Signal chat, Trump said, 'It was one of Michael's people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there.'
Fox News host Brit Hume took a shot at his former colleague and current Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth after he denounced The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg as a 'highly discredited so-called journalist.'

Hegseth, a former Fox News anchor, reacted to the bombshell story published by Goldberg, where he revealed that he was accidentally included on a group Signal chat discussing a military strike in Yemen.

'You're talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who's made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again,' Hegseth replied to a reporter as he traveled in Hawaii.

'Oh for God's sake, the administration has already confirmed the authenticity of the message,' Hume replied on social media, sharing video of Hegseth's remarks.

Hume is a Fox News veteran that has worked for channel for 28 years and now serves as a chief political analyst.

Hume was referring to a statement from National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes, who commented on the record for The Atlantic article.

'This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain,' Hughes wrote.

'The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security,' he continued.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth condemned The Atlantic editor Jeffery Goldberg

Fox News host Brit Hume fired back at Pete Hegseth's apparent denial of the story

But Hegseth pointed to Goldberg's role in pushing 'hoaxes' surrounding Trump being compromised by the Russians, the president's comments in Charlottesville, and the story that the president called fallen American solders 'suckers and losers.'

'This is a guy who peddles in garbage. This is what he does,' Hegseth said.

Goldberg wrote that Hegseth had 'texted me the war plan' including precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing of the military strike against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Goldberg revealed Monday that was mistakenly added to a group Signal chat by Trump's national security advisor Mike Walz and described the 'shocking recklessness' of the conversation.

'The Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing,' Goldberg claimed, adding that he would not quote from the update because of its sensitive nature.

Walz later texted updates to describe the operation as a success, as members in the group chat responded with congratulatory emojis.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks next to President Donald Trump, in the Oval Office at the White House,

Mike Waltz, US national security adviser, speaks in the Oval Office of the White House

Hegseth denied Goldberg's assertion that the Secretary of Defense was sharing 'war plans' on the Signal app.

'Nobody was texting war plans and that's all I have to say about that,' he replied.

The bungled text exchange called into question whether Waltz would keep his job in the administration, but President Trump made it clear Tuesday morning that Waltz would remain at the White House as his national security advisor.

'Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man,' Trump said Tuesday in a phone interview with NBC News.

Trump blamed the exchange on a Waltz staffer.

'It was one of Michaels people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there,' he said.

Trump also dismissed the controversy, calling it 'the only glitch in two months, and it turned out not to be a serious one.'
The View host Sunny Hostin says she's been left unconvinced by recent anti-Trump rallies headed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Hostin, famed for her progressive views, made the remark on Monday's installment of the program - turning panelists heads in the process.

The hosts are predominantly liberal - however, Hostin honed in on something she said the pair are missing.

Speaking from the perspective of everyday citizens, she said voters are probably more interested in improving their own economic situation - not the bank accounts of bigwigs and high-paid CEOs.

Both Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez have made 'taxing the rich' a cornerstone of their plans to reshape the Democratic party - leading Hostin, a licensed lawyer, to suggest plans to dismantle the billionaire class are likely not a priority for regular voters.

'The message is, is correct. [But] I think that [it] is a little bit off,' she said, after Ana Navarro brought up the huge crowds the duo have commanded in recent days.

'If you look at what people want and are looking for... cost and economy is still number one,' Hostin reminded her co-hosts.

'Taxing the rich may not do that for the majority of people - they want to see much more of an action plan.'

Sunny Hostin says she's been left unconvinced by recent anti-Trump rallies headed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

The View host made the remark on Monday's installment of the program - turning panelists heads in the process. The hosts are predominantly progressive - however, Hostin honed in on something she said the pair are missing. The two are seen rallying in Denver Friday

Alyssa Farah Griffin - the panel's lone Republican - said she agreed, though first disclaimed she's 'not in the business of giving advice to Democrats.'

She went on to pose what she viewed should be the 'fundamental question for politicians' on both sides of the aisle - 'what are [they] doing to help somebody with the anxiety they're facing on a random Tuesday morning?

'And every anxiety they're facing on a random Tuesday morning has to do with the cost of living,' she concluded, as the US remains on the verge of a recession.

'Whether it's putting gas in their car, feeding their kids child care, the affordability of housing.

'And I think this is a really good exercise for the progressive base to get excited, to want to fight back,' Griffin, who voted for Kamala Harris in November, went on.

'But you're going to need more than "Fight the oligarchy" [if you are] going after Trump and Elon Musk.'

That same slogan could be seen on the politicians' podium Saturday in Tucson, Arizona, during one of several rallies being organized by Sanders as part of the similarly named 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour.

'We're going to throw those bums out, and fight for the nation we deserve,' Ocasio-Cortez, now being floated as a possible presidential candidate, said during her time on stage.

Speaking from the perspective of everyday citizens, she said voters are probably more interested in improving their own economic situation - not the bank accounts of bigwigs and high-paid CEOs

Both Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez have made 'taxing the rich' a cornerstone of their plans to reshape the Democratic party - leading Hostin, a licensed lawyer, to suggest plans to dismantle the billionaire class are likely not a priority for regular voters

In Denver the day before, Sanders and the New York congresswoman reportedly commanded thirty-four thousand people - number Navarro insisted showed they were fighting for a justified cause.

'People are thirsty, desperate to hear someone who gives them fire, that leads them into this fight,' she said, after showing segments from the rallies, as well as a recent interview with Sanders where he shot down the idea or running again.

'They want to hear from those people,' Navarro continued, pointing to the highly attended appearances in Colorado and Arizona as proof.

'That's why [Sanders] and AOC are getting 34,000 people to show up to a rally in Denver, 15,000 people to show up to a rally in Phoenix.

'I mean, think about it,' she asserted, paving the way Hostin to weigh in. 'This is not an election year - this is two months... and they are getting tens of thousands of people. Because people want to fight, and they want somebody who will lead them.'

Hostin added: 'People are tired of Democrats defending the system because, as I've often said, you know, the rule book is gone right now.

'And so [Americans] want an alternative for the pain that they are feeling. They want the pain to be acknowledged, but then they want an answer to their pain.'

Joe Biden warned during his final address of an unseen oligarchy supposedly forming in the US - hence Sanders' tour tagline.

Joe Biden warned during his final address of an unseen oligarchy supposedly forming in the US - hence Sanders' 'Fight the Oligarchy' tagline and accompanying tour, which he is organizing

'We're going to throw those bums out, and fight for the nation we deserve,' the 35-year-old, now being floated as a possible presidential candidate, said, as she continues to criticize the leadership being seen from her party

Sanders stormed out of an interview this weekend when asked about the possibility of Ocasio-Cortez launching a campaign for the Senate.

'Would you like to see her join you in the Senate?' ABC Newss Jonathan Karl asked Sanders Sunday, referring to Ocasio-Cortez.

'Right now, we have, as I said, just a whole lot of people in the Congress,' Sanders replied, before abruptly standing up to go.

AOC recently turned 35, meaning she's officially old enough to run for president.

While exceptionally popular with progressive Democrats, the firebrand Congresswoman is seen by many members of her own party as being too left-wing to appeal to centrist and independent voters.
Married MSNBC stars Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski teamed up to tear into Donald Trump Tuesday - after his team looped a reporter into an unsecured group chat that contained top-secret war plans.

The slip-up happened the day before, and was laid bare by The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg in a Monday report. Goldberg was the journalist mistakenly added, and he joined Scarborough and Brzezinski on the set of Morning Joe to speak on the matter.

Scarborough started by saying he had spoken to several people who voted for Trump, and that they were 'deeply concerned about the recklessness' seen from the Republican's administration.

He added that the likes of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth - one of several officials seen in the chat - were not taking the situation seriously, and 'might as well have just been holding a sign up saying I think people who voted for Donald Trump are stupid' by denying it.

'I'm not exactly sure why he thought he could get away with doing that, when the administration already confirmed it,' he said.

He proceeded to ask his Mika for her input, after claiming that if 'lower-level people had [been caught doing] this, chances are good that they could possibly face charges.'

First, though, Scarborough recalled: 'These people who spent a year and a half attacking Hillary Clinton saying she should be in jail because she used a private email server.

Scroll down for video:

Married MSNBC stars Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski teamed up to tear into Donald Trump Tuesday - after his team looped a reporter into an unsecured group chat that contained top-secret war plans

Brzezinski, the former National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter, responded by speculating whether other breaches could soon take place - due to the seemingly loose guidelines being seen from the current administration.

'The cavalier nature of the texting,' Brzezinski began, 'along with the incredibly in-depth information about what was about to happen, is staggering and raises the question, how many of these chats are out there on different national security issues?

'If anybody in charge cared about our national security, they'd be launching an investigation into this right now.

'Instead,' she said, figures like Hegseth and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt are 'attacking the press.'

'Like, this is an incredible breach,' she insisted, after figures like JD Vance, Hegseth, and Marco Rubio were caught openly discussing plans to strike Houthi rebels in Yemen after National Security Adviser Mike Waltz accidentally added Goldberg in.

'A self-induced breach.'

The former CBS News correspondent proceeded to slam a phrase being used to categorize the breach - the term 'leaked chat'.

'I'm seeing the term leaked chat,' she said, 'This is not a leaked chat.'

The slip-up happened the day before, and was laid bare by The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg (right) in a Monday report. Goldberg was the journalist mistakenly added, and he joined Scarborough and Brzezinski on the set of Morning Joe to speak on the matter

'This is a group chat that included our guest, Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, who, and if it wasn't so damn serious, it would be laughable!"

'But this group chat... that was the mistake,' she went on. 'Somebody by mistake included Jeffrey on a group chat, it was not leaked to the press. The press was included.'

Scarborough, meanwhile, expressed awe over the fact that none of the officials in the chat appeared to notice the addition of Goldberg - before continuing to discuss an impending military strike that took place later that day.

'I couldn't believe that not one of the other high-ranking officials on the chat  which included vice president JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard  noticed or questioned an unfamiliar name,' he said.

Goldberg said he was displayed as "JG," upon being added to their group, which also included CIA boss John Ratcliffe, Trump adviser Stephen Miller and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

'I can't speak for other people, but I don't go into large group chains without looking at every one of the numbers and saying, "Okay, who am I talking to here'  and that's for cable TV," Scarborough said.

'These people are blindly going onto a group chat on Signal, talking about where our troops are going, and I find it shocking that not one person said, "Okay, who's this guy with The Atlantic icon??

'So the question is, why wouldn't somebody, Mika, in that group ask, '"Who is JG?"'

Scarborough, meanwhile, expressed awe over the fact that none of the officials in the chat appeared to notice the addition of Goldberg - before continuing to discuss an impending military strike that took place later that day. SM refers to Trump advisor Stephen Miller

'Yeah,' Brzezinski agreed, after Goldberg declared figures like Hegseth and Leavitt had been lying when they said the correspondence did not contain military plans.

'No, that's a lie,' Goldberg told Kaitlan Collins on CNN the night before, recalling how the defense secretary 'was texting war plans, [and] he was texting attack plans.'

'When targets were gonna be targeted, how they were gonna be targeted, who was at the targets, when the next sequence of attacks were happening,' he recalled, hours after Hegseth told reporters in Hawaii: 'Nobody was texting war plans,'

Goldberg added how there was more he didn't publish 'because it was too consequential, too technical and I worry that sharing that information in public could be harmful to American military personnel.'

In his article, Goldberg further noted how 'Hegseth, the secretary of defense, had texted [him] the war plan at 11:44 am on Monday.'

Bombs were seen dropping in Yemen - where cells of the terror group are stationed - around 2 pm.

Security officials responsible have since owned up to the oversight.
A longtime Hollywood exec best known for leaked emails that slammed Angelina Jolie as a 'minimally talented spoiled brat' has been named producer of the next James Bond movie.

Amy Pascal will bring the next 007 film to the screen alongside Harry Potter producer David Heyman, Amazon MGM Studios announced Tuesday.

Pascal was mired in a huge scandal in 2014, after emails leaked in that year's Sony hack revealed some scathing thoughts on Jolie from a fellow producer.

Pascal, at the time, was Sonys co-chairwoman. The leak saw her fired, after other emails penned by her were deemed racist by big brass - including jokes aimed at then-President Barack Obama.

A famous and excruciatingly awkward photo showed Jolie giving Pascal a death stare at an event weeks after the insult against her - actually uttered by fellow Sony producer Scott Rudin - was leaked.

Amazon, meanwhile, recently doled out roughly a billion dollars to take control of the iconic franchise, as its founder continues to cozy up to the president.

Earlier this year, the tech giant announced it had licensed the rights to an exclusive documentary surrounding Melania Trump - paying an astonishing $40million to do so.

The most recent Bond film, 2021's No Time To Die, saw Daniel Craig's rendition of the suave spy meet his untimely end, after some 60 years of service for Her Majesty. A new king and president later, creative control of the franchise will go to some fresh faces.

Amy Pascal, a Hollywood executive best known for leaked emails that slammed Angelina Jolie a 'minimally talented spoiled brat' in private emails, has been named producer of the next James Bond movie, the company has confirmed. The pair are seen together after the leak

Pascal, at the time, had been Sonys co-chairwoman. The leak saw her fired, after other emails penned by her were deemed racist by brass - including jokes aimed at then-President Obama

'James Bond is one of the most iconic characters in the history of cinema,' the pair said in a joint statement.

Naming the film's previous producers, the two added: 'We are humbled to follow in the footsteps of Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson who made so many extraordinary films.

'[We are] honored and excited to keep the spirit of Bond very much alive as he embarks on his next adventure.'

The move, coming less than a month removed from the deal between the two parties, indicates it has been finalized.

That said, a release date and new actor for the role have yet to be specified - suggesting the 28th Bond film is still a ways away.

'We are approaching every creative decision with James Bond, which Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson have so masterfully steered, with the greatest sense of responsibility,' added Amazon MGM Studios Head of Film, Courtenay Valenti.

'Part of an elite group of producers who have developed and managed massive film franchises to box office success and critical acclaim, [Pascal] and [Heyman] are two of the most accomplished, experienced, and respected film producers in our industry.'

After leaving Sony, Pascal started her own production company, fueled by four years of funding from her old company as part of her contract, which was set to expire in March 2015. The month before, she announced she would be stepping down in May.

Harry Potter producer David Heyman will join Pascal as the film franchise's new producers, Amazon MGM Studios said Tuesday

The most recent Bond film, 2021's No Time To Die , saw Daniel Craig 's rendition of the suave spy meet his untimely end, after some 60 years of service for Her Majesty

A few days later, she admitted that she had been 'fired' - just months after the massive breach.

The December before, Buzzfeed published a story containing personal emails from Pascal sent to 'The Social Network' producer Rudin joked about Obamas favorite movies.

She was caught suggesting he would prefer those about African Americans.

'Would he like to finance some movies,' responded Rudin, after Pascal sought his advice on what she should say to the President at a then looming Hollywood fundraiser.

'I doubt it. Should I ask him if he liked DJANGO?' said Pascal, with Rudin replying '12 YEARS.'

'Or the butler. Or think like a man?' answered Pascal, whom at the time had been a major donor for the Democratic party and Obama.

'Ride-along. I bet he likes Kevin Hart,' Rudin replied, as other unveiled emails showed more insensitive comments surrounding stars like Jolie/

Rudin called her 'minimally talented spoiled brat', as the two spoke about the star being displeased that David Fincher was going to be directing the upcoming Jobs biopic as opposed to a re-make of Cleopatra that she would star in.

She was pressuring Sony to get him to direct her film - sparking some off-color correspondence.

Pascal was previously caught making racist comments about Barack Obama to the same staffer who slammed Jolie

'[Jolie] is upset about us giving david jobs she wants to talk,' Pascal, 66, reportedly told Rudin in the leaked e-mail dated February 27, 2014.

'Shell survive it,' Rudin responded. 'I dont want to waste my time on this.'

Later that day, he sent another e-mail to Pascal, which read, YOU BETTER SHUT ANGIE DOWN BEFORE SHE MAKES IT VERY HARD FOR DAVID TO DO JOBS.

'Do not f**king threaten me,' Pascal sniped.

She and Jolie would meet months later, not long before her firing, at a women in entertainment breakfast in LA.

A year removed from the emails involving Jolie, Pascal spoke on the scandal - telling Vanity Fair : 'Angie didnt care.'

'Everybody understood because we all live in this weird thing called Hollywood,' she said. 'If we were all actually were nice, it wouldnt work.'

He being poached as a producer comes after Amazon enlisted long-cancelled director Brett Ratner, after the Rush Hour maker was hit with allegations of sexual conduct in 2018.

He has not worked in Hollywood since 2018.
A Land Rover Defender delivered new to King Charles has been sold at auction for an estimate-busting price.

The 2010 Defender 90 Hardtop was originally supplied to his Royal Highness and the Duchess of Cornwall by Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicles division 15 years ago.

While there are no known images of Charles at the wheel of the car, there are 'many documents' confirming that it belonged to him.

The driver's seat - finished in Charcoal Grey - is also claimed to show 'only minor wear indicating that this was not a chauffeur-driven Defender', which the auction house claimed is a sign that Charles had likely taken to the wheel on the British 4X4 himself.

After leaving His Royal Highness' garage, the motor was snapped up and 'cherished' in a collection dedicated to former royal vehicles before being offered to the highest bidder on Saturday at a car auction in the Midlands.

The off-roader went to the block with fewer than 25,000 miles on the clock and its traditional Keswick Green paint in 'superb condition' with the expectation of attracting plenty of bids.

And it didn't disappoint, with the eventual price paid some 60 per cent above estimate.

This 2010 Land Rover Defender 90, which was delivered new to King Charles, has been sold at auction for an estimate-busting price over the weekend

Iconic Auctioneers had placed a pre-sale guide price of 42,000 to 50,000 on the royal ride ahead of it going under the hammer at The Classic Sale at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show 2025 at the NEC in Birmingham on Saturday.

'This is no ordinary Defender 90,' the auctioneer announced as the lot appeared on screen.

'This is ex-Royal Family. This was supplied new for the sole use of our great King Charles III, then Price of Wales, and the Duchess of Cornwall for their personal use.'

Bidding opened at 25,000 though the price rapidly surged as collectors went head-to-head for the keys to the Land Rover.

Towards the tail end of the lot, an online bidder and enthusiast in the auction room were vying for its V5 document, with the latter eventually winning out at 60,000, rising to 67,500 inclusive of auction fees and tax.

It means the winning bid was some 25,500 over the lower estimate.

Gary Dunne, sales manager at Iconic Auctioneers, told This is Money: 'We knew from Iconic Auctioneers previous history of selling cars with Royal provenance that a sensible guide price, in this case 42,000 to 50,000 would generate significant interest in this car, which it did.

'With bidding in the room, online and on the phones, we were not too surprised to see the hammer fall at 60,000.

'We hope the new owner is delighted with their purchase, which we believe will be staying in the UK.'

While there are no known images of Charles at the wheel of the car, there are 'many documents' confirming that it belonged to him

A letter confirms its delivery to the Royal addressed to Tim Williams, Head Chauffeur to HRH The Prince of Wales and TRH The Duchess of Cornwall

Paperwork sold with the car show the Land Rover Defender 90 was delivered new to the Royal Garage at Highgrove House on 15 November 2010. Then Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall pictured two days later at the Prince's Trust Rock Gala with Dame Edna Everage and Paloma Faith

Bidding opened at 25k on Saturday but the price rapidly surged as collectors went head-to-head, with an online bidder and enthusiast in the auction room vying for its V5 document. The latter eventually won out at 60,000, rising to 67,500 inclusive of auction fees and tax

Records show that this specific Land Rover Defender 90 was delivered new to the Royal Garage at Highgrove House on 15 November 2010.

Verifying this detail, the winning bidder has been supplied with a confirmation letter addressed to Tim Williams, Head Chauffeur to HRH The Prince of Wales and TRH The Duchess of Cornwall, as part of an extensive history file for the vehicle.

Having left the King's fleet, it formed part of a small but dedicated Royal Collection, dutifully cared for by a fastidious owner who has decided to part ways with the imperial 4X4.

By its nature, the utilitarian Defender rarely has any form of creature comforts.

However, as one might expect, this Royal example does have a few luxuries at the request of the King and installed by Land Rover's specialist department.

This includes the addition of heated seats and a heated front and rear screens for rapid demisting.

The driver's seat - finished in Charcoal Grey - is claimed to show 'only minor wear indicating that this was not a chauffeur-driven Defender'

This condition of the driver's seat suggests Charles likely took to the wheel of the diesel Land Rover Defender 90 himself, says Iconic Auctioneers

Having left the King's fleet, the Defender became part of a dedicated Royal Collection, dutifully cared for by a fastidious owner before being offered to the highest bidder on Saturday

The diesel-engined Defender went to the block displaying a '72 HRH' number plate, though this was not included with the vehicle at the time of sale.

The plate has been retained by the vendor, however, it but could be available to the Land Rover's new keeper by separate negotiation, the auction house told us.

Production of the previous-generation Defender ceased on 29 January 2016.

This is Money recently spoke to Charles Fawcett, the founder of 4X4 tuning business Twisted, who bought 239 of the last Defenders off the production line in 2015 and 2016.

Having stored and then upgraded each one before selling at a premium, the Yorkshire-based vehicle specialist explained to us how he made millions from the deal.

Read our exclusive interview with Charles to find out how he secured such an extensive order - and the profit pocketed from the haul of Defenders.
Campaigners will gather at the Treasury this evening ahead of Rachel Reeves' first Spring Statement.

The group, which includes trader-turned-campaigner Gary Stevenson, Green Party leader Carla Denyer, and Ecotricity founder Dale Vince, are calling on the Government to raise taxes on the super-rich.

A wealth tax has long been mooted as a way to increase the Treasury's tax take but has picked up traction as Reeves looks to slash public spending to balance the books.

Balance the books: Campaigners are calling on Reeves to introduce a wealth tax

Her fiscal headroom has been almost entirely wiped out so to meet her self-imposed fiscal rules, she is eyeing billions of pounds of cuts to Whitehall departments, including disability benefits and international aid.

Campaigners are now calling on Reeves to impose a 2.5 per cent tax on assets over 10million which could raise 36billion, according to Greenpeace claims.

They say the one-off tax on the super-rich would help to plug Reeves' spending gap and wealth inequality.

What is a wealth tax?

A wealth tax does what it says on the tin: it taxes the very wealthiest in society a much higher rate of tax instead of going after people's earnings.

Oxfam says it is a tax on 'the total value of a person's assets over a certain amount set by the Government. Assets can include cash, property or land, stocks, businesses, valuable possessions, and other forms of wealth.'

It has been widely popular among left-wing campaigners, namely former trader Gary Stevenson, and was also in the Green Party's election manifesto.

City trader-turned-campaigner Gary Stevenson is calling for a one-off wealth tax

It is also popular among Britons, according to Oxfam's own polling, with some Labour MPs also calling on the Government to introduce it instead of taking an axe to public spending.

Campaigners argue that while many high earners do pay more tax, others - particularly those who make money from capital gains - pay lower rates.

Wealth tax advocates say changing the system to make CGT and income tax level would make society fairer.

Caitlin Boswell, head of advocacy at Tax Justice UK said: 'Choosing to make cut after cut to the poorest and most marginalised, while leaving the vast resource of the extreme wealth of the super rich untouched, is immoral, harmful, and will not deliver for our communities or the economy.

'Instead, this government could choose to tax the wealth of the very richest people and corporations.

'This would raise tens of billions annually to address the cost of living crisis and deliver the long-term investment our country needs.'

Dale Vince and Green Party leader Carla Denyer are also wealth tax advocates

Will a wealth tax work?

The main argument for a wealth tax is that the rich are getting richer. Oxfam claims the richest 1 per cent of Britons own more than wealth than the poorest 70 per cent and the world could see multiple trillionaires within a decade.

Others argue a wealth tax hasn't worked in any country that has tried to implement it.

Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) recently said as much: 'No country in the world has ever successfully had a wealth tax that's raised serious money.'

Colombia, Norway, Spain and Switzerland have wealth taxes, while France had to pare back its plans to a levy on real estate assets.

Although that is not to say that a wealth tax in Britain would follow the same route. Advocates could look at mistakes made in those countries to make a more effective wealth tax.

The other issue with a wealth tax is that there is currently no consensus on what it would look like, which assets would be taxed and logistically how it would be implemented.

Johnson said: 'You could certainly raise some billions by putting a 2 per cent tax on net assets worth more than 10million

'A lot of that money comes from the super-wealthy who can afford very good lawyers.

'And the question is, how do you determine their residence, where their assets sit how would you value things?'

Tax Justice UK says applying a 1-2 per cent wealth tax on assets over 10million would affect around 20,000 people and therefore much easier to administer.

In 2020, the Wealth Tax Commission proposed a one-off wealth tax - similar to the one proposed by Greenpeace - which would raise hundreds of billions.

However, it said a permanent wealth tax would be more problematic because of valuation challenges.

One of the biggest arguments against a wealth tax is the risk of capital flight, meaning wealthy entrepreneurs could leave the UK or worse, be a disincentive to entrepreneurship entirely.

Analysis by the Adam Smith Institute earlier this year found that the country lost 10,800 millionaires last year, more than double the number the previous year.
For most weddings around the world, it's generally expected that those getting married would be allowed at the venue.

Not so for high-ranking members of the Taliban.

Unsurprisingly, members of the regressive terror group have a backwards view on marriage, and how wedding ceremonies ought to be held as one western 'explorer' found out after he was granted rare access to the event.

The wedding, held at the Uranus Wedding Palace in northern Kabul, was attended by 'thousands', but was entirely segregated.

Video footage, taken by Miles Routledge, showed a massive white hall adorned with gold ornaments and decorations entirely filled with men at dozens of tables.

He told MailOnline that all the women were in a 'separate, identically sized venue next door', adding that there were roughly as many as the men.

The youtuber was also invited to the nikah, an integral part of Islamic weddings in which a formal marriage contract is signed by both the groom and bride.

While ordinarily, both the bride and groom are needed to sign the contract, the Taliban appeared to take a different approach this time round.

The wedding, held at the Uranus Wedding Palace in northern Kabul, was attended by 'thousands', but was entirely segregated

Members of the regressive terror group have a backwards view on marriage, and how wedding ceremonies ought to be held as one western 'explorer' found out after he was granted rare access to the event

Video footage, taken by Miles Routledge, showed a massive white hall adorned with gold ornaments and decorations entirely filled with men at dozens of tables

In keeping with the regressive nature of the Taliban, which has cracked down harshly on women's rights over the last few years, the bride was not present at the nikah.

Instead, the male members of the bride and groom's families sat together in a closed off room and went through the formal process on their behalf.

Routledge, a self-styled adventurer and explorer, documented his time at the event.

He previously travelled to Afghanistan just day before the fall of Kabul - when the Taliban overthrew the government and took back control of the country - in August 2021.

Routledge had to be airlifted to safety out of Kabul by the British Army.

In 2023 during another visit to the country he was arrested by the Taliban and spent eight months in an Afghan prison.

He also showcased the opulence of the event which included two cars given to the groom which were decorated with flowers and the dining area for the male guests which was adorned with golden ornaments throughout.

As a part of the celebration, the groom was given money as a gift and guests could have their hands painted with henna tattoo.

Dainty, white confetti was chucked over the lonesome groom as he sat at the head of the wedding.

As a part of the celebration, the groom was given money as a gift and guests could have their hands painted with henna tattoo and threw confetti

The Youtuber was seen enjoying food and drink at the packed out wedding

Enormous gold ornaments lined the path to the front of the wedding

Routledge, a self-styled adventurer and explorer, (pictured, centre) documented his time at the event

For the sit-down meal the wedding attendees were served a meat and rice dish with mantu - an Afghan dumpling filled with meat, onions and spices - washed down with a can of Pepsi

The Youtuber was also invited to the nikah (pictured), an integral part of Islamic weddings in which a formal marriage contract is signed by both the groom and bride

In keeping with the regressive nature of the Taliban, which has cracked down harshly on women's rights over the last few years, the bride was not present at the nikah

Since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, women have been increasingly erased from public spaces

For the sit-down meal the wedding attendees were served a meat and rice dish with mantu - an Afghan dumpling filled with meat, onions and spices - washed down with a can of Pepsi.

The video abruptly ends after Routledge was told to stop filming the rest of the festivities.

Since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, women have been increasingly erased from public spaces, prompting the United Nations to denounce the 'gender apartheid' the administration has established.

Taliban authorities have banned post-primary education for girls and women, restricted employment and blocked access to parks and other public places.

In October, the Taliban banned women from hearing other women's voices in a cruel rule which sparked fears that women will now no longer be able to talk to each other.

'Sodomy' and same-sex relationships are still punishable with long prison terms, while stoning became a commonplace punishment for 'moral crimes' like adultery.

Lavish gifts of two cars - adorned with flowers - were given to the groom

At the time, some were willing to turn a blind eye to the Taliban's excesses, hoping they might bring stable rule to the country.

Many in Afghanistan believed rights for women would be restored once institutions were rebuilt. Girls under 12 can go to school, but the number being deliberately denied an education has massively increased in recent years, per UNESCO.

Some still hope that one day, the Taliban will ease its grip, allowing women to return to school and work, and scaling back the graphic, violent means of punishment in its arsenal.

To date, there is still nothing to suggest that will happen anytime soon.
The husband of Donald Trump's lawyer Alina Habba claims he was scammed by a jeweler who allegedly charged him a whopping $78,000 over the market value for her engagement ring.

Gregg Reuben has been embroiled in an almost five-year legal battle with the famous Manhattan-based diamond district jeweler, Allurez, accusing them of selling him a 7-carat diamond for $93,000 when it was actually worth $15,000.

The millionaire husband of Habba, who has represented the president in a litany of lawsuits and who just scored a position as New Jersey's interim US Attorney, said that he bought the ring in 2020, the same year he got married to the superstar lawyer.

In the lawsuit, Reuben accused Allurez of fraud, unjust enrichment and false advertising and demanded the full $93,000 cost of the diamond to be returned to him - plus legal fees and $500,000 in damages.

But Allurez denies doing anything wrong. 'This client requested the specific diamond that he purchased after viewing it on our website and came to our office multiple times to view it in person,' the company said in a statement to DailyMail.com.

'He even brought his then-fiance (now wife), to see the diamond in person before agreeing to purchase it.'

The complaint was filed at the Manhattan Supreme Court by Michael Madaio, Habba's partner at their law firm based in Bedminster, New Jersey.

It is unclear if Reuben, a millionaire who runs a parking lot company in Manhattan, ever gave the ring to Habba before his suspicions were aroused about its alleged authenticity.

The husband of Donald Trump 's lawyer Alina Habba claims he was scammed by a jeweler who allegedly charged him a whopping $78,000 over the market value for an engagement ring

Donald and Melanie Trump posing with Alina Habba and her husband Gregg Reuben at her 44th birthday party at Mar-a-Lago

Reuben has been embroiled in an almost five-year legal battle with Manhattan-based Allurez, accusing them of selling him a 7-carat diamond for $93,000 when it was actually worth $15,000

But his complaint, filed in 2021, makes clear that he believes he was the victim of 'fraudulent and deceptive business practices and false advertising'.

He cites the Allurez website which states that its jewels are often appraised for 'double' their value.

The website states: 'We have been told by our customers that they were able to get the jewelry they purchased from us appraised for at least double the price they paid.

'Our prices are low, and the quality of our jewelry is so high, that they can be easily appraised for at least double.'

In reality, Allurez offers 'inferior quality' diamonds, Reuben's court papers claimed.

Reuben alleged that when he bought Habba's ring, he was given a certificate from a company called 'EGL Canada' proving its worth.

But that is not the same as the respected EGL USA, a US-based certification company.

EGL Canada frequently overstates the value of jewels and is not in business any longer, the lawsuit states, adding that its producers were not supposed to be sold in America.

The EGL report stated that it was a '7.61-carat diamond with a G color grade', an 'excellent' cut and an SI2 clarity grade.

In the lawsuit, Reuben included the analysis by GIA, another diamond grading company, which he commissioned himself after the purchase.

Reuben said he bought the engagement ring in 2020 and gave it to the superstar lawyer the same year they married

Reuben alleged that when he bought Habba's ring, he was given a certificate from a company called 'EGL Canada' proving its worth, but the follow up GIA he had done showed the diamond was inferior to what the report had originally stated

The receipt showing what Reuben paid for the diamond engagement ring which totalled $93,250

In the lawsuit, Reuben accused Allurez of fraud, unjust enrichment and false advertising and demanded the full $93,000 cost of the diamond to be returned to him - plus legal fees and $500,000 in damages

The lawsuit alleges that the jewel wasn't even supposed to be on sale in the US and had Reuben known its real value, he would never have bought it

It said that the cut was only 'good' and that the color was I2 and the clarity was L, both of which are inferior to the EGL report.

The lawsuit states: 'The color, cut, and clarity of a diamond significantly affect the diamond's value.

'The difference in a single color or clarity grade can affect a diamond's per carat value by thousands of dollars'.

The GIA valuation put the diamond's worth at just $15,240 which Reuben called a 'far cry' from the $93,250 he says he paid for the gem.

The lawsuit alleges that the jewel wasn't even supposed to be on sale in the US and had Reuben known its real value, he would never have bought it.

'Were it not for Defendants' false, deceptive and misleading representations as to the size/weight and color of the diamond, the legitimacy of the certification and the overall quality of Allurez's products (Reuben) would not have purchased the ring.'

In their response, lawyers for Allurez said that Reuben's allegations were 'mere puffery'.

They denied false advertising and said that they could not vouch for the assessment of the jewel by EGL Canada.

The GIA valuation put the diamond's worth at just $15,240 which Reuben called a 'far cry' from the $93,250 he paid for the gem

In their response, lawyers for Allurez said that Reuben's allegations were 'mere puffery'. They denied false advertising and said that they could not vouch for the assessment of the jewel by EGL Canada

Allurez said Reuben told the company that his ex-wife was a jeweler 'and that since he knew a lot about jewelry, he appreciated the deal and professionalism that Allurez provided'.

'The couple expressed nothing but gratitude immediately following their ring purchase, and we created the exact ring they requested, using the diamond theyd viewed many times prior.

Allurez's lawyers asked for the case to be dismissed in a May 2021 filing, one of the latest in the case.

The most recent document in the lawsuit - which is still listed as active on the New York state court website - is from Reuben's lawyers asking for an update from the court.

Habba and Reuben were married in 2020 in a private ceremony.

She has two children from her first marriage to Matthew Eyet - they were together from 2011 to 2019 - while Reuben has one child from his previous marriage.

Reuben is a Harvard Business School graduate and runs numerous car parking sites in Manhattan which have made him a millionaire.

Despite the drama surrounding the $93,000 diamond ring, Habba is moving up the ladder under President Trump's administration.

Trump announced on Monday to his Truth Social account that Habba, who had been working in the White House as his counselor, would serve as interim US Attorney in her home state of New Jersey - replacing John Giordano who is taking up the role as ambassador to Namibia.

Habba first met Trump at his Bedminster club in New Jersey in 2019. Soon after, she was brought in for an interview to join his legal team.

Habba first met Trump at his Bedminster club in New Jersey in 2019. Soon after, she was brought in for an interview to join his legal team

Trump announced on Monday to his Truth Social account that Habba, who had been working in the White House as his counselor, would serve as interim US Attorney of New Jersey

Gabba with her family, including her husband and two children from a different marriage

When she took a role with the administration years later, she left her husband and two children and stepson back in New Jersey, traveling between D.C. and her home state frequently for the two months of her tenure.

But Habba's high-profile job doesn't appear to interfere with her personal life, as the lawyer does not post about her husband or her family life on her social media platforms as frequently as she does about Trump-related matters.

In November 2022, she shared a picture of a bouquet of flowers on her Instagram page and wrote: 'Marry someone who buys you flowers to celebrate your first date'.

In March last year she posted a photo of her and Reuben with the President and First Lady Melania Trump.

Another rare photo of Reuben followed on Instagram in January this year in a series of photos showing her first week in the White House.

In a podcast interview last year, she gave a rare insight into her marriage and said: 'I'm not a feminist, I believe in strong women, but I want my door opened. I'm very much an... old school woman.

'When I'm at home, I cook, I have a husband I respect, I know how to turn it on'.

In a statement, Allurez said that 'we pride ourselves in providing high customer satisfaction, and being one of the most reputable jewelers in the industry'.

The statement said: 'This client requested the specific diamond that he purchased after viewing it on our website and came to our office multiple times to view it in person. He even brought his then-fiance (now wife), to see the diamond in person before agreeing to purchase it.

'Our skilled jewelers worked tirelessly to handcraft the custom-made setting that met the couples exact design preferences'.

The statement said that Allurez provided Reuben and Habba a computer-generated design of the ring which they 'approved'.

Reuben mentioned that his ex-wife was a jeweler and 'since he knew a lot about jewelry, he appreciated the deal and professionalism that Allurez provided'.

The statement said: 'The couple expressed nothing but gratitude immediately following their ring purchase, and we created the exact ring they requested, using the diamond theyd viewed many times prior'.
Elon Musk's mercurial 79-year-old father has made a shocking claim about his son's musician ex-girlfriend, Claire Boucher  better known by her stage name, Grimes.

Boucher, 37, shares three children with Musk, X  A-Xii, 4, Exa Dark Siderl, 3, and Techno Mechanicus, 2.

Now, in an exclusive interview, Errol Musk alleges that Boucher wanted to tattoo one of his grandchildren.

'She wanted to tattoo the baby's head when he was a baby. Put a tattoo on his head. You don't do that. She is a little nuts,' claimed Errol in a sit-down interview in his South Africa home.

Errol's allegations emerge after Boucher revealed a shock health diagnosis and her childhood struggle with 'weird obsessions and motivations'.

In an Instagram post on Saturday, Boucher criticized the 'uninformed social media health subculture' that, she says, appears geared toward 'making people worse.' She also revealed that she has been diagnosed with 'ADHD/autism' and suspects that she's dyslexic.

This is not the first time that Errol has made this claim about Boucher.

In October 2024, Errol told British broadcaster Andrew Eborn that Boucher 'wanted to tattoo' X  A-Xii, now 4, 'when he was a baby.' But Elon, according to Errol, would have hated the idea, because Elon has no tattoos himself and believes 'the body is a temple'.

Elon Musk 's mercurial 79-year-old father has made a shocking claim about his son's musician ex-girlfriend, Claire Boucher  better known by her stage name, Grimes. He alleges that Boucher wanted to tattoo one of his grandchildren.

Boucher, 37, (pictured with X) shares three children with Musk, X  A-Xii, 4, Exa Dark Siderl, 3, and Techno Mechanicus, 2. Errol told the Mail: 'She wanted to tattoo the baby's head when he was a baby. Put a tattoo on his head. You don't do that. She is a little nuts.'

Boucher did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment regarding Errol's claim.

However, Musk and Boucher have seemingly joked about the issue in the past.

In May 2020, Musk tweeted the first picture of a newborn X and used a photo filter that gave his son face tattoos.

One anonymous Reddit user has suggested that Errol somehow misinterpreted his sons joke  and erroneously believes that Boucher truly wanted to tattoo the child.

Indeed, Errols criticism of Boucher is just one of many he made when speaking with the Daily Mail.

It was just one of many criticisms that Errol leveled at Boucher when speaking with the Daily Mail.

'I think her [music] is terrible. But as somebody pointed out to me, she gets 50 million views. I don't think it's worth watching,' Errol said.

He also blames Boucher for his grandchildren's very weird names.

It's not Elon's work, he claimed, defending his son. He was trying to make his wife or girlfriend happy. He never married her.'

Musk and Boucher reportedly dated from 2018 to 2021 and then kept seeing each other on and off until 2023.

They have recently been locked in a very public feud over their children's care.

On September 7, 2023, Musk sued for custody of their children in Texas, where several of his businesses are headquartered.

Boucher then filed her own parental rights suit a few weeks later in a San Francisco court. She claimed that Musk was stopping her from seeing their children and that he had even prevented them from visiting their terminally ill maternal grandmother.

Elon Musk (pictured with X in the oval office) and Boucher reportedly dated from 2018 to 2021 and then kept seeing each other on and off until 2023. They have recently been locked in a very public feud over their children's care.

The parties settled their dispute in August 2024 without publicly sharing the outcome.

Boucher claimed the ordeal almost left her 'bankrupt' and unable to make new music. In February, Grimes sent a now-deleted message to Musk on X (formerly Twitter), appealing to him to help her and claiming that one of their children was in 'medical crisis.'

'Plz respond about our child's medical crisis,' she wrote. 'I am sorry to do this publicly but it is no longer acceptable to ignore this situation. This requires immediate attention.'

'I'm not giving any details but he won't respond to texts, call or emails and has skipped every meeting and our child will suffer life long impairment if he doesn't respond asap, so I need him to f***ing respond and if I have to apply public pressure then I guess that's where we are at,' she added.

Musk has not yet publicly responded to Bouchers requests.
An audience member on Q+A has revealed the harsh reality many middle-aged and older people face when trying to get a job in Australia.

In Monday night's episode of the program, which focused on the Federal Budget, Charlotte - who described herself as 'a lady in her 50s' - exposed the ageism that prevails in the job market.

'I am finding it very difficult to get employment. No-one wants to employ me, unfortunately, at my age,' she said.

Charlotte said she's receiving a Jobseeker payment of $500 a week, which includes a rental allowance, but her rent alone is $450 a week.

'So I'm expected to live off $50 a week,' she said.

'And I'm not unusual. It is really difficult to find a job out there if you're a woman over 50.

'I was advised to change my CV  maybe take 10 or 15 years off.'

However that advice led to a humiliating experience.

In Monday night's episode of Q+A, which focused on the Federal Budget, Charlotte (above) - who described herself as 'a lady in her 50s' - exposed ageism in the job market

Q+A presenter Patricia Karvelas (pictured) said she hears 'these stories a lot and I think journalists hear these stories every day'

'I went for this job interview and the gentleman who was doing the interview was horrified when he saw me,' she said.

'It was so obvious.'

Charlotte is studying for a master's degree in counselling while raising her 18-year-old twins.

'We have to pool our money in together,' she said, adding that her ex-husband was 'very decent' and helped the family out with their energy bills.

Charlotte's story followed that of Vanessa, another older woman in the audience, who said there should be more money allocated in the Budget to help people such as her.

Vanessa said she was looking to politicians to 'actually do the right thing for all older Victorians and Australians as a whole'.

'I am now the sole bread winner. There's no way we're able to afford a house in Australia on our own,' Vanessa said.

'What this means is into the future, there's the big worry hanging on our heads.'

Q+A presenter Patricia Karvelas said she hears 'these stories a lot and I think journalists hear these stories every day'.

'Your story actually tells a really important story of people in their older years,' she said.

'When we have these conversations about cost of living  we feel like sometimes  we have it in the abstract.

'But these stories are everywhere, and people like you wait for Budgets or opportunities for genuine change, but it feels like it's always incremental.'

Treasurer Jim Chalmers will hand down his fourth budget at 7.30pm on Tuesday.

Daily Mail Australia will provide live coverage and analysis through the night.
A stunning Georgia sorority girl who had two viral run-ins with the law this month tried to flee from her second arrest because she was already 'out on bond.'

Just last week, Lily Stewart, 20, captivated the internet with her 'hot mugshot' which showed the University of Georgia (UGA) student beaming in an off-the-shoulder top.

The jaw-dropping photo was from her March 8 arrest which was snapped after she was caught driving nearly 30 miles over the limit on her way to a friend's birthday party.

At first, she was simply pulled over and issued a ticket. But when she sped off immediately after speaking with the officer, she was flagged down again and arrested.

Stewart's attorney told TMZ that the speeding charge has been dropped. She has to take a defensive driving course, complete 20 hours of community service and write a paper about the dangers of speeding.

But on Sunday, the glamorous Alpha Chi Omega sorority sister found herself in handcuffs once again.

She and a group of friends set off an intrusion alarm at a UGA student center, according to a police report obtained by DailyMail.com.

Stewart allegedly sprinted away from the responding UGA police officers and crouched behind a brick wall to hide as a cop questioned her peers.

Lily Stewart, 20, has garnered social media's attention twice this month after her glamorous mugshots circulated the internet

Stewart first went viral last week when people started to gush over her March 8 mugshot. The sorority girl was arrested for speeding after already being pulled over

But her hiding spot was quickly discovered and when cops asked why she ran away, she said she was scared of getting into trouble since she was already arrested on March 8.

'I didn't want to get caught doing anything bad because I am out on bond right now,' the internet sensation admitted, according to the report

Stewart also said to police during the early Sunday morning encounter: 'Was it the trespassing? Truly that was actually my fault.'

The sorority girl, recently dubbed 'Miss America' for her looks, was booked on misdemeanor charges of obstruction of a law enforcement officer and loitering/prowling just before 5:30 am.

She was able to post her $4,000 bond just a few hours later and was out of jail by 11 am.

Her accomplices faced charges related to underage drinking, loitering and possessing a fake ID, according to the report.

But police noted in their report that Stewart showed no signs of being intoxicated.

Stewart's latest mugshot shows her sporting a dark blue prison uniform with her blonde-highlighted hair blown out and parted down the middle.

Stewart was arrested for a second time this month on Sunday for obstruction of law enforcement and loitering/prowling

Stewart has spoken about the March 8 mugshot, claiming it is not that great of a picture of her

Of course, she was brightly smiling in the image.

Her second mugshot garnered the same reactions as the first shockingly flattering photo, with social media users gushing over Stewart once again.

'She looks innocent,' one man wrote on X about Sunday's mugshot.

'Her mugshots are cute tho,' an Instagram user commented. 'Just my type' another agreed.

'Her side profile is incredible. God has his favorites,' someone wrote, praising Stewart's facial features.

Others found humor in Stewart becoming a regular at the police station, with one user asking, 'are those cops bothering you queen?'

One woman wrote with a laughing emoji: 'Freshly curled hair + prowling is wild.'

'Her hairstylist needs a raise! Cmon layers!!' someone added.

Stewart allegedly told police on Sunday she ran away from them because she was already 'out on bond' from the March 8 incident

All the charges from the March 8 speeding incident have been dropped, but Stewart must take a defensive driving course, complete 20 hours of community service and write a paper about the dangers of speeding

Stewart has not publicly spoken about her second arrest or the comments sparked by the new mugshot, but she has previously discussed the first photo.

'I was smiling because I always smile for a photo,' she told TMZ.

She even told PEOPLE that she was not particularly thrilled with the March 8 mugshot, saying 'I actually think it's a bad photo of me. I don't really look the same as I do in that mugshot. I don't think it's a great photo of me.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Stewart for comment.
A mother has appeared in court after being accused of attempting to murder her daughter by stabbing her multiple times.

Carla Lovejoy, 53, reportedly launched the knife attack on her daughter Isabella at their bungalow in Broadstairs, Kent, at around 7pm on Thursday, March 20.

A major police and emergency services response - including an air ambulance - was was called to the cul-de-sac on Guy Close, before Isabella, believed to be in her 20s, was taken to a London hospital.

The 53-year-old mother was immediately arrested at the scene and charged with attempted murder on Saturday, March 22.

With her daughter still in 'serious condition', Lovejoy today appeared at Folkestone Magistrates' Court.

She was wearing prison-issue clothing and spoke in the dock to confirm her personal information such as her name, age and address, according to KentOnline.

Lovejoy then returned to police custody where she will remain before a plea and trial preparation will commence on April 22 at Canterbury Crown Court.

During the night of the attack, a forensics team spent the evening trawling through the bungalow looking for evidence.

A major police and emergency services response - including an air ambulance - was was called to the cul-de-sac on Guy Close, before Isabella, believed to be in her 20s, was taken to a London hospital

The 53-year-old mother was immediately arrested at the scene and charged with attempted murder on Saturday, March 22

Carla Lovejoy today appeared at Folkestone Magistrates' Court (above) after being accused of attempting to murder her daughter by stabbing her multiple times

Police also cordoned off the property in the street which is said to be typically quiet.

Kent Police said in a statement yesterday: 'Kent Police was called to the St Peters area of Broadstairs at 6.50pm on Thursday 20 March 2025.

'Officers attended a property alongside South East Coast Ambulance Service where a woman in her 20s was treated for injuries consistent with stab wounds.

'She was taken to a London hospital where she remains in a serious but stable condition.

'A woman who was known to the victim was arrested and an investigation into the incident commenced.'
A Gold Coast man has offered two cases of beer for information relating to the disappearance of an iconic beachside statue.

Currumbin Beach locals were left puzzled to find the 100kg bronze statue, the Sun Spirit, had disappeared overnight without a trace on Tuesday.

A police investigation into the missing statue has been launched, with state detectives joining forces with Coolangatta police.

Local Nick Atkinson was shocked to hear about the suspected theft and decided to offer a prize for any information about the Sun Spirit's whereabouts.

'Unreal. Everyone's devo,' Mr Atkinson told Channel Seven's Sunrise.

'It would have been a significant effort, just picking it up... even grinding it. Someone must have seen something. I feel like the sparks and sound, someone knows something about where this [statue] is and I'm going to find it today.

'I've got a carton of beer on offer and a sponsor has just come in and said they're going to throw in another one.

'So there's two cartons of beer for anyone who gives me info to find this thing.'

Local man Nick Atkinson (right) told Sunrise he would offer a carton of beer for information

The Sun Spirit statue has been a local favourite since it was acquired from a local artist

Sun Spirit was acquired by the Gold Coast City Council for $20,000 after local bronze sculpturist Frank Miles 2006 art festival.

Mr Miles said he was 'absolutely devastated' by the loss of the statue which he modelled on his daughter Bronwyn.

'A senseless act perpetrated by individuals with no social conscience. No idea how art enriches the viewer,' he posted to his Facebook profile on Monday.

'I feel like I have lost a dear family member.'

The search for the life-sized bronze statute was initiated when a local took to a community Facebook page to ask: 'What happened to our Sun Spirit?'

When news first broke of the disappearance, locals questioned if the statue had been swept away by ex-Cyclone Alfred or else removed before it made landfall.

Councillor Gail O'Neill took to social media on Monday to clear up the confusion, noting the statue had been inspected for damage after the wild weather event.

'The statue which has been looking over the beach for over 20 years was inspected after Cyclone Alfred and was found to have survived without any damage so to now see her gone is absolutely devastating,' Ms O'Neill said.

Local artist Frank Miles is pictured beside the beloved sculpture which he created in 2006

'I would hope that whoever has stolen her will do the right thing and return her to her rightful home so everyone can continue to enjoy her.'

And it's not the first time Mr Miles' public art has been stolen.

His sculpture of Centennial medal winner and Playroom night club owner Beryl Carnell was stolen from the shores of Currumbin Creek in 2021.

It was then sold for $200 to a scrap metal dealer before police were able to recover the statue in terrible condition.

'Sun Spirit will probably be cut up and sold as scrap metal to some unscrupulous dealer,' Mr Miles told the Herald Sun.

'The theft that is happening these days is terrible and it seems nothing is sacred or safe. It doesn't matter how secure it is, if someone is determined enough, they will steal it.'

A Queensland Police spokesperson said: 'Gold Coast police are aware of reports regarding the missing Sun Spirit statue from Currumbin Beach.

'A crew from Coolangatta, with the assistance of detectives from the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), has been tasked with investigating the matter.

'Investigations are continuing.'
Hillary Clinton trolled the Trump administration Monday after The Atlantic's editor-in-chief revealed he was accidentally added to a group chat of top Trump administration figures discussing attacking the Iranian-backed Houthis.

'You have got to be kidding me,' Clinton wrote, using the giant eyes emoji and sharing Jeffrey Goldberg's Atlantic story.

The group chat, using the encrypted app Signal, was started by National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President J.D. Vance.

Those officials may have violated the Presidential Records Act, which requires presidential records to be preserved.

Signal automatically deletes messages after a period of time.

Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign was derailed in part due to her decision to use a private email server while serving as President Barack Obama's Secretary of State.

Her rival, the current President Donald Trump, consistently attacked Clinton over using the unsecured server, with his crowds chanting, 'lock her up!'

Now nine years later and just a month and four days into Trump's second term, there are calls for firings of some of these officials from Democrats in disbelief that classified information was being discussed on the app.

Hillary Clinton trolled the Trump administration Monday after The Atlantic's editor-in-chief revealed he was accidentally added to a group chat of top Trump administration figures discussing attacking the Iranian-backed Huthis

Hillary Clinton wrote 'you have got to be kidding me,' in a post that quickly went viral. During her 2016 campaign her choice to use a private email server while serving as secretary of State became a major campaign headache and helped President Donald Trump win

'Really dumb and epically irresponsible. People need to lose their jobs over this. Preferably Hegseth,' commented Democratic New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim.

Goldberg didn't quote one of Hegseth's longer messages to the group, fearing the information contained could hurt U.S. troops.

'What I will say, in order to illustrate the shocking recklessness of this Signal conversation, is that the Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing,' the journalist instead wrote.

Sen. Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat, also took aim at Hegseth.

During an appearance on CNN Monday night, Gallego pointed out that in any other administration the president would have made the Pentagon chief resign.

'The Secretary of Defense was unqualified to begin with and now he's actually proven himself,' Gallego said.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth reposted Fox News' Brit Hume's reaction to Hegseth arriving in Hawaii and calling Goldberg 'deceitful and highly discredited.'

'Oh for God's sake, the administration has already confirmed the authenticity of the message,' Hume wrote.

Several Democrats have called on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (left) to resign after the Signal group was exposed Monday, however Politico reported Monday night that the most endangered Trump official appeared to be National Security Advisor Michael Waltz

Politico reported Monday night that Waltz, who created the group chat and invited Goldberg to join, was currently the most endangered Trump official involved in the brewing scandal.

'Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f***ing idiot,' one 'person close to the White House' was quoted as saying.

Waltz, who previously worked for former Vice President Dick Cheney, a Republican, has been viewed skeptically by MAGA diehards for his former neo-conservative ties.

Politico reported that Waltz had spoken to Trump - who denied knowing about the story when asked about it Monday afternoon at an event featuring Lousiana's governor.

If Waltz is let go, he will have made it more than a month longer than the first national security adviser Trump selected for his first term - Michael Flynn.

Flynn resigned on February 13, 2017 after it came out that he misled then Vice President Mike Pence on conversations he had with the Russians.
The wife of a Minnesota senator arrested for allegedly soliciting a minor for prostitution has filed for divorce as he languishes behind bars.

Republican state senator Justin Eichorn, 40, was arrested in his car last week after he allegedly arranged to meet up with who he thought was a 17-year-old girl for sex.

Eichorn's wife Brittany filed a petition for dissolution of marriage in Itasca County Court on Monday following the devastating allegations.

A court had initially granted him conditional release to a halfway house but that was revoked on Monday after prosecutors leveled new claims against the disgraced politician.

They allege he arranged with a Grand Rapids woman to retrieve a computer and other items from the St. Paul apartment where he lived alone during legislative sessions before the FBI could search the unit.

Prosecutors also argued that Eichorn should remain jailed because the text messages he had exchanged with an undercover officer posing as a 17-year-old girl before his arrest demonstrated his 'clear familiarity with soliciting commercial sex from minors.'

'Eichorn's messages and conduct reveal an experienced operator,' prosecutors wrote in their application to keep him detained.

'His pretrial release brings with it a real risk that he would attempt to victimize other minors in the community.'

He is from Grand Rapids and shares four children with his wife Brittany (pictured)

Eichorn is a married father-of-four (pictured during a campaign video with his family). His wife, Brittany, has now filed for divorce

Eichorn is a Republican State Senator who was first elected in 2016, according to his senate biography.

He will now remain behind bars until at least Wednesday, when he is scheduled to appear again before a judge in a pre-trial hearing.

Bloomington Police said a detective arranged to meet with the married father-of-four near the 8300 block of Normandale Boulevard.

He was observed arriving in his pickup truck - before being arrested without incident outside of his vehicle by uniformed officers.

After his arrest, he was warned that his calls from jail were not private and would be recorded.

Still, he and the unnamed woman allegedly organized for her to travel to his unit in an effort to remove material that may have been of interest to authorities.

'Eichorn's conduct evidences a willingness to conceal material facts from the Court and to do so at the expense of public safety,' prosecutors said.

They said 'even more concerning... is the possibility that Eichorn lied' in order to get his apartment cleared out before law enforcement could get there.

By the time the woman got to the apartment Friday morning, FBI agents had already secured it with a warrant to search for evidence in the case against Eichorn.

Justin Eichorn, 40, was caught by Bloomington Police Department detectives Monday after allegedly arranging to meet up with a teenage girl for sex

During their search, agents found a bag on the counter containing $1,000 in cash; a handgun and ammunition; a laptop computer; an SD memory card; an iPhone and several of Eichorn's Senate business cards, prosecutors said. They said the iPhone appeared to have been reset to its factory settings, which can erase all content on the device.

One of the conditions for Eichorn's release to a halfway house was that he not possess firearms. Prosecutors allege he deliberately lied when he told a pretrial services officer after his first court appearance last Thursday that he had no firearms in his apartment.

'As a 40-year-old man, if you come to the Orange Jumpsuit District looking to have sex with someone's child, you can expect that we are going to lock you up,' Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges said at the time of his arrest.

The lawmaker from Grand Rapids resigned after he was charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution, a felony that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.

Eichorn had been facing immense pressure both from within his party and the Democrats to resign after his arrest.

'We are shocked by these reports, and this alleged conduct demands an immediate resignation. Justin has a difficult road ahead, and he needs to focus on his family,' the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus said.

State House Republican leadership also called on Eichorn to resign after the news of his arrest broke.

The Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus swiftly condemned his arrest and called for Eichorn to resign

Eichorn is a Republican State Senator who was first elected in 201

'Given the seriousness of the charges, Senator Eichorn should resign. While he is entitled to due process, we must hold legislators to a higher standard,' they said.

Minnesota Democrats also condemned his actions and called him a danger to the public.

'No one who solicits children belongs anywhere near public office or the State Capitol,' said Minnesota DFL executive director Heidi Kraus Kaplan.

'The facts presented by [police] make it clear that Senator Eichorn is an immediate danger to the public and must resign immediately.'

'The felony allegation against Senator Eichorn is deeply disturbing, and raises serious questions that will need to be answered by the court, as well as his caucus and constituents,' read a statement from Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy.
Former James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli has been stalked for at least seven years, it was revealed in court yesterday.

Daniel Wilson, 36, was given a restraining order in 2017 but then allegedly contacted her 11 times from April 2022 to April last year, legal papers show.

Wilson, who is detained under the Mental Health Act, appeared before a judge via videolink from a hospital in south London yesterday.

Psychiatric reports about Wilson are being prepared, Southwark Crown Court was told, and he was not asked to enter a plea to 11 charges of breaching a restraining order.

He was given bail with conditions that he is to live and sleep at the hospital and cannot contact Ms Broccoli.

Wilson was also told he is not allowed to possess a device capable of accessing the internet  to which he replied: 'That is Dickensian.'

Ms Broccoli, 64, together with her half-brother Michael G Wilson oversaw the spy film franchise until earlier this year.

It was taken over by Amazon MGM Studios  owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, who controversially bought the franchise rights for 770million.

Ms Broccoli, (right) and her half-brother Michael G Wilson (left) produced the most recent Bond film  No Time To Die which starred Daniel Craig (middle)

Daniel Wilson (pictured), was given a restraining order in 2017 but then allegedly contacted Former James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli 11 times from April 2022 to April last year

However, Ms Broccoli was reported to have told friends in December last year that she did not trust the online giant with the character.

The Wall Street Journal said that she had told her friends: 'These people are f***ing idiots.'

The film franchise came into Ms Broccoli's hands after her father Albert 'Cubby' Broccoli bought the rights to Ian Fleming's novels featuring the British MI6 agent in 1961.

He produced the first Bond film  Dr No starring Sean Connery as 007  the following year and oversaw the franchise until he passed it on to Ms Broccoli and Mr G Wilson in 1995.

Ms Broccoli began working on the films at the age of 17 when she joined the publicity department for The Spy Who Loved Me, which starred Roger Moore and was released in 1977.

She progressed to the role of associate producer for 1987's The Living Daylights, with Timothy Dalton in the lead role, before taking over as producer for 1995 film GoldenEye, featuring Pierce Brosnan.

She was awarded an OBE in 2008 for services to film, drama, philanthropy and skills and then a CBE in 2022.

The most recent Bond film  No Time To Die which starred Daniel Craig  was released in 2021 and ended with the spy being killed in a missile strike.

However, there remains no script for the next film and no one has been cast as the next martini-drinking secret agent.

Wilson is due to reappear at court on May 27.
Keir Starmer has held fresh talks with Donald Trump on a US trade deal amid mounting speculation Britain could scrap a tax on American tech firms in a bid to avoid tariffs on UK exports.

Downing Street yesterday revealed that the Prime Minister spoke with the US President by phone on Sunday night to 'discuss progress' on a possible deal.

Ministers are scrambling to secure an exemption from swingeing American tariffs which are due to come into force on April 2.

Whitehall sources have confirmed that dropping the 800million Digital Services Tax, which is levied mainly on US tech firms, has formed part of the discussions.

At the weekend, Chancellor Rachel Reeves refused to rule out ditching the 2 per cent levy on the UK revenues of social media, search engines and online shopping platforms like Google, Amazon and Meta.

But yesterday she indicated she will resist the move, describing the tax as 'hugely important'.

The Chancellor added: 'We will continue to make sure that businesses pay their fair share of tax, including businesses in the digital sector.'

The levy was introduced in 2020 to help ensure tech firms pay more tax and counter criticism that they enjoy an unfair tax advantage compared with high street retailers. But revenues have fallen far short of the estimated 3billion a year.

Downing Street revealed that the Prime Minister (left) spoke with US President Donald Trump (right) by phone on Sunday night to 'discuss progress' on a possible deal

At the weekend, Chancellor Rachel Reeves (pictured) refused to rule out ditching the 2 per cent levy on the UK revenues of social media, search engines and online shopping platforms

The 2 per cent levy would impact companies such as Google, Jeff Bezos's (pictured) Amazon and Meta

President Trump floated the idea of a new 'trade deal' when Sir Keir visited the White House this month.

Ministers have played down the prospect of a free trade agreement. But they believe a limited agreement on technology and artificial intelligence could boost the economy and help avert the tariffs  which could be 20 per cent or more  due to be imposed next week.

Asked whether Digital Services Tax would be scrapped as part of the deal, the PM's spokesman told reporters yesterday: 'The UK will only do a deal in the national interest, which reflects this Government's mandate to deliver economic stability for British people.'

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research has estimated that tariffs on this scale could wipe 0.4 per cent off economic growth over the next two years, costing the UK economy around 24billion.
Labour will be turning 'a blind eye to slavery' if it blocks a bid to ban ministers from buying solar panels feared to have been made with forced labour, MPs warned last night.

Peers had sought to stop taxpayers' cash from being used to buy products from a company where there was 'credible evidence' of modern slavery in its supply chain.

But the Government will whip its MPs to vote against the Lords amendment to the Great British Energy Bill in the Commons today, meaning solar panels made with forced labour could end up on the roofs of hundreds of schools and NHS sites.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband admitted last week that some solar panels bought for a 180 million project for schools and hospitals will come from China. The country is responsible for 80 per cent of the global supply of solar panels, and the Xinjiang region produces up to 40 per cent of polysilicon  a key component.

The province is also where more than a million Uighurs, an ethnic group, have been detained, according to human rights groups. There is evidence of Uighurs being used as forced labour.

Last month peers backed the cross-party amendment by 177 votes to 127, despite the Government arguing that there were already enough safeguards. And today ministers will seek to overturn the amendment when the Bill returns to the Commons.

There is said to be 'deep disquiet' on the Labour backbenches over the Government instructing its MPs to back the motion to get rid of the amendment.

Labour MP Rachael Maskell said last night: 'Human rights must form a central pillar of our trading arrangement.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband admitted last week that some solar panels bought for a 180 million project for schools and hospitals will come from China (Miliband pictured with Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on March 17)

The Xinjiang region of China is where more than a million Uighurs, an ethnic group, have been detained, according to human rights groups (file image of watchtowers on a high-security facility in China)

Solar panels made with forced labour could end up on the roofs of hundreds of schools and NHS sites (stock)

'The forced labour, dehumanisation and torture of the Uighur communities is deeply distressing, so no trade must be associated with these horrendous crimes against others.'

Acting Tory energy spokesman Andrew Bowie told the Mail that overturning the amendment would give Ed Miliband 'free rein to send taxpayers' money to China in exchange for solar panels tainted by slave labour'.

He added: 'Miliband promised to cut everyone's energy bills by 300 at the election  but bills are going up and he's making us increasingly dependent on coal-powered Chinese imports in order to meet his reckless Net Zero targets.'

Tory grandee and China hawk Sir Iain Duncan Smith said the Government was asking Labour backbenchers to 'turn and look away when slave products come'.

'It's the first test for the Labour Government: which side of this do you stand? You used to stand on the side of anti-slavery, but by turning a blind eye [today], the Government will have put themselves in line with other countries who believe it is okay to turn a blind eye to slavery.'

Sir Iain added: 'The choice [today] will be pretty binary: we either think it doesn't matter if there is slave labour in the supply chain in this particular instance on Net Zero, or we do.

'And if we do believe there shouldn't be slave labour in any product, and particularly not the Net Zero stuff, then the answer is we have to act and say that we're not going to do it.'

Luke de Pulford, of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, said: 'There's no climate justice in a green transition built on the backs of Uighur slaves.

There is evidence of Uighurs being used as forced labour in the Xinjiang, a region which is instrumental in the production of solar panels

'It's the tenth anniversary of the Modern Slavery Act this week, a law which has failed miserably to keep slave-made goods off our shelves.

'It is shameful in the extreme that the Government would mark this anniversary by forcing MPs to vote to remove a modest amendment seeking to stop public money being spent on Chinese state slavery.'

Asked why Labour does not back a ban, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'We're absolutely focused on tackling human rights abuses and modern slavery in supply chains. We need to take a whole of government and society approach and place victims and survivors at the centre of this work.

'We want to combat human rights abuses like modern slavery across the whole energy industry. We think that will be more effective than applying measures on a company-by-company basis.'

On Friday, Mr Miliband announced that his new green quango, Great British Energy, would oversee a 180 million project to instal rooftop panels on 200 school buildings and almost as many NHS sites.

He said the investment would immediately save the public sector money on electricity bills, but conceded some of the solar panels will come from China.
A major supermarket has launched its biggest-ever value campaign, with a bold move to match Aldi prices on over 100 everyday essentials.

Food giant Co-op, which has over 2,400 stores across the UK, is rolling out the scheme from tomorrow to help members save money on popular items such as milk, bread, eggs, and fresh fruit.

The new initiative, which is being described as the largest rollout of its kind in the convenience sector, promises significant savings for its six million members, with price matches on essential products now available in stores and online.

This is also the first time a UK grocer has launched an Aldi price match scheme via quick-comm platforms such as Shop.coop, Deliveroo, and Uber Eats, reaching 81 percent of the UK population.

Shoppers can now find Co-op-branded items at prices comparable to those of budget retailer Aldi, including staples such as Co-op 1 Pint British Milk for just 85p, Co-op Carrots (500g) at 38p, and Co-op British Medium Free-Range Eggs (6 pack) for 1.45.

This move is part of Co-op's ongoing 170million investment in providing value for its members over the past two years.

The supermarket giant Co-op, which has over 2,400 stores across the UK, is rolling out the scheme to help members save money on popular items such as milk, bread, eggs, and fresh fruit

The new initiative, which is being described as the largest rollout of its kind in the convenience sector, promises significant savings for its six million members, with price matches on essential products now available in stores and online

'I am very clear that, in this current economic climate, price is most often the deciding food shopping factor for our members and customers.

'Which is why we are taking this big step to price match, in our stores and online, as we know discounter prices are often the benchmark of value for consumers, and we are facing directly into that,' said Matt Hood, Managing Director of Co-op.

He continued: 'I truly believe we run the best small stores in the UK, loved by our members, customers, and communities, where we offer local and convenience shopping with great value and high quality, carefully sourced products.

'Price has often been perceived as the Achilles heel of convenience shopping, but this new initiative will change that and show there is no compromise in value, quality, or range to shopping conveniently.'

The price match initiative also extends to the retailer's growing online presence, marking a significant milestone for Co-op as it joins the ranks of quick-commerce giants.

Customers can now order these price-matched products through delivery services like Deliveroo and Uber Eats, making it even easier to shop affordably from the comfort of home.

This move, which includes popular items like Co-op Chopped Tomatoes (400g) for 47p and Co-op Tiger Bloomer (800g) for 1.45, is set to benefit millions of loyal Co-op shoppers, with over one million members purchasing at least one price-matched item every week.

This comes as three of Britain's biggest supermarkets gave their public backing to farmers in their fight against Labour's inheritance tax raid.

Tesco, Lidl and Co-op joined growing calls for a 'pause' in the Government's implementation of the controversial Budget measures.

Farmers have been staging a series of protests across the UK in the wake of the Budget, including at Westminster

Tesco has become the latest supermarket chain to back Britain's farmers in their fight against Labour's inheritance tax raid

Farmers gathering at Whitehall for a demonstration against changes to inheritance tax announced in the Budget in October

Ashwin Prasad, Tesco's chief commercial officer, said he 'fully understood' farmers' fears about the looming changes.

Lidl expressed it's 'concern' about the impact of the inheritance tax shake-up on farmers and the nation's food supply chain.

And Co-op revealed it had contacted ministers to ask them to look again at the tax measures.

All three have now joined other major supermarket chains Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons in offering their support for farmers.

At her Budget in October, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced farmers will pay a 20 per cent rate of inheritance tax on land and property they inherit worth more than 1million.

Ministers have insisted their action - dubbed the 'family farm tax' - will only affect the wealthiest quarter of landowners.

But the National Farmers' Union (NFU) and others say the impact of Ms Reeves' measures will be much more widespread.

Critics claim the move could wipe out family-run farms with tight margins, as they will be forced to sell up in order to pay death duties.
Bestselling author Richard Osman says he will 'take on Meta' to fight against AI copyright infringement.

The television presenter hit back at the tech giant as it was revealed the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp has used millions of pirated books to develop its AI systems.

Meta used a searchable database of 7.5 million books and 81 million research papers.

The data set, called Library Genesis, is full of pirated material, and all of it has been used to develop AI systems by Meta.

The Atlantic magazine, which published the searchable database, says court documents show that Meta staff discussed licensing books and research papers lawfully but instead chose to use or 'scrape' stolen work because it was faster and cheaper.

Osman, 54, said: 'Copyright law is not complicated at all. If you want to use an author's work, you need to ask for permission.

'If you use it without permission, you're breaking the law. It's so simple. It'll be incredibly difficult for us, and for other affected industries, to take on Meta, but we'll have a good go.'

The Society of Authors said: 'As a matter of urgency, Meta needs to compensate the rights-holders of all the works it has been exploiting.'

Bestselling author Richard Osman (pictured) says he will 'take on Meta ' to fight against AI copyright infringement

Meta used a searchable database of 7.5 million books and 81 million research papers. The data set, called Library Genesis, is full of pirated material, and all of it has been used to develop AI systems by Meta (stock)

Senior figures from the worlds of music, media and film have backed a major Daily Mail campaign to protect Britain's creative industries from the threat of AI

Chief executive Anna Ganley added: 'Rather than ask permission and pay for these copyright-protected materials, AI companies are knowingly choosing to steal them in the race to dominate the market.

'This is shocking behaviour by big tech that is being enabled by governments who are not intervening to strengthen and uphold current copyright protections.'

Senior figures from the worlds of music, media and film have backed a major Daily Mail campaign to protect Britain's creative industries from the threat of AI.

The Labour Government is proposing to change laws so tech giants can use any online material to improve their AI models  without respecting copyright laws that ensure its creators get paid.

Instead, creators would have to opt out of having their work exploited.
Pete Hegseth adamantly denied that he was 'texting war plans' to a group chat about military strikes in Yemen that a journalist was accidentally added on to.

Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, made the jaw-dropping revelation on Monday.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz started the conversation on Signal, an encrypted messaging app, that included users identified as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

A CIA representative, Trump adviser Stephen Miller and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles were also listed in the group.

Goldberg, a longtime Washington D.C. journalist, found himself added to the conversation.

Hegseth, appearing for the first time since the story was published after a flight to Hawaii, lashed out at Goldberg similar to how President Donald Trump slammed his magazine.

'So you are talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who has made a profession of peddling hoaxes, time and time again.'

He cited various stories The Atlantic has run on Trump's alleged connections to Russia, his 'very fine people' comments after the Charlottesville riots being taken out of context and the alleged 'suckers and losers' comments on soldiers killed in war.

Pete Hegseth (pictured) appeared to deny that he was 'texting war plans' to a group chat about military strikes in Yemen that a journalist was accidentally added on to

Hegseth, appearing for the first time since the story was published after a flight to Hawaii, lashed out at Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg (pictured)

'This is a guy who peddles in garbage. This is what he does,' Hegseth added.

He praised American troops fighting the Houthis in Yemen and criticized the Biden administration for their own performance.

A reporter asked Hegseth: 'Why were those details shared on signal?'

Hegseth replied: 'I've heard how it was characterized. Nobody was texting war plans and that's all I have to say about that.'

When reached for comment, a spokesman for the Pentagon told DailyMail.com: 'We do not have anything to offer beyond the Secretarys remarks.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to the White House and the National Security Agency for comment.

The National Security Council confirmed the chat that included Goldberg appeared to be authentic.

Trump said he didn't know 'anything' about an extraordinary security breach where a magazine editor was inadvertently included on a group chat with his entire security team strategizing about an upcoming military attack.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz started the conversation on Signal, an encrypted messaging app, that included users identified as Vice President JD Vance , Secretary of State Marco Rubio , Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard

'I know nothing about it,' said President Trump when asked about bombshell revelations that an editor was actually included on a top level group chat of his security team before a military operation

'I dont know anything about it,' Trump said when asked about it at a White House event with Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry nearly three hours after the story posted, sending shockwaves through the security establishment.

Then Trump, like Hegseth, quickly pivoted to attacking the magazine.

'Im not a big fan of the Atlantic, to me its a magazine that is going out of business. I think it's not much of a magazine,' Trump said of the publication, which was founded in 1857.

Some of the material was so sensitive that the magazine decided not to publish it, but the article from the group chat did feature Vice President JD Vance raising arguments against the decision to strike the targets.

'Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, had texted me the war plan at 11:44 a.m.'  about two hours before it happened on March 15th, wrote Goldberg.

The Signal app is unclassified, although it is often used in the private sector as a form of more secure communications. Usually internal conversations about a looming military operation must be held using secure facilities.

The bizarre saga began when Goldberg got a request to connect on Signal from Michael Waltz, the name of the White House national security advisor.

'I accepted the connection request, hoping that this was the actual national security adviser, and that he wanted to chat about Ukraine, or Iran, or some other important matter,' Goldberg wrote.

Emojis and congratulations appeared in the text chain after a successful mission

'Two days laterThursdayat 4:28 p.m., I received a notice that I was to be included in a Signal chat group. It was called the Houthi PC small group.' Some of the most revelatory information came from Trump's Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, 44, a former Fox News host.

So began Goldberg's inclusion in the ultra high level chat. Some of the contents he would only summarize. What he would say, 'to illustrate the shocking recklessness of this Signal conversation, is that the Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing.'

When it was over, according to Goldberg, Waltz called the operation an 'amazing job' and Director fo National Intelligence John Ratcliff caleld it 'a good start.'

It was unclear Monday if there would be any fallout from the disclosure. As a candidate Donald Trump tore into Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email server when she was Secretary of State.

'If true, this story represents one of the most egregious failures of operational security and common sense I have ever seen,' said Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

'Military operations need to be handled with utmost discretion, using approved, secure lines of communication, because American lives are on the line. The carelessness shown by President Trumps cabinet is stunning and dangerous. I will be seeking answers from the Administration immediately.'
A Pennsylvania fire chief has admitted hurling his infant daughter to the ground and fracturing her skull because she was crying, according to police.

Falls Township Fire Chief Brian Salt, 36, allegedly 'lost control' when he could not stop his three-month-old baby from sobbing while his wife Rebecca was at work on March 11.

After throwing his baby, Salt took her to his in-laws house and told them he did not know how the baby sustained a bump on her head, a complaint obtained by NBC Philadelphia claims.

Salt and his wife then took their daughter to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where doctors discovered the child suffered a skull fracture.

She also reportedly had bruises on her legs and blood in her eyes, LevittownNow reported.

Investigators were called to the hospital to look into the incident the next day. Doctors had determined the injuries were the result of 'substantial force,' according to the affidavit.

At first, both Salt and Rebecca said they had no idea how the baby was injured.

'The story was there was no story,' Falls Township Police Detective Dennis O'Connell told NBC.

Falls Township Fire Chief Brian Salt, 36, has been criminally charged after he allegedly admitted to throwing his infant daughter on the ground because she was crying

Salt is being held at the the Bucks County Corrections Center and his bail was set to $500,000

But in a revealing follow-up interview on Thursday, Salt reportedly divulged he had lost his patience with his daughter, who was fussy and had colic.

He then allegedly took the baby out of a swing she was in and harmed her.

O'Connell recalled: 'In his own words, he just lost control, lost his cool, and in the process of actually picking her up from a swing, took her out of the swing and then threw her to the ground.'

After the interview, Salt was arrested and charged with Felony Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Aggravated Assault on a Person Under 13 and Misdemeanor Simple Assault, LevittownNow reported.

He was taken into custody at the Bucks County Corrections Center and his bail was set to $500,000. Salt has also been suspended from his role as fire chief.

In a statement shared on Facebook on Friday, Falls Township Fire Company #1 wrote: 'We are aware of the criminal charges involving Fire Chief Brian Salt.

'As a result, Chief Salt has been suspended indefinitely pending the outcome of the legal proceedings. During this challenging time, our thoughts and prayers are with the Salt family.

'We understand the impact this situation has on our community, and we are committed to ensuring transparency as we move forward.

'The safety and well-being of our community remain our top priority, and we will continue to support our firefighters and their families through this challenging time.'

At first, Salt reportedly claimed he had no idea what caused his baby to sustain a bump on her head

Salt has been a fire chief for the Falls Township Fire Company since the beginning of the year. He is also an EMT and firefighter for the Northampton Township Fire Department

Falls Township Police Detective Dennis O'Connell told NBC Salt admitted to taking harming his child

Salt has been a fire chief since the beginning of the year, according to LevittownNow. The Falls Township Fire Company is one of three volunteer fire departments that serve Falls Township.

O'Connell said Salt also serves as a firefighter and EMT for the Northampton Township Fire Department.

'With his knowledge and training with the fire department, working also as a medic, he should clearly know how to deal with any kind of stressful situation, especially something of the this nature when its involving your own child,' the detective told NBC.

'These are tough cases. Obviously this is a three-month old which is the smallest of children youre probably going to deal with.'

Salt is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on April 2.

The news of Salt's alleged violence has sparked outrage from community members and beyond.

'Brian Salt is a disgrace. Hes admitting doing this out of anger. He should be fired right now. Suspended indefinitely is not nearly enough! Do your job!' one woman wrote on Facebook underneath the fire company's statement.

Another user agreed: 'The safety and well-being of our community remain our top priority the CHEIF [sic] doesnt even give a sh*t about his own offspring!'
A young businesswoman was stopped for drink-driving in her 160mph Porsche after she found herself caught short 125 miles from home.

Lucy Mustard, 27, tested more than twice the alcohol limit when she was reported to police in Macclesfield, Cheshire as she was looking for a suitable place to take a comfort break.

When quizzed Mustard, who lives with her parents in the village of Islip, near Kettering, Northamptonshire, said she tried to use the ladies lavatory at a garage but found it closed. She said she was in 'desperate need of relief'. It is not known why she was in Cheshire.

At Crewe magistrates court Mustard who according to Companies House worked in the IT sector admitted drink driving and was banned from driving for 19 months. Her mother Karen, a university lecturer, was in court to support her.

The incident occurred on February 28 this year when police were alerted to Mustard's Panamera D V6 Tiptronic car as it was being driven along the Silk Road in Macclesfield.

Miss Diana Przemecka, prosecuting, said: 'A report was made to police by a member of the public that a driver was driving their vehicle erratically. Police subsequently located that vehicle and it was caused to stop. The defendant was the driver and was asked to provide a sample of breath for a roadside breath test and she complied with that request.

'The result of the roadside sample was 84 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millitres of breath. Subsequently the defendant was cautioned and arrested and transported to custody where the full evidential breath testing procedure commenced.

'The defendant complied with the procedure and provided two evidential breath samples, the lower reading being 79mg. Prior to entering a guilty plea today, the defendant had no previous convictions on her record. '

Lucy Mustard, 27, tested more than twice the alcohol limit when she was reported to police in Macclesfield, Cheshire as she was looking for a suitable place to take a comfort break

When quizzed Mustard, who lives with her parents in the village of Islip, near Kettering, Northamptonshire, said she tried to use the ladies lavatory at a garage but found it closed

She was stopped for drink-driving in her 160mph Porsche after she found herself caught short 125 miles from home

The alcohol limit for driving is 35mg in breath.

In mitigation Mustard's barrister Miss Lisa Judge said: 'There is no evidence before this court of any form of erratic driving. The arresting officer who conducted the roadside procedure made absolutely no mention of erratic driving when she was following the defendant.

'She had gone to use the facilities at a local garage close to where she was stopped. Those facilities were closed however and due to a desperate need she attempted to go nearby for relief and as a result of that a call was made. '

Miss Judge added: 'Lucy Mustard comes before you with a hitherto unblemished character and in attendance with her is her mother.

'One of the reasons why Miss Mustard is before the court is because of the stress and anxiety that she has been subjected to for a protracted period of time.

'She was feeling certainly pressured by the level of work she was subjected to but was continuing to pursue that on a normal basis and has not sought assistance. She was just trying to get through it.

'She then received notification that her brother was seriously injured and needed surgical procedures, thereafter requiring home care. Being committed to the family, she did just that. Then she got a call to say that her mother had broken her back and that her mother requires home care. Lucy Mustard responded and did step up to the mark to assist the family to attend to their care.

'She currently commutes between London and Northampton to care for her mother and brother. That care continues to this day.'

At Crewe magistrates court Mustard was banned from driving for 19 months

Mustard was also fined 621 with 333 in costs and a victim surcharge

Miss Judge said that Mustard was also dealing with the fallout of a relationship that had ended.

She added: 'The young man became emotionally involved to such an extent that he began to harass her which caused her considerable upset, but of course that is no excuse for getting into a motor vehicle and driving with that level of alcohol.

'You are dealing with a young lady who normally has extremely good judgement. But on this particular occasion not. 'The guilty plea indicated not only her remorse but also her shame. From her letter she has indicated the remorse and shame that she feels.

'Her parents live in a remote area and all the locals have come to know what happened. The shame rests heavy on her.'

'You are dealing with no previous convictions, you are dealing with palpable remorse, you are dealing a young lady who is working full time and caring for her family. For a woman under so much significant stress you are entitled to take into account her relatively young years and the fact that she is of hitherto unblemished character.'

Mustard was also fined 621 with 333 in costs and a victim surcharge. She was offered a place on the drink drive awareness course which if completed will reduce her ban by a quarter.

JP Annie Walford said: ' We could have considered a community penalty but you have no offending history, there was no accident and there is no evidence of bad driving.'
Bombshell leaked messages have revealed the level of contempt some of Donald Trump's key cabinet members feel for their 'free-loading' European allies.

Since Trump returned to the White House, visible gaps have opened up in the relationship between Europe and the United States - with the future of Ukraine a particular bone of contention.

But secret exchanges on the messaging app Signal, mistakenly sent to the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine Jeffrey Goldberg, show the depth of the hostility on the US side.

Goldberg revealed that Trump's national security team added him to their group chat, which contains a large volume of highly classified information, and published details of the conversation on Monday.

The chat appears to have served as a virtual war room for some of the top players in the Trump White House, including Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard, national security advisor Mike Waltz and Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles.

The conversation was initially centred around the military strikes against Houthi strongholds in Yemen, which started after the Houthis threatened to begin targeting 'Israeli' ships again over Israel blocking aid entering the Gaza Strip.

In the chats, the user identified as Vice President JD Vance expresses concerns about the strikes but ultimately agrees to go along with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth's plan - before adding 'I just hate bailing Europe out again.'

Hegseth responds: 'I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It's PATHETIC.'

The secret Signal messages were mistakenly sent to Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic magazine

In the the leaked exchanges US Vice President JD Vance is seen to remark: 'I just hate bailing Europe out again'

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth told the user standing-in for JD Vance: 'I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It's PATHETIC'

Now Waltz is facing the sack over the saga - as he's believed to have been the official who 'added the editor-in-chief to the group'.

One source told Politico: 'Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f***ing idiot.'

According to The Atlantic editor-in-chief Goldberg, the messages featured information that could easily have been weaponised by enemies of the United States to harm their personnel and assets.

Goldberg wrote: 'The information contained in them, if they had been read by an adversary of the United States, could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel, particularly in the broader Middle East, Central Command's area of responsibility.

'What I will say, in order to illustrate the shocking recklessness of this Signal conversation, is that the Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing.'

The chats were confirmed as legitimate by the US government but a White House spokesperson said it was a 'demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials'.

Asked by about the leaked messages, the US President on Monday told reporters at the White House that he hadn't seen The Atlantic story revealing the details of the group chat.

Looking puzzled, Trump said: 'I don't know anything about it. I'm not a big fan of The Atlantic. It's to me, it's a magazine that's going out of business.'

The group chat was accidentally shared with Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine

Asking by reporters about the leaked messages, the US President on Monday told reporters at the White House he hadn't seen The Atlantic story revealing the details of the group chat

Former Democratic Party presidential candidate Hillary Clinton responded to news of the leaked messages on X, saying 'You have got to be kidding me'

Former Democratic Party presidential candidate and long term Trump adversary Hillary Clinton responded to news of the leaked messages on X, saying 'You have got to be kidding me'.

However, the exchanges do show some interesting differences of opinion between some of the best-known figures in the current administration.

In the exchanges, the user identified as 'JD Vance' wrote that 'Andy baker for VP' was representing him.

That is presumably a reference to Andrew Baker, a national security advisor who has played a key role in shaping Vance's foreign policy positions, especially his opposition to US aid to Ukraine and his skepticism of NATO.

Messages from the Vance account advise against a military strike in Yemen.

'Team, I am out for the day doing an economic event in Michigan. But I think we are making a mistake,' the Vance user stated to the group.

'There is a real risk that the public doesn't understand this or why it's necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message,' the Vance user continued.

The military strike against the Houthis, the team argued, was necessary to keep shipping lanes open on the Red Sea, as the insurgents were targeting ships.

Vance's account expressed concerns about the timing of the proposed operation, warning of oil prices spiking as a result.

'I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now,' he wrote. 'There's a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices.'

A US ship fires a missile after US President Donald Trump, in a post on social media, vowed to 'use overwhelming lethal force' against the Houthis

A plume of smoke billows during a US strike on Yemen's Houthi-held capital Sanaa early on March 16, 2025

The Vance user said that he would remain publicly silent about his concerns, but expressed them to the team.

'I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc,' he said.

Vance's communications director William Martin said the vice president remained aligned with Trump's decision, but wanted to make sure he was properly briefed by his advisors.

'The Vice President's first priority is always making sure that the President's advisers are adequately briefing him on the substance of their internal deliberations,' he said in a statement.

'Vice President Vance unequivocally supports this administration's foreign policy. The President and the Vice President have had subsequent conversations about this matter and are in complete agreement.'

In the chat, the Hegseth user said he understood Vance's concerns and urged him to raise them with the president, but argued for immediate action.

'We are prepared to execute, and if I had final go or no go vote, I believe we should,' he wrote.

The Walz user also said the United States would have to act and reminded Vance that 'Per the president's request we are working with DOD and State to determine how to compile the cost associated and levy them on the Europeans.'

US aircrafts taking off from aircraft carrier as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces carry out precision airstrikes kicking off a series of operations consisting of precision strikes against Iranian-backed Houthi targets across Yemen

'If you think we should do it let's go. I just hate bailing Europe out again,' the Vance user replied.

The SM user, identified in the article as Trump's advisor Steve Miller, reminded the group about the president's goal.

'As I heard it, the president was clear: green light, but we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return,' he wrote.

Trump ultimately ordered the strikes against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen over the weekend from his club at Mar-a-Lago in a successful mission.

The relationship between Trump and his European counterparts has been one of wariness and conflict even before the real estate mogul was sworn in as the 47th president.

The US leader's team told European officials in December that the bloc would have to more than double its spending target of two per cent - a target which over a quarter of its members were on course to fail to meet.

Trump called for European nations to up their military budgets to 5 per cent of GDP - far higher than the US's own defence spending.

The two-term president also said in February 2024 that he would encourage Russia to do 'whatever the hell they want' with any of the 32 NATO member states who failed to meet such ambitious defence spending targets.

President Trumps close advisor Elon Musk has consistenly called for the US to leave NATO

However, even back in Mr Trump's first term there were multiple signs that the real estate mogul was ready to resort to more drastic measures.

Senior officials in the first Trump administration said that their boss spoke numerous times in private over the course of 2018 about his desire to withdraw from NATO, The New York Times reported.

While he has so far avoided actively calling for the US to exit the North Atlantic alliance, that position is one favoured by several close members of his team including DOGE head honcho Elon Musk and Utah senator Mike Lee.

Trump's vice president JD Vance had some European ministers in tears back in February after he argued that free speech and democratic institutions were being eroded across the continent in an address to the Munich Security Conference.

He accused European politicians of forcing people to shut down social media accounts and urged leaders to do more to stem illegal immigration.

Vance reserved particular scorn for the UK, citing the case of a British man arrested after praying near an abortion clinic.

'Europe faces many challenges, but the crisis this continent faces right now, the crisis I believe we all face together, is one of our own making,' he said.

'If you're running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you, nor, for that matter, is there anything that you can do for the American people who elected me and elected President Trump.'

JD Vance had some European ministers in tears back in February after he argued that free speech and democratic institutions were being eroded across the European continent in an address to leaders at the Munich Security Conference

President Trump's brinkmanship over the Ukraine-Russia conflict has also been a source of consternation for European leaders.

After initially claiming that he would stop the war on his first day in office, that timeline was quickly extended - with tempers flairing on several occasions.

Last month Trump called Zelensky a 'dictator' when speaking at a Saudi-backed investment meeting in Florida after talks between the US and Ukrainian president broke down following Trump's insistence on including mineral rights in any prospective deal - but without the promise of a security guarantee for Ukraine.

But only a week later, when asked about that comment, Trump glibly told reporters in the Oval Office: 'Did I say that? I can't believe I said that. Next question.'

However, things took an even more calamitous turn for the worse following Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky's dramatic bust-up with Vance and Trump in the Oval Office.

While European leaders have sought to mend bridges between the two sides, there is no question that this in the most fractured the Euro-US alliance has been in decades.
Russia has been 'influencing' White House policy with propaganda about the Ukraine war, Volodymyr Zelensky claimed last night.

In an interview released as peace talks began, the Ukrainian president pointed to a 'pattern' of high-level officials in Donald Trump's administration taking Vladimir Putin at his word  including claims that Kyiv did not want the war to end.

It came as a children's hospital in the city of Sumy was hit by a Russian missile yesterday, leaving almost 90 people  including 17 children  injured.

Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine's foreign minister, said last night that Russia 'must stop bombing our cities and end its war on civilians' instead of making 'hollow statements about peace'.

President Trump has been pushing for a rapid end to the three-year war and hopes the latest round of talks at a luxury hotel in Saudi Arabia will pave the way for a breakthrough.

The talks have been split into two separate parts of the hotel in Riyadh,with US negotiators going back and forth between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations.

The meeting has been focused on agreeing an initial ceasefire in the Black Sea, with negotiators pushing for a resumption of the year-long agreement that had allowed millions of tons of grain and other food exports to be shipped from Ukraine's ports.

'The issue of the Black Sea Initiative and all aspects related to the renewal of this initiative is on the agenda,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. 'This was President Trump's proposal and President Putin agreed to it. It was with this mandate that our delegation travelled to Riyadh.'

Russia has been 'influencing' White House policy with propaganda about the Ukraine war, Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) claimed last night

High-level officials in Donald Trump's administration have been taking Vladimir Putin (pictured) at his word  including claims that Kyiv did not want the war to end, according to Zelensky

President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff (pictured) said he expected 'some real progress' during the latest round of talks in Saudi Arabia

This handout photograph taken on March 24, 2025, shows Ukrainian rescuers working to extinguish a fire in a residential building following a missile attack in Sumy

But in his interview with Time magazine, Mr Zelensky said: 'I believe Russia has managed to influence some people on the White House team through information. Their signal to the Americans was that the Ukrainians do not want to end the war, and something should be done to force them.'

Mr Zelensky also referenced his televised row with Mr Trump in the Oval Office last month, adding: 'In that moment there was the sense of not being allies.'

Mr Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said over the weekend that he expected 'some real progress' at the talks, and that a pause in hostilities in the Black Sea would 'naturally gravitate into a full-on shooting ceasefire'.

However, Moscow has played down the possibility of a ceasefire moving quickly, with Mr Peskov saying many aspects of a deal are yet to be decided, while Moscow's foreign ministry said current negotiations 'should not be expected to produce a breakthrough'.

Downing Street has said Sir Keir Starmer is not concerned by Mr Witkoff dismissively labelling the PM's plan for a 'coalition of the willing'  made up of European and Nato nations to maintain peace in Ukraine  a 'combination of a posture and a pose'.
A teenage girl has been charged after a 42-year-old man was shot in the chest in a Queensland carpark.

Emergency services rushed to Lakefield Drive in North Lakes, north of Brisbane, following reports a man had been seriously injured at about 9.40pm on Monday.

The 42-year-old man was transported to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Police said he had an 'interaction' with three men and the teenage girl.

The teen, from Windsor in Brisbane's inner-north, was charged with one count each of attempt to murder, possessing dangerous drugs, unlawful possession of weapons and authority required to possess explosives.

She was refused bail and is due to appear in Ipswich Children's Court on Tuesday.

An Audi A5 driven by the alleged offenders has been seized by police.

Investigations are ongoing.
The journalist added to a group chat involving several of Donald Trump's most important cabinet members discussing war plans has shot back at Pete Hegseth's blistering denial of the story.

Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, made the jaw-dropping revelation on Monday when he found himself added to a conversation on Signal, an encrypted messaging app.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz started the chat which included users identified as Vice President Vance , Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, a CIA representative, Trump adviser Stephen Miller and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

Goldberg spoke to CNN Monday night, revealing how the chat included 'attack plans,' locations and identities of targets and the 'sequence' of strikes against the Houthis which showed Hegseth's denial of the story was 'a lie.'

'No, that's a lie. He was texting war plans, he was texting attack plans. When targets were gonna be targeted, how they were gonna be targeted, who was at the targets, when the next sequence of attacks were happening,' he said.

The defense secretary, appearing for the first time since the story was published after a flight to Hawaii, lashed out at Goldberg similar to how President Donald Trump slammed his magazine.

'So you are talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who has made a profession of peddling hoaxes, time and time again.'

He cited various stories The Atlantic has run on Trump's alleged connections to Russia, his 'very fine people' comments after the Charlottesville riots being taken out of context and the alleged 'suckers and losers' comments on soldiers killed in war.

The journalist added to a group chat involving several of Donald Trump's most important cabinet members discussing war plans shot back at Pete Hegseth's blistering denial of the story

Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, made the jaw-dropping revelation on Monday when he found himself added to a conversation on Signal, an encrypted messaging app

'This is a guy who peddles in garbage. This is what he does,' Hegseth added.

He praised American troops fighting the Houthis in Yemen and criticized the Biden administration for their own performance.

A reporter asked Hegseth: 'Why were those details shared on signal?'

Hegseth replied: 'I've heard how it was characterized. Nobody was texting war plans and that's all I have to say about that.'

When reached for comment, a spokesman for the Pentagon told DailyMail.com: 'We do not have anything to offer beyond the Secretarys remarks.'

Goldberg added that there was more he didn't publish 'because it was too consequential, too technical and I worry that sharing that information in public could be harmful to American military personnel.'

He set the scene that he was sitting in a supermarket parking lot watching the chat unfold.

'They were running a war plan on a messaging app and didn't even know who was in the conversation, it's an obvious, ridiculous, security breach and if you notice, he didn't actually answer the question.'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (pictured) adamantly denied the story - despite the National Security Council appearing to confirm its validity - and called Goldberg a serial liar

He added: 'They're supposed to keep all those conversations on the high side, the classified side, that's why they have that.'

The editor adds that he had no idea who could have invited him into the chat nor does he know who they meant to invite.

'How could you possibly invite the editor of The Atlantic into your chat? What are the chances of that?

Goldberg added that he felt 'real anxiety and anger' about the 'sloppiness' of those involved.

'Remember, American service people were involved directly in this attack. It wasn't just standoff weapons fired from a thousand miles away. You know, you can't just put out this kind of information and hope for the best.'

Goldberg joked that those involved are 'lucky they didn't send this to a Houthi by mistake or a foreign diplomat or somebody who could be in their phones, I guess they could count that as a kind of luck.'

He added that the entire team never seemed to question his place in the group chat, nor contacted him when he left it.

'It's a level of incuriosity, I guess that's the nice way of saying it, a level of recklessness that I have not seen in many years of national security reporting,' he said.

When reached for comment, a spokesman for the Pentagon told DailyMail.com: 'We do not have anything to offer beyond the Secretarys remarks.'

Goldberg was also stunned to see JD Vance disagreeing the president, breaking with Trump and also questioning his knowledge on the subject.

Goldberg (pictured left) shot back in the CNN interview with Kaitlan Collins (pictured right), saying that Hegseth was not telling the truth

Speaking out for the first time since the story took over the news cycle Monday, Goldberg said he was fascinated by Vance's thoughts, breaking with Trump and also questioning his knowledge on the subject

'I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now. There's a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices,' Vance wrote.

'There is a real risk that the public doesnt understand this or why its necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message,' the Vance user continued.

'He's basically just told the entire cabinet that he disagrees with the president's decision and not only that, that he doesn't think the president understands,' Goldberg told CNN.

'That's pretty heavy, he doesn't think the president understands the consequences and ramifications. That was very revealing and interesting,' he added.

Vance added: 'I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc.'

Goldberg set the scene for the shocking tell-all by confirming he'd had no prior invite to the American security state's secrets

'It should go without sayingbut I'll say it anywaythat I have never been invited to a White House principals-committee meeting, and that, in my many years of reporting on national-security matters, I had never heard of one being convened over a commercial messaging app,' he wrote in The Atlantic.

The shocking story shows operational details were unwittingly revealed. Defense Secretary Hegseth, a former Fox News host, is now under the microscope over the egregious failing.

Goldberg was also stunned to see JD Vance (pictured center) disagreeing the president, breaking with Trump and also questioning his knowledge on the subject

Goldberg noted that 'Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, had texted me the war plan at 11:44 a.m.' The bombs started dropping in Yemen around 2 p.m.

Trump told reporters at the White House he hadn't seen The Atlantic story: 'I don't know anything about it. I'm not a big fan of the Atlantic. It's to me, it's a magazine that's going out of business.'

When pressed about the Signal chat, Trump said: 'It couldn't have been very effective, because the attack was very effective. I can tell you that I don't know anything about it. You're telling me about it for the first time.'

Goldberg outlined the bizarre tale, where he first expressed disbelief about the text chain, questioned whether or not it was real and then realized it was genuine when 'the bombs started falling.'

He admits he 'could not believe that the national security adviser to the president would be so reckless as to include the editor in chief of The Atlantic in such discussions with senior U.S. officials, up to and including the vice president.'

The reporter appeared as 'JG' in the chat. It's unclear who Waltz meant to add but Jamieson Greer, the US Trade Representative, has the same initials, sparking speculation it was meant to be him.

Goldberg didn't disclose all the information on the chat, citing national security concerns.

The White House expressed confidence in Waltz.

When pressed about the Signal chat, Donald Trump (pictured center) said: 'It couldn't have been very effective, because the attack was very effective. I can tell you that I don't know anything about it. You're telling me about it for the first time'

'As President Trump said, the attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective. President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz,' press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

The National Security Council confirmed the chat was authentic.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters at her daily briefing: 'We will not comment, and you should contact the White House.'

If true, it is an astonishing security breach.

Trump ordered the strikes against the Iran-backed rebels in Yemen as a warning to Tehran. The Houthi rebels were targeting ships on the Red Sea from countries with ties to Israel, including the U.S. and UK.

Waltz started the principles group on Signal to coordinate on it, naming it 'Houthi PC small group.'

Goldberg had his doubts when he found himself added, admitting he was worried that the text chain was a 'disinformation operation.'

But he also found, as he watched the texts flow, that the statements in it sounded genuine and some of the details matched up.

The chat was started by Trump National Security Adviser Mike Waltz (pictured right)

Smoke plumes rise above buildings following bombardment on Yemen's Huthi-controlled capital Sanaa after the U.S. strikes

For example, the account labeled Vance texted he would miss a meeting because he would be in Michigan for an economic event. And, indeed, the vice president was in Michigan on the day in question.

That's where Vance also expressed his doubts about the operation.

Vance's account expressed concerns about the timing of the proposed operation, warning of oil prices spiking as a result.

Hegseth responded he understood: 'VP: I understand your concerns  and fully support you raising w/ POTUS. Important considerations, most of which are tough to know how they play out (economy, Ukraine peace, Gaza, etc). I think messaging is going to be tough no matter what.'

After some discussion, Vance concedes: 'If you think we should do it let's go. I just hate bailing Europe out again.'

Goldberg, watching the exchange play out on his Signal app, admitted he was 'mystified that no one in the group seemed to have noticed my presence.'

He also writes he voluntarily held back information that was in a lengthy text written by Hegseth because if it 'had been read by an adversary of the United States, could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel.'

'What I will say, in order to illustrate the shocking recklessness of this Signal conversation, is that the Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing,' Goldberg added.

The principles on the chat responded to Hegseth, however.

'I will say a prayer for victory,' Vance wrote.

'Two other users subsequently added prayer emoji,' Goldberg notes.

Realizing if the chat was real, bombs would begin to hit targets in Yemen at 1:45 pm ET, Goldberg 'waited in my car in a supermarket parking lot.'

'If this Signal chat was real, I reasoned, Houthi targets would soon be bombed. At about 1:55, I checked X and searched Yemen. Explosions were then being heard across Sanaa, the capital city.'

Goldberg returned to the group chat were he found a flurry of emojis and congratulations flying throughout the text chain.

Waltz responded with three emoji, he noted: a fist, an American flag, and fire.

Susie Wiles wrote: 'Kudos to all  most particularly those in theater and CENTCOM! Really great. God bless.'

Steve Witkoff added five emoji: two hands-praying, a flexed bicep, and two American flags.

Goldberg wrote he voluntarily left the group chat and promptly contacted the figures in it to ask about it.

Brian Hughes, the spokesman for the National Security Council, responded to him, confirming the chat was real.

'This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain,' Hughes wrote. 'The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security.'
A shopper has taken aim at Woolworths after claiming a staff member refused to pack her groceries at the check-out.

Dasha Daley, who posts on TikTok as lambotrophywife, had decided to use the staff-managed check-out instead of the self-serve kiosk at the supermarket in Surfers Paradise.

But instead of the worker bagging her groceries like she expected, the items were left on the conveyer belt for Ms Daley to pack herself.

'I couldn't believe it because that's the first time that's ever happened to me, that they just wouldn't pack my bags with what I've purchased,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'I just stood there and I was waiting and she was quite rude. I've never experienced that before.

'When you go to Aldi, that's normal, you pack your own bags. But I thought in Coles and Woolies that they do that for you. I was a bit shocked (that she didn't).'

Ms Daley said despite her hinting that she needed help bagging her groceries, the worker said 'Are you paying cash or card'.

'She didn't care and she was just rude,' Ms Daley said.

Dasha Daley (pictured) claimed a Woolworths employee at the staff-managed check-out 'refrained' from packing her groceries into bags

Ms Daley shared her bad experience at the Woolworths check-out to her TikTok page

Ms Daley admitted she should've spoken up but was 'in shock'.

'I kind of wish I did now, but I guess I'm just a bit of a shy person,' she said.

'As you can see in the video, I was actually being nice. I even apologised (to her).'

Upon realising she wasn't going to get any help with her groceries, Ms Daley started recording and later posted footage of the encounter on TikTok.

'I'm like, this is not normal. Woolies has a self-checkout where you scan and then you pack your own bags,' she said.

'So what was the purpose of me going (to the regular checkout) if they don't even pack my bags?'

As well as being taken aback by the interaction, she was also surprised at how her video has gone viral online.

'There were so many comments on my TikTok. A lot of people agreed with me, but then some people were like, "Oh, why don't you just pack your own bags?",' she said.

Aussies were divided by the employee's actions, but the majority agreed the worker should have packed Ms Daley's groceries at the staff-managed check-out

'But no, I think that's what they're paid to do, right?'

Ms Daley said the incident has put her off going back to that Woolworths outlet.

'I think they would have seen my TikTok by now and I'm too embarrassed to go back there. But yeah, it does, it has put me off,' she said.

'Maybe I'll just go to Coles. Hopefully they'll pack my bags, or I'll just go to Aldi.'

A Woolworths spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that 'Our team works hard to serve thousands of customers every day and provide a great experience.

'We have passed this feedback onto the store.'

The one good thing to come out of it all for the influencer is that 'everyone's talking about it'.

Among the more than 1,000 comments on her post, most have supported Ms Daley.

'They should be packing your bags!!! Woolies and Coles pack bags. Aldi doesn't. This isn't right,' one commented.

'Their job isn't to just scan it's to also pack.'

She thinks she might not go back to the Woolworths store (pictured) in Surfers Paradise

Another person, claiming to be 'a Woolies manager', said 'this is totally unacceptable, her customer service is atrocious!'

But a commenter who also said they 'work at Woolworths' posted about how it's seen from the cashier's point of view.

'Sometimes I get so annoyed that people are SO picky with how they want their bags packed they get so annoyed that they do it cause I don't do it "right",' they said.

Some commenters did not support Ms Daley, though, with one suggesting she 'put your damn phone down and pack the bags as she's scanning'.

Woolworths has been contacted for comment.

A spokesperson previously told Daily Mail Australia staff are expected to bag customers' shopping.

'Our teams work hard to serve thousands of customers to the highest standard every day, however, we don't always get it right,' they said.

'Our checkout operators are expected to bag groceries at our manned checkouts if that's the customers wish, as per our bagging policy.'
National Security Advisor Michael Waltz appears to be the most endangered Trump official after The Atlantic's editor-in-chief revealed he had been invited to a group chat to discuss an attack on Houthi rebels.

Politico reported late Monday that some White House officials believe that Waltz will need to be pushed out.

It was Waltz who invited The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg to join a group on the encrypted app Signal entitled 'Houthi PC small group.'

Goldberg - who said he believed he might be getting pranked - was then privy to conversations between Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President J.D. Vance and other top administration officials.

It remains unclear who Waltz intended to invite to the group chat but some Trumpworld insiders didn't mince words.

'Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f**ing idiot,' said one Politico source, identified as a 'person close to the White House.'

A senior administration official told the site that they are involved in a number of text threads about Waltz's future at the White House.

'Half of them saying he's never going to survive or shouldn't survive,' the official said.

National Security Advisor Michael Waltz appears to be the most endangered Trump official after The Atlantic's editor-in-chief revealed he had been invited to a group chat to discuss an attack on Houthi rebels

Two high-level White House aides floated the idea that Waltz should resign to prevent President Donald Trump from having to be in a 'bad position.'

'It was reckless not to check who was on the thread. It was reckless to be having that conversation on Signal. You cant have recklessness as the national security adviser,' the official said.

A third source told Politico that Trump has spoken to Waltz about the matter.

Earlier Monday Trump denied knowing about The Atlantic's report during an event alongside the Louisiana governor.

As of now, Trump is officially sticking by the national security adviser.

'As President Trump said, the attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective. President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including national security adviser Mike Waltz,' press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement earlier Monday.

Politically Trump may have the most cover if he axes Waltz over someone like Hegseth, who the White House fought tooth and nail to get through Senate confirmation.

There is some skepticism of Waltz in the MAGAverse due to him previously working for Republican Vice President Dick Cheney, whose 'neocon' views differ from Trump's 'America First.'

Politically President Donald Trump (pictured) may have the most cover when it comes to firing National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, as some in the MAGAverse are skeptical of him as he formerly worked for former GOP Vice President Dick Cheney, a so-called 'neocon'

However a handful of Congressional Democrats have pointed to Hegseth's alleged sharing of classified information over the text chain as a more fireable offense.

Goldberg decided against sharing one of Hegseth's message verbatim due to fears it could put U.S. military personnel in danger.

'What I will say, in order to illustrate the shocking recklessness of this Signal conversation, is that the Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing,' the journalist instead wrote.

Two of Politico's sources said that Trump could instead of Waltz blame Hegseth or Vance for the embarrassing episode.

The text chain showcased daylight between Trump and Vance on foreign policy issues.

'I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with this message on Europe right now,' Vance wrote, according to The Atlantic's report. 'There's a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc.'

Trump has pushed the U.S.'s European NATO allies to pony up more cash - especially to go toward the Ukraine war - and Vance said he viewed an attack on the Houthis as the U.S. 'bailing Europe out again.'
The former Spotlight producer who helped secure a tell-all TV interview with accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann is now taking legal action against the Seven Network.

Taylor Auerbach made sensational claims last year about courting Lehrmann which included the one-time political staffer allegedly buying cocaine and hiring sex workers, and Seven covering those costs.

Seven said at the time it had always acted appropriately and had never reimbursed Lehrmann for spending money on illegal drugs or prostitutes.

Auerbach has now engaged defamation law firm Giles George to launch proceedings against the media network in the Federal Court.

Daily Mail Australia understands Auerbach's statement of claim relates to what he alleges were public misrepresentations made about him by Seven.

Those alleged misrepresentations are believed to relate to Seven's dealings with Auerbach in relation to his work with Lehrmann and the manner in which he departed Spotlight.

A story published on news.com.au in March last year stated a Spotlight employee had used a corporate card to buy Lehrmann a Thai massage in November 2022.

It soon emerged that employee was Auerbach and he was sacked from his job as a producer at Sky News Australia within days of the story being published.

Taylor Auerbach, the former Spotlight producer who helped secure an interview with accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann, is taking legal action against the Seven Network. Auerbach is pictured outside court

Auerbach gave evidence last year during Bruce Lehrmann's defamation action against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson (pictured with barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC

Auerbach then made a move which thrust him briefly into the centre of Lehrmann's defamation action against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson.

Lehrmann had sued Ten and Wilkinson over a February 2021 interview on The Project in which Brittany Higgins alleged she had been raped on a couch at Parliament House almost two years earlier.

While Ms Higgins did not name Lehrmann, the political staffer claimed he was easily identifiable as the colleague she said sexually assaulted her in the office of Senator Linda Reynolds.

Justice Michael Lee had reserved his judgment when Auerbach unexpectedly came forward with allegations Seven had provided perks to Lehrmann to talk to Spotlight.

Auerbach further claimed he had subsequently been offered a promotion and pay rise.

The defamation trial had heard Lehrmann's rent was covered for a year in exchange for his Spotlight interview at a cost of about $105,000.

Auerbach claimed Seven not only covered Lehrmann's accommodation, but that it spent thousands of dollars on cocaine, prostitutes, and Thai massages.

The court heard Lehrmann had purchased cocaine during a trip to Sydney, where Auerbach had been appointed as his 'babysitter'.

Auerbach made sensational claims last year about courting Lehrmann (above), which included the onetime political staffer allegedly buying cocaine and hiring sex workers, and Seven covering those costs

'I had been reappointed to be his babysitter, minder, looking after him... building up a rapport trying to build trust and some sort of relationship with a prospective interview subject,' Auerbach told the court.

Auerbach said that while the pair had dinner one night at a Potts Point restaurant, Lehrmann had purchased drugs and discussed ordering prostitutes.

'And during that conversation he agreed to be in a Spotlight interview as long as we didn't ask him about what happened on the night in Canberra,' Auerbach told the court.

A Seven spokesman said at the time the network did not reimburse Lehrmann for 'expenditure that has allegedly been used to pay for illegal drugs or prostitutes, and has never done so'.

Later that month, Justice Lee found Lehrmann had not been defamed and that on the balance of probabilities he had raped Ms Higgins.

Auerbach's evidence had led Justice Lee to accept Lehrmann was 'less than candid' in his recollection of how the Spotlight interview came about, and the compensation he received from the network.

The defamation case came after Lehrmann, who has always denied raping Ms Higgins, faced a criminal trial which was abandoned due to juror misconduct in 2022.

Lehrmann has appealed Justice Lee's findings and is facing unrelated rape allegations in Queensland.

Auerbach has founded a company called Bubbles Media and is studying law.
Hillary Clinton sparked immediate backlash after she weighed in on the Trump administration's leaked war plans.

Clinton expressed her shock after Atlantic magazine editor Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally included in a group chat with the Donald Trump's entire defense team strategizing about a military attack on Yemen.

'You have got to be kidding me,' the Former Secretary of State posted on X, alongside the large eyes emoji.

Clinton's cheeky dig fell flat, with many online pointing out she how she lost the 2016 presidential election to Trump amid concerns over her use of a private server to store top-secret government documents.

'Welcome to the "Maybe Sit This One Out" Hall of Fame,' National Review Columnist Christian Schneider wrote.

'Lady, when someone you hate is hanging themselves, its best to stand back and watch, not shift the focus back to yourself and your own misdeeds,' Liz Mair, a former Libertarian communications director, suggested.

Michael J Morrison, a member of the New York Young Republicans, also said he is 'old enough to remember when you used a server in your basement and nothing happened to you.'

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was slammed online after she issued a cheeky response to the Trump administration's leaked war plans

She shared her thoughts on X as news of the security breach spread online

The scandal broke out ahead of the 2016 presidential election between Clinton and Trump.

An FBI probe found that Clinton stored tens of thousands of emails from her time at the State Department on several different, unsecured private servers - including seven email chains discussing classified material deemed to be at the Top Secret/Special Access Program level.

In total, the investigators uncovered 113 emails in 52 email chains that contained classified information.

But then-FBI Director James Comey declared that while Clinton was 'extremely careless' in her use of the private email server, the agency would not recommend criminal charges.

Amid backlash, he announced he was reopening the investigation at the end of October - which Democrats blamed for Clinton's loss in the election.

Meanwhile, many who are now in the Trump administration called Clinton out for the apparent security breach, with Trump himself leading calls of 'lock her up!' at his rallies.

Now-Secretary of State Marco Rubio also blasted Clinton in a Fox News interview in 2015, saying: 'The exposure of sensitive information to foreign intelligence agencies by communicating an insecure manner is incompetence, it is malpractice, it's inexcusable.'

It was revealed on Monday that Atlantic magazine editor Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently included in a group chat with the Trump administration's entire security team strategizing about a military attack on Yemen

National Security Advisor Mike Waltz - who was the one who inadvertently invited Goldberg to the Signal group chat - was even still criticizing Clinton for her email scandal as recently as 2023.

'Biden's sitting National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan sent Top Secret messages to Hillary Clinton's private account,' he posted on X at the time.

'And what did DOJ do about it? Not a damn thing.'

Those Trump advisors are now facing their own backlash as Goldberg shared how he find himself in a group chat with Waltz, Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and even Vice President JD Vance.

A CIA representative, Trump adviser Stephen Miller and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles were also listed in the group.

Goldberg said that 'Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, had texted me the war plan at 11:44 a.m.' The bombs started dropping in Yemen around 2pm.

The journalist then returned to the group chat were he found a flurry of emojis and congratulations flying throughout the text chain.

Waltz responded with three emoji, he noted: a fist, an American flag, and fire.

The National Security Council has since confirmed the chat - entitled 'Houthi PC small group' - is authentic.

Goldberg claimed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth texted about the plan to bomb Houthis just hours before the military action began

Emojis and congratulations appeared in the text chain after a successful mission

In an interview with CNN on Monday night, Goldberg revealed that the chat included 'attack plans,' locations and identities of targets and the 'sequence' of strikes against the Houthis.

He also said he was fascinated by Vance's thoughts, breaking with Trump and also questioning his knowledge on the subject.

'I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now. There's a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices,' Vance wrote.

'There is a real risk that the public doesnt understand this or why its necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message.'

'He's basically just told the entire cabinet that he disagrees with the president's decision and not only that, that he doesn't think the president understands,' Goldberg told CNN.

'That's pretty heavy, he doesn't think the president understands the consequences and ramifications. That was very revealing and interesting,' he added.

The journalist also revealed that nobody in the group chat seemed to ever question his place in it, nor did they contact him when he left it.

'It's a level of incuriosity, I guess that's the nice way of saying it, a level of recklessness that I have not seen in many years of national security reporting,' Goldberg said.

Trump tore apart The Atlantic when he was asked about the report on Monday

Trump said on Monday that he hadn't seen The Atlantic story: 'I don't know anything about it. I'm not a big fan of the Atlantic. It's to me, it's a magazine that's going out of business.'

When pressed about the Signal chat, Trump said: 'It couldn't have been very effective, because the attack was very effective. I can tell you that I don't know anything about it. You're telling me about it for the first time.'

The president had ordered the strikes against the Iran-backed rebels in Yemen as a warning to Tehran. The Houthi rebels were targeting ships on the Red Sea from countries with ties to Israel, including the U.S. and UK.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, though, adamantly denied that he was 'texting war plans' to a group chat about military strikes in Yemen that a journalist was accidentally added on to.

'Nobody was texting war plans and that's all I have to say about that,' he told reporters after a flight to Hawaii, before he lashed out at Goldberg for its reporting.

'So you are talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who has made a profession of peddling hoaxes, time and time again.'

He cited various stories The Atlantic has run on Trump's alleged connections to Russia, his 'very fine people' comments after the Charlottesville riots being taken out of context and the alleged 'suckers and losers' comments on soldiers killed in war.

'This is a guy who peddles in garbage. This is what he does,' Hegseth added.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (pictured) adamantly denied the story - despite the National Security Council appearing to confirm its validity - and called Goldberg a serial liar

But in his interview with CNN, Goldberg claimed Hegseth was not telling the truth.

'No, that's a lie. He was texting war plans, he was texting attack plans,' the editor asserted.

'When targets were gonna be targeted, how they were gonna be targeted, who was at the targets, when the next sequence of attacks were happening,' he said.

Goldberg added that there was more he didn't publish 'because it was too consequential, too technical and I worry that sharing that information in public could be harmful to American military personnel.'

It now remains unclear whether there will be any fallout from the scandal, as Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, declared that it 'represents one of the most egregious failures of operational security and common sense I have ever seen.'

'Military operations need to be handled with utmost discretion, using approved, secure lines of communication, because American lives are on the line.

'The carelessness shown by President Trumps cabinet is stunning and dangerous,' he added. 'I will be seeking answers from the Administration immediately.'
Donald Trump has announced his pick to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Trump revealed on Monday he has chosen Susan Monarez, the agency's acting director since January, to assume the role permanently.

If her nomination is confirmed by the Senate, she will the first CDC leader in 50 years who isn't a physician - but Trump is adamant she has what it takes.

'Dr. Monarez brings decades of experience, championing Innovation, Transparency, and srong Public Health systems,' the president wrote on Truth Social.

Trump went on to explain that Monarez, a longtime federal staffer, will work closely with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to 'MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN!'

'Americans have lost confidence in the C.D.C. due to political bias and disastrous mismanagement,' the president declared.

Monarez is a globally renowned researcher with more than two decades in health innovation.

The nominee holds a doctorate in microbiology and immunology from the University of Wisconsin.

Trump revealed on Monday that he has chosen Susan Monarez, the CDC's acting director since January, to assume the role permanently

Monarez is a globally renowned researcher with more than two decades in health innovation

She pursued her postdoctoral research in microbiology and immunology at Stanford University.

Monarez previously served as Deputy Director at the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H).

ARPA-H is a small US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agency that was founded in 2022 to help develop breakthrough health technology.

Monarez has worked for the HHS, the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Security Council.

She has even held a leadership positions at the Department of Homeland Security and at the Biomedical Advanced Research Projects Authority in HHS, in addition to serving on a number of science advisory panels.

Her CDC bio reads: 'Dr. Monarez led high-impact initiatives focusing on the ethical use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to support improved health outcomes...'

She has also focused on healthcare affordability and accessibility, ending the opioid epidemic and addressing disparities in material morality throughout her career.

'She has several solid attributes: strong respect for science based decision making, has successfully worked in government, has managed programs in complex environments and is an expert in infectious disease, 'American Public Health Association executive director Dr. Georges Benjamin said in an email.

In his detailed announcement, Trump also pointed to Monarez's admirable qualities outside of the lab.

The CDC headquarters is located in Atlanta, Georgia. Monarez has been temporarily leading the agency since January

The shocking nomination pick comes about two weeks after the president suddenly retracted his original nomination of Dave Weldon

'As an incredible mother and dedicated public servant, Dr. Monarez understands the importance of protecting our children, our communities, and our future,' he said.

Trump's tradition-breaking nomination pick comes less than two weeks after the White House withdrew its nomination of Dr. Dave Weldon for the CDC's director hours before his confirmation hearing.

Weldon, a doctor and former congressman from Florida, was tapped by Trump to lead the CDC.

However, people familiar with the situation told Axios the Trump administration had concerns over Weldon's criticism of vaccines.

CDC directors are tasked with making vaccine recommendations. It is unclear what Moarez's exact stances on vaccines are.

Weldon was closely aligned with RFK, who has been one of the nation's leading anti-vaccine activists.

But one of the sources who spoke with Axios claimed RFK said Weldon was not fit for the role.

Weldon told the news outlets his nomination was withdrawn because 'there were not enough votes to get me confirmed.'

President Donald Trump said Monarez will be working closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services

Trump made the shocking announcement about his new CDC nomination on Truth Social on Monday

The CDC is based in Atlanta, Georgia and has a core budget of more than $9 billion for Fiscal Year 2025.

Current and former CDC staffers revealed to the Associated Press that within the last two months, Monarez has not held an 'all-hands' meeting at the agency and has not been a present leader.

The New York Times reported she has spent weeks away from Atlanta. A comment section on the CDC's internal website for employees to share their thoughts was allegedly disabled after people said they wanted more communication with her.

'She has communicated almost nothing with staff,' one current employee anonymously said.

Higher-ups within the CDC have reportedly been interpreting Trump's executive orders with little to no guidance from Monarez.

Monarez has reportedly been prioritizing the CDC's relationship with the White House and the HHS.

For instance, she has been working with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to plan CDC reductions, a former official told the New York Times.
A former sex toys sales rep has swapped her flash life of luxury for a jail cell after she was convicted over her role in an international drug syndicate.

Party girl Sarah Baines was sentenced to the maximum 11 years for conspiring to traffick a large commercial quantity of methamphetamine. She was also convicted of trafficking GHB.

Baines, 33, attempted to purchase 1kg of meth for $165,000 at a service station deal in Melbourne's north on June 22, 2022.

She had plotted with African community leader Abdul Diallo and another man Darren Hafner to purchase the drugs worth almost $300,000 at street value.

Investigators linked the conspirators via phone intercepts and established the trio had been in communication since May 1.

Diallo, an ex-hospital staffer and Amazon delivery driver, despatched a minion to the service station with a meth sample for Baines but the deal fell through when the transaction was suddenly halted for unknown reasons.

Authorities raided Baines' plush Southbank Boulevard high-rise apartment on September 20 and seized her phone, meth and date-rape party drug 1,4 butanediol.

Police examined Baines' phone and discovered she had been dealing bute, a GHB-mirror drug, since January 19, and meth since April 17.

Sarah Baines (pictured) was sentenced to a lengthy jail term after she was found guilty of conspire to traffick a large commercial quantity of meth

The court heard Baines, who had no previous convictions, worked in sex toy sales and ran her own cleaning business after completing an advanced diploma of business.

Melbourne County Court heard Baines lived a party girl lifestyle with regular GHB and meth use, but now faces years in jail at Melbourne's Dame Phyllis Frost Centre.

Diallo, who came to Australia after being kidnapped by the Sierra Leone rebels which murdered his father, was an 'active participant' in a drug syndicate which conspired to import a meth precursor from India, Malaysia and Dubai.

The court heard the former African community leader plotted with two other men to import three consignments of pseudoephedrine between Jan 30 and July 27, 2022.

A specialist taskforce seized almost 13kg of pseudoephedrine after launching Operation Joondalup to snare Diallo and his crew.

The Victorian Joint Organised Crime Taskforce, which included officers from AFP, Victoria Police and Australian Border Force, identified the syndicate as 'being actively involved' in importing the precursor used to produce large quantities of meth.

It's understood intelligence from the operation was handed to a specialist Victoria Police crew which investigated and arrested Baines.

Baines was well supported in court and several references from former clients, friends, employers were submitted on her behalf.

Sarah Baines (pictured) worked in retail, sex toy sales and ran her own cleaning business after completing an advanced diploma of business

A charity organiser who knew Baines for more than 10 years also wrote a letter of support for the convicted drug trafficker.

Hafner, a father whose first-born child died, was arrested at his home and caught with heroin.

Judge Richard Maidment said Diallo was an 'active participant' in the conspiracy.

'This was not not spontaneous or isolated, it was well planned for financial reward,' Judge Maidment said.

Baines, who appeared in court via videolink from jail after spending 230 days on remand, will serve at least seven years before being eligible for parole.

Diallo and Hafner, who appeared together from Marngoneet Correctional Centre, were both jailed for a maximum of 12 years and 8 years.

Diallo was handed an eight-year and eight-month minimum jail term, while Hafner must serve a minimum of eight years and four months.
The state of Massachusetts has sparked fury for releasing migrants accused of horrific crimes and refusing to keep them detained for immigration authorities.

The sanctuary state allowed illegal immigrants accused of crimes ranging from child rape to drug trafficking to walk free in an act of defiance against Donald Trump's executive orders.

Trump's border czar Tom Homan revealed last month he counted 'nine child rapists that were in jail in Massachusetts' who were released before ICE could detain them.

Homan's revelation sparked fury among voters who said authorities in charge of sanctuary cities 'should be locked up' for allowing criminals to roam freely.

Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. was incensed by the revelation. On X, he said: 'So in Democrat controlled Massachusetts, illegal immigrants charged with child rape can be released on only $500 bail.

'WTF is wrong with these people!??? This is the dangerous BS happening in Dem run sanctuary states.'

Another critic said 'no city should be protecting criminals over its own people.'

'Arrest Governor Healy and Mayor Wu, too! Put them in the cell with all of their buddies,' a third added, while another insisted all money should be 'cut to sanctuary cities and States.'

Trump's border czar Tom Homan revealed last month he counted 'nine child rapists that were in jail in Massachusetts' who were released before ICE could detain them

Honduran national Juan Alberto Rodezno-Marin had been tracked down by ICE after being released without bail in December. He had been charged with assault to rape and indecent assault and battery of a person above the age of 15

In Massachusetts, along with other sanctuary states across the nation, authorities are not permitted to let Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials know when a prisoner who is illegally in America is being released from custody.

Trump's executive order stated federal funding could not be used to facilitate any sanctuary policies that would 'seek to shield illegal aliens from deportation.'

It comes amid his efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and conduct the largest mass deportation scheme the United States has ever seen.

But Homan savaged sanctuary cities for standing in the way of Trump's grand plan, insisting: 'They would rather release these animals back into the community rather than honor ICE detainers or notify ICE when they are scheduled to be release.

'Releasing public safety threats back into the public, rather than working with ICE at the jails, puts the public at great risk.'

ICE last week conducted a state-wide raid which resulted in the arrests of 370 illegal migrants - some of whom had been previously released on bail despite their immigration status.

Homan revealed on Monday that many of the arrested individuals were 'significant criminals.'

'These arrests included 6 foreign fugitives, including four who were wanted for murder or to serve a criminal sentence for murder, along with drug traffickers, child sexual predators and numerous other violent public safety threats,' he said.

Guatemalan national Stivenson Omar Perez-Ajtzalan, 19, was caught by ICE in January. He had been charged with aggravated child rape and also released on a $7,500 bond

They arrested Guatemalan citizen Jose Fernando-Perez, 49, in February, revealing he had posted a $7,500 bail after being charged with three counts of raping a child by force. He had pleaded not guilty

'These officers and agents made the neighborhoods of Boston and Massachusetts much safer. They risked their own safety by arresting these criminals on the street, rather than a jail.'

Since vowing to 'bring hell to Boston' in a mammoth ICE crackdown, Homan's team have set about hunting down the state's worst-of-the-worst illegal immigrants.

They arrested Guatemalan citizen Jose Fernando-Perez, 49, in February, revealing he had posted a $7,500 bail after being charged with three counts of raping a child by force.

He had pleaded not guilty.

Guatemalan national Stivenson Omar Perez-Ajtzalan, 19, was caught by ICE in January. He had been charged with aggravated child rape and also released on a $7,500 bond.

That same month, Honduran national Juan Alberto Rodezno-Marin had been tracked down by ICE after being released without bail in December.

He had been charged with assault to rape and indecent assault and battery of a person above the age of 15.

In Worcester County Jail, two illegal immigrant inmates charged with child rape had their bail set to just $500 in the last six months alone. Both were picked up by ICE.

ICE has been conducting nationwide raids as Trump and his border czar Homan look to rid the nation of illegal immigrants

'This should result in local DA / judges/ mayor / law enforcement being CHARGED / JAILED,' a concerned resident said.

Others said Homan was proving to be 'Trump's top pick' for any portfolio across government.

Lewis Evangelidis, Sheriff for Worcester County, said the process was flawed and limited the ability of officers who want to assist and keep criminals off the streets.

'It's very frustrating for me,' Evangelidis told CBS. 'Most people would not think that's an appropriate bail.'

'I might have a drug trafficker or a violent offender getting bailed out of here, and I call ICE, and they're like, ''We're busy with a couple situations, we can't get there for a few hours.'' I can't hold them.'

Homan said in his Monday statement that he made a commitment to target Boston 'after reading about numerous illegal alien child rapists walking the streets.'

'ICE had to find and arrest these illegal alien rapists because Massachusetts and Boston are sanctuaries that refuse to cooperate with ICE.'

'President Trump's 'all of government effort' to arrest and remove the worst first is making our communities safer every day. President Trump is a Game Changer.'

It also comes just days after Boston's Democrat Mayor Michelle Wu sparked outrage for comments she made about immigrants at a 'State of the City' address.

Wu told immigrants of Boston that all immigrants 'belong here.'

'No one tells Boston how to take care of our own, not kings, and not presidents who think they are kings. Boston was born facing down bullies,' Wu said, referencing Trump.
Some of Australia's most dangerous criminals, from bikie bosses to terrorists and even serial killers, are housed in our prison system.

But when it comes to who is the most-hated man behind bars, all of my jail sources give the same answer: Simon Monteiro.

Known as the 'playboy rapist', Monteiro is a notorious sex offender and compulsive liar who is loathed by prisoners and officers alike. A Corrective Services psychologist once told a court he believed Monteiro was a psychopath.

Monteiro's case has been in the headlines for many years, not only thanks to his formerly glamorous lifestyle and supposed ties to Hollywood and high society, but in his complaints about prison conditions which included demands for a cell by the coast, a soft-bristled toothbrush and an orthopedic mattress.

He is also known to hold grudges and is apparently obsessed with revenge, correctional sources tell me.

After being convicted and jailed for 12 years in 2009 over the brutal rape of his ex-girlfriend, Monteiro has made it his mission to cause problems wherever he goes.

'Monteiro is easily the worst. He is one of the only inmates that everyone is terrified of and that's the truth,' a jail insider says.

'His entire wing at Long Bay put in a "Non-Association" application against him so if - or when - he gets chucked back in jail he can't be housed there.'

'Playboy rapist' Simon Monteiro was jailed for 12 years for the rape of his ex-girlfriend

An aspiring actor and self-proclaimed one-time model, Monteiro once partied with Sydney's rich and famous, flaunting his lavish lifestyle, and even boasted about having a relationship with Mariah Carey.

But behind the 'playboy' persona was a sadistic and violent man who had seduced and manipulated a string of women across Sydney.

In the late '90s, he was charged with assault, stalking and intimidation.

After walking free, he went on to reoffend in 2009 when he broke into the home of his ex-girlfriend, holding scissors to her throat as he carried out a prolonged and violent sexual assault.

Monteiro threatened her with iron bars and told her he would 'gut her dad like a fish' if she ever went to the police.

Despite these threats, she was brave enough to press charges and Monteiro was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

But behind bars Monteiro became angry that he'd lost access to the luxuries to which he felt entitled.

'He honestly just thinks he is above every single person,' a prison source tells me.

'He is forever getting his legal team to get him things. He wanted a heater in his room, special meals of raw vegetables, and even tried for a laptop in his cell.

Monteiro, who was an aspiring actor, demanded a laptop and a heater for his prison cell

'He tries to divide everyone, too. Prison officers and inmates mostly have a good relationship, but he'd just cause drama and twist situations so people would fall out.'

Another insider tells me Monteiro would keep 'pages and pages of case notes' because he 'tries to sue everyone all the time'.

During his parole hearing in 2018, one of his alleged victims, Kay Schubach, was interviewed on Channel Nine's A Current Affair and begged authorities to keep him behind bars.

'I know the way that he behaves and I know that he will need to find another victim really quickly because he doesn't know anything else,' Ms Schubach told host Leila McKinnon.

'I think he is a parasite and he needs to find a new host. He goes for high-achieving, successful woman with means, and he is going to do that again. He is not reformed.'

According our sources, Monteiro has never forgotten that interview - and in particular holds a grudge against the journalist who spoke to Schubach.

Monteiro has apparently 'never forgotten' A Current Affair host Leila McKinnon's interview with one of his alleged victims, Kay Schubach. 'He still hates Leila seven years on'

Kay Schubach was interviewed by Leila McKinnon on A Current Affair in 2018

'He absolutely hates Leila McKinnon,' we are told.

'He doesn't see [interviewing Schubach] as her job. He sees it as a personal attack and he is just furious with her. He got out of jail, got thrown back in again, and still hates Leila seven years on.

'He was the same with a prison officer he didn't like as well. The last time he got out he was caught trying to look her up online.'

When his rape sentence expired in 2020, Monteiro was given a five-year extended supervision order, with 26 conditions put in place to keep the community safe.

Two doctors also assessed Monteiro, with the first noting: 'He falls squarely in the highest category of risk of re-offending.'

According to a doctor, Monteiro 'falls squarely in the highest category of risk of re-offending'

Another doctor said, 'He is a highly selfish and entitled individual with no insight and no respect for authority,' and that 'prospects of being successfully rehabilitated are so poor as to be classified as dismal'.

He was back behind bars by June 2021 after he was convicted of breaching his supervision order.

He was released again in February 2022 then jailed for further breaches in June 2024 after police took out an AVO against him to protect a local woman in Umina, on the NSW Central Coast.

Monteiro is currently out of jail and appealing his strict release conditions that include wearing an ankle bracelet and informing his supervising officer if he starts a sexual relationship.

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An attorney representing accused UnitedHealthcare CEO assassin Luigi Mangione has made a bombshell claim about his alleged manifesto.

In newly-filed court documents, Karen Agnifilo argued that police leaked writings they said belonged to the now 26-year-old and labeled them a 'manifesto' - thereby spreading fear in an effort to justify prosecutors' terrorism charge.

The writings were released shortly after Mangione was arrested at a Pennsylvania McDonald's following a five-day search for the masked man who gunned down Brian Thompson outside a New York City hotel.

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 'whack' an insurance company CEO, according to court filings.

But Agnifilo now says there is 'absolutely no evidence' to suggest her client wrote the so-called manifesto as she called out prosecutors for sharing the message.

'Since the inception of this case, law enforcement has consistently leaked writings purported to be written by Mr. Mangione, while also prejudicially labeling these writings a "manifesto" to the media,' she argued.

'By releasing these writings to the public and calling them a manifesto, law enforcement is responsible for causing the very public alarm that they are now trying to attribute to Mr. Mangione, which is the basis for charging him with the enhanced charge of murder in the first degree as an act of terrorism.

'There is absolutely no evidence that Mr. Mangione ever released the writings that law enforcement is attributing to him publicly; any publishing was done by law enforcement,' she continued.

Karen Agnifilo, an attorney representing accused UnitedHealthcare CEO assassin Luigi Mangione, argued that police leaked writings they said belonged to the now 26-year-old and labeled them a 'manifesto' - thereby spreading fear in an effort to justify prosecutors' terrorism charge

'By painting Mr. Mangione as a "terrorist" and releasing a purported "manifesto," law enforcement is intending to prejudice Mr. Mangione and cause the public alarm and fear that they now attribute to him,' Agnifilo argued.

'This is problematic and fatal to the government's charge of murder in the first degree, which requires said murder to be in furtherance of an act of terrorism "intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population," and insofar as it is law enforcement that is responsible for said intimidation.

'This behavior by law enforcement is wildly irresponsible, as they are spreading a message to the public intended to incite individuals who may as a result believe Mr. Mangione held purported viewpoints.'

Investigators have claimed that Mangione, an Ivy League computer science graduate from a prominent Maryland family, was propelled by anger at the US health care system.

They pointed to the alleged manifesto, which included a number of grievances against UnitedHealthcare.

'To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone. This was fairly trivial: some elementary social engineering, basic CAD, [and] a lot of patience,' the document read, according to the Daily Beast.

It went on to say he had 'respect' for federal investigators, and apologized for causing any 'traumas,' but seemed to defend his alleged actions.

'Frankly these parasites had it coming,' the manifesto wrote.

It also noted that the United States had the 'most expensive healthcare system in the world,' but blasted the system for making America only the 42nd in life expectancy.

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down outside of a New York City hotel

Mangione was allegedly found with a 9-millimeter pistol and silencer, clothing that matched the apparel worn by the shooter in surveillance footage

Mangione is now facing a slew of charges in the Big Apple, and is also facing lesser charges of false identification and weapons charges in Pennsylvania.

His attorney in that case has similarly claimed cops illegally took a personal notebook out of Mangione's bag and dubbed it a manifesto to taint public opinion about his client.

'The Altoona Police Department illegally seized a notebook which allegedly contained numerous personal writings covering a plethora of personal experiences of [Mangione],' attorney Thomas Dickey wrote in court documents earlier this month.

'This characterization of [Mangione's] alleged personal experiences and writings is incorrect, improper, and without justification and has no probative value... [that] was done so solely for the purpose to prejudice [Mangione] and put him in a negative light before the public; all in an effort to prejudice any potential jury pool.'

The lawyer also claimed officers 'lacked reasonable suspicion to engage in such activity' and approached Mangione at the McDonald's 'based on a hunch.'

'[Altoona police] had no independent corroborating evidence that [Mangione] was in fact the suspect sought in New York, prior to, or at the time of their stop and/or the investigatory detention of,' said the court documents.

'Any reasonable person, innocent of any crime, would have thought that he was being restrained if he had been in the Defendant's shoes.'

Dickey said the officers abused their power and violated Mangione's constitutional rights.

'[The cops] combined actions [at the McDonalds were] designed to not only exhibit their authority and control over [Mangione], but to also to restrict and totally curtail his liberty,' the filings said.

Mangione is now facing a slew of charges in the Big Apple, and is also facing lesser charges of false identification and weapons charges in Pennsylvania

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to an 11-count indictment charging him with murder as an act of terrorism and weapons offenses

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to an 11-count indictment charging him with murder as an act of terrorism and weapons offenses.

If convicted, Mangione could face life in prison without parole. He is now jailed in a federal lockup in Brooklyn.

He has been fiercely backed by a slew of fans who have praised Mangione for his alleged actions and started a GiveSendGo pages to raise money for his legal defense.

Some have even made art depicting him as a saint, saying he is a hero who has taken a stand against America's broken healthcare system.

For Mangione's upcoming 27th birthday, fans have also organized a 'special' donation fund - urging others to contribute $27 toward his legal fund as a 'nice surprise and gift from us to him.'

He has been fiercely backed by a slew of fans who have praised Mangione for his alleged actions and started a GiveSendGo pages to raise money for his legal defense

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.

The campaign is also asking fans to submit birthday wishes, fan art, memes and messages of support.

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.
Bruce Lehrmann's lawyer Zali Burrows is 'seriously ill' with cancer, a court has heard.

The former political staffer announced earlier in March that Ms Burrows would be brought in to represent him in his upcoming Queensland rape trial after sacking his legal team.

Ms Burrows' health was revealed during her own legal proceedings in the NSW District Court last week, news.com.au reported.

Judge Judith Gibson told the court the high profile criminal lawyer had been 'seriously ill for some years' with a form of cancer which recently required surgery and radiation.

It has meant Ms Burrows had recently become 'too ill' to appear in person for the proceedings, which had caused delays in the case.

'The plaintiff's health problems have taken a great toll not only on her physical health but in terms of her ability to get things done,' she said.

'While I accept that she has been conducting matters in other courts, including defamation proceedings in the Federal Court, that does not mean that she is necessarily giving her full and efficient attention to her own defamation action.'

Judge Gibson also recognised Ms Burrows was focusing on Mr Lerhmann's case instead of her own, the publication reported.

Lawyer Zali Burrows' (pictured in July 2024) health was revealed during her own legal proceedings in the NSW District Court

'A saying that I recall used to be favoured by one of the more colourful members of the criminal bar, in times of crisis, was that 'the cobbler's children are the worst shod',' she told the court.

Ms Burrows, who previously represented disgraced former deputy mayor Salim Mehajer, is suing Sydney-based criminal lawyer Adam Houda in a defamation case over his posts on X about a Sydney Morning Herald column.

Mr Houda had sought a dismissal on the grounds of 'due dispatch', meaning that the case was being continually delayed by Ms Burrows.

A four-day hearing on the case will take place in September. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Burrows for comment.

Ms Burrows is also representing Lehrmann as he appeals his failed Federal Court defamation action against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson over her Brittany Higgins interview.

Lehrmann is accused of raping a woman twice during the morning of October 10, 2021 after they met at a strip club the previous night in Toowoomba, 150km west of Brisbane.

The woman alleged she consumed cocaine with Lehrmann during a night out before consensual sex at a house in east Toowoomba about 4am.

The woman claimed she was woken about 10am by Lehrmann sexually assaulting her.

Lehrmann sued Ten and Wilkinson over a February 2021 interview on The Project in which Ms Higgins alleged she had been raped on a couch at Parliament House almost two years earlier.

Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) recently announced that Zali Burrows would represent him in his upcoming Queensland rape trial after sacking his legal team

Zali Burrows (pictured) is suing Adam Houda, a Sydney-based criminal lawyer over his posts on X

While Lehrmann was not named, he claimed he was easily identifiable as the one-time colleague Ms Higgins said had sexually assaulted her in the office of their then-boss Senator Linda Reynolds.

In April, Justice Michael Lee found Lehrmann had not been defamed and that on the balance of probabilities he had raped Ms Higgins.

The defamation case came after Lehrmann, who has always denied raping Ms Higgins, faced a criminal trial, which was abandoned due to juror misconduct in 2022.

Lehrmann has not entered pleas over the Toowoomba allegations but his lawyers have indicated he would fight the charges.
A country high school has been put into lockdown after staff were allegedly assaulted by two young girls.

Police were called to Armidale Secondary College in central west NSW at 10.30am on Tuesday following reports two female students, 11 and 13, had assaulted several members of staff.

The altercation is alleged to have broken out when the two young girls attempted to assault a third student.

Police say the incident escalated when a 34-year-old woman arrived at the school and allegedly verbally abused staff and police.

After refusing to comply with a move on direction by police, the woman was arrested.

No students were injured in the altercation, though four staff members were treated for minor injuries including two hospitalisations.

Both girls were arrested at which point the older girl, aged 13, is alleged to have assaulted one of the arresting officers.

The girls have since been released pending further investigations while the 34-year-old has been refused bail to appear before Inverell Local Court on Tuesday.

The assaults are alleged to have been carried out by two female students at Armidale Secondary College on Tuesday morning

A 34-year-old woman was refused bail after being arrested and brought to Armidale Police Station after allegedly verbally abusing staff and police

The woman was charged with refuse/fail to comply with direction, hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty, and intimidate police officer in execution of duty.

Armidale Secondary College principal Kim Allford issued a statement on Tuesday advising parents the school had gone into lockdown following a 'student behaviour matter' around 10.30am.

'Students remained in their classrooms with teachers until the matter had been dealt with,' Ms Allford said.

'Emergency services were called as a precaution and helped staff resolve the matter, which occurred at approximately 11.45am, when normal college operations resumed.'

Ms Allford said an assembly was called to inform students about what had occurred while emotional support services were offered to affected students.

A spokesperson for NSW Department of Education Education told Daily Mail Australia: 'Violence of any kind is completely unacceptable in NSW public schools.'

'Two students were arrested by police and escorted from the school grounds. Both students were immediately suspended by the school.

'Other students who filmed have also been suspended. The school is offering counselling support to all students and staff.'

Parents of Armidale Secondary College students have raised concerns about the school's safety standards

Armidale Secondary College was created by the merger of two other local schools but has been mired by a number of violent offences and disturbing incidents in recent years.

One boy reportedly required specialist surgery to reset his teeth following an assault in a school bathroom in 2023

According to the New England Times, the boy's siblings were also affected by violence at the school in unrelated incidents.

The decision to merge Duval High and Armidale High into the single 'super-school' has been widely criticised as a harmful cost-cutting exercise leading to dangerous conditions for students.

At a community meeting in 2023, parents shared a number of complaints raised by students of the school including understaffing, vandalism, a lack of learning resources, violence, weapons and poor hygiene standards.

The complaints, seen by Guardian Australia, suggested staff turnover at the school was high in part due to resourcing constraints.

A spokesperson for the state's education department said at the time the turnover was 'not exceptional' and that the school had 'strong continuity' of leadership.
A much loved real estate agent has died from cancer, leaving behind a 'pay it forward' legacy that raised thousands of dollars.

Melbourne agent Fraser 'Frase' Cahill, 38, lost his brave fight for life last Friday surrounded by his family in Point Lonsdale on Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula after an 'incredibly courageous' year-long battle.

His death sparked an outpouring of tributes, led by his long-time employer, luxury real estate agency Marshall White, which hailed him as 'simply of the best'.

'Like all things in his life, Frase took this battle front on and did not let it dampen his zest for life, his laugh, his love of adventure, and time with friends,' a statement posted online read.

'From his early days, he quickly became a team favourite for his friendship, his care for others, and his ability to spin up a good time.

'Within the real estate industry, Fraser was known for his professionalism, integrity, and work ethic by all those he encountered - whether buying, selling, or advising.

'His personality, passion for life, and love for friends is a reminder of the impact an individual can make on those around them.'

Mr Cahill's heartbroken family have expressed their gratitude for the messages of love and support received from well-wishers.

Fraser 'Frase' Cahill (left) passed away surrounded by his family at Point Lonsdale after a year-long battle with cancer

Fraser (pictured) was a much respected member of Marshall White's Stonnington sales team

'Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance,' they wrote, quoting Corinthians 13-7.

Mr Cahill was diagnosed with cancer in January 2024 and posted just three months ago that he was in remission after six months of chemotherapy.

'Post CT scans revealed, from what they can see, I am now cancer free,' he posted on social media.

'An interesting journey thats given me a new perspective on living life and am extremely grateful to have a new appreciation of just how lucky I am.

'Lifes short!

'Look forward to seeing more of you all next year. 2025 - here we go!'

Mr Cahill is survived by his parents Amanda and Doug, brothers Wes and Quinton, sister Nellie, sisters-in-law Ange and Odette, nieces Kitty, India and Peggy, and nephews Hugo and Archie.

Real estate firm Marshall White said that Fraser Cahill (pictured) did not let cancer 'dampen his zest for life'

His death sparked tributes from all walks of life, from old veteran mates of his father to clients, colleagues and neighbours, who said their street will never be the same again.

'Fraser's warmth, energy and unwavering inclusiveness has left an indelible mark on our community,' a neighbour wrote.

'The street will never be the same, but the Christmas party will live on in his honour, celebrating the spirit he brought to us all.'

Another said: 'It is an honour and a privilege to have known and loved such an incredible human.

'The memories and stories of Frase will be retold for decades to come.'

Prior to his death, the community had been supporting Mr Cahill by donating more than $161,000 on a fundraiser on crowdfunding platform mycause.com.au

The cause aimed to 'lift others up' as Mr Cahill did by providing other people with care, resources and opportunities, his friend Scott Mortimore said.

Fraser Cahill (pictured) started a fundraiser to 'pay forward' good deeds which has received more than $161,000 in donations

'Now, we have the chance to honour him by creating something bigger than any one of us, a movement that reflects his spirit and values,' Mr Mortimore wrote.

'This fund will support causes that give people a fighting chance; providing care, resources, and opportunities they wouldnt otherwise have.

'Frase is deeply grateful for this support and will make sure every dollar raised goes exactly where its needed most, so others never have to experience what he has.

'If Frase ever inspired you, made you laugh, or had your backthis is your chance to pay it forward.'

Friends and loved ones partied with Mr Cahill one final time at a booze-filled celebration last month.

Mr Mortimore said his friend's mind was 'still on others and how he can make a difference' as he rested in hospital the next day.
White House insiders have vented their anger at National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, with one reportedly calling him a 'f***ing idiot' after it emerged that he added a prominent journalist to a secret group chat revealing highly sensitive war plans.

'Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f***ing idiot,' the source, identified as a 'person close to the White House', bluntly told Politico.

The Atlantic magazine's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg revealed yesterday that he was invited by Waltz to join a chat on the encrypted app Signal entitled 'Houthi PC small group.'

Goldberg was then privy to conversations between Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance and other top administration officials, about military strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.

'I'm thinking to myself, I'm glad Mike Waltz didn't invite a Houthi into the group or a Russian spy, or an adversary of the United States,' Goldberg told MSNBC's Inside with Jen Psaki.

It remains unclear who Waltz intended to invite to the group chat and why such a large volume of classified information was being shared on a commercial messaging app.

'It was reckless not to check who was on the thread. It was reckless to be having that conversation on Signal. You can't have recklessness as the national security advisor,' one official told Politico.

The news site reported late last night that some officials believe that Waltz must now be pushed out or resign to save President Trump from being put in a 'bad position'.

National Security Advisor Michael Waltz appears to be the most endangered Trump official after The Atlantic's editor-in-chief revealed he had been invited to a group chat to discuss an attack on Houthi rebels

Some White House officials believe that Waltz will need to be pushed out or resign to save President Trump from being put in a 'bad position'

The secret Signal messages were mistakenly sent to Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic magazine

A senior administration official told the site that they are involved in a number of text threads about Waltz's future at the White House.

'Half of them saying he's never going to survive or shouldn't survive,' the official said.

Two high-level White House aides floated the idea that Waltz should resign to protect President Trump being put in a 'bad position,' while a third source told Politico that Trump has spoken to Waltz about the matter.

Republican Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski told news outlet Semafor: 'Think about what we would do if Biden were president and this came out... we would raise the roof.

'It's going to be interesting to see if anybody loses their job over this,' she added.

Don Bacon, a Republican congressman from Nebraska, told news outlet Axios that the administration's action was 'unconscionable'.

'None of this should have been sent on non-secure systems,' he said of Waltz's messaging. 'Russia and China are surely monitoring his unclassified phone.'

Former Democratic Party presidential candidate and long-term Trump adversary Hillary Clinton responded to news of the leaked messages on X, saying: 'You have got to be kidding me.'

Reflecting on his reaction when he first received a connection request from Waltz's account on March 11, before being added to the chat two days later, Goldberg said he initially thought it was a scam or someone 'masquerading' as the Trump advisor.

But The White House has since confirmed that the chat appears to be authentic, adding that it is now reviewing 'how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.'

Aside from the security implications of the information reaching someone outside the administration, Goldberg said another aspect of the fiasco which shocked him was those involved in the group chat, which discussed sensitive military information.

'I'm reading this and I'm wondering - not only 'why am I reading this?' - but why would the Secretary of the Treasury need to know the precise attack sequence of this upcoming operation?' he said.

Emojis and congratulations appeared in the text chain after a successful mission

He also expressed concern that the messages featured information that could easily have been weaponised by enemies of the US to harm their personnel and assets.

Goldberg wrote in The Atlantic: 'The information contained in them, if they had been read by an adversary of the United States, could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel, particularly in the broader Middle East, Central Command's area of responsibility.

'What I will say, in order to illustrate the shocking recklessness of this Signal conversation, is that the Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the US would be deploying, and attack sequencing.'

A White House spokesperson characterised the chat as a 'demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials'.

And for now at least, the White House appears to be standing by Waltz.

Goldberg was privy to conversations between Waltz, Vice President JD Vance and other top administration officials, about military strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen

'As President Trump said, the attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective. President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including national security advisor Mike Waltz,' press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement earlier Monday.

Asked by about the leaked messages, the US President on Monday told reporters at the White House that he hadn't seen The Atlantic story revealing the details of the group chat.

Looking puzzled, Trump said: 'I don't know anything about it. I'm not a big fan of The Atlantic. It's to me, it's a magazine that's going out of business.'

Politically, Trump may have the most cover if he axes Waltz over someone like Hegseth, who the White House fought tooth and nail to get through Senate confirmation.

There is some skepticism of Waltz among MAGA Republicans due to him previously working for Vice President Dick Cheney, whose 'neocon' views differ from Trump's 'America First.'

However a handful of Congressional Democrats have pointed to Hegseth's alleged sharing of classified information over the text chain as a more fireable offense.

Goldberg said he would not share some of the messages verbatim due to fears it could put US military personnel in danger.

The group chat was accidentally shared with Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine

'What I will say, in order to illustrate the shocking recklessness of this Signal conversation, is that the Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the US would be deploying, and attack sequencing,' the journalist instead wrote.

Two of Politico's sources said that Trump could instead of Waltz blame Hegseth or Vance for the embarrassing episode.

The text chain showcased daylight between Trump and Vance on foreign policy issues.

'I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with this message on Europe right now,' Vance wrote, according to The Atlantic's report. 'There's a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc.'

Trump has pushed the U.S.'s European NATO allies to pony up more cash - especially to go toward the Ukraine war - and Vance said he viewed an attack on the Houthis as the U.S. 'bailing Europe out again.'
A man booked an airline ticket to Japan in the two hours between fatally stabbing his mother and his arrest at an airport's international terminal, police allege.

Emergency services were called to a residence on Chestnut Place about 4.20pm on Monday at The Gap in Brisbane's north-west, Queensland Police said.

They said they found a local 79-year-old woman, Cecilia Yoke Webb, with multiple stab wounds across her body and she was declared dead at the scene.

About two hours later, Australian Federal Police arrested her son, 40-year-old Victorian man Alexander Clive Webb at the front entrance of Brisbane Airport's international terminal.

Detective Inspector Michael Jones said the crime scene, in the front yard of a suburban home, was one of the worst he had seen.

'The injuries were quite horrific. She was stabbed multiple times. The scene itself was particularly horrific,' he told reporters.

'I've been an investigator for over 20 years and it was one of the worst crime scenes I've seen.'

Webb, from the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn, was later charged with one count of murder as a domestic violence offence.

Cecilia Yoke Webb, 79, was found dead at a home in The Gap on Monday afternoon. Pictured are police at the scene

Alexander Clive Webb booked an airline ticket to Japan after he allegedly stabbed his mother to death

Webb was not in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday when his case was briefly mentioned and his solicitor did not apply for bail.

Det Insp Jones said police would allege that Webb purchased a Japanese cooking knife before travelling to The Gap on Monday and used it to stab his mother multiple times.

'What we have been able to determine is that he did have a plane ticket and he intended to travel to Tokyo,' Det Insp Jones said.

'He left The Gap area in an Uber and travelled to an address in South Brisbane. He then caught a second Uber to Brisbane International Airport.'

Det Insp Jones said he did not know what time Webb's Tokyo flight was due to depart and what his motivation was for booking the ticket.

'(Webb) didn't participate in a record of interview with police,' he said.

Det Insp Jones said Webb had an encounter with police a month ago that did not involve an arrest in relation to an incident with no connection to the alleged murder.

Police will allege multiple people witnessed parts of the events around the alleged murder.

One detective said that the crime scene in the front yard of a suburban home was one of the worst he had ever seen

CeCecilia Yoke Webb was allegedly stabbed multiple times with a Japanese kitchen knife. Pictured are police at the scene



'One location he went to they didn't understand what had happened and they offered (Webb) some first aid treatment because he had an injury to his hand.'

In court on Tuesday, defence solicitor Rachael Jackson told Magistrate Julian Noud that her client was not required to appear and sought an adjournment to April 14.

Mr Noud asked Ms Jackson if she needed more time.

'I'm just wondering whether I should go out further,' he said.

The police prosecutor did not oppose adjourning the case for extra time.

Police allege Alexander Clive Webb (pictured in custody) was seen around The Gap before he was arrested in Brisbane Airport

Mr Noud adjourned the matter to April 22 in Brisbane Magistrates Court and remanded Webb in custody, noting there had been no application for bail.

Defendants charged with murder in Queensland must apply for bail in the Supreme Court.

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Shocking images show how a Ukrainian soldier was reduced to skin and bones after a hellish stint in one of Vladimir Putin's brutal gulags.

Ivan Petrovsky, 30, lost six stone during his horrific 1,000 days in captivity as a prisoner of war in Russia.

He was held by Putin's invading forces in May 2022 when he was defending Mariupol.

Mr Petrovsky was recently swapped in an exchange of POWs.

He posted before and after pictures showing how he became emaciated after suffering for almost three years in Russian hellhole camps.

'I'm home. The difference is 1,037 days of captivity and minus 40 kg,' he wrote.

A video showed him in captivity in Russia, where he was held in the Donbas and later Volgograd region.

His wife Kristina Petrovska and two daughters were waiting for him when he returned.

Shocking images show how a Ukrainian soldier was reduced to skin and bones after a hellish stint in one of Putin's brutal gulags. Ivan Petrovsky, 30, lost six stone during his horrific 1,000 days in captivity as a prisoner of war in Russia

Mr Petrovsky was recently swapped in an exchange of POWs. He posted before and after pictures showing how he became emaciated after suffering for almost three years in Russian hellhole camps

Mr Petrovsky was held by Vladimir Putin 's invading forces in May 2022 when he was defending Mariupol

Ukraine has accused Russia of keeping POWs in inhumane conditions and inflicting torture and medical neglect on captives.

Hundreds of deaths are feared from poor treatment of those detained in battle.

In some camps, the starvation food rations comprise three spoons of porridge, half a cup of tea, and two thin slices of bread per dayand limited access to water.

Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, said 'This categoryseverely wounded and seriously ill prisoners of warrequires immediate repatriation.

'We know that Russian forces deny medical assistance to Ukrainian POWs.

'Tragically, many of our soldiers die as a direct result of this neglect.'

It comes after Ukraine launched an investigation into shocking images which appear to show a Ukrainian prisoner who was allegedly beheaded by Russian troops.

The grotesque photograph seemingly shows the severed head of an unnamed man inside a wooden box.

His wife Kristina Petrovska and two daughters were waiting for him when he returned

Ukraine has accused Russia of keeping POWs in inhumane conditions and inflicting torture and medical neglect on captives. Pictured: Ukrainian national guardsman Ivan Petrovsky

In another medieval-style image a person wearing a stripy navy blue top, which is similar to Russia's navy uniform, can be seen holding up in the head for the camera.

Whilst the photographs remain unconfirmed, Artur Dobroserdov - Ukrainian Commissioner for Persons Missing in Special Circumstance - made clear he believed the images were genuine which, if true, would amount to a serious war crime.

The Ukrainian prosecutor general's office was informed, and police are conducting an investigation, he said.

Mr Dobroserdov said: 'Photographic materials from hostile information resources are being distributed online, showing an image of a severed head of a Ukrainian serviceman.

'We would like to inform you that thanks to the measures taken by the [secretariat's] office, it was possible to establish the identity of the deceased.'

The name was not made public and the circumstances of the alleged beheading are not known.
Labor has promised to deliver two tax cuts starting from next year that will offer 'hip pocket help for households' but come at a cost of $17.1billion in a desperate bid to woo voters ahead of the impending federal election.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the Budget on Tuesday night with a raft of cost-of-living measures designed to appeal to battling Aussies in a last-ditch, pre-election pitch.

These include two tax cuts, a $150 extension to the energy rebate, promises to make nine out of ten visits to the GP free, wiping $19billion from existing student debt, banning non-compete clauses and billions set aside for major infrastructure projects.

But much of the spending was already known in advance as Labor had never planned to hand down this Budget.

That was until ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred blew in, punching a $1.2billion-sized hole in the government coffers.

And now, after two consecutive Budget surpluses, Labor has returned a ballooning deficit of $42.1billion by the next financial year, with no return to surplus in sight amid a sea of red ink.

But Dr Chalmers insisted the Budget was governed by 'responsible economic management', as he claimed his focus was bringing 'more hip pocket help for households' doing it tough right now.

'The cost-of-living is front of mind for most Australians and it's front and centre in this Budget,' the Treasurer said.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the Budget on Tuesday night with a raft of cost-of-living measures designed to appeal to battling Aussies in a last-ditch, pre-election pitch (Dr Chalmers is pictured with Finance Minister Katy Gallagher)

Dr Chalmers insisted the Budget was governed by 'responsible economic management', as he claimed his focus was bringing 'more hip pocket help for households' doing it tough right now

'We know the welcome improvements in the aggregate numbers don't always immediately translate to how people are feeling and faring.

'We've made a lot of progress together but we know many people are still doing it tough.

'Our plan to rebuild living standards starts with cost-of-living help and wages growth.'

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is yet to call an election but it must be held on or before May 17.

Read on for Daily Mail Australia's extensive Budget guide outlining the biggest winners and losers - and what it means for you.

If you pay tax

The Government has promised to build on their stage three tax cuts announced at last year's budget by offering two additional cuts in 2026 and 2027.

From 1 July 2026, the 16 per cent tax rate, which applies to taxable income between $18,201 and $45,000, will be reduced to 15 per cent  up to $268.

And from 1 July 2027, this tax rate will be reduced further to 14 per cent  up to $536.

Australia's tax system is progressive, meaning that all 14 million of the country's taxpayers will benefit from these cuts.

From 1 July 2026, the 16 per cent tax rate, which applies to taxable income between $18,201 and $45,000, will be reduced to 15 per cent  up to $268

Australia's tax system is progressive, meaning that all 14 million of the country's taxpayers will benefit from these cuts

Combined with the stage three tax cuts, the average tax cut is expected to be around $43 per week or more than $2,200 in 2026-27, and around $50 per week or more than $2,500 in 2027-28.

'This will take the first tax rate down to its lowest level in more than half a century,' Dr Chalmers said.

'These additional tax cuts are modest but will make a difference.

'The average earner will have an extra $536 in their pocket each year when they're fully implemented.'

The promised tax cuts will cost $17.1billion over the next four years.

The Government will also increase the Medicare levy low-income thresholds by 4.7 per cent for singles, families, and seniors and pensioners from 1 July this year.

This means over one million Australians on lower incomes will continue to be exempt from paying the Medicare levy or pay a reduced levy rate.

If you're struggling to pay the bills...

In 2022, the Albanese government made an election commitment to reduce household energy bills by $275  a promise which has not been achieved.

But in last year's budget they introduced a $300 energy rebate for every Australian, regardless of their income.

They will now extend this energy rebate, so everyone in Australia and around one million small businesses will receive two automatic $75 rebates directly off their electricity bills through to 31 December 2025.

The non-means tested rebate, which will cost an additional $1.8billion on top of the nearly $5billion already spent, is expected to reduce electricity bills by 7.5 per cent.

If you need to pick up a prescription

Medicines will also be cheaper under new plans announced by Mr Albanese last week to reduce the cost of all scripts under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

From 1 January 2026, the maximum co-payment will be lowered from $31.60 to $25 per script and remain frozen at $7.70 for pensioners.

The last time that PBS medicines cost no more than $25 was over 20 years ago.

If you need to see a doctor

The Albanese government has already unveiled a massive $8.5billion promise to overhaul Medicare, including $7.9billion to increase bulk-billing incentives.

The policy was quickly matched by the Coalition, which promised to devote $9billion to reforming Medicare if they are elected in May.

The Labor government estimate their policy will make nine out of ten visits to the GP free by 2030  and 4,800 bulk billing practices across the country by the same deadline.

The Albanese government has already unveiled a massive $8.5billion promise to overhaul Medicare, including $7.9billion to increase bulk-billing incentives, which they hope will ensure that nine out of ten visits to the GP will be free by 2030

A further $644million has also been announced to open an extra 50 Medicare urgent care clinics, bringing the total to 137 nationwide.

Labor estimates that this will mean four in five Australians will live within 20 minutes of a Medicare urgent care clinic.

Meanwhile, an additional $1.8billion has been earmarked for public hospitals.

If you are a women struggling with menopause, endometriosis or reproductive issues

Dr Chalmers has committed to delivering a $793million women's health package.

This will see new menopausal hormone therapies added to the PBS after more than 20 years, benefiting 150,000 women each year.

It will also help build 11 more endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, with the services of all 33 clinics expanded to include specialised support for menopause and perimenopause.

Dr Chalmers has committed to delivering a $793million women's health package in a bid to encourage women to vote Labor

'This funding will help Australian women save on contraception, access more endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, and receive better support through menopause,' Dr Chalmers said.

'Because for our Government, women's health is not a boutique issue or a question of special interest  it is a national priority.'

If you are struggling with childcare costs...

From January 2026, the Government is promising to replace the Child Care Subsidy activity test with a new Three Day Guarantee. The $426.6million pledge will guarantee eligibility for at least 3 days a week of subsidised early childhood education and care for every Australian family

From January 2026, the Government is promising to replace the Child Care Subsidy activity test with a new Three Day Guarantee.

The $426.6million pledge will guarantee eligibility for at least three days a week of subsidised early childhood education and care for every Australian family.

In its first full financial year, the Three Day Guarantee is expected to result in 100,000 families being eligible for additional hours of subsidised early childhood education and care.

They are also committing $1billion to establish the Building Early Education Fund to increase the supply of high-quality early childhood education and care places across Australia.

It is expected to support 160 new or expanded early childhood education and care services in areas of need, including the outer suburbs and regional Australia.

Labor is also investing $3.6billion to support a historic wage increase for the early childhood education and care workforce.

This is delivering a 10 per cent increase relative to modern award rates from December 2024 and will provide a further 5 per cent from December 2025, raising the salaries of around 200,000 people.

As with aged care, it will primarily benefit women who make up around 92 per cent of the early childhood education and care workforce.

Labor is also investing $3.6billion to support a historic wage increase for the early childhood education and care workforce

If you're looking to move jobs

The Government will ban non-compete clauses for low and middle-income workers, because research suggests it could lift wages of affected workers by up to 4 per cent or $2,500 per year and boost GDP by as much as $5billion.

Dr Chalmers said the clauses were 'holding too many Australians back from switching to better, higher-paying jobs'.

'More than 3 million Australians are captured by these clauses, including childcare workers, construction workers and hairdressers,' he added.

'People shouldn't need to hire a lawyer to take the next step in their career. Or permission from their old boss if they want to be their own boss, and turn an idea into a small business.'

The Government will ban non-compete clauses for low and middle-income workers, because research suggests it could lift wages of affected workers by up to 4 per cent or $2,500 per year and boost GDP by as much as $5billion

If you have student debt

A combined $19billion will be wiped from existing student debt.

The Government is promising to reduce all outstanding Higher Education Loan Program (previously called HECS) and other student debts by 20 per cent, wiping $16billion in debt from the accounts of three million Australians.

This is in addition to recent reform to make indexation fairer for repayments, which has already decreased student loan debt by $3billion.

The Government will also increase the amount that people can earn before they are required to start paying back their loans from $54,435 in 202425 to $67,000 in 202526.

If you're an aged care nurse

An investment of $2.6billion for further pay rises for 60,000 aged care nurses from 1 March 2025 has also been promised, bringing the total investment in wage increases in the sector to almost $18billion.

The government claims these increases will particularly benefit women, who make up 86 per cent of the aged care workforce.

Dr Chalmers said the funding was designed 'so the workers we trust to care for our parents and grandparents get paid properly for the work they do'.

If you like to drink beer

The Albanese Government promised the Budget would confirm freeze in the excise indexation increases on draught beer for two years.

The measure, which is estimated to cost taxpayers $200million in lost tax revenue, should mean that the price of a schooner remains the same.

The Albanese Government promised the Budget would confirm freeze in the excise indexation increases on draught beer for two years

Mr Albanese described it as a 'common sense measure' that was 'good for beer drinkers, good for brewers and good for pubs'.

Treasurer Dr Chalmers was more circumspect, previously calling it a 'modest change'.

If you are stressed out by supermarket prices and car surcharges

The Government has signalled that it is 'prepared to ban debit card surcharges'.

But this measure is subject to further work by the Reserve Bank and safeguards to ensure small businesses don't lose out.

The Government is also boosting funding for the consumer watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), to the tune of almost $38million.

'We know that Australians are still under pressure, and a lot of that pressure is felt at the checkout,' Mr Chalmers said.

'That's why we're cracking down on the supermarkets. By empowering the competition watchdog, making the Food and Grocery Code mandatory, increasing penalties and boosting competition.'

The Government is also boosting funding for the consumer watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), to the tune of almost $38million to defend consumers against steep prices in big supermarkets

But the Government has promised just a paltry $2.9million over three years to help suppliers 'stand up to the big supermarkets' under the code, after a damning recent report by the ACCC into Coles' and Woolworths' duopoly.

The review, which called for a raft of changes including action on shrinkflation, found that Coles and Woollies were the most profitable supermarkets in the world.

The government has also committed $240million for states and territories to make it easier to open new supermarkets by streamlining planning rules and regulations.

If you live in a remote Indigenous community

The Government is also reducing the costs of 30 essential products, such as milk, fruit, vegetables and nappies in stores in remote First Nations communities.

If you're trying to buy your first home

The government has committed $850million to help first-time home buyers - bringing its total funding to $6.3billion.

The money will largely be used to increase income caps for their help-to-buy scheme, which allows people placing their first step on the property ladder to buy with a deposit as low as two per cent.

The new funding commitment will increase income caps from $90,000 to $100,000 for individuals and from $120,000 to $160,000 for joint applicants and single parents.

Property price caps will also be linked to the average house price in each state and territory, with the government predicting it will make participants eligible for five million more homes across the country.

The Government also has an ambitious target of 1.2 million new, well-located homes over five years under the National Housing Accor

Property price caps will also be increased and linked with the average house price in each state and territory, not dwelling price, so first home buyers have more choice.

Another $49.3million will be offered to the states and territories to increase programs aimed at boosting the construction of prefabricated and modular homes.

The Government also has an ambitious target of 1.2 million new, well-located homes over five years under the National Housing Accord.

They also plan to ban foreign buyers from purchasing existing dwellings for two years from 1 April 2025 to free up housing stock.

If you are a renter

The Government is implementing A Better Deal for Renters, which attempts to tighten the rules around reasonable grounds for eviction and tries to limit rental increases to once a year.

They will also continue to deliver a 45 per cent increase in maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent Assistance.

Eligible apprentices in housing construction occupations will receive up to $10,000 in financial incentives over the course of their apprenticeships from 1 July 2025

If you are an apprentice tradie

Eligible apprentices in housing construction occupations will receive up to $10,000 in financial incentives over the course of their apprenticeships from 1 July 2025.

'To build more, we need to train more builders,' Dr Chalmers said.

'That's why we're attracting more apprentices into the housing industry.

'By doubling incentive payments so eligible apprentices get up to $10,000 if they train-up in the housing construction sector.'

If you are a prospective student

The Government is promising to make permanent 100,000 free TAFE places every year from 2027.

It has already delivered almost 600,000 Free TAFE courses since it started in 2023.

If your home or community was damaged by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred

The Government has set aside $1.2billion in the Contingency Reserve for the impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and future natural disasters.

It includes $15million of support for early recovery and $10,000 Business Continuity Payments to Child Care Subsidy services closed or partially closed during the storm.

It also includes 13 weeks of income support for the worst affected, provided by the Disaster Recovery Allowance, and a one-off payment under the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment for those eligible.

If you bank in rural Australia

The Government has secured commitments from the major banks to continue operating over 800 of their branches in regional and remote Australia until at least 31 July 2027.

It has also ordered the banks to increase its investments in Australia Post's Bank@Post service, which many people in rural Australia rely on.

If you are an Australia-owned and Australian-made business

There will be $20million set aside to support Australian producers through the Buy Australian Campaign.

While details remain thin on the ground, it will encourage consumers to buy Australian-made products.

Mr Albanese previously called on Aussies to 'back Team Australia' in the wake of US President Donald Trump's tariff threats.

'I would urge Australians, if they're in a local shop, to look to buy Australian  that's the one way that consumers can assist to create jobs here and support our local industries,' Mr Albanese said two weeks ago, as he promised more details in the Budget.

If you celebrate Australia Day

The Government will provide $10 million in 202526 for the National Australia Day Council to deliver community grants for Australia Day events.
Russia is demanding complete control of four Ukrainian regions it is partially occupying as high-level peace talks with the US continue, insiders have revealed.

The Kremlin wants American officials to pressure Kyiv to withdraw troops from the territories in order to achieve the 'full-on' ceasefire sought by the White House.

US officials are hoping to broker a limited ceasefire proposal that would apply to the Black Sea before progressing to a wider cessation of hostilities.

But Vladimir Putin's negotiators are reportedly pushing for guaranteed control of Ukrainian territory before laying down arms.

Russia has continued to bombard Ukraine during the talks, launching 139 drones an a ballistic missile overnight, according to the Ukrainian air force.

At least 17 children were among 88 injured in the missile strike on a children's hospital on Monday as discussions in Saudia Arabia continued.

Ukrainian and US delegations are scheduled to meet today following Washington's negotiatians with Russia, with a White House source suggesting that a 'positive announcement' is expected soon.

US President Donald Trump said one of the issues on the table which remained up for discussion was around territory.

Smoke rises from a damaged residential building in Sumy after Russian shelling

A Russian drone strike on Kyiv left at least three people dead, including a young child

Ukrainian rescuers working at the site of an overnight drone attack in Kyiv on Sunday

Moscow is claiming that the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions are Russian, despite not being in full control of any of them.

Putin, who announced the annexation of the four territories in 2022, is insisting on control over the land at any cost, according to Kremlin sources.

One official told the Moscow Times: 'There is no constitutional mechanism for regions to secede.

'We need all of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Either Trump influences them to leave, or were told: "Enter into long negotiations and simply use military force to establish control."

'Thats the worst option for us, because river crossings are always painful operations.

'We hope to find an option that doesnt involve forcing the Dnipro and storming Kherson.

'I really hope it doesnt come to that. That would mean for us thousands of casualties.'

Last week Trump said 'contracts' are being drawn up for a full ceasefire that would include 'dividing up the lands'.

The Russian delegation to the peace talks in Saudi Arabia

The Ritz-Carlton hotel, where peace talks are being held

Russian officials reportedly believe that the exact border line is 'not that crucial to him'.

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.

Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesman Calum Miller told MailOnline: 'Putin has no interest in peace. He is feigning interest in securing a ceasefire while continuing to order air strikes on Ukrainian civilians and trying to annex even more Ukrainian territory.

'The only person Putins vile masquerade is fooling is Donald Trump.

'Were clear-eyed about what Putin's demands mean: he only wants peace if it's on Russia's terms, which would mean turning Ukraine into a vassal state.

'Such a settlement would be indefensible.'

Experts suggest that Russia is effectively in full control of Crimea and Luhansk, while controlling a significant proportion of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

Tomas Pojar, the national security adviser to the Czech government, suggested that it would be a 'huge success' if Kyiv emerged from talks with the majority of their originally held territory.

'Lets wait to see whether Donald Trump manages to stop the war and whether Ukraine ends up governing 80% of its territory which, by the way, would be a huge success,' he told Czech outlet Denik N.

'Thats certainly not how Vladimir Putin envisioned it three years ago.

'Putin wants to restore the Soviet Union. And to do that, he needs Ukraine. The Soviet Union without Ukraine is not the Soviet Union.'

Both Russia and Ukraine accused one another of carrying on hostilities during the Riyadh talks.

Putin wants full control of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson

Donald Trump has scaled back US support for Ukraine in recent months

After the missile strike on Sumy yeserday, Andrii Sybiha, Ukraines foreign minister, said Russia 'must stop bombing our cities and end its war on civilians' instead of making 'hollow statements about peace'.

The country's air force also shot down 78 drones during a Russian overnight attack.

Moscow claimed that a targeted artillery strike killed six people, including two journalists and their driver, in Russian-controlled parts of eastern Ukraines Luhansk region.

The current negotiations are focused on securing a maritime truce in the Black Sea as a basis to wider ceasefire talks.

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday that progress made in Saudi Arabia will mean the situation 'naturally gravitates to a full-on shooting ceasefire'.

A joint Russia-US statement is expected in the coming hours.

Moscow is hoping that the UN is given a seat at the negotiating table.

Grigory Karasin, who is co-leading the Moscow delegation, told the state TASS news agency: 'We talked about everything, it was an intense dialogue, not easy, but very useful for us and the Americans.

'We are far from solving everything, from being in agreement on all points, but it seems that this type of discussion is very timely.

'We will continue doing it, adding in the international community, above all the United Nations and certain countries.'
Women still trail male colleague when it coms to pay

Australian women are proving they really can do it all - except be paid the same amount as their male counterparts.

Federal Treasury analysis has revealed the number of women holding down jobs has hit historic highs across the country, even though they continue to shoulder most the responsibility for raising young families and are still viewed as the nations natural caregivers.

Despite their mammoth contribution, the official figures showed women continued to trail behind their male colleagues when it comes to their paycheques, with full-time female employees pulling in almost $250 less a week on average.

The Albanese Government used the Federal Budget on Tuesday to reinforce its commitment to redressing the situation and creating greater economic equality for women.

According to the Budget figures, about 63 per cent of Australian women were now participating in the workforce, compared with about 71 per cent of men, representing an increase of almost 20 percentage points over the past 40 years.

In their Womens Budget Statement, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Womens Minister Katy Gallagher outlined their vision for the nation's female population.

They said the government was committed to targeting key cost-of-living relief initiatives and the long-term drivers inhibiting even more women from joining the workforce or obtaining pay parity.

Womens workforce participation reached record highs in 2025 and the gender pay gap hit record lows in 2024, they said in the statement released on Tuesday night.

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Women's Minister Katy Gallagher have outlined their commitment to the nation's rising female workforce

However, gaps between womens and mens economic outcomes persist.

Women still earn less than men on average, are more likely to engage in part-time, low-paid and insecure work, and are more likely to have a disrupted career trajectory due to unpaid caring responsibilities.

Relationship breakdown and violence can also worsen womens economic insecurity.

Reducing barriers to womens workforce participation is central to improving womens economic equality and security, with benefits also to their families and the economy.

The governments tax cuts for every taxpayer are also designed to make it easier for women to work more and keep more of what they earn.

Dr Chalmers and Ms Gallagher said the dramatic rise in Australias female workforce came on the back of evolving social attitudes, better educational opportunities for women and an increasing acceptance of more flexible work arrangements.

Although they said some progress had been made in narrowing the gender pay gap, there was still more to do.

The gender pay gap has narrowed significantly to reach record lows in 2024, they said.

Budget papers revealed Australian women were working harder than ever before - often while juggling paid jobs with personal caring commitments for children and older family members

Recent progress to close the gap has been especially marked[it] has fallen to 11.9 per cent as of November 2024  down from 14.1 per cent in May 2022.

In this same time period, womens full-time average weekly ordinary time earnings have grown by $217.40 a week, helping women to better deal with cost-of-living pressures and build their lifelong economic security.

This progress has been driven in part by recent increases to minimum and award wages, as women are disproportionately represented in low-paid and award-reliant jobs.

As promising as that was, it meant women were lagging behind their male colleagues when it came to their take home pay.

The gender pay gap continues to persist from the time women start their careers, they said.

On average, women working full-time earn $246.30 less per week or $12,807.60 less per year than men working full-time.

Dr Chalmers and Ms Gallagher said this was a result of a range of complex, interrelated, and often compounding factors.

They included differences in gender representation and remuneration across occupations and industries, the impact of caring responsibilities on patterns of work, and gender discrimination and bias.

The number of women in the nation's workforce have has hit historic highs

The governments workplace relations reforms, investments in cheaper early childhood education and care, and expansion of the Paid Parental Leave scheme are having an impact - but there is more to do, they said.

While narrowing, the gender pay gap persists - a reflection of challenges related to care and flexibility, industry gender segregation, womens under-representation in senior roles and discrimination.

The Budget figures revealed women continued to dedicate far more time offering physical and emotional care for children then men.

Mothers spent three hours and 34 minutes with their kids each day, while dads spent just two hours and 19 minutes with them.

Gendered divisions of paid and unpaid work are prevalent in the Australian economy and broader society, Dr Chalmers and Ms Gallagher said.

The economic and social contribution of unpaid work is undervalued and may be less visible due to traditional gender attitudes and stereotypes around women and girls being natural caregivers.

They said the difference was even more pronounced when caregiving was expanded to include looking after ageing parents, other family members, and people with disabilities.

[But] a more even share of care between parents has benefits for women, men, and children, they said.

The Albanese government wants to provide better early childcare options for parents

It can free up mothers to further participate in the workforce and can give fathers more time to spend with their children, with research finding care from both parents is important for childhood development and has positive health benefits for fathers.

Dr Chalmers and Ms Gallagher said parenthood also had a large and persistent effect on the gender earnings gap, reducing female annual earnings by 53 per cent, on average, in the first five years after they became a mother.

This divergence in earnings following entry into parenthood is often termed the motherhood penalty (or child penalty) and is driven by reductions in womens workforce participation, working hours, and wage growth following parenthood, they said in their statement.

One driver of the motherhood penalty could be flow-on consequences from career breaks and requiring flexibility in working hours to balance care responsibilities.

Following parenthoodwomen experience a 40-percentage point fall in the likelihood of working full-time days and a similar rise in the likelihood of working part-time or variable days.

Over time, women are more likely to be employed on a casual basis and to experience underemployment. Women are also less likely to change jobs over time, which may suggest they are restricted from taking up new opportunities because of requirements for flexible work.

The Albanese Government said it would make it easier for parents to balance caring for children with other parts of their lives by encouraging more equal sharing of caring responsibilities between parents.

Key reforms include significant investments in Paid Parental Leave (PPL) and early childhood education and care, Dr Chalmers and Ms Gallagher said.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher says there is still 'more to do' to achieve economic equality for women .

The government is expanding PPL in a way that addresses the needs of working Australian families, provides greater security and flexibility, and empowers the full and equal participation of women in the workforce.

As part of the Governments largest expansion to PPL, the scheme will increase to 24 weeks from 1 July 2025 and 26 weeks from 1 July 2026.

In addition to providing families with more leave, the changes also provide greater flexibility for families and support more equal sharing of parenting and household responsibilities.

This is in part through increasing the amount of leave parents can take together and extending reserved weeks available for each parent (sole parents receive the full entitlement).

Mr Chalmers and Ms Gallagher said they were also focussed on building a universal early childhood education and care more affordable and accessible so that families have more choices.

Households often factor the cost of childcare against the earnings of the mother, a reflection of assumptions that care is primarily the role of women and of womens lower earnings, they said.

Along with a more even distribution of unpaid care, access to early childhood education and care also plays an important role in enabling parents - particularly mothers - to choose their preferred balance of work and care, while also being important for child development.
The Albanese government has raised defence spending to 2.2 per cent of GDP in the Budget - well short of the 3 per cent of GDP that the Trump administration has demanded of Australia.

The country's total defence spend in 2024-25 was about $53.94billion, or 2 per cent of GDP.

That figure is set to change, with the Budget listing estimated spending in 2025-26 at about $57.58billion, or about 2.2 per cent of GDP.

The change is in line with the government's previously announced plan to increase defence spending to 2.3 per cent of GDP by 2034.

But it won't satisfy the Trump administration, which has called on Australia and other US allies to increase their defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP.

The UK and France have shown more readiness to comply with the US, signalling they will both meet the 3 per cent figure by the end of the decade. The US itself spends about 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence.

The Budget comes as China looms larger as a strategic threat, with Chinese warships holding live-firing exercises beneath an area of busy commercial airspace in the Tasman Sea last month.

Professor Peter Dean, the Director of Foreign Policy and Defence at the University of Sydney's United States Studies Centre, told Daily Mail Australia the bump in the defence spend was an 'opening gambit'.

The Albanese government has raised defence spending to 2.2 per cent of GDP in the Budget

'It's clear the PM does not want a national security budget but one faced totally on the cost of living,' Prof Dean said.

'I expect more spending promises on defence in the election campaign but clearly the government does not want to lead on this issue, but rather will respond to the opposition's moves.'

Asked if the government was snubbing Trump, Prof Dean said, 'they're playing a wait and see game'.

'Trump's attention is on Europe and the Middle East and yet to turn to the Indo Pacific.'

Michael Shoebridge, founder of Strategic Analysis Australia, said the new defence spend wasn't enough to meet new threats.

'While the world has changed and become more dangerous, the current Australian government has chosen to do nothing different,' Mr Shoebridge said.

'So, they have stuck with plans that make Australia's Defence Force weaker over this next ten years.

'We clearly aren't doing enough to meet our own security needs and look like a free rider on America.

The Trump administration has called on Australia and other US allies to increase their defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP

'Prime Minister Albanese faced the same test (UK Prime Minister) Keir Starmer did. While the UK PM took the hard decision to raise UK defence spending, Mr Albanese has failed.'

Though the increased spending won't meet American expectations, this year's Budget emphasised that the National Defence Strategy, set in motion in 2024, was transforming the Australian Defence Force's 'capability, focus and structure'.

'This is underpinned by the Government's investment of $330billion in the Defence Integrated Investment Program out to 203334 which will mean that Defence funding will exceed 2.3 per cent of GDP by the early 2030s,' the overview said.

'The investment in Defence includes $159billion in maritime capability over the decade which will support over 8,500 jobs by 2030.

'Additionally, over 20,000 jobs over the next 30 years will be created to support the nuclear powered submarine program.'

One of the National Defence Strategy's main priorities is acquiring nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS partnership, which would act as a deterrent to the Chinese navy.

The Australian government has also increased its support for Ukraine, on top of the more than $1.3billion it has already committed  another point on which Trump has differed from US allies.

The Budget pledged $36million over five years from 202425 for the Australian Embassy in Kyiv, which was 'enabling the return of diplomatic and consular staff to Ukraine'.

And it set aside $45million in 2025-26 for Operation Kudu, the ADF's training of Armed Forces of Ukraine recruits in the UK.

In other foreign military spending, there was $91.8million earmarked in 2025-26 for Operation Accordion.

That operation covers the ADF's activities in the Middle East, including support for the NATO mission in Iraq and a contribution to security in the Red Sea.
Government spending is set to hit the highest level in almost four decades outside of Covid as debt climbs above $1trillion for the first time ever.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers used the word 'responsible' six times in his Budget speech.

He even suggested Labor had delivered 'responsible economic management' despite forecasts of Budget deficits for the foreseeable future.

But under Labor, government payments as a proportion of the economy is set to hit 27 per cent of gross domestic product, the highest level since 1986 outside of the 2020 Covid pandemic.

Public spending is forecast to hit $777.5billion in 2025-26 as gross government debt climbs above $1trillion for the first time ever during the next financial year.

But Dr Chalmers used his Budget speech in Parliament to argue gross debt would be $940billion in 2024-25, or $177billion less than forecast in 2022 when the Coalition was last in power.

'This means we will avoid around $60billion in interest costs over the decade. These are some of the dividends of our responsible economic management,' he said.

Gross government debt is set to make up 35.5 per cent of gross domestic product, or GDP, in 2025-26, up from 33.7 per cent in 2024-25.

Government spending is set to hit the highest level in almost four decades outside of Covid as debt climbs above $1trillion for the first time ever (Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is pictured with Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher)

Under Labor, government payments as a proportion of the economy is set to hit 27 per cent of gross domestic product, the highest level since 1986 outside of the 2020 Covid pandemic

While Labor has delivered two consecutive Budget surpluses since coming to power, only deficits are forecast from the next financial year onwards, with no return to surplus in sight.

A deficit of $27.6billion is forecast for 2024-25, with the red of sea growing to $42.1billion in 2025-26  making up 1.5 per cent of GDP.

Treasury is expecting the spot price of iron ore, the commodity used to make steel, to fall to $US60 a tonne by March 2026, down from levels above $US100 a tonne now.

Weaker iron ore prices, as a result of less demand from China, means less company tax revenue for the federal government.

But in a sign Labor has more election promises to announce, the Budget has contingency reserve funding of $40.838billion set aside over four years.

Governments set aside funding for new policies that are yet to be announced.

By comparison, just $1.95billion has been set aside for natural disaster relief from July 2025 to June 2029, even though Queensland has recently experienced flooding and a cyclone.
Britain's mighty fleet of fearsome new nuclear submarines, dubbed the Royal Navy's future 'silent enforcers', will feature separate cabins for female sailors, an on-board gym and study room for its 130-strong crew.

The new Dreadnought-class submarines will soon prowl the globe's oceans, cutting silently under the waves while carrying Britain's arsenal of nuclear weapons.

The four vessels  HMS Dreadnought, HMS Valiant, HMS Warspite and HMS King George VI  will replace the ageing Vanguard fleet and become the UK's main nuclear deterrents.

Sailors will be forced to spend months underwater locked inside them, with zero contact with their loved ones as they carry out patrols.

Much of the design of the boats has remained shrouded in secrecy. However, last week the world was given a fresh insight into them when Prime Minister Keir Starmer laid the keel for the first sub, HMS Dreadnought.

The exact date Dreadnought will enter service has not been revealed. However, it's thought it will be in the early 2030s, as part of a 20-year project costing 31billion.

But in a social media video boasting about the deadly submarines, the Ministry of Defence said: 'The Dreadnought Class submarines are the largest, most complex and capable submarines ever built in the UK.

'They will start to replace the current Vanguard Class from the early 2030s and keep the UK safe with our continuous at sea nuclear deterrent  365 days a year.'

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The new Dreadnought class of nuclear submarines will feature a gym, female-only cabins and three chefs. Pictured is what the boat will look like once it's fully built

Pictured: The Royal Navy's submarine HMS Vanguard which carries trident missiles. The fleet will be replaced by the new Dreadnought vessels

Displacing more than 17,000 tonnes and at a length of 14 buses, HMS Dreadnought will be the most-advanced boats of its kind in service anywhere, featuring  for the first time  'adaptive' lighting to simulate day and night on board.

The nuclear-armed subs have been built in secret, with engineers constructing huge 'mega-units' that were transported in big 'black binbags' to the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard, where they will be stitched together.

However, the boats are 'too fat to fit' into existing berths, armed forces minister Luke Pollard admitted, meaning work is underway to redesign submarine ports to accommodate the vast vessels.

Inside the boats, three chefs will keep the 130-strong crew fed while they remain underwater on their secret nuclear deterrent mission. An on-call doctor will also be available.

And for the first time, the submarines will feature female-only cabins.

It comes following a series of scandals within the submarine service that has seen female sailors reportedly being sexually assaulted and harassed by male colleagues.

So 'abhorrent' was the behaviour, it prompted a major inquiry by naval top brass in a bid to stamp out the abuse.

Whistleblowers previously told the MailOnline the submarine service was plagued by 'gang bangs', drugs, sordid initiation ceremonies, 'rape lists', with lewd officers sharing Top Trump-style cards celebrating the worst kinds of debauched behaviour.

The 'mega-unit' section of the Royal Navy's newest nuclear submarine HMS Dreadnought was kept under wraps as it headed north to Barrow shipyard

As part of a 31bn programme, the huge section of HMS Dreadnought is seen protected against the elements by what the Royal Navy describe as 'what must be the world's largest black bin bag'

The Dreadnought subs will be built in Barrow. Pictured is Keir Starmer meeting some of the personnel at the shipyard last week

PM Sir Keir Starmer gives an address during the keel laying ceremony of HMS Dreadnought

A former nuclear submarine captain said the British public will be 'rightly appalled' by the 'levels of depravity and failures in leadership'. While a former head of the Royal Navy branded the reports 'extraordinary' and 'unpleasant'.

Sources claimed vile 'initiation ceremonies' are carried out by the crew, where new young sailors are terrorised and told to get onto 'their hands and knees' before being forced to perform sex acts on other experienced sailors.

Male personnel on one nuclear-armed sub created a sickening 'crush depth rape list' which ranked which crewmates would be raped first in the case of a catastrophic event at sea - with senior officers allegedly aware of the document.

One young teenage male sailor was left so 'petrified' about being named on the list they begged older crewmates to protect them, amid claims complaints about the file had been 'swept under the carpet' and ignored by commanders.

'The lunatics are in charge at the asylum,' an insider told MailOnline. 'We had a rape list on my submarine. There was a 19-year-old kid [on it]. When he realised he was on it, he was s***ing his pants. Everyone wanted to rape him. He was petrified.'

Sailors also created a vile Top Trumps-style cards dubbed 'Disgraced Dabbers', which appears to celebrate the some of the worst offenders of alleged debauched behaviour - including high-ranking officers.

The claims appalled former nuclear submarine captain, Commander Ryan Ramsey, who said he was 'depressed and saddened' by the allegations.

Pictured is an example of the Top Trumps card which have been shared among crew on a nuclear submarine

A mock-up of the deck of cards, dubbed 'Disgraced Dabbers' appeared to show a number of Royal Navy sailors

Allegations have also been made that young sailors are forced to undergo repulsive 'initiation ceremonies' when they join a boat, which include performing sex acts on other sailors. (Pictured, HMS Vanguard arrives back at HM Naval Base Clyde)

'I really don't understand how we have got to these levels of depravity and failures in leadership and it needs to be sorted,' Cdr Ramsey said.

'When I was a junior officer, the thing was bullying and shouting and screaming. That was the really bad stuff. But now we're talking about rape lists.'

'The general public will be rightly concerned about those environments and those people in particular. They should be rightly appalled by the behaviours described.'

Former First Sea Lord, Admiral Lord Alan West, also expressed concern. He told MailOnline: 'It's very clear how one should behave in the Royal Navy - in my time if anyone did something wrong, we came down on them like a ton of bricks to sought them out. It all sounds very unpleasant and extraordinary.'

The Dreadnought subs have a lifespan of about 30 years and an 'unlimited range' thanks to its new nuclear reactor, defence giant BAE Systems claimed.

First steel was cut for Dreadnought nearly a decade ago and huge sections have already been completed. Last week's keel laying was broadly symbolic, with the ceremony attended by military and political top brass.

'This keel laying ceremony is considered the 'birth' of a vessel and I congratulate all those involved across the Alliance for reaching this important milestone in the life of HMS Dreadnought and look forward to bringing this exciting and highly capable submarine into service,' said First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key.

'Whilst the Vanguard-class of submarines continues to deliver our continuous at-sea deterrent today, the Royal Navy is greatly looking forward to operating highly sophisticated and advanced Dreadnought class submarines.'
An urgent safety warning has been issued to British tourists in Turkey after huge protests erupted following the arrest of President Erdogan's main political rival.

On Monday, the Foreign Office warned travellers about the ongoing demonstrations in Istanbul and other Turkish cities, which have seen riot police clashing with protestors in the street.

The travel authority cautioned that 'demonstrations may become violent. The police response has included use of tear gas and water cannons.'

In response to the escalation in tensions, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has recommended British tourists who are currently in the country or visiting in the coming days to monitor local media, plan ahead, and avoid crowds and demonstrations.

The FCDO strongly advises all UK holidaymakers in Turkey to 'avoid all demonstrations and leave the area if one develops. Local transport routes may be disrupted.'

The government body also warns: 'FCDO advises against all travel within 10km of the Turkey-Syria border.'

Demonstrations began erupting in the holiday hotspot after Turkish opposition politician, Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and one of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political rivals, was jailed after being arrested on corruption charges last week.

He had been due to be formally nominated as the Republican People's Party (CHP) 2028 presidential nominee in a vote on Sunday.

On Monday, the Foreign Office warned travellers about the ongoing demonstrations in Istanbul and other Turkish cities

The arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and one of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political rivals, and over 100 other people sparked some of the largest protests in Turkey for decades

People shout slogans next to anti riot police officers during a protest after Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested and sent to prison, in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, March 24

Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the CHP should stop 'provoking' citizens

The arrest of Imamoglu, 54, and more than 100 other people has sparked some of the largest protests in Turkey for decades.

But the demonstrations have quickly turned violent with footage showing clashes between protestors and riot police before crowds swarmed through the city after police were left overwhelmed by the scale of the demonstration.

Despite efforts from Erdogan's government to ban the gatherings and the use of water cannons, they have failed to deter the protesters who have taken to the streets for over five nights in a row.

The president has since dubbed the protests a 'movement of violence' and vowed that the main opposition party will be held accountable for injured police officers and damage to property.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Erdogan said the CHP should stop 'provoking' citizens.

'As a nation, we followed with surprise the events that emerged after the main opposition leader's call to take to the streets following an Istanbul-based corruption operation turned into a movement of violence,' the 71-year-old president said.

'The main opposition is responsible for our (injured) police officers, the broken windows of our shopkeepers and the damaged public property. They will be held accountable for all this, politically in parliament and legally by the judiciary.'

Earlier, interior minister Ali Yerlikaya accused some protesters of 'terrorising' the streets and threatening national security.

Demonstrations began erupting in the holiday hotspot after Imamoglu was jailed after being arrested on corruption charges last week

Despite efforts from Erdogan's government to ban the gatherings and the use of water cannons, they have failed to deter the protesters who have taken to the streets for over five nights in a row

People take part in a protest against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul, Turkey, March 24

Turkish riot police detain a protestor during a protest against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in Ankara, Turkey, 24 March 2025

The Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu, a member of opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the main challenger in the next presidential election, was jailed on corruption charges

He said 1,133 people had been detained during five days of protests and that 123 police officers had been injured.

On Sunday Imamoglu was formally arrested and charged with 'establishing and managing a criminal organisation, taking bribes, extortion, unlawfully recording personal data and rigging a tender'.

He will remain in custody until his trial.

According to Turkey's interior ministry, he has also been suspended from his democratically elected post as Mayor.

A defiant Imamoglu took to social media to criticise his arrest as a 'black stain on our democracy' and claim that Turkey has had 'enough' of Erdogan.

Imamoglu's arrest does not prevent his candidacy and election as president, but if he is convicted of any of the charges against him, he will not be able to run.

The popular politician beat the ruling AKP party to win Istanbul's mayoral election in 2019.

This was hailed as a historic result at the time due to Erdogan's party having controlled the city of 16million for a quarter-century.

Fireworks thrown by protesters explode next to riot police during a protest after Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested and sent to prison

The arrest have sparked the country's largest wave of demonstrations since the 2013 Gezi Park protests

People shout slogans next to anti riot police officers during a protest in Istanbul

Some 1,133 people have been detained during five days of protests and 123 police officers have been injured

The party pushed to void the municipal election results in the city, alleging irregularities which resulted in a repeat of the election a few months later, which Imamoglu won comfortably.

The mayor retained his seat following local elections last year, during which his party made significant gains against Erdogan's party.

CHP chairman Ozgur Ozel told reporters in Istanbul on Thursday, following the arrests, that Erdogan was straying from democracy with the detentions.

'Democracy was a train, and Tayyip Erdogan only boarded it as long as it suited him. Now, he has stepped off that train and joined the ranks of the coup plotters,' he said.

Erdogan, a populist with increasingly authoritarian tendencies, has led Turkey as prime minister or president for more than 20 years.

He is now the longest-serving leader in the Turkish republic's history.

His current term runs until 2028 but he has indicated he'd like to serve longer, perhaps attainable with the backing of a friendly parliament.

But support for the president among voters is waning, and remains particularly low in Istanbul.
An 5ft 8in Iranian asylum seeker with a 'prominent Adam's apple' has been fined 16,000 after he cuddled a teddy bear and pretended to be a child to get into Britain.

The adult male had been aged 18 at the time but deliberately tried to 'deceive' authorities by claiming he was a teenager, an asylum tribunal found.

An investigation was launched about the migrant's true date of birth and found the foreigner had a 'deep voice', 'fully formed jaw line', a 'well-developed bone structure', 'large ears', and 'physical characteristics of an older male'.

The British Red Cross supported the asylum seeker after he successfully launched a legal challenge against the decision, arguing the man was a child because he liked to 'hold and cuddle' a teddy bear.

Despite this, Upper Tribunal Judge Clive Lane has now ruled the Iranian was 18 when he entered the UK in 2022 and chose to 'conceal' his true age during his bid for asylum.

Judge Lane ordered the unnamed migrant pay Liverpool City Council's legal bills, which were 16,442. The Iranian may have to pay the full sum but the amount he owes is yet to be determined.

The tribunal, in Bradford, West Yorkshire, was told the Iranian entered Britain in October 2022 and claimed asylum.

An inflatable dinghy is pictured carrying a group of people across the English Channel

He claimed that he was born on a day in May 2005, making him 17 at the time of entry.

In November of 2022 social workers from Liverpool City Council carried out an enquiry about his age and assessed him as over 18, attributing him a date of birth of May 1999.

After the British Red Cross offered him support in early 2023, the council remained steadfast and insisted they would not be conducting a new age assessment.

Eventually the Iranian was granted permission for a Judicial Review however the case came before the Immigration and Asylum Chamber before this took place.

The tribunal was told the Iranian is 'currently provided with support and accommodation by the Home Office' and has been living in hotels.

At the tribunal, which convened solely to determine his age, details were heard about the council's initial age assessment.

Outlining their initial assessment, a tribunal report said: '[He] presented as approx. 5 feet 8 inches tall with a well-developed bone structure and of medium build.

'[He] has a fully formed jaw line, prominent Adam's apple, large ears and facial features of an adult and appears significantly older than his claimed age.

'[He] has the physical characteristics of an older male such as a deep voice.

'His demeanour was of someone who is not assertive and there was a time during the assessment that he cried and we again offered him an opportunity to take a break but he declined this.

'He consistently had a poor posture when sitting talking to us and we took your health condition into consideration, however, he looked as if he was trying to make himself look smaller than he actually is. He told us that he has a condition called Alopecia and this was why he was embarrassed to take off his cap.'

At the tribunal, the Iranian argued he did not have any ID documentation to prove his age.

He claimed that he knew his date of birth to be a date in May 2005 because his uncle used to tell him that 'my grandfather passed away on the day I was born'.

He had never been to school and it was heard he told the Home Office that he worked as a smuggler at age 16 for around two years.

The Iranian argued that UK authorities 'attached excessive weight' to the issue of his age.

Helene Santamera, Project Co-ordinator at British Red Cross, told the tribunal: 'From my observations of [the Iranian], he is much more comfortable and relaxed with the children that have had their age accepted than he is with the adults...

There have been 5,847 arrivals so far in 2025, including 335 on Sunday (pictured) according to provisional Home Office figures

'At a Christmas party during a Friday drop-in, [he] had 'gratefully received teenage boy appropriate presents' and had asked if he could have a teddy bear which he held and cuddled.

'For all of the reasons stated above, I have no reason to doubt the age that [he] has given.'

Judge Lane found that the Iranian was born on a date in May 2004 - not a date in May 2005 - and that he was 18 when he entered the UK.

'I did not find the [Iranian] himself to be an impressive witness', Judge Lane said.

'I have taken full account of his vulnerability and that he is (irrespective of my assessment of his age) a young, uneducated man living alone in a foreign country where he cannot speak the language and to which he has made a stressful and arduous journey.

'I was satisfied that he understood the questions put to him. I was not satisfied that he gave truthful evidence to the Tribunal.'

Judge Lane did not believe some of the Iranian's arguments.

He added: 'In the light of all the evidence, I find that the story about the grandfather is a convenient fiction which the [Iranian] has memorised to enable to explain why he can recall his false date of birth. It has every characteristic of a learned response.'

The judge also said the Iranian gave conflicting evidence about his ID documents as he had claimed Iranian authorities took his documents including his birth certificate, then later claimed he had never seen his birth certificate.

'I do not accept that the [Iranian] has given truthful evidence about the disappearance of his Iranian identity documents', Judge Lane said.

'I find that, had he been telling the truth, [he] would not have given such different answers.

'I find that [he] has been in possession of the Iranian identity documents and has lied about their whereabouts.

'I find he has done so because he does not want the United Kingdom authorities or the Tribunal to examine the documents.

'I find the documents probably contain evidence of [his] age which is inconsistent with the account he has given.

'I find as a fact that [he] is aware of his true date of birth, that the date is not what he now claims it be and that he has sought to deceive the United Kingdom authorities as to his true age.'

Judge Lane also said a key bit of evidence was the Iranian's first testimony to the Home Office when he said he had been a smuggler in Iran at age 16 for around two years.

'I find that in his Home Office asylum interview the [Iranian] has given a true account of his activities immediately before he came to the United Kingdom, a true account which he has subsequently tried to deny', the judge said.

Judge Lane dismissed the need for a Judicial Review and said the Iranian is liable to pay the local authority's costs but that the sum will need to be determined at a later date.
MPs voiced fury today after an extraordinary security bungle revealed some of President Donald Trump's most senior team condemning Europe as 'pathetic freeloaders'.

A bombshell exchange on the Signal messaging app - accidentally shared with a journalist - showed an elite group including Vice-President JD Vance, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth and national security advisor Michael Waltz voicing 'loathing' for their long-term European allies.

They also discussed how to get money out of European countries in return for US military strikes intended to stop Houthis rebels disrupting critical shipping routes in the Red Sea.

But UK politicians said the glimpse behind the scenes showed America was 'unreliable' and accused them of plotting 'extortion'. One normally US-friendly MP described the situation as a 'nightmare' and warned Europe must 'take it seriously and not think it's just casual chat'.

The brutal barbs in the conversation underline the gaps that have opened up between the US and Europe since Mr Trump returned to the White House - which appear to go far wider than the fate of Ukraine.

Bizarrely, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, Jeffrey Goldberg was added to the confidential chat.

Mr Goldberg revealed it contained a large volume of highly classified information, publishing details of the conversation on Monday.

The chat appears to have served as a virtual 'War Room' for some of the top players in the Trump White House, as well as Mr Vance, Mr Hegseth and Mr Waltz the list included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard and Mr Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles.

The conversation was initially centred around the military strikes against the Houthis' strongholds in Yemen, which started after the armed group threatened to begin targeting 'Israeli' ships again over Israel blocking aid entering the Gaza Strip.

In the chats, the user identified as Mr Vance expresses concerns about the strikes but ultimately agrees to go along with defence secretary Mr Hegseth's plan - before adding 'I just hate bailing Europe out again.'

Mr Hegseth responds: 'I fully share your loathing of European freeloading. It's PATHETIC.'

The secret Signal messages were mistakenly sent to Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic magazine

In the the leaked exchanges US Vice-President JD Vance is seen to remark: 'I just hate bailing Europe out again'

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth told the user standing-in for JD Vance: 'I fully share your loathing of European freeloading. It's PATHETIC'

MPs warned that the exchange showed the US administration was 'deeply unreliable'

There are claims that Mr Waltz is facing the sack over the saga - as he's believed to have been the official who 'added the editor-in-chief to the group'.

One source told Politico: 'Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f***ing idiot.'

According to Mr Goldberg, the messages featured information that could easily have been weaponised by enemies of the US to harm their personnel and assets. He wrote: 'The information contained in them, if they had been read by an adversary of the United States, could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel, particularly in the broader Middle East, Central Command's area of responsibility.

'What I will say, in order to illustrate the shocking recklessness of this Signal conversation, is that the Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing.'

The chats were confirmed as legitimate by the US government, but a White House spokesman said it was a 'demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials'.

Asked by about the leaked messages, the President Trump told reporters at the White House overnight that he hadn't seen The Atlantic story - before attacking the publication.

Looking puzzled, Mr Trump said: 'I don't know anything about it. I'm not a big fan of The Atlantic. It's to me, it's a magazine that's going out of business.'

The group chat was accidentally shared with Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine

Asking by reporters about the leaked messages, the US President on Monday told reporters at the White House he hadn't seen The Atlantic story revealing the details of the group chat

Former Democratic Party presidential candidate Hillary Clinton responded to news of the leaked messages on X, saying 'You have got to be kidding me'

Defence minister Luke Pollard suggested people would face disciplinary proceedings in the UK for a similar breach of operational security - although he stressed, he was not making a judgment on the US situation.

Giving evidence to the Commons Defence Committee he said: 'The Ministry of Defence has very clear policies in relation to what information can be shared and the format in which it can be shared. We don't comment on how allies share their information.'

He added: 'I'm confident that we have robust measures to safeguard our information and our data, but we also have a very clear set of systems where individuals don't follow procedures, with sufficient consequences to reflect the actions that have been taken.'

Mr Pollard said there would be 'a clear consequence and disciplinary process for anyone that was not following those procedures'.

Meanwhile, former Conservative defence secretary Grant Shapps said: 'I agree Europe must do more on security - but Sir Keir Starmer should remind USA the UK led from the front.

'I authorised four RAF strikes on the Houthis & the Royal Navy defended Red Sea shipping. Our forces risked their lives to protect trade. Some in DC need reminding.

Lib Dem MP Mike Martin, an Afghanistan veteran and defence committee member, posted on X: 'US Vice President and Secretary of Defence loathe Europe (as they try to extort money out of it).

'I wonder how much more evidence the UK government needs that Trump et al are deeply unreliable and we need to pivot towards Europe.'

One senior Tory MP, a long-term 'Atlanticist', told MailOnline that the situation was a 'nightmare'.

'I think Europe needs to take it seriously and not think it's just casual chat,' they said.

The MP said it appeared to confirm the 'hatred' of Europe at the top level of the Trump administration, but voiced hope that the wider government still had a grip of the country's real interests.

'The military leaders will have an opinion based on strategic importance, and Congress won't let them run mad,' they added.

Former Democratic Party presidential candidate Hillary Clinton responded to news of the leaked messages on X, saying 'You have got to be kidding me'.

However, the exchanges do suggest differences of opinion between some of the best-known figures in the current administration.

In the exchanges, the user identified as 'JD Vance' wrote that 'Andy baker for VP' was representing him.

That is presumably a reference to Andrew Baker, a national security advisor who has played a key role in shaping Mr Vance's foreign policy positions, especially his opposition to US aid to Ukraine and his scepticism of NATO.

Messages from the Vance account advise against a military strike in Yemen.

'Team, I am out for the day doing an economic event in Michigan. But I think we are making a mistake,' the Vance user stated to the group.

'There is a real risk that the public doesn't understand this or why it's necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message,' the Vance user continued.

The military strike against the Houthis, the team argued, was necessary to keep shipping lanes open on the Red Sea, as the insurgents were targeting ships.

Mr Vance's account expressed concerns about the timing of the proposed operation, warning of oil prices spiking as a result.

'I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now,' he wrote. 'There's a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices.'

A US ship fires a missile after US President Donald Trump, in a post on social media, vowed to 'use overwhelming lethal force' against the Houthis

A plume of smoke billows during a US strike on Yemen's Houthi-held capital Sanaa early on March 16, 2025

The Vance user said that he would remain publicly silent about his concerns but expressed them to the team.

'I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc,' he said.

Vance's communications director William Martin said the vice president remained aligned with Trump's decision but wanted to make sure he was properly briefed by his advisors.

'The Vice President's first priority is always making sure that the President's advisers are adequately briefing him on the substance of their internal deliberations,' he said in a statement.

'Vice-President Vance unequivocally supports this administration's foreign policy. The President and the Vice President have had subsequent conversations about this matter and are in complete agreement.'

In the chat, the Hegseth user said he understood Mr Vance's concerns and urged him to raise them with the president but argued for immediate action.

'We are prepared to execute, and if I had final go or no go vote, I believe we should,' he wrote.

The Walz user also said the United States would have to act and reminded Vance that 'Per the president's request we are working with DOD and State to determine how to compile the cost associated and levy them on the Europeans.'

US aircrafts taking off from aircraft carrier as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces carry out precision airstrikes kicking off a series of operations consisting of precision strikes against Iranian-backed Houthi targets across Yemen

'If you think we should do it let's go. I just hate bailing Europe out again,' the Vance user replied.

The SM user, identified in the article as Trump's advisor Steve Miller, reminded the group about the president's goal.

'As I heard it, the president was clear: green light, but we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return,' he wrote.

Trump ultimately ordered the strikes against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen over the weekend from his club at Mar-a-Lago in a successful mission.

The relationship between Trump and his European counterparts has been one of wariness and conflict even before the real estate mogul was sworn in as the 47th president.

The US leader's team told European officials in December that the bloc would have to more than double its spending target of 2 per cent - a target which over a quarter of its members were on course to fail to meet.

Trump called for European nations to up their military budgets to 5 per cent of GDP - far higher than the US's own defence spending.

The two-term president also said in February 2024 that he would encourage Russia to do 'whatever the hell they want' with any of the 32 NATO member states who failed to meet such ambitious defence spending targets.

President Trumps close advisor Elon Musk has consistenly called for the US to leave NATO

However, even back in Mr Trump's first term there were multiple signs that the real estate mogul was ready to resort to more drastic measures.

Senior officials in the first Trump administration said that their boss spoke numerous times in private over the course of 2018 about his desire to withdraw from NATO, The New York Times reported.

While he has so far avoided actively calling for the US to exit the North Atlantic alliance, that position is one favoured by several close members of his team including DOGE head honcho Elon Musk and Utah senator Mike Lee.

Vice-President Vance had some European ministers in tears back in February after he argued that free speech and democratic institutions were being eroded across the continent in an address to the Munich Security Conference.

He accused European politicians of forcing people to shut down social media accounts and urged leaders to do more to stem illegal immigration.

Mr Vance reserved particular scorn for the UK, citing the case of a British man arrested after praying near an abortion clinic.

'Europe faces many challenges, but the crisis this continent faces right now, the crisis I believe we all face together, is one of our own making,' he said.

'If you're running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you, nor, for that matter, is there anything that you can do for the American people who elected me and elected President Trump.'

JD Vance had some European ministers in tears back in February after he argued that free speech and democratic institutions were being eroded across the European continent in an address to leaders at the Munich Security Conference

President Trump's brinkmanship over the Ukraine-Russia conflict has also been a source of consternation for European leaders.

After initially claiming that he would stop the war on his first day in office, that timeline was quickly extended - with tempers flaring on several occasions.

Last month Mr Trump called Ukarine's President Volodymyr Zelensky a 'dictator' when speaking at a Saudi-backed investment meeting in Florida after talks between the US and Ukrainian president broke down following Mr Trump's insistence on including mineral rights in any prospective deal - but without the promise of a security guarantee for Ukraine.

But only a week later, when asked about that comment, Mr Trump glibly told reporters in the Oval Office: 'Did I say that? I can't believe I said that. Next question.'

However, things took an even more calamitous turn for the worse following Mr Zelensky's dramatic bust-up with President Trump and Mr Vance in the Oval Office.

While European leaders have sought to mend bridges between the two sides, there is no question that this in the most fractured the Euro-US alliance has been in decades.
Victoria is expected to see a population boom in coming years as fewer people move to Queensland and Western Australian from other parts of the country.

Melbourne was the only big city market where house prices went backwards in 2024, as other capitals saw double-digit increases.

Victoria has also been struggling economically since Covid, with Melbourne the worlds most locked down city under former Labor premier Daniel Andrews.

Despite having Australias second biggest population after Sydney, Melbourne is only Australias fourth most expensive market to buy a house, behind Brisbane and Canberra.

But the Treasury Budget papers are now predicting thousands more people will be moving to Victoria from other states in coming years and marginal, outer Melbourne electorates could decide this year's election.

Victoria was also the only state forecast to have an increase in net interstate migration, with 2,800 new arrivals predicted in 2025-26 growing to 3,700 in 2026-27.

This would occur as Queenslands interstate migration rate slowed from 23,200 to 20,400.

Western Australia, the nations fastest growing state, was tipped to see interstate migration flows plunge from 4,200 to 1,400.

Victoria is expected to see a population boom in coming years as fewer people move to Queensland and Western Australian from other parts of the country (pictured is Melbourne's Flinders Street Station)

This would be occurring as South Australias interstate exodus grew from 2,900 to 3,400.

The exodus from NSW was expected to slow from 24,300 to 21,000, as fewer Sydneysiders left for another part of Australia.

Tasmania was tipped to go from losing 700 people to other states to gaining 200 new people.

The Australian Capital Territory was forecast to go from losing 200 people to gaining 300 new residents from other states.

The Northern Territorys instate exodus was forecast to moderate from 2,220 to 1,500.

The federal government is expected to raise $99.3billion in revenue from the GST in 2025-26, with $95.151billion of that to be redistributed to the states and territories.

Victoria gets the biggest share of GST revenue, of 27.5 per cent or $26.146billion in the next financial year.

The state will receive more than the NSW share of 26.7 per cent or $25.436billion.

This is despite Victorias population of 7.165million being smaller than NSWs 8.646million.

Queensland will be a distant third with 17.4 per cent of the GST, or $16.578billion in a state with 5.732million.
The grandparents of a little French boy found dead in the Alps were today arrested under suspicion of murdering him and then hiding his corpse.

Philippe and Anne Vedovini, both 59, were on Tuesday taken into custody along with two of their adult children, in connection with the alleged killing of Emile Soleil.

The two-year-old was staying at the Vedovinis' isolated holiday home in the Alpine hamlet of Haut-Vernet, south of Grenoble, when he went missing in July 2023.

His remains, including a fractured skull, were found nearby nine months later, following daily searches.

At dawn today, police raided the family's permanent home, near Marseille, and arrested them.

Simultaneous swoops by police nearby led to the arrests of the other two suspects, who have not been identified by name.

All are under suspicion of 'intentional homicide' and 'concealing a corpse', said a statement released by Aix-en-Provence prosecutors.

Emile, who disappeared in Le Vernet, south-east France, on July 8, 2023

Investigators haul off a horse trailer from the property of the grandparents of Emile Soleil today

Philippe Vedovini at the funeral of little Emile in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume on February 8, 2025

Marie (L) and Colomban (R) Soleil, parents of Emile, arrive at the funeral ceremony in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, southern France, on February 8, 2025

It reads: 'This morning, Philippe Vedovini and his wife, grandparents of Emile Soleil, along with two of their adult children, were taken into custody' by investigators from the Marseille gendarmerie's investigation section.

'These police custody placements are part of a phase of verification and comparison of the evidence and information gathered during the investigations carried out in recent months.'

The statement adds: 'Investigators are also conducting forensic operations in various locations across the country.'

Isabelle Colombani, the grandparents' lawyer, confirmed the arrest to AFP, France's national news agency, but said she had no further comment to make.

The arrests took place at 6.30am at La Bouilladisse, just north of Marseille, in France's Bouches-du-Rhone department.

Emile was staying at Haut-Vernet at the time of his disappearance, and vanished while under the supervision of his grandfather - who later admitted 'fifteen minutes of inattention.'

The search for the child finally ended when Emile's bones were found in March 2024 by a rambler.

A gendarme stands outside the house of the grandparents of Emile Soleil on Tuesday

Emile's skull - which contained fractures and a bite mark - was found by a walker on March 30, 2024, on a path between the church and chapel of the rural Alpine village

Relatives and friends, including Emile's grandfather Philippe Vedovini (3rd R) arrive Emile's funeral in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, southern France, on February 8, 2025

Within hours of the ceremony, the grandparents published a statement saying 'the period of silence must yield to the period of truth', adding: 'We need to understand. We need to know.'

A gendarme enters a vehicle outside the house of the grandparents of Emile Soleil today

A witness saw Mr Vedovini, a physiotherapist-osteopath, cutting wood outside his house around the time Emile is thought to have wandered from the property in Haut-Vernet.

Last year, French news outlets including Le Parisien and the highly respected investigative newspaper Le Canard enchaine [The Chained Duck] reported disturbing information about Mr Vedovini.

'It is above all his past that raises questions,' wrote Le Parisien, as it outlined details of a sex abuse scandal at a Roman Catholic school in the 1990s.

It also confirmed Mr Vedovini  who denied any wrongdoing  'has attracted the attention of gendarmes and constitutes one of their many lines of enquiry'.

Mr Vedovini was training to be a monk when he worked at Riaumont, a Catholic community that includes a boarding school for troubled youngsters in northern France.

Situated at Lievin, in the Pas-de-Calais, it was run by Benedictine monks who received complaints from former pupils between 2014 and 2017.

They said they had suffered sexual abuse, including rape, in the early 1990s, as well as regular physical beatings.

Mr Vedovini, who was known as Brother Philippe when he worked at the school between 1991 and 1994, was implicated in the enquiry as an 'assisted witness'.

Interviewed by police in April 2018, he admitted to administering 'somewhat harsh' physical discipline, but said he had never broken the law, according to a source close to the enquiry.

The long investigation took a surprise turn when police arrested the boy's grandparents on suspicion of murder (pictured: the horse trailer being removed from the property)

A forensic investigator drives the car of the grandfather of Emile Soleil from the house today

Emile went missing while at the summer home (pictured) of his grandparents in the French Alpine hamlet of Le Haut-Vernet in July 2023

French gendarmes near the village last March after investigators found what they believed to be the 'bones' of little Emile in the first major breakthrough in the case

Eleven former colleagues  seven religious and four lay staff  ended up being indicted on various charges.

The public prosecutor in Bethune confirmed the criminal investigation was 'still in progress' and 'should soon be completed'.

There was no comment about the revelations from Mr Vedovini, nor his legal counsel, who were all approached.

Mr Vedovini gave up his vocation to become a monk in order to marry his wife, Anne Vedovini.

Both remain devout Roman Catholics who brought up ten children, including Emile's mother - who is now known by her married name of Marie Soleil.

The extreme-Right-wing political background of the family has also been examined by police.

Emile's father, Colomban Soleil, 27, was arrested for 'an attack on foreigners' in 2018.

He appeared before judges in Aix-en-Provence and was released from custody after pledging to maintain the peace.

Gendarmes meticulously search the outskirts of the village of Vernet in July 2023

French gendarmes take part in the search operation for two-year-old Emile in July 2023

Volunteers take part in a search operation for two-and-a-half-year-old Emile in July 2023

At the time, Mr Soleil was an activist linked to Action Francaise, the far-Right nationalist and royalist group, as well as the neofascist Bastion Social.

Three years later, in 2021, Mr Soleil and his wife stood as local election candidates in the Marseille area, supporting the Reconquest party of Eric Zemmour, the convicted racist and Islamophobe who tried to become president of France in 2023.

Their election slogans at the time identified them as 'friends of Eric Zemmour' who wanted to 'clean out the system'.

Emile's parents are not believed to be the two adult children arrested alonsgide their parents today.
Google has agreed to pay $28m (21.5m) to settle a lawsuit that claimed it favoured white and Asian employees.

A law firm representing claimants says white and Asian workers were given better pay and career opportunities than those from other ethnic backgrounds.

The tech giant confirmed it had 'reached a resolution' but rejected the allegations made against it.

Filed in 2021 by former Google employee, Ana Cantu, the case said employees from Hispanic, Latino, Native American and other backgrounds started on lower salaries and job levels than their white and Asian counterparts.

The case relied on a leaked internal document, which allegedly showed that workers from some ethnic backgrounds reported lower pay for similar tasks.

Cantu, who identifies as Mexican and racially Indigenous, claimed that despite performing exemplary work over the seven years she worked for Google she remained at the same job level while white and Asian peers recieved promotions.

Cantu argued Googles actions violated the California Equal Pay Act. She left the company in September 2021.

The settlement won preliminary approval from Judge Charles Adams of the Santa Clara county superior court in California last week.

He called the settlement 'a good result for the class' of at least 6,632 Google employees in California between 15 February 2018 and 31 December 2024.

Google has agreed to pay $28m (21.5m) to settle a lawsuit that claimed it favoured white and Asian employees (stock image)

According to Ms Cantu's lawyers the practice of basing starting pay and job level on prior salaries reinforced historical race and ethnicity-based disparities.

Cathy Coble, one of the lawyers representing the employees, praised the 'bravery of both the diverse and ally Googlers who self-reported their pay and leaked that data to the media'.

Google denied that it had discriminated against any of its employees.

'We reached a resolution, but continue to disagree with the allegations that we treated anyone differently, and remain committed to paying, hiring, and levelling all employees fairly,' a Google spokesperson told the BBC.

It comes after earlier this year Google scrapped diversity, equality and inclusion hiring targets as big tech bends to the new era of Donald Trump's anti-woke agenda.

Google joined a growing list of US firms that are abandoning commitments to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in their recruitment policies.

In an email circulated to employees seen by the Wall Street Journal, Google bosses said they would no longer be striving to improve DEI representation in the workforce.

Meanwhile, Google's parent company, Alphabet, removed a sentence stating the company was 'committed to making diversity, equity, and inclusion part of everything we do and to growing a workforce that is representative of the users we serve.'

The clause was included in its reports from 2021 until 2024, according to the WSJ. It marks a major policy row-back.
Australia is forging ahead in its support for Ukraine, setting aside $81million for its embassy in Kyiv and soldier training.

The government had already committed $1.3billion in military aid to Ukraine before the release of Tuesdays Budget.

That figure has now increased with $45million earmarked in 2025-26 for Operation Kudu, the ADFs training of Armed Forces of Ukraine recruits in the UK.

It also listed $36million over five years from 2024-25 for the newly re-opened Australian Embassy in Kyiv, which is enabling the return of diplomatic and consular staff to Ukraine.

The Albanese governments ongoing support for Ukraine comes after US President Donald Trump up-ended Washington's previous support and launched peace talks with Russia.

Professor Peter Dean, the Director of Foreign Policy and Defence at the University of Sydneys United States Studies Centre, welcomed the move.

'An embassy in Kyiv is long overdue,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Ongoing support for Ukraine is important, but the PM is yet to decide if and how we might contribute to any peace keeping force - and that would have to be costed and paid for.'

The Albanese governments ongoing support for Ukraine comes after US President Donald Trump up-ended Washington's previous support

Mr Albanese reiterated Australia's support for Ukraine earlier this month, joining a 'coalition of the willing' to discuss potential peace keeping operations.

The movement of Western allies, excluding the US, is led by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

It comes after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky endured a fiery dressing down at the White House in front of Trump and US Vice President JD Vance last month.

The pair urged Zelensky to work harder to agree to a ceasefire with Vladimir Putin and accused him of not being 'thankful' enough for military aid.

Trump also pushed Zelensky to sign a deal granting the US access to Ukraine's military deposits.

But the meeting devolved into a shouting match, and in the days afterwards, American aid to Ukraine was paused.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers' high-powered and glamorous wife Laura was slammed for being 'tone deaf' last year after wearing a $1,900 outfit to his Budget speech, which was all about the cost of living crisis.

People are still very much feeling the pinch in 2025 but the former political adviser-turned magazine editor appears to have taken the feedback on board by turning up in a dress a fifth of the price.

Ms Chalmers wore a modest yet stylish black dress as she supported her husband while he handed down the 2025-26 Budget in Canberra on Tuesday night alongside one of their three children.

Her dress, believed to be created by Melbourne-based fashion designer Mossman and costs $329.95, is described as the 'epitome of timeless elegance'.

'Featuring a flattering A-line design, this dress includes a draped bodice, shoulder tucks and a defined waistline to accentuate the silhouette,' its online listing states.

Wearers are encouraged to complete the look with 'minimalist heels for an effortlessly elegant style', advice Ms Chalmers followed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday night.

It marked a major budget-saving of her own, after she made headlines for wearing an $899 yellow Carla Zampatti dress and a matching $999 jacket in 2024.

The outfit, which cost the equivalent of a week's wages for many Australians, sparked anger, with one online commenter branding it 'top tier tone deaf'.

Laura Chalmers (pictured embracing her husband) wore a modest yet stylish black dress on Budget night

Her dress, believed to be created by Melbourne-based fashion designer Mossman and costs $329.95, is described as the 'epitome of timeless elegance'

Daily Mail Australia's Political Editor Peter nan Onselen said he didn't 'begrudge politicians and their partners wearing expensive outfits on Budget night'.

'Actually, I don't care at all to be completely honest. I am shocked, however, by the lack of political nous attached to doing so,' he wrote in 2024.

'Shouldn't savvy politicians at least pretend to be somewhat in touch with the challenges ordinary Australians are facing, if only for one night?'

Two months later, at the Midwinter Ball in Canberra, Ms Chalmers wore a powder blue Rebecca Vallance gown worth a whopping $1,500.

Full-time workers in Australia earn an average wage of $1,889 per week, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

An average salary is $98,218 while the median annual salary is $67,600.

Dr Chalmers claimed his focus in this year's Budget was bringing 'more hip pocket help for households' doing it tough right now.

'The cost-of-living is front of mind for most Australians and it's front and centre in this Budget,' the Treasurer said.

Wearers are encouraged to complete the look with 'minimalist heels for an effortlessly elegant style', advice Ms Chalmers took on board in House of Representatives on Tuesday night

It marked a major budget-saving after she made headlines for wearing an $899 yellow Carla Zampatti dress and a matching $999 jacket in 2024. The outfit, which cost the equivalent of a week's wages for many Australians, sparked outrage, with one online commenter branding it 'top tier tone deaf'

Dr Chalmers claimed his focus in this year's Budget was bringing 'more hip pocket help for households' doing it tough right now

'We know the welcome improvements in the aggregate numbers don't always immediately translate to how people are feeling and faring.

'We've made a lot of progress together but we know many people are still doing it tough.'

The centrepiece of his Budget was a promise of two tax cuts to every Australian taxpayer in 2026 and 2027.

Combined with Labor's stage three tax cuts last year, the average tax cut is expected to be around $43 per week or more than $2,200 in 2026-27, and around $50 per week or more than $2,500 in 2027-28.

'This will take the first tax rate down to its lowest level in more than half a century,' Dr Chalmers said on Tuesday night.

'These additional tax cuts are modest but will make a difference.'

Dr Chalmers' salary rose to $438,081 in June last year.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is paid a whopping $607,471, while Opposition Leader Peter Dutton takes home $432,239.

Ms Chalmers, formerly known as Laura Anderson, worked as a press secretary for former Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong before moving back to her first love, journalism.

Her successful career led to her becoming the national editor-in-chief for News Corp's Saturday Weekend Magazines in November 2021, just after returning from maternity leave.

It is a position she still holds, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Ms Chalmers cut her teeth in politics as the state political reporter for her hometown Adelaide's Advertiser newspaper from January 2003 to May 2006.

She then spent almost three years in Canberra as the Advertiser's federal political reporter before working for Ms Wong and, later, Ms Gillard.

Her political career came to an abrupt end in July 2013 when Kevin Rudd deposed Ms Gillard in an internal Labor stoush and replaced her as prime minister.

She and Dr Chalmers had married in March 2013 just two days after a previous Labor leadership spill - by Simon Crean - which Ms Gillard has survived.

The then PM attended the wedding, where she and then Treasurer Wayne Swan were given a specially set-aside room to form a new ministry.

The seating plan at the reception had to be changed at the last minute to keep warring Labor operatives apart - placing Julia Gillard beside Dr Chalmers' mother Carol.

He later played down the disruption, saying 'from our point of view, it wasn't that unusual, to be honest.'

The couple have three children - Jack, Annabel, and Leo.
The use of emojis in a leaked Trump administration group chat discussing strikes on Houthi targets has sparked outrage, with accusations that officials made light of the sensitive topics being discussed.

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of the Atlantic magazine, revealed on Monday that Trump's national security advisor Michael Waltz had - seemingly inadvertently - added him to a group chat called 'Houthi PC small group'.

The chat appears to have served as a virtual war room for some of the President's top team, including Waltz, Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard and Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles.

Goldberg said that Hegseth shared the war plan with the group at 11.44am eastern time on Saturday March 15, two hours before the bombs began dropping on Yemen.

As news broke of the strikes, the journalist checked the group chat where he found a flurry of emojis and congratulations flooding the text chain.

Waltz updated the group at 1.48pm, saying the operation had been an 'amazing job' before sending three emojis a few minutes later - a fist, an American flag, and fire.

Parts of the exchange have since been published, and have been met with furious reaction from politicians on both sides and the public, with many expressing disbelief that such a significant security breach could have been allowed to happen.

'Classified details leaked while officials celebrated with fist emojis,' one X user said. 'The emojis are sickening,' wrote another, adding that it shows a 'lack of respect' following the attack on Yemen.

Your browser does not support iframes.

The chat appears to have served as a virtual war room for some of Trump's top team, including Waltz, Vice President JD Vance and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth (pictured together)

Goldberg said that Hegseth shared 'the war plan' with the group at 11.44 am eastern time on Saturday March 15, two hours before the bombs began dropping on Yemen

Your browser does not support iframes.

Meanwhile German political commentator Nikolaus Blome wrote on the platform: 'Emojis, puberty outbursts, and amateurish war plans: The banality of stupidity.'

'Mike Waltz using emojis in a National Security/War strategy group chat like he's a 14 year-old,' another person commented.

Waltz was not the only official to use emojis in the already infamous group chat, according to the Atlantic.

Responding to the news of the strikes, the account named 'MAR' - seemingly belonging to Marco Rubio - wrote: 'Good Job Pete and your team!!'

Another account under Susie Wiles' name then texted: 'Kudos to all  most particularly those in theater and CENTCOM! Really great. God bless.'

'Steve Witkoff' then responded with five emojis - two hands-praying, a flexed bicep, and two American flags.

Two hours earlier, ahead of the strikes, Hegseth reportedly shared a message containing details of the forthcoming operation, including information about targets, weapons the US would be deploying, and attack sequencing.

The person identified as the Vice President responded: 'I will say a prayer for victory,' while two other members of the group sent prayer emojis.

The White House has confirmed that the chat appears to be authentic, adding that it is now reviewing 'how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.'

Speaking out for the first time since the story took over the news cycle Monday, Goldberg said he was fascinated by Vance's thoughts, breaking with Trump and also questioning his knowledge on the subject

Don Bacon, a Republican congressman from Nebraska, told news outlet Axios that the administration's action was 'unconscionable'.

'None of this should have been sent on non-secure systems,' he said of Waltz's messaging. 'Russia and China are surely monitoring his unclassified phone.'

Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn told reporters on Monday that it 'sounds like a huge screwup. I mean, is there any other way to describe it?'

He added: 'I don't think you should use Signal for classified information.'

Former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who was condemned by Trump and his allies for using a private email server while she served as Secretary of State under Obama, wrote on X of the news: 'You have got to be kidding me.'

Republican Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski told news outlet Semafor: 'Think about what we would do if Biden were president and this came out... we would raise the roof.

'It's going to be interesting to see if anybody loses their job over this,' she added, while Montana Senator Tim Sheehy simply said: 'Somebody f***ed up'.

Much of the blame has been apportioned to Mike Waltz, who Goldberg said was the official who added him to the group.

Politico reported late last night that some officials believe that Waltz must now be pushed out or resign to save President Trump from being put in a 'bad position'.

'Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f***ing idiot,' one source, identified as a 'person close to the White House', bluntly told Politico.

It remains unclear who Waltz intended to invite to the group chat and why such a large volume of classified information was being shared on a commercial messaging app.

The fact that an outsider could be added to such a thread appears to have been a stunning failure of operational security by the Trump administration.

The use of Signal rather than more secure government channels to hold these conversations has also raised questions over whether there has been a violation of the Espionage Act, which sets rules for the handling of classified information.
A Japanese man who spent more than 40 years on death row before being exonerated last year has been handed a record payout.

Iwao Hakamada, 89, was wrongly convicted for a quadruple murder in 1968 and sentenced to be hanged.

The retired professional boxer has now been awarded an eye-watering $1.4 million in compensation - roughly $85 for each day he was erroneously imprisoned.

The Shizuoka District Court confirmed that Hakamada had received more than 217 million yen, reports CNN.

Hakamada's legal representative Hideyo Ogawa described the compensation as the 'highest amount' ever handed out for a wrongful conviction in Japan but said it could never make up for the suffering endured by the Japanese national.

'I think the state (government) has made a mistake that cannot be atoned for with 200 million yen,' the lawyer said, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK.

Hakamada was cleared of any wrongdoing when a DNA test showed that the bloodstained clothing which was used to convict him was planted long after the murders, NHK reports.

In 1961 Hakamada retired as a professional boxer and got a job at a soybean processing plant in Shizuoka, central Japan.

Iwao Hakamada, 89, was wrongly convicted for a quadruple murder in 1968 and had been the world's longest-serving death-row inmate until his acquittal

The former boxer has now been awarded an eye-watering $1.4 million in compensation - roughly $85 for each day he was erroneously imprisoned

Hakamada's legal representative Hideyo Ogawa described the compensation as the 'highest amount' ever handed out for a wrongful conviction in Japan, but said it could never make up for the suffering endured by Hakamada

Five years later he was arrested by police after his boss, his boss wife and their two children were found stabbed to death in their home.

Until he was freed in 2014, pending retrial, Hakamada had been on death row for 46 years after being convicted of the killings.

But over the years, questions arose over fabricated evidence and coerced confessions, sparking scrutiny of Japan's justice system, which critics say holds suspects 'hostage'.

Hakamada was granted a retrial in 2023 and was found not guilty in 2024.



Hundreds of people had queued at the Shizuoka District Court, trying to secure a seat for the verdict in the murder saga that gripped the nation.

Japan is the only major industrialised democracy other than the United States to retain capital punishment, a policy that has broad public support.

Hakamada is the fifth death row inmate granted a retrial in Japan's post-war history. All four previous cases also resulted in exoneration.

Hakamada was granted a retrial in 2023 and was found not guilty in 2024. Hundreds of people had queued at the Shizuoka District Court, trying to secure a seat for the verdict in the murder saga that gripped the nation

Until he was freed in 2014 pending retrial, Hakamada had been on death row for 46 years after being convicted of the killings

After decades of detention, mostly in solitary confinement, Hakamada sometimes seems like he 'lives in a world of fantasy', according to his lead lawyer Hideyo Ogawa.

Speaking to AFP in 2018, Hakamada underlined his ongoing battle to obtain an acquittal, saying he felt he was 'fighting a bout every day'.

'Once you think you can't win, there is no path to victory,' he said.

Outside the court, Hakamada's supporters held flags and banners calling for a not-guilty verdict.

Atsushi Zukeran, wearing a T-shirt saying 'Free Hakamada Now', told AFP he was 'absolutely certain he will be acquitted' due to the qualms over the evidence.

But given how long the affair has dragged on, with Hakamada maintaining his innocence throughout, 'part of me wouldn't be able to celebrate the acquittal entirely', Zukeran said.

'His case is a painful reminder of how Japan's criminal justice system must change,' he added.

Although the Supreme Court upheld Hakamada's death sentence in 1980, his supporters fought for decades to have the case reopened.

A turning point came in 2014 when a retrial was granted on the grounds that prosecutors could have planted evidence, and Hakamada was released from prison.

At the retrial Hakamada's supporters held flags and banners calling for a not-guilty verdict

Hakamada is the fifth death row inmate granted a retrial in Japan's post-war history. All four previous cases also resulted in exoneration

Legal wrangling, including a pushback by prosecutors, meant it took until 2023 for the trial to begin.

Hakamada initially denied having robbed and murdered the victims, but confessed following what he later described as a brutal police interrogation that included beatings.

Central to the trial was a set of blood-stained clothes found in a tank of miso - fermented soybean paste - a year after the 1966 murders, used as evidence to incriminate Hakamada.

The defence accused investigators of a set-up, as the red stains on the clothes were too bright, but prosecutors said their own experiments showed the colour was credible.

In Japan, death row prisoners are notified of their hanging only a few hours in advance.

As of December, 107 prisoners were waiting for their death sentences to be carried out. It is always done by hanging.

Hakamada's case is 'just one of countless examples of Japan's so-called 'hostage justice' system', Teppei Kasai, Asia programme officer for Human Rights Watch, told AFP.

'Suspects are forced to confess through long and arbitrary periods of detention' and there is often 'intimidation during interrogation', he said.
Labour will today block measures seeking to stop taxpayers' cash being used to buy solar panels made by slaves - despite a backlash among its MPs.

Peers had sought to stop public funds from being used to purchase products from a company where there was 'credible evidence' of modern slavery in its supply chain.

But the Government will this afternoon whip Labour MPs to strip out a House of Lords amendment to the Great British Energy Bill, as the legislation returns to the Commons.

There are fears this will mean solar panels made with forced labour could end up on the roofs of hundreds of schools and NHS sites.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband admitted last week that some solar panels bought for a 180million project for schools and hospitals - as Britain races to achieve Net Zero - will come from China.

The country is responsible for 80 per cent of the global supply of solar panels, and the Xinjiang region produces up to 40 per cent of the world's polysilicon  a key component.

Xinjiang is also where more than a million Uighurs, an ethnic group, have been detained, according to human rights groups. And there is evidence of Uighurs being used as forced labour.

The housing minister, Matthew Pennycook, this morning dodged on whether the Government could guarantee it will never use solar panels made by slaves.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, pictured with China's vice premier Ding Xuexiang this month, has admitted some solar panels bought for schools and hospitals will come from China

The Xinjiang region is where more than a million Uighurs - an ethnic group - have been detained, according to human rights groups (Pictured: A high-security facility in China)

Solar panels made with forced labour could end up on the roofs of hundreds of schools and NHS sites (stock image)

Asked whether he could guarantee materials would not have been 'provided by slaves in China', Mr Pennycook told Times Radio: 'Absolutely.'

But he was asked again to offer a guarantee, to which he replied: 'I understand the concern that people have out there about the use of particularly Uighur region.

'What I'm saying I suppose is we need to see action across the whole of the energy industry and that's why we're working across Government to tackle the issue of forced labour in supply chains.'

Pressed again to give a 'yes or no' answer, Mr Pennycook said: 'I think I've answered very clearly, we're taking action across the whole of Government to tackle the issue of forced labour in supply chains.'

Last month peers backed the cross-party amendment by 177 votes to 127, despite the Government arguing that there were already enough safeguards.

And this afternoon ministers will seek to overturn the amendment when the Bill returns to the Commons.

There is said to be 'deep disquiet' on the Labour backbenches over the Government instructing its MPs to back the motion to get rid of the amendment.

Labour MP Rachael Maskell said last night: 'Human rights must form a central pillar of our trading arrangement.

'The forced labour, dehumanisation and torture of the Uighur communities is deeply distressing, so no trade must be associated with these horrendous crimes against others.'

Acting Tory energy spokesman Andrew Bowie told the Mail that overturning the amendment would give Mr Miliband 'free rein to send taxpayers' money to China in exchange for solar panels tainted by slave labour'.

He added: 'Miliband promised to cut everyone's energy bills by 300 at the election  but bills are going up and he's making us increasingly dependent on coal-powered Chinese imports in order to meet his reckless Net Zero targets.'

Tory grandee and China hawk Sir Iain Duncan Smith said the Government was asking Labour backbenchers to 'turn and look away when slave products come'.

'It's the first test for the Labour Government: which side of this do you stand?,' he said.

'You used to stand on the side of anti-slavery, but by turning a blind eye, the Government will have put themselves in line with other countries who believe it is okay to turn a blind eye to slavery.'

Sir Iain added: 'The choice will be pretty binary: we either think it doesn't matter if there is slave labour in the supply chain in this particular instance on Net Zero, or we do.

'And if we do believe there shouldn't be slave labour in any product, and particularly not the Net Zero stuff, then the answer is we have to act and say that we're not going to do it.'

The housing minister, Matthew Pennycook, this morning dodged on whether the Government could guarantee it will never use solar panels made by slaves

A worker at a photovoltaic enterprise works on the production line at Ganyu Economic Development Zone in Lianyungang, China

Luke de Pulford, of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, said: 'There's no climate justice in a green transition built on the backs of Uighur slaves.

'It's the tenth anniversary of the Modern Slavery Act this week, a law which has failed miserably to keep slave-made goods off our shelves.

'It is shameful in the extreme that the Government would mark this anniversary by forcing MPs to vote to remove a modest amendment seeking to stop public money being spent on Chinese state slavery.'

Asked why Labour does not back a ban, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'We're absolutely focused on tackling human rights abuses and modern slavery in supply chains.

'We need to take a whole of Government and society approach and place victims and survivors at the centre of this work.

'We want to combat human rights abuses like modern slavery across the whole energy industry. We think that will be more effective than applying measures on a company-by-company basis.'

On Friday, Mr Miliband announced that his new green quango, Great British Energy, would oversee a 180million project to install rooftop panels on 200 school buildings and almost as many NHS sites.

He said the investment would immediately save the public sector money on electricity bills, but conceded some of the solar panels will come from China.

Great British Energy is being backed by 8.3billion of taxpayers' money - to be invested in clean energy projects across the UK - over the course of the current parliament.
Think tank focuses on deepening Cambodia-China "Diamond Cooperation Framework"

Xinhua) 09:33, March 25, 2025

PHNOM PENH, March 24 (Xinhua) -- A high-level think tank forum was opened here on Monday, with a focus on deepening Cambodia-China "Diamond Cooperation Framework" towards building a Cambodia-China community with a shared future in the new era.

Co-hosted by the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC) and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the two-day forum was convened in Phnom Penh on Monday and in the cultural province of Siem Reap on Tuesday.

Zhen Zhanmin, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that China and Cambodia are iron-clad friends who share weal and woe and help each other, and their bilateral relations have maintained a high level of development for a long time.

The construction of a community with a shared future between China and Cambodia has continued to advance in depth, accumulating valuable experience and playing a demonstration role in building a community with a shared future for the surrounding areas and even for mankind, Zhen said.

"China and Cambodia use political mutual trust to safeguard the construction of a community with a shared future, economic and trade cooperation to strengthen the foundation of the construction of a community with a shared future, and cultural exchanges to win people's hearts and minds for the construction of a community with a shared future," he told the forum with some 100 participants.

Zhen added that think tank exchanges are an important part of cultural exchanges, and play a unique role in enhancing policy communication, promoting practical cooperation, and promoting people-to-people exchanges.

Khy Sovanratana, a secretary of state at Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said the forum marked an important platform to strengthen the unwavering commitment of Cambodia and China in promoting various areas of cooperation and reviewing significant developments.

He highlighted that the relationship between Cambodia and China has been nurtured by successive generations of leaders to the present day.

"This historic bond has grown from strength to strength, evolving into an ironclad friendship built on the foundation of win-win cooperation, peaceful coexistence, mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal affairs," he said.

Sovanratana said since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cambodia and China on July 19, 1958, the two countries have developed a strong and multifaceted relationship, particularly in key areas of political, economic, military, and cultural cooperation.

"Today, as we gather here, we seek to explore new opportunities and deepen our bilateral relationship for the benefit of both nations, as well as for global peace, prosperity, and sustainable development," he said.

"The Diamond Cooperation Framework is a testament to our partnership, serving as a concrete roadmap based on mutual trust, shared objectives, and commitments," he added.

Sok Touch, president of the RAC, said Cambodia and China agreed in 2023 to develop a "Diamond Cooperation Framework" with six priority areas, including political cooperation, production capacity and quality, agriculture, energy, security and people-to-people exchanges.

"Overall, I could say that the Cambodia-China relations in the new era have reached the highest-ever level in the history," he said.

Touch believed that the forum would provide valuable input for the two countries to deepen bilateral ties and cooperation towards building a high-quality, high-level and high-standard community with a shared future in the new era.

Kin Phea, director general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said under the "Diamond Cooperation Framework," the two countries have been working together to develop an "Industrial Development Corridor" and "Fish and Rice Corridor."

He said the "Industrial Development Corridor" has been designed to support the transformation of coastal Sihanoukville into a model multipurpose special economic zone, as the "Fish and Rice Corridor" aims to enhance agricultural productivity and ecological sustainability around the Tonle Sap Lake in northwest Cambodia.

"China has always been ready to work with the international community to restore confidence in multilateralism and globalization, build an open and pluralistic world economy, and blaze a new trail in inclusive growth and sustainable development," he said.

According to Phea, the forum has been the fourth of its kind since 2019.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
A British holidaymaker has been killed in a 'tragic' jet ski accident on a private island in the Bahamas, it has emerged.

The 73-year-old, whose identity has not yet been released, died on Saturday during her visit to RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, the Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed.

Investigators say she had been riding on a jet ski when she allegedly 'lost control' of the personal watercraft and 'collided with a rock'.

Despite receiving medical assistance, she was pronounced dead at the scene by a local doctor. The incident remains under investigation by Bahamian authorities.

The victim, who was a dual British-Czechoslovakia national, was a passenger on the Holland America cruiseliner Nieuw Amsterdam.

Holland America is in contact with the woman's family and says it is 'doing everything we can to support them during this difficult time'.

The ship docked at the private island, which is an exclusive destination for Carnival and Holland America passengers, on the seventh day of its 14-day itinerary around the eastern and western Caribbean.

The Nieuw Amsterdam has continued its route and is expected to dock in Jamaica today. The ship will stop at ports on Grand Cayman Island and in Mexico before it returns to Florida on Sunday.

The 73-year-old, whose identity has not yet been released, died on Saturday whilst visiting the private island RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay (pictured)

The victim, who was a dual British-Czechoslovakia national, had been travelling on the Holland America cruise ship ms Nieuw Amsterdam (pictured)

Police in Eleuthera responded to the RelaxAway private beach club shortly after 1pm on Saturday after the island manager alerted them of the accident.

Upon arrival at Half Moon Cay, officers carried out an initial investigation which revealed the woman was 'riding a Jet ski when she allegedly lost control and collided with a rock resulting in the accident,' police said in a statement.

'Medical personnel rendered assistance to the victim but to no avail. She was pronounced deceased by the local medical doctor.'

The Royal Bahamas Police Force said the investigation remains ongoing.

Holland America, in a statement to MailOnline today, confirmed that the woman had been a passenger on its Nieuw Amsterdam ship and 'passed away following a tragic incident on a personal watercraft'.

'The guest, a 73-year-old woman, died on March 22 while the ship was calling at Half Moon Cay, The Bahamas,' a spokesperson said. 'We are in contact with the guest's family and doing everything we can to support them during this difficult time.'

The cruise line declined to provide any further information 'out of respect for the family and guest'.

Half Moon Cay is a private crescent-shaped island that features 'white-sand beaches, a turquoise lagoon and untouched nature,' Holland America and Carnival boast on their website.

The island, which will debut more upgrades next year, has held the title of 'Best Private Island' for 20 years running, according to the cruise lines.

The island is known for its 'beauty and amenities', including snorkeling, kayaking and nature walks. Both Holland America and Carnival claim Half Moon Cay is a highlight for cruise passengers 'seeking tranquility or adventure'.
Meghan Markle's long-awaited podcast launch faced a technical hitch this morning after the teaser clip for Confessions of a Female Founder went live.

The trailer for the Duchess of Sussex's new podcast was released at 7.30am, with her promising 'girl talk' and advice on how to create 'billion-dollar businesses'.

But the trailer on Apple Podcasts - which was embedded within the People magazine article which announced the news - failed to play after it went live.

Instead, users saw an error message stating: 'This episode is temporarily unavailable. Try again later.' The problem was later fixed, and it can now be played.

Ironically, the preview was working fine from the start on Spotify  on which Meghan hosted her previous Archetypes podcast about female stereotypes in 2022.

That show ran for just one series, and was part of the previous 20million deal she and Prince Harry had with the streaming network, which ended the year after.

MailOnline has contacted Apple about the launch of Confessions Of A Female Founder, ahead of the first of eight episodes which is due to come out on April 8.

The podcast is the latest in the Duchess's flurry of output after her much-criticised Netflix lifestyle series With Love, Meghan and her new brand As Ever.

The Confessions of a Female Founder trailer on Apple Podcasts failed to play after it went live

She tells one guest in the one minute 57 second trailer to think of the experience as being in a 'dolphin tank' rather than a 'shark tank', asks another whether she is single now, talks about the 'laser focus' needed in business, and finishes her voiceover with: 'Let's do this, ladies.'

Meghan's podcast is part of a deal signed last year with Lemonada Media.

Against an upbeat soundtrack of Crabbuckit by the Canadian hip hop artist k-os, the snippet begins with Meghan saying: 'I'm Meghan, and this is Confessions Of A Female Founder, a show where I chat with female entrepreneurs and friends about the sleepless nights, the lessons learned and the laser focus that got them to where they are today.'

In between excerpts of guests speaking, Meghan says in a voiceover: 'We're diving into the highs... and the lows... and the kind of advice that turns small ideas into billion-dollar businesses... and of course, we're gonna get some girl talk.'

Meghan tells one guest: 'Are you saying you're not single now? Have I missed something in the past couple weeks?'

Lemonada Media co-founders Jessica Cordova Kramer (left) and Stephanie Wittels Wachs

Meghan's Spotify contract ended in 2023 after one series of her first podcast Archetypes

The podcast will also follow Meghan's work on her As Ever brand which is soon to begin selling jam, herbal teas, flower sprinkles and ready-make crepe mix.

The former Suits actress adds in her voiceover: 'And through it all, I'm building a business of my own and getting all sorts of practical advice along the way that I'm very excited to share with you.

'So join me for Confessions Of A Female Founder from Lemonada Media, which, by the way, is also female founded, launching April 8, wherever you get your podcasts. Let's do this, ladies.'

At the end of the trailer, Meghan can be heard telling a guest: 'This is not Shark Tank. Think of this as dolphin tank. Yes, these are very friendly. These are very friendly waters. It's all gonna be good.'

It comes just hours after Meghan shared a ShopMy collection of clothing and accessories on Instagram, with a disclaimer that she would receive a sales commission on some products purchased through the links.

The assortment of neutral shirts, trousers, dresses, handbags and sunglasses is described as 'a handpicked and curated collection of the things I love'.

It includes a gold Maya Brenner Happiness Retreat citrine stone necklace, made in collaboration with Meghan's former Suits co-star Abigail Spencer, for 383, and a Heidi Merrick's ivory silk Windsor gown for 1,072.

The Duchess yesterday gave her Instagram followers a closer look inside her wardrobe when she launched an online shop - with handpicked pieces from brands such as Heidi Merrick

The launch of the website came less than an hour after Meghan shared a rare photograph of herself with her two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, while promoting As Ever

The Duchess of Sussex's new show 'With Love, Meghan' came out on Netflix on March 4

Meghan also posted a rare photograph of herself with her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, with their faces away from the camera, on her own account and that of her As Ever brand.

Guests in the trailer talk about the ups and downs of their businesses, with one telling how the numbers began 'climbing and climbing' on their website, with Meghan laughing along with her interviewee.

Another says 'I've pissed off everybody. I'm broke, and no-one's calling me', to which Meghan responds 'Oh no'.

A third unnamed guests tells the duchess: 'I knew in that moment that I'd rather stand for something than sell a whole ton of product and stand for nothing. You have to detach from the outcome.'
Firebrand senator Jacqui Lambie has erupted in a furious tirade to accuse Jim Chalmers of 'giving rich people more tax cuts'.

The Federal Treasurer handed down his fourth budget on Tuesday night with the promise of $17billion tax cuts as part of Anthony Albanese's bid to win back voters struggling through a cost of living crisis weeks out from an election.

He also announced a $150 extension to the energy rebate.

The pre-election sweeteners weren't enough for Senator Lambie, who took aim at the blanket measures as she blasted the government for failing Australians who are doing it tough on ABC's Insiders.

'There's nothing to brag about here,' the Tasmanian independent senator told host David Speers on Tuesday night.

'Giving rich people more tax cuts is not a viable option. I don't know how many times we need to tell them.

'Cuts you give to us, can you imagine the billions of dollars youve wasted on giving people like that, people like me who have more than enough money instead of putting that forward to those people who need that more.

'This is disgusting, it is lazy and quite frankly I want all those rich people to know that if you are taking that [$150] energy payment, you are a welfare recipient.'

Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie (pictured) told ABC Insider's that 'rich' Aussies who take the energy payment are 'welfare recipients'

Under the latest energy scheme, all Australian households and one million small businesses will receive two automatic $75 rebates directly off their electricity bills through to December 31.

Senator Lambie became emotional as she unleashed on Labor's lack of aid for small businesses while taking aim at government support for salmon farming.

'They're not a friend of small business, they are the enemy,' she said.

'Up here this week, we are talking about dirty, stinking salmon sitting in Macquarie Harbour, and yet the tax write-off for small businesses finishes on July 1.

'Wouldnt you think wed be sitting up here this week doing more for small business and making sure they received that $20,000 write-off going from July 1?

'Small business has been absolutely killed in the last three years.'

Senator Lambie was referring to the instant asset write-off for small businesses which the Albanese government chose not to extend in this budget.

Ahead of the federal election, the government passed a new bill in the lower house to protect the salmon industry in Tasmania from challenge under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

ABC host David Speers (pictured) asked Senator Jacqui Lambie whether the government had backed the 'wrong side' by protecting the salmon industry in Tasmania

Speers asked the Tasmanian senator for her views on the bill and whether the government is 'backing the wrong side'.

'They're on the wrong side. There are 65 per cent of Tasmanians that do not want salmon farming going on in Tasmania,' Senator Lambie said.

Her passionate rant sparked a mixed reaction from ABC viewers.

'Jacqui Lambie behaving like a ranting ghost,' one wrote.

Another added: 'I swear I just heard Jacqui Lambie conducting an auction.'

A third wrote: 'I always applaud Jacqui Lambie's passion, but she does not have the comprehension skills needed to make meaningful, positive change.'

Other viewers welcomed the senator's candid assessment of the budget.

'Our Aussie Senator Jacqui Lambie is a legend,' one wrote.

Another compared her to popular, outspoken American senator Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: 'America has AOC. We have Jacqui Lambie.'

Dr Chalmers' Budget offered a raft of cost-of-living measures designed to appeal to battling Aussies in a last-ditch, pre-election pitch.

Jacqui Lambie slammed the Albanese government over the lack of support for small businesses (pictured)

Treasurer Jim Chalmers' budget was branded 'disgusting' and 'lazy' by Senator Lambie

It included two tax cuts, a $150 extension to the energy rebate, promises to make nine out of ten visits to the GP free, wiping $19billion from existing student debt, banning non-compete clauses and billions set aside for major infrastructure projects.

From 1 July 2026, the 16 per cent tax rate, which applies to taxable income between $18,201 and $45,000, will be reduced to 15 per cent  up to $268.

And from 1 July 2027, this tax rate will be reduced further to 14 per cent  up to $536.

Australia's tax system is progressive, meaning that all 14 million of the country's taxpayers will benefit from these cuts.

Combined with the stage three tax cuts, the average tax cut is expected to be around $43 per week or more than $2,200 in 2026-27, and around $50 per week or more than $2,500 in 2027-28.
Kemi Badenoch is not doing enough to earn the 'respect' of voters ahead of the local elections, the only Tory elected mayor has warned.

Lord Ben Houchen hit out at the leadership, saying it needed to start putting forward concrete Tory ideas now to help see off the threat from Nigel Farage's Reform UK.

The critique from the mayor of the Tees Valley came as Mrs Badenoch refuses to be pushed into swiftly revealing core policies for her revamped parties.

She has made some broad brush announcements in speeches to think tanks regarding immigration and Net Zero that have been seen as attempts to win back voters leaked to the Right.

But MailOnline has been told by Tory shadow Cabinet ministers that they have been told they will not need firm policy policy positions ready to go until 2027, in anticipation of a general election in 2028 at the earliest.

Speaking to The House magazine Lord Houchen suggested the Tories didn't need a special anti-Reform strategy if they 'put forward our views ... [starting] today, rather than in three years' time'.

'We do not live in a world of academia and think tanks. That's not what modern politics is about. It's a street fight. You've got to get out there. You've got to dig your nails in.

'You've got to dig your heels, and you've got to make progress one inch at a time. We're not doing enough to earn the respect from others, journalists, political parties or the public, because we're not doing that.'

Lord Ben Houchen hit out at the leadership, saying it needed to start putting forward Tory ideas now to help see off the threat from Nigel Farage's Reform UK.

The critique from the mayor of the Tees Valley came as Mrs Badenoch refuses to be pushed into swiftly revealing core policies for her revamped parties.

Mrs Badenoch defended her approach in a speech last week, in which she said the Conservatives must offer 'credible plans' that are 'rooted in realism, not wishful thinking' and 'show that we are thinking about tomorrow.'

The Tory leader said the public had 'made it very clear that the Conservative Party needed some time away from government'.

At a speech in central London, she said: 'Our job right now is to use that time wisely, just as Margaret Thatcher and David Cameron did in generations past and just like the 1970s and 2000s, our party cannot shortcut our way back into office with easy answers or rushed announcements.

'We must develop credible plans that are based on shared Conservative values, personal responsibility, citizenship, sound money, family, freedom and so much more  plans that show that we are thinking about tomorrow, plans that are ambitious, tackling problems with the detail they deserve, but (that) are rooted in realism, not wishful thinking.'

Speaking to Talk TV today she said Rachel Reeves would have been sacked in any other industry because of her performance as Chancellor  but claimed any replacement on the Labour benches would be 'much worse'.

Asked if Ms Reeves should lose her job because of the state of the economy, the Tory leader told Talk TV: 'I think in any other field she would have.

'But she's actually one of the best they've got on the Labour benches, which is what's really sad  if she goes we're likely to get someone much worse.

'Listen to Labour backbenchers and a lot of the things that they ask for are completely crazy, they would bankrupt the country tomorrow.'

She said the 'mistakes' made in Ms Reeves' first budget were 'what she is trying to fix now with the emergency budget we are getting tomorrow'.

'This is not something that's reacting to world events, she made errors, problems have been caused and now she is going to try to fix them again tomorrow.'
As Donald Trump took to social media to tear into a portrait of him as 'truly the worst', the average art enthusiast can be forgiven for feeling slightly bewildered.

The artwork, painted by Sarah Boardman and hanging in the Colorado State Capital, has been derided by the US President as 'distorted' to an extreme he has 'never seen before'.

And while MAGA fans and art critics might take issue with the eyes - so dark they appear almost black - or the hair - somewhat wispy and a little lacklustre - Trump is instantly recognisable in the image.

It is undoubtedly the President's face that stares down at the beholder, and while Trump might not like it, it's arguably a rather flattering depiction of the 78-year-old.

For the likes of the royal family, former British prime ministers and global leaders around the world, Trump's protestations will ring particularly sour.

At least his portrait is realistic - not featuring a round blob for a nose and missing the mouth entirely, like a 2006 painting of the late Queen Elizabeth. And it doesn't feature him half-naked, like a much-criticised portrait of the late Prince Phillip.

That's without even mentioning the collection of 'paintings' by previous White House president George W. Bush.

Here MailOnline takes a look at some of the worst portraits of global leaders over the years and examines whether Trump's outrage is justified - or he just needs some perspective.

Donald Trump - Sarah Broadman

Donald Trump has savaged an artist for painting an 'unflattering' portrait of him which is hanging in the Colorado State Capitol

The President is demanding Democrat Governor Jared Polis remove the artwork, which is hanging alongside portraits of 'all the other Presidents'

Trump said the artist behind the portrait, Sarah Boardman, also painted Obama (both portraits side by side) during his stint in the White House, and managed to do a successful job

Reacting to the portrait of himself hanging in Colorado, Trump wrote on social media to share his disgust.

'Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves,' Trump said on TruthSocial on Sunday night.

'But the one in Colorado, in the State Capitol, put up by the Governor... was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before.'

Trump said the artist behind the portrait, Sarah Boardman, also painted Obama during his stint in the White House, and managed to do a successful job.

'He looks wonderful, but the one on me is truly the worst,' Trump wrote.

'She must have lost her talent as she got older. In any event, I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one.'

Trump claimed 'many people from Colorado have called and written to complain' about the unflattering artwork.

But the portrait is perfectly realistic, and many have been left questioning what the fuss is all about.

Vladimir Putin - George W. Bush

Former President George W. Bush painted a portrait of Vladimir Putin after taking up art once out of office

After picking up the paintbrush following his stint in the White House, Bush allowed the cameras an exclusive look into his work during an interview with daughter Jenna Bush Hager, a special correspondent with the Today Show.

Possibly most striking was a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin, staring stoney-eyed out of the canvas at the viewer.

Bush said he wanted to reflect the attitude he had towards Bush of 'one-upmanship', recounting a story in which Putin told him: 'My dog is bigger than your dog'.

Although not a professional, Bush certainly captured Putin's hollow eye sockets and cold, hungry look.

But the much-discussed artwork is devoid of colour, sapping any sign of life from Putin and making him almost corpse-like. His hair leaves much to be desired, with the collar of his shirt painted on such an angle it appears more like a V-neck T-shirt.

There's no doubt Putin would not be a fan - although whether there is any portrait he would approve of is also up for debate.

Queen Elizabeth II - George Condo

This abstract depiction of Queen Elizabeth II, from 2006, is called Dreams and Nightmares of the Queen by George Condo - and doesn't give the most flattering portrayal

George Condo's 2006 portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II is perhaps one of the most universally hated paintings of royals in recent times.

The abstract artwork, which appears more like a cartoon character than real life, shows the late Queen with a puffed up, short face and a long neck while dressed in royal robes.

Somewhat insultingly, her nose is painted as a round blob and her cheeks are painted similarly, as if she were holding her breath.

Strangely there is no mouth depicted in the picture, no eyebrows, and a large bulbous chin.

Prince Phillip - Stuart Pearson Wright

This highly unusual painting of the late Duke of Edinburgh, by Stuart Pearson Wright, shows him bare-chested with strands of cress growing from his finger

Possibly the most bizarre painting of the late Duke of Edinburgh was revealed by Stuart Pearson Wright in 2004.

Featuring the prince bare-chested, it is set against a blue sky and includes a fly sitting on his shoulder and cress growing out of his finger.

The portrait was commissioned by the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce - but Prince Philip declined to go to the artist's studio and instead gave him four one-hour sessions at Buckingham Palace, rather than the suggested minimum of 20.

The lack of sitting time could explain the unflattering look - with a face so long it looks as if the prince had been stretched like a pole.

Meanwhile the nose is so large and throbbing it looks ready to jump out of the frame - perhaps in protest at the undignified look.

Tony Blair - George W. Bush

Bush's portrait of Tony Blair features a bizarre hairline and the proportion of his head is just not quite right

Bush has told how all the images of world leaders he has painted are meant in the 'spirit of friendship', and there is no greater representation of that than the portrait of Tony Blair.

The UK-US special relationship means it would have almost have been insulting for Blair - who was in office at the same time as Bush - not to have been included.

Although it features an unflattering hairline and a somewhat fuller face than reality, the portrait is certainly not the worst of the collection.

Perhaps President Trump should phone a friend and ask for his own portrait from Bush to hang in Colorado.

Princess Diana - Stella Vine

Artist Stella Vine caused outrage with her portraits of Diana, including one showing her with blood dripping from her mouth

Amid the anger and furore of misinformation that followed the death of Princess Diana, one artist decided to channel it into her own work.

But few would have predicted this would have ended in a ghoulish-looking Diana with blood dripping from her mouth, accompanied by a message from beyond the grave.

Stella Vine painted a series of portraits of the late Princess Diana in the early noughties, with this one featuring in an exhibition at the Saatchi gallery in London.

Vine's painting showed Dianna in a chin-high dress with statement puffed yellow sleeves, huge blue eyes and wearing her signature tiara.

Blood dripping from her lips appears to suggest the portrait is of a dead Diana, with blood-red writing taking over much of the frame.

'Hi Paul, can you come over I'm really frightened', the lettering reads.

Although Diana never saw the portrait, it is sure to have caused outrage amongst her loved ones - especially Prince William and Prince Harry.

King Charles - Stephen Lewis Gilmore

A bizarre painting by artist Stephen Lewis Gilmore depicted King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, as Henry the VIII and showed a beheaded Diana, Princess of Wales

A portrait of the then-Prince of Wales by Stephen Lewis Gilmore attracted fierce criticism among royal fans after it likened King Charles to Henry VIII and suggested he had 'beheaded' the late Princess Diana.

The picture depicts Charles in 16-century garb and the style of hat worn by the ruler in portraits of his own.

He wears a giant gold chain which includes a medallion featuring a picture of Queen Camilla.

In the background can be seen Princess Diana, whose head has been chopped from her body.

The controversial work is probably the most disrespectful towards the monarchy seen in recent years.

Queen Elizabeth II - Peter Sigasby

This painting, by modern artist Peter Sigasby, attracted criticism when it was unveiled in 1991 for being disrespectful

Peter Sigasby's interpretation of the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 immediately attracted criticism from all sides.

Unlike Trump's inexpressive stance, the Queen is pictured grinning - which looks more like a leer - in an uncomfortable depiction of the monarch.

Her arms are strikingly different colours from her face, with one bright yellow and orange and the other verging on red.

The necklace she wears is off centre in a casual manner never associated with the late Queen, and her fingers appear strangely chubby.

For a man often the butt of jokes for his 'orange' skin, his portrait's colouring is far better than Sigasby's.

The best part about this portrait is the tiara on the Queen's head which, unlike the rest of it, appears precisely accurate.

Hamid Karzai - George W. Bush

Bush's depiction of former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai might make President Trump think twice about replacing his portrait

This portrait of former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai is another example of Bush's amateur work.

The politician is shown with black circles under the eyes which blend in to his caterpillar-like eyebrows - although Bush's ear work certainly shows progress.

Karzai's hat seems to have the shape of a house roof, and his moustache makes it appear he has no top lip.

Although the shape of the facial hair is eerily accurate, it doesn't exactly look realistic.

Bush's artworks are clearly better than many of us could do - but no-one can see Trump replacing his Colorado portrait with a Bush painting anytime soon.

Angela Merkel - George W. Bush

With pursed thin lips and a frankly odd nose, the portrait is only vaguely recognisable through former German Chancellor Angela Merkel's iconic hairstyle

Former stalwart of German politics Angela Merkel has certainly had better portraits.

At least Trump's portrait was physically accurate, and didn't show one of his eyes as being an inch below the other.

With pursed thin lips and a frankly odd nose, the portrait is only vaguely recognisable through Merkel's iconic hairstyle.

Her ghostly pallor is made worse by the bright red outfit Bush depicted her in - it's doubtful she is requesting a copy of this painting.
Police have released footage of the moment a nine-year-old boy was hit by a car on a suburban road before the driver quickly left the scene, as officers search for the 'unreasonable' motorist.

A grey SUV struck the boy while he was crossing Parkwood Drive in Point Cook, west Melbourne, about 6.15pm on March 11.

In vision released by police on Tuesday, the car was seen stopping momentarily after the collision before taking off again.

The driver has not yet come forward to police.

The boy 'miraculously' sustained just minor injuries in the accident, police said.

A schoolmate of the victim said it was scary to watch his friend get hit.

'When he was about to be crashed, he was like, really frightened, and he told the car to stop, but then the car just like ran quickly away,' the friend told Nine News.

The victim's mother said she didn't blame the driver for the collision but said that person should have stopped to help her son or at least check his condition.

Victoria Police released confronting vision of a nine-year-old boy hit by a car in Melbourne

The young boy sustained minor injuries in the collision, one police officer said 'it's more the mental injuries' following the crash

Sergeant Matt Ryan said accidents happen, but a 'reasonable person' would have stopped following the collision.

'Its amazing that he didn't receive worse injuries after seeing the footage,' Sgt Ryan said.

'It's more mental injuries with him at the moment, he's pretty shaken up.'

Police hope someone who sees the vision will recognise the car, which is similar to a Mazda CX3.

The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone who witnessed or has footage of the incident has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
A major charity shop will close more than half of its UK stores by March next year in a fresh blow to the High Street.

Scope, a disability charity in England and Wales, will shut 39 of its 138 shops in the coming days amid declining footfall and spiralling costs.

A further 31 stores have also been earmarked for closure between April 1 and March 31 next year.

It comes after Scope warned in their January proposal that up to 200 jobs and 2,000 volunteer roles were at risk due to a possible 77 shop closures.

At the time, chief executive Mark Hodgkinson said the decision was being made amid 'growing trading challenges'.

He said: 'Despite our teams' best efforts our shops are collectively now losing money when taking account of all of their costs.

'A number make strong profits but there are loss making shops too.'

Mr Hodgkinson added that online shopping was one of the many reasons that contributed to the charity's decline on the High Street.

'All retailers have been hit with a greater shift to online shopping,' he said.

Scope, a disability charity in England and Wales, will shut 39 of its 138 shops in the coming days amid declining footfall and spiralling costs

Scope warned back in January that up to 200 jobs and 2,000 volunteer roles were at risk due to a possible further shop closures (stock photo)

The charity, which suffered a 1.5million loss this financial year, had been in a consultation period until the end of this month.

Under the initial proposals, a total 41 Scope stores were earmarked for closure by March 31.

But one of the at-risk stores in Pwllheli, north west Wales, was later saved.

The shop posted on Facebook: 'We would like to say a big THANK YOU to all who have supported us and continue to do so.

'We would not be able to continue to raise much needed funds to create equal futures with disabled people, without you.'

Scope stores have slowly been declining in numbers since 2019.

Twenty-two underperforming shops in locations such as Haywards Heath and Southampton have already been shut.

Scope's annual report for the year to March 2023 said it had made 24million from trading activities, an increase of 600,000 from the year before.

But in the same year Scope spent 24.7million maintaining and operating its shops - 1million more than the year before.

Mr Hodgkinson said: 'We need to make sure we have the right sized retail estate that is able to withstand future cost increases.'

'We need to make sure our money and our resources are ultimately focused on the biggest impact we can deliver.

'We have to make this difficult decision, to make sure the money we raise goes to support disabled people and their families and makes the biggest difference.

'If that means we have to shift where resources are allocated over time, that's not a decision we're going to take lightly, but we're not going to shy away from it either, which is why we have gotten to this point.'

Staff and volunteers had already been briefed about the future of Scope.

'We want to try to give those colleagues and volunteers the best opportunities to maybe find alternative options,' Mr Hodgkinson said.

'We will be doing everything we can to support those affected, and these proposals aren't a reflection on our hard-working shop teams and volunteers.'

He said he would contact other charities with a retail presence where a 'large number of our colleagues and volunteers will find other homes if this consultation goes through'.

Mr Hodgkinson was confident that the remaining 61 shops across England and Wales would be able to survive and even be profitable.
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said today that the US is putting 'unacceptable pressure' on her nation and Greenland, ahead of a trip to the semi-autonomous Danish territory this week by a high-profile US delegation.

The US visit, which runs from Thursday to Saturday, will be led by Usha Vance, wife of Vice President JD Vance, and will include White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

'I have to say that it is unacceptable pressure being placed on Greenland and Denmark in this situation. And it is pressure that we will resist,' Frederiksen told local broadcaster TV2, adding: 'This is clearly not a visit that is about what Greenland needs or wants.'

Frederiksen said representatives from Greenland, the world's biggest island, were 'clear' that 'they do not want a visit right not, because they do not have a government, referring to the election on the island earlier this month.

Brian Hughes, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said the delegation aimed to 'learn about Greenland, its culture, history, and people.'

Frederiksen dismissed the idea of a private visit: 'You cannot make a private visit with official representatives from another country.'

Donald Trump first pitched the idea of the US taking over Greenland during his first time, but has in recent weeks refused to rule out using military or economic coercion to get his way.

Trump even said he may call NATO in to help the US take over the island, telling the defense bloc's chief General Mark Rutte earlier this month: 'You know, Mark, we need that for international security.

Donald Trump (pictured) is putting unacceptable pressure on Greenland, Denmark's Prime Minister said today

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (pictured) made the comments ahead of a trip to the semi-autonomous Danish territory this week by a high-profile US delegation

'We have a lot of our favourite players cruising around the coast, and we have to be careful. We'll be talking to you.'

He claimed it was an 'absolute necessity' for his nation's security.

But Greenland's leaders have condemned Trump's claims.

The island's outgoing prime minister, Mute Bourup Egede, said: 'We are now at a level where it can in no way be characterized as a harmless visit from a politician's wife.'

'What is the security advisor doing in Greenland? The only purpose is to show a demonstration of power to us.'

'He is Trump's confidential and closest advisor, and his presence in Greenland alone will certainly make the Americans believe in Trump's mission, and the pressure will increase after the visit.'

Its likely next leader, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, accused the US of refusing to show the people of the island proper respect.

Asked on Monday whether the Second Lady's visit to Greenland was a provocation, Trump responded: 'This is friendliness, not provocation.

'We're dealing with a lot of people from Greenland that would like to see something happen with respect to their being properly protected and properly taken care of. If they're calling us, we're not calling them.'

People take part in a demonstration in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, on 15 March 2025, under the slogan 'Greenland belongs to the Greenlandic people'

Lars Jorgen Kleist of the Siumut party, wearing a MAGA hat, looks on during Greenland's legislative elections in Nuuk, Greenland, on March 11, 2025

When Greenland's prime minister Mute B. Egede learned about the back-to-back trips, he was incensed and raged in a statement to local media

The administration touted Vance's three-day visit to Greenland on Sunday, revealing she would travel with her son from Thursday to Saturday to explore historical and cultural sites and watch the annual dogsled race

He claimed that Greenland was itching to leave Denmark: 'They really like the idea because they have been somewhat abandoned, as you know. They haven't been taken well, good care of. And I think Greenland is going to be something that maybe is in our future.'

Greenland has been a part of Denmark for around 300 years, and there have long been tensions between the island and the Nordic nation.

Though recent polls revealed nearly 80% of Greenlanders want independence from Denmark, an even higher proportion rejected the idea that the island ought to be a part of the US.
Six adorable sugar gliders have been rescued after being abandoned - outside a Lidl supermarket.

Five Sisters Zoo receiving an urgent call from Police Scotland and the Scottish SPCA regarding the incident which took place earlier this month.

The tiny possums were found cruelly discarded inside a box outside the supermarket in what the rehabilitation team have described as a shocking case of animal abandonment.

A team member said: While the zoo cannot accommodate every animal in need, we remain committed to our rescue efforts and are always eager to help whenever possible.

The sugar gliders - who are yet to be named - are now undergoing a 30-day quarantine period under the care of the zoo, based in West Calder, West Lothian.

The team member explained: During this time, our dedicated animal care team is closely assessing their health and behaviour to ensure they receive the attention and support they need to recover.

Sugar gliders - tiny possums - were found dumbed outside a Scots supermarket last month

Sugar gliders are native to the tropical and cool-temperate forests in Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea

The zoo will provide regular updates on the gliders progress via social media, offering the public a glimpse into their rehabilitation journey.

Stay tuned to learn more about their rescue and when you can meet these resilient little survivors.

Over the years, Five Sisters Zoo zoo has provided a forever home to many rescued animals, including bears and lions saved from traveling circuses, roadside restaurants, and even warzones.

Sugar gliders are palm-size possums who have mostly grey fur, white underbellies, and their heads have black stripes.

They are common, tree-dwelling and nocturnal marsupials, native to tropical and cool-temperate forests in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, explains National Geographic.

They have wings, which are made from a thin skin stretched between the fifth forefinger and back ankle, and they use their tails as rudders to soar through the air.
A prominent doctor tried to murder his nuclear engineer wife by shoving her off a trail in Hawaii and hitting her in the head with a rock, according to police.

Gerhardt Konig, 46, was arrested on Monday after he allegedly attacked his 36-year-old wife, Arielle Konig, at the Pali Lookout in Oahu, leaving her in critical condition.

Arielle reportedly told officials Konig had assaulted her with closed fists and a rock before he tried to shove her off the hiking trail.

In a chilling sign the alleged attempted murder was pre-planned, Konig is said to have produced two syringes containing an unknown substance and poked Arielle with them.

Arielle told police Konig attacked her after she refused to take a picture with him, according to the Star Advertiser.

She was taken to the hospital with serious head and facial injuries, local media reported.

Gerhardt Konig, 46, was arrested on Monday after he allegedly pushed his 36-year-old wife, Arielle Konig, off a hiking trail in Hawaii

Arielle is in critical condition after she was allegedly attacked by her husband on Monday

The Pali Lookout in Oahu is pictured

The couple has been married since 2018

Konig, an anesthesiologist, was taken into custody after a short foot chase.

He was found in near the hiking trail after fleeing the scene on foot, officials said.

'HPD officers located Gerhardt Konig near Pali Highway and arrested him after a brief foot pursuit. Charges are pending. Mahalo to the public for your assistance,' Honolulu police said in a statement.

The couple lives in Maui in a $1.5million home, but were visiting the beauty spot in Oahu at the time of the alleged incident.

They have been married since 2018.

Konig was previously married and has at least one child.

Koenig has been suspended from his job for an independent contractor that serves various facilities under Maui Health.

'Maui Health is committed to patient safety and upholding the highest standards of care,' Maui Health told KHON2 a statement.

It's unclear if the couple has children, but Konig has at least two children from a previous marriage

A closer view from the Pali Lookout in Oahu is seen above

Konig reportedly tried to flee the scene on foot before he was detained

'We have been made aware of the allegations against Gerhardt Konig, MD. Dr. Konig has been suspended from the Medical Staff pending investigation.'

Konig previously worked as an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh Schools of Medicine and Engineering.

He then took a partner role at the Anesthesia Medical Group in Maui.

Police have asked that anyone with information on the alleged crime contact Crime Stoppers Honolulu at 808-955-8300.
A 12-year-old Austrian girl was subjected to a horrifying gang-rape ordeal at the hands of at least a dozen migrant boys who taped their abuse and passed her around like a 'trophy', it has emerged.

Named in local media as Mia, the young girl was reportedly subject to several sex attacks from a number of boys between February and June 2023 in garages, at perpetrators apartments and other locations in Vienna.

Austrian police said on March 1, 2024, that they were investigating 17 people, most of them minors, on suspicion of sexually abusing the 12-year-old girl. They included Austrian, Turkish, Syrian, Italian, Bulgarian and Serbian nationals.

Twelve of the suspects were minors between the ages of 14 and 18, one was 19, and two were below the age of criminal responsibility, which is 14 in Austria, and the identities of two others were unknown, said Florian Finda, a senior official with Viennas state criminal police office.

But now, the 18-year-old boyfriend of the girl has become the first perpetrator to be convicted in a case which has shocked the Austrian capital.

Afghan migrant, Wais S, appeared in Vienna Regional Court on Monday to face trial over the serious sexual abuse of the minor. He was 15-years-old at the time of the gang rape incident which reportedly took place in a hostel room in Vienna.

According to German newspaper Bild, Wais knew that the young girl, who has been given the name Mia by local media, was under the age of 14 at the time of the attack in 2023, and had impregnated her.

'I plead partially guilty,' the defendant testified during the trial. 'I thought if she was 12 and I was 15, it was allowed.'

A 12-year-old girl was gang raped by more than a dozen boys in Vienna and subject to several more sex attacks (file photo)

Several of the boys claimed the sex had been consensual during interrogations, and also said the girl had 'pretended to be older than 14'. (File image of Vienna)

During the trial, the teenager also admitted to blackmailing his young girlfriend after the abortion of their child with self-made videos of them having sex.

'She cheated on me at ski camp. I had bought her a ring with my last money because I loved her so much. She gave it back to me because she was afraid I would publish the videos,' he said in court, according to the German newspaper.

An expert who analysed Wais S.'s mobile phone during the case disturbingly stumbled across a post on the TikTok channel 'ExposingVienna'.

'It's about public shaming and revenge porn,' he said. 'It looks like something was published. The defendant wrote: "She gangbanged 15 guys, posts videos, do you want videos, hahahaha?"'

The mother of the now 14-year-old girl, told media: 'He acted as a savior, but in fact he alienated our daughter from us'.

In a harrowing report from Austria's largest newspaper Kronen Zeitung, the schoolgirl was allegedly passed around among the teenagers like a 'trophy'.

Footage of the abuse saw the girl yelling: 'Stop it', several times.

But Wais' latest testimony strikingly contradicted the one he supplied on October 30, 2023.

He reportedly said at the time: 'You have to imagine, she was 12, a little girl who was defenseless against several guys between the ages of 14 and 19'.

The judge sentenced Wais to 15 months probation and 670 in damages.

This has become the first conviction in the chilling case, after investigators from the Vienna State Criminal Police Office stormed a number of apartments and temporarily arrested 17 suspects in February 2024.

At least four cell phones were also seized during the raid.

The victim and her mother reported the case to authorities in October 2023.

Following extensive investigations, the 13 known suspects aged 14 and above were questioned, Finda said.

Afghan migrant, Wais S, appeared in Vienna Regional Court on Monday to face trial over the serious sexual abuse of the minor.

Some admitted to the allegations and others rejected them; one of them, a 16-year-old was arrested for resisting officers.

Several of the boys claimed the sex had been consensual during interrogations, and also said the girl had 'pretended to be older than 14'.

The boys were suspected of serious sexual abuse of a minor and pornographic depiction of a minor, Finda said.

In one case, force was allegedly used; in the rest, the victim was verbally pressured into sex, investigators said last year.

In October 2024, the first suspect, a 16-year-old Syrian, appeared in court after allegedly raping the young girl in a train station parking area in 2023 and blackmailing her with secretly filmed footage of her performing a sex act.

'[He] asked me if I would give him a b******. I replied that I didn't do that sort of thing. But he didn't let up,' Mia said, according to a Bild report from the following month.

The Syrian boy allegedly responded in a statement: 'Almost everything she said is true. But I didn't put my hand on her head to hold her down. She did it herself'.

Finda said at the time: 'She stated that she had been violently abused once. The perpetrator was a 16-year-old Syrian.

'After that, the others constantly pressured her to sleep with them... She showed us chat messages saying that there was a video of her having sex, and if she didn't want it published, she should sleep with them'.

The suspect faced five years in prison if he was found guilty, but was was later acquitted of the rape charges after claiming he did not realise Mia was 12 - expressing that she had looked older.

The gang rape of Mia is still under investigation, however, with her lawyer, Sascha Flatz, 45, hoping for an indictment soon.

'The victim must be shown that the rule of law is taking action and that she will not be left alone,' he said.

It comes after a group of teenage boys were arrested over the alleged gang rape and blackmailing of a female Austrian school teacher.

The teacher, 29, was allegedly raped by three young men 'for several hours' on two separate dates last year, prosecutors told local newspaper Kronen Zeitung on March 13.

Austrian police said on March 1, 2024, they were investigating the 17 people, most of them minors, on suspicion of sexually abusing the 12-year-old girl over a period of several months

The alleged victim is understood to have entered into an 'intimate relationship' with one of the accused, aged 17, roughly one year ago.

She fell pregnant by the teen, who was her former student, and claims he pressured her into having an abortion, the prosecution claimed.

Recordings were allegedly made of the pair's sexual encounters, which the teacher claims were used by the youths to blackmail her into buying and using drugs, the newspaper reports.

The woman was then allegedly gang-raped by three members of the group, which included an Iraqi, two Austrians, two Afghans and a Romanian. It is not known which of the group are the three accused of rape.

Her Vienna apartment was also set on fire, according to reports.

A total of seven young men, ages 14 to 17, are being investigated on suspicion of rape, extortion, and arson. Five of them are currently in custody.

The teens vehemently deny the rape allegations.

In another horror incident, a pair of asylum seekers accused of luring, drugging and raping two teenage girls stood trial in Vienna on March 12.

The girls, aged 14 and 15, had been celebrating the country's national holiday in Keplerplatz, in the south of the capital, last October when the men encouraged them to get into a taxi.

The unnamed men, reported to be Algerian nationals aged 24 and 32, allegedly told the girls 'come on, we'll take you to a party', before luring them to an illegally occupied 'horror house', Austrian media reported.

There the men allegedly forced them to take various drugs and subjected them to 15 hours of horrific abuse, threatening to kill them if they did not comply.

'The younger man held a gun to my temple,' the 14-year-old is reported to have said during her interrogation, with the pistol later being revealed to be a toy gun.

The men allegedly raped the teenagers and forced them to perform sexual acts on them, with the 15-year-old girl said to have been grabbed and strangled by the older of the two men.

The girls reportedly testified that they were treated like objects by the men, and were left with injuries including strangulation marks, bruises and scratches after the brutal assault.
The Labour architect of assisted dying laws is at the centre of another row after being accused of misleading MPs over the depth of public support for her legislation.

Kim Leadbeater, who introduced the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to Parliament last year, recently sent an email to MPs to update on her Bill's progress.

As well as outlining various amendments to the Bill that have been added during MPs' line-by-line scrutiny of the legislation, she also claimed public backing 'remains high'.

In her email to MPs on Sunday evening, seen by MailOnline, the Spen Valley MP highlighted what she claimed was 'new data' from the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen).

She wrote that this showed 'public support for assisted dying remains high and stable following second reading in November at around 79 per cent'.

'The public wants us to deliver a safe, compassionate law for dying people,' she added.

But opponents are now demanding she 'set the record straight' as it was revealed the NatCen survey was actually carried out before her Bill was even published.

They also pointed to how the survey asked Britons if they supported doctors being allowed to end the life 'of a person with an incurable and painful terminal illness'.

It was claimed this is 'very different' from Ms Leadbeater's Bill, after she rejected an amendment requiring eligibility for assisted dying to be restricted to those in physical pain.

Kim Leadbeater is at the centre of another row after being accused of misleading MPs over the depth of public support for her assisted dying legislation

Tory MP Danny Kruger, a leading opponent of Ms Leadbeater's Bill, demanded she urgently issue a correction

Supporters of the 'Not Dead Yet' campaign, which opposes assisted dying legislation, protested outside Parliament in November last year

Ms Leadbeater's Bill aims to allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales - with less than six months to live - to legally end their lives.

She introduced the Bill to Parliament on 16 October last year, with the full details of the proposed legislation first published on 11 November.

In an historic vote, the House of Commons voted in favour of the Bill at its second reading on 29 November and to send it for line-by-line scrutiny by a committee of MPs.

In her email on Sunday night, as the Bill's committee stage nears its end, Ms Leadbeater wrote: 'Another development worth highlighting is the publication of new data from the National Centre for Social Research showing that public support for assisted dying remains high and stable following second reading in November at around 79 per cent.

'The public wants us to deliver a safe, compassionate law for dying people. From my experience in committee, I am confident that we can and will deliver that for them.'

But NatCen confirmed their British Social Attitudes survey, which Ms Leadbeater cited, was conducted between 16 September and 27 October last year.

This was more than a month before MPs approved the second reading of Ms Leadbeater's Bill.

The survey showed that just under half of the British public (47 per cent) think doctors should definitely be allowed to end the life of a person with an incurable and painful terminal illness if the person requests it, while around a third (32 per cent) think doctors should probably be allowed to do so.

Tory MP Danny Kruger, a leading opponent of the assisted dying legislation, demanded that Ms Leadbeater urgently issue a correction.

'It is regrettable that National Centre for Social Research data is being cited in correspondence with MPs to suggest ongoing public support for assisted suicide since second reading of the Bill,' he said.

'In reality, the fieldwork ended before the Bill was even published and the survey itself found that, for the first time, fewer than 50 per cent of the public think assisted dying definitely should be allowed.

'The survey question also related to assisted dying for people at the end of their lives with a 'painful illness', which is very different from the Bill before Parliament where an amendment requiring eligibility to be restricted to people in physical pain was not supported by the Bill sponsor or committee.

'It is important that the record is set straight for MPs as a matter of urgency.'

Fellow Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell said: 'It's imperative that Kim Leadbeater immediately corrects the record regarding her highly misleading email to MPs over the weekend.

'The polling Leadbeater refers to in her email is old polling carried out before her Bill was even published, never mind voted on.

'Referring to this polling data as 'new' and implying the fieldwork took place since the second reading vote is unacceptable.

'I'm afraid this is not the first time the Bill sponsor has moved the goalposts or had to correct the record during the passage of her Bill through Parliament.'

Ms Leadbeater previously sparked anger over her stewardship of assisted dying legislation when she made a major change to the Bill from when it was first introduced to Parliament.

It had initially been said assisted dying applications would only be allowed with the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge.

But Ms Leadbeater later proposed scrapping the High Court oversight in favour of an assisted dying commissioner and expert panels.

Under her new plans, the panels will feature a senior legal figure, a psychiatrist and a social worker who will decide on assisted dying applications.

The change has seen her accused of backtracking on pledges that saw supporters of the Bill boast the legislation in England and Wales would be the strictest in the world.

Fears were expressed about Parliament's scrutiny of assisted dying laws last week after an MP had to leave a late-night committee sitting when her hearing aids ran flat.

Naz Shah, the LabourMP for Bradford West, apologised to fellow members of the committee taking a line-by-line look at Ms Leadbeater's Bill.

Shortly before 8pm last Tuesday, Ms Shah explained how she was having to leave the session early because her hearing aids needed recharging after 15 hours of use.

'Without them, I cannot hear. And if I can't hear, I can't contribute to the scrutiny and the debate as I would like to, and as this Bill deserves,' she said.

Ms Shah revealed how she had raised the issue 'repeatedly' with Ms Leadbeater, and other committee members.

Ms Leadbeater was contacted for comment.
French movie star Gerard Depardieu has told his sex assault trial that he is not in the habit of 'groping' women.

Depardieu, 76, appeared in court in Paris today, denying the accusations that he assaulted two women during the filming of Les Volets Verts in 2021.

'I don't see why I would go around groping a woman, her buttocks, her breasts. I'm not somebody who rubs himself against others on the metro,' he told the court.

The actor said in response to the accusations that he was 'not like that', adding that 'there are vices that are alien to me'.

Anouk Grinberg, a prominent actor who appeared in Les Volets Verts, has backed the two plaintiffs. Both women allege sexual violence.

If found guilty, Depardieu could face a sentence of up to five years in jail and a 75,000 (approx. 62,651) fine.

The trial, expected to last at least three days, was initially due to be held in October but was postponed due to Depardieu's ill health. It started on Monday.

Depardieu has been accused of improper behaviour by around 20 women, but this is the first case to come to trial.

French movie star Gerard Depardieu (pictured at court in Paris today) has told his sex assault trial that he is not in the habit of 'groping' women and is 'not somebody who rubs himself against others on the metro'

Depardieu, left, arrives at his trial for the alleged sexual assaults of two women on a film set in 2021, with his lawyer Jeremie Assous, right, on Tuesday. The actor denies the accusations that he assaulted two women during the filming of Les Volets Verts in 2021

Depardieu admitted in court on Tuesday to grabbing one of his accusers by the hips, but denied this was assault and said any crude comments he may have made were just because of his bad mood.

'I grabbed her hips,' Depardieu said, admitting to physical contact with the alleged victim for the first time and saying he had not told police about it when being interrogated by police.

But he added: 'I grabbed her hip so as not to slip because I was so upset by her, by the heat, it was a Friday towards the end of shooting, I was very tired.'

Sounding at times confused and often wandering off topic, Depardieu, sitting on a chair as he spoke in court, said he had been upset at the plaintiff over her work.

He said she was doing badly and he accused her of having been shocked by that.

'I don't see why I would grope a woman,' he told the court, adding that he was so overweight at the time that some of what he is accused of - such as trapping the alleged victim between his legs - would have been impossible.

Crude comments he made at the time were not directed at her personally, he said, but related to her work.

Prosecutors allege the assaults against the two women took place during the filming of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters).

One alleged victim reported in February last year that she had suffered sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexist insults during filming in September 2021.

Prosecutors accuse Depardieu of groping the woman on the film set, pulling her towards him and trapping her with his legs before touching her waist, hips, breasts and genitals, while saying obscene words.

Three people witnessed the scene, prosecutors say.

They say the second woman was groped by Depardieu on set and in the street.

Depardieu has faced a growing number of sexual assault allegations in recent years. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing and this is the first case for which he is standing trial.

The accusations against Depardieu, and his trial, have divided French actors. Some have taken his side, and were expected to speak at the trial, while others have backed the plaintiffs.

Anouk Grinberg, who is backing the plaintiffs, said that Depardieu had constantly made 'salacious remarks' during filming and claims that producers who hired him knew they were 'hiring an abuser'.

Depardieu has acted in more than 200 films and TV series. He is the highest-profile figure to face accusations in French cinema's response to the #MeToo movement.
A Porsche-racing Colorado socialite has been hit by scandalous claims of child abuse, infidelity and extravagant greed amid the fallout from a messy $30 million divorce from her restaurant tycoon husband.

The salacious allegations about Renee Brinkerhoff, 68, come from her own children, who have taken opposing sides in the split from their father William Brinkerhoff, 70.

The former couple are well known in Denver as the owners of La Loma, chain of Mexican restaurants, which have since been divided up following their divorce.

Renee also made a name for herself by using a 1965 Porsche to become the first person to race a car across all seven continents, through her non-profit Valkyrie Races.

Despite receiving a $29 million divorce settlement and $50,000-a-month maintenance, Renee is now suing her ex-husband over allegations he stole business shares after the judge in their divorce found that he had used a 'series of concealed machinations' to ice her out.

In filings first obtained by the Denver Post, Renee accused William of infidelity and coercive control which she claimed was rooted in fundamentalist Christian beliefs about men's superiority to women.

She alleged that he schemed to swindle her out of her share of ownership in the restaurant and secretly handed it over to their younger son, Mark.

Mark and his father have categorically denied her claims and are also being supported by the coupe's younger daughter Juliette.

William and Renee Brinkerhoff's acrimonious divorce has split their wealthy Colorado family down the middle after a judge ruled William had swindled his ex-wife out of her share of their restaurant businesses

'Now that my ex-wife Renee Brinkerhoff is using false information to cause reputational damage, they have decided to speak out and share their truth,' William said.

Renee daughter and daughter-in-law have now accused her of a catalog of abuse, greed, egotism and hypocritical closeness to handsome men, with those claims detailed in full below...

Daughter claims mom was abuser - not dad

In her filings, Renee asserted that she was the victim of psychological and financial abuse at the hands of husband William, who she claimed isolated her and even insisted on being copied into all her communications with friends.

However, Juliette has now blasted this narrative and says in an affidavit it was her mom who, 'ruled with an iron rod, not figuratively but literally'.

'Anyone looking into our life from the outside in believed our lives were idyllic, but that was far from the truth,' Juliette said. Instead, our home was filled with my Mother's daily rage.'

She claimed her mom would routinely beat her and her siblings with, 'anything she could find to hit us - a pipe, wooden spoon, belt, anything to inflict pain' if they failed to get top grades or messed up in piano practice.

She alleges her mom played favorites, lavishing gifts and attention on her older sister Christina, while either ignoring or exploding at her.

'My Mom was obsessed with portraying to both my father and the outside world that we were the perfect family,' the affidavit states. 'She did not want us to embarrass her, and she did not want anyone to know about her anger and abuse.'

She claims her mom shamed her after she confided in her about being raped by a friend at college.

Renee accused her husband of financial and psychological abuse, however this has since been refuted by her daughter Juliette who claims her mom was physically abusive to her and her siblings when they were kids. Pictured: Renee Brinkerhoff with children William Jr, Juliette, Christina and Mark Brinkerhoff (L-R) in a childhood photo

Juliette Brinkerhoff, pictured with mom Renee, has sided with her dad during the bitter legal fight

'My Mother made clear that I was to keep my mouth shut, never tell anyone about the assault, because if anyone ever found out, it would humiliate her and reflect poorly on our family,' the affidavit states.

Juliette also refuted her mother's claims that her ex-husband was 'overly religious' stating the family rarely attended church.

Accused husband of affairs - but had her own 'handsome male companions'

In her lawsuit Renee accused William of chronic infidelity, which she said she disclosed to a therapist.

Her litigation psychologist wrote in a report last year that William had a 'long history of infidelity' and would allegedly threaten further indiscretions to punish his ex-wife or coerce her into doing what he wanted.

However, both Juliette and Mark's wife Johanna Brinkerhoff claim that their mom flirted with the young male navigators she worked with as part of her charity Porsche racing.

'While travelling for races, Renee rarely checked in William. He would often reach out to ask how things were going and she would dismissively say she was tired,' Johanna's affidavit reads.

'In reality, she was socializing with other men at the races, often not wearing her wedding ring'.

'My mother made it clear that she only wanted to work with navigators that were young and good looking,' Juliette's affidavit adds.

Renee accused her ex-husband of historic infidelity, but her daughter Juliette and daughter-in-law Johanna say she used to take her wedding ring off to flirt with attractive male navigators during her Porsche races across the world

'Many times, she would take off her wedding ring so she could flirt with all the male drivers while my Dad was not around.'

Johanna also alluded to WhatsApp messages sent from Renee to her handsome male companions and the counter-suit suggests there may be written proof of her closeness to these men.

William denied being unfaithful and submitted his own psychologist's report, which points out that Renee's therapist never spoke with him and was based entirely on Renee's self-reporting.

Demands for jewels, property and remodels

As one of Colorado's most esteemed families, the Brinkerhoffs enjoyed a life in the lap of luxury, flitting between their Denver mansions and Hawaiian properties.

'The parties earned and lived a lavish lifestyle,' Judge Meyer remarked. 'They could do whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted. When they traveled, they stayed at five-star hotels.

'They have over one-half dozen luxury vehicles, belong to three elite country clubs, dine at the best restaurants and drink the best wine. They enjoyed and achieved a privileged lifestyle.'

But this was not enough for Renee, according to filings in her husband's case.

'My mom always complained that her diamond ring was not big enough, that she did not have a house big enough, that she didn't have enough shoes, or cars, or trips, or country clubs,' Juliette's affidavit states.

'My dad was afraid to upset my mother, and he would give her whatever she wanted.'

William contends he forked out millions on her passion for racing, 'but it was never enough'.

Renee pictured with her eldest daughter Christina Brinkerhoff. Juliette claims her mom always showered her sister with love while icing her out

Renee received a $29.5 million divorce settlement, which includes $8.5 million of Hawaiian real estate, but is still pursuing further litigation over claims she was swindled out of her share of their Mexican restaurant business

His affidavit narrates an alleged incident in which Renee demanded entirely new furniture for an at-home TV interview for Good Morning America.

'She remodeled our Agoura, California home and Hawaii vacation home completely on her own, while working with designers at great expense,' his affidavit states.

'Renee's statement to her litigation psychologist that she could not 'by a lamp' without my approval is absurd.'

Johanna, Renee's daughter-in-law, also told of how Renee insisted on being in Hawaii for 'whale watching season' each year after hiring her as an assistant.

Gigantic divorce settlement

Renee received half of the assets from her marriage in line with Colorado law on no-fault divorce.

This included two Denver homes worth more than $8 million, two Hawaii properties worth more than $10 million, three of the family's six Mexican restaurants worth around $4 million and a $350,000 Hawaii country club, according to court documents.

Those assets come to around $29 million in total.

Since Renee was given the least profitable of the couple's restaurants, she will also receive an almost $5.5 million equalization payment, on top of $50,000 a month spousal support.

But she remains unhappy with the arrangement, arguing that she lost out when William 'secretly' sidelined her from the business in favor of her son Mark.

'My mom told me that she had agreed with my father that they would be 50-50 owners of the family's restaurant business,' Will Brinkerhoff Jr., the eldest of the couple's four children who has sided with his mom, said in an affidavit obtained by the Denver Post.

William's lawyers argue that she is trying to get more than she is owed and deny that he was ever controlling or abusive

The esteemed Colorado couple divorced in December 2024 and share four adult children

'My dad confirmed this to me several times. Specifically, he told me that he regretted giving my mom an ownership stake in the family restaurant business.'

He added that he recalled hearing his dad, 'musing whether he could revise the deal so that she was no longer an owner.'

Divorce judge William Meyer determined that William executed his plan and then sold the La Loma restaurant's real estate for $18 million, keeping the proceeds solely for himself and using it to launch new premises.

While Renee said she believed she was a co-owner of the new restaurants, the couple's younger son Mark was given her share of the business.

But William believes her court action is an attempt to squeeze more money out of him and sully his name.

'My daughter Juliette and my daughter-in-law Johana have remained neutral, staying out of the divorce and legal proceedings,' William said in a statement to DailyMail.com.

'However, now that my ex-wife Renee Brinkerhoff is using false information to cause reputational damage, they have decided to speak out and share their truth.

'My ex-wife's falsehoods, particularly about our son Mark, have become an overused narrative, weaponized to serve her interests.

'Their mother, Renee has created collateral damage for all of us, especially Mark who has dedicated his life to the success of these restaurants. His mother in her greed is trying to rob him of everything he has earned.'
Pope Francis came close to dying and told hospital staff Its bad as they battled to save his life, a doctor involved in his treatment has revealed.

Pope Francis, 88, who is due to meet King Charles and Camilla next month when they visit Italy, was released from hospital last Sunday after five weeks fighting double pneumonia.

Doctors have warned he will need at least two months to recover putting his busy Easter schedule in doubt as well as his meeting with the royal couple.

In an interview with Corriere Della Sera, Professor Sergio Alfieri, who was on the Gemelli hospital team treating the Pontiff, gave rare insights into his treatment and his brush with death.

Late last month the world held its breath as the Vatican announced the Argentine Pope  who last part of his lung as a child - was struggling to breathe and needed oxygen.

Professor Alfieri said: 'The worst was the night of February 28. He whispered: "it's bad". Those who were next to him had tears in their eyes.

For the first time I saw tears in the eyes of some of the people around him. People who, I understood during this period of hospitalization, sincerely love him, like a father.

We were all aware that the situation had worsened further and there was a risk that he wouldnt make it.

Pope Francis greets and blesses the faithful from a balcony of the Gemelli Hospital on Sunday

Doctors have warned he will need at least two months to recover

Pope Francis leaves on a car after appearing at a window of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome on Sunday

We had to choose whether to stop and let him go or force it and try with all the drugs and therapies possible, running the very high risk of damaging other organs. And in the end, we took this path.

When asked if the Pope had known he was at risk of dying Professor Alfieri said: 'Yes, also because he was always alert. Even when his condition worsened, he was fully conscious.

That evening was terrible, he knew, like us, that he might not survive the night. We saw the man who was suffering.

However, from the first day he asked us to tell him the truth and he wanted us to tell the truth about his condition.

He added: 'For days we risked damage to the kidneys and the spinal cord but we continued, then the body responded to the treatment and the lung infection eased.

Professor Alfieri also revealed how Pope Francis almost choked to death while having a meal and said: 'We were emerging from the hardest period, while he was eating Pope Francis had a regurgitation and inhaled.

It was the second really critical moment because in these cases  if not promptly rescued  you risk sudden death in addition to complications in the lungs which were already the most compromised organs.

It was terrible, we really thought we wouldnt make it.

Pope Francis has been in hospital since February 14 with bronchitis and bilateral pneumonia

The statue of John Paul II at the entrance to the Gemelli Hospital, where Pope Francis is being treated

Professor Alfieri revealed the Pope had also acknowledged this was his second brush with death and said: 'He always realized everything, but I think his awareness was also the reason that kept him alive.

In the past, when we spoke, I asked him how he manages to keep up this pace and he always answered: I have method and rules.

In addition to a very strong heart, he has incredible resources. I think that the fact that the whole world was praying for him also contributed to this.

When asked if prayer has worked, he replied: 'I can say that on two occasions the situation was lost and then it happened like a miracle. Of course, he was a very cooperative patient. He underwent all the therapies without ever complaining.

To show his thanks Pope Francis also stood a round of pizzas for staff at the hospital who had looked after him during his stay.

Professor Alfieri said: 'He gave the money to one of the collaborators and offered the pizza to whoever had assisted him that day.

He also revealed that it was Pope Francis who had insisted on being discharged and said: 'It was a continuous improvement, and I understood that he had decided to return to Santa Marta when, one morning, he said to me: "I'm still alive, when are we going home?".

The next day he looked out the window, looked for the microphone and addressed the lady with the yellow flowers. To me it seemed like a clear signal to say I'm back and I'm fully recovered.
Remainer MPs lashed out at the 'disaster' of Brexit as they debated a petition supporting the UK rejoining the EU.

Labour and Lib Dem politicians last night urged Sir Keir Starmer to get Britain back into a much-closer relationship with Brussels under his planned 'reset', with some setting their sights on rejoining.

Stella Creasy, the former shadow minister, lashed out at Nigel Farage and other Brexiteers, likening them to those who get kicked out of nightclubs for fighting, insist they know a better club elsewhere but can never find it.

'Brexit is a disaster. It's a disaster by anybody's metric, not least those who purported that this was somehow the hallowed land,' she said.

'The brutal reality is that we have left the European Union, and we owe it to people who care about this country - I think everybody in this Chamber does, even if they still purport to believe that Brexit was a good idea - to talk truths to our constituents and work out what we can do to salvage what is left.'

Fellow Labour MP Tim Roca, who represents Macclesfield, added: 'I still wholeheartedly believe in us rejoining the European Union - that is our future - and debates like this are part of that process.

'People need be under no illusion that this issue is going away. As the petitioners and those supporting them prove, this debate is ongoing in the country.

'There is also strong support, as the polling evidence shows, that the public believe that we made a mistake.'

Labour MP Tim Roca, who represents Macclesfield, added: 'I still wholeheartedly believe in us rejoining the European Union - that is our future - and debates like this are part of that process'

Former shadow minister Stella Creasy said the UK owed Brussels 'respect'

The petition, which was debated after achieving more than 133,000 signatures, states: 'I believe joining the EU would boost the economy, increase global influence, improve collaboration and provide stability and freedom'

The petition, which was debated after achieving more than 133,000 signatures, states: 'I believe joining the EU would boost the economy, increase global influence, improve collaboration and provide stability & freedom.

'I believe that Brexit hasn't brought any tangible benefit and there is no future prospect of any, that the UK has changed its mind and that this should be recognised.'

Sir Keir Starmer has been at pains to repeatedly say that the Uk will not rejoin the customs union or single market as part of his reset.

Independent MP for Canterbury Rosie Duffield said the petition was 'still significant' for gathering 134,370 signatures, in comparison to more than three million signatures on an e-petition calling for another general election.

The former Labour MP said current Labour cabinet members led group meetings 'several times a day' during the passage of Brexit legislation to campaign against the 'damage we foresaw Brexit causing to our national security, economy and place in the world'.

Intervening, Labour MP Fred Thomas (Plymouth Moor View) said: 'I understand that while we can all agree that Brexit has been an almost unmitigated disaster, the Labour Party manifesto said that we will not go back into the EU, the customs union or the single market.

Rosie Duffield MP said current Labour Cabinet members led group meetings 'several times a day' during the passage of Brexit legislation to campaign against the 'damage we foresaw Brexit causing to our national security, economy and place in the world'

Not for turning: Sir Keir Starmer has been at pains to repeatedly say the UK will not rejoin the Customs Union or Single Market as part of his reset

'That's a Labour Party manifesto that I stood on, that all of us over here stood on, you talk about leadership, do you agree it's important that politicians honour the manifesto they stood on?'

Ms Duffield replied: 'There are plenty of things that the Labour Government seem to be putting through that were not in the manifesto and the people now in charge were in fact campaigning with those of us that are still here several years ago so I'd like them to stick to that.'

However, Brexiteer MPs took part in the debate to break the 'cosy consensus'.

Traditional Unionist Vote MP Jim Allister said it had been an 'echo chamber for the laments of two or three dozen Europhile MPs'.

'This petition is notable in its arrogance. It does not even say, "Well, let's have another referendum".

'No, in its arrogance, it demands that we simply rejoin the EU, which the British people decided democratically to leave. I know that is an uncomfortable fact, but that is the core issue.'
Plans for a 9 billion road tunnel linking Kent and Essex have been formally approved by the government.

The long-mooted Lower Thames Crossing, which would feature a 14.5-mile road including a 2.6-mile tunnel passing beneath the River Thames, was granted a development consent order on Tuesday morning by the transport secretary Heidi Alexander, said the Planning Inspectorate.

Work on the project has been ongoing since 2009, with more than 1 billion of taxpayers' money spent on plans that has been beset throughout by delays and controversy.

The Lower Thames Crossing is aimed at reducing congestion on the Dartford Crossing with a new motorway-style road.

It would connect the A2 and M2 in Kent to the A13 and M25 in Essex via what would be the UK's longest road tunnel.

It is projected that this would nearly double road capacity across the Thames east of London.

National Highways said the government is 'currently exploring private finance options for the project'.

Construction could start next year, with the new road expected to open in the early 2030s.

The southern tunnel entrance of the new Lower Thames Crossing linking Kent with Essex

Drivers queue up in gridlocked traffic going into Dartford town centre in Kent

A view of the River Thames from Gravesend looking west towards London, at the location of the proposed Lower Thames Crossing between Kent and Sussex

The route is intended to relieve congestion on the orbital M25, which it will connect to near South Ockenden in Essex, while it will also join the M2 near Rochester in Kent.

Dartford residents have laid bare the difficulties posed by congestion in the area, which often makes everyday tasks take hours.

Jo Smith, a 42-year-old office administrator and mother of two, recalled a nightmare ordeal when collecting her daughters from a nearby shopping centre. A round-trip that should have taken 30 minutes instead lasted more than six hours due to severe congestion.

She said: 'I finished work at 3.15pm. No buses were available for them [her daughters] so I went from Crossways to Bluewater to pick them up so they could get home. I didn't get to Bluewater till 6.15pm and we didn't get home until 9.30pm.'

'In July, my mother-in-law was put on end of life care and we feared that we could get a call at any minute and not be able to make it to the care home to say goodbye because of traffic, as simply getting in and out of our property can be a nightmare.'

Tracy Perry, an executive assistant at Crossways, also suffers because of the constant traffic that travels past her home, claiming that the vibrations from the lorries rattle her windows and doors for hours.

The 55-year-old said: 'We live on Main Road, Sutton-at-Hone, which is used as a cut-through when there is trouble at the Crossing. We have cars and HGVs idling outside our property for hours into the night, even when the incident has been cleared, hours earlier.

'The vibrations from the HGVs rattle our internal doors, that's aside from the onslaught of fumes and noise. What people forget is, just because the incident has been dealt with, the traffic that has built up locally takes hours and hours to clear.'

Dartford resident and mother-of-two Jo Smith, 42, above, was stuck in traffic for about six hours because of congestion coming from the Dartford Crossing

'Getting in and out of our property can be a nightmare,' said Ms Smith. 'Some days my husband has turned around and worked from home as [he just] can't get in'

She has even been forced to buy an electric car to make the constant queuing more bearable and less expensive than having to regularly replace the clutch on her car.

'I work on Crossways, which is next to Dartford Bridge and some nights, I have spent nearly two hours just trying to get out of my work's car park. Quite often, it can take me between one and one and a half hours to get home, which is only six miles away.

'I have now bought an automatic car as it makes being stuck in endless traffic queues more bearable, and less expensive as I've had to replace clutches due to constant congestion and clutch control.'

Lee Champion, a 48-year-old lawyer, said the traffic has left him unable to leave his home at times, even forcing his elderly parents to miss doctor's appointments because he cannot leave his property to drive them.

He said: 'When there are problems with the bridge, unfortunately all traffic diverts off and into our village, a small village which isn't designed for that volume of traffic. It just causes gridlock.

'We've recent had people pull onto our driveway in traffic, knocking at the door and asking for hot water for a baby bottle as the desperately needed to feed their baby in their vehicle.

'I live with my elderly parents who are fast approaching 80 - with failing health they have regular doctor and hospital appointments which are sometimes missed and is of great concern to us.'

Matt Palmer, National Highways executive director for the Lower Thames Crossing, described the scheme as 'one of the UK's most important infrastructure projects'.

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The northern tunnel entrance of the Lower Thames Crossing which is in the planning stages

He said: 'It will unlock growth with quicker, safer and more reliable journeys, and redraw the blueprint for building major projects in a net-zero future by scaling up the use of low-carbon construction, and leaving a legacy of green spaces, green skills.

'Our plans have been shaped by the local community and refined by robust and rigorous examination from independent experts.'

Mr Palmer said National Highways is committed to 'working with our neighbours' to build the crossing in a way that offers them 'opportunities to work and learn new skills while reducing impacts'.

'We are shovel-ready and have our delivery partners on board, and today's decision allows us to work with government on funding and start the detailed planning that will let us start construction as soon as possible,' he said.

David Wells, chief executive of industry body Logistics UK, said that, with businesses across the country 'currently hamstrung by delays crossing the Thames', the announcement was 'excellent news' .

'Industry is united in its backing for this vital trade route,' said Mr Wells.

Jim Dickson, Labour MP for Dartford, said his constituency had suffered from 'endless gridlock' because previous governments 'dodged' making a decision on the Lower Thames Crossing.

'This decision will unlock economic growth across the country and finally deliver a solution to the traffic chaos faced by my constituents on a daily basis,' he said.

Thurrock Council in Essex has consistently opposed the project, citing negative economic, social and environmental impacts, but the leader of Kent's Dartford Borough Council is in favour of the scheme.

Local campaigners Thames Crossing Action Group claim it would be 'hugely destructive and harmful', and a waste of money.
The Albanese government has pledged to inject millions of funding into some unexpected projects from mosquito and yellow ant control to an LGBTQIA+ museum and 'panda diplomacy'.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down his fourth federal budget on Tuesday night, outlining a string of cost of living relief measures including electricity rebates, tax cuts and cheaper medicines.

But the Albanese government has also greenlit funding for some unique projects buried in the budget that missed out on the limelight on Tuesday night.

In Sydney, the Budget noted Labor had spent $1.5million in the past year on upgrades to the city's Qtopia museum.

The venue was billed as 'a dedicated space at the site of the former Darlinghurst Police Station, created as a centre for celebrating and educating on LGBTQIA+ history and culture'.

In outback NSW, fans of shiny gemstones struck it rich with the government outlaying $3.1million in an attempt to turn the mining town of Lightning Ridge into a global tourism hotspot.

'The Australian government is providing funding towards a new Australian Opal Centre as an international tourist attraction and world hub for opal-related knowledge, certification, education, training, research, heritage, arts and travel,' the papers read.

The government will also give the NSW government a further $13.6million to help build a St George Illawarra Dragons Community and High Performance Centre.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers allocated $13.6million in the budget for the St George Illawarra Dragons Community and High Performance Centre. Pictured is St George Illawarra NRL star Valentine Holmes taking a selfie with footy fans

The federal government will pour $3.1million to turn regional mining town of Lightning Ridge into a global tourism hotspot (stock image)

The venue would 'provide high performance and community sporting facilities for elite athlete pathways and community programs'.

The budget didn't just set aside money to attract tourists to the nation's hotspots - it also stumped up $6.3million to get rid of some unwanted visitors in Far North Queensland.

'The Australian government is providing funding to ensure a more concerted approach to yellow crazy ant eradication activities in Townsville and adjacent to the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area in Cairns,' the budget said.

Australia has leaned into 'Panda diplomacy', a diplomatic and conservation policy from China through which the Chinese government sends giant pandas to other nations.

The federal government, with the SA authority, is channeling $3.8million over five years from 2024-25 to Adelaide Zoo's giant panda couple Xing Qiu and Yi Lan.

In addition, a further $3.8million from 2029-30 to 2033-34 has been set to support the bears.

Another environmental project receiving a cool $3million in additional support for the Maugean skate, a ray found only in Tasmania.

Labor has spent $1.5million in the past year on upgrades to Sydney's Qtopia museum, a centre for celebrating and educating on LGBTQIA+ history (stock image)

Over three years from 202526, the funding will go towards a captive breeding program to support the increasing number of baby Maugean skates.

Dr Chalmers has also allocated $900,000 to boost mosquito control efforts in the Torres Strait Protected Zone.

The government has also set aside $1.6million over two years for mental health services for Australians impacted by the Hamas-Israel war.

While a hefty package on the illegal tobacco trade across Australia is not a surprise, with the Labor government providing $156.7million over two years from 2025-26.

The federal government is channeling $3.8million into Adelaide Zoo's giant panda couple Xing Qiu and Yi Lan (pictured)

However, $1.4million during that period has been allocated to evaluate the threat posed by the prevalence of illicit tobacco in circulation in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

The Budget also lists a $570million loan provided to Papua New Guinea to address its 2024 budget shortfall.

The loan 'was provided in response to a request from the PNG Government and will support PNG's delivery of economic reforms under the International Monetary Fund program,'

The government will provide an additional $800,000 this financial year to continue incountry technical support to assist with PNG Budget management.
Stephen Fry's husband Elliott Spencer has finally been pictured with the QI star for the first time in six years as he knelt down to receive a knighthood.

It comes just a week after the broadcaster, 67, revealed why there had been no snaps of himself and Mr Spencer, 37, over such a long period - saying they tend to keep their marriage very private.

But now the pair were spotted out in the open with one another, with Stephen Fry wearing a pair of comfy Skechers and pinstripe trousers as the King appointed him Sir Stephen.

Images show husband Elliott - who works in comedy - lurking in the background as he watches on proudly at Windsor Castle, stood alongside Stephen Fry's mother and sister who also look on grinning.

Speaking on the Jonathan Ross show last week, Stephen Fry admitted he and Elliott Spencer 'don't go out to Hollywood parties much' and instead prefer a night in together.

The confession came after he had shared a rare tribute to Elliot on their 10th wedding anniversary in an Instagram post in January.

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. I'm a lucky man.'

Images show husband Elliott lurking in the background as he watches on proudly at Windsor Castle, stood alongside two women who also look on grinning

Sir Stephen Fry is made a Knight Bachelor by King Charles III at Windsor Castle after he was listed in the 2025 New Year Honours

The pair were spotted out in the open with one another, with Stephen Fry wearing a pair of comfy Skechers and pinstripe trousers as the King appointed him Sir Stephen

The couple, who have a nearly 30 year age gap, 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.

Stephen Fry would cement his status as a national treasure after being knighted in the 2025 New Year Honours.

The broadcaster said he was 'chuffed' to receive the knighthood and joked that if it would help his charity work 'then they should make me a duke'.

Speaking after Tuesday's ceremony, where he was also watched by mother Marianne and sister Joanna, Sir Stephen, 67, said: 'I am very chuffed. I am chuffed to the heavens, to the high walls of the castle.

'My mother is beaming like a lighthouse.

'She is very, very happy, especially given the grief I gave her, my father and the rest of the family as a child and a teenager.

'It is some kind of public event that is not embarrassing for them.'

The honour recognises Stephen Fry's services to mental health awareness, the environment and to charity

The comedian, actor and presenter said he felt 'startled and enchanted' after receiving the top gong - insisting it came 'out of the blue'

Elliot Spencer (L) and Stephen Fry attend Harvey Weinstein's BAFTA Dinner in partnership with Burberry & GREY GOOSE at Little House Mayfair on February 6, 2015 in London

It comes after Stephen shared a rare tribute to Elliot on their 10th wedding anniversary in an Instagram post in January

The comedian, actor and presenter said he felt 'startled and enchanted' after initially hearing he would receive 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.

He said he hopes his knighthood can show those suffering from mental health problems that 'there's always hope'.

Sir Stephen has been president of the charity Mind since 2011 and since 2009 has been vice-president of conservation charity Fauna & Flora International.

On whether the knighthood will help him progress his charity efforts, he joked: 'Whether the knighthood helps in that sense, I don't know.

'Some people are glamourised by these things but if it gives me an extra ability to pound a table and suggest some law changes or things like that, then that is a marvellous advantage, no question.

'Maybe in that case they should make me a duke, that would be even more impressive.'

Since 1991, the Blackadder star and former QI host has also worked with the Terrence Higgins Trust, raising awareness and funds for people with HIV and Aids.

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

In 2006 he fronted BBC programme Stephen Fry's The Secret Life Of The Manic Depressive and has been open about his struggles with mental illness - he has bipolar disorder - over the years.

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that leads to extreme changes in mood and energy levels which are far beyond most people's experiences of feeling happy or down.

Sir Stephen added: 'I am lucky enough to be associated with quite a few charities who are extraordinary institutions who do incredible work.

'Mind, over the time I have been president, has made real inroads to helping reduce stigma and build confidence among people of all ages to come forward to see their doctor, to visit the Mind website and avail themselves of opportunities to talk and to find out more if they feel maybe something isn't as should be and needs attention.

'It can be something in their behaviour, something in their mood.

'Some people may say it has been overdiagnosed now, but you have to remember that we are living in a time of an epidemic of self-harm.

He added: 'This is a real crisis and we can't just say 'oh, just walk it off'. Nature is an incredible healer in some ways but there are some problems that are too serious. They need to be helped and Mind is there for that.

'I am very honoured to be honoured for my association with them.'

Stephen and Elliot tied the knot back in January 2015, just 10 days after announcing their engagement (pictured in 2018)

Last year, the broadcaster revealed he did not want to live past 100 because he would 'hate to be that lonely'.

He admitted 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, he admitted 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.'

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.

Stephen Fry 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 Isle of Man has become the first place in the UK to pass legislation that would permit assisted dying, despite opposition from campaigners.

Terminally ill people will be given 'autonomy and choice' at the end of their lives, a GP and politician said, as his Assisted Dying Bill took its final step towards becoming law.

The island is likely to become the first part of the British Isles to legalise assisted dying, after its proposed legislation was voted through by the parliament's upper chamber.

Members of what is known as its legislative council approved a final reading of the Assisted Dying Bill on Tuesday.

The Bill will now be put forward for royal assent, at which point it will become law.

Dr Alex Allinson, the member of the House of Keys - the directly elected lower house on the island - who introduced the private member's bill in 2022, said he is hopeful it can become law later this year.

But even if it does successfully go into law, an assisted dying service would not be in place until 2027 at the earliest.

The GP said he had 'met many patients who have wanted this option' and described it as a privilege to have been able to bring the Bill forward.

Dr Alex Allinson, the member of the House of Keys (MHK) who introduced the private member's bill in 2022, said he is hopeful it can become law later this year

The Isle of Man has become the first place in the UK to pass legislation that would permit assisted dying after the bill passed through its Parliament (pictured)

He said: 'It has been a long process, but it was something that, when I went into politics, I was committed to try to advance.

'I'm very grateful to be in the privileged position of being able to bring this legislation through. People have been trying on the Isle of Man for the last 20 years to provide dignity and autonomy for those who are facing an imminent death.

'And I see this as a culmination of the efforts of many members of our community to provide for assisted dying for people on the Isle of Man.'

As it stands, the Isle of Man Bill is only for adults resident on the island for five years who have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of no more than 12 months, and who have a settled intention to end their life.

Doctors are free to choose whether they want to opt-in to providing the service, following a previous request from the British Medical Association that this should be a choice.

Campaigners opposed to a change in the law have voiced concerns that legalising assisted dying could put pressure on vulnerable people to end their lives for fear of being a burden on others, and argue that the disabled, elderly, sick or depressed could be especially at risk.

But Dr Allinson said while he understands and respects the viewpoints of those opposed to legalisation, the Bill had been drafted through 'a very careful process', with expert evidence taken into account throughout.

He added that the implementation of the law 'will involve more consultation, more guidelines, more safeguards and more parliamentary debates in terms of the underlying regulations and secondary legislation'.

Dr Allinson said while he understands and respects the viewpoints of those opposed to legalisation, the Bill had been drafted through 'a very careful process'

He added: 'This is legislation probably that will only be used by a very small number of people but for those people it's a very important step forward, in terms of autonomy and choice at the end of your life.'

Meanwhile, a committee of MPs at Westminster are nearing the end of their scrutiny of a Bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales.

Various amendments are being considered to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, including expert panels to decide on applications after High Court judge scrutiny was dropped from the proposed legislation.

The Bill is expected to return to the House of Commons, possibly towards the end of April or in May, for further debate and another vote by all MPs.

Jersey's parliament is expected to debate a draft law for an assisted dying service on the island for terminally ill people later this year.

With a likely 18-month implementation period if a law is approved, the earliest it could come into effect would be summer 2027.

Separately, a vote is expected on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill in the coming weeks at Holyrood.

Campaign group Dignity in Dying's Chief Executive Sarah Wootton said: 'This is a historic moment for compassion in the Isle of Man and for the whole of the British Isles.'

She added: 'Dying people and their families are the lifeblood of the movement for choice at the end of life, powering progress right across the British Isles.

'Increasingly parliamentarians are listening to their experience, acting upon evidence from around the world and crafting legislation that is safe, fair, and right for each society, culture and healthcare system. Change is coming across the British Isles and the Isle of Man has led the way.'
A former Britain's Got Talent star who taught Strictly judge Anton Du Beke how to tap dance has died aged 34.

Chantel Bellew - who reached the quarter finals of Series 13 - passed away in hospital from a suspected overdose just weeks after her birthday following a long struggle with depression.

Friends described her as the 'life and soul of the party' and spoke of her delight at getting to the latter rounds of Britain's Got Talent in 2019.

Chantel was a talented dancer who appeared in numerous musicals including the Paris production of 42nd Street.

On her website Chantel described herself as an 'enthusiastic, professional and positive person with lots of experience in dance and musical theatre'.

She had also appeared in the UK tour of The Greatest Showman and was also a regular entertainer on cruise ships.

But her dream moment was getting into BGT where she performed a military themed dance routine for hosts Ant and Dec.

At the end of the number, her costume was ripped off by two male dancers to reveal a Union Jack bodice which the Geordie duo found hilarious.

Chantel Bellew - who reached the quarter finals of the 13th series of Britain's Got Talent - has passed away in hospital

She is pictured here with Strictly star Anton Du Beke, who she taught to tap dance

Chantel was a talented dancer who appeared in numerous musicals including the Paris production of 42nd Street

Her performance impressed the judges, but sadly she just failed to get into the semi-finals and friends said she had 'a brilliant time' while on the popular ITV talent show.

She posted the clip on her Facebook as well as one of her with Anton in which she wrote: 'Great day teaching Anton some tap.'

Chantel lived in Widnes, Cheshire, where she taught dance and singing in recent years but as her mental health deteriorated she gave it up to take up a job in a supermarket.

Chantel's friends have set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for her funeral costs so they can give her 'the show biz send-off she deserves'. Any remaining funds will be donated to mental health charity Mind.

Long time friend and fellow performer Katy Glover paid tribute to her and said: 'She was such a whirlwind, the life and soul of the party and such a bundle of life.

'She lived and breathed glamour and showbiz and she was a fantastic tap dancer, she did a number of Britain's Got Talent which she loved, and she kept telling everyone.

'Chantel said she'd had a brilliant time and treated it as another audition because she was so professional, and she was so determined.

'She also taught Anton Du Beke tap as well because tap was her life, she was the best tapper out there. She was incredible, one of a kind, sparkly and loving and loyal.

Britain's Got Talent presenters Ant and Dec were among those impressed by her display

Her performance impressed the judges, but sadly she just failed to get into the semi-finals - while friends said she had 'a brilliant time' while on the popular ITV talent show

Friends described her as the 'life and soul of the party' and spoke of her delight at getting to the latter rounds of Britain's Got Talent in 2019

Katy, who met Chantel while they both worked on Celebrity Cruises, added: 'She sang and danced but tap was her niche, and she loved all the glitz and glam.

'42nd Street was her favourite musical, and she was delighted to be part of it, and it was one of the highlights of her career. She just lived to perform.'

Katy added: 'I can relate to her feeling down, on the cruise ships you are performing every single night, for six months, doing what you love.

'But then you come home and it's tough to find your next job. It's a very difficult career. You have very high highs and low lows and, as you get old, start to think what's next?

'You can't perform your whole life and when it's been your whole life it's a very difficult position to be in.'

Another pal Daniel McErlean said:' She was such a great friend, and we all loved her to bits.

'She always wanted to be a performer, and she had such a sparkle about her. She was teaching dance and theatre all over the northwest.

'She even did a show at Christmas for her family but when her nan died a few years ago it really hit her hard and that's when things started to change.'

Chantel (pictured) lived in Widnes in Cheshire where she taught dance and singing

Her appearance on Britain's Got Talent came in its 13th series, in 2019

Chantel's friends have now set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for her funeral costs so they can give her 'the show biz send-off she deserves'

Any remaining funds from the appeal set up in memory of Chantel (pictured) will be donated to mental health charity Mind.

'She was a kind, loving, and passionate spirit who brought joy and laughter to so many. Chantel was a talent second to none who was the life and soul of every party.

'Chantel was always glammed up, dressed in heels and skirt and would brighten up anyone's day.'

Stephen Mear, who was the director of 42nd Street, said: 'This has really shocked me. Such a wonderful funny person with a big heart.

'Also, one of the best tappers I've ever had the pleasure to work with.'
The chilling last words of a pilot who let children fly his aircraft before it crashed and killed everyone onboard were captured on a black box recording.

Aeroflot flight 593 was carrying 75 passengers from Moscow to Hong Kong on March 23, 1994, when disaster struck.

The audio tape showed how relief pilot Yaroslav Vladimirovich Kudrinsky had recklessly allowed his children, Yana, 12, and Eldar, 16, into the cockpit shortly before the plane plunged to the ground in Siberia.

Despite autopilot being turned on, meaning the plane couldn't be controlled by the teenagers, when it was Eldar's turn to take the reins he ended up switching it off by pushing the controls too hard.

This meant he was suddenly fully in control of the aircraft's movements and had the lives of everyone onboard in his hands.

An audio recording captured the moment pilots realised something was wrong as the plane began to veer to the right.

But, by that point, the aircraft had already swerved at almost a 90-degree angle - a move that the Airbus A310 aircraft can't handle.

Aeroflot Flight 593 was carrying 75 passengers from Moscow to Hong Kong on March 23, 1994, when disaster struck

A black box recording showed that relief pilot Yaroslav Vladimirovich Kudrinsky had allowed his children, Yana, 12, and Eldar, 16, into the cockpit shortly before the plane plunged to the ground in Siberia. Mr Kudrinsky can be heard saying, 'Go to the back! Go to the back, Eldar!' before he shouts, 'You see the danger, don't you?'

But, by that point, the aircraft had already swerved at almost a 90-degree angle - a move that the Airbus A310 aircraft can't handle

The plane started to rapidly descend before stalling and automatically switching into a dive to recover itself.

The three pilots wrestled with the controls and managed to pull the plane out of the dive but misjudged the force and it stalled once more.

Mr Kudrinsky can be heard saying, 'Go to the back! Go to the back, Eldar!' before he shouts, 'You see the danger, don't you?'

He then tries to reassure the children by downplaying the danger telling them, 'Get out now! All is normal'.

But, this couldn't be further from the truth, as the situation has become unsalvageable.

The recording then cuts out as the plane ploughs into the Kuznetsk Alatau mountain range at around 160mph.

Investigations into the crash found no evidence of technical failure, and believed it was most likely caused by the children being allowed to take control of the flight.

Tragically it later emerged that if the three pilots onboard had left the recovery up to the autopilot, rather than attempting to fix the problem manually, the issue would have resolved itself and all the passengers would have survived.
A glamorous Colorado mayor unleashed on a city councilmember at a public meeting as she accused him of sending 'unacceptable' sexual emails to her staff.

Heather Graham, 35, who became the first female mayor of Pueblo, Colorado, last year, went public with her allegations against Roger Gomez the event on Monday.

Graham alleged Gomez sent 'wildly disrespectful' emails to her staff, including references to his 'pee pee.'

The mayor said she had been warned by City Council President Mark Aliff not to address the allegations in the meeting, but she said she disagreed as she read aloud part of the alleged correspondence from Gomez.

'I do not appreciate, Councilor Gomez, emails to my Chief of Staff, quoting this  Hey, I got my pee pee whacked once already, and it hurt so good, just saying,'' Graham said.

She continued, saying Gomez added in his email: 'Look, Goldilocks doesnt scare me and she cant hold her breath and stomp her feet with all that she wants.'

Gomez denied that he had acted inappropriately and said the emails had been taken out of context, claiming he was talking about his frustration over a lack of communication from the mayor's office.

He said he resorted to 'fourth grade banter' to get the attention of Graham's staff, claiming they had been banned from speaking with him and he 'got fed up.'

Heather Graham, 35, the mayor of Pueblo, Colorado, unleashed on a city councilmember at a public meeting as she accused him of sending 'unacceptable' sexual emails to her staff

Graham accused Councilmember Roger Gomez (pictured) of sending 'wildly disrespectful' emails to her staff, including references to his 'pee pee'

Graham, pictured with her husband Danny Beaudry, became the first female mayor of Pueblo last year

The Monday meeting grew tense as Graham made her allegations against Gomez, and she drew applause from the audience as she condemned the councilmember's behavior.

She told him: 'I dont care what you do on your own time, I dont care what you say to each other, I dont care what you say to me, but to put an email, a sexual comment, to my city staff, is not tolerable and Im not going to stand for it.'

Graham said she ordered the City Attorney to draft a policy updating the city council member's workplace conduct policies, per Fox21.

Gomez did not deny sending the email where he referenced his 'pee pee', but insisted that it was taken out of context.

He claimed that Graham was targeting him over politics, saying: 'I have no choice but to address the tactic that shes stooping to, in an effort to discredit me or any other person who has the courage to challenge her.

'I got fed up with no response, nobody calling me back, nobody giving me information, so I can represent my district.'

Gomez claimed that Graham had barred her staff from speaking with him, adding: 'If this is the best she has to come after me, about fourth grade banter, because I stand up to her and I will continue standing up to her.'

Gomez denied that he had acted inappropriately and said the emails had been taken out of context, claiming he was talking about his frustration over a lack of communication from the mayor's office

Graham said she ordered the City Attorney to draft a policy updating the city council member's workplace conduct policies, and drew applause from the audience as she condemned Gomez's correspondence this week

The councilmember went on to reference a recent incident on March 18 when three police officers were reportedly injured near his home, arguing that the emails were not important in comparison.

'So please excuse me, as I try to keep my family barricaded in the house with my shotgun and a Glock,' he said.

'So if I sound a little frustrated, you bet. But I am an elected official, and I refuse to sit down and shut up.'

Gomez did not immediately respond to a request for further comment when contacted by DailyMail.com.
Meghan Markle has worn many of the clothes she is now selling online to her fans, it can be revealed - as one report claims she believes it will make her a billionaire.

The Duchess of Sussex, who described her 'high-low' style approach to mixing designer and accessible fashion during her recent Netflix series, yesterday launched a new digital shop in her latest post-Royal Family venture.

Meghan, 43, promotes her 'ShopyMy' closet as a 'handpicked and curated collection of the things I love,' adding she has long been asked to share her wardrobe recommendations.

A source claimed Meghan 'thinks she's going to be a billionaire' and the team working on her lifestyle endeavours will propel her there.

And MailOnline has calculated that the 35 items she has promoted on her shop, which features a 1,072 dress, a 715 handbag and a 595 pair of sandals, comes to a staggering total of 10,071.

It led to one stylist warning today: 'Many of the items she has chosen are extortionately priced, and the same 'look' can be purchased for far less money.'

In exchange for her recommendations, the duchess will earn commission as high as 30 per cent for purchases made.

Outfits the duchess has been pictured in before have been known to sell out in minutes, but fashion experts warned today that her choices may be too far out of reach for most people amidst a cost-of-living crisis.

Gigi Vakilzadeh, a personal stylist based in London, told MailOnline: 'Meghan has described her style as a high-low mix, combining high street finds with luxury designer pieces, and her latest shopping list reflects this approach.

'While she includes affordable options from brands like Gap, some items, such as the Heidi Merrick Windsor Gown in Ivory Silk Noil (1,072), are far beyond most women's budgets, especially given the current financial climate.

The link posted by the Duchess opens to a ShopMy storefront and Meghan's first drop includes a 148 white linen shirt and a Heidi Merrick's 'Windsor' gown for an eye-watering 1,072

Meghan Markle in the sleeveless peach maxi dress from Californian designer Heidi Merrick during a trip to Nigeria in 2024

In 2023, Meghan wore a similar 445 Clarity Retreat necklace designed by her friend and Suits co-star, Abigail Spencer, in collaboration with Maya Brenner

A Maya Brenner necklace called 'The Happiness Retreat' that is part of the online 'closet' will set you back by nearly 400

The Duchess of Sussex accessorised with 175 Heidi Merrick 'Santa Barbara' sunglasses at a polo match with Harry in 2024

The Heidi Merrick sunglasses for 178 were also included in Meghan's shop

Meghan pictured here during her tour of Colombia in 2024 - wearing the 'Cecilia' Emme Parsons shoes 370 and Ray-Ban sunglasses now featured on her shop

Meghan also featured popular pilot-style RayBan sunglasses, which cost $230

'While many of these are timeless classics that could remain in a wardrobe for years, they are still out of reach for the average buyer.

The 'highs and lows' of Meghan's wardrobe The Duchess of Sussex described her 'high-low' style approach to mixing designer and accessible fashion during her recent Netflix series. MailOnline has calculated that the duchess's total closet, made up of 35 items, exceeds 10,000. The top five most expensive items are: Loro Piana crewneck sweater - 1,093 Heidi Merrick Windsor Gown - 1,072 Cesta Collective Crossbody Panna handbag - 715 Saint Laurent Woven Leather sandals - 595 5. Brochu Walker cashmere crew - 405 The five cheapest items are: Naadam cashmere sweater - 62 Madewell oversized t-shirt - 52 Gap crew neck jumper - 45 (on sale for 27) Gap knit trousers - 45 (on sale for 27) J.Crew chambray shirt - 40 Advertisement

'For many women, seeing such a costly wardrobe being promoted can feel unrelatable, particularly when everyday essentials have become more expensive.'

Lindsay Edwards, a personal stylist from Bedfordshire, echoed Ms Vakilzadeh's concerns, telling MailOnline: 'Meghan's cherry picked wardrobe, which she's promoting to her audience, appears at first glance to carry a hefty price tag.

'Certainly, many of the items are out of reach, to the average person, amidst a cost of living crisis.'

Ms Edwards pointed out that while most items are at least more than 100, some even exceeding 500 and 1,000, there are Gap sweaters on sale for 27, a Chambray shirt for 52.50 and her Uniqlo trench coat staple at 99.

The personal stylist, who said she loves the 'timeless feel' of the wardrobe, added: 'Despite her choices, I doubt that her collection will be popular overall.

'Many of the items she has chosen are extortionately priced, and the same 'look' can be purchased for far less money, from alternative brands.

'Meghan's audience (typically women in their 30s and 40s) might be inspired by her aspirational wardrobe, but they're savvy enough to know they can replicate her choices in a budget friendly way.'

The products being promoted by Meghan include a Heidi Merrick Windsor Gown at 1,072, a 1,092 Loro Piana crewneck sweater, a 595 pair of Saint Lauren sandals and a 715 Cesta Collective crossbody handbag.

Despite the hefty price tags, some fashion designers have backed Meghan's wardrobe.

Cherish Reardon, co-founder and creative director of Popsy Clothing, said it could be a 'real boost for emerging and crowing designers' if Meghan is 'shining a spotlight on them'.

But she added: 'I can see a variety of price points of the current closet, some of them are definitely luxury and my concern would be about pricing many customers out but I think if a real good mix of designers, high street and independent brands are used this could be really beneficial to the industry.

Meghan Markle was seen wearing the expensive sandals in her 'closet' in a behind the scenes clip of her Netflix lifestyle show ahead of its launch

The Saint Laurent slip-ons could be seen as she held her dog at the doorway in the trailer

The Saint Laurent Woven Leather sandals are part of her 'closet' and cost a whopping 595

The Duchess yesterday gave her Instagram followers a closer look inside her wardrobe when she launched an online shop - with handpicked pieces from brands such as Heidi Merrick

Meghan wearing the 715 Panna Crossbody bag in Colombia last year with Prince Harry

This crossbody bag linked on Meghan's ShopMy site costs 715 and is set to ship from May

This blouse on Meghan's shop in the colour 'Licorice' comes with a price tag of 395

Meghan seen wearing the 345 Etiennette Blazer outside the WellChild awards in 2018

The black wool blazer on Meghan's merchandise website can be purchased for 345

'I would love to see more brands that are financially accessible to as many people as possible be promoted.'

Ms Reardon said the collection was 'very much Meghan's style', pointing to its 'chic' look. She predicted it will spark new trends on the high street.

Ms Reardon continued: 'The closet really does have a lot to offer, my only concern is around the pieces chosen and how affordable they are. It could be a really powerful platform and the opportunity to do more than just sell clothes.

'It could shift people to thinking more about different brands, exploring ones that they wouldn't have previously heard about and give a huge opportunity to designers out there to get their pieces shown on such a big scale.'

One of the reasons Meghan and Prince Harry parted ways with the Royal Family was the monarchy's refusal to accept commercial endorsements by the couple.

Meghan in Dusseldorf wearing the black sandals in her collection that cost 595

Simple white shirts and trousers linked on Meghan's ShopMy come with a price tag of more than 120

These 14k yellow gold earrings loved by Meghan, fittingly dubbed 'Royal Signet Studs', cost $365 (280)

The duchess, who stepped back from frontline royal duties alongside her husband in 2020, wrote over a screen-recorded video of her new online store: 'Many of you have asked, so here you go! A little shopping to start the week.'

A link leads to her ShopMy storefront, filled with 35 different items of clothing from designers such as Heidi Merrick, Maya Brenner, Reformation and J Crew.

Her wardrobe comprises mostly elevated basics, including linen shirts, crewneck sweaters, sunglasses, and handbags, in neutral shades like beige, brown, white, black, and navy blue.

A message on the ShopMy page reads: 'A handpicked and curated collection of the things I love  I hope you enjoy them!' with the addition: 'Please note, some products may contain commissionable links.'

Other fashion experts suggested that while it is an expensive wardrobe, many people will take inspiration from it rather than forking out thousands.

Louise Duncum, a personal stylist for Weiz Styles, said: 'Meghan's closet launch is strategic, stylish and smart, showcasing how affiliate platforms can drive both inspiration and sales. This is a brilliant example of how a personal brand can be used to powerfully connect with an audience and drive sales.

'While the full edit totals over 10,000, it's important to remember that this isn't about encouraging people to buy it all, it's about offering a curated moodboard of her style.

'Many people will take one or two key pieces or look for similar options within their own budgets, as well as mix and match ideas based on what they already own to recreate Meghan's style.'

The Duchess of Sussex's new show 'With Love, Meghan' came out on Netflix on March 4

Prince Harry makes just one appearance at the end of the first season's final episode

Personal stylists Lindsay Edwards (left) and Gigi Vakilzadeh (right) both believe that Meghan's wardrobe is too expensive for most

Meghan's ShopMy is her latest venture, having unveiled her new lifestyle brand As Ever earlier this year.

The brand, which will sell jams, dog biscuits and pancake mixtures to name a few, will finally launch in the spring.

It comes after her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, was launched on Netflix in March. And despite scathing reviews, it has been renewed for a second series.

Meanwhile just last week, the duchess announced the launch of another podcast after her first one, Archetypes, was axed by Spotify last year.

The items, mostly in her signature neutral colours, include an oversized white shirt by Reformation for 128, a beige Uniqlo raincoat costing 99.90 and a gold Maya Brenner Happiness Retreat citrine stone necklace, made in collaboration with Meghan's former Suits co-star Abigail Spencer, for 383.

The collection also includes a pre-order link for a 712 handbag from Cesta Collective, a brand which she told the New York Times she had invested in last summer.

The bag, which is similar to one Meghan was seen wearing on a tour of South America with Harry, has been made in a small batch to be shipped in June, the Cesta Collective website says.

'Secure yours before it sells out again,' the page Meghan linked to adds.

The basket bags are handwoven of 'locally sourced, renewable resources, by talented female artisans in Rwanda, Africa', Cesta Collective's website says.

Other items include leather sandals made by shoe designer Emme Parsons for sale on luxury American department store Bergdorf Goodman's website for $495 (383).

While some products are from high street chains like Gap, others are from small boutiques including a 395 brown blouse from Brochu Walker.

There are cheaper items promoted such as a 62 Naadam cashmere sweater, 45 Gap jumper and trousers and a 52 Madewell t-shirt. However, just seven of the 35 items are below 100.

Meghan's story showed the disclaimer 'Please note, some products may contain commissionable links' in asterisks on her ShopMy page but did not have a specific disclaimer on the post itself.

In the UK, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) requires people sharing affiliate links  which are unique URLs that allow companies to track who is responsible for a sale or lead  to identify links and sections of content related to affiliate products as advertising.

Many influencers will mark such content with 'ad  affiliate link' on Instagram stories when they can earn a commission from purchases made through links shared.

Meghan's representatives have been approached for comment.
The artist who enraged Donald Trump with an 'unflattering' portrait of him in the Colorado State Capitol has revealed her true feelings about it in resurfaced comments.

Sarah Boardman created the president's likeness in 2019, but the artwork was removed from public view on Monday after he went ballistic on Truth Social.

Boardman previously described Trump's expression in the painting as 'neutrally thoughtful' and 'non-confrontational' when it was first unveiled.

She told the Colorado Times Recorder at the time that she did not seek to convey any 'personal feelings about any subject' she depicted and aimed for neutrality.

Boardman's comment came in response to a question about reader objections to her portrayal of Trump.

'The commission for which I was hired, as with Obama's, is to present a portrait for all viewers regardless of their stance on the issues related to the subject,' she said.

'There will always be dissent, so pleasing one group will always inflame another.

'I consider a neutrally thoughtful, and non-confrontational, portrait allows everyone to reach their own conclusions in their own time, in addition to that approach being more durable over time.

The opinion of Sarah Boardman, the artist who enraged Donald Trump with an 'unflattering' portrait of him in the Colorado State Capitol, has been revealed

Pictured: Sarah Boardman's portrait of Donald Trump which hung in the Colorado State Capitol until the president threw a tantrum over it on Sunday and ordered its removal

'Personal views about a subject do not define, and are separate from, a piece of art in the Gallery of Presidents.'

The Colorado Times Recorder re-published the interview on Tuesday after Trump, 78, demanded the removal of the portrait in a lengthy post on Truth Social.

Colorado lawmakers bowed to pressure from the president on Monday and removed the portrait from the state gallery.

'Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves,' Trump wrote on Sunday via his social media platform.

'But the one in Colorado, in the State Capitol, put up by the Governor... was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before.'

Boardman also painted former President Barrack Obama during his stint in the White House, and Trump complained that she managed to do a much more successful job of his precursor.

'He looks wonderful, but the one on me is truly the worst,' he wrote.

'She must have lost her talent as she got older. In any event, I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one.'

Pictured: The photograph of Donald Trump which Boardman's portrait is based on

Trump said the artist behind the portrait, Sarah Boardman, also painted Obama (both portraits side by side) during his stint in the White House, and managed to do a successful job

The President is demanding 'Radical Left' Democrat Governor Jared Polis remove the artwork, which is hanging alongside portraits of 'all the other Presidents.'

Trump claimed 'many people from Colorado have called and written to complain' about the unflattering artwork.

The portrait was first unveiled in 2019 during Trump's first stint in the White House, so it is unclear what sparked his Sunday night complaint on social media.

Back when the portrait was first unveiled in August 2019, Boardman shared pictures of her work on her professional Facebook page, hailing the 'great day.'

'The unveiling of the 45th President in the Gallery of Presidents, Rotunda, Denver State Capitol building,' she wrote.

'Thank you to all the dignitaries, staff, donors and visitors who attended and made this a wonderful event! Thank You, I appreciate you all more than you know. Feeling Very Grateful.

'Please remain respectful - this is about portraiture, not politics.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Boardman for her response to Trump's comments.

Trump wants the artwork removed from the Colorado State Capitol

Sarah Boardman described Trump's expression in the painting as 'neutrally thoughtful' and 'non-confrontational' when she spoke about it in 2019

Boardman was first commissioned to paint Obama's portrait for Colorado's State Capitol after she won the Call for Artists competition.

Her appointment followed the death of Lawrence Williams in 2003, who painted all 43 previous presidential portraits in the official government building.

Overall, Boardman has painted five presidential portraits including George W Bush, along with a District Court Judge, and several members of the US military.

'Sarah has always been passionate about painting portraits, being particularly intrigued by the depth and character found deeper in her subjects,' her website biography reads.

'Sarah believes that the ultimate challenge is to capture the 'personality, character and soul' of an individual in a two-dimensional format.

'She uses a combination of realism and painterly aspects designed to draw the viewer [a] into piece.'
The mood within the government on the day of Tuesday's Budget was considerably brighter than it's been in recent months. No doubt buoyed by the tightening polls and the slight improvement to the PM's personal ratings over recent weeks.

Ministers were out drinking on Monday night at traditional watering holes like the bar attached to the Realm Hotel near Parliament House. Not drowning their sorrows but rather enjoying the changing political climate ahead of the election.

To be sure, it is the Opposition Leader Peter Dutton who is now somewhat under the pump. Expectations had risen unrealistically high in recent months, with many who should know better starting to predict that a change of government might be in the offing after just one term in power.

Were that to happen, it would be the first time a one term government failed to secure re-election since 1931. It is not entirely off the cards, of course, and anything can happen once the campaign starts. But a Coalition victory seems highly unlikely.

The bookies have shortened Labor's odds, now ahead of the Opposition after being neck and neck on Monday. That's a simple case of money flooding Labor's way after its odds blew out to $2.50 according to at least one betting site.

Crazy odds for a one term incumbent in what is essentially a two horse race.

The simple fact is Dutton has exceeded expectations as Opposition Leader, almost irrespective of how the Coalition performs at the election. While this Budget might help Labor preserve a seats lead in the parliament after the next election, it's unlikely to help save the Labor majority.

This government's best case scenario at the next election is to win without a majority. Reduced to a minority government dependent on at least the Greens for survival, perhaps requiring the support of other crossbenchers too.

Budget 2025 will most likely come to be seen as the turning point if Labor does go on to win the election. Pictured: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese congratulates Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Tuesday night after handing down their fourth Budget

The standard practice is for PMs to get out of the way on budget night and give their Treasurer (pictured kissing wife Laura on Budget night) the limelight, uninterrupted

Few predicted that sort of disastrous outcome when Albo won in 2022 and Dutton was elected Liberal leader. He was seen as too toxic to win seats in Victoria and unlikely to retain the lion's share of LNP seats held in Queensland, despite hailing from up north.

So much has changed since then, even if the expected result is slowly drifting Labor's way the closer we get to the campaign. It was always going to be thus.

Budget 2025 will most likely come to be seen as the turning point if Labor does go on to win the election. At the very least you can see Treasurer Jim Chalmers pushing that narrative after the campaign is over, perhaps as a precursor to a tilt at the leadership if Albo remains a drag on his party after polling day.

We know Albo isn't the best of campaigners. His most successful week of campaigning at the 2022 election was the week he was in lockdown at home with Covid. His senior shadow ministers took up the cudgels of the campaign and it was Labor's best week.

I don't anticipate Albo getting Covid again during this year's election campaign.

The PM even made an appearance in the Budget lock up yesterday, which prime ministers rarely do. He clearly doesn't want Chalmers to get all the credit if Labor secures a second term in power.

Which is also why Albo was also doing media interviews on the day of the Budget, also unusual. Again the standard practice is for PMs to get out of the way and give their Treasurer the limelight, uninterrupted.

But Albo just couldn't help himself.

The mood within the government on the day of yesterday's Budget was considerably brighter than it's been in recent months

With the 2025 Budget having almost entirely been fed to the media ahead of the lock up, beyond the surprise attached to the minor income tax cuts, money set aside for the campaign is the only piece of intrigue left hidden within the Budget papers.

My tip is more tax cuts to be announced by Labor, in a bid to outflank Dutton.

The more interesting speech to be delivered this sitting week, probably the last time parliament convenes before the election gets called, is what Dutton has left to say in his budget reply on Thursday night.

His office has already indicated that there will be a 'big ticket' item he'll announce, but what do they even mean by that?

It isn't likely to be a call for spending restraint, surely, given that doing so would neatly enhance a scare campaign about 'Dutton led cuts' the government is already working on.

I don't see Dutton as the sort of politician who thinks announcing some sort of summit if he becomes PM is a big deal worth flagging either. However much a bipartisan commitment to tax and federation reform summits after the election is out of the way would be step one on Australia's road to fiscal recovery.

The Coalition has already said that it will pursue a domestic nuclear energy strategy if elected, which is surely big ticket enough.

So what is Dutton planning to surprise us with on Thursday evening?
Bets are pouring in for who will be the first member of President Donald Trump's Cabinet to leave and, after the Signal app controversy, there is a clear favorite.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tops the list after it was revealed he posted top secret plans about the Yemen bombing in a Signal messaging app group that had a reporter from The Atlantic in it.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was also part of the group chat, is in second place, also moving up the charts rapidly.

The White House has doubled down on its defense after the shocking revelation on Monday from Goldberg, detailing the text chain and claiming it contained classified material.

President Donald Trump dismissed the story, telling NBC News it was a non issue and that Goldberg's presence on the chat had 'no impact at all.' The attacks, he continued, were 'perfectly successful.'

He also said he wasn't worried about the amount of attention the story received, saying it was 'the only glitch in two months, and it turned out not to be a serious one.'

President Donald Trump - with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth - played down the article

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X Tuesday also defended the use of Signal.

'No 'war plans' were discussed' and 'No classified material was sent to the thread,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X Tuesday.

Hegseth, meanwhile, lashed out at Goldberg similar to how President Donald Trump slammed the magazine, calling it 'a magazine that's going out of business.'

The defense secretary also went after Goldberg, calling him a 'deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who has made a profession of peddling hoaxes, time and time again.'

He cited various stories The Atlantic has run on Trump's alleged connections to Russia, his 'very fine people' comments after the Charlottesville riots being taken out of context and the alleged 'suckers and losers' comments on soldiers killed in war.

'This is a guy who peddles in garbage. This is what he does,' Hegseth added.

He praised American troops fighting the Houthis in Yemen and criticized the Biden administration for their own performance.

A reporter asked Hegseth: 'Why were those details shared on signal?'

Hegseth replied: 'I've heard how it was characterized. Nobody was texting war plans and that's all I have to say about that.'

Goldberg fought back, telling CNN Monday night, that the chat included 'attack plans,' locations and identities of targets and the 'sequence' of strikes against the Houthis, adding that Hegseth's denial was 'a lie.'

'No, that's a lie. He was texting war plans, he was texting attack plans. When targets were gonna be targeted, how they were gonna be targeted, who was at the targets, when the next sequence of attacks were happening,' he said.

Goldberg expressed concern that the messages featured information that could easily have been weaponized by enemies of the US to harm their personnel and assets.

He wrote in The Atlantic: 'The information contained in them, if they had been read by an adversary of the United States, could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel, particularly in the broader Middle East, Central Command's area of responsibility.

'What I will say, in order to illustrate the shocking recklessness of this Signal conversation, is that the Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the US would be deploying, and attack sequencing.'

President Donald Trump defended his National Security Adviser Mike Waltz in the wake of the Signal app scandal

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also involved in the Signal chat

Meanwhile, White House officials have vented their anger at National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, with one reportedly calling him a 'f***ing idiot.'

'Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f***ing idiot,' the source, identified as a 'person close to the White House', bluntly told Politico.

Trump, however, stood by Waltz, telling NBC News: 'Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he's a good man.'

He blamed staff for the mixup.

When asked what he was told about how Goldberg came to be added to the Signal chat, Trump said, 'It was one of Michael's people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there.'

In the Signal app group, entitled 'Houthi PC small group,' Goldberg was privy to conversations between Waltz, Hegseth Vice President JD Vance and other top administration officials.

He wrote about how operational details were discussed and claimed Hegseth shared sensitive information that could be damaging to the country if it fell in the wrong hands.

The story blew up the internet when it was posted on Monday. Several critics asked why the administration was discussing sensitive material on an app instead of government systems designed to communicate classified data.

Trump dismissed the story as a non-issue, saying that Goldberg's presence on the chat had 'no impact at all.' The attacks, he said, were 'perfectly successful.'

He also said he wasn't worried about the amount of attention the story received, saying it was 'the only glitch in two months, and it turned out not to be a serious one.'

Goldberg was critical of Waltz for adding him to the conversation and using the app to communicate. It's unclear who Waltz meant to include.

'I'm thinking to myself, I'm glad Mike Waltz didn't invite a Houthi into the group or a Russian spy, or an adversary of the United States,' Goldberg told MSNBC.

Other officials in the conversation included Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, a CIA representative, Trump adviser Stephen Miller and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

An official called the move 'reckless.'

'It was reckless not to check who was on the thread. It was reckless to be having that conversation on Signal. You can't have recklessness as the national security advisor,' one official told Politico.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt slammed 'anonymous sources' questioning Waltz's standing in the administration.

'As I said yesterday, the President continues to have confidence in his national security team, including Mike Waltz. Stories claiming otherwise are driven by anonymous sources who clearly do not speak to the President, and written by reporters who are thirsty for a "scoop,"' she wrote on X.

Trump said on Monday he hadn't seen The Atlantic's story.

'I don't know anything about it. I'm not a big fan of the Atlantic. It's to me, it's a magazine that's going out of business,' he said.

Speaking out for the first time since the story took over the news cycle Monday, Goldberg said he was fascinated by Vance's thoughts, breaking with Trump and also questioning his knowledge on the subject

Since then, however, the White House doubled down on its defense.

'No 'war plans' were discussed' and 'No classified material was sent to the thread,' Leavitt posted on X Tuesday.

She also said the White House counsel's office has 'provided guidance on a number of different platforms' for staff to use to communicate.

Goldberg said, when he was added to the Signal group, he initially thought it was a scam or someone 'masquerading' as the Trump advisor. He eventually realized it was genuine.

The National Security Council confirmed the Signal app chat was authentic.

'This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain,' Brian Hughes, the spokesman for the National Security Council, said.

'The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security.'

Trump ordered the strikes against the Iran-backed rebels in Yemen as a warning to Tehran. The Houthi rebels were targeting ships on the Red Sea from countries with ties to Israel, including the U.S. and UK.

Waltz started the principles group on Signal to coordinate on it, naming it 'Houthi PC small group.'

Goldberg had his doubts when he found himself added, admitting he was worried that the text chain was a 'disinformation operation.'

But he also found, as he watched the texts flow, that the statements in it sounded genuine and some of the details matched up.

In a lengthy article for The Atlantic, where he laid out what happened, Goldberg writes he voluntarily held back information that was in a lengthy text written by Hegseth because if it 'had been read by an adversary of the United States, could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel.'

'What I will say, in order to illustrate the shocking recklessness of this Signal conversation, is that the Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing,' Goldberg added.

Smoke plumes rise above buildings following bombardment on Yemen's Huthi-controlled capital Sanaa after the U.S. strikes

The group chat was accidentally shared with Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine

President Donald Trump looks on as military strikes are launched against Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis earlier this month

After the publication of the article, criticism of the Trump administration figures poured in, with questions being raised about why top secret security matters were being discussed on a messaging app.

'I've accidentally send the wrong person a text. We all have. The unconscionable action was sending this info over non-secure networks. None of this should have been sent on non-secure systems,' Republican Rep. Don Bacon, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said.

'Russia and China are surely monitoring his unclassified phone,' he added, referring to Hegseth.

And Republican Rep. Mike Lawler wrote on X: 'Classified information should not be transmitted on unsecured channels  and certainly not to those without security clearances, including reporters. Period. Safeguards must be put in place to ensure this never happens again.'

New Jersey Senator Andy Kim, a Democrat, called on Hegseth to be fired: 'Really dumb and epically irresponsible. People need to lose their jobs over this. Preferably Hegseth.'

There were also questions as to whether Waltz violated the Espionage Act, which governs the handling of 'national defense' information.
Lawyers representing Luigi Mangione have claimed New York City Mayor Eric Adam is prejudicing the accused assassin's right to a fair trial.

In a move that could foreshadow calls for a mistrial, lawyer Karen Agnifilo took aim at the embattled Democrat after a series of publicity stunts around the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

It comes as the 26-year-old's legal defense fund surpassed 22,000 individual donations, raising more than $750,000 as the case received widespread national attention fueled in part by Mr Adams' photo opp during Mangione's extradition to New York and appearance in an HBO documentary.

'All public statements about this case have come from law enforcement and the Mayor of the City of New York, who have been leaking sensitive information and appearing in interviews on television, newspapers, and magazines, all prejudicing Mr. Mangione's right to a fair trial,' Anginfilo said.

'Ironically, as Mayor Adams has been appearing on television prejudicing Mr. Mangione's case, he has himself complained about being prejudiced in his own prosecution'.

Adams was charged last September with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and receiving campaign contributions from foreign nationals.

The Mayor has always said he innocent, with his legal troubles possibly coming to an end after the Justice Department asked federal prosecutors to drop the case.

Agnifilo had previously spoken in court about Adams and other top NYPD officers appearing on an HBO documentary, 'Who is Luigi Mangione?'

Mangione is seen here being led away by armed police after arriving in Manhattan after being extradited from Pennsylvania. Mayor Adams can be seen in the background

Karen Agnifilo is seen here speaking at a hearing for the murder of Brian Thompson in February

Adams is seen here appearing in the 'Who is Luigi Mangione' documentary which released last month

At an appearance last month, which was hounded by fans of Mangione, she spoke of her 'shock' that top brass in the city 'had time to sit down with HBO' over the case.

Adams was also pictured alongside other government officials when Mangione was brought back to Manhattan in a choreographed spectacle involving armed police.

Dressed in prison garb and handcuffed, Mangione was led from a helicopter by personnel which included Adams and Jessica Tisch, NYPD Commissioner.

Adams had to defend his appearance, telling a local TV station that he wanted to be there to look 'him in the eye and say, you carried out this terroristic act in my city.'

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down outside of a New York City hotel

DailyMail.com has approached the Mayor's office for comment on the remarks made by Agnifilo.

Besides the shots at officials in The Big Apple, Agnifilo has argued that Mangione should be given a laptop for jail, for legal purposes only.

She said the the laptop would be configured only to let him dig through a vast amount of documents in the disclosure of his case, which she says totals over 15,000 items.

Similar limited-laptop provisions have been made for some other defendants in the federal lockup, Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he is being held.

Agnifilo said that prosecutors are attempting to shoot down the laptop request, claiming that some of the witnesses in the case have been threatened.

She added that there's 'no connection to Mr. Mangione for any of said alleged threats'. It remains unclear who has been making these supposed threats.

The filing also said that due to the volume of files there are not enough visiting hours to all the defense to view all of them with Mangione present.

Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch hold a press conference after Mangione, arrived in New York City

Mangione appears for a hearing at a New York courthouse on 21 February 2025

Agnifilo has also argued that authorities had leaked writings they say belong to Mangione, labeling them as his 'manifesto'.

She said this use of language has led to fear spreading in an effort to justify the prosecutions use of a terrorism charge.

She said there is 'absolutely no evidence' to suggest Mangione wrote the so-called manifesto.

Court filings say when he was arrested in a Pennsylvania McDonald's he had a notebook describing an intent 'to whack' an insurance CEO.

She argued: 'By releasing these writings to the public and calling them a manifesto, law enforcement is responsible for causing the very public alarm that they are now trying to attribute to Mr. Mangione, which is the basis for charging him with the enhanced charge of murder in the first degree as an act of terrorism.

'There is absolutely no evidence that Mr. Mangione ever released the writings that law enforcement is attributing to him publicly; any publishing was done by law enforcement,' she continued.

Mangione is seen here in cuffs as he leaves the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York on December 23, 2024

He has been fiercely backed by a slew of fans who have praised Mangione for his alleged actions and started a GiveSendGo pages to raise money for his legal defense

Mangione is facing a number of charges in the death of Thompson, who was gunned down in Midtown Manhattan last December.

He has pleaded not guilty to an 11-count indictment charging him with murder as an act of terrorism and weapons offenses.

If convicted, Mangione could face life in prison without parole.

He has been fiercely backed by a slew of fans who have praised Mangione for his alleged actions and started a GiveSendGo pages to raise money for his legal defense.

Some have even made art depicting him as a saint, saying he is a hero who has taken a stand against America's broken healthcare system.

For Mangione's upcoming birthday, fans have organized a donation fund - urging others to contribute toward his legal fund as a 'nice surprise and gift from us to him.'

Their goal is to take his controversial fundraising total to $1 million, right now it stands at a little over $757,000.

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.

The campaign is also asking fans to submit birthday wishes, fan art, memes and messages of support.

While some people have lionized the accused killer, including elected officials, have deplored the praise for what they cast as ideological violence and vigilante justice.
Three Texas teens have been arrested for plotting to murder their mother after she turned off the WiFi in their home.

Harris County Sheriff's deputies responded to the terrifying disturbance on Barkers Crossing Avenue late Sunday night.

Deputies discovered a 39-year-old female who had been assaulted with bricks and knives by her three teenage daughters at the scene.

The unnamed sisters, ages 14, 15, and 16, allegedly coordinated a plan to try and kill their mom after she cut off their access to the internet.

'Because the mother turned off the WiFi, all three grabbed kitchen knives and chased her throughout the house and into the street, attempting to stab her,' Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.

'The mother was struck with a brick. In the process, the grandmother was knocked over while trying to protect the mother.'

The sisters were arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and booked in the Harris County Juvenile Detention Center.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office told KPRC that this incident was the third time deputies had been called to the home since January.

Harris County Sheriff's deputies responded to a disturbance at the 3400 block of Barkers Crossing Avenue (pictured) late Sunday night

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez (pictured) said three sisters, ages 14, 15 and 16, allegedly coordinated a plan to try and kill their mother

The other calls were for a runaway juvenile and a disturbance involving children who were fighting.

Neighbors told local news stations the home has a bad reputation in the community and is known for its disturbances.

'They're known for that in this neighborhood. There's always cops around that house,' one unnamed neighbor told Fox 26.

'I think that's so crazy. I mean, it just tells how unstable that family is, and it's very sad for them.'

This comes just weeks after a Texas teenager and her boyfriend were arrested and charged with her grandmother's murder in February.

Police had been searching for 17-year-old Tara King and her boyfriend, 18-year-old Uriah Urek, for days after they discovered 61-year-old Tammy King dead at her home when deputies conducted a welfare check, ABC 13 reported.

They had received a call from one of King's friends who said she was not able to get in contact with her and found King dead at her house of at least one gunshot wound.

Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen announced that Urek and King were arrested in Laredo with the assistance of the Gulf Coast Violent Offender's Task Force, and they were charged with capital murder.

The mother was struck with a brick. In the process, the grandmother was knocked over while trying to protect the mother

Harris County Sheriff's office said the incident was the third time deputies have been called to the home since January

Tara King was a student at Dickinson High School.

Neighbors told local outlet ABC 13 that no one had heard from the woman for days before she had been discovered dead inside her home.

'I hope they find them soon,' one neighbor said before the teens had been captured by law enforcement. 'We are all on high alert.'

Details about the shooting and a motive for the grandmother's death remain unclear.
Disgraced actor turned right-wing online provocateur Laurence Fox has been charged with a sexual offence after allegedly sharing an upskirting picture of TV star Narinder Kaur.

The three-times failed election candidate - once best known for his stint on ITV detective drama Lewis before he turned to posting online - allegedly shared an explicit image of the broadcaster on his X account in April last year.

He is accused of making the post to his then-400,000 followers in the midst of an online spat with Ms Kaur over politics.

The picture was taken in 2009 as the Good Morning Britain and Jeremy Vine regular got out of a taxi - without her knowledge or consent.

Fox, of Peldon in Essex, is alleged to have shared the image online - an offence under Section 66A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. He later deleted the alleged image.

The Act criminalises the sending or giving of explicit photographs with the intent of causing alarm, distress or humiliation, or for sexual gratification - also known as 'cyberflashing'.

The offence was introduced as part of the Online Safety Act 2023, and came into force in January last year, three months before Fox is alleged to have made the post.

Those convicted of the offence can be imprisoned for up to two years.

MailOnline understands Fox was charged with the offence within the last week by postal requisition. He has been ordered to appear in court in a month's time.

Laurence Fox has been charged with a sexual offence after allegedly sharing an upskirting image of Narinder Kaur online (pictured before a right-wing rally in March last year)

Ms Kaur reported Fox to the Met Police after he allegedly shared the image in April 2024

She is a regular panelist on programmes such as Good Morning Britain (above), where she is renowned for her outspoken and opinionated commentary

A Met spokesperson said: 'A man has been charged with a sexual offence following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

'Laurence Fox, 46, will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 24 April charged with an offence contrary to section 66A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

'The charge relates to an image that was posted on social media platform in April 2024.'

Posting on X at the time Ms Kaur, 52, said the image was 'unimaginably mortifying'.

She is best known as an outspoken panelist on shows including Good Morning Britain, Jeremy Vine On 5 and Loose Women - after getting her start on reality show Big Brother in 2001.

Fox, meanwhile addressed the alleged post in an extended follow-up the next day, in which he said he 'would like to apologise' to Ms Kaur.

However, he then went on to say, 'it's not my fault' the TV star was pictured in the compromising image more than 15 years ago.

Fox dropped acting in favour of a career in right-wing provocation after he was dropped by his talent agency over controversial remarks he made on Question Time.

Laurence Fox swapped acting for online provocation after being radicalised by YouTube videos - and has tried and failed several times to be elected (pictured at the 2023 Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election count, where he lost his deposit)

His posts about 'woke' culture, gender identity and the COVID-19 vaccine have attracted strong criticism

He was dumped after claiming that an audience member calling him a 'white privileged male' was racist during a discussion about Meghan Markle, and later admitted he had been radicalised by YouTube videos crusading against 'wokeness'.

His posts lashing out at 'woke' culture, political correctness and gender have provoked widespread criticism - as have those spreading conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and vaccines.

Fox lost a libel court battle after labelling two individuals, Simon Blake and a drag queen called Crystal, 'paedophiles' on social media.

He was ordered to pay them 90,000 each by the High Court; a judge labelled his remark 'harmful, defamatory and baseless'.

He founded the Reclaim Party in 2020, which gained its first and only MP in Andrew Bridgen in 2023 after he was expelled from the Tories for comments comparing the COVID-19 vaccine to the Holocaust. Bridgen left months later.

Fox has stood for election three times: in 2021 for the London mayoralty, in the 2023 Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election and in 2024 for the London Assembly.

Each time, he failed to receive enough votes to receive his deposit back. He also attempted to stand for the London mayoralty in 2024, but did not fill in the nomination forms correctly and so was barred from running.

Fox also presented a regular Friday night show on GB News for a time and was previously married to actress Billie Piper, with whom he has two children. They separated after nine years.

Narinder Kaur got her start in television as a contestant on the second series of Big Brother aged 28 (pictured)

Fox was married to actress Billie Piper for nine years (the pair pictured in 2015). Piper has since said of their marriage: 'Divorce speaks for itself'

Ms Piper spoke out for the first time last year about their split, saying: 'Divorce speaks for itself.'

The 41-year-old former popstar said: 'I try to keep people from telling me stuff but its really, really hard. I dont read it but everyone wants to talk about it.

'Sometimes I have to say to people: "Please dont bring this to me, now or ever."'

Fox said on March 9 he would remove himself from social media for three months after uninstalling the app from his mobile phone.

He wrote: 'As promised app removed after this final tweet. See you in 3 months... Very excited to not know what'a (sic) going on during that period.

'I imagine it'll be same s***, different day. But I love to be proven wrong.'

However, he posted a video on social media on Tuesday afternoon after news of his charge broke, showing him at the wheel of a car.

He labelled the charge 'untrue, ridiculous, vexatious and malicious nonsense' and a 'deeply concerning example of the two-tier British "justice" system'.

MailOnline has approached Fox for comment.
A religious ceremony ended in tragedy after a man drowned at a lake in Guatemala.

Video showed Miguel Sut, 45, standing to the side in knee-high water as the Christian church worshippers were about to baptize their fellow member at Atitlan Lake in the southwest town of San Lucas Toliman on Sunday.

Two men can be seen running into the water as the man being baptized appeared to lose his balance and fall back into lake.

Sut leaned forward to help but also lost his balance before disappearing beneath the water amid the commotion.

Several other bystanders jumped into the lake to search for Sut and a woman can be heard shouting, 'Help', as the video recording came to an end.

Additional footage showed the group struggling to reach the lake shore after they failed to rescue Sut.

'Oh, he drowned. Oh, he drowned. He's not there,' a woman said in the background.

'They're pulling him out. There are no lifeguards.'

Miguel Sut (left) drowned at a lake in San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala on Sunday when he attempted to rescue a fellow Christian church member, who was being baptized, from going drowning

A member of a local Christian church drags the body of Miguel Sut to the shore at Lake Atitlan to perform CPR before paramedics confirmed him dead

A Christian church ritual ended in tragedy after one of its members slipped and drowned at a lake where a worshipper was being baptized Sunday

Miguel Sut was assisting Christian church members baptize a fellow congregant when he drowned at a lake in Guatemala on Sunday

'And the one in black drowned. There was another one,' a man near the woman said. "The one in black is over there. Ah, that's him.'

Another video showed an unresponsive Sut being dragged towards the shore, where the worshippers performed CPR until paramedics arrived and confirmed his death.

'It was a desperate moment,' Juan Cuc, one of the church members, said as quoted by Guatemalan online news portal Centra News.

'We tried everything to save him, but he didn't respond to first aid.'
President Donald Trump defended his National Security Adviser Mike Waltz in the wake of the Signal app scandal, calling him a 'good man' who 'learned a lesson.'

His support comes amid calls for the national security adviser to step down, with one official calling him a 'f***ing idiot.' Waltz started the text chain to discuss the plans to bomb the Houthis in Yemen and added The Atlantic magazine's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg.

'Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f***ing idiot,' the source, identified as a 'person close to the White House', bluntly told Politico.

Trump, however, told NBC News: 'Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he's a good man.'

He blamed staff for the mixup.

When asked what he was told about how Goldberg came to be added to the Signal chat, Trump said, 'It was one of Michael's people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there.'

In the Signal app group, entitled 'Houthi PC small group,' Goldberg was privy to conversations between Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance and other top administration officials.

He wrote about how operational details were discussed and claimed Hegseth shared sensitive information that could be damaging to the country if it fell in the wrong hands.

The story blew up the internet when it was posted on Monday. Several critics asked why the administration was discussing sensitive material on an app instead of government systems designed to communicate classified data.

Trump dismissed the story as a non-issue, saying that Goldberg's presence on the chat had 'no impact at all.' The attacks, he said, were 'perfectly successful.'

He also said he wasn't worried about the amount of attention the story received, saying it was 'the only glitch in two months, and it turned out not to be a serious one.'

President Donald Trump defended his National Security Adviser Mike Waltz in the wake of the Signal app scandal

Goldberg was critical of Waltz for adding him to the conversation and using the app to communicate. It's unclear who Waltz meant to include.

'I'm thinking to myself, I'm glad Mike Waltz didn't invite a Houthi into the group or a Russian spy, or an adversary of the United States,' Goldberg told MSNBC.

Other officials in the conversation included Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, a CIA representative, Trump adviser Stephen Miller and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

An official called the move 'reckless.'

'It was reckless not to check who was on the thread. It was reckless to be having that conversation on Signal. You can't have recklessness as the national security advisor,' one official told Politico.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt slammed 'anonymous sources' questioning Waltz's standing in the administration.

'As I said yesterday, the President continues to have confidence in his national security team, including Mike Waltz. Stories claiming otherwise are driven by anonymous sources who clearly do not speak to the President, and written by reporters who are thirsty for a "scoop,"' she wrote on X.

Trump said on Monday he hadn't seen The Atlantic's story.

'I don't know anything about it. I'm not a big fan of the Atlantic. It's to me, it's a magazine that's going out of business,' he said.

Since then, however, the White House doubled down on its defense.

'No 'war plans' were discussed' and 'No classified material was sent to the thread,' Leavitt posted on X Tuesday.

She also said the White House counsel's office has 'provided guidance on a number of different platforms' for staff to use to communicate.

Goldberg said, when he was added to the Signal group, he initially thought it was a scam or someone 'masquerading' as the Trump advisor. He eventually realized it was genuine.

The National Security Council confirmed the Signal app chat was authentic.

'This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain,' Brian Hughes, the spokesman for the National Security Council, said.

'The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security.'

'Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he's a good man,' Trump told NBC News

Trump ordered the strikes against the Iran-backed rebels in Yemen as a warning to Tehran. The Houthi rebels were targeting ships on the Red Sea from countries with ties to Israel, including the U.S. and UK.

Waltz started the principles group on Signal to coordinate on it, naming it 'Houthi PC small group.'

Goldberg had his doubts when he found himself added, admitting he was worried that the text chain was a 'disinformation operation.'

But he also found, as he watched the texts flow, that the statements in it sounded genuine and some of the details matched up.

In a lengthy article for The Atlantic, where he laid out what happened, Goldberg writes he voluntarily held back information that was in a lengthy text written by Hegseth because if it 'had been read by an adversary of the United States, could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel.'

'What I will say, in order to illustrate the shocking recklessness of this Signal conversation, is that the Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing,' Goldberg added.

Speaking out for the first time since the story took over the news cycle Monday, Goldberg said he was fascinated by Vance's thoughts, breaking with Trump and also questioning his knowledge on the subject

Smoke plumes rise above buildings following bombardment on Yemen's Huthi-controlled capital Sanaa after the U.S. strikes

Hegseth, meanwhile, lashed out at Goldberg, calling him a 'deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who has made a profession of peddling hoaxes, time and time again.'

He cited various stories The Atlantic has run on Trump's alleged connections to Russia, his 'very fine people' comments after the Charlottesville riots being taken out of context and the alleged 'suckers and losers' comments on soldiers killed in war.

'This is a guy who peddles in garbage. This is what he does,' Hegseth added.

He praised American troops fighting the Houthis in Yemen and criticized the Biden administration for their own performance.

A reporter asked Hegseth: 'Why were those details shared on signal?'

Hegseth replied: 'I've heard how it was characterized. Nobody was texting war plans and that's all I have to say about that.'

Goldberg fought back, telling CNN Monday night, that the chat included 'attack plans,' locations and identities of targets and the 'sequence' of strikes against the Houthis, adding that Hegseth's denial was 'a lie.'

'No, that's a lie. He was texting war plans, he was texting attack plans. When targets were gonna be targeted, how they were gonna be targeted, who was at the targets, when the next sequence of attacks were happening,' he said.

Goldberg expressed concern that the messages featured information that could easily have been weaponized by enemies of the US to harm their personnel and assets.

He wrote in The Atlantic: 'The information contained in them, if they had been read by an adversary of the United States, could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel, particularly in the broader Middle East, Central Command's area of responsibility.

'What I will say, in order to illustrate the shocking recklessness of this Signal conversation, is that the Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the US would be deploying, and attack sequencing.'

The group chat was accidentally shared with Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine

President Donald Trump looks on as military strikes are launched against Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis earlier this month

After the publication of the article, criticism of the Trump administration figures poured in, with questions being raised about why top secret security matters were being discussed on a messaging app.

'I've accidentally send the wrong person a text. We all have. The unconscionable action was sending this info over non-secure networks. None of this should have been sent on non-secure systems,' Republican Rep. Don Bacon, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said.

'Russia and China are surely monitoring his unclassified phone,' he added, referring to Hegseth.

And Republican Rep. Mike Lawler wrote on X: 'Classified information should not be transmitted on unsecured channels  and certainly not to those without security clearances, including reporters. Period. Safeguards must be put in place to ensure this never happens again.'

New Jersey Senator Andy Kim, a Democrat, called on Hegseth to be fired: 'Really dumb and epically irresponsible. People need to lose their jobs over this. Preferably Hegseth.'

There were also questions as to whether Waltz violated the Espionage Act, which governs the handling of 'national defense' information.
America and its NATO allies 'remain on a collision course' after bombshell leaked text messages revealed that Donald Trump's top security officials branded Europe as 'pathetic' and 'free-loading', military experts have warned.

Team Trump has come under fire today after it emerged that secret exchanges on the messaging app Signal were mistakenly sent to the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic.

The chat, which appears to have served as a virtual war room for some of the top White House players, saw Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confess that they 'hate bailing Europe out'.

Military experts have now warned that Washington is 'frustrated' at Europe for 'not taking more ownership of security issues' and urge NATO allies to evaluate their defence spending.

'It is essential that Europe recognise that Team Trump overall believes NATO is over-relying on the US to protect what the Trump White House chiefly believes are European national security interests,' Mark Toth and Jon Sweet told MailOnline today.

'The substantial US budgetary outlays that Team Trump is determined to redirect back to meet the domestic needs of the US economy. Europe, in that vein, would be wise to hit Trump's initial 5 per cent GDP target for NATO member-state defense spending in as short of a timeframe as possible.'

European Parliament member Wouter Beke echoed the warning, claiming that 'for too long' the European Union has been 'at ease under the safety umbrella by the US'.

'A strong and resilient EU with more investments in defence is necessary,' he said, adding that it would 'strengthen the EU pillar within NATO and subsequently also the US in the long term'.

America and its NATO allies 'remain on a collision course' after bombshell leaked text messages revealed that Donald Trump's top security officials branded Europe as 'pathetic' and 'free-loading', military experts have warned (file photo)

The chat, which appears to have served as a virtual war room for some of the top White House players, saw Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth call Europe 'pathetic' and 'free-loading'. Hegseth is pictured in the Oval Office with President Trump on March 21, 2025

The leaked text messages have revealed that there is a 'growing and disconcerting narrative' amongst White House officials that 'Europe is not doing its fair share'.

'Intentionally leaked by Team Trump or not  and we think not  the US and its European NATO allies remain on a collision course,' Toth and Sweet said of the texts, which they referred to as the 'Signal fiasco'.

'Team Trump is increasingly becoming frustrated with Europe not taking more ownership of security issues  especially those that primarily or disproportionately affect London and Brussels.'

The military experts warned that Europe will have to take these messages into account going forward and encouraged them to follow Poland's lead of defence spending.

'Poland, presently, stands out as a model state to Team Trump. Europe would be well-advised to collectively emulate their approach,' they said.

However, Beke, who sits on the EP's Foreign Affairs & Security and Defence committees, says that despite the 'difficulties with the new administration, we still believe in a strong EU-US and therefore also EU-NATO relationship'.

'It is however absolutely true that Europe should work on its strategic autonomy and has some work to do when it comes to investing in its own security,' he told MailOnline today.

Experts warn the leaked text messages (pictured) have revealed that there is a 'growing and disconcerting narrative' amongst White House officials that 'Europe is not doing its fair share'

He also hit back at the remarks made by Team Trump, claiming the messages demonstrate that 'some officials don't have a good understanding of global trade' or the 'necessity of a stable international order'.

'It's in the best interest of both our economies to have safe maritime routes all over the world since our economies are highly intertwined,' he said, adding that 'it doesn't surprise me Europe is once again the scapegoat'.

'Instead of pursuing a better reciprocal beneficiary relationship with the EU, some officials within the Trump administration are so deep into the 'America First' ideology that they are unable to see the perverse effects,' Beke added.

Martins Stakis, another MEP who sits on the Committee on Security and Defence, says the text messages 'won't drastically change relations' between the US and its European allies.

'The current US administration has already signaled that European security is no longer its top priority. Europe must be ready to defend itself,' Stakis said.

He also responded to Hegseth's name-calling, alleging his remarks are disrespectful to European forces who fought alongside American troops.

'European countries have always been a reliable ally to the US in times of need. After 9/11, Europe was a crucial force in the US-led coalition against terrorism,' he told MailOnline. 'Calling Europe 'freeloaders' is an insult to the European soldiers who were wounded or gave their lives.'

Soldiers of the Lithuanian Land Force participate in the Allied Spirit 25 military exercise at the U.S. 7th Army Training Command Joint Multinational Readiness Center on March 12, 2025 near Hohenfels, Germany

It was reported Monday night that senior American officials, including the defence secretary and national security adviser, texted plans for an attack on Yemen to a group chat on messaging app Signal that had accidentally included a journalist.

The chat appears to have served as a virtual war room for some of the top players in the Trump White House, including Vance, Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard, national security adviser Mike Waltz and Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles.

The conversation was initially centred around the military strikes against Houthi strongholds in Yemen, which started after the Houthis threatened to begin targeting 'Israeli' ships again over Israel blocking aid entering the Gaza Strip.

In the chats, the user identified as Vance expresses concerns about the strikes but ultimately agrees to go along with Hegseth's plan - before adding 'I just hate bailing Europe out again.'

Hegseth responds: 'I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It's PATHETIC.'

Insiders warn that Waltz is facing the sack over the saga - as he's believed to have been the official who 'added the editor-in-chief to the group'.

'Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f***ing idiot,' one source told Politico.

According to The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, the messages featured information that could easily have been weaponised by enemies of the US to harm their personnel and assets.

Goldberg wrote: 'The information contained in them, if they had been read by an adversary of the United States, could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel, particularly in the broader Middle East, Central Command's area of responsibility.

'What I will say, in order to illustrate the shocking recklessness of this Signal conversation, is that the Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the US would be deploying, and attack sequencing.'

Several Trump administration's top intelligence officials will face Congress this week to offer their first testimony in office about the threats facing the US and tackle urgent questions about the security breach. FBI Director Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe (pictured left to right) are among the witnesses appearing today before the Senate panel

The chats were confirmed as legitimate by the US government but a White House spokesperson said it was a 'demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials'.

The National Security Council has also said the text chain 'appears to be authentic.'

Several Trump administration's top intelligence officials will face Congress this week to offer their first testimony in office about the threats facing the US and tackle urgent questions about the security breach.

Ratcliffe, Gabbard, and FBI Director Kash Patel are among the witnesses who will appear Tuesday before the Senate Intelligence Committee and Wednesday before the House Intelligence Committee in back-to-back hearings.

The hearings are also unfolding against the backdrop of a starkly different approach toward Russia following years of Biden administration sanctions over its war against Ukraine.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed during a lengthy call with President Trump to an immediate pause in strikes against energy infrastructure in what the White House described as the first step in a 'movement to peace.'
The grandfather of a little French boy whose remains were in the Alps was previously questioned over alleged sexual assault and violence at a private Catholic school he worked at.

Grandparents Philippe and Anne Vedovini, both 59, were on Tuesday taken into custody along with two of their adult children, in connection with the alleged killing of Emile Soleil.

The two-year-old was staying at the Vedovinis' isolated holiday home in the Alpine hamlet of Haut-Vernet, south of Grenoble, when he went missing in July 2023.

His remains, including a fractured skull, were found nearby nine months later, following daily searches.

At dawn today, police raided the family's permanent home, near Marseille, and arrested them.

Simultaneous swoops by police nearby led to the arrests of the other two suspects, who have not been identified by name.

All are under suspicion of 'intentional homicide' and 'concealing a corpse', said a statement released by Aix-en-Provence prosecutors. It was also revealed today by Le Parisien that the family's phones were tapped for several months in the leadup to the arrest.

Last year, French news outlets including Le Parisien and the highly respected investigative newspaper Le Canard enchaine [The Chained Duck] reported disturbing information about Mr Vedovini.

'It is above all his past that raises questions,' wrote Le Parisien, as it outlined details of a sex abuse scandal at a Roman Catholic school in the 1990s.

Philippe Vedovini at the funeral of little Emile in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume on February 8, 2025

Emile, who disappeared in Le Vernet, south-east France, on July 8, 2023

A gendarme stands outside the house of the grandparents of Emile Soleil on Tuesday

It also confirmed Mr Vedovini  who denied any wrongdoing  'has attracted the attention of gendarmes and constitutes one of their many lines of enquiry'.

Mr Vedovini was training to be a monk when he worked at Riaumont, a Catholic community that includes a boarding school for troubled youngsters in northern France.

Situated at Lievin, in the Pas-de-Calais, it was run by Benedictine monks who received complaints from former pupils between 2014 and 2017.

They said they had suffered sexual abuse, including rape, in the early 1990s, as well as regular physical beatings.

Mr Vedovini, who was known as Brother Philippe when he worked at the school between 1991 and 1994, was implicated in the enquiry as an 'assisted witness'.

Interviewed by police in April 2018, he admitted to administering 'somewhat harsh' physical discipline, but said he had never broken the law, according to a source close to the enquiry.

Eleven former colleagues  seven religious and four lay staff  ended up being indicted on various charges.

The public prosecutor in Bethune confirmed the criminal investigation was 'still in progress' and 'should soon be completed'.

Mr Vedovini gave up his vocation to become a monk in order to marry his wife, Anne Vedovini.

Investigators haul off a horse trailer from the property of the grandparents of Emile Soleil today

Marie (L) and Colomban (R) Soleil, parents of Emile, arrive at the funeral ceremony in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, southern France, on February 8, 2025

Emile's skull - which contained fractures and a bite mark - was found by a walker on March 30, 2024, on a path between the church and chapel of the rural Alpine village

Relatives and friends, including Emile's grandfather Philippe Vedovini (3rd R) arrive Emile's funeral in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, southern France, on February 8, 2025

Within hours of the ceremony, the grandparents published a statement saying 'the period of silence must yield to the period of truth', adding: 'We need to understand. We need to know.'

A gendarme enters a vehicle outside the house of the grandparents of Emile Soleil today

Both remain devout Roman Catholics who brought up ten children, including Emile's mother - who is now known by her married name of Marie Soleil.

Police said this morning: 'This morning, Philippe Vedovini and his wife, grandparents of Emile Soleil, along with two of their adult children, were taken into custody' by investigators from the Marseille gendarmerie's investigation section.

'These police custody placements are part of a phase of verification and comparison of the evidence and information gathered during the investigations carried out in recent months.'

The statement adds: 'Investigators are also conducting forensic operations in various locations across the country.'

Isabelle Colombani, the grandparents' lawyer, confirmed the arrest to AFP, France's national news agency, but said she had no further comment to make.

The arrests took place at 6.30am at La Bouilladisse, just north of Marseille, in France's Bouches-du-Rhone department.

Emile was staying at Haut-Vernet at the time of his disappearance, and vanished while under the supervision of his grandfather - who later admitted 'fifteen minutes of inattention.'

The search for the child finally ended when Emile's bones were found in March 2024 by a rambler.

A witness saw Mr Vedovini, a physiotherapist-osteopath, cutting wood outside his house around the time Emile is thought to have wandered from the property in Haut-Vernet.

The extreme-Right-wing political background of the family has also been examined by police.

The long investigation took a surprise turn when police arrested the boy's grandparents on suspicion of murder (pictured: the horse trailer being removed from the property)

A forensic investigator drives the car of the grandfather of Emile Soleil from the house today

Emile went missing while at the summer home (pictured) of his grandparents in the French Alpine hamlet of Le Haut-Vernet in July 2023

French gendarmes near the village last March after investigators found what they believed to be the 'bones' of little Emile in the first major breakthrough in the case

Gendarmes meticulously search the outskirts of the village of Vernet in July 2023

French gendarmes take part in the search operation for two-year-old Emile in July 2023

Volunteers take part in a search operation for two-and-a-half-year-old Emile in July 2023

Emile's father, Colomban Soleil, 27, was arrested for 'an attack on foreigners' in 2018.

He appeared before judges in Aix-en-Provence and was released from custody after pledging to maintain the peace.

At the time, Mr Soleil was an activist linked to Action Francaise, the far-Right nationalist and royalist group, as well as the neofascist Bastion Social.

Three years later, in 2021, Mr Soleil and his wife stood as local election candidates in the Marseille area, supporting the Reconquest party of Eric Zemmour, the convicted racist and Islamophobe who tried to become president of France in 2023.

Their election slogans at the time identified them as 'friends of Eric Zemmour' who wanted to 'clean out the system'.

Emile's parents are not believed to be the two adult children arrested alonsgide their parents today.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi does not want to talk about her political future amid questions about whether the 84-year-old congresswoman is considering retirement.

The California Democrat was recently asked about being challenged the the primary for her San Francisco seat, but she dismissed the question.

A reporter asked Pelosi at an event in San Francisco whether her current 20th term in Congress be her last, according to the New York Times.

'I didnt come here to talk politics,' the longtime lawmaker reportedly snapped back in response.

'When Im in a political arena, Ill have an answer for you, but that doesnt worry me one bit,' she continued.

The exchange happened during a media event while the congresswoman was back in her home state last week.

The former speaker reportedly then turned to a member of her staff as she was escorted away and asked: 'Why do they always give women the dumb questions?'

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) at a rally in Washington, DC on March 12, 2025

It comes as questions have been swirling about the former speaker's political plans as she is facing a challenger in the Democratic primary for her 11th Congressional District seat.

Saikat Chakrabart announced a bid early last month to unseat the longtime Democratic heavyweight.

It comes as party leaders have faced criticism over their handling of the opposition in the age of Donald Trump as well as calls for a new generation of Democratic leadership.

Chakrabart was at one time progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's former campaign manager and chief of staff.

At the event last week, Pelosi was first asked whether she was concerned about Chakrabart challenging her for the safely Democratic seat.

'I have them every time,' Pelosi responded about her challengers.

As the Times put it, she made a hand flick as she spoke 'like she was shooing away a gnat.'

But the questions over her future plans are not so 'dumb.' Pelosi will be 86 at the end of her current term having already served since 1987.

Pelosi using a walker on the House floor as she attended the joint session to certify Trump's election on January 6, 2025 as she recovered from hip replacement surgery

Pelosi speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August 2024

Saikat Chakrabarti (pictured in 2018 with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) announced last month that he would challenge Pelosi for her California House seat

While she appears as sharp as ever, she recently was recovering from a fall that resulted in hip replacement surgery while traveling to Europe at the end of last year.

The fall resulted in her using a walker when she returned for the start of the new Congress in January.

Pelosi was the first woman to serve as House speaker starting in 2007.

She returned to the role when Democrats retook the House majority during the first Trump term and was known for her tough handling of the Republican president.

She announced she would not seek a leadership role again in November 2022 paving the way for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to take the helm.

But in the halls of Congress, Pelosi still wields immense influence with her words carrying weight and her backing helping allies gain top positions.
A diving instructor wanted in connection with the death of a British holidaymaker in Albania has been jailed for 15 years in Norway following a drugs trial - leaving her heartbroken father shocked as he had no idea.

Saimir Kushova, 48, had been wanted by authorities in Albania following the tragic death of Rebecca Gannon, 29, who drowned while on an organised diving trip with him.

Since her death in September 2022, her devastated father George Gannon, has been pushing authorities in Albania for justice spending months on end in the country.

But he was left stunned when he heard prime suspect Kushova had been convicted of drugs trafficking and sentenced to 15 years.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Mr Gannon, 63, from Stone, Staffordshire, said: 'I have spent almost three years in Albania chasing the authorities for justice.

Its been hard and lonely. Ive spent time away from family but all I wanted is for this man to face me in court and now hes been jailed in Norway.

This man is responsible for the death of my daughter, and he should be in court, I just wanted the Albanian authorities to take what happened to me daughter seriously.

'We only found out a few weeks ago, we knew he's gone on the run a short while after Rebecca died but it appears he ended up in Norway and got involved in some drug smuggling operation.

George Gannon with daughter Rebecca Gannon who died in a diving accident in Albania

Rebecca Gannon was diving on a sunken wreck off the seaside town of Sarande in southern Albania

Saimir Kushova, 48, had been wanted by authorities in Albania following the tragic death of Rebecca Gannon

'We've since found out he was arrested in Norway about six months after fleeing Albania, but we had no idea he had been charged, convicted and jailed for drug smuggling.

'It feels as if he is escaping justice for his role in Rebecca's death, but I will never give up fighting for her.'

Rebecca was on holiday with her boyfriend Robert Kerans when tragedy struck as they dived on a sunken wreck off the seaside town of Sarande in southern Albania.

The couple had PADI diving certificates and had chosen to go on Kushovas organised trip with a firm he owned called the Spiranca Diving Centre.

But within minutes of getting onboard both Rececca and Robert were questioning the poor state of the equipment with sub-standard life jackets and half empty oxygen tanks.

Rebecca  who was used to diving to 30 metres - got into difficulty despite the water being just seven metres deep and she drowned.

According to Mr Gannon before she died, she had resurfaced in a panic and pleading for help but then slipped under the waves.

The family, George and wife Gill, were back home were watching the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth when police knocked on their door to say Rebecca had died.

Mr Gannon said: 'All I wanted is for this man to face me in court and now hes been jailed in Norway'

Rebecca  who was used to diving to 30 metres - got into difficulty despite the water being just seven metres deep and she drowned

Mr Gannon explained that it had taken more than two years to eventually charge Kushova with violation of the rules of protection at work.

Grief stricken Mr Gannon said authorities in Albania had dragged their heels in the investigation and taking far too long to charge him.

But worse was to come for the heartbroken dad as Kushova was eventually arrested and held in Albania only to escape from custody twice, eventually ending up in Norway.

It was in Scandinavia that the professional diver was arrested for his part in a massive cocaine smuggling plot involving 150kg of cocaine.

Kushova was part of a six strong Albanian gang involved in smuggling what was the largest ever single seizure of cocaine in western Norway.

He dived down onto the wreck of a ship off the coast and retrieved several black bags containing he drug and brought them to the surface.

Kushova told the Hordaland District court he had no idea what was in the bags and said he had been asked to help because he was an expert diver.

Police and customs official caught the gang red handed in April 2023 less than a year after Rebeccas death.

Kushova was part of a six strong Albanian gang involved in smuggling what was the largest ever single seizure of cocaine in western Norway

Rebecca was on holiday with her boyfriend Robert Kerans and had chosen to go on Kushovas organised trip with a firm he owned called the Spiranca Diving Centre

Mr Gannon, who is still in Albania, added: After he skipped the country, the police said they had put out an alert for him through Interpol, but we didnt hear anything back for ages.

We only found out he had been arrested and given 15 years in Norway for drugs smuggling a few months ago.

The last few years have cost me financially more than 53,000 and its cost me time with my family, weve spent our savings and had to close our bakery business.

Weve had no real support from the Albanian authorities or the British Embassy in Tirana.

I know hes in jail in Norway and probably wont be leaving any time soon, but I wont rest until his in court and convicted for his part in the death of my daughter.

I could be almost 80 by the time hes released but I just want to see him in court and be jailed for his part in Rebeccas death.

I want him to face justice for what he did, its cost me everything, Ive even thought about going to Norway and committing a crime so I can see him in jail.

Sadly, Mr Gannon also described how it had cost him his marriage adding: 'Gill and I were together 36 years but because of what happened and because Im always here things arent going to well between us.

Its affected her mentally and me. I haven't been able to cry properly yet and I won't until I see justice. We arent divorced but its been mentioned, and its because all I want is closure, Im just fighting to get closure for what happened to Rebecca.
Locals are outraged by the mysterious flip flop by the district attorney in El Paso, Texas after he decided not to seek the death penalty for Patrick Crusius, the man who has already admitted to killing 23 people in a Walmart store because they were Hispanic.

Despite campaigning on the promise to seek the lethal injection for Crusius, Democratic District Attorney James Montoya informed family members of the Walmart victims that he would no longer ask for the state's highest form of punishment Monday, according to El Paso Matters.

Montoya has refused to explain his change of heart, citing a gag order as the reason he can't take about the biggest case in the city's history publicly.

However, the families of the victims and the residents of Texas' sixth largest city have made it clear they want the death penalty of Crusius.

'We're not going to have full closure until there was a trial with a death penalty on there,' Dee Margo, who was mayor when the shooting and attended the funeral of each victim, told DailyMail.com Tuesday.

'I think it's wrong. I don't understand. We lost 23 people.'

The 2019 mass shooting, one of the deadliest in US history, rocked the West Texas city, as Crusius drove 10 hours from Allen, Texas, to the border for the sole purpose of hunting down Latinos in the 85% Hispanic community.

Many victim's families did not want to comment because a gag order has been issued for any potential witnesses in this case, however, outrage in the city erupted on social media.

Angry comments flooded online forums sharing Montoya's decision, particularly because the Democrat just took office in January, beating former Republican DA Bill Hicks who had made it clear he would seek the death penalty.

A still image from surveillance video shows Patrick Crusius entering the Walmart in El Paso on Aug. 3, 2019

(Left) Admitted mass murderer Patrick Crusius, pictured during a court hearing in October 2019. (Right) El Paso County District Attorney James Montoya campaigned on seeking the death penalty for Crusius in what most locals consider to be the biggest case in the city's history

'Keep voting democrat and this is the outcome you get,' Instagram user @ludda_gxtti posted.

'My condolences to the families. They don't deserve this.'

Former El Paso Mayor Dee Margo, who lead the city at the time of the shooting, slammed Montoya for not following through with his promise to seek the death penalty

Many pointed out Montoya would have never been elected in the largely Democratic city if had expressed any unwillingness to take the death penalty off the table.

'El Paso leaders have failed the city of EL PASO and its people,' stated @ismael_dvl.

Another local quipped, 'Can we send him to the El Salvador prison?

Montoya's office declined an interview with DailyMail.com, citing the gag order, but added that a statement would be forthcoming regarding his decision.

A spokeswoman confirmed Montoya had said he would seek the death penalty on the campaign trail and added he said he would weigh input from all the families of the victims.

This is the second time Crusius' life has been spared, as federal prosecutors also had the chance to ask for the death penalty, as he was tried separately for federal hate crimes in 2023.

The Biden Administration decided not to seek the death penalty in the El Paso mass shooting, despite them seeking it in two other mass shootings- a decision Margo called 'racist'.

Law enforcement in tactical gear swarmed the El Paso Walmart moments after the shooting began on Aug. 3, 2019

Angry comments from El Pasoans flooded Instagram account @therealfitfamelpaso Monday night as news Patrick Crusius escaped the death penalty spread on Instagram

In November, voters in El Paso picked current DA James Montoya over Republican Bill Hicks, who had made seeking the death penalty for Crusius a priority during his time as district attorney

The Walmart shooting case is the biggest and most important in El Paso history, with many feeling the could have easily been victims

Walmart employees react after an active shooter opened fire at the store in El Paso, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019

Crusius pleaded guilty to the murder of the 23 victims and wounding 22 others, as well as hate crimes, in federal court.

He was sentenced to 90 consecutive life sentences in prison in 2023.

At the time, many survivors were disappointed in the decision by federal prosecutors, but held out hope that in the Lone Star State, the local prosecutor would deliver the outcome so many feel Crusius deserves.

However the state's case against Crusius has been riddled with set backs, as this is this the third DA to handle the case.

Former district attorney Yvonne Rosales, was forced out of office in 2022 after she was accused of incompetence and mishandling cases.

Voters turned on the Democrat when they began to fear she was not capable of prosecuting Crusius, the most important legal case in the city's history.

Jordan Anchondo, 25, died shielding her two-month-old son from gunfire

Paul Jamrowski, father of Jordan Anchondo and father in-law of Andre Anchondo, who both died in the El Paso Walmart mass shooting, breaks down in tears while speaking to the media outside the federal court in El Paso, Texas, Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Arturo Benavides, 60, (left) and Angelina Englisbee, 86, (right) were also among his victims

Leo Campos and Maribel Hernandez, married for 16 years, were killed in the August 2019 shooting

Hilda Reckard, daughter-in-law of El Paso Walmart shooting victim Margie Reckard, holds a picture of her relative outside the federal court in El Paso, Texas, Friday, July 7, 2023

After she was ousted, Gov. Greg Abbott appointed local lawyer Bill Hicks, a Republican.

Upon taking control, Hicks made it clear that his number one case was the Walmart mass murder.

However, Hicks was voted out in November, largely based on his political affiliation, not his creditentials as El Paso's constituents are heavily Democrat.

'It's a reflection of not having the right character and fortitude to do what's right,' Margo said of Montoya.

'To say because of the screw ups of the prior DA and the lack of evidence, that's a bunch of bologna. (Crusius) already admitted guilt, 90 counts, in a federal case. Don't tell me the evidence is tainted.'
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that no 'war plans' were discussed in the stunning text chain among top national security officials that included a magazine editor before an attack on the Houthis.

Leavitt commented on the extraordinary security breach Tuesday as President Trump put in a good word for his suddenly embattled national security advisor Mike Waltz. She reaffirmed his 'confidence' in Waltz, even as an anonymous source close to the White House called him a 'f***ing idiot' for his role in the text chain.

And as Trump did in his initial reaction to the bombshell news, where the president claimed not to have knowledge of the text chain when asked about it, Leavitt pointed to the success of the military operation itself  saying that's what matters most.

Like Defense Secretary Hegseth, Leavitt began by attacking Atlantic magazine editor Jeffrey Goldberg, who wrote that he was added to the text chain after getting an invitation from Waltz.

'So you are talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who has made a profession of peddling hoaxes, time and time again,' Hegseth said in his first comments on the scandal. He said Goldberg 'peddles in garbage' while saying 'nobody was texting war plans.

That prompted a rebuke from Goldberg, who told MSNBC: ''They were running a war plan on a messaging app and didn't even know who was in the conversation, it's an obvious, ridiculous, security breach and if you notice, he didn't actually answer the question.'

'Jeffrey Goldberg is well-known for his sensationalist spin,' she said  attacking the author who revealed the information.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt attacked the editor who revealed the top-level text chain about a looming attack on the Houthis, and said there were no 'war plans' discussed

'Here are the facts about his latest story: 1. No war plans were discussed. 2. No classified material was sent to the thread. 3. The White House Counsels Office has provided guidance on a number of different platforms for President Trumps top officials to communicate as safely and efficiently as possible.'

That line did not specify whether the White House lawyer had authorized the use of the private encrypted messaging app. Ordinarily top officials discussing sensitive military plans would be required to communicate in a secure area called a SCIF.

Then she confirmed an internal probe of the matter  amid calls in Congress for an investigation.

'As the National Security Council stated, the White House is looking into how Goldbergs number was inadvertently added to the thread. Thanks to the strong and decisive leadership of President Trump, and everyone in the group, the Houthi strikes were successful and effective. Terrorists were killed and thats what matters most to President Trump,' she said.

President Donald Trump defended his National Security Adviser Mike Waltz in the wake of the Signal app scandal

Vice President JD Vance (left) and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (right) were among the officials in the group chat

Trump weighed in to back up Waltz after a person 'close to the White House' tore into him in a comment to Politico. 'Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f***ing idiot,' said the source.

However Trump told NBC News: 'Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he's a good man.'

He also blamed staff. 'It was one of Michael's people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there,' Trump said. Trump called the incident 'the only glitch in two months, and it turned out not to be a serious one.'

Leavitt provided still more support from Trump for Waltz, as top intelligence officials were set to be grilled on the matter in a Senate hearing.

'As I said yesterday, the President continues to have confidence in his national security team, including Mike Waltz. Stories claiming otherwise are driven by anonymous sources who clearly do not speak to the President, and written by reporters who are thirsty for a "scoop,"' she posted on X.
President Donald Trump had a surprising reaction to his administration's biggest scandal to-date.

On Monday evening, Trump reshared on his Truth Social network a post from DOGE leader Elon Musk mocking The Atlantic.

Earlier Monday, The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg revealed that he had accidentally been added to a Signal group chat alongside top members of the administration who were detailing how they planned to attack the Iran-backed Houthis earlier this month.

'Best place to hide a dead body is page 2 of The Atlantic magazine, because no one ever goes there,' Musk had typed.

Musk also shared a post from the satirical Babylon Bee headlined: '4D Chess: Genius Trump Leaks War Plans To 'The Atlantic' Where No One Will Ever See Them.'

Trump's initial response to the news Monday was to bash The Atlantic, the highbrow D.C.-based publication now owned by Laurene Powell Jobs.

'I'm not a big fan of The Atlantic. To me it's a magazine that's going out of business. I think it's not much of a magazine,' Trump said at an event with Louisiana's Republican governor. 'But I know nothing about it,' the president added.

He then had the reporter explain to him what The Atlantic's story said.

President Donald Trump (left) parroted DOGE leader Elon Musk (right) when reacting to his administration's biggest scandal to-date, resharing Musk's post Monday mocking The Atlantic magazine

President Donald Trump re-Truthed a post writted by DOGE leader Elon Musk on Monday, who said: 'Best place to hide a dead body is page 2 of The Atlantic magazine, because no one ever goes there'

Later, in an interview with NBC News, Trump stood by his National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, who Goldberg said had added him to the group chat.

'Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he's a good man,' the president told NBC Tuesday morning.

Trump also suggested that it was one of Waltz's aides, not Waltz himself, who inadvertently added the journalist to the conversation.

'It was one of Michael's people on the phone,' the president claimed. 'A staffer had his number on there.'

Trump also said that Goldberg's presence in the Signal group had 'no impact at all' on the military operation.

Goldberg purposely didn't disclose any operational details of the planned attack and didn't publish the article until it concluded.

Still a number of Democrats are calling for someone from the administration's head - with some fingers pointed at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for disclosing battle plans that Goldberg didn't publish in the story amid fears American military personnel could be hurt.

'What I will say, in order to illustrate the shocking recklessness of this Signal conversation, is that the Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing,' Goldberg instead wrote.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt denied on X Tuesday that any battle plans were disclosed nor classified information was shared, instead saying that Goldberg was 'well-known for his sensationalist spin.'

Late Monday, Politico reported that Waltz appeared to be the likeliest Trump official to be sacked over the embarrassing episode.

'Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f**ing idiot,' said one Politico source, identified as a 'person close to the White House.'

A senior administration official told the site that they are involved in a number of text threads about Waltz's future at the White House.

'Half of them saying he's never going to survive or shouldn't survive,' the official said.

Waltz previously worked for 'neocon' former Republican President Dick Cheney, earning him scrutiny by some members of Trump's 'America First' MAGA crowd.
A bitter row between MP Rupert Lowe and his former party Reform burst back into life today after an independent report into his behaviour found 'credible evidence of unlawful harassment of two women'.

The probe into bullying complaints made against the rightwing Great Yarmouth MP and male aides was scathing about the way they treated two female members of staff.

Investigator Jacqueline Perry KC said Mr Lowe 'seems to have failed or been unwilling to address the very real concerns' of the complainants, or 'address the toxic conduct' around him.

The barrister was asked by Reform to investigate Mr Lowe, whose suspension earlier this month, triggering an astonishing public spat with Nigel Farage and the wider party leadership.

Mr Lowe denies any wrongdoing and says he was targeted and suspended for questioning the party leadership in a Daily Mail interview in which he said Mr Farage acted like a 'messiah'.

But in a 13-page dossier released today Ms Perry said that 'victimisation, constant criticisms (and) discriminatory behaviour do seem to amount to harassment on the part of both Mr Lowe and his constituency team'.

She said there was 'veracity in the complaints from both women which amounts (to) 'credible evidence'  to use Mr Lowe's own words'.

She added that workplace 'failures' by the women that triggered disciplinary procedures by Mr Lowe appeared 'flimsy in the extreme and would have been unlikely, in my opinion, to have warranted disciplinary action, much less dismissal'.

After the report was released this afternoon Mr Lowe branded Mr Farage a 'disgrace' and accused Reform of resorting to 'woke HR lawfare to smear not only my name, but the reputation of my innocent and decent staff.'

A probe into complaints made against the Great Yarmouth MP by Jacqueline Perry KC ruled that 'victimisation, constant criticisms (and) discriminatory behaviour do seem to amount to harassment on the part of both Mr Lowe and his constituency team'.

In the report released by Reform today, Ms Perry said he 'seems to have failed or been unwilling to address the very real concerns' of the two complainants, or ''address the toxic conduct'' of male members of his staff.

She was asked to investigate Mr Lowe after he was suspended earlier this month, triggering a bitter public spat with Nigel Farage and the party leadership.

A statement posted on Mr Lowe's X account from his 'entire team' said: 'These two women have vexatiously complained in an attempt to smear Rupert, and the entire team. And we are a team. We work together well.'

In a second tweet he added: 'There is no evidence of any bullying, because there was none. No bullying, no aggressive behaviour, no violent threats. There are outright lies, unsurprisingly.'

He also repeated his accusation that they only made complaints after being hit with disciplinary action, a claim Ms Perry said was 'incorrect' in her report.

'At the very least Mr. Lowe should have taken seriously the distress and concerns of a seasoned Parliamentary employee and of both women,' she said.

'If he felt that either did fall short of what was expected of them by him or his senior staff, then a careful and full meeting to discuss by way of appraisal what may have gone wrong and how it could be improved could have been undertaken before immediate disciplinary action was sought.'

She wrote in her conclusions that 'I am of the view that there is real risk that the acts complained of, if made out, could well give rise to breaches of the Equality Act 2010'.

She advised Reform to be 'quite strict' about ensuring party members were 'fully acquainted' with parliamentary rules and the provisions of the '2010 (Equality) Act given, I repeat, it is a really low threshold to be crossed to be able to bring such a claim against a member'.

'The party wants to avoid any such unpleasantness, not just due to the risk of legal action but also out of common decency and respect for another person who is doing his/her best to do a good job,' she added.

Scotland Yard has launched a probe into 67-year-old Mr Lowe after a complaint was made about his conduct towards chairman Mr Yusuf. He denies any wrongdoing.

Mr Lowe was one of five MPs elected for Reform in last year's election.
A recording has captured a slew of hecklers shouting down Nigel Farage as he struggles to get through his speech at a Reform UK press conference today.

The party leader was interrupted by at least six protesters at the unveiling of Reform's mayoral candidate for Doncaster.

Farage was on stage in the South Yorkshire city and had been speaking for less than a minute when the first protester shouted out.

The 60-year-old waved at the crowd before registering what happened, shouting: 'Oh dear, we've got a screamer! We've got a screamer!'

He was then met with roars of applause. Spurred on, he called to the heckler: 'Come and fight us at the ballot box!

'Why doesn't he put himself up as a candidate and we'll take him on at the ballot box in a democracy.'

Farage quickly resumed by telling the crowd of the last surviving pilot from the Battle of Britain, who died last week aged 105.

But another demonstrator interrupts before he can make his point, prompting red-faced Farage to pause once again and say 'You don't look very well'.

Nigel Farage on stage at today's unveiling of Reform's mayoral candidate for Doncaster

A heckler shouted at Farage as she is escorted out by security guards

'Well actually - be fair. Didn't look very well to me,' he quips, addressing the crowd.

Hoping to pick up where he left off, Farage returned to his unfinished war pilot anecdote, but was interrupted yet again by shouts from the crowd.

'Oh go home, go home. Haven't you got a job to go to?' he called after a woman as she was escorted out by security.

'I was going to say "haven't you got a job to go to" but it looks pretty unlikely, doesn't it?'

With the crowd having descended into chaos and security scrambling to remove the rebellious attendees, Farage pushed on.

Seconds later, one of the crowd calls out 'Free Palestine!' in the fourth interruption of the conference.

Farage says: 'There we are, free Palestine!'

The woman was marched out by staff while the Reform leader began to make a point about the 'hard left' and 'Antifa' protesters.

Farage referred to the hecklers as 'hard left' and 'Antifa' protestors

At the third interruption, the crowd had descended into chaos

He was then met with a fifth interruption, to which he said: 'Go back to school please!'

In an attempt to shout the heckler down, he began to chant: 'Boring! Boring! Boring!'

Cheers of 'Nigel' filled the room and an air of relative calm was restored when the sixth protester began calling out.

Farage replied: 'Have a look at that! The anger, the anger! You must be at uni.'
A former member of Germany's far-left Red Army Faction accused of attempted murder and a series of armed robberies is finally facing trial today after more than 30 years on the run.

Daniela Klette, 66, was part of the radical anti-capitalist group known as the RAF or Baader-Meinhof gang, which carried out a series of killings, bombings and kidnappings, mainly in the 1970s and 80s.

She was arrested in February 2024 at her Berlin flat, where police found a Kalashnikov assault rifle, explosives and large sums of cash. She had apparently hidden there in plain sight for two decades.

At the time of her arrest, Klette was the only woman tagged as 'dangerous' on Europol's most-wanted list.

Weeks earlier, the creators of a German 'most wanted' podcast had stumbled across photos of Klette on Facebook attending capoeira classes in Berlin, although it is unclear whether this led to her arrest.

The trial - which is being held under tight security in the northern city of Celle - relates to robberies Klette allegedly committed with two other gang members to finance their life on the run after the RAF disbanded in 1998.

After she was detained, prosecutors formally arrested her on suspicion of involvement in three politically motivated attacks in the 1990s, while the gang was still active.

Named after two of its early leaders, Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof, the Baader-Meinhof gang emerged out of the radical fringe of the 1960s student protest movement.

Daniela Klette (left), 66, was part of the radical anti-capitalist group also known as the Red Army Faction or Baader-Meinhof gang

A 1988 portrait of RAF member Daniela Klette, handed out by German police in 1993

Klette is led to a police helicopter at a government centre, in Karlsruhe, after her arrest last year

Klette faces one charge of attempted murder during a robbery in Stuhr near Bremen in 2015

The group's members took up arms against what they saw as US imperialism and a 'fascist' German state that was still riddled with former Nazis.

Outside the court, some 50 people joined a solidarity protest, playing punk music and holding a banner that read 'Defend revolutionary history - Freedom for Daniela and all political prisoners'.

Klette was part of a trio - along with fellow gang members Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg - who were active as part of the RAF's 'third generation' in the 1980s and 1990s.

After the RAF disbanded, Klette and the two men are believed to have financed their lives in hiding through armed robberies.

Police are still searching for Garweg and Staub, who would now be 56 and 71 respectively if they are still alive.

The trial in Celle relates to four attacks on money transporters and nine cash heists from shops in which the suspects got away with a total of 2.7 million euros ($2.9 million), according to prosecutors.

Klette is said to have acted as the getaway driver in many of the heists as well as carrying a 'realistic looking' dummy bazooka.

She also faces one charge of attempted murder during a robbery in Stuhr near Bremen in 2015.

Prosecutors on Tuesday said the three suspects had 'proceeded in an extremely conspiratorial manner', renting cars and apartments under false names and sometimes setting fire to vehicles to cover their tracks.

Pictured: The burned out car of Alfred Herrhausen, chief of West Deutsche Bank, who was killed in an attack claimed by members of the RAF in 1989

Undated handout pictures released by the State Office of Criminal Investigations Lower Saxony shows what is believed to be Burkhard Garweg and Ernst-Volker Staub

The trial is set to last around two years and will hear from 12 witnesses, according to the court.

Klette reportedly put up no resistance when she was arrested at her apartment in Berlin's bohemian Kreuzberg neighbourhood.

According to German media reports, she had been using a fake Italian passport and going by the name of Claudia Ivone.

Neighbours told the Bild newspaper she had a partner of about the same age as her and always greeted them when she went out walking with her dog.

Klette had no bank account and probably paid her rent in cash, possibly for several months or years at a time, according to Der Spiegel magazine.

Police officers stand in front of a building believed to be the site where a member of the notorious far-left Red Army Faction (RAF) was arrested in Berlin last February

The attacks Klette is accused of committing in the 1990s, which are being dealt with in separate proceedings, include an attempted assault on a Deutsche Bank building in Eschborn, near Frankfurt.

She is also accused of playing a role in a 1991 RAF attack on the US embassy in Bonn, the German capital at the time.

A third accusation relates to a 1993 explosives attack against a prison then still under construction in Germany's Hesse state.
A bus driver accused of killing a nine-year-old girl while allegedly on drugs was pictured for the first time as he appeared at court.

Martin Asolo-Agogua, 23, crashed a double-decker bus into Ada Bicakci on August 3 last year on Watling Street, in Bexley south London, according to prosecutors.

He appeared at Bromley Magistrates Court, where prosecutors also accused him of having 5.9 micrograms of THC - a psychoactive chemical found in cannabis - in his blood.

Ada, who was a strong swimmer and talented gymnast, was taken to hospital after the crash but died on August 5.

Following her death, Ada's family said they were raising money for the police and ambulance service, gathering more than 14,000 in donations.

Ada also donated her organs to other children and her parents received a commendation from Anthony Clarkson the Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation.

Denise Clewes prosecuting said: This is a matter which will go to the Central Criminal Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing.'

Her parents attended the brief hearing and were supported by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service.

Ada Bicakci, 9, was killed when a double decker bus struck her last August in South London

Bus driver Martin Asolo-Agogua aged 23 is accused of causing death by dangerous driving

Asolo-Agogua leaving Bromley Magistrates' Court after a short hearing to set a plea date

In a statement they said: 'Thanks are not enough to show our gratitude.

'The funds will support those who helped us through, from the emergency services to our hospital too.'

It had been originally reported her five-year-old brother was also injured but he is not listed as one of the complainants in the case.

District Judge Vanessa Lloyd bailed Asolo-Agogua to appear at the Old Bailey on 22 April 22, when he will enter pleas to the two charges.

His bail conditions say he must not drive any vehicle and that he has to live at his home address until then.

Asolo-Agogua from Southwark, south London is charged with causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by driving without due care or consideration while over the specified limit of an illegal drug.
A rare turtle has been left stranded in Wales after executive orders signed by Donald Trump stopped it going back home to the US.

The Kemp's ridley sea turtle, Rhossi, washed up on Anglesey at the end of 2023 but was slowly nursed back to health and had been poised to return to the wild.

But a decree signed by the White House putting international marine turtle conservation work on hold left the youngster in limbo.

There are only around 7,000 Kemps Ridley turtles in the world but Rhossi is the second to wash up alive in North Wales, 4,000 miles from its home in the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico).

President Trump paused all foreign development for at least three months in January and in doing so the federal conservation body, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), froze funding for several organisations, ordering some of the work it oversees to stop.

This included the job of the Marine Turtle Conservation Fund, which along with the wildlife service and other agencies, had been the key contacts for returning the turtle home.

In February, more than 400 employees at the USFWS lost their jobs as part of President Trump's efforts to shrink the size of the federal government's workforce.

Though, polling suggests cutting government spending has widespread support in the US.

The Kemp's ridley sea turtle, Rhossi, washed up on Anglesey at the end of 2023 but was slowly nursed back to health and had been ready to be released back into the wild

Nature-lovers were shellshocked after a rare turtle washed up on a British beach was stopped from returning home to America

There are only around 7,000 Kemps Ridley turtles in the world but Rhossi is the second to wash up alive in North Wales, 4,000 miles from its home in the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico)

Previously, a turtle called Tally was repatriated to Texas before it was released back into the wild in 2023.

Anglesey Sea Zoo owner Frankie Hobro said: 'Animal species don't understand politics, they don't understand boundaries and borders.

'We'd started to get a really successful repatriation regime in place.

'We thought we had things so they were running quite smoothly. We were going to fine-tune the process for future turtles.

'It's very, very frustrating that's been put on hold now really because of politics and this kind of sweeping decision and the far reaching affect it is having way beyond the states.'

But Ms Hobro said the zoo was currently exploring other ways of returning the turtle.

She added: 'We do have other options. We have the option possibly of working through Mexico, which is something we could do in the future and for future turtles.

'But that would be a shame because we've got these great relationships with these wonderful whole conservation programmes for the species in Texas and the people we've been working with.

Anglesey Sea Zoo owner Frankie Hobro (pictured) said: 'Animal species don't understand politics, they don't understand boundaries and borders'

But Ms Hobro said the Anglesey Sea Zoo was currently exploring other ways of returning the turtle

'It's a matter of finding out how long it's going to be on hold for and making a decision as to whether we can still push that through or whether we have to restart from a different angle.'

Martha Williams, former head of the US Fish and Wildlife Service under former President Joe Biden, said the zoo should persist in its efforts.

She told BBC Wales: 'Don't give up. Speak out - tell the stories, explain why this work is so important, and that it does impact people in a positive way.

'I didn't expect this administration to necessarily be friendly towards conservation. I have been surprised at the speed and the degree to which they have undermined decades of goodwill and work in the conservation sphere.

'International work involved so little money, you know in the big scheme of things, small grants with enormous impact - enormous impact to communities..'

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has been contacted for comment.
Russia, China and the US will form a new 'geopolitical order' that may doom Europe if it fails to act, an ex-Russian secret services general has warned.

Yevgeny Savostyanov, who used to head up the KGB in Moscow, said the continent must 'wake up quickly' to Vladimir Putin's expansionist ambitions or risk falling into irrelevance.

If leaders fail to act on the Russian threat, current negotiations between Donald Trump and Putin could lead to agreements which sideline Europe entirely.

To counter this, Savostyanov said governments across the continent must 'take the burden of responsibility for [their] own destiny' by both boosting defensive capacity and launching powerful information campaigns about global dangers.

In a damning message to European leaders, he told Italian outlet Corriere Della Serra: 'Today you are under the thumb of two powers like Russia and these new USA, which deeply detest your basic values.

'They are united by what they believe to be a common enemy: you. You are surrounded, in some way.

'I fear that there is no perception among you of the risk you are running...to the danger of irrelevance, first and foremost of its own democratic values.

'A new geopolitical order will inevitably arise due to the US decision to drastically reduce its role in international affairs.

Russia and China could form part of the new world order that sidelines Europe, Savostyanov warned

Trump's direct negotiations with Putin have concerned European leaders about their lack of involvement

Yevgeny Savostyanov, who used to head up the KGB in Moscow, said Europe must 'wake up quickly'

'Europe must regain its status as a global political entity in order to independently guarantee its own security.'

This fightback starts, he said, with the defence of Ukraine and an aggressive contintental information campaign that explains the new global reality to Europeans.

European officials have expressed concern about being sidelined during negotiations between Washington and Moscow.

They see no way to peace in Ukraine without US support, meaning they have to follow Trump's lead at every stage of the process.

Leaders have scrambled to increase defence spending in recent weeks, with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen warning that Europe urgently needs to 'rearm'.

Russian, Ukrainian and American officials have held talks in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, in recent days, over a ceasefire, with the continent pressured to accept any deal despite not having a seat at the table.

Putin's actions point to the long-term ambition of regaining global relevance not seen since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Savostyanov claimed.

Moscow, who just agreed to a maritime ceasefire with Kyiv in the Black Sea, will not lay down their arms until Putin is guaranteed a 'Russian outpost' on the Dnieper River.

Russia is likely to demand complete control of four Ukrainian regions it is partially occupying during the ceasefire talks, according to reports

The Russian President wants to 'go down in history as The Great Collector of Russian Lands

This would mean negotiating to keep Odessa, Transnistria and Chisinau, as well as banning any kind of European peacekeeping force in Ukraine.

The Russian President wants to 'go down in history as The Great Collector of Russian Lands, the one who reversed the disintegration of the empire that began in 1867 with the sale of Alaska to the USA'.

Russia is likely to demand complete control of four Ukrainian regions it is partially occupying during the ceasefire talks, according to reports.

The ex-KGB head also said that China will likely have a prominent place in this new world order if Europe remains on its current political trajectory.

Russia is likely to become the 'virtuous deputy' of Beijing, with Europe 'resigning itself to a de facto submission to the alliance between China, Russia and their assorted satellites.'

The Chinese Foreign Ministry denied yeserday that Beijing could join a potential peacekeeping mission spearheaded by EU leaders.

China claims to be neutral when it comes to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but continues to maintain close ties with Moscow.
The Met Police has said there appear to be 'no suspicious circumstances' surrounding the fire at an electricity sub-station that led to the closure of Heathrow Airport in a major update in its investigation.

The force's Counter Terrorism Command had been leading the investigation to establish the cause of the blaze at the substation in Hayes, London, on Friday March 21.

In an update on Tuesday, the Met said officers had found 'no evidence to suggest that the incident was suspicious in nature'.

'As such, we are no longer treating this as a potentially criminal matter,' the force added.

The cause of the fire will continue to be investigated by National Grid, London Fire Brigade and Southern Electricity Network.

The fire led to the closure of Heathrow for almost an entire day, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded and travel chaos around the world.

Thousands of west London homes were also left without power following the incident.

It comes as it was confirmed that the airport's boss, Tomas Woldbye, will be grilled by MPs on the closure next month.

The Met Police has said there appear to be 'no suspicious circumstances' surrounding the fire at an electricity sub-station that led to the closure of Heathrow Airport

Stranded passengers are pictured at Heathrow Airport on Friday as they awaited updates on the fire

The fire in Hayes, west London, led to the closure of Heathrow and thousands of homes went without power

Firefighters are seen tackling the blaze at the electricity substation on Friday

A statement from the Met Police read: 'The Met's Counter Terrorism Command has been working with partners to establish the cause of the fire at the electricity sub-station in Hayes last week (21 March).

'Following enquiries to date, officers have found no evidence to suggest that the incident was suspicious in nature.

'As such, we are no longer treating this as a potentially criminal matter, although we continue to support other partners, including colleagues from National Grid, London Fire Brigade and SSEN, with whom we remain in close contact.

'Should any relevant new information or evidence come to light it will be looked at and considered as appropriate.'

More than 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines rushed to the scene, on Nestles Avenue in Hayes, to tackle the blaze on Thursday evening.

Some 150 people were evacuated and a 200-metre cordon put in place, such was the scale and threat of the blaze.

In addition at least 16,300 homes went without power due to the damage caused by the fire, which broke out at around 11.30pm on Thursday night.

Around 220,000 people were due to travel through Heathrow on Friday and the chaos from the closure rumbled on over the weekend.

The cause of the fire will continue to be investigated by National Grid, London Fire Brigade and Southern Electricity Network

The fire led to the closure of Heathrow for almost an entire day, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded and travel chaos around the world

Small amounts of smoke could still be seen rising from the sub-station on Tuesday morning

Parts of the Hayes sub-station are now little more than charred remains

After initially briefing the airport would be shut for at least 24 hours, bosses were able to reopen to some flights by Friday evening.

It was the biggest disruption for UK aviation since the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud grounded and diverted flights in April and May 2010.

Heathrow is one of the world's busiest airports for international travel, and the biggest in Europe. 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.

Witnesses to the outbreak of the fire said they heard an 'explosion' before seeing billowing smoke and flames licking up into the sky.

The Met confirmed after the outbreak of the fire that counter-terror police would lead the investigation 'as a precaution' - although the force has now stood these officers down.

The cause of the fire has not been confirmed by police.

New photos taken today showed tiny amounts of smoke still coming from the wrecked sub-station, which is now little more than charred remains.

The blaze, which broke out at around 11:30pm on Thursday, could be seen for miles

A huge fireball was seen in the sky as the sub-station erupted into flames on Thursday night

Heathrow Airport CEO Thomas Woldbye will be grilled by ministers over the closure next week

The London Fire Brigade also confirmed today that it has taken charge of the investigation from the Met.

Commenting on the incident, London Fire Brigade Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Smith said: 'At 23:23 on the evening of 20 March, London Fire Brigade received the first of 212 calls to a fire in a high voltage substation near Heathrow Airport.

'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.

'The first appliance was on scene within five minutes of mobilisation. The Brigade was in close contact with blue light partners overnight, and at 00:42 the Met police declared a major incident.

'Ten fire engines, two Bulk Foam Units and one High Volume Pump were on scene at the peak of the incident  this equates to approximately 70 London Fire Brigade personnel.

'Our firefighters worked tirelessly in challenging and hazardous conditions overnight to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible.

'Firefighters safely evacuated 29 people from neighbouring properties, and as a precaution, a 200-metre cordon was established. Working with the Met police, around 150 people were evacuated to a rest centre. The majority of those people have been able to return to their homes.

'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.'

The LFB said it will maintain a small presence on scene for the coming days to ensure any remaining hot-spots within the electrical equipment are fully extinguished.

Following the shock closure, which has led to questions about the capabilities of Heathrow's back-up power systems, it was confirmed MPs would have the opportunity to grill the airport's CEO, Thomas Woldbye, over the incident.

He will appear before the Transport Select Committee at a one-off session on Wednesday, April 2.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband previously ordered the National Energy System Operator to investigate what happened and provide its initial findings within six weeks.
A wannabe influencer who recorded himself pouring a bucket of dog faeces and oil over subway passengers has been charged with assault.

Alarming footage shows the self-styled prankster, who goes by YaNike, dropping the foul mixture on the heads of his victims before making a quick getaway.

The Brussels YouTuber posted videos of his revolting so-called jokes online in a bid to grow his social media following.

But, rather than catapulting him to fame, YaNike's disgusting pranks landed him on the wrong side of the law and he will now have to answer for his actions in court.

In one clip a father and his young daughter were covered in a repulsive concoction containing excrement, oil, and beer as they rode the subway in Brussels.

As they sit side by side, YaNike appears behind them with a metal bucket and empties the stomach-turning content over their heads before fleeing through the carriage doors as they close.

As the footage continues the shocked father and his daughter, who looks no older than eight, jump up astonished at what has happened.

Before the clip closes a sign flashes up urging watchers to 'Abonne Toi', or 'subscribe'.

A second clip shows YaNike tipping another bucket full of the nauseating liquid over a man sitting by himself.

A wannabe influencer who recorded himself pouring a bucket of dog faeces and oil over subway passengers has been charged with assault. Alarming footage shows the self-styled prankster, YaNike, dropping the foul mixture on the heads of his victims before making a quick getaway

The Brussels YouTuber posted videos of his revolting so-called jokes online in a bid to grow his social media following - but he is now facing assault and weapons charges

The content creator had posted seven videos throughout 2023 under the title 'Surprise du Chef', or 'Chef's Surprise'

The content creator had posted seven videos throughout 2023 under the title 'Surprise du Chef', or 'Chef's Surprise'.

Police had seized YaNike, charged under his initials Y.D., in January last year (2024) after complaints from the Brussels STIB metro operators.

He was jailed six months ago for breaching bail conditions and is now expected to go on trial within weeks.

A prosecutors' office spokesperson told local media on 25th March: 'Videos of these events were posted on social networks, with the aim of getting as many likes as possible.

'The investigation into the man has been completed.

'He appeared last week in front of the Council Chamber in Brussels, which decided to refer him to the correctional court.'

Train operators STIB said: 'It is intolerable to harm our customers, who find themselves humiliated.'

Despite his desperate effort for 'likes', YaNike's content flopped and his videos got him less than 300 followers on YouTube and Instagram.
A married Massachusetts lawmaker named in court as a client of a high class brothel network has refused to resign over the ordeal.

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.

At a council meeting on Monday, Toner apologized and made it clear that he would not resign.

Reading from a prepared statement, he said: 'First, I am ashamed to have my name associated with this case.

'I would like to apologize to my fellow councilors, my supporters and the community for taking up the time of the council and the public discourse on this matter.

'All Americans  including elected officials  are entitled to the right to due process but some have already judged and convicted me.'

The 58-year-old added that he had been advised not to make any further comment, and that he had a 'duty to fulfill' to voters.

He had first been elected to the position in November of 2021 and is currently serving his second term.

At a council meeting on Monday, Toner apologized and made it clear that he would not resign

Toner is married to Susan Connelly and they share two children together, Grace and Jack

He had first been elected to the position in November of 2021 and is currently serving his second term

Following the meeting, City Councilor Patricia Nolan told NBC Boston: 'It's reverberating throughout the city

'It's not just a personal thing, it has become a much larger issue, this isn't just an affair, it isn't about someone's sex life.'

Immediately after being publicly named, Toner 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.

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

The original affidavit shows a text message sent from a phone related to the operation in Massachusetts which includes a 'menu'

Their family home is a $1.3 million three bedroom abode which was deserted when DailyMail.com appeared at the address on Friday.

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.

The week before, the first 12 were named and shamed and another five are due in court this Friday.

Radiologist Jason Han, 29, appeared in court earlier this month alongside his attorney

Mark Zhu, seen here, was told there was probable cause to charge him with visiting a brothel at a hearing in Cambridge

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.

Prosecutors say these individuals are part of an elite clientele that includes the likes of public officials, government contractors, as well doctors and lawyers.

All of the men were found to have probable cause in charging them with visiting a brothel.

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.

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.

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 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.
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to an effective maritime ceasefire, as well as a halt on strikes on energy infrastructure, following U.S.-mediated talks in Saudi Arabia today, the White House said.

Both parties agreed separately to avoid military strikes on vessels, the issue touted by the Trump administration as being of primary importance to allow for unhindered commercial shipping in the region.

In parallel statements, the White House said that each country had 'agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.'

It also said that the U.S. and Ukraine had agreed to develop measures for implementing a ban on strikes against energy facilities in both Ukraine and Russia, after both sides accused each other of breaching the ceasefire last week.

But as the Trump administration championed its role in the agreements, Ukrainian president Zelensky, speaking to reporters in Kyiv, lamented the concession of helping restore Russia's access to the world market, branding it a 'weakening of the position and a weakening on sanctions'.

Ukrainian defence minister Rustem Umerov added in a statement that while 'no one wants a just peace more than Ukrainians', the Ukrainian side 'emphasizes' that any Russian movement of military vessels outside of the eastern part of the Black Sea would be seen as a violation of the agreement.

'In this case, Ukraine will have full right to exercise right to self-defence,' he wrote, drawing clear red lines for engagement.

'If the Russians violate this, then I have a direct question for President Trump,' President Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv. 'If they violate, here is the evidence - we ask for sanctions, we ask for weapons, etc.'

Vladimir Putin gives a speech during a ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 25, 2025

Smoke erupting from the Kavkazskaya depot following a Ukrainian drone attack, according to the Russian authorities, in Kavkazskaya, Krasnodar Region, Russia, March 23, 2025

Smoke billows from a residential building following a missile attack in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine, on March 24, 2025

The Ritz-Carlton hotel, where talks between Russia and U.S. are being held aimed at ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 24

The White House published two readouts from the talks, highlighting the main achievements from both the Russian and Ukrainian perspectives.

The Russia-specific readout emphasized that the U.S. would help 'restore Russia's access to the world market for agricultural and fertiliser exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions'.

The Ukraine-specific readout emphasized that the U.S. 'remains committed to helping achieve the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children'.

Today's talks followed a summit between U.S. and Russian representatives, also in Riyadh, on Monday, aimed at rejoining some of the key differences in demands between the warring factions.

Sergei Lavrov, making sense of Russia's recent talks with the U.S., said that the Kremlin was willing to strike a new agreement tantamount to a ceasefire at sea with Ukraine - subject to certain security guarantees.

'Given the sad experience of agreements with just Kyiv, the guarantees can only be the result of an order from Washington to Zelenskyy and his team to do one thing and not the other,' Lavrov said in an muted affront to Ukraine, ahead of the agreement.

Washington has taken a central role in mediating with renewed talks in Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.

The most recent round - comprising three days of meetings, and without direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv - are part of an attempt to move towards a partial pause in the three-year conflict in Ukraine.

A ship travelling from the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara passes through the Bosporus in Istanbul, Turkiye on March 7, 2025

A general view of the destruction caused by Russian strikes in Kostiantynivka, located in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on March 25, 2025

Russia's strike on Odesa, Ukraine, on 21 March 2025

But progress has been slow. A limited 30-day ceasefire on energy infrastructure was nearly derailed within just hours of an agreement in principle late last week, as Ukraine accused Russia of striking launching air attacks that damaged infrastructure claimed to be exempt under the terms of the agreement.

A lingering issue was ambiguity around what was off-limits. Zelensky said that Ukraine could supply a list of its facilities in order for an agreement to be properly implemented, while urging that the U.S. oversee the ceasefire.

Russia subsequently accused Ukraine of using drones to attack an oil depot near Kavkazskaya village, sparking a fire. It also claimed missiles that hit Ukrainian infrastructure were already in the air when the order to cease fire came in.

The latest developments go some way towards repairing the rift and securing a crucial maritime ceasefire.

Details of the prospective deal are yet to be released, but it appears to mark a revival of a 2022 agreement to ensure safe transit via Ukraine's Black Sea ports that was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey.

Russia pulled out of the initiative in 2023, accusing the West of failing to uphold its commitments to ease sanctions on Russian exports. It also argued the agreement failed to ensure safety of its Black Sea exports.
A young couple from Columbus, Georgia, has been charged with murder in the second degree following the tragic death of their six-week-old baby.

Ariel Simmons and Ryan McMilleon now face murder and child cruelty charges after their infant was found unresponsive in their home earlier this month.

Officers were called to a home after reports that an infant was not breathing on March 2, just before 1pm, as reported by ABC-affiliate WTVM.

The baby was rushed to a local hospital but was tragically pronounced dead upon arrival.

Investigators claim that the baby was discovered lifeless, wrapped in a sweatshirt with a pill bottle full of methamphetamine with Simmons's name on it nearby.

Once the baby arrived at the hospital, doctors quickly realized there was nothing they could do.

'The doctors advised nurses to stop CPR as the baby was already set in rigor mortis,' Investigator Bethany Thompson told WTVM.

The infant also showed serious bruising and signs of 'lividity,' which is a bluish-purple discoloration of the skin that occurs after death.

Ariel Simmons and Ryan McMilleon (pictured) now face murder and child cruelty charges after their infant was found unresponsive in their home earlier this month

Investigators claim that the baby was discovered lifeless, wrapped in a sweatshirt with a pill bottle full of methamphetamine with Simmons's name on it nearby (Ariel Simmons pictured)

'I observed the child, and there was lividity from possible pressure located on the face, left ear, and the stomach and chest of the baby,' Thompson told WTVM.

The parents claim the injuries were from 'co-sleeping' with the baby.

Thompson said McMilleon claimed Simmons was sleeping when he had woken up, and when he checked on the baby, he realized 'it was over the babys head.'

'Ryan stated when the blanket was pulled off the baby, the baby was lying flat on a Boppy, a pillow used for nursing, and it was around the babys head,' said Thompson.

The parents were first hit with unrelated charges.

Authorities first arrested McMilleon for possession of methamphetamine and an outstanding warrant for contempt of court.

Simmons was also arrested on a truancy warrant.

But after the new evidence emerged, police hit the couple with further charges.

On March 17, police issued warrants for murder and child cruelty against both parents, and they were arrested the following day.

Video footage reveals the moment Simmons (pictured) burst into tears in the court room Friday as the judge announced the charges

The parents claim the injuries were from 'co-sleeping' with the baby (McMilleon in court)

Video footage reveals the moment Simmons burst into tears in the court room Friday as the judge announced the charges.

Despite the gruesome allegations, family members insist the parents would never intentionally harm their child.

'He would never intentionally hurt his child. He loved his kids very much,' McMilleon's mother told WTVM .

Defense Attorney Keyanna Marshall, who is representing Simmons, also argued that her client was a good mother who made a tragic mistake.

'I think that it came out in court today that the bruises that the baby did get are consistent with co-sleeping. It was truly an accident,' said Marshall.

In the US, approximately 3,700 babies die each year from sleep-related causes, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

These deaths include sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation, and accidental strangulation.
The hunt is on for a White House aide being blamed for putting The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg on a Signal group chat alongside key Trump administration officials.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump pointed fingers at an unnamed aide and not on his National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, who appeared likely to be the fall guy for the White House's biggest scandal to-date.

In his piece, Goldberg said a 'Michael Waltz' had added him on the Signal chat, which also included key officials including Vice President J.D. Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

'It was one of Michael's people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there,' Trump told NBC by phone in an interview Tuesday morning.

Speculation is now swirling about who the staffer is.

'Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he's a good man,' the president also told NBC.

Trump's decision to stand by Waltz comes after Politico reported that he was the likeliest official to be sacked over the embarrassing episode.

'Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f**ing idiot,' said one Politico source, identified as a 'person close to the White House.'

The hunt is on for a White House aide being blamed for putting The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg on a Signal group chat alongside key Trump administration officials

The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg shared screengrabs of a chat with key administration officials he was accidentally added to earlier this month

A senior administration official told the site that they are involved in a number of text threads about Waltz's future at the White House.

'Half of them saying he's never going to survive or shouldn't survive,' the official said.

Two high-level White House aides floated the idea that Waltz should resign to prevent President Donald Trump from having to be in a 'bad position.'

'It was reckless not to check who was on the thread. It was reckless to be having that conversation on Signal. You cant have recklessness as the national security adviser,' the official said.

A third source told Politico that Trump has spoken to Waltz about the matter.

Politically Trump may have the most cover if he axes Waltz over someone like Hegseth, who the White House fought tooth and nail to get through Senate confirmation.

There is some skepticism of Waltz in the MAGAverse due to him previously working for Republican Vice President Dick Cheney, whose 'neocon' views differ from Trump's 'America First.'

National Security Advisor Michael Waltz's job appears to be secured for now, with President Donald Trump blaming an unnamed aide for the Signal mess-up

It also remains a mystery who was intended to be added to the Signal group chat instead of Goldberg.

The only Waltz aide mentioned by name in The Atlantic piece was Alex Wong, the national security adviser's deputy.

The person using the 'Michael Waltz' handle wrote to the group: 'Team - establishing a principles [sic] group for coordination on Houthis, particularly for over the next 72 hours.'

'My deputy Alex Wong is pulling together a tiger team at deputies/agency Chief of Staff level following up from the meeting in the Sit Room this morning for action items and will be sending that out later this evening,' Waltz wrote.
A thirteen-year-old California teen tragically died in a fiery crash after he collided into a semi-truck.

Blain Chandler of Visalia was behind the wheel of a $28,000 2024 Honda Accord on the afternoon of March 18 when he veered into the opposite lane and smashed into a truck just off of Highway 33, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Both vehicles erupted in flames due to the force of impact. Chandler got pinned to the car and died at the scene.

The 24-year-old Idaho woman driving the 1995 Kenworth tractor trailer managed to escape the fireball and called 911 following the collision, The Fresno Bee reported.

According to authorities, Chandler was in the car by himself and made an unsafe left turn across the center lane just before striking the truck.

It is unclear exactly why the teen was driving the car and who the vehicle belonged to. DailyMail.com contacted the California Highway Patrol for more information.

Chandler has been remembered as 'a joy to hang around,' a friend of his said in a heartwarming Facebook post.

Blain Chandler, 13, of Visalia, California, tragically died after crashing into a semi-truck just off of Highway 33 on March 18

Chandler was behind the wheel of a 2024 Honda Accord when he veered into the opposite late, smashing into the truck. Both vehicles then erupted in flames

'I love you lots Blaine! You always were a joy to hang around! You will never be forgotten on the life's [sic] you touched to do better including mine! What a privilege it was to know you! I love you so much!,' he continued.

Sara Radmacher Chandler posted a tribute photo of the boy to Facebook, that has been flooded by thoughts and prayers from loved ones.

The mom often posts images of Chandler alongside four other children and her husband, Steven.

The couple own several homes together, according to public records. Their current residence costs $1.7 million.

One commenter wrote: 'Please go and support Blaine and the chandler family! I love you all so much and my prayers are out to everyone who was close to Blaine!'

Another person wrote: 'May you rest in peace blain it was so great to have you here on earth on my bad days you would always make me laugh so thank you I will always remember you.'

'Such a tragic loss, my heart goes out to Blain's family during this unimaginable time,' said another.

A service is being held in honor of the late teen at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Thursday at 11am, according to multiple posts shared by his loved ones.

Pictured: Sara Radmacher Chandler with her husband Steven and Blain Chandler

Chandler got pinned to the car and died at the scene. The 24-year-old Idaho woman driving the 1995 Kenworth tractor trailer managed to escape the fireball and called 911 following the collision

Just months ago, a 10-year-old Minneapolis boy was arrested after stealing a car and driving it through a crowded playground.

The boy's wild ride took place on the grounds near Nellie Stone Johnson School on September 20, 2024, as he narrowly missed other children and school staff.

Footage showed the car speeding across the back of the playground, over the grass, before doubling back the other way.

He then whizzed by the playground and onto the sidewalk, as school staff were trying to usher other children to safety.

According to police, this joy ride was not the 10-year-old's first rodeo.

The boy has at least 30 entries since May 2023, and has been arrested at least twice before for auto theft-related crimes, according to The Minneapolis Police Department.

MPD Police Chief Brian O'Hara said: 'It is unfathomable that a 10-year-old boy has been involved in this level of criminal activity without effective intervention.'

He added that a prison sentence for the 10-year-old is 'not an acceptable option' but urges those who can stop his behavior going forward must 'act now to help this child and his family.'
A former hostage has described suffering horrific sexual abuse at the hands of Hamas terrorists while being held in Gaza.

Ilana Gritzewsky, 31, was taken from her home in an Israeli village near the Gaza border during the bloody October 7 attacks before being released during a temporary ceasefire in November 2023.

She has now told how she was groped from behind by Hamas gunmen during her abduction, with the men said to have touched her breast beneath her shirt and her legs.

Gritzewsky said she was trapped between two of the men on a motorcycle, her head and face covered with a large piece of nylon or tarpaulin, when one of them pressed her leg onto the exhaust pipe, burning it.

She passed out before they crossed the border, and when she woke up in Gaza, she said she found herself half-naked in a dilapidated building surrounded by seven gunmen.

Her shirt was up, exposing her breasts, while her trousers were pulled down, she told the New York Times.

She said she did not know what had happened to her while she was unconscious but quickly thought to tell them that she had her period.

'They hit me and lifted me up,' she said. 'I felt they were disappointed... I don't think I have ever been so thankful for my period.'

Ilana Gritzewsky, 31, was taken from her home in a village near the Gaza border during the bloody October 7 attacks. Her partner, Matan Zangauker (left) remains in captivity in Gaza

Gritzewsky (right) is seen during her release from Hamas captivity in November 2023

Released hostage Ilana Gritzewsky poses for a portrait in her apartment in Kiryat Gat, Israel, on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, near photos of her boyfriend, Matan Zangauker, who is being held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip

At one point during her ordeal, she said one of her captors, toting a pistol, hugged her and told her that even if there were a hostage deal she would not be released because he wanted to marry and have children with her.

Gritzewsky's partner Matan Zangauker, 25, remains in captivity in Gaza after being kidnapped alongside her more than 500 days ago.

The pair became separated as Hamas fighters shot at the door of their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, with Zangauker jumping out of the window of the safe room and attempting to flee.

During her more than 50 days in captivity, Gritzewsky was moved from place to place, initially held alone and then with other hostages.

Not knowing what had happened to her partner, she described him to one of her captors, who appeared to confirm that he was among the hostages.

She faced interrogation about her time in the Israeli army, despite completing her military duty more than a decade before after moving to Israel from Mexico aged 16.

As well as the abuse she said she suffered, she was not given any medication for a chronic digestive disease she disclosed to her captors, and said her jewellery was stolen by them.

Gritzewsky was eventually released on November 30, 2023, during a week-long ceasefire alongside many other women and children hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Ilana Gritzewsky is comforted after speaking about her experiences as a hostage during a discussion with the House Foreign Affairs Committee on February 12, 2025 in Washington

When she was assessed back in Israel, it was discovered that she had suffered a broken hip.

Avigail Poleg-Dvir, who has been Gritzewsky's therapist since her release, confirmed to the New York Times that she had shared the main details of her abduction and abuse throughout their sessions.

A United Nations report released last year found evidence that sexual violence had been committed on multiple occasions during the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on Israel.

The same report also found that some hostages held in Gaza had been subjected to rape and sexual torture.

Gritzewsky has become a leading figure in the anti-government protests in Israel

Gritzewsky and her partner's mother have become leading figures in the anti-government protests in Israel, advocating for a swift return of Zangauker and the other remaining hostages.

'I live with the question of why me and not them. I have no answer,' she told the NYT.

'But if I am out, it's a sign that God wanted me to raise my voice to help those who are alive gain their freedom and bring back the dead for a proper burial.'
A haunting breakthrough has finally come in the cold case of Karen Schepers, 23, who vanished over 40 years ago in Elgin, Illinois, a suburb outside of Chicago.

The Elgin Police Department announced on Monday that they have located Karen's Yellow 1980 Toyota Celica buried in Fox River.

The vehicle was first located near a boat launch before a diver located the car and identified the license plate, which matched Karen's.

The Toyota is scheduled to be removed from the river on Tuesday afternoon with the assistance of professional divers, the Elgin Fire Department, and the Kane County Coroner's Office.

Once the vehicle is safely recovered, authorities plan to search for the remains. Police Chief Ana Lalley said in a statement that the investigation is still open and the recovery process is expected to take some time.

'As the recovery of the vehicle is made, it is important to stress that this is the beginning of what is still considered an open and active investigation with many questions still to be answered,' Lalley said in a media update.

'As we continue to investigate this case, we will remain steadfast in our resolve to provide answers and closure to Karen's family.'

Lindsay Bussick, the manager of Chaos Divers, a nonprofit organization assisting in the search, told the Chicago Tribune that authorities used sonar technology to determine the license plate and model of the vehicle.

Karen Schepers, 23, vanished without a trace on April 16, 1983, after she went out to a bar with coworkers

Police announced on Monday that they finally located Karen's vehicle in a river using advanced sonar technology and are planning to remove it on Tuesday afternoon

Chaos Divers, a nonprofit organization, is assisting in the search to recover the vehicle, which authorities believe has been submerged for over 40 years

'With this case and with her being missing for so long, we are kind of looking at it differently,' Bussick added.

'We are looking for shadows because we have to take into account deterioration and that kind of thing just being in the water and the flow of the water over that vehicle.'

Chief Lalley told the Tribune that authorities were committed to recovering the vehicle no matter how long it took.

'If it takes us a day, or if it takes us a couple of days, we'll be here. We have an opportunity to do this and want to do it the right way,' she said.

A renewed interest in the case came last year when Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matthew Vartanian revisited Karen's disappearance for a podcast titled Somebody Knows Something.

Since the podcast launched, the department has received tips from the community with additional information on Karen's disappearance.

The saga began on April 16, 1983, when the young woman ventured out for a night on the town with her coworkers.

Karen was last seen at a bar around 1:00 am before she vanished. There were no sightings of her and no clues as to what happened to her.

Detectives Andrew Houghton (left) and Matthew Vartanian are reinvestigating Karen's case on their podcast, Somebody Knows Something

A podcast launched by detectives with the Elgin Police Department has sparked a renewed interest in Karen's case

Very little evidence was uncovered at the time of her disappearance, and suspects who were looked at were quickly ruled out.

Detectives found that Karen had called her fiance, Terry Schultz, at one point in the night and asked him to come to the bar.

He rejected her offer which resulted in an argument. Terry was investigated as a suspect, but he cooperated with police and passed a lie detector test.

'With a lot of cases, you have a body that's been recovered or a vehicle. In this case, there's neither,' Detective Vartanian told the Daily Herald.

'We don't have a body, we don't have a car, we don't have a crime scene.'

The detectives are investigating multiple theories, including that Karen accidentally drove into the river after leaving the bar.

Karen's credit cards and bank statements were never touched after she vanished, leading investigators to suspect that she didn't disappear on purpose.

However, the boat launch where the Toyota was located was far from the route she would've taken home from the bar.

The detectives researching the case said there was a crescent moon the night Karen disappeared, meaning the road she was driving on was dark.

Elgin has also grown in the past 40 years, so there would've been less light pollution on the night of Karen's disappearance.

Weather data showed that temperatures were below freezing with heavy winds, adding to the theory that Karen could've driven off the road accidentally.

The detectives have also begun investigating theories that Karen intentionally harmed herself, wanted to leave Elgin without a trace, or was harmed by someone else.

Police are now investigating new tips in the cold case and are hoping that the discovery of her car will finally give her family answers

Karen was only 23 years old and had just bought a new yellow Toyota Celica before she disappeared

Authorities have located the vehicle and confirmed the license plate matched Karen's car, but the police chief warned the public that it could take days to properly uncover the car

Another mysterious connection detectives uncovered was a potential link between Karen's case and the disappearance of an Illinois teen named Barbara Glueckert.

She disappeared in 1976 after leaving her rural home for a concert. Police believed a man named Thomas Urlacher murdered her.

Urlacher had a history of assaulting women and even though police obtained a letter they argued was a confession, he was never prosecuted for the crime.

The man was killed 20 years ago but police discovered that he was the last tenant in Karen's apartment before she moved in.

None of the theories in Karen's case have ever been proved and her disappearance is still considered an open and active investigation.

Chief Lalley said in a press release that authorities want to finally give Karen's family answers, and hopefully a sense of peace after 42 years of wondering what happened to the 23-year-old woman.
President Donald Trump's negotiator Steve Witkoff was huddling with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin even while he was included on a Signal group chat with top security officials, according to the latest stunning revelation about it.

Witkoff was identified as a participant in the chat about forthcoming military strikes on the Houthis in Yemen that inadvertently included Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg.

Amid a national security probe and unanswered questions about security risks posed by the group chat on the commercial app, Witkoff was perhaps more exposed than any of the members. He was in Moscow on behalf of President Trump in an effort to negotiate a ceasefire in Russia's war on Ukraine.

Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet brought up the potential risk while interrogating CIA Director John Ratcliffe at a Senate hearing on global threats Tuesday.

'Did you know that the President's Middle East advisor was in Moscow on this thread while you were as Director of the CIA participating in this in this thread? Were you aware of that?' asked Bennet, after Ratcliffe accused him of mischaracterizing his earlier comments.

'Are you? Are you aware of that today?' he demanded to know.

'I'm not aware of that today,' Ratcliffe told him.

'This incompetence, this disrespect for our intelligence agencies,' Bennet fumed.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe got grilled in a Senate hearing about the Signal group chat he was a part of. Sen. Michael Bennet asked him if he knew that one member of the chat, Middle East negotiator Steve Witkoof, was in Moscow during some of the chats

'You need to do better,' Bennet lectured.

Witkoff arrived in Moscow on Thursday March 13th for the talks, which follow separate talks with the Ukrainians where they agreed to a one month ceasefire on attacks on energy infrastructure.

After waiting hours and meeting with various officials, Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

As it turns out, the Pentagon issued an advisory last week warning about the risks of using Signal, saying a 'vulnerability has been identified' in the app. The March 18 said Russian hacking groups were using 'linked devices' to spy on encrypted conversations, NPR reported. The trick allows them to 'view every message sent by the unwitting user.'

Although the Signal communications are encrypted, Ratcliffe said in his own testimony that it was not for use discussing classified information.

He testified that he himself did not transmit anything classified, and provided a legalistic answer suggesting any statements by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth weren't inappropriate.

'The secretary of defense is the original classification authority for determining whether something is classified or not,' he said. That could suggest that if Hegseth shared it, it wasn't classified.

'You need to do better,' Sen. Michael Bennet lectured CIA Director John Ratcliffe

Please add me to your Signal contacts: Witkoff was in Moscow meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the day journalist Jeffrey Goldberg got added to the text chain

Democratic senators tried to puncture this argument by asking questions about how information about an imminent attack, or weapons systems, or specific targets, could not be classified.

Witkoff wasn't the only member on the group chat was overseas.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who deferred to Ratcliffe for several of her own answers during testimony, said that she too was overseas during some of the chats.

She recently returned from a trip to Japan, a top U.S. ally, although her movements were likely of interest to the Chinese.

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) asked the DNI if she was using a personal or a government phone on the trip. 'I wont speak to this because its under review by the national security counsel,' she responded.

Reed told her it was a simple question and asked what could be under review.

She said the NSC was 'reviewing all aspects of how this came to be' and 'wha occurred within that chat across the board.'

Russia has been identified in various U.S. indictments as a hub of cyber attacks, hacks of government officials, and electronic espionage.

During his questioning, Bennet asked Ratcliffe if it was 'your testimony that it was appropriate that [Goldberg] was added to this signal thread?'

'No, of course not,' Ratcliffe responded.

The two men began talking over each other.

'Hold on senator - you're mischaracterizing my testimony,' insisted Ratcliffe.

'Can you answer the question? Let me ask you, when he was added to the thread  you're the CIA Director.  why didn't you call out that he was present on the Signal thread?

'Were you not listening at the beginning, when I said that I was using it as permitted, it is permissible,' shot back Ratcliffe.

Bennet told him that he was 'shocked to find him on a thread that he's reading in the parking lot of a grocery store in Washington, DC' about the attack, as Jeffrey Goldberg wrote that he was.

Former Biden National Security Council official Sean Savvett was unpersuaded by arguments that the information wasn't classified.

'Information about impending US military movements, particularly a combat mission flying through hostile territory, would absolutely be classified to protect the lives of U.S. forces given the threats they would face if their mission, exact coordinates, and movements were known to our adversaries (in this case Iran and the Houthis),' he told DailyMail.com.

'If the Trump administration does not think that is something that should be classified, that raises serious questions about how carelessly they regard the critical issue of troop safety.'
A glamorous 28-year-old perfume entrepreneur was killed and her husband injured in a dramatic drive-by shooting police say was carried out by a hitman being driven around in an Uber.

Authorities allege 22-year-old suspect Elias Diaz hired an Uber driver to spend the day searching for Denny Caraballo and his wife Maria Villasmil in the Dominican Republic town of Sabana Iglesia, about 100 miles north of the capital Santo Domingo.

Diaz allegedly ambushed the couple at about 11pm on Friday and unloaded on the car, with at least 12 bullet casings from a 9mm firearm discovered at the scene.

Villasmil was shot several times and was rushed to a hospital in Santiago, where she was pronounced dead.

Caraballo, was shot five times in the buttocks and arms but survived.

A law enforcement source told Esto No Es Radio that Diaz hired an Uber driver 'off the clock' and spent the entire day searching for the couple. Surveillance footage showed the car driving around the town for hours before finding the horrific attack.

The source said authorities questioned five people over the apparent assassination, including Miguel Ovalles, a well-known figure in the local cockfighting industry who previously dated Villasmil.

The source added that Ovalle supposedly felt 'betrayed' when Villasmil married his friend, Caraballo in January 2024. Celebrities and politicians, including a former president of the Dominican Republic, contacted investigators on behalf of Ovalles and defended him.

Maria Villasmil, a native of Venezuela, was shot dead Friday in Sabana Iglesia, a municipality in the Dominican Republic province of Santiago.

The 28-year-old was driving her Mercedes Benz with her husband when the gunman intercepted them in a vehicle driven by an off-duty Uber driver and fired 12 shots at the couple. Villasmil was pronounced dead at a hospital and her husband, Denny Calderon, was shot five times and survived Pictured: Maria Villasmil's Mercedes Benz

Elias Diaz (pictured) is wanted for the murdering Maria Villasmil and wounding her husband, Denny Caraballo

A Dominican National Police spokesperson ruling out robbery as a motive for the shooting, with investigators were also searching for a Colombian man who previously dated Villasmil for questioning.

The alleged shooter, Diaz, left behind an unknown sum of money and jewelry that later found inside the Mercedes Benz.

A witness told Dominican Republican journalist Ricardo Oviedo that Caraballo, who owns a car dealership, managed to call him for assistance after the shooting.

Investigators found 12 bullet casings as well as an unknown sum of cash and jewelry that the shooter did not take from the vehicle

A Dominican Republic law enforcement source told Esto No Es Radio, a morning show that airs daily on 93 FM, that Maria Villasmil was murdered by a hired assassin. Police launched a manhunt for the gunman, identified as 22-year-old Elias Diaz

Maria Villasmil operated an online business via Instagram and took orders for perfumes

The man arrived on the scene and found Calderon lying outside the the bullet-ridden luxury vehicle.

He pulled Villasmil out out of the car and drove her to the medical facility.

Police records showed that Caraballo was arrested in February for the illegal possession of two guns and two magazines.

Villasmil operated her own fragrance business via an Instagram account and accepted orders that were shipped within the Caribbean Island.
A man from Dubai flew to Britain to have sex with a 13-year-old schoolgirl after spending months grooming her online.

Hamdan Alshamsi, 21, first contacted the girl using Snapchat and when she agreed to meet him, he jetted into the UK and booked himself a room at a four-star hotel in Brighton.

He then ordered an Uber to drive the 'vulnerable' girl from her home to the seafront hotel.

Alshamsi showered the schoolgirl with gifts and then spent two days sexually assaulting her in his room.

After receiving a tip, police launched a hunt for the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and eventually tracked her down to the hotel.

They found her wandering down a hotel hallway where she became 'upset and angry' at officers, telling them she just wanted to be with her mother.

Police continued their search of the hotel and found Alshamsi enjoying the spa and wellness centre where they arrested him.

A search was carried out of his hotel room where officers found condoms, a whipped cream canister, lubricant and vodka he had purchased.

Hamdan Alshamsi, 21, is seen walking to wellness spa at the Brighton Metropole Hotel

Alshamsi (pictured in his custody photo) showered the schoolgirl with gifts and then spent two days sexually assaulting her in his room

Today at Lewes Crown Court, Alshamsi was sentenced to six years in prison after he pleaded guilty to three charges of sexual activity with a child.

The girl's distraught family said Alshamsi had destroyed the innocence of the young girl and left her with severe psychological damage for which she is receiving ongoing counselling.

Her mother said: 'He has taken away our little girl. He took away the virginity of a girl who should be learning about sex education at school and not having sex with a grown adult.

'She was honest with him and told him her age. He knew what he was doing, what he was coming over here for.'

Lewes Crown Court heard Alshamsi made contact with the Year 9 schoolgirl online last year.

The pair exchanged messages on Snapchat over a period of months where she openly told him she was just 13-years-old.

The court heard Alshamsi, a university student in Abu Dhabi, told the girl he was just 16-years-old and he continued to groom her online.

In their messages they discussed having sex and he offered to travel to the UK so the pair could meet up.

Alshamsi booked a flight from Dubai and travelled to the UK landing on Christmas Eve last year.

He travelled to Brighton on December 27 where he had booked a 250-a-night seafront room with a balcony at the Hilton Brighton Metropole.

He then contacted the girl and ordered an Uber to bring her to the hotel - which boasts former famous guests including Princess Margaret, Sir Winston Churchill and Oscar Wilde.

Having never left home alone before, the girl arrived at the hotel and Alshamsi took her to Room 312 where he repeatedly committed sexual offences against her over a two day period.

Today at Lewes Crown Court, Alshamsi (pictured) was sentenced to six years in prison after he pleaded guilty to three charges of sexual activity with a child

Working on a tip-off police launched a hunt for the girl the following day and managed to pick up a trace from her mobile phone in Brighton.

They scoured the seafront for several hours before turning their attention to the Hilton Brighton Metropole.

The court heard the following day they found the girl wandering around in a hallway near the hotel foyer and took her into protective custody.

Alshamsi was discovered enjoying the wellness and spa and swimming pool on the lower ground floor.

As well as finding condoms, lubricant and vodka, police found a woman's razor and a boxed pink mobile phone which Alshamsi had bought the girl as well as discarded takeaway food wrappers.

The victim's family said the sexual offences have continued to have a huge and long-lasting impact on the teenager.

Her mother said her daughter was so traumatised she was on constant 'suicide watch' and was not allowed to go anywhere by herself, even the toilet.

She told the court: 'I am worried she is going to be a volcano and explode in some way. She wants life to be normal but he has taken away our little girl. She has been to doctor's and is on suicide watch.

'He knew what he was doing coming over here. He got her to leave home alone.'

She said the stress of the ordeal had led to the end of her marriage with the girl's father as he blamed her for giving the victim a mobile phone.

Will Saunders, prosecuting, said Alshamsi had shown clear 'grooming behaviour' and had planned his trip in detail.

He said the 'grooming' and 'planning' had all been done with sex in mind.

In mitigation Daniel Darnbrough, defending, said Alshamsi had brought shame family on his respectable family.

He said the university student had four sisters and was 'disgusted' by his own behaviour.

Mr Darnbrough said: 'He is wise to the shame he has brought to his family. His father travelled over to see him at an earlier hearing and that was very difficult for him.'

Sentencing him, Judge Mark van der Zwart, said: 'From your home you used social media to groom and lure a 13 year old girl from the safety of her parents and siblings. She was just a child, you were anything but. This was appallingly predatory behaviour.'

He also sentenced him to a sexual harm prevention order and said he would be deported when he is freed.

Speaking after the case, Detective Inspector Sean Booth from the Safeguarding Investigations Unit said: 'This was a distressing case which showed the lengths Alshamsi was prepared to go to engage in sexual activity with a young teenage girl. She was vulnerable, and he exploited her trust.

'I would also like to praise the professionalism of our officers from Brighton Response and our Neighbourhood Policing Team who completed an extended search of the seafront and a meticulous search inside the hotel which ensured the victim was brought safely back to her family, and that Alshamsi was arrested swiftly.

'Thanks to this work, Alshamsi had no choice but to plead guilty to the offences when presented with the evidence from our investigation.'

He said the victim and her family had shown considerable 'bravery' throughout the investigation and she had received one-to-one support from specially-trained officers.

He said: 'We continue to encourage anyone who has been the victim of child sexual exploitation and sexual offences to come forward and report their experience to us.'
Two French Air Force jets have collided mid-air while rehearsing a stunt.

The crash occurred near the air base in Saint-Dizier, eastern France, this afternoon during a training drill involving six Alpha Jets from the Patrouille de France.

Terrifying footage shows how the group of jets were performing a stunt and firing smoke when two aircraft collided in mid-air.

The two planes then suddenly fell to the ground. Both were destroyed in the crash.

Both pilots and a passenger were able to eject from the planes and were 'found conscious', according French Air and Space Force officials.

Two people who are in a state of 'relative emergency' have been taken to the local hospital, French newspaper Le Figaro reports. The third, described as a 'multi-trauma sufferer' is being treated by the Army.

Sebastien Lecornu, France's Minister of the Armed Forces, confirmed the accident in a statement on X.

'Emergency services are being mobilised, and coordination is being ensured by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of the Armed Forces,' Lecornu said.

The collision occurred near Saint-Dizier around 3.35pm today during a training drill involving seven Alpha Jets

Officials say both jets were destroyed in the horrifying incident

Both pilots and a passenger were able to eject from the planes and were 'found conscious'. In this image, you can see three people parachuting after ejecting from the jets

One of the jets crashed into the silos at the Calin concrete company, which is located near the airbase in Saint-Dizier. Firefighters are working to extinguish a blaze

The two planes collided during a drill near Air Base 113 around 3.35pm today, according to French Air and Space Force officials.

One of the jets crashed into a silo at the Calin concrete company, which is located near the airbase in Saint-Dizier, and sparked a fire. The other plane is believed to have landed in a canal.

The Calin concrete company told the newspaper that firefighters are working to extinguish a blaze. Police and paramedics are also on scene.

No civilian causalities were reported in the incident.

One witness recalled how they were watching the Aerobatic Patrol team's performance for 15 minutes where they heard a 'loud bang' and felt the 'compound vibrate'.

'We looked up and debris was falling from the sky,' the witness, who works at a nearby dealership, told Puissance Television. 'The pilot landed 50 meters from the compound and was immediately taken away on a stretcher by the firefighters.'

Authorities have activated the Sater Plan, a system that organises the search for civil or military aircraft using air, land or radio-electric resources. An Air Force helicopter was seen flying over the area in search of debris.

Saint-Dizier Mayor Quentin Briere has visited the site and urged locals 'not give in to panic', the TV news outlet reports.

He also applauded the professionalism of the pilots, which he alleges allowed the planes to crash without risk to locals.

Two people are seen parachuting after ejecting from the Alpha Jets as a ball of fire erupts where one of the planes crashed

The Alpha Jet planes are thought to have collided near an air base west of Saint-Dizier in northeastern France. Pictured is a ball of fire that erupted after one plane crashed to the ground

The Calin concrete company has confirmed that police, firefighters and paramedics are on scene

Smoke billows over the Calin concrete company today after a French Air Force jet collided with another plane and then crashed into one of its silos

The city of Saint-Dizier announced last week that the French Aerobatic Patrol would be practising air exercises from Monday to Friday.

A nighttime exercise was scheduled for this evening. It is unclear if this will continue as planned.

France has been using the light Alpha twin-engined aircraft to train Ukrainian pilots after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In August 2024, two French pilots died after their Rafale jets collided in mid-air in eastern France, in a rare accident involving the cutting-edge military aircraft.
On the already tense Upper West Side campus, discomfort is simmering.

After over a year of advocating for Palestine and flouting the fears of their Jewish classmates, Columbia's protesters are now incandescent with renewed rage.

This time, their wrath is aimed at faculty who have, under threat of losing funding, agreed to the Trump administration's demands.

The list of requirements was, for the most part, straight-forwards; define antisemitism, ban masks on campus to clamp down on anonymous agitators, empower police and - most controversially - throw out anyone on a student visa who doesn't tow the line.

One request - namely receivership of the Middle East department - was universally balked at.

Older generations were quick to agree to most. But to the Gen Z future classes, it was a step too far. A survey of students yielded staggering results.

Seventy-four percent voted against defining antisemitism. Nearly 80 percent voted against empowering law enforcement. Two-thirds voted against enforcing existing policies against students who had already broken the rules.

While the protesting students rage, more moderate voices are also feeling the heat.

'International students especially are starting to afraid to speak their mind publicly,' says Rob Mungo, a Navy Veteran now studying at the school.

After over a year of advocating for Palestine and flouting the fears of their Jewish classmates, Columbia's protesters are now incandescent with renewed rage

He believes most of the Trump administration's requirements are in line with other schools.

Others, he says, go too far to encroach on academic freedom.

Some students say that donning masks is a direct reaction to what they see as the criminalization of free speech.

One student, a post grad researcher in English says she feels the administration is is kowtowing to the idea that Columbia students are an out-of-control group of anti-Semites.

The majority of students feel that masks are crucial in protecting the freedom of protestors to free speech without fear of punishment  a sentiment which they feel has gathered validation following the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a post-graduate student who was detained and deported last week.

The Trump administration says Khalil was guilty of not disclosing membership to certain foreign groups when he applied for his visa.

His attorneys and supporters say he's the victim of racism and oppression.

Even before the Trump administration put deportation onto the table, students have been afraid of showing their faces due to doxing.

One masters student declined to be named but says she is happy to show her face.

'I stand strongly in my opinions because I am proud of what I am standing for,' she says.

'If you are just a regular international student here on a visa or green card and everything you are doing is legal, then you have nothing to worry about.

Central to the students' complaints is Mahmoud Khalil, an activist and post-graduate student who has been detained

'People who are advocating for and supportive terrorism against this country should be worried.

'If you are not advocating for terrorism you have nothing to worry about,' she says.

Another veteran who served in the navy, who declined to be named, says he is grateful the administration stepped in and used their leverage to enact change.

'If these policies were implemented by Columbia earlier there would be less pushback.

'Speaking for many of the veteran's perspective who volunteered years to make the world a safer place, its difficult for us to comprehend how this groups actions are helping the situation in any way.

'They turned Veterans Day into Martyrs Day on Campus this year. Last year the IDF mistakenly took out a vehicle that was delivering aid to Gazans with four retired US and UK special forces soldiers inside.

'These students have the time and resources to skip classes all semester long but not to go volunteer,' he said.

Trump has gone full-throttle on college campuses with students he considers to be a risk

Yunseo Chung is on the run from ICE after being threatened with deportation. Mahmoud Khalil was has been detained

A task force from August 2024 found that students stopped wearing markers of their Jewish identity to avoid being targeted. One student says the atmosphere has become abhorrent, noting one WhatsApp group chat in particular.

Its the same 10 to 15 students in this specific group chat who are constantly saying things that I would never have thought would be directed at me or any other Jew.

Regardless of their views, students are saying that the university is extremely tense. One first year student at SIPA , who decided to leave after experiencing hostility and bullying, saying that the university is to blame for allowing students to go unchecked for so long.

Other students say that the unsavory feel of the campus means many other potential candidates are choosing to go elsewhere.

Jewish students say anti-Semitic imagery, graffiti and calls to globalize the intifada have become a part of life on campus.

Others say that they have felt peer pressure to confirm to a view on Israel and face ostracism from student affinity groups or clubs if they appear to hold pro-Zionist views.

As tensions bubble on campus and Khalil fights for his freedom, another student has come into the governments sights.

Yunseo Chung, 21, is on the run from ICE for fear of deportation.

Despite living in the US legally since she was 7 after moving to America from South Korea, the Trump administration says she is now a hindrance to foreign policy agenda.

She is suing to block their attempts to remove her from the country.
The other presidential portraits lining the walls of the Colorado State Capitol building have revealed how Donald Trump could have seen his own painting as 'distorted.'

His 'unflattering' portrait by British-born Sarah Boardman was removed after the president savaged the artwork on social media on Sunday.

But the intriguing, complicated history of the presidential portraits lining the walls in Denver's Capitol have shone a light on how Boardman's likeness of Trump may indeed look odd, compared to the paintings that came before his.

Boardman was chosen in a nationwide competition to paint Barack Obama's portrait in 2011 - something which the artist took great pride in, boasting that it took her three meticulous months to work on the commission.

She was then again chosen the next presidential cycle to paint Trump when he was inaugurated in 2017. Her praises and excitement for the second commission were noticeably lacking, compared to her gushing statements about the Obama artwork.

One reason why the Colorado officials picked Boardman, out of hundreds of artists across the country, was because they were sure that she would be able to mimic and copy the great portraiture style of Lawrence Williams.

Massachusetts-born Williams painted the first 43 presidents' portraits - many of which, including George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, still hang proudly on the white walls.

But Williams sadly died in 2003, before he could paint Obama's likeness. Therefore Boardman was called up to paint Obama and Trump in a style that would make the collection look seamless in the hallowed chambers in Denver.

The other presidential portraits lining the walls of the Colorado State Capitol building reveal how the artist 'distorted' Donald Trump's painting

Trump's 'unflattering' portrait has been removed after the president savaged the artwork on social media on Sunday

When Boardman painted Trump's portrait, the British-born artist said her goal was to create an image that would look like 'just another president on the wall.'

Boardman insisted at the time that her aim was to create a 'neutral' representation that would stand the test of time - making sure her Trump was 'non-confrontational.'

'My portrait of President Trump has been called thoughtful, non-confrontational, not angry, not happy, not tweeting. In five, 10, 15, 20 years, he will be another president on the wall who is only historical background and he needs to look neutral,' she said.

She added: 'The commission for which I was hired, as with Obama's, is to present a portrait for all viewers regardless of their stance on the issues related to the subject. There will always be dissent, so pleasing one group will always inflame another.

'Personal views about a subject do not define, and are separate from, a piece of art in the Gallery of Presidents.'

Writing on her website after the Trump painting was unveiled, she said: 'Thank you to all the dignitaries, staff, donors and visitors who attended and made this a wonderful event! Feeling very grateful for this opportunity.'

But her excitement for her Obama portrait was far more palpable.

She said at the time: 'Its an honor and privilege to have painted the president. It was a very, very slow [process] because I was being very careful. Im obsessive about portraits. I love painting portraits. I love the soul the human being.'

And she wrote on her website about the Obama painting: 'As you may have read already, I won the commission after a nation-wide call for artists.

'The portrait has joined the other 43 presidential portraits in the Gallery of Presidents which is located on the third floor of the State Capitol Building.

Williams died before he could paint Barack Obama and Boardman was selected to create his portrait then Trump's

Bill Clinton's portrait by Lawrence Williams compared to a photo of the president

George W. Bush's portrait by Lawrence Williams compared to a photo of the president

'The portrait was finished at the end of April and dedicated before the 2011 Legislative session ended in May.

'This was quite the journey - I certainly grew a lot from the entire process, which was far from just the painting. There were many additional aspects which I had never considered. Now - new paintings to be done!'

Boardman's painting technique is similar to Williams'. Both artists painted their presidents in oil on canvas, from the shoulders up, with dark colored backgrounds and small brushstrokes, producing what's known in the art world as classic realism.

The state of Colorado have also shown a keen interest in the portraits over the years, emphasizing how important it was to find an artist that could complete the collection after Williams' death.

According to The Denver Post, in 1979 an Arizona couple donated the set of portraits of presidents from George Washington to Jimmy Carter painted by Williams to the state.

Portraits Williams painted of Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush were later purchased with state funds and added to the collection.

President Bill Clinton's portrait painted by Williams was loaned and ultimately obtained for the collection after some back-and-forth with the Clinton Library.

When Boardman (pictured) painted Trump's portrait, the British-born artist said her goal was to create an image that would look like 'just another president on the wall'

After her Trump commission, Denver officials decided to move on and find a new artist for Joe Biden's portrait, painter Kristen Savage (pictured)

Colorado Republicans raised over $10,000 through a GoFundMe account to commission Trump's oil painting, which was unveiled in 2019.

Boardman's painting of Trump has sat on the walls of the rotunda for six years without issue - until the president called out the likeness over the weekend. In the midst of his rage, Trump did commend Boardman for her portrait of Obama.

But the biggest indicator that Boardman perhaps offended viewers with her Trump portrait is the fact that the task of painting Joe Biden was passed to someone else.

After two back-to-back commissions, Denver officials decided to move on and found artist Kirsten Savage to paint Biden instead of Boardman.

Trump let out his ire on Sunday, blasting Boardman for the 'purposefully distorted' and 'truly the worst' picture ever painted of him.

The president demanded 'Radical Left' Democrat Governor Jared Polis remove the artwork, which is hanging alongside portraits of 'all the other presidents.'

Williams' portrait of Theodore Roosevelt

Williams' portrait of Eisenhower compared to a photo of him in 1942

House Democrats confirmed on Monday that the oil painting would be taken down at the request of Republican leaders in the Legislature.

'Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, but the one in Colorado, in the State Capitol, put up by the Governor, along with all other Presidents, was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before,' Trump wrote.

Speaking about the Obama picture, Trump said: 'He looks wonderful, but the one on me is truly the worst.

'She must have lost her talent as she got older. In any event, I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one.'

Social media users agreed Trump's portrait was unflattering and did not look as good as the other portraits that lined the walls.

'I have a masters degree in fine art and have examined a lot of art and sat through many art critiques in my life. That portrait is sophomore level technique at best. No joke. Unacceptable quality for a state capitol building,' one person said.

'The eyes are wrong, the nose down to chin is all wrong. Its a great pic, but she didn't recreate it. If she has painted others true to the photos then it wasn't an accident. Too many points are off,' another said.

'Wow! Doesn't even look like him and they added 100 lb.,' a third person said. 'It does look weird. Like a long lost sibling,' added a fourth.
A Columbia University student is suing the Trump administration to avoid being deported after going on the run from ICE agents over her pro-Palestinian views.

Yunseo Chung, 21, said that ICE are moving to have her deported from the country after she was arrested on March 5.

Chung, who is also a lawful permanent resident, was arrested that day while at a protest at Barnard College, where pro-Palestine students staged a sit in.

A group of over 50 students stormed and occupied a campus building and assaulted and injured a staff member at Barnard, sending them to hospital.

Days after her arrest, Chung says in her suit that ICE officials signed an arrest warrant and went to her parents' residence looking for her.

On March 10, Chung said, a federal law enforcement official told her lawyer that her lawful permanent resident status was being 'revoked'.

Three days later, she said that agents executed search warrants at two Columbia-owned residences, including her dorm, seeking travel and immigration records, and other documents.

She has lived in the US since emigrating with her parents at the age of 7 from South Korea. Her lawyers would not comment on her current whereabouts.

The junior is seeking a court order to block the Trump administration's efforts to deport noncitizens who participated in campus protests against Israel's military actions in Gaza.

Yunseo Chung, seen here, said that ICE are moving to have her deported from the country after she was arrested on March 5

NYPD cleared pro-Palestinian demonstrators from the Barnard College after a group of student protesters occupied Milstein Library on March 5

The 'Gaza Solidarity Encampment' in the West Lawn of Columbia University is seen here on April 29, 2024 in New York City

She is asking a judge to prevent the administration from detaining her, moving her out of New York City or removing her from the country while her lawsuit plays out.

The suit, filed in federal court, says: 'ICEs shocking actions against Ms. Chung form part of a larger pattern of attempted U.S. government repression of constitutionally protected protest activity and other forms of speech.'

According to the suit, those in government are 'attempting to use immigration enforcement as a bludgeon to suppress speech that they dislike.'

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said: 'Yunseo Chung has engaged in concerning conduct, including when she was arrested by NYPD during a pro-Hamas protest at Barnard College.

'She is being sought for removal proceedings under the immigration laws. Chung will have an opportunity to present her case before an immigration judge.'

Her lawsuit also cited the case of Mahmoud Khalil and other college activists who have spoken out.

Khalil, 29, a Palestinian who was born and raised in Syria, helped to lead protests against Israel at Columbia University last year.

He also acted as a negotiator between students and university officials. The protests were allowed to run rampant for two weeks.

Mahmoud Khalil, seen here last year, was taken into custody at his university-owned apartment by ICE agents

Students stage a walk-out protest at Columbia University's Low Library in New York City, March 11, 2025

They were marked by violent assaults and instances of Jewish students being afraid to go to class.

He was taken into custody at his university-owned apartment earlier this month by ICE agents.

The Department of Homeland Security claimed he had 'led activities aligned to Hamas' and that the action was taken 'in coordination with the Department of State.'

The president accused Khalil of being 'pro-Hamas' and Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared the US would revoke visas and green cards of 'Hamas supporters'.

Khalil's supporters say his arrest is an attack on free speech, and have been staging protests in the city and across the country.

He has not been charged with a crime. He is also married to a U.S. citizen. His wife is eight months pregnant.

Chung says in her suit that ICE officials signed an arrest warrant and went to her parents' residence looking for her

His arrest has ignited a fierce debate over whether the Trump administration violated his First Amendment rights by detaining him and trying to deport him.

A lawyer for Khalil called the allegations 'plainly thin' and said the government would have to prove any omission was willful and materially important.

One of Chung's lawyers Naz Ahmad told The New York Times: 'Like many thousands of students nationwide, Yunseo raised her voice against what is happening in Gaza and in support of fellow students facing unfair discipline.

'It can't be the case that a straight-A student who has lived here most of her life can be whisked away and potentially deported, all because she dares to speak up.'

It comes after Columbia University caved to Trump's demands for several policy changes.

The president had threatened to take away $400 million in government grants from the institution.
The White House announced that Ukraine and Russia agreed to a ceasefire in the Black Sea to ensure safe navigation as they move closer toward a peace deal.

The agreement also implements a ban on attacks by the two countries on each other's energy facilities.

It is the clearest move to a wider ceasefire deal that the Trump administration sees as a positive step toward ending the war.

The agreements reached in Saudi Arabia follow talks initiated by President Donald Trump, who has vowed to swiftly end the war.

'The United States and Russia have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea,' the White House said in a statement.

Both countries said they would rely on the U.S. to enforce the deals as discussions remain ongoing in Jeddah.

'If the Russians violate this, then I have a direct question for President Trump. If they violate, here is the evidence - we ask for sanctions, we ask for weapons, etc,' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: 'We will need clear guarantees. And given the sad experience of agreements with just Kyiv, the guarantees can only be the result of an order from Washington to Zelenskiy and his team to do one thing and not the other.'

President Donald Trump speaks at a Greek Independence Day event Monday at the White House. The White House reached separate agreements with Kyiv and Moscow on Tuesday

Under the agreement with Moscow, Washington promised to help restore Russian access to markets for its agricultural and fertiliser exports. The Kremlin said this would require lifting some sanctions.

The talks followed separate phone calls last week between Trump and the two presidents, Zelenskiy and Vladimir Putin. Putin rejected Trump's proposal for a full ceasefire lasting 30 days, which Ukraine had previously endorsed.

The governments of Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) have agreed to a Black Sea ceasefire deal Tuesday

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said Kyiv would regard any movement of Russian military vessels outside the eastern part of the Black Sea as a violation and a threat, in which case Ukraine would have the full right to self-defence.

Russia has attacked Ukraine's power grid with missiles and drones throughout the war, arguing that civil energy infrastructure is a legitimate target because it helps Ukraine's warfighting capability.

More recently, Ukraine has been launching long-range strikes on Russian oil and gas targets, which it says provide fuel for Russian troops and income to fund its war effort.

Early in the war, Russia imposed a de facto naval blockade on Ukraine, one of the world's biggest grain exporters, which threatened to worsen a global food crisis.

But maritime battles have been only a comparatively small part of the war since 2023, when Russia withdrew its naval forces from the eastern Black Sea after a number of successful Ukrainian attacks.

Kyiv was able to reopen its ports and resume exports at around pre-war levels, despite the collapse of a previous U.N.-brokered Black Sea shipping agreement.

The agreements reached in Saudi Arabia follow talks initiated by President Donald Trump , who has vowed to swiftly end the war

Trump is pressing both sides to bring a swift end to the war, a goal he promised to achieve when he ran for president last year.

At the same time he is pursuing a rapid rapprochement with Russia that Washington and Moscow say could lead to lucrative business opportunities.

Ukraine and its European allies fear Trump could strike a hasty deal with Putin that undermines their security and caves in to Russian demands, including for Kyiv to abandon its NATO ambitions and give up the entirety of four regions claimed by Russia as its own.

Ukraine has rejected that as tantamount to surrender.
The King and Queen have been forced to cancel their state visit to The Holy See and meeting with Pope Francis next month.

Buckingham Palace announced that the visit has been 'postponed by mutual agreement' given the Pope's continuing health issues.

He was released from hospital two days ago after spending more than five weeks battling double pneumonia as well as other health issues.

In a statement the palace said: 'The King and Queen's State Visit to The Holy See has been postponed by mutual agreement, as medical advice has now suggested that Pope Francis would benefit from an extended period of rest and recuperation.

'Their Majesties send The Pope their best wishes for his convalescence and look forward to visiting him in The Holy See, once he has recovered.'

It is understood that Charles and Camilla's consecutive state visit to the Republic of Italy will go ahead but there may be 'some impact' now on the programme.

Pope Francis speaks with then-Prince Charles on the day of the canonisation of 19th-century British cardinal John Henry Newman at the Vatican October 13, 2019

The then Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall during an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2017

The 'significant and historic' trip had been due to take place from April 7 -10, celebrating warm UK-Italian bilateral relations generally but also a major development in the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Church of England.

Indeed, the King was be given the rare honour of a special ecumenical service in the iconic Sistine Chapel, featuring choirs from both the Holy See and Royal chapels in the UK.

He would also have become the first British monarch since the Reformation - which saw Britain formally break from Rome under Henry VIII in 1534 - to visit the Papal Basilica of 'St Paul's Outside the Walls', said to be the resting place of Paul the Apostle.

Pope Francis, 88, has suffered several respiratory crises, giving rise to fears he would not survive.

His condition now is said to be stable and he has been released from hospital, but appeared frail during his most recent public appearance.

It is understood that King Charles personally wrote to Pope Francis when he was first taken ill.

Earlier this month palace sources had said that 'subject to Pope Francis' health' the visit would go ahead as proposed, although it was understood that officials were ready to 'modify' plans should his ability to participate be affected.

The visit to the Holy See had been planned in a special year for the Catholic Church - the 2025 Jubilee - which is celebrated every 25 years, involving reconciliation, prayer and pilgrimage.

It is understood that King Charles personally wrote to Pope Francis when he was first taken ill

Pope Francis meets the then-Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall during an audience on April 4, 2017

It should have included a meeting with Pope Francis personally, as well as attending the Sistine Chapel service.

However Charles and Camilla's state visit to the Republic of Italy will still see them visit Rome and Ravenna and feature several high-profile ceremonial events, including a glittering black tie state dinner at the Palazzo Quirinal.

The King will also be granted audiences with President Mattarella and Prime Minister Meloni.

Charles will also become the first British monarch in history - and only the fourth foreign leader ever - to address a joint session of the Italian Parliament.

Several engagements will also highlight the close cooperation between the British and Italian military, particularly over Ukraine.

This relationship will be marked during the visit by a joint flypast over Rome by the Italian Air Force aerobatic team, 'Frecce Tricolori' and by the Royal Air Force acrobatic team, the Red Arrows.

In Ravenna, Their Majesties will attend a reception in the Town Hall, marking the 80th anniversary of the province's liberation from Nazi occupation by Allied Forces, as well as visit Dante's Tomb and the Bryon Musician - the poet lived in the city was was known as 'the mad Englishman'.

The Queen, in her final years, met Pope Francis in 2014 during an official visit to Rome.

It comes as the Pope was seen for the first time this week when he appeared on his hospital balcony before being discharged following an extraordinary five-week long battle with double pneumonia.

Pope Francis appears at a window of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, Sunday, March 23, 2025

The Pope appeared in public for the first time in five weeks as crowds gathered to witness the moment

People watch Pope Francis appearing from a window of Gemelli Hospital during his first public appearance in five weeks, on a big screen in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, March 23, 2025

The leader of the Catholic Church spoke from a wheelchair on the 10th-floor papal suite, simply saying: 'Thank you, everyone. I can see a woman with some yellow flowers. How good!'

The Pontiff was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on February 14 having suffered a severe respiratory crisis at the Vatican.

He was later diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs and was said to be in 'critical condition' several times as millions across the world prayed for his good health.

But on Sunday, the 88-year-old was at last discharged, as hundreds of people gathered outside the hospital and Vatican to catch a glimpse of Francis in what has become his first public appearance in five weeks.

The leader of the Catholic Church spoke from a wheelchair on the 10th-floor papal suite, simply saying: 'Thank you, everyone. I can see a woman with some yellow flowers. How good!' before bidding goodbye to hospital staff who have been caring from him since he fell sick.

Francis appeared to make the sign of the cross to the roaring crowds before he was taken back into his room.

A white Fiat then arrived outside the hospital to transport the Pontiff back to the Vatican where he will begin his recovery. He returned at around noon.

Doctors yesterday revealed he will need at least two months for this, however, after enduring the serious illness.
An emotional candlelit vigil has been held for a 'beautiful' student who was killed when a van ploughed into her outside King's College London.

Aalia Mahomed, who was studying for a BSc in physics and philosophy at KCL, was pronounced dead last Tuesday after the crash on the Strand, where she had been sitting on a bench.

One week on from her death, dozens of people gathered at the scene to pay tribute to the 20-year-old, many of them wearing her favourite colour, green.

Ms Mahomed's brother, Zain, spoke at the vigil and said: 'I would give anything for one more day with her.

'She will never get to be the cool aunt or that cat lady she joked about being. She was a hero, my hero.'

Shivanjaly Varathan, who went to school with Ms Mahomed, described her as being 'so full of life, it was infectious', while another school friend, Aleena George, said: 'She had the best smile. When I think of her, she has that smile.'

Janelle De Sagun, a friend from sixth form, said in a speech at the vigil: 'Thank you for letting me be your friend. It wasn't hard to get to know you at all.

'I admired you then, I admire you now.'

An emotional candlelit vigil has been held for a 'beautiful' student who was killed by a van outside King's College London campus

Aalia Mahomed, who was studying for a BSc in physics and philosophy at KCL, was pronounced dead after the crash on the Strand last Tuesday

Aalia Mahomed, 20, was run down and killed by an out-of-control van on The Strand

Pictured are the candles which were lit during the vigil

Others gathered to lay flowers and write memorial notes

A group of women read the tributes left with the flowers outside the campus

One week on from her death, dozens of people gathered at the scene to pay tribute

People lay flowers at the scene of the crash

Speaking later, she added: 'I really looked up to her. I was like a puppy that followed her.

'She had this kindness and warmth that was contagious.'

Another of Ms Mahomed's friends, Joseph Knight, said at the vigil: 'Words are simply not sufficient to describe what Aalia meant to us.'

After the vigil, friends and family were taken to a King's College site where the university's acapella choir sang in her memory.

Others gathered to lay flowers and write memorial notes.

Ezra Rodriques, an Ancaster Group sales adviser who would often speak to Ms Mahomed and her brother Zain at the dealership where he worked, said: 'She was always a bundle of joy. I never saw her upset. She was always just cheerful.

'She would always be smiling and joking. She was easy to talk to.'

In a statement released through the police after her death, Ms Mahomed's family described her as a 'bright, kind and beautiful soul, who brought joy and laughter to everyone'.

'She was a ray of sunshine in our lives, and will be deeply missed by all her family and friends,' they said.

Ms Mahomed, 20, was pronounced dead at the scene at the Strand, near the King's College London campus

There have been lots of flowers and tributes left at the scene of the crash

Many of her friends and family spoke at the vigil

Students at King's College London issued a statement complaining about how the university has handled the death. Pictured is the vigil

'Her light will always live on in our memories and her smile will be our strength as we get through this difficult time.'

A 26-year-old van driver was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and drug-driving offences and has been bailed as investigations continue.

Students at King's College London issued a statement complaining about how the university has handled the death.

It read: 'To Whom It May Concern. During the morning of the 18th of March a tragic incident occurred outside of the Stand campus, where an innocent life was lost and others were severely injured.

'The response from King's College London has, unfortunately, been both inadequate and insensitive'.

Professor Shitij Kapur, Vice-Chancellor and President of King's College London said: 'A senseless tragedy struck our campus on Tuesday  a tragedy that has led to the loss of life of one of our students, Aalia Mahomed.

Flowers left outside the campus during the vigil

Ms Mahomed's brother, Zain, spoke at the vigil and said: 'I would give anything for one more day with her

'Aalia was in her second year of study for her BSc in Physics & Philosophy in the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences and Faculty of Arts & Humanities.

'Our thoughts are with her family, friends and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time, and we offer them our deepest condolences. Aalia's family has asked that we respect their privacy as they mourn the loss of their daughter.

'Another of our students is still in hospital and is in our thoughts. We are in touch with their family to ensure they feel supported.

'We cannot at this time share details of the accident as it remains a matter of active investigation by the police and we are in contact with the relevant authorities.

'Words often bring little comfort at these difficult times when what has happened cannot be reversed  but I hope that in supporting our students and staff, and honoring and remembering what has been lost, we will find a way forward.'
A seven-year-old boy has been left fighting for his life after a crocodile ripped off his arm while he was playing in shallow water during a fishing trip.

The incident took place at the Roodekoppies Dam, located on Crocodile River, near the town of Brits, in North West Province, in South Africa, on Friday March 21.

Young Johandre Blom was reportedly playing in the water with his pal Dylan just a few feet from where their parents were fishing when he was attacked by the large reptile.

The victim's father, Corne, was about 25 metres away from the caravan where he was sitting with Dylan's father, Jannie Bekker.

Speaking to local media, Bekker described how he suddenly heard his little boy Dylan scream.

'I saw him grab Johandre by the arm, but there was a big jerk and then Johandre was away from Dylan.

'Dylan shouted, "there's a crocodile here", and Corne and I immediately ran to the water.'

Johandre was thrown around by the crocodile in its powerful jaws before his father and Bekker reached the water and managed to pull him free, but the little boy's left arm had been ripped off.

Johandre Blom, 7, from South Africa, has been left fighting for his life after a crocodile ripped his arm off

The incident took place last week while Johandre played in a croc-infested river with his friend. He was airlifted to hospital and placed in an induced coma, where he is said to be in a stable condition

Stock image showing a crocodile. It is currently unclear if the crocodile which attacked Johandre had been neutralised

They applied towels to the wound before rushing him to hospital by car, where medics managed to stabilise Johandre.

He was then flown by helicopter to hospital in Alberton, where he was reportedly placed in an induced coma and is currently in stable condition.

The young boy's family have started a fundraiser on BackaBuddy Fund to raise cash to go towards Johandre's rehabilitation and medical bills.

Bekker said that after the attack, a boat was deployed to see if they could see Johandre's arm in the water but there was no sign of it.

The crocodile was however spotted in the grass near the bank and that it pestered the boat and also bothered people at a resort that evening.

It is currently unclear if the crocodile has been neutralised.

Johandre Blom, seven, poses in an undated photo

South African media said that netizens were mortified by the incident, with many criticising the family for not being careful enough in the habitat of such a dangerous predator.

One local said: 'I'm sorry about this, and it's a tragic accident, but the crocodile is doing what he would do naturally anywhere.'

Another said: 'Everyone knows there are crocodiles. There are warning signs throughout the area.'
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a House Democrat from Texas, drew criticism after she nicknamed wheelchair-bound Texas Gov. Greg Abbott 'Governor Hot Wheels.'

Crockett made the comment during a speech at a Human Rights Campaign dinner in Los Angeles.

'Ya'll know we got Governor Hot Wheels down there, c'mon now, and the only thing hot about him is that he's a hot ass mess, honey,' she told the audience as they cheered and laughed.

Abbott was tragically paralyzed after an oak tree fell on him while he was jogging at the age of 26 in 1984, but he continued to have a profound political career.

'I am now going off script just so y'all know, this is where things get a little off the rails,' Crocket said, before continuing her speech.

'This woman is trash,' commented Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk on X.

'It's official: Jasmine Crock-o-sht is the dumbest member of Congress. Even beating out AOC. That's a hell of an accomplishment,' Nick Sorter wrote on social media.

'She does know the TX Governor is paralyzed... right? Is she making fun of a paralyzed person? This is horrible,' Matt Van Swol wrote.

Jasmine Crockett at the Human Rights Campaign's 2025 Los Angeles Dinner

Governor of Texas Greg Abbott

'She's openly mocking a governor who uses a wheelchair. Sickening,' wrote Kristen Mag on X.

'Jasmine Crockett is as low-class as they come,' wrote X user Paul Szypula.

'Disgusting. The statement, the phrasing, the awful faked accent. Just revolting,' wrote Dianna Deeley.

'These people are so gross and hypocritical,' wrote John Taric on X.

Crockett continued her speech, mocking her Republican colleague Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Nancy Mace of South Carolina for mistakenly confronting a woman in the bathroom who they thought was transgender lawmaker Rep. Sarah McBride.

'Anyway, they not even good at being, like, bathroom police, that's the point of the story, like, you can't even do that right, go sit down,' she said as the audience cheered and laughed. 'You campaigned on being bathroom police and f***ed that up.'
The Royal Navy has shadowed three Russian ships through the Strait of Dover and the English Channel.

HMS Cattistock and a Wildcat helicopter were deployed to escort survey ship Admiral Vladimirskiy after detecting the vessels movements in the southern North Sea on March 20, the Royal Navy said on Tuesday.

The British minehunter worked closely with the helicopter to 'keep a constant watch' on the Vladimirskiy through the busy shipping lanes before it exited the Channel just west of the Brest peninsula.

This was followed by another operation which saw HMS Somerset and tanker RFA Tidesurge escort Russian landing ship RFN Alexander Otrakovsky and merchant vessel MV Ascalon through the Channel and North Sea.

The two ships had recently left the Mediterranean and were making their way towards the Baltic.

HMS Cattistock and HMS Somerset had been deployed just days earlier to escort a pair of Russian military vessels, Russian destroyer Severomorsk and landing ship Aleksandr Shabalin, in waters near Folkestone and Dover.

HMS Cattistock's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Rob Garner, said: 'Cattistock has escorted a number of Russian warships and government-owned vessels through UK waters in recent weeks and months, demonstrating the Royal Navy's operational readiness and steadfast commitment to UK security at sea.

'I am extremely proud of my ship's company's professionalism and determination to get the job done as we continue to work closely with other Royal Navy ships and aircraft, the RAF P8 force and fellow Nato navies.'

British minehunter HMS Cattistock shadowed Admiral Vladimirsky while transiting in the English Channel

HMS Cattistock was deployed to escort the survey ship during its voyage

A Wildcat helicopter was also deployed to shadow the oceanographic survey ship

HMS Somerset has been activated three times to monitor Russian convoys returning from the Mediterranean in the past month alone, the Royal Navy said.

Commanding Officer, Commander Joel Roberts, added: 'Somerset has been frequently activated to conduct this type of operation given the tempo of Russian activity around the United Kingdom's territorial and sensitive waters.

'In maintaining units at very high readiness to respond, the Royal Navy offers presence, deterrence, persistence, flexibility and can deliver or facilitate a range of military and diplomatic options to support our national objectives.'
A private school in Rachel Reeves' constituency that has been running for almost three centuries has been forced to close after becoming 'financially unviable'.

The historic Fulneck School - in the Chancellor's constituency of Pudsey, west Yorkshire - made the announcement last night with pupils and parents being left in limbo of where to send their children for the next academic year.

The decision to shut the site has left many parents and former pupils 'heartbroken' - with many placing blame on Labour's decision earlier this year to hike VAT on private schools.

Becca Piper said: 'Rachel Reeves - anything that can be done? This school was an absolute lifeline to those failed by the state sector provision in your constituency.'

'I'm deeply saddened by this,' Daniel Barnett added. 'Do we have the immensely incompetent ideologically driven Labour government taxation on private school fees to thank for this?'

Another said hearing about the closure of the school that has been running since 1753 was 'like hearing someone you loved had died'.

In its statement announcing the closure of both the day and boarding school, officials said the closure was blamed on 'a continued decline in enrolment, combined with rising operational costs, has made it increasingly challenging to maintain financial viability'.

After the letter was sent out to parents, Pudsey Councillor Simon Seary said: 'We are absolutely shocked and devastated to hear the news that Fulneck School will be closing at the end of this academic year.

The historic Fulneck School (pictured) has been running for three centuries but will now close after becoming 'financially unviable'

The school, which is situated in Rachel Reeves' (pictured) constituency of Pudsey, made the announcement last night

'This is an incredibly sad day for the pupils, staff, and wider school community who have made Fulneck such a special place for generations. With over 250 years of history coming to an end, this loss will be deeply felt by so many.

'Students are losing their school, dedicated staff face uncertainty, and families now have to navigate difficult transitions. My thoughts are with everyone affected during this incredibly difficult time.'

The school, where pupil numbers have been declining since 2012, said a schools fair will be set up for parents and pupils to find alternative arrangements.

Plans to clobber private schools with VAT at 20 per cent and scrap the 80 per cent relief private schools receive on business rates were one of the clear goals of Labour's election manifesto.

Labour has defended the decision claiming the money from the tax will pay for 6,500 more teachers and other improvements for state schools but its figures have been widely disputed.

Yet since the tax was introduced in January and since then an average of two schools a week have closed.

And earlier this month, a Labour minister Torsten Bell accepted that around 100 schools will likely close as a result of the hated tax raid on fees.

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) welcomed Mr Bell's admission but said Ministers were still underestimating the impact of Labour policy on school closures.

The Independent Schools Bursars Association has forecast that 286 private schools could close, 11 per cent of Britain's 2,600 total.

Just this week, the incoming Chair of the Headmaster and Headmistresses conference (HMC) Philip Britton hit out at the Government's 'destructive approach to independent education'.

Local councillor Simon Seary (pictured) said those at the council were 'shocked and devastated' to learn of the school's closure

Chancellor Rachel Reeves (pictured) is said to be spending hundreds of thousands of pounds in legal fees defending her controversial VAT on school fees policy

Speaking at the event, which leaders from some of the most-well known private schools such as Eton and Westminster attend, he said: 'History will look back on this term as a moment of an unnecessarily destructive approach to independent education which in the end will be a detriment to all pupils.

'During the last months great schools across the country have focused on the best interests of their pupils against enormous and damaging change introduced hastily and carelessly.

'We have been working with HM Revenue and Customs to introduce VAT processes they are not ready for and whose implementation to the required timescale was unfair and unrealistic  yet as it is what must be done, we have done it.'

He added that the Government's 'narrow mindedness' was stopping the UK from 'benefiting as much as the rest of the world from the strength of its own independent school sector'.

Meanwhile Ms Reeves is said to be spending hundreds of thousands of pounds in legal fees defending her controversial VAT on school fees policy after parents opposing the education task crowdfunded enough money to a landmark case to the High Court.

It comes amid a tricky week for the Chancellor who has come under fire for accepting expensive freebie tickets to Sabrina Carpenter's concert earlier this month, while announcing that she will be cutting running costs to Whitehall by 15 per cent.

The slash to 2.2 billion of the civil service budget could result in the loss of up to 15,000 jobs.

When probed on her decision to accept the 600 seats in a corporate box at the O2, Ms Reeves told the BBC: 'I do now have security which means it's not as easy as it would've been in the past to just sit in a concert, although that would probably be a lot easier for everyone concerned.'

Asked if she paid for the tickets, she replied: 'Obviously I'll declare the value of them, but they weren't tickets that you were able to buy.'

The revelation risks sparking renewed anger after the Prime Minister and several members of his Cabinet were called out for accepting lavish freebies, including clothes and concert tickets.

Ms Reeves at the time vowed not to accept any clothing as Chancellor after it was revealed she had taken 7,500 for outfits while in opposition.

Sir Keir Starmer, who received 32,000 for clothes from Labour donor Lord Alli, had to pay back thousands of pounds in gifts, including tickets to see Taylor Swift.
Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin has a bizarre new conspiracy theory about why President Donald Trump wants to make Canada the 51st state and it involves Elon Musk.

Raskin, a constitutional law professor, argued that if Trump brings Panama, Greenland and Canada into the United States it would require a new constitution - and that would allow Musk to run for president.

'They want to bring in Panama. They want to bring in Greenland. They want to bring in Canada, where Elon Musk is a citizen after he left his apartheid South Africa,' Raskin said.

'Why? Because they believe that this new consortium will require a new constitution that would allow Elon Musk to run for president.'

Musk was born in South Africa in 1971. His mother is Canadian, which allowed him to obtain Canadian citizenship in 1989.

He moved to the United States in 1992 to attend the University of Pennsylvania. He initially entered the country on an Exchange Visitor Visa before transitioning to a work visa. He became a U.S. citizen in 2002.

The Constitution requires natural-born citizenship for presidential candidates.

But it can be amended as Raskin argues it would have to be in order for the United States to take possession of Panama, Canada and Greenland - which Trump has repeatedly said he wants to do.

Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin has a bizarre new theory on what President Donald Trump wants to make Canada the 51st state

Many Trump critics have called Musk the 'unelected president' due to his oversized influence on the president and the administration.

But, under Raskin's theory, Trump would make it legally possible for Musk to win the Oval Office.

'My friends we have got to defend America and the constitution against these people,' Raskin pleaded in his remarks.

Charlie Kirk, a Trump ally and founder of Turning Point USA, posted video of Raskin's remarks on X and asked for a 'wellness check' on the Maryland congressman.

'Jamie Raskin is throwing out some truly bizarre conspiracy theories... He thinks Trump wants to annex Canada so that Elon Musk, who was a citizen after leaving South Africa, can then run for President. Wellness check on Jamie Raskin,' he wrote.

'To be called a conspiracy theorist by you is high praise!,' Raskin replied to him.

'Of course, your vaccine conspiracy lies put people's lives at risk. Meantime, you have no problem with Trump taking over Canada, Greenland and Panama, but seem to know the real purpose of this deranged plan. Pray tell!'

Trump, in December before his inauguration, pushed back against the notion he has 'ceded the presidency' to Musk.

'No, he's not going to be president, that I can tell you,' Trump said. 'And I'm safe. You know why he can't be? He wasn't born in this country.'

Elon Musk has gotten close to Donald Trump since the 2024 campaign

Canada's former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claims Trump is trying to ruin Canada's economy in order to annex it

But Musk seems to be an outsized presence in Trump's administration. He's frequently in the Oval Office, he rides with Trump on Marine One and Air Force One, and he has a seat at the table in Cabinet meetings.

Additionally his DOGE department is significantly altering the size and scope of the federal government, raising questions about Musk's qualifications and his conflicts of interest: he has millions in government contracts through his Space X corporation.

Trump has never made it completely clear why he wants Canada to be the 51st state - he's just said repeatedly he wants it added to the United States.

He has blasted Canada as a national security threat for the amount of fentanyl that comes over its border.

He slapped a 25% tariff on Canadian aluminum and steel earlier this month, which he said he would remove when Canada slowed down the fentanyl traffic that comes over the United States' northern border.

Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has argued Trump is trying to hurt Canada's economy to force it to become part of the United States. It is currently a Commonwealth country, meaning it has an independent prime minister and Parliament but King Charles is its head of state.

Another theory is Trump is upset over failed Trump hotels in Toronto and Vancouver and is seeking revenge.

Others speculate its his antagonistic relationship with Trudeau that led to his desire to annex the country. Trump has repeatedly referred to the former PM as Governor Trudeau.

The Canadian and US flags fly near the Canada-US border in Blackpool, Quebec

Trump also argues Canadians would benefit from lower taxes and secure borders as part of the U.S.

But one of the reasons taxes are so high in Canada is they have a national healthcare system. If they became part of the United States, they would need to be insured or join the Obamacare exchange.

Additionally, Canada would potentially add millions more Democratic votes to the country.

Canada is a liberal-leaning nation with a population larger than California. Were it to become a state, it could mean 50 more House seats and two additional senators - which would be a significant shift in government.

'To be honest with you, Canada only works as a state.  It would be one of the great states anyway  this would be the most incredible country,' Trump said in the Oval Office on March 13.

'Visually, if you look at a map, they drew an artificial line right through it, between Canada and the U.S., just a straight artificial line. Somebody did it a long time ago, many, many decades ago, and it makes no sense,' Trump continued, apparently referring to a 1908 treaty that settled the boundary between the U.S. and Canada.

'It's so perfect as a great and cherished state.'
Former Donald Trump prosecutors Fani Willis and Nathan Wade have been spotted together at LAX, despite previously claiming their relationship ended in 2023.

The scandal-hit couple were seen lugging their suitcases through the airport, and exiting the Slapfish seafood restaurant inside the terminal.

They kept a low profile and dressed down in casual outfits as they headed through departures on Tuesday.

The excursion casts doubt on their previous claims that their relationship ended two years ago, with Willis and Wade looking like any other couple.

Their outing also came just days after Willis was ordered to pay $54,000 for violating Georgia's open records laws during the case.

Their affair came to light after Willis appointed Wade 'special prosecutor' in the Georgia 2020 election interference case against Trump.

The controversy around the fling led to Willis being removed as a prosecutor in the Trump case in December, even after Wade resigned to try and alleviate the heat.

Willis sought to bring charges against the president for allegedly conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The prosecution is what brought Trump's infamous mugshot after he was first charged  something Trump soon used to advantage by marketing it on his campaign website.

Scandal-hit former Donald Trump prosecutors Fani Willis and Nathan Wade have been spotted together at LAX

The scandal-hit couple were seen lugging their suitcases through the airport, stopping at the Slapfish seafood restaurant inside the terminal

The excursion is the first time they been seen publicly as a couple since their romantic and financial affair came to light after Willis appointed Wade 'special prosecutor' in the Georgia 2020 election interference case against Trump

A grand jury charged Trump and 18 co-defendants in August 2023 of violating the state's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act as part of the election overturn effort.

The 98-page indictment charged efforts to pressure election workers and featured Trump's infamous phone call to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger asking him to 'find 11,780 votes.'

But the case took a stunning U-turn, after defense lawyers uncovered evidence that Willis and Wade had been carrying on an affair.

Willis herself stormed into the courtroom during an evidentiary hearing to defend herself.

The court was presented texts and documentation that established their affair, as well as out-of-town trips.

Willis admitted to a 'personal relationship' with Wade, but claimed it did not become romantic until 2022.

However, the defense presented evidence of a relationship before 2022, including a witness who allegedly saw them hugging and kissing in 2019.

Willis was accused of misuse of state and federal funds by Trump co-defendant Michael Roman who claimed Wade was paid $645,000 to work on the case.

They kept a low profile and dressed down in casual outfits as they headed in the direction of the Delta lounge on Tuesday

According to a transcript of his closed-door deposition before the House Judiciary Committee last week reviewed first by DailyMail.com, Wade said he was on the 'search committee' to find prosecutors to go after Trump

Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee ruled last March there was a, 'significant appearance of impropriety' and stated either Wade or Willis would have to step down.

However, a subsequent ruling at the end of last year overturned the decision and Willis was removed from the case.

She was dealt another blow last week when Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause ordered her to pay more than $54,000 for violating the state's open records laws.

Willis was hit with the fees after 'intentionally' failing to provide records requested by Ashleigh Merchant, the attorney who filed a motion requesting Willis be disqualified from the Trump case.

Willis previously said her fling with Wade was a thing of the past, but police bodycam footage showed them together when Willis's daughter Kinaya was arrested on August 24, 2024.

Wade split from his wife Jocelyn in the aftermath of the affair last year. During the proceedings he attempted to argue he was facing financial hardship as a way to avoid paying alimony.
Starbucks has just released a new limited edition Peanuts collection of cups, and - good grief - the drinkware is already being resold for a combined $230.

Nearly 50 customers who purchased an all-new Snoopy cup from the coffee chain have listed their products on eBay for exorbitant prices.

Multiple resale prices have already hit the three-digit mark, with one popular cold cup on sale for $104.99.

The expensive cup re-sales began after Starbucks launched its new Peanuts drinkware at participating US locations on March 25.

In addition to the $19.95 Peanuts Love Plastic Cold Cup, fans can also purchase a Peanuts Friendship Ceramic Mug and Snoopy-themed tumbler at various stores for $24.95 and $29.95.

Customers hoping for affordable prices may want to visit a location right away, as X users have since claimed their local Starbucks has already completely run out of the cups.

Starbucks confirmed the cups were created as part of a global brand partnership between the coffee chain and Peanuts in a March 24 press release.

The brands are using the collaboration to celebrate 'kindness, coffee, and community.'

Customers are reselling cups from Starbucks' limited-time Peanuts collection for high prices on eBay

The collection's 24oz cold cup features a 'Joe Kind Snoopy' with his loyal friend Woodstock.

It's also one of the most popular resale listings of the collection with prices ranging from $49.95 to $105.

The Peanuts-themed ceramic mug features the entire gang 'hanging out and having a good time.'

Despite its $24.95 price tag, shoppers have listed the mugs for more than $60 on eBay, with one seller putting theirs on the market for $149.99.

The white-colored tumbler features a 'Joe Kind Snoopy' with Woodstock with the purpose of spreading 'love, joy and happiness around them.'

Unfortunately, like the mug, multiple listings for the stainless steel cup are at least $100.

The popular cups are not the only Peanuts-themed products Starbucks is offering its customers.

The chain will be offering cold cups and tumblers in various designs outside the US, along with two types of bags.

The $24.95 Friendship Ceramic Mug is worth up to $149.99 on eBay. Most of the mug listings start at $60

Starbucks customers have listed the $19.95 and $29.95 cold cups and tumblers for at least $100

'The global partnership between Starbucks and Peanuts will feature exciting events, adorable merchandise and delicious beverages and food,' a press release read.

'The beverages, created in Japan, will be available in 40 Starbucks markets. The merchandise, designed by partners in Hong Kong, will be in Starbucks stores in 73 of its 88 markets.'

The bags and Peanuts comics are available at participating locations in China, where it will also offer cups with four Snoopy designs that differ from the US items.

However, fans can snag a tote bag or the other cups available outside the US on eBay.

Following the new promotion, shoppers have also created multiple listings featuring nearly all the Peanuts' merchandise worldwide.

One of the collections, which includes four cups sold in the US and Asia, costs a combined $270.

Starbucks is offering a variety of other products related to its US Peanuts collection in countries like China and Japan

Customers who aren't able to purchase a Peanuts-themed item can grab one of Starbucks' newest springtime offerings.

The coffee empire launched an assortment of products, including cold cups, tumblers, and water bottles on March 3.

The four spring-themed products cost between $22.95 and $32.95, and customers can purchase a keychain for two kinds of cold cups.

Like the Snoopy-designed merchandise, these products will only be available for a limited time while supplies last.
Britain's largest and 'most advanced' electric vehicle (EV) charging station has officially opened its doors in Hampshire, setting a new standard for ultra-rapid charging stations across the UK.

The InstaVolt Superhub, located near the A34 and junction 9 of the M3, boasts 44 charging points which promise to have you back up to full capacity in just 20 minutes.

Despite concerns over dwindling demand for eco-friendly vehicles, the massive new facility aims to provide 'industry-leading' reliability, according to InstaVolt's CEO Delvin Lane.

The Superhub features 'ultra-rapid' chargers capable of delivering power at speeds up to 160kW, making it one of the fastest charging stations in the country.

In fact, a car like the Kia EV6 or Polestar 3 can go from 10 percent to 80 percent battery capacity in just 20 minutes.

The chargers cost users 85p per kilowatt - compared to between 10p and 15p that it costs to charge at home.

With off-peak rates dropping to a more affordable 54p per kWh from 9pm to 7am.

The InstaVolt Superhub, located near the A34 and junction 9 of the M3, boasts 44 charging points which promise to have you back up to full capacity in just 20 minutes

The Superhub features 'ultra-rapid' chargers capable of delivering power at speeds up to 160kW, making it one of the fastest charging stations in the country

The station will also feature a solar farm and cutting-edge battery storage system, with 870 solar panels harnessing renewable energy to power the chargers.

A 4MWh battery storage unit will ensure maximum efficiency, while a blend of solar power, battery storage, and grid power will keep the chargers running at optimal capacity.

'This isn't just a charging hub  it's a flagship site,' said Delvin Lane, 'we are redefining what EV drivers can expect when they charge, seamless, ultra-rapid, and future-proofed charging that makes the switch to electric easier, faster, and more accessible than ever before.'

Located on a prime stretch of motorway and open 24/7, the site is designed with long-distance drivers, commuters, and local EV owners in mind.

The site also includes a Starbucks cafe, a children's play park, dog-walking area, and 24/7 toilet facilities.

EVs sales have slumped in Britain, with the public struggling to fall in love with the technology.

A shortage of public chargers fuels 'range anxiety' among motorists worried about where they can top up their batteries, while high prices have also put off would-be buyers.

EVs have lower greenhouse gas emissions overall when compared with conventional cars, but there are some hidden environmental costs of an electric car

Their analysis found that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) not only had a lower likelihood of failure, but also a comparable lifespan to traditional cars and vans

A new study claims that EVs are even more reliable than traditional cars and vans with petrol and diesel engines

Despite these fears, a new study claims that EVs are even more reliable than traditional cars and vans with petrol and diesel engines.

Researchers from the University of Birmingham and the London School of Economics (LSE), analysed the 'health' of nearly 300 million vehicles on UK roads.

Their analysis found that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) not only had a lower likelihood of failure, but also a comparable lifespan to traditional cars and vans.

According to the team, this marks a 'pivotal moment in the drive towards sustainable transportation'.

Co-author Dr Viet Nguyen-Tien, from the LSE, said: 'Our findings provide critical insights into the lifespan and environmental impact of electric vehicles.

'No longer just a niche option, BEVs are a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional vehicles - a significant step towards achieving a net-zero carbon future.'
President Donald Trump called The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg a 'total sleazebag' as he defended National Security Advisor Michael Waltz against calls to resign over the accidental addition of Goldberg to a White House group chat.

Goldberg revealed in a story Monday that a 'Michael Waltz' had added him to a group chat on the encrypted app Signal, where top White House officials discussed plans for attacking the Iranian-backed Houthis earlier this month.

On Tuesday, the White House went on defense against the journalist during an event in the Cabinet Room - despite Goldberg omitting certain details from his story for national security reasons.

'But that's an app that a lot of people use,' Trump said of Signal. 'And somebody got on. And I happen to know, the guy's a total sleazebag. The Atlantic, The Atlantic is a failed magazine. Does very, very poorly, nobody gives a damn about it. This gives it a little bit of a shot.'

He continued by claiming that The Atlantic 'made up more stories' and later said that Goldberg was 'basically bad for the country.'

'And it's just a failing magazine and the public understands that,' Trump said.

He then turned his attention to Waltz, who was sitting alongside some of the president's ambassador picks.

'He's a very good man. That man is a very good man right there that you criticize so strongly,' Trump said. 'He's a very good man and he will continue to do a good job.'

President Donald Trump called The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg a 'total sleazebag' as he defended National Security Advisor Michael Waltz against calls to resign over the accidental addition of Goldberg to a White House group chat

The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffey Goldberg revealed on Monday that he had accidentally been added to a high-level White House Signal group by a 'Michael Waltz,' the name of the national security adviser

In an interview earlier Tuesday with NBC News, Trump suggested that it wasn't Waltz but an unnamed aide who inadvertently added Goldberg to the group chat.

During the ambassadors' meeting, Trump said Waltz didn't need to apologize.

'No, I don't think he should apologize. I think he's doing his best. It's equipment and technology that's not perfect, and probably he won't be using it again, at least not in the near future,' Trump said.

When it was Waltz's turn to speak he denied knowing Goldberg.

'There's a lot of journalists in this city who have made big names for themselves making up lies about this president, whether it's the Russia hoax or making up lies about Gold Star families,' Waltz told the room.

'And this one in particular, I've never met, don't know, never communicated with,' he claimed. 'And we are, and we are looking into him, reviewing how the heck he got into this room.'

Goldberg had written in the piece that he had met Waltz, a former Florida congressman, in the past.

'I have met him in the past, and though I didn't find it particularly strange that he might be reaching out to me, I did think it somewhat unusual, given the Trump administrations contentious relationship with journalists - and Trump's periodic fixation on me specifically,' Goldberg wrote in The Atlantic.

It remains unclear how Waltz or an aide acting on Waltz's orders would have had Goldberg's phone number if they weren't acquainted.

'So, look, this journalist, Mr. President, wants the world talking about more hoaxes and this kind of nonsense rather than the freedom that you're enabling and a key part of our sovereignty is open sea lanes and knocking the crap out of terrorists, which is exactly what your team, and Pete Hegseth, a good friend and fellow veteran, is leading the charge on,' Waltz continued.

National Security Advisor Michael Waltz denied knowing The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg during an event with ambassadors Tuesday afternoon

Trump defended other members of his national security team that were on the Signal chat, which included Hegseth and Vice President J.D. Vance.

He then told journalists he had no idea how the app worked.

'Well I don't know anything about Signal, I wasn't involved in this, I just heard about it,' Trump said. 'I hear it's used by a lot of groups. It's used by the media a lot. It's used by a lot of the military, I think successfully, but sometimes somebody can get onto those things, that's one of the prices you pay when you're not visiting in the Situation Room with no phones on, which is always the best, frankly,' Trump said.

The president said ideally 'everybody would be sitting in a room together, the room would have solid lead walls and a lead ceiling and a lead floor.'

'But you know, life doesn't always let you do that,' Trump added.

Trump's unfamiliarity with the messaging technology was on display when he said that Goldberg 'got off the line very early.'

Trump later added: 'Sometimes people are hooked in, and you don't know they're hooked in, they're hooked into your line.'

While Signal allows for calling, in this instance, White House officials were using it as an encrypted messaging app.

Goldberg removed himself from the Signal group after the U.S. finished attacking the Houthis and then asked members of the group, including Waltz, for comment.

Trump floated that the journalist maybe could have added himself.

'Are people able to break into conversations?' Trump mused. 'And if that's true we're going to have to find some other form of device. And I think that's something that we may have to do.'

The president was noncommittal about changing procedures in light of the controversy, the biggest White House scandal since he took office in January.

'Well, I mean, look, we look at everything, and, you know, they've made a big deal out of this, because we've had two perfect months,' Trump said.
California Rep. Maxine Waters said President Trump should think about deporting his foreign-born wife first lady Melania Trump during a rant about the president's immigration policies.

Waters went after the first lady at a Los Angeles rally protesting DOGE cuts, where she referenced Trump's executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship, which confers citizenship status on people born here.

'If he wants to start looking so closely to find those who were born here and their parents were undocumented, maybe he ought to first look at Melania,' she said, personalizing the political attack.

'When he [Trump] talks about birthright, and he's going to undo the fact that the Constitution allows those who are born here, even if the parents are undocumented, they have a right to stay in America,' she said.

Here comments referenced a series of actions by the Trump administration to try to remove people who came here illegally or who don't have legal status anymore.

'We don't know whether or not her parents were documented. And maybe we better just take a look,' said Waters, who was among the first House Democrats calling to impeach Trump during his first term.

Melania, whose maiden name is Knauss, is a Slovenia-born model who emigrated to the U.S. and became a naturalized citizen.

Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters railed against Trump administration immigration policies and even said Trump should 'look at Melania' if he wants to find people whose parents were undocumented. In fact, Melania sponsored her parents for U.S. citizenship after migrating here from Slovenia

Her parents, Viktor and Amalija Knavs, both became citizens in 2018 while Trump was in office after Melania sponsored them for green cards.

Amalija died last year, while Viktor Knavs has been spotted traveling with the Trumps.

The Trump administration has been seeking to implement Trump's call for mass deportations, while defendants have been suing to protest some of their efforts.

Attorneys representing some of the Venezuelan men deported and sent to a notorious El Salvadoran prison claim their clients are not gang members and were denied a process to prove it. Trump and House Republican loyalists have been attacking the judge overseeing the case.

First lady Melania Trump is a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in Slovenia

Her parents, Viktor and Amalija Knavs, both became citizens in 2018 while Trump was in office after Melania sponsored them for green cards. Amalija died last year

Melania's sister Ines became a permanent U.S. resident after an intervention by her sister

Columbia University student Unseo Chung, 21, who came to the country from South Korea at age 7 faces potential deportation after her ICE arrest. She was arrested at a Barnard College protest and is a lawful permanent resident.

It was revealed Monday that Trump's sister Maryanne Trump Barry authored the judicial opinion that a 1952 law being used to deport former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, another protester, was unconstitutional.

Trump signed the order purporting to end birthright citizenship on his first day back in office.

'The executive order works to clarify the 14th Amendment, which states, "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,' it said.

The order sought to remove the application of citizenship to those born of people who came here illegally, or were here on temporary visas at the time their children were born. It seeks to restrict citizenship to those born of a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident.

Federal courts issued orders to pause the order, and Trump's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to intervene.

The post-Civil War 14th Amendment states that 'all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof' are Americans.

Melania's successful efforts to bring her parents to the country did coincide with her husband's attacks on what he called 'chain migration'  where people come here for the purpose of offering citizenship to an extended family.

Melania's sister Ines became a permanent U.S. resident after an intervention by her sister, according to the book The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump, by Mary Jordan.

'CHAIN MIGRATION must end now! Some people come in, and they bring their whole family with them, who can be truly evil. NOT ACCEPTABLE!' Trump posted on Twitter in 2017. 'We want to get rid of chain migration,' Trump said at the White House at the time.
Two illegal immigrants - one of which is HIV positive - were arrested in Miami, Florida after allegedly molesting a minor on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

Jose Diaz, 36, and Ricardo Leal, 37, were taken into custody on Friday by the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office after the pair allegedly sexually assaulted a 14-year-old boy in the ship's sauna, according to records reviewed by DailyMail.com.

The victim told police that he found himself trapped in the sauna with the Mexican natives on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas on Thursday.

The teen said Diaz, who is HIV positive, and Leal, both masturbated in front of the teen while forcing him to touch them, records show.

At one point, Leal allegedly forced the victim to perform a sex act on him and molested him, the report said.

Diaz and Leal, both Mexican natives, are facing several charges, including lewd and lascivious molestation on a child 12-16 years old.

Diaz is also facing an additional charge for not disclosing his HIV status to the minor, while Leal is facing a sexual battery charge.

They were both arrested once the ship returned to PortMiami on Friday. It is unclear where the ship traveled prior to returning at the dock.

Jose Diaz (pictured), 36, and Ricardo Leal, 37, were taken into custody on Friday after the pair allegedly sexually assaulted a 14-year-old boy onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship

The teen said Diaz and Leal (pictured), both Mexican natives, 'began to perform sexual acts in front of him' before they started to perform that same act on the minor without his consent

Diaz invoked his right to counsel while his alleged partner in crime told authorities that the 'sexual acts were consensual,' the affidavit said.

They were both denied bond Saturday, as a prosecutor said: 'The defendant, in this case, acting in concert with another defendant, they were both on a cruise.

'This shows that they tried to target a specific minor, and this could be done again.'

Diaz is being held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center while Leal is being held in the Metrowest Detention Center, jail records show.

They are both being held without bond and are also on immigration holds, records show.

They both reside at the same address in Mexico City, according to the outlet.

DailyMail.com contacted Royal Caribbean for comment.

In August 2024, a Texas man was arrested for allegedly raping a young woman on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas ship.

The alleged incident occurred onboard Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas inside the sauna, according to the report. (Pictured: File photo of the Independence of the Seas)

Juan Campos, 28, was accused of raping a 20-year-old woman on August 28 while on the boat.

The woman accused Campos of penetrating her with an unknown object and trying to force her into performing oral sex.

Campos' lawyer argued the sex was consensual and that he stopped when he was asked.

'It was a normal cruise, he was with friends, they met some people on board and next thing you know, he's charged with this crime,' attorney Ed Hoeg told Local 10.

The ship had spent seven days at sea, traveling through the Bahamas, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
A youth wielding a foot-long machete was seen trying to stab a gang rival during a knife fight in front of horrified rush-hour passengers.

The pair began brawling on the platform of Queensbury tube station in North London at 5.30pm yesterday.

A commuter on a Jubilee line train which had just pulled into the station filmed the violence on their mobile phone.

In the footage, which was later uploaded onto social media, a youngster wearing a black jacket and grey hat lashes out with a machete and narrowly misses a boy dressed all in black, who wields a smaller knife.

An accomplice of the machete yob appears to be carrying a bottle which he then hurls at his rival from less than two feet away.

The fight - which took place in broad daylight - involved at least five youths but only two were armed with blades.

As passengers watch on helplessly from the tube train one is heard remarking: 'This is stupid'.

Police later arrived on the scene and one of the officers is heard shouting off-camera 'police - stop!' prompting one of the thugs to try and hide his knife by tucking it into the waistband of his tracksuit trousers.

A youth wielding a knife (right) is seen approaching a gang rival during a knife fight on a London tube station platform

A youngster wearing a black jacket and grey hat (far right) lashes out with a machete and narrowly misses a boy dressed all in black (far left), who wields a smaller knife.

The youngster holding the machete can be seen pointing it towards the two rival gang members, while an accomplice of the machete yob appears carrying a bottle

British Transport Police confirmed that they were aware of the 34-second long footage, posted onto X and Facebook, and said that one teenager had been arrested.

A force spokesman told MailOnline: 'Officers were called to Queensbury underground station at around 5.30pm yesterday (24 March) to reports of a fight involving knives on the platform.

'Officers attended and one boy aged 16 was arrested on suspicion of possession of a bladed article and possession of a drug (Class B).

'Enquiries into the incident are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to get in touch by texting 61016 or calling 0800 405040 quoting reference 490 of 24/03/25.'

Locals living near the station told of their shock this afternoon after the footage was posted onto the Harrow Online Community Facebook page.

One said: 'There seems to be no safety for passengers neither on the platform nor train these days.

'You leave house for work and it's so unpredictable whether you return home in one piece or get assaulted in any shape or form.'

Another added: 'I'm 38 now & teens were as bad then. I remember someone unfortunately being burnt alive in a Kingsbury park as a teen. Nothings changed & nothing ever will especially with some parents not giving a f***.'

The pair began brawling on the platform of Queensbury tube station (pictured) in North London at 5.30pm yesterday

There has been a notable rise in the number of knife offences in recent years. Pictured: Handout photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of recovered knives following stop and search in Islington in 2020

The Queensbury tube station fight came just two days after machete and lock-knife-wielding thugs brought terror to another London suburb when a party in a primary school hall Elm Park descended into anarchy.

Hundreds of teenage yobs fought with police outside a music event held there on Saturday night that was shut down when an armed gang gatecrashed proceedings.

Officers swooped on the school at around 9pm on Saturday when a 'number of teenagers' broke in and sparked two hours of chaos, with two victims, aged 16 and 19, taken to hospital with non-life threatening knife injuries.

Police said three teenagers were arrested at the scene on suspicion of assaulting emergency works. A spokesman for the force said the group became 'aggressive' towards them when officers tried to engage.

The officers who clashed with the youths were treated at the scene by the London Ambulance Service.

MailOnline revealed how the venue had space for 80 people, but it quickly became full when those without tickets got in. Then more people arrived who had bought tickets - but weren't allowed in.

Organisers then kicked everyone out of of the school, before slowly allowing those with tickets back in.

Meanwhile, the gatecrashers who had been evicted became agitated outside and kicked the gates open to get past security and back into the event. Revellers had also messaged their friends and followers on Snapchat to get them down to the venue.

Terrifying footage from the incident shows members of the gang brandishing knives as the birthday party exploded into violence

Police cars with flashing blue lights can be seen on the scene surrounded by the crowds as officers had to fend off the yobs

Elsewhere in London, brazen thieves are targeting some of the capital's most exclusive streets as part of Britain's latest crimewave.

Earlier this month, a masked cyclist broke into the boot of a Tesla parked in Mayfair and stole a Stone Island jacket worth more than 1,000.

But this is not an isolated incident - recent footage has shown a hooded figure breaking into a Mercedes-Benz parked near Harrods and making away with bags of designer goods, like Louis Vuitton, in broad daylight.

Hans Place, where the theft took place, boasts of deluxe apartments that can go for as much as 10.5million.

Shocked onlookers stare in disbelief as the brazen thief swaggers away with luxury goods and a shocked woman runs out of her house shouting 'oi!' as he struts off.

In another instance of thefts in the capital, two masked cyclists smashed into the back of a car and stole a luxury jacket from the boot.

Prepared with torches and face masks, the robbers heedlessly break into the vehicle and steal what is believed to be 1,500 jacket - even though a couple walking their dog stop just metres away.

As the car alarm goes off, they pedal away quickly and jump a red light to flee the scene.

A hooded figure breaks into a Mercedes-Benz parked near Harrods and makes away with bags of designer goods, like Louis Vuitton, in broad daylight

Two masked cyclists smash into the back of a car and steal a luxury jacket from the boot

The thieves steal the jacket thought to be worth 1,500 even though a pair of dog walkers stop metres away from them

The Metropolitan Police said they understood 'the impact motor vehicle crime has on victims'.

'Incidents reported to police are assessed to ensure lines of enquiry, including forensic opportunities and footage, are progressed to hold offenders to account', they added.

Earlier this month, Made in Chelsea star Jamie Lang revealed he was victim to another burglary, only a week after his Notting Hill home was burgled.

Speaking on his Radio 1 show on Monday, Jamie said: 'So, I live in London, I was with my wife Sophie and we went to get in our car.

'It's parked around the place we live, and it's London right, things maybe go missing occasionally or whatever.

'I walked up to the car, and the car looked a little bit funny, the door was slightly open, and I was like, "hang on a second, has someone managed to get into the car?"

'Came up to the car and we had been robbed.'

The Made in Chelsea star was left aghast, with the thieves not only taking luxury items, but also a bowl that his grandmother had given him for Christmas - although the culprits did leave behind the fruit that was inside.

Jamie and his wife Sophie Habboo (pictured), 30, were victim to another car burglary

'They left the pineapple in one seat and the melon in another seat,' he said.

'I said to my wife, "did you leave these in the car?" and she was like, "no?", so I don't know if it's a sign or the mark they leave.'

In January, the Lib Dem MP Lisa Smart said that car thefts in the capital have been 'decriminalised' after the Metropolitan Police failed to solve nine out of 10 cases of auto theft in the capital.

Only 0.9 per cent of investigations into car theft resulted in a charge against the perpetrator - the lowest figure of any regional police force in England.

Between April and June 2024, the Met ended 7,996 out of 8,861 car theft investigations (90.24 per cent) without identifying a suspect - an increase from 88.7 per cent for the previous three months and the highest rate in two years.

Ms Smart, who serves as MP for Hazel Grove, called the figures 'staggering' and said that while the statistics applied to the period when the Conservatives were in power, Labour had not done enough to rectify the problem since coming to power.
The Atlantic editor who published some of the war texts from Donald Trump's administration is considering releasing more of the group chat.

Jeffrey Goldberg, the magazine's editor-in-chief, told Tim Miller on the Bulwark Podcast his team is mulling over releasing the full trove of Signal app messages.

'My colleagues and I and the people who are giving us advice on this have some interesting conversations to have about this,' Goldberg told the podcast.

'But just because they're irresponsible with material, doesn't mean that I'm going to be irresponsible.'

Goldberg made the jaw-dropping revelation on Monday that Trump's national security team had added him to a top secret chat about military strikes in Yemen.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz started the conversation on Signal, an encrypted messaging app.

It included users identified as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

A CIA representative, Trump adviser Stephen Miller and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles were also listed in the group.

Goldberg noted that 'Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, had texted (him) the war plan at 11:44 a.m.' The bombs started dropping in Yemen around 2 p.m.

Jeffrey Goldberg (pictured), the magazine's editor-in-chief, told Tim Miller on the Bulwark Podcast his team is mulling over releasing the full trove of Signal messages

Goldberg made the jaw-dropping revelation that Trump's national security team added him to a top secret chat about military strikes in Yemen. (Pictured: Smoke plumes rising above buildings following bombardment on Yemen's Huthi-controlled capital Sanaa on March 19, 2025)

Longtime Washington DC journalist Goldberg was shocked to find himself part of what should have been a highly confidential conversation.

'It should go without sayingbut I'll say it anywaythat I have never been invited to a White House principals-committee meeting, and that, in my many years of reporting on national-security matters, I had never heard of one being convened over a commercial messaging app,' he wrote in The Atlantic.

On the Bulwark podcast, Goldberg said his initial reaction to receiving the messages was, 'if this is real, why the hell do I have this?'

Goldberg revealed that the chat also contained the name of a covert CIA agent.

'I withheld her name - they named somebody who's an active CIA officer in this thread which is on Signal - and I withheld it, I didn't put it in the story, because she's undercover,' he said.

The shocking story shows operational details were unwittingly revealed. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host, is now under the microscope over the egregious failing.

Goldberg noted that 'Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, had texted (him) the war plan at 11:44 a.m.' The bombs started dropping in Yemen around 2 p.m.

Trump told reporters at the White House he hadn't seen The Atlantic story: 'I don't know anything about it. I'm not a big fan of the Atlantic. It's to me, it's a magazine that's going out of business.'

Emojis and congratulations appeared in the text chain after a successful mission

President Donald Trump - with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth - played down the article

When pressed about the Signal chat, Trump said: 'It couldn't have been very effective, because the attack was very effective. I can tell you that I don't know anything about it. You're telling me about it for the first time.'

While speaking with reporters in Hawaii, Hegseth claimed that Goldberg had not got hold of the confidential messages.

'You're talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who's made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again,' Hegseth said.

On the Bulwark podcast, Miller asked Goldberg whether he would consider publishing the messages to demonstrate the legitimacy of his claim.

'Maybe in the coming days, I'll be able to let you know that, 'OK, I have a plan to have this material vetted publicly',' Goldberg said.

'But I'm not going to say that now, because there's a lot of conversations that have to happen about that.'

Goldberg doubled down, saying the group chat messages included 'who they were trying to kill in the next two hours'. He slammed Trump's team as 'defensive'.

Trump defended his National Security Adviser Mike Waltz in the wake of the Signal scandal

Jeffrey Goldberg (pictured), the magazine's editor-in-chief, told Tim Miller on the Bulwark Podcast his team is mulling over releasing the full trove of Signal messages

'At moments like this, when they're under pressure because they've been caught with their hand in the cookie jar or whatever, you know, they will just literally say anything to get out of the moment,' Goldberg said.

'As much as I enjoy national security investigative reporting, I don't need strike plans two hours before a launch,' he added.

'That should not be coming into my phone. I mean, I take this stuff very, very seriously and I take the responsibility not to get Americans killed very, very seriously.'

This is a breaking news story with updates to follow.
Samsung Electronics co-CEO, Han Jong-hee has died at the age of 63 after suffering a heart attack, the company announced.

Han spoke at the company's annual shareholder meeting just last week, where he acknowledged Samsung's struggling stock prices and apologized for the disappointing numbers.

Samsung said Han dedicated over 37 years of his life to the company, telling CNN that he helped foster growth during a 'challenging business environment.'

The late CEO earned his degree in Electrical Engineering at Inha University in South Korea in 1988 before starting with the company.

Han worked his way up and took over Samsung's research and development team in visual display business in 2011.

In 2022, he took over as Vice Chairman and CEO, overseeing the company's Digital Appliances, which include electronics and mobile devices. He was also one of four executive directors on the company's board.

'Han was the key figure behind making Samsung's TV business influential on a global scale,' a Samsung analyst told Reuters.

'With his sudden passing... there could have some long-term impact on its business strategy, particularly in areas like marketing.'

Samsung Electronics co-CEO, Han Jong-hee, 63, died in the hospital after suffering a heart attack

Han started at the company in 1988 and worked his way up to CEO and Vice Chairman, serving in these roles since 2022

Samsung has struggled financially, significantly lagging behind its main competitor, Apple in 2024

Jun Young-hyun, who was just appointed as co-CEO, will now take over as the sole CEO in the wake of Han's death.

Jun was promoted last November to head up Samsung's semiconductor division and was announced as a co-CEO at last week's shareholder meeting.

Samsung has not yet revealed whether Jun will continue to serve in the position on his own, or whether a successor for Han's position will be named.

The company typically has two CEOs, one who oversees Samsung's consumer divisions while another heads up teams dedicated to developing computer chips.

Han's death follows a difficult year for Samsung as the company struggled to successfully integrate the rise of artificial intelligence.

The company was one of the worst-performing tech stocks of the year and was down by 1.16 percent on Tuesday.

Samsung has also trailed behind its largest competitor, Apple, which has seen a rise in the stock market and is up by 1.37 percent.

Jun Young-Hyun has been named the sole CEO effective immediately in the wake of Han's sudden death

Samsung executives apologized to shareholders at a meeting last week for disappointing numbers in 2024

Apple shipped more smartphones than Samsung did last year and reported a higher annual revenue.

Samsung is also facing challenges amid President Trump's new tariffs. The company has a production base in Mexico, which is now subject to a 25 percent tariff.

At the company shareholder meeting last week, Han alongside the other Samsung executives predicted 2025 would continue to bring hardships under the new tariffs, Reuters reported.

Executives assured shareholders that Samsung would attempt to flexibly respond, but acknowledged the additional challenges the company faced.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the Federal Budget on Tuesday night, with Anthony Albanese's government announcing several promises to ease the cost-of-living for struggling Australians.

Among those promises are two tax cuts starting from next year, along with a $150 energy rebate and wiping $19billion from existing student debt.

Those tax cuts have passed the House of Representatives and will go the Senate.

Aussies have also been told that nine out of ten GP visits will essentially be free as part of the government's overhaul of Medicare, with $7.9billion injected into bulk-billing incentives.

Dr Chalmers has also committed to delivering a $793million women's health package.

Meanwhile, a potential date for the election has been set.

Follow Daily Mail Australia's live coverage of the 2025 Budget here.
A British influencer is fighting for life in a South Korean hospital after mysteriously being found unconscious in her apartment with a black eye and severe dehydration.

Content creator Ashley Surcombe, 29, was found by police who broke in, after her worried parents Nigel and Karen contacted them via a friend, when she failed to reply to messages and calls.

Paramedics rushed her to hospital, and she is currently in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Seoul suffering from severe dehydration and multiple organ damage.

Ashley  who has been living in South Korea for five years  is originally from Evesham and her distraught father has flown out to be by her bedside.

She was found on Monday after a friend of the family contacted police on their behalf, and officers entered her apartment and found her on the bathroom floor.

There were no signs of a forced entry and Ashley lived on her own.

Worried sister Kat Surcombe, 33, an aerospace engineer said: We just dont know what happened and we are trying to find out exactly, but its been difficult, and we have had to rely on contacts out there.

She was found unresponsive and unconscious on the floor; she didnt have any broken bones, but she was severely dehydrated and has multiple organ damage.

Content creator Ashley Surcombe, 29, was found by police who broke in, after her worried parents Nigel and Karen contacted them via a friend, when she failed to reply to messages and calls

Paramedics rushed her to hospital, and she is currently in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Seoul suffering from severe dehydration and multiple organ damage

Ashley  who has been living in South Korea for five years  is originally from Evesham and her distraught father has flown out to be by her bedside

About a week ago she told us she she hit her head against the door and got a nasty bruise on her eye.

Her blood sugar levels are very low and when we spoke with her on Saturday, she seemed confused, and you could barely see her lips she was so dehydrated.

We were supposed to speak with her at 8pm on Sunday (Korean time) but she never answered, and we didnt get any response from messages so thats when we called police through a friend of my dad who has contacts out there.

'When they heard back that she was in hospital it was just horrible as we felt so helpless and so far away.'

Ashley is well known as a content creator in the UK and has over a million followers across her social media pages.

Ashley  who is fluent in Korean  had been planning to travel across the country and Southeast Asia and write up her experiences for her social media.

But the plan has now been put on hold as there is no indication as to when she may be released, and her family are now having to deal with spiralling hospital bills as Ashleys insurance had expired.

Kat explained that an ICU stay is 1,500 a day and once stabilised that will drop to 500 plus tests including X rays, blood tests and scans have cost 100,00.

Ashley worried family are now having to deal with spiralling hospital bills as Ashleys insurance had expired.

Ashley is well known as a content creator in the UK and has over a million followers across her social media pages

The family have set up a GoFundMe page to help cover some of those costs and have set a 50,000 target.

Through tears, Kat added: Its been very difficult, its been a shock for all of us, we all just want her home, shes my baby sister and I want to give her the biggest cuddle and tell her that I love her.

I am also really worried about my parents; they have just retired, and this has the potential to financially ruin them.

My dad has already said they may have to sell their house, obviously the priority is Ashley, but they just dont know how to cover the medical bills.

They dont have an abundance of money, and they have just retired, and they had to pay 3,000 deposit which has been swallowed up in just the first day.

The thing is we just dont know how long she could be in there for and then when she is fit to come out there is the cost of a flight home.

Its the not knowing that is worrying and how long she may be in hospital for, we just hope that when dad gets out there, we can get some answers.
As self-inflicted security breaches go, it was epic  the sort of blunder-cum-fiasco you'd expect if the Keystone Cops had been put in charge of the nation's military and intelligence services.

Not only did the Trump administration convene a confidential group chat on a commercial messaging service (Signal) to discuss sensitive national security matters, the group included, bar the President, the highest officials in the land: the Vice President (JD Vance), the Secretary of Defense (Pete Hegseth), the Secretary of State (Marco Rubio), the head of the National Security Agency (Michael Waltz) and several other high-ranking officials, including the head of the CIA (John Ratcliffe) and the Director of National Intelligence (Tulsi Gabbard).

Not only did the issues discussed involve matters of the highest national security, they included the sharing of imminent plans for US military strikes on the Houthis in Yemen. So lives were at stake.

And, most bizarre of all, not only was a journalist inexplicably included in the chat group, it was a staunchly anti-Trump journalist (Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of the left-leaning magazine The Atlantic).

Signal is an encrypted platform. But it is nowhere near as secure as the government's own sophisticated channels designed specifically for the exchange of highly classified and top secret information.

To resort to Signal to discuss upcoming US military action betrays a pretty cavalier approach to security, born of incompetence and inexperience at the highest levels of government.

Perhaps that's to be expected when a cast of clowns fills too many top administration positions. A Fox News bloviator for Defense (Hegseth). An anti-vax zealot for Health (Robert F Kennedy Jr). The co-founder of fake wrestling for Education (Linda McMahon). A controversial TV doctor for Medicare and Medicaid (Mehmet Oz). A pro-Kremlin, pro-Syria's recently ousted dictator for National Intelligence (Tulsi Gabbard).

The Administration has dealt with the fallout from the Signal scandal with its hallmark mixture of arrogance and ineptitude.

The Administration has dealt with the fallout from the Signal scandal with its hallmark mixture of arrogance and ineptitude

To resort to Signal to discuss upcoming US military action betrays a pretty cavalier approach to security, born of incompetence and inexperience at the highest levels of government

Hegseth's first response was to dismiss it all as a 'hoax', even as the White House was confirming that the exchanges on Signal were 'authentic'.

When untruths didn't work, the administration  from the President down  resorted to the time-honoured political practice of throwing a dead cat on the table to distract attention.

The Atlantic was a failing magazine, claimed Trump, which is as untrue as it is irrelevant. The editor is 'deceitful' and 'discredited', piled in Hegseth once he got a second wind. He's also 'sensationalist' chirped White House secretary Karoline Leavitt.

I can understand why Team Trump is wary of Goldberg. He's no friend of the President. But he's not the one who's done anything wrong in this scandal. He's just the lucky beneficiary of the scoop of a lifetime landing on his lap.

He has no idea why he ended up on the Signal chat group (it looks as if his name was added, mistakenly, by Waltz or one of his staff).

At first even he thought it was a hoax. He waited for a week after the attacks on the Houthis before going public. Even then, rightly, he did not give any details of the military planning he'd been privy to.

Hegseth and the White House deny any 'war plans' were revealed in the high-powered chat room. But there is no reason to disbelieve Goldberg.

He says he received a text in the chain two hours before US forces went into action from the Defense Secretary detailing 'minute-by-minute accounting' of 'forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying and attack sequencing.'

There was even a weather report covering the time of the attack.

If that doesn't amount to war plans then the world is not round and night does not follow day.

Goldberg has not published these texts, which shows he has a higher regard for national security than others on the Signal chain.

But he knows a congressional committee might well request him to make the texts available behind closed doors. It could also insist others in the chat room to do the same.

So far the White House is toughing it out with typical defiance and bluster.

It remains adamant no classified material was exchanged because if it was on a platform like Signal the consequences for those involved could be dire. The use of Signal for conducting classified discussions about imminent military action would be a serious breach of security procedures governing the handling of sensitive defense information.

In front of a congressional committee on Tuesday, a nervous Gabbard refused even to confirm she'd participated in the chat. But she still felt it necessary to insist no classified material had been involved. At least not from her. She was a bit vague about Hegseth. But how would she know either way if she hadn't been part of the exchanges?

Waltz had been touted as the fall guy but Trump rallied behind him, saying he's a 'good guy' who'd 'learned a lesson'  barely a slap on the wrist for one of the great security scandals of our time.

It should get him through the week. But perhaps not beyond that should more incriminating material come out about how Goldberg ended up in the chat room.

Waltz's reputation as a serious player has taken something of a dent now we know he marked the Houthi strike in the Signal chat with emojis of a fist, an American flag and a flame. Not quite the grown-up America requires for national security.

Hegseth's job is also on the line. He has stated categorically that 'nobody was texting war plans.' Should that prove to be less than the truth, his position would also become untenable.

Whatever his displays of public support, Trump is privately furious, raging in colourful language at the 'stupidity' of Waltz and others. I called a close aide of the President for a heads up on the situation.

'The President is on the rampage,' I was told. 'It's not safe to talk. I'm keeping my head down.' He then hung up.

Nor will it have escaped Trump's attention that his vice president, for all his public displays of loyalty, is developing policies of his own. The Signal texts show, beyond doubt, that Vance was skeptical of the need to strike the Houthis.

Yes, they've been attacking shipping in the Red Sea en route to the Suez Canal for over a year. But, argued Vance, very little US trade passes through the Suez Canal, which connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, whereas '40 percent of European trade does'.

So, attacking the Houthis would benefit Europe far more than America.

'I am not sure the President is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now,' Vance said, adding that, while he would support the consensus of the other top officials in the chat, 'I just hate bailing Europe out again.'

In the end Vance was placated by a suggestion that Europe could be sent the bill for the military action (good luck with that) and the insistence of Stephen Miller, a senior White House aide, that the attack was the President's will.

In the end JD Vance was placated by a suggestion that Europe could be sent the bill for the military action

In front of a congressional committee on Tuesday, a nervous Tulsi Gabbard refused even to confirm she'd participated in the chat.

Trump will be fine with Vance's visceral anti-Europeanism, which we've seen before but never in such raw and stark terms.

But he will be suspicious of Vance's freelancing on foreign policy, especially since the reason for attacking the Houthis is not to do the Europeans a favour but to cripple the one Iranian proxy group left in the region (after the demise of Hamas and Hezbollah) which is still a military threat to America's interests.

Vance's forays into foreign policy often reveal him to be out of his depth in complicated matters. But in his distaste for Europe, he is very much in sync with the rest of the Trump administration.

Even Hegseth got in on the act, telling Vance on Signal that he 'fully' shared his 'loathing of European free-loading. It's PATHETIC.'

Long after the row over security breaches dies down, what we have learned about the Trump administration's unvarnished attitude to Europe could well turn out to be the most significant feature of the Signal scandal. It has gone from mere animosity to outright hostility.

If Europe's leaders still don't realise, they're now on their own  after the revelations from the Signal chatroom, they cannot be in any doubt.
A fired-up Jacqui Lambie has unleashed on a rival senator during a passionate rant following Labor's latest federal Budget.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered his fourth Budget on Tuesday night with the promise of $17billion tax cuts as part of Anthony Albanese's bid to win back voters struggling through a cost of living crisis weeks out from an election.

The Tasmanian independent senator clashed with Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume on Sunrise on Wednesday morning after the Liberal senator had slammed Labor's modest tax cuts as an 'election bribe'.

'73c a day in 15 months' time is nothing. It's not even going to touch the sides for most Australians. That's why we won't be supporting what is clearly a cruel hoax and an election bribe,' Sen Hume said.

Ms Lambie's voice began to shake as she slammed the Coalition's plan to axe public servants if they win the election.

'Oh, my goodness I cannot wait to see their Budget reply on Thursday night. Have they become the Grinch have they? Let's be honest, the Opposition treasurer Angus Taylor has been an absolute trainwreck the last three days,' Sen Lambie said.

'Jane, I want to know this morning, are you going to go in and cut Veterans Affairs again? Are you going to put that out to consultants? Because you took a lot of my mates out over that nine years and you spent $20billion of taxpayers' money to consultancy firms. Are we going back to those days Jane?

'Veterans want to know that this morning. Are you going back and moving the public servants who are finally finding their seat over complex medical issues? Are you going to contract that out again?'

Political rivals Jacquie Lambie (right) and Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume (left) hurled insults at each other during a fiery debate following Labor's handing down of the budget

Jim Chalmers (left) handed down his fourth budget on Tuesday night with the promise of $17billion tax cuts as part of Anthony Albanese's bid to win back voters struggling through a cost of living crisis weeks out from an election

The Coalition has flagged it will cut about 41,000 public servants as a cost-saving measure if it wins the election.

Sen Lambie said the Liberal Party was not winning over the public.

'Australians are starting to laugh at you. You are becoming a joke,' she said.

'The Liberal Party is a joke because there is nothing on paper that is positive in what you are going to do for the nation.'

Ms Lambie was asked what Australia would look like in the hands of Independents.

'Heaven help us,' Ms Hume muttered before she could reply.

'That's really rude Jane. Those Independents, the Teals down there, have performed since they have been in. Give them a go,' Ms Lambie hit back.

'You people don't like them. There's just no need for that. They performed well. Let's be honest, you don't want them in there.

'There is a place for every ordinary Australian in this Parliament and every move you make when you are doing electoral reform you are taking every chance off them. That's the truth of the matter.'
The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg refused to reveal the status of the phone he was using when the Trump Administration added him to a top secret war plans group text.

Goldberg made the jaw-dropping revelation on Monday that President Donald Trump's national security team added him to a group chat on the military strikes in Yemen.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz started the conversation on Signal, an encrypted messaging app, to discuss the plans to bomb the Houthis in Yemen.

The group included users identified as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

Goldberg insisted there was more he didn't publish 'because it was too consequential, too technical and I worry that sharing that information in public could be harmful to American military personnel.'

The story blew up the internet when it was posted and several critics asked why the administration was discussing sensitive material on an app instead of government systems designed to communicate classified data.

When asked by media reporter Oliver Darcy what he did with the phone he received the messages on, Goldberg had a coy response.

'I'm not commenting on the world of my devices,' Goldberg said.

When asked by media reporter Oliver Darcy what he did with the phone he received the messages on, The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg (pictured) had a coy response

Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, made the jaw-dropping revelation on Monday that President Donald Trump's national security team added him to a top secret chat

He also told Darcy he was not concerned about retaliation from federal authorities for publishing some of the messages.

'I worry about getting the story right and making sure that I shared with the public what I think the public should know,' Goldberg said. 'And if people want to threaten or intimidate the press, I'm ready for it.'

Goldberg revealed on Tuesday he is considering releasing more of the group chat messages.

'My colleagues and I and the people who are giving us advice on this have some interesting conversations to have about this,' Goldberg told Tim Miller on the Bulwark Podcast.

'But just because they're irresponsible with material, doesn't mean that I'm going to be irresponsible.'

Longtime Washington DC journalist Goldberg was shocked to find himself part of what should have been a highly confidential conversation.

'It should go without sayingbut I'll say it anywaythat I have never been invited to a White House principals-committee meeting, and that, in my many years of reporting on national-security matters, I had never heard of one being convened over a commercial messaging app,' he wrote in The Atlantic.

Trump called Goldberg a 'total sleazebag' as he defended Waltz against calls to resign over the accidental addition of The Atlantic editor to a White House group chat.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz (pictured) started the conversation on Signal, an encrypted messaging app, to discuss the plans to bomb the Houthis in Yemen

Trump called Goldberg a 'total sleazebag' as he defended Waltz against calls to resign

On Tuesday, the White House went on defense against the journalist during an event in the Cabinet Room - despite Goldberg omitting certain details from his story for national security reasons.

'But that's an app that a lot of people use,' Trump said of Signal. 'And somebody got on. And I happen to know, the guy's a total sleazebag. The Atlantic, The Atlantic is a failed magazine. Does very, very poorly, nobody gives a damn about it. This gives it a little bit of a shot.'

He continued by claiming that The Atlantic 'made up more stories.'

'And it's just a failing magazine and the public understands that,' Trump said.

He then turned his attention to Waltz, who was sitting alongside some of the president's ambassador picks.

'He's a very good man. That man is a very good man right there that you criticize so strongly,' Trump said. 'He's a very good man and he will continue to do a good job.'
Parts of Scotland have become policing deserts due to chronic underinvestment, the body representing rank-and-file officers claimed yesterday.

The Scottish Police Federation (SPF) told Justice Secretary Angela Constance that her government should be ashamed of its record and that widespread station closures had led to areas with an almost invisible police presence.

David Threadgold, chairman of the SPF, said Police Scotland has become an utterly reactive service in large parts of the country.

His excoriating analysis of the SNPs failure came at the SPF conference in Turnberry, Ayrshire - as Ms Constance listened in the audience.

Delegates laughed when the Justice Secretary claimed policing still offered excellent career prospects and attracted strong candidates.

Last night Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: These damning remarks from rank-and-file officers expose the devastating impact SNP cuts are having on frontline policing.

For far too long, dedicated officers have been expected to do their job with one hand tied behind their backs, leaving communities up and down Scotland at the mercy of criminals.

The recruitment and retention crisis facing the force is entirely of the SNPs own making as they have ignored warnings from the police about the impact a fall in officer numbers is having on tackling rising levels of crime.

David Threadgold, chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, said the SNP government should be 'ashamed' of its record on Police Scotland

Delegates laughed when Justice Secretary Angela Constance said policing still offered 'excellent' career prospects

Addressing the conference, Mr Threadgold said: A recent SPF deep dive shows that some of our colleagues are still, 12 years into the creation of Police Scotland, working in terrible conditions - unfit and unacceptable for a modern 21st-century service.

The difference between the haves and the have nots across the policing estate is frankly unacceptable and for that, your government should be ashamed.

He said that since its inception, Police Scotland had closed over 140 police stations across our country, three in the east of Scotland in the last month, with many more across the communities of Scotland in the pipeline.

Mr Threadgold added: Chronic underinvestment in policing, and in particular the police estate, has resulted in a situation where large areas of our country have become policing deserts with an almost invisible policing presence, providing an utterly reactive service.

The SPF chairman said demand from the public [and] the scrutiny and the standards demanded of police officers are rightly high, but expecting officers to perform to those levels in the environments we are forcing them to work in is simply unacceptable.

Mr Threadgold told Ms Constance: Cabinet Secretary, you will say investment in policing is at record levels, but this simply is not enough.

Please do not try and fool the public into believing that Police Scotland being forced into closing police stations in rural communities, or in areas of extremely high policing demand, is anything other than a reactive financial decision being made to deal with that chronic lack of investment from your government.

He said: The risks to police officers, the organisation itself and let us not forget the public are significant and exacerbated by a chronic lack of funding to deliver the most basic service in our country, made even worse by your governments decision not to fully fund increases to employer National Insurance contributions.

Mr Threadgold also criticised the repeated SNP government claim that recorded crime was falling, and attacked the Police Scotland proportionate response strategy - which means thousands of minor crimes are no longer fully investigated.

The SPF chairman said the approach largely relies on non-warranted officers asking questions from a pick list to generate a crime report, which he suggested meant that some people simply dont bother to call police.

He pointed out that non-sexual crimes of violence were up by 4 per cent in the past year while there had been an 18 per cent increase in robberies.

There has been a 15 per cent increase in domestic abuse under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act of 2018, which criminalised psychological and emotional abuse including coercive control, while crimes of threat and extortion are up by 20 per cent.

In response, Ms Constance told delegates that she valued the candour of the SPF and acknowledged that the reality of being a police officer has never been more demanding.

Delegates laughed when she said policing offered excellent career prospects and attracts a strong field of candidates.

But Ms Constance said we will need to put the frustrations of the past behind us and told the conference that policing had received 14.6billion since the single force was launched.

She added that Scotland is home to one of the best police services in the world and it was important to maintain that reputation.
An old business partner who turned on former first son Hunter Biden has received a pardon from President Donald Trump after claiming he was wrongly prosecuted.

While speaking to reporters during a Cabinet meeting, the president signed the pardon for Devon Archer, an ex-business associate of the younger Biden.

Archer testified before Congress about the Biden family's suspicious foreign dealings.

'Devin Archer was a former business partner of the Biden family,' Trump aide Will Scharf while handing the president the official executive action.

'He's was prosecuted relating to a fraud investigation, but notably, the tone and tenor of that prosecution changed dramatically after he began to cooperate with congressional investigators and serve as a witness against Hunter Biden and the Biden family.'

'We believe that was an injustice,' Trump's assistant continued.

The president then remarked that many people have asked him to relieve Archer of his consequences, telling the room 'I think he was treated very unfairly.'

'And I looked at the record, studied the record, [it] said he was a victim of a crime, as far as I'm concerned,' Trump said. 'So we're gonna undo that.'

U.S. President Donald Trump holds an Executive Grant of Clemency for Devon Archer, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 25, 2025

Devon Archer, Hunter Biden's former business partner, leaves the O'Neill House Office Building after testifying to the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill on July 31, 2023 in Washington, DC. Archer gave closed-door testimony to the Republican-controlled committee that is investigated the Biden family

Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, and attorney Abbe Lowell arrive for a closed-door deposition with the House Oversight and Judiciary committees on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, February 28, 2024

Archer was convicted in 2018 of defrauding a Native American tribe after selling $60 million in fraudulent tribal bonds.

He says he was a 'victim' of his business deals with the Biden family, though he has not spoken to Hunter in at least five years.

'I was a victim of financial fraud in which I invested a lot of money and was taken down on a whistleblower that was blowing the whistle on Hunter,' Archer told Fox News' Jesse Watters on Monday night.

Archer claimed he was collateral damage from a probe into the former president's son.

Archer's case went to the Supreme Court twice but was most recently shot down after the justices declined to hear his appeal in the Native American fraud case.

The decision meant that the former Biden business partner was due to spend time behind bars.

On Fox News Monday evening Archer shared that he believed the Biden family would protect him from prosecution, but despite his outreach to Hunter Biden, they refused to help him.

The businessman later exposed to a congressional panel under oath that the former first son used to put his powerful father, who was vice president at the time, on the phone when discussing deals with prospective business partners.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden walk from the beach to their motorcade in Rehoboth Beach, Del., Sunday, July 30, 2023

Hunter Biden and Devon Archer used to work together

Though Archer never alleged that Joe or Hunter Biden ever committed any wrongdoing, he has noted that his role with the younger Biden was to sell the brand of the political family in his business dealings with them.

Hunter Biden was involved with several overseas companies in the last decade with footprints in China and Ukraine.

Hunter Biden was a part of Ukrainian energy company Burisma, where he held a board seat from 2014 to 2019. He was also the founding member of BHR Partners, a Chinese investment firm.

The congressional investigation was a part of an impeachment inquiry into the Biden family's overseas business dealings.

'I think it was it was entirely appropriate for the President,' House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, told DailyMail.com of the pardon.

'Devin Archer came and testified, he's want to talk to us about the 'Big Guy' and some of the things that took place,' Jordan recalled.
Police investigating the murders of a mother and toddler almost half-a-century ago have confirmed an item believed to be a childs potty has been found close to where their burning car was discovered on the night they vanished.

The bodies of Renee MacRae and her three-year-old son Andrew have never been found after they disappeared on November 12, 1976, sparking one of Scotlands longest-running missing persons inquiries.

A BMW belonging to 36-year-old Mrs MacRae was found on fire in a lay-by near Dalmagarry Quarry, south of Inverness, but there was no sign of her and her young son.

Her lover William MacDowell  Andrews father  was finally convicted of their murders and trying to defeat justice by dumping their bodies, three years ago, aged 81.

But he died in jail five months later without revealing the location of their remains.

Police Scotland has now confirmed that officers are examining an item found near the quarry at the centre of investigations into the 49-year-old murders.

A spokesman said: On Thursday, 13 March, 2025, officers attended the A9 near Dalmagarry after an item was recovered.

The item is being examined and further inquiries are ongoing.

Neither Renee MacRae nor her son Andrew were seen again after they disappeared in 1976

A BMW belonging to 36-year-old Mrs MacRae was found on fire in a lay-by near Dalmagarry Quarry, south of Inverness, but there was no sign of her and her young son

Three-year-old Andrew MacRae disappeared with his mother Renee MacRae after leaving their home near Inverness on November 12 1976.

It is understood a potty along with a length of rolled-up carpet were uncovered by workmen carrying out improvements to the A9 less than a mile south of the lay-by where Mrs MacRaes vehicle was found.

A source told the Strathspey Herald newspaper that before work began detectives gave contractors a list of items of possible evidence to look out for.

The list is understood to have been relayed to workmen at a routine morning briefing.

The source close to Balfour Beatty, which was awarded a 185million contract for major dualling work on the A9, told the paper that workers found the yellow potty and length of carpet nearby each other in dense undergrowth about ten days ago.

They said police visited the site earlier this month to remind workers that the murders were still an ongoing investigation.

The source said: They sent an email with a list of things that, if found, they were to be alerted to  a suitcase, a pushchair, a coat and a yellow childs potty, things like that.

Three or four days later, some of the boys there found a childs potty. The potty had a yellow base.

Police officers came some time later and removed the potty and a piece of rolled-up carpet.

Mrs MacRae's lover William MacDowell was finally convicted of their murders and trying to defeat justice by dumping their bodies, three years ago, aged 81. But he died in jail five months later without revealing the location of their remains

Area close to Dalmagarry quarry where workmen clearing trees for the A9 upgrade found a childs potty and a piece of carpet

After MacDowell died, Detective Chief Inspector Brian Geddes said the search for the bodies would continue, in order to provide Renee and Andrew with the dignity they deserve.

Since the discovery of Mrs MacRaes car with a blood stain in the boot, speculation about the whereabouts of the bodies has focused on the A9  which was being rebuilt at the time  and Dalmagarry Quarry, which was drained in 2019 with no trace of remains found.

Mrs MacRae had set off from her Inverness home and dropped off her eldest son at the home of estranged husband Gordon.

She then went with Andrew, apparently to meet MacDowell, an accountant in her husbands building firm. That was the last time the pair were seen alive.

It was claimed in court MacDowell, a married father of two, had feared his affair with Mrs MacRae was about to be exposed.

Balfour Beatty refused to comment.
Prince Harry will step down from the charity he founded nearly 20 years ago after 'unthinkable' controversy from within, it has emerged.

Sentebale, which the Duke of Sussex co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 to benefit African orphans, dedicates itself to tackling poverty and AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana.

The royal travelled to Africa last year to support its work and in December proudly attended an event in New York. Harry co-founded Sentebale in memory of his late mother Princess Diana.

But now Harry is said to have quit in solidarity with his co-founder and the entire board of trustees after 'the relationship between the charity's trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation'.

Sophie Chandauka, a Zimbabwe-born lawyer, was appointed to be chair of the board of trustees last year.

It's reported the trustees were deeply unhappy with the decision and wanted her to step down, prompting her to sue.

The row seemingly stemmed from a decision to move its fundraising operation to Africa and several key figures then walked away from the organisation.

In a joint statement, which has been seen by The Times but not officially released, Harry and Prince Seeiso wrote: 'What's transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this.'

Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Prince Harry attend a welcome event at Sentebale's Mamohato Children's Centre in Lesotho last year

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex poses for a photo with members of the community during a visit with his charity in South Africa in October 2024

Board Chair Dr. Sophie Chandauka MBE, and Prince Harry at a a Sentebale reception and panel discussion at The Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa in October last year

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Ntoli Moletsane, Country Director, Lesotho arrive at a special Sentebale event to visit the Pointmain Health Facility on October 2, 2024

'Nearly 20 years ago, we founded Sentebale in honour of our mothers. Sentebale means "forget-me-not" in Sesotho, the local language of Lesotho, and it's what we've always promised for the young people we've served through this charity.'

The statement continued: 'Today is no different. With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as patrons of the organisation until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who have had to do the same. It is devastating that the relationship between the charity's trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation.'

Prince Harry sided with the trustees in the statement, saying they 'acted in the best interest' in asking Chandauka to step down.

'We thank all the trustees for their service over the years and are truly heartbroken they've had to follow through with this act,' the statement added.

The former trustees Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Kelello Lerotholi and Damian West all said they made the 'difficult decision to unanimously resign' but are 'deeply proud to have supported the visionary work of the founding patrons Prince Seeiso and Prince Harry'.

Nacho Figueras, Dr. Sophie Chandauka, Chair of Sentebale, Prince Harry, and Richard Miller, pictured in April 2024

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho visit a special Sentebale event to meet adolescent girls and young women in Lesotho last year

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho arrive at a special Sentebale event to visit the Pointmain Health Facility on October 2, 2024

'Today's decision is nothing short of devastating for all of us, but we see no other path forward as the result of our loss in trust and confidence in the chair of the board,' it read.

'Our priority has always been, and will always be, what's in the best interest of the charity, and it's desperately sad the breakdown in relationship escalated to a lawsuit by the chair against the charity, to block us from voting her out after our request for her resignation was rejected.

'We could not in good conscience allow Sentebale to undertake that legal and financial burden and have been left with no other option but to vacate our positions.

'This was not a choice willingly made, but rather something we felt forced into in order to look after the charity.'

Chandauka has refused to step down, forcing the resignation of the charity's trustees including Mark Dyer, who is a lifelong friend of Prince Harry.

A spokesman for Sentebale said that the charity had not received notice of the Prince's resignation.

Prince arrives at a visit to Matlameng in the Leribe region with Sentebale last year

Prince Seeiso of Lesotho on a visit in South Africa with the charity and the prince last year

Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and and Dr. Sophie Chandauka are pictured with Prince Harry in 2024

A Charity Commission spokesperson told the Mail: 'We can confirm that we are aware of concerns about the governance of Sentebale. We are assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps'.

It follows Richard Miller quitting as chief executive of Sentabale after five years in the role.

And his departure follows that of Baroness Chalker, the overseas development minister, who stepped down as a director the month before.

It was the latest blow for the Duke of Sussex's organisation, which also lost advertising king Johnny Hornby. He stood down after 11 years as a trustee, five of which he spent as chairman.

The Mail on Sunday later disclosed that Andrew Tucker, whom Harry affectionately calls 'Tucks', had stepped down from his senior position at Sentebale after almost a decade.

A spokesman for Sentebale said it carried out a 'restructuring' of its board as 'confirmation of its strategy to redeploy senior roles to be proximate to most of the team and programmes in southern Africa'.

'We are pleased to confirm the restructuring of our Board on 25 March 2025 to introduce experts with the capabilities and networks to accelerate Sentebales transformation agenda as announced last year.

'In April 2024, Sentebale signalled its evolution from a development organisation focused on addressing the impact of HIV/AIDS on the lives of children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana, to one that is addressing issues of youth health, wealth and climate resilience in Southern Africa.

'Our highly successful Return to Southern Africa (RTSA) campaign with prospective international funders in October 2024 demonstrated Sentebales potential in these domains.

'The RTSA was followed by the announcement of Carmel Gaillard as our Interim Executive Director based in Johannesburg in December 2024.

'This followed Sentebales confirmation of its strategy to redeploy senior roles to be proximate to most of the team and programmes in Southern Africa. The recalibration of the Board is, therefore, part of Sentebales ambitious transformation agenda.'

In a bombshell statement to the Mail, Dr Chandauka alleged there was a 'cover up' going at the charity, blasting 'weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, and misogynoir'.

She hit out in a volley of accusations at her colleagues: 'For me, this is not a vanity project from which I can resign when I am called to account.

'I am an African who has had the privilege of a worldclass education and career. I will not be intimidated. I must stand for something. I stand for those other women who do not have the ways and means.

She said: 'I chose to join Sentebale first and foremost as a proud African who understands that, in the spirit of ubuntu: to whom much is given, much is expected.

'Everything I do at Sentebale is in pursuit of the integrity of the organisation, its mission, and the young people we serve. My actions are guided by the principles of fairness and equitable treatment for all, regardless of social status or financial means.

'There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct.

'Discerning readers will ask themselves: why would the Chair of the Board report her own Trustees to the Charity Commission? Why would the High Court of England and Wales accept her application to hear the matter at all if the case had no merit?

'Well, because beneath all the victim narrative and fiction that has been syndicated to press is the story of a woman who dared to blow the whistle.'

'I have one job. I must focus on fundraising for the very important work of the young people who inspire the incredible team at Sentebale who make sacrifices daily at a time when geopolitics is severely impacting funding for development work in Africa.

'I am indebted to those who have stood by me and picked up my urgent call for help so that we can continue the mission at Sentebale. I will continue to faithfully perform my role as Chair of the Board, and I look forward to the opportunity to work with others who are interested in issues of health, wealth and climate resilience for young people in Africa.'
Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett denied she was talking about Governor Greg Abbott being wheelchair-bound when she called him 'Governor Hot Wheels.'

'I wasnt thinking about the governors condition,' she posted on social media on Tuesday afternoon amid backlash.

'I was thinking about the planes, trains, and automobiles he used to transfer migrants into communities led by Black mayors, deliberately stoking tension and fear among the most vulnerable,' she wrote.

'Literally, the next line I said was that he was a Hot A** Mess, referencing his terrible policies,' she continued.

Crockett made the 'Hot Wheels' comment during a speech at a Human Rights Campaign dinner in Los Angeles.

'Ya'll know we got Governor Hot Wheels down there, c'mon now, and the only thing hot about him is that he's a hot a** mess, honey,' she told the audience as they cheered and laughed.

'I am now going off script just so y'all know, this is where things get a little off the rails,' Crockett said before continuing.

But in her social media thread on Tuesday, the Texas Democrat included a link to a report about how Texas has spent $148 million busing immigrants to other parts of the country.

She also wrote: 'At no point did I mention or allude to his condition.'

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) at the Human Rights Campaign's 2025 Los Angeles Dinner



Abbott was tragically paralyzed after an oak tree fell on him while he was jogging in 1984 at the age of 26.

Crockett's comment received heat from conservatives online who blasted her for going after Abbott, calling her 'trash,' 'the dumbest member of Congress' and low class' on social media.

But Crockett fired back at her online critics in her post.

'Im even more appalled that the very people who unequivocally support Trumpa man known for racially insensitive nicknames and mocking those with disabilitiesare now outraged,' she wrote.

Her response referenced when Trump's mocking a disabled New York Times reporter on the campaign trail back in 2015.

In a second post on Tuesday, Crockett also wrote: 'Keep that same energy for all people, not just your political adversaries.'

'Finally, this is yet another distraction. Instead of obsessing over and hanging on to my every word, maybe my political foes should focus on doing the work of the people who elected us to improve their lives,' she continued.

Governor of Texas Greg Abbott

Crockett continued her speech, mocking her Republican colleague Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Nancy Mace of South Carolina for mistakenly confronting a woman in the bathroom who they thought was transgender lawmaker Rep. Sarah McBride.

'Anyway, they not even good at being, like, bathroom police, that's the point of the story, like, you can't even do that right, go sit down,' she said as the audience cheered and laughed.

'You campaigned on being bathroom police and f***ed that up,' she added.
As someone who wishes to have a career as a parliamentarian, it is only natural that Douglas Ross should stand down from Holyrood.

The former Scottish Tory leader has had two stints in the Scottish parliament, but was never able to hide where his true ambition lay: Westminster.

First elected as a list MSP in 2016, he quit a year later after successfully wresting Moray from Angus Robertson in the general election.

His contributions in the chamber made clear he regarded the green benches as the only parliamentary game in town.

If hed had his way, he would never have darkened Holyroods door again.

But events, dear boy: Ruth Davidson resigned, Jackson Carlaw didnt last long as her replacement, and Ross was prevailed upon to put himself forward for the good of the party. Elected unopposed, he had to obtain a Holyrood seat, which he did on the Highlands and Islands list in 2021.

A leadership entered into under duress proved to be a less than happy one.

He quickly learned that the Scottish Tory group could be a vipers nest of briefing, backstabbing and badmouthing.

New challenges: Former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross is to stand down as an MSP at next year's Holyrood election as he looks to return to the UK Parliament

Family man: Douglas Ross with his wife and eldest son Alistair

Against this backdrop, he nonetheless threw himself with gusto into the mission of holding Nicola Sturgeon to account.

Ross is a very Morayshire mixture of warmth and candour, but it was the latter that coloured his public persona, and the direct manner coming across at FMQs was refreshing or aggressive, depending on your political colours.

Whatever the political bubble thought, the voters seemed to like it. In the 2021 election, he secured the Tories highest share of the vote at Holyrood, up slightly from the previous peak under Davidson.

His platform was sparse, eschewing bread and butter policies in favour of a consistent opposition to a second referendum on independence.

The somewhat predictable messaging chimed with those voters scunnered with Nicola Sturgeons posturing and refusal to let the matter rest.

After Humza Yousaf succeeded her, Ross proved a challenging parliamentary foe for a hapless First Minister.

He belaboured the SNP-Green coalition on gender self-identification, the deposit return scheme, Ferguson Marine and sentencing. Yousaf was typically dismissive of his opponent, a lethal error for which he paid the price.

Following his decision to rip up the Bute House agreement, it was Ross who tabled a motion to oust Yousaf, calculating correctly that the Greens would be willing to withdraw confidence from the First Minister. Yousaf realised the ride was over and handed in his ticket.

But it wasnt only Nationalists for whom Ross created political headaches.

He enraged Boris Johnson when he quit as a junior minister over the revelation that Dominic Cummings travelled to Barnard Castle during lockdown.

Later, he called for Johnson to go in light of the Partygate scandal  only to reverse himself following Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Keeping his Westminster seat after returning to Holyrood led his opponents to claim he was distracted by his four jobs (MSP, MP, leader and assistant referee).

There are those for whom his leadership was tainted by the treatment of David Duguid, the Banff and Buchan MP ousted while ill so Ross could take over his candidature for the 2024 election.

It prompted a jack-up, with local activists refusing to campaign for a candidate imposed on them against their wishes.

The whole debacle was for naught: Ross lost the seat to the SNP. This episode handed ammunition to the calculating b******s he decried at the Edinburgh Fringe last autumn.

These characters didnt need any help shooting down their leader, but Ross gave it to them anyway.

But the man is more than the sum of his missteps.

Rosss strength as a politician is that he doesnt belong to the Central Belt politics graduate mafia.

Hes a farmer, not a strategist, and he would rather spend time with his wife Krystle and their boys Alistair and James than skulk through the corridors of power plotting and gossiping.

He does not daydream about being in an episode of The West Wing. Since his return to the backbenches, he has focused on local issues as well as the spread of gender ideology through the public sector.

We are sorely in need of more normies like Ross, and especially those who understand rural and regional Scotland.

Holyrood is no place for someone who wants to debate ideas, shape policy and hold executive power to account. Douglas Ross was right to get out the first time.

If he has more to contribute to public life, Westminster is the only place for him.
An elementary school teacher in Phoenix has been arrested after allegedly exposing himself to students while peeing in a can in front of his class.

Curt Hinton, 52, faces four counts of indecent exposure after the alleged display on March 18 at Wilson Elementary School.

The sixth-grade English teacher's behavior was reported to the principal by four students, a 12-year-old boy and three 11-year-old girls, Fox 10 reported.

The students said they heard a zip and the sound of running water and looked to see Hinton allegedly peeing into a can while sitting at his desk.

They also reported that the teacher had exposed his genitals before adjusting his pants and belt.

Officers said that Hinton allegedly admitted to peeing in the can in the classroom but insisted he had kept himself covered with his hand.

His desk, however, was noted by detectives as not completely enclosed and anyone in the class would have reasonably been able to see the legs of anyone seated there.

Hinton allegedly told police that he was new to the school and told police he did not know how to get in touch with another teacher to watch his class, People reported.

Curt Hinton, 52, faces four counts of indecent exposure after the incident on March 18 at Wilson Elementary School

Officers said that Hinton allegedly admitted to peeing in the can in the classroom but insisted he had kept himself covered with his hand. Hinton was allegedly new to the school and told police he did not know how to get in touch with another teacher to watch his class

Hinton, who had previously served in the army, said that he reverted to what he would have done in his time in the military when he couldn't leave a spot.

He allegedly told police 'multiple times the incident was a poor use of judgement, and he made a mistake,' Fox 10 reported.

The teacher was booked into jail before he appeared in Maricopa County Superior Court and was given a $10,000 secured appearance bond, according to court records obtained by People.

A statement from a spokesperson for Wilson Elementary School said Hinton had been placed on administrative leave.

'Wilson Elementary School District prioritizes the safety and supervision of students at all times,' the statement said.

'While there is no specific policy solely address teacher restroom use, it is standard practice for teachers to ensure appropriate coverage for their classrooms when they need to step away briefly.'

A statement from a spokesperson for Wilson Elementary School said Hinton had been placed on administrative leave. On Monday evening, the spokesperson said that Hinton had resigned

'This typically involves coordinating with a neighboring teacher, instructional aide, or school administrator to ensure students remain supervised.'

On Monday evening, the spokesperson told People that Hinton had resigned.

Hinton is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Friday March 28.
Jeff Bezos revealed to President Trump that his staff at the Washington Post are 'out of control' and 'crazy' during a candid discussion.

The Amazon owner, who was once a thorn in Trump's side, has set to remake the Post into a MAGA-friendly outlet from Trump's second term.

He refused to allow the paper to make an endorsement for president in 2024 and has set much stricter rules on the Post's opinion page in recent months.

Trump said during an interview with OutKick that he's gotten to know Bezos recently and said that he expects them to get along great during his second term.

'He is a good guy. I didn't really know him in the first term. I mean, it's such a difference between now and the first time,' he told the outlet.

Trump said that he talked to Bezos 'at length' about how the paper went out of its way to protect Joe Biden during his term.

However, he added that he's got it on Bezos' authority that they're trying to be 'more fair' but that he's had it with his left-leaning Washington Post staff, especially after they'd run some negative articles about him.

'He said, "This is crazy, I lose my fortune running this thing and they, you know, they're out of control." These people are crazy. They're crazy people. They're out of control.'

Donald Trump said that Jeff Bezos believes his staff at the Washington Post are 'crazy' as the owner of the leading liberal paper works to make sure he's 'more fair' to the president

'He is a good guy. I didn't really know him in the first term. I mean, it's such a difference between now and the first time,' Trump said of Bezos

Trump cited Bezos' appearance at his inauguration in January as a sign that many of the tech elite had shifted toward him on his second go around.

'If you look at the inauguration, look at the people that were on that stage, here was a who's who of a world that was totally against me the first time,' he told Outkick.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Washington Post and a spokesperson for Bezos for comment.

Bezos has been slowly edging away from his paper's liberal leanings amid his budding friendship with the president and his allies.

The Amazon boss has begun playing a more active role in operations lately compared to when he first took the helm back in 2013.

He prompted fury among his liberal staff after he ditched a planned endorsement for Kamala Harris before last year's election.

In November, he fired the Post's long-time politics editor on the heels of Donald Trump's election.

While earlier this month, he backed out of running a $115,000 front page advert targeting Elon Musk.

Trump added that he's got it on Bezos' authority that they're trying to be 'more fair' but that he's had it with his left-leaning Washington Post staff, especially after they'd run some negative articles about him

Jeff Bezos went with fiancee Lauren Sancez to the inauguration of Donald Trump

The decision came after Bezos was featured prominently at the 47th president's swearing-in ceremony, after he announced his plans too donate $1 million to the incoming president's inaugural fund.

Bezos and his fiancee Lauren Sanchez had earlier traveled to Mar-a-Lago for dinner with the then president-elect.

The Amazon boss, who owns the outlet, said he is ditching a traditional, 'broad-based opinion section that sought to cover all views'.

He has also axed previous opinion editor David Shipley after he declined to get on board with the new regime.

'We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets,' Bezos wrote on X on Wednesday.

'We'll cover other topics too of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others.

'There was a time when a newspaper, especially one that was a local monopoly, might have seen it as a service to bring to the reader's doorstep every morning a broad-based opinion section that sought to cover all views. Today, the internet does that job.'

Scores of readers have already began angrily cancelling their subscription in protest over the move.

However the decision has been lauded by Elon Musk, who wrote 'Bravo Jeff Bezos' above a post on X about the news.

'I am of America and for America, and proud to be so,' Bezos added. 'Our country did not get here by being typical.

'And a big part of America's success has been freedom in the economic realm and everywhere else. Freedom is ethical  it minimizes coercion  and practical  it drives creativity, invention, and prosperity.'

The Post's chief executive Will Lewis told staff that the changes were 'not about siding with any political party', the New York Times reports.

'This is about being crystal clear about what we stand for as a newspaper,' Lewis wrote in a memo. 'Doing this is a critical part of serving as a premier news publication across America and for all Americans.'
President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an order to finally declassify documents related to the FBI's 'Crossfire Hurricane' investigation, which probed whether there was 'collusion' between the president's 2016 campaign and Russia.

Trump has long called the FBI 'Russia, Russia, Russia' probe a 'hoax' and it sucked up months of media attention during his first term.

During an event with ambassadors Tuesday, Trump took time at the top to sign several executive orders, including the Crossfire Hurricane declassification memo.

'It gives the media the right to go in and go and check it, you probably won't bother because you're not going to like what you see,' the president explained. 'But this was total weaponization. It's a disgrace.'

The order declassified everything to do with the investigation that the FBI hadn't marked for redaction days before Trump departed the White House in January 2021.

It also didn't apply to materials protected by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, the order read.

'Is anybody going to look? What about you, are you going to look?' Trump asked the reporters in the room.

'Frankly the FBI should be ashamed of themselves and so should the Department of Justice and so should Biden,' he added.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday to finally declassify documents dealing with the Crossfire Hurricane investigation - which looked into whether there was collusion between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia

Trump had originally tried to declassify the materials on January 19, 2021, one day before he left office the first time.

Once Democratic President Joe Biden took over the documents didn't see the light of day.

Republicans, including Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, complained that Biden's Justice Department under Attorney General Merrick Garland was dragging its feet.

'We remain concerned that over one year from the date then-President Trump directed the Justice Department to declassify certain Crossfire Hurricane records the Justice Department has not only failed to declassify a single page, the Department has failed to identify for Congress records that it knows with certainty to be covered by the declassification directive,' Grassley complained in a letter alongside Republican Sen. Ron Johnson dated February 2022.

Last Monday, Grassley and Johnson sent a letter to Trump Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel demanding to finally see the documents.

The letter was obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com.

They said that the secrets contained in the documents will 'expose corruption' within the FBI.

Special Counsel John Durham's 2023 report had already tainted the Russia investigation, which was handed off to Special Counsel Robert Mueller after Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the investigation in 2017.

The documents, according to two Republican senators, will 'expose corruption' at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (pictured)

In 2019, Durham had been assigned by Trump Attorney General Bill Barr with looking at the origins of the Russia probe.

Durham's report found that the Department of Justice and the FBI 'failed to uphold their mission of strict fidelity to the law' when launching the Trump-Russia probe in 2016, several months before Election Day when Trump was an active presidential candidate.

Durham writes in the report: 'Based on the evidence gathered in the multiple exhaustive and costly federal investigations of these matters, including the instant investigation, neither U.S. law enforcement nor the Intelligence Community appears to have possessed any actual evidence of collusion in their holdings at the commencement of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation.'

The Mueller Report, which was released in April 2019, found that Russian interference in the 2016 election was 'sweeping and systemic' but didn't find sufficient evidence to say that Trump's campaign colluded with Russia.

It did detail several obstructive episodes involving Trump, including the president's wish to fire Mueller and his dangling of pardons for several officials involved.
One of Australia's best known restaurateurs has resigned just days after untested sexual assault claims were levelled against his son.

Maurice Terzini, who founded the internationally renowned Bondi Icebergs restaurant in Sydney in 2002, said on Sunday he would continue to support his son Sylvester Terzini, 32, despite nine women coming forward with sexual misconduct claims.

But it was announced in a statement from the restaurant group on Wednesday that Mr Terzini would be stepping down as director.

'Maurice Terzini has agreed to resign as a director of the Icebergs Dining room and Bar business, and has stood down from any involvement in the business as we conduct an independent review of the issues raised in the SMH reports,' a spokesman for Icebergs group said in a statement.

'That review is underway.'

Maurice and Sylvester Terzini have both denied the accusations that were first reported by the Sydney Morning Herald.

Mr Terzini spoke about the impact the allegations had on him, and his family, in a statement to Instagram on Sunday.

'Allegations that have been made about one of my family members are devastating claims that have no place in our venues, industry or society,' Mr Terzini, 60, said.

Maurice Terzini (right) is pictured with his son Sylvester Terzini

Maurice Terzini founded Sydney's renowned Bondi Icebergs restaurant in 2002

'There are private health matters concerning one of my family members, where professional counsel has been sought.

'As a father, my priority has always been my children.

'In this storm, my mother reminded me that sometimes as parents we act with the best intentions, but sometimes we are challenged.

'All parents face times of family uncertainty.'

Mr Terzini said that given his profile in the hospitality industry, he had become collateral damage.

'The allegations are not ones against me directly yet the inferences have been hurtful and damaging to my reputation,' he continued.

'The spotlight on me, and that which comes from running one of the most recognised restaurants in the world, carries with it an obligation to ensure that I communicate truthfully with my much-loved industry and the community.'

Mr Terzini also denied claims made in the Sydney Morning Herald that he knew about the complaints made against his son, who has worked in several of his restaurants.

Mr Terzini (pictured at the Good Food Guide Awards in 2017) said that given his profile in the hospitality industry, he had become collateral damage

The iconic restaurant overlooks the Bondi Icebergs pool and Bondi Beach

'On a personal level, as a father and an employer, I have for decades done my best to provide genuine care and opportunities to all of those around me and within my businesses,' he said.

'There have been false references and damaging questions raised publicly about me.

'For those who know me, they know that under no circumstance would I ever intentionally ignore violent behaviour or cover up issues within any of my businesses.'

Mr Terzini said the restaurant industry he had been a part of for more than four decades still supported him.

'It is with genuine gratitude that I extend my thanks to all of those in the industry and beyond who have reached out to me over the past week which has been a particularly devastating time for me, my family and for those closest to me,' he said.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, could be set to rake in millions through her new online shop selling fashion items personally endorsed by the American royal.

The 43-year-old has been accused of being 'tacky and desperate' after details of her 'ShopMy page' emerged just an hour after she posted a glossy picture of her cuddling Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet on her official As Ever site.

It comes as the first teaser for her new podcast titled Confessions of a Female Founder, is released featureing Meghan sharing 'candid conversations' with female entrepreneurs and the trials and tribulations of running a business.

Meanwhile, any plans for King Charles to visit Pope Francis when he visits Italy next month appear increasingly in doubt as the Pontiff continues his recovery from pneumonia.

Our live updates have now ended
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been offered a new contract by Netflix to produce a documentary about Princess Diana's death in 1997, according to a report.

The three-part show would air in 2027 to mark the 30th anniversary of her death in a tragic car crash in Paris.

A Los Angeles source told The Express: 'The idea is that it would be a solo project for Harry, who would be a co-executive producer as well as hosting and narrating the series.

'He is uniquely placed, not only to talk about the woman he knew as his mother, but also to examine her role as an enduring social and cultural icon still beloved by so many.'

The source added that although nothing had been agreed upon, the series is being talked about in a positive way, and Harry might see it as a stepping stone to building bridges with William and the rest of his family.

However, a source close to the Sussexes' partnership with Netflix told The Independent that the report is 'not true', but did not provide further comment.

A possible documentary of such a personal undertaking would be massive for Prince Harry, who was only 12 years old when his mother died.

His memoir Spare begins with how he was awoken by his father Charles who told him the news that Diana had been killed in the crash.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been offered a new contract by Netflix to produce a documentary about Princess Diana's death in 1997, according to a report

Princess Diana visiting New York in December 1995

Harry has spoken several times over the years about how Diana's death affected him. Pictured: Prince William and Prince Harry with Prince Charles at Westminster Abbey for the funeral of Diana in 1997

Despite being told what had happened, he recalled telling himself his mother was just 'hiding' and not really dead - a theory he revealed later in the book that he often returned to for his own comfort many years later.

Prince Harry has said in interviews that he 'honours his mother' in everything he does and that he is 'his mother's son'.

Harry, alongside his brother William, has appeared in and commissioned two separate documentaries about Diana to mark the 20th anniversary of her death in 2017.

Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy featured interviews from the two princes, alongside unseen photographs, archival footage and home movies from Diana's childhood.

The other documentary, Diana, 7 Days, focused on her death and funeral and the effect it had on those closest to her, as well as the grieving public.

Both shows were a ratings hit and drew in millions of viewers.

It is thought the alleged new show on Diana could be a lifeline for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as their generous 77.2million agreement with the streaming giant comes to an end this year.

Since Harry and Meghan signed the mega deal in 2020, they have produced one smash hit show and a series of relative duds, sparking speculation Netflix might soon cut ties.

Prince Harry previously appeared in a BBC documentary about Prince Diana to commemorate the 20th anniversary of her death in 2017 (pictured), but there are now rumours he could be doing another one with Netflix in 2027

Despite being told what had happened, Harry wrote in Spare that his mother was just 'hiding' and not really dead - a theory he revealed later in the book that he often returned to for his own comfort many years later

Princess Diana's brother, the Earl Spencer, alongside Prince William, Prince Harry and the Prince of Wales as they wait for the hearse carrying the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales to leave Westminster Abbey following her funeral service

In a 2017 documentary, William described the walk behind his mother's coffin as 'the hardest things I have ever had to do'

William said in a 2017 BBC documentary: 'I just remember hiding behind my fringe basically, at a time when I had a lot of hair, and my head's down a lot'

The biographical 'Harry & Meghan' was the streaming service's biggest documentary debut, viewed in almost 29 million households in its first four days, and proved a global sensation.

But their other offerings, such as documentaries on the Invictus Games, social justice and the elitist sport Polo have all failed to pull ratings.

Some commentators have suggested that it is only when Harry and Meghan discuss the Royal Family that large numbers of viewers tune in.

It is still not clear if Meghan's latest cookery series, With Love, Meghan, which came out earlier this month, has done enough to salvage the deal with the broadcaster.

The lifestyle show cracked the Netflix top 10 list, landing at number six in both the UK and US.

However it has been widely panned by critics across the political spectrum as being out of touch and inauthentic.

Netflix co-chief executive officer Ted Sarandos backed the Sussexes publicly last week when he hit back at the poor reviews, telling Variety: 'Were a passive partner in Meghans company and its a big discovery model for us right now.'

When asked what motivated him to 'bet' on the Duchess, Sarandos replied: 'I think Meghan is underestimated in terms of her influence on culture... People are fascinated with Meghan Markle. She and Harry are overly dismissed.'

Despite the poor reviews for With Love, Meghan, the series has been renewed for a second season - with Netflix standing firmly behind the beleaguered royal.

Ted Sarandos, the co-CEO of Netflix, is standing by Meghan and said that she has been 'underestimated' and 'overly dismissed'

Sarandos 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

Mr Sarandos 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.

He added: '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 its brand-new stores for Markle's As Ever products.

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.

But while details of products such as jam and pancake mix have emerged, the full range and price points have not.

With Love, Meghan was watched by 526,000 households in the first five days it was available on Netflix since its release on March 4, according to data gathered by Samba TV.

But by comparison, Harry & Meghan drew in 2.1 million households in approximately the same number of days - making it four times more successful.

It is still not clear if Meghan's latest cookery series, With Love, Meghan, which came out earlier this month has done enough to salvage the deal with the broadcaster

With Love, Meghan was watched by more people aged between 45 to 54 than any other age group.

A new season does not mean her Netflix contract has been renewed, a source told DailyMail.com last week.

They explained, 'I know they filmed the shows back-to-back so in theory there is no second season its like with lots of Netflix shows it is already in the bag at the same time as the first one.

'What this does is allow edits to be made to the show from feedback from press and Netflix viewers. Its clever and cost effective. So no the overall contract hasnt been renewed yet.'

The source added that bosses were 'worried' about the poor reviews - especially as they are a business partner in her lifestyle brand, which will launch in their bricks and mortar stores in the coming months.

'The industry bibles like The Hollywood Reporter and Variety are not keen on it', the insider said.

'Netflix bosses are all worried now because they have invested a lot in the product line. They don't know when and how to roll it all out.'

But as well as her deal with Netflix, Meghan is also continuing her podcast career, with the Duchess revealing the trailer for her new podcast earlier today.

The Duchess of Sussex, 43, gave her 2.6million Instagram followers a closer look inside her wardrobe when she launched an online shop

Meghan took some criticism for seemingly using her children to promote business ventures

The Duchess of Sussex is also launching a new podcast called 'Confessions Of A Female Founder'

She told listeners it will give them the 'kind of advice that turns small ideas into billion-dollar businesses'.

The Duchess of Sussex added in the preview for Confessions of a Female Founder, her new production with Lemonada Media: 'We're going to get some girl talk!'

Meghan also giggled about whether one of her business guests is single, in the one-minute preview ahead of the first of eight weekly episodes out on April 8.

It comes hours after Meghan launched a new digital shop allowing fans to buy clothing, accessories and jewellery she recommends. In exchange, the Duchess will earn commission as high as 30 per cent for purchases made.

The ShopMy site features 32 items 'curated' by the duchess with 'affiliated' links to the brands' websites.

While there are a few affordable items, including a 99 Uniqlo trenchcoat, many seem way out of the average shopper's budget. Others appear to shamelessly highlight her royal links or endorse her well-connected friends' ventures.
Princess Beatrice has just written a personal essay for Vogues website about the premature birth of her second daughter. Ill admit, my initial knee jerk response  as it always has been with the two daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson  was to roll my eyes.

Ive long pooh-poohed Beatrice as little more than a spoilt, rich nepo baby of the worst possible kind. No discernible talent, not least when it comes to clothes and hats (dear God, lets not talk about the hats). Also, were these really her own words as the headline gushed?

But  and it is a very big but  I found myself surprised. For what Beatrice revealed is that  beyond the pomp, the palaces and the parents  shes human. A privileged one, yes, but plopped into the limelight of an awkward family through no fault of her own.

Even so, it is here where my goodwill stops. Much as I commend Beatrices over-sharing (which, to my mind, is never a negative term), I couldnt help but recall her cousin-in-law, the Duchess of Sussex.

Meghan has built her career  both inside and outside the Royal Family  from telling all. Weve all seen (or at least read about) the infamous Oprah Winfrey interview, the Netflix documentaries, even the New York Times article on her devastating miscarriage in 2020. Of course, Meghan has explained, it is all to raise awareness  before launching her own material ventures, such as her online shop on the elite platform ShopMy yesterday.

Which makes me ask: is Beatrice trying to follow in Meghans footsteps? If so, for all the good intentions, what are these privileged women actually doing for us?

Along with her sister, Eugenie, Beatrice has endured a lifetime of brickbats with little complaint. They both have careers at a technology firm and an art gallery, respectively. Theyve both married well and happily: Beatrice to property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Eugenie to marking executive Jack Brooksbank.

Beatrice, she told us in Vogue on Sunday, was prompted to open up about the birth of her now nine-week-old daughter Athena because its something to do with my mothers breast and skin cancer diagnosis last year. Beatrice knows that life, even inside the most privileged family on Earth, is fragile.

Princess Beatrice with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and, right, designer Alice Naylor-Leyland - who has teamed up with the royal to create a baby shower collection

The princess and her property developer partner during charity Borne's 'Wonderland' event at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Beatrice is a patron of the foundation

Beatrice's activities have been a little too Meghan-esque, Liz Jones writes

She is now patron of Borne, a charity that sets out to end preterm births, founded by Professor Mark Johnson who cared for Beatrice at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. So far, so noble.

But wait... she also reveals in her article that she is hoping to raise funds by launching a baby shower collection.

This is where it all gets a little too ladies-who-lunch and, dare I say, a little too Meghan-esque. She has teamed up with the designer Alice Naylor-Leyland (there are no single barrels in Beatrices orbit) to create the range, which includes a set of eight plates costing 332.

The pair of blue stork table decorations at 82 have apparently already sold out. I imagine the only effect they will have is to make kiddies scream in terror.

Now, as I say, Im all for over-sharing. Ive made a career out of spilling my guts for money, writing about anorexia, body dysmorphia and complex post-traumatic stress.

And I firmly believe that the royals being candid about their physical and mental health benefits not just them (its cathartic and garners sympathy) but also raises awareness for others.

For example, after the tragic suicide of Lady Gabriella Windsors husband Thomas Kingston in February last year, which we were told came after he stopped taking his antidepressants, Im sure millions regarded the little pill boxes on the bedside table with greater care. Id always been too terrified to swallow the Citalopram prescribed hurriedly by my GP for anxiety  and thank the Lord for that. After Kingstons death, I threw the packet away.

Princess Diana was also open about her eating disorders, while King Charles showed a rare display of candour when he revealed he was diagnosed with cancer last year, although not what type of cancer.

Beatrice's daughter Athena was born several weeks premature in January

The princess's range includes these blue storks - which have sold out despite the price of 82

The fact the Princess of Wales did not follow in their brave footsteps by being more open sooner about her own cancer diagnosis last February is of course her prerogative. Perhaps shes conscious of the flip side of the prolific opening up exposes in the media these days. Now its almost seen as a truism that if you havent had cancer or a miscarriage or been sexually abused, then you are somehow lacking  and not newsworthy at all. Kate was simply trying not to make a fuss and, of course, manage the news of illness while considering the impact on her three young children.

But, had she been more open and talked about the specifics of her cancer earlier, she would doubtless have helped women who are suffering from the exact same thing: women who arent coping and who feel ashamed.

She would have quashed the conspiracies about why she had disappeared from the public eye and the online chatter that no one returns from a course of chemo looking ten years younger.

In the age of selfies and social media, the sad truth is that, unless you are candid and transparent about everything, there are plenty of nutters to fill in the blanks.

So yes, I commend and understand Beatrices glossy essay and her new patronage. But, even so, I do believe that she could do more.

After all, is it really enough to be a patron? It may sound good, but what do patrons actually do? What precise effect do royal champions have on fund  especially when they seem to patronise so many charities, meaning time and attention are spread thin?

Indeed, for Beatrice to launch (as Ab Fabs Edina Monsoon would put it) lots of little, gorgeous things clearly beyond the reach of most is a little too Marie Antoinette for my taste. Window dressing to avoid anyone asking: how are these aristocrats helping me?

Surely its the most poverty-stricken expectant mums who need aid? The ones who cant afford the Kensington Wing of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, where a platinum vaginal delivery package costs 10,000 plus extras?

Why doesnt Edoardo help by initiating the building of new clinics, drop-in centres and playgrounds instead of yet another house with a cinema room, bespoke linen sofa and pool? (One such project, a 42million mansion hes developed in Chelsea, is said to be designed with family at its heart.)

And its not just Bea and Edo  or, for that matter, Meghan. Prince William vowed to end homelessness in 2023 with his Homewards initiative. But has he built anything to house the homeless himself? Or is he waiting for planning permission?

Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales launched her early childhood campaign Shaping Us in the same year, saying: Supporting children in early years is more important than ever. Well, yes. But what practical measures have been achieved?

The campaigns latest work includes getting creative with portraits (scribbling) and an interactive trail (walking). It offers support for baby banks, which is great, but again the public are being asked to donate. Meanwhile, all Kate does is add the final bits of tinsel to a north London Christmas grotto.

Until the royals roll up their sleeves, put their money where their mouths are and build lasting monuments to their philanthropy, nothing will change apart from their PR profiles.

As for Beatrices Angelique blue tablecloth costing 178... I know she means well, but it wont be in my dining room any time soon.
Looking for a fresh start and a $20,000 bonus? Jackson, MI, is offering a big payday - but only if you're up for a challenging job.

The small Midwestern city - named after President Andrew Jackson, who is featured on the $20 bill - has a population of about 32,000 and sits 75 miles west of Detroit.

While once known for its quiet charm, including hosting weekend farmers' markets, Jackson has been evolving, with a growing downtown and new businesses popping up.

Now, city officials are scrambling to fill police department vacancies and are offering a hefty incentive: move to Jackson, join the force, and pocket $20,000 after earning your badge.

Lieutenant Pete Postma, a 23-year veteran of the department, says one person has just been hired and they are seeing an uptick in applications.

'If they are qualified and come over here and we hire them, we give them a $20,000 signing bonus and incentive,' he tells Daily Mail.

Both Michigan residents and out-of-staters are encouraged to apply.

No prior law enforcement experience is required, but applicants must attend a police academy before they can join the force.

Jackson, MI, has a police force with 50 officers and is actively looking for more

Lieutenant Pete Postma, says they are currently seeing an uptick in applications

In Jackson, before you start as an officer, all you have to do is complete a field training program customized to the city. (Like all police officers, they also have to complete a background investigation, a psychological evaluation and have U.S. citizenship.)

'That's our law enforcement standard. So if they are a police officer within the state of Michigan, then they are already certified. If they're coming from a different state, there's a course that they take as like an abbreviated academy,' Postma says.

'Once you're certified, you'd be entitled to that bonus if we hired you.'

Postma, who was promoted to lieutenant in 2023 and has received the Medal of Valor Award, says with the low cost of living in Jackson, the over $55,000 starting salary is considered competitive.

The JPD job also comes with a comprehensive benefits package that includes a pension program, deferred compensation, health insurance, longevity pay, holiday pay, vacation and sick time, comp time, tuition reimbursement, and gym membership reimbursement.

According to Postma, every day on the job brings its own unique challenges.

'Every day's different, obviously. You never know what it's gonna bring you. In a single day our officers may respond to barking dog complaints, a missing child, domestics all the way up to shots fired, shootings, homicides. We get all ranges of crimes. It's a full variety,' he says.

Postma calls the JPD 'unique,' and describes it as a medium sized department with around 50 sworn police officers.

Jackson has a population of around 32,000 and sits 75 miles west of Detroit

Jackson has multiple parks and walking trails for residents to enjoy

The department is making sure they have enough officers out there to not only protect the city, but make it safe for the officers to work

Jackson has come a long way in the past 10 years, and is experiencing a revitalization, especially downtown, which has beautiful parks and many restaurants

He says handing out the bonuses is actually a lower cost than training someone who has never had any experience.

'Hiring somebody that needs to still attend the police academy is a very lengthy process. From the time you hire them to when they complete the police academy to when they complete their field training program to where they make it to solo patrol, it's roughly ten months,' he says.

'So being able to shorten that down to 16 weeks from the day we hire them is a huge incentive for us.'

There's an 'immediate need' for more officers, Postma says, since the department never fully recovered from layoffs during the 2008 recession.

'When the mortgage crisis happened all cities kind of lost a lot of their budget, their taxable base was gone,' he says. 'We had to lay off quite a few people.'

The JPD also offers lateral transfers for officers already on the job across the US, so depending on how many years of service you already have as a police officer, they will pay you four years higher than your rank.

For example, in Jackson, that equals a $64,834 salary for someone with two years of experience, $67,974 for three years, and $71,198 for four years. Those would normally pay $5,000 to $10,000 less at JPD.

As for Jackson, Postma says it's come a long way in the past 10 years, and is experiencing a revitalization, especially downtown, which has beautiful parks and a rich culture.

Downtown also has many restaurants and holds events, festivals, and kid-friendly things to do most weekends when the weather is warmer. There is also a winter beer and a hot air balloon festival in town.

'And the cost of living is very reasonable,' Postma says.

'Now we're making sure we have enough officers out there to not only protect the city, but make it safe for the officers to work.'

Outside the Jackson Police Department, which is actively recruiting police officers

The small Kansas town of Neodesha is offering tempting incentives reaching up to $35,000 for people who work remotely to move there in an attempt to bring people back to rural communities

The Midwestern town, which lies roughly two hours from both Kansas City and Wichita, is a charming community home to a little more than 2,300 people

Jackson's not the only city in the US that is offering cash incentives to move there.

A small Kansas town named Neodesha is offering up to $35,000, tax waivers and quirky incentives to encourage people to move to their rural community.

Neodesha lies roughly two hours from both Kansas City and Wichita. It is a charming town home to a little more than 2,300 people, and it's now looking to grow.

Like many small communities across the country, the town has experienced a population decline and an aging housing district for years, despite its excellent education opportunities and small-town charm.

These factors combined led to the town being labeled as a 'brain drain' - a term used to describe an influx of young, native residents leaving their hometowns in search for other jobs as they pack their bags to pursue new opportunities elsewhere.

Along with the cash, new residents can also receive up to $15,000 in student loan repayment assistance as well as an 100 percent Kansas state income tax waiver through 2026.
A once quiet cattle town tucked into the Ozark foothills in Arkansas is beginning to feel the weight of its own success and is now barely recognizable to the locals who remember its dirt-road past.

What was farmland in Bentonville just a decade ago is now booming real estate full of luxury condos, upscale cocktail bars, and a newly christened tech-and-culture hub - all thanks to the pull of the world's largest retailer.

Walmart, headquartered in the town since the 1970s, has transformed the northwest Arkansas town, with a population of about 60,000, into a magnet for newcomers, capital, and culture.

With a shimmering 350-acre corporate campus rising in the heart of the city and thousands of employees relocating from Dallas, Atlanta, and Toronto, Bentonville has become the epicenter of an unlikely boom earning it the nickname the 'Austin of the Ozarks.'

But now, the very forces that fueled Bentonvilles rise are beginning to wear thin.

Rapid development, spiraling home prices, traffic congestion, and a growing gap between wages and living costs have triggered fresh doubts about the city's long-term appeal.

For many longtime residents - and even some newcomers- the shine may be starting to fade.

Previously dubbed the new 'capital of cool' and once associated with little more than rolling pastures and a modest red-brick headquarters, Bentonville now boasts a booming population, chef-driven restaurants, and a real estate market that has left local residents stunned.

Walmart, headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas since the 1970s, has transformed the northwest Arkansas town into a magnet for newcomers, capital, and culture

Part of the draw was the affordability of the place, the availability of jobs and the natural beauty of the area. Pictured, Bentonville Square in the springtime

Countryside and a slower way of life has been replaced with craft cocktails, bohemian coffee shops and a $255-a-month exclusive social club with a waitlist.

Part of the draw was the affordability, the availability of jobs and the natural beauty of the area, but the city's rapid growth has sparked concern among longtime residents.

That 'bargain' mentality which drew people to the town has now collided with a limited housing inventory, triggering a sharp rise in prices and reshaping the region's housing landscape.

According to Realtor.com, the median list price in Benton County rose to $447,313 in February - up nearly 50 percent from five years ago.

On a per-square-foot basis, prices have climbed 68 percent since early 2020.

Traffic congestion, environmental pressure, and a growing gap between housing costs and wages have radically changed the city's identity.

While Walmart's average US employee earns about $27,640 per year, executives at headquarters will likely be on substantially more while store employees have to grapple with high living costs on a lower wage.

A sit-down dinner in downtown Bentonville, one Walmart employee noted, costs as much as it might in Miami.

The city's median household income sits at $99,000, nearly double the state average, but that figure masks a widening divide between corporate newcomers and local residents.

Either way, developments are continuing with luxury apartment complexes rising making a city that was once overlooked feel overloaded.

Arkansas became the number one destination for interstate movers in 2024, according to data from Atlas Van Lines and nowhere is the surge more visible than in Bentonville, where people have relocated from California, Texas, New York and even Austin.

Bentonville now boasts a booming population, chef-driven restaurants, exclusive social clubs, and a real estate market that has left local residents stunned

Downtown Bentonville, Arkansas with the Walmart Museum and the original Walton 5-10 store

'We have had an influx from Austin,' said Stephanie Funk, a luxury real estate adviser with Engel & Volkers. 'People see this as Austin before it got too big It reminds them of Austin in the '90s or 2000s.

'It's not our native Arkansans that are buying $3 million homes; it's the people that are moving in that really see it as almost a bargain. Locals are like, "$3 million, are you kidding me?"', said Funk to Realtor.com.

In 2013, just 14 homes in Bentonville sold for more than $1 million. In 2023, that number surged to 244, according to local realtor Kristen Boozman, and it is Walmart's expanding influence that has been central to the transformation

The retail giant employs more than 15,000 corporate workers in Bentonville and is reshaping the city with its state-of-the-art headquarters campus.

The new facility includes wellness centers, trails, child care, and food halls - all designed to lure top-tier talent and position the company for the next generation of retail.

Gleaming glass and steel buildings have replaced the company's original 1970s brick bunker, symbolizing Bentonville's evolution from a sleepy Southern town to a modern corporate and cultural hub.

More than 1,300 Walmart suppliers have also planted roots in the area including Nestle, Unilever, and PepsiCo, each bringing with them high-paying jobs and waves of new residents.

Gleaming glass and steel buildings have replaced Walmarts original 1970s brick bunker, symbolizing Bentonville's evolution from a sleepy Southern town to a modern corporate hub

The retail giant employs more than 15,000 corporate workers in Bentonville and is now reshaping the city with its state-of-the-art headquarters campus

The giant grocer knocked down the existing buildings to replace them with 12 new office buildings, several amenity buildings, parking decks and green space. (pictured: A rendered version of the future Walmart headquarters)

Bentonville, Arkansas, about three hours outside of Little Rock, has gone from a quiet, cattle-filled city to a trendy hub filled with amenities found in major cities like New York and Austin

The old red and white ford truck that belonged to Sam Walton is seen parked in front of first Walmart store which now serves as a corporate museum near the Arkansas headquarters

The economic ripple effect has also spawned a vibrant startup scene and a small tech boom, especially in retail innovation.

'There are a lot of vendors to the vendors who are creating solutions around retail,' Funk explained. 'Some very smart people are creating important retail technology tools around here.'

Indeed, Bentonville has been dubbed a 'Jetson-like test market' by Axios for Walmart's experiments with drones, driverless trucks, and futuristic logistics systems.

It means Northwest Arkansas is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country with its population having jumped more than 25 percent since 2010. It is projected to hit nearly 1 million inhabitants by 2045.

Aside from economic growth there has also been a cultural shift.

Bentonville is now home to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, founded by Walmart heiress Alice Walton.

Court House in Bentonville, Arkansas, on the downtown square

The Bentonville Film Festival, founded by actress Geena Davis, celebrates diversity in film, with a sleek new cinema to showcase the movies

The Walton family who founded Walmart have invested millions in creating hundreds of miles of mountain biking trails that crisscross the region

The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art that opened in 2011 has become a major tourist draw in Bentonville, Arkansas, with free admission and a collection worth $1.7 billion

Its $1.7 billion collection includes works by Norman Rockwell and Georgia O'Keeffe, and it draws hundreds of thousands of visitors a year with free admission.

Nearby, the Bentonville Film Festival, founded by actress Geena Davis, celebrates diversity in film, with a sleek new cinema to showcase the movies.

Theater, nightlife, and dining have taken root, from wood-fired pizza spots to underground speakeasies.

Even outdoor recreation has been redefined. The Walton family, which still owns nearly 50 percent of the retail giant, has poured some of that fortune back into the area, including funding the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art that opened in 2011.

The family have also invested millions in creating hundreds of miles of mountain biking trails that crisscross the region.

Seventy-five years earlier, Sam Walton opened a five-and-dime store in Bentonville.

His family's name is now etched on museums, trails, campuses, and cultural institutions that have turned Bentonville into a magnet for those looking to start anew.
A purported 'vast underground city' in Egypt is tens of thousands of years older than the Giza pyramids, scientists have shockingly claimed.

If true, it would turn Egyptian - and human - history on its head, though independent experts have called it 'outlandish' and 'crazy talk.'

Last week, researchers in Italy presented bombshell research which claimed to have discovered multi-thousand-foot tall wells and chambers underground beneath the Khafre Pyramid.

The Giza pyramids are believed to have been built around 4,500 years ago and considered a remarkable feat given their immense scale and the precision of their construction, which remains a mystery for the time period.

However, researchers behind the new study claim that the hidden structures, spanning 4,000 feet, are approximately 38,000 years old  which predates the oldest known man-made structure of its kind by tens of thousands of years.

The team has based these claims on ancient Egyptian text that they interpreted as historical records of a pre-existing civilization that was destroyed during a cataclysmic event.

Professor Lawrence Conyers, a radar expert at the University of Denver who focuses on archaeology and was not involved in the study, told DailyMail.com: 'That is a really outlandish idea.'

He added that at that time in human history people 'were mostly living in caves' 38,000 years ago. 'People did not start living in what we now call cities until about 9,000 years ago,' he said. 'There were a few large villages before that but those only go back a few thousand years from that time.'

Scientists claim to have identified evidence of a city below the Khafre Pyramid (left), which is one of three in the complex. The other two are Khufu (center) and Menkaure (right)

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Not only have the claims been criticized by scientists, but also the state of Egypt itself.

Dr Zahi Hawass, Egypt's former minister of antiquities, told The National the entire study was 'completely wrong' and lacked any scientific basis.

The work by Corrado Malanga from Italy's University of Pisa, Filippo Biondi with the University of Strathclyde in Scotland and Egyptologist Armando Mei has not yet been published in a scientific journal for the review of independent experts.

The team has held two press conferences in Italy to discuss the research.

They claim to have identified the hidden structures using radar pulses to create high-resolution images deep into the ground beneath the structures, the same way sonar radar is used to map the ocean's depths.

Independent scientists said the techniques used are legitimate, but the results are unverifiable due to the way the data is presented.

'They are using all kinds of fancy proprietary data analysis software,' said Professor Conyers.

The radar expert also noted 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.'

However, Professor Conyers suggested that it is conceivable small structures, such as shafts and chambers, may exist beneath the pyramids, having been there before the pyramids were built, because the site was 'special to ancient people

He highlighted how 'the Mayans and other peoples in ancient Mesoamerica often built pyramids on top of the entrances to caves or caverns that had ceremonial significance to them.'

The team told DailyMail.com that they used guidance from ancient texts to not only find the structures, but also date them to a pre-existing civilization.

Now, the team told DailyMail.com that the structures are around 38,000 years old. The pyramids were built around 4,500 years ago

The team identified eight descending wells about 33 to 39 feet in diameter, extending at least 2,130 feet below the surface. Right image shows the wells and right features points on where they are located under the pyramid

They said chapter 149 of the Book of the Dead describes 14 dwellings of the divine which team interprets as describing remnants of an advanced civilization existing before dynastic Egypt.

Niccole Ciccolo, the project's spokesperson, said the team also used the Turn King List, or Royal Canon, which is an ancient Egyptian document that features the name of kings, including gods and demigods, who supposedly ruled Egypt before the first recorded dynasties.

Researchers believe that the god and demigods were actually living kings long before the first recorded pharaohs.

Ciccolo said these ancient texts 'provide a whole series of references that a pre-existing civilization' lived in the region before 'a cataclysmic event.'

The event is a theory that a massive asteroid hit the Earth, causing global climate change and extinction worldwide.

While ice cores in Greenland and other geological data in the Atlantic Ocean point to such an event, scientists have largely dismissed it due to never finding an asteroid crater.

At the end of the wells were massive rectangular enclosures, each measuring approximately 260 feet per side. According to the researchers, each of these enclosures contain four shafts that extend from the top and descend downward

Researchers believe there are other structures reaching more than 4,000 feet below the surface. The scans captured structures extend along the northern side with a tuning fork shape

To conduct the new study, researchers used a new method to 'see' below the Khafre Pyramid.

They beamed radar pulses from two satellites in space down to the pyramid and analyzed how the signals bounced back.

The signals were then converted into soundwaves to create 3D images of hidden underground structures, including eight descending wells about 33 to 39 feet in diameter that extended at least 2,130 feet below the surface.

The results also captured staircase-like structures wrapping around each of the eight wells, which Ciccolo said appeared 'to serve as access points to this underground system.'

At the end of the wells were massive rectangular enclosures, each measuring approximately 260 feet per side. According to the researchers, each of these enclosures contain four shafts that extend from the top and descend downward.

During the news briefing released Saturday, the researchers also said a water system had been identified beneath the platform, located more than 2,100 feet below the Khafre Pyramid, with underground pathways leading even deeper into the earth.

The team believes there is 'an entire hidden world of many structures' more than 4,000 feet below the pyramid.

'When we magnify the images [in the future], we will reveal that beneath it lies what can only be described as a true underground city,' said Corrado Malanga from Italy's University of Pisa in a statement translated to English.

However, Dr Hawass said: 'The claim of using radar inside the pyramid is false, and the techniques employed are neither scientifically approved nor validated.'

The team said while they 'have the utmost respect for Egyptologists,' their 'findings are based on objective measurements obtained through advanced radar signal processing.'

They used radar to generate 'high-resolution pseudo-tomographic images of the subsurface, which provide valuable insights into underground structures.'

'The data was acquired using advanced Doppler tomography, a technique that reconstructs subsurface images [based on the change in frequency of scattered signals],' Ciccolo said.

This method has shown to be effective in detecting vertical shafts and identifying structural anomalies.
If you're a frequent gum-chewer, you may be ingesting tens of thousands of microplastics each year, according to a new study.

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic less than five millimeters long, or smaller than a pencil eraser. They can be found in almost everything, including our air, water, food and apparently, chewing gum.

Studies suggest that when these pernicious plastic particles work their way into our bodies, they can damage cells and DNA, cause changes in gene activity and increase the risk of developing cancer.

Researchers have now found that chewing gum releases microplastics into saliva which can then be then swallowed, allowing the particles to infiltrate the digestive system.

The average gum-chewer may be ingesting the equivalent of 15 credit cards per year.

Gum is mostly made of three basic ingredients: a rubbery base (or polymer), sweetener and flavorings.

The researchers found that both synthetic and natural gums contained the same types of polymers and released similar amounts of microplastics when chewed.

The most common polymers for both types of gum were polyolefins, a group of plastics that includes polyethylene and polypropylene.

If you're a frequent gum-chewer, you may be ingesting tens of thousands of microplastics each year, according to a new study

While previous studies have shown that ingesting microplastics could be harmful, 'our goal is not to alarm anybody,' said Sanjay Mohanty, lead researcher and engineering professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

'Scientists don't know if microplastics are unsafe to us or not. There are no human trials. But we know we are exposed to plastics in everyday life, and that's what we wanted to examine here,' he added in a statement.

A spokesperson for the National Confectioners Association (NCA) told DailyMail.com: 'The authors of this small pilot study readily admit in their press release that there is no cause for alarm.

'Gum is safe to enjoy as it has been for more than 100 years. Food safety is the number one priority for US confectionery companies, and our member companies use only FDA-permitted ingredients.'

In two separate experiments, Mohanty and his colleagues tested five brands of synthetic gum and five brands of natural gum, all of which can be bought in stores.

In the first experiment, a single test subject chewed seven pieces from each brand separately.

The person chewed each piece for four minutes and produced saliva samples every 30 seconds, then a final mouth rinse with clean water, all of which was combined into one sample.

In the second experiment, the researchers evaluated the release rate of microplastics from each piece of gum by collecting saliva samples periodically over a 20 minute stretch of time.

To assess the spit samples, the plastic particles were either stained red and counted under a microscope or analyzed using infrared spectroscopy, a technique that identifies and characterizes molecules.

The researchers found that an average of 100 microplastics were released per gram of gum, although some pieces released as many as 600 microplastics per gram.

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic less than five millimeters long, or smaller than a pencil eraser. Some studies suggest that consuming them poses serious health risks

The average person chews 160 to 180 small sticks of gum per year, the researchers say.

That means people ingest around 30,000 microplastics each year from gum alone, on top of the tens of thousands they consume from other foods and beverages.

The researchers found that a piece of gum releases the most microplastics within the first two minutes of chewing, as the coating of the gum is broken down.

By eight minutes in, 94 percent of the plastic particles collected during testing had been released.

Therefore, to reduce the amount of microplastics you ingest from gum, the researchers suggest chewing one piece longer instead of popping a new one in your mouth every few minutes.

The team presented their findings at a meeting of the American Chemical Society held from March 23 to 37.
Youth from various countries willing to be advocates for concept of 'a community with a shared future for mankind': GT survey

Global Times) 09:34, March 25, 2025

Editor's Note:

In February 2025, the Global Times Institute (GTI) and the Institute for a Community with Shared Future under the Communication University of China jointly conducted a targeted survey on "social and public ideas/values" in 10 countries - Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, India, South Africa, Russia, France, the US, and Brazil - focusing on individuals aged 18 to 45. A total of 5,294 valid questionnaires were collected.

The survey has found that the concept of "community" is embedded in the local cultures of various countries. More than 90 percent of respondents believe that the vision of "building a community with a shared future for mankind" reflects the broadest common aspirations of the people of all countries. Nearly 80 percent of respondents consider China's experience to be a useful reference for their own countries, and about 90 percent of respondents have expressed interest or willingness to participate in youth exchange and cooperation.

Common aspirations of people worldwide

The survey showed young people globally are deeply concerned about key international issues. When asked about the most pressing challenges that need to be addressed by the international community, the highest level of concern was for international wars or regional conflicts, with 55 percent selecting this option. Climate change and environmental pollution ranked second, with 50 percent expressing concern. Additionally, terrorism, cybersecurity, and food crises were also significant concerns, each receiving attention from around 40 percent of respondents. Roughly 30 percent were concerned about a potential new cold war and energy crisis.

Over 90 percent of young respondents believe that the concept of "building a community with a shared future for mankind" should be further promoted in current global affairs.

When asked about specific areas where this concept should be emphasized, international relations and politics, as well as ecological and environmental protection, were the top two, each mentioned by more than half of respondents. Additionally, nearly half of young respondents believed that global economy and international trade, as well as cultural and civilizational exchanges, should also be key areas for advancing this concept.

According to the survey, the concept of "building a community with a shared future for mankind" aims to create an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security, and shared prosperity. Some 94 percent of young respondents said this vision reflects the broadest common aspiration of the peoples of all countries.

The goal of creating a "clean and beautiful" world had the highest expectation rate (76 percent), followed by a "lasting peaceful" world (71 percent), a "universally secure" world (72 percent), a "commonly prosperous" world (72 percent), and an "open and inclusive" world (70 percent).

The overall goal of the "five goals for the world" corresponds to five key action areas, and most young people believe that governments worldwide should prioritize them.

Among these, "promoting peace and development over conflict and confrontation" is the most valued by young respondents, with a selection rate of 81 percent. This is followed by "prioritizing green development to safeguard the planet," which ranks second at 77 percent.

The importance placed on "pursuing common security over absolute security," "pursuing mutual benefit over zero-sum dynamics," and "encouraging cultural exchanges to prevent civilizational clashes" stands at 73 percent, 69 percent, and 72 percent, respectively. In Turkey, the recognition rates for the five aspects range from 80 to 90 percent, higher than that of other countries.

The survey shows that most young people are willing to serve as advocates and promoters of this concept. A total of 76 percent expressed a willingness to introduce the concept to others, with young people in South Africa and India showing the strongest enthusiasm, both at around 90 percent. In Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil, over 80 percent shared this willingness.

Ji Deqiang, deputy director of the Institute for a Community with Shared Future at the Communication University of China and an expert guiding this study, said "In recent years, amid mounting global crises, from pandemics and regional conflicts to climate change and AI disruption, there's a growing demand for a unified solution. 'Building a community with a shared future for mankind' offers a viable option, and many countries now look to China to take the lead in safeguarding our 'global village.'"

Ji suggested that in the future, when promoting the joint efforts to "build a community with a shared future for mankind" in more regions and countries, it is essential to consider the needs of different areas, nations, industries, and contexts. This requires a deeper understanding to identify more connections and common grounds between China and other countries.

Shared values in different cultures

The survey specifically invited young people from various countries to share their visions related to the concept of "a community with a shared future for mankind" from their own cultures in the questionnaire. Several respondents from Malaysia mentioned the same proverb: "Unity brings strength, while division leads to decline." The ancient philosophical idea of "the world is one family" was frequently referenced by Indian respondents. A Saudi student born in the 2000s shared an Arab saying: "Our humanity binds us together." From Brazil, a young IT professional recalled, "No one would let go of another one's hand," a phrase symbolizing collective strength and cooperation.

A respondent from Louisiana, the US, born in the 1990s, summed it up: "We are all human, both similar and different. Understanding that - and getting united - will create a better future for everyone."

In Tanzania, people may not possess or be aware of the philosophical knowledge related to the concept, however, in reality, we often live this way; we frequently help one another, and people are actually practicing this concept every day, Adeline Mpuya, assistant lecturer at St. Augustine University of Tanzania, told the Global Times.

Mpuya stated that the concept of "building a community with a shared future for mankind" closely aligns with the spirit of "Ubuntu," which is about collectiveness, originating from southern Africa and resonates widely across the continent.

The survey also found that the social and cultural contexts of young people in different countries exhibit the same characteristics related to "community." More than half of the respondents believed that their social and cultural circles reflect a general tendency toward "valuing harmony" rather than "encouraging competition."

Among them, respondents from Brazil and Malaysia showed the highest recognition rates, exceeding 70 percent, while those from Turkey and France also surpassed 60 percent.

The survey showed that in the upbringing and cultural influences of young people abroad, "considering the bigger picture" is more advocated than "being responsible only for oneself." Most young respondents abroad indicated that "transcending oneself" aligns more with their cultural characteristics than "winning over others," with the highest proportions found in Brazil and France.

Qiu Ling, deputy dean of the School of Journalism and Communication at Shandong University, told the Global Times that the indivisibility of real-world issues is driving countries worldwide to collectively consider how to address challenges. He emphasized that this concept resonates across linguistic, ethnic, and cultural boundaries.

Cutting-edge tech gaining favor

"Building a community with a shared future for mankind" requires the joint efforts of young people from both China and abroad. Regarding youth exchange and cooperation initiatives launched by China, about 90 percent of respondents expressed interest or willingness to participate.

Among the various areas of cooperation, exchanges in cutting-edge technology are the most favored, followed by learning about China's history and traditional culture, attending relevant job skills training programs, and studying or conducting academic visits in China.

In terms of country-specific preferences, young respondents from South Africa and India showed a stronger interest in job skills training, while those in the US, France, and Brazil are more eager to explore China's history and traditional culture. In Malaysia and South Africa, about half of the respondents are interested in exchanges and cooperation in the field of cutting-edge technologies.

"China has become better over the last decade" has become a common impression among young respondents. Across eight evaluated dimensions - economic development, science and technology, public safety, infrastructure, universal education, environmental protection, social governance, and social welfare - the majority of respondents believe China is becoming better. Among these, science and technology received the highest approval rate (83 percent), with over half of the respondents rating it as "significantly improved." Additionally, nearly 80 percent of respondents believe China's development experience holds lessons for their own countries, with 34 percent considering it highly significant.

Ling Shengli, deputy director of the Institute of International Relations at the China Foreign Affairs University, said that China's hard power in science and technology has greatly impressed overseas youth, and its influence on communication media is also reshaping young people's perceptions. Technological advancements are accelerating global connectivity, further promoting the process of "building a community with a shared future for mankind."

Qiu noted that from the global buzz surrounding the Chinese AI large-scale model DeepSeek to the overseas popularity of Unitree Robotics, the high recognition of China's technological development among youth worldwide paints a more multidimensional image of China - not just as an "ancient civilization" with thousands of years of history, but also as a cutting-edge, modern "technological China." As the AI era approaches, exploring the future direction of technology and life is also one of the key topics for "building a community with a shared future for mankind."

Regarding the level of understanding of China, the survey shows that 15 percent of respondents said they "know very well" or "know much" about China, 36 percent have "some" knowledge, while nearly half have "a little understanding," or "nothing." The proportion of respondents who visited China in the last 10 years is lower than those who visited the US, the UK, or Germany. However, more than half of the respondents were aware of the phenomenon of "American TikTok refugees flooding into the Chinese app RedNote," with 10 percent having participated in it.

"European youths often have limited opportunities to engage with authentic 'Chinese stories.' Many lack knowledge about China as a result of not widening their media knowledge. While European and British youths who have had the opportunity to travel tend to be more open-minded and welcoming toward Chinese culture," Winston Mano, professor of Communication and Media Research Institute at University of Westminster, told the Global Times.

Mano also noted a growing interest among European youth in Chinese short dramas on social media. "These stories entertain, but more importantly, they humanize Chinese and Asian cultures, offering insights into the historical and cultural roots of "a community with a shared future for mankind."

(Graphics/Global Times)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
Buttery, fatty foie gras is an indulgent treat in many parts of the world.

But the dish is controversial, as it is made from the liver of a force-fed duck or goose.

Now, experts have come up with a way to create guilt-free foie gras, by treating a liver with enzymes.

And they say it looks, tastes and feels just like the real thing.

Foie gras, meaning 'fatty liver' in French, is produced by force-feeding ducks and geese two to three times a day with a mixture of boiled grains and fat.

This is done using a feeding tube inserted into their throat - a process known as 'gavage' - in the weeks before slaughter.

Production is controversial due to the serious welfare problems it causes for the birds including fear, injury and stress.

Professor Thomas Vilgis, from the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, is a lover of foie gras but wondered if there was a more ethical way to enjoy the dish.

Traditional foie gras, which is produced by force-feeding ducks or geese for several weeks before slaughter (stock image)

The team performing a 'stress deformation' test on their foie gras, to make sure it has the same properties as the original dish

His team, which includes scientists from the University of Southern Denmark, created a process to replicate the delicacy without force-feeding.

They came up with the idea of trying to treat a duck's harvested liver and fat emulsion with the animal's own lipases  enzymes which help digest fat.

By doing so, they were able to mimic the activities which occur naturally in the duck's body, causing fat to turn into large crystals which clump together  similar to what is seen in foie gras.

Tests showed their product had a similar mouthfeel to original foie gras and also smelled the same.

'It was always a dream to make foie gras more accessible and better for animal welfare,' Professor Vilgis said.

'It's good to stop these force-feeding practices  or at least reduce them.'

His team tested the structure of their foie gras using noninvasive laser microscopy and by performing stress deformation tests.

'We could really see the influence of these large fat particles,' he said.

A production worker cleaning and handling enlarged, fatty duck liver used in traditional foie gras dishes (stock image)

'At the beginning of the 'bite,' these large clusters have a high resistance, creating a similar mouthfeel of elasticity without being too rubbery.'

Professor Vilgis has already filed a patent for the recipe, and hopes to partner with companies interested in helping scale up the production.

He also wants to work with sensory scientists who can help refine the taste.

'Everything in our process is controlled, which is a positive thing,' he said. 'We never considered adding anything additional to the foie gras, because we wanted pure duck  nothing else.'

The method was published in the journal Physics of Fluids.
NASA is crediting President Donald Trump for spearheading the mission to bring back its stranded astronauts.

Bethany Stevens, a spokeswoman for the agency, spoke glowingly about the new administration's role.

'It would not have happened without President Trump's intervention,' she told Fox News Digital, adding that it was a 'huge win for the Trump administration.'

The extended space mission entered the political spotlight in January, when Trump said he told Elon Musk to 'go get' the astronauts who had been 'virtually abandoned' by the Biden administration.

Musk echoed this statement, and in February, the two of them doubled down on their claims by blaming the astronauts' delayed return on 'political reasons.'

Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore were only supposed to be on the ISS for eight days, but ended up staying for more than nine months due to technical issues with their spacecraft, Boeing's Starliner.

Williams and Wilmore finally returned to Earth on March 18, splashing down off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida inside the SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon capsule.

Once the two astronauts were on the ground, NASA officials praised the Trump administration for the success and timing of their return.

Williams and Wilmore splashed down off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida inside a the SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon capsule on March 18, marking an end to their significantly extended space mission

Bethany Stevens, a spokeswoman for NASA, told Fox News that the mission that brought the stranded astronauts home was a 'huge win for the Trump administration'

'Per President Trump's direction, NASA and SpaceX worked diligently to pull the schedule a month earlier,' acting administrator Janet Petro said in a statement.

'This international crew and our teams on the ground embraced the Trump Administration's challenge of an updated, and somewhat unique, mission plan, to bring our crew home,' she added.

In February, Trump gave the directive to accelerate a mission to retrieve the astronauts.

'They didn't have the go-ahead with Biden. He was going to leave them in space. I think he was going to leave them in space.  He didn't want the publicity. Can you believe it?' he said.

NASA has not directly commented on Trump or Musk's claims with respect to the Biden administration, but the agency previously denied that politics played any role in their decision-making around the Starliner crew's return.

During a March 4 press conference, agency officials said safety, budget concerns and the need to make sure the ISS was continuously manned were driving the decision to have Williams and Wilmore return with SpaceX's Crew-9 mission.

Now that the Starliner crew has returned, the next thing on the docket is 'to continue implementing President Trump's ambitious space agenda that he touted in his inaugural address is to confirm his nominee for NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman,' Stevens told Fox News Digital.

In January President Trump announced that he told White House adviser and SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk to ''go get' the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration'

She highlighted the billionaire entrepreneur's philanthropy and the fact that he 'was the very first civilian to do a human spacewalk,' but noted that both he and Trump are 'outsiders.'

'President Trump was also once considered an outsider, and the American people have put him back into office, just showing how much they appreciate the business side that he brings to the table,' Stevens said.

'And Mr. Isaacman also has a background as an entrepreneur of an extremely successful business.

'I believe that he is well-suited, as do 30 astronauts who wrote in support of him and multiple GOP governors, that he is well suited to take the helm here at NASA and to implement the president's agenda.'

On Friday, former astronaut Garrett Reisman posted a letter endorsing Isaacman on the social media site Bluesky. It had been signed by himself and 27 other former astronauts.

He faces an upcoming Senate confirmation hearing, though the date of the hearing has not been set yet.

In their letter, the group of former astronauts who endorsed Isaacman urged the Senate Commerce Committee to hold his confirmation hearing 'as soon as practical.'

Earlier this month, Isaacman has also gained support from eight Republican governors: Florida's Ron DeSantis, Arkansas' Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Texas' Greg Abbott, Tennessee's Bill Lee, Georgia's Brian Kemp, Missouri's Mike Kehoe and Oklahoma's Kevin Stitt.

Williams and Wilmore weighed in on Trump and Musk's claims in February, saying they did not feel abandoned, stranded or stuck

These governors wrote to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, to advocate for a 'swift' confirmation, noting Isaacman's 'unparalleled ability to drive bold initiatives' and his understanding of 'the complex landscape of modern space exploration.'

'I think that these governors are cognizant that the result of the November election was a mandate from the American people to implement change and to bring about change,' Stevens said.

'And President Trump has been bringing about that change since day one. The next step here is to confirm Jared Isaacman expeditiously, so that we can get to work on the president's ambitious space agenda, as he touted in his inaugural address.'

But Isaacman has also received criticism from Republican leaders who complain about his contributions to Democratic candidates and that his companies  Shift4 Payments and Draken International  embrace Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies.

Nevertheless, Stevens expressed confidence in the future of NASA under Isaacman's leadership.

'We were going to go to the moon and to Mars and beyond, and we have less than four years at this point to get through that considerably ambitious agenda,' she said.

'And we need to implement his leadership here at NASA in order to get the ball rolling there. So I think that's the next step towards being America First in Space.'
READ MORE: Earth's glaciers ' will not survive the 21st century', scientists warn

Our not-too-distant future relatives could be in for a rough ride - even if we manage to curb our carbon emissions, a new study suggests.

Earth could warm by a whopping 7C (12.6F) by 2200 even if CO2 emissions are moderate, according to scientists at Germany's Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK).

Conditions would be too hot for common crops to grow properly, which would cause global food insecurity and even starvation.

Meanwhile, rising sea levels due to melting ice would force people to flee coastal cities as a result of flooding.

Also under such a scenario, intense extreme weather events such as drought, heatwaves, wildfires, tropical storms and flooding would be common.

Especially in the summer, temperatures could reach dangerously high levels, posing a lethal threat to the people of all ages.

Lead study author Christine Kaufhold at PIK said the findings highlight an 'urgent need for even faster carbon reduction and removal efforts'.

'We found that peak warming could be much higher than previously expected under low-to-moderate emission scenarios,' she said.

Global warming is spiralling out of control: Earth could warm by 7C by 2200 - even if CO2 emissions are moderate, a study warns

These maps show scenarios of changes in average air temperature under a range of emissions, from low emissions (left column) to medium (centre column) and high (right column)

Planet-warming greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane are largely being released by burning fossil fuels such as coal and gas for energy.

But greenhouse gas emissions come from natural processes too, such as volcanic eruptions, plant respiration and animals' breathing  which is why they call for carbon reduction technologies.

For the study, the team used their own newly developed computer model, called CLIMBER-X, to simulate future global warming scenarios. It integrates key physical, biological and geochemical processes, including atmospheric and oceanic conditions that involve methane.

Even more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2), methane sources include the decomposition of landfill waste and natural emissions from wetlands.

The model considered three scenarios, called 'Shared Socioeconomic Pathways' (SSPs), based on low, medium and high projected global emission levels throughout the rest of this millennium.

According to the experts, most climate studies until now only predict as far into the future as 2300  which may not represent 'peak warming'.

According to the findings, there's a 10 per cent chance that Earth will still warm by 3C (5.4F) by 2200 even if emissions begin to decline now.

Climate change is causing heavier rainfall, increasing the growth of flammable grass in the months leading up to wildfire season, which is usually between June to October. Extreme dryness and warmth then dries the plants out, making them more susceptible to catching fire

Conditions would be too hot for common crops to grow properly, which would cause global food insecurity and starvation. Pictured an Australian farmer inspects his dead wheat crop following a drought in New South Wales

Methane: A powerful greenhouse gas Methane is a colourless, odourless flammable gas, and the main constituent of natural gas. Methane is a greenhouse gas, and the second biggest cause of climate change after carbon dioxide. It is also the primary component of natural gas, which is used to heat our homes. When methane is burned as a fuel, it gives off carbon dioxide (CO2), and so is not directly emitted at that point. However, across all points of the extraction, transport and storage processes there are leaks of natural gas that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Advertisement

The team say global heating over this millennium could exceed previous estimates due to 'carbon cycle feedback loops'  where one change to the climate amplifies another  which are being overlooked.

For example, rainy weather fuels the growth of certain flammable grass, which when dried out cause wildfires to spread uncontrollably.

Another example is the additional CO2 release from permafrost (where thawing soil will release more of the gas).

Worryingly, reducing emissions in the future may not be enough to limit these feedback processes, as already emitted greenhouse gases may continue to have lasting effects on the worlds temperature.

What's more, achieving the Paris Agreement's aim of limiting global temperature rise to well below 2C (3.6F) is only feasible under very low emissions scenarios.

Signed in 2015, the landmark binding international treaty aims to keep global temperature increases below 2.7F (1.5C).

But according to the team, the window for limiting global warming to below 2C is 'rapidly closing'.

'Carbon reduction must accelerate even more quickly than previously thought to keep the Paris target within reach,' said PIK scientist Matteo Willeit, study co-author.

Also under such a scenario, intense extreme weather events such as drought, wildfires, tropical storms and flooding. Especially in the summer, temperatures could reach dangerously high levels, posing a lethal threat to the people of 2200

These graphs plot global changes in (a)(c) surface air temperature and (d)(f) atmospheric CO2 concentration from 18503000, under the three scenarios

The new study, published in Environmental Research Letters, highlights 'uncertainties in projecting future climate change'.

'Our research makes it unmistakably clear  today's actions will determine the future of life on this planet for centuries to come,' said co-author and PIK director Johan Rockstrom.

'We are already seeing signs that Earth system is losing resilience, which may trigger feedbacks that increase climate sensitivity, accelerate warming and increase deviations from predicted trends.

'To secure a liveable future, we must urgently step up our efforts to reduce emissions.

'The Paris Agreement's goal is not just a political target, it is a fundamental physical limit.'
As the Easter holiday period fast approaches, many Brits are eagerly anticipating a city break in Europe.

Google searches for 'top European landmarks' have skyrocketed by 600 per cent in the past year as travellers look to check off must-see destinations from their bucket lists.

But with so many iconic sites to explore, it's important to know the key do's and donts to ensure a smooth and respectful visit.

To help, the experts at Travel Republic have revealed some of the lesser-known rules tourists should follow at world-famous landmarks, including the Acropolis to Rome's Trevi Fountain.

And you'll want to follow these rules, as breaking some of them could even land you with a 900 (752/$972) fine.

1. Remove your heels

Visitors to the Acropolis in Athens should leave their stilettos at home, as high heels are strictly banned as a result of the potential damage they could cause to the ancient stone.

Those found violating this rule could face fines of up to 900 (752/$972), while similar restrictions are also applicable to historical Greek sites such as the Parthenon and the Epidaurus Theatre, in Epidavros.

High heels are strictly banned from Athens' Acropolis and the Parthenon in Greece (pictured), as a result of the potential damage they could cause to the ancient stone

Though tempting in the heat, tourists should also be wary of possible restrictions on swimming or wading in popular landmarks, with those wanting a dip in Rome's Trevi Fountain likely to face fines of between 450 (376/$487) and 500 (418/$541)

2. Don't sit down

Yep, even just sitting down at certain landmarks comes at a high price of 500 (418/$541) at certain landmarks, with police officers regularly patrolling Rome's Spanish Steps and tourist spots in Venice.

The restriction is designed to help preserve the ancient steps that have endured continuous wear and tear due to visitor numbers.

To help mitigate such restriction, Travel Republic's experts recommend visiting Europe's most popular spots during the early morning or lunchtime, when there are likely to be smaller crowds.

3. No swimming

Though tempting in the heat, tourists should be wary of possible restrictions on swimming or wading in popular landmarks, with those wanting a dip in Rome's Trevi Fountain likely to face fines of between 450 (376/$487) and 500 (418/$541).

In some extreme cases, a temporary or lifetime ban from the area may be enforced, while those in Venice are also subject to fines for swimming in the popular picturesque canals.

4. Don't block traffic

While areas such as the road leading up to Paris' Eiffel Tower have become renowned as Instagram hotspots, it can disrupt traffic flow and create hazards for pedestrians and drivers

Other popular landmarks, such as Vatican City's Sistine Chapel, have placed outright bans on flash photography due to the damage it could cause to sensitive artwork

Even a common act of kindness like feeding pigeons in Venice's St Mark's Square has been banned since 2008, with fines for feeding the birds ranging from 25 to 500

Travel Republic warns against taking Instagram photoshoots without first considering the area and the impact it could have on locals.

While areas such as the road leading up to Paris' Eiffel Tower have become renowned as Instagram hotspots, it has the potential to disrupt traffic flow and create hazards for pedestrians and drivers.

5. Choose your photoshoot spot wisely

While not illegal, taking selfies at memorial sites is often considered inappropriate. Be sure to check local guidelines before snapping a photo to ensure its not in poor taste.

Some landmarks, such as the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, have outright bans on photography, particularly flash photography, which can damage sensitive artwork.

If youre unsure, always ask for permission, or you might be asked to delete your photos and cut your visit short.

6. Don't feed birds

Even a common act of kindness like feeding pigeons in Venice's St Mark's Square has been banned since 2008, with fines for feeding the birds ranging from 25 to 500.

Designed to protect the city's most historic buildings from damage caused by pigeon droppings, the ban has even carried over to London's Trafalgar Square where feeding pigeons was banned in 2003, with a 500 fine, to stop them from flocking to the popular site and causing a nuisance.
This East Coast state is known for its epic spring breaks, sun-soaked vacations, and also some of the most dangerous beaches in the country, a survey revealed.

More than 530 US beaches were analyzed by Tideschart and the top 10 all ended up being the sunshiny state of Florida.

Tideschart used factors, such as hurricanes, shark attacks, and surf zone fatalities to rank the sandy oases on a scale of 100.

To top off the list is New Smyrna Beach, which is known as the shark bite capital of the world, with more than 300 incidents since the 1880s.

Each year, five to 10 shark attacks happen on the beach, which is located near Orlando, according to American Surf Magazine.

The second most dangerous was Laguna Beach in Panama City Beach.

Daytona and Miami Beaches also made the list, clocking in at third and fourth on the list.

Palm Beach - home to Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago, also made the cut at number seven.

The results come as college students are flocking to warm coastal states for spring break, which plenty descending on Florida's beaches for rowdy parties and fun.

More than 530 US beaches were analyzed by Tideschart and the top 10 all ended up being the sunshiny state of Florida (pictured: Miami)

To top off the list is New Smyrna Beach (pictured), which is known as the shark bite capital of the world , with more than 300 incidents since the 1880s. Per year, five to 10 shark attacks happen on the beach, which is located near Orlando

Palm Beach (pictured) - home to Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago , also made the cut at number seven

New Smyrna Beach scored 76.92, due to having 277 shark attacks and 12 surf zone fatalities.

Laguna had 39 surf zone fatalities and nine shark attacks, while Daytona had 27 and 67, respectively. Laguna scored a 67.75, while Daytona came in at 64.47.

However, shark attacks are certainly not the only danger to fear along these beaches.

Miami Beach scored high due to the number of hurricanes that its susceptible for, scoring 46.49 points.

'While shark attacks often dominate the headlines, the real danger on Floridas beaches stems from the ever-present hurricane threat,' Ryan Blundell, Tideschart founder, said.

'Hurricanes cause powerful rip currents and storm surges, which significantly elevate the risk for beachgoers. This is why it is no surprise that all of the top 10 most dangerous beaches in America are in Florida.

'Most people do not realize how much changing surf conditions, unpredictable marine life, and severe weather can impact their safety.'

The safest US beaches belong to Hawaii.

Daytona (pictured) and Miami Beaches also made the list, clocking in at third and fourth on the list

Laguna (pictured) had 39 surf zone fatalities and nine shark attacks, while Daytona had 27 and 67, respectively. Laguna scored a 67.75, while Daytona came in at 64.47

Florida's Most Dangerous Beaches New Smyrna Beach, Florida

Laguna Beach, Florida

Daytona Beach, Florida

Miami Beach, Florida

Indialantic Boardwalk, Florida

Cocoa Beach, Florida

Palm Beach, Florida

Miramar Heights Beach, Florida

Cape Canaveral, Florida

Jupiter Beach Park, Florida Source: Tideschart Advertisement

These surfside dangers are more than mere statistics.

In September, Charley 'Gnarly Charlie' Hajek, 62, was surfing at New Smyrna Beach when he was attacked by a bull shark.

He was on day 148 of his non-stop surfing spree when he realized that a shark had bit his left leg. Hajek quickly reacted and used an innovative technique to stop himself from bleeding out - using his surfboard's leash as a tourniquet.

He told The Daytona Beach News-Journal at the time: 'It was so quick and the thrust was so powerful that when I was in his mouth for that split second, it bit down on me and let me go.

'I jumped up on my board and the shark must have hauled a** 'cause he was scared.'

He took the surfboard's leash and wrapped it around his leg as he drove himself to the hospital where he got eight stitches.

In July 2023, then-college student Chris Pospisil was surfing at the same beach when a shark attacked him.

'The shark came from under me, on my board and tipped me backwards off my board, and I was falling backwards, I saw my foot in his mouth, and it dragged me under,' Pospisil told WOFL-TV at the time from his hospital bed.

Florida also had two major hurricanes this past fall with Hurricane Milton and Helene causing the state grave damage.

More than 100 hurricanes - or roughly 40 percent - have made landfall in Florida since 1851.
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Married At First Sight's Paul Antoine is being torn apart by the internet after he 'cheated' on his wife Carina Mirabile by going on a date with his other potential match.

During Monday night's episode, the couple were allowed to meet with another potential love match the experts had found during the audition process.

However, while 31-year-old Carina opted to stay at the apartment, claiming that the test felt like 'cheating', her husband's curiosity got the better of him as he went to meet the mystery woman.

Drama boiled over after the date when the truth came to light, resulting in the bride berating Paul and kicking him out of their apartment.

The show's viewers were quick to take sides in the heated argument, with fans voicing their support of Carina and their disappointment in Paul's foolish act on social media.

'No really Paul's on a date and Carina's home folding his undies,' one person wrote.

Carina Mirabile has walked out on Paul Antoine after he 'cheated' on her by accepting a date with another woman. Both pictured

On Monday night's episode, the couple were given the opportunity to meet with another potential love match the experts had found during the audition process

Another weighed in: 'Paul thinks if he talks fast and a lot, the whole "I went on a date with another woman" will go unnoticed.'

'Pauls date: I would not want to be married to a guy as curious as Paul!"' a fan warned the bride, adding: 'Facts! Run Carina!'

Another fan pointed out a hilarious detail in the episode, noting: 'Paul getting cooked by the live poll is the icing on the cake,' accompanied with a poll on the screen asking fans: 'Will Paul's curiosity jeopardise his relationship?' and 94 per cent voting yes.

'I love when hot women bamboozle average arrogant men lmao,' one person shared, adding: 'Paul only regrets coming on the date cause blondie wasnt swayed by his average personality lmao.'

One fan made a clever observation: 'So Paul goes to see another woman knowing he will get caught. WTF will he do when there's a chance he will get away with it. ?'

'Who knew that Paul could make a decision WORSE than punching a hole in the wall?' another quipped.

The remaining couples on Married At First Sight had their relationships put to the test on Monday night in a challenge that has been described as 'the most f***ed in the show's history'.

Participants were given the choice to meet with another potential suitor the experts had found before filming or show loyalty to their spouse by staying at their apartments.

The show's viewers were quick to take sides in the heated argument, with fans voicing their support of Carina and their disappointment in Paul's foolish act on social media

Carina decided to not go on the date while Paul met up with blonde bombshell Hannah Renee, despite insisting at the beginning of the episode that he and his wife could not be in a better place.

'My relationship with Carina at the moment is absolutely amazing,' he gushed.

'I'm just on a little cloud. Our feelings are strong. We are united.'

That unity was shaken when Paul was met with the chance to catch up with Hannah.

'The experts have done an amazing job at matching myself and Carina,' he said.

'We are very compatible, so if someone else is out there that is compatible with me I'm very curious.'

For her part, Carina said she had no interest in a meeting as it was 'borderline cheating'.

'Paul and I are the perfect match,' she said.

Paul's date was 32-year-old Sydneysider Hannah (left)

The blonde beauty appeared eager to get to know Paul, however the alarm bells quickly started ringing

'We have something so good established. I want us to continue the fairytale. I really like Paul. So, that's an easy decision - the grass isn't greener on the other side.

'My decision is going to be a "no". It's black and white for me. I don't want to go on a date with another person. It's borderline cheating.'

However as Carina played the dutiful wife, folding Paul's underpants and cleaning back at their apartment, her groom was inspecting his options.

Paul's date was 32-year-old Hannah, from Sydney.

The blonde beauty appeared eager to get to know Paul, however the alarm bells quickly started ringing.

She appeared nonplussed when Paul explained he and Carina were very happy and he had agreed to the date out of sheer curiosity.

As her body language toward Paul visibly shifted after his admission, Hannah revealed to producers: 'I do not want to be in a relationship with someone as curious as Paul.'

And the curious groom received an even frostier reception upon returning to Carina and admitting his 'indiscretion'.

Carina was having none of it, explaining to Paul that his sneaky date had embarrassed her, especially after just taking him home to Perth to meet her family

'He's trying to justify the reason of going and doing what he did and that to me is alarm bells if you cant have self control,' she said

Instantly sensing Carina's displeasure with his decision to go on the date, Paul started speaking a mile a minute in an effort to justify his actions.

'When I got there, all I wanted to do was run away,' Paul told his bride.

'It was the most uncomfortable thing ever. Yuk.'

Carina was having none of it though, explaining to Paul that his sneaky date had embarrassed her, especially after just taking him home to Perth to meet her family.

'He's trying to justify the reason of going and doing what he did and that to me is alarm bells if you cant have self control,' she said.

Paul continued to protest his innocence, which did not sit at all well with Carina who declared 'I feel sick' before dramatically exiting the apartment.

Paul followed, continuing to plead his case to an emotional Carina in the hallway, but she remained unmoved.

They eventually returned to the apartment where Carina became well and truly fed up with Paul's justifications.

Paul continued to protest his innocence, which did not sit at all well with Carina who declared 'I feel sick' before dramatically exiting the apartment

'I'm actually done,' she spat. 'Get your s*** and leave'

'You f***ed up, Paul. Do you think Rhi and Jeff would've done something like that?' she raged.

'You're an idiot that's all I have to say. It's like cheating. You actually just cheated.'

The scene devolved into a shouting match between the couple, with Paul still trying to worm his way out and bag Carina's good graces.

However, it was not to be.

'I'm disgusted,' she said.

'There's no going past this - I'm done. That was the last straw, I don't want anything to do with this. You were just thinking about yourself.'

Carina then punctuated her statement with a dramatic exit, but not before ending the confrontation with a dramatic ultimatum.

'I'm actually done,' she spat. 'Get your s*** and leave.'
Sam Nivola has addressed the shocking incest storyline on The White Lotus which fans branded 'disturbing' after the latest episode.

The actor, 21, plays Lochlan Ratliff on the show, while Patrick Schwarzenegger stars as his older, obnoxious brother Saxon.

Fans began to suspect an incest storyling was looming after Lochlan watched his brother standing naked in the bathroom, while Saxon also asked a lot of intrusive questions about his brother's sex life in early episodes.

In episode five, the brothers shared a drunken kiss while attending a Fool Moon Party on a Thai island with Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon) and Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood).

Writer and director Mike White upped the ante in episode six as it was slowly revealed that Lochlan performed a sex act on his brother during their drunken night out.

Saxon was horrified when local resident Chloe told him what happened while Lochlan later remembered the events while separated from his brother.

Sam Nivola has addressed the shocking incest storyline on The White Lotus which fans branded 'disturbing' after the latest episode

The actor, 21, plays Lochlan Ratliff on the show, while Patrick Schwarzenegger stars as his older, obnoxious brother Saxon

Speaking to Variety about the storyline, Sam admited it was 'weird' kissing Patrick.

He said: 'It was very weird kissing Patrick because he's a really good friend of mine. And, you know, I'm straight, he's straight. It's already weird.'

'Patrick was already like a brother to me. It felt sort of f**ked up.'

Sam also discussed filming the sex scene with Charlotte Le Bon, adding: 'We didn't really know her at all. But I guess she knew that [creator Mike White] wouldn't cast someone inappropriate to play a creepy role.'

The storyline has divided fans online; some have found it 'disturbing' while others can't wait to find out what happens next.

Taking to X, fans wrote: 'The brothers from The White Lotus are disturbing me'... 'This is some of the most disturbing television I've watched, maybe ever.'

Others speculated the two might not be bioogically related, writing: 'Most likely they are not actually brothers'.

'At the end they wil find out their parents cheated so they are siblings with different moms and dads.'

In episode five, the brothers shared a drunken kiss while attending a Fool Moon Party and then Lochlan had sex with Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon)

This week's episode reveals that things got even more out of control after that kiss, with Lochlan masturbating his own brother, while having sex with Chloe

Saxon was horriied the next morning when the events of the night before came back to him

Lochlan, on the other hand, couldn't remember anything that happpened

The brothers are part of the Ratliff family who are on a vacation at the luxurious resort (pictured with actors Jason Isaacs and Sarah Catherine Hook)

The storyline has divided fans online; some have found it 'disturbing' while others can't wait to find out what happens next.

Both of the on-screen brothers defended the incest storyline in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

'Theres some sensationalism, but then theres also the stuff behind the wall of the character and what hes dealing with in the conflict of what just happened. What is that going to do to who he thinks he is?' Patrick Schwarzenegger said.

'His thoughts on, what is it like to be a man? What is a man? What makes all these different things that he thought he stood for in the episode and the days before?' he added.

Sam Nivola added the scene was a bit unsettling, stating, 'Its kind of impossible for it to not be charged when youre literally naked with all these cameras in front of you.'

Nivola added, 'We really trusted Mike, because theres always a very shocking, crazy, intense moment in every season. Its never just for the sake of being shocking, it always serves the story.'

'And that [incest] scene is really the inciting incident for where our relationship goes next. Its a great storytelling tactic. Going into this, we really trusted Mike because hes a f***ing b***ss and a genius.
Married At First Sight's Awhina Rutene made an impression on her 'back-up groom' Tim King.

The pair met up during Tuesday's episode for a date, and had a heart-to-heart chat that left Awhina feeling seen and appreciated.

Tim now says that he had warm feelings about the bride and hates the way her groom Adrian Araouzou has treated her.

'She's just such a kind, caring, genuine person. I really started feeling for her, especially with Cleo and that family catch-up they had' Tim tells Yahoo.

While the pair have not stayed in contact, Tim says Awhina is the sort of woman he could be interested in.

'There definitely are some shared values that do align... seeing just how kind genuine and caring Awhina is, they're qualities that I definitely look for in a partner,' he said.

Married At First Sight's Awhina Rutene made an impression on her 'back-up groom' Tim King (pictured)

The pair met up during Tuesday's episode for a date, and had a heart-to-heart chat that left Awhina (pictured) feeling seen and appreciated

'So I think based on that, definitely there could have been a relationship that formed. But who knows?

'She definitely had those values and qualities that I do look for in someone, so you don't know where things could've gone.'

During the episode, contestants were presented the opportunity to meet their 'back-up' matches, and it came as no surprise to viewers when both Adrian and Awhina, 30, agreed to do it.

What shocked fans at home, was the moment Adrian, 31, returned to the apartment to brag to Awhina about the buxom blonde he could have been matched with.

From the start, Adrian jumped at the chance to meet Maxine from Sydney, who was picked out by experts as a potential second match.

'If I go, am I supposed to feel bad? I'm not against it... F*** it, let's go. What's one more task,' he said when he was presented with the challenge.

Upon meeting the 29-year-old, who put on a very busty display in a pink dress for their date, Adrian was immediately smitten with her good looks.

'She's a good looking girl. She is attractive. She's exactly my type,' he told producers.

Tim now says that he had warm feelings about the bride and hates the way her groom Adrian Araouzou has treated her. 'She's just such a kind, caring, genuine person. I really started feeling for her' Tim tells Yahoo

'Is Maxine someone I would hang out with? Probably. We had a fair bit in common. We live a similar lifestyle. I do have feelings for Awhina, but we live long distance.'

Meanwhile, Awhina was left in tears when she was presented the test challenge, saying she suspected Adrian would agree to do it.

Couples were given the challenge separately and were forced to make the decision on their own without knowing what their partner chose.

'If I choose not to do this and he chooses to do this, that would crush my soul,' Awhina sobbed.

'A lot is going through my head. I just keep thinking about regrets. I gave up so much to be here.'

Awhina went on to say she found it difficult to date back in her home city of Perth because she spent all her free time looking after her son.

'I already know in the back of my head Adrian is going to do this task... Yeah I'm going on this date,' she decided.

'I came here for a life partner and I'm not sure that's Adrian.'

Adrian (pictured) returned to the apartment during the episode to brag to Awhina about the buxom blonde he could have been matched with

From the start, Adrian jumped at the chance to meet Maxine (pictured) from Sydney, who was picked out by experts as a potential second match

Awhina met with Tim from Queensland on her date, with the pair also hitting it off as he quickly revealed he was willing to relocate for the right person.

Tim also appeared to have no issue with Awhina being a mother, which Adrian suggested on their wedding day could be a deal breaker for him.

Meeting with Tim left Awhina unsure about the future of her relationship with Adrian, which was made worse when the couple reconvened to reveal how their dates went.

'[Maxine] was cool. We obviously had things in common. She lived in Sydney,' Adrian said, as he revealed in the past he wasn't open to the idea of relocating form NSW to Perth to be with Awhina and her son.

'Did you have a spark with her?' Awhina asked him.

Adrian attempted to deflect the question by asking Awhina if she had a spark with Tim, but she didn't budge, saying: 'I'm asking you.'

'I wasn't like, 'Wow.' I don't go 'wow' over anyone,' he said, but then added: 'She definitely was attractive. She could have been a model or something.'

Maxine is currently studying to be an interior designer.

Awhina told producers she wanted Adrian to feel jealous over her going on a date with Tim like she was jealous about Maxine, revealing it likely meant he didn't have strong feelings for her

Hurt by the response, Awhina took a dig at Maxine's name, saying it was 's***', before she attempted to have a serious conversation with Adrian about the future of their relationship.

'There are external factors in play that we avoid. Like that we live in different states,' she told him.

'Our relationship isn't as strong as we'd both like it to be so we both did a challenge that we wouldn't have necessarily done had we been stronger.'

But all Adrian could respond with was, 'Yeah, well, whatever. It's done now,' leaving Awhina disheartened by his flippancy.

She later told producers she wanted Adrian to feel jealous over her going on a date with Tim like she was jealous about Maxine, revealing it likely meant he didn't have strong feelings for her.

'I expected a stronger reaction. It would have been nice if he was a little bit more p***ed off. I think he thought, we both did the challenge so who cares? Why do we not care?' she said.

'Why is it something that you're laughing about and brushing it off? It's not a light matter... If we're in a healthy relationship then why did we both decide to do this task?'

Married At First Sight will continue on Wednesday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine and 9Now.
Tom Selleck, fresh off his longtime lead in CBS's recently canceled Blue Bloods, continues to play his most controversial role: pitching loans to aging boomers struggling with their finances.

The 80-year-old Emmy and Golden Globe winner has been moonlighting since 2016 as the paid spokesman for American Advisors Group (AAG), a leading seller of reverse mortgages to older Americans.

Since the firm consolidated with and took the name of its parent corporation, Finance of America in 2023, the actor  once named Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine  has continued to allow his good-guy persona be used by a lender with an image problem.

One commenter on Reddit responded to the commercials, posting: 'It's predatory as hell and it's gross that wealthy celebrities try to convince regular people that it's helpful.'

'Shame on him using his success to pitch these terrible loans on trusting senior citizens,' wrote another.

A third wrote: 'I'm Tom Selleck and I'd never advocate for anything that would hurt you. That's why I'm here on behalf of Acme Bathtub Toasters,' reads one post.

Outside of his rugged but charming television persona, Hollywood veteran Tom Selleck is also known as a pitchman for reverse mortgage lender Finance of America

The 80-year-old actor began moonlighting in 2016 as the paid spokesman for leading lender, American Advisors Group (AAG) which later merged with Finance of America in 2023

DailyMail.com can reveal federal regulators have penalized the company for deceptive marketing practices, including making false promises to consumers.

They also warn consumers about the risks of reverse mortgages in general.

Reverse mortgages are special loans that allow homeowners, typically those over 60, to borrow money against their home's equity with possibly devastating financial consequences.

Having built his fandom over decades starring in crime dramas, including the 1980s hit Magnum PI, Selleck has appeared in a series of TV commercials and YouTube infomercials aimed to convince people 62 years and older to convert their home equity into tax-free cash.

A fresh batch of the ads have aired  incessantly, some viewers might say  over the last several months.

'Let your home take care of you,' reads the text superimposed over his mustachioed face on Finance for America's homepage.

But DailyMail.com can reveal the reverse mortgage lender has faced penalties by federal regulators for deceptive marketing practices

Selleck's mustachioed face is featured prominently on Finance for America's homepage

The company promises that cash infusions from its loans will eliminate monthly mortgage payments, medical costs, and more,' solving its clients' money woes.

'A reverse mortgage loan isn't some kind of trick to take your home,' the actor assured viewers of a widely-aired infomercial.

'I'm proud to be part of AAG. I trust 'em. I think you can, too.'

But not everyone shares Selleck's trust.

The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took action against AAG in 2016 for deceptively making false promises that consumers who buy their reverse mortgages wouldn't lose their homes.

That watchdog agency  which the Trump administration is now trying to shutter  fined the company more than $1million and forced it to change its advertising strategies when it failed to alter its messaging.

In 2021, the bureau again accused the company of deceptive strategies, that time for using inflated home value estimates in its marketing materials.

Having built his fandom over decades starring in crime dramas, Selleck has appeared in a series of TV commercials and YouTube infomercials in his later career

He was once the spokesman for the controversial National Rifle Association (NRA), whose board he served on from 2005 to 2018

In 2012, Selleck extolled the virtues of homeownership in a 2012 ad campaign for Coldwell Banker

Consumer protection advocates have long seen reverse mortgages as fertile ground for corporate scams and predatory lending.

They note that about one in ten end in default and foreclosure, and that the rate spiked even higher in the wake of the Great Recession and Covid pandemic when many borrowers couldn't meet their obligations to maintain repairs, insurance, and property taxes on their homes.

Watchdogs and government advisors, including those at the Federal Trade Commission, have pointed out several significant risks that anyone who's considering such a loan should know.

Those include costs that typically are more expensive than for regular mortgages.

Among them are origination fees, which for the most common type of reverse mortgage  known as home equity conversion mortgages or HECMs  can cost either $2,500 or 2% of the first $200,000 of a home's value, whichever is greater, plus 1% of the amount over $200,000. HECMs are insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

Although origination fees for them are capped at $6,000, those for other, less regulated kinds of reverse mortgages can run much higher.

The loans also require an initial mortgage insurance premium, which is typically 2% of a home's value, plus real estate closing costs much like those with a regular mortgage.

Those, among other expenses, include fees for a credit check, home appraisal and inspection, plus payments for title search, recording fees and mortgage taxes.

Selleck played fictional NYPD commissioner Frank Reagan on Blue Bloods until CBS made the shock decision to end the series after 14 seasons in late 2024

He starred alongside Donnie Wahlberg, Will Estes and Bridget Moynahan, all playing members of the fictional Reagan family

Consumer advocates counsel borrowers against receiving reverse mortgage funds as a single lump sum rather than in regular payments for a set period or for as long as they live in the home.

By increasing a homeowner's assets, funds from a lump sum can risk their eligibility for government benefits such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), experts warn.

Perhaps most critically, consumer protection watchdogs caution that lenders selling reverse mortgages add interest each month to the principal, and that the balance borrowers owe increases over time, potentially exceeding the value of the home.

Homeowners who don't want that balance to increase can choose to pay the interest monthly. But those unable to do so may have limited options if they need to sell or move.

Because a reverse mortgage loan often becomes due and payable when the borrower dies, it can carry significant disadvantages for heirs who not only may inherit less if the owner's home equity has been depleted, but also risk having to pay off the loan balance, interest, and accrued fees, typically with the proceeds from selling the home.

Selleck's most memorable role is perhaps private investigator Thomas Magnum in the 1980s hit series Magnum P.I.

Selleck holds a rifle in a scene from the film 'Quigley Down Under', 1990

That leaves family members  including children, grandchildren, and even surviving spouses of borrowers  at risk for both financial debt and eviction.

Some safeguards have been put in place by federal reforms. Among them are that consumers looking to take out HECM loans must, by law, first meet with a Housing and Urban Development-approved counselor to understand the benefits and risks.

To protect against impulse borrowing, consumers also may cancel their reverse mortgages within three days of closing on their loans without having to pay any financial penalties.

Most other, non-HECM reverse mortgages don't come with such protections.

Selleck doesn't mention the potential downsides in his paid spots for Finance of America.

Happy Days star Henry Winkler also went down the pitchman route by appearing in ads endorsing One Reverse Mortgage, a subsidiary of Quicken Loans, from 2012 to 2018

Jerry Orbach, best known for his role as Detective Lennie Briscoe on Law and Order in the 1990s, did ads for Senior Lending Network until his death in 2004

Fellow icon Robert Wagner also pitched for Senior Lending Network in 2012 and 2013

Neither Selleck nor his publicist answered the DailyMail.com's requests for comment.

For its part, Finance of America  which claims to have sold more than $17billion in reverse mortgages  also did not respond to our inquiries.

Reverse mortgages aren't the first product Selleck has pitched. He did voice-overs for an AT&T advertising campaign in 1993.

He extolled the virtues of homeownership in a 2012 ad campaign for Coldwell Banker.

He appeared in advertisements for the conservative National Review magazine and was a spokesman for the National Rifle Association, whose board he served on from 2005 to 2018.

He drew fierce criticism for the timing of a controversial NRA ad in which he posed with a rifle one month after the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School.

Selleck has lived since the 1980s on a 60-acre ranch in Ventura County, California that was once owned by Dean Martin.

His more than half-century of success in Hollywood makes him unlikely to need the kind of loan typically targeted at people on fixed retirement incomes who struggle to pay their bills and stay in their homes.

Selleck spent 14 years on Blue Bloods playing the role of Frank Reagan, who heads New York City's police force and a family with multiple generations in law enforcement.

Since CBS cancelled the show last year, he has announced that he'll appear in a new iteration of the Jesse Stone franchise, which is based on a series of detective novels.

That project is currently in development.

Selleck has been married to wife Jillie Mack, 66, since 1987

He began his side gig as a spokesman for Finance of America, then AAG, in 2016 after the company searched to replace the late U.S. senator from Tennessee turned Law and Order star Fred Thompson, a Republican who ran for president in 2008.

Other actors who've played tough, no-nonsense crime-solvers on TV have also shilled for reverse mortgage lenders.

Jerry Orbach, best known for his role as Detective Lennie Briscoe on Law and Order in the 1990s, did ads for Senior Lending Network until his death in 2004.

Robert Wagner, star of Hart to Hart in the early 1980s and It Takes a Thief in the 1960s, also pitched for that company in 2012 and 2013.

Security 1 Lending milked crooner Pat Boone's straight-laced image to advertise reverse mortgages in 2013, and AmeriVerse Mortgage commodified the Righteous Brothers' Bill Medley apparent righteousness to tout their products two years ago.

Henry Winkler, who played the iconic greaser Arthur 'Fonzie' Fonzarelli on the '70s sitcom Happy Days, appeared in especially unrelenting ads endorsing One Reverse Mortgage, a subsidiary of Quicken Loans, from 2012 to 2018.

The message to baby boomers who came of age admiring his character's rebellious charisma: that it's cool to leverage their homes to pay for retirement.
Frankly, its the kind of thing an unhappy little boy who never knew his mother might lie awake fantasising about.

One day Mummy will turn up and want to make amends for all those years of hurt. Mummy will look just like me, and give the best hugs. Oh, and Mummy will turn out to be a royal princess, one of the richest women in the world, and she will say lets go buy you a car, son. What about a Rolls-Royce?

It sounds insane, but it happened. Sort of.

Graham Hornigold, a renowned pastry chef, ex-Michelin star holder, and a former judge on MasterChef, seems a very grounded man, not one prone to lavish leaps in life.

He says he had never had a decent car before so nearly fainted when the biological mother, who had just come back into his life after 45 years, took him to a Rolls-Royce showroom in Londons Park Lane and said she wanted to treat him.

He even took the salesman aside to clarify that he wasnt hallucinating.

He told me she had bought two Phantoms from him before.

Graham didnt go home with a Roller but his mum Dionne  who did look like him and did claim to have royal blood  helped him pick out a 75,000 Range Rover, before they went for champagne at the Dorchester.

Graham Hornigold is one of the UK's top pastry chefs and has been a judge on MasterChef and Junior Bake Off

Her exact words were Son, I havent seen you for 45 years. Youve never had a present from me. Im going to take away 45 years of hurt.

If the story sounds too good to be true, thats because it was, as the title of a new Netflix documentary, recounting the utterly extraordinary tale of how Graham and his mother came to be reunited, and what happened next, will tell you. Its called Con Mum.

That gleaming new car was only the start of the fairytale that turned into a nightmare.

Graham thought he had won the jackpot, financially as well as emotionally, when Dionne came back into his life five years ago. This was a fabulously wealthy woman, who owned farms and palm oil factories all over the world.

She spoke 18 languages and confided in him that she wasnt self-made, but the illegitimate daughter of the former Sultan of Brunei, which sounded crazy, but it explained why everyone knew her at the Dorchester, from the doorman to the receptionist. The Dorchester is owned by the Brunei royal family, he says.

Then came the stinger, which broke his heart. His mother was also dying. She had sought him out because she had terminal cancer, and only six months to live. And when she died, he would inherit her fortune  possibly hundreds of millions.

When she asked him to fly to Switzerland with her to meet her lawyers and bankers, Graham dropped everything  including his partner, Heather Kaniuk and newborn baby  to go.

He stresses that it wasnt about the money, it was about the fact my mother, the one person who could answer the questions about who I was, was dying.

The Netflix documentary Con Mum tells the story of how Hornigold's biological mother scammed him, costing him 300,000

It was an express train to the heart. She came back into my life and she destroyed it. Not only did his ordeal cost him his partner and child (Heather moved back to her native New Zealand with their son, leaving me to look at an empty cot) but he was nearly bankrupted.

Because, while making grandiose promises about making her long-lost son a multi-millionaire, Dionne was also asking him to put the odd hotel bill or bottle of expensive fizz on his credit card.

Those cars she so generously gifted? (Heather got one too). Actually, Grahams name was on the finance agreement.

At one point he realised  to his horror  that he was in debt to the tune of 300,000. Now, Im [only] down about 100k, because the cars went back.

Graham tells me that when he realised he had been the victim of an epic and unfathomable deception, he came close to taking his own life. What she did was wanton cruelty, evil and manipulative, he says.

He only allowed the documentary to be made because he learned this woman had been a career criminal who, in 1982, served a two-year sentence for deception. Its what she does, and she does it very well.

The Netflix investigation was able to unravel Dionne Mahamuds modus operandi to a point. It wasnt just Graham who was left out of pocket; the show also features several business people and acquaintances who handed over extraordinary sums to this seemingly frail, wheelchair-bound octogenarian.

This terrible story begins in the Covid lockdown of 2020 when Graham received an email from a woman called Dionne wondering if he was the son she had been forced to give up, in Germany, in 1974.

Hornigold pictured with his biological mother Dionne Mahamud

Graham was born in a British military hospital in Germany and had a difficult childhood. He spent two years in foster care before moving with his dad, and new stepmum, to St Albans in Hertfordshire, but his father  with whom he had a violent relationship  never spoke of his biological mum.

He grew up fantasising about her. Its quite painful, not knowing your mother, he says.

By 2020, he was a public figure, a respected chef and had a thriving bakery business with his partner, fellow pastry chef Heather. They were expecting their first child.

Of course he was sceptical when the email arrived and cautious, but she passed every test he set, knowing the answer to questions that only his birth mother could know.

A few weeks later, Graham and Heather went to meet Dionne at a Liverpool hotel.

Graham can still feel the strength of their hug. Youve never had that child/mother bond, but you hold someones hand and, instantly you are like this is my mum. Bang! I was in.

Heather was in too, at first, marvelling at how the pair looked alike, had the same mannerisms.

That same day, however, Dionne told Graham she had six months to live. It was a whirlwind. I was trying to deal with all the emotions, the childhood trauma, knowing that I was going to discover who I was  but at the same time knowing that I was going to lose her.

Hornigold with Dionne Mahamud and former partner Heather Kaniuk

With hindsight you can scoff: 18 languages? Sultan of Brunei? But Malaysian-born Dionne had lived in Singapore and Indonesia and certainly the constant phone calls, from associates all over the world, supported the idea that she had business interests everywhere. Graham was in awe. I remember thinking this is my mum. Just wow. She was amazing.

Then the gifts started. Prada suits, shoes, designer bags. Cars.

He knows it all sounds money-grabbing, but he says it made her happy because she had got her son a present.

There are several poignant moments in the documentary, captured on film, where the grown-up Graham becomes a child again in his mothers presence.

Theres Dionne singing Happy Birthday to him, and feeding him birthday cake.

Mummy put in your mouth, she insists, as he goes all bashful, as if he was four years old.

Once, we were in Hyde Park and she wanted me to ride a bicycle, he tells me.

I said are you nuts? Why would you want me to ride a bicycle?. She said because Ive never seen you ride one. I knew that for her that would be like watching a child take his first steps.

Two months after meeting Dionne, Graham became a dad. He had barely got home from hospital, however, when he received distressing news from his mother (in a five star hotel elsewhere in London). She had found blood in her urine. He even received a photo from her of the toilet pan full of scarlet water.

He dashed to her side. The trouble was Dionne increasingly wanted him at her side.

At a time when he should have been on nappy duty, Graham was flying to Zurich to sign papers about inheriting his mothers empire.

At first Heather was on board with it, because the trip was supposed to last four days. Then it became another four days. Then it turned into weeks.

By now, Graham had slipped into another world.

In the documentary, those around him call it brainwashing, yet he just thought life had taken a particularly surreal turn. Then, an alarm bell sounded. Heather, back home in London, opened a credit card statement to discover they owed 20,000.

Graham tried to put her mind at rest. During one of his mothers expensive hotel stays there had been a brief problem transferring money  Covid was blamed  and she had asked him to pick up the tab, until she could reimburse him.

I was happy to, he says. I was happy to help my mum.

Yet other people were helping her too. In Zurich there was another couple. Dionne promised shed invest 2million in their company. In return they all went shopping. The couple bought Dionne a 6,686 coat, and spent 8,357 on champagne. They claim she asked them not to tell her son she was having trouble accessing money at the moment.

Also in the Netflix expose is a businessman called Ping who handed over around $150,000 to Dionne and believed her claims about royal connections  until he checked with representatives of the Brunei royal family. Dionne was being rumbled.

At first Graham did not want to believe he had been part of a con. It took Heather turning detective  unearthing marriage certificates where the three-times married Dionne had named different men as her father, and given different dates of birth  to make him listen to her pleas that this woman was not who she purported to be.

Then money started coming out of their joint account for car payments. Heather discovered Dionne had paid the deposits for both cars but they were liable.

It was only when Graham  still in Zurich  went through his mothers medication that he discovered there were no drugs there for cancer treatment.

And when he opened a drawer to find red food colouring the penny dropped. He called up the picture his mother had send him of the scarlet urine in the toilet  and I felt sick, he says.

There was no cancer.

This, coupled with evidence from the business associates who said they had given money to Dionne took him to a point of collapse. He can still barely comprehend it. Oh I was played. Because of a cellular-level need for a mother, I walked right into it. I did not stand a chance.

There is a question that niggles all the way through the documentary: is Dionne actually his mother or has he been targeted by a stranger? He demands a DNA test. The results are another stab to the heart, showing it is 99.9 per cent likely Dionne is indeed the woman who gave him up at birth.

And this is the hardest part  something I now have to wrestle with, he says. What sort of mother does this to their own child? Why?

I want to say to her you could have come back into my life and I could have seen you once a month for a Sunday roast. You didnt have to do all this to get my attention. You didnt have to destroy everything that we had built. Why? 

And then, just as suddenly as his mother had swept into his life, she removed herself from it  surely aware that the truth would out.

To date, no charges have been brought over what she did to Graham. Im not sure there could be, because I gave her the money. She was my mother.

She refused to answer any questions put to her by Netflix.

Where is Dionne now? He doesnt know. There has been one video call since, where she said, Im sorry, son. I done what I done. I cannot change, son.

Grahams relationship with Heather did not survive.

He says he is trying to maintain a relationship with his boy because being a good father is essential for me.

So was being a good son, though. I ask if he came to love his mother. Love, want, need. I dont know how to answer that, he says.

I dont call her Mum now, because no mum would do that to her own child.
Eva Mendes got emotional on social media as she shared a poignant post in honor of her late brother Carlos Mendez.

The Hitch actress, 51, opened up about her brother on Instagram Monday as his birthday was in a matter of days.

Mendes' older brother Carlos died on April 17, 2016, just two weeks after he turned 53, from cancer.

She shared a few selfies as she walked through the woods as she began the caption: 'My brother would've had a birthday this April 2.

'He passed almost 9 years ago. Then, less than 2 weeks later I gave birth to our second baby. [heart emoji] '

The partner of Ryan Gosling was referring to their daughter Amada, eight, as she continued the tribute saying that she finds herself searching for signs from her late brother as his big day approaches.

Eva Mendes shared a poignant post in honor of her late brother Carlos Mendes

Mendes' older brother Carlos died on April 17, 2016, just two weeks after he turned 53, from cancer

She continued: 'When his birthday nears, I start to look for signs that could be him. Of course, this can all be in my head, but I rather not believe that. It's not as beautiful.

'So, here I am, starting to see hearts everywhere and feeling him a little extra right now. More to come, I'm sure.'

Eva's younger brother Carlo Mendes, 47, commented on her post, writing: 'I miss him so much.'

The Training Day actress reflected on the timing of her brother's death and Amada's April 29th birthday, saying it is a 'tough' situation.

'It's so tough,' she told People in November 2019. 'Thank God I had my baby; it was a week after he passed. So there was something to move forward. There was poetry to it all.'

She expressed that one of her 'favorite memories' with her brother was spending time together during the holidays.

'My favorite memories are when he used to, at Thanksgiving or a big dinner or Christmas dinner, roast everybody  but roast you hard.

'Of course, I miss him incredibly, and that's an understatement, but I'm holding on to that tradition,' Mendes said.

'I'm so happy that he gave me that,' she continued. 'I don't think I could carry it on the way he did, but those are some fun memories because he would really get raw.'

The Hitch actress, 51, shared a few selfies as she walked through the woods. 'My brother would've had a birthday this April 2,' her caption began

'He passed almost 9 years ago. Then, less than 2 weeks later I gave birth to our second baby. , ' she said referring to daughter Amada, eight

She continued, 'When his birthday nears, I start to look for signs that could be him. Of course, this can all be in my head, but I rather not believe that. It's not as beautiful'

Mendes and her significant other Ryan Gosling welcomed their first daughter, Esmeralda, now 10, in September 2014, and their second daughter, Amada, eight, in April 2016.

Last fall she revealed that they don't let their daughters have social media or smartphones.

'Putting my kid on the internet and being like, "Oh, search something," that to me is equivalent to telling her, "Oh, just go down the street in the middle of the night. You'll be fine,"' Mendes revealed in an interview with The Times.

'I know that sounds extreme, but that's what I feel,' the actress added.

Mendes (born Eva de la Caridad Mendez) would also share about how she and Gosling try to educate their kids on their privileged life, compared to most people in the world, by telling them stories of how they grew up with little money.

'I explain to them what I didn't have, what Ryan didn't have when he was little, how hard we had to fight, the dark days of being paycheck to paycheck, and this and that, but they'll never really know unless they experience that,' the Miami, Florida native explained.

After going through bouts of anxiety in her lifetime, Mendes tries to instill self-esteem into their lives by giving them tasks to do around the house to build their confidence.

'I still have all this anxiety and I see myself passing it on to my children,' Mendes said, before admitting she herself was a 'good kid' growing up in Miami, which she credits to her late brother Carlos.

'So, here I am, starting to see hearts everywhere and feeling him a little extra right now. More to come, I'm sure'

'He'd say, "If I ever see you out there with a guy or smoking, I'll f**king kick his ass and take you to school every day,"' she recalled. 'By sheer fear I was a good kid.'

During the interview, the retired actress credited Gosling with making her feel 'sexy' in her 50s.

'I feel really f**king sexy at times,' she gushed. 'The way my man looks at me is just  at times I'm like, oh my God. That might not sit well with people, but so much of how I feel is a reflection of what he's giving me.'

The hot and heavy couple first met in August 2011 after they both signed on to star in the epic crime drama The Place Beyond The Pines.

The new couple wasted little time and started dating during the shoot of the film.

The couple went public with their relationship when they went to Disneyland together, and were seen holding hands and walking closely.

Eventually, the couple made their red carpet debut at the Toronto International Film Festival to promote The Place Beyond The Pines in September 2012.
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Brandi Glanville sparked concern as she partied the night away at the Hood Bar & Pizza in Palm Desert, California amid her battle with facial disfigurement.

The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 52, was joined by The Bachelor star Erica Rose, 41, and pal Adriane Schwartz at the dive bar, as they watched 'Lady' Sham Ibrahim, who appeared on MTV Catfish last season, perform her Drag Queen Bingo show earlier this week.

A source told DailyMail.com the ladies drank martinis and that Brandi was the 'life of the party' and 'kept jumping on stage, twerking, taking selfies with guests.'

Brandi  who recently gave a horrific update on her 'melting face'  'stayed all night until the end of the show.'

One snap shared to Ibrahim's page showed the reality TV star licking her face.

After winning the third round of Bingo, Lady Sham presented Brandi with a Marilyn Monroe portrait, and told her onstage that she 'is a gorgeous supermodel in the category of Marilyn Monroe.'

Brandi Glanville, 52, sparked concern as she partied the night away at the Hood Bar & Pizza in Palm Desert, California, amid her battle with facial disfigurement

She was joined by The Bachelor star Erica Rose, 41, and pal Adriane Schwartz, as they watched 'Lady' Sham Ibrahim (middle), perform her Drag Queen Bingo show earlier this week. In one snap Brandi was seen licking Ibrahim's face

Brandi was referred to as 'Jennifer' by Lady Sham, who wanted to protect her anonymity and didn't want her to get 'overwhelmed.'

However, the source added that 'everyone recognized her anyway and wanted selfies.'

In other photos and videos shared to Ibrahim's Instagram, Brandi was pictured in a skimpy romper enjoying her time onstage as she accepted the painting of Marilyn.

Brandi put on a happy appearance despite recently giving a shocking health update on her facial disfigurement, for which she's spent over $70K and had five consultations with plastic surgeons to fix.

'I have painful lumps - one in jaw bone area [and] one on side of neck [and] one in back of neck,' the star tweeted.

'I have chills and a constant oily foul-tasting drainage from face into mouth. It's acidic [and] is eating away at my teeth. Plus all of my lymph nodes in head [and] neck are swollen. Doctors at Kaiser [Permanente] say I'm fine. Help me!'

This, two days after Brandi revealed she'd been 'faking it' with her seemingly happy demeanor and she's actually been 'f***ing miserable.'

'My face is worse than ever. It's literally melted away,' Glanville tweeted.

A source told DailyMail.com the ladies drank martinis and that Brandi was the 'life of the party' and 'kept jumping on stage, twerking, taking selfies with guests'

Brandi 'stayed all night until the end of the show,' the insider said of the star, who recently said she'd been 'faking it' with her seemingly happy demeanor

After winning the third round of Bingo, Lady Sham presented Brandi with a Marilyn Monroe portrait, and told her onstage that she 'is a gorgeous supermodel in the category of Marilyn Monroe'

Brandi was referred to as 'Jennifer' by Lady Sham, who wanted to protect her anonymity and didn't want her to get 'overwhelmed'

'When doctors at [Cedars-Sinai Medical Center] put me on IV antibiotics [and] fungal medication I was getting better. I looked normal, but I couldn't afford to stay on them. I was forced to see doctors outside my insurance because the doctors at Kaiser had no clue. I need my life to change. That is my real life health update.'

In January, Botched star Terry DuBrow took 'four tiny biopsies' from the Unfiltered podcaster's face and neck after steroids, antibiotics, and antiviral medication failed to help her.

When X user @caren_0809 asked about Brandi's biopsy report last Thursday, she replied: 'No cancer but the cultures take six weeks to grow so no news yet but [fingers crossed].'

On December 12, the 66-year-old plastic surgeon informed Glanville through TMZ that her disfigurement was not the result of a 'parasite' but a 'foreign-body reaction to something she had injected' and it would take five years to fully recover.

'Five years is way too long for me to wait,' the Traitors contestant scoffed on her podcast at the time.

'I have s*** to do. I have places to go, people to make out with. I have not had sex since last October [2023]. I haven't kissed [or] made out with anyone. I haven't socialized, really.'

Late last month in February, Brandi was seen using a small red light device on her face amidst filming her Unfiltered podcast with co-host James Maas.

She was seen rolling the device on her neck while talking as red lights shone on to her skin. It is not known what the device is or what it is used for.

Earlier this month Brandi gave a horrific health update on her facial disfigurement, for which she's spent over $70K and had five consultations with plastic surgeons to fix; (L) pictured in December 2024, (R) seen in 2022

'I have chills and a constant oily foul-tasting drainage from face into mouth. It's acidic [and] is eating away at my teeth. Plus all of my lymph nodes in head [and] neck are swollen,' she tweeted

Brandi has claimed to have already spent more than $70,000 trying to figure out what has caused her health issues, and previously stated she thought it was a 'parasite'

'I've been faking it,' the star wrote to her followers earlier this month as she shared a health update, stating that her face is 'worse than ever' and has 'literally melted away'

She also gave another update after plastic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow took four biopsies from her face

However, Brandi did reveal that her use of the red light device is relating to her mystery skin condition during a recent Instagram Live.

When a fan asked her if the 'worm' was gone, after she said it could be an infection or parasite, she replied: 'The worm is not gone, that is why I'm using this [device].'

During her latest podcast episode, she also told how she 'really needs' the device and has to give it back soon.

Late last year in December, Brandi appeared on Page Six's Virtual Reali-Tea podcast and admitted that she has been suffering from 'deep depression' amid her battle with the mysterious skin condition.

'The pain is more mental than anything, because I have been hiding and going through a deep, deep depression. Even if I could work now, at this point, I couldn't. So it's just been a really rough two years for me.'

She added at the time that she was also on antibiotics - which she had briefly stopped and caused the skin on her face to 'sink in.'

Glanville said, 'I prefer [my face] when it's a little swollen, to be honest. When it's only swollen on one side, it's not great. But the sinking in thing is killing me slowly, because I just feel like I look like a crackhead.'

The TV personality said that she sometimes will wear a 'mask' around her sons and explained, 'They would try and calm me down and say I look normal and fine, but I knew better.

'I honestly scared them a couple times. They were like, "What is happening?" [My face] went from being like really fat and swollen to now, like, sinking in.'

Brandi added that she wants to know what is causing her facial disfigurement 'so desperately.'

Brandi has since said Dr. Dubrow told her it might take five years for her to be 'totally' fine as she also revealed she hasn't had sex in a year due to her health issues; seen in 2023

She said, 'You could do anything you want to me, and I'd be okay with it. I've had days of looking normal, not weeks. I wish. But it comes and goes.'

She then stated, 'Whenever I get the chills, it's generally an infection.'

'Then I start having the ticking in my ear, and then whatever's in my face, moving around, started moving around again. And it starts sinking in again.'

Since revealing her health struggles, Glanville has slowly returned to the spotlight, recently appearing at a Los Angeles pool party in a pink bikini.
Married At First Sight bride Joanne Todd is celebrating 100 days of sobriety after admitting that alcohol was affecting her life.

The former reality star, 43, showed off her incredible transformation after quitting booze in a gallery of pictures posted to Instagram on Monday.

One showed a happy and healthy Jo smiling brightly at the camera with glowing and clear skin.

In another she flaunted her incredible figure in a blue bikini.

'I made it to 100 days! #loveyourself #forgiveyourself #secondchances,' she wrote.

Jo previously revealed how alcohol was having a negative effect on her wellbeing.

Married At First Sight bride Joanne Todd is celebrating 100 days of sobriety after admitting that alcohol was affecting her life. Pictured in 2021

The former reality star, 43, showed off her incredible transformation after quitting booze in a gallery of pictures posted to Instagram on Monday. One showed a happy and healthy Jo smiling brightly at the camera with glowing and clear skin

'I think sobriety is the best decision I have made in a long time and wish I had chosen it earlier,' Jo wrote.

'Things I have noticed in a month of giving up alcohol: Weight loss, face less puffy. Alcohol made me behave or make decisions I would wake up regretting the next day.

'I don't wake up with a pounding headache, feeling nauseous or the worst feeling ever, riddled with anxiety all day and the few days after. My thoughts and my mind is so much clearer now. More positive.'

Many of Jo's followers took to the comment section with words of support.

'Well done. keep going, it gets way better,' one supporter wrote and a second added: 'So proud of you.'

In September 2022, Jo eloped with her long-time partner Joe Donaghy.

They tied the knot in a beautiful private ceremony at Cable Beach, Western Australia.

Jo announced the exciting news on social media, revealing that only five people were in attendance at the sunset ceremony.

In another she flaunted her incredible figure in a blue bikini

The couple have been an item since November 2020, but only debuted their relationship in May 2021 at Jo's 40th birthday party.

They met at a hair salon while she was cutting his hair over three years ago.

The pair reconnected a year later and have been inseparable ever since.

Jo was paired with businessman James Susler in the eighth season of Married At First Sight in 2021.

Their split was aired while they were sitting on the experts' couch.

In the episode, James claimed he went all out to make their relationship work.

But Joanne said he was 'full of s**t', screaming: 'Please stop your s**t!'

'You are talking rubbish. You are making yourself look so much better than what you are. You didn't try. You weren't trying. You blatantly lied,' she snapped.

Married At First Sight continues at 7.30pm on Tuesday on Channel Nine.
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Sophie Guidolin has been called out for boasting about shopping in the kids section during a holiday in Paris with her twin daughters.

The fitness influencer, 35, posted a video to her Instagram story on Monday while posing in the same tiny skirt as her nine-year-old girls.

'When you're in Paris and you go shopping and we're shopping in the kids section and your mum can fit into the same size skirt as you,' she said.

'That is what we call a triple whammy trio.'

Fans have slammed Sophie for boasting about her tiny waist and trim figure, with some claiming her post is 'very triggering'.

'As someone who claims she won't share certain things on social media as she doesn't want to trigger women, she's totally contradicting herself by posting that,' one person wrote on Facebook.

Sophie Guidolin has been called out for boasting about shopping in the kids section during a holiday in Paris with her twin daughters

'As a longtime follower, I can't believe she would post that. Very triggering and I will no longer be following her and supporting her.'

Another agreed, adding: 'She's a walking contradiction constantly.'

'I unfollowed her ages ago. Her content fuelled my eating disorder in the past but I saw the post you are talking about,' a third wrote.

It comes after Sophie was recently forced to defend herself after copping backlash over her very 'demanding' job ad for a 'highly experienced' Executive Assistant.

The controversial influencer was looking for an EA who will 'protect the CEO's time and energy', as well as complete medial tasks like folding her laundry and watering her plants.

After listing the very lengthy job in October, some followers flocked to Facebook to point out the flaws and bizarre requirements detailed in the ad.

'Omg I am experienced in that type of work and it sounds like you would be doing quite a lot in that position,' one person wrote.

'If someone had all that experience and was expected [to do] all of that, you better hope she's paying $200k+,' said another.

'When you're in Paris and you go shopping and we're shopping in the kids section and your mum can fit into the same size skirt as you,' she said

Fans have slammed Sophie for boasting about her tiny waist and trim figure, with some claiming her post is 'very triggering'

'It was the longest job ad ever. Said the same thing over and over. For that amount of work, I hope it's paying big bucks but I doubt it,' a third added.

'So it's for entry level up to highly experienced. Then in the next paragraph it's a role for a highly experienced person. Sorry what? You make no sense,' said yet another.

Someone else noted again that the 'ad is so bloody repetitive'.

Sophie hit back at her critics, saying the job listing was inspired by ones used by renowned entrepreneurs and business experts.

'This role advertisement is also a variation used by business mentors and can be seen advertised by the likes of Dan Martel, Leila hormozi, Gary vee and more [sic],' she told Daily Mail Australia at the time.

Dan Martell is a Youtuber and entrepreneur, Leila Hormozi is an investor and internet personality and Gary Vaynerchuk is an American businessman and author.

'I have never actually had an EA prior - not once since starting my business in 2012. The role has a salary range of $110-$180k depending on experience,' Sophie went on to say.

Sophie's job listing also states that the successful applicant must manage Sophie's email, calendar, Shopify, meeting agendas, social media platforms and personal appointments, among other things.

Other responsibilities include 'handling day-to-day operations and activities of the business'The Bodas an 'extension of the CEO', as well as folding laundry and watering plants.
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US pop diva Camila Cabello has announced her first Australian solo shows.

The 28-year-old hitmaker, who rose to fame as a member of girl group Fifth Harmony, is set to play two gigs in Sydney and Melbourne in August.

Camila will play her concerts Down Under as part of her Yours, C World Tour, which kicks off in Spain in June.

The dark-haired beauty will perform her first Aussie gig at Melbourne's Margaret Court Arena on August 27.

Camila will then head to Sydney for a show at the Hordern Pavilion on August 30.

The Havana songstress is taking her global jaunt in support of her latest album C, XOXO, which was released last June.

US pop diva Camila Cabello has announced her first Australian solo shows. The 28-year-old hitmaker who rose to fame as a member of girl group Fifth Harmony is set to play two shows in Sydney and Melbourne in August. Pictured: Camila performing in the US in January

Camila will play her concerts Down Under as part of her Yours, C World Tour, which kicks off in Spain in June. Pictured: Camila announced her Aussie shows on her Instagram on Tuesday and included this racy snap in the post

Camila took to her Instagram on Thursday to message her fans Down Under and announce her shows.

She also appeared keen to get a taste of a famous Aussie treat.

'Australia, Im finally coming on tour and Im gonna need a glass of cold milk (yes, real milk, like the olden days) and some Tim Tams,' she said.

She signed off the post with this message 'See you this summer', obviously not realising her Aussie shows will be taking place Down Under in the middle of winter.

Advanced sales for Camila's Australian shows are available here from March 27 at 11 am.

Regular tickets are available from April 2.

The top-selling performer, known for her daring red carpet choices, also included a sexy photo of herself in the post.

In the black-and-white image, Camila is seen lying on a couch wearing sheer tights.

The dark-haired beauty will perform her first Aussie gig at Melbourne's Margaret Court Arena on August 27. Camila will then head to Sydney for a show at the Hordern Pavilion on August 30. Advanced sales for Camila's Australian shows are available from March 27

The image also included handwritten dates for her Aussie shows.

She autographed the post, 'Yours C'.

Camila last performed in Australia a decade ago when she toured with Fifth Harmony, a girl group that was launched on The X Factor US when she was just 15.

She left the group after four years to build a solo career that has included four albums including her self-titled debut in 2018, Romance (2019), Familia (2022) and last year's C, XOXO.

Camila also starred in the Amazon Prime Video streaming hit Cinderella in 2021.

The Cuban-born performer confessed her early years after going solo were not easy.

Speaking to The Times UK soon after the release of her latest album, she said: 'Your early twenties are just a f***ing sh** show and a nightmare and a hellhole  at least for me'.

She added that her new album is focused on leaving those difficult years behind, explaining: 'C,XOXO is finally letting go of that.

'Now that I'm not feeling so heavy and mentally burdened, I can actually have some f***ing fun and have long nails and dance and flirt.'
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Welshman Callum Hole has been caught in the act, kissing ex-girlfriend and fitness influencer Shawnee Schein just three weeks after parting ways with designer Sasha Morpeth.

The reality star, 27, who went public with Sasha, 25, in December before the couple abruptly parted ways, was filmed making out with his former flame, 26, on Saturday.

The clip, which was obtained by the Daily Telegraph, shows Callum in a passionate embrace with ex Shawnee, who wore a red bandeau and what appeared to be workout pants.

Her long dark hair was pulled into a ponytail as she held onto her ex's broad shoulders in the public pash.

Callum took to Instagram the same day to show himself walking Shawnee's dogs, captioning the post: 'Daddy Day Care,' another indicator that the two had reunited.

The I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here star is rumoured to have dated Shawnee for a year before breaking up in November.

Callum Hole has been caught kissing ex-girlfriend and fitness influencer Shawnee Schein

It comes just three weeks after parting ways with designer Sasha Morpeth (left)

He then jumped into a relationship with influencer Sasha a month later, which ended at the start of March.

Callum and Sasha were first linked in November 2024 while attending a Schoolies Unleashed Grad Trip in Fiji, where he also filmed Love Island All Stars.

'This wasn't on my 2024 bingo card but couldn't be happier going into 2025 with you,' the duo captioned a series of loved-up snaps taken at the Beyond The Valley New Year's Eve music festival.

Sasha, who has over five million followers on TikTok and owns the clothing brand Sasha Therese, often posted videos of the couple on her page.

But all traces of the whirlwind relationship between the two social media stars have simultaneously vanished from their accounts.

Both Callum and Sasha have deleted all of their couple videos and photos from their social media profiles.

Neither has officially confirmed the break-up, but Sasha has dropped multiple hints that the romance wasn't all smooth sailing.

'Jealousy hits different when you both aren't even in a relationship yet,' she captioned an outfit check posted to TikTok on December 27 that has been viewed 2.9million times.

Callum is rumoured to have dated Shawnee for a year before breaking up in November (both pictured)

Callum and Sasha were first linked in November 2024 while attending a Schoolies Unleashed Grad Trip in Fiji, where he also filmed Love Island All Stars. Pictured with fellow Love Island star Phoebe Spiller (right)

'Mans found his Astroturf,' Callum captioned his own hard-launch post on New Year's Day, before explaining his analogy to fans: 'Cant settle because the grass is always greener, until I find astrturf, then its game over innit.

In a cheeky video Sasha posted just five days later, she indicated the love bubble had burst.

The petite blonde showed off her two-piece purple ensemble in her usual style of video, as she danced and strutted in front of her phone camera inside a messy hotel room.

Sitting on the left hand side of the hotel bed, with his back turned from Sasha, appeared to be Callum.

'Girl, if you can't change the person, change the person,' she wrote in text layered over the clip.

And in another swipe, she captioned it: 're read that again for me x.'

Callum appeared on Love Island All Stars alongside reality fan favourite Phoebe Spiller in January, after enjoying a short term fling with one of his Aussie Shore cast mates last year.

The Brisbane-based UK reality star brought his signature cheekiness to the Aussie Shore house in Cairns during episode eight of the controversial reality show.

'Lexie and Callum are full hooking up in the corner and it's killing the vibe,' Jaeda complained.

Callum joined the cast of the X-rated reality series after coming in third place in I'm A Celebrity!...Get Me Me Here! in 2024.

He hard-launched a relationship with Aussie influencer Shawnee Schein in September 2024, before going public with Sasha just two months later in December.

Daily Mail Australia has approached Callum, Sasha and Shawnee for comment.
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky are currently living it up on a family holiday in Japan to celebrate their twin sons Tristan and Sasha's 11th birthday.

On Tuesday, Elsa, 48, shared a gallery of photos which captured the highlights of their lavish trip.

The Hollywood power couple threw their boys a mini party with a view in the hotel room of their stunning ski resort.

Elsa and the boys sported colourful cone party hats and the back of the room was decorated with balloons which spelled out '11 Happy Birthday'.

Another photo captured the family at an animal cafe, where one of the boys displayed his new bleached buzzcut while the other showcased his spiky blonde and brunette hairstyle.

Chris was then seen posing with his sons who hid their hair with their hoodies.

Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky are currently living it up on a family holiday in Japan to celebrate their twin sons Tristan and Sasha's 11th birthday

The family visited an animal cafe and one of the boys proudly displayed his new bleach blonde buzzcut while the other showcased his spiky blonde and brunette hairstyle

'Japan trip! A little bit of Tokyo,' Elsa captioned the pictures.

The power couple, who also share a 12-year old daughter called India Rose, live in a $30 mega-mansion in Byron Bay.

In September, Chris revealed a family fact during a radio interview.

The Transformers One star told Nova's Jase and Lauren show he lets his twin sons cut their own hair.

The admission came after host Lauren Phillips told the actor she spotted the young duo's unique 'dos' on the red carpet at the premiere of Transformers One in Sydney.

'I want to talk to you about your sons' haircuts Chris,' she said.

'I saw them on the red carpet. Is that you doing your best Edward Scissorhands because no hairdresser is putting their name to those haircuts?'

Chris admitted his boys and a group of their friends have taken to giving each other quirky bowl-style haircuts.

Chris was then seen proudly posing with his sons who hilariously hid their hair with their hoodies

It looked to be a fun trip for the famous family

'My two boys and their friends have all started cutting this kind of like bowl haircut,' he admitted.

'Now Tristan, his mate did that and then he went to the hairdresser just to straighten up, so that one's been done by a professional.'

The Thor star added he wielded the scissors to create Sasha's look, but was under constant supervision.

'Sasha's haircut I did myself but I was under strict instruction of what to do,' he said.

While Lauren slammed the looks as 'the worst haircuts I've ever seen,' Chris was also quite cutting in his remarks.

'I was like "you look like Lloyd Christmas from Dumb & Dumber,"' he said, referring to Jim Carrey's character in the iconic comedy.

'They were like: "what? shut up, dad, I hate you".'

Chris then asked Lauren if she would be willing to let him loose on her locks and it was a hard 'no' from the radio host.
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A former Big Brother star has announced she is 'quitting' social media as her main source of income and getting a regular job instead.

Tilly Whitfeld, 25, who shot to fame after her reality TV appearance in 2020, took to TikTok last Thursday to tell her fans she will no longer be a full-time influencer.

Despite boasting more than 209,000 followers and earning up to $10,000 for a video, she said there was now intense competition in the influencer space, and she needed a more stable income.

'I am quitting influencing as my main source of income and going to work a 9-5... I have never been so nervous to have a real job,' she said.

'It is one of the biggest decisions I have ever made. I am so excited to invest in a company and learn again.'

Tilly has landed herself a 'real job' in a marketing and buyers agent role, which she will start next week in North Sydney.

Former Big Brother star Tilly Whitfeld, 25, has announced she is 'quitting' social media as her main source of income and decided to get a 9-5 job

Having never worked a 'normal' job in her life, Tilly said she was 'stressed' about the move and asked her fans for tips on how to navigate the office environment.

'What is considered classy corporate but casual? Can I wear nice toe heels? What is the vibe? Do I catch the bus? Do I get public transport?' she asked.

'Do you guys stay really late at work? How does a lunch break work? Do I bring lunch like you do at school? I genuinely have no idea... Do I bring my own laptop?'

The blonde beauty has worked as an influencer since she graduated high school and has a podcast, YouTube series and several brand deals under her belt.

Tilly used her career change as a way to boost her paid partnership with Fashion Nova, putting sponsored posts to her Instagram which showed the 'corporate outfits' she will be wearing to her new job.

The social media personality assured her fans she would not be cutting them off completely, as she will continue to post content part-time.

'I was on Big Brother in 2020. Reality TV was fresh, influencing was fresh, and now it's just so over saturated,' she told news.com.au on Tuesday.

The reality TV star, who shot to fame for her reality TV appearance in 2020, took to TikTok last Thursday to tell her fans she will not be a full-time influencer any longer

Despite boasting more than 209,000 followers on the app and earning up to $10,000 for a video, she said she needed a more stable income

'One month you'll make so much money, like an insane amount. You might get paid $10,000 for a video, and you'll get that twice, and then next month you make $500.

'As I'm getting older, that is not a sustainable income anymore.'

Tilly, who lives at Manly on Sydney's Northern Beaches, told followers she needs a stable income so she can get a mortgage and buy a home.

She said having an unstable income is 'the worst feeling', adding: 'The bank is not going to give me a home loan on that sort of income.

'[Getting a job] is one of the biggest decisions I've ever made. It's such a dumb thing to say, but I'm so excited.'
Another legal battle could be on the horizon as Gene Hackman's children wait to learn the details of their father's last wishes.

Weeks after autopsies on Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were completed, it is still unclear if their remains will be buried in New Mexico, where the couple has lived for decades, or transported across state lines.

Hackman's three children  Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie  live in California.

Laura Cowan, an award-winning estate planning attorney and the founder of the 2-Hour Lifestyle Lawyer, told DailyMail.com the decision on what happens to the couple's remains could get tied up in red tape.

'If his children wanted his remains handled in California, and he left no legally binding burial or cremation instructions, what happens next depends on a combination of state laws, family dynamic and logistics,' Cowan said.

Actor Gene Hackman and his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa, married in 1991. The couple left Hollywood and lived a very private life in Santa Fe until their deaths in February

Hackman, who suffered from died about a week after his wife, authorities said.

She continued, 'If Gene's children disagree about what should happen to his body, and no written directive exists, things can get complicated. The dispute could end up in court, and a judge would decide based on state law and other factors.'

Police believe the late actor died around February 18 at age 95 from severe heart disease, with advanced Alzheimers disease as a 'significant' contributing factor.

Officials with the New Mexico medical investigators office said Arakawa, 64, died a week before Hackman from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which is a severe respiratory illness caused by contact with infected rodents.

Their bodies were found on February 26 in their Santa Fe house.

According to documents obtained by DailyMail.com, District Judge Maria Sanchez-Gagne approved Avalon Trust, LLC as a temporary successor at the recommendation of the estate's representative, Julia Peters.

The actor had left his $80 million Hollywood fortune to his wife, but since she was believed to have died about a week before him, there could be other legal complications.

The actor left his $80 million Hollywood fortune to his wife Betsy, who was a successor trustee to his trust

The couple's remains were found inside their lavish Santa Fe, New Mexico home

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.

Hackman's family filed a temporary restraining order in Sant Fe court to block the release of the couple's autopsy reports and photos taken at the home by investigators.

The request was approved by a Santa Fe judge.

Chris Ramirez, spokesperson for the New Mexico medical investigators office, refused to comment on whether the remains have been released to Hackman's family because of the temporary restraining order.

However, Ramirez told DailyMail.com that the medical investigators office work closely with families and take into account any cultural customs when burying or transporting remains.

Generally speaking, we always work with the family or funeral home, or whoever is going to do the body transport to release the remains,' Ramirez told DailyMail.com. 'It would not be a general practice to keep remains for longer than we have to.

It would be very normal and a common practice for our staff to make arrangements with families or funeral homes. It would be a normal part of our routine to make arrangements with whoever in the family so they can take possession of the body and practice whatever religious or cultural norms and beliefs that they wish to do.

Transporting remains across state lines is common and legal, but it must be handled by a licensed funeral home or mortuary, Cowan said.

The funeral home in New Mexico would coordinate with a funeral home in California, if that's what Hackman's kids decide, Cowan said.

'Most states have a hierarchy for making decisions if no written instructions are left or if the people nominated are no longer living,' the attorney added.

'Since Mr. Hackmans wife predeceased him, his living adult children would likely be next in line. If they agree, they likely have legal authority to determine how, when, and where he is buried.

Another question remains on who would make decisions regarding Arakawa's remains.

This undated photo shows Betsy Arakawa with her dogs Zinna, left, and Bear, in Santa Fe. Zinna's remains were also found in the home. Officials said the dog, who was in a kennel, likely died of dehydration and starvation. The couples two other dogs, including Bear, were found alive

In her will, Arakawa designated her assets to a trust, to be distributed to charitable organizations and the settlement of medical debts.

Arakawa is survived by her 91-year-old mother, Yoshie Feaster, who also is suffering from dementia.

According to Feaster's housekeeper, Keiko, Arakawa usually checked in with her mom, who lives in Hawaii.

But Arakawa hasn't called her mom since October, the housekeeper told DailyMail.com exclusively.

'She talked to a New Mexico policeman the other day,' Keiko said on February 28. 'But she has dementia so she forgot already. I feel so sorry for her. She was very upset. But right now she's kind of normal.'

Cowan said there is a legal hierarchy for who can control the disposition of remains when no written instructions are left.

However, since Arakawa's only living relative is her mother and her mother has dementia  she likely lacks the legal capacity to make those decisions.

'In that case, a close friend or other relative could petition the court for permission to make burial or cremation arrangements,' Cowan said. 'Gene Hackmans children do not automatically have authority over Betsys remains, but they may be able to petition for it  especially if no other close relatives are available or willing to do so.
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Naomi Watts was all smiles on Monday as she walked the red carpet at her latest movie premiere, but the same could not be said for her teen child Kai Schreiber.

The Australian actress, 56, and her 16-year-old attended The Cinema Society screening of The Friend in New York.

But while the King Kong star appeared happy to be there, Kai seemed glum while posing for photos, despite a recent catwalk debut at Paris Fashion Week.

The lookalike pair opted for a black and white theme to their looks, with a pop of pink.

Naomi slipped into a draped maxi dress from Jacquemus with black feathered detailing on her pleated skirts.

She paired the high-neck look with a basic white pump as she kept her blonde bob sleek and straight.

Naomi Watts, 56, was all smiles on Monday as she walked the red carpet at her latest movie premiere, but the same couldn't be said for her teen Kai Schreiber, 16

Meanwhile, Kai went with a darker black-and-pink polka-dotted jacket with ruffled skirts and a pink top.

The teen accessorised with lace stockings, black leather boots and a black-and-white Valentino handbag worth a staggering $4,020.

Both mother and child donned light smoky eyes and pink lipstick for the occasion.

Their outing comes just a few weeks after Kai made their fashion runway debut at Paris Fashion Week.

Naomi was every inch the proud mother as the budding model stepped out on the catwalk for Valentino, with the momentous moment being shared to Instagram.

Kai donned a knit snakeskin mini dress with a feathered collar for the career launch with the designer fashion house.

Kai's accessories included a beige headband, Havana sunglasses with blue lenses, white lace stockings and matching sandals with a rose strap.

The Australian actress and her 16-year-old were spotted attending The Cinema Society screening of The Friend in New York

Naomi looked smitten with husband Billy Crudup as they held hands on the red carpet

Kai uploaded a gallery of photos of the catwalk debut, including behind-the-scenes pictures sitting for hair and makeup styling.

'Omggg my heart is so full,' Kai captioned the reel of images.

Naomi also shared content of Kai walking for Valentino, including video which saw her excitedly re-watching the show online.

'Oh my god,' the Hollywood star exclaimed several times as she laid in bed watching her child model for the huge brand.

Naomi shares Kai and her son Sasha, 17, with American actor Liev Schreiber, who she was in a relationship with for 11 years before they amicably split in 2016.

Liev, 57, has since married Taylor Neisen while Naomi went on to find love again with Billy Crudup.

Naomi and American actor Billy, 56, tied the knot in a modest wedding ceremony at a New York courthouse in June 2023.

They then exchanged vows for a second time a year later in a larger ceremony with their family and friends in Mexico.
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Married At First Sight star Carina Mirabile was spotted looking visibly downcast as she strolled through Sydney last year during a break in filming.

The photos, which were taken after she learned her husband Paul Antoine decided to meet up with blonde bombshell Hannah Brown, captured her strolling alone.

Carina appeared downbeat as she drank from a takeaway coffee cup and made her way through a scenic street.

The digital marketing manager kept her look casual in a black one-piece exercise leotard paired with a grey jacket and Nike sneakers.

She wore her jet-black hair in a ponytail and tuned out the world with oversized headphones worn over her ears.

Carina's casual look was worlds away from her usually glamorous public persona.

MAFS star Carina Mirabile (pictured) was spotted looking visibly downcast as she strolled through Sydney last year during a break in filming

The photos, which were taken after she learned her husband Paul Antoine decided to meet up with blonde bombshell Hannah Brown, captured her strolling alone

Carina appeared downbeat as she drank from a takeaway coffee cup and made her way through a scenic street

The digital marketing manager kept her look casual in a black one-piece exercise leotard paired with a grey jacket and Nike sneakers

Her troubled expression mirrored the turmoil that's unfolded in her relationship with Paul, who has faced heavy criticism after agreeing to meet Hannah despite Carinas firm stance against it.

Carina's outing coincided with one of the most shocking events ever in MAFS, in which the remaining couples had their relationships put to the test on Monday night, in a challenge that has been described as 'the most f***ed in the show's history'.

They were given the opportunity to meet with another potential love match the experts found during the audition process.

It seems curiosity got the better of French groom Paul Antoine, who decided to meet up with blonde bombshell Hannah Brown.

This, despite Paul insisting at the beginning of the episode that he and bride Carina could not be in a better place.

'My relationship with Carina at the moment is absolutely amazing,' he gushed.

'I'm just on a little cloud. Our feelings are strong. We are united.'

However, that unity was shaken when Paul was met with the chance to catch up with Hannah.

Carina looked lost in thought as she stopped in the middle of the street

Carina's troubled expression mirrored the turmoil that's unfolded in her relationship with Paul, who has faced heavy criticism after agreeing to meet Hannah despite Carinas firm stance against it

Her downbeat demeanour was world's away from her usually glamorous persona

A light layer of nude makeup helped bring out her Carina's natural beauty

Carina was not happy with Paul meeting another woman and likened his behaviour to cheating

'The experts have done an amazing job at matching myself and Carina,' he said.

'We are very compatible, so if someone else is out there that is compatible with me I'm very curious.'

For her part, Carina said she had no interest a meeting as it was 'borderline cheating'.

'Paul and I are the perfect match,' she said.

'We have something so good established. I want us to continue the fairytale. I really like Paul. So, an easy decision - the grass isn't greener on the other side.

'My decision is going to be a "no". It's black and white. I don't want to go on a date with another person. It's borderline cheating.'

However as Carina played the dutiful wife, folding Paul's underpants and cleaning back at their apartment, her groom was inspecting his options.

Paul's date was 32-year-old Sydneysider Hannah and the blonde beauty appeared eager to get to know Paul - however the alarm bells quickly started ringing.

She appeared nonplussed when Paul explained he and Carina were very happy and he had agreed to the date out of sheer curiosity.

As her body language toward Paul visibly shifted after his admission, Hannah revealed to producers: 'I do not want to be in a relationship with someone as curious as Paul.'

And the curious groom received an even frostier reception upon returning to Carina and admitting his 'indiscretion'.

Instantly sensing Carina's displeasure with his decision to go on the date, Paul started speaking a mile a minute in an effort to justify his actions.

Carina was having none of it though, explaining to Paul that his sneaky date had embarrassed her, especially after just taking him home to Perth to meet her family.
Louise Thompson has revealed she's taken her first holiday in 14 months, after her last trip was cut short due to a health scare.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 34, revealed on Instagram that she and fiance Ryan Libbey had travelled to Paris with their son Leo, three, but confessed that in the midst of their excitement about the trip, they forgot one key item.

Louise admitted that due to the length of time since she and Ryan last jetted abroad, they forgot to pack a pram for Leo, and accidentally booked a restaurant that was 'fit for adults only.'

She wrote: 'Baby stepping my way back into travel overseas with a 2 hour train ride to Paris. I cant believe its been a full 14 months since weve been on a trip abroad together as a family of 3. How can that be?

'I have SO much to say. Including the fact that were so out of practise that we FORGOT to pack a pram and also arranged the most sophisticated culinary itinerary, fit for. Adults only.

'But we made it work. And for now La famille avant tout. That is all.'

Louise Thompson has revealed she's taken her first holiday in 14 months, after her last trip was cut short due to a health scare

The former Made In Chelsea star revealed on Instagram that she and fiance Ryan Libbey had travelled to Paris with their son Leo

Admitting that it had been well over a year since she and Ryan had taken a trip abroad, Louise confessed that she forgot one key item

Louise also admitted that due to the length of time since she and Ryan last jetted abroad, they forgot to pack a pram for Leo

Louise's last trip abroad had been a trip to Antigua in February 2024, but at the time the star shared she was forced to cut the trip short and book an early flight home after 'losing cupfuls of blood every 20 minutes.'

The star was later admitted to a London hospital following a series of health issues since giving birth to her son Leo.

In a shocking heath update, Louise broke her silence as she shed some light on her terrifying situation, adding that she was 'alive and in good care.'

Sharing a photo from her hospital bed, she explained: 'Bit of an unexpected turn of events, but gotta bridge the gap somewhere, so lets start with some good news - Im home after two and a bit weeks spent in hospital and Im feeling very grateful for home and for life. 

'A quick blast recap as my brain is too tangled for full sentences, but hoping this might save some time in the long run'

In the lengthy post she continued: 'Flew to the other side of the world (Antigua). Survived. Just. Plastered myself in makeup. Rode the wave of steroid highs - if you know, you know these are potent drugs. 

'Used up every iota of energy I could pretending I was going to be ok . But deep down inside I knew I was really sick I wanted the best for Leo and my family and memories 

'Holiday had been in the pipeline for yonks 2024 was ma YEAR... Had many exciting campaigns lined up and the announcement of one of the biggest and most transformative healing (and career) moments of my life: the announcement of my book, and other positive things to cling onto mentally. 

The podcast presenter also shared a series of snaps showing both herself and Ryan with little Leo during their Parisian meal

One snap showed Louise playfull dancing with Leo while they soaked up the stunning views of the Eiffel Tower

Louise's last trip abroad had been a trip to Antigua in February 2024, but at the time she was forced to cut the trip short and fly home after 'losing cupfuls of blood every 20 minutes'

'I also thought that having clawed out of the mental health hell hole id been through that nothing could bring me down. Nothing would compare to that right? 

'Mental is worse than physical. No physical worse surely. Both are agony and can leave you powerless. Difficult to have one without the other. Theyre intrinsically linked.

'Anyway, I thought I could handle anything. How shortsighted . My resilience had skyrocketed. And id become de-sensitised .

'Most people would be in A&E day 1 with my symptoms, I have no qualms in saying that because I know what my symptoms were and they were not ok, Ill spare you some of the grittier details, but I became a little too used to my chronic condition.

'Whilst away I fell asleep lots randomly in the car and in the middle of the day and on the beach. Couldnt really walk or pick up Leo . Poor Ryan had to compensate.'

Louise continued: 'Was disorientated a lot. Pushed through. Thought my body would hold up. Revelled in bed when Leo would sleep at 7pm . Survived to make it through to see another day. Thats what it felt like anyway.

'But the fear kept escalating when I was going to the loo every 20 minutes losing cup fulls of blood.

'My body was surviving, masking and compensating but probably only because Im young and Ive got a good ticker. Bit of a miracle really 

'Raised alarm bells to my family. Especially given other things Id been through.

'I couldnt cope anymore. Nothing was getting better on its own. Way beyond the point of self healing, wellness, eating right bla bla bla .

'Too much inflammation. Things felt a bit dangerous I couldnt risk deteriorating further in a foreign country with a lack of adequate health care and without my notes. I panicked. So we booked an early flight back to UK 

'Made it struggled on the way back but a small price to pay for making it home Went straight to A&E. Bloods taken. Admitted. Things got worse quite quickly. Thank goodness for safety. Thanks goodness for the NHS 

'Fast forward I am alive and in good care. I have experienced some of the best care I have ever received, especially in ITU. I have cried over how compassionate and good the care has been. I will have quite some thanking to do. Lots of letters. Lots of things I can hopefully help with in the future. Im nowhere near that place yet though. Lets walk first. '

'There have been several ups and downs and some scary stuff in-between. Cos hospital IS JUST scary when youre lying on that side of the curtain 

'Being put to sleep is scary. Central and arterial lines are scary. Bags and balloons and drains coming out of your body are scary. Gosh I have huge respect for medical staff.

'The fear creeping in... Its only really until youve spent some decent time here under what feels like emergency circumstances that I would expect you to get the fear. 

'PTSD doesn't help. Further worsened by the feeling that things arent moving in a linear direction. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY BLOOMING BODY!!! Why do I keep forgetting my questions. Why are things getting worse before they get better? The fear of the unknown is arguably the worst part of recovery. The waiting. Especially when coupled with 10/10 pain. 

'But Im not allowing myself to slip back. I am a STRONG COOKIE and I am working hard on a speedy recovery.

'And there will be a silver lining. I promise Im already searching for it. Already found a few nuggets. 

'A nice little reminder that health is everything. It must always come first first first. Along with my family and my son.

She concluded: 'I want to continue with life 'as normal' as much as possible as much as possible as I think that staying connected and grounded and present is really good for my head. And I still maintain that 2024 is going to be the best yet!'

Before Louise's health scare, she was posting photos from her family trip with Ryan, Leo and her father to Antigua And Barbuda.

Her post from January 28 featured a carousel of snaps of herself with little Leo, alongside which she wrote an emotive caption about 'learning to lean into and be grateful for those imperfect in-between moments because nothing lasts forever.'

Last April, Louise then revealed that she had a 'lifesaving' stoma bag fitted after years of suffering from ulcerative colitis following a diagnosis in 2018.

Louise has previously spoken about her ongoing struggles with the bowel condition ulcerative colitis as well as the autoimmune disease lupus.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic bowel condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed and small ulcers develop on the colon's lining, which can bleed. The condition has no cure, but can be effectively managed with time.

In April, Louise then revealed that she had a 'lifesaving' stoma bag fitted after years of suffering from ulcerative colitis following a diagnosis in 2018

Louise has been hit by a series of health setbacks following the birth of her son Leo two years ago.

The mother of one was diagnosed with PTSD and postnatal anxiety after nearly dying during labour.

Louise went 'partially deaf' during the ordeal and in 2022 revealed that she would cry up to 20 times a week.

The same year, Louise revealed she had been diagnosed with lupus, which is a condition affecting the immune system, causing joint pain, rashes and fatigue.

She recently announced that she had written a book - called Lucky: Learning To Live Again - which details the story of her traumatic pregnancy.

Announcing the news, Louise said she was 'ready' but also 'petrified' to step into a new chapter after being encouraged to 'help others' by sharing her story.
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Rosie O'Donnell has weighed in after the Prime Minister of Ireland's visit to the White House was hijacked by jokes about her self-deportation.

O'Donnell, 63, moved to Dublin with her youngest child Clay, 12, in January 2025, amid Trump's inauguration for a second term, and is in the process of securing her Irish citizenship through descent.

After speaking out about her self-deportation, the talk show host received a scathing response from Trump when the US President met Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin in Washington D.C for St Patrick's Day.

During the joint meeting, a reporter asked Martin 'why in the world' he allowed O'Donnell into the country, prompting Trump to ask: 'Did you know you have Rosie O'Donnell? Do you know who she is?'

When Martin demurred, chuckling and shaking his head, Trump told him: 'You're better off not knowing.'

The mother-of-five has now broken her silence on the incident during an appearance on Late Late Show in Ireland, admitting she found it 'surreal' as she took the opportunity to once again hit out at Trump.

In an interview with the Late Late Show in Ireland, O'Donnell said she was aware of the interaction and found it 'surreal' - taking the opportunity to once again hit out at Trump

'I felt very troubled that they put the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) in that position and didn't treat him with the respect that a leader of that kind deserves when he's visiting the White House,' she said.

O'Donnell also revealed she 'wrote the Taoiseach a little note apology to his email' after she saw the incident.

She said: 'I got a note back that they had received it and thanked me. But I just wanted him to know the history and what happened and why [Trump] seems to be out to get me in ways that are startling to most.

'The President of the United States has it out for me and has for 20 years,' she went on, adding that 'he sort of uses me as a punchline whenever he feels the need'.

Martin appeared to take Trump's March 12 comments in his stride, slightly chuckling when he was asked about O'Donnell, before the discussion swiftly moved on.

The diehard liberal actress - who has a long history of speaking out against the conservative president - shared in a nine-minute video after Trump was elected her decision to 'self deport' because she did not want to live in 'Trump's America'.

O'Donnell relocated to Ireland with her youngest child Clay, who is non-binary and goes by they/them pronouns.

She is also mother to four more adult children - sons Parker, 29, Blake, 25, and daughters Chelsea, 27, and Vivienne, 22.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin and President Donald Trump in the Oval Office

Rosie O'Donnell talks about writing a letter to Taoiseach Micheal Martin after his visit to the White House #latelate pic.twitter.com/FNgYYcbZ5a  The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) March 21, 2025

'I was never someone who thought I would move to another country. That's what I decided would be the best for myself and my 12-year-old child. And here we are,' she said.

'It's been heartbreaking to see what's happening politically and hard for me personally as well. The personal is political, as we all know.'

O'Donnell adopted all five of her children. She adopted her eldest child Parker as a single mother but her ex-wife Kelli Carpenter later also became his legal parent.

She went on to adopt Chelsea, Blake and Vivienne during her relationship with Carpenter before they went their separate ways in 2007.

O'Donnell then adopted Clay with her second wife, Michelle Rounds, in 2013. The couple went their separate ways in 2015 and Rounds tragically died in 2017.

O'Donnell has long been critical of Trump and his presidency and took to TikTok to bash Time magazine for naming him as its man of the year for 2024.

'Man of the year, Donald Trump. Well, f**k you Time Magazine. F**k you, seriously,' she said. 'How about most dangerous man of the year? How about most criminal man of the year? How about the worst president we've ever had of the year.'

The duo's feud dates back as far as 2006, after O'Donnell criticized Trump on The View over his response to a Miss USA winner who had been accused of drug use.

She has moved to Dublin with her youngest child Clay. She is also mother to sons Parker, 29, Blake, 25, and daughters Chelsea, 27, Vivienne, 22 (she is pictured with Chelsea and Clay)

At the time, Trump branded her a 'real loser'.

Since then, the tit-for-tat accelerated after Trump was elected - and then re-elected - into the White House.

In one of more recent critiques, she shared a video on TikTok of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hugging children and picking them up with a smile on his face.

'If only the current president had a drop of his caring committed heart #resist #protest #defythem #love #FDT,' she wrote in the caption.

O'Donnell's self-deportation sparked waves of celebration within MAGA, many of whom declared it a 'win for Trump'.

Robby Starbuck, a conservative activist and filmmaker proudly declared that Trump got the liberal comedian to 'self deport.' He celebrated: 'Promises made, promises kept!'

One person posted on X and pointed out that left-wing celebrities are 'actually making good on their threats' to leave the country this time around, whereas in Trump's first term they largely didn't follow through.
Westworld actor Jimmi Simpson's girlfriend Kyra Gardner came to his defense over the weekend after a fan she described as a 'stalker' allegedly accused him of 'grooming' her.

In a series of comments on a TikTok video she posted last week, Gardner defended her and Simpson's age gap, as he is apparently more than 20 years her senior.

She also blasted rumors that she and her boyfriend got to know each other when she was a teen, which she said were flatly 'false.'

The controversy erupted after Gardner, who is a filmmaker, jump on a TikTok trend and posted a short video of herself at the premiere of Studio 666 at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, which was held on February 16, 2022.

The video appeared to show Gardner setting up a camera outside the theater to do interviews with the stars as they arrived, one of which ended up being her future boyfriend.

'She doesn't know it yet, but she'll meet the love of her life that night, and is actually looking at a photo of him on the paper she's holding,' Gardner wrote over the footage.

Westworld actor Jimmi Simpson's girlfriend came to his defense over the weekend after a fan she described as a 'stalker' allegedly accused him of 'grooming' her; pictured in 2022 in LA

In a series of comments on a TikTok video she posted last week, Kyra Gardner defended her and Simpson's age gap, as he is apparently more than 20 years her senior

Despite the seemingly sweet nature of the video  which didn't feature or mention Simpson  Gardner apparently had to fight back comments from a troll.

'Wow this blew up overnight.. I WILL be deleting any false comments,' she declared in the comments on Saturday.

She said their were 'accusatory Reddit pages of a STALKER of mine that are FALSE.'

Gardner appeared to be referring to Reddit pages that seem to have popped up around nine months earlier that claimed that Simpson had been a friend one of Gardner's parents  and her by extension  for 10 years prior to when they began dating.

The posts were filled with comments from users deriding their relationship because of their age gap, while others accused Simpson of being a 'groomer.'

Although Gardner's birthdate isn't certain, they appear to have made their red carpet debut at the premiere of Apple TV+'s Dark Matter in April of last year, and she confirmed that she was 26 when they began dating, while Simpson is 49 currently.

'Our stalker is weirdly claiming Ive known him since I was 16 and he was friends with my dad,' Gardner continued. 'FALSE. My dad didnt even know who he was and I had to introduce THEM while at work.'

Gardern collaborates regularly with her father, the special effects makeup artist Tony Gardner, as the two host Fangoria magazine's Flesh & Blood & Bone podcast, which highlights his stories about working on makeup and effects for films including Dark Man, Hocus Pocus and Bad Grandpa, among many others.

The controversy erupted after Gardner, who is a filmmaker, jump on a TikTok trend and posted a short video of herself at the premiere of Studio 666 at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, which was held on February 16, 2022

That was the night Gardner met Simpson (pictured at the Studio 666 premiere) before they began dating. But Gardner said a 'stalker' was claiming Simpson was guilty of 'grooming' her

She said it was 'false' that Simpson had been a friend of her father's for 10 years and noted that, even though they have a large age gap, she was 26 when she they began dating

Gardner then clarified that she previously met Simpson when she was 22 while 'BRIEFLY interviewing him for my job on his film.'

She said the they 'Never interacted again until re-meeting' in 2022 at the Studio 666 premiere in Hollywood.

'Didnt start dating til I was 26,' she continued, declaring, 'Its an age gap but certainly not grooming.'

Gardner added: 'Every1 wanting to push that false narrative is gross & I dont know why you WANT it to be a grooming story. Please read more than the 2 minutes of REDDIT gossip before making assumptions about people.'

As Gardner said she would be deleting 'false comments,' the comments section on her TikTok video was mostly full of fans of her or Simpson who offered condolences as she dealt with social media trolls.

Several people also urged her not to refer to the alleged stalker posting falsehoods about her relationship as 'our stalker' or 'my stalker,' as they said it could give the person a sense of connection to her or Simpson, which stalker's usually desire.

Another person questioned her about Simpson's marriage to Sophia Del Pizzo, though she noted that the two, who divorced in 2021, had split years ago.

Gardner most recently featured her boyfriend Simpson on Valentine's Day in a sweet Instagram post featuring several photos of the lovebirds beaming for the camera and embracing.

The false rumors appear to have originated in Reddit posts dating back at least 9 months, after she and Simpson made their red carpet debut in April 2024

Gardner most recently featured her boyfriend Simpson on Valentine's Day in a sweet Instagram post featuring several photos of the lovebirds beaming for the camera and embracing

'I choo choo choose you today and every day @jimmisimpson   (and also our kitties) Happy Valentines Day to all! ,' she captioned the post

Simpson is best known for starring on HBO's Westworld from 2016 to 2020. He has also appeared on It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia and films like Zodiac and Date Night; pictured with Evan Rachel Wood on Westwood

'I choo choo choose you today and every day @jimmisimpson   (and also our kitties) Happy Valentines Day to all! ,' she captioned the post.

Prior to marrying Sophia Del Pizzo in 2019, Simpson was married to Yellowjackets actress Melanie Lynsky from 2007 until she filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, in 2012. Their divorce was finalized in 2014.

Simpson is best known for starring on HBO's Westworld from 2016 to 2020. He was a lead actor as part of the show's main cast in the first season, though he appeared as a recurring character in season two and had less time in the third season as a guest actor.

He's also known for his recurring role as Liam McPoyle on the longrunning comedy series It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, and recent projects including Apple TV+'s Pachinko and Dark Matter. Simpson has also acted extensively in films, with roles in Zodiac, Date Night, White House Down, Under The Silver Lake and more.

Since making his film debut nearly 25 years ago, Simpson has earned Primetime Emmy, Screen Actors Guild and BAFTA Award nominations.
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Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond is embracing her 'grandma era.'

The 56-year-old Food Network star became a grandmother last December, when her daughter Alex Drummond, 27, gave birth to baby girl Sofia with husband Mauricio Scott.

And over the weekend, Drummond shared some adorable photos and a video with her granddaughter to Instagram.

One photo showed her smiling while holding little Sofia, who was clad in a cute pink onesie. In another one, Ree and Sofia were seen lounging on an outdoor sofa.

'In my grandma era,' the delighted new grandmother  whose family net worth is estimated to be around $200 million  wrote in the caption, along with a dancing emoji.

Her daughter Alex commented, writing, 'My favorite era!!'

Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond, 56, shared adorable new photos of her with granddaughter Sofia over the weekend

'In my grandma era,' the delighted new grandmother  whose family net worth is estimated to be around $200 million  wrote in the caption, along with a dancing emoji

Another snap showed her taking Sofia for a neighborhood stroll with their golden retriever in Texas. She also shared a sweet video of Sofia in a bassinet, playfully tickling her

'When your firstborn has a baby that looks exactly like she looked, you get to relive all the delicious feelings of first-time motherhood, but without the sleep deprivation, hormones, and confusion,' she wrote in the caption.

'I didnt think I was ready yet to cross over to the granny side of the street, but Lord in HeavenI am loving it and Im so grateful for this gift.'

Ree's fans filled the comments with praise, especially applauding her for wholeheartedly embracing her role as a grandmother.

'I just love that you are embracing the grandma era! I adore my grandchildren but still cringe a little at being grandmother. Thank you for your positive attitude,' one wrote.

'This era looks AMAZING on you both!' another added.

'Slaying the grandma era,' someone else chimed in.

'ABSOLUTELY THE BEST ERA TO BE IN' yet another person wrote.

Aside from Alex, Ree and her husband Ladd Drummond also share daughter Paige, 25, and sons Bryce, 21, and Todd, 20along with their foster son Jamar, 21.

Ree joyfully announced on her website that she became a grandmother in December.

Her daughter Alex revealed last June that she and her husband Mauricio were expecting their firstborn child in the winter.

One photo showed her smiling while lounging with little Sofia on an outdoor sofa

Another snap showed her taking Sofia for a neighborhood stroll with their golden retriever

She also shared a sweet video of Sofia in a bassinet, playfully tickling her

'I didnt think I was ready yet to cross over to the granny side of the street, but Lord in HeavenI am loving it and Im so grateful for this gift,' Ree wrote in the caption

Her daughter Alex Drummond, 27  who gave birth to Sofia in December  commented, writing, 'My favorite era!!'

Their bundle of joy arrived in time for Christmas when Alex gave birth to her daughter at 2:30am on December 18 in Dallas, Texas.

Ree shared heartwarming snap of her cradling her 'perfect' newborn granddaughter - and just underneath it, she revealed the baby's name.

'My heart is exploding with happiness, so I couldn't wait to share the news with you that Alex and Mauricio's baby girl, Sofia, was born early this morning!' she wrote.

'My daughter just had a daughter. I'm honestly still trying to wrap my head (and heart) around it all,' the television personality glowingly added.

Ree and Ladd, whom she has been married to for 28 years, were able to arrive at the Dallas hospital in time for the birth.

'Mauricio attended to Alex's every need, to the point that the rest of us questioned if we even needed to be there,' Ree gushed. 'What a gift to Ladd and me, for Alex to have a partner in life who demonstrates his love through such clear action.'

She described the baby as 'perfect,' adding: 'I'm saying that with as much objectivity as I can. But I'm not kidding...she is perfect. Like, if you looked up "perfect" in Miriam Webster, it would reference Sofia Scott, and maybe even show a photo of her. Although that would probably technically be an encyclopedia.'

Ree warmly told her fans: 'I want Alex's internet aunts and uncles, who have watched her grow up on my blog and cooking show, to be able to celebrate the best day of her life...and certainly my and Ladd's life.'

Alex and Mauricio tied the knot at the Drummond Ranch in rural Oklahoma on May Day 2021.

Ree and husband Ladd, whom she has been married to for 28 years, were able to arrive at the Dallas hospital in time for the birth in December

Alex welcomed her baby girl with husband Mauricio Scott

Alex and Mauricio tied the knot at the Drummond Ranch in rural Oklahoma on May Day 2021

Aside from Alex, Ree and Ladd also share daughter Paige, 25 , and sons Bryce, 21, and Todd, 20along with their foster son Jamar, 21

The Drummond family, one of the top 100 landowners in the U.S., has an estimated net worth of around $200 million, with much of the wealth stemming from Ladd's cattle and horse operations

The Drummond family, one of the top 100 landowners in the U.S., has an estimated net worth of around $200 million, with much of the wealth stemming from Ladd's cattle and horse operations.

Ladd, who co-owns Drummond Land & Cattle Co., comes from a long line of ranchers dating back to the late 1800s when his ancestor Fred Drummond first began acquiring land in Oklahoma and Kansas.

Beyond ranching, the Drummonds also have a lucrative arrangement with the U.S. government.

Records obtained by DailyMail.com in 2017 revealed that since 2006, the Bureau of Land Management has paid Drummond Land & Cattle Co. nearly $24 million to provide land for wild horses and burros as part of federal conservation efforts.

With a total landholding of 675 square miles, the Drummond estate covers more ground than half of Rhode Island and would rank as the seventh-largest U.S. city by area.
Troubled Jaime King has broken her silence amid a sad custody battle and ugly war with her landlord.

King, 45, was sued by her landlord Sheila Irani over unpaid rent in January, with documents claiming she owed around $42,580 in back rent, according to Us Weekly.

As a result of the legal conflict, King - who shares children James, 11, and Leo, nine, ex-husband Kyle Newman - has been forced to move out of the property.

Speaking with the publication about the issue, King said the dispute has since been settled - however she did not shy away from slamming her landlord's efforts as 'disappointing.'

'The situation with my landlord was resolved privately,' she told Us Weekly on Monday. 'Its disappointing  but not surprising  to see someone try to exploit this moment for attention.'

'I am currently focused on what matters most: my children,' insisted King, who chose her close friend Taylor Swift to be her son Leo's godson in 2015.

It's her first public statement since a judge ruled she must have visits with her sons supervised until she finishes six months of rehab for drugs and alcohol.

The landlord lawsuit obtained by Us Weekly alleges King has failed to pay any rent since January.

Jaime King has blasted her landlord as attention-seeking she addressed their legal battle over her rental in the Hollywood Hills for the first time; pictured 2022

The lawsuit stems over unpaid rent for this Hollywood Hills home, and photos recently showed King's belongings being removed from the premises

The actress pictured with her sons Leo and James

The property was rented out to King for $10,145 a month and the actress had been a tenant since April 2023, when she inked the lease.

Irani said she locked King out of the rental pending payment of rent and also claimed the Hart Of Dixie vet had been 'maliciously' remaining at the residence as an unlawful detainer.

In an amended court motion, King's attorney denied Irani's allegations and claimed the actress had been taking acting jobs to pay off the debt.

However, she has also faced 'setbacks' impeding her progress, with the documents noting King had recently evacuated from her home due to the LA fires.

They also said she had been 'distracted' by the on-going custody battle with husband Kyle Newman over their two sons, Leo, nine, and James, 11.

'[King] has expressed to [Irani] multiple times that she desires to pay the past due rent and vacate the premises prior to the end of the lease. She has been acting in good faith to raise the funds to due so, however suffered continued setbacks and hardship due to the Los Angeles wildfires, which came within 800 feet of her home, forcing her to flee her home after mandatory evacuation orders were issued in the Nichols Canyon fire.'

Additionally, her lawyer added King is 'involved in active litigation concerning the custody of her children.'

King's lawyers also allege that Irani is 'fully aware' the impact an eviction could have on the star's custody battle.

'The custody battle] has been extremely stressful and distracting from her work, which [Irani] is fully aware of in that an eviction would be detrimental to [Kings] custody matter,' they added.

The parties have have since settled the matter, with the two agreeing to several stipulations, including that Jaime move out by March 22, 2025.

'King acknowledges that her delay in meeting the March 22, 2025 move-out date will cause Irani significant and incalculable damages including but not limited to the inability to rent the premises to a new tenant beginning on April 1, 2025,' the documents state. 'Accordingly, King agrees to pay Irani the additional sum of $1,000 per day for each day or part of a day as holdover rent.'

Jaime King - a longtime friend of Taylor Swift's - was pictured with the Shake It Off artist in 2020

King reportedly moved out of the home earlier this month and photos showed her last personal belongings being removed from the property, according to The Sun.

Real estate records have shown that her former rental has been taken by new tenants for $11,900-per-month just a week after being on the market.

According to a source close to the Pearl Harbor actress, she was forced to 'downsize' and 'had to find somewhere cheaper' according to The Sun.

The insider explained: 'She has been struggling with her finances for years now after some failed film ventures but the custody fight and having to fight all the accusations made against her in court drained her bank accounts.

'She moved into a smaller space just this month.'

Jamie had previously sold her Beverly Hills home for $2million after her divorce from Kyle in 2023.

The source also revealed that the star's world has been 'shattered' after recently losing custody of sons.

The insider explained: 'Now that the world knows, it's made everything that much harder. It causes a wedge in personal and work relationships.

'She is taking it very hard to say the least. She has had demons shes been battling for decades but her recent troubles have been exasperated by her family troubles, her career struggling and financial stress.'

'And I'm sure things others don't even know about, she can be very private about what she's going through.'

The Sun report comes after a judge awarded King's ex Newman sole physical custody of their two young sons, according to court documents obtained by People.

The two boys with live with Newman, who will have final say on legal custody while the pair will share custody on paper amid the contentious case.

The judge said King must have her visits with her sons supervised until she finishes a mandated drug/alcohol program that lasts around six months.

Dailymail.com previously reached out to Newman for comment on the development.

The family of four pictured in 2017

The people approved in the supervisory role included her mother, sister, brother-in-law, and Newman's brother Kevin, the outlet reported.

King, who played the role of Heather Vandergeld in the 2004 comedy White Chicks, has made repeated visits to court over the past five years with her ex-husband to litigate custody concerns.

Most recently, King - who has also been seen in movies such as 2009's My Bloody Valentine and 2005's Sin City - filed with the court for an emergency request.

King filed the request to alter the agreement they made in terms of child and spousal support two years prior, People reported.

King 'lacks the ability to pay the support,' her attorneys said in legal docs, while Newman said King had 'been out of compliance with the court's child and spousal support orders for well over a year.'

Newman told the court that King would not 'sign a judgment' in their divorce agreement; and that she did not have the legal right to 'rescind' any of the court's orders, the outlet reported.

The former couple initially wed in 2007 at the Los Angeles-based mansion Greystone Park and Manor.

King in May of 2020 entered a court filing requesting a divorce to end the 13-year marital union.

King concurrently filed paperwork with the court requesting an emergency motion toward custody and visitation-related issues, the outlet reported, as well as a petition to prevent domestic violence.

Newman's rep at the time denied the allegations in a statement which read: 'This is another vicious, failed attempt of Kyle to continue his abuse of Jaime and manipulate the court system.

'Today Kyle was denied all requests for emergency orders and the judge granted Jaime shared legal custody of their two children. The temporary domestic violence restraining order remains in place to protect Jaime.'

Amid the custody row, King said in May of 2020 that Newman had put together an 'intervention' for her four months earlier after informing family and friends she was having substance abuse issues.

King in legal docs said she went a facility so she could be tested and cleared as drug-and-alcohol free. She said that days in, she had been sent home after passing a substance abuse test.

King is 'a chronic drug addict and alcoholic who refuses to acknowledge that she has a problem, let alone seek meaningful treatment for such problem,' Newman said in his legal filing at the time.

Newman told the court in a filing that 'several friends' informed him that she had used narcotics during both of her pregnancies. He added that doctors told him that their son Leo 'was also addicted due to her continued drug use.'

He said he 'was devastated' to learn at the same medical appointment 'that Leo Thames had a congenital heart defect and would need surgery to survive as soon as he was born.'

Newman said in his court filing that on occasion, King had driven 'under the influence' with their children in the vehicle, People reported.

King became 'so intoxicated in front of them that they thought their mother was dying, and abandoning them for days at a time to get drunk and high instead of care for them.'

He added that 'at one point, Jaime left Leo Thames at his doctor's appointment with the nanny, only to be found over a half hour later at the liquor store across the street buying a bottle of alcohol.'
Teresa Giudice fans were shocked to learn Monday that the reality star and her husband Luis Ruelas have reportedly been hit with millions in tax liens.

The 52-year-old Real Housewives Of New Jersey fixture and her 49-year-old husband had over $3 million in New Jersey state tax liens placed on them, according to documents first reported on by People.

On social media, Teresa fans widely mocked the star for the tax issue, with several critics wondering aloud whether her marriage to Luis was in danger amid the financial crisis looming over the couple.

Some fans also noted Teresa's previous admission that she and her husband did not sign a prenuptial agreement before tying the knot.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Teresa's representatives for comment.

Tax liens are a legal claim made on a person's assets if they fail or refuse to fully pay their taxes. If they fail to pay the amount of the judgment, the government would be able to seize their assets.

Teresa Giudice fans were shocked to learn Monday that the reality star and her husband Luis Ruelas have reportedly been hit with millions in tax liens; still from RHONHJ

The 52-year-old Real Housewives Of New Jersey fixture and her 49-year-old husband had over $3 million in New Jersey state tax liens placed on them, according to documents first reported on by People; seen in 2023 in Beverly Hills

According to the New Jersey Courts website, Teresa owes $303,889.20 in unpaid taxes in a judgement that was entered on March 20.

Luis owes several times that amount, after a judgment saying he owes $2,569,842.06 was entered on March 6.

That amount is on top of an earlier lien issued on December 12, 2024, for $163,523.94 in unpaid taxes.

On X (formerly Twitter), one user joked that they 'couldn't stop laughing' at Teresa while reposting news about Luis' tax liability and photos of her confessing to Andy Cohen that she didn't sign a prenup.

Another user reposted an Instagram photo Teresa shared on Monday in which she wore a black T-shirt that read on the front: 'I speak fluent French: Hermes. Chanel. Dior. Saint Laurent.'

They wondered why Teresa chose such a terrible moment to post the photo.

'Ma'am, this is not the look. Right now you probably can't even afford the Walmart Birkin,' they wrote.

Some posters compared Teresa to Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City star and imprisoned fraudster Jen Shah.

According to the New Jersey Courts website, Teresa owes $303,889.20 in unpaid taxes. Luis owes $2,569,842.06, on top of an earlier lien for $163,523.94 in unpaid taxes

On social media, Teresa fans widely mocked the star for the tax issue and joked about her possibly troubled marriage. Some fans also noted Teresa's previous admission that she and her husband did not sign a prenuptial agreement before tying the knot

Another user called her out for posting a tasteless photo of herself in a shirt bragging about her expensive taste on the same day news broke of her unpaid taxes

Some posters compared Teresa to Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City star and imprisoned fraudster Jen Shah

Several fans joked that Teresa had 'learned nothing' from her previous legal problems, referring to her and her former husband Joe Giudice pleading guilty in 2014 to 41 counts of bank, mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud

Although Teresa claimed to have merely signed forms without knowing of Joe's criminal activity, one fan wondered if 'Maybe juicy joe wasn't the head fraudster after all' in light of Teresa's ongoing tax problems even after they divorced

Several fans joked that Teresa had 'learned nothing' from her previous legal problems, referring to her and her former husband Joe Giudice pleading guilty in 2014 to 41 counts of bank, mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud.

Joe also admitted to not filing a tax return from 2004 through 2008.

Teresa was ultimately sentenced to 15 months in federal prison, while Joe was hit with a 41-month sentence, though he was allowed to serve his sentence after hers was completed so that one parent could be with their children continuously.

Although Teresa claimed to have merely signed forms without knowing of Joe's criminal activity, one fan wondered if 'Maybe juicy joe wasn't the head fraudster after all' in light of Teresa's ongoing tax problems even after they divorced.

However, a small number of users defended Teresa and urged her to focus on her least critical fans.

During a 2022 appearance on SiriusXM's Andy Cohen Live, Teresa claimed that she only went to prison because the government wanted to 'make an example' of her.

'I know in my heart I was not supposed to go there. I know I only went because I'm in the public eye,' she claimed. 'Listen, I'll shout it out to the world.

'I signed two contracts that Joe was flipping [for] two homes he was buying,' she alleged after having already served her sentence. 'That's all I did. I knew nothing about what he was doing. I mean, I have nothing to hide. Like, I did my time already, you know?'

However, a small number of users defended Teresa and urged her to focus on her least critical fans.

After Teresa's ex-husband Joe Giudice (pictured on the left in 2014 in Newark, New Jersey) served his 41-month prison sentence, he was forced to move to Italy after his attempts to prevent his deportation failed

Joe had admitted to not filing a tax return from 2004 to 2008

Joe moved to Italy in 2019, and Teresa met her future husband Luis during a 2020 vacation on the Jersey Shore. They got engaged in 2021 and tied the knot the following year

In 2021, Teresa admitted to Andy Cohen that she wouldn't be signing a prenup with Luis, whom she claimed was 'definitely' wealthier than her; seen in July 2024 in NYC

Following her ex-husband Joe's sentence, he was forced to move to Italy ahead of deportation hearings.

He had lived in the US as an undocumented immigrant, as he was born in Italy before his parents brought him to the US when he was one year old, but he reportedly never pursued citizenship seriously before his legal trouble, meaning he would almost certainly be deported after serving his sentence despite his efforts to stay in the country.

Joe moved to Italy in 2019, and Teresa met her future husband Luis during a 2020 vacation on the Jersey Shore.

The couple got engaged the following year, and later in 2021, Teresa told host Andy Cohen on the after show to Watch What Happens Live that she didn't plan to sign a prenup with Luis.

'I mean, I would [sign a prenup], you know, if he said so. I'm so very easy about that,' she claimed, before alleging that Luis 'definitely' had more money than her.

'I would never take anything from him, I'm so not like that,' she said, via People.

Earlier in the episode, Teresa's daughter Gia, 21, wondered why her mother would need to sign a prenup, to which an exasperated Andy replied: 'Why wouldn't she sign a prenup?!'

Teresa then jumped in to say that she considered calling off her first wedding to Joe after he had her sign a prenup 'a week before' their wedding in 1999, though she said her mother ultimately talked her out of walking away.
Rebecca Judd has moved her mum into her $7.3 million Brighton, Melbourne mansion.

The AFL WAG's mother, Kerry Brown, has been busy cooking meals for Bec, her husband Chris Judd and their four children.

The 42-year-old shared a photo to Instagram Stories on Tuesday showing Kerry hard at work in the kitchen.

Bec boasted that she no longer has to worry about feeding her family as her mum is all over it.

'Having mum live with us the last few months after she retired and regularly cook dinner for our tribe has been truly wonderful' Bec wrote in her caption.

'I don't even have to think about it. It's just done' she added.

Rebecca Judd has moved her mum into her $7.3 million Brighton, Melbourne mansion. The AFL WAG's mother, Kerry Brown (pictured), has been busy cooking meals for Bec, her husband Chris Judd and their four children

The model and influencer shares four children - Oscar, 12, Billie, 10, and twins Tom and Darcy, eight - with retired footy great Chris Judd. All pictured

Bec additional said 'And it's usually a #fucyum' which appears to be a word she coined herself, meaning very yummy.

The model and influencer shares four children - Oscar, 12, Billie, 10, and twins Tom and Darcy, eight - with retired footy great Chris.

It comes after Bec shared a surprising detail about her 23 romance with husband Chris.

She posted a dedication to her man for Valentine's Day, but admitted that the pair do not celebrate the occasion.

Alongside a throwback photo with Chris, 41, Bec wrote that the couple don't mark the day for lovers worldwide.

'More than half my life with my Valentine and we've never celebrated a Valentine's Day' she wrote in her caption.

The Judds met at a pub in Perth when they were both teenagers, and wed on December 31, 2010, at Melbourne's Albert Park.

Rebecca previously shared her secret to a long and happy relationship on KIIS FM's 3pm Pick-Up radio show.

The Judds met at a pub in Perth when they were both teenagers, and wed on December 31, 2010, at Melbourne's Albert Park

She explained how a bad sleeping arrangement can lead to tension in a marriage, so she makes sure Chris never interrupts her.

'If he comes anywhere near me or if he has a toe touching me at night time, I'll like wake him up [and] push him over,' she said.

'I cannot sleep if you're touching me' the fashion designer continued.

'You actually need to be at least half a metre away from me, so if I want to roll and turn in the night, I can turn and still not have to touch you.'

However, Rebecca added she and Chris make sure to have a 'quick kiss and cuddle' before turning out the lights and enforcing the no-touching policy.

'When we were first together, it was better to sleep knowing he was there,' she explained.

'We would be like completely entwined in each other and have the best night's sleep.

'Now, we'll have a quick kiss and a cuddle and then it's like, "See you in the morning!"'

The brunette bombshell balances her busy life as a designer and influencer with raising her kids.

She also runs a successful fashion label, JAGGAD, which specialises in trendy activewear.
Eva Mendes paid emotional tribute to her late brother Carlos Mendez in an Instagram post on Tuesday ahead of the anniversary of his birthday - nearly nine years after his passing.

The actress, 51, was remembering her sibling, who died at 53 after a cancer battle on April 17, 2016.

She told in her post - as she shared snaps in a forest - that at this time of year she sees signs that remind her of him.

Eva penned in the caption: 'My brother would've had a birthday this April 2.

'He passed almost 9 years ago. Then, less than 2 weeks later I gave birth to our second baby. 

'When his birthday nears, I start to look for signs that could be him. Of course, this can all be in my head, but I rather not believe that. It's not as beautiful.

Eva Mendes paid emotional tribute to her late brother Carlos Mendez in an Instagram post on Tuesday ahead of the anniversary of his birthday - nearly nine years after his passing

The actress, 51, was remembering her sibling, who died at 53 after a cancer battle on April 17, 2016

'So, here I am, starting to see hearts everywhere and feeling him a little extra right now. More to come, I'm sure.'

The wife of Ryan Gosling was referring to their daughter Amada, eight, in the tribute.

Eva's younger brother Carlo Mendes, 47, commented on her post, writing: 'I miss him so much.'

The Training Day actress has previously reflected on the timing of her brother's death and Amada's April 29th birthday, saying it is a 'tough' situation.

'It's so tough,' she told People in November 2019. 'Thank God I had my baby; it was a week after he passed. So there was something to move forward. There was poetry to it all.'

She expressed that one of her 'favorite memories' with her brother was spending time together during the holidays.

'My favorite memories are when he used to, at Thanksgiving or a big dinner or Christmas dinner, roast everybody  but roast you hard.

'Of course, I miss him incredibly, and that's an understatement, but I'm holding on to that tradition,' Mendes said.

'I'm so happy that he gave me that,' she continued. 'I don't think I could carry it on the way he did, but those are some fun memories because he would really get raw.'

She told in her post - as she shared snaps in a forest - that at this time of year she sees signs that remind her of him

Eva penned in the caption: 'My brother would've had a birthday this April 2. 'He passed almost 9 years ago. Then, less than 2 weeks later I gave birth to our second baby'

She added: 'When his birthday nears, I start to look for signs that could be him. Of course, this can all be in my head, but I rather not believe that. It's not as beautiful'

Eva's younger brother, Carlo Mendez, confirmed his older brother's death in an emotional memorial on the day he died

Mendes' younger brother, Carlo, confirmed his older brother's death in an emotional memorial on the day he died.

'With absolute pain and sadness in my heart this is the hardest thing I've ever had to go through in my life and as I'm writing this I'm still in disbelief,' Carlo said at the time. 'My brother has passed away peacefully this morning.

He continued: 'I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for those who have prayed and have kept my brother in your thoughts and who wished him to get better.

'He fought with all his might and power and gave cancer one hell of a fight. He leaves behind behind a 13 year old and a 5 year old.

'I love you my brother may God bless you and I'll see you once again.'

Eva and her husband Ryan welcomed their first daughter, Esmeralda, now 10, in September 2014, and their second daughter, Amada, eight, in April 2016.

Last fall she revealed that they don't let their daughters have social media or smartphones.

'Putting my kid on the internet and being like, 'Oh, search something,' that to me is equivalent to telling her, 'Oh, just go down the street in the middle of the night. You'll be fine,'' Mendes revealed in an interview with The Times.

'I know that sounds extreme, but that's what I feel,' the actress added.
Johnny Knoxville looked worlds away from his Jackass days as he attended the World Premiere of The Studio with his girlfriend Emily Ting.

The Jackass co-creator, 54, was among the stars who attended the premiere of the Apple TV+ series at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on Monday.

Johnny's signature spiky jet black hair was nowhere in sight, instead replaced by a head full of grey locks.

He also ditched the plaid shirts and graphic t-shirts of his younger days in favour of a tartan sweater vest and tie.

Johnny was joined for the evening by his costume designer girlfriend Emily Ting, who he made his first public appearance with back in 2022.

The couple's loved-up display comes just seven months after Johnny's divorce from his second wife Naomi Nelson was finalised - two years after they split after 13 years together.

Johnny Knoxville looked worlds away from his Jackass days as he attended the world premiere of The Studio with his girlfriend Emily Ting in LA on Tuesday

Johnny's signature spiky jet black hair was nowhere in sight, instead replaced by a head full of grey locks

The actor and stuntman regularly gushes about girlfriend Emily on his Instagram, with him wishing her a happy birthday on Sunday and including a special shout out to the dog they share.

'Happy birthday to my best friend and baby from the luckiest man in the universe!!' he wrote.

'I love you much and i am eternally grateful to share this life with you. Now if you would just stop spoiling @bucket.biz so much!!'

Johnny, shares son Rocko, 15, and daughter Arlo, 13, with his second wife Naomi, 44.

Per court documents obtained by TMZ last summer, Johnny and Naomi also worked out an agreement on child custody and support for their children - although the terms were not made public.

When Johnny filed for divorce in June 2022 he listed September 4, 2021 - their 11 year wedding anniversary - as their date of separation, according to The Blast.

The MTV icon has requested joint legal and physical custody of their children and has also cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the divorce.

Johnny tied the knot with Naomi in Los Angeles in September 2010.

He also ditched the plaid shirts and graphic t-shirts of his younger days in favour of a tartan sweater vest and tie (Seen in 2002)

The Jackass co-creator, 54, was among the stars who attended the premiere of the Apple TV+ series at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on Monday

Johnny was joined for the evening by his costume designer girlfriend Emily Ting, who he made his first public appearance with back in 2022 (Pictured)

This was Johnny's second marriage. The prankster was previously married to Melanie Clapp from 1995 to 2008.

Johnny and Melanie share one daughter, Madison Clapp, 29.

In August 2021, a month before their split, Johnny posted a gushing tribute to her in honour of her birthday.

'Happy birthday to my love and light. A wonderful wife and a beautiful mother.

'You are the sunshine on my face and everything good. I love you very much. Happy birthday,' he raved.

The couple's loved-up display comes just seven months after Johnny's divorce from his second wife Naomi Nelson was finalised (Johnny and Naomi seen with their children in 2019)

This was Johnny's second marriage as the prankster was previously married to Melanie Clapp from 1995 to 2008 (Johnny and Melanie seen in 2004)

On Mother's Day that same year, he posted of her: 'Happy Mother's Day to my one true love and the most wonderful mother our kids could ever hope for.

'You bless us every day and I and we love you very much.'

The actor rose to fame in Jackass, a crude American television series famous for its cast of people performing various dangerous, crude, ridiculous, and self-injuring stunts and pranks.

The show, which was originally shown on MTV from 2000 to 2002, served as a launchpad for the television and acting careers of Johnny who has since gone on to star in five Jackass films, and The Dukes Of Hazzard.
Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks' mystery women have been revealed after they were spotted cosying up to brunette beauties outside Marvin Humes' 40th birthday party over the weekend.

TV star Sam, 32, split from Zara McDermott, 28, in December after five years together, and she has since moved on with One Direction's Louis Tomlinson, 33.

While Pete, 37, and Maura Higgins' romance ended last month, with the Irish beauty, 34, going on to share a drunken kiss with McFly's Danny Jones, 38, shortly after.

However, despite being snapped enjoying a seemingly flirty chat with the ladies outside the Savoy Hotel, it appears that Sam and Pete haven't moved on with new romances just yet.

Instead, it's been revealed the interaction was nothing romantic and the women were just members of JLS's management team.

A source told The Sun: 'Sam and Pete are both single now and will be each others' wingmen. And Sam is definitely ready to get back on the horse and date again after a miserable few weeks now Zara is moving on.

Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks' mystery women have been revealed after they were spotted cosying up to brunette beauties outside Marvin Humes ' 40th birthday party over the weekend

However, despite being snapped enjoying a seemingly flirty chat with the ladies outside the Savoy Hotel, it appears that Sam and Pete haven't moved on with new romances just yet

'But this time it was just a friendly chat, they were with JLS's management team outside Marvin's party!'

Former Made In Chelsea star Sam was seen having a good time living a single life as he was spotted with Pete Wicks giggling away with a group of women.

Sam was seen sharing a cigarette with one woman after he whispered in her ear and hugged her.

He was also seen chatting away with another woman in a chic black ruffled dress, before seemingly reassuring another women who wore a backless silky dress as he was seen placing his hand on her arm.

For the outing, Sam cut a handsome figure in a navy suit, which he paired with a blue shirt, black tie and black shoes.

Meanwhile, his pal Pete wore his usual two-piece black flared-trouser suit layered over a low-cut top.

The outing came as Sam's celebrity dating app profile on Raya was revealed.

The profile shows him posing in one snap with the cat he still shares with Zara.

TV star Sam, 32, split from Zara McDermott, 28, in December after five years together, and she has since moved on with One Direction's Louis Tomlinson, 33

While Pete, 37, and Maura Higgins ' romance ended last month, with the Irish beauty, 34, going on to share a drunken kiss with Danny Jones, 38, shortly after [Maura and Danny pictured]

Another snap on the profile shows him with best pal Pete who has been supporting him through the breakup.

A source told The Sun about Sam joining Raya: 'Sam's been left devastated by the end of his relationship, which was made even more difficult when he saw who Zara was dating.

'Even though he might not be quite ready to jump back into something serious yet, Sam was encouraged by his friends to dip his toe in the water.'

The publication previously reported that Sam was back on celebrity dating app Raya days before his ex Zara's shock new romance with Louis was revealed.

Despite claims he was 'blindsided' by Zara's new romance, it seems Sam was keen to move on himself.

A fan last week claimed to have seen Sam on Raya the week before, noting 'So he's back on the dating scene as well.'

Sam had made an account before meeting Zara, which he seemingly reinstated in the wake of their split.

As well as keeping busy by looking for love, Sam is also said to have been partying with his pals in Chelsea and his close friend Pete Wicks.

A source told The Mirror: 'Sam has been making jokes about his life since the break up, and that's not really something you'd be doing if you were experiencing total heartbreak.

'Of course they were sad, but they sort of accepted it a long time ago.

Sam's celebrity dating app profile on Raya has also been revealed - showing him posing in one snap with the cat he still shares with Zara

Another snap on the profile shows him with his best pal Pete Wicks who has been supporting him through the breakup

'Sam has been going out and having fun again, he's not dating anyone but he's been on dates.

'He's been around the Chelsea lot and hanging out with Pete [Wicks] a lot. He's really enjoying himself at the moment but doesn't want to be tied down.'

MailOnline contacted a representative for Sam Thompson for comment.

Zara and Louis' romance was exposed last Monday when a fellow diner at The Suffolk in Aldburgh took snaps of Zara and Louis enjoying a romantic date.

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.

According to Zara's friends, Louis has put 'a smile back on her face' following her split from ex boyfriend of five years Sam 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 and Louis Tomlinson' romance was exposed last Monday when a fellow diner at The Suffolk in Aldburgh took snaps of Zara and Louis enjoying a romantic date (stock images)

'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 that Zara had split from long-term 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.
Strictly star John Whaite admitted he is feeling 'bitter' after a car company refused to work with him and asked for his vehicle back.

The Great British Bake Off alum, 35, recently rejoined OnlyFans after taking a break from posting on the adult site.

And on Monday, John revealed Peugeot have asked him to stop posting about their brand and asked for his car back due to his racy online images.

Taking to his Instagram stories he posted an image of the car keys he was asked to return, with an OnlyFans keyring he had cheekily added.

He captioned the post: 'When I announced I was doing OnlyFans @peugeotuk stopped working with me and asked for the car back.'

'So I'm returning it with a little bit of merch #I'mNotBitter #PornStarsCantDrivePeugeots.'

Strictly star John Whaite admitted he is feeling 'bitter' after a car company refused to work with him and asked for his vehicle back

Taking to his Instagram stories he posted an image of the car keys he was asked to return by the brand, with an OnlyFans keyring he had cheekily added

A spokesperson for Peugeot commented: 'PEUGEOT collaborates with hundreds of content creators every year by providing vehicles or creating opportunities to experience the latest generation models.

'We continuously review our collaborator community and, after careful consideration, we recently took the decision not to renew our existing partnership with John Whaite when it reached its agreed conclusion at the end of March.

'We understand John's disappointment with our decision and wish him every success in the future.'

It comes after John broke his silence on his OnlyFans return as he revealed his time on daytime TV has 'run dry'.

John took to his social media page with a shirtless snap accompanied by a lengthy caption - where he proudly admitted he is living 'this one shot at life to the fullest'.

The GBBO winner defended his choice to re-join the X-rated subscription site and told his 297K followers that his 12 year TV career just 'didn't set him alight anymore'.

'I've had a lot of DMs about why I've re-joined OnlyFans , when I regretted it last time,' he began writing in the lengthy caption.

'Firstly, I think it's important to remember that who we are, or at least little parts of us, can change.

John revealed Peugeot have asked him to stop posting about the brand and asked for his car back due to his racy online images

The Great British Bake Off alum, 35, recently rejoined OnlyFans after taking a break from posting on the site

'I for one don't want to live my life stuck in a steadfast template that restricts my next move.

'Secondly, I enjoy performance. I enjoy being a show off. I enjoy building my body and celebrating the results.

'That's not for everyone, and that's ok - if you don't like meat just walk on by the butcher's shop.

'Last time being on OF didn't gel with my role on daytime television. But I quit the TV industry 18 months ago and haven't looked back.

'I had an incredible 12-year-long career and achieved some extraordinary milestones that I'll proudly take with me to the grave.

'I loved it (mostly) while it lasted, and made some wonderful friendships which I'll cherish, but that river, for me, had run dry. It didn't set me alight anymore.

'Since launching @ruffpuffbrownies and seeing how successful an enterprise can be with nurture and care, I've learned about business - creativity, marketing, overheads, margins - all sorts of things that were once alien to me.

'I'm treating my OF career as precisely that - business. It cycles money into the economy, it puts food on my table, it gives some people a little bit of cheeky joy - it's a service.

'If it's not for you, simply pass it by, and know that I'll always be using this platform for food, humour, and little glimpses into my life.'

He finished by reflecting: 'We'll all be dead, buried and long forgotten one day, so I'm grabbing the bull by the horns and living this one shot at life to the fullest.

'And if you want to judge, go ahead, I won't stop you. Our worlds may be slightly different but neither of us have fallen off themyet.'

John, who won the third series of the baking show impressing judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood in 2012, launched his profile under the name 'Jonny Boy'

John got candid with his 297K followers, cherishing the extraordinary milestones he achieved while working in the TV industry for 12 years - but admitted it just 'didn't set him alight anymore'

Fans were left divided, with many praising John's latest 'business venture' while raising eyebrows among others - as they wrote in the comment section:

'Big fan of both your brownies and your buns x';

'Look at you speaking your truth with respect for yourself and for others. Now that's worth following';

'We all change. We all evolve. I love you and your evolution. And I am so proud of you for building not one, but two businesses in just the last 12 months';

'You're one smart cookie/brownie John. And your intelligence, work ethic and laser-sharp wit blew me away when we worked together. Go YOU xx';

'You are a wonder! Wishing you all the love, happiness, and fun in this wild world, John';

American music icon Michelle Visage also raced to share her approval echoing: 'You do you baby'.

Another follower commented though: 'You were amazing on Strictly but I'm not sure I'm into photos of you with your pants half down. Why not use your talents in life to entertain?

The TV star became one half of the first all-male Strictly couple alongside professional dancer Johannes Radebe in 2021 with the pair going onto reach the BBC final

John found fame in 2012 when he won The Great British Bake Off, which at the time aired on BBC Two before moving to BBC One in 2014

'Lots of guys have bodies like yours, including my own son, but I just don't get the flaunting so publicly but hope it makes you happy' - to which the baker replied bluntly: 'I'd definitely stay away - each to their own. X'

Another user penned agreeing: 'Sorry but I think there is a time and place for a pic like this, love you and am a 70yr old mum of two amazing day sons, who make me feel loved and proud, no offence intended x.'

John, who won the third series of the baking show impressing judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood in 2012, launched his profile under the name 'Jonny Boy', writing in his bio: 'The side of me you haven't seen... yet.'

He has signed up to OnlyFans, promising to share 'solo' and 'collaborative' content at a cost of 10 per month or 27 for a three-month package, three years after starring on BBC 's Strictly Come Dancing.

The TV star reached the final alongside professional dancer Johannes Radebe , 37, who he later confessed to 'falling in love' with and needing to take timeout from his long-term relationship.

But John and husband Paul Atkins are still going strong, last week celebrating their first wedding anniversary after narrowly avoiding the Strictly curse.

John's marriage to husband Paul Atkins is going strong with the couple celebrating their one year wedding anniversary last week

John's signup to OnlyFans comes after he left Steph's Packed Lunch when the daytime show was cancelled in 2023, and he announced his 'career in television is now done.'

John told MailOnline: 'Since leaving the TV industry, I decided to focus on business.

'Now I run two fairly successful and exciting businesses.

'One sells brownies and cookies while the other is a meatier enterprise...

'If you want to buy my sweet treats head to Ruff Puff Brownies and if you want to buy my meat head to my OnlyFans page.'

John was beaten in the Strictly final by EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis who took home the glitter ball trophy in 2021.
Narelda Jacobs will be taking a full year off work after the arrival of her first child with wife Karina Natt.

The Channel 10 star made the announcement on Instagram on Tuesday as she posed alongside her newborn daughter.

'Out of office till 2026. Looking into the eyes of this precious, innocent little soul I've been reflecting on the paths that led me here. Life building, dream chasing, upending, love making, truth telling' she began her long caption.

She continued: 'Had it not been for all the twists and turns of careers, family and relationships spanning a continent over almost 50 years, I may not be here now, in this moment, soaking up the sounds and smells of a deliciously intoxicating newborn.

'Since March 9, I've been so deep in the baby bubble, it's felt a million miles from a news desk.'

The 49-year-old went on: 'Reading a bulletin has always been an honour and @10newsfirst Lunchtime allowed me to really hit my stride to turn a humble hour in the middle of the day into a beacon.

Narelda Jacobs will be taking a full year off work after the arrival of her first child with wife Karina Natt. Pictured with her daughter

'Thank you to the thought leaders and movers and shakers who gave their time and perspective so we may better understand. I treasure your insights, applaud your bravery and express my gratitude in helping create something very special.

'Thank you to those who joined me for lunch everyday and I leave you in the very capable hands of @angelabishop10 and the 10 News First team.

'While I'll be popping up here and there, I'm truly blessed to be able to take a year off from presenting news.

'For the next 12 months, you'll find me alongside my most beautiful wife @karinaalyce as we spend our days getting lost in the cheeks, the toes, the fingers and the nose of our Sanna Swan. Thank you for choosing us little one.'

The couple shared the exciting news of the birth to Instagram earlier this month alongside a sweet photo holding their newborn daughter's little hand.

'Sanna Swan Jacobs Natt. 09.03.25. Mums and dad are in awe and totally in love,' the sweet image was captioned.

The couple announced they were expecting to welcome their first child together back in December.

They dropped their baby bombshell during an announcement about an upcoming book launch.

The couple shared the exciting news of the birth to Instagram earlier this month alongside a sweet photo holding their newborn daughter's little hand. Pictured together

'Sanna Swan Jacobs Natt. 09.03.25. Mums and dad are in awe and totally in love,' the sweet image was captioned

'We've got some exciting news,' a bikini-clad Narelda said to the camera before Karina added: 'We're having a book baby.'

Narelda then revealed the couple were expecting.

'Oh, and we're also having a human baby, which is out next year,' she said.

The newsreader and the political advisor then shared a kiss.

Narelda and Karina added in the statement that they were not going to let 'homophobes' steal their 'baby joy.'

'Like all expectant queer parents we are prepared for homophobic backlash, but there's no way the naysayers are going to ruin our baby joy,' they said.

'So, we've hatched a plan to show just how natural it is for queers to have kids. Our adult picture book is a celebration of love and chosen family.'

The pair were married in a fun-filled ceremony in Sydney in early August 2024, just 18 months after they went on their first date.

The couple announced they were expecting their first child together back in December

The pair were married in a fun-filled ceremony in Sydney in early August 2024, just 18 months after they went on their first date

The two said 'I do' in front of a floral arch placed before a huge window at what appeared to be an upper floor location.

Narelda and her new wife each opted for white ensembles, with the TV star choosing a fitted gown with fur accents from Aussie luxury label Zhivago.

Among the celebrity guests were MasterChef Australia star Melissa Leong and celebrity chef Kylie Kwong.

Natt is the chief of staff for South Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

Jacobs was previously in a long-term relationship with filmmaker Stevie Cruz-Martin.

While it's unclear when Jacobs and Cruz-Martin broke up, the film and television director now appears to be based in London.

She debuted her new romance in an Instagram post in early 2023, sharing a photo of the two women kissing during Sydney World Pride celebrations.
Abbie Chatfield and boyfriend Adam Hyde are going strong.

The couple celebrated their first anniversary this week and made sure the whole world knows they are madly in love.

In an Instagram Stories post on Tuesday, Adam shared his thoughts on his girlfriend with a sweet tribute.

'Been a year since years of flirting via friends and telephones I finally asked the most beautiful inspiring intelligent sexy cute caring gentle determined strong soft hard punk dreamy supercharged fun sleepy Queensland witty stylish hot and incredible woman in the world to be my girlfriend' Adam rambled in his post.

'I love you Abbie' he added, writing the romantic caption on a photo of Abbie's face cradled in his hand as she beamed at him.

The pair have been the subject of engagement speculation for some time.

Abbie Chatfield (pictured) and boyfriend Adam Hyde are going strong. The couple celebrated their first anniversary this week and made sure the whole world knows they are madly in love

Last month, Abbie hinted she is preparing to tie the knot with Adam as she made a very telling move.

The Bachelor star, 29, and the Peking Duk musician went public with their romance in June of last year and have now teased that things are getting very serious already.

Abbie took to her Instagram Stories earlier this year to reveal that wedding bells might be ringing soon for her and Adam.

She told how she has already tried to reserve the Instagram handle 'Abbie Hyde', which would be her married name if she and Adam tie the knot.

Despite not yet being engaged, Abbie confessed that she tried to nab the username but was left devastated to learn that it has already been taken by someone else.

'If [me and Adam] ever break up, I'm actually going to f**king lose it,' she said.

'It took three glasses of Chardonnay [at] an influencer event [for] one of my friends to go "do you have the Instagram handle saved for Abbie Hyde?" for me to then go and try to reserve Abbie Hyde as an Instagram handle.

'Not doing a bit, I was like I just won't tell Adam, I'll just reserve it now! It's not available by the way, if you were wondering.

The pair have been the subject of engagement speculation for some time. Pictured together

Abbie confirmed her romance with Adam in June 2024

'So I don't know what the f**k to do, now I'm plagued with the thought of, what am I going to change my Instagram handle to when I marry him?'

Abbie and Adam have been going from strength-to-strength since debuting their romance and she has even featured in his on-stage performances.

She joined Adam on stage for his band Peking Duk's New Year's Eve set at the Hindley St Music Hall in Adelaide as they rang in 2025 together.

In pictures shared to Instagram, the couple packed on the PDA as they weren't shy of sharing their affections in front of the thousands of fans in the crowds.

One on-stage video showed the couple leading the crowd in the countdown to 2025 before sharing another New Year's kiss.

Abbie confirmed her romance with Adam in June 2024 after weeks of speculation, and they have been going strong ever since.

She frequently shares loved-up pictures and tributes to him on social media, while he has also featured on her It's A Lot podcast to discuss their romance.

Abbie recently told Stellar Magazine that her relationship with Adam is the best she's ever had.

Abbie joined Adam on stage for his band Peking Duk's New Year's Eve set at the Hindley St Music Hall in Adelaide as they rang in 2025 together

'It isn't like other people I've had flings with. And this is gonna sound a bit w**ky, but he's had a bigger career than me,' she said after concerns from fans that Adam is 'using her' for fame.

'I don't think he's using me for anything. He's successful in his own right.

'I think I'm cool for being with him, not the other way around.'

Abbie was friends with Adam for two years before they started dating, which she said has added to the trust between them.

'I guess with Adam it's different, because I trust the strength of our relationship,' she said.

'But also, us hanging out isn't a big, new thing. We've been hanging out publicly for years.'
Richard Hammond spent quality time with his daughter Izzy on Tuesday as he attempted to get back in her good books.

Izzy, 24, previously branded the Top Gear star an 'idiot' following the end of his 28-year marriage with her mother Amanda, also known as Mindy, in January.

She also said his two near-fatal car crashes left him 'barely human' and affected the members of the family in 'varying different ways'.

The couple, who married in 2002, also share daughter Willow, 22.

Following her past comments, the father-daughter duo - who host a podcast together - stepped out in Soho, London.

Richard and Izzy appeared in high-spirits as they enjoyed a day out together with huge smiles on their faces.

Richard Hammond, 55, spent quality time with his daughter Izzy, 24, in Soho, London on Tuesday as he attempted to get back in her good books

Izzy previously branded the Top Gear star an 'idiot' following the end of his 28-year marriage with her mother Amanda, also known as Mindy, in January

It's thought that newspaper columnist Mindy has asked to keep the 7million Bollitree Castle estate as part of their split settlement.

Richard, for the first time since his split, was seem not wearing his wedding ring in March.

In a statement on X announcing his split, Richard said: 'A little update from us; this Christmas we were together as a family and this year we will still be a family but just structured a bit differently.

'Our marriage is coming to end, but we've had an amazing 28 years together and two incredible daughters.

'We will always be in each other's lives and are proud of the family we created.

'We won't be commenting further and sincerely hope that our privacy and that of our children will be respected at this time. With Love, Richard and Mindy.'

A source went on to tell The Sun: 'Richard is very upset about all this. It seems he has tried hard to rekindle the relationship but to no avail.

'There is no speculation that any third party is involved.'

The couple married in 2002, and they share daughters Isabella and Willow, 22 (all pictured together)

Izzy also said his two near-fatal car crashes left him 'barely human' and affected the members of the family in 'varying different ways'(pictured together in 2024)

Mindy and Richard bought the Grade II-listed Bollitree Castle in Herefordshire in 2008, and the estate boasts six bedrooms, a swimming pool and 20 acres of land.

It's thought that the couple's daughter Izzy still lives on the estate.

She works alongside her dad at his garage and on their podcast Who We Are Now With Izzy And Richard Hammond.

The couples other daughter Willow reportedly lives separately in a rented home in Gloucestershire.

Richard married Mindy in 2002 after they first met back in 1995, with the presenter previously sharing that there was an instant attraction between them.

In late January, Richard acknowledged his 'hideous traits' and claimed that being a male TV presenter is 'catastrophic for mental health'.

The former Top Gear presenter opened up to his daughter Izzy on their joint podcast, weeks after his split from Mindy was made public.

The father-daughter duo were joined on the Who We Are Now podcast by Steve Jones - and the Welsh presenter's presence inspired Richard to make the candid confession.

Richard announced his split from Mindy in an X post earlier this year (pictured together in 2023)

Richard said: 'As a bloke, keeping your head straight, managing your mental fitness. I think being a television presenter, especially a male one, is catastrophic.'

Continuing on how his TV career has impacted him personally, Richard added: 'For 36 years my male ego has been rewarded for some of the worst traits we can exhibit.

'I've been encouraged to show off, I've been encourage to believe that what I'm about to say is compelling enough to hold the attention of 365million people that my questions are pertinent. It can be hideous.'

'I'm perfect of course,' the presenter joked, before he put on a wheezy voice and added: 'Completely balanced and happy.'

F1 presenter Steve actually started out his career in modelling and was scouted on two occasions, and Richard compared the Welsh hunk's good looks to his own.

'I'd like to put something heavy in here,' Richard began. 'This is the sum of your roots, as a TV presenter and as a model, as somebody who was spotted twice then rejected.

'I was a TV presenter when you started presenting, I saw him and thought "Oh bugger look at him, I mean look at him". A bit of me was thinking "Yeah Welsh hunk, nobody has ever said brummy hunk Richard Hammond".'
Jessica Chastain has detailed how her tough childhood living 'without enough food and facing eviction' left her 'feeling invisible' in a new interview.

The actress, 48, spoke in a candid profile piece with ELLE Spain on Tuesday where she discussed the poverty in her early life and how she 'lived in extreme situations'.

She was raised by her single mother Jerri in Sacramento who struggled to feed her five kids while having to move around different homes.

Despite her difficult circumstances growing up she has gone on to have an incredible career - sparked by a stint at the local arts school.

Speaking with ELLE about feminism she said: 'It's always been present in my life. And maybe it's due to my childhood: being raised by single mothers, living in extreme situations where we often didn't even have enough to eat or faced eviction.

'I remember the feeling of being invisible, of feeling like society didn't see us, as if our lives didn't matter. I couldn't accept how my grandmother was treated, the burdens and responsibilities placed on her without anyone acknowledging her.

Jessica Chastain has detailed how her tough childhood living 'without enough food and facing eviction' left her 'feeling invisible' in a new interview

The actress, 48, spoke in a candid profile piece with ELLE Spain on Tuesday where she discussed the poverty in her early life and how she 'lived in extreme situations' (seen as a child with her mother)

'Inequality was everywhere: in wages, in opportunities, in education, in access to work. From a very young age, I was taught that this wasn't fair, and that idea sank in so deeply that it became part of who I am.

'When I see a form of discrimination, I can't stay silent. My voice comes out; I can't help it. It's what drives me, and it will be an integral part of my work.'

She looked stunning for the ELLE shoot, which included one striking black and white shot and showed her posing up a storm in a flowery maxi dress.

In 2022 Jessica also opened up about her upbringing in a poverty-stricken home - admitting that she 'grew up with a lot of resentment' because of their difficult circumstances.

The star - who married into an Italian noble family in 2017 when she tied the knot with her husband Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo - shared details about her childhood as she admitted that many people 'expect' her to have been brought up in the same privileged position that she now holds.

She told The Sunday Times: 'I don't talk about it much, but it was really, um, it was not what you would expect. When people see me, I think they expect a different background than I have.'

She added: 'I grew up with a lot of resentment, because we didnt have things, like even food.'

But while Chastain - who earns multi-million dollar paychecks for her movie roles - now enjoys a life of wealth and fame, she said that she still gets 'angry' thinking about the fact that there are still people struggling to make ends meet, just as she did during her childhood.

'So because I come from that place, I know what it's like,' she explained.

Speaking with ELLE about feminism she said: 'It's always been present in my life. And maybe it's due to my childhood: being raised by single mothers, living in extreme situations'

She added: 'I remember the feeling of being invisible, of feeling like society didn't see us, as if our lives didn't matter'

She looked stunning for the ELLE shoot, which included one striking black and white shot and showed her posing up a storm in a flowery maxi dress

She was raised by her single mother Jerri in Sacramento who struggled to feed her five kids while having to move around different homes

'And it makes me angry. And I don't [want] anyone else to be denied anything. In terms of a voice, being seen, being acknowledged and valued.'

That year Chastain made headlines after it was revealed that she fought for her fellow female co-stars on movie The 355, which also features the likes of Lupita Nyongo, Penelope Cruz, Diane Kruger and Fan Bingbing, to all earn equal pay.

Her determination to speak out on behalf of her fellow leading ladies was sparked by the support she received throughout her childhood, when she attended a local performing arts school in California - something she was only able to do with the help of people 'who saw she was struggling'.

According to the actress, who now has two children of her own with her husband, her family was unable to afford the tuition for the school, however staff allowed her to work there so that she could pay her way.

'There were people that saw I was struggling as a kid and they helped me,' she said. 'And that's why I ended up where I am now.'

Following her stint at the local arts school, Chastain - whose mother gave birth to her when she was just 16 - went on to land a spot at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City, which she was able to pay for with the help of scholarship, which was funded by the late actor Robin Williams.

The Sacramento native went on to reveal that she is the first person in her family 'not be pregnant when she was 17', claiming it 'gave her a choice' that those before her didn't have.

In November 2017, she revealed to the Evening Standard that her mother used to 'steal food' at a local store because she didn't have enough money to feed her kids.

'We stole food at the store because we didnt have any money,' the actress shared. 'And some people knew she was doing it but didnt stop her.

'So there is kindness everywhere. Were okay now because people were protecting her.'

She married into an Italian noble family through husband Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo (pictured together in 2019)
Hayley Atwell has revealed she had a clash with a top Marvel filmmaker on the set of Doctor Strange.

The actress, 42, stars as Peggy Carter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and also had a cameo as an alternate Captain America in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

She has previously referred to her cameo as 'frustrating' and has now spoken out about a disagreement she had with a top official who worked on the movie.

Speaking on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast, Hayley claimed that she tried to give the official a note on the scene's lighting but he didn't react well to her advice.

'When I got on to the Doctor Strange set, I was sat there with my suit on and my jet pack and I had my shield and I remember looking at the frame and going ''the lighting is quite harsh'',' she shared.

'I remember going up to a lovely person who was in a very high position there - I won't name and shame - and I said ''can I offer you a possibility that I come in from that side and do that line there''.

Hayley Atwell (pictured) has revealed she had a clash with a top Marvel official on the set of 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, in which she had a cameo

Hayley claimed that she tried to give the official a note on the scene's lighting but he didn't react well to her advice (she is pictured as an alternate Captain America in the movie)

'I just came in with an offering technically, which I love doing because a lot of directors will go ''oh great, try something''.'

However, Hayley said the official then gave an awkward reply about her advice, prompting her to double down on her words.

'In this instance he went ''oh sure Hayley, I'll just tell our Oscar-winning editor that you have some choices you'll like to make and don't you worry about that, I'll make sure he gets a memo'',' she said.

'I went ''considering he's an Oscar-winning editor, he will know a good idea when he sees one, so I'm sure he will enjoy listening to what I have to say to make the scene better''.'

'And [he laughed] and went ''I'm just kidding, I'm just bullying you, don't worry'' and I went, ''you can't bully me, I've got a jet pack on''.'

After the official insisted he was only joking, Hayley said they both 'chuckled' over the disagreement but insisted that her advice still made the scene 'better'.

'It was better, and it worked! It was better,' she added.

Hayley has previously voiced her frustration over the fact that her version of Captain America was immediately killed off in the 2022 Doctor Strange movie.

Hayley previously voiced her frustration over the fact that her version of Captain America was immediately killed off in the 2022 Doctor Strange movie (she is pictured in The First Avenger)

The cameo sees Peggy appear as an alternate version of Captain America from another universe, but she is immediately killed during a battle with Scarlet Witch.

Speaking to the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Hayley insisted it was not her choice for her character to be eradicated so quickly.

'I'm like, ''That wasn't my choice!'' she said. 'When she was like, ''I could do this all day'' and then followed by she's immediately cut in half by a frisbee.

'And the audience being like, ''She can't do it all day. Apparently you can't, so, egg on your face''. That doesn't really serve Peggy very well.'

'It felt like a frustrating moment in Strange,' she added.

The Mission: Impossible star said her voice role on What If? was far more rewarding than her 'frustrating' cameo in Doctor Strange.

'I felt like I had much more to do in the What If? animation series,' she explained. 'I mean, any actor will tell you, to be able to go into a booth in effectively your pajamas and do an animation is great fun because you're focused on the voice as the instrument and your main performative tool.'
It was the reality TV moment that left fans gasping  and now, the mystery may finally be solved.

According to MAFS insiders, the groom who stood up fan-favourite bride Jamie Marinos during the Final Task challenge during Tuesday's episode is Melbourne-based plumber and influencer Tyson Fievez.

Tyson is a model signed with Brooklyn MGMT who. like her husband Dave Hand, works as a tradie and has a large following on TikTok.

Photos shared to his Instagram show the 20-something showing off his chiselled physique, covered in tattoos including a trio of cherubs across his chest, luxury brand motifs and intricate sleeve work stretching down both arms.

A source close to production said Tyson was originally lined up as Jamie's alternate match during Final Test Week, a new twist introduced by producers to test the couples' loyalties.

'Tyson was on standby and flew into Sydney for filming,' the insider claimed. 'But after hearing that he would be ruining their marriage, he had second thoughts.'

Married At First Sight's Jamie Marinos (pictured) was left red-faced and alone during Tuesday night's explosive Final Task twist - and now, the identity of the mystery groom who left her hanging at the altar has reportedly been leaked

Daily Mail Australia can reveal that the heavily tattooed man who stood up fan-favourite bride Jamie Marinos during the Final Task challenge during Tuesday's episode is none other than Melbourne-based plumber Tyson Fievez (pictured)

'He didn't want to be the guy to interfere. In the end, he pulled out last minute and chose not to show up  leaving Jamie standing there.'

Tuesday night's episode saw Jamie, 28, left humiliated after she bravely agreed to meet her alternative match  only to be left hanging when her 'Plan B' ghosted her at the last second.

In a light-hearted yet emotional moment, Jamie told producers: 'I'm a nosey bitch, I love to know these things So curious!'

'I had more than one match? I'm actually surprised there was one match. Now, there's more? I'm unmatchable!'

After being left waiting alone, the Greek bride returned to the apartment disappointed  but still in good spirits.

Later that evening, when her TV husband Dave returned, Jamie confessed she had accepted the challenge  only to be stood up 'for the first time ever'.

Dave, who had declined his own offer to meet a potential second match, was surprisingly supportive.

'We're in a marriage here. I trust her but I'm glad she got stood up,' he laughed in a vox pop.

Tyson, is a model signed with Brooklyn MGMT, who like her husband Dave Hand, works as a tradie and has a large following on TikTok

Photos shared to his Instagram show the 20-something showing off his chiselled physique, covered in jaw-dropping tattoos including a trio of cherubs across his chest, luxury brand motifs and intricate sleeve work stretching down both arms

The participants were given the opportunity to meet with other compatible suitors the experts had found them during the audition process, in what has been described as the show's 'most f**ked up challenge to date'. However, as Jamie was seen awkwardly waiting with a glass of white wine in hand at a Sydney restaurant, the man never showed up

Despite the awkwardness, the couple shared a laugh about the experience.

But fans were split over Jamie's decision.

'She had every right to be curious. I don't blame her,' one user wrote on X.

Others were more critical, questioning her commitment to Dave.

'Imagine if the shoe was on the other foot  she would've gone ballistic,' a fan posted.

Now, the revelation that Tyson may have been her missing match has only added more fuel to the fire.
Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti, 26, does not like being called 'Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend.'

The stunning model finds it 'annoying,' she told Vogue France.

In her interview, the Italian wonder would not use his name, but would only say he is a 'very very' famous movie star.

She also referenced the 50-year-old star's blockbuster movie Titanic saying it was 'iconic.'

Ceretti revealed the pair first met 'in Milan. But I prefer not to go into details.'

In her photo shoot, she made every attempt to stand out as she posed topless and also with a sheer bra top on. The beauty is a top model as she has worked for Chanel, Gucci and D&G already.

Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti, 26, does not like being called 'Leonardo DiCaprio 's girlfriend'

The model finds it 'annoying,' she told Vogue France. In her interview, the Italian wonder would not use his name, but only say he is a 'very very' famous movie star

The fashion star said the couple's love for another was strong enough to avoid any jealousy between them: 'It's something you learn.

'If what you're experiencing is real, if you know you love each other, then there's no reason to be alarmed. Because love protects and gives confidence.'

Ceretti also revealed she had forged a close bond with the Oscar winner's family - especially his mother Irmelin Indenbirken.

She said: 'A while ago, I was looking through childhood photos with my boyfriend's mom, and we noticed that every time I dressed up, it was as a witch, a bunny, or a clown! And I never played with Barbie. I spent hours in my room, alone, with my brother's cars. And I wrote a lot of diaries.'

Due to her decade in modeling, Ceretti says she feels older than her years and that she 'sometimes forgets I'm only 26.'

Leonardo and Vittoria were first romantically linked shortly after his rumored fling with Gigi Hadid.

The star's famous exes include models such as Camila Morrone, Gigi Hadid, Gisele Bundchen, Bar Refaeli and Nina Agdal.

Ceretti has already been married. She was wed to 37-year-old DJ Matteo Milleri from 2020 to 2023.

She also referenced the 50-year-old star's blockbuster movie Titanic saying it was 'iconic.' In her photo shoot, she made every attempt to stand out

DiCaprio on the red carpet at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Board of Governors, Honorary Awards in 2024

He is one half of the DJ and production duo Tale of Us, alongside Carmine Conte, and co-founded the Afterlife Records label.

They sparked dating rumors in the summer of 2023 when they were spotted on an ice cream date in Los Angeles and later dancing together at a club in Ibiza.

They have remained together since she turned 26, in spite of the tongue-in-cheek rumors that Leo has a '25 and under' rule for his girlfriends.

However in March of this year, Leo was spotted putting on a cozy display at a pre-Oscars party with none other than songstress Teyana Taylor, with whom he has been filming the upcoming Paul Thomas Anderson movie.

At the pre-Oscars party, Teyana was glimpsed gently caressing Leo's face, and he in turn was seen tapping her on the derriere, according to TMZ.

Later that same month, he was spotted enjoying a lunch date with Vittoria in Los Angeles, indicating their relationship was still going strong.

Leo and Teyana were seen together again last month when he allegedly attended the New York party she threw to celebrate the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductions.

Hours after he went on a date with Vittoria, Leo is said to have gone with a group of friends to the Manhattan nightclub The Stafford Room - the site of Teyana's fete.

Vittoria did not attend the bash, where Leo and Teyana 'were dancing very closely' and shared 'a lot of laughs,' according to a Page Six source.

'They hung out the whole night and they were pretty much in a corner together,' added the insider, noting that Teyana appeared 'very protective' of Leo.

The source described Leo as 'flirty' but asserted that he did not indulge in any public displays of affection with Teyana at the club.

However an insider then exclusively informed DailyMail.com that the equation between Leonardo and Teyana is strictly platonic.
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.
He has shot into the limelight after checking into the White Lotus in Thailand for the third series of the hugely popular HBO series.

But Sam Nivola's start in showbiz came as a birthright, as his mother is a very famous actor.

Sam, 21, moved from Britain to the U.S. when he was young after spending his early childhood in Notting Hill, London, before growing up in Brooklyn, New York.

There he attended Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn, where fees cost between $48,000 and $52,000 per year, before earning a place at the prestigious Columbia University.

The rising star made his acting debut in 2013 on the HBO series Doll & Em, where he played the role of Ariel while on the show - but he earned his nepo-baby stripes because one of the writers on the series was his own mother, an English thespian who married an American screen star.

His mother is best known for her acting and directing work on Lovely & Amazing and The Newsroom... but do you know who she is?

He has shot into the limelight after checking into the White Lotus in Thailand for the third series - but Sam Nivola's start in showbiz came as a birthright, as his mother is a very famous actor

Sam, 21, moved from Britain to the U.S. when he was young after spending his early childhood in Notting Hill, London, before growing up in Brooklyn, New York (Seen in White Lotus)

It's only English thespian Emily Mortimer - who shares son Sam with her American screen husband Allesandro.

Fans were stunned to discover the relation, taking to X to say: 'Sam Nivola iS from the UK? His mum is Emily Mortimer??';

'Today years old when I found out that The White Lotus' very own Sam Nivola (Lochlan) is Alessandro Nivola and Emily Mortimer's offspring, thanks to this exchange between Carrie Coon and his father!';

'Sam Nivola has his mom Emily Mortimers whole face, any time I see him on #TheWhiteLotus all I can think of is her on 30 Rock lol,';

'Just found out Emily Mortimer is married to Alessandro Nivola and that Sam Nivola is their son I love nepotism.'

Sam made his acting debut in 2013 at the age of nine on the HBO series Doll & Em, where he played the role of Ariel opposite his mother.

But thanks to his latest role as one of the leads in the much-anticipated third series of White Lotus, Sam is set for superstardom.

And it's not just his parents who have a connection to Hollywood, as he is dating fellow nepo-baby Iris Apatow, 22.

It's only English thespian Emily Mortimer - who shares son Sam with her American screen husband Allesandro (Seen together earlier this month)

Sam made his acting debut in 2013 at the age of nine on the HBO series Doll & Em (Pictured), where he played the role of Ariel opposite his mother

Emily and Alessandro's children have followed their footsteps into the world of TV and film from an early age after completing his first acting job age 11 (pictured with May in 2018)

The pair looked absolutely smitten as they took to the red carpet together at the White Lotus premiere on Monday, and the actress even joined her beau in Thailand while he filmed the HBO series last year.

In 2021, Sam returned to acting as he and his sister May played siblings in the BBC One romantic series The Pursuit Of Love, starring and adapted by his mother Emily.

The siblings again played opposite each other in Noah Baumbach's 2022 film White Noise.

Sam starred as Heinrich whilst May played Steffie in the adaptation of the 1985 novel by Don DeLillo, which served as the curtain-raiser at the Venice Film Festival that year.

Speaking at the time, White Noise's director Noah said: 'I have known Emily Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola for years, and admired them tremendously.

'We were looking for kids and went through audition after audition, and all the callbacks, and these two Nivola kids kept on coming up to the surface. They were just so wonderful.'

Last year, Sam took a starring role yet again in the Netflix series The Perfect Couple, where he played youngest Winbury brother Will.

Sam's sister May, 14, starred alongside him in the 2022 apocalyptic black comedy film White Noise (pictured L-R Sam, Adam Driver, May, Greta Gerwig, Dean Moore and Raffey Cassidy)

And it's not just his parents who have a connection to Hollywood, as he is dating fellow nepo-baby Iris Apatow, 22 - the daughter of Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann

The star has found love with Iris and recently revealed that his nepo baby girlfriend joined him in Thailand to keep him company while filming

Iris pictured with her parents Leslie Mann and Judd Apatow in 2023

And earlier this month, he checked into the coveted White Lotus.

The star has found love with another nepo baby, daughter of Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, Iris.

The pair have been dating for two years but she first appeared on his Instagram in April last year when he shared snaps of her on a yacht with his White Lotus co-star Patrick Schwarzenegger after she flew out to visit him during filming.

'The pookinator is looking absolutely FIRE tonight,' he captioned the first picture posted of her.

In an interview with People, Sam revealed that Iris joined him in Thailand to keep him company while filming.

He said: 'I brought my girlfriend for a few months, which was amazing.

'It was so great to have a taste of home because it was 10,000 miles away from home, and it was so nice of her to sacrifice that time to come be with me and I'm incredibly grateful to her.'

But Sam claims he's not like other nepo babies, as he told Vogue last month: 'My parents aren't, like, total celebrities. They don't get recognised in the street.'

Sam has already worked with Bradley Cooper in Maestro and Nicole Kidman (pictured) in the Netflix hit The Perfect Couple

In the same chat with Vogue, Sam joked that his cohort of celebrity offspring pals were 'some secret cabal of nepo kids who hang out in black robes'.

Speaking to The Face about his upcoming role in The White Lotus back in September, Sam gushed over the show's creator.

'Mike White, the writer and director, is just a genius who made me feel so safe and comfortable,' he said.

'It's the biggest role Ive ever had and its the biggest show Ive ever done. We shot it in Thailand for seven months, and I was there with no connection to the outside world, which was really scary - but creatively, it was very fulfilling to be able to have a role that's big enough to really sink your teeth into.'
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Bethenny Frankel blasted fellow Real Housewife Teresa Giudice for bumbling her way into 'another marriage with financial legal issues' after she and second husband Luis Ruelas were hit with $3M in tax liens.

The 54-year-old RHONY alum famously tweeted at the 52-year-old RHONJ star ahead of her 2022 wedding: 'I may jump through my phone if @Teresa_Giudice doesn't sign a prenup @Andy.'

'It's like you're watching a movie and you're like, "No! Do not open that closet!" I just feel terrible but, like, fool me once, you're a fool, fool me twice, I'm a fool,' Bethenny - who boasts 8.6M social media followers - said on Instagram Monday.

'There's never been a worse picker in the history of pickers than myself besides Teresa Giudice.'

Frankel's first marriage to producer Peter Sussman only lasted 1996-1997, but her three-year marriage to pharmaceutical sales executive Jason Hoppy stretched well past the 12-year mark thanks to their lengthy divorce and custody battle over their daughter Brynn ending 2021.

'I still win,' the Just B podcaster stated.

Bethenny Frankel blasted fellow Real Housewife Teresa Giudice for bumbling her way into 'another marriage with financial legal issues' after she and second husband Luis Ruelas were hit with $3M in tax liens

'I still win because I was 10 years on a two-year marriage but I didn't go to the clink.'

Bethenny added: 'Also, why would you both go on TV? Like, there's something wrong with someone who goes on TV knowing that you have a dead body in your trunk. It's almost like it's being made up - it's unfathomable. It doesn't make any sense. It's too implausible.'

Teresa was still on Frankel's mind Tuesday when she joked that the 49-year-old so-called 'millionaire' she married was giving 'hundred-aire to thousand-aire energy.'

'He was flying her places and showering her with everything. There was something about it that was like too much,' the New York socialite said on TikTok.

'But he's on The Real Housewives of New Jersey?! He's on that trash bin of a show? It doesn't make any sense. You only do that show if you're broke a** trying to get somewhere. And then once you get there, you get off.'

Giudice (born Gorga) owes the IRS $303,889.20 while Luis - whose education is limited to high school - owes them nearly $2.6M on top of another lien issued for $163,523.94, according to records obtained by People.

Two months after their 2022 wedding, the Turning The Tables podcaster confirmed she and Ruelas did not sign a prenuptial agreement, gushing on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen After Show: 'No. True love.'

This, eight months after Teresa told the same 56-year-old host: 'I mean, I would [sign a prenup], you know, if he said so. I'm so very easy about that. He definitely has more than me. I would never take anything from him, I'm so not like that.'

Giudice originally met the Digital Media Solutions Group co-founder on the Jersey shore in September 2020 - the same exact month she finalized her divorce from ex-husband Joe Giudice after 20 years of marriage.

The 54-year-old RHONY alum famously tweeted at the 52-year-old RHONJ star ahead of her 2022 wedding: 'I may jump through my phone if @Teresa_Giudice doesn't sign a prenup @Andy'

Bethenny said on Instagram Monday: 'It's like you're watching a movie and you're like, "No! Do not open that closet!" I just feel terrible but, like, fool me once, you're a fool, fool me twice, I'm a fool. There's never been a worse picker in the history of pickers than myself besides Teresa Giudice'

Frankel's first marriage to producer Peter Sussman only lasted 1996-1997, but her three-year marriage to pharmaceutical sales executive Jason Hoppy (L, pictured in 2010) stretched well past the 12-year mark thanks to their lengthy divorce and custody battle over their daughter Brynn ending 2021

The Just B podcaster stated: 'I still win because I was 10 years on a two-year marriage but I didn't go to the clink'

Bethenny added: 'Also, why would you both go on TV? Like, there's something wrong with someone who goes on TV knowing that you have a dead body in your trunk. It's almost like it's being made up - it's unfathomable. It doesn't make any sense. It's too implausible'

Teresa was still on Frankel's mind Tuesday when she joked that the 49-year-old so-called 'millionaire' she married was giving 'hundred-aire to thousand-aire energy'

Giudice owes the IRS $303,889.20 while Luis - whose education is limited to high school - owes them nearly $2.6M on top of another lien issued for $163,523.94 (pictured March 1)

Two months after their 2022 wedding, the Turning The Tables podcaster confirmed she and Ruelas did not sign a prenuptial agreement, gushing on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen After Show: 'No. True love'

This, eight months after Teresa told the same 56-year-old host: 'I mean, I would [sign a prenup], you know, if he said so. I'm so very easy about that. He definitely has more than me. I would never take anything from him, I'm so not like that'

Giudice originally met the Digital Media Solutions Group co-founder on the Jersey shore in September 2020 - the same exact month she finalized her divorce from ex-husband Joe Giudice (L, pictured in 2014) after 20 years of marriage

The tax-evading pair were originally sentenced in 2014 (pictured) for bankruptcy fraud and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud

Teresa - formerly known as inmate No. 65703-050 - completed her 11-month sentence for 41 counts of fraud at FCI Danbury in 2017

Giudice is next scheduled to kick off her three-date Party with a Housewife tour on June 27 at The Howard Theatre in Washington, DC where tickets cost between $35-$150

The tax-evading pair were originally sentenced in 2014 for bankruptcy fraud and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

Teresa - formerly known as inmate No. 65703-050 - completed her 11-month sentence for 41 counts of fraud at FCI Danbury in 2017.

The Italian-born, Bahamas-based 52-year-old - who's now an amateur boxer - was deported from the States in 2019 after completing his 41-month sentence at Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution.

Giudice and Joe are proud parents of four daughters - Gia, 24; Gabriella, 20; Milania, 19; and Audriana, 15.

The Bravo-lebrity is stepmother to Louie's two sons - Louie Jr., 19; and Nicholas, 23 - from his marriage to Marisa Dimartino, which ended in 2013.

Teresa is next scheduled to kick off her three-date Party with a Housewife tour on June 27 at The Howard Theatre in Washington, DC where tickets cost between $35-$150.
Love Island's Malin Andersson admitted she used to 'question her sexuality' because she's 'never felt safe around men' in a candid post this week.

The former reality star, 32, who is currently single after her split from Swedish hunk Jim Sundgren last year - took to Instagram on Tuesday with some deep thoughts about relationships.

She told how she never had a father figure growing up to show her what love is and so has struggled with finding her 'feminine' in adulthood.

Her former partner Tom Kemp was abusive during their relationship, and was jailed in 2020 for assaulting her.

Speaking to the camera in a video titled: 'BALANCING MASCULINE & FEMININE', she said: 'I can truly say I've never been made to feel safe around men.

'At one point I was even questioning my own sexuality because I've never been able to step into my feminine.

Love Island's Malin Andersson admitted she used to 'question her sexuality' because she's 'never felt safe around men' in a candid post this week

The former reality star, 32, who is currently single after her split from Swedish hunk Jim Sundgren last year - took to Instagram on Tuesday with some thoughts about relationships

'I've never had the opportunity to because every man I have been with has been so ego driven and wounded in their masculine so I've never felt safe.

'I've never felt soft and flowy or tapped into that feminine part. I do strength training and have the single mum life. No one has been able to make me feel safe.

'It goes back to childhood and I never felt safe enough to step into that feminine - I never had that father figure growing up to show me how love was.'

Last November Malin revealed she had split from her boyfriend just two months after they went Instagram official.

She confessed she had found love again with Swedish hunk Jim Sundgren last July after suffering through both heartbreak and abuse in her previous relationships.

However the pair sparked split rumours after unfollowing each other on Instagram last October and in November Malin confirmed the pair have gone their separate ways.

Taking to her Instagram Story at the time Malin wrote: 'And for those messaging me about my relationship status Im absolutely single as I promised myself I would NEVER settle.

'I truly know what I deserve and want in a man. I see what should be me as a 32 and feel like I need to rush into something for societys sake, but I will never as I love every inch of myself to be alone for now.'

She told how she never had a father figure growing up to show her what love is and so has struggled with finding her 'feminine' in adulthood

Speaking to the camera in a video titled: 'BALANCING MASCULINE & FEMININE', she said: 'I can truly say I've never been made to feel safe around men'

Malin previously explained that she met her new boyfriend online after a period of 'healing', and gushed that she had 'never been connected with someone like with him' ever before.

Her last boyfriend Jared broke up with her just four weeks after she gave birth to their daughter, Xaya, in January 2022.

While her former partner Tom Kemp was abusive during their relationship, and was jailed in 2020 for assaulting her.

Malin - who is half-Swedish and half-Sri Lankan - explained that her new boyfriend also hails from Sweden and was 'nothing like her usual type'.

She told New magazine: 'It's early days, but I've never met anyone like him.

'I've never been connected with someone like I have with him my whole life and it makes me emotional thinking about it.

'When you've gone through all of these abusive relationships, you get to do the healing and then you get comfortable being on your own.

'I got to a point where I was like, "Maybe I'm just going to always be on my own, just me and Xaya and I'm coo with that." But now my heart is full.'
Charlie Condou is set to join the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) for an adventure in time and space for the new series of Doctor Who.

The British actor, 52, who portrayed Marcus Dent on Coronation Street from 2007 to 2014, is no stranger to the Whoniverse, having voiced characters in several Doctor Who Big Finish audio dramas.

This time, however, Charlie will come face to face with Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor in an exciting new escapade.

Speaking about his new role on the show, Charlie expressed his excitement to the BBC: 'I'm absolutely thrilled to be joining the Whoniverse, having been a fan for so long, and finally getting a chance to work with the legend that is Russell T Davies!

'It's an honour to be part of such an iconic show and I cant wait for everyone to see what I think is one of the most exciting and unforgettable episodes so far!'

Doctor Who producer Russell T Davies, 61, added: 'Welcome on board, Charlie. Some episodes of Doctor Who are so big and bold, they need all the talent we can throw at them, and that's when you call for Charlie Condou!

Charlie Condou is set to join the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) for an adventure in time and space for the new series of Doctor Who

The actor, 52, who portrayed Marcus Dent on Coronation Street from 2007 to 2014, is no stranger to the Whoniverse, having voiced characters in several Doctor Who Big Finish audio dramas (L-R Antony Cotton, Charlie, and Samia Longchambon on the soap)

'It's a delight to work with him at last, and I can't wait for people to see the wildness of this story.'

Doctor Who is produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for the BBC and Disney Branded Television.

The second season will air on April 12 exclusively on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Disney+ outside of the UK (where available).

Charlie will follow in the footsteps of his former Coronation Street co-stars Bruno Langley, Sarah Lancashire and Millie Gibson - who plays the current Time Lords sidekick, Ruby Sunday.

In February 2020, Charlie revealed that he left the ITV soap in 2014 to spend more time with his family in North London.

He played Marcus on the Manchester-based soap from 200708 and again from 2011 to 2014.

His character had several dramatic storylines, including romances with Sean Tully (Antony Cotton), Maria Connor (Samia Longchambon), and Todd Grimshaw (Bruno Langley).

Speaking to Lorraine Kelly at the time, he said: 'My time on Corrie was fantastic but being in Manchester was really difficult, my family and my kids are down here and I wasn't getting to see them, that's why I left.'

This time, however, Charlie will come face to face with Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor in an exciting new escapade

Speaking about his new role on the show, Charlie expressed his excitement to the BBC: 'I'm absolutely thrilled to be joining the Whoniverse, having been a fan for so long' (pictured 2024)

Charlie is raising his two children, Georgia, 14, and Hal, 11, with his husband Cameron Laux - who he married in 2015.

This announcement comes months after Russell stated that 'no decision' had been made yet regarding the lineup for series three.

Appearing at Comic Con in San Diego alongside Ncuti, 31, and Millie, 20, the screenwriter spoke about what was in store for the iconic show.

Russell admitted that decisions about who would star in series three hadn't been made, as they were still filming season two.

He said at the time: 'We've shot season two, but that's only halfway through. We've got all those months of post to come. It's a long way off, so no decisions yet.'

Meanwhile, Ncuti said playing the Doctor is 'surreal' and when the host joked he had signed up for the next 10 seasons, he replied: 'Of course!'.

'I am still growing into the Doctor but season two was lovely. It felt like the suit was fully fitted. I was finding my feet in season one and having the time of my life but season two felt like a chance to flex the muscles properly,' he said, according to The Mirror.
A stunning blonde bombshell nepo kid was seen leaving a famed sex toy shop in Hollywood on Monday.

This star had on a disguise - a pair of prescription glasses - as she exited the naughty store. Though this woman looks like Miley Cyrus, it was not her.

It was Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin's daughter Delilah Hamlin.

The 26-year-old beauty was dressed in a brown pinstriped suit that had a tie in front with chunky black platform heels.

The budding model wore her bleached blonde hair in a bob haircut with dark roots showing as she placed the arms of her glasses over her hair.

She was visiting The Pleasure Chest in Hollywood which sells vibrators, handcuffs and sex lubricants.

The Pleasure Chest is a legendary erotic boutique that has survived in the same West Hollywood spot since 1980.

A stunning blonde bombshell nepo kid was seen leaving a famed sex toy shop in Hollywood on Monday. This star had on a disguise - a pair of prescription glasses - as she exited the naughty store. Though this woman looks like Miley Cyrus, it was not her

It was Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin's daughter Delilah Hamlin. The 26-year-old beauty was dressed in a brown pinstriped suit that had a tie in front with chunky black platform heels

Delilah resembles Miley Cyrus, seen here in February in NYC

This comes after the diva from Los Angeles flashed her tummy when at the Michael Kors & Amazon launch dinner held at Arva at Aman New York on March 18.

And on March 1 she was seen in Italy.

Delilah was at Dolce and Gabbana afterparty at Vesta restaurant during the Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2025/2026.

Her figure was on display as she wore a sultry black slip dress.

The model was rocking a platinum blonde bob that showed off her defined jawline.

Delilah's look has certainly evolved since her appearance on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills with her mom.

Her cheeks, in particular, looked noticeably slimmer and more defined compared to their previous fuller appearance.

The fashionista  whose famous mom has been candid about her decision to enhance her features  went braless underneath a beige tank top, tucked into a matching maxi skirt with a front slit.

When Lisa was first skyrocketed into the spotlight in the late 1980s, she quickly captured the nation thanks to her stunning and all-natural beauty.

But like many young stars, the actress and model succumbed to the pressures of Hollywood and underwent cosmetic enhancements.

Soon after she shot to stardom, the TV personality's appearance began to drastically change - most notably, her lips, which ballooned in size - and her shocking transformation completely captured the nation, leaving many speculating about what she had done.

This comes after the diva from Los Angeles flashed her tummy when at the Michael Kors & Amazon launch dinner held at Arva at Aman New York on March 18

And on March 1 she was seen in Italy. Delilah was at Dolce and Gabbana afterparty at Vesta restaurant during the Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2025/2026

But the fierce scrutiny about her modifications was not something that Lisa shied away from, in fact, her tagline on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills was once, 'My lips are legendary, and they will never gloss over the truth.'

Over the course of her decades-long career, Lisa has been fiercely honest about her decision to go under the knife and enhance her looks with fillers.

She has also spoken in detail about some of the negative aspects that came with it, including results that didn't meet her expectations, unwanted long-term side affects, and immense criticism over her decision to alter her appearance.

In addition, she's been extremely open about some of her regrets, once branding herself as 'the perfect poster child for what not to do on a whim.'

While chatting with DailyMail.com in 2020, Lisa reflected on the backlash she had received for her cosmetic enhancements.

(L-R) Amelia, Lisa Rinna and Delilah attend the Michael Kors fashion show during New York Fashion Week in 2024

Lisa shares her model daughters with husband Harry Hamlin. The girls gained popularity after Lisa joined the cast of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2014; the family seen in 2017

'I always say, jokingly, that my lips have a career of their own,' the reality star said. 'But the feedback on them was not always positive.

'There was a time when people were negative. But I think they became accepted.'

In 2024 she revealed that she was 'dissolving' some hyaluronic acid gel injections that she had gotten in her face months prior because they added 'volume' that she 'didn't want.'

The girls gained popularity after Lisa joined the cast of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2014, which she starred in until 2022.
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Danny Jones' wife Georgia has returned to social media with a 'very important question,' after it was revealed she's given the McFly star a second chance following his drunken kiss with Maura Higgins.

The mother-of-one took to Instagram to share a video asking for advice from her followers about styling her hair, after her marriage was thrown into turmoil by Danny's behaviour at a BRIT Awards after party earlier this month.

Sharing a video showing off her natural blonde waves, Georgia wrote over the clip: 'I've got a very important question... do you think my straight hair might actually be curly?'

She then captioned the post: 'I never let my hair dry naturally because what looks like a beachy wave when wet turns to a Hagrid/Monica Geller hybrid when dry.

'I think theres some curls going on but how the hell do I get them to do their thing!?

'I want all your curly girl styling wisdom please!'

Danny Jones ' wife Georgia has returned to social media with a 'very important question,' after she gave the McFly star a second chance following his drunken kiss with Maura Higgins

Georgia has reportedly moved back in to their family home and is giving Danny a second chance after his drunken kiss with Maura.

The McFly star was filmed sharing a kiss with the Love Island star, 34, at a BRIT Awards afterparty earlier this month, and said in his apology 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 has made it clear he will do anything to make it work.'

MailOnline has contacted Georgia and Danny's representative's for comment.

Georgia has reportedly moved back in to their family home and is giving Danny a second chance after his drunken kiss with Maura

The mother-of-one took to Instagram to share a video asking for advice from her followers about styling her hair

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.

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.

Georgia had briefly moved out of the family home she and Danny share, after it emerged he had shared a drunken kiss with Maura at a BRIT Awards after party

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.

'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.
The Bachelorette #17 Katie Thurston gave a heartbreaking update on her stage 3 breast cancer battle just two days after her whirlwind wedding to Jeff Arcuri.

The 34-year-old newlywed's doctor discovered spots on her liver, which could be a sign of metastatic disease that would push her into stage 4.

Katie had no family history of cancer when she was diagnosed on February 13 after discovering a painful lump in her breast, and she was originally scheduled to begin the I-Spy breast cancer trial this Friday.

'My [liver] biopsy is scheduled Friday which would have been my treatment day,' Thurston wrote in her members-only Boobie Broadcast channel on Monday.

'We now wait. She seemed to be leaning more on the cancer in the liver vs. optimistic. This would put me at stage 4. I'd love to hear from my sisters who are stage 4 in terms of quality of life, motherhood, etc.'

The standup comedian's I-Spy breast cancer trial was set to include a Zoladex injection to reduce the size of tumors, multiple rounds of chemotherapy, and surgery but everything is on hold until the results of her biopsy.

Bachelorette alum Katie Thurston and comedian Jeff Arcuri have tied the knot. The lovebirds got married in a simple and intimate ceremony in their own backyard with their dog Charlie and their parents in attendance (pictured December 1)

Life is happening at warp speed for Katie and the 36-year-old standup comedian, who connected via Instagram a year ago, got engaged five months later, and tied the knot last Saturday during an intimate backyard ceremony with their parents.

Thurston and Arcuri have also adopted rescue dog Charlie from Best Friends New York and did a round of IVF at fertility center RMA of New York so they can eventually start a family.

'We dedicated two weeks before doing anything else breast cancer wise to doing IVF,' the Washington State native told Us Weekly on Sunday.

'A lot of women don't even realize that you can take 10 days to dedicate time to your reproductive health and your future family plans. We were able to retrieve 17 eggs and of those 17, six became embryos.'

Katie noted: 'He's been to every single appointment with me so far. He's done every single shot that's involved with IVF.'

Thurston gushed about how Jeff is 'great at matching my energy' and keep things light and playful when she needs it.

'[Our wedding] was this kind gesture of him saying, truly, in sickness and in health,' The Bachelor #25 contestant marveled.

'He is proving that he's here to stay. He shows up every day and he does it in ways that just continue to surprise.'

Arcuri - who's next performing April 3 in Tennessee - will be spending most of the year traveling as his tour is booked through October 23.

Katie was a bank marketing manager when she first competed for the heart of Bachelor #25 Matt James in 2021 before immediately scoring her Bachelorette spin-off where she romanced fiance Blake Moynes for six months and John Hersey for seven months.

Katie had no family history of cancer when she was diagnosed on February 13 after discovering a painful lump in her breast, and she was originally scheduled to begin the I-Spy breast cancer trial this Friday (pictured March 18)

Thurston wrote in her members-only Boobie Broadcast channel on Monday: 'My [liver] biopsy is scheduled Friday which would have been my treatment day. We now wait. She seemed to be leaning more on the cancer in the liver vs. optimistic. This would put me at stage 4'

The standup comedian's I-Spy breast cancer trial was set to include a Zoladex injection to reduce the size of tumors, multiple rounds of chemotherapy, and surgery but everything is on hold until the results of her biopsy

Life is happening at warp speed for Katie and the 36-year-old standup comedian, who connected via Instagram a year ago, got engaged five months later, and tied the knot last Saturday during an intimate backyard ceremony with their parents

Thurston and Arcuri have also adopted rescue dog Charlie from Best Friends New York and did a round of IVF at fertility center RMA of New York: 'We dedicated two weeks before doing anything else breast cancer wise to doing IVF' (pictured March 11)

The Washington State native told Us Weekly on Sunday: 'A lot of women don't even realize that you can take 10 days to dedicate time to your reproductive health and your future family plans. We were able to retrieve 17 eggs and of those 17, six became embryos'

Katie marveled: '[Our wedding] was this kind gesture of him saying, truly, in sickness and in health. He is proving that he's here to stay. He shows up every day and he does it in ways that just continue to surprise'
Actress Cindyana Santangelo, who played the exotic dancer Sierra Madre on Married... With Children, has died at age 58.

The star was rushed to the hospital on Monday afternoon after first responders answered a call for a medical emergency at her home in Malibu, according to TMZ.

The actress was pronounced dead, although her cause of death is still unclear.

Her death is being investigated by LASD's Homicide Division after deputies found that she had received 'cosmetic shots' at her home, the outlet reported.

While there is no foul play suspected, they are currently awaiting the autopsy results.

Actress Cindyana Santangelo, who played the exotic dancer Sierra Madre on Married... With Children, has died at age 58

She was also 'the Latin Marilyn Monroe' has died at age 58

She is best known for her role on Married... With Children as one of the dancers at a strip club called The Jiggly Room, which is frequented by Ed O'Neill's lead character Al Bundy and his friends.

Cindyana featured on the 1996 episode The Agony And The Extra C, playing stripper Sierra Madre, who sends the men at The Jiggly Room wild by showing them the birthday present she gave her boyfriend - a tattoo of his name on an intimate part of her body.

Bowled over by her romantic gesture, Jefferson (Ted McGinley) tries to get a tattoo on his backside in honor of his wife Marcy (Amanda Bearse), with disastrous results.

Cindyana was also known for her appearance in Hollywood Homicide - which starred Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett.

Her nickname 'the Latin Marilyn Monroe' originated by Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction, who called her that in an interview with Spin Magazine.

Cindyana also starred in a number of music videos, including Young MC's Bust A Move, which was released in 1989.

In 1990, her voice was featured in the beginning of Jane's Addiction's song Stop.

Married... With Children starred Ed O'Neill, Katey Sagal, David Faustino and Christina Applegate

First responders answered a call for a medical emergency at her home in Malibu, with the star rushed to the hospital on Monday afternoon, according to TMZ

She made her feature film debut in 1990, in the film The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, playing the corpse Lydia, per iMDB.

She also appeared in CSI: Miami, ER and The Bo-Bo & Skippy Show.

Cindyana was born in Manhattan, New York City, and was raised on the West Coast.

She got a scholarship for the Lee Strasberg School in London at age 19, per iMDB.

Cindyana also attended NUC's Tisch School of Arts and USC's School of Cinema and Television.

She made her feature film debut in 1990, in the film The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, playing the corpse Lydia, per iMDB

The actress was pronounced dead, although her cause of death is still unclear

She is best known for her role as dancer Sierra Madre in Married With Children, as well as her role in Hollywood Homicide - which starred Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett

Cindyana was born in Manhattan, New York City, and was raised on the West Coast

The star has two sons, as seen on her Instagram page. Last month she celebrated her son Dante's 20th birthday, posting a picture of her kids with the caption: 'These to Goonie's mean everything to me so amazing young Men

The star has two sons, as seen on her Instagram page.

Last month she celebrated her son Dante's 20th birthday, posting a picture of her kids with the caption: 'These to Goonie's mean everything to me so amazing young Men
A Las Vegas judge ordered the wife accused of hiring a hitman to kill her Ghost Adventures host husband Aaron Goodwin to 'stay out of trouble' and avoid the TV star in a court appearance.

Victoria Goodwin appeared in front of a judge, her hands shackled and a chain around her waist and wearing dark blue wearing jail garb, for a preliminary hearing at Las Vegas Justice Township Court on Tuesday.

At one point during the brief hearing, Victoria, 32, smirked as she looked back at the courtroom.

Throughout the rest of the appearance she stayed quiet, and looked concerned as she surveyed the courtroom.

She was arrested on March 6 in Clark County on charges of soliciting and conspiring to murder the 48-year-old paranormal investigator.

The judge on Tuesday granted Victoria's motion to delay her preliminary hearing and her bail remains at $100,000. She is expected back in court on April 8.

Victoria Goodwin appeared in blue jail garb and her hands shackled at a Las Vegas court on March 25. She is accused of soliciting a Florida prisoner to hire a hit man to kill her husband

Cameras were reportedly rolling when Aaron Goodman learned his wife tried to hire a hit man to kill him

As part of her bail condition, Victoria was ordered not to contact her estranged husband, according to court records obtained by DailyMail.com.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Victoria remains at the Clark County Detention Center, according to jail records.

Victoria, whose dirty blonde hair was swept back in a messy pony tail, looked solemn during the proceedings but flashed a quick smile at her attorney who sat behind her before the hearing.

Victoria's murder-for-hire scheme was foiled by authorities after investigators discovered she was communicating with Florida convict Grant Amato in March 2024.

Victoria sent the con text messages through a contraband cell phone Amato had in his possession while in prison.

Grant's cell phone was seized by corrections officers in prison, which is when police discovered Victoria's text messages where she allegedly said she would pay Grant's potential hitman $11,515 to murder Aaron with $2,500 upfront.

'Am I a bad person? Because I chose to end his existence. Not divorce?' she asked in one text.

In another text, Victoria allegedly wrote: 'He's asleep right now in the hotel room... I need to know what's going on. Can I get an update. Was it done?'

A judge set Victoria Goodwin's bail at $100,000 and ordered her to stay away from Aaron

Victoria Goodwin pictured in court on March 25 with her defense attorney David Brown

Ghost Adventures co-host Aaron Goodwin has broken his silence on his wife Victoria Goodwin's March 6th arrest for conspiring to murder him (pictured in 2022)

Amato was convicted in the 2019 triple murder of his parents and brother in a dispute over $200,000 in missing money he spent on a webcam performer.

David Brown, Victoria's defense attorney, declined to comment on the case when reached on Tuesday by DailyMail.com.

Cameras were rolling as Aaron learned that his estranged wife had tried to hire a hitman to kill him.

Aaron filed for divorce from her on March 13 and requested to maintain his property and have their community assets be divided equally.

He amended his filing lat week seeking over $10K in damages and accused her of negligence and false imprisonment.

'[Victoria's] conduct was extreme or outrageous with either the intention of or reckless disregard for, causing emotional distress to [Aaron],' the court filing read.

Victoria's murder-for-hire scheme allegedly began in March 2024 when she began communicating with Florida convict Grant Amato (pictured) after watching Paramount+ docuseries Ctrl + Alt + Desire about his case where he murdered his parents and brother

It appeared that the TV star was unaware of his wife's alleged scheming even four months after police said she communicated with the inmate about the murder plot

'[He] suffered severe or extreme emotional distress as the actual or proximate result of [her] conduct.'

Aaron broke his silence over the weekend and thanked his 1.3M social media followers.

'Thank you everyone for all the love and support through this emotionally trying time' he wrote. 'It has really helped a lot and I appreciate you all.'
Jeopardy! contestant Laurin Bell was found dead aged 41 on Monday, triggering a race to save her dog from a cruel fate.

The Florida Medical Examiner's Office confirmed to The US Sun on Tuesday that the executive assistant had died by suicide.

Her cousin Kristen Joyner wrote on Facebook this Tuesday that Bell had 'decided to end her life,' calling her 'a brilliant, funny, and beautiful soul.'

Bell's death prompted a scramble to rescue her 14-year-old dog Kinley, whom Joyner wrote is confined to a pound in Polk County, Florida with only 10 days to be adopted.

Polk County Animal Control, which is run by the sheriff's office, had a goal of becoming no-kill by this year, according to the local chapter of the Humane Society.

Joyner wrote that Kinley was a 'great companion' who was 'not good with other dogs, but is friendly with everyone and cats.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Polk County Animal Control for comment.

Jeopardy! contestant Laurin Bell passed away, at age 41, on Monday a little over two years after her first and only appearance on the trivia game show

Bell left behind her 14-year-old 'great companion' Kinley - who's not good with other dogs but is friendly with everyone and cats - and is now available to be adopted in the next 10 days at the pound in Polk County, FL

Joyner put out a call on Facebook to save the animal, writing that Bell 'had a dog that was taken to the pound, if anyone is willing to take her in please let me know.'

After Bell's death, some social media users - including Joyner - began sharing farewell Facebook post accredited to the Lakeland, FL resident, which read 'Well everyone, I'm signing off from life. See you on the other side' but it's unclear if it's actually real.

A spokesperson for the Florida County Medical Examiner's Office said: 'An autopsy has been performed, and toxicology testing is underway.'

Laurin appeared on the 2023 Valentine's Day episode where she earned $5,200 with an impressive 86.67% rate at answering questions correctly.

At the end, host Ken Jennings gave the clue: 'A craft that visited it was named for Giotto, based on the story that 680 years earlier, the painter depicted it as the Star of Bethlehem.'

Unfortunately, Bell went 'all in' with her earnings but her answer 'What is Jupiter' was incorrect, which dropped her to zero so returning champ Kendra Westerhaus easily won the episode with $17,600.

Jeopardy! viewers were saddened to hear about the passing of the Duquesne University alum.

Reddit user @willtwerkf0rfood wrote: 'Oh this is heartbreaking. I hope her soul finds peace and I hope someone is able to take her pup.'

I'm so sorry for her friends and family, and her canine companion,' Reddit user @AveryElle87 wrote.

'You never know what someone is going through, so I hope we all see that big smile and remember that, and try to be a bit more compassionate and kind along the way.'

Reddit user @Js_On_My_Yeet commented: 'Rest in peace. Remember to check on your friends y'all.'

'It's sad. She looks like she would have had a lot of life ahead of her yet,' Reddit user @seifd wrote.

Reddit user @Apprehensive_Set9276 commented: 'Devastated to hear this. I hope the people she loved have support for their loss. RIP.'

A spokesperson for the Florida Medical Examiner's Office confirmed to The US Sun on Tuesday that the executive assistant had died by suicide saying: 'An autopsy has been performed, and toxicology testing is underway'

Facebook user Kristen Joyner wrote on Tuesday that Laurin 'decided to end her life' and she called her 'a brilliant, funny, and beautiful soul'

The Lakeland, FL resident appeared on the 2023 Valentine's Day episode where she earned $5,200 with an impressive 86.67% rate at answering questions correctly

At the end, host Ken Jennings gave the clue: 'A craft that visited it was named for Giotto, based on the story that 680 years earlier, the painter depicted it as the Star of Bethlehem'
Kevan Staples, who was the co-founder of legendary 1970s alt rock band Rough Trade from Toronto, died on Sunday at the age of 74.

His death was announced in a social media post by band co-founder Carole Pope. 'He was a bright light that will burn forever,' she wrote on Instagram.

The cause of death was not shared.

Staples co-wrote the band's hits High School Confidential, as well the songs Birds of a Feather and All Touch.

In 1983 they opened for David Bowie's Serious Moonlight tour.

Some of their best-known tunes touched on lesbians and bondage with song named like Lie Back, Let Me Do Everything and Dyke by Default.

'We had a strong gay following, we had a strong arts community following,' Staples told CBC decades later. 'There was an audience for what we were doing, and that was apparent.'

Kevan Staples, who was the co-founder of legendary 1970s alt rock band Rough Trade from Toronto, died on Sunday at the age of 74. Seen in 2023

His death was announced in a social media post by band co-founder Carole Pope. 'He was a bright light that will burn forever,' she wrote on Instagram. Seen together in 2023

Rough Trade got their start when performing at small clubs in Toronto.

Their first album was the self-released Rough Trade Live!

They then came out with five more studio albums when working with Bernie Finklestein's Canadian label True North in the 1980s.

Their popularity grew with their tunes Weapons, Shaking the Foundations and Crimes of Passion doing well on the radio.

They played to some of their biggest audiences ever opening for David Bowie on Canadian dates of his 1983 Serious Moonlight tour.

In 1986 they split up over exhaustion from being typecast as a band that writes about sex.

'Besides writing about sexuality, we were also writing about politics and people didn't pick up as much on that here,' Pope told the Canadian Press in 1994.

The cause of death was not shared. Staples co-wrote the band's hits High School Confidential, as well the songs Birds of a Feather and All Touch

Some of their best-known tunes touched on lesbians and bondage with song named like Lie Back, Let Me Do Everything and Dyke by Default

'We had a strong gay following, we had a strong arts community following,' Staples told CBC decades later

Staples then went to work in Hollywood as he scored movies and television shows working on the 1978 Canadian film One Night Stand

In 2001 they got back together for a few shows.

Staples then went to work in Hollywood as he scored movies and television shows working on the 1978 Canadian film One Night Stand.

In the 1980s Staples was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2023.

'Their music challenged conventions and left a lasting impact on Canada's cultural landscape,' says a post on the Canada Walk of Fame's Instagram page.
Costco shoppers are mourning the loss of a beloved Kirkland Signature grocery staple.

Multiple Reddit threads are warning that the grocery store's generic brand of soy milk has been permanently ripped off the shelves.

The store previously sold the popular coffee creamer alternative in vanilla and plain flavors

Customers could grab the 32 fluid ounce cartons for $3 or 12-count boxes for $20.

But a Reddit user, who had reached out to Costco directly about the products disappearance, shared a reported email response from the company confirming the products had all been discontinued.

A Costco representative reportedly confirmed the change, writing back: 'Unfortunately, the KS Soy Milk was discontinued due to slow sales

'However, we plan on bringing in a branded Soy Milk as an item rotation throughout the year. The next rotation is due to arrive in August.'

Another thread alleged that a Costco manager said the soy milk manufacturer was engaged in a heated negotiation over the product's price.

Costco allegedly told a customer they were no longer supplying stores with Kirkland Signature soy drinks

The manager alleged the company decided to move in a different direction for soy milk products after the dispute.

'They're trying to find other vendors who give good quality for value, while simultaneously talking down the old vendor to a more reasonable price,' the second Redditor alleged.

Multiple soy drink fans said the product was a great milk alternative for people who are lactose intolerant.

Dozens of national grocery stores  including trader Joes, Walmart, Whole Foods, and Sam's Club  have their own soy-based milk alternatives for sale.

But customers were disappointed to hear the Costco iteration wasn't quickly coming back to their store shelves.

'I know it's silly but I am so devastated,' a Redditor said in response to the company's alleged response.

'The Kirkland brand soy milk was the best dairy free milk I have ever found.'

Costco didn't immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

Customers flocked to Reddit to share their latest updates on the soy-based drink's alleged disappearance

Costco has announced dozens of new policies after a banner 2024 sales year

Costco changes

Costco has announced a slate of changes coming to its stores this year  shoppers should expect more locations, slightly higher membership prices, and some more product changes.

The company is opening 25 new locations this year, including six warehouses that hosted ribbon cuttings in March.

Costco was able to open those stores after announcing price changes to its memberships program.

In September, the company raised its membership fees for the first time since 2017.

Now, standard memberships will cost Costco shoppers $65, up from the previous $60 mark.

Executive level memberships are now $130 annually, up from $120.

But the company has excited customers by launching a bunch of new fan-favorite offerings, including this food court item and this soft drink swap.
Ultra-wealthy Americans are rushing to open Swiss bank accounts amid fears of economic turmoil and concerns their cash will be targeted by Donald Trump.

Increasing uncertainty and fears of potential restrictions on moving money overseas mean the rich are transferring hundreds of millions of dollars out of the US.

Robert Paul, co-head of private clients at UK-based wealth management firm London and Capital, told The Telegraph: 'These are big chunks of money. We've had five cases in the last three or four weeks, and the sums have been $40m, $30m, $30m, $100m and $50m.'

He added: 'I am expecting to have at least this again if not more.'

Paul told the outlet his clients are taking money out of US brokerage accounts and opening accounts in Switzerland and the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey.

Ollie Marshall, director of UK-based property buying consultancy Prime Purchase, told The Telegraph that he thought it was mainly Democratic Party sponsors worried about some form of financial retribution.

'Of course, there's no proof the administration is actively targeting them yet, but the government's policies are so extreme they could be right to be worried about it.'

Josh Matthews, co-founder of Maseco, which provides wealth management for Americans abroad, said that the last time he had seen this type of interest was during the financial crisis when wealthy Americans feared US bank failures.

Ultra-wealthy Americans are rushing to open Swiss bank accounts amid fears their cash will be targeted by Donald Trump

It is happening now, he told The Financial Times, because of 'the uncertainty of a Trump presidency.'

The Trump administration has proposed widespread tariffs on key trading partners, which has caused turmoil in the stock market and sparked concern from many business leaders.

Paul told The Telegraph that the wealthiest Americans are keen to have some money which is not located inside the US.

'There has been fear around capital controls and movement of money. Why it's heightened in the past four weeks is because the rhetoric is chopping and changing pretty quickly.

'A lot of this is discussions around dinner parties of the ultra-wealthy,' he told the outlet.

Capital controls are measures taken by a government to regulate the flow of money into and out of a country.

While Trump has not directly discussed imposing these measures, investors are concerned by the volatility of his policy-making.

The President has made sudden alterations and delayed tariffs at the last minute on several occasions.

Judi Galst, the managing director of private clients at Henley & Partners in New York, said at least a quarter of her clients have inquired about moving money out of the country due to the new administration.

Robert Paul, co-head of private clients at UK-based wealth management firm London and Capital, said his clients are taking money out of US brokerage accounts and opening accounts in Switzerland and the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey

The Trump administration has proposed widespread tariffs on key trading partners, which has caused turmoil in the stock market and sparked concern from many business leaders

Switzerland is the world's top destination for cross-border wealth management, but Americans cannot simply open an account due to strict regulations

'I hear a lot about Switzerland and Liechtenstein. I talked to somebody at one Swiss bank who told me that they'd opened 12 accounts like this for Americans in the past two weeks,' she told the outlet.

She said many rich Americans are worried it is not in their best interests to hold all their assets in the US due to the potential negative impact of tariffs and federal cuts on economic growth.

Pierre Gabris, founder and managing partner of Zurich-based Alpen Partners, told the Financial Times that he had seen a lot of inquiries.

'Certainly that has been a pattern in the past few months,' he said. 'Since the election there have been some anti-Trump clients and many are driven by fear.'

Swiss private bank Pictet confirmed to the outlet that it had seen a 'significant uptick' in demand at its Swiss-based entity Pictet North America Advisors, which is registered with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC).

Switzerland is the world's top destination for cross-border wealth management, but Americans cannot simply open an account due to strict regulations.

But if a Swiss wealth manager is registered with the SEC in the US then it can help clients open accounts and manage their money overseas.

It comes after billionaires Jamie Dimon and Larry Fink have both begun to express their concern about the impact of Trump's policies on the US economy.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Dimon warned earlier this month that the uncertainty around tariffs is 'not a good thing' for business.

Fellow billionaire Fink, who is CEO of investment management company BlackRock, also said this month that the volatility around the policy changes is already hurting the economy.
Panera Bread is closing two of its fresh dough factories - as it increasingly shifts to frozen bread.

This means that customers at some cafes will be served bread that has been par-baked and frozen, rather than baked fresh that morning.

The chain, which serves sandwiches, pastries, soups and salads, announced it is closing fresh dough facilities in Lexena, KS, and Greensboro, NC.

It comes after the chain also said it was shutting two fresh dough factories in Stockton and Ontario, CA, which resulted in 350 layoffs.

In the past year, another five baking facilities have shut in Texas, Arizona, Georgia, Colorado and Washington, according to Restaurant Business.

The fresh dough facilities are where Panera's bread dough was traditionally mixed and shaped before being sent to its 2,200 cafes.

It was then proofed and baked fresh every morning in-store.

Panera is now switching to an 'on-demand' baking model, according to the outlet, where the bread is produced by a third-party bakery using Panera's recipes and is then par-baked and frozen.

The chain, which serves sandwiches, pastries, soups and salads, announced it is closing fresh dough facilities in Lexena, Kansas, and Greensboro, North Carolina

The bread is then delivered to Panera cafes where it can be baked throughout the day when it is needed.

The company says this allows for fresh bread to be baked at any point during the day, rather than only being available to customers in the morning.

Some argue that the chain is losing focus on quality and the artisanal bread that has been the core of its menu for decades, according to Restaurant Business.

Panera has not indicated whether any more fresh baking facilities will close in the near future.

After the closures in Lexena and Greensboro, there will be nine remaining factories in the US.

In Lexena, 59 workers are due to be laid off, while the closure in Greensboro, which is scheduled for May 21, will affect around 80 workers.

'We had to make the difficult decision to close the Lenexa, KS commissary facility. Any decision that impacts our teams is never made lightly, and we are deeply grateful for the contributions of all impacted team members,' Panera said in a statement to the Kansas City Business Journal.

The changes at the company, which was founded in 1987, come after it launched a menu overhaul named a 'New Era for Panera' last year.

Customers at some cafes will be served bread that has been par-baked and frozen, rather than baked fresh that morning

The chain serves sandwiches, pastries, soups and salads, and has around 2,200 locations in the US

The brand is now part of parent company Panera Brands, which also owns Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels and is owned by Luxembourg-based conglomerate JAB Holding.

CEO Jose Alberto Duenas stepped down in January, and Paul Carbone, the company's Chief Financial Officer, has been named interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent replacement.

Panera was forced to phase out its controversial Charged Lemonade from stores nationwide last year after the drinks were linked to several deaths.

A spokesperson for the chain said in May 2024 the change was part of a 'menu transformation' and internal memos suggest it could begin within the next two weeks.

The move comes after lawsuits blamed the highly caffeinated drinks for two deaths and heart damage in a third patient.

The family of Pennsylvania college student Sarah Katz, who had a pre-existing heart condition, alleged she died after drinking a large Charged Lemonade in 2022.
Himalayan glaciers are not just frozen reservoirs of water; they are the lifeblood of South Asia. These colossal ice masses feed major river systems, including the Ganges, Indus, and Brahmaputra, directly impacting over a billion people. However, these glaciers are vanishing at an alarming rate, putting millions of lives, biodiversity, and entire ecosystems at grave risk.

Among them, the Gangotri Glacier stands out, supplying water to the sacred and economically crucial Ganges River. The glacieras retreat is not just an environmental concern but a looming humanitarian crisis, threatening water security, agriculture, energy production, and even cultural heritage.

The Gangotri Glacier is just one part of a larger crisis, other Himalayan Glacier including Yamunotri, Pindari, Milan and Sunder Dhunga Glaciers are also Shrinking impacting tributaries such as the Yamuna, Kali and Ramganga rivers. This accelerating glacier retreat is disputing the delicate balance of the Ganga River system.

The Himalayas are warming at nearly twice the global average, causing glaciers to melt at an accelerated pace. Several studies, including those conducted by the Indian Space. Research Organisation (ISRO), confirm that Himalayan glaciers have lost over 20 per cent of their ice mass in the last four decades.

The Gangotri Glacier, which feeds the Ganges, has retreated by approximately 1,500 meters since 1935, with an annual recession rate of 10-22 meters. Scientists warn that by 2050, many smaller glaciers feeding the Ganges may completely disappear, leading to severe water shortages across northern India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

The situation is dire for other glaciers as well for example Yamunotri Glacier (source of the Yamuna River) is shrinking, affecting water supply to Delhi and surrounding regions. Pindari, Milam, and Sunderdhunga river area depleting, impacting tributaries such as the Kali, Ramganga. Chorabari Glacier (Kedarnath region) is receding, increasing the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), similar to the catastrophic 2013 Kedarnath floods.

The retreat of Himalayan glaciers will severely impact freshwater availability. The Ganges, which supports more than 400 Million people, is at risk of reduced flow in the dry season. This would devastate agriculture in the Indo-Gangetic plains, one of the most fertile regions on Earth. Without adequate glacial meltwater, farmers will face severe droughts, reducing crop yields and leading to food shortages.

As glaciers melt, rivers swell, leading to devastating floods. Initially, increased meltwater boosts river flows, but as glaciers deplete, erratic water patterns emerge, alternating between excessive flooding and extreme drought.

There are over 2.500 glacial lakes in the Himalayas, with more than 200 classified as dangerous and among them 50 glacier lakes in the Himalayas as avery highly hazardousa. These lakes, formed by melting glaciers, can burst due to landslides or earthquakes, triggering catastrophic floods downstream.

As a result of glacial melting and heavy rainfall, the flash floods killed over 6.000 people, in Kedarnath in 2013 washing away entire villages. A chunk of the Nanda Devi Glacier collapsed, leading to floods that killed over 200 people and destroyed two hydroelectric projects in Chamoli in the year 2021.

The melting of permafrost (frozen ground) destabilizes mountain slopes, triggering landslides and rockfalls. Roads, villages, and even major infrastructure projects like dams and tunnels are at constant risk.

Uttarakhand Tunnel under construction in the Himalayas collapsed, trapping dozens of workers due to unstable, melting permafrost and excessive rainfall.

Entire villages in Himachal Pradesh, Nepal, and Arunachal Pradesh are being abandoned as the land underneath them becomes unstable.

Glacial meltwater is the primary source of many South Asian rivers. If glaciers continue to retreat at the current rate the Ganga will dry up during summer months, leading to severe water shortages and the Indus and Brahmaputra Rivers will also suffer reduced flows, threatening millions in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh and Salinity levels in coastal Bangladesh will rise, destroying freshwater ecosystems.

Himalayan forests depend on glacial-fed rivers. As river flows decrease, many plant species will perish. Endangered species like the snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear, and black-necked crane are at risk as their habitats shrink.

Even the fisheries in the Ganges and Brahmaputra will collapse due to erratic water temperatures and reduced oxygen levels in the rivers.

As glaciers melt, ancient pathogens trapped in ice for thousands of years may resurface. Scientists warn that melting permafrost in the Arctic and Himalayas could release deadly viruses and bacteria.

Rising temperatures also increase the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera and dysentery due to contaminated water sources.

For millions, the Ganges is not just a river but a sacred entity. Hindu beliefs hold that the Ganges descended from the heavens to cleanse humanityas sins.

The Gangotri Glacier, the riveras source, is thus considered divine. The retreat of the Gangotri Glacier represents not just an environmental disaster but a spiritual crisis.

Many believe that a receding Ganges is a sign of moral and ecological imbalance. The river is celebrated in countless hymns, scriptures, and festivals, yet today, it is polluted, shrinking, and at risk of vanishing. Air pollution is accelerating glacial melting. Black carbon (soot) from vehicles, industries, and crop burning settles on ice, reducing its reflectivity. As a result, glaciers absorb more heat, melting 50 per cent faster than they would naturally.

A study by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) found that black carbon contributes to nearly 30 per cent of the total glacier melting in the Himalayas.

The burning of fossil fuels in India, Nepal, and China is significantly worsening the problem.

Regional and Global Consequences like Hydropower projects in Nepal, which rely on glacial meltwater, are at serious risk due to erratic water flow.

The cities like Kathmandu face severe drinking water shortages, impacting millions and in the Tibetan Plateau, known as the aWater Tower of Asia,a is drying up, affecting the Mekong, Yangtze, and Yellow Rivers. Chinaas water security is under threat, leading to geopolitical tensions.

The Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta is experiencing severe water shortages and rising sea levels. Salinity intrusion in coastal areas is making agricultural land unusable, displacing millions.

Glacial melt from the Himalayas contributes to rising sea levels, threatening coastal cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Dhaka, and Karachi. The global sea level is rising by 0.13 inches per year, with estimates suggesting a 10-32 inch rise by the end of the century, endangering low-lying islands and coastal megacities.

The melting of Himalayan glaciers is an existential crisis. This is not just about losing ice-it is about losing water security, agriculture, biodiversity, and entire cultures. The crisis threatens the livelihoods of millions, disrupts ancient river systems, and accelerates natural disasters.

If the current trends continue, South Asia faces an unprecedented humanitarian disaster. The melting glaciers of the Himalayas are a warning-one that the world cannot afford to ignore. Urgent global action is needed to mitigate climate change and protect the lifeline of over a billion people before it is too late.

(The writer is a lawyer at the Supreme Court of India. Views expressed are personal)
The Indian Navy will carry out a mega wargame with several African nations next month to expand its overall defence cooperation with the continent, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modias new vision for engagement with the Global South.

Modi announced the vision MAHASAGAR or aMutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regionsa for Indiaas engagement with the Global South during his recent visit to Mauritius. Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti said here on Monday the Indian Navy and the Tanzania Peoples Defence Force will co-host the exercise, titled aAIKEYMEa or Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement, off Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania in mid-April and it is set to be inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

India and Africa have been cooperating in tackling maritime security threats, such as piracy, illegal activities including trafficking, unregulated and unreported fishing, through sharing of information and surveillance. However, the aAIKEYMEa exercise is likely to significantly expand the ongoing cooperation. aA large-scale multilateral maritime engagement exercise with African countries, titled aAfrica India Key Maritime Engagementa or aAIKEYMEa, which means unity in Sanskrit, is an initiative to enhance interoperability with African navies,a Vice Admiral Sobti told reporters.

The deputy chief of naval staff said the exercise is planned over six days and will see the participation of Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles and South Africa, in addition to the co-hosts.

The harbour phase of the exercise would include table-top and command-post exercises on piracy and information sharing, along with training on seamanship, he said. The sea phase comprises seamanship evolutions, search and rescue, visit board search and seizure, small-arms firing and helicopter operations, he added. The Indian Navy also announced the launch of another maiden initiative called Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar with an aim to boost cooperation with the friendly countries in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Under the initiative, one Indian naval ship is being deployed to the southwest of the IOR with a combined crew from India and nine other nations a Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and South Africa.

The ship, INS Sunayna, is planned to be deployed for more than a month in April and would be undertaking port calls at Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis, Port Victoria and Male. It will also carry out joint surveillance of exclusive economic zones of Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius and Seychelles. The personnel from the other nations to be part of the crew of INS Sunayna would undergo a training capsule of two weeks at various naval professional schools in Kochi.
India's tradition of hospitality is unparalleled worldwide, where guests are revered as gods, reflecting the nationas rich culture and the ethos of Atithi Devo Bhava (Guest is God). These sentiments were expressed by Sanjar Masadikov, UN Political Affairs Officer, during a civic felicitation and book release ceremony at the International Centre of Media Excellence.

Masadikov, who was the chief guest, shared his admiration for India, stating, "I have traveled across the world, but the respect and hospitality I have received in India is beyond imagination."

Ulan Umetov, a prominent businessman from Kyrgyzstan, was the special guest at the event, while Dr. Keshav Pandey, Director of the International Centre of Media Excellence, presided over the function.

The event commenced with a traditional Indian welcome as intellectuals of the city greeted the foreign dignitaries with garlands, symbolizing Indian cultural hospitality. During the ceremony, thought-provoking discussions on Indian culture, civilization, religion, and history took place, fostering an exchange of ideas between the foreign guests and local intellectuals.

A key highlight of the event was the release of the book "Power of English Speaking," authored by Evangel Athial, a renowned educationist from the city.

In keeping with Indian tradition, Dr. Keshav Pandey honored the distinguished guests by presenting them with shawls, coconuts, and mementoes as tokens of appreciation. In return, the foreign dignitaries gifted Dr. Pandey a traditional Kyrgyzstan dress, expressing their gratitude for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to them. The ceremony was conducted by Mahesh Mudgal, while Deepak Tomar delivered the vote of thanks, acknowledging the contributions of all participants.

Several prominent figures from the city graced the occasion, including Vijay Pandey, Rambabu Katare, Dr. Aditya Bhadoria, SK Sharma, Chandrakant Sharma, Kailash Mudgal, Dr. Ayub Khan, Sanjeev Nigotia, Bhupendra Kant, Manju Soni, Harish Pawar, Vijay Parashar, Prakash Lokwani, Sanjay Lakshkar, Biju Kumar, Bablu Bhosale, Rajesh Awasthi, Ashish Mishra, Manish Sharma, and Devendra, among others.
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin has warned that Northern Ireland risks being left behind in the global transition to Net Zero and urged the Executive to take urgent action.

Speaking after the Assembly passed an SDLP motion calling for a new renewable energy support scheme and planning reform to boost renewable energy development, Ms McLaughlin said:

''While we have taken some steps, such as legally binding emissions targets and an Energy Strategy, our pace of change lags behind other regions. Unlike Great Britain or the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland still lacks a dedicated renewable energy support scheme, leaving us at a competitive disadvantage, while driving up costs for businesses. This failure lies with the Executive.

''There is huge opportunity for the North West when it comes to the green transition. With the right investment, this region can become a hub for green jobs and clean energy innovation, driving economic regeneration while tackling the climate crisis. This would have significant benefits for both our environment and the local economy.''

''The green transition must also be a cross-departmental priority. The Economy Minister must ensure businesses are supported, while the Infrastructure Minister must tackle red tape stalling grid expansion and we must protect consumers from rising energy costs. A greener future is not just an environmental necessity its an economic opportunity we cannot afford to miss''
Walled City Music and Moving On Music (Belfast) present Quatuor Bela, one of Frances leading string quartets on a rare tour of Northern Ireland, supported by Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Queens University Belfast.

Guided by the personality and work of Bela Bartok, the quartet play and deliver programmes with sincere conviction. Recognized for their "diabolical technique" (Telerama), Quatuor Bela have become one of the leading European quartets working with contemporary composers such as Garth Knox, Kaija Saariaho and Francesca Verunelli.

Founded in 2006 by four musicians from the National Higher Conservatory of Music of Lyon and Paris, the Bela Quartet were brought together by a shared passion for the repertoire of the 20th century. The quartet is committed to championing new compositions and exploring the relationship between composers and performers.

This tour of NI will feature significant works of the classical repertoire with Beethovens Serioso Quartet, Faures only string quartet, alongside works by Queens University associated composers Piers Hellawell, and world premieres by Simon Mawhinney and Pedro Rebelo.

The tour will begin in Christ Church Derry on Thursday 3rd April with Walled City Music, continuing to St Macartins Enniskillen with Music in Fermanagh, Market Place Theatre Armagh on Saturday 5th and finishing in Harty Room QUB Belfast on Sunday 6th April.

For concert details and tickets for the Derry performance, please visit www.walledcitymusic.com.
A student from Derry has picked up an Award at Ulster University Business Schools Excellence Awards, led by the Department of Management, Leadership and Marketing.

Kaitlyn Kerr, a BSc Hons Business Studies undergraduate student received the Chartered Accountants Ireland - Ulster Society Award for Best student in the module Business Strategy.

Now celebrating their fourteenth year, the awards are an opportunity to acknowledge exceptional talent across a range of subjects including Marketing, Business Studies and Human Resource Management.

Awards were presented to the 29 top-performing students in a variety of subjects including the highest achieving first, second and final year student, excellence in placement and highest mark on various modules.

Last year, Ulster University was awarded University of the Year 2024 at the Times Higher Education Awards. This year, Ulster Universitys Business School will celebrate 50 years of excellence, showcasing their commitment to excellence as they continue to shape careers for generations to come.

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The awards were held at Ulster Universitys Academy Restaurant at the Belfast Campus across two afternoons, one for undergraduate students and another for postgraduate students.

Dr Mary Boyd, Head of Department, congratulated all of this years winners: Congratulations to all our award winning students. Its truly inspiring to witness such a diverse pool of talent across our management, leadership and marketing programmes and its great to be able to come together to celebrate their hard work and dedication at the awards. Its also fantastic to be able to host these at our very own Academy Restaurant on campus.

"Here at Ulster University Business School, we are dedicated to preparing students with the relevant skills to become leaders in their various fields. It wouldnt be possible to hold these awards year on year without our sponsors, so Id like to say thank you to each of them for their support. The Awards are particularly special to us this year as we also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Business School later this year.

Award sponsors included Chartered Accountants Ireland Ulster Society, CIM, CIMA (Ireland), Deloitte, Factor, Grant Thornton, Hastings Hotels Group, Hunter Savage, Labour Relations Agency, Lynas Foodservice, Ocorian, Pilgrims Europe (formerly Moy Park), Professor Julie Hastings Scholarship, Red Star Brands, Shred Bank Ltd, Staffline Recruitment, The Belfast Telegraph, The Marketing Institute of Ireland, Whale, and the Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators.

For more information, visit https://www.ulster.ac.uk/faculties/ulster-university-business-school.
Police in Derry investigating the report of an assault in the city are appealing for witnesses.

The incident has occurred in the area of Craigavon Bridge to John Street on Friday, March 21 between 5-7pm when there has been an altercation between two males. Its understood a third male has intervened and knocked one of other two males unconscious. NIAS and police attended, at which time the third male had left the area.

Following the assault, one of the two males attended hospital where he was treated for facial injuries, including a broken jaw.

Police enquiries are ongoing, and anyone who was in the area at the time and saw what happened, or has dash cam footage relevant to the investigation, is asked to call police on 101, quoting reference number 1317 of 21/03/25.
A man has been jailed for five and a half years at Derry Crown Court for a series of drug and money laundering charges.

Rory Patrick James Trainor (48) with an address at Dunbrae in Crossmaglen, Newry admitted a total of 37 charges involving money laundering of more than 600,000 and various drug importation charges.

Trainer was described in court as playing a 'leading role' in the organised drug operation and it was said he did so for 'financial gain'.

Passing sentence Judge Neil Rafferty KC said this case originated from the Encrochat phone messages that were breached by police in France and Belguim.

He said that this involved 'a large number of users involved in serious and organised crime.'

The judge said that often there were messages or images in the messages that acted as a 'digital fingerprint' which was the case here with Trainor.

He added that the defendant had two code names on the chat, 'barnbrack and Khan Ghenghis'.

The offending took place over a six week period in March and April 2020 and the judge said they could be divided into two general groups of criminal property offences and drug importation offences of mostly class C but one charge involving cocaine which he said he would treat as 'a one off'.

Judge Rafferty said that Trainor played a leading role in the organised crime and the financial aspect was as a facilitator.

Trainor had a co-accused who Judge Rafferty said played 'a much more sinister role'.

But he added that Trainor was willingly 'involved in the financing of organised crime'.

He said the defendant deserved credit for his plea and some account had to be taken of his behaviour while in prison where he enjoyed 'enhanced status'.

Judge Rafferty imposed four years on the drug related offences and 18 months consecutive on the money laundering charges making a total of five and a half years with half in custody and half on licence.
A man described as 'playing a significant role as a middle man' in a drugs operation has been jailed at Derry Crown Court.

Bobby Morrison Smyth (31) with an address in Victoria Street in Ballymoney admitted a total of 10 charges including possessing cocaine with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of cocaine as well as criminal property offences that occurred on dates between March and April 2020.

One of the charges related to possessing 625 grammes of cocaine.

Judge Neil Rafferty KC said this was another Encrochat case whereby the defendants were identified after encrypted messages were opened by French and Belgium police.

He said in this case and others personal details in the messages were tantamount 'to a physical fingerprint'.

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The judge said Smyth acted as a middle man in the drug enterprise but became 'a regular user' of cocaine which he said he 'loved'.

The court heard that the defendant's involvement was 'a significant role involving significant quantities of drugs' and was done for financial gain.

Judge Rafferty said that the offences 'were not a one off' and that Smyth was 'involved in a criminal organisation dealing in class A drugs for a period if time.'

He said accordingly this would be treated as a course of conduct.

The judge said he would take into account the personal mitigation for Smyth but generally dealing in drugs attracted a custodial sentence.

He sentenced Smyth to 4 years in prison with half to be served in custody and half on licence.
The rising demand for temporary accommodation will potentially put unsustainable pressure on homelessness services in Northern Ireland, the Auditor General has found.

The demand has gone up by 176%, according to a report, with 4,700 households in temporary accommodation in 2023/24, up from 1,700 in 2017.

The report by Auditor General Dorinnia Carville found that dealing with the unprecedented demand cost the Housing Executive almost 39 million in 2023-24.

It was also found to be hindering efforts to prioritise homelessness prevention measures.

The report found that the cost of providing temporary accommodation represented more than half of all the Housing Executives spending on homelessness services in 2023-24.

While the majority of this was on self-contained, single let accommodation, the Housing Executive spent more than 12 million on hotels and B&Bs last year, compared with around 7.5 million in 2022-23 and 0.9 million in 2018-19.

The report also found that this expenditure is disproportionate to the number of households placed in such accommodation.

While only around 10% of households are placed in hotels and B&Bs, they account for more than 30% of annual spend on temporary accommodation.

Another impact of the increase in temporary accommodation was the hindering of the Housing Executives efforts to prioritise homelessness prevention measures.

It was found that around 4.5 million (6%) of the 2023/24 spend by the Housing Executive was directed at preventing homelessness, despite this being at the heart of its Homelessness Strategy.

Meanwhile a lack of suitable, permanent social housing was found to be impacting the Housing Executives ability to tackle homelessness effectively.

It has identified a need for almost 25,000 new social houses between 2023 and 2028, however current rates of funding and capacity issues mean that new starts are falling considerably below the level required.

It was found that allocations to social housing are not keeping pace with the level of demand, and since 2017 the number of homeless households on the social housing waiting list has increased by 81%, with 12,000 of these households having been on the waiting list for more than four years.

Many of these households rely on temporary accommodation while they wait for a permanent home.

Ms Carville described an unprecedented demand for homelessness services, in particular temporary accommodation.

She said this has been impacted by an inadequate supply of social housing, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.

Homelessness has impacts across society, with long-term consequences for health and education outcomes, and the costs to the public purse are significant and rising, Ms Carville said.

Dealing with these issues is complex and my report acknowledges the efforts being made by the Housing Executive and those working in the sector under challenging circumstances.

However, in order to ensure the best use of public money, there is a need to reduce spending on hotels and B&Bs, and for an increased focus on homelessness prevention and the supply of new social housing.

Until these key issues are resolved, demand for homelessness services is likely to continue to escalate to a point where it may become financially unsustainable.
Forensic accountants are to investigate a projected budget overspend at NI Water, Stormont Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced.

Ms Kimmins told the Northern Ireland Assembly she had made the decision after being informed that the board of NI Water was proposing the company should overspend this year unless additional budget is made available.

The minister said she had to investigate the reasons why NI Water has been unable to live within its resource budget allocation.

Northern Ireland Water, which is funded by the Department for Infrastructure, provides water and sewerage services.

It has previously warned that uncertainty of financial support and historic underfunding are having a serious impact on services.

An Audit Office report last year called for a comprehensive review of the current funding arrangements for NI Water.

Ms Kimmins told MLAs: NI Water was allocated an opening resource budget of some 137 million, representing almost one quarter of the total resource allocation available to my department.

During the year, recognising the importance of water and wastewater services, bids for additional funding for NI Water were submitted as part of the in-year monitoring process.

An additional 11.5 million resource was secured for NI Water in-year.

In addition, 2.9 million was also provided to deal with the aftermath of Storm Eowyn, bringing the current allocation to just over 152 million.

It was made clear to NI Water that it was required to live within the increased resource allocation as it was unlikely that any further funding would become available.

Unfortunately, in recent weeks, the board of NI Water has indicated in writing that it is minded to instruct NI Water to overspend unless additional budget is available.

It is estimated that any potential overspend could be in the region of 3 million, although the exact quantum of this remains subject to cost variations between now and year-end close.

She added: It is essential I fully understand the budgetary management decisions that NI Water have taken this year that have led to the board of NI Water proposing this unprecedented and disappointing course of action.

Ms Kimmins said protecting public funds is of the utmost importance.

She added: Difficult decisions are having to be made across all departments and arms length bodies and therefore it is essential that I fully understand the budgetary management decisions that the Board of NI Water has taken this year that have led to this disappointing outcome.

My decision to appoint a forensic accountant is a necessary step, that takes a measured approach, to help us work in partnership with NI Water and enable better planning going forward in these times of constrained budgets.

Alliance Party MLA Andrew McMurray said: Todays news is concerning and it is important due process is carried out to get to the bottom of the situation.

That does not distract from the wider reality that NI Water will never be in a sustainable financial position so long as the minister clings to a failed funding model that leaves our water infrastructure system without the investment it needs.

Alliance has warned repeatedly of the societal, economic and environmental harm being caused by this approach, but successive ministers have buried their heads in the sand and reached for a series of sticking plaster solutions that will barely make a dent in the funding shortfall facing NI Water.
A bid to force a ministers decision to install Irish language signage at the Grand Central Station in Belfast to be put to a cross-community Executive vote has been lodged at Stormont.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins announced earlier this week that the bilingual signage at the new 340 million station would be put in place later this year.

The TUVs Timothy Gaston confirmed in the Assembly on Tuesday that he had lodged a petition to refer the decision back to the powersharing Executive, saying the power to stop the ministers plans lay with MLAs.

Ms Kimmins said the move was disappointing, but not surprising.

The new station is set to become the largest integrated transport hub on the island of Ireland, with services including trains between Belfast and Dublin.

Disappointment has been expressed by the Irish language community that the station, which started opening in phases last year, did not originally include Irish language signage.

But Ms Kimmins revealed her plans to the Assembly on Monday for dual languages to be used on wayfinding, passenger information, safety and welcome signage.

Mr Gaston told the Assembly that he had asked the minister to commit to undertaking consultation and an equality screening exercise on the plans.

He said: She has chosen to impose her will without so much, it would appear, as consulting her Executive colleagues.

I have therefore this morning lodged a petition in the Business Office to refer Minister Kimmins decision to the Executive and subject it to a cross-community vote.

Every member of this chamber who believes the divisive decision of Minister Kimmins should be opposed will add their name to that petition accordingly.

The power to stop the ministers plans, to weaponise Irish both in signage at Grand Central Station and all Translink ticket vending machines, lies in the hands of MLAs.

The petition needs the support of 30 MLAs for the issue to be referred back to the Executive for review.

Mr Gaston added: The only question is will the DUP and Ulster Unionist members of this House demand equality for our community or will they roll over to Sinn Fein?

I trust unionism will take a stand on this issue and sign the petition to stop this solo run by the Infrastructure Minister.

Speaking to the media at Stormont, Ms Kimmins said an equality screening exercise into the plans had taken place.

She said: I think yesterdays announcement in relation to the Irish language being included on the signs at the Belfast Grand Central Station is a hugely positive development.

This is something that reflects the thriving Irish language community in Belfast and right across our island.

I think that is really important that we have taken that step forward.

She added: It is disappointing but not surprising that the member has made this contribution today.
Public sector leaders have urged the Stormont powersharing Executive to turn optimism about its return into bold decisions that will transform public services in Northern Ireland.

The State of the State 2025 is an annual report delivered by Deloitte and the independent think tank Reform that examines attitudes to government and public services.

The research includes a survey by Ipsos UK of 5,721 UK adults aged 16-75, including more than 500 in Northern Ireland, as well as interviews with more than 80 leaders from across the public sector.

The report states Northern Irelands public sector leaders highlighted three ambitions  bold reform, a sense of urgency in its delivery and greater collaboration across services. alongside greater engagement with the voluntary sector.

The poll suggested the cost-of-living crisis is the Northern Ireland publics biggest concern, mentioned by 77% of people, with the NHS second, as 76% of people said it should be a top government priority.

The availability of affordable housing (48%) and jobs and economic growth (47%) were other areas of concern.

Asked what the biggest challenges facing public services will be in the next five years, 66% of people highlighted budget cuts and lack of funding, 52% said the need to deliver services more efficiently, and 51% expressed concern about a loss of trust in the ability to deliver services.

When asked what would help deliver a stronger economy, the most common answer was improving health and wellbeing (54%).

The poll suggested Northern Ireland is still the UK region most worried about the cost of living, housing and the NHS.

It also suggested that while overall trust in the Northern Ireland government has improved following the Executives return, it remains the least trusted of the UKs administrations.

Marie Doyle, partner at Deloitte in Belfast, said: Without exception, public sector leaders interviewed for this years State of the State report welcomed the return of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Many lauded the demonstrably positive relationships between ministers, especially at the top of government.

Senior civil servants were the most pleased to see the return of political leaders, not least to mark the end of legal ambiguity and allow them to concentrate on their core jobs.

However, many interviewees were impatient for ministers to make the bold decisions needed to reform public services and put the state on a more sustainable financial footing.

It was clear in our interviews that expectations of the Programme for Government were sky-high across the public sector.

While it does set out ambitious measures to stabilise the public sector in the next two years, the next step will be to look beyond fixing current issues and set out a longer-term vision of what Northern Irelands government and public services could look like in future.

The State of the State interviews highlighted difficulties faced by public servants in the recruitment of a new generation of leaders.

Public sector leaders who were interviewed acknowledged new technology such as AI will be integral to public sector reform, but said the sector struggles to afford digital skills and existing leaders dont have the time or resource to drive change.

Ed Roddis, head of public sector research at Deloitte, said: One of the most interesting themes to emerge in this years Northern Ireland report was the challenge of attracting new talent with the right skills to drive transformation in the public sector.

The current generation of leaders across Northern Irelands government and public services have lived through a series of challenges that have taken their toll.

Some interviewees told us the public sector faces a leadership crisis, as experienced hands leave and their roles appear too daunting to fill.

Others said that years of firefighting have left the civil service too risk averse.

But many see a way forward. Politicians and officials need to change the narrative around public service leadership to attract a new generation of courageous public servants ready to deliver change.

Deloitte commissioned Ipsos UK to conduct an online survey of 5,721 UK adults aged 16-75 between December 13-19, including 501 people in Northern Ireland.

The research also comprised of interviews with more than 80 leaders in government and public services, including permanent secretaries and other senior civil servants, police chief constables, council chief executives, NHS leaders and elected representatives.

The interviews took place between October 2024 and February 2025 and included a cohort of leaders in Northern Ireland.
A veterinary agreement between the UK and the EU cant come soon enough, Stormonts Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has told MLAs.

During ministerial question time at Stormont, Mr Muir also clashed with DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley, who he said had a habit of attempting to shout down people in this chamber.

The minister was asked by his Alliance Party colleague Eoin Tennyson for an update on any engagements he had had with the UK Government over an SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) and veterinary agreement with the EU.

Following Brexit, the UK can set its own standards for food safety and plant and animal health.

However, Northern Ireland continues to follow the EUs rules in this area due to the Windsor Framework.

The UK Government has said it wants to negotiate an SPS agreement to lessen regulatory barriers.

Mr Muir said: I have had significant engagement with the UK Government on the potential for an SPS veterinary agreement.

I have been consistent in my messaging to those ministers that this should be an ambitious and comprehensive SPS veterinary agreement and it should benefit Northern Ireland.

Frankly, it cant come soon enough.

Mr Buckley said Mr Muir had been a leading cheerleader of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the post-Brexit trading agreement which preceded the Windsor Framework.

He added: Can I ask the minister does he know whether the protocol he endorsed will enforce Northern Ireland to be subject to the EU-US tariffs or will we enjoy the relationship with the UK which is tariff free?

Mr Muir said he believed in the full, faithful and timely implementation of the Windsor Framework.

He said: Brexit has been a really, really bad idea for the UK economy.

The people who are the most vulnerable are feeling the consequences of that.

I know some people look to President Trump and the United States with glee.

At this point Principal Deputy Speaker Caral Ni Chuilin asked for no shouting in the chamber while the minister was answering questions.

Mr Muir added: It is a bit of a trend where Mr Buckley seeks to shout down people in this chamber.

I look to build relationships with people you can trust, frankly your party has a history of building relationships with people you cant trust.

At the conclusion of question time, Mr Muir asked if the Speaker could issue a ruling on the appropriateness of Mr Buckleys interruptions.

Ms Ni Chuilin said she would pass the issue on to the Speaker.

She added: You will have observed that I asked for good decorum from everyone, minister.

I am sure you are fit enough for Jonathan Buckley or anyone else.
A teenage boy has had both his eye sockets and his nose broken during an assault by a gang of youths in east Belfast.

Detectives are appealing for information about the incident on March 19.

Police said the assault, which is being investigated as grievous bodily harm with intent, occurred in the Beersbridge Road area, and was reported to police at about 5.50pm.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses following a report of a serious assault of a teenage boy in east Belfast on Wednesday 19th March. Full details here: https://t.co/195kJlVwgw pic.twitter.com/Q9X2xXxPpk  Police East Belfast (@PSNIBelfastE) March 25, 2025

A spokesperson said: The victim was walking in the vicinity of the Beersbridge Road when he was approached by a group of youths.

He was then chased by one of the group and assaulted during which he was kicked to the head and face, leaving him with serious facial injuries, including two broken eye sockets and a broken nose.

Detectives are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw anything, or who may have dashcam, CCTV or other video footage which could assist with their inquiries, to contact them in Musgrave on 101, quoting reference number 1291 19/03/25.
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AI or bust: China chip sector to stage comeback at SEMICON China

Artificial intelligence (AI) is now the primary growth driver for the global semiconductor industry. With AI-related demand expected to surge further in 2025, semiconductor equipment spending is on track for another major expansion. Against the backdrop of escalating US sanctions, China is positioning itself to leverage the AI boom as a possible rebound strategy, drawing intense global attention to its next move.

China is forecast to take nearly 40% of global semiconductor equipment orders, underscoring its role as a key demand driver. Whether Chinese companies can capitalize on AI momentum and navigate international restrictions will be in sharp focus at SEMICON China 2025, which opens on March 26 in Shanghai.

Key international players retreat as Chinese manufacturers advance

Interestingly, several key international players are skipping the event. US-based Applied Materials and Dutch lithography leader ASML will not be exhibiting. Applied Materials is participating only in affiliated forums and the CSTIC conference, while ASML continues its years-long absence from the show floor.

Held alongside SEMICON China, the ongoing CSTIC 2025 is running from March 2425 in Shanghai, featuring ten technical symposiums spanning semiconductor science and technology.

Filling the vacuum are Chinese homegrown equipment manufacturers such as Naura Technology, Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment (AMEC), and Acm Research (Shanghai), Inc. These firms are gaining momentum both in China's domestic substitution push and in global markets.

Growing financial strength of domestic suppliers

China's top equipment makers are posting robust double-digit growth. Naura projects 2024 revenue between CNY27.6 billion (US$3.81 billion) and CNY31.78 billion, representing a 25% to 43.93% year-over-year increase. Net profit is expected to reach CNY5.175.95 billion, up 32.6% to 52.6%.

Acm Research (Shanghai) forecasts 2024 revenue of CNY5.618 billion, up 44.48% year over year. Net profit is projected at CNY1.153 billion, a 26.65% increase. Its core cleaning equipment segment is expected to generate CNY4.057 billionroughly 72.22% of total revenuewith a 55.18% annual gain.

Hangzhou Changchuan Technology (CCTech), a specialist in IC testing equipment, expects 2024 net profit to soar between CNY400 million and CNY500 millionrepresenting explosive growth of 785.75% to 1,007.18%, driven primarily by expanded overseas shipments.

AI wave propels industry-wide growth

With AI adoption accelerating, Chinese semiconductor equipment makers are riding a rising tide. Industry projections put global chip sales at over US$700 billion in 2025, with equipment investment forecast to hit US$112.8 billion. Chinese suppliers are well-positioned to capitalize on this uptrend.

China continues to be the world's largest market for semiconductor equipment. The domestic AI boom, led by startups like DeepSeek, is fueling demand for both chips and manufacturing tools.

SEMI projects global semiconductor equipment sales will hit US$109 billion in 2024, up 18.7% from 2023. Momentum is expected to carry into 2025, with sales reaching US$128 billionanother 18% annual gain. China is projected to account for nearly 40% of global demand.

China's expansion in domestic chip productionespecially in mature-node processesis a key driver of rising equipment investment and technology upgrades.

As geopolitical challenges and AI momentum converge, SEMICON China 2025 will be a critical litmus test for whether China's homegrown semiconductor equipment makers can translate ambition into execution.

Article edited by Jerry Chen
An Irish politician at the centre of a dispute that divided the countrys parliament stuck two fingers up to members of the opposition as proceedings were adjourned amid chaotic scenes.

Shame! Shame! Shame! came the chorus of opposition members of parliament, known as TDs, as the Government benches emptied at following a highly contentious vote.

The Governments majority meant it was able to push through significant changes to speaking rules in the Dail, even without the usual opposition teller agreeing to sign off on the results of the vote.

The announcement that the changes had passed caused such a level of objection from the opposition that the speaker, or Ceann Comhairle, adjourned all further proceedings until Wednesday morning.

People Before Profit-Solidary TD Paul Murphy took out his mobile phone to film the Government leaving the chamber as they were heckled by a united opposition.

The footage, posted to X, pans to independent TD Michael Lowry, who is seen sticking two fingers up to the camera.

Mr Lowry is at the epicentre of the oppositions ire. The former Fine Gael minister was previously found by a tribunal to have behaved in a way that was profoundly corrupt to a degree that was nothing short of breathtaking.

Shame on this government and their Ceann Comhairle. An authoritarian stroke by Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, and their Lowry and Healy Rae 'independents'. Sums up the day's events.#LowrysLackeys #FakeOpposition pic.twitter.com/6YTTkkiyaG  Paul Murphy  (@paulmurphy_TD) March 25, 2025

Despite this, Mr Lowry was a key negotiator for a group of independents who agreed to support the formation of a Government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Some members of the bloc of independents were given junior ministries, while Mr Lowry and others were not.

Since then, the Governments moves to change speaking rights in the Dail to give these Government-aligned independents more speaking time has been described as brazen stroke politics by detractors.

The opposition want these independents to be defined as Government TDs, but the changes made by the coalition allow them to be characterised as other members.

Mr Murphy was forced to end his video after a Dail usher intervened, however, he had already captured an image that came to define the chaotic proceedings.

The opposition immediately seized Mr Lowrys gesture as a metaphor for how it believed the Government was treating the Dail and the people of this country.

Mr Lowry later told Irish news website The Journal that he was gesturing for Mr Murphy to sit down.

TDs are normally not allowed take photographs or videos in the Dail chamber, but the incident was not the only subversion of parliamentary norms on Tuesday.

The leaders of the main opposition parties met to agree strategy ahead of the Dail reconvening. That played out in interruptions that increased in volume and frequency as proceedings progressed.

Watched on from busy press and public galleries, Irish premier Micheal Martin largely kept his gaze towards his notes as Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald fired the first salvo during Leaders Questions and accused the Taoiseach of making a mockery of the Dail.

Mr Lowry, who entered the chamber several minutes after proceedings got under way, was in time to hear Ms McDonald say that the changes were an utterly absurd spectacle for his benefit.

Mr Martin was widely heckled as he defended the Governments stance amid a cacophony of jeers, interruptions and tut-tutting.

He said: I have never before witnessed political parties trying to tell others what box they are in or what group they belong to.

Early in the exchanges, the Taoiseach made a point of saying he had not interrupted anyone. However, the interjections would continue throughout the truncated sitting.

Sinn Fein representatives asked Mr Martin what Mr Lowry had on him, then asking the independent TD for Tipperary North if he wished to make a statement to the Dail.

Mr Lowry and his partner in the independent group, Barry Heneghan, laughed and waved at the Sinn Fein TDs as they continued shouting.

The Fianna Fail leader accused the opposition of engaging in a feigned outrage over modest proposals.

He laughed down a suggestion from Independent Ireland founder Michael Collins that it was a dark day for democracy, responding: You cant be serious. Come on, its farcical.

Mr Lowry, who at times shook his head and checked his watch, observed from a distance.

By his side sat other independents who had supported the formation of Government, including Mr Heneghan and Gillian Toole.

On more than one occasion, Ms Toole could be seen raising her phone with the flash on.

Tension in the chamber escalated as Leaders Questions drew to a close, with the order of business due to be voted on.

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy read from a hand-written note to say she was moving directly to the Governments motion amid the disorder.

This was met with widespread objection from opposition TDs, some of whom started a slow clap in protest.

Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy said Ms Murphy was doing her office a huge disservice and told her she was elected to her post as part of Micheals grubby deal with Michael Lowry.

Ms Murphy twiddled her thumbs and stared ahead as she was berated by members of the opposition during the tolling of bells for the upcoming vote  which passed in favour of the Government.

The opposition said they had not been afforded their opportunity to bring their amendment to the Governments motion, turning their disapproval to the Ceann Comhairle.

Ms Murphys position has now come into question, with the opposition parties refusing to express confidence in her when asked at a press conference on Tuesday evening.

The Dail reconvenes under the new rules on Wednesday morning but with the same opposition objections.
Opposition leaders have failed to express confidence in the speaker of the Irish parliament after disruptions broke out over speaking time.

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy fielded interruptions and tried to continue proceedings in the Dail chamber as opposition TDs took to their feet and objected to the governments proposals.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin, and members of his Fianna Fail party, accused the opposition of trying to bully and intimidate Ms Murphy and said it marked a new low.

Fianna Fail TD John Lahart said what happened in the Dail was akin to a mob.

There were people intimidated, there was chanting in the chamber, and there was rank bullying of some members in Dail Eireann today. Anything else pales in insignificance in the context of what happened.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said that opposition leaders were troubled by Ms Murphys actions in the Dail to pass the order of business and changes to the standing orders, despite dissent from the opposition.

She suggested this was orchestrated and said opposition leaders would discuss the matter further.

Ms McDonald, alongside the leaders of Labour, Independent Ireland, People Before Profit, the Green Party, as well as the deputy leader of the Social Democrats and an Aontu TD, failed to express confidence in the Ceann Comhairle by a show of hands.

I dont think anybody could have confidence in what we witnessed today, Ms McDonald said.

Very shockingly, the Ceann Comhairle has been part of ramming through these new provisions, we are very troubled by that.

There is no doubt that she has done significant damage to her standing and to the independence of the office itself.

She added: The whole situation was highly problematic, the Ceann Comhairle was not minded to listen to the clear dissent that was being expressed, there were shortcuts taken in a manner that appeared to be  to us  orchestrated.

Todays farce in the Dail was unprecedented. So many pressing issues facing the country and the Government has wasted its time and political capital to run roughshod over standards of parliamentary accountability  all in service of the Lowry Lobby. pic.twitter.com/PmevNM8Il2  Ivana Bacik (@ivanabacik) March 25, 2025

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said Ms Murphy pushed through the order of business after ignoring the calls of dissent by the opposition.

Very difficult to maintain confidence in the office of somebody chairing a chamber in that way, she said.

The Social Democrats Cian OCallaghan said: There are huge questions to be asked about the role of the Ceann Comhairle and that is something we will be discussing again.

Ms Murphy adjourned the Dail until Wednesday morning after declaring that the change to the standing orders was carried, despite opposition parties attempting to obstruct the result.

The vote is understood to be 94 to 74.

The Sinn Fein team ready ahead of a busy day in the Dail! We are going in to stand up for you!#SinnFein pic.twitter.com/oFHiSRJdxx  Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) March 25, 2025

Opposition tellers for the no side refused to sign the paper, but Ms Murphy said, amid a cacophony of objections, that the changes were passed.

Criticism has also been levelled by opposition at Independent TD Michael Lowry, who is at the centre of the speaking time controversy, over a video of him giving two fingers in the Dail.

Ms McDonald, Labour leader Ivana Bacik and other opposition leaders said the image of the day would be Mr Lowry giving us the two fingers, but much more damningly, giving the Irish people the two fingers too.

The Government and opposition are in deep disagreement over how coalition-affiliated independent TDs, including Mr Lowry, should be given speaking slots in the Dail.

Shame on this government and their Ceann Comhairle. pic.twitter.com/iQJpFISc3c  Paul Murphy  (@paulmurphy_TD) March 25, 2025

The Irish government has pushed for new Dail speaking slots for coalition backbenchers and Government-aligned independents, as well as a reduction in the time allocated to debate the order of business and a halving of time for Taoiseachs Questions.

Independents who entered into Government negotiations were led by Mr Lowry  a former Fine Gael minister who was found by a tribunal to have behaved in a way that was profoundly corrupt to a degree that was nothing short of breathtaking.

Weeks after the government said it would try to find a compromise with the opposition, the Government moved to push through its proposals on Tuesday.

Before the vote took place, opposition TDs took to their feet and raised their objections, ignoring pleas from the Ceann Comhairle to resume their seats.

This is absolutely shocking  Duncan Smith TD (@DuncanSmithTD) March 25, 2025

During the lengthy standoff, Ms Murphy ordered TDs to sit down and said they were making a holy show of yourselves.

She then invited the Government Chief Whip Mary Butler to continue with the next item amid a chorus of raised voices from dozens of opposition TDs.

Proceedings were adjourned for a short time before they resumed to hold a vote on the amendments to the standing orders, which Ms Murphy said were carried.

Mr Murphy then adjourned the Dail for the day before 4pm.

The Taoiseach accused the opposition of a premeditated attempt to suppress the rights of others to speak, and to bully and intimidate the Ceann Comhairle.

The prolonged barracking and the disgraceful lack of respect for the mandates of elected deputies was shocking in its intensity, he said in a statement.

He said the actions of opposition have been completely disproportionate over what is essentially an additional eight minutes of speaking time on two days in the Dail.

The opposition have not lost a single minute of their time or ability to hold government to account, he said.

Opposition parties argue the changes are an attempt to dilute their ability to hold the Government to account and to blur the relationship between the independents who have supported the formation of the coalition and opposition.

The row has its origins in the formation of Irelands current coalition involving Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, supported by several independents.

Some of those independents have been appointed as junior ministers while the others had sought to join an opposition technical group to be given Dail speaking time, despite supporting the formation of Government.

The row delayed Mr Martins nomination as Taoiseach in January and has trundled on despite several inter-party meetings and the intervention of the Ceann Comhairle in favour of the opposition.

This led to a brief reprieve before the dispute was reignited after the Government put forward new proposals and suggested it would use its majority to push them through.

The coalitions changes deal with the matter of the government-aligned independents by creating a new designation of other members, rather than the binary distinction of opposition or government.

A side-effect of the row is that parliamentary committees have also not reformed since the general election last year.

Opposition parties have raised concern over whether the Government will seek to use the proposed new technical group for the purposes of getting more representation on committees.
Chinese commerce minister meets with Cargill CEO

Xinhua) 09:59, March 25, 2025

BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on Monday met with Brian Sikes, president and CEO of Cargill in Beijing, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Commerce.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on topics including Cargill's business development in China, as well as China-U.S. economic and trade relations.

Wang noted that the recently concluded "two sessions" meetings in China sent out positive signals, demonstrating the country's confidence and resolve in expanding high-standard opening-up and maintaining stable economic growth in a complex international environment.

This will create more opportunities for global enterprises, he said, expressing the hope that Cargill will continue to invest and deepen its presence in China.

There are no winners in tariff or trade wars, he noted. The United States' unilateral imposition of additional tariffs under such pretexts as the fentanyl issue is the wrong approach and severely violates WTO rules, harms the interests of U.S. consumers, and undermines the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains, Wang added.

He stressed that economic and trade cooperation between China and the United States on the basis of mutual benefits serves the common interests of both countries.

China stands ready to enhance dialogue and communication to foster a more stable development environment for businesses on both sides, Wang said.

Cargill is committed to providing Chinese consumers with high-quality, reliable products and services, Sikes said. He expressed firm confidence in China's future development, emphasizing that the company will expand its investments in China, and deepen scientific and technological innovation.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Tanaiste Simon Harris is set to highlight the memory of Dundalk peacekeeper Sean Rooney during a visit to Lebanon.

Private Rooney, 24,was killed while on deployment with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) on December 14, 2022.

Mr Harris is set to raise the frustration and concern of the Irish government at the lack of progress in the case during a series of political meetings in Lebanon.

He will also visit Irish peacekeepers currently deployed in the country during his visit this week.

The Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs is to stress the need to deliver accountability and justice for the Rooney family.

Read Next: Plans underway for 100m high meteorological mast in Louth

The trial of those indicted for the killing of Private Rooney was pushed back again in February. The next hearing is scheduled to take place in Beirut in September.

There are currently 339 Defence Forces personnel serving with the 125th Infantry Battalion based at Camp Shamrock in southern Lebanon.
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Womens Aid Dundalk held a dancing event last Wednesday, March 19 at the Market Square in Dundalk held a dancing event as part of the annual One Billion Rising event to fight against violence against woman and children in Ireland and across the world.



The One Billion rising campaign began in 2013 and aims to bring woman together to rise up against gender-based violence that happens to one billion woman at least once in their lives.

The aim of the Dundalk event was to create a vibrant celebration of dance, uniting various local community groups.

Womens Aid Dundalk took to social media last week following the event, to thank all those who took part and attended the event, saying: Special thanks to Suzanne Stafford at The House in Coxes for bringing along her wonderful little dancers to lead the event.

Dun Dealgan National, students from O'Fiaich Secondary School, Dundalk Institute of Technology, pupils from The Grammar and finally transition year students from St Louis Secondary School, who also treated us to a dance the featured in their recent musical.

To Town Talk for broadcasting the event live, Louth County Council for permission to use the Market Square and Erin McGreehan TD for Louth for coming along to show her support.

READ NEXT: Louth put in a huge shift to stay in Division 2 says Brennan

Special mention to Panama for their patience!

Finally to the general public who came along to witness the event and have a chat, thank you for your time.
On Saturday 22 March, An Taisces Clean Coasts Programme teamed up with Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and Carlingford Oyster Company to host an oyster farm tour in north Louth.

The event, which took place at Carlingford Lough, welcomed members from Carlingford Tidy Towns and Omeath Tidy Towns to learn about sustainable oyster farming and the vital role it plays in the local environment.

The award-winning Carlingford Oyster Company provided an informative and engaging tour, walking the group through the step-by-step process of oyster management and production. An oyster taste-test and lunch were also kindly provided for attendees.

Carlingford Lough, is classified by the European Union as Class A  the highest possible water quality grade, and was the perfect setting for this informative event. BIM also generously supplied a skip for coastline clean-ups over the weekend, which was filled with litter collected by end.

The family-run business has been operating for 50 years, and produces around 2.5 million oysters per year. Approximately 60% of the companys sales are exported to the UK, with 20% sold domestically in Ireland. It takes over three years for Carlingford oysters to reach maturity, and the company maintains a close relationship with BIM.

Read next: Funding for community climate engagement projects in Louth

The company is one of four businesses engaged in oyster farming in the Carlingford Lough area, alongside several mussel farms, making it a key player in Irelands aquaculture industry.

Clean Coasts Officer for Co Louth, Aidan Gray, expressed his gratitude after the event, stating: The farm tour visit was incredibly valuable to see up-close the operations of a working oyster farm. The owners were so kind to guide through the process and their hospitality for sampling some in their warm tasting area inside.

"Their story is an inspiring one. They also are involved with keeping the coastline clean, and trying to prevent waste being produced by the farming practice.

The Clean Coasts Roadshow is a series of informative talks and workshops tailored for coastal communities across Ireland, taking place between January and May each year. This initiative brings together individuals interested in protecting their local beaches, seas, and marine environments.

The Roadshow events cover a range of topics, including biodiversity, dune systems, marine litter, wildlife, sustainable developments, and the work of local groups and organisations. These events also serve as a platform for community groups to discuss practical matters, such as building volunteer capacity, attracting new members, and sharing responsibilities.
The significant Leaving Certificate achievements of three former Dundalk school students have been acknowledged and celebrated by Maynooth University at a recent awards ceremony.

The now first year MU students are among over 70 Maynooth University Entrance Scholars, each having achieved 575 points or more in their Leaving Certificate examination.

Former St. Louis Secondary School student Leah Kennedy is studying the BBS Business and Management degree, St. Vincent's Secondary School alumna Aishwarya Suresh is a taking the BSc Bachelor of Science degree, and former De La Salle College student Niall Donnelly is taking the BA Bachelor of Arts degree.

The 1,000 Entrance Scholarship is awarded to incoming first year students, via the CAO, who have obtained 575 points or more in their Leaving Certificate.

READ NEXT: Dundalk Institute of Technology to host Spring Open Evening

President of Maynooth University, Professor Eeva Leinonen, presented each scholar with a bespoke piece of crystal, in recognition of their achievement, during the awards ceremony recently held on the campus. School representatives were presented with a plaque. Family members and guests were treated to an evening of music and refreshments.

Speaking about the event, Assistant Registrar and Director of Admissions, Ita McGuigan said:

We are delighted to celebrate with the Scholarship recipients, their family and schools, their outstanding achievement in the Leaving Certificate.

Tonight, we had over 70 Scholars from more than 60 schools from all over Ireland in attendance, who chose to study at Maynooth University.

Maynooth University Open Days take place on Saturday April 12 and June 28, 2025.

Free buses are running to the Open Day on Saturday April 12.

More information is available at www.mu.ie/opendays.
The Justice Minister has met with the family of a murdered garda around issues raised in the Dail about defective gun holsters.

Det Garda Colm Horkan, 49, who was originally from Charlestown and was an active member of the Sarsfields club, was murdered while on duty in 2020.

He was shot several times with his own gun on June 17 2020 in Castlerea, Co Roscommon.

Labour TD Alan Kelly told the Dail earlier this month that concerns had been raised around dangerously defective leather pistol holsters.

In an separate incident, Mr Kelly said an accidental discharge of an official-issued garda firearm occurred outside the Israeli Embassy on June 11 2020, just under a week before Mr Horkans death.

The discharged resulted in life-changing injuries to the garda.

Mr Kelly said forensic experts attached to the Garda National Technical Bureau (GNTB) discovered that the holster could engage the trigger and fire the weapon of its own accord.

He added: The holster was so poorly designed, the firearm could be removed from the holster with so-called retention strap fully fastened.

This left the gun open to removal by individuals other than the Garda member carrying the firearm.

This critical health and safety risk later became the subject of a warning notice from the acting head of the Garda National Technical Bureau, given the very real concerns for the safety of Garda members.

Unfortunately, approximately one week later, on the night of 17 June 2020, the late Detective Garda Colm Horkan was murdered with his own official Garda firearm following an engagement with a now convicted murderer, Stephen Silver.

There is no doubt Stephen Silver was the person who ultimately murdered Detective Garda Horkan.

I am now aware, however, that the late detective was wearing one of the defective leather pistol holsters procured from the same equine saddlery in Kildare.

Given what was known about the leather pistol holster removed from the scene of the accidental discharge on 11 June, a week earlier, the question must be asked whether the defective holster should have been investigated for that incident as well.

Mr Kelly said Mr Horkans holster was never presented to the Garda National Technical Bureau for ballistic examination.

Why was Detective Garda Horkans holster not examined by a professional person qualified in the area under the standards required?

He added: Why was there a second report requested into the original incident outside the Israeli Embassy, which, amazingly, contradicted the first report saying the holster was defective?

Why did the Garda Commissioner not issue a section 41 to notify the Minister of the issues regarding the holsters following two incidents, especially after notices had been put on Garda internal systems?

Why did GSOC stop investigating a protected disclosure made in 2019 by someone working in firearms who had concerns regarding the holster? Is the Minister aware it was because of the non-compliance of the Commissioner following a level 4 request?

During the same debate in the Dail, Mr Kelly also raised issues around eight kilogrammes of pure cocaine which been found in a locker in the basement of Garda HQ.

He said the cocaine had been mistakenly dumped by Forensic Science Ireland, an agency within the Department of Justice.

Mr Kelly further highlighted a picture of 392 abandoned firearms left in a container inside Garda HQ, the majority of which the Labour TD said had no documentation.

Asked about the matters on Tuesday, Mr OCallaghan said: After Deputy Kelly raised those issues in the Dail, I had a meeting with the Garda Commissioner the very next day. I raised the issues with the Commissioner.

The Commissioner gave me responses, Im not going to give those responses publicly now.

I also had the privilege of meeting the family of Colm Horkan to discuss some of the issues, and those issues are being considered.

My priority in all of this is the family of Colm Horkan and to ensure that the conviction that was achieved remains upheld.

Silver, of Aughavard, Foxford, Co Mayo, was found guilty of the capital murder of Mr Horkan.

He was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin after a six-week trial.
Students from Colaiste Choilm in Ballincollig were given an opportunity to see the impact that flushing unsuitable items down the toilet can have on the environment.

The school was the latest stop-off for the Think Before You Flush campaign, which highlights how flushed items can cause blockages in homes and sewers and pollution spills. These can impact water quality and the marine life that rely on our waterways for their habitat.

The public-awareness message is to flush only pee, poo and paper down the toilet. All other waste belongs in the bin.

A workshop attended by transition-year students at the Cork school during their Green School, Green Day event highlighted how flushing wipes, cotton bud sticks and dental floss affects water networks and water quality.

Fatberg

Elaine Doyle, Clean Coasts development officer, met the students at Green Schools water ambassador training in Cork city last year. She was invited to their Green Day event to speak about the Think Before You Flush campaign, and to show off a hideous fatberg model.

Her presentation also included a Think Before You Pour message, addressing the issue of pouring fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) from cooking down the kitchen sink. FOGs cool and harden as they travel along the wastewater network. When these FOGs combine with wipes and other sewage litter, such as hair and dental floss, fatbergs can form.

Blockages

Uisce Eireann clears thousands of blockages, including fatbergs, from the wastewater network every year.

Ms Doyle said: The main messages left with the students were simple ones: Only flush the 3Ps down the toilet, put a bin in your bathroom and be careful what you pour down the kitchen sink. You are never too young or old to make a difference.

Uisce Eireanns head of wastewater operations, Nuala Woods, said they clear 10,000 blockages each year.

She said: Every day, people flush thousands of sanitary items, such as wet wipes and cotton buds, down the toilet, instead of simply putting them in the bin. This causes blockages in our network, pumping stations and wastewater treatment plants and can lead to sewage overflows impacting some of our most beautiful coastal and river locations.
The chairperson of a Cork charity has said that a trip to Disneyland Paris was the least that could be done for a mum and her five-year-old daughter after they lost their home in a devastating fire last week.

John Looney, of the Cork Childrens Hospital Fund, told The Echo he had been extremely moved to hear the plight of Kelly Ryan and her young daughter Harper-Ellen, whose home in Dromahane burnt down in the early hours of St Patricks Day.

In a further tragedy, Ms Ryans partner Dylan Harkin  who had been staying with Ms Ryan on the night of the fire  passed away unexpectedly on Friday.

Mr Looney said he had been listening to Ms Ryan speaking to The Neil Prendeville Show on Corks RedFM, and he felt the charity might be able to help in a small way in bringing Harper-Ellen and her mum to Disneyland Paris and replacing some of the little girls toys.

Its booked and all, well be going in September. Weve done it every year for the past 32 years. We bring kids from all over Munster and Cork, he said.

Theres 80 of us going in total, about 62 children and the rest then are adults, doctors, nurses, ambulance personnel, and we always bring six or seven parents as well.

Speaking yesterday morning, Ms Ryan said Harper-Ellen had alerted her to the fire in their home shortly after 5am on March 17.

My daughter came into my room around 5.10am and she said: Mam Im scared.

So I got up to put her back to bed. I felt an immense heat on the floor beneath my feet and I quickly checked her room, which is above the sitting room, and found it full of smoke, she said.

Ms Ryan said her partner had been very calm in the crisis and had got them all safely out of the house that night. However, Ms Ryan said she has lost everything this last week.

Ms Ryan said her partners death on Friday had been sudden, and added that she was absolutely devastated.

Realistically, I should have no fight left in me, but I feel like I need to exist. I need to be strong for my daughter, she said. Ms Ryan said Cork County Council had told her it would not be in a position to help her until next week.

A spokesperson said the council could not comment on individual cases.

A GoFundMe to help Ms Ryan and Harper-Ellen has already raised more than half of its 12,000 target.
This Saturday evening, Fota Wildlife Park will host an evening entitled Concert for Conservation to raise funds to help conserve Madagascars wildlife.

Billed as an evening of classical renditions of wildlife-inspired hits, the evening will see Cork-based quartet Cascade Strings present Untamed Melodies  A Celebration of Global Biodiversity in the auditorium of the parks education, conservation, and research centre.

The setlist will include string interpretations of beloved standards like The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Hey Hey Were the Monkees, and The Bare Necessities.

The event is held to raise funds for Wildlife Madagascar, a conservation organisation that collaborates with communities to conserve Madagascars biodiversity.

The evening will include a short presentation on the conservation programmes at Fota Wildlife Park, and the efforts being undertaken to help save endangered species from extinction in Madagascar.

Fota Wildlife Park is a conservation charity whose vision is to inspire people to understand and conserve the biodiversity of the natural world.

It cares for a variety of endangered animal species and actively participates in long-standing breeding programmes in collaboration with zoological institutions worldwide.

These efforts contribute to restoring populations of some species while ensuring the survival of others.

Fota Wildlife Park provides financial support and essential resources to conservation projects both in Ireland and internationally.

These include the Breeding Waders EIP, the Natterjack Toad Head Starter Programme, the European Life-funded Corncrake Project, the Madagascan Pochard initiative, and conservation efforts for the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey and the western black crested gibbon in Vietnam, among others.

Tickets for the concert are priced at 25, plus a booking fee, and are available on Eventbrite.
Cork Prisons population has risen by nearly 39% in the last five years, new data has shown.

Figures provided to Fianna Fail TD for Cork North-Central Padraig OSullivan show that the daily average in custody in 2024 was 335, compared to 306 in 2023, 262 in 2022 and 255 in 2021.

This means that the prison has been consistently over capacity for the last two years, as the maximum number of prisoners it is designed to accommodate is 296.

The number has risen further in the first three months of 2025, with the average for the year so far currently 354.

This is 6% higher than last years average and means that an average of 58 people have been sleeping on the floor in Cork Prison every day this year.

The Irish Prison Service has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time, justice minister Jim OCallaghan told Mr OSullivan.

The minister outlined a number of measures that had already been taken nationally, including the establishment of a prison overcrowding response group and a working group.

The Irish Prison Service budget increased by 18% to 79m this year, additional staff were hired with more to be hired this year, and 300 new prison spaces have been opened in recent years, with 50 to come on stream soon, though not in Cork.

Mr OSullivan told The Echo: It has been clear for some time now that there are substantial issues with prison capacity not just in Cork but nationally also.

I understand that the previous minister appointed a working group on foot of a review being done by the department and prison service back in 2023 but it is high time now, nearly two years in that we get down to talking about adding to the capacity of the prison service.

It is critical not only in terms of the remediation of prisoners but also the safety of our prison officers who are tasked with maintaining the integrity of the service.
A District Court judge will view CCTV of a table being broken during an incident at a hotel to decide whether or not she will accept jurisdiction for the case.

Judge Mary Dorgan heard an outline of the allegations in the case, but said that she wanted to view CCTV of the incident to see if it was an accidental type of break or what actually occurred.

Sgt John Kelleher asked for the matter to be adjourned so that the investigating garda could be present in court to play the CCTV of the incident and to identify the relevant parties.

Sgt Kelleher said a table worth approximately 2,900 at The Clayton Hotel in Silversprings, Cork, was smashed by a patron at the premises last November.

The criminal damage was caused on November 9 2024, and the man accused of being responsible for it said previously through solicitor Frank Buttimer that he would be pleading guilty to it.

The accused man is 30-year-old John Dunne with an address at 1 Woodford Rise, Clondalkin, Dublin.

Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned the case until April 8 for the CCTV to be viewed.

Sgt Kelleher said that just before midnight on November 9 last, gardai responded to a report of a group fighting in the lobby of The Clayton Hotel, Silversprings, Cork.

Sgt Kelleher said the accused was shouting at gardai and that he was seen on CCTV breaking a table valued at 2,900.
Corks little theatre with a big heart has issued a last call for entries to its annual short play event.

The submission deadline for this years Cork Arts Theatre Views from short play season is next Monday, March 31, and the theme this year is Views from a Couch.

The theatre is seeking 10-minute, character-driven plays across all genres  comedy, tragedy, farce, fantasy, horror, and period pieces.

A shortlist of 10 plays will be compiled, and then be staged during the theatres performance week, which will take place from Tuesday, May 27 to Saturday, May 31.

The theatre said the 10-minute maximum duration was important, and the easiest way to gauge a plays length was through a live reading.

A rough guide to length is seven or eight pages of double-spaced dialogue.

Plays should be sent as a PDF or Word document to: theatre@corkartstheatre.com with the subject line Views from a Couch Submission 2025.
The Dail has been adjourned for the day after controversial changes on speaking rights were voted through amid chaotic scenes.

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy adjourned the Dail until tomorrow morning after declaring that the change to the standing orders was carried, despite opposition parties attempting to obstruct the result.

The vote is understood to be 94 to 74, however it was not formally announced to the Dail. Opposition tellers refused to sign the paper, but Ms Murphy said it was carried.

Opposition TDs shouted shame, shame, shame, as Government backbenchers left the Dail.

Video footage posted online by People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy shows Michael Lowry, who is at the centre of the controversy, making a gesture towards the camera as the chants reverberate around the House.

It came after hours of chaotic scenes, shouting, interruptions and allegations of misogyny over the speaking rights row as tension spilled across Leaders Questions.

The Government and opposition have been arguing over how four coalition-affiliated independent TDs should be given speaking slots in the Dail.

After weeks of trying to reach a compromise, the Government pushed through its proposals today, using its majority.

Before the vote took place, opposition TDs took to their feet and raised their objections, ignoring pleas from the Ceann Comhairle to resume their seats.

She accused members of the opposition of making a holy show of yourselves in front of everyone.

During the lengthy standoff, Ms Murphy ordered TDs to sit down, saying their actions were a disgrace, an absolute disgrace.

Its very clear you have no respect for the chair, none whatsoever, she said.

One of your colleagues mentioned misogyny. Misogyny is what was mentioned earlier.

She then invited the Government Chief Whip Mary Butler to continue with the next item amid a chorus of raised voices from dozens of opposition TDs.

The order of business has been agreed to, I adjourn the House, Ms Murphy said before leaving the Dail chamber as the cacophony continued.

Proceedings were adjourned for a short time before they resumed to hold a vote on the amendments to the standing orders, which Ms Murphy said were carried.

Mr Murphy then adjourned the Dail for the day before 4pm.

The opposition said it would fight tooth and nail against the measures which the Government insists are modest.

The changes will see a creation of new speaking slots for coalition backbenchers and Government-aligned independents, a reduction of time for contributions on debating the order of business, and a halving of slots for Taoiseachs Questions.

Many of the independents which entered into Government negotiations were led by Mr Lowry  a former Fine Gael minister of state who was found by a tribunal to have behaved in a way that was profoundly corrupt to a degree that was nothing short of breathtaking.
March 25, 2025: Twenty three years ago the Russian border troops encountered Chechen rebels using donkeys for transportation in the rugged Caucasus highlands everyone was operating in. The Russian army had stopped using donkeys over a decade earlier. Fast forward to the current Ukraine War where some Russian troops grabbed some local donkeys and used them as pack animals. All the Russian motorized transport of the unit had been destroyed. At that point you improvise and either use pack animals or soldiers have to carry supplies to the front.

This use of pack animals is not so strange because ten years ago Chinese mass media featured pictures of Chinese soldiers mounted on yaks. These mounted combat troops were shown patrolling mountainous portions of the border with India. This is not unusual because yaks are the only breed of cattle with long hair and adapted to living at high altitudes, like Tibet and adjacent highlands. Domesticated males weigh about half a ton while wild yaks weigh twice that and have long been used for carrying cargo, or riders. While not as fast as a horse, yaks are more surefooted in ice, snow and rocky areas. Soldiers have been riding yaks in this area for over a thousand years.

Many countries still use four-footed transport, mainly horses and mules for soldiers and police working in remote and difficult terrain. Some countries, like the United States, maintained small forces of experts capable of handling horses and mules in military situations. This was especially true for special operations forces. For example in 2013 the U.S. Marine Corps MARSOC special operations troops followed the example of the army and established a training program for managing and caring for pack animals. The course was run by the U.S. Marine Corps MWTC Mountain Warfare Training Center in California. The marines have had such training programs before and have long maintained a small herd of pack animals as well as a sergeant designated as a mule skinner at MWTC and organized training programs as needed. The army has done the same and U.S. Special Operations Command helped by issuing an updated 255 page Field Manual FM 3-05.213 on this subject in 2004.

World War II was the last time the United States made widespread use of mules, donkeys and horses, but it continued to maintain capabilities in this area after the war. During World War II even the U.S. Navy used mounted troops, raising a regiment of cavalry from local manpower in Inner Mongolia, as a security force for Navy weather stations, while the Coast Guard had mounted beach patrols along the East Coast of the United States in order to prevent German submarines from landing intelligence agents and saboteurs. Mules were used by American troops in mountainous areas of Italy and France.

The reason for maintaining this capability is quite practical. In many parts of the world the easiest way to move goods, including food and ammo for troops, is via pack animals. Depending on what part of the world the troops are in, the animal can be a dog, elephant, llama, camel, horse, ox, donkey, mule, or reindeer. In many areas you can hire local animals and people to handle the animals. But in some situations, you have to bring in your own animals and handlers. The training courses show troops how to care for the animals and how to load cargo on each species. Usually a pack animal can carry about a quarter of its own weight as cargo and the most common ones encountered are horses, donkeys, and mules. The need for these training courses is one reason why the military still recruits large-animal veterinarians.

While the American military use of pack animals doesnt get much media coverage, they continue to be needed despite all the mechanization and use of parachute drops and helicopters to move supplies in the last half century. For example during the 1980s the United States supplied the Afghan rebels fighting the Russian invaders with some 700 mules as these were the most efficient mode of transport for those, like the rebels, who were not able to use the few roads. The Russians controlled the roads with mechanized patrols and helicopter gunships overhead. Earlier in the 1980s, when the British were fighting in the Falklands Islands to expel the Argentine invaders, they purchased local pack animals to help move supplies over terrain that did not tolerate wheeled or tracked vehicles very well.

Some European countries recognized the continuing importance of pack animals and even have a special breed of horse, the Freiberger, that was bred over the centuries to work in hills and mountains carrying people or cargo. Starting during the Cold War the Swiss government paid some Swiss farmers an annual stipend for each mule and horse maintained on their farms and ready to be taken over by the military in the event of war. The animals had long since ceased to be efficient for farm work. Yet the Swiss Army found them useful for reconnaissance and for moving supplies in many parts of mountainous Switzerland and needed to assure a reasonable supply on hand in the event of war. Without the government payments, plus a bit of nostalgia and patriotism, farmers would have gotten rid of nearly all these animals.

There is one aspect of military animals that wont return, even though it would, in theory, speed up the movement of armies on the march. Thats because despite the introduction of all those trucks and armored vehicles, which can move at better than 60 kilometers an hour, the daily combat rates of advance are not that impressive. The fastest sustained daily advance rate by an army is still that of the Mongol horse archers 700 years ago, who regularly maintained over 20 kilometers a day for extended periods. At least five German infantry corps of the German 1st Army invading France in 1914 advanced on foot an average of more than 10 kilometers a day for 30 days, as whole units, before the Battle of the Marne. Some marched 400 kilometers in that period.

Rarely has a 20th century mechanized army managed a sustained rate of 20 kilometers a day. In fact, one of the fastest moving armies in this century was the 1950 Chinese Army in Korea. It did better than 10 kilometers a day on foot for several weeks. Mechanized armies have not done as well. In World War II the German Blitzkrieg, at its best, sustained only 5 kilometers a day in Russia during 1941, 10 kilometers a day in France in 1940, and 17 kilometers a day in North Africa in 1941. The Arab Israeli Wars of 1956 and 1967 did scarcely better and contemporary exercises show advance rates of under 10 kilometers a day.

The critical factor here is sustained rate of advance, the rate at which the entire army moves forward, regardless of what individual units may do, which may greatly exceed the average. Then there are the supply problems. Horses can live on grass for a while and troops can live off the land up to a point. Mechanized armies changed that and must generally stick to the roads and need an enormous fuel and maintenance system to keep moving and dragging all their gear along, which slows them down, even though most vehicles can zip along at sustained rates of over 50 kilometers an hour, and smaller individual units may average 100 kilometers in 24 hours. Thus military horses will never return in a big way but, until someone comes up with a robotic replacement that can equal all the capabilities of horses and mules, you will always have to be prepared to use these animals in situations where hooves outperform machines.
The annual AXA Roadsafe Roadshow, which is aimed at educating secondary school students on the dangers of driving, took place across two days in Cork city this week.

The roadshow, now in its 16th year, took place on Monday and Tuesday at the Clayton Hotel Silver Springs.

This years event saw 1,500 Transition Year (TY) students from 14 Cork schools come together to learn about safety behind the wheel.

The award-winning initiative mixes theatre, video and first-hand accounts from gardai and emergency services to highlight the potential dangers of driving.

As part of the workshop, organisers simulated a nightclub atmosphere for students, before an actor, posing as a young driver, had a tragic car accident.

Students were then walked through the impact of road accidents with a presentation, and were given the opportunity to witness the potential damage caused by a high-speed collision through a staged on-site car crash.

Shared experiences

Speakers at this years roadshow included forensic crash investigator Garda Raymond Sweeney, A&E doctor Eoin Fogarty and members of the National Ambulance Service and the Cork City Fire Brigade, who all shared their experiences working with both fatal and non-fatal road traffic collisions.

The vice president of the Irish Road Victims Association, Leo Lieghio, also spoke about his experience losing his 16-year-old daughter, Marsia, who was killed in a hit-and-run in 2005.

Sergeant Robbie Stone of the Cork City Roads Policing Unit said: We know that statistically young drivers, and particularly young male drivers, continue to be vastly over-represented when it comes to serious injury and fatal road traffic collisions.

If we can convince people to reduce their speed, to wear their seat belt, to not use their phones while driving, to never drink or take drugs and drive, we will see a reduction in the numbers of lives being lost.

An Garda Siochana have made huge efforts nationally and locally here in Cork to educate young drivers and the AXA Roadsafe Roadshow is a brilliant opportunity for the next generation of drivers to see the reality of the tragic consequences associated with serious injury and fatal collisions.
Cork TDs called for supports for young carers in a Dail debate on a motion introduced by the Labour Party.

Young carers are people under the age of 18 who provide care, assistance or support to another family member in the home.

Among the initiatives the motion called for were the introduction of a young carer grant, ensuring guaranteed respite days for young carers; school-based initiatives that support the educational needs of young carers; and additional home-care supports, so that young carers have time for themselves.

Cork North Central TD Eoghan Kenny said in the Dail that the motion was really important: A huge number of people across the country provide 24-7, dedicated care to family members.

Right now, in this country, neither the department of education nor the department of children have dedicated support programmes for young carers in Ireland.

Mr Kenny added that the partys motion followed a meeting with Family Carers Ireland and four young carers, one of whom said he lives in constant fear to get home quickly in case something happened while he was at college.

"One girl told us that she felt invisible in school and expressed her concerns at 14 years of age at the lack of support and services available in our schools, he added.

Tragically neglected

Social Democrats TD for Cork East, Liam Quaide, also spoke in favour of the motion, saying: Family carers are a large group of people, who have been tragically neglected by the State.

Mr Quaide said: They provide vital unpaid care, often under severe financial pressure and with huge personal sacrifice. In the case of young carers, this sacrifice can include losing out on parts of childhood and carrying unsustainable emotional burdens.

He said that from his previous work as a psychologist he knew that the role of a young carer can give a person strengths and positive qualities, but can also have complex impacts on identity and mental health, and can place the young person in a role that is developmentally at odds with their actual age.

No recognition

Labour councillor for Cork city north east John Maher told The Echo: Right now, there is no recognition of the unpaid work of young carers in our social protection system.

Shockingly, one in four young carers have gone to school or bed hungry, because there was not enough food at home.

This is a scandal. In Ballyvolane, Mayfield and Glanmire, I have spoken with families struggling to get the support they need, and it is clear that urgent action is required.
Its not a good look.

So far, the only female headliner announced in the entire Live at the Marquee summer series of headline acts is Roisin Barrett, bassist with Irish folk band The Mary Wallopers.

Shes scheduled to play on July 18 - but across the 28 confirmed dates, every other headline act is male. Not a single solo female artist is on the bill.

Last years line-up included the Sugababes, Lyra, Jenny Greene and the RTE Concert Orchestra, and Susan ONeill. Whats happened for 2025?

It may not be for lack of trying by Aiken Promotions, but its hard to understand how an entire summer of shows can be booked without a single female headliner.

Criticism over the lack of female representation in live music isnt new. But the industry needs to do more to support emerging female artists - helping them grow, develop, and eventually rise to headline status.

The idea of a pipeline of talent applies just as much to the creative industries as it does to tech or sport.

Festivals like Glastonbury and Electric Picnic have faced similar criticism in the past for male-dominated line-ups. Often, the response is that there simply arent enough solo female acts to book - but more and more festivals are rejecting that line and committing to gender-balanced programming.

Keychange is an international movement aimed at increasing gender balance across the music industry; it encourages festivals to pledge that at least 50% of their line-ups will feature women or gender minority artists.

Live music should reflect the diversity of the people who listen to it.

If the next generation of female musicians are to believe theres a place for them on stage, we need to see real action - not just good intentions - from promoters, venues and festivals.

******

Those bloody Finns with their abundant happiness.

How could a people living in one of the northernmost countries in the world come out on top of the World Happiness Report for the eighth year in a row?

Surely the freezing cold dark days of winter snuff out any spark of joy or happiness?

In Ireland, our national humour rises and falls with the weather, and the mere suggestion of sunshine can send us collectively into a good mood.

So, its baffling to me that a country wrapped in 18-hour darkness during winter (or more, depending on how far north you go) could outshine the bronzed bliss of those in the freewheeling sunnier climes of the Mediterranean.

But the top five happiest countries (Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Netherlands) are all from higher latitudes - what do I know?

Turns out happiness has little to do with Vitamin D and more to do with decent income security, social trust, and equality.

Finland has nailed the formula. Ireland isnt doing too badly - sitting respectably at number 15, in the top 20 out of 140 countries. Not bad for a nation whose national pastime is giving out.

When you look closer, Ireland and Finland actually match on a lot of happiness indicators: life expectancy, social support (knowing theres someone to call in a crisis), and positive emotions.

In fact, Ireland comes out better on benevolence - we donate more, volunteer more, and are more likely to help a stranger. A whopping 70% of Irish people said theyd donated to charity in the past month, compared to just under 40% of Finns.

But there are aspects of life in Ireland that are more of a downer. Our perceptions of corruption are significantly worse. And, when asked whether were satisfied with our freedom to choose what we do with our lives, the answers are more mixed.

And its understandable for anyone to feel a bit miserable right now. Because how do you talk about happiness when the world seems to be on fire?

When were watching an ongoing genocide in Gaza, hearing about the relentless oppression of women in Afghanistan, the deepening housing, health and climate crises at home - and when the EU is considering spending 800 billion on rearmament?

Imagine if that money was poured into public healthcare, education, or solving the climate emergency instead. It would be a much more powerful catalyst for happiness than bombs and weapons.

As Mothers Day approaches, I keep thinking about the mothers in Palestine and Afghanistan. For them theres no time to think about happiness when youre barely existing.

These people arent wondering where they rank in the World Happiness Report. They are wondering whether liberation will come in their lifetime. Are hoping their children wont be killed in their sleep by Israeli bombs. Are dreaming of a life free from the Taliban.

In contrast, here we are - with the luxury of chasing happiness, or debating its causes.

And yes, we should take joy where we can.

I am very grateful for my peaceful life and can find happiness in small things - a perfectly brewed cup of tea, fresh bed sheets, a good meal shared with good company.

But what would really make us happy - deeply, collectively happy - would be the dismantling of the systems that keep billions living in poverty, facing food insecurity, lacking access to healthcare or clean water, or enduring conflict or environmental degradation.

Im talking about the Big Things that underpin much of how the world works - capitalist imperialism, the patriarchy, the billionaire class, the military-industrial complex.

Action is the antidote to despair - we need more of us to protest, get politically active, organise and build coalitions to fix the big problems we see around us.

We can have a world where happiness isnt a privilege, but a shared right. That would make us all happy.
A man in his 20s was arrested in connection to the fatal stabbing of Quham Babatunde in February has been charged.

He is due to appear before Court 3 of the Criminal Courts of Justice Dublin on Tuesday morning.

He was the eighth person arrested by gardai in connection with the investigation.

Seven other men have appeared before the courts as part of the investigation.
High Court reporters

A High Court judge has warned all parties in the bitter dispute between the three co-founders of the tech conference company Web Summit to resolve matters ahead of going into evidence.

At the beginning of the second week of the trial, Mr Justice Michael Twomey quoted French philosopher Voltaire when telling all three businessmen the case could take years they will never get back.

On Tuesday before Web Summit co-founder Daire Hickey was due to give evidence in his action against majority shareholder Paddy Cosgrave, Mr Justice Twomey told the parties to work "every day" on a resolution and commended them for entering into mediation efforts before it broke down ahead of the trial.

The judge urged all three not to focus on the "rights and wrongs" of the history of their business disputes and said they should focus on resolution.

Mr Justice Twomey said mediation was "a thousand times more preferable than going into litigation".

The judge quoted Voltaire when saying "I was never ruined, but twice  once when I lost a lawsuit, and once when I won one.

Mr Justice Twomey warned that the three months for which the case is scheduled could mean a judgment from him in the winter and that all three parties may not be satisfied by that judgment.

This, he said, may lead to appeals and possibly thereafter to Supreme Court appeals, which could take up to three years from now to deliver a final judgment.

The judge said there would be a personal cost to the proceedings and that should matters be litigated to their fullest it would be three months of their lives they will "not get back, never get back" and that there would be a "real and human" cost to all involved.

The court then adjourned so the parties could consider the judge's remarks.

Evidence in five separate actions, brought variously by Mr Cosgrave, Mr Hickey and David Kelly, was due to begin at the High Court on Tuesday morning. The proceedings, which opened last week, are scheduled to run for nine weeks.

Mr Cosgrave is suing Mr Kelly, who owns 12 per cent of the shares in Web Summit, for alleged breaches of his fiduciary duties as a director of the company. Majority shareholder Mr Cosgrave is, in turn, being sued by Mr Kelly and Mr Hickey, who holds 7 per cent of the shares in Web Summit, for alleged shareholder oppression and breaches of a profit-sharing agreement.

Last week, when lawyers for all parties made their opening statements, Bernard Dunleavy SC, for Mr Cosgrave, said that proceedings brought by Mr Kelly and Mr Hickey are an attempt to avoid a discount on the potential sale of their shares in the tech conference firm.

Mr Dunleavy, who was responding to opening statements delivered in the proceedings by Mr Hickey and Mr Kellys counsel, said Web Summit is "big enough and valuable enough" to make the two minority shareholders "millionaires many times over in the morning" if they sold their stakes.

"This is a case driven by greed. Mr Hickey and Mr Kelly invested nothing in this business. They risked nothing for this business. They both, in their separate ways, betrayed this business," Mr Dunleavy said. "They want this court to craft for them a windfall which they do not deserve."
Sonya McLean

A truck driver who agreed to transport just over 1 million worth of cannabis in his vehicle on a ferry has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Gerard Doran (60) of Cornadarragh, Belturbet, Co Cavan, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Port on February 25th, 2021.

He also admitted to being in possession of 4,195 (5,029), knowing or being reckless as to whether it was the proceeds of crime.

Detective Garda Stephen Gillespie told Aoife McNickle BL, prosecuting, that Dorans truck was searched after it came off a ferry from Holyhead in Wales.

A sniffer dog indicated that there was something of interest in the cab of the truck, which led to the discovery of eight bags of cannabis herb. The drugs were worth 1,020,400.

Doran immediately accepted responsibility for the drugs and said that he had been paid 4,195 to collect the drugs and bring them back to Ireland. He told officers where they could find the cash in the truck.

Det Gda Gillespie said further analysis of CCTV footage showed where the bags had been picked up, and analysis of Dorans phone led to the discovery of communications setting up the collection.

Doran told gardai he had been ill and that he was also under financial pressure at the time.

Det Gda Gillespie agreed with Michael Hourigan SC, defending, that his client fully co-operated with the garda investigation and had not been on the garda radar.

A number of testimonials were handed into court, and counsel gave details of Dorans medical issues. He said he had strong family support.

Judge Martin Nolan said the dog was right when he indicated that something was in the truck but acknowledged that Doran very quickly made full admissions.

He accepted that Doran was under financial distress and succumbed to temptation by reason of his vulnerability.

He knew that he was getting himself into a very difficult situation, and he made a bad misjudgement, Judge Nolan said.

He accepted that by reason of his medical issues, Dorans time in custody would be more difficult before he sentenced him to four-and-a-half years in prison.
Gordon Deegan

The decision by Dublin City Council to refuse planning permission for 284 homes at Terenure College runs contrary to local and national planning policies, according to an appeal from the developer.

Lioncor has lodged an appeal to An Bord Pleanala about the decision last month by the council to refuse planning permission for the scheme for Fortfield Road, Terenure, Dublin 6.

The scheme comprises 265 apartments and 19 four-bed houses, with the apartments located across four blocks and one block rising to six storeys.

The council refused permission to the Lioncor subsidiary, 1 Celbridge West Land Ltd, after concluding it had failed to demonstrate that the range of travel needs of the future resident population can be met by the proposed development.

In the one reason for refusal linked to transport issues for the new scheme, the council found that the proposed car parking provision was inadequate to serve the needs of future residents of the development.

The planning authority said the proposal would give rise to unacceptable levels of overspill and haphazard parking on adjacent roads and bus corridors.

The 11.5-acre development site is located to the northwest corner of the grounds of Terenure College senior school. The main part of the site is an open field that was formerly used as playing pitches associated with the now closed junior school.

The scheme was build to sell compared to the build to rent 364-unit scheme and 21 houses that were refused planning permission two years ago by An Bord Pleanala.

In the comprehensive appeal drawn up McGill Planning associate director Brenda Butterly, she points out that every department at Dublin City Council with the exception of the transport planning department believed that a grant of permission was appropriate.

Ms Butterly said it was very disappointing that the council did not seek further information on the plans or include a condition on the issue of parking.

Ms Butterly said claims that the development would lead to overspill and hap-hazard parking were "unsubstantiated".

She said the appeal boards previous refusal for the site was made on three grounds and none related to parking.

Ms Butterly said all the grounds of refusal for the previous scheme had been addressed.

She said the proposal was a high attractive apartment development in an established, highly accessible and well serviced urban location within Dublin City.

Ms Butterly said the proposal would provide for an effective and efficient use of these currently vacant, serviced lands.

The appeals board is due to make a decision on the appeal in July.
One of Samsung's CEOs, Jong-hee Han, has died due to a heart attack, according to Reuters and CNBC. He was 63. Han joined the company in 1988 and became the head of product research and development for visual display in 2011. He then led Samsung's TV business before he was named as the head of Samsung DX, which is what the company calls its merged mobile and consumer electronics divisions, in 2021. In 2022, he officially became the company's Vice Chairman and CEO. Han had no experience in mobile before he started leading the company's DX group, but Samsung gave him credit for helping it get to the top of global TV sales for 15 years.

CNBC says Han was one of the executives who hosted Samsung's annual general shareholders meeting just a week ago and answered questions about the company's poor stock performance. During the meeting, Han apologized to the shareholders, telling them that Samsung "failed to adequately respond to the rapidly evolving AI semiconductor market." He also told the shareholders that Samsung was having difficulties when it came to semiconductor-related mergers and acquisitions due to regulatory issues, but that the company was "determined to produce some tangible results this year."

Based on the notice Samsung published, Han's co-CEO Young-Hyun Jun is now the sole CEO of the company. Jun, who also heads Samsung's semiconductor business, was appointed as Han's co-CEO in November 2024. It's not clear whether Samsung is planning to appoint another CEO in the future.
It follows the revelation that senior national security officials included an Atlantic editor in their group chat.

As it turns out, including a reporter in your national security leader group chat about military strikes isn't the only way to compromise sensitive information on Signal. NPR reported on Tuesday that, days after the Trump administration's preposterous and dangerous national security fumble, the Pentagon issued a warning against using the messaging app due to a phishing vulnerability.

"A vulnerability has been identified in the Signal messenger application," a department-wide email obtained by NPR reads. "Russian professional hacking groups are employing [Signal's] 'linked devices' features to spy on encrypted conversations." The publication says the memo states that Russian hacking groups are "targeting Signal Messenger to spy on persons of interest."

A Signal spokesperson told NPR that the memo wasn't about Signal's security but about phishing attacks on the platform. So, if you're using the app, be especially mindful of attempts to trick you into linking devices to your account. Or simply communicate through different channels.

The Pentagon directive follows a scandal that, at least in previous eras, would have ended the careers of a long list of high-profile officials. (In this one who knows?) The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg reported on Monday that a group of Trump administration national security officials inadvertently included him in a Signal group chat discussing military strikes in Yemen.

Andrew Harnik via Getty Images

The conversation included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, among others. They  with Goldberg essentially CC'd  discussed the timing, targets and weapons involved in bombing Houthi sites in Yemen.

A 2023 Department of Defense memo prohibited using mobile apps for even "controlled unclassified information." NPR notes that military planning is many degrees more sensitive than that. And that doesn't even cover accidentally including a journalist in the conversation.

The entire Atlantic article is worth a read, but a few gems from the chat include Hegseth's writing, "I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It's PATHETIC." And, "Nobody knows who the Houthis are  which is why we would need to stay focused on: 1) Biden failed & 2) Iran funded."

Adding to the "It would be hilarious if it weren't so dangerous" nature of the fiasco, Hegseth went on camera to deny the chat's authenticity after the White House confirmed it.

Although the fallout is still taking shape, here's an early taste. Watch below as retired US Navy captain and current US Senator Mark Kelly grills Gabbard and Ratcliffe on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.
Gaming journalism stalwart Game Informer has risen from the ashes. More than thirty years after its debut issue back in August 1991, the media outlet was officially shut down by parent company GameStop in August 2024. Since then, the rights to Game Informer were acquired by Gunzilla Games and, in an all-to-rare win for today's media world, the entire team that worked for Game Informer at the time of its closure will return to their jobs.

Editor-in-Chief Matt Miller posted the details about how the outlet was saved from the brink and noted that Gunzilla Games will be a hands-off boss. "The new owners insisted on the idea of Game Informer remaining an independent editorial outlet," he wrote. "They felt just as strongly as our team did that the only path forward was with an editorial group that made 100 percent of the decisions around what we cover and how we do so, without any influence from them or anyone else."

We are proud to welcome the talented voices behind Game Informer in the Gunzilla Games family, and join their fight to preserve the heart of video game journalism in what has been a tumultuous time for the industry," Gunzilla CEO and Co-Founder Vlad Korolov said .

The website and its back catalog of content have been republished online. Game Informer's staff have also published reviews of more than two dozen games that came out during the site's hiatus and belatedly compiled their requisite best games of 2024 list. The print magazine is also expected to resume activity, and Miller said more details will be forthcoming about subscription and membership options.
The next feature for next-gen Apple Watches could be AI assistant-boosting cameras. Apple is reportedly working on adding cameras to future Apple Watch models to make them more like AI wearables, according to Bloombergs Mark Gurman.

Unlike the ancient watch cameras from decades ago, Id expect the camera to be as subtle as front-facing cameras on an iPhone, not the giant units on the back. Cameras may not be for FaceTime calls or photography but could help the Apple Watch support AI features like Visual Intelligence, which can provide on-the-spot information. Gurman previously reported Apple is developing AirPods with a built-in camera for similar functionality.

Do you know which company tried cramming a camera into its smartwatch? This one . That was also over a decade ago.

Engadget

Apple is contending with other Watch issues too: a rumored plastic Apple Watch SE has reportedly hit some development issues. According to Gurman (hes a busy guy!): The design team doesnt like the look, and the operations team is finding it difficult to make the casing materially cheaper than the current aluminum chassis. Its been over two years since Apple released the second-generation Apple Watch SE. We even took a second look at the wearable , anticipating` an eventual replacement.

 Mat Smith

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The biggest tech stories you missed

Apple, Sonos and more.

This years Amazon Spring Sale is in full swing, and as promised, a ton of household, fashion and outdoor gear has dropped to record-low prices. Tech isnt a huge focus  thats usually a Prime Day thing  but there are certain devices and tech bargains.

Such as the recently upgraded M4 Mac mini. Not only does it come with a powerful M4 chipset but it also includes 16GB of RAM in the base model. Also: A perennial Engadget headphone favorite, Sonys WH-1000XM5 headphones are $250 (thats $150 off). Theyre comfortable, have great sound quality and powerful active noise cancellation. Also, theyre not in-ear buds.

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Larry was one of the most iconic symbols

Engadget

Twitter may be dead, but the 12-foot tall bird logo from its San Francisco headquarters will live on. On top of the $34,375 winning bid, the unknown buyer will also be responsible for costs to move the sign from the San Francisco storage facility. That alone will be no small feat. The sign is 145" x 105" (roughly 12 feet by 8 feet) and weighs 560 pounds. What if the winning bidder was MySpace Tom?

Continue reading.

Stylish, tempting price, limited availability.

Engadget

If youre OK with Nothings limited US warranty, the $379 Phone 3a is a great budget device. It offers a superb screen, fun design and a surprisingly impressive camera package for the price.

Then theres the $459 Phone 3a Pro. Its got a huge camera unit, which Im not a fan of, but that provides the space for a solid telephoto camera  unheard of at this price. For once, the Pixel A-series has competition. Read on for carrier compatibility, camera testing and more.

Continue reading.
If you live in a rural area of the UK, you may soon be able to use your phone for satellite calls, messages and other standard data use. On Tuesday, the nation's telecom regulator, Ofcom, proposed using direct-to-device satellite tech to connect people in the UK's "most rural and hard-to-reach places," like mountains and remote villages.

Ofcom sees the tech complementing traditional networks, aiming to provide 100 percent mobile coverage in the UK. The regulator said the tech could also provide backup coverage during outages, offer service to ships and passengers in coastal waters without a connection and provide emergency 999 services (the UK's version of 911) in remote areas.

In January, British telecom Vodafone made the world's first satellite video call using a standard mobile phone on a remote mountain in west Wales.

Regarding the regulatory details, Ofcom suggests amending existing mobile spectrum licenses for frequencies already used by cellular providers (below 3 GHz). However, the regulator also offered alternative approaches, including introducing a new license for satellite services or allowing license-exempt use if certain conditions are met. Regardless of its specific policy approach, Ofcom said strict conditions would be attached to avoid interference with existing spectrum users in the UK and overseas.

Ofcom is opening a consultation period with stakeholders from now to May 20. Depending on the feedback it receives, it could begin authorizing direct-to-device calls later this year.

The iPhone 14 series was the first standard handset to offer direct-to-satellite emergency messaging. In iOS 18, Apple expanded the functionality beyond crises to any situation where you're off the grid. The Samsung Galaxy S25 series and Google Pixel 9 recently added similar functionality.
George Clooney is standing firm behind his decision to not endorse former President Joe Biden during his attempt to run for a second term.

The actor sat down with CBS' '60 Minutes' where he discussed writing an op-ed for The New York Times called 'I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee.'

"I was raised to tell the truth. I had seen the president up close for this fundraiser, and I was surprised. And so I feel as if there was a lot of profiles in cowardice in my party through all of that. And I was not proud of that," Clooney shared.

"And I also believed I had to tell the truth," he added.

Clooney had endorsed Biden's Vice President, Kamala Harris, after she stepped in for Biden once he had decided to not continue his run. Prior to his op-ed Clooney had headlined a star-studded fundraiser that raised over $28 million for Biden's campaign to be reelected.

Current President Donald Trump caught wind of Clooney's '60 Minutes' interview and slammed the actor in a post to his Truth Social account.

"Why would the now highly discredited 60 Minutes be doing a total 'puff piece' on George Clooney, a second-rate movie 'star,' and failed political pundit. He fought hard for Sleepy Joe's election and then, right after the Debate, dumped him like a dog," Trump said, according to Yahoo.

The president then turned his attention to Harris.

"Later, I assume under orders from the Obama camp, pushed all out for 'Kamala,' only to soon realize that that was not going to work out to well. 60 Minutes even fraudulently inserted Fake answers into her disastrous interview, aired just before Election Day, in one of the most embarrassing and dishonest events in broadcast history... And now George Clooney again? His press agent should be making a fortune!!!," Trump added.

Clooney's appearance on '60 Minutes' was to promote his Broadway debut in 'Good Night and Good Luck.'
by Leanne Ogasawara

SURREALISM, n. Psychic automatism in its pure state, by which one proposes to express  verbally, by means of the written word, or in any other manner  the actual functioning of thought. Dictated by the thought, in the absence of any control exercised by reason, exempt from any aesthetic or moral concern. Andre Breton

Its 1923. And a student grabs a book off a shelf. Running for his life, book held tight, he is just one step ahead of a massive earthquake that would shake the world for four long minutes. Out of the building, he joins the surging crowds on the streets of Tokyo. People are in deep shock, but the young man is calm, reading as he walks among them. The book he grabbed was a novel by William Morris called News from Nowhere. Its a work of socialist utopianism.

According to Shuzo Takiguchi, who is considered to be one of Japans great surrealistic poets, this experience was the start of his life as a poet. Disaster as the start of things. But despite what he claimed, we know that hed already turned away from medicine, which his parents so desperately hoped he would study, instead spending more and more time in the university library reading literature.

And so, the Great Kanto Earthquake was not so much the inciting incident, as the event that let him off the hook.

As soon as the trains were running again, he returned to his family home in the countryside, where he tried to become a teacher. When this didnt work, he was persuaded to return to university in 1925, and that was when he met the poet and classics scholar Junzaburo Nishiwaki, who was well-known at university for having studied at Oxford. Together with a group of other poets, they founded a literary journal devoted to French surrealism, which by that time had become Japans most popular avant-garde movement.

In the introduction to their exciting new translation of Takiguchis work, A Kiss for the Absolute (published by Princeton University Press 2024), translators Mary Jo Bang and Yuki Tanaka (both serious poets in their own rights) quote Takiguchi, who wrote of selling all his literature books after the earthquake but then returning to university where surrealistic thinking punched through the void.

Surrealism became popular among artists and poets in early 20th century Japan, where it arguably had greater long-term impact than in France.

In the U.S. at least, surrealism is a movement we no longer talk about Why is that?

So forgotten from literary discussions in English, one wonders how is it different from related movements, such as magical realism, fabulist, or speculative fiction and poetry.

In Japanese, the French term is translated as chogenjitsushugi .

Anyone who has spent much time in Japan will recognize the much-overused word cho  which means very or super. For example: chobijin is a very beautiful woman

While cho-sugoi is super amazing. Because the term is used like slang nowadays, it is easy to forget that it is actually an old expression, one that could include, in addition to super or ultra, connotations of exciting, surprising, strange, and even grotesque.

As Miryam Sas writes in her 1999 book Fault Lines: Cultural Memory and Japanese Surrealism, cho is a kind of transgression because it goes beyond very or super to suggest that normal categories in language have broken down. So chobijin, then, is a woman so beautiful that the word beautiful is no longer sufficient. It is a transgression of the concept or a breakdown in language itself. One that keeps our ordinary concept of beautiful in mind, when characterizing cho as being beyond beautiful or sur real beautiful.

At Sas explains, distant and unrelated juxtapositions are at the very heart of surrealismboth in France and in Japan. If magical realism and speculative include a category of still unrealized technologies or magical elements like ghosts in an otherwise very realistic world, surrealism does the opposite by immersing one with juxtaposed images so distant from real life, as to be jarring; for as Andre Breton remarked in defining the movement: Surrealism is based on the belief in the superior reality of certain forms of previously neglected associations. This is something that Surrealistic poet Junzaburo Nishiwaki took a step further when he suggested that the more distant the realities are from each other, the more truth is achieved.

That is an interesting thing to consider, so I will say it again: the more distant the realities are from each other, the more truth is achieved.

In fiction workshops, writers sometimes talk of emotional truth that, even if it differs from what really happened in an authors lived experience, this emotional truth transcends the reality. And in this way, the surrealistic work aims to achieve this kind of emotional truth by evoking a dream-like stream of consciousness reality where normally discrete and unrelated images are willfully place side-by-side, to become a shock to consciousness. We see this in all of Takiguchis work. For example:

Max Ernst

Night tourists

devours

nights cryptic handcuffs

as if they were bits of t-bone

At voiceless midnight

mimed letters arrive

C/O The Gobi desert.

Famished immortal birds

Mistake a tin can of words

for a tiny morsel of meat

by starved, eternal birds.

One night

a human gift

was flaming like a flower.

Because the images are so crucial, I much prefer the translators earlier attempt published in Asymptote (see below), where the same translators rendered the Japanese slightly differently, including preserving the double use of scraps of meat nikuhen.

Why translate the same word one way one time and another way later? Surely the poet had the repetition there for a reason. Especially in surrealistic poetry, the images are crucially placed: the images themselves do the heavy lifting in the poem, rather than narrative or rhyme.

A night traveler

devours

nights cryptic handcuffs

like a piece of meat.

At voiceless midnight

a letter of mimicry arrives

in care of the Gobi desert.

A can of words

is mistaken for a piece of meat

by starved, eternal birds.

One night

a human gift

was burning like a flower.

Written during a period of repression in Japan, when there were curfews and authorities policed the words of poets, a can of words and handcuffs at night can indeed feel shocking when placed together with a human gift burning like a flower. Hana de moeteita in Japanese, flowers like sakura can be said to burn when a tree is in full bloom it can appear like a tree is aflame. But what does any of this have to do with Max Earnst? This poem is part of a seven-part cycle with each poem given a title of a Surrealistic artist, like Picasso and Dali.

The poems grew out of what was a dialogue between French and Japanese poets. The translation of the movement into Japanese culture and language was in fact a dialogue with Takiguchi meeting and having many conversations with Breton, starting in 1958, when the two first met in Paris. In exploring the use of symbolism in surrealistic poetry, Sas discusses how much the work of Sigmund Freud informed the movementand this was something Takiguchi and Breton both explored in their work as well as their conversations with each other and something I am intensely interested in.

Typically, surrealist literature is set in a dream-like world that seems to combine elements of the conscious and the unconscious. This, as we know, was Freuds main obsession; for it was Freud who realized the way that, in some people, trauma is actually bypassed in the mind. Not experienced directly, instead the experience is registered in the psyche as a kind of memory of the event that patients or survivors return to again and again, neurotically trying to process what happened to them. Sas calls this a memory trace, but I like to think of it as a groove that develops in ones brain, whereby the trauma makes a kind of imprint. But this then becomes a kind of interruption since the patient returns to it unconsciously again and again.

How else to understand the way a victim will sometimes go on to inflict onto their children what was done to them? It is unconscious. For trauma is an interruption of life, like a broken thread. And the neurotic repetition is often not conscious in the victim.

To uncover the meaning of this is one of the aims of surrealism (and psychoanalysis). And it is the reason why surrealistic paintings and poems have that powerful fever dream-like quality. They are hallucinogenic in the way they seek to evoke our dream lives. Some of the most interesting translated novels of 2024 had this quality; like the surrealistic masterpiece Takaokas Travels, by Tatsuhiko Shibusawa, fantastically translated by David Boyd. Or my own favorite of the year, Alvaro Enrigues You Dreamed of Empires, which is about the 1519 meeting of the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes with the Aztec emperor Moctezuma but written as in a captivating dreamscape. In a note to the award-winning translator of the novel Samantha Wimmer, Enrigue encourages her to not get hung up on the meaning of the words related to pre-Columbian culture, since he wants her to be plunged into the world of the dream.

To return back to Bretons famous assertion that the real world was something hidden to us in our normal lives, we can easily understand the appeal to dreams and to the kinds of truths that can be uncovered in the gaps between distant images. Like that fateful meeting between Cortez and Moctezuma. How else to get at the world-changing impact it had except through symbols and dreams?

And this is something that lies beneath or beyond language itself.

Sas discusses the way the word influence in Japanese means a shadow that is also a trace.



 is shadow

 reverberation

Eikyo means shadow following form, or echo responding to sound.

Many times, we forget the influence is even thereso in that sense it can be seen as another unconscious force bearing down on us. Some of the best writing (and art) is in the business of both uncovering the unconscious forces in our lives, in the form of symbols and fantasies, but also in translating these into consciousness.

Mary Jo Bang and Yuki Tanaka, in their translators introduction to the new collection say as much when they state that In the twelfth century translation referred to the moving of reliquary elements of a saints body from one place to another. Written language in the Middle Ages was primarily the domain of the clergy and much clerical writing was about the lives of saints. It makes sense that the word for carrying saints bones might in time be used for the act of carrying a work (about saints) written in one language over into another language. The transfer of language, however, is even more complicated than the delicate task of moving the remains of a body.

While in the United States, realism and naturalism have reigned supreme in literature (yawn), in many parts of the world, such as Latin America or Japan, Fabulist and surrealistic traditions continue to make themselves strongly felt. Surrealism, born in France, flowered and took many new directions in Japan. From the popular literature of Haruki Murakami and films of Hayao Miyazaki to avant-garde performance traditions like Butoh, the focus on the unconscious and non-naturalistic continues to be admired.

Surrealism, being less tied to real life and what we call realityin its transgressional natureis global and so many of the images speak beyond this language or that. Translation of a mood, a weirdness, an unexpected juxtaposition of images, a state of things outside normal reality is not an act of transposition, rather an act of creation. Rather than an extension, it is an exit from what is known and expected in each distinct culture. Translation builds the runway where this strange flight must take off.

Pablo Picasso

The sad eyes

of flying birds

are hammered into our blood

like songs.

Pupils and lips in water speak

to ears and a forehead in the ground.

Love in the wind

raises a gentle voice

and opens the petals of windows.

A white chair bends its black leg

and stabs a breast

like a sword.

At moonrise

a woman drops her eyes to her bare skin.

A map smeared with blood

spreads its blue.

The wings of waterbirds

hide the ocean.

The color of milk slightly

hides the color of blood.

Recommended Reading

A Kiss for the Absolute: Selected Poems of Shuzo Takiguchi (The Lockert Library of Poetry in Translation)

by Shuzo Takiguchi, Mary Jo Bang & Yuki Tanaka

Fault Lines: Cultural Memory and Japanese Surrealism (Cultural Memory in the Present), by Miryam Sas

You Dreamed of Empires, by Alvaro Enrigue, Natasha Wimmer (Translator)

And my Dreaming in Japanese Substack!
On March 20, 2025, Will Smith took on stage and broke down in tears while performing at the House of Blues for the opening night of his "Based on a True Story" tour.

The 26-date tour coincides with the release of his first full-length album in two decades, also titled "Based on a True Story," set for release on March 28.

As per Mirror, Smith played a medley of lively tracks and contemplative songs centered around his life stories throughout the night.

Among the highlights was a heartfelt recollection of the traumatic birth of his son, Trey, now 31, whom he shares with ex-wife Sheree Zampino. He performed "Just the Two of Us," a song dedicated to Trey in 1997.

In another emotional moment, Smith paid tribute to James Avery, the actor renowned for his role as Uncle Phil in the beloved sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."

Will Smith sparks concern as he breaks down in tears during first show of comeback album tour https://t.co/oOJw0W0v7I  Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) March 21, 2025

Avery died in 2013 following complications after open heart surgery. Smith honored his late co-star by performing a cover of "Apache," while images of Avery were displayed in the background.

Read more: Will Smith Appears To Kiss Spanish Popstar India Martinez During Steamy Onstage Performance Amid Jada Pinkett Separation

Will Smith's Emotional Tribute Receive Mixed Reactions

However, Smith's emotional display did not resonate with all audience members. Critics took to social media to express skepticism about the sincerity of his tributes.

Some commenters suggested that Smith was exploiting Avery's memory as a marketing tactic for his new album.

"Sorry. This trick won't work. Will damaged his reputation badly," one user commented. "A lot of people don't believe him anymore," another added.

However, some fans came to Smith's defense, citing the recent events that had transpired with him publicly. He can be a little bipolar that way between his ups and his downs.

One supporter remarked, "I sincerely wish him well," acknowledging the challenges he has faced since the highly publicized Oscars incident.

Smith's return to music marks his first album since "Lost and Found" in 2005, and he aims to reconnect with fans through this new project.

Fans can stay tuned to Will Smith on social media for more news about the tour and new music.
Bianca Censori is reportedly feeling "frightened" and trapped in her marriage to Kanye West, as sources claim she is struggling to break free from his control.

While rumors of tension between the couple have persisted, an insider revealed that Censori wants to leave but finds it difficult due to Kanye's influence over many aspects of her life.

Recent developments suggest that the couple's dynamic may be shifting. While Kanye, 47, is currently in Japan, Censori, 30, remains in Los Angeles.

The pair had been bouncing between hotels in LA for weeks after previously spending a significant amount of time in Japan. Their last public appearance together was in February in West Hollywood.

According to sources, Censori attempted to check into a different hotel on her own in an effort to gain some independence. However, her location was quickly discovered.

"Bianca went to another hotel, and someone narced it out," a source told Page Six. "He sent security guards over and wouldn't leave her alone."

The insider described the situation as "aggressive," emphasizing that Kanye's obsession with Censori has made it difficult for her to move freely or establish her own space.

Bianca Censori allegedly wants to leave obsessed Kanye West, but he controls so many aspects of her life https://t.co/zsPWsKrDDb pic.twitter.com/wmpIXflFsg  Page Six (@PageSix) March 24, 2025

Bianca Censori Moves Out of Chateau Marmont Amid Kanye West Drama

A source reported that Censori recently moved out of the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, where she had been staying.

Despite her efforts to create distance, she remains tied to Kanye through business and artistic ventures. The couple, who wed in December 2022, has collaborated on various projects, particularly related to West's brand Yeezy.

However, the brand recently faced backlash after Shopify removed it from its platform following the release of controversial swastika-emblazoned T-shirts.

Tensions between the couple reportedly escalated during the Grammys in February, when Censori wore a see-through mini-dress that sparked speculation that Kanye had influenced her outfit choice, Marca said.

While friends of Censori insist she is independent, Kanye's social media statements suggest otherwise.

"I HAVE DOMINION OVER MY WIFE THIS AINT NO WOKE AS FEMINIST S**T," West posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Meanwhile, Kanye's ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, is reportedly preparing to seek sole custody of their four children: North, 11; Saint, 9; Chicago, 7; and Psalm, 5.

The move comes after Kanye posted a song featuring North alongside Sean "Diddy" Combs, who is currently facing legal issues.
Actor and director Justin Baldoni has debuted a dramatic new look as he navigates a high-profile legal battle with former "It Ends With Us" co-star Blake Lively.

The 41-year-old was recently spotted in Hawaii, spending time with his two children, Maiya and Maxwell, while sporting a bold faux hawk with shaved sides. The fresh style comes amid what Baldoni has described as a year of "emotional stress."

Baldoni, best known for "Jane the Virgin and Five Feet Apart," has remained in the headlines due to his ongoing legal disputes with Lively.

Despite their film grossing over $350 million, tensions between the two escalated when Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni in December 2024.

In response, Baldoni countersued for $400 million, alleging defamation against Lively, her publicist, and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds.

Additionally, he filed a $250 million libel suit against The New York Times for its reporting on the allegations, TheNewsInternational said.

During a recent episode of the "Gent's Talk" podcast, recorded in November but released last month, Baldoni reflected on the emotional toll of the past year.

He acknowledged experiencing anxiety and stress, stating, "It was very hard on me and my family." He added that he is focused on healing and maintaining authenticity in his personal and professional life.

Justin Baldoni vs Blake Lively update of the day: Wait? What ?!! Justin is that you?!!! (Source DailyMail) pic.twitter.com/7jcBmwRlDL  Little Nomad (@PastNomad) March 24, 2025

Reynolds Calls Baldoni's Claims 'Thin-Skinned Outrage' in Court Filing

Meanwhile, Reynolds has sought to be removed from Baldoni's defamation lawsuit. Legal documents filed by the "Deadpool" star referenced "Nicepool," a satirical character in "Deadpool & Wolverine," which Baldoni claims is based on him.

Reynolds dismissed the allegations, calling them "thin-skinned outrage." However, sources close to Baldoni's legal team suggest they are investigating Disney's potential involvement in the alleged smear campaign against him.

A legal insider said that Baldoni's team plans to scrutinize the funding and production of Deadpool & Wolverine, arguing that Reynolds' admission about the Nicepool character "opened up the scope" of their case.

The insider further claimed, "Blake and Ryan thought they were untouchable and could get away with anything."

According to DailyMail, Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, has also weighed in, accusing Reynolds of leveraging his Hollywood influence to damage Baldoni's career. "His fingerprints have been all over this smear campaign," Freedman stated, adding that Baldoni would pursue full accountability.

Reynolds has requested a dismissal with prejudice, which would prevent Baldoni from refiling his lawsuit in the future. Despite the legal turmoil, Baldoni appears to be focusing on family and self-care, as evidenced by his Hawaiian retreat and personal transformation.
Hamdan Ballal, the Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," was reportedly assaulted by Israeli settlers and subsequently detained by the Israeli military in the occupied West Bank on Monday evening.

The incident occurred in Susiya, a Palestinian village in the Masafer Yatta region, where Ballal resides. According to witnesses and fellow filmmakers, a group of Israeli settlers, some masked and armed, attacked the village. Ballal suffered injuries to his head and stomach, leaving him bleeding, per The Guardian, citing claims from Nasser's Israeli co-director Yuval Abraham.

Ballal's attorney, Lea Tsemel, said police told her that the director and two other Palestinians were being detained at a military base for medical treatment. She noted that she has not yet been able to speak with Ballal or the other detainees.

Basel Adra, another co-director, told The Associated Press that around two dozen Israeli settlers attacked Susiya, some of whom were brandishing guns while others threw stones.

"We came back from the Oscars and every day since there is an attack on us," Adra further noted. "This might be their revenge on us for making the movie. It feels like a punishment."

On the other hand, the Israeli army claimed they detained three people for throwing rocks at military forcesallegations that witnesses who spoke to AP denied.

"No Other Land" is a powerful documentary that chronicles the destruction of Masafer Yatta, a cluster of Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank. Directed collaboratively by Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers, the film follows Adra, a young activist from the region, as he documents the forced displacement of his community by Israeli soldiers. These demolitions are carried out under the pretext of turning the area into a military training zone despite families having lived there for generations.

The narrative also explores the friendship between Adra and Yuval Abraham, an Israeli journalist who joins him in documenting these events.
Elon Musk's father, Errol Musk, has made a controversial claim about his son's ex-girlfriend, Claire Boucher, known as Grimes, stating that she wanted to tattoo one of their children's heads when he was a baby.

In an exclusive interview with DailyMail, the 79-year-old Errol Musk alleged, "She wanted to tattoo the baby's head... You don't do that. She is a little nuts." These comments were made while he was being interviewed at his home in South Africa.

Grimes, 37, who shares three children with Elon MuskX  A-Xii, Exa Dark Siderl, and Techno Mechanicushas recently opened up about her struggles with mental health.

She opened up about being diagnosed with ADHD and autism and took issue with what she described as the "uninformed social media health subculture," in a recent X post.

I have to say, there's this subculture of I guess "mental health" accounts that I actually think are like, extreme infohazards.



Got diagnosed w adhd/ autism this year and realized I'm prob dyslexic which is why I can't spell at all without spellcheck - I feel like, had we... https://t.co/2zzT91z0QJ    (@Grimezsz) March 22, 2025

This isn't the first time Errol Musk has mentioned this claim. In October 2024, he brought up Grimes' alleged intentions during an interview with British broadcaster Andrew Eborn.

He noted that Elon Musk would not have supported such an idea due to his belief that "the body is a temple" and his lack of tattoos.

Grimes has not publicly responded to the claims made by Errol Musk. Both Grimes and Elon Musk have, though, both joked previously about tattooing their kids.

Elon posted a filtered photo of X, then his newborn son, which added facial tattoos in May 2020. In May 2020, Elon posted a picture of newborn X using a filter that added face tattoos.

An anonymous Reddit user speculated that Errol may have misunderstood a joke made by his son regarding the tattoos.

Errol Musk's comments are part of broader criticism he has levied against Grimes.

He has previously stated he finds her music "terrible," despite its popularity, and has blamed her for the unusual names of his grandchildren.

He defended Elon, asserting that the naming choices were attempts to please Grimes rather than decisions made by his son.

Musk and Grimes had a bit of an on-again, off-again romance from 2018 to 2023, and the couple has been the subject of heated public rows over child custody.

In September 2023, Elon filed for custody in Texas, leading to a ccountersuitfrom Grimes.

The pair finally put their legal troubles behind them in August 2024, settling their case out of court without revealing the details of the arrangement.

In February, Grimes took to social media to request urgent help from Elon concerning one of their children's health crises, stating he had been unresponsive during critical moments.

As of now, Elon Musk has not publicly addressed Grimes' pleas for assistance regarding their children's wellbeing.
The Digital Twin by FySelf arrives; a new era in personalized Artificial Intelligence

The Digital Twin by FySelf arrives; a new era in personalized Artificial Intelligence - FYSELF

(Informacion remitida por la empresa firmante)



Madrid, 25 de marzo de 2025.- Digital transformation has evolved towards a model where digital identity is gaining increasing prominence. In this context, FySelf introduces TwinH, the Digital Twin, an innovation based on artificial intelligence that enables users to create a digital replica of themselves, capable of learning, interacting, and executing tasks in digital environments. This technology redefines automation and online presence by offering an advanced alternative for personalized and patented digital management. Through a continuous learning system, TwinH, the Digital Human Twin, adapts to each user's preferences, ensuring complete control over shared information. FySelf thus establishes a new paradigm in digital representation, combining advanced AI and automation across multiple platforms.

TwinH: a new dimension in digital identity

The Digital Twin developed by FySelf, known as TwinH, represents an evolution in digital identity management. Unlike traditional automation systems, TwinH allows each user to develop a digital replica with unique characteristics, based on real and continuously updated information. Its design integrates machine learning, enabling it to evolve and enhance its responsiveness according to interactions with different environments. This system is trained using data provided by the user and through successive interactions, achieving a high level of personalization. Through the TwinH application, available for mobile devices, users can define behavioral parameters and optimize performance over time. One of its main advantages is the ability to manage digital tasks simultaneously across different platforms, such as social networks, customer service, government and business processes, intelligent surveys, education and healthcare.

Security and data control are key aspects of TwinH. Users can decide what information to share and the level of access granted, with privacy as a top priority. This ensures that the Digital Twin operates autonomously without compromising the integrity of personal data.

Applications and functionalities of the Digital Twin

The potential of the Digital Twin by FySelf extends to various fields, optimizing digital presence and automating multiple processes. Its main applications include:.

Digital assistants: facilitates task delegation and social media interaction management, improving communication efficiency as well as unique and customized support.

Education and training: functions as a virtual tutor, providing personalized content and learning assistance.

Customer service: enables companies to manage inquiries automatically, enhancing the user experience.

Information management: analyzes and organizes large volumes of data in real time, offering agile and context-adapted responses.

One of TwinH's key differentiators is its continuous learning capability. As it interacts in different environments, the system improves its accuracy, providing increasingly efficient responses tailored to user needs. Its seamless integration across multiple platforms without complex reconfiguration facilitates implementation in various sectors.

This digital clone model, powered by artificial intelligence, establishes a new standard for interaction in the digital environment. FySelf offers a solution that not only optimizes online presence but also redefines how individuals manage their identity within the digital ecosystem. The arrival of the Digital Twin marks a milestone in the evolution of artificial intelligence applied to personal automation. With a flexible and highly adaptable structure, TwinH enables more efficient digital management, ensuring a balance between automation and user control. FySelf continues advancing in digital presence transformation, opening new possibilities for intelligent and personalized interaction.

Contacto

Emisor: FySelf

Contacto: Gabinete Periodistico

Email de contacto: comunicados@prensaymedios.com
When the headache is accompanied by the following signs, its serious, says Alexander Mauskop, MD, the founder and director of the New York Headache Center and a professor of neurology at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn.

Fever

Neck stiffness

Weakness or numbness on one side of the body

Difficulty speaking

Loss of consciousness

Confusion

Loss of vision

Any other neurological symptom

If in doubt, call 911 or go to the emergency room, Dr. Mauskop says.

The SNNOOP10 Tool Identifies Headache Red Flags

[3] [4] The mnemonic "SNNOOP10 helps doctors determine when further investigation  possibly including imaging tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), lumbar puncture to examine spinal fluid, or blood tests  are needed to diagnose the cause of a persons headache.SNNOOP10 stands, in part, for:

Systemic Symptoms Symptoms you feel in other parts of your body, besides your head. This could be a fever, loss of appetite, or weight loss. Conditions that may cause such symptoms include meningitis, vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels), cancer, and infection.

Symptoms you feel in other parts of your body, besides your head. This could be a fever, loss of appetite, or weight loss. Conditions that may cause such symptoms include meningitis, vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels), cancer, and infection. Neurological Symptoms Confusion, blurry vision, personality changes, weakness on one side of the body, numbness, or sharp facial pain can indicate a tumor or a stroke.

Confusion, blurry vision, personality changes, weakness on one side of the body, numbness, or sharp facial pain can indicate a tumor or a stroke. Onset Sudden or Abrupt The headache happens suddenly, without warning. Sometimes these are called thunderclap headaches. This can occur when headaches are caused by bleeding in the brain.

The headache happens suddenly, without warning. Sometimes these are called thunderclap headaches. This can occur when headaches are caused by bleeding in the brain. Older Age If youre over 50 and experience a new or progressive headache, its more likely to be due to a secondary cause or illness.

If youre over 50 and experience a new or progressive headache, its more likely to be due to a secondary cause or illness. Pattern Change or Progression A new headache is cause for concern if it is significantly different from your typical headaches, if your headaches are happening more often, or if it is the worst headache you have ever had.

A new headache is cause for concern if it is significantly different from your typical headaches, if your headaches are happening more often, or if it is the worst headache you have ever had. Precipitated by Sneezing, Coughing, or Exercise

Positional If your headache comes on from sitting or standing, it may be related to high or low spinal fluid pressure.

If your headache comes on from sitting or standing, it may be related to high or low spinal fluid pressure. Papilledema, or optic nerve swelling, occurs when pressure in or around the brain is increased; the presence of papilledema may confirm a diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. [5]

Here are some causes of serious headache.

Symptoms of Headache Caused by Stroke

It may not always be possible to distinguish the pain of a headache caused by stroke from a tension-type headache or a migraine attack. But you may be able to tell them apart based on their accompanying symptoms. Stroke generally causes negative symptoms, indicating loss of neurological function, such as:

Weakness

Numbness

Slurred speech

Blindness

Migraine, on the other hand, often produces symptoms such as bright flashing lights, spots, or zigzags in a persons field of vision and the perception of hearing sounds like buzzing or music.

But some migraine symptoms can resemble those of stroke. For example, a person who has migraine with aura may experience loss of sight for short periods; tingling and numbness in the face, hands, or other areas of the body; and speech and language problems, such as being unable to say words, slurring, or mumbling during a migraine attack.

A person with familial or sporadic hemiplegic migraine (a rare type of migraine) may have the same symptoms as those that occur in migraine with aura as well as motor (muscle) weakness on one side of the body.

When an ischemic stroke (a stroke caused by a blockage in a blood vessel) occurs as a complication of migraine with aura, its called a migrainous stroke or migrainous infarction. Like any stroke, a migrainous infarction is considered a medical emergency.

[6] Migrainous stroke is very rare and accounts for less than 1 percent of strokes, according to the Cedars-Sinai Health System.

A stroke requires immediate treatment for the best chance of recovery, so anyone experiencing symptoms of stroke should get to a hospital emergency department as quickly as possible.

Headache From Extremely High Blood Pressure Is a Medical Emergency

[7] Headache caused by high blood pressure is serious, since this type of headache only happens when blood pressure is severely elevated to 180/120 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) or higher. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg. When blood pressure remains extremely elevated and is accompanied by other symptoms, its a medical emergency known as a hypertensive crisis.It can be caused by forgetting to take blood pressure medication, suddenly stopping certain heart medications, drug interactions, or a tumor of the adrenal gland, called a pheochromocytoma, notes Mayo Clinic.

[7] In addition to a severe headache, other symptoms of a hypertensive crisis include anxiety, blurred vision, chest pain, nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath, confusion, and unresponsiveness.

Possible Symptoms of Headache Caused by a Brain Tumor

[8] Its rare that a brain tumor is the cause of a headache, but it does happen.The pain of a brain tumor can be hard to distinguish from a regular headache, though sometimes head pain from a brain tumor is worse early in the morning or when lying down.

A brain tumor can also be accompanied by:

Seizures

Forceful vomiting

Weakness

Double vision

Speech impairment

Personality changes

Confusion

If a brain tumor is suspected, a thorough evaluation by a doctor is crucial.

Symptoms of Cluster Headache

While technically not life-threatening, cluster headaches cause such severe pain that some people contemplate suicide.

[9] Cluster headaches occur suddenly, sometimes waking people from sleep, and generally last between 15 minutes and three hours. The pain of a cluster headache occurs on one side of the head, according to the American Migraine Foundation, and commonly includes a runny nose and a red or tearing eye on the side with the pain.

And unlike migraine, which often makes a person want to avoid physical activity, bright lights, and loud sounds and to take refuge in a dark room, cluster headaches instead make a person feel restless and agitated from the severe pain.

Cluster headaches are so named because they come in clusters  daily for a month or more, for example, and then none for a year. Treatment can be high-flow oxygen through a mask or medication to prevent the headaches in the first place.
(The Center Square)  The Colorado Senate Tuesday gave its final approval to legislation that ups the age to purchase ammunition in the state from 18 to 21.

The Senate passed House Bill 25-1133 on its third reading in a 19 to 16 vote. Some Democrats sided with Republicans in the minority and voted against the legislation.

Under the bill, members of the military, individuals who have completed a hunters education course and purchases made at shooting ranges are exemptions made to the age restrictions.

Differing requirements for purchasing firearms and ammunition create dangerously lax conditions for at-risk youth, one of the bills prime sponsors, Sen. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder, said in a statement. This bill would increase the age to purchase ammunition and strengthen display and delivery requirements to prevent theft and keep ammunition out of the hands of those intent on doing harm to themselves or others.

Sen. Scott Bright, a Republican who voted against the bill, noted Monday before the Senate floor that federal law allows 18-year-olds to legally purchase rifles or shotguns.

We must ask: Does this restriction inadvertently undermine the security of those who need it most? he said. I fear it does.

The Democratic senators who voted against HB 25-1133 on third reading were Sens. Nick Hinrichsen, Kyle Mullica, Dylan Roberts and Marc Snyder.

The House, which passed the bill last month, must approve amendments made by the Senate before the bill goes to the governors desk to be signed into law.

The Senate also approved House Bill 25-1238 in a 22 to 13 vote Tuesday morning. The legislation requires gun show operators to have liability insurance and create a security plan for a show that must be submitted to local law enforcement.

Another controversial gun bill, Senate Bill 25-003, passed the House on third reading on Monday and must pass a concurring vote in the Senate before it can be signed into law.

The legislation bans the sale or purchase of most semi-automatic firearms that take detachable magazines, unless an individual secures a firearm course eligibility card from their local sheriff department, then completes a qualifying firearm education course.
Almost 1,500 people have been detained -- including an AFP photographer -- as tens of thousands continued protests in Istanbul Tuesday after the arrest of the main political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The biggest protests in Turkey in over a decade erupted last week following the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption charges, a move opposition supporters see as a blatant violation of the rule of law.

Authorities have hit back with a crackdown that has alarmed rights groups, with seven journalists who covered the protests remanded in custody by an Istanbul court on Tuesday.

Among them was AFP photographer Yasin Akgul, drawing a sharp rebuke from the Paris-based news agency.

"His imprisonment is unacceptable. This is why I am asking you to intervene as quickly as possible to obtain the rapid release of our journalist," the agency's CEO and chairman Fabrice Fries said in a letter to the Turkish presidency.

The court charged Akgul, 35, and the others with "taking part in illegal rallies and marches", though Fries said Akgul was not part of the protest but only covering it as a journalist.

- 'No concessions' -

Media freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) denounced the arrests as "scandalous", with its Turkey representative Erol Onderoglu saying it "reflects a very serious situation in Turkey".

By Tuesday, police had detained 1,418 people for taking part in "illegal demonstrations", Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya wrote on X, warning there would be "no concessions" for those who "terrorise the streets".

Vast crowds have defied a protest ban to hit the streets daily since the March 19 arrest of Imamoglu, with the unrest spreading across Turkey and prompting nightly clashes with security forces.

In the face of the biggest protests in Turkey since the 2013 Gezi uprising over the redevelopment of an Istanbul park, Erdogan has remained defiant, denouncing the rallies as "street terror".

"Those who spread terror in the streets and want to set fire to this country have nowhere to go. The path they have taken is a dead end," said Erdogan, who has ruled the NATO member for a quarter of a century.

But as he spoke, thousands of students marched through the Sisli district of Istanbul, whose mayor Resul Emrah Sahan was jailed in the same case as Imamoglu.

They chanted "government, resign" and waved flags and banners as a large deployment of riot police stood by.

People in apartments above bashed pots to show their approval.

Many protesters covered their faces with scarves or masks to avoid being identified by the police.

"We can't express ourselves freely," a student who gave her name as Nisa told AFP, saying she nonetheless joined the protest "to defend democracy".

Separately, thousands also rallied for the seventh straight night in a protest organised by Imamoglu's Republican People's Party (CHP) in the Sarachane district, home of the Istanbul city hall that Imamoglu ran since 2019.

Girding for what could be a long standoff, CHP leader Ozgur Ozel called a mass rally for Saturday in Istanbul that he said would be the "largest open-air referendum in history" and would press for early elections.

"We have had enough and we want early elections," Ozel told protesters.

- 'Dark time for democracy' -

With riot police using water cannon, pepper spray and rubber bullets against protesters, the Council of Europe denounced a "disproportionate" use of force while Human Rights Watch said it was a "dark time for democracy" in Turkey.

The United Nations also voiced alarm at Turkey's use of mass detentions and its "unlawful blanket ban on protests", urging the authorities to probe any unlawful use of force.

In Washington, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced "concerns" following a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

But Ozel told the Sarachane crowd: "We do not decrease in numbers with arrests -- there will be even more of us."

He added the extent of the crackdown was such that there was "no room left in Istanbul prisons".

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Residents of a UNESCO-listed village were ordered to evacuate while a historic Buddhist temple was burned to the ground Tuesday as South Korea scrambled to contain worsening wildfires.

Blazes tearing across the country's southeast have killed four people, with authorities transferring thousands of prisoners and residents as dry windy weather hampers efforts to contain more than a dozen different fires which broke out over the weekend.

The fires are collectively the third largest in South Korea's history, with acting Interior and Safety Minister Ko Ki-dong saying 14,694 hectares (36,310 acres) had been affected early Tuesday.

"Strong winds, dry weather, and haze are hampering firefighting efforts," Ko told a disaster and safety meeting.

The government has declared a state of emergency in four regions.

"The wind was so strong that I couldn't stand still," said evacuated Andong resident Kwon So-han.

"The fire came from the mountain and fell on my house. Nothing could be done," the 79-year-old told AFP.

Authorities in Andong issued an emergency alert late Tuesday to residents of the historic Hahoe Folk Village -- a UNESCO-listed world heritage site popular with tourists -- as the blaze drew closer.

"The Uiseong Angye wildfire is moving in the direction" of that area, the alert said. "Residents are requested to evacuate immediately."

In Uiseong, AFP reporters saw the sky full of smoke and haze, with the Korea Forest Service saying that the containment rate for the fire in that area had decreased from 60 to 55 percent on Tuesday.

Early in the morning, workers at the Gounsa Temple, which was more than a thousand years old, were attempting to move valuable artefacts and cover up Buddhist statues to protect them from possible damage.

"We used fire retardant blankets," Joo Jung-wan, a Gyeongbuk Seobu Cultural Heritage Care Center worker told AFP, saying that a giant gilded Buddha statue was too large to move so had been carefully covered.

Hours later, an official at the Korea Heritage Service told AFP that the temple had been burnt down.

"It is very heartbreaking and painful to see the precious temples that are over a thousand years old being lost," monk Deung-woon told AFP.

- Family grave -

More than 6,700 firefighters have been deployed to battle the wildfires, according to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, with nearly two-fifths of the personnel dispatched to Uiseong.

As the fires raged, a Ministry of Justice official told AFP around 3,500 inmates were being moved out of harm's way from correctional facilities in North Gyeongsang province.

In Daegu and the North Gyeongsang region, "the air is extremely dry and strong winds are blowing, creating the risk that even a small spark could quickly spread into a large wildfire", an official from the local meteorological administration said.

The fire in Uiseong was reportedly caused by a person who was tending to a family grave site and accidentally triggered the conflagration, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said during a cabinet meeting.

"Most wildfires are caused by human negligence and the public should strictly follow wildfire prevention guidelines," he added.

South Korea's worst fire was an April 2000 blaze that scorched 23,913 hectares across the east coast.

Some types of extreme weather have a well-established link with climate change, such as heatwaves or heavy rainfall.

Other phenomena, such as forest fires, droughts, snowstorms and tropical storms can result from a combination of complex factors.

Neighbouring Japan was also experiencing wildfires over the weekend, with blazes in multiple areas.

Japan saw the country's worst wildfire in more than half a century earlier this month. It engulfed about 2,900 hectares -- around half the size of Manhattan - and killed at least one person.

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by Eric Feigenbaum

In 1965, Singapores Founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew corrected an Australian news reporter:

I am not in fact Chinese. I am Malaysian. I am by race Chinese. I am no more Chinese than you are an Englishman. He refined the example on other occasions, eventually saying he was no more Chinese than President Kennedy was an Irishman.

Like his examples, Lee grew up speaking English  it was a first language for him along with Malay.

In those days, it was far from clear English would continue as a dominant language in the countries spun out of British Malaya, let alone that it would later create an unexpected cascade of successes for Singapore.

One of the pressing issues of Singapores early days was the cultural tension related to choosing the fledgling countrys language. The 500 square kilometer island was nearly empty when the British claimed it in the 1820s, turning it into an open-port city with a very loose immigration policy. When considering the issue in 1965, few if any imagined their choice of language could become an economic asset of untold dimensions.

Even prior to Singapores inception, the question of a national language among the major three ethnicities  Chinese, Malay and Tamil Indian  was charged. It highlighted just how much Singapore was a land of immigrants  migrants really  who left their home countries in search of work and opportunity. There was no Singaporean ethnicity  just a collection of people who called Singapore home.

Much agonizing led to the Singaporean version of the Connecticut Compromise. Singapore would make Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and English all official, legal languages that could be used in court or on legal documents. Yet it would also make English  the language of no one ethnicity  the working and educational language of Singapore. One common tongue everyone could share.

Technically, Singapore made Malay the national language to honor the sons of the soil whose ethnicity was most tied to the land. However, that is primarily ceremonial.

Creating an English-speaking society caused everyone to share an equal burden of discomfort  having to bend to a language different than what they spoke at home. Singaporean schools also teach Mother Tongue classes in which  at least originally  students took a class a day studying their own ethnic languages. Eventually students were allowed to take any Mother Tongue of their choosing  meaning a Chinese ethnic can study Malay or an Indian ethnic can study Mandarin.

This thoughtful balance allowed people to invest themselves as Singaporean while still taking pride in their ethnic identities. The idea of accepted and valued cultural diversity is inherent to the country.

If we were monolingual in our mother tongues, we would not make a living. Becoming monolingual in English would have been a setback, Lee wrote in his memoirs. We would have lost our cultural identity, that quiet confidence about ourselves and our place in the world.

Politically, the Indian population had the most to gain from English. Without English, the language choice was between Chinese and Malay  leaving the Tamil speaking population forced to accept another local cultures language. Given the Tamils were brought by the British  largely to take civil service and policing jobs  English was a much more comfortable and acceptable medium for them.

We need a common language, Lee explained. We solved this by making everybody learn not one but two languages, English and the mother tongue. English is not any groups mother tongue, so no advantage is gained or lost by any one group.

As time passed, the Singaporean government saw their language policy was an asset to be extolled.

The mono-linguist is more likely to be a language chauvinist and a bigot, Lee said in a speech, He only sees the world through one eye. He does not have binocular vision to see the world in depth, to realize that there are as rich, if not richer, worlds of human experience and knowledge, all expressed in beautiful words, elegantly, vividly and fluently in other languages.

The social stability was success enough  but then something unexpected, but foreseeable happened: English attracted foreign direct investment. American, British, Australian and even European companies found Singaporeans easy to communicate with. Singapore realized it had a natural strength in being not just a linguistic, but a cultural bridge between East and West. Singaporeans had a foot in each world. This became a particular advantage as China opened to the world.

Lee observed as late as 2017:

China has more handicaps going forward and more obstacles to overcome than most observers recognize. Chief among these are cultural habits that limit imagination and creativity, rewarding conformity; a language that shapes thinking through epigrams and 4,000 years of texts that suggest everything worth saying has already been said, and said better by earlier writers; a language that is exceedingly difficult for foreigners to learn sufficiently to embrace China and be embraced by its society; and severe constraints on its ability to attract and assimilate talent from other societies in the world.

Not necessarily by design, Singapore avoided these pitfalls in large part by taking stock and embracing some of the advantages given to it by a century and a half of British rule. Unlike so many new countries decolonized in the aftermath of the Second World War, Singapore didnt allow anti-colonial sentiment to result in throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The British Empire had been highly successful and its accomplishments, tactics and innovations extraordinary valuable.

Singapores early leaders like Lee Kuan Yew, Boon Keng Swee, S Rajaratnam and Edmund Barker received their degrees in Britain and appreciated British government, economics and society. As they built an independent Singapore, they chose to stand on the shoulders on their British inheritance while not forsaking the cultures of the peoples of Singapore.

Accordingly, Singapore benefitted from the flexibility and creativity of the English language, Western-style higher-education including research institutions and science, and beliefs in free-market capitalism underpinned by strong property rights. Only, they mixed in what Lee often referred to as Asian values  a sort of catch-all term for a set of more conservative outlooks that often fit with the collectivist impulses within the cultures that made up Singapore.

Lee described the contrast of Asian Values against Western ones as: The main object is to have a well-ordered society so that everybody can have maximum enjoyment of his freedoms. This freedom can only exist in an ordered state and not in a natural state of contention and anarchy.

Singapores calm, well-manicured streets are physical reflections of this principle as are its cleanliness, efficiency and even its clear, well-lit signage.

Interestingly, these Asian differences made a positive impression on Western investors. Some of Singapores earliest foreign investors included Hewlett Packard, National Semiconductor and Texas Instruments who found a clean, orderly country of well-spoken, educated leaders highly enticing.

As Singapores economy progressed and technology further developed, it became clear to Western software, technology, pharmaceutical and bio-tech companies that Singapore had unique advantages within Asia. Not only could Singaporeans speak English and other key languages of the region including Chinese, Malay, Indonesian, Tamil and Hindi  but they understood the thinking and outlooks of this array of people. Singaporeans could relate to Americans and British, but also to Chinese, Malays, Indonesians and Indians. They didnt just translate words  but concepts, outlooks and cultures.

Equally important  and distinct from almost every other Asian country  Singapore uses British Common Law and shared the same foundation of property rights  including intellectual property rights  as the United States and the United Kingdom, making Singapore a safe place for a post-industrial company to do business.

In the end, English became one of Singapores greatest assets. It created equality and unification from within while externally positioning the small island nation as a global economic powerhouse with the fifth highest Per Capita GDP in the world  higher than the United States, United Kingdom, France, United Arab Emirates and falling mainly behind specialty banking enclaves like Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the Cayman Islands.

The heart of Singapores success was how English plays the role of a common platform  something all Singaporeans know and use  without becoming a single, dominating language demanding cultural deference or homogeneity. One country  many identities and perspectives.

***

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The grain markets are characterized these days by a lack of information. That lack will be filled soon as many pieces of news are about to hit the markets.

We have talked for several months about the impact of the March 31 Prospective Planting Report. It will soon be here, but also coming soon are other news bites that could strongly influence futures grain prices.

Corn/bean ratio

Yes, the Prospective Plantings Report could shake the market, but traders are fairly comfortable with the assumed planted acres. We are looking for 94 million acres of corn to be planted this coming spring, but we dont know if that is what the U.S. Department of Agriculture will confirm in a few days. It is a significant increase from acres planted last year and is based on the idea that the relative prices of corn and soybeans (aka, the corn/bean ratio) favor planting of corn.

I have noted in past columns why that may or may not be true. The biggest reason is that historically, if large corn planting can be justified by the relative cost of production, there is a tendency to plant corn. It is assumed that farmers like to plant corn, and the harvest is easier. Additionally, there is a tendency to plant more corn if the weather is good.

A couple of weeks ago in this space, I expostulated why this might not be true. It is my opinion that a lot of farmers prefer to plant soybeans because the technology of Roundup Ready soybeans and flex-head combines make that crop less risky and because the cost of production is lower. Since then, we have seen corn prices go higher, encouraging corn and then go lower, discouraging corn. So, I am even more dubious about the accuracy of the prereport guesses.

Of course, then we have the problem of the prereport numbers not being correct. We need to actually guess how many acres are in the report and how many we actually plant. That number cannot be known without being able to predict the spring weather over a large area of the Midwest.

Unknowns

This year, we have other unknowns. We have a new administration that is introducing the idea of a worldwide tariff war. Most observers suggest that this hurts exports from the U.S., at least in the short-run.

I am not sure how much of the negative impact from tariffs comes from the actual resultant trade impact and how much comes from just the introduction of uncertainty to the market.

Traders are likely to fear, and trade for, cheaper grain to be safe. The fact that the end result down the road could be positive for prices is not so easy to bet. For that, we have to not only bet that the prices get better, but also that they get better fast enough to prevent negative impact on farmer cash flow for an extended period.

Tariffs may not be our biggest problem. A couple of days ago, I read an AgWeb/Farm Journal article that said we could have a policy change so that a Chinese vessel would be charged $1 million to load in a U.S. port.

I dont know if this is to keep our grain on our ships, or if it is a nod to the Chinese influence in the Panama Canal that is contributing to some of our ships being assessed $1 million transit fees.

I am not sure how much of the Chinese-bound grain goes out of New Orleans export elevators (or more accurately NOLA elevators), requiring Panama Canal transit and how much loads off the West Coast. I suspect most goes through New Orleans.

Safrina crop

The tariffs have been delayed until April 2, which is getting close. Right now, our corn is the cheapest in world trade. It may not remain that way.

One factor is the Brazilian safrina (second) crop. This was planted in February and will pollinate in May. There was trouble planting it because of dry weather, since the Brazilians will not plant unless there is enough moisture in the topsoil to germinate seed.

In this country, we just hope for dry weather to plant and then regular rain to incorporate spray in conventional seeds and to germinate the seeds. Then, the Brazilians have to get good weather in May, as the pollination period is susceptible to hot weather, just like us in July.

Given improved weather, we are now expecting a good Brazilian safrina, and the volume of that crop has been increasing by the year until they export almost as much corn as we do. We now are second to Brazil in exports for soybeans and corn since some of their first crop corn and most of their second crop is exported. If tariffs make us more expensive for corn, we may be screwed.

Looking at futures quotes, the May corn was trading at $4.64 1/4 at midnight going into March 25. The last high was at $5.18 3/4 on Feb. 19. The recent low was $4.42 1/2 on March 4.

May soybean futures have had a dollar change recently. The high was at $10.92 1/2 on Feb. 5, and the recent low was at $9.91 on March 4. We have not rebounded off the low much, and it would take a high corn acreage number and a low soybean acreage number to make a good rebound.
MERCER, Pa.  The owner of the Millers Mercer Livestock Auction is facing charges after an investigation by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture uncovered malnourished and deceased animals on the property.

Officials who visited the auction site on March 12 at 424 N Perry Highway discovered as many as 25 deceased animals including five cows and a piglet, all left in a compost pile, surrounding pastures and near the barn; all were ordered to be removed.

Other animals were crowded into small stalls inside the barn. According to a criminal complaint, one such stall measured around 12 feet by 12 feet and housed a large horse, donkey, nine sheep, two goats and a pig. Most of the animals lacked visible access to water or food.

According to the complaint, the owner, Paula Miller of Greenville, Pennsylvania, told an investigator that she was unaware of the condition of the animals because she primarily worked in the office. She also stated that she did not know when the animals had died.

Miller told the investigator that, as with any livestock auction, some animals die before being sold. The investigator reminded her that the auction cannot accept or sell diseased animals under USDA regulations, but, according to the complaint, Miller questioned how she would be able to tell that they were sick.

Miller is listed as the sole proprietor of the operation. She referred questions to her lawyer Charbel Latouf, whose office is based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Latouf did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Under USDA guidelines, auctions are prohibited from accepting or selling sickly animals, and a contracted veterinarian must be present on sale days. The complaint noted that Millers veterinarian resigned on March 13, citing concerns over the facilitys practices. The veterinarian stated to investigators that Millers husband had requested a letter stating the deceased cows had died of illness, which she refused to provide, instead advising Miller to seek legal counsel.

By March 14, officials returned to confirm that the compost pile had been addressed. Only the piglet remained, with Miller stating she would handle its removal.

Miller is charged with six counts of aggravated cruelty to animals  causing serious bodily injury or death, a third-degree felony with a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine, and 16 counts of animal neglect  sustenance/water, which is punishable by a fine and up to 90 days in jail.
Rural campaigners are calling for urgent action to protect Britain's livestock farms from a host of diseases following a recent investigation into illegal meat.

Last month, the Countryside Alliance uncovered evidence of widespread illicit smuggling of 'bushmeat' into the UK, bringing with it the possibility of disease introduction.

Calls for action are now growing increasingly louder, with Victoria Atkins, the Shadow Defra Secretary, now sounding the alarm over illegal meat imports.

Outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany, Hungary and Slovakia, as well as the African swine fever in Europe, come at a time when British farmers are already wrestling with bird flu and bluetongue.

The Countryside Alliance's investigation explored the growing trend of 'bushmeat', which covers wild mammals, reptiles and birds hunted in West and Central Africa, Asia and the Americas.

While meat imported legally into the UK must pass stringent health checks to ensure it is safe, smuggled bushmeat "dodges these", the group found.

Shockingly, the investigation found that the banned meat was being sold for home delivery via social media channels.

The Food Standards Agency (FA) advises consumers not to buy or eat bushmeat or other illegal meat, as it may be unsafe.

According to experts, the meat could be carrying serious infectious diseases, including foot-and-mouth, anthrax, Ebola virus, TB or cholera.

It comes as nearly 100 tons of illegal meat was confiscated at Dover last year  a rise of more than 75 percent on 2023.

Concerns were also recently raised after Northern Irish port authorities seized around 600kg of illegal meat that was smuggled into port on the Stranraer ferry.

Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins has written to her opposite number in government, Defra Secretary Steve Reed, pressing for assurances.

She writes: Defras own figures predict that African swine fever could cost the UK 100m, and there are concerns from the industry that this could be more and would be catastrophic for the UK pig sector.

"We already know foot-and-mouth disease in 2001 cost the UK 14.7 billion in todays prices.

Following its investigation, the Countryside Alliance said the government needed to "safeguard our farmers" as diseases could "devastate" the industry.

Mo Metcalf-Fisher, of the alliance said: With foot-and-mouth and African swine fever a very real risk, and other diseases like avian flu and bluetongue already affecting livestock throughout the UK, it is crucial that the government take action.

Farmers are already suffering because of recent political decision, from the sudden closure of the SFI scheme, to the recently announced Planning and Infrastructure, and, the devastating 'family farm tax'."

He added: We need to safeguard our farmers - they are the bedrock of our rural economy and are vital for the UKs food security.
An important enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE) vaccine is now back in stock following supply chain challenges last year.

Ceva Animal Health, manufacturer of the vaccine Cevac Chlamydia, has encouraged farmers to vaccine their ewe lambs and shearlings.

Last year, the firm saw a batch failure in the manufacturing process, as it "failed to meet the quality expected to be suitable for release".

EAE is estimated to cost the UK sheep sector up to 20 million annually and it is spread from sheep to sheep, predominantly at lambing.

It is really good news to hear that there will be good availability of EAE vaccine this year, said Fiona Lovatt, from Flock Health Ltd.

The lambing season started off with some disappointing news for some farmers who were not able to vaccinate last year as they faced EAE abortions.

"It is essential that the youngest two years of the ewes are vaccinated before next tupping to ensure that the cohort that missed last years vaccination are fully covered.

Following the news, farmers can now vaccine their flocks to help protect the cohort of ewes that missed last years vaccination from EAE, which is caused by the bacterium Chlamydophila abortus.

Flock replacements can also be vaccinated this summer ahead of tupping, while shearlings can be vaccinated within four months before tupping and no later than four weeks before the rams go in, and ewe lambs can be vaccinated from five months of age.

Katherine Timms, ruminant veterinary advisor at Ceva, said vaccination for EAE should be incorporated into flock health plans, particularly if there had been abortion cases during the preceding lambing.

Farmers who are experiencing abortions among their flock should test for EAE if they have experienced an abortion rate of over 2% in their flock or if two or more have aborted over two to three days irrespective of the size of flock.

"The best sample for testing is the whole aborted, fresh foetus and placenta. This can be sent to a lab for post-mortem and analysis."
Police are appealing for more information after four alpacas and a sheep were shot dead on a smallholding in Cambridgeshire.

The incident happened on a field in East Hatley, near Gamlingay, anytime between 6pm on Saturday to 8:30am on Sunday (22-23 March).

A fifth alpaca also received a gunshot wound to its face but survived.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary have carried out house to house enquiries, while officers are asking for anyone with information to get in contact.

The animals' owner Dawn French told the BBC that the incident was "very traumatic".

She said: We got a phone call yesterday morning saying, I think you need to come down here but be prepared, its not pretty.

We rushed down there and found four alpacas with shots to their heads, very very upsetting, very traumatic  just hideous.

Ms French also took to social media to appeal to the public for more information.

Well, what an absolutely horrific day weve just had. 4 of our lovely alpacas shot in the head and killed, one ewe... Posted by Dawn French on Sunday 23 March 2025

Sergeant Tom Nuttall, from Cambridgeshire's Rural Crime Action Team, called it a "highly distressing crime" that had caused death to defenceless animals.

"I would encourage anyone who knows anything about this offence to get in touch as soon as possible.

Anyone with information, or those who may have CCTV or dashcam footage, can help Cambridgeshire Constabulary's investigation.

This can be done online or by calling 101 quoting reference 35/20844/25. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
Almost one in five family farms have cut jobs or paused recruitment following proposed changes to agricultural property relief, new research reveals.

The study into the economic and fiscal impacts of changes to APR, commissioned by Family Business UK and conducted by CBI-Economics, is the largest to be undertaken yet.

It looks into how family farms, as well as family-owned businesses across all sectors, will respond to changes to both APR and business property relief (BPR).

Almost a quarter (23%) of family businesses and nearly one-fifth of family farms (17%) have slashed jobs or paused recruitment since the announcement.

And more than half (55%) of family-owned businesses and just below half (49%) of family farms have paused or cancelled planned investments.

They will continue to cut both investment and jobs before April 2026 when the changes to BPR and APR come into force, according to the research.

In the autumn budget last October, the government announced several reforms to APR and BPR from inheritance tax.

This includes a 1m allowance which will apply to the combined value of property that qualifies for 100% BPR or 100% APR, or both.

After the 1m allowance has been exhausted, relief will apply at a lower rate of 50% to the combined value of qualifying agricultural and business property.

The new study warns that these changes would result in more than 208,000 jobs being lost by the end of this parliament.

It also suggests that GVA, a measure of economic value, would reduce by 14.9 billion by the end of this parliament.

Neil Davy, CEO of Family Business UK, said the data showed "unequivocally the damage that is already being done to Britains family-owned businesses and farms, and the wider economy".

He said: Across every sector, decisions are being taken now to cut jobs, reduce investment and sell assets threatening the future of thousands of businesses, farms and the sustainability and security of UK farming and food production.

"Ultimately, it will be the working people, and communities right across the country, who depend on family-owned businesses and farms wholl pay the price."

The research also reveals that over one in ten (14%) of farmers plan to sell off assets or part of their farm, while 12% are seeking to sell land or shares to non-family investors.

Another one in ten (11%) of farmers have downsized farming operations since the autumn budget, and one-fifth (21%) plan to do so before April 2026.

Mr Davy warned that family farms would cutting jobs and investment in the lead up to April 2026, which would massively reduce tax revenue.

"In light of that, its vital the OBR reassesses its policy costing and revises its forecast," he said.

More than 4,000 businesses and farms across the UK took part in the research.
Hosiery, full-length stockings, and socks are essential items in the US apparel market, combining both functional and aesthetic qualities. With demand driven by seasonal fashion trends and year-round utility, these products have established a steady presence in the US market. Leading exporters include China, El Salvador, Vietnam, Pakistan, and India, each of which plays a significant role in fulfilling US consumer demand. However, as trade dynamics evolveparticularly with the imposition of tariffs on Chinathe competitive landscape for hosiery, full-length stockings, and socks could undergo significant changes. Understanding these trends is vital for anticipating future shifts in market opportunities.

Table 1: Key exporting countries and trade statistics  hosiery full-length stockings and socks to the US in CY 2024

Rising tariffs on China are reshaping the US hosiery, full-length stockings, and socks market. While China remains the dominant supplier, its cost advantage is waning. This shift is opening doors for cost-efficient players like Pakistan and India. El Salvador benefits from zero tariffs and niche specialisation, while Vietnam targets premium segments. The market is poised for realignment.

Source: TradeMap and F2F Analysis *Effective March 4, 2025

Notes: RCA (Revealed Comparative Advantage), UVR (Unit Value Realisation), LPI (Logistic Performance Index

Figure 1: Key exporting countries and trade statistics  hosiery, full-fength stockings and socks to the US in CY 2024

Source: TradeMap and F2F Analysis

Trade Review: Shifting competitive dynamics in the US hosiery, full-length stockings and socks market

China: Market leader facing tariff pressures

China continues to dominate US imports of hosiery, full-length stockings, and socks, with an export value of $1,095.28 million. Its RCA of 5.19 highlights a strong competitive position, supported by a low UVR of $7.84/kg, making it the top supplier for budget-conscious buyers.

However, China faces mounting challenges due to increased tariffs, which are gradually eroding its price advantage:

Before tariff hikes: An 18.8 per cent tariff kept Chinas UVR at an attractive $7.84/kg, allowing it to dominate the market.

An 18.8 per cent tariff kept Chinas UVR at an attractive $7.84/kg, allowing it to dominate the market. First Tariff Imposition (February 4, 2025): The tariff increased to 28.8 per cent, pushing Chinas UVR to approximately $8.62/kg, reducing its appeal to price-sensitive consumers.

The tariff increased to 28.8 per cent, pushing Chinas UVR to approximately $8.62/kg, reducing its appeal to price-sensitive consumers. Second Tariff Imposition (March 4, 2025): The tariff rose further to 38.8 per cent, raising Chinas UVR to an estimated $9.41/kg or higher.

Figure 2

Source: F2F Analysis

Despite the rising cost burden, China is unlikely to be fully displaced, as its superior logistics, economies of scale, and production efficiency continue to provide a competitive edge. However, the loss of its cost leadership could open opportunities for emerging competitorsparticularly India and Pakistanwhich are well positioned to absorb some of the displaced demand.

El Salvador: Niche player with a strong competitive edge

El Salvador, though a smaller exporter ($107.99 million), boasts a remarkably high RCA of 98.23, indicating an exceptional specialisation in the production of hosiery, stockings, and socks. It benefits from:

Zero tariff rates under the CAFTA-DR trade agreement, ensuring cost competitiveness.

A focus on high-quality and specialised products, setting it apart from mass-market suppliers like China.

A key challenge for El Salvador is its relatively low LPI of 2.70, which may limit its ability to scale up exports and meet increased demand resulting from Chinas tariff-related setbacks. However, its proximity to the US and favourable trade agreements are likely to support the sustainability and gradual expansion of its market share over time.

Vietnam: Balancing quality with cost constraints

Vietnam ranks third in exports, with $91.12 million, but its RCA of 0.39 suggests a weaker competitive position in this segment. Unlike China, Vietnam operates in a higher price bracket, reflected in its UVR of $11.04/kg, catering to premium buyers rather than cost-sensitive consumers.

Vietnam faces the same 18.8 per cent tariff, making it less competitive on price. While its focus on higher-quality, value-added products offers a niche advantage, rising tariffs may limit its ability to expand further in the US market.

Pakistan: Emerging cost-leader with strong market potential

Pakistan, with $78.37 million in exports, holds a high RCA of 31.42, indicating a significant competitive strength in this category. It also offers a moderate UVR of $8.56/kg, positioning it between Chinas low-cost offerings and Vietnams premium products.

While Pakistan also faces an 18.8 per cent tariff, its relatively lower production costs ensure it remains a viable and cost-effective alternative to China. Given Chinas rising costs, Pakistan is well positioned to capture a portion of Chinas lost market shareparticularly in the budget-friendly segment.

India: A Potential Beneficiary of Chinas Tariff Burden

India ranks fifth, with $37.79 million in exports, and holds a modest RCA of 0.91, indicating limited specialisation in this category. However, its UVR of $8.19/kg is lower than Pakistans and close to Chinas pre-tariff levels, making it a cost-effective alternative.

While India also faces an 18.8 per cent tariff, its lower production costs and growing focus on the US market could enable it to gain market share. If demand continues to shift away from China, India may be well positioned to scale up production and capture a larger portion of the cost-sensitive segment.

Outlook: Market shifts and emerging winners

The US hosiery, full-length stockings, and socks market is undergoing significant shifts due to rising tariffs on China, which are altering cost structures and trade patterns.

Key trends moving forward:

China will retain a strong market share but lose its cost leadership, prompting demand to shift towards lower-cost suppliers such as Pakistan and India.

El Salvador will strengthen its niche position, benefitting from zero tariffs and a focus on high-quality, specialised products.

Pakistan is poised to gain the most from Chinas tariff increases, offering cost-effective exports that position it as a natural alternative.

India may see rising demand as it reallocates production and expands its presence in the US market.

Vietnam will continue to serve premium buyers, but tariff pressures may constrain its growth.

Conclusion

As tariffs reshape the market landscape, Pakistan and India emerge as strong contenders, while El Salvador capitalises on its duty-free access. China is expected to maintain a dominant share but must navigate the challenge of sustaining competitiveness amid rising tariffs. The US hosiery, stockings, and socks market is poised for a major realignment, with lower-cost and trade-friendly nations positioned to benefit the most.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NS)
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) recently urged UK chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves to use her Spring Statement, to be delivered in the House of Commons tomorrow, to offer some respite as businesses are feeling battered and bruised by the heavy cost pressures looming within days.

From next week, firms face an unpalatable menu of higher national insurance (NI) and minimum wage bills, coupled with the impact of further US tariffs. There will be little escape for businesses, with our research showing 82 per cent of firms will be impacted by just the NI rise, BCC director general Shevaun Haviland said in a statement.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has urged UK chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves to use her Spring Statement to offer some respite as businesses are feeling battered and bruised by the heavy cost pressures looming within days. We want to see her outline a wider tax road map.giving firms a clearer idea of when costs will be lowered, BCC director general Shevaun Haviland said.

We want to see her outline a wider tax road map, which includes national insurance and business rates, giving firms a clearer idea of when costs will be lowered, she said.

Businesses also want to see faster movement on infrastructure development and renewed support for exports, including a UK/EU reset that removes trade barriers. Finally, the government must do all it can to minimise costs and complexity for business from the proposed Employment Rights legislation, she noted.

Businesses are key to getting the economy out of its current growth rut. The chancellor needs to pull every lever possible this week, and in the coming months, to get firms investing, recruiting and exporting, she added.

The Spring Statement updates parliament and the nation on the economy, public finances and progress against the governments economic objectives, and is accompanied by publication of an Economic and Fiscal Forecast from the office for budget responsibility.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
About No Other Land



The Israeli Palestinian documentary No Other Land is a collaboration between Palestinian activist Basel Adra and Jewish Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham. It follows the two as they navigate their people's long-standing conflict. The documentary captures Adra's resistance against the Israeli armed force's displacement of Palestinians in Masafar Yatta, a community in the West Bank. It also highlights scenes of Israeli soldiers demolishing homes and evicting residents to make way for a military training zone.





It has been co-directed by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.





Calling for a solution without ethnic supremacy, Yuval said in his acceptance speech, "There is a different path, a political solution without ethnic supremacy, with national rights for both of our people."





Another user added, "This is a grave human rights violation." Demanding an answer and accountability, another netizen commented, "This is horrifying. Hamdan Ballals bravery in exposing settler violence through No Other Land clearly struck a nervebut this attack and abduction are beyond unjust. We need answers now: where is Hamdan? The world must demand his release and hold those responsible accountable"
Hrithik Roshan. The actor is promoting his recent blockbuster Devara release in Japan. From interacting with press and signing autographs to dancing with fans on the stage and expressing his love for Japanese fans, Jr NTR is experiencing it all. Jr NTR recently took a break from the shooting of his Bollywood debut WAR 2, starring. The actor is promoting his recent blockbuster Devara release in Japan. From interacting with press and signing autographs to dancing with fans on the stage and expressing his love for Japanese fans, Jr NTR is experiencing it all.

After the global success of RRR, the makers of Devara too wanted to release the film in Japan  thanks to NTRs growing and loyal fan base. Devara is slated to release in Japan on March 28, 2025. Jr NTR and director Koratala Siva are in Japan to promote the film. The response for the recent premiere has been overwhelming and fans of the actor have been rooting for the action entertainer.

The excitement was palpable among the fans after NTR arrived in Japan. He interacted with the media, fans and also shared his experience of working for Devara. After one of the interactions, NTR excitedly danced with a fan for the blockbuster song Ayudha Pooja and recreated the signature dance move along with his fans on the stage. The crowd went berserk after seeing their favorite star in action. Jr NTR said that he enjoyed grooving with fans and said that he is grateful to the fans for all the love thats being shown. After Devara became a blockbuster in India, the actor exuded confidence that the action entertainer has the potential to recreate the magic in Japan. His fans back in India have been sharing all the videos and photos of the promotions in Japan and expressing happiness about the love thats brewing poured in. Before landing in Japan, the actor has engaged with Japanese media through virtual interviews. Jr NTR enjoys a great fan base in Japan following the super success of RRR. His attempt to release Devara in Japan is also part of the effort to build a loyal fan base in the country.

Jr NTR is presently in Japan promoting the Devara release. From interacting with press and signing autographs to dancing with fans on the stage and expressing his love for Japanese fans, Jr NTR is experiencing it all. After one of the interactions, NTR excitedly danced with a fan for the blockbuster song Ayudha Pooja and recreated the signature dance move along with his fans on the stageJr NTR recently took a break from the shooting of his Bollywood debut WAR 2, starring Hrithik Roshan. The actor is promoting his recent blockbuster Devara release in Japan. From interacting with press and signing autographs to dancing with fans on the stage and expressing his love for Japanese fans, Jr NTR is experiencing it all.
As a BCMA-targeting CAR T-cell therapy, CARVYKTI addresses a high unmet need in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma patients. With promising clinical efficacy, durable responses, and growing adoption in advanced treatment lines, CARVYKTI is poised for substantial revenue growth.

LAS VEGAS, March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's " CARVYKTI Market Size, Forecast, and Market Insight Report " highlights the details around CARVYKTI, a BCMA-directed, genetically modified autologous T-cell immunotherapy, which involves reprogramming a patient's T cells with a transgene encoding a CAR that identifies and eliminates cells that express BCMA. The report provides product descriptions, patent details, and competitor products (marketed and emerging therapies) of CARVYKTI. The report also highlights the historical and forecasted sales from 2020 to 2034 segmented into 7MM [the United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan].

Janssen's CARVYKTI (ciltacabtagene autoleucel) Overview

CARVYKTI is an autologous T-cell immunotherapy that targets B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA). It works by genetically modifying a patient's T cells with a transgene that encodes a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). This CAR helps the T cells recognize and destroy cells expressing BCMA, which is primarily found in malignant multiple myeloma B-lineage cells, late-stage B cells, and plasma cells. The CARVYKTI CAR protein includes two single-domain antibodies designed to bind strongly to human BCMA, enhancing T-cell activation, proliferation, and the destruction of target cells upon binding.

Currently, CAR-T cell therapies are only available to UK patients through clinical trials. Janssen recently decided not to proceed with seeking approval for cilta-cel (CARVYKTI) for myeloma patients in the UK through the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). This decision means cilta-cel will not be available on the NHS for now, although it remains accessible through clinical trials. Janssen's decision does not impact ongoing trials. The drug is currently being evaluated in Phase III trials: CARTITUDE-6 for frontline multiple myeloma transplant eligible vs ASCT and CARTITUDE-5 for frontline multiple myeloma TNI. In 2024, CARVYKTI generated sales of USD 963 million across the world.

CARVYKTI Dosage and Administration

CARVYKTI is administered as a single infusion containing a suspension of CAR-positive, viable T cells in one infusion bag. The recommended dosage ranges from 0.5 to 1.0  106 CAR-positive viable T cells per kilogram of body weight, with a maximum limit of 1  108 CAR-positive viable T cells per infusion.

Drug Name CARVYKTI (ciltacabtagene autoleucel) Molecule type Autologous T-cell immunotherapy Developer Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) First Approval Year US: 2022; EU: 2022; JP: 2022 Primary Indication Relapse and refractory multiple myeloma Mechanism of action BCMA directed Route of administration IV infusion

Learn more about CARVYKTI projected market size for multiple myeloma @ CARVYKTI Market Potential

CAR-T cell immunotherapy is emerging as a revolutionary treatment for multiple myeloma, offering new hope to patients who have exhausted conventional treatment options. Currently, only two CAR-T cell therapies are approved for multiple myeloma: ABECMA (idecabtagene vicleucel) from Bristol-Myers Squibb and CARVYKTI (ciltacabtagene autoleucel) from Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. Their approval highlights the potential of CAR-T therapy to transform multiple myeloma treatment.

A key advantage of CAR-T therapies is their "one-and-done" nature, requiring a single administration, unlike bispecific antibodies such as TECVAYLI and TALVEY, which need ongoing dosing. Present CAR-T therapies use a patient's own T cells (autologous), but research is underway to develop allogeneic CAR-T cells derived from healthy donors. Allogeneic therapies could offer off-the-shelf solutions, enhancing accessibility and lowering costs.

The approval of CAR-T therapies has created new opportunities for companies focused on advanced-stage multiple myeloma (fourth line and beyond). Several companies are progressing with their CAR-T candidates at different stages of development.

The CAR-T cell therapy market for multiple myeloma is expected to grow significantly between 2024 and 2034, driven by its high efficacy and potential for expanded use. Collaboration between pharmaceutical companies and research institutions, along with ongoing innovation, is expected to accelerate market growth. However, challenges such as manufacturing complexity and pricing will need to be addressed to unlock the full potential of CAR-T therapies.

Discover more about the CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma market in detail @ CAR T-cell Therapy for Multiple Myeloma Market Report

Emerging Competitors of CARVYKTI

Some of the CAR-Ts in the multiple myeloma pipeline that will give fierce competition to CARVYKTI include Anito-cel (Arcellx), PHE885 (Novartis), BMS-986393 (Bristol-Myers Squibb), Zevorcabtagene Autoleucel (CARsgen Therapeutics), and GLPG5301 (Galapagos), among others

In December 2024, Arcellx announced encouraging new data from its Phase II pivotal iMMagine-1 trial for anito-cel in multiple myeloma. The results were presented during an oral session at the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting on Monday, December 9, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. PT. Also at ASH 2024, BMS shared the first overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) results for arlo-cel in an oral presentation. The Phase I trial involved patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who had previously undergone at least three treatments, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory drug, and anti-CD38 therapy.

Among 79 patients evaluable for efficacy, with a median follow-up of 16.1 months (range: 2.8-25.2), arlo-cel showed an overall response rate (ORR) of 87%, indicating durable responses. Minimal residual disease (MRD) was assessed as an exploratory measure, with 57% (48 of 84) of MRD-evaluable patients included. Of these, 46% (22 of 48) were MRD-negative and achieved a complete response (CR) or stringent CR (sCR). Across all treated patients, 27% (23 of 84) were MRD-negative and achieved a CR. Median PFS was 18.3 months (95% CI: 11.8-21.9), while the median OS had not yet been reached.

To know more about the number of competing drugs in development, visit @ CARVYKTI Market Positioning Compared to Other Drugs

Key Milestones of CARVYKTI

In April 2024, Johnson & Johnson announced that the US FDA approved CARVYKTI (ciltacabtagene autoleucel; cilta-cel) for the treatment of adult patients with RRMM who have received at least one prior line of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent, and are refractory to lenalidomide.

announced that the US FDA approved CARVYKTI (ciltacabtagene autoleucel; cilta-cel) for the treatment of adult patients with RRMM who have received at least one prior line of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent, and are refractory to lenalidomide. In March 2024, Johnson & Johnson announced that the US FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) recommends CARVYKTI for the treatment of adult patients with RRMM who have received at least one prior line of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an immunomodulatory agent (IMiD) and who are refractory to lenalidomide.

announced that the US FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) recommends CARVYKTI for the treatment of adult patients with RRMM who have received at least one prior line of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an immunomodulatory agent (IMiD) and who are refractory to lenalidomide. In February 2024, Johnson & Johnson announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the EMA recommended the approval of a Type II variation for CARVYKTI for the earlier treatment of RRMM.

announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the EMA recommended the approval of a Type II variation for CARVYKTI for the earlier treatment of RRMM. In September 2022, Legend Biotech announced that Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) had approved CARVYKTI (ciltacabtagene autoleucel) for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, limited to cases meeting both of the following conditions including patients having no history of CAR-positive T-cell infusion therapy targeting BCMA and patients who have received three or more lines of therapies, including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, and in whom multiple myeloma has not responded to or has relapsed following the most recent therapy.

announced that Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) had approved CARVYKTI (ciltacabtagene autoleucel) for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, limited to cases meeting both of the following conditions including patients having no history of CAR-positive T-cell infusion therapy targeting BCMA and patients who have received three or more lines of therapies, including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, and in whom multiple myeloma has not responded to or has relapsed following the most recent therapy. In May 2022, Janssen announced that the European Commission (EC) granted conditional marketing authorization for CARVYKTI for the treatment of adults with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have received at least three prior therapies, including an immunomodulatory agent (IMiD), a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an anti-CD38 antibody, and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy.

announced that the European Commission (EC) granted conditional marketing authorization for CARVYKTI for the treatment of adults with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have received at least three prior therapies, including an immunomodulatory agent (IMiD), a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an anti-CD38 antibody, and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy. In February 2022, Janssen announced that the US FDA had approved CARVYKTI (ciltacabtagene autoleucel; cilta-cel) for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) after four or more prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory agent, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.

announced that the US FDA had approved CARVYKTI (ciltacabtagene autoleucel; cilta-cel) for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) after four or more prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory agent, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. In August 2020, Legend Biotech announced that the China Center for Drug Evaluation, National Medical Products Administration (CDE, NMPA) had recommended BTD for ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel; LCAR-B38M CAR-T cells) for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

announced that the China Center for Drug Evaluation, National Medical Products Administration (CDE, NMPA) had recommended BTD for ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel; LCAR-B38M CAR-T cells) for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. In December 2019, Janssen announced receipt of a BTD from the US FDA for cilta-cel.

announced receipt of a BTD from the US FDA for cilta-cel. In April 2019, the EMA granted a PRIME (PRIority MEdicines) designation for the company's investigational BCMA CAR-T therapy.

the EMA granted a PRIME (PRIority MEdicines) designation for the company's investigational BCMA CAR-T therapy. In February 2019, the US FDA granted ODD for cilta-cel (JNJ-4528), and in February 2020, the European Commission also granted orphan designation for this drug.

the US FDA granted ODD for cilta-cel (JNJ-4528), and in February 2020, the European Commission also granted orphan designation for this drug. In December 2017, Janssen entered a worldwide collaboration and license agreement with Legend Biotech to jointly develop and commercialize LCAR-B38M in multiple myeloma

Discover how CARVYKTI is shaping the multiple myeloma treatment landscape @ CARVYKTI CAR-T

CARVYKTI Market Dynamics

The market for CARVYKTI is driven by the increasing prevalence of multiple myeloma and the growing demand for innovative therapies that can address the limitations of existing treatments, such as proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs. The competitive landscape includes other BCMA-targeting therapies, such as Bristol Myers Squibb's ABECMA (idecabtagene vicleucel), which was the first BCMA-directed CAR-T therapy approved for multiple myeloma. CARVYKTI's strong clinical efficacy, coupled with its potential for long-term remission, gives it a competitive edge, but challenges related to manufacturing scalability, logistical complexities, and high treatment costs could impact its market penetration and patient accessibility.

Strategic partnerships and ongoing clinical development will play a key role in expanding CARVYKTI's market reach. Janssen and Legend Biotech are actively working to improve manufacturing processes to reduce vein-to-vein time and address supply chain bottlenecks. Furthermore, ongoing trials, such as CARTITUDE-4, are exploring CARVYKTI's use in earlier lines of therapy, which could significantly expand its patient base and market potential. If successful in earlier settings, CARVYKTI could shift the treatment paradigm for multiple myeloma and increase adoption among physicians and healthcare providers.

Despite its promising clinical profile, CARVYKTI faces challenges related to reimbursement and healthcare infrastructure. The high cost of CAR-T therapies often limits patient access, particularly in markets with strict reimbursement policies. Moreover, the complex nature of CAR-T administration, which requires specialized centers and trained personnel, adds to the barriers. However, continued clinical success, regulatory support, and improvements in manufacturing and delivery infrastructure could strengthen CARVYKTI's market position and establish it as a cornerstone therapy in the multiple myeloma treatment landscape.

Dive deeper to get more insight into CARVYKTI's strengths & weaknesses relative to competitors @ CARVYKTI Market Drug Report

Table of Contents

1 Report Introduction 2 CARVYKTI: Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) 2.1 Product Overview 2.2 Other Development Activities 2.3 Clinical Development 2.4 Clinical Trials Information 2.5 Safety and Efficacy 2.6 Product Profile 2.7 Market Assessment 2.7.1 The 7MM Analysis 2.7.1.1 Cost Assumptions and Rebate 2.7.1.2 Pricing Trends 2.7.1.3 Analogue Assessment 2.7.1.4 Launch Year and Therapy Uptake 2.7.2 The United States Market Analysis 2.7.3 EU4 and the United Kingdom Market Analysis 2.7.3.1 Germany 2.7.3.2 France 2.7.3.3 Italy 2.7.3.4 Spain 2.7.3.5 UK 2.7.4 Japan Market Analysis 2.8 Market Drivers 2.9 Market Barriers 2.10 SWOT Analysis 3 Key Cross of Marketed Competitors of CARVYKTI 4 Key Cross of Emerging Competitors of CARVYKTI

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Multiple Myeloma Pipeline Insight - 2025 report provides comprehensive insights about the pipeline landscape, pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and non-clinical stage products, and the key multiple myeloma companies, including CASI Pharmaceuticals, Carsgen Therapeutics, Cartesian Therapeutics, Gracell Biotechnology Shanghai Co., Ltd., Sorrento Therapeutics, TeneoOne, Karyopharma Therapeutics, Arcellx, Poseida Therapeutics, Ichnos Sciences, Nerviano Medical Sciences, Bristol Myers Squib, Ascentage Pharma, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Chongqing Precision Biotech Co., Ltd., CRISPR Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, IGM Biosciences, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Innovent Biologics, Keymed Biociences, Starton Therapeutics, Takeda, Fate Therapeutics, Gilead Sciences, Jiangsu Chia Tai Fenghai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Janssen Pharmaceutical, Nanjing IASO Biotechnology Co., Ltd., GPCR Therapeutics, Chimerix, among others.

About DelveInsight

DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance. Get hassle-free access to all the healthcare and pharma market research reports through our subscription-based platform PharmDelve.

Contact Us

Shruti Thakur

info@delveinsight.com

+14699457679

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082265/DelveInsight_Logo.jpg

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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Adding to the strong gains posted in the two previous sessions, stocks moved sharply higher during trading on Thursday. The Nasdaq showed a particularly strong move to the upside, reflecting strength among tech stocks.



The major averages ended the session just off their best levels of the day. The Nasdaq spiked 457.99 points or 2.7 percent to 17,166.04, the S&P 500 surged 108.91 points 2.0 percent at 5,484.77 and the Dow jumped 486.83 points or 1.2 percent to 40,093.40.



With the strong upward move, the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 finished the session t their best closing levels since the day President Donald Trump initially announced his 'reciprocal tariff' plan.



Semiconductor stocks turned in some of the market's best performances on the day, resulting in a 5.6 percent spike by Philadelphia Semiconductor Index.



Texas Instruments (TXN) and Lam Research (LRCX) helped lead the sector higher after reporting better than expected quarterly earnings.



Industry giant Intel (INTC) also posted a strong gain ahead of the release of its first quarter results after the close of today's trading.



Software and computer hardware stocks also saw significant strength, with the Dow Jones U.S. Software Index and the NYSE Arca Computer Hardware Index surging by 4.6 percent and 4.2 percent, respectively.



Outside of the tech sector, oil service stocks showed a strong move to the upside amid a modest rebound by the price of crude oil, driving the Philadelphia Oil Service Index up by 2.7 percent.



Financial, steel and retail stocks also saw considerable strength, moving higher along with most of the other major sectors.



The continued strength on Wall Street came despite comments from a Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson that partly offset optimism about a U.S.-China trade deal.



Ministry of Commerce Spokesperson He Yadong told reporters there are currently 'absolutely no negotiations on the economy and trade between China and the U.S,' according to a CNBC translation.



He added that 'all sayings' regarding progress on bilateral talks should be dismissed and said the U.S. should cancel all 'unilateral' tariffs on China if it really wants to resolve the problem.



Meanwhile, later in the day, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. may reach 'an agreement on understanding' on trade with South Korea 'as soon as next week.'



'We had a very successful bilateral meeting with the Republic of South Korea today. We may be moving faster than I thought, and we will be talking technical terms as early as next week,' Bessent said.



On the U.S. economic front, the Labor Department released a report on Thursday showing first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits edged modestly higher in the week ended April 19th.



The report said initial jobless claims crept up to 222,000, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's revised level of 216,000. Economists had expected jobless claims to rise to 221,000 from the 215,000 originally reported for the previous week.



A separate report released by the Commerce Department showed new orders for U.S. manufactured durable goods surged much more than expected in the month of March amid a spike by orders for transportation equipment.



Other Markets



In overseas trading, stock markets across the Asia-Pacific region turned in a mixed performance during trading on Thursday. Japan's Nikkei 225 Index rose by 0.5 percent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slid by 0.7 percent.



Meanwhile, the major European markets moved to the upside over the course of the session. While the German DAX Index climbed by 0.5 percent, the French CAC 40 Index increased by 0.3 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 Index inched up by 0.1 percent.



In the bond market, treasuries moved notably higher after ending the previous session roughly flat. As a result, the yield on the benchmark ten-year note, which moves opposite of its price, slumped 8.2 basis points to 4.305 percent.



Looking Ahead



Trading on Friday may be impacted by reaction to earnings news from Intel and Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL), which are among the companies releasing their quarterly results after the close of today's trading.



Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

 2025 AFX News
LG Energy Solution to supply 981MWh of grid-scale ESS batteries from 2026 to 2027

The company to deliver first grid-scale ESS batteries manufactured at its Poland facility

SEOUL, South Korea, March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Energy Solution announced today that it has signed an agreement with PGE, Poland's largest energy sector company, to supply 981MWh of grid-scale ESS batteries between 2026 and 2027.

Both companies will collaborate to establish a battery energy storage facility in Zarnowiec, Poland. PGE plans to commence the project's commercial operation in 2027.

LG Energy Solution will also provide a turnkey solution encompassing containerized battery systems, Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) services with partners in Europe.

This project will feature the first grid-scale ESS batteries to be manufactured at LG Energy Solution's production facility in Poland. The company will supply high-capacity LFP[1] long-cell batteries with enhanced energy efficiency and safety, high energy density compared to conventional LFP solutions, and Liquid Cooling technology that optimizes performance and reliability.

"This project is one of the largest ESS initiatives led by LG Energy Solution in Europe," said Hyung Kim, Head of the ESS Battery Division at LG Energy Solution. "By launching LFP-based products designed specifically for the European market and leveraging our local production capabilities, we have maximized customer value."

He continued, "We are honored to support Poland's energy transition through this agreement. Moving forward, we will continue to provide optimal solutions for our customers and accelerate the expansion of our ESS business in Europe."

As a renowned state-owned company in Poland's energy sector, PGE supplies electricity to nearly six million households, businesses, and institutions across the country.

"We are excited to enter a new era of energy storage with the construction of our first large-scale battery energy storage facility in Zarnowiec," said Dariusz Marzec, President of the Management Board of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna. "Our partnership with LG Energy Solution marks a major milestone in our commitment to advancing Poland's clean energy transition, and we look forward to strengthening our collaboration to foster sustainable growth in the region."

By bolstering LG Energy Solution's position in future public tenders for European state-owned energy companies, this project is set to expand the company's footprint in the regional grid-scale ESS market. To nurture its ESS business, the company is leveraging its "Made in Europe" manufacturing capabilities to meet the demands of European customers and governments prioritizing locally produced solutions. This strategy also seeks to enhance market presence, unlock new business opportunities, and highlight the quality and competitiveness of locally produced products.

Meanwhile, as energy security concerns continue to rise across Europe, demand for renewable energy infrastructure and ESS solutions is growing rapidly. Additionally, advancements in AI are accelerating the expansion of data centers, further driving ESS demand.

About LG Energy Solution

LG Energy Solution (KRX: 373220), a split-off from LG Chem, is a leading global manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, mobility, IT, and energy storage systems. With 30 years of experience in revolutionary battery technology and extensive research and development (R&D), the company is the top battery-related patent holder in the world with over 69,600 patents. Its robust global network, which spans North America, Europe, and Asia, includes battery manufacturing facilities established through joint ventures with major automakers. Committed to building sustainable battery ecosystem, LG Energy Solution aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its value chain by 2050, while embodying the value of shared growth and promoting diverse and inclusive corporate culture. To learn more about LG Energy Solution's ideas and innovations, visit https://news.lgensol.com.

[1] LFP: lithium iron phosphate

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lg-energy-solution-secures-grid-scale-ess-supply-agreement-in-europe-with-polands-pge-302409066.html
Key Findings:

KOCH DLE Process achieves an average lithium recovery rate of 98%

Key brine contaminants average rejection greater than 99%, resulting in low purification production costs

Industry leading Lithium Chloride concentration attained

Li:TDS ratio of up to 0.129, averaging 0.126, significantly above the target Li:TDS of 0.08, expected to lower the cost with less evaporation during the EV battery grade purification process

43,500 gallons (165,000 litres) of high purity lithium chloride was produced that meet or exceeded the specifications required by downstream processors

NEWPORT BEACH, CA / ACCESS Newswire / March 24, 2025 / Anson Resources Limited (ASX:ASN) ("Anson" or the "Company"), through its 100% owned subsidiary in the USA, A1 Lithium Inc (A1 Lithium) is pleased to announce that successful completion of the pilot program with KOCH Technology Solutions ("KTS"). The program successfully delivered all technical requirements, producing high concentration and high purity lithium chloride eluate at the onsite Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") unit from freshly extracted lithium rich brine at its Green River Lithium Project, in south-eastern Utah, USA.

The KTS DLE Process achieved an average lithium recovery rate of 98% and the rejection rates of contaminants exceeded 99%. In addition the Li:TDS averaged 0.125 significantly exceeding the industry standard Li:TDS ratio required for downstream processing of 0.08 by 57%. This will result in lower processing costs of the lithium carbonate that the company plans to produce.

Based upon these results KTS will provide to Anson/A1 Lithium "process guarantees" for a commercial scale plant of 10,000 tons per annum of lithium carbonate.

The KTS DLE plant successfully produced 43,500 gallons (165,000 litres) of high-quality eluate at the Green River, Utah, USA site, which is stored and now available for downstream processing.

Superior Containment Rejection and Recovery

The KTS DLE process test work achieved an average lithium recovery rate of 98% and a high rejection rate of the key impurities meeting or exceeding all targets. Where the DLE step rejects a higher percentage of impurities, the resulting lithium chloride solution, which is to become lithium carbonate electric vehicle (EV) grade of 99.95% purity, can be converted more efficiently. The level of rejection in the preliminary results, of the key impurities from the KTS DLE process during an optimized configuration and operation parameter were:

Executive Commentary

Anson's Executive Chairman & CEO, Mr. Bruce Richardson commented, "These results from the KTS DLE pilot program are exceptional. The industry leading Li:TDS ratio will make a significant contribution to the financial success of the Green River Lithium Project as will the very high rates of impurity rejection. The cooperation has been truly successful. Congratulations to both the KTS and A1 Lithium teams that worked so hard on this project. Anson looks forward to further collaboration with KTS as partners in the development of the Green River Lithium Project." Mr Richardson continued, "Testing of DLE process is essential to reduce commercial production risks and assists in financing a project. Anson has conducted several DLE test work programs, at different times of the year and the KTS results are a standout, not only technically but also from a cost perspective. Anson will continue to focus on these two aspects during the development of the Green River Lithium Project to maximize investor and shareholder returns."

Lithium Business Leader at Koch Technology Solutions, Garrett Krall said, "We are proud to achieve this level of brine production at an industry-leading TDS, demonstrating the capability of Li-Pro technology and its continued successful commercialization with Anson. This milestone marks a great step forward for the commercial success of DLE, and we are excited to continue supporting this Project in Utah."

Pathway to Commercialization

KTS has indicated to Anson that there is enough data from the test work to provide a "Technical Annex" that will include process guarantees for a 10,000 tpa production plant using its Li-Pro LSS technology. This is expected to be completed in a few months. A process guarantee is a key requirement in securing debt funding for the Project.

Exceptional Lithium Purity & Process Efficiency

The process achieved an average lithium recovery of 98% over the seven months of operation and generated approximately 43,500 gallons (165,000 liters) of lithium chloride at or above the specifications required by downstream processors. The eluate can now be refined and concentrated using tested and proven steps to battery grade product. The production and retention of eluate provides sufficient lithium chloride for downstream test work and final product trials.

DLE systems that produce a lithium chloride solution with a lithium-to-total dissolved solids ratio (Li:TDS) greater than 0.08 are considered as suitable for downstream processing. The lithium chloride eluate produced with the KTS DLE plant achieved a Li:TDS of up to 0.129. The average Li:TDS of 0.126 achieved over the program, is a 57% improvement relative to the target Li:TDS ratio of 0.08.

A high Li:TDS ratio has positive implications for the costs of the lithium purification process step. A higher ratio equates to a lower amount of water to be removed (evaporated) prior to lithium carbonate precipitation. Less evaporation requires less energy to reduce the volume of eluate and increase the concentration of lithium prior to carbonation.

The brine samples were assayed on site at Green River with the Company's ICP machine due to allow for continuous sampling and quick turnaround of assay results required to continually fine tune the DLE process. These assay results were then confirmed by independent third-party off-site laboratories.

During the seven-month continuous operating period (August 2024 to February 2025) onsite, the KTS DLE plant successfully produced 43,500 gallons (165,000 litres) of high-quality eluate at Green River.

The seven months of DLE test work allowed Anson and KTS to fine-tune the process control steps, identifying the optimal balance for lithium recovery, impurity removal, water usage, and lithium concentration under various climate conditions, including temperatures below freezing. This critical data will support the operation of the production plant, ensuring its efficiency throughout the year in diverse environmental conditions.

Downstream of the DLE process, the LiCl solution which can be efficiently purified via standard ion exchange (IX) resins will be processed by various technologies to further remove the low concentrations of the unwanted impurities (e.g. calcium, potassium, magnesium, and boron). The pilot plant has shown a proven ability to produce LiCl solutions suitable as feedstock for this purification process.

This announcement has been authorized for release by the Executive Chairman and CEO and reviewed & contributed to by KOCH Technology Solutions (KTS).

About Anson Resources Ltd

Anson Resources (ASX:ASN) is an ASX-listed mineral resources company with a portfolio of minerals projects in key demand-driven commodities. Its core assets are the Green River and Paradox Lithium Project in Utah, in the USA. Anson is focused on developing these assets into a significant lithium producing operations. The Company's goal is to create long-term shareholder value through the discovery, acquisition and development of natural resources to meet the demand of tomorrow's new energy and technology markets.

For further information please contact:

Bruce Richardson

Executive Chairman and CEO

E: Info@AnsonResources.com

Will Maze

Head of Investor Relations

E: Investors@AnsonResources.com

Ph: +1 949-508-7834

www.AnsonResources.com

Follow us on Twitter @Anson_ir

Subscribe to Anson Resources News: Click Here

SOURCE: Anson Resources
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 24, 2025) - MYND Life Sciences Inc. (CSE: MYND) ("MYND" or the "Company") announced on March 3, 2025, the Company was granted a management cease trade order (MCTO) under the National Policy 12-203 of the Canadian Securities Administrators ("NP 12-203") imposed against certain insiders of the Company. The MCTO was granted as the Company had been advised by its external auditors (the "Auditors") that they will not be in a position to complete their work on the Company's annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended October 31, 2024 (the "2024 Financial Statements") prior to the filing deadline of February 28, 2025 (the "Annual Filing Deadline"), due to a delay in finalizing the required financial documents due to significant restructuring of the Company's debt and equity. As a result, the Company will not be able to file the 2024 Financial Statements, accompanying Management Discussion & Analysis and CEO and CFO certifications, and the Annual Information Form (collectively, the "2024 Annual Filings") prior to the Annual Filing Deadline as required under applicable Canadian securities laws. The Company has made arrangements to complete and file the 2024 Financial Statements prior to the April 29, 2025 deadline. Accordingly, subsequent to the Annual Filing Deadline, the Company will be in default of its continuous disclosure obligations under applicable Canadian securities laws and placed on the defaulting issuers list of the British Columbia Securities Commission ("BCSC").

In accordance with the alternative information guidelines set out in National Policy 12-203- Management Cease Trade Orders ("NP 12-203") MYND is giving the following update:

On March 1, 2025, the Company announced that it applied for a management cease trade order ("MCTO") with the applicable securities regulatory authorities in Canada on the basis that the Company would be unable to file its Annual Audited Financial Statement, the Required Filing, for the year ended October 31, 2024 by the applicable filing deadlines. The MCTO was issued on March 1, 2025 and restricts all trading in securities of the Company, whether direct or indirect, by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. The MCTO does not affect the ability of other shareholders of the Company to trade their securities.

The Company's management continues to work diligently to complete the Required Filing and anticipates that the Required Filing will be filed by April 29, 2025.

The Company confirms that since the date of the Original Announcement: (i) other than as described above, there has been no material change to the information set out in the Original Announcement 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 will make further announcements with respect to the status of the 2024 Annual Filings as and when appropriate.

ABOUT MYND LIFE SCIENCES INC.

MYND Life Sciences Inc. is a medical biotech drug research and development company focused on neuro-pharmaceutical and novel psilocybin drug development, and diagnostics. MYND is developing new biological entities (NBEs) and new chemical entities (NCEs) and differentiates itself from other (bio)pharmaceutical companies by unique molecular concepts for the applications of Psilocybins for overcoming disease. The Company advances pharmaceutical developments through rigorous science and clinical trials while diligently patenting and safeguarding its intellectual property.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245937

SOURCE: MYND Life Sciences Inc.
Temas Resources Corp. ("Temas" or the "Company") (CSE:TMAS)(OTCQB:TMASF) is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced non-brokered private placement for cumulative gross proceeds of $525,500.25 from the sale of up to 7,006,669 units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of C$0.075 per Unit. Previously, the Company announced that it intends to complete non-brokered private placements for cumulative gross proceeds of up to C$500,000 from the sale of up to 6,666,666 Units of the Company at a price of C$0.075 per Unit, with 2,000,000 Units being offered under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption offering (the "LIFE Offering") and 4,666,666 Units being offered under the concurrent private placement offering (the "Concurrent Offering"). However, the Company has since ceased its LIFE Offering. Due to significant demand in the Concurrent Offering, it has been oversubscribed, and the Company has increased the aggregate financing size to $525,500.25.

Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a "Unit Share") and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of C$0.18 at any time on or before March 24, 2026, provided that if the closing price of the common shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") is equal to or greater than $0.22 for a period of 5 consecutive trading days (the "Triggering Event"), the Company may, within 5 days of the Triggering Event, accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by disseminating a press release, and in which case the Warrants will expire on the 10th day after the date on which such press release is disseminated. No commissions or fees were paid in connection with the Concurrent Offering.

Mr. S. Kyler Hardy, a director of the Company, indirectly acquired 4,000,002 Units for a total consideration of $300,000.15. The participation of a director or an insider of the Company, 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 Company has determined that the director's participation in the Concurrent Offering is 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)(a), respectively, of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the Units purchased nor the consideration paid by him exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the expected closing of the Concurrent Offering as the participation by the director was not settled until shortly prior to closing and the Company wished to close on an expedited basis for sound business reasons. The private placement was previously approved by the disinterested directors of the Company. No special committee was established in connection with the transaction, and no materially contrary view was expressed or made by any director.

The Units are subject to a 4 month and one day hold period from the date of issue. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Concurrent Offering for general working capital purposes and marketing. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Early Warning Report

Immediately prior to the closing of the Concurrent Offering, S. Kyler Hardy owned 2,846,576 common shares of the Company representing 10.68% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. Immediately following the closing, S. Kyler Hardy now owns 6,846,578 common shares, which represents 20.34% of the issued and outstanding common shares on a non-diluted basis and 28.80% on a partially diluted basis, assuming the 4,000,002 Warrants are exercised and converted to common shares.

This news release is being issued pursuant to National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues, persons who wish to obtain a copy of the early warning report to be filed by S. Kyler Hardy in connection with this Concurrent Offering herein may obtain a copy of such reports from www.sedarplus.ca or by contacting the person named below.

About Temas Resources

Temas Resources Corp. (CSE:TMAS)(OTCQB:TMASF) is advancing the 208.5Mt inferred @ 16.7% TiO2 Eq La Blache Titanium project in Quebec. La Blache has a current Preliminary Economic Assessment (the "PEA") showing C$6.6Bn NPV8 post tax, 60.8% IRR over a 14-year mine life. The critical metals the Company is exploring for are key to our national mineral independence. Additionally, the Company owns a suite of advanced green mineral processing technologies which it is applying to its projects. The suite of technologies reduces the environmental impact and carbon footprint of metal extraction through advanced processing and patented leaching technologies.

All public filings for the Company can be found on the SEDAR+ website www.sedarplus.ca. For more information about the Company, please visit www.temasresources.com.

For further information or investor relations inquiries:

Tim Fernback

President and CEO

timf@temasresources.com

Tel: (604) 340-3774

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain information contained in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information", within the meaning of Canadian legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur", "be achieved" or "has the potential to". Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company cannot give any assurance that they will prove correct. Since forward looking statements address future events and conditions, they involve inherent assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of assumptions, factors and risks. These assumptions and risks include, but are not limited to, assumptions and risks associated with mineral exploration generally and results from anticipated and proposed exploration programs, conditions in the equity financing markets, and assumptions and risks regarding receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals. Management has provided the above summary of risks and assumptions related to forward-looking statements in this press release in order to provide readers with a more comprehensive perspective on the Company's future operations. The Company's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits the Company will derive from them. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: market conditions and other risk factors listed from time to time in our reports filed with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and Temas Resources Corp. disclaim 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 expressly required by applicable securities legislation.

SOURCE: Temas Resources Corp.
Harnessing AI and Cloud Technology to Enhance Security and Strengthen Global Competitiveness

TAIPEI, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- VIVOTEK (TWSE: 3454), the global leading security solution provider, has been committed to safeguarding communities and building a sustainable future since its founding in 2000. With "Care" as its core value, the company integrates cutting-edge security technologies to foster a safer and more sustainable world. Marking its 25th anniversary, VIVOTEK has unveiled its anniversary slogan, "MAKE TOMORROW EASIER, TODAY!" along with a refreshed brand identity, emphasizing its focus on AI and cloud-driven solutions. VIVOTEK aims to simplify security by leveraging advanced technology, empowering customers to embrace a safer and more seamless future. As a key highlight of its 25th anniversary, VIVOTEK will showcase its latest AI-powered security innovations-integrated with Vision Language Model-at ISC West 2025, the largest international security trade show in the U.S., this April, ushering in a new era of intelligent security solutions.

"From a humble startup with fewer than 10 employees to a global enterprise with around 1,300 team members and a presence in over 100 countries, VIVOTEK has been at the forefront of the security industry's evolution-from analog to digital, IoT, cloud and AI. With 'Care' as our driving force, we are dedicated to fulfilling the fundamental human need for security. Moving forward, we will continue to strengthen our AI and cloud capabilities, working hand in hand with our customers and partners to build a sustainable future." said VIVOTEK President Alex Liao. To commemorate its 25th anniversary, VIVOTEK is launching a global campaign under the theme "MAKE TOMORROW EASIER, TODAY!" The company is also reviving its partner event -its first post-pandemic distributor gathering-bringing together hundreds of partners in Taiwan to experience VIVOTEK's vision, explore key security technologies and discuss global market strategies.

VIVOTEK understands its customers' need for enhanced security efficiency. It has integrated its full range of AI-powered cameras, AI-driven video analytics and AI-Powered cloud surveillance platform VORTEX into a hybrid cloud solution. The number of connected VORTEX cameras has surpassed 10,000, enabling businesses to achieve greater efficiency, flexibility and security while maximizing cost-effectiveness and security performance. Regarding vertical market strategy, VIVOTEK prioritizes Smart Cities, Smart Transportation and Smart Manufacturing while also expanding into retail, education and sustainability sectors, bringing its AI-driven solutions to a global audience.

Beyond technological innovation and market expansion, VIVOTEK remains committed to corporate social responsibility and sustainable development. The company actively promotes green transformation and carbon reduction initiatives, develops energy-efficient products and strongly emphasizes community engagement. VIVOTEK has organized the "Safety Map Sustainability Event" for four consecutive years, enhancing local neighborhoods, mental retardation training services institution, elementary school and historic village to improve community safety and environmental sustainability. With these efforts, VIVOTEK is paving its path toward becoming the world's most trusted smart security brand.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2649114/VIVOTEK_celebrates_its_25th_anniversary_with_the_launch_of_its_anniversary_slogan___MAKE_TOMORROW_EA.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/vivotek-celebrates-25th-anniversary-partnering-with-the-world-to-shape-a-smarter-and-more-sustainable-future-for-security-302409927.html
Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - Atua AI (TUA), the decentralized AI productivity platform, has introduced major upgrades to its automation stack, aligning its capabilities with the evolving demands of enterprise users in the AI and Web3 space. The platform's refined stack is designed to support more complex workloads, enhance workflow reliability, and deliver increased efficiency for decentralized business processes.

Smarter automation powered by decentralized intelligence

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8833/245933_05e1bf1d94e7fbf0_001full.jpg

The new automation framework includes upgrades across key Atua AI tools such as Chat, Writer, and Classifier, integrating enterprise-focused APIs and advanced machine learning modules. These improvements make it easier for organizations to deploy AI-powered automation in areas like customer engagement, real-time data analysis, smart content generation, and secure communication-all while benefiting from the transparency and immutability of blockchain technology.

Atua AI's scalable architecture now allows large teams to customize workflows, set intelligent triggers, and manage multi-chain operations through a single, unified interface. The updated stack also introduces enhanced access control, analytics tracking, and workload balancing, giving enterprises the tools they need to safely operate AI-driven systems at scale. TUA tokens serve as the utility layer for accessing premium automation features, making the token even more valuable in enterprise ecosystems.

With its enterprise-grade refinements, Atua AI reaffirms its commitment to delivering practical, intelligent tools that adapt to real-world business needs. These upgrades ensure that companies can rely on the platform not just for innovation-but also for performance, scalability, and security across every step of their AI journey.

About Atua AI

Atua AI offers AI-powered productivity and creativity tools in the Web3 space. Its features include Chat, Writer, Imagine, Voiceover, and Classifier-all designed to empower users with intelligent, decentralized solutions for content creation, coding, analysis, and more.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245933

SOURCE: Kaj Labs
Clareon Vivity IOL provides an extended range of vision from distance to functional near with a monofocal visual disturbance profile 1-3

Vivity, the world's leading EDOF, is now available on Alcon's Clareon material, providing presbyopia correction with exceptional clarity and predictable refractive outcomes 1,4-7

CE Marked countries will begin commercial rollout of Clareon Vivity and Clareon Vivity Toric from early Q2 2025; also available in AutonoMe automated pre-loaded delivery system in Q3 20258

Regulatory News:

Alcon (SIX/NYSE: ALC), the global leader in eye care dedicated to helping people see brilliantly, today announced that Vivity, the most widely implanted9 extended depth of focus (EDOF) intraocular lens (IOL), is now available on Alcon's most advanced lens material-Clareon.1 Clareon Vivity received CE Mark and will commence commercial rollout in Europe from early Q2 2025.

"Cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss globally10, and in Germany alone, 10 million patients are affected by cataracts.11 Due to advancements in cataract surgery and increased awareness of its safety and benefits, my practice has seen a growing number of middle-aged patients seeking early treatment," said Prof. Dr. Ramin Khoramnia, Director of the University Eye Clinic in Dresden. "Many of these patients are still working, very active, and want high-quality vision for both distance and intermediate tasks. With Clareon Vivity, I can provide my patients a presbyopia-correcting IOL, significantly reducing their need for glasses.12

Vivity's compelling real-world outcomes demonstrate that patients with certain mild comorbidities-such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinopathy/maculopathy, glaucoma, and dry eye-as well as those with post-refractive eyes, can successfully receive presbyopia-correcting IOLs. The study further reported high patient satisfaction rates of over 90% across these diverse eye condition groups.12

"Clareon Vivity will broaden my presbyopia correction offering to more patients, including those with ocular comorbidities like glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), or dry eyes.13 Clareon Vivity's broad range of dioptres and cylinders will help me address mild, moderate and high refractive error patients with a PCIOL,1" said Dr. Merce Guarro, CEO Instituto de Oftalmologia Medica y Quirurgica OMIQ Head of Ophthalmology Department at Hospital Granollers. "Clareon Vivity is an excellent lens option that improves vision with a visual disturbance profile of a monofocal IOL, giving my patients the freedom to engage in activities they love, both during the day and at night."

Clareon is a pristine material with one of the lowest levels of haze and glistenings compared to leading competitor IOLs, marking a significant advancement for surgeons and patients. 7,14,15 Clareon offers sharp, crisp vision with a proprietary edge designed to help reduce glare and posterior capsular opacification.6 The lens' unique and proven STABLEFORCE Haptics provide excellent axial and rotational stability.5

"When we created Vivity, our goal was to develop an innovative lens that would minimize patients' reliance on glasses and simplify presbyopia correction for surgeons. We achieved this by designing a real EDOF lens, which has quickly become the world's most implanted EDOF. This lens is now available in our most advanced biomaterial to date, Clareon,1" said Sunil Vasanth, Vice President Surgical Franchise, Europe.

Clareon Vivity leverages a wavefront-shaping optical principle, trademarked as X-WAVE Technology, and uses proprietary transition elements to create advanced and delayed wavefronts, resulting in a continuously extended focal range.1-3? When compared to an aspheric monofocal, Clareon Vivity reduced spectacle dependence, provided comparable distance vision, and improved intermediate and near vision while maintaining overall mesopic contrast sensitivity. About 90% of the Vivity patients are highly satisfied with their visual outcomes and would choose a Vivity IOL again, and more than 9 in 10 patients said they would recommend Vivity to their friends and family.12

Now with the CE Mark of Clareon Vivity and Clareon Vivity Toric, surgeons in Europe have access to the full range of Clareon IOLs to meet the diverse needs of their patients, including Clareon Monofocal, Clareon Toric, Clareon PanOptix and Clareon PanOptix Toric all available in ultraviolet absorbing and blue light filtering foldable options.1,16,17 Clareon Vivity is inserted using Clareon Monarch IV, an easy-to-use, reusable manual delivery system, and is also available in the AutonoMe Automated Pre-Loaded Delivery System.8,18

For more information about Clareon Vivity and Clareon Vivity Toric, please visit MyAlcon.comor speak to your sales representative within Europe.

About Cataracts

A cataract is a cloudy area in the natural lens of the eye that affects vision. As a cataract develops, the eye's lens gradually becomes hard and cloudy, allowing less light to pass through, which makes it more difficult to see. Most cataracts result from normal aging, but radiation exposure, steroid use, diabetes and eye trauma can accelerate their development.10,19 Cataracts are the most common age-related eye condition and the leading cause of preventable blindness.20 Cataracts are treated by removing the eye's cloudy natural lens and surgically replacing it with an intraocular lens (IOL). More than 92% of cataract surgeries are considered successful, and patients typically return to their normal routines within 24 hours.19,21

About Vivity

The non-diffractive Clareon Vivity Extended Vision Hydrophobic Posterior Chamber IOLs (referred to as Clareon Vivity) and AcrySof IQ Vivity Extended Vision Posterior Chamber Intraocular Lens Model DFT015 (referred to as AcrySof IQ Vivity IOL) are UV-absorbing and blue-light-filtering foldable intraocular lenses (IOLs). Vivity IOL provides an extended range of vision from distance to near, with low levels of visual disturbances.

Potential side effects: As with any surgery, there is an implicit risk, whether or not the IOL is implanted. The complications of the IOL implantation surgery ranges from minor side effects (usually temporary) to serious complications.1 Patients with previous illnesses or disorders (such as chronic infections of the eye or eyelids, or diabetes) may present a higher risk of complications. Temporary surgical complications include, but are not limited to, reactions to medications such as irritation or mild allergic response, bleeding, redness, itching of the eye, sensitivity to light, swelling, corneal edema (swelling of the cornea), problems with the iris, cell growth in the IOL, and an increase temporary eye pressure. There is a small risk of needing further surgical treatment after the implantation of the initial IOL.1

Careful preoperative evaluation and sound clinical judgment should be used by the surgeon to decide the benefit/risk ratio before implanting a lens in a patient with ocular comorbidities as indicated in the IFU.

About Alcon

Alcon helps people see brilliantly. As the global leader in eye care with a heritage spanning over 75 years, we offer the broadest portfolio of products to enhance sight and improve people's lives. Our Surgical and Vision Care products touch the lives of more than 260 million people in over 140 countries each year living with conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and refractive errors. Our more than 25,000 associates are enhancing the quality of life through innovative products, partnerships with Eye Care Professionals and programs that advance access to quality eye care. Learn more at www.alcon.com.

Results from a prospective, randomized, parallel group, subject- and assessor-masked, multisite trial of 107 subjects bilaterally implanted with the AcrySof IQ Vivity IOL and 113 with the AcrySof IQ IOL with 6 months follow-up.

AcrySof IQ Vivity was tested. Clinical studies were performed on the AcrySof IQ Vivity IOL; AcrySof IQ Vivity and Clareon Vivity are optically equivalent.

Response to the following question in IOLSAT questionnaire at 6 months post-op (AcrySof IQ Vivity IOL, n=106; monofocal, n=111): "Given your vision today, would you have the same lenses implanted again?"

Glistening-free is defined as modified Miyata grade 0, <25mv/mm2

Based on in vitro examinations of glistenings, surface haze and SSNGs; as compared to Clareon CNA0T0, TECNIS ZCB00, TECNIS OptiBlue, Eternity W-60 and enVista MX60; n=30 per group; p<.001

Both AcrySof and Clareon are designed with STABLEFORCE Haptics

Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

References

Clareon Vivity Extended Vision Hydrophobic IOL CE Mark DFU. Alcon Data on File. US Patent 9968440 B2. 15 May 2018. Bala C, et al. Multi-country clinical outcomes of a new nondiffractive presbyopia-correcting intraocular lens. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2022;48(2):136-143. Werner L, Thatthamla I, Ong M, et al. Evaluation of clarity characteristics in a new hydrophobic acrylic IOL in comparison to commercially available IOLs. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2019;45(10):1490-1497. doi:10.1016/j.jcrs.2019.05.017. Lane S, et al. Evaluation of intraocular lens mechanical stability. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2019;45:501-506. Das KK, et al. In vitro and schematism eye assessment of glare or positive dysphotopsia-type photic phenomena: Comparison of a new material IOL to other monofocal IOLs. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2019;45(2):219-227. Doi: 10.1016/j.jcrs.2018.09.017. Epub 2018 Nov 22. PMID: 30471850. Oshika T, Fujita Y, Inamura M, Miyata K. Mid-term and long-term clinical assessments of a new 1-piece hydrophobic acrylic IOL with hydroxyethyl methacrylate. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2020;46(5):682-687. Clareon Vivity Extended Vision Hydrophobic IOL with the AutonoMe CE Mark Directions for Use. Alcon Data on File, 2024. World Health Organization. Cataract. Available at: https://www.emro.who.int/health-topics/cataract/. Accessed: September 2022. Strohlein LM. Cataracts When vision becomes cloudy. Informationsdienst Wissenschaft (idw). January 8, 2019. Accessed June 13, 2023. https://idw-online.de/de/news720054. Alcon Research LLC. Data on File. 2024. Alcon Research LLC. Data on File. 2022. Alcon Data on File, 2020. Stanojcic N, O'Brart D, Hull C, et al. Visual and refractive outcomes and glistenings occurrence after implantation of 2 hydrophobic acrylic aspheric monofocal IOLs. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2020;46(7):986-994. Clareon Aspheric Hydrophobic Acrylic IOL Directions for Use. Clareon PanOptix Trifocal UV Absorbing IOL Directions for Use. Clareon Monarch IV IOL Delivery System Proposed Instructions for Use. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Cataracts in Adults: Management. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29106797/. Accessed: June 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vision Health Initiative. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/vision-health/about-eye-disorders/. Accessed: February 14, 2025. Cataract Surgery Recovery: 8 Tips to Minimize Recovery Time. Allaboutvision.com. Published 2019. Available at: https://www.allaboutvision.com/treatments-and-surgery/vision-surgery/cataract/cataract-surgery-recovery/. Accessed March 15, 2025.

For indications, contraindications and warnings please refer to the relevant product's instructions for use.

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Contacts:

Media Relations

Steven Smith

+ 41 589 112 111 (Geneva)

+ 1 817 551 8057 (Fort Worth)

globalmedia.relations@alcon.com

Investor Relations

Daniel Cravens, Allen Trang

+ 41 589 112 110 (Geneva)

+ 1 817 615 2789 (Fort Worth)

investor.relations@alcon.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - Bitpulse.ca has officially launched, offering hands-on cybersecurity and compliance services built for the realities of today's threat landscape. Founded by well-experienced cybersecurity professionals and AML Incubator's team, Bitpulse is designed to meet the growing demand for clear, actionable, and regulator-aligned cybersecurity solutions.

AML Incubator announced the launch of Bitpulse Cyber to serve the fintech community with specialized cyber security services

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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From Compliance to Cybersecurity

Bitpulse was created to fill a gap in the market with trusted cybersecurity leadership for companies operating in regulated, fast-moving environments. While AML Incubator has helped fintech companies navigate regulatory frameworks, Bitpulse brings that same level of practical, outsourced, and fractional services execution to cybersecurity.

Services include:

CISO-as-a-Service - Businesses can access top-tier Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) expertise without the overhead of a full-time hire. The CISO-as-a-Service offering from Bitpulse ensures strategic cybersecurity leadership, compliance oversight, and risk management to maintain security and resilience.

Managed Defense and Compliance - Comprehensive security and regulatory compliance solutions are provided, including SOC 2, ISO, and Canadian regulatory certifications. Bitpulse's managed defense services ensure continuous monitoring, proactive threat mitigation, and adherence to industry security standards.

Web3 and Web2 Risk Assessments, Penetration Tests, Audits - Organizations can identify and address vulnerabilities across Web3 and Web2 environments with comprehensive risk assessments, penetration testing, and security audits. These services help safeguard applications, smart contracts, and networks from exploits and breaches.

Incident Response - Cyber threats are mitigated efficiently with Bitpulse's rapid-response cybersecurity team. The team investigates, contains, and remediates incidents, enabling businesses to recover quickly while strengthening defenses against future attacks.

Built for Fintech, Blockchain, and High-Stakes Environments

Bitpulse was built for companies where the cost of failure is high. From securing digital assets to preparing for regulator scrutiny, Bitpulse delivers straightforward services with real impact.

"Too many companies are stuck between off-the-shelf cybersecurity tools and expensive consultants who don't understand the industry. Bitpulse exists to fix that," stated by the Head of Business Development, Haik Kazarian.

About Bitpulse

Bitpulse.ca is a cybersecurity company based in Vancouver, Canada. It provides CISO-level guidance, managed security services, and audit support for startups, fintech firms, and blockchain enterprises that need to move fast-without compromising on security or compliance.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245958

SOURCE: AML Incubator Ltd.
DUBAI, UAE, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- XRP Healthcare, a fast-growing innovator in AI-driven healthcare and mergers & acquisitions, has announced it will be a public company by Q3 2025.

The company today confirmed it is accelerating its initial public offering (IPO) timeline, moving the planned listing date from 2027 to the third quarter of this year on a Canadian stock exchange.

This bold move is designed to fast-track the company's expansion strategy, unlock new investment opportunities, and cement its position as a global leader in healthcare transformation.

This decision follows a series of high-impact developments, including the acquisition of Pharma Ville, a pharmacy chain with five wholesale and two retail locations across Uganda.

The acquisition gives XRP Healthcare direct access to vital pharmaceutical and medical infrastructure and establishes a firm foothold in Africa's projected USD 259 billion healthcare market.

The IPO is being guided by ARC Group, a globally recognized capital markets advisory firm.

Abraham Cinta, CEO of ARC Group, commented in an exclusive interview featured in XRP Healthcare's Special Edition Magazine:

"The spotlight of being a public company is immense, and it could transform their business exponentially, perhaps by a factor of 10 or even 100."

Charles Chong, Vice President of EMEA Capital Markets at ARC Group, added:

"Listing in Canada is just one of many strategic steps. The long-term vision includes a U.S. listing within five years to increase investor exposure and global market visibility."

Whitney Lynn, Chairman of XRP Healthcare, who brings over 45 years of M&A experience with more than $10 billion in value creation, emphasized:

"XRP Healthcare is at a pivotal moment. With our IPO process several months in motion, we're on track to become a publicly listed company before September. We're accelerating our M&A strategy-starting with the acquisition of our pharmacy chain in Uganda."

Following the Pharma Ville acquisition, XRP Healthcare has forged key partnerships with top-tier pharmaceutical and healthcare providers, strengthening its distribution and operational footprint across Africa:

Incepta Pharmaceuticals - Generics and vaccines

Ascensia Diabetes Care - Diabetes management

Universal Corporation - Global supplier of leaf tobacco for medical applications

Naari - Women's health pharmaceutical products

Amanta Healthcare - Sterile injectables and IV infusions

Marie Stopes Uganda - Reproductive health and family planning

Medrull - Wound care and first-aid solutions

Toros Group - High-quality pharmaceutical distribution

Additionally, XRP Healthcare has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement across Africa with Isansys Lifecare, led by CTO Keith Errey, for the deployment of the Patient Status Engine (PSE). This fully wireless, regulated medical platform integrates advanced sensors, deep learning, and predictive analytics to enable earlier interventions, home-based care, and paperless wards. PSE is poised to revolutionize care delivery across the continent by relieving pressure on overburdened hospitals and healthcare staff.

Supporting this vision is the XRPH AI App, a global multilingual digital health assistant now available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Designed to improve access to care, the app provides AI-generated medical guidance, localized in multiple languages, making it a vital tool in regions where healthcare infrastructure is limited.

Recent updates include an image upload feature for AI-assisted analysis of visible symptoms such as rashes, swelling, and fungal nails. A "Doctor Search & Connect" feature is set to launch next quarter, allowing users to access licensed medical professionals in their area.

By bridging healthcare access gaps worldwide, the XRPH AI App positions XRP Healthcare at the forefront of consumer-driven digital health innovation.

With trademark protection secured in the United Kingdom, European Union, UAE, and Uganda, XRP Healthcare is creating a defensible and recognizable brand in digital healthcare.

The company's rapid expansion model is particularly suited to Africa, where 57% of Uganda's 46 million people depend on private for-profit facilities, and where over 6,000 fragmented providers operate.

Laban Roomes, COO, stated:

"Pharma Ville was more than a nationwide acquisition - it's a strategic cornerstone in our plan to accelerate our IPO, with five wholesale and two retail pharmacies in Uganda secured. We've built the foundation for scale and are on track to list before autumn, unlocking capital to drive regional expansion and transform healthcare delivery across Africa."

Kain Roomes, CEO, added:

"Africa's private healthcare sector represents 50% of total service delivery. Our model consolidates and modernizes this landscape, increasing access and quality. The IPO allows us to accelerate our mission."

XRP Healthcare has plans to expand into other parts of East Africa, such as Kenya and Rwanda, using the legal, operational, and regulatory frameworks already established in Uganda.

About XRP Healthcare

XRP Healthcare is a pioneering AI and M&A-focused healthcare company dedicated to consolidating and modernizing healthcare systems across emerging markets, starting in Africa. Through acquisitions, digital innovation, and strategic partnerships, XRP Healthcare delivers accessible, high-quality medical solutions that create long-term impact and scalable returns.

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Regulatory News:

The investors CSR digital event held on March 25, 2025, is the opportunity for Legrand (Paris:LR) to launch its 6th CSR roadmap for the period 2025-2027. In the presence of Benoit Coquart, CEO, Virginie Gatin, EVP CSR and Franck Lemery, CFO, this event is broadcast live and will be available for replay on the Group's website www.legrandgroup.com.

A commitment built on 5 pillars until 2027

Fully integrated into the Group's performance and value-creation strategy, and considered a decisive competitive advantage, this ambitious roadmap sets out Legrand's CSR priorities for the next 3 years. It is broken down into 5 pillars:

- Promoting diversity and inclusion, including aiming for:

a rate of 35% of management positions (Hay Grade 14 and above) held by women, i.e. an increase of almost 15% compared with 2024,

4,000 new opportunities offered annually to early-in-careers,

- Mitigating climate change, in line with the Group's SBTi commitment, through:

a reduction of -10% in the Group's direct and indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Scopes 1&2) compared to 2024 levels,

an average reduction of -30% in the GHG emissions of our suppliers' operations representing 70% of emissions related to purchased goods (Scope 3),

- Developing a more circular economy, with initiatives such as:

focusing on product eco-design, to achieve 50% of projects of new or redesigned product ranges meeting Legrand's eco-design index criteria,

using over 1/3 of sustainable materials, including recycled materials, in products manufactured by the Group,

- Serving our customers, with objectives including:

enabling our customers to avoid the emission of 20 million tons of CO2 over the 3 years of the roadmap,

providing a top-notch customer experience, with a satisfaction rate of 80% (CSAT) and a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 50,

- Being a responsible business, including:

committing to reducing the rate of accidents with and without stoppage by 20%, now also including temporary workers (FR2t rate),

increasing employability and developing skills, with 90% of employees receiving 10 hours of training by 2027.

2030 ambitions

Legrand's 6th CSR roadmap is fully aligned with its 2030 ambitions, which, in addition to the financial ambitions presented in September 20242, aim to:

reach 1/3 of key management positions (Hay Grade 20 and above) held by women (vs. 27.8% in 2024),

- reduce GHG emissions by -42% for Scopes 1&2 and by -25% for Scope 33,

- eliminate 100% of plastics in primary and secondary Legrand packaging,

- enable its customers to avoid the emission of 70 million tons of CO2 through its energy efficiency products and services (Scope 4) between 2020 and 2030,

- ensure 80% of its revenue is generated from eco-responsible solutions4

Mobilizing all its employees as well as its ecosystem of customers and suppliers, this new CSR roadmap reflects Legrand's determination to build a more sustainable future.

1 CSR:Corporate Social Responsibility

2 For more information, see Legrand's documents published in the following section: Capital Markets Day 2024 Legrand

3 At current scope compared to 2022

4 Sales of energy-efficient products and products covered by product sustainability profiles (PSP)

The detailed presentation, shared during the event, as well as the link to the webcast and the Q&A session are available on the Legrand website at CSR Capital Markets Day 2025 Legrand.

Key financial dates :

2025 first-quarter results: May 7, 2025

"Quiet period 5 " starts: April 7, 2025

"Quiet period " starts: April 7, 2025 General Meeting of Shareholders: May 27, 2025

Ex-dividend date: May 29, 2025

Dividend payment: June 2, 2025

2025 first-half results: July 31, 2025

"Quiet period1" starts: July 1, 2025

About Legrand

Legrand is the global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for residential, commercial, and datacenter markets makes it a benchmark for customers worldwide.

The Group harnesses technological and societal trends with lasting impacts on buildings with the purpose of improving life by transforming the spaces where people live, work and meet with electrical, digital infrastructures and connected solutions that are simple, innovative and sustainable.

Drawing on an approach that involves all teams and stakeholders, Legrand is pursuing a strategy of profitable and responsible growth driven by acquisitions and innovation, with a steady flow of new offerings that include products with enhanced value in use (energy and digital transition solutions: datacenters, digital lifestyles and energy transition offerings).

Legrand reported sales of 8.6 billion in 2024. The company is listed on Euronext Paris and is a component stock of the CAC 40, CAC 40 ESG and CAC SBT 1.5 indexes. (code ISIN FR0010307819).

https://www.legrandgroup.com

Disclaimer

This press release may contain forward-looking statements which are not historical data, in particular when these statements relate to objectives and/or targets (notably climate targets) with regard to sustainability, they are based on assumptions and probable but not necessarily proven scenarios and methodological standards that are subject to change. Although Legrand considers these statements to be based on reasonable assumptions at the time of publication of this release, they are subject to many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied herein.

Details on risks are provided in the Legrand Universal Registration Document filed with the Autorite des marches financiers (Financial Markets Authority, AMF), which is available on-line on the websites of both AMF (www.amf-france.org) and Legrand (www.legrandgroup.com).

No forward-looking statement contained in this press release is or should be construed as a promise or a guarantee of actual results by Legrand or anyone else, which are liable to differ significantly. Therefore, such statements should be used with caution, taking into account their inherent uncertainty.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are only valid on the date of its publication. Subject to applicable regulations, Legrand does not undertake to update these statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of publication of this release.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy Legrand securities in any jurisdiction.

1 Period of time when all communication is suspended in the run-up to publication of results

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250324589563/en/

Contacts:

Investor relations Financial communication

Ronan MARC (Legrand) +33 1 49 72 53 53. ronan.marc@legrand.com

Press relations

Lucie DAUDIGNY (TBWA) +33 6 77 20 71 11. lucie.daudigny@tbwa-corporate.com
TOKYO, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ANO-NE Kids Club, an innovative indoor play facility providing short-term childcare, will open in Tokyo's Ginza district on April 1, 2025. Developed by Cosmos Hotel Management Co., Ltd. and COSMOS INITIA Co., Ltd. to support families traveling in Japan, the club offers a safe, engaging space for children while parents enjoy Tokyo's shopping districts, cultural landmarks, and dining options.

Image1:

https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M107482/202503196000/_prw_PI1fl_j3f4s6xV.png

Guided by the vision of "Experience a New Japan," ANO-NE was developed in response to feedback from families staying at MIMARU, an apartment hotel brand operated by Cosmos Hotel Management. With over 90% of MIMARU's guests being international travelers, the need for a dedicated play space became clear. ANO-NE offers children a fun, engaging environment while parents enjoy their own time, ensuring both adults and children create joyful memories in Japan.

For details, visit: https://anone-kids.com/

Key Features

For Children: Play, Explore, and Make New Friends

-Spacious Environment: Two-story, 150-square-meter open atrium designed for children aged 4 to 10 to play freely, rain or shine.

-Blast of Fun: The play area is filled with toys, games, and play structures that let kids explore and have fun. It's a place where children from around the world can meet, play, and make new friends.

-Safe & Engaging Play: Play equipment designed by a renowned Japanese toy manufacturer, with qualified childcare staff ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience.

Image2:

https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M107482/202503196000/_prw_PI3fl_Z6Hok77N.png

Image3:

https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M107482/202503196000/_prw_PI2fl_7n3ubWFd.png

For Parents: Their Journey, Their Joy:

-Prime Location & Easy Access: Located just minutes from Ginza and Hibiya stations, ANO-NE is surrounded by shopping, theaters, and dining options, offering parents the perfect opportunity to explore Tokyo's vibrant culture.

Image4:

https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M107482/202503196000/_prw_PI4fl_5ao7C5YL.jpg

-Flexible Reservation System: Convenient online booking starting from just one hour, with same-day reservations available.

Image5:

https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M107482/202503196000/_prw_PI5fl_gx0y2f8M.jpg

Project leader Asami Sasaki commented, "ANO-NE Kids Club has been a meaningful project for me. While it presented challenges in the beginning, I'm proud that we created a space that genuinely serves both children and parents. I conceptualize it as 'Their Play-cation, Your Vacation' -- where parents enjoy their own time until 10 PM, knowing their children are safe and engaged. Afterward, they reunite with their kids at ANO-NE and perhaps share the day's experiences on the way back, or once they return to their MIMARU room, gather around the dining area to talk. I hope this space allows both parents and children to fully enjoy their travels in Japan."

Overview

Facility Name: ANO-NE Kids Club (Indoor Play Facility with Short-term Childcare)

Opening Date: April 1, 2025

Operating Hours:

Weekdays: 14:00-22:00

Weekends and Holidays: 10:00-22:00

Usage Fee: JPY4,500 per hour/person

Location: 4F, KOKO Building, 1-2 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Access: 3-minute walk from Ginza & Hibiya stations (Tokyo Metro)

Official Website: https://anone-kids.com/

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MUNICH, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- From April 7th to 13th, bauma 2025 is to take place in Munich, Germany. In this top industrial fair, global machinery firms will show leading technologies and innovations in the Trade Fair Center Messe Munchen. As a globally leading equipment manufacturer, Zoomlion has exhibited at bauma for 8 years in a row. What will be its blockbusters in 2025?

In the fair, Zoomlion will focus on "Greener Development, Brighter Future" and exhibit near 70 premium products for concrete machinery, mobile crane, construction hoisting machinery, earth-moving machinery, MEWPs, and industrial vehicles. Its Italian subsidiary CIFA and German subsidiary M-TEC will jointly exhibit their best-selling products.

Based on AI, digital twins, and IoT, Zoomlion develops complete sets of mining machinery equipment solutions and smart mining solutions. The achievements show Zoomlion's capacity in being smart, digital and green, and its dedication to localizing products globally.

Zoomlion is spearheading its global strategy of "end to end, digitization, and localization". In 39 industrial parks globally, it's producing machinery with CE marking for Europe. In the fair, it will exhibit its pure electric mixer trucks, R-series large-tonnage tower cranes, and 72 m telescopic boom lift, the tallest one in Europe.

In the machinery industry, Zoomlion is a global leader in being smart, digital and green. In the fair, it will exhibit its smart and green worksite where machines can "talk, dig, pour concrete, hoist skips, and decorate" automatically. This is a landmark of its roadmap of "smart individual machines - smart machine clusters - smart engineering." It'll also exhibit its 5G tower cranes, smart mines, and electric truck mixers, and bring special experience to visitors.

The fair will feature the whole supply chain including the traditional and emerging sectors. Zoomlion will also show its smart and green accessories including the world's first carbon fiber tube, and obstacle avoiding wearables. All show the firm's all-around breakthroughs from key parts to smart equipment.

From April 7th to 13th, the green momentum and smart revolution will meet in Messe Munchen, Munich. Zoomlion will be waiting for you at booth FS/905. Together, let's explore leading technologies, numerous opportunities, and a brighter future!

Source:ZOOMLION

Website:https://en.zoomlion.com/



Contacts:Bella Wenshan Long Email:wenshan.long@zoomlion.com
25 March 2025

SEGRO PLC ("SEGRO")

SEGRO AND PURE DATA CENTRES GROUP ANNOUNCE JOINT VENTURE

TO DEVELOP A C.1BN FULLY FITTED DATA CENTRE

KEY MESSAGES:

SEGRO announces formation of joint venture with Pure Data Centres Group Limited ("Pure DC"), owned by Oaktree, to create its first fully fitted data centre, which it expects to pre-lease to a hyperscaler.

Innovative partnership to develop a 56MW data centre in Park Royal, within a core London Availability Zone that has limited competing supply of land and power.

Gross capital investment anticipated to be c.1 billion (of which SEGRO's cash equity contribution will be c.150 million) and is expected to deliver a 9 to 10 per cent net yield on cost.

Secretary of State for the Department of Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT), the Rt. Hon. Peter Kyle MP commented: "Private investment like this innovative partnership between SEGRO and Pure DC will help us ensure the UK has the digital infrastructure it needs to thrive"

David Sleath, CEO of SEGRO, said:

"Building on our 20 years of experience in the powered shell data centre market, we have been exploring how best to utilise our skills and 2.3GW land-enabled power bank to maximise the opportunity in this fast-growing sector.

"This innovative joint venture with Pure DC allows us to develop our first fully fitted data centre, alongside a highly experienced partner with an excellent track record of delivering world-class facilities to global hyperscalers.

"We expect this project to deliver an attractive risk-adjusted return and it will also help further strengthen SEGRO's expertise in this area, enabling us to optimise and accelerate the significant value creation opportunity within our portfolio."

Dame Dawn Childs, CEO of Pure DC, said:

"SEGRO choosing to enter into a joint venture with Pure DC for its first fully fitted data centre development demonstrates our capability to create world-class digital infrastructure. Together we will develop a 56MW data centre in central London capable of handling next-generation cloud and AI workloads.

"This joint venture demonstrates Pure DC's ability to scale in a rapidly expanding market, creating fresh opportunities for growth and investment. With over 500MW of data capacity in development or operation, Pure DC brings deep expertise building data centres and working alongside hyperscalers. SEGRO Park Premier Road, Park Royal is one of London's most sought-after data centre locations and will help support the UK's ambitions for digitalisation."

Secretary of State for the Department of Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT), the Rt. Hon. Peter Kyle MP said:

"This announcement is another powerful endorsement of Britain as a home for tech investment, which will not only bolster the local economy and create job opportunities but also pave the way for a digital and AI-powered future.

"Private investment like this innovative partnership between SEGRO and Pure DC will help us ensure the UK has the digital infrastructure it needs to thrive, helping us harness the power of technology to grow the economy and raise living standards, the central missions in our Plan for Change."

Transaction summary

SEGRO announces the formation of SEGRO Pure Premier Park Data Centre Limited, a 50:50 joint venture with Pure DC, a global data centre operator with over a decade of experience in the design, build and operation of world-class data centres for the most sophisticated hyperscale users.

The joint venture has been created with the intent to develop and deliver a fully fitted data centre in Park Royal, West London. It brings together a 10-acre super-prime industrial site owned by SEGRO and 70MVA of power secured by Pure DC. It represents a highly attractive and profitable opportunity to deliver a data centre in a land and power-constrained key London Availability Zone where there is strong underlying demand; and allows SEGRO to benefit from Pure DC's technical expertise in data centre fit-out and track record of working with hyperscalers.

This will be SEGRO's first fully fitted data centre project, building on our experience of delivering powered shells to major data centre operators for over 20 years. We see the potential for significant value creation utilising our 2.3GW land-enabled power bank and will seek to optimise and accelerate this over the coming years. The evolution of our data centre strategy to include fully fitted data centres will ensure that we can best access the demand in each of our markets and allows us to deploy capital at scale to generate significant development profits. For each site, we will pursue the model which offers the most attractive opportunity and risk-adjusted return.

Project details

The joint venture intends to develop a c.30,000 sq m fully fitted, three-storey, data centre on the edge of SEGRO Park Premier Road, West London. The data centre will be constructed to the highest sustainability standards, in line with SEGRO's Mandatory Sustainability Policy and Pure DC's Healthier Earth commitments and will deliver a highly energy efficient solution (including a closed loop liquid cooling system to minimise the potential impact on the local water supply).

SEGRO Park Premier Road is a super-prime West London industrial estate which was acquired by SEGRO in 2009. The 10-acre plot that has been identified for the development is on the edge of the estate where an older warehouse, recently vacated by Matchesfashion, is currently located. SEGRO will contribute the land to the joint venture and will carry out the site clearance and remedial works.

Pure DC will be contributing 70MVA of secured power to enable delivery of a 56MW IT load data centre. Park Royal sits within a key London Availability Zone where there is little competing land supply and limited power capacity, so is expected to present a very attractive proposition for global hyperscalers looking to grow their capacity in one of Europe's largest data centre markets.

The joint venture will develop the data centre, combining SEGRO's expertise in planning and development and Pure DC's experience of delivering operational data centres. The fitout will include mechanical & electrical elements and long lead equipment such as power distribution, cabling and cooling systems. It will not include IT equipment (racking, servers etc) which will be provided by the customer in line with normal market practice.

The joint venture expects to sign a long-term (15 years or more) net lease with a global hyperscaler. Construction will start once planning has been obtained, lease commitments have been secured and financing has been arranged.

The development of this project is expected to generate hundreds of jobs during its multi-year construction phase, which will be complemented by a comprehensive package of support designed to upskill the local community, with an emphasis on fostering a diverse and inclusive future workforce for the technology sector.

Data centres are critical to the digital economy, creating highly skilled job opportunities in London and across the UK, providing the essential infrastructure that drives technological innovation, growth, and contributes to building a more inclusive digital society.

In line with SEGRO's Responsible SEGRO framework, which prioritises investment in local communities, the joint venture aims to establish a range of projects that will bring employment, educational, and environmental benefits to the surrounding area.

Funding and returns

SEGRO and Pure DC are expected to each retain a 50 per cent share in the project through to completion. No management or incentive fees are payable to either party. The gross capital investment is anticipated to be approximately 1 billion and is projected to deliver an unlevered net yield on cost (based on future rents and costs, excluding finance cost as per the data centre market convention) of 9 to 10 per cent.

In addition to contributing land, SEGRO's estimated cash equity contribution to the joint venture is expected to be around 150 million over the total construction period. The remaining construction costs will be financed by non-recourse bank financing, prior to the commencement of the construction.

Timeline

The clearance of the site will begin, planning will be submitted and marketing of the data centre capacity will commence now that the joint venture has been agreed. It is anticipated that the construction of the shell will commence in 2026 with the fully fitted space available for customer use from 2029.

WEBCAST / CONFERENCE CALL FOR INVESTORS AND ANALYSTS:

SEGRO and Pure DC Group will be hosting a call to discuss the announcement at 08:00 (UK time) on Tuesday 25 March. The presentation will be made available at segro.com/investors shortly before the call.

Link: https://www.investis-live.com/segro/67e16d2754528c000e65d042/hthrt

The dial in details will be as follows:

Dial-in: +44 800 358 1035

+44 20 3936 2999

Access code: 278854 An audio recording of the conference call will be available until 1 April 2025 on:

UK: +44 20 3936 3001

Access code: 906146

CONTACT DETAILS FOR INVESTORS & ANALYSTS:

SEGRO Soumen Das

(Chief Financial Officer) Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7451 9110

(after 11am) Claire Mogford

(Head of Investor Relations) Mob: +44 (0) 7710 153 974

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7451 9048

(after 11am)

CONTACT DETAILS FOR MEDIA:

FTI Consulting (SEGRO) Richard Sunderland/ Ellie Sweeney/ Eve Kirmatzis Tel: +44 (0) 20 3727 1000 Pure DC Chris Talago Tel: +44 (0) 7535 864 029

chris.talago@puredc.com FGS Global (Oaktree) Rory King/ Aidan McGrattan/ Hannan Ratcliff Tel: +44 (0) 20 7251 3801

rory.king@fgsglobal.com

About SEGRO

SEGRO is a UK Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), listed on the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Paris, and is a leading owner, manager and developer of modern warehouses and industrial property. It owns or manages 10.3 million square metres of space (111 million square feet) valued at 20.3 billion at 31 December 2024 serving customers from a wide range of industry sectors. Its properties are located in and around major cities and at key transportation hubs in the UK and in seven other European countries.

For over 100 years SEGRO has been creating the space that enables extraordinary things to happen. From modern big box warehouses, used primarily for regional, national and international distribution hubs, to urban warehousing (including data centres) located close to major population centres and business districts, it provides high-quality assets that allow its customers to thrive.

A commitment to be a force for societal and environmental good is integral to SEGRO's purpose and strategy. Its Responsible SEGRO framework focuses on three long-term priorities where the company believes it can make the greatest impact: Championing Low-Carbon Growth, Investing in Local Communities and Environments and Nurturing Talent.

Striving for the highest standards of innovation, sustainable business practices and enabling economic and societal prosperity underpins SEGRO's ambition to be the best property company.

See www.SEGRO.com for further information.

About Pure Data Centres Group

Pure DC develops and operates data centres for some of the world's largest technology companies which meet today's digital demands. Pure DC currently has over 500MW of IT capacity live or under development across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, including London, Dublin and Jakarta sites.

Pure DC benefits from the expertise and investment backing of funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. ("Oaktree"), a leader among global investment managers specialising in alternative investments.

Pure DC is a leader in developing and operating sustainable data infrastructure and believes that data centres are an essential service which can be a force for good, creating employment opportunities, supporting local communities and investing in environmental restoration.

See www.puredc.com for further information.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

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Pantheon Resources plc (AIM:PANR) ("Pantheon" or "the Company"), developing the Kodiak and Ahpun oil fields in close proximity to pipeline and transportation infrastructure on Alaska's North Slope, today announced details of annual awards under the Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") and the pricing of the share options under the ESOP to be granted to Max Easley following his appointment as CEO.

Highlights:

A total number of 3,191,177 RSUs awarded amongst all staff (versus a total of 9,278,760 awarded in 2024)

5 million share options awarded to Max Easley with an exercise price of $1.15, a 37% premium to the closing price on 24 March, 2025

Award Background

Under the terms of the ESOP, awards are to be made following publication of financial results unless the Company is in a closed period. As announced in October 2024, this will normally be around the time of the AGM. Ordinarily, Pantheon's Non-Executive Directors ("NEDs") do not participate in the ESOP, however, as part of his retirement arrangements, Jay Cheatham will receive a final grant of RSUs.

RSU Grants

The Company is today issuing in aggregate 3,191,177 RSUs pursuant to the terms of the ESOP. The number of RSUs in this grant has been calculated using a price of $0.8366, being the closing price on 24 March, 2025 and will vest equally in three annual tranches commencing April 2026. An additional 400,000 RSUs were granted to Max Easley under his employment contract, as announced on 20 February 2025, separate from his participation in the 2025 ESOP awards. Details of grants to Persons Discharging Managerial Responsibilities ("PDMRs") are disclosed below.

LTIP

In keeping with the desire for share option grants to be priced at a premium to the market price when awarded, Max Easley's grant of 5,000,000 options (as announced on 20 February 2025) will have a strike price of $1.15 per share. 40% of these options vest in four equal tranches annually beginning on the first anniversary of his employment, the remainder vest upon FID for the Ahpun project being no later than June 30, 2029, subject to having completed two years of employment.

Awards to PDMRs

Today's awards to PDMRs of the Company under the ESOP are:

Grantee Number of RSUs Awarded Number of LTIP Options Awarded LTIP Exercise Price Max Easley, Chief Executive Officer 728,699 5,000,000 $1.15 Robert Rosenthal, Technical Director 251,007 Nil N/A David Hobbs, Executive Chairman 143,432 Nil N/A Philip Patman Jr, Chief Financial Officer 215,148 Nil N/A Jay Cheatham, Retiring CEO 251,007 Nil N/A

The PDMR interests following the grants are presented in the table below:

Name Ordinary Shares owned Ordinary Shares owned as a % of current issued share capital RSUs subject to vesting Total Share Options (vested and unvested) RSUs and Share Options as a % of Current Issued Share Capital Avg Ex Price of Share Options Max Easley, Chief Executive Officer Nil 0.00% 728,699 5,000,000 0.50% 88p* Robert Rosenthal, Technical Director 2,096,190 0.18% 1,204,759 7,575,000 0.77% 54p Philip Patman Jr, Chief Financial Officer 114,184 0.01% 1,031,117 N/A 0.09% N/A David Hobbs, Executive Chairman 4,110,992 0.36% 686,471 5,000,000 0.50% 64p Jay Cheatham, Retiring CEO 4,529,463 0.40% 1,220,825 8,475,000 0.85% 51p

* Calculated as the weighted average price using 1.00 = $1.30 for dollar denominated grants

David Hobbs, Pantheon Executive Chairman, commented: "Pantheon is at a critical stage in its evolution to a development Company, and the ESOP is an important tool in attracting and retaining the very best staff. The incentive program and award framework provide significant incentive alignment for every employee - from the most junior to the CEO - with a significant portion of their overall pay delivered in shares, aligning with the interests of shareholders. As established under the plan rules, awards under the ESOP are to be made following publication of financial results typically around the time of the AGM and whilst the Company remains in an open period. Accordingly, the board is resolving to make the awards now utilising the current open period before the flow testing programme on the Megrez-1 well commences. We expect stimulation of the first test horizon will be complete over the next week and flow testing to begin thereafter."

About Pantheon Resources

Pantheon Resources plc is an AIM listed Oil & Gas company focused on developing its 100% owned Ahpun and Kodiak fields located on State of Alaska land on the North Slope, onshore USA. Independently certified best estimate contingent recoverable resources attributable to these projects currently total c. 1.6 billion barrels of ANS crude and 6.6 Tcf of associated natural gas. The Company owns 100% working interest in c. 259,000 acres.

Pantheon's stated objective is to demonstrate sustainable market recognition of a value of $5-$10/bbl of recoverable resources by end 2028. This is based on bringing the Ahpun field forward to FID and producing into the TAPS main oil line (ANS crude) by the end of 2028. The Gas Sales Precedent Agreement signed with AGDC provides the potential for Pantheon's natural gas to be produced into the proposed 807mile pipeline from the North Slope to Southcentral Alaska during 2029. Once the Company achieves financial self-sufficiency, it will apply the resultant cashflows to support the FID on the Kodiak field planned, subject to regulatory approvals, targeted by the end of 2028 or early 2029.

A major differentiator to other ANS projects is the close proximity to existing roads and pipelines which offers a significant competitive advantage to Pantheon, allowing for shorter development timeframes, materially lower infrastructure costs and the ability to support the development with a significantly lower pre-cashflow funding requirement than is typical in Alaska. Furthermore, the low CO2 content of the associated gas allows export into the planned natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to Southcentral Alaska without significant pre-treatment.

The Company's project portfolio has been endorsed by world renowned experts. Netherland, Sewell & Associates estimate a 2C contingent recoverable resource in the Kodiak project that total 1,208 mmbbl of ANS crude and 5,396 bcf of natural gas. Cawley Gillespie & Associates estimate 2C contingent recoverable resources for Ahpun's western topset horizons at 282 mmbbl of ANS crude and 803 bcf of natural gas. Lee Keeling & Associates estimated possible reserves and 2C contingent recoverable resources totalling 79 mmbbl of ANS crude and 424 bcf natural gas.

Further information, please contact:

Corporate Contact

Pantheon Resources plc

Justin Hondris

contact@pantheonresources.com

Nominated Adviser and Broker

Canaccord Genuity Limited

Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor, James Asensio, Charlie Hammond

+44 20 7523 8000

Public Relations Contact

BlytheRay

Tim Blythe, Megan Ray, Matthew Bowld

+44 20 7138 3204

Investor Relations Contact

MZ Group

Lucas Zimmerman, Ian Scargill

+1 949 259 4987

PTHRF@mzgroup.us

NOTIFICATION AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF TRANSACTIONS BY PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERSONS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM

1 Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated a) Name George Washington ("Max") Easley 2 Reason for the notification a) Position/status Chief Executive Officer b) Initial notification/Amendment Initial Notification 3 Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name Pantheon Resources plc b) LEI 213800SWHY5DNQS64J23 4 Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument Options over ordinary shares ISIN: GB00B125SX82 b) Nature of the transaction Grant of Options over Ordinary Shares c) Price(s) and volumes(s) 5,000,000 options to acquire shares at an exercise price of $1.TK per share d) Aggregated information - Aggregated volume - Price N/A (single transaction) e) Date of the transaction 24 March, 2025 f) Place of the transaction Outside of a trading venue

1 Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated a) Name a. David Hobbs b. George Washington ("Max") Easley c. Jay Cheatham d. Robert Rosenthal e. Philip Patman, Jr 2 Reason for the notification a) Position/status a. Executive Chairman b. Chief Executive Officer c. Retiring CEO d. Technical Director e. Chief Financial Officer b) Initial notification/Amendment Initial Notification 3 Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name Pantheon Resources plc b) LEI 213800SWHY5DNQS64J23 4 Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument Restricted Stock Units b) Nature of the transaction ESOP RSU Grant c) Price(s) and volumes(s) a. Restricted Stock Units to acquire 143,432 ordinary fully paid shares for nil consideration. b. Restricted Stock Units to acquire728,699 (including 400,000 initial grant)ordinary fully paid shares for nil consideration. c. Restricted Stock Units to acquire 251,007 ordinary fully paid shares for nil consideration. d. Restricted Stock Units to acquire 251,007 ordinary fully paid shares for nil consideration. e. Restricted Stock Units to acquire 215,148 ordinary fully paid shares for nil consideration. d) Aggregated information - Aggregated volume - Price N/A (single transaction) e) Date of the transaction 24 March 2025 f) Place of the transaction Outside of a trading venue

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Pantheon Resources PLC
Regulatory News:

Llama Group (Paris: ALLAM) (Brussels: ALLAM):

Bridger, the copyright management company and part of the Winamp family, has appointed veteran music executive Julien Bescond to spearhead its business development strategy.

Julien Bescond began his career at EMI Music before spending two decades at Because Music, where he played a pivotal role in the company's growth. As Artistic Director, he contributed significantly to establishing the French label as a benchmark in the global music industry working with both local and international artists.

Bridger is rapidly expanding its operations in the copyright collection sector. As part of his role, Bescond will oversee the launch of Bridger Platform 2.0, introducing new innovations and enhancing services for rights holders. He will also focus on extending the company's catalog collection efforts by intensifying marketing initiatives. Additionally, he will work to strengthen business relationships with key industry players, including Collective Management Organizations (CMOs), Performing Rights Organizations (PROs), and Independent Management Entities (IMEs).

"I'm thrilled to join Bridger and dive into this sector of the industry, which is in critical need of transformation. Innovation and transparency are essential to ensuring artists and rights holders receive what they are owed," said Julien Bescond.

"Eighteen months after launching Bridger's platform, we now have a good understanding of the author's needs and specific request. Collecting royalties for independent authors, composers, and publishers has been unnecessarily complex for far too long. It's time for new solutions that provide confidence and transparency in the process. This is why we created Bridger, and we're excited to have Julien on board to lead and develop this strategy," said Alexandre Saboundjian, CEO of Bridger and Winamp.

Next Meeting

April 30, 2025 Publication of 2024 annual results

About Bridger www.bridgermusic.io

Bridger is committed to supporting songwriters and composers with innovative royalty collection solutions. Designed as an intuitive and easy-to-use copyright management platform, Bridger enables songwriters to register their musical works within minutes and unlock additional revenue streams beyond their digital distributor.

About Winamp - www.winamp.com

Winamp is redefining the music experience by creating an innovative platform that strengthens the connection between artists and fans. We provide powerful tools that empower creators to manage their music, grow their audience, and maximize their revenue-all while delivering a seamless listening experience through the Winamp Player.

Winamp for Creators is our dedicated platform designed to give music artists everything they need to succeed. From monetization tools to music management services, it brings together essential resources to help creators take control of their careers.

About Llama Group

Llama Group is a pioneer and leader in the digital music industry. With extensive expertise across various sectors, the group owns the iconic Winamp platform, the Bridger copyright management company, and the Jamendo music licensing company. Llama Group's ambition is to build the future of the music industry through sustained investment in a range of innovative solutions and in the talent and skills of people who love music. The group stands by its brand values: empowerment, access, simplicity, and fairness. Winamp's vision is a world where a cutting-edge music platform connects artists and their fans like never before. Bridger's mission is to support songwriters and composers by providing a simple and innovative solution for collecting royalties. Jamendo enables independent artists to generate additional income through commercial licenses. Finally, Hotmix offers a bouquet of more than sixty thematic and free digital radio stations.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250325469495/en/

Contacts:

Investors Relations

Olivier Van Gulck

investors@llama-group.com
PARIS, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Intalio, a global leader in Intelligent Information Management, successfully concluded its participation at Documation 2025 "Salon du management de l'information et des processus documentaires et metiers, Documation, 31eme edition", held on March 19-20, 2025, in Paris. The event brought together industry pioneers, innovators, and decision-makers to explore the latest advancements in content and document management, automation, and AI-powered digital transformation.

Empowering Organizations with Smart Information Management

At Booth A78-B77, Village EFUT, Intalio attracted significant interest from business leaders and IT professionals looking to optimize their enterprise content management, automate workflows, and enhance data security. Through live demonstrations and expert consultations, attendees discovered how Intalio's advanced content management, business process automation, and data governance solutions empower organizations to streamline operations, improve compliance, and drive digital innovation.

This year, Intalio partnered with efutura on the stand, further strengthening its commitment to advancing digital transformation and sustainable information management. Together, the two organizations showcased innovative solutions that help businesses transition seamlessly into a secure, automated, and paperless future.

"Our participation at Documation 2025 was a fantastic opportunity to showcase how Intalio is redefining enterprise content, document management, and data governance," said Stephanie Azarian, SVP, Expertise and Solutions, and General Manager for Intalio's France and Levant regions at Intalio. "With our AI-driven solutions, businesses can accelerate their digital transformation, ensuring efficiency, security, and innovation at every level."

Key Highlights from Documation 2025:

AI-Powered Content & Document Management - Enhancing governance, collaboration, and security across industries.

Low-Code & No-Code Automation - Empowering organizations to develop and deploy solutions quickly with minimal technical expertise.

Regulatory Compliance & Secure Data Handling - Helping enterprises manage critical data efficiently while ensuring compliance with international standards.

What's Next for Intalio

Building on the success of Documation 2025, Intalio remains committed to expanding its AI-driven automation and enterprise content management solutions to help businesses optimize operations, enhance productivity, and leverage data for a competitive edge.

For more information on Intalio's digital transformation solutions, visit www.intalio.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube for the latest updates.

About Intalio

Intalio is a global leader in Intelligent Information Management, recognized in the Gartner Magic Quadrant as a visionary for its innovation and industry leadership. We deliver cutting-edge solutions in Enterprise Content Management, Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence, empowering organizations to optimize operations, enhance collaboration, and make data-driven decisions. Our technology ensures success in a constantly evolving digital world, enabling our clients to stay ahead of the curve and meet the challenges of tomorrow with confidence.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/intalio-showcases-cutting-edge-digital-solutions-at-documation-2025-302410229.html
CHANGSHA, China, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 24, Zoomlion released its 2024 annual report. The company achieved a total annual revenue of 45.48 billion yuan, with a net profit of 4 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 6.31%. The company's share-based payment expenses for 2024 amounted to 0.87 billion yuan, up by 0.59 billion yuan compared to the previous year. Excluding the impact of share-based payment expenses, the net profit for the year increased by 18.39% year-on-year. The gross profit margin for the year stood at 28.17%, up by 1.04 percentage points year-on-year. The net profit margin reached 8.81%, representing a year-on-year increase of 0.8 percentage points. Meanwhile, the company plans to distribute a cash dividend of 3 yuan (tax included) per 10 shares.

During the reporting period, the company's overseas revenue reached 23.38 billion yuan, marking a year-on-year increase of 30.58%. The share of overseas revenue further rose to 51.41%, up by 13.37 percentage points year-on-year. Over the past three years, the company's export revenue has achieved a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 59.26%. The globalization transformation has created vast market opportunities for all business segments, while the "continuous growth" trend in overseas markets has significantly reduced the company's cyclical nature.

By the End of 2024, the company operated more than 400 overseas outlets, with its products reaching over 170 countries. The company employed 4,400 local staff overseas, accounting for 70% of its international workforce, and maintained over 210 service and spare parts warehouses.

In recent years, Zoomlion has undergone a comprehensive digital transformation, achieving end-to-end integration from R&D and supply chain to market and sales, resulting in standardized, transparent, and efficient operations. the four main machinery parks for earthmoving machinery, aerial work platforms, concrete machinery, and mobile cranes at Zoomlion Smart City have been already put in production, as a benchmark for "multi-variety, small-batch" discrete manufacturing in the field of intelligent manufacturing worldwide. While vigorously enhancing the company's competitive advantage, it will also provide excellent training scenarios and data for the development of the company's specific intelligent business in the future.

In 2024, the company accelerated its transformation and upgrade toward diversification, internationalization, and digitalization, actively cultivating new growth curves. These transformation initiatives have significantly enhanced the company's development stability, effectively mitigating cyclical impacts. They have also injected continuous growth momentum, guiding the company toward a sustainable development path.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/zoomlion-2024-forging-new-growth-pathways-through-diversification-globalization-and-digital-transformation-302410408.html
HANOI, Vietnam, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The French Development Finance Institution (Proparco) and the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO) have signed a loan agreement worth US$80 million, of which each party invest US$40 million, with Southeast Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SeABank, stock code: SSB).

The funding strengthens SeABank's financial capacity to enhance financial access, improve capacities and expand key business areas for Vietnamese SMEs and women-owned enterprises; while improving the implementation of international practices in E&S risk management and climate change mitigation.

This also marks the beginning of a partnership focused on economic growth and financial inclusion.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Le Van Tan - Chairman of the BOD (SeABank) highlighted SeABank's customer-centric commitment to guaranteeing equal financial access for all individuals and businesses, and emphasized: "The investment aligns with SeABank's sustainability strategy and enhances SeABank's ability to offer effective financial solutions, support SMEs, women-owned entrepreneurs, and climate action".

Mr. Olivier Brochet - French Ambassador to Vietnam expressed his support for Proparco's meaningful activities in the Vietnamese market, and shared: "As the Vietnam-France relationship has been elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, we remain committed to supporting Vietnam's development. This cooperation is in line with our strategic direction and the common commitments at the G7 Summit 2024, particularly aims to address challenges of the new era through ecosystem protection and SMEs, women-owned entrepreneurs support".

Mr. Kees van Baar - Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam highlighted the Netherlands' role as Vietnam's largest European investor and trading partner, found common strengths in water resources, and shared development objectives of driving growth in Vietnam focusing on SMEs and women-owned enterprises. Mr. Kees van Baar emphasized the reason for choosing SeABank as partner: "SeABank has a clear strategic vision in providing financial solutions that support private enterprises, SMEs, and women-owned enterprises; along with international reputation and network to implement these initiatives. I believe that FMO and Dutch enterprises, together with SeABank and its ecosystem partners will have cooperative opportunities in the near future".

With this investment, SeABank's total international mobilization has reached nearly US$1.1 billion. This includes loans, credits, and trade finance from major financial institutions such as DFC, IFC, AIIB, Norfund, and OPEC Fund, etc. The growing trust from global partners demonstrates SeABank's strong reputation, operational efficiency, and commitment to supporting SMEs and women-owned enterprises.

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The new collaboration will drive the development and application of Generative AI solutions across industries, leveraging AWS services and Reply's AI expertise.

Reply, a global leader in systems integration and consulting, today announced a multi-year strategic collaboration agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to accelerate innovation in Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). This collaboration will enable businesses worldwide to harness the power of AI by leveraging advanced cloud infrastructure and AI-driven capabilities. Together, Reply, with its companies Data Reply and Storm Reply, and AWS aim to create vertical solutions that increase process efficiency and boost productivity, and build specialized GenAI offerings spanning various industries and use cases.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250325287170/en/

Reply provides solutions on AWS starting from digital transformation consultancy to managed services. The new collaboration will drive the development and application of Generative AI solutions across industries, leveraging AWS services and Reply's AI expertise.

The collaboration builds on a long-standing relationship between Reply and AWS. Over the years, Reply has been at the forefront of AI innovation with AWS, achieving the AWS Machine Learning Competency in 2020, gaining preview access to Amazon Bedrock in 2023, and being one of the first companies worldwide to earn the AWS Generative AI Competency in 2024.

"We are thrilled to expand our collaboration with AWS to explore the full potential of Generative AI," said Filippo Rizzante, CTO at Reply. "Our combined efforts will merge advanced AWS technology with Reply's AI expertise to deliver transformative solutions for our clients. This collaboration not only reflects our dedication to innovation but also our commitment to helping organizations stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape."

With this collaboration, Reply will enable its customers to efficiently adopt AWS, embracing AI at scale with a secure and streamlined approach. The Reply's companies, Data Reply and Storm Reply, will deploy the advanced AI and machine learning services of AWS, including Amazon SageMaker, Amazon Bedrock, and Amazon Q, to design, develop, and deploy scalable and secure Generative AI applications for diverse use cases, including software engineering optimization, hyper-personalized customer experiences, operational efficiency, intelligent cost optimization, AI-driven operations, and sales and marketing automation.

As part of the agreement, Data Reply and Storm Reply will gain access to specialized training and resources. This initiative will empower them to deliver tailored AI solutions for clients across markets, with a specific focus on Automotive, FSI and Energy.

Reply's expertise in AI is exemplified through several solutions, addressing concrete business challenges across various domains, including knowledge management, software development, customer engagement, supply chain optimization, security, and social media management. These solutions leverage advanced GenAI Agentic capabilities to deliver valuable results, such as:

enhancing decision-making processes by enabling AI systems to intelligently integrate and analyze data from multiple knowledge sources for deeper insights.

optimizing enterprise operations by seamlessly integrating AI with core business systems, enabling automated data processing in areas such as human resources, finance, supply chain management, and customer service to improve efficiency and streamline workflows.

advancing market intelligence with AI-driven solutions that autonomously gather, analyze, and synthesize real-time market data into actionable insights, enabling businesses to stay ahead in dynamic markets.

Reply's expertise translates into practical use cases for customers worldwide. For example, Storm Reply has partnered with Audi to enhance internal documentation processes using a RAG-based AI chatbot, streamlining document management and retrieval while improving operational efficiency. Additionally, Il Sole 24 Ore, one of Italy's leading publishing groups, collaborated with Storm Reply and AWS to transform its renowned "L'Esperto Risponde" service using Generative AI. This solution, powered by Amazon Bedrock, enables experts to interact seamlessly with a knowledge base of over 130,000 documents, automating draft responses while maintaining high accuracy and significantly reducing response times.

As part of its continuous effort to push the boundaries of AI, Reply is also developing GenAI solutions leveraging Anthropic's Claude models on AWS. Anthropic's Claude models provide safe and reliable outputs aligned with user prompts, avoiding harmful activities. These models are integrated into Amazon Bedrock for secure data access. By combining Anthropic's Claude powerful models, AWS's secure infrastructure, and Reply's AI expertise, customers can benefit from unprecedented value.

"We're excited to bring advanced AI technologies and cloud capabilities to our expanded relationship with Reply. Together, we look forward to providing customers with choice, flexibility, and security when building and scaling with generative AI on AWS," said Antonio Alonso Lopez, Director of Partner Management for EMEA at Amazon Web Services. "Reply's deep technical expertise will help customers swiftly and responsibly deploy AI-powered applications that drive business transformation and accelerate innovation across multiple industries."

The collaboration aligns with Reply's mission to remain at the forefront of AI innovation and digital transformation. As an AWS Premier Consulting Partner, Reply's companies specialized in AWS technologies Airwalk Reply, Comsysto Reply, Concept Reply, Data Reply, Discovery Reply, Retail Reply, Sense Reply, and Storm Reply continue to deliver customized solutions and services that leverage AWS technologies to address clients' unique challenges and drive substantial business outcomes.

Visit the website for more information about Reply and AWS's strategic collaboration and their commitment to advancing Generative AI.

Reply

Reply [EXM, STAR: REY, ISIN: IT0005282865] specializes in the design and implementation of solutions based on new communication channels and digital media. Reply is a network of highly specialized companies supporting key European industrial groups operating in the telecom and media, industry and services, banking, insurance and public administration sectors in the definition and development of business models enabled for the new paradigms of AI, cloud computing, digital media and the Internet of Things. Reply services include: Consulting, System Integration and Digital Services. www.reply.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250325287170/en/

Contacts:

Media Contacts:

Reply

Fabio Zappelli

f.zappelli@reply.com

Tel. +390117711594

Irene Caia

i.caia@reply.com

Tel. +3902545761
Veza, a leading provider of identity and cybersecurity solutions, is excited to announce the opening of its operations in EMEA and the appointment of Ismet Geri as the company's first European executive. Geri, a seasoned business leader with over 20 years of experience in the identity and cybersecurity sectors, will serve as vice president of sales in EMEA to oversee Veza's growth and strategic initiatives across the European and Middle East markets.

Geri brings extensive leadership experience to Veza, having held executive roles in several software and cybersecurity companies. Most recently, Geri was responsible for leading Axonius' international business, helping the company grow from zero revenue to over $100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) in less than 5 years. Prior to his success at Axonius, Geri served as CEO and board member of a startup in the identity space. He has also held senior executive roles at global leaders such as ForgeRock, Proofpoint, Infoblox, and Juniper Networks-companies all of which saw successful IPOs during his tenure.

"Veza is uniquely positioned to transform the identity and cybersecurity landscape, and I am excited to be part of this dynamic team as we expand our operations into Europe," said Ismet Geri. "With growing demand for advanced identity and security solutions, I look forward to driving Veza's mission of delivering scalable, effective, and trusted cybersecurity solutions to our European customers."

In addition to his business acumen and entrepreneurial experiences, Geri holds a PhD in optoelectronics from the University of Rouen, France, where he was involved in research at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). He also holds a Master's degree in Computer Science from Ecole d'ingenieur Esigelec in Rouen, France. Geri's expertise in technology and leadership makes him an ideal fit to spearhead Veza's expansion efforts in the region.

"Ismet's deep expertise in the identity and cybersecurity industries, coupled with his proven ability to build and scale high-growth businesses, makes him the ideal leader to drive our EMEA expansion," said Kane Lightowler, president and COO of Veza. "As we continue to extend our reach globally, Ismet's leadership will play a pivotal role in accelerating our growth and delivering exceptional value to our customers and partners in Europe. We are thrilled to partner with Ismet as we partner with organizations across EMEA on their journey to help address identity security initiatives."

Veza's EMEA expansion is part of its strategy to address the growing global demand for advanced identity and cybersecurity solutions. As the company continues to innovate next-gen identity security products and broaden its reach, Geri's leadership will play a key role in driving Veza's growth in the European market.

About Veza

Veza is the leader in identity security, helping organizations secure access across the enterprise. Veza's Access Platform goes beyond identity governance and administration (IGA) tools to visualize, monitor, and control entitlements so that organizations can stay compliant, achieve least privilege, and de-risk the breach. Global enterprises like Wynn Resorts, Expedia, and Blackstone trust Veza to manage identity security use cases, including privileged access monitoring, non-human identity (NHI) security, access entitlement management, data system access, SaaS access security, IAM hygiene, identity security posture management (ISPM), and next-generation IGA. Founded in 2020, Veza is headquartered in Los Gatos, California, and is funded by Accel, Bain Capital, Ballistic Ventures, Google Ventures (GV), Norwest Venture Partners, and True Ventures. Visit us at www.veza.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250325330110/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Alex Daigle

Veza@OffleashPR.com
PORT VILA, Vanuatu, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vantage reflects on its collaboration with AIESEC FHN, a partnership that focused on supporting youth leadership development in Vietnam. Through this initiative, Vantage contributed to leadership development, strategic thinking, and career growth, helping to shape the next generation of industry leaders.

AIESEC is a non-political, independent, and non-profit organization run entirely by young people. With a mission to develop leadership potential through cultural exchange programs, teamwork experiences, and professional training, AIESEC has become a vital force in shaping the future of young professionals worldwide.

By partnering with AIESEC FHN, Vantage aligned itself with a global initiative that nurtures innovation, leadership, and strategic growth, offering Vietnamese youth valuable opportunities to learn, engage, and develop essential skills.

Through this partnership, Vantage supported two major AIESEC initiatives that provided young professionals with industry knowledge, leadership training, and hands-on experiences.

1.The A Program: Product Management Essentials

This was an intensive Product Management course organized by AIESEC Vietnam. With Vantage's support, the program offered:

Comprehensive training sessions covering fundamental to advanced concepts in Product Management.

Hands-on experience solving real-world product cases, helping participants develop practical problem-solving skills.

A mentorship series connecting students with experienced professionals from the industry, offering valuable insights into career growth and industry's best practices.

2.Mini Leadership Conference

This event was part of AIESEC's broader Leadership Conference series, in collaboration with AIESEC Vietnam (FHN Branch) and the Diplomatic Culture Club - Foreign Trade University, Hanoi. It was designed to:

Enhance leadership capabilities among young professionals, preparing them for real-world challenges.

Equip participants with essential workplace skills that are highly sought after by employers.

By supporting education, leadership, and career development, Vantage continues to invest in shaping the next generation of business leaders. This partnership with AIESEC was part of Vantage's broader mission to create meaningful opportunities for young professionals.

Marc Despallieres, CEO of Vantage Markets, shared his thoughts on this partnership:

"At Vantage, we recognize the importance of empowering the next generation in building a strong and innovative future. Our collaboration with AIESEC FHN has provided valuable opportunities to nurture young talent and equip them with the skills, insights, and leadership opportunities essential for navigating today's evolving professional landscape. We are pleased to contribute to initiatives that support creativity, strategic thinking, and career development, and we look forward to seeing these emerging professionals shape the industries of tomorrow."

Vantage remains committed to supporting youth development and fostering the leaders of the future through its ongoing partnerships and initiatives.

For more information about AIESEC FHN and its programs, please visit their official website.

About Vantage

Vantage Markets (or Vantage) is a financial services provider that offers clients access to trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs) across a variety of financial products, including Forex, Commodities, Indices, Shares, ETFs, and Bonds.

With over 15 years of market experience, Vantage provides a trading platform that allows clients to access a range of trading instruments.

RISK WARNING: CFD trading carries significant risks and may not be suitable for all investors. Please ensure you fully understand the risks involved before trading.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, an offer, or solicitation of any financial products or services. The content is not intended for residents of any jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation. Readers are advised to seek independent professional advice before making any investment or financial decisions. Any reliance you place on the information presented is strictly at your own risk.

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The WHO Foundation and the L'Oreal Groupe, spearheaded by its Dermatological Beauty Division, are set to launch a four-year partnership to expand access to the treatment of skin conditions worldwide. With a focus on low- and middle-income settings, the partnership will accelerate the World Health Organization's (WHO's) efforts to support countries to address skin conditions such as those caused by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), those exacerbated by climate change and other common conditions such as acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and vitiligo.

Many neglected tropical diseases first show symptoms on the skin, and early detection can be vital," said Dr Ibrahima Soce Fall, Director of the Global Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme at WHO. "At this critical time, support and solidarity are needed to provide access to diagnosis and treatment so that people suffering from skin NTDs and other common skin diseases are not left behind.

This partnership will help to widen surveillance of skin diseases and train health workers to identify early symptoms, particularly among vulnerable communities, where many people go undiagnosed and untreated leading to stigma and medical complications.

Over the course of the partnership, WHO will also develop training materials for health workers including the WHO Skin NTDs App, as well as provide training for health workers on common skin conditions.

L'Oreal's contribution to the WHO Foundation forms part of its 20 million five-year 'Act for Dermatology' programme, aiming to expand access to skin health in support of the 2.1 billion people in the world living with skin disease.

"L'Oreal Act for Dermatology represents our unwavering commitment to helping improve the lives of billions of people suffering from the physical, mental and emotional burden of skin diseases, by addressing the challenges they face in accessing skin health services for their condition," said Myriam Cohen-Welgryn, President, L'Oral Dermatological Beauty. "As leaders in dermocosmetics, we have a responsibility to take actionBy working closely with dermatologists and healthcare practitioners, scientific bodies and global organizations like WHO, we can begin the monumental mission of ensuring skin health accessibility for everyone, everywhere, leaving no community behind."

The partnership is launching at a moment when skin health is on the global health agenda and the 78th World Health Assembly in May 2025 is expected to discuss a resolution on skin diseases as a global health priority.

The WHO Foundation will facilitate and coordinate the collaboration between WHO and L'Oreal, amplify the need for enhanced access to skin healthcare, share knowledge and best practices around skin health as well as call for additional partners to contribute to this critical work. Anil Soni, Chief Executive Officer, WHO Foundation said: "This programme is another great example of how public and private partners can unite around a common aim. In brokering this initiative, the WHO Foundation is helping to further WHO's mission to improve the health of vulnerable people, while also aligning with L'Oreal's goal to raise the standard of skin health across the world."

About the WHO Foundation

The WHO Foundation is an independent global organization working to improve health equity around the world. We connect donors with those on the frontlines of health challenges to create lasting change. The Foundation's goal is to inspire private support and build strong partnerships that advance WHO's mission to provide, promote and protect health for everyone. For more information, visit: https://who.foundation.

About L'Oreal Act for Dermatology

The 20 million, five-year L'Oreal Act for Dermatology fund is structured around four distinct pillars, representing targeted investments designed to close the gaps in skin health access:

Pioneering Knowledge: Investing in cutting-edge research to deepen understanding about skin health, increase knowledge about the barriers to achieving skin health, addressing gaps in knowledge about the skin of people of color as well as understanding more about the impact of climate change on skin health and the profound effects of stigmatization linked to skin pathologies.

Investing in cutting-edge research to deepen understanding about skin health, increase knowledge about the barriers to achieving skin health, addressing gaps in knowledge about the skin of people of color as well as understanding more about the impact of climate change on skin health and the profound effects of stigmatization linked to skin pathologies. Raising Awareness: Elevating skin health to the forefront of public discourse, engaging both the public and private sectors, and collaborating with NGOs to drive meaningful policy change.

Elevating skin health to the forefront of public discourse, engaging both the public and private sectors, and collaborating with NGOs to drive meaningful policy change. Empowering Education: Committing to train healthcare workers worldwide to diagnose and treat skin disease and investing 2 million to facilitate open access to scientific publications for low-to-middle income countries. This will ensure knowledge reaches those who need it most, while providing dermatologists with financial support to access or publish critical research.

Committing to train healthcare workers worldwide to diagnose and treat skin disease and investing 2 million to facilitate open access to scientific publications for low-to-middle income countries. This will ensure knowledge reaches those who need it most, while providing dermatologists with financial support to access or publish critical research. Scaling Solutions: Investing in a "Do Tank" to expand access to skin diagnosis and treatment, through the rapid scaling of best-in-class, locally relevant solutions. Such solutions include the rollout of high-impact, winning projects from the International Awards for Social Responsibility in Dermatology, launched in 2011 by L'Oreal and the ILDS, which paved the way to recognizing leading dermatologists across the world.

About L'Oreal

For 115 years, L'Oreal, the world's leading beauty player, has devoted itself to one thing only: fulfilling the beauty aspirations of consumers around the world. Our purpose, to create the beauty that moves the world, defines our approach to beauty as essential, inclusive, ethical, generous and committed to social and environmental sustainability. With our broad portfolio of 37 international brands and ambitious sustainability commitments in our L'Oreal for the Future programme, we offer each and every person around the world the best in terms of quality, efficacy, safety, sincerity and responsibility, while celebrating beauty in its infinite plurality.

With more than 90,000 committed employees, a balanced geographical footprint and sales across all distribution networks (ecommerce, mass market, department stores, pharmacies, perfumeries, hair salons, branded and travel retail), in 2024 the Group generated sales amounting to 43.48 billion euros. With 21 research centers across 13 countries around the world and a dedicated Research and Innovation team of over 4,000 scientists and 8,000 Digital talents, L'Oreal is focused on inventing the future of beauty and becoming a Beauty Tech powerhouse. More information onhttps://www.loreal.com/en/mediaroom.

For more information on WHO's work in skin-related neglected, tropical diseases see: Ending The Neglect To Attain The Sustainable Development Goals: A Strategic Framework For Integrated Control And Management Of Skin-Related Neglected Tropical Diseases.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250325943111/en/

Contacts:

Carolyn Davenport-Moncel: Head of Content-Media and Communications, WHO Foundation: c.davenport-moncel@who.foundation
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- EPOS, the premium global audio brand, announced today the release for sale of the ADAPT E1, a true wireless earbud designed to adapt effortlessly to every aspect of a user's day, from high-stakes business meetings to your workouts and morning commutes.

With ADAPT E1, EPOS challenges industry leaders by delivering an earbud designed for all use cases and situations. Whether you are joining a Teams meeting, taking a call, or enjoying music, the ADAPT E1 delivers an exceptional experience wherever you are.

Key features include:

So comfortable you'll forget you're wearing them

More than half a million ear scans can't be wrong. EPOS IntelligentFit ensures comfort and superior acoustic performance.

An earbud certified for professionals

UC certifications, multi-point connectivity and device management boosts productivity and lets you switch easily between any phone, PC or tablet.

Delivers an outstanding music experience

Enjoy a headset-quality listening experience with rich, detailed sound that brings your music to life.

Speak effortlessly without the feeling of blocked ears

Hybrid ANC, semi-open acoustics, and EPOS advanced algorithms make concentration and conversations easier and more natural.

Never pause your productivity with 50 hours battery

Power through your day with an impressive 50-hour battery life and keep the momentum going with wireless case charging whenever you need it.

Jesper Kock, VP Research & Development at EPOS says: "The ADAPT E1, EPOS' first UC certified true wireless earbud, has been carefully crafted to meet the expectations of both the modern professional, but also your normal earbud consumer.

An element that I am especially proud of is our new EPOS IntelligentFit. We know that every ear shape and size is unique, which is why we have created EPOS IntelligentFit. An ear fit analysis tool that predicts an optimal earbud shape based on AI and a database of over half a million ear scans. This is why you can wear your ADPAT E1 comfortably throughout the day.

We are proud to introduce The ADAPT E1. A testament to EPOS' commitment to designing products that excite, while pioneering audio technology and paying attention for performance and craftmanship."

More information about the ADAPT E1epos.link/E1

Availability: March 25 , 2024

MRSP from:  199 / $ 219 /  17 5

About EPOS

EPOS designs, manufactures, and sells high-end audio solutions for business professionals around the world.

Building on decades of psychoacoustic research on how the brain perceives sound, EPOS designs audio solutions that provide the best conditions for the brain so you and the people you communicate with can achieve more with less brain energy spent.

Owned by the world-leading hearing healthcare and audio technology group, Demant, and with headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, EPOS builds on more than 115 years' audio expertise and operates in a global market with offices and partners in more than 60 countries.

Find more information at www.eposaudio.com.

Contact:

Name : William Hornbk Sonne

Phone: +45 50 42 25 71

Email: WLSO@eposaudio.com

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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.



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Nokian Tyres plc Press release on March 25, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. EET

Nokian Tyres is expanding its logistics center which is serving the Finnish factory in Nokia by building a modern and cost-effective warehouse for passenger car tires. This project enables Nokian Tyres to centralize warehouses, which are currently located in different parts of Finland, to Nokia. The aim of the project is to support Nokian Tyres' competitiveness by improving the efficiency and delivery reliability of the Finnish factory.

The new property will be designed and built in accordance with the objectives of LEED environmental certification, and additionally the centralization of warehouses will reduce CO2 emissions from logistics in Finland.

The new property is financed by SEB Leasing Oy. Nokian Tyres will lease the property and warehouse automation with a long-term lease agreement.

The expansion will be completed by the end of 2027 on a plot owned by Nokian Tyres adjacent to the current logistics center in Nokia, Finland.

All passenger car tires manufactured at the Finnish factory will be placed in the new highly automated warehouse before they are delivered to customers in different parts of the world.

According to the plan, also raw materials and in the Finnish factory manufactured heavy tires will be later moved to the expanded logistics center.

"The modern logistics center will enable efficient operation of the Finnish factory and reduce transports between the factory and warehouses as logistics operations are centralized in Nokia, Finland. In addition, the new warehouse will improve the safety and quality of warehouse operations," says Miikka Kunnari, Head of Global Logistics at Nokian Tyres.

Download images

Further information:



Miikka Kunnari, Head of Global Logistics tel. +358 41 4332 943

media@nokiantyres.com

Nokian Tyres' purpose is to make the world safer by reinventing tires, and how they are made, over and over again - a safer place to drive, work and live now and for generations to come. Inspired by our northern heritage, we develop and manufacture premium tires for passenger cars, trucks and heavy machinery with sustainability at the heart of all our operations. Our Vianor chain provides tire and car services. We are some 3,800 people with net sales of EUR 1.3 billion in 2024, and together we lead the journey to smarter driving for people and for businesses. Nokian Tyres is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. Further information: company.nokiantyres.com
SHENZHEN, China, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 commenced in Boao, Hainan. As a strategic partner of the event for the fourth consecutive year and a new member of the Boao Forum for Asia Board of Directors, vivo showcased its cutting-edge innovations, including the Blue Technology Matrix (BlueImage, BlueLM, BlueOS, BlueChip, BlueVolt), vivo Vision (vivo MR headset), 6G advancements, and more. vivo's upcoming flagship imaging smartphone, the vivo X200 Ultra, was honored with the title of "Official Smartphone of Boao Forum for Asia".

During the "vivo Release Moment" session held on the afternoon of March 25th at the Boao Forum, Hu Baishan, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer at vivo, and President of the vivo Central Research Institute, delivered a keynote speech titled "Humanity in the Future of Technology by vivo". In his speech, Hu stated that the mobile phone industry is a microcosm of China's technological innovation, and vivo's development reflects the progress of this sector. Hu elaborated on the company's core business philosophies applied over the past three decades, highlighting three different dimensions: long-termism, humanistic thinking and focus on collaboration and mutual achievement. To date, vivo has been the number one domestic mobile phone brand in the Chinese market in terms of market share for four consecutive years, and serves over 500 million users in more than 60 countries and regions worldwide.

Hu Baishan stated that over the past few decades, the mobile phone industry has served as an "incubator" for new industries, transforming how we live and work. Today, advancements in AI and robotics represent the pinnacle of technological achievements in the digital and physical worlds, respectively. Yet, these two worlds remain relatively independent and have not yet been perfectly integrated. The mobile phone industry with its massive consumer base, the most forward-looking technological ecosystem, and diverse application scenarios, could help bridge these two worlds. Robotics could represent the future of the mobile phone industry, blending digital connectivity with physical capabilities. Importantly, this future will continue to emphasize people-oriented values and focus on user scenarios to create ultimate experiences.

In his speech, Hu revealed that vivo has officially established the vivo Robotics Lab. By leveraging vivo's decade of "BlueTech" experience in fields like AI large learning models and imaging, together with the real-time spatial computing capabilities accumulated through vivo Vision, vivo will focus on developing two core areas, the "brain" and "eyes" of robots. At the same time, vivo will focus on the consumer market, developing robotic products for personal and home use. vivo aims to bring technology out of the laboratory and into users' everyday lives. This way, it will focus on gradual breakthroughs and continuous innovation to address real-life scenarios and solve user pain points, iterating product development along the way. vivo Vision, unveiled for the first time at the Boao Forum, marks a significant milestone in vivo's exploration of mixed reality technology. Building on this momentum, the upcoming vivo X200 Ultra, slated for release next month, will also integrate vivo's latest advancements in imaging. Looking ahead, vivo envisions a world where robotics enhances everyday life and is committed to collaborating with industry partners to bring robots to households around the globe.

About vivo

vivo is a technology company that creates great products based on a design-driven value, with smart devices and intelligent services as its core. The company aims to build a bridge between humans and the digital world. Through unique creativity, vivo provides users with an increasingly convenient mobile and digital life.

While bringing together and developing the best local talents to deliver excellence, vivo is supported by a network of R&D centers including Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Xi'an, focusing on the development of state-of-the-art consumer technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence, industrial design, photography and other up-and-coming technologies. vivo has also set up an intelligent manufacturing network (including those authorized by vivo), with an annual production capacity of nearly 200 million smartphones. As of now, vivo has branched out its sales network across more than 60 countries and regions, and is winning more than 500 million users worldwide with its superior products and services.

Following the company's core values, which include Benfen*, user-orientation, design-driven value, continuous learning and team spirit. vivo has implemented a sustainable development strategy, with the vision of developing into a healthier, more sustainable world-class corporation.

*"Benfen" is a term describing the attitude on doing the right things and doing things right - which is the ideal description of vivo's mission to create value for society.

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Aclara Resources Inc.("Aclara" or the "Company") (TSX:ARA) is proud to be named a winner of the 2025 Artificial Intelligence ("AI") Excellence Awards by the Business Intelligence Group, recognizing our pioneering work in AI-driven solutions for the mining industry.

Our Digital Twin technology was recognized for its groundbreaking application in rare earths production. Aclara is digitizing the entire rare earths processing chain by developing digital twins-from exploration campaigns to our concentration and separation plants. Once fully implemented, these models will integrate machine learning to enable intelligent optimization and seamless coordination across our digitalized production system. This innovation enhances efficiency and sustainability, positioning Aclara at the forefront of AI adoption in mining.

"We extend our gratitude to the Business Intelligence Group for this recognition and reaffirm our commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology and sustainability in rare earth production," commented Ramon Barua, Aclara CEO.

This is the second time in the last year that Aclara has been recognized for its AI technology. In November 2024, its Chilean subsidiary, REE Uno, received a $730,000 grant from the Chilean Economic Development Agency to enhance an AI-driven exploration technology. This system processes vast geological and geospatial data, integrating real-time field data to identify high-potential rare earth element (REE) targets in ionic clays. By leveraging AI, Aclara aims to optimize exploration efficiency, lower costs, and reduce environmental impact.

About Aclara

Aclara Resources Inc. (TSX:ARA) is a development-stage company that focuses on heavy rare earth mineral resources hosted in Ion-Adsorption Clay deposits. The Company's rare earth mineral resource development projects include the Penco Module in the Bio-Bio Region of Chile and the Carina Module in the State of Goias, Brazil.

Aclara's rare earth extraction process offers several environmentally attractive features. Circular mineral harvesting does not involve blasting, crushing, or milling, and therefore does not generate tailings and eliminates the need for a tailings storage facility. The extraction process developed by Aclara minimizes water consumption through high levels of water recirculation made possible by the inclusion of a water treatment facility within its patented process design. The ionic clay feedstock is amenable to leaching with a common fertilizer main reagent, ammonium sulfate. In addition to the development of the Penco Module and the Carina Module, the Company will continue to identify and evaluate opportunities to increase future production of heavy rare earths through greenfield exploration programs and the development of additional projects within the Company's current concessions in Brazil, Chile, and Peru.

Aclara has decided to vertically integrate its rare earths concentrate production towards the manufacturing of rare earths alloys. The Company has established a U.S.-based subsidiary, Aclara Technologies Inc., which will focus on developing technologies for rare earth separation, metals, and alloys. Additionally, the Company is advancing its metals and alloys business through a joint venture with CAP S.A., leveraging CAP's extensive expertise in metal refining and special ferro-alloyed steels.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects the Company's current expectations regarding future events, including statements with regard to the Company's corporate strategy; expectations as to activities conducted in connection with its exploration activities and the success, effect or outcomes resulting therefrom; the development of new artificial intelligence tools and models and the related studies in relation thereto; and plans as to expenditures, investments, and use of capital and financial resources in the near and long term. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated as of March 22, 2024 filed on the Company's SEDAR profile. Actual results and timing could differ materially from those projected herein. Unless otherwise noted or the context otherwise indicates, the forward-looking information contained in this news release is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required under applicable securities laws.

For further information, please contact:

Ramon Barua Costa

Chief Executive Officer

investorrelations@aclara-re.com

SOURCE: Aclara Resources Inc.
BeMetals Corp. (TSXV:BMET)(OTCQB:BMTLF)(Frankfurt:1OI.F) (the "Company" or "BeMetals") is pleased to announce the commencement of a new 2,000 to 2,500 metre core drilling program at its Pangeni Copper Project ("Pangeni" or the "Project" or the "Property") in Zambia. This phase of drilling aims to identify additional zones of copper mineralization and further expand the existing mineralized footprint within the priority D-Prospect area.

D-Prospect, Nkala Zone Selected Drill Hole Highlights to date(1):

D24-C1: Encountered 16.16 metres ("m") grading 0.74% Copper ("Cu") with 533 ppm cobalt ("Co"), including 5.50 meters at 0.93% Cu with 701 ppm Co.

D22-C1 Intersected 18.10 m grading 0.70% Cu, including 4.00 m at 1.04% Cu and 4.60 m at 0.89% Cu.

D22-C2: Assayed 14.78 m grading 0.42% Cu, with a higher-grade section of 4.88 m at 0.65% Cu.

D11-C3: Returned 23.20 m grading 0.54% Cu with 263 ppm Co, including 7.90 m at 0.92% Cu with 453 ppm Co.

D14-C2 Intersected 31.50 m grading 0.33% Cu, including 17.10m grading 0.40% Cu.

The overall footprint scale of the D-Prospect copper mineralization and its target zones are now comparable to that of the Lumwana Copper Mine's Chimiwungo Deposit. The mineralization has been traced by core drilling for some three kilometres along trend of the Nkala and Nkala Zone Extension zones, with the additional aircore targets at the Nkala Northwest and R targets in close proximity. The copper mineralization at the D-Prospect's Nkala Zone also bears many of the geological hallmarks of the Lumwana Mine's deposits in terms of mineralization style, alteration, structure and host rocks(3).

John Wilton, President and CEO of BeMetals, stated, "We are very excited to advance exploration at the Pangeni Copper Project this year. Our discovery of extensive copper mineralization and the positive results from the 2024 drilling campaign have reinforced the team's confidence in the Project's potential to further evolve into a Tier 1 scale discovery. Notably, these results to date mark the first new discovery of significant copper mineralization along the Zambian Copperbelt in decades, a testament to the previously untapped potential in this region of cover, and the fortitude and experience of our exploration team and partners. The comparable footprint scale and geological hallmarks of our D-Prospect's copper mineralization to a world-class deposit such as Lumwana's Chimiwungo Deposit is particularly encouraging as we continue to explore this exciting copper system. For context Barrick Gold has recently launched development of its super pit expansion at the Lumwana mine, unlocking the potential to transform Lumwana into a long-life, high-yielding, top 25 copper producer, and a Tier One copper mine(2)(3). With multiple untested targets and a growing mineralized footprint, we believe Pangeni has the potential to host a significant copper deposit."

(1) Previously reported drilling results

(2) Barrick Gold news release: Lumwana's Super Pit Expansion Officially Launched, dated October 2, 2024.

(3) The other deposits and mines in the Domes Region are included for geological context only and to date do not necessarily directly apply to the current projects or properties being disclosed.

Exploration Potential & Program Details:

The new core drilling program will comprise approximately 2,000 to 2,500 metres of drilling, focusing on the following key areas:

D-Prospect: Testing extensions and grade continuity of our previously identified mineralized zones.

Satellite Targets: Exploring additional areas with potential for copper mineralization near the D-Prospect.

We believe there is strong potential for copper mineralization to continue across the Pangeni property (See Figure 1 below) due to:

Favorable Geological Setting: The project lies within the western extension of the Zambian Copperbelt, one of the world's most productive copper regions.

Covered Terrain: The property remains largely unexplored beneath a thin Kalahari sand cover, providing significant upside potential.

Consistent Mineralization: The 2024 drill campaign confirmed multiple zones of copper mineralization along a three-kilometre trend, indicating a large-scale mineralized system.

Geophysical and Geochemical Anomalies: Several untested anomalies identified through airborne magnetics, with shallow aircore drilling geochemistry have generated compelling further targets for discovery.

Structural Controls on Mineralization: Detailed structural core logging and interpretations indicate potential for extensions of high-grade zones similar to those found at Lumwana.

Figure 1: Same Footprint Scale of Expanded D-Prospect Mineralization & Target Zones Compared to the Lumwana Copper Mine Chimiwungo Deposit with Selected Drilling Results (*Equinox Lumwana Project, Technical Report, Zambia, May 2011 and Geology of Lumwana Mine, Porter Geo-consultancy Field Guide 2014, Barrick)

PANGENI COPPER PROJECT: OVERVIEW

The Pangeni Project copper mineralization, discovered by the Company, is a westerly extension of the Copperbelt concealed under relatively thin but extensive Kalahari sand cover. Importantly, the copper mineralization bears many of the hallmarks in terms of style, width, grade, and geology to deposits that are mined in the Domes Region of the Zambian Copperbelt, specifically the basement hosted, large scale Lumwana Copper Mine (See Figure 2). The open pit Sentinel Copper Mine, operated by First Quantum Minerals Ltd., is located approximately 130 kilometres northeast of the Pangeni Project and currently represents the westernmost copper mine of the Domes Region within the prolific Zambian Copperbelt (See Figure 2).

Figure 2: Map Showing Selected Large Scale Copper Mines and Projects in Zambia and DRC

Source: Modified after MacIntyre, T., Gysi, A., Hitzman, M., (2018). Geology and Geochemistry of the Kansanshi Cu-Au deposit, Zambia.

QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL

The results from the core drilling programs were completed by Remote Exploration Services ("RES") who managed all aspects of the field operations in-line with the standard operating procedures as previously and consistently implemented at this project. NQ drill core was cut into halves for the sample sizes. The samples were analyzed by Intertek Genalysis, an independent and accredited laboratory. Samples were prepared at their facility in Kitwe, Zambia and analytical work conducted in Australia. The results were determined using multi-acid, near total digest, and analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma ("ICP") Optical (Atomic) Emission Spectrometry ("OES"). The core sampling was conducted with a robust sampling protocol that included the appropriate insertion of standard reference material, duplicates, and blanks into the sample stream. Field operations and management have been provided by RES an independent geological consulting and contracting company. The core drilling was conducted by Blurock Mining Services, of Kitwe, Zambia.

QUALIFIED PERSON STATEMENT

The technical information in this news release for BeMetals has been reviewed and approved by John Wilton, CGeol FGS, CEO and President of BeMetals, and a "Qualified Person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101.

ON BEHALF OF BEMETALS CORP.

"John Wilton"

John Wilton

President, CEO and Director

For further information about BeMetals please visit our website at bemetalscorp.com and sign-up to our email list to receive timely updates, or contact:

Derek Iwanaka

Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Development

Telephone: 604-928-2797

Email: diwanaka@bemetalscorp.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (as defined under applicable securities laws), based on management's best estimates, assumptions and current expectations. Such statements include but are not limited to, statements with respect to future exploration, development and advancement of the Kazan Projects in Japan and the Pangeni Project in Zambia, and the acquisition of additional base and/or precious metal projects. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "forecasts", "anticipates", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "aims", "potential", "goal", "objective", "prospective", and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "can", "could" or "should" occur. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the actual results of exploration activities, the availability of financing and/or cash flow to fund the current and future plans and expenditures, the ability of the Company to satisfy the conditions of the option agreement for the Pangeni Project, and changes in the world commodity markets or equity markets. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are made as of the date hereof and are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as require by law. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. Please refer to the Company's most recent filings under its profile at www.sedarplus.ca for further information respecting the risks affecting the Company and its business.

SOURCE: BeMetals Corp.
Northern Superior Resources Inc. ("Northern Superior" or the "Company") (TSXV:SUP)(OTCQB:NSUPF)(GR:D9M1) is pleased to announce additional results from its 20,000 metres expansion drilling campaign at the Philibert gold property, located only 9 km from IAMGOLD Corporation ("IAMGOLD")'s Nelligan project, and 60 km southwest of Chibougamau, Quebec (the "Philibert Project": Northern Superior: 75%, SOQUEM: 25%1).

HighlightsInclude (Grades uncut; lengths measured along hole; Table 1):

PB-25-475: 1.94 g/t Au over 31.0 metres located under current resource pit from the Grey Fox footwall ("FW"), and 1.73 g/t Au over 6.1 metres located under current resource pit from the Grey Fox hanging wall ("HW");

PB-25-477: 2.03 g/t Au over 19.7 metres; located below current resource pit from the Grey Fox FW; and

New Core Area Outside of Current Resource Pit: The holes reported today, PB-25-475 and PB-25-477, coupled with previously reported hole PB-25-476, which intersected 2.89 g/t Au over 10.6 meters (see press release dated March 3, 2025), outline a new core area with all holes intersecting the Grey Fox FW zone along a strike of 150 metres and up to 200 metres vertically; all 3 holes are outside the current resource pit; this target remains open along strike and at depth.

"Today's exciting results, including 1.94 g/t over 31 metres in hole PB-25-475and 2.03 g/t over 19.7 metres in hole PB-25-477, continue to demonstrate the expansion potential of the Philibert deposit with three holes (475, 476, and 477) returning robust grades and excellent continuity beyond the current pit shell. These results further strengthen the steady progress made in expanding the mineralization at the southeastern extent of the pit, where we recently reported significant on-strike mineralization outside of the current 3 km-long resource pit, including 2.60 g/t over 26.5 metres in hole PB-24-448 and 3.59 g/t over 7.7 metres in hole PB-24-450, located approximately 200 metres and 800 metres east of the resource pit, respectively. These findings support the strong expansion potential beyond the current resource of 1,708,800 oz inferred at 1.1 g/t and 278,900 oz indicated at 1.1 g/t.5 The continued progression of Philibert reinforces its position as a cornerstone of the rapidly emerging Chibougamau Gold Camp," said Simon Marcotte, President and Chief Executive Officer

1 Northern Superior has the option to acquire from Soquem the remaining 25% (to own 100%) of the Philibert Project for a cash payment of CAD$3.5 million.

Unlocking Higher-Grade Gold Historically Considered Underground

A 1991 study evaluating the economic potential of the Philibert Project focused exclusively on underground resources in the western domains, identifying approximately 239,000 ounces at 5.68 g/t gold (this resource is not NI 43-101 compliant).2 In contrast, the mineral resource estimate published by Northern Superior in 2023 did not include any underground potential, as it was limited to an open-pit assessment.

As the Company continues to successfully expand the Philibert mineralization, widening the pit not only increases its lateral extent but consequently allows for greater depth. An expanded pit design with greater depth could enable the capture of higher-grade mineralization, which was so far considered to have underground potential only (see Figure 3 and Figure 4). The disseminated mineralization, occurring over broad widths with significant grades-along with higher-grade shoots as identified in drill holes from this release-is being analyzed using new geological and structural data to refine the mineralization model and identify potential resource expansions.

Drilling Results

Drill holes PB-25-475 and PB-25-477 successfully targeted the Grey Fox FW zone approximately 80 metres below the current resource pit, 175 metres vertical depth, and 150 metres along strike. These results confirm that mineralization extends at depth and along strike, demonstrating both higher-grade intervals and broader zones of lower-grade mineralization. (See Figure 1 for a plan map of the drilling and Table 1 for a list of significant results.)

2 Historical information: Roche Ltee., (1991) Economique, Propriete Philibert. Projet: 11044-001.

Figure 1: Plan Map of Philibert 2024 Diamond Drilling

Drill hole PB-25-475 returned 1.94 g/t Au over 31.0 metres, including 5.93 g/t Au over 2.0 metres, 5.01 g/t Au over 3.0 metres, and 28.0 g/t Au over 1.0 metre from the Grey Fox FW zone. This interval is approximately 150 metres along strike from PB-25-477, which returned 2.03 g/t Au over 19.7 metres, including 5.02 g/t Au over 7.1 metres. Previously reported hole PB-25-476, located between PB-25-475 and PB-25-477, returned 2.89 g/t Au over 10.6 metres, including 5.15 g/t Au over 5.3 metres from the Grey Fox FW (see press release dated March 3, 2025). These results demonstrate impressive continuity with significant grades and widths. Mineralization in the footwall is hosted within the siliceous phase of the Philibert gabbro seam, characterized by pervasive silica and quartz-veining with variable amounts of ankerite, sericite, and disseminated pyrite-pyrrhotite (1-15% abundance). (See Figure 3 for a longitudinal view of the FW zone, Figure 4 for a section view, and Figure 6 for a core photo of PB-25-477.)

The interpreted Grey Fox HW zone was tested with hole PB-25-475, which returned 1.73 g/t Au over 6.1 metres, including 4.99 g/t Au over 1.4 metres. Previously reported drill hole PB-25-476 returned 2.5 g/t Au over 8.4 metres, including 6.47 g/t Au over 1.7 metres, while PB-25-477 returned 0.98 g/t Au over 2.8 metres. The drill holes were primarily designed to test beneath the resource pit of the FW zone rather than target hanging wall mineralization. Mineralization in the HW zone represents a litho-structural contact between the Philibert gabbro seam and mafic volcanics, and locally with interbedded sediments, including graphitic argillite. The zone exhibits strong deformation, fracturing, and sulphide mineralization with smoky quartz and quartz-tourmaline veins. (See Figure 4 for a section view, and Figure 5 for a longitudinal view of the HW zone.)

Today's drilling results continue to highlight the potential to expand the pit northward by incorporating the HW zone, while also extending mineralization at depth within the FW zone. Although the FW zone is better understood, the geological team is actively studying the HW and their structural relationships to refine and enhance the mineralization model.

Table 1: Significant Drill hole Intersections

DDH ID From (m) To (m) Width (m) Au Final (g/t) Metal Factor (g/t x m) Zone Press Release PB-25-475 76.5 82.6 6.1 1.73 10.6 Grey Fox HW Current including 79.1 80.5 1.4 4.99 7.0 Grey Fox HW Current and 111.0 126.0 15.0 0.23 3.5 Grey Fox HW Current and 204.0 235.0 31.0 1.94 60.1 Grey Fox FW Current Including 204.0 206.0 2.0 5.93 11.9 Grey Fox FW Current and including 214.0 217.0 3.0 5.01 15.0 Grey Fox FW Current and including 231.0 232.0 1.0 28.00 28.0 Grey Fox FW Current PB-25-476 98.6 107.0 8.4 2.50 21.0 Grey Fox HW March 3, 2025 including 98.6 100.3 1.7 6.47 10.7 Grey Fox FW March 3, 2025 and 203.0 214.6 10.6 2.90 30.7 Grey Fox FW March 3, 2025 and 257.2 264.6 7.4 0.83 6.1 Grey Fox FW March 3, 2025 PB-25-477 145.7 148.5 2.8 0.98 2.8 Grey Fox HW Current and 247.3 267.0 19.7 2.03 40.0 Grey Fox FW Current including 256.7 263.8 7.1 5.02 35.6 Grey Fox FW Current

Intersections are determined using 0.2 g/t Au cut off and no more than 10 metres of consecutive dilution. Grades are presented uncut. If an intersection is 1 metre or less dilution under 0.2 g/t Au may be used to determine a 2-metre intersection.

Figure 3: Longitudinal view of Grey Fox FW zone inclined at 45 degrees towards the NE. Looking NE.

Figure 4: Section view of Grey Fox FW and HW zones looking NW - section width 200 metres

Figure 5: Longitudinal view of Grey Fox HW zone inclined at 45 degrees towards the NE. Looking NE.

Figure 6: Core PB-25-477 from 256.7 to 263.8 m; returned 5.02 g/t Au over 7.1 m. Values listed are g/t Au (uncapped).

Table 2: Drill holes collars and parameters

DDH ID Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth PB-25-475 529522 5480415 380 210 60 300 PB-25-476 529582 5480358 380 210 50 285 PB-25-477 529677 5480377 381 210 50 291

The Chibougamau Gold Camp

The Chibougamau Gold Camp is rapidly emerging as one of the world's most sought-after gold destinations with several complementary gold resources reaching viable scale. In recent years, these critical assets were divided amongst five different companies. Today, largely due to Northern Superior's acquisitions and corporate transactions,3 ownership has been streamlined, with only IAMGOLD and Northern Superior holding these assets. The proximity of these deposits to each other makes them ideally suited to feed a single mill, and their consolidation enhances their viability, thereby increasing their value.

Below is a table showing the resources of the camp having been formalized to date.

Note: see NI-43-101 information below in notes 4, 5, 6, and 7. 3 Including Northern Superior acquisitions of Genesis Metals Corp. and Royal Fox Gold Inc.

Qualified Person ("QP")

The technical content and drilling results contained in this news release have been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and have been reviewed and approved by Ms. Melanie Pichon, P.Geo., Senior Geologist for Northern Superior. Ms. Pichon is a QP under the NI 43-101 and is not considered independent.

Northern Superior adheres to strict protocols following the NI 43-101 best practices when conducting exploration works. Sampling and assay results are monitored with a strict QAQC protocols. Drilled core is processed and assayed in Northern Superior's facilities in Chapais, Quebec. Core samples (half core) are transported to Agat Laboratory in Val d'Or.Samples are analyzed by fire assay with a 50-gram charge with an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. Samples returning assay values over 10.0 grams are re-assayed with a gravimetric finish. QAQC consists of 4% of blank material, certified standards and duplicates inserted in the assay sequences by Northern Superior.

About Northern Superior Resources Inc.

Northern Superior is a gold exploration company focused on the Chibougamau Camp in Quebec, Canada. The Company has consolidated the largest land package in the region, with total land holdings currently exceeding 62,000 hectares. The main properties include Philibert, Lac Surprise, Chevrier, and Croteau. Northern Superior also owns 62% of ONGold Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ONAU) which is advancing promising exploration assets in Northern Ontario and Manitoba, including the district scale TPK Project and Monument Bay; Agnico Eagles Mines Limited owns 15% of ONGold Resources Ltd.

The Philibert Project is located 9 km from IAMGOLD Corporation's Nelligan4 Gold project. Philibert hosts a maiden 43-101 inferred resource of 1,708,800 ounces Au and an indicated resource of 278,900 ounces of Au.5 Northern Superior holds a majority stake of 75% in the Philibert Project, with the remaining 25% owned by SOQUEM, and retains an option to acquire the full 100% ownership of the project. Chevrier hosts an inferred mineral resource of 652,000 ounces Au (underground and open pit) and an indicated mineral resource of 260,000 ounces Au.6 Croteau hosts an inferred mineral resource of 640,000 ounces Au.7 Lac Surprise hosts the Falcon Zone Discovery, interpreted to be the western strike extension of IAMGOLD Corporation's Nelligan Gold project.

Northern Superior is a reporting issuer in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, and trades on the TSXV under the symbol SUP and the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol NSUPF. For further information, please refer to the Company's website at www.nsuperior.com or the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About SOQUEM

SOQUEM, a subsidiary of Investissement Quebec, is dedicated to promoting the exploration, discovery, and development of mining properties in Quebec. SOQUEM also contributes to maintaining strong local economies. Proud partner and ambassador for the development of Quebec's mineral wealth, SOQUEM relies on innovation, research, and strategic minerals to be well-positioned for the future.

Northern Superior Resources Inc. on Behalf of the Board of Directors

Simon Marcotte, CFA, President and Chief Executive Officer

Contact Information

Katrina Damouni

Director - Corporate Development

Tel: +44 7795 128583 (Mobile/WhatsApp)

info@nsuperior.com

4 "lAMGOLD Announces Significant Increase in Nelligan Ounces & Update of Global Mineral Reserves and Resources"

IAMGOLD reports increase in mineral reserves and resources at existing assets, with increase in resources at Gosselin; IAMGOLD Corporation News Release dated February 15, 2024, October 23, 2024, and February 20, 2025.

5Northern Superior announces 1,708,809 gold ounces in inferred category and 278,921 gold ounces in indicated category at 1.10 g/t in maiden NI 43-101 pit constrained resource estimate at Philibert; Northern Superior's press release dated August 08, 2023.

6NI 43-101 Technical Report Mineral Resource Estimation for the Chevrier Main Deposit, Chevrier Project Chibougamau, Quebec, Canada, October 20, 2021, Prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 by Lions Gate Geological Consulting Inc. IOS Services Geoscientifiques Inc. for Northern Superior.

7 Chalice Gold Mines Limited and Northern Superior Resources Inc. Technical Report on the Croteau Est Gold Project, Quebec, September 2015, Prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 by Optiro Pty Ltd ("Optiro") to Chalice Gold Mines Limited and Northern Superior.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. The information in this news release about the proposed transaction; and any other information herein that is not a historical fact may be "forward-looking information". Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "interpreted", "management's view", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward- looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of Northern Superior, at the time it was made, involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the companies to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks relating to the ability of the parties to execute the proposed transaction. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the parties cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither party nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking information. Neither party undertakes, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by law.

SOURCE: Northern Superior Resources Inc.
Canada's Start-Up Visa: A 2025 Lifeline for Global Entrepreneurs

Canada's Start-Up Visa is gaining global attention as an unconventional but powerful way for entrepreneurs to gain permanent residency while building something new. Tailored for bold thinkers-especially tech professionals, software developers, and investors-the program allows applicants to relocate to Canada, grow an innovative business, and bring their families along for the journey.

To qualify, applicants must partner with a designated Canadian venture capital firm, angel investor, or business incubator. The startup must be incorporated in Canada and demonstrate genuine innovation-not a generic storefront model. Founders must hold at least 10% of voting rights individually, and more than 50% when combined with their designated partner. The process is strict, but the payoff is clear: a direct pathway to PR without needing the business to hit revenue targets first.

The benefits go far beyond business. The Start-Up Visa allows for family inclusion-spouses and dependent children under 22 can be part of the application. There's also an open work permit option that gives founders immediate flexibility while their PR is processed. Once approved, permanent residency is granted regardless of business performance, and citizenship becomes an option after three years of living in Canada. For entrepreneurs ready to scale globally, the Start-Up Visa is a gateway to stability and opportunity.

What makes the program especially timely is its alignment with the global shift toward remote work and borderless entrepreneurship. Founders no longer need to choose between building a business and securing a future for their families-they can do both at once. With the right strategy and support, the Start-Up Visa turns Canada into more than just a destination-it becomes a home base for global growth.

To dive deeper into Canada's Start-Up Visa program, Ingwe Immigration is hosting a YouTube Live event on Thursday at 11:30 AM ET. Immigration expert Reza Motalebpour will walk through the key requirements, share insider tips for success, and answer live questions from aspiring entrepreneurs.. Join at http://www.youtube.com/@INGWECanada.

About:

Ingwe Immigration Inc. is a Toronto-based consultancy specializing in global residency and citizenship solutions. They assist professionals, families, and investors in over 20 countries, offering tailored strategies for tax relief, passport access, and wealth preservation.

Contact: Reza Motalebpour, 647-370-0101, media@ingwe.ca

SOURCE: INGWE Immigration Inc.
COMvergence Report Shows OMG #1 for Retention, Holding on to 74% of Its Billings in Play in a Year When the Industry Average Was Only 32%

OMG agencies PHD and OMD Leverage Agency as a Platform Model to Dominate Global Media Network Ranking

NEW YORK, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Omnicom Media Group (OMG), the media services division of Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) and parent company to the OMD, PHD and Hearts & Science global media agency networks, had the best total new business record (wins minus losses, including retentions) among global media management groups in 2024.

As reported in the recently published Global Media Agency New Business Barometer Full Year 2024 - an analysis of the global media agency marketplace from independent research company COMvergence - OMG was awarded approximately $7.7 billion in client billings - including $4.6 million in retained business - in 2024, outperforming its nearest competitor by more than $1 billion.

Notably, OMG also had the best retention rate, successfully defending 74% of its billings in review - in a year when the industry's average retention rate was only 32% - while concurrently expanding its client roster with net new wins like Amazon, Gap Inc., Goldman Sachs, HanesBrands, Michelin, Priceline, and Tim Hortons.

Looking at 2024 total new business against 2023 billings reveals a projected 2024 YoY growth rate of 10.5%1 - the highest among all global media groups - as well as an overall retention rate of 96% across all OMG clients.

The COMvergence results affirm the findings of a 2024 analysis from leading research and advisory firm Forrester in which OMG was named a "Leader". Earning the highest score among the 12 global media management groups evaluated in The Forrester Wave: Media Management Services, Q4 2024, OMG received 5/5 scores in eight categories, including Innovation, Martech and Adtech Implementation and Media Responsibility. As reported in the evaluation, Omnicom clients noted the agency's transparent business practices, trustworthy relationships, and strength of Omni - the open operating system that supports all Omnicom agencies - technology for media and business intelligence.

The Omni advantage was evident in OMG's win/loss share as the group leveraged its Omni-powered Agency as a Platform model that enables a flexible ecosystem of talent, capabilities, and technology across all OMG agencies to win 24% of the $39 billion in business in 2024, while its share of losses was only 8%.

Commenting on the group's 2024 performance, OMG CEO Florian Adamski said "The only thing more challenging than winning a new client over a months-long pitch is re-winning the clients you have - every single day. In 2024, our 28,000 people around the world met both of those challenges, optimizing our Agency as a Platform model to deliver innovative media solutions that drive business growth and build enduring relationships - between brands and consumers, and between brands and their media agency partner - in an increasingly more complex and dynamic marketplace."

Beyond topping the global ranking, OMG was also #1 in North America, EMEA and LATAM, and in the largest advertising market (the US); and in Argentina, Bulgaria, Czechia, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Sweden Switzerland, and Turkey.

PHD and OMD Again Dominate the Global Agency Network Rankings

OMG's best-in-class total new business ranking was fueled by powerful performances from its agency networks- PHD and OMD claiming the #1 an d #3 spots on the global network ranking.

PHD's secured its best-in-class ranking with $3.8b in total new business earned by successfully defending the $2.2b Volkswagen Group business as well as Sainsbury's , HP and the majority of its Unilever business - a performance that translated to an astonishing 83% retention rate, topping all other networks by a significant margin. Incremental wins included Priceline and David Yurman and an expanded relationship with QSR giant Restaurant Brand's International - for which it supports Burger King, Popeye's, and Tim Horton - with the addition of the Firehouse Subs franchise in the US and the Tim Horton's Canada business.

Joining PHD at the top of the global ranking with wins that included Gap Inc., MSC Cruises, AliExpress and Michelin, OMD was also the #1 agency network in North America for net new business (wins minus losses, excluding retentions).

A Strong Start to 2025

The COMvergence ranking caps a first quarter that has seen OMG and its agencies leading the industry on multiple fronts, starting at CES where the group announced a series of first-mover partnerships with Amazon, Google, Roku and TikTok that unlock consumer insights to supercharge search investment and outcomes.

Less than 30 days into the new year the trade press reported that the $550 Volkswagen China business had been awarded to PHD China. This was followed by Warner Bros Discovery naming Hearts & Science media agency of record for APAC.

Earlier this month, PHD and OMD each earned Agency of the Year titles from the leading US advertising trade publications, with Adweek naming PHD its Global Media Agency of the Year for the second consecutive year; and AdAge naming OMD USA its Media Agency of the Year.

About Omnicom Media Group

Omnicom Media Group (OMG), the media services division of Omnicom (NYSE: OMC), delivers transformational experiences for consumers, clients, and talent. Powered by the Omni marketing orchestration system, OMG connects best-in-class capabilities that enable our full-service media agencies OMD , PHD and Hearts & Science to deliver more relevant and actionable consumer experiences; more productive and proactive client experiences; and more collaborative and rewarding talent experiences for the more than 28,000 people serving the world's leading brands in OMG agencies around the globe.

___________________________

1 COMvergence Global & Regional Billings Rankings Projected 2024

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Axcap Ventures Inc. ("Axcap" or the "Company") (CSE:AXCP)(OTC:GARLF) is pleased to announce the commencement of a 5,000-meter drill program at its flagship Converse Project in Nevada. This program consists of five drill holes designed to refine the existing resource model, test for expansion potential, and evaluate deeper mineralization within reactive Lower Plate rocks.

The Converse Property is in the Battle Mountain district, within the Battle Mountain-Eureka Trend, one of the main gold deposit trends in Nevada comprising a northwest-trending belt of precious metal deposits with current reserves and past production exceeding 50 million oz Au. The property currently hosts a Measured and Indicated Resource of 262.7 million tonnes (Mt) at 0.61 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) for 5.17 million ounces and Inferred Resource of 26.4 million tonnes (Mt) at 0.65 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) for 0.55 million ounces.

Drill Program Highlights

Resource Expansion & Optimization: Near-surface drilling will target gaps within the existing resource to improve continuity and refine the deposit model.

Follow-Up on High-Grade Intersections: Initial holes will step out from historic intercepts ending in mineralization reinforcing the scale and strength of the system.

Blake McLaughlin, Vice President of Exploration at Axcap Ventures Inc., commented:

"Converse is already a significant asset, but we believe there is untapped potential at depth. By targeting Lower Plate carbonate rocks, we are exploring the possibility of a high-grade skarn system that could materially enhance the project's scale and economics. This program is an important step toward realizing Converse's full potential."

Located in a premier mining jurisdiction, the Converse Project hosts a large, well-defined gold system with substantial expansion potential. This drill program reflects Axcap's strategic approach to resource growth and value creation.

Drilling is set to begin in the last week of March, with results expected in the following months. The Company will provide updates as the program progresses.

Blake Mclaughlin, PGEO, a qualified person pursuant no 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release.

About Axcap Ventures Inc.

Axcap Ventures Inc. is an investment company focused on acquiring and developing high-value resource projects. Leveraging management's expertise in capital markets and project evaluation, Axcap is committed to maximizing shareholder returns through disciplined exploration and development strategies.

For more information, please contact:

Blake Mclaughlin, VP Exploration

bmclaughlin@patriotgoldvault.com

Mario Vetro, Director

mario@commoditypartners.ca

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the scope and anticipated outcomes of the drill program at the Converse Project. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.

SOURCE: Axcap Ventures Inc.
Available for Complimentary Download With Registration

Black Book Market Research, an independent global healthcare technology research firm, announced today the publication of its highly anticipated "2025 Black Book of Patient Engagement and Healthcare Consumer Communications Technology." This 130-page resource is offered gratis to industry stakeholders, providing extensive insights, strategic analysis, customer and patient feedback, and 200+ detailed vendor profiles to support informed decision-making.

This year's edition offers an unprecedented look at patient engagement solutions, ranging from end-to-end comprehensive platforms to specialized niche, EHR-agnostic applications. The guide explores cutting-edge trends including AI-driven automation, predictive analytics, omnichannel communication, enhanced interoperability, cybersecurity innovations, and the surge in personalized healthcare engagement tools. It may be download without cost at https://blackbookmarketresearch.com/2025-black-book-of-patient-engagement-and-healthcare-consumer-communications-technology.

Key findings reveal that 85% of healthcare organizations are now investing in AI-powered patient engagement technologies, while 78% of consumers prefer digital communication channels. Additionally, 43% of health systems plan to transition away from legacy engagement platforms by Q3 2026, signaling a significant shift towards advanced, integrated solutions.

Doug Brown, founder of Black Book Research, emphasized, "Patient engagement technology is rapidly evolving into an essential component of healthcare delivery. Our 2025 report underscores that healthcare organizations that strategically integrate AI, interoperability frameworks, and secure, consumer-focused solutions will be best positioned to enhance patient outcomes and improve operational efficiency in an increasingly digital healthcare environment."

Comprehensive Vendor Profiles and Market Insights

The guide includes detailed profiles of 224 vendors across 14 solution and niche categories, providing clarity on the strengths and market positioning of industry-leading providers. These profiles highlight solutions tailored to various healthcare settings including hospitals, health systems, payers, and physician practices, enabling informed comparisons and strategic decisions.

New Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Focused on Emerging Technologies

Traditional performance metrics - such as Net Promoter Scores (NPS) and generic online satisfaction ratings - have long been used to assess healthcare IT vendors, but in the realm of Patient Engagement and Healthcare Consumer Communication Technologies, these measures have proven inadequate. They fail to capture the complexity of digital patient interactions, interoperability effectiveness, AI-driven personalization, and secure data exchange. As a result, healthcare IT leaders have often lacked the nuanced, actionable insights needed to make informed vendor decisions - limiting innovation and overlooking truly high-performing solutions.

To solve this, Black Book led an extensive, multi-stakeholder initiative involving CIOs, vendor executives, academic researchers, and digital health leaders to develop a new, purpose-built set of KPIs specifically for this rapidly advancing sector. These new metrics account for technological innovation, including AI-powered engagement, FHIR-based interoperability, cybersecurity resilience, and patient-centered communication outcomes. The 2025 guide now applies this rigorous framework to identify top-performing vendors with real-world impact - empowering decision-makers to move beyond outdated benchmarks and adopt solutions that truly enhance patient experience, care delivery, and digital transformation outcomes.

In-Depth Coverage of AI, Cybersecurity and Interoperability Trends

The report provides extensive analysis of AI integration in patient communication, showing administrative workload reductions of up to 60% through chatbot adoption and increased patient adherence rates by as much as 38%. It also addresses the critical issue of cybersecurity, noting a 42% rise in cyberattacks on healthcare organizations, underscoring the urgency for blockchain-based patient identity solutions and biometric security advancements. Additionally, the document explores interoperability trends with over 90% of major healthcare organizations projected to implement FHIR-based APIs by 2027, significantly reducing manual errors and improving care coordination.

Analytics and Data Science in Patient Engagement

Newly featured analytics and data science sections emphasize the growing role of predictive analytics in patient engagement. Organizations leveraging these advanced tools report a 30% reduction in patient no-shows and a 24% decrease in preventable ER visits, demonstrating the clear financial and clinical benefits of data-driven patient engagement strategies.

About Black Book Market Research

Black Book Market Research is the healthcare industry's trusted source for independent and impartial evaluations of patient engagement and healthcare consumer communication solutions. With a robust methodology involving feedback from thousands of healthcare professionals and digital health leaders annually, Black Book provides definitive insights, benchmarking industry standards, and delivering actionable intelligence to healthcare executives, analysts, investors, and media outlets worldwide.

For more information or to request your complimentary copy of the 2025 Black Book of Patient Engagement and Healthcare Consumer Communications Technology, visit www.blackbookmarketresearch.com or contact the Client Resource Center at +1-800-863-7590 or research@BlackBookMarketResearch.com.

SOURCE: Black Book Research
ExaGrid, the industry's only Tiered Backup Storage solution with Retention Time-Lock that includes a non-network-facing tier (creating a tiered air gap), delayed deletes and immutability for ransomware recovery, today announced that the ExaGrid Reseller Partner Program has been honored by CRN, a brand of The Channel Company with inclusion in the prestigious 2025 CRN Partner Program Guide. This annual guide is an essential resource for solution providers seeking vendor partner programs that match their business goals and deliver high partner value.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250325228652/en/

The extensive support and resources technology vendors offer through their partner programs are a critical consideration for solution providers assessing which IT vendors, service providers, and distributors to team with in building world-class technology solutions. Program elements such as financial incentives, sales and marketing assistance, training and certification, technical support and more can set vendors apart and play a key role in boosting their partners' long-term growth and profitability.

For the 2025 Partner Program Guide, the CRN research team evaluated vendors based on program requirements and offerings such as partner training and education, pre- and post-sales support, marketing programs and resources, technical support, and communication.

"ExaGrid is honored to be included in the 2025 CRN Partner Program Guide," said Bill Andrews, President and CEO of ExaGrid. "ExaGrid has spent years perfecting its go-to-market approach with resellers and we believe we have one of the strongest reseller programs in the industry. Our channel partners know that ExaGrid Tiered Backup Storage works well and includes many unique benefits that improve backup and restore performance in a customer's backup environment, offers the most comprehensive security and ransomware recovery, and provides incredible customer support to their customers, so they recommend that customers use ExaGrid with confidence."

ExaGrid works with resellers and distributors worldwide. The ExaGrid programs are designed to be easy for partners, with support from the ExaGrid sales team and without milestone commitments. ExaGrid is known for having a Tiered Backup Storage system that "just works," is not oversold or undersized, and provides its customers with the best customer support industry from an assigned level 2 technical support engineer, ensuring that partners' customers are well taken care of. ExaGrid provides its reseller partners with a registration program to protect accounts and margins, and SPIF incentives.

"Being featured on the 2025 CRN Partner Program Guide highlights the dedication these technology vendors have to evolving with solution providers, driving innovation, and supporting mutual success," said Jennifer Follett, VP, U.S. Content and Executive Editor, CRN, at The Channel Company. "This critical annual project empowers solution providers to identify vendors that are committed to enhancing their partner programs and meeting the always-changing business needs of the channel and end customers. The guide provides deep insight into the distinctive value of each partner program so solution providers can make strategic partnership decisions with confidence."

The 2025 Partner Program Guide will be spotlighted in the April 2025 issue of CRN and published online at: https://www.crn.com/partner-program-guide/ppg2025

About ExaGrid

ExaGrid provides Tiered Backup Storage with a unique disk-cache Landing Zone, long-term retention repository, scale-out architecture, and comprehensive security features. ExaGrid's Landing Zone provides for the fastest backups, restores, and instant VM recoveries. The Repository Tier offers the lowest cost for long-term retention. ExaGrid's scale-out architecture includes full appliances and ensures a fixed-length backup window as data grows, eliminating expensive forklift upgrades and planned product obsolescence. ExaGrid offers the only two-tiered backup storage approach with a non-network-facing tier (tiered air gap), delayed deletes, and immutable objects to recover from ransomware attacks.

ExaGrid has physical sales and pre-sales systems engineers in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Benelux, Brazil, Canada, Chile, CIS, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nordics, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and other regions.

Visit us at exagrid.com or connect with us on LinkedIn. See what our customers have to say about their own ExaGrid experiences and learn why they now spend significantly less time on backup storage in our customer success stories. ExaGrid is proud of our +81 NPS score!

ExaGrid is a registered trademark of ExaGrid Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company (TCC) is the global leader in channel growth for the world's top technology brands. We accelerate success across strategic channels for tech vendors, solution providers, and end users with premier media brands, integrated marketing and event services, strategic consulting, and exclusive market and audience insights. TCC is a portfolio company of investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, a New York City-based private equity firm. For more information, visit thechannelco.com.

Follow The Channel Company: LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.

 2025 The Channel Company, Inc. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250325228652/en/

Contacts:

The Channel Company Contact:

Kristin DaSilva

The Channel Company

kdasilva@thechannelcompany.com



ExaGrid Contact:

Mary Domenichelli

ExaGrid

mdomenichelli@exagrid.com
China intensifies efforts to eradicate tuberculosis

Xinhua) 10:02, March 25, 2025

BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- As a country facing huge challenges posed by tuberculosis (TB), China is accelerating its efforts to eliminate the disease domestically while making active contributions to the global anti-TB fight.

According to data from the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, the incidence and mortality rates of TB in China have fallen by 30 percent since 2012.

Since 2012, China has successfully identified and treated approximately 7.85 million cases of pulmonary TB, maintaining a treatment success rate above 90 percent and a relatively low mortality rate, the administration said.

Behind these encouraging figures is a cumulative investment of over 10 billion yuan (about 1.39 billion U.S. dollars) from China's central government into special funds for TB prevention and control, noted Zhao Yanlin, head of the Center for Tuberculosis Prevention and Control under the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC).

To ease the financial burden on TB patients, some local medical insurance bureaus in China have included TB into the category of outpatient chronic and special diseases, which offers higher reimbursement rates and caps than ordinary outpatient diseases, with reimbursement rates exceeding 90 percent.

In Jiangsu Province, thanks to the policy to use certain innovative drugs free-of-charge in medical treatment, the treatment success rate for drug-resistant TB cases has risen to 85.6 percent, said Zhu Limei, an institute director under the province's center for disease control and prevention.

Beyond financial and policy support, China is also committed to innovation, aiming to further enhance TB prevention and treatment.

In Jinxi, a town in Jiangsu, TB detection has shifted from passive to proactive screening, with an AI-powered imaging system and molecular diagnostic technologies now available at the community health center.

"AI can quickly flag lung abnormalities, allowing faster diagnosis at the grassroots level," said Tang Qingyan, a doctor with a local hospital. Currently, the new system and technologies are available in 47 community hospitals across the province, with plans to expand to 100 this year.

In March, Jiangsu's capital city of Nanjing launched one of the country's first zero-cost treatment plan for drug-resistant TB using BPaL -- the latest short-course regimen worldwide. This regimen, featuring drugs such as bedaquiline, pretomanid and linezolid, is expected to shorten the treatment period to just six months and boost the cure rate to over 90 percent.

The first patient to receive the regimen in Nanjing said, "I was under immense pressure, worrying about whether the disease could be cured. This short and effective novel treatment has given me reassurance."

In its national plan for TB prevention and control released in November 2024, China set a clear objective to steadily reduce incidence, maintain low mortality rates, and significantly ease the burden on patients.

Jointly issued by nine authorities, the plan integrates responsibilities across 15 government departments into an accountability framework, strengthening interagency coordination to ensure policy implementation.

"Ending TB requires everyone's effort, not just that of healthcare workers," said an official from the China CDC. In fact, the entire Chinese society is actively working toward the goal of eradicating this deadly disease, the official noted.

Hu Linjia, a university student volunteer, has been visiting local communities and using interactive quizzes to educate the elderly on TB prevention and control.

"Every person made aware of TB brings us one step closer to ending this epidemic," Hu said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
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!
The annual two-day event will feature industry leaders from top brands including Microsoft, Yahoo, Heineken, Paramount, and more

SAN FRANCISCO, March 25, 2025, a global leader in media, social and consumer intelligence, today announced a lineup of industry-leading speakers for Meltwater Summit 2025 . Set against the backdrop of Times Square in New York City, the event returns for its third year on May 6-7 and will be headlined by Reese Witherspoon as the celebrity keynote speaker.

Award-winning actress, producer, entrepreneur, and bestselling author, Witherspoon has mastered the art of storytelling across film, media, and business-turning her passion for authentic narratives into globally recognized brands like Hello Sunshine, Draper James, and Reese's Book Club. At Meltwater Summit, she'll share insights on driving impact through storytelling, building meaningful connections through social platforms, developing cohesive multi-channel brand strategies, and scaling women-centric businesses. Her experience embodies this year's Summit theme, Insights to Impact, offering attendees a unique perspective on transforming data into stories that foster lasting consumer relationships.

Meltwater Summit is a premier two-day event for PR and marketing professionals eager to transform data and insights into impactful strategies. Building on past success with keynote speakers like Ryan Reynolds, Bethenny Frankel and Trevor Noah, Witherspoon will headline this year's conference that features a diverse lineup of industry leaders from the world's top brands. Sessions will explore topics such as building brand resilience in a disinformation-driven world, breaking through in today's crowded media landscape, tapping into social listening for trend forecasting, and mastering AI for PR and Marketing.

Featured speakers at Meltwater Summit 2025 include:

Barbara Peng, CEO, Business Insider

Sona Iliffe-Moon, Chief Communications Officer, Yahoo

Sawyer Hemsley, Co-Founder & Chief Brand Officer, Crumbl

Melissa Layton, Vice President, Global Communications, Crocs, Inc.

Stephanie Cohen Glass, Director of Corporate Communications, Microsoft

Vanessa Mbonu, Vice President of Marketing, NAACP

Narek Garit, Global Measurement & Analysis Lead, Heineken

Temeka Easter Rice, Head of Social Media, Vanguard

John Box, CEO, Meltwater



"Our vision for Meltwater Summit is to build a vibrant community of PR, Comms and Marketing professionals where they can engage in meaningful conversations and share innovative strategies that address the challenges they face every day," said Jenny Force, Global VP of Demand Generation, Meltwater. "By bringing together the brightest minds in our industry, we're creating a space for experts to share their knowledge and drive real impact. We are thrilled to have Reese Witherspoon join us, as she exemplifies the transformative power of storytelling and brand authenticity in today's market."

Learn more about Meltwater Summit 2025, the agenda, featured speakers, and registration information here: https://www.meltwater.com/en/summit/2025register

For more information, please contact:

Kelly Costello

Corporate Communications Director

pr@meltwater.com
Regula, a global developer of forensic devices and identity verification solutions, now has 15,000 templates in its identity document template database, the most comprehensive in the world. This significant update ensures that businesses and government agencies around the globe can verify the latest IDs, including the most advanced biometric documents, with the highest accuracy.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250325151280/en/

Regula's proprietary identity document template database contains detailed descriptions of each document's security features. Combined with the advanced capabilities of Regula Document Reader SDK, this enables online ID verification with the same level of precision previously achievable only in on-site scenarios. Incorporating ID templates from 251 countries and territories and capable of reading 138 national languages, this database enables the recognition and proper verification of nearly every ID from any corner of the world, even the rarest ones.

Tracking Global Shifts in Identity Documents

The latest expansion of Regula's ID template database reflects the global shift towards more sophisticated identity documents. More and more countries are introducing biometric passports, which are considered the most secure at the moment. For example, among the recent additions to Regula's database are the first-ever biometric passports issued by India, Sri Lanka, and Guyana.

Apart from the format, documents' security features are also becoming more complex and elaborate. First and foremost, ID issuers are switching from paper substrates in favor of polycarbonate pages, which are much harder to counterfeit. For this reason, states like Benin, Burkina Faso, Chile, and Djibouti have recently issued new IDs with polycarbonate data pages.

Another advanced security feature that has become quite widespread across different identity documents is the Multiple Laser Image (MLI). An MLI embeds two distinct images within a document. Typically, these include the passport holder's photo and their personal data. Special lenses positioned above the images can visualize either image clearly by tilting the document. Hard to illegally duplicate by design, MLIs significantly enhance document protection. Among the IDs that were added to Regula's ID template database with the latest update, the US driver's license from Wisconsin, as well as the ID cards of Jamaica, San Marino, and Yemen contain such security features.

"The growing complexity of identity documents presents notable challenges for ID verification workflows. Businesses and government agencies must be prepared to properly verify all the document security features so as not to miss any forgery or identity fraud attempts. Furthermore, they have to handle multiple ID versions from the same country simultaneously, as many older documents remain in circulation alongside the new formats. By keeping pace with evolving security features and document standards, we help streamline ID verification workflows, reduce fraud risks, and maintain compliance with global regulations," says Ihar Kliashchou, Chief Technology Officer at Regula.

Among the new IDs added to Regula's database to hit 15,000 templates are the following, issued in 2024-2025:

Passports:

Azerbaijan

Benin

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Chile

Djibouti

Germany

Guyana

India

Kosovo

Malawi

Myanmar

Netherlands

Romania

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Slovakia

Sri Lanka

Tajikistan

ID cards:

Argentina

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Chile

Guatemala

Jamaica

Kazakstan

Kosovo

Netherlands

Nigeria

Norway

Philippines

Puerto Rico

San Marino

Slovakia

Somalia

Sri Lanka

Vietnam

Yemen

Driver's licenses:

Azerbaijan

Denmark

Honduras

Iran

Kosovo

Mongolia

Puerto Rico

Slovakia

Sweden

Venezuela

Bolivia

US states: Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin

To get the full list of the documents supported by Regula's software solutions, visit Regula's official website.

About Regula

Regula is a global developer of forensic devices and identity verification solutions. With our 30+ years of experience in forensic research and the most comprehensive library of document templates in the world, we create breakthrough technologies for document and biometric verification. Our hardware and software solutions allow over 1,000 organizations and 80 border control authorities globally to provide top-notch client service without compromising safety, security, or speed. Regula has been repeatedly named a Representative Vendor in the Gartner Market Guide for Identity Verification.

Learn more at www.regulaforensics.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250325151280/en/

Contacts:

Kristina ks@regulaforensics.com
The working paper by MIT CISR explores Wolters Kluwer's transformation from publisher to global expert solutions provider

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Information Systems Research (MIT CISR) have published "Wolters Kluwer's Expert Solutions Journeya paper that explores through the lens of one of its five divisions the company's transformation-primarily via its concerted use of data, analytics and artificial intelligence technologies-to evolve from its longstanding role as publisher of professional journals into a global, expert solutions provider. The paper cites the instrumental role that Wolters Kluwer CEO and Chair of the Executive Board Nancy McKinstry has played in championing the company's digital transformation through the implementation of an expert solutions strategy, which today accounts for 59 percent of total revenues.

According to the paper, Wolters Kluwer defines expert solutions as offerings "that combine deep domain knowledge with technology to deliver both content and workflow automation to drive improved outcomes and productivity for our customers" and cites their development to be a key part of the company's successful strategy.

"The Wolters Kluwer Financial Corporate Compliance division exemplifies how the company was able to capitalize on digital business opportunities by leveraging its experience in content and service delivery," writes Barbara H. Wixom, Principal Research Scientist, MIT CISR.

The research demonstrates how Wolters Kluwer's transformation from publisher to global provider of professional information, software solutions, and services coincided with McKinstry taking the reins in 2003. Under her leadership, Wolters Kluwer leveled its focus on the standardization and consolidation of its many business services after having grown significantly through acquisitions over the previous 10 years. Next, the paper notes the company began investing 8-10% of revenues back into new and enhanced product development. By the early 2010s, it adopted an enterprise-wide strategy to develop and deliver expert solutions.

These developments led the Financial Corporate Compliance (FCC) division to form a group in 2012 known today as Operations Decision Science. The researchers found this group was established to support the division's fulfillment and content operations; collect and analyze customer and market insights; and use data, analytics, and later artificial intelligence to drive revenue growth.

"The establishment of Operations Decision Science brought like-minded professionals in the division together across design, data, and fulfillment and regulatory compliance operations," says Abhishek Mittal, Vice President, Operations Decision Science, Financial Corporate Compliance. "This allowed us to more easily harness this expertise and use it to add value across the FCC division."

The Operations Decision Science group, in partnership with its FCC business partners and Wolters Kluwer's Global Business Services and Digital eXperience Group, has been instrumental in helping the FCC division strengthen its fulfillment and content operations, adopt new technologies, and bring expert solutions to market. Some highlights of this work featured in the paper include:

Service of Process (SOP) Transformation: This work addressed the complexities of manually processing millions of legal notices, enabling FCC operators to efficiently process these notices and generate transmittal documents for customers.

Implementation of AI: The FCC division used various machine learning algorithms and natural language processing techniques to improve operational outcomes as well as develop new products like OneSumX ProViso, a solution to help financial institutions develop, maintain and prove compliance with legal obligations to U.S. federal and state regulators.

Adoption of Generative AI (GenAI): The FCC division has embraced the technology to develop solutions that support internal processes like a tool for drafting summaries of new laws and regulations to customer solutions like iLien Borrower Analytics, an AI-powered offering that helps lenders streamline the associated processes of lien search and due diligence when onboarding borrowers.

Learn more about this work and how the FCC division has helped Wolters Kluwer on its expert solutions journey in MIT CISR's paper "Wolters Kluwer's Expert Solutions Journey."

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (EURONEXT: WKL) is a global leader in information, software solutions and services for professionals in healthcare; tax and accounting; financial and corporate compliance; legal and regulatory; corporate performance and ESG. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2024 annual revenues of 5.9 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 21,400 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250325401074/en/

Contacts:

Media Contacts

David Feider

Associate Director, External Communications

Financial Corporate Compliance

Wolters Kluwer

Office +1 612-246-9454

david.feider@wolterskluwer.com

Stefan Kloet

Associate Director, Global Communications

Wolters Kluwer

+316 12 22 36 57

Stefan.kloet@wolterskluwer.com
Revenue for the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2024 Increased 31%

Net Income for the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2024 Increased 206%

Cash Provided by Operations for the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2024 Increased 600%

Previously Announced Share Repurchase Program for up to $1 Million Continues

Zoned Properties, Inc. ("Zoned Properties" or the "Company") (OTCQB:ZDPY), a technology-driven property investment company for emerging and highly regulated industries, including legalized cannabis, is thrilled to report its outstanding financial performance for the three months and full year ended December 31, 2024. The Company also announces its intent to explore strategic options for its innovative AI-powered PropTech platform, including REZONE, aiming to unlock additional value for shareholders.

Selected Financial Highlights for the Full Year Ended December 31, 2024:

Total revenues were $3,793,289 for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to total revenues of $2,886,991 for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 31%.

The Company reported net income of $573,958, or $0.06 per fully diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to a net loss of ($540,258), or ($0.04) per fully diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 206%.

Income from operations was $1,103,170 for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $169,187 for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 552%.

Cash provided by operating activities was $578,218 for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $82,547 for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 600%.

Operating expenses were $2,690,119 for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $2,717,804 for the year ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of 1%.

The Company had cash on hand of $1,019,980 as of December 31, 2024, compared to cash on hand of $3,099,795 as of December 31, 2023. The decrease in cash position primarily reflects the Company's use of funds for property acquisitions.

Selected Financial Highlights for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2024:

Total revenues were $1,234,281 for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to $705,900 for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 75%.

The Company reported net income of $450,896 for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to a net loss of $387,292 for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 216%.

Income from operations was $425,935 for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to $78,656 for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 442%.

Cash provided by operating activities was $122,855 for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, compared to $54,222 for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 127%.

Exploration of Strategic Options for PropTech Platform:

Building on the internal success of its proprietary REZONE platform, Zoned Properties is announcing plans to actively explore strategic opportunities to expand the Company's PropTech applications within and beyond the regulated cannabis sector. The Company will evaluate partnership opportunities with third-party technology platforms that may be complementary and will explore options to commercially deploy the PropTech platform within the cannabis real estate industry, as well as other industries with the goal of unlocking its full potential to streamline zoning and land use processes. The Company's REZONE platform utilizes artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to intelligently collect, rationalize, and categorize vast streams of real estate data, providing users with comprehensive zoning and land use insights.

Given its proven capabilities in assisting the Company with its internal operations and the competitive advantage provided by the technology to date, the Company believes that its PropTech platform, including REZONE, has the potential for broader applications across various industries, which could significantly enhance shareholder value.

Management Commentary:

"Our robust financial performance in 2024 in the midst of a challenged operating environment is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team," said Bryan McLaren, Chief Executive Officer of Zoned Properties. "We recognize the disconnect between our current market valuation and the tangible book value of our real estate assets and business operations. To address this, we are utilizing our share repurchase program and will continue to do so to enhance shareholder value. Moreover, as we look ahead, we are excited about the scalability of our direct-to-consumer real estate portfolio, and the potential PropTech opportunities we have been exploring. By evaluating strategic positioning and partnership for REZONE, we are exploring how we can leverage its advanced AI capabilities to serve a broader user-base, with the goal of unlocking further value for our shareholders."

About Zoned Properties, Inc. (OTCQB: ZDPY):

Zoned Properties Inc. ("Zoned Properties" or the "Company") (OTCQB: ZDPY) is a technology-driven property investment company focused on acquiring value-add real estate within the regulated cannabis industry in the United States. The Company aspires to innovate within the real estate development sector, focusing on direct-to-consumer real estate that is leased to the best-in-class cannabis retailers.

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Zoned Properties is redefining the approach to commercial real estate investment through its standardized investment process backed by its proprietary property technology. Zoned Properties has developed a national ecosystem of real estate services to support its real estate development model, including a commercial real estate brokerage and a real estate advisory practice. With a decade of national experience and a team of experts devoted to the emerging cannabis industry, Zoned Properties is addressing the specific needs of a modern market in highly regulated industries. The Company targets commercial properties that face unique zoning or development challenges, identifies solutions that can potentially have a major impact on their commercial value, and then works to acquire the properties while securing long-term, absolute-net leases.

Zoned Properties targets commercial properties that can be acquired and rezoned for specific purposes, including the regulated and legalized cannabis industry. It does not grow, harvest, sell or distribute cannabis or any substances regulated under United States law such as the Controlled Substance Act of 1970, as amended (the "CSA"). Zoned Properties corporate headquarters are located at 8360 E. Raintree Dr., Suite 230, Scottsdale, Arizona. For more information, call 877-360-8839 or visit www.ZonedProperties.com.

Twitter: @ZonedProperties

LinkedIn: @Zoned Properties

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "potential," "continue" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, and there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors, risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects the Company's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Investor Relations

Zoned Properties, Inc.

Bryan McLaren

Tel (877) 360-8839

Investors@zonedproperties.com

www.zonedproperties.com

SOURCE: Zoned Properties, Inc.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - Record Resources Inc. (TSXV: REC) reports it has commenced exploration work on its Lorrain-Bucke property in the Lake Temiskaming hydrogen camp.

The work program, which began a week ago, is being executed in collaboration with Quebec Innovative Materials Corp (QIMC), Montreal, and the Institut national de la la recherche scientifique (INRS), Quebec.

A hydrogen sampling survey was completed across three, parallel, east-west lines which were spaced two kilometres apart. The survey covered an area between the Ontario shoreline of the Lorrain-Bucke property to Ile Mann, which is located in the middle of Lake Temiskaming.

Using QIMC's proprietary mobile sampling technologies and methodologies, samples were meticulously collected at 100-metre intervals across the surface of the lake. This system allows for the accurate pinpointing of areas of elevated hydrogen concentrations.

This sampling system also enhances the geological modeling of the primary faults and the continuity of these faults. This sampling program was designed to build upon QIMC's high-grade hydrogen (H2) discoveries in adjacent St-Bruno-de-Guigues area.

Results from the sampling program are expected as early as next week, said the company.

Please visit the company's website at www.recordgoldcorp.com for detailed location and geophysical maps related to the Lorrain-Bucke Property.

About Record Resources Inc.

Record Resources is a Canadian exploration company (TSXV: REC). The company is focused on acquiring and developing its hydrogen and gold exploration properties. Record Resources is operated by a highly experienced and well connected management team which has access to extraordinary exploration opportunities and technical expertise. The company is also backed by an accomplished group of capital markets professionals.

Qualified Person:

Edward Procyshyn, P.Geo, a qualified person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

Cautionary Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes", an or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would" , "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: approval of the Private Placement and obtaining a full revocation order. This forward-looking information reflects the Company's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to the Company and on assumptions the Company believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: the market acceptance of the Private Placement; the ability of the Company to obtain a full revocation order and the receipt of all required approvals in connection with the foregoing. Forward looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market price for securities; and the delay or failure to receive board, shareholder, court or regulatory approvals. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. 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 the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law the Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The Units and the securities comprising the Units have not been and will not be 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 requirement. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor shall there be any sale of securities in the Unites States, or any other jurisdiction, in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities laws.

Location Map



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245975

SOURCE: Record Resources Inc.
PARIS, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- March 24, 2025, during the MPLS & SRv6 AI Net World Congress 2025, Huawei hosted the successful IP GALA themed "AI WAN: Leading IP Networks into the Intelligent Era." The summit brought together carriers, standards organizations, and industry organizations to explore the latest trends in AI WAN innovation. Leading carriers, including Telecom Argentina and Turkcell Turkiye, shared their innovative practices of IP networks. Meanwhile, Huawei offered a deep dive into how its AI WAN solution empowers IP networks using AI. The event also saw the launch of the AI WAN Initiative by the IPv6 Forum, World Broadband Association (WBBA), Turkcell Turkiye, Telecom Argentina, European Advanced Networking Test Center (EANTC), and Huawei, aiming to promote the evolution of IP network innovation and deployment.

Zuo Meng, President of Huawei's Router Domain within the Data Communication Product Line, said in his opening speech that carriers are now facing several challenges, including stagnant growth of traditional services, slower-than-expected development of new services, and both high network complexity and costs, necessitating upgrades to next-generation networks. By introducing AI to areas such as O&M, connections, and routing devices, Huawei's AI WAN solution helps enhance network capabilities and value.

Latif Ladid, President of the IPv6 Forum, believes that the integration of AI into network infrastructure like AI WAN is a necessity for the future. To accelerate the deployment of SRv6, the IPv6 Forum launched the SRv6 Ready Logo Program, with Huawei being one of the first device vendors to pass the certification.

Santiago Costanzo, Transport Evolution Manager of Telecom Argentina, shared the deployment and innovative practices of key technologies for IP networks in the AI era. He noted that SRv6 helps carriers improve E2E automation efficiency and achieve deterministic latency. In the AI era, Telecom is using AI technologies to simplify O&M and improve efficiency, creating value for customers.

Durmus Mehmet, Turkcell's IP/MPLS Core and Data Center Networks Associate Director, revealed that Turkcell is building an ultra-broadband and highly reliable autonomous network to provide differentiated services for customers. He emphasized that Turkcell recognized the evolution direction of AI WAN and will work with Huawei to conduct joint innovation centered on energy saving, FHC-based fiber monitoring, AI application identification, and AI agents.

Xu Huan, Vice President of Huawei's Router Domain within the Data Communication Product Line, provided expert insights into the AI WAN solution. He explained that this innovative solution features a three-layer architecture consisting of AI routers, AI new connections, and AI new brain. The solution helps carriers build networks with optimal TCO, expand new services, improve operations efficiency, and drive new service growth. Wu Qin, Huawei's data communication network architect and IETF Internet Architecture Board (IAB) Member, stated that the AI new brain consists of AssurSpirit, ChangeSpirit, and OptimSpirit. Through large-small model collaboration, the three AI agents enable intelligent operations and accelerate the evolution to Autonomous Networks (AN) L4. Zied Ben Houidi, Chief LLM Expert of Huawei's Data Communication Product Line, also shared the application of AI on IP networks.

Carsten Rossenhovel, CTO and Co-Founder of the European Advanced Networking Test Center (EANTC) - an authoritative third-party test organization in Europe - shared the progress of multi-vendor interoperability test in 2025. This indicates that the key capabilities of IP networks in the AI era have reached a higher level of maturity in terms of interoperability.

At the end of the IP GALA, the IPv6 Forum, WBBA, Turkcell Turkiye, Telecom Argentina, EANTC, and Huawei jointly launched the AI WAN Initiative to promote the evolution of IP network innovation and deployment.

Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to work with carriers and industry partners to explore new markets in the intelligent era, help customers achieve business success, and accelerate new service growth.

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Governments race to balance AI development with trust and safety measures, prioritizing data and consumer rights protection

NEW YORK, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Regulations surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI) across Southeast Asian (SEA) countries are expected to gain meaningful momentum in 2025 as countries attempt to regulate a rapidly growing AI economy. According to global technology intelligence firm ABI Research, SEA enterprise spending on business-to-business (B2B) AI solutions is forecast to grow to US$3.2 billion by 2028 (at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.7%). Presented with a strong opportunity for growth, which is driven by high international hyperscaler investments in infrastructure and advancing AI innovation, SEA governments are prioritizing the development of a conducive AI environment that balances fostering AI innovation and trust and safety concerns.

"The regulatory stance on AI governance among SEA governments is still largely centered around the ASEAN AI Guide released in 2024, but countries are closely monitoring international developments, such as China's pending AI regulations and the early results of the comprehensive EU AI Act's coverage, before enacting new guidelines," explains Benjamin Chan, a Research Analyst at ABI Research. "With cloud hyperscalers and AI technology leaders like Microsoft, Alibaba, Google, Amazon, and Nvidia set to expand their SEA operations, governments expect a boom in AI development and investments in regional and local outfits. However, these developments also require regulating and protecting data privacy and consumer rights protections."

Within the SEA region, countries like Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam have since announced plans to release local AI regulations in 2025, with Indonesia announcing its planned release as early as 2Q 2025. Thailand and Vietnam have since released draft laws on AI technology, digital technologies, and personal data protection laws for public consultation.

Regulatory trends and policies have also signaled the need to introduce AI-ready workforce development and technical reskilling programs, highlighting an urgent need for governments to build up a capable AI-trained workforce to operate and utilize enterprise AI applications. To this end, each major Southeast Asian country has announced the implementation of educational reforms to drive adoption. Other policies, such as enterprise AI subsidies in Singapore, industry-specific AI pilots in Indonesia, and exploration of public-private partnerships in Malaysia and the Philippines, are other key strategies to drive AI adoption and development in each country.

Beyond national regulators, major ecosystem players are also expected to help shape regional policies governing AI development. "Expect technology giants such as Microsoft, Alibaba, Google, Amazon, and Nvidia to significantly influence regulatory trends in the region, as countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand aim to establish themselves as serious global players through public-private partnerships and investments in AI infrastructure," explains Chan. "Developing stronger connections with regional players through regulatory measures that foster innovation in SEA will lead to a strong and positive AI development, inspired by local companies such as Wiz.AI, Suki.AI, and AnyMind."

These findings are from ABI Research's AI Regulatory Trends in Southeast Asia application analysis report. This report is part of the company's Southeast Asia Digital Transformation research service, which includes research, data, and ABI Insights.

About ABI Research

ABI Research is a global technology intelligence firm uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology solution providers and end-market companies. We serve as the bridge connecting these two segments by providing exclusive research and expert guidance to drive successful technology implementations and deliver strategies proven to attract and retain customers.

ABI Research?????????????,?????????,???????????????????????,??????????????,??????????????????????????,??????????

For more information about ABI Research's services, contact us at +1.516.624.2500 in the Americas, +44.203.326.0140 in Europe, +65.6592.0290 in Asia-Pacific, or visit www.abiresearch.com.

Contact Info:

Global

Deborah Petrara

Tel: +1.516.624.2558

pr@abiresearch.com

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - Gold Hunter Resources Inc. (CSE: HUNT) (OTCQB: HNTRF) (FSE: 6RH) ("Gold Hunter" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the Company has uplisted its American listing to the OTCQB Venture Market, and has received DTC eligibility.

OTCQB Uplisting: Expanding Access to U.S. Investors

Gold Hunter is pleased to announce that its common shares have been uplisted to the OTCQB Venture Market in the United States under the new trading symbol "HNTRF" effective immediately. The Company will continue to trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE: HUNT) as well as on the European Frankfurt Stock Exchange (6RH).

The OTCQB Venture Market serves as a premier trading platform for emerging companies, offering greater visibility, liquidity, and transparency to United States investors. Companies must meet stringent financial and regulatory requirements, including annual verification, management certification, and compliance with U.S. securities laws.

Gold Hunter's proactive uplisting aligns with upcoming OTC Market structure changes, including the introduction of the OTCID Basic Market, effective July 1, 2025. This shift highlights the importance of companies qualifying for OTCQB and OTCQX, where higher disclosure standards drive greater investor confidence and trading efficiency.

For more information on these changes, visit: [OTC Markets Announcement]

Gold Hunter Receives DTC Eligibility

The Company is also pleased to announce that its submitted application for Depository Trust Company (DTC) eligibility has been received and approved. DTC eligibility simplifies the trading process by allowing U.S. investors to trade, settle, and transfer shares electronically, increasing liquidity, reducing transaction costs, and streamlining stock transfers for shareholders.

About Gold Hunter Resources Inc.

Gold Hunter Resources Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on acquiring and advancing high-potential precious and base metal projects. The Company employs data-driven exploration strategies to unlock value in Newfoundland's emerging mining districts.

Following the successful divestiture of its first consolidated district to FireFly Metals, Gold Hunter assembled the Great Northern Project, expanding its strike length by 64% to 40 kilometres. Positioned in one of Newfoundland's most prospective gold regions, the Company is committed to responsible exploration and maximizing shareholder value.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

GOLD HUNTER RESOURCES INC.

Sean A. Kingsley

President, CEO, and Director

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. These statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Factors such as metal price fluctuations, exploration results, project modifications, economic conditions, and regulatory changes may impact the Company's plans and performance.

Gold Hunter undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by law. Investors should not place undue reliance on these statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245947

SOURCE: Gold Hunter Resources Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia and Antigua and Barbuda--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - Stardust Solar Energy Inc. (TSXV: SUN) today announced the sale of its first international franchise, located in Antigua & Barbuda. This franchise sale marks Stardust Solar's initial expansion outside of North America and reflects the company's ongoing strategy to grow its renewable energy presence internationally.

Stardust Solar, a North American Franchisor of residential and light-commercial solar installations, energy storage systems, and electric vehicle supply equipment, experienced strong growth in 2024, increased customer adoption, and strategic partnerships. The company now has 80+ franchise territories in just 4 years since the launch of our franchising network.



The Antigua & Barbuda franchise was acquired for $50,000 USD, highlighting confidence in the company's franchise model and positioning Stardust Solar to serve the Caribbean region with its renewable energy solutions.

"Establishing our first international franchise in Antigua & Barbuda is an important step for Stardust Solar as we expand globally," said Mark Tadros, Founder and CEO. "We are committed to supporting our new franchise partner and excited to see the positive impact our renewable energy solutions will bring to the Caribbean market."

"We're excited to partner with Stardust Solar and become the first international franchisee in Antigua & Barbuda. Stardust Solar's proven franchise model, combined with their comprehensive support and training, gives us confidence as we embark on this journey to deliver innovative and sustainable energy solutions to our local communities." - said Rodrigue Wahba.

Key Highlights:

International Expansion: Stardust Solar's first franchise outside North America.

Strategic Investment: Franchise purchased for $50,000 USD, demonstrating market confidence.

Continued Growth: Builds upon a strong increase in system wide sales during 2024.

The Antigua & Barbuda franchise will benefit from Stardust Solar's established training programs, technology, and support systems, enabling effective service delivery and high-quality installations.

About Stardust Solar:

Stardust Solar is a North American franchisor of renewable energy installation services, specializing in solar panels (PV), energy storage systems, and electric vehicle supply equipment. The Company equips entrepreneurs with branded business management services, cutting-edge equipment, and comprehensive support, including marketing, sales, engineering, and project management. With franchises across Canada and the United States, Stardust Solar drives the adoption of clean energy solutions that boost economic development and create a more sustainable future.

Disclaimer:

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.

The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the Company's business plans and expected future growth, expected franchise expansions, the outlook of future operations, revenue growth, new opportunities and the demand for the Company's products. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention. It assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245951

SOURCE: Stardust Solar Energy Inc.
North Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - Lion One Metals Limited (TSXV: LIO) (OTCQX: LOMLF) ("Lion One" or the "Company") is pleased to report significant new high-grade gold results from 2,194.70 meters of underground infill and grade control drilling at its 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji ("Tuvatu"). The drilling is focused on the Ura lode system which is currently being mined.

All drilling was conducted from near surface underground workings. The Company intersected high-grade mineralized structures in 18 holes. Most of the drill holes did not exceed 130 m in length and most of the high-grade drill intercepts are located within 50 m of current underground workings. Drill results include multiple bonanza grade gold assays such as 142.66 g/t over 2.2 m, 489.52 g/t over 0.4 m, 168.95 g/t over 0.5 m, 189.15 g/t over 0.3 m, and 179.95 g/t over 0.3 m.

The Ura lode system is currently being mined from both the 1095 level and the 1116 level of the mine. The primary targets for the Ura drill program are the areas of the Ura system scheduled for near term mining up dip of the 1116 level and down dip of the 1095 level. Mining up dip of the 1116 level will be conducted through conventional shrinkage stoping. Work on this stope has already begun. The 1116 up-dip stope is steeply dipping and will be mined over a strike length of 100 m, with narrow mining widths of approximately 1.5 m. This stope encompasses numerous high-grade gold drill results, including the 168.95 g/t gold over 0.5 m intercept noted above, which is located 20 m above the 1116 level within the planned stope.

The Ura system remains open at depth and is largely untested below the currently modeled lodes. The system is a prime target for resource expansion and upgrade given the high-grade drill results, the underground access already in place, and the lack of drilling down-dip. The drilling reported here represents the first systematic drill program designed to target the Ura system. Much of this drilling is located outside the current resource. Drilling is ongoing and is being conducted from two underground drill stations: the 1095 drill station and the 1116 drill station.

Lion One Chairman Walter Berukoff commented: "We're very pleased with the results from the Ura drill program. The Ura system is a developing target that represents an excellent opportunity both to expand our resource and to add tonnes to our immediate mine plan. The Ura lodes are high-grade structures, and we expect to be mining the areas targeted by this drill program in the next three to six months."

Highlights of New Drill Results:

142.66 g/t Au over 2.2 m (including 328.50 g/t Au over 1.0 m) (TGC-0378, from 13.79 m depth)

(including 328.50 g/t Au over 1.0 m) (TGC-0378, from 13.79 m depth) 489.52 g/t Au over 0.4 m (TGC-0389, from 31.1 m depth)

(TGC-0389, from 31.1 m depth) 168.95 g/t Au over 0.5 m (TGC-0396, from 68.78 m depth)

(TGC-0396, from 68.78 m depth) 25.87 g/t Au over 2.3 m (including 59.24 g/t Au over 0.8 m) (TGC-0396, from 55.7 m depth)

(including 59.24 g/t Au over 0.8 m) (TGC-0396, from 55.7 m depth) 189.15 g/t Au over 0.3 m (TGC-0380, from 76.78 m depth)

(TGC-0380, from 76.78 m depth) 179.95 g/t Au over 0.3 m (TGC-0391, from 149 m depth)

(TGC-0391, from 149 m depth) 30.16 g/t Au over 1.5 m (including 81.27 g/t Au over 0.4 m) (TGC-0389, from 50.9 m depth)

(including 81.27 g/t Au over 0.4 m) (TGC-0389, from 50.9 m depth) 31.74 g/t Au over 1.4 m (including 52.27 g/t Au over 0.6 m) (TGC-0392, from 41.1 m depth)

(including 52.27 g/t Au over 0.6 m) (TGC-0392, from 41.1 m depth) 21.55 g/t Au over 1.9 m (including 67.05 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0384, from 18.94 m depth)

(including 67.05 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0384, from 18.94 m depth) 41.57 g/t Au over 1.0 m (including 128.64 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0384, from 38.64 m depth)

(including 128.64 g/t Au over 0.3 m) (TGC-0384, from 38.64 m depth) 26.79 g/t Au over 1.5 m (including 69.27 g/t Au over 0.5 m) (TGC-0366, from 4.6 m depth)

*Drill intersects are downhole lengths, 3.0 g/t cutoff. True width not known. See Table 1 for additional data.

Figure 1. Location of the Ura drilling reported in this news release. Left image: Plan view of the Ura drilling in relation to the Ura lodes shown in purple and other mineralized lodes shown in grey, with Tuvatu underground development shown in red. Right image: Section view of the Ura drilling looking NNE, approximately along strike of the Ura1 and Ura3 lodes.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2178/245955_a6eee1fa04d9da2f_001full.jpg

Ura Lode System

The Ura lode system was discovered during the initial development of the mine decline in late 2022 and was initially modelled as a single lode. It is now understood to be a system of lodes, with at least three separate lodes already identified (Ura1, Ura2, and Ura3). The Ura system remains largely untested. The system extends to surface and is open at depth. It is closed to the north by the Coreshed fault, while to the south it intersects and is likely offset slightly by the Cabex fault. The drilling reported here represents the first systematic drill program designed to target the Ura system.

Three separate lodes have so far been identified in the Ura system; the Ura1, Ura2, and Ura3 lodes, all three of which are narrow high-grade structures with bonanza-grade gold intersections frequently associated with chalcedonic silica and roscoelite - mineralization characteristic of high-grade alkaline gold systems. The Ura1 and Ura3 lodes dip subvertically to the west and strike approximately 200 to the SSW. The Ura2 lode strikes approximately 205 to the SSW and dips at approximately 45 to the west. The Ura2 lode intersects the Ura1 lode slightly below the 1116 level while the Ura3 lode is located between the Ura2 and Ura1 lodes, intersecting the Ura2 lode between the 1095 and 1116 levels. All three lodes have current total strike lengths of approximately 220 m each and remain open both at depth and to the South beyond the Cabex fault.

The drilling reported in this news release was conducted from two underground drill stations; the 1095 and 1116 drill stations. The drilling targeted areas of the Ura system directly up-dip and down-dip of the 1095 and 1116 levels, with particular focus on the Ura1 and Ura3 lodes. Drilling is being conducted on a 12.5 m grid to provide a detailed understanding of the geometry and mineralization in advance of mining. These areas are scheduled for mining in the near term and are anticipated to be added to the mine plan within the next two to six months.

The Ura system is largely untested and much of the drilling reported in this news release targeted areas outside the current resource. The Ura system is a prime target for resource expansion. Very limited drilling has been conducted below the current underground workings and initial analysis indicates that the system extends well below current levels. The deepest high grade intersect reported in this news release, 179.95 g/t gold over 0.3 m, is located approximately 90 m below current workings. This represents an additional four to five levels of mineralization below current mine levels, with strong potential for mineralization to continue further at depth (Figure 3).

Figure 2. Ura drilling with high-grade intersects highlighted, 3.0 g/t gold cutoff, plan view. Plan view looking down. The drill holes shown here primarily targeted areas of the Ura lodes scheduled for near-term mining above and below the 1095 level. Ura lodes show in purple, underground workings in grey.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2178/245955_a6eee1fa04d9da2f_002full.jpg

Figure 3. Ura drilling with high-grade intersects highlighted, 3.0 g/t gold cutoff, section view. Section view looking NNE. Limited drilling has been conducted on the Ura system below the 1095 level. High grade gold mineralization has been intersected 90 m below the current underground workings and the system remains open at depth. Ura lodes shown in light purple, underground workings in grey.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2178/245955_a6eee1fa04d9da2f_003full.jpg

Competent Person's Statement

In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43- 101"), Melvyn Levrel, MAIG, Senior Geologist for Lion One Metals, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release.

Lion One Laboratories / QAQC

Lion One adheres to rigorous QAQC procedures above and beyond basic regulatory guidelines in conducting its drilling, sampling, testing, and analyses. The Company operates its own geochemical assay laboratory and its own fleet of diamond drill rigs using PQ, HQ and NQ sized drill rods. The Lion One geochemical laboratory is accredited under the IANZ ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Standard - the international standard for testing and calibration of laboratories.

Diamond drill core samples are logged by Lion One personnel on site. Exploration diamond drill core is split by Lion One personnel on site, with half core samples sent for analysis and the other half core remaining on site. Grade control diamond drill core is whole core assayed. Core samples are delivered to the Lion One Laboratory for preparation and analysis. All samples are pulverized at the Lion One lab to 85% passing through 75 microns and gold analysis is carried out using fire assay with an AA finish. Samples that return grades greater than 10.00 g/t Au are re-analyzed by gravimetric method, which is considered more accurate for very high-grade samples.

Duplicates of 5% of samples with grades above 0.5 g/t Au are delivered to ALS Global Laboratories in Australia for check assay determinations using the same methods (Au-AA26 and Au-GRA22 where applicable). ALS also analyses 33 pathfinder elements by HF-HNO3-HClO4 acid digestion, HCl leach and ICP-AES (method ME-ICP61). The Lion One lab can test a range of up to 71 elements through Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), but currently focuses on a suite of 26 important pathfinder elements with an aqua regia digest and ICP-OES finish.

About Lion One Metals Limited

Lion One Metals is an emerging Canadian gold producer headquartered in North Vancouver BC, with new operations established in late 2023 at its 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji. The Tuvatu project comprises the high-grade Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Deposit, the Underground Gold Mine, the Pilot Plant, and the Assay Lab. The Company also has an extensive exploration license covering the entire Navilawa Caldera, which is host to multiple mineralized zones and highly prospective exploration targets.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Walter Berukoff, Chairman & President

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Service Provider accepts responsibility or the adequacy or accuracy of this release

This press release may contain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Lion One Metals Limited's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Lion One Metals Limited and on assumptions Lion One Metals Limited believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the actual results of exploration projects being equivalent to or better than estimated results in technical reports, assessment reports, and other geological reports or prior exploration results. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of Lion One Metals Limited or its subsidiaries to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the stage development of Lion One Metals Limited, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the actual results of current research and development or operational activities; competition; uncertainty as to patent applications and intellectual property rights; product liability and lack of insurance; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting mining, timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; not realizing on the potential benefits of technology; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labor or loss of key individuals. Although Lion One Metals Limited has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Lion One Metals Limited does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Appendix 1: Full Drill Results and Collar Information

Table 1. Collar coordinates for drillholes reported in this release. Coordinates are in Fiji map grid.

Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth TGC-0364 1876283 3920814 120 304.3 -7.2 106.0 TGC-0366 1876284 3920812 121 266.2 18.2 85.0 TGC-0368 1876283 3920812 121 283.3 18.1 81.0 TGC-0369 1876283 3920814 121 313.2 14.7 86.3 TGC-0371 1876283 3920815 120 318.6 -6.7 94.0 TGC-0372 1876283 3920818 120 335.7 -10.2 180.4 TGC-0374 1876283 3920815 120 291.6 -38.3 174.6 TGC-0376 1876283 3920815 119 291.7 -44.5 112.0 TGC-0378 1876182 3920778 98 99.2 -40.0 80.2 TGC-0380 1876285 3920814 122 291.1 -49.4 121.2 TGC-0381 1876182 3920778 98 99.0 -81.0 16.1 TGC-0382 1876182 3920779 99 78.6 -14.8 62.3 TGC-0384 1876182 3920779 99 64.4 -17.3 74.4 TGC-0385 1876283 3920815 119 303.0 -37.4 105.0 TGC-0386 1876182 3920779 98 63.5 -46.8 110.7 TGC-0388 1876283 3920815 119 302.6 -43.9 113.1 TGC-0389 1876182 3920780 99 53.5 -13.2 101.2 TGC-0390 1876182 3920780 99 52.7 -35.9 111.0 TGC-0391 1876283 3920815 119 303.1 -50.1 231.5 TGC-0392 1876183 3920778 99 110.7 -19.2 58.2 TGC-0396 1876283 3920811 121 249.2 16.3 90.5

Table 2. Composite intervals from drillholes reported in this news release (composite grade >3.0 g/t Au, with <1 m internal dilution at <3.0 g/t Au).

Hole ID

From (m) To (m) Width (m) Au (g/t) TGC-0364

0.0 0.7 0.7 3.05



50.3 51.9 1.6 11.47

including 50.3 50.9 0.6 25.78

and 50.9 51.4 0.5 0.26

and 51.4 51.9 0.5 5.52 TGC-0366

1.7 2.2 0.5 12.58



4.6 6.1 1.5 26.79

including 4.6 5.1 0.5 69.27

and 5.1 5.8 0.7 4.45

and 5.8 6.1 0.3 3.80



7.3 9.0 1.7 5.05

including 7.3 7.9 0.6 5.50

and 7.9 9.0 1.1 4.81



10.8 11.6 0.8 5.43

including 10.8 11.1 0.3 3.63

and 11.1 11.6 0.5 6.60



20.2 22.0 1.8 12.27

including 20.2 21.4 1.2 16.14

and 21.4 22.0 0.6 4.54



26.9 27.7 0.8 8.86



34.2 34.7 0.5 5.32



45.6 46.2 0.6 23.86



54.7 55.0 0.3 3.07



56.1 56.5 0.4 44.93 TGC-0368

20.7 21.0 0.3 8.43



39.5 40.0 0.5 3.57



44.8 45.4 0.6 6.86



50.7 51.7 1.0 3.97

including 50.7 51.2 0.5 3.97

and 51.2 51.7 0.5 3.97



75.7 76.4 0.7 3.11 TGC-0374

110.9 111.2 0.3 21.79 TGC-0376

77.9 79.3 1.5 5.47

including 77.9 78.3 0.5 9.95

and 78.3 79.3 1.0 3.46



90.5 90.8 0.4 5.33 TGC-0378

12.1 12.4 0.3 3.49



13.8 16.0 2.2 142.66

including 13.8 14.3 0.5 5.77

and 14.3 14.8 0.5 2.57

and 14.8 15.1 0.3 0.17

and 15.1 16.0 1.0 328.50



23.3 24.8 1.5 8.46

including 23.3 23.7 0.4 21.28

and 23.7 24.1 0.4 0.39

and 24.1 24.8 0.7 6.12



29.4 29.7 0.3 10.02 TGC-0380

0.0 0.5 0.5 15.86



72.8 73.2 0.4 21.05



76.8 77.1 0.3 189.15 TGC-0381

14.2 15.4 1.2 7.47 TGC-0382

15.2 15.5 0.3 46.28



18.1 18.5 0.4 9.98



20.2 20.6 0.4 71.69



31.0 31.8 0.8 33.39

including 31.0 31.5 0.5 25.25

and 31.5 31.8 0.3 48.03



33.0 33.4 0.4 3.12



34.6 36.1 1.5 5.99

including 34.6 35.0 0.4 4.71

and 35.0 35.3 0.3 13.71

and 35.3 35.6 0.3 3.40

and 35.6 36.1 0.5 4.07 TGC-0384

18.9 20.8 1.9 21.55

including 18.9 19.3 0.3 29.99

and 19.3 19.7 0.5 2.13

and 19.7 20.0 0.3 67.05

and 20.0 20.3 0.3 0.16

and 20.3 20.8 0.5 19.84



22.0 22.6 0.6 4.59

including 22.0 22.3 0.3 4.09

and 22.3 22.6 0.3 5.08



38.6 39.6 1.0 41.57

including 38.6 39.0 0.4 4.28

and 39.0 39.3 0.3 0.60

and 39.3 39.6 0.3 128.64 TGC-0385

71.4 72.4 1.0 18.55

including 71.4 71.7 0.3 6.55

and 71.7 72.1 0.4 0.05

and 72.1 72.4 0.3 57.69



78.3 80.0 1.7 4.88

including 78.3 78.7 0.4 3.50

and 78.7 79.4 0.7 0.05

and 79.4 79.7 0.3 13.75

and 79.7 80.0 0.3 8.74



92.9 93.2 0.3 24.86 TGC-0386

10.0 14.3 4.4 4.73

including 10.0 10.4 0.4 16.48

and 10.4 11.0 0.7 <0.01

and 11.0 11.3 0.3 1.52

and 11.3 12.5 1.2 3.65

and 12.5 12.8 0.3 <0.01

and 12.8 13.1 0.3 1.09

and 13.1 14.3 1.2 7.36 TGC-0388

0.0 0.6 0.6 3.48 TGC-0389

31.1 31.5 0.4 489.52



50.9 52.4 1.5 30.16

including 50.9 51.3 0.4 81.27

and 51.3 52.0 0.7 2.91

and 52.0 52.4 0.4 26.72



85.9 86.2 0.3 4.04 TGC-0390

14.7 15.1 0.4 7.70



59.1 59.6 0.5 6.76



81.0 81.4 0.4 21.76



84.5 85.1 0.6 3.00



85.7 86.2 0.5 3.69



99.1 99.4 0.3 4.43



101.6 101.9 0.3 3.28 TGC-0391

0.0 0.6 0.6 3.61



76.9 78.1 1.2 10.40

including 76.9 77.5 0.6 7.91

and 77.5 78.1 0.6 12.89



96.9 97.3 0.4 39.15



113.0 113.3 0.3 3.72



149.0 149.3 0.3 179.95 TGC-0392

14.0 14.4 0.4 5.32



24.6 27.8 3.2 11.99

including 24.6 25.0 0.4 18.68

and 25.0 25.6 0.6 5.97

and 25.6 26.3 0.7 34.65

and 26.3 27.2 0.9 0.05

and 27.2 27.8 0.6 5.01



41.1 42.5 1.4 31.74

including 41.1 41.7 0.6 52.27

and 41.7 42.5 0.8 16.34 TGC-0396

0.0 0.5 0.5 12.53



5.2 8.0 2.8 7.13

including 5.2 5.6 0.4 9.95

and 5.6 6.2 0.7 13.67

and 6.2 6.5 0.3 1.24

and 6.5 7.4 0.9 4.67

and 7.4 8.0 0.6 4.55



10.9 11.6 0.6 3.64



12.1 12.7 0.6 3.26



14.0 16.8 2.8 5.48

including 14.0 14.5 0.5 8.38

and 14.5 15.0 0.5 3.61

and 15.0 15.4 0.4 5.88

and 15.4 15.7 0.3 9.27

and 15.7 16.8 1.1 3.90



34.7 35.0 0.3 21.78



50.0 54.5 4.5 3.74

including 50.0 50.3 0.3 4.50

and 50.3 51.5 1.2 6.56

and 51.5 52.3 0.8 0.04

and 52.3 52.7 0.4 3.58

and 52.7 53.0 0.3 2.48

and 53.0 53.3 0.3 1.76

and 53.3 54.5 1.2 4.07



55.7 58.0 2.3 25.87

including 55.7 56.5 0.8 59.24

and 56.5 57.2 0.7 12.82

and 57.2 58.0 0.8 3.05



64.2 66.7 2.5 4.70

including 64.2 64.5 0.3 5.08

and 64.5 65.5 1.0 5.23

and 65.5 66.7 1.2 4.16



68.8 69.3 0.5 168.95

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245955

SOURCE: Lion One Metals Limited
City to Deploy Itron's CityEdge Portfolio to Improve Streetlight Operations and Provide Insights

LIBERTY LAKE, Wash., March 25, 2025in Sweden to deploy Itron's CityEdgeportfolio as the initial phase of the city's project to create a smart and sustainable city. To accomplish its project goals, the City of Helsingborg, which has just over 150,000 residents, will deploy Itron Networked Lighting Controllers (NLCs) on the initial phase of their 30,000 streetlights, and various sensors throughout the city which utilize Itron's world leading central management software.

As part of the City of Helsingborg's Action Plan for Street Lighting and IoT 2021-2027, the city is upgrading its lighting system and modernizing its operations with more energy-efficient and smarter solutions. With Itron's CityEdge central management software and the initial 670 Itron NLCs embedded with wireless communications, the city can remotely control and monitor its streetlights, creating a modernized, energy-efficient solution. Deployment is projected to kick off in early 2025.

Using the intelligent dimming feature of the NLCs, the city can adjust the brightness of the streetlight based on the time of day and/or traffic volume, helping to increase the safety of the community and creating better visibility at night. Additionally, the smart streetlights have outage alarms that alert the maintenance crews of streetlight outages via the CityEdge platform software, which can be accessed through the web and/or mobile device.

Deployment of the Itron solution aligns with Nordic Innovation, an organization under the Nordic Council of Ministers that supports the prime ministers' vision that the Nordic region will become the most sustainable integrated region in the world by 2030. As the CityEdge platform is an open ecosystem, the platform can support a range of smart city devices and use cases. Beyond smart lighting, it can support a variety of use-cases within several domains, including traffic and highways, public safety, environmental and sustainability and energy. With a plethora of supported use cases, the City of Helsingborg can leverage the Itron solution to support the Nordic Innovation in its vision to become the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030.

"The City of Helsingborg was named one of Europe's most innovative cities in 2020. Upgrading our streetlight operations is an important step on our journey towards an even more innovative city. Like many cities across the world, the City of Helsingborg is addressing challenges related to sustainability and climate disruption. We pride ourselves on establishing a high quality of life for our community and we do that through continuously seeking our new solutions to make our city more innovative, sustainable and accessible", said Alexander Svensson, chairman of the urban planning committee

in the city of Helsingborg. "As we begin modernizing our lighting and infrastructure across the city, we look forward to leveraging Itron's CityEdge portfolio and exploring the possibilities of creating a data-driven and vibrant city."

"It's known within our industry that public lighting can consume a vast amount of a municipality or city's energy budget. Smart street lighting, contributes to solving challenges related to public safety and unnecessary energy consumption, that cities such as Helsingborg face. Our CityEdge portfolio will benefit Helsingborg by enabling the city to lower its energy consumption while improving quality of life for its citizens," said John Marcolini, senior vice president of Networked Solutions at Itron. "The CityEdge platform is a leader in the market and chosen by more than 500 communities across the globe for good reason. Its open ecosystem design enables cities to address new or local challenges as they arise. Deploying this solution for the first use-case sets cities up for the future as they can continuously address new challenges all within a single platform."

About Itron

Itron is a proven global leader in energy, water, smart city, IIoT and intelligent infrastructure services. For utilities, cities and society, we build innovative systems, create new efficiencies, connect communities, encourage conservation and increase resourcefulness. By safeguarding our invaluable natural resources today and tomorrow, we improve the quality of life for people around the world. Join us: www.itron.com.

Itron, the Itron Logo are registered trademarks of Itron Inc. in the United States and other countries and region. All third-party trademarks are property of their respective owners and any usage herein does not suggest or imply any relationship between Itron and the third party unless expressly stated.

For additional information, contact:



Itron, Inc.

Alison Mallahan

Senior Manager, Corporate Communications

509-891-3802

PR@Itron.com

Paul Vincent

Vice President, Investor Relations

512-560-1172

Investors@itron.com

Itron, Inc.
PARIS, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Founders Future, an investment company that supports future European tech champions in their early and growth stages, announces the opening of 25% of its share capital to MACSF, the Dassault family (Financiere Dassault) and CMA CGM Group. The aim of this strategic landmark is to enable Founders Future to reach 1 billion in assets under management by 2030, and the opening of a U.S. office by the end of 2025.

Founders Future: a key player in European entrepreneurial financing

Founded in 2018 by Marc Menase, Founders Future supports over 110 companies and 300 entrepreneurs, contributing to European success stories such as Waterdrop, Audion, Lydia, Alma, Taster, and Veesion. Backed by a collective of entrepreneurs, large families and institutional investors, the group has a combined value of 5.5 billion euros, with 950 million euros in sales revenue and 6,000 jobs created.

With 300 million in assets under management and a leadership team of four Partners, Founders Future ranks among the ten most active VCs in France and Europe. The group focuses on seed, growth and co-investment to finance future leaders in applied AI, fintech, climate-tech and SaaS.

The addition of MACSF, Dassault and CMA CGM will enable Founders Future to deploy its platform model, through the integration of new investment strategies, and to expand in the United States. Founders Future also intends to further develop its distribution channels and democratize private equity among institutional and retail investors.

U.S. expansion: office opening and launch of a growth fund

As part of its international expansion, Founders Future has announced the opening of an office in the United States by the end of 2025 and the launch of a growth fund targeting the American market.

This initiative will provide European investors with privileged access to the U.S. tech ecosystem while enabling Founders Future to accelerate the expansion of its European portfolio champions in their transatlantic market entry, including Waterdrop, Yuka, Veesion, and Omi.

The firm aims to introduce American investors to the European entrepreneurial vision by offering a unique perspective on innovation and opportunities in Europe. It also plans to support its U.S. portfolio companies, such as Databricks and Ezra, in their European expansion.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2647275/Founders_Future_Logo.jpg

Press contact:

Baptiste Mallard

b.mallard@the-arcane.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/founders-future-opens-its-share-capital-to-macsf-the-dassault-and-cma-cgm-group-to-accelerate-growth-and-international-expansion-302410562.html
Next Generation Co-authoring capability eliminates friction and inefficiencies while letting customers stay in total control, driving maximum productivity

CHICAGO, March 25, 2025, the company dedicated to Making Knowledge Work, today announced that the Microsoft Co-authoring capability within the iManage knowledge Work platform is now generally available, enhancing collaboration for customers of all sizes, providing an easy way for knowledge workers to work on Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents simultaneously across teams.

Professionals can effortlessly collaborate on documents in real-time or at their own pace, with no need to wait for colleagues to finish before making forward progress. The ability to access and edit content on the iManage platform from anywhere, and co-author documents in real time, reduces friction around collaboration and boosts efficiency, security, and productivity.

"Next Generation co-authoring will serve as a powerful productivity driver for the iManage knowledge work platform," said Neil Araujo, CEO, iManage. "Benefiting from our deep partnership with Microsoft allows us to give customers a new way to achieve seamless, secure, and efficient document collaboration, without disrupting their workflows or compromising security or compliance. We are pleased to see so many of our customers taking advantage of iManage and Microsoft Co-authoring to optimize their overall productivity and their ability to deliver the best tools to their workforce to collaborate safely and efficiently."

Additional key benefits of Microsoft Co-authoring include the ability to maintain full control and transparency while co-authoring, creating a worry-free user experience. Document revisions made in real time appear in the iManage timeline view, allowing document owners to instantly see who edited the file and when. Additionally, users can roll back to earlier revisions and catch in-between changes, correct errors, and refine content before locking in a new version. Most importantly, co-authoring is built natively into the iManage platform, so users can collaborate on content while retaining the industry-leading security and governance protections they expect from iManage.

"The Microsoft Co-authoring capability within iManage streamlines collaboration and provides a single source of truth," said Rob Howard, VP of Product Management, Microsoft 365. "Whether teams work in real-time or asynchronously, Co-authoring offers multiple ways to identify and remove roadblocks on the way to a final version. Professionals can ask questions, request clarifications, and leave comments directly in the document, ensuring important context is in one place within the work product while reducing versioning challenges."

Previously offered as part of the iManage Early Access Program, Microsoft Co-authoring was used by more than 90 iManage customers, gathering valuable feedback that has helped refine and optimize the experience beginning on July 15, 2024. Now, with its general availability, even more organizations can leverage this powerful capability to enhance collaboration and productivity.

About iManage

iManage is dedicated to Making Knowledge Work. Our cloud-native platform is at the center of the knowledge economy, enabling every organization to work more productively, collaboratively, and securely. Built on more than 20 years of industry experience, iManage helps leading organizations manage documents and emails more efficiently, protect vital information assets, and leverage knowledge to drive better business outcomes. As your strategic business partner, we employ our award-winning AI-enabled technology, an extensive partner ecosystem, and a customer-centric approach to provide support and guidance you can trust to make knowledge work for you. iManage is relied on by more than one million professionals at 4,000 organizations around the world. Visit www.imanage.comto learn more.

Follow iManage via:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/imanage

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Press contact:

Alicia Saragosa, iManage

press@imanage.com
Introduces Cu-Wave, O-Wave and Co-Waveportfolio of 800G and 1.6T PAM4 and Coherent-lite DSP solutions

Alphawave Semi (LSE: AWE), a global leader in high-speed connectivity and compute silicon for the world's technology infrastructure, has revealed its portfolio of optoelectronics products addressing the high-speed interconnect semiconductor market, which is forecast to exceed US$4-billion by 2028.

The portfolio consists of DSPs for PAM4 and emerging Coherent-lite modulation. These are capable of transmitting AI driven high-speed digital compute data across hyperscale data center campuses.

Alphawave Semi's portfolio of optoelectronics products leverage cutting-edge PAM4 SerDes with its differentiated WidEyeDSP architecture and EyeQadvanced diagnostics technology to meet the needs of the leading hyperscalers and their buildout of accelerated AI compute infrastructure; with 800G and 1.6T interconnect solutions for meters of reach electrically and up to 20km optically based on PAM4 and emerging Coherent-lite solutions.

This full portfolio of connectivity products is sampling now:

Cu-Wave PAM4 DSP for Active Electrical Cables (AEC)

PAM4 DSP for Active Electrical Cables (AEC) O-Wave PAM4 DSP for Optical Retimer and Gearbox Transceivers

PAM4 DSP for Optical Retimer and Gearbox Transceivers Co-Wave Coherent-lite DSP for Optical Transceivers

Company and analyst quotes

Babak Samimi, Alphawave Semi SVP GM of the Connectivity Products Group:

"The industry is evolving with the rise of purpose-built data center campuses, which have been architected in response to the disruptions catalysed by mass adoption of AI versus traditional compute infrastructure. To meet the challenge, we focused our innovations into PAM4 and pioneered an investment into Coherent-lite DSPs with the aim of becoming a trusted supplier of silicon products into the growing high-speed optoelectronics semiconductor market.

"Our Team has been working diligently to enable Alphawave Semi's pivot to develop our own connectivity silicon products by leveraging our industry-leading high-speed SerDes, high-precision analog, as well as our expertise in SoC and firmware, signal integrity management, and advanced diagnostics powered by our unique WidEyeand EyeQtechnologies to help support this data center evolution.

"We have had the honour of working with a leading North American hyperscaler and number of key ecosystem partners that have developed solutions with our newly revealed connectivity products; and we look forward to deploying these solutions to the market over the next 12 months."

Vladimir Kozlov, CEO LightCounting

"With a strong heritage in high-speed SerDes in leading-edge process nodes, this market entry should be highly disruptive and will be beneficial to hyperscalers. With the trend towards more distributed processing taking place over data center campuses, the PAM4 and Coherent-lite DSP market is set for continued growth and we forecast it will reach over $4 billion dollars by 2028. Being in a select pool of companies that are currently able to provide both PAM4 and Coherent-lite products, Alphawave is well positioned."

Alphawave Semi CEO, Tony Pialis:

"The addition of the Connectivity Products Group is a significant achievement as it allows us to work with any leading hyperscaler in the way they need. If they need IP subsystems or chiplets for a bespoke system, we can provide it. If they want us to custom develop a silicon product, we can do that. And now, if they want to purchase a standard connectivity product powered by our leading-edge technologies, we can offer that too. This group is an important strategic asset, and I'm delighted to mark this launch to further Alphawave Semi's mission as the next semiconductor leader in AI connectivity and compute."

Meet with us at OFC 2025

Come meet our product experts to explore and discuss Alphawave Semi's PAM4 and Coherent-lite DSPs, and see our technologies in action at OFC. The event will be held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA, from March 30 to April 3. Visit us at booth #5645. For more information on Alphawave Semi's Connectivity Products Group visit awavesemi.com/connectivity-products and for information on the DSPs visit awavesemi.com/pam4-and-coherent-lite-dsps-powering-al-hyperscale-data-centers.

Click on this link to download the accompanying image.

About Alphawave Semi

Alphawave Semi is a global leader in high-speed connectivity and compute silicon for data centers, AI, networking, 5G, autonomous vehicles and storage.

Our technology enables data centers and the world's technology infrastructure to manage the exponential growth of data and prevent networking bottlenecks, with increasing volumes of data traveling faster, more reliably, and with higher performance at lower power. We are a leader in the shift to chiplet-based System-on-Chip (SoC) architectures and our intellectual property (IP), custom silicon, connectivity products and chiplets are deployed by global tier-one customers across multiple sectors.

Founded in 2017 by an expert technical team with a proven track record, our mission is to accelerate the critical data infrastructure at the epicenter of the digital world. To find out more about Alphawave Semi, visit: awavesemi.com.

Alphawave Semi and the Alphawave Semi logo are trademarks of Alphawave IP Group plc. All rights reserved.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250325265846/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Claudia Cano-Manuel

Grand Bridges Marketing Limited

press@awavesemi.com

+44 7562 182327
Bynder, a global leader in AI-powered enterprise DAM has announced its AI Agents, a suite of new AI innovations that will execute business-critical tasks such as content enrichment, discovery, transformation, and governance, paving the way for the next evolution of strategic DAM deployments.

Following the success of Bynder's AI Search, which now has more than 750 customers benefiting from the solution, Bynder's AI Agents will enrich and transform all forms of creative content while also ensuring governance and compliance all of which are critical to delivering immersive, engaging content experiences at scale.

Powered by LLMs, Bynder's AI Agents have the intelligence to deliver a higher degree of personalization and will understand the context and intent behind a user's prompt to execute complex content management tasks at scale. The Agents will utilize the power of AI without the business risks of privacy and non-compliant brand content.

By handling complex content management tasks through intelligent automation with human oversight, Bynder's AI Agents will support high-impact strategic initiatives, accelerating business outcomes, increasing productivity across all users and teams, and driving personalization and engagement across all digital channels.

Enrich

DAM Admins and content managers are dealing with increasing volume and complexity of digital assets, and essential enrichment tasks like metadata tagging, title creation, and description writing still demand significant manual effort and time. Powered by LLMs, Bynder's Enrichment Agent can 'see beyond the pixels' to streamline business workflows to address business-specific needs and will help users extract information from assets and enrich those assets with meta-data based on user prompts more accurately and at scale. The Enrichment Agent will work together with Bynder's Ecosystem Agent and more than 120 pre-built integrations with upstream creative tools and downstream delivery platforms to power automated workflows across a user's marketing technology stack.

Transform

Content creators are under constant pressure to rapidly produce engaging visual content optimized for diverse markets, audiences, and digital channels. From quickly resizing an image for e-commerce platforms to generating asset variations for localized marketing campaigns without the help of creative teams or agencies, Bynder's Transformation Agent will help users modify and repurpose assets utilizing the latest Gen-AI. Automating traditional asset editing tasks will enhance creative productivity, reduce content production costs, and accelerate time-to-market.

Govern

The rapid expansion of digital content driven by the increase in omnichannel platforms has made content governance and compliance more demanding and complex than ever. Tracking assets outside the DAM remains a challenge that risks brand equity and regulatory compliance issues. Bynder's Governance Agent will enhance asset governance and compliance to ensure brand authenticity and safety at scale. The Governance Agent will scan the web to identify expired, outdated, or non-compliant digital assets in seconds and can detect AI-generated content, providing clarity for brand compliance.

Dominique LeBlond, CPO at Bynder, said "Bynder's AI Agents deliver value to businesses on multiple levels. The technology we have developed is a highly specialized and context-aware solution that is integrated directly into the DAM, the single source of truth for all content. Our extensive collaboration with some of the most iconic brands during the design and development, and their successful participation during the early access program, has validated our direction, and we are excited to showcase the technology at Bynder Connect in New York."

Bynder's AI Agents will be revealed at Bynder Connect in New York on May 21,the company's global customer conference, bringing together industry leaders from renowned global brands to learn more about the next evolution of AI-powered DAM and Bynder's latest innovations.

To sign up for early access, please visit https://labs.bynder.com/experiments/ai-agents/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250325413003/en/

Contacts:

Manisha Mehta

manisha.mehta@bynder.com
Fluidstack, the AI Cloud Platform, today announced it is deploying and managing Exascale clusters across Iceland and Europe in collaboration with Borealis Data Center, Dell Technologies and NVIDIA. The clusters will allow Fluidstack to further deliver a wider array of service options and meet the strong demand for its service offerings from customers around the world.

"Our mission has always been to support the most exceptional AI labs, researchers and enterprises on the planet," said Cesar Maklary, co-founder and president of Fluidstack. "In collaboration with Borealis, Dell and NVIDIA, we can rapidly deploy high-density GPU supercomputers for both European and global customers, all while using 100% renewable energy."

Sustainable Growth with Borealis

Borealis Data Center, a leader in green data center infrastructure, will provide Fluidstack with facilities powered by 100% renewable energy. Located in Iceland and operating across the Nordics, Borealis' facilities benefit from a cold climate and renewable hydro and geothermal power.

"This partnership highlights a shared commitment to enabling next-generation AI while minimizing its environmental impact," said Bjorn Brynjulfsson, CEO of Borealis.

Working with Dell Technologies for Advanced AI Workloads

Fluidstack will leverage Dell PowerEdge XE9680 servers, optimized for AI workloads with NVIDIA HGX H200. Combined with NVIDIA's Quantum-2 InfiniBand networking Dell servers offer best-in-class performance and reliability for AI workloads.

"We're looking forward to working with Fluidstack, Borealis and NVIDIA to deploy advanced, sustainable AI infrastructure across Europe," said Arun Narayanan, senior vice president, Compute and Networking, Dell Technologies. "Dell PowerEdge XE9680 servers combined with NVIDIA's GPUs and networking are purpose-built to efficiently support rapidly growing AI workloads, helping customers achieve unprecedented efficiency and scalability while lowering cost and energy usage."

Building the Backbone for Europe's AI Innovation

With Europe's AI data center market projected to reach $29.8 billion by 2026, Fluidstack is positioned at the forefront of enabling breakthrough AI research and innovation across the continent.

Fluidstack's customers, including Poolside and Character AI, rely on its rapid deployment and exceptional support to power their AI workloads. Jason Warner, CEO of Poolside, said:

Fluidstack has been instrumental in helping us scale our AI capabilities. Their speed, reliability, and customer support are second to none.

About Fluidstack

Fluidstack is the AI Cloud Platform. Built for the leaders in AI, we enable rapid access to high-performance exa-scale compute. We are infrastructure agnostic, allowing our customers to scale compute across 100+ Infrastructure Partners globally through a single unified platform. Trusted by companies like Poolside and Character, Fluidstack delivers best-in-class performance for training and inference workloads running on multi-thousand GPU clusters. To learn more, visit www.fluidstack.io.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250325464584/en/

Contacts:

For media inquiries, please contact:

press@fluidstack.io
Grafana Labs Shares Open Source Ecosystem Updates as New Survey Shows 75% of Companies Now Using Open Source Observability Tools

KUBECON Grafana Labs, the observability company behind the world's most ubiquitous, open and composable operational dashboards, today announced the results of its annual Observability Survey alongside significant advancements to its cloud native ecosystem that help users get the most from open source technologies, including Kubernetes and OpenTelemetry.

These announcements underscore Grafana Labs' ongoing commitment to the open source community and addressing the evolving needs of platform engineering teams. Learn more at Grafana Labs' booth (S462) at KubeCon CloudNativeCon Europe 2025, the premier open source conference for Kubernetes, Prometheus, and cloud native technologies.

2025 Observability Survey: Key Findings Driving Industry Innovation

The third annual Observability Survey by Grafana Labs, based on 1255 responses, reveals the continued maturation and evolution of the observability landscape from the complex challenges teams are facing to the tools and tactics they're implementing to overcome them. Key findings include:

Open Source Dominance Continues : A remarkable 75% of respondents are now using open source licensing for observability, with 70% reporting that their organizations use both Prometheus and OpenTelemetry in some capacity. Half of all organizations increased their investments in both technologies for the second year in a row. Grafana Labs Senior Software Engineer Arthur Sens, a maintainer for both communities, will explore the growing relationship between OpenTelemetry and Prometheus during the KubeCon session: The State of Prometheus and OpenTelemetry Interoperability.

: A remarkable 75% of respondents are now using open source licensing for observability, with 70% reporting that their organizations use both Prometheus and OpenTelemetry in some capacity. Half of all organizations increased their investments in both technologies for the second year in a row. Grafana Labs Senior Software Engineer Arthur Sens, a maintainer for both communities, will explore the growing relationship between OpenTelemetry and Prometheus during the KubeCon session: The State of Prometheus and OpenTelemetry Interoperability. C-Suite Sees Importance of Observability : Roughly three-quarters of all companies say observability is business-critical at either the CTO, VP, or director level, with CTO being the most common response (33%). Organizations whose C-suite sees observability as business-critical are more likely to adopt more advanced tools and practices such as traces, profiles, SLOs, OpenTelemetry, and unified application and infrastructure observability.

: Roughly three-quarters of all companies say observability is business-critical at either the CTO, VP, or director level, with CTO being the most common response (33%). Organizations whose C-suite sees observability as business-critical are more likely to adopt more advanced tools and practices such as traces, profiles, SLOs, OpenTelemetry, and unified application and infrastructure observability. Desire for AI to Tame Complexity Rises : The number one observability concern for respondents is complexity, while alert fatigue is cited as the biggest obstacle to faster incident response, so it's no wonder training-based alerts and faster root cause analysis topped respondents' AI/ML wishlist for observability.

: The number one observability concern for respondents is complexity, while alert fatigue is cited as the biggest obstacle to faster incident response, so it's no wonder training-based alerts and faster root cause analysis topped respondents' AI/ML wishlist for observability. Cost Management Remains Important, But Not Critical: Three-quarters of companies say cost is an important criteria when selecting observability technologies, though less than a third say they're concerned about observability costing too much-meaning organizations are more focused on getting value from their tools and techniques than just selecting the cheapest option.

"Our 2025 Observability Survey confirms that organizations are embracing a diverse, open source-centric approach to observability," said Tom Wilkie, CTO, Grafana Labs. "With teams managing more tools and data sources than ever before, the findings show that complexity remains the top challenge. We're working to directly address these pain points by enhancing interoperability between technologies like OpenTelemetry and Prometheus, reducing the cognitive load through AI-powered features, and providing out-of-the-box integrated solutions like Kubernetes Monitoring."

Meeting the Demands of Mainstream Open Source Adoption

The 2025 Observability Survey reveals that OpenTelemetry has continued its trajectory toward mainstream status with half of all organizations increasing their investments in the open source project for the second year in a row. More than two-thirds of organizations (67%) use Prometheus in production in some capacity and while OpenTelemetry has less production usage (41%), it appears to have more momentum for future growth, with more than a third (38%) of respondents investigating it and only 6% reporting they have no plans to use OpenTelemetry at all. The survey also found that vendor neutrality and flexibility remain the most cited requirements for compatible observability solutions, directly aligning with OpenTelemetry's core value proposition.

Given its rising significance, Grafana Labs has continued to invest in OpenTelemetry expertise across the organization, including the addition of Ted Young, who serves as the company's developer programs director. As an original co-founder of the OpenTelemetry project and a current member of its Governance Committee, Young represents Grafana Labs' strategic commitment to supporting the future of OpenTelemetry and the broader observability ecosystem.

"Our survey data confirms what we're seeing in the field organizations aren't choosing between observability technologies, they're embracing multiple approaches to solve real-world problems," said Ted Young, developer programs director at Grafana Labs, cofounder of OpenTelemetry, and member of the OpenTelemetry Governance Committee. "This includes the growing adoption of both OpenTelemetry and Prometheus, two tools that work great together. As an organization that contributes to both projects, we are uniquely positioned to help organizations navigate this hybrid landscape with tools designed for interoperability from the ground up."

To meet this growing demand, Grafana Labs has expanded its support of OpenTelemetry to enhance interoperability. The company recently announced that Metrics Drilldown, an open source Grafana feature for queryless exploration of observability data, now supports OpenTelemetry resource attributes. Users have access to a configurable OpenTelemetry experience accessible through a single interface, consolidated filtering across both Prometheus labels and OpenTelemetry resource attributes, intelligent query interpolation for complex metric joins, and automatic context-aware metric filtering and breakdowns.

In the past year, the company has also introduced Grafana Alloy, the only open source distribution of the OpenTelemetry Collector with built-in Prometheus pipelines; released OpenTelemetry Datadog receiver, allowing for more seamless migration between observability platforms; and added trace context propagation support for HTTP to Grafana Beyla, an eBPF-based auto-instrumentation tool, to support OpenTelemetry-instrumented services.

Grafana Labs engineers are also key contributors to major OpenTelemetry advancements from the past year, including the introduction of OpenTelemetry's profiling signal, enhanced support for the latest OpenTelemetry semantic conventions, the stabilization of the Spring Boot starter, and helping drive OpenTelemetry compatibility in the newly released Prometheus 3.0. The company is also in the process of donating Grafana Beyla to OpenTelemetry.

Comprehensive Kubernetes Monitoring Advancements

Building on the popularity of its Grafana Cloud Kubernetes Monitoring solution, Grafana Labs has introduced new enhancements designed to simplify observability for complex Kubernetes environments:

Helm Chart v2: The Kubernetes Monitoring Helm chart 2.0 introduces significant improvements to simplify observability data collection by utilizing Grafana Alloy as well as other open source tools including Node Exporter, OpenCost, and Kepler. Key enhancements include the ability to send telemetry data to multiple destinations, built-in integrations for popular services like Grafana, cert-manager, and MySQL, and seamless compatibility with Fleet Management for large-scale collector deployment, making configuration easier, more flexible, and more predictable.

Observability at Scale with Fleet Management: Fleet Management, a centralized control plane for managing observability collectors at any scale, is now generally available with a catalog of pipelines and better supports Kubernetes environments. Now, Fleet Management provides out-of-the-box monitoring on Kubernetes to immediately observe and troubleshoot the health and state of collectors without additional setup.

Advanced Storage Observability: Grafana Cloud Kubernetes Monitoring added a comprehensive storage monitoring solution that gives teams better visibility into Kubernetes storage infrastructure. Users can now easily track PV (persistent volume) capacity over time, understand storage classes at a glance, quickly identify PVC status and pending volumes, and gain deep pod-level storage visibility.

New Search Functionality: By simply copying and pasting a component name, the new search function allows users to instantly locate comprehensive, contextual details for any Kubernetes cluster, node, namespace, workload, pod, or container.

Resources

Those attending KubeCon in person can hear more about Grafana Labs' products and open source contributions during the following sessions featuring Grafana Labs engineers:

Wednesday, April 2 at 14:30 BST: Prometheus Deep Dive: What's New in v3.0 and Beyond Fiona Liao, Staff Software Engineer, Grafana Labs

Wednesday, April 2 at 14:30 BST: Enhancing Database Observability With OpenTelemetry Marylia Gutierrez, Staff Software Engineer, Grafana Labs

Wednesday, April 2 at 16:15 BST: Asimov's Zeroth Law of Robotics: Observability for AI Nicole van der Hoeven, Senior Developer Advocate, Grafana Labs

Wednesday, April 2 at 17:00 BST: The Next Generation of DaemonSet Autoscaling Bryan Boreham, Distinguished Engineer, Grafana Labs

Wednesday, April 2 at 17:45 BST: Logs, Metrics, Traces and Mayhem: An Interactive Observability Adventure Game Jay Clifford, Senior Developer Advocate, Grafana Labs Tom Glenn, Senior Developer Advocate, Grafana Labs

Thursday, April 3 at 11:45 BST: Pushing the Limits of Prometheus at Etsy Bryan Boreham, Distinguished Engineer, Grafana Labs

Friday, April 4 at 11:45 BST: The State of Prometheus and OpenTelemetry Interoperability Arthur Sens, Senior Software Engineer, Grafana Labs

Friday, April 4 at 14:30 BST: C.A.L.L.I.N.G. Now I'm Calling You, Calling You Now Mario Macias, Staff Software Engineer, Grafana Terra Tauri, Staff Software Engineer, Grafana Labs

Friday, April 4 at 15:15 BST: Using eBPF for Non-invasive, Performant, Instant Network Monitoring Mario Macias, Staff Software Engineer, Grafana Marc Tuduri, Senior Software Engineer, Grafana Labs

Friday, April 4 at 15:15 BST: From Chaos To Control: Migrating Access Control To OpenFGA in a Multi-Tenant World Jo Guerreiro, Engineering Manager, Grafana Labs

About Grafana Labs

Grafana Labs provides an open and composable observability stack built around Grafana, the leading open source technology for dashboards and visualization. There are 5,000+ Grafana Labs customers, including Bloomberg, Citigroup, Dell Technologies, Salesforce, and TomTom, and 25M+ Grafana users around the world. Grafana Labs helps companies achieve their observability goals with the LGTM Stack, which features scalable metric (Grafana Mimir), logs (Grafana Loki), and traces (Grafana Tempo) as well as extensive enterprise data source plugins, dashboard management, alerting, reporting, and security. The fully managed Grafana Cloud offering helps organizations get observability up and running easier and faster, with turnkey solutions for Kubernetes and infrastructure monitoring, incident response management, load testing, application observability, and more. Grafana Labs is backed by leading investors Lightspeed Venture Partners, Lead Edge Capital, GIC, Sequoia Capital, Coatue, J.P. Morgan, and CapitalG. Follow Grafana Labs on LinkedIn and Twitter or visit grafana.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250325540050/en/

Contacts:

Press:



press@grafana.com
TMG, a leading digital engineering and experience firm specializing in complex commerce solutions for enterprise businesses, is proud to announce its inclusion in Shopify's Partner Solutions program.

TMG Fuse

White Fuse logo on TMG violet background

At the forefront of this innovation is TMG Fuse, an embedded integration platform designed for the Shopify environment that smoothly connects, manages, and monitors API-exposed backend systems-without leaving the Shopify ecosystem. By enabling businesses to efficiently surface data within Shopify storefronts, Fuse eliminates costly development efforts, streamlines workflows, and significantly reduces time to market.

A Bridge to Scalability

Enterprise commerce often relies on outdated, siloed legacy systems that hinder agility and prevent organizations from leveraging critical data for strategic decision-making. Without integrated, data-driven technology, companies risk falling behind competitors adopting modern, cost-efficient, and scalable solutions.

Aware of this challenge, TMG developed Fuse-an embedded iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) solution that integrates with Shopify-allowing businesses to seamlessly integrate SAP ERPs and other enterprise systems directly within Shopify. What once took months of complex, manual integration can now be achieved in a matter of days, giving teams greater visibility, control, and configuration over key systems such as ERP, CMS, and more-all through an intuitive, no-code interface directly in Shopify.

Accelerating Enterprise Growth

"Recognizing the need for a transformative integration solution, TMG developed Fuse to address the challenges of traditional enterprise commerce," said VP of Technology, Thomas McNally, TMG. "Fuse is a game-changer for businesses looking to modernize their tech stack, reduce costs, and accelerate growth."

With Fuse, data flows in real time between systems, providing continuous monitoring, instant adjustments, and enhanced transparency to support agile business management.

Enterprise companies can now unlock the full potential of their data, drive smarter decision-making, and future-proof their operations-all while leveraging the flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness of Shopify's platform.

For more information about TMG Fuse, visit [https://www.shopify.com/partner-solutions/enterprise].

About TMG

Established in 2014, TMG specializes in complex commerce solutions. We unravel the many difficulties in commerce, content, design, and experience that enterprise businesses face. With over 200 employees, our mix of B2B expertise, agile practice, and approachable partnership delivers quicker time to value and a dynamic, informed strategy for success.

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SOURCE: TMG
Boston, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - SinglePoint Inc (OTC Pink:SING) subsidiary Boston Solar, a leading regional solar energy provider, is taking significant strides to enhance its market presence and strategic positioning in the New England real estate market. The company's recent initiatives demonstrate a forward-thinking approach to business growth and sustainable energy solutions.

Strategic Conference Attendance Signals Market Expansion

Boston Solar's President Mike Morlino is set to attend the BISNOW New Hampshire State of the Market Conference on Tuesday, March 25th, marking a pivotal moment in the company's outreach strategy. This high-profile event brings together key industry leaders, including developers, financiers, urban planners, and real estate experts, providing a networking opportunity for Boston Solar.

"Historically our marketing efforts have mainly focused on one channel. This year we have optimized our digital strategy resulting in one of the best if not the best first quarter in company history from a sales perspective. As a Company we are now looking at options to create new partnerships and events like this will give us unique insights and the opportunity to connect with the appropriate decision makers', commented Mike Morlino, President, Boston Solar.

The conference focuses on critical topics such as infrastructure challenges, homeownership costs, and sustainable development trends in New Hampshire. For Boston Solar, this represents a strategic platform to showcase its innovative solar solutions and connect with potential commercial and residential clients.

Multi-Family Solar Installations: A Growing Market Segment

Boston Solar has completed several multi-family home solar installations. This initiative represents more than just a service expansion-it's a calculated market penetration strategy targeting a lucrative and growing segment of the renewable energy landscape and commercial real estate investors.

By including multi-family homes, Boston Solar is positioning itself at the intersection of sustainable energy and real estate development. These installations not only demonstrate the company's technical capabilities but also highlight the economic benefits of solar energy for property developers and residents alike.

Strategic Growth and Market Positioning

Boston Solar's current strategies offer promising indicators of future growth. The company is actively:

Expanding beyond digital marketing channels

Building meaningful industry relationships

Targeting emerging market segments like multi-family solar installations

Positioned as the go-to Solar, energy storage and renewable energy centric business in New England, specifically Massachusetts.

Looking Forward

As the renewable energy market continues to evolve, Boston Solar is well-prepared to capitalize on emerging opportunities. The company's proactive approach to networking, strategic market targeting, and commitment to sustainable solutions make Boston Solar a stand-out option for those interested in the clean energy sector.





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6548/245981_2aa22a35a4956a32_001full.jpg

About Boston Solar

Boston Solar is a subsidiary of SinglePoint Inc. (OTC Pink: SING). Since its founding in 2011, Boston Solar has installed more than 6,000 residential and commercial solar arrays, powering thousands of homes and businesses in New England, primarily in Massachusetts. The mission of Boston Solar is to provide superior clean energy products, exceptional customer service, and the highest-quality artistry in residential and commercial installations.

Boston Solar has accumulated several distinctions of recognition of the company's outstanding triumphs:

- Honored with Guildmaster Award from GuildQuality, the award acknowledged how Boston Solar demonstrated exceptional customer service within the residential construction industry.

- Named a Top Solar Contractor by Solar Power World magazine for five consecutive years.

- Recognized by the Boston Business Journal's "Largest Clean Energy Companies in Massachusetts" list.

Boston Solar is a Solar Energy Business Association of New England (SEBANE) member. The company is headquartered at 12 Gill St. Suite - 5650 Woburn, MA 01801. Learn more at: www.bostonsolar.us

About SinglePoint Inc.

SinglePoint Inc. is a renewable energy and sustainable lifestyle company focused on providing environmentally friendly energy efficiencies and healthy living solutions. SinglePoint is initially focused on building the largest network of renewable energy solutions and modernizing the traditional solar and energy storage model. The Company is also actively exploring future growth opportunities in air purification, electric vehicle charging, solar as a subscription service, and additional energy efficiencies that enhance sustainability and a healthier life. For more information, visit the Company's website (www.singlepoint.com).

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential plans and objectives of the Company, the use of proceeds, anticipated growth and future expansion, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245981

SOURCE: Hawk Point Media Group.
Appcues, the leading platform for product adoption and user engagement, today announced the appointment of Ryan Barry as the company's new Chief Executive Officer. Barry steps into the role with a clear mandate: to redefine how technology businesses engage customers and scale customer value in a rapidly changing market.

Ryan Barry, CEO of Appcues

Introducing Ryan Barry as Appcues CEO, March 2025

Barry brings a proven track record of driving customer-centric growth. Prior to joining Appcues, he successfully scaled Zappi, helping large global brands implement customer-first strategies that significantly improved marketing effectiveness. His insights on customer engagement and market-driven growth were recently featured in the best-selling book The Consumer Insights Revolution, which he co-authored with his former business partner and Zappi's largest customer.

"I'm honored and energized to take on the role of CEO at Appcues," said Barry. "Appcues pioneered product adoption software - and today, we have the opportunity to go even further by helping technology businesses deliver real value to their users at scale. Most companies know what great customer experience looks like - but they struggle to deliver it consistently across the customer journey. That's the challenge Appcues is perfectly positioned to solve."

Barry highlighted the strong foundation built by Jackson Noel, co-founder and outgoing CEO, who is stepping back into a board of directors role.

"Jackson built a great business - with soul," Barry added. "He's a 10/10 man, an incredible leader, and someone I'm lucky to call a partner as he transitions to our board. We share a belief that great culture comes from giving amazing people the agency to improve customer outcomes."

Jackson Noel expressed confidence in Barry's ability to lead Appcues into its next phase of growth:

"I'm thrilled to welcome Ryan as the next CEO of Appcues," said Noel. "Ryan and I share many philosophies on company culture, team building, and customer focus. He's set an exciting vision for the future of our market and I'm eager to support him as he leads Appcues into its next chapter."

Brad Coffey, chairman of the board, also voiced strong support for Barry's vision and leadership:

"Ryan brings a great mix of strategic vision and operational expertise," said Coffey. "He has a deep understanding of our space and how to scale what works - but more importantly, he brings an unmatched level of energy and drive to deliver results for our customers, employees, and shareholders. The way people discover, try, and adopt software is changing rapidly with AI and new types of consumer experiences. Ryan has a clear vision for that future, and I'm excited for him to lead Appcues into that next leg of our journey."

Why Now

Barry steps into the role at a time when technology businesses face growing pressure to improve product adoption and customer retention in a lean market. While companies have the expertise to solve customer challenges, delivering that expertise at scale remains elusive.

"Today's customer experience is fragmented," Barry explained. "GTM teams are under pressure to grow fast with fewer resources. CS teams are stretched thin. Marketing programs are thoughtful but often don't make it all the way through the customer journey. And users? They expect answers and value immediately - or they'll churn in 30 seconds."

Barry outlined the market reality most technology businesses are grappling with:

Most new product launches fall short.

Expansion is hard - even with strong land motions.

Companies struggle to scale the expertise of their best customer-facing people.

Users just want software that works - no QBRs, no waiting.

"Most companies are still running the same playbooks - MQL-driven marketing, siloed execution, and overburdened CS teams holding the whole thing together," Barry added. "They're playing defense. It's a losing battle. And it's time to change."

The Opportunity

Appcues already helps more than 1,400 businesses deliver highly personalized and effective user engagement at scale. Barry believes the next step is to enable companies to move from reactive to proactive customer engagement.

"This isn't about chasing engagement - it's about giving go-to-market teams the power to scale what works, fast," Barry said. "Appcues is in a unique position to help companies anticipate customer needs, deliver value at the moments that matter most, and drive real business outcomes - adoption, expansion, and retention."

Barry pointed to recent success stories, including Fullstory's ability to drive rapid adoption and customer outcomes using Appcues:

"Companies like Fullstory are already proving what's possible when customer engagement is intentional, intelligent, and deeply tied to business outcomes. That's the shift - and we're going to lead it."

What's Next

Barry outlined an ambitious roadmap for Appcues' future, including plans to introduce AI-driven autonomous experience delivery and launch a new customer advisory board and podcast. He also announced a global tour to meet customers and partners in key markets, including San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Austin, Toronto, Boston, London, and Tel Aviv.

"The future of customer experience isn't something we'll watch happen -it's something we're going to lead," Barry said. "If you want to be part of it - help us shape this category, challenge the old playbooks, and reimagine how technology companies grow - reach out. Let's make the shift together."

Read Barry's uncut letter to customers and the market: https://www.appcues.com/blog/the-experience-shift.

About Appcues

Appcues is the leading user engagement platform for technology businesses. Founded in 2014, Appcues helps go-to-market teams deliver highly personalized and timely in-app, email, and push experiences at scale, driving faster onboarding, increased product adoption, and improved customer retention. With over 1,400 customers worldwide, Appcues empowers technology companies to deliver the right message, to the right user, at the right time.

For more information, visit www.appcues.com .

Contact Information

Eric Keating

VP Marketing

eric@appcues.com

SOURCE: Appcues
Join the Paramount Veterans Network for an inspiring, monthly podcast-style panel discussion and interview that brings together military veterans, families, and advocates for powerful conversations and stories. Each episode dives into the rich backgrounds and experiences of our guests-whether they're veterans, veteran service organizations, or military-themed creators. From behind-the-scenes insights into your favorite military-themed shows, to personal stories of resilience and camaraderie, this is your front-row seat to engaging with the military community in an impactful way. Grab your coffee (or tea) and connect with those who've served and those who support them.

Mary Calvi, the Morning Anchor for CBS News New York, moderated the interview with special guest Austin Stowell, star of CBS' "NCIS: Origins"

In this episode, Austin discusses his experience working on an iconic television series from the NCIS universe. He talks about what it is like to play the beloved character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, and his secret sauce to success. Austin also shows his appreciation for our nation's service members.

View other Paramount VetNet Coffee Chats here!

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Paramount on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Paramount

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/paramount

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Paramount
The Custom Home Accessories Provider Refines Kitchen Decor with Elegant and Versatile Pour Bottles

The Polished Jar, a leader in luxury home accessories is excited to announce the launch of its newest collection of custom pour bottles . Crafted to bring sophistication and practicality into your home or business, this newly released line includes beautifully designed bottles that can be used for oils, vinegars, syrups, and more. Each bottle from the Handblown Mexican Glass to the Stoneware Pour can be customized to suit a range of styles.

handblown custom glass pour bottle

custom oil pour bottle from The Polished Jar

These kitchen oil bottles have been thoughtfully designed to marry elegance and functionality. They make excellent olive oil dispensers but may also be filled with vinegar, dressings, and syrups - enhancing counter and tabletop aesthetics while providing effortless use.

"Our new line of specialty pour bottles reflects our dedication to blending style with everyday convenience," said a spokesperson for The Polished Jar. "With options like the Olea Glass Pour Bottle and our Toscano Stoneware Dispenser, we've made it easier than ever for customers to personalize their kitchen space without compromising functionality."

For businesses looking to elevate their brand, the Custom Pour Bottle can be personalized with logos and unique designs. This customization makes them not only a useful tool in commercial venues but also a key part of branding efforts, whether displayed on counters or used as distinctive takeaway items at events. These bottles merge utility with sophisticated design, offering a bespoke touch in any culinary establishment.

After working closely with skilled artisans, The Polished Jar is delighted to introduce pieces featuring Mexican handblown glass. This collection reflects the brand's commitment to exceptional craftsmanship and offers customers options to seamlessly enhance their space.

Visit The Polished Jar to explore the complete collection of custom pour bottles.

About The Polished Jar

The Polished Jar specializes in sophisticated and customizable home accessories that enhance everyday spaces. Known for their signature custom soap dispensers , The Polished Jar combines aesthetic excellence with functional design, serving both residential and commercial clients.

SOURCE: The Polished Jar
First Time on the Market in Over 40 Years!

Ayers Auction & Real Estate is proud to present a rare opportunity to own 116 acres of pristine recreational land with 4,500 feet of Norris Lake frontage. Known as the "Old Boy Scout Camp," this property has remained off the market for over 40 years and is now available through an online-only auction ending Thursday, April 22 at 6 PM.

116 Acres on Norris Lake

Aerial View

This expansive, wooded tract features mature hardwoods, gentle slopes to the water, and convenient access from Murrayville Rd. and Sharp Cemetery Ln. With electric service available and city water within 500 feet, the property offers a unique combination of seclusion and accessibility.

Ayers Auction has successfully sold multiple properties on Norris Lake, making this an excellent opportunity for buyers looking to invest in one of East Tennessee's most sought-after waterfront locations. This parcel is subject to TVA deed restrictions and cannot be further subdivided.

Auction Details:

Location: Murrayville Rd., LaFollette, TN 37766

Auction Ends: Thursday, April 22 at 6 PM

Inspection: Available Anytime

Terms: 10% down within 24 hours of auction completion, balance due upon closing within 40 days. 10% Buyer's Premium.

Who Should Buy This Property?

This rare Norris Lake property is perfect for:

Outdoor Enthusiasts & Recreational Buyers - Ideal for those seeking a private retreat for hunting, hiking, camping, or lakeside relaxation.

Investors & Land Speculators - A unique opportunity to acquire large, untouched acreage in a highly desirable lakefront area.

Conservation & Preservation Organizations - Ideal for groups focused on maintaining the natural landscape and shoreline of Norris Lake.

Family Estates & Private Owners - Perfect for those seeking a secluded lakeside getaway for generations to enjoy.

Hunting & Fishing Enthusiasts - With abundant wildlife and direct lake access, this property is well-suited for outdoor sports.

Local & Regional Buyers - An excellent opportunity for nearby residents looking to secure a large, scenic property for personal or recreational use.

Ayers Auction & Real Estate has a proven track record of successfully marketing and selling high-value waterfront and recreational properties, including multiple sales on Norris Lake. With decades of experience and a commitment to excellence, Ayers continues to connect buyers with exceptional investment opportunities.

Auctioneer: Paul Provins, TN LIC# 4528

Contact Information

Paul Provins

Auctioneer

support@ayersauctionrealty.com

4235624941





SOURCE: Ayers Auction & Real Estate
Monarch Air Group, a leading provider of private jet charter services, is proud to announce the promotion of executive account manager Katrina Thompson to Aircraft Sourcing Manager, effective immediately.

Thompson, who joined Monarch Air Group in 2023, has consistently demonstrated her expertise in the aviation industry. With a background as a flight attendant, a licensed pilot, and a highly successful charter sales broker, she brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to her new role.

Thompson's journey with Monarch Air Group began in the operations department, where she earned a reputation for delivering exceptional service and support to clients. Her dedication and expertise have allowed her to rapidly advance within the company, moving from operations to broker and now stepping into this highly coveted leadership position in aircraft sourcing.

"We are thrilled to have Katrina lead our sourcing team," said David Gitman, Monarch's CEO. "Her diverse experience and passion for aviation makes her an invaluable asset to our company."

In her new role, Thompson will oversee the sourcing of aircraft for Monarch's clientele, ensuring that every flight is tailored to meet the unique needs of each mission. "Every flight tells a story, and I am excited to play a key role in creating seamless experiences by connecting the right aircraft to the right mission," Thompson said.

Thompson is a graduate of Florida International University and attended Broward College for flight school. This announcement is especially significant as we celebrate Women's History Month, highlighting the remarkable achievements of women in the aviation industry and beyond.

For more information about Monarch Air Group, visit https://monarchairgroup.com.

Contact:

Christine Liriano, Director of Public Relations & Marketing

CL@monarchairgroup.com

(954) 829-3200

SOURCE: Monarch Air Group, LLC
SHENZHEN, China, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- PioCreat 3D, a global innovator in dental 3D printing technology, is showcasing its latest innovations under the PioNext brand at the International Dental Show (IDS) 2025, which is being held at the Cologne International Exhibition Center, Germany, from March 25 to 29. Visit PioCreat 3D at Booth G038 H039 in Hall 5.1 for an exclusive look at the latest PioNext dental 3D printing solutions.

With years of expertise in dental equipment and material development, PioCreat 3D has become a trusted leader in the dental 3D printing industry. At IDS 2025, the company is demonstrating its ability to streamline workflows and deliver precise solutions for dental applications, including surgical guides, crowns, bridges, dentures, and orthodontic appliances.

Key Highlights at PioCreat 3D's Booth

Cutting-Edge Dental 3D Printers:

DJ89PLUS: An 8K LCD 3D printer with 29m precision, heating chamber, and stable performance for dental applications.

D158: A compact DLP 3D printer with 62m precision, automatic lifting cover, and stable Z-axis, designed for reliable and efficient dental printing.

DJ68: Features a 6.8? 9K LCD screen with 8520 x 4320 resolution and 18m XY-axis accuracy, ideal for dental and jewelry applications.

Over 10 High-Performance Dental Resins:

Biocompatible and durable options include ortho model 2.0 resin, temporary restoration resin, surgical guide resin, try-in resin, gingiva resin, IBT resin, etc.

"We're excited to meet the global dental community at IDS 2025," said Fred Liu, CEO of PioCreat 3D and a founder of Creality. "As the leading dental trade fair, IDS is the perfect platform to showcase our latest solutions, connect with professionals, and explore new trends, while building partnerships to advance the dental industry and improve patient care.

Visit PioCreat 3D at IDS 2025

Visit PioCreat 3D at Booth G038 H039 in Hall 5.1 for live demos, hands-on experiences, and direct interaction with our technical team

About PioCreat 3D

Founded in 2015 in Shenzhen, PioCreat 3D is a global leader in advanced 3D printing solutions. Specializing in industrial, dental, medical, jewelry, and engineering sectors, as well as consumer markets, PioCreat 3D develops cutting-edge printers, software, and materials to provide high-quality, cost-effective solutions for professionals worldwide.

For more information about PioCreat 3D and its participation in IDS 2025, please visit www.piocreat3d.com or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and LinkedIn.

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The LNG engine market is driven by increasing demand for cleaner fuels, stringent emissions regulations, and the growing adoption of LNG-powered vessels and trucks for sustainability. The rise in global LNG production and infrastructure development further supports market expansion. However, high initial investment costs, limited refueling infrastructure, and fluctuations in LNG prices act as key restraints. Despite these challenges, advancements in LNG engine technology, government incentives for green energy adoption, and increasing interest in LNG as a transition fuel present significant opportunities. Emerging markets and the expansion of LNG bunkering facilities further enhance growth prospects in the industry.

WILMINGTON, Del., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "LNG Engine Market by Type (Spark-ignited, Diesel-ignited, Direct Gas Injection), by Application (Marine, Power Generation, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2033". According to the report, the "LNG engine market" was valued at $5.4 billion in 2023, and is estimated to reach $10.7 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2024 to 2033.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/A325619

Macroeconomic & Geopolitical Impact

The increasing adoption of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) engines is significantly shaping macroeconomic and geopolitical dynamics. From a macroeconomic perspective, LNG-powered engines are reducing dependence on oil-based fuels, particularly in transportation and maritime sectors, leading to lower fuel costs and enhanced energy security. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global LNG demand is expected to rise by over 20% by 2030, driven by growing industrial and transportation applications. This transition is also fostering new job creation in LNG infrastructure and supply chains, with investments in LNG bunkering stations expected to reach $12 billion by 2027.

Geopolitically, LNG engines are reshaping energy trade flows, with major producers like the United States, Qatar, and Australia increasing LNG exports to reduce European and Asian dependence on Russian pipeline gas. The EU imported over 155 billion cubic meters (bcm) of LNG in 2023, a 60% rise from 2021, signaling a strategic shift away from pipeline gas. Countries investing in LNG-powered fleets, such as China and India, are also reducing their exposure to volatile crude oil prices, strengthening their economic resilience.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2024-2033 Base Year 2023 Market Size in 2023 $5.4 Billion Market Size in 2033 $10.7 Billion CAGR 7.10 % No. of Pages in Report 268 Segments Covered Type, Application, and Region. Drivers Growing global focus on reducing carbon emissions Expanding LNG refueling and bunkering infrastructure Opportunities Innovations in engine technology to improve efficiency and reduce emissions Restraints High initial investment in LNG engines

The Spark-ignited segment is expected to lead throughout the forecast period with a CAGR of 7.1%.

By type, the Spark-ignited segment was the highest revenue contributor to the market growing with a CAGR of 7.1%. One of the primary reasons for the growing demand for spark-ignited LNG engines is the global push toward reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving air quality. Governments and regulatory bodies worldwide are enforcing stricter environmental regulations to curb emissions from marine, automotive, and industrial sectors. The International Maritime Organization's (IMO) MARPOL Annex VI mandates a global sulfur cap of 0.5% in marine fuels since January 1, 2020, significantly reducing sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions from ships. This has accelerated the shift toward cleaner alternatives like LNG-powered vessels. Similarly, in the automotive sector, the Euro VI standard in Europe and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) emission standards in the U.S. impose stringent limits on nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from heavy-duty vehicles. These regulations have led to a growing adoption of LNG engines, which produce lower emissions compared to diesel and traditional marine fuels. As a result, industries worldwide are increasingly investing in LNG-powered solutions to comply with these evolving regulatory requirements while also achieving long-term sustainability goals.

Procure Complete Report (284 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/lng-engine-market

The Power Generation segment is expected to lead throughout the forecast period with a CAGR of 7.0%.

By application, the Power Generation segment was the highest revenue contributor to the market growing with a CAGR of 7.0%. LNG engines are increasingly being adopted in power generation as a cleaner and more efficient alternative to conventional fossil fuels like coal and diesel. Compared to coal-fired power plants, LNG-powered engines can reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 40-50% and virtually eliminate sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter. Additionally, natural gas power plants using LNG engines operate with higher efficiency-reaching up to 60% in combined cycle configurations, compared to 33-40% efficiency for coal plants. Diesel generators, widely used for backup power, are also being replaced by LNG engines due to their lower operational costs and reduced environmental footprint. The increasing availability of LNG infrastructure, along with government policies supporting clean energy transitions, is further accelerating the adoption of LNG engines in power generation worldwide.

Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2033 growing with a CAGR of 7.5%.

Asia-Pacific was the highest revenue contributor, growing at a CAGR of 7.5%. Spark-ignited segment is gaining popularity in Asia-Pacific. Governments across Asia-Pacific are implementing stringent environmental policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Spark-ignited LNG engines produce lower emissions compared to traditional diesel engines, making them an attractive choice to meet these regulatory standards. For instance, India announced its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 during the COP26 Climate Summit in November 2021. Additionally, the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate includes major economies like China, India, and Japan, collectively accounting for over 50% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, GDP, and population. This partnership aims to accelerate the development and deployment of cleaner, more efficient energy technologies across various sectors, including transportation and power generation. These initiatives highlight the region's commitment to environmental sustainability and the role of LNG engines in achieving emission reduction targets.

Connect To Industry Expert: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/connect-to-analyst/A325619

Investment Opportunities in LNG Engine Market

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set ambitious targets to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by 2050 (compared to 2008 levels) and achieve net-zero emissions around 2050. One of the key policies driving this transition is the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), which came into effect in January 2023. This regulation requires ships above 5,000 gross tonnage to annually assess and improve their carbon intensity (CO2 emissions per cargo capacity and distance traveled). Additionally, LNG-powered trucks and buses are gaining traction as cleaner alternatives to diesel. Countries like China, India, and the U.S. are expanding LNG refueling networks, boosting investment prospects in engine manufacturing and fleet conversions.

Moreover, investment in LNG storage, distribution, and refueling stations is expanding, with Europe and Asia leading in new terminal constructions. For instance, India is making significant strides in expanding its LNG fueling infrastructure, with plans to establish 1,000 LNG fueling stations by 2030. This initiative is part of the country's broader strategy to reduce reliance on diesel, cut carbon emissions, and promote cleaner transportation. The push for LNG adoption aligns with India's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and reducing oil imports, which account for nearly 85% of its crude oil demand. Currently, India has more than 50 operational LNG fueling stations, with major oil and gas companies like Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), GAIL, and Petronet LNG leading the expansion. The government has also introduced incentives and policy support, including tax reductions on LNG and relaxed regulations for LNG-powered commercial vehicles. The heavy-duty trucking sector, which consumes around 30% of the country's diesel, is a key target for LNG adoption, with companies like Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland developing LNG-compatible truck models. This expansion presents significant investment opportunities in LNG logistics, infrastructure, and supply chains, including LNG storage, distribution networks, and cryogenic tank manufacturing.

Key Industry News

In March 2025, Indonesia initiated a $1.5 billion project to transition its power plants from diesel to liquefied natural gas (LNG), aiming to enhance energy security and reduce reliance on costly diesel imports. The project, spearheaded by PLN EPI, a subsidiary of the state-owned utility Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), focuses on supplying 41 power plants with a combined capacity of 2,148 MW, primarily located across East Indonesia. Given the region's geographical challenges, the initiative will employ a hub-and-spoke distribution model, ensuring efficient LNG delivery to remote islands. By shifting to LNG, Indonesia seeks to cut fuel costs, lower emissions, and improve energy sustainability. The transition aligns with the country's broader strategy to diversify its energy mix and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The project is expected to commence operations between 2026 and 2027, marking a significant milestone in Indonesia's energy transition efforts.

In November 2024, Blue Energy Motors, an Indian startup specializing in LNG-fueled trucks, raised $100 million by January 2025 to expand production capacity. The company tripled sales to 3,000 LNG-powered trucks in the following financial year and launched its first electric truck. Partnering with Italy's Iveco Group for LNG truck engines, Blue Energy's trucks emitted 30% less CO2 and significantly reduced particulate matter and sulfur oxides compared to diesel counterparts.

QatarEnergy LNG (formerly Qatargas) is actively involved in global LNG projects, expanding its reach by delivering LNG to new markets and developing carbon sequestration facilities at Ras Laffan to reduce emissions. The company focuses on enhancing LNG infrastructure and strengthening partnerships to meet the rising demand for cleaner energy sources. As part of its expansion efforts, QatarEnergy LNG signed a significant agreement with PetroVietnam Gas in April 2024 to supply LNG to Vietnam's Thi Vai LNG terminal, marking an important step in Vietnam's transition to natural gas. This deal reinforced QatarEnergy LNG's role as a key supplier in the global LNG market and demonstrated its commitment to supporting energy security in Southeast Asia.

Key Players: -

Cummins Inc.

Caterpillar Inc.

Wartsila

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, LTD

Siemens Energy

MAN Energy Solutions

Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.

Scania AB.

FPT Industrial

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global LNG engine market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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Floating LNG Power Vessel Market Size, Share Analysis and Growth Forecast, 2024-2033

Large Scale LNG Terminals Market Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2033

About us:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions". AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

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Winter Park, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - Adia Nutrition (OTC Pink: ADIA), a trailblazer in advanced healthcare solutions, is excited to announce that its subsidiary, Adia Med, is actively exploring international expansion after receiving significant interest from multiple international groups. Over recent months, several organizations and healthcare entities from various countries have reached out to Adia Med, expressing enthusiasm for establishing clinics that offer its cutting-edge treatments, including Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE), Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT), and notably, umbilical cord blood stem cell (UCB-SC) therapies utilizing Adia Labs' premier product, Adia Vita. In response, Adia Med has begun a comprehensive review of the legalities and regulations required to bring its pioneering care to a global stage.





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Adia Med's leadership has taken proactive steps toward this potential expansion, consulting legal experts to evaluate the feasibility of operating clinics abroad. The company recently received a letter of opinion from its legal counsel, confirming that international expansion is permissible and providing a detailed blueprint for navigating the regulatory landscape. This legal framework outlines the steps needed to comply with international healthcare standards, setting the stage for Adia Med to extend its innovative therapies, including the highly sought-after Adia Vita, beyond the United States.

"We've been overwhelmed by the global enthusiasm for our work, particularly from groups interested in leveraging Adia Labs' Adia Vita for umbilical cord blood stem cell therapies," said Larry Powalisz, CEO of Adia Med. "Our current location is already delivering transformative treatments, and with this international outreach, we're exploring how to share our advancements, like Adia Vita, our premier stem cell product, with the world. We've already identified an appealing location outside the U.S. that we're likely to pursue, and our lawyer's guidance assures us that going international is within reach."

Adia Vita, offered by Adia Labs, has garnered attention for its unprecedented potency and purity, making it a standout in regenerative medicine. International groups have expressed keen interest in utilizing this premier UCB-SC product for therapies targeting a range of conditions, from circulatory disorders to orthopedic applications. Adia Med's expertise with apheresis machines for TPE and HSCT, combined with its leadership in UCB-SC therapies, positions it as one of only three clinic networks in the U.S. with this technology-a distinction that has fueled global curiosity.

While the expansion remains in the planning phase, Adia Med is committed to meeting this international demand by carefully assessing regulatory requirements, forging strategic partnerships, and refining its approach to ensure a smooth entry into new markets. Larry Powalisz, CEO of Adia Nutrition, shared, "We've recently pinpointed a specific location outside the US for launching our first international Adia Med," signaling a clear step toward global outreach. This move aligns with Adia Nutrition's mission to revolutionize healthcare and deliver impactful solutions worldwide, leveraging their expertise in regenerative medicine to reach new patients beyond U.S. borders.

About ADIA Nutrition Inc.:

Adia Nutrition Inc. is a publicly traded company (OTC Pink: ADIA) dedicated to revolutionizing healthcare and supplementation. With a focus on innovation and quality, the company has established two key divisions: a supplement division providing premium, organic supplements, and a medical division establishing Clinics that specialize in leading-edge stem cell therapies, most significantly Umbilical Cord Stem Cells (UCB-SC) and Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (aHSCT) treatments. Through these divisions, Adia Nutrition Inc. is committed to empowering individuals to live their best lives by addressing both nutritional needs and groundbreaking medical treatments.

Website: www.adianutrition.com

Website: www.adiamed.com

Website: www.adialabs.com

Website: www.biolete.com

Website: www.cementfactory.co

Twitter (X): @ADIA_Nutrition

Safe Harbor: This Press Release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management and are subject to a few uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the company's current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. A more extensive listing of risks and factors that may affect the company's business prospects and cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the reports and other documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and OTC Markets, Inc. OTC Disclosure and News Service. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, because of new information, future events or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/243471

SOURCE: Adia Nutrition Inc.
Whittier Trust Strengthens Client Service Excellence Within Reno and San Francisco Offices Through Advancement of Distinguished Internal Talent

Whittier Trust is pleased to announce the promotions of Mathew N.S. Neben to Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager, and Charlie R. Normandin to Vice President, Client Advisor. These advancements reflect Whittier Trust's continued commitment to finding and developing top-tier talent and its dedication to providing personalized, relationship-driven wealth management services.

"Charlie and Mat exemplify Whittier Trust's core values-deep expertise, a client-first mindset, and an unwavering commitment to excellence," said David Dahl, President and CEO of Whittier Trust. "Charlie's meticulous approach to fiduciary and financial planning and Mat's leadership in investment strategy reinforce our mission to deliver highly personalized, long-term wealth solutions."

Mathew Neben has been elevated to Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager in Whittier Trust's Reno office. With over a decade at the firm, Mat manages equity, fixed income, and alternative assets for high-net-worth individuals and foundations. As a member of Whittier Trust's Investment Committee, he helps shape the firm's overall investment strategy and conducts in-depth analysis of companies in the Communication Services sector. In his new role, he will continue to refine Whittier Trust's investment approach while deepening client relationships through customized portfolio management.

Charlie Normandin steps into the position of Vice President, Client Advisor in Whittier Trust's San Francisco office. Since joining the firm in 2020, Charlie has been instrumental in providing tailored family office services, fiduciary guidance, and financial planning for high-net-worth clients. His keen attention to detail allows him to craft optimal solutions to complex wealth management challenges. In his expanded role, Charlie will continue to deliver strategic financial advice while strengthening Whittier Trust's client service capabilities in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Beyond their professional achievements, both Mat and Charlie are dedicated to their local communities. Mat serves on the Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows, supporting youth development initiatives in Northern Nevada. Charlie is an active member of the San Francisco Estate Planning Council and a passionate advocate for youth organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club.

Whittier Trust views its employees as the foundation of the firm's success. By fostering a culture of leadership, collaboration, and mentorship, the wealth management company enables team members to grow both personally and professionally. With diverse experiences and expertise, each team member brings fresh insights and innovative solutions that enhance the client experience. Through ongoing knowledge sharing and professional development, Whittier Trust empowers its advisors and portfolio managers in each office to deliver exceptional service, providing clients with local strategic guidance and personalized wealth solutions to preserve and grow their assets for generations.

About Whittier Trust

Collectively, Whittier Trust Company and The Whittier Trust Company of Nevada, Inc. (referred to herein individually and collectively as "Whittier Trust") are state-chartered trust companies wholly owned by Whittier Holdings, Inc. ("WHI"), a closely held holding company. As the oldest multi-family office headquartered on the West Coast, Whittier Trust isn't just a financial institution, it's a trusted partner with a long, rich history of successfully navigating the financial markets to preserve, protect and enhance its clients' wealth and well-being across generations. Whittier Trust operates with the singular focus of providing holistic, top-tier client service and highly personalized investment solutions to ultra-high-net-worth individuals and their families designed to advance and secure their long-term financial legacies and goals. The firm has offices in Pasadena, Menlo Park, Newport Beach, San Diego, San Francisco, West Los Angeles, Reno, Seattle and Portland. To learn more, visit http://www.whittiertrust.com .

Contact:

Brandi J. Fields

Whittier Trust

Email: BFields@whittiertrust.com

SOURCE: Whittier Trust
Manufacturer Climate Action Program (MCAP) helps manufacturers to set credible climate targets aligned with science

Cascale's Manufacturer Climate Action Program (MCAP), a vital initiative that supports manufacturers globally to begin their decarbonization journey to set Scope 1 and 2 emission reduction targets emissions, will broaden its reach to welcome new participants in 2025. MCAP is expanding this year with two new cohorts, offering more manufacturers - both Cascale members and non-members - the opportunity to advance their multi-year decarbonization efforts.

Launched in 2024, the 18-month program offers a focused first step for manufacturers looking to build their decarbonization journey. MCAP complements the Industry Decarbonization Roadmap (IDR), developed by Cascale and Apparel Impact Institute (Aii) as a comprehensive approach to drive measurable progress on decarbonization. Under Cascale's "Combat Climate Change" pillar, these programs aim to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the global consumer goods industry by 45 percent by 2030.

MCAP's first two cohorts included 58 manufacturers and seven nominating brands, working together to develop and set Science-Aligned Targets (SATs)-clear, credible goals aligned with global climate science. All 18 participants from MCAP's first cohort have successfully submitted their targets for validation, representing a significant milestone for the program. Once validated, these targets will be publicly showcased on the MCAP disclosure dashboard, aligning with transparency practices of leading frameworks like Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).

"Sustainability is at the heart of ITL Group's operations," said Jimmy Christopher, SVP Group Sustainability and Innovation, ITL Group. "Through MCAP, we received invaluable guidance and a clear roadmap, allowing us to confidently validate our climate targets. The collaborative approach made the process smooth and effective. We're proud to support MCAP's vital work in driving meaningful climate action across the fashion value chain."

Through MCAP, manufacturers are trained to develop their GHG inventory, identify high emission facilities in their operations, set SATs, and connect with like-minded organizations. MCAP participants benefit from expert-led training in climate risk assessment, providing an opportunity for manufacturers to identify risks based on Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scenarios.

"Supported by PwC, we conducted the physical climate risk training to share common climate risks and mitigation strategies," said Joyce Tsoi, Sr. Director, Decarbonization Program at Cascale. "Recognized as best practice by leading global frameworks such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the CDP, and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), many jurisdictions are requiring organizations to disclose their climate-related risks. We're pleased that more than half of participating manufacturers are undergoing a climate risk assessment after the training sessions."

With a commitment to credibility, MCAP collaborates with third-party validators and aligns with the SBTi framework, incorporating the latest IPCC science. MCAP is open to all manufacturers looking to start their decarbonization journey or wish to accelerate the adoption of science-aligned GHG reduction targets within their Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Interested parties can learn more about the program in the next MCAP information session, or enroll directly. For more information, visit Cascale's website.

ABOUT CASCALE

Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance empowering collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index, which is exclusively available on Worldly, the most comprehensive sustainability data and insights platform. Cascale unites over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, and NGO/nonprofit affiliates around the globe through one singular vision: To catalyze impact at scale and give back more than we take to the planet and its people.

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View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cascale on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Cascale

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cascale

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Cascale
London, England--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - CEO and Director of Sends, Alona Shevtsova, will join industry leaders at a panel discussion titled "Could AI Win the Financial Crime Battle?" at Pay360. The panelists will explore the topics of main trends of AI usage for fraud and cyber-crime, and how machine learning and synthetic data be leveraged for real-time fraud detection.





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Alona Shevtsova will share Sends' experience in using AI-driven third-party solutions, discuss trends in synthetic data detection, and talk about the growing importance of AI in financial security.

"At Sends, we combine AI innovation with human expertise to stay ahead of financial crime. Our goal isn't just to prevent fraud - we're redefining trust and security standards in fintech," said Alona Shevtsova.

The discussion will also cover the ethical challenges of AI, regulatory concerns, and its potential to revolutionise fraud prevention over the next three years. Other panellists include Kathy Griffin (Uber Payments UK) and Rich Bromley (Monzo), with Masha Cilliers (The Payments Association) moderating.

About Sends

Sends is a Britain-based financial service provider offering acquiring and multicurrency IBANs. Authorised EMI by the FCA since 2017, Sends is a full-fledged replacement for the traditional bank account. Sends platform is designed both for private and legal entities.

*Sends is a trade name of SMARTFLOW PAYMENTS LIMITED. Registered in England and Wales (Company number 11070048).

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245883

SOURCE: Sends
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - Isaac Maresky, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Gold Hart Copper Corp. (TSXV: HART) ("Gold Hart Copper Corp." or the "Company") and his team, joined Dean McPherson, Head, Business Development, Global Mining, Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), to open the market to celebrate the Company's new listing on TSX Venture Exchange.





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Gold Hart Copper is one of the largest independent land owners surrounding major miners where the famous Maricunga Gold Belt meets the emerging Vicuna Copper Belt in Chile. HART is actively acquiring, exploring and developing its portfolio of gold, copper & silver properties adjacent to the largest gold and copper assets on the continent. HART's team of geologists were personally involved in pioneering exploration in the region, leading to some of its greatest gold, copper, and silver deposits, and include the country's former National Geological Survey head. HART has rolled-up a portfolio of historically significant assets surrounding majors, in some cases personally staked by the very same geologists who made the adjacent mega-discoveries, since the early 1990s. HART believes it may be sitting on one of the only fully-preserved untested large-scale gold-copper-silver porphyry targets in the Vicuna District.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/245990

SOURCE: Toronto Stock Exchange
SGU is the largest provider of new doctors to the U.S. healthcare system for 11 years running

St. George's University School of Medicine announced today that 1,015 of its students and graduates have secured residencies around the United States in the 2025 match cycle.

This marks the 11th consecutive year in which SGU has been the largest provider of new doctors to first-year U.S. residencies.1

"The entire St. George's University community congratulates this remarkable class of medical students on their success," said Dr. Marios Loukas, Dean of the St. George's University School of Medicine . "This milestone represents the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and resilience."

SGU students and graduates matched into residences in 20 specialties across 41 states and the District of Columbia. More students will find out where they will be doing residency training in the days and weeks to come.

St. George's University graduates will begin residency programs in several highly competitive specialties, ranging from neurology and surgery to emergency medicine and pediatrics. Many will be returning to their home states or cities to begin their careers in medicine.

"Each one of these matches marks the next step in a dream coming true, and we celebrate these students' achievements and their determination to make a real difference in the world as the next generation of new doctors," said Dr. Loukas.

This new group of doctors will play a crucial role in addressing America's growing physician shortage. Since 2015, St. George's University has been the largest provider of new doctors to the U.S. healthcare system annually. More than two-thirds of SGU graduates enter primary care specialties, and many SGU alumni work in medically underserved areas.

"We can't wait to see all the great things that this newest class of SGU graduates will accomplish," Dr. Loukas said.

###

About St. George's University

St. George's University is a center of international education, drawing students and faculty from 140 countries to the island of Grenada, in the West Indies, to its programs in medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, science, and business. SGU is affiliated with educational institutions worldwide, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The University's over 31,000 graduates include physicians, veterinarians, scientists, and public health and business professionals across the world. St. George's University School of Medicine is accredited by the Grenada Medical and Dental Council which has been recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME). For more information, visit www.sgu.edu .

Media Contact:

Elaina Gonzalez

elaina@keybridge.biz

(202) 474-4666

1 As the medical school graduating the largest number of students per year, SGU places the largest number of graduates into residency programs each year, based on internal SGU graduate/expected graduate and residency placement data as of March 2025.

SOURCE: St. George's University
The investment will fuel the expansion of its groundbreaking conversational analytics platform, empowering businesses to unlock hidden insights from ERP data without technical barriers.

Lumi AI, a self-service data analytics and insights platform redefining how brands and retailers uncover value in their enterprise resource planning (ERP) data, is proud to announce the close of its $3.7 million seed funding round. The round was led by AgFunder, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm focused on early-stage AI startups solving supply chain problems. Additional participation came from B2B SaaS investors Forum Ventures , Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund ADQ , Qora71 syndicate, and other angel investors.

Despite spending billions on business intelligence (BI) tools, companies with supply chains still struggle with slow, manual analytics processes. This inefficiency forces business teams to wait days for insights, leaving valuable financial opportunities buried in complex data.

Lumi AI's platform features a chat module that serves as a personal data analyst, enabling users to explore data, generate visuals, and extract tailored insights using plain language-no coding needed-unlocking hidden value, boosting productivity, and freeing up the go-to data person(s) for more strategic initiatives.

Powered by a proprietary analytics engine and enterprise-grade controls, Lumi AI goes beyond simple text-to-SQL solutions, introducing a new category of multi-agent applications designed to streamline routine data tasks. Lumi AI can handle a wide range of queries-from straightforward to complex, even vague-delivering deeper intelligence and setting a new standard for conversational analytics, with a future vision of enabling actions and fully harnessing the potential of agentic workflows.

"We founded Lumi AI to break down the barriers between businesses and their data. With this funding, we're accelerating our mission to help companies democratize access to intelligence and transform decision-making at scale," shares Ibrahim Ashqar, CEO and Co-Founder of Lumi AI. "AgFunder's expertise in supply chain innovation makes them an ideal partner to help us empower businesses globally to unlock the full potential of their operational data."

Lumi AI will use the funds to grow its engineering and customer success teams, accelerate feature development, and support a growing roster of global customers with complex supply chain datasets. Clients span mid-sized consumer packaged goods (CPG) and third party logistics (3PL) businesses to recognizable enterprises, including an F10 retailer, one of North America's largest meal-kit providers, a top 4 consulting firm, and the largest luxury retailer in the MENA region.

"Lumi AI is transforming the way businesses operate by making analytics accessible to everyone," states Rob Leclerc, Managing Partner at AgFunder. "I haven't seen that before, such incredible pull in demand across retail, grocery, manufacturing, and any industry with complex supply chains. We're excited to support their journey."

Are you ready to experience the future of analytics? Schedule a demo at www.lumi-ai.com .

ABOUT LUMI AI:

Lumi AI redefines how companies interact with their data by empowering teams with the ability to explore operational data and extract actionable intelligence with plain language prompts, driving faster, more informed decisions.

Mid-to-large consumer packaged goods (CPG) and F10 retail clients using Lumi uncovered multi-million dollar opportunities in inventory, sales, and procurement datasets, delivering insights 517 times cheaper than internal resources, and cutting time-to-insight from 7 days to 30 seconds.

For media inquiries, please contact info@lumi-ai.com .

SOURCE: Lumi AI
Originally published in Lenovo's 2023/24 ESG Report

A statement on oversight and management of Environmental, Social and Governance

The oversight of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) programs, and the approach and strategy of Lenovo towards the management of ESG matters was set out in a statement issued by the Board of Directors (the "Board") and management of Lenovo. Details of which are set out below:

ESG governance structure

Board oversight

The Board has the highest level of oversight for ESG programs and reporting and manages this responsibility. The Board's oversight of Lenovo's ESG programs and processes includes support and evaluation of Lenovo's management of and response to key ESG-related risks and opportunities, in the context of strategy, decisions on major transactions, risk management policies, and long-term value-creation across its business operations. Board members are regularly briefed on and have discussions about critical ESG risk areas, opportunities and key ESG practices during Board meetings, and are tasked with approving the ESG Report. ESG-related topics are included in the agenda items of the Board and Board Committee meetings throughout the financial year, and ESG is a standing agenda item at least twice annually. Regular newsletters with updates on ESG issues, including updates on topics discussed by the ESG Executive Oversight Committee (EOC) and ESG developments of Lenovo, are also provided to the Board and its Committees from the Chief Legal & Corporate Responsibility Officer (or her delegates).

ESG oversight is supported through the Nomination and Governance Committee, which oversees the corporate policies and practices regarding governance and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee has a complementary role in the effective management of risks and safeguarding Lenovo's resources, through oversight of the Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) systems, both of which support overall ESG risk management practices. The Audit Committee also has annual review of the adequacy of resources, staff qualifications and experience, training programs, and budget on the Group's ESG performance and reporting. The Chief Legal & Corporate Responsibility Officer provides executive leadership for Lenovo's ESG position and ensures regular reports are made to the Lenovo Executive Committee (LEC), and the Board and its Committees. The LEC consists of senior management who have delegated authority established by the Chief Executive Officer to manage operational performance, including strategic decisions.

In addition, the ESG EOC, chaired by the Chief Legal & Corporate Responsibility Officer, provides strategic direction, and facilitates the coordination of ESG efforts across Lenovo, including proposing recommendations for the effective management of ESG programs. The ESG EOC is comprised of senior management from across the business and functional areas and is chartered to promote a culture that encourages strong ESG performance, including compliance and leadership activities.

The ESG EOC is responsible for:

Monitoring emerging ESG trends, impacts, and opportunities;

Representing the voice of the customer in ESG strategy decisions;

Recommending ESG initiatives, investments, and disclosures to management and the Board;

Ensuring the Group's ESG strategy appropriately addresses risks and obligations;

Evaluating ESG programs and investments for effectiveness;

Supporting ESG disclosure and messaging initiatives;

Acting as executive champions for Lenovo's ESG culture and values.

The Board is aware of the importance of continuous improvement of its own collective performance in the leadership of Lenovo, including addressing climate-related risks and opportunities and the oversight of ESG matters. Through a formal process that is led by the Nomination and Governance Committee, all directors conduct Board evaluation via an online platform, the aim of which is to evaluate and advance the performance and effectiveness of the Board and its committees, including the oversight of ESG matters. This evaluation is conducted every two years or as agreed by the Board members.

As part of the Board's continuous professional development program, Directors from time to time receive training on ESG matters including anti-corruption, climate, water, ESG risks and opportunities, and other relevant topics in the form of presentations from ESG professionals. Directors are also updated on a continuing basis by Lenovo Secretary on ESG news releases by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and other professional organizations. This facilitates Board members' understanding of Lenovo's ESG practices, supports the continuous development of ESG competencies within the Board's skills matrix, and increases awareness of ESG impacts on Lenovo's operations.

Concentrated discussion on ESG issues, including climate change, assists the Board in making the most appropriate decisions and providing oversight based on the long-term risks and opportunities that impact Lenovo's stakeholders and the business. At least annually, the Board is briefed on Lenovo's ESG Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including its climate strategy and progress towards its climate change mitigation goals.

ESG management approach

In addition to the responsibilities listed above, the Board, through management process, delegates authority to the ESG EOC for the following ESG oversight activities:

Overseeing the assessment of Lenovo's environmental and social impacts, including Lenovo's annual materiality assessment process;

Ensuring alignment of Lenovo's ESG programs with regulatory requirements and investor expectations;

Understanding the risks of ESG issues on Lenovo's operating model and ensuring that actions taken to address the risks are appropriate and well-followed;

Ensuring that ESG considerations are part of business decision-making processes.

As part of Lenovo's ESG program, a materiality assessment is conducted annually with internal and external stakeholders to identify ESG-related risks and opportunities and their impacts on the business and stakeholders. The results are reviewed and approved by the ESG EOC and included in the ESG Report that is reviewed and approved by the Board. This assessment guides the objectives for Lenovo's ESG programs, including goals and targets, informing the business strategy, targeting communications, and the disclosures in the ESG Report.

Lenovo recognizes that risk management is the responsibility of everyone within the organization, and that risk is best managed when business functions take responsibility and are accountable for them. Rather than being a separate and standalone process, risk management is therefore incorporated as part of Lenovo's annual strategic planning process across all major functions.

Lenovo's official ERM process details various business risks that include environmental, social, and governance risk categories. Annually, Lenovo requires each business unit to identify risks, assess their impacts on executing its strategy, and develop risk mitigation plans. The results of this assessment ensure that effective risk management and internal control systems are in place.

ESG-related information is periodically audited using an internal control framework as part of a broader corporate risk assessment that incorporates audit processes to provide independent and objective assurance that Lenovo's ESG disclosures, statements, and metrics are accurate and aligned with Lenovo's risk management approach. Lenovo has been following a long-standing integrated approach for internal control which is consistent with the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) internal control framework. This internal control framework is overseen by the Audit Committee.

Lenovo's ESG disclosures, statements, and metrics are managed by a dedicated team that is focused on monitoring the effectiveness of the ESG initiatives and reporting the organization's progress against the goals and targets.

Review of progress and relevance to the business

The ESG EOC conducts regular meetings to assess the progress of Lenovo's ESG initiatives, including climate change and net-zero targets, their relevance to stakeholder expectations and Lenovo's long-term business strategy, and the direction of and investment in ESG programs.

Lenovo sets targets to address Lenovo's material impacts through a variety of related processes, including Lenovo's ISO 14001:2015 (environmental), ISO 50001:2018 (energy management), ISO 45001:2018 (occupational health and safety), and ISO 9001:2015 (quality) management systems. In addition, relevant teams and departments within Lenovo including Strategy, Human Resources, and others may set KPIs related to their own impacts which may be integrated into the corporate ESG KPIs as appropriate. Lenovo's corporate ESG KPIs are developed with approval from the ESG EOC and supported by the LEC and the Board.

The ESG practices and related goals and targets, KPIs and progress are periodically reviewed by the Board and are aligned with credible industry and science-based standards, and ESG reporting frameworks. Lenovo's progress is disclosed in the ESG Report that is reviewed and approved by the Board.

ESG performance metrics and climate-related considerations are factored into certain executive officer's remuneration policies where KPIs are tied to variable compensation or may result in non-monetary incentive such as recognition including employee awards.

The Board acknowledges that the corporate ESG landscape is evolving, and that the effective governance of ESG matters is fundamental to a company's ESG accountability. As Lenovo regularly evaluates the ESG risks and opportunities faced by the industry and the potential impacts on Lenovo's business continuity plan, the Board strives to strengthen the oversight of ESG programs and practices that will help to build a more resilient future for all.

Ethics and integrity

Ethics and integrity serve as the foundation of all Lenovo business practices. Results from the 2023 'Lenovo Listens' survey highlight one of Lenovo's greatest strengths: ethical business practices. Specifically, 97% of Lenovo's workforce believe Lenovo is ethical in all its business dealings. Lenovo recognizes its success hinges on its steadfast commitment to these values. This commitment is reinforced among the workforce through Lenovo's core values, which emphasize the significance of "Teamwork with Integrity and Trust," one of Lenovo's four fundamental cultural tenets.

Lenovo's Ethics and Compliance Office (ECO) was established to foster a culture that is committed to implementing these values. The ECO works in partnership with stakeholders across the globe to promote legal and ethical operations. The ECO actively raises awareness about the importance of ethical and compliant business practices to Lenovo and serve a critical role in providing employees with the information, resources, and training they need to make informed ethical decisions.

The ECO also oversees Lenovo's Code of Conduct (Code), which establishes clear expectations for employee compliance with its policies related to lawful and ethical business conduct. The Code reflects Lenovo's culture of trust and integrity, holds employees accountable for their behavior, and helps employees determine when and where to seek advice. The Code, policies, and related awareness and training materials are provided electronically and through periodic communications. Specifically, Lenovo's new hires are required to take Code training. In order to successfully complete the training, all employees are required to provide attestation of their adherence to the Code and Lenovo policies. Furthermore, in FY 2023/24, 99.9% of all direct labor employees completed mandatory Code training.

The ECO is supported by the following committees:

Board Committees

The Audit Committee is annually briefed by the ECO on matters including the adequacy of resources for ESG reporting

The Nomination and Governance Committee oversees the corporate policies and practices about governance and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements

Other Committees

The Executive Ethics Committee provides executive-level oversight and guidance to the ECO

The Investigation Oversight Committee works closely with the ECO to oversee the Group's internal investigation process and speak up initiatives

The Regional Ethics and Compliance Committee provides the ECO with global support, perspective, and insight

Read more

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Lenovo on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Lenovo

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/lenovo

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Lenovo
Last November, Covia's Roff Plant accepted the Wildlife Habitat Council's challenge to build birdhouses as part of WHC's Artificial Nesting Structure Challenge. This initiative was created in response to the decline of cavity nesting birds over the years due to habitat loss. Providing these artificial nesting structures is an important way to support bird populations and gain insight into the local bird community. Today, Covia is proud to be recognized by the WCH with the Best New Build Award.

The house is perched 10 feet off the ground and features a predator guard to keep pesky critters away. This stunning custom home is perfect for purple martins, when the adult birds show up in Oklahoma from March through May. The team is excited to keep an eye on the house as Covia's Roff Plant approaches the optimal nesting season for purple martins.

Covia's Roff Plant is honored to be recognized with this award from the Wildlife Habitat Council. By providing these artificial nesting structures, the Roff Plant is contributing to WHC's mission to help local bird populations thrive.

Learn more about the Tandem Global Nesting Structure Challenge here.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Covia on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Covia

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/covia

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Covia
Richmond Hill Resources Plc - Equity Raise

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, March 25

For Immediate Release

25 March 2025

RICHMOND HILL RESOURCES PLC

("Richmond Hill" or the "Company")

Equity Raise

Richmond Hill Resources PLC (AQSE: SHNJ), is pleased to announce a placing to raise 289,100 via Clear Capital Corporate Broking with the issue of 44,476,928 new ordinary shares in the Company at a price of 0.0065 per share. Funds will be used for general working capital purposes and the identification and due diligence on natural resources projects.

Admission to AQSE Growth Market

Application will be made for the 44,476,928 new ordinary shares to be admitted to trading on the Aquis Growth Market ("Admission"). It is expected that Admission of the new ordinary shares will become effective on or around 8.00 a.m. on or around 3 April 2025. The new ordinary shares will be issued credited as fully paid and will rank in full for all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after Admission and will otherwise rank on Admission pari passu in all respects with the existing ordinary shares.

Total Voting Rights

Following Admission, the Company's issued share capital will comprise 104,649,639 Ordinary Shares with voting rights. The Company does not hold any Ordinary Shares in treasury. The figure of 104,649,639 Ordinary Shares may therefore be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change in their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

Hamish Harris of Rogue Baron, commented:

"Its very pleasing to announce an equity raise not only of a larger amount but also at a premium to the last placing. The Company continues to do due diligence on the Saint Sophie project and expects to be able to make a decision on whether to proceed with the proposed transaction by the end of April 2025. With the strong rally in copper prices of late, the board believes its recent change in strategy bodes well for the future creation of shareholder value."

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

For further information, please contact:

Aquis Corporate Adviser:

Peterhouse Capital Limited

Joint Broker:

Clear Capital Corporate Broking Limited

Bob Roberts +44 (0) 20 3869 6080

Corporate Broker:

Peterhouse Capital Limited

Lucy Williams +44 (0) 20 7469 0936
BANGALORE, India, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Semiconductor Chiller Market is Segmented by Type (Single Channel Chiller, Dual Channel Chiller, Three Channel Chiller), by Application (Etching, Coating and Developing, Ion Implantation, Diffusion, Deposition, CMP).

The Global Market for Semiconductor Chiller was valued at USD 667 Million in the year 2023 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 1031 Million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period.Market share

Claim Your Free Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-25S6115/Global_Semiconductor_Chiller_Market

Major Factors Driving the Growth of Semiconductor Chiller Market:

The semiconductor chiller market continues to expand, propelled by surging chip demand, exacting process requirements, and shifting manufacturing paradigms. Advanced cooling systems remain critical for ensuring consistent product quality and limiting production interruptions. Suppliers invest in materials research, energy-efficient designs, and smarter controls to stay ahead of customer expectations.

Simultaneously, heightened competition among foundries fosters growth, as each facility strives for top-tier yields and minimal downtime. Collaboration with semiconductor equipment makers further refines chiller performance, tailoring units to specific steps like etching or photolithography. Looking ahead, technology roadmaps featuring 3D integration, new materials, and further device scaling will intensify thermal management challenges. As a result, the semiconductor chiller market maintains a solid trajectory, driven by evolving fabrication complexities.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE SEMICONDUCTOR CHILLER MARKET:

Dual channel chillers play a pivotal role in fueling the semiconductor chiller market by providing robust cooling solutions that address high thermal loads in complex manufacturing environments. Their dual-circuit design enables more efficient heat dissipation, maintaining consistent temperatures across multiple process steps. This stability enhances yield rates and reduces defect occurrences by preventing temperature fluctuations that undermine production quality. Additionally, dual channel systems allow for modular upgrades and redundancy, extending equipment lifespan and minimizing downtime. As semiconductor device complexities rise, demand grows for precise, adaptable cooling strategies. These chillers also deliver powerful automation and improved energy efficiency, lowering operational costs while meeting regulatory standards. Consequently, dual channel solutions support ongoing market expansion and drive industry innovation.

Single channel chillers equally contribute to semiconductor chiller market growth by offering simplified but effective cooling configurations. These systems are designed for processes requiring a single circuit, streamlining setup and reducing overall complexity. Their compact footprint makes them suitable for space-constrained facilities, while strategic component placement supports efficient heat transfer. Manufacturers benefit from lower capital expenditures due to reduced hardware requirements, enabling smaller-scale operations to leverage advanced cooling technologies. Single channel chillers also require less maintenance and calibration, minimizing downtime. Despite their straightforward design, they maintain tight temperature control, ensuring product quality in wafer processing, lithography, and other critical steps. This reliability fosters confidence among fabrication facilities, promoting broad adoption and reinforcing the market's expansion across diverse application areas.

Etching processes are pivotal to semiconductor fabrication, as they define intricate circuit patterns on wafers. Consequently, etching steps generate substantial heat, driving the need for reliable cooling solutions. Semiconductor chillers support precise temperature regulation throughout these processes, preventing damage to delicate structures and ensuring uniform removal rates. By maintaining stable conditions, chillers help reduce defect densities and safeguard overall yield. As device geometries shrink, etching becomes increasingly complex, demanding rigorous environmental controls. Chillers equipped with advanced monitoring systems enable consistent process quality even under high-throughput conditions. This reliability resonates with manufacturers seeking efficient production cycles and minimal downtime. Furthermore, ongoing etching innovations push the semiconductor chiller market to evolve, continuously refining system capabilities for next-generation device requirements.

Ever-increasing reliance on electronic devices fuels ongoing growth in semiconductor production, boosting the requirement for effective cooling technologies. Consumer electronics, automotive systems, and industrial equipment incorporate microchips with growing complexity, generating substantial heat loads. Consequently, semiconductor chillers designed to stabilize processes and safeguard yields become indispensable. Rising demand amplifies fabrication volumes, necessitating advanced thermal management solutions to maintain high throughput. As manufacturers expand facilities, they invest in energy-efficient, precision-driven chillers to secure operational continuity. Moreover, data centers and 5G infrastructure deployments place additional strain on chip production, spurring further need for robust cooling systems. This upward trend in semiconductor consumption directly translates into steady demand for chillers, setting the stage for a consistently expanding market.

Semiconductor fabrication demands extremely tight process control to achieve nanoscale features and maintain uniformity across wafers. Temperature fluctuations can yield defects, delaying production and raising operational costs. Chillers with rapid response systems, real-time sensors, and adaptable software mitigate risks by maintaining optimal thermal conditions. Their ability to react swiftly to changing load requirements ensures consistent product quality, boosting yield and profitability. Additionally, advanced filtration and fluid management reduce contamination risks and extend equipment life. As chip architectures shrink, process tolerances narrow, intensifying the need for reliable cooling solutions. Semiconductor manufacturers increasingly prioritize chillers that balance precision and throughput while minimizing energy use. This emphasis on exacting process control powers ongoing investment in the chiller segment.

Shrinking device geometries amplify heat density, prompting manufacturers to refine thermal management solutions. As transistors grow smaller and wafer sizes increase, heat removal becomes more critical for safeguarding delicate structures. Compact chiller systems capable of delivering uniform cooling across wafer surfaces become essential. This shift drives improvements in pump design, heat exchanger efficiency, and control algorithms. Furthermore, miniaturization encourages modular production lines, favoring flexible chiller installations tailored to specific process steps. By precisely targeting hot spots, these systems enhance performance and mitigate yield-limiting defects. Ongoing innovation responds to device scaling demands, prompting collaborative efforts among chipmakers, equipment suppliers, and research institutions. As the miniaturization trend persists, specialized chillers remain central to maintaining quality and efficiency.

Automation streamlines semiconductor production, enabling faster throughput and consistent output. Chillers optimized for automated facilities synchronize with robotics, process controls, and sensors, delivering intelligent cooling without human intervention. Remote monitoring capabilities allow real-time adjustments, conserving resources and preventing system failures. This high level of integration reduces labor costs and error rates, reinforcing stable environmental conditions that sustain product quality. Additionally, automated chiller systems support predictive maintenance, employing analytics to forecast component wear and schedule timely servicing. By limiting disruptions, producers maximize uptime, meeting tight delivery schedules. As fabrication plants grow more sophisticated, demand surges for chillers tailored to automated workflows. Their compatibility with evolving Industry 4.0 frameworks further cements these cooling solutions' strategic importance in modern manufacturing.

Escalating energy costs and environmental targets push semiconductor producers to adopt greener production practices. Efficient chillers reduce power consumption by optimizing cooling processes and recovering waste heat whenever feasible. Advanced compressors, variable-speed drives, and intelligent controls minimize energy usage, aligning with sustainability objectives. Such eco-friendly measures also translate to lower operating expenses, a vital consideration for competitive manufacturing. Regulatory pressures and corporate social responsibility initiatives further incentivize energy-efficient solutions. Consequently, chiller suppliers emphasize product designs that meet or surpass efficiency standards, safeguarding future market positioning. Investment in research ensures continual improvements in heat exchangers, refrigerants, and control algorithms. Through superior energy performance, these systems bolster profitability and align with global environmental imperatives, spurring ongoing market adoption.

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SEMICONDUCTOR CHILLER MARKET SHARE

The global manufacturers of Semiconductor Chillers include Unisem, Advanced Thermal Sciences Corporation, GST (Global Standarard Technology), Shinwa Controls, and SMC. The top three enterprises account for over 46% of the total market share.

According to the product type, dual channel semiconductor specific temperature control devices occupy a dominant position, with a market share of over 56%. According to product applications, the largest niche market is etching, accounting for 60%.

Key Companies:

BV Thermal Systems

Mydax

Maruyama Chillers

SMC Corporation

STEP SCIENCE

Beijing Jingyi Automation Equipment Technology

Unisem

Solid State Cooling Systems

LNEYA

FST (Fine Semitech Corp)

GST (Global Standarard Technology)

CJ Tech Inc

Legacy Chiller

Shinwa Controls

Techist

Thermonics (inTEST Thermal Solutions)

GMC Semitech

Advanced Thermal Sciences (ATS)

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Lauda-Noah

PTC Inc

Ebara

AIRSYS Cooling Technologies Inc.

Ferrotec

Sanhe Tongfei Refrigeration

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- The global Semiconductor Chillers and Heat Exchangers Market was valued at USD 667 Million in the year 2023 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 1031 Million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period.

- Chiller Equipment For Semiconductor Manufacturing Market

- Recirculating Chillers for Semiconductor Market

- Semiconductor Chilling Plates Market was estimated to be worth USD 622.7 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 1079.1 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 8.2% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Heat Pump Chillers Market

- Semiconductor Microchannel Coolers Market was valued at USD 174 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 306 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 8.5% during the forecast period.

- Semiconductor Chemical Distribution Systems market was valued at USD 589 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 1027.7 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 8.7% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- PCB Industrial Chillers Market was valued at USD 668 Million in the year 2023 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 1332 Million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 10.2% during the forecast period.

- Water Cooled Reciprocating Chiller Market

- Portable Packaged Chillers market was valued at USD 174 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 239.7 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period 2024-2030.

- Semiconductor Recirculating Heat Exchanger Market

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PARIS, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Businesses are rapidly adopting stablecoins and crypto for payments. Request Finance has now processed over $1 billion in transactions, proving that demand for secure, compliant finance solutions is stronger than ever. To drive its next phase of growth, the company has also secured new strategic funding, backed by Bpifrance (the French sovereign investment bank), alongside continued support from leading investors such as Balderton and Xange, as well as key clients.

Powering the Future of Crypto & Fiat Finance

Request Finance has become the go-to platform for managing stablecoins, crypto, and fiat payments. The software enables businesses to send, receive, and track transactions securely and compliantly. Industry leaders like The Sandbox, OpenZeppelin, Arbitrum, Bonk, and Beam rely on Request Finance to manage accounts payable, receivable, and on-chain accounting.

"With over $1 billion in bill payments processed, we're proving that crypto, especially stablecoins, is no longer just an alternative. It's becoming the backbone of global business finance," said Christophe Lassuyt, CEO of Request Finance. "This milestone, combined with our latest funding, allows us to double down on product innovation, compliance, and partnerships, making crypto payments safer, easier, and more scalable than ever."

Strategic Growth: Acquisitions & Compliance Leadership

Request Finance continues to expand its capabilities through strategic acquisitions. The recent acquisition of Consola Finance (now Request Accounting ) strengthens its crypto accounting suite; while the acquisition of Pay.so (Now Request Technologies) makes on and off-ramping a breeze, ensuring businesses can move seamlessly between crypto and fiat.

The company is also advancing its compliance efforts in preparation for MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulation, reinforcing its role as a trusted, regulatory-compliant solution for crypto finance across Europe and beyond.

A Defining Moment for Crypto Payments

With a record-breaking $1 billion in payments, new funding, and strategic acquisitions, Request Finance is accelerating the mainstream adoption of crypto for global business operations. Request Finance is a trusted leader as more enterprises seek secure, scalable, and compliant ways to integrate stablecoins into their finance operations.

For more information, visit request.finance .

About Request Finance

Request Finance is the leading all-in-one platform for managing crypto and fiat operations. It provides businesses with a secure, compliant, automated invoicing, bill payments, and crypto accounting solution. Hundreds of companies rely on Request Finance to process over $1 billion in transactions, ensuring regulatory compliance while streamlining their financial operations.

Website: request.finance

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BH Macro Limited - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, March 25

BH Macro Limited (the "Company")

(a closed-ended collective investment scheme established as a company with limited liability under the laws of Guernsey with registered number 46235)

Transaction in Own Shares

25 March 2025

BH Macro Limited (the Company) announces today it has purchased the following number of its ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange from J.P. Morgan Securities plc:

Ordinary Shares: - Share Class Sterling Sterling Date of purchase: 25 March 2025 25 March 2025 Number of ordinary shares purchased: 60,000 189,330 Lowest price per share (pence) 373.00 373.00 Highest price per share (pence) 373.50 377.00 Trading venue JPM SI London Aggregate volume per date per trading venue: 60,000 189,330 Weighted average price per day per trading venue (pence): 373.4167 374.6894

The Company intends to hold the purchased shares in treasury.

Following the above share transactions of the relevant US Dollar and Sterling Shares, the total number of shares in issue in each share class of the Company will be as follows:

Ordinary Shares in issue (excluding Treasury) Ordinary Shares held in Treasury 337,659,228 Sterling Shares 38,081,483 Sterling Shares 27,132,086 Dollar Shares Nil Dollar Shares

From 25 March 2025, the total number of voting rights in the Company (rounded up to the whole number) is 517,333,389.

Enquiries:

Company website: www.bhmacro.com

William Simmonds

JPMorgan Cazenove

Tel: 020 7588 2828

The Company Secretary

Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited

Tel: 01481 745001
Menhaden Resource Efficiency PLC - Result of General Meeting

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, March 25

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION.

Menhaden Resource Efficiency plc

(the "Company")

LEI: 2138004NTCUZTHFWXS17

Results of General Meeting

25 March 2025

Further to the publication of the circular to shareholders on 28 February 2025 (the "Circular") in relation to the proposal to place the Company into Members' Voluntary Liquidation ("Liquidation"), the Board of Menhaden Resource Efficiency plc announces the results of the General Meeting held earlier today.

Capitalised terms used in this announcement shall have the meanings given to them in the Circular unless otherwise defined herein.

Voting Results

The number of Shares voted in person or by proxy on the Resolution, which was voted on by way of a poll and was passed by the Shareholders as a special resolution, were as follows:

Special Resolution Votes For % Votes Against % Total Votes Cast Total votes cast as a % of issued share capital Votes Withheld* (a) To approve the members' voluntary liquidation of the Company. (b) To approve the remuneration of the Liquidators be determined by reference to matters prior to and during the winding-up of the Company and are hereby authorised to draw such remuneration at intervals as they may determine. (c) To approve the appointment of the Joint Liquidators and related matters. (d) To approve the Company's books and records be held by the company secretary until the expiry of twelve months after the date of dissolution of the Company. 31,684,124 99.82 55,906 0.18 31,740,030 40.27 0

*A vote withheld is not a vote in law and is not counted in the calculation of the votes for or against a resolution

Every Shareholder has one vote for every Share held. As at 25 March 2025 the issued share capital of the Company consisted of 78,825,001 Shares. The Company does not hold any Shares in treasury.

The full text of the Resolution can be found in the Notice of General Meeting dated 28 February 2025, which forms part of the Circular.

In accordance with UKLR 6.4.2, a copy of the Resolution will be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism.

Liquidation

At the General Meeting held earlier today, the requisite majority of Shareholders voted in favour of the Resolution to place the Company into Liquidation in accordance with section 84(1)(b) of the Insolvency Act 1986.

As a result, Derek Hyslop and Richard Barker of Ernst & Young LLP of 1 More London Place, London SE1 2AF, are hereby appointed as joint liquidators (the "Liquidators") with immediate effect.

Following the approval of the Resolution at the General Meeting, Howard Pearce, Barbara Donoghue, Soraya Chabarek and Ben Loomes stepped down as Directors of the Company with immediate effect.

Return of Capital

As set out in the Circular, it is intended that the Company's listed investments will be sold shortly, subject to guidance from the Portfolio Manager. As at 24 March 2025, the Company's unquoted investments were valued at 29.3 million (equivalent to 37.12 pence per share). In addition, the amount attributable to unfunded contractual commitments in relation to those unquoted investments amounted to 12.7 million (equivalent to 16.17 pence per Share). The Portfolio Manager has been engaged in ongoing discussions with various parties, including the relevant General Partners of the unquoted investments that the Company holds, with a view to realising the unquoted investments held in the Company's portfolio as soon as practicable. Those discussions have advanced and while no binding agreements have been signed as at the date of this announcement, it is expected that a significant portion of the Company's unquoted investments (including the unfunded contractual commitments) can be realised over the course of the next few months.

It is expected that the Liquidators will make the Initial Distribution to Shareholders, via the Company's Registrar, using the proceeds of the realisation of the Company's listed investments, less the costs of the Members' Voluntary Liquidation, any amounts required to honour unfunded contractual commitments in relation to the unquoted investments and the amount attributable to the Liquidators' Retention Fund during the week commencing 26 May 2025. Subject to progress, it is possible that the Initial Distribution may also include the realisation proceeds of one or more of the Company's unquoted investments. Any net proceeds from the disposal of the unquoted investments during the liquidation period will be returned to Shareholders in due course. However, there can be no guarantee as to the value and/or timing of distribution(s) that may result from the realisation of the Company's unquoted investments.

Trading in the Company's Shares is suspended and the Liquidators will seek to cancel the admission of the Shares to the Official List of the FCA and to trading on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange following the payment of the Initial Distribution via CREST. The Liquidators, in their absolute discretion, will then make any further distributions of capital via cheque.

The Circular is available on the Company's website at https://www.menhaden.com/application/files/9417/4073/5121/MENHADEN_RESOURCE_EFFICIENCY_PLC_-_Circular_dated_28_February_2025.pdf .

For further information, please contact:

Paul Griggs

Frostrow Capital LLP (Company Secretary)

Tel: 0203 170 8733

David Benda / Matt Goss

Deutsche Numis

Tel: 0207 260 1000
Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE:BHC)(TSX:BHC) (the "Company" or "Bausch Health") today announced that it has priced its previously announced offering (the "Offering") of $4.4 billion aggregate principal amount of 10.000% senior secured notes due 2032 (the "Notes") through its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, 1261229 B.C. Ltd. (the "Issuer"), a company incorporated under the laws of British Columbia, Canada (the "Issuer") that, at the closing of the transactions will be a non-guarantor restricted subsidiary under the indentures that govern the Company's existing senior notes. The Offering was upsized from an initial offering size of $4.0 billion aggregate principal amount. The Offering is expected to close on April 8, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

As previously announced, the Company, through the Issuer, is also seeking to enter into new senior secured credit facilities that are expected to consist of (i) a $500 million 5-year senior secured revolving credit facility (the "New Revolving Facility") and (ii) a $3.0 billion 5.5-year senior secured term loan B facility (the "New Term Loan Facility" and, together with the New Revolving Facility, the "New Senior Secured Credit Facilities"). The size of the New Term Loan Facility was reduced from $3.4 billion to $3.0 billion. The New Senior Secured Credit Facilities are expected to be entered into concurrently with the closing of the Offering.

The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Offering, together with the borrowings under the New Term Loan Facility, (i) to repay in full and terminate the Company's existing credit agreement, (ii) to redeem all of its 5.500% Senior Secured Notes due 2025, 9.000% Senior Notes due 2025, 6.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2027, 5.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2027 and its indirect subsidiary's 9.000% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (collectively, the "Existing Notes"), (iii) to pay related fees, premiums and expenses and (iv) for general corporate purposes.

The Notes will be (i) secured, subject to customary limitations, by a first priority lien on substantially all assets of the Issuer, including a pledge of its 52.5% equity interest in Bausch + Lomb and (ii) guaranteed by (x) the Company and subsidiaries of the Company that guarantee the Company's existing senior notes, with such guarantees secured by the assets of such guarantors, subject to customary limitations, by a first-priority lien that will rank pari passu with the liens securing the Company's existing first-lien senior secured notes and the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities and (y) certain subsidiaries of the Company that do not guarantee the Company's existing senior notes, with such guarantees secured by the assets of such guarantors, subject to customary limitations, by a first-priority lien that will rank pari passu with the liens securing the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities.

The redemption of the Existing Notes is conditioned upon the closing of debt financing transactions satisfactory to the Company prior to 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 Existing Notes). The Company expects to satisfy this condition with the completion of the Offering and the closing of the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities. The Company intends to discharge the applicable indentures governing each of the Existing Notes to the extent any such Existing Notes are not redeemed on the closing date of the Offering and the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities. This announcement does not constitute an offer to purchase or the solicitation of an offer to sell the Existing Notes.

The Notes will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any state securities law and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Notes will be offered in the United States only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act that are also qualified purchasers within the meaning of Section 2(a)(51) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and to non-U.S. persons outside of the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes have not been and will not be qualified for sale to the public by prospectus under applicable Canadian securities laws and, accordingly, any offer and sale of the Notes in Canada will be made on a basis, which is exempt from the prospectus requirements of such securities laws.

This press release is being issued pursuant to Rule 135c under the Securities Act and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

About 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 any near-term financing activities, including the proposed use of proceeds therefrom, whether the conditions precedent to the redemption of the Existing Notes will occur, or as to the Offering, and our ability to close such Offering, the entry into the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities, and details thereof. 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.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - Akwaaba Mining Ltd. (TSXV: AML) ("Akwaaba" or the "Company") previously announced its non-brokered private placement of up to $150,000.00 CAD in common shares at a purchase price of $0.11 per share (the "Offering") on February 28, 2025.

The Company is pleased to announce that it has closed on the Offering. No new control persons were created because of the closing of the Offering.

The Offering was approved by the TSX Venture Exchange. No securities were issued as bonuses and no finder's fees or commissions are payable.

Certain shares of the proposed Offering will be issued directly or indirectly to Allan Green, CEO and director of the Company, who will participate in the financing. Mr. Green's participation in the Offering will constitute a related party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company has determined that the transaction will be exempt from formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements under MI 61-101, relying on exemptions found in sections 5.5(a), 5.5(b), 5.5(c), 5.7(1)(a) and 5.7(1)(b). Mr. Green is an existing control person of the Company and no new control persons will be created as a result of the Offering.

All the disinterested directors of the Company, being all of the directors other than Mr. Green, approved the Offering.

The common shares issued in connection to the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four (4) months and one (1) day, July 26, 2025, as well as any other restrictions imposed by applicable securities regulatory authorities.

As previously announced, proceeds of the Offering will be used to fund the ongoing exploration program at the Company' s Akorade project in Ghana, for working capital and for future acquisitions.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING AND OTHER CAUTIONARY INFORMATION

This release contains statements that are forward-looking statements and are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. Such information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof based on information currently available. The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement. For more information on the Company, Investors should review the Company's filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246034

SOURCE: Akwaaba Mining Ltd.
Real Business Solutions is a trusted provider of professional financial consulting service. In the latest record, the company has announced a groundbreaking development in small business funding. With its innovative, customer-centric approach and proprietary technology, the company is now offering tailored funding solutions that empower small and medium businesses to secure up to $300,000 in unsecured business lines of credit at 0% APR for the first 12-18 months- all with a streamlined prequalification process that takes just minutes.

Recognizing that small businesses are the backbone of the economy, Real Business Solutions is committed to helping entrepreneurs overcome the challenges posed by traditional lending channels. In an era where banks are tightening credit and small business lending is on the decline, Real Business Solutions leverages advanced technology and expert creative financing to deliver results quickly. The company's new funding solutions cater to startups, pre-revenue businesses, and companies without collateral, ensuring that even those with lower revenues have access to the capital they need.

The mission is to help small business owners win by providing expert consulting on funding that is strategically tailored to their unique goals. Using company's proprietary software and the collective expertise of the licensed professionals, the officials can get their clients preapproved in minutes and secure significant funding-often in as little as two weeks. The company is proud to offer a solution that places money in the clients' pockets with convenient offers.

Real Business Solutions' innovative financing program allows business owners to access a wide range of funding options-from $30,000 up to $5,000,000-with the ability to secure up to $800,000 in unsecured credit within a month. This new initiative is supported by the company's commitment to transparency and efficiency, backed by BBB A+ accreditation and a stellar 4.8-star rating on TrustPilot. Satisfied clients have consistently praised the firm's fast turnaround and its dedication to putting their financial needs first.

In addition to expert consulting and creative financing, Real Business Solutions provides a suite of professional services, including assistance with tax credits, debt restructuring, and identifying strategic accounting opportunities-all designed to maximize cash flow without upfront fees. The company's "no funding, no fee" promise ensures that business owners experience a risk-free process as they work towards achieving their financial goals.

About the Company - Real Business Solutions

Real Business Solutions provides a range of professional services for small businesses-from expert consulting on business funding and securing capital to unlocking free money through tax credits and strategic financial solutions. With a focus on delivering results with zero risk to the client, the company's innovative approach ensures that you pay only after you get funded. Using proprietary technology and a dedicated team of licensed professionals, Real Business Solutions is committed to helping small business owners navigate a challenging financial landscape and achieve their growth objectives.

Call to Action:

Small business owners with a FICO score of 700+ in the USA are invited to take advantage of this groundbreaking opportunity. Fill out a 30-second prequalification form and get preapproved in minutes for up to $300,000 in unsecured business lines of credit at 0% APR for the first 12-18 months.

https://realbusinesssolutions.ai/getapproved1.php?partner=I-EItMGb-t

For more information on how Real Business Solutions is transforming small business funding, visit realbusinesssolutions.ai.

Media Contact

Organization: Real Business Solutions

Contact Person Name: Paul Chow

Website: https://realbusinesssolutions.ai/

Email: clientsuccess@realbusinesssolutions.ai

Contact Number: +13024063273

City: Wilmington

State: Delaware

Country: United States

SOURCE: Real Business Solutions
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - Resource Centrix Holdings Inc. (CSE: RECE) (the "Company"), is pleased to announce a ten-for-one share split of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares (the "Subdivision"). shareholder of record of the Company as of the close of business on the record date, March 31, 2025 (the "Record Date"), will receive one additional share for each share held on such date.

The Company currently has 9,419,851 issued and outstanding common shares. Upon completion of the Subdivision, there will be approximately 94,198,510 shares issued and outstanding. The Company proposes the Subdivision to increase the liquidity and marketability of its common shares.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") will publish a bulletin confirming the Subdivision for the Company in due course. The Company's common shares will begin trading on a post-Subdivision basis on April 1, 2025.

Shareholders do not need to take any action with respect to the Subdivision. As per CSE policy, the Subdivision is being conducted on a "push-out" basis and therefore the Company's CUSIP number will remain the same. The Company's transfer agent, Endeavor Trust Corporation, will send holders of common shares as of the Record Date a DRS advice letter in lieu of a share certificate, which will represent the additional shares resulting from the Subdivision.

Disclaimers:

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results. Such statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update such 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 is posted on www.sedarplus.ca/landingpage/. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such. No regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Company does not undertake to update this news release unless required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246062

SOURCE: Resource Centrix Holdings Inc.
Following World Water Day on March 22, CNH brands - Case IH and New Holland - continue to lead the way in breaking new ground in precision agriculture.

As part of the Drops of the Future initiative, CNH has teamed up with Italy-based agri tech company, xFarm, to develop a pilot project in Uzbekistan to show how precision technology and data from their machines can help farmers increase productivity and save water.

The Drops of the Future initiative is tackling water scarcity in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan by empowering young professionals through innovation and collaboration. It has been set up by The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which focuses on addressing a wide range of security-related concerns that include economic, environmental and human aspects. It is the first time OSCE has worked with private companies on the topic of water, agri-food production and energy to increase environmental efforts around water use, while improving production efficiency.

It started in September 2024 with the Tashkent Youth Workshop in Uzbekistan, which featured experts, policymakers, and industry leaders - including CNH. This ongoing project is delivering real impact.

To find out more about the Drops of the Future Initiative and the xFarm pilot project in Uzbekistan, visit: bit.ly/BreakingNewGround_en

View original content here.

Tashkent workshop participants learning about the capabilities of the Case IH Magnum

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CNH on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: CNH

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cnh

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: CNH
Company to share oncology updates on two novel T cell engager programs at AACR annual meeting

CDR-Life today announced the expansion of its product portfolio with the nomination of CDR111 as a new clinical candidate for autoimmune diseases along with upcoming posters highlighting the company's T cell engager (TCE) programs at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, taking place April 25-30 in Chicago, Illinois.

Portfolio Expansion: CDR111

CDR111, CDR-Life's newest clinical candidate, is a trispecific molecule targeting CD19, BCMA and CD3, designed to achieve immune reset through broad B cell depletion. This novel therapeutic approach represents a significant expansion of the company's product portfolio beyond oncology into autoimmune diseases, with potential applications across multiple autoimmune conditions.

"The expansion of our portfolio with CDR111, our newest clinical candidate for autoimmune diseases, marks a significant milestone in our company's growth strategy," said Christian Leisner, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of CDR-Life. "This addition, along with data on our advancing oncology programs being presented at AACR, demonstrates the ability of our M-gager platform to deliver unique and differentiated therapeutic candidates across multiple disease areas."

AACR Poster Presentation Details

Title: A novel T cell engager antibody for the treatment of HLA-A*01/KK-LC-1-positive tumors

Poster and Abstract Number: Poster Section 38, Poster Board 1; Abstract Number:3493

Date/Time: Monday, April 28, 2025; 2-5 pm

Presenter: Melissa Vrohlings, Head of Translational Science, CDR-Life

Title: Durable and potent in vitro T cell activity with repeated exposure to CDR404, a potential best-in-class T cell engager targeting MAGE-A4

Poster and Abstract Number: Poster Section 38, Poster 2; Abstract 3494

Date/Time: Monday, April 28, 2025, 2-5 pm

Presenter: Melissa Vrohlings, Head of Translational Science, CDR-Life

About CDR-Life

CDR-Life develops highly targeted T cell engagers (TCEs) for the treatment of solid cancers and autoimmune diseases. Our M-gager platform delivers TCEs against challenging intracellular and surface antigens through unparalleled target-specificity. With our first oncology program now in clinical trials, we are advancing a pipeline of potent and selective TCE therapeutics. Our partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim on a molecule derived from our M-gager platform, progressing to Phase 2 trials, demonstrates the potential of our antibody-derived molecules. Backed by leading cross-Atlantic investors, our team is committed to bringing life-changing, disease-modifying medicines to patients globally. Learn more at www.cdr-life.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250325580495/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Lauren Arnold

LA Communications

Lauren@lacommunications.net

Investors:

Christian Leisner, CEO

CDR-Life Inc.

Christian.leisner@cdr-life.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - KGL Resources Ltd. (TSXV: KGL.H) ("KGL" or the "Company") announced today that it has entered into a debt settlement agreement (the "Agreement") with Loncor Gold Inc., a company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("Loncor"), pursuant to which it is proposed that the Company will settle $620,000 of indebtedness owing to Loncor by the issuance of 8,857,142 post-consolidated common shares (the "Debt Settlement Shares") at a deemed price of $0.07 per share following a proposed share consolidation (the "Share Consolidation") on the basis of one post-consolidated common share for every two pre-consolidated common shares (the "Debt Settlement"). The Debt Settlement is subject to completion of the Share Consolidation and all required shareholder and regulatory approvals, including the NEX Board of the TSX Venture Exchange ("NEX"). The Debt Settlement Shares will be subject to a 4-month hold period.

As all three of the directors of the Company are directors, officers and/or employees of Loncor, the Debt Settlement may be considered to be to be a "related party transaction" pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") and TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 ("Policy 5.9"). The Debt Settlement will be exempt from the valuation requirement of MI 61-101 and Policy 5.9 by virtue of the exemption set out in section 5.5(1)(b), as the Company's securities are not listed on certain specified markets. The Debt Settlement will however, not be exempt from the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 and Policy 5.9 and this approval will be sought at an annual and special shareholders' meeting scheduled for May 30, 2025 (the "Meeting").

Loncor currently does not own any shares of KGL. Assuming completion of the Debt Settlement and no other share issuances, Loncor would own approximately 60.23% of the outstanding common shares of the Company. As such, the Debt Settlement will result in Loncor becoming a new "control person" of the Company as such term is defined in NEX policies requiring shareholder approval, which will also be sought at the Meeting.

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/245859

SOURCE: KGL Resources Ltd.
Glen Ellyn, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - College of DuPage (COD) has appointed Keegan Nichols, Ed.D, as the new Vice President of Student Affairs. Nichols brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education leadership and is dedicated to fostering a campus that prioritizes student success and engagement.

"Dr. Keegan's depth of knowledge and commitment to enhancing the student experience make her an outstanding addition to COD," said COD Interim President Dr. Christine Hammond. "We are excited to see the impact of her leadership on our students and campus community."

In her new role, Nichols will oversee a wide range of student services and programs, including Admissions and Outreach, Center for Access and Accommodations, Counseling Services, Advising, Enrollment Center, Office of Student Records, Registration Services, and Financial Assistance. Nichols will lead efforts to enhance COD's student-centered campus culture and develop initiatives that promote student success and retention.

Nichols joins COD from Arkansas Tech University, where she has served as Vice President for Student Affairs since 2017. In this role, she oversaw a broad range of student services and programs, driving efforts to improve student retention, expanding support for first-generation students and enhancing campus safety and engagement. Her extensive experience in higher education also includes leadership positions at Fort Hays State University, Colby Community College, Northern Illinois University and Rockford College.

Actively engaged in the higher education community, Nichols has served as a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission and as director of NASPA (National Association of Student Personnel Administrators) Region IV-W. She is currently participating in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Executive Leadership Academy.

Her accolades include being named one of the Top 100 Women of Impact in Arkansas in 2023, receiving the NASPA James J. Rhatigan Outstanding Dean Award in 2024, the Arkansas Money and Politics Power Women award in 2024, and the NASPA Pillars of the Profession award in 2025.

"From my first interactions with the students and staff at College of DuPage, I knew this was a special place," Nichols said. "I'm eager to get started and am committed to fostering an environment where every student can thrive."

Nichols earned a doctorate in adult and higher education from Northern Illinois University and a master's degree in college administration from the University of Central Missouri. She also has a Leadership Management Certificate from Harvard University.





Dr. Keegan Nichols



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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246033

SOURCE: College of DuPage
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - JVR Ventures Inc. (TSXV: JVR.P) ("JVR" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding term sheet dated March 25, 2025 (the "Agreement") with Luna Energy Ltd. ("Luna"), a private company incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), pursuant to which JVR will acquire all of the issued and outstanding securities of Luna, with such arm's length acquisition (the "Proposed Transaction") constituting a reverse take-over of the Corporation, subject to the terms and conditions outlined below. The Corporation, as the resulting issuer following the completion of the Proposed Transaction (the "Resulting Issuer"), will continue the business of Luna. The Corporation intends that the Proposed Transaction will constitute its Qualifying Transaction, as such term is as defined by TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies ("Policy 2.4"). In connection with the Proposed Transaction, the Corporation will issue subsequent news releases setting out further information contemplated in Policy 2.4. On closing of the Proposed Transaction, it is anticipated that the common shares of the Resulting Issuer (the "Resulting Issuer Shares") will be listed for trading on the TSXV as a Tier 2 Mining Issuer.

About the Cabayu Uranium Project

Starting in 2023 Luna focused its efforts on the uranium potential of the western portion of the Parana sedimentary basin in Paraguay. Exploration work completed by Anschutz Corporation between 1976 and 1983, along with insights derived from subsequent historical exploration work focused in two areas currently held by Uranium Energy Corp. ("UEC"), within the western flank of the basin, informed Luna's focus. Upon acquiring, digitizing, georeferencing and reinterpreting all the Anschutz and other available historical data - geophysical and geological, Luna's field team spent considerable time in the field locating historical drill holes assessing local community dynamics, roads and related access and infrastructure considerations. Subsequently, Luna, through its 82.58% owned Paraguayan subsidiary company Arasy Minas S.A., filed twelve applications covering fourteen individual Prospection Permits in southeastern Paraguay (collectively, the "Cabayu Uranium Project"), spanning a distance of nearly 500km from north to south and almost 200km from east to west, along the western flank of the basin. The permits applied for vary in size from 1,345 to 50,760ha in area (13.45 to 507.6sqkm). As of January 12, 2025, all but one of the permits have obtained preliminary approval.

Uranium is commonly found in sedimentary basins of various geological ages around the world, and the Parana basin is no exception with sediment-hosted uranium deposits known both Brazil and Paraguay, along the northeastern, eastern and western flanks of the basin, respectively. Exploration interest in the western portion of the basin dates back to the mid-1970s when Denver-based petroleum company, Anschutz Corporation, carried out extensive exploration work over nearly all the portion of the basin that lies within Paraguay, leading to the documentation of several sub-cropping uranium occurrences and anomalies nearly all of which were found within the Permian Miguel Formation at depths from 95-150 meters below surface. A precipitous drop in uranium prices led Anschutz to suspend its work in 1983. In the intervening decades successive efforts by a number of companies have advanced what Anschutz started, with the delineation of reduction-oxidation boundaries from Anschutz's and later drilling and the eventual documentation of significant concentrations of uranium in the range of 0.04-0.06% U3O8, sufficient for underground in-situ recovery methods ("ISR").

Two such mineralized areas have been documented, situated roughly in the middle of the larger area within which all of Luna's permit applications are located. Both are currently held by Uranium Energy Corp. A 2022 technical report prepared by Douglas Beahm et al estimated a mineral resource for the Yuty uranium deposit, one of the two properties held by UEC, shown in the table below (Beahm, D.L., Yancey, C., & Fernandez-Crosa, C., 2022: YUTY URANIUM PROJECT, INITIAL ASSESSMENT, prepared for Uranium Energy Corporation by BRS Engineering Inc.). Mr. Beahm is a Professional Geologist registered in the State of Texas. In addition to uranium mineralization intersected in drilling by Anschutz, more recent workers including Crescent Resources intersected uranium mineralization in several holes on what is today UEC's Colonel Oviedo property, eleven of which intersected uranium mineralization of greater than 0.03% eU3O8 over intervals ranging from 0.3-5.58m. The average intercept thickness was 3.06m at an average grade of 0.041% eU3O8. A 2008 technical report prepared by Scott Wilson Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. (Hrayr Agnerian, MSc, PGeo) reviews Crescent's work and results in detail (Agnerian, H., 2008: TECHNICAL REPORT ON THE CORONEL OVIEDO URANIUM PROJECT, PARAGUAY, prepared for Crescent Resources Corp. by Scott Wilson Roscoe Postle Associates, Inc.).

A number of Luna's permit applications lie in close geographical and geological proximity to these two UEC properties; two of them are contiguous with the southern boundary of UEC's Yuty property and one is contiguous with the northern boundary of UEC's Colonel Oviedo property.





Mineral resources estimate, Yuty uranium deposit (source: Beahm, D.L., Yancey, C.,

& Fernandez-Crosa, C., 2022: YUTY URANIUM PROJECT, INITIAL ASSESSMENT,

prepared for Uranium Energy Corporation by BRS Engineering Inc.)

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The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Avrom E. Howard, MSc, PGeo, a "qualified person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Luna has commissioned a NI 43-101 compliant technical report on the Cabayu Uranium Project, which has been completed subject to approval of the TSXV and will be made publicly available in connection with the Proposed Transaction. Readers are cautioned that the presence of mineralization on adjacent properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization which may exist on areas controlled by Luna.

About Luna Energy Ltd.

Luna Energy Ltd. was incorporated on April 26, 2021 under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). Luna's largest shareholder is Fiduc Group (Family Investment Office based in Argentina), owning approximately 21% of the outstanding shares of Luna. Federico Agardy, a director of Luna and proposed director of the Resulting Issuer, is Partner and Director of Fiduc Group.

A summary of the significant financial information of Luna for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, disclosed in accordance with TSXV policies, is included in the table below:



2024 (Audited) 2023 (Audited) Total Revenues - - Total Assets $1,287,937 $2,670,261 Total Liabilities ($134,038) ($72,874) Net Loss ($4,328,512) ($4,264,945)

Additional financial information with respect to Luna will be provided in the Filing Statement to be filed in connection with the Proposed Transaction.

Summary of the Qualifying Transaction

It is expected that the Proposed Transaction will be structured as a "three-cornered amalgamation" involving the Corporation, a newly established wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation ("Subco") and Luna, pursuant to which Resulting Issuer Shares will be issued to holders of common shares in the capital of Luna (the "Luna Shares"). The Corporation currently has 6,000,000 common shares (the "JVR Shares") issued and outstanding. Additionally, the Corporation has 600,000 options to purchase JVR Shares granted and outstanding (the "JVR Options") and 400,000 warrants to purchase JVR Shares issued and outstanding (the "JVR Warrants"). There are currently 39,939,447 Luna Shares issued and outstanding. Additionally, Luna has 808,400 options to purchase Luna Shares granted and outstanding (the "Luna Options") and 307,226 warrants to purchase Luna Shares issued and outstanding (the "Luna Warrants"). Luna also has $100,000 of convertible debt plus estimated accrued interest of $5,000 (the "Convertible Debt") which will be converted to Luna Shares immediately prior to completion of the Proposed Transaction.

In connection with closing of the Proposed Transaction, it is expected that, among other things:

Luna and Subco will be amalgamated under the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and the resulting amalgamated entity will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (" Amalco ").

Each Luna Share will be cancelled, and the former holders of Luna Shares (including the Luna Shares issued under the Offering and Liquidity Buffer Financing (as defined below)) will receive 0.45 of a Resulting Issuer Share for each Luna Share held by them.

The outstanding Convertible Debt and accrued interest thereon will convert to Luna Shares, and the holders will then receive Resulting Issuer Shares in exchange based upon a deemed price of $0.1485 per Resulting Issuer Share.

Each issued and outstanding common share in the capital of Subco (" Subco Shares ") shall be exchanged for, and the Corporation shall be entitled to receive, one fully paid and non-assessable common share in the capital of Amalco, and upon the completion of the Amalgamation all of the issued and outstanding Subco Shares shall be cancelled.

JVR Options will be exercisable into 600,000 Resulting Issuer Shares at an exercise price of $0.10 per JVR Option.

JVR Warrants will be exercisable into 400,000 Resulting Issuer Shares at an exercise price of $0.10 per JVR Warrant.

Luna Options and Luna Warrants will be exercisable into Resulting Issuer Shares based on a ratio of 0.45 of a Resulting Issuer Share for each Luna Option and Luna Warrant.

The Resulting Issuer will have obtained conditional approval of the TSXV for the listing on the TSXV of the Resulting Issuer Shares, as required by the policies of the TSXV.

It is expected that following the completion of the Proposed Transaction, the non-diluted common shares of the Resulting Issuer shall be held as follows: 18,679,821 Resulting Issuer Shares (40.03%) held by former Luna shareholders; 6,000,000 Resulting Issuer Shares (12.86%) held by existing JVR shareholders; and 21,969,697 Resulting Issuer Shares (47.10%) held by purchasers under the Offering and Liquidity Buffer Financing.

The Proposed Transaction is conditional upon the completion of the Offering, as further described below.

The Proposed Transaction will constitute an Arm's Length Qualifying Transaction (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSXV). No person who or which is a Non-Arm's Length Party of JVR has any direct or indirect beneficial interest in Luna or its assets (including the Cabaya Uranium Project) prior to giving effect to the Proposed Transaction and no such persons are also directors or officers of Luna. Similarly, there is no known relationship between or among any person who or which is a Non-Arm's Length Party of JVR and any person who or which is a Non-Arm's Length Party to Luna.

No finder's fees are payable in connection with the Proposed Transaction.

Subject to applicable laws and TSXV policies (including required escrow), it is anticipated that all Resulting Issuer Shares issued in exchange for the Luna Shares on closing of the Proposed Transaction will be freely tradable pursuant to applicable securities laws in Canada.

In accordance with the Agreement, closing of the Transaction is expected to occur prior to June 30, 2025, or such date as may be extended by the parties. Either party may terminate the Letter Agreement if the Definitive Agreement is not entered into by April 30, 2025.

Conditions to Closing

The completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to the satisfaction of various conditions as are standard for a transaction of this nature, including but not limited to (i) receipt of all requisite regulatory, stock exchange, court or governmental approvals, authorizations and consents; (ii) the negotiation of definitive documentation in respect of the Proposed Transaction; (iii) the absence of any material change or a change in a material fact or a new material fact affecting the Corporation or Luna; (iv) if applicable, the Corporation having received appropriate approvals from its shareholders; (v) Luna having received appropriate approvals from its shareholders; (vi) the completion of the Offering and, if applicable, the Liquidity Buffer Financing, such that the Resulting Issuer has sufficient working capital to meet the listing requirements of the TSXV; (vii) the completion of a NI 43-101 compliant technical report in respect of the Cabayu Uranium Project; (viii) the JVR Options having been exchanged for Resulting Issuer Options on a 1:1 basis; (ix) the JVR Warrants having been exchanged for Resulting Issuer Warrants on a 1:1 basis; (x) the Luna Convertible Debt and accrued interest thereon having been exchanged for approximately 707,070 Resulting Issuer Shares; and (xi) the Luna Options and Luna Warrants shall be exchanged for options and warrants of the Resulting Issuer, respectively, on the basis of 0.45 of a Resulting Issuer Share for each underlying Luna Option or Luna Warrant, with corresponding adjustments to the exercise prices. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed on the terms proposed above or at all.

Financing

In connection with the Proposed Transaction, Luna proposes to issue and sell, on a non-brokered private placement basis, subscription receipts for gross proceeds of up to $3,500,000, less the gross proceeds from the Liquidity Buffer Financing, if applicable (as described below) (the "Offering"). Each subscription receipt will convert to a Resulting Issuer Share at a price per Resulting Issuer Share of $0.165 upon Closing of the Proposed Transaction. Proceeds from the Offering and Liquidity Buffer Financing will be used for exploration of the Cabayu Uranium Project and general working capital. In connection with completion of the Offering, Luna may pay finders' fees to eligible third-parties who have assisted in introducing subscribers. Completion of the proposed Offering is a condition to the Closing of the Proposed Transaction.

In order to ensure that Luna maintains sufficient liquidity to meet its obligations prior to Closing of the Proposed Transaction, Luna may complete financing of up to $500,000 in one or more tranches (the "Liquidity Buffer Financing"). The Liquidity Buffer Financing, if applicable, will be completed through the issuance of convertible debentures which will convert to Resulting Issuer Shares at a price per Resulting Issuer Share of $0.132 immediately prior to Closing of the Proposed Transaction.

The Resulting Issuer

Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, the Resulting Issuer is expected to change its name to "Luna Energy Ltd." and that the Resulting Issuer will be a Tier 2 Mining Issuer under the policies of the TSXV.

Concurrently with the completion of the Proposed Transaction, it is expected that all directors and officers of JVR, other than Jessica Van Den Akker, will resign, and be replaced by nominees put forth by Luna. The directors of the Resulting Issuer are anticipated to include Emily Hersh, Federico Agardy and Jessica Van Den Akker. These directors shall hold office until the first annual meeting of the shareholders of the Resulting Issuer following closing, or until their successors are duly appointed or elected.

Emily Hersh is anticipated to become the Chief Executive Officer of the Resulting Issuer. The remaining officer positions are being finalized and will be announced before the Closing of the Proposed Transaction. Biographies of the proposed CEO and directors of the Resulting Issuer are as follows:

Emily Hersh, Chief Executive Officer and Director - Ms. Hersh is the founding CEO and director of Luna Energy. Emily brings global experience to the enegry minerals lifecycle from exploration to advanced critical minerals processing. Her past advisory roles include, Challenger Exploration (ASX: CEL), American Lithium (TSX: LI-V) and Boston-based Pure Lithium metal company. She has worked extensively in South America and the mining industry for over 15 years. She is a non-resident fellow at the Payne Institute of the Colorado School of Mines, a founder of the Association of Women in Energy and Sustainability (AMES) in Argentina and Women in Mining (WIM) Argentina. She holds a B.Sc from Tulane University and a M.A. from American University

Federico Agardy, Director - Mr. Agardy has been a director of Luna Energy since 2022. He is a Partner and Director at Fiduc Group (Family Investment Office based in Argentina), which is a principal investor of Luna Energy. Federico's career spans over 25 years of experience as an angel investor and entrepreneur. He has actively participated in the startup and seed raise for over a dozen companies, including serving on the board of several of them.

Jessica Van Den Akker, Director - Ms. Van Den Akker is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CA) with 20 years' experience in the resource sector. She has served as director, audit committee chair and CFO of numerous TSXV-listed companies. She has led companies through mergers and acquisition transitions and established guidelines, policies and best practices for regulatory markets, operations and financial reporting. Ms. Van Den Akker is a graduate of Simon Fraser University where she received a Bachelor of Business Administration, followed by extensive experience through a Canadian audit firm providing reporting and accounting assurance services to publicly traded companies.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship of a Qualifying Transaction of a capital pool company is required by the TSXV unless exempt therefrom in accordance with the TSXV's policies or a waiver is obtained. In the absence of an available exemption from the sponsorship requirements, JVR and Luna intend to make an application to the TSXV for a waiver from sponsorship requirements. There is no assurance that if applied for, a waiver will be granted.

Trading Halt

Trading in the common shares of the Corporation is currently halted in accordance with the policies of the TSXV and the trading of the Corporation's common shares is expected to remain halted pending completion of the Proposed Transaction.

Filing Statement

In connection with the Proposed Transaction and pursuant to the requirements of the TSXV, the Corporation will file a Filing Statement on its issuer profile on SEDAR+ ( www.sedarplus.ca ), which will contain details regarding the Proposed Transaction, any financing completed prior to closing of the Proposed Transaction, the Corporation, Luna and the Resulting Issuer following completion of the Proposed Transaction.

About JVR

JVR is a CPC governed by the policies of the TSXV. JVR's principal business is the identification and evaluation of assets or businesses with a view to complete a Qualifying Transaction. Investors are cautioned that trading in the securities of a CPC should be considered highly speculative.

Additional Information

Further updates, including additional officers of the Resulting Issuer, and any further particulars of Luna, the Resulting Issuer and the Offering will be provided in a subsequent news release in accordance with the policies of the TSXV as the Proposed Transaction advances.

All information contained in this press release with respect to the Corporation and Luna was supplied for inclusion herein by the respective parties and each party and its directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning the other party.

On behalf of JVR Ventures Inc.

"Kristen Reinertson"

Kristen Reinertson

CEO, CFO, Corporate Secretary and Director

Cautionary Note

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.

Completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and if applicable pursuant to TSXV Requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Proposed Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Proposed Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Proposed Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative.

The TSX Venture Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the Proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

Forward Looking Information

Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to: the business plans of JVR, Luna and the Resulting Issuer; the terms and conditions of the Offering and Liquidity Buffer Financing and the terms and conditions of the Proposed Transaction, including receipt of TSXV and shareholder approval; the timing of the Proposed Transaction, the board of directors and management of the Resulting Issuer, and the closing of the Proposed Transaction. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information.

With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, JVR and Luna have made numerous assumptions including among other things, assumptions about general business and economic conditions, the prices of uranium and other minerals, and anticipated costs and expenditures of the Proposed Transaction. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. Although management of JVR and Luna believe that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to: risks relating to the Offering and Liquidity Buffer Financing and the availability of financing for the Resulting Issuer; risks relating to the receipt of all requisite approvals for the Proposed Transaction, including the approval of TSXV, Luna shareholders and JVR shareholders, if applicable; risks associated with the business of Luna given its limited operating history; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters); risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; changes in laws (including regulations respecting mining concessions); and other risk factors as detailed from time to time. JVR and Luna do not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES



To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246071

SOURCE: JVR Ventures Inc.
Q4 2024 Results and Subsequent Events

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 25, 2025 / (TSX:NANO)(OTC PINK:NNOMF)(Frankfurt:LBMB)

Q4 2024 Results and Subsequent Events

Total net assets of $21.4 million as at Q4 2024, plus $26.5 million in non-dilutive funding received in Q1 2025 between sale and lease back and government programs

Sale and lease back transaction closes and generates net proceeds of $13.7 million, plus a $2.0 million deferred payment via vendor loan

Government of Quebec awards a loan and grant to Nano One

Alliance with Worley Chemetics advances and shows advantages of One-Pot Process

Nano One Materials Corp. ("Nano One" or the "Company"), a process technology company specializing in lithium-ion battery cathode active materials has filed its annual audited consolidated financial statements (the "financial statements"), management's discussion & analysis ("MD&A"), and annual information form ("AIF") as at and for the year ended December 31, 2024 ("Q4 2024") and is pleased to provide a summary and an update on subsequent events.

Q4 2024 - Financial Position and Subsequent Funding

As at December 31, 2024, the Company's total net assets and working capital were $21.4 million and $5.5 million, respectively.

In Q1 2025, total proceeds of $26.5 million were received between the sale and lease back transaction (net proceeds of $13.7 million), and drawdowns on government programs of $12.8 million.

These programs support Nano One's engineering, capacity expansion, demonstration, and commercialization at its LFP plant in Candiac, Quebec. The Company also has approximately $29 million in reimbursements remaining to claim over the coming two years from its contracted government programs and continues to collaborate with governments on new programs.

Government of Quebec awards $18.0 million to Nano One

On December 9, 2024, the Company announced an award of $18.0 million in financing from the Government of Quebec, which includes a $15.0 million loan from the Ministry of the Economy, Innovation and Energy (MEIE) through its mandated organisation Investissement Quebec, and a $3.0 million grant from the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP), through its Technoclimat program. This funding will enable the continuation of piloting and commercialization of the One-Pot process, in addition to increasing production capacity of the Candiac Facility.

The $15.0 million loan directly supports approximately $63.4 million of eligible expenditures between January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2026, at the Candiac Facility. Nano One estimates $30.0 million of eligible expenditures have been incurred to date. The loan repayment period begins 60 months after first disbursement and will be repaid over a subsequent 60-month period. The $3.0 million grant also reimburses expenses incurred at the Candiac Facility and is directed towards a transition to cleaner and more efficient manufacturing.

In Q1 2025, the Company received $9.7 million between Investissement Quebec ("IQ") and Technoclimat.

Update on Alliance with Worley Chemetics

On December 4, 2024, the Company provided a progress update on its Worley Chemetics - Nano One Strategic Alliance ("Alliance"), including a jointly conducted cost comparison confirming the economic advantages of Nano One's One-Pot process for LFP. In addition, the preliminary design and full-scale layout of the modular "Design One, Build Many" plant is complete and being marketed with the cost comparison study to prospective clients.

Sale and lease back transaction

On February 28, 2025, the Company closed a transaction to sell and lease back its building and land at the Company's Candiac Facility for net consideration of approximately $15.7 million ($13.7 million in net proceeds plus a $2.0 million deferred payment in the form of a vendor loan) after a lease security deposit and transaction costs. This transaction significantly strengthens the Company's cash balance while ensuring long-term operational stability in the province of Quebec through executing a 15-year lease agreement on the building with renewal provisions for up to an additional 15 years. The carrying value of the assets subject to the sale and lease back was approximately $6.5 million.

For a more detailed discussion of Nano One's Q4 2024 annual results, please refer to the Company's financial statements, and MD&A, which are available at www.sedarplus.ca .

Company Contact:

Paul Guedes

info@nanoone.ca

(604) 420-2041

###

About Nano One

Nano One Materials Corp. (Nano One) is a technology company changing how the world makes cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries. Applications include stationary energy storage systems (ESS), portable electronics, and electric vehicles (EVs). The Company's patented One-Pot process reduces costs, is easier-to permit, lowers energy intensity, environmental footprint, and reliance on problematic supply chains. The Company is helping to drive energy security, supply chain resilience, industrial competitiveness and increased performance through process innovation. Scalability is proven and being demonstrated at Nano One's LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) pilot production plant in Quebec-leveraging the only facility and expertise of its kind outside of Asia. Strategic collaborations and partnerships with international companies like Sumitomo Metal Mining, Rio Tinto, and Worley are supporting a design-one-build-many licensing growth strategy-delivering cost-competitive, easier-to-permit and faster-to-market battery materials production solutions world-wide. Nano One has received funding from the Government of Canada, the Government of the United States, the Government of Quebec, and the Government of British Columbia. For more information, please visit www.nanoone.ca

Cautionary Notes and Forward-looking Statements

Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information in this news release includes but is not limited to: LFP production, joint ventures, contracted projects, revenue generation, operational growth, licensing, government funding, the development of technology, supply chains, and plans for construction and operation of cathode production facilities and Development Project; the Company's current and future business and strategies; estimated future working capital, funds available, and uses of funds, future capital expenditures and other expenses for commercial operations; industry demand; incurrence of costs; competitive conditions; general economic conditions; the intention to grow the business, operations and potential activities of the Company; the functions and intended benefits of Nano One's technology and products; the development and optimization of the Company's technology and products; prospective partnerships and the anticipated benefits of the Company's partnerships; the Company's licensing and, the scalability of developed technology to meet expanded capacity; and the execution of the Company's stated plans - which are contingent on access to capital and grants. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of terminology such as 'believe', 'expect', 'anticipate', 'plan', 'intend', 'continue', 'estimate', 'may', 'will', 'should', 'ongoing', 'target', 'goal', 'potential' or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur.

Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made are not, and cannot be, a guarantee of future results or events. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general and global economic and regulatory changes; next steps and timely execution of the Company's business plans; the development of technology, supply chains, and plans for construction and operation of cathode production facilities; successful current or future collaborations that may happen with OEM's, miners or others; the execution of the Company's plans which are contingent on capital sources; the Company's ability to achieve its stated goals; the commercialization of the Company's technology and patents via license, joint venture and independent production; anticipated global demand and projected growth for LFP batteries; and other risk factors as identified in Nano One's MD&A and its Annual Information Form dated March 25, 2025, both for the year ended December 31, 2024, and in recent securities filings for the Company which are available at www.sedarplus.ca. 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. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that is incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Nano One Materials Corp.
Crstl, a San Francisco, CA-based provider of a platform for retail EDI and B2B commerce, raised an undisclosed amount in Series A funding.

The round, which brought the total amount to over $10M, was led by Mosaic General Partnership and Cohen Circle Fintech Ventures with participation from Shopify Ventures, the investment arm of Shopify.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate the expansion of its AI-native solutions for brands, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and 3PLs.

Led by CEO Dipti Desai, Crstl offers AI-native solutions for retail EDI compliance and integrations, enabling businesses to expand beyond direct-to-consumer into wholesale, marketplaces, and omnichannel retail. By automating workflows, integrating critical systems, and ensuring supply chain compliance, it improves how businesses connect, trade, and grow in todays commerce landscape.

Led by CEO Dipti Desai, Crstl offers AI-native solutions for retail EDI compliance and integrations, enabling businesses to expand beyond direct-to-consumer into wholesale, marketplaces, and omnichannel retail. By automating workflows, integrating critical systems, and ensuring supply chain compliance, it improves how businesses connect, trade, and grow in todays commerce landscape.

The company serves customers globally, including in the U.S., Canada, and Australia.

FinSMEs

22/03/2025
Novac, a Modena, Italy-based startup manufacturing supercapacitors for the energy, mobility, and industrial sectors, raised 3.5M in Seed funding.

Backers included Eureka! Venture, CDP Venture Capital and Galaxia.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate the development of its technology.

Led by CEO Matteo Bertocchi, Loris Bruzzi, Alessandro Fabbri e Aldo Girimonte, Novac develops new supercapacitors for sustainable energy storage systems, enabling a better energy storage and release. In 2021, the company was selected as one of the 8 startups to participate in the Motor Valley Accelerator program in Modena. Since 2023, Novac has been incubated by I3P, the Innovative Business Incubator of Politecnico di Torino, within the ESA BIC Turin incubation program, managed by I3P with the technological support of the Politecnico di Torino and the LINKS Foundation, in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI).

FinSMEs

25/03/2025
Nvidia (NVDA) has been on an incredible journey, setting record highs earlier this year before experiencing a 16% pullback. But does this decline present a buying opportunity?

The recent drop was fueled by concerns that DeepSeek, a Chinese AI start-up, had found a way to train powerful AI models with less computing power and lower costs than its U.S. competitors. Given Nvidias dominance in supplying high-performance GPUs (graphics processing units) for AI development, investors feared this innovation could weaken demand for Nvidias chips.

But is that really the case? And what does this mean for those looking to understand market opportunities and learning how to invest in stocks?

Jensen Huang, Nvidias CEO, just made some eye-opening statements that paint a very different picture. His insights suggest that AIs growing complexity might actually drive more demand for Nvidias GPUs, not less.

How Is Nvidia Performing Financially?

Before diving into Huangs latest comments, lets look at how Nvidia has been performing financially.

In fiscal 2024 (ended Jan. 26, 2025), Nvidia achieved record-breaking results:

Revenue surged to $130.5 billion , a 114% increase compared to the previous year.

, a compared to the previous year. The data center segment alone contributed $115.1 billion , growing by 142% year-over-year .

, growing by . Nvidias latest Blackwell GB200 GPUs, introduced in Q4, generated $11 billion in sales, making it the fastest-growing product launch in company history.

These numbers confirm that Nvidia is experiencing unprecedented demand for its AI-focused GPUs. But will it last?

Is AI Shifting Away From Nvidia?

DeepSeek raised alarm bells when it revealed that it trained its AI model for just $5.6 milliona fraction of what companies like OpenAI have spent. Reports also indicate that DeepSeek invested around $500 million in infrastructure, but even with that, the cost savings were substantial.

How did they do it?

DeepSeek relied on software-based optimization techniques like distillation, where smaller AI models are trained using knowledge from larger, more advanced models. This significantly reduces computing power needs and, at first glance, seems like bad news for Nvidia.

If AI developers shifted entirely to this method, demand for GPUs could plummet. However, Nvidias CEO sees things differently.

Why Does Jensen Huang Think AI Will Need More GPUs?

Huang recently explained that AI companies are now shifting away from traditional training methods and focusing on reasoning modelsa game-changer that could fuel an even bigger demand for GPUs.

What are reasoning models? Unlike previous AI models that mainly process vast amounts of data, reasoning models are designed to think and generate more complex responses. Instead of just analyzing existing information, these models require far more computing power to simulate decision-making and problem-solving.

Huang stated that these models can consume 100 times more computing power than previous AI models. And in the future, some AI models could require thousands or even millions of times more compute power.

What does this mean for Nvidia? It means that AIs growing complexity will likely increase demand for powerful GPUs rather than reduce it.

Whos Investing Billions in AI?

The worlds biggest tech companies are not slowing down their AI investmentsin fact, theyre ramping up spending:

Meta (Facebook) : Up to $65 billion on AI infrastructure.

: Up to on AI infrastructure. Alphabet (Google) : Could spend $75 billion this year.

: Could spend this year. Microsoft : Likely to invest over $80 billion .

: Likely to invest over . Amazon: Expected to spend more than $100 billion on AI-related technology.

While not all of this money will go directly to Nvidia, these figures show that AI demand is boomingand Nvidia is still at the center of it.

Is Nvidia Stock Undervalued?

Given Nvidias rapid growth, is the stock still a good investment?

Based on fiscal 2024 earnings per share (EPS) of $2.99 , Nvidia trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 42.5 which is 28% lower than its 10-year average P/E ratio of 59.3 .



, Nvidia trades at a which is than its . Analysts estimate Nvidias EPS could rise to $4.49 in fiscal 2026, bringing the forward P/E ratio down to 27.7.

If Nvidias stock were to return to its historical valuation, it would need to:

Rise by 53% in the next 12 months just to maintain its current P/E ratio.

just to maintain its current P/E ratio. Double in value (114% increase) to match its 10-year average P/E.

Considering the DeepSeek panic played a role in Nvidias recent stock dip, Huangs latest comments about higher AI compute demands could reignite investor confidence and drive Nvidias stock back up.

Final Thoughts

So, should investors be worried about DeepSeeks innovations? Not necessarily.

While AI models are evolving, the demand for high-performance GPUs remains strong. AI companies are shifting toward reasoning-based models, which could require significantly more computing power. If that trend continues, Nvidias chips will be more essential than ever.

With major tech firms spending billions on AI infrastructure and Nvidia leading in GPU innovation, the companys future looks promising. The recent stock dip might just be a buying opportunity for long-term investors.

Will Nvidias stock skyrocket in 2025? If Huangs prediction about AIs growing computing needs comes true, the answer could very well be yes.
In an EXCLUSIVE interview with Firstposts Lachmi Deb Roy, director Shivam Nair talks about his recently released film The Diplomat, how Uzma Ahmads life influenced him to do the film, working with John Abraham and more. read more

Directed by Shivam Nair, The Diplomat featuring John Abraham as JP Singh and Sadia Khateeb as Uzma Ahmed is an engaging real-life story which will give you shivers down your spine.

Shivam Nair spoke to Firstpost on his experience of meeting Uzma Ahmad on whom the film is based, how traumatized she was as she narrated her escape from Pakistan, his experience of meeting JP Singh and more.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

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Tell us on John Abraham playing the role of diplomat JP Singhwas he there in your mind from the very beginning? And for a change, hes doing something different here.

I had spoken to Irrfan Khan for this when the story came to me. When I called him, he told me hes not well. I never knew what the issue was but he told me about it, I told him Id meet him in a week. When I came to know about his illness, I went to Saif Ali Khan. But Saif is from a different school of thought and said he will think about it. Then COVID happened and things stopped for some time. Then my other producer partner gave the script to John Abraham. He read it. When I met him and we were talking about the story and geopolitics of our country, I realized that John can do it. He understood the role, but he wasnt my first choice. John did a great job.

A still from The Diplomat movie

Did you meet Uzma and how did the idea of The Diplomat come to you?

She had just come back from Pakistan. It was just a month and as she narrated the story, she was in a lot of pain. The producer of the film then got the rights to make her story into a movie. They then called her in Mumbai and I met her. She narrated the whole story to me, but she was in a lot of trauma.

She told me that she was fooled by the Pakistani boy. She went to Malaysia for a job. She met Tahir from Pakistan who was a taxi driver there. And, he proposed to her and she went to Pakistan, she didnt realise it was a trap. She then told me how she planned and landed up in the embassy, so that she could go back to India.

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I thought her story was good, but still there were a few gaps. Then I told the producer to call the diplomat who rescued this girl from Pakistan.

Then after a week or so, they called diplomat JP Singh, who was at that time serving in Islamabad, and they called JP Singh here to Bombay. He came to Bombay and he narrated his version when she came into the embassy. When I got both the sides of the story, then the actual script writing process started.

When you met JP Singh what was your first impression about him?

He is from Haryana. I met him two to three times while writing the script. He was earlier in Islamabad and then in Afghanistan. He served in some other countries too. And hes very smart and the best thing I like about him is his flexibility, he can talk to everybody; starting from a person he has just met on the streets to high ranking bureaucrats. He is very sharp and since he has served in mostly Muslim countries, his survival instincts are very high and he knows how to navigate through things. John is very good with geopolitical stories. And, thats why he just got into the character of JP Singh very easily.

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You met JP Singh and Uzma. How much has Uzma changed after that incident?

Uzma Ahmad is a changed person now. She has become confident and she has moved on in life.

What was the thought that went behind choosing Revathi as Sushma Swaraj?

From the first day the script came to me, I was willing to take the Revathi as Sushma Swaraj, but we thought we would complete the script and get in touch with her. When we pitched the story to her and she immediately agreed.

How much of cinematic liberty was taken?

Very few. Only in the last action scene, we made it a little elaborate where the chase happens.

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WATCH the trailer of The Diplomat movie here:
Prithviraj also said, Yes, we will see that when the deleted scene is released. read more

Mohanlal is gearing up for the grand release of his film L2: Empuraan thats directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran. In an interview with the channel Irfans view, the legendary actor joked about Shah Rukh Khan and said, Poor Shah Rukh Khan, he acted in a scene in Empuraan. But Prithviraj cut the scene away.

Prithviraj also said, Yes, we will see that when the deleted scene is released.

Kollywood actress Radikaa Sarathkumar revealed she received a call from Mohanlal after she shared a harrowing incident of hidden cameras in her changing room.

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Speaking with a group of media in Chennai, she shared the details of her conversation with Mohanlal.

Mohanlal called me to ask if such an incident had occurred on any set where he was present, Radikaa shared as per Mathrubhumi. The actress added that she assured the Lucifer actor there were no lead actors on the sets when the incident took place.

When I realised that people on the set were watching the hidden camera footage, I began shouting. I also contacted the production companys authorities and demanded immediate action, the actress said.

When I was working in a film, I was just crossing a group of four people laughing and sniggering watching a video. So my eyes automatically went that side and I saw that they were watching something inappropriate. I called one of them and asked what they were watching. He said they are watching women who are changing clothes in caravans. I was really really shocked and perturbed because it was concerning my safety now and I did not want to be seen like that by anybody. I think we were being compromised. We had an argument and then they said these are all old videos. I asked them to delete every video they had. There was nothing much I could do because I was leaving for the airport, the actress revealed while talking to CNN News18.
Parenting isnt an easy job, and there can be nothing right or wrong. Just when you think your child is safe, you realise he isnt. Even within the four walls of the house, your child can be a victim of social media bullying and pornography. Netflixs Adolescence talks about that.

According to the United Nations report published in Harpers Bazar, an estimated 736 million women  almost one in three  have been subjected to violence, physical and/or sexual, or both, at least once in their lifetime. With that information in mind, Adolescences creators, Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, hope the show can be implemented as an educational tool.

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James Miller ( Owen Cooper), the main protagonist of the show, is a 13-year-old school kid, who has been polluted by the ideas on social media. Netflixs Adolescence show is a story of a 13-year-old boy accused of the stabbing murder of his female classmate. He has been a victim of bullying by his classmate Katty. He one night decides to kill her. This girl has accused him of being an incel which refers to a group of men who are angry at women for not having sex with them.

Jamie admits to seeing value in Andrew Tates 80-20 thing, as he calls it, the idea that 80 percent of women are attracted to 20 percent of men.

Not justifying what James Miller has done, as shown in Netflixs Adolescence, which is a mini-series not based on a true story but influenced by the dramatic increase in knife crime in Britain.

How common is online bullying

Online bullying is very common but very often goes unnoticed as they are not reported or the awareness in small towns is missing about what can be done in situations where bullying has occurred. Psychotherapist Padma Rewari says, With the usage of Digital media, the numbers are increasing. Digital bullying is seen more often in the vulnerable age group of 12 to 18. Teens are more often the target, as young people, especially teenagers, are at high risk because they are more likely to engage with social media and online platforms where bullying can occur. The need for social acceptance and peer approval can make the effects of cyberbullying particularly harmful

Online bullying can adversely affect kids

The online bullying victims often go through a lot of stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, Suicidal thoughts, habit formations to forget the trauma and the extreme fear of the implications it may lead to in the future. The psychological impact of cyberbullying is profound and can affect a persons mental health, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life.

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Padma explains that the effects range from anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem to more serious consequences like suicidal thoughts and PTSD (Post-traumatic stress Disorder). Given the pervasive and often anonymous nature of online bullying, victims need to receive support and professional help to address these issues. Schools, parents, and society must also take steps to educate children and teenagers about how to protect themselves online and create supportive environments where they feel safe reporting cyberbullying.

Knife crime among UK boys

According to reports published in People, In England and Wales, the Office for National Statistics reported that the number of knife attacks has nearly doubled over the past decade. In March 2023, the Ministry of Justice convicted or cautioned  a formal warning typically given to people over the age of 10 for minor offenses  almost 18,500 knife-related crimes. Approximately 17.3% of those offenders were between the ages of 10 and 17.

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One of our aims was to ask, What is happening to our young men these days, and what are the pressures they face from their peers, from the internet, and social media? Stephen Graham, who co-created the drama series and played the accused teens father, told Tudum in March 2025.
In a long statement, the filmmaker said, What happened with Kamra is, sadly, not new to Maharashtra. Ive lived through it myself. read more

Netflixs Scoop director Hansal Mehta has also commented on the comedian Kunal Kamra row.

In a long statement, the filmmaker said, What happened with Kamra is, sadly, not new to Maharashtra. Ive lived through it myself. Twenty-five years ago, loyalists of the same (then undivided) political party stormed into my office. They vandalised it, physically assaulted me, blackened my face, and forced me to apologise publicly  by falling at the feet of an elderly woman  for a single line of dialogue in my film.

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The line was harmless, almost trivial. The film had already been cleared by the Censor Board with 27 other cuts. But that didnt matter. At the so-called apology venue, at least 20 political figures arrived in full strength to oversee what can only be described as a public shaming with 10,000 onlookers and the Mumbai police watching in silence, Hansal Mehta added.

That incident didnt just bruise my body. It bruised my spirit. It blunted my filmmaking, muted my courage, and silenced parts of me that took years to reclaim. No matter how deep the disagreement, no matter how sharp the provocation, violence, intimidation, and humiliation can never be justified. We owe ourselves, and each other, better. We owe ourselves dialogue, dissent, and dignity, he continued.
China has developed a compact deep-sea device capable of cutting armoured undersea cables at depths of 4,000 metres  twice the operational depth of existing subsea communication infrastructure. The tool, featuring a 150 mm diamond-coated grinding wheel spinning at 1,600 rpm, was designed for integration with Chinas advanced submersibles read more

The device has been developed by the China Ship Scientific Research Centre (CSSRC) and its affiliated State Key Laboratory of Deep-sea Manned Vehicles. Representational Image/Australian National University

China has unveiled a deep-sea cable-cutting device capable of slicing through the worlds most fortified underwater communication and power cables at unprecedented depths.

The development has raised concerns over the security of global undersea infrastructure, as such cables carry 95 per cent of global data transmission and support critical military and civilian operations.

Developed by the China Ship Scientific Research Centre (CSSRC) and the State Key Laboratory of Deep-Sea Manned Vehicles, the device is designed to be integrated with Chinas advanced crewed and uncrewed submersibles, such as the Fendouzhe (Striver) and the Haidou series.

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This is the first time any nation has officially disclosed possession of such a technology, marking a significant development in deep-sea operations with both civilian and military implications.

Why the deep-sea cable cutting technology is unique

The new device is capable of cutting cables at depths of up to 4,000 metres (13,123 feet), which is twice the maximum operational range of existing undersea communication infrastructure.

Traditional cable-cutting methods have long struggled with the challenge of slicing through steel-reinforced cables.

To address this, the Chinese team, led by engineer Hu Haolong, developed a 150 mm (six-inch) diamond-coated grinding wheel that spins at 1,600 rpm  generating enough force to shatter steel while minimising disturbance to surrounding marine sediment.

These details were published in a peer-reviewed paper published in Chinese-language journal Mechanical Engineer on February 24, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

The tool is powered by a one-kilowatt motor with an 8:1 gear reducer, balancing torque and efficiency. However, prolonged use at such depths may lead to overheating, presenting a potential limitation.

The cutting device is enclosed in a titanium alloy shell with oil-compensated seals to prevent implosion under the intense water pressure found at 4,000 metres.

The design allows for sustained operation in extreme conditions where water pressure exceeds 400 atmospheres. Operated by robotic arms in near-zero visibility, the device uses advanced positioning technology to ensure precision alignment during cutting operations.

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What Chinas cable-cutting tool means for defence

While officially developed for civilian applications such as salvage operations and seabed mining, the tools dual-use nature has sparked concerns in global security circles. The ability to disrupt strategic subsea cables could provide Beijing with a powerful tool in geopolitical conflicts.

One of the most concerning scenarios involves the potential targeting of undersea cables near Guam, a key hub in the US Indo-Pacific strategy. Guam hosts over a dozen fiber-optic cables serving both military and civilian clients, including Google.

The ability to sever these lines from stealthy unmanned platforms without surfacing could significantly impact global communications and military readiness during a crisis.

Retired US Air Force Colonel Raymond Powell, the founder of the maritime transparency project SeaLight at Stanford University, has warned that China is expanding its already vast grey zone toolkit.

Powell told The Diplomat, China continues to expand its already vast grey zone toolkit, having long ago calculated that its willingness to blur the lines between peace and hostilities provides it with an asymmetric advantage.

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He further noted, Cable and pipeline sabotage is more than mere harassment. It is a reminder that Beijing has the ability to cause far more damage to its enemies, should it choose to do so.

Beijings growing capabilities in deep-sea operations are also drawing comparisons with Russias alleged involvement in undersea sabotage activities.

There have been 11 reported incidents of underwater cable damage in the Baltic Sea since 2023, fuelling speculation that both China and Russia may be engaging in coordinated grey-zone warfare tactics.

Taiwan, in particular, has seen a spike in suspected Chinese cable sabotage. In February 2025, Taiwanese authorities seized a Togo-flagged cargo ship, the Hong Tai 58, crewed by Chinese workers, after it was linked to the severing of an undersea telecom cable, reported The Telegraph.

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Taiwans government has reported five such cases this year, compared to three in both 2023 and 2024, reflecting an increasing trend in suspected attacks on subsea infrastructure.

Why this development is important

China now operates the worlds largest fleet of crewed and uncrewed submersibles, positioning itself as a dominant force in undersea operations. Last month, construction began on a 2,000-metre-deep underwater space station in the South China Sea.

Designed to accommodate at least six people for extended month-long missions, the facility is expected to bolster Chinas presence in contested waters.

Meanwhile, the US deep-sea fleet has been struggling to keep pace, with aging vessels limiting Americas ability to counter Chinas expanding maritime capabilities.

Japans only crewed submersible, the Shinkai 6500, is also nearing retirement without a planned successor, reported SCMP.

Hus research team insists that the cable-cutting device is intended for marine resource development rather than military applications. In the journal they wrote, Nations are now compelled to redirect their resource exploitation focus towards the seas. The 21st century is the century of the oceans. Enhancing marine resource development capabilities, advancing the blue economy and building China into a maritime powerhouse constitute critical components of realising the Chinese dream.

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With inputs from agencies
Italian and Scottish scientists have claimed to have discovered a vast underground city below the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. They claim to have unearthed eight vertical cylinder-shaped wells, known as shafts, surrounded by spiral staircases under the Khafre Pyramid. However, some experts have called the claims of a hidden city underneath the ancient pyramids fake and exaggerated read more

A camel guide waits for customers next to the pyramid of Khafre or 'Chefren' at the Giza pyramids plateau in Giza, Egypt December 18, 2020. File Photo/Reuters

Researchers claim to have found a hidden city underneath Egypts Pyramids of Giza. In a groundbreaking study, scientists from Italy and Scotland have discovered a vast underground city beneath these famed pyramids.

The researchers used a new radar technology for the study. However, some experts have denied the claims of this research, dubbing them fake and exaggerated.

Lets take a closer look.

Inside the underground city in Egypt

Italian and Scottish scientists examining the pyramid of Khafre claim to have unearthed a sprawling city under the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

The Khafre Project teams Corrado Malanga from Italys University of Pisa and Filippo Biondi of the University of Strathclyde in Scotland led the expedition to survey the second-largest pyramid at Giza  the Khafre Pyramid.

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This groundbreaking study has redefined the boundaries of satellite data analysis and archaeological exploration, the projects spokesperson, Nicole Ciccolo, said in a press briefing on March 15, according to The Sun.

Scientists claim to have discovered eight vertical cylinder-shaped wells, known as shafts, surrounded by spiral staircases under the Khafre Pyramid.

These shafts extend over 6,500 feet across and span over 2,100 feet below the pyramids. The spiral pathways around each well connect to two 80-meter cube-shaped structures, as per The Sun report.

Professional skydivers fly over the historical site of Giza Pyramids, as they fly over the Pyramid of Khafre during Egypt International Skydiving Festival Jump Like a Pharaoh, in Giza, Egypt, October 29, 2024. File Photo/Reuters

Ciccolo told the media that these were found below each of the three pyramids and likely serve as access points to this underground system.

The Khafre project team used synthetic aperture radar (SAR), a non-invasive technology for examining structures deep below the surface, that helped locate five small room-like structures inside the pyramid. One of them had a sarcophagus  a stone coffin  once believed to be the pharaohs tomb, as per The New York Post report.

The study also claims that there are more unidentified structures, about 4,000 feet below the base of the pyramid.

The existence of vast chambers beneath the earths 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.

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As per Daily Mail, researchers sent radar signals using two satellites, perched about 676 km above in space, into the Khafre Pyramid. These signals were then transformed into sound waves, letting them see through the solid stone.

Data was then compiled into high-resolution images that allegedly show the below surface of the pyramids. The team made a rough 3D model to showcase their claims to the world.

When we magnify the images [in the future], we will reveal that beneath it lies what can only be described as a true underground city, Malanga from Italys University of Pisa told Daily Mail.

Experts deny studys claims

Experts have rejected the researchers claims about a hidden city underneath Egypt s ancient pyramids as false and exaggerated.

Dr Zahi Hawass, a renowned archaeologist and Egypts former minister of antiquities, slammed the research as completely wrong and fake news.

The claim of using radar inside the pyramid is false, and the techniques employed are neither scientifically approved nor validated, he told the National.

Speaking to Daily Mail, Professor Lawrence Conyers, a radar expert at the University of Denver, said that radar pulses penetrating that far in the underground is not possible, calling the claims a huge exaggeration.

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However, he admitted that there could be small structures, such as shafts and chambers, beneath the pyramids, as the site where these pyramids are located was special to ancient people.

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, he said.

Researchers hope to continue their study but securing approval for physical excavation is highly tough.

Despite the scepticism, the only way to prove the discoveries are true is through targeted excavations, Conyers told Daily Mail.

The findings by the Italian and Scottish researchers are yet to be peer-reviewed by independent scientists.

With inputs from agencies
On March 25, 1975, a gun attack in Riyadh claimed the life of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, sending shockwaves across the world. The perpetrator was his nephew. On this day in 1965, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a speech titled Our God Is Marching On! to a crowd of 25,000 people on the grounds of the Alabama Capitol read more

On March 25, Saudi King Faisal was fatally wounded when his nephew Prince Faisal Ibu Musaed allegedly fired three bullets at him with a pistol at point blank range during a royal audience. Illustration: Santan

On March 25, 1975, a gun attack in Riyadh claimed the life of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia.

He was fatally wounded when his nephew Prince Faisal Ibu Musaed allegedly fired three bullets at him with a pistol at point-blank range during a royal audience.

A decade before that, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a powerful speech titled Our God is Marching On that concluded the first phase of the Civil Rights Movement, which concentrated on legal and political rights.

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In a stirring address delivered on the same day in 1965, following the major Selma to Montgomery march, King emphasised the value of nonviolent resistance while calling for justice and equality.

Heres a look at these significant historical events in Firstpost Explainers ongoing series, History Today.

Saudi King Faisal assassinated

A decade later, on the same day, March 25, 1975, the third king of Saudi Arabia, Faisal, who is the son of the founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Abdul Aziz, was assassinated.

He was fatally wounded when his nephew Prince Faisal Ibu Musaed allegedly fired three bullets at him with a pistol at point-blank range during a royal audience.

The king was rushed to the hospital; however, could not be saved.

He was at a bilateral meeting with Kuwaits oil minister on the fateful day.

The third king of Saudi Arabia, Faisal, who is the son of the founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Abdul Aziz, was assassinated on March 25, 1975. AP

Witnesses claim that Prince Musaed was conversing with a Kuwaiti delegation that was waiting to meet the monarch as they were waiting in the anteroom.

As a custom of receiving the Saud Family, King Faisal came up to him after the meeting and kissed his head and nose. This was when Musaed attacked the king.

One of the kings bodyguards hit the prince with his sword, although it was still sheathed.

After being questioned by Saudi authorities over the assassination, the military arrested Musaed.

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After 16 weeks of thorough investigation, the Saudi security services discovered no proof of a conspiracy behind the murder.

Martin Luther Kings Our God is Marching On speech

The speech, also known as How Long, Not Long!, was delivered after the last of three Selma-Montgomery marches to call for voting rights.

On March 7, in what became known as Bloody Sunday, Alabama police officers beat protesters at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma.

Illustration: Santan

John Lewis, the leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), was one of the approximately 60 people injured by club-wielding police that day. Lewis sustained a fractured skull. (He later served in the US House of Representatives for 17 terms.)

Finally the group of protesters gets all the way to the Capitol, and King delivers a speech to what we think is about 25,000 people, said Jason Miller, an English professor at North Carolina State University who has written extensively on Kings speeches.

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The speech concluded the first phase of the Civil Rights Movement, which focused on political and legal rights. Later on, the movement would concentrate on the battle for economic equality.

The line that people still remember is when King asks his ecstatic audience, How long? Not long, because no lie can live forever. How long before Black people get the same rights as white people?

King maintained that a new movement had arisen and an older order was beginning to disintegrate in the ten years following the bus boycotts in that city.

He cited historian C Vann Woodwards book, The Strange Career of Jim Crow, when he claimed that racial segregation had started as a political stratagem employed by the emerging Bourbon interests in the South to keep the southern masses divided and southern labour the cheapest in the land, rather than just as a manifestation of white supremacy.

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The address is not among Kings best-known, but it is among the most revelatory.

Another best remembered line is when King said, How long? Not long, because no lie can live forever. How long? Not long, you shall reap what you sow How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.

King was quoting Theodore Parker, a Unitarian minister from the 19th century who was an abolitionist and covert financier of John Browns 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry.

Venice was founded

Venice, one of the main cities of Italy, emerged following the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West.

Its birthday is commonly observed on March 25, 421 CE, at noon.

Venice, one of the main cities of Italy, emerged following the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West. Image Courtesy: Pixabay

San Giacomo, the citys first church, was dedicated on the island of Rialto to commemorate the citys formal establishment. Although the floor was raised during a repair in 1513 to prevent frequent flooding, the church is still open for tours today.

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It is generally accepted that the citys first inhabitants were refugees from other Roman cities in the area who were escaping frequent attacks.

Many local fisherman were already residing on the islands in the lagoons when they arrived in the watery part of Venice.

They were referred to as lagoon dwellers.
US Second Lady Usha Vance is expected to visit Greenland this week. However, her upcoming trip has not gone down well with islanders, who have been upset with Donald Trumps talks of annexation. But why does Potus want this territory? read more

Greenland has been pushed into global spotlight in the weeks since US President Donald Trump said America could take over their Arctic homeland. Now Second Lady Usha Vance and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz are expected to visit the island this week. AP

Greenland has been on US President Donald Trumps radar since he assumed office in January. He has threatened to buy the semi-autonomous territory many a time. Now, US Second Lady Usha Vance is set to visit the largest island in the world on Thursday (March 27) uninvited. US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz is also expected to travel there this week.

Usha Vance will watch the islands national dogsled race and celebrate Greenlandic culture and unity, the White House said. Waltzs plans remain ambiguous.

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The people of Greenland are not happy. Prime Minister Mute B Egede dubbed the trip by the US delegation highly aggressive.

Amid mounting flak, the White House said, This is a visit to learn about Greenland, its culture, history, and people and to attend a dogsled race the United States is proud to sponsor, plain and simple.

But, why is Trump so interested in Greenland? And can he acquire it?
A new proposal from US President Donald Trumps administration may soon require green card holders in America to disclose their social media accounts. Notably, visa applicants outside the US are already mandated to provide their social media handles during the screening process. This policy could potentially give the White House the authority to stop critics from settling in the US read more

Currently, applicants from other countries must already provide their social media handles when applying for US travel visas. News18/Representational

If you are a green card holder in the United States, this may affect you.

A new proposal from US President Donald Trumps administration could soon require green card holders living in America to disclose their social media accounts.

ALSO READ | Trump revokes legal status for 530,000 migrants. Who are they? What does this mean for them?

Currently, applicants from other countries must already provide their social media handles when applying for US travel visas.

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However, this change would directly impact green card holders already residing in the country.

But how would this policy be implemented, and why would social media details be required? How has the public responded to the proposal?

We will answer these questions.

How Trumps social media policy could impact green card holders

As part of its immigration crackdown, the Trump administration may soon require green card holders in the US to disclose their social media accounts.

A new proposal from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) would extend this requirement to those already living legally in the country, including individuals applying for permanent residency or seeking asylum.

This change would directly impact green card holders already residing in the country. File Photo/Representational

Notably, visa applicants from outside the US are already required to provide their social media handles as part of the screening process.

In a review of information collected for admission and benefit decisions, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) identified the need to collect social media identifiers (handles) and associated social media platform names from applicants to enable and help inform identity verification, national security and public safety screening, and vetting, and related inspections, the agency said on March 5.

This policy could potentially give the White House the power to prevent critics from settling in the US.

Many Indians legally residing in the US, who actively engage in political discussions in both India and America, could be affected. The heightened scrutiny may discourage individuals from expressing political views online due to fears of repercussions.

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The proposal aims to extend these social media checks to existing residents, including green card holders and asylum seekers applying for permanent residency.

This move comes as part of the Trump administrations broader push for stricter immigration enforcement, which includes closer monitoring of green card and visa holders.

ALSO READ | Tap to leave: What is Americas new self-deportation app for illegal immigrants?

What is the reason behind the move?

USCIS has defended the proposal, stating that it would enable and help inform identity verification, national security and public safety screening, and vetting, and related inspections.

The agencys document said that reviewing social media accounts was essential for enhanced identity verification, vetting and national security screening.

As the legal basis for this measure, USCIS cited Trumps executive order, Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.

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This move comes as part of the Trump administrations broader push for stricter immigration enforcement. Reuters/File Photo

This directive instructs federal agencies to strengthen vetting and screening procedures for immigrants. It mandates a reassessment of immigration and visa policies to identify security threats and reinstates some policies from Trumps previous administration.

According to the notice, USCIS will collect social media handles, though not passwords, to verify applicants identities and assess any potential security or public safety risks.

ALSO READ | How Trump voter lived his worst nightmare as his immigrant wife landed up in jail

How the public reacted to the move

The agency is accepting public feedback on the proposal until May 5, however, most responses so far express strong opposition.

As of now, 143 comments have been submitted, with 29 specifically pointing out concerns over free speech violations, according to The Independent.

One anonymous commenter wrote, Anything that the current administration doesnt like means bad. Pure ideology means total destruction. This is a violation to the First Amendment.

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Another response warned of a chilling effect on free speech, stating, The fear of government scrutiny of online expression will undoubtedly stifle free speech. This is particularly concerning for individuals from countries with different political climates, who may fear the misinterpretation of their online activity.

A third person wrote, This policy undermines the fundamental values that make America a beacon of freedom, including free speech, privacy, and human rights.

The proposal comes after the Trump administration detained green card holder, Mahmoud Khalil, accusing him of being pro-Hamas, and deported Rasha Alawieh, a doctor at Brown University on an H-1B visa.

Meanwhile, the administration is also seeking to deport Indian scholar Badar Khan Suri, who works at Georgetown University. Officials claim he has connections to Hamas and has shared its propaganda online. However, a judge has temporarily blocked the governments efforts to remove him.

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ALSO READ | When JD Vance became a meme sensation on social media

The proposal aims to extend social media checks to existing residents, including green card holders. Reuters/File Photo

How many people could be affected?

The proposed policy is expected to impact more than 3.5 million (35 lakh) individuals, according to estimates provided by the agency.

A USCIS spokesperson told Newsweek that monitoring social media activity would improve fraud detection and help assess whether applicants pose any risks to national security or public safety.

Kathleen Bush-Joseph, a policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, told Newsweek, These forms that people are filling out for these various benefit applications are extremely comprehensive and ask a number of detailed questions which often require the assistance of an attorney to fill out and many of those questions are used to determine who is not eligible for a benefit because of derogatory information.

With inputs from agencies
Two studies on ChatGPT at Open AI and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab have found that the software may be making its frequent users lonely. Over 400 million people across the world use the AI chatbot, which was launched in 2022. But what do we know? What do experts say? read more

The studies gathered and examined real-world data from close to 40 million interactions with ChatGPT. Representational Image/ Freepik.

Is Chat GPT making its frequent users lonely?

Thats what two studies have found.

Interestingly, one of the studies was conducted by OpenAI while the other was done by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab.

In February, it was reported that over 400 million people across the world use the AI software, which was launched in 2022, every week.

This was a 33 per cent increase over December 2024.

But what do we know about this new study? What do experts say?

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Lets take a closer look:

What do we know?

As per Bloomberg, the studies were conducted by researchers at OpenAI and MIT.

One of the studies was entitled Investigating Affective Use and Emotional Well-being on ChatGPT.

According to TechnologyReview.com, both studies gathered and examined real-world data from close to 40 million interactions with ChatGPT.

They then they asked the 4,076 users whod had those interactions how they made them feel.

ChatGPT has 400 million weekly users. Reuters

The studies found that people who spent more time using ChatGPT every day were inclined to report higher levels of emotional dependence on the AI.

It also found that these power users reported elevated levels of loneliness.

The MIT study was more in-depth than the OpenAI one.

As per Mint, almost 1,000 participants participated in the 28-day test by MIT.

As AI chatbots see increased adoption and integration into everyday life, questions have been raised about the potential impact of human-like or anthropomorphic AI on users. In this work, we investigate the extent to which interactions with ChatGPT (with a focus on Advanced Voice Mode) may impact users emotional well-being, behaviours and experiences," an excerpt from the study states, as per Mint.

Overall, higher daily usageacross all modalities and conversation typescorrelated with higher loneliness, dependence, and problematic use and lower socialisation," according to a researcher.

These findings underscore the complex interplay between chatbot design choices (e.g., voice expressiveness) and user behavioUrs (e.g., conversation content, usage frequency). We highlight the need for further research on whether chatbots ability to manage emotional content without fostering dependence or replacing human relationships benefits overall well-being, the MIT researcher stated in the abstract of the study.

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Men vs women, neutral vs engaging mode

The study also found that women who participated in the study  after using the software for a month  were a bit less likely to socialise than men.

It also found a distinction between those who used the software in neutral mode  where the chatbot provided formal and straight answers as compared to engaging mode in which it gave an emotional and empathetic response.

Those using the former were more apt to feel an increase in loneliness, while those using the latter felt less isolated.

Results showed that while voice-based chatbots initially appeared beneficial in mitigating loneliness and dependence compared with text-based chatbots, these advantages diminished at high usage levels, especially with a neutral-voice chatbot, the study stated.

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The study also found that women who participated in the study  after using the software for a month  were a bit less likely to socialise than men. Image for Representation. Pixabay

Focusing on the AI itself is interesting, said Pat Pataranutaporn, a study co-author and a postdoctoral researcher at MIT, was quoted as saying by NDTV. But what is really critical, especially when AI is being deployed at scale, is to understand its impact on people.

Emotionally expressive interactions were present in a large percentage of usage for only a small group of the heavy Advanced Voice Mode users we studied, OpenAIs study said, as per Toms Guide.

This research provides a starting point for further studies that can increase transparency, and encourage responsible usage and development of AI platforms across the industry, the study stated.

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A lot of what were doing here is preliminary, but were trying to start the conversation with the field about the kinds of things that we can start to measure, and to start thinking about what the long-term impact on users is, Jason Phang, an OpenAI safety researcher who worked on the project, was quoted as saying by NDTV.

Some of our goals here have really been to empower people to understand what their usage can mean and do this work to inform responsible design, Sandhini Agarwal, who heads OpenAIs trustworthy AI team and co-authored the research, was quoted as saying by NDTV Profit.

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The findings of both studies are yet to be peer reviewed.

Experts are unsurprised by these results.

Kate Devlin, a professor of AI and society at Kings College London, told Technologyreview.com, ChatGPT has been set up as a productivity tool.

But we know that people are using it like a companion app anyway.

The authors are very clear about what the limitations of these studies are, but its exciting to see theyve done this, Devlin added.

To have access to this level of data is incredible.

In terms of what the teams set out to measure, people might not necessarily have been using ChatGPT in an emotional way, but you cant divorce being a human from your interactions [with technology], Devlin added. We use these emotion classifiers that we have created to look for certain thingsbut what that actually means to someones life is really hard to extrapolate.

With inputs from agencies
Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was mistakenly added to a Signal group chat where senior US officials, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance discussed classified details of upcoming airstrikes in Yemen. The group, allegedly created by National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, exposed operational specifics read more

Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic magazine attends the 2022 Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, US, May 3, 2022. File Image/Reuters

Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, recently exposed a significant security blunder within the Trump administration.

According to his report, he was mistakenly added to a Signal group chat where top US national security officials coordinated military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.

The chat, which included figures such as US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, contained sensitive discussions about upcoming military operations.

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Goldberg detailed the experience in his article, titled The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans, stating, US national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. I didnt think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling.

The leak raises serious concerns over operational security and the potential risks associated with sharing classified information on unsecured platforms.

Who is Jeffrey Goldberg?

Jeffrey Mark Goldberg, born in 1965, is a veteran American journalist known for his expertise in foreign affairs, national security, and Middle Eastern politics. He has served as the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic since 2016.

Goldbergs journalism career began at The Washington Post as a police reporter before he moved to Israel, where he worked as a columnist for The Jerusalem Post and served in the Israel Defense Forces during the First Intifada as a prison guard at Ktziot Prison.

Upon returning to the United States, he took on various high-profile roles, including serving as the New York bureau chief for The Forward and contributing to The New York Times Magazine, New York Magazine, and The New Yorker.

In 2007, Goldberg joined The Atlantic, where his reporting on global conflicts, terrorism, and diplomacy earned him widespread recognition. His tenure at The Atlantic has included major investigations and interviews with world leaders, including multiple exclusive interviews with US President Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, Hillary Clinton and King Abdullah of Jordan.

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Beyond journalism, Goldberg has been recognised as a leading voice in international reporting. He has received numerous prestigious awards, including the National Magazine Award for Reporting, the Daniel Pearl Award for Courage and Integrity in Journalism and the Overseas Press Club Award.

His book, Prisoners: A Story of Friendship and Terror, explores his experiences in Israel and his complex relationship with a Palestinian prisoner, reflecting his deep understanding of Middle Eastern affairs.

Under him, The Atlantic made history by endorsing Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election, marking only the third time in the magazines 160-year history that it had endorsed a candidate. He currently resides in Washington, DC.

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What is the scope of the security breach?

The Signal group, called Houthi PC small group, was reportedly created by National Security Advisor Michael Waltz. Goldberg was inadvertently added by an account impersonating Waltz.

The chat contained detailed operational plans, including target locations, the types of weapons to be used and the sequencing of the attacks. Goldberg received these messages more than two hours before the US publicly announced the strikes, leading to concerns over the potential risks posed if such information had fallen into the hands of adversaries.

As the revelations surfaced, the National Security Council (NSC) acknowledged the authenticity of the chat. NSC spokesperson Brian Hughes confirmed that an investigation was underway, stating, The message thread that was reported appears to be authentic.

He reassured the public that there was no immediate threat to US service members but did not deny the security lapse.

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What is the fallout?

The exposure of these conversations has prompted strong reactions from US politicians. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the incident reckless, irresponsible, and dangerous and urged Congress to launch an investigation into how such a security failure occurred.

Similarly, Senator Roger Wicker, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed bipartisan concerns, stating, Were very concerned about it and well be looking into it.

Meanwhile, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth attempted to downplay the severity of the situation, telling reporters, Nobody was texting war plans, and thats all I have to say about that.

However, his own messages in the leaked chat suggest otherwise, as he had reassured participants that we are currently clean on OPSEC, despite the use of an unsecured communication platform.

With inputs from agencies
I love King Charles, wrote Donald Trump on Truth Social, welcoming a news report which stated that the British monarch would be inviting the United States to join the Commonwealth. Whats the full story here? read more

US President Donald Trump walks with Britain's King Charles. The US president said he liked the idea of the United States joining the British Commonwealth after a report claimed King Charles III would make an offer. File image/AFP

When UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the White House in February, he presented US President Donald Trump with a personal letter from King Charles, inviting him to Britain for an unprecedented second state visit. Receiving the invite, the US president said that the king was a beautiful man, a wonderful man.

And it seems that Trump was equally elated last Friday (March 21) when it was reported that King Charles III intends to extend an offer for the United States to join the Commonwealth of Nations, saying I love King Charles.

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Incidentally, if the plan is to be believed, it comes at a time when Trump and the US are pursuing an America First and isolationist policy, which has seen them considering quitting both the Nato as well as the United Nations.

If you are confused as to whats going on, read on to find out more.

Whats this about the US joining the Commonwealth?

Earlier, Donald Trump suggested that he would be happy for America to become an associate member of the Commonwealth if King Charles were to make the offer. The US president, who has been invited to visit the monarch in Scotland later this year, posted a message on his Truth Social platform, sharing a link to a news story headlined King Charles to make secret offer to Donald Trump during State visit.

The story shared by Trump, which was published by The Sun, said that King Charles would extend to Trump the offer of associate membership in the Commonwealth as a means to reduce tensions. The report further states that the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) hopes to invite the US to become an official affiliate of the Commonwealth.

A source speaking to the Daily Mail said, This is being discussed at the highest levels. It would be a wonderful move that would symbolise Britains 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 the full membership, making the Commonwealth even more important as a global organisation.

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.

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While this may seem unbelievable to many, this isnt the first time that such an idea has been floated. The idea for the US to join the Commonwealth was first floated during Trumps first term as president.

According to those in the know, Charles invite to Trump to join the Commonwealth is an attempt to smooth over tensions between the US and Canada, with the US president repeatedly making statements on annexing the neighbouring country and making it the 51st state of the US. Incidentally, Canada has been a member of the Commonwealth since 1931.

What is the Commonwealth?

As speculation rises about Charles offer to the US to join the Commonwealth, its important to understand what is this bloc and what purpose it serves.

The British Commonwealth, established in 1926, is made up of 56 nations, including many of the United Kingdoms former colonies. Its important to note that some of the nations in the Commonwealth have no historic ties with the United Kingdom.

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The head of this 56-nation bloc is the monarch of Britain  King Charles III. Membership in this grouping is voluntary, with those who sign up agreeing to uphold a charter, promoting democracy, human rights, freedom of expression and rule of law.

Britains King Charles III and Britains Camilla, walk past choristers as they leave Westminster Abbey, in London, at the end of the Commonwealth Day service ceremony. The Commonwealth is a 56-country group which began in 1926. File image/AFP

For a country that wishes to be a part of the Commonwealth, it must make an expression of interest and undertake an informal assessment by the Commonwealths Secretary-General. This will then be considered by the Heads of Government at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, which takes place every two years.

Countries can also be expelled from the Commonwealth. In 1995, Nigerias membership was suspended after a military coup and the hanging of celebrated write and environmentalist Ken Saro-Wiwa. However, it was restored in 1999. Pakistans membership has been suspended multiple times; Zimbabwe was suspended in 2002 and later withdrew.

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Will the US actually join the Commonwealth?

Firstly, its not clear that an offer from Britain will occur. While the Daily Mail reported that plans are allegedly in the works to make the USA the next associate member of the Commonwealth, the Financial Times reported that it was a matter for the palace and that British officials were unaware of any such proposal.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump shake hands at the White House. It was during this visit that Starmer handed Trump an invite from King Charles for a second State visit. File image/Reuters

However, if King Charles does extend an invite, it is unlikely that the US would accept it. The US has its own history with British colonialism and it seems improbable that Washington would resort to past ways. Also, most experts doubt if Trump would like to acknowledge His Majesty King Charles III as the Head of the Commonwealth.

And Trumps most staunch supporters have also expressed their objections to the idea. Mr President, with all due respect, hell no! one wrote on social media. If we wanted to be part of England, we would not have elected you! We escaped the tyranny of England a very long time ago, and there is nothing the so-called king can offer which would be advantageous.

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Alex Jones, founder of the far-right conspiracy theorist website Infowars, said on X: Ive got a message for Donald Trump. If you really try to make America join the British Commonwealth, 1776 will commence again!

Many experts noted that other countries, namely Canada, would also not accept US as a part of the Commonwealth. One even said that many Canadians see value in the Commonwealth precisely because the USA is not part of it.

With inputs from agencies
Top national officials in the Trump administration, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, reportedly shared war plans for strikes on Houthis in a group chat that included The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg. The leak has triggered alarm in Washington with Democrats slamming the Cabinet, saying it makes all Americans less safe read more

US President Donald Trump with Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. The three officials were part of the group chat on Signal which was inadvertently leaked to a journalist. File image/AFP

Its happened to all of us  we have been added to the wrong group chat. However, what if that group chat is describing an upcoming military strike? As incredulous as this sounds, its what happened to The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who was added to a group chat on Signal formed by high-ranking members of the Trump administration to discuss plans for military strikes on Yemen.

But thats not all the information that Goldberg was made privy to; in the group chat it also emerged that Trumps Cabinet complained about defending free-loading Europe.

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The leak was confirmed by National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes, who said, The message thread that was reported appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.

The White House further added that Donald Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, after the US president earlier said he did not know anything about the issue.

As the issue continues to unravel, with the Democrats and security experts lamenting the breach, we take a closer look at what happened, who was involved, what details were leaked and what could be the ramifications.

The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg reveals leak

On Monday (March 24), The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg published a report The Trump administration accidentally texted me its war plans in which he outlines how he ended up being a part of a classified conversation where senior US government officials discussed military strikes on a foreign country.

He wrote in the report, The world found out shortly before 2 pm eastern time on March 15 that the United States was bombing Houthi targets across Yemen.

I, however, knew two hours before the first bombs exploded that the attack might be coming. The reason I knew this is that Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defence, had texted me the war plan at 11:44 am. The plan included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing.

The Atlantic editor then further explains that on March 11, he received a connection request on Signal from a user identified as Michael Waltz. Assuming that the Waltz who had sent him a request was the US national security adviser, he accepted the invitation.

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Two days later, he was made part of a Signal chat group called the Houthi PC small group. According to Goldberg, the group comprised 18 members including US Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard.

On the same day of being invited into the group chat, a message from Mike Waltz read, Team  establishing a principles [sic] group for coordination on Houthis, particularly for over the next 72 hours. My deputy Alex Wong is pulling together a tiger team at deputies/agency Chief of Staff level following up from the meeting in the Sit Room this morning for action items and will be sending that out later this evening.

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Goldberg reiterates in his report that at first, he thought that this was a disinformation campaign and even discussed it with his colleagues. I had very strong doubts that this text group was real because I could not believe that the national-security leadership of the United States would communicate on Signal about imminent war plans. I also could not believe that the national security adviser to the president would be so reckless as to include the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic in such discussions with senior U.S. officials, up to and including the vice president.

But he didnt leave the group just yet. A day later, the group chat began its back and forth during which US Vice President JD Vance expressed his concern over the attack, saying, Team, I am out for the day doing an economic event in Michigan. But I think we are making a mistake.

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The US vice president further wrote, Three per cent of US trade runs through the Suez. Forty per cent of European trade does. There is a real risk that the public doesnt understand this or why its necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message.

This was later followed up by a message from Pete Hegseth. He wrote on the group: VP: I understand your concerns  and fully support you raising w/POTUS. Important considerations, most of which are tough to know how they play out (economy, Ukraine peace, Gaza, etc). I think messaging is going to be tough no matter what  nobody knows who the Houthis are  which is why we would need to stay focused on: 1) Biden failed & 2) Iran funded.

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Waltz then responded to the messages, Whether its now or several weeks from now, it will have to be the United States that reopens these shipping lanes. Per the presidents request we are working with DOD and State to determine how to compile the cost associated and levy them on the Europeans.

Some of the messages between Vance and Hegseth on the Signal group chat, in which the journalist was included. Image Courtesy; Jeffrey Goldberg

Vance responding to the group chat told Hegseth, If you think we should do it lets go. I just hate bailing Europe out again.

Hegseth reacts three minutes later: VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. Its Pathetic. But Mike is correct, we are the only ones on the planet (on our side of the ledger) who can do this. Nobody else even close. Question is timing. I feel like now is as good a time as any, given POTUS directive to reopen shipping lanes. I think we should go; but POTUS still retains 24 hours of decision space.

On March 15, Goldberg writes that Hegseth posted another update on the strikes on the Houthis in Yemen, saying the first detonations in Yemen would be felt two hours hence. Minutes after the strikes, Hegseth wrote again on the group, amazing job, prompting Waltz to respond with three emojis: a fist, an American flag and fire.

Another individual identified as MAR  presumably Marco Rubio  wrote, Good Job Pete and your team!! Susie Wiles also messaged, Kudos to all  most particularly those in theatre and CENTCOM! Really great. God bless.

Screenshots of Trumps Cabinet officials posting celebratory messages on Signal after the strikes on Houthis in Yemen. Image Courtesy: Jeffrey Goldberg

Trumps envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff responded with five emojis: two hands-praying, a flexed bicep, and two American flags.

Following the strikes, which killed at least 53 people, Goldberg removed himself from the Signal group, writing that no one in the chat had seemed to notice that I was there. And I received no subsequent questions about why I leftor, more to the point, who I was.

Trumps team acknowledges; critics call for investigation

Following The Atlantics very detailed report, the Trump administration acknowledged that the messages sent over Signal were true but chose not to offer any explanation for why senior officials were discussing national defence information outside of approved classified government systems.

On Monday, National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes told AFP, The message thread that was reported appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.

When US President Donald Trump was asked about the report during a press conference on Monday, he said: I dont know anything about it. Im not a big fan on the Atlantic. To me, its a magazine thats going out of business.

You, youre telling me about it for the first time.

BREAKING: In a stunning moment, Donald Trump admits that he has no idea what his own administration is up to, when asked about the major lapse in security when war plans were accidentally shared over Signal with a reporter.



Make sure everyone sees this.pic.twitter.com/Jy4IKgT8EV  Really American  (@ReallyAmerican1) March 24, 2025

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth tried to dodge the leak, telling reporters that no war plans were discussed over text. Nobody was texting war plans and thats all I have to say about that, Hegseth told reporters. He further took jabs at Goldberg, who he described as deceitful and highly discredited.

Wow! Pete Hegseth tries to attack the Atlantic journalist after he sent that journalist classified information by mistake.



This man should forced to resign. What a terrible response to a very serious question. pic.twitter.com/bpzJg2FvPL  Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) March 24, 2025

Other Republicans also seemed less critical of the leak; House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, said the breach was a mistake, but said the chat showed top level officials doing their job, doing it well.

However, Politico reported that discussions were ongoing inside the White House that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz may need to be forced out. An official, who didnt want to be named, told Politico: It was reckless not to check who was on the thread. It was reckless to be having that conversation on Signal. You cant have recklessness as the national security adviser, the official said.

The Democrats have also lamented the leak, demanding an investigation and casting the episode as a national security scandal. This is one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence that I have read about in a very, very long time, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said.

Senator Jack Reed also slammed the leak, saying: The carelessness shown by President Trumps Cabinet is stunning and dangerous. Senator Mark Warner, who is also the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said on X: This administration is playing fast and loose with our nations most classified info, and it makes all Americans less safe.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic Partys 2024 vice presidential candidate, also quipped: Pete Hegseth texting out war plans like invites to a frat party.

Hillary Clinton  who was repeatedly attacked by Trump for using a private email server while she was secretary of state  posted the Atlantic article on X along with the message: You have got to be kidding me.

 You have got to be kidding me.https://t.co/IhhvFvw6DG pic.twitter.com/bnNG4dGSpI  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 24, 2025

Ramifications of the leak

The emerging scandal over the leak could have legal implications and make allies wary of sharing intelligence with the United States, explained security experts. Many stated that using the Signal app to discuss military operations was a shocking risk to national security. As one former intelligence official told CNN, They broke every procedure known to man about protecting operational material before a military strike. You have a total breakdown in security about a military operation. They broke every procedure known to man about protecting operational material before a military strike.

Some even noted that the information shared on Signal by Trump officials could be violating multiple parts of the Espionage Act.

Many also noted that the leak was ironical. In the past, Trump repeatedly attacked Hillary Clintons use of a private email server during the Obama administration, particularly she was criticised for discussion of classified material in email. Now, the leaders of his entire national security team appear to have been on an unclassified system discussing very sensitive material.

With inputs from agencies
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Monday claimed that Donald Trumps gold card visa has already reached a milestone  1,000 cards sold in a single day. He further expressed confidence in the programmes long-term success by saying that about 37 million people in the world are capable of buying the card. Is there any truth to his claim? read more

US President Donald Trump last month introduced a gold card visa as a way to legal residency in the country. AP

US President Donald Trump last month introduced a gold card visa as a way to legal residency in the country.

The plan requires an individual to spend $5 million directly for US citizenship.

While the programme has sparked debate over its high cost, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has claimed that it has already seen a major milestone  1,000 gold cards sold in a single day.

So, is the card really a hit? Lets take a closer look.

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A thousand gold cards sold in a day

Speaking on All-In Podcast, the US Commerce Secretary expressed confidence in the programmes long-term success by saying, There are 37 million people in the world who are capable of buying the card the president thinks we can sell a million.

Global attention has already been drawn to the plan as Lutnick disclosed, Yesterday I sold a thousand.

Trump reportedly came up with the gold card concept while meeting with financier John Paulson, according to Lutnick.

He was then given instructions on how to accomplish it.

Elon Musk is building the software for it right now, and then it goes out in about two weeks, Lutnick said.

According to Lutnick, holders of the gold card would be granted permanent residency in the United States, replacing the standard green card. According to reports, the money raised by this government initiative will be utilised to lower the national debt or fiscal deficit of the US.

He said that most cards would choose not to apply for citizenship to avoid US global taxes.

He explained, If you are a US citizen, you end up paying global tax. So, outsiders will certainly not come to the US to pay global tax. So, if you have a green card, now a gold card, you will be a permanent resident of America (without paying tax). You can choose to be a citizen, but you dont have to be None of them will choose to be one (so they can avoid paying global tax).

What they are going to have is to have the right to be in America (indefinitely, and at any time they want) by paying $5 million. They will be vetted, so they will be good people  those who will abide by the law. The US can always revoke it if they are evil or indulge in illegal activity.

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So, the idea is, for example, if I were not an American and lived in any other country in the world, I would buy six gold cards  one for me, one for my wife, and one for my four children  because God forbid, if some disaster happens, I want to have the option and the right to just go to the airport and fly to America. And for the US to just welcome us home. And once Im home and safe, I can resume my life, do business, or whatever else I want. And all their money earned abroad is non-taxable. Only what they earn in America when they live here will be taxable  that is the idea, he added.

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About the US gold card

The EB-5 immigrant investor visa programme would be replaced with the $5 million gold card scheme.

EB-5s were created by Congress in 1990 as a method for immigrants to obtain green cards in which a person must invest at least $1 million in a company  or $800k in a low-income area  that employs at least 10 people. The aim was to generate foreign investment.

In 2024, more than 4,500 EB-5 visas were issued, according to the Economic Times. About 8,000 people obtained investor visas in the 12-month period ending September 30, 2022, according to the Homeland Security Departments most recent Yearbook of Immigration Statistics.

Theyll be wealthy and theyll be successful, and theyll be spending a lot of money and paying a lot of taxes and employing a lot of people, and we think its going to be extremely successful, Trump had said while introducing the gold card in the Oval Office.

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He added that companies, not just individuals, will be able to buy gold cards.

It echoes similar golden visa programmes in countries such as Canada, New Zealand, Malta and others that have allowed participants to pay a fee or make an investment in order to secure a pathway to residency in desirable places.

Trump said there would be no cap on the number of gold cards issued.

If the new programme replaces the existing EB-5 programme in two weeks, there are questions about what will happen to people in the existing programme.

In 2022, Congress extended the EB-5 programme until 2027, so Congressional action would be needed to change it.

But Trump has said gold cards wont require Congressional approval.

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Concerns over high price

According to Forbes, which conducted interviews with 18 billionaires from the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa to gauge their interest in Trumps gold card visas, a large number of very wealthy people merely do not believe they require or desire American citizenship.

Some people dont want to leave the nations where they started their companies and brought up their families.

Of the respondents, 13 billionaires, or nearly three-quarters, stated they would not be interested in getting a gold card visa, while three were undecided. Two billionaires surveyed by Forbes stated that they would give purchasing one serious thought.

If youre a billionaire, you dont need it, one Canadian billionaire told the publication, while a European one said, In my opinion, there is no reason for rich people to go to this programme.

One Russian billionaire said, Whoever has a business idea can do it now for very cheap, so why spend $5 million? I do not understand who will pay $5 million.

I wouldnt want to be a citizen of any country other than India anytime  particularly in this century, said Abhay Soi, who chairs Indias second-largest listed hospital chain by revenue.

With inputs from agencies
The app Signal is in the news after the White House confirmed that The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was added to a group on the messaging app in which senior US officials were discussing their plan to strike the Houthis in Yemen. But what do we know about the free, open-source messaging app? Is it safe to use? read more

The app Signal has found itself in the centre of controversy.

This comes after the White House confirmed that The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was added to a group on the messaging app in which officials were discussing their Yemen plan.

On Tuesday, March 11, I received a connection request on Signal from a user identified as Michael Waltz, Goldberg wrote in piece on Monday.

Waltz is the United States National Security Advisor.

The group also included users JD Vance  who is the Vice-President  and Pete Hegseth.

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Hegseth is the US Defence Secretary.

America on Sunday said it launched a series of decisive and powerful airstrikes on the Houthis in Yemen.

But what do we know about the Signal app? Is its use against the law?

Lets take a closer look:

What is Signal?

Signal is a free, open-source messaging app.

The app was released in 2012.

Signal works on Apple and Android devices.

It is used by an estimated 70 million people across the world.

Its USP is privacy  its end-to-end encryption allows people to send messages to each other securely.

Signal is a non-profit with no advertisers or investors, sustained only by the people who use and value it, its biography reads. It is protecting free expression and enabling secure global communication through open-source privacy technology.

Your profile information is end-to-end encrypted with a unique profile key that is securely shared via the same Signal Protocol messaging channel that already protects your conversations and calls, Signal says on its website.

This means a third party like the government or state actors cannot intercept your private conversation.

Signal, unlike some other messaging apps, does not collect and store user information on servers.

Signal is designed to never collect or store any sensitive information, Signal states on its website.

It tracks minimal metadata, according to Tech Crunch.

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Its messages also disappear  providing an additional layer of security for users.

As per CNET, you can either keep your number visible on Signal or hide it.

You can also allow people to find you on Signal or keep yourself hidden on the app.

Signal also assigns safety numbers when you chat with someone.

This allows you to make sure you know whom you are talking to.

It also lets you know if the safety number, for some reason, has changed.

You can also use Signal to make voice and video calls, create groups and share files.

Signal became more popular post 2021  after WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, changed its privacy policy.

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Signal leadership has also publicly recommitted its efforts goal of protecting privacy.

TechCrunch quoted Signal president Meredith Whittaker as saying, Signals position on this is very clear - we will not walk-back, adulterate, or otherwise perturb the robust privacy and security guarantees that people depend on.

Whether that perturbation or backdoor is called client-side scanning, or the stripping of the encryption protections from one or another features similar to what Apple was pushed into doing in the UK.

However, it must be noted that when it comes to sending messages online, nothing is 100 per cent sure.

Is its use against the law?

Not in general.

Which is why journalists often use apps like Signal when talking to sources or whistleblowers.

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An investigation by The Associated Press also found that over 1,100 government workers and officials across America have accounts on signal.

This includes state, local and federal officials in nearly every state, including many legislators and their staff as well as staff for governors, state attorneys general, education departments and school board members.

However, in this instance, the use of Signal might be against the law.

This is because of national security implications.

As Goldberg, who received the text from Michael Waltz, wrote in The Atlantic, Conceivably, Waltz, by coordinating a national-security-related action over Signal, may have violated several provisions of the Espionage Act, which governs the handling of national defence information.

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The Atlantic consulted multiple national security experts and presented them with just such a scenario.

White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.

All of said Signal has not been approved by the US government as a space in which to share sensitive information.

They said that no US official should be discussing such classified actions on Signal and that such information, if sent out, matched the laws classification of national defence.

The US government has its own protocol for sharing top secret information.

If officials want to coordinate, they have to go into their sensitive compartmented information facility  also known as SCIF.

This facility, which most Cabinet-level officials have in their home, work on government equipment.

Even cellphones are not allowed inside the SCIF.

The use of Signal gives rise to yet another problem.

Some of the messages in the group are slated to disappear after one week, while others are set to disappear after four weeks.

However, experts say that under federal law officials are required to preserve records.

Under the records laws applicable to the White House and federal agencies, all government employees are prohibited from using electronic-messaging applications such as Signal for official business, unless those messages are promptly forwarded or copied to an official government account, Jason R Baron, a professor at the University of Maryland and the former director of litigation at the National Archives and Records Administration, told The Atlantic.

Intentional violations of these requirements are a basis for disciplinary action. Additionally, agencies such as the Department of Defense restrict electronic messaging containing classified information to classified government networks and/or networks with government-approved encrypted features, Baron said.

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, has recommended that highly valued targets  senior officials who handle sensitive information  use encryption apps for confidential communications.

But those communications are not typically releasable under public record laws.

The White House, confirming the development, telling ABC that the messages appear to be authentic and that the incident is being reviewed.

The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy co-ordination between senior officials, the representative said. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to our servicemembers or our national security.

But Washington Post quoted Hegseth as saying on Monday, Nobody was texting war plans.

Trump told reporters he was unaware of the incident.

He also took aim at The Atlantic, I think its not much of a magazine but I know nothing about it  well, it couldnt have been very effective because the attack was very effective. I can tell you that I dont know anything about it. Youre telling me about it for the first time.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Reuters

Signals founder, Moxie Marlinspike, mocked the White House.

There are so many great reasons to be on Signal. Now including the opportunity for the vice president of the United States of America to randomly add you to a group chat for co-ordination of sensitive military operations, Marlinspike wrote on X. Dont sleep on this opportunity.

Democrats and Republicans alike have slammed the White House.

The Washington Post quoted Democrat Bennie G Thompson of Mississippi), the top Democrat on the House Committee on Homeland Security, as saying should go without saying that Trump administration officials must not use Signal for discussing sensitive intelligence matters reserved for

Republican representative Michael Lawler of New York wrote on X, Classified information should not be transmitted on unsecured channels  and certainly not to those without security clearances, including reporters. Period. Safeguards must be put in place to ensure this never happens again.

Pete Buttigieg wrote on social media, From an operational security perspective, this is the highest level of ($##%) imaginable.

These people cannot keep America safe.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrote on social media, You have got to be kidding me.

Clinton, ironically, was heavily taken to task by Republicans and the US media for a private email server she used.

Subsequent investigations determined that she should not be prosecuted criminally.

Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer has called for a full investigation and warned of very harsh consequences for anyone found leaking sensitive information.

What do experts say?

That people in general can use these apps.

The fundamental problem is that people do have a right to use encrypted apps for their personal communications, and have those on their personal devices. Thats not against the law, said Matt Kelly, editor of Radical Compliance, a newsletter that focuses on corporate compliance and governance issues. But how would an organisation be able to distinguish how an employee is using it?

They say stronger and clearer laws are needed.

The best remedy is stronger public record laws, said David Cuillier, director of the Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida. Most state laws already make clear that the content of communication  not the method  is what makes something a public record, but many of those laws lack teeth, he said.

They should only be using apps if they are able to report the communications and archive them like any other public record, he said.

Generally, Cuillier said, theres been a decrease in government transparency over the past few decades. To reverse that, governments could create independent enforcement agencies, add punishments for violations, and create a transparent culture that supports technology, he said.

We used to be a beacon of light when it came to transparency. Now, were not. We have lost our way, Cuillier said.

With inputs from agencies
The richest Americans are scrambling to open bank accounts in Switzerland. The development comes as many of the elite in the US fear a coming economic downturn and becoming targets of the Donald Trump administration read more

Americas rich may be staying right where they are under US President Donald Trump.

But its a different story when it comes to their money.

The richest Americans are scrambling to open bank accounts in Switzerland.

The development comes as many of the elite in the US fear a coming economic downturn and becoming targets of the Donald Trump administration.

Hundreds of millions of dollars are said to be flowing out of US coffers.

But what do we know? What do experts say**?**

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Lets take a closer look:

What is happening?

According to Financial Express, more and more financial experts are witnessing clients in the US approaching them to set up bank and investing accounts in Switzerland.

This despite Americans technically being unable to open Swiss bank accounts due to Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (Fatca).

However, if a Swiss adviser is registered with US Securities and Exchange Commission, they can open accounts and manage the money for clients.

But if a Swiss wealth or asset manager is registered with the SEC in the US, they can help clients open accounts and manage the money.

As per Daily Mail, the rich are removing money from the US and shifting it to Switzerland and the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey.

Robert Paul, co-head of private clients at UK-based wealth management firm London and Capital, told _The Telegraph, _These are big chunks of money. Weve had five cases in the last three or four weeks, and the sums have been $40 million, $30 million, $30 million, $100 million and $50 million.

I am expecting to have at least this again if not more.

Judi Galst, the managing director of private clients at Henley & Partners in New York, told The Telegraph one fourth of her clients are enquiring about Switzerland.

Representational image. Reuters

Some are eyeing migration strategies like New Zealands investor visa scheme, but others really just want to open bank accounts in Switzerland,Galst said.

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I hear a lot about Switzerland and Liechtenstein. I talked to somebody at one Swiss bank who told me that theyd opened 12 accounts like this for Americans in the past two weeks, she added.

Theyre concerned that it is not in their best interests to hold all of their assets in the United States. They want to diversify any risk and that involves them potentially moving some part of their portfolios to other countries.

Why is this happening?

Experts say clients, looking at Trumps trade policies, want to diversify their assets.

Josh Matthews, co-founder of wealth management firm Maseco, told Financial Times he has previously seen this during the financial crisis.

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Matthews laid the blame on this squarely on the uncertainty of a Trump presidency.

Paul told The Telegraph, There has been fear around capital controls and movement of money. Why its heightened in the past four weeks is because the rhetoric is chopping and changing pretty quickly.

d. The development comes as many of the elite in the US fear a coming economic downturn and becoming targets of the Donald Trump administration.

A lot of this is discussions around dinner parties of the ultra-wealthy, he added.

But others begged to differ.

A chief of a small US-based wealth management business told Financial Times that it wasnt that the demand for Swiss bank accounts had increased.

Rather, Swiss financial institutions had begun understanding how to deal with tax issues in the US.

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US authorities have for years been tamping down on US citizens Swiss bank accounts.
Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old Columbia University student, who participated in pro-Palestinian protests on the campus, is suing the Donald Trump-led administration for attempting to deport her despite her lawful permanent resident status. Her attorneys filed a complaint on Monday describing the administrations action as a shocking overreach and an unprecedented and unjustifiable assault on her rights read more

A 21-year-old Columbia University student, who participated in pro-Palestinian protests on the campus, is suing the Donald Trump-led administration for attempting to deport her despite her lawful permanent resident status.

Yunseo Chung has legally resided in the US since childhood.

Her attorneys filed a complaint on Monday describing the administrations action as a shocking overreach and an unprecedented and unjustifiable assault on her rights.

Notably, after Mahmoud Khalil, Yunseo Chung is the second student who said that the administration has targeted her for pro-Palestinian views.

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Heres all we know about her.

Who is Yunseo Chung?

Originally from South Korea, Chung is a junior at Columbia University.

She has resided in America since age seven, when her family immigrated to the country.

The 21-year-old became a permanent resident of the US in 2021, according to the lawsuit, which was first reported by the New York Times.

She has participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus since 2023, according to the complaint.

She was arrested on March 5 while protesting the universitys excessive punishments of student activists.

Just three days later, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reportedly signed an administrative arrest warrant for the student and attempted to remove her from the country.

In an attempt to find her, immigration officials searched Chungs parents house the next day. A few days later, they carried out search warrants at two Columbia locations, including Chungs university dormitory.

An official told her lawyer her status as a permanent resident was being revoked, although such authority lies exclusively with immigration judges, according to The Hill reported.

Chung is now suing the Trump administration for trying to deport her despite her legal status.

What is the lawsuit she filed against the Trump administration?

Chungs lawsuit filed on Monday names Trump, Marco Rubio, who the lawsuit claims ordered Chungs legal status to be revoked, Kristi Noem, and other officials.

Notably, both Trump and Rubio have expressed support for removing international students visas for participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

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While her complaint is pending, Chung is asking that a judge stop the administration from detaining her, relocating her outside of New York City, or expelling her from the US.

The lawsuit says, ICEs shocking actions against Chung form part of a larger pattern of attempted US government repression of constitutionally protected protest activity and other forms of speech.

It adds that the government is seeking to retaliate against and punish noncitizens who speak out in solidarity with Palestinians and who are critical of the Israeli governments ongoing military campaign in Gaza or the pro-Israeli policies of the US government and other US institutions.

Ms Chung is challenging (the governments) pattern and practice of targeting individuals associated with protests for Palestinian rights for immigration enforcement in retaliation for their core protected political speech, the suit says.

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Is this the first case?

No.

Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist who assisted in organising protests at Columbia University, was taken into custody by immigration officials earlier this month.

They claimed to be carrying out a state department directive to cancel his green card.

He is still being held in Louisiana.

The international student body at the institution was alarmed by his detention and fears that their visas may be cancelled.

Ranjani Srinivasan, a Columbia graduate student from India, fled to Canada after the Department of Homeland Security revoked her student visa.

DHS asserted in a press release that Srinivasan was engaged in activities supporting Hamas, although it provided no evidence to support this claim.

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Badar Khan Suri, an Indian graduate student at Georgetown University studying in the United States on a student visa, was arrested by federal immigration authorities last Thursday on suspicion of spreading Hamas propaganda.

Politico reports that Suris attorneys argue that he is being punished because his wife, a US citizen, has Palestinian ancestry.

The Trump administration is actively attempting to deport and revoke the legal status of immigrants who have taken part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

Warnings have been placed by a few US embassies in Europe for prospective tourists, as per The Guardian.

A US embassy in Estonia wrote, When you apply to enter the United States and you get a visa, you are a guest. Now, if you are in this country to promote Hamas, to promote terrorists organisations, to participate in vandalism, to participate in acts of rebellion and riots on campus, we never would let you in if we had known that. You lied to us. Youre out.

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With inputs from agencies
A new cancer therapy utilising a genetically modified herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) offers hope for late-stage patients, especially those resistant to existing immunotherapies. read more

A ground-breaking cancer therapy being tested in China is offering new hope for patients with advanced malignancies, particularly those who have exhausted conventional treatment options. The experimental treatment, HSV-1 VG161, utilises a genetically modified herpes simplex virus to target tumours directly while stimulating the immune system.

The therapy was recently tested in a Phase 1 clinical trial in China and has demonstrated potential in extending survival rates while minimising side effects.

The therapy, which uses an engineered herpes simplex virus, was approved for the next research stage last year under Chinas emergency breakthrough protocol after early trial data based on 40 patients with liver cancer revealed a near-doubling in life expectancy, according to a report by SCMP.

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Unlike current immunotherapies such as CAR-T cell therapy and PD-1 inhibitors, HSV-1 VG161 directly targets tumours using a modified virus.

Speaking on the mechanism of this therapy, Dr. Suman Karanth, Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute (Gurugram) said, In CAR-T cell therapy, a patients T cells are genetically modified to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to recognise and attack cancer cells. PD-1 inhibitors, on the other hand, block the interaction between PD-1, a protein on T cells, and PD-L1, a protein on cancer cells, thereby enhancing the immune response.

She further added, Both these therapies are administered intravenously, whereas HSV-1 VG161 is directly injected into the tumour, carrying multiple payloads including IL-12, IL-15 receptor units, and PD-L1 blocking peptides to overcome the immunosuppressive tumour environment. This leads to both direct tumour killing and activation of the bodys innate and adaptive immune systems.

The preliminary trial results of HSV-1 VG161 have raised cautious optimism among oncologists. According to the data, patients who had exhausted prior immunotherapy options showed survival benefits ranging from an average of 9.4 months to 17.3 months.

Discussing the implications of the findings, Dr. Karanth noted, The trial data is promising, particularly because there is an unmet need to improve survival rates in patients who do not respond to checkpoint inhibitors. Currently, survival beyond five years for such patients is less than 20%.

Despite the encouraging results, experts remain cautious, as the trial involved only 44 patients with advanced liver cancer. By its direct administration into the tumor, this therapy helped reverse tumor resistance by stimulating immunity. However, we must wait for larger studies and trials across different cancer types to fully understand its potential, Dr. Karanth emphasised.

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With further research and larger clinical trials, HSV-1 VG161 could emerge as a ground-breaking advancement in oncology, providing new hope for patients with resistant forms of cancer.

According to a paper by researchers from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, the modified virus, known as VG161, was able to infiltrate and dismantle drug-resistant liver tumours in the patients while supercharging their immune defences.

A total of 40 patients with advanced liver cancer took part in the first clinical trial. All of them had reached a stage of drug resistance that left them with no available treatments, according to the 2024 study.

The patients were injected with the engineered oncolytic virus VG161, with the therapy targeted directly into the core of the liver tumours.

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The researchers found that after receiving the oncolytic virus therapy, patients were able to continue receiving immunotherapy treatments, reporting significant survival benefits in patients who took first-line and second-line therapies after VG161.

According to the paper, four patients who were previously resistant to systemic therapies and were experiencing tumour progression appeared to display a reversal in their resistance after treatment with VG161.

The results suggested that the VG161 therapy stimulates anti-tumour immunity and is capable of transforming advanced liver cancer from cold to hot, the researchers said. Subgroup analyses suggested tweaks to the therapy could further prolong survival.

The study found that in its current form, VG161 effectively prolonged survival times from an average of 9.4 months to 17.3 months with only mild adverse effects, giving the patients time and opportunity for further treatment.

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The equalisation levy, introduced in 2016 and expanded in 2020, was aimed at taxing large foreign digital companies such as Google and Meta that generate substantial revenue from Indian users without maintaining a local physical presence read more

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures during a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC, US, February 13, 2025. File Image/Reuters

India is set to remove the contentious 6 per cent equalisation levy on digital advertising services  commonly referred to as the Google tax  from April 1, as part of a broader effort to defuse tensions with the United States and avoid retaliatory tariffs on Indian exports.

The measure was included in a set of 59 amendments to the Finance Bill tabled in Parliament on Monday (March 24) by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

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The move, a major policy reversal by the Indian government, comes just days before President Donald Trump is expected to announce trade measures targeting countries that impose digital taxes on US technology giants.

What is the equalisation levy?

The equalisation levy, introduced in 2016 and expanded in 2020, was aimed at taxing large foreign digital companies such as Google and Meta that generate substantial revenue from Indian users without maintaining a local physical presence.

However, the tax has long been a source of friction with Washington, which views it as a unilateral and discriminatory move against American firms.

Economic Times cited government officials as saying that India collected Rs 3,343 crore from the equalisation levy in the current financial year up to March 15, 2025.

Diplomatic significance of the move

New Delhis latest decision appears to be a pre-emptive gesture as Trump prepares to announce new tariffs from April 2.

While the removal of the Google tax may be seen as a retreat by some, it is likely to be welcomed by global investors and tech firms.

Mondays amendment also proposes scrapping certain income tax exemptions previously offered to digital firms in lieu of the equalisation levy. That signals a clean break from the current regime.

Alongside the rollback of the equalisation levy, the Finance Bill includes amendments to encourage offshore funds to relocate to India and clarifies the scope of income uncovered during search and seizure operations.
If Bangladesh continues to whitewash its past, it risks losing its national identity and the ideals that gave it independence read more

A nation founded on the ideals of liberation, democracy, and constitutionalism is currently experiencing historical amnesia and political strife. Image: AP

Bangladeshs recent political trajectory is very complex and troubling. The country that once battled heroically for its freedom, making enormous sacrifices, is now at a crossroads where its history is being rewritten, its national heroes disrespected, and its relationship with its greatest ally, India, disregarded.

The ongoing political turmoil and the systematic erasure of its own national identity pose grave risks to its own future, threatening its social cohesion, political stability, and international credibility. At this critical juncture in history, it is pertinent to remember the turn of events in March 1971 that prompted an entire nation to rise in revolt against an oppressive state, which soon snowballed into an epic struggle for independence, resulting in the formation of Bangladesh barely nine months later. Attempts to distort this history now threaten the nations very foundations.

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Operation Searchlight

On 25th March 1971, the Pakistani military launched Operation Searchlight, a ruthless campaign to crush all opposition and suppress the Bengali nationalist movement following the Awami Leagues victory in the 1970 elections, which West Pakistans leadership refused to honour. This operation mostly targeted Bengali intellectuals, students, activists, and Awami League sympathisers in an attempt to crush their nationalistic sentiment.

The Pakistani forces threw all restraint to the winds and unleashed a reign of terror, causing widespread atrocities. Notably, students, teachers, and intellectuals at Dhaka University were targeted in a well-thought-out strategy. The ensuing conflict led to a massive exodus of people, with approximately 10 million Bengalis seeking refuge in India. There are various sources that indicate that over 3 million people were killed in these operations.

Even Pakistans own fact-finding Hamoodur Rahman Commission acknowledged that at least 26,000 people were killeda figure that many believe severely underestimates the true scale of the atrocities. Indias support during this time was critical, offering shelter and supplies to those displaced and playing an important role in Bangladeshs eventual liberation from Pakistan.

Erasing Indias Role: A Betrayal of History

Moreover, it is equally disturbing to see how the current ruling dispensation, headed by Mohammad Yunus in Bangladesh, is trying to strategically sideline and undermine Indias pivotal role in its freedom struggle, with its sacrifices being forgotten. During the 1971 conflict, India not only offered military backing to the Mukti Bahini and lost many of its soldiers, but it also opened its doors to approximately ten million refugees fleeing genocide.

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The Indian government made extensive financial, logistical, and humanitarian efforts to accommodate these displaced people, despite facing severe economic challenges itself. The burden of caring for the refugees significantly impacted Indias own domestic economy, leading to a reappraisal of the Fourth Five-Year Plan and an increase in taxes on the local population to share the financial burden.

While the majority of refugees returned to Bangladesh after the war, it is estimated that between 1 to 1.5 million individuals still remain in India today. Moreover, this enduring refugee population has contributed to demographic pressures in many parts of India, particularly in its northeastern states, leading to resource constraints, social tensions, and security challenges.

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The repatriation of refugees was one of the largest operations in post-World War II history. The Indian government, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other international organisations, supported the return of over 9 million refugees by February 1972.

Moreover, India also provided financial assistance to Bangladesh to help in the rehabilitation of those who returned. However, despite these extraordinary contributions, many in Bangladesh today dismiss Indias role, reducing it to that of a mere ally rather than acknowledging it as an indispensable force behind their countrys liberation. This revisionist approach distorts historical realities and facts and risks jeopardising the long-standing deep ties between the two countries.

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The Dangers of Historical Revisionism

A nation cannot progress if it disrespects its freedom fighters and national heroes. During the recent political unrest in Bangladesh in 2024, statues of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh (the Bangabandhu), were desecrated and destroyed, an act that symbolised a blatant attempt to erase his legacy.

Many of his statues were urinated on first and then dismantled. His historic Dhanmondi residence was set on fire, while even the Mujibnagar Memorial, which marks the Proclamation of Independence on 11 April 1971, was vandalised. The violence was widespreadthe systematic destruction targeted both cultural and political symbols of Bengali nationalism, sending a larger message. The destruction of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and the defacement of his statues are alarming indicators of attempts to erase or rewrite significant aspects of Bangladeshs past.

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The arts and cultural institutions also bore the brunt of this devastation. Cultural centres like Shilpakala Academy were vandalised, and renowned artists, including young film star Shanto Khan and his father, were brutally killed. Moreover, today, efforts are underway to rewrite and alter literature and school textbooks. Furthermore, one of the most alarming aspects of this historical revisionism is also to strategically diminish the recognition of Operation Searchlight, whose anniversary is today.

All of these actions not only disrespect the legacy and contribution of the countrys founding figures but also jeopardise the very foundations on which Bangladesh was built. If Bangladesh continues to whitewash its past, it risks losing its national identity and the ideals that gave it independence.

The current political turmoil in Bangladesh reflects this instability. The ongoing power struggle among various groups involving students, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (BJI), the army, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) supporters, Awami League, Mohammad Yunus, and various other factions has created deep fractures within its society. While political elites continue to compete for power, ordinary citizens feel increasingly isolated and helpless.

The Case for Incrementalism

Furthermore, the interim government appears to be making rash, emotional decisions rather than pragmatic ones. Plans to drastically alter the constitution and introduce fundamental changes in society reflect a reckless disregard for the delicate balance on which a society rests.

Every society is the consequence of long-evolving conventions, traditions and practices that reflect collective national wisdom. When someone tries to alter everything at once, the entire social order risks collapsing. True progress is gained by incremental change rather than dramatic upheavals, a tenet firmly ingrained in conservative political thinking.

Furthermore, in revolutionary settings in which changes are introduced wholesale, it becomes extremely difficult to control and remediate any adverse implications that may develop. Furthermore, because of the rapid and violent character of the changes, the society that emerges from such a revolution is intrinsically flawed, riddled with new fault lines and perpetually teetering on the brink of further conflict and civil war. In contrast, incremental change makes it easier for society to react and deal with unexpected consequences.

If a given reform does not operate as intended, it can be amended or repealed without causing widespread disruption to the society. This flexibility is absent in the aftermath of a revolution, where the sweeping changes made are often irreversible, leading to further marginalisation (of the most vulnerable), alienation of many, and prolonged instability. In such a scenario, despite the revolutionary harbinger class claiming lofty ideals, common people ultimately find that nothing has truly changedonly the ruling class has been replaced by a new one.

Furthermore, the political leadership in Bangladesh must recognise that revenge politics only reinforces cycles of retribution. Today, the current ruling elites are dismantling their national identity and the legacy of the Awami League. Tomorrow, the Awami League may return and seek to dismantle what has been built now. This sets a very bad precedent for its future. This cycle of destruction and retribution will only deepen the countrys fractures. Reconciliation, stability, and incremental reform are the only ways to ensure progress and growth.

Alienating New Delhi Does Not Help

A pragmatic leadership in Dhaka would have prioritised maintaining strong ties with New Delhi, given that both countries share a long border, are deeply economically integrated, and have various other linkages. Moreover, given Indias geopolitical standing, its role as a developmental partner and security provider in this region remains vital.

Instead, Bangladeshs current leadership, headed by Yunus, is engaging in confrontational foreign policy. In international politics, sentimentalism has no placerational decision-making based on geostrategic calculations is what determines a nations success.

By alienating New Delhi and attempting to rewrite history, Bangladeshs authorities are setting the stage for long-term, potentially adverse geopolitical consequences. A nation that disrespects its allies and sacrifices historical truth for political expediency risks isolation and instability.

Conclusion

Bangladeshs current trajectory is very alarming. A nation founded on the ideals of liberation, democracy, and constitutionalism is currently experiencing historical amnesia and political strife. Erasing history does not erase its consequences. The sacrifices made by freedom fighters, intellectuals, and friends like India cannot simply be rewritten or forgotten.

If Bangladesh continues to trudge down this path, it risks eroding its national identity, losing its most crucial allies, and undermining its future. History will not be kind to those who disrespect their national heroes and manipulate facts for short-term political gains. The country must embrace pragmatism, gradual reform, and reconciliation with historical truth to ensure a stable and prosperous future. Only by acknowledging, reconciling, and learning from its past will Bangladesh be able to establish itself as a united nation.

Imran Khurshid is a visiting research fellow at the International Centre for Peace Studies, New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Agentic artificial intelligence follows the natural evolution of AI and a logical technological trajectory. These are new types of systems that can proactively identify problems, create plans, and execute complex tasks across digital environments with minimal human supervision read more

The recent announcement of Claude Code by Anthropic is the latest to come out of the stable of agentic artificial intelligence (AI) systems  AI capable of independently pursuing goals through reasoning, planning, and autonomous action. This is part of a growing ecosystem that includes GitHub Copilot X, AutoGPT, BabyAGI, Googles Veo and Genie systems, and others.

These are new types of systems that can proactively identify problems, create plans, and execute complex tasks across digital environments with minimal human supervision. Regulatory response to these developments has to keep up.

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Agentic AI follows the natural evolution of AI and a logical technological trajectory. It is not some distant science fiction scenario we can postpone addressing. The progression from narrow AI systems designed for specific tasks to large language models with broader capabilities, and now to autonomous agents that can chain actions together, shows the further possibilities.

Some AI researchers believe goal-directed agentic systems will become more ubiquitous in the coming future. What about the economic, ethical, safety, and geopolitical implications these systems present?

Implications of Agentic AI

Gartner, for instance, projects that 33 per cent of enterprise applications will integrate agentic AI by 2028, up from less than 1 per cent in 2024. Significant efficiency gains can be seen due to these systems. As per some reports, for instance, Copilot can autonomously design database schemas, implement APIs, and debug code, and Microsoft is testing Project Padawan, aiming for minimal human intervention in software development. While this economic transformation is something that one cannot prevent, the world needs to understand the significant distributional consequences it will have, potentially eliminating millions of knowledge-worker jobs while creating new ones that require different skills. Goldman Sachs estimates 300 million jobs globally (9.1 per cent of the workforce) could be affected by AI.

Moving on to the safety challenges posed by agentic AI, it is important to understand that these systems dont wait for human instructions. They possess the ability to interpret their objectives in unexpected ways, which could lead to unintended consequences. This phenomenon is called specification gaming. When an AI agent is instructed to maximise customer engagement on a platform, for instance, it might exploit psychological vulnerabilities or promote controversial content rather than creating genuine value, all while operating within its formal parameters.

Privacy concerns take on new dimensions when AI systems can proactively gather information rather than merely processing what theyre explicitly provided. For instance, fears exist of AI agents independently developing techniques for correlating supposedly anonymised datasets to extract identifiable user information if it helps them achieve the assigned objective of identifying market opportunities. These are novel privacy threats that existing regulatory frameworks have to keep up with to address.

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Bias and accountability are the other ethical issues that are important. Its after all, historical data that is at play here, which can have societal biases. These can then creep into the decision-making frameworks. For instance, AI-driven credit assessments in Indonesia have helped with financial inclusion, but marginalised groups can face exclusion because these systems are trained on biased datasets.

Geopolitics

The rise of agentic AI has already triggered an intensifying geopolitical competition. It is well known that China is making huge efforts as far as AI is concerned. Manus AI, Chinas new AI agent, is a case in point when it comes to agentic AI. The European Unions regulatory framework specifically addressing autonomous AI systems remains caught in legislative gridlock. The US Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy AI signed in late 2023 now appears woefully inadequate to address the rapid acceleration of agent capabilities. This regulatory fragmentation creates dangerous arbitrage opportunities, where developers can forum-shop for the most permissive jurisdictions to deploy increasingly autonomous systems without adequate safety measures or oversight.

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The security implications of agentic AI systems being weaponised to develop offensive cyber capabilities do exist. The scale of the problem is increased due to the asymmetric nature of these capabilities, where a small team could deploy thousands of AI agents to target critical infrastructure. This brings in new dimensions to national security calculations.

Moreover, agentic AI systems could possess the capability to modify information ecosystems and political discourse by generating and distributing narrative-based content without human control. Both state and non-state actors would salivate at the opportunity to deploy persuasion campaigns at an unprecedented scale.

Governance Has to Keep Up Fast

While tackling these challenges, we have to be careful to neither stifle innovation nor naively accept unconstrained development. The best way would be to have international coordination on safety standards for agentic systems and proper evaluation protocols and transparency requirements. Second, we need significant investments in technical safety research focused specifically on the control and alignment problems unique to autonomous agents.

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Further, we must reject the false choice between innovation and responsible development. Anthropic showed the way ahead with its decision to release Claude Code with specific constraints on its execution environment.

Aligning Business Models

Theres something that might slow down the progress of agentic AI. This isnt technological but economic. Our digital ecosystem has been built around business models that prioritise user retention, attention harvesting, and data collection, and not interoperability or automation. The largest tech companies now control access points representing a large portion of user digital interactions. Their revenue model needs them to keep users on their platform, where their attention can be monetised, and not move around between platforms, bypassing ads or tracking mechanisms.

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These economic incentives explain why, despite breathtaking AI capabilities being developed, there are still persistent barriers to their practical deployment. Consider that despite multiple AI systems now capable of controlling browsers and applications, weve seen minimal progress in the standardisation of APIs that could allow these agents to interact efficiently with software.

Moreover, the competitive landscape further complicates matters. It helps existing monopolies rather than democratising access. The computational resources required to train and deploy advanced agentic systems have resulted in the concentration of commercial AI development among a handful of big tech companies. These giants can afford to create closed ecosystems where their agents work seamlessly with their own applications while struggling with competitors offerings. These arent technical limitations but strategic business decisions.

Natural Progression of AI

However, in the natural progression of things, these problems will likely be overcome in the interest of other ways of monetising interactions. Within 18-24 months, the technological capabilities will likely outpace our institutional capacity to respond unless we act decisively now. Technology regulation has seen a lot of belated responses to transformative innovations, from social media to cryptocurrency. The world cant afford the same regulatory lag with agentic AI. The systems being developed today will shape economic opportunities, influence information environments, and potentially alter geopolitical power dynamics for decades to come.

The path forward requires a lot of collaboration between industry, policymakers, and civil society to develop balanced governance approaches. We require a fundamental rethinking of digital business models and governance frameworks. Regulatory approaches focused solely on preventing harm from AI systems miss the equally important opportunity to promote beneficial integration. The EUs AI Act, for instance, contains provisions restricting high-risk AI applications but doesnt offer a lot of guidance on interoperability standards that could enable positive AI-human collaboration. Similarly, the US Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy AI emphasises safety testing without addressing the structural barriers to AI adoption created by existing digital monopolies.

For agentic AI to fulfil its transformative potential, we need coordinated action across multiple fronts. Technical standards bodies must accelerate the development of protocols for AI-software interaction. Regulatory frameworks should incentivise interoperability alongside safety. And most critically, business leaders need to explore revenue models compatible with an ecosystem where AI agents move freely between applications, potentially reducing direct user engagement but creating new forms of value.

The time to confront these issues is now, while the architecture of our AI-integrated future remains malleable. The alternative is to watch as transformative potential is gradually subsumed by the gravitational pull of existing business models and market structures, leaving us with powerful technologies that never quite revolutionise our digital lives in the ways we once imagined possible.

The author is a research scholar at Takshashila Institution, Bangalore. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Beijing has long perfected the art of budgetary camouflage. Significant sums are routinely hidden off the official balance sheet in the guise of research and development projects, covert military-civil fusion initiatives, and undisclosed contingency funds read more

China faces the old imperial dilemma of overspending on war and losing the prosperity of peace. File photo

Chinas latest defence budget hikea 7.5 per cent climb to $258 billionmay seem to herald a new era of military assertiveness. Yet a closer look reveals the money, even accounting for a massive purchasing power parity advantage (where, say, an aircraft would cost 1/4th of what it costs for Western peers), is not adding up to a more secure China.

Beijings modernisation drive is unmistakable. The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) now operates three aircraft carriers, with a fourth nuclearpowered vessel under developmentan effort aimed squarely at matching US supercarriers. Complementing this is a navy that, by some measures the worlds largest, recently staged a bold deployment across Australian waters, signalling its ability to project power far from shore.

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On the tech front, the PLA is not content to rest on conventional assets. The development of a purported sixth-generation fighter aircraft underscores its appetite for leaps in capability, while the rapid expansion of unmanned systemsfrom the Wing Loong-2 (GJ-2) drone to the Rainbow-4 reconnaissance and strike craft and newly unveiled KVD002 medium-altitude, long-endurance drone operating at both theatre command and group army levelspivots towards modern, networked warfare.

Yet behind these impressive headlines lie substantial fiscal and institutional challenges. Nearly 35 per cent of Chinas defence spending is swallowed by salaries and pensionsa necessary expense but, given an ageing China, a larger drag for a war-ready force.

Moreover, Beijing has long perfected the art of budgetary camouflage. Significant sums are routinely hidden off the official balance sheet in the guise of research and development projects, covert military-civil fusion initiatives, and undisclosed contingency funds. Such practices obscure the true scaleand effectivenessof its spending.

Almost all of the nuclear weapon modernisation programme, like in peer countries, is off budget.

A budget primed for war

President Xi Jinpings recent pronouncements further stoke concerns. Insisting publicly that the armed forces must be primed for future warsand indeed must win themXis rhetoric is a stark reminder that Beijing is not content with deterrence alone.

However, there are reasons not to sound the alarm. The recent dismissal of top generals and even two defence ministers has exposed deep-seated internal fissures. Endemic military corruption means that a significant portion of the budget may ultimately prove wasteful. Money by itself can do only so much.

China has not fought a war since its 1978 clash with Vietnam, leaving its modern hardware untested in the crucible of battle. A purge of two military generals, including the arrest of Admiral Miao Hua, a member of Chinas topmost party post, the Central Military Commission, points to a crisis in military leadership.

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Furthermore, Chinas ambitions are set against a backdrop of overextension. Its strategic commitments span from Taiwan to the high Himalayas bordering India, from the contested South China Sea to an ongoing rivalry with the USA, all pursued amid a slowing economy.

Chinas aggressive military spending has kicked off an arms race. All its adversaries, the USA, Japan and Korea, are ramping up defence budgets. Japan has declared a $280 billion five-year defence spending programme and doubling of its defence budget by 2030.

South Koreas defence spending will rise from $45 billion to $55 billion in 2029. India needs very quickly to spend at least 2.5 per cent of the GDP on its defence, just in light of Chinas jump. The US is also spending more money on the Indo-Pacific. All that spending is adding up and matching any Chinese security advantage.

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In the final analysis, while Chinas bolstered defence spending and technological leaps warrant close scrutiny, they must be weighed against internal inefficiencies and overstretched commitments. Just an attack on Taiwan could cost China $2 trillion in military employment alone.

China faces the old imperial dilemma of overspending on war and losing the prosperity of peace. It undid Rome and imperial Britain as well as Germany; China may not prove an exception to that rule.

The writer is a senior journalist with expertise in defence. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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The Kursk operation is seen by some analysts as an unnecessary gamble, stretching Ukraines troops and leading to heavy casualties at a time when Ukrainians were already struggling to defend a long front line in their own country read more

The resources committed to Kursk should have been better used elsewhere; in hindsight, it seems to have been a failed gamble. Reuters.

On August 6, 2024, Ukraine launched an offensive into the thinly defended Kursk region of Russia. For many Western analysts, it seemed to be the boldest military move in the war against Russia. With quick, aggressive pushes into Russian-held territory, the incursion was meant to challenge the idea of Russian military invincibility and shift the balance of power on several fronts.

CNN even described it as a personal embarrassment for Vladimir Putin, while some think tanks considered it a major error in judgement on Russias part, and one called it a masterpiece of operational and strategic genius.

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A counter-offensive is undertaken by a force previously on the defensive which launches an attack against the enemy with the primary aim of disrupting their offensive by forcing them to divert attention, troops and resources. The ultimate goal is to shift the momentum of the battle from the attacking to the defending force. If executed well, this can force the attacker to abandon their offensive or even retreat.

While theoretically appealing, the key lies in its implementation in terms of the area chosen for the offensive, the force level of troops allocated and the ability to capitalise on success while at the same time ensuring that this diversion of resources does not impact the integrity of ones own defences.

In this case, Ukraine was facing relentless pressure in the Donbas region, where Russian forces had made slow but steady progress. Although the Ukrainian Armed Forces were inflicting heavy costs on the Russians, they were unable to halt their advance.

Ukrainian forces met with initial success at the height of the offensive and reportedly controlled 1,300 square kilometres of territory, though some independent sources reported closer to 1,100 square kilometres of Russian territory. But now they are clinging to barely 30 square miles along the Russia-Ukraine border and have pulled almost entirely out of the Kursk region of Russia, ending an offensive that had stunned Russia with its speed and audacity.

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Once encircled, Ukrainian soldiers described the retreat as organised in places and chaotic in others, while Russian forces stormed through their lines and forced them back to a sliver of land along the border. There is no doubt that the end of the battle is visible.

How much Russian territory Ukraine still controls in Kursk cannot be confirmed, as reports indicate ongoing fierce fighting. But the fighting near the border is now less about holding Russian land and more about trying to prevent Russian forces from pouring into the Sumy region of Ukraine and opening a new front in the war.

The Offensive

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The success of the first offensive gave Ukraine a much-needed morale boost and a symbolic victory, as it demonstrated the countrys ability to challenge Russian forces on their own soil, undermining Moscows carefully curated image of military dominance.

As Ukrainian forces continued their push in the second offensive, it became apparent that, despite its symbolic importance, the Kursk region offers limited economic and strategic value. This offensive in fact underscored the complex challenges Ukraine faces: defending its sovereignty while balancing limited resources, international support, and the heavy psychological toll of war. As events unfolded, it became increasingly clear that the offensive had failed to meet its objectives.

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The Kursk offensive reveals several critical challenges that complicate Ukraines efforts and raise questions about the effectiveness of its strategy. These challenges span operational, economic, diplomatic, psychological, and political dimensions, highlighting the complexities of sustaining a high-stakes war against a well-resourced adversary.

Unfolding Events

Throughout history, military doctrine has consistently emphasised the importance of offensive action, even in the face of retreat. The Germans in both World Wars ingrained the need to attack at every opportunity. However, this approach didnt always yield success. For instance, the Battle of Kursk in 1943 and the Battle of the Bulge in 1944 stand as prominent examples where the tactical doctrine of offensive action ultimately failed. In both cases, despite initially advantageous positions, the counteroffensive was either repelled or failed to achieve its objectives, resulting in heavy casualties and strategic setbacks.

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In hindsight a vulnerable Kursk region helped lure the Ukrainian forces into attacking it. Once Ukraine was committed to the attack, Russia had various options: divert troops to evict the incursion by either targeting the lines of replenishment or pushing them back from the head. The other option was to contain the incursion and attack elsewhere, forcing Ukraine to pull out troops from the gains made.

While the options for Ukraine ranged from building up on the success and going deeper into Russian territory to consolidating at positions held or falling back to a strong defensive line. The Ukrainians hoped to bait Russian reinforcements into the Kursk salient, thus relieving pressure on their southern front. But Moscow chose not to take the bait. Instead, a new element was introduced, as Russia inducted North Korean troops to contain the incursion and kept up the pressure in eastern Ukraine.

While the Ukrainians did correctly identify a weakly defended area in the Russian lines and launched an attack with 15,000 troops backed by armour and artillery, they failed to capitalise on it decisively.

The Russian forces were not as overstretched as they had hoped, and their lines remained relatively intact despite the initial breach. Moreover, Russias ability to rapidly reinforce the area with artillery and air support ultimately overwhelmed the Ukrainian forces.

Thereafter, once the Ukrainians had reached their culmination point, the Russians struck back. By October 2024, Russian forces had steadily regained almost 60 per cent of the territory that had been lost to Ukraine during the offensive.

By mid-February, Russian forces had advanced to within five miles of Ukraines main resupply routes into Sudzha, allowing them to target the roads with swarms of drones  many of which were tethered to ultrathin fibre optic cables and therefore immune to jamming.

Russian drones were also hitting pre-placed explosives to destroy bridges in Kursk to try to make it harder for Ukrainian troops to retreat. Russian warplanes also attacked bridges, in one case dropping a 6,000-pound guided bomb to cut off one major artery.

On March 8, Russian troops executed Operation Python, wherein, in an unusual manner, they made a breakthrough, sneaking behind Ukrainian lines by walking for miles through a disused gas pipeline to stage a surprise attack at Sudzha. The Russian media has cast the operation as a heroic feat, while Ukrainian sources called it a risky move that they claimed had led to many deaths caused by residual methane in the pipeline.

The timing was significant, as the Trump administration had announced the suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing when Ukraines hold in Kursk was already in danger. The sudden loss of American intelligence for precise targeting compounded the difficulties; without it, the American-made multiple-rocket launchers known as HIMARS fell silent. Expensive missiles cannot be fired at the wrong targets.

While the exact number of Russian troops involved and the success of the attack were impossible to independently confirm, It caused enough confusion and havoc behind Ukrainian lines that it likely triggered them to start withdrawing."

While Kyiv had hoped to use its control over Russian land as leverage in any negotiation to end the war, now the Russians used the Ukrainian retreat in strengthening their hand in talks with the Trump administration about the ceasefire.

Why the Tide Turned

The reversal of Ukraines fortunes in Kursk did not come down to any one factor. Russian forces pounded Ukraines supply lines. North Korean troops were brought in, and their combat capabilities were improved, and at a crucial moment, US support, including intelligence sharing, was put on hold.

It was now not Russia but Ukraine that was overstretched. The Russian forces enjoyed a significant advantage, with superiority in artillery, an advantage in drones, and comparable numbers in infantry.

Ukraine had employed some of its most experienced brigades in the Kursk operation, but months of unrelenting assaults by Russian forces and the North Korean troops were taking a growing toll. While the North Korean troops had been pulled out from the battlefield in January to regroup, they returned to the fight in early February. And Ukrainian soldiers said their combat skills had improved.

The failure of the Kursk offensive highlights the timeless nature of strategic principles in warfare. A critical component is the availability of reserves to exploit successes. Unfortunately, in Kursk, the Ukrainians lacked reserves. Instead of reversing the tide, their positions weakened in the south, and they began to yield territory at a pace not seen since the early stages of the war.

Another issue with the Kursk operations was the significant diversion of Ukrainian resources to support the campaign. Consequently, this left key areas in eastern Ukraine, particularly the Donbas, under defended. As a result, Russian forces seized the opportunity to intensify their operations in the east, which was more vulnerable.

The inability to disrupt Russias offensives in the Donbas calls into question the effectiveness of Kursk as an operation. The Kursk offensive inadvertently provided Russia with an opportunity to consolidate its gains in the east, further entrenching its control over a region critical to Ukraines economic recovery and far more significant in terms of leverage at the negotiating table.

The inauguration of President Donald Trump in January also turned the tide, as he had made clear his intentions of ending the conflict. It was then absolutely clear to President Putin that retaking Kursk was essential prior to the negotiations.

Conclusion

The Kursk operation is seen by some analysts as an unnecessary gamble, stretching Ukraines troops and leading to heavy casualties at a time when Ukrainians were already struggling to defend a long front line in their own country. But it provided a much-needed morale boost to Ukraine, which had sought to show it could bring the war home to Russia and had hoped the territory it occupied there would serve as leverage in any ceasefire negotiations.

The Ukrainian experience in Kursk serves as a reminder that, no matter the scale of ambition, success in warfare requires careful consideration of the battlefield realities, and in this case, the miscalculations made by Ukrainians hastened the erosion of their earlier momentum.

The offensives expose the harsh reality of this war: Ukraine is fighting on multiple fronts with limited resources, and every decision has consequences. The challenge of balancing aggressive tactics with the need to defend key territories is the essence of the art of war.

The Russian strategy focused on trading space for time in Kursk instead of a decision to defend Kursk at all costs while continuing its steady attrition of the Ukrainian forces in the Donbas. They were successful in baiting the enemy into overextending and thereafter exploited their vulnerability at the right moment.

In retrospect, the Kursk offensive may have been an audacious attempt to shift the momentum of the war, but it ultimately lacked the strategic depth and resources needed for success. Instead of achieving the desired diversion or shifting the momentum, it only accelerated Ukraines struggles, leading to further territorial losses and a weakened position on the battlefield.

The resources committed to Kursk should have been better used elsewhere; in hindsight, it seems to have been a failed gamble.

The author is a retired Major General of the Indian Army. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The Ukrainian Air Force on Tuesday said that Russian forces launched 139 attack and decoy drones against Ukraine, including an Iskander-M ballistic missile read more

At least one person died and over 100, including several children, were injured in the past 24 hours after Russia unleashed a fresh wave of attack in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Air Force on Tuesday said that Russian forces launched 139 attack and decoy drones against Ukraine, including an Iskander-M ballistic missile. Kyivs forces shot down 78 drones while 34 decoys disappeared from the radar but did not cause any damage.

Yesterday, Russia opened a barrage of missile attacks in the northeastern city of Sumy hours after Moscow and Washington began ceasefire talks in Saudi Arabia.

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Damage and devastation

As many as 110 people, including 23 children, were injured in the Russian attacks with most of them getting treated in hospitals, the city council said. Twenty-six buildings under the attack included schools, a kindergarten, a hospital, and 16 residential buildings.

Russian attacks injured multiple civilians across Ukraine. In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a 36-year-old man was wounded in the Synelnykove district, while a 40-year-old man was injured in the Nikopol district, according to Governor Serhii Lysak.

In Donetsk Oblast, one civilian was hurt in an attack on Lyman, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported. Kherson Oblast saw one fatality and six injuries, with four houses damaged, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin stated. Meanwhile, in Poltava Oblast, drone debris ignited a fire at an enterprise in Myrhorod district, injuring two employees, one of whom was hospitalized, Governor Volodymyr Kohut said.

Russia-US talks

A Russian negotiator said on Tuesday that Moscow would continue useful talks with the United States over the Ukraine conflict and would aim to involve the UN and other countries.

We talked about everything, it was an intense dialogue, not easy, but very useful for us and the Americans, Grigory Karasin, told the state TASS news agency, adding that lots of problems were discussed.

Of course we are far from solving everything, from being in agreement on all points, but it seems that this type of discussion is very timely, he said.

We will continue doing it, adding in the international community, above all the United Nations and certain countries, Karasin said.

With inputs from agencies
Amid a string of terrorist attacks in recent years, Russia has ramped up the crackdown on Batal Hajji, an Islamic sufi order founded in the 19th-century tsarist Russia read more

Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and a string of terrorist attacks, Russia has mounted a crackdown on an Islamic sufi order.

Sometime in the 1860s, Sheikh Batal-haji Belkharoyev established a sufi order that continues to have several thousands of followers among present-day Russias Ingush, Chechen, and Kumyk communities. However, the Batal Hajji sufi order based in Russias Ingushetia republic has long faced the ire of central Russian authorities from the time the country was ruled tsars.

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In the latest case, the Russian authorities in January arrested two Ingushetia natives, Ramzan Padiev and Batukhan Tochiev, for the assassination of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the highest-ranking Russian official killed since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Ukraine claimed responsibility for the killing.

In recent years, Russia has also faced a string of jihadist attacks, such as the attack at a Moscow concert hall last year that killed at least 145 people. In some areas, such as the Dagestan republic, there are active jihadist movements. In June 2024, in what appeared to be coordinated attacks, at least 21 people were killed in two cities in the republic.

Russian crackdown brings sufi order in spotlight

The Russian authorities have claimed that a 29-year-old Uzbek national, Akhmad Kurbanov, carried out the assassination with help from Padiev and Tochiev.

The Russian media have identified that Padiev and Tochiev are members of the Batal Hajji order. They are not the latest members of the order to be linked to terrorism.

Last year, the Russian authorities linked four members of the order to the attack on the Moscow concert hall and arrested them. They were charged with selling arms and ammunition to the attackers.

There has been a systemic crackdown on the order for years. In a crackdown that began after the killing of Ibragim Eldzharkiev, the head of Ingushetias Center for Combatting Extremism, a special unit within Russias Interior Ministry, 11 people were arrested and all high-ranking order members in politics or business lost their positions as a result, according to The Moscow Times.

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Before the crackdown, the members of the order occupied key posts in the government and business, including acquiring a near monopoly in Ingushetias construction industry, as per The Moscow Times.

The killing of Eldzharkiev came weeks after Ibragim Belkhoroev, the great-grandson of the orders founder Sheikh Batal Hajji Belkhoroev, was killed in Ingushetia. Russias central authorities used the orders conflict with Eldzharkiev to add the order to the list of terrorist or extremist organisatons.

Batal Hajjis long conflict in Russia

The Batal Hajji order has long been at odds with central Russian authorities.

As Sheikh Belkharoyev opposed the Russian occupation of Ingushetia, he was exiled by the tsarist regime to Kalgua more than a thousand kilometres away, noted Leyla Latypova in an article for The Moscow Times.

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The repression of the Batal Hajji order continued under the Soviet rule after Vladimir Lenin led the overthrowal of the tsarist regime.

Latypova noted that only one of Sheikh Belkharoyevs seven sons, Qureysh Belkhoroev, survived the repression under Leninists. Today, his descendants broadly lead the order of around 20,000 people.

Isabella Evloeva, an Ingush journalist who founded news outlet Fortanga, told Latypova that while there was repression before as well, there was nothing like whats happening now.

Occasionally, they faced raids  sometimes their jewellery stores or other businesses would be raided, and valuable items confiscated, but there was nothing like the repressions happening now. The crackdown truly began after the murder of Ibragim Eldzharkiev, said Evloeva.

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The plea deal would have branded Boeing a convicted felon and required it to pay a $487.2m fine, along with $455m in safety and compliance improvements. Victims families condemned this as a sweetheart deal that falls far short of holding Boeing accountable read more

Boeing is attempting to withdraw an agreement to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge linked to the deadly crashes of two 737 MAX jets, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

The embattled US planemaker had in July agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to defraud regulators over flawed flight control software implicated in the crashes that killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019.

The plea deal would have branded Boeing a convicted felon and required it to pay a $487.2m fine, along with $455m in safety and compliance improvements over a three-year probation period.

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However, a federal judge in Texas rejected the deal in December, raising concerns about a diversity and inclusion clause. Boeing and the Department of Justice (DoJ) have since discussed a revised agreement.

Donald Trump, who returned to the presidency on 20 January, now has the opportunity to influence the direction of the case. Members of his administration have signalled a tougher stance on Boeing. We need to be tougher on Boeing. We need to be tougher on the industry, said Steve Bradbury, the newly confirmed deputy transportation secretary.

A sweetheart deal

Victims families have condemned the original plea as a sweetheart deal that falls far short of holding Boeing accountable. The crashes Lion Air Flight 610 in 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in 2019 both involved the malfunction of the aircrafts Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), which Boeing failed to disclose to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) properly.

In 2021, the company had struck a deferred prosecution agreement to avoid criminal charges. But in May 2024, the DoJ determined that Boeing had violated the terms of that agreement, following further safety lapses, including a January incident in which a door panel blew out mid-flight on an Alaska Airlines jet.

The episode added fresh scrutiny to Boeings manufacturing practices and culture of safety, prompting the Justice Department to reopen the case.

Judge Reed OConnor, who is overseeing the case in Fort Worth, Texas, has previously described Boeings actions as possibly the deadliest corporate crime in US history.

Despite the mounting pressure, Boeing continues to secure government work. On Friday, the company was awarded a major contract to develop the US Air Forces most advanced fighter jet to date.

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With inputs from Reuters
According to the charge sheet, Bolsonaro led a criminal organisation that had sought to unseat leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to whom he lost October 2022 elections by a razor-thin margin read more

Brazils Supreme Court will weigh Tuesday whether to put far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro on trial for allegedly masterminding an attempted coup after losing elections in 2022.

If convicted, the 70-year-old risks a prison sentence of about 40 years.

According to the charge sheet, Bolsonaro led a criminal organization that had sought to unseat leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to whom he lost October 2022 elections by a razor-thin margin.

A week after Lula took office on January 1, 2023, thousands of Bolsonaro backers stormed the presidential palace, Congress and Supreme Court demanding the military oust the new president, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

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Five judges  including Bolsonaro arch-rival Alexandre de Moraes  will now consider whether there is enough evidence to try the ex-president and seven alleged co-conspirators, including former ministers and a navy commander.

A decision is expected Tuesday or Wednesday, the court has said.

Bolsonaro was charged in February with crimes including the attempted violent abolition of the democratic state of law and membership of an armed criminal organization.

Dubbed the Trump of the Tropics after his political idol Donald Trump, Bolsonaro has been the target of multiple investigations since his turbulent years as president of Latin Americas biggest democracy from 2019 to 2022.

Political trial

Prosecutors say the former army captain was aware of a plot to invoke a state of emergency to bring about a correction of the 2022 election outcome, and even plans to assassinate Lula, his deputy Geraldo Alckmin, and Moraes, the judge.

The alleged plot did not come to fruition due to a lack of support from the army high command, according to investigators.

Investigations have also linked Bolsonaro to the disturbances of January 8, 2023. He was in the United States at the time, and denies any involvement.

Its a political trial. For what purpose? To remove me from the political scene for next year when fresh presidential elections are due to be held, Bolsonaro said recently, alleging that he was a victim of persecution.

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Bolsonaro has been disqualified from holding public office until 2030 for having cast doubt on Brazils electronic voting system, but is hopeful the ban will be overturned.

For the moment, I am a candidate for the 2026 vote, he declared this month.

The former president has compared his situation to that of Trump, who returned to the White House this year despite his own legal troubles, and after a similar storming of the US Capitol by his supporters in January 2021.

Security at the Supreme Court in Brasilia has been beefed up ahead of Tuesdays hearing, due to start at 9:30 am local time (1230 GMT).

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Ahead of snap elections next month, Canada has warned of foreign political interferance and has named China and India as potential threats read more

A large Canadian flag hangs on the front of the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, March 5, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)

Ahead of parliamentary elections next month, Canada has flagged the risk of foreign interference and has named China and India among threats.

Days after taking over as the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney last week announced the country will hold snap elections on April 28. The elections will be held in the shadow of unprecedented territorial and economic aggression by US President Donald Trump, who has pledged to annex Canada and make it the 51st US state. He has also waged a tariff war on the country which is seen as a tool to bring the country to its knees that makes such annexation easy.

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However, the United States did not feature among the countries Canada believes are likely to interfere in the upcoming elections.

Vanessa Lloyd, the Deputy Director of Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), on Monday said that China, Russia, India, and Pakistan are likely to interfere in the upcoming elections, according to National Post.

In recent years, Canada has raised the issue of foreign interferance in politics by the likes of China and India. Justin Trudeau, who resigned as the Prime Minister of Canada earlier this year, plunged the bilateral relations to the lowest by accusing India of killing a Khalistani leader inside Canada and going after Indian diplomats. He also accused India of running an organised crime network inside Canada.

Lloyd, who also heads the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force, said that cyber attacks as well as artificial intelligence (AI) applications are likely to be used to interfere in the elections.

Lloyd listed the following ways in which such interferance may be conducted:

China could use both overt and covert tools like AI to target Canadians of Chinese origins to promote Communist Partys agenda among them

India could interfere in elections through the network of allies to assert its geopolitical influence

Russia could influence elections through the manipulation of news, both real and fake, on social media

Pakistan could interfere in Canada to counter Indias purported interferance

Before Lloyd, Canadas Communications Security Establishment (CSE) warned last week that a China-based actor had done reconnaissance scanning on Canadian networks in recent weeks, according to National Post.

While Canadian politicians, particularly from the ruling Labour Party, have raised election interferance concerns loudly, critics have seen such allegations as an artificial distraction from the governments failings to address the many socioeconomic crises and appease a section of Canadas population for electoral benefits.

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Chinas military modernisation is largely focused on counter-intervention capabilities designed to challenge US and allied operations in the Pacific. The report highlighted key modernisation milestones set for 2027 and 2035, with the goal of transforming the PLA into a world-class military by 2049. read more

China remains the United States top military and cyber threat, according to a report by U.S. intelligence agencies published on Tuesday.

According to the Annual Threat Assessment by the U.S. intelligence community, China can strike the US with conventional weapons, disrupt critical infrastructure through cyberattacks, and target American assets in space. The report also states that Beijing aims to surpass the U.S. as the leading power in artificial intelligence by 2030.

The report stated that the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) is developing a joint force capable of full-spectrum warfare to counter U.S. intervention in regional conflicts, project global power, and secure Beijings territorial claims.

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Beijing is expected to intensify coercive pressure against Taiwan, particularly in response to perceived increases in U.S. support for the island, with a stronger push toward unification in 2025. The report also noted that China will continue applying economic pressure on Taipei and could escalate its actions if Taiwan moves toward formal independence.

Beyond China, the report identified Russia, Iran, and North Korea as nations seeking to challenge the U.S. through deliberate strategic campaigns. It pointed out that Moscows war in Ukraine has provided Russia with valuable insights into combating Western weapons and intelligence in large-scale warfare, the report said.

With inputs from agencies
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) discovered that Indian agents played a role in fundraising and organising support within the South Asian community for Poilievre during the leadership race, which he won decisively, according to a report, citing a source with top-secret clearance read more

Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on October 29, 2024. Reuters File

Agents from India and their proxies allegedly interfered in the 2022 election of Pierre Poilievre as Conservative Party Leader as part of a broader strategy to build relationships with politicians across all parties, according to a report.

According to The Globe and Mail report, citing a source with top-secret clearance, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) discovered that Indian agents played a role in fundraising and organising support within the South Asian community for Poilievre during the leadership race, which he won decisively.

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However, the CSIS assessment suggested that this involvement was not extensive or highly coordinated, added the report.

Poilievre secured victory on the first ballot with 68% of the vote.

CSIS also found no evidence that Poilievre or his inner circle were aware of the alleged activities conducted by Indias agents and their proxies, according to the source, who has national security clearance to access top-secret reports.

The report comes as Canada on Tuesday flagged the risk of foreign interference and named China and India among major threats ahead of parliamentary elections next month.

Mark Carney, who recently took over as the Prime Minister of Canada, last week announced the country will hold snap elections on April 28.

According to the report, CSIS did not share the information with Poilievre because he lacks the security clearance needed for access to classified documents on foreign interference. He is the only federal party leader who has declined an offer for such clearance.

Sam Lilly, a spokesman for the Conservative Leader, said Poilievres leadership campaign adhered to all relevant rules and laws.

A public inquiry into foreign interference, led by Justice Marie-Josee Hogue in 2024, identified China and India as primary actors, using diplomats and proxies to influence Canadian politics.

In her January report, Justice Hogue noted that proxy agents provide illicit financial support to Canadian politicians to secure pro-India candidates, but clarified that the intelligence does not confirm whether the involved officials were aware of these attempts, nor whether they were successful, added the report.

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In a statement on Monday, CSIS spokesperson Lindsay Sloane said that the agency testified during the Hogue inquiry that there was no reason to believe impacted candidates would have been aware of the alleged support from India during the 2022 Conservative leadership race, reported The Globe and Mail.

Sloan said the spy service had provided a classified briefing to Ian Todd, chief of staff to Poilievre, about foreign interference threat activities and tactics, including allegations of interference in the leadership race.

She said CSIS takes any allegations of foreign interference seriously and actively investigates.

In a report last June, the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) alleged that Beijing and New Delhi interfered in Conservative leadership races, mentioning Indias alleged interference without specifying if it involved Poilievre or other candidates.

Upon launching his campaign in the federal election called on Sunday, Poilievre said he doesnt trust the Liberals with a security clearance and emphasised that such a clearance would limit his ability to hold the government accountable.

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What I am not going to do is go into a politically directed process by the Liberals that they use to decide what I can see and say and comment on, The Globe and Mail quoted Poilievre as saying.

He said CSIS is free to brief him directly if the agency feels its warranted.

In October testimony before the Hogue inquiry, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticised Poilievre for lacking curiosity about potential foreign interference in the 2022 Conservative leadership contest, referencing the NSICOP report.

Justice Hogue urged all federal party leaders to obtain national-security clearances to access top-secret intelligence affecting their parties, a process involving thorough background checks and intrusive personal questions.

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In a pre-interview transcript, Trudeau mentioned receiving explosive intelligence regarding Conservative Party members susceptibility to foreign interference, later acknowledging similar concerns about Liberals and others.

Hogues final report downplayed NSICOPs claims of parliamentarians collaborating with foreign powers, stating that while attempts to influence them exist, they remain marginal and largely ineffective.

On Monday, the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force announced it would provide weekly briefings on foreign interference during the 37-day federal election campaign.

Vanessa Lloyd, deputy director of operations at CSIS and chair of the SITE Task Force, said that security agencies are closely monitoring interference activities, particularly from China and India, as well as Pakistan and Iran.

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We have also seen that the government of India has the intent and capability to interfere in Canadian communities and democratic processes, to assert its geopolitical influence, The Globe and Mail quoted Lloyd as saying.

Canadian and Canada-based proxies, as well as contacts in their networks, are increasingly relied on to conduct government of India foreign interference activities, she added.

Indo-Canadian relations soured dramatically in September 2023 when Prime Minister Trudeau accused Indian agents and their proxies of being involved in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

On Thanksgiving last fall, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme linked Indian government officials to homicides, extortions, and coercion on Canadian soil.

On that day, Ottawa expelled six Indian diplomats, including High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma.

India vehemently denied the allegations and retaliated by expelling six Canadian diplomats, further straining bilateral relations.

With inputs from agencies
Fiala warned that the Czech-led ammunition initiative, designed to collect donations from allied nations to help fund the purchase of ammunition for Ukraine from global suppliers, could be at risk if there is a change in government read more

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala on Tuesday claimed that the parliamentary election frontrunner is helping Russian President Vladimir Putin in his war against Ukraine.

While the Czechs current coalition government, consisting of four parties under Fiala, has been a fierce supporter of Ukraine, the prime minister has accused populist Andrej Babis of being in touch with Putin.

Babis is against this ammunition initiative, against spending on defence, he talks about peace without any conditions, Fiala told Financial Times.

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He helps Vladimir Putin, its very clear, he added.

Fiala warned that the Czech-led ammunition initiative, designed to collect donations from allied nations to help fund the purchase of ammunition for Ukraine from global suppliers, could be at risk if there is a change in government.

Pre-poll surveys show that Babis is leading in the elections by 33 per cent, while Fialas coalition government is barely reaching 17 per cent.

Babis, leader of the populist ANO party, has been aligning his rhetoric with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, arguing that diplomacyrather than additional weaponsis the real solution to Russias war in Ukraine. However, Kyiv remains skeptical, believing that the Kremlin is not genuinely committed to a diplomatic resolution.

The Czech Republic is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections by October 2025 to elect all 200 members of the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Parliament. Recent political developments include internal disputes within the ruling coalition, notably the departure of the Pirate Party from the Cabinet following the dismissal of their leader, Regional Development Minister Ivan Bartos.
Denmark Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko on Tuesday said that Denmark will provide 130 million euros ($140.6 million) in guarantees to support Danish companies investing in Ukraines defence industry, according to a report read more

Denmark Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko on Tuesday said that Denmark will provide 130 million euros ($140.6 million) in guarantees to support Danish companies investing in Ukraines defence industry.

According to The Kyiv Independent, the Danish government will launch a new initiative involving a state-backed guarantee through the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO).

This guarantee will cover up to 70% of Danish companies investments in Ukraines defence sector, totaling 1 billion Danish kroner ($140.6 million), added the report.

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The Nordic country has taken the lead in providing military support to Ukraine by investing in its defence industry, establishing the Danish model for purchasing arms from Ukrainian producers.

Svyrydenko said the new measure would help reduce investment risks and motivate Danish manufacturers to collaborate with Ukraines defence sector, allowing them to leverage Ukrainian expertise, innovation, and the real combat testing of military technology.

EIFO is well known to Danish business, as they are already actively supporting both their countrys and Ukrainian businesses with this tool, The Kyiv Independent quoted the minister as writing on Facebook.

Since the start of Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, Copenhagen has provided approximately $7.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine.

With inputs from agencies
US President Donald Trump said that Waltz has learned from the Signal chat leak incident downplaying security concerns as a minor glitch while standing by his national security adviser read more

President Donald Trump on Tuesday threw his support behind his national security adviser, Michael Waltz, after revelations that a highly sensitive military discussion on Signal included a prominent journalist by mistake.

Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man, Trump told NBC News, marking his first public comments since The Atlantic broke the story detailing how its editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently added to the high-level chat.

Trump downplayed the severity of the incident, asserting that Goldbergs presence in the chat had no impact at all on the military operation in Yemen. It was one of Michaels people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there, he explained. Despite the uproar in Washington, Trump dismissed concerns, calling the situation the only glitch in two months, and it turned out not to be a serious one.

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Washington reels from security breach

The Atlantic report, which surfaced Monday, sent shockwaves through political circles. According to Politico, internal sources suggest that some White House officials believe Waltz should be dismissed for his recklessness. One official was quoted as saying, Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a fing idiot.

According to The Telegraph, on the other hand, multiple Trump aides, including four top officials who spoke to Axios, believe Waltz will retain his position.

Democratic lawmakers demand answers

Democratic leaders swiftly condemned the breach, calling it an astonishingly cavalier approach to national security, NBC News reported.

The leaked conversation reportedly contained precise details about weapon packages, individual targets and the March 15 strike on Yemen that resulted in over 50 casualties. Goldberg, sceptical at first, described his disbelief upon being added to the chat.

I could not believe that the national security leadership of the United States would communicate on Signal about imminent war plans. I also could not believe that the national security adviser to the president would be so reckless as to include the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic in such discussions with senior U.S. officials, up to and including the vice president, he wrote.

Administration defends Waltz and chat security

Despite the growing controversy, White House officials have pushed back against claims of a security lapse. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters, Nobody was texting war plans, and thats all I have to say about that.

However, the White House later confirmed the existence of the Signal chat, with National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes calling it a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed this sentiment on X (formerly Twitter), insisting no war plans were discussed and no classified material was sent to the thread. She added that the White House is investigating how Goldbergs number was mistakenly added to the group.

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Waltzs future in question

Even before this incident, Waltzs position in the administration was precarious. The New York Times previously reported that some Trump allies viewed him as a likely early casualty due to his past hawkish stances on China, Iran and Ukraine. While Waltz has attempted to align himself more closely with Trumps rhetoric, describing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as like an ex-girlfriend that wants to argue scepticism about his loyalty remains.

As the White House grapples with the fallout from the leak, the comparison to the Hillary Clinton email scandal has not gone unnoticed. Before assuming his role as Hegseth had repeatedly criticised Clinton for her use of a private email server. The irony was not lost on Clinton, who reshared The Atlantic article on Monday with a terse remark: You have got to be kidding me.

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With Trumps backing, Waltz may weather the stormfor now.
The war in Sudan has created the worlds largest and most devastating humanitarian crisis with over 30 million people needing aid this year, 16 million of them children trying to survive in dire conditions. read more

Fighters loyal to the army patrol a market area in Khartoum on March 24, 2025. Image- AFP

Sudanese monitoring groups have leveled grave accusations against the national army, claiming it conducted one of the most devastating airstrikes in the countrys two-year civil war, targeting a rebel stronghold in Darfur.

The Emergency Lawyers organisation composed of volunteer legal professionals reported hundreds of civilian casualties from what they described as an indiscriminate bombardment of Tora market in North Darfur. Residents involved in recovery efforts confirmed counting at least 270 bodies at the scene.

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The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which maintains near-complete control over Darfur and faces US accusations of genocide, has squarely blamed the army for what it calls Mondays massacre.

This deadly incident unfolds against the backdrop of what has become the worlds most severe humanitarian catastrophe, with current estimates showing that over 30 million Sudanese require urgent assistance - including 16 million children living in desperate conditions.

Among these vulnerable populations, approximately 1.3 million children reside in active famine zones, while more than 770,000 are projected to suffer severe acute malnutrition this year, a condition that often proves fatal without intervention.

Sudans descent into violence began in April 2023 when longstanding tensions between military and paramilitary leadership erupted in Khartoum before spreading to Darfur and other regions. The conflict has claimed at least 20,000 lives - though actual numbers are believed to be significantly higher - and displaced more than 14 million people from their homes.

Darfur, a vast region the size of France, has faced some of the wars worst violence, including reports of barrel bombs on civilian areas, paramilitary attacks on famine-hit displacement camps and rampant ethnic violence.

Though the paramilitary has deployed highly equipped drones in Darfur, the army retains the advantage in the skies with its warplanes, regularly striking RSF positions across the region.

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With inputs from agencies
Under a new trade deal between India and the US, New Delhi is open to reducing tariffs on 55 per cent of US goods it imports that are now subject to tariffs ranging from 5 per cent to 30 per cent read more

U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 13, 2025. Reuters

India has reportedly expressed its willingness to cut tariffs on more than half of US imports worth $23 billion as part of the first phase of a trade deal that the two countries are discussing with days to go before Trumps retaliatory tariffs kick in.

Government sources have told Reuters that the Indian government has found an internal analysis that Trumps reciprocal tariffs would hit 87 per cent of its total exports to the United States worth $66 billion.

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In a White House press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month, US President Donald Trump had described India as a tariff king and a big abuser while discussing trade barriers, emphasizing the difficulties of selling to the country.

Trump often singles out India as the country with the highest average tariff rates, among top trading partners, while European Union countries are criticized for their high 10 per cent car tariff rate, which is four times the 2.5 per cent US passenger car rate, but less than the 25 per cent US tariff on pickup trucks.

What does the deal say?

Under a new trade deal between India and the US, New Delhi is open to reducing tariffs on 55 per cent of US goods it imports that are now subject to tariffs ranging from 5 per cent to 30 per cent, said both sources, who sought anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media.

In this category of goods, India is ready to substantially lower tariffs or even scrap some entirely, on imported goods worth more than $23 billion from the United States, one of the sources said.

Overall the US trade-weighted average tariff has been about 2.2 per cent, data from the World Trade Organization shows, compared with Indias 12 per cent. The United States has a trade deficit of $45.6 billion with India.

With inputs from Reuters
While the widespread demonstrations have garnered international attention, not many leaders from the West have condemned the mayors arrest which is being touted as being politically motivated read more

University students protest against the arrest of Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul, Turkey, March 21, 2025. File Image/AP

Istanbul has been on the boil ever since the citys Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested last week over corruption charges. Imamoglu is Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans main political rival and therefore his arrest has raised eyebrows. Hundreds of protestors have been arrested in the movement that has been going on for six days straight.

Police have arrested more than 1,130 people over the past six days, including 43 on Monday night, the interior minister said. Among them are journalists, including an AFP photographer.

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Imamoglu, 53, of the opposition CHP party, is widely seen as the only politician capable of defeating Turkeys longtime leader Erdogan at the ballot box.

While the widespread demonstrations have garnered international attention, not many leaders from the West have condemned the mayors arrest which is being touted as being politically motivated.

Evil

Erdogan has blamed the Opposition for fueling the protests and called the demonstrations evil for disturbing the peace of our citizens with provocations.

The president has called for the protests to end adding that instead of responding to allegations, opposition parties had made the most vile and unlawful statements in our political history for [the last] five days.

A balancing act

Erdogan has maintained a complex stance in defence against Russia, balancing NATO commitments with diplomatic ties to Moscow. While Turkey has provided Ukraine with Bayraktar drones and naval assistance, it has refrained from imposing Western sanctions on Russia, instead fostering economic and energy cooperation. This approach allows Ankara to position itself as a mediator and facilitate key negotiations.

In Syria, Erdogan has sought to stabilise the region by targeting Kurdish groups he considers a security threat while also negotiating ceasefires with Russia and Iran under the Astana process.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, the Turkish president has positioned himself as a vocal supporter of Palestine, condemning Israeli actions and pushing for a ceasefire while facilitating humanitarian aid efforts.

Only Scholz calls out Erdogan

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is the only European leader who has slammed the recent protests in Istanbul.

Last week, Scholz said the detention of Imamoglu was"a very, very bad sign for Turkeys democracy and its relations with the European Union. Speaking at an EU leaders summit in Brussels, Scholz urged the Turkish leadership to put an immediate end to this.

It is depressing for democracy in Turkey, but it is certainly also depressing for relations between Europe and Turkey, he said.

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With inputs from agencies
Earlier this month, the US government set a precondition as it pulled back research grants. To have the funding back on, federal officials last week demanded the university immediately enact nine separate reforms to its academic and security policies read more

People walk through Columbia University campus on the first day of the new semester in New York City, US, September 3, 2024. Reuters/Representational Image

Columbia University has taken a hit after US President Donald Trump withdrew federal funding worth $400 million alleging the institutions failure in curbing the rise of antisemitism on campus and protecting Jewish students from harassment.

In response to this, the Ivy League college has decided to take steps to put its Middle East studies department under new supervision and overhaul its rules for protests and student discipline. While the Trump administration has welcomed Columbias step, the faculty has slammed Interim President Katrina Armstrong for giving in to federal pressures.

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Earlier this month, the US government set a precondition as it pulled back research grants. To have the funding back on, federal officials last week demanded the university immediately enact nine separate reforms to its academic and security policies.

In her response, Armstrong indicated Columbia would implement nearly all of them. As ordered, it will hire new public safety personnel and empower them to make arrests on campus, bar students from protesting in academic buildings and revamp its long-standing process for student discipline.

Closed-door meeting

A report by the Wall Street Journal said Armstrong faced backlash from faculty members over the administrations handling of federal pressure regarding antisemitism allegations.

Some faculty criticised Armstrong for not taking a stronger stand against the Trump administrations threats to cut research funding. Others expressed concerns that the universitys compliance with federal investigations could set a dangerous precedent for political interference in academic institutions.

One professor described the situation as not just a crisis for Columbia but the biggest crisis since the founding of the republic, according to a transcript. He expressed confusion over why Armstrong and other university leaders had not come together to release a unified statement.

A cascading effect?

Amid all of this, Harvard University has announced a hiring freeze citing substantial financial uncertainties driven by rapidly shifting federal policies, days after Trump threatened to cut funding to institutions that allow illegal protests on campus.

Harvard President Alan Garber said, We need to prepare for a wide range of financial circumstances, and strategic adjustments will take time to identify and implement.

It is meant to preserve our financial flexibility until we better understand how changes in federal policy will take shape and can assess the scale of their impact, it added.

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With inputs from agencies
The best documentary at this years Academy Awards follows Adra and Abraham, telling the story of forced displacement of Palestinians by Israeli troops and settlers in Masafer Yatta  an area Israel had declared a restricted military zone in the 1980s read more

Basel Adra (left), and Yuval Abraham, winners of the award for best documentary feature film for "No Other Land," made politically strong speeches while accepting their awards. AP

Israeli police told AFP on Tuesday they had detained Oscar-winning Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal in the occupied West Bank, following what activists described as an attack by Israeli settlers.

According to the Israeli military, three Palestinians were apprehended on Monday for hurling rocks during a violent confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians in the southern West Bank village of Susya.

Activists had said Ballal was one of them, and a police spokesperson confirmed to AFP early Tuesday that he was detained for investigation, without elaborating.

By Tuesday afternoon Ballal had been released, according to Yuval Abraham, who co-directed with him the Oscar-winning documentary film No Other Land.

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Abraham, who had originally posted about the detention on X, said on Tuesday that Hamdan Ballal is free and is about to go home to his family.

Contacted by AFP, Israeli police did not immediately confirm his release.

On Monday, Abraham said that Ballal was attacked by a group of settlers who beat him.

He has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding. Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him. No sign of him since.

Basel Adra, who worked with Ballal and Abraham on the movie, posted a photo on X late Monday showing what he said was the moment Ballal was taken into custody injured and bleeding.

Activists from the anti-occupation group Center for Jewish Nonviolence said they witnessed the violence in Susya first-hand while they were there on what they call protective presence to deter settler violence.

Jenna, an American activist who declined to share her full name out of security concerns, told AFP that she saw Israeli forces putting Hamdan and two other Palestinians into a police car.

She said that before Israeli forces arrived, a group of 15 to 20 settlers had attacked the activists as well as Ballals house in the village.

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Happening on a regular basis

Jenna said she was beaten with sticks and that settlers threw large stones at the car she was travelling in.

She noted that this type of violence is happening on a regular basis, and that such incidents have increased sharply in recent months.

The Israeli military said three Palestinians had been apprehended in the Susya area for hurling rocks at Israeli citizens, damaging their vehicles.

Following this, a violent confrontation broke out, involving mutual rock hurling between Palestinians and Israelis, with terrorists hurling rocks at Israeli forces who arrived at the scene, the military statement said.

It added that contrary to claims, no Palestinian was apprehended from inside an ambulance.

Susya is located near Masafer Yatta, a grouping of hamlets south of Hebron city where No Other Land is set.

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The best documentary at this years Academy Awards follows Adra and Abraham, telling the story of forced displacement of Palestinians by Israeli troops and settlers in Masafer Yatta  an area Israel had declared a restricted military zone in the 1980s.

Foreign activists regularly stay in Masafer Yattas communities to engage in protective presence, which entails accompanying Palestinians as they tend to their crops or shepherd their sheep, and document instances of settler violence.

Rights groups have said that since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza  a separate Palestinian territory  there has been a spike in attacks by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.

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Activists reported dozens of instances of settler violence in Masafer Yatta since the start of the year.

The West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, is home to around three million Palestinians, as well as nearly half a million Israelis who live in settlements that are illegal under international law.
The case sparked scrutiny of the justice system in Japan, where gaining a retrial is notoriously hard and death row inmates are often informed of their impending death just a few hours before they are hanged read more

This photo taken on September 29, 2024 shows Iwao Hakamada (L) speaking as his then 91-year-old sister Hideko (R) holds the microphone during a judgement report session. AFP file

A Japanese man wrongly convicted of murder who was the worlds longest-serving death row inmate has been awarded $1.4 million in compensation, an official said Tuesday.The payout represents 12,500 yen ($83) for each day of the more than four decades that Iwao Hakamada spent in detention, most of it on death row when each day could have been his last.

It is a record for compensation of this kind, Japanese media said.

The former boxer, now 89, was exonerated last year of a 1966 quadruple murder after a tireless campaign by his sister and others.

The case sparked scrutiny of the justice system in Japan, where gaining a retrial is notoriously hard and death row inmates are often informed of their impending death just a few hours before they are hanged.

The Shizuoka District Court, in a decision dated Monday, said that the claimant shall be granted 217,362,500 yen ($1.44 million), a court spokesman told AFP.

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The same court ruled in September that Hakamada was not guilty in a retrial and that police had tampered with evidence.

Hakamada had suffered inhumane interrogations meant to force a statement (confession) that he later withdrew, the court said at the time.

Hakamadas legal team said the money falls short of the pain he suffered between his 1966 arrest and his release in 2014, when he was granted a retrial.

I think the fact that he will receive it compensates him a little bit for all the hardship, lawyer Hideyo Ogawa told a press conference.

But in light of the hardship and suffering of the past 47 or 48 years, and given his current situation, I think it shows that the state has made mistakes that cannot be atoned for with 200 million yen, he said.

Decades of detention  with the threat of execution constantly looming  took a major toll on Hakamadas mental health, his lawyers have said, describing him as living in a world of fantasy.

Hakamada was convicted of robbing and killing his boss, the mans wife and their two teenage children.

He initially denied the charges but police said Hakamada eventually confessed.

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During his trial, Hakamada claimed innocence, saying that his confession was forced.

More than a year after the killings, investigators said they found blood-stained clothes  a key piece of evidence that the court later said was planted by investigators.

Hakamada now lives with his sister with help from supporters.

Hakamada was the fifth death row inmate granted a retrial in Japans post-war history. All four previous cases also resulted in exonerations.

Japan is the only major industrialised democracy other than the United States to retain capital punishment, a policy that has broad public support.

Japans justice minister said in October that abolishing the death penalty would be inappropriate even after Hakamadas acquittal.

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You see, we are talking about technical negotiations that go deep into details. Therefore, of course, the content of these negotiations will definitely not be published. This should not be expected, said Peskov read more

The Kremlin on Tuesday said it was analysing the results of talks in Riyadh with the US on a partial ceasefire with Ukraine, adding that the details will not be made public.

Russian and US delegations met in Riyadh on Monday and Washington portrayed the talks as a step in President Donald Trumps effort to end the war.

Ukraine and its European allies worry that Trump could seal a deal with Putin that gives in to Russian demands and undermines their security.

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian and US delegations, who had been looking into the feasibility of some kind of a deal on the safety of ships in the Black Sea and other issues, had reported back to their capitals.

You see, we are talking about technical negotiations that go deep into details. Therefore, of course, the content of these negotiations will definitely not be published. This should not be expected, Reuters quoted Peskov as telling reporters.

Secondly, I repeat once again, the reports back to the capitals are now being analysed. Only then will it be possible to talk about some understandings, he added.

He said there was no talk of a three-way meeting involving Russia, the United States and Ukraine.

There were also no immediate plans for a further conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Trump, but such a conversation can be promptly organised if needed, Peskov was quoted as saying

When Trump and Putin spoke last week, the Russian leader declined a proposal by the US president for a full 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, but agreed to a moratorium on attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

Ukraine says it is ready to join a limited energy ceasefire if it is properly documented.

With inputs from agencies

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Amid indications that Israel is preparing to annex the Gaza Strip, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has said that no formal decision has yet been made read more

Israeli military patrols near the Al Shifa Hospital compound in Gaza City amid the ongoing ground operation against Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip on November 22, 2023. (Photo: Reuters)

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has said that no decision has yet been taken on the military occupation of Gaza Strip.

After decades of occupation, Israel vacated Gaza in 2005. But there are indications that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could use the ongoing war with Hamas an excuse to not just occupy the enclave but also annex it. He is expected to find support in the move by US President Donald Trump.

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At a press conference with European foreign affairs head Kaja Kallas, Saar on Monday said that the question of occupation has not yet been decided by our cabinet, according to The Times of Israel.

Separately, the newspaper reported an Israeli official as saying that Netanyahus government had not yet decided what will happen on the civilian side in Gaza.

The development come at a time when there is increased chatter in Israel about the occupation of Gaza. In the clearest remarks about the possible occupation and even annexation of Gaza, Defence Minister Israel Katz said last week that Gaza would be annexed if Hamas would not release hostages.

I ordered the IDF to seize more territory in Gaza. The more Hamas sticks to its refusal to release the hostages, the more territory it would lose, territory which would be annexed to Israel, said Katz.

After winning the Israel-Arab War of 1967, Israel occupied Gaza and vacated it only in 2005. It never vacaded West Bank that it continued to occupy and rule with military rule. Together, Gaza and West Bank form the envisioned Palestinian state for Arabs. However, under plans being floated by Israel and US President Donald Trump, the Palestinian state appears unlikely.

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Trump has said that the United States would take over Gaza and expel all Palestinians from the strip in what would amount to state-sponsored ethnic cleansing. Once the strip has been cleared, he said the United States would develop it into the Riviera of the Middle East.

Later this week, Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer will visit the United States to discuss with senior US officials a plan for Israeli military control over Gaza, according to The Times of Israel.
This is clearly not a visit that is about what Greenland needs or wants. Therefore, I have to say that it is unacceptable pressure being put on Greenland and Denmark in this situation. And its a pressure we will stand against, said PM Frederiksen read more

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen looks on as she attends a European Union summit in Brussels, Belgium, on March 20, 2025. Reuters File

Denmarks Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Tuesday slammed President Donald Trumps administration for applying unacceptable pressure on Greenland, condemning the planned visit to the Danish territory by Vice President JD Vances wife, Usha Vance, along with National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

This is clearly not a visit that is about what Greenland needs or wants, Politico quoted Frederiksen as saying.

Therefore, I have to say that it is unacceptable pressure being put on Greenland and Denmark in this situation. And its a pressure we will stand against, the prime minister added.

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Frederiksens comments represent her strongest rebuke of the White House since Trump focused on acquiring the self-governing Danish territory, which is rich in critical minerals and holds significant geostrategic importance in the Arctic.

She also pointed out that Greenlandic representatives were clear about their stance: they do not want a visit right now, as they do not have a government following the recent election earlier this month.

You cannot make a private visit with official representatives from another country, Politico quoted the Danish prime minister as saying.

Brian Hughes, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said the visit by the delegation, which runs from Thursday to Saturday, aimed to learn about Greenland, its culture, history, and people.

Trump initially suggested the idea of the US acquiring Greenland during his first term, but he has intensified his stance since returning to the White House.

He has not dismissed the possibility of using military force or economic pressure to claim the worlds largest island, labeling it an absolute necessity for US national security.

With inputs from agencies
At least four persons have been detained on suspicion of murder, including Tomas Rivas (20) and three juveniles read more

Prosecutors in New Mexico say the evidence police have gathered in connection with a weekend shooting at a park that killed three people and injured fifteen others is strong.

According to recent court papers, this includes the testimony of many witnesses who recognised two of the shooters by name, as well as police officers who observed the same two defendants allegedly dropping guns at an apartment complex following the killing.

At least four persons have been detained on suspicion of murder, including Tomas Rivas (20) and three juveniles. The Associated Press normally does not name defendants under the age of 18.

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Rivas, who faces three charges of open murder, appeared in court by video from jail on Monday. Prosecutors on Monday also filed a motion to keep Rivas in custody as he awaits trial, and a judge said that a hearing on his custody status is expected in the coming days. Las Cruces police, meanwhile, plan to hold a news conference Tuesday.

Authorities said Friday nights shooting happened at Young Park, where an altercation between two groups broke out after an unauthorized car show had drawn about 200 people. In their motion, prosecutors described it as one of the most horrific incidents to occur in Las Cruces.

One of the witnesses told police that they saw Rivas shoot one of the victims multiple times, striking the victim in the body and head, according to prosecutors.

Rivas and a 17-year-old male were arrested Saturday, authorities said. Two other male teens, 15 and 17, were taken into custody Sunday, but details about what led to their arrests werent immediately released.

The Associated Press left an emailed message Monday with Rivas public defender seeking comment. The state public defenders office confirmed Monday it is also representing the three other defendants but did not provide further comment on the allegations.

After the shooting, officers followed Rivas and a codefendant to an apartment where the codefendant was seen tossing a bag into a dumpster, according to Rivas arrest report. Police quickly took them into custody and found four firearms dumped at the apartment complex that matched handgun casings found at the park, the report said.

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Between 50 and 60 handgun casings were scattered across a wide swath of the park, authorities have said.

Andrew Madrid, 16, and Jason Gomez, 18, died at the scene. Dominick Estrada, 19, died later at a hospital, authorities said. The wounded ranged in age from 16 to 36 and were treated at the park or taken to hospitals.

The Las Cruces school district said in a statement on Monday that one of the victims was a local high school student.

We are deeply saddened at this news and offer our condolences to all the families impacted by this senseless tragedy, said Superintendent Ignacio Ruiz. The events that unfolded over the weekend are difficult to understand, especially for our young people.

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At the time of the shooting, Rivas was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a pending case in El Paso County, Texas, according to prosecutors. They said Rivas is facing charges there of evading arrest and smuggling of persons.

Las Cruces sits on the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert along the Rio Grande in southern New Mexico, about 40 miles (70 kilometers) from the U.S.-Mexico border.
Weeks before top US officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Cabinet secretaries, discussed the attack on Houthis in Yemen on Signal, Google had warned in a report that Russian hackers had compromised accounts on the app in Ukraine read more

US Vice President JD Vance addresses the audience during the Munich Security Conference at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich, Germany. (Photo: AP)

Weeks before top US officials discussed war plans on Signal, Google had outlined how Russia had used the app to hack accounts of persons of interest in Ukraine.

In a report in February, the Google Threat Intelligence (GTI) group said that Russian hackers from its military intelligence service GRU had used a number of ways to compromise Signal accounts of persons of interest in Ukraine during the ongoing war. The report highlighted the many ways in which hackers gained access to users messages, such as by duping them into scanning malicious QR codes or making them click on links resembling group invitations.

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The findings of the report put the conduct of top US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Mark Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, into greater scrutiny, who used Signal to discuss the operational plans to attack the Houthis in Yemen last week.

In one of the worst security breaches in years, Waltz added a journalist, The Atlantics Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, to a group on Signal on which he and others, including Vance, Rubio, and Hegseth, deliberated on strikes on Houthis. Hegseth even shared full operational plans on the group that contained exact information about weapons, targets, and timing of the strikes. In the hands of an adversary, the information could have been damning for the United States and an ally involved.

Despite being hailed as a highly secure app, Signal is not authorised by the US government for use for national security or intelligence matters by officials.

How Russia hacked Signal in Ukraine

Russian GRU hackers from the group called APT44 have gained access to Ukrainian Signal accounts, according to the report by Google researchers.

In one technique, Russian hackers abused the linked devices feature of Signal that allows users to access their accounts on tablets or computers in addition to their phones. Similar features exist in other messaging applications, such as WhatsApp or Telegram.

As such linking happens by scanning QR codes, the hackers tricked Ukrainian persons of interest into scanning malicious QR codes that linked their accounts to hackers devices as well, according to Googles researchers.

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Once successful, they said that hackers received messages of the targeted user in real-time.

In another technique, a group dubbed UNC5792 used realistic links disguised as invitations to join Signal groups to make users click them.

Once the user would click on such a link, they would be directed to a page where they would be linked to the hackers device instead of being added to a group, according to Googles researchers.

ALSO READ: Russia-backed hackers attack WhatsApp accounts used by ministers, govt. officials across the world

To be sure, however, Signal itself was not hacked and its end-to-end encryption was not broken by Russian hackers.

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In addition to attacks during the ongoing war, APT44 has also attacked Ukraine previously in 2015 when it struck the countrys power grid and in 2017 when the fallout spilled over into the West. In the NotPetya attack of 2017, Western companies such as Maersk, Merck, and FedEx, were affected and suffered estimated damages of around $10 billion. The group has also been linked to Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and South Korea Winter Olympics in 2018.

US officials use of Signal under scrutiny

As demonstrated in Googles report, Signal, or any app for that matter, is not completely free from the risk of being compromised. Even if the app itself is not hacked, users could be manipulated by hackers into granting them access. This is why the usage of Signal by top US officials is highly problematic.

Such discussions are held over secure in-house devices and networks authorised by the US federal government. In person, during such meetings, attendees are usually required to deposit their phones outside of the room. The usage of Signal violates every single rule in the book.

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ALSO READ: Who is Jeffrey Goldberg, the journalist who uncovered a US war plan by accident?

Its not just the usage of app among themselves thats problematic but the addition of a journalist to their discussion  purportedly unknowingly. By leaking, even if unknowingly operational plans to an unauthorised person, Hegseth and others could technically even be liable for prosecution under the Espionage Act.

Moreover, even though the journalist in this case, The Atlantics Editor Goldberg, did not make operational plans public, someone in his place, perhaps someone aligned with an adversary, could have done so and compromised the operation or risked exposure of spies or intelligence sources.

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Dynamic factors drive China's thriving innovation

10:03, March 25, 2025 By Li Zheng ( People's Daily

A suspended monorail train runs in the Optics Valley in Wuhan, central China's Hubei province. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Yuanming)

At first glance, seemingly unrelated phenomena may unveil converging trends when examined through an innovative lens.

This spring, two developments have captured public attention: Hangzhou's "Six Little Dragons"a group of pioneering tech enterprises in east China's Zhejiang provincehave sparked nationwide enthusiasm for technological advancement, while the animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" has secured its place among the highest-grossing films in global cinema history. Though technology and animation initially appear disparatethe former representing scientific frontiers, the latter showcasing China's cultural creativityboth fundamentally thrive on innovation.

Historically, China's innovation landscape has been dominated by its eastern regions. Yet the rise of "Ne Zha 2", produced in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan province, raises a critical question: Is this an isolated success story, or does it signify broader progress in central and western regions under China's innovation-driven development strategy?

At the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei 5G+ industrial internet intelligent manufacturing collaborative innovation demonstration base in Qinhuangdao, north China's Hebei province, staff members are demonstrating a smart city interactive sandbox. (People's Daily Online/Cao Jianxiong)

A closer examination reveals a surge of breakthroughs across central and western China: Henan's Pangdonglai supermarket chain has revolutionized retail through disruptive business models; Anhui has emerged as a hub for quantum computing and new energy vehicle technologies; Xinjiang now hosts the world's longest desert railway and most extensive sand-control greenbelt. When viewed collectively, these achievements highlight a narrowing innovation gap between eastern and central-western regions.

This transformative shift stems largely from China's accelerated development of a unified national market. The country's world-leading infrastructureencompassing high-speed rail, expressways, and logistics networkshas effectively compressed geographical distances. Meanwhile, universal 5G coverage at the county level and broadband access in every village, coupled with 5G's representing over 60% of mobile subscribers, have turbocharged information flows.

Complementing these advancements, the elimination of regional trade barriers and standardization of market regulations have fostered nationwide fair competition. Together, these measures create an ecosystem where innovation transcends geographical boundaries, enabling coordinated development across China's diverse regions.

The establishment of a unified domestic market and the unimpeded "dual circulation" framework have facilitated the seamless allocation of resources and production factors. Valuable innovations now overcome geographical barriers, drawing capital and expertise nationwideand even globallywhile capitalizing on China's vast market advantages.

Technicians inspect the State Grid Corporation's 220kV HouDian quantum application demonstration substation in Hefei, east China's Anhui province.(People's Daily Online/Liu Yucai)

Traditional constraints tied to geographic location and transportation infrastructure are diminishing, unleashing latent developmental potential in central and western regions and catalyzing unprecedented innovation momentum. Cross-regional innovation collaboration has intensified significantly. Along the Chaobai River basin spanning Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei province, entrepreneurs from Beijing increasingly invest in Tianjin and Hebei, while industrial components from these areas steadily supply Beijing's Economic-Technological Development Area.

In Hubei province, the Optics Valley Sci-tech Innovation Corridor exemplifies integrated advancement: Wuhan drives R&D breakthroughs, Ezhou spearheads commercialization, and neighboring cities specialize in manufacturingshowcasing how regional synergy accelerates shared technological progress.

Such coordinated innovation strategies optimize spatial resource distribution, generate multiplicative synergies, and narrow regional innovation disparities. As physical boundaries dissolve, ambitious visions now transcend geographical divides. Recent years have seen institutions from Ningxia Hui autonomous region establish innovation hubs in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, leveraging premium resources to pioneer East-West tech collaboration frameworks. Notably, a Ningxia-based organic pigment manufacturer secured a nearly $200,000 contract via the Ningxia-Shanghai Sci-Tech Innovation Center, marking its successful entry into Europe's automotive coatings market.

The consolidation of a national unified market has amplified market scalability and industrial resilience. Enterprises and innovators nationwide now access cross-regional networks seamlessly. As innovation evolves into a collective, nationwide pursuitfueled by collaborative specializationit promises to yield transformative breakthroughs that redefine industrial frontiers.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
When mistakes happen, and sensitive intelligence leaks, lessons must be learned to prevent that from recurring, said Prime Minister Mark Carney read more

Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday criticised the White House after sensitive US military plans were inadvertently shared with a journalist through Signal.

According to a Politico report, Carney emphasised that the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network  comprising Canada, the US, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand  must take lessons from this intelligence leak, which took place when Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly included in a private message chain regarding US plans to bomb Yemen.

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When mistakes happen, and sensitive intelligence leaks, lessons must be learned to prevent that from recurring, Politico quoted Carney as saying in Halifax, Nova Scotia, when asked about the fallout from the chat that discussed upcoming air strikes.

Its a serious, serious issue, and all lessons must be taken, he added.

Carney made these remarks during a campaign stop on the second day of Canadas federal election in late April.

We have a very strong intelligence partnership with the Americans through Five Eyes. Mistakes do happen, but whats important is how people react to those mistakes, he was quoted as saying.

They dont deny the mistakes; that they are clear and transparent in addressing them, he added.

The Atlantics report, which was published on Monday, shocked national security officials and members of Congress.

Later, Politico reported that Mike Waltz, the National Security Adviser, might be the scapegoat within the White House, although US President Donald Trump expressed confidence in Waltz during an NBC News interview on Tuesday morning.

Carneys remarks come as Canada-US relations face significant strain, with Trump threatening tariffs and suggesting the possibility of annexing Canada as the 51st state.

Carney, who succeeded Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader and prime minister on March 9, has yet to speak directly with Trump. He said he would only engage with the president if he demonstrates respect for Canadian sovereignty.

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With inputs from agencies
Following the steps of Foxconn and others, South Korean giant Hyundai has announced a $21 billion investment plan for the United States in an apparent move to safeguard against US President Donald Trumps tariffs read more

Following the playbook of Taiwans Foxconn and others, South Koreas Hyundai has announced a $21 billion investment plan for the United States.

At an event at the White House, Trump and Hyundai Chairman Euisun Chung on Monday announced that the investment would include a steel plant worth $5.8 billion in Louisiana and $9 billion to expand production of cars under Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis brands in the United States. The rest of the money would go towards expnding renewable energy supplies, building more electric vehicle (EV) chargers, and research on robots and autonomous driving, according to The New York Times.

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Before Hyundai, contract-manufacturer Foxconn had said its considering increasing US production to minimise the impact of Trumps tariffs.

Trump has said he would soon impose tariffs on automobiles and semiconductors. He has already imposed 25 per cent tariffs on steel and all goods made in Mexico and Canada.

Hyundais new steel plant is expected to 1,400 new jobs. Its steel would be used to make EVs at Hyundais two existing plants in the country.

Hyundai already has a substantial presence in the United States. It is a leader in EVs and competes directly with Tesla, which is owned by Trumps principal ally Elon Musk. Separately, the company is already in the process of investing $5 billion to make EV batteries in a tie-up with South Korean battery-maker SK On.

In the wake of Trumps tariffs threats, numerous companies have announced similar investments. In December, SoftBank announced investment of $100 billion in the United States in the next four years. In January, Jeep-maker Stellantis has announced the reopening of long-shuttered plant in Illinois. The same month, OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle pledged to invest $500 billion under a project name Stargate to create infrastructure, such as data centres, to power artificial intelligence (AI) applications over the next four years. Last month, Apple said it would invest $500 billion to expand manufacturing and facilities in the United States over the next four years.
The decision comes as the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration hardens its policies towards mainland China, labelling Beijing a foreign hostile force amid rising cross-strait tensions read more

Chinese and Taiwanese flags are seen in this illustration. File image/ Reuters

Taiwan has ordered three mainland Chinese women, all married to Taiwanese men, to leave the island for pushing for cross-strait unification by force, prompting concerns that the decision violates free speech.

Taiwans National Immigration Agency (NIA) has given Liu Zhenya, a mainland Chinese influencer, until Tuesday to leave the island or face deportation for encouraging Beijings armed invasion of Taiwan via social media.

Two additional mainland Chinese, one known as Zhao Zhan and the other by the pseudonym En Qi, have been told to leave by March 31 or risk deportation for making similar claims, NIA officials revealed on Monday.

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The decision comes as the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration hardens its policies towards mainland China, labelling Beijing a foreign hostile force amid rising cross-strait tensions.

Taiwanese Interior Minister Liu Shih-fang confirmed to reporters on Monday that the trios residency and employment licenses, as well as their access to Taiwans public health insurance, had been removed.

Liu is the first individual in the islands history to be ejected for advocating forceful reunification. She sought an appeal against the decision, but the Taipei High Administrative Court denied her application for a stay of execution.

On Friday, the NIA also informed Zhao and En Qi, who both have big social media followings, that their remarks advocating for mainland Chinas military reunification with Taiwan and applauding the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) for its mighty power violated Taiwanese legislation.

The NIA stated in a statement that their actions called for the elimination of Taiwans sovereignty and were not tolerated in Taiwanese society. It further noted that their words had instilled fear among the public and undermined social stability.

A person from mainland China may be deported or ordered to depart within 10 days if judged a danger to national or social stability according to Taiwanese rules governing cross-strait ties.

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The White House stated that Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, following his earlier statement that he knew nothing about the problem read more

A US journalist was unintentionally included in a group conversation where Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, and other high officials discussed planned operations against Yemens Houthi rebels, the White House acknowledged on Monday.

President Donald Trump launched the strikes on March 15, but in a surprising security breach, The Atlantic magazines editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg revealed that he had received hours of advance knowledge via the Signal group conversation.

The message thread that was reported appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said.

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The White House stated that Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, following his earlier statement that he knew nothing about the problem.

Hegseth, a former Fox News anchor with little expertise operating a large organisation like the Pentagon, denied responsibility for the security lapse when he talked with reporters late Monday.

He instead attacked Goldberg, claiming that nobody was texting war plans, despite the White House acknowledging the breach.

Additionally, Hegseth referred to Goldberg as a deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again.

Hegseth transmitted information on the strikes, including targets, weapons the US would be deploying, and attack sequencing, to the group chat, according to Goldberg.

Goldberg first questioned the Signal groups legitimacy because he didnt believe the national-security leadership of the United States would communicate on Signal about imminent war plans.

According to the lengthy Hegseth text, the first detonations in Yemen would be felt two hours hence, at 1:45 pm eastern time, Goldberg wrote  a timeline that was borne out on the ground in Yemen.

The leak could have been highly damaging if Goldberg had publicized details of the plan in advance, but he did not do so even after the fact.

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The journalist said he was added to the group chat two days earlier, and received messages from other top government officials designating representatives who would work on the issue.

On March 14, a person identified as Vance expressed doubts about carrying out the strikes, saying he hated bailing Europe out again, as countries there were more affected by Houthi attacks on shipping than the United States.

Stunning and dangerous

Group chat contributors identified as National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Hegseth both sent messages arguing only Washington had the capability to carry out the strikes, with the latter official saying he shared Vances loathing of European free-loading. Its PATHETIC.

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And a person identified as S M  possibly Trump advisor Stephen Miller  argued that if the US successfully restores freedom of navigation at great cost there needs to be some further economic gain extracted in return.

As he spoke to reporters Monday Hegseth dodged questions about the leak, in which highly sensitive material was not only shared with a reporter but also on a commercial app rather than in secure military channels reserved for such communications.

The security breach provoked outrage among Democrats, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer describing it as one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence I have read about in a very, very long time and calling for a full investigation.

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Senator Jack Reed also slammed the leak, saying: The carelessness shown by President Trumps cabinet is stunning and dangerous.

And Hillary Clinton  who was repeatedly attacked by Trump for using a private email server while she was secretary of state  posted the Atlantic article on X along with the message: You have got to be kidding me.

Houthi attacks

The Houthi rebels, who have controlled much of Yemen for more than a decade, are part of the axis of resistance of pro-Iran groups staunchly opposed to Israel and the United States.

They have launched scores of drone and missile attacks at ships passing Yemen in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden during the Gaza war, saying they were carried out in solidarity with Palestinians.

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The Houthis campaign crippled the vital route, which normally carries about 12 percent of world shipping traffic, forcing many companies into a costly detour around the tip of southern Africa.

The US began targeting the Houthis in response under the previous administration of president Joe Biden, and has launched repeated rounds of strikes on Houthi targets, some with British support.

Trump has vowed to use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective, citing the Houthis threats against Red Sea shipping, and US strikes have continued over the past 10 days.
According to an order signed by Trump on Monday, the new across-the-board 25% tariffs on direct and indirect buyers of Venezuelan oil could go into force as early as April 2 read more

US President Donald Trump imposed heavy tariffs on imports from nations that buy Venezuelan oil and gas on Monday, a punitive step that may harm China and India, among others, and create new global trade uncertainties.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has imposed tariffs on both friends and rivals, aiming to wield economic and diplomatic leverage.

According to an order signed by Trump on Monday, the new across-the-board 25% tariffs on direct and indirect buyers of Venezuelan oil could go into force as early as April 2.

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The secretary of state, in collaboration with other US agencies, is authorised to decide whether the charge will be applied.

These might affect China and India, according to analysts, as Venezuela sends oil to both nations, as well as the United States and Spain.

Trump told reporters on Monday that the 25% duty would be in addition to existing tariffs.

Experts told AFP that in February, Venezuela shipped around 500,000 barrels of oil per day to China and 240,000 barrels to the United States.

Trump has declared April 2 Liberation Day for the worlds largest economy, pledging reciprocal tariffs tailored to each trading partner in an effort to correct practices that Washington considers unfair.

He had previously indicated that sector-specific taxes would be implemented on the same day, but the White House warned Monday that it may adopt a more restrictive approach.

In his Monday announcement on Truth Social involving Venezuela, the president cited numerous reasons for what he called a secondary tariff.

He accused Venezuela of purposefully and deceitfully sending undercover, tens of thousands of high level, and other, criminals to the United States.

He added in his post that Venezuela has been very hostile to the United States and the Freedoms which we espouse.

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According to Trumps order, the 25 percent tariff expires a year after the last date that a country has imported Venezuelan oil  or sooner if Washington decides so.

Trumps announcement comes as the deportation pipeline between the United States and Venezuela was suspended last month when he claimed Caracas had not lived up to a deal to quickly receive deported migrants.

Venezuela subsequently said it would no longer accept the flights.

But Caracas said Saturday it had reached agreement with Washington to resume repatriations after which nearly 200 Venezuelan citizens were deported from the United States via Honduras.

Separately Monday, the Trump administration extended US oil giant Chevrons deadline to halt its operations in Venezuela through May 27.

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The company had been operating in Venezuela under a sanctions waiver.

Tariff breaks?

Trumps latest move adds to tariffs he has vowed would start on or around April 2.

Besides reciprocal tariffs, he has promised sweeping sector-specific duties hitting imported automobiles, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.

As things stand, however, his plans for the day might become more targeted.

Sector-specific tariffs may or may not happen April 2, a White House official told AFP, adding that the situation is still fluid.

The official reaffirmed that reciprocal tariffs would take place.

But Trump told reporters Monday he might give a lot of countries breaks eventually, without elaborating.

He separately added that he would announce car tariffs very shortly and those on pharmaceuticals sometime down the line.

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US partners are furthering talks with Washington as deadlines loom, with EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic heading to the country Tuesday to meet his American counterparts  Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and trade envoy Jamieson Greer.

Hopes of a narrower tariff rollout gave financial markets a boost.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business Maria Bartiromo last week that Washington would go to trading partners with an indication of where tariff levels and non-tariff barriers are.

If countries stopped their practices, Bessent added, they could potentially avoid levies.

In the same interview, Bessent noted that levies would be focused on about 15 percent of countries who have trade imbalances with the United States, dubbing these a dirty 15.

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Vast crowds have hit the streets daily since the March 19 move against Istanbuls popular opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, prompting nightly clashes with riot police that have spread across the country. read more

eople shout slogans next to anti riot police officers during a protest after Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested and sent to prison, in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, March 24, 2025. Image- AP

An Istanbul court ordered seven journalists remanded in custody on Tuesday for reporting on mass demonstrations triggered by the arrest of President Recep Tayyip Erdogans chief political rival. The detentions bring the total number arrested in the crackdown to over 1,400.

Among those jailed was AFP photographer Yasin Akgul, who was seen being led away by authorities. The court had initially granted conditional release to Akgul and six other journalists earlier Tuesday, reversing its decision hours later. All were among ten media workers detained in Mondays dawn raids.

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Press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders condemned the arrests as scandalous.

Protests have swept Turkey since March 19, when popular opposition Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was detained. Nightly clashes between demonstrators and riot police deploying water cannons, pepper spray and rubber bullets have erupted nationwide.

International bodies have criticized the response, with the Council of Europe denouncing the disproportionate police tactics. Human Rights Watch warned Turkey is experiencing a dark time for democracy.

But shortly afterwards, prosecutors revised their decision and the court decided to remand them all in custody on grounds of taking part in an illegal protest, his lawyer and the MLSA rights group said.

This is the first time that a clearly-identified journalist has, in the exercise of his duties, been formally arrested on the basis of this law against gatherings and demonstrations, RSFs Erol Onderoglu told AFP following the decision about Akgul, the first to be announced.

This scandalous decision reflects a very serious situation in Turkey, he said

Deeply shocking

The Council of Europe, Europes leading human rights body, voiced concern over the disproportionate use of force by the police and urged Turkey to respect citizens right to protest freely.

London-based Amnesty International also called for an immediate end to police violence, stating that its review of footage from the crackdown was deeply shocking.

Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, condemned the legal action against Imamoglu, calling it a dark time for democracy in Turkiye and accusing authorities of weaponising the justice system to cancel the democratic process.

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At a rally on Monday, opposition leader and CHP head Ozgur Ozel announced a boycott of 10 companies and organizations, including pro-government TV channels that avoided airing protest footage and a cafe chain known for its ties to the government.

Imamoglus legal troubles come just a day after he was overwhelmingly chosen as the CHPs candidate for the 2028 presidential election, with analysts suggesting the move against him was politically motivated.

His jailing has drawn sharp criticism from European capitals. Berlin called the decision totally unacceptable, with similar concerns raised by Paris, Athens, and Brussels.

Imamoglu has denounced the case as a political execution without trial but vowed to continue his fight, delivering messages through his lawyers.

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With inputs from agencies
With President Donald Trump pushing for a rapid end to the war that has killed tens of thousands of people, US negotiators met separately over three days in the Saudi capital Riyadh with delegations from Kyiv and Russia. read more

Ukrainian service members fire a shell from a M777 Howitzer at a front line, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kharkiv Region, Ukraine. File Image- Reuters

In a significant diplomatic development, Russia and Ukraine agreed Tuesday to suspend military operations in the Black Sea during US-brokered negotiations held in Saudi Arabia, the first tangible progress toward peace since the conflict began.

A White House statement confirmed that both nations committed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.

The US administration emphasised President Trumps position that the killing on both sides must stop as a necessary step toward achieving an enduring peace settlement.

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The Saudi-hosted talks represent the most substantive engagement between the warring parties in months, though the implementation of the fragile maritime ceasefire remains to be tested.

To that end, the United States will continue facilitating negotiations between both sides to achieve a peaceful resolution, in line with the agreements made in Riyadh.

U.S. experts met separately with Ukrainian and Russian representatives in Riyadh, and the White House issued separate joint statements about the talks with Ukraine and Russia. It said the sides have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.

All parties have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov wrote on X.

Still no broader truce

Ukraine, which turned to diplomacy after heavy pressure from Trump, including a brief cutoff in military aid and intelligence, said that details of the Black Sea ceasefire needed to be worked out.

It is important to hold additional technical consultations as soon as possible to agree on all the details and technical aspects of the implementation, monitoring and control of the arrangements, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who took part in the talks, said on social media.

He also warned that if Russian warships moved from the eastern part of the Black Sea then Ukraine will have full right to exercise right to self-defense.

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Ukraine earlier this month agreed to a US-proposed unconditional ceasefire, but Russia turned it down, with Kyiv accusing it of wanting to gain more battlefield advantage first.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov gave no sign that Moscow was closer to agreeing to a wider ceasefire and put a priority on shipping through the Black Sea.

A previous UN-brokered deal that allowed millions of tonnes of grain and other food exports to be shipped safely from Ukraines ports, but Russia had complained that it was not beneficial for its trade.

Before the US announcement on agricultural exports, Lavrov accused Western countries of trying to contain Russia like Napoleon and Hitler.

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No let-up on ground

The Saudi talks came as both Russia and Ukraine escalate their attacks on the ground, with Kyiv saying its air defence units had downed 78 out of 139 drones launched by Russia Tuesday.

In Ukraines northeastern city of Sumy, officials said the toll from a Russian strike a day earlier climbed to 101 wounded, including 23 children.

The strike hit a residential area in the city near the Russian border as negotiations were taking place in Riyadh.

The local administration in Sumy said 14 adults and 16 children were in hospital, with one adult and one child in serious condition.

Russia has advanced in some areas of the front for months and the Kremlin has praised troops for recently retaking swathes of territory held by Ukraine in the border region of Kursk.

The Russian defense ministry on Tuesday claimed to have captured two more villages in southern and eastern Ukraine.

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A Russian negotiator had said earlier on Tuesday that Moscow would continue useful talks with US representatives but would aim to involve the UN and other countries.

We talked about everything, it was an intense dialogue, not easy, but very useful for us and the Americans, Grigory Karasin told the state TASS news agency, adding that lots of problems were discussed.

Of course we are far from solving everything, from being in agreement on all points, but it seems that this type of discussion is very timely, he said.

Ukraine has repeatedly accused the Kremlin of trying to put off any serious discussion of implementing a halt in hostilities.

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With inputs from agencies
A Russian negotiator said on Tuesday that Moscow would continue useful talks with the United States over the Ukraine conflict and would aim to involve the UN and other countries read more

A Russian contract soldier listens to instructions of an officer while training onboard a T-72 tank during military drills held at a firing range amid Russia-Ukraine conflict, in the southern Krasnodar region, Russia, December 2, 2024. File Image/Reuters

Ukraine and the US on Tuesday concluded a round of discussion on a ceasefire in Saudi Arabias Riyadh. The meeting, which lasted a little over an hour, followed Washingtons talks with Russia on Monday (March 24).

Kyiv had earlier this month agreed to a US-proposed unconditional ceasefire but Moscow had turned it down, with Ukraine and its European allies accusing it of not wanting peace.

The talks are over. All details will be announced later, a Ukrainian source told a small group of media.

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Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who led Kyivs delegation, wrote on Facebook, The conversation was constructive and meaningful  we discussed key issues, including in the energy sector.

Meanwhile, a Russian negotiator said on Tuesday that Moscow would continue useful talks with the United States over the Ukraine conflict and would aim to involve the UN and other countries.

We talked about everything, it was an intense dialogue, not easy, but very useful for us and the Americans, Grigory Karasin, told the state TASS news agency, adding that lots of problems were discussed.

The Kremlin said that Moscow is analysing the results of talks in Riyadh with the US on a partial ceasefire with Ukraine, adding that the details of the meeting will not be made public. It also said that the date for a future meeting has not been set.

On the war front, at least one person died and over 100, including several children, were injured in the past 24 hours after Russia unleashed a fresh wave of attack in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Air Force on Tuesday said that Russian forces launched 139 attack and decoy drones against Ukraine, including an Iskander-M ballistic missile. Kyivs forces shot down 78 drones while 34 decoys disappeared from the radar but did not cause any damage.

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Yesterday, Russia opened a barrage of missile attacks in the northeastern city of Sumy hours after Moscow and Washington began ceasefire talks in Saudi Arabia.

With inputs from agencies
U.N. Secretary-General spokesman Stephane Dujarric pointed to the increased danger after Israel relaunched its military campaign last week with bombardment that has since killed hundreds of Palestinians. Israel has also cut off all food, medicine, aid and other supplies to Gazas population for the past three weeks read more

The impact of a projectile is visible on the wall of the U.N. guesthouse, where United Nations workers were located when the building was struck, leaving one staff member dead and five others injured in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza. AP

The United Nations said Monday it will reduce its footprint in the Gaza Strip after an Israeli tank strike hit one of its compounds last week, killing one staffer from Bulgaria and wounding five other employees.

The world body will temporarily remove about a third of its approximately 100 international staffers working in Gaza, U.N. Secretary-General spokesman Stephane Dujarric. He pointed to the increased danger after Israel relaunched its military campaign last week with bombardment that has since killed hundreds of Palestinians. Israel has also cut off all food, medicine, aid and other supplies to Gazas population for the past three weeks.

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Dujarrics statement was the U.Ns first to point the finger at Israel in the March 19 explosion at the U.N. guesthouse in central Gaza. He said that based on the information currently available, the strikes on the site were caused by an Israeli tank.

The Israeli military repeated its denial that it was responsible for the strike, which took place a day after Israel shattered Gazas 2-month-old ceasefire with a surprise bombardment across the Gaza Strip.

Dujarric said the U.N. has made taken the difficult decision to reduce the Organizations footprint in Gaza, even as humanitarian needs soar. He said the U.N. is not leaving Gaza, pointing out that it still has about 13,000 national staff in Gaza, mainly working for UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees.

New strikes killed dozens in Gaza

New Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours killed more than 60 Palestinians around Gaza, the territorys Health Ministry said. The ministrys count does not distinguish between civilians and militants.

The ministry on Monday put out a list of the names of more than 15,000 children, 17 and under, killed by Israels campaign since it began more than 17 months ago. The list included nearly 5,000 children under the age of 6 who had been killed, including 876 infants who had not reached a year in age,

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Israel, which launched its campaign .in retaliation for Hamas October 2023 attack, says it has restarted its bombardment and cut off food to Gaza to force Hamas to accept new terms for the ceasefire and release more hostages. It says it targets Hamas members and positions, blaming the group for civilian deaths because it operates among the population.

Air raid sirens sound in Israel after a missile attacks from Yemen and Gaza

Air raid sirens and explosions were heard over Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and central Israel on Monday evening as the military said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen.

There were no immediate reports of casualties. Israels Magen David Adom emergency rescue service said teams are en-route to search areas where reports of rocket strikes have been received.

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Yemens Houthi rebels have fired a handful of long-range missiles at Israel in the days since it resumed the war in Gaza. There was no immediate claim of responsibility from the Houthis.

Two rockets from the Gaza Strip were also intercepted after crossing into Israeli territory earlier Monday evening, setting off sirens, the Israeli military said. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Al-Quds Brigades, the military arm of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group, claimed responsibility.

Medical workers are under fire in Gaza

The U.N. reduction comes as aid workers and medical staff have come under fire.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said its office in the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip was damaged by an explosive projectile Monday. It said no staff were hurt but the damage has a direct impact on its ability to operate. It did not specify who was behind the explosion.

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ICRC also said that on Sunday, contact was lost with emergency medical technicians from the Palestine Red Crescent Society and their whereabouts remain unknown. Last week, humanitarian workers in Gaza were killed and injured, it said.

On Sunday, Israel struck the surgery ward at southern Gazas biggest hospital, killing two people and wounding others, many of whom were already injured by earlier strikes. One of those killed at Khan Younis Nasser Hospital was a teenage boy recovering from surgery.

The other was a Hamas official that Israel says was the target of the strike, Ismail Barhoum. Hamas said Barhoum was undergoing treatment at the time. The Israeli military denied that, saying he oversaw Hamas finances in Gaza, including transferring money to its armed wing, and was working out of the hospital.

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The strike last week on the U.N. compound outside Deir al-Balah killed a 51-year-old staffer, Marin Valev Marinov. He worked with the U.N. Office for Project Services, which carries out infrastructure and development projects around the world.

In the two days before the deadly blast, strikes hit next to and then directly in the compound, UNOPS chief Jorge Moreira da Silva said earlier. He said the agency had contacted the Israeli military after the first strike and confirmed that the military was aware of the facilitys location.

Full impact of the UN reduction is not immediately known

Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the U.N.s humanitarian office, known as OCHA, said the U.N. and its partners have already suspended a number of activities, many in education, protection and water and sanitation services. The reason, she was, was safety concerns and the impact of Israeli evacuation orders.

A lot things are constrained right now because of the security situation, she told AP before Dujarrics announcement. The challenges are massive. We have had a lot of our activities affected by the situation and a lot of our partners have had to suspend operations because it is just not safe.

Movement of trucks, including those distributing water, have been affected, she said. Only 29 out of 237 temporary learning spaces have resumed their activities since the ceasefire collapse, she said.

Israels campaign in Gaza has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 113,000, according to the Health Ministry. Nearly 90% of the population of some 2,3 million have been driven from their homes. Israel launched the campaign vowing to destroy Hamas after its Oct. 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, in which militants killed some 1,200 people and kidnapped 250 others.
Furious discussions have erupted within the administration over whether Mike Waltz should be forced to resign to avoid further political embarrassment for President Donald Trump read more

The Donald Trump administration was caught in the middle of a rather embarrassing internal controversy on Monday (March 24).

It was revealed that national security adviser Mike Waltz had unwittingly added a prominent journalist to a private group chat discussing US military action against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The encrypted Signal thread, reportedly used by top administration figures to coordinate plans for a strike on Houthi targets, was compromised when Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly included in the chat.

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What happened?

The chat, titled  Houthi PC small group, included top national security figures such as Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

The discussion revealed not only strategic details but also internal dissent over the timing and potential consequences of further military action.

Goldberg, according to The Atlantic, received an unexpected Signal invitation from Mike Waltz on March 11. Shortly after, he found himself added to the chat where officials were weighing sensitive policy decisions, including deliberations over targeting and messaging.

Waltz faces the heat

The blunder has triggered calls for Waltzs resignation.

Politico, citing multiple White House sources, reported that furious discussions have erupted within the administration over whether he should be forced to resign to avoid further political embarrassment for President Trump. Half of them saying hes never going to survive or shouldnt survive, one official was quoted as saying.

The mishap has emboldened Waltzs critics, particularly within the pro-Trump America First wing of the GOP, who have long viewed him with suspicion due to his neoconservative background and past work advising former vice president Dick Cheney.

A person close to the White House delivered an especially blunt judgement: Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f****ng idiot.

Some within the administration believe that Waltz may end up shouldering the blame for the broader leak, though others have suggested Hegseth who allegedly shared sensitive details could also face consequences.

Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill appeared split. While some expressed outrage over the breach, others rallied behind Waltz, who previously served in Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed calls for his resignation. Hes exceptionally qualified for the job, Johnson said.

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Trump to make a decision soon?

For now, the White House is standing by its embattled adviser. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement on Monday expressing Trumps utmost confidence in Waltz and his national security team.

Yet insiders suggest Trump remains unsettled by the public exposure of what was supposed to be a tightly held military plan.

A source familiar with the situation said Trump had personally spoken with Waltz about the matter and could ultimately be swayed by how the story plays in the media over the next 48 hours.
The deal comes as President Donald Trumps administration takes a markedly different approach to the digital asset industry. Within his first 100 days in office, the Securities and Exchange Commission has paused or dropped high-profile legal actions against major crypto companies read more

Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind President Donald Trumps social media platform Truth Social, has struck a partnership with Crypto.com to launch a suite of Made-in-America exchange-traded funds (ETFs)  despite Crypto.coms roots in Singapore and its recent legal tussles with US regulators.

The collaboration, revealed on Monday (March 24), will see the ETFs made available later this year across the United States, Europe and Asia, pending regulatory approval. Crypto.com will provide both the digital assets and the underlying technology for the products, which will be offered through Foris Capital, a New Hampshire-based platform acquired by the company last year.

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Despite the Made-in-America branding, Crypto.com is headquartered in Singapore and was previously involved in a legal dispute with US regulators. The partnership, thus, places Trump Media in business with a foreign firm that only last year was at odds with American authorities, according to South China Morning Post.

Among the financial products announced is an ETF featuring Cronos, a cryptocurrency affiliated with Crypto.com. Cronos had not been mentioned in earlier communications about the planned offerings, which are being launched under the Truth.Fi brand.

The deal comes as President Donald Trumps administration takes a markedly different approach to the digital asset industry. Within his first 100 days in office, the Securities and Exchange Commission has paused or dropped high-profile legal actions against major crypto companies, including Coinbase Global and Binance Holdings.

Trump Media said in an earlier statement that it looked forward to working with the new administration to develop and advance clear regulations for the crypto industry.

Crypto.coms chief executive, Kris Marszalek, has reportedly met with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago to discuss political appointments relevant to the sector.

President Trump is the largest shareholder in Trump Media, holding a $2.4 billion stake through a trust managed by his son, Donald Trump Jr.

With inputs from agencies
In an exclusive conversation with Firstpost, Seyed Emamian, Assistant Professor at Tehran Polytechnic University of Technology, and Co-founder of Governance and Policy Think Tank, elucidated the challenges Iran is currently facing and gave an insight into a side of Tehran which is rarely talked about read more

For decades Iran has been grappling with a plethora of challenges whether on a domestic or at a global level. The ongoing crisis, in the Middle East, or the West Asia, has hit Iran from two sides. On one end, Israels attacks on Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon have weakened its so-called Axis of Resistance, and on the other end, the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in Syria has left the country with little to no allies in the region.

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For years, Tehran has been navigating an array of sanctions introduced by the US and with the current President Donald Trump tightening his noose around the country to sign a nuclear deal, Iran seemed to be getting cornered from all sides.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, second right, Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehei, right, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, second left, and President Masoud Pezeshkian read Quran in a ceremony commemorating slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, at Imam Khomeini grand mosque in Tehran, Iran, October 4, 2024. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

On the domestic front, Iran saw a new president taking over the reins and initiating reforms in the country. However, the West Asian nation often comes under the radar of international organisations for some of its policies.

In an exclusive conversation with Firstpost, Seyed Emamian, Assistant Professor at Tehran Polytechnic University of Technology, and Co-founder of Governance and Policy Think Tank, elucidated the challenges Iran is currently facing and gave an insight into a side of Tehran which is rarely talked about.

Following are the excerpts from Prof Emamians conversation with Firstpost:

Given the ongoing crisis in West Asia, with Israels conflict with Hamas and Hezbollah and the downfall of former President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, do you think Irans influence in West Asia has weakened since its key allies are getting weaker?

Prof. Emamian: The situation now is tense, dynamic and fast-changing. Of course, Irans influence in the region has experienced ups and downs in the last few decades. Just recently, post-October 7th, there have been several very important and historical events that have happened which impacted Irans influence in the region.

What happened in Syria was very crucial. I think it happened due to several issues in the region. Part of that was the failure of the Iranian policy in Syria. Because Iran successfully defeated Al Qaeda and then ISIS in Syria in 2014-15. In 2017, the war was over and it was a huge victory for everyone in the region, including Iran. But then there was an opportunity for Iran to open up the political situation in Syria and to get involved with more diverse voices inside Syria, including the opposition groups. So, I think just relying on Assad as the only political actor inside Syria, was one of the political mistakes that Iran made, particularly post-ISIS defeat in Syria.

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Syrias ousted President Bashar al-Assad meets with Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in Damascus, Syria, on Sunday. Reuters File

But what happened recently was also a kind of opportunism that Turkey, particularly, is very well prepared and is very well experienced in doing that. Turkey knew that everyone now in the region had been very much affected by the Gaza War. Once there was a war between the axis of resistance supporting Palestinians against Israel, Turkey used that opportunity to expand its influence in the region, while at the expense of more open hand for Israelis to get a lot of territories in South Syria.

At the end of the day, we need to wait and see who is going to finally change the balance in favour of itself. Whether it would be Israelis, whether it would be Turks, whether it would be Iranians or any other important actors in the region, its a very dynamic and very fast-changing situation right now.

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What is your take on the United Statess recent attack on Houthis and President Trumps two-month deadline for Iran to sign a nuclear deal? How is Iran planning to reconstruct its relations with Washington?

Prof. Emamian: Both Iran and the US are willing, in principle, to talk to each other. Even Trumps withdrawal in 2018 from JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] was not a sign of the end of the agreement and negotiation between Iran and the US. Trumps personality is very unique. Even in 2018, Trump wanted something to be signed in his name, not in the name of the Democrats. I think there is a principle willing for negotiation and for coming to a kind of agreement.

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This grab from footage shared by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on March 15, 2025, shows a cruise missile being fired from the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) at sea during operations against Yemens Houthis. AFP

Whats important is that there are some negative factors between Iran and the US. One, I think, is a very long and deep mistrust, particularly about Trump himself, because he has shown someone that is going to simply withdraw from anything that has already been signed between the US government and others.

The second thing is that I think the importance of the language, humiliating language, talking under whats called maximum pressure and with a kind of the imposition of the talks rather than having meaningful talks, bilateral talks. Its something that Iranians have been traditionally resistant to.

The third issue is the whole US policy of maximum pressure. Its a sign of conditional talks, not unconditional free bilateral talks. So, I think in principle, if once everyone wants to talk to each other, we need to come up with an unconditional, unprovocative, and also meaningful context for the bilateral negotiation.

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Iranian flag flutters in the wind. Image used for representative purpose/AFP

Last but not least, is that the Israel lobby and Netanyahu [Israels prime minister] himself have tried long, to bring the US to a direct conflict with Iran. Iran and the US need to be well aware of what Netanyahu has planned for a long time. They have been successfully convincing US policymakers and US presidents, since George Bush won, until now, to follow the plan that the Israeli lobby has thought about. We dont know what would happen for Trump, because Trump is much more intelligent. He knows the complexities of policymaking very well, and he has tried to be very much anti-establishment.

Last year, Iran saw a new president coming to power in the face of Masoud Pezeshkian. What is he bringing to the table and how do you think he is different from the former President, Ebrahim Raisi, who passed away in a tragic helicopter crash?

Prof. Emamian: Based on the democratic rules here in Iran, every president has their own, flexibility in terms of its policies. We dont have such kind of official political parties in Iran, and thats one of the problems that I have written a lot about. That I call it weak political institutionalisation. But at the same time, there are important camps, at least reformist camps versus conservative camps.

Pezeshkian has been in politics for a long time as MP, I think more than 20 years, and also he had once been Minister of Health in one of the reformist governments before. But he personally has never been known as a political leader. Whats important is that he has been supported officially and very clearly by the whole reformist camp. So, its a lot of political capital supporting him.

President Masoud Pezeshkian will defend Minister Abdolnaser Hemmati (not pictured), who will also speak in favour of his own record. AFP

He is personally different from late President Raisi. The former president was part of the establishment. He has been inside the public departments for his whole official life, and he has been very well-trusted within the judiciary system. So, President Raisi was not a normal politician.

President Pezeshkian is very much well supported by political camps. From his point of view, I think his personality is very popular. He is very open to public attitudes. President Pezeshkian is going to deliberately go beyond the political polarisation, something that has affected Iranian society, and most of the societies in the world in the last few years or decades.

How do you look at the evolution of Iran-Israel ties over the years?

Prof. Emamian: Iran-India relations have been politically very good, and at one time it was even economically flourishing. We had almost a $30 billion trade, both in energy and other sectors, through some mediatory countries and trade hubs like UAE. But since the last years of the first Trump administration and the imposition of the sanctions on Iranian oil, I think there has been a sharp decrease in Iran-India trade.

I have always talked about how we could find some solution to overcome such unilateral coercive measures from the US. Some say that its Indias over-compliance to the US sanctions that have created such a sharp decrease. What is important is that there is a huge willingness on both sides to continue working together very closely, because of the historical and civilisational ties between two societies that have never been far from each other.

Both trade sectors need to find some solutions to continue working together. Im sure that Indians are very well experienced of keeping working with Russian industries and Russian businesses during the sanctions in the last few years. So we could find a way. Iranians are very much well experienced. Even Russians came to Iran to learn how to deal with the sanctions because Iran has been living with sanctions for several decades.

Source: REUTERS.

Whats very important, we call it intellectual diplomacy, something that my think tank, Governance and Policy Think Tank and myself as an academic have tried as well to reach out to our Indian colleagues, think tanks, research institutions and academia. I think its something we are lacking. We should be aware that our new generation, they are not thinking about the Iran-India relationship as important as the previous generation. We need to revive our society-to-society relationship as it was very strong historically with the new generation.

What is your take on the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor (IMEC)?

Prof. Emamian: It is a controversial issue in Iran. Some think about IMEC as an alternative to INSTC [International North-South Transport Corridor]. They are very critical of Indias policy to have another corridor or trade route through the South Persian Gulf.

Particularly, with regard to the involvement of the Israelis in the IMEC, its very concerning from the point of view of Iran. Theres a lot of suspicion coming. But there are also more optimistic views inside Iran that they say that whilst yes IMEC would be an important if it goes ahead, it wont be an alternative to INSTC. In any case, India thinks about INSTC and particularly Chabahar Port as a gateway to Central Asia. That is a very important region for India historically and business-wise.

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (left), and US President Joe Biden, shake hands next to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the India-Middle East-Europe Economics Corridor (IMEC) event during the G20Summit in New Delhi in September 2023. File image/AP

With regards to particularly Putin, Trumps deal or likely settlement will be an opportunity for India and Russia both together to push for bringing about some kind of sanction exemption for INSTC that is in favour of both India, Russia and Iran. The rising India-Israeli relationship is always concerning from the Iranian point of view.

Now lets talk about Europe, recently Iran released a French citizen detained in the country. Do you see the diplomatic move as a sign of warming up ties with Europe and France specifically?

Prof. Emamian: I dont have any information behind the scenes regarding what is happening between Iran and Europe. We know that Iran and Europe both are thinking about their relationship, as I said, another historical relationship. Iran and Europe have been in touch with each other for centuries. The role of Europe in the first Trump administration was to some extent constructive. They kept committed to the JCPOA.

The sanction relief was the essence of the JCPOA. But during Trumps first administration, there was no such sanction relief happening on the ground, and Europeans were not able to bring about the results that were expected from the Iranian side. But at the same time, there was a lot of political cooperation between Iran and Europe.

However, since the beginning of the Ukrainian-Russian war, there have been huge controversies. Im sure that there were a lot of controversies also between Europeans and Indians, why Indians are also keeping their ties and historical relations with Russia still alive.

But there was kind of a misunderstanding between Europe and Iran during the last three years of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Iran always has denied that it had military involvement in the war. Europeans were very much keen to always accuse Iran of being involved directly in the war. So Iran, as you know, has always publicly denied that.

Whats important is that with the prospect of a settlement between Russia and Ukraine, I think there would be a new phase also in the Iranian-European relationship.

While Iran worked on making technological advancements within the country, it has been often accused by international actors of using it for surveillance of its citizens. There have been reports of an app called Nazar where people can report women for not following the countrys stringent dress code. What is your take on that?

Prof. Emamian: Concerning the accusation that you mentioned, I would say that Iran has been like other sovereign governments and has been trying to keep its digital sovereignty. So every national government, every sovereign government, is tackling how to preserve their digital sovereignty. We dont call it surveillance. If we call it surveillance, the main aggressive surveillance government would be the US and Israelis and their allies.

With regard to the woman, I think there are a lot of misunderstandings. There have been some political controversies about whether or not we should impose an Islamic dress code as a hijab on women in society. Something has happened in 2022. There was a huge social unrest in Iran that happened because of that policy.

Iranian women walk on a street amid the implementation of the new hijab surveillance in Tehran. Reuters file

We as an independent country think that we have our views. We have published about that policy. But in practice, what is happening now on the ground is that there is no such restriction for the woman. If you are just walking in the main central streets of Tehran, and in the middle of Tehran, you wont find any such kind of imposition. But at the same time, you know that Iranians are like Indians. They are traditionally very different from the Western societies. They have been culturally rich. They have been religiously committed in general. Im talking about the majority.

In every Islamic country, we have such kind of principles and social expectations. However, I am not in support of the government intervention in imposing a specific restrictive dress code on women. In my personal view, what is happening on the ground is that there is nothing, at least since 2023, nothing is happening on the ground. And the women in Iran are mainly free, even in the very central streets of Tehran, where you could easily walk and see what is happening. I have written about, how the think tank has played some role in convincing policymakers that it wont be a good policy to have government direct intervention into the social norms.

Whenever Irans nuclear program is discussed at a global level, people tend to focus on the military aspect of it. Could you throw light on why Irans nuclear program is crucial for the country?

Prof. Emamian: From an energy point of view, because I have been involved in some energy policy issues, Iran is tackling the shortage of the electricity supply. Its part of it, its because of the failure of energy efficiency policies. But part of it is natural because society is growing, the economic growth is happening. So every year we have more increasing need for the supply of electricity. And you know that some neighbouring countries are also relying on electricity supply from Iran, including Iraq.

Without Iranian electricity, most of the Iraqi cities will be shut off from the grid. So theres a huge increasing need for electricity supply. Hence, nuclear power stations are one of the reliable and viable options for everyone. Last decade, it was more than 90 pwer cent of some European countries, including France, have electricity from nuclear electricity power stations. So the role of nuclear in energy, from the energy point of view is very crucial.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi meets with Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Tehran, Iran, on November 14, 2024. Reuters

So being self-sufficient, being to some extent technically sovereign in terms of the nuclear energy power station is one of the main important reasons that Iran is following its civil nuclear policy. Iran has always been very clear and outspoken about its rejection of any kind of military nuclear state, or nuclear policy. I think its one of the reasons that I think there is a lot of hope between Iran and U.S. negotiation because Iran has been clear that Im not going to access to implement any military nuclear project on the ground.

But there are some other, economic and technical and scientific by-products of the nuclear policies, nuclear advancement, new technological advancements in medicine. Iran has been open to any kind of international supervision on its not going towards any kind of military project, nuclear military project.

We are living in a world where sometimes you need to redefine modify or shift your policy. And I think its on particular US and other international powers to what extent they are going to respect Iranian sovereignty and to protect Iranian security. In other cases, I think every country may think about the deterrence policy.
White House national security adviser Mike Waltz confirmed the presence of all three delegations US, Russia, and Ukraine in the same Saudi facility and said talks extended beyond maritime issues to the potential freezing of military lines and possible peacekeeping arrangements read more

Patrol boats of Ukraines coast guard sail in the Black Sea, amid Russias attack on Ukraine. File image/ Reuters

US and Russian officials concluded a day of diplomatic talks in Saudi Arabia on Monday (March 24), aimed at brokering a limited maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea between Ukraine and Russia. Washington hopes the move will lay the groundwork for broader peace negotiations.

A senior White House official said progress was being made and hinted at a positive announcement in the near future.

The discussions reportedly focused on securing a truce in the Black Sea to ensure the safe passage of commercial shipping.

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Reuters cited a Russia source as saying that the two sides had agreed on a draft joint statement, which had been sent to both capitals for approval, though Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov downplayed expectations.

This is primarily about the safety of navigation, Peskov said.

The maritime front has been quieter in recent months, with Ukraine regaining some control of its shipping lanes after pushing back the Russian navy in 2023. Nonetheless, the White House sees the issue as a possible starting point for trust-building between the two sides.

While Ukrainian representatives did not formally take part in the talks, they were present on the sidelines of the meetings, which marked the latest attempt by the Trump administration to position itself as a broker for peace.

White House national security adviser Mike Waltz confirmed the presence of all three delegations in the same Saudi facility and said discussions extended beyond maritime issues to the potential freezing of military lines and possible peacekeeping arrangements.

Diplomacy amid drone strikes

Even as the negotiations unfolded in Riyadh, Russian missiles struck the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, injuring at least 88 people and damaging a school and a hospital, in a grim reminder of the conflicts continuing toll on civilians.

Despite the diplomatic overtures, Mondays missile strike in Sumy drew sharp condemnation from Kyiv. Regional governor Volodymyr Artiukh said several apartment blocks were hit and credited the limited number of casualties to children sheltering during the attack.

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Moscow speaks of peace while carrying out brutal strikes on densely populated residential areas in major Ukrainian cities, said Ukraines foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha. Instead of making hollow statements about peace, Russia must stop bombing our cities and end its war on civilians.

The Trump effect

The Trump administrations latest ceasefire proposal, a full 30-day pause in fighting, was rejected by Russia, which has so far only agreed to refrain from targeting Ukraines energy infrastructure.

President Donald Trump, who returned to office in January, has taken a markedly different approach from his predecessor Joe Biden, scaling back military aid to Ukraine and signalling greater openness to Moscows positions.

He spoke separately with Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin last week, saying issues such as territorial lines, demarcation zones, and energy infrastructure ownership were now on the table.

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Allies remain sceptical

While the US is pushing for incremental steps, many observers fear that the prospect of real peace remains elusive, with Russia showing little sign of backing down from its maximalist aims.

European officials, for one, remain sceptical that Moscow is prepared to make serious concessions. Putin has continued to insist that Ukraine renounce its ambitions to join Nato and withdraw from all four regions Russia has illegally annexed since 2022  conditions Kyiv has repeatedly rejected.

With inputs from agencies
In a group chat with senior government officials, US Vice President Vance allegedly expressed his distaste for bailing Europe out again regarding the Trump administrations intentions to bomb Houthi fighters.

In the group chat, Vance expressed doubt that US President Trump understood how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now.

He also added, Theres a further risk that we may see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this by a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc.

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About half an hour after delivering the message, Vance told Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth: If you think we should do it, lets go. I just hate bailing Europe out again.

The group chat functioned as a virtual war room, with detailed information regarding weapon packages, targets, and the planned timings for the 15 March strike on Yemen, which killed more than 50 people.

Vance sent the message on 14 March, the day before Trump announced that he had ordered a series of decisive and powerful attacks on the Houthis, an Iran-backed, US-designated terrorist organisation in Yemen that had targeted commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea for two years.

Two days earlier, Trump had declared 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium, and the European Union quickly countered, throwing the allies into a trade war.

Just two days before the bombings in Yemen, Trump threatened to impose a 200% tariff on wine, champagne, and other alcohol imported from Europe if the European Union did not remove a whisky levy.

Last month, Vance criticised European nations for censoring free speech and political opponents, while mostly neglecting the issue of how to end the Ukraine conflict.

Speaking to European political leaders, military officers, and diplomats at the Munich Security Conference, Vance surprised the audience by dismissing the risk of Russian political interference in Europe, taking a stance similar to Trump, who has railed against US intelligence agencies claims that Russia interfered on his behalf in the 2016 election.

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Following Vances allegation that European leaders would not participate in any Ukraine peace negotiations, an emergency EU conference was convened.

In an interview with Fox News, Vance dismissed peacekeeping assistance from some random country that hasnt fought a war in 30 years  interpreted by politicians across the divide in London as an attack on the UK, which has been pushing such a plan alongside France.

After facing sharp criticism from London and Paris, Vance took to X to clarify his remarks, insisting that he had never named France or Britain in his statement.

Both countries have fought bravely alongside the US over the last 20 years, and beyond, he posted, attempting to calm the growing diplomatic storm.

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Vance later defended his comments in front of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

He said: Look, I said what I said, which is that we do have, of course, a special relationship with our friends in the UK, and also some of our European allies, but we also know that there have been infringements on free speech that actually affect not just the British.

Starmer replied, saying: Well, weve had free speech for a very, very long time in the United Kingdom, and it will last for a very, very long time.

Certainly, we wouldnt want to reach across US citizens, and we dont, and thats absolutely right, but in relation to free speech in the UK, Im very proud of our history there.

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India has ordered Samsung and its executives to pay $601 million (Rs. 5,174 crore approx.) in back taxes and penalties for evading tariffs on telecom equipment imports, marking one of the largest such demands in recent years, a government order cited by Reuters reported. This hefty fine targets the South Korean giants practices in a key market where it dominates consumer electronics and smartphones.

Key Details of the Tax Demand

Total Amount: Samsung faces a $601 million penalty, including 44.6 billion rupees ($520 million) in unpaid taxes and a 100% penalty.

Executives Fined: Seven India-based executives are fined $81 million, including Sung Beam Hong (network division vice president), Dong Won Chu (CFO), Sheetal Jain (finance general manager), and Nikhil Aggarwal (indirect taxes general manager).

Reason: Misclassification of Remote Radio Heads, a critical 4G telecom component, to avoid 10% or 20% tariffs.

Imports Involved: $784 million worth of components imported from Korea and Vietnam between 2018 and 2021, sold to Reliance Jio, owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani.

Profit Impact: The demand is a significant chunk of Samsungs $955 million net profit in India last year.

The company can challenge this in a tax tribunal or courts, the report noted.

The Investigation and Allegations

The issue surfaced in 2021 when tax inspectors searched Samsung offices in Mumbai and Gurugram, seizing documents, emails, and electronic devices. Top executives were later questioned.

A confidential January 8 order, reviewed by Reuters but not public, accused Samsung of |violating Indian laws. Customs commissioner Sonal Bajaj stated that Samsung knowingly and intentionally presented false documents before the customs authority for clearance.

She added, Samsung transgressed all business ethics and industry practices or standards in order to achieve their sole motive of maximising their profit by defrauding the government exchequer.

Samsungs Defense

Samsung labeled the dispute an interpretation of classification of goods by customs and insisted it complied with Indian laws. It argued the Remote Radio Head doesnt attract tariffs, claiming officials knew its classification practice for yearsa stance backed by four expert opinions asserting its not a transceiver.

However, tax officials cited 2020 letters from Samsung to the government describing it as a transceiver, a device that transmits signals. Bajaj noted, Samsung was very much aware about the right classification of the impugned goods. The company responded, We are assessing legal options to ensure our rights are fully protected.

Whats the Remote Radio Head?

The Remote Radio Head is a radio-frequency circuit in a small outdoor module, called one of the most important parts of 4G telecom systems by tax officials. Mounted on telecom towers, it transmits signals and is subject to tariffs, the government said. Samsung imported these without duties from 2018 to 2021, sparking the conflict.

Indias Crackdown on Foreign Firms

The report highlighted Indias tougher oversight of foreign companies. Volkswagen, for instance, is locked in a legal fight over a $1.4 billion tax demand for misclassifying car parts, calling it a matter of survival for its India business, though it denies wrongdoing. Such disputes are reigniting foreign investors fears over tax tussles.

Samsungs India Performance

Despite the tax issue, Samsung remains strong in India. In 2024, Made in India smartphone shipments grew 6% year-on-year, with Samsung and Apple accounting for 94% of exports, according to Counterpoint Researchs Make in India Service report. Samsungs manufacturing rose 7%, driven by growing exports and the governments PLI (production-linked incentive) scheme encouraging local production.

Next Steps

Samsung told IANS it fully complies with the laws in India and is currently assessing legal options after the Rs. 5,174 crore ($601 million) demand. A spokesperson reiterated, The parts did not attract any import duties, but customs authorities have not commented.

The case highlights Indias stringent tax enforcement, raising concerns among foreign investors, with more updates expected as the situation unfolds.

Source 1, 2
Iti doresti o presa libera si independenta, care nu da inapoi cand vine vorba de respectarea standardelor profesionale, refuza sa se lase cenzurata, sustine independenta justitiei, transparenta decizionala si valorile democratice. Alege sa o sustii.
Relatives and colleagues carry the body of a slain journalist on a stretcher through the streets of Gaza
U.S. think tank warns of growing Chinese espionage threat to Taiwan

ROC Central News Agency

03/24/2025 11:21 AM

Washington, March 23 (CNA) A report released by the Washington-based Global Taiwan Institute (GTI) this month warned that Taiwan faces an increasing threat from Chinese espionage and urged the government to impose tougher penalties on those found guilty.

The report, "Chinese Communist Party Covert Operations Against Taiwan," highlighted the CCP's growing influence operations and its impact on Taiwan's security and democracy.

"No other democracy faces the same scale of foreign threat to its integrity and independence as Taiwan," the GTI report said. "The malign intentions and influence operations directed by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party), and the threat it poses and harm it causes to Taiwan's democratic society, is real."

The report said that CCP espionage falls into three major areas: Intelligence operations, cyberspace operations and united front work.

The GTI recommended that Taiwan implement harsher penalties for espionage. "Additional sentencing enhancements could be legislated for offenses that have wider political consequences or threaten the wider integrity of the Taiwanese government," the authors said.

The report cited an example in which government officials convicted of national security-related offenses could face heavier sentences if they recruit other officials or military officers into spy rings or connect them with China's intelligence and United Front organs.

The GTI report also suggested that Taiwan establish legal frameworks similar to those in the United States and the United Kingdom, requiring individuals acting on behalf of a foreign entity to register, which would involve publicly disclosing their activities and affiliations to enhance transparency.

The report further recommended criminalizing unregistered agents of foreign powers, noting that in the U.S., many spies have been prosecuted under this provision.

The burden of proof would be to demonstrate the individual's actions were directed by a foreign power, not necessarily a threat to national security.

Meanwhile, the think tank recommended that Taiwan strengthen its security vetting through a unified national security clearance system to hold government employees to a higher standard.

The report said that such a system would help different government branches handle sensitive national security matters.

Earlier this month, President Lai Ching-te () announced the government would seek to reinstate the military trial system to handle military-related criminal cases involving active-duty servicemen amid increasing Chinese attempts to infiltrate the Taiwanese military.

Lai's measures against Chinese espionage also included tightening restrictions on Chinese tourists, residents and civil servants in Taiwan.

(By Chung Yu-chen and Frances Huang)

Enditem/kb

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Japanese side bears historical responsibilities on Taiwan question: Chinese FM Wang Yi

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Mar 24, 2025 08:14 PM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi talked about the Taiwan question with Japanese political figures during his visit to Japan, highlighting that the four political documents between China and Japan have made clear provisions on the Taiwan question, which must be strictly implemented without ambiguity or backsliding.

When asked to further brief on China's stance, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interest, and bears on the political foundation of China-Japan relations and basic trust between the two countries. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the recovery of Taiwan. Japan undeniably bears historical responsibilities on the Taiwan question.

The Cairo Declaration issued by China, the US and the UK in 1943 stated in explicit terms that Taiwan is a territory that Japan had stolen from the Chinese, and shall be restored to China. Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation jointly issued by China, the US, the UK and the Soviet Union in 1945 stipulates that the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out. On August 15, 1945, Japan accepted the Potsdam Proclamation and announced unconditional surrender.

Later in 1972, Japan pledged in the China-Japan Joint Statement that it firmly maintains its position under Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation.

The Treaty of Peace and Friendship between China and Japan signed in 1978 clearly stated that the principles set out in the statement should be strictly observed. The treaty was deliberated and approved by the legislators of the two countries, and together with the China-Japan Joint Statement, constitute legally binding documents that provide guidance for the bilateral ties, Guo said.

The above-mentioned historical evidence and legal basis fully show that abiding by the one-China principle is the serious political commitment and obligation under international law that Japan must follow, said the spokesperson.

The false narrative, including "a Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency" and "the China-Japan Joint Statement is not legally binding", will gravely erode the political foundation of China-Japan relations. Such narrative is not only wrong, but also very dangerous. We urge Japan to deliver on its commitment, handle the Taiwan question with extra prudence and take concrete actions to maintain the momentum of improvement and development in China-Japan relations, Guo said.

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Senior Leaders Discuss Army's Future with War College Students

By Thomas Wheeler, National Guard Bureau March 21, 2025

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. -- In an engagement with future military leaders, Army Lt. Gen. Jon Stubbs and Command Sgt. Maj. James Brian Kendrick visited Command and General Staff Officer Course students Feb. 28.

According to the school's website, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., educates field-grade officers in the course to be "agile, innovative and adaptive leaders in increasingly complex and uncertain environments."

Stubbs told a class of about 50 students that adaptive leaders are essential to success on the modern battlefield, where change is the only constant.

He emphasized the ability to adapt quickly is crucial for leaders and Soldiers to stay ahead of emerging threats and achieve their mission.

The CGSOC provides master's-level instruction to nearly 5,000 U.S. Army majors, sister service members, and international personnel annually in three ways: the resident course at Fort Leavenworth, three satellite and hybrid campuses, or a distance learning program.

During his time with the class, Stubbs emphasized the need for optimism and faith in one another to win the fight.

"Confront the brutal truth through enduring optimism and faith in each other You are the future, and we are going to win our battles together," Stubbs said." Observe, participate, build relationships, and go back to your states as more experienced officers."

Students seemed to agree about the course's impact.

"The exposure to planning and thinking at higher echelons, especially at the division and corps level, was incredibly impactful," said Army Maj. Danny R. Canlas, an Alaska National Guard infantry and logistics officer.

"Alaska is a large state with a smaller force structure," said Canlas. "Other than a combat training center or warfighter exercise, it's hard to train at those higher echelons, especially due to the geographic separation from our division-aligned states. So, it was great to expose myself to a higher level of planning."

Other students appreciated the integration of partner nations and sister services.

"The integration of officers from sister services and international partner nations provides a dialogue that builds perspective and knowledge invaluable to the professional development of ARNG officers," said Army Maj. Giovanni Monsanto. "We will be able to better serve in the State Partnership Program and have a baseline of understanding to communicate with non-ARNG units in deployed environments."

The Command and General Staff School is the largest of four academic schools within the Command and General Staff College system. Its mission is to educate field grade officers to be agile, innovative and adaptive leaders who communicate effectively, think critically and can build and lead organizations under mission command in Unified Land Operations.

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Poland Effectively Protects the EU Border

Republic of Poland - The Chancellery of the Prime Minister

22.03.2025

Poland is effectively strengthening its eastern border. Several thousand soldiers and officers, supported by modern equipment and advanced infrastructure, repel hybrid threats every day. Prime Minister Donald Tusk, together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, and Minister of the Interior and Administration, Coordinator of Special Services Tomasz Siemoniak, participated in a border briefing at the Polish-Belarusian border. They summarized the state's response to increasing migration pressure and hybrid threats from Belarus and Russia.

A Secure Border Means a Secure Poland

The operation to secure the eastern border is one of the largest undertakings since 1989. On the 418-kilometer stretch bordering Belarus, Polish soldiers and officers safeguard citizens' security every day.

"We are in a place that best illustrates how serious a problem we have been facing for years in terms of the security of Poland's eastern border," emphasized Prime Minister Donald Tusk during his visit to the Polish-Belarusian border in the Podlasie region.

"We are not just dealing with illegal migration, but with state-led operations involving the regimes in Minsk and Moscow."

"There are two dimensions to this security issue," the Prime Minister said. "The first concerns the pressure from illegal immigration orchestrated by President Lukashenko's administration. We are also aware of Russian involvement."

Tusk also pointed to the presence of international criminal trafficking groups, with which Polish services are increasingly effective in dealing. Thanks to these efforts, Poland not only protects its own territory but also strengthens the eastern border of the European Union, which is crucial for regional security.

Investments in a Sealed Border

Border operations are a key part of the country's defense strategy, combining modern technological solutions with increased presence of uniformed services.

"We've achieved a 98% effectiveness rate in apprehensions thanks to the determination of our soldiers, Border Guard, and Police. That's 11,000 people on duty and on constant alert," said the Prime Minister.

Poland is reinforcing its borders by modernizing the existing barrier, constructing a new electronic barrier, establishing a buffer zone, and implementing additional legislative measures. Maintaining security requires enormous logistical and financial effortso far, PLN 2.7 billion has been allocated for border protection.

"When we took over, the barrier could be pried open with a jack in 20 seconds. Now we have two cross-chains, an electronic barrier, and a buffer zone," explained Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak.

As part of the electronic barrier project, over 500 posts, 1,300 cameras, and around 700 infrared illuminators have been installed. The investment exceeded PLN 85 million. This year alone, a 186-km technical road along the barrier will be built, along with five observation towers in riverine areas of the Podlasie Voivodeship.

The goal is to create a fully sealed border system. Currently, priority is being given to securing waterways and rivers, which have become targets for illegal migrants with the arrival of spring.

Shared Border, Shared Responsibility, Shared Defense

The Prime Minister called for joint European actions in response to hybrid threats. Strengthening cooperation with EU and NATO member states is crucial for enhancing regional security. Poland is already playing a key role in this process.

"The border is becoming increasingly sealed. We have reason to be satisfied, but also recognize this requires a huge effort by the entire state. We are mobilizing Europe to treat these borders as a shared responsibility," said Donald Tusk.

Border protection has also become a symbol of national consensus on security.

"Some prefer to play Russian roulette. We are building the East Shieldin the spirit of cooperation and responsibility," said Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz.

Thanks to the government's efforts, the EU has recently taken several decisions to strengthen Europe's defense capacity more quickly. One such decision was to designate the construction of the East Shield as a flagship EU project aimed at deterring and overcoming potential threats from the East.

In the near future, thanks to EU support of 52 million, new roads will be built along the border, and drones and ICT systems will be purchased.

A Firm Stance Against Traffickers

Thanks to effective action, Poland is no longer an easy route for illegal migration.

"We are receiving more and more reports that traffickers are increasingly discouraged from using the Polish route," emphasized the Prime Minister.

Monitoring the border with Lithuania is also essential to prevent trafficking routes from shifting. The government will respond firmly to any support for illegal activities, including within the country.

"Anyone involved in human trafficking is part of a very dirty business," said the Prime Minister.

To better counter illegal migration, the government has prepared a range of measures to tighten the visa system, regulate access to asylum, and control access to the labor market for foreigners. One of these is a law that allows the suspension of the right to seek asylum.

"We are implementing a law that will prevent the asylum system from being used to organize illegal border crossings," the Prime Minister announced.

The entry into force of the lawexpected to significantly enhance Poland's security and give the Border Guard essential toolsis now pending the President's signature. Signing the bill on temporarily suspending asylum applications for illegal border crossers will pave the way for a regulation that will hinder trafficking operations and deter attempts at illegal entry.

Better Conditions for Soldiers, More Border Guard Officers

Soldiers and officers face a huge challenge, so it is essential to provide them with suitable working conditions. These have improved over the past year.

"What we've organized together here means this service is modern and as comfortable as possible for those who dedicate their time to protecting the border," emphasized Donald Tusk.

Modern equipment, bulletproof vests, proper clothing, inter-agency cooperation, and proper training are now standard. Comfort and modernization are not just technical or living issuesthey represent respect for the thousands guarding the border. Legislative changes have also affected soldiers' morale.

"Last year, we gave soldiers more confidence in using their weapons. The [new] law has in reality increased security," added Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz.

Poland remains on the front line of EU eastern border protection, consistently strengthening its defensive capacity and operational effectiveness. Investments in infrastructure, modern technologies, and improved service conditions for soldiers and officers form the foundation of a long-term security strategy. The government continues to develop additional measures that will not only increase the country's resilience to hybrid threats but also reinforce European solidarity in the face of contemporary challenges.

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Members of the ministerial committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit on developments in the Gaza Strip held a meeting on Sunday, March 23, 2025, with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

23-03-2025

The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah; Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani; Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palestine Dr. Mohammad Mustafa; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Ayman Safadi; Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani; Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt Dr. Badr Abdelatty; Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye Hakan Fidan; Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Sugiono; Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar; Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Nigeria in Cairo Adesuyi Samotu; Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit; and Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hissein Brahim Taha.

The following statement was issued at the conclusion of the meeting:

The Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee met on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Cairo with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas.

The Parties discussed recent developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and expressed their grave concern over the breakdown of the ceasefire in Gaza and the large number of civilian casualties in recent airstrikes.

They condemned the resumption of hostilities and the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure and called for an immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire-hostage and detainees release agreement that went into effect on January 19th, and as brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, and stressed the need for progress towards its second phase with a view to its full implementation, including the release of all hostages, a permanent end to hostilities, and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2735.

The Parties further called for the complete respect of international humanitarian law and international law. They underscored that this includes ensuring swift, sustained, and unimpeded humanitarian access and the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale into and throughout the entire Gaza Strip. In light of this, they demanded the lifting of all restrictions that hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid, as well as the immediate restoration of all basic services in the Strip, including the supply of electricity and water desalination plants.

The Parties welcomed the Arab Recovery and Reconstruction Plan, presented at the Arab Summit in Cairo on 4 March, subsequently adopted by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and welcomed by the European Council.

The Parties highlighted that the aforementioned plan ensures that the Palestinian people will remain on their territory and emphasized in this regard their categorical rejection of any displacement or expulsion of the Palestinian people out of their territory, Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and warned against the grave repercussions that would result from such actions.

The Parties underscored in this regard the importance of supporting the Conference on the Early Recovery and Reconstruction of Gaza, which is to be held in Cairo with the participation of relevant stakeholders. They called on the international community to work to mobilize resources, to be announced during the Conference, to address the catastrophic situation in Gaza.

The Parties stressed the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority (PA) and of supporting in this regard the PA in assuming all of its responsibilities in the Gaza Strip, and ensuring it can effectively uphold its role in administering both Gaza and the West Bank. They emphasized the need for respect and the preservation of the territorial integrity and unity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which is key to consolidating the Palestinian state on the basis of the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regards to Jerusalem, in line with UN resolutions, and as part of the two-state solution, thus achieving long-term peace and stability in the region. They reiterated in this regard that the Gaza Strip constitutes an integral part of the territory occupied in 1967 and reiterated the vision of the two-state solution, with the Gaza Strip as part of the Palestinian state, in line with International Law, including relevant Security Council resolutions and stressed that this should guide any discussion on the future of the Gaza Strip.

The parties expressed as well their deep concern over the Israeli military incursions in the occupied West Bank, as well as illegal practices such as settlement activities, home demolitions, and settler violence, which undermine the rights of the Palestinian people, threaten the prospects for a just and lasting peace and further entrench the conflict.

They recalled that Israel, as an occupying power, must protect civilians and comply with international humanitarian law. They firmly rejected any attempts at annexation and unilateral measures that seek to alter the legal and historical status quo of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem.

Together, the Parties reaffirmed their full commitment to a political resolution to the conflict on the basis of the two-state solution with Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference, including the principle of land for peace, and the Arab Peace Initiative, paving the way for lasting peace and coexistence between all the peoples of the region. They reaffirmed their commitment in this regard to the convening of a UN High Level International Conference in June in New York co-chaired by France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to advance these goals.

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OIC Condemns Attempts to "Legalize" Israeli Settlements; Warns Against Forced Displacement of Palestinians

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

23-03-2025

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has issued a strong denunciation of the so-called Israeli Cabinet's recent decision to approve the separation of 13 illegal settlement neighborhoods in the West Bank, effectively facilitating their "legalization" as settler-colonial outposts. This development constitutes a blatant contravention of international law and existing United Nations resolutions governing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Additionally, this move has been accompanied by incendiary and racially charged remarks from Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who described this initiative as part of a broader strategy to assert purported Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank territory.

The OIC has issued a strong condemnation regarding the establishment of a specialized Israeli agency purportedly aimed at facilitating the "voluntary departure" of Palestinians. The OIC unequivocally rejects any plans that involve the displacement of Palestinian individuals or communities, whether within their homeland or in exile, asserting that such actions constitute a blatant violation of international law, international humanitarian law, and pertinent United Nations resolutions.

Moreover, the OIC has called upon the international community -specifically the UN Security Council- to undertake its duties in confronting Israeli crimes, including genocide, the establishment of colonial settlements, the demolition of homes, forced displacement, and attempts to annex Palestinian territories. It argues that these activities warrant immediate international sanctions against Israel, the occupying Power, to deter further transgressions. Additionally, the OIC has reiterated the urgency of supporting measures to facilitate the realization of a two-state solution as a viable path toward just, lasting peace.

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Hamas condemns assassination of politburo member as proof of Israeli 'record of terrorism'

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 23 March 2025 11:22 PM

The Gaza-based resistance movement Hamas has strongly condemned the assassination of its political bureau member Ismail Barhoum in an Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital, calling it yet another addition to the Israeli regime's "record of terrorism."

The statement came after Israeli forces targeted the emergency department of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, where Barhoum was receiving medical treatment.

Hamas denounced the attack as a crime added to the "occupation's extensive record of terrorism, violating sanctities, lives, and health facilities."

The movement said the strike, along with the Israeli regime's continued systematic targeting of Palestinian civilians and leaders, reflects Tel Aviv's "disregard for all international conventions."

It also condemned the bombing of the hospital as "a severe escalation in Zionist war crimes" and a blatant violation of international law.

Hamas paid tribute to Barhoum, describing him as one of the "symbols of Islamic and da'wa (national) work" and a foundational figure in the resistance movement Gaza.

"He spent his life serving his people, religion, and cause, faithful to Palestine and its sacred sites, sincerely committed, and actively involved in preaching, community work, and humanitarian efforts," the statement read.

Pledging commitment to the path of resistance, Hamas vowed to Allah and the Palestinian people that the blood of its leaders would continue to light the way toward liberation and return.

The movement also stressed that Israeli assassinations would not deter the resistance from pursuing its struggle.

Barhoum's assassination marks the latest in a string of high-profile assassinations of Hamas political leaders, with five out of the 20-member political bureau assassinated in the past week alone.

Following the strike, the emergency department at Nasser Hospital was rendered completely out of service.

According to Gaza's Government Media Office, the death toll in the Strip has surpassed 50,021, with women and children making up over 60 percent of the victims.

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Air2030: Radar sensors of the Air Force: Fourth system in operation after modernisation

Swiss Government

Bern, 24.03.2025 -- The radar sensors of the air surveillance and central dispatching system of the Swiss Air Force have been modernised. On 20 March 2025, armasuisse handed over the fourth and last completely rebuilt system of the Armed Forces for operational deployment. The conversion, which is being carried out as part of the "Radar" project, took place step by step at each location. The modernisation of the radar sensors was approved in the 2016 armament programme.

Switzerland operates four radar stations for permanent air surveillance. For this purpose, it deploys the Florako system, the air surveillance and central dispatching system of the Air Force. Florako is used to detect and identify civil and military flying objects and to conduct the operations of the Air Force. The associated radar sensors (called Flores) are part of the Florako system and had to be modernised to ensure functionality over the coming years.

In order to guarantee the daily operations of the Air Force continuously, the conversion of the radar stations was carried out step and by step and coordinated at each location. Intervention in the system is complex and requires comprehensive detailed planning - particularly because the conversion work sometimes had to be managed under difficult conditions at up to 3000 metres above sea level.

After the acceptance and operational tests had been successfully carried out, the Air Force released the fourth converted radar location, together with armasuisse, for operational use on 20 March 2025. The system was returned to the Armed Forces for use and to the Armed Forces Cyber Command for operation. The project thus reached a further important milestone. In the next phase, sub-projects such as the replacement of control and display units as well as open items and guarantee work will be completed. Project completion is planned after all warranty periods have expired in November 2026.

Relationship to the "Air2030" programme

The programme "Air2030" does not only include the projects "New Fighter Aircraft" (NFA) and "Longer-range ground-based air defence system" (GBAD LR), but also the projects "Radar" and "RLE@NDP" (C2Air). These last two projects concern the gradual replacement and modernisation of the Florako components. They will be carried out first and will be submitted to Parliament in separate armaments programmes.



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European Peace Facility: Council adopts third assistance measure in support of the Armed Forces of Mauritania

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Press release

24 March 2025 14:20

The Council today adopted a third assistance measure worth 20 million under the European Peace Facility to provide the Mauritanian armed forces with military equipment.

This decision comes in addition to two other assistance measures worth 12 million and 15 million, adopted on 1 December 2022 and 22 July 2024 respectively. They support the efforts of the Mauritanian armed forces to promote stability in the Sahel, counter the risk of destabilisation and protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Mauritania and its civilian population against internal and external aggression.

The EU's overall support for Mauritania under the European Peace Facility now totals 47 million.

As part of this package, the EU is already providing the Mauritanian armed forces with capacities needed to carry out military activities on land and at sea, whether in terms of surveillance, deterrence or operations.

The newly adopted assistance measure will complement the existing package and will equip the army with mobile land surveillance assets and the navy with a second patrol boat, identical to the one expected under the assistance measure adopted in 2024.

This equipment will support the Mauritanian Armed Forces' efforts to increase situational awareness on national territory. They will also contribute to a permanent presence at sea, in support of maritime security and in cooperation with the existing Yaounde architecture.

Background:

The European Peace Facility was established in March 2021 to finance EU external actions with military or defence implications, with the aim of preventing conflict, preserving peace and strengthening international security and stability. In particular, the EPF allows the EU to finance actions designed to strengthen the capacities of third states and regional and international organizations as regards military and defence matters.

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Egypt: Press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas after the meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty

European External Action Service (EEAS)

24.03.2025

Cairo

Check against delivery!

Thank you very much.

Good afternoon everybody.

It is a pleasure to be here. Minister Abdelatty, dear Badr, thank you for the warm hospitality here.

We discussed many important issues that the Foreign Minister has already covered, including relations between the European Union and Egypt, as well as the regional worries.

I must stress that the European Union and Egypt are very important partners.

Since we signed the Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership last year we have deepened our relationship and there is a lot to build on. You already pointed out different areas, spanning political relations, trade, migration, security and education.

We greatly appreciate Egypt's vital efforts in promoting stability across the region at a time when there are so many dangerous security developments going on.

I think that we really need to stick together.

Today, particularly we discussed the situation in Gaza. Egypt has played a key role amid the ceasefire negotiations and we are very grateful for that.

We strongly oppose Israel's resumption of hostilities, which caused an appalling loss of life in Gaza. The killing must stop. In a new war, both sides lose. That is very clear.

From the European side, it is very clear that Hamas must release all hostages. Israel must fully reinstate humanitarian aid into Gaza. Negotiations must resume.

While it is difficult to speak of rebuilding of Gaza while bombs are flying, we also discussed the Arab plan for Gaza's reconstruction. The plan offers a solid blueprint for rebuilding, and, again, I thank Egypt for the crucial role you have played in hosting the talks.

The European Union is ready to assist and is preparing a financial package to support also Gaza's reconstruction. But it is clear that more clarity is needed on issues such as cost-sharing, security arrangements, and the future governance of Gaza. We will be discussing these issues with the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee later today.

We also remain committed to strengthening the governance of the region. It is clear that we do not support Hamas participating in the governance of Gaza in the future.

What I want to stress is that the EU's commitment to the two-state solution is the only path to a real lasting and sustainable peace. The EU is committed to the two state solution, so we are supporting that path.

We also discussed Syria. The recent violence has shown that hope is hanging by a thread in Syria and we need to do everything to have stability in the region. Syrians have a small window of opportunity to shape their own destiny and this process has to be Syrian-led and Syrian-owned. And we will have to help them seize to size this opportunity window.

Last week, in Brussels we hosted the Syria Conference, pledging 5.8 billion euros for Syria's recovery. But, of course, the lifting of sanctions is a step-for-step approach so we need to see the steps going in the right direction. This pledging will also support Syria at this crucial time of transition and help address the dire needs on the ground.

Foreign Minister, thank you again for the hospitality.

I think that there is a lot of work to do, that we need to work together for the stability of the region but also for the stability of the whole world, so I am really glad to be working with you and really looking forward to a close cooperation.

Q&A

Q. You have said that the EU is supporting the Arab Islamic Egyptian plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza strip and you mentioned that Israel should take the responsibility of the ceasefire. So, what is the stance of the European Union towards Hamas? Would you like that Hamas gets out of the scene in order to provide the support, or not?

Thank you for the question. Yes, we welcome the Arab Plan but, like I said, it also has a lot of questions that need to be clarified. One question is the cost sharing of the future reconstruction, the very important question of the governance of Gaza in the future and the security arrangements as well, because the security concerns of Israel also need to be taken into account.

The European Union's position is that Hamas should have no role in the future governance of Gaza and that is something that we definitely need to discuss because the Arab plan does not address this in concrete terms.

Q. You will leave from Egypt to Israel. In light of the Israeli aggression in Gaza and in the south of Lebanon, what is the political role of the European Union? How can the European Union practice pressure to stop this aggression? In addition, on the plan of the reconstruction in Gaza, can the European Union have a power inside Gaza in the first phases?

Thank you. Yes, I will travel to Israel and of course, we will raise all these issues because we are very concerned about the hostilities and the loss of life in Gaza due to Israel's resumption of hostilities. We had the Association Council with Israel where we were also raising all these issues: that they should resume the negotiations and stop the killing there and stop the bombing there. Of course, the hostages have to be released as well.

So, our messages are very clear: humanitarian law has to be followed, people's lives have to be saved, humanitarian aid must reach the people, it can't be politicised. Our border-crossing mission that the minister was mentioning, EUBAM Rafah has to be open, because people with medical needs will get out of Gaza. It is very important that the hostilities stop and people's lives are saved and spared. I think that the resumption of this war just brings more killing and is not in the interest of anybody. So, I will definitely raise these issues and we, European Union, will use the tools that are in our hands.

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Ministry of defence unveils Defence Artificial Intelligence Strategy

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Defence

24. March 2025 - 9:25

The Ministry of Defence published Estonia's first Defence Artificial Intelligence (AI) Development Strategy. The strategy sets out guidelines for the development of AI in the defence domain, defines the objectives for AI implementation within the Ministry of Defence's area of governance, and establishes the framework for achieving these objectives.

"As an e-state, Estonia has a clear understanding of the advantages brought by technological advancements. The effective application of AI in Estonia's national defence is an attractive and accessible opportunity to create asymmetric and cost-effective advantages over a superior adversary," said Miiko Peris, Acting Undersecretary for Defence Industry and Innovation at the Ministry of Defence.

AI has seen widespread application in military decision-making support, intelligence processing, and targeting in both the war of aggression against Ukraine and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

"Given the intensive development of AI in defence among allied nations, the development and implementation of AI in Estonia's defence sector is not only a necessity but to a certain extent an obligation to maintain interoperability with countries that contribute to ensuring Estonia's security," the strategy states. The strategy is available to read in both Estonian and English.

According to the strategy, AI implementation within the Ministry of Defence's area of governance must deliver practical value, enhance Estonia's defence capabilities, provide Estonia with direct military advantages, improve support services and logistics, foster the growth of the local defence industry, and thereby contribute to the broader Estonian economy.

The Ministry of Defence's new organisational structure places a stronger focus on defence industry and innovation. To ensure the systematic implementation of the AI strategy and support the technological advancement of the Estonian Defence Forces, a new position responsible for innovation and technological development will be established within the Defence Forces, with a broader structural unit planned for the future.

The strategy's key action areas also include developing a digital information infrastructure for the Defence Forces, advancing high-tech expertise, fostering cooperation with civilian structures, and participating in suitable international networks and projects.

At the 2024 Washington Summit, NATO unveiled its new AI strategy, aimed at accelerating the adoption of AI in capability development and maintaining the Alliance's innovation edge. In addition to NATO, AI strategies for the defence domain have been published by the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Read the Defence AI Strategy: Defence Artificial Intelligence strategy for Estonia | Kaitseministeerium

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China had never received any asylum application from Duterte or his family: Chinese FM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Mar 24, 2025 05:03 PM

When asked to confirm a recent media report that former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte had requested asylum from China before being arrested by the International Criminal Court but was allegedly rejected, FM spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that Duterte's visit to Hong Kong was a private vacation trip, and the Chinese government had never received any so-called asylum application from Duterte or his family.

Guo said that the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong has already responded to Duterte's visit to Hong Kong, and relevant personnel from the Philippine side has also made statements.

Philippine media GMA News Online reported on Thursday that China "allegedly rejected Duterte's request for asylum", citing a so-called source. It also said the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group preferred to apprehend Duterte in Hong Kong but the Hong Kong Police Force refused to cooperate with Interpol as China is not a member or party to the Rome Statute.

"Regarding the so-called revelations by some individuals with ulterior motives who fabricated stories, we hope that friends from media will carefully discern and not easily believe them," said Guo.

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Dozens killed in fresh Israeli strikes on Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 24, 2025

Israel's fresh strikes across the Gaza Strip have left at least 61 Palestinians killed, including two journalists, in a span of 24 hours.

The casualties were announced by the Health Ministry in Gaza on Monday, according to Qatar's Al Jazeera TV network. The ministry said 134 Palestinians were also injured.

Israel resumed its military offensive in the Gaza Strip on March 18 in violation of a ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas.

The latest fatalities bring to 730 the number of Palestinians killed since the start of the renewed offensive that has also left 1,367 people injured.

Two journalists, identified as Mohammed Mansour and Hussam Shabat, were among those killed in the latest Israeli attacks. Hussam Shabat lost his life in a strike on Gaza City, while Mohammed Mansour was killed in an attack on his house in the southern city of Khan Yunis.

Since the onset of the Gaza war in early October 2023, the Israeli regime has killed 207 journalists as part of a campaign that Palestinians say is aimed at silencing their voice.

At least 50,082 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war. The real number is believed to be much higher, as Gaza officials say thousands missing are presumed dead.

4208**4194

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Iran warns about impact of Israel's warmongering on global peace

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 24, 2025

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has vehemently condemned the renewed Israeli aggression against Lebanon, warning about its repercussions on international peace and security.

Baqaei made the reaction on Sunday night after the latest Israeli attacks on Lebanon hit multiple locations in the east and south of the country a day earlier, leaving at least six people dead and around 30 others wounded.

He described the repeated Israeli strikes against Lebanon and Syria, occurring alongside the intensification of the genocide in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, as a significant threat against international peace and security.

The spokesperson further said that Israel had already violated its ceasefire agreement with Lebanon in the past month, and the regime's intensified attacks over the past three days are a clear sign of its lawlessness and disregard for international legal principles and norms.

He called on the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, as well as the countries that guarantee the ceasefire in Lebanon, to take immediate and effective action to halt the Israeli aggression.

Baqaei extended condolences to the Lebanese people and government over the deaths of several people in the latest Israeli attacks. He also expressed sympathy with the families of the victims, and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.

The ceasefire deal in Lebanon took effect on November 27 last year, ending months of clashes between Israel and the Hezbollah resistance movement. The regime however has kept violating the truce and continued to maintain a military presence at five locations in south of Lebanon in breach of the deal.

4208**4194

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Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Sadiq Khan's visit to Afghanistan 21-23 March

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

24 Mar 2025

On the direction of the Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister, the Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq, visited Kabul on 21-23 March 2025.

The Special Representative called on the Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Amir Khan Muttaqi, on 22 March. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on all issues of mutual concern, including peace and security, trade and economic cooperation, as well as people-to-people contacts.

The Special Representative reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to continued engagement and mutually beneficial ties with Afghanistan, and underscored the importance of addressing all issues of concern, particularly security, to further consolidate bilateral ties. Both sides agreed to enhance high-level engagement and dialogue to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

The two sides also reinforced the commitment to a mutually beneficial bilateral relationship, with a view to achieving lasting regional peace and stability.

The Special Representative also met with Acting Commerce Minister of Afghanistan, Nooruddin Azizi. Both sides discussed bilateral trade and economic relations, as well as cooperation in the areas of transit and connectivity.

The Special Representative reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to reinforcing mutually beneficial ties with Afghanistan. The two sides agreed to harness full potential of regional trade and connectivity for the mutual benefit of both countries.

Upon his return, the Special Representative briefed the DPM/FM about his meetings with the Afghan leadership. The DPM/FM expressed satisfaction at the discussions held with the Afghan side and issued directions to further consolidate bilateral ties, including through high-level engagement and enhancement of trade and transit cooperation.

81/2025



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Death toll from Israeli strikes in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023 surpasses 50,000: health authorities

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:13, March 24, 2025

GAZA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has topped 50,000, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Sunday.

In the past 24 hours, 41 bodies and 61 wounded people were brought to hospitals across Gaza, bringing the total death toll to 50,021, with 113,274 injured since fighting erupted in early October 2023, the statement said.

Since a new wave of Israeli airstrikes began on March 18, at least 673 people have been killed and 1,233 wounded, the health authorities said.

Also on Sunday, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) warned that Israel's three-week blockade of aid to Gaza is accelerating a hunger crisis.

"No food, no medicines, no water, no fuel. A siege more stringent than during the initial phase of the war," the agency posted on social media platform X.

It emphasized that Gaza's population relies on imports for survival, with children increasingly facing starvation and disease as aid remains blocked.

Israel halted all supply entries to Gaza on March 2, citing security concerns.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Israel on Sunday for using access to water as a "tool of torture and displacement," alleging it aims to undermine development and entrench its occupation of Palestinian territories, in a statement marking World Water Day, observed annually on March 22.

He called for an immediate ceasefire, unfettered aid access, and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza while appealing for global support to establish a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

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Trump's "transactional foreign policy" hits deadlock

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:10, March 24, 2025

The essence of the "transactional foreign policy" is nothing more than coercion diplomacy rooted in power, serving the narrow self-interests of the United States.

BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- In the two months since taking office, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has been aggressively pursuing its foreign policy agenda under the belief that everything is subject to "deals," triggering wide backlash in international society.

The essence of Trump's foreign policy is "purely transactional," said an article on the U.S. website The National Interest.

"ALL I KNOW, IS... DEALS"

"My whole life is deals. That's all I know, is deals," said Trump following his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron about a month ago.

When it comes to the means to facilitate these deals, as Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, put it, "We could do that with carrots, and we can do that with sticks."

On the issue of the Ukraine crisis, to facilitate negotiations between the parties, the Trump administration threatened that Russia would face U.S. sanctions if it refused to participate in talks, and that Ukraine would lose U.S. aid if it declined to negotiate.

The United States has also coveted Ukraine's resources, initially demanding rare earth elements, followed by oil, natural gas and other mineral resources.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly opposed these demands at first. His fiery clash with Trump at the White House on Feb. 28 shocked the world, prompting the United States to suspend military aid to Ukraine and cut off intelligence-sharing.

When they spoke by phone on Wednesday, Trump even suggested to Zelensky that the United States could help run, and possibly own, Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, according to a statement by the U.S. presidential administration.

On the Palestinian question, Trump demanded that Hamas release detained Israeli hostages, threatening that "or it is OVER for you" on March 5 in a post on Truth Social.

Trump also proposed to "clean out" Gaza in late January and used the suspension of aid as leverage to pressure Egypt and Jordan to accept Palestinians.

To address the issues of illegal immigration and fentanyl within the United States, the Trump administration wielded the "tariff stick" against Mexico and Canada. According to the Trump administration's logic, these two major problems were caused by Canada and Mexico, and if they are not resolved, tariffs will be imposed.

Trump also set his sights on Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.

He said that the United States would take control of Greenland "one way or the other," refusing to rule out economic or military coercion. Trump said he would consider imposing tariffs on Denmark "at a very high level" if it resisted his offer to acquire the territory.

Referring to Trump's book where he talks about his experiences as a hotel developer, Sina Toossi, a fellow at the U.S. think tank Center for International Policy, told AFP: "He approaches diplomacy the way he approached real estate in 'The Art of the Deal:' -- escalate tensions, maximize threats, push the situation to the brink of disaster and then, at the last minute, strike a deal."

"TRANSACTIONAL FOREIGN POLICY" REACHES IMPASSE

"My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier," Trump declared in his inaugural address on Jan. 20. But how effective is his "transactional foreign policy?"

After Trump's phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, U.S. media believe that Russia has in effect rejected the U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire plan for Russia and Ukraine.

The Washington Post reported that the call between the U.S. and Russian leaders highlighted differences more than agreement.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is also dissatisfied with the proposal to halt attacks on each other's energy infrastructure within 30 days, hoping to extend the ceasefire to include other civilian infrastructure.

Zelensky said that Ukraine has no intention of transferring the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which the Trump administration is interested in.

As with Ukraine, Trump has pledged to bring "peace" to the Middle East, but his failure to facilitate "deals" through coercion and pressure has led to the rekindling of the flames of war in Gaza and Yemen.

After "full coordination with the United States," the Israeli military resumed large-scale airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, signaling the collapse of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Additionally, the U.S. military began large-scale military operations against Yemen's Houthi group on March 15. In retaliation, the Houthis claimed to have attacked U.S. aircraft carriers multiple times.

After the Trump administration launched its "tariff war," many countries implemented countermeasures. On March 12, the Canadian government announced a 25-percent retaliatory tariff on 29.8 billion Canadian dollars' (20.7 billion U.S. dollars') worth of U.S. goods.

On the same day, the European Commission declared that the European Union (EU) would impose retaliatory tariffs on 26 billion euros' (28.3 billion U.S. dollars') worth of U.S. goods starting in April, targeting items such as beef, poultry, whiskey and motorcycles.

Trump's tariffs "are an act of self-harm," The Economist said in a recent article.

Trump's remarks about Greenland have also increased anti-American sentiment on the island. To protest Trump's remarks about acquiring the territory, an anti-American rally was held on March 15 in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, with thousands of demonstrators marching to the U.S. Consulate there.

Danish and EU officials also voiced their support for Greenland. "I believe that Greenland will remain part of the Danish Commonwealth for quite some time," Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said recently.

"To all the people of Greenland and of Denmark as a whole, I want to be very clear that Europe will always stand for sovereignty and territorial integrity," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday.

The Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun commented Thursday: "Another major offensive has begun in the Middle East, and Russia declined to endorse a full ceasefire in Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump's diplomacy based on deals has apparently stalled."

A MORE DANGEROUS WORLD

Analysts believe that the root cause of the impasse in "transactional foreign policy" lies in Trump's sole focus on U.S. interests. He disregards the demands and needs of others, especially those of conflicting parties, and makes no effort to address the underlying issues.

"For Trump, foreign policy isn't about carefully negotiated peace deals. It's about performance, leverage and crafting a narrative that sells," Toossi said.

Trump's ability to create bargaining chips out of thin air and force concessions through coercion and inducement rely on the United States' military and economic strength, analysts said.

The essence of his "transactional foreign policy" is nothing more than coercion diplomacy rooted in power, serving the narrow self-interests of the United States. Rather than solving problems at their root, it ignores the concerns of relevant parties and pressures them to accept U.S. terms.

"Team Trump claims that its dealmaking will bring peace and that, after 80 years of being taken for a ride, America will turn its superpower status into profit," said The Economist in an article.

"Instead it will make the world more dangerous, and America weaker and poorer," it added.

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Philippines and Australia Strengthen Partnership in Defense and Foreign Affairs Strategic Dialogue

Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs

CANBERRA 24 March 2025 -- Senior officials from the Philippines and Australia convened on 20 March 2024 for the 7th iteration of the Philippines-Australia Strategic Dialogue, reaffirming both nations' commitment to deepening cooperation on regional security, defense collaboration, and emerging areas of mutual interest.

The discussions focused on enhancing maritime cooperation, countering transnational crime, ASEAN chairship in 2026, and strategic alliances. There were also discussions on bolstering defense ties, such as maritime security, countering terrorism, defense infrastructure, and defense policies. Both sides also explored new areas for cooperation, including cybersecurity, climate resilience, and critical infrastructure, among others.

Australia emphasized its shared views with the Philippines on current challenges facing the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific region. Australia also expressed continued support for the Philippines' capacity building requirements and supply of operational assets.

The foreign affairs and defense officials reiterated their commitment to the 2023 Philippines-Australia Strategic Partnership and agreed to sustain high-level exchanges, joint exercises, and programs that enhance regional peace and stability.

The Philippine delegation also visited the ASEAN-Australia Center and Australia Office of National Intelligence. END

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Marcos to new BTA execs: Continue BARMM's path to peace, progress

Philippine News Agency

By Darryl John Esguerra

March 24, 2025, 7:55 pm

MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday swore in the newly-appointed members of the Parliament of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), urging them to continue the region's path toward peace, self-governance, and long-term development.

In his message, Marcos underscored the vital role of the new BTA members in shaping the future of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and reinforcing their responsibility to uphold peace and development.

"To my fellow government workers in the Bangsamoro, you pledged to uphold the trust of your constituents. You will carry the aspirations of those who have longed for peace and self-governance," he said.

"You will be instrumental to create a future built by and for the Bangsamoro people," he added.

"Nakataya ang inyong mga pangalan at ang pag-asa ng ating mga kababayan sa inyong sinumpaang tungkulin. Huwag nating makakalimutan na ang inyong tungkulin ay para sa isang mas makatarungan at mas maunlad na Bangsamoro (Your names and the hopes of our countrymen are at stake in your sworn duty. Let us not forget that your duty is for a more just and prosperous Bangsamoro)."

The President acknowledged the region's history of conflict and division, before stressing the importance of moving forward.

"With you at the helm, I am confident that you will continue to prove that the implementation of every single signed agreement is a step towards long-lasting peace," he said.

Marcos also highlighted the collective responsibility of both the national and regional governments to protect the progress made in the Bangsamoro peace process to ensure the region's "uninterrupted advancement."

The Chief Executive also took the opportunity to emphasize the nation's diversity, stating that despite differing faiths and histories, unity should prevail.

"Like the many rivers flowing through Mindanao, our people have followed different paths. Some are shaped by the call to an afternoon prayer. Others heed the ringing of church bells. But just as these waters converge, so too we can move harmoniously together," he said.

Marcos further said the shared desire for peace and progress is the foundation of the nation's identity.

"At the center of our national identity is a common thread that binds us: our longing for peace and for progress," he said.

Marcos also led the breaking of the fast or the Iftar, a celebration in solidarity with the Bangsamoro community as they observe the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Also in the gathering are members of the Cabinet, members of the Diplomatic Corps, and international peace partners.

Marcos recently appointed Abdulraof Macacua as Bangsamoro Interim Chief Minister. He will lead BARMM until the winners in the region's first parliamentary elections are proclaimed after the October elections. (PNA)

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DND chief cites need for stronger defense posture vs. WPS threats

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

March 24, 2025, 5:34 pm

MANILA -- Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Monday cited the need for a stronger defense posture and proactive measures against threats in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong, in a news release, said Teodoro made the remark in his speech at the 49th founding anniversary of the Puerto Princesa, Palawan-based Western Command (Wescom).

"Representing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Secretary Teodoro conveyed the Commander-in-Chief's appreciation for Wescom's unwavering efforts in securing the WPS," Andolong said.

During the event, Teodoro cited the need for enhanced regional engagements and commended Wescom's steadfast commitment to its mandate amid growing geopolitical challenges.

The DND chief stressed that a united front comprising the military, government, and Filipino people is crucial in defending the nation's sovereign rights and maritime interests.

He added the need for internal security operations to evolve in response to emerging threats posed by external actors seeking to undermine the Philippines' territorial integrity and maritime claims.

"Much as they (Chinese Communist Party) would like to claim, no ASEAN country accepts the legitimacy of that 10-dash line, because that is the biggest fiction and lie that can be sold to any right-thinking person," the DND chief noted.

Reaffirming the Philippines' commitment to strengthening international partnerships, Teodoro cited recent high-level engagements with Japan, the United States, and ASEAN partners, emphasizing a shared interest in upholding a rules-based international order. (PNA)

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Claims of assassination plot vs. Duterte baseless, Palace says

Philippine News Agency

By Darryl John Esguerra

March 24, 2025, 2:02 pm

MANILA -- Malacanang on Monday dismissed as baseless the claims of security threats against former president Rodrigo Duterte as raised by his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.

During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro addressed questions regarding the remarks made by the Vice President, who had drawn comparisons between her father's potential return to the Philippines and the assassination of former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.

Castro expressed skepticism over the fears raised by the Duterte family, questioning the sources of such stories.

She even pointed out that despite the claims of threats on the life of the Vice President, there has been no concrete evidence presented to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) or the Philippine National Police (PNP) regarding any security risks to her or her father.

"So, saan lamang po ito nakukuha, kailangan po natin kasi na mga materyales na mga ebidensiya bago po magsagawa ng ganitong mga klaseng statements, wala pong katotohanan iyan (So, where do they get this? We need materials and evidence before making these kinds of statements. There is no truth to that)," the Palace official said.

Not Ninoy but Hitler

Castro, likewise, frowned at the Vice President's comparison of her father to the late senator.

She then cited the former president's own statements, where he previously compared himself to Adolf Hitler rather than to Aquino.

"Mayroon po siyang sinabi mismo, sinabi pa niya dito (He said something) and I quote, 'Hitler massacred three million ... Now there is three million, what is it? Three million drug addicts in the Philippines. I'd be happy to slaughter them. At least if Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have me'," Castro said.

The Palace official emphasized that comparing former president Duterte to Aquino, a figure who was never associated with mass murder or crimes against humanity, was wrong.

"Napakalayo pong ipakumpara ang dating Pangulong Duterte kay Ninoy Aquino na hindi nagkaroon ng anumang record ng mass murder or crimes against humanity (It is a far cry to compare former President Duterte to Ninoy Aquino, who did not have any record of mass murder or crimes against humanity)," Castro said.

"Mas ninais po ni dating Pangulong Duterte na ikumpara ang sarili niya kay Hitler (Former president Duterte preferred to compare himself to Hitler)," she added.

Duterte is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands. He is facing crimes of humanity charges before the International Criminal Court for his bloody war on drugs as mayor of Davao City and as president. (PNA)

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PH, US armies kick off 'SABAK' 2025 drills

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

March 24, 2025, 1:17 pm

MANILA -- The Philippine Army (PA) and the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) on Monday kicked off the 'Salaknib and Balikatan' Exercises (SABAK) 2025, aimed at enhancing land defense capabilities.

PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala, in a statement, said PA vice commander Maj. Gen. Leodevic Guinid led the opening of the drills at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.

Some 5,000 soldiers --3,000 from the PA and 2,000 from the USARPAC-- are participating in the 'Salaknib' portion of the exercise.

"'SABAK' 2025 brings together the PA and USARPAC forces in a robust joint exercise across key locations in the Philippines. The exercise, designed as a continuous operation, focuses on enhancing combined/joint all-domain operations, reinforcing warfighting capabilities, and showcasing a strong bilateral commitment to safeguarding the Philippines' territorial integrity," Dema-ala said.

He said these troops will take part in various subject matter expert exchange and warfighting exercises.

Dema-ala said the first phase of "Salaknib" will take place from March 24 to April 11 while the second part will be on May 15 to July 20 and will be held in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City and the area of operations of the Isabela-based 5th Infantry Division and the Nueva Ecija-headquartered 7th Infantry Division.

Meanwhile, this year's edition of the "Balikatan" exercise is set from late April to mid-May this year.

Dema-ala said "SABAK" 2025 is aimed at strengthening defense readiness and will also provide critical training in humanitarian civil assistance, information operations, counter-intelligence, and protection.

The exercise will tackle capability enhancement on operational command and control, combined arms force-on-force, large-scale operational maneuvers, combined arms live-fire exercise, and sustainment operations in support of external security operations.

"The PA continues to develop and enhance its capabilities in partnership with its allies. Through joint exercises like 'SABAK' 2025, the Army further solidifies its readiness to respond to evolving threats and upholds its vital role in the nation's land defense as part of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) broader mission in external security operations," Dema-ala said. (PNA)

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Iran, Turkey call on global community to stop Israel's crimes in region

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 March 2025 10:57 PM

The foreign ministers of Iran and Turkey say the international community, predominantly Islamic and regional countries, must take swift action to stop the Israeli regime's crimes in the region.

In a phone conversation on Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed the latest developments in the region, particularly in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria in the wake of Israel's savage attacks, and America's bombardment of Yemen.

Referring to his participation in the recent meeting of the ministerial committee of the Arab-Islamic Contact Group in Cairo to review the situation in Gaza, Fidan emphasized the importance of Islamic countries' increased attention to the situation of the oppressed Palestinian people.

Meanwhile, Araghchi condemned the aggressions of the Israeli regime against Gaza and Lebanon in gross violation of the ceasefire agreements.

The foreign minister called for immediate action by the international community, especially Islamic and regional countries, to stop the crimes of the occupying regime.

Araghchi condemned the Israeli regime's resumption of crimes against Gaza, the occupied West Bank and Lebanon.

The top Iranian diplomat emphasized the importance of greater cooperation and coordination among regional countries to prevent aggression against Islamic countries and the escalation of insecurity and instability in the region.

The Iranian foreign minister also emphasized the principled position of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the internal developments in Turkey.

He stated that "the developments in Turkey are an internal matter of this country and Iran is confident that the competent authorities of Turkey will appropriately manage these developments based on the interests of the Turkish nation."

At the beginning of the telephone conversation, Fidan congratulated Araghchi on Nowruz and the New Year and emphasized Turkey's readiness to help find diplomatic solutions to regional and international issues.

In January, the Israeli regime was forced to agree to a ceasefire deal with Hamas given the regime's failure to achieve any of its objectives, including the "elimination" of the Palestinian resistance movement or the release of captives.

The 42-day stage of the truce, which was marred by repeated Israeli violations, expired on March 1, but Israel is refraining from stepping into talks for the second stage of the agreement.

Moreover, the regime has launched strikes on Gaza since Tuesday, breaking the ceasefire and prisoner-captive exchange agreement that lasted nearly two months.

The Israeli regime also agreed to a ceasefire with the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah on November 27 following significant losses over nearly 14 months of conflict against Lebanon and failing to achieve any of its military and political objectives including the elimination of Hezbollah.

In addition to breaking the terms of the ceasefire agreement and keeping parts of its forces in Lebanon, since the commencement of the agreement, the regime has been carrying out near-daily assaults on Lebanon.

Araghchi also slammed the US's continued military aggression against Yemen and warned of the spread of tension across the region.

The Iranian foreign minister called on regional countries to make greater efforts to counter the sinister plots against Muslim countries.

On March 15, the United States announced a wave of airstrikes that Yemeni officials said killed 53 people.

The strikes, the first since President Donald Trump resumed office, came after Yemeni forces pledged to renew operations against Israeli shipping in solidarity with the Palestinians.

In a further escalation, the United States recently announced plans to deploy a second aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, to the region.

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Greenland Angst: PM slams US officials' planned visit amid Trump takeover efforts

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 March 2025 5:49 PM

Greenland's Prime Minister Mute B Egede has slammed an upcoming trip by high-profile US officials including Usha Vance, wife of Vice President JD Vance, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright to the self-governing Danish territory.

Egede called for the international community to step in as he accused Washington of "foreign interference."

The spokesman for the White House National Security Council, Brian Hughes has said that, "This is a visit to learn about Greenland, its culture, history, and people and to attend a dog sled race the United States is proud to sponsor, plain and simple."

Waltz and Wright also plan to visit the Pituffik Space Base - a US military facility in northern Greenland. The White House has said they will get briefings from the US service members based there.

Egede, however, has refused Washington's claims about the cultural and historical nature of the visit and said, "This cannot be seen as just a private visit."

He suggested that the visit is part of a larger political power play by the US to annex the Island.

Waltz is Trump's confidant and closest advisor, and his presence in Greenland will certainly make the people of the United States to believe in Trump's mission. The pressure will increase after the visit, Egede said.

He accused Greenland's allies of being afraid of the US and of "hiding" and "almost whispering" their support.

"If they do not speak out loudly about how the US is treating Greenland, the situation will escalate day by day, and the American aggression will increase," he warned.

US President Donald Trump, who first suggested the idea of buying Greenland in 2019, has renewed his calls for the US to take over the island since his return to the White House in January.

"We need Greenland for national security and even international security, and we're working with everybody involved to try and get it," he said during his joint address to Congress.

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Tight Israeli blockade of humanitarian supplies pushing Gaza closer to 'acute hunger crisis': UNRWA chief

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 March 2025 11:12 AM

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has warned that the tight Israeli blockade on the entry of humanitarian supplies into the Gaza Strip is pushing the coastal territory closer to an acute hunger crisis.

Philippe Lazzarini made the remarks in a social media post, in which he noted that the siege, which is preventing food, medicines, water and fuel from entering the region, has lasted longer than what was in place in the first phase of the war.

Israel has banned the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza since March 4, following the expiry of the first phase of a ceasefire and an agreement with Hamas resistance movement on the exchange of Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners.

Lazzarini warned that Gaza's population depends on imports via Israeli-occupied territories for their survival.

"Every day that passes without the entry of aid means more children go to bed hungry, diseases spread & deprivation deepens," he said.

"Every day without food inches Gaza closer to an acute hunger crisis," the UNRWA chief noted.

Lazzarini described the banning of aid as a collective punishment on Gaza's population - the vast majority of which are children, women and ordinary men.

He called for the siege to be lifted and for humanitarian aid and commercial supplies to be brought into Gaza "uninterrupted and at scale."

Backed by the United States and its Western allies, Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against the Israeli regime in response to its decades-long campaign of oppression against Palestinians.

The regime's bloody onslaught on Gaza has so far killed at least 50,021 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 113,274 others. Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under the rubble.

On November 21 last year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its deadly war on the blockaded coastal sliver.

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'Unjust and brutal': Houthi blasts Israel's Lebanon attacks, vows all-out support for Hezbollah

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 March 2025 5:24 AM

Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement has warned that the country stands ready to intervene against the Israeli regime if the Tel Aviv regime escalates its aggression against Lebanon into another full-scale war.

Abdul-Malik al-Houthi reaffirmed the movement's unwavering support for Lebanon and its Hezbollah resistance movement following deadly Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon.

"If the Israeli enemy engages in a return to all-out war and comprehensive aggression, we will stand by your side," he declared. "In any circumstances that require our intervention in a supportive position, we are prepared to do so (resort to the intervention)."

Israel's latest attacks, which killed seven people and injured 40 others across Lebanon, prompting Beirut and many other states to condemn the aggression, calling for international pressure on the regime to halt its violations of the Lebanese sovereignty.

The atrocities mount concerns about Tel Aviv's plot to launch another war on the country after killing more than 4,000 Lebanese people and wounding thousands of others during a wholesale brutal military onslaught between October 2023 and last November, when the regime entered a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah.

The war came in response to the Lebanese group's pro-Palestinian operations in support of the Gaza Strip, which had come under genocidal Israeli warfare.

'Brutal'

Al-Houthi denounced the recent Israeli strikes as "brutal and unjust," emphasizing Yemen's solidarity with Lebanon.

"There is no justification for this brutal and unjust aggression," he said, reasserting Sana'a's "firm and principled [supportive] stance with our brothers in Hezbollah and the Lebanese people."

The Ansarullah leader again warned that Yemen would not stand idly by in the face of further Israeli escalation.

"Just as we said to our brothers among the Palestinian people, 'You are not alone,' we also say to our brothers in Hezbollah and among the Lebanese people: You are not alone. We are by your side."

Ansarullah has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian and Lebanese people and resistance movements in the face of Israeli bloodletting and destruction.

Since the Israeli onslaught on Gaza and Lebanon began on October 7, 2023, the group has carried out numerous retaliatory strikes on Israeli and Israeli-linked targets, including the vessels traversing Red Sea shipping routes.

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Iran warns Israeli aggression against Lebanon threatens global peace, security

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 March 2025 2:28 AM

Iran has warned that the Israeli regime's aggression against Lebanon poses a serious threat to international peace and security, urging the international community to act decisively.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei strongly condemned Israel's strikes across various parts of Lebanon, which have claimed the lives of dozens of Lebanese civilians recently.

Baghaei linked the Israeli regime's aggression against Lebanon and Syria to Tel-Aviv's recently intensified genocidal campaign in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, describing the combined offensives as a grave escalation that threatens regional and global stability.

Referring to repeated ceasefire violations by Israeli forces over the past two months, Baghaei said that the latest wave of attacksparticularly over the past few daysunderscores Tel Aviv's "lawlessness" and its disregard for international law and humanitarian norms.

He emphasized the urgent responsibility of the international community, especially the United Nations Security Council, to intervene and halt Israel's ongoing aggression.

Baghaei also expressed condolences to the families of the Lebanese victims and conveyed solidarity with the people and government of Lebanon, wishing a speedy recovery for the wounded.

Israeli attacks resumed Saturday morning after three rockets were allegedly fired from southern Lebanon into the occupied territories.

On Saturday, Israeli airstrikes killed at least seven people and injured 40 more across Lebanon.

Later that day, Israeli warplanes struck a parking area in Tyre's al-Raml neighborhood, injuring four civilians.

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Sri Lanka reports 758 tuberculosis deaths in 2024

Xinhua) 10:05, March 25, 2025

COLOMBO, March 24 (Xinhua) -- A total of 758 Sri Lankans died from tuberculosis in 2024, Pramitha Shanthilatha, director of the National Program for Tuberculosis Control and Chest Diseases (NPTCCD) said on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion of the World Tuberculosis Day, she said approximately 9,000 tuberculosis cases were reported across the country last year, with the majority coming from Colombo District in the Western Province.

"In 2024, we recorded 5,291 male patients, 3,259 female patients, and 250 children diagnosed with tuberculosis," she said.

Sri Lanka is working toward eradicating tuberculosis by 2030, she added. Most government hospitals are equipped to diagnose the disease, and the NPTCCD regularly conducts mobile clinics to provide free testing.

She noted that Sri Lanka typically reports between 9,000 and 12,000 tuberculosis cases annually.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Yemen says US aggression against Sana'a killed civilian, injured 13

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 March 2025 1:21 AM

Yemen's Ministry of Health and Environment has announced that a US aggression against civilian infrastructure and residential buildings in Ma'in District, Sana'a, killed one civilian and injured 13 others.

According to preliminary figures, the injured include three children and two women, following the US strike in the Asr neighborhood, located in the western outskirts of Sana'a.

The ministry condemned the aggression, holding the US fully responsible for the deliberate targeting of civilians and residential areas.

"Targeting civilians, civilian objects is a full-fledged war crime and a blatant violation of international laws and treaties," the ministry stated.

Earlier on Saturday, US forces stationed in the Red Sea launched a new round of airstrikes on Yemen's northern Sa'ada province, striking areas near the provincial capital.

Yemen's al-Masirah TV reported that three US airstrikes hit the Red Sea coastal airport late Saturday, while additional strikes were carried out on the port of Salif in Hudaydah province.

US warplanes also launched five strikes on the Majzar district in central Ma'rib province, and further attacks targeted Sahar and Kitaf wa al-Boqe'e districts in northwestern Sa'ada.

Between Wednesday and Friday, al-Masirah reported similar attacks, while US Central Command confirmed "continuous operations" against Yemen beginning midweek.

On March 15, US airstrikes killed 53 people in what marked the first wave of aggression against Yemen since US President Donald Trump resumed office.

The US aggression against Yemen came as Sana'a vowed to target Israeli-linked vessels after the Tel Aviv regime resumed its blockade on Gaza, halting the entry of vital aid into the Strip.

In a sign of further escalation, the US has announced plans to deploy a second aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, to the region.

Commenting Saturday night, Ansarullah leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said that while Washington views aircraft carriers as symbols of power, they have now become "a burden and a danger" to the US itself.

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Vietnam investigates Chinese tea brand over controversial ocean map

Chagee is accused of displaying the 'nine-dash line' on its mobile app.

By Mike Firn for RFA

2025.03.24

BANGKOK -- Authorities in Vietnam's business capital are investigating a Chinese milk tea brand for using a controversial map of Beijing's disputed South China Sea territorial claims in its marketing material, state media reported.

On Thursday, the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee's Propaganda and Public Relations Department held a news conference to discuss "public outrage" after Chagee's first Vietnam store put an image of the nine-dash line on its mobile app, VietNamNet said.

The line - otherwise known as the cow-tongue line - stakes out most of the South China Sea to back China's disputed claim over the waters. An international arbitration tribunal, in a case brought by the Philippines in 2016, ruled that China's claim to "historic rights" over the territory was unlawful. Beijing declared the ruling "null and void" and refused to recognize it.

Culture Department Deputy Chief Inspector Tran Binh Thien said on Thursday that he was working with city police to investigate Chagee Vietnam Company Limited over its use of the disputed map, and Vietnamese media claims that the brand disseminated "unlawful information."

He said organizations should avoid potentially illegal marketing by using only government-sanctioned maps in their promotional materials. He also warned individuals of the risks of sharing nine-dash images on the internet.

Responding to the controversy, Chagee took down all its advertising and branding for the Ho Chi Minh City tea shop, ahead of its launch, VietNamNet said. Phone calls to the company's Vietnam operation went unanswered.

Earlier this month, Vietnam ordered officials to confiscate a Chinese-made doll with an image printed on its cheek resembling the nine-dash line. The toy, known as "Baby Three," had been sold in Vietnam at sidewalk stores and online shops since last May, according to Vietnamese media.

Last year, the Hollywood movie "Barbie" was banned in Vietnam because authorities said it included a cartoonish map showing China's territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Edited by Stephen Wright 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.

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USAGM Agrees To Release Portion Of Radio Free Europe Grant As Judge Mulls Case

By Todd Prince and Margot Buff March 24, 2025

WASHINGTON -- The US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) committed to release to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) a portion of funds appropriated to it by Congress just ahead of a scheduled court hearing on the issue as part of a legal case brought by the broadcaster against the government over the agency's attempt to terminate RFE/RL's federal funding.

The move on March 24 means RFE/RL will receive $7.46 million, an amount covering the period from March 1 to March 14, the day before USAGM claimed to terminate its grant to RFE/RL.

"The agency has taken immediate administrative steps to initiate the disbursement," the USAGM said in a letter attached to the court filing, adding that the disbursement should occur by March 26, with RFE/RL receiving the funds by the end of the month.

At the court hearing later on March 24, Abigail Stout, a Justice Department lawyer representing the USAGM, argued the grant agreement between USAGM and RFE/RL, as stated in the International Broadcasting Act, gives the agency the right to terminate the agreement if RFE/RL fails to comply with the provisions outlined within it.

"So, the statute actually contemplates that the agency could terminate a grant," she said.

In response, David Zionts, one of RFE/RL's lawyers, said "it would make no sense" for Congress to approve funding only for agencies to be able to do as they please.

RFE/RL is still seeking the remainder of the grant funds due for the full 2025 budget year, which ends September 30, 2025, and is seeking a preliminary injunction from the court for that purpose. Judge Royce Lamberth is expected to decide whether or not to issue the injunction in the coming weeks.

The threat to the broadcaster's funding has sparked a wave of support from the audiences in the 27 languages and 23 countries in which RFE/RL broadcasts.

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.

"Sometimes you were like a ray of light that broke through the darkness of lies," Oleh Prozorov, a reader from Ukraine, wrote on Facebook while thanking RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service for its "protection of political freedoms."

The directive to terminate funding came hours after an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump called for the reduction of seven agencies - including the USAGM - to "the maximum extent consistent with applicable law."

The purported termination of RFE/RL's grant was communicated in a letter signed by Kari Lake, who listed her title as "Senior Advisor to the (USAGM) Acting CEO with Authorities Delegated by Acting CEO." The letter stated "the award no longer effectuates agency priorities." It gave no further explanation.

Lake has been nominated by Trump to take over as head of Voice of America, though her nomination must still be approved by the International Broadcasting Advisory Board (IBAB).

The members of the IBAB, an advisory board established by Congress to oversee the activities of the USAGM, were removed from their positions by the US administration in January and have not been replaced.

Trump, who has taken several moves to slash government spending since taking office for a second term in January, clashed with the USAGM over the content of US-government-funded programming during his first term.

He has reiterated those concerns since retaking office. Supporters of the broadcasters say they are an important arm of US diplomacy.

"It is vital that Congress protect USAGM, ensure the safety of its affiliate journalists, and reaffirm the U.S. government's commitment to a free and independent media at home and abroad," a group of 28 press freedom and journalist groups from around the world wrote in a letter to US lawmakers on March 19.

With the future of RFE/RL uncertain, European Union politicians have been looking into the possibility of supporting the broadcaster.

The USAGM is an independent US government agency that oversees the broadcasting of news and information in more than 60 languages to over 400 million people each week.

The total budget request for the USAGM for fiscal year 2025 was $950 million to fund all of its operations and capital investments.

This includes media outlets such as RFE/RL, Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio Marti), Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), and the Open Technology Fund.

The 2025 budget request for RFE/RL itself was about $153 million, according to USAGM documents.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/radio-free-europe- funding-media-trump-usagm/33357817.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Ministerial Committee Assigned by Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit on Gaza Holds Meeting with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Saudi Press Agency

Sunday 23/09/1446

Cairo, March 24, 2025, SPA -- Members of the ministerial committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit on developments in the Gaza Strip held a meeting on Sunday, March 23, 2025, with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah; Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani; Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palestine Dr. Mohammad Mustafa; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Ayman Safadi; Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani; Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt Dr. Badr Abdelatty; Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye Hakan Fidan; Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Sugiono; Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar; Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Nigeria in Cairo Adesuyi Samotu; Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit; and Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hissein Brahim Taha.

The following statement was issued at the conclusion of the meeting:

The Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee met on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Cairo with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas.

The Parties discussed recent developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and expressed their grave concern over the breakdown of the ceasefire in Gaza and the large number of civilian casualties in recent airstrikes.

They condemned the resumption of hostilities and the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure and called for an immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire-hostage and detainees release agreement that went into effect on January 19th, and as brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, and stressed the need for progress towards its second phase with a view to its full implementation, including the release of all hostages, a permanent end to hostilities, and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2735.

The Parties further called for the complete respect of international humanitarian law and international law. They underscored that this includes ensuring swift, sustained, and unimpeded humanitarian access and the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale into and throughout the entire Gaza Strip. In light of this, they demanded the lifting of all restrictions that hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid, as well as the immediate restoration of all basic services in the Strip, including the supply of electricity and water desalination plants.

The Parties welcomed the Arab Recovery and Reconstruction Plan, presented at the Arab Summit in Cairo on 4 March, subsequently adopted by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and welcomed by the European Council.

The Parties highlighted that the aforementioned plan ensures that the Palestinian people will remain on their territory and emphasized in this regard their categorical rejection of any displacement or expulsion of the Palestinian people out of their territory, Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and warned against the grave repercussions that would result from such actions.

The Parties underscored in this regard the importance of supporting the Conference on the Early Recovery and Reconstruction of Gaza, which is to be held in Cairo with the participation of relevant stakeholders. They called on the international community to work to mobilize resources, to be announced during the Conference, to address the catastrophic situation in Gaza.

The Parties stressed the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority (PA) and of supporting in this regard the PA in assuming all of its responsibilities in the Gaza Strip, and ensuring it can effectively uphold its role in administering both Gaza and the West Bank. They emphasized the need for respect and the preservation of the territorial integrity and unity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which is key to consolidating the Palestinian state on the basis of the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regards to Jerusalem, in line with UN resolutions, and as part of the two-state solution, thus achieving long-term peace and stability in the region. They reiterated in this regard that the Gaza Strip constitutes an integral part of the territory occupied in 1967 and reiterated the vision of the two-state solution, with the Gaza Strip as part of the Palestinian state, in line with International Law, including relevant Security Council resolutions and stressed that this should guide any discussion on the future of the Gaza Strip.

The parties expressed as well their deep concern over the Israeli military incursions in the occupied West Bank, as well as illegal practices such as settlement activities, home demolitions, and settler violence, which undermine the rights of the Palestinian people, threaten the prospects for a just and lasting peace and further entrench the conflict.

They recalled that Israel, as an occupying power, must protect civilians and comply with international humanitarian law. They firmly rejected any attempts at annexation and unilateral measures that seek to alter the legal and historical status quo of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem.

Together, the Parties reaffirmed their full commitment to a political resolution to the conflict on the basis of the two-state solution with Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference, including the principle of land for peace, and the Arab Peace Initiative, paving the way for lasting peace and coexistence between all the peoples of the region. They reaffirmed their commitment in this regard to the convening of a UN High Level International Conference in June in New York co-chaired by France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to advance these goals.

--SPA

00:36 Local Time 21:36 GMT

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Trump Team Unwittingly Sends Yemen Strike Plans to Editor of Neoliberal Magazine the President Hates

Sputnik News

20250324

Ilya Tsukanov

The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was included in a confidential Signal messaging chain detailing US planning. Here's what was revealed.

In a message to Pete Hegseth, Vice President Vance said it was at the DoD chief's discretion whether or not to proceed. "I just hate bailing Europe out again," Vance said.

Hegseth responded by saying he "fully" shared Vance's sentiments about the "free-loading" Europeans, but added that the US was the only one capable of engaging the Houthis "on our side of the ledger."

A user named S M (presumably WH deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller) chimed in, saying that "as [he] heard it, the president was clear: green light."

In return, the US would look to "extract" "some further economic gain" from the Europeans, S M indicated.

A follow-up message by Hegseth titled "TEAM UPDATE" provided operational details on the attacks, targeting details, which weapons the US would be using, and attack sequencing.

What happened?

By Goldberg's account, he was added to the confidential chat by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and didn't believe it was real at first, fearing it might be an attempt "to somehow entrap" him or a script "by a particularly adept AI text generator."

The White House has confirmed that Goldberg had been made privy to classified discussions and information by mistake. "We are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain," NSC spokesman Brian Hughes said.

The Atlantic and its editor-in-chief have been a longtime source of Trump's ire, with the president dubbing it a "second-" or "third-rate," "failing magazine" and calling "sleazebag reporter" Goldberg out by name multiple times over what Trump said was false reporting on his private conversations.

 Sputnik

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Serbia Will Not Join NATO or CSTO - Deputy Prime Minister Vulin

Sputnik News

20250324

BELGRADE (Sputnik) - Serbia will not become a member of NATO or the CSTO, it must ensure its own security, although this is difficult, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin told Sputnik.

"Serbia strictly adheres to the policy of military neutrality. This means that we will not expand our participation in any military bloc. And we will try to maintain the best relations with everyone, first of all  with the countries in our neighborhood. So Serbia will not become a member of NATO, will not be a member of the CSTO," Vulin said.

He admitted that for a country the size of Serbia, this is the hardest path.

"We must guarantee our own security, which is not easy. But this is the most honest path  to make decisions about ourselves," he emphasized.

Currently, the parliament of Serbia is an observer in the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly.

 Sputnik

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UK sanctions for human rights violations and abuses during the Sri Lankan civil war

The UK has today sanctioned figures responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses during the civil war in Sri Lanka.

24 March 2025

the UK sanctions former Sri Lankan commanders and an ex-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) commander responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses during the civil war

sanctions aim to seek accountability for serious human rights violations and abuses, committed during the civil war, and to prevent a culture of impunity

UK is committed to working with new Sri Lankan government on human rights, welcoming their commitments to national unity

The UK government has imposed sanctions on 4 individuals responsible for serious human rights abuses and violations during the Sri Lanka civil war, including extrajudicial killings, torture and/or perpetration of sexual violence.

The individuals sanctioned by the UK today include former senior Sri Lankan military commanders, and a former LTTE military commander who later led the paramilitary Karuna Group, operating on behalf of the Sri Lankan military against the LTTE.

The measures, which include UK travel bans and asset freezes, target individuals responsible for a range of violations and abuses, such as extrajudicial killings, during the civil war.

Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, David Lammy, said:

The UK government is committed to human rights in Sri Lanka, including seeking accountability for human rights violations and abuses which took place during the civil war, and which continue to have an impact on communities today. I made a commitment during the election campaign to ensure those responsible are not allowed impunity. This decision ensures that those responsible for past human rights violations and abuses are held accountable. The UK government looks forward to working with the new Sri Lankan government to improve human rights in Sri Lanka, and welcomes their commitments on national unity.

During her January visit to Sri Lanka, Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West MP, held constructive discussions on human rights with the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, civil society organisations, as well as political leaders in the north of Sri Lanka.

For communities to move forward together, there must be acknowledgement, and accountability for past wrongdoing, which the sanctions listings introduced today will support. We want all Sri Lanka communities to be able to grow and prosper.

The UK remains committed to working constructively with the Sri Lankan Government on human rights improvements as well as their broader reform agenda including economic growth and stability. As part of our Plan for Change, the UK recognises that promoting stability overseas is good for our national security.

The UK has long led international efforts to promote accountability in Sri Lanka alongside partners in the Core Group on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council, which includes Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.

Background

Those sanctioned are:

former Head of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, Shavendra Silva

former Navy Commander, Wasantha Karannagoda

former Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, Jagath Jayasuriya

former military commander of the terrorist group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan. Also known as Karuna Amman, he subsequently created and led the paramilitary Karuna Group, which worked on behalf of the Sri Lankan Army

The UK has supported Sri Lanka's economic reform through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, supporting debt restructuring as a member of Sri Lanka's Official Creditor Committee and providing technical assistance to Sri Lanka's Inland Revenue Department.

The UK and Sri Lanka share strong cultural, economic and people to people ties, including through our educational systems. The UK has widened educational access in Sri Lanka through the British Council on English language training and work on transnational education to offer internationally accredited qualifications.

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The enduring hope of Haiti's children in the midst of chaos

UNICEF

Statement by UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban upon conclusion of his visit to Haiti

24 March 2025

PORT AU PRINCE, 24 March 2025 - "Spending four days with communities and partners in Haiti, still grappling with an ongoing crisis often forgotten by the international community, underscored how heavy the toll is for children and young people in the country. Vulnerable families are being pushed to the edge of catastrophe in the centre of the country as chaos continues to deprive children of lifesaving services and exposes them to severe protection risks. Their present and future are literally under attack.

"Armed groups now control an estimated 85 per cent of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, and large parts of the food growing Artibonite regionforcing hundreds of thousands to flee and putting over a million children at risk. Access to affected communities is increasingly constrained by insecurity and the presence of armed groups.

"I visited a school-turned-displacement site in Port-au-Prince which is housing more than 7,000 people, half of whom are children. I met mothers, fathers, and children who had been forced to run for their lives, leaving everything behind. The trauma was palpable. Families spoke of fleeing through gunfire, their homes burned to ashes, their access to food, water, and healthcare abruptly cut off.

"Children are being caught in the crossfire. Some are injured, others displaced or orphaned. I also witnessed the incredible resilience of Haitians in this site, as I saw many displaced women running small stalls, selling household items like soap or bread to make a meagre living, anything to help support their children. These women were not giving up, despite all they had endured.

"The situation of the health system is critical. Over half the country's hospitals are no longer operational, with only one public hospital functioning in the capital. In Gonaives, in Artibonite, I visited a busy health centre on the brink of shutting down. It serves up to 500 people a day, including new mothers and babies, pregnant women, malnourished children, and victims of sexual violence. The medical director told me clearlywithout UNICEF's continued support, they will no longer be able to operate. Haiti's already fragile healthcare system is collapsing under the pressure of ongoing violence and increasingly limited resources but social service delivery systems are still functioning outside of the areas controlled by armed groups and need to be sustained.

"Education is no longer a sanctuary for children it is under siege, with nearly 1.5 million children out of school or at serious risk of dropping out altogether. Hundreds of schools have been destroyed, or occupied, or are being used as temporary shelters for displaced persons.

"In one school, I found hope. I met a 14-year-old teenage girl who had been raped and shot in the face. Despite the trauma she carries, she continues to attend her schoola school that once hosted 300 students but is now stretched to accommodate an additional 700 children displaced from another school forced to relocate due to escalating attacks by armed groups. She told me that despite everything that happened to her, when she steps into her classroom, she finds a sense of hope. Amid the chaos and overcrowding, she holds tightly to her dream of becoming a doctor. She refuses to let goand neither should we.

"Without access to education, these children's future is being stolen. Without protection, they face recruitment into armed groups or exposure to unspeakable violence. We estimate that 30%-50% of armed groups are composed of children. Girls are increasingly at risk of being targeted by gender-based and sexual violence by these groups, as well as in some displacement sites which do not have sufficient protection in place.

"In meetings with the President of the Transitional Council, the Prime Minister, and Ministers, we agreed on the urgent need to protect children and ensure access to essential services. Amidst ongoing challenges, both UNICEF and the Government reaffirmed their commitment to children's rights and well-being, with a focus on health, education, protection, and adolescent/youth development. We underscored the value of coordinated action led by the Government of Haiti working with its technical and financial partners such as UNICEF and of government providing adequate and sustained resource allocations including in for the humanitarian response to ensure the provision of basic social services for children and complement investments by its partners.

"UNICEF is committed to a targeted, effective and efficient humanitarian response for Haiti's children. But we cannot do it alone. Our humanitarian appeal for Haiti requires US$272 million to meet the most urgent needs of children with only US$15 million received to date. UNICEF is working to reach 128,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Haiti, a form of malnutrition that results in a 10-fold increase in risk of death if not treated. Without sustained funding from government and its partners, including UNICEF, each of these children is at heightened risk.

"The current funding crisis for humanitarian assistance goes far beyond Haiti... this is happening around the world, and the most vulnerable children are bearing the brunt. What I saw in Haiti was some the most vulnerable children in desperate need. But I also saw hope - Haiti's children still have hope for a brighter future, they are going to school whenever they can, they are refusing to give up on their lives, on their country.

"Now is not the time to give up on Haiti. Now, at a time of transition, is the time to invest in Haiti's children, in their future, to prevent a generation lost to violence."

+++

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UN peace missions strained, with trust 'in short supply' and widening divisions

By Vibhu Mishra

24 March 2025 - United Nations peace operations are facing mounting challenges as conflicts become more protracted, geopolitical divisions widen and transnational threats multiply, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Monday.

Addressing a high-level open debate in the Security Council, he called for urgent reforms to make peacekeeping more adaptable to today's increasingly complex security landscape.

"Wars are becoming more complex and more deadly. They last longer and are more enmeshed in global and regional dynamics. Negotiated settlements have been harder to achieve," Mr. Guterres said.

He noted that many conflicts transcend national borders, with terrorism, organized crime and the weaponisation of new technologies posing additional threats. At the same time, multifaceted impacts of climate change are further complicating efforts to secure peace.

Adding to the mix, divisions within the Security Council itself have made it harder to find common ground on approaching and addressing conflicts.

"Trust is in short supply among - and within - countries and regions...this is a grim diagnosis, but we must face facts."

Gap between mandates and resources

Mr. Guterres highlighted that one of the biggest hurdles facing UN peace operations is the growing gap between what missions are expected to achieve and the resources available to them.

"We see a persistent mismatch between mandates and available resources," he said, adding that the Council must recognise the limitations of peacekeeping in situations "where there is little or no peace to keep".

Despite these challenges, the UN chief emphasised that the Organization has the tools to adapt peace operations to better meet modern realities. He highlighted several recent efforts to make missions more effective and responsive.

Adapting peace operations

This includes a proposal for Haiti, where criminal gangs have overrun large parts of the country. The UN has a clear role to play in supporting stability and security, he said, while addressing the root causes of the crisis.

Similarly, in Lebanon, the UN Interim Force (UNIFIL) has developed an adaptation plan to strengthen its mandate and support compliance with Security Council resolution 1701.

Another key example is the recent Security Council resolution 2719, which enhanced the UN's partnership with the African Union (AU), paving the way for stronger collaboration in peace enforcement missions.

"This breakthrough has lifted our partnership with the AU to a new level," Mr. Guterres said, urging Member States to fully support the initiative.

Appeal for unity

Mr. Guterres noted that work is underway for a comprehensive review of UN peace operations as called for by Member States in the Pact for the Future, adopted in September last year.

The review will examine existing peacekeeping models, explore new approaches and ensure missions have realistic mandates with viable exit strategies and transition plans.

In closing, he urged all nations to overcome divides and provide the unified support necessary for peacekeeping missions to succeed.

"I call on this Security Council to continue working to overcome divisions and disagreements around peace operations and build the unified and consistent political support our peace operations - and the women and men who conduct them - need and deserve."

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Local staff 'particularly vulnerable' to detention, as UN calls for their release

24 March 2025 - Staff members of the United Nations around the world who are recruited locally are "particularly vulnerable" to detention and should be released and allowed to go home according to the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.

In the last year alone 101 UN staff members were arrested or detained globally of whom at least 52 UN personnel remain in detention.

The UN has a presence on the ground in some of the world's most dangerous and unstable locations including Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In a statement ahead of the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members the UN chief said that UN staff often serve "at immense personal risk - facing threats of kidnap, violence, harassment, detention, and more."

Mr. Guterres urged governments to ensure the safety and security of UN staff and to seek justice for crimes committed against them.

He called on all states to fulfill their obligations under international conventions related to the protection of UN personnel.

"Together, we must protect those who serve humanity and help build a better and safer world for all."

Held in Yemen

The Arabian Peninsula state of Yemen is a particularly dangerous place to work for the United Nations.

"In Yemen, 23 UN staff members, along with many other humanitarian workers, remain detained - some for more than three years," the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Philemon Yang, said in his message to mark the international day.

The staffers are being held by de facto Houthi authorities in areas of the country under their control. Yemen has been embroiled in civil conflict since 2014 between Houthi militants and the internationally-recognized Government.

Mr. Yang said that "one UN aid worker from the World Food Programme has died while detained," adding that those colleagues had "dedicated themselves to educating children, providing vital medical and food assistance to millions, and promoting peace and dialogue.

"Their work must be protected. I stand in full solidarity with all those detained. They must be released and protected."

The staff detained in Yemen are all national staff and, prior to their detention, worked with UN and other agencies including the UN human rights office (OHCHR), the UN Development Programme, UNICEF, UNESCO, the World Food Programme, and the NGOs, CARE, Save the Children, and Oxfam.

The President of the General Assembly - which comprises all 193 UN member states - called for the immediate and unconditional release of all UN staff detained in Yemen and elsewhere.

Solidarity and action

The International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members marks the anniversary of the abduction of Alec Collett, a former journalist working for the UN Palestine refugee agency, UNRWA, who was abducted by a gunman in 1985. His body was found in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley in 2009.

The aim of the international day is to mobilize action, demand justice and strengthen the resolve to protect UN staff and peacekeepers, as well as workers in the non-governmental community and the media.

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Guterres to reduce UN aid 'footprint' inside Gaza following ceasefire collapse

24 March 2025 - The UN Secretary-General on Monday took the "difficult decision" to reduce the aid operation inside the Gaza Strip following the resumption of deadly Israeli airstrikes - but pledged that "the UN is not leaving" the enclave.

"In the past week, Israel carried out devastating strikes on Gaza, claiming the lives of hundreds of civilians, including United Nations personnel, with no humanitarian aid being allowed to enter the Strip since early March," said a statement released by his Spokesperson.

"As a result, the Secretary-General has taken the difficult decision to reduce the Organization's footprint in Gaza, even as humanitarian needs soar and our concern over the protection of civilians intensifies."

The UN stressed that it remained fully committed to providing lifesaving aid. Around a third of the approximately 100 international staff working in Gaza will be temporarily relocated.

After cutting off all humanitarian aid into Gaza for three weeks - the longest suspension since 7 October 2023 - Israeli officials have indicated that they intend to continue their military campaign across Gaza and annex territory to pressure Hamas.

Strike on UN compound from 'Israeli tank'

The UN Spokesperson said that based on currently available information, "the strikes hitting a UN compound in Deir Al Balah on 19 March were caused by an Israeli tank.".

In the aftermath of Wednesday's strike, Israel said it had not been behind the blast.

"The strikes claimed the life of a UN colleague from Bulgaria and left six others - from France, Moldova, North Macedonia, Palestine and the United Kingdom - with severe injuries, some of them life-altering," Monday's statement continued.

The location of the compound was well known to all the parties to the conflict.

"I reiterate that all parties to the conflict are bound by international law to protect the absolute inviolability of UN premises," the statement from Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric continued.

"Without this, our colleagues face intolerable risks as they work to save the lives of civilians."

The Secretary-General is demanding a full, thorough and independent investigation into Wednesday's deadly strike, protection of all civilian life in the renewed fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas and the resumption of aid deliveries.

Furthermore, all hostages "must be released immediately and unconditionally".

'Relentless bombardment' again

One week since Israeli bombing started again in Gaza, UN humanitarians have described deadly attacks hitting health workers, ambulances and hospitals.

Senior UN humanitarian in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Jonathan Whittall, said that hundreds of children and adults have been killed since the ceasefire broke down between Hamas and Israel.

The UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, also said on Monday that 124,000 people in the enclave have been forced to flee what it called "relentless bombardment".

"Families carry what little they have with no shelter, no safety, and nowhere left to go; the Israeli authorities have cut off all aid," UNRWA said in an online statement - warning that food is scarce and prices are soaring as the Israeli blockade continues.

Relief chief Tom Fletcher tweeted that he was continuing to receive horrific reports from Gaza of more health workers, ambulances and hospitals attacked as they try to save survivors. Mr. Fletcher said we all must demand that hospitals and medics must not be targeted.

In southern Gaza on Sunday, several casualties were reported after the surgical department of Nasser Medical Complex was hit and caught fire, Mr. Dujarric told journalists in New York at the daily briefing.

In Rafah, ambulances were reportedly hit in Tal Al Sultan, resulting in several casualties. The Palestine Red Crescent Society said four of its ambulances were targeted, as well as 10 team members carrying out humanitarian work.

"Communication with the team has been completely lost for 30 hours, and at this point, their fate remains unknown," the UN Spokesperson continued.

Call for additional emergency teams

As hostilities continue across Gaza, aid coordination office, OCHA, and partners called for the entry of additional emergency medical teams into Gaza to help health workers already on the ground who are "exhausted and, of course, overwhelmed."

Israeli authorities on Sunday issued a new evacuation order in Rafah, covering around two per cent of the Strip and affecting five neighbourhoods.

"With this latest directive, the overall area designated for evacuation over the past week covers an estimated 14 per cent of the Gaza Strip - along with vast 'no go' zones along the borders and the Netzarim corridor," Mr. Dujarric said.

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South Sudan on the brink of civil war, top UN official warns

By Vibhu Mishra

24 March 2025 - South Sudan is teetering on the brink of a return to full-scale civil war as violence escalates and political tensions deepen, the head of the UN Mission in the country (UNMISS) warned on Monday.

Briefing journalists at UN Headquarters in New York via videolink from Juba, Nicholas Haysom described indiscriminate attacks on civilians, mass displacement and rising ethnic tensions.

He urged all parties to pull back from the brink and commit to peace before the country plunges into another devastating conflict.

"A conflict would erase all the hard-won gains made since the 2018 peace deal was signed. It would devastate not only South Sudan but the entire region, which simply cannot afford another war," he warned.

Fragile peace at risk

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, but the world's youngest nation has been plagued by conflict and instability ever since.

A civil war erupted in 2013 between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those aligned with his former deputy, Riek Machar. The war - marked by ethnic violence, mass atrocities and widespread humanitarian crisis - lasted until a fragile peace deal was signed in 2018.

Though the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement brought a degree of stability, delays in its implementation and continued political rivalries have kept tensions simmering.

Mounting violence

The latest wave of violence erupted on 4 March when the so-called White Army - a youth militia - overran South Sudanese army barracks in Nasir, Upper Nile province.

In response, Government forces launched retaliatory aerial bombardments on civilian areas, using barrel bombs that allegedly contained highly flammable accelerants.

"These indiscriminate attacks on civilians are causing significant casualties and horrific injuries, especially burns, including to women and children," Mr. Haysom said, adding that at least 63,000 people have fled the area.

Reports indicate that both the White Army and national forces are mobilising for further confrontations, with allegations of child recruitment into armed groups.

The deployment of foreign forces at the request of the Government has further heightened tensions, evoking painful memories of the country's previous civil wars.

Rising ethnic tensions

Political tensions are also escalating, Mr. Haysom continued.

Senior officials affiliated with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) - the main rival militia - have been removed, replaced, detained, or forced into hiding.

There is also an increasing use of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech, which is fuelling ethnic divisions and fear, making reconciliation even more difficult.

"Given this grim situation, we are left with no other conclusion, but to assess that South Sudan is teetering on the edge of a relapse into civil war," the senior UN official warned.

Diplomatic efforts stalled

Mr. Haysom further reported that UNMISS has engaged in intensive diplomatic efforts alongside regional and international partners, including the African Union (AU), the regional development bloc, IGAD, and the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission.

However, a scheduled high-level visit by IGAD foreign ministers to Juba, aimed at mediating between the parties, was abruptly postponed by the South Sudanese government without explanation.

"This is a disappointing development at a time when diplomatic outreach is more important than ever," he said.

Recommit to peace

Mr. Haysom urged South Sudan's leaders to immediately recommit to the 2018 peace deal, respect the ceasefire, release detained officials and resolve disputes through dialogue rather than military confrontation.

He also called for President Kiir and First Vice President Machar to meet and publicly reaffirm their joint commitment to peace.

"The time for action is now because the alternative is too terrible to contemplate."

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Secretary-General's remarks to the Security Council - Advancing Adaptability in UN Peace Operations: responding to new realities

United Nations Secretary-General

New York

24 March 2025

Mr. President, Excellencies,



I thank the government of Denmark for convening this high-level discussion.

United Nations peace operations safeguard people and communities in some of the most desperate places on earth.

These operations comprise both peacekeeping operations and special political missions.

Their work ranges from early warning to preventive diplomacy...

From peacemaking to verifying peace agreements to protecting civilians...

From negotiating ceasefires to helping parties implement them on the ground...

To electoral support and observer missions.

Collectively, these operations represent a critical tool at this Council's disposal to maintain international peace and security in a variety of contexts.

Since the first special political mission and peacekeeping operation were deployed in 1948, our peace operations have grown, adapted and evolved.

Time and again, they allow us to mount tailored responses that have saved lives, reduced violence, prevented the expansion and spillover of deadly conflicts, and stopped atrocities.

Peace operations are designed not only to be an effective example of multilateralism in action  but a cost-effective one.

At their best, they show how when the UN comes together to address challenges, the burden is diminished on individual countries alone.

But as we all know, peace operations face serious barriers that demand new approaches.

Wars are becoming more complex and more deadly.

They last longer, and are more enmeshed in global and regional dynamics.

Negotiated settlements have been harder to achieve.

Meanwhile, our peace operations are confronted with a complex interplay of threats  many of which do not respect national borders.

Terror and extremist groups, organized crime, the weaponization of new technologies, and the effects of climate change are all testing our capacities to respond.

And, I regret to say, geopolitical divisions are undermining peace.

The bilateral and multilateral arrangements that  for decades  have managed tensions and maintained stability are eroding.

Violations of international law, human rights and the UN Charter are rampant  seemingly without consequence.

Trust is in short supply among  and within  countries and regions.

All of these challenges and more throw fuel on the fires of conflict.

Meanwhile, our peace responses are struggling.

We see a persistent mismatch between mandates and available resources.

And we see increasing differences of views  including in this Council itself  around how peace operations should work, under what circumstances, with what mandates they should be deployed, and for how long.

Excellencies,

This is a grim diagnosis, but we must face facts.

The good news is that, through the Pact for the Future, Member States committed to working to adapt peace operations for the future.

This is an important opportunity to gain a shared understanding of what makes peace operations successful ...

What is hindering their effectiveness ...

And what new models we can use to make them more adaptable, flexible and resilient  while recognizing the limitations in situations where there is little or no peace to keep.

My recent proposals to you in the context of Haiti are a good example.

We must keep working for a political process  owned and led by the Haitian people  that restores democratic institutions through elections.

And the UN has a clear role to play in supporting stability and security, while addressing the root causes of the appalling crisis.

The UN stands ready to assume the responsibility of the logistical and operational expenditures  including transportation, medical capabilities and support for the national police  that can support an enhanced international force by Member States that is able to confront the gangs in Haiti and create conditions for peace.

And the salaries of the force are paid through the trust fund that already exists.

This is a good example of how we can design a tailored and collective approach to peace operations in an extremely complex and dangerous environment.

Other examples of adapting our peace operations include UNIFIL, which recently developed an adaptation plan to support the parties to uphold their obligations under resolution 1701...

And our operations in Abyei, [...] where we reconfigured our peace operations into a multinational force.

We also increasingly see the enormous benefits of strengthening cooperation with regional and subregional organizations.

Security Council resolution 2719 is an important example.

This breakthrough has lifted our partnership with the African Union to a new level as we work to establish peace enforcement missions under the responsibility of the African Union, supported by the United Nations.

We are now working actively across our two Secretariats to meet the vision of the resolution, and I urge Council Members to fully support this work.

Excellencies,

It's time to build on these examples and continue adapting our peace operations for current and future challenges.

Work is now underway to review all forms of peace operations, as requested by Member States in the Pact for the Future.

The review will aim to critically examine these tools and propose concrete recommendations to make them fit for today.

This will include extensive consultations with Member States and others to inform  and inspire  recommendations.

The review will build on the analysis presented in the New Agenda for Peace.

It will be informed by the first comprehensive study of the history of special political missions in the 80 years of the United Nations, which will be released soon.

And it will reflect the Pact's call to ensure that peace operations engage at the earliest possible stage in planning transitions with host countries, UN Country Teams and local and regional groups.

The review also aligns with the Pact's call to this Council to ensure that peace operations are guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable  with viable exit strategies and transition plans.

And it will draw on the discussions taking place in preparation for the Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin in May focusing on the future of peacekeeping.

Excellences,

Tout au long de l'etude, nous menerons des consultations approfondies afin de recueillir un eventail de vues aussi large que possible et de beneficier d'une expertise mondiale.

Celle des Etats Membres, des pays hotes, des pays fournisseurs de contingents ou de personnel de police et des contributeurs financiers...

Celle des organisations regionales, de la societe civile et des milieux universitaires, ainsi que de nos propres hauts responsables et experts des operations de paix des Nations Unies et du Secretariat.

Bien entendu, l'etude contribuera a eclairer les efforts que nous deployons dans le cadre de l'initiative ONU80, afin de degager des gains d'efficacite et des ameliorations dans tous nos axes de travail - compte tenu des defis persistants de financement auxquels notre Organisation est confrontee.

Excellences,

Le debat public d'aujourd'hui est une occasion precieuse pour le Conseil de partager toute idee et point de vue qui pourrait contribuer a l'etude.

J'invite tous les Etats Membres a apporter leur pierre a l'edifice.

Et j'appelle ce Conseil a continuer a uvrer pour surmonter les divisions et les desaccords entourant les operations de paix, et batir le soutien politique unifie et coherent dont nos operations de paix - et les femmes et les hommes qui les menent - ont tant besoin.

Je vous remercie.

***

All-English

Mr. President, Excellencies,



I thank the government of Denmark for convening this high-level discussion.

United Nations peace operations safeguard people and communities in some of the most desperate places on earth.

These operations comprise both peacekeeping operations and special political missions.

Their work ranges from early warning to preventive diplomacy...

From peacemaking to verifying peace agreements to protecting civilians...

From negotiating ceasefires to helping parties implement them on the ground...

To electoral support and observer missions.

Collectively, these operations represent a critical tool at this Council's disposal to maintain international peace and security in a variety of contexts.

Since the first special political mission and peacekeeping operation were deployed in 1948, our peace operations have grown, adapted and evolved.

Time and again, they allow us to mount tailored responses that have saved lives, reduced violence, prevented the expansion and spillover of deadly conflicts, and stopped atrocities.

Peace operations are designed not only to be an effective example of multilateralism in action  but a cost-effective one.

At their best, they show how when the UN comes together to address challenges, the burden is diminished on individual countries alone.

But as we all know, peace operations face serious barriers that demand new approaches.

Wars are becoming more complex and more deadly.

They last longer, and are more enmeshed in global and regional dynamics.

Negotiated settlements have been harder to achieve.

Meanwhile, our peace operations are confronted with a complex interplay of threats  many of which do not respect national borders.

Terror and extremist groups, organized crime, the weaponization of new technologies, and the effects of climate change are all testing our capacities to respond.

And, I regret to say, geopolitical divisions are undermining peace.

The bilateral and multilateral arrangements that  for decades  have managed tensions and maintained stability are eroding.

Violations of international law, human rights and the UN Charter are rampant  seemingly without consequence.

Trust is in short supply among  and within  countries and regions.

All of these challenges and more throw fuel on the fires of conflict.

Meanwhile, our peace responses are struggling.

We see a persistent mismatch between mandates and available resources.

And we see increasing differences of views  including in this Council itself  around how peace operations should work, under what circumstances, with what mandates they should be deployed, and for how long.

Excellencies,

This is a grim diagnosis, but we must face facts.

The good news is that, through the Pact for the Future, Member States committed to working to adapt peace operations for the future.

This is an important opportunity to gain a shared understanding of what makes peace operations successful ...

What is hindering their effectiveness ...

And what new models we can use to make them more adaptable, flexible and resilient  while recognizing the limitations in situations where there is little or no peace to keep.

My recent proposals to you in the context of Haiti are a good example.

We must keep working for a political process  owned and led by the Haitian people  that restores democratic institutions through elections.

And the UN has a clear role to play in supporting stability and security, while addressing the root causes of the appalling crisis.

The UN stands ready to assume the responsibility of the logistical and operational expenditures  including transportation, medical capabilities and support for the national police  that can support an international force established by Member States that is able to confront the gangs in Haiti and create conditions for peace.

And the salaries of the force are paid through the trust fund that already exists.

This is a good example of how we can design a tailored and collective approach to peace operations in an extremely complex and dangerous environment.

Other examples of adapting our peace operations include UNIFIL, which recently developed an adaptation plan to support the parties to uphold their obligations under resolution 1701...

And our operations in Abyei, [...], where we reconfigured our peace operations into a multinational force.

We also increasingly see the enormous benefits of strengthening cooperation with regional and subregional organizations.

Security Council resolution 2719 is an important example.

This breakthrough has lifted our partnership with the African Union to a new level as we work to establish peace enforcement missions under the responsibility of the African Union, supported by the United Nations.

We are now working actively across our two Secretariats to meet the vision of the resolution, and I urge Council Members to fully support this work.

Excellencies,

It's time to build on these examples and continue adapting our peace operations for current and future challenges.

Work is now underway to review all forms of peace operations, as requested by Member States in the Pact for the Future.

The review will aim to critically examine these tools and propose concrete recommendations to make them fit for today.

This will include extensive consultations with Member States and others to inform  and inspire  recommendations.

The review will build on the analysis presented in the New Agenda for Peace.

It will be informed by the first comprehensive study of the history of special political missions in the 80 years of the United Nations, which will be released soon.

And it will reflect the Pact's call to ensure that peace operations engage at the earliest possible stage in planning transitions with host countries, UN Country Teams and local and regional groups.

The review also aligns with the Pact's call to this Council to ensure that peace operations are guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable  with viable exit strategies and transition plans.

And it will draw on the discussions taking place in preparation for the Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin in May focusing on the future of peacekeeping.

Excellencies,

Throughout, we will hold extensive consultations to capture as wide a spectrum of views as possible and to benefit from worldwide expertise.

From Member States, host States, troop- and police-contributing countries and financial contributors...

To regional organizations, civil society and academia, and our own leaders and experts within UN peace operations and the Secretariat.

And the review will, of course, help inform our efforts through our UN@80 initiative, to find efficiencies and improvements across our work in light of the continued funding challenges we face as an organization.

Excellencies,

Today's open debate provides a vital opportunity for the Council to share perspectives and ideas to inform the review process.

I urge all Members to support it.

And I call on this Council to continue working to overcome divisions and disagreements around peace operations, and build the unified and consistent political support our peace operations  and the women and men who conduct them  need and deserve.

Thank you.

***

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Air Force Reserve, Royal Auxiliary Air Force leaders deepen ties in bilateral engagement

Published March 24, 2025

By Roger Parsons

Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) -- Senior leaders from the U.S. Air Force Reserve and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force met March 17-19 to strengthen an enduring partnership and identify new opportunities for collaboration in a rapidly evolving global security environment.

Lt. Gen. John Healy, chief of the Air Force Reserve and commander of Air Force Reserve Command, hosted Air Vice-Marshal Ranald Munro, commandant general of the RAuxAF and chief of Staff Reserves, along with two members of his leadership team. The Key Leader Engagement took place at the Pentagon and Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia, as part of the Air Force Reserve's Reserve Allies and Partners Program.

"As we face increasingly complex challenges from peer competitors, our ability to integrate effectively with key allies like the United Kingdom is vital," Healy said. "This engagement is a step forward in building the kind of deep reserve partnerships that will help us deter and, if needed, defeat common adversaries."

The visit opened at the Pentagon with strategic discussions on Reserve force growth, integration and long-term planning.

"We talked about strategy and what's the goal over the next five, ten, fifteen years  growing our Reserves and making them more capable, more relevant, and more useable," Munro said. "What we established today was a real program where we can potentially look at sharing an exchange program and build on something we already have on an informal basis, having relationships squadron to squadron."

After touring the Pentagon, the U.K. delegation boarded a C-17 Globemaster III headed for Dobbins ARB. During the flight, Airmen from the 445th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, and the 445th and 911th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadrons, provided the delegation with an immersive aeromedical evacuation demonstration, incorporating lifesaving procedures on simulated patients.

At Dobbins ARB, Munro and his team received mission briefings from units including the 22nd Air Force, 94th Airlift Wing, and AFRC Recruiting and Retention. Discussions centered on the Air Force Reserve's contributions to global operations, such as agile combat support, rapid mobility and civil engineering capabilities, while also addressing common challenges in recruiting and retaining reserve personnel.

"It's an absolute pleasure to host our AFRC leadership as well as the U.K. Reserve leadership and showcase what we have at Dobbins and the different mission sets we bring to the fight," said Col. Michael Parks, 94th Airlift Wing commander. "Watching two countries' services interact together, we always find that regardless of our differences, our challenges are similar, and we can collaborate in multiple areas to create solutions that are beneficial for both nations."

Over two days, Munro observed demonstrations including a security forces capabilities display, cyber and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance training briefings, and demonstrations at the Silver Flag site and the Transportation Proficiency Center. Highlights included expeditionary firefighter training and dead runway recovery operations.

The itinerary also featured an engagement with the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce and Air Force Reserve Command civic leaders, reaffirming AFRC's commitment to strengthening community partnerships.

"It's been a highly successful visit for us, and we got exactly what we wanted out of it," Munro said. "The ideas we learned here will inform the next iteration of Air Reserve operations. We want to build on this foundation moving forward because we are stronger together as allies. We're more lethal learning from each other and standing on each other's shoulders. We've done that for many, many years and we will continue to do that."

RAPP provides the framework for engagements like these, enabling AFRC to synchronize efforts with partner nations. The program fosters enduring relationships and develops recurring training and exercise opportunities with allies such as the RAuxAF.

"Our collaboration with the Royal Auxiliary Air Force is essential to advancing our shared strategic goals," Healy added. "By working together, we're building a more connected and capable force that's ready for the challenges of tomorrow."

As AFRC expands RAPP initiatives globally, the focus remains on enhancing interoperability, force development and readiness.

"I came here to work with partners and allies, and I'm leaving here with three new friends," said Maj. Gen. Frank Bradfield III, AFRC deputy commander. "The honest dialogue challenged us and will make us stronger. We are looking forward to a continued dialogue now and in the future."

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USS Warrior Visits Kobe

US Navy

24 March 2025

From Commander, Naval Forces Japan

YOKOSUKA, Japan  USS Warrior (MCM 10), forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan, as part of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, arrived at Kobe, Japan, March 24, 2025, for a scheduled port visit.

Warrior, commanded by Lt. Cmdr. Raymond V. Piana, is an Avenger Class mine countermeasures ship. The ship is approximately 68 meters long and displaces approximately 1,250 tons with a crew size of about over 90.

Mine countermeasures ships, such as Warrior, play a critical role in maintaining maritime security by locating, identifying, and neutralizing underwater mines, thereby ensuring safe passage for naval and commercial vessels.

Sailors are excited to visit Kobe to experience the wonderful culture, history and sights that the city offers while being involved in community relations opportunities.

The U.S.-Japan alliance has long been the cornerstone of regional peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.

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Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group Arrives in Guam

US Navy

24 March 2025

From Lt.j.g. Jack Scypinski, Carrier Strike Group ONE - CSG 1

APRA HARBOR -- The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (VINCSG) arrived in Guam for a regularly scheduled port visit, March 24.

Guam is a critical nexus for logistics and provides a variety of capabilities and support functions for U.S. naval vessels including supplies, maintenance parts, and equipment.

Guam is strategically important to the region and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific," said Rear Adm. Michael Wosje, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1. "Our port visit here is part of our routine presence in the 7th Fleet area of operations, and allows us to recharge and resupply to remain operationally ready for any mission."

While in port, Sailors will be able to take advantage of base amenities and enjoy time to explore the island's culture and cuisine.

VINCSG consists of USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), embarked staffs of CSG-1 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 1, Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW-2), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59), and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Milius (DDG 69).

CVW-2 is composed of nine squadrons flying the F-35C Lightning II, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growler, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, CMV-22 Osprey and MH-60R/S Seahawks.

VINCSG is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 24 March 2025 - Day 1125

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian defenders continue to decisively thwart the Russian enemy's attempts to advance deep into Ukrainian territory, giving him an effective fire effect, exhausting him across the entire frontline.

In total, since the beginning of this day, there have been 138 fights.

Russian zagarbniki made 76 aviation strikes, applying 104 cab. In addition, the Russians have engaged 794 kamikaze drones and carried out 4749 shelling at the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

In the Kharkiv direction today, the Russian enemy attacked three times in the direction of vovchansk, received a cut.

In the Kupyansky direction, Russian forces carried out six assaults of the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of Petropavlivka, Stepova Novoselivka and Zagrizovoye. There is currently one confrontation in progress.

In the Lyman direction since the beginning of the day Russian zagarbniki 24 times attacked the positions of Ukrainians near Kolodyaziv, Yampolivka and in the direction of Stepovoye, Novomikhailivka, Novoy, Zarichny, Dronivka. At the moment, Ukrainian defenders are repelling five more attacks of the opponent.

Defense Forces stopped six Russian offensive actions near Bilogorivka, towards Verkhnyokamiansky in the Siversky direction.

In the direction of Kramators komu, there are currently five clashes in the area of Chasovoye Yar and in the direction of Diliyivka. All attacks have been stopped by Ukrainian soldiers.

In the Toretsky direction Russians 19 times attacked the positions of Defense Forces. The attack efforts of the occupiers concentrated in the area of Toretsk and nearby Diliyivka, Dachny, Crimea. There is currently one confrontation in progress.

Since the beginning of this day in the Pokrovsk direction, Russians have tried 38 times to break through Ukrainian defense in the areas of settlements Panteleimonivka, Oleksandropil, Elizavetivka, Lisivka, Kotline, Udaachne, Uspenivka, Preobrazhenka, Andriyivka and in the direction of Pokrovsk, Kotlyarivka, Bogdanivka, Aleksiyivka. So far, two clashes are ongoing. Pokrovsk suffered aviation strikes.

Defense forces deter enemy attacks, the Russian enemy suffers significant losses - today 91 occupants were defecated in this direction, 52 of them - irrevocable. Also destroyed 5 units of automobile equipment, two infantry fighting vehicles, a motorcycle and a "Supercam" UAV.

In the Novopavlovsky direction, Ukrainian units stopped 14 Russian assaults of the positions of Ukrainian troops near the settlement of Konstantinopil and towards Rozliv, Vesely.

In the direction of Gulyaipil, the Russian enemy was cut off three times, trying to advance in the area of the settlement Novopil and towards the Free Field. Also, Russian forces caused aerial strikes on the areas of populated points Novodarivka, Malinivka and Gulyaipole.

In the Orihiv direction, Russian forces twice unsuccessfully tried to advance in the direction of Lobkovoy. The settlements of Bilogir, Mala Tokmachka, Kamianske suffered an aviation strike.

In the Pridniprovsk direction, Russian forces did not carry out active offensive actions.

Defense Forces of Ukraine continue its operation in the Kursk direction, where Russian forces carried out 18 attacks of Ukrainian units' positions during the day. There is currently one confrontation in progress. Russian forces launched 13 air strikes, dropping 17 controlled bombs, and carried out 262 artillery shells, two of which were from reactive systems of open-air fire.

In other directions, the situation has not changed significantly.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Belgorod direction, units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades, an assault regiment of the AFU, and three territorial defence brigades close to Miropolye, Ugroyedy, Turya, and Krasnopolye (Sumy region).

The enemy's losses amounted to more than 175 troops, two tanks, four armoured fighting vehicles, 18 motor vehicles, and four artillery guns including a French-made 155-mm Caesar self-propelled artillery system. One ammunition depot was destroyed.

The Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line. Russian troops engaged three mechanised brigades, an assault brigade of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades near Kamenka, Shiykovka, Zagoruykovka, Tishchenkovka, Kondrashovka, Cherneshchina (Kharkov region), Novoye, Kolodezi, Yampol, and Redkodub of the Donetsk People's Republic.

The AFU losses amounted to more than 250 troops, a tank, four armoured fighting vehicles including two M113 armoured personnel carriers, and a U.S.-made HMMWV armoured vehicle. Four motor vehicles, three Western-made artillery guns including a UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, three electronic warfare stations, and three ammunition depots have been neutralised.

Units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian elements damaged six mechanised brigades, an airmobile brigade of the AFU, a territorial defence brigade, and two national guard brigades near Seversk, Novomarkovo, Verolyubovka, Chasov Yar, Konstantinovka, Kurdyumovka, Ulyanovka, and Tarasovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost more than 310 troops, a U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, five pick-up trucks, five field artillery guns, an electronic warfare station, and a fuel depot.

Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Russian formations engaged three mechanised brigades, a jaeger brigade, an assault brigade, an unmanned aerial vehicles brigade, an assault regiment of the AFU, and a national guard brigade near Dimitrov, Zverevo, Krasnoarmeysk, Udachnoye, Novosergeyevka, and Alekseyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 460 troops, six armoured fighting vehicles including two U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, two French-made VAB armoured personnel carriers, eight motor vehicles, and four field artillery guns.

Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defence. The Russian Armed Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of a mountain assault brigade and an airmobile brigade of the AFU, a marine brigade, and a territorial defence brigade close to Razliv, Volnoye Pole, Novopol (Donetsk People's Republic) and Temirovka (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 145 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns including a German-made 155-mm Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery system.

The Dnepr Group's units improved the situation along the front line. Units of a mechanised brigade, a mountain assault brigade, two coastal defence brigades of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades have been hit near Novodanilovka, Malye Shcherbaki, Lobkovoye, Kamenskoye (Zaporozhye region), Ponyatovka, and Antonovka (Kherson region).

Up to 90 troops, a tank, three motor vehicles, a U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, an electronic warfare station, and an ammunition depot of the enemy have been neutralised.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack drones, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged the military airfield infrastructure, ammunition depots, production plants, storage and training sites for the launch of unmanned aerial vehicles as well as clusters of enemy manpower and hardware in 142 areas during the day.

Russian air defence systems have shot down four JDAM guided aerial bombs and three HIMARS MLRS projectiles during the day as well as 227 fixed-wing drones.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation the enemy has lost 659 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 48,312 unmanned aerial vehicles, 601 anti-aircraft missile systems, 22,471 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,530 MLRS combat vehicles, 22,946 field artillery guns and mortars, 33,323 units of support 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.

The Sever Group of Forces engaged a tank brigade, a mechanised brigade, an assault brigade, two air assault brigades, a marine brigade, and a territorial defence brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Gogolevka, Gornal, Guyevo, and Oleshnya. One AFU counter-attack was repelled.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and Artillery strikes hit enemy manpower and hardware in the areas of Gogolevka, Gornyal, Guyevo, and Oleshnya as well as Alekseyevka, Basovka, Belovody, Velikaya Rybitsa, Veselovka, Vladimirovka, Vodolagi, Zhuravka, Zapselye, Loknya, Miropolye, Mogritsa, Novonikolayevka, Obody, Sadki, Yunakovka, and Yablonovka (Sumy region).

During the day, AFU losses amounted to more than 190 troops, three infantry fighting vehicles, three armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, three artillery guns, three mortars, an electronic warfare station, and three UAV command posts.

Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk direction, the AFU losses amounted to more than 69,700 troops, 400 tanks,326 infantry fighting vehicles, 289 armoured personnel carriers, 2,219 armoured fighting vehicles, 2,532 motor vehicles, 583 artillery guns, 53 MLRS launchers, including 13 of HIMARS and seven of MLRS made by the USA, 26 anti-aircraft missile launchers, a self-propelled anti-aircraft system, ten transport-loading vehicles, 121 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.





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United States Announces Plans to Extradite Three Tren de Aragua Members, Who Have Been Declared Alien Enemies, Wanted by Chile for Homicide and Kidnapping Offenses

Monday, March 24, 2025

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

Earlier today, the United States declared three members of Tren de Aragua (TdA) Alien Enemies and announced plans to extradite them to Chile, where they are wanted for violent crimes including homicide, kidnapping for ransom, and other offenses.

TdA is a foreign terrorist organization with thousands of members, many of whom have unlawfully entered the United States to commit brutal crimes, including murder, kidnapping, extortion, and human and drug trafficking. Three known TdA members, Adrian Rafael Gamez Finol, Miguel Oyola Jimenez, and Edgar Javier Benitez Rubio, illegally entered the United States after allegedly committing horrific crimes in Chile. Recognizing the grave threat that TdA poses to the nations it infiltrates, Chile has asked the United States to help return these men to Chile to face justice. Today, the Department of Justice announced that it will take swift action to grant these requests and send these Alien Enemies to Chile.

"These three Tren de Aragua members pose a grave risk to the public safety and national security of the United States, just as they allegedly did in Chile," said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. "Based on their membership in TdA, they have been declared Alien Enemies. We will not tolerate violent illegal aliens in our country. The Justice Department is taking every step within the bounds of the law to ensure these individuals are promptly sent to Chile to face justice for their abhorrent crimes. In fact, we would have already removed these violent gang members to Chile to face justice were it not for the nationwide injunction imposed by a single judge in Washington D.C., which we are challenging today in the D.C. Circuit," he added. "We hope common sense and justice will prevail."

The three TdA members are:

Adrian Rafael Gamez Finol , also known as Rafael Enrique Gamez Salas, 38, a dual Venezuelan and Colombian citizen, is wanted in Chile for extortion, kidnapping resulting in homicide, kidnapping for extortion, unjustified firearm discharge, and criminal association. Gamez Finol was removed from the United States to Venezuela in August 2023, and allegedly subsequently illegally re-entered the United States. On Feb. 18, Gamez Finol was indicted in the Southern District of Texas for illegally reentering the United States, in violation of 8 U.S.C.  1326. Gamez Finol is currently in Texas county prison serving a sentence for human smuggling;

, also known as Rafael Enrique Gamez Salas, 38, a dual Venezuelan and Colombian citizen, is wanted in Chile for extortion, kidnapping resulting in homicide, kidnapping for extortion, unjustified firearm discharge, and criminal association. Gamez Finol was removed from the United States to Venezuela in August 2023, and allegedly subsequently illegally re-entered the United States. On Feb. 18, Gamez Finol was indicted in the Southern District of Texas for illegally reentering the United States, in violation of 8 U.S.C.  1326. Gamez Finol is currently in Texas county prison serving a sentence for human smuggling; Miguel Oyola Jimenez , 37, a dual Venezuelan and Ecuadorian citizen, is wanted in Chile for two counts of kidnapping for ransom. Oyola Jimenez is currently in federal custody in the Western District of Washington, having been arrested on a provisional arrest request submitted by Chilean authorities seeking his return to Chile to stand trial on the kidnapping charges; and

, 37, a dual Venezuelan and Ecuadorian citizen, is wanted in Chile for two counts of kidnapping for ransom. Oyola Jimenez is currently in federal custody in the Western District of Washington, having been arrested on a provisional arrest request submitted by Chilean authorities seeking his return to Chile to stand trial on the kidnapping charges; and Edgar Javier Benitez Rubio, 37, a Venezuelan citizen, is wanted in Chile for kidnapping with homicide, kidnapping for ransom, and criminal association. Benitez Rubio is in immigration custody in the Southern District of Indiana, pending removal.

The Justice Department will work expeditiously to return these Alien Enemies to Chile to face justice.

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 Deputy Attorney General

Press Release Number: 25-295

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Islamic State Is Evolving, But Has The World Taken Its Eyes Off The Ball?

By Kian Sharifi March 25, 2025

US-backed forces declared in 2019 that the Islamic State (IS) group had been destroyed. But as the past few years have shown, that only marked the end of its quasi-state that controlled territory in Iraq and Syria -- not the threat it continues to present.

The extremist group is demonstrating resilience and experiencing a resurgence in other parts of the world -- and its operational capabilities are evolving.

Since January 2024, IS has claimed a series of high-profile attacks across the world, from Iran and Russia to Germany and the United States.

"IS remains a persistent global security threat and the deadliest terrorist organization in the world," Adrian Shtuni, a security specialist and head of the Washington-based Shtuni Consulting, told RFE/RL.

"Now the organization relies primarily on a dynamic network of regional affiliates who operate independently," he said.

What Is The Current State Of IS?

The vision and aspirations of IS have not changed, but since its territorial defeat in 2019, the extremist group has undergone a radical structural and operational evolution, analysts say.

A diversified array of IS branches has emerged in recent years throughout the world, particularly in regions where there is little ability to counter extremism.

Colin Clarke, director of policy and research at the New York-based Soufan Group consultancy, said IS has become a group for which the sum of its parts is greater than the whole.

"IS might be even more challenging as a decentralized organization than it was as a proto-state. When it was running a proto-state, it was a big target," Clarke told RFE/RL.

IS and its affiliates have made their presence felt over the past year with deadly attacks around the world.

In January 2024, twin suicide bombings in the southern Iranian city of Kerman killed around 100 people.

Two months later, four attackers targeted the Crocus City Hall concert venue outside Moscow, killing 145 people in a mass shooting, stabbing, and arson attack.

In August, a suicide bombing killed at least 20 people in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. Days later, an IS member stabbed several people at a festival in Solingen, Germany, killing three people.

The group's reach extends as far as the United States. On January 1, an IS-inspired assailant drove a truck into a crowd of New Year's revelers in New Orleans, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more. The attacker, Texas-born former US Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was killed by police.

Shtuni said these attacks attest not only to "the continued appeal of [IS's] brand of terrorist violence, but also to the organization's resilience, adaptability, and global reach."

IS and its affiliates carried out an average of around 600 attacks per year over the past three years, according to data gathered by Dragonfly, a London-based global security intelligence consultancy.

While that is down from an average of 770 incidents annually during the prior three-year period, the incidents are becoming deadlier, with the average number of casualties per attack rising 40 percent, according to Dragonfly's TerrorismTracker database.

The data as it stands "does not necessarily point to a resurgence in IS (and its affiliates) in the last few years, but rather points to a degree of resilience," Dragonfly told RFE/RL.

"However, concern has been raised in the international press over an intent by IS to increase the number of mass-casualty attacks globally," the group said.

Where Are IS Extremists Active And How Do They Recruit?

Through its affiliates, IS maintains a strong presence and level of engagement in specific hotspots in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

One group that has emerged as one of the most active affiliates is IS-Khorasan Province (ISKP), which has expanded its operations beyond Afghanistan and is drawing militants from Central Asian nations, especially Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile, Somalia has become a critical hub of the group's global expansion in Africa. It is leveraging Somalia's instability to establish strongholds and networks attracting fighters from Ethiopia, Sudan, and Tanzania while expanding ideological outreach in multiple languages like Amharic and Swahili.

But the group is also growing fast in the Sahel region, where IS-West Africa (ISWA) remains one of the dominant terrorist organizations in the Lake Chad Basin.

Recruitment is taking place not only on the ground, but also online.

"In the digital space, IS continues to exploit social media platforms and encrypted messaging tools very effectively to disseminate its ideology, radicalize, recruit, raise funds, and plot attacks," Shtuni said.

He pointed to a recent string of IS-inspired attacks in Europe, which he said showed three concerning trends: that the radicalization is mostly happening online, is occurring at an accelerated pace, and is increasingly involving minors and young adults.

"The online space requires a lot of attention, especially as military operations are kind of scaled back...compared to the...the global war on terror," Lucas Webber, a senior analyst at Tech Against Terrorism, told RFE/RL.

How Does IS Fund Its Operations?

IS maintains financial resilience through diversified revenue streams and evolving tactics.

Despite leadership losses, its core in Iraq and Syria retains $10 million to 20 million in reserves, supplemented by regional branches generating funds by kidnapping-for-ransom, extortion, taxes, and robberies, according to US Treasury reports last year.

At its peak, when the group's self-styled caliphate controlled vast territories in Iraq and Syria, oil sales dominated its income. But IS now relies on criminal activities and local exploitation to generate revenue.

In Africa, branches like IS-Somalia (ISS) extort millions from businesses and financial systems.

In Asia, ISKP initially suffered when its financial network was rocked by the arrests and killings of its key facilitators across the Middle East. However, it has recovered by shifting to virtual assets for funding external operations, including the Crocus City Hall attack.

Global connectivity remains critical, with IS increasingly using cryptocurrency to transfer reserves and donations. The group's financial sustainability hinges on maintaining safe havens, evading financial controls, and sustaining global networks.

How Are Counterterrorism Efforts Faring?

The global reach of terrorism necessitates multilateral collaboration in counterterrorism, requiring nations to exchange intelligence, align strategies, and strengthen security capabilities in regions most susceptible to extremist activities.

Reduce any of those and opportunist extremist groups like IS find ways to thrive, as has been the case in Afghanistan following the US withdrawal and in the Sahel in Africa with France's phased exit from the region.

In the Sahel region, the withdrawal of French forces has also resulted in a shift in regional alliances.

"The military juntas installed in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali after recent military coups have tried to fill the vacuum in counterterrorism efforts by turning to Russia, [which] has significantly increased its footprint in the region," Shtuni said.

The United States still leads global counterterrorism efforts along with regional partners, as demonstrated by recent strikes on IS targets in Iraq, Syria, and Somalia.

This month, a US-led coalition helped Iraqi forces kill Abdullah Maki Musleh al-Rifai, also known as Abu Khadija. Described by the Iraqi government as "one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world," Abu Khadija was the leader of IS in Iraq and Syria.

But there is growing concern that shifting priorities in Washington can hinder the global fight against extremism "as it becomes clear that the US is shifting its focus inward and reevaluating its role on the global stage," Shtuni warned.

General Michael E. Kurilla, head of the US military's Central Command, has said that the thousands of IS fighters being held in Syria in facilities guarded by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces represent "a literal and figurative [IS] army in detention" and warned of the dangers "to the region and beyond" if a large number of them escaped.

Kurilla said during a visit to Syria in January -- a month after the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad -- that the US military "remains dedicated to our mission, our people, the enduring defeat of [IS], and stability throughout the region and beyond."

Devorah Margolin, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told RFE/RL that IS "has been playing the waiting game" in Syria.

"It is hoping to use the uncertainty of the new Syria to destabilize and assert its agenda," Margolin said.

Clarke of the Soufan Group, meanwhile, said the lack of a US presence in Afghanistan following its 2021 withdrawal has left a "major intelligence gap" in the fight against IS.

"The US has been forced to rely on signals intelligence and has extremely limited human intelligence in Afghanistan," he said.

Clarke called IS "a much different organization today than it was seven years ago when it still had the caliphate," saying it is "far more dependent on external operations and attacks to generate publicity."

"They have deliberately amended their strategy to focus on launching high profile attacks in the West," he said. "They have been aggressive and relentless in their plotting and are determined to pull off a spectacular attack in Europe or the United States."

RFE/RL's Abubakar Siddique, Ray Furlong, Riin Aljas, Meliha Kesmer, and Kubat Kasymbekov contributed to this report.



Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/islamic-state-evolving- deadly-attacks-syria-iraq-somalia-iskp/33357688.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Satellite passes the ultimate test

By Emma Thompson

24 March 2025

Building and preparing a satellite to launch into space and survive for years in orbit is no small feat.

It takes hard work, determination, passion and a fair bit of skill; and for a team of Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) scientists and engineers, the dream has become a reality.

Buccaneer Main Mission is a fully operational Defence nanosatellite, also known as a CubeSat, which was recently launched into low Earth orbit.

A nanosatellite weighs between 1kg and 10kg.

It took a team of 15 DSTG scientists and engineers - supported by Australian industry and research organisations - five years to get the nanosatellite ready for its mission.

It will spend about 10 years in space, collecting high-frequency measurements to better understand radio-frequency propagation through the ionosphere.

The knowledge gained from Buccaneer Main Mission will inform Defence's space-based capability into the future.

So, just how did this nanosatellite make it to the launch pad?

Spacecraft assembly integration and test lead, Paul Alvino, said: "The short answer is testing, testing and more testing."

Ensuring a satellite can survive the launch and operate effectively in the harsh environment of space is one of the most crucial components of preparing for space flight.

Space systems engineer Lachlan Symonds said when a rocket lifted off, there were very intense vibrations from its engines, which can cause everything - including the nanosatellite - to shake quite violently.

"We had to perform vibrational testing on the ground to simulate the shaking a spacecraft would experience on its way up. This made sure nothing would break or fall off the nanosatellite before it reached low Earth orbit," Mr Symonds said.

Once the spacecraft reaches a high enough altitude, the nanosatellite is ejected and begins to orbit - switching on 45 minutes later.

Buccaneer Main Mission orbits the Earth about 13 times a day, moving at 7.5km a second.

Senior space systems engineer Monique Hollick said during the nanosatellite's daily journey, it experienced full sun exposure and complete darkness, with intense hot-to-cold temperature fluctuations.

"We tested how the nanosatellite will cope with rapid temperature changes, using a large vacuum chamber that can heat up and cool down to mimic the environment it would experience in space," Ms Hollick said.

These mission-critical tests were performed at the National Space Test Facility at the Australian National University.

The DSTG team also performed extra mission assurance tests to ensure the nanosatellite could deliver its mission for as long as possible.

Telemetry tracking and command lead Darin Roberts said the key part of this testing was based on the 'test like you fly' mantra.

"We subject the spacecraft to expected in-flight scenarios to understand, and possibly fix, everything that could happen before it performs the real task," Mr Roberts said.

These tests included using the DSTG-developed and operated ground station in Adelaide to communicate with the nanosatellite over radio-frequency at long distances while it was performing its expected payload activities.

Collaboration across home-grown industry and research organisations was a key component to the mission assurance tests.

Communications testing in the REDARC Defence & Space's anechoic chamber put the nanosatellite's deployable structures to the test to see how its antennas would be affected by the harsh environment in space.

Inovor Technologies, providers of the spacecraft bus, which housed the nanosatellite, developed attitude control system testing facilities to test and improve the reliability of the spacecraft pointing in the right direction.

DSTG also conducted radiation testing to ensure key components would survive in space without degrading their performance.

These tests were conducted at both the heavy ion accelerator facility at the ANU, and the gamma technology research irradiator at Australia's Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.

This series of testing, adjusting and testing again ultimately resulted in the successful launch.

"We didn't want Buccaneer Main Mission to just survive launch and a few orbits, we want it to stay up in space delivering outcomes for Defence as long as possible," Mr Alvino said.

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Government delivers first Australian HIMARS

The Hon Richard Marles MP

Deputy Prime Minister

Minister for Defence

24 March 2025

From today, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is equipped with a worldleading longrange precision strike capability - a direct result of the Albanese Government's additional investments in Defence.

In response to the Defence Strategic Review (DSR), the Albanese Government announced $1.6 billion to accelerate and expand the acquisition of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) launcher vehicles.

Less than two years later, the first two HIMARS have now been delivered to Australia from the United States.

The acquisition of HIMARS is a game changer for the ADF, providing world-leading strike capability that will contribute to the security of Australia and our region, and keep our nation safe.

Employing the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) and the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), HIMARS will deliver increased lethality and accurate firepower at ranges of more than 500 kilometres.

These HIMARS are the first of 42 to be delivered to Australia.

Also announced by the Albanese Government in response to the DSR, is the recently established 10th Fires Brigade in Adelaide, where the HIMARS will be based.

The accelerated delivery of HIMARS will also support Australian defence industry and the creation of new jobs sooner, with the Albanese Government also investing in a facility to locally manufacture HIMARS-compatible and other guided missiles.

There is no greater responsibility than defending Australia. That is why the Albanese Government is increasing Defence funding to historic levels over the next decade, including record spending on the acquisition of new capabilities for the ADF.

Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP:

"The Albanese Government has delivered on its promise to rapidly acquire long-range strike capability for the Australian Defence Force.

"We are making record investments to ensure the Australian Defence Force has the capability it needs, when it needs it to keep Australians safe while also supporting a future made in Australia.

"This is a proud moment for our Army, and for Australia."

Quotes attributable to Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Pat Conroy MP:

"This delivers on our commitment to accelerate the acquisition of HIMARS, which are now on track to be fully operational four years ahead of the schedule of the former Morrison-Dutton Government.

"HIMARS is a world leading capability, delivering accurate firepower at long ranges, resulting in a more than ten-fold increase in Army's striking range.

"This is about equipping our ADF right now with state-of-the-art capabilities that enables it to operate effectively on land, sea and in the air to deter aggression and safeguard Australians.

"Equally crucial will be the munitions and support systems that sit behind HIMARS - and that's why we're manufacturing Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles in Australia this year, to reinforce robust domestic supply chains that we control and create local jobs."

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Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry Jonatan Vseviov meets with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

24.03.2025

Today 24 March, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jonatan Vseviov met with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of the democratic forces of Belarus, and gave a speech at the opening of the Tallinn representation of the democratic forces of Belarus. In addition to Estonia, the representation will also cover the Republic of Latvia.

At the meeting, Vseviov reaffirmed Estonia's support for the Belarusian opposition and underlined that Estonia was working towards imposing additional sanctions on the Lukashenko regime and increasing its international isolation.

Last year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs allocated 10 000 to support the democratic forces of Belarus. In 2023, Estonia appointed Marko Koplimaa as Estonia's special representative to the democratic forces of Belarus, and at the opening ceremony, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya presented him with a decoration of the Belarusian democratic forces.

Estonia considers the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections in Belarus fraudulent and does not recognise the legitimacy of the Belarusian regime because the elections were conducted under the conditions of fear and systematic repressions. The Republic of Estonia also calls on the Belarusian regime to immediately and unconditionally end the repressions against is people and release all political prisoners.

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HMCS Ottawa returns from Operations HORIZON and NEON

National Defence

March 24, 2025 - Esquimalt, B.C. - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Today, His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ottawa returned to its home port of Esquimalt, British Columbia, having completed its five-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific region under Operations HORIZON and NEON.

As part of Operation HORIZON, HMCS Ottawa and its crew conducted multinational exercises and maneuvers with Japan, the United States, the Republic of Korea, France, Australia, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, the United Kingdom and the Philippines. They participated in discussions on Women, Peace, and Security and conducted a Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity with the Philippines, held a port visit in Cambodia offering important first aid training to Cambodian forces, and participated in the French-led carrier strike group Exercise LA PEROUSE led by the French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle.

During Operation NEON, HMCS Ottawa'screw identified and reported five vessels of interestvessels that have, or are suspected of having, engaged in activity contrary to United Nations Security Council (UNSC) imposed sanctions against North Korea.

Canada's routine presence in the Indo-Pacific regiondemonstrates our commitment to supporting peace, security, and stability in the region. The most recent actions and international engagements executed by the crew of HMCS Ottawa have shown Canada to be a reliable and capable international security partner.

Quotes

"As His Majesty's Canadian Ship Ottawa'sdeployment in support of Operations HORIZON and NEONcomes to an end, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the crew. Your commitment, dedication, teamwork and resilience have been extraordinary. The success of this mission is thanks to your tireless efforts and your families' and friends' unwavering support. Welcome home!"

Rear-Admiral Christopher Robinson, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific and Commander Joint Task Force Pacific

"His Majesty's Canadian Ship Ottawa's deployment exemplifies Canada's ability to operate alongside our allies and partners, reinforcing our commitment to sustain a robust naval presence in critical global regions. The exceptional performance of the crew during the five-month mission has made a meaningful contribution to global peace and stability, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. Operations like HORIZON and NEON are essential to the Royal Canadian Navy's mission, advancing Canada's strategic priorities and supporting international security. Commander Landon Creasy, Commanding Officer HMCS Ottawa

Quick facts

Operation HORIZON is Canada's ongoing forward presence mission to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Operation NEON is Canada's contribution to a coordinated multinational effort to support the implementation of UNSC sanctions imposed against North Korea. This operation demonstrates the importance that Canada places on security in the Indo-Pacific region and upholding the UNSC sanctions regime, and Canada's resolve in standing with allies and partners in accordance with our values.

HMCS Ottawa, a Halifax-class Canadian Patrol Frigate, has a crew of approximately 240 RCN sailors as well as Royal Canadian Air Force aviators who fly and support the ship's embarked CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter.

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China and Japan Hold the Sixth High-Level Economic Dialogue

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: March 22, 2025 21:44

On March 22, 2025 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya co-chaired the sixth China-Japan High-level Economic Dialogue in Tokyo. Officials from 15 government departments of both countries attended the meeting.

Wang Yi said that at the end of last year, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met in Lima and agreed to comply with the principles stipulated in 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, setting out the direction for the efforts of both sides. Today, after six years, the China-Japan High-level Economic Dialogue is held with the aim of delivering on the important common understandings reached between the leaders of the two countries, strengthening communication on economic development strategies and macroeconomic policies, consolidating the foundation of traditional cooperation, expanding the path of cooperation in new areas and with new models, jointly drawing a new blueprint for China-Japan economic and trade cooperation, and providing solid economic support for comprehensively advancing the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit.

Wang Yi said, since the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations, bilateral trade has increased more than 300 times, and has remained at a high level of 300 billion U.S. dollars for 15 consecutive years, with the accumulative two-way investment reaching nearly 140 billion U.S. dollars. The close industrial cooperation and deep integration of economic interests between the two sides have brought tangible benefits to the two peoples and fully proved that China and Japan are partners, not rivals. The two countries bring opportunities rather than risks for each other, and the two countries should support each other, not be separated from each other. Amid profound adjustments in the global economic landscape, rising unilateral protectionism, and headwinds to economic globalization, China and Japan, as major economies in the world, should establish a correct understanding of each other, demonstrate responsibilities, seek development with innovative thinking, broaden win-win cooperation, and narrow differences, injecting new impetus into the global economy and provide certainty to a turbulent world.

First, accelerate the transformation and upgrade of economic and trade cooperation. The two countries should establish a new pattern of cooperation fit for the new era, carry forward the fine tradition of promoting political relations through economic cooperation, expand dialogue and exchanges across all sectors and departments, and cultivate more new growth drivers.

Second, achieve strong partnerships for mutual success. Enterprises of the two countries are encouraged to carry out innovative cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital economy, energy conservation, environmental protection and green trade. The two sides should strengthen cooperation in medical and health care, foster a silver economy, expand cooperation in third-party markets, and bring more benefits to the Global South. Both sides should support each other in hosting the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan and the China International Import Expo, and promote sub-national cooperation.

Third, address each other's legitimate concerns in a balanced manner. The two countries should keep working in the same direction with a vision for development. Both sides should make good use of the China-Japan economic partnership consultation and other working mechanisms, create channels for government-business communication, expand market access and eliminate discriminatory restrictions. The two sides should work to avoid politicizing economic security, and maintain stable and smooth industrial and supply chains.

Fourth, strengthen regional and multilateral cooperation. The two countries should uphold Asian values, advocate openness over isolation, promote inclusiveness over exclusiveness, practice true multilateralism, and safeguard the WTO-centered multilateral trading system. The parties concerned should accelerate resuming the negotiations for the China-Japan-ROK Free Trade Agreement, implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) with high quality, and advance the process of establishing an Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area.

The participating departments had in-depth communication on macro policies, economy, trade, investment, digital economy, green development, ecological and environmental protection, people-to-people and cultural exchanges and regional cooperation, and made plans for the next step of cooperation, reaching a wide range of common understandings.

In conclusion, Wang Yi said that the dialogue, featuring a broader scope and more in-depth discussions, enhanced mutual understanding and confidence in cooperation. It fully proves that China-Japan economic cooperation enjoys a solid foundation, broad prospects and an internal driving force. At a time when unilateral protectionism is rampant, the dialogue that has sent a signal of support for a free trade system, adherence to international trade rules, and alignment with economic globalization, is highly relevant and will be widely welcomed by the international community. Both sides should further widen their horizons and expand cooperation in emerging areas to continuously enrich the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit.





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Li Qiang Meets with U.S. Senator Steve Daines and His Delegation

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: March 23, 2025 21:47

On the afternoon of March 23, 2025, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council met with U.S. Senator Steve Daines and some American business people, who are in China to attend the China Development Forum 2025, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Li Qiang said that currently, the development of China-U.S. relations has reached a new critical juncture. In January this year, President Xi Jinping emphasized in a phone call with President Donald Trump that China and the United States have extensive common interests and broad space of cooperation, and can become partners and friends, contribute to each other's success, and advance shared prosperity for the good of the two countries and the whole world. History has proven that both China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Both sides should choose dialogue rather than confrontation, and choose win-win cooperation instead of a zero-sum game. Li Qiang expressed the hope that the United States will move further with China in the same direction, engage in candid communication and build trust and dispel misgivings in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, deepen practical cooperation, and make joint efforts to promote the stable, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations.

Li Qiang pointed out that economic and trade cooperation is an important foundation of China-U.S. relations. Over the past few decades, the fruitful economic and trade cooperation achieved between China and the United States is the result of joint efforts of both sides and should be cherished. The more difficulties China-U.S. relations face, the more important it is to safeguard and develop China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation, in a bid to continue injecting stability into bilateral relations. Trade wars produce no winners. No country can achieve development and prosperity through imposing tariffs, but only through openness and cooperation. Li Qiang called on the two sides to solve problems such as trade imbalance by making the pie of cooperation bigger and creating more incremental benefits. China always welcomes companies from all over the world, including the United States, to share development opportunities in China, and will actively address their legitimate demands, treat domestic and foreign-funded companies as equals, and continue to foster a sound business environment.

People from the U.S. side said that great changes have taken place in China in recent decades. U.S. companies actively participate in and support China's development, and are willing to continue investing in China, and strengthen dialogue and cooperation to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results and strive to promote the sustained development of bilateral relations.

Wu Zhenglong attended the meeting.

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Wang Yi Meets with Secretary General of Japan's National Security Secretariat Masataka Okano

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: March 23, 2025 21:56

On March 23, 2025 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met with Secretary General of Japan's National Security Secretariat Masataka Okano in Tokyo.

The two sides had in-depth discussions on jointly implementing the important common understandings reached between the leaders of the two countries and comprehensively advancing the sound and stable development of the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit, and agreed to continue to maintain communication through the China-Japan high-level political dialogue mechanism.



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Chinese premier meets US Senator Steve Daines

Global Times

By Xinhua Published: Mar 24, 2025 08:03 AM

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday met with U.S. Senator Steve Daines and some American business people, who are here to attend the China Development Forum 2025.

Noting that the development of China-U.S. relations has reached a new important juncture, Li said that history has proven that both China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Both sides should choose dialogue rather than confrontation, and choose win-win cooperation instead of a zero-sum game.

It is hoped that the United States will work with China to engage in candid communication, and build trust and clear up misgivings in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. They should deepen pragmatic cooperation, and work together to promote the stable, healthy and sustainable development of relations, he said.

Li pointed out that economic and trade cooperation is an important foundation of China-U.S. relations. Over the past few decades, the fruitful economic and trade cooperation achieved between China and the United States is the result of joint efforts of both sides and should be cherished.

The more difficulties bilateral relations face, the more important it is to safeguard and develop China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation, said the premier.

Li said that nobody has to gain from a trade war, and no country can achieve development and prosperity through imposing tariffs. He called on the two countries to solve problems, such as trade imbalance, by making the pie of cooperation bigger.

"China always welcomes companies from all over the world, including the United States, to share development opportunities in China, and will actively address their legitimate demands, treat domestic and foreign companies as equals, and continue to foster a sound business environment," Li said.

People from the American side said that great changes have taken place in China in recent decades. U.S. companies actively participate in and support China's development, and are willing to continue investing in China, strengthen dialogue and cooperation to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and strive to promote the sustainable development of bilateral relations.

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China welcomes more members of US Congress and people from all walks of life to visit China: FM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Mar 24, 2025 04:31 PM Updated: Mar 24, 2025 06:22 PM

China welcomes more members of the US Congress and people from all walks of life to visit China, see and experience it for themselves, so as to have an objective understanding of China and play a constructive role in promoting the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-US relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday.

Guo's remarks were made in response to a Bloomberg interview with US Republican Senator Steve Daines, who said he'd like to arrange a bipartisan delegation of US senators to China later this year after David Perdue is confirmed as US ambassador to China.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday met with US Senator Steve Daines and some American business people, who are here to attend the China Development Forum 2025, Xinhua reported.

When asked about the details of the dialogue between China and the US for the next step, Guo said on Monday that China always believes that the steady, healthy and sustainable development of China-US relations are in line with the common interests of the two peoples and meets the expectation of the international community.

Before meeting with Premier Li Qiang, Daines has met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on Saturday. He stressed that China and the US share broad common interests and significant opportunities for cooperation, and can be partners and friends, achieving mutual success and shared prosperity that benefits both countries and the world, according to Xinhua.

On Friday, Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu also met with Daines. The two sides held in-depth exchanges on China-US relations and issues of mutual concern, according to a press release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

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China, Thailand to hold Blue Strike-2025 joint naval exercise

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun and Liang Rui Published: Mar 24, 2025 03:53 PM

China and Thailand will soon kick off a joint naval exercise off China's southern coast, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced on Monday. A Chinese military affairs expert said the drill will improve interoperability and contribute to regional peace and stability.

Based on a mutual agreement, the China-Thailand Blue Strike-2025 joint naval exercise will be held near Zhanjiang, South China's Guangdong Province from late March to early April, China's Ministry of National Defense announced in a statement on Monday.

The joint training will focus on urban counter-terrorism tactics, joint maritime strike operations and joint anti-submarine exercises, according to the Chinese Defense Ministry.

This marks the sixth time that the two navies conduct this series of joint exercises, which holds positive significance for deepening practical cooperation between the two navies and enhancing their capabilities for joint maritime operations, the Chinese Defense Ministry said.

The previous edition of the Blue Strike series exercise, the Blue Strike-2023, was held in Thailand in September 2023, China Central Television (CCTV) reported at the time.

Wang Yunfei, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Monday that the Blue Strike series exercise is a long-standing joint exercise between the Chinese and Thai militaries.

This exercise series usually features both non-traditional security aspects, such as counter-terrorism, maritime rescue and humanitarian aid, and traditional security aspects, such as maritime strike and anti-submarine operations, Wang noted.

The drills have played a positive role in safeguarding regional peace and stability, as it serves as an example that China and an ASEAN member state can carry out various cooperation such as anti-piracy and maintaining the security of maritime lanes, Wang said, adding that the cooperation between China and Thailand shows that China is an important positive factor to the stability in the South China Sea.

According to a video released by the Royal Thai Navy on its official channel on YouTube, the Thai side is sending the HTMS Angthong amphibious landing ship, the HTMS Chao Phraya and HTMS Kraburi frigates and the HTMS Prachuap Khiri Khan offshore patrol vessel to Zhanjiang for the Blue Strike 2025 joint naval exercise.

The HTMS Chao Phraya and HTMS Kraburi are Type 053HT series frigates that China built for Thailand, openly available reports show.

Wang noted that the Thai Type 053HT frigates share a number of training and operational methods as well as weapons and equipment with their Chinese counterparts, and this exercise will boost interoperability between the two countries' navies.

China and Thailand also hold regular joint exercises under the Falcon Strike series joint air force exercise and the Strike series joint army exercise.

The two countries' land, sea and air forces all conduct joint exercises, reflecting the comprehensiveness of the China-Thailand military cooperation and showing a high level of mutual trust, Wang said.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun's Regular Press Conference on March 24, 2025

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: March 24, 2025 18:55

Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang will attend and deliver a keynote speech at the opening plenary of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 in Hainan on March 27 at the invitation of the Forum.

At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot will visit China from March 27 to 28.

China News Service: Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently attended the China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting and co-chaired the China-Japan High-Level Economic Dialogue in Japan. Can you share information on that?

Guo Jiakun: We have released readouts, which you may refer to. While he was in Japan, Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the 11th China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting and held the China-Japan High-Level Economic Dialogue after six years. He also met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, ROK Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and others. The visit was a success.

The foreign ministers of China, Japan and the ROK had in-depth exchanges of views on the trilateral cooperation and regional and international issues. They agreed on the importance to uphold the momentum of trilateral cooperation, advance practical cooperation on all fronts, expand cooperation areas, deepen cultural and people-to-people exchange, and work for more outcomes that benefit the people of the three countries and the wider region.

China and Japan agreed to follow through on the important common understandings between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in their meeting in Lima, fully advance the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit, step up exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and work for the steady and sustained development of the bilateral relations. Fifteen government departments from the two sides attended the high-level economic dialogue. They had in-depth communication on macro policies, trade and investment, digital economy, green development, ecological conservation, cultural and people-to-people exchange and regional cooperation. They also made plans for cooperation going forward and reached 20 common understandings.

As a Chinese saying goes, close neighbors are better than relatives far away. In a world with notably rising uncertainties and instabilities, China stands ready to work with Japan and the ROK to enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation, resist disruption, and together contribute to regional and global peace and prosperity.

AFP: Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with U.S. Senator Steve Daines on Sunday and said that Beijing and Washington should choose dialogue over confrontation. Following this meeting, can the Foreign Ministry give us any more details on what would be the next step in dialogue between the U.S. and China?

Guo Jiakun: China has released a readout on the meeting, which you may refer to. China believes that the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations serves the common interests of both peoples and meets the extensive aspiration of the international community.

Global Times: Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, and some other Japanese political figures when he attended the China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting and co-chaired the China-Japan High-Level Economic Dialogue in Japan. According to China's readouts, Foreign Minister Wang Yi made clear during the meetings China's position and concerns on the issue of history. He stressed that the Japanese side should hold a correct perception of and attitude on history. Could you share with us more details on China's principled position on this issue?

Guo Jiakun: As Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, the issue of history bears on the political foundation of China-Japan relations as well as people's sentiments in China and other Asian countries victimized by Japanese aggression during the war. Having a correct perception of and attitude on history is an important prerequisite for Japan's return to the international community after World War II, the political foundation of Japan's relations with neighboring countries, and more importantly, an important yardstick for Japan's commitment to peaceful development. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-fascist War. History, if not forgotten, can serve as a guide for the future. To bear in mind the history during the last century is not for perpetuating hatred but for cherishing the hard-won peace and creating a bright future. The four political documents between China and Japan established the important political principle of "seeing history as a mirror and looking ahead to the future", and Japan made serious political commitments. We hope the Japanese side will earnestly draw lessons from history, have a strong sense of responsibility to history, people and the future, make a clean break from the moves of whitewashing the history of aggression, follow the path of peaceful development, and take concrete actions to earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community.

Polish Press Agency: The German media outlet Welt am Sonntag has reported Chinese diplomats are discussing in Brussels the possibility of its participation in a potential peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine. Can you confirm that? Is China considering sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine? What are the prerequisites for this decision?

Guo Jiakun: The report is not true at all. China's stance on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear.

China Daily: We noted that days ago, the Group of Friends for Peace on the Ukraine crisis had a meeting again in New York and held a media stakeout. Could you share more details with us?

Guo Jiakun: The Group of Friends for Peace on the Ukraine crisis recently had a meeting in New York. They discussed the latest developments of the Ukraine crisis and the prospects for achieving a lasting peace. A media stakeout was held after the meeting, highlighting that the meeting was highly successful and reaffirming the resolution of the conflict through a negotiated political solution and diplomatic means. Members of the Group stressed that the conflict might be approaching a turning point and welcomed recent dynamics toward peace talks. They urged all stakeholders to play a constructive role, find a just and lasting solutionone that addresses concerns of the parties to the conflict and leads to a peace agreement acceptable to them. The Group will stay committed to maintaining close communication with all relevant parties, making the voices of the Global South heeded by more, and contributing to a peaceful resolution to the conflict and a better future for all.

Since its founding last September, under the guidance of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, the Group of Friends for Peace on the Ukraine crisis has consistently advocated for an early peaceful resolution, and rallied positive forces for political settlement of the crisis. China will continue to work with the international community to make more rational voices for peace talks heard, create conditions for ending the conflict and promoting peace talks, build momentum and play an active and constructive role for the political settlement of the crisis.

CCTV: It's reported that U.S. Senator Steve Daines said in an interview with Bloomberg on March 23 that he'd like to arrange a bipartisan delegation of U.S. senators to China later this year after David Perdue is confirmed as ambassador to the country. What's China's response?

Guo Jiakun: China welcomes more members of the Congress and American people from all walks of life to visit China so as to learn about China in a more objective way, and play a constructive role for the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations.

Shenzhen TV: To follow up on Foreign Minister Barrot's visit to China, can you brief us on the program of the visit and China's expectation?

Guo Jiakun: China and France celebrated the 60th anniversary of our diplomatic ties last year. President Xi Jinping's successful state visit to France has led the bilateral ties onto a new journey and produced profound and positive impact internationally. The upcoming visit will be Foreign Minister Barrot's first visit to China after coming into office. During his visit, Foreign Minister Wang Yi will hold talks with him to exchange views on following through on the two presidents' common understandings, advancing China-France relations and China-EU relations, and other topics of common interest.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations. The international landscape we are facing is an increasing mix of turbulence and transformation with rising instability and uncertainty. China and France are permanent members of the UN Security Council and each other's comprehensive strategic partner. It is imperative for us to enhance strategic communication and contribute to world peace, stability and development. Through this visit, China hopes to work with France to consolidate political mutual trust, uphold openness and win-win, promote solidarity and coordination, safeguard multilateralism, jointly guard against the undertows of unilateralism and the law of the jungle, and inject more certainty to the world.

China Review News: According to what has been released by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while he was in Japan, Foreign Minister Wang Yi talked about the Taiwan question with Japanese political figures. He stressed that the four political documents between China and Japan have made clear provisions on the Taiwan question, which must be strictly implemented without ambiguity or backsliding. Can you further brief us on China's stance?

Guo Jiakun: Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interest, and bears on the political foundation of China-Japan relations and basic trust between the two countries.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the recovery of Taiwan. Japan undeniably bears historical responsibilities on the Taiwan question. The Cairo Declaration issued by China, the U.S. and the UK in 1943 stated in explicit terms that Taiwan is a territory that Japan had stolen from the Chinese, and shall be restored to China. Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation jointly issued by China, the U.S., the UK and the Soviet Union in 1945 stipulates that the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out. On August 15, 1945, Japan accepted the Potsdam Proclamation and announced unconditional surrender. Later in 1972, Japan pledged in the China-Japan Joint Statement that it firmly maintains its position under Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation. The Treaty of Peace and Friendship Between China and Japan signed in 1978 clearly stated that the principles set out in the statement should be strictly observed. The treaty was deliberated and approved by the legislators of the two countries, and together with the China-Japan Joint Statement, constitute legally binding documents that provide guidance for the bilateral ties. The above-mentioned historical evidence and legal basis fully show that abiding by the one-China principle is the serious political commitment and obligation under international law that Japan must follow.

The false narrative, including "a Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency" and "the China-Japan Joint Statement is not legally binding", will gravely erode the political foundation of China-Japan relations. Such narrative is not only wrong, but also very dangerous. We urge Japan to deliver on its commitment, handle the Taiwan question with extra prudence and take concrete actions to maintain the momentum of improvement and development in China-Japan relations.

AFP: I have a question about China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735 which crashed three years ago in Guangxi and killed 132 people on board. China's civil aviation authority had issued statements on the probe into the crash on the first and second anniversaries. Are there any details you can provide on the ongoing investigation?

Guo Jiakun: I'd refer you to competent authorities for anything specific.

TVB: According to reports, information from sources shows that Rodrigo Duterte, former president of the Philippines, before being arrested by the International Criminal Court (ICC) applied for asylum in China but was allegedly rejected. The Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) preferred to arrest Duterte in Hong Kong, but the Hong Kong Police Force refused to cooperate with the International Criminal Police Organization since China is neither a state party nor a member state to the Rome Statute. What's China's comment? Can you confirm that Duterte sought asylum in China? If so, why did China reject the request?

Guo Jiakun: The Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong SAR has made a response on Mr. Rodrigo Duterte's visit to Hong Kong. Relevant personnel in the Philippines also made remarks on that. Let me point out in particular that Mr. Duterte's visit to Hong Kong was a private vacation trip. We have never received the so-called application for asylum to the Chinese government from former president Rodrigo Duterte or his family. We hope people from the media can be careful about the so-called "information from sources," either unfounded or ill-motivated, and do not easily believe what they hear.

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Xi Jinping's family wealth persists despite anti-corruption drive: US report

They may have benefited from connections to political power, said the US intelligence report.

By Alan Lu for RFA

2025.03.24

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's family continues to hold millions of dollars in business interests and financial investments, said a recent U.S. report, raising suspicion that they might have benefited from Xi's position despite his decade-long anti-corruption campaign.

Xi launched an anti-corruption drive shortly after he took power in 2012, aimed at rooting out corruption at all levels of the Communist Party. The campaign, which targeted both high-ranking "tigers" and low-level "flies," led to the investigation and punishment of hundreds of thousands of officials.

But the U.S.-backed intelligence agency Office of the Director of National Intelligence, or ODNI, said Xi's relatives have retained significant financial holdings, and they may have benefited from political connections through private and state-owned businesses.

"Their [Chinese leaders'] senior-level positions would have granted access to privileged information and both private and state-owned enterprise actions could have advantaged family holdings due to their connections to persons with political power," said the ODNI in a report released on Thursday. It didn't identify any direct influence from the leaders contributing to growth in family investments.

But it warned that centralized power, a lack of independent oversight, and minimal accountability, especially at the provincial level, are systemic factors that allow corruption to thrive in China. The report said these factors enable government officials to increase their personal wealth through corruption at a rate estimated to be four to six times their official salaries.

"Higher-ranking officials, who have greater access to state resources, benefit the most from bribery and illicit financial dealings," said the ODNI, citing membership in China's National People's Congress, or NPC, as an example.

"Potential benefits of NPC membership incentivize individuals to pay high costs to join, often through bribes, and to accept bribes while a member, or even upon completion of service, to facilitate business deals," it added.

The NPC, China's legislative body that serves primarily as a rubber-stamp parliament, is perceived as a status symbol and vehicle through which to gain access to sensitive government information.

Xi's anti-corruption drive

Since taking power, Xi has positioned himself as a staunch opponent of corruption, launching an unprecedented crackdown within the Chinese Communist Party, or CCP, the government, and the military.

According to the ODNI, from 2012 to 2022, nearly five million officials have been investigated, with 4.7 million found guilty.

"In his words, Xi intended to make government officials 'unable and unwilling to be corrupt,'" said the ODNI.

The report also acknowledged that Xi's early anti-corruption investigations primarily targeted high-ranking officials associated with his predecessors.

But a decade-long drive widened its focus to officials from various factions, including those with close personal ties to Xi.

Notably, in recent months, Xi has removed several top military officials, including Defense Minister Li Shangfu and Admiral Miao Hua, both of whom were considered close allies.

Their abrupt dismissals underscore the CCP's ongoing concerns about loyalty and military effectiveness, particularly within the People's Liberation Army, which Xi has ordered to be combat-ready for a potential conflict over Taiwan by 2027.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Stephen Wright.

Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Hong Kong, China hit out at sale of CK Hutchison ports to BlackRock

State-backed media says Lee Ka-shing's firm should 'think again,' and consider the Chinese national interest.

By Dawn Yu for RFA Cantonese 2025.03.24 -- Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee has criticized the "bullying tactics by foreign governments" in the wake of the controversial US$23-billion sale of dozens of port facilities -- including those in the Panama Canal -- by homegrown conglomerate CK Hutchison to U.S. investment giant BlackRock.

BlackRock and CK Hutchison, which is controlled by Hong Kong billionaire Lee Ka-shing, announced earlier this month that they had reached an agreement in principle for BlackRock to acquire CK Hutchison's 90% interests in Panama Ports, which owns and operates the Panama terminals Balboa and Cristobal.

BlackRock will also buy CK Hutchison's 80% controlling interest in a further 43 ports in 23 other countries, the companies said in a joint statement dated March 4.

The sale came amid growing calls in Washington for action to loosen Beijing's influence stemming from Chinese and Hong Kong companies' control over key infrastructure on the Panama Canal and other port facilities in the Western hemisphere.

On Feb. 3, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio threatened Panamanian leader Jose Raul Mulino with potential American retaliation if his country didn't immediately reduce Chinese influence over the canal.

Lee said concerns about the deal "deserve serious attention," possibly hinting at some form of legal action.

"We oppose the abusive use of coercion or bullying tactics in international, economic and trade relations," Lee told journalists in Hong Kong on Tuesday, adding that Hong Kong would handle any commercial transaction "according to the law."

"The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government urges foreign governments to provide a fair and just environment for enterprises, including enterprises from Hong Kong," he told journalists at a regular briefing on Tuesday.

The ruling Chinese Communist Party responded by sending a delegation to Panama led by Ma Hui, vice-minister of the Central Committee's International Department, state news agency Xinhua reported.

"China is willing to strengthen exchanges with Panamanian political parties and think tanks, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and solidify public support for friendly relations between China and Panama," it quoted Ma as saying on March 17.

The visit came as Communist Party-backed media criticized the CK Hutchison port sale, citing a "close personal relationship" between BlackRock and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Hong Kong's Ta Kung Pao newspaper said the Trump administration had "directly and blatantly intervened and manipulated the deal without scruple, using it as a way to promote their global hegemony."

"Now that the Panama Canal has been Americanized and politicized, the United States will definitely be using it to promote its own political agenda," the paper said, citing "huge risks" for Chinese companies' shipping costs and supply chains.

It said plans to charge Chinese ships bigger docking fees could affect China's shipping industry, foreign trade and President Xi Jinping's "Belt and Road" global supply chain, infrastructure and influence program.

"This is power politics packaged as commercial behavior," the paper said in an editorial that was posted to the official website of Beijing's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (in Chinese).

It said accusations on social media that CK Hutchison had engaged in "spineless grovelling and profit-seeking while disregard the national interest" were "completely understandable."

"The company concerned should think twice ... and think carefully about what side it's on," the paper said.

Neither China's State Administration for Market Regulation nor the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council had responded to requests for comment by the time of publication.

Financial analyst Simon Lee said Lee Ka-shing was caught between a rock and a hard place.

"If he sells, he's done for. If he doesn't sell, he's done for," Lee said. "It seems that it's no longer possible to be just a business, whether in China or the United States."

"Now you have to pick a side -- you can't just do business like you could before."

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Press Statement by Institute for Disarmament and Peace of DPRK Foreign Ministry

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, March 24 (KCNA) -- The Institute for Disarmament and Peace of the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Monday made public the following press statement "It is our inevitable option to further accelerate the self-defensive efforts to ensure the security interests of the country from the regional security environment getting instable day after day":

Despite the serious concern of the international community, the U.S. and its vassal allies staged the large-scale joint military exercises Freedom Shield 2025 from March 10 to 20.

Freedom Shield, which has been certainly staged every year to destabilize the situation in the Korean peninsula, reached the highest level in its aggressive and offensive nature this year.

The Institute for Disarmament and Peace of the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK publishes this press statement to inform the international community of how dangerous and reckless military provocation the large-scale war exercises Freedom Shield staged by the U.S. and the ROK under the pretext of "defensive" and "annual" rehearsal are and why the DPRK's efforts to deter the military moves of the enemy states are just.

Freedom Shield Started from the Outset of the Year in Reality

It is a cross-sectional view to construe that the large-scale joint military exercises Freedom Shield of the U.S. and the ROK started on March 10.

It is not exaggeration to say that the U.S.-Japan-ROK joint air drill with the involvement of a B-1B strategic bomber of the U.S. Air Force in the sky over the Korean peninsula in January was a preliminary drill for Freedom Shield in reality.

The U.S. has continuously staged various kinds of joint military drills with its satellites in the region, including the ROK, from the outset of the year, getting frantic with the creation of preliminary atmosphere for the full-scale operation of Freedom Shield.

From January to March, the U.S. had successively staged such joint military drills under different names aimed to master war scenarios for striking the in-depth area of the DPRK as "Ssangmae drill", "combined arms live-firing drill", "joint search drill", "joint integrated firepower live-firing drill" and "joint special strike drill".

On January 15, it introduced a formation of B-1B strategic bombers into the sky over the Korean peninsula to conduct a joint air-to-ground live-firing drill with the ROK. On February 10, it made the attack nuclear submarine Alexandria call at the Pusan operational base and, on February 20, mobilized a B-1B strategic bomber formation again to conduct a provocative joint air drill.

In particular, on March 2, it committed a military provocative act of deploying in the region of the Korean peninsula a nuclear carrier strike group, which consists of the nuclear carrier Carl Vinson, Aegis cruiser Princeton, Aegis destroyer Sterett and others.

Four years have passed since the start of Freedom Shield, but the U.S. strategic offensive means had never been deployed in the Korean peninsula in a sequential way and in succession on the eve of the exercises as seen above.

This proves that this year's Freedom Shield is a more premeditated and provocative nuclear war rehearsal staged by the U.S. and its satellites on the basis of full examination of their war readiness.

Aggressive and Offensive War Drills from A to Z

The recent joint military exercises Freedom Shield were conducted in a multi-domain space, including ground, sea, air and cyber, in an all-round way for the first time in the history of joint drills staged by the U.S. and the ROK. And the number of brigade-level field mobile drills increased six times the last year's as it was 16, the biggest in history.

The U.S. involved in the joint military exercises a lot of aggression forces and military hardware, including the U.S. Eighth Army, the U.S. Seventh Air Force, the U.S. Space Force, the U.S. Seventh Fleet and the Third Expedition and the First Division of the U.S. marines.

During the joint military exercises, the U.S. and the ROK staged such provocative military drills aimed at attack on a belligerent party as the joint air strike drill of paratroops, the mountain warfare drill of marine troops, the drills of special warfare troops for special reconnaissance of enemy's interior and strike at enemy's core facilities and the drills of armored troops for breaking through enemy's defense line and occupying major bases.

What should not be overlooked is that OPLAN 2022, a war scenario under the simulated conditions of "a preemptive strike" at the DPRK's nuclear facilities worked out according to the "nuclear operations guidelines" cooked up by the U.S. and the ROK in July last year, was officially applied to the recent joint military exercises.

A typical example is that the U.S. and ROK military gangsters staged a joint special warfare drill for "destroying someone's secret underground tunnel network" and "removing nuclear weapons" by mobilizing armored and special warfare forces, reconnaissance drones and artificial intelligence attack robots from March 17 to 20.

In particular, the U.S. conducted a U.S.-Japan-ROK joint naval drill with the nuclear carrier Carl Vinson task force involved in the waters off the Korean peninsula, timed to coincide with the joint military exercises Freedom Shield.

Lurking behind the war drills the U.S. staged together with its satellites by mobilizing large-scale marine troops including the nuclear carrier is its sinister design to link Freedom Shield with the tripartite joint naval drill and expand the scope of the U.S.-ROK joint military exercises into the U.S.-Japan-ROK joint military exercises in future.

As above-seen, this year's Freedom Shield revealed its offensive nature as a U.S.-Japan-ROK joint military rehearsal and as a multinational war drill involving even the troops from twelve member states of the "UN Command".

The threatening nature of Freedom Shield, which is being turned into a more expanded and offensive anti-DPRK war rehearsal, fully proves that the enemy states' military attempt to contain the DPRK by upper-hand in hegemonic strength has developed into a more dangerous level.

Inevitable Choice by DPRK to Defend Regional and Global Peace

Shortly ago, international affairs analysts said that the U.S.-ROK joint military rehearsal Freedom Shield more clearly shows its aggressive nature of targeting not only the DPRK but also other countries in the region, adding that this is part of the U.S. world strategy for securing military domination over the Asia-Pacific region.

Such comments hint that the Freedom Shield and other various joint military drills staged by the U.S. and its satellites in and around the Korean peninsula are becoming the core means for carrying out Washington's strategy for hegemony to contain not only the DPRK but also strategic rivals in the region and that the U.S. war drills will be further expanded in the future.

The continuity of military drills for aggression in the Korean peninsula, where the belligerents are in acute confrontation and where is under mature condition in which an accidental spark may develop into a destructive armed conflict, is driving the regional situation into an uncontrollable state.

The fact that pro-U.S. countries including NATO member states have joined the U.S.-led joint military drills including Freedom Shield, pursuant to the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK, predicts that a military conflict in the Korean peninsula will be by no means limited between the DPRK and the U.S. but it will inevitably lead to the start of a new world war.

The case of accidental attack by fighters of the ROK near the southern border of the DPRK on the eve of the recent Freedom Shield served as a vivid occasion for the international community to imagine the disastrous consequences to be entailed by the war exercises being staged by the U.S. and the ROK under the signboard of "defensive" and "annual".

It is an inevitable option of the DPRK to further make more self-defensive efforts to ensure its security interests from the regional security environment which is getting instable with each passing day.

The absolute value of defending the sovereignty and stability is to provide the most powerful war deterrence capable of always preemptively containing the military provocations of the enemy states and definitely steering the situation.

The genuine defence capability precisely means the powerful offensive capability and it is the most confident guarantee for preventing a war and effectively deterring and controlling any threat and blackmail of the aggressors to acquire the formidable offensive capabilities and overwhelming striking capabilities.

The DPRK will steadily upgrade and bolster up its strong counteraction capability of all categories, able to overwhelmingly contain any military moves of the enemy states seriously threatening its sovereignty and security interests, and reliably defend peace and security in the region and the rest of the world as a responsible nuclear weapons state. -0-

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CULMINATION OF BILATERAL NAVAL EXERCISE - VARUNA 2025

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 7:03PM by PIB Delhi

The bilateral naval exercise VARUNA 2025, held from 19 to 22 Mar 25, brought together Indian Navy and the French Navy, underscoring their enduring partnership.

This edition of the Exercise included exercises ranging across multi domain environments. The structured drills were designed to further fine-tune tactical and operational proficiency in complex scenarios. Advanced Air defence drills with the participation of Rafale-M of the French Navy and MIG-29K of the Indian Navy, simulating realistic combat scenarios, honed the ability of participating units to counter aerial threats jointly. Anti-Submarine Warfare exercises involving Indian submarine and Anti-Submarine frigates of the two forces focused on deepening the understanding and proficiency in underwater domain awareness and tactics. Surface warfare operations involved complex coordinated manoeuvres and simulated engagements, showcasing the combined combat power of the participating fleets. Replenishment At Sea exercises by the two Fleet Tankers proved the logistical interoperability and enhanced mutual support and endurance for sustained operations. This edition of the exercise achieved a higher degree of operational coordination between the two navies than the previous editions.

The exercise achieved its aim of enhanced Jointmanship and reinforced the shared commitment to upholding the principles of a rules-based maritime order and promoting stability in the Indo-Pacific. The complex drills provided invaluable operational experience, strengthening the collective capacity to address contemporary maritime security challenges. The exercise facilitated the critical exchange of Best Practices, fostering a deeper understanding of each other's operational doctrines and enhancing the two navies' ability to operate seamlessly in complex maritime environments. Since its inception, the Varuna exercise has been a cornerstone of India-France defence relations, with both countries recognising the importance of maritime security and collaborative defence efforts. France and India share a strong commitment to safeguarding global Sea lanes and addressing shared maritime security challenges.

______________________________________________

VM/SPS 65/25

(Release ID: 2114535)

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Make in India Powers Defence Growth

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Production hit 1.27 lakh crore in FY 2023-24, Exports cross 21,000 crore

Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 7:19PM by PIB Delhi

Summary

India's defence production reached 1.27 lakh crore in FY 2023-24, marking a 174% rise since 2014-15, driven by the Make in India initiative. Defence exports hit a record 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24, expanding 30 times in a decade, with exports to 100+ countries. Initiatives like iDEX and SAMARTHYA are driving technological advancements in AI, cyber warfare, and indigenous weapon systems. 14,000+ items indigenised under SRIJAN and 3,000 under Positive Indigenisation Lists. India aims for 3 lakh crore in production, 50,000 crore in exports by 2029.

Summary

Introduction

India's defence production has grown at an extraordinary pace since the launch of the "Make in India" initiative, reaching a record 1.27 lakh crore in FY 2023-24. Once dependent on foreign suppliers, the country now stands as a rising force in indigenous manufacturing, shaping its military strength through homegrown capabilities. This shift reflects a strong commitment to self-reliance, ensuring that India not only meets its security needs but also builds a robust defence industry that contributes to economic growth.

Strategic policies have fuelled this momentum, encouraging private participation, technological innovation, and the development of advanced military platforms. The surge in the defence budget, from 2.53 lakh crore in 2013-14 to 6.81 lakh crore in 2025-26, underlines the nation's determination to strengthen its military infrastructure.

This commitment to self-reliance and modernisation is reflected in the recent approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for the procurement of the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), a significant step in enhancing the Army's firepower. The deal includes 307 units of 155mm/52 caliber guns along with 327 High Mobility 6x6 Gun Towing Vehicles, equipping 15 Artillery Regiments under the Buy Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured (IDDM) category, at an estimated cost of 7,000 crore. Developed by DRDO with Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems, ATAGS is a cutting-edge artillery system with a 40+ km range, advanced fire control, precision targeting, automated loading, and recoil management, thoroughly tested by the Indian Army in all terrains.

With modern warships, fighter jets, artillery systems, and cutting-edge weaponry being built within the country, India is now a key player in the global defence manufacturing landscape.

Surge in Indigenous Defence Production

India has achieved the highest-ever growth in indigenous defence production in value terms during Financial Year (FY) 2023-24, driven by the successful implementation of government policies and initiatives led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, focusing on attaining Atmanirbharta. The value of defence production has surged to a record high of 1,27,265 crore, marking an impressive 174% increase from 46,429 crore in 2014-15, according to data from all Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), other public sector units manufacturing defence items, and private companies.

This growth has been bolstered by the Make in India initiative, which has enabled the development of advanced military platforms including the Dhanush Artillery Gun System, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun, Light Specialist Vehicles, High Mobility Vehicles, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Akash Missile System, Weapon Locating Radar, 3D Tactical Control Radar, and Software Defined Radio (SDR), as well as naval assets like destroyers, indigenous aircraft carriers, submarines, frigates, corvettes, fast patrol vessels, fast attack craft, and offshore patrol vessels.

Key points:

65% of defence equipment is now manufactured domestically, a significant shift from the earlier 65-70% import dependency, showcasing India's self-reliance in defence.

A robust defence industrial base includes 16 DPSUs, over 430 licensed companies, and approximately 16,000 MSMEs, strengthening indigenous production capabilities.

The private sector plays a crucial role, contributing 21% to total defence production, fostering innovation and efficiency.

India targets 3 lakh crore in defence production by 2029, reinforcing its position as a global defence manufacturing hub.

Unprecedented Growth in Defence Exports

India's expanding global footprint in defence manufacturing is a direct result of its commitment to self-reliance and strategic policy interventions. Defence exports have surged from 686 crore in FY 2013-14 to an all-time high of 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24, marking a 30-fold increase over the past decade.

Key points:

Defence exports have grown 21 times, from 4,312 crore in the 2004-14 decade to 88,319 crore in the 2014-24 decade, highlighting India's expanding role in the global defence sector.

Defence exports surged by 32.5% year-on-year, rising from 15,920 crore in FY 2022-23 to 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24.

India's diverse export portfolio includes bulletproof jackets, Dornier (Do-228) aircraft, Chetak helicopters, fast interceptor boats, and lightweight torpedoes.

Notably, 'Made in Bihar' boots are now part of the Russian Army's gear, highlighting India's high manufacturing standards.

India now exports defence equipment to over 100 countries, with the USA, France, and Armenia emerging as the top buyers in 2023-24.

The government aims to achieve 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029, reinforcing India's role as a global defence manufacturing hub while boosting economic growth.

Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)

Launched in April 2018, Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) has created a thriving ecosystem for innovation and technology development in defence and aerospace. By engaging MSMEs, startups, individual innovators, R&D institutes, and academia, iDEX has provided grants of up to 1.5 crore for developing innovative technologies. To further enhance self-reliance in defence technology, 449.62 crore has been allocated to iDEX, including its sub-scheme Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI), for 2025-26. As of February 2025, 549 problem statements have been opened, involving 619 startups and MSMEs, with 430 iDEX contracts signed.

The scheme has three key objectives:

Facilitate rapid development of new, indigenised, and innovative technologies for the Indian Defence and Aerospace sector, to meet their needs in a shorter time span.

Create a culture of engagement with innovative startups, to encourage co-creation for Defence and Aerospace sectors.

Empower a culture of technology co-creation and co-innovation within the Defence and Aerospace sectors.

The recently launched ADITI scheme aims to support critical and strategic technologies such as satellite communication, advanced cyber technology, autonomous weapons, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, nuclear technologies, and underwater surveillance. Under this scheme, grants of up to 25 crore are provided to innovators.

Reinforcing its commitment to supporting startups and MSMEs, the Ministry of Defence has also cleared procurement of 43 items worth over 2,400 crore from iDEX startups and MSMEs for the Armed Forces as of February 2025. Additionally, projects worth over 1,500 crore have been approved for development.

SAMARTHYA: Showcasing India's Defence Indigenisation

The success story of indigenisation and innovation in the defence sector was highlighted at the Aero India 2025 event 'SAMARTHYA', which showcased India's progress in defence manufacturing. The event featured 33 major indigenised items, including 24 developed by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and the Indian Navy, along with nine successful innovation projects from iDEX.

Among the key indigenised items displayed were:

Electro Block of the Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun

Electric Mobile Part for Submarines

Torsion Bar Suspension for HMV 6x6

Extruded Aluminium Alloy for LCA MK-I/II and LCH Components

Indian High-Temperature Alloy (IHTA)

VPX-135 Single Board Computer

Naval Anti-Ship Missile (Short Range)

RudraM II Missile

C4ISR System

DIFM R118 Electronic Warfare Systems

The event further highlighted breakthroughs in AI-driven analytical platforms, next-generation surveillance systems, quantum-secure communication technologies, and counter-drone measures. Innovations like the 4G/LTE TAC-LAN, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) system, Smart Compressed Breathing Apparatus, and Advanced Autonomous Systems for the Armed Forces reflect India's evolving defence landscape.

Efforts are ongoing to bridge the gap between the Indian Army's operational challenges and the innovative solutions developed by academia, industry startups, and research institutions. Additionally, the focus remains on conducting multi-domain operations in a data-centric environment, especially in light of emerging transformative technologies.

SAMARTHYA stands as a testament to India's commitment to self-reliance in defence technology, reinforcing its ability to develop advanced, home-grown solutions for national security.

Advancing Self-Reliance

India's pursuit of self-reliance in defence manufacturing has significantly reduced its dependence on foreign suppliers. Through strategic policies and indigenous innovation, the country is developing cutting-edge military platforms, strengthening both national security and economic growth.

Self-Reliant Initiatives through Joint Action (SRIJAN)

Launched by the Department of Defence Production (DDP) in August 2020 to promote indigenisation under Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Serves as a common platform for Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and the Armed Forces (SHQs) to list imported items for domestic manufacturing.

As of February 2025, over 38,000 items are available, with more than 14,000 successfully indigenised.

Positive Indigenisation Lists (PILs)

The Department of Defence Production (DDP) and the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) have issued five Positive Indigenisation Lists (PILs) for LRUs, assemblies, sub-assemblies, sub-systems, spares, components, and high-end materials.

These lists set fixed timelines beyond which procurement will be restricted to domestic manufacturers.

Out of over 5,500 items listed, more than 3,000 have been indigenised as of February 2025.

Key indigenised technologies include artillery guns, assault rifles, corvettes, sonar systems, transport aircraft, light combat helicopters (LCHs), radars, wheeled armoured platforms, rockets, bombs, armoured command post vehicles, and armoured dozers.

Defence Industrial Corridors

Two Defence Industrial Corridors (DICs) have been set up in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to boost defence manufacturing. These corridors provide incentives to companies investing in the sector.

Investments worth more than Rs 8,658 crore have already been made in the 6 nodes of UP viz. Agra, Aligarh, Chitrakoot, Jhansi, Kanpur and Lucknow and 5 nodes of Tamil Nadu viz. Chennai, Coimbatore, Hosur, Salem and Tiruchirappalli.

As of February 2025, 253 MoUs have been signed, with a potential investment of 53,439 crore.

Ease of Doing Business (EoDB)

The government has introduced several measures to improve ease of doing business in the defence manufacturing sector.

The validity of export authorisation for parts and components has been extended from two years to the completion of the order or component, whichever is later.

In 2019, the Defence Product List was streamlined to reduce the number of items requiring a manufacturing licence.

Parts and components of defence items were de-licensed in September 2019 to encourage investment.

The validity of defence licences under the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951, has been extended from three years to 15 years, with a further extension option of up to 18 years.

Over 700 industrial licences have been issued to 436 companies in the defence sector.

The introduction of an end-to-end digital export authorisation system has improved efficiency, with more than 1,500 authorisations issued in the last financial year.

MAKE Projects: Driving Indigenous Defence Innovation

The MAKE procedure was first introduced in the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP-2006) to promote indigenous design and development in the defence sector. Over the years, it has been simplified and streamlined through revisions in 2016, 2018, and 2020, ensuring faster development of defence equipment, systems, and components by both public and private industries.

MAKE projects have been divided into three categories:

MAKE-I (Government Funded)

Up to 70% government funding for prototype development (capped at 250 crore per Development Agency).

Minimum 50% Indigenous Content (IC) required.

MAKE-II (Industry Funded)

Focuses on import substitution, encouraging domestic industries to develop critical defence systems.

No government funding, with a minimum 50% Indigenous Content (IC) requirement.

MAKE-III (Manufactured in India through Transfer of Technology - ToT)

Involves manufacturing in India under Technology Transfer (ToT) from Foreign OEMs.

No design and development but require a minimum of 60% Indigenous Content (IC).

Key points:

As of March 24, 2025, a total of 145 projects have been undertaken under the MAKE initiative, with the participation of 171 industries, driving indigenous defence production.

The initiative includes 40 MAKE-I projects (Government Funded), 101 MAKE-II projects (Industry Funded), and 4 MAKE-III projects (Manufacturing through ToT), strengthening self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

Other Key Initiatives

In recent years, the Indian government has implemented a series of transformative initiatives aimed at bolstering the country's defence production capabilities and achieving self-reliance. These measures are designed to attract investment, enhance domestic manufacturing, and streamline procurement processes. From liberalizing foreign direct investment (FDI) limits to prioritizing indigenous production, these initiatives reflect a robust commitment to strengthening India's defence industrial base. The following points outline the key government initiatives that have been pivotal in driving growth and innovation in the defence sector.

Liberalized FDI Policy: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the defence sector was liberalised in September 2020 to attract foreign investment, allowing up to 74% FDI through the automatic route and above 74% through the government route. Since April 2000, the total FDI in defence industries stands at $21.74 million.

TATA Aircraft Complex: Tata Aircraft Complex was inaugurated in Vadodara in October 2024 to manufacture C-295 aircraft, boosting Atmanirbharta in defence with 40 made-in-India aircraft out of 56 under the programme.

Manthan: The annual defence innovation event, Manthan, held during Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru, brought together leading innovators, startups, MSMEs, academia, investors, and industry leaders from the defence and aerospace sectors, reaffirming confidence in the government's commitment to technological advancements and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS): DTIS aims to boost indigenisation by providing financial assistance for setting up eight Greenfield testing and certification facilities in the aerospace and defence sector, with seven test facilities already approved in areas like unmanned aerial systems, electronic warfare, electro-optics, and communications.

Priority for Domestic Procurement: Emphasis is placed on procuring capital items from domestic sources under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2020.

Domestic Procurement Allocation: MoD has earmarked 75% of modernisation budget amounting to Rs 1,11,544 crore for procurement through domestic industries during the current Financial Year.

Conclusion

India's remarkable strides in defence production and exports underscore its transformation into a self-reliant and globally competitive military manufacturing hub. The combination of strategic policy interventions, increased domestic participation, and a focus on indigenous innovation has significantly strengthened the country's defence capabilities. The surge in production, the exponential rise in exports, and the success of initiatives like the Make in India reflect India's commitment to achieving Atmanirbharta in defence. With ambitious targets set for 2029, the nation is poised to further expand its global footprint, reinforcing its position as a dependable partner in the international defence market while enhancing national security and economic growth.

References:

https://pib.gov.in/FactsheetDetails.aspx?Id=149099=3&lang=1

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2069090

https://www.investindia.gov.in/sector/defence-manufacturing

https://makeinindiadefence.gov.in/#

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2098485

https://idex.gov.in/idex

https://www.ddpmod.gov.in/offerings/schemes-and-services/idex

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2098485

Ministry of Defence

Click here to see PDF.

*****

Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Saurabh Kalia

(Release ID: 2114546)

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Foreign minister rejects negotiations with the U.S. under pressure, threats

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 24, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has once again dismissed any direct talks with the United States, saying that the so-called "maximum pressure campaign" and repeated threats against Iran make it impossible to engage in negotiations with Washington.

"This is our definite and clear policy, and until there is a fundamental change in the U.S. approach toward the Islamic Republic and the people of Iran, no direct talks will take place," Araqchi told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of the Red Crescent Society in Tehran on Monday.

He said that the way to indirect channels is open and that Iran will convey its messages through indirect means.

"Our goal and mission is to ensure the national interests and security, which, we will never compromise" the top diplomat emphasized.

He added that the current U.S. policies, accusations, and awful demands make it impossible to engage with direct negotiations.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Araqchi hinted about enemy plots but said that no one dares to invade Iran as it is fully prepared for any scenario.

"I am sure no one will even think of attacking Iran because they are familiar with its consequences and know that various sectors, including the armed forces, relief personnel, the government and the people are all in full readiness,", he specified.

The foreign minister referred to his conversation with the media a few days and said that he would like to say once again that "there will be no war because we are fully prepared for this situation."

4399



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China's proposals on the Iranian nuclear issue become official U.N. document

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 24, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- China's key proposals on the proper settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue have been published as an official document of the United Nation Office for Disarmament Affairs.

The Chinese delegation to the Conference on Disarmament at Geneva had requested the publication of the proposals for resolving Iran's nuclear issue as an official document of the U.N. body.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi had unveiled the points while attending a trilateral meeting between China, Russia and Iran in Beijing on March 14, 2025.

The proposals, which were published in the form of Document No. 2448/CD of the Conference on Disarmament on March 21, 2025 are as follows:

First, stay committed to peaceful settlement of disputes through political and diplomatic means, and oppose the use of force and illegal sanctions. All parties should uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, work actively to create conditions for the resumption of dialogue and negotiation, and refrain from actions that might escalate the situation.

Second, stay committed to balancing rights and responsibilities, and take a holistic approach to the goals of nuclear nonproliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Iran should continue honoring its commitment to not developing nuclear weapons, and all other parties should fully respect Iran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a State Party to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Third, stay committed to the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as the basis for new consensus. China hopes that all parties will work toward the same direction and resume dialogue and negotiation as early as possible. The United States should demonstrate political sincerity and return to talks at an early date.

Fourth, stay committed to promoting cooperation through dialogue, and oppose pressing for intervention by the U.N. Security Council (UNSC). Under the current situation, hasty intervention by the UNSC will not help build confidence or bridge differences among the relevant parties. Initiating the snapback mechanism would undo years of diplomatic efforts, and must be handled with caution.

Fifth, stay committed to a step-by-step and reciprocal approach, and seek consensus through consultation. History has proven that acting from a position of strength would not lead to the key to resolving difficult issues. Upholding the principle of mutual respect is the only viable path to finding the greatest common ground that accommodates the legitimate concerns of all parties and reaching a solution that meets the expectation of the international community.

As a permanent member of the UNSC and a party to the JCPOA, China said while unveiling the proposals that it will stay in communication and coordination with all relevant parties, actively promote talks for peace, and play a constructive role in realizing early resumption of talks.

Beijing has repeatedly called dialogue and negotiations the only path forward, saying sanctions, pressure, and threats of force are not viable solutions.

4399





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Iran's borders 'red line'; Tehran won't tolerate threat against integrity, security: Army cmdr.

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 March 2025 2:06 PM

Iran's Army Ground Force Commander Brigadier General Kiumars Heidari says the Islamic Republic will tolerate no threat against its territorial integrity and national security.

"The country's borders are our red line and maintaining their security is one of the highest priorities of the Army Ground Force," Heidari said on Monday.

He said the constant presence of the border guards would act as a bulwark against threats, saying, "This is a source of pride for the Armed Forces and the Iranian nation."

Heidari asserted that his forces are always ready to confront any threat and challenge using advanced equipment and constant training.

He said the Ground Forces rely on their capabilities to protect Iran's borders and guarantee security in the region.

US President Donald Trump has ratcheted up war rhetoric against Iran. He has claimed that Tehran can be dealt with either through military means or by reaching a deal over its nuclear program.

On March 17, Trump also signaled a significant escalation, threatening Iran over any operations carried out by Yemen against Israel.

However, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on March 21 that US threats against Iran "will get them nowhere."

The Leader added that Americans "and others should know that if they do anything malign to the Iranian nation, they will get a hard slap."

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Iran: No 'direct' talks under maximum pressure; onus on US to change policy

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 March 2025 11:52 AM

Iran says it will never engage in direct negotiations with the United States under the pressure of maximum sanctions and threats.

"As long as no significant change is observed in the approach of the opposite side towards the Iranian people, our policy will be clear and unchangeable," Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.

He made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Tehran on Monday as he elaborated on Iran's definite stance on holding direct talks with the US.

He added that no direct negotiations are on Iran's agenda as the US is leveling accusations against the country on a daily basis.

"However, the path of indirect negotiations remains open," the top Iranian diplomat emphasized.

Araghchi added that Iran would not waste any opportunity to safeguard national interests.

US President Donald Trump has said in an interview with Fox News earlier in March that he had sent a letter to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, warning Iran to open talks on a nuclear deal or be handled militarily.

Meanwhile, the US imposed new sanctions on Iran in line with Trump's so-called policy of maximum pressure.

Iran said it will not engage in talks with the United States unless negotiations are free from pressure and threats.

In his New Persian Year speech on March 21, Ayatollah Khamenei warned the United States against using the language of threats against Iran.

The Americans should know that in dealing with Iran, they can never get anywhere using threats, the Leader added.

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No one dares attack Iran as consequences 'well-known'; '100% readiness' reached: FM

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 March 2025 10:29 AM

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has asserted that no foreign party would dare to commit aggression against Iran, emphasizing the nation's "comprehensive readiness" to confront any threats.

On Monday, Araghchi expressed confidence that even the thought of attacking the Islamic Republic did not cross the minds of adversaries due to their awareness of the consequences.

The top diplomat, who was addressing a gathering of senior Iranian relief officials in the capital Tehran, highlighted the complete preparedness of various sectors, saying the collective readiness had awarded the country with security.

He enumerated some of the sectors that enjoyed preparedness in the face of potential unwelcome scenarios as the Armed Forces, relief organizations, the government, and the populace.

"Our readiness grants us the power and capability that deters any aggression against our land," Araghchi stated.

Reiterating his earlier remarks to media outlets, the official affirmed his certainty that no war would occur involving the Islamic Republic, attributing it to the country's thorough heedfulness of likely adverse scenarios and its relevant vigilance and readiness.

He noted that without such readiness, conflicts could be imposed on the nation, underscoring that the preparedness encompassed both the Armed Forces and relief units.

Addressing Red Crescent personnel, Araghchi, meanwhile, acknowledged their unwavering commitment to performing their relief missions and wariness in the face of potential perilous situations.

The stance concerning the likelihood of military aggression against the country aligns with declarations from other Iranian officials.

Earlier this month, Major General Hossein Salami, chief commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), emphasized that while the Islamic Republic would not initiate conflict, it would respond decisively to any threats or acts of aggression.

"Iran will never be the initiator of war, but in the event of a threat, the response will be firm, decisive, and conclusive."

Numerous international observers and figures have likewise strongly discouraged attacking the country, while refuting the United States and its Western and regional allies' efforts at justifying such self-defeating aggression by accusing the Islamic Republic of attempting to develop "nuclear weapons."

On March 4, Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, condemned threats of military action against Iran's nuclear facilities as "unacceptable," warning of catastrophic consequences. He also emphasized that such escalation would undermine diplomatic solutions and lead to severe regional repercussions.

Countering the Western accusations, he reminded that "Iran remains the most verified IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Member State, unlike the non-nuclear states that criticize it, in some of which, by the way, socio-political circles are openly discussing the issue of creating their own military nuclear program."

Iran's nuclear doctrine is based on Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei's fatwa (religious decree) categorically banning production, possession, and stockpiling of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

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Iran's defense power 'fully indigenous'; ready for precise response to enemies from afar: IEI

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 March 2025 7:54 AM

The chief executive officer of Iran Electronics Industries (IEI) says the country's defense and military power is entirely indigenous.

Speaking to IRNA on Sunday, Brigadier General Amir Rastegari said Iran is currently able to manufacture defensive equipment in various fields.

"In the defense sectors, over 90% of the equipment and systems available to our powerful Armed Forces have been completely designed and manufactured by the industrial organizations of the Defense Ministry and their collaborating networks," he added.

He noted that the IEI has designed and produced defense requirements in space, air, sea, land and submarine areas.

"To date, more than 7,000 systems have been produced in various sectors and fields and provided to the Armed Forces," the official explained.

He noted that the country is in possession of completely modern and domestically-manufactured vessels.

Iranian experts have succeeded in designing equipment, including telecommunications, radar, electronic warfare, fire control and sonar systems, Rastegari said.

He further added that the domestically designed and manufactured Dena destroyer joined Iran's Navy in 2022 and has so far traveled around the world, covering more than 55,000 kilometers across the five oceans.

"This shows the country's defense industry power which is capable of producing equipment that can safely navigate in harsh oceanic conditions," the official emphasized.

He reiterated that Iran's defense industry is advancing despite sanctions and acts of obstruction by the global arrogance.

Relying on its capabilities and know-how, Iran's defense industries is capable of giving precise response to the enemies from afar in line with various international treaties, he said.

Iranian military experts and engineers have in recent years made remarkable breakthroughs in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient.

Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran's defense capabilities will be never open for negotiations.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has repeatedly called for efforts to maintain and boost Iran's defense capabilities, decrying enemies for questioning the country's missile program.

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Secretary Rubio's Call with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

March 23, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to emphasize U.S. support for Israel. The Secretary discussed Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza, and efforts to help release the hostages and bring them home. The Secretary also conveyed the Administration's determination to restore freedom of navigation in the Red Sea through military operations against the Iranian-backed Houthis.

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Israel: remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas at the joint press conference with Minister for Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar

European External Action Service (EEAS)

24.03.2025

Tel Aviv, Israel

EEAS Press Team

Check against delivery!

Thank you. Foreign Minister Sa'ar, dear Gideon, it is important to be in Israel today - although I wish it would have been under different circumstances.

Let me start by condemning yesterday's attacks on a Rabbi in France. There is no place for anti-semitism in Europe.

We met exactly one month ago, after the EU-Israeli association Council in Brussels, and it is clear that we are very good partners. Israel is a very relevant trade and investment partner for the European Union, and also a major player in the growing tech sector.

Unfortunately, my visit comes at a difficult time. The breakdown of ceasefire has caused an appalling loss of life. This morning, I also met the families of the hostages, and listening to the stories is always very hard. I again condemn strongly Hamas' violence. It is never easy to meet the families, who have lost their loved ones or do not know the fate of their loved ones [that have been] for so many weeks in captivity.

The European Union stands in solidarity with Israel and its people, following the horrible attacks on the 7th of October 2023. I reiterate now what I said this morning: resuming negotiations is the only feasible way to end the suffering on all sides.

Violence feeds more violence. What we are witnessing now is a dangerous escalation. It is causing unbearable uncertainty for the hostages and their families, and it is likewise causing horror and death for the Palestinian people.

Mr. Sa'ar, as I underlined when we met a month ago, the security of Israel is extremely important to the European Union. Israelis must be able to feel safe in their own homes. Israel has the right of self-defence against terror attacks, whether from Hamas, the Houthis or Hezbollah.

However, military actions must be proportionate. Israeli strikes into Syria and Lebanon risk further escalation. The fundamental steps here are restating the ceasefire; ensuring the release of all hostages and resume the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza - with the goal of a permanent ceasefire.

The European Union can help, whether through restating our Rafah border crossing mission or providing more humanitarian assistance. We had a very frank discussion, and I thank you for this. It is hard to look forward when bombs fall, but we need to keep the hope alive. The European Union welcomes the Arab plan for reconstruction of Gaza. I discussed yesterday in Cairo with the Foreign Minister Abdelatty and the Arab Islamic Ministerial Committee. More work needs to be done on issues, such as cost sharing and the future of governance of Gaza, but we see it as a good basis moving forward. I also raised the European Union's concerns regarding the situation in the West Bank.

And finally on Iran, we agree the immense threat Iran poses to the region and global stability. Iran is a threat also supporting Russia's war in Ukraine. Iran must never be allowed to acquire or build a nuclear weapon, and the EU supports all diplomatic efforts to that effect.

Foreign Minister Sa'ar, dear Gideon, thank you again for hosting me today.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-269743

Q&A.

Q. Given everything else that is going on in Europe, in Ukraine and so on, do you see Europe having the capacity, and frankly the political interest, in taking a leading role in helping to shape the future of Gaza after the war?

Our neighbors' problems today are our problems tomorrow. Therefore, what is happening in Gaza and what is happening in Israel is very important to us. And of course, we see no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza. We definitely need to discuss how the governance of Gaza is foreseen, how the future is - and the European Union is ready to participate in those discussions so that, we would prevent these problems happening in the future. It is clear that the European Union is supporting the fight [against] terrorism, the security of Israel is very important to the European Union, but also the rights of Palestinians need to be respected.

Q. When you speak about what should happen in Gaza you do not talk about Israeli victory or Hamas' defeat, you say "negotiations should start, violence causes more violence". Would those same principles apply to the war between Russia and Ukraine in Europe?

Yes, the same principles apply. Russia has attacked brutally Ukraine and went [against] their, territorial integrity, [the] sovereignty of another state. If they stop killing people in Ukraine, the war will stop - because the war is not on Russian soil.

Q. Israel, and specifically Minister Sa'ar, have a very strong negative stance regarding the interim government in Syria and Mr. Al-Sharaa. They warn the West and the EU not to be charmed by the jihadist in suits - and are interested in Russian bases staying in Syria. What do you think of this stance and what is your position regarding Israel's occupation of the buffer zone and the call to demilitarize Syria's south of Damascus?

Okay. I have a longer answer. On your question on the interim government in Syria: Of course, our worries is are the same. They say the right things; but will they do the right things? We have discussed this in the European Union, amongst all the member States. Our view is that we need a stable Syria. The Syrian people have suffered a lot. Syria is a very diverse country with different groups, so these need to be taken into [account by the new] government in Syria. Why are we moving ahead with lifting the sanctions? In order to build Syria, the people need access to services. If the people have access to services, the companies can establish themselves, have jobs, pay salaries, so that the people also have hope. And if they have hope, then there are less clashes and less chaos because they can see that there is a future. That is our approach right now. Yes, we are looking at this step-for-step approach. We want to see, and we have the pressure on them to also do the right things, not only to say the right things. We are also in constant contact with the Syrian civil society, because they are giving us a fair and honest feedback on what is going on. So, I think we have this small opportunity window to get this on the right track and we need to use it because we do not really have other options. Thank you.

Q. Did you discuss what Israel was doing in this regard? Do you have a position in mind?

Yes, of course, we discussed this, Israel's actions, and we feel that these things are unnecessary, because Syria is right now not attacking Israel. And that feeds more radicalization that is also against Israel, which [is something] we do not want to see because, like I said, the security of Israel is also very important to us.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-269744

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Israeli cabinet moves to dismiss attorney general amid protests

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 24, 2025

Israel's cabinet has passed a vote of no confidence against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara as the first step to remove her from office, who has been a vocal critic of the far-right cabinet of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The cabinet passed the vote on Sunday against Baharav-Miara who is accused of "inappropriate behavior," and of "substantial differences of opinion" with the cabinet, Al Jazeera reported.

Baharav-Miara has rejected the accusations, saying that the cabinet attempts to work above the law and strengthen its power without regard for the judiciary.

The vote of no confidence would not immediately lead to the removal of the attorney general from office, with the entire process for firing her likely to take many weeks or even months. Part of the process requires a five-member committee to review the arguments and hold a hearing to consider the case. Also, the Supreme Court could intervene if the committee does not support the dismissal of the attorney general.

However, Netanyahu's cabinet to pass a motion of no-confidence against Baharav-Miara has drawn more criticism against it. That's because the motion was held days after the cabinet approved the dismissal of Shin Bet security agency's chief Ronen Bar in response to a proposal by Netanyahu.

For now, Bar's dismissal has been held up for two weeks after the Supreme Court suspended the cabinet's decision on Friday.

However, the attempted dismissal of him and the attorney general has sparked widespread protests, with thousands expressing concerns at what they see as threats to democracy. Protesters and Israeli opposition groups say the cabinet is cracking down on voices critical of Netanyahu who faces corruption charges and growing anger over his failure to return prisoners held in Gaza despite the war dragging on in the Palestinian territory.

Critics say that Bar's dismissal was due to his criticism of the cabinet's security failures leading to the October 7 Al-Aqsa Storm Operation by Palestine's Hamas resistance movement against Israel.

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EXPLAINED: Arrested ARSA leader blamed for violence against Rohingya refugees

Ataullah Abu Jununi, head of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, was near Dhaka for months before his capture.

By Kamran Reza Chowdhury for BenarNews

2025.03.23

DHAKA, Bangladesh -- The leader of a Rohingya insurgent group blamed for instigating attacks that provoked a deadly offensive by the Myanmar military and the forced cross-border exodus of Rohingya in 2017 has not spilled "significant information" since his arrest earlier this week, Bangladesh police said.

Ataullah Abu Jununi, leader of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, or ARSA, was arrested on Tuesday at an apartment near Dhaka where he had been staying for four months.

The Rapid Action Battalion, an elite security force, said it took him into custody on suspicion of terrorism and illegal entry. Nine suspected accomplices were also arrested that day from northern Mymensingh district, RAB said.

Mohammad Shahinur Alom, the officer-in-charge of Siddhirganj police station, said Ataullah and his accomplices were being interrogated for 10 days under a court order.

"He is behaving in a very modest way. He has yet to give any significant information. Let us see what happens in the next several days," Shahinur Alom told RFA affiliate BenarNews on Friday.

Ataullah's arrest occurred the same day that Southeast Asian NGO Fortify Rights released a 76-page report alleging that ARSA and another group had committed potential war crimes through killing, abducting and torturing Rohingya who were sheltering at refugee camps in southeastern Bangladesh.

The report also alleges that ARSA under Ataullah's leadership carried out coordinated attacks on government security outposts in Myanmar in August 2017, prompting the Myanmar military and Buddhist vigilante groups to launch a brutal offensive against the entire Rohingya population in Rakhine state.

The crackdown forced about 740,000 to flee to the Bangladesh camps, which are home to about 1 million refugees.

"As the commander-in-chief of ARSA, Ataullah is responsible for ordering and overseeing egregious violations of international law, including targeted killings, abductions, and the torture of Rohingya civilians," Fortify Rights CEO Matthew Smith said in a news release on Thursday, after Ataullah was arrested.

"This is a critical moment. Bangladesh has taken the important step of arresting Ataullah and others, and we encourage the ICC prosecutor to seek an arrest warrant for Ataullah to prosecute him in The Hague," Smith said, referring to the International Criminal Court.

Who is Ataullah?

Born in a refugee camp in Pakistan's port city of Karachi in 1977, Attaulah and his parents moved to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, where he was enrolled in an Islamic religious school, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG).

As a young boy, he worked at a mosque in Saudi Arabia and attended the Rohingya community meetings where his speeches impressed Saudis, who backed his efforts to gain rights for Rohingya Muslims.

ICG said Ataullah became leader of ARSA in 2016. In 2017, he posted a video vowing to fight for the rights of the persecuted Rohingya in Rakhine, Myanmar.

In the Aug. 28 video statement, Ataullah stated that ARSA was established in response to Burmese government and paramilitary abuses against the stateless Rohingya community.

"Our primary objective under ARSA is to liberate our people from dehumanized oppression perpetrated by all successive Burmese regimes," he said.

What is ARSA?

ARSA, a Rohingya insurgent group formerly known as Al-Yaaqin, gained international notoriety after it launched coordinated attacks on government security outposts in Rakhine state in August 2017, leading to the bloody crackdown against the Rohingya people.

In September 2021, popular Rohingya leader Muhib Ullah, who had visited the White House in Washington as part of his advocacy for Rohingya to be repatriated to Myanmar, was assassinated at his office in a refugee camp.

After years of denying an ARSA presence in the camps, Bangladesh authorities in June 2022 said Ataullah had ordered ARSA members to kill Muhib.

In 2023, ARSA joined forces with the Myanmar government, according to the ICG.

"Despite the Myanmar military junta being responsible for genocide and crimes against humanity against Rohingya, ARSA and the junta have joined forces to fight the Arakan Army, one of Myanmar's most powerful ethnic armed organizations based in Rakhine state," the ICG said.

How are Rohingya reacting?

After hearing the news of the ARSA leader's arrest, refugee camp resident Mohmmad Amin said he had paid a 300,000 taka (U.S. $2,467) ransom to be released after members of the Rohingya militant group abducted him.

"Ataullah sold the Rohingya people for his personal gain. We are happy for his arrest. We hope Bangladesh will give him tough punishment," Amin told BenarNews, adding, "Ataullah was involved in the murder of Muhib Ullah."

In the same camp, a group of Rohingya circulated a video asking Bangladesh's interim government to release Ataullah, terming him a leader fighting for the rights of the Rohingya.

Meanwhile, Imtiaz Ahmed, a professor of international relations at Dhaka University, questioned the report that Ataullah lived in an apartment near Bangladesh's capital for months without being arrested, saying it was not believable. Still, the arrest is a significant development in relations with Myanmar, he said.

"Ataullah Jununi's arrest is a significant signal from Bangladesh to the Arakan Army and the central government that ARSA is under control," Ahmed told BenarNews.

Across the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Rakhine state, the anti-junta Arakan Army rebels have made significant gains in battles with junta troops to gain control of the region.

"The U.N. secretary-general has stressed that Bangladesh should talk to the Arakan Army. Ataullah's arrest could create a congenital atmosphere for probable repatriation of the Rohingya refugees, provided that Arakan Army and the central government agree," he said.

Abdur Rahman in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, contributed to this report.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization.

Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Junta airstrike hits a clinic in central Myanmar, killing 11, including children

All victims, aged five to 60, were civilians, residents said.

By RFA Burmese 2025.03.24 -- Myanmar junta bombed a medical clinic in Magway region Saturday morning, killing 11, including medical staff and children, despite no recent battles between junta forces and anti-junta militias in the area, residents told Radio Free Asia.

Magway region, located in central Myanmar, rife with fighting between junta forces that seized power in a 2021 military coup and insurgent militias fighting for democracy, often faces some of the armed forces' most violent attacks.

"We found 11 bodies. There were five children," said a resident in the region's Gangaw township, who declined to be named for security reasons. "Everyone was a civilian."

The National Unity Government, Myanmar's government in exile, also confirmed on Sunday that the attack killed 40-year-old Mya Soe Aung, a doctor, his wife, 39-year-old Khaing Hnin Wai, a nurse who was four months pregnant, their five-year-old son and eight other patients waiting on medical care.

Mya Soe Aung and Khaing Hnin Wei used to work at Sagaing region's Tin Thar District Hospital and participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement, which began in February 2021 as a peaceful resistance against the military coup.

Led by healthcare workers and activists, it involved mass strikes and protests despite brutal crackdowns, symbolizing the fight for democracy.

Both continued to treat patients in Sagaing and Magway regions after leaving their positions.

Prisoners found dead

Separately, residents told RFA that bodies of four civilians arrested by junta troops were recovered in north Kya Pin village, roughly 186 kilometers (115 miles) south in Magway region's Salin township, on Saturday.

The four were arrested during mass raids by junta on Kya Pin and 24 other villages, said a member of a regional administrative group, who asked to remain nameless for fear of reprisals.

He identified the victims as two men aged 40 and 50 years old, and two others around 60 years old.

"The bodies were dumped in an old toilet pit inside of Kya Pin's school," he said. "Because we can't get a hold of them, we can't move them to the cemetery and have to fill the area with sand."

In nearby Koke Ko Tan and Nay Pu Khan villages, junta forces torched more than 100 homes, burning a 55-year-old woman to death, he said.

Due to the junta raid, roughly 17,000 villagers have been unable to return to their homes, he added.

Magway region's junta spokesperson Myo Myint has not responded to RFA's inquiries.

According to a March 21 report by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, junta attacks have claimed the lives of 6,435 civilians across the country since the coup.

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.

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UN and partners seek $934.5m for life-saving aid to 1.5 million Rohingya refugees and their hosts in Bangladesh

UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

24 March 2025

GENEVA -- UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and partners today called on the international community to enhance its support for Rohingya refugees and their hosts in Bangladesh amid rising insecurity in Myanmar and ongoing forced displacement.

Unrelenting conflict in Myanmar, dwindling financial resources and competing global crises have made it critical for the international community to step up for the Rohingya refugees, who remain in a precarious situation, entirely dependent on humanitarian aid.

The 2025-26 Joint Response Plan (JRP) for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis brings together 113 partners and is being jointly launched by UNHCR and IOM under the leadership of the Bangladesh Government.

This first-ever multi-year funding appeal for the Rohingya Response seeks $934.5 million in its first year to reach some 1.48 million people including Rohingya refugees and host communities.

The JRP is being presented to donors in Geneva by Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees; Amy Pope, IOM Director-General; and Dr. Khalilur Rahman, the High Representative on Rohingya Crisis and Priority Affairs of the Government of Bangladesh.

In its eighth year, the Rohingya humanitarian crisis remains largely out of the international spotlight but needs remain urgent.

More than 50 per cent of the population in the camps are women and girls who face a higher risk of gender-based violence and exploitation; while one in three Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh is aged between 10 and 24. Without access to formal education, adequate skills building and self- reliance opportunities, their futures remain on hold.

Any funding shortfalls in critical areas, including reductions to food assistance, cooking fuel or basic shelter, will have dire consequences for this highly vulnerable population and may force many to resort to desperate measures, such as embarking on dangerous boat journeys to seek safety.

Until the situation in Myanmar's Rakhine State is peaceful and conducive to returning safely and voluntarily, the international community must continue to fund life-saving assistance to refugees in the camps, including protection, shelter, and basic needs, and support opportunities that enable them to be self-reliant.

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'Don't cut the aid': Insecurity worsens for stateless Rohingya, says UNHCR's Grandi

24 March 2025 - The plight of Myanmar's ethnic Rohingya is intensifying almost eight years since hundreds of thousands fled persecution and sought shelter in Bangladesh, the UN said on Monday, in an appeal for $934.5 million to help them.

In a joint appeal, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) urged all countries to step up to support the displaced Rohingya - the world's largest stateless population.

A 'frightening' place

The humanitarian situation in Cox's Bazar - home to around one million Rohingya in Bangladesh - has worsened.

"This is not a place where people want to live," said IOM Director-General Amy Pope. "It's frightening. If you are a young woman, you do not leave your tent at night."

Cross-border recruitment into terrorist organizations has risen sharply, while job opportunities have remained scarce and insecurity has spiked, humanitarians say.

Families are weighing options and many are choosing to migrate illegally in search of safety and a better life on the outside, the agencies warned.

Refugee city of one million people

The Bangladesh authorities - together with the UN and other relief agencies - are "basically running a city of more than a million people in one of the most vulnerable areas in the world", said UNHCR's High Commissioner Filippo Grandi, at the launch of a Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya and host communities.

Echoing that message, IOM's Ms. Pope warned that the crisis could spill out globally if States do not renew their efforts.

Amid the 2017 Rohingya exodus from Rakhine state in Myanmar, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein described the crisis as a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing".

Today, conditions in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar - which sprung up in a matter of days - have deteriorated further - and conflict in Myanmar sparked by a military coup in 2021 mean that it is too dangerous for the Rohingya to return.

Terror link

If nations do not step up to provide Rohingya with alternatives to dependency on international aid, "we will see young people choose crime or terrorism as an alternative when they have no future", Ms. Pope warned.

"We'll see young, young people, girls, sexually abused will see people have children at very young ages, will see a culture disappear."

"The short-term solution is don't cut the aid," Ms. Pope continued, reminding States of the need to push for a political outcome that will addresses longstanding inequality and discrimination against Rohingya in Myanmar.

Putting the issue back on the map

Mr. Grandi said he hoped the plan would put the issue "back on the map", as global interest has declined in recent years.

"It's not just the suffering of the people, but also the space that gets created for violence, for extremists, for criminal groups, for onward boat movements, to other countries in Southeast Asia," Mr. Grandi explained.

Further arrivals and births have further crowded Cox's Bazar, strained resources for host communities and mounted pressure on the Bangladeshi authorities.

"I say this to my development partners - this is no time to leave the market," said Dr. Khalilur Rahman, High Representative on the Rohingya Crisis and Priority Affairs of the Government of Bangladesh.

Dr. Rahman called on countries to seize the opportunity to reinvest political will in stabilizing Rakhine state, to "plant a seed of peace" in a troubled region and turn the crisis into a "win".

"Behind each statement, there are people, and there are people who have languished for a long eight years to go back, people who have suffered untold miseries, and still have their hopes up," the official said. "So, let's not disappoint them."

Filling the vacuum

Priorities include addressing food security to maintaining distributions of liquid gas, meaning refugees won't need to cut down trees, damaging the environment, Mr. Grandi said.

The UNHCR chief noted that young people were pleading for work opportunities to give their lives more meaning, while they wait in limbo to return home. One in three Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh is aged between 10 and 24.

Hostilities must cease

Fighting must stop for refugees to go home, the agency chiefs said, with Dr. Rahman of the Bangladeshi Government echoing that message.

"What we need to promote is peaceful coexistence between communities in Rakhine State," Mr. Grandi said.

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South Korean court rejects PM Han's impeachment, reinstates him as acting president

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 24, 2025

The political crisis deepens in South Korea as Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has been reinstated as acting president after the Constitutional Court dismissed a motion by the parliament to impeach him.

The court's decision on Monday was closely watched as it comes ahead of a highly anticipated ruling on suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, the date of which has not yet been announced.

The crisis gripped the southeast Asian nation after Yoon announced a short-lived martial law to subvert civilian rule in December.

He called the move necessary to "maintain order and the constitution" and confront what he called "the threat of anti-government and pro-North Korean forces."

Lawmakers defied Yoon's six-hour martial law on December 13 resulted in his eventual impeachment by parliament and suspension from his duties.

In February, the South Korean Prosecutors' Office issued an indictment against Yoon on charges of "rebellion" and "abuse of power" amid a wave of protests in support and against the suspended president.

Han stepped as acting president but he was himself impeached by lawmakers just weeks later over his purported involvement in the martial law debacle, plus a dispute over judicial appointments.

"The Constitutional Court has rendered a decision to reject the impeachment trial request against Han," the court said in a statement, adding that Han's actions while in office "cannot be seen as constituting a betrayal of the people's trust indirectly granted through the president."

The decision is effective immediately and cannot be appealed, ruling said.

Han, who immediately resumed the acting presidency, welcomed the ruling. "I believe that all citizens are clearly speaking out against the highly polarized political sphere. I think there is no place for division now. Our country's priority is to move forward" he added.

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South Korean Prime Minister Thanks Court for Reinstating Him as Acting President

Sputnik News

20250324

SEOUL, (Sputnik) - South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo thanked the Constitutional Court for reinstating him as acting president, the prime minister's office reported.

Earlier in the day, the South Korean Constitutional Court rejected the impeachment of Han, meaning he will be immediately reinstated as acting president.

"This morning, I returned to my duties in accordance with the decision of the Constitutional Court. I thank the Constitutional Court for its wise decision," Han said in a statement.

The presidential administration of the Republic of Korea also welcomed the decision of the Constitutional Court, accusing the National Assembly of abusing its powers by impeaching government officials.

"Today's decision confirms that the excessive impeachment of the National Assembly is a reckless and malicious political offensive," the office said.

The presidential office also expressed hope that the prime minister's return to office would mean normalization of the country's governance.

 Sputnik

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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks at a meeting of the Board of Trustees of Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund, Moscow, March 24, 2025

24 March 2025 15:35

455-24-03-2025

Mr Drachevsky,

Colleagues,

Friends,

Welcome to the latest meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund.

I'd like to begin by congratulating everyone on the occasion of the fund's 15th anniversary. Over the past years, it has made a significant positive contribution to promoting public diplomacy of the Russian Federation, strengthening friendly ties, trust, and mutual understanding between the people of our country and the peoples from partner countries, as well as to advancing unifying approaches to addressing global challenges of our time.

I'd like to take this opportunity and give Mr Drachevsky, on behalf of the Ministry's senior officials, letters of appreciation to the fund's employees who have made a particularly valuable contribution to ensuring the successful completion of its tasks.

I will not spend much time discussing the international situation. I think everyone here is closely following international developments and the world-changing dynamics that are unfolding before our eyes.

The formation of a fairer multipolar world order is the core trend. New global centres outside the global West - China and India, as well as our other BRICS and the SCO partners - are getting increasingly stronger and striving for independence. These countries also include most of the countries of Eurasia, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, in a word, the countries that have become known as non-West. These countries represent different civilisations, cultures and religions, but all of them are committed to democratisation of international life, have a stake in sovereign, peaceful and predictable development, and reject any and all forms of external diktat and pressure, as well as modern neo-colonial practices.

It is quite telling that the West, which tends to put human rights and democracy front and centre at every turn, focuses on democracy inside sovereign states, which it wants to mold in its own image and likeness. When we brought up democratisation of international relations with our Western partners - we rarely communicate with him now - they would get utterly defensive, and it appeared that everything we had to say fell on deaf ears.

Just like Russia, the non-West countries that I just mentioned want the reconstituted multipolar world order to be recognised by all participants of international communication and to rely on the principles of the UN Charter in their complete form and interrelation.

In conjunction with our partners, we are working to achieve this goal and paying extra attention to building up ties with the World Majority countries. In this regard, we are consistently implementing the relevant provisions of the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation approved by President Vladimir Putin in March 2023.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko paid a visit to Moscow recently. His visit gave a boost to integration efforts across all areas of bilateral interaction with our closest ally. Our relations with the People's Republic of China are characterised by comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation, as well as an unprecedented level of mutual trust. We enjoy a particularly privileged strategic partnership with India. Significant progress has been made in broadening and deepening friendly ties with countries such as the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Great emphasis is placed on strengthening all areas of cooperation with our allies and partners from among the CIS member states within the Commonwealth itself and as part of the CSTO and the EAEU.

Russia maintains an intensive political dialogue, including at the highest level, with SCO and BRICS countries, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cuba, Venezuela and other like-minded nations, including within the framework of the Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter, which has been established in New York and regularly meets at the level of deputy foreign ministers and national coordinators. Some meetings have been held at the ministerial level. We intend to continue this practice. We are working together with our African friends to implement the agreements reached at the 2nd Russia-Africa Summit held in St Petersburg in July 2023 and at the 1st Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum held in November 2024. The forum was established by the decision of the heads of state who attended the summit in St Petersburg in 2023.

We are striving to make a substantial and realistic contribution to promoting an international discussion on reforming the global governance system and adjusting to the realities of the multipolar world. I would like to once again draw your attention to the long-term and forward-looking initiative of President Putin for creating an architecture of equal and indivisible security in the Eurasian continent. This strategic project is a follow-up to President Putin's initiative to create a Greater Eurasian Partnership, which is objectively developing as a result of interaction between the EAEU, ASEAN, the SCO and other integration associations. These integration processes and harmonisation are not artificially but objectively creating a material foundation for a system of Eurasian security architecture. We continue working together with our Belarusian and other associates to promote a new Eurasian architecture model at various discussions and political platforms, including the annual conferences on this subject held in Minsk at the initiative of President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.

We would like to point out that, apart from a large number of subregional integration associations that exist in Africa and Latin America, there are also Eurasian and African continental organisations, like the African Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, which include all countries of the region without exception. The Eurasian continent does not have such an umbrella structure where all Eurasian countries without exception could regularly meet to discuss issues of concern to them and, most importantly, look for ways to benefit from the advantages, which history and nature have bestowed on the world's largest continent in terms of civilisations that developed and prospered there. That is a task for our political scientists. I have no doubt that the Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund will contribute to this.

What I have just mentioned is by no means a complete list of the priorities that our diplomacy has. It is important for us to feel support from non-governmental entities such as the Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund, the Russian International Affairs Council, the Valdai International Discussion Club and the Council for Foreign and Defence Policy. We have many partners, and all of them contribute to our discourse. This also includes MGIMO University, Moscow State University, the Higher School of Economics and other academic institutions.

Today we are considering the further work of the Gorchakov Fund, the key areas for its future activities, which we are to approve today. The proposals have been circulated.

I would like to emphasise once again that public diplomacy remains a highly relevant resource when it comes to fostering an objective view of Russia. Personally, I prefer avoiding phrases referring to a 'positive' image of Russia. We do not need any extra points with the foreign public. What we need is to be viewed objectively - unlike the West, which considers itself infallible and suffers from exceptionality delusions. However, even in those countries where governments perceive Russia as an enemy and say as much, governments that take short-sighted steps, trying to pave the way for unfriendly steps for years ahead, many people still sympathise with our country and share spiritual and moral values that are common to all religions as well as secular humanism. We know that everything will fall into place with time.

This year, Russia celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory in the Great Patriotic War and World War II, as well as the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. Therefore, it becomes particularly relevant to double down on countering falsifications of history and revanchist ideologies, which we are witnessing in many EU countries. We are dealing with neo-Nazism, Russophobia and other misanthropic and racist ideologies.

Undeniably, we will further pursue the ongoing effort to denazify the state that remains under the control of the Kiev regime. That state is now consistently exterminating all things Russian, legislatively and physically, including the Russian language, culture, media and canonical Orthodoxy, in direct and gross violation of Article 1 of the UN Charter and Ukraine's international obligations, with the full connivance and complicity of the European states. They proclaim their commitment to human rights and minority rights, shout it from the rooftops, but not in Ukraine. Ukraine is different, of course. Ukraine is where they have nurtured new Nazis for another attempt to rally the whole of Europe to their racist Nazi cause and march on the Russian Federation.

I would like to thank all active members of the Board of Trustees for their contribution to the activities of the Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund and for their help in implementing its projects and initiatives. I look forward to continuing our constructive and beneficial cooperation.

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900 to participate in military-free Tainan civil defense drill

ROC Central News Agency

03/24/2025 02:45 PM

Taipei, March 24 (CNA) Around 900 civilians will practice using military field hospital equipment without the assistance of armed forces personnel during a civil defense drill in Tainan on Thursday, a source told CNA Monday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official told CNA Monday that though the drill is to be staged in Tainan, fire departments in nearby Kaohsiung and Chiayi and alternative service conscripts will also join.

On March 18, Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo () announced that the small-scale exercise would simulate a severe "compound disasters" scenario involving earthquakes, tsunamis and critical infrastructure disruptions.

Kuo said the drills would test central and local governments' emergency response capabilities, such as large-scale evacuations, sheltering, and establishing emergency medical facilities.

The exercise will also feature civilian participation to test public-private sector cooperation in the event of major disaster thus enhancing whole-of-society defense resilience, Kuo said.

Although military personnel will not take part, the Ministry of National Defense's Medical Affairs Bureau will lend its newly purchased Forward Resuscitative and Surgical Detachment (FRSD) medical sets and inflatable field hospital tents for use in Thursday's drill, the source added.

FRSD is a set of medical supplies and equipment that provides the necessary medical materiel to establish a rapidly deployable urgent initial surgical service, the source said.

The weatherproofed inflatable field hospital tents are quick and easy to set up and light for transportation and are used to treat patients in the aftermath of natural disasters and in war zones, according to the source.

Another unnamed senior Ministry of Interior official told CNA Monday that unlike previous rounds of civil defense or Wan An air raid drills Taiwan organized before, Thursday's drill will be "unscripted and more realistic."

The official added that following the Tainan drill, the government would proceed with Urban Resilience Exercises from April to July, which combine the Wan An air raid drills and Min An disaster response drills.

The series of exercises will culminate in the military's annual Han Kuang drills' live-fire portion in July, the official added.

Thursday's exercise is to take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tainan Municipal Nan-Ning Senior High School, Anping Port Visitors' Center and the square across from the Tainan Yuping Post Office, according to the Presidential Office.

President Lai Ching-te () and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim () will travel to Tainan to preside over the exercises.

Such efforts were launched under the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee, an advisory group established by the Presidential Office.

The committee has pledged to enhance Taiwan's resilience by training civilian forces, securing strategic and critical supplies, reinforcing energy and key infrastructure, and ensuring the continued operations of medical, transportation, information and financial facilities.

(By Wen Kuei-hsiang, Teng Pei-ju and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/ASG

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Xi's anti-corruption effort to help PLA invade Taiwan by 2027: U.S. report

ROC Central News Agency

03/24/2025 10:55 AM

Washington, March 23 (CNA) Chinese President Xi Jinping's () decade-long campaign to end People's Liberation Army (PLA) corruption is meant to ensure the military is modernized and prepared to invade Taiwan by 2027, according to a U.S. intelligence report made public last week.

The report released on March 20 and published by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), titled "Wealth and Corrupt Activities of the Leadership of the Chinese Communist Party," states that up to 65 percent of all government officials in China accept bribes or engage in graft.

Xi launched a sweeping anti-corruption campaign when he came to power in 2012. Since then, nearly 5 million officials at all levels of government have been found guilty of bribery, the report said.

The campaign has targeted rampant leadership corruption within the ranks of the PLA, "which have included a culture of pay-for-promotion that continues even a decade after the anti-corruption campaign's launch."

Some of the biggest names removed from their jobs include General Li Shangfu, then-Minister of National Defense in 2023 and Admiral Miao Hua, then-director of the Central Military Commission's Political Work Department who was in charge of political loyalty within the PLA in 2024.

"Both Li and Miao were accused of Party discipline violations, and both were considered protegees of Xi, demonstrating the seriousness of the CCP's concerns regarding loyalty and effectiveness -- particularly within the PLA -- and the scope of the regime's approach to corruption," the DNI report said.

"His focus on corruption in the PLA may also reflect concerns that corrupt practices will prevent the military from acquiring the capabilities and readiness he has directed it to achieve by 2027, in preparation for a potential conflict over Taiwan," it added.

The report defines corruption as an "endemic feature of and challenge for China, enabled by a political system with power highly centralized in the hands of the CCP [Chinese Communist Party], a CCP-centric concept of the rule of law, a lack of independent checks on public officials and limited transparency."

In October 2020, Xi set the PLA the goal of becoming a "modern military" by 2027. U.S. officials believe this means Xi wants China to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027.

The report also claims that Xi has amassed more than US$1 billion in assets through relatives.

The six-page unclassified DNI report was commissioned by the U.S. Congress under the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. The legislation mandating a report was sponsored by Tennessee Republican Andy Ogles and then-Florida Senator Marco Rubio, now secretary of state.

The Washington Times said the DNI report is the first official U.S. disclosure about the "sensitive subject of Chinese leadership and CCP corruption."

A congressional aide said that a Chinese Embassy official lobbied Congress unsuccessfully to have the report killed, according to a Washington Times report on March 20.

(By Chung Yu-chen and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/kb

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Taiwan accuses China of 60 incursions into restricted waters

China's coast guard said to engage in 'grey zone' harassment in seas close to the Taiwan-held Kinmen islands

By Hsia Hsiao-hua for RFA Mandarin 2025.03.24 -- Chinese coast guard vessels intruded more than 60 times in the past year in waters near Taiwan-held Kinmen islands, which lie close to mainland China, Taiwan's coast guard says.

The spate of incursions follows a February 2024 incident when a Chinese speedboat capsized after evading inspection by Taiwan's coast guard. Two Chinese men died. The incident raised tensions between Taiwan and China.

Since then, China's coast guard has mounted what it describes as "law enforcement" operations, but which Taiwan calls "grey zone" activities intended to undermine its control.

Last Thursday, four Chinese coast guard ships encroached into waters south of Kinmen and were driven away, only to return the following day, the Taiwanese coast guard said in a statement Friday. It added that there had been 63 incursions since the February 2024 incident.

A Taiwanese analyst described that as an effort to undermine Taiwanese sovereignty of the islands, which are home to about 200,000 people.

"The deployment of coast guard ships denies the legitimacy of local law enforcement and denies Taiwan's jurisdiction and sovereignty," said Lee Chun-yee, an associate researcher at the National Defense Security Research Institute, a think tank under Taiwan's defense ministry.

"It intends to regard the waters of Taiwan's outlying islands such as Dongsha and Kinmen as Chinese waters, so it has these jurisdictions. This is coercion against us," Lee added.

Dongsha, also known as Pratas, refers to a Taiwanese-held atoll southwest of Taiwan.

China has yet to comment publicly on the Taiwanese allegations. Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province which it threatens to seize by force if necessary. Self-ruled Taiwan, which has a democratically elected government, views itself as a sovereign state.

Kinmen is an archipelago that lies less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from China's Fujian province but more than 180 kilometers (110 miles) from Taiwan's main island. Its residents have family and history on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and shuttle regularly by ferry back and forth to the Chinese city of Xiamen.

Taiwan describes as "prohibited waters" the territorial waters around Kinmen that extend about halfway to the Chinese coast, or roughly 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) to the north and northwest. "Restricted waters" extend a little further, about 8 kilometers (5 miles), to the south.

But Chinese officials have said they will not recognize those restrictions. Locals on Kinmen have told RFA that even before the February 2024 incident, Chinese fishing boats were helping themselves to fish that were once the preserve of Kinmen's fishing community.

Edited by Mat Pennington.

Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2025/03/24

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date

6 a.m. Mar. 23 (Sun.) to 6 a.m. Mar. 24 (Mon.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities

9 sorties of PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN ships and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 7 out of 9 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.

1140324_PLA activities_1

1140324_PLA activities_2

1140324_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan

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Congress: Mayor Imamoglu's detention is an assault on democracy; he must be released

Council of Europe

Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

Strasbourg

23 March 2025

The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Marc Cools, has made the following statement on behalf of the Congress:

"We deplore the decision to place Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu in detention, and demand his immediate release.

"Putting Mayor Imamoglu in jail when he is to be selected as his party's presidential candidate has nothing to do with justice, and everything to do with politics. This is a calculated move aimed at undermining the integrity and fairness of electoral processes and amounts to an assault on democracy.

"For the same reason, we urge Istanbul University to reverse this week's revocation of Mayor Imamoglu's 1994 diploma. Having a university degree is a requirement for presidential candidates. Taking his away more than thirty years after it was granted, and at the moment he needed it, cannot be a coincidence. The University should give it back.

"The timing of these actions also puts into question the credibility of charges of corruption and links to terrorism that have been brought against Mayor Imamoglu. They appear to be a sham. In three separate elections, Ekrem Imamoglu was chosen as Mayor by the citizens of Istanbul, a city of more than 16 million people. He is also elected President of the Union of Municipalities of Turkiye. Democratic standards, upheld by the European Court of Human Rights, dictate that such cases must be handled with extreme care. When not based on absolute certainty and strong evidence, such actions go against the will of the people who placed their trust in their elected representative.

"As a member of the Council of Europe, Turkiye has committed itself to respect and uphold democratic values, the rule of law and human rights - including such essential rights as freedom of expression and freedom of assembly - and to accept the crucial role played by the opposition in a democratic society. We call on the Turkish authorities to respect these commitments.

"We continue to follow closely the situation. On 27 March, during its 48th session in Strasbourg, the Congress will hold an urgent debate on the dismissal of mayors in Turkiye."

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Unrest over arrest and imprisonment of Istanbul mayor continues in Turkey

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 24, 2025

Protests and political chaos continue in Turkey following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption charges.

Hundreds of thousands of people have descended on the streets nationwide, especially the commercial hub Istanbul to protest for the five consecutive days.

Activists posted videos on social media on Sunday, demonstrating a new form of protest against the arrest of Imamoglu, by banging pots and pans inside their homes, turning on lights, and chanting slogans of "right, rights, justice."

In addition to Istanbul, several other cities also witnessed demonstrations against "a politically driven attempt by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to eliminate a key rival."

The mostly peaceful crowds sometime turned violent, launching fireworks at riot police, who in turn deployed rubber bullets, pepper spray and water cannons in an attempt to quell the unrest.

At the same time, security forces arrested hundreds of opposition supporters which is seen as a dramatic escalation in crackdowns on the opposition and dissenting voices in Turkey.

It all started last Wednesday, when voters headed to the polls for the Republican People's Party (CHP) primary to name Imamoglu the candidate for the 2028 presidential race.

But news broke that the mayor had been detained for questioning as part of investigations into alleged corruption and terror links leading widespread protests.

On Sunday, a court formally ordered him jailed, pending a trial despite Imamoglu's denial to the charges against him.

The unrest, the largest in over a decade, has spread rapidly despite a protest ban in three largest cities and a warning from President Erdogan that authorities will not tolerate "street terror".

The government has dismissed protesters' accusations and insists that courts operate independently and that the prosecutor's office had a lengthy list of allegations against Imamoglu.

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Jailed Istanbul mayor named opposition candidate for Turkey's presidential vote

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 March 2025 3:44 PM

Turkey's opposition and the second largest party in parliament has officially nominated jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as their candidate for the 2028 presidential election.

A spokesman for the Republican People's Party (CHP) made the announcement on Monday, after Imamoglu spent his first night in detention following corruption charges brought against him.

Imamoglu, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's key political rival, has been arrested, interrogated, imprisoned and stripped of his mayorship in less than a week following a graft and terror probe that the opposition has condemned as a political "coup."

Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) said in a statement that authorities detained 10 Turkish journalists, who covered the widespread demonstrations triggered by his arrest, early on Monday.

The rights group added that most of those detained were covering the mass demonstrations outside City Hall, where tens of thousands of protesters rallied late on Sunday.

Officers were seen firing water cannons at some protesters and using pepper spray.

Imamoglu's wife Dilek Kaya Imamoglu addressed the large crowds outside the City Hall, telling demonstrators that the "injustice" her husband has faced has "struck a chord with every conscience."

The protests, which kicked off in Istanbul after Imamoglu's arrest on March 19, have since expanded to over 55 of Turkey's 81 provinces, resulting in confrontations with riot police in the country's most significant street protests in more than a decade.

CHP held a primary election on Sunday with Imamoglu as the sole candidate. The party said nearly 15 million people cast a ballot.

It announced that some 1.6 million votes came from its members, while the rest were cast by non-members at separate ballot boxes for those who wished to show solidarity with the jailed Istanbul mayor.

The voter turnout led to an extension of polling by an additional three-and-a-half hours.

In response to the large-scale protests, Turkish authorities attempted to shut down more than 700 accounts on X.

"We object to multiple court orders from the Turkish Information and Communication Technologies Authority to block over 700 accounts of news organizations, journalists, political figures, students, and others within Turkiye," the online platform's communications team said in a statement on Sunday.

"We believe this decision from the Turkish government is not only unlawful, it hinders millions of Turkish users from news and political discourse in their country," it said.

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Mass Protests Continue Across Turkey After Erdogan Rival Imamoglu Arrested

By RFE/RL March 24, 2025

Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in Istanbul and other cities across Turkey for a fifth night on March 23, after the main political rival to the country's strongman President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was formally arrested and charged with corruption.

Police officers were seen using tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons against the protestors, who were waving Turkish flags and pro-opposition banners. There were also reports of clashes between police and demonstrators.

Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, was due to be selected in a vote on March 23 as the opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) candidate for Turkey's next presidential election, which is currently scheduled for 2028.

But Imamoglu, 54, and dozens of others, including politicians, journalists, and entrepreneurs were detained as a part of a corruption investigation on March 19.

The popular mayor was formally arrested on March 23 and charged with "establishing and managing a criminal organization, taking bribes, extortion," and other crimes.

The mayor -- who is a member of the CHP, the main opposition against Erdogan's ruling alliance -- has denied the allegations against him, describing them as "unimaginable accusations and slanders."

"I will never bow," Imamoglu wrote on X before his arrest.

Imamoglu's detention is widely seen as a politically motivated act to remove him from the presidential race. But the government insists the country's courts are independent entities.

Imamoglu's wife, Dilek Kaya Imamoglu, addressed the protesters outside Istanbul city hall in the evening on March 23, telling the large crowds that the "injustice" her husband has faced has "struck a chord with every conscience."

The arrest of Imamoglu and others has further intensified political tensions and sparked protests across Turkey, with demonstrators rallying in at least 55 provinces to express support for him.

Police have detained 1,133 people across the country since the start of protests five days ago, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on March 24.

He added that 123 police officers had been injured during the protests and that the government would not allow what he described as "terrorizing of the streets."

The Journalists' Union of Turkey said, nine journalists who covered the demonstrations were among those detained by police. It was not immediately clear why the reporters were detained.

Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas, who is also a member of the CHP, told reporters on March 23 that jailing his colleague was a disgrace for the judicial system.

Ozgur Ozel, chairman of the CHP, slammed Imamoglu's detention as an "attempted coup against our next president."

Several European countries have voiced concern over the developments in Istanbul, saying they feared the consequences for democracy over the move.

"The arrest of the mayor is deeply concerning," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, told reporters in Brussels.

"Turkey must uphold the democratic values, especially the rights of elected officials."

Imamoglu tops Erdogan in some opinion polls. Erdogan has reached his two-term limit as president after having earlier served as the country's prime minister.

If he seeks to run again, as expected, he must either call an early election or change the constitution.

With reporting by AP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/turkey-protests-imamoglu-arrest- erdogan-rival/33357214.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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"We focus on building a strong Turkiye"

Presidency of The Republic of Turkey

24.03.2025

Delivering remarks following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting, President Erdogan said that Turkiye does not have even a single minute to waste, and added: "We focus on building a strong Turkiye with its economy, security, defense, democracy and justice. We will inshallah work harder, produce more, and will not only solve today's problems, but also prepare Turkiye for tomorrow's world in a very strong manner."

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a press conference following the Presidential Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Complex.

"EUROPE'S SECURITY IS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT TURKIYE"

Pointing out that the heated debates that took place in recent weeks have shown that Europe's security is not possible without Turkiye, President Erdogan said: "Europe's need for our country has been indeed acknowledged not only in terms of security, but also of many terms, from economy to diplomacy, trade to social life. As our European friends develop their policies on a rational ground, they realize the importance of their relations with Turkiye. We see these developments as promising in terms of the future of the Turkiye-European Union relations."

"TURKIYE STANDS READY TO IMPROVE ITS RELATIONS WITH EU"

Stating that rapid and immediate changes occurring at global level demonstrate that the world needs more dialogue and corporate cooperation, President Erdogan went on to say: "Turkiye stands ready to improve its relations with European countries and the Union on the bases of common interests and mutual respect. Obviously, this is not a will that Turkiye will display on its own. It is essential that our interlocutors have the same will, too. I believe that the strategic approach Turkiye has been steadily pursuing for years will guide the policies of our European counterparts as well."

"PEACE WILL HAVE NO LOSERS"

Also drawing attention to the war in Ukraine, President Erdogan stressed that Turkiye has placed itself in a very right position on this issue since day one, and continued as follows: "We have displayed a balanced, just and assuring stance between the two neighbors. We have stressed on every platform that peace will have no losers, and we still think so. We want this war, which has entered its fourth year, to end with a just peace without further bloodshed and destruction. We consider Russia's partially positive approach towards US' 30-day-long ceasefire proposal to be a modest, and yet a valuable step on the path to peace. We have mobilized all our means in order for our region to immediately get out from the whirlpool of instability and conflicts."

"TURKISH-AMERICAN RELATIONS CAN GAIN SIGNIFICANT MOMENTUM"

Stating that he shared his opinions with President trump of the US during a phone call as well, President Erdogan said: "We have discussed many important issues, including the lifting of all the obstacles before our 100-billion-dollar trade goal, during our pretty sincere phone call. We discussed in detail current critical developments in our region, Syria in particular. The Turkish-American relations can gain significant momentum during Mr. Trump's second term. I believe that we should and will achieve this for the sake of our region despite all the challenges, despite especially lobbies seeking to poison the two countries' cooperation."

"TURKIYE DOES NOT HAVE EVEN A SINGLE MINUTE TO WASTE"

Also drawing attention to the incidents that have taken place following the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor, President Erdogan said: "I have already made several calls, and am repeating them today. Stop disturbing our citizens' peace through provocations. If you have courage, answer for the corruption, thefts, bribes taken and irregularities made."

Underscoring that Turkiye does not have even a single minute to waste, President Erdogan stated that all they do is to work and serve the nation, and added: "We focus on building a strong Turkiye with its economy, security, defense, democracy and justice. We will inshallah work harder, produce more, and will not only solve today's problems, but also prepare Turkiye for tomorrow's world in a very strong manner."

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UK-French relationship strengthened as Defence Chiefs discuss Ukraine and European security with their French counterparts

The UK and France have today continued top level defence engagements with a meeting of both nations Military Chiefs in London.

24 March 2025

UK and France working hand-in-hand to secure a lasting peace In Ukraine.

Historic Anglo-French Lancaster House Agreement to be strengthened in 2025.

Chiefs will discuss efforts to step-up on European security.

Leading international efforts to build a 'Coalition of the Willing' to support Ukraine's future security, France and the UK have today continued top level defence engagements with a meeting of both nations Military Chiefs in London.

The heads of the defence forces for both countries, alongside the heads of the Armies, Navies and Air Forces, will be discussing UK and French efforts to galvanise the European response to the situation in Ukraine as well as the growing defence partnership between the two countries.

The third annual UK-France All Military Chiefs meeting comes at a pivotal time for European security and continues the acceleration of top level defence engagement around the Coalition of the Willing, where the UK and France have been leading discussions on how our military can support security guarantees for Ukraine's future.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff, said:

At this pivotal time for European security the third meeting of the British and French Chiefs of Staff should be seen as a sign of reassurance and commitment. Europe's two leading nuclear powers are stepping up to forge a stronger and deeper partnership that has a vital foundational role to play in the security of the continent. Today's deliberations will help shape the future of British and French military cooperation, and our shared efforts to support Ukraine with military aid now and after any peace deal. The combined convening power of Britain and France is immense. The political leadership of Prime Minister Starmer and President Macron is reflected in the military planning that is now underway between our respective staffs as we draw together a Coalition of the Willing from Europe and beyond.

This meeting comes after a series of high-level engagements hosted in both Paris and London, with the Prime Minister travelling to Paris and hosting leaders in London and the Defence Secretary conducting simultaneous visits to France as well as joining an operational planning meeting last week alongside the Prime Minister at the UK's Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ).

The UK Is also set to host further joint planning meetings at PJHQ in Northwood this week, where intensive discussions will continue over several days.

Joint Anglo-French efforts to build political alignment and collective agreement amongst Euro-Atlantic security actors is essential to ensure that any Ukraine deal is adequately defended. As the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary have both clearly stated, a lasting peace in Ukraine can only be achieved if we provide real and credible security assurances to deter Putin.

The meetings will also provide an opportunity for dialogue ahead of UK-France Summit later in 2025. This summit will seek to enhance the 2010 Lancaster House Treaties on Security and Defence. These already provide the UK and France with a firm foundation of in-depth military cooperation, unmatched between European partners. The renewed treaties will be an ambitious refresh of our defence relationship and at this time of unprecedented challenge is vital to both of our security interests.

This work will aim to deliver the further integration of UK and French armed forces and include our shared Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF) concept, which has given the UK and France an unparalleled level of interoperability as allies.

Keeping the country safe is the Government's first priority, and an integral part of its Plan for Change. The work of defence, is critical to the security and stability of the UK, supporting all of the Government's five missions as a foundation of its plan.

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Council of Europe Secretary General's Special Envoy on the situation of children of Ukraine carried out her first visit to Ukraine

Council of Europe

Special Envoy on the situation of children of Ukraine

Ukraine

24 March 2025

Following her nomination as Special Envoy of the Council of Europe Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine in February 2025, Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir engaged in her first fact-finding mission to Ukraine on 19-20 March 2025.

"I am committed to making every possible effort to advance the protection of children's rights in Ukraine and to assist its people in their pursuit of peace and justice," Thordis Gylfadottir said. "Everything that happens to Ukrainian children must be documented, spoken about openly, and safeguarded. Ukraine demonstrates incredible resilience in this work. My role is to be of service, strengthening these efforts by connecting the right people, organisations, and media within Ukraine and beyond. We must keep the issue of child protection and accountability at the centre of international attention."

During her visit, the Special Envoy had productive meetings with a wide range of key partners to discuss the plight of the children of Ukraine affected by Russia's war of aggression, wherever they are. During her meeting with the Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, they together visited the Child Protection Centre, where she spoke to three boys who had returned after being unlawfully deported by the Russian Federation.

Accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine for European Integration, Iryna Postalovska, the Special Envoy also visited the Ohmatdyt children's hospital, which was hard hit by a massive missile attack in 2024.

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Russian and U.S. delegations meet for Ukraine ceasefire talks

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 24, 2025

Representatives from Russia and the United States have met in Saudi Arabia for talks aimed at making progress toward a broad ceasefire in Ukraine.

The Monday talks in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, come a day after negotiations between U.S. and Ukrainian delegations in the city.

Kiev and Moscow have already agreed in principle to halt strikes on energy infrastructure for a month. That came after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with his counterparts from Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, last week.

The U.S. is now expected to help finalize details and has expressed optimism over the outcome of the Riyadh negotiations.

"The ultimate goal is a 30-day ceasefire, during which time we discuss a permanent ceasefire. We're not far away from that," the U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said at the weekend, according to The Guardian.

The U.S. in the meantime seeks to negotiate separate measures for a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea to ensure safe navigation.

The Riyadh negotiations are part of efforts by President Trump to resolve the three-year-old conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Despite that, gaps remain between Washington and Europe that has remained skeptical about Trump's efforts over what it sees as his pro-Russia stance.

Russia has said any ceasefire deal with Ukraine should address Moscow's security concerns. It says Ukraine must formally abandon its ambition to join the western military alliance, NATO, which Russia says its expansion eastward poses a threat to its security.

Russian and American officials met for the first time in Saudi Arabia on February 18 for the Ukraine ceasefire talks.

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US, Russia in Saudi talks on Ukraine as Kiev continues attacks

Iran Press TV

Monday, 24 March 2025 2:57 PM

US and Russian delegations have met in Saudi Arabia to discuss a partial ceasefire in Ukraine as efforts are underway for a quick end to the war.

The delegations met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday.

On Sunday, the US delegation met with the Ukrainian delegation, who stayed in Riyadh in case of any progress.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump agreed that the "movement to peace will begin" with a 30-day pause in attacks on the energy sites.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also agreed to a similar plan in regards to "energy infrastructure."

The current deal includes a one-month ceasefire agreement with a revival of the 2022 Black Sea ceasefire agreement being on the table as well.

The Black Sea Initiative, a year-long agreement allowed millions of tonnes of grain and other food exports to be shipped from Ukraine's ports.

Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff has voiced optimism that any agreement would pave the way for a "full-on" ceasefire.

"I think you're going to see in Saudi Arabia on Monday some real progress, particularly as it affects a Black Sea ceasefire on ships between both countries. And from that you'll naturally gravitate to a full-on shooting ceasefire," he told Fox News.

But the Kremlin has downplayed expectations of a rapid resolution. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state TV on Sunday that "we are only at the beginning of this path and ... there are difficult negotiations ahead."

Meanwhile, Russia's Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday that it neutralized an armed Ukrainian drone near an oil pumping station operated by an international company.

The facility is part of the energy link managed by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) which includes major US oil companies such as Chevron and ExxonMobil among its stakeholders.

The ministry emphasized that the station was the intended target of the drone, and citied a prior attack against it in mid-February.

"The Kiev regime continues to plan, prepare, and execute attacks against energy infrastructure, including internationally-owned assets within Russia," the ministry said.

Moscow said the incident is yet another violation of the US-mediated partial ceasefire agreement.

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War In Ukraine Rages On As US, Russia Hold Daylong Talks In Saudi Arabia

By RFE/RL March 24, 2025

American and Russian officials held more than 12 hours of talks in Saudi Arabia as part of US President Donald Trump's effort to end the war in Ukraine, where Moscow's full-scale invasion is in its fourth year.

The US-Russia meeting, which broke up late in the evening on March 24, came one day after separate talks between the US and Ukraine -- also in Saudi Arabia -- which Kyiv called "productive."

Little news emerged from the talks, which were expected to address details of a potential pause in long-range attacks by both Russia and Ukraine against energy facilities and civilian infrastructure as well as a halt on attacks in the Black Sea.

Russian state news agency TASS cited an unnamed source in the Russian delegation as saying the Kremlin and the White House would release a joint statement on March 25. There was no immediate word from US officials following the talks.

Russian and Ukrainian diplomats did not meet directly, and the fighting continued. A Russian air attack on March 24 damaged a school and a hospital in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, wounding nearly 90 people including 17 children, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

A Russian occupation official in Ukraine's Luhansk region said later on March 24 that Ukrainian shelling had killed six people there including a correspondent for the Russian newspaper Izvestia and a camera operator and driver.

The US team at the talks was reportedly being led by Andrew Peek, a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior State Department official.

Russia was represented by Grigory Karasin, a longtime former deputy foreign minister who heads the Foreign Affairs Committee in Russia's upper parliament chamber, and Sergei Beseda, adviser to the director of the Federal Security Service, according to Russian state media.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the negotiations between Moscow and Washington were focused on technical issues, including the security of commercial shipping in the Black Sea region.

In Washington, Trump told reporters broadly that the talks in Saudi Arabia were touching on issues including territory in Ukraine, where Russia occupies about one-fifth of the country, and about the possibility of the United States controlling the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which is Europe's largest and has been held by Russia since early in the full-scale invasion.

"We're talking about territory right now. We're talking about lines of demarcation. Talking about a power plant ownership. Some people are saying the United States should own the power plant...because we have the expertise," Trump said.

He also said the United States and Ukraine would "soon" sign an agreement on joint development of Ukraine's rare-earth minerals and other resources.

'Constructive And Meaningful Talks'

US officials said little about the talks with Ukraine on March 23, but Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said the session had been "constructive and meaningful."

"The discussion was productive and focused -- we addressed key points including energy," Umerov said in a Facebook post. He said that Zelenskyy's goal "is to secure a just and lasting peace for our country and our people -- and, by extension, for all of Europe. We are working to make that goal a reality."

The talks in Saudi Arabia marked a milestone in US-led efforts to bring about a cease-fire in the Ukraine war. Previously, there have been breaks of a day or more between different rounds of bilateral talks. Having everyone in the same place could speed things up.

But despite the proximity of the talks in time and place, there were few expectations of a major breakthrough.

Zelenskyy said on March 23 that the "conversation is quite useful.... But no matter what we say to our partners today, we need to get [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to give a real order to stop the strikes."

US officials had voiced optimism ahead of the Saudi meetings.

"I think that you're going to see in Saudi Arabia on Monday some real progress," US envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News on March 22.

The view from Kyiv and Moscow was been more sober.

"The maximum result is a pause. But this is still unknown, because the negotiations could drag on for a month or two," political analyst Serhiy Taran told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.

"I think the most that can be imagined is that, perhaps, some technical details about the cease-fire will be worked out. And they will then be taken back to Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington in the form of proposals," he said.

Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Merezhko expressed doubt that Putin would actually observe the conditions of any potential cease-fire.

"He follows his usual model," he told RFE/RL.

"He says one thing and does something completely different. One telling example was he'd allegedly ordered an end to strikes on energy infrastructure and an hour later he started an intensive bombing of Ukrainian civil facilities."

"Unfortunately, the United States may still be under the illusion that you can make an agreement with Putin," he added. "They may need more time to realize he doesn't respect agreements."

In Russia, where RFE/RL has been declared an undesirable organization and is effectively banned, it was Peskov who doused cold water on any hopes of a quick deal.

"One shouldn't get one's hopes high. Very serious, thorough work is ahead. We will have to delve into the details," he said in an interview on state TV on March 23.

"We're only [at] the beginning of this road," he added.

Kyiv has accused Moscow of playing for time and feigning interest in ending the war, and many analysts say Russia wants to drag out any peace process in the hopes of gaining as many concessions as it can.

Russian political scientist Ivan Preobrazhensky was skeptical of the prospects for peace anytime soon.

"This attempt to reach a cease-fire agreement [lacks any proper framework] and is hanging by a thread." he told Current Time. "It looks weaker, not stronger. The negotiations aren't getting more straightforward with the sides trying to overcome obstacles and reach common ground. On the contrary, they're becoming more complicated, which reduces the chances of a deal."

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha wrote on X on March 24 that the March 24 attack on Sumy, in which several high-rise residential blocks in the city center were also damaged, showed Moscow's talk of peace ring "hollow."

"Moscow speaks of peace while carrying out brutal strikes on densely populated residential areas in major Ukrainian cities," he wrote.

A plan agreed with Ukraine on March 11 for a 30-day general cease-fire was stonewalled by Putin. After a phone call with Putin on March 18, Trump said they had agreed to a pause on attacks on infrastructure.

But the Kremlin narrowed the focus further, saying that the deal only concerned energy infrastructure -- which its forces subsequently attacked anyway. Ukraine hoped to clear this up in Saudi Arabia by bringing a list of what Russia must agree not to target.

There was similar confusion after Trump's talks with Zelenskyy. While US officials were speaking of a new plan for US ownership of Ukrainian nuclear plants, as a form of security guarantee for Ukraine, Zelenskyy made it clear these plants were state property that belonged to all Ukrainians.

Meanwhile, the Black Sea was a focus of the talks in Saudi Arabia.

Witkoff, the US envoy, said there would be progress on "a Black Sea cease-fire, on ships between both countries. And from that, you'll naturally gravitate into a full-on shooting cease-fire."

Witkoff also said he was confident that Putin wanted peace, something that Ukraine and European countries do not believe.

As the faltering diplomatic process has edged forward, both Ukraine and Russia reported shooting down a barrage of drones from the opposition side on March 24.

Kyiv said that Russia launched 99 drones at Ukraine overnight, of which 57 were shot down by Ukraine's air defense systems and 36 were lost from radar.

The remaining drones caused damage in at least five regions of Ukraine, authorities said. At least four people were wounded as the drones struck residential buildings in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhya regions, local authorities said.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said on March 24 that Russia downed 227 Ukrainian drones overnight.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ray Furlong, RFE/RL's Ukrainian and Russian Services, and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-russia-ukraine-talks-saudi- ceasefire/33356746.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russian Forces Intensify Attacks Near Pokrovsk As Cease-Fire Talks Begin In Riyadh

By Andriy Kuzakov and Current Time March 24, 2025

As Russian and Ukrainian delegations meet for cease-fire discussions with US officials in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, Moscow's troops are intensifying their attacks on Kyiv's positions on the front line near the city of Pokrovsk, Ukrainian soldiers in the area told Current Time.

"There are 200-300 explosions per day, all coming in our direction," said Ukrainian servicemen Serhiy, standing at the bottom of a muddy trench.

"They're trying to advance on our positions -- but we're holding them back."

"They have plenty of manpower," said Dmytro, another soldier. "If we didn't cover the infantry positions, they would advance without any trouble."

The Ukrainian troops showed little optimism about the Riyadh talks, comparing them to efforts in previous years to broker cease-fires in Ukraine.

"I don't believe it," says Yevhen. "This is a repeat of 2014 when they negotiated a cease-fire. It's all just to pull in troops and strengthen their positions."

Residents in the nearby town of Rodynske, just 5 kilometers from Pokrovsk, are also feeling the full effects of war.

As a Current Time crew were filming a report in the area, the town was targeted by a drone attack.

"As soon as something starts, we crawl into the cellar at night, and that's it," says local resident Vitaliy.

"It was so loud that people's windows were blown out by the blast," says Natalya, who also lives in Rodynske.

"The most important thing is peace -- for all of this to stop."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pokrovsk-frontline-attacks- drone-strikes-ceasefire-talks-riyadh/33357665.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Statement by Russian Defence Ministry

24.03.2025 (17:20)

On 24 March 2025, at about two o'clock in the morning, the Kiev regime attacked by UAVs the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) in Krasnodar region.

The Russian AD systems intercepted a strike drone seven kilometres away from the energy facility. The debris of the drone fell on near the Kavkazskaya railway station.

Earlier, the Kiev regime had attacked the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station on 17 February 2025. As a result, the facility was damaged and decommissioned for further repairing and restoration.

Furthermore, on 19 March 2025, few hours after the Russian President agreed to accept the proposal of his American counterpart on temporary ceasefire against energy infrastructure of Ukraine, the Kiev regime employed three fixed-wing UAVs to hit a facility of the CPC located in the Kavkazskaya stanitsa. There, oil is transshipped from railway tanks to pipeline system of the international oil transport company.

In addition, on the evening of 23 March 2025, from 21:00 to 21:50 Russian AD units repelled a UAV attack of the Kiev regime against the Glebovskiy gas-condensate field located at the Tarkhankut Peninsula of the Crimea which supplied Russian citizens and economy in this area with gas.

On 22 March 2025, from 5:00 to 8:45, Ukrainian drones attacked the Valuyki gas metering station which is in Shvedunovka, Belgorod region. As a result of the attack, the equipment of the station was damaged.

Thus, despite the statements made by Zelensky including those announced to American partners, the Kiev continue to attack the energy infrastructure, including the international one, on the territory of the Russian Federation.

All of this proves once again that it is impossible to come to an agreement with Kiev.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Ukrainian Forces Unleash HIMARS to Strike Russian Energy Infrastructure - MoD

Sputnik News

20250324

Ukraine attacked Crimea's Glebovskoye gas condensate field, which provides gas to locals, using four drones on March 23, the Russian Defense Ministry reported Monday.

"On the evening of March 23, 2025, from 21:00-21:50 (18:00-18:50 GMT), Russian air defenses repelled an attack by the Kiev regime involving four Ukrainian drones on the Glebovskoye gas condensate field on Cape Tarkhankut in Crimea, which is used to supply gas to residents and the economy of the Russian peninsula," the statement said.

On Saturday morning, Kiev carried out two drone strikes on the Valuyka gas distribution station in Russia's Belgorod Region, damaging the facility's technological equipment, the ministry said, adding that Ukraine has continued its attacks on energy facilities in Russia, using multiple launch rocket systems HIMARS.

Ukraine's attacks on energy infrastructure, including international ones, on Russian territory prove Kiev's inability to negotiate, the statement added.

 Sputnik

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Ukrainian Forces Unleash HIMARS to Strike Russian Energy Infrastructure - MoD

Sputnik News

20250324

The Ukrainian military has lost up to 460 soldiers in battles with Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr in the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

The Ukrainian armed forces have lost up to 460 military personnel, six armored fighting vehicles, including two US-made 113, and two French-made VAB armored personnel carriers, eight motor vehicles and four artillery guns, the ministry said in a statement.

Russia's Battlegroup Zapad has eliminated over 250 Ukrainian soldiers and a tank, while Battlegroup Yug has eliminated more than 310 Ukrainian servicepeople, the ministry added.

Additionally, Kiev has lost up to 175 soldiers in the Belgorod direction in the past day.

Battlegroup Vostok has eliminated up to 145 Ukrainian soldiers, two fighting armored vehicles, three motor vehicles and three field artillery guns, including a German-made Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery unit over the given period, the ministry said.

Russia's Battlegroup Dnepr group of troops has improved the tactical situation along the front line, eliminating up to 90 Ukrainian troops, a tank, three motor vehicles, a US-made 155 mm 777 howitzer, as well as an electronic warfare station and an ammunition depot over the past 24 hours, the ministry added.

The Ukrainian armed forces lost more than 190 soldiers in the Kursk region in the past day, the ministry said.

"Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian armed forces have lost more than 190 servicepeople, three infantry fighting vehicles, three armored combat vehicles, six vehicles, three artillery pieces, three mortars, an electronic warfare station and three UAV control points were destroyed," the ministry said in a statement.

In total, Ukraine has lost over 69,700 servicepeople and 400 tanks during offensive in Kursk direction, the ministry said.

 Sputnik

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Ukraine Continues to Attack Russian Energy Infrastructure

Sputnik News

20250324

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Kiev carried out a UAV attack on the Kropotkinskaya oil plumping station of Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) in Russia's Kuban overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

"On March 25, 2025, at 23:00 GMT Kiev carried out UAV attack on Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station of Caspian Pipeline Consortium in the Krasnodar Region," the ministry said in a statement.

The Russian air defense systems intercepted Ukrainian UAV 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from CPC facility in Kuban, fragments fell near the Kavkazskaya railway station, the ministry said.

"By this, contrary to [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky's claims, the Kiev regime continues to plan, prepare and carry out operations on critical energy infrastructure, including international, on territory of Russia," the ministry added.

 Sputnik

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China Rejects Possibility of Participation in Peacekeeping Mission in Ukraine

Sputnik News

20250324

BEIJING (Sputnik) - Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun on Monday rejected the possibility of the country's participation in a potential peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine after the end of the conflict.

"I would like to stress that such media reports are not true. China's position on the Ukrainian crisis is consistent and clear," Guo told a briefing.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in late February that Russia had not discussed the possible involvement of Chinese peacekeepers in the context of resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

On Saturday, the German newspaper reported that China was discussing with European countries the possibility of its participation in a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on March 6 that Russia sees no possibility for achieving a compromise on the possible deployment of European peacekeepers in Ukraine.

Media reports emerged earlier in March that French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are trying to convince 37 countries to join of a coalition ready to deploy peacekeepers in Ukraine and provide security guarantees to Kiev.

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service said last year that the West could deploy some 100,000 troops in Ukraine under the guise of a peacekeeping force to restore Kiev's combat capabilities. Peskov has argued that in any conflict the deployment of foreign peacekeepers is only possible with the consent of all parties to the conflict.

 Sputnik

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The War Was Brought from Russia, and It Is to Russia That the War Must Be Pushed Back. They Must Be the Ones Forced Into Peace - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

24 March 2025 - 20:49

Dear Ukrainians!

The key takeaways from this day. Right now in Sumy, a rescue operation is still ongoing. All services are involved - Ukraine's State Emergency Service, National Police, our medical and municipal services. There are many injured - as of now, reports confirm nearly 90 people injured, including 17 children. At the epicenter of the attack were a school and residential buildings. Fortunately, the children at the school were in shelter. I am grateful to everyone helping the people and to all those saving the lives of Ukrainians. Each day like this, every night under Russian missiles and drones, every single day of this war brings loss, pain, and destruction that Ukraine never wanted. The war was brought from Russia, and it is to Russia that the war must be pushed back. They must be the ones forced into peace. They are the ones who must be pressured to ensure security. Thank you to everyone who is helping us in this. Thank you to all who are working for the security of Ukraine, for the protection of our people, and for the defense of our cities.

I held a Staff meeting today - various issues were discussed. In particular, the training of our warriors and the modernization of that training. There was a report from General Oleh Apostol, Deputy Commander-in-Chief, on the changes in training - including the implementation of modern methodologies. We also reviewed training programs, psychological support, information support, and cooperation with partners. There are certain issues that need to be addressed. There was also a report on the 18-24 contract program, including the first results. We will be expanding it - I was at the front on Saturday, there is a demand from specific brigades. We will respond positively to that demand - more brigades will be able to take in young volunteers. This experience should also be extended to the National Guard of Ukraine and Border Guard units. All effective units within the Defense Forces must be given every opportunity to develop and enhance the potential of our country and our resilience.Today, we also held meetings focused on diplomatic efforts. I recently spoke with Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. Yesterday, there was a meeting with the U.S. team. Today, U.S. representatives spoke with the war team - that is, with representatives of Russia. After that, another meeting took place between the Ukrainian and American teams. I'm expecting a new report. What we need is movement toward real peace - toward guaranteed security. And this is something we all need - in Ukraine, in Europe, in America, and across the world - everyone who wants stability in international relations. Russia remains the only actor dragging this war out, jeering at both our people and the global community. To push Russia toward peace, we need strong moves and strong actions. We are ready to support every strong initiative that can make diplomacy more effective - and that means applying pressure to force Russia to want to end this war. That means sanctions. That means support for Ukraine. That means international coordination. This week, we are also preparing substantive work with our European partners on concrete security steps - joint security steps. A significant part of Europe is ready for concrete security work - and that's a good thing. I thank everyone who stands with Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Deadly attacks affecting children in Ukraine a tragic reminder that nowhere is safe

UNICEF

Deadly attacks affecting children in Ukraine a tragic reminder that nowhere is safe

24 March 2025

KYIV, 24 March 2025 - "I'm horrified by reports of yet another attack devastating children's lives, this time injuring at least 17 children and damaging a school this afternoon in Sumy, north-eastern Ukraine.

"This comes on the back of a deadly seven days, during which two children were reportedly killed and at least another sixteen injured.

"In Kyiv, an attack on the night of 22 March reportedly killed five-year-old Nikol, along with her father, when their home was hit. Her mother is reported to have survived and is recovering from serious injuries in hospital.

"According to a relative, the family sought safety in the capital after fleeing their home in the frontline town of Orikhiv, Zaporizhzhia region. But as the last seven days - and more than three years - have shown, nowhere in Ukraine is fully safe.

"In the south-eastern city of Zaporizhzhia, a 17-year-old girl and her parents were reportedly killed in an attack on 21 March, leaving her elder sister as the only surviving member of the family.

"This is the horrific reality for children and people across Ukraine today.

"Children go to bed fearing the looming threat of nighttime attacks that often last for hours. They are woken by the jarring sound of air raid sirens and forced to run for shelter before explosions shake their neighbourhoods and homes.

"This dreadful nightly cycle has inflicted extreme stress and anxiety on every child. In frontline areas, children often have no time or just a few seconds to seek safety.

"More than 2,500 children have been killed or injured since February 2022, according to UN-verified data, and millions of young lives have been upended.

"Ukraine's children have suffered for far too long.

"Every day this war continues, more young lives are ended and devastated. Every day this war continues, children experience repeated trauma.

"Children in Ukraine need a real and sustained peace in which every child can realize their rights."

#####



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Civilians must be spared and children protected

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

THE HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR FOR UKRAINE, MATTHIAS SCHMALE, STRONGLY CONDEMNS A RUSSIAN ARMED FORCES ATTACK ON SUMY

Yet again, reports of appalling attacks by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation across Ukraine causing senseless death and injury of Ukrainian civilians.

Today, a missile attack in Sumy City centre damaged a hospital, school and several residential buildings. The response is ongoing, with the casualty count already reportedly in the dozens, including multiple children.

This comes after deadly attacks in Zaporizhzhia and Kyiv over the weekend, which killed entire families and injured many more. Strikes also damaged schools and health facilities in the Kharkiv and Dnipro Regions.

International Humanitarian Law clearly prohibits attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, and they must be protected at all times.

For further information, please contact:

Hilary Stauffer, OCHA: +380 50 444 8329, staufferh@un.org

OCHA press releases are available at www.unocha.org or www.reliefweb.int

24 March 2025



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Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses

LOS ANGELES, March 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises Novo Nordisk A/S ("Novo Nordisk" or the "Company") (NYSE: NVO) investors of a class action representing investors that bought securities between November 2, 2022 and December 19, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Novo Nordisk investors have until March 25, 2025 to file a lead plaintiff motion.

Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 310-692-8883 or email: lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses.

Novo Nordisk and its subsidiaries research, develop, manufacture, and distribute pharmaceutical products.

The class action lawsuit alleges that throughout the Class Period, Novo Nordisk made false or misleading statements and failed to disclose that:

The company misrepresented the reliability of its projected success for the Phase 3 CagriSema obesity study, "REDEFINE-1," while avoiding discussions about dosage tolerability.

Novo Nordisks optimistic claims that CagriSema would achieve at least 25% weight loss in REDEFINE-1 were unrealistic.

The studys flexible protocol limited its ability to provide meaningful weight loss data on the tested dosage, suggesting that either tolerability issues forced patients to reduce dosages or that the selection process was rushed, enrolling patients who were not committed to achieving the 25% weight loss goal.



According to the complaint, on December 20, 2024, Novo Nordisk released headline results from the REDEFINE-1 trial, revealing that the flexible protocol allowed patients to adjust their dosing. The company reported that after 68 weeks, only 57.3% of CagriSema patients remained on the highest dose, compared to 82.5% for cagrilintide 2.4 mg and 70.2% for semaglutide 2.4 mg. Following this news, Novo Nordisks stock price dropped nearly 18%.

Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information.

The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq.

Admitted CA and NY Bar

lesley@portnoylaw.com

310-692-8883

www.portnoylaw.com

Attorney Advertising
Miami, FL , March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kobe Digital, a leading digital marketing agency specializing in performance marketing, web design, and video production, has announced its expansion into the Miami market. This move marks a strategic step in the companys mission to provide cutting-edge digital solutions to businesses in one of the countrys fastest-growing economic hubs.

With its new office located at 200 S Biscayne Blvd, Miami, Kobe Digital is set to become a major player in the local business community. By establishing a physical presence, the full-service digital marketing company aims to offer tailored, high-quality marketing services while building long-term relationships with Miami-based businesses. This expansion underscores the companys growing influence across the United States and its commitment to connecting with emerging markets.



Kobe Digital

Leading the expansion is Kobe Digitals CEO, Juan E. Galvan, a Latino entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in digital marketing, business development, and technology-driven innovation. Galvan has led multiple successful ventures, including Lunes eLearning and Security LOD, demonstrating his ability to drive impactful business strategies. His leadership at Kobe Digital has positioned the company as one of the trusted marketing companies in Miami for brands looking to improve their online presence.

The energy and potential of the Miami business landscape are undeniable, said Galvan. Expanding here allows us to better understand the local market and collaborate with companies that want to thrive in an increasingly digital world. Our goal is to bring innovative marketing solutions that cater to Miamis diverse and dynamic industries.

As a full-service Miami digital marketing agency, Kobe Digital offers a wide range of services to help businesses scale. These include search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, social media marketing, web development, branding, and video production.

Kobe Digitals decision to expand into Miami is driven by the citys rapid growth as a hub for entrepreneurship, technology, and commerce. As more companies establish operations in the region, the demand for an expert digital marketing company Miami continues to grow. Kobe Digital aims to meet this demand by providing customized solutions that align with each businesss goals to help them stand out in a competitive market.

The launch of Kobe Digitals Miami digital marketing agency also presents a valuable opportunity for businesses to work with a team that understands the nuances of the local market. As a city with a diverse population and a thriving international business community, Miami requires a marketing approach that resonates with both local and global audiences. With extensive expertise in multicultural marketing, Kobe Digital ensures brands can effectively engage their target markets and drive meaningful results.

With its new office now open, Kobe Digital is poised to strengthen its relationships with Miami-based businesses and expand its reach across South Florida. Companies looking for a trusted marketing agency Miami can expect expert guidance, personalized marketing strategies, and a commitment to delivering measurable results.

As one of the fastest-growing marketing companies in Miami, Kobe Digital continues to push the boundaries of innovation. The companys expansion is not just about entering a new marketits about redefining how businesses connect with their customers in a digital-first world.

For more information about Kobe Digitals Miami office and services, visit its website at https://www.kobedigital.com/miami-digital-marketing-agency/.

About Kobe Digital

Kobe Digital is a full-service digital marketing agency specializing in performance marketing, web design, and video production. The agency provides data-driven strategies that help brands grow and maximize their digital presence.

###

Media Contact

Kobe Digital

https://www.kobedigital.com/miami-digital-marketing-agency/



Kobe Digital





















Attachment
Technip Energies (PARIS:TE), a global technology & engineering powerhouse leading in energy and decarbonization infrastructure, today announces the publication of the convening notice for its annual general meeting, which will be held on May 6, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. CEST in Schiphol, The Netherlands.

The convening notice, agenda and explanatory notes, as well as other relevant meeting documents are available at: https://investors.technipenergies.com/news-events/agm

Technip Energies 2024 Annual Report is available at:

https://investors.technipenergies.com/financial-information/results-center

About Technip Energies

Technip Energies is a global technology and engineering powerhouse. With leadership positions in LNG, hydrogen, ethylene, sustainable chemistry, and CO 2 management, we are contributing to the development of critical markets such as energy, energy derivatives, decarbonization, and circularity. Our complementary business segments, Technology, Products and Services (TPS) and Project Delivery, turn innovation into scalable and industrial reality.

Through collaboration and excellence in execution, our 17,000+ employees across 34 countries are fully committed to bridging prosperity with sustainability for a world designed to last.

Technip Energies generated revenues of 6.9 billion in 2024 and is listed on Euronext Paris. Technip Energies also has American Depositary Receipts trading over the counter.

For further information: www.ten.com

Contacts

Investor Relations Media Relations Phillip Lindsay Jason Hyonne Vice-President Investor Relations Press Relations & Social Media Manager Tel: +44 207 585 5051 Tel: +33 1 47 78 22 89 Email: Phillip Lindsay Email: Jason Hyonne

Attachment
New solution expands high quality connectivity in complex enterprise environments, large outdoor areas through seamless integration with ALE networking portfolio

COLOMBES, France, and CAMPBELL, Calif., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, a leader in secure Enterprise networking and communication solutions is proud to announce the launch of its innovative Private 5G solution powered by Celona. This new turnkey solution seamlessly integrates with ALEs OmniVista, OmniSwitch and OmniAccess Stellar networking portfolio, enabling secure and high quality connectivity across complex enterprise environments including large outdoor spaces.

This strategic partnership with Celona represents a significant leap in enterprise-grade connectivity, designed to empower critical operations with unparalleled reliability, performance and security in challenging environments worldwide.

Transforming IoT Connectivity in Demanding Environments

The cutting-edge technology in ALEs Private 5G solution is engineered for ultra-reliable connectivity in complex industrial settings such as manufacturing, refineries, logistics warehouses, and ports including airport apron/ramp areas. The Private 5G solution offers large-area wireless coverage, secure and reliable high-speed mobility, supporting real-time, critical industrial applications, leading to enhanced IoT and Industry 4.0 integration.

This technology enables connecting next-generation IoT devices and applications that demand ultra-low latency and deterministic performance in enterprises pioneering the use of state-of-the-art devices and technologies, including autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs), robotics, HD video analytics, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) applications, all of which will benefit from robust wireless connectivity.

Unmatched Enterprise Connectivity with ALEs End-to-End Solution

ALE is integrating Private 5G with its existing solutions, such as OmniVista Cirrus, OmniSwitch LAN, and OmniAccess Stellar WLAN, to deliver reliable augmented coverage across industrial sites, offices and campuses. This approach ensures end-to-end secure Zero Touch Network Access and high-performance connectivity for seamless operations and advanced applications.

Private 5G powered by Celona delivers on the promise of strong security with robust SIM authentication and Celonas patented MicroSlicing and Aerloc technologies, which ensure reliable service and application-level SLAs, policy enforcement, and zero trust security for business-critical applications.

Stephan Robineau, EVP Network Business Division, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, comments:

"This exciting partnership with Celona offers the best Private 5G wireless solution purpose-built for enterprise environments. The integration into our end-to-end portfolio further enhances our ability to provide enterprise-wide connectivity with unmatched reliability and performance.

Furthermore, the advanced Private 5G technology aligns perfectly with our security-first approach and our vertical strategy, enabling us to meet the unique demands of industries like energy and utilities, transportation and the manufacturing industry."

Rajeev Shah, co-founder and CEO, Celona, said:

Our partnership with Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise is pivotal, and a testament to what can happen when two technology leaders come together. ALE has a rich history of innovation that resulted in world-class solutions. At Celona, after years of research and development with a focus on designing for the enterprise, our private 5G solution is best-in-class, highly secure, and easy to deploy and manage. It addresses wireless connectivity challenges in complex environments where some businesses still rely on pen and paper. To say this is a gamechanger is truly an understatement.

About Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise provides secure networking and communication solutions which enable organizations and industries to accelerate their operational efficiencies and competitiveness. In the Cloud. On Premises. Hybrid.

All solutions have built-in security, limited environmental impact and are fully compliant with data protection requirements of organizations and individuals at a national sovereignty and international industry level.

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise focus on providing sustainable technology solutions for the good of the environment, people, and business.

Over 100 years of innovation have made the company a trusted advisor to more than a million customers across the world. With headquarters in France and 3,400 business partners worldwide, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise achieves an effective global reach with a local focus.

al-enterprise.com | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

About Celona

Based in Silicon Valley, Celona is a pioneer and leading innovator of enterprise private wireless solutions. The company developed the industrys first 5G LAN system, a turnkey private 5G solution that enables enterprises to address their growing needs for secure and reliable wireless connectivity for critical business applications. Celona 5G LAN has been deployed by a wide range of global customers across industries. To date, the company has raised over $135 million in venture funding from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Norwest Venture Partners, NTT Ventures, Cervin Ventures, DigitalBridge and Qualcomm Ventures. For more information, please visit celona.io.

Media Contacts

Carine Bowen, Global press Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise

press@al-enterprise.com

Janet Brumfield, IdealPR+ for Celona

janet@idealprplus.com

+1 614-582-9636

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/75ea0569-8ee5-404e-bf1b-d1d1e75744d2
Dublin, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Microgrid Market Size and Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast Report 2025-2033" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Microgrid Market is expected to reach US$ 163.17 billion in 2033 from US$ 41.69 billion in 2024, with a CAGR of 16.37% from 2025 to 2033. Growing demand for dependable energy, integration of renewable energy, energy security, regulatory backing, improvements in energy storage technology, and the requirement for sustainable, decentralized power solutions are the main factors propelling the microgrid industry.







Increasing Industry Infrastructure for Renewable Energy



Microgrids are being used by industries more and more to integrate renewable energy sources into their processes. These systems contribute to the achievement of sustainability goals by supplying dependable, clean energy for extensive industrial operations. In addition, microgrids' scalability enables them to meet the energy requirements of both ongoing operations and planned expansions. For instance, Precision Castparts Corp. established a titanium melt facility that runs entirely on renewable energy, while BHE Renewables announced plans in September 2024 to turn more than 2,000 acres in West Virginia into an industrial estate powered by a microgrid. Consequently, the market is experiencing notable economic growth.



Growing Funding for Sustainable Energy Initiatives



As part of broader initiatives to switch to sustainable energy, governments and private businesses are making significant investments in microgrid technology. The goal of these expenditures is to create energy systems that are more robust and efficient. They support the larger objective of lowering carbon emissions by promoting innovation in the production, delivery, and storage of renewable energy. For example, Alternus Clean Energy and Hover Energy formed a joint venture in August 2024 to offer next-generation microgrid solutions for commercial clients and data centers. With more than 60MW of developed project capacity, the partnership uses solar and wind technology to help achieve net-zero carbon emissions targets.



Increasing Attention to Energy Cost Reduction



By allowing towns and companies to produce and store their own electricity, microgrids lessen reliance on the main grid and cut long-term energy expenses. Additionally, by optimizing energy use through localized management and storage, they can effectively manage peak demand and save energy expenses. For example, Schneider Electric introduced an all-in-one battery energy storage system (BESS) in April 2024 that is intended to provide scalable and adaptable energy solutions. It complies with stringent safety regulations in international markets while integrating with microgrid systems to improve energy resilience, cost savings, and sustainability.



High Initial Costs



In the microgrid sector, high initial costs pose a serious obstacle. Significant infrastructure investments are needed to create a microgrid, including energy storage devices, sophisticated management systems to oversee grid operations, and renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines. The requirement for specialist equipment and connection with the grid's current infrastructure also drives up costs. Especially for small firms, underdeveloped nations, and communities with little financial means, these large initial expenses may be a deterrent. The initial financial burden may postpone the adoption and growth of microgrids, even though long-term savings and the advantages of energy resilience may balance these costs.



Regulatory and Policy Barriers



The microgrid market has a number of obstacles due to regulations and policies. Investors and microgrid developers face uncertainties due to regionally inconsistent legislation and a lack of common policies. Integration of decentralized energy sources with the wider grid is hampered in many places by antiquated legislation. Furthermore, lengthy and complicated permitting procedures might cause delays in project completion dates. Notwithstanding the potential advantages of microgrids for energy resilience and sustainability, the lack of clear incentives or support for adoption deters investments and further restricts the systems' widespread deployment.



Microgrid Market Overview by Regions



Due to robust technology breakthroughs, energy security concerns, and supporting legislation, North America is dominating the world's microgrid market, which is expanding globally. Europe comes next, emphasizing the integration of renewable energy. The Asia-Pacific area is growing quickly due to rising infrastructure and energy demands. Microgrids are becoming more popular in isolated regions with erratic electricity supplies throughout the Middle East and Africa.



United States Microgrid Market



The need for dependable, sustainable, and resilient energy solutions has made the US microgrid market one of the biggest in the world. Concerns about energy security, the need for grid upgrading, and the growing use of renewable energy sources are important growth drivers. The Department of Energy's funding programs are one example of the positive government policies and incentives that support the integration of renewable energy in the United States. The market is also developing as a result of the increasing need for microgrids in critical infrastructure, military installations, and isolated locations. The efficiency and feasibility of microgrids in a variety of U.S. sectors are being improved by technological developments in energy storage and management systems. The Los Angeles Transportation Department organized a new microgrid project in November 2021 to electrify EVs. It is anticipated that the microgrid, which has a solar and storage power supply system, will serve as the fleet's charging station. The California Energy Commission awarded a USD 6 million grant to Proterra Energy to develop the project. An estimated 7.5 MW of power generation is anticipated.



Germany Microgrid Market



Germany's strong commitment to renewable energy and energy transition goals is driving the country's microgrid market's expansion. Adoption of decentralized energy solutions is encouraged by the government's backing of renewable energy laws and programs like the Energiewende. In order to improve energy resilience and incorporate renewable resources like solar and wind, microgrids are being utilized more and more in distant locations, industrial sites, and energy communities. Microgrid expansion is further aided by technological developments in energy storage and grid management technologies, which foster a more dependable and sustainable energy infrastructure.



India Microgrid Market



The demand for dependable electricity in rural and isolated locations is propelling the microgrid industry in India to rapid growth. Microgrids are a feasible option for decentralized electricity because of the nation's abundant renewable energy resources, especially solar power. Microgrid adoption is encouraged by favorable policies and government programs such as the National Smart Grid Mission. For instance, in four Indian states - Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan - the Rockfeller Foundation set up about 160 microgrids. More than 70,000 people in isolated locations now have access to energy because to this program. Microgrids present India with a chance to expand energy access, incorporate renewable energy sources, and boost resilience, particularly in underserved areas, in light of rising energy consumption, grid dependability issues, and an emphasis on sustainability.



Saudi Arabia Microgrid Market



Saudi Arabia's drive to diversify its energy sector and increase energy reliability is driving growth in the microgrid market. Microgrids are a key part of the government's Vision 2030 plan, which prioritizes sustainability, the integration of renewable energy, and the modernization of energy infrastructure. Saudi Arabia is investigating microgrids to maximize energy distribution, particularly in rural locations and for vital infrastructure, thanks to its enormous solar resources. Government incentives for renewable energy projects assist the market, and microgrids are being used more and more to improve resilience and energy security. Microgrids are anticipated to be essential to reaching sustainability targets as the country transitions to greener energy.

Key Company Analysis: Overview, Key Persons, Recent Developments & Strategies, Financial Insights

ABB

Siemens AG

General Electric

Eaton Corporation

Exelon Corp.

Honeywell International Inc.

Schneider Electric SE

Hitachi Energy Ltd.

Key Attributes

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 120 Forecast Period 2024-2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $41.69 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $163.17 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 16.3% Regions Covered Global

Key Topics Covered



1. Introduction



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Market Dynamics

4.1 Growth Drivers

4.2 Challenges



5. Global Microgrid Market



6. Market Share Analysis

6.1 By Power Source

6.2 By Application

6.3 By Connectivity

6.4 By Grid Type

6.5 By Country



7. Power Source

7.1 CHP

7.2 Natural Gas

7.3 Solar PV

7.4 Diesel

7.5 Fuel Cell

7.6 Others



8. Application

8.1 Education

8.2 Government

8.3 Commercial

8.4 Utility

8.5 Defense

8.6 Others



9. Connectivity

9.1 Grid Connected

9.2 Off Grid



10. Grid Type

10.1 AC Microgrid

10.2 DC Microgrid

10.3 Hybrid



11. Countries

11.1 North America

11.1.1 United States

11.1.2 Canada

11.2 Europe

11.2.1 France

11.2.2 Germany

11.2.3 Italy

11.2.4 Spain

11.2.5 United Kingdom

11.2.6 Belgium

11.2.7 Netherlands

11.2.8 Turkey

11.3 Asia-Pacific

11.3.1 China

11.3.2 Japan

11.3.3 India

11.3.4 South Korea

11.3.5 Thailand

11.3.6 Malaysia

11.3.7 Indonesia

11.3.8 Australia

11.3.9 New Zealand

11.4 Latin America

11.4.1 Brazil

11.4.2 Mexico

11.4.3 Argentina

11.5 Middle East & Africa

11.5.1 Saudi Arabia

11.5.2 UAE

11.5.3 South Africa



12. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

12.1 Bargaining Power of Buyers

12.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

12.3 Degree of Rivalry

12.4 Threat of New Entrants

12.5 Threat of Substitutes



13. SWOT Analysis

13.1 Strength

13.2 Weakness

13.3 Opportunity

13.4 Threat



14. Key Players Analysis



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jn7vj0

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ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Dublin, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Commercial Greenhouse Market Size and Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast Report 2025-2033" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Commercial Greenhouse market is expected to reach US$ 87.64 billion by 2033 from US$ 39.82 billion in 2024, with a CAGR of 9.16% from 2025 to 2033. Rapid technical improvements, the introduction of numerous government initiatives and funding, the expanding demand for food production worldwide, growing worries about food security, urbanization, and the loss of arable land are all driving the market's rapid growth.





Current advancements in technology



One of the key factors propelling the growth of the commercial greenhouse market is the integration of cutting-edge technologies. Greenhouse farming has been transformed by innovations including energy-efficient light-emitting diode grow lights, computerized climate control systems, and precision agriculture. They make it possible for plants to flourish in ideal conditions, improving crop quality and yields while using less labor and resources. Additionally, precise control over temperature, humidity, light, and CO2 levels is made possible by automated systems, which create the perfect conditions for plant growth. In addition, the market is expanding favorably due to the use of hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponic systems, which increase productivity by lowering the requirement for soil and significant water sources. Furthermore, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in greenhouses to enable real-time data analysis and monitoring is bolstering industry expansion.



Growing worries about the security of food



The market is expanding due to concerns about food security that are being made worse by population increase, resource depletion, and climate change. Food production is unstable as a result of traditional agriculture's increased susceptibility to erratic weather patterns, droughts, floods, and other climatic disturbances. Commercial greenhouses provide a controlled atmosphere that is less dependent on the weather outside, making them a good substitute. They permit agricultural diversity, including the development of non-native or off-season crops, in addition to guaranteeing steady and dependable food production. Additionally, greenhouses can be set up in areas with harsh climates or low soil quality where traditional farming is impractical, which helps to solve the problems associated with global food security.



The growing global demand for food production



The market is expanding as a result of the growing world population, which increases the need for food production, particularly in areas with little arable land and unfavorable weather. Because they allow for controlled, year-round growing regardless of the weather outside, commercial greenhouses offer an efficient alternative. Because greenhouses can produce crops with superior nutritional value, their capacity to continuously provide food addresses both the quantity and quality challenges. A more dependable food supply is also ensured by the regulated climate, which lowers the chance of crop failures brought on by pests, illnesses, and harsh weather. Furthermore, the industry is expanding due to the extensive usage of commercial greenhouses in metropolitan areas, where there is a severe lack of available land and a strong demand for fresh fruit.



Climate Control and Management



Since maintaining ideal growth conditions is necessary for the development of healthy crops, climate control and management are critical to the success of commercial greenhouses. Plants are given the ideal growing conditions when temperature, humidity, light, and CO2 levels are precisely controlled, which maximizes production and quality. But this is a difficult task that calls for advanced technology and knowledgeable leadership. Crop stress, poor development, or even crop loss can arise from any malfunction in climate control systems, such as temperature swings or inappropriate humidity levels, which costs greenhouse operators money. Therefore, maintaining the effectiveness and profitability of commercial greenhouse operations continues to be hampered by the dependence on cutting-edge technology for climate control and the requirement for skilled management.



High Initial Investment Costs



For small and medium-sized farms, the high initial cost of setting up a commercial greenhouse may be a deterrent. Land acquisition, greenhouse construction, and the integration of cutting-edge irrigation, lighting, heating, cooling, and temperature control technologies are all expenses. Furthermore, these systems' continuous maintenance may raise operating costs. Smaller businesses may find it difficult to compete with larger, better-funded companies due to the high capital costs associated with greenhouse farming. Even though greenhouse farming has long-term advantages including year-round crop production and increased yields, the high upfront costs could deter newcomers, particularly in the absence of financial assistance or incentives to cover the initial outlay.



Commercial Greenhouse Market Overview by Regions



By countries, the global Commercial Greenhouse market is divided into United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Turkey, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and UAE.



United States Commercial Greenhouse Market



The growing demand for sustainably produced, locally grown food and the growing acceptance of year-round farming are driving the growth of the commercial greenhouse sector in the United States. By providing a controlled environment, greenhouses help farmers produce crops more effectively and lessen their reliance on the weather. More farmers are using greenhouse technology as a result of growing customer demand for fresh and organic goods. Greenhouse farming is becoming more efficient thanks to technological developments in automation, vertical farming, and climate control systems that increase output while using fewer resources. The need for food that is supplied locally and urbanization have also contributed to the market's expansion. The U.S. commercial greenhouse market is anticipated to continue growing because to government incentives and sustainability trends, despite the fact that high initial investment prices and technical competence remain obstacles.



United Kingdom Commercial Greenhouse Market



Growing customer demand for locally grown, fresh products and a focus on sustainable agricultural methods are driving the commercial greenhouse business in the United Kingdom. By enabling year-round production, greenhouses help farmers overcome the difficulties posed by the UK's unpredictable climate. Technological developments in automation, hydroponics, and temperature control are increasing food yields while using fewer resources. The UK government encourages greenhouse farming through incentives and laws that assist sustainable agriculture, in line with the increased emphasis on food security and sustainability. The market has grown as a result of urbanization and consumer desire for premium, organic produce. The UK commercial greenhouse industry is anticipated to keep expanding in response to shifting consumer preferences and environmental concerns, despite obstacles like high initial investment costs and the requirement for technical competence.



India Commercial Greenhouse Market



The market for commercial greenhouses in India is expanding quickly because to improvements in agricultural technology and increased consumer demand for sustainable, fresh produce. The nation's varied climate can be effectively addressed by greenhouses, which allow for year-round crop cultivation. Commercial greenhouses are viewed as an effective substitute for growing high-value crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, and flowers in constrained places as urbanization rises and agricultural land declines. Water efficiency and production have increased thanks to technological advancements including vertical farming, hydroponics, and climate control systems. The adoption of greenhouse farming by small and medium-sized farmers is also being aided by government assistance, such as training initiatives and subsidies. India's commercial greenhouse market is anticipated to continue growing as a result of rising consumer demand for high-quality, locally grown products, despite obstacles such high initial investment costs and the requirement for specialized knowledge.



Saudi Arabia Commercial Greenhouse Market



Saudi Arabia's ambitions to attain food security and lessen dependency on imported vegetables are fueling the country's fast-growing commercial greenhouse business. Given the severe desert climate and scarcity of arable land, greenhouses provide a practical way to produce crops all year round. In an effort to increase agricultural sustainability, the government has been actively promoting greenhouse farming through subsidies, research, and technology development. In order to maximize water, use and boost crop yields, technologies like drip irrigation, climate control, and hydroponics are being used more and more. High-value fruits and vegetables are becoming more popular in addition to staple commodities. The Saudi commercial greenhouse market is anticipated to grow as demand for sustainably produced, locally grown food increases, particularly in metropolitan areas, despite the high initial cost and the requirement for specialized labor.

Key Company Analysis: Overview, Key Persons, Recent Developments, Revenue

Berry Global

RICHEL Group

Certhon Build B.V.

Argus Control Systems Limited

LOGIQS B.V.

LumiGrow Inc.

Keder Greenhouse

Agra Tech Inc.

Hort Americas

Key Attributes

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 200 Forecast Period 2024-2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $39.82 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $87.64 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.1% Regions Covered Global

Key Topics Covered



1. Introduction



2. Research & Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Market Dynamics

4.1 Growth Drivers

4.2 Challenges



5. Global Commercial Greenhouse Market



6. Market Share Analysis

6.1 Type

6.2 Product Type

6.3 Equipment Type

6.4 Greenhouse Type

6.5 Country



7. Type

7.1 Plastic

7.2 Glass



8. Product Type

8.1 Fruits and Vegetables

8.2 Flowers and Ornamentals

8.3 Nursery Crops

8.4 Others



9. Equipment Type

9.1 Cooling Systems

9.2 Heating Systems

9.3 Others



10. Greenhouse Type

10.1 Tunnel Greenhouse

10.2 Gutter Connected Greenhouse

10.3 Hybrid Greenhouse

10.4 Lean-To Greenhouse

10.5 Roof Greenhouse



11. Country

11.1 North America

11.1.1 United States

11.1.2 Canada

11.2 Europe

11.2.1 France

11.2.2 Germany

11.2.3 Italy

11.2.4 Spain

11.2.5 United Kingdom

11.2.6 Belgium

11.2.7 Netherlands

11.2.8 Turkey

11.3 Asia-Pacific

11.3.1 China

11.3.2 Japan

11.3.3 India

11.3.4 Australia

11.3.5 South Korea

11.3.6 Thailand

11.3.7 Malaysia

11.3.8 Indonesia

11.3.9 New Zealand

11.4 Latin America

11.4.1 Brazil

11.4.2 Mexico

11.4.3 Argentina

11.5 Middle East & Africa

11.5.1 South Africa

11.5.2 Saudi Arabia

11.5.3 UAE



12. Porter's Five Analysis

12.1 Bargaining Power of Buyers

12.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

12.3 Degree of Rivalry

12.4 Threat of New Entrants

12.5 Threat of Substitutes



13. SWOT Analysis

13.1 Strength

13.2 Weakness

13.3 Opportunity

13.4 Threat



14. Company Analysis

14.1 Berry Global

14.1.1 Overview

14.1.2 Key Persons

14.1.3 Recent Development & Strategies

14.1.4 Product Portfolio

14.1.5 Financial Insights

14.2 RICHEL Group

14.3 Certhon Build B.V.

14.4 Argus Control Systems Limited

14.5 LOGIQS B.V.

14.6 LumiGrow Inc.

14.7 Keder Greenhouse

14.8 Agra Tech Inc.

14.9 Hort Americas



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/rlxszz

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Dublin, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "European Steel Manufacturers - Industry Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Using an exclusive methodology, a quick glance of this Steel Manufacturers (European) report will tell you the companies that have a declining financial rating, and those that have shown good sales growth. Each of the largest 758 companies is meticulously scrutinised in an individual assessment and analysed using the most up-to-date and current financial data.



The analysis conducted in the Steel Manufacturers (European) report is ideal for anyone wanting to:

Identify the market leaders

Spot companies heading for failure

Seek out the most attractive acquisition opportunities

Analyse industry trends

Benchmark their own financial performance

Every business is examined on the following features:

A graphical assessment and presentation of a company's financial performance

An independent financial valuation

Acquisition attractiveness - outlining a firm's takeover attractiveness

Four year assessment of the profit/loss and balance sheet

A written summary highlighting key performance issues

Subsequently, you will receive a thorough 100-page market analysis highlighting the latest changes in the Steel Manufacturers (European) market. This section includes:

Best Trading Partners

Sales Growth Analysis

Profit Analysis

Market Size

Rankings

You can utilise the findings within this report to assess the attractiveness of potential acquisitions, gain a better understanding of the market, and identify sound companies with whom to trade.

Key Topics Covered:



The report is split into two sections and uses both a written and graphical analysis - analysing the 758 largest Steel Manufacturers companies.



The Steel Manufacturers (European) report contains the most-up-to-date financial data and the publisher applies these figures to create their unique and authoritative analysis.



The first section thoroughly scrutinises the market and this section includes the following:

Best Trading Partners: These are companies that are winning in both sales and financial strength

Sales Growth Analysis: This section reviews both the fastest growing and fastest shrinking company

Profit Analysis - Analysis of gross profit and Pre-tax Profitover the last ten years and a profitability summary comparing profits in the industry against small, medium and large companies

Market Size: Based on the largest 758 companies, this is a comparison between last year's market size and the most current figure

Rankings: The top 50 companies ranked by: Market Share, Sales Growth, Gross Profit and Pre-tax Profit

The next section focuses on company analysis and provides an in-depth analysis of the largest companies within the Steel Manufacturers (European) industry.



Each business is analysed using the publisher's unique model and culminates in the production of 'The Chart'. This model uses a series of charts to graphically analyse an individual company and measure its ability to achieve sales growth while maintaining financial strength.



'The Chart' is a quick and dependable method of analysing a company's financial well-being. It's simple to understand: a rising line is good news and a falling line is bad news.



Therefore, this company analysis will tell you if a company is:

Strong or heading for failure

Maximising their investments

Becoming burdened by debt

Getting the most from their resources

The Steel Manufacturers (European) analysis also provides you with full business name and address, name and ages of directors and registration address.





For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/s2xcb8

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.
Dublin, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Medical Ceramic Market Size and Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast Report 2025-2033" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Medical Ceramics market is expected to reach US$ 28.66 billion by 2033 from US$ 16.22 billion in 2024, with a CAGR of 6.53% from 2025 to 2033. The market is growing faster due to a number of factors, including the rising incidence of chronic diseases, an aging population, the growing use of minimally invasive surgical procedures, improvements in ceramic manufacturing technologies, stricter regulations, and growing applications in tissue engineering and dentistry.



Pay Attention to Minimally Invasive Procedures



The market for medical ceramics is also being significantly influenced by the growing emphasis on minimally invasive procedures. For a number of reasons, ceramic-based instruments and parts are recommended in these processes. Their exceptional mechanical qualities make them appropriate for delicate and accurate procedures, and their biocompatibility guarantees little tissue reaction.

Because ceramic materials are known to be resistant to corrosion and wear, they are perfect for frequent sterilization, which is an essential part of preserving surgical tools. It is anticipated that the need for medical ceramics in surgical applications would increase gradually as long as the medical community continues to emphasize minimally invasive procedures.



Technological Developments in Ceramic Manufacturing



The market for medical ceramics has grown significantly due in large part to advancements in ceramic manufacturing processes. Medical ceramics that are unique and suited to particular medical applications have been developed as a result of these advancements. Complex ceramic components may be produced with great accuracy and consistency thanks to modern manufacturing techniques. This has increased the potential applications of ceramics in tools, implants, and medical devices by enabling producers to produce complex shapes and designs that were previously difficult to accomplish.

Furthermore, the dependability and security of these materials in medical environments are guaranteed by enhanced quality control and reproducibility in ceramic manufacture. As a result, the market for medical ceramics is still growing because to continuous advancements in ceramic production technologies.



Growing Rates of Chronic Illnesses and An Aging Populace



The rising incidence of chronic illnesses and the aging of the population have a major impact on the global market for medical ceramics. The need for cutting-edge medical equipment and implants has increased due to the development in chronic illnesses like osteoarthritis, cardiovascular ailments, and orthopedic disorders. Because of their longevity and biocompatibility, ceramic materials have become more popular in this area.

The need for dependable and durable ceramic implants has increased significantly as older people increasingly need medical procedures like joint replacements. As the world's population ages, this tendency is predicted to continue. This demographic change helps the medical ceramics industry, which meets the need for premium, biocompatible materials for a variety of medical applications.



High Manufacturing Costs



One major issue facing the medical ceramics market is high manufacturing costs. Advanced technology, expert labor, and premium raw materials are necessary for the intricate and specialized processes involved in producing medical-grade ceramics, such as precision molding, sintering, and polishing. These procedures guarantee that the ceramics fulfill stringent requirements for performance, durability, and biocompatibility.

However, some healthcare providers find medical ceramics to be more expensive, particularly in cost-sensitive areas, due to the complex nature of these production stages. Costs are further increased by the lengthy production cycles and the requirement for stringent quality control. Because of this, the high cost of producing medical ceramics may prevent them from being widely used in some medical applications, especially in areas with little funding or in smaller healthcare facilities.



Fragility and Brittle Nature



Although medical ceramics are prized for their superior durability and biocompatibility, their brittleness poses a serious problem, especially in load-bearing applications like orthopedic implants. Ceramics are resilient when compressed, but they are more prone to breaking when subjected to impact or tensile stress. In some high-stress situations, where materials like metals or polymers are frequently chosen for their durability and flexibility, this fragility restricts their use.

The longevity and safety of load-bearing implants, like hip or knee replacements, may be jeopardized by the possibility of fracture. To reduce these hazards and increase the use of medical ceramics in vital medical applications, research is still being done to improve their mechanical qualities, such as making them more durable through the use of cutting-edge composites or innovative processing methods.



Bioinert Materials Dominate the Global Medical Ceramic Market for Implants



Bioinerts are among the distinguished material types within the medical ceramic market. This is because of their notable biocompatibility and inert nature, which decrease destructive tissue reactions. These substances, which include alumina and zirconia, exhibit high strength, wear resistance, and balance within the body, making them ideal for orthopedic implants and dental prosthetics. Their capability to combine seamlessly with surrounding tissues promotes higher effects on the patient and the sturdiness of implants.

Besides, bioinert ceramics' resistance to corrosion ensures durability, decreasing the need for frequent replacements. As healthcare providers prioritize patient protection and implant toughness, bioinert materials remain prevalent within the global medical ceramic market.



Dental Applications are a Key Segment in the Global Medical Ceramics Market



Dental applications are among the favored segments within the global medical ceramic market. This is due to the growing need for tasteful and sturdy dental restorations. Medical ceramics provide superior biocompatibility, strength, and natural look, making them perfect for dental crowns, bridges, and implants.

With a growing consciousness of oral health and beauty dentistry, sufferers and practitioners prefer ceramic substances for their capacity to imitate natural teeth and provide long-lasting outcomes. Thus, dental applications propel significant increases in the medical ceramic market.



Medical Ceramics Market Overview by Regions



By countries, the global Medical Ceramics market is divided into United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Turkey, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and South Africa.



United States Medical Ceramics Market



The growing need for cutting-edge biomaterials in healthcare is propelling the rapid expansion of the US medical ceramics market. Because of its durability, wear resistance, and biocompatibility, medical ceramics are used extensively in dental restorations, orthopedic implants, and surgical instruments. Key drivers driving market expansion include the aging population, rising healthcare costs, and developments in ceramic materials.

Innovation in medical ceramics is also being driven by the need for high-performance implants and minimally invasive treatments. High manufacturing costs and the problem of material brittleness, however, continue to be barriers. With continued development on stronger, more adaptable ceramics, the market is anticipated to continue changing.



Germany Medical Ceramics Market



The market for medical ceramics in Germany is expanding steadily due to the growing need for strong, long-lasting biomaterials in a range of medical applications. Because of their superior biocompatibility, robustness, and resistance to wear, medical ceramics - in particular, bioinert and bioactive materials - are frequently utilized in dental restorations, orthopedic implants, and surgical tools.

Germany's sophisticated healthcare system, robust ceramic technology R&D, and aging population all contribute to the market's success. Additionally, the use of sophisticated ceramic materials is increasing due to the push toward customized care and minimally invasive surgeries. The market is anticipated to increase consistently over the next several years, despite obstacles such high production costs.



China Medical Ceramics Market



An aging population, rising healthcare demands, and developments in ceramic material technologies are driving China's medical ceramics market's rapid expansion. Because of its superior biocompatibility, robustness, and resistance to wear, medical ceramics are frequently utilized in surgical equipment, dental restorations, and orthopedic implants.

The market is expanding as a result of government programs to upgrade healthcare infrastructure and the growth of China's medical device sector. Contributing factors also include the trend toward minimally invasive surgeries and rising consumer awareness of high-quality medical supplies. High manufacturing costs and the requirement for ongoing material innovation are still obstacles, though. The market is still expected to grow in spite of this.



Saudi Arabia Medical Ceramics Market



Saudi Arabia's growing healthcare industry and growing need for long-lasting, high-quality medical implants are driving the country's medical ceramics market's continuous expansion. Because of their superior biocompatibility, robustness, and resistance to wear, medical ceramics - such as bioinert and bioactive materials - are widely utilized in dental applications, orthopedic implants, and surgical equipment.

An aging population and the Saudi government's emphasis on developing medical technology and upgrading healthcare facilities are driving market expansion. The demand for medical ceramics in the area is also being increased by the move toward minimally invasive surgeries and growing awareness of high-quality healthcare.

Key Company Analysis: Overview, Recent Developments, Revenue Analysis

CeramTec GmbH

Kyocera Corporation

Morgan Advanced Materials

3M

DSM

NGK Spark Plug Co. Ltd.

DePuySynthes

Zimmer Biomet Holding Inc.

Straumann

bioMerieux SA

Key Attributes

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 115 Forecast Period 2024-2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $16.22 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $28.66 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.5% Regions Covered Global

Key Topics Covered



1. Introduction



2. Research & Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Market Dynamics

4.1 Growth Drivers

4.2 Challenges



5. Global Medical Ceramics Market



6. Market Share

6.1 By Material Types

6.2 By Application

6.3 By Countries



7. Material Types

7.1 Bioinert

7.2 Bioactive

7.3 Bioresorbable

7.4 Piezo Ceramics



8. Application

8.1 Surgical Instruments

8.2 Plastic Surgery

8.3 Orthopedic application

8.4 Dental Application



9. Countries

9.1 North America

9.1.1 United States

9.1.2 Canada

9.2 Europe

9.2.1 France

9.2.2 Germany

9.2.3 Italy

9.2.4 Spain

9.2.5 United Kingdom

9.2.6 Belgium

9.2.7 Netherlands

9.2.8 Turkey

9.3 Asia-Pacific

9.3.1 China

9.3.2 Japan

9.3.3 India

9.3.4 South Korea

9.3.5 Thailand

9.3.6 Malaysia

9.3.7 Indonesia

9.3.8 Australia

9.3.9 New Zealand

9.4 Latin America

9.4.1 Brazil

9.4.2 Mexico

9.4.3 Argentina

9.5 Middle East & Africa

9.5.1 Saudi Arabia

9.5.2 United Arab Emirates

9.5.3 South Africa



10. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

10.1 Threat of New Entry

10.2 The Bargaining Power of Buyer

10.3 Threat of Substitution

10.4 The Bargaining Power of Supplier

10.5 Competitive Rivalry



11. SWOT Analysis

11.1 Strengths

11.2 Weaknesses

11.3 Opportunities

11.4 Threats



12. Key Players Analysis



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/80tmye

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MONTREAL, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Harfang Exploration Inc. (TSX.V: HAR) (Harfang or the Company) is pleased to announce the winter diamond drill program (Winter Drilling) is officially underway at its recently acquired Sky Lake Gold Project located in Ontarios Pickle Lake Gold District. Drilling will focus on the Koval patented claims.

HIGHLIGHTS

All permits have been received, and drilling has commenced with approximately 170 metres completed.

Historical drilling intercepted near-surface high grade gold mineralization with most holes ending not deeper than 200 vertical meters and in mineralized zones.

Koval patented claims are located along the same geologic trend as past producing mines and is interpreted to resemble the orogenic style gold mineralization of the Abitibi.



First off, Id like to thank both the Harfang and Forage Multi Drilling teams for all their hard work preparing for the drill program, commented Rick Breger, President and CEO of Harfang. We have completed work on the access trail and have already drilled almost 170 metres into the first hole as of the end of yesterdays day shift.

The Sky Lake Property

The Sky Lake property covers 9,100 hectares and extends 27 kilometres along a well-mineralized belt of volcanic and sedimentary rocks that lie midway between the past-producing gold deposits of the Pickle Lake Gold District, the Dona Lake Mine to the northeast, and the Golden Patricia gold mine to the west. In September 2019, Ardiden Limited reported a JORC compliant inferred mineral resource at its Kasagiminnis (Kas) gold project totalling 110,000 ounces of gold grading 4.3 grams per tonne. Kas is located approximately 6 kilometres to the northeast of the Koval deposit and is surrounded by mineral claims owned by Harfang. Overall, the Pickle Lake Gold District hosts more than 3.5 million ounces of gold.

The Sky Lake property benefits from nearby infrastructure as the eastern edge the property flanks highway 599 and the local power transmission lines. The geological environment at Sky Lake is interpreted by management to be typical of orogenic style gold mineralization of the Abitibi  greenstone-hosted quartz-sericite-biotite-sulphide and iron formation hosted gold deposits.

The Koval patented claims include 28 claims totalling 295 hectares within the larger 9,100-hectare land package. Diamond drilling conducted in the 1950s, 1970s, and 1980s intercepted near surface high-grade gold mineralization with the majority of the holes not exceeding 200 vertical metres. In addition, many of these shallow drill holes were terminated while still in mineralized zones.

2024 VTEM Survey

In July 2024, Geotech Ltd. completed a helicopter-borne versatile time domain electromagnetic and horizontal magnetic gradiometer (VTEM) geophysical survey. In total, 809 line-kilometres were flown in a north-south direction with traverse line spacing of 100 metres and perpendicular tie line spacing of 1,000 metres. The survey covered the eastern half of the property to complement a previous VTEM survey on the western half of the property, also completed by Geotech Ltd., while the asset was held by Tri Origin Exploration Corp.

The combined VTEM surveys detected numerous EM isolated anomalies. Many of these anomalies are associated with strong magnetic responses, which are likely to be representative of iron formations, a typical host rock for gold mineralization in the Pickle Lake Gold District.

Permitting Update

The Company has received all required exploration permits in connection with Winter Drilling. Drilling activities will be solely on patented claims, only requiring permits associated with the access road which is located on crown land (see Figure 1). As the holder of patented mining claims, Harfang is not required to obtain exploration permits that are typically required for early exploration activities.

Land Acknowledgement

Harfang respectfully acknowledges the traditional territory of the Mishkeegogamang Ojibway First Nation. We recognize their enduring presence and connection to these lands, which have been their home for countless generations. The Company is grateful for the opportunity to work here and is committed to conducting all activities in a way that respects their rights, culture, and traditional ways of life.

Qualified Person

Ludovic Bigot, P.Geo., VP Exploration of Harfang, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Bigot is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 on standards of disclosure for mineral projects.

About Harfang Exploration Inc.

Harfang Exploration Inc. is a well-financed technically driven mineral exploration company with the primary mission to discover ore deposits in Quebec and Ontario. The Company is managed by an experienced team of industry professionals with a proven track record of success and controls a portfolio of highly prospective projects. Harfang is dedicated to best practices through engagement with all stakeholders and a commitment to the environment.

For further information, please contact:

Rick Breger, P.Geo.

President and CEO

rbreger@harfangexploration.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about managements view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although Harfang believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, Harfang disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.

Neither the 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.

Figure 1. Map showing the key locations of the winter drill program.





A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/55308a69-61dd-44df-a286-51c6a3d3826d
Dublin, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Human Factors and Usability Engineering Services Market Industry Trends and Global Forecasts to 2035, by Steps Involved, Type of Research Method, Class of Medical Device Tested, Geographical Region and Leading Players" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global human factors and usability engineering services market is estimated to grow from USD 0.94 billion in the current year to USD 1.97 billion by 2035, at a CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period, till 2035.

Over the years, human factors and usability engineering have become an integral part of the development of all classes of medical devices. As a result, the developers have actively started relying on the service providers for conducting human factors research for their devices (in development) in order to enhance device safety, efficacy and user experience.

As medical devices become more complex, it is imperative to focus on the prototype and user interface design so as to minimize any potential risk associated with the use. Further, regulatory bodies (especially, the USFDA) are increasingly mandating the incorporation of human factors into the design and evaluation of medical devices. These bodies have started to employ a systematic method to assess manufacturers' adherence to usability engineering standards.

The emphasis on human factors and usability engineering in the medical device sector reflects a broader commitment to patient safety and device usability. This potentiates the need to conduct human factors and usability engineering on the devices throughout the product lifecycle (rather than conducting at later stages of development). This will support the device developers in timely facilitating the tweaks in the device development process so as to enable user satisfaction and eliminate risks. With the growing demand for innovative and personalized medical devices, the outsourcing of human factors and usability engineering services is anticipated to rise in the near future.

Human Factors and Usability Engineering Services Market: Key Segments





Currently, Summative Studies Account for the Largest Share of the Human Factors and Usability Engineering Services Market

Based on the steps involved, the market is segmented into summative study, contextual analysis, formative study, known use error analysis, use risk analysis, submission preparation, design process and task analysis. Currently, summative study holds the largest market share and is poised for the highest growth during the forecast period. This can be attributed to the fact that summative studies play a critical role in validating the safety and effectiveness of medical devices.

Further, contextual analysis captures a significant share of the human factors and usability engineering services market. It is worth highlighting that contextual analysis offers various advantages, such as decreased chance of device recall, high return on investments (ROI) and expedition in the market launch of the medical device.

Evaluation Research is Likely to Dominate the Human Factors and Usability Engineering Services Market During the Forecast Period

Based on the type of research method, the market is segmented into evaluation research and generative research. At present, evaluation research segment occupies the highest market share of the human factors and usability engineering services market. This trend is unlikely to change in the near future.

Currently, Class III Medical Devices Testing Segment Occupies the Largest Share of the Human Factors and Usability Engineering Services Market

Based on the class of medical device tested, the market is segmented into class I, class II and class III. At present, class III medical device testing holds the maximum share of the human factors and usability engineering services market. This can be attributed to the fact that class III devices are considered high-risk devices and have the potential to cause serious illness or injury to the patients. Moreover, class II medical devices (including the IVD and injectors) require careful consideration of human factors engineering to ensure safe and effective use.

North America Accounts for the Largest Share of the Market

Majority share is expected to be captured by players based in North America and Europe. This can be attributed to the stringent regulatory guidelines for medical device approvals in this region. It is worth highlighting that, over the years, the market in the rest of the world is expected to grow at a higher CAGR.

Human Factors and Usability Engineering Services Market: Key Insights

The report delves into the current state of the human factors and usability engineering services market and identifies potential growth opportunities within the industry. Some key findings from the report include:

Presently, over 210 companies claim to have the required expertise to offer human factors and usability engineering services for various medical devices; notably, most of the start-ups are based in Europe.

More than 95% of the service providers offer product design and development related services; of these, majority of service providers support the testing of diagnostic devices.

In order to gain an edge in this competitive industry, companies are continuously upgrading their capabilities to enhance their respective human factor engineering service portfolios.

The rising interest in this domain is reflected by the wide array of mergers and acquisitions occurred in the recent past; in fact, close to 50% of the deals were inked in the last three years.

Owing to the benefits offered by outsourcing human factors and usability engineering services, the market is anticipated to grow at an annualized rate of over 6.9% in the coming decade.

Some Key Players in the Human Factors and Usability Engineering Services Market

Aptar Digital Health

AYES

Bayoomed

Bold Insight

ClariMed

Comate

D+I

Greenlight Guru

Hydrix

Invetech

Johari Digital

Primary Research Overview

The opinions and insights presented in this study were influenced by discussions conducted with multiple stakeholders. The research report features detailed transcripts of interviews held with the following industry stakeholders:

Chief Executive Officer and Chair, ClariMed

Managing Director and Human Factors Consultant, THAY Medical

Head of Human Factors, Cambridge Design Partnership

Head of Research (Human Factors and Interaction), DCA

UX Director and Team Manager, Ergosign

Key Topics Covered:

1. Preface

2. Research Methodology

3. Market Dynamics

4. Economic And Other Project Specific Considerations

5. Executive Summary

6. Introduction

7. Regulatory Guidelines For Human Factors And Usability Engineering

8. Market Landscape

9. Company Competitiveness Analysis

10. Company Profiles: Service Providers In North America

11. Company Profiles: Service Providers In Europe

12. Company Profiles: Service Providers In Asia-Pacific

13. Mergers And Acquisitions

14. Cost Implications Related To Human Factors And Usability Engineering Process

15. Case Study: Medical Device Recalls And Role Of Human Factors And Usability Engineering

16. Human Factors And Usability Engineering Services Market: Ongoing Megatrends

17. Market Impact Analysis

18. Global Human Factors And Usability Engineering Services Market

19. Human Factors And Usability Engineering Services Market, By Steps Involved

20. Human Factors And Usability Engineering Services Market, By Type Of Research Method

21. Human Factors And Usability Engineering Services Market, By Class Of Medical Device Tested

22. Human Factors And Usability Engineering Services Market, By Geographical Regions

23. Human Factors And Usability Engineering Services Market, By Leading Players

24. Conclusion

25. Executive Insights

26. Appendix I: Tabulated Data

27. Appendix II: List Of Companies And Organizations

Additional Benefits

Complimentary PPT Insights Packs

Complimentary Excel Data Packs for all Analytical Modules in the Report

10% Free Content Customization

Detailed Report Walkthrough Session with Research Team

Free Updated report if the report is 6-12 months old or older

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ma4rw

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.

Attachments
LOS ANGELES, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Award-winning author Maria (Lopez) Twena announces the release of All Aboard, the highly anticipated fourth book in her beloved childrens chapter book series, MariVi the Master Navigator. Now available in both English and Spanish at Amazon and wearemarivi.com. The highly anticipated fourth installment continues to follow MariVi, a bilingual third grader, as she navigates life between two cultureseach with its own language, traditions, and expectations.

In All Aboard, MariVi takes on new challenges, from competing in a Spelling Bee to bonding with her elders over a game of dominoes. A key moment arises when she meets Miriam, a biracial classmate who also speaks Spanish. When Miriams mother unexpectedly speaks to MariVi in Spanish, she feels self-conscious, worried how her non-Spanish-speaking friends might react. This sparks an emotional journey in which MariVi questions what it truly means to belongand whether embracing her full identity will help her feel more connected to others.

Twena, who grew up in New Orleans with immigrant parents from Spain and Cuba, draws from her personal experiences to tell a story thats authentic, relatable, and uplifting. This book is a tribute to the beauty of bilingualism and the deep cultural connections that shape who we are, says Twena. I want young readers to see themselves in MariVis journeyas a reflection and a celebration of their bicultural identity.

Illustrated by Amy E. Ubelhor, All Aboard brings MariVis world to life with warm, expressive artwork that complements the emotional depth of the story.

The MariVi the Master Navigator series is more than a collection of booksits a platform for bicultural children who serve as master navigators for their families, often taking on the role of interpreters and cultural bridges. The series has expanded into a YouTube animated video series (@wearemarivi) and the podcast Navigating Dos Mares, which shares stories of growing up between cultures.

For more information, visit wearemarivi.com and follow @wearemarivi on Instagram, X, Facebook, and YouTube.

Press Contacts:

For more information, to request a review copy, please contact:

Claudia Santa Cruz  Santa Cruz Communications

786.218.3009  claudia@santacruzpr.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f7bc9e2e-4590-469d-8746-f7e0985e6dfd
LONG BEACH, Calif., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Angels for Sight, a community-based vision care organization is opening a state-of-the-art vision clinic that will serve thousands of kids, families, seniors, veterans and the unhoused in Los Angeles County. The clinic dedication ceremony will take place on March 28, 2025 in Long Beach, California.

Former State Senator Steven Bradford was instrumental in helping to secure the funding needed to build the new state-of-the-art vision clinic to provide vision care services and glasses to those who have no access to these services. Bradford is a longtime supporter of Angels for Sight, a 501(c)(3) that was launched in his district in 2004.

The California State Budget Allocation approved by Governor Gavin Newsom ensured that countless underserved residents of Los Angeles County would have access to quality vision care.

The opening of this clinic is the culmination of over 20 years of work by countless Angels for Sight supporters and volunteers. Shea Hamilton, the Founder of Angels for Sight, had long hoped to open a larger facility to better serve the community she so loved. The organization had outgrown its original clinic location in Compton which was heavily damaged during the unprecedented rains in 2021. Unfortunately Hamilton died unexpectedly in 2023, just after learning that the much-needed funds to help her realize her dream of creating a larger, state-of-the-art vision clinic was finally going to become a reality.

Jesa Townsend, Executive Director of Angels for Sight shares  Angels for Sight has long been a beacon of hope, ensuring that essential eye care is a right, not a privilege. Too often overlooked in health equity, it is vital to education, workforce development, and well-being. By fostering partnerships and addressing socioeconomic issues beyond vision care, we strive to build a more just and equitable future. I am honored to build on this legacy, expand access for the most vulnerable, and work alongside our dedicated supporters to create lasting impact.

The Board of Directors of Angels for Sight subsequently created a new collaboration with the Marshall B. Ketchum Universitys (MBKU) Southern California College of Optometry whose students and doctors will be staffing the clinic. Not only will the community be receiving excellent care, but the clinic will also serve as a teaching center helping MBKUs Southern California College of Optometry graduate students gain hands-on clinical experience under the watchful guidance of faculty doctors.

This clinic represents everything MBKU stands for, said Dr. Mark E. Nakano, associate dean of clinical affairs at Marshall B. Ketchum University and the new clinical director at Angels for Sight. Its about creating meaningful opportunities for our students to deliver real-world care while uplifting underserved communities. Our partnership with Angels for Sight reflects MBKUs ongoing mission to prepare future healthcare leaders who are equipped to serve communities with compassion, excellence and commitment.

The Angels for Sight Vision Clinic Dedication event on March 28th is the culmination of a long journey to provide quality vision care to a number of communities in Los Angeles County  21 years after the founding of the organization. Members of the community, dignitaries who were instrumental in helping to establish the clinic along with other health-focused organizations serving kids, families, seniors and unhoused individuals will all be in attendance to celebrate this milestone. There will be some very special guests including former State Senator Steven Bradford, along with touching tributes and memorable moments to help Angels for Sight open its doors to the community in its new home.

EDITORS NOTE: Media interested in attending the event, interviewing leadership or touring the facilities may contact Barbara Cocks, Angels for Sight Board Member at barbara.c@huertaquorum.com

About Angels for Sight is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community-based organization dedicated and committed to providing free vision screenings, eye examinations and glasses to the uninsured, underserved children, families, seniors, veterans and the unhoused. In 2025 Angels for Sight will expand its impact with the opening of a new state-of-the-art vision clinic in Long Beach, California. This advanced facility will enable the organization to better serve the residents of Compton and Long Beach while reaching an even greater number of individuals in underserved areas throughout Los Angeles County. To learn more about Angels for Sight programs and public clinic services visit angelsforsight.vision

About Marshall B. Ketchum University (MBKU) is a private, non-profit health sciences institution in Fullerton, California, dedicated to preparing future healthcare leaders through rigorous, hands-on training in optometry, pharmacy, and physician assistant studies. Founded in 1904, MBKU is home to the Southern California College of Optometry the School of Physician Assistant Studies and the College of Pharmacy. With a nationally recognized faculty and a commitment to clinical excellence, MBKU also serves the community through its Ketchum Health clinics, providing comprehensive vision and primary care services. Learn more at ketchum.edu.

Angels for Sight Media Contact:

Barbara Cocks

barbara.c@huertaquorum.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb284036-a11b-44cc-b09a-b0552e89ebb2
Stockton, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stockton, California -

Master of Social Work degree prepares aspiring social work professionals with clinical skills and evidence-based practice principles

A Master of Social Work program plays a crucial role in equipping social workers with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to make a significant difference in the lives of individuals and communities. A Master of Social Work program is designed to provide a comprehensive education that combines theoretical foundations with practical experience, enabling social workers to address complex social issues and promote social justice.

One of the primary ways a Master of Social Work (MSW) program empowers social workers is through emphasis on evidence-based practice. Students of programs such as the hybrid modality of the MSW program and the online MSW program offered by University of the Pacific learn to critically evaluate research and apply findings to their practice, ensuring that their intervention methods are effective and grounded in the latest scientific knowledge. This approach helps social workers develop strategies that are not only innovative but also proven to work, thereby enhancing their ability to create positive change.

A Master of Social Work program focuses on developing strong clinical skills. Social workers are trained in various therapeutic techniques and counseling methods, which are essential for supporting individuals and families facing challenges such as mental health issues, substance use disorders, and trauma. By mastering these skills, social workers can provide direct support to those in need within their communities, helping them to overcome obstacles and improve their overall well-being.

In addition to clinical skills, a Master of Social Work degree emphasizes the importance of cultural competence. Social workers are taught to understand and respect the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those they serve. This includes recognizing the impact of systemic inequalities and advocating for policies that promote equity and inclusion. By fostering cultural competence, a Master of Social Work program such as the one offered at Pacific prepares social workers to engage with communities in a respectful and effective manner, ensuring that their intervention methods are relevant and sensitive to the unique needs of different populations.

Another key component of a Master of Social Work program is the development of leadership and advocacy skills. Social workers are often at the forefront of efforts addressing social injustices and improving community resources. A Master of Social Work degree provides training in policy analysis, community organizing, and program development, equipping social workers with the tools they need to advocate for systemic change. This enables them to influence public policy, secure funding for essential services, and lead initiatives that address the root causes of social problems.

Field education is a critical aspect of a Master of Social Work program, providing students the opportunity to apply their learnings in real-world settings. Through internships and practicums, social work students gain hands-on experience working with diverse populations and addressing a range of social issues. This practical experience is invaluable, as it allows students to develop their professional identity, build networks, and refine their skills under the supervision of experienced practitioners.

Today's accredited online MSW programs empower social workers by providing a robust education that combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience. A Master of Social Work program like the one offered at Pacific emphasizes evidence-based practice, clinical skills, cultural competence, leadership, and field education. This prepares social workers to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and communities, ultimately contributing to a more just and equitable society.

University of the Pacific is helping to prepare tomorrow's social work professionals and help underserved populations in their community by offering new Master of Social Work opportunities.

Learn more about University of the Pacific's MSW program. Applications are now being accepted for the fall 2025 term.

About University of the Pacific

Founded in 1851, Pacific is California's first and oldest university. The Northern California school, with nearly 7,000 students in more than 130 academic programs across campuses in Stockton, Sacramento and San Francisco, is ranked in the Top 100 of American colleges and universities by The Wall Street Journal.

The hallmark of a Pacific education is immersive learning, one-on-one relationships with faculty and advisors and experiential learning opportunities on and off our campuses. Pacific ranks No. 36 in social mobility nationally and is in the Top 2% in career earnings. Pacific also is the nation's top private university that is designated by the U.S. Department of Education as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. It is ranked No. 3 for "Best Value" among all California schoolspublic and private behind only Stanford and Cal Tech.

###

For more information about University of the Pacific, contact the company here:



University of the Pacific

Erica Hechtkopf, Sr. Director of Media Relations

ehechtkopf@pacific.edu
HOLLYWOOD, Fla., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the overdose crisis continues to affect communities across South Florida, Recovery First Treatment Center has appointed Mercy Estevez, MSW, LCSW, as its new executive director. With over 15 years of experience in healthcare leadership, Estevez is committed to expanding access to life-saving addiction treatment and enhancing the quality of care for individuals struggling with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions.

I am honored to lead an organization that has been a beacon of hope for so many individuals and families, Estevez said. Addiction impacts entire communities, and its critical that those in need have access to compassionate, high-quality care.

A Proven Leader in Addiction Treatment

Before joining Recovery First, Estevez held pivotal executive roles at leading healthcare institutions. Previously, she served as the CEO for two UHS healthcare facilities, including Compass Intervention Center and Hickory Trail Hospital. Most recently, she held prominent leadership positions within the Oglethorpe Hospital System in Florida. She is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Florida International University, and is recognized as a qualified supervisor in Florida. Throughout her career she has focused on improving patient outcomes, expanding treatment options, and optimizing service delivery.

Recovery First has a strong foundation, and I am excited to build on its legacy. The teams unwavering dedicationmany serving for yearstruly inspires me. Ive seen firsthand their dedication to ensure our patients have the best chance at long-term recovery. I look forward to working alongside them to elevate our impact and serve even more in our community and beyond.

Expanding Access to Life-Saving Treatment

Recovery First has treated more than 11,000 patients struggling with addiction and co-occurring disorders over the years. The facility offers a full continuum of care including medical detox, residential rehab, and outpatient treatment, as well as specialized programming for Veterans, healthcare professionals, and those wishing to detox from methadone.

Under Estevezs leadership, the center will also focus on expanding community outreach efforts and strengthening partnerships with local healthcare providers and advocacy organizations. By forging these connections, she hopes to reach more individuals struggling with substance use disorders before their situation becomes critical.

Our mission is simple yet profound, she said. We restore hope and empower individuals and families impacted by addiction. United by compassion and a commitment to inclusive care, we provide a foundation for lasting recovery.

About Recovery First Treatment Center

Recovery First Treatment Center, located in Hollywood, FL, serves the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area and individuals nationwide with evidence-based addiction treatment. We provide a full continuum of inpatient and outpatient services for individuals facing substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. We believe in the power of recovery and are committed to restoring hope, empowering individuals and families, and breaking the stigma of addiction. Our specialized programs, including tailored support for Veterans and healthcare professionals, offer a strong foundation for lasting recovery that transforms lives. Recovery First Treatment Center is part of American Addiction Centers, a national leader in addiction treatment. Learn more at recoveryfirst.org .

Contact:

Amanda Lautieri

Brand & Communications Manager

ALautieri@ContactAAC.com
CALGARY, Alberta, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prospera Energy Inc. (TSX.V: PEI, OTC: GXRFF) ("Prospera", PEI or the "Corporation")



Service Rig Update

Prospera Energy completed a total of thirty-two workovers and reactivations in Q1 2025 before releasing service rigs for spring break-up on March 20th. This included sixteen service rig jobs in Hearts Hill, eleven jobs in Luseland which consisted primarily of high-impact reactivations, and five jobs in Cuthbert. The Corporation will release further information in the March operations update scheduled for release later this month.

Acquisition Closing

Prospera Energy announces it has successfully closed the 10% working interest in each of the Hearts Hill, Luseland, and Cuthbert properties from an arms length joint venture partner. The total purchase price for this transaction was $1,792,646, consisting of $400,000 in cash to be paid over 16 months, $200,000 in equity through the issuance of 3,076,923 PEI common shares at a price of $0.065 per share, subject to a six-month hold period, and forgiveness of all outstanding debts totaling $1,192,646 owed by the joint venture partner. Furthermore, 3,076,923 warrants were issued, allowing the holder to acquire one PEI common share at a price of $0.10 in the first year and $0.15 in the second year.

Warrant Amendments Update

Further to its January 9th, 2025, announcement, Prospera provides an update on the amended terms of outstanding warrants:

The expiry date for all 15,330,000 warrants has been extended by one year, now expiring on February 14 th , 2026.

, 2026. 13,363,000 of the 15,330,000 warrants have been repriced to $0.06, while 1,967,000 remain priced at $0.09.

An accelerated expiry clause has been introduced, whereby the exercise period of the warrants will be reduced to 30 days if, for any ten consecutive trading days during the unexpired term of the warrant the closing price of the listed shares exceeds $0.075.



Stock Option Grant

Prospera has granted a total of 2,000,000 options at $0.05 pursuant to its incentive stock option plan to management. Each option allows the holder to acquire one common share of the Corporation at an exercise price of $0.05 per share. The options are exercisable for a period of three years, in accordance with the terms of the plan.

Shares for Debt

The Corporation has settled $72,765.48 in outstanding interest expense owed to debenture holders through the issuance of 1,455,309 common shares at a price of $0.05 per share.

About Prospera

Prospera Energy Inc. is a publicly traded Canadian energy company specializing in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Prospera is dedicated to optimizing recovery from legacy fields using environmentally safe and efficient reservoir development methods and production practices. The companys core properties are strategically located in Saskatchewan and Alberta, including Cuthbert, Luseland, Hearts Hill, and Brooks. Prospera Energy Inc. is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol PEI and the U.S. OTC Market under GXRFF.

Prospera reports gross production at the first point of sale, excluding gas used in operations and volumes from partners in arrears, even if cash proceeds are received. Gross production represents Prosperas working interest before royalties, while net production reflects its working interest after royalty deductions. These definitions align with ASC 51-324 to ensure consistency and transparency in reporting.

For Further Information:

Shawn Mehler, PR

Email: investors@prosperaenergy.com

Chris Ludtke, CFO

Email: cludtke@prosperaenergy.com

Shubham Garg, Chairman of the Board

Email: sgarg@prosperaenergy.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Corporation and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as will, may, should, anticipate, expects and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Corporation, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Although Prospera believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because Prospera can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general (e.g., operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks), commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations and uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures.

The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Prospera. As a result, Prospera cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize, and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward- looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and Prospera does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by Canadian securities law.

Neither 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.
HIGHLIGHTS:

Montage to obtain up to 19.9% ownership stake in African Gold (ASX:A1G), through the issuance of up to 2.19 million common shares for deemed aggregate consideration of up to circa C$6.3 million

African Gold to appoint Silvia Bottero, EVP Exploration of Montage, as Non-Executive Director and Martino De Ciccio, CEO of Montage, as Strategic Advisor to the Board of Directors

African Gold owns several exploration properties in Cote dIvoire, including its flagship Didievi project which hosts an Inferred Resource of 4.93Mt at 2.9 g/t Au containing 452,000oz of gold, as published by African Gold

Montage appointed operator of the Didievi project to take advantage of its presence and expertise in Cote dIvoire

African Gold is currently undertaking a 10,000-meter drill programme at its Didievi project which continues to return high-grade extension intercepts



VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Montage Gold Corp. (Montage or the Company) (TSXV: MAU, OTCQX: MAUTF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a strategic partnership with African Gold Limited (African Gold) (ASX:A1G), given its highly attractive exploration portfolio in Cote dIvoire, including its high-grade Didievi project, obtaining an up to 19.9% interest in African Gold through the issuance of up to 2.19 million common shares of Montage representing a deemed consideration of up to approximately C$6.3 million.

Montage will be participating alongside a broader non-brokered private placement (the Offering) whereby an additional 26.3 million ordinary shares in African Gold will be issued to subscribers. Through the Offering, African Gold will obtain aggregate gross proceeds of approximately C$1.66 million based on a share issuance price of A$0.07. African Gold had a market capitalization of approximately A$29.4 million (US$18.5 million) prior to the Offering.

African Golds flagship Didievi project in Cote dIvoire is located close to established gold mining operations including Allied Golds Bonikro and Agbaou mines, as well as Perseus Yaoure mine. African Gold is currently undertaking a 10,000-meter drill programme at its Didievi project which continues to return high-grade extension intercepts on its main target, known as the Blaffo Guetto trend. The Didievi project hosts an Inferred Resource of 4.93Mt at 2.9 g/t Au containing 452,000 ounces of gold, as published by African Gold1.

Through the strategic partnership, Silvia Bottero, EVP Exploration of Montage, will be appointed as Non-Executive Director to the Board of Directors of African Gold and Montage will become the operator of the Didievi project to take advantage of the significant synergies and expertise Montage can leverage in Cote dIvoire.

Martino De Ciccio, CEO of Montage, commented: We are very pleased to form a strategic partnership with African Gold and work alongside them to rapidly unlock exploration value across their highly attractive portfolio in Cote dIvoire, including the high-grade Didievi project, by leveraging our presence and expertise in the country. Our strategic investment in African Gold follows a thorough review of potential partnerships in Cote dIvoire, based on a value-driven approach that considers risk-adjusted geological potential and is supported by technical due diligence.

We continue to be pleased with the strong momentum generated across our business and look forward to unlocking significant exploration value at our flagship Kone project, while its build progresses on time and on budget. Additionally, we remain focused on sourcing future growth through greenfield exploration success. In line with this objective, and as part of our evaluation of strategic partnerships, we are continuing to make considerable progress in staking highly prospective exploration grounds in Cote dIvoire, to reinforce our presence in the country and leverage the expertise of our well-established exploration team.

Adam Oehlman, CEO of African Gold commented: We are excited to partner with Montage Gold given their extensive exploration track record and strong presence in Cote dIvoire. This collaboration offers an exciting opportunity to unlock exploration value at notably our flagship Didievi project. Furthermore, Montages robust technical due diligence process strengthens our belief that the Didievi project is highly prospective.

We are very pleased with the ongoing 10,000-meter drill programme at our Didievi project, which continues to return high-grade extension intercepts, and look forward to further drilling the property this year given our strengthened financial position.

Key terms of the Strategic Partnership

Montage has entered into a binding term sheet in respect of a transaction (the Share Exchange Transaction) whereby Montage and African Gold will enter into an Investment Agreement, Investor Rights Agreement and Technical Services Agreement to give effect to the Share Exchange Transaction. The rights of Montage under the Investor Rights Agreement will persist so long as Montage holds at least 10% of the issued and outstanding African Gold ordinary shares (the Investor Rights Agreement Threshold), with the exception of the ROFR (set forth below), which is subject only to Montage retaining a shareholding of any level in African Gold, with the following key terms:

Equity Swap: Montage will obtain an up to 19.9% ownership in African Gold, through a Share Exchange Transaction which results in the issuance of up to 104,749,216 African Gold ordinary shares to Montage, and the issuance of up to 2,189,340 common shares of Montage (Montage Shares) to African Gold equating to an up to 0.6% ownership in Montage, for a total implied transaction consideration of up to C$6.3 million. Montage insiders intend to participate in the Offering for up to 12,371,429 shares in African Gold, which would reduce the size of the Share Exchange Transaction commensurately and reduce the share issuance of Montage Shares to African Gold. The Share Exchange Transaction is based on a Montage share price of C$2.87 and an African Gold share price of A$0.07. Montage Shares will be issued to African Gold under an exemption from the prospectus requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws and will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance to African Gold. Any African Gold sale of Montage shares will be subject to certain notice rights to enable Montage Gold to designate a suitable purchaser(s), subject to the Investor Rights Agreement Threshold.

Montage will obtain an up to 19.9% ownership in African Gold, through a Share Exchange Transaction which results in the issuance of up to 104,749,216 African Gold ordinary shares to Montage, and the issuance of up to 2,189,340 common shares of Montage (Montage Shares) to African Gold equating to an up to 0.6% ownership in Montage, for a total implied transaction consideration of up to C$6.3 million. Montage insiders intend to participate in the Offering for up to 12,371,429 shares in African Gold, which would reduce the size of the Share Exchange Transaction commensurately and reduce the share issuance of Montage Shares to African Gold. The Share Exchange Transaction is based on a Montage share price of C$2.87 and an African Gold share price of A$0.07. Montage Shares will be issued to African Gold under an exemption from the prospectus requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws and will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance to African Gold. Any African Gold sale of Montage shares will be subject to certain notice rights to enable Montage Gold to designate a suitable purchaser(s), subject to the Investor Rights Agreement Threshold. Technical Services Agreement: Montage and African Gold will enter into an agreement whereby Montage will be appointed operator of the Didievi project to direct exploration activities and its administration until December 31, 2026. Montage may terminate its operator service by providing a 3-months written notice, and may also elect to continue to be the operator after December 31, 2026 by providing written notice to African Gold. The budget and expenditures related to exploration, general management, studies, and all associated activities for the Didievi project will be approved by the Board of Directors of African Gold and paid by African Gold. Montage will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenditures linked to the management of the project.

Montage and African Gold will enter into an agreement whereby Montage will be appointed operator of the Didievi project to direct exploration activities and its administration until December 31, 2026. Montage may terminate its operator service by providing a 3-months written notice, and may also elect to continue to be the operator after December 31, 2026 by providing written notice to African Gold. The budget and expenditures related to exploration, general management, studies, and all associated activities for the Didievi project will be approved by the Board of Directors of African Gold and paid by African Gold. Montage will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenditures linked to the management of the project. Assignment of pre-emptive rights: African Gold will assign to Montage its pre-emptive rights to acquire a 20% project level shareholding in the Didievi project (and other permits) owned by minority shareholders.

African Gold will assign to Montage its pre-emptive rights to acquire a 20% project level shareholding in the Didievi project (and other permits) owned by minority shareholders. Participation Rights: Requirement for African Gold to provide Montage with reasonable opportunity to participate in future equity issuances to maintain Montages ownership percentage in African Gold, payable in Montage common shares, cash, or a combination of either.

Requirement for African Gold to provide Montage with reasonable opportunity to participate in future equity issuances to maintain Montages ownership percentage in African Gold, payable in Montage common shares, cash, or a combination of either. Board Nominee : Appointment of a Montage nominee to the Board of Directors of African Gold. As such, on closing of the Share Exchange Transaction, Silvia Bottero, EVP Exploration of Montage, will be appointed as Non-Executive Director to the Board of Directors of African Gold. Martino De Ciccio, CEO of Montage, will be appointed as Strategic Advisor to the Board of Directors of African Gold.

: Appointment of a Montage nominee to the Board of Directors of African Gold. As such, on closing of the Share Exchange Transaction, Silvia Bottero, EVP Exploration of Montage, will be appointed as Non-Executive Director to the Board of Directors of African Gold. Martino De Ciccio, CEO of Montage, will be appointed as Strategic Advisor to the Board of Directors of African Gold. Joint - Technical-Committee : Appointment of Silvia Bottero, EVP Exploration at Montage, to a newly formed joint-technical-committee with African Gold on all properties of African Gold.

- : Appointment of Silvia Bottero, EVP Exploration at Montage, to a newly formed joint-technical-committee with African Gold on all properties of African Gold. Right of First Refusal (ROFR): Granted in favour of Montage on the Didievi Project and with respect to African Gold's rights to acquire the Angoda Permit (PR-585) located adjacent to the Didievi Project.



The Share Exchange Transaction and the Offering are expected to close in Q2-2025 and are subject to conditions including (a) approval of the shareholders of African Gold; and (b) entry into definitive transaction documents, among other customary conditions.

ABOUT AFRICAN GOLD

African Gold owns a highly prospective portfolio of exploration properties in Cote dIvoire, led by their flagship Didievi project, which has multi-million ounce potential. Strategically located close to established gold mining operations including Allied Golds Bonikro and Agbaou mines, as well as Perseus Yaoure project.

The Didievi project hosts an Inferred Resource of 4.93Mt at 2.9 g/t gold, representing 452,000oz of gold2, for its main target, known as the Blaffo Guetto trend. On October 15, 2024, African Gold reported drilling results from the Didievi Project, including2:

65.0m at 5.6 g/t Au from 177m

155.0m at 1.1 g/t Au with a notable interval of 52m at 2.9 g/t Au from 178m

Previous drilling on Blaffo Guetto returned shallow intercepts on the Blaffo Guetto, including2:

65.0m at 5.6 g/t Au from 177m including 22m at 10.9 g/t Au

155m at 1.1 g/t Au from 105m including 52m at 2.9 g/t Au from 178m

31.4m at 3.5 g/t Au from 250m including 18m at 5.6 g/t Au from 252m

10.0m at 123.7 g/t Au from 66m including 2m at 613.1 g/t Au

83.3m at 3.3 g/t Au from 166.9m including 18m at 12 g/t Au

17.4m at 17.0 g/t Au from 244m including 1m at 216.0 g/t Au

89.0m at 3.0 g/t Au from 0m including 23m at 9.5 g/t Au

43.0m at 4.3 g/t Au from 57 m including 17m at 9.5 g/t Au

69.0m at 2.9 g/t Au from 31m including 37m at 4.9 g/t Au

37.0m at 7.7 g/t Au from 42m including 24m at 11.0 g/t Au

African Gold is currently undertaking a 10,000-meter drill programme at its Didievi project, the largest in the companys history, as shown in Figure 1 below, which continues to return high-grade extension intercepts and is expected to be completed in April 2025, marking a significant milestone in African Golds growth strategy.

Figure 1: Blaffo Guetto long section with planned phase one drilling2





Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

ABOUT MONTAGE GOLD

Montage Gold Corp. (TSXV: MAU) is a Canadian-listed company focused on becoming a premier multi-asset African gold producer, with its flagship Kone project, located in Cote dIvoire, at the forefront. Based on the Updated Feasibility Study published in 2024 (the UFS), the Kone project has an estimated 16-year mine life and sizeable annual production of +300koz of gold over the first 8 years and is expected to enter production in Q2-2027.

TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE

Mineral Resource and Reserve Estimates

The Kone and Gbongogo Main Mineral Resource Estimates were carried out by Mr. Jonathon Abbott of Matrix Resource Consultants of Perth, Western Australia, who is considered to be independent of Montage Gold. Mr. Abbott is a member in good standing of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under NI 43101.

The Mineral Reserve Estimate was carried out by Ms. Joeline McGrath of Carci Mining Consultants Ltd., who is considered to be independent of Montage Gold. Ms. McGrath is a member in good standing of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the work which she is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under NI 43101.

QUALIFIED PERSONS STATEMENT

The scientific and technical contents of this press release relating to Montage Gold have been verified and approved by Silvia Bottero, BSc, MSc, a Qualified Person pursuant to NI 43-101. Mrs. Bottero, EVP Exploration of Montage, is a registered Professional Natural Scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), a member of the Geological Society of South Africa and a Member of AusIMM.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For Investor Relations Inquiries:

Jake Cain

Strategy & Investor Relations Manager

jcain@montagegold.com

+44-7788-687-567 For Media Inquiries:

John Vincic

Oakstrom Advisors

john@oakstrom.com

+1-647-402-6375 For Regulatory Inquiries:

Kathy Love

Corporate Secretary

klove@montagegold.com

+1-604-512-2959

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, Forward-looking Statements). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, constitute Forward-looking Statements. Words such as will, intends, proposed and expects or similar expressions are intended to identify Forward-looking Statements. Forward-looking Statements in this press release include statements related to the entering into definitive agreements relating to the Share Exchange Transaction, the terms of the Strategic Partnership, in issue of the Montage common shares and the African Gold ordinary shares, closing of the Share Exchange Transaction, the appointments to the Board of African Gold, the results of the African Gold drill program, future growth of Montage, shareholder approval of the Share Exchange Transaction, and timing of the completion of the subject matter.

Forward-looking Statements involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on certain factors and assumptions. There is no assurance that Share Exchange Transaction will be completed or on terms disclosed in this press release. There can be no assurance that any Forward-looking Statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the negotiation of the definitive agreements relating to the Share Exchange Transaction, shareholder and regulatory approval, as well as other risk factors including those set forth in the Companys Annual Information form available at www.sedarplus.ca , under the heading Risk Factors. The Company undertakes no 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. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Montage to predict all of them, or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any Forward-looking Statement. Any Forward-looking Statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

1Source: African Gold ASX announcement dated December 6, 2024, available on the ASX and on African Golds website. Montage Gold understands that the resource statement was prepared under JORC in July 2024. Montage Gold has not independently verified or validated the resource statement or other technical information relating to African Gold in this press release and takes no responsibility for such disclosure. Montage Gold has not done sufficient work to classify this historic resource as a current mineral resource and as such is not treating this resource as current under National Instrument 43-101.

2 Source: African Gold ASX announcement dated December 6, 2024, available on the ASX and on African Golds website. Montage Gold understands that the resource statement was prepared under JORC in July 2024. Montage Gold has not independently verified or validated the resource statement or other technical information relating to African Gold in this press release and takes no responsibility for such disclosure. Montage Gold has not done sufficient work to classify this historic resource as a current mineral resource and as such is not treating this resource as current under National Instrument 43-101.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a3edc527-cb4d-44e4-8c38-12dd5a5678e9
BEIJING, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AIMER, the renowned fashion brand, made a striking statement at the China Fashion Week (Spring) with the unveiling of its highly anticipated 2025SS New Product Launch Show. The event, held on March 23, 2025, showcased AIMERs commitment to breaking through boundaries and exploring unbounded aesthetics in the realm of fashion.





Event site

Unbounded Rebirth

Under the guidance of the "Unbounded Rebirth" theme, AIMER has embarked on a fashion exploration of tradition and future; nature and vitality; art and daily life. From the romantic poetry of lace to the natural rhythm of fabrics, or from the hidden beauty of underwear to the fashion expression of external wear, AIMER uses delicate brushstrokes to outline the perfect integration of women's inner exploration and external artistic expression of flexibility and vitality.

In the context of love, lace is not only a symbol of femininity but also a creative expression of its inner resilience and vitality. From the classic Acanthus leaf motif to the design of the leaf veins; from the artistic carving of the water-soluble petals with heavy texture to the cultural inheritance of Kunqu opera elements, AIMER uses lace to weave an aesthetic journey that integrates nature and humanity.

The timeless motif design of the Acanthus leaf, with its solemn and upright shape and symmetrical beauty, evokes a classical and elegant temperament. Its natural curves are cleverly combined with large, curved waves, and the silhouette is smooth and full of tension, presenting a dynamic beauty, like a poem out of classical mythology, conveying the vitality of tenacity and elegance. The perforated lace with a flower-patterned surface of the leaf vein element is breathable and refreshing and gives the bra a flexible rhythm so that daily wear can also become a double enjoyment of vision and touch, presenting a fashion chapter about beauty.





Event site

Classical & Contemporary Charm

The water-soluble flower-patterned lace panel with heavy work texture dance and flutter like a colorful feather dress, and each flower piece is carefully carved to show a unique artistic beauty. The simplicity reveals extraordinary quality, highlighting AIMERs ultimate pursuit of details. The integration of Kunqu opera elements is an affectionate tribute to traditional culture. The embroidery process is used to outline dreamlike patterns, combining the beauty of Kunqu opera with the modern and fashionable design language, as if transplanting the gorgeous costumes from the Kunqu opera stage to the underwear. Inspired by the exquisite headdresses of Kunqu opera performers, the headdress is reinterpreted with a modern design approach, adding a blend of classical and contemporary charm to the overall look. A narrative between tradition and modernity, the collision of classics and fashion, makes each piece an aesthetic journey across time and space.





Event site

Romance & Simplicity

The beauty of balance; the charm of nature; the balance between romance and simplicity, function and comfort, and innerwear and outerwear are the diverse needs of modern women. Therefore, this season's new products are based on refinement and luxury, with a natural stretch and agility, which seems effortless but shows delicacy and sophistication in the details. Whether it is soft lace, glossy silk, or stretch mesh, the simplification of the design does not detract from the look. It is simple but not monotonous. The design adheres to the body's natural curves using no support or soft support to provide balance and stable protection.

Natural fabrics are also a bridge between nature and the body; silk fabrics, linen textures, original linen color prints, etc., are smooth and natural and breathable. The balance between natural texture and modelling lines shows the temperament of freedom and elegance to the fullest, not being bound by the overly delicate appearance, showing a sense of relaxation and elegance. This balance is not only a respect for the female body but also a deep understanding of the aesthetics of life. Through the delicate design language, AIMER provides modern women with a choice of underwear that is suitable for daily wear and shows personality, giving underwear a natural and free soul and allowing the wearer to feel the beauty of life in every detail.

Structural Innovation, Diversified Styles

In exploring "Unbounded Rebirth", AIMER brings infinite vitality to underwear and fashion collocation with technological innovation, process innovation and design language. The seamless three-dimensional tailoring opens up a new sense of fashion vision, allowing the underwear to show smooth lines and elegant silhouettes while fitting the body. The design of the leather splicing and weaving structure perfectly combines the effect of heavy industry retro with the simple appearance to create a cross-scene wearing experience of underwear. The addition of checks and stripes enhances the texture and three-dimensionality. With the change of body movements, it shows the trajectory of different dimensions, giving it a flexible vitality.

AIMER liberates underwear from a single-wearing scene and gives it more possibilities. Whether it's the hidden beauty of underwear or the fashion expression of wearing, each piece can show its unique charm in different combinations, redefining the fashion boundaries of underwear innovatively. This season's new arrivals also focus on showing a rich sense of styling through multi-layered matching and layering designs. Multi-layering, long and short matching, creates a rich visual effect, breaking through underwear's traditional boundaries and material limitations.





Event site

Epilogue

"Unbounded Rebirth" is an exploration of the design language and dressing scheme that breaks through the boundaries around the values of "love, beauty and vitality" and realizes the value upgrade from "functional underwear" to "cultural wear" with innovative technology, diversified design and natural fabrics. This is an exploration of new life, new ideas, and new creativity, as well as an aesthetic journey that transcends time and space and breaks boundaries. AIMER is committed to the mission of "creating beauty and delivering love", and explores the beauty of diversity with every woman.

For more information on AIMERs collections, visit https://aimer.com/

AIMER is a premium lingerie and apparel leader committed to making luxury accessible for all ages. The brand offers collections catering to diverse lifestyles, from foundational wear to everyday basics. The brand has expanded into a broader range of apparel, including loungewear, sleepwear, underwear, and basics for all body types and sizes. Known for its inclusive sizing, innovative fabric technologies, and focus on comfort and body positivity, AIMER continues to set the standard in accessible luxury.

AIMER Expands Global Footprint to Serve Growing Customer Base. To meet the demands of its expanding global clientele, the company has strategically extended its presence across key international hubs. The brand now operates flagship stores, family lifestyle malls, and department store outlets in prime locations including Singapore, Macau, Dubai, and other major cities. Complementing its offline network, an official international website has been launched for global shoppers ( https://aimer.com/ ), integrating online and offline channels to deliver seamless worldwide experiences.

Contact:

Aimer Fashion PR Team

Company Name: Aimer Co., Ltd.

Contact Person: Jane Ji

Email: aimergj@aimer.com

Website: https://aimer.com/

Phone Number: +86 13051822935

City: Beijing, China

Stay tuned for updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses of Aimer's 2025SS Collection on social media.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f1189d37-ec97-4169-beef-b9d100a4f3aa

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d02193aa-a55b-4e43-8333-3280d828d72f

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/24b90a37-d795-4eae-a9de-49d1148c0739

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6ad56e0e-1597-4dc8-b582-090c29b8e5f5
VANCOUVER - Giant Mining Corp. (CSE: BFG | OTC: BFGFF | FWB: YW5) ("Giant Mining" or the "Company") announces that the Company including all stakeholders of its flagship Majuba Hill Porphyry Copper Project ("Majuba Hill") in Pershing County, Nevada, applauds U.S. President Donald Trump's Executive Order dated March 20th, 2025 and titled "Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production" seeking to bolster the production of domestic critical minerals, including Copper and Gold, and furthering the country's national security agenda.

The executive order was published on the public registry and the full text of the executive order can be found at the following link: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/immediate-measures-to-increase-american-mineral-production/.

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").

"We commend the U.S. President for taking decisive action to address the critical need for expanding domestic mineral production, a vital step toward strengthening the nation's supply chain security. This Executive Order is a significant milestone in revitalizing the domestic mining sector by streamlining the permitting process and providing essential financial support for qualifying projects. said David Greenway, CEO of Giant Mining. As a U.S.-focused company advancing a Copper-Silver-Gold project in one of the country's premier mining jurisdictions, we are encouraged by the opportunities this policy presents for the future of domestic copper production and the positive impact it may have at the Majuba Hill project."

This latest Executive Order is in addition to the On February 25, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled Addressing the Threat to National Security from Imports of Copper. The order directs the Department of Commerce, led by Secretary Howard Lutnick, to investigate potential tariffs on copper imports due to national security concerns. The U.S. currently imports approximately 45% of its copper from major suppliers including Canada, Mexico, Chile, and Peru. Despite domestic reserves in the ground, the U.S. lags in smelting and refining capacity, with over 50% of global smelting controlled by a single foreign producer. Read February 25th, 2025 Executive Order Here.

Majuba Hill's critically important characteristics are as follows:



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1: 2025 Drill Program About to Get Underway with Equipment Now on Site.

Location: Nevada, USA - a globally top-ranked mining jurisdiction, ranked #1 in the Fraser Institute's 2022 Annual Survey of Mining Companies. Project Size: 9,684 Acres Infrastructure: The Majuba Hill property is 113 road km (70 miles) southwest of Winnemucca, Nevada, and 251 km (156 miles) northeast of Reno. Access is by well-maintained county roads from the Imlay, Nevada exit on U.S. Interstate 80, and traveling westward 23 miles. People, Roads, Power and Water are the basic elements when considering infrastructure and Majuba Hill already has a solid infrastructure foundation for building a large facility which will provide significant savings compared to more remote projects History: Historical Producer Drilling: 83,930 feet of drilling to date. Rough replacement value of drilling USD $10.4 Million in development costs. 2025 Drilling is about to get underway with equipment now on site. Mineralization: The project shows indications of a potentially large Cu - Ag +/- Au mineralized body with many features in common with both large porphyry copper, silver, and gold projects. Expandability: The IP survey, deep drilling, and step-out drilling indicate significant expansion potential, with mineralization open in all directions.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by E.L. "Buster" Hunsaker III, CPG 8137, a non-independent consulting geologist who is a "Qualified Person" as such term is defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43- 101").

About Giant Mining Corp.

Giant Mining Corp. is focused on identifying, acquiring, and advancing late-stage copper and copper/silver/gold projects to meet the growing global demand for critical metals. This demand is driven by initiatives like the Green New Deal in the United States and similar climate-focused programs worldwide, which require substantial amounts of copper, silver, and gold for electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure, and the modernization of clean and affordable energy systems.

The Company's flagship asset is the Majuba Hill Copper, Silver, and Gold District, located 156 miles (251 km) from Reno, Nevada. Majuba Hill is situated in a mining-friendly jurisdiction with supportive regulations and has the potential to become one of the next major copper deposits, critical for meeting the increasing need for this red metal.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

On Behalf of the Board of Giant Mining Corp.

"David Greenway"

David C. Greenway

President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

E: info@giantminingcorp.com

P: 1 (236) 788-0643

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS

www.giantminingcorp.com

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Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward?looking information. Such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by statements herein, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward?looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it as well as other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward?looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. 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.

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Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Vancouver, March 25, 2025 - Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd. (the "Company") (CSE:GCC) (OTC:GCCFF) (WKN:A402CQ) (FSE:3TZ) wishes to announce that a report is being prepared for all exploration activities conducted between the autumn of 2022 through to the end of 2024 at its Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property (the "Property"), located approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) northeast of Hixon, central British Columbia, Canada.

Company geologists are working diligently to complete the validation of all surface and drill hole data in preparation to file an exploration and development work report on the Property, including on the most recently staked 90,989 hectare (224,052 acre) mineral claim group as identified in the December 17, 2024 News Release. Micromine Origin software is a powerful tool utilized by Golden Cariboo's team to integrate, validate and visualize the geological data presented in the report and will also contribute to the Company's 2025 exploration program by delivering quality data that enhances targeting capabilities.

Allowable exploration and development work will be recorded in the BC Mineral Titles Online system in two transactions, one for the exploration conducted prior to the 2024 staking, and the second for the balance of 2024 exploration conducted since staking. The related assessment report will be filed with the BC Mineral Titles Branch at that time.

Preparations are in progress to commence the drill program which was anticipated to begin earlier in the year (January 14, 2025 News Release). With maintenance of heavy equipment now completed and improvements to the offsite camp facilities also made, Golden Cariboo's team are well prepared to commence the 2025 exploration program.

About Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd.

Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd. is rediscovering the Cariboo Gold Rush by proceeding with highly targeted drilling and trenching programs on its Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property which is bordered by Osisko Development (NSE:ODV/TSXV:ODV), partly intertwined with them at the north end of the Cariboo Gold Project, and located along favorable corridor adjacent the Spanish and Eureka thrust faults over a 94,899 hectare (234,501 acre) area. Historically, over 101 placer gold creeks on the 90-kilometer (56 mile) trend from the Cariboo Hudson mine north to the Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property have recorded production and successful placer mining continues to this day.

Golden Cariboo's Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property is 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) northeast of, and road accessible from, Hixon in central British Columbia. The Project includes the Quesnelle Quartz gold-silver deposit, which was discovered in 1865 in conjunction with placer mining activities. Hixon Creek, which dissects the old hardrock mine workings, is a placer gold producing creek which has seen small-scale placer production since the mid-1860s.

For further information please contact:

GOLDEN CARIBOO RESOURCES LTD.

"J. Frank Callaghan"

J. Frank Callaghan, President & CEO

Tel: 604-669-6463

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS

www.goldencariboo.com

LIKE AND FOLLOW

Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn

Neither the "CSE" Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements:

This news release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and plans of the Company. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding; the expectation that the Company will receive all necessary exemptions and approvals to complete the Offering; the expectation that the Company will complete the Offering on the terms disclosed, or at all; the expectation that the proceeds will be used for property exploration and for general working capital; the Company's exploration plans with respect to its Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property; and the anticipated participation of the insider in the Offering.

Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions of management, including, without limitation, that the Company will receive all necessary exemptions and approvals to complete the Offering; that the Company will complete the Offering on the terms disclosed, or at all; that the proceeds will be used for property exploration and for general working capital; that the Company will have the resources required to proceed with its exploration plans; that the Company will not run into regulatory or other barriers in carrying out its business plans; that the insider will participate in the Offering, on the terms and conditions and in the amount currently expected by management; and that the Company will be able to rely on the exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements on the basis anticipated.

Additionally, forward-looking information involve a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: that the Company will not receive the necessary exemptions and approvals to complete the Offering; that the Company will not complete the Offering on the terms disclosed, or at all; that the Company will be unable to use the proceeds for property exploration and for general working capital; that the Company may incur unanticipated costs; that the Company may not have the resources required to pursue its exploration plans; that the Company's operations could be adversely affected by possible future government legislation policies and controls or by changes in applicable laws and regulations; that the insider may not participate in the Offering on the terms and conditions and in the amount currently expected by management, or at all; and that the Company may not be able to rely on the exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements on the basis currently expected. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Neither the Company nor any of its representatives make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, sufficiency or completeness of the information in this news release. Neither the Company nor any of its representatives shall have any liability whatsoever, under contract, tort, trust or otherwise, to you or any person resulting from the use of the information in this news release by you or any of your representatives or for omissions from the information in this news release.

The forward-looking statements herein speak only as of the date they were originally made. The Company has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Rockland Resources Ltd. (the "Company" or "Rockland") (CSE: RKL), is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Claybank Beryllium Project in Juab County, Utah, located five kilometers northeast of Spor Mountain, the largest global beryllium producer operated by Materion Corp. (NYSE: MTRN)(1). Claybank connects via a 4.5km spur to the paved Brush Highway that is used to ship ore from Spor Mountain's mining operations to their treatment plant located 15 kilometers northeast of Delta, Utah. The location of Claybank relative to Spor Mountain and to Rockland's Beryllium Butte Project is provided below.



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"We are very excited to acquire Claybank which along with our Beryllium Butte Project to the west, strengthens our mandate to become a force in the niche global beryllium market." stated Mike England, CEO of Rockland. "The global demand for beryllium is growing and Utah is the home of the largest source of beryllium in the world, making it an easy decision where to focus our efforts. Our next steps at Claybank will be to confirm historical results with the intent to expand the historic mineralized zone."

Claybank Beryllium Project

The Claybank Beryllium Project consists of two unpatented claims with a contiguous area of roughly 16 hectares (40 acres). The property saw historical drilling in 1987 with 31 vertical drill holes distributed along strike of an altered Tertiary tuff that is the host rock for bertrandite ore being mined at Spor Mountain. Nineteen of the drillholes were closely-spaced and identified a zone of beryllium mineralization roughly 70 meters along strike of the tuff. Historical assays for the mineralization zone reported drillhole intercepts from 0.25-0.65% Be.(2)

The images below show the location of Claybank relative to the Spor Mountain Mine, and the locations of the mineralization zone defined from the historical drilling.



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The Claybank Beryllium Project (yellow rectangle) is provided in more detail in the expanded view below.



Click Image To View Full Size

Note that the historical data reported for Claybank has not been confirmed by the Company - historical results must be treated with caution when considering the potential economics of a deposit. The resources at Spor Mountain Mine are not necessarily indicative of what may exist at Claybank.

A spring reconnaissance surface sampling and mapping program over the Claybank property will commence once weather and access become favorable.

Terms of the acquisition, which was finalized on March 19, 2025, call for cumulative cash payments of $400,000 USD plus the granting of a staged release of one million warrants of the Company at $0.15 CAD. A 2.5% NSR will be granted to the vendor of which Rockland can purchase back, at any time, one percent for one million dollars USD. No finder's fees were incurred in the acquisition of the project.

The Company also announces it has set 25,000 options to a consultant of the Company at $0.15 for a period of two years in accordance with the Company's stock option plan.

The technical contents of this news release have been reviewed by David Taff, CAPG, CPG., a consultant to Rockland and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.

References

(1)2020, Critical minerals of Utah: Utah Geol. Surv. Circular 129, https://doi.org/10.34191/C-129 (2)1988. Topaz Mountain Beryllium Venture Feasibility Report. Inspiration Gold Company. (Rockland has not confirmed the historic data and conclusions contained herein.)

Exploring For Tomorrow's Technology

Rockland Resources is advancing critical metals exploration and is specializing in beryllium at its strategically located Beryllium Butte and Claybank projects in the Spor Mountain region of Utah, USA. Spor Mountain is home to Materion's (NYSE: MTRN) Spor Mountain Mine, the largest beryllium producer in the world and continuously mined since 1969.

About Beryllium

Beryllium is a high-value, essential, light metal with wide applications in the aerospace, computer, telecommunications, electronics, medical, satellite, energy and defence sectors and is considered a critical mineral by the US government.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Michael England, CEO & Director

For further information, please contact:

Mike England

Telephone: 1-604-683-3995

TollFree:1-888-945-4770

Email: mike@engcom.ca

Neither the Canadian Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward -looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at WWW.SEDAR.COM).


Vancouver - Leocor Mining Inc. (the "Company" or "Leocor") (CSE: LECR, OTCQB: LECRF; Frankfurt: LGO0) (formerly Leocor Gold Inc.), a junior resource company focussed on the exploration and development of precious metals projects in Eastern Canada, is pleased to announce that its recent drill program at the Baie Verte project ("The Project"), a 2,002-ha contiguous gold-copper exploration package located on the north central coast of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, has been completed.

Crews from Rally Drilling and Resourceful Geoscience Solutions have demobilized from the Project site on March 18th after completing 27 drillholes totalling 3040.5m at the project's base metal and gold prospects, Copper Creek and Dorset, respectively.

Drilling at the Copper Creek claims comprised 21 diamond drillholes totalling 2308.5 meters. 18 of the 21 Copper Creek drillholes encountered mineralization interpreted to be chalcopyrite over various lengths and in various visually estimated abundances. Previously disclosed Copper Creek highlights included:

43.9m to 46.2m (2.3m length) in hole 25-CC-014 containing a visually estimated modal abundance of banded chalcopyrite of 15% with pyrite in visually estimated modal abundances of 10%.

20m to 33.4m (13.4m drilled length) in hole 25-CC-012 containing blebby chalcopyrite in a visually estimated modal abundance of 1%.

133.6m to 138m (4.4m drilled length) in hole 25-CC-007 containing blebby chalcopyrite in a visually estimated modal abundance of 3%.

Holes 25-CC-015, -017, -019 and -020 intersected intervals of semi-massive pyrite over drilled lengths between 0.2m and 2.2m. Figure 1 below, first released on March 3rd, illustrates an interval of semi-massive pyrite mineralization observed in drill hole 25-CC-017.



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Figure 1: Hole 25-CC-017 from 52.25m to 68.4m. Intervals of Semi-Massive pyrite mineralization are outlined in red.

The Company awaits assay results from 1671 samples from Copper Creek drilling.

Drilling at the Dorset gold prospect comprised six holes totalling 732 meters. Highlights of the Dorset drilling include intersecting a pyrite mineralized quartz vein with a drilled length of 1.1 meters in hole 25-DR-005 (Figure 2).



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Figure 2: Hole 25-DR-005 32.0m to 49.1m, featuring a 1.1m long pyrite mineralized quartz vein from 36.5m to 37.6m downhole, outlined in red.

The Company awaits assay results from 655 samples of drill core from Dorset drillholes.

It is important to note that these are preliminary observations, and the true grade and thickness of the mineralization will only be determined once assay results are received. Samples of mineralized intervals are being prepared for geochemical analysis by SGS, a Standards Council of Canada (SCC) accredited laboratory. As of March 21, 2025, the laboratory confirmed 205 samples from Copper Creek are currently being processed, with an estimated date of completion within the next four weeks.

Table 1 details drillhole collar information:

Hole ID Easting Northing Dip Azimuth Length 25-CC-001 556656.4 5529618.4 -45 120 194 25-CC-002 556657.4 5529617.8 -70 120 119 25-CC-003 556699.7 5529594.9 -50 120 74 25-CC-004 556701.7 5529593.3 -70 120 110 25-CC-005 556722.0 5529693.2 -50 120 110 25-CC-006 556724.2 5529691.8 -70 120 95 25-CC-007 556700.7 5529594.6 -50 300 170 25-CC-008 556740.3 5529676.7 -50 120 74 25-CC-009 556739.7 5529677.1 -70 120 69.5 25-CC-010 556707.7 5529653.2 -50 120 89 25-CC-011 556707.7 5529652.5 -70 120 62 25-CC-012 556623.0 5529588.0 -50 120 125 25-CC-013 556623.0 5529588.0 -70 120 125 25-CC-014 556625.2 5529592.9 -50 120 152 25-CC-015 556626.0 5529588.4 -70 120 101 25-CC-016 556595.7 5529546.9 -50 120 140 25-CC-017 556598.1 5529546.3 -50 120 62 25-CC-018 556651.0 5529523.0 -70 120 134 25-CC-019 556529.1 5529486.9 -60 120 152 25-CC-020 556528.6 5529487.4 -50 120 71 25-CC-021 556528.9 5529487.1 -70 120 80 25-DR-001 555060.8 5527022.5 -45 140 173 25-DR-002 555034.3 5527067.0 -45 140 125 25-DR-003 555061.7 5527020.5 -70 140 128 25-DR-004 555107.8 5526982.8 -45 140 131 25-DR-005 555376.6 5527045.0 -45 140 86 25-DR-006 555359.8 5527075.2 -45 140 89



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 3: Location of the Baie Verte Project, NW Newfoundland

For more information regarding Leocor's Baie Verte Project, including detailed figures, assessment details, and historic data, please visit our website.

Qualified Person



David Murray, P.Geo., Principal Consultant at Resourceful Geoscience Solutions Inc., an Independent Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Minerals Projects, has reviewed and approved the technical information presented herein.

About Leocor Mining Inc. (Formerly Leocor Gold Inc.)

Leocor Mining Inc. is a British Columbia-based resource company involved in the acquisition and exploration of precious metal projects, with a current focus in Atlantic Canada. Leocor, through outright ownership and earn-in agreements, currently controls several gold-copper projects in prime exploration ground located within the prolific Baie Verte Mining District. Leocor's Bae Verte portfolio includes the Dorset, Dorset Extension, Copper Creek and Five Mile Brook projects, creating a contiguous nearly 2,000-hectare exploration corridor. The Company also controls district scale land packages in North Central Newfoundland, known as Robert's Arm, Hodge's Hill, and Leamington, (collectively "Western Exploits") representing over 144,000 hectares (1,440 square kilometers) of prospective exploration ground. For more information, sign up for news alerts, watch our corporate video, or view our presentation at our website.

Contact Information

Leocor Mining Inc.

Alex Klenman, Chief Executive Officer

Email : aklenman@leocorgold.com

Telephone : (604) 970-4330

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.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Such information includes, without limitation, information regarding the terms and conditions of the Option. Although Leocor believes that such information is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

Forward looking information is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "postulate" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Leocor cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by Leocor is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking information as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: the agreement of the parties to proceed with the proposed transaction on the terms set out in the Option Agreements or at all; Leocor's ability to exercise the Options; the state of the financial markets for Leocor's securities; the state of the natural resources sector in the event the Option, or any of them, are completed; recent market volatility; circumstances related to COVID-19; Leocor's ability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; and other risks and factors that Leocor is unaware of at this time. The reader is referred to Leocor's initial public offering prospectus for a more complete discussion of applicable risk factors and their potential effects, copies of which may be accessed through Leocor's issuer page on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Leocor disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Tsunoda should reject Lawson's race seat says Ralf

Wild rumours are raging that Liam Lawson has now completed his second, and final, race weekend for Red Bull.

Yuki Tsunoda, Chinese GP 2025

 Red Bull

Liam Lawson is already out for the next race, former F1 driver and now television pundit Ralf Schumacher told Sky Deutschland.

(Yuki) Tsunoda will replace him. It hasn't been fully confirmed yet, but that's probably how it is. And Lawson will then go back to Racing Bulls, where he's supposed to build himself up again.

Tsunoda declared in China, where Lawson was basically the slowest driver of all throughout the Shanghai weekend, that he was 100 percent ready to replace the New Zealander.

The Japanese also said he was confident he would be faster .

He can say whatever he wants, a downcast Lawson, 23, said at the end of his dire Chinese GP weekend. I've been racing him for years, I've beaten him in junior categories and I've done it in F1.

It's also rumoured that Tsunoda's replacement at Racing Bulls from Suzuka onwards could be Franco Colapinto - but veteran Swiss journalist Roger Benoit doubts that.

He thinks Alpine is clearly shaping up to put the highly-rated young Argentine rookie into Jack Doohan's seat. For Doohan, one flop and mistake follows another, Benoit wrote in Blick newspaper.

As for Red Bull, team management will get together this week - reportedly Thursday - to discuss what to do about the problematic RB21 car, and Lawson.

There's a meeting in Milton-Keynes this week where we'll discuss when and how we can close this gap, advisor Dr Helmut Marko told Servus TV. We're worried, but we're not giving up.

Team boss Christian Horner acknowledges that the 2025 Red Bull is particularly hard to drive, raising the possibility that any replacement for Lawson will be just as likely to struggle.

Schumacher is highly critical of the energy drink-owned team.

It's pure chaos at Red Bull, said the former grand prix winner. "Not only is the main team too slow, they're also swapping drivers around like a charade. I have to say, I find it unbelievable.

Above all, just incredibly bad from a management perspective. They're destabilising the good Racing Bulls team, which is finally doing well with both drivers, and in my opinion, they're just going to burn out Tsunoda as well, who also has no chance against Max (Verstappen).

Schumacher continued: "No matter who you put in that second car, they'll be sent home within a few races. So I'd recommend keeping Lawson in the car and instead work on making the car more competitive.

Certainly if I was Tsunoda's manager, I wouldn't recommend him going there.

(GMM)
Verstappen-to-Mercedes not relevant now says Wolff

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is trying to halt rumours that he's already in talks with Max Verstappen about linking up for 2026 and beyond.

Max Verstappen, Chinese GP 2025

 Red Bull

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher thinks he's already seeing signs that the quadruple world champion could trigger an exit clause and jump ship as the current Red Bull crisis continues to unfold.

Max is impatient, and rightly so, the German told Sky Deutschland. I wouldn't want to be there to see what happens in that meeting, Schumacher smiled.

And I wouldn't be surprised if there are already negotiations going on in the background. We'll have to see what happens, but next year is a completely new car, a completely new engine. And they can't even get this current combination made by Adrian Newey right.

Verstappen, 8 points behind Lando Norris in the drivers' standings, was not on the podium after the Chinese GP, nodding to Dutch reporters who asked him if he thinks Red Bull is already the fourth team behind McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes.

It seems that way, he said.

One journalist asked the 27-year-old if he has the motivation to help pull Red Bull out of its situation. Yes, and I hear these conversations all the time, he laughed.

For me, nothing changes. In fact, I am very relaxed, very positive, I enjoy life. Every time I get into the car, I try to do the best I can.

Verstappen has reportedly been offered an eye-wateringly lucrative package for a move to Aston Martin, but Dutch reporter Jack Plooij thinks a deal with Mercedes is basically a done deal.

No reaction, Mercedes boss Wolff told Sky Deutschland in Shanghai when faced with the latest Verstappen rumours.

The silly season starts early this year, maybe now. We stand behind the decision we have made and our two drivers.

Indeed, Wolff's 18-year-old protege Kimi Antonelli is already impressing in Lewis Hamilton's old race seat, and was voted 'driver of the day' on Sunday.

And that accolade was despite George Russell finishing on the podium for the second consecutive time so far in 2025. Congratulations to him, Russell said when he was told about Antonelli's driver of the day.

Notably, however, 27-year-old Russell's contract is up for renewal this year, although many insiders think that - alongside Verstappen - he has been arguably the stand-out driver of 2025 so far.

He is delivering sensational performances, Wolff agrees, and it's incredible by calm Kimi is driving at just 18 years of age. So nothing has changed.

But when pressed about whether he would consider signing Verstappen for 2026, Wolff answered: "That question is not relevant now.

There is no exchange there, and we stand by our drivers, and they're both delivering sensationally.

(GMM)
Huawei flags off Kenyan winners of ICT competition to regional finals

Xinhua) 10:07, March 25, 2025

NAIROBI, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese telecom firm Huawei on Monday flagged off 12 winners of a national information and communications technology (ICT) competition to represent Kenya at the regional finals in South Africa, scheduled for early April.

Senior government officials, industry executives, university administrators, faculty, and students attended the flag-off ceremony for the 12 young talents who emerged as top performers in the national contest.

Julius Migos Ogamba, cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Education, said the ninth edition of the Huawei ICT Competition (2024-2025) aligns with the government's commitment to enhancing digital skills among the youth, ensuring that they play a key role in transitioning to a knowledge-based economy.

"As Kenya advances toward a digital future, it is critical that we equip our students with the necessary skills to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth," Ogamba said.

Since its inception in 2018, the Huawei ICT Competition has attracted over 12,000 Kenyan youth from universities and mid-level colleges, with many earning regional and global recognition, Ogamba added.

This year's event, which began in August 2024, selected 21 students who qualified for the regional finals, while 12 will advance to the global finals in early May in Shenzhen, China.

During the national contest, participants showcased their expertise in advanced digital skills, including networking, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things, Ogamba said.

Steven Zhang, deputy chief executive officer of Huawei Kenya, reaffirmed the company's commitment to supporting the government in bridging the digital skills gap and fostering economic growth and job creation for local youth.

He said building a critical mass of Kenyan youth with advanced ICT skills is essential for achieving an inclusive digital transformation, with industry playing a key role.

Rukia Mwari Mohammed, a telecommunications and information engineering major, said she was motivated to participate in the competition to enhance her expertise in cybersecurity and cloud technology.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Previous article: Government to strengthen GETFund as sustainable source for Free SHS  Ato Forson

JICA committed to strengthening educational collaboration with Ghana

Joshua Bediako Koomson Education Mar - 25 - 2025 , 09:57 3 minutes read

The Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Hiroshi Yoshimoto, has reaffirmed Japans commitment to strengthening educational collaboration with Ghana, emphasising the importance of instilling responsibility and teamwork in students from an early age.

He underscored Japans long-standing ties with Ghana and expressed the countrys desire to share its educational values and societal mindset.

The ambassador revealed that discussions were ongoing with the Ministry of Education to explore partnerships in teacher training and curriculum development.

We are currently having a good discussion with the ministry to integrate aspects of the Japanese system, particularly in teacher training and curriculum development.

This could include non-academic activities that build teamwork and responsibility among students, he disclosed at a cross-cultural dialogue between students from Japan and the University of Ghana.

The event was held to facilitate a cross-cultural dialogue between students of the same generation in Ghana and Japan to foster a deeper understanding of the educational system in both countries through the exchange of ideas.

It was organised by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in partnership with the Centre for Asian Studies at the University of Ghana.

Collaboration

For now, wed like to start with sharing information and experiences between teachers and experts in both countries.

Ghana already has good educational practices but also faces challenges.

Through collaboration, we can find ways to complement each other, Mr Yoshimoto said.

He indicated that Japans educational system placed a strong emphasis on collective responsibility, teamwork and voluntary cooperation, traits that were cultivated in primary school.

In Japan, students not only focus on academic work but also take on duties and tasks such as cleaning, talking to each other and sharing concerns.

This helps them develop a sense of responsibility and the ability to work hard to accomplish goals, he stated.

Highlighting the role of teachers, he explained that Japanese educators did more than just teach subjects but also encouraged and mentored students to develop life skills.

Holistic education

The Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ghana, Momoko Suzuki, emphasised the importance of holistic education in Ghanas development, highlighting the role of soft skills, values and community engagement in shaping future leaders.

he noted that human capital development was key to national progress, stating: Education is not just about academic performance in subjects like mathematics and English, but also about instilling values such as teamwork, leadership and communication skills.

Strategic organisation

The Director of the Centre for Asian Studies at the University of Ghana, Prof. Lloyd Amoah, stressed that Ghanas education system shared similarities with Japans but lacked strategic organisation and refinement.

He believed Ghana could learn from Japans structured approach to instilling civic responsibility.

Japans education system helps produce well-rounded citizens who take their cities seriously and love their country.

These are values we also have in Ghana, but we have not thought through them well, he said.

According to Prof. Amoah, Ghanas increasing focus on individualism has contributed to societal challenges, including environmental degradation and lawlessness.

He believed that by adopting key elements of Japans educational model, Ghana could build a more conscientious and collective-minded society.
Finance Minister thanks US, pledges economic reforms

Jemima Okang Addae Mar - 25 - 2025 , 20:41 2 minutes read

The Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has expressed gratitude to the United States for its continuous support, particularly during Ghanas economic crisis in 2022.

Acknowledging that Ghana had faced challenges in implementing its IMF programme, he assured that the government remained committed to making the necessary adjustments this year.

During a meeting with the US Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, on March 25, Dr Forson reaffirmed the governments awareness of outstanding arrears owed to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and outlined steps being taken to resolve the issue.

"I assured the Ambassador that we are fully aware of the outstanding arrears to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and that decisive steps are being taken to address them," he stated.

He further emphasised that the government had successfully implemented the Cash Waterfall Mechanism to prevent future arrears and was in the process of renegotiating power purchase agreements, which would be submitted to Parliament for approval.

Dr Forson also shared that Ambassador Palmer had congratulated him on his appointment and commended his recent address at the Economic Dialogue, describing it as the most candid speech she had heard from a Finance Minister in the last forty years.

"Ambassador Palmer congratulated me on my appointment and commended my recent address at the Economic Dialogue, describing it as the most candid speech she has heard from a Finance Minister in the last forty years," he said in a Facebook post.

He noted that Ambassador Palmer welcomed the governments commitment to settling payments owed to US companies, highlighting the importance of the Ghana-US partnership.

"This meeting reinforced the strong partnership between Ghana and the United States," he added.

Dr Forson reiterated the governments dedication to financial reforms and economic stability, assuring that measures were being put in place to strengthen the economy.

Read the post below;

"We recognise the need for urgent financial reforms, and we remain focused on implementing the necessary measures to stabilize our economy and secure a sustainable future for our people", he added.
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Previous article: Man goes berserk, murders woman, injures father and three others in Central Region

GES grants Muslim students break for Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations

Mohammed Ali Mar - 25 - 2025 , 15:57 1 minute read

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has directed all senior high schools to allow Muslim students a break from Friday, March 28, 2025, to Tuesday, April 1, 2025, to enable them to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their families.

The directive follows an announcement by the Minister of the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, declaring Monday, March 31, and Tuesday, April 1, 2025, as public holidays in observance of the Islamic festival, which is expected to fall on Sunday, March 30, 2025.

A statement signed by Prof. Smile Dzisi, Acting Deputy Director-General (MS) for the Director-General of GES, instructed all Regional Directors to ensure school heads implement the directive.

Muslim students are expected to return to school on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

The move aligns with a previous assurance by the government to recognise the religious practices of the Muslim community. It is also expected to address concerns from students and parents who have struggled in the past to balance academic schedules with religious obligations.
Ghana National Fire Service apologises for PR Teams comments on Kumasi fire incident

Beatrice Laryea Mar - 25 - 2025 , 11:33 1 minute read

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has issued a formal apology to the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, following comments made by a member of its Public Relations Team, AD01 Alex King Nartey, concerning the recent fire outbreak in Adum, Kumasi.

In a statement released on Tuesday, March 25, and signed by Acting Chief Fire Officer Daniella M Ntow Sapong, the GNFS described the remarks as "uncomplimentary" and expressed sincere regret for the incident. The service extended an "unreserved and sincere" apology to both the Minister and the Chief of REGSEC in the Ashanti Region.

"I refer to the uncomplimentary comments and remarks by a member of the Public Relations Team of the Service in the person of ADOI Alex King Nartey on recent Fire Outbreak at Adum in the Kumasi Metropolis."

"On behalf of myself and the entire Ghana National Fire Service, we unreservedly extend our profound and sincerest regret for any unfortunate comment made against your good self and reputable office as the Regional Minister and Chair of REGSEC (Ashanti Region)," the statement read.

The statement also recognized the efforts of regional authorities in managing the fire outbreak and reaffirmed the GNFSs commitment to fire prevention and effective response.

Additionally, it assured that appropriate disciplinary action would be taken against the officer responsible to prevent similar incidents in the future.

"We appreciate your contribution, sacrifices and untiring efforts that contributed to the Operational Response and Management of this unfortunate Fire Incident."

"Kindly accept this apology and be informed of our profound and invaluable support towards the reduction of Fire Outbreaks in the Ashanti Region," it added.

Read the full statement below;
Alleged GH39.46m diversion...Adu-Boahene, wife arrested - Deal was on state cyber defence software

Justice Agbenorsi Mar - 25 - 2025 , 12:29 5 minutes read

The immediate past Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), formerly Bureau of National Communications (BNC), Kwabena Adu-Boahene, and his wife, Angela Adjei-Boateng, are under investigation for allegedly diverting GH39.46 million into their private company in a $7 million deal to purchase a cyber-defence software for the state.

Addressing a news conference yesterday on the arrest of the two and other public officials under the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) investigation report, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice (A-G), Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, said Mr Adu-Boahene was arrested at the Kotoka International Airport when, together with the wife, they disembarked from a flight after a trip abroad.

Details

Dr Ayine said while serving as the Director-General of BNC in 2018, Mr Adu-Boahene and his wife incorporated a private company with the name BNC Communication Bureau Limited, a name similar to the then BNC.

Dominic Ayine (right), Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, interacting with Dr Justice Srem-Sai (2nd from left), the Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, during the media briefing in Accra. With them is Felix Kwakye Ofosu (left), Government Spokesperson. Picture: SAMUEL TEI ADANO

The company, the Attorney-General said, had Mr Adu-Boahene and his wife listed as directors, and they proceeded to open a corporate account for their Private BNC at Universal Merchant Bank (UMB).

He added that according to the mandate of the account, either of the directors could sign cheques and approve transactions on the account.

Contract

The A-G disclosed that in January 2020, Mr Adu-Boahene signed a contract on behalf of the government and the National Security Council, on one hand, and, on the other hand, an Israeli company called ISC Holdings Ltd.

The $7-million contract, the A-G said, was for the purchase of a software called Cyber Defence System.

The A-G revealed that Mr Adu-Boahene transferred GH27.1 million from the states BNC Operations Account at Fidelity Bank to his Private BNC account at UMB Bank.

Official documentation on the transfer reveals that the amount was for the payment of the software which the countrys BNC was buying from ISC Holdings in Israel.

Mr Adu-Boahene, in effect, transferred the money from the national BNC to his private company, Dr Ayine said.

He added that a review of the transactions on the bank accounts revealed that once the funds from national BNC landed in Mr Adu-Boahenes private company account at UMB Bank, he caused his private company to transfer GH9.53 million to ISC Holdings Ltd.

To justify the transfer to ISC Holdings, the A-G alleged that Mr Adu-Boahene fraudulently attached a copy of the contract as well as an invoice which he held out as invoice issued by ISC Holding Limited.

Another transfer

On March 18 and March 30, 2020 respectively, Mr Adu-Boahene again transferred GH1 million and GH21 million from the states BNC Directors Account at Fidelity Bank to the same Private BNC Account at UMB, purporting to be payments for the software that the state was purchasing, Dr Ayine told journalists.

The transfers from the states BNC bank account, the A-G said, brought the total transfers into Mr Adu-Boahenes private company account to GH49 million, adding that all the payments referenced the invoice number from ISC Holdings to the states BNC.

Dr Ayine said after the initial transfer of GH9.53 million from Dr Adu-Boahenes private BNC company to ISC Holding, no further payments were made to ISC Holdings.

After this, the A-G alleged, Mr Adu-Boahene and his wife began applying the rest of the funds for their personal use, making transfers to local third parties, making personal investments as well as transfers to unknown persons.

The A-G said the remaining GH39.46 million was with Mr Adu-Boahene and his wife for no lawful work done.

Investigations

Dr Ayine stated that investigations established that the ultimate Beneficial Owner (BO) of Mr Adu-Boahenes private BNC Communication Bureau Limited was another company known as Advantage Solutions Limited, explaining that 10 other companies are, through a very complex web of shareholding and directorship, connected to Mr Adu-Boahene and his wife.

He said investigations had also established that monies, mostly alleged proceeds of crime, from the Advantage Solutions Limited, BNC Communication Bureau Limited, and other similar sources, had been transmitted under very suspicious circumstances through the bank accounts of those companies.

Again, Dr Ayine said investigations also revealed movements of huge sums of monies in both local and foreign currencies across multiple companies under circumstances which should have alerted the banks.

The A-G said investigations also established that proceeds from the suspects activities were used allegedly to buy landed properties and other assets worth more than $2.51 million in Ghana and elsewhere.

ORAL cases

On the ORAL report submitted to his office on February 2025, Dr Ayine said significant work was going on into allegations of looting of state resources contained in the report.

He said investigations would conclude in the National Service Scheme (NSS) and Skytrain scandals by the middle of next month for prosecution to begin.

In the NSS scandal, the A-G said eight suspects had been interrogated, saying a good number of them had cooperated with the National Investigation Bureau (NIB).

Indeed, we now have evidence of payments that were made into the accounts of the top executives of the NSS by vendors and staff of the scheme.

We also have evidence that in November 2024, the CEO and others paid a Ghanaian MP to kill the story in the media and to defend them, he said, adding that the claim was a developing story.

In respect of Skytrain, the A-G revealed that $2 million was paid at the request of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Ekumfi, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Solomon Asamoah, who was currently hiding in Senegal.

The A-Gs office, he said, had tracked him and noticed he had been in South Africa since February 2, this year.

There was no board approval for the transaction and the conditions precedent for disbursement had not been met.

The other board members and our review of the minutes of the board of directors have confirmed this fact, he said.
Free sanitary pad intervention: Govt pledges to source from local producers

Maclean Kwofi Mar - 25 - 2025 , 12:11 4 minutes read

The government has pledged to source from local producers sanitary pads meant for free distribution to female students in basic and high schools.

The intervention is part of a deliberate effort by the government to efficiently use procurement to promote the production and consumption of goods made in Ghana.

The measure is also expected to boost the local manufacturing sector to support the economic development process in ways that can make the country take advantage of opportunities emanating from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for net export.

The Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, gave the assurance in a crunch meeting with members of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) at the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry (MoTAI) in Accra.

The AGI delegation was led by its President, Dr Humphrey Kwesi Ayim-Darke, and included the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Seth Twum-Akwaboah, and other business executives.

Also at the meeting was the Chief Director of the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Noah Tumfo, and other officials of the ministry.

The context

The government in the 2025 budget allocated GH292.4 million to commence the distribution of free sanitary pads to female students in primary and high schools.

It intends to distribute free sanitary pads to 1.3 million female students in basic and secondary schools in this year in fulfilment of the promises made in the 120 days social contract by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the run-up to the December 7, 2024 general election.

The intervention is to address menstrual hygiene challenges and reduce absenteeism among female students.

Consequently, the Ministry of Education (MoE) on Wednesday, March 12, this year, advertised for interested individuals and firms to submit a tender for the procurement of the sanitary pads.

The advertisement did not state whether the intervention was reserved for locally produced sanitary pads or not.

Govt commitment

Allaying the fears of local industries, Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said the government was committed to procuring the sanitary pads from local producers.

Even though it was not stated in the budget that the sanitary pads will be procured from local producers, I had a meeting with local sanitary pad manufacturers a few days ago, and they were informed to pick the bid forms because all the free sanitary pads will be sourced locally, she said.

The Trade Minister explained that the government would gradually take keen steps to domesticate the economy by using its purchasing power to promote made-in-Ghana goods.

So, before even we amend the public procurement law to give made-in-Ghana goods the priority, we are already doing it, making sure that the state buys local products, she said.

Mrs Ofosu-Adjare indicated the goal as helping to increase the capacity of local producers to expand and explore the export market, especially within West Africa and ultimately create more jobs.

AGIs position

Mr Twum-Akwaboah underscored the importance of the government fulfilling its promise to support local manufacturers through procurement, specifically with the sanitary pads intervention.

AGIs position is that once we are using the taxpayers' money for such social intervention, we should be sure that it is well targeted at local manufacturers, he said.

He added that the sanitary pad manufacturers operating in the country had excess capacity to meet the demand.

Mr Twum-Akwaboah said deliberate steps to source the sanitary pads locally would help the manufacturers to enhance their operations, create jobs and support the economy.

The AGI CEO explained that denying local industries' markets would be counterproductive to the governments proposed 24-Hour Economy initiative.

We believe that the 24-Hour Economy initiative is driven by demand, so once the demand grows the industries can produce more and the machines will run all the time to create more jobs, the AGI CEO added.

Capacity

The national installed manufacturing capacity of sanitary pads range from 600 to 700 million pieces annually, according to data from the AGI.

Although the capacity far exceeds the current annual demand of 400 million pieces, only 67 per cent of it is utilised due to influx of cheap imports.

With the needed support, the sanitary pad manufacturers can employ more people and expand their production to increase exports to generate foreign exchange.
Next article: Man arrested for assaulting woman with baby in viral video

Ghana Armed Forces bids farewell to General Oppong-Peprah

Joshua Bediako Koomson Mar - 25 - 2025 , 09:00 3 minutes read

After 38 years of dedicated and distinguished service to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and the nation, the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, has retired from the military.

In keeping with military tradition, the GAF honoured him with a farewell parade and pull-out ceremony at Burma Camp in Accra yesterday.

Dressed in full military ceremonial attire, the outgoing CDS appeared elated upon arrival at the parade grounds where he was received by senior military officers, both serving and retired, along with leaders of various security agencies, government officials, his colleagues from the military training, schoolmates, family, friends and well-wishers.

The Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, and members of the diplomatic corps were also in attendance.

After taking the general salute and inspecting the parade, General Oppong-Peprah was presented with gifts from the military command, security agencies and other organisations in recognition of his invaluable contributions to the GAF and the nations security architecture.

As part of the formal handover, General Oppong-Peprah officially passed the command baton to Major General William Agyapong, signifying a smooth transfer of authority.

The event concluded with a pull-out ceremony, a symbolic tradition marking the retirement of high-ranking officers.

Profile

General Thomas Oppong-Peprahs distinguished military career began at the Ghana Military Academy in 1984, where he graduated as the Best Officer Cadet in 1986.

Commissioned into the Armoured Corps, he pursued extensive military training at prestigious institutions, including the US Army War College, the Royal College of Defence Studies in London and the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, earning some top honours.

He also holds advanced academic qualifications, including a Masters degree in International Security and Strategy from Kings College, London, and an Executive MBA from the University of Ghana.

Throughout his career, he held key command and staff positions. It included Commanding Officer of the 64 Infantry Regiment and the Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment; Director of Strategic Intelligence; Director of Operations and Plans; Chief Staff Officer at Army Headquarters, and General Officer Commanding the Southern Command.

He later became Chief of Staff at the General Headquarters before his appointment as Chief of the Army Staff in 2020.

Beyond his military service, he played vital roles in national security, serving as Coordinator of State Transport Security and a board member of the National Disaster Management Organisation.

He also contributed to international peacekeeping through UN missions in Rwanda, Libya, Chad, Western Sahara and Lebanon.

On February 1, 2024, he was appointed Chief of the Defence Staff.

Gratitude

General Oppong-Peprah said his journey as Chief of the Defence Staff was marked by both challenges and growth, defined by unwavering dedication to national security and well-being.

We have navigated complex security landscapes both domestically and regionally, working tirelessly to enhance our capabilities, strengthened partnerships and ensured the safety of our citizens.

Our performance in the recent general election was exemplary, demonstrating our firm commitment to democracy and the rule of law, he said.

Together with the other service chiefs, Gen. Oppong-Peprah said the GAF expanded through the establishment of new units and formations, supported by massive infrastructure development to meet the evolving threat dynamics in the region.

To all officers, soldiers, and Defence Civilian Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, I salute you for your loyalty, professionalism and unwavering support.

There were difficult moments, but I drew strength from your dedication and commitment.

You inspired me to remain focused and determined to improve your welfare. God bless you all, he said.

He expressed confidence that under the leadership of the new CDS, GAF would continue to thrive.

I urge you all to give him your full support by upholding the highest standards of integrity and discipline.

Remember, our role extends beyond defence, it is about safeguarding the future of our nation, General Oppong-Peprah added.
Role of church in nation building taken for granted  Presbyterian Minister

Pacome Emmanuel Damalie Mar - 25 - 2025 , 09:57 3 minutes read

A Minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Prof. Philipp Tetteh Laryea, has said the Churchs role in nation-building is often taken for granted, although its impact is evident in the lives of individuals and communities.

He emphasised that the church's work is essential in shaping good citizens and promoting moral values, which were critical for the nation's development.

Rev. Prof. Laryea was speaking as a Guest Speaker at a public lecture held as part of activities to celebrate the Jubilee Anniversary of the PCGs Shalom Congregation in Osu-Accra.

He highlighted that churches, over the years, had contributed to nurturing individuals, providing pastoral care, and promoting values such as faith, integrity and honesty and, therefore, must be commended, emphasising that without the involvement of the Church, the loss of moral in the society would have been much severe, leading to its consequent rise in vices in the society.

Rev. Prof. Laryea also called for tighter collaboration between the government and churches in running schools to enhance better education across the country.

He emphasised that the church-state partnership in education had evolved over time, with the government taking on more responsibilities, including infrastructure development and teacher salaries.

While acknowledging the challenges, Rev. Prof. Laryea emphasised that the church-state partnership in education should continue, with the church maintaining its influence in shaping the moral and values-based education of students.

He cited the example of Catholic schools, where the church insisted on certain acts of discipline and maintained control over the head of schools, adding that as the country continued to grapple with issues of indiscipline and moral decay, the church's contributions to nation-building and moral development were more critical than ever.

Commitment

The PCG District Minister for Osu, Rev. Erasmus Mensah Laryea, who chaired the occasion, called on the youth of the church to embody the values of sacrifice, commitment and service to ensure the church's continued growth and success.

Members of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Shalom Congregation, singing joyfully

He indicated that the church's early beginnings were marked by the sacrifices of young people between the ages of 23 and 30, who worked tirelessly to establish the church.

Rev. Laryea urged the current generation of youth to follow in the footsteps of the generation before them and be committed to Christ, their church, and their community.

He added that the PCG was almost 200 years in existence, and the church would be looking at the youth as being proud of their heritage and contributing to the church's future growth.

To achieve this, Rev. Laryea said the church had set itself to intensify mission and evangelism activities, including training young people as social media missionaries; while, also exploring new areas for church planting, particularly in areas where land was more readily available.

He encouraged the youth to outline their vision for the coming year, which would inform the church's strategy for establishing new churches, adding that the church was committed to supporting these new churches and spreading the gospel to new communities.
Special courts to fight galamsey in the offing

Timothy Ngnenbe Mar - 25 - 2025 , 09:57 5 minutes read

The government will set up special courts for the speedy prosecution of persons cited for illegal mining, commonly called galamsey in local circles.

To that end, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is working with the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General as well as the judiciary to firm up modalities for the setting up of the courts.

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, made this known to the Daily Graphic, stressing that the government would ensure expedited prosecution of illegal miners.

The Daily Graphic spoke to the minister against the backdrop of calls by some stakeholders in the forestry sector and environmental activists for the setting up of specialised courts to swiftly prosecute those who would fall foul of mining regulations.

Those who made the call are the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Dr Hugh Brown; Daryl Bosu of A Rocha Ghana, an environmental civil society organisation (CSO); and the Convener of the Media Coalition against Galamsey, Dr Kenneth Ashigbey.

In the view of the stakeholders, the weak prosecution regime remained one of the weakest links in the fight against galamsey, and as such the setting up of dedicated courts would help to clear hundreds of outstanding cases related to environmental crimes.

They said the setting up of the specialised courts would ensure that persons arraigned for illegal mining were made to promptly face the law to deter others.

Arrests, prosecutions

Section 99 of the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995) provides that a Ghanaian engaged in illegal mining, or one who commands, instigates or employs others to engage in illegal mining commits an offence and is liable, upon summary conviction, to a fine of not less than 10,000 penalty units (GH120,000) and not more than 15,000 penalty units (GH180,000) and to a term of imprisonment of not less than 15 years and not more than 25 years.

For a foreigner engaged in illegal mining, Act 995 stipulates a fine of not less than 100,000 penalty units (GH1.2 million) and not more than 300,000 penalty units (GH3.6 million) and a term of imprisonment of not less 20 years and not more than 25 years, or both the fine and the term of imprisonment.

While many, including foreigners, have been arrested over the years for engaging in illegal mining in contravention of Act 995, just a handful of such people have been successfully prosecuted.

For instance, data from the Forestry Commission revealed that 845 persons were arrested for mining in forest reserves across the country in the past two years, 627 of them arrested last year, and 218 arrested in 2023.

However, only 20 of those people have been prosecuted, with many of the cases pending, while the culprits are on remand or police enquiry bail.

24-Hour courts

Dr Ashigbey stressed that in line with the spirit of the 24-hour economy policy, it was important for the prosecution of galamsey offenders to be done without any hitches.

"The 24-hour economy means we should have courts that sit for 24 hours to deal with environmental crimes, particularly galamsey.

"The Chief Justice should know that we are not in normal times; galamsey operators are killing our forest guards, they are destroying our lands and depleting our forest reserves, so we need the judiciary to act swiftly on this matter," he stressed.

He added that the judiciary must hand out stiffer sanctions to illegal miners, particularly foreigners, "because they cannot come and destroy our environment with this illegality".

"Foreigners who mine illegally must be dealt with by our courts just as they will be dealt with in their countries," he stressed.



Worrying development

Dr Brown described the rate of prosecution of illegal miners as appalling, and said such a situation did not send a strong signal that the state was ready to hand swift sentences to the culprits to deter others.

In 2023, most of the 218 persons arrested for mining in forest reserves were high-profile arrests, and we thought some action should have been taken by now to send a strong signal that we mean business, but some of them are still on police inquiry bail, and it is taking the police forever to finish the investigation to put them before court, Dr Brown said.

He said it was disheartening that although the Forestry Commission continued to go through terrible situations to arrest illegal miners, the needed support in terms of prosecutions was not forthcoming.

If we have over 800 arrests in two years and just about 20 are prosecuted, it does not send any positive signal of a system that frowns on illegal mining, he stressed.

Dr Brown added that apart from setting up specialised courts, it was also important to build the capacity of prosecutors and judges to understand environmental crimes and their impact on the ecology, public health and humanity in general so that they could appreciate things better.

He also said in lieu of specialised courts, there could be special courts, which would work faster on environmental issues.

A Rocha Ghana

For Mr Bosu, who is the Deputy National Director of A Rocha Ghana, the call for specialised or special courts for environmental crimes was long overdue.

It is more fun to say that we should have special courts, but there is lack of commitment to do so, he said.

Mr Bosu said it was worrying that although the various military operations, including Operation Halt and Operation Vanguard, had arrested hundreds of people, there is no one to prosecute them.

There need to be a system that ensures that there is continuation in the prosecution process from one point to the other, he added.
Ghana Standards Authority local union leaders lock offices, snub media briefing

Emmanuel Pacome Damalie Mar - 25 - 2025 , 13:40 2 minutes read

Staff of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) are expressing outrage after leaders of the local union locked the Authoritys offices on Tuesday morning, preventing workers from entering the premises.

The move came after the union executives had invited journalists to a press briefing regarding what they described as "happenings within the GSA."

However, in a surprising twist, the union leaders abruptly called off the briefing, sent the journalists away, and refused to answer subsequent phone calls, leaving both workers and the media in confusion.

Several GSA employees who arrived at work on Tuesday morning were met with locked offices and no explanation from union representatives. Receptions to offices were also locked and there was no space for clients to sit and make enquiries.

Frustrated staff members accused the union leadership of acting unilaterally without proper consultation.

We were not informed about any strike or office closure. This is unacceptable, said one angry worker who wished to remain anonymous. If there are grievances, the union should engage us properly, not lock us out without warning.

Failed media briefing

The situation grew more perplexing when journalists who had been invited by the union for a press conference were abruptly turned away.

When contacted by Graphic Online, the local Chairperson of the Union, Comfort Hansen stated that the leaders had been summoned to a meeting at the Ministry of Trade and Industry and would provide updates to the media afterward.

Management of the GSA has yet to issue an official statement on the incident, but sources indicate that discussions are underway to resolve the impasse.

As tensions rise, workers are demanding accountability from their union leaders, while the public awaits answers on what exactly triggered the sudden lockout and the aborted media briefing.
Next article: Weve only released 20 per cent of the evidenceDeputy AG on Adu-Boahen investigations

Government to press charges against 15 suspects in Adu-Boahen case  Deputy Attorney-General

Mohammed Ali Mar - 25 - 2025 , 11:32 2 minutes read

The Government is finalising charges against 15 individuals linked to an alleged embezzlement and money laundering scheme involving Mr. Kwabena Adu-Boahen and his wife, according to Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Justice Srem-Sai.

In an interview on Ghana Tonight on March 24 2025, Mr. Srem-Sai said prosecutors are putting together cases against individuals suspected to have played various roles in the diversion of public funds through shell companies and property transactions.

Were finalising charges against 15 suspects, including high-profile accomplices, he said. Extradition requests are underway for assets held abroad.

According to government investigators, Mr. Adu-Boahen and his wife allegedly transferred GH16 million from a government account into a private company called BNC, said to be linked to the couple.

The money was reportedly used to purchase 27 properties located in Mayfair and Oyarifa, each valued at about $295,000.

Two properties in London are also under investigation. Mr. Srem-Sai said the state has begun processes to recover any assets believed to have been acquired with public funds.

This is about accountability. Lets not politicise it, he said.

At a press conference on Monday, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, confirmed that Mr. Adu-Boahen was arrested in connection with a separate $7 million cyber defense system contract.

The funds, according to the Attorney-General, were traced to Mr. Adu-Boahens private account.

Dr. Ayine further disclosed that the accused attempted to avoid arrest by changing the name on his airline ticket to mislead investigators.

Lawyers for Mr. Adu-Boahen, in a formal statement, responded to the public debate around the case. They said every Ghanaian has the right to a fair investigation, regardless of their political background.

The power to investigate any Ghanaian for alleged criminal offences has no party colours. It must be carried out with professionalism, the statement said.

They cautioned against trial by public opinion and called for due process.

All investigations must be based on facts, not propaganda. A person should be formally charged before being subjected to public scrutiny. If they are found innocent, they should not be destroyed before they even appear in court.
Justice Torkornoo: President Mahama consults Council of State over petitions to remove Chief Justice

GraphicOnline Mar - 25 - 2025 , 20:34 2 minutes read

President John Mahama has initiated consultations with the Council of State following the submission of three petitions seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo.

A statement issued by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister for Government Communications, confirmed that the President had forwarded the petitions to the Council of State in line with Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, which outlines the process for removing a Chief Justice.

Although details of the petitions remain undisclosed, this development marks the beginning of a formal constitutional process that could potentially lead to significant changes within Ghanas judiciary.

The Council of State is expected to review the petitions and advise the President on the appropriate course of action as stipulated in Article 146.

This is not the first attempt to remove Chief Justice Torkornoo. Earlier this year, former President Nana Akufo-Addo dismissed a similar petition filed by Prof. Stephen Kwaku Asare, citing a lack of merit.

That petition accused the Chief Justice of misconduct and incompetence, specifically alleging irregularities in panel reconstitution, the issuance of practice directions, and constitutional breaches.

However, after consulting the Council of State, the former President ruled that the claims failed to establish a prima facie case warranting further investigation.

The removal of a Chief Justice is governed by Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, which stipulates that a Justice of the Superior Court can only be removed for stated misbehaviour, incompetence, or incapacity due to infirmity.

The law requires that when such a petition is received, the President must act in consultation with the Council of State to appoint a committee to investigate the allegations.

This committee must include two Justices of the Supreme Court, one of whom serves as chairman, as well as three other individuals who are not members of Parliament, the Council of State, or the legal profession.

The committee is mandated to investigate the allegations and make recommendations to the President.

If a petition is referred to a committee, the President may also suspend the Chief Justice upon the advice of the Council of State.

With President Mahama officially referring the petitions to the Council of State, the legal and political landscape surrounding the Chief Justices tenure now hinges on the committees findings. If the committee recommends removal, the President will be required to act accordingly.

This unfolding situation is expected to generate intense debate within Ghanas legal and political circles as stakeholders await the Council of States decision.
Man goes berserk, murders woman, injures father and three others in Central Region

Shirley Asiedu-Addo Mar - 25 - 2025 , 16:53 1 minute read

The Kwame Alex community in the Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira District of the Central Region has been left in shock after a 27-year-old man, Kweku Opare, allegedly went berserk, killing an elderly woman and inflicting deep cutlass wounds on his father and three others.

According to the Twifo Praso District Police Command, the incident occurred on Monday evening following a dispute between Opare and his father over wooden sticks.

Reports indicate that Opare became enraged upon discovering that his father had lent his stickspreviously placed on a cocoa drying standto the local Pentecost Church.

The sticks had been used to support a consignment of cement bags to prevent them from hardening.

During a heated confrontation, Opare allegedly attacked his father with a cutlass, leaving him with severe injuries. An elderly woman, Akua Fatima, who attempted to intervene, was also attacked and killed. Three other community members who tried to restrain Opare sustained deep cutlass wounds and were rushed to hospital alongside his father for treatment.

The community later managed to apprehend Opare and hand him over to the police.

The Central North Regional Crime Officer, ASP Alex Yirenkyi, confirmed the incident, stating that investigations have been launched and urged residents to remain calm as authorities work to ensure justice.
Next article: Government to pay $1.1bn to ENI this year over legacy energy debts  Finance Minister

Over 1,300 ECG containers missing at Tema Port  Investigative Report

Justice Agbenorsi Mar - 25 - 2025 , 12:59 2 minutes read

An investigative report on the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has revealed that more than 1,300 containers, which were supposed to be cleared at the Tema Port, cannot be accounted for.

The chairman of the committee that conducted the investigation, Professor Innocent Senyo Acquah, disclosed that while ECG claimed to have 2,491 uncleared containers which contained cables as well as other equipment belonging to ECG, an independent audit at the port found only 1,134, leaving 1,347 unaccounted for.

He presented the findings to the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor.

According to Prof. Acquah, prior to 2022, ECG had a dedicated fund that received weekly allocations for clearing the containers. However, the practice was discontinued, with the ECG board citing a lack of funds.

Meanwhile, during this period, the company awarded contracts to two firms to clear the containers, with one being pre-financed by ECG.

It was further discovered that one of these companies lacked the necessary licence to carry out the contract, raising concerns over procurement breaches.

The committee also found that ECGs procurement directorate had been merged with its Housing and Estate unit.

Additionally, background checks on the Director of Procurement revealed that he had no prior experience in procurement and was not a member of any professional procurement body.

Receiving the report, Minister Jinapor described the findings as alarming and assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted with the assistance of the Attorney-General and the police.

The over 1,300 containers cannot vanish into thin air. We will work with the A-G and the police to ensure those responsible are brought to book to retrieve the containers or the monetary value of the same, he stated.

The minister also announced that the procurement unit at ECG would be decoupled within a week and pledged to introduce swift, far-reaching measures to reform procurement processes at the company.

It cannot be business as usual. We are not targeting anybody, but we will make sure whoever is responsible will be held liable, he added.

The investigation was launched following the discovery of the uncleared containers during the ministers visit to the port in January 2025.

A five-member committee was tasked with examining ECGs procurement practices, assessing the cost of the containers, and determining liabilities, which have been estimated at GH1.5 billion.
Next article: State not conducting trial in media  Deputy Attorney-General responds to Adu-Boahen lawyers

Former GIIF CEO Solomon Asamoah denies hiding in Senegal

Jemima Okang Addae Mar - 25 - 2025 , 11:55 2 minutes read

Former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), Solomon Asamoah, has denied allegations by Attorney-General Dr Dominic Ayine that he is evading investigations by hiding in Senegal.

In a statement issued on Monday, March 24, 2025, Mr Asamoah described the claims as entirely inaccurate and untrue, clarifying that his departure from Ghana on March 21 was for pre-scheduled corporate board meetings, not to avoid legal scrutiny.

I categorically deny the false and incorrect allegations that I have gone into hiding in Senegal. This claim is entirely inaccurate and untrue, he stated.

He further explained that he had spent February and March in Ghana without being contacted by any authorities regarding an investigation.

However, a day after his departure, on March 22, an official from the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) reached out via WhatsApp requesting an online meeting.

As a demonstration of my commitment to transparency, I agreed to hold a meeting on Wednesday, March 26, at 4pm to address any concerns, he added.

Mr Asamoah, a key figure in the ongoing Sky Train Scandal, also defended his tenure as GIIF CEO, stating that under his leadership, the funds capital grew from GH1.2 billion to GH5.2 billion, with cumulative net profits exceeding GH2.5 billion by the end of 2023.

Asserting his innocence, he stated, I have not committed any wrongdoing and absolutely have no reason to run away from justice.

He assured his full cooperation with authorities and expressed his willingness to return to Ghana to assist the Attorney-Generals investigations, adding that he is confident the process will vindicate his reputation and integrity.

Read the full statement below;
State not conducting trial in media  Deputy Attorney-General responds to Adu-Boahen lawyers

Mohammed Ali Mar - 25 - 2025 , 11:50 2 minutes read

Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Mr Justice Srem-Sai, has dismissed claims that the state is trying Mr Kwabena Adu-Boahen and his wife in the media, following concerns raised in a public statement by the couples lawyers.

Speaking on Ghana Tonight on March 24 2025, Mr Srem-Sai said the Attorney-Generals disclosures regarding the case were carefully considered and legally sound.

We wont entertain trial-by-media, he said. Weve released only what is necessary to inform the public without compromising the investigation or judicial process.

His remarks come in response to a statement issued by lawyers for Mr Adu-Boahen, which criticised what they described as prejudicial disclosures by the state.

The lawyers argued that, if persons are innocent, they must not be destroyed in public before their day in court, adding that investigations should not be reduced to propaganda or political commentary.

Mr Srem-Sai maintained that the states actions have been within the bounds of the law and are part of efforts to keep the public informed while pursuing justice.

He noted that extradition procedures and foreign asset recovery processes are ongoing in connection with the alleged embezzlement and laundering of GH39 million.

According to investigators, Mr Adu-Boahen and his wife are accused of transferring GH16 million from a government account into a private company with a similar name, allegedly under their control. The funds were reportedly used to acquire 27 properties in Ghana and abroad.

The Deputy Attorney-General urged critics to respect the legal process and advised those with concerns to use the appropriate judicial channels rather than the media.
Weve only released 20 per cent of the evidenceDeputy AG on Adu-Boahen investigations

Mohammed Ali Mar - 25 - 2025 , 11:06 2 minutes read

Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Justice Srem-Sai, has defended the limited public release of evidence in the ongoing case involving former government official Mr Kwabena Adu-Boahen and his wife.

The couple is facing charges of embezzlement and money laundering linked to GH39 million in state funds.

Speaking in an interview on Ghana Tonight with Alfred Ocansey on March 24 2025, Justice Srem-Sai explained that only a small portion of the evidence has been shared publicly to avoid jeopardising the legal process.

We have disclosed only 20% of the evidence to avoid compromising the trial, he said. Prosecutors must believe in their evidence. When the Attorney-General says well secure a conviction, its based on facts not prejudice.

According to him, investigations have traced GH16 million from a government account to a private company also named BNC, which is allegedly owned by Mr Adu-Boahen and his wife.

The funds were reportedly used to purchase 27 properties in Mayfair and Oyarifa, each said to be worth around $295,000.

Mr Srem-Sai added that the suspects were taken to the properties to confirm ownership and that the prosecution has supporting documentation, including bank transfers and land titles.

Meanwhile, the legal team for Mr Adu-Boahen, Zoe, Akyea & Co., has sharply criticised the public remarks made earlier by the Attorney-General, describing them as prejudicial.

In a statement, the law firm said:

The power to investigate any Ghanaian for alleged criminal offences has no party colours. It is a painstaking exercise to ensure that the rule of law is observed and that persons with material stakes are not unfairly targeted by those who wield the powers of the State.

The lawyers warned against what they described as public trials before formal charges are laid, adding:

All professional investigations, and not politically motivated ones, must be devoid of razzmatazz and propaganda. The suspect, who is the subject of the investigation, must first be charged before he is subjected to public trial so that if he is innocent, he is not destroyed by prejudicial attacks and trial propaganda before his day in court. These considerations must guide our jurisprudence.

But Mr Srem-Sai maintained that the disclosures were lawful and carefully chosen to keep the public informed without compromising the case.

We havent revealed everything. Only what is necessary, and even that has been carefully considered, he said.

The Attorney-Generals Department says further charges are expected, and asset recovery efforts are underway both in Ghana and abroad.
GHS boss pays surprise visit to Kbu Public Health

Augustina Tawiah Health Mar - 25 - 2025 , 09:57 2 minutes read

The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, has paid a surprise working visit to various departments, programmes and units under the Public Health Division of the Service at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

The visit, which took him to the National STI/AIDS Control Programme, the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), the National Buruli Ulcer, Yaws and Leprosy Control Programme and the situation room of the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, was meant to understand how exactly the places worked and find solution toproblems identified were fixable, they were immediately fixed.

It came to light during the visit last friday that staff had not reported to work but it was explained that they were on the field working.

Fortunately, most of the programme managers, unit and departmental heads were present to join the director general on his rounds in the offices, briefing him about what they were doing and where necessary, he offered advice.

Digitalise document

At the internal audit unit, where he visited the Global Fund Finance secretariat, procurement, reporting, analysis and budget units, Professor Akoriyea observed that they had many neatly arranged files there.

However, to make it easier to search for documents, he advised them to digitalise their documents.

At the situation room of the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, where the director general saw how the monitoring of the cholera cases was being done the instant they occurred in any part of the country, he urged the team to make the website transparent such that whenever anybody visited there, they would be able to tell at first hand the cases that had been recorded and deaths just as it was done with the COVID-19 dashboard.

At the EPI office, he saw at first-hand the yellow cards for vaccination that were being prepared for dispatch to the major points of entry into the country such as the Kotoka International Airport.

Later, speaking to the media about the surprise visit, Professor Akoriyea said for some of the things he observed, he would have to sit down with the appropriate unit, department or programme to see how they could be addressed.

He urged staff under the service to expect more of such surprise visits from him to their offices throughout the year.
Bawumia donates GH200,000 and cement to traders affected by Adum Fire

GraphicOnline Politics Mar - 25 - 2025 , 12:14 2 minutes read

Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has donated GH200,000 and 1,000 bags of cement to traders affected by the devastating fire that swept through the Adum business district in Kumasi.

The fire, which broke out in the early hours of Friday, 21st March 2025, destroyed several shops and goods worth millions of Ghana cedis, leaving many traders in distress.

During a visit to the scene on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, Dr Bawumia expressed his sympathy and urged private businesses and individuals to support the affected traders in rebuilding their livelihoods.

I am donating GH200,000 and 1,000 bags to the victims, and I urge private individuals to also support the traders in getting their livelihoods back, he stated.

He further called for patience as the Ghana National Fire Service investigates the cause of the blaze to prevent future occurrences.

We have to wait on the investigation by the Ghana National Fire Service and then we can determine the cause of the fire so that next time we can prevent it, he noted.

Dr Bawumia also urged the government to expedite the completion of the Kejetia Central Market Phase II project, which he said was about 80% complete when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) left office.

We believe that when it is completed, it will greatly benefit the traders here, he said.

He commended firefighters for their swift response, acknowledging reports that two officers had been hospitalised.

I heard about two fire personnel who have been admitted to the hospital. We wish them a speedy recovery, he stated.

Dr Bawumia was accompanied by NPP Regional Chairman Bernard Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, and other party officials.
Next article: President Mahama promotes new Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs

Minority accuses Attorney-General of abuse of power

Dickson Worlanyo Dotse Politics Mar - 25 - 2025 , 04:57 4 minutes read

The Minority in Parliament has accused the Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Justice, Dominic Ayine, of abusing his office by interfering in investigations and weaponising state institutions against political opponents.

Addressing a press conference at the Parliament House yesterday, the Second Deputy Minority Whip, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, described the conduct of the AG as an overreach that threatens the rule of law and democratic principles.

The Attorney-General is abusing his office in ordering raids and conducting investigations. The Attorney-General is firstly a legal advisor to the government and an officer of the court.

There is a reason for which the Attorney-General is to remain at arms length from investigations, he said.

This distance allows for an impartial assessment of whether a prima facie case exists after investigative agencies have completed their work.

He further criticised the A-Gs approach, arguing that it undermined due process and sought to convict opposition figures in the court of public opinion before any legal proceedings take place.

The new approach where the Attorney-General seeks to convict political opponents in the court of public opinion before going to the court of competent jurisdiction is an abomination that should not be countenanced. The courts of Ghana are the only ones that should be allowed to convict or acquit, he stated.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Weija-Gbawe accused the Attorney-General of taking on investigative functions that do not fall within his remit.

Since when did we have an Attorney-General who himself orders arrest, conducts investigations and examines his own evidence to determine if a prima facie case is being docketed against a suspect? he queried.

This approach, he said, sets a dangerous precedent, is highly improper and leads to bias right from the investigation process.

The Minority alleged that recent security operations targeting former officials, including the immediate past Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr Ernest Addison, were politically motivated and aimed at intimidating opposition figures.

Referring to Dr Addisons case, Mr Shaib questioned the legality of the security operation, stating that if due process had been followed, there would have been no need for an apology from the National Security Coordinator.

If the actions were truly lawful and above board, why did the National Security Coordinator find it necessary to call and apologise to Dr Addison via the phone of Mr Richard Jakpa? he asked.

Beyond Dr Addison, the Minority outlined a series of similar incidents, alleging a coordinated effort to harass political opponents.

Among those affected are the following: Former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, whose private residence was raided on February 10, 2025, by National Security operatives led by Richard Jakpa. These operatives, some armed and in balaclavas, conducted an extensive search without presenting a warrant. Mr Ofori-Atta was reportedly out of the country during the incident, he stated.

More raids

He further cited the case of the former Energy Minister and MP for Hohoe, John Peter Amewu.

Again, on March 5, 2025, armed individuals identifying themselves as National Security operatives reportedly invaded the residence of former Energy Minister and Member of Parliament for Hohoe, John Peter Amewu, in Hohoe, Volta Region.

The press conference also highlighted the cases of other former government officials.

The former Director of Operations at the Jubilee House, Lord Oblitey Commey, also had his home raided on January 31, 2025, by National Security operatives seizing six of his vehicles.

The former Public Procurement Authority Chairman, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, was not left out when National Intelligence Bureau officials visited and arrested him at his private residence on February 23, 2025.

He also referenced the arrest of the former Director of the National Signals Bureau.

The former Director of the National Signals Bureau, Kwabena Adu Boahene, on Thursday, March 21, 2025, was also arrested upon his arrival at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) from London.

Political distraction

According to the Minority, these actions amount to a systematic abuse of state power designed to distract from the governments failings.

We are clear in our minds that the new government, seeking to shift attention from the initial challenges they are having with their budget, the fight against galamsey and the Dumsor situation which is leading to the burning of markets, has adopted this tactic to intimidate political opponents, Hon. Shaib stated.
Sam George slams $1 dollar acquisition of AirtelTigo, reveals companys GH3.5 billion debt

GraphicOnline Politics Mar - 25 - 2025 , 06:31 2 minutes read

The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has condemned the handling of the AirtelTigo transaction, describing those responsible as enemies of the state.

His criticism follows revelations that the telecommunications company, burdened with a GH3.5 billion debt, was sold back to the government for just one dollar.

Speaking to journalists in Parliament on Monday, March 24, 2025, the Minister expressed concerns over AirtelTigos financial liabilities, particularly a GH1.5 billion debt owed to American Tower Company (ATC).

"Those who managed the AirtelTigo process are enemies of our state and individuals who have no sense of patriotism. So for anybody to have told us that they bought AirtelTigo for 1 dollar, and now that we have taken over the ministry, ATC has presented us with a bill of 1.5 billion Ghana Cedis," he stated.

He further disclosed that discussions with the American Embassy had highlighted concerns over AirtelTigos financial obligations.

The debt sitting on the books of AirtelTigo exceeds 3.5 billion Ghana Cedis. So if someone told you that they bought it for 1 dollar, who is going to pay the 1.3 billion that is sitting there and accumulating interest?

The AirtelTigo takeover was finalised in November 2021 after Bharti Airtel and Millicom International Cellular SA (Tigo) transferred 100% ownership to the Government of Ghana.

The then Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, had defended the deal, stating, We acquired it for just a dollar.

However, Sam George has vowed to provide Parliament with a full briefing on the companys financial burden and alleged mismanagement.
Tecno announced the Camon 40 series during this year's MWC in Barcelona earlier this month and the company has now confirmed its commitment to keep the series updated for longer.



Tecno Camon 40 series

Tecno promised 3 generational OS upgrades and 5 years of security patches. Given that all phones launch with Android 15 out of the box, you can expect the last OTA update to be Android 18.

It's somewhat expected for the Camon 40 Premier to get 3 major OS updates, but the rest of the devices from the series, the Camon 40 Pro, 40 Pro 5G and the vanilla Camon 40 are all expected to come with very low price points so getting three major Android updates is a nice bonus.

Speaking of, we still don't have exact price tags nor exact availability details. But the Camon 40 Pro 5G review is shaping up to be an exciting device.

Source
OnePlus is currently busy working on a smaller device, the OnePlus 13T. This will feature a 6.3-inch screen, just like sister company Oppo's Find X8S. The OnePlus 13T is in the rumor mill again thanks to its incredible battery capacity, especially for its size.

According to a new rumor from China, the 13T will manage to pack a whopping 6,200 mAh battery (with 80W wired charging support). For reference, note that the much larger OnePlus 13 only has a 6,000 mAh battery, so this is quite the feat of engineering.

OnePlus 13

That aside, past rumors haven't been in much agreement about the number of cameras this phone will have - it's either two or three. Either a 50 MP main and a 50 MP telephoto with 2x optical zoom, or those two plus an 8 MP ultrawide.

The OnePlus 13T is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, allegedly, and its screen comes with "1.5K" resolution and an embedded optical fingerprint sensor. The phone is expected to have a metal frame and a glass back. The OnePlus 13T is scheduled to become official in April, and it's unfortunately still unclear if it will get a global launch.

OnePlus 13

Source (in Chinese)
An audit of Guams historic preservation office found that its operations are not in line with its enabling legislation, it has not followed laws requiring the comprehensive mapping of historic sites, and previous officials imposed requirements on permit applications that exceeded the agencys authority.

The Office of Public Accountability recommended corrective action to streamline (Guam State Historic Preservation Office/Guam Historic Resources Division) statutory authority with current operations, and improve its review and permit clearance process while still preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of Guam.

The preservation office operates under the Department of Parks and Recreation. It is responsible for making sure construction and development projects comply with preservation laws and guidelines.

The office processed more than 5,000 review and compliance applications during the audit period, 2018 through 2023  about 900 a year.

Auditors examined 61 applications for project review and compliance and found 36% of those were completed in a timely manner.

The average time was 10 days, exceeding the five-day policy.

The shortest amount of time for review was zero days, and the longest was 55 days.

Some 10% had no clearance dates, and 21% were cleared on the same day, violating GSHPO/GHRDs policy prohibiting same-day reviews.

For 22 applications requiring a certificate of approval, the average time was 37 days, exceeding the 30-day goal.

The range was zero to 205 days, with 18% being cleared on the same day, in violation of the policy.

Ambiguity has caused confusion

The audit stated that multiple sections of the Guam Code Annotated contain rules that no longer align with the GSHPO/GHRDs operations.

For example, one section of the law designates the Guam historic preservation officer as the executive director of the Guam Preservation Trust Fund. But the fund is a separate agency with its own executive director, and GSHPO/GHRD isnt involved in its management.

The law doesnt specifically mention the Guam State Historic Preservation Office, but does mention the Department of Parks and Recreation, Guam Historic Resources Division and Guam Historic Preservation Review Board.

This ambiguity has caused confusion over the roles and responsibilities of GSHPO/GHRD or DPR in their responsibility over preservation laws, the audit stated. Given that current operations may not fully align with codified law, this suggests that at some point after the laws were established, a decision was made for the GSHPO/GHRD to operate contrary to the (Guam Code Annotated) without legislative approval.

The audit noted that the agency has drafted updated legislation to address inconsistencies, but it has not been introduced yet.

Comprehensive mapping, surveys

Despite legal mandates dating back to the 1990s, the agency has not fulfilled its responsibility of developing a comprehensive island-wide database of historic and archaeological sites, according to the audit.

While GSHPO maintains a database for assessing project impacts, gaps in mapping often necessitate additional surveys before permit approval, causing delays, the audit stated.

The audit also stated that relying on internal records affects operational efficiency, compliance, and public access to historical data, which can affect informed land purchases.

To address this, DPR and GSHPO should prioritize updating and publicly sharing a complete mapping database to fulfill legal requirements and improve accessibility, it added.

Officials imposed unauthorized requirements

The audit also confirmed that former officials imposed requirements on permit applications that exceeded the agencys authority.

These concerns had been addressed in December 2023 when the acting director of Parks and Recreation issued a letter to the Guam Historic Preservation Office rescinding unauthorized conditions placed on private projects and outlining specific legal provisions.

Auditors noted that a former territorial archaeologist unilaterally ordered a company to stop work and remove equipment from a project site without proper authority.

The official also ordered a private party to construct facilities, including a reburial monument, public restroom, and parking stalls, as conditions for permit approval, the audit stated.

In August 2023, a private company complained to the Office of the Attorney General, citing a potential conflict of interest with another official.

The company and the official worked out an agreement where the company would secure permits for projects, contract an archaeologist to oversee activities, pay for excavation, reporting and reburial of remains and collaborate with the agency to oversee the placement of a reburial monument and plaque.

To prevent similar situations in the future, Parks and Recreation has required the agency to work with the Office of the Attorney General for approval of any permit requirements that exceed the agencys authority.

In April 2024, the governor appointed the Parks and Recreation acting director as the SHPO for limited purposes, specifically to oversee telecommunication company permits and ensure compliance with the Guam Public Employees Ethics Code, the audit stated.

Response to audit

In his response to the audit, State Historic Preservation Officer Patrick Lujan noted that the agency has been working with a senator to introduce legislation in keeping with the functions of the audit.

We are also working with the Governors Office in identifying areas of the current law that need revision or clarity, Lujan wrote.

Lujan also pointed to a recommendation that the agency be removed from the Department of Parks and Recreation and placed under the Office of the Governor.

This would strengthen and make clear the role of the GSHPO as an autonomous federal review agency and would confer authority from the Office of the Governor on the functions and responsibilities for historic preservation on Guam, he added.
Personal fines of $250 a month on government agency heads that fail to send information to the public auditor are closer to passing, but a bill to allow government of Guam agencies to publish meeting notices in digital newspapers is stalled as of Tuesday at the Legislature.

Sen. Telo Taitagues Bill 14-38 would slap any agency head with a fine of $250 for failing to send financial and other information by deadlines that the public auditor could set.

The measure advanced to the voting file as senators wrapped session Monday night.

Taitague on Monday stressed that GovGuam has missed the June 30 deadline to close out its books and finalize an audit 13 times since the year 2000.

The fiscal year 2023 GovGuam audit, issued in February, was the most late GovGuam audit of the 21st century, the Pacific Daily News has reported. The fiscal 2024 audit will also be late, Department of Administration officials said last week.

Without end-of-year financial statements, senators have a harder time ensuring oversight of GovGuam finances, Taitague said Monday.

It is time to uphold the standards and demand accountability for our directors, she said.

Sen. Will Parkinson did amend Bill 14-38 to allow agency heads to file for an extension with the public auditor, if they cant meet a deadline.

His amendment requires that any request for extension be sent in writing, and that the Office of Public Accountability either accept or deny the request within three business days.

Theres a lot of things that could happen in the world, and whos to say what could be valid and not valid, Parkinson said.

Taitague further amended the measure to mandate that a request for extension be sent at least five days prior to any deadline set by the public auditor.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero last term vetoed a similar bill authored by Taitague.

Leon Guerrero said in her veto message that there were a number of reasons why an audit could be delayed, and the bill would compromise accuracy in the name of hurrying audits through.

Lawmakers were unable to override the veto last term.

On Monday, Vice Speaker Tony Ada and Sen. Chris Barnett both said they hoped the measure could overcome any pending veto.

Sen. Sabina Perez at one point acknowledged that delays could also be caused by staffing issues at agencies.

A lot of these delays have to do with the capacity with these agencies and that they lack the proper expertise, accountant expertise, Perez said, adding that the amended version of the bill struck a good balance.

By the end of the night, Taitague added on eight cosponsors to the bill: Sens. Shelly Calvo, Therese Terlaje, Perez, Barnett, Shawn Gumataotao, Jesse Lujan, Vice Speaker Tony and Speaker Frank Blas Jr.

Parkinson and Sen. Sabrina Salas Matanane also spoke in support of the bill, but left the session before they could be added as cosponsors.

All told, thats 11 potential yes votes for Bill 14-38, a veto-proof majority.

News publications

But another measure, Bill 25-38, didnt move as senators went into the second day of session on Tuesday morning.

Authored by Sen. Tina Muna Barnes, Bill 25-38 would allow government meeting notices to be published on eligible digital media platforms.

The Pacific Daily News could gain revenue from government ads, if the bill is passed, and testified in support of Bill 25-38 at a public hearing in February.

Currently, the open government law requires any official GovGuam meeting to be posted in a print newspaper, radio, or on television.

Notices must go up five working days before the meeting, and then again 48 hours prior to the start of the meeting.

Actions taken at meetings that are no properly noticed are void, under the law.

Muna Barnes on Tuesday said moving government notices online would widen the audience that would see those notices, while also saving the government money on costlier print ads.

She pointed to digital rates that were 40% cheaper than print at the PDN, which is now all digital, and 25% cheaper at the Guam Daily Post.

Muna Barnes said the bill was amended in committee to avoid ads being posted on fly by night companies that are built and dismantled in a day.

Any platforms eligible for advertisements would have to be in business for five years and provide third-party verification that they serve at least 15% of the island population, following the amendments.

But Taitague raised concern about the 15% cutoff, which was added after a public hearing.

Maybe some of the media conglomerates in our community would not be able to meet that and would not have the opportunity to speak on this, Taitague said.

Taitague asked for a legal review of the amendment.

After a short recess, the speaker said legal counsel had cleared the change.

Taitague opposed the bill, stating it would allow the government to pay bloggers and social media platforms with political agendas to post ads.

It lacks enforcement requirements, opening the door for anyone to create a social media account, obtain $25 business license and then incorporate that they have a readership or an audience of 15%, she said.

Session was ultimately recessed after Terlaje questioned whether Bill 25-38 conformed with legislative standing rules.

Terlaje said she could not confirm whether a public notice was posted for the bills hearing, and that some 50 minutes worth of testimony from the hearing were not transcribed in a committee report, which referred back to a video recording of the hearing.

The Legislature posts all of its hearings on YouTube.

Sen. Chris Duenas said that the Committee on Rules had cleared the bill, and that the video recording of the hearing captured all testimony.

Duenas did ask to consult with legal, and the rules committee.

After a short break, Blas announced the session would be recessed until 9 a.m. Wednesday.
At least one vendor reported a slight uptick in sales on Monday and Tuesday as a result of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, which arrived here Monday for a scheduled port visit.

Tumon restaurants and stores were reportedly more crowded than usual on Monday night, but late Tuesday afternoon, Tumons sidewalks and beaches, and even outdoor bars, were mostly empty.

We usually get a lot of locals but we did see some military folks stroll in, said John Taimanglo, a clerk at the Fokai Shop on Fujita Road in Tumon.

I think everybodys just crashed out in their hotel rooms, said Shane Ryan who, along with his battle buddy Zach Boyer, was among the few walking the still blister-hot Tumon sidewalks Tuesday afternoon. Maybe youll see them come out tonight.

Both Ryan and Boyer are sailors aboard the USS Carl Vinson, and both are on the island for the third time.

Guam is awesome. Its our favorite port call, said Ryan. What we look forward to the most? Gotta be the food. After months being out at sea, theres nothing like CHamoru food. Its so good.

The pair first arrived on Guam in 2021. Guam is Boyers favorite port to visit as well and after months of balancing against every ocean swell, he cant wait to experience nature on terra firma.

I like getting out and like experiencing the weather, he said. Like coming to the beaches. They definitely have crystal clear water that you just cant have in the United States.

Port visits are enjoyable especially after months repeating a routine, he said.

You kinda fall into a rhythm. Youre able to go to watch, do maintenance on critical systems and support whatever other operations for the ship for day-to-day, he said. But experiencing land? Its amazing.

The Carl Vinson Strike Group consists of USS Carl Vinson, embarked staffs of CSG-1 and Destroyer Squadron 1, Carrier Air Wing 2, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton, and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett, and USS Milius.

The USS Carl Vinson is headed to the Middle East. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who is expected to also visit Guam this week, ordered Navy warship presence in the Middle East, ordering two aircraft carriers to be there in April as the U.S. increases strikes on the Yemen-based Houthi rebels, the Associated Press reported.

The AP said Hegseth ordered the USS Carl Vinson, which has been operating in the Pacific, to begin steaming toward the Middle East, extending its scheduled deployment by three months.
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group arrived Monday in Guam for a scheduled port visit, before the USS Carl Vinson heads to the Middle East.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who is expected to also visit Guam this week, ordered Navy warship presence in the Middle East, ordering two aircraft carriers to be there in April as the U.S. increases strikes on the Yemen-based Houthi rebels, the Associated Press reported.

The AP said Hegseth ordered the USS Carl Vinson, which has been operating in the Pacific, to begin steaming toward the Middle East, extending its scheduled deployment by three months.

Guam is a critical nexus for logistics and provides a variety of capabilities and support functions for U.S. naval vessels including supplies, maintenance parts, and equipment, Naval Base Guam said in a release Monday night when the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group arrived.

The Carl Vinson Strike Group consists of USS Carl Vinson, embarked staffs of CSG-1 and Destroyer Squadron 1, Carrier Air Wing 2, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton, and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett, and USS Milius.

CVW-2 is composed of nine squadrons flying the F-35C Lightning II, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growler, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, CMV-22 Osprey and MH-60R/S Seahawks.

"Guam is strategically important to the region and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific, Rear Adm. Michael Wosje, commander, Carrier Strike Group 1, said in a statement. Our port visit here is part of our routine presence in the 7th Fleet area of operations, and allows us to recharge and resupply to remain operationally ready for any mission."

While in port, sailors will be able to take advantage of base amenities and enjoy time to explore the islands culture and cuisine.

The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

The 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navys largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
As a veteran, I am satisfied with most of the services that I receive on the island both in terms of medical care and other veteran benefits. But there is always room to improve, and this is where we look to our elected leaders to fight for these improvements.

While it is disappointing to learn that certain programs may not be available for veterans on Guam, what is more disappointing is when our politicians lie to us.

Congressman James Moylan recently issued a statement indicating that he introduced a bill to make sure that veterans on Guam who were exposed to Agent Orange and other toxins would qualify for benefits under the PACT Act. However, it is important to understand that veterans already qualify for these benefits under the PACT Act. Therefore, clarification is required on the specific intent and implications of this bill.

After reviewing his statement and doing some research, I now understand he is proposing to expand the exposure dates to help more veterans qualify for PACT Act benefits. However, his statement is unclear and very vague about his efforts.

I would expect that he will explain the objectives of the bill better in the statement, but instead he claims he is fighting hard for this. How would we know what he is fighting hard for, when its not even clear what the bill does?

However, after further research, I realized that this statement and the new bill are very deceptive. Apparently, he introduced a similar bill last Congress, which stalled due to the need for reliable exposure data, meaning the dates veterans were actually exposed to toxins.

Late last year, the congressman issued a statement where he admitted that the last bill could not move forward without credible study (his words). If he indeed had a study, it would likely have been mentioned in his new statement, but it wasnt.

If he doesnt have a study ready, why would he introduce this new bill? Is it just for media exposure or to act like he is doing something for veterans?

If the bill has no chance of progress, why is he fighting for it (once again his words)? Is it me or do his actions scream of deception? He knows this bill is going nowhere, but he is still introducing it.

I want to ask him, but no one has seen him on the island since the election, and he is not holding town halls.

Congressman Moylan is either just playing politics with veterans feelings or is being a hypocrite. Based on what I am reading, I believe it is both and as a veteran, this is disappointing.

I urge veterans to investigate this, and I encourage the media to ask him these questions.




Haiti - FLASH : State Department Maintains Level 4 Alert Do Not Travel to Haiti





The State Department maintains a level four alert (do not travel) for Haiti, in part due to limited access to health care. This warning is also intended to discourage U.S. citizens from traveling to Haiti.



The U.S. Embassy in Haiti reports that recent gang attacks have targeted hospitals and other health facilities, and that health care and emergency medical services are unavailable in many parts of Haiti.



"Access to adequate health care or medical evacuation is very difficult due to the deteriorating health and medical infrastructure [...] Medical facilities in Haiti, including ambulance services, are difficult to find and of poor quality, especially outside the capital. Patients must bear all costs associated with life-threatening emergencies requiring air ambulance evacuation to a location outside Haiti," the Embassy states.



The Embassy has advised Americans planning to travel to Haiti that they should always ensure their health insurance covers them abroad, as the Embassy does not cover medical expenses.



"The U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not cover medical expenses abroad. Hospitals and doctors in Haiti do not accept U.S. health insurance and generally require full payment before providing care."



"The final cost of care is often much higher than initially estimated. Medical facilities generally require full payment before patients are discharged. We strongly recommend purchasing supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation."



The Embassy urges Americans not to travel to Haiti, where criminal gangs have been seeking to overthrow the government since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021.



"The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince urges U.S. citizens in Haiti to depart the country by authorized commercial transportation as soon as they feel it is safe to do so," adding : "If you are in Haiti, plan to depart as soon as safely possible."



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Justice : Reopening of the Court of First Instance of Port-au-Prince





On Monday, March 24, 2025, in an official memo, as part of the government's ongoing efforts to restore security, strengthen the rule of law, and ensure a more accessible and effective fair justice system for all, Patrick Pelissier, the Minister of Justice, in collaboration with the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) and the Prime Minister's Office, announced the reopening of the Port-au-Prince Court of First Instance (closed since February 2023) in a new space in Puits-Blain (Delmas 75), allowing for daily hearings, and the creation of specialized judicial centers starting the first week of April.



This decision is part of the government's desire to restore the judicial system's capacity to fully fulfill its mission in serving the population. This reopening constitutes an important step in restoring the judicial system and fighting impunity. The Professional Association of Magistrates (APM), while welcoming this decision, nevertheless expresses some reservations.



Furthermore, at the next Council of Ministers meeting, the government will adopt a decree establishing two specialized judicial units, aimed at better addressing the challenges of impunity and ensuring more rigorous handling of sensitive cases :



1 - A unit competent to try perpetrators and accomplices of mass crimes committed against the population, as well as sexual violence against women and girls.



2 - A unit specialized in the fight against financial crime, responsible for trying perpetrators and accomplices of financial crimes and combating corruption and the misappropriation of public funds.



HL/ S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Spain : Strengthening of the academic and scientific cooperation





As part of strengthening of the academic and scientific cooperation between the Republic of Haiti and the Kingdom of Spain, a new cohort of students is currently in Spain for the first semester of the 2025-2026 academic year. These students, selected for their academic excellence, will benefit from mobility programs offered by Spanish universities.



Among these students, three are being hosted at the University of Oviedo (UO) and one at the Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC). They will pursue training in various disciplines, including applied linguistics and economics, to help strengthen their academic and professional skills.



This initiative is part of the strategic initiatives of the Embassy of Haiti in Spain aimed at promoting education and intellectual exchange, while facilitating access to international study opportunities for Haitian youth. Furthermore, these programs demonstrate Spain's commitment to the internationalization of education and support for students from third countries, particularly Haiti.



It should be noted that the UO's inter-university mobility program is the result of an agreement signed in June 2024 between the State University of Haiti (UEH) and the University of Oviedo. The URJC program, meanwhile, stems from negotiations led by the Haitian Diplomatic Mission for the integration of Haitian students into the Erasmus KA 171 Program, funded by the European Union.



These academic exchange opportunities contribute not only to improving students' skills but also to strengthening relations between Haiti and Spain.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42208-haiti-spain-framework-agreement-with-the-university-of-cordoba-cordoba.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31445-haiti-spain-first-academic-and-scientific-inter-university-cooperation-agreement.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Bavaria has completed the pilot operation of the Palantir software for its "cross-procedural search and analysis platform" (VeRA). VeRA has been in live operation since December 25, 2024. This was announced by a spokesperson for the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior at the request of heise online. The technology from Bavaria could be made available to the entire German police force via a framework agreement that has already been concluded. The Federal Council is now calling for its use as an interim solution.

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The pilot operation of VeRA therefore ran from September 2, 2024 up to and including December 24, 2024. Bavaria has now connected its case processing system (VBS), its case processing system (FBS), the Bavarian police's search database (INPOL-Land-Bayern) and the correspondence relevant to police storage (EPost  is used for nationwide message exchange) as sources for an automated query via VeRA. In addition, "procedurally relevant data fields from the operations control system (ELS) and the program for processing traffic offences (ProVi) have also been connected and made available for analysis". The database in the system can be expanded: "The connection of further data sources depends on the technical requirements of the analysis services."

Read also Palantir CEO writes book and criticizes Silicon Valley

On the way to the federal VeRA

The Bavarian police want to pave the way for Palantir. However, the plans for the "Bundes-VeRA" had been put on hold in the meantime when the interior ministries of some federal states rejected the monitoring system and the Federal Ministry of the Interior also decided to create its own research and analysis platform for the police instead of Palantir.

This platform does not yet exist. The current priority in the Police 20 program is to get the participants' data into the P20 data warehouse, a spokeswoman for the BMI said in response to questions from heise online on 7 March 2025. As long as this data transfer had not taken place, a corresponding service for evaluation and analysis would not take place, "the development of the evaluation and analysis service (has) been postponed until the transfer of the data has made further progress". There are "currently no plans to use 'a Palantir solution as an interim solution' for data analysis in the federal government".

Now, in a resolution dated March 21, 2025, the Federal Council is calling for precisely this interim solution in order to "immediately close the gaps in the capabilities of the federal and state police forces in terms of information processing, data consolidation and analysis".

The Federal Council explicitly points out that "in the recent past, people with mental health problems have often come to light as perpetrators of violent crimes. In order to better identify and record such serious crimes, personal behavioural patterns and risks must be identified, analyzed and evaluated in good time".

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The large-scale Police 20 IT project is only making slow progress; the digitally networked police force could have its own fully operational police data warehouse from 2030 at the earliest. Until then, "the short-term central provision of a jointly operated data analysis platform, as used by some state police forces" should make an important contribution to "targeted data analysis for effective danger prevention and law enforcement", the Federal Council demands. Nationwide, "findings between security, health, weapons and, if necessary, immigration authorities" are to be networked.

Palantir is currently used as a platform by the police in Bavaria (cross-procedural research and analysis platform  VeRA), North Rhine-Westphalia (cross-database research and analysis  DAR) and Hesse (HessenDATA).

Although the Federal Council does not explicitly name the company Palantir, it calls on the federal government to "resume the activities already planned in 2023 for a jointly financed, centrally operated, legally permissible interim solution for an automated data analysis platform in the Police 20/20 program, from which the federal government withdrew in May 2023".

Amendment of the Code of Criminal Procedure for data analysis

In order to be able to use automated data evaluation and analysis for criminal prosecution, the Federal Council is calling on the Federal Government to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure (StPO) "in order to close existing regulatory gaps for the prosecution of criminal offenses and to comply with analogous constitutional case law for the preventive area". Without amending the StPO, the use of a nationwide (interim) platform is not possible.

In fact, the Federal Ministry of Justice has already had an application from the justice ministers of the federal states for a few months, which is currently still being examined, as a spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Justice informed heise online when asked. At their autumn conference on November 28, 2024, the justice ministers discussed the"use of cross-procedural research and analysis platforms in investigative proceedings" and subsequently asked the Federal Minister of Justice to examine the question of "to what extent or under what conditions a legally secure criminal procedural use of corresponding software for investigative purposes can be made possible and whether this would require a change in the law".

The "imminent danger" of Palantir under scrutiny

Palantir may currently only be used in the context of averting danger. Whether and under what conditions the police are allowed to carry out automated data evaluation and analysis is generally regulated by the federal states and, at federal level, by the Federal Ministry of the Interior (Federal Criminal Police Office/Federal Police) and in the relevant laws on averting danger and in the police laws.

Most recently, the Federal Council put the brakes on the original surveillance security package to combat terrorism, the original version of which also provided for big data analyses using artificial intelligence and the merging of police databases in the Federal Criminal Police Office and the Federal Police. On January 30, 2025, the draft of a new "Act to Strengthen Police Powers" was debated in the Bundestag at first reading, which again provides for regulations on automated data analysis in the Federal Criminal Police Office Act and Federal Police Act, including amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The rules on data analysis in the police force have repeatedly been the subject of a ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court. Now the Bavarian Constitutional Court also had to examine whether the legal basis for the use of Palantir for automated data evaluation and analysis in the run-up to a threat (i.e. without the need for a specific acute threat) is compatible with the constitution of the Free State of Bavaria. Specifically, it concerned the interpretation of "imminent danger" in the Bavarian Police Duties Act (PAG).

The decision of March 13, 2025 reads: The use of Palantir to avert danger remains permitted in principle  but only under strict conditions. In each case, the police must check very carefully whether there are concrete, comprehensible facts of an imminent danger in order to be allowed to use the software. Vague assumptions, general risk assessments or mere suspicions are not sufficient.

(mho)

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.
According to data from Statistics Finland, the employment rate for those aged 1564 dropped to 71.4 percent. The overall unemployment rate for those aged 1574 rose to 9.1 percent, marking a two-tenths increase from January.

Finland s labour market weakened significantly in February, with employment falling by 64,000 compared to the same time last year and unemployment reaching its highest level since 2016.

Henna Busk, senior economist at Pellervo Economic Research (PTT), described the figures as "grim", highlighting the steep decline in employment and the continued upward trend in long-term unemployment.

Busk pointed to falling employment in the public sector as a key factor. The private sector has remained relatively stable, but theres still no sign of growth, she said.

The drop in employment was especially sharp among women. Compared to February 2024, the number of employed men declined by 7,000, while the number of employed women fell by 58,000. The disproportionate drop is linked to budget cuts in government and regional services, which traditionally employ more women.

Despite the overall negative trend, the size of the working-age population continued to grow slightly, offering a rare point of stability.

Jukka Appelqvist, chief economist at the Finland Chamber of Commerce, said that earlier signs of improvement at the start of the year now appear to have been temporary. Those numbers were too good to be true, he said. Recovery in the labour market hasnt begun yet.

Appelqvist noted that both key employment trend rates are now falling. The 2064 age group had an employment rate of 76.0 percent, also down from previous figures. Adjustments were also made to earlier months data, revising previously optimistic figures downward.

There were 263,000 unemployed people in February, an increase of 43,000 year-on-year. The last time unemployment was this high in February was in 2016.

While Appelqvist believes the peak of the current unemployment cycle may be near, he warned that recovery will be slow. This level of unemployment keeps household spending cautious, which in turn delays recovery in domestic demand, he said.

According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, employers listed just under 50,000 job openings in February. That figure remains well below average.

Even so, Appelqvist suggested that some cautious optimism is possible. The job market is still weak, but the worst may have passed in the latter half of last year. There are faint signs of a slow recovery, he said.

HT
Despite having one of the highest average pensions in Europe , over half of pensioners in Finland say their income is not enough to meet basic needs, according to a survey by pension insurer Ilmarinen.

For pensioners living in Finland who receive a pension based solely on their own work history, the average was slightly higher at 1,977 per month. However, after paying essential expenses, survey respondents reported having just 500 a month left for other costs.

In the Ilmarinen survey, 52 percent of respondents said their pension did not cover the cost of living. This marked a rise from 44 percent the previous year. Only one-third felt their pension was currently adequate.

The survey, conducted in December and January, gathered responses from over 1,000 pension recipients. The participants had been retired for periods ranging from a few months to over five years.

Jouni Vatanen, a researcher at Ilmarinen, said the financial pressures reflect Finlands current economic climate, including cost-cutting measures, employment trends, and broader public sentiment. He said more emphasis is needed on financial preparation during working life and finding ways for willing and able pensioners to access part-time work.

According to Eurostat data, the average Finnish pension is higher than the EU average when measured in both euros and purchasing power. In 2021, the average old-age pension in Finland was 1,700, or approximately 1,300 in terms of purchasing power. The figure remains above the European average, though international comparisons are difficult due to differing pension systems and the absence of occupational pensions in the data.

Pension income also varies by type. In 2023, those on earnings-related old-age pensions received the highest average of 2,068 per month. The average disability pension was 1,282. Pensions paid abroad and survivors pensions were significantly lower, reducing the overall average.

Mens pensions remain substantially higher than womens. In 2023, the average earnings-related pension was 2,188 per month for men and 1,542 for women. The difference, 646, is attributed to mens longer working lives and higher average wages. When national and survivors pensions are included, the gender gap in total pensions narrows to 472, with men receiving 2,297 and women 1,825 per month.

For new retirees in 2023, the average earnings-related pension was 1,722 per month. This figure is lower than the average for all pensioners, reflecting the continued adjustment of pensions in payment through indexing.

In relation to wages, the average old-age pension still replaces just over 50 percent of pre-retirement earnings. However, for disability pensions, the replacement rate has dropped by 14 percentage points since 2000, now standing at about 33 percent of the average wage.

The rising concern among pensioners contrasts with the statistical improvements in average pensions over time. The Ilmarinen survey found that more than half of pensioners said their standard of living matched expectations, and 80 percent regularly monitored their financial situation. Yet many also expressed concern over financial literacy. Nearly 40 percent found investment-related decisions too complex, although over 30 percent felt confident in managing such matters.

Vatanen said that improving financial skills should begin earlier in life. Financial literacy needs to be strengthened well before retirement so that more people are better prepared, he said.

HT
Volunteers at the independent church prepare bags of food including bread, meat and vegetables for distribution. Between 600 and 700 people attend each week. Lead pastor Markus Osterlund said international students began appearing in larger numbers in autumn 2024.

Foreign students are increasingly relying on food aid in Finland, with hundreds now lining up weekly at church-run distributions in Helsinki, according to the Evangelical Free Church.

Its a sign that many international students are struggling financially. Here, its hundreds of students. Many other organisations are noticing the same phenomenon, Osterlund told Yle.

Most of the students are from outside the EU and pay annual tuition fees of 10,00015,000. Many arrived with expectations of easy access to part-time work, but are finding the Finnish job market difficult to enter.

They came here thinking it would be easy to find a job in Finland  that they could work while studying to support themselves. But todays reality is different. Now, many of them are desperate, Osterlund said.

Students must show proof of 9,600 in funds to obtain a residence permit. But with the high cost of living in Finland, this is often not enough to cover ongoing expenses. Some students, despite having savings, have been unable to find any work despite applying for hundreds of positions.

One Sri Lankan student told Yle he had applied for nearly 300 jobs. I know people who have dropped out of their studies and left Finland, he said, adding he will likely return home after graduation.

Osterlund criticised the way universities of applied sciences market themselves abroad. He cited promotional materials shared with him by students that suggest monthly earnings of 2,000 during studies.

Id like to see Finlands education authorities investigate how these students are recruited and what theyre being promised, he said.

Arcada University of Applied Sciences is one of the institutions attracting fee-paying international students. They account for about 15 percent of Arcadas student body. Around one third are recruited via agents, including a partner agency in India. Promotional material from that agency claims students can earn 1,7502,000 per month in Finland and advertises programmes for nurses not qualified to work in the EU.

Arcada President Mona Forsskahl said the figures were unrealistic. Its definitely an overly optimistic view of reality. Im grateful that you raised this issue so we can address it and sort it out with the agent, she said.

Forsskahl added that attracting more international students has been a national goal, supported by both current and previous governments. Tuition fees for some continuing education programmes at Arcada range from 13,000 to 15,000. Arcada receives state funding for each student who completes a degree, except for commissioned education programmes.

She acknowledged that food bank use among foreign students is not surprising, given the sharp increase in international enrolment alongside a rise in unemployment.

It is of course a very tragic situation that things are this way, Forsskahl said. It means that we need to be even more vigilant about our marketing and our interactions with students. We havent managed this too well so far.

HT
Jeffrey Goldberg , editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, said he received detailed information about upcoming strikes against Houthi targets via an encrypted Signal chat that included key members of President Donald Trump s national security team.

A senior editor at The Atlantic was accidentally added to a private messaging group used by top officials in the Trump administration to discuss imminent US military strikes on Yemen.

The group reportedly included 18 participants, among them Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.

Goldberg described in his article how he was first contacted by a user identifying himself as Waltz on 11 March. Two days later, he was added to a Signal group titled Huthi PC Subgroup, a reference to the Principals Committee, which includes senior US national security officials.

On 15 March, Hegseth allegedly posted exact details about strike targets, timings, and the weapons to be usedroughly two hours before the attacks took place.

Goldberg initially believed he had been added to a disinformation campaign and did not take the messages seriously until the strikes were carried out precisely as described. Only then did he realise the thread was likely authentic.

The incident triggered immediate questions about the administrations handling of classified information and its use of unauthorised communication channels. The National Security Council later confirmed the chats existence, describing it as an authentic thread under internal review.

White House officials stated that Trump had been briefed on the situation and expressed strong disapproval of Goldberg personally. Trump, who has previously clashed with the journalist, reportedly said, You couldnt have picked a worse person than Goldberg to add to the chat, according to sources cited by CNN.

Still, the White House confirmed that Trump continues to support Waltz and the broader national security team. The president has full confidence in his advisers, said spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.

In public comments, Hegseth denied wrongdoing. Nobody was texting war plans, he told reporters, while also launching a personal attack on Goldberg, calling him a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist.

According to multiple outlets, members of the group congratulated each other with celebratory emojis after the strikes. At least 50 people were killed in the air raids, according to Houthi health authorities.

Critics across the political spectrum reacted swiftly. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton posted, You cant be serious, in a short message on X, pointing to the irony of her own 2016 email controversy being raised by some of the same officials now implicated in this breach.

Senator Chris Coons called the incident a criminal breach, while Senator Mark Kelly said it could have endangered pilots and questioned why classified planning wasnt confined to secure government systems. Elizabeth Warren described the episode as blatantly illegal and dangerously reckless.

According to US law, national security information must be shared through authorised classified communication systems. Signal, though commonly used for secure personal communication, is not approved for handling classified government material.

Experts said that if the chat participants had shared detailed operational dataas reportedthis would violate multiple federal protocols. The accidental inclusion of an unauthorised civilian, especially a journalist, could heighten the legal exposure of those involved.

The group chat reportedly continued for several days before Goldberg removed himself and contacted those involved directly to verify the groups authenticity. According to Goldberg, none of the participants noticed his presence until after the strikes were carried out.

Despite the fallout, there is no indication that Trump plans to dismiss Waltz. The White House has not addressed whether any disciplinary action will be taken against those involved in the breach.

The Atlantic incident marks one of the most high-profile security missteps of Trumps second term. While the administration insists no classified details were intentionally shared, the combination of unauthorised communication tools, poor oversight, and a lack of operational discipline has drawn significant scrutiny both domestically and abroad.

HT
Moffitt a primary sponsor of bill creating N.C. version of DOGE

State Sen. Tim Moffitt is signed on as a primary sponsor of a bill that would create North Carolina's version of DOGE, the Trump administration's government efficiency effort.

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Senate Leader Phil Berger on Monday announced the proposal to create the Division of Accountability, Value and Efficiency in the office of State Auditor Dave Boliek. Further, the bill requires the DAVE to review every state agencys spending and staffing levels to get a complete picture of how theyre utilizing taxpayer funds and determine if the agency should continue to exist.

Senate Bill 474, "The DAVE Act, is sponsored by Sens. Berger, Moffitt and Steve Jarvis (R-Davidson).

The bill requires each state agency to report to the DAVE on how the agency spends taxpayer funds and detail all positions that have been vacant for six months or more. The State Auditor will then report back to the General Assembly about whether any state agencies and/or divisions or offices within an agency should be dissolved and whether any positions should be eliminated.

We want our state agencies to work as hard as the citizens that fund them, Berger said. Taking a comprehensive look at state agency spending and staffing to determine if theyre working effectively and efficiently is the right thing to do. If they wont hold themselves accountable, then the General Assembly will.

Additionally, the DAVE Act gives Boliek the ability to utilize artificial intelligence and other tools to examine an agencys spending, including the effectiveness of the spending, duplicative spending and the fiscal soundness of the agency.

Its past time for a full-scale examination of state government operations, said Moffitt, a Republican from Henderson County. As a business owner, I know how important it is to look for savings in every nook and cranny you can. This review will give us a better idea of how we can more effectively run the state and serve our citizens.

Sen. Jarvis said: We want North Carolinians to know that their tax dollars are being spent wisely, and this audit will shed much-needed light on agency operations. Its imperative that we take a critical look at what those tax dollars are being used for so we can root out any waste and get rid of any bureaucratic bloat.
N.C. Forest Service announces meeting Tuesday on Big Hungry wildfire

The N.C. Forest Service announced will host a community meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Biltmore Church on Upward Road to provide information and answer questions about the Polk County wildfires that have threatened the Big Hungry community in eastern Henderson County, the agency said.

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Polk County issued several evacuation orders over the weekend and many remain in place. The N.C. Forest Service remains in the county where a unified command is in place with personnel from the N.C. Forest Service, Polk County and Henderson County. Currently 263 firefighters are battling the wildfire from South Carolina, Michigan, Montana and Wyoming, Tennessee, Oregon, South Dakota and California.

The N.C. Emergency Management agency:

 Has emergency managers on scene filling various incident management team roles in Polk County and remaining in contact with counties statewide.

 Has activated the North Carolina Helo-Aquatic Rescue Team, which is staged nearby with a Blackhawk from the North Carolina National Guard and rescue technicians specially trained firefighters and rescue technicians to make helicopter rescues if firefighters become trapped or injured.

 Has deployed tactical dispatchers, which are disaster trained emergency telecommunications personnel to the Polk County fires. These individuals deployed from Transylvania County 911, NCEM, Rockingham County 911 and Hamlet Rescue.

 Has deployed radio caches and communications equipment and supplies to Polk County.

A statewide burn ban remains in place. Though most of the state saw rain Monday, the weather conditions following the rainfall will once again cause ground cover to dry out quickly with fire danger returning, as the gusty winds and low relative humidity causes the moisture to evaporate, the forest service said.
IT was the first feature-length animated film made by Walt Disney Studios and now Disneys Snow White (PG) has been remade with 21st century values, out at the Regal Picturehouse in Henley today (Friday).

In the original fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, Snow White has lost her parents and is living as a servant to her wicked stepmother, the Queen, who asks her magic mirror each day to reaffirm her beauty.

When the mirror suggests that Snow Whites beauty has usurped that of the Queen, she orders her huntsman to kill the young girl. Snow White is forced to flee and is protected by seven dwarfs.

This version, written by Erin Cressida Wilson and directed by Marc Webb, has Snow White teaming up with the dwarfs to defeat the evil Queen.

The film stars Polish-Colombian actor Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Queen and has a running time of one hour and 49 minutes.

Meanwhile, Robert de Niro stars in The Alto Knights (15), playing two of Americas most notorious organised crime bosses, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese.

Directed by Barry Levinson, the film reimagines Fifties New York City, as the two captains vie for supremacy on the streets. The film has a running time of just over two hours.

In French language drama When Autumn Falls (12A), grandmother Michelle is enjoying retirement in Burgundy, near best friend Marie-Claude, when her daughter Valerie visits, leaving her grandson Lucas for a week. When Marie-Claudes son returns things start to unravel.

The film has a running time of one hour and 42 minutes.

Also showing is War Paint: Women at War (12A), a look at the work of female artists capturing conflict from the Second World War to present day.

The film is directed by Margy Kinmonth and the screening includes a recorded question and answer session. Total running time is one hour and 49 minutes.

Continuing is Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (15)
Digital cooperation a new engine driving growth for China, ASEAN

10:26, March 25, 2025 By Li Jiabao ( People's Daily

Students attend a class in a classroom aided by China at the Lao Institute of Posts and Telecommunication. (People's Daily/Sun Guangyong)

In Pingxiang, south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, China's first cross-border smart portthe Youyiguan Port or Friendship Pass smart port projectis nearing the final stages of testing.

Upon commissioning, the facility will harness satellite navigation and 5G technologies to integrate autonomous transport vehicles, automated cargo-handling systems, and intelligent inspection mechanisms. A centralized smart dispatch platform will enable fully automated, 24/7 customs clearance operations.

As China's largest land port connecting to ASEAN member states, the digital transformation of Friendship Pass is poised to dramatically improve customs efficiency while bolstering the stability of China-ASEAN industrial and supply chain networks.

The technology-driven infrastructure exemplifies how China and ASEAN nations are harnessing digital innovation to propel high-quality development across multiple sectors. Digital collaboration has emerged as a cornerstone of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between China and ASEAN, reflecting their shared commitment to technological advancement and regional economic integration.

A Thai vocational school has launched an e-commerce training program in cooperation with a Chinese enterprises. Photo shows students of the school selling traditional handicrafts via livestream. (People's Daily/Bai Yuanqi)

China has established cross-border terrestrial fiber-optic cable networks connecting with Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar, achieving digital interconnectivity with more than ten ASEAN telecommunications operators.

Chinese enterprises are actively advancing digital infrastructure development across ASEAN, partnering with Thailand to deploy 5G networks, collaborating with Indonesia on national broadband initiatives, building data centers in Malaysia, and expanding fiber-optic coverage in the Philippines to accelerate regional digital inclusion.

Bilateral e-commerce between China and ASEAN has experienced sustained growth, with transactions registering an average annual increase exceeding 20% in recent yearsemerging as a pivotal engine for trade expansion.

Financial technology integration continues to deepen, exemplified by Malaysia's PayNet partnering with China's WeChat Pay in 2024 to enable payment services for over 2 million Malaysian merchants through the Chinese platform.

China has strengthened institutional cooperation through memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on digital economy investments with Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Cambodia. Notably, the upgraded China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (Version 3.0) now incorporates its first dedicated chapter on digital economy collaboration, marking a milestone in regional economic integration.

Trucks enter and exit the Friendship Pass in Pingxiang, south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. (People's Daily/Chen Shangwen)

At the 27th China-ASEAN Summit in October 2024, the two sides issued a joint statement on facilitating cooperation in building a sustainable and inclusive digital ecosystem, formally designating digital ecosystem development as a priority area for future collaboration.

Amid expanding digital investment and policy coordination, ASEAN nations are actively seeking to deepen digital partnerships with China. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society Prasert Jantararuangtong, highlighted China's digital achievements particularly in infrastructure, 5G deployment, and AI innovationas providing valuable references for ASEAN's digital transformation.

"China-ASEAN digital cooperation has a solid foundation," said Xu Liping, researcher at the National Institute of International Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He outlined four structural advantages underpinning China-ASEAN digital cooperation: 1. Political Synergy: Enhanced strategic alignment through deepening mutual trust enables technology transfer and joint innovation; 2. Shared Development Goals: As developing economies, both sides prioritize leveraging digital technologies to boost economic growth and social welfare; 3. Institutionalized Platforms: Accelerated regional integration through mechanisms like the China-ASEAN (10+1) Cooperation Mechanism and the China-ASEAN Technology Transfer Center; 4. Complementary Strengths: China's technological expertise and digital economy experience synergize with ASEAN's market demand and growth potential.

Talent development remains central to sustaining cooperation. Chinese enterprises have emerged as key contributors to digital workforce cultivation in ASEAN. For instance, in 2023, Alibaba partnered with Cambodia's Ministry of Commerce to deliver digital skills training for nearly 100 Cambodian SMEs; The Chinese-aided Lao Institute of Posts and Telecommunications has commenced operations, serving as Laos' flagship ICT talent hub; and Chinese tech giant Huawei has launched university-industry partnerships in Thailand, targeting the training of 100,000 digital professionals by 2025.

Xu emphasized that the imminent implementation of the upgraded China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (Version 3.0)which incorporates dedicated provisions for digital economy collaborationwill amplify technology cooperation as a strategic driver. This framework is expected to reinforce industrial supply chain resilience and regional development while unlocking transformative potential for joint digital ecosystem development.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Chinese commerce minister meets with Qualcomm CEO

Xinhua) 10:34, March 25, 2025

BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met with Cristiano Amon, president and CEO of Qualcomm, in Beijing on Monday, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Commerce.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on topics including Qualcomm's business development in China, as well as China-U.S. economic and trade relations.

Wang emphasized that closer government-business cooperation is essential to address risks and challenges amid rising global instability and uncertainty.

The Chinese government remains unwavering in pursuing high-standard opening-up, expanding market access, actively addressing the concerns of businesses, and facilitating the deeper integration of foreign-funded enterprises into the Chinese market, he said.

He noted that China is intensifying and expanding its consumer product trade-in programs, with enormous market potential creating greater development opportunities for multinationals, including Qualcomm.

As the momentum of semiconductor and artificial intelligence technological development and application grows stronger in China, Qualcomm's business aligns with Chinese demand, he said.

Wang expressed the hope that Qualcomm will capitalize on these opportunities and deepen its roots in China.

Qualcomm, having developed in China for nearly three decades, has achieved remarkable accomplishments, Amon noted. Expressing full confidence in China's future development, he said that the company will continue to increase its investments in China, and facilitate constructive dialogue between the United States and China.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Mia Love, the first Black Republican congresswoman, died at age 49 on Sunday, her family announced on Monday. "She passed away peacefully" with her family at her home in Saratoga Springs, a statement added.

Love was elected to represent Utah in the House of Representatives in 2014, serving for two terms. A daughter of Haitian immigrants, she was also the mayor of Saratoga Springs.

Love, who suffered from brain cancer, was receiving palliative care after treatment failed to stem the advance of the disease. Earlier this month she wrote an op-ed in Deseret, detailing her "living wish" for the country: tackling division in politics.

In her message, Love reflected on her personal journey, recounting how her parents immigrated to the United States with little money but a firm belief in the country's opportunities. She described growing up with an appreciation for hard work, personal responsibility, and the idea that government should be limited to allow individuals to thrive.

"When tough times came they didn't look to Washington, they looked within. Because the America they knew was centered in self-reliance, the America I know is founded in the freedom self-reliance always brings," she wrote.

Love also acknowledged witnessing the divisiveness of politics but highlighted the resilience of communities. She emphasized the importance of maintaining national unity, warning against the dangers of division. She stated that America's strength comes from its people rather than its government, pointing to the contributions of everyday citizens, entrepreneurs, military personnel, and public servants

Love also expressed her belief that the United States remains a place of opportunity and progress. She referenced historical struggles and achievements, urging Americans to continue the nation's legacy of striving for improvement. She reiterated her faith in the resilience of the country and the ability of its people to uphold its ideals.

"The America I know will continue as long as each of us simply remember that this country is exceptional  because it is! I know it is! I can see on the horizon that our best and brightest days as a nation are still to come," Love added in a passage of her op-ed.

Love concluded by saying that as her "season of life begins to draw to a close," she still believes "that we can revive the American story we know and love." "My living wish and fervent prayer for you and for this nation is that the America I have known, is the America you fight to preserve and that each citizen, and every leader, will do their part to ensure that the America we know will be the America our grandchildren and great grandchildren will inherit," she finished.

Originally published on Latin Times
The Trump administration last week revoked the legal status for more than 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, ending the program known as humanitarian parole. Now, South Florida lawmakers are sounding the alarms for what they describe could be devastating effects for their communities.

The Department of Homeland Security announced on Friday that it will shut down the Biden-era humanitarian parole program known as CHNV an acronym for the four countries enrolled in late April. More than 531,000 people had been approved to enter the U.S. and stay for up to two years under the program, with Florida receiving 80% of the arriving migrants, according to the current administration.

"Over the previous two years, DHS has implemented programs through which inadmissible aliens who are citizens or nationals of designated countries, and their immediate family members, could request authorization to travel to the United States in order to be considered for parole into the country," the notice said.

But several members of South Florida's congressional delegations are opposing this move, arguing that migrants who came to the U.S. legally including 75,000 who subsequently filed for asylum shouldn't be punished, the Miami Herald reports.

"Let's give them the opportunity to apply for the protections they were promised," Republican U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar said in a statement Saturday afternoon.

Salazar, who has supported elements of Trump's immigration crackdown, blamed former President Joe Biden for putting Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans in "legal limbo." But she said Trump should give people affected by the revocation of the program a chance to plead their case to stay.

"Trump is cleaning up Biden's political mess, and the legal limbo the Cubans, Venezuelans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans are facing is entirely Biden's fault. He fooled them," said Salazar, whose majority-Hispanic district includes Little Havana. "They came here fleeing failed, communist countries believing in Biden's empty promises. The Trump administration should take this under consideration and not punish them for Biden's mistakes."

U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, a Democrat that represents a district that includes Little Haiti, North Miami and North Miami Beach, said her office has seen an uptick in the number of calls from immigrants who are "desperate for help" since Trump took office in late January.

"For many years, being sent back isn't just about crossing the border it's a death sentence," Wilson said. "It means living under brutal dictatorships like in Cuba or facing life-threatening violence like in Haiti. Ending parole overnight isn't just heartless it's dangerous. It will rip families apart, shatter livelihoods, and change the very fabric of South Florida.

Another Democrat, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who represents Weston, a city with a large Venezuelan population, said ending the program is unfair to people who came to the United States through a legal pathway.

"They did it the right way. They followed the law," Wasserman Schultz said. "Now, in an instant, Trump yanks their lawful immigration status and hangs the specter of 'disappearing' them out of the country, just like [Venezuela's Nicolas] Maduro or any other out-of-control dictator would be."

DHS told migrants in the programs they have to leave the country by April 24, which is 30 days after the notice is officially published on the Federal Register. Nevertheless, the move is being challenged in court by a group of American citizens and immigrants who are seeking to reinstate the programs for the four nationalities.

The action is "going to cause needless chaos and heartbreak for families and communities across the country," said Karen Tumlin, founder and director of Justice Action Center, one of the organizations that filed the lawsuit at the end of February. She called it "reckless, cruel and counterproductive."

Originally published on Latin Times
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth texted highly classified war plans to a journalist after he was mistakenly included in the group chat.

Jeffrey Goldberg, a journalist for The Atlantic, wrote in a piece published Monday afternoon that he had received a Signal request, an encrypted messaging service, on March 11 from a user named Michael Waltz, also the name of President Donald Trump's national security adviser.

Thinking the request could be from Waltz trying to discuss anonymously about something important, Goldberg accepted the request. Two days later, the user invited Goldberg to join a channel called "Houthi PC small group."

Although Goldberg expressed his doubts about Waltz being the real national security advisor, the group chat proceeded to include various users with the same names as government officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Other users' names simply consisted of initials or nicknames, such as "MAR." Goldberg noted that Marco Antonio Rubio is secretary of state.

On March 15, Hegseth sent long messages detailing plans against Houthis in Yemen. The journalist's skepticism stopped when hours after receiving the group message, bombs began to fall.

Goldberg proceeded to leave the group, and messaged several of the officials that were in the group about the channel's legitimacy and why he had been included.

"This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain," Brian Hughes, the spokesman for the National Security Council, wrote in a statement to The Atlantic. "The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security."

Several lawyers have since raised concerns about possible violations being committed by organizing a national-security-related action on Signal as the app is not approved for sharing classified information.

Originally published on Latin Times
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered a quick, sharp response after learning that several top Trump officials had shared highly classified war plans after mistakenly adding a journalist to their group chat.

Clinton, who previously lost to President Donald Trump in the 2016 election, offered a short response to news: "You have got to be kidding me."

 You have got to be kidding me.https://t.co/IhhvFvw6DG pic.twitter.com/bnNG4dGSpI  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 24, 2025

During her presidential campaign, the former first lady was hounded by critics about her use of a private email server during her time as secretary of state. At the time, some experts had accused her of breaking state protocol and procedure.

No charges were brought against Clinton for her use of the private email, however it became a key point of contention during her campaign.

The phrase "but her emails" has since been used by Democratic supporters as a way to call out what they deem hypocrisy among the Republican Party after several Republicans repeatedly brought up the scandal.

Jeffrey Goldberg, a journalist for The Atlantic, wrote in a piece published Monday afternoon that he had been added to a group chat with top Trump officials earlier this month after accepting a Signal request from from a user named Michael Waltz.

In the group chat, Goldberg received texts from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth detailing highly classified military plans about targeting Houthis in Yemen. Other officials named as members of the group chat included Vice President JD Vance, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and "MAR," which The Atlantic noted Secretary of State Marco Antonio Rubio has the same initials.

The Trump administration has since been subjected to intense backlash as many politicians, lawyers and even everyday Americans have shared concerns over legality and security.

"I don't know anything about it. I'm not a big fan of The Atlantic. To me it's a magazine that's going out of business. But I know nothing about it," Trump told reporters when asked about the report.

Trump on his cabinet members using Signal to text war plans to a reporter: "I don't know anything about it. I'm not a big fan of The Atlantic. To be it's a magazine that's going out of business. But I know nothing about it. You're saying that they had what?" pic.twitter.com/cBl0g40tsm  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 24, 2025

Originally published on Latin Times
Set to open in 2026, Dusit's latest signing in the Philippines will bring Thai-inspired gracious hospitality to the tallest skyscraper in San Juan Cityfurther strengthening Dusit's presence in its second-largest destination outside Thailand.

Dusit International, one of Thailand's leading hotel and property development companies, has signed a hotel management agreement with Primex Realty Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of publicly listed property developer Primex Corporation, to manage Dusit Greenhills Manila in San Juan City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Set to open at the end of 2026, this sophisticated upper-upscale urban retreat will feature 200 guest rooms and world-class facilities across the top 10 floors of Primex Tower, a landmark 50-storey mixed-use development in an affluent residential district, just 45 minutes by car from Manila International Airport. The tallest skyscraper in the area, the tower will also house premium retail and office spaces, further enhancing its appeal as a premier destination for business and leisure travellers.

Alongside Dusit's signature Thai-inspired gracious hospitality, guests will have the opportunity to savour award-winning Thai cuisine at Benjarong, enjoy international favourites at the all-day dining restaurant, take in breathtaking skyline views from the rooftop bar, unwind by the rooftop swimming pool, and stay active at the gym. The hotel will also feature a ballroom with spectacular city views and fully equipped meeting rooms, providing an ideal setting for business and social events. For added convenience, guests will enjoy easy access to Greenhills Mall, San Juan's premier shopping and dining destination.

Dusit International currently operates 296 properties across 18 countries, including 57 operating under Dusit Hotels and Resorts and 239 luxury villas under Elite Havens. In the Philippines, Dusit's existing portfolio includes Dusit Thani Manila, Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu Resort, Dusit Thani Residence Davao, dusitD2 Davao, and Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort. With more than 60 new Dusit-branded properties in the pipeline globally, including several key developments in the Philippines, Dusit continues to strengthen its footprint in both established and emerging destinations.

Hotel website
HotelRunner, the leading hospitality and travel technology platform, announces its return as the Platinum Sponsor of MarketHub Europe by HBX Group, reinforcing its commitment to innovation, connectivity, and business growth within the travel industry. The highly anticipated event, hosted by HBX Group, will take place from April 1-4, 2025 in Algarve, Portugal bringing together key players from across the global travel ecosystem.

HotelRunner has been an active participant in MarketHub Europe by HBX Group, playing a pivotal role in shaping the industry's future. Since the inaugural event in Seville in 2013, MarketHub has grown into a premier gathering, hosting 240 key client partners, 450 participants, and travel distributors from 15 markets worldwide.

As the Platinum Sponsor, HotelRunner will showcase its cutting-edge, AI-powered end-to-end technology platform, designed to enhance profitability, connectivity, and market expansion for properties and travel agencies alike. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore how HotelRunners solutions streamline operations, optimize distribution, and unlock new revenue opportunities at its dedicated stand throughout the event.

HotelRunners Founder and Managing Partner, Ali Beklen, will speak on Wednesday, April 2nd, sharing strategies for transforming data overload into actionable insights. Beklen will provide valuable perspectives on driving smarter decision-making.

MarketHub Europe by HBX Group is a dynamic hub for networking, collaboration, and industry insights. It offers a unique platform for travel professionals to connect with decision-makers, discover the latest technological advancements, and explore new business opportunities. HotelRunners participation will allow its team to engage with strategic partners, clients, and industry leaders through interactive discussions, networking sessions, and coffee breaks to foster meaningful collaborations.

As HotelRunner continues to expand its presence worldwide, its involvement in MarketHub Europe underscores its mission to revolutionize the travel industry through technology-driven solutions, ensuring seamless connectivity and growth for its partners.

About HotelRunner

HotelRunner is a data-driven SaaS-enabled unified sales, operations, and distribution management platform and B2B network for accommodations, travel agencies, and payment providers. HotelRunner has thousands of accommodation and travel agency partners globally. HotelRunner is a Booking.com Premier Connectivity Partner and Best Overall Performing Partner, Expedia Preferred Connectivity Partner, Airbnb Software Partner, Agoda Innovative Supplier, Oracle, Hotelbeds, trivago, and Google Hotel Ads strategic partner.

For more about HotelRunner, visit the website.

Media Relations Contact: [email protected]

HotelRunner Media

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London, UK - Following its hugely successful Global Summit last year in Perth, Western Australia, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is bringing the worlds most prestigious Travel & Tourism event to Rome this year, marking a significant return to Europe after six years.

In association with the Ministry of Tourism, the Italian National Tourist Board (ENIT), and with the participation of the Municipality of Rome and the Lazio Region, the Eternal City will host the 25th edition of the WTTC Global Summit, at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, Rome, from 28-30 September 2025.

Recognised as the leading annual event in the global Travel & Tourism calendar, WTTCs Global Summit unites business leaders, government representatives, and industry pioneers to discuss the most pressing challenges and opportunities shaping the global Travel & Tourism sector.

With Rome as the backdrop, the 2025 Global Summit promises to be a spectacular event, with a spotlight on the latest developments in digital transformation, regenerative tourism, and investment strategies, alongside discussions on the growing importance of technology in driving the sector forward.

Im delighted to be bringing our Global Summit back to Europe, to shine a spotlight on the iconic city of Rome. One of the worlds most popular city destinations, Rome will provide the perfect setting for our Members, government representatives and distinguished guests, who will travel from all corners of the globe. I would like to thank Minister Santanche and ENIT for hosting our Global Summit, which I am sure will be a spectacular event. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO

It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome to Rome the 25th WTTC Global Summit, an event of international significance that will highlight the crucial role of tourism in the global economy. With its millennial history and ability to attract visitors from every corner of the world, Rome is the ideal stage to host this meeting. Italy is ready to seize the opportunity to strengthen its leading position in the tourism sector by promoting sustainability, digital innovation, and experiential tourism. We firmly believe that events such as this are key to fostering dialogue between the public and private sectors, stimulating new investments, and ensuring a prosperous future for our sector, which is one of the main drivers of our country's economy. We would like to thank WTTC for choosing the Italian capital as the venue for the Summit, and the Municipality of Rome and the Lazio Region, which immediately welcomed the initiative with enthusiasm; we are confident that this event will contribute to raising the profile of Rome and Italy on the international tourism scene. Daniela Santanche, Minister of Tourism of Italy

Over the years, the Global Summit has welcomed an impressive roster of influential speakers who have shaped global policy and inspired change.

The 2024 Global Summit, in Perth, featured keynotes from John Kerry, 68th U.S. Secretary of State, who addressed pressing climate concerns and the role of sustainable tourism, and conservationist Robert Irwin, who captivated audiences with his insights into wildlife conservation and the responsibility of the tourism sector in protecting natural habitats.

In previous years, attendees have had the privilege of hearing from powerhouse speakers, such as former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton, former UK Prime Ministers Theresa May, David Cameron, and Tony Blair, and former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The 25th WTTC Global Summit will provide a global stage to showcase the latest developments and commitments driving the sector forward, ensuring Travel & Tourism remains a key pillar of the global economy.

Further details, including the full programme and speaker line-up, will be announced in due course.

About WTTC

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global travel & tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to raising the awareness of governments and the public of the economic and social significance of the travel & tourism sector.

WTTC Press Office

WTTC
Sunrise, Florida - Xn Global Systems Inc, is delighted to announce that it has completed the certified integration of xnPOS with Stayntouch, the global leader in cloud-based hotel property management systems (PMS) and guest-centric technology. The new two-way interface connectivity means guest and billing information is seamlessly communicated between the property management and point of sale systems. Food & Beverage employees can now see the guest preferences stored in the PMS allowing them to suggest upsell options and better anticipate guests requirements.

We are very excited to have successfully completed an integration to Stayntouch PMS. This gives more choice and flexibility to all our xnPOS customers by adding this market leading property management system to our library of interfaces. With this new two-way interface, independent hotels and groups using Stayntouch PMS can benefit from the flexibility and rich functionality provided by the fully connected xnPOS platform. We look forward to working with the team at Stayntouch on future projects. Mark Pearman, Chief Commercial Officer, Xn Global Systems

We're excited to partner with Xn Global Systems on this seamless integration with xnPOS. By connecting our Best-in-Class PMS with their point of sale system, were making it easier for hotel teams to provide a more personalized experience for guests. This integration helps staff better understand guest preferences and offer tailored upsell options, driving satisfaction and revenue. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and exploring more ways to enhance the guest experience. Priya Rajamani, VP of Implementation & Support, Stayntouch

About xnPOS

xnPOS is a fully internationalized food & beverage point of sale system designed to meet the specific requirements of the hotel and resort industry. It is a centrally managed, full-service, cloud system with enterprise scalability, security and performance. With a focus on self-service for guests and mobility for hotel team members, xnPOS can help revolutionize your hotel service and dramatically reduce operating costs. Xn Global Systems operates from offices in the US, UK and Dubai, with xnPOS successfully installed in hotels in some 50 countries worldwide.

To learn more about xnPOS:

Please visit our website www.xnpos.net

Follow us on Linkedin www.linkedin.com/company/xnpos-by-xn-global-systems

About Stayntouch

Stayntouch delivers a full-featured and Best-in-Class cloud property management system (PMS) with a comprehensive library of over 1,200 best-in-class integrations. Our cloud-native PMS empowers hotels to drive revenue, reduce costs, enhance service, and captivate their guests. Stayntouchs newly expanded PMS platform, Stayntouch 2.0, further simplifies hotel operations, allowing hotels to streamline and accelerate direct bookings, process payments easily, and simplify integrations  offering an even more enhanced guest experience.

Stayntouch is supported by a team of professionals with deep roots in the hospitality industry and is a trusted partner to industry-leading management companies including Sage Hospitality, HEI Hotels & Resorts, EOS Hospitality, and Stoney Creek Hotels, innovative independent brands such as Village Hotels, Pod Hotels, and First Hotels, and iconic independent properties such as the TWA Hotel and Zoku Amsterdam.

For more information, visit www.stayntouch.com.

Mark Pearman

Chief Commercial Officer, Xn Global Systems Limited
Tourism Doing Business Investing in Namibia aims to attract potential investors and provides essential insights into the vibrant opportunities within Namibias tourism sector. The guidelines showcase Namibias unique cultural heritage, robust economy, and supportive business environment, highlighting areas of potential significant growth in the years ahead.

Namibia: A thriving tourism ecosystem

Namibia, known for its breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage, is poised for significant growth in tourism investment. With its unique positioning as a gateway to Southern Africa, the country offers a diverse array of attractions, from the iconic dunes of Sossusvlei to the remarkable wildlife of Etosha National Park. According to UN Tourisms guidelines:

Namibia has demonstrated steady economic growth and stability. In 2024, the country recorded GDP growth of 3.1%, which is projected to rise to 4.2% in 2025.

The country is also growing as a tourism destination. Namibia welcomed 863,872 international visitors in 202, an 87.4% increase on 2022

The tourism sector contributed 6.9% to GDP, generating USD 348 million in international tourism receipts in 2023.

Namibia has experienced remarkable growth in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), with inflows reaching USD 2.61 billion in 2023a significant increase from USD 1.06 billion in 2022. Major contributors to FDI include China (29.6%), South Africa (22.4%), the United Kingdom (9.4%), and Mauritius (6.8%).

Namibia's diverse investment opportunities and its dedication to sustainable growth make it an interesting destination for global investments. The country's efforts in energy transition and tourism expansion reflect its commitment to innovation and inclusivity. UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili

Highest level political support for tourism in Namibia

The Investment Guidelines were officially launched as part of a visit by the UN Tourism leadership to Namibia. In Windhoek, Secretary-General Pololikashvili was honored to attend the Inauguration of H.E Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as Namibias 5th President, and the first woman to hold the office. The inauguration coincided with celebrations of the 35th Anniversary of Independence for the country.

Secretary-General Pololikashvili also delivered a Keynote Address at the Namibia University of Science and Technology as part of a special day focused on harnessing the power of technology to build a more inclusive and resilient tourism sector across Africa.

Related links

About UN Tourism

UN Tourism is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. An intergovernmental organization, UN Tourism has 160 Member States, 6 Associate Members, 2 Observers and over 500 Affiliate Members. The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the Organization. The Executive Council takes all measures, in consultation with the Secretary-General, for the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the General Assembly and reports to the Assembly. UN Tourism headquarters are based in Madrid, Spain. The election for Secretary General will be in May 2025.

UN Tourism Communications Department

+34 91 567 8100

UN Tourism
Cocktail trends are a marker of the times we live in and a fascinating phenomenon for mixologists serving on the front line as well as customers at the front of the bar line! So, whether you're looking for cocktail menu ideas for your bar or restaurant or perhaps you're looking for ideas for your own weekend tipple, we've got you covered in our yearly round-up of the most popular and upward-trending cocktails.

This year our cocktail shakers are going to be filled with bold new taste combos, fresh takes on the classic martini, high-tech and mastery-level mixology, and a return to the roots of the DIY cocktail-making experience.

Weve spoken to the EHL mixologists and scoured the internet to gather this list of eight trending cocktail styles that will be filling our cups in 2025. Here are the drinks youll be raising up to toast with this year, along with some tips and tricks to try if you want to make them yourself.

The Savory & Spicy Cocktail Trend: Bold Flavors on the Rise

As seen in 2024, cocktails are moving beyond the traditional sweet and sour spectrum, with savory and spicy drinks gaining popularity among adventurous drinkers. These cocktails offer complex, layered flavors that appeal to those looking for something unique.

Savory Cocktails: Inspired by umami-rich ingredients, these drinks incorporate miso, seaweed, mushrooms, and even anchovy essence to create unexpected depth. Classic examples include the Bloody Mary and the Dirty Martini , but modern mixologists are pushing the boundaries with innovative twists. Imagine a gin martini infused with a subtle briny touch from anchovy or an earthy umami boost from shiitake mushrooms.

Inspired by umami-rich ingredients, these drinks incorporate to create unexpected depth. Classic examples include the and the , but modern mixologists are pushing the boundaries with innovative twists. Imagine a gin martini infused with a subtle briny touch from anchovy or an earthy umami boost from shiitake mushrooms. Spicy Cocktails: Heat is rising in trending cocktails, with spicy cocktails becoming a staple in high-end bars and social clubs. The Picantea spicy tequila-based drinkhas become an icon, while classics like the Jalapeno Margarita and Ginger Basil Smash continue to thrive. From chili-infused syrups to wasabi-laced spirits, there are endless ways to add a fiery kick.

Tips & Recipes for Savory and Spicy Cocktails

Balance is Key: When crafting a savory cocktail, pair umami flavors with bright citrus, like lime juice, or herbal notes to maintain drinkability. Try a Miso-Infused Old Fashioned by blending miso-washed whiskey with a touch of honey and bitters.

When crafting a savory cocktail, pair umami flavors with bright citrus, like lime juice, or herbal notes to maintain drinkability. Try a Miso-Infused Old Fashioned by blending miso-washed whiskey with a touch of honey and bitters. Spice it Up Thoughtfully: Heat should enhance, not overpower. Experiment with jalapenos, habaneros, or Sichuan peppercorns, adjusting the level of spice to suit different palates. A Cucumber Wasabi Martinimixing gin, cucumber juice, and a hint of wasabidelivers both heat and freshness.

Heat should enhance, not overpower. Experiment with jalapenos, habaneros, or Sichuan peppercorns, adjusting the level of spice to suit different palates. A Cucumber Wasabi Martinimixing gin, cucumber juice, and a hint of wasabidelivers both heat and freshness. Classic Twists: Upgrade traditional favorites by adding a savory or spicy twist. Swap the Worcestershire sauce in a Bloody Mary for soy sauce or try a Spicy Margarita with a smoked chili salt rim.

Upgrade traditional favorites by adding a savory or spicy twist. Swap the Worcestershire sauce in a Bloody Mary for soy sauce or try a Spicy Margarita with a smoked chili salt rim. Infuse Your Spirits: Create custom infusions by steeping tequila with chili peppers or vodka with sun-dried tomatoes for an extra punch of flavor.

With endless possibilities, the world of savory and spicy cocktails is perfect for those seeking a bold and unforgettable drinking experience.

2. Martinis Revisited: A Classic with a Modern Twist

The martini is making a strong comeback, with bartenders reinterpreting this iconic cocktail for today's drinkers. While the classic gin or vodka martini remains timeless, new variations featuring infused spirits, mini martinis, and unexpected garnishes are taking center stage. This revival pays homage to the martinis sophisticated past while introducing bold new flavors.

The Espresso Martini Evolution: A staple for those looking for both elegance and energy, the espresso martini remains a top choice. However, fresh takes on this caffeinated favorite include high-quality local cold brew, hints of vanilla, and vodka alternatives like scotch for a richer, smokier profile.

A staple for those looking for both elegance and energy, the espresso martini remains a top choice. However, fresh takes on this caffeinated favorite include high-quality local cold brew, hints of vanilla, and vodka alternatives like scotch for a richer, smokier profile. The Apple Martini Comeback: This 90s favorite is returning in a more refined, natural form. Instead of artificial flavors, expect fresh-pressed apple juice, tart green apple liqueurs, and a crisp, well-balanced finish that feels both nostalgic and classy.

Tips & Recipe Ideas for Modern Martinis

Experiment with Bases: Try swapping vodka for scotch in an Espresso Martini, or use aged gin for a richer, more herbal take on the classic dry martini.

Try swapping vodka for scotch in an Espresso Martini, or use aged gin for a richer, more herbal take on the classic dry martini. Infusions & Garnishes: Upgrade your martini with infused spiritsthink rosemary gin, truffle vodka, or black tea-infused vermouth. Garnish with pickled vegetables, citrus peels, or even edible flowers for a modern touch.

Upgrade your martini with infused spiritsthink rosemary gin, truffle vodka, or black tea-infused vermouth. Garnish with pickled vegetables, citrus peels, or even edible flowers for a modern touch. Mini Martinis: Perfect for those who love variety, smaller martini servings allow you to sample different styles in one sitting. Try making a batch of these classics and serving them in shot glasses as a trio: Mini Dirty Martini, a Tiny Espresso Martini, or a Mini Apple Sour.

Perfect for those who love variety, smaller martini servings allow you to sample different styles in one sitting. Try making a batch of these classics and serving them in shot glasses as a trio: Mini Dirty Martini, a Tiny Espresso Martini, or a Mini Apple Sour. Make it Umami: Add intrigue to a Dirty Martini by swapping traditional olive brine for pickled caper juice or miso-infused water, enhancing the depth and savoriness.

Minimalist Cocktails: Quality Over Quantity

In 2025, less is more when it comes to cocktails. The minimalist cocktail trend is a bit like the quiet luxury phenomenon of interior design, it emphasizes quality over quantity, bringing three-ingredient cocktails back into the spotlight. Inspired by sustainability, this cocktail trend aligns with the movement toward hyper-seasonal cocktails by focusing on a few high-quality ingredients while minimizing waste.

But minimalist cocktails arent just about sustainabilitythey also enhance the drinking experience. With fewer ingredients, each element has the chance to shine, allowing drinkers to truly appreciate the depth and balance of every sip.

Minimalist Cocktail Recipes & Tips

Focus on Premium Ingredients: With fewer components, every ingredient must be top-tier. Choose small-batch spirits, house-made syrups, and fresh, seasonal produce.

With fewer components, every ingredient must be top-tier. Choose small-batch spirits, house-made syrups, and fresh, seasonal produce. Master Balance: A great minimalist cocktail isnt just simpleits perfectly proportioned. Pay close attention to sweetness, acidity, and bitterness to create harmony.

A great minimalist cocktail isnt just simpleits perfectly proportioned. Pay close attention to sweetness, acidity, and bitterness to create harmony. Use Unique Pairings: Minimalism doesnt mean boring. Try unexpected yet complementary combinationslike mezcal with salted honey and lime juice, or gin with sake and a hint of seaweed.

High-Tech Mixology: The Rise of Switching

Modern bartenders are embracing a more scientific approach to cocktail creation, with one cutting-edge technique making waves in mixology: switching. Originally developed around 2019 by the innovative minds at Panda & Sons in Edinburgh, Scotland, this method has been gaining traction among craft cocktail enthusiasts.

Switching involves using an ultra-low freezer to freeze and remove the small amount of water present in a spirit, replacing it with another liquid that enhances or complements its flavor. For example, Iain McPherson, the inventor of the technique, replaced the frozen water in a spirit with a blend of orange juice and clarified grapefruit juice. This process intensifies the drinks flavors, adds texture, and can even replicate the characteristics of barrel aging.

Tips for Mastering Switching:

Invest in the right equipment: An ultra-low freezer is essential for effectively freezing and removing the water content in spirits.

An ultra-low freezer is essential for effectively freezing and removing the water content in spirits. Choose your replacement wisely: Swap out the frozen water with a liquid that either enhances or balances the spirits existing flavors. For instance, infusing dry vermouth with green tea can highlight its tannic and earthy notes.

Swap out the frozen water with a liquid that either enhances or balances the spirits existing flavors. For instance, infusing dry vermouth with green tea can highlight its tannic and earthy notes. Experiment with clarified juices: These are not only shelf-stable but also maintain the spirits clarity and texture, ensuring a seamless transformation without altering the appearance of the drink.

Turn the Spotlight on Low- and No-Alcohol Cocktails

The demand for low-ABV (Alcohol-By-Volume) and alcohol-free cocktails continues to rise, reflecting a shift toward mindful drinking. As highlighted in EHLs List of Drink Trends 2025, these sophisticated alternatives are just as flavorful, complex, and often just as pricey as their boozy counterparts. Today, bartenders are crafting sophisticated, well-balanced mocktails with the same level of creativity and care as traditional cocktails.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 57% of the global population abstains from alcohol, with Western countries seeing around one-third of the population embracing low- or no-alcohol lifestylesa number that continues to grow.

And these trendy cocktails arent just a fad; the alcohol-free lifestyle movement is gaining ground. Jane Danger, a member of the national mixology team at Pernod Ricard USA, told The Zoe Report: What started as a Dry January [fad] has turned into a consistent Damp Living lifestyle. Consumers are looking to find convivial moments in moderation throughout the year, especially as the weather warms up in the spring and summer and daytime drinking occasions are more common.

Tips & Ideas for Low- and No-Alcohol Cocktail Recipes

Use High-Quality Non-Alcoholic Spirits: Brands like Seedlip, Lyres, and Ritual Zero Proof offer excellent substitutes for gin, whiskey, and other spirits.

Brands like Seedlip, Lyres, and Ritual Zero Proof offer excellent substitutes for gin, whiskey, and other spirits. Mix it up with Craft Ingredients: Cold-brew coffee, herbal infusions, fermented teas, and house-made syrups add depth and complexity. Try a Lavender-Honey Spritz with sparkling water and non-alcoholic gin.

Cold-brew coffee, herbal infusions, fermented teas, and house-made syrups add depth and complexity. Try a Lavender-Honey Spritz with sparkling water and non-alcoholic gin. Play with Texture and Garnishes: A well-balanced mocktail should feel just as indulgent as a cocktail. Use egg whites, aquafaba, or clarified juices for mouthfeel, and finish with fresh herbs, edible flowers, or citrus zest.

A well-balanced mocktail should feel just as indulgent as a cocktail. Use egg whites, aquafaba, or clarified juices for mouthfeel, and finish with fresh herbs, edible flowers, or citrus zest. Try a Low-ABV Classic: Replace whiskey with a sherry or amaro-based low-proof Old Fashioned, or create a light Negroni with vermouth and a splash of non-alcoholic spirit.

Fat-Washing: Subliming Texture with Oils, Butters & Milk

Cocktail clarification has been used since the 1700s, but modern bartenders are taking it to new levels with fat-washinga technique that alters both the texture and flavor of spirits. By infusing alcohol with buttery, creamy, or oily ingredients, mixologists can create rich, velvety-smooth cocktails with unexpected depth.

How Fat-Washing Works: This process involves mixing a fatsuch as butter, coconut oil, or sesame oilinto alcohol, then freezing it. As the fat solidifies, it separates from the liquid and is removed, leaving behind a silky mouthfeel and infused flavor.

This process involves mixing a fatsuch as butter, coconut oil, or sesame oilinto alcohol, then freezing it. As the fat solidifies, it separates from the liquid and is removed, leaving behind a silky mouthfeel and infused flavor. Beyond Milk Washing: While milk-washed cocktails remain a staple, 2025 will see bartenders experimenting with oils like sesame, coconut, and even bacon fat to add richness and a subtle umami complexity.

Tips & Recipe Ideas for Fat-Washing Cocktails

Choose Your Fat Wisely: Butter and coconut oil add creaminess, sesame oil brings earthy depth, and bacon fat delivers a smoky, savory note.

Butter and coconut oil add creaminess, sesame oil brings earthy depth, and bacon fat delivers a smoky, savory note. Experiment with Spirits: Fat-wash whiskey with brown butter for a dessert-like Old Fashioned, or infuse rum with coconut oil for a tropical, velvety daiquiri.

Fat-wash whiskey with brown butter for a dessert-like Old Fashioned, or infuse rum with coconut oil for a tropical, velvety daiquiri. Balance the Flavors: Pair fat-washed spirits with bright citrus, herbal liqueurs, or bitter amaro to ensure a well-rounded cocktail.

Pair fat-washed spirits with bright citrus, herbal liqueurs, or bitter amaro to ensure a well-rounded cocktail. Try a Fat-Washed Martini: A sesame oil-washed gin martini adds nutty depth, while a brown butter-washed vodka martini enhances smoothness and mouthfeel.

Mixers Matter: Uplifting Trendy Cocktails with DIY Ingredients

In 2025, bartenders are placing significant emphasis on the mixers they choose for their cocktails. This trend highlights a shift towards more house-made syrups, shrubs (also known as drinking vinegars, shrubs are concentrated syrups commonly made from vinegar, fruit, aromatics, and sugar.) and bitters appearing on bar menus.

By crafting their own mixers, bartenders can control the flavors and create bespoke combinations that define their cocktails. Additionally, bartenders are experimenting with unique mixers like kombucha and fermented juices, which align with the broader trends in the beverage world. These creative ingredients add depth and complexity to drinks, offering patrons new and exciting taste experiences.

Tips & Tricks for Trying This Cocktail Trend at Home:

Craft Your Own Mixers: Start by creating your own syrups and shrubs using fresh ingredients. This allows you to tailor the flavors to your preferences and ensures a high-quality result. Experiment with different fruits, herbs, and spices to discover new combinations.

Start by creating your own syrups and shrubs using fresh ingredients. This allows you to tailor the flavors to your preferences and ensures a high-quality result. Experiment with different fruits, herbs, and spices to discover new combinations. Explore Unusual Mixers: Dont be afraid to try unique mixers like kombucha or fermented juices. These can add unexpected flavors and a refreshing twist to your cocktails. For example, the Turmeric Tonic is a delightful drink that combines turmeric syrup with tonic water for a bright and aromatic experience.

Dont be afraid to try unique mixers like kombucha or fermented juices. These can add unexpected flavors and a refreshing twist to your cocktails. For example, the Turmeric Tonic is a delightful drink that combines turmeric syrup with tonic water for a bright and aromatic experience. Balance the Flavors: When experimenting with new mixers, it's important to balance the flavors. Pair sweet mixers with bitter or acidic elements to create a well-rounded cocktail. For instance, if youre using a sweet syrup, consider adding a splash of citrus juice or a dash of bitters to enhance the complexity.

When experimenting with new mixers, it's important to balance the flavors. Pair sweet mixers with bitter or acidic elements to create a well-rounded cocktail. For instance, if youre using a sweet syrup, consider adding a splash of citrus juice or a dash of bitters to enhance the complexity. Keep It Fresh: Use fresh ingredients whenever possible to ensure the best flavors. Freshly squeezed juices, freshly made syrups, and fresh herbs can make a significant difference in the quality of your cocktails.

Wine Cocktails: Breaking Boundaries of By-the-Glass

In 2025, wine is stepping beyond the traditional glass as bartenders experiment with wine-based cocktails. This innovative trend blends wines with spirits, fruits, and botanicals to create refreshing hybrids that appeal to both wine enthusiasts and cocktail lovers. By incorporating wine into cocktails, mixologists can craft unique and complex drinks that showcase the versatility of wine.

Tips & Tricks for Trying Wine Cocktails at Home:

Choose the Right Wine: When crafting wine cocktails, select wines that complement the other ingredients. For instance, a crisp Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with citrus and herbal elements, while a rich Merlot can add depth to berry and spice-infused cocktails. For something different, try some of the aromatic whites that are winning over wine lovers everywhere like Gruner Veltliner, dry Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Vinho Verde, and Falan Ghina.

When crafting wine cocktails, select wines that complement the other ingredients. For instance, a crisp Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with citrus and herbal elements, while a rich Merlot can add depth to berry and spice-infused cocktails. For something different, try some of the aromatic whites that are winning over wine lovers everywhere like Gruner Veltliner, dry Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Vinho Verde, and Falan Ghina. Experiment with Spirits: Don't be afraid to blend different spirits with wine to create new flavor profiles. Try mixing white wine with gin for a refreshing spritz or red wine with bourbon for a robust and warming cocktail.

Don't be afraid to blend different spirits with wine to create new flavor profiles. Try mixing white wine with gin for a refreshing spritz or red wine with bourbon for a robust and warming cocktail. Balance the Flavors: Ensure your wine cocktails are well-balanced by pairing the sweetness of wine with tart or bitter elements. Add a splash of sparkling water or soda to lighten the drink and bring out the wine's natural flavors.

Ensure your wine cocktails are well-balanced by pairing the sweetness of wine with tart or bitter elements. Add a splash of sparkling water or soda to lighten the drink and bring out the wine's natural flavors. Garnish Creatively: Make your wine cocktails pop with creative garnishes. Fresh herbs, citrus peels, and edible flowers can add visual appeal and enhance the drink's aroma.

Make your wine cocktails pop with creative garnishes. Fresh herbs, citrus peels, and edible flowers can add visual appeal and enhance the drink's aroma. Try a Classic Recipe: A simple yet elegant option is the classic Sangria. Combine red wine with brandy, orange juice, and a mix of fresh fruits for a delightful and festive cocktail. Or go for a White Sangria by switching out the red wine for white and pairing it with lemon soda or mint and melon.

These are just a few of the top trending cocktails and ingredients that will be taking over in 2025. With so many new and exciting flavors and experiences to try, there's something for everyone to enjoy. So, get ready to shake up your cocktail routine this year!

How Do Students Learn Mixology Here at EHL?

About EHL Group

EHL Group is the global reference in education, innovation and consulting for the hospitality and service sector.

With expertise dating back to 1893, EHL Group now offers a wide range of leading educational programs from apprenticeships to master's degrees, as well as professional and executive education, on three campuses in Switzerland and Singapore. EHL Group also offers consulting and certification services to companies and learning centers around the world. True to its values and committed to building a sustainable world, EHL Group's purpose is to provide education, services and working environments that are people-centered and open to the world. www.ehlgroup.com

EHL Hospitality Business School

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Embark on exhilarating new adventures around the globe with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, part of the world-leading hospitality group Accor, where personalized experiences are the heart and soul of every stay, and properties are set in the social epicenters of the world. Expect memorable stays in majestic destinations with five highly anticipated openings, each with a strong sense of local connection, from the global luxury hospitality brands record-breaking pipeline.

India: Soak up a cacophony of cityscape sounds in the lively cityof Mumbai, India with Fairmont Mumbai, slated to open in April, where the elegance of the 1920s meets modern sophistication. Located near the international airport, the hotel offers 446 luxurious rooms and suites, blending classical charm with contemporary style. The hotel features Mumbai's most glamorous event spaces, including a Grand Ballroom that can host over 2,000 guests. Delight in five globally inspired restaurants, a wellness longevity suite, and an outdoor pool for a tranquil urban escape.

Amid the serene landscapes of Rajasthan in northwestern India, Fairmont Udaipur Palace is nestled in the heart of the majestic Aravalli Hills. Surrounded by lush greenery, this hilltop palace set to open in July 2025, evokes Rajasthan's centuries-old heritage with its intricately carved marble columns, high-domed ceilings, regal verandas, and bespoke inlaid flooring. Set across 18 acres, the sprawling property features 327 luxurious rooms and over 130,000 sq. ft. of versatile event spaces, perfect for weddings and offers guests intimate encounters with the citys breathtaking natural beauty. The palace also boasts a variety of dining venues and bars, serving Mediterranean, Southern Italian, Asian, and global cuisines.

Japan: In the bustling heart of Japan, Fairmont launches its first-ever Japanese property - Fairmont Tokyo. Set to open on July 1, 2025, this hotel occupies the prestigious south tower of the Blue Front Shibaura Project, offering 217 elegantly designed guest rooms and suites with sweeping views of Tokyo Bay and the city skyline. Just 13 minutes from Haneda Airport and near major rail hubs like Tokyo and Shinagawa Stations, Fairmont Tokyo is ideally located for local and international visitors. The hotel provides serene luxury amid Tokyos energy, with a spa, fitness center, indoor infinity pool, and multiple dining venues. Guests can unwind at five restaurants, two bars, or outdoor terraces. The Sky Chapel, with art that captures a moment in bloom and embraces eternity, along with The Sea banquet, creates memorable settings for celebrations and gatherings, while the Fairmont Grand Ballroom, one of Tokyos grandest, accommodates up to 1,200 guests.

Vietnam: Over in Hanoi, Vietnam  just moments away from Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter  step into the captivating interiors of Fairmont Hanoi, designed by Perkins Eastman and Aston Design. The first Fairmont in Vietnam, the property opens in November 2025. An ode to the vibrant city, details draw inspiration from Vietnams traditional colors and intricate lacquer craft, blending Indochinese motifs with French colonial influences for an enchanting peek into the citys fascinating history. Here, guests are treated to an urban resort of 241 luxurious rooms, with six dining and bar venues, including a rooftop restaurant, spa, fitness center, a bathhouse, and two swimming pools.

Thailand: A sparkling addition to Bangkoks energetic scene, Fairmont Bangkok Sukhumvit captures the heritage charm of the city with 419 elegantly designed rooms. Woven between extensive facilities of speciality restaurants, a rooftop bar, wellness and spa centers, and meeting rooms are a curated selection of artistic decor and handcrafted furniture that add to the propertys design story of, The Fantastic Journey of Travel to the Bygone Era. Views of Bangkoks Central Business District place the LEED and WELL Green-certified hotel within walking distance of main transportation hubs, making it a favorable option for both local and international visitors alike. The property is slated to open in November 2025.

About Accor, a world-leading hospitality group

Accor is a world-leading hospitality group offering stays and experiences across more than 110 countries with over 5,600 hotels and resorts, 10,000 bars & restaurants, wellness facilities and flexible workspaces. The Group has one of the industry's most diverse hospitality ecosystems, encompassing around 45 hotel brands from luxury to economy, as well as Lifestyle with Ennismore. ALL, the booking platform and loyalty program embodies the Accor promise during and beyond the hotel stay and gives its members access to unique experiences. Accor is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity, and inclusivity. Accor's mission is reflected in the Group's purpose: Pioneering the art of responsible hospitality, connecting cultures, with heartfelt care. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France. Included in the CAC 40 index, the Group is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information, please visit group.accor.com or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.
As the travel industry continues to rebound, hotels are preparing for what experts predict to be a record-breaking year of travel in 2025. But with increased demand comes increased competition. With guests browsing dozens of hotel options before making a decision, hotels need to ensure they're capturing direct bookings and minimizing their reliance on Online Travel Agencies (OTAs). This is where a Price Comparison Widget (PCW) becomes an invaluable tool.

The Problem: Losing Direct Bookings to OTAs

Potential guests are constantly comparing prices across multiple platforms. If your website doesnt clearly display the best available rates, you risk losing bookings to OTAs that charge high commissions. Every click away from your website to a third-party site is a potential lost booking.

The Solution: A Price Comparison Widget

A Price Comparison Widget is a simple yet powerful tool you can embed on your hotels website to show potential guests that your direct booking rate is the best available. By providing transparent, real-time price comparisons against major OTAs, you not only build trust but also reduce drop-off rates.

Benefits of Using a Price Comparison Widget

Increased Direct Bookings: Displaying your best rates directly on your website encourages visitors to book directly with you. Reduced OTA Commissions: By driving more direct bookings, you lower your dependency on costly OTA commissions. Enhanced Guest Trust: Real-time price comparisons show guests you have nothing to hide, enhancing credibility and loyalty. Better Conversion Rates: By keeping visitors on your site and minimizing distractions, you significantly improve conversion rates.

Real Results

With high season just around the corner, implementing a PCW could be the smartest move you make to boost revenue.

Try It Free for 30 Days

If youre not using a Price Comparison Widget yet, now is the time to try it risk-free. Were offering 30 days of free access, allowing you to see real-time results with no risk or commitment. Sign up here to activate your free access.

Source: Userguest

Final Thoughts

In a world where potential guests are constantly comparing prices, not having a Price Comparison Widget on your website is like sending them straight to the OTAs.

Give them a reason to book directly with you.

About USERGUEST



USERGUEST is a cutting-edge hotel tech tool that integrates with the hotel's existing website and tech stack. Once installed, the tool automatically gets to work. By analysing data, the tool determines what actions are necessary to inuence the visitor's behaviour and guides them towards completing a booking. The tool enhances the overall booking experience by displaying personalised messages and boosts direct bookings by using incentives at key points of the user journey. Through a pioneering approach known as Rev Marketing Automation (RMA), Userguest is the only direct bookings tool that automatically helps hotels generate incremental revenue and optimise inventory simultaneously. It is compatible with all booking engines and offers full support from a dedicated team that handles everything from integration to ongoing support and recommendations. A 30-day free trial is available with unrestricted access to the user-friendly dashboard and more than 30 features.

Find out more via the Userguest website: https://userguest.com/.

Follow Userguest on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/userguest/.
Germany and Britain Issue Warnings About Traveling to America - Image Credit Unsplash+

Excerpt from The Independent

News of ugly travel experiences and anger at the US are expected to have major negative impacts on Americas tourism industry

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.

Click here to read complete article at The Independent.
Sustainable Tourism: Balancing Hotel Needs and Guest Expectations - Image Credit Lighthouse



As conversations around sustainability grow across industries, hoteliers have to ask: Is this something we should be focusing on?

If you're going for a higher star rating, sustainable operations initiatives may be a lot lower on your priority list than daily room cleanings, providing hair dryers and other star requirements.

However, sustainability may be more valuable for your hotel than you realize. It can reduce water and energy consumption and staff workloads, potentially saving you money. Sustainable operations initiatives can also be marketing differentiators, helping you showcase the value of your hotel beyond good star ratings.

Below, we look at why sustainable tourism is one of the most valuable travel and hospitality trends and how to incorporate it into your hotel.

Sustainable tourism: Why hotels should care

Sustainable tourism is a concept that calls for businesses in the tourism sector to minimize environmental impacts and offer value to local communities to promote long-term business viability.

In the hospitality industry, this involves implementing practices that conserve energy and water, minimize waste and promote local economies  while still providing optimal guest experiences.

Its becoming increasingly important for hoteliers to pay attention to sustainability, as it isnt just a trend  its a growing global focus thats set to impact every type of business in every industry. This is evident from the many global sustainability summits that have occurred over the past years and are expected to continue.

Further, according to a Booking.com survey, 53% of travelers are actively looking for accommodations that offer both comfort and innovative sustainability solutions. These factors transform sustainability from a nice-to-have to a must-have.

Eco-friendly operations are cost effective

Some sustainability initiatives can reduce hotel spending, potentially driving profitability while protecting the environment. For example, washing bed sheets at the end of guests stays and cleaning rooms when requested rather than daily lowers water, chemical and electricity usage, which is great for the environment and hotel costs.

These practices also reduce the amount of work cleaning staff have to do, minimizing labor costs. And they lower energy costs, cleaning supply expenses and wear and tear on equipment, which can be a huge money saver.

Sustainability is good PR

Theres a lot of coverage on sustainability in the media, with major and small news outlets expanding their climate desks over the last five years. This presents an opportunity for sustainable hotels to get more eyes on their services.

Sustainable practices highlight your concern for the environment, which can reflect well on your brand and gain media attention. Even if it doesnt, it can promote a positive brand sentiment among guests (especially eco-conscious ones), improving your hotels image.

Guests care about environmental impact

Modern consumers increasingly prefer hotels with sustainable practices that enable them to contribute to environmental conservation. Its worth noting, however, that customer expectations can vary depending on their travel destinations and the local culture.

For example, guests staying in remote destinations surrounded by nature may expect a greater focus on sustainability than those traveling to cities. So its important to consider your market segments when making sustainability decisions.

This is often easier for independent hotels and small establishments than big chain hotels because they dont typically rely on their headquarters' decision-makers. But still, its crucial for all hoteliers to think about sustainability and what it could look like in their establishments, no matter their size.

3 environmentally friendly initiatives that drive hotel revenue

You can implement sustainability initiatives across all different areas of your hotel, including dining, room amenities and operations. Heres how:

1. Locally sourced produce

Modern consumers are paying more attention to what they consume and how ingredients are sourced. The global fresh food market was worth $94.61 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $153.18 billion by 2032 as more people demand natural foods.

So your hotel restaurant could be a great place to start a sustainability initiative. Get your produce from local suppliers instead of importing it to promote ingredient freshness and reduce your contribution to greenhouse gas emissions from fuel.

While going the local route may be more expensive than buying from cheaper suppliers in other areas, its worth it, as it can help you stand out from the competition. Plus, you can put the added costs in your price  after communicating the added value, of course.

However, dont just choose any local supplier  make the most of your initiative (and make the additional expenses worthwhile for guests) by only buying seasonal, high-quality produce. Its also a great way to get creative with your menu and incorporate seasonal, farm-to-table specials.

2. Refillable personal care products

If you want a low-cost sustainability initiative that delivers quick results, this is a guaranteed win. In fact, it has become a requirement in states like New York, Washington and California as legislators realize the devastating impacts of single-use plastic packaging.

Rather than buying travel-sized soaps, shampoos and other toiletries and stocking them in each room, buy them in bulk and add them to refillable containers. This reduces plastic waste and is, thankfully, relatively easy to implement. Plus, its often much cheaper than single-use options.

3. Green building initiatives

Utility costs are on the rise  electricity prices rose by 3.6% in the U.S. in 2024, and sewer and water rates have been increasing by 4% annually. This makes it essential for hotels to invest in sustainability efforts that lower their energy consumption.

New builds have an opportunity to set themselves up for long-term sustainability success by introducing an initiative stage. Opt for renewable energy solutions, put systems in place to reuse greywater, and install green roofs instead of conventional roofs. Green roofs can lower cooling loads by 70%, minimizing the burden on your air conditioning.

Even if youre operating out of an older building, you can still benefit from green energy by changing windows to bring in more natural light and ventilation and installing solar panels. While these are substantial initial investments, they can save your hotel a lot of money in the long run.

How to communicate sustainability commitments

Communicating sustainability efforts can bring more attention to your hotel and help it stand out from the competition. It can also help guests prepare for changes if any of them will impact their stay. So include your initiatives in marketing campaigns, highlighting how they improve guest experiences and promote sustainability.

This isnt to say that you should hype up everything youre doing  focus on noteworthy changes that make you stand out, such as using locally sourced produce and implementing features that are trending on social media.

Beyond mentioning your initiatives in marketing campaigns, highlight them on a dedicated page on your website. This way, customers interested in learning more about your efforts can do so seamlessly.

Its also a great idea to communicate efforts via strategic influencer partnerships. Work with green influencers who align with your hotels values to spotlight your initiatives across audiences that value sustainability efforts. These audiences may be more likely to book with you after learning about your initiatives.

The future of sustainable tourism

If the many recent sustainability summits and media coverage of climate issues are any indication, people will continue to expect businesses in the tourism sector to introduce sustainability initiatives.

The key to success (meeting expectations and realizing cost savings) is adopting low-cost, easy-to-implement practices that provide quick time-to-value. For example, you can start by reducing how often cleaning staff change sheets and clean rooms before moving to more resource-intensive measures like upgrading windows or installing solar systems.

To get ideas and find opportunities to improve sustainability, organize brainstorming sessions with your team. Everyone will likely have a different view of what it means to be sustainable and, based on their experiences with your hotel, thoughts on areas you can improve, so you may get some excellent ideas.

Introducing sustainability practices now could make you a trendsetter. Despite some hotels making sustainability efforts, not much is happening in big cities and capitals because theres little to no motivation for adoption.

To promote industry-wide change, stakeholders in the hospitality industry need to introduce larger and more appealing incentives. For example, bodies like the European Hotelstars Union could award points for sustainability initiatives in the future.

This is already happening in the restaurant industry, with Michelin Guide inspectors awarding the Michelin Green Star, which recognizes restaurants sustainable practices. The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) also awards the Dubai Sustainable Tourism (DST) Stamp, a strategy that encouraged 83 restaurants to prioritize sustainability between 2023 and 2024.

If you run a luxury or 5-star hotel with a restaurant, you could start by implementing sustainability initiatives in dining to win the Green Star before other rating bodies follow suit.

This isnt to say that you shouldnt make an effort if you dont have a restaurant. With sustainability on the rise in most industries, its likely that the hospitality industry will catch on in the near future. Implementing initiatives now could place you ahead of the curve when that eventually happens.

Commit to sustainability without compromising your bottom line

Sustainability is a growing opportunity for better business practices and cost savings. However, not all practices are feasible for all hotels. To determine which ones are practical for your hotel, consider what sustainability initiatives your guests might value most and how they would fit within your larger revenue management practices.

Not sure where to start? With Lighthouse, you get the data you need to understand hospitality patterns and trends and better prioritize your eco-friendly efforts to meet guests sustainability expectations.

Our solutions also facilitate stronger revenue management by helping you forecast demand and set competitive room prices. This allows you to effectively budget for sustainability practices to enhance your environmental responsibility and overall profitability.

Wondering how to strengthen your revenue management to better support commitments to sustainability? Learn how to leverage revenue management automation!

About Lighthouse

Lighthouse (formerly OTA Insight) is the leading commercial platform for the travel & hospitality industry. We transform complexity into confidence by providing actionable market insights, business intelligence, and pricing tools that maximize revenue growth. We continually innovate to deliver the best platform for hospitality professionals to price more effectively, measure performance more efficiently, and understand the market in new ways.

Trusted by over 65,000 hotels in 185 countries, Lighthouse is the only solution that provides real-time hotel and short-term rental data in a single platform. We strive to deliver the best possible experience with unmatched customer service. We consider our clients as true partners - their success is our success.

This article originally appeared on Lighthouse.
Garner Hotel Haymarket Edinburgh, - Image Credit IHG Hotels & Resorts



IHG Hotels & Resorts is set to open its first Garner Hotel, the Garner Hotel Haymarket Edinburgh, in Scotland in 2025, adding to Garner's growing European portfolio.

IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG has announced the signing of the Garner Hotel Haymarket Edinburgh, marking the first time the brand has ventured into Scotland. This 195-room hotel, owned by Palm Holdings, is anticipated to open in the latter half of 2025.

The Garner Hotel Haymarket Edinburgh is part of IHG's midscale conversion brand, Garner Hotels, which was launched in 2023. The brand has quickly become a top choice in the UK and Ireland's essentials segment. Currently, Garner Hotels has 10 operational hotels across Europe, including the recently opened Garner Hotel Preston Samlesbury, and 51 more are in various stages of development.

The Garner Hotel Haymarket Edinburgh offers guests a convenient location, comfortable sleep, 24/7 snack options in the lobby bar/to-Go cafe, and a satisfying breakfast.

Situated directly across from Edinburghs Haymarket Station, Garner Hotel Haymarket Edinburgh is ideally located for tourists and business travelers. For leisure guests, the hotel provides a perfect base for exploring the vibrant West End and the plethora of nearby restaurants and bars. On the other hand, business travelers will appreciate the hotel's quick access to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), ensuring a seamless blend of convenience and connectivity.

The hotel is also dedicated to social responsibility. Since the pandemic, it has been working with the City of Edinburgh Council and Bethany Trust to provide temporary accommodation. After transforming into Garner Hotel Haymarket Edinburgh, the hotel plans to donate 1 per guest stay for a limited time to Action Against Hunger, in line with IHGs multi-year partnership to fight food insecurity and hunger worldwide.

Willemijn Geels, Vice President, Development, Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts, expressed her confidence that the Garner Hotel Haymarket Edinburgh, with its central location and unique design, will become a flagship Garner Hotels property in Europe. Sheetal Kapoor, CEO of Palm Holdings, and Ricky Kapoor, Managing Director of Palm Holdings, echoed Geels' enthusiasm, highlighting their commitment to modern design, sustainability, and meeting stakeholder demands.

The Garner Hotel Haymarket Edinburgh is joining a global portfolio of 23 open hotels and 94 under development. In Europe, it will be part of 61 open and pipeline properties.
Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country - Image Credit Hilton



Hilton's luxury brand Waldorf Astoria is set to debut in Texas by signing an agreement for the Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country and Waldorf Astoria Residences Texas Hill Country. The Fredericksburg-based resort, to be open in 2027, will offer 60 hotel rooms, 37 resort villas, 50 private residences, and extensive amenities.

Hilton has signed a branding and management agreement with Wine Country Hospitality Partners LLC to establish the first Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts in Texas. The new Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country and Waldorf Astoria Residences Texas Hill Country are scheduled to open in 2027 in Fredericksburg, a burgeoning destination less than two hours outside Austin and San Antonio.

The Hilton managed property will comprise 60 hotel guest rooms and suites, 37 multi-bedroom resort villas eligible for a hotel rental program, and 50 private residences. In addition, the luxury resort will feature five food and beverage concepts, an 11,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, and two resort-style pools.

Amy King, vice president of luxury & mixed-use development at Hilton, underscored the importance of this milestone for Hilton's growth and expansion across the Americas. The resort returns to the roots of Hilton's founder, Conrad Hilton, who started his hotel business in Texas over 105 years ago.

Located near downtown Fredericksburg, the Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country aims to offer a central location for visitors seeking to immerse themselves in the beauty of the Texas Hill Country. Notably, the region is the most popular wine-tasting destination in the state, with over 100 wineries, and is the second most visited wine country in the United States.

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The resort, designed in collaboration with Studio CABAN, FAB Studio, TIPLER Group, Studio Outside, and Paul Duesing Partners, aims to serve as a refined haven for visitors. Accommodations will feature authentic Texan design elements, views of the Hill Country, multi-room resort villas, private plunge pools, and outdoor courtyards.

A significant feature of the resort is the planned 87 Waldorf Astoria Residences. These will include single-story estates, villas, and cottage-style Sunday homes with custom options available. The 50 private residences will offer waterside views of Barons Creek and easy access to the historic Fredericksburg city center. Owners will also benefit from the range of amenities provided by the resort and the signature resident services of the Waldorf Astoria brand.

The resort will also offer numerous dining and wellness facilities, including five food and beverage experiences and an extensive spa and fitness center. Moreover, the resort will provide a variety of venues for corporate retreats, meetings, and celebrations, with approximately 6,000 square feet of indoor meeting space.

Developers Mark Harmon, Robert Radovan, and Tim Sparapani of Wine Country Hospitality Partners LLC have expressed enthusiasm for the project. They believe the resort will draw attention to Fredericksburg's unique architecture and history while also offering a new experience for travelers and future residents.
Image Credit Hotel Monge

THE CHALLENGE

Hotel Monge is dedicated to experimenting with new products and committing the resources required to make them successful. Recognizing the potential power of Google Performance Max for travel goals (PMTG), Hotel Monge wants to leverage its ability to optimize campaigns and budgets across multiple channels for optimal performance.

With Cendyns Digital Marketing Platform (DMP), Hotel Monges primary goal for PMTG campaigns is to attract new qualified customers and significantly boost ROI, aiming to surpass a 10x return on investment (ROI).

THE SOLUTION

Hotel Monge had its website designed by Cendyn, ensuring that its digital advertising efforts would drive visitors to a high-converting, user-friendly site.

They trusted Cendyns strategy by adopting PMTG and running campaigns all year round. Hotel Monge incurs a fixed monthly spend, which can be adjusted based on the strategic recommendations of the Account Manager, particularly when a budget shortfall is identified. In this way, budget management is agile and adapts throughout the year to the hotels activity.

By leveraging Performance Max for travel goals via Cendyn DMP, Hotel Monge was able to drive significant traffic to their official website and increase their online presence on all Google channels, yielding results that wouldnt be reachable with search campaigns only.

"Running Performance Max for travel goals managed via the powerful Cendyn Digital Marketing Platform helped us increase visibility and qualified traffic to our website. We saw a 224% boost in clicks, along with a remarkable 34x annual ROAS. The results speak for themselvesCendyn's platform has played a crucial role in helping us achieve our revenue goals." Julien Alvim Owner, Hotel Monge

THE RESULTS

Thanks to Cendyns powerful Digital Marketing Platform, Hotel Monge has achieved impressive results with Google Performance Max for travel goals YoY (2024 vs 2023).

The hotel saw a remarkable 262% increase in impressions and a 224% boost in clicks. With Cendyns support, Hotel Monge experienced a 37% growth in PMTG ROAS, reaching an outstanding 34x annual ROAS. Additionally, they achieved a 27% reduction in cost per conversion.

These results highlight the significant impact of Cendyns platform in streamlining Hotel Monges digital marketing efforts and driving sustained growth.

About Hotel Monge

Ideally located between the Jardin des Plantes and the world-famous Notre-Dame Cathedral, the 30-romm Hotel Monge is the perfect starting point for discovering Paris. Its interior design, created by Marie-Agnes Louboutin and Patrice Henry, has been modernized while still preserving the considerable charm of the bourgeois houses of the 19th century. Guests can enjoy top-of-the-range services and amenities, including a tea room and honesty bar, a wellness area with a hammam and massage room.

About Cendyn

Cendyn is a global hospitality cloud-based technology company that enables hotels to drive revenue, maximize profitability, and create deeper connections with guests through its integrated solutions.

Serving hoteliers for nearly 30 years, Cendyn drives commercial success for hotels through its Find, Book, Grow promise: find the right guests; drive them to book direct, and grow loyalty and revenue across the spectrum of digital guest interactions.

Cendyn has over 32,000 customers worldwide in more than 150 countries  including brands such as Outrigger Hospitality, Hyatt, IHG, Aman Resorts & Hotels, Relais & Chateaux, Highgate, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, Coraltree Hospitality, and Onyx Hospitality Group  generating more than $20 billion in annual hotel revenue. The company supports its growing customer base from locations across the globe, including the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Bangkok, and India.
JW Marriott All-Inclusive Resort, Costa Rica - Image Credit Marriott International

Marriott International has announced a new agreement with Mullen Real Estate Capital to bring the JW Marriott brand to Costa Elena, a premium resort-residential community in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The hotel is expected to be one of the first JW Marriott all-inclusive resorts to open globally. The conversion is scheduled to begin in July 2025, and the property is anticipated to join the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio in the Spring of 2026 as a JW Marriott All-Inclusive resort.

The introduction of the JW Marriott All-Inclusive Resort is a significant step for Marriott International in expanding its presence in Costa Rica, according to Uriel Burak, Marriott International Vice President, Development, Caribbean, and Latin America (CALA). This project begins a strategic collaboration with Mullen Real Estate Capital, a pioneer in the all-inclusive sector within the CALA region.

The resort, located approximately 49 miles from Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport, has 415 guest rooms, 11 diverse food and beverage outlets, and 44,000 square feet of water amenities, including 17 swimming pools. Guests will also have access to 10,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, a 16,000-square-foot spa reflecting the brand's wellness philosophy, and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

Positioned within the exclusive Costa Elena resort-residential community, the property boasts 885 feet of beach frontage. Future development plans include the potential introduction of JW Marriott-branded residences on an adjacent site, further enhancing the resort's luxurious offerings.

Jeff Mullen, President at Mullen Real Estate Capital, expressed optimism about collaborating with Marriott International and JW Marriott. He anticipates new opportunities and benchmarks, creating a future filled with limitless potential.

Recently, Costa Rica has attracted significant interest from luxury customers and investors. In February 2025, Marriott announced the opening of its 50th luxury hotel in the region, Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Costa Rica. The country's development growth continues to rise, with the company signing 10 deals in 2024, representing 1,086 rooms. By year-end, Marriott had 22 open properties across 15 brands in Costa Rica, with more expected to open in 2025.
2025 US Outbound Tourism: Changing Preferences and Emerging European Destinations - Image Credit Unsplash



Travel intelligence firm ForwardKeys presents a 12-month forecast for summer 2025 that reveals significant shifts in US outbound travel to Europe. The forecast indicates that while traditional favorites remain popular, there is increasing demand for Nordic and secondary European cities.

According to ForwardKeys' analysis, the most popular destinations for US travelers in 2025 will remain unchanged from Summer 2024, with London, Paris, Rome, and Dublin maintaining their top-ranking positions. However, other European destinations' rankings are expected to show more pronounced fluctuations.

Forecasted Arrivals from the U.S.A. arriving to EU27 & UK destinations between July and August 2025

Berlin and Porto are projected to gain three spots each, driven by forecasted growth of 8% and 9%, respectively. Bilbao and Faro are also expected to experience significant growth, predicted to climb six and fifteen positions, respectively.

On the other hand, despite its popularity with transatlantic visitors, London is projected to see a 2% decline in visitor numbers compared to the previous year. Despite the success of Icelandair's stopover program, Reykjavik is forecasted to experience a 12% drop in US arrivals.

Nordic nations are expected to see an increase in US tourists this summer, with Helsinki and Copenhagen predicted to grow 16% and 3%, respectively. Increased competition and improved long-haul connectivity may contribute to this trend. Notably, direct flight capacity between the US and Helsinki has increased by 59%, reflecting the growing demand.

As Olivier Ponti, Director of Intelligence and Marketing at ForwardKeys, comments, "Understanding the evolving travel preferences of US tourists is crucial for destinations looking to optimize their strategies. While traditional favourites like London, Paris, and Rome remain strong, we're seeing notable shifts, such as rising demand for Nordic and secondary European cities. With our latest forecasting capabilities, destinations can anticipate these trends with greater precision, allowing them to adapt marketing, connectivity, and infrastructure plans to capture opportunities and mitigate potential slowdowns."
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Lenox Library to present The Lenox Minutemen

LENOX, Mass.  Lenox Library will host a presentation on "The Lenox Minutemen" on Saturday, March 29, 2025 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. with Local History Librarian Amy Lafave.

According to a press release:

250 years ago, the start of the American Revolutionary War was marked by the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Captain Charles Dibble and his militia companions under the guidance of Colonel John Paterson were training to be ready at a minute's notice, when news arrived in Lenox on April 21, 1775 that the British were on their way to Lexington. Over 30 men from Lenox were part of Paterson's regiment of middle and northern Berkshire minutemen who marched for Cambridge 18 hours later. This feat was accomplished by advanced preparation at a time when there was no Mass Pike, no instantaneous forms of communication, no mass transit.

The events leading to revolution, and the subsequent involvement of the local militia in the war will be discussed.

Visit https://lenoxlib.org or the Library's Facebook page for more information.
BCC Offers Info Session on Free Community College

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Berkshire Community College (BCC) will hold an information session on how you could attend community college for free on Wednesday, April 2 from 6-7 p.m.

The session will be held at North Adams Public Library, located at 74 Church Street, North Adams.

To register by April 2, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/ freecollege.

The free college information session provides an overview of how the Commonwealth's financial assistance programs allow all Massachusetts residents who have not yet earned a bachelor's degree to attend BCC for free  no tuition and no fees. The programs also include an allowance for books and supplies for eligible students.

Applications to BCC are open all year long, and there's never an application fee. For more information, contact the BCC Admissions Office at admissions@berkshirecc.edu or (413) 499-4660.
North Adams Panel Recommends Sale of Sullivan School

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The Finance Committee on Monday voted to recommend the sale of Sullivan School for $50,000 for use as housing.

"I think it's time to accept the reality of this space and put it back into taxation," said committee member Lisa Blackmer. "And although it will not happen immediately, it'll happen sooner than if we do nothing."

Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Foundation plans to turn the long vacant school into affordable artists' housing and use classrooms on the lower level for music education in the summer. It will include short-term rental spaces and condominiums catering to artists, designers and production personnel along with single-family modular housing on the 12-acre property.

Mayor Jennifer Macksey had brought the purchase-and-sale agreement to the City Council two weeks ago hoping for an immediate vote so Mass MoCA could begin its due diligence but several councilors had questions and the matter was referred to Finance.

More than a dozen people attended the meeting including Councilors Peter Breen, Peter Oleskiewicz and Wayne Wilkinson.

Oleskiewicz said he had motioned the referral because he wasn't comfortable with the lack of concrete facts.

"This could be a very viable project for the city. It could have an economic impact. We're getting rid of surplus property," he said, but added, "when these projects have come forward before, we did have a visual. We had numbers. We had money numbers. Tonight, we really have nothing. ...

"We don't know the exact amount of units are coming. We have no actual numbers of the economic impact it will have on the city in the form of taxes."

The lack of detail had bothered Blackmer, who said she liked to have a visual representation, but was satisfied with an estimate of between of 20 to 40. This was half that of a prior proposal that the council rejected.

Blackmer also asked if, like that project, Mass MoCA would be asking for a tax exemption or abatement. Macksey said no and that it had not been part of discussions.

The proposal submitted by MoCA did have a sketch of where some single-family homes could be situated on the property. John Bedard, who owns property to the south of the school along Summit Avenue, objected that the plans show the museum will be cutting down trees and planting "campers" in the midst of the trail system.

Morgan Everett, MoCA's director of public initiatives and real estate, had responded earlier to a question about the modular homes, asserting they would not be mobile homes or on trailers but high-quality homes on foundations. He reiterated that to Bedard and noted that the drawing was a conceptual plan.

The museum has not done any testing or assessments at this point; these would not start until the purchase-and-sale contract was signed.

"We need time to begin to assess the property and understand how we can lay out the vision with residential unit to understand how many can fit. We haven't been able to do any tests on the property or any kind of meaningful evaluation," said Everett.

"Once we do that, we will be coming back, as the mayor said, through planning, through everything else, with more concrete plans, that we're going to be able to paint much more clear picture."

Bedard pressed Everett about the plans for the residencies, the forest, the hiking trails and range of aspects but committee Chair Ashley Shade cut off questioning.

"This is for the sales agreement. We don't have a visual plan. We won't have that until it goes through the Planning Board," she said. "Until we get to that point we don't know ... you won't get those answers tonight."

The proposal will have to go through the permitting and at least the Planning Board before any construction can take place. The purchase-and-sale agreement does not guarantee any construction would take place and it could take months for the sale to close and years before the project moves forward.

Committee member Andrew Fitch, who was ready to vote two weeks ago, said he was confident of the checks and balances and the vetting the project will go through.

It may take years to clear up an Article 97 issue, which Macksey said had been a large part of the eight-month delay in getting the sale offer to the council.

The amendment to the state Constitution requires legislative approval on a change of use for certain public land  in this case, Kemp Park.

Attorney Lee Smith of KP Law, participating remotely, said the act was passed after the school's driveway was laid over a slice of Kemp Park, a separate parcel. The mayor said the attorneys will be searching for another option and she will also be speaking to the delegation. There is also some commitment by the foundation on helping with legal fees.

Blackmer said she was disappointed the proposal wasn't "shopped" more  sent to housing developers to pique their interest.

"I would have liked to have seen this shopped out and several more housing people bringing in proposals," she said. "Having the hard task of deciding which one was the best, to rank them. But that's not what happened."

The mayor said prior respondents had been invited to resubmit but only Mass MoCA and the Rudd Foundation had responded.

"This offer was more attractive and would suit the neighborhood better," she said. "I think in the last three years, we've toured the property with close to 12 to 15 entities, whether it be a private school or different housing people. And again, the interest we received was I just ... ."

She described the school as an albatross that's attracted vandalism and unsavory crimes.
Deidre Rosado gets some help cutting the ribbon on her new brow studio last week on North Street.

Precision Brows Opens on North Street in Pittsfield



Deidre Rosado offers mcroblading and threading of brows and hopes to soon include lip blush and more services. PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Deidre Rosado is ready to give your brows the perfect sculpted look.

The permanent-makeup artist opened Precision Brows at 644 North St. with a grand opening on Wednesday

The studio offers threading and microblading, which is described as a semi-permanent solution to define eyebrows.

"Microblading is basically a form of tattooing that is done differently than actual tattooing. We use a pen with a flex blade and a pigment versus ink that will eventually change color overtime," said Rosado.

She explained that she picks the color based off someone's natural hair color and shapes the eyebrows based on bone structure.

"I've always been into stuff like this and microblading was really interesting to me, so I just kind of did it. It's been a lot of hard work," Rosado said.

Threading is the use of twisted cotton thread to pluck out hair from the root and can be used alone or with other brow treatments like microblading.

Rosado trained 100 hours with Sarah Delaney at Zero To Microblading, a training program that also covers business operations, and a 200-hour apprenticeship with April Jordan, owner of Rock'n Ink, before opening her studio.

"She's meant to be one of the business leaders for our area, she did an amazing job very she was very particular and adamant but always question if she didn't know she wanted to know so she was so focused and stayed on top of everything she was so focused and her having her own business is something that is meant for her," Jordan said. "Im proud of her, super proud of what she accomplished."

Jordan says it is nice to see a new place like this in Pittsfield for people to come and enjoy.

"I just want to see her thrive, I just want to see Pittsfield come up and people be able to do these cares and maintenance to themselves and you know it's a lot of things that we lose sight of just taking care of who we are but having a professional business like this gives woman or man the opportunity to clean their look up and feel nice," she said.

Mayor Peter Marchetti also stopped by to welcome her to the neighborhood and listen to what she does. He helped with cutting a red ribbon to open the studio.

Rosada says she will soon be offering lip blush services, and hopes to add more services soon.

Precision Brows is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays 10 to 7 and Sundays 10 to 6. Appointments can be made by calling 413-553-1059.
The 'No Turn on Red' at Center and Holden Streets in North Adams is expected to be removed.

North Adams Panel Advises Traffic Sign Removal, Debates Animal Control Ordinance

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  Police officers stuck at Center Street and Holden won't have to flash their lights to get through soon.

Public Safety Committee last week recommended the City Council follow the Traffic Commission's lead to remove the "No Turn on Right" sign next to Public Eat and Drink.

"Most of the officers are saying you're stuck at that intersection," interim Chief Mark Bailey told the committee. "If you have an emergency, but it's not really emergency, you're trying to get to somebody, a call, a citizen or something, and you're not required to turn the blue lights on, you're stuck at that intersection light for a long time."

The police station was relocated to the Berkshire Plaza in 2023, in what had been the juvenile court. That offered plenty of more space for officers and better access for citizens, but also put the cruisers on one-way Center Street.

Cruisers turning left have to put their lights on to make it through the dense crossing but vehicles turning right have to sit through the long light  even if there is no traffic.

Bailey explained that this change will allow police officers more flexibility when responding to non-emergency calls, reducing wait times at the traffic light and reducing potential traffic congestion when emergency vehicles need to pass through.

"If you have other civilians that are stuck at that traffic light waiting for it to turn red to turn right, we have to turn blue lights to move them out of the way in order to get through the intersection, because it's very narrow," he said. "It's not like we can just sneak by."

Committee member Peter Breen wondered if motorists headed east on the artery would be confused if they were trying to make a right turn onto to Holden. Chair Bryan Sapienza pointed out there are other "No Turn on Right" signs directly across from the bridge.

In fact, there's a forest of "No Turn on Red" signs at the intersections at the foot of the Veterans Memorial Bridge, including three facing Route eastbound.

Sapienza asked if officers should just turn on their blue lights but Bailey didn't think it was necessary to disrupt traffic.

"If it's an emergency situation, they'll turn the blue lights on," he said. "I'm just saying, if there's a situation where the officer has to go that's not requiring immediate assistance, it's easier for them to get through the intersection turning right."

The committee also began work on an animal control commission ordinance brought forward by Mayor Jennifer Macksey, who had asked ACO Matthew Reynolds to look into procedures around animal control.

The new five-member board would advise the city's animal control officer after hearing cases regarding concerns or complaints on an as-needed basis.

It also would be empowered to create educational programs, publish statistics on the city's animals and make recommendations to other bodies about a long-range plan to meet the North Adams' "needs in connection with animal control."

Sapienza read from a template that would have the members appointed by the mayor with staggered terms of three years.

Breen said he had looked at ordinances in Pittsfield, Boston and Springfield, which have more extensive and authoritative boards that hold rabies clinics and other preventative actions.

He and Committee member Deanna Morrow discussed if the commission should have members with specific expertise or representation, such as a veterinarian, a city councilor and the ACO, like the larger communities. Some even had a Department of Public Works representative, said Breen, because they often deal with removal of dead animals.

These commissions also often had an animal inspector and Sapienza asked what certifications the North Adams officer had.

"He has all the authority as any animal control officer that we've ever had," said Bailey. "He's taken all the classes. He's certified in it. The one right now that's up for grabs is the animal inspector. That was quasi brought in a few years ago and merged into the animal patrol officer. And I believe the animal inspector for the city is mostly just going out and inspecting a barn."

The city only has one barn with animals adn in the case of wild animals, he said, "We get involved with the [state] Environmental Police to come out and take care of that, especially when you get to bears, moose and your larger animals."

The ACO can work with a veterinarian to get animals tested and has vouchers to help people get their pets rabies shots.

"It's my authority as the chief to deem your animal a dangerous dog," the chief said. "I can say that based on incidents where your dog bites somebody, let's say, or attack and kill another animal, I can say that your dog is deemed dangerous therefore you have to follow these certain parameters, as outlined in Mass General Law."

Bailey didn't it was fair or right for one person to be making those decisions without the opportunity for the owner to appeal.

"I get it that that's that's my job and everything, but there's no hearing authority, no right for you as a citizen to come in and rebuke that," he said. "Also, on the flip side, I can sit here and say, 'I don't think that your dog is dangerous or a nuisance.' Too bad. So sad."

The main issue, he said, is to get more people involved, to make decisions on animals within the city.

The push for a commission was in part the result of a number of dog nuisance issues last summer that had landed in the chief's lap.

"I never heard of any other chiefs or directors dealing with this before, either," he said. "I didn't even think was my authority."

A dangerous dog issue had been sent to the Public Safety Committee five years ago to allow for a hearing despite the city's ordinances placing the authority with the police.

https://www.iberkshires.com/story/62634/North-Adams-Owner-Appealing-Dangerous-Dog-Ruling.html

Morrow and Breen offered to separately go through the proposed ordinance and return with suggestions; Breen said he would also like to hear from the ACO at the next meeting.
Trump admin asks Supreme Court to block federal judge's ruling on gov't layoffs

Xinhua) 10:40, March 25, 2025

WASHINGTON, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The Trump administration on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to suspend a federal judge's ruling which required six federal agencies to rehire 16,000 probationary employees who had been recently laid off.

Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge William Alsup issued a preliminary injunction ordering the Veterans Affairs Department, the Agriculture Department, the Defense Department, the Energy Department, the Interior Department, and the Treasury Department to immediately rehire more than 16,000 probationary federal employees.

Alsup of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California stated that the Office of Personnel Management had illegally reduced federal agency staff.

"It is a sad day when our government would fire some good employee and say it was based on performance when they know good and well that's a lie," the federal judge said. "That should not have been done in our country. It was a sham in order to try to avoid statutory requirements."

The Justice Department said in a court file Monday that "Those orders have sown chaos as the Executive Branch scrambles to meet immediate compliance deadlines by sending huge sums of government money out the door, reinstating thousands of lawfully terminated workers, undoing steps to restructure Executive Branch agencies, and more."

"The lower courts should not be allowed to transform themselves into all-purpose overseers of Executive Branch hiring, firing, contracting, and policymaking. Only this Court can end the interbranch power grab," according to the document.

Federal government employees typically have a probationary period of one to two years. In addition to newly hired employees, probationary employees also include those who have recently been promoted or transferred to different positions. As the Trump administration seeks to cut spending and reduce the federal government workforce, probationary employees -- who have generally limited employment protection -- are the first to be let go.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, is pushing for large-scale layoffs across the federal government. The actions have triggered multiple legal lawsuits and sparked several protests in the capital, Washington, D.C.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
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The Russo Brothers have revealed that they first turned down the offer to direct both Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, as well as who was behind Robert Downey Jrs return to the franchise as Doctor Doom.

In a new interview, Joe Russo said that it was the Marvel CEO Kevin Feiges idea to bring Downey back as Doctor Doom after his heroic death as Iron Man in 2019s Avengers: Endgame.

That was Kevin, he told Omelete. Interestingly enough about that, that conversation was had a while ago.

Robert [Downey Jr] tried to talk us into doing it and we said, No. We just didn't have a story. We didn't have a way in, right? We were resistant for a while.

And then one day [Endgame writer] Steve McFeely, who's one of our key collaborators, said, I have an idea. And we went, Thats the story. That story has to be told. It's a really powerful story.

open image in gallery Robert Downey Jr at the Marvel Studios Panel during 2024 Comic-Con International ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery Kevin Feige, Joe Russo, Robert Downey Jr. and Anthony Russo during the Marvel Studios Panel at SDCC ( Getty Images for Disney )

Joe and Anthony Russo previously directed some of the Marvel Cinematic Universes most popular and highest-grossing films like Endgame, which made $2.79bn worldwide, Avengers: Infinity War in 2018, Captain America: The Winter Soldier in 2014, and Captain America: Civil War in 2016.

Downeys portrayal as Victor Von Doom, which was announced at at ComicCon last year, will not be the first the character appears in the MCU, as Julian McMahon first played the role in 2005s Fantastic Four, which also starred Ioan Gruffudd as Reed Richards, Jessica Alba as Sue Storm, Chris Evans as Johnny Storm, and Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm.

There is very little information on Avengers: Doomsday available except that Downey is playing the titular villain, and the Russos intend to give nothing else away.

The one thing I will say about the movie is this: we love villains who think they're the heroes of their own stories. That's when they become three-dimensional and when they become more interesting. And when you have an actor like Robert Downey, you have to create a well-shaped three-dimensional character for the audience, Joe Russo said.

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Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theatres in 2026, while the Fantastic Four reboot hits theatres this July.

open image in gallery The Fantastic Four: First Steps stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn as the heroic quartet ( Marvel Studios )

The Fantastic Four: First Steps stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn as the heroic quartet, with British actor Ralph Ineson as the villain Galactus and Julia Garner as the Silver Surfer.

At the time of Downeys casting announcement, the Russo brothers said it was made possible due to the multiverse  a series of different worlds featuring characters old and new, which makes unlimited possibilities available.

This suggests that Downey will be playing a villainous variant of Tony Stark/Iron Man. Its believed this idea was thought up after the axing of Jonathan Majors from the MCU; his character Kang the Destroyer was originally meant to be the primary villain in a forthcoming Avengers film.
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Oscar-winning Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal has been freed after allegedly being beaten by Israeli settlers and detained by the Israeli military, according to his No Other Land co-director, Yuval Abraham.

Hamdan Ballal is free and is about to go home to his family, Abraham posted Tuesday on X.

Ballals release comes hours after activists said a group of settlers attacked his home village of Susya in the occupied West Bank, beating him and destroying property.

It was afterward, when he was being treated in an ambulance, that he and a second Palestinian man were taken into custody by authorities, the activist group Center for Jewish Nonviolence said.

Leah Zemel, a lawyer representing the detainees, said she was informed that they were being held in a military center for medical treatment ahead of questioning but had not been given a reason for their detention, per The New York Times.

The Israeli military claimed in a statement that several terrorists had hurled rocks at Israeli citizens, causing damage to vehicles near Susya. The attack prompted a violent confrontation that involved mutual rock hurling between Palestinians and Israelis, the statement said.

The statement added that when they arrived, along with police, the terrorists threw rocks at them.

Hamdan Ballal (left) and his No Other Land co-director Rachel Szor at the 2025 Oscars ( Getty Images )

Three Palestinians and an Israeli civilian were detained for further questioning by the Israel police, the statement said.

Ballals No Other Land co-director, Abraham, originally wrote about the attack on X on Monday, claiming that Ballal had sustained head and stomach injuries. They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding, Abraham wrote.

The violence comes as Israeli forces continue their offensive in Gaza after talks to extend the temporary cease-fire deal that went into effect in mid-January came to a stalemate. The Israeli military took control of additional territory and issued new evacuation orders to residents who had just recently returned to their homes.

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No Other Land, co-directed by Ballal, Abraham, Palestinian activist Basel Adra and Israeli director Rachel Szor, depicts the destruction of the occupied West Banks Masafer Yatta by Israeli soldiers and the alliance that develops between Adra and Abraham.

It went on to win the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at the March ceremony.

We made this film, Palestinians and Israelis, because together our voices are stronger. We see each other, Abraham said in a powerful acceptance speech.

The atrocious destruction of Gaza and its people, which must end. The Israeli hostages brutally taken in the crime of October 7, which must be freed. When I look at Basel, I see my brother, but we are unequal. We live in a regime where I am free under civilian law. Basel is under military laws that destroy his life, and he cannot control. There is a different path, a political solution without ethnic supremacy, with national rights for both of our people.
Patti Smith never planned to front a rock band. In 1971, when the music producer and manager Sandy Pearlman approached her about making music, she laughed and told him she had a perfectly good job in a bookstore. Pearlman had seen her performing her poems at St Marks Church in New Yorks Bowery against a backdrop of feedback courtesy of guitarist Lenny Kaye. (Also in the audience that night: Lou Reed, Andy Warhol, Todd Rundgren, Sam Shepard and Smiths ex-boyfriend, the photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.) In Smith, Pearlman saw a rock star in the making, but it took four more years for Smith to warm to the idea. Finally, in 1975, her first LP, Horses, was born.

This November, Horses will be 50, an anniversary that is being honoured first with a tribute concert this month at New Yorks Carnegie Hall featuring Michael Stipe, Kim Gordon, Karen O and more, and in the autumn by Smith herself in a string of concerts where she will perform the album in its entirety. Horses  which is included in the National Recording Registry in the US Library of Congress for being a record thats considered culturally, historically or aesthetically significant  was not only one of the most explosive debuts of the 1970s: it lit the touchpaper for the New York punk rock scene. It arrived five months before the Ramones self-titled debut, and two years ahead of Richard Hells Blank Generation, Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Heres the Sex Pistols and Televisions Marquee Moon.

In her 2019 book Revenge of the She-Punks, the music journalist Vivien Goldman describes Smith as a new breed of autonomous, self-defined and uninhibited female rock star. At the time, Smith didnt give much thought to being a woman in a male-dominated scene  at least, not until men started shouting Get back to the kitchen at her during gigs. In the sleeve notes to Horses, she wrote of being beyond gender, later explaining that as an artist I can take any position, any voice, that I want. Nowadays she is often called the godmother of punk, or punks poet laureate, yet it is men who still dominate accounts of the scene.

open image in gallery Rocknroll queen: Patti Smith celebrates the 50th anniversary of Horses this year ( EPA )

But it would be wrong to attribute that entirely to misogyny. Smith may have provided a template for a new generation of musicians, but musically she existed in a category of her own; you might call it punk adjacent. Horses had a furious passion, and cared little for musical proficiency, but it didnt sound like the work of a snotty upstart reflexively railing against authority. Instead, it bridged the gap between punk rock and poetry, with vocals that shifted between singing and spoken word. Smith was loud in her appreciation of writers and poets such as Baudelaire, Rimbaud, Blake, Genet, Plath and her beat-writer friends William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg. As she noted in her 2010 memoir Just Kids, when it came to making music, poetry was her guiding principle. Horses was, for her, three-chord rock merged with the power of word.

Prior to releasing the album, Smith had taken her first steps as a recording artist with a cover of Jimi Hendrixs Hey Joe in 1974, about a man on the run after killing his wife, but with the murderous protagonist replaced by the kidnapped heiress Patty Hearst. It was decent, but it was the B-side that gave a glimpse of what was to come. Piss Factory, a raw, incantatory track that started out as a poem, and that recalled her time working in a New Jersey factory aged 16, was Smiths cri de coeur against production-line drudgery. She had been mercilessly bullied by her colleagues, who were annoyed by her insistence on carrying a copy of Rimbauds Illuminations in her back pocket and instructed her to leave it at home. When she refused, they dunked her head in a toilet bowl of urine to teach her a lesson.

Smiths lyrics on Horses would prove similarly visceral, never more so than in the opener Gloria (In Excelsis Deo), a reworking of a Them B-side that wove in excerpts from Smiths poem Oath and began with the electrifying refrain: Jesus died for somebodys sins, but not mine. More than just a rejection of religion, it was a perfect distillation of Smiths spirit: hypnotic, primal, uncompromising. Elsewhere on the album, there are tales of female suicide (in the reggae-inflected Redondo Beach, wrongly interpreted as a same-sex love song at the time), alien visitations (Birdland) and a dream in which Jim Morrison of The Doors is bound like Prometheus on a marble slab, only to break free (Break It Up). In Free Money, the most straightforwardly propulsive rock song on the album, she dreams about winning the lottery, climbing out of poverty and buy[ing] you a jet plane, baby.

Horses was recorded at Electric Lady Studios, near Smiths New York apartment. Among the musicians were Kaye, Televisions Tom Verlaine, Allen Lanier, Smiths then boyfriend from Blue Oyster Cult, drummer Jay Dee Daugherty, and Richard Sohl on keyboards. Together, they fashioned a spiky garage-rock sound partly honed during live performances at the soon-to-be punk mecca CBGB, and that would become the signature sound of the late 1970s scene. John Cale of the Velvet Underground, the producer, encouraged improvisation in the studio and avoided smoothing the bands rough edges. Even so, he and Smith clashed repeatedly during the five-week recording, with Smith saying it was like [Rimbauds] A Season in Hell for them both. Cale later recalled the experience of working with her as confrontational, and a lot like an immutable force meeting an immovable object.

open image in gallery Patti Smith reciting poetry on stage at the club Local in New York City, 1975 ( Redferns/Getty )

Smiths transgressive spirit also inhabited the cover image, which reinforced her beyond gender approach. Taken by Mapplethorpe and shot in black and white at a penthouse apartment owned by the art curator Sam Wagstaff, it showed an androgynous-looking Smith in white shirt and slacks, a jacket slung insouciantly over her shoulder as if she were the sixth member of the rat pack. When Smiths label, Arista, suggested the hair on Smiths upper lip be airbrushed out, they might as well have asked her to don heels and a sparkly dress. She instructed them to leave it be.

When Horses came out on 10 November (the death date of her beloved Rimbaud), Smith had already published several poetry collections and was making money writing for music magazines including Creem and Rolling Stone. In her early years in New York with Mapplethorpe, the pair had lived in squalor and often couldnt afford to eat, but by now she was comparatively solvent. With her album finished, she imagined she would keep on writing and perhaps go back to working in the bookstore. As she told an interviewer in 2007, rocknroll was something she was just gonna do for a little while and then get back to work.

open image in gallery The album cover for Patti Smiths Horses ( Handout )

What she didnt bet on was the albums rapturous reception, which led to requests for her to perform all over the world and to record more music (one of the few dissenting voices was that of Greil Marcus, who snippily declared: If youre going to mess around with the kind of stuff Bunuel, Dali and Rimbaud were putting out, you have to come up with a lot more than an homage). In the five years after Horses was released, Smith would make three more albums including 1978s Easter, her most commercially successful LP. Easter included the single Because the Night, an air-punching ode to love and hedonism that was co-written with Bruce Springsteen. It remains Smiths biggest hit. Fans accused her of selling out, but she was unrepentant. She told New York Magazine: I liked hearing myself on the radio. To me, those people didnt understand punk at all. Punk-rock is just another word for freedom.

To me, those people didnt understand punk at all. Punk-rock is just another word for freedom Patti Smith

Smith was still on a commercial high when, in the late 1970s, she retreated from the limelight. By this time, she had met her husband, Fred Sonic Smith of the Detroit band MC5, and was pregnant with their first child. For the next 15 years, she would concentrate on raising their two children; aside from 1988s Dream of Life, made with her spouse, there would be no new music. But then, in 1989, her former soulmate Mapplethorpe died from an Aids-related illness at 42. Five years later, her husband and her brother both died within a month of each other; both were in their forties. As the sole breadwinner, Smith had no choice but to go back to work.

Now 78, Smith has outlived most of her New York contemporaries, bar Kaye, who still performs with her, and Cale, with whom she has long made up since those fraught Horses sessions. Her work transcends not just genres but mediums too. The last 15 years have seen her triumph as a memoirist: the award-winning Just Kids, a chronicle of her relationship with Mapplethorpe, is a bona fide masterpiece, a poetic account of youthful love, and a deliciously grimy portrait of the late 20th-century New York scene where music, art and literature collided and culture was remade. Her two subsequent memoirs, 2015s M Train and 2019s Year of the Monkey, provide portraits of the latter-day Smith: always writing, photographing, performing, tending to her cats and paying loving tribute to the artists, dead and alive, who paved the way. Not for nothing does she have the rare distinction of having been awarded an Ordre des Artes et des Lettres by Frances ministry of culture for her poetry and, for her musical achievements, a place in Americas Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

open image in gallery Patti Smith and Michael Stipe performing Horses at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2018 ( Getty )

The influence of Smith on successive generations cannot be overstated: The Clash, Sonic Youth, Madonna, Courtney Love, Michael Stipe, PJ Harvey, Florence Welch, The Raincoats, Bikini Kill and The Waterboys Mike Scott have all talked of their debt to her. Stipe said that when he heard Horses, it tore my limbs off and put them back in a whole new order. Go to her concerts now, and youll see old punks standing in rapturous communion alongside teenage and twentysomething fans all celebrating Smith: an accidental icon and rocks most remarkable renaissance woman.

People Have the Power: A Celebration of Patti Smith is at New Yorks Carnegie Hall on 26 March. Smith performs Horses in full at the London Palladium on 12 and 13 October. Tickets here.
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Heart guitarist Nancy Wilson has said shes more embarrassed to be an American than she was around the time of the Vietnam War.

The Washington-born musician, 71, joined Heart with her sister, Ann, in one of the first major female-fronted hard rock bands in the early Seventies.

Together, they released hit songs including Barracuda, Crazy on You and Magic Man, receiving multiple Grammy nominations and selling millions of records around the world.

Speaking to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wilson spoke about Crazy on You, written with her sister in response to the Vietnam War.

We were kind of embarrassed at that time to call ourselves American because of the dirty politics of the Vietnam War, she said, adding: To be as subtle as possible, its more embarrassing now.

She also quoted a now-infamous remark by US president Donald Trump as she addressed the continuing relevance of their song Barracuda, influenced by the misogyny she and her sister experienced during the Seventies.

Nancy Wilson hit out at Donald Trump in a new interview ( Getty Images )

The song about a real sleazeball was even more relevant now, she said, in the salacious billionaire culture with the grab-them-by-the-p***y mentality.

Trump made headlines in 2016 after a leaked 1995 recording exposed his lewd comments about women during an Access Hollywood interview.

The then-future president of the United States was caught bragging about his attempts to have sex with a married woman who had rejected him, while insisting he had the right to do whatever he wanted because he was a star.

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You know Im automatically attracted to beautiful I just start kissing them. Its like a magnet. Just kiss. I dont even wait, he said. And when youre a star they let you do it. You can do anything Grab them by the p****. You can do anything.

His second term in the White House began with a series of attacks on womens and LGBT+ rights that have continued since his inauguration in January.

I think for women in the culture the pendulum will come back again, and therell be another renaissance in the arts to push back against the oppression of the cranky old rich white guys, Wilson said.

I hope I am alive to see that next revolution.
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Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein, members of K-Pop powerhouse girl group NewJeans, likely believed until three days ago that their Hong Kong performance on Sunday would be one that signified their victory against their record label Ador.

But a Seoul court dashed their hopes on Friday after it ruled against the quintet, granting Adors request for an injunction to establish themselves as NewJeans management agency and forbidding the group to pursue any kind of independent activity  making music, performing, or signing advertising deals.

NewJeans and Ador have been embroiled in a feud since last years ouster of Min Hee Jin, the bands former creative director and Adors former CEO, by Adors parent company Hybe.

Matters came to a head after the group held a press conference, unilaterally declared their exclusive contract with Ador invalid, and accused the agency of having neither the ability nor the will to protect NewJeans.

Ador denied the bands allegations of mistreatment and bullying, maintained that they had not violated the terms of the agreement, and argued that a unilateral claim of a breach of trust does not constitute valid grounds for terminating the contract.

NewJeans at the Central District Court in Seoul ( EPA )

NewJeans were scheduled to perform on Sunday at ComplexCon Hong Kong where they had previously announced they would release a new song under the new name they debuted last month: NJZ.

As fans were to discover, however, the performance that should have felt like a triumph ended up a little more somber.

The mood on the ground resembled a regular festival or concert atmosphere; Bunnies, the official name of NewJeans fandom, showed up with light sticks and dressed in band merchandise, rushing to buy more from the booth, and writing messages of support on the walls.

A key detail to note: the name on the groups booth and merchandise said NJZ, not NewJeans.

After the courts order on Friday, a statement from Ador said the company was fully committed to the group and would be fully present in Hong Kong to guarantee the performance is presented under the NewJeans name.

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When the performance began, none of the members performed NewJeans songs or even performed together. Danielle sang TLCs No Scrubs, followed by Minjis rendition of Upsahls Smile for the Camera and Haerins Dontcha by the Internet.

Hyein and Hanni rounded out the covers with their takes on SWVs Use Your Heart and Ghost Town DJs My Boo.

Finally, they came together in synchronised costumes, with Minjis tights reading Chapter NJZ. They performed a new song, Pitstop, complete with their signature, fluid style of choreography that set the group apart from their K-Pop peers.

And then, the band read out prepared speeches, in Korean and English, to the 11,000-odd sold-out audience. They would be going on hiatus, they said.

Its really hard for us to say this but this might be our last performance for a little while. Out of respect for the courts decision, weve decided to pause all our activities for now. It wasnt an easy decision, but we believe this is something we need to do at this moment, they told the crowd.

Honestly, weve known from the start that this journey wasnt going to be easy and even though we accept the courts ruling and this whole process, we had to speak up to protect the values that we believe in, and that was a choice that we dont regret at all.

We surely believe that standing up for our dignity, our rights and everything we deeply care about is something we had to do, and that belief will not change.

The group added that the decision might be disappointing or upsetting but it was not an easy decision for us to make either.

But right now, though, it feels too hard to keep going at this pace, and as strong as we are trying to stay, it has honestly taken a bit of mental and emotional toll on us. However, this doesnt mean that we are going to give up. We will keep pushing forward no matter what.

South Korean media reported that Ador staff went to ComplexCon, but were unable to meet the group. Responding to the hiatus announcement, Ador said it deeply regrets that, despite the courts decision, a performance was carried out under a name other than NewJeans, and that an abrupt suspension of activities was announced unilaterally.

Ador remains committed to doing its utmost for NewJeans under a valid exclusive contract. We hope to meet the artistes soon to discuss their future.

As things stand now, it appears NewJeans intends to do nothing until the resolution of the main lawsuit with Ador over the legitimacy of their unilateral contract termination. The first hearing is set for 3 April.

After Fridays ruling, the groups statement implied the same. The band said while they respected the courts decision, they believed it didnt fully take into account the complete breakdown of trust between the group and the agency.

It is important to note that an injunction is a provisional measure. A separate main lawsuit regarding the validity of the exclusive contract termination is currently underway, with a court hearing scheduled for April 3. Unlike injunction proceedings, the main lawsuit allows us to freely utilise civil procedure tools to collect necessary evidence, they said.

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.

While fans stand by the group, as their messages on social media show, experts dont share their optimism.

Under the Korean judicial system, in cases like this where an agency files an injunction to suspend an artists activities, the proceedings are generally very favourable to the artist, Sangrock Kho, a lawyer at the South Korean Law Firm Pil, told CNN, adding that Fridays decision suggested NewJeans legal case was either extremely weak or virtually nonexistent.

This is because courts are usually extremely reluctant to issue injunctions that could cause irreparable harm to an artists career by restricting their freedom of occupation, the lawyer said.

Given that, the fact that the court has nevertheless issued this type of injunction suggests that, after reviewing all the claims, evidence, and extensive presentation materials  the court concluded that NewJeans argument  that the breakdown in trust was entirely caused by Hybe and Ador  lacks sufficient legal basis.
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Sziget Festival has announced a fresh wave of artists for its 2025 edition, including British rapper Little Simz, Michael Kiwanuka and FKA twigs.

Held on the Island of Freedom in Budapest, Hungary, Sziget offers festival-goers a vibrant and eclectic programme featuring dedicated spaces for music, theatre, cabaret and art.

This years festival stars six huge headliners, Chappell Roan, A$AP Rocky, Charli XCX, Anyma, Post Malone and Shawn Mendes.

Other major artists on the staggering lineup include French electronic legends Justice, Belfast rap trio Kneecap, Stockport rock band Blossoms, The Last Dinner Party, Fat Dog, Empire of the Sun, Nelly Furtado, The Dare and Krept & Konan.

Charli XCX will perform as part of the continuation of her culture-defining Brat tour, in support of her critically adored hit album of the same name.

Meanwhile, Chappell Roan is undoubtedly one of the biggest breakthrough pop artists in years, thanks to her debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess and her triumph at the 2025 Grammys as Best New Artist, not to mention her latest single, the country-influenced queer anthem The Giver.

open image in gallery Grammy winner Chappell Roan will headline this years Sziget Festival ( Invision )

New additions for the 2025 event, which takes place between 6 to 11 August, include the Delta District, offering live music arenas and intimate club spaces, an open-air amphitheatre and the Bolt Night Stage.

The Independent is teaming up with Sziget, one of Europes biggest festivals, as its exclusive international news partner of 2025.

open image in gallery Sziget 2025 has added a huge list of names to its lineup ( Sziget Festival )

Tamas Kadar, CEO of Sziget Cultural Management Ltd, commented: This partnership with The Independent marks an important moment to fulfil a shared vision to bring Sziget, AKA 'The Island of Freedom', to their independent-minded audience; shining light on the diverse genres, cultural programmes and aspiring inclusivity focus at the festival.

We look forward to bringing insightful reads to inspire existing and future Szitizens to join the unique magic at Sziget.

Tickets for Sziget 2025, including day and full festival passes, are on sale now.
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Professional dancer Chantel Bellew, who competed on season 13 of Britains Got Talent, has died. Her death reportedly comes a month after her 34th birthday.

Bellews passing was confirmed by her friends on a newly created GoFundMe page, set up to assist her family in giving her the send-off she deserves.

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Chantel, as we navigate through this incredibly difficult time, we want to honour her life and the beautiful impact she had on everyone who knew her, the statement read.

Chantel was more than a daughter, wife, sister, niece, cousin and friend. She was a kind, loving, and passionate spirit who brought joy and laughter to so many. Chantel was a talent second to none who was the life and soul of every party, I am sure you will agree she was a character that nobody will ever forget, it continued. As Chantels friends, we would like to help the family give Chantel the showbiz farewell she deserves.

It was noted that donations will be used to offset the significant costs associated with funeral and memorial expenses, while all remaining funds will then be donated to www.mind.org.uk to provide support to others that might be suffering with mental health.

The statement didnt mention a cause of death; however, according to the Daily Mail, Bellew died at the hospital of a suspected overdose.

open image in gallery Bellew died weeks after her 34th birthday ( Chantel Bellew / Facebook )

The outlet additionally reported that before her death, Bellew had struggled with depression.

Bellew lived in Widnes, Cheshire, where she taught dance and singing in recent years, per GB News.

She auditioned for Britains Got Talent in 2019 before being eliminated in the quarter-final round. Although her time in the competition was brief, she managed to wow hosting duo Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, known familiarly as Ant & Dec, during her untelevised audition.

In an Instagram post made at the time, Bellew shared a clip of the presenters looking impressed by her performance. Keep your eye out on BGT, she wrote in the caption.

Bellews dance career went far beyond Britains Got Talent. She had previously been a part of the U.K. tour of The Greatest Showman, in addition to appearing in the 2016 production of 42nd Street in Paris.

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Stephen Mear, the director of 42nd Street, paid tribute to Bellew on Instagram, writing: This has really shocked me. Such a wonderful funny person with a big heart. Also, one of the best tappers Ive ever had the pleasure to work with.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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David Tennant appeared to take a dig at controversial author JK Rowling when the Scottish actor was asked about participating in the new Harry Potter streaming series.

Tennant, 53, previously played the role of Barty Crouch Jr in 2005s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. In recent months, he has drawn the ire of Rowling  an outspoken opponent of the transgender rights movement  after voicing support for the trans community.

The new Harry Potter series is being developed by Warner Bros and has already cast John Lithgow (Dexter, Conclave) in the role of wizard headteacher Albus Dumbledore.

Tennant was asked during a Q&A at Planet ComicCon about the possibility of returning to the world of Harry Potter for the reboot.

I mean, theyre great stories, he replied, adding that his contribution has probably been made to the Potter franchise already.

He then added: Im told theres an executive producer who doesnt love me on that show.

Rowling, who is widely presumed to be the executive producer in question, previously called out Tennant by name in a tweet celebrating the appointment of Kemi Badenoch to the role of Conservative Party leader.

Actor David Tennant and Harry Potter creator JK Rowling ( Getty )

Last year, Tennant was engaged in a war of words with Badenoch, then the governments Minister for Women and Equalities, over proposed changes to the Equalities act that would enshrine biological sex as a protected characteristic in UK law. While accepting the Celebrity Ally award at the British LGBT Awards, Tennant spoke out in favour of trans rights, criticising Badenoch and the proposed legislation.

When Badenoch won the Tory leadership in November, Rowling tweeted: My thoughts and prayers are with David Tennant at this very difficult time.

In recent years, Rowling has also been critical of other former Potter cast members who have voiced support for trans rights.

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Earlier this month, childrens author took an apparent swipe at the three young leads of the Potter film franchise  Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint  on social media.

Rowling, who once stated she would rather go to jail than refer to a trans person by their preferred pronouns, responded to a viral prompt that read: What actor/actress instantly ruins a movie for you?

She responded: Three guesses. Sorry, but that was irresistible.

Rowling has previously criticised Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint, telling them to save their apologies after speaking out in support of trans people.

The Independent has contacted representatives of Rowling and Tennant for comment.
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The Malcolm in the Middle revival is set to begin filming in Vancouver in the next few weeks, with one major change from the cast of the original series.

Frankie Muniz is set to reprise the title role, with Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek also returning as his parents.

However, Variety reports that Erik Per Sullivan, who played youngest brother Dewey in the beloved family sitcom, will not return. His role will be filled by Fargo actor Caleb Ellsworth-Clark.

Christopher Masterson, who played oldest brother Francis, and Justin Berfield, who played Reese, will both return.

Sullivans absence appears to be because of his decision to move away from acting as a career. Last year, Kaczmarek spoke to fan site Malcolm France about Sullivan and said: Hes well, hes very, very well He did Malcolm for seven years, he started at seven, he ended at 14. He wasnt interested in acting, at all.

She added: He goes to school at a very prestigious American university that hes asked us all to be quiet about and he loves Charles Dickens. Hes doing graduate work in Victorian literature. I admire it because so many people think being in show business is the greatest thing in the world, its not for everyone.

Jane Kaczmarek, Frankie Muniz, Erik Per Sullivan, and Justin Berfield in 'Malcolm in the Middle' ( Rex )

The reboot of Malcolm in the Middle will run for four episodes and air on Disney+. No release date has yet been announced.

The official logline reads: Malcolm and his daughter are drawn into the familys chaos when Hal and Lois demand his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary party.

The Fabelmans actor Keeley Karsten has been cast as Malcolms daughter, Leah.

When the reboot was announced, Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, told Variety: Malcolm in the Middle is a landmark sitcom that captured the essence of family life with humor, heart and relatability.

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Its hilarious and heartfelt portrayal of a lovably chaotic family resonated with audiences of all ages, and were so excited to welcome the original cast back to bring that magic to life again.

With Linwood Boomer and the creative team at the helm, these new episodes will have all the laughs, pranks, and mayhem fans loved  along with a few surprises that remind us why this show is so timeless.

Malcolm in the Middle aired on Fox from 2000 to 2006 for seven seasons. The single-camera comedy series focused on Malcolm, a child prodigy, and his dysfunctional working-class family. Over the course of seven seasons, Malcolm in the Middle earned seven Emmy Awards out of its 33 nominations.
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Netflix series The Residence has been dedicated to Emmy-winning actor Andre Braugher.

The Brooklyn Nine-Nine star was best known to many for his performance as the stoic Captain Raymond Holt in the police comedy. He died in December 2023 after a brief illness with lung cancer.

At the time of his death, the 61-year-old was mid-way through filming The Residence, a series described by Netflix as a screwball whodunnit set in the upstairs, downstairs, and backstairs of the White House, among the eclectic staff of the worlds most famous mansion.

The show is the latest Netflix release from producer Shonda Rhimes, responsible for hits including Greys Anatomy, How to Get Away with Murder and Bridgerton.

At the end of the eight-part series, a card reads: In Memory of Andre Braugher.

Braugher was due to play White House chief usher (AB Wynter) and had completed half of his scenes while the show was in production when he died.

There might have been a natural inclination to do that after the first episode, but for me, it was important to do that at the end of the whole series, to say, you were part of all this, and we have not forgotten you, creator Paul William Davies told Deadline.

open image in gallery Beloved actor died aged 61 in 2023 ( Getty Images )

He lived with us throughout the entire making of this, Davies told People. When he was here and when he was gone, we all thought about him constantly. His kind of spirit was throughout the whole show.

There was speculation Braugher could appear posthumously in the show but the team eventually made the decision to recast the role and he was replaced by Breaking Bad star Giancarlo Esposito. The star told Shondaland that it had been a difficult decision for me to step into the shoes of Andre.

He added: "I couldnt be prouder and more honoured to be stepping into Shondalands The Residence for someone that I loved and respected and cherished in Andre Braugher.

open image in gallery Andre Braugher during a table read for 'The Residence' ( JESSICA BROOKS/NETFLIX )

"To be afforded the opportunity to create in his honour with this incredible team extends the depth and breadth of his legacy through all of us who loved him so dearly."

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Fans were left emotional at the tribute as one person wrote: The fact that Andre Braugher was filming the Residence when he died and the show is dedicated to him alongside a picture of a cat crying.

open image in gallery Show featured a special dedication to the actor ( Netflix )

Loved the residence so much It was a good whodunit, commented one person praising the programme. I was so glued to my chair and watched all eight episodes and I haven't done that in a while. The best part is that it was dedicated to Andre Braugher. Shonda, please take your flowers.
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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.

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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.
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The cause of death for Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff has been officially confirmed, three weeks after she died at the age of 61.

The model and actor was known for her television appearances during the 1980s and 1990s and her 17-year marriage to David Hasselhoff.

TMZ reports that her Los Angeles County death certificate confirms she died by suicide on March 5. She has since been cremated.

Originally from Oklahoma, Bach moved to Los Angeles in 1985 and met her future husband on the set of his hit show Knight Rider the same year.

In a statement to TMZ after her death, Hasselhoff said: Our family is deeply saddened by the recent passing of Pamela Hasselhoff.

We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time but we kindly request privacy as we grieve and navigate through this challenging time.

David Hasselhoff and Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff ( Getty Images )

The former couple shared two daughters: Taylor, 34, and Hayley, 32.

Bach was born Pamela Weissenbach on October 16, 1963. She was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the daughter of a model, and began her own modelling career as a teenager.

She attended Tulsa East Central High School before studying Engineering/Theatre Arts at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College.

Bach made her film debut in Francis Ford Coppola's Rumble Fish in 1983, which also starred Matt Dillon, Mickey Rourke and Diane Lane.

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In 1985, she moved to Los Angeles to work in television, meeting Hasselhoff on the set of the Knight Rider episode Knight Racer. They married four years later.

She also worked with her husband on Baywatch and the spin-off series Baywatch Nights. Her other television credits included TJ Hooker, Cheers and The Young and the Restless.

In 2006, Hasselhoff announced he was filing for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. Their divorce was finalized later that year, with each being given custody of one daughter. Hasselhoff married model Hayley Roberts in 2018.

In 2011, Bach-Hasselhoff appeared in that years Celebrity Big Brother on British television.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you
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The Chinese Army has reportedly started using DeepSeek's open-source artificial intelligence (AI) for non-combat support functions in what appears to be an experiment before expanding to high-risk areas.

DeepSeek, which paved the way for China to establish its dominance in the global AI ecosystem, is being used in hospitals run by the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The AI's open-source large language models are also deployed in the Peoples Armed Police and national defence mobilisation organs, according to local reports.

The general hospital of the Chinese military's Central Theatre Command said it had authorised embedded deployment of DeepSeeks AI model R1-70B LLM to provide treatment plan suggestions to support doctors, adding that all data was stored and processed on local servers.

Similarly, hospitals across China, including the military general hospital in Beijing, have incorporated DeepSeek within its electronic medical record (EMR) system for inpatients for diagnostic and treatment support, according to state media Global Times.

The use of DeepSeeks models in settings like hospitals and soldier training programmes offers the military a "controlled environment for experimentation", Sam Bresnick, a research fellow at Georgetown Universitys Centre for Security and Emerging Technology, told Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post.

Deploying the AI models in non-combat roles, provides the PLA with an opportunity to address the technical and operational challenges before expanding into more sensitive, high-risk areas, he told the outlet. He said the emergence of an advanced model like DeepSeeks R1 might help" the PLA in using AI for military decision-making.

DeepSeeks R1 model surpasses its rivals in several key metrics, outperforming OpenAIs ChatGPT  despite being built at a fraction of the cost.

The perceived better performance of DeepSeeks models has led US tech companies to lose $1 trillion in valuation, amid fears that Chinese AI could overtake those in Silicon Valley.

According to Chongqing Landship Information Technology, an autonomous driving solution provider, DeepSeek's AI has a massive potential to be used in the military for actions that range from controlling unmanned vehicles to giving commands.

"In military strategic planning, DeepSeek can conduct in-depth analysis of massive intelligence information and provide military commanders with accurate decision-making support, it said in a white paper, according to Asia Times.

It added that the AI models can quickly identify key military targets from satellite images and estimate their sizes and numbers. Last month, the group said it deployed DeepSeek in a self-driving military vehicle called Xingji P60, which was displayed at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi.

Besides the military, a growing number of cities in China have reportedly integrated DeepSeek's AI mode into government services to streamline repetitive tasks. Yuan Jiajun, the Communist Party chief of Chongqing in southwestern China, said his administration will deploy AI+ citywide.

Lawmakers from Shanghai and Guangdong aim to identify areas in their constituencies that could excel in AI, Bloomberg reported. The local administrations in Beijing and Shenzhen have set funds to nurture AI and robotics development.

DeepSeek was created in 2023, in the wake of excitement over other AI tools from companies such as ChatGPT. At that point, China was widely thought to be trailing behind US research and development of artificial intelligence.

Since its founding, however, DeepSeek has released a range of models that have helped increase confidence in the work coming from China. The startup has said that its more advanced models are on a par with those from OpenAI and Meta, while also being dramatically cheaper to use.

US president Donald Trump has praised the AI breakthrough as a "wake-up call" for American tech firms that ultimately "could be good" for the US.

AI models from ChatGPT to DeepSeek require advanced chips to power their training. The Biden administration has since 2021 widened the scope of bans designed to stop these chips from being exported to China and used to train Chinese firms AI models.

However, DeepSeek researchers claim that the DeepSeek-V3 used Nvidias H800 chips for training, spending less than $6m.

Although this detail has since been disputed, the claim that the chips used were less powerful than the most advanced Nvidia products Washington has sought to keep out of China, as well as the relatively cheap training costs, has prompted US tech executives to question the effectiveness of tech export controls.
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A Chinese state broadcaster has released grainy footage and photographs purporting to show a test flight of the countrys most advanced stealth fighter yet, just days after Donald Trump announced the start of a project to build an American equivalent.

It is only the second time the Chinese aircraft, dubbed J-36 in domestic media reports, has been seen during testing, and the first time it has been reported by Chinese Communist Party-run media. The maiden test flight took place in December.

Visuals of the triangular ginkgo leaf-shaped jet were aired by national broadcaster China Central Television on Sunday, purportedly to mark a minor air force anniversary  27 years since the maiden flight of the fourth-generation J-10 fighter.

The jet was seen conducting a test flight over Chengdu in southwestern Sichuan province. Analysts said it was notable that the jet was flying solo without a chase plane, and that it looked like the landing gear and aerodynamic capabilities of the J-36 were being tested.

The US announced on Friday that Boeing would build the US Air Forces own sixth-generation fighter, the F-47, with the project referred to as Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD).

Donald Trump declared that nothing in the world comes even close to it as he made the announcement, adding that it would be "virtually unseeable" on radar.

Analysts say the timing of the two events points to a race for aerial superiority. They say that, if confirmed, the completion of the J-16 would be the first time since the Second World War that China has beaten the United States to a new generation of military aircraft.

While official details from the Chinese government remain limited, the J-36 was first spotted publicly on 26 December 2024, during what was believed to be its maiden flight. It was seen flying alongside a J-20S, the twin-seat variant of Chinas fifth-generation stealth fighter, which served as a chase plane.

The J-36, reportedly developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC), has a distinctive tailless, flying-wing design, which is intended to enhance its stealth capabilities by reducing radar cross-section.

Analysts suggest the J-36 is not designed solely for traditional dogfighting but rather as a multi-role platform craft within a broader combat system.

Its large size, estimated to be 66 to 85 feet long with a wingspan of about 65 feet, suggests it is designed as a mix between a fighter and a bomber. It can carry heavy weapons inside, such as long-range missiles or precision-guided bombs. It is likely built to avoid detection and attack from a distance rather than engage in close-up dogfights.

Bill Sweetman, a defence analyst, wrote in The Strategist that the J-36s primary function will be to launch long-range missile strikes against enemy targets, not only in the sky but also on the ground and aboard aircraft carriers.

It is the largest combat aircraft designed and developed in China, and the second-largest to fly anywhere in 35 years, he wrote.

Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said the J-36 would prove crucial in battle zones where electronic warfare like jamming or hacking could interfere with drones.

The reliance on crewed aircraft like the J-36 highlights their enduring value in contested environments where electronic warfare could disrupt uncrewed systems, he told the EurAsian Times.

In his commentary on the think tanks website, Mr Bronk said China needs planes that can stay in the air for long missions, whether defending its airspace or attacking enemy targets over the vast Indo-Pacific region.

These considerations will have led to a similarly large internal fuel volume requirement for the J-36 and contributed to its very large size, he added.

The J-36 is believed to feature three engines, an unusual choice for a tactical fighter, which can provide the thrust needed for high speeds and heavy payloads, according to The War Zone, a defence news and analysis website.

The US military has shared eww details of what the new NGAD fighter would look like even as Mr Trump said early versions have been conducting test flights for the last five years. Renderings by both Lockheed Martin and Boeing have highlighted a flat, tail-less aircraft with a sharp nose.
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China has been accused of two-faced diplomacy after pledging greater cooperation with Japan and South Korea in a high-level meeting, only for Chinese coast guard vessels to enter Japanese-controlled waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands the next day.

This move has sparked criticism in Japan, with some accusing their government of being overly trusting of China.

Four Chinese coast guard ships entered Japanese waters near the Senkaku Islands early Friday morning and stayed for 92 hours and 8 minutes, marking the longest intrusion since Japan nationalised the islands in 2012, according to the Japans coast guard.

The previous record was 80 hours and 36 minutes in 2023. The Senkaku Islands (known as Diaoyu Islands in China) are a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. They are administered by Japan but claimed by China  and have been a longstanding flashpoint between the two countries.

The ships attempted to approach Japanese fishing boats before all four vessels left around 10.04pm on Monday, according to Japan coast guard officials in Okinawa.

Japanese foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya expressed concern over the clearly escalating presence of Chinese vessels near the disputed Senkaku Islands.

Two Chinese coast guard vessels entered Japans territorial waters near Minamikojima in the Senkaku Islands between 1.56am and 1.59am on Friday, according to the Japans coast guard. They reportedly made repeated attempts to approach nearby Japanese fishing boats and were later joined by two more ships. Chinas coast guard is yet to comment on the accusations of intrusion.

According to the Kyodo News, an opposition lawmaker criticised the timing of the Chinese ships intrusion, calling it extremely inappropriate as it coincided with the bilateral foreign ministerial talks.

In response, Mr Iwaya said the meeting had occurred in a conciliatory and friendly atmosphere, but added, it is truly regrettable that things like this happened, so we will deal with this issue in a resolute and calm manner.

File. This aerial shot shows the disputed islands known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China in the East China Sea ( AFP via Getty Images )

Earlier, following a trilateral meeting with China and South Korea on Saturday, Mr Iwaya expressed optimism about the high-level talks and said that there was a frank exchange of views and mentioned that the three countries had confirmed that we will promote future-orientated cooperation.

Chinas Wang Yi had echoed this, advocating better communication to address shared challenges. However, tensions quickly resurfaced as Chinese coast guard vessels allegedly entered the waters near the Senkaku Islands less than 24 hours later.

A reader on the Okinawa-based Yaeyama Daily News website criticised Beijings approach, calling it two-faced diplomacy, the South China Morning Post reported.

Online comments expressed frustration over Chinas actions, with one saying: We must not tolerate Chinas tyrannical violations of international law.

Others called for tougher measures from Tokyo, including changes to the law to sink ships, arrest trespassers and punish them in court.
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Chinese authorities have released five employees of a US due diligence firm from detention two years after China cracked down on consultancies working with foreign multinationals.

We understand that the Mintz Group Beijing employees who were detained, all Chinese nationals, have now all been released, Mintz Group said in a statement.

We are grateful to the Chinese authorities that our former colleagues can now be home with their families.

In 2023, Beijings public security bureau raided the Mintz Group office in the capital and detained the five employees  alarming foreign investors in the country.

This marked the start of a series of raids by Chinese authorities on foreign consultancy and due diligence firms, including Bain & Company and Capvision Partners.

Later that year, Chinas National Bureau of Statistics announced that New York-headquartered Mintz Group had been fined $1.5m for undertaking foreign-related statistical investigations without seeking and obtaining necessary approvals.

In another notice on its website, the bureau claimed that Mintz Group conducted 37 such investigations from March 2019 to July 2022. As a penalty, the bureau seized 5.34 million yuan of the firms illegal proceeds and imposed an additional administrative fine of the same amount, bringing the total to roughly $1.5m.

open image in gallery File. The closed office of the Mintz Group is seen in an office building in Beijing on 24 March 2023 ( AFP via Getty Images )

The US firm previously maintained that it was licensed to conduct legitimate business in China and has always operated within the law.

After the detentions in 2023, Mintz shut down its offices in both China and Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, the employees release on Tuesday came shortly after the China Development Forum, a key platform for Beijing to appeal to foreign investors.

Top business leaders like Apples Tim Cook and Pfizers Albert Bourla attended the event. Chinese premier Li Qiang assured increased market access for foreign investors and called for resisting protectionism, emphasising the need for global cooperation amid rising instability. It coincides with Chinas efforts to attract investment amid slowing growth in the countrys economy and escalating tariffs from the US under president Donald Trump.
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Han Jong Hee, who helped make Samsung the worlds leading electronics company, has died. He was 63.

Han, co-CEO of Samsung Electronics, died after suffering a sudden heart attack, a spokesperson for the South Korean company confirmed on Tuesday. Our deepest condolences are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.

He led Samsungs digital appliances division, which produces mobile phones and home appliances.

Han joined Samsung Electronics in 1988 and rose through the ranks to become co-CEO in 2022, sharing leadership responsibilities with Kyung Kye Hyun.

He was credited with contributing significantly to Samsungs rise as the worlds leading manufacturer of televisions.

The South Korean conglomerate grew into the largest and most successful business in the country during Hans four-decade career, playing a key role in transforming the national economy into a global export powerhouse.

It also became a major competitor to brands such as Apple and Xiaomi in the smartphone market.

Samsung is also the worlds top manufacturer of memory chips, powering everything from smartwatches and electric cars to advanced AI servers.

open image in gallery Han was widely regarded as a TV industry expert ( EPA )

The company, however, has suffered from weak earnings and a sagging share price in recent quarters after falling behind rivals in advanced memory chip and contract chip manufacturing, demand for which has been spurred by AI projects.

"Han was the key figure behind making Samsungs TV business influential on a global scale," an analyst who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the subject told Reuters. His death, the analyst added, could have some long-term impact on its business strategy, particularly in areas like marketing.

Hans passing could also impact Samsung's attempt to improve the performance of its home appliance division at a time of uncertainty involving US tariffs and escalating trade wars.

At a shareholder meeting he chaired last week, Han had told investors that 2025 would be a difficult year as he apologised for the stock performance.

open image in gallery Han Jong Hee helped boost Samsungs global television business ( Getty )

Han and his fellow executives faced tough questions by shareholders at the meeting after Samsungs failure to ride the AI boom made it one of the worst-performing tech stocks last year.

First and foremost, I sincerely apologise for the recent stock performance not meeting your expectations, he said. Over the past year, our company failed to adequately respond to the rapidly evolving AI semiconductor market.

Samsung would flexibly respond to American president Donald Trumps tariffs on South Korea with its global supply chain and manufacturing footprints, he said.

Han was scheduled to attend Samsung's launch event for new home appliances on Wednesday.

Samsung expressed sorrow over Hans death in an internal message, CNN reported. It hailed him for dedicating more than 37 years of his life to making Samsungs TV business a global leader.

As head of Samsungs electronics and appliances businesses, it said, Han played a key role in driving the companys growth despite a challenging business environment.

Han is survived by his wife and children.

Samsung has not decided on a successor yet, the company spokesperson said.
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A 24-year-old South Korean man denied any wrongdoing after being accused of rape and unlawful confinement by his former girlfriend, but a piece of unusual evidence admitted at the last minute left him with no choice to confess.

The evidence: footage of one of his attacks, captured by a security camera via the reflection in a washing machine door.

The man has now been sentenced to seven years in prison for multiple sex crimes, including rape, unlawful confinement and sexual assault. He was also convicted of statutory rape involving a minor.

He had initially denied the charges, local media reported, but forensic analysis of the 39-minute security camera footage revealed his actions in the reflection, leading to his confession.

His ex-girlfriend, whose name and age were not made public, said he raped her six times between March and April last year. The assaults reportedly began after she tried to end their relationship upon discovering sexually explicit photos and videos of other women on his phone.

At that time, The Korea Times reported, he was already on trial for raping another former partner in 2022 and threatening to release a sex video.

At first, the CCTV footage submitted by the victim appeared to miss the crimes but then investigators noticed an assault reflected in the washing machine door.

South Korean media reported that only two minutes of the footage clearly showed the man and his ex-girlfriend. It didnt show the assault itself, but investigators found the attack was visible in the reflection of the washing machines plastic lid during the remaining 37 minutes.

They sent this portion of the footage to the forensic science department for video and audio enhancement and the result confirmed their suspicion.

After seeing the enhanced security video, the man confessed to the assault.

In spite of his partial denial of the charges, he was found guilty on all counts.

In addition to the jail term, the court imposed a seven-year employment ban on the man at institutions involving minors and people with disabilities. It also directed him to wear an electronic anklet for the same period after his release.

The defendants crimes are dreadful and he consistently tried to excuse his actions to the investigators while pursuing legal actions against the victim to pressure her. A heavy punishment is necessary, judge Lee Eun Hye said in her verdict delivered last November.

The Korea Herald reported that the Supreme Prosecutors Office commended the investigators for their outstanding use of forensics to land the confession.

The Yeongwol branch of the Chuncheon district court, which conducted the first trial, had sentenced the man to eight years in prison.

But an appellate court found the sentence was unjust and reduced it slightly considering the settlement the man had reached with one of the victims.

According to YTN Digital, the court pointed out that the defendant showed remorse by confessing to each crime at the trial, and that he reached an additional agreement with one of the victims at the trial, so the sentence was determined taking into account these factors.
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At least two people were injured and thousands were asked to evacuate as several wildfires burned across western Japan.

Firefighters continued to fight flames on Tuesday after fires started in the western towns of Okayama, Imabari and Aso on Sunday.

The fires, which quickly burned hundreds of hectares, erupted just days after massive wildfires in northern Japan burnt almost 3,000 hectares, nearly a tenth of the land in the area.

Six homes were damaged in the city of Okayama, where the fire burned over 250 hectares of land, Mainichi newspaper reported.

By Tuesday, however, the Okayama fire had subsided and evacuation orders had been lifted.

A smaller fire detected in the mountainous village of Aso in Kumamoto prefecture on the southern main island of Kyushu was extinguished early on Monday.

However, another wildfire in Imabari in Ehime prefecture continued to burn and was estimated to have destroyed at least 214 hectares of land, according to national broadcaster NHK.

On the main island of Shikoku, the fire left a firefighter injured.

At least 14 helicopters were reportedly deployed to spray water over the blazes and provide disaster relief to victims in Okayama and Ehime.

Evacuation orders remained in place for 553 people across 1,079 households in Imabari while 792 people across 1,506 households were under the same order in the neighbouring city of Saijo, according to Japan Times.

Local governments at one point ordered more than 3,000 residents to evacuate.

Experts blamed dry weather and dried fallen leaves on the forest floor as likely causes of the wildfires in Okayama and Imabari.

Some reports also blamed residents burning trash.

A wildfire also broke out in South Korea on Friday, burning through about 15,000 hectares. At least four people were reported to have died and 3,300 were displaced from their homes, state news agency Yonhap reported.
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A Japanese restaurant chain has apologised after a rat was found in a bowl of miso soup.

Sukiya, known for its bowls of beef and rice, said the rodent was discovered by a customer at its branch in Tottori.

An investigation found an employee failed to check the bowl of soup before serving it and missed the rat during the incident in January.

Sukiya said other bowls of soup with the same contamination risk had not been served to any other customers. The eatery was closed for hygiene inspections but later reopened.

The company apologised for taking two months to acknowledge the incident and said it has improved food safety across its hundreds of branches. Customers had accused the chain of only addressing the issue when images of the rat were posted to social media.

Measures were taken to address cracks in the building that could lead to contamination, and employees were given rigorous training on hygiene management, including visual inspection of products before serving, the restaurant chain said in a translated statement.

The health centre was also consulted on the day of the outbreak. The store resumed business two days after the outbreak after a health centre official inspected the site.

open image in gallery The restaurant says it has taken action to strengthen hygiene at its stores (stock image) ( Getty/iStock )

We would like to once again apologise to our customers and all concerned parties for the inconvenience and concern caused, Sukiya continued. We will strive to further strengthen our management systems in all stores nationwide to prevent a similar incident from occurring again in the future.

Sukiya said it has decided to strengthen its processes following the contamination and will check holes and cracks every three months, and store food waste in a refrigerated rubbish storeroom.

We have also instructed stores nationwide to thoroughly visually inspect products before serving them in order to prevent contamination, the restaurant chain said. Going forward, we will continue to conduct more thorough research and take measures against the intrusion of pests and vermin.

There are approximately 2,000 Sukiya stores across Japan, and the chain says it is Japans leading Gyudon restaurant chain. Gyudon is a dish of thinly sliced beef and onions cooked in a sweet and savoury sauce, served on rice.
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A Japanese court has ordered the dissolution of the controversial Unification Church linked to the 2022 assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe.

The church, formally called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, has long been accused by Japans government of coercive fundraising tactics and cult-like behaviour, including manipulative recruitment and unlawful adoption practices.

The church said it was considering an immediate appeal of the order to revoke its legal status. It denounced the verdict as unfair and said the decision marked a major shakeup for religions across Japan.

Since the assassination of former prime minister Abe, there has been a lot of misinformation circulating in the media and social media about our organisation, it said in a statement.

We sincerely ask that the general public does not discriminate against our congregation.

open image in gallery Nobuya Fukumoto, foreground center, a lawyer for the Unification Church, is surrounded by reporters after its ordered dissolved by a Tokyo court on Tuesday ( Kyodo News )

The Tokyo District Courts order to revoke its status will end the Unification Church's tax-exempt privilege in Japan and force it to liquidate its assets.

The church, popularly known as Moonies, came under renewed scrutiny after an investigation into Abes assassination.

The man who shot Abe at a campaign rally on 8 July 2022 allegedly told police his actions were motivated by the former prime minister's links to the church. He claimed that the church had bankrupted his family due to his mother's excessive donations.

The assassination shocked Japan, a country with some of the worlds strictest gun control laws and low rates of political violence.

Subsequent investigations found longstanding ties between the church and Japan's governing Liberal Democratic Party, which Abe led for years, triggering public outrage.

Abe appeared at events organised by church affiliates. In a video shown on a big screen at the meeting of Universal Peace Federation, a church affiliate, Abe praised its work towards peace on the Korean peninsula and focus on family values. An emphasis on traditional, paternalistic family systems was one of Abe's key positions.

In 2023, the Japanese education ministry asked the Tokyo court to dissolve the church, accusing it of trying to steer its followers using manipulative tactics, making them buy expensive goods and donating beyond their financial ability, and causing fear and harm to them and their families.

After a year and a half of hearings behind closed doors, presiding judge Kenya Suzuki said the order was necessary and inevitable even if the court considered the right to freedom of religion.

There were damages on an unprecedentedly large scale, Mr Suzuki said.

The ministry submitted nearly 5,000 documents and pieces of evidence to the court based on interviews with over 170 people.

open image in gallery Unification Church followers hold signs during a protest against negative Japanese media coverage of their religion following the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, in downtown Seoul, South Korea, on 18 August 2022 ( AP )

The Unification Church was founded in South Korea in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon. Moon claimed to have had a vision of Jesus as a teenager, instructing him to complete his "unfinished work".

The church's core text, the Divine Principle, outlines its beliefs in God, human history and salvation.

Moon, who declared himself the Messiah in 1992, was convicted of tax evasion in the US in 1982 and served 13 months in prison.

However, over the years, he built relationships with conservative world leaders, including US president Donald Trump and former presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush.

Moon also had ties to North Korea's founder Kim Il Sung, the late grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un.

The Unification Church is the first religious group in Japan to face a revocation order under civil law. Two other groups have lost their status previously but due to criminal cases  Aum Shinrikyo, which carried out the Tokyo subway sarin attack, and Myokakuji, whose leaders were convicted of fraud.

Additional reporting by agencies.
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Myanmars military allegedly struck a village medical clinic in the central Magway region, killing at least 11 people, including a doctor, in one of the deadliest attacks in recent days as the four-year-old civil war continues to rage.

The attack targeted Hnan Khar village in Gangaw township at around 8.40am on Saturday, Myanmar Now reported. The head doctor of the clinic, his pregnant wife and child were killed, as were several members of the staff and villagers living nearby.

The doctor was identified as Mya Soe Aung, 40, and his wife as Khaing Hnin Wai, 39.

The entire home housing the clinic was obliterated in the explosion. There were body parts scattered all over the place. A neighbouring house was also reduced to ashes, a witness to the attack told the outlet.

Pictures of the aftermath of the attack showed the wooden part of the makeshift hospital blown up and smoke rising from the debris.

open image in gallery A picture released by the National Unity Government showed doctor Mya Soe Aung (left) and his wife, senior nurse Khine Hnin Wai (right), who died after the military junta's airstrike on Hnan Khar village clinic ( The National Unity Governments Ministry of Health )

Magway, on the banks of the Irrawaddy, was partly captured by forces opposed to the military junta after intense fighting nearly a month ago.

Myanmar has been engulfed in a civil war since the military overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyis party in a February 2021 coup.

The military has used lethal force to crack down on ethnic groups as well as peaceful demonstrations opposing junta rule, sparking armed conflict and violence in many parts of the country. But the military-ruled government has consistently denied carrying out attacks on civilians.

open image in gallery 11 people including medical professionals have been killed ( The National Unity Governments Ministry of Health )

Myanmars border regions are home to numerous ethnic armed groups which have fought the military for autonomy and control over natural resources since independence in 1948. In recent years, they have seized wide swathes of territory in Chin, Rakhine and Shan states. Major cities such as Yangon and the capital Naypyidaw remain under junta control, though resistance activities have intensified even there.

open image in gallery Picture shows aftermath of the strike ( The National Unity Governments Ministry of Health )

According to the UN, at least 50,000 people have been killed and over two million displaced since the coup. The actual death toll is believed to be far higher as several regions remain cut off from major cities.

In January, at least 40 people, including children, were killed in a junta airstrike at the Kyauk Ni Maw village on Ramree Island, a township in Rakhine state currently held by the rebel Arakan Army. The bombing sparked a fire in the densely populated village that reportedly burned down at least 500 houses.
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President Donald Trump has set his sights on Greenland  even as Greenlanders insist they do not want to be a part of the United States.

While the president says he wants the territory for national security purposes, his ambition ignores an inconvenient and increasingly concerning truth. The Greenland ice sheet, which makes up most of the autonomous Denmark territory, is rapidly melting and cracking, with global consequences.

Picture yourself pouring a liter of water into the ocean, the stream quickly disappearing into the surf. Now imagine every person on Earth, all 8.025 billion of us, adding a liter of water to the ocean every 15 minutes, day in and day out, for the last 22 years, wrote Dr. Twila Moon, the deputy lead scientist and science communication liaison at the National Snow and Ice Data Center. The steady and substantial influx of freshwater would change the oceans salt content, alter current patterns, and raise sea levels. This is whats happening as the Greenland Ice Sheet shrinks.

The more than 656,000-mile sheet  an area about three times the size of Texas  is nearly two miles thick, and contains about 696,000 cubic miles of ice.

Like the Antarctic ice sheet, the mass helps to reflect solar energy and cool the planet. It also serves as a global water tower, keeping fresh water frozen. The more fresh water thats dumped into the ocean, the more currents that rely on a delicate balance of density, temperatures, and salinity can slow. Ocean circulation also helps to regulate the planets climate and is critical for the survival of marine life. Slowing currents can result in ocean warming and sea level rise  up to 23 feet in this case.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump says he wants Greenland for national security purposes. Hed be getting a melting island. Pedestrians walk along a street on March 14, 2025 in Nuuk, Greenland ( Getty Images )

But, the oceans are already warming due to human-caused climate change and the fossil fuel industry that backed the presidents 2024 campaign. The greenhouse gases oil and gas companies emit heat the planets atmosphere. The ocean, which is one of Earths largest carbon sinks, takes in most of that heat and is acidifying with harmful effects to corals and shellfish, as it absorbs the polluting carbon dioxide that humans release.

The Arctic is warming at a faster rate than anywhere else in the world. And, the Greenland ice sheet is melting faster than Antarcticas sheet. There is research to suggest that the entire Greenland Ice Sheet could melt by the year 3,000 if the world maintains its current levels of greenhouse gas emissions, the National Snow and Ice Data Center said.

open image in gallery The ice sheet makes up 80 percent of Greenland. Its the worlds largest island ( NSIDC )

Protecting the Greenland ice sheet from climate change is critical, Moon and scientists say. But, it also needs to be protected from other possible threats.

Notably, as the sheet melts more avenues are opening up for shipping and mining. And, Greenland could be a rich source of rare earth minerals, like those Trump seeks from Ukraine. Those include zinc, lead, and gold, according to the D.C.-based Brookings Institution. The U.S. Congressional Research Service estimated that the Arctic contains one trillion dollars worth of precious metals and minerals.

Valuable metals are found in the deep seabed, according to the Columbia Climate School. While contracts have been approved for seabed exploration, mining the ocean floor could cause serious harm to marine ecosystems.

The Arctic also holds 13 percent of undiscovered gas resources and 30 percent of undiscovered natural gas, according to an estimate from the United States Geological Survey, which is mostly offshore.

open image in gallery Greenland could be a rich source of rare earth minerals. Valuable metals have been found in the deep seabed ( Getty Images )

American oil companies have been exploring the possibility of drilling there for years. However, as Oil & Gas Watch points out, there are no roads or pipelines and the weather can be deadly.

Just four years ago, Greenlands parliament passed legislation that banned uranium mining and voted to stop all exploration for oil and gas on the island.

Most of Greenlands residents are Inuit, and they live along the coasts. Ice is a major part of their lives.

"Everything we do involves the ocean and sea ice, which is highly affected by climate change," Natasha Simonee, a member of the Inuit community in Pond Inlet, told the BBC in 2021.

open image in gallery The fight for Greenlands mineral wealth could be stressful for its communities. Residents are already threatened by uranium mining ( Getty Images )

Theyve had to contend with other outside interests, including the Australian mining company Energy Transition Minerals Ltd. They have been looking to construct a uranium mine near the town of Narsaq for years. Residents worry about the mining companys plans and possible environmental and health impacts.

The fight for Greenlands mineral wealth could be just as stressful.

"There is a lot of potential to make money from the ice sheet in terms of these minerals, that is no question," Joerg Schaefer, a climate geochemist at the Columbia Climate School's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, told Newsweek. "But the land of Greenland belongs to the Greenland people. How can it be legal that a bunch of billionaires go in and steal the minerals from a land that is not theirs?"
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Cancer caused by the common human papillomavirus infection, also known as HPV, is increasing in some women in the U.S., researchers said this month.

They found that rates of cervical cancer  which is one of the most preventable cancers and largely caused by HPV infection  have been ticking up among women in their 30s and 40s: many of whom werent eligible for HPV vaccines when they were first released in 2006.

Approximately 42.5 million Americans are infected with HPV and there are at least 13 million new infections reported each year.

The vaccines, which protect individuals from getting several cancers associated with different strains of Americas most common sexually transmitted infection, were originally only recommended for girls and women between the ages of nine and 26. Since then, eligibility has expanded to include individuals between the ages of 27 and 45. It is now recommended for routine vaccination starting at age 11 or 12.

open image in gallery ( AFP via Getty Images )

Although vaccination has proven to be both safe and effective, vaccine hesitancy and resistance has persisted. In recent years, it has been tied to social media. A December study from USC found that Americans are under-vaccinated for HPV, with 7 percent of eligible adults completing the full course.

Last year, a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that only 61 percent of young adults are up to date on all HPV vaccines, which are given as a series of two or three shots, including 64 percent of females.

Coverage was rising until 2022, when vaccine initiation stagnated for the first time in about a decade, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The group noted that HPV vaccine coverage already lags behind most other routine vaccines.

Notably, there are breakthrough infections because the original strain protected against the two riskiest viral strains. Updated vaccines now protect against even more.

Screening is also an issue tied to the American Cancer Society studys findings, with the percentage of women falling from 47 percent in 2019 to 41 percent in 2023. Women between the ages of 21 and 29 are the least likely to be up to date with their screenings, previous research found.

A newer study published in the journal JAMA Network Open showed that rural women are 25 percent more likely to be diagnosed and 42 percent more likely to die from cervical cancer than those who live in cities, which likely is tied to lower screening rates in areas with less people. Studies also show that women are less likely to be screened if they are not white, are uninsured or identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual.

The society recommends people receive a primary HPV test every five years from ages 25 to 65, and start getting a Pap smear by age 21. A Pap smear collects cells from the cervix for testing.

Only a few types of HPV cause cancer. Known as high-risk strains, they are included in routine screenings.

Cervical cancer, which causes cells in the cervix to grow out of control, can take more than a decade to develop, according to the World Health Organization. Any woman with a cervix is at risk.

In the U.S. approximately 4,000 women die from cervical cancer every year and there are 11,500 new cases.

open image in gallery The vaccines, which protect individuals from getting several cancers associated with different strains of Americas most common sexually transmitted infection, were originally only recommended for girls and women between the ages of nine and 26. Since then, eligibility has expanded to include individuals between the ages of 27 and 45 ( AFP via Getty Images )

While theres no cure for HPV, there are surgical options and medication available to treat infection. Most people who have HPV are usually unaware that they have it. And, only about one percent of people with HPV develop long-term infection and even fewer develop cervical cancer.

So, screening remains crucial, experts say.

Among those screened for HPV in their 20s and 30s, 20 percent have high-risk HPV, Dr. Mark Einstein, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and womens health at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, told NBC News.

The goal, besides trying to prevent [cervical cancer] in the first place, would be to catch it before it even has any symptoms, Dr. John Wallbillich is a gynecologic oncologist and assistant professor at Wayne State University, told WDET.
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A California coastal destination is telling visitors to leave the measles virus at home this spring break, as cases continue to crop up across the country.

San Diego Countys communications office said that while no cases have been reported there this year, the potential for new infections could rise with many people taking advantage of spring break.

If you have traveled internationally or nationally near an outbreak area and are experiencing the symptoms of measles, call your healthcare provider immediately, Medical Director of County Epidemiology and Immunization Services Dr. Seema Shah said in a Monday statement. Measles isnt just a fever and rash. It can be a very dangerous illness, especially for young children and babies.

The county has also released a Public Service Announcement on social media to warn people of the potential spread and the vaccination.

The warning comes as a deadly outbreak in West Texas grew even larger, with 327 cases identified since late January, officials announced Tuesday. Thats up by 18 since Friday. Most of the additional cases were in Gaines County, Texas.

open image in gallery San Diego is warning travelers to leave the measles at home this spring break. No cases have been reported in the Southern California city, but health officials are concerned about the spread ( AFP via Getty Images )

The number of hospitalizations  40  has not changed since last week.

The Texas Department of State Health Services says more cases are likely to occur in the area and surrounding communities due to the nature of the disease.

The highly contagious virus has been tied to the deaths of an unvaccinated child in the outbreak area and another unvaccinated individual in New Mexico.

Across the U.S., hundreds of cases have been reported across nearly 20 states. Although, it remains unclear how many might be tied to the Texas outbreak.

Once considered eliminated, measles has infected hundreds of people across the U.S. in recent weeks. It doesnt help that the virus can linger in the air and on surfaces for hours, and that theres an incubation period more than a week after exposure to the point when symptoms start.

open image in gallery The vaccine offers the best protection from infection. But, some adults may need a booster ( Getty Images )

Spring break offers the chance for continued spread, with several cases tracked to transportation hubs in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

The best preventive step is receiving two doses of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. San Diego says adults who were vaccinated between 1963 and 1967 should check with their healthcare provider to see if they have the most current formula. Some may need a booster shot, the county said.

The best way to prevent measles and protect your child from getting sick is with a vaccine, said Shah. Getting the measles vaccine is safer than getting the measles.
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Only 3 per cent of domestic abusers whose victims took their own lives have faced criminal charges in the past four years, figures show.

A report found that the number of victims driven to suicide has outstripped those killed by their partner for the second year running, yet such abusers are still rarely held to account.

A tragic 98 victims took their own lives between April 2023 and March 2024, compared with 80 who were killed by a current or former partner and 39 who were killed by a family member.

This brings the total number of domestic-abuse-related deaths to 1012 since 2020, according to the government-funded Domestic Homicide Project, including 354 suspected suicides following domestic abuse.

Nine in 10 perpetrators in the cases where victims are suspected to have died by suicide were known to police as potential abusers. Despite this, only 12 have faced criminal charges and only one was charged with manslaughter over their victims death. Other charges included common assault, controlling or coercive behaviour, actual bodily harm (ABH) and harassment.

Police have said they expect manslaughter charges to increase with new guidance that urges officers to check for a history of domestic abuse when they respond to unexpected deaths.

open image in gallery Kiena Dawes took her own life after being subjected to coercive and controlling behaviour ( PA Media )

Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, the National Police Chiefs Council lead for domestic abuse, said that in the past, investigators have missed obvious patterns of abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour.

But the Home Office-funded research has shown a significant link between domestic abuse and suicide.

We absolutely want to do everything we can, where theres justice to be had, to ensure every opportunity is taken to pursue justice, said Assistant Commissioner Rolfe.

She said new guidance means that officers responding to unexpected deaths should be asking questions about any history of abuse to ensure that every possible line of inquiry is followed, although she noted that there are challenges in proving a causal link between abuse and suicide.

Earlier this year, Preston Crown Court heard how young mother Kiena Dawes left a suicide note blaming her abusive partner before she took her own life.

Ryan Wellings was convicted of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour towards Dawes after a six-week trial, but was cleared of her manslaughter.

Grieving mother Sharon Holland, whose daughter Chloe Holland, 23, died after suffering a year of torment at the hands of an abusive partner, has repeatedly called for more to be done to ensure that abusers are held to account after victim suicides.

She believes the scale of the problem is far higher than the latest figures show, and called for better counselling and mental health support for victims.

In Hollands case, Marc Masterton was jailed in 2023 for 41 months for coercive and controlling behaviour, but the CPS felt there was insufficient evidence to pursue manslaughter charges. His former partner came forward after hearing of Chloes death, and he was jailed for a further 43 months last year.

open image in gallery Chloe Holland, 23, from Portsmouth, took her own life after after being subjected to coercive control by her abuser ( Sharon Holland )

Assistant Commissioner Rolfe called for a focus on prevention, with help from other agencies including social services and mental health teams, adding: The data reinforces the critical need for policing to work with other agencies to identify those at risk of being [either] a perpetrator or a victim of domestic abuse.

A preventative approach is the only way to stop the widespread harm of domestic abuse in all its forms.

Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, added: Every death related to domestic abuse is a life cut short and a devastating tragedy. The better we understand the links between domestic abuse and homicides, suicides and unexpected deaths, the better equipped we are to prevent them from happening in the first place. Thats why the government has funded this vital research to shine a light on the scale of the problem.

This report rightly demands coordinated action across government, police and partner agencies to tackle these issues head on  and we are already cracking on with work to put the voices of victims, their families and friends, and key stakeholders front and centre of this.

Our upcoming violence against women and girls strategy will set out our ambition, and concrete actions to strengthen our response to perpetrators and deliver on our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you
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A company running dozens of asylum hotels will have its contract ended by the Home Office and be replaced in part by the firm behind the beleaguered Bibby Stockholm barge.

Stay Belvedere Hotels (SBHL) is responsible for running 51 hotels for asylum seekers waiting on their decisions in England and Wales.

The company also runs Napier Barracks in Folkestone, Kent, which is due to close and be returned to the Ministry of Defence in September.

The Home Office said on Tuesday that it would remove SBHL from government operations following an examination of its contract, which found concerns about its performance and behaviour as a government supplier.

The contract, which was awarded in 2019, will end at the earliest opportunity in September 2026. The management of the hotels will be taken over by accommodation providers Mears, Serco and Corporate Travel Management (CTM).

CTM is an Australian travel firm that was previously awarded a contract to provide asylum ships and other accommodation, which covered the Bibby Stockholm barge. Labour decided in July last year to close down the Bibby Stockholm and announced it would not renew its contract beyond January 2025 in a push to make savings.

open image in gallery A view of Napier Barracks in Folkestone, Kent, which was managed by Stay Belvedere Hotels ( PA )

The controversial barge, which was based in Portland in Dorset, was used to house asylum seekers from 2023-2024. Asylum seekers had to be temporarily moved off the barge when legionella bacteria was discovered in the water.

An asylum seeker, Leonard Farruku, also took his own life on the barge in 2023, and other residents warned the site was unsafe and overcrowded.

As of last October, there were 220 asylum hotels in use by the Home Office.

open image in gallery Bibby Stockholm provider CTM also manages asylum hotels ( AFP via Getty Images )

Minister for border security and asylum, Angela Eagle, said: "Since July, we have improved contract management and added more oversight of our suppliers of asylum accommodation.

"We have made the decision to remove Stay Belvedere Hotels from the Home Office supply chain and will not hesitate to take further action to ensure Home Office contracts deliver for the UK."

The Home Office, which is committed to ending the use of asylum hotels, said it was working to "put robust plans in place" to minimise disruption.

open image in gallery Dame Angela Eagle announced on Tuesday that Stay Belvedere Hotels will be removed from the list of Home Office hotel suppliers ( PA Archive )

Speaking to broadcasters on Tuesday morning, housing minister Matthew Pennycook said he would not provide "the specifics" of the Home Offices decision to cancel the company's contract, saying "operational details are being worked out".

Asked whether the government would get money back if the company had failed in its duty, he said: "The whole purpose of reviewing asylum contracts is to improve the management of them to guarantee value for money for the taxpayer... the operational details are being worked out.

"I'll leave it to Home Office ministers to come back with the finer points of detail on the decision they've made, but work is underway to ensure the asylum services continue to operate as normal, to deal with the management problems."

He added: "We did need to review these disastrous contracts on asylum accommodation we inherited. We're doing so to improve management and guarantee value for money for the taxpayer."

When pushed on Times Radio, Mr Pennycook said he was unable to give a date for when hotel use for asylum seekers would end.

The Home Office has previously said that hotels will be used for at least four more years.

Government data from December 2024 shows that there were 38,079 asylum seekers in hotel accommodation, and over 70,000 in other forms of accommodation such as temporary homes or large sites.

On their website, SBHL describe themselves as a leading provider of temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.

They say staff strive every day to ensure each guest is welcomed, supported and serviced in a way that connects them with communities, is sensitive to their culture and delivers an experience that is both compassionate and caring.

A spokesperson for SBHL said: "SBHL has been informed of the decision to end its contract to supply temporary accommodation to asylum seekers in the UK and is in the process of holding discussions with appropriate partners."
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The government is ending a contract worth billions of pounds a year with one of the largest providers of accommodation for asylum seekers.

Stay Belvedere Hotels (SBHL) houses people waiting for asylum decisions in 51 hotels in England and Wales, as well as the Napier Barracks in Folkestone, Kent, which is due to close and be returned to the Ministry of Defence in September.

The Home Office confirmed the cancellation of the contract, which is worth around 2billion per year, after a review raised concerns about the companys performance and behaviour.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, it said the contract, which was awarded in 2019, will end at the earliest opportunity in September 2026 after the review of all contracts to provide asylum accommodation.

Minister for border security and asylum Angela Eagle said: Since July, we have improved contract management and added more oversight of our suppliers of asylum accommodation.

open image in gallery Stay Belvedere Hotels (SBHL) houses people waiting for asylum decisions in the Napier Barracks in Folkestone, Kent, which is due to close and be returned to the Ministry of Defence in September ( PA )

We have made the decision to remove Stay Belvedere Hotels from the Home Office supply chain and will not hesitate to take further action to ensure Home Office contracts deliver for the UK.

However, the housing minister would not be drawn on the specifics of the reasons behind the decision.

Asked whether the government would get money back if the company had failed in its duty, Matthew Pennycook also told Times Radio: The whole purpose of reviewing asylum contracts is to improve the management of them to guarantee value for money for the taxpayer the operational details are being worked out.

open image in gallery Minister for border security and asylum Angela Eagle says the government will not hesitate to take further action ( PA Archive )

Ill leave it to Home Office ministers to come back with the finer points of detail on the decision theyve made, but work is underway to ensure the asylum services continue to operate as normal, to deal with the management problems.

He added: We did need to review these disastrous contracts on asylum accommodation we inherited. Were doing so to improve management and guarantee value for money for the taxpayer.

The Home Office, which is committed to ending the use of asylum hotels, said it was working to put robust plans in place to minimise disruption.

open image in gallery The housing minister would not be drawn on the specifics of the reasons behind the decision ( PA Media )

It added that the safety and security of people staying and working in temporary accommodation was a government priority, as well as ensuring value for money.

However, the housing minister refused to give a timeline for when use of hotels for asylum seekers will end.

Asked when the numbers would go down, Mr Pennycook said: The Tories gave up on processing asylum claims, decision-making in the asylum processing system collapsed by 70 per cent, so we have a huge backlog and if we are going to work through that backlog then we have got to deal with that problem in the short term. Im not going to give you a timeline today on when the use of hotels will end.

A spokesperson for SBHL said: SBHL has been informed of the decision to end its contract to supply temporary accommodation to asylum seekers in the UK and is in the process of holding discussions with appropriate partners.
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Bird flu has been detected in a single sheep for the first time in England, in an area where the disease had been confirmed in captive birds.

The government said while this marked the first time avian influenza H5N1 had been found in a sheep. It is not the first time it had been detected in livestock in other countries.

Surveillance on infected premises was introduced by the government following an outbreak of the disease in dairy cows in the US.

However, the government added there was no evidence to suggest an increased risk to the country's livestock population.

The infected sheep in Yorkshire has been culled and sent for extensive testing.

Further testing in the remaining flock of sheep was undertaken and no other infection with avian influenza virus was detected.

open image in gallery Bird flu is also known as avian influenza, the virus mainly affects birds and not humans ( National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases )

What is bird flu?

Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is the name for a number of different virus strains that infect birds.

The vast majority of strains of the virus do not infect humans. To date there have been no recorded cases of a human infected with bird flu in the UK.

In rare cases humans can catch the virus when coming into contact with live infected birds, with those working with poultry particularly at risk.

The symptoms if you do somehow catch it include a very high temperature, sickness, stomach pain, aching muscles and a cough.

It usually takes three to five days for the first symptoms to appear after becoming infected.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) the first human outbreak of the virus was found in Hong Kong in 1997.

A three-year-old boy died of respiratory failure in a Hong Kong hospital and months later the cause of death was established to be H5N1 avian influenza. The outbreak was linked to handling infected poultry.

In January, UKHSA confirmed a case of bird flu in a person in the West Midlands, after prolonged contact with a large number of infected birds on a farm. The patient was admitted to a High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) unit.

There is no vaccine to protect against the virus but avoiding contact with sick or dead birds and not eating undercooked poultry, or eggs can also reduce the risk of catching the virus.

Why has it been detected in sheep for the first time?

The virus does predominantly affect birds, but mammals that come into close contact with infected birds or eat infected birds can also catch it.

Globally, a huge number of kept and wild birds have been infected. However, only a small number of infections have been reported in mammals in comparison. This includes an outbreak of the disease in dairy cows in the US.

In the UK, cases have been confirmed in foxes, otters, seals and now sheep  some of these mammals are known to scavenge dead or dying birds, according to UKHSA.

Experts say it is not unexpected that a sheep that came into close contact with an infected bird also caught the virus.

It is too early to consider whether such virus is capable of onward spread within sheep, but this was an isolated small holding with a small number of birds and sheep, Professor Ian Brown, Group Leader at the Pirbright Institute said.

open image in gallery Cases of bird flu have been confirmed in foxes, otters, seals and now sheep(Danny Lawson/PA) ( PA Wire )

He added: The pathways of spread of these viruses in the USA has been shown to be by movement of dairy cattle in commercial milking herds which appears not applicable in this single case of one animal becoming infected.

It does emphasise the importance of separating species and maintaining good farm hygiene.

Ed Hutchinson, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Virology, at the University of Glasgow was surprised to learn the virus was detected in the sheeps milk.

He said: It suggests parallels to the ongoing H5N1 outbreak in dairy cattle in the USA, where the virus is spreading through cows milk. At the moment there is no evidence of any ongoing transmission from the sheep, and the case appears to have been contained.

More work will be needed to understand whats going on here  in particular to understand if this is a very rare or one-off event which happened because there was a lot of H5N1 around and this was just the wrong sheep in the wrong place, or whether sheep infections with H5N1 might become more common in the future.
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A rare turtle native to the Gulf of Mexico which was rescued from a beach in Wales has found itself stranded in the UK a while longer due to a freeze in US funding following the Trump aid cuts.

Rhossi, a critically endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle, was found on the coast of Anglesey, northern Wales, in 2023.

Rhossi was nursed back to health by the team at Anglesey Sea Zoo, and is now ready to be released back into the wild off the coast of the US, in its native habitat.

But plans to repatriate the turtle have been put on hold after the Trump administration froze all foreign development assistance for at least three months.

This means international marine turtle conservation work done by organisations such as Anglesey Sea Zoo have had to stop - leaving endangered animals such as Rhossi in limbo.

"It is a huge problem - it's very frustrating," Frankie Hobro, the owner and director of Anglesey Sea Zoo, told the BBC.

"Animal species don't understand politics, they don't understand boundaries and borders.

"We'd started to get a really successful repatriation regime in place.

A Kemp's ridley sea turtle named Rhossi was found on the coast of Anglesey, northern Wales, in 202 ( Getty Images )

"We thought we had things so they were running quite smoothly. We were going to fine-tune the process for future turtles.

"It's very, very frustrating that's been put on hold now really because of politics and this kind of sweeping decision and the far reaching affect it is having way beyond the states."

In response to the executive order signed by US president Donald Trump in January, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) froze funding for organisations including the Marine Turtle Conservation Fund.

This organisation had been assisting the Anglesey Sea Zoo in their mission to bring Rhossi back to the Gulf of Mexico.

The zoo has helped another Kemp's ridley sea turtle, named Tally, get back to the US 2023.

Ms Hobro said she remains confident Rhossi would still be able to get home eventually.

"We do have other options. We have the option possibly of working through Mexico, which is something we could do in the future and for future turtles," she told the broadcaster.

"But that would be a shame because we've got these great relationships with these wonderful whole conservation programmes for the species in Texas and the people we've been working with.

"It's a matter of finding out how long it's going to be on hold for and making a decision as to whether we can still push that through or whether we have to restart from a different angle."

The Independent has contacted the Anglesey Sea Zoo and the US Fish and Wildlife Service for a comment.
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The King and Queens planned visit to the Vatican next month has been postponed due to medical advice issued to the Pope, Buckingham Palace said.

Charles and Camilla were due to visit Pope Francis in the Holy See in just under two weeks, but the tour was put on hold by mutual agreement after medical advice suggested Francis would benefit from extra time to recuperate.

In a statement, the palace said: The King and Queens state visit to the Holy See has been postponed by mutual agreement, as medical advice has now suggested that Pope Francis would benefit from an extended period of rest and recuperation.

Their Majesties send the Pope their best wishes for his convalescence and look forward to visiting him in the Holy See once he has recovered.

open image in gallery Pope Francis was discharged from hospital on Sunday after 38 days of receiving treatment for a life-threatening bout of double pneumonia ( AP )

The King and Queens tour of Italy is understood to still be going ahead, however, there are expected to be some changes to the programme.

The news came after Pope Francis was discharged from hospital on Sunday after 38 days of receiving treatment for a life-threatening bout of double pneumonia.

He has returned to the Vatican but has been prescribed a further two-month period of rest since leaving hospital to fully heal.

The palace had announced last week that the trip to the Vatican in early April would go ahead despite the pontiffs continued illness.

But now, the monarchs will embark on their tour of Italy without the visit to the Vatican, which was set to celebrate the papal jubilee and the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Church of England.

The state visit was announced just over a week before the Pope was admitted to hospital.

open image in gallery The then Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall during an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2017 ( PA )

The tour from 7 to 10 April was set to include two state visits, to Rome and Ravenna in Italy, and separately the Holy See, the government of the Roman Catholic Church, in the Vatican  the smallest independent state in the world.

Charles, supreme governor of the Church of England, last met the Pope in 2019 when he was the Prince of Wales, for the canonisation of Cardinal John Henry Newman.

Charles was due to pass two milestones, becoming the first British monarch to visit the resting place of St Paul since the reformation, and address both houses of Italys parliament.

Their state visit to Italy will still continue, but there will be some changes to the programme.
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The UK still has high confidence that its operational security measures remain intact, despite revelations of a major US security breach.

On Monday night, it was reported that senior American officials, including the defence secretary and national security adviser, texted plans for an attack on Yemen to a group chat on messaging app Signal that had accidentally included a journalist.

Asked about the incident on Tuesday, armed forces minister Luke Pollard told the Commons Defence Committee that no British service personnel had been put at risk as a result.

He added: All UK service personnel are covered by our normal approach to operational security, and the committee will understand that I wont go into the details of how we keep our involvement in any support for military operations in the Red Sea or anywhere else (secure).

But weve got high confidence that the measures that we have got with our allies, including the United States, remain intact.

The US carried out a series of air strikes against the rebel Houthi militant group in Yemen on March 15 following continued attacks on shipping in the Red Sea  an operation in which the UK provided air-to-air refuelling support.

But two hours beforehand, details of the attack had been sent to a Signal group chat that included the US vice-president JD Vance, defence secretary Pete Hegseth and secretary of state Marco Rubio, among others.

Signal chats are encrypted, but are not approved by the US government for discussion of classified material.

The use of the app to provide details of the airstrikes came to light because one participant had accidentally added the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, Jeffrey Goldberg, to the group.

The US National Security Council said the group chat appears to be authentic, adding it was investigating how Mr Goldberg came to be included.

On Monday night, US president Donald Trump denied any knowledge of the breach, while a White House spokeswoman said the president retained utmost confidence in his national security team.

While Mr Pollard declined to comment on how allies share their information, he told the Defence Committee that UK personnel would face a clear consequence and disciplinary process for any similar breach of operational security.

Following news of the breach, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for a review of the UKs intelligence-sharing arrangements with the US, saying the Trump administration cant be trusted to take even the most basic steps to keep its own intelligence safe.

Sir Ed added: Their fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants approach to security means it could only be a matter of time until our own intelligence shared with them is also leaked. This could put British lives at risk.

But despite the breach, Downing Street said it retained confidence that any UK intelligence shared with the US was being handled appropriately.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: The US is our closest ally when it comes to matters of defence, we have a long-standing relationship on intelligence and defence co-operation.

Speaking to the BBCs World at One programme, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner also dismissed talk of reviewing intelligence-sharing arrangements.

She said: Weve been sharing intelligence and information for many decades and continue to do that through our secure networks.

Its for the US and US president and government to explain and decide what they are doing in regards with security and that Signal group and how they have seen that.

During the discussion on Signal, Mr Hegseth also accused European states of free-loading on US security guarantees, describing this as pathetic.

Asked whether Downing Street would reject this description, given UK involvement in the air strikes earlier this month, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: We work daily with the US on regional security and stability in the Middle East and indeed in relation to Ukraine.

The PM has always said that weve got one of the closest relationships with the US when it comes to defence and security and we expect that to continue.

Ms Rayner added that she would not second guess what the participants in the Signal group had meant, adding: I dont recognise that there is a challenge between UK and US relations  its as strong as it has always been.
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Firefighters have defended the decision to take part in a nail painting campaign to encourage allyship and redefine masculinity across the UK after critics claimed the scheme was woke.

Nottingham Fire and Rescue Service firemen took part in a man-icure organised by charity Hard as Nails to encourage debate about gender identity and toxic masculinity.

The force posted a picture of a firefighter with red and green painted nails with the caption something as simple as painting your nails can spark a much bigger discussion.

Its a reminder that small actions can break down barriers, encourage allyship, and create spaces where men feel comfortable having open conversations.

But one resident hit back and said: While the LGBTQ+ & Woke brigade will love this, you are alienating a much much larger demographic by posting cr** like this!.

Another added: Im all for talking about mens mental health but seriously. What sort of picture are you trying to paint? Im pretty sure the public dont want to see this.

Others defended the move, with one user saying: Keep up the great work breaking down the boundaries for all. Looking forward to supporting this further in the future.

When you are cutting someone out of their car or saving their house from destruction they wont care what colour your nail varnish is, another user added.

Hard as Nails campaigner Jeff Buck, 70, said the firefighters were doing something symbolic for a very important project.

"Here were firefighters, who are some of the bravest men we've got in our society, who are quite happy to symbolically paint a nail and say, 'Yes, I'm supporting this project, he told the BBC.

A Nottinghamshire Fire Service spokesperson said: "Supporting the Hard As Nails initiative was a very small, but hopefully powerful, gesture and just one of many examples of the work we do with those in our communities.

"We're extremely proud of our team at Stapleford fire station who got involved in this. Unfortunately, we did receive some negative feedback when we celebrated this work on our Facebook page.

"This isn't new for us, unfortunately, and we do understand that people have different views. However, we are proud and passionate about making people safer right across the county, and that does look different now to how it did many years ago.

"We did also receive some overwhelmingly positive feedback on this work, too, which outweighed some of the negativity and was nice to see."
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Sir Keir Starmer has told local councils they must prove they are tackling potholes or face losing the cash to fix them.

Labour ministers want to get our sleeves rolled up and fix potholes for good, the prime minister said on Monday, as he announced an additional 4.8 billion of funding to carry out work on motorways and major A-roads.

His ultimatum to cash-strapped authorities comes as the number of potholes in the UK continues to grow. The backlog in repairs now sits at 17 billion, analysis from the The Local Government Association (LGA) has found.

Last year, data obtained by the Liberal Democrats revealed the worst-hit areas for potholes in the UK. The figures revealed that Derbyshire was the area with the most potholes, with a massive 90,596. Lancashire was second with 67,439, and Northumberland third with 51,703, as a map reveals the full scale of the issue on UK roads.

Local authorities will start to get their share of 1.6 billion in highway maintenance funding confirmed last year, up 500 million from the previous year, in mid-April.

But from Monday, they will be required to publish annual progress reports or face having funding withheld.

The prime minister said: British people are bored of seeing their politicians aimlessly pointing at potholes with no real plan to fix them. That ends with us.

Weve done our part by handing councils the cash and certainty they need  now its up to them to get on with the job, put that money to use and prove theyre delivering for their communities.

Labour promised to fix an additional one million potholes across England in each year of the next parliament (Jacob King/PA) ( PA Wire )

The reports will also have to detail what percentage of roads are in what condition, show what councils are spending on pothole prevention and outline plans looking ahead to wetter winters that make potholes worse.

Councillor Adam Hug, the LGAs transport spokesperson, said: Councils already spend more than they receive from central government on tackling potholes and repairing our roads.

However, its in everyones interests to ensure that public money is well spent.

This includes the Government playing its full part by using the Spending Review to ensure that councils receive sufficient, long-term funding certainty, so they can focus their efforts on much more cost-effective, preventative measures rather than reactively fixing potholes, which is more expensive.

The Liberal Democrats said there is a huge challenge to fix the countrys roads and tackle the repair backlog. The partys transport spokesperson Paul Kohler said: We must ensure that the right amount of money is going where it is needed. The Government must empower our local councillors who are best placed to make decisions about what needs fixing in their communities.
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Five traumatised lions rescued from the Ukrainian warzone have found a new home at a sanctuary in England, following an international rescue effort.

The lions  male African lion Rori and lionesses Amani, Lira, Vanda, and Yuna  endured harrowing experiences near the front lines of the conflict.

They arrived at the Big Cat Sanctuary near Ashford, Kent, after a 12-hour journey from temporary shelters in Belgium.

The lions' individual stories paint a grim picture of neglect and abandonment.

Yuna was confined to a small brick cell and suffered shellshock after missile debris landed near her enclosure. Rori was mistreated in a private menagerie.

Amani and Lira were likely bred for tourist photo opportunities as cubs. Vanda was found severely malnourished after spending her life confined to an apartment.

open image in gallery Rori the African lion was mistreated in a private menagerie ( AP )

"All of these five lions were originally from the illegal pet trade and wildlife trade," explained Cameron Whitnall, managing director of the Big Cat Sanctuary.

"None of them came from zoos."

The sanctuary's new Lion Rescue Centre, which officially opens on Tuesday, provides a safe haven for the rescued animals.

The centre offers specialised care and a chance for the lions to recover from their traumatic experiences.

The lions were saved by the Wild Animals Rescue Centre, run by Natalia Popova, a Ukrainian woman who has saved hundreds of abandoned pets and zoo animals since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Lions, tigers, leopards, wolves, deer, monkeys and more have passed through her shelter, a converted horse stable near Kyiv. Hundreds have been sent abroad for treatment and recovery.

open image in gallery Cameron Whitnall feeds Yuna at her new home ( AP )

Mr Whitnall was determined to bring the five lions to Britain, even though the sanctuary had nowhere to put them.

A fundraising campaign launched in May 2024 raised more than 500,000 to cover the costs of transportation, veterinary care and building a new home for the cats.

Staff say they are adapting well to their enclosures, which have been designed around each lions individual needs.

Yuna and Rori, who have coordination issues, got gently landscaped environments where they cant fall from a height, while sisters Amani and Lira have trees to climb.

Vanda, the most playful and confident of the lions, has an enclosure that includes a water feature.

open image in gallery Vanda is the most confident of the five lions ( AP )

Im sure its a bit of a journey. We've got more to do, but they are taking everything so incredibly well, said curator Briony Smith, who looks after the animals.

You can already tell that there is improvement in their care and their welfare and the way that they feel about that.

Ms Smith and Mr Whitnall are still getting to know their four newest charges. They have already formed a strong bond with Yuna, who had never been on grass until she was rescued.

She could barely walk, Mr Whitnall said. She was suffering from shellshock and concussion. She was so severely bad that they were actually going to euthanise her.

But we managed to step in and get her out of the war zone, and shes just come on leaps and bounds since being here at the sanctuary.

Were just so happy with her progress. Shes a beautiful lioness now.
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The former boss of Tesco has said out-of-work young people should be made to do military training in exchange for benefits.

Amid a deepening row over Chancellor Rachel Reeves welfare cuts, the supermarkets ex-chairman John Allan said welfare payments should be conditional on military training for people who are not working.

Mr Allan said there is no reason to believe those not in education, employment, or training are any less prepared to work, provided they're given the training and given the opportunities.

open image in gallery Tescos ex-chairman said young people could be coerced into military training ( PA Media )

But he said they may need not just a bit of encouragement, but a bit of coercion to actually get started.

Asked what he meant by coercion, he told Times Radio: You could make some benefit payments conditional, particularly in that age group on people really seeking work.

You could find work for people to do municipal work. I think getting people into the habit of getting out of bed in the morning, going and doing some useful work is very habit-forming once people have done it for a while.

"We could reintroduce military training for people who are not working. That would be a way of actually helping us with, you know, stepping up our defence capability as well, which is another important issue."

Mr Allans calls come as Britain is desperately trying to shore up its armed forces, with independent reports repeatedly warning of the way it has been hollowed out in recent decades.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer has outlined a major increase to Britains defence spending ( PA Wire )

Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to hike Britains defence spending from 2.3 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per cent, a 13.4bn annual boost by 2027. He has also vowed to increase it further to 3 per cent of GDP by 2034.

Last year, defence secretary John Healey warned Britain is not ready to fend off an invasion due to the state of the armed forces. He said his inheritance in taking over the department was far worse with far deeper problems than we expected. The government has since ploughed 1.3bn into army recruitment to bolster the depleted armed forces.

It comes as an estimated million disabled people will lose their benefits as Labour took an axe to the UKs ballooning welfare bill.

Ministers have repeatedly cited the moral argument for cutting benefits, arguing it is unacceptable that there are 2.8 million people not in work due to ill-health and one in eight young people not in education, training or employment.

Mr Allan said urgent, accelerated training programmes were needed to get those not in work, education or training back into the workforce.
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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.
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Donald Trumps top team have been dubbed unbelievably stupid by Gordon Browns former national security adviser after a journalist was mistakenly added to a group chat outlining plans to strike the Houthis in Yemen.

Lord West of Spithead, a retired admiral of the Royal Navy, told The Independent the incident was absolutely extraordinary, while former defence secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind described the incident as an appalling breach of security.

open image in gallery Donald Trump gave the security adviser his backing despite the breach ( Getty Images )

After the breach was exposed, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey urged the government to comprehensively review our intelligence-sharing arrangements with the US.

However, both Sir Malcolm and Lord West dismissed such an approach, with the former warning it would be an overreaction on this particular event.

It comes after senior officials in the Trump administration, including national security adviser Mike Waltz, defence secretary Pete Hegseth, and vice president JD Vance, reportedly discussed a highly sensitive operation aimed at targeting Houthi positions in Yemen in a Signal group chat to which The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was added by mistake.

The US carried out a series of air strikes against the rebel Houthi militant group on March 15 following continued attacks on shipping in the Red Sea  an operation in which the UK provided air-to-air refuelling support.

According to The Atlantic, officials had used emojis including a fist, an American flag, and fire to respond to the strikes, which the Houthi-run Yemeni health ministry said killed at least 53 people.

Lord West told The Independent: I find it absolutely extraordinary I think it was unbelievably stupid. I'm sure that the American intelligence agencies are apologising to us about this. I think it shows a rather stupid attitude to intelligence by those ministers involved.

But he warned the UK shouldnt wreck the intelligence relationship with the US, adding that a review of the situation would just be stupid, given the important of the transatlantic partnership.

The intelligence links between our two countries are hugely close. Looking historically, they gave us a hard time when we made the odd mistake on security. So ever since WikiLeaks happened, they've been hiding their head in shame.

And now it seems that they make more mistakes than we do. But that doesn't mean that you should wreck the intelligence relationship because of it, he said.

He added: "I think some of the things that were said were crass. They were like a bunch of schoolboys. I expect squaddies to be sending things to each other like that, not senior people.

Meanwhile, Sir Ed said Mr Trump's White House can't be trusted to take even the most basic steps to keep its own intelligence safe.

"Their fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants approach to security means it could only be a matter of time until our own intelligence shared with them is also leaked. This could put British lives at risk.

"As a matter of urgency, the government must comprehensively review our intelligence-sharing arrangements with the US, he said.

open image in gallery Downing Street said it retained confidence that any UK intelligence shared with the US was being handled appropriately ( PA Wire )

Downing Street said it retained confidence that any UK intelligence shared with the US was being handled appropriately.

The prime ministers official spokesman said: The US is our closest ally when it comes to matters of defence, we have a long-standing relationship on intelligence and defence co-operation.

While there have been growing calls for Mike Waltz, who reportedly started the group chat, to resign, President Trump gave the security adviser his backing.

He denied any knowledge of the breach and a White House spokeswoman said the president retained utmost confidence in his national security team.

Signal chats are encrypted, but are not approved by the US government for discussion of classified material.

The US National Security Council said the group chat appears to be authentic, adding it was investigating how Mr Goldberg came to be included.
Whether a man whos never had to fight anything more lethal than a price war with Lidl is adequately qualified to make such a suggestion is arguable. Still, John Allan, ex-boss of Tesco has been bold enough to say that unemployed young people should be made to undertake military training in return for social security payments. It is, of course, not the first time that someone in no danger of conscription has casually called for the younger generation to be put in the army to sort them out.

Whats wrong with stacking shelves?

Nothing, and you run only a small risk of a shrapnel wound, but Allan has grander things in mind for the people known, somewhat disrespectfully, as Neets, ie 18- to 24-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training. There are some 950,000 registered, and theyd make quite a difference to the currently understrength British army of 73,847 at the last count, even if only as a reserve. Allan says: We could reintroduce military training for people who are not working. That would be a way of actually helping us with, you know, stepping up our defence capability as well, which is another important issue." He also offers up as an alternative municipal work, which may be a euphemism for street cleaning.

Would it work?

Yes, in principle. Theres no doubt Allan has a point when he argues that there is no reason to believe those not in education, employment, or training are any less prepared to work, provided they're given the opportunities ... I think getting people into the habit of getting out of bed in the morning, going and doing some useful work is very habit-forming once people have done it for a while.

What are the problems?

Not everyone is cut out for the forces, and the element of coercion erodes the spirit of a voluntary service motivated principally by patriotism and prepared to make sacrifices. Granted, hes not suggesting sending them into combat, but there is some element of jeopardy for the individuals if they end up in an informal reserve or territorial group. The other problem is cost  training, accommodation, equipment, the time devoted by officers to the scheme would all have to be paid for out of the defence budget  with no guarantee that what the US defence secretary calls warfighters will emerge at the end of their semi-involuntary pupation.

Could it happen?

The prospect of more wars in Europe has certainly concentrated minds, and with the UKs military strength having been hollowed out and America abandoning Europe, things will need to change. At the general election, Rishi Sunak suggested modern national service, military or civilian: As is the case in other countries, we will provide a stipend to help with living costs for those doing the military element alongside their training.

More promisingly, Liz Kendall also seemed to welcome the idea of matching unemployed youth with understaffed armed forces when she announced her welfare reforms last week. Asked by Tory backbencher Mark Pritchard if she agreed that one way of attracting some people back into work would be to get more young people into His Majestys armed forces  the air force, the navy and the army  and will she discuss that with the defence secretary?

Reeves eagerly said she did, absolutely: Indeed, before I was appointed to this position, as a constituency MP in opposition I discussed with my local jobcentre and the armed forces recruitment team precisely these issues, because the exciting careers and opportunities that are available are really important for young people in my constituency and the right honourable gentlemans. I will certainly have more conversations with colleagues in the Ministry of Defence to make sure we put this plan into action.

So theres a rare political consensus?

It is quietly emerging that squaddies and sailors must be found somewhere. The profile of the armed forces in national life has declined markedly since the end of the Cold War, but that may be about to change, given that growing political will, born of imminent necessity, to contemplate dispatching troops to Ukraine and elsewhere, not so much to fight a war but to deter aggression and avoid one.
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Rachel Reeves is set to unveil billions of pounds worth of cuts in her spring statement, in what could be one of the most pivotal moments in her career.

The chancellor had hoped her speech might be simply a straightforward update on the state of the countrys finances.

But faltering economic growth and higher than expected borrowing figures, combined with her pledge not to raise taxes after her multi-billion pound raid in last years Budget, have raised the stakes.

Here, we take a look at what she is expected to announce  and the political fault lines it could trigger.

Benefits cuts

Ms Reeves is set to cut the benefits bill by 5bn, as she scrambles to find savings to meet her own strict borrowing rules. Documents published alongside the spring statement will also for the first time reveal how many people are set to be affected, potentially reigniting a sharp backlash among Labour MPs. There is speculation that the expected one million people set to lose out will actually be closer to two million.

That risks triggering an another outcry from Labour MPs, many of whom are already concerned that the party will be accused of balancing the books on the back of some of the poorest in society.

There will also be scrutiny of the how much the axe will fall on Personal Independence Payments (PIP), which are not linked to work, but designed to help with extra costs incurred due to a disability.

Others, however, have complained that the cuts do not go far enough, given the countrys spiralling welfare bill.

open image in gallery Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves will deliver her spring statement on Wednesday (Anthony Devlin/PA) ( PA Wire )

Deep departmental cuts

The chancellor is expected to squeeze billions of pounds worth of savings from sweeping cuts of up to 7 per cent to unprotected government departments.

Some departments will not have to make the same reductions, such as health. But the pressure that will come on others has already led to speculation about the effect on parts of the public sector, like schools. Earlier this week the government denied that one idea that had been offered up was cuts to free school meals. Even if they are spared, other services will not be.

Cabinet ministers have already made clear their unhappiness about the situation, at a tense cabinet meeting two weeks ago, in which the chancellor was challenged on her fiscal rules - and the cuts she was demanding because of them.

Prisons crisis

Another unprotected department is the Ministry of Justice, which is already struggling with a crisis of overcrowding in the nations prisons. Just last week, ministers announced that prisoners will be temporarily held in police cells to deal a lack of jail space under emergency measures, named Operation Safeguard, which are triggered when the system comes dangerously close to capacity.

Ministers have outlined plans to deliver 14,000 more prison places in England and Wales  but this target is not set to be met until 2031 at the earliest.

One of Labours key themes in the run up to last years general election was on crime  only heightening the political risk for the chancellor of deep cuts to departments amid warnings that some public services are too cut to the bone to withstand much more.

open image in gallery Sarah Champion has hit out at the cuts to overseas aid (UK Parliament/PA) ( PA Media )

Up to 50,000 job cuts

Ministers plan to save 2bn a year by cutting up to 10,000 civil service jobs - but reports suggest the true number of roles to be slashed could be as many as 50,000.

The number of civil servants has increased since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic in 2020 and successive Tory governments have pledged to shave the numbers.

But unions have warned that previous attempts to reduce the headcount by an arbitrary number failed to deliver the promised savings and led to chaos. And they warned that the government risked facing the ire of taxpayers - who would see the cuts in the decline in public services.

Fran Heathcote, the general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS), has warned that after 15 years of underfunding under successive Tory governments any cuts will have an impact on frontline services.

Cuts to overseas aid to boost the defence budget

The government is preparing to slash its international aid spending by 40 per cent and instead funnel the money into the defence budget. The unprecedented move prompted the chair of the Commons International Development Committee Sarah Champion, a Labour MP, to warn it will have terrible consequences abroad while also making our own country less safe and less influential in the world.

But she has also called on Ms Reeves not to inflict a double whammy though more cuts to the departmental budget.

Ms Reeves is expected to emphasise that the hike in defence spending is urgently needed because the world has changed and in the wake of Russias war on Ukraine.
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A major Reform UK donor almost lost his OBE over social media posts in which he said someone should kill London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, it has emerged.

Charlie Mullins said he was accused of bringing the honours system into disrepute and was told by the Honours Forfeiture Committee that they were minded to recommend to His Majesty that your OBE be revoked over the comments.

The multimillionaire Pimlico Plumbers founder has accused Sir Keir Starmer of seeking political revenge against him because he has repeatedly criticised Labour since the general election.

open image in gallery Charlie Mullins said he was a victim of political revenge by Sir Keir Starmer ( PA Archive )

But Cabinet Office sources pointed to the makeup of the Forfeiture Committee, of which a majority of the members are independent, and said claims it is politically motivated are completely unfounded and inaccurate.

In 2023, Mr Mullins was suspended from X for tweets he posted about Sir Sadiq, including one in which he said someone should kill him. The entrepreneur also replied to one user who called for him to stand for election against the London Mayor, saying: I am on it, and its time to dump the Muslim mayor.

He later apologised unreservedly and withdrew the remarks.

Another instance centred on a GB News discussion about Carol Vorderman, which she described as sexist. In the clip, he questioned whether she could represent the RAF good like that with her t*** hanging out. He later apologised for the comment on air.

open image in gallery Charlie Mullins was suspended from X for saying someone should kill the Mayor of London ( PA Wire )

Mr Mullins said the committee wrote to him informing him it was considering stripping his honour over the interactions. He replied with submissions from his lawyers and was then told no action would be taken.

After revealing the Forfeiture Committees probe, Mr Mullins told the Daily Telegraph: They think that because Ive opened my mouth and spoke the truth, they think theyre going to shut me up. Well they aint.

Mr Mullins was awarded his OBE in the 2015 new year honours list for services to plumbing, having built the Pimlico Plumbers empire after leaving school with no qualifications.

open image in gallery Charlie Mullins also made a comment about Carol Vorderman which she described as sexist ( Getty )

He has since regularly criticised the UK government, often from his primary home in Marbella, Spain, ramping up his attacks since Sir Keirs landslide election win in July. Mr Mullins has given tens of thousands of pounds to Reform and has discussed standing as an MP with party leader Nigel Farage.

The Forfeiture Committee is convened as required by the prime minister and its sole role is to pass recommendations for forfeiture of honours to the King once its decision has been made.

Downing Street insisted on Tuesday the Forfeiture Committee is entirely independent, so we wouldnt comment on individual honours.

Ministers or political appointees have no involvement in any of the decision-making and it is a matter for the committee to take these decisions, Sir Keirs official spokesman added.

He said the PM was not aware of the ongoing process looking at Mr Mullins OBE.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "Claims that the Forfeiture Committee is politically motivated are completely unfounded and inaccurate."The Forfeiture Committee is entirely apolitical and no ministers or political appointees are involved in any of its decision making."

Mr Mullins has been approached for comment.
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One of Britains leading economists has warned a wealth tax would be almost impossible to implement, despite growing support for the policy in the wake of the benefits cuts unveiled by the government last week.

Paul Johnson, the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), warned that no country in the world has ever successfully had a wealth tax thats raised serious money, saying the levy poses significant administrative problems.

It comes as new polling shows the British public overwhelmingly support such a tax, while a growing number of Labour MPs have urged the government to introduce it instead of making spending cuts.

open image in gallery Paul Johnson ( PA )

Last week, Labour took an axe to the UKs ballooning welfare bill, with an estimated million disabled people expected to lose their benefits.

And on Wednesday, the chancellor is expected to unveil further cuts to unprotected departments at the spring statement in order to balance the books amid tightening fiscal headroom.

Polling conducted by YouGov on behalf of Oxfam on the eve of the spring statement found more than three-quarters of people (77 per cent) would rather the government increase taxes on the very richest to improve public finances than see cuts to public spending.

A massive 78 per cent support introducing a 2 per cent wealth tax on net assets worth more than 10m, while 67 per cent think that the very richest people in the UK should pay more in tax.

Meanwhile, new analysis by Oxfam, Patriotic Millionaires UK and Tax Justice UK found the wealth of all UK billionaires soared by 11bn last year  the same amount the government has recently cut from the international aid and social security budgets combined.

The organisations are calling for a two per cent wealth tax on those with net assets of over 10m, which they claim could raise an estimated 24bn tax revenue each year.

While Mr Johnson said the tax could raise a noticeable amount of money, he told The Independent there would be major administrative issues which could be extremely costly for the government.

You could certainly raise some billions by putting a 2 per cent tax on net assets worth more than 10m. Probably not 24bn - but it might raise you a noticeable amount of money, he said.

But he added: A lot of that money comes from the super-wealthy who can afford very good lawyers. And the question is, how do you determine their residence, where their assets sit how would you value things?

No country in the world has ever successfully had a wealth tax thats raised serious money because of all those practical problems.

Mr Johnson also warned that the policy would pose significant risks, as it impacts individuals who already contribute an enormous amount of tax to the British state and could result in them leaving.

Analysis published earlier this year showed that Britain lost 10,800 millionaires to foreign countries last year, more than double the number who left in 2023. Only China lost more wealthy residents in that period.

The study, conducted by the Adam Smith Institute, claimed the exodus was as damaging to Britains finances as the UK losing half a million taxpayers.

Despite concerns that such a tax could drive even more wealthy people out of the country and reduce overall tax revenue, there have been growing calls for it from within the Labour Party following last weeks welfare announcement.

open image in gallery Liz Kendall unveiled a swathe of welfare cuts last week ( EPA )

The Commons is expected to vote in favour of plans to slash benefits by the work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall, aimed at saving 5bn by 2030, much of which will fall on personal independence payment (PIP) by raising the threshold for qualification.

Responding to the polling, left-wing Labour MP Nadia Whittome - who is strongly opposed to the governments welfare cuts  urged the government to listen to the British public, rethink public spending cuts and ensure the very richest pay their fair share.

Cuts to public spending risk making some of the most vulnerable in society pay for the mess created by previous Conservative governments, she told The Independent.

But this polling shows that our new government could instead choose to invest in our public services and social safety net with a policy that is also hugely popular: taxing extreme wealth.

Fellow Labour MP Brian Leishman added: People need to see their living standards improve and my government should enact a 2 per cent wealth tax and generate billions that will do just that.

There is an alternative to austerity and the race to the bottom it brings, he told The Independent.

Last week, one of Labours veteran MPs, Diane Abbott also called for the tax, arguing that cutting welfare is not a Labour thing to do.

Defending the benefit cuts in the Commons, Sir Keir Starmer said: Ive lived with the impact of disability in our family through my mother and brother all my life, I do understand the human impact of this but the current system is morally and economically indefensible and were right to reform it.

YouGov spoke to 2,257 adults between 17 and 18 March.

The Independent has approached the Treasury for comment.
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The genetic testing company 23andMe is filing for bankruptcy and looking for a new buyer.

The company announced the move after losing millions of dollars over the last several quarters. But now, experts are warning users genetic data could be in danger.

Heres what you need to know about how to protect your 23andMe data:

Experts are warning users to delete their 23andMe data as the company files for bankruptcy and searches for a buyer ( Getty Images )

What the sale of 23andMe could mean for your data

Officials across the US are warning 23andMe users to delete their data as soon as possible following the bankruptcy announcement.

I remind Californians to consider invoking their rights and directing 23andMe to delete their data and destroy any samples of genetic material held by the company, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Friday.

23andMe said in a statement there have been no changes to their data storage or protection. The company also said any buyer of its assets would have to observe applicable privacy laws for customer data.

Our users privacy and data are important considerations in any transaction, and we remain committed to our users privacy and to being transparent with our customers about how their data is managed, the company said in an open letter to customers.

But once the sale is complete users genetic information could be used in unexpected ways by someone else, The Washington Post reports. 23andMes privacy policy even states that your personal information could be sold or transferred in the event of a sale.

If we are involved in a bankruptcy, merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets, your Personal Information may be accessed, sold or transferred as part of that transaction, the policy reads.

Consumer Reports Ginny Fahs told The Washington Post users are right to be concerned their data could be up for grabs.

The DNA data could be used to discern your relatives and ancestry, unearth family secrets, and reveal clues about diseases you have or could be predisposed to, Fahs said. If the data makes its way to certain insurers, they may deny you coverage or charge you more for life, disability, or long-term care insurance because of your genetics.

This is some of the most precious data that exists about you, she added.

Why is 23andMe filing for bankruptcy?

23andMe has kickstarted voluntary Chapter 11 proceedings in the US  meaning it intends to reorganize its debts and assets to have a fresh start, while remaining in business. The company is now searching for a buyer.

The move comes in the aftermath of a data hack and heavy financial losses.

The DNA testing company has also announced the immediate resignation of Anne Wojcicki, its co-founder and chief executive.

Wojcicki said she was disappointed by the bankruptcy plan but that she had resigned so she could be in the best position to pursue the company as an independent bidder.

How to delete your 23andMe data

To delete your 23andMe account, first log into your account. Then, go to your profile, and hit the settings button.

Scroll down to the 23andMe Data section and hit view. From there, scroll to delete data and select permanently delete data.

The company will then send you an email prompting you to confirm the deletion request.

Additional reporting by PA.
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Amanda Knox now considers herself lucky. But she didnt more than a decade ago when she sat in a claustrophobic Italian prison cell after being convicted of murdering her roommate while studying abroad, depicted as a sex-crazed killer.

But time has changed her view of being one of the lucky ones. In her new memoir, Free: My Search for Meaning, Knox, now 37, reveals what tactics she used to survive prison, the unlikely friendship she formed with the man who had her locked up, and the struggles she faced afterwards as she navigated the outside world.

Even though I have gone through a very extreme experience, a lot of the things that I've learned from it are actually really universal, she told The Independent, in an interview for the books release. And I'm kind of addicted to that good vibes feeling that I get after being ostracized for so long.

Knox was just 20 years old and studying abroad in the Italian city of Perugia when her British roommate Meredith Kercher was found stabbed to death on November 2, 2007, in their shared apartment.

The case made global headlines. Suspicion quickly fell on Knox and Raffaele Sollecito, a man she had only recently been seeing. Knox was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison before ultimately being cleared of the murder in 2011 with an appeals court citing errors in the forensic investigation.

Knox noted that people often think that wrongful conviction cases, including her own, end once theyre out of prison.

But really, that's where the person's story really begins, she added. Because that is when they are faced with the dilemma of not just surviving but processing this crazy thing that happened with them, and figuring out how does that play a role in your life, and are you defined by it?

What came next was her real challenge. How do you possibly do anything in your life that could be as meaningful to you as, for example, fighting to prove your innocence and get out of jail? she asked.

open image in gallery In her new memoir, Amanda Knox, now 37, reveals what tactics she used to survive prison, the struggles she faced as she navigated the outside world after she was released and the unlikely friendship that she formed with the man who had her locked up ( Patrik Andersson )

But despite Knox being definitively acquitted by Italys highest court in 2015, her every move has remained subject to public scrutiny for nearly two decades. Some saw her as monster. Others saw her as a flashy headline.

Either I am this crazy, woman-hating psychopath that I'm being portrayed to be, which doesn't exist, or I'm just a regular person like you, and I think that that's really both scary and intriguing to people, Knox told The Independent.

But she has worked to rebuild her life in the US, advocating for criminal justice reform and wrongful conviction awareness.

A big part of rebuilding herself was the relationship she forged with Dr. Giuliano Mignini, the man responsible for sending her to prison.

Dr. Mignini, a powerful local magistrate with a fixation during her trial on conspiracy theories involving satanic rituals, painted Knox as a dirty, woman-hating slut who killed Kercher.

Meredith was astonished that Amanda had started a relationship with a boy after just arriving in Perugia  that Amanda owned condoms and a vibrator, Mignini claimed at Knoxs trial, she wrote in her book. It is possible that Meredith argued with Amanda  because of her habit of bringing strange men into the house  [So,] under the influence of drugs and probably also alcohol, Amanda decided to involve Meredith in a violent sex game  For Amanda, the time had come to take revenge on that simpering goody two-shoes.

With these words, which made headlines across the world, Mignini inducted Knox into a society of women she now calls the Sisterhood.

The women whove been the subject of TMZ headlines, SNL skits, and David Lettermans Top Ten Lists, Knox writes, referencing Monica Lewinsky and Lorena Bobbitt.

open image in gallery Italian student Raffaele Sollecito, slain British woman Meredith Kercher and Amanda Knox ( AP2007 )

It all boils down to this titillating lie that women are sexually jealous and and hateful towards other women, and it's just this perverse male fantasy that's being projected on young women, she told The Independent.

Knox pointed out that she wasnt the only one painted a caricature by the trial and media.

They turned Meredith into something that she wasn't, she said, explaining that this cliche of an uptight, judgmental kind of bitch who hated that Knox had casual flings was not true at all. Instead, her roommate was very nice, introverted, but [a] silly and joyous person.

Despite how the prosector portrayed them, Knox decided to reach out to him.

I wanted to understand why he did what he did. I was not content to think of him as an evil psychopath who didn't care whether or not he was throwing an innocent girl in prison, she said.

Another part of Knox wondered, can I convince this man who thought I was a monster that I'm not, and will he do the right thing?

open image in gallery Amanda Knox, center, is escorted by Italian penitentiary police officers to Perugia's court, in Italy, in 2008 ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

But Knoxs family, her loved ones, and other exonerees believed she was wasting her time and were worried for her emotional well being.

She was too. Every time an email from him would come in, Knox had to muster up the courage to read it and figure out how to respond. They wrote back and forth to each other about music, The Lord of the Rings and her trial, with him telling her Im happy for you. But Knox wondered, could he really be happy that I was free?

I tried to do my duty, he wrote to her, along with the words: I may have made a mistake.

While Knox yearned for an apology and for him to believe her innocence, she was grateful for his response.

I think a huge takeaway for me was how much of a good idea it is to set yourself up to be pleasantly surprised by someone, she said. You don't approach them with an expectation. You approach them with curiosity and, it's going to sound cheesy, but with an open heart, because if you are fixated on the thing that you want from somebody, you are potentially missing the things that they really have to offer.

Knox decided she wanted to travel to Italy and meet with him in person, to share with him what he had originally denied her: humanity.

I was going there to give something to him, something that I had inside of myself, that I was capable of, which was compassion, which was understanding, which was kindness, and as soon as I figured that out, I felt unstoppable, she said.

I felt like a fucking superhero. I felt like I was finally doing something in relation to this, this whole drama that actually defined me, and I was so fucking proud of myself, not gonna lie, and I came away from it being like, Wow, what a crazy thing that I just did.

Today, Knox hosts the podcast Labyrinths with her husband Christopher Robinson, and they have two young children who she couldn't wait to get home to.

open image in gallery Knox and her husband Christopher Robinson ( Lucien Knuteson )

I wake up surrounded by all of the things that I thought I had lost and that I was forced to grieve in prison, and I actually got to have it back, Knox said. I get to live, and I get to do meaningful work, and I get to be a mom, and I am very, very aware every morning of how fucking lucky I am.
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A 55-year-old man allegedly groped a 22-year-old woman aboard an American Airlines flight from Chicago to Seattle  the third time the Dallas resident has been accused of sexually harassing a fellow traveler mid-flight.

Cherian Abraham was arrested Monday on one count of abusive sexual contact, which carries up to two years in federal prison. He does not yet have an attorney listed in court records, and was unable to be reached for comment. Reached by phone on Tuesday, Abrahams wife declined to comment to The Independent, hanging up without providing further details of her husbands situation.

In an email, an American Airlines spokesperson said Abraham is no longer allowed to fly with the carrier.

The safety of our customers and team members is our highest priority, they said. We take this matter very seriously and are working closely with law enforcement on its investigation.

open image in gallery Cherian Abraham has been accused of groping multiple women on flights ( Getty Images )

American Airlines flight 2076 left Chicago for SeaTac at 8:27 p.m. on March 18, a four-hour-and-40-minute trip, according to a complaint filed Monday in Seattle federal court. About 2.5 hours after takeoff, Abraham, who was sitting in seat 20A, a window, the passenger in the middle seat says he put his finger on [her] breast, overtop [sic] of her clothing, and continued to make a rubbing motion with his finger, the complaint states.

Abraham did so under the guise of trying to reach his baggage and [the woman] thought to herself that perhaps this physical touching was accidental, according to the document.

About five minutes later, as Abrahams seatmate was watching an in-flight movie, she observed Abrahams hand moving underneath her arm and continuing upward toward her breast, the complaint goes on. It says the motion of Abrahams hand suggested to her that he was attempting to locate her nipple, going for roughly 20 seconds until the woman shot a look at Abraham, who quickly pulled his hand away.

A few minutes after that, the woman once again felt Abrahams finger poke her, the complaint continues. This time, according to the complaint, the woman addressed Abraham directly, saying, Why the f**k are you touching me?

Abraham provided no verbal response to her question, the complaint states. Abraham then reached down underneath the seat in front of him to grab what appeared to be a black backpack and proceeded to place it on his lap. [The woman] got out of her seat and proceeded to locate a flight attendant to report the incident.

open image in gallery Cherian Abraham claimed he was just reaching for his luggage after a woman sitting in the next seat felt him grope her breast, according to court filings ( Getty Images )

The flight attendant moved the woman to a different seat, the complaint says, describing her state of mind as sad, hurt, and unsafe. She told the flight attendant that Abraham had grabbed her ti***es with his hands, and that the touching was not accidental, according to the complaint.

Upon landing, investigators interviewed Abraham, who at first denied touching the woman in the next seat, the complaint contends. However, when the investigators informed Abraham that a witness had observed the whole thing, he said he may have touched [the woman] accidentally while lifting his backpack from underneath the seat, the complaint says.

Abraham told investigators that the woman told him to stop touching her, which confused him, according to the complaint. He claimed he had touched her shoulder when she got up to move, in a purported attempt to clarify what she meant.

Abraham reported never having been previously accused of anything similar, the complaint states.

But, according to the complaint, the FBI, which has jurisdiction over in-flight crimes, dug up two other instances in which Abraham was accused of the same behavior while flying.

On April 24, 2024, another woman, identified in the complaint as Victim 2, submitted an online incident report to American Airlines Customer Relations, saying she had been violated by Abraham aboard a flight.

open image in gallery The FBI has jurisdiction over in-flight crimes ( AFP via Getty Images )

Victim 2 reported Abraham having rubbed his arm against her side several times, the complaint states. Victim 2 initially thought that maybe this unwanted touching was accidental. Shortly after, Abraham placed his hand in between Victim 2s legs. Victim 2 yelled at him to stop. As a response to Victim 2 yelling at him to stop, Abraham threw his hands up, as if confused.

Victim 2 said she was stunned by what had happened, and that she tried to discreetly notify a flight attendant, but was unsuccessful and remained seated next to Abraham for the rest of the trip.

A third woman also said she had been molested by Abraham, this time on October 9, 2023, according to the complaint. It says she was sitting in an aisle seat when Abraham, who was sitting by the window, reached across the empty middle seat and began touching her seatbelt, the woman, who is identified in the complaint as Victim 3, told Minneapolis Airport Police.

Abraham then touched her left leg and or thigh with an open hand approximately three times, the complaint states. Victim 3 looked at Abraham and told him to stop. Victim 3 got up and proceeded to locate a flight attendant and reported the incident.

The woman, who later declined to press charges, was moved to a different seat for the remainder of the flight, according to the complaint.

When interviewed by Minneapolis Airport Police Department, Abraham denied having such physical contact with Victim 3, the complaint concludes.

There have been 311 reports of unruly passengers so far in 2025, according to the FAA . In 2024, the agency received 2,102 reports of badly behaved airline passengers, a slight increase over 2,076 such reports a year earlier. Things reached an all-time high in 2021, with 5,973 unruly passenger reports being filed.

If convicted, Abraham faces up to two years in prison.
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Beer giant Anheuser-Busch has ended sponsorship of the pride festival in its home city after supporting it for 30 years

Anheuser-Busch, the parent company of Bud Light and Budweiser, will no longer provide financial support to the St. Louis PrideFest, the citys LGBT+ festival that runs from June 28 to 29.

Bud Light was the subject of 2023 right-wing backlash and a boycott after the brand partnered with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, leading to a plummet in its sales.

According to KSDK, the decision has left the non-profit Pride St. Louis, which organizes the event, scrambling to find funds. Other organizations have also chosen to pull funding, according to the outlet.

The Independent has reached out to Anheuser-Busch for comment.

Thats left the non-profit $150,000 short of 2024 funds. In a statement to the TV station, Pride STL said the funding has been well below expectations. The non-profits board of directors is now working on amending the budget to ensure the event remains safe and engaging for attendees.

open image in gallery Participants wave rainbow colored flags during the annual PrideFest parade in St. Louis, Missouri in 2015 ( AFP/Getty Images )

The organization hopes residents will support the event by donating to the charity.

"In response to this drop in support, Pride St. Louis is humbly launching the #45for45 fundraising campaign, a community-driven initiative to commemorate 45 years of advocacy, support, and celebration," a statement released by the charity said.

"This milestone is not just about PrideFestits about the work Pride St. Louis has done for decades to uplift, empower, and serve the LGBTQIA+ community year-round."

Pride St Louis is asking community members to donate at pridestl.org/45for45. The event is scheduled to take place at Soldiers Memorial Park downtown, with a Grand Parade taking place on the 29th.

open image in gallery Dylan Mulvaney attends Vanity Fair and Instagram's "Vanities: A Night for Young Hollywood" party at Bar Marmont in Los Angeles on February 26, 2025 ( AFP via Getty Images )

"Every contribution directly supports the mission of Pride St. Louis and the work it does throughout the year," the statement continued. "Those who donate $45 or more will receive a commemorative 45th-anniversary lapel pin as a token of appreciation."

The non-profits President, Marty Zunig, said that while the lack of funding is disappointing, the event will commemorate the resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community.

The #45for45 campaign is an opportunity for everyone, whether youve marched in the parade, attended our events, or simply believe in equality, to help ensure that these efforts continue for years to come. The community and our board are clearcanceling PrideFest is not an option, Zuniga said in a statement.
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Mia Love, the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress, died Sunday at age 49, prompting renewed focus on the aggressive brain cancer that claimed her life.

Love, who represented Utah, had been battling glioblastoma, a malignant brain tumor.

She had received immunotherapy treatment as part of a clinical trial, but her daughter revealed earlier this month that she was no longer responding to treatment.

Love passed away at her home in Saratoga Springs, Utah, according to a family statement.

Who was Mia Love?

open image in gallery Republican Mia Love celebrates with her father, Jean Maxime Bourdeau, after winning the race for Utah's 4th Congressional District during election night in Salt Lake City, 2014 ( Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistribu )

Love, born Ludmya Bourdeau, was a daughter of Haitian immigrants and a pioneering Republican congresswoman who represented Utah in the U.S. House from 2015 to 2019.

She entered politics in 2003 after winning a seat on the city council in Saratoga Springs, 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Salt Lake City, and later became the citys mayor.

While in that role, Love spoke at the 2012 Republican National Convention and drew rousing cheers with her criticisms of then-President Barack Obama.

That year, she narrowly lost a bid for the House against the Democratic incumbent. She ran again two years later and defeated a first-time candidate by about 7,500 votes, becoming the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress.

Love was briefly considered a rising star within the GOP, but her power within the party petered out as President Donald Trump took hold. Love kept her distance from Trump and called him out in 2018 for vulgar comments he made about immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and some African nations. Later that year, she lost in the midterm elections as Democrats surged.

How did Love die?

Love was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2022. She said her doctors estimated she had only 10-15 months to live, but she surpassed that.

She described during a speaking engagement in Salt Lake City how she discovered the tumor. Love said she was on vacation with her family and developed a bad headache when the plane landed. When she went to the beach, the suns reflection on the water made her headache unbearable. Her husband brought her to the hospital, and a series of X-rays revealed a tumor in her brain.

Love rushed home to Utah and had surgery to remove about 95% of the tumor. Biopsy results revealed it was cancerous and likely to spread to surrounding brain tissue.

She entered a clinical trial at Duke University's Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center in Durham, North Carolina, that involved using her bodys immune system to attack the tumor. At first, the tumor shrank, but eventually it stopped responding to treatments.

What is glioblastoma?

Glioblastoma is one of the most deadly and treatment-resistant cancers, according to the National Brain Tumor Society. It is a fast-growing glioma, a type of tumor that arises from glial cells, which protect nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

There is no cure for glioblastoma, but aggressive treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and other targeted therapies may slow the growth of the tumor, according to Mayo Clinic. It's considered to be advanced by the time of diagnosis, meaning there is no way to eradicate all cancer cells.

How common is it?

More than 13,000 Americans are diagnosed with glioblastoma each year, accounting for almost half of all cancerous brain tumors, according to the Cleveland Clinic. And more than 10,000 people in the U.S. will succumb to the disease every year, the National Brain Tumor Society reports.

Glioblastoma can occur at any age but is found more often in older adults. The average age at diagnosis is 64.

It's the same type of brain cancer that killed former President Joe Biden's son Beau Biden in 2015 and Sen. John McCain in 2018.

Can it be prevented?

Researchers have not found a way to prevent glioblastoma, and the cause of most of these tumors is unknown. Glioblastoma occurs when glial cells in the brain or spinal cord mutate, altering their genetic makeup.

People who have been exposed to significant amounts of radiation have an increased risk of developing glioblastoma. A family history and certain rare genetic syndromes may increase the risk of developing brain cancer.

How long can you live with it?

People diagnosed with glioblastoma typically have about 15-18 months years to live, with only a 10% chance of survival after five years, according to the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

With aggressive treatments, Love lived for about three years after receiving her diagnosis.

My life has been extended by exceptional medical care, science and extraordinary professionals who have become dear friends, Love wrote in a recent op-ed in the Deseret News. My extra season of life has also been the result of the faith and prayers of countless friends, known and unknown."
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney lamented Canadas lost friendship with the United States as he visited the town that sheltered thousands of stranded American airline passengers after the 9/11 attacks.

Carneys visit to Gander, Newfoundland, coincided with the second day of Canada's national election campaign, taking place against a backdrop of a trade war and perceived threats to Canadian sovereignty from President Donald Trump.

The Prime Minister's remarks highlighted a sense of betrayal felt by many Canadians in response to Trump's rhetoric.

"In this crisis caused by the U president and those who are enabling him, we lament a friendship lost," Carney said, referencing the historical bond between the two nations.

He contrasted the current political climate with the compassion shown by Canadians in the aftermath of 9/11: "In Gander Canadians did extraordinary things for Americans when they needed it. Now, we need to do extraordinary things for ourselves."

The town of Gander welcomed nearly 6,600 diverted airline passengers when U. airspace was closed following the attacks. This act of generosity underscored the close ties between the two countries, a relationship now facing significant challenges.

open image in gallery Mark Carney arrives in Gander ( AP )

In a matter of a few hours, the town population of 10,000 in 2001 was overwhelmed by 38 planeloads of travelers, yet locals went to work in their kitchens and cleaned up spare rooms to offer space and food to the newcomers.

When more than 200 flights were diverted to Canada following the attacks on the United States, the Canadians shunted the traffic away from Toronto and Montreal to the eastern seaboard.

Obscure, little-used Gander got to relive its glory days as a stopover point for trans-Atlantic aviation before long-distance flights became possible. Built in 1938 in anticipation of the coming world war, it had the worlds longest runway, and on 9/11 it was the second busiest, taking in 38 flights to Halifax, Nova Scotias 47.

Flight crews quickly filled Ganders hotels, so passengers were taken to schools, fire stations, church halls. The Canadian military flew in 5,000 cots. Stores donated blankets, coffee machines, barbecue grills. Unable to retrieve their luggage, passengers became dependent on the kindness of strangers, and it came in the shape of clothes, showers, toys, banks of phones to call home free of charge, an arena that became a giant walk-in fridge full of donated food.

Once all the planes had landed or turned back to Europe, Ganders air traffic controllers switched to cooking meals in the building nonstop for three days.

On Monday, Carney visited the home of Beulah Cooper, who opened her home and comforted many including Dennis and Hannah ORourke, an elderly couple whose New York firefighter son, Kevin, went missing at the World Trade Center and was later confirmed to have died there.

open image in gallery Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney looks through a photo album with Beulah Cooper at her home in Gander ( AP )

The ORourkes remained friends with Cooper long after and went back to Gander, saying they felt eternally indebted.

More than 6,000 passengers. Overnight, the towns population almost doubled," Carney said during a speech to residents. You showed friendship to people who were fearful. In a crisis, you showed your character. When people needed help, you gave it."

Carney noted the story of that day became legend, immortalized in the Canadian-made Broadway hit musical Come from Away.

It became yet another example of the unbreakable bond between Canadians and Americans. Because when Americans are in need, Canadians have always shown up, Carney said.

Carney noted Canadians have always been by Americans' side whether it was during the Iranian hostage crisis, or more recently during the California wildfires or in Afghanistan, where Canada lost 158 members of the armed forces and seven civilians.

Trump has declared a trade war on his northern neighbor and continues to call for Canada to become the 51st state, a position that has infuriated Canadians. The American president has threatened economic coercion in his annexation threats and suggested the border is a fictional line.

Trump put 25 percent tariffs on Canadas steel and aluminum and is threatening sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products  as well as all of Americas trading partners  on April 2.

Carney said Canadians are over the shock of the betrayal but now have to look out for themselves. He said Canadians and Americans have been traditionally been like brothers.

"But thats changed. And it wasnt us who did the changing. Unfortunately, President Trumps actions have put that kinship under greater strain today than at any point in our storied history, Carney said.

Carney and his Conservative opponent, Pierre Poilievre, said Trump must respect Canadas sovereignty as they kicked off their election campaigns on Sunday. Carney announced a five-week election campaign before the vote on April 28.
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The founder of a New York-based aerospace startup developing high-tech rocket thrusters that have garnered glowing press coverage and at least one contract with the U.S. Space Force is accused of plundering investor funds to underwrite pricey jaunts to Europe, jewelry for his wife, child support payments, and, according to the companys largest investor, airline tickets for international call girls to join him for clandestine weekends in Miami.

Onetime stockbroker Christopher Craddock established RocketStar in 2014 after financial regulators barred him from working on Wall Street over a raft of alleged violations. Craddock held the firm out as an entity that intended to reinvent space exploration, states a $6 million lawsuit filed by former CEO Michael Mojtahedi and obtained by The Independent.

I was trying to find a way to enter the rocket market to ultimately mine asteroids, and I figured out the biggest problem wasnt the tech or the rockets, but getting to space, Craddock told Popular Mechanics in an interview.

But, according to Mojtahedis complaint, RocketStar is nothing more than a Ponzi scheme [that] has been predicated on Craddocks ability to con new people each time the company has run out of money.

Craddock recklessly and lavishly misappropriated for his lifestyle almost every cent RocketStar received from investors, running the company into the ground by August 2024, the complaint says. At that point, Craddocks keeping up with the Joneses lifestyle caught up with him, investor funds dried up completely, and his house of cards collapsed.

When Craddock was eventually found out, he fired RocketStars entire board of directors and essentially barricaded himself in the firms Chrysler Building offices, the complaint states. Mojtahedi poured more than $1 million of his own money into RocketStar, only to see it flagrantly misused by Craddock, according to the complaint.

In an email on Friday, Craddock declined to comment on Mojtahedis allegations and referred The Independent to Michael Ledley, RocketStars attorney.

The company denies the allegations and looks forward to vindicating itself in court, Ledley said in a subsequent phone interview.

Jeffrey M. Eilender, who is representing Mojtahedi, told The Independent, Mr. Craddock promotes RocketStar as a pioneering force in aerospace technology and has solicited millions of dollars in investments from individuals such as our client, who viewed investing in RocketStar as an exciting opportunity.

He said it was important to file this lawsuit not only to seek justice for our client, and the other investors who have lost millions of dollars combined, but to hopefully prevent new victims.

A little over a decade ago, Craddock leveraged the physics degree he earned at Stony Brook University and reinvented himself as a space mogul, Mojtahedis complaint explains. In the years that followed, he joined a swanky Manhattan social club where he solicited funds from wealthy members, many of whom shared a lifelong fascination with space travel and saw Craddocks venture as something of a thrill, according to the complaint.

One of those people was Mojtahedi, whom Craddock first approached in early 2023 to help bring RocketStars nuclear fusion-enhanced plasma thruster engine technology to market, according to the complaint. However, it contends, the lies began almost immediately. For one, Craddock told Mojtahedi that the company had so far raised millions in funding, the complaint goes on.

What Mojtahedi didnt know at the time was that Craddock, who claimed to be using the funds on product development and the pending acquisition of a Florida company that provides spacecraft propulsion and communications services to military clients, was instead blowing it on everything but  something Mojtahedi learned through bank records he eventually pried loose in a previous court action, according to the court documents.

In one instance, Craddock used investor money to fly a woman named Francesca from Rome, Italy to Miami, the complaint states.

While it is unclear from Francescas public profile what, exactly, her profession is, her public social media account features provocative pictures like the one below, it says.

Craddock also gave a RocketStar AmEx to the head of the Florida company he said he wanted to acquire, according to the complaint. It says the Florida exec used the card, with Craddocks approval, to fly a woman named Radmila from Milan, Italy, to New York City on multiple occasions. The complaint says she was flown from Orlando, Florida to London, England on RocketStars dime, too.

The business purpose of these trips and the nature of goods and services these women provided to RocketStar is unknown, although it is unclear how they earned such fantastic paid vacations using investors monies, the complaint states.

In 2023, according to Mojtahedis resignation letter, which is attached as an exhibit to the complaint, RocketStar paid for an executive trip to Venice, Italy. It says the charged expenses were all private and personal in nature, such as a Friday night dinner for two at Hostaria Osottoosopra, which is described as a cozy and romantic spot.

The same goes for another cozy and romantic dinner on a Sunday night at Ristorante Marco Polo which is right across the canal from Piazza San Marco, the exhibit says. According to one of the staff, the only business conducted in this restaurant at dinner time is the business of amore.

Last year, RocketStar paid for another executive trip to the Lombardy region of Italy, the exhibit alleges.

There were numerous expenses that were of personal and private nature, the exhibit states. For example, spending the Saturday night of 1/7/24 in one of the romantic suites in Villa Onofria in Brescia, Italy, right at the banks of Lake Garda [must have been] magical.

open image in gallery RocketStar CEO Christopher Craddock used investor funds to make child support payments on behalf of an executive at a company he sought to acquire, according to Michael Mojtahedi's lawsuit ( NYS Supreme Court )

Craddock also racked up huge bills on his RocketStar AmEx, and paid them off using investor funds, according to the complaint. Among other places, the complaint says Mojtahedi reviewed records showing Craddock used the card at Best Buy, FAO Schwarz, Midtown Comics, Medina Jewelry, and L'Occitane, the luxury cosmetics chain.

For his part, the Florida exec allegedly charged tens of thousands of dollars to his own RocketStar AmEx, including a large bill from Melbourne Family Dental, to cover his familys dental expenses, according to the complaint, which says Craddock also paid the execs monthly child support payments using RocketStars corporate funds.

In the end, the acquisition Craddock had been pursuing turned out to be a farce, the complaint states, calling it a scheme Craddock concocted, along with two of [the target companys] officers to scam investors out of more cash.

By June 28, 2024, RocketStars bank account showed a balance of negative - $4,105.87, according to the complaint. The next day, Craddock told all RocketStar employees that they were being furloughed, the complaint states.

Craddock was removed from his position as CEO in August 2024 by the board of directors, amid an ongoing internal investigation into his alleged financial improprieties, and replaced, on an interim basis, by Mojtahedi, according to the complaint.

open image in gallery ( NYS Supreme Court )

A source with knowledge of the situation told The Independent that RocketStar is taking legal action against the Florida company, which they said was responsible for the takeover falling through. The source said RocketStar was going through a turbulent period when Mojtahedi became disenchanted, and that many startups face similar issues involving bad advice and less-than-perfect documentation.

On December 24, 2024, after uncovering Craddocks fraud and complete disregard for corporate formalities, Mojtahedi stepped down as RocketStars interim CEO.

I urge the board of RocketStar to employ this information to fulfill their fiduciary duty and hire a forensic accountant to get to the bottom of everything, Mojtahedi wrote in his resignation letter.

As Mojtahedi says in his lawsuit, which was filed March 19 in New York State Supreme Court, had he known about even some of these issues, he would not have invested another dollar in RocketStar.
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The Trump administration is aiming to increase American mineral production, pinning falling production in the U.S. on what they have deemed overbearing federal regulation.

Now, environmental groups and Tribes are concerned that this shift could come with major consequences for ecosystems and communities, including one of the countrys most iconic features: Arizonas 277-mile-long Grand Canyon.

This administration is so vindictive and so petty, in addition to being corrupt and corporate, that were assuming that theyre going to try and go after anything good a previous Democratic administration did, Athan Manuel, the director of the Sierra Club's Lands Protection Program, told The Independent Monday. And, obviously President [Joe] Biden announced the monument around the Grand Canyon to protect the million acres from future uranium mining, among other things.

Uranium was listed in the presidents executive order to increase domestic minerals production that would prioritize mineral production activities over other types of activities on federal lands that hold critical mineral deposits.

The Grand Canyon, which is offers extraordinary vistas and serves as a major tourism boon for the state, is also home to uranium. Uranium is a vital component for the production of nuclear energy. It's found in the canyon's geologic features, deep in the sandstone.

open image in gallery While President Donald Trump wants to ramp up domestic mining production, conservation, environmental and indigenous groups fear the repercussions. They are concerned the Grand Canyon could be a target ( Getty Images )

The action ordered the interior, energy, defense and agriculture secretaries to identify additional sites for those activities that can be permitted as soon as possible. Specifically, it instructed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to identify and provide a list of all federal lands known to hold mineral deposits and reserves.

The order includes all mining projects for copper, uranium, potash, gold and any critical mineral, element, compound or material identified by the chair of the National Energy Dominance Council.

While it may be too soon to say what the order may mean for federal lands and those who depend on them, Grand Canyon Trust Staff Attorney Aaron Paul told The Independent that is is deeply concerning for the president to come in and demand that one kind of use of the public land should get priority over everything else.

What were worried about are moves that the president and the Interior Department could make to reopen the area to mining, that was not done by this recent executive order and would take other sort of legal actions by those parts of the executive branch, Paul explained.

Mining in the U.S. is regulated under the Mining Act of 1872, declaring that all valuable mineral deposits in lands belonging to the U.S. are free and open to exploration and purchase.

For decades, environmental groups and tribes have called for the 153-year-old law to be updated, which only requires that four stakes are planted in the ground and paperwork is filed to stake a mining claim on public lands. Mining operations pay no royalties for the minerals they extract from lands owned by Americans, according to Inside Climate News.

open image in gallery The Grand Canyon, which is offers extraordinary vistas and serves as a major tourism boon for the state, is also home to uranium. Uranium is a vital component for the production of nuclear energy. It's found in the canyon's geologic features, deep in the sandstone. ( AFP via Getty Images )

The outlet notes that the order sets the stage to rollback one of the only actions to regulate the industrys use of public lands and paves the way for other reversals, such as allowing Canadian Hudbay Minerals to dump its waste materials along Arizonas Santa Rita mountains.

That location is not alone. Long-stalled New Mexico uranium mines are now priority projects, the leader of the Cibola National Forest told staff, according to a recording of a meeting obtained by Source NM. Earlier this month, the Interior Department announced the approval for the expansion of a coal mine in Montana.

Conservation groups also fear any impact on the Wests Grand Canyon National Monument.

The monument safeguards nearly one million acres surrounding the park, harbors sacred sites, and protects its unique species, including the critically endangered California condor. The area and Tribes in the community have long been affected by woes associated with uranium mining, and one mine currently remains operational along the canyons south rim.

The Pinyon Plains mine began extracting uranium near the Grand Canyon last year. The uranium is found in the canyons rocks. The mine is located less than 10 miles from the park and the Havasupai Tribes ancestral lands. Theres not that much uranium there: around 3.7 percent of reserves and other resources across the nation.

The Grand Canyon Trust says that more than 66 million gallons of groundwater, which is used for drinking water, have been pumped out of the mines shaft and found to contain high levels of heavy metals. A study published last year in the Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences found that there is a risk to the groundwater, and an EPA review found the same.

open image in gallery Uranium mining can pose risks to animals that rely on the environment. That includes the critically endangered California condor ( Getty Images )

The National Parks Conservation Association notes that a legacy of uranium mining on Tribal lands resulted in radiation exposure that brought disproportionate rates of cancer across communities.

Davina Smith, a Navajo Nation organizer who works with the association as a Tribal coordinator, told The Independent that her grandfather had worked in a uranium mine and suffered the health effects.

Our aquifers do not replenish, said Smith. So, theres just so much that needs to be told from the communities that live in these areas that definitely are the ones that are having, to this day, deal with those repercussions.

We live on the fresh water that flows from these aquifers. It is our only water source. Our survival as a Tribe relies on the use of this natural water and this is why we fight so hard to protect it, the Havasupai Tribe said in a statement shared with The Independent.

With complete disregard for our culture, health, and safety, this order will not only lead to increased mining activity on or near tribal lands but could cause destruction of our sacred sites, cultural resources, and traditional livelihoods, they said of the presidents order.

I think the stories of our local communities ... Those are the narratives that are always to this day not even considered, Smith noted. Because I feel this is going to be an ongoing issue that our health and our livelihood is not a concern, especially to this current president.

Paul says that the risk still exists today, but its about whether that risk is acceptable.

Energy Fuels, I think, says this is acceptable in order for us to run our business, and supply uranium and other minerals. And, I think that there are many people who would disagree with that, said Paul.

open image in gallery The Pinyon Plain mine is just 10 miles away from the Grand Canyon. But, officials with the operation say all of its mining is safe ( NPS )

Energy Fuels Inc., the company that operates Pinyon Plains mine and the largest uranium producer in the U.S., said that comments shared with The Independent were mostly from "Tribal activists." The company noted that it has a good relationship with the Navajo Nation. In January, Energy Fuels and the Navajo Nation signed an agreement governing the transport of uranium ore along highways crossing the Navajo Nation. Furthermore, it wrote that the "best and most economic uranium deposits are located in Arizona, despite only 3.7 percent of the reserves found there."

Energy Fuels said concerns about water in the mine shaft were unfounded. "This is a false narrative the activist try to create, implying that were contaminating groundwater or drinking water, which is simply not even remotely true," a spokesperson said. "Many (most?) mines need to manage natural groundwater. When that water enters the mine, it is collected and disposed (we collect it in an epoxy lined sump, pump it to the surface and evaporate it in our lined pond. Needless to say, this is not appropriate drinking water. Ask yourself  would you drink untreated water directly from a mine? (or any industrial or other facility  heck, even a golf course!) I hope not."

The company has told KJZZ that they know theyre watched closely and would never go outside of permitted boundaries.

Theyve said that all mining operations around Pinyon Plains are safe, according to the AZ Mirror.

Still Groups fear the impact Trumps order could have.

I think the Grand Canyon and the surrounding region are national treasures and those uranium resources there, in context, are really not that significant, Paul said. And, the bottom line takeaway, in my view, is that theres just no case for putting something as treasured as the Grand Canyon at risk for a tiny bit of uranium, especially considering the interests of the native nations for who that region is a homeland.

I mean, theres almost no place more iconic in the United States than the Grand Canyon, Manuel added.
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Trump International Hotels is being sued in a wrongful death lawsuit after a woman was ejected from a revolving door at the Las Vegas location and later died from her injuries.

According to the lawsuit, which was filed in the Clark County District Courts, Diana Truschke, 78, was injured on March 21, 2023, while visiting the Trump property in Nevada.

The lawsuit, filed by her son, John, claims that the woman exited the 64-storey building through a revolving door, which sped up its rotation while she was inside, Fox 5 Las Vegas reports. The door reportedly struck Truschke in her back with enough force to "violently eject" her forward several feet. She fell forward and hit her head and face on the ground.

"As a result, Ms. Truschke was violently ejected from the revolving door, causing her to be thrown several feet, ultimately falling to the sidewalk on her face," the lawsuit alleges.

Truschkle was rushed to the hospital, where she received extensive medical treatment for her fall. The lawsuit did not specify the injuries she sustained. She eventually died from her injuries on October 14, 2024.

Trump International Hotels is being accused of failing to properly maintain its revolving doors to comply with safety codes and of having no safety warnings concerning the use of the doors.

The lawsuit is seeking general and special damages in excess of $15,000 for loss of comfort and companionship, for economic damages, future earnings, costs and expenses incurred for medical treatments and her funeral, physical pain and injury, emotional pain, and general damages, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

A hearing has not been scheduled as of this report.

The hotel settled another wrongful death suit in 2020 after a window washer fell to his death while working on the building. In that case, the hotel was made to pay $630 to the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration for failing to maintain paperwork showing proper anchorage points on the building for window washers.

The window washer, Jonathan Garcia, died after a microburst slammed his platform into the building and tossed him off the platform. He died from blunt force trauma caused by the fall, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal.

The Independent has requested comment from Trump International Hotels.
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Fox News chief political reporter went viral for his blunt response to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths attempt to deny the legitimacy of The Atlantics reporting surrounding the Signal text leak.

Oh for God's sake, the administration has already confirmed the authenticity of the message, Brit Hume wrote in a frustrated X post Monday evening. The post has generated nearly 90,000 likes and over 10,000 retweets on top of over five million views.

The 81-year-old former White House correspondent took aim at Hegseth following the explosive firestorm in which Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic, claimed hed been added to a senior Trump administration group chat that discussed a highly sensitive missile strike operation targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen earlier this month.

Several White House officials have now confirmed the security blunder to be legitimate.

After the news broke, Trump denied all knowledge of the story and dismissed the publication as going out of business, he claimed.

Hegseth, in turn, called Goldberg a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist.

Brit Hume formerly worked for ABC News for over two decades and has been working for Fox News since 1996 ( Getty Images )

However, the defense secretary faces calls to resign by Democrats, who have branded the scandal as amateur hour and a major screw-up.

"At this time, the message thread that was reported appears to be authentic," Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said in a statement to multiple outlets.

He continued: We are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.

Senator Chuck Schumer has since demanded an investigation into the reports made by Goldberg.

When interviewed by reporters Monday evening, House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed that the Oval Office was now dealing with the fallout.

Apparently, an inadvertent phone number made it onto that thread. Theyre going to track that down and make sure that it doesnt happen again, Johnson told reporters, as per CBS News.

Alexander Britton Hume, who professionally goes by Brit Hume, joined Fox News in 1996 after a 23-year tenure with ABC.

He now works as Fox News Washington managing editor and chief correspondent.

Trump recently attacked Fox News for straying too far from its political line, taking aim at senior White House news anchor Jacqui Heinrich, suggesting that she should be working for CNN, not Fox as per a Truth Social post made earlier this month.

Hume defended his colleague, stating that she plays it straight, covering both sides of a story and has certainly played fair with you.

The Fox veterans comments on Hegseth have now garnered over 4.7 million views on X.
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Both Democrats and Republicans are calling for action after The Atlantics editor-in-chief was inadvertently added to a Signal group chat as Trump administration officials hashed out secret war plans for an impending U.S. strike in Yemen.

Jeffrey Goldbergs explosive report sparked outrage on both sides of the political aisle after he revealed that White House National Security adviser Mike Waltz appeared to have mistakenly invited him to an encrypted chat called the Houthi PC small group detailing the attack against the terrorist organizations, days before it occurred.

Some House Democrats are calling for the most severe repercussions against officials involved in the outrageous security breach.

This is an outrageous national security breach, and heads should roll, Pennsylvania Representative Chris Deluzio, who sits on the Armed Services Committee, told Axios.

We need a full investigation and hearing into this on the House Armed Services Committee ASAP.

Former House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi called the leak the most horrifying incompetence that she has seen in 30 years of working with the intelligence community.

open image in gallery Former House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi called the leak horrifying incompetence in a message on X ( AFP via Getty Images )

California Representative Sara Jacobs, a member of the Armed Services Committee, said that the government cant just chalk this up to a simple mistake, adding: People should be fired for this.

Under fire Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer tweeted that these people are clearly not up for the job, after the leak became apparent.

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy tweeted about Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseths attempted denial: This is stunning. Don't let this become normal. They sent classified info to a journalist. It happened. The White House confirmed it. And here's the Secretary, viciously personally attacking the journalist and pretending it never happened. Trying to make us believe 2+2=7.

Meanwhile, Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib largely disregarded the leak in her messaging, noting: More heat for using a group chat than for the bombing itself.

Several House Republicans have also condemned those on the Signal group chat for divulging highly classified information through insecure channels.

None of this should have been sent on non-secure systems. Russia and China are surely monitoring his unclassified phone, Nebraska Representative Don Bacon, another Armed Services Committee member, told the outlet.

New York Representative Mike Lawler called for safeguards to be implemented to ensure this never happens again.

open image in gallery Mike Lawler said that safeguards should be put in place to stop similar security breaches from happening again ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Wisconsin Representative Derrick Van Orden stated that if the breach was unintentional, there should be administrative accountability such as retraining, but should be held legally accountable if it was intentional.

Other former top Democrats have called on the president to take action against those involved in the security lapse.

Leon Panetta, who served as both the secretary of defense and director of the CIA under Barack Obama, said: Somebody from The Atlantic got the most sensitive emails you can imagine at the federal level. That is a serious blunder. It has to be investigated. And somebody, frankly, needs to get fired.

Pete Buttigieg, who served as Transport Secretary during the Biden administration, wrote on X Monday that this is the highest level of f***up imaginable.

If theres no accountability for a screw-up like this, especially from a president who used to fire people every day on television for sport, what are we even doing here?, he told CNNs Kaitlan Collins Monday, referencing Trumps previous career as a reality TV star on The Apprentice.

Other MAGA Republicans and Trump allies, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Fox News host Sean Hannity have rushed to downplay the severity of the lapse.

open image in gallery Pete Hegseth (right), pictured next to Donald Trump in the Oval Office this week, revealed the war plans to the Signal group ( AFP via Getty Images )

Along with Waltz and Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, were among others who appeared to be included in the Signal channel.

Goldberg wrote that Waltz invited him to connect on Signal on March 11. The journalist, who uses the encrypted messaging platform under his initials JG, said he was added to the group two days later. No one appeared alarmedor even awareabout the mysterious interloper in the chat, he said.

Adding to the furor may be that officials seemingly failed to tip Trump off about Goldbergs report before being questioned on TV by reporters in the Oval Office on Monday afternoon.

Well, it couldnt have been very effective because the attack was very effective, the president said when probed about the group chat. I dont know anything about it; youre telling me about it for the first time.

Waltz, who Goldberg identified as being the official to send the Signal invite, does not need to be confirmed by the Senate. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that Trump continues to have confidence in the adviser.

Hegseth looked agitated as he insisted to reporters that nobody was texting war plans before labeling Goldberg a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist.

Vance appeared to disagree with Trump's wisdom on the strikes, noting: I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now.
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In Greenland, Lisa Solrun Christiansen wakes up at 4am most days. She then gets to work knitting thick wool sweaters, with colourful patterns celebrating the territorys Inuit culture, for buyers around the world.

Her morning routine also involves a quick check of the news. But nowadays, that shatters her peace, as it often contains articles about President Donald Trumps interest in her homeland.

The 57-year-old artisan, whose father designed the Greenlandic flag, feels a deep connection to the island and her father's dying wish for the flag to unite its people. Now, that unity is threatened by geopolitical tensions.

I get overwhelmed, she says.

Greenlanders are increasingly anxious about their homeland's role in the power struggle between the US, Russia, and China as the Arctic becomes more accessible due to global warming.

Trump's stated aim to acquire Greenland, rich in minerals and strategically located, is seen as a potential roadblock to the island's independence from Denmark.

These concerns escalated with the announcement of visits by Usha Vance, wife of Vice President JD Vance, to attend Greenland's national dogsled race, and by National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright to a US military base in northern Greenland.

This follows Trump's recent reiteration of his desire to annex Greenland, just days after the election of a new parliament opposed to US control.

open image in gallery Lisa Solrun Christiansen knits a sweater at her home in Nuuk while holding her granddaughter Siilia ( AP )

Trump's veiled reference to increased military presence in Greenland further fueled anxieties when he spoke of US bases in the territory and remarked maybe youll see more and more soldiers go there.

The visits have sparked immediate criticism from local politicians, who view them as a US power play during a sensitive time of government formation. For Greenlanders like Christiansen, the future of their homeland and its unique cultural heritage hangs in the balance.

"It must also be stated in bold that our integrity and democracy must be respected without any external interference,'' outgoing Prime Minister Mute Boroup Egede said.

Greenland, part of Denmark since 1721, has been moving toward independence for decades. Its a goal most Greenlanders support, though they differ on when and how that should happen. They dont want to trade Denmark for an American overlord.

The question is whether Greenland will be allowed to control its own destiny at a time of rising international tensions when Trump sees the island as key to US national security.

David vs Goliath

While Greenland has limited leverage against the worlds greatest superpower, Trump made a strategic mistake by triggering a dispute with Greenland and Denmark rather than working with its NATO allies in Nuuk and Copenhagen, said Otto Svendsen, an Arctic expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Trumps actions, he says, have united Greenlanders and fostered a greater sense of national identity.

open image in gallery A boy throws ice into the sea in Nuuk, Greenland ( AP )

You have this feeling of pride and of self-determination in Greenland that the Greenlanders are not, you know, cowed by this pressure coming from Washington, Svendsen said. And theyre doing everything in their power to make their voices heard.

Denmark recognized Greenlands right to independence at a time of its choosing under the 2009 Greenland Self-Government Act, which was approved by local voters and ratified by the Danish parliament. The right to self-determination is also enshrined in the United Nations charter, approved by the US in 1945.

US national security

But Trump is more focused on the economic and security needs of the US than the rights of smaller nations. Since returning to office in January, he has pressured Ukraine into giving the US access to valuable mineral resources, threatened to reclaim the Panama Canal and suggested that Canada should become the 51st state.

Now he has turned his attention to Greenland, a territory of 56,000 people, most from indigenous Inuit backgrounds.

Greenland guards access to the Arctic at a time when melting sea ice has reignited competition for energy and mineral resources and attracted an increased Russian military presence. The Pituffik Space Base on the islands northwest coast supports missile warning and space surveillance operations for the US and NATO.

Before Trumps re-election, Greenlanders hoped to leverage this unique position to help the country achieve independence. Now they fear it has made them vulnerable.

Cebastian Rosing, who works for a water taxi firm that offers tours around the Nuuk fjord, said hes frustrated that Trump is trying to take over just as Greenland has begun to assert its autonomy and celebrate its Inuit origins.

Its so weird to defend (the idea) that our country is our country because its always been our country, he said. Were just getting our culture back because of colonialism.

open image in gallery Cebastian Rosing finds Trumps interest in Greenland frustrating ( AP )

Strategic importance

Its not that Greenlanders dont like the US. They have welcomed Americans for decades.

The US effectively occupied Greenland during World War II, building a string of air and naval bases.

After the war, President Harry Trumans government offered to buy the island because of the extreme importance of Greenland to the defense of the United States. Denmark rejected the proposal but signed a long-term base agreement.

When Trump resurrected the proposal during his first term, it was quickly rejected by Denmark and dismissed as a headline-grabbing stunt. But now Trump is pursuing the idea with renewed energy.

During a speech earlier this month he told a joint session of Congress that the US needed to take control of Greenland to protect its national security. I think were going to get it, Trump said. One way or the other.

A model in the Marshall Islands?

Even so, Trump has his admirers in Greenland.

And there is no greater fan than Jrgen Boassen. When he spoke to The Associated Press, Boassen wore a T-shirt featuring a photo of Trump with his fist in the air and blood streaming down his face after an assassination attempt in 2024. Underneath was the slogan, American Badass.

open image in gallery Jrgen Boassen poses for a photo at his home ( AP )

Boassen works for an organization called American Daybreak, which was founded by former Trump official Thomas Dans and promotes closer ties between the US and Greenland.

The former bricklayer, who describes himself as 110% Inuit, has a litany of complaints about Denmark, most stemming from what he sees as mistreatment of local people during colonial rule. In particular, he cites Inuit women who say they were fitted with birth control devices without their permission during the 1970s.

Trump must act to secure Americas back door, Boassen says, because Denmark has failed to guarantee Greenlands security.

But even he wants Greenland to be independent, a US ally but not the 51st state.

What he has in mind is something more like the free-association agreement the Marshall Islands negotiated with the US when it became independent in 1986. That agreement recognizes the Pacific archipelago as a sovereign nation that conducts its own foreign policy but gives the US control over defense and security.

Were in 2025, Boassen says. So I dont believe they can come here and take over.

Whatever happens, most Greenlanders agree that the island's fate should be up to them, not Trump.

We have to stand together, Christiansen says, her knitting needles clicking and clacking.
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Elon Musk has attempted to explain why Trump administration officials embroiled in the Signal group chat controversy did not use a government-approved communication system.

White House National Security adviser Mike Waltz mistakenly invited The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to an encrypted chat including secret war plans just days before a wave of air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen earlier this month, it was revealed on Monday.

The 18 national security and cabinet officials in the Houthi PC small group chatincluding Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegsethhave been criticized for the security lapse from both sides of the political aisle.

As Democrats call for heads to roll in the wake of Goldbergs damning report, Musk has rushed to excuse the behavior of embattled federal officials and said the systems used by the federal government are shockingly primitive.

Musk shared an X post by the author and cartoonist behind the Dilbert comics, Scott Adams, who wrote: If DOGE taught us anything, it's that all of our government systems are stone-age relics. My best guess is that every government official in both parties uses commercial apps for all but the most sensitive stuff. There is no real choice.

open image in gallery Elon Musk described the governments modes of communication as shockingly primitive ( AFP via Getty Images )

Most government systems are shockingly primitive, the Department of Government Efficiency lead, who President Donald Trump charged with gutting departments and slashing bureaucracy, responded on Tuesday morning.

In another post by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday morning who claimed that Goldberg is known for his sensationalist spin and that no war plans were discussed, Musk replied with three American flag emojis.

Both replies came less than 24 hours after Musk shared a spoof post by the conservative news satire website The Babylon Bee about Goldbergs report and took a swipe at the magazine he heads up.

Best place to hide a dead body is page 2 of The Atlantic magazine, because no one ever goes there, Musk tweeted, before the post was later shared by Trump on Truth Social.

open image in gallery Musk (left), photographed beside Trump (middle) and Vance in Pennslyvania in October, took a swipe at The Atlantic just hours after Goldbergs damning report was published on Monday ( AP )

Goldberg wrote that Waltz invited him to connect on Signal on March 11. The journalist said he was added to the group two days later and no one appeared alarmedor even awareabout a mysterious interloper being in the chat.

Writing in the group, Vance appeared to disagree with Trump's wisdom on the strikes, noting: I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now.

The vice president and defense secretary also shared their disdain for what Hegseth called European free-loading.

When probed by a reporter in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said he didnt know anything about the story.

Congressional Republicans and Democrats have called for action, including for an investigation to be launched into the breach. Some of the Trump administrations most staunch critics have even suggested that the security officials in the Signal group lose their jobs.
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Federal workers who have been summoned back into their offices five days per week are being met with less-than-desirable conditions, from cramped workspaces to dirty bathrooms, as the Trump administration seeks to cut costs by reducing space and staff, according to reports.

Following orders from President Donald Trump, government employees are returning to their offices full-time  all while the administration seeks to axe some of its real estate portfolio to reduce government spending.

Multiple federal employees across various agencies and departments have told news outlets they are working elbow-to-elbow as staff consolidates into workspaces.

Understaffed cleaning crews are reportedly struggling to keep up with the demand for tidy spaces, resulting in dirty bathrooms with no paper towels. Some staff have been asked to bring their own toilet paper or help out by taking their trash home, a federal employee told USA Today.

open image in gallery Federal workers who have kept their jobs are being forced to consolidate office space as they return to work leading to cramped quarters with dirty conditions ( AFP via Getty Images )

At the NASA headquarters, employees returned to the office last month to cockroaches scuttling across the floor and bugs emerging from water faucets, Matt Biggs, the president of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers  the union that represents NASA workers told Reuters.

One Department of Agriculture employee working at its headquarters in D.C. told Reuters that staff are fighting for desk space and bathrooms have no paper towels.

At an IRS office in Tennessee, tax assessors are unable to discuss private tax matters with clients over the phone because theyre afraid of breaching privacy laws, an IRS manager told Reuters.

Trumps mandate for federal workers to return to their office five days per week is part of his push to get rid of remote working policies, which he and other members of his administration have characterized as allowing people to slack off while getting paid by taxpayers.

open image in gallery Federal employees rally in support of their jobs outside of the Kluczynski Federal Building in Chicago ( Getty Images )

More than half of government employees worked fully on-site, with approximately 80 percent of working hours spent in-person, a report from the Office of Management and Budget found. Only 10 percent of federal workers were fully remote.

Elon Musk, the brain behind the Department of Government Efficiency, had said forcing all federal employees back into the office full-time would lead to voluntary reductions in force.

The change-up has created more stressful work weeks for some who have adapted to working from home full-time. One Homeland Security employee told USA Today he spends two and half hours per day in his car commuting to and from work  cutting into time he could spend with his newborn child.

Its a huge morale killer, he told USA Today.
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The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg revealed he was in a Safeway parking lot when he realized a group chat he was added to detailing strikes on Yemen was real.

Goldberg reported Monday that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz appeared to have added him to a group chat titled Houthi PC small group on the encrypted messaging app Signal. The thread also appeared to include top White House officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

At first, Goldberg wasnt sure if the group chat was real. But soon enough, officials started sending the planned times of U.S. strikes on Yemen  and Goldberg realized they were lining up perfectly.

open image in gallery The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg appears on CNN to discuss where he was when he realized the Yemen war plans group chat was real ( CNN )

Im sitting in a Safeway parking lot, watching my phone and realizing, Oh my God, this might be real, Goldberg told CNNs Kaitlan Collins on Monday. I think Pete Hegseth just sent this group actual targeting information, actual sequencing of an attack.

Goldberg went on to tell MSNBCs Jen Psaki he was glad someone else wasnt added to the group chat.

Its interesting because as Im reading it at 11:44 a.m. on Saturday morning, the 15th, seeing that the Houthis are not going to know about this for another couple of hours, and I know about it, Goldberg said on Inside with Jen Psaki.

Im thinking to myself, I mean, honestly, Im thinking to myself, well, Im glad that Mike Waltz didnt invite a Houthi into the group or a Russian spy or an adversary of the United States, he added.

open image in gallery The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg reports National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, pictured, added him to a group chat discussing future U.S. strikes on Yemen ( REUTERS )

Collins also asked Goldberg to respond to Hegseths claim that nobody was texting war plans. Hegseths remarks come after National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes already confirmed to The Atlantic that the group chat appears to be an authentic message chain.

No, thats a lie, he was texting war plans, Goldberg said of Hegseths claim. He was texting attack plans. When targets were going to be targeted, how they were going to be targeted, who was at the targets, when the next sequence of attacks was happening.

open image in gallery Hegseth denied that he was texting war plans even after National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes confirmed the group chats authenticity ( Getty Images )

President Donald Trump at first denied knowing about his national security advisers apparent error.

"I don't know anything about it, Trump said Monday. I'm not a big fan of The Atlantic. It's to me, it's a magazine that's going out of business. I think it's not much of a magazine, but I know nothing about it.

The president went on to defend Waltz in an interview with NBC News on Tuesday, calling the incident the only glitch in two months and claiming it turned out not to be a serious one."

"Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man," Trump said.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said officials are looking into how Goldbergs number was inadvertently added to the thread.

Thanks to the strong and decisive leadership of President Trump, and everyone in the group, the Houthi strikes were successful and effective, she continued. Terrorists were killed and thats what matters most to President Trump.

Both Democrats and Republicans are now calling for action in the wake of the leak.

Pete Buttigieg, who served as Transport Secretary under Joe Biden, called the leak the highest level of f***up imaginable.

Republican Representative Don Bacon told Axios: None of this should have been sent on non-secure systems. Russia and China are surely monitoring his unclassified phone.
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Social media critics could scarcely believe their eyes when they read that Donald Trumps inexperienced Defense Secretary and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth discussed secret airstrke plans against Houthis in Yemen earlier this month in a group chat that accidentally included a prominent journalist.

The chat occurred on Hegseths Signal account, an encrypted messaging app available to the public. The chat, believed to have been launched by White House National Security adviser Mike Waltz, involved top officials and Cabinet members to discuss airstrikes.

Journalist Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic revealed the massive screw up in a column entitled The Trump administration just accidentally texted me its war plans in his publication Monday. He kept the extremely sensitive intelligence secret  which Hegseth was incapable of doing  until almost 10 days days after the March 15 attack.

I didnt think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling, Goldberg wrote.

Critics went to town, including many who called for Hegseth to step down  or be fired. Former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hilary Clinton sputtered in a post on X: You have got to be kidding me.

Hegseth, Resign, National Security and Defense Secretary were all trending on X Monday.

The State Department refused to answer questions about the goof to reporters.

New Jersey Democratic Senator Andy Kim said in a post on X that the bungle could be an episode on [the TV program] Veep if it wasnt so dangerous and just plain dumb. Really dumb and epically irresponsible. People need to lose their jobs over this. Preferably Hegseth.

It would be an episode of Veep if it wasnt so dangerous and just plain dumb. Really dumb and epically irresponsible. People need to lose their jobs over this. Preferably Hegseth. pic.twitter.com/8ncpsp3rjE  Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) March 24, 2025

Retired U.S. Army General Barry McCaffery called the potentially disastrous accident disgraceful in comments on TikTok.

Retired U.S. Army General Barry McCaffery reacts to the insane idiocy of the fascist Trump regime's low IQ Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.  pic.twitter.com/dkgYh6VQnh  Bill Madden (@maddenifico) March 24, 2025

Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin said the group text procedure almost certainly broke the law.

Q: Did this group chat break the law?



Rep. Raskin: Almost certainly, and it reflects a general sloppiness in the whole approach of the administration pic.twitter.com/zdUac5FiFK  FactPost (@factpostnews) March 24, 2025

Hegseth later Monday insisted to a reporter later Monday that nothing was leaked and attacked Goldberg as a journalist who deals in garbage.

A spokesperson for the National Security Council told Goldberg that the communication he had appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.

Hegseth was notably incensed when he was a Fox News host about Hillary Clintons private-server emails when she was secretary of state, and argued that she immediately be fired.

SecDef Hegseth once said: Any security professional would be fired on the spot and prosecuted for this kind of reckless conduct.



Today, hes the one endangering national security. By his own standard, he should be gone. #HeadsShouldRoll pic.twitter.com/7gWEY7sHWR  VoteVets (@votevets) March 24, 2025

Swalwell: Hegseth is still the Secretary of Defense? This moron texts out our war plans, putting our soldiers at risk, and hes not gone?



Every one on that chatthey just fire off texts not knowing who is on the chat? They all should be fired if they dont resign. pic.twitter.com/21l3A2fRC7  Acyn (@Acyn) March 25, 2025

Pete Hegseth accidentally added a Journalist to a signal group chat that was being used as a command centre for US Military strikes on the Houthis in Yemen.



Here is also Pete Hegseth telling a reporter what he thinks should happen to politicians when they accidentally leak info. pic.twitter.com/0sshlBIsHY  Bricktop_NAFO (@Bricktop_NAFO) March 24, 2025

President Donald Trump claimed he knew nothing about the breach. What happened? Trump asked a reporter, looking confused.

He then attacked the publication, saying:  I'm not a big fan of The Atlantic ... I think it's not much of a magazine, but I know nothing about the leaked information.

Some critics worried about what other vital information may have been compromised given the slipshod leak to The Atlantic.

Others just had a laugh.

Pete Hegseth is messy. pic.twitter.com/r3F1sbTFta  The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) March 24, 2025

Our national security right now: pic.twitter.com/dQllHtrvMf  The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) March 24, 2025
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The top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee demanded the resignations of senior Trump administration officials who used a Signal thread to discuss a bombing campaign in Yemen and included a journalist in the chat.

During a hearing Tuesday, committee vice chair Mark Warner grilled intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard and slammed national security adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after they failed to conduct security hygiene 101 without realizing The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was included in the text chain.

Putting aside for a moment that classified information should never be discussed over an unclassified system, its also just mind boggling to me that all these senior folks were on this line and nobody bothered to even check, Warner said. Security hygiene 101  who are all the names? Who are they?

During the hearing, Warner posted on X that incompetence is not an option.

Pete Hegseth should resign. Mike Waltz should resign, he wrote.

open image in gallery CIA director John Ratcliffe, right, testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing with Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel on March 25, one day after revelations that a journalist was erroneously added to a Signal thread with administration officials organizing a bombing campaign in Yemen ( Getty Images )

The committee heard testimony from Gabbard as well as CIA director John Ratcliffe, both of whom appeared on the Signal thread.

In his opening remarks, Warner stressed to administration officials that intelligence suggests China and Russia are trying to break into encrypted messaging apps such as Signal.

If this was the case of a military officer or an intelligence officer and they had this kind of behavior, they would be fired, he added. This is one more example of the kind of sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior, particularly towards classified information, that this is not a one-off or a first-time error.

On Monday, The Atlantic published Goldbergs explosive report detailing his inadvertent front-row seat to planning efforts from Donald Trumps administration for a bombing campaign targeting Houthis in Yemen earlier this month.

Waltz started a group chat on Signal with Vice President JD Vance, several Cabinet secretaries and other top White House officials, and appeared to accidentally add Goldberg, according to his report.

Earlier this month, Trump announced on social media that he ordered the U.S. military to launch decisive and powerful actions against the Yemeni group, which has blocked key shipping lanes and attacked Israeli vessels and other commercial ships in the Red Sea following Israels devastating military campaign in Gaza.

Goldberg revealed that Hegseth texted the group with a plan of action two hours before the bombs fell on March 15.

open image in gallery Democratic Senator Mark Warner, seated next to Republican Senator Tom Cotton, addresses top Trump administration officials during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing ( Getty Images )

During Tuesdays hearing, Gabbard told Warner that the Signal thread didnt share any classified information but refused to share its contents, or even admit that she was on the chain.

If its not classified, share the texts now, Warner told Gabbard. Share it with the committee. You cant have it both ways. These are important jobs. This is our national security.

Ratcliffe also testified that he did not know how Goldberg was added to the thread.

Don't insult the intelligence of the American people, Democratic Senator Michael Bennet told him. Youre the CIA director! Why didn't you call out that he was present on the thread?

Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff asked Ratcliffe whether he agreed this was a huge mistake.

No, Ratcliffe replied.

After some cross talk, in which Ratcliffe called the scandal an inadvertent mistake, Ossoff called the ordeal an embarrassment.

This is utterly unprofessional. Theres been no apology. There has been no recognition of the gravity of this error, he added. We will get the full transcript of this chain and your testimony will be measured carefully against its content.

Speaking to NBC News on Tuesday, the president defended Waltz as a good man who learned a lesson.

Goldbergs presence had no impact at all and the attacks were perfectly successful, Trump said.

Hegseth, meanwhile, has contradicted the White Houses admission of the authenticity of the leak and has sought to discredit The Atlantic and Goldberg instead.

Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes, Hegseth told reporters Monday. This is a guy who peddles in garbage.
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Permanent residents in the U.S. have faced detention and deportation, while even tourists have been turned away under the new immigration regime taking shape under the Trump administration.

The White House has been accused of targeting activists with opposing views, especially on the Israel-Hamas war, and rushing to deport people before they can fully access legal counsel.

When asked last month about the administrations record of controversial and mistaken deportations, which has included deporting people protected by court rulings, President Trump brushed off any criticisms.

Let me tell you that nothing will ever be perfect in this world, he told The Atlantic.

Here are some of the most notable cases.

A popular left-wing Twitch streamer questioned about his Trump views at a Chicago airport

open image in gallery Piker claims he was targeted for scrutiny because of his views on Trump and Gaza ( AP )

On May 11, Hasan Piker, the most popular progressive online video streamer, was stopped for additional questioning as he traveled through a Chicago airport. There, Piker, a U.S. citizen who has nearly 3 million followers on Twitch, said agents subjected him to lengthy questioning about his views on Trump and the war in Gaza.

The reason for why theyre doing that is I think to try to create an environment of fear, to try to get people like myself, or at least others that would be in my shoes that don't have that same level of security, to shut the f*** up, Piker, an outspoken critic of the Israeli war effort, later said on a stream.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection told The Independent that Piker was stopped for routine additional inspection, and said, Claims that his political belief triggered the inspection are baseless.

Civil rights groups criticized the questioning.

No U.S. citizen should be detained by law enforcement, at the border or anywhere, because of their protected speech, Ari Cohn, of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression free speech watchdog group, wrote on X.

Australian wife locked up and kicked out on way to visit her husband in U.S. Army

open image in gallery Couple says Australian woman has completed trips in past without incident ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Also this month, Nicolle Sourokos of Sydney, Australia, had alarming issues of her own at a U.S. airport.

She and her mother had arrived at the airport in Honolulu, Hawaii, on their way to visit Sourokoss husband, a U.S. Army lieutenant stationed in Oahu. Sourokos, 25, had made the visit three times already since she married her husband Matt last December, so she wasnt expecting any issues, she said.

Soon, however, security agents allegedly began yelling at her and the pair were selected for additional screening. Officers then allegedly searched their bags and phones while questioning Sourokos about whether her tattoos were gang-related and allegedly subjecting her to a cavity search.

Sourokos said she was held in detention overnight, then sent out of the country with her mother.

Its not only myself, its my mother and my husband that also had to endure that pain, my husband being a current serving member, to serve his country and to be treated in that way I find very disgusting, she told Hawaii News Now.

Potential deportation looms for mixed-status Ohio family

open image in gallery Family argues deportation would amount to cruel and unusual punishment of U.S. citizen children ( AFP via Getty Images )

Last week, a pregnant Mexican mother in Ohio sued the Trump administration, arguing a likely deportation order would separate her from her U.S. citizen child, a 9-year-old who receives special needs care for autism, and amount to illegal treatment of her unborn child.

Carmen G. Guerrero Sandoval, who was reportedly denied asylum five years ago, was recently ordered to present herself to Immigration and Customs Enforcement in June, raising fears she would join the many arrested at routine check-ins.

Under Ohio law, unborn children are legally considered people, and people in the state can sue if the government interferes with their family relations against the best interest of the child. The lawsuit argues that removing Sandoval would violate her sons due process rights and amount to unconstitutional cruel punishment, as well as differential treatment of the child based on his ethnicity. It also raises the question about what rights Sandovals unborn child, due in October, has in the situation.

This week, a federal judge denied a request to temporarily pause the immigration appearance request, and Sandoval has appealed before an immigration panel.

A pregnant Guatemalan asylum-seeker separated from her newborn

open image in gallery Pregnant Guatemalan migrant had been wandering in desert alone for two days when she was apprehended ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

In late April, immigration agents apprehended a pregnant Guatemalan migrant, identified by her attorney only by her first name, Erika, who had been wandering alone for two days in the Arizona desert.

Erika was taken to a hospital where she gave birth on April 30, as federal authorities waited outside. The new mother was then immediately separated from her child and put into immigration detention, where she was fast-tracked for removal. Her attorney told The Independent he scrambled to reach the woman and ensure the child, a U.S. citizen, was protected, but said he was denied entry to the hospital and had calls to officials ignored.

Soon, calls began to flood the Tucson Medical Center and federal offices, a development attorney, Luis Campos, thinks was pivotal to securing Erika a temporary reprieve.

In the end, it was a grassroots effort that turned the tide, he told The Independent.

Erika has since been discharged and is living in Tennessee as she prepares to appear before an immigration judge, where she will likely seek asylum.

A two-year-old U.S. citizen deported after no meaningful process

Others are raising alarms about deportations that have already taken place.

Last month, a two-year-old U.S. citizen was deported alongside her mother, a Honduran citizen, after the family was arrested at an immigration check-in in New Orleans.

Federal officials say the mother requested her children be deported alongside her, but a Trump-appointed federal judge, Terry Doughty, wrote with concern that the government just deported a U.S. citizen with no meaningful process.

The government contends that this is all OK because the mother wishes that the child be deported with her, he wrote. But the court doesnt know that.

The childs father is seeking to return the girl to the U.S.

U.S.-born citizen detained despite evidence

On April 17, Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a 20-year-old citizen of the U.S., was held in a Florida jail at the request of federal immigration authorities, despite his mother presenting his birth certificate and Social Security information to a judge.

Lopez-Gomez was taken to Leon County Jail after a traffic stop, accused of being undocumented.

open image in gallery Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez was released from jail after being detained by ICE. He is a U.S.-born citizen, but was still arrested during a traffic stop. ( Thomas Kennedy/X )

The charge was dropped, but the Leon County judge said that she did not have jurisdiction to release him after Immigration and Customs Enforcement requested that he remain in detention, according to court records. He was released hours later, though it is not clear what led to the change.

Tufts University doctoral student who co-authored op-ed supporting Palestine detained

Activists have also been targeted, though the Trump administration has suffered repeat setbacks in court.

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University doctoral student, was detained by ICE on March 25 near her home in Massachusetts.

Surveillance footage captured plainclothes federal agents approaching Ozturk, 30, from the street outside her off-campus apartment before putting her in handcuffs, even though there were no criminal charges against her.

Tufts student Rumeysa Ozturk is grabbed by ICE officers on the streeted off street by. masked ICE agents

Ozturk is a PhD student in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the university and is legally in the United States on a non-immigrant F-1 visa.

On May 9, Ozturk was released from detention, and she continues to challenge her immigration proceedings and the constitutionality of what her attorneys argue is a retaliatory arrest.

A judge wrote in releasing Ozturk that the government had no evidence justifying putting the scholar in detention, beyond an op-ed she wrote that was critical of Israel.

Mahmoud Khalil, former Columbia student and pro-Palestinian activist, detained

Mahmoud Khalil, a former graduate student at Columbia University, was detained by federal agents on March 8  despite being a lawful permanent resident  due to his involvement in last years protests and encampments in support of Palestine.

His wife, a U.S. citizen who was eight months pregnant at the time, said that he was seized by agents in front of her at their university-owned apartment.

Federal officials said they collected evidence that Khalil, 30, was actively, but not materially, supporting Hamas  a designated terrorist organization.

A DHS spokesperson said that Khalil was detained "in support of President Trump's executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism."

open image in gallery People demonstrate outside Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse in New York, on the day of a hearing on the detention of Mahmoud Khalil ( REUTERS )

Officials concede that Khalil has not committed any crimes but are relying on a rarely used Cold War-era statute to justify his deportation. It gives Secretary of State Marco Rubio the power to deport those who pose potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.

Last week, Khalil briefly met his newborn son, but he remains in immigration detention. He is challenging his arrest and deportations in court, arguing they are retaliatory and will put him at risk of assassination, kidnapping, [and] torture.

Georgetown University professor detained at home in Virginia

Georgetown University postdoctoral scholar and Professor Badar Khan Suri, originally from India, was detained on March 17 at his home in Arlington, Virginia. Masked agents said his J-1 visa had been revoked.

A spokesperson for DHS accused Suri of "spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media" as well as having close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas.

Suri is in the country on a J-1 visa  issued for people who take part in approved programs of teaching, studying, training and research.

By May 15, Suri was released from detention, and he continues to challenge his detention as a violation of the First Amendment.

Justice delayed is justice denied," Suri told reporters after his release from a detention facility near Dallas.

Unnamed French scientist detained because of texts

A French researcher, whose name has not been made public, was reportedly stopped from entering the U.S. earlier in March because of text messages criticizing the Trump administrations academic research policies.

The scientist was on his way to a conference close to Houston at the time, according to Le Monde.

A spokesperson for DHS denied the text messages were responsible for blocking the researcher, saying instead that the man was found to have confidential data from a U.S. lab. He did not elaborate.

The French minister of higher education and research, Philippe Baptiste, said in a statement that "freedom of opinion, free research, and academic freedom are values that we will continue to proudly uphold. I will defend the right of all French researchers to be faithful to them while respecting the law.

Baptiste took to X to say that he had asked for an emergency meeting with other European ministers to establish a plan to defend academic freedom.

"Europe must rise to the occasion to protect research and welcome the talents who can contribute to its success," he said.

Milwaukee mother deported to a country she has never been to

Ma Yang, a 37-year-old Hmong American, was detained and then deported in March to Laos, a country she had never been to, nor a country where she speaks the language.

Yang was stripped of her green card by the Trump administration in February, some two-plus years after being released from federal prison, where she served 30 months on marijuana-related charges.

Although she was born in Thailand, Yang had been living in the U.S. since she was a baby and was a legal resident with a green card.

open image in gallery Ma Yang was deported in February to Laos, a country she has never set foot in ( Facebook )

ICE told Yang to report to the agencys Milwaukee facility. When she showed up, agents detained Yang, sent her to Indiana, then Chicago, and finally she was shipped off to Laos. She says she doesnt know anyone in the Southeast Asian country and cant speak the language.

In a previous interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Yang said her attorney in the case never told her deportation was a possibility.

Defense attorney Matt Ricci, who represented Ma Yang in the 2020 marijuana case, disputed this, saying his files and notes showed otherwise. He said he told Yang at the time that deportation could happen, but that he didnt think it would happen.

Welsh tourist detained after problem with visa

Rebecca Burke, 28, a Welsh artist, was detained on February 26 after she set off on the trip of a lifetime across North America, according to a GoFundMe page. She was reunited with her family in March after spending 19 days in a processing center after being denied entry at the border between the U.S. and Canada.

open image in gallery Rebecca Burke was detained on February 26 at the U.S.-Canada border ( Instagram/r.e.burke )

Burke had been residing with host families, with whom she helped out with chores in exchange for her stay. As she attempted to enter Canada, authorities informed her she needed a work visa, and she was told that she had to go back to the U.S.

"She was refused re-entry and classified as an 'illegal alien,'" her father wrote. "Despite being a tourist with no criminal record, she was handcuffed and taken to a detention facility in Tacoma, Washington."

Her father complained she had been led onto the plane in chains like Hannibal Lecter.

With reporting from Rhian Lubin, Kelly Rissman, Ariana Baio, Alex Woodward, Justin Rohrlich and Joe Sommerlad
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Editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, released excerpts of the conversation among national security officials on the messaging app Signal after he was accidentally added to the group chat  exercising a right to publish that has sparked controversy among Trump administration officials.

In a shocking article published Monday, Goldberg revealed that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz has inadvertently added him to the group chat on Signal, an encrypted but commercially available app, along with top national security officials, to discuss a U.S. military operation against Houthi militants in Yemen.

While Goldberg withheld some details, including the name of a current CIA operative and the names of the U.S. militarys targets, he did include the names of those involved in the group chat and their process to prepare for the attack. His piece also included screenshots of specific exchanges. He did not release the information until after the attack on the Houthis earlier this month.

open image in gallery Signal is an end-to-end encrypted app but it is also commercially available ( AP )

While many blame the Trump administration officials for accidentally including a journalist in the group chat, some have pointed fingers at Goldberg for publishing information, believing it violates national security protocol. The issue is murky because Donald Trump himself and other officials have insisted that no classified information was discussed in the group chat.

Nevertheless, Mercedes Schlapp, a conservative communication specialist who worked in the first Trump administration, called Goldberg incredibly irresponsible and anti-American for publishing the texts of the national security team.

The right thing to do would have been to notify the NSA adviser that a text was sent in error. The reporter put our national security at risk, she wrote.

Republican Representative Darrell Issa told Fox News correspondent Chad Pergram: What The Atlantic did by making public something that they believed could have been national security sensitive is the kind of irresponsible activity of the press.

While there is no hard-and-fast rule for newsrooms when handling classified information, they are awarded some legal protections when choosing to do so.

open image in gallery National Security Adviser Mike Waltz accidentally added Jeffrey Goldberg to a group chat on Signal, unknowingly giving him sensitive information about a U.S, military operation ( REUTERS )

Journalists are generally protected if they legally obtain documents that contain accurate information and are considered newsworthy. They are also protected from civil lawsuits if they are given documents that were illegally obtained by a third party.

Additionally, under the precedent set by the U.S. Supreme Court in New York Times v. United States (1971), known as the Pentagon Papers case, the government cannot censor a newspaper unless it proves the publication would cause grave and irreparable danger.

The details about the U.S. military operation in The Atlantic article are vague, and were published more than a week after the attacks occurred.

Goldberg said he excluded information that he believed could be used to harm the U.S. military or intelligence personnel.
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Jimmy Kimmel shredded Trump administration officials involved in the Signal leak after inadvertently giving a journalist a front-row seat as they hashed out secret war plans for an impending U.S. strike in Yemen.

Hours after reports surfaced on Monday, the Jimmy Kimmel Live host recounted events of how White House National Security adviser Mike Waltz appeared to have mistakenly invited The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to an encrypted chat days before the wave of air strikes on Houthi targets earlier this month.

[Goldberg] thought somebody was trying to fool him, he thought it was disinformation, Kimmel said. Turned out it was just a bunch of fools because the strike happened exactly as described in the text.

In other words, our national security is being guarded by a bunch of doofs you wouldnt trust to throw your cousin a surprise party, he added.

Goldberg wrote that he was invited to connect on Signal by Walz on March 11. The journalist, who uses the encrypted messaging platform under his initials JG, said he was added to a group called the Houthi PC small group two days later.

open image in gallery Jimmy Kimmel teased the 'bunch of doofs' who appeared to leak U.S. war plans to an Atlatanitc journalist ( Jimmy Kimmel Live/ABC/YouTube )

Kimmel questioned why no one managed to spot Goldbergs name or asked who the mysterious interloper in the group was.

No one thought to ask, Who is JG? What are these initials?, he continued. They could have been leaking secrets to Jeff Goldblum for all they know.

The late-night host teased what would happen if a similar security breach occurred during the Biden administration.

If Joe Bidens top-level military team accidentally texted these plans to a journalist, Laura Ingrahams e******* would be so rock strong it would break through the wall like the Kool-Aid man, he said of the Fox News host.

Waltz, a former Green Beret and Florida representative, used the common encrypted messaging app to form the group chat with colleagues on the National Security Councils Principals Committee.

Signal is not an official communications channel available to top government officials.

open image in gallery Pete Hegseth (left) and JD Vance were among top ranking officials in believed to be in the Houthi PC small group Signal chat ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Along with Waltz, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, are among officials in the chat who had previously condemned former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server while in office.

National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Steve Witkoff, Trumps Middle East and Ukraine negotiator, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller were among others who appeared to be included in the Signal channel.

No one managed to spot Goldberg in the group, even when he left the chat  which would have notified members.

Vance appeared to disagree with Trump's wisdom on the strikes, noting: I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now.

Alongside leaking details of U.S. war plans, the vice president and defense secretary also shared their disdain for what Hegseth called European free-loading.

When probed by a reporter in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said he didnt know anything about the story.

Just hours after reports surfaced, Clinton took to X to write: You have got to be kidding me.
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A TikTok star claims that Elon Musks lawyers probed her over a series of critical tweets amid an announcement that she is running for Congress.

Kat Abughazaleh, 26, a Gen-Z influencer who is known as Kat Abu, has declared shes not scared of standing up to President Donald Trump and Elon Musk after she revealed her political ambitions in Illinois's 9th District because of a spineless Democratic party who are failing to intervene.

Perhaps to demonstrate her willingness to stand up to Musk, Abughazaleh revealed that she was deposed by the Tesla billionaires lawyers a few months ago. She did not elaborate on the deposition.

The Independent contacted Musks lawyers for comment.

The young Texan, who rose to fame during the first Trump administration with her hot take videos on various issues of the day, declared in a two-and-a-half-minute YouTube video that Trump and Elon Musk are dismantling our country piece by piece.

open image in gallery Commentators on the right have criticized the social media star for making the flash move back to Illinois after previously residing in the Beltway ( Kat Abughazaleh/YouTube )

Unfortunately, this party [the Democrats] has become one where you have to look for the exceptions of real leadership as the majority work from an outdated playbook., she stated.

We need a makeover.

Pledging that she would advocate for better economic policy and social welfare, Abughazaleh said it was necessary to stand up to authoritarians and not shrink away when the fight gets tough.

The Democratic Party has grappled with multiple internal rifts since losing the November 2024 presidential election.

Just weeks before her announcement, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer allowed for a Republican spending bill to pass through the Senate  a move that prevented a government shutdown but cemented internal party divisions. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lashed out at Schumers decision, calling it a tremendous mistake.

Abughazaleh, without explicitly mentioning names, called the Democrats out for cowering to Trump and explained that she was now stepping up after an entire career of reporting on the far-right.

open image in gallery Elon Musks lawyers reportedly contacted the young Congressional candidate over a string of mean tweets ( AP )

The young campaigner would effectively be teed up against Rep. Jan Schakowsky in a primary battle for the northern Chicago suburbs of Evanston, Skokie, and Niles.

Her announcement has sparked quite a reaction on X, with New York Times politics reporter Kellen Browning writing: A 26-year-old progressive influencer running against an 80-year-old 14-term Dem incumbent. If Gen Z is as fed up with the status quo as they say, I wonder if well be seeing a lot of these kinds of matchups.

Another chimed in to comment: Kat Abughazaleh moved to the Chicago area in July but voted in DC in 2024. She said she registered to vote in Illinois in February and currently lives outside the district but plans to move there soon. A serious, legitimate candidate doesn't act like this.

According to public records, Abughazaleh formerly voted in Dallas County, Texas, before later voting in D.C. County, Washington, in 2022.
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U.S. postmaster general Louis DeJoy resigned from his position Monday, earlier than expected after reportedly refusing to give Elon Musk's DOGE broad access to agency computer systems.

DeJoy, a former logistics magnate and Republican donor appointed by Donald Trump himself during the chaotic summer of 2020, announced last month that he would resign once the USPS's independent board of governors had chosen a successor.

Instead, he said on Monday that he would leave at the end of the day and be replaced by deputy postmaster Doug Tulino on an interim basis.

The news came after Trump threatened to dissolve the USPS board in apparent contravention of U.S. law, which guarantees its independence and bipartisan governance.

Inside sources told The Washington Post that DeJoy had fallen out of favor with the president after clashing with DOGE operatives over the extent of their access, and insisting that any major changes go through Congress.

"I believe strongly that the organization is well positioned and capable of carrying forward and fully implementing the many strategies and initiatives that comprise our transformation and modernization," said DeJoy in a statement on Monday.

"While our management team, and the men and women of the Postal Service, have established the path toward financial sustainability and high operating performance  and we have instituted enormous beneficial change to what had been an adrift and moribund organization  much work remains that is necessary to sustain our positive trajectory.

"It has been one of the pleasures of my life, and a crowning achievement of my career, to have been associated with this cherished institution."

USPS board chairwoman Amber McReynolds lauded DeJoy as "a fighter" who had made "tireless efforts" to modernize the service and "reverse decades of neglect".

The agency had previously agreed with DOGE to cut its 635,000-strong workforce by 10,000 within the next 30 days, on top of the 30,000 jobs it has already nixed since the 2021 fiscal year.

DeJoy became the nations 75th postmaster general  a job first occupied by none other than Benjamin Franklin  in the thick of the Covid-19 pandemic, amid tensions over the role of mail-in voting in that November's presidential election.

As the first postmaster general in nearly two decades who was not a career postal employee, he developed a 10-year plan to modernize operations and stem losses, telling customers to prepare for uncomfortable rate hikes in pursuit of agency self-sufficiency.

With Trump continually spreading conspiracy theories about mail-in voting  allegedly as part of a plot to overturn the election result if he lost  critics feared that DeJoy's policies would make it harder to vote by mail, and one of his cost-cutting practices was blocked by a court for that reason.

The fate of the USPS now seems unclear, given that Trump has mused publicly about privatizing the agency.

In February, the Post reported that Trump was planning to try and end USPS independence by executive fiat. The board made preparations to fight in court, and a White House spokesperson later denied any such plans.
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Attorney General Pam Bondi called on Texas congresswoman Jasmine Crockett to apologize for recent comments calling for Elon Musk to be taken down, claiming the comments are driving violence and insurrection.

She needs to unequivocally denounce the violence, Bondi said during an interview Monday night on Fox Newss Hannity. She must apologize immediately, not only to all Texans, but to our country, to the American shareholders of Tesla, because she is promoting violence.

The comments came as Teslas and facilities tied to the EV brand have faced violence and threats, including in Texas.

The Independent has contacted Rep. Crocketts office for comment.

Last week, Crockett, a Democrat, said she hoped to see Musk taken down as part of a protest push calling itself the Tesla Takedown Movement, though said moments later she meant that figuratively and asserted that everything that I am promoting is non-violent.

Nonetheless, the comments have roiled the MAGA right.

Bondi has repeatedly warned Crockett she could face prosecution for remarks about Tesla ( REUTERS )

Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene accused Crockett of organizing political violence and terrorism, while Bondi has said elsewhere that Crockett must tread carefully, given the administrations larger effort to crack down on those making violent threats against Musk and Tesla.

Crockett has claimed it is the Trump administration that is providing political cover for insurrectionists, rather than critics of Tesla and Musk.

I have never promoted violence whatsoever, yet Ive also never made [an] excuse for those violent actors such as the ones on January 6, she told MSNBC last week, referring to President Donald Trumps sweeping pardons for insurrectionists charged with crimes during Capitol riots.

Tesla vehicles, dealerships, and charging stations have persistently been targets of protests and attacks since Donald Trump took office and made Musk a key partner overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative that has led to mass layoffs, budget cuts, and attempts to shutter multiple federal agencies.

Anonymous individuals have also created a website purporting to show the locations of Tesla facilities and individuals tied to DOGE. The cursor on the website is a Molotov cocktail.

AG Pam Bondi warns Rep Jasmine Crockett over Elon Musk and Tesla comments

Bondi announced last week that the Justice Department is bringing severe charges against three individuals accused of targeting Teslas with arson attacks, following the White Houses vow to treat such incidents as domestic terrorism.

Federal officials have also launched a terrorism taskforce to investigate the Tesla attacks.

Trump has taken things a step further, suggesting that those who target Teslas could be sent, in what would amount to an unprecedented and potentially illegal move, to a notorious Salvadoran prison at the center of the ongoing Venezuelan deportation flights lawsuit.
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Community Notes on Elon Musks app X correcting the Pentagons claims about a deceitful journalist involved in the Yemen message leak have disappeared from an official Department of Defense post.

The Pentagons official Rapid Response X account, which says it is supporting the mission of @SecDef and fighting against fake news, shared a clip of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Fox News responding to allegations that he and other U.S. national security officials leaked highly sensitive plans about a Yemen military strike to The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg over a group chat.

Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist, the account posted Monday evening, sharing Hegseths quote.

A Community Note, the function that allows X users to add context to posts that might be misleading, soon appeared underneath, calling the Pentagon out.

Misleading, it read. The Atlantic included screenshots from the Signal chat.

The note also said that The White House confirmed the issue and House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed it.

open image in gallery The official Department of Defense Rapid Response X account shared a clip of Pete Hegseths response to the Atlantic story. By Tuesday afternoon, the Community Note underneath had disappeared ( @DODResponse/X )

But by Tuesday afternoon, the note was no longer attached to the tweet. The community note seems to have been taken down? But heres a screenshot, CNNs Pentagon correspondent Haley Britzky posted.

The Washington Posts military reporter, Alex Horton, accused X of purging the Community Notes from the post. X has purged community notes from this Pentagon account that posts about transparency and accountability, Horton said.

Community Notes do not represent Xs viewpoint and cannot be edited or modified by our teams, X claims on its website.

Hortons post divided users. Some pointed out that the Community Notes function is crowd-sourced, and users can vote on whether they find it helpful or not.

open image in gallery CNNS Pentagon correspondent Haley Britzky shared a screenshot of the original Community Note that appeared under the DODs post after it was removed. Users pointed out that Community Notes can be down-voted if they are deemed unhelpful. ( @halbritz/X )

People down voted it. Thats how it works, one X account user responded.

Others said that users can down vote a Community Note if it does not align with their politics, not necessarily because it is incorrect.

So if enough people don't want to hear the truth, they can remove the facts in Community Notes to feed the MAGA cognitive dissonance? one user asked. No wonder why Twitter has become MAGA propaganda central.

Similar Community Notes were still visible on other posts at the time of writing, including one from Rep. Deborah Ross.

Hegseth spoke to reporters Monday after he stepped off a plane onto a landing strip at Pearl Harbor military base in Hawaii.

So...Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again, Hegseth said.

This is the guy that peddles in garbage. This is what he does. I would love to comment on the Houthi campaign because of the skill and courage of our troops. Ive monitored it very closely from the beginning.

The White House has confirmed the text thread was legitimate.
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Pete Buttigieg suggested that President Donald Trump should fire officials involved in the Signal leak hours after the former Transport Secretary called it the highest level of f***up imaginable.

The Democrat appeared on CNNs The Source on Monday evening after reports emerged that The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeff Goldberg was invited to an encrypted chat days before the wave of air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.

Buttigieg reflected on his time serving in Afghanistan as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserve when probed by host Kaitlan Collins about whether Trump administration officials in the Houthi PC small group channel deserve to be fired.

Absolutely, he replied. I mean, if I made a mistake like this as lieutenant, I would be probably not just fired, but probably indicted and tried and maybe in prison.

Buttigieg said that Trumps previous career as a reality TV star on The Apprentice means hes well placed to dismiss those involved in the breach.

And, if theres no accountability for a screw-up like this, especially from a president who used to fire people every day on television for sport, what are we even doing here? he added,

open image in gallery Pete Buttigieg told CNN's Kaitlan Collins that if he made a mistake while in the Navy like Trump officials involved in the Signal security breach, he may have been indicted ( Kaitlan Collins/CNN/X )

Buttigieg also questioned the credentials possessed by Hegseth, who disclosed the war plans in the Signal chat, to run the Department of Defense.

Our current secretary of Defense hadnt shown a lot of evidence of running a large organization or, let alone running a large organization well, and he got put in charge of the largest organization in the United States of America and the most important organization in the world  which is the U.S. Department of Defense, he told Collins.

Just hours after Goldbergs explosive report dropped for The Atlantic, Buttigieg condemned the national security leak, tweeting that from an operational security perspective, this is the highest level of f***up imaginable.

These people cannot keep America safe, he added.

Goldberg wrote that he was invited to connect on Signal by White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz on March 11. The journalist, who uses the encrypted messaging platform under his initials JG, said he was added to a group called the Houthi PC small group, where the war plans were disclosed two days later.

open image in gallery Mike Waltz is believed to have invited The Atlantics editor-in-chief to a Signal group earlier in the month ( AP )

Signal is not an official communications channel available to top government officials.

Along with Waltz, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, are among officials in the chat who had previously condemned former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server while in office.

National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Trumps Middle East and Ukraine negotiator Steve Witkoff, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller were among others who appeared to be included in the Signal group.

No one seemed to have spotted Goldberg in the group, even when he left the chat  which would have notified members.

Vance appeared to disagree with Trump's wisdom on the strikes, noting: I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now.

Alongside leaking details of U.S. war plans, the vice president and defense secretary also shared their disdain for what Hegseth called European free-loading.

When probed by a reporter in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said he didnt know anything about the reports.
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Pete Hegseth responded to allegations that he and other U.S. national security officials leaked highly sensitive plans about a Yemen military strike to a journalist over a group chat.

Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic Jeffrey Goldberg broke the story Monday when he reported that members of the Trump administration had mistakenly added him to a Signal group chat that discussed a classified military operation targeting Houthi positions in Yemen.

A White House national security spokesperson has since confirmed the text thread was legitimate.

Can you share how your information about war plans against the Houthis in Yemen were shared with a journalist from The Atlantic and were those details classified?, a reporter from Fox News asks the Defense Secretary just moments after he had stepped off a plane onto a landing strip at Pearl Harbor military base in Hawaii.

Hegseth was captured chuckling to himself before firing back.

So I[...] Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whose made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again.

To include the, I dont know, the hopes of Russia, Russia, Russia, or the fine people on both sides hoaxes or suckers and losers hoaxes, Hegseth accosts.

The secretary continued attacking Goldberg: This is the guy that peddles in garbage. This is what he does.

I would love to comment on the Houthi campaign because of the skill and courage of our troops. Ive monitored it very closely from the beginning.

Hegseth went on to defend the actions of the U.S. military, explaining that our sailors were getting shot at as targets, our shops couldnt sail through.

Hegseth was challenged by a Fox reporter in Hawaii late Monday afternoon just minutes after hed touched down on the tarmac ( Fox News )

When asked why such highly sensitive material was shared on Signal and how a journalist was privy to seeing that information, Hegseth said: Ive heard I was characterized. Nobody was texting war plans. And thats all I have to say about that., before storming off.

"At this time, the message thread that was reported appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes told various media outlets in response to the leak.

President Donald Trump told reporters Monday afternoon that he was not aware of the article. I dont know anything about it. Im not a big fan of The Atlantic. To me, its a magazine thats going out of business, Trump said in response to a reporters question about the bombshell report.

Hours after Trump was questioned on the security firestorm and the article had shocked millions online, including senior political officials like former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Hegseth finally responded.

Goldberg claimed that on March 15  the day the world became aware that the United States was bombing Houthi targets across Yemen  he was erroneously added to the message chain after receiving a connection request by someone who appeared to be White House national security advisor Michael Waltz.

Then, at precisely 11:44 a.m., he received a message from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth  just two hours before the bombs started hailing down on the Middle Eastern country.

In the damning set of text messages, that have now come to light, Goldberg was exposed to precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing.

The leak, which has sent reverberations rippling through the White House, came as Trump held his third known cabinet meeting amid legal challenges over immigration, looming new tariffs, and rising tensions over the work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
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One day after the revelation of a shocking security breach from top Trump administration officials, the White House is digging in and hoping it can convince Americans to dismiss the unprecedented lapse as media-driven partisan squabbling even as Democrats are calling for resignations.

On Monday, The Atlantic reported that White House national security adviser Mike Waltz had inadvertently invited the magazines editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, into a Signal group chat bearing the name of Houthi PC small group on March 11, just days before Trump ordered airstrikes on the Iran-backed, Yemen-based militants  the first major military action of his second term.

The account detailed so-called war plans and the fact a journalist was let into the conversation raised alarms.

On Capitol Hill, Democrats slammed what they saw as rank negligence from Trumps handpicked team, describing them as either unqualified or incompetent in their conduct as documented by Goldberg in a blockbuster story that dominated news broadcasts Monday evening and most of the day on Tuesday.

I think its clear that Secretary Hegseth is not ready for prime time, but he has the capacity to undermine the security of the United States, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a member on the Armed Services Committee, told The Independent.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump is standing by his national security adviser after he inadvertently added a reporter to a Signal chat in which top officials planned airstrikes on Houthi rebels ( AFP via Getty Images )

In the Signal chat he created, Waltz told colleagues  including  Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, plus Trumps Middle East and Ukraine negotiator, Steve Witkoff, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller  that the group was being set up as a principles [sic] group for coordination on Houthis, particularly for over the next 72 hours.

According to the magazines top editor, thats exactly what it was used for, giving him a close look at how the Trump administrations top national security brass discussed the plans for the first major military action of the 47th presidents new term.

National Security Council Spokesman Brian Hughes later confirmed the authenticity of the messages Goldberg had received, making it clear that what the veteran journalist had witnessed was a shocking breach of protocol that led to highly sensitive national defense information discussed on an application that has never been cleared for use in discussing classified matters.

Members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence got a chance to press two participants on the Signal chat  Gabbard and Ratcliffe  about their conduct during the panels annual Worldwide Threats hearing.

Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, somewhat puzzlingly refused to say where shed been included in the chat group under questioning from Virginia senator Mark Warner, the committees vice-chair. But Ratcliffe, who served as Director of National Intelligence during Trumps first term after defending him on the House Intelligence Committee during the first of the then-45th presidents two impeachments, freely admitted to having participated.

While Goldbergs account of the group chat in question included descriptions of intelligence and military matters so sensitive that he declined to spell them out in publication, Gabbard denied that any sensitive material had been discussed, telling the committee there were no classified or intelligence equities in the Signal group.

Democrats on the panel were not impressed with either officials explanations.

I thought they were inconsistent, preposterous, difficult to believe as true, and in particular, the refusal to admit that this was a colossal mistake is mind blowing, Sen Jon Ossoff of Georgia told The Independent.

During the hearing Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, the vice chairman of the committee, called for their resignation.

The thing about the Intelligence Committee is that its always been bipartisan, Warner told The Independent, adding that the Intelligence Committee held Trump accountable during his first administration and I cannot believe that my Republican colleagues don't want to see this text chain as well.

open image in gallery Members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence got a chance to press two participants on the Signal chat  Gabbard and Ratcliffe  about their conduct during the panels annual Worldwide Threats hearing ( EPA )

But the main question will be whether Republicans, who control both the House and the Senate, will use their oversight authority to investigate what would have been considered a staggering national security breach in any previous administration.

One GOP member of the upper chamber, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, told The Independent he would like to see a probe happen.

I think that anytime you have something of this nature, some sort of a formal review, probably makes sense because what you don't want to do is repeat it, said Tillis, who only recently voted to confirm Gabbard and Hegseth despite expressing concerns about their lack of experience and qualifications. It doesn't look like, in this particular case, any damage was done, but it was clearly something that couldve compromised the mission.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker said that he and ranking Democrat Jack Reed will move forward on a bipartisan strategy.

I think we'll want to get an accurate transcript to make sure that there aren't any discrepancies between what was actually texted and what was reported in the story, he told The Independent.

But at the White House, Trump and his team pushed back aggressively against the idea that anything had been done wrong by any of his top aides.

In a phone interview with NBC News Tuesday morning, Trump claimed that Waltz was a good man who had learned his lesson as a result of the bombshell reporting from The Atlantic.

He said the blunder had been committed by one of Michaels people whod added Goldberg to the group chat and called the error "the only glitch in two months that had turned out not to be a serious one."

Hours later during a media availability alongside a group of U.S. ambassadors-designate, Trump again defended Waltz as a very good man who would continue to do a good job in his role.

He then pivoted to again denigrating The Atlantic and Goldberg, calling him a sleazebag and his publication a failed magazine.

open image in gallery Trump conceded that his administration would be looking into the use of Signal but he appeared to admit that everyone else in his orbit seems to be using it and suggested that the application may be OK to use because no one found out about the Houthi airstrikes in advance ( EPA )

Trump conceded that his administration would be looking into the use of Signal but he appeared to admit that everyone else in his orbit seems to be using it and suggested that the application may be OK to use because no one found out about the Houthi airstrikes in advance  other than Goldberg, who did not report on them while observing the planning process.

Are people able to break into conversations? And if that's true, we're going to have to find some other form of device, and I think that's something that we may have to do but some people like Signal very much, he said.

Waltz said the White House has technical experts and our legal team looking into the top officials use of Signal because the administration is going to keep everything as secure as possible and, like Trump, pivoted to denigrating the press by accusing journalists of wanting to talk about everything else, except for the hostages you're getting out of the Middle East, Iran on its back foot, sea lanes getting reopened [and] peace in Europe.

The national security advisors belligerent response echoed the official line taken by Trumps team in the hours after the Senate hearing.

A press release put out by the White House communications team accused Democrats and their media allies of having seemingly forgotten that President Donald J. Trump and his National Security team successfully killed terrorists who have targeted U.S. troops and disrupted the most consequential shipping routes in the world and called reporting on the burgeoning national security scandal a coordinated effort to distract from the successful actions taken by President Trump and his administration to make Americas enemies pay and keep Americans safe.

Trumps communications director, Steven Cheung, went further in demanding that the massive blunder be immediately forgotten by describing it in a series of posts on X as a hoax  a term frequently used by the president and his allies to describe facts, circumstances and reporting that reflect badly on him and his administration.

He called The Atlantic reporting  a story that was verified by the National Security Council as accurate  nothing more than a section of the NatSec establishment community running the same, tired gameplay from years past.

From the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax of the first term to the fake documents case of the last four years at every turn anti-Trump forces have tried to weaponize innocuous actions and turn them into faux outrage that Fake News outlets can use to peddle misinformation, he wrote.

Cheung later added: "Russia, Russia, Russia" hoax led to a witch hunt. Documents hoax led to a witch hunt. Signal hoax outrage... a witch hunt.
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Signal is viewed as one of the most secure messaging apps available to the public, but both experts and lawmakers are sharing their concerns about its use by top Trump administration officials.

Several cabinet secretaries, CIA director John Ratcliffe, and the national security advisor Mike Waltz were discussing their plans to strike Yemen in a group chat on the app and accidentally added a journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic, to the conversation. Goldberg revealed in a first-hand account on Monday that precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing was included in the chat.

The Atlantics editor-in-chief said the use of the app displayed shocking recklessness.

Miguel Fornes, a cybersecurity expert at the cybersecurity company Surfshark, argued that the incident is a wake-up call for any organisation handling sensitive information.

Protocols of handling critical information exist to prevent such breaches, Fornes said in a statement shared with The Independent. Most companies and government agencies have reliable security policies designed to manage sensitive documents and ensure secure communication among involved parties.

Typically, only approved devices within an authorized network are permitted to perform actions such as viewing documents, joining a chat, or, in this case, even being invited to a chat, he added. All information across a company must be disclosed following principles of least privilege and need to know. This restricts permissions, minimizes access, and limits the exposure of sensitive information to only those who absolutely require it.

Fornes argued that Signal offers encrypted messaging, but it does not provide the same level of security as government telecommunications systems.

If a journalist is accidentally added to such a private chat, imagine how spies or malicious actors can bypass this to exploit the vulnerability, potentially accessing sensitive information and compromising national security, said Fornes. This incident exemplifies a full-fledged case of a data leak of top-secret information.

open image in gallery Signal recently increased in popularity in Washington, following the revelation of a large-scale breach connected to the Chinese government of telecommunications networks ( REUTERS )

Security and privacy expert Mikko Hypponen told The Independent in an email that Signal is considered to be the most secure of the consumer chat applications. The main developer is highly trusted, and the software source code is open and available for review. I use Signal every day myself. People use it just like any other chat apps, for the same purposes.

While Signal is designed for security, it is not meant to be used for sharing classified information among government officials. It's not supposed to be used for war planning, he added. Governments have built secure facilities and devices for that purpose. For example, somebody could steal an unlocked iPhone from you, and read everything posted on the Signal chat on that device. Government-grade spyware like PEGASUS can be used to gain access to key people's phones, and read everything on them. They broke the rules, as simple as that.

Mark Montgomery, the senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, agreed, telling Politico, I guess Signal is a few steps above leaving a copy of your war plan at the Chinese Embassy  but its far below the standards required for discussing any elements of a war plan.

Signal has increased in popularity in Washington following the revelation of a large-scale breach connected to the Chinese government of U.S. telecommunications networks, allowing hackers to get hold of American cell phone records and to spy on the conversations of top politicians, such as President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

U.S. officials have said that Americans should use apps like Signal as an extra layer of security. The app has significant privacy features and collects minimal amounts of data, in addition to having default settings of encrypting all messages and calls. The app also deletes all messages from a conversation within a certain time frame. However, experts say that it shouldnt be used by government officials instead of internal government systems.

A former White House official told Politico that the use of Signal to discuss war plans was unbelievable.

These guys all have traveling security details to set up secure comms for them, wherever they are, the official added, noting that those taking part in the group chat were likely using their personal devices, as most often, Signal cannot be downloaded to government devices.

Their personal phones are all hackable, and its highly likely that foreign intelligence services are sitting on their phones watching them type the s*** out, the former White House official told Politico.

Forget Signal, just do it over a dating app, you might as well, that would be just as secure as what youre doing, they added.

Former National Security Agency official Jacob Williams noted when speaking to Politico that Signal can be linked to a desktop application, meaning that the apps data is being delivered to potentially multiple desktop and laptop computers, where it isnt being stored in a phones secure enclave. That data is then at risk from commodity malware on the system.

open image in gallery Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabba and CIA Director John Ratcliffe faces several questions about the leak on Tuesday. ( Getty Images )

During a hearing on Tuesday with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who were both reportedly part of the group chat outlined by Goldberg, Virginia Democratic Senator Mark Warner said, "If this was the case of a military officer or an intelligence officer and they had this kind of behavior, they would be fired."

This is one more example of the kind of sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior, particularly toward classified information, added Warner.

Oregon Democratic Senator Ron Wyden argued: Im of the view that there ought to be resignations, starting with the national security advisor and the secretary of defense.

Ratcliffe attempted to place the blame on the Biden administration during the hearing, saying that it was permissible to use Signal in a work environment and that such a practice preceded the Trump administration.

It is permissible to use to communicate and coordinate for work purposes, providedthat any decisions that are made are also recorded through formal channels, said Ratcliffe.

Gabbard, meanwhile, claimed that there was no classified material that was shared in that Signal chat, despite reporting by Goldberg that the chat included war plans and the name of an active CIA agent.

The Independent has contacted Signal for comment.
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After spending much of the last decade hyperventilating over Hillary Clintons private email server and how it placed Americas national security in peril, the loyal MAGA acolytes at Fox News are suddenly singing a very different tune now that the Trump administration accidentally included a journalist in a group chat discussing war plans.

After years of secrecy and incompetence, if you read the content of these messages, I think you will come away proud that these are the leaders making these decisions in America, Fox News host Will Cain insisted on Monday afternoon.

Of course, Cain was hardly alone among his cohorts at the right-wing network, which serves as a staffing agency for the White House, its primary communications arm, and a landing spot for Trump officials and family members.

In the immediate aftermath of The Atlantics bombshell report that revealed Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg had been inadvertently added to a Signal text group that detailed recent airstrikes in Yemen, the networks top Trump-boosting stars have desperately attempted to downplay the news.

While national defense experts call for President Donald Trump to fire the officials responsible for the unclassified group chat and buzz grows on Capitol Hill that national security adviser Michael Waltz could soon be forced out, the conservative cable giants hosts and pundits have largely shrugged off the explosive scandal.

Fox News host Jesse Watters downplays the bombshell report that the Trump administration accidentally included a journalist in a Signal group chat that discussed sensitive war plans. ( Fox News )

In the networks first on-air report of the incident, Fox News anchor John Roberts did acknowledge that it was a BFD that will likely be looked into quite thoroughly. At the same time, though, he reassured viewers that nothing else untoward happened outside of inviting an outsider who doesn't have top-secret security clearance into the group chat.

Now, I would think that there probably are worse people that you could text your secret plans to, but it appears that Goldberg has acted responsibly here in writing this article, Roberts stated. And while he outs a lot of the process of what happened, he did not specifically publish the war plans as they apparently were transmitted to him by Pete Hegseth the morning of the attacks against the Houthis.

Cain who helped rally the Fox News troops behind Hegseth when reports of excessive drinking and sexual assault threatened to derail his Pentagon confirmation  found the silver lining in the incredibly concerning security breach.

But the bigger take away from me is it is an insight, a transparent insight, into the thought process and dialog of our national leaders, he gushed. If you look at the actual content of what was reported, if you look at how they discuss potential strikes on Houthis in Yemen, what you will see is dialogue between Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Stephen Miller, Tulsi Gabbard, and many more in a very collaborative, open, honest, team-based attempt to come to the right decision.

The networks primetime stars, who also serve as Trumps informal advisers, reacted to the news the best way they know how  by brushing it off as feigned outrage spun by a dishonest liberal media who hate Trump and are supporting a hoax-peddling journalist like Goldberg.

After Hegseth raged about the deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who received the classified airstrike details, Laura Ingraham doubled down on Hegseths attacks on Goldberg.

But, of course, the story of the day, at least on the left-wing networks was how in a Signal, which is an encrypted app, exchange, allegedly, among various administration officials, some plans were discussed in that chain of messages that included some information about possible plans for bombing the Houthis, she said on Monday night. Jeffrey Goldberg, who the secretary of defense was referencing there, is a long-time journalistic adversary of President Trump's and has certainly drawn the ire of conservatives for his reporting about the various hoaxes that Hegseth was referencing there.

While largely ignoring the story on his primetime broadcast, Jesse Watters did take a moment to dismiss the controversy fully, chalking it up to an innocent mistake that happens all the time among a group of pals.

Did you ever try to start a group text? Youre adding people and you accidentally add the wrong person? All of a sudden your Aunt Mary knows all your raunchy plans for the bachelor party? Well, that kind of happened today with the Trump administration, the MAGA sycophant declared.

With a chyron blaring Weve All Texted The Wrong Person Before underneath Watters, the Fox News host praised the administrations strike on Yemen while blasting Goldberg as one of the biggest hoax artists around. And, just for good measure, he made sure to mention the Clinton emails and former President Joe Bidens sloppy handling of classified documents.

Well, he heard some things he probably shouldnt have, but could have been a wee bit of a security breach, Watters concluded. But its not like they home brewed a server and then bleached it, or kept classified documents in their garages next to their corvette. Im sure it wont happen again.

In the following hour, Sean Hannity  the Trump confidant who has been described as the White House shadow chief of staff  also spent much of his program utterly ignoring the story. When he did mention it in his opening monologue, though, it was just to attack the media and Democrats for even giving it oxygen.

They are obsessed with an accidentally leaked text  a chain from Trump cabinet officials who are debating the merits of military strikes in Yemen, Hannity huffed. So, the very people that covered up their president's severe cognitive decline, lied about wide open borders  both of which are clear and present dangers to our country  now want you to believe that they actually give a damn and care about national security. More feigned phony outrage. This is now the scandal of the week that you will see nonstop, 24/7, that nobody will care about.

But not everyone at Fox was completely dismissive of the breach or the expected fallout. Fox News analyst Brit Hume, for instance, didnt buy Hegseths spin that war plans were never shared in the group chat. The administration has already confirmed the authenticity of the message, he said.

During Mondays broadcast of Fox News most-watched show The Five, liberal co-host Jessica Tarlov brought up the Signal chat before exclaiming: I dont want to ever hear, But her emails! again. Still, even as she noted that this episode proves that folks were getting these jobs that didnt deserve them, Watters and co-host Greg Gutfeld mocked her and moved on to other topics. Tarlovs remarks were the only time the story was referenced during the broadcast.

By Friday morning, Fox & Friends  the presidents favorite morning show  seemed to be in lockstep with the White House on its talking points.

While cyber security experts have sounded the alarm on the administration's use of Signal to share highly sensitive information, saying it is a few steps above leaving a copy of your war plan at the Chinese Embassy, co-host Lawrence Jones defended the Trump officials sending out war plans via the app.

They all use it  theyre not supposed to, but they use it, Jones said, conflating reporters using it with sources with government agencies discussing top secret information. CIA, every single intelligence agency uses Signal. I know that for a fact. I talk to them on Signal  theyre sources of mine  they all use Signal. Uh, it is the best way and the most secure way to get information out and thats why a lot of journalists use it as well.

Guest host Kayleigh McEnany  a former Trump press secretary  spent much of the show taking shots at Goldberg, whom she described as not credible and the most horrific of all reporters in D.C. due to his previous suckers and losers story about Trumps comments on Americans who died in war.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, while the program was still on the air, tweeted that Jeffrey Goldberg is well-known for his sensationalist spin before claiming that no war plans were discussed on the thread and no classified material was sent.

Co-host Brian Kilmeade, meanwhile, defended Waltz and suggested he shouldnt be on the chopping block despite the stunning security breach.

Obviously, to me, it was a mistake. But when Im reading in Politico that Mike Waltz in trouble, I think that theres not a chance in heck, he said, adding: The thing that gets you in trouble with President Trump is disloyalty and duplicity, not mistakes  in my view if something was gonna happen, they would have brought it up already.

Throughout the rest of the program, White House correspondent Peter Doocy reported that Mike Waltz is telling people that he has no idea how this happened and that the national security adviser appeared to be on safe ground with the president.

By the time Fox & Friends wrapped up for the day, Trump told NBC News Garrett Haake in a brief interview that he was completely unconcerned about the glitch that occurred with the Signal group chat and that Waltz was not in danger of losing his job.

Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he's a good man, the president said, claiming that the story was a non-issue since the Houthi attacks were perfectly successful.

As I said yesterday, the President continues to have confidence in his national security team, including Mike Waltz, Leavitt added in another tweet. Stories claiming otherwise are driven by anonymous sources who clearly do not speak to the President, and written by reporters who are thirsty for a scoop.
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The stunning revelation that The Atlantics editor-in-chief was inadvertently added to a group chat detailing recent airstrikes in Yemen has called into question the U.S. governments ability to safeguard sensitive information and has exposed a potentially big legal problem.

President Donald Trump said it was not a serious glitch that Jeffery Goldberg was inadvertently added to a Signal chat group with national security adviser Mike Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, where they discussed sensitive military operations.

The White House claimed no classified information was shared in the chat, a position reinforced by Tulsi Gabbard at Tuesdays Senate hearing into the fiasco.

Despite what the White House says, the blunder could have serious legal implications for the Trump administration, legal experts and lawmakers said.

Their behavior blatantly violated security regulations designed to prevent exactly this kind of leak, which would trigger administrative punishments, attorney Mitch Jackson wrote on his Substack, citing the Espionage Act, the Federal Records and Presidential Records Acts, among others.

open image in gallery Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that The Atlantic journalist Jeffery Goldberg was a deceitful journalist when asked for his response to the leak. The White House confirmed the chat group was authentic and now legal experts say the leak violated federal laws ( REUTERS )

Jacksons assertion is backed by Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren and Elissa Slotkin. This is blatantly illegal and dangerous beyond belief, Warren furiously posted on X in response when the story broke Monday.

Laws like the Espionage Act, the Presidential Records Act and the Federal Records Act lay out clear rules for how you can handle classified information, Slotkin added. And those laws apply to every one of the people on that text chain.

Here is a look at the federal law violations that have potentially occurred from the incident:

The Espionage Act

The World War Iera law makes it a crime to mishandle any information about national defense and is specifically written to protect military and defense intelligence.

The question for lawyers will be whether the use of an unclassified cell phone and commercially available communications application constitutes a reasonable belief that the information could be obtained by an adversary and used against the U.S., global security and cyber expert Nicholas Reese, an adjunct instructor at NYUs School of Professional Studies Center for Global Affairs, told The Independent.

Jackson wrote on his Substack said that prosecutors can argue the leak meets certain criteria of the Espionage Act.

The operational strike plans for Yemen meet the definition of national defense information  they were high-level military plans and intelligence details regarding an ongoing operation, Jackson said. By using an unsecured Signal chat, they effectively transmitted war plan details to an unauthorized person (journalist Goldberg) who had no security clearance.

open image in gallery Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, pictured with Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, was grilled at a Senate Committee on Intelligence Hearing Tuesday. Gabbard refused to say whether she was on the group chat ( Getty Images )

The lawyer added that even if officials did not intend for the journalist to see the plans, they demonstrated at least gross negligence in containing the information. This unauthorized disclosure of war plans to someone not entitled to receive them appears to satisfy the Espionage Acts criteria, Jackson said.

Slotkin also cited the Espionage Act in a post on X. If these were regular soldiers or a civilian CIA officer like I was, they would be reprimanded, likely fired, prosecuted and possibly jailed, Slotkin said. But this Administration believes they are above the law  and seemingly dont care what U.S. forces and U.S. operations they put at risk.

The Presidential Records and the Federal Records Act

There are strict laws in place when it comes to handling and preserving government records. Goldberg claims some of the messages in the group chat were set to disappear after one week. Official communications from the government are to be archived automatically or those involved are meant to preserve the messages.

There is no evidence so far that anyone in the group preserved the messages. Its an attempt to avoid accountability under the Official Records Act, said General Barry McCaffrey.

Records retention is not just for accountability, Illinois Rep. Sean Casten added in a post on X. If our adversaries can breach your unsecure comms and you don't archive your end, it's effectively impossible to triage how much damage you caused. They are covering their own asses while risking all of ours.

Jackson said that the Signal chat used by the group outside of official channels was exactly the kind of communication that falls under the definition of an official record.

open image in gallery Lawmakers and scholars argue that the leak has violated several federal laws. This Administration believes they are above the law, Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin said in a post on X. President Donald Trump defended the officials. ( Getty Images )

If the officials willfully used Signal specifically to avoid creating a record (for instance, to keep the discussions off the books), that could be viewed as the unlawful removal or concealment of records, Jackson said.

By instead confining deliberations to an encrypted app and excluding the normal archival systems, they effectively concealed official records from the government.

Should evidence show an intent to evade record keeping, 18 U.S.C.  2071 could be invoked, the attorney added.

In addition to potentially violating these laws, NYUs Reese noted that U.S. allies will be questioning the extent to which classified information they can share with American intelligence officials.

Sharing time sensitive military operational details over a commercial communications application shows a shocking level of disregard for the sensitivity of classified information at the top of the U.S. security establishment, Reese said. Its disregard for good security practice in this case will certainly be noticed by foreign partners and adversaries alike.

Signal not approved for discussing military ops

Signal uses end-to-end encryption and is widely regarded as one of the most secure messaging platforms for the public. It prevents any third-party from viewing conversation content or listening in on calls.

Messages and calls sent on Signal are scrambled and only the sender and recipient at each end will have the key to decipher them. Signal's encryption protocol is open source, meaning anyone that it's freely available for anyone to inspect, use or modify.

open image in gallery The Signal app is not authorized for discussing military operations. Experts said we should be worried about the security breaches we have not yet heard in this case ( AP )

But it is not approved for discussing military operations, experts said.

If a state or other malicious state actor broke Signal's encryption, they would not exactly hold a press conference to announce it, NYUs Reese told The Independent. Just because we are not aware of a breach in Signal's security does not mean there isn't one. The highly secure nature of Signal makes it an enticing target for malicious cyber actors because they assume that people will share more sensitive data there. We should be worried about the breaches we have not heard of yet in this case.

Hegseths own department has referred to Signal as an unmanaged messaging app previously, and the platform was not authorized to transmit non-public DOD information, according to a Department of Defense 2023 memo.

Unmanaged 'messaging apps,' including any app with a chat feature, regardless of the primary function, are NOT authorized to access, transmit, process non-public DoD information. This includes but is not limited to messaging, gaming, and social media apps. (i.e., iMessage, WhatsApps, Signal), the memo said.

One former senior Defense Department official told the Washington Post that she and her colleagues did use Signal on occasion but never to discuss sensitive information. I would worry deeply about the ability of a foreign nation to be able to penetrate any of our unclassified tech, she told the newspaper. This is not how you conduct national security.
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FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed reports that a task force dedicated to investigating the spate of attacks against Elon Musks electric vehicle company, Tesla, has been established with the former prosecutor promising to root out domestic terrorism.

According to NBC News, at least 80 attacks have been reported against Tesla vehicles since Musk began gutting the federal government through his Department of Government Efficiency in January.

Protests have erupted across the U.S., with showrooms besieged, charging sites set ablaze, and vehicles vandalized. Others are selling their cars and shares amid growing unease over Musks political influence and closeness to Trump. Trade-ins for the EVs have reportedly hit record highs.

On Monday, Patel confirmed the New York Posts report about a new law enforcement crackdown as the Trump administration ramps up its response to those committing Tesla vandalism.

Sharing an article by a Post reporter on X, Patel wrote: The FBI has been investigating the increase in violent activity toward Tesla, and over the last few days, we have taken additional steps to crack down and coordinate our response.

open image in gallery FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed reports of the newly created task force comprised of FBI and ATF personnel ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

This is domestic terrorism. Those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice.

Also sharing the report, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino tweeted: Justice is coming.

FBI Assistant Director for Public Affairs Ben Williamson confirmed in an X post Monday that the new task force will work in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The 10-person investigative body will include personnel from the bureaus Counterterrorism Division, according to The New York Post. ATF is also said to be deploying personnel to FBI field offices starting with San Antonio, Texas  the site of several attacks.

The announcement comes ahead of the Tesla Takedown protest scheduled for Saturday. Organizers said it will be the movements biggest day of action, with an estimated 500 demonstrations across the U.S.

open image in gallery Member of the Seattle Fire Department inspects a burned Tesla Cybertruck at a Tesla lot in Seattle on March 10 ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed to treat those who vandalize Teslas as domestic terrorists last week, a label used by President Donald Trump earlier this month.

Singling out three suspects charged for their alleged involvement in a Molotov cocktail attack against vehicles at charging stations in Oregon, Colorado and North Carolina, Bondi said they could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison as she promised severe and swift consequences for their actions.

On Sunday, the attorney general doubled down that we are not coming off these charges, adding: We are looking at everything, especially if this is a concerted effort. This is domestic terrorism.

Bondi's calls came after the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force launched an investigation after a person dressed in black shot and set several Tesla vehicles on fire with a Molotov cocktail at a repair facility in Las Vegas last Tuesday. The word resist was spray-painted on the front doors of the shop.

Musk posted a video of the burning cars at the facility on social media with a single-word response: Terrorism.
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Trade-ins of Tesla vehicles reportedly hit a record high this month as the brand faces off against an ever-growing field of EV competitors  and a fierce political backlash to CEO Elon Musks leading role in the Trump administration.

Teslas made up 1.4 percent of all trade-ins tracked through mid-March, according to data from Edmonds, a 0.4 percent rise from the same period a year ago. Buyers interest in Teslas on the Edmunds site, meanwhile, fell to 1.8 percent of searches, the lowest point since October of 2022, and a rapid decline from the brands 3.3 percent search share in November around the 2024 election.

"Brand loyalty is becoming a bigger question mark as factors such as Elon Musk's increasing public involvement in government, Tesla depreciation concerns and its increased saturation in major metro areas leave some longtime owners feeling disconnected from the brand," Edmunds' head of insights Jessica Caldwell said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch.

Tesla vehicles, dealerships, and charging stations have persistently been targets of protests and attacked since Donald Trump took office and made Musk a key partner overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative that has led to mass layoffs, budget cuts, and attempts to shutter multiple federal agencies.

Anonymous individuals have also created a website purporting to show the locations of Tesla facilities and individuals tied to DOGE. The cursor on the website is a Molotov cocktail.

During that same period, the brand has weathered a series of grim financials.

A home-made sign is held up at a protest outside a Tesla dealership ( AFP via Getty Images )

Tesla sales in Europe were reportedly down 45 percent year-over-year in January, and the companys stock fell about $200 per share from a November peak, though it regained lost ground on Monday as shares jumped nearly 12 percent amid easing fears about tariffs.

Others pinned the Tesla trends not on politics, but on more EV options entering the marketplace.

What were seeing in the marketplace is just fragmentation that is very normal, David Greene, an analyst with Cars.com, told The Washington Post. Tesla enjoyed exclusivity and market dominance for quite a long time, but other automakers are getting into the EV space.

Regardless of whats driving the flagging interest in Tesla cars, federal officials are making it a priority to investigate the threats against the vehicles.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced last week that the Justice Department is bringing severe charges against three individuals accused of targeting Teslas with arson attacks, following the White Houses vow to treat such incidents as domestic terrorism.

Federal officials have launched a terrorism taskforce to investigate the Tesla attacks.

Attorney General Pam Bondi warns Rep Jasmine Crockett over Elon Musk and Tesla comments

Trump has taken things a step further, suggesting that those who target Teslas could be sent to a notorious Salvadoran prison at the center of the ongoing Venezuelan deportation flights lawsuit.

I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20-year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla, he said on social media. Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions!

In addition to a focus from law enforcement officials on stopping violent incidents involving Teslas, the administration has taken some unusual steps to shore up customer support for Tesla as a company.

Trump held an event in front of the White House earlier this month with Musk with a suite of Tesla cars, where the president said he would be buying a Tesla in a show of solidarity with his billionaire adviser in the face of criticisms for his work in the administration.

Im going to buy because number one, its a great product, Trump said at the event. As good as it gets. Number two, because [Elon Musk] has devoted his energy and his life to doing this, and I think he has been treated unfairly.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also encouraged viewers during a recent Fox News interview to buy Teslas flagging stock.
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Donald Trumps irritation over the wall-to-wall coverage of a shocking breach of security at his administrations highest levels was apparent on Tuesday, as was his desire to push past the narrative.

Congress, under unified Republican control, could do little to help him.

The president was hounded by questions at a meeting of his ambassadors in the White House Cabinet room on Tuesday as Washington reels in response to the news that the nations highest-ranking officials  the national security adviser, the vice president and the director of national intelligence, among others  discussed detailed plans for an imminent U.S. strike on an encrypted public messaging app in full view of a journalist accidentally included in the group chat.

The humiliation for the Trump administration could not be overstated this week after The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg revealed that he had been shockingly, embarrassingly, added to the text chain by none other than Michael Waltz, Trumps national security adviser. Drop Sites Ryan Grim reported a source familiar with the situation confirming Tuesday that the obvious explanation for the erroneous inclusion of the journalist was in fact true: Goldberg had counted Waltz among his own confidential sources.

Meanwhile, the White House and broader administration sputtered into half-hearted damage control mode. Hours after confirming the authenticity of the texts published in The Atlantic on Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (who was on the text chain) and others premiered their new line of attack tarring Goldberg, a respected Washington veteran, of being a deceitful and highly discredited reporter.

Another question, please, a frustrated Trump told reporters at his meeting on Tuesday when asked about the text chain.

open image in gallery Donald Trump and his Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, at the White House. ( Getty Images )

Trump also spoke with NBCs Garrett Haake by phone in the morning, a break from his usual Fox News refuge. On the call, he assured Haake that Waltzs future in the White House was safe. Administration officials, he added, would cease using Signal.

The smear campaign against Goldberg and Trumps own response couldnt prevent Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe from being hauled before the Senate Intelligence Committee. In front of the cameras, the two insisted repeatedly that the text chain was not classified, though Ratcliffe then appeared to contradict himself by also saying that pre-strike deliberations should occur in classified channels.

Predictably, Democratic lawmakers aimed their most vitriolic criticism at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a key figure in the chain who was personally texting war plans, including details of specific U.S. assets and timing, according to Goldberg. Vulnerable Republicans may also privately press the administration to respond formally.

Hegseth, unlike Waltz, is seen as unserious by many on the Hill, especially on the left, and as a former right-wing Fox News host, has fewer allies overall. The Daily Beast reported Tuesday that the Defense secretary had, along with other agency employees, been warned about messaging on the Signal app in a recent bureau-wide email.

"Now the debate among national security professionals is over whether the secretary was just incompetent or whether he was drunk, centrist Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton said Tuesday at a press conference.

Magaworld, meanwhile, tried to direct the blame to Waltz  seen as a neoconservative by many. An editorial in The American Conservative, which has published essays from Vice President JD Vance in the past, declared that the national security adviser must resign.

I hope there is an FBI investigation. We need to know how reckless the use of Signal was in this context, how easy or not easy it was for foreign intelligence to access the ruminations of Trumps national security decision-making. And we need to know how often Waltz used Signal to communicate, and leak, to Goldberg, wrote the magazines Scott McConnell.

The text-chain bombshell is a major distraction for Republicans at a time when the administration is pursuing its first real push for legislative priorities through the congressional budget reconciliation process, an effort made more difficult by slim majorities in both chambers and disagreements over strategy. Sapping the White Houses political capital now, especially with the Senate, makes the job of passing House Speaker Mike Johnsons staunchly conservative budget proposal forward that much harder.

Loyal though he may be, Donald Trump is never afraid to cut loose his allies when they become political liabilities. If the calls for atonement from Capitol Hill do not cease over the next week, the former Fox host and/or the neocon Waltz could find themselves looking for their next gigs.
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CNN aired a montage of Trump administration officials embroiled in the Signal chat saga repeatedly condemning former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server while in office.

White House National Security adviser Mike Waltz appeared to have mistakenly invited The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeff Goldberg to an encrypted chat called the Houthi PC small group that included top officials and cabinet officials to discuss highly classified information about an impending U.S. strike in Yemen.

Just hours after the news broke on Monday, CNNs The Source shared a montage of current Trump administration officials who had repeatedly railed against Clinton for not using proper government channels to send details on classified material between 2009 and 2013.

If it was anyone other than Hillary Clinton, theyd be in jail right now, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a resurfaced Fox News clip from 2016.

Nobody is above the law, Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said on Fox News in 2016. Not even Hillary Clinton, even though she thinks she is.

open image in gallery CNN created a scathing montage comprised of Trump officials in the Signal chat which disclosed war plans with the Atlantic ( CNN/Acyn/X )

Mishandling classified information is still a violation of the Espionage Act, CIA Director John Ratcliffe told Fox News in 2019.

When you have the [Hillary] Clinton emails... On top of the fact that the sitting president of the United States (Donald Trump) admitted he had documents in his garage... They didn't prosecute they didnt go after these folks, Waltz, who added Golberg to the Signal chat, told CNN in 2023.

Just hours after reports surfaced, Clinton took to X to issue a seven-word response.

You have got to be kidding me, Clinton tweeted, along with a screenshot of The Atlantics report.

In 2016, then-FBI director James Comey found evidence that Clinton was extremely careless in using a private server to send hundreds of classified emails  but that her actions were not deemed severe enough to warrant an indictment. The revelations derailed her 2016 presidential campaign as the Democratic Partys nominee, leading to President Donald Trumps repeated promises to lock her up.

open image in gallery Mike Waltz, who invited Jeff Goldberg to the Signal chat, spoke out against Hillary Clinton on CNN in June 2023 ( CNN/Acyn/X )

Vice President JD Vance, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Trumps Middle East and Ukraine negotiator, Steve Witkoff, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, were among others who appeared to be included in the Signal channel.

Waltz, a former Green Beret and Florida representative, used the common encrypted messaging app to form the group chat with colleagues on the National Security Councils Principals Committee. Signal is not an official communications channel available to top government officials.

In an explosive report, Goldberg revealed how he unwittingly was able to get front-row seats as Trumps team began outlining their plans to bomb the Houthis in Yemen earlier this month. No one managed to spot the interloper in the group, even when Goldberg left the chat  which would have notified members.

open image in gallery In 2019, CIA Director John Ratcliffe noted that the mishandling of classified information is a violation of the Espionage Act ( CNN/Acyn/X )

In the chat, Vance appeared to disagree with Trump's wisdom on the strikes, noting: I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now.

The vice president and defense secretary also shared their disdain for what Hegseth called European free-loading.

When probed by a reporter in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said he didnt know anything about the story.

You are telling me about it for the first time, he added.

Hegseth told reporters later on Monday that nobody was texting war plans, and thats all I have to say about that.
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Donald Trumps administration is refusing to answer any questions from a federal judge about deportation flights to El Salvadors notorious prison under the presidents use of the Alien Enemies Act.

Judge James Boasberg had ordered government attorneys to answer a series of questions  including when those planes left the United States and entered El Salvador  to determine whether administration officials intentionally defied his court orders, which were delivered in court and in filings hours before the planes landed March 15.

For more than a week, the judge has pushed the administration for answers and extended deadlines for a response.

But in a late-night filing Monday, Trump administration officials and government lawyers said no further information will be provided in response to the judges questions based on the state secrets privilege, a rarely invoked claim that effectively allows the executive branch to block evidence in court over national security concerns.

The court has all of the facts it needs to address the compliance issues before it, officials wrote. Further intrusions on the executive branch would present dangerous and wholly unwarranted separation-of-powers harms with respect to diplomatic and national security concerns that the court lacks competence to address.

The move escalates a volatile conflict between Trump and the judiciary in a case that legal experts are warning is teetering the country towards a constitutional crisis.

open image in gallery Pam Bondi, right, and Marco Rubio, left, joined Trump administration officials and government attorneys to claim that information about deportation flights to El Salvador is protected under a state secrets privilege ( Getty Images )

The filing  with sworn statements from Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem  claims the president has sweeping authority to remove designated terrorists participating in a state-sponsored invasion of, and predatory incursion into, the United States.

Under Trumps use of the centuries-old Alien Enemies Act, all Venezuelan citizens 14 years of age or older who are members of [Tren de Aragua], 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 administration officials admit that many immigrants on those flights have no criminal record whatsoever. ICE official Robert Cerna argued in court filings that a lack of specific information about each individual actually highlights the risk they pose and demonstrates that they are terrorists with regard to whom we lack a complete profile.

Attorneys and family members for detained immigrants have also argued their clients and relatives have nothing to do with Tren de Aragua and were wrongly detained over tattoos that ICE agents falsely determined were gang-related. Several Venezuelans deported to El Salvador have upcoming court hearings for their asylum claims, attorneys said.

open image in gallery Trumps border czar Tom Homan has defended the administrations removal of dozens of Venezuelan immigrants who were deported to El Salvador despite sworn statements from lawyers and family members denying they had any relationship with Tren de Aragua ( AP )

When pressed about the administrations assertion that the immigrants on those flights are Tren de Aragua members, Trumps border czar Tom Homan told reporters Tuesday that hundreds and hundreds of hours were spent on investigations, whether it's looking at criminal history, whether immigration history, we're looking at undercover videos, whether it's talking to informants, whether it's talking to other members of the gang who gave sworn statements.

Theres a lot of ways that this was done. A lot of the time we spent on this. Again, I got assurances from the highest levels of ICE that this was done right, Homan said.

He said he had assurance that everybody on those planes was a Venezuelan member of Tren de Aragua.

The administrations filing followed a two-hour appeals court hearing over Trumps challenge to Judge Boasbergs order that temporarily prevents any other deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act.

During the hearing, appellate Judge Patricia Millett noted German citizens arrested under the Alien Enemies Act during the Second World War had an opportunity to challenge their detention  due process that immigrants on the El Salvador flights were denied.

Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemies Act, she said.
 Close Fox Business mocks Peter Navarros reciprocal trade-girl math, urges Trump to sideline him

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Stock markets in Asia fell at the opening on Wednesday, continuing the drop seen earlier on Wall Street, amid fears over Donald Trumps 104% tariff on imports from China. In Tokyo, the Nikkei fell 3.5% on the opening, and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong was down 4%.

Speaking in Washington on Tuesday night, the president claimed the massive import taxes he is imposing on Americans will help usher in victory for his Republican Party in next years midterm elections.

During 90 minutes of meandering remarks before GOP lawmakers and deep-pocketed donors at the National Republican Congressional Committees annual fundraising gala, Trump said the stage is now set for a monumental victory for the Republicans in the midterms, which most mainstream economists and business experts say will supercharge inflation and threaten Americas status as the worlds leading economy with a grievous self-inflicted wound.

I know what the hell I'm doing. I know what I'm doing, and you know what I'm doing too, he said.

The president also warned of impending tariffs on imported pharmaceuticals in an effort to bully companies into moving production to the U.S.
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The Trump administration is mounting a high-level attempt to arrest and deport a Columbia University student from South Korea with a green card for what her attorneys describe as minor involvement in campus pro-Palestine protests  the latest in the White Houses rapidly escalating deportation campaign targeting non-citizen students for alleged antisemitism.

A lawsuit, filed Monday in New York federal court, calls the operation against Yunseo Chung, 21, an example of shocking overreach and an unprecedented and unjustifiable assault on free speech rights. The suit seeks to pause any attempts to arrest or deport Chung until the legal action plays out. She is not currently in immigration custody, The New York Times reports.

Attorneys said Chung, who has lived in the U.S. since she was 7 years old, was a casual participant in the campus pro-Palestine protests that occurred at Columbia throughout 2023 and 2024, taking no leadership or public-facing roles, and facing no confirmed violations of school disciplinary policies.

Nonetheless, according to the lawsuit, Department of Homeland Security agents showed up at Chungs parents house on March 9 and said they were looking for the student, an English and gender studies major.

That same day, Chung allegedly got a text from an individual seeking to speak to her on the phone, whom her attorneys later determined was an agent of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Later that night, the suit claims, her attorney got a call from Perry Carbone, the assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, who went on to claim the following day that the students visa had been revoked by the Secretary of State after Chung was deemed a threat to U.S. foreign policy interests. An attorney informed the official that Chung was not in the U.S. on a visa, but rather had permanent resident status, to which he allegedly replied that that had been revoked, too.

Columbia has been a center of protest activity against the Israel-Hamas war, as well as the Trump administrations subsequent arrests of non-citizen student activists who participated in these demonstrations ( REUTERS )

The exchange mirrored, nearly word-for-word, one that another Columbia activist, Mahmoud Khalil, claimed took place when ICE agents detained him on similar accusations earlier this month.

On March 13, according to the suit, federal law enforcement agents searched two residences on Columbias campus, including Chungs dorm. The warrant used in the searches cited a federal law meant to prosecute entities who are illegally harboring non-citizens.

The warrant accords with recent comments from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who said this month, in a speech about cracking down on campus antisemitism, that the Justice Department is investigating whether Columbia could be found guilty of harboring immigrants without legal status in the U.S.

Chungs attorneys claim theres little basis for the claim that the student is a threat to national interests.

In May of last year, the school initiated a disciplinary process against the student for allegedly putting up flyers featuring the universitys Board of Trustees with the words, Wanted for Complicity in Genocide, though it later found Chung hadnt violated any school policies. (Human rights groups have accused the Israeli war in Gaza of being a genocidal attack, a charge which Israel and its ally the U.S. deny.)

On March 5, Chung was briefly arrested outside a campus building at a protest. Her attorneys say that amid the confusion of a crowded demonstration, she inadvertently was unable to follow police directions, and was given a desk appearance ticket for obstructing government administration. The arrest prompted an interim suspension from Columbia against the student.

Mike Johnson asked what crime Mahmoud Khalil committed

The protest generated media attention, and online antisemitism watchdog groups published Chungs name in the days just before the removal process against her was initiated. Monitoring groups have claimed credit for feeding the Trump administration names of activists whove later been slated for deportation.

The Independent has contacted the White House, the U.S. Attorneys Office for New York, and the State Department for comment.

Yunseo Chung has engaged in concerning conduct, including when she was arrested by NYPD during a pro-Hamas protest at Barnard College, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told The Independent via email. She is being sought for removal proceedings under the immigration laws. Chung will have an opportunity to present her case before an immigration judge.

Columbia declined to comment, citing obligations under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

Shortly after being sent questions about the suit, the State Department sent The Independent a transcript of a Monday press briefing with Tammy Bruce, a department spokesperson.

A visa and a green card are not birthrights, Bruce said, when asked whether visa-seekers should be wary about coming to the U.S. if they planned to engage in disruptive protests. These are privileges...Every sovereign nation in the world has an interest in controlling who comes in, knowing whos coming into their country, what their intentions are.

The administration has targeted multiple non-citizen student activists for removal over their role in Palestine activism, including Khalil, as well Georgetown scholar Badar Khan Suri and Cornell PhD Momodou Taal, who alleges immigration officials tried to arrest him in the midst of his lawsuit against the Trump administrations executive orders on immigration and antisemitism. (The government maintains Taals visa was revoked over his past record on campus before the lawsuit began, and has accused Khalil of failing to disclose past diplomatic and humanitarian work on his immigration forms.)

The Trump administration has put particular pressure on Columbia, using a threat to withhold $400 million in federal funding as leverage to push the school to adopt a series of sweeping reforms, including hiring more police, reorganizing its Middle East-focused departments, banning face masks, and adopting a stance of institutional neutrality.

The administration has maintained that its merely using its influence to force federally-supported universities to uphold their civil rights obligations to protect Jewish students from antisemitism, while critics allege that the White House is using the aegis of stopping antisemitism to silence pro-Palestinian activism protected under the First Amendment
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The State Department on Monday issued a forceful statement aimed at Iraqs government that condemned the continued existance of militant groups within Iraq that refuse cooperation with the government, including groups backed by Iran.

Militant groups within the country including most predominantly the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) continue to represent a major headache for the US government. The PMF holds major political influence within Iraqs parliament and broader government, to say nothing of the estimated tens of thousands of forces it commands in various brigades around the country.

US frustrations with the inability of Iraqs government to bring the PMF under full control date back years. A report from the State Department in 2022 warned that several PMF-aligned groups continued to defy central government command and control and instigated violent and destabilizing activities in Iraq and neighboring Syria. Some elements allied with the militant organization, such as the Kataib Hezbollah, trace their origins back to militant groups that fought US forces during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and still battle US forces today.

On Monday, State Department press secretary Tammy Bruce told reporters that it was unacceptable for any militant groups not under full control of the Iraqi government to be operating within Iraqs borders.

To strengthen Iraq's sovereignty, the government of Iraq must ensure it has command and control of all security forces within its borders, to include the PMF, Bruce said. These forces must respond to Iraq's commander-in-chief, and not to Iran.

open image in gallery State Department press secretary Tammy Bruce directed a warning at Iraq's government at Monday's briefing. ( YouTube - US Department of State )

We are also concerned that these Iran-aligned groups within the PMF, including designated foreign terrorist organizations, engage in violent and destabilizing activities in Iraq, Bruce continued. We continue to urge the Iraqi government to rein in these groups and hold them accountable for breaking Iraqi law. The president has no higher priority than the safety of US personnel, and he has made it clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel and its interests.

Her remarks came just days after the Trump administration announced that it was sanctioning a Chinese oil company for buying and storing Iranian crude oil from a sanctioned vessel.

open image in gallery Protesters hold portraits of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei (left) and Qassem Soleimani, right. Soleimani, formerly head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard corps, was killed in Iraq in 2020. ( Middle East Images/AFP via Getty )

It was an overt threat of further action against PMF-aligned groups from a Trump administration official, and one that came a year after the Biden administration authorized an airstrike in Iraq that killed a senior Kataib Hezbollah commander  and provoked a visit by Iraqs prime minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to the wounded PMF forces.

In February, it was reported that Iraqs government was already preparing for further US action against the PMF, a small part of the broader maximum pressure Iran strategy put back into place by Donald Trump upon his inauguration. Pressure to deal with Iranian influence within the militant groups, including by disarming and disbanding the PMF, ramped up.

Lawmakers in Iraqs parliament have attempted to hold off that blowback from Washington with a new set of reforms ostensibly aimed at reining in the PMF, but which experts say avoids the removal of US-sanctioned individuals from the groups leadership structure.

Donald Trumps previous term in the White House was marked by the most severe escalation of tensions with Iran in a decade: the killing of Revolutionary Guard commander Qassem Soleimani. His 2020 killing took place near Baghdads airport  a top PMF official and a Kataib Hezbollah commander were both killed in the strike as well.
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People in New Zealand were advised to stay away from the shore after an earthquake measuring magnitude 6.8 struck off the coast of South Island on Tuesday.

The quake struck at a depth of 33km off the southwest coast of the islands Fiordland national park, and about 160km northwest of Snares Islands, at 2.43pm local time. Though officials issued a tsunami advisory, it said no evacuation orders were necessary unless directed by local authorities.

The notice issued by the National Emergency Management Agency warned people to move off boats and keep out of the water, while adding that coastal inundation (flooding of land areas near the shore) is not expected as a result of this event.

File: Surfers catching a wave after a series of large earthquakes hit New Zealand, sparking a tsunami advisory notice ( AFP via Getty Images )

It said remote parts of Fiordland's coast were the most likely to be affected. "Strong currents and surges can injure and drown people. There is a danger to swimmers, surfers, people fishing, and anyone in or near the water close to shore," the agency warned.

"People in or near the sea in the following areas should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.

"People on boats, live-aboards and at marinas should leave their boats/vessels and move onto shore. Do not return to boats unless instructed by officials."

The areas under threat cover the west coast of South Island, from Milford Sound to Puysegur Point.

There was no threat of a tsunami to Southland's coast, said Emergency Management Southland civil defence controller Aly Curd.

Australia's national weather bureau also confirmed that there was no tsunami threat to the mainland, islands or territories.

Thousands of people in New Zealand reported feeling the earthquake. "We had things fall off shelf. The outdoor wooden table dancing," a user posted on Facebook, according to the New Zealand Herald.

Students were evacuated to a field and clearing area and we were required to walk to the old hospital where buses would come in due course, a Te Waewae Bay local teaching in Riverton told the outlet. A few of us are at the pub sharing stories.

Tuatapere Four Square owner Mark Hewton said the earthquake hit suddenly. "It was a very soft rolling earthquake. It wasn't aggressive. It wasn't enough to cause any damage that I'm aware of," he told RNZ News.

"All the staff felt it and it was definitely enough to make you stop what you were doing and make you think about getting under a door or something.

"We haven't felt one like that for quite a wee while."

New Zealand lies on the seismically active "Ring of Fire", a 40,000-km arc of volcanoes and ocean trenches girdling much of the Pacific Ocean.

Experts said the earthquake struck a region where we only have limited scientific understanding but which carries a significant tsunami risk. It occurred near the Puysegur Trench, a tectonic plate boundary where the Australian plate descends beneath the Pacific plate.

This boundary extends over 800km southward from South Island into the remote Southern Ocean, about 400km west of the Auckland Islands.

There is still much we dont know about this area, seismologist Dr Finn Illsley-Kemp told the New Zealand Herald. Researchers from Victoria University, including his colleagues, have been studying the region. Compared to other areas, it has received far less scientific attention, leaving uncertainties about its tectonic behaviour  yet it has produced some of our most powerful earthquakes.
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A woman in Australia has been charged with producing child sexual abuse material over her novel about the relationship of a young woman with her fathers friend.

Lauren Tesolin-Mastrosa, an author in Sydney who writes erotic fiction under the pen name Tori Woods, has faced a backlash on social media following the release of her new novel titled Daddys Little Toy.

While the books promotional material says it is about a barely legal 18-year-old woman, the cover design features the title spelled out in childrens toy blocks and readers said it described how the fathers friend had desired the teen since she was three years old.

New South Wales police said they began investigations into the book in March following reports of a fiction novel containing child abuse material.

On Friday at about 12.30pm local time, detectives attended a home in Quakers Hill in the suburbs of western Sydney where they arrested the 33-year-old woman.

The police also executed a search warrant at the home and confiscated several hard copies of the book for forensic examination.

"The woman was charged with [possessing] child abuse material, [disseminating] child abuse material and [producing] child abuse material, police said.

She was granted conditional bail to appear before Blacktown Local Court on Monday 31 March, the police added.

Tesolin-Mastrosa took to social media to say that there had been a big misunderstanding. She said the book is definitely not promoting or inciting anything ever to do with (child sexual abuse) or paedophilia.

What is being said is grossly disturbing and breaks my heart as well as makes me sick, she added.

She stressed that the book was fictional, adding that she understood why some parts of the book were being frowned upon.

She said that those associated with the book, such as the cover designer, graphic designer, and editor were being wrongly attacked as they were not aware of the contents.

These ladies were under no impression that I was Lauren Ashley writing as Tori Woods. I reached out to these ladies to work with them as Tori and only as Tori, she added.

Tesolin-Mastrosa has since taken down social media accounts, and the book has been withdrawn from online listings at Amazon and GoodReads.

The designer of the cover, Georgia Stove, distanced herself from the author, saying that she is receiving death threats.

I have cut ties with Tori Woods, effective immediately, she said. All I had known about the book was the blurb which read barely legal and in my mind I truly thought that was okay, she said.

I am here to answer any questions you may have. Just please stop with the threats over something I had no say in.

Alongside being an author, Tesolin-Mastrosa worked as a marketing executive at the Christian organisation BaptistCare, but was reportedly suspended from the role on 20 March.

A BaptistCare spokesperson told B&T: We can confirm that we received complaints regarding an unnamed employee late last week. As a result of these complaints, the employee was stood down effective 20 March while we undertake an internal investigation. BaptistCare takes matters of ethical conduct seriously. Our focus remains on upholding the values and integrity of our organisation.
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The grandparents of a toddler who vanished in the French Alps two years ago have been arrested on suspicion of his murder.

Emile Soleil had been staying with his maternal grandparents in their Alpine home in Haut-Vernet when he disappeared in July 2023.

In a dawn raid on Tuesday, police searched a home in the Provence village of La Bouilladisse and the hamlet of Haut-Vernet and arrested Emiles maternal grandparents and two of their adult children on suspicion of voluntary homicide and concealing a corpse, French media reported.

Police did not immediately say who the two other family members were, but Le Parisien reports they were two of Emiles uncles or aunts.

open image in gallery Emile went missing in July 2023. His partial remains were found nine months later by a hiker ( @Gendarmerie/X )

Two neighbours last saw Emile walking along the street by himself, according to Le Monde. Despite a massive effort from volunteers, police, the military and sniffer dogs, he was not found until a hiker stumbled across the toddlers skull and clothing in March 2024, less than 2 kilometres from his grandparents home.

Forensic examination of Emiles remains showed he was not buried but left exposed to the elements, the prosecutor said shortly after the discovery.

When Emiles funeral was finally held in February this year, his maternal grandparents Philippe and Anne Vedovini, made a rare public statement about his disappearance and death.

"The time for silence must give way to the truth," they said at the time, adding: "Nineteen months without the slightest certainty. We need to understand, we need to know."

Unbeknownst to the family, investigators have spent the last few months listening to phone conversations between Emiles parents and maternal grandparents, according to Le Parisien, which reported that those phone taps formed part of the move on Tuesday to make the arrests.

The Aix-en-Provence prosecutor said in a statement, reported in Le Parisien, that investigations were ongoing.

These police custody placements are part of a phase of verification and comparison of the evidence and information gathered during the investigations carried out in recent months, the prosecutor said.

open image in gallery Police removed a horse trailer from the property, and were expected to seize a car as their investigation continues ( AFP via Getty Images )

Investigators were also conducting forensic operations in various locations across the country, the prosecutor added.

The grandparents car will be seized by police, Le Parisien said, and one of Emiles great-grandfathers will also be interviewed. Images showed police towing a horse trailer away from the scene on Tuesday.

The grandparents' lawyer, Isabelle Colombani, confirmed to AFP that they were being held in police custody.
China, ASEAN most appealing in Asia for foreign investments: report

Xinhua) 13:08, March 25, 2025

BOAO, Hainan, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Global foreign investments have increased their reliance on Asian economies amid fluctuations, and China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are the most appealing economies in Asia, according to a report released by the Boao Forum for Asia Tuesday.

The inward and outward foreign direct investment (FDI) dependence of Asian economies on the region itself reached 49.15 percent in 2023, the forum's Asian Economic Outlook and Integration Progress Annual Report 2025 said.

From the perspective of two-way dependence on FDI in Asia, China remained the economy most reliant on Asian FDI flows, followed by Indonesia, with their dependence rates exceeding 80 percent and 75 percent respectively.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
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French actor Gerard Depardieu has told a trial he admits grabbing a woman by her hips, but denies sexual assault.

The 76-year-old is facing charges he groped a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant director during production of the film Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters) in 2021.

Prosecutors allege the incidents included obscene remarks and inappropriate touching, including an incident in which Depardieu allegedly used his legs to trap one of the women before groping her in front of other crew members. Both women have filed formal complaints.

open image in gallery Gerard Depardieu is one of Frances most celebrated actors ( AFP via Getty )

I grabbed her hips, Depardieu told his trial on Tuesday, admitting for the first time to physical contact with the set decorator. He admitted he had not told police about the contact when being interrogated. I grabbed her hip so as not to slip because I was so upset by her, by the heat, it was a Friday towards the end of shooting, I was very tired.

I dont see why I would grope a woman, he told the court, adding that he was so overweight at the time that some of what he is accused of  such as trapping one of the women between his legs  would have been impossible.

He said his gesture hadnt been ill intentioned and claimed that the alleged victim had not appeared offended, he said: She didnt answer as if I was assaulting her.

open image in gallery Depardieu taking the stand at his trial in France ( AFP via Getty )

Ive always been told I have a Russian nature; I dont know if its because of the drinking or the vulgarity, he said. But he insisted he wasnt a predator. Im not touching the butts of women, he added.

Depardieu, sitting on a chair as he spoke in court, said he had been upset at one of his accusers over her work. He said she was doing badly, and he accused her of having been shocked by that.

If found guilty, Depardieu could face a sentence of up to five years in jail and a 75,000 (62,000) fine.

The trial, expected to last at least three days, was initially due to be held in October but was postponed due to Depardieus ill health.
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Key members of Donald Trumps cabinet have ripped into European allies, branding them free-loading and pathetic in extraordinary leaked messages.

The messages have come to light after The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was added to a private Signal messaging group by mistake, by Trumps national security adviser Michael Waltz.

The group was created to discuss a US military response to the Houthi attacks on international shipping lanes, and included Trumps vice president, JD Vance, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

open image in gallery Vice President JD Vance said he hated bailing out Europe ( AFP via Getty Images )

Discussing potential U.S. airstrikes against the Houthi terrorist group, the messages turned to disparaging the capabilities of Europe and its armed forces. Goldberg reported that the Michael Waltz account posted a long note about trade, and the limited capabilities of Europes navies.

An account identified as JD Vance replied to a message from Pete Hegseth with: if you think we should do it lets go. I just hate bailing Europe out again.

The user identified as Hegseth: VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. Its PATHETIC.

The Vance account had also pointed out the Houthi attacks largely did not affect America: 3 per cent of US trade runs through the Suez. 40 per cent of European trade does.

Another account for SM - which Goldberg assumed belonged to deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller - said the US was going ahead with the strikes, but it needed to be clear to European allies that it was not for free.

open image in gallery Pete Hegseth, right, was in the group chat, and labelled European countries pathetic ( AFP/Getty )

As I heard it, the president was clear: green light, but we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return. We also need to figure out how to enforce such a requirement. EG, if Europe doesnt remunerate, then what? If the US successfully restores freedom of navigation at great cost there needs to be some further economic gain extracted in return.

Later in the group chat, Goldberg reveals highly sensitive plans for airstrikes on the Houthis were discussed, including targets and weaponry, shortly before the strikes were carried out.

When asked about the security breach that saw a journalist added to the group, Trump said he didnt know anything about it , and dismissed the Atlantic as a magazine thats going out of business.

Former U.S. Defence Secretary Leon Panetta, who served under Barack Obama, said the officials involved need to be fired and the White House should take the ramifications of the breach seriously.

Hegseth has since accused Goldberg, of peddling hoaxes, describing him as deceitful and a so-called journalist.

Nobody was texting war plans, and thats all I have to say about that, he told reporters after the leak.
When you imagine receiving the news that youre on the kill list of one of the worlds cruellest dictators, you perhaps dont imagine it while holding a glass of champagne. But, in January 2023, thats exactly  or, almost exactly  what happened to Christo Grozev, an internationally renowned investigative journalist whom I had been filming for a documentary about his work for months, and who told me at a glitzy awards ceremony in New York that Vladimir Putin wanted him dead.

The Bulgarian-born journalist had long been rustling feathers at the Kremlin  his exceptional work for Bellingcat (a Netherlands-based investigative journalism group that Grozev headed up from 2015) exposed Putins killing network of spies and assassins.

Known as a modern-day Sherlock, he also unmasked the perpetrators involved in poisoning opposition leader Alexei Navalny and the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, winning him global accolades. Still, neither of us quite expected that, while the rest of the room waited for their wine to be topped up, the grim reality of the situation would be revealed. He simply said, I cant go home. The message said that intelligence had revealed there could be a red team waiting for him at home in Vienna, Austria. Now, the hunter had become the hunted.

By the time Grozev became one of Putins most wanted, Id been following him around with a camera for more than a year. We were working on a documentary  Kill List: Hunted by Putins Spies  which started out as a story about Bellingcat.

They were unparalleled in their work using open source investigation to identify, track and expose assassins and spies working for the dictator across Europe. Over the three years we were filming, the doc went far beyond that brief. Rather than explaining the poison programme itself, the narrative changed. What we answered was what you risk when you speak out against the regime  the threats, the fear and the very human cost of putting yourself on the line to expose the truth.

Wed taken pretty extreme security measures from the very beginning  our story began with a whistleblower in possession of state secrets who risked everything to speak out against Putins poison programme. We spoke in code words using encrypted apps, worked out of a bunker-like room cut off from the rest of the production office. If Im totally honest, after a while, I thought: this is a bit silly. I half convinced myself that we were being over the top; that no one really cared about what we were doing. You feel like youre acting in a spy movie. And then police arrested part of a Bulgarian spy ring living in the UK. And then it all became real.

In New York, the day after the award ceremony, things were eerily normal. Grozev was definitely shaken by it  no doubt  but we naively thought that perhaps it could be resolved in a week or so; at that point, we didnt realise the extent of the plot. We were really in the rhythm of filming by then and, to some extent, I think my presence made the knowledge that he couldnt risk returning to Vienna, where his wife and children awaited him, a little easier to digest. Not because he wasnt making huge and devastating sacrifices, but because it softened reality somehow  it was all happening through a lens.

open image in gallery The Bulgarian-born journalist has long been rustling feathers at the Kremlin ( Passion Pictures )

Still, he was watchful. He had an app installed on his phone which was able to check hotel rooms for bugs. Occasionally, he attempted to wear a disguise, but they were always so bad  a terrible wig and some sunglasses that actually made him stand out more if anything. He only used tightly encrypted apps like Signal for work, and sometimes used a false name to travel under. His levels of stress were unimaginably high. In the documentary, he reveals that he went to a doctor who said theyd never seen such enormous, constant, unfluctuating stress in someones body.

Shortly after we found out he couldnt go home, Grozev called his dad, who was worried, of course, as were his wife and children. It was these moments, when the enormous personal impact began to emerge, that began to hammer home what Grozev had given up in pursuit of justice. While the world sees him as an international superstar of investigative journalism, his family certainly doesnt. To them, hes dad  albeit one who his children couldnt see. Look at the mess you created, his wife  who remains in remarkably good spirits  told him over the phone. Sadly, the worst was yet to come.

open image in gallery The journalist has been labelled by some as a modern-day Sherlock ( Passion Pictures )

Three weeks after his name appeared on Putins kill list, his father stopped answering the phone. Grozevs dad had always been a big influence on him  while his mother started him listening to Radio Free Europe (which was illegal) when he was nine years old, he described his dad as a rebel  anti-establishment, a bit of a hippy. He was the only person who was really proud of what I was doing, Grozev told me on camera after his dad was eventually found dead  no foul play was ever identified, but a later trial at the Old Bailey heard that spies had identified his fathers house, which raised his suspicions. He dealt with the loss and the guilt by throwing himself into work as usual. He had long wanted to take Putin down, but this was now becoming about as personal as it gets.

The more the story unfolded, the more surprising I found it. Bellingcat was started by citizen journalist and online sleuth Eliot Higgins in 2014, and cleverly uses information openly posted online to investigate war zones, human rights abuses and, of course, the criminal underworld. When Grozev joined, he took it a step further, because he understands the dark web and black marketplace for Russian data  phone records, passport travel records, parking fines, anything.

If there was a moment that the world needs reminding once more that Putin is a brutal murderer, a war criminal  this is it

Grozev found that most of the criminals following him were not trained professional Russian spies; they were just hired criminals. Which  as odd as this might sound looking in  is in one way reassuring: these guys are not going to get novichok and put it on your door knob. But that doesnt mean theyre not dangerous. They were incredibly well-resourced, had sophisticated equipment, and their ambitions were pretty sinister. And, if you can just use money to get criminals to do bad stuff on tap, its much harder for someone like Grozev or the police to combat that threat.

From their messages, we know that, for instance, the first time we filmed Grozev, the spies knew as soon as he booked his flight to London that he was coming. There are some messages we dont have, so we dont know if they followed him from the airport to where we met. But they knew what he was doing, thats for sure. So, by extension, they knew what we  what I  was doing too.

I didnt really ever fear my own safety, though. There was one moment when, after three members of a Bulgarian spy ring in the UK were arrested for espionage on behalf of Russia, I discovered a chilling detail. These spies, for some reason, reviewed almost all of their trips on Google. So, when they were tailing Grozev in Valencia or Vienna, they would post a review  one of them I saw was a complaint about not having fresh towels, for example.

open image in gallery I thought: this is a bit silly ... And then it all became real ( Passion Pictures )

I thought, they cant be this stupid, there must be a reason theyre doing it; communicating in code, or something. Then, weirdly, two days before the spies were arrested, there was a review from a beauty salon less than a minute from my house. The spy may not have even been there, and if she was, it might not have been to do with me. But it definitely stopped me in my tracks, it felt like too much of a coincidence.

Grozev is still boldly continuing his work. And, as the documentary airs, I hope his brilliance is further recognised and more discussion is prompted. You would think that a film saying Putin is a bad guy wouldnt exactly be breaking news. But I think given whats happening in the world at the moment, and Putin almost being welcomed back into the civilized groups of nations  Trump cosying up to him  its important.

Ive never called myself an activist filmmaker before, despite tackling politically loaded subjects like the drug war in the Philippines, the untold devastation inflicted on children in Gaza and, more recently, the Chernobyl disaster. But if there was a moment that the world needs reminding once more that Putin is a brutal murderer, a war criminal  this is it.

As told to Zoe Beaty

Kill List: Hunted by Putins Spies is on Channel 4, Thursday 27 March. The feature documentary version, Antidote, is also playing in select cinemas.
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Tens of thousands of protesters in Turkey have faced tear gas, batons and rubber bullets in the worst unrest the country has faced in a decade.

More than 1,100 people have been taken into custody over seven straight days of demonstrations against president Recep Rayyip Erdogan, sparked by the arrest of the countrys main opposition leader, the mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu.

At least eight of those were journalists and now their colleagues in the Turkish press have told The Independent they have never seen a government crackdown like it.

open image in gallery Protests against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul, have led to a tough police crackdown ( REUTERS )

Can Dundar, a Turkish journalist who has been living in exile in Europe for eight years after being charged with treason in 2015, said the presidents desire to hold onto power was the root of the anger.

He wanted to be another Putin, but the country is not ready to be another Russia, Mr Dundar told The Independent. So now the people are resisting, and Erdogan is pushing.

Mr Dundar, who now runs the media outlet Ozguruz from Germany, said Mr Imamoglu has beaten President Erdogans party four times in local elections and was the presidents most important rival.

open image in gallery Students burn flares as they walk from the Besiktas district of Istanbul ( AFP via Getty Images )

He pointed to opinion polls suggesting the incumbent would not win another presidential election, and claimed Erdogan was cracking down on free speech and democracy instead.

It's a very critical point between autocracy and democracy, Mr Dundar continued. Either way is possible.

For the first time since the Gezi protests in 2013 people are taking to the streets, nationwide, all over, so I'm really hopeful because people have broken through the wall of fear for the first time in years, and resisting now.

open image in gallery Protestors holding Turkish flags stand in front of Turkish riot police officers near the Aqueduct of Valens ( AFP via Getty Images )

Engin Bas, a television journalist for 30 years and an Istanbul local, said the majority of protestors gathering in the city each day have been peaceful. But he said every day they have been met with thousands of police officers resulting in violent clashes on the streets.

I saw that they [police] use batons. I saw them use fists and kicks, he explained. I saw that they also targeted the young with the rubber bullets, he said.

The violence has not deterred the demonstrators, it would seem. Mr Bas said he spoke with a girl who was covered in bruises from rubber bullets, but who was still preparing to go out and protest again.

This reflects the psychology of the youngsters and university students, he added. They're all like this right now.

open image in gallery TV journalist Engin Bas said he has never seen so many students march through Istanbul ( AFP via Getty Images )

In a televised speech, on Monday Mr Erdogan called the protests "evil" and claimed that it had become a "movement of violence" while blaming the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).

The ensuing crackdown is not just occurring on the streets, but online too. The Turkish government has issued court orders to social media site X to shut down the accounts of more than 700 journalists, media outlets and activists - a move X has said it is fighting in court.

And journalists in Turkey are deeply concerned about the recent arrests of their colleagues.

Erol Onderoglu, who started the Istanbul office for Reporters Without Borders in 1996, said press freedom is worse now than it was under military rule when he first came to Turkey.

open image in gallery Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to be like Vladimir Putin, protesters claim ( AP )

Given the size of the demonstrations on the street, Mr Onderoglu said authorities were trying to use journalists as an example for protestors in a bid to quell the public.

We are observing a very elaborate crackdown, he told The Independent, listing the systematic arrests of journalists, widespread online censorship, and tight judicial controls of journalists which restrict their movement.

The close control, close surveillance of content - and physically of journalists - have never been so measurable.
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Britons have been warned against visiting Turkey this spring amid mass arrests and a government crackdown on the largest protests the country has seen in more than a decade over the jailing of president Recep Tayyip Erdogans main political rival.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on Monday advised Britons against "all travel to parts of Turkey" due to the growing unrest in Istanbul and other Turkish cities over the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu last week.

The foreign office warned that the demonstrations "may become violent" and that the local police have responded by using tear gas and water cannons.

"Large demonstrations continue to occur outside diplomatic missions connected to the conflict in major cities, particularly Israeli diplomatic missions in Ankara and Istanbul," the foreign office said, urging Britons to avoid all demonstrations and leave the area if one develops.

open image in gallery Protesters disperse as Turkish riot police use tear gas during a demonstration outside Istanbul's city hall ( AFP/Getty )

The protests began last week after hundreds and thousands of people, defying a ban on street gatherings, assembled to demonstrate against the arrest of Mr Imamoglu. On Sunday, a court jailed him, pending trial, on corruption charges that he denies.

His arrest has been widely interpreted as a political attempt to remove a major challenger to Mr Erdogan ahead of the 2028 presidential election, causing Turkeys stock market to suffer its greatest hit since the 2008 financial crisis amid condemnation from Ankaras European neighbours.

In a televised speech, Mr Erdogan on Monday called the protests "evil" and claimed that it had become a "movement of violence" while blaming the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).

open image in gallery A police officer kicks a protester during clashes in front of Istanbul's famous Aquaduct on the weekend ( Getty Images )

Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Mr Erdogan said the CHP should stop "provoking" citizens. "As a nation, we followed with surprise the events that emerged after the main opposition leader's call to take to the streets following an Istanbul-based corruption operation turned into a movement of violence," the 71-year-old president said.

"The main opposition is responsible for our (injured) police officers, the broken windows of our shopkeepers, and the damaged public property. They will be held accountable for all this, politically in parliament and legally by the judiciary."

Earlier, interior minister Ali Yerlikaya accused some protesters of "terrorising" the streets and threatening national security. More than a dozen journalists were among 1,133 people detained during five days of protests, according to reports. The minister said 123 police officers suffered injuries.

open image in gallery Anti-riot police officers use pepper spray in Istanbul, Turkey ( AP )

The Disk-Basin-Is media workers union said at least eight reporters and photojournalists were detained in what it called an attack on press freedoms and the peoples right to learn the truth". It called for their immediate release.

Billionaire Elon Musk's X said it was objecting to multiple court orders from Turkish authorities to block more than 700 accounts, including that of news organisations, journalists and political figures.

A CHP delegation met Istanbul's governor to discuss the police crackdown on the protesters, while the party's Istanbul head Ozgur Celik said police intervention on Sunday night had been the most violent so far, with many people being hospitalised.

open image in gallery Riot police fire tear gas pellets to disperse protesters in Istanbul ( AP )

Addressing hundreds of thousands of people in front of the Istanbul Municipality headquarters in Sarachane again, Mr Ozel repeated a call to boycott media, brands, and stores he called pro-Erdogan.

Mr Ozel called for continued protests, adding: "Whoever Tayyip Erdogan unjustly puts in jail, this square is defending them, for democracy and for Turkey."

He added his opposition party would also appeal for Mr Imamoglu to be released pending trial, and for his trial to be broadcast on the TRT state broadcaster. He challenged Mr Erdogan to a televised debate, while calling on protesters to maintain public order and avoid clashes.
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Journalists have been arrested in their homes as part of a crackdown on the largest protests Turkey has seen in more than a decade, triggered by the arrest of president Recep Tayyip Erdogans main political rival.

Despite a ban on street gatherings in many cities, hundreds of thousands assembled to protest for a sixth consecutive night on Monday, after Istanbuls mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was formally arrested and detained pending trial on corruption charges  which he denies.

His arrest has been widely interpreted as a political attempt to remove a major challenger to Mr Erdogan ahead of the 2028 presidential election, causing Turkeys stock market to suffer its greatest hit since the 2008 financial crisis amid condemnation from Ankaras European neighbours.

open image in gallery Demonstrators chant slogans as they hold posters in support of arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Sunday ( Getty Images )

A total of 1,133 people have been detained and up to 123 police officers injured in protests since Mr Imamoglu was arrested, Turkeys interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said, claiming that police had also seized acid, firebombs and knives.

At least 10 journalists have been detained so far, the Journalists Union of Turkey said on Monday, with many also subjected to police violence, tear gas and plastic bullets while reporting on protests which Mr Erdogan has sought to condemn as a movement of violence. Nine were reportedly arrested in dawn raids at their homes.

Attempts were also made to prevent television channels from broadcasting live, the union said, while social media platform X said it was objecting to multiple court orders from Turkish authorities to block more than 700 accounts  including those of news organisations, journalists and political figures in Turkey.

Calling for the journalists immediate release, the Disk-Basin-Is media workers union accused Turkish authorities of an attack on press freedoms and the peoples right to learn the truth.

Mr Imamoglu was elected mayor of Turkeys largest city in March 2019, in a major blow to Mr Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP), which had controlled Istanbul for 25 years.

open image in gallery Istanbuls mayor Ekrem Imamoglu addresses his supporters in front of the Istanbul courthouse on 31 January ( AP Photo/Emrah Gurel )

While Mr Erdogans party pushed to void the election results, alleging irregularities, Mr Imamoglu went on to win a repeat of the election several months later. He retained his seat in local elections last year, which saw the CHP make significant gains against Mr Erdogans party.

Mr Imamoglu has now been jailed on suspicion of running a criminal organisation, accepting bribes, extortion, illegally recording personal data and bid-rigging  accusations he has denied. A request for him to be imprisoned on terror-related charges was rejected although he still faces prosecution.

He was taken to Silivri prison, west of Istanbul, as more than 1.7 million members of his opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) held a primary election, endorsing him as its presidential candidate. Millions of non-members also cast votes in a solidarity ballot, the party said.

As well as appealing his arrest, CHP official said on Monday that the party was also appealing a decision by the Istanbul University to annul Mr Imamoglus diploma  which is required for eligibility in a presidential run.

Alongside Mr Imamoglu, 47 other people were also jailed pending trial, including a key aide and two district mayors from Istanbul. One was replaced with a government appointee. A further 44 suspects were released under judicial control.

open image in gallery Protesters clash with Turkish anti riot police as they use tear gas and water cannons during a demonstration following the arrest of Istanbul's mayor ( Adem Altan/AFP via Getty Images )

Authorities were also investigating the office of Ankaras mayor, another popular opposition figure, over the alleged misuse of public funds concerning the organisation of 33 concerts, the municipality said on Monday.

Addressing demonstrators outside city hall for a sixth consecutive night, CHP leader Ozgur Ozel challenged Mr Erdogan and the Istanbul chief public prosecutor to broadcast Mr Imamoglus trial live on state television, to allow the jailed mayor to respond to the allegations and expose their lies.

And he personally challenged Mr Erdogan to a televised debate  while calling on protesters to maintain public order and avoid clashes, along with boycotting a number of pro-government companies and television stations.

Whoever Tayyip Erdogan unjustly puts in jail, this square is defending them, for democracy and for Turkey, said Mr Ozel, as crowds waved flags and chanted slogans calling for the government to resign.

Ahead of Mr Ozels address, at the historic Galata Bridge in Istanbul, a sit-in protest blocked traffic on both sides of the bridge, while others gathered elsewhere in the city, in Ankara, and other cities.

Some 15 minutes after Mr Ozel addressed the crowd, police intervened with tear gas, water cannon and plastic pellets to disperse the demonstrators.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Mr Erdogan claimed the CHP should stop provoking citizens.

open image in gallery Recep Tayyip Erdogan has claimed the mostly peaceful protests are a movement of violence ( AP )

As a nation, we followed with surprise the events that emerged after the main opposition leaders call to take to the streets following an Istanbul-based corruption operation turned into a movement of violence, the 71-year-old president said.

The main opposition is responsible for our [injured] police officers, the broken windows of our shopkeepers, and the damaged public property. They will be held accountable for all this, politically in parliament and legally by the judiciary.

Rights groups and European countries warned that Mr Imamoglus arrest marked democratic backsliding and criticised police intervention, with Germany warning that it made Turkeys pursuit of EU membership  which Ankara has targeted for decades  increasingly hollow.

A meeting of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee was postponed on Monday after the EU side said it had concluded that current circumstances are not conducive to holding the meeting.

And Mr Erdogan sought to reassure investors on Monday who last week sold off Turkish assets following news of Imamoglus detention  prompting the central bank to intervene with foreign currency sales and other stabilising measures after the markets and lira currency tumbled.

Our main priority is protecting macro-financial stability, said Mr Erdogan. The Treasury and finance ministry, central bank, all relevant institutions, with our support, are working day and night in full coordination, taking every necessary step.

The Istanbul bourse benchmark index pared back some losses on Monday after suffering a fall of 16.6 per cent last week  its worst drop since the global financial crisis.
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Tens of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets in growing protests across Turkey, after the main rival to the countrys president was arrested and charged with corruption in a move that has been widely decried as politically motivated.

Ekrem Imamoglu is seen as the main political challenger to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and was nominated as the presidential candidate for the main opposition party the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) for elections in 2028 despite his arrest.

Mr Imamoglu was elected mayor of Turkeys largest city in March 2019, in a major blow to Mr Erdogan and the presidents governing Justice and Development Party (AKP), which had controlled Istanbul for a quarter of a century. Mr Erdogans party pushed to void the municipal election results in the city of 16 million, alleging irregularities. The challenge resulted in a repeat of the election a few months later, which Mr Imamoglu also won.

The mayor retained his seat following local elections last year, during which the CHP made significant gains against the AKP.

His detention has sparked the largest wave of street demonstrations in Turkey in more than a decade, and deepened concerns over democracy and the rule of law in the country, with people taking to the streets for a sixth day straight on Monday.

Here is what we know about the protests so far.

What is happening in Turkey?

open image in gallery A police officer kicks a protester during clashes in front of Istanbuls famous aqueduct at the weekend ( Getty )

Turkeys largest cities have been rocked by protests for nearly a week as hundreds of thousands of protesters turned out in support of Mr Imamoglu.

The daily protests have escalated since they began on Wednesday after Mr Imamoglu was detained, with police deploying water cannon, teargas and pepper spray as well as firing plastic pellets at protesters in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. Some of the people demonstrating hurled stones, fireworks and other missiles at riot police.

A total of 1,133 people have been detained. The interior minister, Ali Yerlikaya, said more than 100 police officers had been injured.

The Disk-Basin-Is union said that at least eight reporters and photojournalists had been detained in what it said was an attack on press freedoms and the peoples right to learn the truth.

The social media platform X said it was objecting to multiple court orders from Turkish authorities to block more than 700 accounts, including of news organisations, journalists and political figures in Turkey.

open image in gallery Riot police officers clash with protesters during a demonstration in Turkey ( AP )

What are the protests about?

The protests were sparked when Mr Imamoglu, the current mayor of Istanbul, was detained on Wednesday on suspicion of corruption.

On Sunday, as he received CHPs official nomination to run for president, Mr Imamoglu was formally arrested on corruption charges and jailed pending trial.

CHP leader Ozgur Ozel said: Imamoglu is on the one hand in prison and on the other hand on the way to the presidency.

open image in gallery Demonstrators chant slogans as they hold posters in support of arrested Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Sunday ( Getty )

Mr Imamoglu was jailed on suspicion of running a criminal organisation, accepting bribes, extortion, illegally recording personal data, and bid-rigging. A request for him to be imprisoned on terror-related charges was denied.

The mayor labelled all the claims unimaginable accusations and slanders, according to Sky News.

Following the courts ruling, Mr Imamoglu was transferred to Silivri prison, west of Istanbul.

open image in gallery Protesters clash with Turkish anti-riot police as they use teargas and water cannon during a demonstration in Ankara ( AFP/Getty )

A further 47 people were jailed pending trial alongside Mr Imamoglu, including two district mayors from Istanbul. One of those mayors was replaced with a government appointee.

A further 44 suspects were released under judicial control.

What have authorities said?

Mr Imamoglus imprisonment is widely regarded as a political move, designed to remove a major challenger to Mr Erdogan from the next presidential race.

Government officials strongly reject the accusations and insist that Turkeys courts operate independently.

open image in gallery Teargas surrounds a protester holding a placard next to Turkish riot police during a demonstration outside Istanbuls city hall ( AFP/Getty )

Turkeys next presidential election must be held by 7 May 2028, and under the current constitution, Mr Erdogan cannot run for another term once his current term in office is finished.

Mr Erdogan has been president since the Justice and Development Party (AKP) won power in 2003.

Mr Erdogan claimed on Monday that the protests over the jailing of Istanbul's mayor were evil and had become a "movement of violence" and that the main opposition party would be held accountable for injured police officers and damage to property.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Mr Erdogan said the CHP should stop "provoking" citizens.

"As a nation, we followed with surprise the events that emerged after the main opposition leader's call to take to the streets following an Istanbul-based corruption operation turned into a movement of violence," the 71-year-old president said.

"The main opposition is responsible for our [injured] police officers, the broken windows of our shopkeepers and the damaged public property. They will be held accountable for all this, politically in parliament and legally by the judiciary."

open image in gallery Protesters take cover as a teargas canister explodes during a demonstration outside Istanbuls city hall at the weekend ( AFP/Getty )

What legal battles has Imamoglu already faced?

Mr Imamoglus political battle began in 2019, when he spearheaded a breakthrough opposition victory after years in the doldrums. He won the Istanbul municipal election in March that year, only for authorities to annul the result in May on the basis of technicalities such as unsigned results documents and unauthorised ballot-box officials.

The legal threats began in June 2019, just before the rerun vote, when Mr Erdogan said he would face consequences for allegedly insulting the governor of the Black Sea province Ordu while campaigning there. Despite that, Mr Imamoglu prevailed decisively in the rerun, taking 54 per cent of the vote.

Legal threats grew more serious in 2021 when prosecutors sought a four-year prison sentence for Mr Imamoglu on a charge of insulting election officials, based on him calling them idiots in a speech just after the March 2019 election was annulled.

open image in gallery A protester in Istanbul shouts slogans during a protest against the arrest of Istanbuls mayor Ekrem Imamoglu ( AP )

The following year, a court sentenced him to two years and seven months in prison in the insult trial, triggering protests attended by thousands in support of the mayor.

In the last two years, the legal onslaught has accelerated. In June 2023, a court began hearing a case against Mr Imamoglu in a tender-rigging case, related to his time as mayor of Istanbuls Beylikduzu district between 2014 and 2019.

Late last year, Mr Imamoglu and numerous other opposition officials were hit by a widespread legal crackdown that resulted in some losing their elected positions.

Early this year he denied charges of attempting to influence the judiciary, following his criticism of legal cases against opposition-run municipalities.

In February, prosecutors issued a third indictment against Mr Imamoglu for remarks criticising the citys prosecutor, seeking to jail him for seven years for insulting a public official.

Then came the latest detention. Mr Imamoglu denies all of the allegations against him.

open image in gallery Protesters disperse as Turkish riot police use teargas during a demonstration outside Istanbuls city hall ( AFP/Getty )

Is Turkey safe to visit?

The Foreign Office has warnings in place about travelling to Turkey, and advises against all travel to within 10km (six miles) of the border with Syria due to fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism.

Broadly, the Foreign Office does not advise against travel to the rest of Turkey, but it has issued warnings about counterfeit alcohol products, saying there has been a rise in the number of deaths and serious illness cause by drinking illegally produced spirits, particularly in Ankara and Istanbul.

The Foreign Office also pointed out that there has been a recent spate of terror attacks, and noted that demonstrations that happen in cities can occasionally become violent.

Police have used teargas and water cannon to disperse protests, the department said. Avoid all demonstrations and leave the area if one develops. Local transport routes may be disrupted.

Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report
 Close Zelensky condemns Russian strikes on hometown: Diplomacy means nothing to them

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A Ukrainian team will visit Washington this week for crunch talks on a minerals deal, the first visit since the deal collapsed in dramatic fashion five weeks ago.

Volodymyr Zelensky was set to sign a framework agreement in late February before he was booted out of the White House, when a furious Donald Trump berated the Ukrainian president for not being thankful enough for US war assistance.

Since then, teams from Kyiv and Washington have been working to hash out a revised agreement - and to rebuild a broken relationship.

Washington has proposed a more expansive minerals deal which could give it access to valuable mineral resources, including titanium, lithium, and uranium, according to economy minister Yuliia Svyrydenko.

But the deal has not yet been agreed by Ukraine and it is unclear exactly how close the two sides are to reaching an agreement.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump has urged Russia to stop bombing Ukraine, after a ballistic missile strike in Kryvyi Rih killed 20, including nine children.,

We are talking to Russia. We would like them to stop, Trump told reporters onboard Air Force One. I dont like the bombing, the bombing goes on and on, and every week thousands of young people being killed.
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An Oscar-winning director was attacked and abducted in revenge for highlighting the plight of displaced Palestinians in the West Bank, his colleagues have claimed.

Hamdan Ballal, co-director of No Other Land, was attending a gathering for the end of the daily Ramadan fast near Hebron on Monday, when a group of settlers reportedly attacked. Ballal was dragged from an ambulance by the mob, according to co-director Yuval Abraham. Israeli police arrested three men, including Ballal, who was injured during the clashes.

Ballal had bruises on his face and blood on his clothes as he was escorted from the police station, according to witnesses. He was driven to a hospital in the neighboring Palestinian city of Hebron, alongside two others.

open image in gallery Moment a masked man breaks the camera during an attack ( Twitter )

On Tuesday, Abraham said: After being handcuffed all night and beaten in a military base, Hamdan Ballal is now free and is about to go home to his family.

Basel Adra, another co-director, witnessed the arrest and shared a picture of Ballal being treated in hospital after he was released.

We came back from the Oscars and every day since there is an attack on us, Adra said. This might be their revenge on us for making the movie. It feels like a punishment.

On Monday, Abraham shared dashcam footage on X that he said showed masked settlers who attacked Ballal. In the night-time clip you can see shadowy figures in the background before a woman holding a mobile phone flees. A masked man then hurls a brick at the camera and it cuts to black.

open image in gallery A bloodied Hamadan Ballal receives treatment in hospital ( X/Basel_Adra )

Lamia Ballal, the directors wife, said she heard her husband being beaten outside their home as she huddled inside with their three children. She heard him screaming, Im dying and calling for an ambulance.

When she looked out the window, she says she saw three men in uniform beating Ballal with the butts of their rifles and another person in civilian clothes who appeared to be filming the violence.

Of course, after the Oscar, they have come to attack us more, Lamia said. I felt afraid.

open image in gallery (L-R) Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal and Yuval Abraham with their Oscars ( AP )

The Israeli military said it detained three Palestinians suspected of hurling rocks at forces and one Israeli civilian involved in a violent confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians  a claim witnesses disputed.

The military said it had transferred them to Israeli police for questioning and had evacuated an Israeli citizen from the area to receive medical treatment.

No Other Land follows Adra as he risks arrest to document the destruction of Masafer Yatta at the southern edge of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, joined by his co-director, Israeli journalist and filmmaker Abraham.

open image in gallery Co-director Basel Adra with Ballals damaged car ( AP )

The critically acclaimed documentary, filmed over five years, depicts the alliance that develops between Adra and Abraham.

In his acceptance speech, Adra called on the world to stop the injustice and to stop the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people.

He said he hoped his newborn daughter would not have to live the same life I am living now  Always feeling settler violence, home demolitions and forceful displacement.
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An Air France flight was forced to make a U-turn to Paris mid-air after a missing phone sparked safety concerns in the cabin.

Flight AF750 from Paris Orly to Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe, was over an hour into the almost nine-hour journey when a passenger reported a lost mobile phone on Friday (21 March).

According to an AirLive report, the Air France flight departed Paris at 11.51am CET before turning around and starting to circle at 31,000ft over the west coast of France.

The crew decided to return the aircraft to Paris Orly as a precautionary measure after a passenger's mobile phone could not be located despite extensive search efforts, said the outlet.

The Boeing 777-300ER, with 375 passengers and 12 cabin crew onboard, safely landed back in the French capital at 3.25pm, two hours and 16 minutes after it had taken off.

Maintenance teams were reportedly deployed to locate the missing phone, and the aircraft departed for Guadeloupe just 20 minutes later.

The airline has not yet confirmed why the lost device prompted an emergency return to Paris however, reports state the diversion was due to the dangers associated with lithium-ion batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries commonly found in smartphones and power banks pose a fire risk to aircraft and confined cabin spaces if they are damaged or overheated.

For this reason, you cannot typically check power banks in your luggage due to safety concerns  these must be carried in cabin baggage only.

The Independent has contacted Air France for comment.

This month, South Korea tightened rules on carrying lithium batteries on planes.

Passengers on South Korean airlines will now have to keep power banks and e-cigarettes on their person and not in overhead cabin bins.

Devices should also not be charged on board, with battery quantity and strength limits enforced on batteries over 160 watt-hours.

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast
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A family is reeling after planning a surprise Royal Caribbean cruise for their kids  and then their teen was denied boarding due to a mistake from staff members.

Shannon Nutting of Pembroke, North Carolina tells The Independent she was shocked when Royal Caribbean staff members told her 16-year-old son he couldnt board a cruise in January after he brought his student ID as identification.

The denial came after Nuttings travel agent spoke to a Royal Caribbean representative who assured her his student ID would be sufficient to board.

When staff denied her sons ID, she asked to speak with a supervisor, who she said wasnt helpful either.

I was like, well, he doesn't have a state-issued ID, he is special needs, Nutting said. We also don't have passports because you don't need passports for closed-loop U.S. cruises. [The supervisor] is like, I don't care what he has, you can't board.

open image in gallery Nutting and her children were ready to board the cruise when staff denied her 16-year-old son entry because he only had a student ID ( Shannon Nutting )

Nutting, a teacher, had been planning the cruise for a year as a surprise for her four kids. She took time off from her job and even hired a babysitter to help with care while on board.

The incident made her 16-year-old feel terrible, Nutting said.

He's like, It's all my fault. And I was like, No, it's not your fault.

When she contacted the company, Nutting was given three options: a full refund as Royal Caribbean credit towards her next cruise plus a $700 onboard credit; a full refund; and a full refund on the cruise plus 25 percent credit.

Nutting doesnt want any of these options, she said, and instead wants to also be reimbursed for the expenses incurred as her family traveled to Port Canaveral, Florida.

"I am a single mom who adopted all four children who have special needs...I had been saving for it and surprised them, she said.

Nutting says Royal Caribbean also offered to have her family board the cruise in Cozumel  but she wasnt comfortable with the idea.

At that point, they want us to fly to Cozumel, two days later, to board the ship, but for us to pay for it, she said. And I was like, I'm not paying to fly to a foreign country to board a ship you wouldn't let me board in the United States.

Nutting and her children went to a Disney resort instead. She said they enjoyed the visit, but it still didnt make up for the cruise.

Nutting last contacted Royal Caribbean on Monday afternoon looking for more refund options. She said she hasnt heard back yet.

Of course, on social media, there's crazy comments, she said. And I had to tell my sister and one of my co-workers, You just have to ignore crazy people. Theyre saying, You're trying to get a free vacation. But I'm not.

The Independent has contacted Royal Caribbean for comment.

A spokesperson for the cruise company told ABC 11 that Nuttings son should have been allowed to board and the incident stemmed from human error. The staff at the port have since undergone further training, the spokesperson said.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has accused The Atlantic's Editor-in-Chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, of peddling hoaxes after Trumps national security team mistakenly included him in their group chat about Yemens war plans.

Hegseth described Goldberg as deceitful and a so-called journalist during his first Indo-Pacific trip as defence secretary in Hawaii.

Nobody was texting war plans, and thats all I have to say about that, he stated.

When asked how war plans regarding the Houthis in Yemen were shared with a journalist, he discredited Goldberg, saying: This is the guy who peddles in garbage.

Hegseth did not clarify why Signal was used for the sensitive operation or how Goldberg was added to the chat.
The aviation industry is at risk of missing its goal of eliminating carbon emissions by 2050, the head of Airbus said, less than two months after the worlds biggest planemaker delayed plans to build a hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft.

I dont think we are wrong to pursue net zero by 2050, chief executive officer Guillaume Faury said at a sustainability event at Airbuss headquarters in Toulouse, France. Maybe its going to take a bit more time, but lets not be shy in the ambition.
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
"People loved The Office, which was a big problem, Ricky Gervais says, recalling the unusual but flattering issue facing its much-loved American counterpart, which turns 20 today. All of the people who knew The Office, loved The Office, and they were the industry. People were assuming [the remake] was going to be hated.

When it comes to bringing British telly to the US, the track record hasnt been great. Classics such as Spaced, The Vicar of Dibley, This Country and even Taskmaster have each had a punt at Stateside success; all were swiftly and unceremoniously cancelled. So when Gervais and The Office co-creator Stephen Merchant got a call from TV producer Ben Silverman saying he wanted to adapt their drab workplace mockumentary for an American crowd, expectations were immediately low.

Id seen 30 years of every single remake failing, Gervais says. Some were pulled after the first episode, because advertising was so important. Theyd just kill it. But I thought, Why not? Ive got nothing to lose, nothing to beat. Itll be fun.

Merchant, a longtime mega-fan of the all-American sitcom, had a similar attitude. The idea of an American version always seemed exciting to me, he tells me, highlighting his love of US classics like M*A*S*H, Roseanne and Cheers. But when it first got mooted, there had been such a lack of success in remaking British shows that I was a little circumspect about what our chances were, but at the same time, I was enthusiastic.

Steve Carell as Michael Scott in the US remake of 'The Office'. Photo: Getty

Released on BBC Two in 2001, the original was a homegrown hit, amassing Baftas and Emmy wins year on year.

Abroad, too, there were whispers of this brilliant British comedy about a Slough-based paper company you simply had to see. In writers rooms across America, Gervaiss agonisingly cringey boss David Brent became a word-of-mouth hit. Likewise, his employees: office lovebirds Tim (Martin Freeman) and Dawn (Lucy Davis), and by-the-book military mind Gareth (Mackenzie Crook).

From the outset, though, both Merchant and Gervais knew they shouldnt be the ones to bring The Office to the US. I always felt it was important we didnt try to do it ourselves, Merchant says, explaining why they chose to pass the baton to a new team.

The more Steve got into the role, the more the shadow of Rickys performance disappeared

You think you know America because were so consumed by it, but we really dont. Theres so many little nuances about American life and particularly office life, he adds, pointing to British traditions like pub quizzes and Gareths precious Territorial Army that dont quite translate. Wed have been trying to replicate ours too closely and wouldnt have got it right.

We had to choose showrunners and we saw the cream of American producers and directors, Gervais adds. It was embarrassing that I was choosing from people who had done 1,000 times more than me. Theyd worked on everything from Cheers to King of the Hill.

Among them was Greg Daniels, a softly spoken American screenwriter whose previous credits included Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons.

'The Office' co-creators Ricky Gervais (left) and Stephen Merchant. Photo: FilmMagic

They couldve all done a great job but Greg was the only one who went on about how important Tim and Dawns story was, adds Gervais. He knew romance was an important element, Merchant says.

Before Daniels could get to that, however, he first had to find Americas David Brent  or as hed be renamed in the US version, Michael Scott, manager of the Scranton branch of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. Initially, Silverman thought Gervais could fit the bill, but the Brent Meister General had other ideas.

Before we cast, [Silverman] called me and said, Why dont you play Michael Scott? I said, That is mental. It makes no sense at all, Gervais says. Why would I do it? The reason The Office resonated was because it was made in England for English people. Its got to be made by Americans for Americans.

At the end of the day, Gervais says, the real reason he declined was because he didnt want to move to America for seven years and work five days a week, doing 14 hours a day. Id have been crying after the first 22 episodes, asking Dwight [Rainn Wilson] to murder me.

As it turns out, Gervais did have someone in mind who he thought could play the role quite well.

Before all this happened, someone asked me, If they did an American remake, who would I have play Brent and I said Bruno Kirby, now no longer with us, Gervais says. Id seen him in City Slickers and he was also in Good Morning, Vietnam playing the bore who thought he was funnier than Robin Williams. I thought that was just beautiful.

Ultimately, it was The Daily Shows Steve Carell who nabbed the role, but many others came close. Bob Odendirk wouldve been brilliant, says Merchant, recalling a selection process that saw the Breaking Bad stand-out make the Michael Scott shortlist.

Its interesting. Initially, he didnt seem to have the immediate warmth that Carell had, or certainly not then. Yet, when youve seen him in things like Better Call Saul, its all there. Its hard to know, he says. It wouldve been equally good but sometimes when youre casting, you can feel when its the right person. And that person was, without a shadow of a doubt, Carell.

So was there a Brent handover process? Gervais insists there wasnt. In fact, Carell actively tried to avoid his British counterpart. When Steve got the job he said, I have to stop watching it so I dont do an impression of you, Gervais says, because once you see Brents tics, theyre irresistible  looking awkward, saying nothing and looking at the camera.

Ricky Gervais as David Brent in 'The Office'. Photo: Getty

Merchant recalls similar worries. He was quite cautious about not trying to replicate Ricky. The more he got into the role, the more the shadow of Rickys performance disappeared. By the second series, hed got into a groove of his own and was able to inhabit the character in the way Ricky had.

But while Brent had to be softened for US consumption (They had to make him a little nicer, better at the job, more positive and a little less dark, says Gervais), the character of Gareth risked becoming too broad. I was worried about Dwight, Gervais says, commenting on the office authoritarian, played by Wilson.

I thought he was too over the top, but then that just settled in and worked with the show  because the show was bigger as well. Merchant agrees, adding that at first theres a theatricality to the performance, but as you watch it, hes just able to make it rich.

Despite a rocky start that almost saw the show cancelled after its first season, the US iteration of The Office ended up running for nine beloved seasons, seven with Carell as boss. They evolved him very nicely. Towards the end of his time there, youre rooting for him and want him to be happy, Merchant says. We couldnt have begrudged Steve for leaving because we were so lucky to have had him for so many great episodes. By that point, you can write a character out and the juggernaut keeps moving.

When they were recruiting for the new boss [eventually played by Will Ferrell], they said itd be nice if I apply for the job [in character as Brent], Gervais says on his long-awaited crossover cameo. Was there ever talk of him taking over after Carell left? There was. I dont know if it ever got to NBC calling anyone or if it was more just press and the shows fanbase, he says, adding with a laugh. Then, when I wasnt in it, people said, Ricky auditioned and didnt get the part. Thats fiction.

Looking back 20 years on, both creators are able to appreciate the extended universe birthed from their Slough-based story. I imagine most Americans dont know about the English show  but the good thing is, I get credit for both, Gervais says.

Theres our version and this brilliant cover version. They share many of the same elements, but theyre both different, Merchant says. Im extremely proud of the American one and if Im flicking through TV and its on, Ill watch it as a fan. I enjoy it like anyone else.
The imperial psychopath and other Irishmen whose nefarious deeds helped build the British empire

The Empire podcast series is focusing on Ireland and how it became the laboratory of imperial ventures from plantation to partition. Kim Bielenberg talks to its two hosts

John Nicholson, left, who hanged his cooks without trial in India after he suspected they were about to poison him; and Brigadier General Reginald Dyer, who was found responsible for the Amritsar massacre

Kim Bielenberg Tue 25 Mar 2025 at 03:30

Dubliner John Nicholson was a man who managed to expunge the word mercy from his vocabulary.
Striploins, sirloins and fillets are going to be hard to sell if prices keep rising  meet the Westmeath family who rear, slaughter and butcher all the beef in their shop

Hugh Murray is carrying on two family traditions  breeding pedigree Hereford cattle and craft butchery

Hubert Murray sharing a joke with his son Hugh in Murrays Butchers in Kilbeggan. Photos: Damien Eagers

Catherina Cunnane Tue 25 Mar 2025 at 03:30

Despite facing numerous challenges  such as rising beef and lamb prices, a labour shortage and increasing regulations  Hugh Murray and Son is one of the last remaining butcher shops in Ireland to operate its own abattoir.
Eugene Clune of Carnew Mart reported a scarcity of Friesian bulls, which once dominated calf sales

Jersey calves, which farmers were giving away for free last year, are now freely making 100/hd

The calf trade is booming with continentals reaching up to 1,110, while Jersey calves, which farmers were giving away for free last year, are now making 100/hd.

Helen Kells of Carrigallen Mart, Co Leitrim, reported that the calf trade is on fire, with a top price of 1,110 for a mid-February-born Belgian Blue-cross heifer out of a Hereford-cross cow at last Saturdays sale.

She said that one-month-old lighter, Friesian calves ranged from 50-250/hd, with 100+ being commonplace.

One-month-old Angus and Hereford-type calves sold for 200-440, but reached up to 610 on Saturday, while Belgian Blue calves out of Friesian cows made from 290-800/hd, with many lots making 500-700/hd.

It is looking like some people are buying calves as replacements, instead of older cattle, because of price. There is a 50:50 split between exporters and farmer buyers.

According to Denis Lane of Abbeyfeale Mart, Co Limerick, calves arent getting any cheaper.

Farmers were giving away Jersey-cross calves last year, but this year, they are selling them for 100, he said.

Every type of a calf is wanted this year. There are people buying calves this year that didnt buy them last year because store cattle have gone too dear.

Good quality Friesian calves, born in mid-February, sold for 190-240/hd, while export-type Friesians ranged from 130-200/hd.

At Saturdays sale, a four-week-old Limousin-cross heifer out of a Belgian Blue cow sold for 900, while a Charolais bull, the same age, made 745 and a three-week-old Belgian Blue bull sold for 660.

Lane reported that farmers are buying 70pc of calves, with exporters purchasing the remainder.

Eugene Clune of Carnew Mart, Co Wicklow, echoed that calf prices are very strong, underpinned by activity from farmers, exporters and agents, but reported a growing scarcity of Friesians, which once dominated calf sales.

Friesian bull calves are very scarce. In my opinion, this is because of sexed semen and the contraction of the whole dairy industry. We are seeing more dairy-beef bred calves come through the gates of Carnew, with more Belgian Blue and Charolais-sired calves than previous. They are making from 400-650/hd.

We are seeing more dairy-beef bred calves come through the gates

Four years ago, our first three sales would have been full of Friesians wall to wall and now, there may only be 150 Friesian out of 1,000 calves in a sale. They are getting scarcer.

He reported that Friesian calves are up at least 100/hd on 2024 levels, with 85-140 for lighter types and 170-300 for stronger calves.

There are very few lighter Friesian calves under 100. Good dairy-bred Angus and Hereford calves are up 50-70/hd on last year.

Plainer Hereford and Angus that sold for 50-60/hd last year are marking 200/hd this year, with 220-340/hd being the general run.

Forty per cent of calves are going for export, farmers are buying 30pc and agents are buying the remainder of these calves. They end up in farmers yards two or three days later. There are a lot of farmers for calves this year.

People who reared 20-30 calves the last two years are rearing 50-80 calves this year because of the price of other stock.
Farmers were effectively banished farm the land  fresh warnings over flaws in revived farm retirement scheme

TDs and senators urge caution  highlighting how the original 1990s retirement scheme left many farmers trapped by rigid rules

Calls for a new farm retirement scheme come with warnings to avoid repeating past mistakes that left older farmers feeling sidelined from their own land. Stock Image: Getty

Ciaran Moran Tue 25 Mar 2025 at 03:30

The Governments plan to bring back a farm retirement scheme has sparked fresh warnings in the Dail, as concerns mount that any new programme could repeat the mistakes of the past.
EirGrid report says stand-by emergency generators may soon have to be used

Demand for power from data centres is pushing supply to the limit in Ireland. Photo: Getty

Demand for electricity is forecast to soar by 45pc over the next 10 years, raising fresh concerns over how the countrys power supply will keep up.

Data-centre growth will drive most of the increase, but it will also come from the growing use of heat pumps and electric vehicles.

EirGrid, which runs the national power system, said the outlook was challenging and there were likely to be system alerts which occur when electricity demand comes close to outstripping supply.

It said there were some immediate power supply concerns for the 2025-2027 period when stand-by emergency generators may have to be put into action.

Demand for power from data centres is pushing supply to the limit in Ireland. Photo: Getty

Today's News in 90 seconds - 25th March 2025

The electricity industry will have to find new ways to meet the increasing need for energy without relying mainly on fossil fuels, EirGrid said.

However, it added there was likely to be a delay in achieving the Climate Action Plan targets for new renewable energy projects, in particular the powerful offshore wind farms on which the targets heavily rely.

It also said its forecast of electricity demand growth may be an underestimate as it was completed before the formation of the new Government.

The Government puts emphasis on accelerating housing supply which will increase electricity demand, the company said.

Overall, the increasing tightness between supply and demand that EirGrid had warned of annually since 2016 remained an issue.

There is no question that the current outlook, based on the best information available, remains challenging, it said.

It is likely that in the coming years the system will experience a number of system alerts.

It said EirGrid and SONI, its counterpart in Northern Ireland, will need to work proactively to mitigate the risk of a more serious impact.

The warnings come in EirGrids Resource Adequacy Assessment for the 20252034 period, which is published today. It highlights again the pressures the rapid expansion of data centres is placing on the national electricity supply.

A key driver for electricity demand in Ireland for the next number of years is the connection of data centres and other new technology loads, the report said.

That demand, expected to represent 27pc of total electricity usage at the end of this year, is estimated to reach 31pc of a much larger electricity output by 2034.

That will eat up a large proportion of the output from new wind and solar farms scheduled to come on line by then.

Only data centres that already have approval are included in the assessment.

Dozens more are at proposal stage, although a new policy has been recommended by the energy regulator that could mean data centres have to provide their own power plants in order to get approval. The electrification of transport and heating will also have an effect on demand.

Electricity needs for heat pumps is forecast to rise from 3pc of all electricity demand this year to 10pc in 2034, while the demand from electric cars will rise from 1pc to 8pc.

Much of that increase is expected towards the end of this decade, but power supply strains are expected sooner than that.

For the 2025-2027 period, stand-by emergency generators bought by the Government in recent years may have to be put into action.

The generators, which are essentially large jet engines, are located in Dublin and the midlands and were bought for emergency use after fears of power outages increased in recent years.

From 2028-2032, the tightness is expected to ease because the new Celtic Interconnector  an undersea power cable that can bring electricity from France  will be up and running, while new gas-fuelled power stations are due to be completed.

However, while there is expected to be sufficient power to operate under normal conditions, there would be a gap under more challenging conditions such as an extended outage of an interconnector.

From 2032-2034 there is expected to be a shortfall of supply under even normal conditions. However, Eoin Kennedy, EirGrids director of innovation and planning, said the reason for flagging the issue now was so there was time to address it.

The changing demand and generation supply landscape will require coordinated management of both the volume and type of new capacity, alongside new ways of managing increasing demand to ensure security of supply, he said.

Future power supply will not only have to be able to cope with increased daily demand, but also a substantial increase in peak-time demand.

Demand hit a new record on January 8 this year when the intense cold spell pushed the usual tea-time peak to over 6,024 megawatts, the first-time demand ever exceeded 6,000MW.
A man in his twenties, who was arrested yesterday as part of the investigation into the violent disorder and fatal assault of Quham Babatunde on South Anne Street in Dublin last month, has been charged.

He was the eighth person arrested by gardai in connection with the investigation.

He is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice this morning.

Quham Babatunde (34), a Nigerian citizen who had sought asylum in Ireland, was stabbed multiple times during a large street brawl on South Anne Street in Dublin 2.

Seven other men have been charged and appeared before courts in Dublin and Northern Ireland as part of the investigation.
The Tanaiste will raise the governments frustration at delays in the case of Private Sean Rooney when meeting with top officials in Lebanon this week.

Private Rooney (24) was killed in December 2022 while serving on a United Nations peacekeeping mission in the region.

A number of people have since been charged as part of the investigation into his death, but the case has been beset by multiple delays.

The Tanaiste said delay in making progress in delivering justice for the family of Private Sean Rooney is simply not acceptable.

Speaking to reporters before a visit to Lebanon, Mr Harris said he would be conveying that message in the strongest possible terms during political meetings.

The Tanaiste said: I am very much looking forward today to going to Lebanon to meet directly with Irish peacekeepers.

Three-hundred and thirty nine members of Oglaigh na hEireann who are serving with distinction in a very troubled and difficult part of the world.

I am very proud of Irelands record in peacekeeping over many decades in Lebanon and it is important for me to have an opportunity to thank our troops directly, to hear from them directly and also to have a number of political meetings while there.

I am looking forward to meeting the defence minister and the foreign affairs minister tomorrow where I will have an opportunity to raise the case of Private Sean Rooney.

It is simply not acceptable to the Irish Government that it has taken so long to make progress in relation to the trial of those accused of the murder of Private Rooney and I look forward to conveying that in the strongest possible terms.

Mr Harris, who is also Defence Minister, is set to travel to Beirut today to hold a series of political meetings with the countrys top officials.

A key focus of the trip is to highlight the case of Private Rooney and express the governments frustration and concern at the lack of progress.

Private Sean Rooney.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 25th March 2025

The Fine Gael leader will also tell Lebanese officials of the need to deliver accountability and justice for the Rooney family more than two years after he was killed.

Private Rooney, from Newtowncunningham in Donegal, died after the armoured vehicle he was driving came under fire near the village of Al-Aqbiya, a stronghold of the militant group Hezbollah.

Seven men were later indicted in relation to the fatal attack and were due to go on trial in Beirut last June.

However, the case was postponed until February, and last month was delayed once again with a new hearing date set for September 17.

As part of this weeks trip, Mr Harris will also meet Irish peacekeepers deployed to the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission in the south of the country,

There are currently 339 Defence Force members serving with the 125th Infantry Battalion based at Camp Shamrock near the Israeli border. The Fine Gael leader will thank the Defence Forces personnel for their commitment to maintaining peace in the region while he is also set to announce increased funding for local community projects.

His visit to Lebanon comes at a time when the security situation in the region is at a risk of deteriorating following a number of rocket strikes over the weekend. On Saturday artillery and airstrikes hit south Lebanon killing at least eight people and endangering a truce that ended a year long war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israel said it had earlier intercepted rockets fired from across the border, with the Lebanese armed group denying responsibility and saying it was committed to the ceasefire.
INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said nurses will have pay agreed for the next 30 months

Talks are set to take place on Thursday in a last ditch bid to avert a work to rule by over 80,000 workers across the health service next week.

Thousands of healthcare workers including nurses are set to begin the industrial action on Monday in a dispute over staffing levels.

Nurses, clerical workers, therapy staff, medical laboratory scientists and engineering workers are among those involved in the dispute.

Phil Ni Sheaghdha, general secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, said the union will attend a conciliation conference facilitated by the Workplace Relations Commission, following consultation with its executive council.

She said the INMO will attend the talks in good faith and make the case in respect of current working conditions of our members.

We do not intend to change the notification period, therefore, the dispute as notified on March 31 is still planned and if talks are not successful at the Workplace Relations Commission the planned action in the form of a work-to-rule will go ahead on Monday March 31.

A Forsa spokesperson said its health divisional executive met this morning and agreed to attend the talks with the HSE on Thursday.

On Monday, health unions involved in the dispute accused the HSE of not taking the prospect of the healthcare worker dispute seriously.

Following a meeting with the CEO of the HSE, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, Forsa, Connect, Unite, and the MLSA said they were disappointed with the HSEs cavalier attitude to the dispute.

Despite asking trade unions to meet this morning in a bid to explore options for avoiding planned action, the HSE is demonstrating a lax approach to upcoming industrial action which is to begin next Monday, a spokesperson for the unions said in a statement.

She said unions have given the employer over three weeks notice to plan around what will be mass disruption to the health service.

The spokesperson claimed no real contingency planning has been done and said the employer had not sought formal derogations to the industrial action.

The fact of the matter is this dispute will begin next Monday, said the spokesperson.

The HSE have not taken this process seriously and have chosen to walk away before matters can be dealt with.

The HSE has warned of delays and longer waiting lists if the industrial action goes ahead.

This evening, a HSE spokesperson said it will continue to engage with the unions.

A spokesperson previously said any action will be seriously disruptive and it will seek every way possible to have this action avoided.

The HSE warned that it believes any industrial action is a breach of the current public sector pay deal which is signed up to, and which they are full beneficiaries of, by all of the unions concerned.

The agreement, which means pay rises of 9.25pc over two years, says no form of industrial action shall be taken by any party in furtherance of claims or proposals within or beyond this process.

The spokesperson said the health service workforce will increase, after allowing for resignations and retirements, by over 6,000 full-time staff by the end of the year.

She said this was in addition to an increase of 29,000 staff since the beginning of 2020 to the end of last year.
Some of the cannabis that was seized

A man who was arrested after gardai seized 150,000 worth of cannabis in Sligo on Sunday has been charged.

The man, aged in his 40s, is due to appear before Carrick-on-Shannon District Court this morning.

Detectives found 7.5kg of cannabis, with an estimated street value of 150,000 when they searched a property in the Cranmore area.

"As part of an ongoing operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the region, Gardai in Sligo seized around 150,000 worth of cannabis and arrested a man on March, 23, Gardai said.

The Sligo Detective Unit searched a residential property in the Cranmore area and found a total of 7.5kg of cannabis, with an estimated street value of 150,000.

A man, aged in his 40s, was arrested and is currently being detained at a station in the Garda North Western Region under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

The drugs seized will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for analysis.

Investigations are ongoing.
First Minister Michelle ONeill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly meeting then-US President Joe Biden in 2024 (Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA)

Northern Ireland Stormont speaker Edwin Poots has said it is not acceptable that MLAs have been left waiting up to a year for answers from Stormonts leaders.

His comments came as First Minister Michelle ONeill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly faced criticism in the Assembly chamber over failing to disclose the costs of a 2024 St Patricks week visit to Washington DC.

The Belfast Telegraph revealed today that the bill for the four-day trip was almost 54,000.

While MLAs had been probing the cost since last March, the details were finally disclosed after a Freedom of Information request from this newspaper - and only when the Information Commissioner ordered The Executive Office to respond.

The matter was raised on the Assembly floor today by TUV MLA Timothy Gaston, who had also been pursuing answers on the matter.

He said: On a number of occasions I have raised in this House the fact that the First and Deputy First Minister had failed to answer a question about the cost of the trip to Washington in 2024.

On Friday, the answer of 54,000 of public money, that was blown in just four days, was revealed.

However, as today's Belfast Telegraph shows, the data was only released to a journalist - on the same day it was released to myself - because the Information Commissioner got involved.

Mr Speaker, surely that situation isn't acceptable, and the MLA should be able to get answers to questions without having to go to the ICO.

Mr Poots said he was clear that Executive Ministers should answer MLAs questions in a timely manner.

I think the Member knows, and all Members know, what my position is on these matters - that this House represents the public, and Ministers are representing the government, and the public require answers of Ministers, and they shouldn't get those answers through Freedom of Information, they should get those answers through Members questions, he said.

And therefore, when you ask a question, the logic of that is that there is an answer forthcoming.

To not answer something for a year is clearly not acceptable.

And whilst this office has no sanction over the ministers in this front, it is abundantly clear what the expectation is, what the Standing Orders are, and for Ministers to comply with the Standing Orders on that front.

The Executive Office has been contacted for comment.

Ms ONeill and Ms Little-Pengelly travelled to Washington in 2024, with photographs of their meeting with then-US President Joe Biden published around the world.

Six weeks after the return of Stormont, it was aimed at showing Northern Ireland open for business, and influencing people on the world stage.

The trip was attended by the First and Deputy First Ministers, two special advisers, four civil servants and a photographer.

However, Assembly questions on the cost of the trip - some dating back to March last year - went unanswered.

This newspaper used the Freedom of Information Act to seek details and, when The Executive Office failed to answer, the Information Commissioner intervened.

On Friday afternoon, the costs were released and also to Mr Gaston, who had submitted a question last September.

The full 53,780 bill included 31,182 spent on flights, 13,195 on hotels and 6,339 on taxis.

In reply to a previous Assembly question about the trips impact, Ms ONeill and Ms Little-Pengelly said it was an important opportunity to consolidate the strong relationship that our region enjoys with the US.

They added: Our visit focused on showcasing the local economy as a compelling investment opportunity and highlighting the many benefits of doing business here.

We were able to deliver these messages at key events such as the Ireland Funds Gala; the NI Bureau breakfast, and the Special Envoys event, as well as having a roundtable discussion with the US Chamber of Commerce and business leaders.

Events such as the Speaker of the House of Representatives Luncheon, our fireside chat at Georgetown University and receptions hosted by the Irish and British Ambassadors to the US gave us further opportunities to engage with some of the most influential decisions makers so that they too can see the potential we have to offer.
The operator of Karens Diner in Dublin - where as part of the concept staff are supposed to be obnoxious to customers - has been ordered to pay over 1,000 in compensation to an ex-worker in a row over unpaid tips.
Michael Lowry accused of giving People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy two fingers in the Dail

A TD at the centre of a dispute that divided the Dail stuck two fingers up to members of the opposition as proceedings were adjourned amid chaotic scenes.

Shame! Shame! Shame! came the chorus of opposition members as the Government benches emptied following a highly contentious vote.

The Governments majority meant it was able to push through significant changes to speaking rules in the Dail, even without the usual opposition teller agreeing to sign off on the results of the vote.

The announcement that the changes had passed caused such a level of objection from the opposition that Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy adjourned all further proceedings until Wednesday morning.

People Before Profit-Solidary TD Paul Murphy took out his mobile phone to film the Government leaving the chamber as they were heckled by a united opposition.

The footage, posted to X, pans to independent TD Michael Lowry, who is seen sticking two fingers up to the camera.

Mr Lowry is at the epicentre of the oppositions ire. The former Fine Gael minister was previously found by a tribunal to have behaved in a way that was profoundly corrupt to a degree that was nothing short of breathtaking.

Read more Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy says she wont resign as opposition draft motion of no confidence

Despite this, Mr Lowry was a key negotiator for a group of independents who agreed to support the formation of a Government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Some members of the bloc of independents were given junior ministries, while Mr Lowry and others were not.

Since then, the Governments moves to change speaking rights in the Dail to give these Government-aligned independents more speaking time has been described as brazen stroke politics by detractors.

The opposition want these independents to be defined as Government TDs, but the changes made by the coalition allow them to be characterised as other members.

Mr Murphy was forced to end his video after a Dail usher intervened, however, he had already captured an image that came to define the chaotic proceedings.

The opposition immediately seized Mr Lowrys gesture as a metaphor for how it believed the Government was treating the Dail and the people of this country.

Mr Lowry later told The Journal that he was gesturing for Mr Murphy to sit down.

TDs are normally not allowed take photographs or videos in the Dail chamber, but the incident was not the only subversion of parliamentary norms on Tuesday.

The leaders of the main opposition parties met to agree strategy ahead of the Dail reconvening. That played out in interruptions that increased in volume and frequency as proceedings progressed.

Watched on from busy press and public galleries, Taoiseach Micheal Martin largely kept his gaze towards his notes as Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald fired the first salvo during Leaders Questions and accused the Taoiseach of making a mockery of the Dail.

Mr Lowry, who entered the chamber several minutes after proceedings got under way, was in time to hear Ms McDonald say that the changes were an utterly absurd spectacle for his benefit.

Mr Martin was widely heckled as he defended the Governments stance amid a cacophony of jeers, interruptions and tut-tutting.

He said: I have never before witnessed political parties trying to tell others what box they are in or what group they belong to.

Early in the exchanges, the Taoiseach made a point of saying he had not interrupted anyone. However, the interjections would continue throughout the truncated sitting.

Sinn Fein representatives asked Mr Martin what Mr Lowry had on him, then asking the independent TD for Tipperary North if he wished to make a statement to the Dail.

Day of Dail chaos as speaking rights row threatens to paralyse government

Mr Lowry and his partner in the independent group, Barry Heneghan, laughed and waved at the Sinn Fein TDs as they continued shouting.

The Fianna Fail leader accused the opposition of engaging in a feigned outrage over modest proposals.

He laughed down a suggestion from Independent Ireland founder Michael Collins that it was a dark day for democracy, responding: You cant be serious. Come on, its farcical.

Mr Lowry, who at times shook his head and checked his watch, observed from a distance.

By his side sat other independents who had supported the formation of Government, including Mr Heneghan and Gillian Toole.

On more than one occasion, Ms Toole could be seen raising her phone with the flash on.

Tension in the chamber escalated as Leaders Questions drew to a close, with the order of business due to be voted on.

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy read from a hand-written note to say she was moving directly to the Governments motion amid the disorder.

This was met with widespread objection from opposition TDs, some of whom started a slow clap in protest.

Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy said Ms Murphy was doing her office a huge disservice and told her she was elected to her post as part of Micheals grubby deal with Michael Lowry.

Read more Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy says she wont resign as opposition draft motion of no confidence

Ms Murphy twiddled her thumbs and stared ahead as she was berated by members of the opposition during the tolling of bells for the upcoming vote  which passed in favour of the Government.

The opposition said they had not been afforded their opportunity to bring their amendment to the Governments motion, turning their disapproval to the Ceann Comhairle.

Ms Murphys position has now come into question, with the opposition parties refusing to express confidence in her when asked at a press conference on Tuesday evening.

The Dail reconvenes under the new rules on Wednesday morning but with the same opposition objections.
Compulsory retirement at age 65 is to become a thing of the past.

Enterprise and Employment Minister Peter Burke and Minister for State Allan Dillon have published the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025.

The Bill, once enacted, will deliver a new employment right. It will allow, but in no way compel, an employee to stay in employment until the State Pension Age which is currently set at 66.

Following todays Cabinet meeting, Minister Burke said: This Bill will effectively create a new employment right specifically for employees who are subject to a retirement age in their employment contract which is set below the State Pension Age of 66.

"One of the main objectives of the Bill is to bridge the income gap experienced by a person who is required to retire at an age which is lower than the age at which they can access the State Pension.

And it could become known as DDPs law. The late great RTE journalist David Davin-Power, who died last year, had publicly discussed his own case of being ejected from his job solely because of the age barrier.

In 2017, when he reached 65, Mr Davin-Power was obliged to retire by the strict rules of the national broadcaster, which was not alone in its policy.

Now Mr Burkes legislation provides that where an employment contract states that a person is obliged to retire at 65, they will nonetheless have the option of staying on until the reach State pension age  which is currently set at age 66.

We are effectively creating a new employment right specifically for employees who are subject to a contractual retirement age which is set below the State pension age, said a spokeswoman for Mr Burke.

Minister Dillon said: I am very pleased with the publication of this Bill which will implement a recommendation from the Pensions Commission and a key Government commitment relating to contractual retirement ages.

David Davin-Power outside his old stomping ground at Dail Eireann. Photo: Tony Gavin

Today's News in 90 seconds - 25th March 2025

The Bill will implement a key commitment included in the Governments response to the Pensions Commission, which produced a series of recommendations on later working, together with an implementation plan.

The Government is stressing that the change is voluntary and optional, and employees who become eligible to retirement at age 65 can go if they wish.

In such circumstances the social welfare system is available to help bridge the twelve months to automatic entitlement to the State pension.

The Bill will also allow for suspended retirement if the official State pension age should stretch later than 66. There had been proposals for the pension to be progressively delayed  over time  to 67 and 68 years, to reflect demographic changes and longer life expectancy.

The topic became a major campaign issue during the 2020 General Elections, with a resulting general commitment to keep the State pension age at 66, whereas in the past it had been paid out at age 65.

Persons can avail of the contributory State pension at age 66, but also have the option of deferring it to age 70 for better nominal amounts at that stage of life.
Almost 90pc of all homelessness-related expenditure was spent on emergency accommodation last year, while just 5pc went towards prevention measures, a new report has found.

The research from Focus Ireland and Trinity College Dublin also found that for every euro spent on funding for homeless charities last year, 3 went to for-profit private emergency accommodation providers.

Over 1.84 billion has been spent on providing emergency accommodation since 2013, with an increasing share going to private, for-profit providers.

Some 75pc of emergency accommodation costs went to private, for-profit providers last year, up from 40pc in 2013.

The State spent over 270 million on private sector emergency accommodation providers last year, an increase of almost 70 million on 2023.

Expenditure on not-for-profit bodies has only fluctuated slightly since 2022, with a total spend of around 100 million last year.

Focus Ireland advocacy director Mike Allen said this rise reflects a short-term, reactive approach to homelessness.

Nearly 361 million was spent on providing emergency accommodation in total last year, an increase of 74 million compared to the previous year.

Stock image (PA)

Today's News in 90 seconds - 25th March 2025

Meanwhile, expenditure on prevention has increased considerably from 5.7 million in 2013 to 21.4 million in 2024, but its share of overall spending has declined from 10pc to 5pc during the same period.

Mr Allen said the figures underscore a simple but urgent point as while spending on emergency accommodation is necessary, it does nothing to address the root causes of homelessness.

"We need to rebalance our investment toward prevention and support services that offer lasting solutions, he said.

"Continuing to pour money into temporary fixes without tackling underlying issues is not only ineffective but also unsustainable.

"These figures raise serious questions about the Governments decision to limit expenditure on Tenant-in-situ purchases, one of its most successful homeless prevention schemes.

It comes as record homelessness figures have repeatedly been reached over the last number of years, with another record high of 15,286 people accessing emergency accommodation in January.

This figure includes 4,603 children and 10,683 adults.

The Focus on Homelessness report also highlighted the trend of a supplementary budget being used to cover the additional costs of providing services.

A supplementary budget of 143 million was added to the initial budget of 242 million last year, bringing the total expenditure to 385 million.

It is expected that the allocation from Budget 2025, which amounted to 303 million, will also likely require a top up of approximately 200 million.

The report found that the average cost of maintaining households in emergency accommodation has nearly tripled since 2014, rising from just over 14,000 then to nearly 42,000 last year.

The number of households in temporary and emergency accommodation has increased by 258pc in the ten-year period from 2014 to mid-2024, rising from 2,419 to 8,669.

Speaking at the launch of the report, Mr Allen said the report paints a very vivid picture of what Irish homeless policy has been over the last ten years.

He said this strategy has been reactive and has constantly underestimated the scale of the challenge, with short-term, expensive decisions being made as a result.

"It has ended up consuming substantial amount of resources trying to contain rather than solve the problem.
Tanaiste Simon Harris has spoken with US President Donald Trumps Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, who last week described Ireland as his favourite tax scam that has got to end.

In an interview with the All-In podcast, Mr Lutnick, a billionaire businessman who was the long-time CEO of the global finance house Cantor Fitzgerald, said the Trump card for balancing the US budget is through tariffs and getting rid of scams.

"Were going to try to fix a whole bunch of these tax scams. Ireland is my favourite.

Mr Harris said it was good to have a call with Mr Lutnick last night, describing the conversation as a useful opportunity to exchange views.

"I look forward to further conversations in the time ahead. We greatly value the economic links between Ireland and the US and the EU and the US.

Mr Lutnick, who has been critical of Ireland and the trade relationship with the US, had also incorrectly claimed on the podcast that Ireland had a $60 billion (55.4 billion) budget surplus last year when the budget surplus actually amounted to 25 billion ($27 billion), a figure that was boosted by the once-off 14 billion Apple payment.

"We lose two trillion and they make 60, he continued.

"Youd say: Ireland? What do they do? Oh, they have all of our IP (intellectual property) for our great tech, all our great tech companies and great pharma companies.

"They all put it there because its low tax and they dont pay us, they pay them. So, thats got to end.

"When those things end, tariffs, Trump card, getting rid of tax scams to get fair tax, thats my trillion.

A spokesperson for Mr Harris said the call with Mr Lutnick last night was constructive and engaging, adding: The Tanaiste took the opportunity to congratulate the Secretary on his appointment and said he looked forward to working with him and the US administration.

"The Tanaiste said that Ireland values the economic relationship between our two countries and between the US and the EU.

Good to have a call with US Secretary of Commerce @howardlutnick late tonight.



A useful opportunity to exchange views. I look forward to further conversations in the time ahead.



We greatly value the economic links between Ireland and the US and the EU and the US. pic.twitter.com/YnETZuApR3  Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) March 25, 2025

They said Mr Harris and Mr Lutnick exchanged views on trade policy and the transatlantic economic relationship and they agreed to keep in close contact.

They both hope to meet in person soon.

It comes as Mr Trump is expected to announce further tariff measures next week.

US tariffs of 25pc on all imports of steel and aluminium products and derivatives came into effect worldwide on March 12, with the EU later announcing countermeasures against the US that will come into effect from next month.

In response to the EUs retaliation, Mr Trump threatened to introduce a 200pc tariff on alcoholic drinks and it is anticipated that he will announce a further round of measures on April 2

Mr Lutnick has previously signalled the Trump administrations intentions to target Ireland and again described Ireland as a tax scam the day after Taoiseach Micheal Martin met with Mr Trump at the White House.

US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick. Photo: Bloomberg

Today's News in 90 seconds - 25th March 2025

He said tariffs are going to be a huge revenue producer.

Mr Lutnick has also previously described it as nonsense that Ireland of all places runs a trade surplus at our expense.

We dont make anything here anymore  even great American cars are made in Mexico, he said in a post shared to X last October.

"When we end this nonsense, America will be a truly great country again. Youll be shocked!

Speaking to Bloomberg Surveillance about Apple last year, he said Ireland announced a massive budget surplus for their five million people.

"Ha ha. Its just not true. so the concept is have them pay their taxes in America and that is how we fix America. You make it fair, you make it right, he said.

"Why is Ireland announcing a surplus? Oh, give me a break. Its all our business.
The mother of a nine-year-old boy with cerebral palsy who was invited to an announcement of funding that never came through has said she is delighted after news last night that the money will be delivered.

A spokesman for Disabilities Minister Norma Foley said: The department has secured sanction for the 8m grant fund to cover the costs in full.

Its in the bank account. The minister said she would work urgently to secure this funding, and it has been achieved.

There is a target date for beginning a series of disability projects in the middle of this year, he said. There is also run-on financing, with many schemes due to last until the end of 2027.

A political blame-game blew up last week over the failure to find the savings to fund the 3.6m pledged for children with special needs.

Former disabilities minister Anne Rabbitte, standing alongside cabinet minister Charlie McConalogue, publicly announced 3.6m in emergency funding just two days before the local elections last June.

Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty complained in the Dail that Jack Donaghy, a nine-year-old wheelchair user with cerebral palsy, had been used as a prop for an election stunt.

His mother, Denise McGahern, had been invited to the announcement and broke Jacks schedule to drive him to the announcement venue, over 40 minutes away. She said she was very annoyed when the cash subsequently never came through.

Last night, Ms McGahern said: Its great that it has been got. Thank God for a bit of good news at last. I would also like to thank Pearse Doherty for highlighting this whole thing.

She suggested he had embarrassed the Government into it.

There were a series of denials last week as to who had invited Ms McGahern and Jack to the No Barriers adult physio centre in Letterkenny.

Ms McGahern could not remember the identity of the person who telephoned her, citing her excitement at what was promised.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth denied it had any role, while HSE West and North-West insisted none of its staff had asked the mother and son to attend the event, where they were included prominently with the ministers in subsequent publicity photos.

Ms Rabbitte, who lost her Galway East seat in the general election, said she was absolutely not involved in the invitation to Ms McGahern and Jack.

Mr McConalogue knew nothing of it either.

Tanaiste Simon Harris last week accepted that none of the money was ever delivered and said he was not going to defend what could not be defended.

Mr Doherty said it was cruel use a child and his mother for political purposes.

Current minister Ms Foley said it had been intended to fund the initiative from expected once-off savings in relation to childrens disability services.

Her spokesman said last week that she was determined to deliver the money as quickly as possible. Last night he confirmed that it had been secured and ringfenced.

The HSE will engage with successful applicants around the drawdown of funding and the financial and governance requirements in relation to the delivery of projects, the department said last night.
The mother of a Northern Ireland woman who suffered a devastating brain injury following a serious road traffic collision while celebrating her 20th birthday has hailed her daughters resilience and strength.

Karen Bradley suffered a brain bleed following a crash in Newcastle in July 2018.

The young casualty was rushed from the scene on Castlewellan Road to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, and when her mum arrived, she was informed that her daughter was in a coma.

The surgeons had to remove the bone flap on the left side of Karens skull to release pressure on her brain, Christine Murray recalled.

We actually lost Karen on the table at that stage. It was down to just four litres of blood at that time that saved her life. It was very touch and go.

The distraught parent said the entire family were on edge while Karen (now 26) was treated in the hospitals intensive care unit (ICU).

They werent going by days with Karen, they were going by hours. We couldnt get any response from Karen for a long, long time, Ms Murray said as she recalled playing her daughters favourite songs at her bedside.

(From left) Christine Murray, Thompson House Hospital interim operational manager Victoria Quinn, and Karen Bradley

Westlife are Karens favourite band and her all-time number one song is Queen of My Heart. We played it and Karens two eyes opened.

The critical patient was later transferred to Musgrave Park Hospital, before eventually being moved to the South Eastern Trusts specialist Thompson House Hospital, which provides post-acute assessment and rehabilitation to adults who have suffered an acquired brain injury or complex neuro disability.

Karen is in a nursing home setting at the minute, but we still come to Thompson House for physiotherapy, Ms Murray said.

Through the work of the team, Karen can now wash her own face, she does her own lip balm and she can lift her arms to help put on her nightdress and her tops.

Karen has captured so many hearts along the way.

Ms Murray is sharing her daughters story to mark Brain Injury Awareness Month  an initiative designed to highlight the resilience and strength shown by individuals and families navigating challenges, as well as showcasing the multi-disciplinary teams who work and support families behind the scenes.

At the time of Karens accident, the doctors had to give the worst-case scenario  but there is life after this, Ms Murray said.

Karen is a very determined, very stubborn girl who has always wanted to go that step forward.

We will always be grateful to the staff who have looked after her; this brilliant team have been amazing.

Thompson House Hospitals interim operational manager Victoria Quinn has worked closely with Karen on her rehabilitation journey.

From Karens perspective, she has always been a step ahead of us, she said.

We aim as high as we can and we work to get there together.

It has been an absolute privilege to work with Karen and Christine. Karen really is an inspiration to us within the brain injury world. And in that sense, miracles do happen  people like Karen do progress.
Agriculture Minister says an informed decision must be taken

Ireland and France will join forces to tell the European Commission that imposing tariffs on US bourbon would be counterproductive.

The European Union is delaying its proposed 50pc tariff on American whiskey, which was set to take effect on April 1, to allow for more talks with US officials.

The tariffs, which are to be slapped on 26bn of US goods, including bourbon, are in retaliation for US president Donald Trumps move to place tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.

In response, Mr Trump has threatened a 200pc tariff on all alcoholic products imported from the EU.

The EU said last week it would push back its tariffs to the middle of next month, saying it wanted additional time for discussions with the US.

Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon. Photo: Collins

Today's News in 90 seconds - 25th March 2025

Speaking in Brussels yesterday, Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon said EU tariffs on bourbon could end up hurting the EU more than the US.

He said that both Ireland and France will emphasise this to the EU.

What we want to make sure is that any decision Europe takes, theyre informed, Mr Heydon added.

We export a lot more alcohol and spirits and wine from Europe than we do import bourbon. So, it would be counterproductive to have something on a list that would hurt Europe more than would hurt America.

French prime minister Francois Bayrou has said the EU was probably mistaken in targeting American whiskey, while Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has cautioned EU partners against escalating the trade dispute with the US.

Mr Heydon said that it was now the job of the Government to tell the EU of the disproportionate impact that those items being listed would have on the Irish economy.

The minister attended the EU AgriFish Council in Brussels yesterday and also held a meeting with his French counterpart, Annie Genevard.

While the ministers discussed the impact that tariffs would have on both countries alcohol sectors, Mr Heydon addressed the Irish Governments concern over the potential impact on butter and dairy exports.
We were thrust into this world of a childhood cancer diagnosis  Family of girl diagnosed with leukaemia urging public to get behind Daffodil Day for Irish cancer services

The mother of a young girl diagnosed with leukaemia has praised the phenomenal support they have received from the Irish Cancer Society during her illness.

Nicole Keyes from Tullamore, Co Offaly, met Taoiseach Micheal Martin in Dublin yesterday, to celebrate Daffodil Days launch on Friday.

Nicole was diagnosed with leukaemia in April 2023 when she was five.

Her mother, Shirley Keyes, recalled the familys reaction to the devastating news. Undoubtedly, it was a very big shock to us. We were thrust into this world of a childhood cancer diagnosis, Ms Keyes said.

The Irish Cancer Society is aiming to raise 6m to support its vital free services and cancer research projects for the coming year.

For Daffodil Day, the charity is urging the Irish public to stand with cancer patients and survivors and to go all in against cancer.

Ms Keyes thanked the cancer charity for being a phenomenal support for the family of seven, in offering a number of vital free services.

Barretstown offers specially designed camps and programmes for children and their families affected by cancer, and Nicole availed of services such as creative arts therapy.

A music therapist came to visit the children at our home and gave them a safe space to say how they felt about the cancer diagnosis, Ms Keyes said.

Nicole and her mum are urging the public to lend their support to the societys most important fundraising day. Ms Keyes is asking people to either donate this Friday for bucket shakers collecting for Daffodil Day on Irish streets or to give money online.

This money goes to the patients. It is for the simplest of things such as travelling to treatment, childhood cancer bursaries and research, she said. While 5pc is funded by Government, the rest is through the good will of people. So every euro counts.

Demand for key cancer services and supports rose by up to 20pc last year, with the charity saying it needs 30m to meet an increased demand.

The societys transport service, which brings patients to and from cancer treatment centres across the country, recorded a 20pc increase in bookings last year.

Its drivers brought more than 2,500 cancer patients to and from chemotherapy treatments last year, covering 2.9 million kilometres. Demand for this service has more than doubled (up 126pc) in the past five years.

The charity also said more people are seeking emotional support, as its free nationwide counselling service recorded an 8pc increase in sessions to over 16,000 patients. It is asking for more support to provide these services for cancer patients. Without you these vital services simply wouldnt exist, it said.

These services include night nursing, transport services, support lines, information centres, groundbreaking research and life-saving trials.
Content creator Tara OByrne shares her tips from her multigenerational trip to Lanzarote

Balancing an infant with a five-year-old, parents and in-laws may seem like a challenging prospect, but Co Louth-based family travel content creator Tara OByrne (@flipflopsandfloaties) was determined to make it happen.

We had just had our second child, and we really wanted to create memories with our parents while we had the chance, says OByrne, whose husband Brian sadly lost his mum to cancer when he was a child.
Amanda Knox: The Foxy Knoxy narrative was catnip to the global media but it wasnt who I am

In her new book, the American recalls how she survived in prison, her reaction when a fellow inmate made a pass at her and how she was able to reignite her sexuality before her conviction for the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher was overturned

Amanda Knox being led away from court in Perugia, Italy after the first day of her appeal against her murder conviction. Photo: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Amanda Knox Tue 25 Mar 2025 at 03:30

When Lenny first arrived at Capanne, she was sulky and withdrawn. She paced the yard alone with her head bowed and her shoulders hunched. This was not unusual for a transfer. Each prison is its own delicate ecosystem, so to be uprooted and replanted, without warning, was a jarring, even frightening experience. I sized her up petite, slight belly, messy hair. By the way she closed in on herself, I guessed that shed only lash out if cornered. She wasnt a threat to me.
The precautionary measure was taken after one screen began to billow smoke

The Revenue Commissioners had to spend more than 50,000 replacing computer equipment after a monitor in their investigations and prosecutions office started to billow smoke.

A total of 377 monitors  some of which were in use by staff working from their homes  had to be quickly taken out of commission as a precautionary measure".

The Revenue said the monitors represented a nominal share of all computer screens used by staff, around 2.5pc of the total.

It said the model involved was more than 15 years old and typically used by officials as a second screen to help them with their work.

Documents released under a Freedom of Information request show the alert was raised last November when an email was sent from the Investigation, Prosecution, and Frontier Management division in Dublin.

It said: We have had an issue with one of the monitors in the building billowing smoke while on standby  were hoping you could advise on what the best course of action is.

Does this particular model of monitor pose a fire risk? We presently have 62 identical monitors in use throughout the building.

In response, an official said there was no known safety issue with the screens but that all power cables should be disconnected and the monitors removed from use.

A message said: Please store in a suitable location for future collection.

A short time later, a wider alert went out to Revenue offices nationwide saying the monitors were to be taken out of commission.

The email said: We ask you to check all desks in your building for any of these monitors and if any, please remove.

Similarly, if any staff members are utilising these monitors for blended working, these should be swapped out.

A 'nominal share' of screens were effected, Revenue said. Photo: RollingNews.ie

Today's News in 90 seconds - 25th March 2025

In response, the office where the problem was first noticed said they had removed the screens but asked when replacements would arrive.

An email said: The monitors are urgently required as we now have 62 workstations without a monitor, and we cannot facilitate all staff at present.

Asked about the alert, a spokesperson for Revenue said costs for replacement and delivery of new monitors had been just over 50,000.

She said the old ones were mostly used as second screens, meaning staff were able to continue their work during the short period of time in which [they] were removed and replaced.

The spokesperson added that Revenue already had a programme to modernise its systems and underlying technology underway.

She said: Revenue is committed to optimising the use of technology and continued investment in our information technology capability. This includes upgrades to our computer equipment.
Canada is, quite literally, Americas closest ally. It is also our second-largest trade partner. Little wonder, then, that for as long as anyone can remember, US presidents have been praising their northern neighbour.
Dr Morgan McMonagle is a Consultant Vascular and Trauma Surgeon from the HSE South Hospital Group, Waterford, and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

A University Hospital Waterford surgeon performing life-saving treatments in Gaza is still alive and well despite a bombardment of the hospital where he is working, it has been confirmed.

Concerns had been growing for the safety of UHW Dr Morgan McMonagle who is performing life-saving medical treatments in a Palestinian hospital which has come under fire from the Israeli Defence Forces.

Dr McMonagle, a Consultant Vascular and Trauma Surgeon from the HSE South Hospital Group, Waterford, and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, has been working in Nasser Hospitals Surgical Department in Khan Yunis, Gaza.

Dr McMonagle, originally from Cavan, has been treating the sick and injured in Gaza, having previously trained field medics in eastern Ukraine under attack from Russia.

On Sunday, March 23, Israeli forces targeted the hospitals inpatient surgical department, killing two people, reported Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), who have strongly condemned the attack on the Gaza strips largest remaining functioning hospital. Others were injured and severe damage was caused to the building.

On Tuesday evening, March 25, Waterford Gaeltacht based group Gaeil ar son Gaza and Waterford For Palestine issued a joint statement.

Dr McMonagle is still alive and continues to work despite the surgical unit in Nasser Hospital being damaged and another floor in the building being completely disabled by the Israeli bombings.

Dr McMonagle sent them the following message on Tuesday. We have been up all night last night, operating on those injured by the latest bombings, he said. During the night two children, approximately aged five were pronounced dead on arrival.

We had one 10-year-old boy who was hit by a severe blast. He suffered a head injury, an abdominal injury and had severe orthapedic and vascular injury to his lower limbs.

Another injury was a 12-year-old-girl who had multiple gunshot wounds inflicted by shots fired at her from an Israeli Apache Helicopter. She suffered severe injuries to both legs and arms.

We worked on her until 3am doing vascular repair and external fixation. She will most likely lose both legs and one arm. Her parents' status is unknown. They were trying to run from the helicopter.

Gaeil ar son Gaza and Waterford for Palestine called on the four Waterford TDs  and especially the two government TDs, John Cummins and Mary Butler, to demand that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris, speak up loudly and clearly to save Dr McMonagles life and to publicly call on Israel to end the war crime of bombing hospitals.

It is well past time the Irish government took tangible action against Israel instead of just watching from the sidelines as the carnage unfolds, stated a spokesperson for the group.

Dr McMonagle described the conditions in Gaza to RTE Radio Ones Claire Byrne in a recent interview. Its been a very, very difficult 24 hours, he said on Wednesday, March 19, following recent airstrikes.

Ive been here about five weeks and I was here a year ago in a field hospital in Nasser or close to it, so I was here for the night that Nasser was seized a year ago. But it was quite different coming back this time around because we are seeing a lot of the chronic effects of the war.

Dr Morgan McMonagle is a Consultant Vascular and Trauma Surgeon from the HSE South Hospital Group, Waterford, and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Today's News in 90 seconds - 25th March 2025

And no one really expected the current ceasefire  the people Im working with  really expected it to fall apart this soon. It came as a shock. We were woken at about 2am, on Tuesday, the 18th, yesterday, which was the morning we were due to leave. We were due to leave at 7am in the morning to exit Gaza back via Israel to Jordan.

And then we were awoken in the early hours with very, very loud explosions, which you might have heard before, but they were a lot closer this time.

Dr McMonagle said the explosions meant they immediately rushed to hospital in mass casualty mode to treat the injured. Unfortunately, we spent the first 20 minutes pronouncing people dead, mostly children. The majority were children, followed by very sick and injured children, who very quick decisions had to be made.

At one stage, I had to pick up a four-year-old boy who was severely injured and actually walk up four or five flights of stairs up to the operating room, because were working in an environment that although people are doing their very best  and they really are  facilities have been torn apart because of the conflict. It means you have to think differently and react differently as well.

I would say the youngest I pronounced dead was probably four or five months old. The average age of children injured was probably between six and eight years of age.

The latest unconfirmed reports were that 40pc of those killed from the previous 24 hours activities, were all aged under 14, said Dr McMonagle. The boy he carried up the stairs was operated on and is doing ok in the paediatric ICU.

I believe over 70 people were brought straight to the mortuary. Its very difficult to bring children into the mortuary so they generally tend to come to the hospital in which case you make a decision then.

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Id say between 3am and 10 oclock last night I personally performed between 16 and 20 operations. But its very difficult to keep count because you are literally running from one operating room to the next. Im not the only one  all the local staff were here.

All the local staff turned up, the nurses, the healthcare providers, the surgeons, the junior surgeons, and everyone worked extremely hard. But the problem with war injuries, and particularly blast injuries, is that its very rarely one system.

Its very rarely just a liver, just a kidney, or just a chest, or just a heart, its multiple. And shrapnel is the biggest enemy in a situation like this, because you get thousands and thousands of pieces of shrapnel flying at extremely high velocity, which really cut through.

You could look like you have very minor injuries on the outside, but you have very, very major injuries on the inside, added Dr McMonagle.

A fundraising campaign set up Gaeil ar son Gaza, has already raised nearly 27,000, with all money collected going directly to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, an organisation based in Palestine. Donations can be made at gofundme.com, on a page called Solas do Phaisti Gaza - Light for Children of Gaza.

This article was amended at 9.54am on March 26, 2025.
A total of 80 presentations were made to towns across Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Clare.

Lisa Manning, Jerry Buttimer TD, Cllr Martin Coughlan, Michelle Griffin of SuperValu and Joseph Cronin at the presentation in Ballincollig.

Macroom Tidy Towns received their first gold medal at the presentation of SuperValu Tidy Towns awards and medals at the Talbot Hotel in Ballincollig on Monday.

Ballincollig was a fitting host for the presentations as the town was crowned Ireland's Tidiest Town and Tidiest Urban Area in 2024.

A total of 80 presentations were made to towns across Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Clare.

Macroom also picked up their 2023 medal and plaque, along with the other winners in the region.

Macroom Tidy Towns Chairperson Councillor Martin Coughlan, Secretary Lisa Manning and Projects and Assistant Secretary Joseph Cronin were delighted to receive the honour on behalf of their voluntary group and the entire town.

Mr Coughlan said it is great to have achieved these awards and medals for the citizens and volunteers in Macroom.

Its great to have achieved this for ourselves and the people of Macroom and thanks to everyone who contributed.

Now the challenge is to maintain our progress

The continued endeavours of our members, volunteers, and active community support will ensure this, he said.

Earlier on Monday, the 2025 edition of the SuperValu Tidy Towns competition was launched by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Dara Calleary, in the company of Minister of State for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Jerry Buttimer.

Speaking at the launch of the competition in Ballincollig, Minister Calleary said:

I am delighted to be here in Ballincollig, Irelands Tidiest Town for 2024, as we launch the 2025 SuperValu Tidy Towns competition.

This year we celebrate 67 years of this wonderful competition, which continues to thrive year on year - its success benefits us all.

The closing date for receipt of entries for this years competition is Monday May 12, 2025.

Entry to the competition will only be accepted by email to the TidyTowns@drcd.gov.ie email address. Entry forms for the SuperValu TidyTowns competition are available at www.tidytowns.ie.

Full details of the competition are available on www.tidytowns.ie or www.supervalu.ie.
The case of a teenage girl in the Cork North West constituency who was diagnosed with mild scoliosis was recently highlighted by Senator Nicole Ryan who said no child should be left to suffer in pain while waiting for medical treatment.

The teenage girl was subsequently warned by her doctors that when puberty hit, her condition would worsen to moderate scoliosis, which it did, in a matter of weeks.

Senator Ryan made the comments in the Seanad as she spoke in support of the Scoliosis Treatment Service Bill.

Ms Ryan said the parents of the child must pay 300 per month for private physiotherapy because public services are unavailable, all the while she has been waiting for months for a medical consultation.

Senator Ryan said: For too long, children with scoliosis have been ignored, left on ever-growing waiting lists and forced to endure unimaginable pain. This is not just a failure of our health system, it is a failure of governance, of policy, and of our collective responsibility to protect our most vulnerable citizens.

The Sinn Fein Senator proposed an amendment to the bill giving the Minister of Health the power to set legally binding waiting targets, ensuring no child is left to wait indefinitely. These targets are 10 weeks for a first outpatient appointment and 12 weeks for an inpatient appointment. These are not arbitrary figures. They were originally set in the Slaintecare report, which outlined how Ireland could provide a world-class healthcare system.

By making these waiting times legally binding, we will finally ensure that the HSE and Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) are held accountable. This bill is about making sure that scoliosis patients are no longer left behind. Behind these statistics and policy failures are real children and real families struggling to get the care they need, she added.

Senator Ryan said the case of the Cork teenager who was diagnosed with mild scoliosis which has subsequently worsened to moderate scoliosis illustrated a devastating failure of the current system. Surgery is an option, but because she is still growing, she would require multiple and consistent surgeries over several years. To avoid this, she now attends multiple physiotherapy sessions each month - not to cure her condition, but to slow its progression and manage her pain.

The financial burden is enormous, said Ms Ryan. This is a child who has a medical card, yet her family must pay 300 per month for private physiotherapy because public services are unavailable. Her mother is struggling to keep up with the costs. Meanwhile, she has been waiting for months for a medical consultation.

This case highlights a broader issue that is often overlooked. Children who are not yet in need of urgent surgery but who still desperately require medical intervention. These children are slipping through the cracks of our healthcare system because there are no supports available for families trying to delay or prevent the need for surgery, she added.

Senator Ryan said every child in Ireland deserves timely, effective and compassionate medical care. This bill and the amendment I have proposed introduces accountability, enforces waiting time targets and ensures that children suffering from scoliosis are no longer left behind. This is a question of basic human decency. Every family deserves a healthcare system they can rely on.
Cork families describe daily struggles with contaminated baby bottles, ruined clothes and bucket testing routines as Uisce Eireann confirms over 2,100 complaints about discolouration in the past year

Michelle Hegarty says she needs to run the bath several times before clean water comes out

Dirty baths, discarded clothes, contaminated baby bottles and buckets of brown water are among the experiences outlined by residents on Cork Citys northside, as issues surrounding the condition of the areas drinking water continue.

It comes in the wake of a move to postpone a meeting between Uisce Eireann and Cork City Councillors over the water levels, which have been found to have had unsafe levels of manganese in several tests, particularly across the Northside.

Two tests showed levels that far exceeded what has been deemed fit by legislation, one in the Mount Farran area, and another in Gurranabraher.

Michelle Hegarty says the water issues are making life particularly difficult as she tries to raise a newborn baby.

Weve been dealing with it for over two years, she said. Everyday at some stage theres always dirty water. We bought the Brita filters, but we have to go through a filter every 10 days. We pay 25 every five weeks on filters.

Plus on top we have to buy bottled water because I have two dogs, a nine-year-old, and a newborn baby. Yesterday I made bottles and put them into the sink to cool them down. But the water was black, so I had to dump them because the outside of the bottles were contaminated.

Its the same with the bathwater, you have to run the bath a couple of times before you actually put the kids into a bath or a shower. It takes a good 20 minutes because you have to clean down the bath then from the dirty water before you run it again. It could be two or three times you actually get clear water.

And you also have to make sure that your baby doesnt drink that water when theyre in it.

You have to run the bath a couple of times before you actually put the kids into a bath or a shower

Hegarty says that she has sent several complaints to Uisce Eireann, and has been contacted by a very nice local engineer who called her back to listen to her complaints.

I couldnt fault him, he says he knows theres an issue, and that he understands my frustration.

Over the past thirteen months (1 March 2024- 24 March 2025) we received just over 2,100 calls to our customer care team regarding discolouration in Cork City, said Uisce Eireann in a statement to the Irish Independent.

While this represents a small percentage of the population served, we appreciate the impact this is having on customers and are treating this issue as an absolute priority.

Discolouration can occur when dealing with an aged network such as Cork Citys. There are approximately 600km of watermains in Cork City, around 50% of these watermains are made from cast iron and are approximately 100 years old.

When water is discoloured, we recommend people run the cold water tap in the kitchen for several minutes, as this will usually restore water to a clear colour. Should discolouration persist after twenty minutes customers are encouraged to contact our customer team on 1800 278 278 or reach out via our social media channels for assistance.

Michelle Hegarty says she needs to run the bath several times before clean water comes out

However, Michelle, who is based in Farranree, says that she still has concerns over her water, following a period of sickness for her and her pets which she has blamed on the water. Therefore, she said she has to travel to the Southside of the city, to her mothers house, in order to access clean tap water, and save her from buying bottles of water from supermarkets.

Then you have to lug those bottles of 5-litres of water back from the Southside and bring them home. I have to do that at least once a week, which is around an hour journey when you take everything into account.

And Ive had to dump pillows, bed covers, clothes, because the washing machine has destroyed the clothes with the dirty water.

Michael Kelleher lives on Blarney Street, and says that he has a daily routine to check whether his water is clean or not.

Its impossible to put a date on it. Its been on and off, definitely for a couple of years.

Before, if the water was dirty, City Council would be working around the place, and youd know, and the taps would be clean within an hour. That doesnt happen now, it stays dirty for a long time afterwards, even when theyre not working around the place.

They say theyre flushing out the pipes, but they normally give notice on the poles around the place that theyre going to flush on a certain date, and you can expect to see dirty water. But it happens when theyre not flushing the pipes, and when theyre not doing work.

Read more Anger in Cork as key Uisce Eireann meeting postponed while orange water continues to flow from taps

Uisce Eireann say that it provides advance notice of proactive flushing activities through press releases to local media and, more recently, leaflet drops to affected households.

However, Michael says he has his own daily routine to check whether his water is safe to use.

When I get up in the morning, the first thing I do is, I go out into my back yard, and I have a white bucket under the tap out the back, that I use for cleaning up after the dogs. I run a tap into that white bucket, and if its clean we can use it.

[If its clean], we can use it to make cups of tea and to brush our teeth.

If the water is brown, it wont show always show up coming out of the tap, or when its in a bottle, but you can see it when you pour the water into this bucket.

I have a couple of bottles of water ready every night, because I dont know in the morning what state the water is going to be when I pour it into the bucket in the morning.

Luckily theres only two of us in the house here so its not too bad, but I spoke to a woman on Dublin Hill and she says that shes robbed from it.

My worry is for the elderly people of the area; do they have a bucket out the back where theyre running water? Do they know what their water is looking like if they have issues with their vision?

Its gone on too long. They have an awful lot of pipes to replace in the city. When the Lee Road plant flooded, we had no water for a long time, the City Council provided bottled water and tankards of water for the use, but we havent gotten anything from Irish Water.

They dont want to know about our problems.

Michael Kelleher's water on February 23 this year

In two statements, Uisce Eireann says that they have no legal obligation to provide clean water to those whose supply is affected, as the water does not fall under a Do Not Consume notice.

According to the guidelines from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), alternative water supplies are provided when a 'Do Not Consume' (DNC) notice is issued.

However, this particular situation does not fall under that category. As a regulated utility, Uisce Eireann follows the rules set by our regulator, the CRU and the current regulatory framework does not include provisions for compensation to be offered to customers in this instance.

Public health remains our top priority, and we want to reiterate that water is safe to drink once it is running clear. The water supplied by the Lee Road Water Treatment Plant to customers across Cork City is fully compliant with all international standards and is closely monitored to ensure it is in line with all the required regulatory standards.

While a small amount of manganese is good for human health, the HSE advise that exposure to high manganese levels on an ongoing basis in drinking water can be a risk to health. All exceedances are, as standard, notified to the EPA and HSE. It is the HSEs decision regarding issuing a Boil Water Notice (BWN) or Do Not Consume Notice (DNC).

There are no restrictions or notices in place on the Cork City water supply at present.

Responding to a question from the Irish Independent, Minister of State and Cork TD Jerry Buttimer says it isnt good enough.

I think where you have boiled water notices, in effect of where you have an imperfection in the water supply, there is an obligation and duty in all of us to ensure that people, for bathing, for drinking, for cooking or for whatever reason, have access to water that's safe and that's clean.

I think it's important, irrespective of the sanctions, that Uisce Eireann live up to their responsibility. With all of us, whether we're city, county or national, in terms of provision of clean drinking water and in the future, in terms of the objectives of development plans of both city and county, in the provision of housing, which is the critical issue of our time.

Irish Water have an obligation and duty to look after people and to care for people, and they can't advocate or dilute their commitment to people. If people are receiving water that's unclean and you can't use it for cooking, for drinking, for bathing, for washing, then there's a big issue.

We can't keep passing the buck around here. There's an issue that must be addressed, and the blame game has to stop. People are important so you must look after people first and foremost.
More than 100 tenants facing homelessness waiting for a decision on eligibility

More than 100 tenants facing homelessness in Dublin are awaiting confirmation of their eligibility for the Tenant-in-Situ scheme.

The scheme allows local authorities to purchase properties where tenants are facing eviction due to their landlord selling up.

At the beginning of the month, Dublin councillors unanimously passed a motion calling for the Department of Housing to reinstate the Tenant-in-Situ Scheme.

However, progress has been slow and a special meeting, called by Sinn Feins Daithi Doolan, took place last night to discuss the impact of new proposals for the scheme.

Mick Mulhearn, Assistant Chief Executive with Dublin City Council, confirmed to councillors that the Department of Housing has said the tenant-in-situ scheme would be capped at 325m nationally.

He also confirmed that in 2024, Dublin City Council progressed and completed 261 tenant-in-situ acquisitions along with 83 vacant acquisitions, resulting in a total of 244 acquisitions.

In 2024, the council spent 117m on the scheme.

What we know today is that to progress with the tenant-in-situ scheme, the property we acquire must be in receipt of HAP or RAS for two years, he said.

Otherwise, it has to be a large family, or a family that has been in emergency accommodation for more than two years, or if it is singles, identified on the housing first list or care leavers.

In the past, local authorities were given specific targets for the number of homes to purchase.

However, moving forward, a direct financial allocation will be provided to each city or county council.

He also confirmed that Dublin City Council has had 104 inquiries so far this year from tenants who are facing homelessness and seeking support from the council.

However, the council has been unable to make any progress on these until they receive greater clarity from the Government on the scheme.

Under the new guidelines, the council will not be allowed to purchase properties that require any refurbishment.

Mr Mulhearn acknowledged that there must be national criteria, given the limited funding.

However, he argued that there should be flexibility to accommodate exceptional circumstances where necessary.

In response to these developments, councillors from all parties unanimously supported a Sinn Fein motion urging the Minister to lift restrictions on the scheme.

They also called on the Government to provide Dublin City Council with maximum flexibility and adequate funding to assist tenants at risk of homelessness.

A spokesperson for the Department of Housing said addressing homelessness is a top priority for the Government.

This includes helping people to avoid entering homelessness in the first place, they said.

Housing acquisitions have proven to be effective in this regard where no other options exist for social housing supported tenants who are at risk of losing their home  with around 2,000 properties brought into the social housing stock via the tenant in situ scheme to the end of September 2024.

Earlier this month, the government approved an additional 265m for second hand social housing acquisitions this year, bringing the total funding under this programme to 325m in 2025.

This will allow for a significant programme of acquisitions in 2025 for priority categories of need, including tenant in situ acquisitions.

The introduction of criteria for tenant in situ acquisitions will ensure that that the funding available will be targeted at those most in need.
The Molly Malone statue in front of St Andrew's Church on Suffolk Street, Dublin. Pic: Caroline Quinn

Failte Ireland spends more than 22k every year on the general upkeep and maintenance of St Andrews Church in Dublin, which has lain vacant for a decade.

The building was absorbed into the Failte Ireland property portfolio in 2012 and has remained largely vacant since they moved out in 2015.

Since then, multiple plans to repurpose the building, including converting it into a food hall, have fallen through.

The most recent attempt, led by Manifesto Market, also collapsed in 2023 after several complications regarding the renovation and conservation works.

Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly put forward a question to the current Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Charlie McConalogue, regarding the amount spent by Failte Ireland on maintaining St Andrews Church.

Deputy Farrelly also inquired if there had been any expressions of interest in utilising the building by any public or private body.

In response, a spokesperson for Failte Ireland said it has spent approximately 22,000 per annum on the general upkeep and maintenance of the property.

In addition to work on maintaining the integrity of the building, there have also been necessary health and safety and conservation works undertaken.

The property has been listed on the OPW register available for public bodies to acquire. No expressions of interest were received.

The property was made available for long-term lease through Failte Irelands property agent in 2022, with a lease in place from June 2023 to June 2024.

Failte Ireland has engaged the property agent to re-list the property for lease, they added.

Deputy Farrelly said it is a real shame to have this iconic piece of built heritage in Dublin lying vacant for so long.

This is essentially a boarded-up public building, he said.

Locals and tourists alike, who pass it or stand outside to pose with the Molly Malone statue, must be as curious as I am to see it in this state.

I feel that the Office of Public Works could be more proactive in making it known to public bodies that such a space is available, rather than just adding it to a list.

I understand Failte Ireland has made a series of attempts to get the building back into use, I wish them well on that endeavour, and I do hope to see it used to add an additional cultural experience to the city in the near future, he added.

It was rumoured at the beginning of this year that Failte Ireland still wants the church site on Suffolk Street to be turned into a food hall.

In a letter to Dublin City Council, Failte Ireland said: In order to generate and sustain further economic opportunity and economic development, we need to create iconic food and drink experiences  the proposed change of use and redevelopment of St Andrews would be the embodiment of that vision.

It is envisaged that the proposed food hall will showcase the best of local and Irish produce within a very high-quality setting, which will not only reinvigorate but repurpose part of our capitals historic building inventory.
A group of Transition Year (TY) students from Killarney Community College recently showcased their exceptional talent and dedication by participating in the Grand Final of the All-Ireland Second Level 15-Minute Light Festival at the Cork Opera House on Tuesday, March 26.

This annual competition is one that celebrates the performing arts among secondary schools across Ireland, providing a platform for students to present condensed versions of theatrical works. The festival is adjudicated by a panel of esteemed judges, including renowned theatre directors, choreographers, and music educators, who assess performances based on creativity, execution, and overall impact.

The Killarney Community College ensemble earned their place in the final by delivering a captivating rendition of songs from the musical All Shook Up during the preliminary rounds. Their energetic performance paid homage to the classic tunes of Elvis Presley, seamlessly blending rock 'n' roll with heartfelt storytelling.

At the grand final, the students performed admirably, showcasing not only their vocal prowess but also their ability to engage and entertain the audience. Their dedication to the craft was evident, reflecting the countless hours of rehearsals and hard work invested in perfecting their act.

Ms. Hughes, the music teacher and director of the group, expressed immense pride in her students:

"Seeing them perform on such a prestigious stage has been a remarkable journey. Their commitment and enthusiasm have been inspiring. This experience has undoubtedly boosted their confidence and created memories they will cherish for a lifetime."

Their participation in the festival not only highlights the vibrant arts culture within Killarney Community College but also serves as motivation for their fellow students, demonstrating the rewards of dedication and the joy of creative expression.
Exciting new addition to Kerrys republican story will be launched this coming Saturday in Milltown.

Kerry historian and author Dr Owen OShea is launching his latest book that charts the dramatic life and times of the prominent Kerry IRA leader and lifelong republican, Dan Mulvihill.

One Mans Ireland: Memoirs of Dan Mulvihill, Maverick Republican is a book that unfolds the remarkable memoirs of Dan Mulvihill, which he wrote shortly before he died, and which remained unpublished for fifty years. It charts his central role in many of the most important events in twentieth-century Ireland.

Mulvihill, from Brackhill, Castlemaine, was an IRA volunteer who fought the Black and Tans, a loyal ally of Eamon de Valera  who he smuggled out of Dublin at the beginning of the Civil War  a fervent opponent of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, a member of Liam Lynchs staff in the anti-Treaty IRA, a prisoner and hunger striker, a spy and intelligence officer.

In later years, he adjudicated on the pension applications of IRA and Cumann na mBan veterans from all over Ireland and campaigned passionately for better rights and remuneration for those who took part in the fight for Irish freedom.

Mulvihills unpublished memoir, running to 20,000 words, first came to my attention when I was researching the Ballymacandy ambush of 1921 a few years ago. I discovered that he had tried but failed to publish the memoir before his death in 1985 and I am delighted to be able to bring his story to light, said Dr OShea.

"He was a pivotal figure in the revolution in Kerry but was also central to national events during the revolutionary period, alongside figures like Eamon de Valera, Michael Collins, Harry Boland, Liam Lynch, Emmet Dalton and Tom Barry, he added.

During the truce that followed the War of Independence, Mulvihill was appointed Liaison Officer for County Kerry, entrusted with keeping the peace in cooperation with his sworn enemies in the RIC and the British Army.

During the Second World War, he spied on those suspected of supporting the British and Nazi war efforts and reported to army leader, Florrie ODonoghue, in Dublin as part of a secret espionage network. He later served on the powerful Board of Assessors with the Department of Defence which adjudicated on the pension applications of the veterans of wars in which they had been involved.

The book will be launched on Saturday 29 March at 8.00pm at the Muintir na Tire Hall in Milltown. Guest speaker at the launch will be the former editor of the Irish Independent, Stephen Rae, a native of Castlemaine, who recorded an interview with Dan Mulvihill shortly before his death.

Stephen Raes grandfather, also Stephen, was a leading figure in the Kerry IRA during the War of Independence. The launch will also feature a celebration of Mulvihills life in stories, poetry, music and song.

That Mulvihill was from my home parish and that he wanted to publish his story, makes the writing of this book such an honour, said Owen.

A self-styled maverick and committed revolutionary, he was a largely forgotten figure in Irish history until now. This is Mulvihill in his own words, unrepentant and revealing, from joining the Volunteers in his youth, to his trenchant views on the Troubles in Northern Ireland as he approached the end of his life, said Owen.

One Mans Ireland: Memoirs of Dan Mulvihill, Maverick Republican is published by Merrion Press and will be available in bookshops across Kerry from next week as well as online at owenoshea.ie and at the book launch on 29 March.
Limerick musician Gearoid McCarthy has spoken out about the death of his father at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) in an impassioned video that has been shared widely online.

Gearoid, who has amassed over 700,000 followers on social media described the circumstances surrounding his father's death and called for greater accountability in the Irish healthcare system.

My father was a hero, and he saved people throughout his life. He was a fireman.

Gearoids father, who had COPD, was brought to UHL where he suffered complications that led to the deterioration of his health before he passed away there.

While thanking the healthcare workers for their hard work, Gearoid was critical of the facilities at UHL, suggesting that the hospital is underfunded and overwhelmed, particularly in the emergency department.

The people in the Regional are doing amazing work, but they dont have the facilities to get that A&E department running correctly, Gearoid said.

In his video, he took aim at Irelands politicians, accusing current and past health ministers of being unqualified for their roles.

He mentioned Simon Harris, educated in Valuation Surveying, who served as Minister for Health from 2016 to 2020, Stephen Donnelly, educated in mechanical engineering, who served as Minister for Health from 2020 to 2025 and current Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, educated in Political Science.

Ive done my research, he said. Our government isnt good enough. Theyre not qualified for the jobs that theyre in.

In the widely-shared video he also addressed the practice of transferring votes between candidates after elections to maintain political power.

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They can hand their votes to their friends. Its like one guy gets knocked out, and suddenly his votes go to the other. It's designed to keep them in power.

In memory of his father, he vows to continue pushing for systemic change within the Irish government and the healthcare system. Im going to push to make sure this happens, he stated. I want to start a conversation about how we need people who are qualified to make these decisions.

Through his growing platform, which holds over 700,000 followers on social media, Gearoid hopes to use his voice.

Im looking forward to getting back to playing music and singing the songs my father loved all over the world, Gearoid concluded. "But Im also going to work on this. This is not good enough.

University Hospital Limerick has been contacted for comment.
The Kingscourt Playgroup who entered the town's St Patrick's Day parade in support of Colleen's campaign to have a new Peppa Pig character named after her son

Daragh McNally was Peppa Pig's biggest fan says his heartbroken mother who has launched a campaign to have the new piglet named after her son who died from cancer

A Louth mum who has launched a campaign appealing to the makers of Peppa Pig to name a new character in the show after her much loved son who died from cancer has said that she has yet to hear directly from the programme makers Hasbro.

Colleen from Medebawn, Dundalk. made an impassioned appeal to Hasbro to name the new baby pig after her son Darragh, whom she describes as Peppa Pigs biggst fan.

Darragh, who had autism, tragically died from cancer in November 2019, just weeks after the family had returned home from holidays.

Daragh was so special, she wrote in a social media post. He had Autism and he was Peppa Pigs biggest fan. He died at 11 years old after 5 weeks of cancer. We are eternally heartbroken. Our attic is now full of Daraghs Peppa Pig toys.

"We own every Peppa Pig magazine up to Daraghs untimely death. We have every Peppa Pig book. Even to this day, we buy Daragh a Peppa Pig toy or annual or book on his birthdays & anniversaries."

She also revealed that family had been planning to go to Paulton Park as all her son wanted to do was go on the balloon ride.

"Sadly we didnt get to Paulton Park.

At Daraghs resting place, we got a balloon put in his headstone. Peppa always features out there. Even the number plates on the car that drove him to his resting place were Peppa. And a Peppa Pig blanket on his resting bed.

Daragh McNally was Peppa Pig's biggest fan says his heartbroken mother who has launched a campaign to have the new piglet named after her son who died from cancer

She wrote the post in response to the news that the Mummy Pig in the popular childrens tv series is having a new baby in the Summer.

"Imagine Mummy Pig calling her new little baby pig Daragh. Or Dara Pig. This would be such an honour and it would mean so much to us a heartbroken family. It is a longshot, but if you could consider this in memory of Peppas number 1 fan. Our Daragh.

Her heartfelt post has been shared thousands of times and Colleen says that although she has been told by reporters that the programme makers are aware of her request, she says she has yet to hear directly from Hasbro.

In an update, she appealed to people to keep sharing her post.

And she says that if its not possible for the baby pig to be named after her son, she would love if the programme makers would consider introducing a new character with autism, who could be named Darragh.

This, she says, would be amazing and would help to educate so many people about autism and the early traits of autism.

"Peppa Pig has a huge platform to potentially do this.

She said that autism is on the rise, affecting most families, if not directly but they would know someone on their street or workplace with a child with autism.

The Kingscourt Playgroup who entered the town's St Patrick's Day parade in support of Colleen's campaign to have a new Peppa Pig character named after her son

She thanked all those who had shared the post and shared how moved she was to find out that The Playcentre in Kingscourt, Co Cavan had entered the towns St Patricks Day parade with Peppa Pig characters to raise awareness about her campaign.

Appealing to people to continue sharing her appeal and tagging anyone influential she said she was doing it for Daragh.

"I was always Daraghs voice when he was here and I will continue to be advocate for anyone with autism.

She knew that if her son was still alive he would still be into Peppa Pig and the new character.

Colleen shared that speaking out this way does make her sad and she wished Daragh was still here.

"I have to continue this life without Daragh but hes always with me and I know that its him pushing me along.
DPP directions are still awaited in the case of two men charged in connection with a more than 2 million drug seizure.

Alan Crosby (45), Owensilla, Sillogue Avenue, Dublin 11 and Varinder Singh (32), Ashfield Green, Drogheda, are both charged with the alleged possession of cocaine for sale or supply and the unlawful possession of the drug at Main Street, Tenure on March 12.

Mr Singh is further accused of the same two alleged offences, relating to cannabis at Tenure Business Park, Tenure on March 12.

The two men appeared via video link before Drogheda Court on Monday when Judge Nicola Andrews heard that DPP directions were awaited.

Both accused were further remanded in custody to April 14 via video link for DPP directions.
The Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr Declan Bree, making a presentation to Mr Christopher Cawley, the President of the County Sligo Social and Benevolent Association at the associations annual dinner dance in New York.

At St. Patricks Cathedral, New York, were Mr Martin Lydon Chief Executive of Sligo County Council, Cathaoirleach Cllr Declan Bree, Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr Edel MacSharry, Director of Services Mr Jim Molloy, Ms Connie Bree, Dr Margaret Connolly and Mr Niall Hughes.

Chief Executive of Sligo County Council Martin Lydon, Cathaoirleach Cllr Declan Bree, Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr Edel MacSharry, President of the County Sligo Social and Benevolent Association Christopher Cawley and Director of Services Jim Molloy, marching in the New York St. Patricks Day parade.

Accepting an invitation from the County Sligo Social and Benevolent Association of New York, Cllr Bree was joined Stateside by Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr Edel McSharry, Chief Executive Martin Lydon and Director of Services, Jim Molloy.

In addition to meeting the Sligo Association executive, the busy itinerary included meetings with IDA, Tourism Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, in order to promote Sligo as a top quality destination to live, invest and visit.

Speaking about the visit An Cathaoirleach, Cllr Declan Bree said: The annual St Patricks Day celebrations provide an ideal opportunity to showcase Sligos many attractions to an American audience.

The visit to New York served many purposes - for the members of the Sligo Association in New York, this annual engagement represents an important civic link with their home county. Our series of meetings with the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Tourism Ireland focused on our countys ongoing campaign to promote Sligo as a premium destination for investors, tourists and those wishing to relocate to the North West of Ireland.

Participating in the annual St. Patricks Day Parade on 5th Avenue was a real honour for everyone involved and another opportunity to connect with the diaspora.
The preparation for Hope and Dream 10 2025 which takes place on Sunday, April 6, is well and truly under way.

Hope and Dream 10 is an annual fundraising run that is well attended by locals and people from around the country who travel to raise essential funds for the Hope Cancer Support Centre in Enniscorthy.

Similar to last year, the proceeds will go to supporting their range of services for clients. These include assessment and support, counselling, reflexology, massage, lymphoedema treatment, childrens counselling and play therapy along with all our support groups, classes and programmes.

In 2024 their fundraising run raised 143,681 and they delivered 3,670 sessions to 590 clients across one to one services.

General Manager Paul Brown gave an insight into how the support services work.

"The Hope Cancer Support Centre provides support for a person diagnosed with cancer or for the person affected by that diagnosis. The first port of call is that the person/client or their family member will meet one of our support workers who are all registered nurses. They would have a chat with the person to see how they are doing and then inform the person of the support services we provide here, he said.

"20 per cent of our funding comes from the government, but 80 per cent comes from fundraising. So the fundraising done by Hope and Dream 10 is extremely important to us, he added.

This year the committee is also offering a virtual alternative for either 10km or ten miles. However, this option creates an additional administrative challenge and they ask that people read their FAQ page before participating in the event.

"Hope and Dream 10 continues to be a major event in the South East. The money raised over the past 13 years has made a huge difference to the quality of life for hundreds of people across County Wexford. We hope that each participant will raise as much money as possible for the Hope Cancer Support Centre, they said.

The event will begin at 10.15 a.m. down on The Promenade in Enniscorthy and registration online is essential.
The brand is very proud of its Wexford routes.

The crew behind Brennans Irish Stout and popular pub Brennan's of Enniscorthy recently travelled and took part in the Northern Restaurant and Bar Show in Manchester to launch their new branding.

Northern Restaurant & Bar is the Norths leading hospitality trade event, bringing together over 12,100 visitors and 400 plus exhibitors.

Peter Brennan has secured partnerships with renowned breweries in England to promote their signature Irish Stout to bigger markets. T&R Theakston Brewery are the 16th largest brewer in the United Kingdom and are well established to take the Irish brand to new heights in the UK market.

Speaking on their partnership with the Enniscorthy business, a spokesperson from Theakston said: With a strong dark ale portfolio already, a traditional Irish stout from Brennans is the perfect addition to our existing range. We believe our combined experience is a match made in heaven!

While there, Peter met with Will Theakston to promote the Wexford brand and where thrilled with the response they received from other visitors and exhibitors.

"It was a fantastic event with thousands of visitors and we had a fantastic response. I brought some of the team with me from Enniscorthy and they were blown away about the response of our Irish Stout, he said.
LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winner of the Special Merit award was Ceard Coille from Loreto Aoife Kehoe with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winners of the award for Best Digital Marketing were Sweets with SAS from Presentation school Wexford Sive McCutcheon, Sophie Cashman ans Aoibhe Murphy with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winner of the Special Merit award was Focus Flow from Bridgetown College Maksym Bankov with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Junior over-all winner and heading to National Finals was Crochet Crafts from Loreto Secondary school Kayla Peters with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Intermediate runner-up was Christmas Fitness from CBS Wexford Tadhg Furlong with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winners of the Entrepreneurial Spirit were floral Focus from Meanscoil Gharman Luke Radford and Rena Hiramatsu with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winners of the award for Intellectual Property Awareness were ACC Enterprises from CBS Enniscorthy Alan Browne, Adam Phylan and Ciaran Qwens. Back; Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winners of the award for Best Market Research were Nutz for Christmas from CBS Enniscrothy Zack Murphy, Cormac Mathews, Tom Regan and Liam Doyle with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winner of the Special Merit award was Cleaning Kernals from Creagh College Nico Ludwig, Orla Dunne Murphy andKacper Wojciechowski with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winner of the Intermediate Best Business Report award in was Socks and Sweets from CBS Wexford MAthew Perry and Adam Donoghue with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winners of the award for Sales and Marketing were Gifted from Gorey Community School Katie Tyrrell and Caoimhe Geraghty with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Over-all winner and Wexford's representative in the National final was AKA Woodwork Katie Foley, Alison Duffin and Amy Duffin from Ramsgrange community school with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winners of the award for Sustaintainability were EcoPapri Co from Gorey Educate Together Secondary school Angelica Szymanska, LAura Gasparlin and Rochelle Noblezala with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winners of the award for Social Impact were OLOL Gift Bags from Our Lady of Lourdes school Rosbercon New Ross Ruby Murphy, Hannah Maher and Lauren Lynch with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winners of the Creative Maker award were Woodwise from CBS Wexford Jack McCormack and G with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winner of the Special Merit award was The Cosy Cup from Bunclody Community College Bobby Watchorn with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winner of the Special Merit award was Nathan's Gnomes from Colaiste an Atha Nathan Ryan Daly with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Senior runner up was Wooden Wonders from Creagh College Ryan Doyle and Paddy Jones with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winner of the Senior Best Pitch was The POC Pac from CBS Enniscorthy James Kileen with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Intermediate over-all winner and heading to National Finals was Cubikluo from CBS Wexford Arsen Hereta and Eoghan Rochford with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winner of the Senior Best Business Report award in was Crumbly from FCJ Bunclody Hannah Carroll, Fionn O'Donnell, Aoibhe Larkin Redmond and Charlie Moore with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Over-all winner and Wexford's representative in the National final was AKA Woodwork Katie Foley, Alison Duffin and Amy Duffin from Ramsgrange Community school. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winners of the Innovation excellence award was Jack It Up from Ramsgrange Community school Kyle Shannon, Ryan Lynch, Jack Wickham, Eanna Grennan and Dean Diskin with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Front;Over-all winner and Wexford's representative in the National final was AKA Woodwork Katie Foley, Alison Duffin and Amy Duffin from Ramsgrange Community school. Photo; Mary Browne

Front: Over-all winner and Wexford's representative in the National final was AKA Woodwork Katie Foley, Alison Duffin and Amy Duffin from Ramsgrange Community school. Back: Annette Rowsome LEO Senior Enterprise Development, Intermediate over-all winner and heading to National Finals was Cubikluo from CBS Wexford Arsen Hereta and Eoghan Rochford, heading to National Finals was Crochet Crafts from Loreto Secondary school Kayla Peters and Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development. Photo: Mary Browne

The future of Irish entrepreneurship is in safe hands as students from across Co. Wexford showcased their creativity and top-tier business skills as they displayed their innovative projects at the county finals of one of the nations most prestigious enterprise programmes for students.

On March 6, students, teachers and entrepreneur enthusiasts gathered in Wexford County Council for the county final of the Student Enterprise Programme, in which guests were treated to an event, hosted by Beat 102 103s morning show presenter and proud Wexford woman, Shonagh Lyons, that was filled with encouraging and honest panel discussions, project displays and award announcements, with three projects moving successfully on to the next phase on the national front.

This years programme saw a record-breaking 1,726 students participating from 21 schools, as they demonstrated their growing enthusiasm for enterprise education in Wexford. The initiative, run through the Local Enterprise Offices with support from Enterprise Ireland and local authorities, gives students the opportunity to develop, market, and manage their own businesses, while fostering valuable entrepreneurial skills.

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Intermediate overall winner and heading to National Finals was Cubikluo from CBS Wexford Arsen Hereta and Eoghan Rochford with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

Following an impressive display of innovation and determination, three teams emerged as county winners and will now represent Wexford at the Student Enterprise Programme National Finals in two months time. Winning the senior category was, Amy Duffin, Katie Foley and Alison Duffin from Ramsgrange Community School with their project AKA Woodcraft which took the top spot. The county winners of the intermediate category were, Arsen Hereta and Eoghan Rochford from CBS Wexford with their project, Cubikluo and the third winner to progress to the national finals was from the junior category as Kayla Peters from Loreto Secondary School came out on top with her project Crochet Crafts.

In addition to the main competition, another standout project was selected as Wexfords nominee to go forward to a national competition for one of five places in a three-day innovation boot-camp which is designed to help students further develop their business ideas. The Innovation Excellence Award was presented to Jack it Up from Ramsgrange Community School, who collaborated with local company Kent Stainless to develop a prototype ramp to help their team member, Jack Wickham, with accessibility to buildings in his wheelchair. The work of the project team members Kyle Shannon, Ryan Lynch, Jack Wickham, Eanna Grenna and Dean Diskin exemplifies the power of creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving, key attributes in entrepreneurship.

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winners of the award for Best Digital Marketing were Sweets with SAS from Presentation school Wexford Sive McCutcheon, Sophie Cashman ans Aoibhe Murphy with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

The CBS Enniscorthy took home three awards for Best Market Research and Intellectual Property with their projects, Nutz for Christmas and AAC Enterprise, respectively, and James Kileen won the senior category for Best Pitch for his project, POC Pac.

The event also featured two engaging panel discussions, where successful entrepreneurs and students shared their experiences of setting up and running their own businesses. The first panel focused on the student experience, with teacher Edel Peters highlighting the benefits of the Student Enterprise Programme in fostering creativity and confidence among young people and students, Katie Tyrell (Gorey Community School) and Kyle Shannon (Ramsgrange Community School) also shared their first-hand experiences of setting up and running their mini-businesses, emphasising the skills they developed and the lessons they learned along the way.

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winner of the Senior Best Pitch was The POC Pac from CBS Enniscorthy James Kileen with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

In the second panel guests included three inspiring entrepreneurs who spoke about their journeys and the challenges they overcame. Joe OConnor, founder of The Clovelly, a thriving coffee shop in Wexford town; Grace Brennan, founder of Higgle Digital Ltd, an innovative digital resource promoting creative thinking in classrooms, and Jessie Bennett, founder of Monthlies Organics, a pioneering fem-tech brand revolutionising period care were there to give those in attendance valuable insights into building a business from the ground up. The guests gave honest accounts and discussed everything from the inspiration behind their businesses, product development to financial management and resilience in the face of challenges.

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winner of the Special Merit award was Cleaning Kernals from Creagh College Nico Ludwig, Orla Dunne Murphy andKacper Wojciechowski with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

Speaking at the event, Eddie Taaffe, Chief Executive of Wexford County Council, praised the students for their innovation and hard work: "Entrepreneurship is at the heart of our economy, with small and micro-businesses accounting for nearly half of employment in Ireland. The Student Enterprise Programme is an essential initiative, equipping young people with the skills and confidence to become the next generation of business leaders. The creativity and commitment displayed by these students is truly inspiring, he said.

In echoing these sentiments, Leas-Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Councillor Ger Carthy, emphasised the programmes significance. He said: "Its fantastic to see so many young entrepreneurs from Wexford taking part this year. Their projects reflect real innovation and dedication, and its clear that the future of business in Wexford is in very capable hands.

LEO Student Enterprise awards in County hall. Winners of the award for Social Impact were OLOL Gift Bags from Our Lady of Lourdes school Rosbercon New Ross Ruby Murphy, Hannah Maher and Lauren Lynch with Breege Cosgrave Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Liz Hore Director of Services, Ger Carthy Leas Cathaoirleach Ger Carthy and Shonagh Lyons MC. Photo; Mary Browne

"This programme is not just about business, its about confidence, problem-solving, and teamwork, all of which are vital life skills, Cllr Carthy added.

With the National Finals fast approaching, Wexfords representatives are gearing up to showcase their projects on the national stage in Mullingar on May 8.

County Wexford Awards

Best Market Research Award  Zack Murphy, Cormac Matthews, Tom Regan, Liam Doyle (CBS Enniscorthy)  Nutz for Christmas Intellectual Property Award  Alan Browne, Adam Phylan, Ciaran Owens (CBS Enniscorthy)  AAC Enterprises Sales and Marketing Award  Katie Tyrell, Ava Comerford, Caoimhe Geraghty (Gorey Community School)  Gifted Best Digital Marketing Award  Sive McCutcheon, Sophie Cashman, Aoibhe Murphy (Presentation)  Sweets with SAS Sustainability Award  Angelica Szymanska, Laura Gasporlin, Rochelle Noblezala (Gorey Educate Together)  EcoPapri Co Social Impact Award  Ruby Murphy, Hannah Maher, Lauren Lynch (Our Lady of Lourdes)  OLOL Gift Bags Creative Maker Award  Jack McCormack, Gabriel Nugent (CBS Wexford)  Woodwise Entrepreneurial Spirit Award  Luke Radford, Rena Hiramatsu (Meanscoil)  Floral Focus Best Innovation Award  Damien Pohludek (FCJ Bunclody)  Ferns PC Innovation Excellence Award  Kyle Shannon, Ryan Lynch, Jack Wickham, Eanna Greann, Dean Diskin (Ramsgrange Community School)  Ramp It Up/Jack It Up Merit Award  Maksym Bankov (Bridgetown College)  Focus Flow Merit Award  Nico Ludwig, Orla Dunne Murphy, Kacper Wojciechowski (Creagh College)  Cleaning Kernels Merit Award  Bobby Watchorn (FCJ Bunclody)  The Cosy Cup Merit Award  Nathan Ryan Daly (Kilmuckridge)  Nathan's Gnomes Merit Award  Isabel Ryan, Aoife Kehoe, Ruth Redmond (Loreto)  Ceird Coille Intermediate  Best Business Report Award  Matthew Perry, Adam Donoghue (CBS Wexford)  Socks & Sweets Senior  Best Report Award  Hannah Carroll, Fionn O Donnell, Aoibhe Larkin Redmond, Charlie Moore (FCJ Bunclody)  Crumbly Senior  Best Pitch Award  James Kileen (CBS Enniscorthy)  POC Pac Junior  Winner Kayla Peters (Loreto)  Crochet Crafts Intermediate  Runner Up  Tadgh Furlong (CBS Wexford)  Christmas Fitness Intermediate  Winner Arsen Hereta, Eoghan Rochford (CBS Wexford)  Cubiklo Senior  One-to-Watch Award  Alex Shannon, Garrett Power, James Prendergast, Lorcan Kelly (Good Counsel)  Log Crafts Senior  Runner Up  Ryan Doyle, Paddy Jones (Creagh College)  Wooden Wonders Senior  Winner  Amy Duffin, Katie Foley, Alison Duffin (Ramsgrange Community School)  AKA Woodworks
A Wexford councillor has expressed grave concerns that the lives of fishermen are being put at risk as a result of a temporary reduction of cover from the Coast Guards Rescue 117 helicopter operating out of Waterford.

The claim comes despite assurances from the Department of Transport that the safety of crew, citizens and mariners is the overarching priority.

An all-too-regular sight in the skies around the Wexford coast, Aontu councillor Jim Codd says that the vital rescue helicopter service is likely to be temporarily reduced from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. while members are trained in a new operating service.

In August 2023, Bristow Helicopters won a tendering competition to run the country's airborne rescue service in a contract that will cost about 670m over ten years.

However, Cllr Codd feels that any reduction of service from the Coast Guard, even a temporary one, poses a massive risk to the lives of fishermen.

"I know similar reductions were put in place in Sligo and Shannon, he said. But we really need clarity on this and we need to be mindful of the welfare of our fishermen, who have a dangerous job at the best of times.

"What happens if a fisherman gets his arm caught in a winch or suffers a heart attack or stroke at 3 a.m.? It could be a long four or five hour steam back to Kilmore Quay, not to mention how long it would take to get to the nearest hospital by ambulance.

"We need proper assurances for those who provide for us in the most difficult circumstances and under the weight of terrible quotas. Their lives are being put at risk. These boats fish all night. I know lads who've lost fingers and had their arms broken in winches and suffered heart-attacks at sea. We need to ensure that these lads have the protection they need to carry out a dangerous job.

Meanwhile, the Department of Transport has stated that safety is of paramount importance.

"Safety of crew, citizens and mariners is the overarching priority, a spokesperson said. If the Department recognises the need to revise transition dates to ensure overall safety and will do so without hesitation and expects full cooperation of both contractors to facilitate revised transition timelines.

They stated that, at times when cover was not available from Rescue 117 in Waterford, it would be made available from other bases.

In the case of both contracts, availability of any base can range from full availability to partial availability to temporary unavailability. The resilience of the four-base strategy has been well proven by CHC the outgoing service provider, in enabling them to fulfil their contractual obligations during the past 13 years, they said.

"Following the transition process, the Waterford SAR base will continue to provide services on a 24/7 basis as prescribed in the contract. The contract term is 10 years with options to extend out to 2036. This means that, following the initial transition phase, 24/7 SAR cover at Waterford is guaranteed long into the future under the new contract.

The transition from CHCI to Bristow Ireland is a complex process that requires close co-operation by both commercial operators, as per their contractual obligations, to ensure the safety of crew members and the continuation of 24/7 Search and Rescue (SAR) cover for Irelands SAR Region.
A 4.7 acre Wicklow property that offers a range of development opportunities has been placed on the market for 850,000.

Located adjacent to the M11 at Ballinabarney, very close to Wicklow Harbour, the property has sizeable road frontage and comprises various sheds and a large concrete yard.

The propertys surroundings include a mixture of one-off residential homes, commercial buildings and agricultural lands.

A spokesperson for Dooley Poynton Auctioneers noted that there is excellent potential to develop the lands as a business and enterprise park, a storage and logistics facility or the construction of a solar photovoltaic (PV) energy development.

4.7 acres of potential investment land in Ballinabarney, Wicklow town.
The Wicklow Mountains will host a multi-agency training exercise this Wednesday as part of Irelands first EU Modex Exercise that will simulate a wildfire scenario to assess Irelands preparedness for managing large forest fires.

Supported by Wicklow County Council, as part of a European consortium, and organised by the Eastern Emergency Response Group, the event will involve more than 100 participants from Ireland and other EU member states, simulating a wildfire scenario near Turlough Hill in the Wicklow Mountains National Park.

An Urban Search and Rescue Modules that gives responders the chance to test their preparedness for a real-life event, the Modex exercise is an opportunity to assess Irelands preparedness and response capacity for managing large forest fires and will enhance response capabilities.

Working alongside the EU Modex Group and the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM), experts from across Europe specialising in forestry management, host nation support and aerial firefighting coordination will collaborate with relevant entities during operational and tactical meetings. Meetings will take place at both operational and tactical levels, with the simulation exercise conducted in the Wicklow Mountains National Park.

The EU mission will assess Irelands current wildfire preparedness and provide expert guidance through a final report. Where appropriate, the mission will also support the development of improved strategies and capabilities, particularly concerning the possible deployment of EU fixed-wing assets, such as Canadair aircraft.

As part of the consortium delivering MODEX, Wicklow County Council will support the Wicklow Wildfire Exercise, with staff from various departments involved in the preparation and participation on the day.

The exercise will also receive support from partner organisations that respond to wildfires in Wicklow, including An Garda Siochana, Air Corps Operations, Coillte Forestry Managers, Defence Forces, National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Mountain Rescue, Civil Defence, Dublin Fire Service and Wicklow Fire Service.

Wicklow County Council has asked the public not to be alarmed by the presence of numerous emergency response personnel and vehicles. A helicopter will also be used during the day as part of the training exercise.

Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Minister Christopher OSullivan TD, said the vital exercise is an opportunity to test Irelands capability in a large forest fire scenario.

Forest fires can cause devastation to communities, wildlife and our unique natural landscapes, while also placing a significant strain on emergency services.

While fire prevention is always the first priority, the National Parks and Wildlife Service has worked tirelessly to ensure it is ready to respond quickly and effectively in the event of a fire in any of our Parks and Nature Reserves.

The simulation exercise in Wicklow Mountains National Park is an excellent opportunity to enhance the expertise of all emergency agencies who would work together and collaborate in the event of a large forest fire.

Senior assistant national fire advisor at NDFEM, Paul Rock, added: These EU MODEX exercises are functional exercises with a strong link to the reality that a European Union Civil Protection Mechanism Team (EUCPT) and Technical Assistance and Support Team (TAST) can be exposed to, both on operational, tactical and strategic levels.

This advisory exercise will concentrate on Irelands preparedness for the more frequent and more devastating wildland forest fires, with forestry management experts, aerial firefighting experts and host nation experts reviewing Irelands planning and preparedness for these events.

Director general of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Niall O Donnchu, said that preparation and planning are key to always being primed to address such an event, adding that a well-trained response to such events, with our partners, will save lives and nature and minimise damage.

Expressing Wicklow County Councils delight at hosting the exercise with the Eastern Emergency Response Group, chief executive Emer OGorman said: It is a great opportunity to work with all our partners, share knowledge, and learn from the exercise that we will carry into future emergency responses.
The US said Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a ceasefire in the Black Sea and to work out mechanisms for implementing their ban on strikes against energy infrastructure.

In separate statements, the White House said on Tuesday that three days of technical-level talks in Saudi Arabia with teams from Russia and Ukraine had yielded agreements "to ensure safe navigation" in the Black Sea. The sides had also agreed to prevent the use of commercial shipping for military purposes, it said.
Egypt offers new plan to restore ceasefire as Israeli strikes kill 65

US and Hamas agree to proposal, which includes timeline for a full withdrawal of troops by Israel

Naanaa Abu Aker holds the body of her two-year-old niece Salma, killed during an Israeli strike, before their burial at the Baptist Hospital in Gaza City yesterday. Photo: AP

Nidal al-Mughrabi, Maayan Lubell and Ahmed Shalaby Tue 25 Mar 2025 at 03:30







Egypt has floated a new proposal aimed at restoring the Gaza ceasefire deal, as Palestinian health authorities said Israeli strikes had killed at least 65 people in the enclave in the previous 24 hours.
LATEST | Trump calls leak of top-secret Signal chat a glitch as Democrats and Republicans say heads must roll

Massive security breach as reporter was added to Signal app group of Trumps top officials Defence Secretary attacks editor who exposed unprecedented security breachDemocratic politicians demand investigationUse of Signal app for sensitive info deemed illegal by DemocratsDefence Secretary Hegseth said to call European allies freeloaders

President Donald Trump, left, and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth. Photo: AP

Michael Martina Tue 25 Mar 2025 at 15:40







US president Donald Trump dismissed the accidental inclusion of a journalist in a top-secret group chat planning airstrikes against Yemeni Houthi rebels as a glitch.
Indian Steel and Aluminum Exports Face Uncertainty as US Tariffs Loom

India is negotiating relief from US tariffs on steel and aluminum as trade officials meet for key discussions from March 25-29 in New Delhi. As Trumps tariffs take effect on April 2, 2025, India seeks exemptions to protect its metal exports while aluminum and steel producers explore alternative markets.

India is preparing to negotiate an exemption from US reciprocal tariffs as American trade officials arrive for discussions on a bilateral trade agreement.

According to media reports, Brendan Lynch, the US Assistant Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, will visit India from March 25-29, 2025, along with a delegation of officials as part of ongoing trade negotiations between the two nations.

Reports further indicate that Indian officials in New Delhi plan to push for relief from the reciprocal tariffs scheduled to take effect on April 2. One of the primary concerns in the discussions is the impact of US tariffs on Indian steel and aluminum exports.

Overview of US tariffs on Indias steel and aluminum

Indias steel and aluminum industries have been considerably affected by US tariffs imposed under the Donald Trump administration. In 2018, the US levied global tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, 1962, citing national security concerns. These measures have directly impacted India, one of the key exporters of these metals, and led to retaliatory tariffs on US goods. India is now negotiating for relief from these tariffs, arguing that they negatively impact the countrys steel and aluminum segments trade trends.

Indias aluminum industrys high exposure to the US market

According to the data provided by the Department of Commerce, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India exported US$945.66 million worth of aluminum to the US in FY2023-24, making it the second-largest international market for Indian aluminum products. The US accounted for roughly 12 percent of Indias total aluminum exports, with key products including unwrought aluminum, aluminum conductors, nails, fasteners, and wire.

Among these, aluminum conductorscritical for high-voltage transmission and grid modernization projectshave been particularly vulnerable to global trade policy changes. In FY 2023-24, the US imported aluminum conductors, including commodities such as stranded wire, cables, plaited bands, and similar products made of aluminum (but not electrically insulated) with a steel core, worth US$178.99 million.

Indias aluminum conductors* exports to the US year-on-year (value in US$ million) FY2023-24 178.99 FY2022-23 184.35 FY2021-22 28.74 FY2020-21 12.92 FY2019-20 3.21 FY2018-19 5.44

Source: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI.

Despite robust demand that led Indian aluminum shipments to the US to grow even after 2018 tariff hikes, the broader scope of the latest tariffs announced by Trump in February 2025 could impact Indian manufacturers and exporters.

With the USs 2025 tariff decision, covering a wider range of aluminum products, Indian exporters face challenges in maintaining their foothold in the American market. Industry analysts predict a decline in export volumes and lower realization per ton of aluminum sold. The tariff surge could force Indian exporters to shift their focus to alternative markets in Europe and Southeast Asia, where demand remains robust.

US tariff impact on Indias steel industry

Unlike aluminum, Indias steel sector is less dependent on the US market. In FY2023-24, the US imported 100,000 metric tons of Indian steel, a small fraction of Indias total production of 145 million metric tons. Earlier in March 2025, steel secretary Sandeep Poundrik said that the impact of US tariffs on Indias steel sector would be minimal due to strong domestic demand.

However, on February 10, 2025, the Indian Steel Association (ISA) warned that an 85 percent drop in steel exports to the US could lead to oversupply in the domestic market, affecting prices.

Indias steelmakers are reportedly shifting their attention to other international markets, particularly in Europe and the Middle East, to counter any anticipated losses caused by the US trade restrictions.

Trade barriers and global market challenges

A network of complex trade relations is increasing worldwide, with multiple countries imposing tariffs to safeguard their domestic industries. The European Union (EU) has introduced anti-dumping duties of up to 25.3 percent on cold and hot-rolled stainless steel and a 25 percent safeguard tariff on imports exceeding set quotas. Countries such as the US, Brazil, and Mexico have similarly imposed high duties on steel and aluminum products.

Asian nations, including Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, have also implemented trade measures targeting steel imports, reflecting growing concerns over excess capacity and competitive pressures in the global metals market. Without strong protective measures, India risks becoming a dumping ground for surplus global steel and aluminum inventory.

Rising inventory levels and falling prices

Despite increased domestic steel production, India has witnessed a surge in steel imports in recent years.

Indias iron-steel imports year-on-year (value in US$ million) FY2024-25* (April-Dec.) 13,216.18 FY2023-24 18,645.66 FY2022-23 17,718.28 FY2021-22 12,612.82 FY2020-21 8,278.90

Source: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI.

*Iron and steel import data for FY2024-25 is available from April 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024. The complete data will be released by the ministry after March 31, 2025.

Rising inventory levels indicate that imported steel is displacing locally produced steel, posing a challenge for domestic manufacturers. Additionally, falling international steel prices and an influx of low-cost Chinese steel have put further pressure on Indian steelmakers. Industry stakeholders have urged Indias central government to raise the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on steel imports, particularly from China, to curb excessive imports and support local manufacturers.

Future outlook

To counteract the adverse effects of US tariffs and global market shifts, Indian metal producers are focusing on market diversification, overseas manufacturing, and policy negotiations. By seeking alternative export markets, increasing domestic consumption, and advocating for fair trade policies, India aims to ensure long-term competitiveness in the evolving global trade environment. The ongoing trade discussions with the US delegation are a crucial step toward securing tariff relief and strengthening Indias position as an exporter.
Adrishyam 2 OTT Release Date: This time, the threat is bigger, the mission is deadlier and the invisible heroes are ready to do all that it takes. Get ready for an exciting ride as the trailer for this upcoming spy thriller is here, and its packed with action, surprises, and intense moments. Adrishyam 2  The Invisible Heroes will be streaming on SonyLIV starting April 4, 2025.

Pooja Gor joins the cast of Adrishyam 2

This season will keep you on the edge of your seat as the characters face off against hidden enemies. Plus, theres a new addition to the cast, actress Pooja Gor, who plays Officer Durga. In a media statement, she said, This role is unlike anything Ive done before. My character is not just another officer, shes a relentless force, ready to fight, chase, and sacrifice for the safety of her people. The challenges she faces are brutal, pushing her to the edge, but she never backs down.

Bankrolled by Bombay Show Studios LLP, with Sachin Pandey and Aditya Pandey as producers, Adrishyam 2  The Invisible Heroes will mark the return of Eijaz Khan as Ravi Verma. The actor shared, "Adrishyam 2 is bigger, bolder, and more intense. This season, Ravi isnt fighting alone. Hes joined by an undercover agent, Durga as she brings a fresh perspective and an unstoppable force to the battlefield. Together, were facing enemies more dangerous than ever.

Adrishyam 2  The Invisible Heroes follows a team of top-secret agents working behind the scenes to stop dangers before they happen. Led by Ravi Verma, this season reveals even bigger secrets, shocking betrayals, and a nonstop battle to keep the country safe. The show also stars Swaroopa Ghosh and Tarun Anand.

Do you think Adrishyam 2  The Invisible Heroes will be able to live up to the hype of its first season? Drop your thoughts @indiatimes.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Raid 2 OTT Release: Get ready to witness your favourite IRS officer Amay Patnaik tracking another under-the-table crime in a brand new case. Ajay Devgn is coming back with the sequel of their much-awaited crime thriller. Gearing up for a grand release on 1st May 2025 (International Labour Day and Maharashtra Day), Raid 2 will be streaming on Netflix after its theatrical run concludes.

Raid 2s cast and crew

Vaani Kapoor will be replacing Ileana D'Cruz in the franchise with Riteish Deshmukh onboarding as the villain for this edition. Directed by Raj Kumar Gupta who also co-wrote the film alongside Ritesh Shah, Karan Vyas and Jaideep Yadav, Raid 2 will be produced by Abhishek Pathak, Kumar Mangat Pathak, Bhushan Kumar, Gaurav Nanda, Krishan Kumar and Pragya Singh under Panorama Studios and T-Series Films.

Sudhir K. Chaudhary has cinematographed Raid 2 under the editing of Sandeep Francis. The film is distributed by Panorama Studios and Yash Raj Films.

More about Raid 2

The sequel will also revolve around an income-tax raid carried out by officers from the Income Tax Department. These officers collaborate with intelligence agencies to track down white-collar criminals. Raid 2 was announced in April 2020, and pre-production started in August 2022. Filming took place across various locations, including Mumbai, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, during 2024s first half.

Principal photography kicked off on January 6, 2024. Telugu star Ravi Teja, who starred in the 2024 Telugu remake of Raid, launched the film with its mahurat shot. The main filming wrapped up by April 2024, and additional scenes were completed by late May 2024, after which the film entered post-production. The movie was originally planned for a November 15, 2024 release and later moved to February 21, 2025, but the release was postponed again.

Are you excited about Raid 2? Drop your thoughts @indiatimes.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Sirens OTT Release Date: Some invitations are too tempting to resist until you realize youve walked straight into a trap. This upcoming dark comedy saga is set to premiere exclusively on Netflix on May 22. With a star-studded cast, an unsettling storyline, and a dash of mythology, this limited series promises an edge-of-the-seat watch filled with power struggles, class clashes, and an eerie sense of something lurking beneath the surface.

Whats Sirens about?

Set over Labor Day weekend, Sirens follows Devon DeWitt (Meghann Fahy), who arrives at a luxurious island estate, hoping to reconnect with her younger sister Simone (Milly Alcock). But things arent as simple as they seem. Simone isnt just working as a personal assistantshes completely under the spell of Michaela Kell (Julianne Moore), a socialite who seems to have a hold on everything and everyone around her.

Credits: Netflix

As Devon tries to break through to her sister, she realizes that Michaela is a force of nature that she may not be able to fight. Over one explosive weekend, secrets spill, power dynamics shift and Devon must decide just how far shes willing to go to pull Simone out of Michaelas world.

Series creator Molly Smith Metzler (Maid) describes the show as a true dark comedy with teeth. There are real moments of drama, and its going to make people uncomfortable.

Meet the cast of Sirens

Julianne Moore (May December, Mary & George) features as Michaela Kell, the socialite who runs the islands high society and seems to have Simone under her control. Meghann Fahy (The White Lotus, The Perfect Couple) portrays Devon DeWitt, a woman on a downward spiral, fiercely protective of her sister.

Credits: Netflix

Milly Alcock (House of the Dragon) stars as Simone DeWitt, Devons younger sister, who is mesmerized by the world Michaela offers. Kevin Bacon (City on a Hill, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F) is Peter Kell, Michaelas billionaire husband, a man who commands attention in every room. Glenn Howerton (Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia) features as Ethan Corbin III, a trust-fund playboy burning through his wealth at the yacht club.

Felix Solis (Ozark, The Recruit) plays Jose, the estates head of security and the one really pulling the strings behind the scenes. You will also see Bill Camp (The Queens Gambit) as Bruce DeWitt, Devon and Simones father, battling early-onset dementia. Josh Segarra (Scream, Abbott Elementary) portrays Raymond, Devons toxic on-again, off-again boyfriend.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Fans are eagerly awaiting the release of The Last of Us season 2, which is scheduled to air in a few days. They had been eagerly anticipating the new season's developments since the first season's glory. Pedro Pascal portrays Joel Miller in the show , a middle-aged survivor who has become ruthless and is plagued by the tragedy of his past. Joel's job is to move Ellie across the United States and out of a quarantine area.Amid all the buzz, the actor has now discussed how the show put him in an unhealthy mindset.

Why Pedro Pascal struggled with an unhealthy mindset because of The Last Of Us

Pascal revealed his thoughts on returning to the vibrant and distinctive universe created in the first season of the program, which wasn't always a good thing, according to Variety.

I feel like it was a beautiful setup by Craig and Neil that the first thing that I got to shoot was just you and I and in kind of an intimate setting, Pascal told Ramsey during a press conference moderated by Varietys Jazz Tangcay.

He added, Theres incredibly painful distance between the two of them and the playing of the scene, but we still got to be on set and f*** around and laugh and stuff like that. And that was incredibly comforting, that was like coming home.

Pedro Pascal acknowledged that he found it hard to distance himself from his character's hardships during the filming of season two of The Last of Us. He said it was "hard to separate what the characters are going through and how it makes me feel, in a way that isn't very healthy," acknowledging that the show's portrayal of emotions had a profound impact on him. He went on to say that he could "feel their pain" firsthand.

Pedro Pascal was asked his thoughts on #TheLastOfUs S2 



"It's fucking heartbreaking. [the showrunners] are sick people" pic.twitter.com/M2yOoFIU07  Culture Crave  (@CultureCrave) March 8, 2025

When Pascal reflected on his state of mind while filming, he acknowledged that he was in a "unhealthy mindset." But in the end, he saw these strong feelings as a benefit of his work.

He clarified that catharsis through narrative may be both a healthy and occasionally unnerving pleasure. Pascal claims that in addition to delivering a perceptive commentary on sociological and political concerns that are representative of the actual world, the program offers a secure environment for examining human relationships in times of crisis and suffering.

The Last Of Us season 2 release date

The Last of us season 2 will be released on April 13, 2025.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Salman Khan is gearing up for the release of Sikandar, slated to hit the screens on March 30. The AR Murugadoss-helmed biggie has created a great deal of buzz among fans and is expected to open big in most markets. It may, however, struggle in Tamil Nadu despite the directors popularity in the state.

Will Sikandar beat Sultan in Tamil Nadu?

Tamil Nadu is conventionally not considered to be a strong market for Hindi films as it is already home to the flourishing Tamil film industry. Salmans films have, however, usually made a mark in the market. Sultan currently holds the distinction of being his best opener in the state. It made Rs 75 lakh in 2016. According to Ramesh Bala, a trade analyst, Sikandar is unlikely to cross that figure despite being a Sunday release

I feel Sikandar will do around Rs 50 lakh on the first day. L2 Empuraan and Veera Dheera Sooran will be released on March 27. So, the main screens wont be available. It will get more screens later, he told Indiatimes

This is Salmans first solo release after Tiger 3, which hit the screens in 2023 on the occasion of Eid.

Whats Sikandar about?

Sikandar is touted to be an action thriller that centres on a man of the masses who takes on various foes. It features Salman in the titular role with Rashmika Mandanna and Kajal Aggarwal as the leading ladies. The cast includes Sathyaraj, Kishore, and Jagapathi Babu. The songs are composed by Pritam.
You might be aware that Kunal Kamra has been at the center of controversy after allegedly making a joke about Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Shiv Sena members vandalised The Habitat after learning that the comedian had apparently mocked the politician. An FIR was also filed against the comedian. Hours after the incident sparked a social media uproar, Kunal shared his reaction on X, refusing to apologise and standing his ground. Now, he has been summoned by the Mumbai police and is expected to appear before the investigating officer at 11 AM today.

Kunal Kamra summoned by Mumbai Police over Eknath Shinde joke

Kunal Kamra row | Khar Police sent a summons to Kunal Kamra's house asking him to appear before the investigating officer at 11 am today. Kunal is not in Mumbai right now. MIDC police had registered an FIR against Kunal Kamra for his remarks during a stand-up comedy show, which  ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2025

ANI reports that comedian Kunal Kamra received a summons from the Khar Police asking him to come before the investigating officer at 11 a.m. today. But Kamra isn't in Mumbai right now. According to the Mumbai Police, the MIDC Police filed a formal complaint against him for comments he made during a stand-up comedy performance. The case was then forwarded to the Khar Police for additional investigation.

Kunal Kamras reaction to Eknath Shinde controversy

Kunal reacted to the incident saying that he condemns people wrecking the Habitat Center. He also mentioned how he will not apologise.

A part of his note read, Our right to freedom of speech and expression is not only to be used to fawn over the powerful and rich even though todays media would have us believe otherwise. Your inability to take a joke at the expense of a powerful public figure does not change the nature of my right.

Take a look at the entire note here:





Kunal Kamras joke

Kamra used the phrase "gaddar (traitor)" in a parody song during his most recent standup performance, Naya Bharat, which apparently alluded to Shinde's exit from the Shiv Sena in 2022. Party members vandalised the Habitat Centre in Khar, Mumbai, where the event was held. Many videos of the same went viral and the owners of Habitat shut down the studio after being affected by the incident.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
US Vice President JD Vance has responded to a purported leaked viral audio clip of him criticising Elon Musk, calling it fake and AI-generated. Vance has also warned of legal action for spreading the false claims.

CREDIT: REUTERS

It is fake :JD Vance

"It's a fake AI-generated clip. I'm not surprised this guy doesn't have the intelligence to recognise this fact, but I wonder if he has the integrity to delete it now that he knows it's false. If not, it could be defamation. I guess we'll find out," Vance said on X while responding to Bishop Talbert Swan.

It's a fake AI-generated clip. I'm not surprised this guy doesn't have the intelligence to recognize this fact, but I wonder if he has the integrity to delete it now that he knows it's false.



If not, it could be defamation. I guess we'll find out! https://t.co/raS524I4kq  JD Vance (@JDVance) March 24, 2025

Alleged leaked audio of Vance

Vance's response comes as the internet is divided over the authenticity of an alleged leaked audio clip that went viral in the past few days. In the unverified audio clip, a male voice resembling that of the US Vice President can be heard hitting out at Musk, the world's richest man, who is also one of the most powerful members of the Trump administration, despite the fact that his exact role and power remain ambiguous.

CREDIT: AFP

Everything that hes doing is getting criticised in the media. Hes making us look bad. Hes making me look bad, the voice said.

Hes not even American. Hes from South Africa. And hes cosplaying as this great American leader, the person in the viral audio is heard saying further.

Leaked or deepfake?

Ever since the audio surfaced on social media on Sunday, it has gone viral on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, X, and Facebook.

However, opinions on its authenticity have been questionable, and many artificial intelligence experts are of the view that the clip in question is likely to be deepfake audio, even though they have not been able to produce conclusive evidence to prove it.

CREDIT; REUTERS

Is Musk the shadow vice president?

The audio clip went viral at a time when there are rumblings among Trump officials over the high-handedness of Musk over the US government through DOGE.

Many in the US, including TV hosts, have even referred to Musk as the shadow Vice President of the US, as an indication of the control the Tesla CEO has over the Trump administration.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Han Jong-Hee dies at 63: A visionary has left the tech sector. Co-founder of Samsung and a driving force behind its international growth, Han Jong-Hee, died of a heart attack at 63. Beyond his inventive achievements, however, many people wonder how wealthy Han Jong-Hee was.

Han was instrumental in Samsung's enormous success as a driving force behind the company's domination in TVs, smartphones, and AI-powered technology. He was wealthy, considering he was the head of a billion-dollar company.

Han Jong-Hee's influence is seen in everything from creating contemporary devices to leaving a legacy in consumer electronics. But how did he get so rich? Let's get started.

Who was Han Jong-Hee

He was a well-know business man | Credit: Samsung

Han Jong-Hee, a well-known businessman from South Korea, made major contributions to Samsung Electronics. Han was born on March 15, 1962, and graduated from Inha University in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.

In the same year, he began working at Samsung Electronics, initially in the Visual Display group, where he was instrumental in growing the company's television business. 

Han held several executive roles during his long career, including Head of the Visual Display Business and Head of the Digital Appliances Business. He was named Vice Chairman and Co-CEO of Samsung Electronics in 2022, in charge of the company's mobile devices and consumer electronics businesses.

Samsung could hold onto its position as the world's leading electronics company under his direction.

Han Jong-Hees career

Beginning in 1988 as a member of the Development Team in the Video Division, Jong-Hee Han has had a remarkable career at Samsung Electronics, spanning more than thirty years. He rose through the ranks because of his extraordinary talent and commitment.

Due to his quick rise, Han was appointed Head of Development Group 2 in 2009. Two years later, he effectively led the Visual Display Division's Product Development and Planning teams. He became the head of the Visual Display Business Department in 2017.

Han started on a new task in 2022, managing display and DX technologies, before becoming vice chairman and CEO. He currently chairs the Quality Innovation Committee and leads the DX Division and Home Appliance Business.

Han Jong-Hees Business Intervention in AI

He died at the at of 63 | Credit: Samsung Newsroom

As Samsung's CEO, Jong-Hee Han leads the company's AI efforts by encouraging international partnerships, especially with Google. His leadership enhances user experiences throughout Samsung's product ecosystem by prioritizing innovation, sustainability, and moral AI solutions.

Samsung's Global AI Ambitions: Global partnerships drive Samsung's AI plan, particularly with Google. Through this partnership, Samsung can use state-of-the-art technology and develop customized AI solutions for gadgets, improving user experiences and establishing market standards.

AI Strategy: The tech behemoth hopes to have 200 million AI-enabled devices. The company plans to integrate AI into every aspect of consumer electronics, including home appliances and smartphones. By doing this, Samsung hopes to inform consumers about the advantages of artificial intelligence while also making life easier, more efficient, and greener.

Sustainability Focus: Samsung encourages sustainability by including energy-efficient features in its products. For example, SmartThings Energy's AI Energy Mode can cut washing machine energy use by up to 70%. Samsung's initiatives also include AI-powered products like SmartThings Away Mode, which optimizes household energy use.

AI Education: The Samsung Innovation Campus provides a thorough course on artificial intelligence called "Artificial Intelligence  Data as Motivation." Data science tools, machine learning algorithms, AI theory, and practical problem-solving are all included in the curriculum. Participants will receive useful insights from professionals in the field, a Samsung AI credential, and practical skills.

AI Ethics: Samsung Electronics upholds ethical standards for AI development, guaranteeing responsibility, equity, and openness. In addition to encouraging social responsibility, safety, and AI innovation, the company is dedicated to human rights, accessibility, and privacy.

AI-Powered Goods: Under the direction of CEO Jong-Hee Han, the company presented its "AI for All: Everyday, Everywhere" vision at CES 2025 on January 6 in Las Vegas. This exhibition demonstrated Samsung's dedication to ensuring AI is useful and accessible to all.

Han Jong-Hees net worth

Han Jong-Hee was the co-founder of Samsung | Credit: Samsung

As of November 30, 2024, Han's net worth was estimated to be $971,291, according to analyticsinsight.net. The publication adds that his yearly remuneration package was 6.90 billion (about $4.83 million), based on statistics from simplywall.st.

Han Jong-Hee dies at 63

According to Samsung Electronics, co-CEO Han Jong-hee died on Tuesday after a heart arrest. Han, 63, passed away in a hospital while undergoing treatment. Samsung hasn't announced a replacement yet.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
The Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron controversy has become more complicated as it moves from social media to legal authorities. After Kim Soo Hyun's agency filed a criminal complaint against family members of the late actress and the Garosero Research Institute, the Seoul police have now stepped in to handle the matter.

Seoul Police to begin investigation in defamation case involving Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron

On March 24, the police announced that they would launch an investigation into defamation cases involving actor Kim Soo Hyun and the late Kim Sae Ron.

As per a Chosunbiz report, acting Commissioner Park Hyun Soo of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that they will investigate the complaint filed by Kim Soo Hyun's side against HOVERLAB (Garosero Research Institute) for allegedly violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.

The complaint was received at the Gangnam Police Station on March 20, and the investigation will include questioning the complainant, he added.

Additionally, Park also addressed the investigation into YouTuber Lee Jin Ho's defamation allegations related to Kim Sae Ron. The case was assigned to the Seodaemun Police Station on March 17, and the police are coordinating a schedule for the complainant's appearance.

Why did Kim Soo Hyun's agency sue Kim Sae Ron's family and Garosero?

Kim Soo Hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, has taken legal action against the operator of Garo Sero Research Institute and members of Kim Sae Ron's family. The agency filed criminal lawsuits on March 20, 2025, citing the sharing of an explicit photo of Kim Soo Hyun.

Credit: Garosero

According to the agency's statement, the lawsuits target Kim Sae Ui, the operator of the YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute, for posting an explicit photo during a live broadcast. The lawsuits also involve Kim Sae Ron's family members, specifically an unidentified individual claiming to be her aunt, who allegedly provided the photo to Kim Sae Ui.

The lawsuit specifically cited violations of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes, which prohibits the distribution of explicit footage or images taken without consent.

Gold Medalist files another complaint against Garosero

On March 24, 2025, Gold Medalist addressed the matter, revealing that they have filed blackmail charges against Garosero after they allegedly threatened Disney+. Disney+s new K-drama, Knock Off, starring Kim Soo Hyun.

Their statement read: "On the very next day after we filed the complaint, March 21, Garo Sero Research Institute once again posted the same photos during a live broadcast on their YouTube channel. This behaviour by them constitutes another criminal act and shows blatant disregard for the law and investigative authorities. It is an unimaginable act.

During the live broadcasts on March 21 and 22, they also mentioned Disney+s original drama Knock Off, in which actor Kim Soo Hyun appears, and threatened that if Disney+ does not cancel the release of Knock Off, they would release a video featuring Kim Soo Hyun."

The agency also denied the existence of any evidence that proof My Love from the Star had committed a crime similar to the Nth Room case.
Kim Soo Hyun was scheduled to attend a fan meeting in Taiwan on March 30th. However, due to his ongoing dating controversy involving Kim Sae Ron, the upcoming event has been cancelled.

Kim Soo Hyun's upcoming event was mired in controversy

Kim Soo Hyun's scheduled appearance at the 2025 Kaohsiung Cherry Blossom Festival had sparked criticism, given the ongoing scandal surrounding him. Despite the controversy, the event organisers had been promoting the festival using his images on the website.

In anticipation of his planned appearance at the festival, Taiwan authorities had arranged for a significant security presence, with 50 police officers set to be deployed to maintain order and control the crowd, marking his first public appearance since the scandal broke.

Kim Soo Hyun's fan meeting cancelled due to 'scheduling conflicts'

Kim Soo Hyun's appearance at the 2025 Kaohsiung Cherry Blossom Festival in Taiwan has been cancelled. The event's official Instagram account announced the cancellation on March 25, citing scheduling conflicts as the reason.

Fans who purchased tickets will receive a refund, and they can still attend the event for free to watch other performances. The refund process is set to begin on March 31.

"Those who purchased a ticket for March 30, 2025, will still be able to enter and watch the performances on that day. The organiser will begin the refund process on March 31, 2025, at 10 am. Those who purchased a ticket for March 30, 2025, can request a full refund," the official announcement read.

"Performing guest Kim Soo Hyun is unable to attend the event Kim Soo Hyun fanmeeting, originally scheduled for March 30, 2025, due to a schedule change. OPENPOINT points will be fully refunded to participating members. Sorry for the inconvenience caused," it added.

What is Kim Soo Hyun's controversy?

The controversy began when Kim Sae Ron's aunt appeared on the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute, hosted by former media reporter Kim Se Ui (Kim Say). During the appearance, the aunt made allegations against actor Kim Soo Hyun, claiming that his actions were responsible for the actresss suicide.

According to a phone conversation between Kim Sae Rons aunt and Kim Se Ui, Sae Ron and Soo Hyun allegedly began dating in 2015, when she was 15 and he was 27. Their relationship reportedly lasted for six years, until 2021.

The aunt further revealed that the couple broke up in 2022, following Kim Sae Rons widely publicised drunk driving incident. At the time, Kim Soo Hyun and his agency, Gold Medalist, offered to handle the situation after Kim Sae Ron initially expressed her intention to resolve it on her own. However, the agency later sent a legal notice demanding repayment of 700 million KRW, which put Kim Sae Ron under significant mental stress. She reportedly reached out to Kim Soo Hyun for help but received no response.

Gold Medalist has denied the aunts claims, confirming that Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Sae Ron did date but only after they were both legal adults. The agency also clarified that the legal notice sent to Kim Sae Ron was simply a formality.

Kim Sae Ron died by suicide on February 16, on Kim Soo Hyun's birthday.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Neha Kakkar and public meltdowns? Name a more iconic duo! The Bollywood playback queen just added another chapter to her never-ending saga of emotional breakdowns, this time at a Melbourne concert. But while some fans consoled her, others werent having it, turning the event into a full-blown drama fest thats now trending across social media.

The breakdown heard around Reddit

Neha, who was reportedly three hours late to the stage, was already off to a rocky start. Once she finally arrived, she wasted no time apologizing to her audience. Battling back tears, she confessed that making her fans wait was something she hated and had never done before. She went on to express her gratitude, promising that she would make them dance the night away.

While some attendees clapped and cheered in support, a large section of the crowd wasnt as forgiving. The viral clip thats making rounds on Reddit features disgruntled voices from the audience yelling, Go back! Rest in your hotel, and, This is not India, youre in Australia! Ouch. If that wasnt brutal enough, another person threw some next-level shade, comparing her tearful speech to an Indian Idol performance and calling it acting.

Loyal fans vs. Savage trolls

As expected, Nehas fan army rushed to her defense on social media. Under her recent Instagram posts, many poured their hearts out, calling her an angel and praising her for her talent, energy, and presence. One fan gushed about what an absolute privilege it was to see her perform, while another labeled her the sweetest human ever.

Credit: Reddit

Neha, no more tears please

But lets be realNeha is no stranger to public tears. Whether it's emotional moments on reality shows, heartfelt social media posts, or on-stage waterworks, she has built a rep for wearing her heart on her sleeve. While some see this as authenticity, others are starting to feel a bit of deja vu every time she grabs a mic.

Neha Kakkar crying clapping meme pic.twitter.com/Qxdl0HFYtS  Jugs Fullbuster  (IWC Royalty) (@JugsFullbuster) August 26, 2022

Meanwhile, off-stage

Amidst all the concert chaos, Neha recently celebrated Womens Day in a much more cheerful settingsurrounded by friends like Dhanashree Verma and her sister Sonu Kakkar. The celebration was all about love, kindness, and a whole lot of cake-cutting and dancing. Because, if theres one thing Neha does besides crying, its keeping the party alive.

With her Melbourne meltdown now a viral topic, the debate continues: was it a genuine emotional moment or just another performance? Either way, Neha Kakkar once again proved that when shes on stage, drama is never too far behind!
Hamdan Ballal, a Palestinian filmmaker and human rights activist, gained global recognition after winning an Academy Award for his documentary No Other Land. However, just days after his Oscar win, Ballal was the talk of the town againbut this time for a different reason. He was allegedly attacked by Israeli settlers near his home in Susiya, West Bank, and later detained by Israeli authorities.

Ballals work goes beyond filmmaking; he has spent years documenting human rights violations in the region and advocating for his community.

Hamdan Ballals work: From farmer to filmmaker

Before becoming a filmmaker, Ballal worked as a farmer, photographer, and activist. His dedication to human rights led him to participate in the Humans of Masafer Yatta project, which highlights the struggles of Palestinians living in the West Banks Masafer Yatta region.

Ballal also works as a field researcher for human rights organizations, including BTselem, an NGO that documents abuses by Israeli settlers. His firsthand experiences in the conflict zone have shaped his filmmaking, making No Other Land a testimony to the struggles of Palestinians facing displacement.

No Other Land: The documentary that sparked controversy

No Other Land is Ballals debut film, co-directed with Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, Palestinian filmmaker Basel Adra, and Israeli cinematographer Rachel Szor. The documentary follows Basel Adra, a young Palestinian activist fighting against the displacement of his community by Israeli forces in Masafer Yatta. It captures the destruction of homes, the forced eviction of residents, and the unlikely friendship between Adra and Abraham, an Israeli journalist.

The film premiered at the 2023 Berlinale, winning the Audience Award and Berlinale Documentary Award. Since then, it has received international acclaim, securing wins at 68 film festivals, including the BAFTA Awards, European Film Awards, and Gotham Independent Film Awards.

Despite its success, No Other Land has struggled with distribution, particularly in the United States. Co-director Yuval Abraham suggested that political reasons might be behind the lack of a major distributor.

Attack on Ballal: Retaliation for speaking out?

The attack on Ballal came shortly after No Other Land won an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at the 97th Academy Awards. His co-director, Basel Adra, suspects that the assault could be retaliation for making the film.

"We came back from the Oscars, and every day since, there has been an attack on us," Adra told AP. "It feels like punishment for making the movie."

Ballal is currently injured and being held in an Israeli settlement, with no confirmed reports on his condition. According to Abraham, his lawyer has not been allowed to speak to him yet, raising concerns about his well-being.

As present, Ballals arrest has drawn global attention, sparking debates about press freedom, human rights, and the risks faced by Palestinian activists.
The military cooperation between the United States and Greece is the cornerstone of security and stability in Europe, US President Donald Trump said in a proclamation issued for Greek Independence Day.

"Greece is one of our nation's

oldest friends , strategic partners, and a valued NATO ally. We appreciate the support of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in our economic and diplomatic partnership as we forge opportunities for collaboration in key sectors including energy science , technology, shipping, logistics , and defense. The permanent presence of naval forces in Souda Bay and bilateral training events enhance warfighting capabilities and reflect our mutual commitment to joint military cooperation as a cornerstone of security and stability in Europe ," Trump said in the proclamation.

The US president also made special mention of the Greek American community and its contributions: "Today, across the United States, generations of Greek Americans infuse our neighborhoods and communities with a rich legacy of cultural traditions, and a heritage of family, faith, hospitality, and civic responsibility."

Trump attended an event to celebrate Greek Independence Day at the White House, which was also attended by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.

A message of congratulations was also sent by US State Secretary Marco Rubio on the occasion, in which he said that the United States look forward to even greater development of bilateral relations.

   iefimerida.gr
We value Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis support in our economic and diplomatic cooperation, noted the American president in the text , while also praising the Greek-American community
When the Revolution erupted in 1821, Greece had no real financial infrastructure.

The Greek War of Independence is often remembered as a heroic struggle fought with swords and rifles, forged in the flames of nationalism and sacrifice. But beneath the battlefield valor and stirring rhetoric

lay a far more complex and rarely told storyone of financial improvisation, institutional birth pains, and a desperate scramble for survival in economic terms. How did a stateless, unrecognized, and unstructured nation manage to finance a prolonged war against one of the worlds largest empires?

When the Revolution erupted in 1821, Greece had no real financial infrastructure. There was no centralized treasury, no taxation system, and no international access to capital. The few economic resources that existedsuch as the modest fund controlled by the secret society Filiki Eteriawere insufficient to meet the enormous demands of a war that would drag on for nearly a decade. The uprising began with enthusiasm, but without money.

In the absence of a functioning state apparatus, early funding efforts were patchwork and often chaotic. Resource collection came through a mishmash of methods, ranging from the brutallooting, ransom demands, and forced seizures of propertyto more structured approaches like local fundraising drives, ad hoc taxation, and support from wealthy members of the Greek diaspora. Philhellenes from across Europe and the United States also provided financial aid, driven by romantic ideals of classical Greece and the belief in a Christian struggle against Ottoman rule.

Despite this improvised start, the revolutionary leadership recognized that survival depended on creating some kind of fiscal order. Gradually, institutions began to emerge. National funds were established to centralize revenue, ministries were formed, and committees took shape to oversee administrative functions. The National Assembliesembryonic forms of representative governanceattempted to provide political legitimacy and a sense of accountability. Even amidst civil war and foreign threats, efforts were made to manage money, distribute supplies, and maintain at least the appearance of governance.

Interestingly, the revolutionary authorities did not completely discard the financial practices of the Ottoman Empire. Instead, they adapted several Ottoman administrative mechanismssuch as tax farming and head tax registersto suit their new political reality. This pragmatic reuse of familiar systems allowed for a degree of continuity, however flawed, and made it easier to extract resources from local communities in the name of the national cause.

A more structured effort to control the wars financial dimensions came during the Second National Assembly in 1823, which produced the first rudimentary national budget. While far from comprehensive, it marked a shift toward long-term planning and laid early foundations for what would later become the Greek states fiscal apparatus.

Nevertheless, it soon became clear that domestic sources alone could not sustain the war effort. The revolutionaries turned to the international financial marketsspecifically, to Britain. Securing foreign loans became not only an economic necessity but a political strategy: obtaining money from European powers implied recognition and support. Two major loans were secured from British lenders, but both were riddled with problems. The terms were harsh, the intermediaries numerous, and the actual sums that reached Greece were a fraction of what had been agreed. The first loan in 1824 was nominally 800,000; only about 300,000 made it to Greek hands. The second, in 1825, was for 2 millionyet only 100,000 and some supplies ever arrived.

These loans, while vital, introduced a host of new complications. Financial mismanagement, corruption, and internal rivalries erupted over how the funds were used. Prominent foreign supporters of the Revolution, such as the American doctor and philhellene Samuel Howe, openly criticized the squandering of funds. Howe lamented that less than a sixth of the borrowed money reached the fighters who needed it most. The Scottish historian George Finlay, known for his cool, unsentimental view of the Revolution, harshly condemned the excesses, bribery, and conspicuous displays of wealth by members of the revolutionary leadership.

And yet, amid all this chaos, something remarkable happened. Out of necessity, Greece began to build institutions. Even in the middle of a war, the foundations of public financial management were laid. The establishment of Greeces first ministries, the early national budgets, and eventually the creation of the Court of Audit in 1829 signaled a slow but determined shift toward statehood. Practices such as promissory notes and war bonds emerged as innovative responses to the chronic lack of liquidityprimitive, yet effective ways to keep the economy moving in wartime conditions.

The economic history of the Greek Revolution teaches us that the creation of a state is never just about military victories or political declarations. It is also about the difficult, often invisible work of building institutions, managing scarce resources, and navigating the temptations of power and money. Despite serious missteps, the financial dimension of the 1821 Revolution played a crucial role in the eventual formation of the modern Greek state.

More than two centuries later, the legacy of those early decisionsboth the achievements and the failingsstill echoes through Greek public life.

#1821
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court Abuja has stepped down from the case filed by Senator Representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that at the proceedings on Tuesday, Justice Egwuatu announced his decision to withdraw from the matter after the usual court appearances.

He cited the allegation of bias from the third defendant in the case, Senate President Godswilll Akpabio, as the major reason for his decision.

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It was gathered that the Senate President had expressed a lack of confidence in the ability of the court to do justice on the matter, hence the reason for the development.

READ MORE: Alleged Sexual Harassment: Federal High Court Grants Recall Process Of Senator Natasha

The judge granted the five prayers after Sanusi Musa, SAN, who appeared for Natasha, moved the ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025.

The Kogi lawmaker had, in the motion ex-parte, sued clerk of the National Assembly and the Senate as 1st and 2nd defendants.

She also named Senator Akpabio and Senator Neda Imasuem, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct as 3rd and 4th defendants respectively.

The senator had sought an order of interim injunction restraining the Senates committee headed by Imasuem from proceeding with the purported investigation against her for alleged misconduct.
The Bauchi State Police Command has detained two people in connection with the death of Dauda Manu, a 25-year-old motorbike rider in the state.

Ahmed Wakil, the commands Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed this in a statement released on Monday.

Wakil explained, On 05/03/2025, an incident report was available at the disposal of Darazo Divisional Police Headquarters that a motionless body of an unidentified individual was found lying along Dosho Village, near Darazo, with multiple injuries.

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Upon receiving the report, a team of detectives led by the Divisional Police Officer visited the scene and evacuated the unidentified body to the General Hospital Darazo, where the victim was certified dead by a medical doctor.

READ MORE: Joint Security Operatives Rescue Kidnapped Naval Officer, Civilians In Abuja

The PPRO stated that before his death, Dauda Manu was last seen on 04/03/2025 riding his Boxer motorcycle with two unidentified men.

Wakil disclosed that during the ongoing investigation, authorities arrested a 25-year-old man, Yau Buba, from Minchika Village in Darazo LGA, on Thursday in Gombe State while in possession of the victims motorcycle.

He stated that during questioning, Buba disclosed that he bought the motorcycle from Buba Muhammadu for 250,000. Muhammadu was later arrested on 21/03/2025.

Wakil mentioned that the case had been handed over to the state criminal investigation department for further discreet inquiries.

He stated that the suspects would be prosecuted in court.
The Lagos State Police Command has taken four bank employees into custody for allegedly participating in a complex fraud and money laundering operation that siphoned over 138,924 (more than 270 million) from international airline accounts.

CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the commands spokesperson, confirmed the arrests during a news briefing on Monday at the state police headquarters in Ikeja.

According to CSP Hundeyin, The suspects conspired to siphon funds from domiciliary accounts into personal accounts before redistributing them to multiple destinations.

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The fraud was uncovered when the affected bank detected unauthorized transactions and alerted the police.

READ MORE: 12 Suspects Arrested As Army Destroys 19 Illegal Refineries In Niger Delta

The spokesperson further said: Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of the following suspects: Oluwatobiloba Olaleye, male, aged 27, was arrested on March 12, 2025, in Ogun State. A Toyota Camry 2012/2013, suspected to be a proceed of the crime, was recovered from him.

Oladunjoye Adegoke, male, aged 33, was arrested on March 13, 2025, in Victoria Island, Lagos. A Toyota Camry (Pencil Light), suspected to be another proceed of the stolen funds, was also recovered.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Austin Alfred, male, aged 38, the Supervisor of the Trade Services Department, and Jude Uzobuaku, male, aged 36, a processor in the same department. Both facilitated the illegal transfer of funds to foreign accounts.

Investigations by the police revealed that the stolen money was initially deposited into an account owned by one of the suspects before being distributed across several other accounts to complicate tracking. Efforts are ongoing to identify more suspects and retrieve the remaining funds.

The suspects are in custody and will face prosecution as the investigation continues, CSP Hundeyin stated.

The police have encouraged the public to report any suspicious financial activities, reaffirming their dedication to tackling economic crimes.
Veteran Nollywood actor Jide Kosoko has set the record straight, stating that he was never married to four wives simultaneously.

He clarified that he was initially married to two women, but after their passing, he later married another two.

Speaking on a recent episode of The Honest Bunch podcast, posted on Instagram Monday, the actor described himself as lucky with polygamy, as his wives and children share a mutual understanding.

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READ MORE: By Nigerian Standards, I Cant Claim To Be Wealthy  Jide Kosoko

However, he remarked that he is not promoting polygamy, as not everyone may be as fortunate as he is.

Kosoko said, I didnt have four wives at the same time o! Dont get it wrong because people are not getting it. I had two, I lost them. I married another two.

I am not supporting polygamy. Not everybody can be this lucky. Do you know that in some polygamous homes, you have mothers with different children, and your own daughters or childs birthday is tomorrow? Fortunately, we celebrated it elaborately. But when it comes to another childs birthday, and I am not buoyant enough, my children and their mothers understand that with me.

If its your birthday and I have money, I will do it. If your own comes when I dont have money, thats your fate. Its a matter of luck with me. But you must have shown them that you love them all. You must have given them that love in other ways, so when its not coming at that material time, they will easily understand.

Another one will tell me, Daddy, anytime you get money, you still need to buy me something for my birthday. I will say, By Gods grace, remind me. And when the money comes and they remind me, I give them what they ought to have gotten for their birthday.

But dont tell me that because I bought something for your co-wifes son, I must also buy for your son. If you do so, you lose it. I wont buy. Thats not the way I operate.
Victor Giwa, a counsel to lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has accused Kogi State Government of sponsoring the recall process of the suspended lawmaker.

Speaking during an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday, Mr. Giwa said that the state government, through Charity Omole, one of the aides of Governor Usman Ododo, has been championing the recall of Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Recall that INFORMATION NIGERIA had reported that Mrs. Omole on Monday, led some constituents to submit a recall process to Independent Electoral Commission in Abuja.

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Reacting to the development on Tuesday, Giwa said that the action to recall Natasha from the senate was politically motivated by the All Progressives Congress administration in the state against the suspended senator who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party.

He also faulted the reason for the recall of the Senator Natasha, saying that it was not issue-based or performance-centred but because she accused Senate President Godswil Akpabio of sexual harassment.

Giwa said: The truth of the matter is that there is no way the recall process can go through except it is done fraudulently.

It is a tortuous and practically impossible process.

READ MORE: Alleged Sexual Harassment: Justice Egwuatu Withdraws From Natashas Case Against Senator Akpabio

In this case, the lady that led that protest is the senior special assistant to the governor of Kogi State on women and youths. You will see that is government-sponsored recall.

Charity Ijese Omole is currently the senior special assistant to the governor of Kogi State on women and youths. It is more or less the government sponsoring this process, not the constituents, and that fundamentally has faulted the process.

The process of recall must be such that is initiated from the constituents but in this case, we can see the handwriting on the wall; it is the governor that is trying to do whatever they claim they are doing.
Organised Labour has issued warning to President Bola Tinubus administration to reverse the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State.

The union noted that its may be forced to take action that could disrupt national economic activities if Governor Sim Fubara, his Deputy, Ngozi Nma and the states House of Assembly did not return to their various offices.

Recall that President Tinubu, on the 11th of March, 2025, made the suspension announcement, saying that Governor Fubaras approach to militants threats on oil facilities wasnt good enough.

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Meanwhile, in a statement jointly signed by Rivers State Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Alex Agwanwor; State Chairperson of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Ikechukwu Onyefuru; and Chairperson of the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), Chuku Emecheta on Tuesday, raised concerns about economic impact of Tinubus action.

READ MORE: Rivers Crisis: Reps Member Urges Tinubu To Restore Fubara, Engage Abdulsalami Committee

The union described the suspension of the elected officers as premature and baseless decision by federal government.

The statement reads: While the Rivers state Organized labour supports maintaining law and order, it insists that actions such as declaration of state of emergency and suspending elected officials must align with the Nigerian Constitution and protect workers from avoidable wage invalidity, non-payment of salaries at all levels, safety and security threats.

The Rivers State Organized labour is appealing to the President, National Assembly, and Judiciary to urgently reverse the premature state of emergency and suspension of elected officials and return the state to normalcy.

The federal government is strongly advised to engage in genuine dialogue to prevent further escalation of the issues in Rivers State. All workers are advised remain calm and continue their duties while awaiting a favorable response on the concerns raised.

The Organized labour may be compelled to take strategic union actions which might disrupt national economic activities if our demands are not met within a reasonable timeframe.
Edo State Police Command has commenced an investigation following a report of a man, identified as Wealth Nnamdi, who was accused of killing his pregnant fiancee, including a three year old daughter of his lover.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that the horrible incident happened on March 23, 2025 at Idiagbonya street in Ovbiogie community, along the Benin-Lagos expressway.

The deceased, identified as Osasu Aimienoho lsaac while her three year old daughter, who was also killed, is Aleluya Uwuigbe.

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The lovers were said to have dated for over three years and scheduled their marriage for March 29, 2025.

It was gathered that the three-year-old daughter of the deceased was from a previous relationship she had with another man.

This was contained in a statement by Spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, Moses Joel Yamu on Tuesday.

He said: Ekiadolor Division received a report from a concerned neighbour of the deceased that he is perceiving an offensive odour from his neighbours room located at Idiangbona Street of Ovbiogoe Community.

The Edo State Police Command has since commenced investigation into the gruesome murder of a woman popularly known as Mama Hallelujah and her three 3-year-old daughter named Miracle.

READ MORE: Edo Police Apprehend Two Suspected Kidnappers

On the strength of the report, the DPO Ekiadolor led operatives to the area where the odour emanated from; however, they discovered that it was locked from outside.

The room was forced open, and the decomposing bodies of the woman with an injury that appears to be a machete cut on her head and her baby on the bed were discovered.

During preliminary investigation, all fingers pointed at her live-in lover, simply identified as Wealth Nnamdi, whose wedding with the deceased mother of one was set for 29/03/2025.

The suspect has since gone underground since the discovery, as the command is doing everything possible to ensure the arrest of the fleeing suspect.
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy, has launched a scathing attack on Peter Obi, calling him a failed politician who lacks a basic understanding of democracy.

Bwalas comments came in response to Obis remarks about the state of democracy in Nigeria, which he believes has collapsed since the nations return to democratic rule in 1999.

Bwala questioned Obis credentials, saying he has no history of democratic activism and his expertise lies in instigating hate speech and vitriol.

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In a scathing post on his X handle on Tuesday, Daniel Bwala had this to say: It is funny how failed politicians are trying to redefine democracy. @PeterObi said democracy has collapsed.

Does he even know the meaning of democracy?

When people were fighting for democracy, Gregory was buying and selling.

He doesnt have a history of any democratic activism from his school days to date.

His expertise lies in instigating hate speech and vitriol.

Talk is cheap.

https://x.com/BwalaDaniel/status/1904470540514996526?t=sWg3IOM192R39krOdJE7qQ&s=19
Veteran comedian and actor Okey Bakassi has strongly criticised Nigerian politicians, accusing them of behaving like they are above the law and suppressing free speech.

In a video shared on X on Tuesday, Bakassi expressed frustration over the growing intolerance of dissent by those in power, warning that their actions could have serious consequences.

Politicians are now behaving like they are gods. All of them are behaving like they are untouchable. If you talk, they lock you up, they arrest you, he said.

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READ MORE: VeryDarkMan Accuses EFCC Of Extorting Celebrities, Challenges Commission To Invite Him

He argued that the reckless actions of political leaders could one day trigger a major crisis, yet they would expect ordinary citizens to defend democracy when it suits them.

This is how they will continue in this recklessness now. The day they hear Fellow Nigerians, we have taken over the command of government, they will now say its coup. Oh, civilians must take to the streets and defend democracy.

Civilians must fight for democracy. They dont want civilians to say anything about democracy, Bakassi added.

His remarks come amid growing concerns over political oppression in Nigeria, where critics of the government often face harassment or arrest.

Bakassi, known for his bold political statements, has previously spoken out against bad governance. His latest comments have sparked debate online, with some Nigerians supporting his stance, while others urged caution in how such criticisms are framed.

The comedians outburst reflects the increasing frustration among Nigerians over a political system that many believe prioritises power over accountability.
Signs on Delaware Avenue in Wilmington, Del., on March 14, 2025, urging opposition to Senate Bill 21, which was drafted by corporate lawyers and backed by Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer and legislative leaders, to make it harder for small groups of shareholders to sue corporations. Read more

Elon Musk seems to be everywhere this month, between firing federal workers for President Donald Trump, and news at his companies Tesla, SpaceX, and X. And his image is all over political mailers in Delaware, as part of a high-stakes but intensely local lobbying campaign over a piece of proposed state legislation.

Senate Bill 21 was designed to make it tougher for small groups of shareholders to sue controlling shareholders like Musk or Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg for alleged conflicts of interest.

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That should make it easier, for example, for Musk to collect the $50 billion-plus pay package twice blocked by the courts top Chancery judge, Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick. Or it could help Zuckerberg sink an attempt to make Meta pay its shareholders for the billions it was fined for illegally sharing customer information.

The bill was approved by the state Senate unanimously last week, and the House agreed Tuesday, 32-7, with a few Democrats dissenting, after an hourslong debate and the failure of proposed amendments that would weaken the changes. Gov. Matt Meyer promptly signed it into law.

Whats at stake?

The struggle is over corporate law changes, backed by new Gov. Matt Meyer, state Senate leaders, and local and national law and investment firms representing big companies. They say the legislation would preserve Delawares lucrative status as Americas Corporate Capital and $2 billion in yearly corporate fees, a third of the states budget.

Critics, who included activist investors, pension plans, corporate governance scholars, and some of Meyers fellow Democrats, say the state and its business-friendly Chancery Court risk losing their legal integrity to a Musk-backed corporate coup.

Why corporations love Delaware

In 1899, Delaware passed a business-friendly incorporation law, which it kept in place as other states were restricting corporations. Ever since, Delaware has been a reliable place to incorporate at low fees, and settle business disputes fast and with minimal fuss.

More than half of publicly traded companies and more than 60% of the Fortune 500 are incorporated in Delaware, the state says. Wilmington is home to branch offices of big New York, Washington, and Philadelphia law firms, and homegrown firms that specialize in Chancery cases.

The Court of Chancery itself is an attraction, run by governor-appointed corporate lawyers. These chancellors and vice chancellors are specialized judges, working without juries, who can quickly settle fights among shareholders and managers.

The states corporate rules are fine-tuned annually by way of legislation shaped by corporate and investor lawyers, and those changes are rarely controversial. This year its different.

Is business really fleeing Delaware?

Even with Tesla making good on Musks threat to quit Delaware for Texas, and Meta also threatening to leave, many companies are still moving their legal business into Delaware.

Among U.S. start-ups last year, 89% were incorporated under Delaware law, Columbia law professor Dorothy Lund said Feb. 24, at a conference in New York sponsored by the University of Delawares corporate governance program.

Lund said the lawsuit restrictions in Senate Bill 21 are mostly of interest to a small group of companies whose bosses are also controlling shareholders, like Musk and Zuckerberg are.

I dont think this is the story of a huge threat, Lund said. Yet we have a big reaction.

Gov. Meyer says corporate fee collections are higher this year than last. But Meyer worries the complaints by powerful CEOs like Musk, and perception by more mainstream companies that Delaware has become too friendly to plaintiffs lawyers and activists, could in time drive away business and hurt state revenues.

Whos not happy with the Chancery Court?

Phil Shawe, cofounder of the billion-dollar legal-translation company TransPerfect, had been so upset by Chancery rulings in a yearslong dispute over the companys value that he has funded a campaign of public attacks on Chancery and the Delaware establishment as corrupt.

Last year Shawe spent $1.25 million on a PAC that campaigned against Delawares Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long in the Democratic primary. That helped enable Meyer to take over the states top job.

By then, Shawes campaign wasnt so lonely.

In 2022, Delawares top Chancery judge, Kathaleen McCormick, rejected Musks attempts to back out of a contract to buy the social media platform Twitter, now known as X. Then in 2024 she twice ruled that the Tesla boards plan to grant him over $50 billion in stock was illegal because the company failed to show it was in outside shareholders best interest. McCormick wouldnt budge even when a majority of shareholders, including Vanguard Group, approved the payout.

Musk fulminated against Delaware on X then moved his companies legal homes out of the state. He steered Tesla to Texas, which has lately established business courts in its major cities.

McCormick also ruled against Meta boss Mark Zuckerbergs 2017 attempt to transfer shares to his children while still controlling their vote. Meta now faces another Chancery complaint, by a group of pension funds, demanding compensation for Facebooks illegal sharing of customer data.

Old commandment, new vibes

At its roots, corporate law is simple: Though shalt not steal, said Sean Griffith, a law professor at Fordham University. He compared past Delaware cases to morality plays in which judges reviewed whether boards had done enough to ensure shareholders interests were protected.

But ruling against Musks billions even after shareholders endorsed the payout may be logically compelling but politically untenable, Griffith added.

New York University law professor Edward Rock, a longtime scholar of the Delaware court, suggested the Senate bill was a reaction to a recent vibe that Delawares reputation for sophisticated courts with business acumen has suffered. Rich company founders find it outrageous to be told they cant take big money without meeting extra court-ordered conditions.

Rock worried about the rushed attempt to fix these perceptions by restricting judges powers through legal limits. The more law is spelled out on the books, not left to veteran Chancery judges discretion, the easier for competing states to copy, he added, removing Delawares competitive advantage.

Whos for it?

The bill was drafted in the offices of Delawares leading corporate law firm, Richards, Layton & Finger, one of several that represented Musk in Delaware litigation.

Gov. Meyer, after consulting corporate lawyers, told residents the law must be passed to preserve the states ability to continue without a retail sales tax. He warned against opponents misinformation.

Meyers stance marked a departure from state officials usual reticence about corporate law.

The governor faced very intense pressure, said Lawrence Cunningham, head of the University of Delawares corporate governance center, at the New York event. He did something most governors havent: He exercised leadership.

The bill was backed by an influential legal trio: William Chandler, a former top Chancery Court judge who now works for a leading Silicon Valley law firm, Wilson Sonsini; Leo E. Strine, a former Delaware Chief Justice, who once toured Ivy League law schools campaigning for fair and sustainable business practices; and Lawrence Hamermesh, professor emeritus at Widener University, Delawares only law school.

Whos against?

The bills critics included Charles Elson, a Delaware-based corporate-governance adviser, and other corporate-governance scholars.

This isnt good for Delaware, or for capital markets, said Elson, before testifying against the bill at a Dover hearing. Some of the corporate law scholars who specialize in governance issues have also come out against it.

Elson predicted the bill would convince some shareholders to avoid Delaware because they would lose the power to protest self-serving CEO decisions. Activist public-pension funds and hedge-fund investors, plaintiffs lawyer groups, and consumer organizations also urged Delaware representatives to resist the bill.

Editors note: This story has been updated.
Interview: Cambodia-China "rock-solid" ties based on profound historical roots -- Cambodian expert

Xinhua) 13:54, March 25, 2025

PHNOM PENH, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Deep historical roots have laid a robust foundation for Cambodia and China to build the current "rock-solid" ties, a Cambodian expert has said.

The two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1958 under their then leaderships, Cambodian King Father Norodom Sihanouk and Chinese elder generation leaders, and bilateral ties were elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation in 2010.

Hong Vanak, director of the international economics department at the International Relations Institute of Cambodia under the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said Cambodia saw China the "most trusted friend", as China considered Cambodia as an "ironclad friend".

"If we look at the history of the relationship between the two countries, it dates back to the Angkorian era in the 13th century," he told Xinhua in a recent interview.

He said in the modern era, both countries have fostered their ties based on the five principles of peaceful coexistence, mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression, non-interference in internal affairs, and equality and mutual benefit.

"Mutual political trust, respect, support, non-interference and win-win cooperation have driven Cambodia-China relations to the highest-ever level in the history," Vanak said.

The expert said bilateral ties have not only provided tremendous benefits to both countries, but also contributed to promoting peace, security, stability and development in the region.

He said as a developing country, Cambodia has a lot of needs from China for the development of its country, and that China is a major supporter for Cambodia's socio-economic development and poverty alleviation.

He said Cambodia and China agreed in 2023 to develop a "Diamond Cooperation Framework" with six priority areas, including political cooperation, production capacity and quality, agriculture, energy, security and people-to-people exchanges.

The two countries have also agreed to work together to develop an "Industrial Development Corridor" and "Fish and Rice Corridor".

"This framework has further strengthened bilateral cooperation in all fields including culture, the economy, and politics among others toward success for all in a shared future," he added.

China has sent many agricultural and poverty alleviation experts to Cambodia, the assistance was crucial to assist Cambodia to modernize its agriculture and lift its people out of poverty, Vanak said.

"China has enjoyed far stronger development in industry, agro-industry, and smart agriculture than us, so through cooperation, Cambodia has received technology transfers, human resources development, and real practices from China's assistance or investment," he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Carolyn Henrich, of Silver Spring, Md., uses the EV charging station at the Royal Farms at 3314 Market St. on Monday, March 10, 2025, in Upper Chichester, Pa. Read more

The Trump administration has tried to pull the plug on the federally funded EV charger program designed to electrify Americas highways, but that isnt stopping Pennsylvania from charging ahead.

The $7.5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021, and aimed to build out charging infrastructure in all 50 states.

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But a Feb. 6 letter from the Federal Highway Administration pulled back much of that money, leaving states scrambling to determine exactly what they could do.

Pennsylvania is among the states in a position to forge ahead.

Kudos to PennDot  PennDot was on it, said Ingrid Malmgren, senior policy director for the EV advocacy nonprofit Plug In America. They really have been paying attention; theyve been making plans; they have chargers up and running. Theyre definitely ahead of other states.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced at the end of last month that three new NEVI chargers have been added to the network, giving the Philadelphia regions EV owners more freedom to plan trips west to Pittsburgh, with a station near the Pennsylvania Turnpike at Carlisle, and north to upstate New York, with another on I-81 just south of the border. A third station near Chambersburg has also come online, bringing the total number of stations to eight, with three more to come soon, PennDot said.

The three new stations join five already in service in the commonwealth, including one in Aston, Delaware County.

Pennsylvania has probably the most to lose if money doesnt come through, with 91 total chargers planned in this first round of funding, totaling $71 million. Other states have been slow on getting the funding obligated, or contracted out to vendors to commence building.

Compared to many other states, we have more NEVI stations built, said Alexis Campbell, press secretary for PennDot, a point that Malmgren confirmed with her own research. We hit the ground running as soon as we could on this and we had a really good response from the private sector wanting to take advantage of this money.

As far as using obligated funds, I think were in a pretty good position, but its still really up in the air.

But the battle for charging stations is far from over.

Funding of the unfinished first-round charging stations in the Keystone State had been put into doubt after the Feb. 6 memo from the Transportation Departments Federal Highway Administration, but PennDot said their lawyers are confident that obligated funds must be covered and decided to green-light proceeding.

NEVI is in Division J of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and as part of the statutory language, it provides an explicit process by which state departments of transportation have funding made available for them, said Andrew Wishnia, a senior vice president at Boundary Stone Partners and the former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Climate Policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation, and a principal architect of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

That process was followed by every state department of transportation, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico consistent with the law, and as a result I think that is why there is as much concern as has been made apparent because states have complied with the law and as such are looking to access funds that have been duly apportioned.

The next round is the uncertain part: About $100 million for Pennsylvania is not obligated, and it was intended for chargers in communities, Campbell said.

Whether or not that happens, I dont think anyone knows, Campbell said. Thats the part thats up in the air right now.

Litigation is expected from many states on all aspects of the funding pause, Malmgren said.

If the pause was intended to upend EV drivers confidence in finding charging around the country, it appears to be working. A map published by Plug In America shows stations listed as paused per FHWA directive across Wisconsin, Michigan, Virginia, Tennessee, and Arizona, to name a few. Charging stations in North Carolina, Kentucky, Illinois, Texas, and California are still listed as announced, as are Pennsylvanias. Pennsylvania was among the first four states to begin the NEVI process.

But even with the money considered obligated, the Trump administrations early leanings toward ignoring court rulings adds some risk.

Private EV charging operators  like Pilot, Okla.-based Francis Energy, EVGo, and Tesla, to name just a few  apply for the federal funds through PennDot, and the operators are eligible to have up to 80% of their costs covered. But that money is reimbursed, and the operators have to front the costs.

So the question lingers  will that money be paid?

I think time will tell, Wishnia said.

What we have seen is not delivery but delay, Wishnia added. But, he noted, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has stated that he is committed to deploy chargers quickly, and I think thats a hopeful sentiment.

The Biden administration took care to get buy-in from all corners of the country, setting up EV factories in red states and focusing charger funding on making it easier for EV owners to gain access to underserved areas.

But Trump made it a recurring theme in his campaign that EVs and other alternative-fuel vehicles would have little support if he was reelected.

Still, EVs are hardly a blue state vs. red state issue.

We didnt have to twist any arms to get these NEVI plans approved, Wishnia said. Every single state in the country, including every deep-red pocket of the country, submitted voluntarily a NEVI plan. I think [it] was a demonstration of the fact that this was bipartisan on the ground and that looks very different from the politics in D.C.

That bipartisanship may remain because, despite continued predictions that EV sales would tank, the evidence for that is slim.

Year-over-year EV sales rose 16.1% for the month of February, according to data provided by the everything-automotive site Edmunds.com. Of all auto sales last month, 7.6% were EVs, down from a high of 8.8% in September.

Continuing high sales may be affected by the Trump administration threatening to end rebates for EVs. But the federal governments fuel economy website still lists 15 EV models eligible for a $7,500 rebate as of February.

J.D Power expects EV sales to hold at about 9.1% of vehicles sold in 2025.

And charging in the country continues to build, with or without NEVI. The number of DC fast chargers  the fastest available and the kind the NEVI program supports  have doubled to over 51,000 since September 2022, according to the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. Add in Level 2 chargers  which add 15 to 30 miles in an hour of charging  and that number swells to 200,000.

Malmgren and other experts worry about what this will mean for the future. Charging stations will be slow to build and cost more, Malmgren said, and contractors will become reluctant to work with federal and state agencies.

And it could even put the U.S. on the back foot in trying to compete with other countries.

As a country, deciding not to help make the move to electric vehicles will put American manufacturing at a disadvantage as the competition from all over the world develops better and better products for their home markets, said Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions in Chester Springs.
EPA workers gathered for a solidarity march around Philadelphia City Hall on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. The demonstration was in response to President Donald Trump's administration shakeup of the agency. Read more

Chris Day, 66, retired from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in May 2022, but on Tuesday he found himself outside the agencys Center City office.

Were mission-driven to protect human health and the environment, and thats whats important to us, and thats what were trying to do, said Day, who was an EPA lawyer for 33 years. So let us do our jobs.

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EPA workers and supporters of the federal workforce gathered in a solidarity march during their lunch break Tuesday afternoon in Philadelphia, joining a day of coordinated actions against the Trump administrations recent shake-ups at the agency. The marches were organized by Council 238 of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the union representing EPA workers.

Demonstrators held signs that read Save EPA!, Planet over profit, and I  clean air. The leader of a chant called out: When clean water is under attack, what do we do? The crowd responded: Stand up. Fight back.

It was important for me to come out here, because it doesnt really feel like the EPA should be a partisan division, said Brodie Weigelt, whose partner is an EPA employee.

Weigelt added that the agency was created under President Richard Nixon. Clean air and clean water is not a partisan issue, he said.

The EPA shake-ups are part of a larger movement by President Donald Trump and Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency to shrink the federal workforce in a stated effort to cut government spending. On his first day in office, Trump signed several executive orders affecting federal workers that ordered a hiring freeze, an end to DEI initiatives, and a return to fully in-person work.

The administration has also encouraged workers to resign by offering buyouts, and asked them to send an email to show their accomplishments. Federal workers have been laid off in Philadelphia and across the country.

They include at least three Philadelphia-area EPA workers as of last month. An additional 14 local EPA employees performing environmental justice work had been put on leave before then, according to Brad Starnes, president of AFGE Local 3631.

Some fired probationary workers have been reinstated across agencies. Some of the EPAs local environmental justice workers have been called back as well, Starnes noted, while some remain on leave in a state of limbo. The union still does not know if the briefly jobless probationary employees will get back pay, he added.

Starnes says members he represents in his bargaining unit generally are feeling a lot of concern and an unsettling sense.

This is exponentially worse than anything weve ever experienced in the past. Its hard, he said.

A return to in-person work

The majority of EPA employees assigned to the Center City location were required to resume full-time in-office work on Monday, Starnes said. Non-bargaining employees had returned to the office already, and fully remote workers are expected to return on April 7, he noted.

The mandate totally disregards or nullifies or rescinds the union-negotiated agreement, Starnes said, and the union has filed a grievance.

These workplace flexibilities allow workers to do their job, which they have been doing and will continue to do even in light of this change, Starnes said.

Joyce Howell, executive vice president of AFGE Council 238, said she is concerned about plans to cut the EPA budget 65% and the impact that could have on the agencys mission to protect drinking water and respond to pollution events, such as the SPS Technologies fire in Abington in February.

The Delaware and the Schuylkill Rivers provide drinking water to 17 million people, Howell noted while in front of City Hall, and we protect that.

She pointed to the ground and continued: We have right here, underneath our feet, pipes taking water to buildings and taking waste out of buildings. All those pipes were probably put in with some type of grant from EPA or from the states revolving loan fund.

Howell said she is also greatly concerned about any cuts to the EPAs Office of Research and Development, the agencys scientific arm. The office is bipartisan, Howell said, and came up with a way to analyze 15,000 chemical compounds under the PFAS family and create regulations for drinking water.

Its a tenuous balance between supplying clean drinking water to people from sources that are also used for industrial purposes, such as the Schuylkill, such as the Delaware River, she said. Its a very complex science to figure out how much a body of water can absorb before it cant serve its other purpose to support human health and the environment.

Reductions in force on the horizon

While some fired federal workers have been reinstated, more workforce cuts are expected.

Overall, theres just this sense of uncertainty, just a continuous insult to us and the work that we do, said Andrew Kreider, a congressional liaison for EPA Region 3 in Philadelphia. Weve got this sort of sword hanging over us that any one of us at any moment could be just told to go home. Those decisions are being made in Washington, D.C., and without regard to our performance.

Agencies across the federal government were instructed to submit plans for a significant reduction in the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions by eliminating positions that are not required by March 13, according to a memo. White House officials are now reviewing those plans, Reuters reported.

Its a scary moment, Starnes said about the forthcoming impact of the reduction-in-force plans at EPA. That is not something were looking forward to.
File of crime scene tape. Philadelphia police investigate the shooting death of a young male at 16th and Hunting Park Avenue on Tuesday morning March 28, 2023. Read more

A Philadelphia woman was charged with murder in the shooting death of her estranged husband after police found him dead outside on a tarp in Northwest Philadelphia, with a gun on his chest, police said Tuesday.

Just before 7 a.m. last Wednesday, police responded to a call of a person screaming on the 800 block of West Bells Mill Road, in the Andorra section of the city, Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said. When officers arrived, they found Jordan Baxter, 38, lying in the driveway of a home on the block between two cars, on top of a tarp, he said.

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The home, Vanore said, is that of Baxters estranged wife, Danielle Baxter, 39. The couple, who have three children, were separated, and Baxter was not living at the West Bells Mill Road home, he said.

He had a gunshot wound to the back of the head and was pronounced dead at the scene, Vanore said.

Since a gun was found on Baxters body, police initially believed he might have died by suicide, Vanore said, but his injuries were inconsistent with that.

As investigators searched the home, they determined that Baxter had been killed inside a bedroom in the house and then dragged outside to the driveway, Vanore said. A second gun, which police believe to be the murder weapon, was found in the home, he said.

Danielle Baxter was arrested Thursday and charged with murder. She was denied bail and was being held at the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center.

Jordan Baxter had been a SEPTA employee for 14 years, working as a Regional Rail engineer, said Andrew Busch, a spokesperson for SEPTA.
A firearm, which was later determined to be a BB gun, at the scene where a man was shot by police on Wednesday in South Philadelphia. Read more

A man who was shot by police in South Philadelphia last week after he pointed what appeared to be a rifle at them was identified on Monday and the weapon was revealed to be a BB gun.

John Harley, 36, remained hospitalized Monday after he was shot in the lower right torso by Officer Damien Stevenson late Wednesday morning on the 1600 block of Moore Street, police said.

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The District Attorneys Office has approved charges against Harley for possessing an instrument of crime, recklessly endangering another person, and simple assault, police said.

Around 11 a.m. on March 19, an employee from the Department of Licenses and Inspections, accompanied by two sheriffs deputies and a locksmith, arrived at a residence on the 1900 block of Morris Street to conduct a court-ordered interior inspection of the property, police said.

After they knocked and announced their presence, Harley answered the door holding what appeared to be a rifle, police said.

One of the deputies drew his firearm, backed away from the door, and repeatedly ordered Harley to drop his weapon, police said. Harley allegedly ignored the commands and went back inside.

The deputy called 911 for police backup, and a short time later, Harley appeared again and exited the front door with the same weapon, police said.

Harley walked away from the property with the deputies following at a safe distance, police said.

Officer Stevenson and his partner  both assigned to counterterrorism  along with a sergeant from the 17th District, encountered Harley at 18th and Moore Streets, police said.

The officers repeatedly ordered Harley to drop his weapon, but he did not, police said.

On the 1600 block of Moore Street, Harley allegedly pointed the weapon at Stevenson and the sergeant. Stevenson, armed with a long gun, fired at Harley, who then dropped his weapon and fell to the ground, police said. Harley was transported to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Crime Scene Unit personnel examined Harleys weapon and reported that it was black airsoft-style BB gun, police said.

Various aspects of the incident were recorded by multiple police body cameras and security cameras in the area, police said.

Stevenson, 46, who is a 17-year veteran of the force, was placed on required administrative duty while the shooting is investigated internally by the department.

City records show the property that was to be inspected had violations dating back to 2023. In October, inspectors found wires just hanging and partially demolished first-floor walls without the proper permits. The property failed another inspection March 11, city records show.
Camden Superintendent Katrina T. McCombs in 2023. McCombs, a lifelong Camden educator, is leaving the district at the end of her contract to become an acting assistant commissioner of education at the state level. Read more

Camden schools longtime superintendent is leaving the district in June.

Katrina McCombs, a career Camden educator whos been superintendent of the struggling state-run district for years, will take a job as Acting Assistant Commissioner of Education for the New Jersey Department of Education. Shell oversee early childhood services.

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This decision was not made lightly; however, I feel that after seven years of leading the district through both areas of great progress and times of challenge, it was the right time for me to consider a transition, McCombs wrote in a letter announcing her departure. In this position, I plan to continue advocating for strong, equitable educational opportunities for students across our state, including our great City of Camden.

McCombs departure comes after several top Camden officials, including Mayor Victor Carstarphen, called for her ouster in the fall, according to the New Jersey Globe. The officials said they believed Camden schools needed a new direction.

Carstarphen, in a statement, thanked McCombs, and called her a lifelong friend who cares deeply for our hometown.

Camdens mayor praised McCombs for leading the citys leadership on pre-k enrollment, leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, and shepherding of $500 million in new school development projects. He said she has cemented her legacy, making a lasting and impactful contribution in the City of Camden.

Kevin Dehmer, the New Jersey Education Commissioner, cited McCombs exemplary leadership and said she would be an asset to the Division of Early Childhood Services.

State officials said McCombs departure comes by mutual agreement between her and the state.

McCombs, a Camden native and graduate of Camden High, will serve until the end of her current contract, which expires June 30. She is paid $226,973 annually to lead the school system of about 7,000 students in traditional public schools and more in the citys Renaissance schools, which are publicly funded but independently run.

Her 30-year tenure began as a kindergarten teacher in the district. In 2018, she was named acting superintendent, and given the job permanently in 2019.

McCombs, in her announcement to the Camden community, touted accomplishments including a higher graduation rate and lower dropout rate, expanding career and technical education programs, the opening of a new Camden High, and a stronger financial position.

Still, the districts students perform well below state average academically, and McCombs has had to weather significant bumps, including a major budget deficit and the closing of three schools because of declining enrollment.

A district spokesperson said McCombs had no immediate comment.

Pamela Clark, president of the Camden Education Association, thanked McCombs for her service.

We have always shared a mutual commitment to the well-being of Camdens children and the improvement of our school system, Clark said in a statement.

McCombs replacement will be chosen by the state commissioner of education, with approval from the state board  Camden schools advisory board has no say.

State officials said the Department of Education will name an interim Camden superintendent and begin a search for McCombs replacement.

Camden activist Vida Neil, a strong McCombs supporter, said she was concerned about the future of the district in light of McCombs departure and recent moves by President Donald Trump to dismantle the Department of Education.

Education is in trouble right now, Neil said. We dont know who were going to get.

The Rev. Tim Merrill, of the Imani Community Fellowship in Camden, said McCombs departure was mired in politics.

Until the control of the district is based on a democratic process, where the people determine those who will lead, the politics of our childrens best good will always take a back seat to the politics of power, Merrill said in a statement.
Margo DelliCarpini, vice president for Commonwealth campuses at Pennsylvania State University, will be leaving the system this summer, just as the school likely will be starting to carry out plans to close some campuses. DelliCarpini will become provost of the College of New Jersey. Read more

The vice president for Commonwealth campuses at Pennsylvania State University will be leaving the system this summer for another job, just as the school likely will be starting to carry out plans to close some campuses.

Margo DelliCarpini has been named provost and vice president of academic affairs at the College of New Jersey, the school announced Tuesday morning. She starts her new job there July 1.

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Penn State announced earlier this year it would be closing some of its Commonwealth campuses, with a decision on which ones coming before commencement in May. DelliCarpini is one of three administrators heading the team evaluating which campuses should be targeted for closure. The closure plans follow years of falling enrollment at the Commonwealth campuses.

DelliCarpini did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Neither did Penn State, though in a release the school stated that work on the Commonwealth campus plan would continue.

 READ MORE: Penn State plans to close some Commonwealth campuses

In a statement through TCNJ, DelliCarpini said she was thrilled to be joining the school.

The mission of TCNJ is aligned with my own professional values and commitment to public higher education that truly transforms lives and values access, affordability, and excellence, she said.

DelliCarpini joined Penn State in 2021 as chancellor of the Abington campus and professor of linguistics. She was named vice president for the Commonwealth campuses and executive chancellor in 2023, overseeing 20 campuses.

Dr. DelliCarpini will be a stalwart leader of our extraordinary faculty and a wonderful partner for the colleges leadership team, TCNJ president Michael A. Bernstein said in a statement. She possesses impeccable academic credentials, brings an impressive record of academic administrative leadership, and has a strong appreciation for the teacher-scholar model.

DelliCarpini, who got her degrees from Stony Brook University, came to Penn State from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she was vice provost for strategic educational partnerships and dean of the College of Education and Human Development.

Just how many Commonwealth campuses will close is uncertain, but Penn State president Neeli Bendapudi said in February none would shut down before the end of the 2026-27 year. She said she expects to have a recommendation from the evaluation team no later than the end of this semester and to make a final decision before commencement.

The three Commonwealth campuses in the Philadelphia region  Brandywine, Abington, and the graduate education-focused campus at Great Valley  are not being considered for closure. They are among the systems largest.

Enrollment has been declining steadily at the Commonwealth campuses. It stood at roughly 24,000 last June, down about 30% since 2010. This fall, overall enrollment at those campuses fell about 2%, but the decline in first-year enrollment was steeper: 8.4%, or 578 students.

DelliCarpini said in a statement on Penn States website that making the move will allow her to be closer to family.

I will always be grateful for my time at Penn State and I look forward to seeing the future Commonwealth Campus ecosystem being in a position to foster opportunity and supporting student growth across the University, she said.
Lucy Dacus will headline a benefit for Connor Barwin's Make the World Better Foundation at FDR Park in South Philly on July 25. Remi Wolf tops the bill on July 27. Read more

Former Philadelphia Eagle Connor Barwins Make The World Better benefit concerts will return in 2025 with Lucy Dacus and Remi Wolf as headliners of a two day music weekend in South Philly.

The concerts, which will be coproduced with promoter Bowery Presents, will take place on July 25 and July 27 at FDR Park.

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The almost all-woman bill is topped by former Philadelphian Dacus, whose new album Forever Is A Feeling comes out Friday, and will open her North American tour at the Met Philly on April 16. Dacus boygenius bandmate and romantic partner Julien Baker will perform with her new country collaborator Torres, along with indie songwriter Jay Som on Friday the 25th.

On Sunday, Wolf  the quirky California songwriter who built her audience with the EPs Youre a Dog!, Im Allergic To Dogs! and We Love Dogs! between 2019 and 2021  will headline, along with Magdalena Bay, the acclaimed alt-pop duo of Mica Tenenbaum and Matthew Lewin. A third act is yet to be announced.

The shows will benefit the ex-Eagle defensive end Barwins MTWB Foundation, which rebuilds playgrounds and public spaces throughout this city in partnership with the City of Philadelphia and the Department of Parks and Recreation.

MTWB has raised over $25 million since Barwin  who is also the executive producer of the Philly Specials Christmas albums and the Eagles director of player development  founded it with his mother Margaret Bailey during his first season with the Eagles in 2013.

The first MTWB benefit concert was held at Union Transfer in 2014, and in recent years it has been staged at the Dell Music Center in Strawberry Mansion, most recently in 2023 when Philly indie hero Alex G and Canadian pop band Alvvays were co-headliners. Performers over the years have included Kurt Vile, Amos Lee, Japanese Breakfast, and The War on Drugs.

The MTWB Weekend will also mark a return to a summer concert tradition in FDR Park. In 1994, the then traveling Lollapalooza Festival played the South Philly park, featuring headliners Beastie Boys, Smashing Pumpkins, Breeders and A Tribe Called Quest.

Im very excited that MTWB is partnering with the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation and the Bowery Presents to bring the MTWB Concert Weekend to FDR Park, Barwin said in a statement. Expanding on the benefit concerts weve done in prior years and doing it one of Phillys greatest parks, FDR Park, is going to be a really special and meaningful event for MTWB.

A MTWB fan presale will begin on Thursday, March 27 at 10 a.m. Registration is at www.mtwbconcert.com. Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, March 28 at 10 a.m. ET at AXS.com. Tickets without fees will be available at the Franklin Music Hall box office on Friday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Brandywine Hospital, shown on the day it closed, Jan. 31, 2022, has been sold to a developer. Read more

Tower Health sold the campus of its shuttered Brandywine Hospital in western Chester County to Regal Builders for an undisclosed price, the Berks County nonprofit health system said Tuesday.

Regal Builders, based in Dover, Del., said it didnt have anything to share yet about its plans for the 67-acre property in Caln Township. The campus is located near the Route 30 bypass a few miles north of Coatesville.

Brandywine was one of five hospitals Tower Health acquired from Community Health Systems Inc. in 2017. Tower closed the hospital in early 2022 amid steep losses from that acquisition and COVID-19. It also closed Jennersville Hospital, another of the former CHS facilities in Chester County. ChristianaCare acquired that property in West Grove and is turning it into a micro-hospital.

Tower had a preliminary agreement in 2023 to sell the Brandywine campus to the University of Pennsylvania Health System, but Penn did not go through with it because the property was not suitable for its construction plans.

Phoenixville and Pottstown Hospitals are Towers only remaining acute-care facilities from the CHS deal, after the sale of Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia in 2023 to a group led by Temple University Health System. Its flagship facility remains Reading Hospital in West Reading. It also owns St. Christophers Hospital for Children in a joint venture with Drexel University.
Smoke smells filled the patient room at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital where a nurse was responding to an urgent bed alarm.

The patient had attempted to light a cigarette while receiving treatment that involved supplemental oxygen, which can cause materials near it to catch fire more easily. State records show the patient felt something catch on fire and extinguished the flames with a pitcher of water.

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The patient had visible burns to their chest, upper lip, and nose, and the plastic tubing connecting the oxygen tank to their nose was partially burned and melted. The patient was treated in the surgical intensive care unit for first- and second-degree burns.

The Jan. 23 incident drew one of the Pennsylvania Department of Healths harshest reprimands for the Center City hospital, the flagship of Jefferson Healths 32-hospital system. The next day, health inspectors issued what the department deems an immediate jeopardy citation, indicating potentially life-threatening safety problems.

The health department said that Jefferson had failed to follow protocol for checking patients for smoking paraphernalia and informing them of no-smoking rules, which is required even though smoking in and around hospitals has been largely banned for more than three decades.

Jefferson staff did not document whether they had warned the patient about the risks of smoking while receiving supplemental oxygen, and failed to fill a doctors order for Nicorette lozenges, a nicotine replacement therapy, according to a February inspection report that became public in March.

The hospital should also have made sure the patient had not brought in smoking materials, such as cigarettes and a lighter, and secured them until the patient was sent home, inspectors said.

The citation was lifted three days later, after the hospital posted more No Smoking signs and retrained staff on treating patients who smoke. Jefferson updated its policies to require smoking screening for all patients when they are admitted to the hospital, and added fields to its electronic medical record to ensure staff follow protocol for securing smoking materials and administering nicotine alternatives, according to the inspection report.

Jefferson declined a request for additional comment. The inspection report describes the incident, but says nothing about the patients recovery.

 READ MORE: When quitting smoking feels like losing a best friend, this Philly-area program can help

Smoking emergency

On Jan. 23, a nurse rushed into the patients room, responding to the bed alarm and immediately smelled burning smoke in the room, according to the inspection report. There were burn marks and holes in the bedsheets, and a lighter was on the bed.

The patient had been admitted to the hospital two days earlier with a mass in their chest that was affecting their spine and causing numbness and weakness in their legs.

The inspection report does not give identifying details about the patient, such as their gender or age, and does not describe what medical treatment they received. However, it does indicate that the patient was receiving oxygen through a nasal cannula, a network of plastic tubing that delivers oxygen from a tank through the nose.

 READ MORE: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital cited after elderly patient goes missing

Jefferson prohibits smoking within 50 feet of medical facilities and requires its hospitals to post No Smoking signs in patient areas and notify patients when they arrive that smoking is not allowed, according to the inspection report.

During a tour of the hospitals 9th floor comprehensive spine nursing unit, inspectors found no visible No Smoking signs in patient rooms where oxygen is administered.

In response to the citation, Jefferson posted No Smoking signs in the emergency department and in every patient room, at the foot of bed so the message would be at eye level.

The hospital developed a mandatory training session for nursing staff on the updated policies, and agreed to monitor compliance through random audits.
As the perjury case again three former Philadelphia homicide detectives accused on lying in a murder trial drew to a close Tuesday, prosecutors called a witness who raised questions about the clothes the detectives said the killer was wearing on the night of crime.

Martin Devlin, Frank Jastrzembski, and Manuel Santiago are charged with lying under oath at the retrial of Anthony Wright, who was convicted in the 1991 rape and murder of 77-year-old Louise Talley in Nicetown. Wright spent more than two decades behind bars before his conviction was overturned when DNA evidence emerged that called into question his guilt. But prosecutors tried him again, and the detectives were key witnesses in Wrights 2016 retrial, which ended in acquittal and allowed him to walk free.

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Prosecutors in District Attorney Larry Krasners office later charged the detectives with perjury and false swearing  charges they deny but landed them at the defense table in a Philadelphia courtroom this week.

On Tuesday, a former colleague and now-retired homicide detective, Anthony Tamaino, took the stand and gave testimony at odds with Jastrzembskis account of finding evidence that the detectives said linked Wright to the crime.

Prosecutors say Devlin and Santiago lied by saying Wright willingly confessed to the crime and that Jastrzembski lied about the physical evidence he said he had gathered in the bedroom of Wrights home.

According to the detectives, Wright was wearing a distinct outfit on the night of the murder  a red-and-black Chicago Bulls sweatshirt, Fila sneakers, and blue jeans. Jastrzembski said he was the first detective in the room and he found all three items, exactly as Wright had described them in his confession.

In court Tuesday, Tamaino said he, not Jastrzembski, was the first detective in the bedroom where he said he found the sneakers and a Chicago Blackhawks, sweatshirt with a distinctive Native American logo.

Initially, he said, I couldnt find the dungarees.

He recalled calling Devlin and Santiago who were back at the homicide unit. On the phone, he said, someone told him to look under the mattress, and there, he said found a pair of jeans.

Doubts later emerged about the clothing found in Wrights bedroom when DNA evidence found that Talley was likely the one who wore the clothes, not Wright, leading prosecutors to question the detectives account of where and when the clothes were found.

Assistant District Attorney Brian Collins told the jury that Tamainos account was wildly inconsistent with Jastrzembskis previous testimony.

Defense attorney Brian McMonagle countered that the retired detectives recollection could be wrong. He noted that Tamaino had testified that his memory was poor and that his recollection had been refreshed by reading a copy of a deposition he gave years ago in a lawsuit Wright filed against the city after he was acquitted of murder.

McMonagle also faulted prosecutors for failing to call Tamaino as a witness until Monday, giving him only 24 hours to prepare.

At another point in his testimony, Tamaino said he had never threatened a suspect during an interrogation, but prosecutors read aloud a portion of his 2017 deposition in which he was questioned about such tactics and said under oath, I dont see a problem with it.

On the witness stand Tuesday, he added, Im not gonna say I didnt use any force. Im just gonna say I didnt use threats, eliciting audible gasps from the gallery.

Wright has accused two unnamed detectives of threatening him with violence before he said Devlin and Santiago made him sign a false confession. Tamaino is one of several other detectives who were involved in the case.

Also on Tuesday, defense attorneys called about a dozen former law enforcement officials, family members, and friends who testified about the good character of the three detectives.

Earlier, lawyers for the detectives asked the judge to dismiss the case against them, saying prosecutors have not presented sufficient evidence of the crimes of which they are accused. Common Pleas Court Judge Lucretia Clemons denied that request. .

Testimony is to continue this afternoon, when lawyers for the two sides are expected to make closing arguments.
Spectators interact with people in Poland after the official opening of the relocated NYC Portal to LOVE Park in Philadelphia on Oct. 22, 2024. Read more

The company behind the international Portals art installation says Philadelphias component is moving out of LOVE Park, citing vandalism concerns and event planning logistics. But it will stay in Philly for now.

The news comes on the heels of freshly revealed damage to the Portal, with at least two occurrences of vandalism this year.

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When it was turned on, the art installation connected people in other countries with Philadelphia via livestream. The Portal debuted in October at LOVE Park with live images from Dublin, Ireland; Vilnius, Lithuania; and Lublin, Poland.

The Portal has been covered since early February, when thieves cut a section of copper wire from the art installation. Last week, high winds blew off the tarp covering the Portal, revealing previous damage to the front screen and prompting a Reddit thread asking, did somebody shoot the portal? Joe Callahan, a director of the Portals project, told 6abc Monday that Portal engineers believe rocks caused the impact.

Still, its a uniquely Philly situation: Of the nearly half a dozen Portal locations globally, Portal officials say, no other locations have had issues with vandalism.

 READ MORE: Portal damage revealed by wind is from January, police say; installation may leave Philly if new funding isnt found

In addition to the vandalism, Callahan also said organizers want to avoid having to move the Portal  which weighs about 3.5 tons  out of the way for the annual Christmas Village like they did last year.

Where will the Philly Portal go?

Organizers arent saying yet, but Portal officials are working with the city and are considering three potential locations. According to 6abc, one of those locations is indoors.

Portal officials say the grand reveal is coming in the next few weeks.

What about funding?

A Portal spokesperson, Nicolas Klaus, told The Inquirer last week that repairs to the installation had been delayed because of funding issues. Klaus said his organization was working to find sponsorships to keep the installation active and to find it a permanent Philadelphia location.

Both of the above objectives have unfortunately not been realized so far, even though we have received plenty of interest from other U.S. cities to join the Portals artwork, Klaus said. We feel the Portal has been tremendously well received by the people of Philadelphia and we would love to keep it there, but one way or another it will move soon.

So, the Portal could leave Philly altogether?

Its possible the Portal could depart Philly entirely. But officials told 6abc it was hanging around at least through next year.

I am 100% committed to keeping this Portal in Philadelphia through the celebration of our countrys 250th birthday, Callahan said, essentially committing the installations residency through Phillys Semiquincentennial celebration.

In a statement to The Inquirer, Callahan said discussions were ongoing regarding the Portals future. We will share more information on it when we can.

Inquirer staff reporter Robert Moran contributed to this article.
Ramon Garcia is escorted out of a magisterial district courthouse in Jenkintown after waiving his preliminary hearing in May 2024. Garcia is accused of sexually assaulting 11 women while posing as a nurse at an urgent care clinic where he worked. Read more

A man who posed as a nurse in two Montgomery County urgent-care facilities and sexually assaulted more than a dozen women was sentenced Monday to five to 10 years in state prison. He is also facing lawsuits from victims aiming to hold him and the urgent-care operator accountable.

Ramon Garcia, 34, was charged in May with aggravated indecent assault, impersonating a licensed professional, invasion of privacy, harassment, and related crimes. Law enforcement learned during the investigation that the Crescentville man also recorded one woman taking a drug screening test in the bathroom and photographed another while she was wearing only a medical gown.

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Garcia pleaded guilty in December to sexually assaulting and spying on a dozen patients of Carbon Health urgent cares in Jenkintown and Dresher while posing as a nurse. He was sentenced in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas to five to 10 years in prison followed by five years of probation. The judge heard from victims and ruled Garcia to be a sexually violent predator who will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Assistant District Attorney Lauren Marvel, who prosecuted Garcia, called Mondays sentencing a success.

Today, we sent a defendant to jail for five to 10 years, with a lengthy period of supervision afterward, for horrific conduct, for violating the trust and personal safety of 13 women, she said. But most importantly, today those women had their voices heard in court. Their strength and bravery were acknowledged in public.

Garcias defense attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 READ MORE: A Philly man pleaded guilty to groping, spying on 12 women while posing as an urgent-care nurse

Hours before Garcias sentencing, one of his victims filed a lawsuit in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas against her assailant and Carbon Health.

The then-21-year-old woman  whose name isnt disclosed in court records  arrived for an appointment at Carbon Health urgent care in Jenkintown on March 9, 2024, and met Garcia at the front desk, according to the lawsuit. He worked as a medical assistant but introduced himself as a nurse. He walked the woman to an exam room where, during a bogus check up, he groped her chest and genitals, the complaint said.

My relationships with loved ones has changed. Im not the same person I was, the woman told a judge on Monday during Garcias sentencing. My sense of confidence has shattered, and I view the world through a lens of fear.

The first known assault took place in November 2023, according to the complaint. Carbon Health allowed the assaults to continue through March, when one of the victims contacted law enforcement  showing a lack of oversight or concern for safety, said Robert Lynch, an attorney who filed Mondays complaint.

They dont get a pass, Lynch said. Right out of the gate, from victim one.

Garcia and Carbon Health are facing three additional lawsuits in the Philadelphia court. The company operates urgent cares in seven states, including New Jersey, according to its website. The Pennsylvania locations are no longer on Carbon Healths website.

Carbon Health declined to comment on the ongoing litigation. A spokesperson for Carbon Health did not respond to questions about its presence in Pennsylvania.

In a filing in response to an earlier lawsuit, Carbon Health said it was not liable for Garcias actions because he acted outside of the scope of his employment as a front-desk staffer. He misrepresented himself, which Carbon Health couldnt anticipate, the company said.

 READ MORE: Pa. suspended a weight-loss doctor who performed intimate exams on women. He still sees patients in Brooklyn.

Garcias behavior came to light in March 2024, when a woman told Abington Township police he had assaulted her and asked her on a date when she went to Carbon Health for a pre-employment drug screening, according to the affidavit of probable cause for his arrest.

Some of the women who reported assaults said Garcia told them to undress in front of him while asking about their personal lives and asking them on dates. Others said Garcia groped them during examination and touched their breasts, buttocks, or genitals.

[Carbon Health] failed to give the most basic amount of safety and oversight to a patient who came to their facility, said Kevin OBrien, an attorney representing the 21-year-old victim. The only way to put accountability on them is through the civil system.

The woman said Monday in court that she was motivated to address the judge because she refuses to let this define her and wanted to ensure Garcia was held accountable.

When I graduate from nursing school this spring, I will be the type of provider that my patients can trust, the type of provider I needed, she said.
South Philly resident Cristina Tessaro started her Tuesday thinking there was a warrant out for her arrest for failing to appear as a witness in court.

A man who identified himself as Sgt. Holtz called her around 10 a.m. Her caller ID said the call was from (215) 686-3390, which is the number for the Philadelphia Police 39th District. The caller told Tessaro that she was scheduled to appear in court Monday and that she had signed for a subpoena regarding the matter on Feb. 3, something she definitely would have remembered doing.

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Tessaro, 42, was told that in order to verify she hadnt been the one to receive the subpoena, shed have to go to her local precinct to verify her signature. While there was a mention of how Tessaro would have to act as her own bail bondsman, Holtz hadnt asked for money directly.

I was just completely shaking at this point and then the phone call got disconnected, said Tessaro, who was taking notes and asking questions.

When she called the number back, an actual Philadelphia police officer at the 39th District told her it was a scam that had been running for about two weeks. In Tessaros case, the scammers never got to make their ask, presumably because she kept pushing for additional details regarding the case, subpoena, and warrant.

According to the 39th District, it received about a dozen calls in one day from people who were targets of the scam about two weeks ago. The scammers have been spoofing the precincts number, essentially falsifying the information that pops up on the targets caller ID to mirror the 39ths phone line. To the departments knowledge, this is the only Philadelphia police number being spoofed, though scammers have impersonated other law enforcement agencies around the region in recent years.

It appears the ask for money comes after the bail bondsman section of the script. The people posing as officers ask their targets to pay the bond in gift cards, said Philadelphia police. One woman told NBC10 she was asked to pay $8,000 in a Bitcoin account.

The Philadelphia Police Department does not call individuals who are in wanted status. Warrant services are done in person, said a police department spokesperson. Additionally, the Philadelphia Police Department will never inform someone that the way to get a warrant dropped would be to pay in gift cards.

Tessaro considers herself to be pretty savvy. She hits ignore on the E-ZPass text scams, demanding outstanding toll fines, same with UPS texts with suspicious links. But this call was especially alarming because it featured a real number and the scammers knew her personal details. Whats more, the messengers bombarded her with just enough information to sound legitimate and kept her on the phone by saying they would not be able to talk to her further if she chose to get a lawyer.

The police department said it would never ask for money over the phone and should anyone get an unexpected call from the police, their best bet is to hang up and call the district directly.

Tessaro is grateful she was able to quickly rid herself of the scammers, who did end up calling her back, only to hang up when she called them out with what police had told her. Still, she hopes to warn others.

I really dont want anybody to fall for the scam, she said. I dont know what their like end game was, but I never would want anybody to reach that end game.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro introduces Jalen Hurts at the Philadelphia Citizen of the Year award ceremony hosted by the Philadelphia Citizen at the Fitler Club on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. At a press conference Tuesday Shapiro said his administration would ask USDA to restore $13 million in funds to PA food banks. Read more

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is asking President Donald Trumps administration to reconsider its decision to cancel $13 million in funding for Pennsylvania food banks to buy food from local farmers.

Shapiro said Tuesday the U.S. Department of Agriculture illegally canceled a three-year contract the agency and the state had agreed to in December. In response, he said, Pennsylvanias secretary of agriculture will file an internal appeal with the agency challenging the cancellation.

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If USDA does not change course, he said, Pennsylvania may take legal action.

Pennsylvania farmers and food banks are owed $13 million, and I wont stand by and let our farmers get screwed in the process, Shapiro said at a news conference Tuesday at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, which lost $1.8 million in expected federal dollars.

Shapiro, a first-term Democrat and a former state attorney general, has already sued the Trump administration once over a $2.1 billion freeze to environmental and energy projects in the state. And the governor warned last week after Trump signed an order to begin dismantling the Department of Education that he would consider legal action against the administration if Pennsylvania students are affected.

 READ MORE: Pa. food banks are facing millions in federal funding cuts as they fear increased need

Earlier this month, USDA announced it would end the $470 million Local Food Purchase Agreement Program, arguing it was time to move on from the pandemic-era initiative.

In a letter to the federal government Tuesday, Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said USDA had told the state the program no longer met the agencys priorities. He responded that there was no basis for the claim, noting that the program had supported 190 farms statewide while providing 25.9 million pounds of food to charitable organizations in the last three years.

In a statement, a USDA spokesperson reiterated that the agency was moving away from COVID-era programs, and said the agency remains committed to its mission of strengthening food security, agriculture markets, and access to healthy food.

There is nothing unlawful about sunsetting a time-limited, pandemic-era initiative that does not align with the current Departmental priorities, the statement said. Unlike the Biden Administration, which funneled billions in [USDAs Commodity Credit Corp.] funds into short-term programs with no plan for longevity, USDA is prioritizing stable, proven solutions that deliver lasting impact.

In the meantime, USDAs decision to cancel the program left food banks across the state grappling with the loss of funding that covered the cost of well over one million meals annually in the Philadelphia metro area alone. The funds were set to be distributed to 14 food banks across the state over three years.

 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.

Philabundance, which serves Philadelphia and the suburban counties, lost 18% of its food purchasing budget. Philadelphias Share Food Program lost $1.4 million and the Bucks County Opportunity Council lost around $260,000 annually.

The cuts came as food bank leaders said they are facing demand that mirrors the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Leaders are worried food insecurity will continue to get worse amid tariffs, rising housing costs, and Republican proposals to slash food stamps and other social safety net programs.

George Matysik, executive director of the Share Food Program, said in a statement prior to Shapiros announcement that the organization was at risk of losing $8 million in food and funds this year because of a combination of several funding cuts.

President Trump is declaring war on Poor People. This time targeting hungry students and their families, the Trump administration recently handed down yet another round of unconscionable funding cuts  and we are still bracing for whats to come, Matysik said.

Chris Hoffman, the president of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, said at Tuesdays news conference that he was in touch with USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and was hopeful the food purchase program could be made permanent in the next farm bill.

Shapiro, who has indicated a willingness to work with the Republican president, was steeply critical of the Trump administration, which he said had harmed the very farmers it claims to support.

 READ MORE: Gov. Josh Shapiro says hell consider legal action against the Trump administration if education cuts affect Pa. students

He called Trumps efforts to impose tariffs the dumbest economic decision Ive ever seen a president make and framed the funding cuts as yet another example of chaos sown by the federal government that would harm families and businesses in Pennsylvania.

All of the chaos hes created is doing real harm to our farmers, Shapiro said. Here in Pennsylvania, we want to make clear that we give a damn about our farmers and weve got your backs.
Jennifer Baus stands in front of a sign she put up in Swedesboro to protest how Swedesboro allegedly mistreated her in her quest to operate a recreational cannabis dispensary. Read more

A Gloucester County judge denied and dismissed the complaint of a Swedesboro businessperson who had gone to trial to overturn the towns decision to block her from opening a recreational cannabis dispensary.

Rejecting every issue raised by Jennifer Baus, Superior Court Judge Benjamin Telsey ruled via Zoom from a Woodbury courtroom on Tuesday that Swedesboro officials had not acted arbitrarily, capriciously, or unreasonably, as Baus had alleged.

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I was really stunned that the judge didnt agree with any single thing about our case, Baus said after the 90-minute civil trial without witnesses ended. She said she plans to appeal the ruling.

After not getting a dispensary license, Baus, a Black woman who is contending separately in federal court that she was racially discriminated against by Swedesboro in the matter, put up two billboards last month protesting how Swedesboro officials allegedly treated her. They read: Swedesboro Mayor & Council vote against local minority business woman, along with the website JennsTRUTH.com and a QR code.

Baus, 44, is a finance manager at Spirit Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, a Swedesboro auto dealership owned by her in-laws, where her husband, Michael, is the general manager. Baus also owns the Hip Hop Shop, a local dance studio.

Im not surprised by the results, said attorney David Avedissian of Haddonfield, who represented Las Vegas-based Jersey Joint Dispensary Swedesboro (JJDS), which was ultimately awarded a cannabis sales license in town. When you have allegations without facts, you have an uphill climb in court.

Michael Miles of Westmont, who represented Swedesboro, said: The truth has prevailed. The borough is very happy with the courts decision today.

Baus attorney, Micci Weiss of Holmdel, said he would not comment.

One of the main points that Telsey rejected was Baus contention that the borough had deliberately given her the wrong application for a dispensary license.

This was a calculated concealment, not an oversight or a mistake, Weiss had written in court papers.

People representing Baus in the licensing process had requested a cannabis dispensary license but were given the wrong document. Though Baus and her emissaries checked and rechecked with borough officials, Baus said, she was consistently told that the application she had been given was correct.

In the meantime, JJDS, which Baus had not known about, got the approval to go ahead with its dispensary plan while Baus was still struggling to get the right papers in front of Swedesboro officials, she said.

In sharp language, Telsey said in court that Baus company, the Greenhouse, had failed to timely submit the appropriate applications to obtain the license. It was Baus responsibility to ascertain the proper license, regardless of which form officials initially gave her, Telsey said.

He added: Instead of accepting [her] failures to read and follow the clear law on obtaining a dispensary license, Baus had concocted a conspiracy theory designed to do nothing more than to blame the defendants for plaintiffs deficiencies.

Telsey repeated his contention that Baus and Weiss had perpetuated a conspiracy theory when they had revealed in court papers that Delaware resident Tracy Valichka, a co-owner of JJDS, is the sister-in-law of the boroughs zoning officer, Jennifer Valichka.

It was never disclosed to plaintiffs until much later in the process, after Swedesboro had already decided that JJDS would get the dispensary license, Weiss wrote.

The boroughs blatant favoritism, procedural misconduct, and undisclosed conflicts of interest  tainted the licensing process, he charged.

Baus said she had long wondered how a Nevada company got wind of a Swedesboro dispensary when so few people knew it was being contemplated. Maybe someone on the inside told them, she said. It feels like they never wanted a Black woman to run such a high-profile business.

Dismissing the accusations of nepotism, Telsey said in court that the fact that the relative of a borough official is part of the company that was awarded the license is a nonissue. He further stated that Jennifer Valichka had not weighed in on dispensary applications.

Telsey added: Theres no facts to support the conspiracy theory that Miss [Jennifer] Valichka was behind the scenes, orchestrating events.

Baus suggested that Telsey misread that part of her complaint, saying she had never alleged that Valichka was a puppet master orchestrating everything.

Saying she will need time to recover from Telseys shocking verdict, Baus said she was incredulous that absolutely nothing shed alleged had resonated with the judge.

I dont understand that, she said. How do you not see that what happened to me was wrong?
According to experts, Councilmember Jeffery "Jay" Young's zoning changes restricting nonconforming uses will hurt the residents and businesses with the fewest resources and drive displacement. The mayor should veto the measure, writes the Editorial Board. Read more

Councilmanic prerogative  the tradition that district Council members have final say over land-use decisions  has long been a bad way to run a city. The latest example comes courtesy of first-term 5th District Councilmember Jeffery Jay Young, whose push to alter an obscure zoning regulation will likely hurt Philadelphians who can least afford it.

With little public benefit to be gained from changing the law, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker should veto the misguided effort.

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Youngs bill seeks to change what are known as nonconforming uses guidelines, which allow a property to be used for a different purpose than its current zoning designation  for example, a plot of land intended to be a residence that instead becomes a business  if its use predates existing regulations.

According to experts, both in tenant advocacy and the business community, restricting these nonconforming uses will hurt city residents and businesses with the fewest resources, driving displacement.

 READ MORE: Councilmanic prerogative makes city a bad landlord | Editorial

Critics of Youngs bill told The Inquirer there are tens of thousands of properties in Philadelphia that dont strictly conform to existing zoning guidelines, and any challenges stemming from the legislation will fall on an already overtaxed zoning board  as well as add to the hodgepodge of zoning enforcement rules that already plague the city.

Despite those realities, Young pushed his bill through City Council last week  with a swiftness that begged the question of what drove him to think this legislation was so desperately needed.

The proposal goes back to last year, when Parker announced plans to use a building in Youngs district to house people in addiction. The freshman councilmember was reportedly furious that the practice of allowing for nonconforming uses removed his leverage over the plan.

His Council colleagues held the bill up for a year until Young submitted amendments in February. Even then, most district Council members opted their constituencies out of the change before voting last week, leaving the law to apply only to Brian ONeills Far Northeast District 10, Cindy Bass Northwest District 8, and Youngs North Philadelphia district.

 READ MORE: Councilmanic prerogative in Philadelphia: What you need to know

That a bill most district councilmembers believed was not good enough for their own communities was approved on a 15-2 vote shows the power of councilmanic prerogative, and the continued enabling of Young, who in his short time on City Council has shown questionable priorities.

Earlier this month, he orchestrated an unexpected delay of the citys desperately needed program to install speed cameras outside of elementary schools, an effort that took years of lobbying and cajoling in Harrisburg.

Young  who called the program a cash grab despite any revenue being reinvested back into street safety infrastructure, not the general fund  cited the complaints of an unnamed constituent (who apparently receives a lot of tickets) to justify his opposition to the cameras. The citys own data show that, on average, roughly a half-dozen children in Philadelphia are hit by a car every week.

This entire episode should be a reminder to councilmembers that they are elected to serve the public, not indulge their colleagues by rubber-stamping dubious proposals. The mayor must not only veto the nonconforming use bill, but Council should decline to overturn it.

Until prerogative is successfully challenged, implementing citywide initiatives  like Parkers own goal to build and preserve 30,000 homes and ensure safe streets for Philadelphias students  will continue to remain just out of reach.
KYIV  Russia and Ukraine agreed Tuesday to expand their initial limited ceasefire on energy infrastructure to include the Black Sea after U.S.-sponsored indirect talks in Saudi Arabia.

In separate joint statements from the White House  one between the United States and Russia, another between the U.S. and Ukraine  the two countries agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea. It did not specify when the limited ceasefire would go into effect.

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The statements  which came after this weeks technical talks in Riyadh  differed in two key ways. The U.S. also separately agreed to help Russia gain access to the world markets to export fertilizer and other agricultural products and reiterated its commitment to Ukraine to help facilitate the exchange of prisoners of war, civilian detainees and kidnapped children.

This meeting is a logical extension of the successful consultations with the United States in Jeddah, said Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who helped guide the technical conversations in Saudi Arabia, in a Facebook post. No one wants a just peace more than Ukrainians, and our position remains honest, transparent and consistent.

 READ MORE: What Trump doesnt understand about Ukraine | Opinion

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday he remained unsure how the agreement would be implemented. Not included in the joint statement from the United States was a ban on attacks against civilian infrastructure, which Zelensky said would still apply: The American side believes that calm skies, as related to the energy sector, also applies to other civilian infrastructure.

The partial ceasefire would prevent Ukraine from striking Russian oil production and exports, which Kyiv had found to be effective at bringing the war home to the Kremlin.

Most Ukrainians  or as many as 85 percent  view a partial ceasefire positively, according to a poll from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, conducted from March 12 to 22, or before the ban was updated to include the Black Sea.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday that the resumption of the Black Sea initiative was agreeable but we cannot take this mans word for it, referring to Zelensky.

He said Russia wants the grain market, the fertilizer market to be predictable, so that no one tries to remove Russia from these markets.

The Black Sea Initiative, also known as the grain deal, envisaged the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports and the normalization of Russian exports, such as agricultural products and fertilizers, to world markets. The obligations to Russia were not fulfilled, so in July 2023, Moscow withdrew from the deal.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R., Pa.) said the House Intelligence Committee, which is controlled by Republicans, is looking into the controversial group chat. Read more

The House Intelligence Committee is looking into how a discussion of national security plans including top members of President Donald Trumps administration, led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, mistakenly included a journalist from the Atlantic magazine.

During an interview Monday night on CNN, U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R., Pa.) said the committee would send an inquiry to the office of Tulsi Gabbard, Trumps director of national intelligence. Gabbard was reportedly among the officials on a group chat that discussed details of attack against the Houthi militia in Yemen on Signal, an encrypted messaging app often used by journalists.

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Fitzpatrick said that he would presume his committee will vote to investigate the matter, but that it would depend on the information it received from Gabbards office.

If the interrogatory comes back that hearings are warranted, which they may very well be, we bring the witnesses in, well agree on who those witnesses should be, well gather the facts in a [sensitive compartmented information facility] outside of the view of the camera, Fitzpatrick said. Then figure out the next steps.

It is unclear if the inquiry had been sent as of Tuesday afternoon. A spokesperson for Fitzpatrick did not immediately return a request for comment.

The House Intelligence Committee, which oversees U.S. intelligence agencies, is composed of 25 members of Congress  14 Republicans and 11 Democrats. In addition to Fitzpatrick, there are two other Pennsylvania representatives on the committee  Republican Scott Perry and Democrat Chrissy Houlahan.

This stunning lack of operational security by [Hegseth] is just another illustration of his gross incompetence. Hes a danger to the nation and our troops, here and abroad, Houlahan wrote in a statement shared on social media Monday. I want an immediate explanation of how this happened and a clear understanding of all the laws broken. I believe the classified information shared in this Signal chat is in direct violation of the Espionage Act, and action by Congress is required.

Over in the Senate, Sen. Roger Wicker (R., Miss.), the head of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters Monday that senators would be looking into it but stopped short of saying whether anyone should be held accountable.

I think that depends on the investigation, but its definitely a concern, Wicker said. It appears that mistakes were made, no question.

Fitzpatrick and other Republicans appear to be treading lightly as party leaders attempt to brush away the controversy. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) described the incident as a serious mistake but said he did not believe anyone deserved to be fired or held accountable. During a phone conversation Tuesday with NBC News, Trump described the controversy as a glitch and backed the officials involved in the chat, claiming it had no impact at all on the attack.

Democrats have been more critical. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) called for a bipartisan investigation Tuesday, drawing parallels to the outrage among Republicans after then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton used a private email server for official communications.

Any Senate Republican who was up in arms years ago about emails and unsecured servers should be outraged by the secretary of defenses carelessness, Schumer said.

If true, these allegations are just shocking, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D., Del.) said Monday during an interview on CNN. The idea the secretary of defense shared detailed, highly classified war plans for what exact munitions were going to be dropped on what targets at what times could have put American service members at risk, violates some of the most basic standards for sharing highly classified military operational data, and calls for an immediate oversight hearing and investigation.

The group chat appears to be authentic

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of the Atlantic, wrote that he was mistakenly included on a group chat that appeared to include Gabbard, Hegseth, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, Vice President JD Vance, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. There, the group discussed war plans hours before U.S. forces struck Houthi militia in Yemen on Sunday.

Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, said in a statement to Goldberg the thread appears to be authentic and officials were reviewing how he was added to their group chat.

During testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, Ratcliffe confirmed he was among those on the group chat but denied discussing classified material. He did admit, however, that the discussion of military targets should take place only on classified systems.

Pre-decisional strike deliberation should be conducted through classified channels, Ratcliffe testified.

Gabbard, who also appeared before Congress on Tuesday, refused to confirm or deny she was the TG on the group chat Goldberg was included on, citing a review of the incident. Gabbard did confirm she was overseas while the group chat took place.

I wont speak to this because its under review by the National Security Council, Gabbard testified Tuesday, adding that the review includes how the journalist was inadvertently added to the group chat and what occurred within that chat across the board.
The 12,000-square-foot home at 1717 Woodland Rd. has nine bedrooms and eight bathrooms. Read more

Long before Bradley Cooper was Abingtons most notable celebrity, a sprawling estate nestled into the center of the township was host to some of Americas elite.

Now, the owners of the 7.3-acre expanse and 12,000-square-foot home at 1717 Woodland Rd. are searching for just the right buyer.

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Currently listed for nearly $4 million, the nine-bedroom, eight-bathroom home has been on the market for nearly two years.

Most of the people whove come through love the property, but theyre just like, this is too much house for us, said listing agent Matt Fusaro with Keller Williams DeLuca Group.

He also points to the historic aesthetic of the home as a challenge for some potential buyers. Its a very unique buyer who would want this home because you would need to want something thats larger and ornate, he said.

In addition to many finely handcrafted dark oak details and soaring exposed-stone walls, the home features six fireplaces and several stained-glass windows depicting scenes from fairy tales.

The billiards room has a hand-painted mural of medieval times that dates back to the late 19th century or early 20th.

The roof is lined with specially made Italian terra-cotta tiles.

Design-wise, you dont see anything like this, said Fusaro.

Built in 1903, the home was occupied for a time by Walter Herring, an inventor who gained recognition for bringing ticket turnstiles to the market. He spent time working for the James Spring & Wire Co., where the Slinky toy originated.

The property sits adjacent to Penn States Abington campus, formerly home to the Ogontz School for Young Ladies where a young Amelia Earhart attended. According to the homes current owners, Earhart was a regular visitor to the lands windmill-powered wading pond during her school days. Composer John Philip Sousa, known for his bombastic marches, also spent time there, the current owners believe.

The wading pond was later adapted into a lavish pool surrounded by intricate stonework. A pool house designed by beaux arts architect Horace Trumbauer sits nearby. Trumbauer is best known locally for his work on Elkins Parks Lynnewood Hall as well as public works such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Central Library of the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Over the years, the home has gotten some modern upgrades, most notably in the kitchen, which now contains a Wolf range, a Sub-Zero refrigerator, and a marble island with an additional sink. A wine cellar sits in the partially finished basement.

The kitchen has been redone in a unique way, but also kept with the aesthetics of the home, said Fusaro.

Originally listed for sale in 2023 for $4.5 million, the home is currently for sale for $3,999,900.

The current owners just kind of looked at it as were maintaining this gorgeous historic estate, said Fusaro. Hopefully [it] will be passed on to someone else who will appreciate it.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker unveils her long-awaited plan to build or preserve 30,000 units of housing during a special session of City Council Monday, Mar. 24, 2025. Council President Kenyatta Johnson is behind her. Read more

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has big plans for housing policy, to be paid for with $800 million in city bonds, and she needs City Councils sign-off.

To get it done, shes calling on the lawmakers to sideline one of their unofficial powers  at least a little bit.

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Under the Philadelphia tradition known as councilmanic prerogative, the 10 district Council members hold unofficial veto power over zoning changes and city land sales in their territories.

Prerogative has been a hotly debated issue in Philly politics for years, with critics arguing it hinders growth and opens the door to corruption, while Council members contend it ensures that the public officials with their ears closest to the ground  themselves  can make sure new developments align with community interests.

While she was on Council, Parker was herself an enthusiastic adherent of this custom, and she knows the citys legislature would never fully give it up.

But on Monday, the mayor asked if lawmakers would consider streamlining city redevelopment processes in ways that could limit the role of prerogative  which she called the elephant in the room  in service of building more affordable housing on city-owned land and reaching her goal of 30,000 units of housing repaired or built during her time in office.

I am not trying in any way, shape, or form to take away councilmanic prerogative, Parker said. But  I am proposing that [the citys Land Bank] work directly in partnership with City Council to preauthorize the sale, donation, or transfer of municipally owned real estate for the purpose of constructing new housing under this new program.

 READ MORE: Mayor Cherelle Parker unveils housing plan amid Trumps federal funding cuts and Council skepticism

While the mayor in her speech did not question other elements of prerogative, literature that her administration circulated in advance of her remarks suggested she is interested in tweaking Councils and neighborhood groups involvement in zoning policy in a manner that reduces community opposition.

Parker will have to proceed gingerly if she is to win over lawmakers for her $2 billion housing plan. Council members adamantly protect their power to tweak zoning maps in their districts, and expect to receive support from their colleagues as long as they remain within their territorial lines.

District Council members have a right to make sure that theyre advocating on behalf of the individuals who put them in office, Council President Kenyatta Johnson told reporters after Parkers speech. A lot of time we see development projects taking place in our neighborhoods. If anything goes wrong, they call the district Council person. They dont call any anybody else.

Does Philly have too much Council in its Land Bank?

Philadelphias Land Bank, an agency meant to facilitate the disposition of city-owned property, features an unusual level of legislative oversight, largely due to former Council President Darrell L. Clarkes insistence that lawmakers maintain granular involvement in every transaction when the agency was created.

But national experts on land banks have long warned that requiring politicians to sign off on all transfers is, at best, an impediment to the rapid redevelopment of land. At worst, it allows politicians to reward their friends and punish their enemies.

Parker knows Council would not agree to remove itself from the Land Bank process entirely. Instead, her proposal would create a list of preapproved parcels in each district that would not require new legislation to be introduced in order for the properties to be sold to developers.

Parker emphasized that such a list would not include larger properties  such as those that could support large apartment buildings  and that it would largely support the popular affordable homeownership plan called Turn The Key. Parcels for single-family home construction, or at most quadplexes (four-unit apartment buildings), would be favored.

For the purposes of these bond dollars, we need to develop an expedited process where it doesnt take a piece of legislation to move land out of our Land Bank, Parker said. [Currently] land can get held up for months, particularly when Council is out of session during the summer.

To ensure that Council members maintain influence, Parker would also work with the body to craft a list of favored developers, in the hopes of keeping any city-owned land from winding up in the hands of speculators or bad actors.

First we have a preauthorized list of land, then we can have a preapproved list of developers, Parker said.

Even with those concessions, Parkers ideas raised some eyebrows on Council.

Asked if he thought reducing Councils role in some city land transfers was a good idea, Councilmember Mike Driscoll, who is often a Parker ally, expressed skepticism.

I guess if youre mayor, perhaps. If youre a district councilman, I would say no, said Driscoll, who represents parts of the river wards and Northeast Philadelphia.

Zoning reforms to come?

Parker avoided touching on councilmanic prerogatives other main pillar in her speech, mentioning the word zoning only a handful of times in the 90-minute address. But the administrations pamphlets circulated in Council chambers before Parkers speech included hints that changes to the citys zoning code could be in the offing.

Council members frequently amend the zoning code in their district, sometimes through hyperlocal patches to the map called zoning overlays. But real estate developers, some affordable housing advocates, and good-government watchdogs have long warned that the practice makes it difficult to develop uses like apartments and homeless shelters, and adds unnecessary burdens to construction.

The administrations literature recommended curtailing at least some overlays, although it did not elaborate on how that should be executed.

We cannot have different land use and zoning policies in different parts of the city if we want to provide exceptional and consistent customer service, the pamphlet read.

Many of the tweaks made by overlay legislation are meant to make it harder for particular kinds of development to occur without a trip to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, which necessitates that developers first meet with neighborhood groups before implementing changes. Such organizations have been accused of being reflexively antidevelopment and unrepresentative of the larger community, but the current code privileges their input.

Parker might want to change that. In a section marked Policy Recommendations, the administrations pamphlet reads: Reforming the avenues for community involvement in the processes of zoning and development in a way that reduces community opposition.

After the mayors speech, many Council members praised the mayor for making housing a priority. But they had questions.

The devil is really in the details, and I need more details to know exactly what is intended, said Councilmember Cindy Bass, who represents the Northwest Philadelphia-based 8th District.

Bass hinted that her enthusiasm for the housing plan is based on the assumption that district Council members central role in land-use decisions will be preserved. Bass said she did not understand why the mayor explicitly commented on scaling back the role of prerogative, given that Parker also said district Council members would be involved in the housing initiative.

This is something that I have questions about, Bass said. Im not exactly sure why prerogative was highlighted as the elephant in the room because it sounds like, from what she described, the district Council members are going to be included.
Nigel has made a significant contribution to the business and has been instrumental in our success over the past two years. With his entrepreneurial mindset, he has done a tremendous job solidifying the foundations of our growth strategy while improving our operational processes, he said. I am fully supportive of Nigel as he embarks on his personal business venture, and Im pleased that he will remain within the Steadfast family.
Beyond acquisitions, Gallagher also highlighted strong financials for the prior year. In Q4 2024, the company reported a profit of $258.2 million, or $1.12 per share, a significant turnaround from a loss of $39.6 million, or 15 cents per share, in the same quarter of the previous year.
"We are thrilled to welcome Sai to our executive team," said Paul Brocklebank, chairman and chief executive officer at Canal Insurance Company. "His exceptional track record of bridging the gap between business and technology, leading platform modernization and automation initiatives will play a pivotal role in enhancing Canal's business operations."
"They still want some digital, but they want to talk to a broker or an expert who can validate their purchase, Rhee said. Am I buying the right amount of limit? Do I have the right market? Do I have the right insurer? Am I getting the proper claim service?"
In addition to scoring service performance, the survey asked brokers to identify their top three wholesale partners by line of insurance across 20 major coverage areas. The leading three in each category were awarded gold, silver, and bronze rankings. MGAs also competed for a Brokers Pick medal, given to the most frequently cited products.
Armchair analysts prognosticating the impending collapse of property & casualty insurance companies were proven wrong by recently released 2024 financial performance results. The overall industrys underwriting results were profitable. The 2024 combined ratio  losses and expenses divided by premium, was 96.6%, compared to the marginally unprofitable 2023 result of 101.8%. Last years profitable result is impressive in light of the fact that 2024 was an active year for hurricanes, with Helene and Milton alone causing $95 billion in losses.

The industrys total premium grew in 2024, with $1.05 trillion in direct written premium, up from $969 billion in 2013. The dashboard below shows highlights of how the insurance industry performed in 2024 compared to 2023.

2023 (numbers in $ billion) 2024 (numbers in $ billion) Direct Written Premium 969 1,046 Ceded to reinsurers 111 117 Net Written Premium 858 929 Combined Ratio 101.8% 96.6% Expense Ratio 25.0% 25.2% Loss Ratio (including LAE) 75.4% 71.0% Loss Ratio not including LAE) 66.5% 61.6% Underwriting Gain -20 27 Bond Yield 3.7% 4.1%

(Source: CapitalIQ Pro)



Consistent with recent years, the 2024 operating ratio, which measures the industrys overall profitability, including investment income, was approximately 7%. The average net profit margin for Fortune 500 companies is 13%, demonstrating that the insurance industry is modestly, not wildly profitable. Data on profitability by line of business has not been reported yet.

There were two additional interesting developments revealed in the reported results. First, the proportion of industry premium coming from personal lines insurance (private passenger automobile and homeowners insurance), which has traditionally been approximately 47% of total industry premium, is now 51.4% of total premium. This is because there were steep rate increases in many states for both auto and homeowners insurance outpacing rate increases for commercial insurance products. Another surprise was in the industrys income statement, which reported $79 billion in realized capital gains in 2024. That enormous number was driven almost exclusively by one insurer, Berkshire Hathaway. In 2024 the sage of Omaha sold approximately $80 billion of Apple stock. Berkshire Hathaways Apple holdings generated a near-800% return since first disclosing its holdings in the iPhone maker. Prior to the massive sale Apple represented 39.7% of Berkshire Hathaways stock portfolio.

Throughout 2024 there were pronouncements that the insurance industry is on its knees and incapable of dealing with claims ballooning in magnitude from climate change impacts. One such report was alarmingly titled End of Days? Is the Insurance Industry About to Collapse? The actual numbers contradict the catastrophe scenarios in which disasters cause premiums to skyrocket, forcing insurers out of the market. Insurance companies, supported by reinsurers, are in the business of covering losses from natural disasters. To be sure, insurers and reinsurers prudently maintain vital catastrophe budgets, which estimate how much they will pay out in natural catastrophe claims.

Whither 2025?

Looking ahead to the rest of 2025, one factor likely to impact the insurance industry, and worthy of keeping a weather eye on, is the impact of the second Trump administration. There have already been negative consequences arising from job cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAAs satellite data and reports on weather and climate patterns are used as inputs for climate models used by insurers to calculate catastrophe budgets, for example. The data supplied by NOAA is so valuable that five of the climate research experts out of the 18 discussed in R Streets The Truth About Natural Catastrophes study are from NOAA.

A further source of concern for insurers is the presence of plaintiff trial lawyers in key administration positions. For example, RFK Jr. is of counsel at plaintiff bar giant Morgan & Morgan, having been previously on the firms payroll. Notwithstanding a March 22 presidential memo targeting Big Law firms, Donald Trumps own personal and business history suggests he is no enemy of frivolous litigation, having been involved in an estimated 4,000 lawsuits, both as plaintiff and defendant. We may therefore see a torrent of litigation, with some impact on liability insurance.

Insurance industry results in 2024 were strong. Investors maintain confidence in insurers managing their business. The S&P Composite 1500 Property & Casualty Insurance Index has returned 7.52% this year, an impressive performance given the blood running down Wall Street in recent weeks. However, with chaos in Washington likely to impact insurers, fasten your seatbelts because there may be turbulence ahead.
The Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled that an administrative law judge has the discretion to award a workers compensation claimant, after he or she reaches maximum medical improvement, ongoing temporary partial incapacity benefits in lieu of permanent partial disability benefits under the states law.

The high court ruling reverses both a 2024 judgment of the Appellate Court and an earlier Compensation Review Board ruling that favored the injured workers employer, the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, which argued there is no such discretion.

The Supreme Court justices found that the clear and unambiguous language of the law ( 31-308) provides that the administrative law judge may but is not required to award permanent partial disability benefits to a claimant after he or she reaches maximum medical improvement.

The court also found that, contrary to the employers argument, legislative amendments to the workers compensation law enacted in 1993 did not change the text or meaning of the statute relating to the administrative law judges discretion. Neither did the court accept that the legislative history of those amendments altered the situation.

In April 2016, Beulah Gardner suffered a compensable work-related injury to her left wrist while she was employed by the Department of Mental Health. The injury occurred as a result of Gardners having to restrain a patient at Whiting Forensic Hospital, where she worked as a forensic treatment specialist. Following the incident, Gardner was treated for her injury and was paid indemnity benefits. She eventually underwent a left hand trigger thumb release surgery, but her pain nevertheless persisted. She also underwent a second surgery.

On May 21, 2020, her employer moved to reduce or discontinue payments, seeking to convert her indemnity payments from temporary partial incapacity benefits to permanent partial disability benefits on the basis of her surgeons opinion that Gardner had reached maximum medical improvement and had a light-duty work capacity.

On June 2, 2021, the administrative law judge found that Gardner had attained maximum medical improvement and approved her employers request to convert her indemnity benefits from temporary partial incapacity benefits to permanent partial disability benefits effective May 21, 2020. The administrative law judge claimed that he did not have discretion to award the plaintiff ongoing temporary partial incapacity benefits in lieu of permanent partial disability benefits.

On Gardners appeal, the Compensation Review Board agreed with the administrative law judge. Relying on the legislative history, the board found that the 1993 amendments to the states workers compensation laws showed that the legislature eliminated an administrative law judges discretion. The appeals court later affirmed the boards decision, setting up an appeal to the Supreme Court.

Gardner relied on the express statutory language she said still gives an administrative law judge the discretion. She contended that the high court held as much in a 1943 case, Osterlund v. State, and that Osterlund is still good law. The high court agreed with her.

The Supreme Court rejected the analysis based on the legislative history, which it said might be useful if there were ambiguity about what the statute says. However, the court found the statute remains clear and unambiguous in granting discretion to an administrative law judge. The court said it does not read the 1993 amendments as impacting the clear discretion afforded to an administrative law judge.

Although legislative history may be reviewed when there is an ambiguity in the legislative text, we will not rely on that history to create an ambiguity that is not apparent on the face of the statute, the high court concluded.

Topics Legislation Workers' Compensation Connecticut
Pennsylvanias Union County is dealing with a ransomware attack that has likely exposed personally identifiable information, mostly related to individuals involved with the countys law enforcement, courts, and other county business.

Officials say they detected the ransomware on the countys network on March 13 and immediately launched an investigation, brought in cybersecurity experts to secure the network, and alerted law enforcement.

On March 17, as part of its ongoing investigation, the county determined that the cyber criminals stole certain data that may include Social Security numbers and drivers license numbers.

We will conduct a thorough review of the contents of the data to establish what information may have been involved, who may have been affected, and where those people reside so that we can provide notice, the countys statement said.

When its review is completed, the county will notify affected individuals and offer complimentary credit monitoring services.

Union County is in the central part of the state and has a population of about 42,000. Its county seat is Lewisburg.

Other Municipal Attacks

About a year ago, the Scranton, Pennsylvania school district in Lackawanna County experienced a ransomware attack. The district later reported that the attack cost it $25,000 in ransom fees and about $100,000 for a forensic expert.

In January of last year, Bucks County suffered a ransomware attack on its 911 system but refused to pay any ransom. Instead, the county relied on its own cyber maintenance and backup practices to restore the computer-aided dispatch (CAD) emergency communication system that was temporarily inoperable. The county also brought in some forensic and legal experts.

Even without paying ransom, the attack proved costly. Buck County commissioners approved expenditures of up to $375,000 for cybersecurity and forensic services from CRA International Inc. of Boston; $197,925 for cyber security software from with CDW Government of Illinois; and a $1,000 hourly rate for data breach related legal services from DLA Piper LLP of Philadelphia.

The Pennsylvania court system was able to restore its systems when malicious actors flooded its network with traffic and prevented access for legitimate users last February. According to officials, the attack never compromised any data and did not keep the courts from operating on their normal schedule. The Associated Press reported that court officials never received a ransom demand or had any communication with the attackers.

Topics Cyber Pennsylvania
Russia and the United States will discuss resuming a deal to ensure the safety of merchant shipping in the Black Sea, the Kremlin said on Monday, noting that what Moscow saw as key parts of an earlier agreement on the subject were never implemented.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Black Sea Initiative, more commonly known as the grain deal, was on the agenda at talks in Saudi Arabia between Russian and U.S. officials on Monday.

He said that U.S. President Donald Trump had proposed discussing the Black Sea deal and that Putin had agreed to discuss it.

This is primarily about the safety of navigation, Peskov said, when asked what the Black Sea deal amounted to.

But if you remember the initiative in its previous form, there was quite a large part of the obligations to our country that were not fulfilled last time. Therefore, this will also be on the agenda today.

Turkey and the United Nations helped mediate the so-called Black Sea Grain Initiative, a deal struck in July 2022 that allowed the safe export of nearly 33 million metric tons of Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea despite the war.

Russia withdrew from the agreement in 2023, complaining that its own food and fertilizer exports faced serious obstacles, though Russia is not currently facing serious problems getting its grain to market by the Black Sea.

To convince Russia to agree to the Black Sea deal, a three-year memorandum of understanding was struck in July 2022 under which U.N. officials agreed to help Russia get its food and fertilizer exports to foreign markets.

While Russian exports of food and fertilizer are not subject to Western sanctions, Moscow has said restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance have amounted to a barrier to shipments.

Russia wanted a resumption of its ammonia exports and the reconnection of its state agricultural bank Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT international payments system.

When asked about Trumps remarks indicating progress on a possible settlement for Ukraine, Peskov said that Russia and the United States had a common understanding on the need to move towards a settlement to end the war in Ukraine but that there were still many different aspects that need to be worked out.

There is indeed a common understanding here, Peskov said.

In general, of course, there are still a lot of different aspects related to the settlement to be worked out.

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; writing by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Andrew Osborn)
Wildfires have hit several regions in western Japan, injuring at least two people, forcing dozens of residents to evacuate and damaging a number of homes as hundreds of firefighters battled the widening blazes in the mountainous areas.

The fires in the western towns of Okayama, Imabari and Aso broke out Sunday, quickly burning hundreds of hectares (acres).

Six homes have been damaged in city of Okayama, where a fire started on Mount Kaigara and burned 250 hectares (600 acres) of the forest. In Imabari, in the Ehime prefecture on the main island of Shikoku, the fire left a firefighter slightly injured.

Japan Battles Worst Wildfire in 40 Years Amid Record Dry Season

Firefighters and defense helicopters sprayed water but the blazes in the two prefectures had not been extinguished as of Monday afternoon.

Experts blamed dry weather and dried-up fallen leaves on the ground in the forest as likely causes of the wildfires in Okayama and Imabari.

A smaller fire was detected in the mountainous village of Aso in the Kumamoto prefecture on the southern main island of Kyushu earlier Sunday, but it was extinguished early Monday, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. One person was injured slightly. Local media said the fire started while residents were burning trash.

The fires came just weeks after extensive wildfires in the northern Japanese city of Ofunato left one person dead and damaged more than 200 houses and other buildings as the blaze burned 2,900 hectares (7,170 acres), nearly one-tenth of the land in the city.
The Lloyds executives said the market has continued to demonstrate its value to stakeholders by delivering 6.5% premium growth while maintaining underwriting discipline.

Lloyds saw a continuation of positive returns with profit before tax of 9.6 billion ($12.4 billion) during 2024, down from 10.7 billion ($13.8 billion) in 2023. The market achieved a combined ratio of 86.9% for full-year 2024, compared with 84.0 for FY2023. (A combined ratio below 100 indicates an underwriting profit).

Lloyds Chief Financial Officer Burkhard Keese said that 2024 was a year when the market once again proved our underwriting discipline and delivered profitable growth of 6.5%, or gross written premium totaling 55.5 billion ($71.7 billion), compared with 52.1 billion ($67.3 billion) for FY 2023.

Keese and Chief Executive Officer John Neal both spoke during a recent media briefing to discuss Lloyds full-year results for 2024.

Lloyds has been relentless in pursuing sustainable profitable performance in the market. Weve been on a seven-year journey to deliver the change our stakeholders wanted  to consistently focus on the delivery of disciplined underwriting, to modernize our performance and oversight frameworks, to address the cost of doing business at Lloyds, and to show leadership on the issues that matter, said Neal, who will exit the market this year to become global CEO of Aon Reinsurance and chairman of Aons Climate Solutions unit.

Our track record since 2017 speaks for itself. To date, were reporting a combined ratio for 2024 of 86.9%. We have reduced our underlying combined ratio to 79.1%, (which excludes major claims), or a 16 percentage point improvement on that same ratio from 2019, Neal said, adding that Lloyds strong reserving position continued to support some positive prior year reserve releases, which reduced the 2024 combined ratio by 2.4%.

The key components of the combined ratio are moving positively. Importantly, the attritional loss ratio, most directly under the underwriters control as they select, manage and price risk, has reduced to 47.1% and is now consistently below 50%. Operating expenses have fallen over the period from 40% [in 2017] to 34% [in 2024], with opportunities to manage this ratio further post digitalization, Neal added.

The markets 2024 expense ratio of 34.4 remained flat with 2023, which Keese described as a small disappointment.

Most Important Measure

Both Keese and Neal focused a lot of their commentary on Lloyds underlying combined ratio, which Keese described as the most important measure

With our underlying combined ratio of 79.1%, we have achieved our profitability threshold of 80% for the third consecutive year, proving once again how well our Lloyds system works, said Keese who also is stepping down from his CFO position this year.

An underlying combined ratio of 80% means that we can absorb losses up to 8 billion [$10.3 billion] net of reinsurance before our underwriting result turns negative [and the combined ratio rises above 100], said Keese, noting that this allows Lloyds to absorb another 4.9 billion ($6.3 billion) of net large losses before it would report an overall loss of net income.

As our normal net major claims are usually around 4 billion [$5.2 billion], this resilience is reassuring for both our policyholders and capital providers, he said.

Since 2018, Lloyds has achieved top line growth of over 50% and its underlying combined ratio has been reduced from 93% in 2018 to 79% in 2024, which represents an increase in annual underwriting profit of 6.4 billion ($8.3 billion), Keese said.

Strong underwriting discipline is our north star, and we expect the market to consistently target an underlying combined ratio of around 80%. Weve seen strong performance on both sides of the P&L with the underwriting profit of 5.3 billion [$6.9 billion], complemented by another strong investment return totaling 4.9 billion [$6.3 billion], Neal said. (The underwriting profit in 2023 was 5.9 billion and that years investment return was 5.3 billion).

Keese noted that Lloyds profit before tax stands at 9.6 billion, or 1 billion less than reported for 2023, but this decrease was expected after the exceptional year of 2023 when nat-cat activity was relatively low.

While 2024 is the second consecutive year when Lloyds reported very high profitability, Keese warned the market shouldnt get carried away  in other words, it should avoid resting on its laurels. We have not earned our cost of capital over the last seven years, meaning the high profits in 2023 and 2024 were not enough to offset the results since 2018, and I believe it is very much true for the whole industry, he said.

Return on Capital

This means we must maintain underwriting discipline. We can all agree that 7.6% of return [on capital since 2018 ] is not sufficient for existing and new investors. Without setting a specific target and depending, of course, on the nature of the book, an investor typically would expect to see 10% to 15% returns, Keese said, adding that for the market to reach an adequate return on capital, it needs to achieve double digit returns for several years. The 2024 return on capital of 21.0% is down from 25.3% in 2023, which brings the seven-year average to 7.6%. See related graphic above. (Note: The 2023 number has been corrected from an earlier version of the article.)

The return on capital at Lloyds was 21% for 2024, down on 2023s significant 25.3%, but taking the seven year average now back to 7.6%.

Keese further explained during the Q&A session that investors need to be paid for their cut of the risks they take. We have earned 7.6% return on capital over the last eight years, and we must give the investors a chance to earn that money back. And I think that will force discipline because theres a certain fatigue still in the investor community of deploying money into the insurance sector.

Both Keese and Neal expressed confidence that Lloyds wouldnt see widespread rate softening, given investor demand for better returns and the nature of evolving risks.

Were in an unusual world of protectionism, nationalist behaviors and geopolitics, said Neal. I mean theres a whole heap of complexity out there, which  has heightened the perception of risk amongst the buyers of insurance.

He noted that Lloyds is growing at three times the rate of gross domestic product while insurance globally is growing at twice the rate of GDP. So I think there is plenty of opportunity for underwriters to see risk, accept risk, but only accept risk where the price is right.

Indeed, Neal said the market 2023 and 2024 has shown discipline around the right price for the right risk  a trend that will likely continue.

The 2024 results demonstrate clearly that the Lloyds market is in good shape, underpinned by that commitment to performance, discipline and sensible scale, said Neal in his wrapup commentary. And to remain in this position, we will remain laser focused on underwriting profitability to deliver exceptional value to our market, our investors, and of course to our customers.

Related:

Topics Trends Excess Surplus Pricing Trends Lloyd's
Zurich North America appointed Tobias Toby Cushing to the newly created role of deputy chief underwriting officer. Cushing previously served as casualty technical director.

In his new role, Cushing is responsible for supporting Zurich North Americas underwriters across all lines of business, including property, casualty, specialty lines, excess and surplus and crop insurance.

Cushing, who is based out of Zurichs New York City Offices, joined Zurich as head of construction Casualty in 2022. Since joining, he has held several underwriting leadership roles of increasing responsibility. Prior to joining, Cushing held a variety of roles at The Hartford, including serving as head of construction for middle and large commercial.

Earlier in his career Cushing practiced law as an insurance coverage litigator and advisor for complex insurance transactions.

Zurick North America is headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois.
The US Supreme Court refused to reinstate a novel and far-reaching lawsuit filed by young people who sought to force the federal government to take steps against climate change.

The justices without comment left intact a federal appeals court decision rejecting the lawsuit. The appeals court said the youths lacked legal standing to sue because they hadnt alleged the type of concrete injury that the judicial system could redress.

The ground-breaking suit was filed a decade ago by 21 teenagers and children who said government policies have exacerbated global warming in violation of their constitutional rights and those of future generations. A federal trial judge in Oregon said in 2023 that the case could proceed to trial, but the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the suit thrown out.

In their appeal to the Supreme Court, lawyers for the young people argued they had evidence that government conduct alone is responsible for over 25% of greenhouse gas pollution and the measurable increase in temperatures to which plaintiffs are exposed.

Administrations from both parties have urged dismissal of the suit. The Trump administrations top Supreme Court lawyer, acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris, told the justices that this sprawling and unprecedented suit is far beyond the type of matter traditionally resolved by American courts.

Forty-three Democratic members of Congress joined the young people in urging Supreme Court review.

The case is Juliana v. United States, 24-645.

Photo: The US Supreme Court in Washington, DC. Photographer: Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits
Millions of Americans who sent their saliva to 23andMe in the hopes of finding lost relatives or identifying health risks buried in their DNA now face seeing their genetic information sold to the highest bidder as part of the companys bankruptcy, setting up a test of existing legal safeguards around privacy and safety.

23andMe has proposed a May 14 auction for the sale of its assets, which include the genetic data of more than 15 million customers. Founded in 2006, 23andMe said in court papers that the data represents one of the worlds largest crowdsourced platforms for genetic research.

The auction shines a light on an aspect of corporate restructuring that receives relatively little notice from the general public until moments like this: customer data is a valuable asset that often changes hands in Chapter 11. That includes patient information from bankrupt hospitals or nursing homes as well as customer data from failed retail chains.

And while existing bankruptcy law contains measures to protect sensitive information of failed companies such as 23andMe, the prospect of key genetic information being sold feeds into long-simmering unease around privacy and safety in the industry.

23andMes bankruptcy prompted a flood of social media messages from users worried about what this means for their personal information and that of their families. Those concerns were fueled in part by a 2023 data breach that compromised the information of roughly seven million 23andMe customers.

Related: 23andMe Says Health Data Was Included in Hack That Compromised 6.9 Million Users

Consumer Alerts

A 23andMe spokeswoman said in an email that customers can delete data within their account and dont need to contact customer care to do so. In a note to customers, the company said the bankruptcy filing doesnt change how they store or protect personal data and any buyer will be required to comply with applicable laws with regard to treatment of such information.

Our users privacy and data are important considerations in any transaction, and we remain committed to our users privacy and to being transparent with our customers about how their data is managed, the company said.

California and Connecticuts top law enforcement officers issued consumer alerts on Monday, providing instructions on how 23andMe customers can delete their genetic information. Some customers said in social media posts that the companys website and application were running slower than usual as users sought to delete their data.

We are watching this bankruptcy filing closely and expect to be actively engaged to ensure sensitive records are protected and 23andMe is held accountable, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said in a statement.

In a court filing outlining the proposed May auction, 23andMe said bidders must state in writing that they comply with the companys privacy practices, which do not restrict the transfer of personally identifiable information of the debtors customers in connection with a bankruptcy, merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets.

Although the scale of 23andMes genetic data is likely unique, customer data is regularly sold in bankruptcy. Those transactions can cause tension between a companys obligation in bankruptcy to sell its assets for as much as possible, while at the same time ensuring that customers privacy isnt jeopardized.

Additional Protections

Congress in 2005 added protections to the bankruptcy code that permit the US Department of Justice to seek appointment of a consumer privacy ombudsman who provides independent oversight of customers privacy interests during a Chapter 11 sale.

Such ombudsmen are explicitly charged by the bankruptcy code with responsibility to protect personal identifier info and should object to any sale or transfer of customer data that doesnt include the best possible safeguards including opt-out provisions like the one provided in California, said Keith Lundin, a retired bankruptcy judge.

I had hospital cases like that where the ombudsman didnt trust the buyers and demanded additional conditions on the continued operation of the debtor, Lundin said.

23andMe has filed customary motions seeking court approval to run a sale process for its assets and tap as-much-as $35 million in Chapter 11 financing. The company in court papers listed $277.4 million in assets and $214.7 million in liabilities.

The case is 23andMe Holding Co., 25-40976, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Missouri (St. Louis).

Photo: 23andMe has proposed a May 14 auction for the sale of its assets, which include the genetic data of more than 15 million customers. Photographer: Cayce Clifford/Bloomberg

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
(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 councils vote or thanked councilmembers on Monday who disagreed with the memorandum, saying that it was off-topic to Fridays 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 Fridays presentation.

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 memorandums 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.

When asked, Alley said it was very not clear whether the council violated the law, and that hed 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 wasnt in the form of an opinion. This was in the form of an immediate compliance with state immigration laws, Alley said.

In Uthmeiers 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.

Photo: Workers at a building that was heavily damaged by Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers Beach, in 2022. (AP Photo/Jay Reeves)

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Law Enforcement
Amid an uproar over reports that Florida property insurance companies had shifted profits to affiliated firms while rates rose and carriers slid into insolvency a half-decade ago, former Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty weighed in on the controversy.

A consultants 2022 report for the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, first reported by Florida newspapers, has raised some red flags that need to be addressed, but the analysis did not back up its conclusions and left out key information, McCarty told Insurance Journal. The claim that profits were diverted to managing general agents while carriers imploded is an erroneous conclusion and would have been akin to killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

He urged legislators to hold off on using the report as a reason to undo landmark litigation reform and attorney-fee limits enacted in 2022.

The worst thing you could do now is overreact and upset the fragile balance of investments in Florida. Thats the real fear, he said.

Listen, if there were good profits don't you think we'd have 300 companies trying to do business in Florida?

McCarty, appointed by then-Gov. Jeb Bush in 2004, served as commissioner until 2016, after many years at the OIR and its predecessor agency. He has never been seen as an apologist for the industry and is considered an expert in insurance regulations. He is now head of Celtic Global Consulting, which includes insurance organizations as clients.

McCarty last week spoke with IJ about pending legislation and about the tempest over MGAs. Below are some highlights. A summary of the consultants report, made available through the Tampa Bay Times news articles, can be seen here. The report was produced by Jan Moenck, with Risk and Regulatory Consulting. She could not be reached for comment.

IJ: Whats your take on the concerns about the report on MGAs taking revenue from troubled insurance companies?

McCarty: I understand that the Legislature is pretty ginned up over the report. Its unfortunate that it took so long for it to become public. I think the fact that the report was not completed is problematic, obviously. If the report is asserting that compensation was excessive, I think you would have to have demonstrated how you came to that conclusion, because it doesnt in the report.

Plus, it shows the amount of money that went to the MGAs but it neglected to mention that 15% goes to commissions and 10% goes to policy assurance. Its a fair criticism that there could have been a shifting of money, but they didnt demonstrate it. Thats problematic.

Had they gotten further along and got the report to where it was not a draft, but completed, those issues would have come up. The NAIC doesnt offer any guidance. It just says it needs to be transparent and arms length (with MGAs). These are portfolio companies and affiliates, so theyre not going to bid them out.

Theres a move to make it more transparent than what we have. The documents had been protected in a bill in 2022-23, allowing exemptions to public records law. Theres now legislation to undo some of those exemptions.

IJ: The report also notes that some MGAs waived their fees and gave money back to carriers in capital investment, as much as $951 million, from 2017 to 2019. Thats an aspect that has not received as much attention from critics.

Absolutely. Thats oftentimes a source for the holding company. An insurance company cant borrow $20 million, like another company could. Because it would have on the opposite side of the ledger $20 million owed, so you would have zero capital in surplus. So, it has to come through a holding company. It collateralizes the loan with the stock of the company. And the MGA contracts out work. You set up a company. You have a company to do policy issuance, and all that has to be managed by an MGA.

Its hard to explain to people. Theres a legitimate role for an MGA, subject to oversight. Many companies return fees to the insurance company by their own initiative or sometimes by order of the OIR.

It would have been helpful if the report had taken a dollar-per-premium look, and said, this is the amount that goes to commissions. This is the amount we pay for reinsurance. This is the amount we pay, so you could see where that dollar is going. On an aggregate basis, its relatively small.

Its also misleading to say the state caps insurance carrier profits at 4.5%, because thats not true. You can ask for a profit contingency of higher than that. Which most companies do. So it makes it sound like people have circumvented the 4.5%. No ones going to put their money at risk for 4.5%. Theyre just not.

IJ: A number of people associated with the insurance industry in Florida have said it would be absurd for an insurance holding company to siphon money away from its carrier to give it to the MGA and let the carrier go insolvent. Do you agree?

If you go back, the non-standard auto industry, which is where the MGA model began, they had a lot of affiliated transactions. You had a policy issuance company, a maintenance company, a technology company, and they would all be getting fees. And the insurance company maintained minimal capital and surplus. But people made money. They were taking the money out through affiliated transactions. But it makes no sense to kill the goose that laid the golden egg. Without the insurance product to sell, none of the other entities would make money.

You may not grow the capital of the company that way. And from a regulatory perspective, you like to see the capital grow with the company.

In a fair agreement, since the MGA is not assuming the risk and the insurance company is, the company should see part of the profit from that risk. So there should be slow growth in the capital and surplus of the company. But to their point, they are right: It makes no sense to take capital out of the company to the point that its insolvent. Because then, not only have you lost your source of revenue, but youve also left people unemployed, and youre banned from the business of insurance. That does not make sense to do that. And listen, if there were good profits, dont you think wed have 300 companies trying to do business in Florida?

Its difficult to analyze, particularly when theres no definition of what are fair and reasonable fees paid to affiliate companies.

IJ: That definition is part of pending legislation, and it will probably come up in subcommittee hearings in the House this week.

Yes. Some questions so far (at the first House Insurance and Banking subcommittee hearing, March 14), have been overly critical, but certainly probing and appropriate. Because the report raised red flags that needed to be addressed. The current commissioners position is that they have been, because we enacted legislation in 2016-2017. Those suggestions have already been implemented.

The question has been raised: Where did the money go? I think if you went through each of the companies, you would be able to find out that much of the money goes to effectively operating an insurance company, and some of the money was returned to the insurance companies in forgiveness of fees.

Was some of it used to pay stockholders? Of course. If stockholders dont get paid back, there would be no one to loan money. There would be no one with surplus notes.

The worst thing you could do now is overreact and upset the fragile balance of investments in Florida. Thats the real fear.

IJ: That subcommittee just passed House Bill 1551, which would revise the 2022 changes and allow more attorney fees for prevailing parties in insurance claims litigation.

So, none of this (MGA arrangements) has to do with attorneys fees. What are you going to do, make it more expensive by putting attorney fees back in? Its not that claims are not being paid. Theres no data to support that. Litigation is down. You want to undo one of the most consequential legislative reforms in 30 years? You need to see what the data says before you revert back to a system in which 70% of the litigation but only 8% of the claims came from Florida. Thats a very inefficient way of paying claims.

The report didnt say anything about that (attorney fees). Theyre unrelated events. Theres no question that there was a disproportionate amount of litigation in Florida relative to other states. If companies are taking money to the MGAs, that bill (on attorney fees) doesnt fix that problem. Assuming that it is a problem. Im not sure it is. I prefer to make decisions on facts, rather than feelings.

What they are doing would scare away investors, because it will return Florida to being a litigious environment. And we will be an outlier. No other state provides attorney fees like Florida did (before the 2022 reforms). It will lead to a lot of losses.

In 2016, when I left office, insurance rates in south Florida went up even though there were no hurricanes. That was the first sign of water claims and litigation over water claims that had just ballooned. So they (the 2022 special legislative session) fixed a broken system but we havent given time to collect all the data and see if rates go down and people still get the benefits of their policies.

The Legislature enhanced the commissioners ability to do market conduct reviews, and hes been extremely aggressive on that. So, its premature to make recommendations on legislation when it is beginning to bear fruit.

Editors note: The average premium charged by many Florida-domiciled property insurers dropped in the fourth quarter 2024, compared to Q3 and Q2, according to OIR quarterly data that was analyzed separately by the South Florida Sun Sentinel and by Insurance Journal. American Integrity Insurance Co., for example, reported an average Q4 premium of $2,278, for all policies, commercial and personal lines. Thats down 12% from the $2,597 reported in Q2 of 2024, the OIRs data show (total direct premium divided by number of policies in force). Not all carriers reported lower premiums. Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance, for example, showed an average premium increase of 2.7% from Q2 to Q4.

Topics Florida Insurance Wholesale
Wildfires forced a mandatory evacuation Sunday in a North Carolina county still recovering from Hurricane Helene, and South Carolinas governor declared an emergency in response to a growing wildfire in that state. Hundreds of miles north, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service was battling a blaze in the Wharton State Forest.

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety announced a mandatory evacuation starting at 8:20 p.m. Saturday for parts of Polk County in western North Carolina about 80 miles (129 kilometers) west of Charlotte.

Visibility in area will be reduced and roads/evacuation routes can become blocked; if you do not leave now, you could be trapped, injured, or killed, the agency said in a social media post.

A shelter had been established in Columbus, North Carolina.

There were three active fires in Polk County, with one spanning 1.9 square miles (5 square kilometers) and another spread over 2.8 square miles (7.3 square kilometers) with no containment by Sunday afternoon. County spokesperson Kellie Cannon said one home was lost to the larger of the two fires.

A third fire that had burned about 199 acres (81 hectares) with 50% containment had destroyed three homes. And earlier evacuation order associated with that fire had been lifted, Cannon said.

Additional mandatory evacuations were ordered for areas of Polk County on Sunday evening, according to a North Carolina Emergency Management social media post.

The North Carolina Forest Services online wildfire public viewer indicated active fires Sunday in Burke County and in Stokes County on the northern border with Virginia.

In South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency Saturday as emergency crews in Pickens County fought the Table Rock Fire in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The State of Emergency allows us to mobilize resources quickly and ensure our firefighters have the support they need, McMaster said in a statement that reinforced a statewide outdoor burning ban issued Friday by the South Carolina Forestry Commission.

Local fire officials called for voluntary evacuations Saturday of some residents near Table Rock Mountain, the forestry commission said in a social media post.

That human-caused fire grew to more than 300 acres (121 hectares) with no containment, the commission said Sunday. Spot fires ignited fresh flames outside of the original fire area and the steep terrain was making it hard for heavier equipment used to contain fires to reach the area, officials said. Downed timber from Hurricane Helene was exacerbating the situation. Voluntary evacuations of approximately 100 residences remained in effect Sunday afternoon.

North Carolinas western region already had been hit hard by Hurricane Helene in September. The hurricane damaged or impacted 5,000 miles (8,046 kilometers) of state-maintained roads and damaged 7,000 private roads, bridges and culverts in North Carolina.

Also this weekend, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has been battling a wildfire that broke out in the Wharton State Forest on Saturday. The fire had consumed about 2.7 square miles (7 square kilometers) as of early Sunday morning and was about 50% contained, according to an 8 a.m. update on the services Facebook page.

Emergency officials said they evacuated two campgrounds in the park. Eighteen buildings were near the fire, but the flames were moving away from them and no structures had been evacuated.

The cause of that fire was under investigation.

Photo: Firefighters prepare to fight the wildfires in Polk County, North Carolina, on Saturday. (WLOS-TV via AP)

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP)  The family of a former Boeing quality control manager who police say killed himself after lawyers questioned him for days about his whistleblowing on alleged jumbo jet defects sued the airplane maker Thursday.

Boeing subjected John Barnett to a campaign of harassment, abuse and intimidation intended to discourage, discredit and humiliate him until he would either give up or be discredited, lawyers for the family wrote in a wrongful death lawsuit filed in federal court in South Carolina.

Barnett, 62, shot himself March 9, 2024, in Charleston after answering questions from attorneys for several days. He lived in Louisiana.

Boeing had threatened to break John, and break him it did, the attorneys wrote in court papers.

Boeing has not yet responded in court filings.

We are saddened by John Barnetts death and extend our condolences to his family, the company said in a statement this week.

Barnett was a longtime Boeing employee and worked as a quality-control manager before he retired in 2017. In the years after that, he shared his concerns with journalists and became a whistleblower.

Barnett said he once saw discarded metal shavings near wiring for the flight controls that could have cut wiring and caused a catastrophe. He also noted problems with up to a quarter of the oxygen systems on Boeings 787 planes.

Barnett shared his concerns with his supervisors and others before leaving Boeing, but according to the lawsuit they responded by ignoring him and then harassing him.

Boeing intentionally gave Barnett inaccurate, poor job reviews and less desirable shifts, according to the lawsuit. Barnetts family argues the company publicly blamed him for delays that angered his co-workers and prevented him from transferring to another plant.

Barnett eventually was diagnosed with PTSD and his mental condition deteriorated, his family said.

Whether or not Boeing intended to drive John to his death or merely destroy his ability to function, it was absolutely foreseeable that PTSD and Johns unbearable depression, panic attacks, and anxiety, which would in turn lead to an elevated risk of suicide, the lawsuit said. Boeing may not have pulled the trigger, but Boeings conduct was the clear cause, and the clear foreseeable cause, of Johns death.

The lawsuit doesnt specify the amount of damages sought by Barnetts family but asks for compensation for emotional distress and mental anguish, back pay, 10 years of lost future earnings as well as bonuses, health expenses and his lost life insurance benefits.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Aviation Aerospace
A construction company was fined $157,500 by California for multiple violations of workplace safety regulations following a fatal trench collapse.

W.A. Rasic Construction was fined by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health incident over the death of an employee working in an unprotected excavation on Aug. 28, 2024, according to Cal/OSHA.

The worker was reportedly inside a 17-foot-deep trench when a portion of it collapsed and caused a concrete pipe to be displaced, pinning and killing the employee.

Cal/OSHAs investigation identified serious violations of workplace safety regulations related to excavation and trench safety.

Reported Cal/OSHA include:

Failure to implement an effective injury and illness prevention program. W. A. Rasic Construction did not implement an effective injury and illness prevention program to identify, evaluate, and correct workplace hazards, and provide training. The failure exposed employees to the hazards associated with working in an unshored trench.

The employer failed to conduct a proper site inspection and failed to identify conditions that could lead to dangerous cave-in hazards or the lack of necessary protective systems, such as trench boxes or shoring.

The employer did not provide the necessary cave-in protection for employees working in an excavation roughly 17 feet deep. This safety failure exposed workers to the risk of fatal injury, as evidenced by the incident.

Employers have the right to appeal any Cal/OSHA citation and notification of penalty by filing an appeal with the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board within 15 working days from the receipt of notification.

Topics California Contractors
As Los Angeles-area residents recover from one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history, Californias insurer of last resort is careening toward another hot and dry summer with its coffers already strained. Thats raising the prospect that state residents will need to pick up the bill for more funds.

The California FAIR Plan last month required member companies such as State Farm, Allstate Corp. and Chubb Ltd. to cough up a combined $1 billion to bolster its reserves as it sorts through liabilities from the Palisades and Eaton fires. The measure, known as an assessment, offered a rare look into the programs relatively opaque financials.

One key takeaway: Just three months into 2025, theres little extra cash should another disaster hit this year. And California is battling blazes year-round.

Related: California Insurance Commissioner Provisionally OKs State Farms 22% Rate Request

The risk is really clear, said Sridhar Manyem, head of industry research at AM Best, a credit-ratings company specializing in insurance. Depending on the severity of the next wildfire, there is the possibility of a future assessment.

Under newly updated state regulations, private insurers are responsible for assessments but they can request permission to pass along as much as half of the first $1 billion to policyholders in a given calendar year  and all of the burden beyond that threshold. In other words, the cost of assessments can hit Californians in the form of charges that increase bills for anyone with home insurance.

The financial pressures underscore the rising risk stalking California property owners as climate change threatens to deepen the turmoil in the insurance market. The January fires in Los Angeles, which were unusual for that time of year, began just weeks after new state regulations took effect to ease a crisis spurred by insurers limiting new homeowner policies or fleeing California entirely amid worries over losses.

Related: Insurer Payouts Now at $12B for LA Wildfires, Report Shows

State Farm, Californias biggest home insurer, received provisional approval this month for a 22% emergency rate hike after warning that multibillion-dollar payouts in the Los Angeles area would threaten its balance sheet and the broader market.

California will always face some risk of a catastrophic fire and the risk will only get worse, Pedro Pizarro, chief executive officer of Edison International, said in an interview earlier this month. The power-utility owner has acknowledged the possibility that its equipment was involved in the Eaton Fire.

The risk will create cost for consumers, for all of us as residents if we like living here, which we do, he said.

Related: Wall Street Brokers Start Trading Insurer Claims From LA Fires

A representative for the FAIR Plan declined to comment beyond saying it remains focused on claims arising from the Los Angeles fires and serving affected policyholders.

The plan estimates its liabilities related to the Eaton and Palisades fires at about $4 billion. The program typically holds less cash on hand compared with private insurers because it covers the riskiest risks  the homes and businesses that private insurers have decided they dont want to cover at any price. That leaves it particularly vulnerable to a disaster like the January wildfires.

If the FAIR Plan held the same reserves as traditional insurers, premiums would skyrocket and be unaffordable, said Dave Jones, who served as the states insurance commissioner from 2011 to 2019. The plans president, Victoria Roach, warned last year that our rates are not adequate.

In a letter attached to the February assessment order from the state insurance commissioner, Roach disclosed that the FAIR Plan has a $900 million reinsurance deductible and as much as $3.5 billion in payments (including the deductible) that it has to make in order to access all available layers of reinsurance. FAIR also said it had $510 million of unallocated cash available to cover those costs, almost $400 million short of its deductible.

The gap between the FAIR Plans unallocated cash and its reinsurance deductible is pretty concerning and pretty much guarantees another assessment, said Carly Fabian, a policy advocate for Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group.

The FAIR Plan currently estimates that 45% of its claims from the Palisades and Eaton fires are characterized as total losses. That may be too low, Jones said. A higher percentage would mean it will need more money.

Jones said another optimistic assumption FAIR is making is that there wont be another catastrophic wildfire in the spring or summer. After the $1 billion assessment, the insurer will have about $305 million in cash by June.

Its entirely possible the state will avoid devastating wildfires for the rest of the year. But the fire risks will likely rise across the mountains of Southern California starting in May and June, according to the latest outlooks from the National Interagency Fire Center. While in the past, California had a distinctive fire season that peaked in the fall, in recent decades the state has battled blazes year-round.

Aftermath Of Los Angeles Fires As Some Residents Allowed To Return Home

An insurance company employee surveys damage at homes destroyed by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles in January. Photographer: Jill Connelly/Bloomberg

Meanwhile, a legal fight is brewing over last months assessment. Advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, which has called the charge a bailout for big insurers, has said it will challenge insurance companies in court if they ask to pass on assessment costs to policyholders.

We dont think its legal, said Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court, arguing that private insurers are allowed to do business in California on the premise that they will contribute to keeping the FAIR Plan solvent.

Critics also warn that letting insurers off the hook for future assessments risks encouraging them to offload more of their riskiest policies to the FAIR Plan, which has experienced 400% policy growth over the last five years.

The California Department of Insurance, the state regulator, has rejected that view. If insurers were completely on the hook for FAIR Plan assessments, more companies would leave the state or refuse to write new policies and that would make insurance much more unaffordable, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said in a hearing last week. All these strategies are getting them back.

Deputy Commissioner Michael Soller says the states new regulations incentivize insurers to write more high-risk policies because only by doing so can they use crucial new risk-assessment tools.

Were trying to do this in a balanced way, so that were not back in another situation where insurance companies simply walk away from California, Soller said.

The departments goal is to get more Californians out of the FAIR Plan, which typically offers limited coverage and higher cost, and back into the regular market.

Nobody wants a FAIR Plan policy, Soller said.

But as insurance companies pulled back from California, more customers were only able to get coverage with the FAIR Plan. Thats turning into a growing problem not just for homeowners in risky fire zones, but for everyone in the state insurance market.

The more people that are put into a system which is already struggling, the worse the struggles are going to be, said Douglas Quinn, executive director of the American Policyholder Association. These are very, very difficult, challenging times for the insurance industry.

Top photo: An insurance company employee surveys damage at homes destroyed by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles in January. Photographer: Jill Connelly/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics California
Breaking Mining News: Alaska Energy Metals (TSXV: AEMC) (OTCQB: AKEMF) Hails US Presidential Executive Order on Domestic Critical Mineral Mining and Implications for the Nikolai Nickel Project, Alaska, USA

HIGHLIGHTS The Executive Order issued on March 20, 2025 entitled Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production contains numerous positive implications for Alaska Energy Metals Corporation and the US mining industry broadly. AEMC hails this positive policy statement by President Trump and believes now more than ever that its application for grant funding through the US Department of Defense, Defense Production Act is timely and well positioned. The main points of the Executive Order include: The US Department of Defense will utilize the Defense Production Act to boost investment in domestic mineral production. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation will use Defense Production Act funds to finance domestic mineral projects. The Export-Import Bank will provide financing to secure raw materials for domestic mineral processing. Adds copper and gold to the list of critical and strategic minerals. Department of Defense will facilitate buyer agreements for minerals and expedite procurement. The order directs agencies to achieve expediting permitting and approvals.

Alaska Energy Metals Corporation has recently documented that its Nikolai project hosts the largest known nickel resource in the United States and now contains seven metals on the US Department of Defense critical and strategic metals list. VANCOUVER, British Columbia - March 25, 2025 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Alaska Energy Metals (TSX-V: AEMC, OTCQB: AKEMF) ("AEMC" or the "Company") welcomes news of an Executive Order issued by President Trump entitled Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production. This news is paid advertisement/ news disseminated on behalf of/issued on behalf of Alaska Energy Metals Alaska Energy Metals President & CEO Gregory Beischer commented, "As promised in his Joint Address to Congress earlier this month, President Trump has taken bold steps to ramp up domestic critical mineral production. Along with a prior Executive Order entitled Unleashing Alaska's Tremendous Resource Potential, the stage has been set to dramatically improve the investment climate for mining of critical minerals in the US and Alaska. Our Nikolai project now is known to host seven critical and strategic metals - predominantly nickel - but with copper, cobalt, chromium, platinum, palladium and gold, and is the largest known nickel resource in the United States. The positive initiatives contained in the Executive Order, particularly those related to financing through the Defense Production Act, could bode well for our company. The main components of the Executive Order include the following: Definitions and Scope - Defines minerals to include critical minerals, uranium, copper, potash, gold, and others as determined by the National Energy Dominance Council. The order covers the full spectrum of mineral production, from mining and processing to the creation of finished products like semiconductors, batteries, and wind turbines.

Defense Production Act - The Department of Defense will utilize the long-standing Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA) to boost investment in domestic mineral production.

Financing The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) will use DPA funds to finance domestic mineral projects. The Export-Import Bank will provide financing to secure raw materials for domestic mineral processing. The Small Business Administration will develop legislative recommendations to support small businesses in mineral production. The Department of Defense will facilitate buyer agreements of offtake agreements for minerals and expedite procurement.

Expediting Permitting and Approvals - Agencies are required toprovide a list of pending mineral production projects within 10 days. Priority projects that can be immediately approved will be identified, with expedited permitting. The Fast-41 Permitting Dashboard will be the mechanism for transparency measures. Additionally, industry feedback will be solicited on regulatory bottlenecks.

Revising Land Use Policies for Mining - The order requires federal lands with known mineral deposits to be prioritized for mining-related purposes and federal agencies must identify additional federal land suitable for leasing to private companies for mineral production. Under the order, the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy will facilitate private mining enterprises through extended leases.

Modernizing the Mining Act of 1872 - Reforms will be proposed to Congress regarding waste rock, tailings, and mine waste disposal.

Disclosures - Agencies will rescind certain regulatory disclosure requirements for applicants seeking federal financial support.

For additional information, visit: https://alaskaenergymetals.com/

ABOUT ALASKA ENERGY METALS

Alaska Energy Metals Corporation (AEMC) is an Alaska-based corporation with offices in Anchorage and Vancouver working to sustainably deliver the critical materials needed for national security and a bright energy future, while generating superior returns for shareholders.

AEMC is focused on delineating and developing the large-scale, bulk tonnage, polymetallic Nikolai Project Eureka deposit containing nickel, copper, cobalt, chromium, iron, platinum, palladium, and gold. Located in Interior Alaska near existing transportation and power infrastructure, its flagship project, Nikolai, is well-situated to become a significant domestic source of strategic metals for North America. AEMC also holds a secondary project in western Quebec; the Angliers - Belleterre project. Today, material sourcing demands excellence in environmental performance, technological innovation, carbon mitigation and the responsible management of human and financial capital. AEMC works every day to earn and maintain the respect and confidence of the public and believes that ESG performance is measured by action and led from the top.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Gregory Beischer"

Gregory Beischer, President & CEO

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Gregory A. Beischer, President & CEO

Toll-Free: 877-217-8978 | Local: 604-638-3164

Some statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation), including, without limitation, the estimation of mineral resources and that the Company (a) will file a NI43-101 technical report within 45 days, b) will complete metallurgical and deportment studies, c) find that the processing of the deposit can be done using a standard flowsheet, d) will perform economic analysis, and e) plan and conduct further exploration drilling. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements do not guarantee 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 but are not limited to uncertainty relating to the estimation of mineral resources, regulatory actions, market prices, and 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 law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If the Company updates any forward-looking statement(s), no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

SOURCE: Alaska Energy Metals Corporation

Alaska Energy Metals Corporation (TSXV: AEMC) (OTCQB: AKEMF) (FRA: V7F) is a featured mining stock on Investorideas.com More info on AEMC at Investorideas.com Visit: https://www.investorideas.com/CO/AEMC/

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Cork GAA chief executive Kevin O'Donovan says attracting concerts to SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh has been challenging because the venue is "too big for Live at the Marquee, too small for Coldplay" as the organisation looks to service its 31m stadium debt.

Mr O'Donovan was speaking at a Cork Chamber business breakfast on Tuesday at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh. In an engaging presentation, Mr O'Donovan discussed a range of issues, including the stadium debt.

Cork GAA chief executive Kevin O'Donovan says attracting concerts to SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh has been challenging because the venue is "too big for live at the marquee, too small for Coldplay" as the organisation looks to service its 30m stadium debt. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

"Concerts in this building are challenging because we're a mid size venue. We're too big for Live at the Marquee, we're too small for Coldplay. We talk to the promoters every day we are seeing now if we can move the dial a little bit and go into smaller events and use car parks and use 4G and put marquees up on the pitch and so on.

"So lest anyone think we are idle, you are at the discretion of the major acts' touring diaries; it's not your diary it's theirs, and we play games for a significant period of the year. Concerts are the only thing that will move the dial on debt here. Everything else really is to keep the lights on."

Cork GAA has sold out 2,200 premium seats, and is now using 360 seats from the overflow demand to accommodate fans in the horseshoe area around the players tunnel.

"We would sell another 1,000 premium seats in the morning thanks to the success of our teams," said Mr O'Donovan.

Cork will play Tipperary on Sunday, April 6, in the Allianz hurling league final in a game that is already a sellout.
Tangling over the price of horses has been a feature of fairs in Ireland for centuries, with breeders traditionally seeking inflated sums and buyers playing tough by resisting their initial demands.

Deals continue to be made at the dwindling number of these great folk gatherings after middlemen intervene to bring both sides together and seal the transaction with a customary slapping of hands.

The art of the deal was part of their culture long before United States president Donald Trump gave it an elevated meaning, which has now taken on a new status.

Spancil Hill in Co Clare, just a one-hour-journey by car to the Trump Hotel in Doonbeg, has been hosting horse fairs for 400 years, and might now have lessons for those who will negotiate a looming trade war between the US and the EU.

That all began when Mr Trump imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the EU, which retaliated with tariffs on 26bn on US goods  including whiskey and Kentucky bourbon.

Trump responded with a threat of a 200% tariff on alcohol products from the EU, but negotiations are expected, according to Taoiseach Micheal Martin.

All the skills of the old-time tanglers from the fairs of Spancil Hill, Cahirmee, Ballinasloe, Puck, and the Ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle, Co Antrim, will be required to resolve the dispute.

America is the biggest market for Irish whiskey with exports of over 800m last year. A trade war has potentially devastating implications for the brewing and distilling sector which employs 10,000 people in 50 distilleries countrywide.

It would also impact the tourism, agriculture and hospitality sectors.

Trade war

The Irish Whiskey Association, part of Ibec, said there is no winner in a trade war. The imposition of tariffs will impact on businesses and consumers. Jobs, investments, and businesses will be put at risk.

It recalled that the EU and the US introduced tariff-free trade in 1997 and saw the value of the sector increase exponentially in the years that followed  benefitting businesses and consumers alike.

We call on them to continue that legacy and maintain the tariff-free environment for EU and US whiskey alike. We note that there is no tariff currently in place, and now is the time for dialogue.

Our experience speaks to the benefits of a free and fair-trading relationship, and we will continue to advocate for the reciprocity weve enjoyed since 1997 to be reinstated.

The need to remove spirits from this dispute is immediate, and the clock is ticking

Irish Whiskey is largely an international product with 90% of it exported. Since 1989, it has Geographical Indication status  a distinctive sign that its quality, reputation, or other characteristics relate to its geographical origin.

The director of the Irish Whiskey Association, Eoin O Cathain, said earlier this month that the success of the sector is due to the innovation, resilience, and hard work of producers  passionate distillers that are found in almost every county in Ireland.

Last year, we celebrated 700 Years of Irish Whiskey Tradition: 700 years since the publication of the Red Book of Ossory, with its instructions for distilling aqua vitae  or uisce beatha  which, of course, we know today as whiskey, he said.

The Drinks Industry Group of Ireland  which represents suppliers, pubs, restaurants, hotels, and independent off-licences  has also highlighted the significant financial and social contribution that its members make to the economy.

It employs 92,000 people countrywide and buys 1.1bn of Irish inputs.

Industry shockwaves

Irish political reaction has also been swift with Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh, a member of the European Parliaments Agriculture Committee, saying Mr Trumps threat to hit European alcohol products with a whopping 200% tariff is sending shockwaves through the Irish drinks industry.

It is now highly plausible that Trump will target the agri-food industry, as was the case during his first term when he unveiled a 25% tariff on goods including Irish dairy products," she said.

Farm products were also mentioned during the Taoiseachs visit to the Oval Office, further raising concerns that the agriculture sector might be amongst the hardest hit

Farmers and producers across Ireland will be watching Trump with bated breath over the coming weeks, hoping that their livelihoods are not next on his hit list.

MEP Maria Walsh said Mr Trumps threat to hit European alcohol products with a whopping 200% tariff is sending shockwaves through the Irish drinks industry. Picture:

The Irish Government must make the strongest possible case for the protection of our agricultural sector at EU Council and commission level as a matter of urgency, she said.

The Sinn Fein spokesperson on foreign affairs and trade, Donnchadh O Laoghaire, also expressed alarm at the potential implications for Irish whiskey if US Government tariffs of 200% are introduced.

He said the Irish whiskey industry has gone from strength to strength across the world in recent years, including the US, where it has doubled its market share in the last decade.

This is not only the major distillers but also several smaller craft distilleries. President Trumps threat of 200% tariffs raises huge concern regarding those jobs, and I would be very concerned about the impact of this, he said.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he expects there would be discussions within the EU on the approach to the US threat of further tariffs and he would seek to protect Irish interests in those talks.
Tariff increases by the US pose a significant threat to Irish food and drink exports into the US, the IFA has warned.

The tariffs are proposed to come into effect on April 2, impacting a range of goods. IFA analysis conducted by chief economist Tadhg Buckley found products such as Kerrygold might be particularly impacted.

Kerrygold is now the second best-selling butter brand in the US, said Mr Buckley. Almost 500m worth of Kerrygold products was sent to America in 2024. This accounts for 7.5% of our total dairy exports, currently valued at 830m.

That helps to underpin the milk price paid to Irish dairy farmers. Global dairy markets are in relatively good health at the moment, but the introduction of tariffs could have far-reaching impacts as we hit the peak supply period in Ireland, explained Mr Buckley.

Ireland exported approximately 1.9bn worth of food and drink to America last year. The US market accounts for around 11% of our total food and drink exports in Ireland.

Dairy (830m) and drinks, the majority of which is whiskey, at 900m, exported to the US market account for 91% of the 1.9bn figure. Other exports make up the remainder, with pigmeat valued at 23m, beef at 8.8m, and seafood at 3.8m.

Discussing Trumps proposed tariffs, IFA President Francie Gorman said: We have succeeded in gaining a foothold in what is a large market. Not only that, but we have done it with some very strong brands that are built on the foundation of farmers producing quality material for processing. The scale of the tariffs being talked about would have a serious impact on what we have achieved.

Mr Buckley also mentioned there would be real concerns for the grain sector if the drinks sector is hit.

Examining the EU and US relationship for food and drink there is a trade surplus on the EU side of 17.6bn which is proportionally greater than the overall trade surplus for all goods.

The danger is that a trade war will hit the value of our exports. Within the EU, our export profile as a proportion of what we produce is far greater than most other countries, warns Mr Buckley.
When Cork-born actor Denis Conway first performed the role of the Earl of Tyrone, Hugh ONeill, in the Brian Friel play, Making History, in 1992 in Rome, he had an idea. If he ever had his own theatre company, he decided he would tour the play, following the path of the Flight of the Earls and ending in the Eternal City where ONeill is buried having died there in penury.

With his now defunct company, Oubourous, Conway achieved his goal, touring the play across Europe in 2007/8, marking the 400th anniversary of The Flight of the Earls.

Now, the award-winning Conway is reprising the role of ONeill at the Everyman, directed by the artistic director of the venue, Des Kennedy. Conway will play the older ONeill while Aaron McCusker will play the younger version of the complicated character.

Conway says the play is hugely relevant today. If you think about whats going on in the world at the moment, who writes the history? In one hundred years time, what will be written about Ukraine and the Palestinian situation?

One things for sure, Conway, battle-hardened from the ups and downs of a lengthy career as an actor, is not hanging up his boots any day soon. Although close to retirement age, he says: An actor never retires. You get respect from longevity. It can get harder to learn your lines but thankfully, I inherited my mothers gift for retention.

Conways mother (aged 94), couldnt understand why her son chose to give up a good job lecturing science at the then Limerick Regional College for the precariousness of the life of an actor. But his father asked him if acting made him happy.

I said I think it does. My father said to go for it. He told me he worked for forty-five years in CIE [as an inspector] and hated every second of it. But with thirteen children to look after, he didnt have a choice. Im glad I did acting, says the Whitechurch-reared Conway.

Denis Conway in 2003 on the set of Oliver Stone's film Alexander.

He had a brief flirtation with the Presentation Brothers. I was sure I wanted to be a brother. I ended up going to Mount St Joseph in Blarney where you went after leaving school to prepare to be a brother, before going to college. I lasted about three weeks. My mentor talked me out of it, saying I wanted to be a teacher and didnt want to be a brother at all. I was naively religious and a goody two shoes.

Conway went to secondary school at the former Colaiste Therese in Greenmount. It was a novitiate for the brotherhood. The classes were tiny. There were only twelve in my Leaving Cert class, all groomed to be brothers. None of my class joined in the end.

In terms of acting inspiration, Conway followed the careers of Donal McCann and John Kavanagh. I was lucky enough to meet John Kavanagh who is now a friend of mine. We were in the Alexandermovie [directed by Oliver Stone] together. Ive always admired older actors. I wasnt a huge film buff but obviously, Im a big admirer of Al Pacino and Robert de Niro.

"But there are lesser known actors who make a living on the stage. Theyre the ones I really admire. Its a tough life in the sense that youre never going to become wealthy but if you can enjoy it as long as I have and survive, thats as good as you can do.

Married with two children in their twenties, Conway admits that his first five years as an actor were very tough. I always said Id give it five years and see what happens. I did part-time teaching to keep the wolf from the door. I was close to giving up acting but then I got a role and never looked back.

Conway has a couple of ideas for plays. He has researched and would love to write a play about the fit-up travelling theatre maestro, Anew McMaster, staging Shakespeare. One of my favourite authors is Shakespeare and Im not saying that casually. I love his poetry and I love doing Shakespeare on stage. Theres not enough of it. I tried to write the play idea but its not natural to me. I think what I need to do is have about two pints and record myself talking.

Because of the tour of Making History in the Noughties, Conway got to know Brian Friel who died ten years ago. He told me he had a personal gra for the play. Clearly Conway shares that passion.
Patrick Cronin from Cork was in search of the perfect gift. Two of his best friends were getting married, and he wanted to give something meaningful to them. When he couldnt find anything special enough, he sat down with a hammer, some nails, and wool and set about creating something unique  an artwork made from string.

And so his business allstringsattached.ie was born. He now makes individual handmade pieces to order, and each one can be personalised to suit customers wishes.
For many parents of children with additional needs, the school journey is turbulent. Whether it is fighting and campaigning for support or resources in times of scarcity or the constant worry as you watch your child progress through different stages of their educational journey.

Yet, the parental struggle often pales in significance to the experiences of the young person trying to manage these dynamics daily.

Many students and parents long for the day they complete their educational journey and no longer have to be reminded of their struggles. However, as the completion of their school journey approaches, a new set of worries and concerns often emerges. As challenging as navigating the school environment is, the adult world, without familiar supports and relationships, can be equally daunting.

Last week saw the publication of a large-scale study commissioned by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). Titled Paths, Tracks, Gaps, and Cliffs, it examined the school experience and levels of preparation of school leavers with diverse additional needs. The study found that students preferred

individualised, timely support and were critical that supports were often difficult to access and required a fight to secure.

As a parent of children with additional needs, Im all too familiar with the hoops one must jump through to secure resources.

I recall speaking with now-senator Tom Clonan some years ago and remarking on how many parents of children with additional needs become impressive

advocates for their children. He replied They have no choice but to be vocal advocates because if they are not, their child will lose out.

My sister is one such example. Over the past 17 years, she has become, by default, a staunch advocate for her two autistic sons. She has to fight, campaign, and relentlessly pursue decision-makers to secure the support her boys need.

Post-school options

Many of the students interviewed for the NCSE study reported a significant struggle in deciding what to do after school. They felt that official or standard sources of advice, such as career guidance, teachers, and the CAO, were not tailored to their needs.

Im often contacted by parents looking for advice on how to get support for their child with additional needs. But I can do little to help because the scarcity of

post-school options for young people, especially those graduating from special schools, seriously limits their options.

The study also raised concerns about the earlier allocation of third-level places, which applies to the broader Leaving Certificate community. Its difficult to justify that they will be offered a place in mid-August and required to organise accommodation and support before they commence their third-level journey three or four weeks later. This does little to allow these young people and their families to adjust to a major life transition.

The young adults in the NCSE study said schools could do better to prepare them for adult life, independent living and career decisions.

While I believe this criticism to be valid, I have compassion for staff in mainstream schools. There is already considerable pressure to cover a crowded curriculum  the space for additional life skills is unavailable to most.

The expectations of parents and students also play a role. The drive to achieve maximum CAO points, which has become the dominant goal of education, means even teachers and school communities who want to include more practical skills in the curriculum would likely encounter significant challenges from families, especially if there are no CAO points for these classes.

The focus on CAO points has usurped some essential features of a good education.

Due to the dominance of screen-based childhoods, life skills are being eroded, and there is a huge need for young people to develop practical life skills.

The ability to communicate and connect seems to be becoming more challenging with each new generation.

If the sole metric of CAO points is to measure educational success, crucial life skills will be undervalued.

While this is especially true for young people with additional needs, including more practical life skills content in the curriculum would allow every young person to benefit from it.

Impact of social inequality

Not surprisingly, the study found that family background played a significant role in the likelihood of young people applying for post-school courses and DARE (Disability Access Route to Education) applications, with students from more highly educated families being more likely to apply. Social inequality is an ongoing struggle in our education system, and in almost every published report, social disadvantage is a dominant feature. While there have undoubtedly been efforts to level the playing field, we are still far from achieving it.

In his 1999 book The Schools Our Children Deserve, educationalist Alfie Kohn famously commented that the best predictor of a schools standardised test scores is the size of the houses nearby. Kohn emphasised that family wealth and community resources largely determine student outcomes. Unfortunately, 26 years later, this still seems to ring true.

Outside the school environment, the young people in the study highlighted that staffing shortfalls in some HSE-supported post-school programmes delayed or

disrupted transitions to various programmes, impacting their personal and learning progress and social engagement. In some cases, this is due to staffing levels; in other cases, it is due to unnecessary bureaucracy.

I have worked in various Irish universities for over 15 years and can attest that requests for additional support have increased every year. This is partly due to a rise in proficiency in carrying out educational assessments, which highlight these issues. The increase in assessments is a positive development as it paves the way for many more young people to attend third-level institutes and receive the support they need in that setting. However, these learning supports require resources and investment, which can take time.

I do not doubt that third-level institutions will improve over the coming years, as inclusivity is a priority for many universities. However, until those supports are established, young people will continue to struggle.

We can hopefully learn from studies and improve our infrastructure to create more effective pathways to post-school education, enabling young people with additional needs to thrive.

The NCPE study highlights the need to equip school-leaving students with more practical skill sets and move away from associating entry into third-level education solely with CAO points. If young people could use other metrics to make a case for why they might be suited to specific post-school programmes, then this would allow for more diverse skills to be recognised outside of those measured in a high-stakes exam in June of their final year.

I teach undergraduate mental health nursing. If a student were to engage in volunteer work during their school years with a local mental health organisation and received positive feedback from that organisation as to their suitability for a role in mental health nursing, surely this is as worthy of consideration for a place on an undergraduate training programme as their result, for example, in their Leaving Cert geography exam?

To meaningfully support young people with diverse learning needs, we must design a system that more effectively acknowledges their diverse talents.

This approach has to be preferable to investing in the current system, which for these students, seems not fit for purpose.
Two Traveller sisters, who have thousands of online followers on their influencer accounts, have between them won 40,000 damages against top retailer Zara and its security company, Bidvest Noonan, for publicly defaming them.

On Tuesday, the companies each agreed to pay 15-year-old Dakota Joyce 10,000 compensation in settlement of her claim for defamation of character.

Zara and Bidvest Noonan had intended to fight Dakotas case on Tuesday at the Circuit Civil Court but succumbed at the last minute following her 20-year-old sister Krystles success last month when awarded 20,000 damages against them by Judge Roderick Maguire.

Judge Maguire had heard a female security guard had opened a fitting room curtain while Krystle was only partly dressed.

Judge Christopher Callan, who dealt with Tuesdays case involving Dakota and approved the 20,000 settlement offer to her, described the actions of both defendants, in Zaras flagship store in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, as egregious.

He heard Dakota, 13 at the time, who sued through her mother Tracey Joyce, of Glendhu, Ratoath Road, Dublin 15, had been trying on clothes with her sister Krystle in the fitting cubicle when accosted by the security guard, who had pulled back the curtain.

Barrister Esther Earley, who appeared for Dakota with Mariah Donnelly, of Michael Kelleher Solicitors, James Street, Dublin, described what happened as an unsavoury incident against two girls socially profiled by the defendants as members of the Travelling community.

Ms Earley said the Joyce sisters would frequently visit stores and photograph themselves in the latest ladies and girls fashions, which they would then promote and recommend to their TikTok followers, naming the shops in complimentary mode where the items could be purchased.

Counsel told Judge Callan Dakota was stunned and distressed when she had heard the Bidvest Noonan security member repeatedly say within the hearing of other people: I am calling the guards.

Ms Earley said both girls had a social media presence and did their best to raise awareness for the Travelling community, of which they were members.

When Dakota had asked if she could leave the changing area, both girls had been advised by security they were not being allowed to leave. They had been eventually allowed out on the shop floor.

Counsel said there had been an implication Dakota was disreputable, dishonourable and had been engaged in criminal activity.

Dakota suffered stress, emotional suffering, embarrassment and concern that her reputation had been damaged and brought into ridicule and contempt, Ms Earley told the court.

In Krystles earlier case, which had been contested by both defendants, Judge Maguire found in particular the evidence of two defence witnesses had not been persuasive or at all credible and left glaring inconsistencies".
A receiver appointed over teacher Enoch Burke's salary may be allowed to seize his other assets as the funds in his bank account are insufficient to meet the level of daily fines imposed on him for breaching orders not to attend at the school where he once taught, the High Court has heard.

Mr Burke has continued to turn up at Wilson's Hospital School in Westmeath since Christmas following his release after 512 days in prison for defying court orders not to do so.

Each of his attendances at the school attracted a daily fine of 700 imposed by the High Court in January 2023, and it was recently increased to 1,400.

As an alternative to sending him back to prison, Mr Justice David Nolan ordered last week that steps be taken to ensure he pays the fines and appointed a receiver over his salary and freezing orders on his bank account. This was particularly so in view of the fact that he continued to be paid his teacher's salary as an appeal over his dismissal has yet to be completed.

Tuesday's proceedings

On Tuesday, instead of going to the school, he attended court where the judge said he was giving him an opportunity to argue why an order allowing for the fines to continue to be taken from his bank account should not be made permanent.

The hearing started out with submissions from Brian Kennedy SC, for the Attorney General, who said that the Attorney General (AG) had considered, in conjunction with the receiver, extending the remit of the receiver to act on Mr Burke's other assets.

This was because, counsel said, his bank account appeared to have 40,000 in it which was insufficient to meet the 79,100 in fines that had already built up apart from future fines for continuing breaches of the court order.

Mr Burke began to reply stating that the underlying issue in this case - his constitutional right to freedom of religion and expression in relation to his Christian views - had never been addressed.

The judge reminded him the only issue he was dealing with was the application to make the order on his salary permanent. When Mr Burke complained that Mr Kennedy had got 20 minutes to put his submission and he was not getting even five minutes to make his, the judge said he would give him five minutes.

'Grow up a little please'

Mr Burke said, among other things, the AG had admitted what was being done with his salary had never happened before in the history of the state. At one point, as the judge reminded him to stick to the matter before the court, he told the judge to "grow up a little please".

He also told the judge, who had previously quoted scripture in relation to the man who failed to make use of his talents, that the Bible also stated there was only the male and female sex.

He also told the judge he was under the preamble to the Constitution "accountable to God who you will stand before one day and give an account". He said the judge was also accountable to the people and to uphold their rights.

After listening to him for more than five minutes, the judge told him his time was up and he was once again asking why he should not make the order permanent.

Mr Burke continued speaking as the judge then made the order permanent and adjourned the case for two weeks to allow the AG to come back with an application to extend the remit of the receiver.

The judge then got up and left the courtroom as Mr Burke continued to speak and an unidentified man at the back of the courtroom called out a number of times "judge" as he held up a piece of paper.

Mr Burke was accompanied by his mother Martina and siblings Ammi and Isaac.
The man who denies murdering his wife in Wilton sent his friend a screenshot from his wifes phone in which she outlined some of her hobbies and described herself as separated and interested in meeting someone.

43-year-old Regin Parithapara Rajan, pleaded not guilty to the single charge of murdering 38-year-old Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamani at their home at Cardinal Court, Wilton, Cork, on July 14, 2023, contrary to common law.

Mahesh Murali, a friend of the accused from Kerala, said the defendant told him that he and the deceased were quarrelling, and Mr Muralis impression was that the couple did not understand each other.

The defendant told him that she is scolding me for simple things he told me Deepa told him to leave the bedroom he told me she was looking for a divorce.

The defendant sent Mr Murali a screenshot from his wifes phone in which she stated that her status was separated but not divorced and that she was looking for someone I can have good conversation with, to begin with and she outlined her hobbies as including reading, cooking and yoga.

The witness suggested to the accused that he give her some space and she might come back to him.

On July 14, 2023, the witness was asked by the accused to collect his five-year-old son from summer camp because he had a job interview, his wife had a work dinner and their car was giving trouble.

The witness and his wife, Sreeja Sumangala, picked up the child, brought him for some food and took him home and tried unsuccessfully to contact the accused by phone. Between 7.30pm and 8pm they drove over to Wilton with the child. There they met the accused and a nurse who was sharing the house.

After the couple and the nurse  who was a friend of theirs - went for a walk together they returned and spoke to the defendant again. Mr Murali smelled alcohol, saw that the defendants eyes were red and thought he was drunk.

Regin wanted to talk to me in private. We came out the front door. He told me  it was in our own language  I killed Deepa, you can call the police or guards. She is on top  I understood, on the first floor.

"I was just shocked, shattered. I wasnt able to speak I just came back to the ladies. I said he is telling that he killed Deepa. The ladies were shocked. They started crying.

Mahesh Murali testified:

I asked him, how did you do this? How did you kill Deepa? He told me he stabbed her with a knife.

The witness agreed with defence senior counsel Brian McInerney that in Kerala, marriage would be highly valued and divorce would not.

Sreeja Sumangala testified that she also spoke to the defendant that evening: I asked him why did you do that? He said She was not good.

Another witness Karen Allen sourced the property at Cardinal Court for the family as part of her work as a relocation agent who found properties for professional people coming to work in the area.

In relation to the deceased she said: I had a good rapport with her. I found her very bubbly very outgoing and bubbly. She was outgoing and successful. He (the deceased) was quiet and shy.

Ms Allen agreed under cross-examination by senior counsel Brian McInerney with his proposition: It appeared that she wore the trousers in the relationship. Ms Allen said: I thought she was very confident. I thought it was a language barrier, she did all the speaking I was very fond of her.

Laura Buckley, property agent, also met the couple and recalled talking to the defendant two days before the fatal incident: He said he was going for interviews the following week. I said that is great news, that is exciting, you can get out and meet people.

She said he told her that his work permit had come through and Ms Buckley remarked to him that his head must be wrecked from being indoors all the time.

The trial before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury of seven women and five men continues.
A man caught with a pack of heroin deals bulging from the back of his pants when arrested during a drugs investigation near Mercy University Hospital was brought before Cork District Court today.

Gavin Sheehan, aged 38, of 7 Laurel Ridge, Shanakiel, Cork, was arrested by Detective Garda Shane Hayes who objected to bail for the accused.

The accused man held back tears in the witness box as he said he wanted to build up a life with his child and get clear of drugs.

Judge Mary Dorgan granted him bail and adjourned the case until April 7.

Detective Garda Shane Hayes said a garda investigation into Diamorphine (heroin) dealing in Cork city led to the arrest of the man near the hospital at noon on March 24.

He was charged with possession of 600 worth of Diamorphine and having the drug  in the form of 12 deals  for sale or supply to others. The detective said the defendant also had 797 in cash, consistent with being paid in various denominations for drugs.

Det Garda Hayes said that prior to his arrest, Sheehan was seen interacting with known drug users at the entrance to the A&E. As he was being taken away in a garda van a bulge at the back of his tracksuit pants was noticed by gardai and the suspected drugs package was retrieved.

The detective said that, by his own admission, the defendant wanted to get out of Cork and was using crack cocaine and heroin. Det Garda Hayes said the accused was living a chaotic lifestyle.

Defence solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher suggested that it was a relatively small amount of drugs and that it was a suitable case for bail.

He said the accused was being attacked in broad daylight in Cork city.

Gavin Sheehan said: I just want to go on treatment and try to get my life straight. I want to start afresh. I started seeing a counsellor.

He said he was going well but had been attacked a number of times, most recently a couple of weeks ago in Fitzgeralds Park as a result of which he was partially blinded.

I am going around in a daze after the injury to my eye. I found it hard to cope  I apologise 100%. I want to change my life, he said.

He added that the judge would not regret giving him bail.
A drunken man with extensive previous convictions for theft wheeled a 1,200 power-washer away from a premises in Ballincollig without paying for it, and now he has been jailed for seven months.

Judge Mary Dorgan imposed a sentence of nine months, with the last two months suspended, in the case against John McDonagh, of 1 Inchera Close, Mahon, Cork.

Sergeant John Kelleher said the 31-year-old wheeled a display power-washer valued at 1,200 out of Ballincollig Tool Hire on the afternoon of December 18, 2024, at Enterprise Park, Inishmore, Ballincollig.

He pleaded guilty to that offence and to another charge that he trespassed at AMG Auto Services at Inishmore, Ballincollig, on the same day and stole another power tool  an impact gun valued at 500.

Defence solicitor Shane Collins-Daly said the defendant had been imprisoned since before Christmas, serving another sentence, and this had been very difficult for him and for his long-suffering partner and their children.

Mr Collins-Daly said the defendant was determined to use his time in prison to commence alcohol treatment. He said many of his previous theft convictions involved stealing bottles of spirits.

The accused said he was so drunk on December 18 he did not even have a memory of being in Ballincollig committing the crimes.

John McDonagh added in court: I was brought from the Bridewell to hospital that night. And the reason for his transfer to hospital was because of his level of intoxication.
The families of children still waiting for appropriate school places in a Co Waterford town are to host a 5k run on Mothers Day to call for immediate action.

The group represents 19 children who were placed on a waiting list for St Johns Special School in Dungarvan, Co Waterford.

As previously highlighted by the 'Irish Examiner', the pupils who are from West Waterford, Cork, and South Tipperary were put on a waiting list after the school saw its applications triple this year.

The event on Mothers Day is one of several upcoming events around the country staged by parents, aiming to highlight issues with special education provision.

Rebecca Meehan, who has been campaigning for a school place at St Johns for her son Jay, 5, said there have been no updates since her familys story was first highlighted.

Jay and his service dog Sophie with his sisters Eile and Alexa, dad Jamie, and mum Rebecca Meehan, at last month's protest in Dungarvan, Co Waterford by parents seeking places in St Johns Special School. Picture: Patrick Browne

The reality of if it is that if we dont have a commitment for St Johns by March 30, its not going to be ready for September with everything that needs to be done.

There are a limited number of sittings in the Dail between now and Easter, she added.

When is this decision going to be made? When is it going to be approved, and funds given to school and allocated to increase its capacity?

This are 19 real children who have nowhere else to go in September  nowhere.

The gravity of the situation is becoming very real now because there were talks that they were going to try and ease capacity issues in St Johns by increasing capacity elsewhere, but it hasnt come to fruition, she said.

Most of the group have not had offers of appropriate school places, meaning ones that meet their needs.

There are at least eight of us that have nowhere to go; theres no other class, theres no other backup.

Home tuition is often cited as a last resort for children who do not have an appropriate school place.

Is my child actually really going to be at the kitchen table in September? Its looking like it at this point, Ms Meehan said.

I feel like weve raised awareness in every way that we could as parents, as a community, as mothers and thats why were targeting Mothers Day.

Every day since January 23 [when we started campaigning] has been taken from us.

Were now coming to the end of March and we still dont have any commitment for the children.

Ms Meehan confirmed that she is considering legal action if Jay does not get a place.

Collective campaign instead of legal action

Im considering applying for a Section 67 which would mean that Jay would have to get a place, she said

The reason Ive held off on this is because from an integrity perspective, as a mother, there are 18 other kids impacted in this, and Im invested in their lives.

If I go the legal route, maybe other parents are initiating this too, but I dont want to step on any child and I dont think its fair that any child be left without a seat at the table or at the school desk in September. Im trying to do this collectively.

As previously reported by the Irish Examiner, serious doubt has been cast over the opening of a new school in Cork for students with complex additional needs in time for this September.

Last week, work had yet to commence on the clearing of a site in the rural village of Carrignavar earmarked by the Department of Education for a new special school due to open for the coming school year.

The special school project was one of five announced in October last year.

The projects were announced after the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and the department found the level of need for special educational places in these five areas could not be met by expanding existing special schools.

Education minister Helen McEntee and minister of state for special education Michael Moynihan have pledged to use legislative powers, introduced in 2022, which allow them to compel schools to open special classes if required.
The Dail has been plunged into chaos with heckling and interruptions after a controversial vote on changes to speaking time.

7.40pm

Micheal Martin has issued a strong statement criticising the scenes in the Dail as "a new low in the behaviour of the opposition."

He said that his attempts were "constantly and systematically interrupted and shouted down."

He said: "It was nothing less than a premeditated attempt to suppress the rights of others to speak, and to bully and intimidate the Ceann Comhairle.

"The prolonged barracking, and the disgraceful lack of respect for the mandates of elected deputies was shocking in its intensity."

He added: "There are many serious and profound issues to be debated and legislated for in the Dail in the weeks ahead, such as protecting our economy and jobs, building homes and improving disability services, notwithstanding the global challenges.

"My government is focused on getting on with that important work."

6.40pm

Opposition leaders do not have confidence in the Ceann Comhairle but stopped short of stating that a no confidence motion will be brought forward.

"I do not think anyone could have confidence in what we witnessed today," said Mary Lou McDonald.

"There is no doubt that she has done significant damage to her standing and to the independence of the office itself," she added.

The view was echoed by the other opposition leaders including the Green Party's Roderic O'Gorman who joined the combined Opposition on the plinth for the first time on Tuesday evening.

Solidarity-People Before Profit leader Richard Boyd Barrett reiterated his accusation that Verona Murphy engaged with the Government and orchestrated the afternoon's events.

"What happened today looked in every single way orchestrated. It happened too quickly. It was too organised," said Mr Boyd Barrett.

Sinn Fein leader Ms McDonald dismissed comments by Ms Murphy that there was an element of misogyny in the Opposition's actions in the chamber.

"I reject that, this was a straight out issue between Government and Opposition," she said.

The leaders said their response to Ms Murphy's actions in the Dail chamber today is something they will continue to discuss over the coming hours but did not rule out a vote of no confidence.

The gesture made by Michael Lowry of the Regional Independent Group towards TD Paul Murphy became the symbolic image of the Government's attitude, according to the Opposition.

"I think the image that we are seeing of two fingers from Deputy Lowry really sums up the approach that has been taken on this," said Social Democrats acting leader Cian O'Callaghan.

"I don't think when people voted for Fianna Fail or Fine Gael in the election that they voted for any of these sorts of deals with Michael Lowry or voted for the kind of scenes we saw today."

When the Dail resumes on Wednesday morning, the combined Opposition has said that everything remains on the table in terms of whether or not they will allow normal Dail procedures to carry on.

"We are not simply just going to acquiesce with all of this, you can be sure of that," said Ms McDonald.

6.34pm

Opposition TDs behaved like a mob and attempted to intimidate people in the Dail chamber, Fianna Fail has said.

A number of Fianna Fail TDs criticised opposition politicians over chaotic scenes in the Dail, with party whip Paul McAuliffe saying that they had bullied Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy.

Certainly the conduct was completely unprecedented, Mr McAuliffe said.

The Fianna Fail TD said that the Government wants to move forward and deal with national and international issues, as well as establish Dail committees.

Yet the opposition seem determined to press on with this conduct that happened today, he said.

We believe that we need to move on. Theres a clear attempt here to undermine the government and especially to try and undermine the majority that was chosen by the representatives of the people of Ireland. Dublin South-West TD, John Lahart, said that opposition TDs had been akin to a mob during the disruption in the Dail chamber.

There were people intimidated, there was chanting in the chamber and there was rank bullying of some members went on in Dail Eireann, Mr Lahart said.

Anything else pales into insignificance in that context. Pressed on Michael Lowrys two-fingered gesture to People Before Profits Paul Murphy, Naoise O Cearuil said that he would not be standing up for the Tipperary TD.

That pales into insignificance to how the opposition conducted themselves today. It is absolutely scandalous.

Mr O Cearuil said that Ms Murphy, as well as the Clerk of the Dail and Dail staff, had been bullied by the opposition.

He described the behaviour of the opposition as behaviour unbecoming of Dail Eireann.

Mr McAuliffe said that it was a matter for Mr Lowry and that no Fianna Fail TDs would put their two fingers up to anybody.

5pm

Several opposition TDs have now privately expressed a lack of confidence in Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy.

When asked if a no confidence motion in Ms Murphy should now be put on the table, one senior Sinn Fein TD said:

"Id say its exactly the time.

"That was the most outrageous act on the part of a Ceann Comhairle in the history of the Dail."

One Labour TD, when asked if they had confidence in Ms Murphy, said: "Hard to have any after that."

People Before Profit's Richard Boyd Barrett has publicly called for Ms Murphy to face a no confidence motion, during an appearance on RTE's Drivetime.

It now raises the question of a motion of no confidence in the Ceann Comhairle over her handling of the chaotic scenes in the Dail.

Opposition leaders are now meeting to discuss next steps, before they are due to address reporters on the Leinster House plinth. Fianna Fail TDs are also set to address the media shortly.

4.21pm

Tipperary TD Michael Lowry appeared to direct a two-fingered gesture at People Before Profit's Paul Murphy as the Dail was suspended for the day.

As TDs left the chamber following Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy's decision to suspend the house for the day, Mr Murphy began filming on his phone, turning towards Mr Lowry and fellow independent Barry Heneghan.

While Mr Heneghan waved to Mr Murphy, Mr Lowry appeared to make a gesture before a Leinster House usher came down the stairs to ask Mr Murphy to stop filming, which is against the Dail rules. Mr Lowry could then be seen raising the issue with an usher.

Mr Murphy posted the video on his social media before adding a screengrab of Mr Lowry's gesture with the words "the day's events summed up".

The Dail was suspended amid cries of "shame" by opposition TDs following a vote to amend standing orders which will, in part, create a new speaking slot for government backbenchers and independents including Mr Lowry, Mr Heneghan and fellow independent Gillian Toole. This slot was at the heart of much of the day's argument, with Sinn Fein TDs asking Taoiseach Micheal Martin "what Mr Lowry has on him" and saying that Mr Lowry was "pulling the Taoiseach's strings".

A total of 94 TDs voted in favour of the changes, with 74 voting against.

However, Ms Murphy announced that the vote had been "obstructed" as appointed tellers from the opposition side had refused to take part in the telling process of the vote.

She then announced that the vote had passed.

3.45pm

The Ceann Comhairle has now adjourned the Dail until tomorrow.

A highly contentious Government motion to change speaking time rights has passed through the Dail.

A total of 94 TDs voted in favour of the changes, with 74 voting against.

However, Ms Murphy announced that the vote had been "obstructed" as appointed tellers from the opposition side had refused to take part in the telling process of the vote.

She then announced that the vote had passed.

Ahead of the vote the Ceann Comhairle could barely be heard as she pressed for the ballot on the Government's amendments to standing orders. A large number of opposition TDs remained on their feet shouting and pointing towards Ms Murphy.

3.28pm

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy confirms that a typical piece of Dail business, Questions on Policy and Legislation, will not take place today following the disorder.

While this was happening, there were yet more interruptions from the opposition benches.

Were moving directly to a vote on proposed changes to the Dails standing orders, with the oppositions proposed changes due to take place first.

TDs are now waiting to vote on the first proposal.

2.50pm

The Opposition has been told, "you are making an absolute holy show of yourselves," by Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy, which has sparked applause from some members on the Government benches.

There has been chaos in the Dail after Opposition parties had earlier stated their intention to disrupt the chamber's business unless there is a last-minute offer from the Government to engage with them to solve the speaking rights row.

"Misogyny is what was mentioned earlier," the Ceann Comhairle said as Sinn Fein TDs Pearse Doherty and Padraig MacLochlainn refused to sit down. A number of other members of the opposition have also got to their feet.

"It is very clear you have no respect for the chair."

Ms Murphy said she would remain standing until every member resumed their seats and was moving on from Leaders' Questions.

This prompted a greater number of TDs to stand up as he Ceann Comhairle moved to the Order of Business.

Ms Murphy announced that the Order of Business has been agreed to and has adjourned the House.

2.40pm

The Ceann Comhairle has got to her feet to again call for respect as heckles from across the opposition benches continue.

"It is very apparent now that nobody is interested in hearing answers," Verona Murphy said.

"Afford the respect to at least have the answer listened to."

Mr Martin has suggested that the opposition doesn't want the spat to end as they are "enjoying it too much".

The Taoiseach has said blocking the changes could impact the formation of governments into the future as Independents would feel penalised for supporting a coalition.

"Governments have to be formed, some people have no interest in that, others do," he said.

Mr O'Callaghan has agreed with the Taoiseach, who described the controversy as "extraordinary".

"Taoiseach, you are right, this is quite extraordinary. In more than 100 years of this of this Dail, Taoiseach, never, ever in the weekly Dail schedule, has a time slot been created where 100% of the time is allocated to the Government," he said.

Independent Ireland TD Michael Collins said his party agrees that Michael Lowry and others should be given speaking rights but not on opposition time.

He said a "railroading of democracy" is now going ahead and has asked the Taoiseach to "come clean on the deal" with Independents.

He said that just two meetings of the Dail's reform committee have been held since the row broke out and suggested that if the Government chief whip was serious about resolving the issue, discussions would have been held every day.

But Mr Martin said that there has been lengthy discussion between the chief whip and the Opposition on the matter.

2.30pm

Labour leader Ivana Bacik has said that at a time when the world is facing many threats, the Government is insisting on pushing through an amendment to "placate the Lowry lobby".

She pointed to the "genocidal bombardment of children in Gaza", the threat of tariff from the US, the ongoing war in Ukraine as well as the "grim new milestones around global warming" that should be prioritised by the Government and not the speaking time debacle.

Mr Martin claimed that "the level of change here is so minuscule".

Micheal Martin speaks in the Dail Chamber. Picture: Oireacthas TV

He said that 60 TDs, both from the Independent ranks and the Government backbenches, would get one opportunity per year to ask questions of the Taoiseach under the changes, and yet "you are all up on high doh".

But Ms Bacik said the Taoiseach was trying to make the argument out to be about speaking time for backbenchers when "everyone in the country knows" that it centres around the "Lowry gang".

Cian O'Callaghan of the Social Democrats said the Taoiseach's efforts to defend the indefensible are "not working".

Asking the Taoiseach to "come clean" on what exactly was in the deal with Mr Lowry and his fellow Independents, he said: "Your own backbenchers are aware that you wouldn't be going to these extremes for them".

Mr O'Callaghan added: "This is a shameless political stroke that would make even Bertie blush."

2.15pm

The Taoiseach has been accused of being "hellbent on upending the democratic functioning of the Dail" to protect a "grubby deal" with Michael Lowry.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has described changes to speaking time proposed by the Government as "unprecedented" which "make a mockery" of the Dail.

"You propose to turn the Dail inside out by allowing Government TDs access to the mechanism which the actual opposition use to hold your Government to account," she told the Dail.

Her comments come as the Dail prepares to vote on changes that would facilitate the group of regional Independents by providing speaking time to them during critical debates and the Leaders' Questions slot.

"Accountability matters," Ms McDonald said, adding: "You don't want to be accountable."

She said that the opposition as a whole has repeatedly asked to meet with the Taoiseach in a bid to resolve the ongoing row, however, this has been ignored. She again called for a meeting ahead of the vote.

Responding, Micheal Martin said the opposition has been "disproportionate" in its response and has "raised this to heights that have been quite farcical".

Amid sustained heckling and interruptions, Mr Martin accused the opposition of trying to "dictate a new departure" where it is "up to them to decide who sits where in this House...that is unprecedented by any yardstick".

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy has been forced to intervene, calling for respect for the chair.

"We are either going to continue with Leaders' Questions, or we move on. You may not like the answers you are getting. I can't instruct answers," she has told opposition TDs.
The recent decision by An Bord Pleanala to approve planning permission to Shannon LNG to build a new gas-fired electricity power plant between Tarbert and Ballylongford in Co Kerry has received very mixed reactions.

Some have welcomed the decision, citing positive employment and economic benefits, while others question the decision, expressing concern about the negative impacts for Irelands climate obligations.

While Ireland has been sheltered for many years by the impacts of climate change and energy insecurity, the recent increase in extreme weather events and the cost-of-living crisis due to reduced natural gas supplies into the European Union after Russia invaded Ukraine have exposed our vulnerabilities to both.

There is a lot to unpack as we try to understand this decision, and its implications. Here are four reflections to consider in this regard.

Weaning off fossil fuels

Firstly, we urgently need to wean ourselves off natural gas and other fossil fuels.

Climate science is unequivocal about the fact that burning natural gas and other fossil fuels is the main cause of widespread and rapid climate change globally.

The growing evidence of climate change occurring in Ireland is clear from Met Eireann reporting recently that in Ireland, seven of the top 10 warmest years have occurred since 2005.

Rosaleen ODonnell, proprietor of the HS2 hair salon in Midleton, Co Cork, which was destroyed by flood water brought by Storm Babet in October 2023. Picture: Dan Linehan

The more noticeable impacts of climate change are the growing number and severity of extreme weather events, including heatwaves, drought, wildfire, storms and floods.

The World Weather Attribution reported in January that "climate change contributed to the deaths of at least 3,700 people and the displacement of millions in 26 weather events we studied in 2024".

The impacts in Ireland are also growing, as evidenced the 2023 flooding in Midleton from Storm Babet, and the damage caused across the west and south of Ireland more recently during Storm Eowyn.

We clearly need to improve our climate resilience, and also to wean ourselves off fossil fuels to stop contributing to the devastation climate change is causing.

The good news is the transition away from a fossil fuel energy system to a renewable energy system is underway here, helped by our abundant supplies of renewable energy available to us.

Based on data from Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, the share of total energy use for electricity, heating and transport in Ireland coming from renewable sources doubled over the 10-year period from 2013 to 2023.

The bad news is it is not happening fast enough, with Irelands renewable energy share currently only at 15% however, meaning 85% of Irelands energy still comes from fossil fuels.

Increase security of electricity supply

Secondly, we also need to increase our security of electricity supply Most of the progress we have made has been in electricity supply, with 40% of our electricity now coming from renewable energy, mostly from wind, with growing amounts of solar and a small contribution from hydro power.

We have a target to double our renewable share of electricity to 80% by 2030.

Delays in developing wind power at sufficient pace however, coupled with growing consumption of electricity, largely due to the growth in data centres, have stopped renewables from exceeding 40% for a few years now.

We therefore need as a first priority to accelerate wind energy and solar power development to ensure we have sufficient security of electricity supply in the future to keep the lights on.

It is clear from our research at UCC that we also need to invest in the electricity grid, increase electricity storage, manage electricity demand and sufficient electricity capacity from other sources for those times when it is not sufficiently windy or sunny.

Only use gas-fired power plants when needed

Thirdly, new gas-fired power plants are essential but need to operate very differently Additional gas-fired electricity generation capacity is necessary in the short term in parallel with increasing the amount of wind and solar energy feeding into our electricity system.

Additional gas-fired electricity generation capacity is necessary in the short term in parallel with increasing the amount of wind and solar energy feeding into our electricity system.

These gas power plants, however, should only be called on when needed rather than operating continuously, to get the benefit of the available electricity generating capacity while at the same time reducing our overall use of gas.

This need has long been recognised and Irelands electricity grid operator EirGrid holds auctions for projects to deliver electricity generating capacity through a capacity renumeration market that operates in parallel with the electricity trading market.

While many auctions have taken place and delivered contracts, many projects have not materialised within the timeframe required, leading to reductions in the security of Irelands electricity supply over the past number of years.

To address the failure, the Moneypoint Power Plant has extended its operation along with the use of emergency generators, both of which resulting in higher carbon emissions levels.

Shannon LNG did secure a capacity contract from EirGrid in March 2023 for this approved power plant, as noted in An Bord Pleanalas inspector report.

Increase security of gas supply

Fourthly, gas security of supply is also essential as we wean off natural gas An Bord Pleanalas decision has also prompted further discussion regarding Irelands position in relation to accommodating liquefied natural gas terminals, which were not directly included in this decision, but are proposed by Shannon LNG under a separate planning application.

In addition to increasing our security of electricity supply, Ireland also needs to increase our security of gas supply.

There are two key distinct dimensions to security of gas supply, the risk of significant price fluctuations and the risk of a physical interruption of gas supply.

The Government published a policy document Securing Irelands Gas Supplies in 2023, concluding on the one hand there would be a significant reduction of natural gas use (drawing on UCC analysis) and secondly the need to establish a State-led strategic gas emergency reserve.

Reducing our dependence on natural gas limits our exposure economically to fuel price fluctuations internationally due to geopolitical events that we do not control.

We were strongly impacted in price terms by Russia turning off the natural gas taps to the European Union, but we did not experience an interruption in physical gas supply because we import most of our natural gas from the UK and very little of its gas comes from Russia.

However, Ireland is among a small few EU member states that do not have gas storage facilities, hence the benefit of our own strategic gas emergency reserve.

In conclusion, building new gas infrastructure is essential for increasing electricity security of supply and for gas security of supply, but if, and only if, this infrastructure is operated such that Ireland is quickly and urgently weaned off gas usage.

Professor Brian O Gallachoir is associate vice-president of sustainability at UCC
Im not sure if I have the words to articulate how Im feeling. I saw Conor McGregor lording it around the White House in Washington DC on our national day, and I felt horrified and betrayed in equal measure. This was  Ill say it again  our national day, a day on which we celebrate with pride our growth as an independent nation. It was besmirched by watching a man, established in our courts to be a violent thug, celebrating himself in the Oval Office.

Our constitution declares that we are a sovereign, independent, democratic state. Article 9 of the Constitution says that fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the state are fundamental political duties of all citizens. McGregor shows fidelity to nothing and loyalty only to himself.
Last Thursday, as I walked through my local shopping centre in Portlaoise, something unusual happened. I had gone to the shopping centre to sign copies of my new book, Justice For My Father. As I was walking back through the main shopping area, a young man in a tracksuit approached me  he was probably no more than 20. As he reached me, he held out his hand and said alright Mr Stack.

Anybody who has ever worked in a prison will tell you this is the greeting prison officers usually get from ex-prisoners if you meet them outside the prison environment. So I wasnt surprised when the young man told me he had served a few very short sentences.

He told me he had heard I was now retired from the prison service and he wanted to wish me well. In doing so, he told me while he knew I had to be tough on them sometimes, he appreciated I was always fair and treated the prisoners as human beings.

He then wished me well with my book and said he hoped I got justice for my dad, which I found strange, as he would have been born at least 20 years after my dad was murdered.

When I got home, I began to think about this encounter and what it meant  it showed me just how like my dad I was in the way I managed my relationships with prisoners and how I had subconsciously learned so much from him.

My dad was Brian Stack, chief officer in Portlaoise Prison at the height of the Troubles. This was not a good time to be head of security in what during those dark days was being described as Europes most secure prison.

The IRA campaign had spilled south of the border, and they had routinely murdered gardai, robbed banks, kidnapped people, as well as horses. They were also very good at smuggling bomb-making Semtex and other weapons into the prison in their attempts to effect escapes.

My dad was very diligent and security focused and he also made sure those working with him equally kept their eye on the ball. However, even in this tense working atmosphere, he managed to treat prisoners as human beings, and many former prisoners who spoke to me during my time in the prison service explained how he did small things for them that meant a lot at the time.

My dad was also very much aware of how much the job was taking out of his colleagues and he tried to counter this by organising sports days, road races and quiz nights for the staff and their families.

These events, while being a release from the tough job they did, also created a sense of comradery and a bond among the staff, and it must be noted that during dads tenure as chief officer, the IRA did not manage or attempt an escape.

During this period, my dad became aware through an informant that a senior prison officer was aiding the IRA and in particular was supplying them with keys to particular gates they would need in the event of an escape attempt.

Not wanting an escape to happen on his watch, he would change locks on gates every month to make the keys the IRA had acquired redundant. This, coupled with the fact he had organised late-night searches for a gun that had been smuggled into the prison, meant the IRA needed to ensure my dad was no longer a problem for them, as they were planning a major escape.

Shot in the back of the head

On March 25, 1983, an IRA team shot my dad in the back of the head as he walked from the National Boxing Stadium after the national senior finals. His life was saved that night by doctors from Belfast who were attending the boxing, but he spent six months in a coma, and when he woke, he was severely brain damaged and was paralysed from the neck down.

He died 18 months later from his injuries. At the time, the IRA issued a statement denying responsibility, but in reality, they were the only ones with the motive and ability to carry out this attack.

The murder of a prison officer was a capital offence at the time, and it was a direct attack on the State. So you would expect the States response would be to leave no stone unturned in finding those responsible. Unfortunately, this is not what happened.

In 2007, I became aware that despite some good eyewitness evidence and material evidence being available from the crime scene, nothing had been done to bring this evidence into a useful resource for the investigation.

In fact, it appears the original investigation was shelved after about a month. The cold case review of the investigation carried out by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team uncovered 196 shortcomings in the original investigation.

Despite a fresh investigation being ordered by the Garda Commissioner, I had no faith it would deliver results, and I was proved right when in January 2012 the gardai declared to me they did not believe the IRA were responsible for the attack.

The rest of my family and I really felt badly let down by this declaration and it put us in a position where we had to find answers elsewhere. This led to my brother, Oliver, and I being put into a blacked-out van and driven up to the border to meet with the IRA, who gave us an admission that an IRA unit acting under orders but not sanction from the army council had carried out the attack that resulted in dads murder.

This immediately disproved the Garda viewpoint that the IRA had not been involved, and along with other serious errors through three separate investigations, this led to the family receiving a written apology from the Garda Commissioner in July 2019.

My dad was murdered by the IRA, but the State he was defending has let him down badly and has failed to recognise this. It says a lot about society when a young ex-prisoner who was born 20 years after the attack could show more concern for my dads case than an uncaring State.

The minister for justice should make a State apology to my dad  he deserves this and much more.
A panel of Brazils Supreme Court justices will meet on Tuesday to determine whether former president Jair Bolsonaro and close allies will stand trial on five counts, including attempting to stage a coup.

Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet charged Mr Bolsonaro last month with plotting a coup after he lost the 2022 election to current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Part of that plan allegedly included poisoning Mr Lula and killing Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, a foe of Mr Bolsonaro.

Five Supreme Court justices  including Mr de Moraes  will meet in Brasilia to rule on the charges levelled by Mr Gonet.

Supporters of Brazils former president Jair Bolsonaro take part in a rally on Copacabana Beach in support of a proposed bill to grant amnesty to those arrested for storming government buildings in an alleged coup attempt AP/Bruna Prado)

If a majority votes in favour, the accused will become defendants in a criminal case.

Mr Bolsonaro and his alleged accomplices also stand accused of participating in an armed criminal organisation, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, damage qualified by violence and a serious threat against the states assets, and deterioration of listed heritage.

Mr Bolsonaro has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and says that he is being politically persecuted.

Under Brazilian law, a coup conviction alone carries a sentence of up to 12 years, but combined with the other charges, he could be sentenced to decades behind bars.

Observers say that it is likely that the charges will be accepted.

There is no shadow of a doubt that there are very clear elements that crimes were committed, said Thiago Bottino, a law professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a think tank and university.

The current tendency is that there will be a criminal trial.

Mr Gonet filed charges against a total of 34 people in February.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court will analyse whether to accept charges against eight of them.

As well as Mr Bolsonaro, the court will vote on the accusations faced by former defence ministers Walter Braga Netto and Paulo Sergio Nogueira and ex-justice minister Anderson Torres, among others.

The court will decide on the others fates later on.

Mr Bolsonaro has sought to shore up political support before the possible trial, including by holding a protest on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on March 16.

Local media reported that around 18,000 people attended the rally, based on figures from a monitoring project linked to the University of Sao Paulo.

Mr Bolsonaros allies had hoped to draw a crowd of one million, which led some analysts to say that his ability to mobilise voters is diminishing.

Mr Bolsonaro called on social media on Sunday for a new demonstration on April 6, to be held on one of Sao Paulos main arteries, Avenida Paulista.

As with the protest earlier this month, the former president and his allies will push for Congress to grant amnesty to those in jail for their roles in the January 8 2023 riot, when Mr Bolsonaros die-hard fans stormed and trashed the Supreme Court, Presidential Palace and Congress a week after Mr Lula took office.

In his indictment of Mr Bolsonaro and others linked to him, Mr Gonet said that the rampage was a last-ditch attempt to hold onto power.

Mr Bolsonaro, a former military officer who was known to express nostalgia for the countrys 1964-1985 dictatorship, openly defied Brazils judicial system during his 2019-2022 term in office.

He has already been banned by Brazils top electoral court from running in elections until 2030 over abuse of power while in office and casting unfounded doubts on the countrys electronic voting system.
The Trump administrations top intelligence officials are facing Congress this week to offer their first evidence in office about the threats facing the US and tackle urgent questions about the security breach that unfolded when war plans were mistakenly leaked to a journalist.

At a hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Democratic senator Mark Warner of Virginia denounced what he called a pattern of careless, incompetent behaviour by the Trump administration with regard to the handling of sensitive information.

Putting aside for a moment that classified information should never be discussed over an unclassified system, its also just mind-boggling that no one thought to check the participants on the group chat, said Mr Warner, the panels top Democrat.

FBI director Kash Patel, CIA director John Ratcliffe and director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard are among the witnesses appearing on Tuesday before the Senate panel and again on Wednesday before the House Intelligence Committee.

Tuesdays hearing is taking place one day after news broke that several top national security officials in the Republican administration, including Mr Ratcliffe, Ms Gabbard and defence secretary Pete Hegseth, texted war plans for military strikes in Yemen to a group chat in a secure messaging app that included the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic.

The text chain contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the US would be deploying, and attack sequencing, Jeffrey Goldberg reported. The strikes began two hours after Mr Goldberg received the details.

Horrified by the leak of what is historically strictly guarded information, the top Democrat on the House intelligence panel, Jim Himes, said he will be demanding answers in Wednesdays hearing.

The hearings are also unfolding against the backdrop of a starkly different approach towards Russia following years of Biden administration sanctions over its war against Ukraine.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed during a lengthy call with President Donald Trump to an immediate pause in strikes against energy infrastructure in what the White House described as the first step in a movement to peace.
Investigation Requested Following Disclosure of US War Plans to Journalist

The head of the Democratic Party in the US Senate has demanded a thorough investigation following the White Houses confirmation that a journalist was part of a group chat where US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and other high-ranking officials talked about impending strikes against Yemens Houthi group.

On 15 March, US President Donald Trump announced military strikes, but in a surprising lapse in security, The Atlantics editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, revealed he had received hours of advance information through the group chat on Signal.

According to Yemeni health officials, the US airstrikes resulted in 53 fatalities and left 98 others injured.

The message thread that has been reported appears to be authentic, and we are currently determining how an unintended participant was added to the chain, stated Brian Hughes, spokesman for the National Security Council.

Mr. Goldberg noted that the substantial text from Hegseth indicated that the initial explosions in Yemen would be felt two hours later, at 1:45 PM Eastern Time, a timeline that proved to be accurate on the ground in Yemen.

Jeffrey Goldberg was part of a group chat concerning US strikes on Yemen prior to their execution.

Mr. Goldberg mentioned that he was included in the group chat two days prior and received updates from other senior government officials designating representatives to address the situation.

On 14 March, an individual identified as Vice President JD Vance expressed skepticism about the airstrikes, stating he disliked bailing Europe out again, as European nations were more adversely impacted by the Houthi attacks on shipping compared to the United States.

Participants in the chat, identified as National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Mr. Hegseth, both conveyed messages asserting that only the US possessed the capability to execute the mission, with Hegseth indicating he shared Mr. Vances discontent with European freeloading.

Additionally, an individual dubbed S M  likely Trump adviser Stephen Miller  contended that if the US successfully restores freedom of navigation at significant cost, there must be some economic benefit gained in return.

Officials committed a crime

The security breach elicited indignation among Democratic lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who condemned the unintentional revelation of the Pentagon war plan.

This is one of the most remarkable breaches of military intelligence that I have encountered in a very long time, Mr. Schumer remarked.

This incident demands a comprehensive investigation into how it transpired.

Mr. Trump has claimed ignorance regarding the security slip.

I dont know anything about it, Mr. Trump told reporters when inquired about the incident earlier today. This is the first time Ive heard about it.

In a statement released this evening, the White House affirmed that Mr. Trump continues to support his national security team, despite the error.

President Trump maintains full confidence in his national security team, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated.

The Houthis, who have dominated much of Yemen for over a decade, are aligned with the axis of resistance, a coalition of pro-Iran groups that are firmly opposed to both Israel and the United States.

During the Gaza conflict, the Houthis have conducted numerous drone and missile strikes against vessels traversing Yemen in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, showing solidarity with the Palestinians.

The Houthis offensive has disrupted this critical supply route, which normally accommodates about 12% of global shipping traffic, forcing many companies to take an expensive detour around southern Africa.

The US commenced targeting the Houthis in response under the prior administration of former President Joe Biden and has executed multiple rounds of strikes on Houthi positions, some with British collaboration.

Mr. Trump has pledged to employ overwhelming lethal force until our objective is achieved, referencing the Houthis threats against Red Sea shipping, and US strikes have persisted over the last ten days.
New England Scholars Speak / Action Network



Public Domain. Photo by Nataraj Munoli: https://www.pexels.com/photo/statue-of-liberty-66709/

March 2025

An Urgent Message to University and College Presidents Across the United States

At this dangerous juncture for the future of academic freedom, free speech, and due process on all our campuses, we call on you to stand together, hold your ground firmly, and vigorously defend the core values and principles which bind us as scholars and educators.

As university and college presidents you have solemn professional and moral responsibilities to all our students, staff, and faculty. We therefore urge you to legally contestnot capitulate tothe current White House administrations alarming political campaign against institutions of higher education.

We solemnly remind you that,

Anticipatory obedience , as modern history has repeatedly demonstrated, will serve not to protect your university or college, but to undermine it as an independent and credible institution of free inquiry and scholarship.

Your administration is not the only one under attack, nor the only campus at stake. Instead of capitulating and enabling an authoritarian takeover of higher education in the US, we urge you to form a coalition of public and private universities nationwide and direct your administrations collective political, public relations, and legal resources against the ongoing existential threats to our institutions and our democracy.

As your faculty members, we understand that there are difficult choices ahead. The Trump administrations orders, which are already being challenged in the courts, seek to undermine the integrity of our institutions as bastions of critical inquiry, research, teaching, and debate. As your faculty members, we need you to undertake concrete and sustained actions to preserve these and all constitutionally protected rights on our campuses nationwide. We are prepared to stand behind your leadership in doing what is right, but that requires you to actually lead and do what is right. Specifically, these are our expectations of your administration at this critical time.

History has shown that university administrations, like governments, suppress the free exchange of ideas at their own risk. Capitulating to President Trumps executive orders will not save our universities and colleges. It will degrade and disgrace them. Indeed, surrendering now will hasten the descent into authoritarianism, further the repression of dissent and free inquiry on our campuses, and ensure the destruction of a sector that has long been a cornerstone of our democracy.

Sincerely,

Faculty members: To Sign, Click here and Scroll Down .
Istanbul (Special to Informed Comment)  Major protests over the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, the Mayor of Istanbul and President Recep Tayyip Erdogans main political rival, have entered their sixth day. Demonstrations have erupted in at least 55 out of Turkiyes 81 provinces, according to AFP, which marks one of the most widespread waves of anti-government protests in recent years.

The protests began on March 19, following Imamoglus detention on allegations of corruption and supporting terrorism. His arrest came just days before he was set to be nominated as the main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) candidate for the 2028 presidential election. The timing of his detention has led to accusations by the opposition that the charges are aimed at blocking his presidential bid.



Photo by Volkan Isbasaran

Imamoglu himself announced his detention in a video posted on social media before being taken into custody. Filming from his home as hundreds of police officers gathered outside on the morning of March 19, Imamoglu described the situation as great tyranny but assured supporters, I want you to know that I will not be discouraged.

His arrest was part of a broader crackdown, with his advisor Murat Ongun, two district mayors from Istanbul, Sisli Mayor Resul Emrah Sahan and Beylikduzu Mayor Mehmet Murat Calk, as well as over 100 others, including journalists and businesspeople, also being detained. CHP leader Ozgur Ozel condemned the arrests as a political coup.

Background and Context

Imamoglus rise in Turkish politics began in 2009 when he joined CHP. He first gained prominence as the Mayor of Beylikduzu, a district in Istanbul, from 2014 to 2019. However, his national breakthrough came in 2019 when he ran for Mayor of Istanbul, challenging the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)s and its predecessors 25-year control of the city.

He initially won the March 31, 2019 election by a narrow margin of about 13,000 votes, but the Supreme Electoral Council (YSK) annulled the results. In the re-run held on June 23, 2019, Imamoglu secured a landslide victory with a lead of over 800,000 votes. Five years later, he was re-elected in the 2024 local elections and reinforced his position as one of Erdogans strongest political challengers.

Despite his electoral successes, Imamoglu has faced persistent legal and political challanges. In December 2022, he was sentenced to over two years in prison and banned from politics for allegedly insulting electoral officials. Human Rights Watch and opposition parties criticized the ruling as unjustified and politically motivated.



Photo by Volkan Isbasaran

The pressure on Imamoglu intensified just before his arrest. On March 18, 2025, just one day before his detention, Istanbul University annulled his university diploma. Since Turkish law requires presidential candidates to hold a university degree, the move effectively blocked him from running in the 2028 election.

Imamoglu has consistently shown strong polling numbers against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a hypothetical presidential election. A recent survey from March 2025 showed Imamoglu with 54.1% support compared to Erdogans 38.6%, a lead of over 15 points.

The Arrest and Protests

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutors Office has accused Imamoglu of leading a criminal organization, alleging corruption, extortion, bribery, and money laundering linked to municipal contracts, as well as aiding terrorism. However, the opposition points out that the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) underwent 1,200 audits by the Court of Accounts (Saystay) between 2019 and 2024 without any corruption findings.



Photo by Volkan Isbasaran

The terrorism allegations stem from CHPs informal electoral cooperation with the pro-Kurdish Peoples Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) during the 2024 local elections. While no formal alliance was declared, DEM chose not to field a candidate in Istanbul which indirectly consolidated opposition votes behind Imamoglu.

The government asserts that the oppositions decision not to split votes, known as the urban consensus initiative allowed the outlawed the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to increase its influence by placing its members or affiliates in municipal positions. The PKK is designated by a terrorist organization by Turkiye and many of its Western allies.

The protests erupted immediately after Imamoglus detention. In Istanbul, thousands defied a four-day ban on public demonstrations by gathering outside the IBBs city hall in Sarachane. The demonstrations quickly spread to other major cities, including Ankara, Izmir, Adana, and Eskisehir, as well as strongholds of Erdogans AKP, such as Konya, Trabzon, and Rize  Erdogans hometown.



Poster protesting Dictatorship. Photo by Volkan Isbasaran

On March 23, four days after his detention, Imamoglu was formally arrested and sent to Silivri Prison. The protests, which had already been gaining momentum, escalated into the largest wave of civil unrest in Turkiye since the 2013 Gezi Park protests.

That same day, CHP held its presidential primary election and Imamoglu was announced as the partys presidential candidate. According to CHP leader Ozgur Ozel, 14.8 million people voted for Imamoglu in the primary elections.

Implications

The arrest has drawn widespread international condemnation. The Council of Europe labeled it an assault on democracy, demanding Imamoglus immediate release. In a joint statement led by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, the mayors of several Eurocities, including Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Brussels, Budapest, Milan, and Rome, denounced the arrest as arbitrary and undemocratic.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the move, calling the arrests of Imamoglu and other opposition figures a serious attack on democracy.



Poster protesting Dictatorship. Photo by Volkan Isbasaran

Beyond the political fallout, the arrest has triggered economic instability. The Turkish lira depreciated sharply, with the USD rising from 36.70 TRY on March 18 to 38.00 TRY on March 24. Opposition MP Faik Oztrak estimated that the economic cost of the crisis had exceeded 684 billion lira (over $18 billion).

As of the latest reports, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that 1,133 people had been detained during five days of protests, while 123 police officers had been injured. Erdogan has framed the unrest as a movement of violence, warning that CHP will be held responsible for injuries and property damage.

Despite bans on street gatherings, the protests show no sign of slowing down. CHP has called for continued demonstrations, vowing to oppose Imamoglus detention through legal and political means.
By Erin OBrien, Griffith University and Justine Coneybeer, Griffith University

(The Conversation)  When the United States starts a trade war with your country, how do you fight back? For individuals, one option is to wage a personal trade war and boycott products from the US.

President Donald Trump has said no nation will be exempt from his tariffs, and this includes both Australia and New Zealand. His tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports, in particular, could hurt the sector in Australia, while New Zealands meat and wine exports to the US could also feel the effect.

So far, political leaders have responded differently. Canada, Mexico and the European Union have imposed reciprocal tariffs on the US, while Australia has indicated it will not retaliate.

But whether governments choose to push back or not, citizens in those and other countries are making their own stands. This includes artists such as renowned pianist Andras Schiff, who has cancelled his upcoming US tour.

Most notably, collective outrage at the US president has led to a growing global boycott of Elon Musks Tesla due to his role in the Trump administration. Sales of new Tesla vehicles are down 72% in Australia and 76% in Germany. The share price has dropped by more than 50% since December 2024, with calls for Musk to step down as chief executive.

Some governments are even encouraging consumer boycotts. The Canadian government, for example, has urged citizens to fight back against the unjustified US tariffs by purchasing Canadian products and holidaying in Canada.

Canadians are clearly embracing this advice. Road trips to the US have dropped by more than 20% in the past month and US liquor brands have been removed from some Canadian stores altogether.

This rise in calls for boycotts of American brands and companies is unsurprising in the Trump 2.0 era, where the lines between government and corporate America have become increasingly blurred.

Political change by proxy

When people want to protest a government policy, but have no political leverage because theyre not citizens of that country, boycotting corporations or brands gives them a voice. These actions are sometimes called surrogate or proxy boycotts.

This form of political consumerism, where individuals align their consumption choices with their values, is now one of the most common forms of political participation in western liberal democracies.

When France opposed the war in Iraq in 2003, US supporters of the war aimed boycotts at French imports. Consumers in the US, United Kingdom and elsewhere have boycotted Russian goods over the invasion of Ukraine, and targeted Israel over its military action and policies in Gaza and the West Bank.

Most famously, protests against the apartheid regime in South Africa from the 1950s through to the 1990s helped isolate and eventually change its government.

The current boycotts are not just protesting Trumps trade war, of course. They are also about the role of unelected leaders from the corporate world, such as Musk and the heads of the Big Tech and social media companies, and their perceived self-interest and influence.

Trump has responded angrily to consumer boycotts, calling the actions against Tesla illegal, which they are not. Indeed, political leaders like Trump often argue that consumer action, rather than government regulation, should be relied on to ensure corporations conform to social expectations.



Public Domain photo via Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-person-looking-at-a-tesla-model-3-at-a-car-dealership-10029880/

How to wage a personal trade war

Consumer boycotts do create change under certain conditions  typically when there is a contained problem that the targeted corporation has the power to solve.

For example, consumer boycotts against Nestle in the 1970s over false and dangerous marketing of powdered milk for infants led to changes in the firms marketing approaches. Boycotts of Nike products over sweatshop conditions for workers had a direct impact on the companys bottom line and led to improvements.

Things may still need to improve at Nestle and Nike, but these boycotts show consumer pressure can catalyse corporate action. However, it is much harder  though not impossible  for boycott campaigns to succeed when the target is a government.

Consumers boycotting American products can amplify the impact of their protest by also lobbying retailers. For example, if enough consumers stop buying a bottle of soft drink from the US, major supermarkets like Woolworths and Foodstuffs will stop buying thousands of bottles.

There are also other ways to vote with your wallet. People can engage in political investorism by using their power as a shareholder, bank customer or pension-fund member to express their political views.

After Russias invasion of Ukraine, for example, investors sought to divest from Russian companies, and superannuation funds were pressured by their members to do the same.

As consumers and investors, individuals can wage a personal trade war, sending a clear message. Trump may not be willing to listen to the leaders of allied nations, but if consumer and investor pressure is sustained and spreads globally, he may yet hear the voice of corporate America.

Erin OBrien, Associate Professor, School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University and Justine Coneybeer, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - Canterra Minerals Corporation (TSXV: CTM) (OTCQB: CTMCF) (FSE: DXZB) ("Canterra" or the "Company") is pleased to announce commencement of drilling and outlines its 2025 drill program at the Buchans Project in the Central Newfoundland Mining District, 50 kms north of Calibre Mining's Valentine Gold Mine and 34 km from Teck Resources' past producing Duck Pond Mine (Figure 2).

Key Points:

Up to 10,000 m of diamond drilling at Buchans in a phased approach to coincide with the results from the previously announced IP survey (see February 19, 2025 news release)

Phase 1 focused on drill targets at Pumphouse and Lundberg to continue advancing near resource expansion opportunities started in the 2024 Buchans drill program

Chris Pennimpede, President and CEO of Canterra commented: "We are excited to begin Canterra's 2025 drilling program, which we believe, together with results from the Company's ongoing deep-seeking geophysical surveys, has the potential to yield transformational results for Canterra and the Buchans Project. We are optimistic this work may uncover new discoveries below depths explored by past operators at one of the world's highest-grade past producing VMS mines."

Drill Targets in Order of Priority:

Pumphouse: This prospect represents an underexplored fault repeat of the Oriental mine horizon located 500 m northwest from the former Oriental orebody and 1.5 km northeast of the former Lucky Strike orebody (Lundberg deposit area). Former mine operators, Asarco, are reported to have mined 3.3 Mt1 averaging 14.18% Zn, 7.90% Pb, 1.47% Cu, 154.0 g/t Ag & 1.96 g/t Au at Oriental between 1935 and 1983. Drilling aims to test the continuity of this zone and provide additional information that may inform future drilling campaigns that will test for extensions of the zone down plunge.

Lundberg: The program includes drilling to expand the current 16.8 Mt resource2 laterally and at depth, including north of higher grade stockwork mineralization intersected by Canterra's 2024 drilling and provide further information relating to the underlying Lundberg stockwork footwall mineralization which had not been the focus of previous operators.

Figure 1. Buchans drilling targets and limits of Lundberg Resource estimate projected vertically to surface. 2025 drill targets in white circles.

Buchans Project

The Buchans Project is an advanced critical minerals project that hosts a significant undeveloped mineral resource adjacent to the past producing Buchans Mine. This brownfield project covers 87.5 square kilometres near the town of Buchans and includes the past producing Buchans Mine operated by Asarco from 1928 to 1984. The project's undeveloped Lundberg resource is a volcanogenic massive sulphide-related ("VMS") stockwork sulphide deposit comprising a large, near-surface resource located beneath and adjacent to workings of the previously mined, high-grade Lucky Strike massive sulphide orebody. At Buchans, Asarco is reported to have mined high-grade ore totaling 16.2 Mt1 at an average grade of 14.5% Zn, 7.6% Pb, 1.3% Cu, 1.37 g/t Au & 126 g/t Ag mined from five orebodies, all located within Canterra's Buchans Project. The Lundberg resource is located immediately beneath and adjacent to workings of the previously mined, Lucky Strike massive sulphide orebody where Asarco is reported to have mined 5.6 Mt1 of high-grade ore averaging 18.4% Zn, 8.6% Pb, 1.6% Cu, 112 g/t Ag & 1.7 g/t Au. Historic mining at Lucky Strike pre-stripped a significant portion of the Lundberg Resource.

Figure 2. Canterra's Central Newfoundland Mining District properties.

Notes:

(1) Past production figures from Kirkham, R.V., ed., 1987, Buchans Geology, Newfoundland. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 86-24, 288 p.

(2) Lundberg's 2019 Resource Estimate (effective date of February 28, 2019) includes In-pit Indicated Mineral Resources 16,790,000 tonnes grading of 0.42% Cu, 1.53% Zn, 0.64% Pb, 5.69 g/t Ag & 0.07 g/t Au (containing 156 million pounds Cu, 566 million pounds Zn, 237 million pounds Pb, 3.1 million ounces Ag, & 37,000 ounces Au) as well as In-pit Inferred Mineral Resources totaling 380,000 tonnes at a grade of 0.36% Cu, 2.03% Zn, 1.01% Pb, 22.35 g/t Ag & 0.31 g/t Au (containing 3.0 million pounds Cu, 17 million pounds Zn, 9 million pounds Pb, 270,000 ounces Ag, & 38,000 ounces Au; see news release dated June 4, 2024 and associated Technical Report for additional details).

Newfoundland and Labrador Junior Exploration Assistance

Canterra would like to acknowledge the financial support it may receive from the Junior Exploration Assistance Program from the government of Newfoundland and Labrador related to the completion of its 2025 exploration programs at Buchans.

About Canterra Minerals

Canterra is a diversified minerals exploration company focused on critical minerals and gold in central Newfoundland. The Company's projects include six mineral deposits located in close proximity to the world-renowned, past producing Buchans mine and Teck Resources' Duck Pond mine that collectively produced copper, zinc, lead, silver and gold. Several of Canterra's deposits support current and historical Mineral Resource Estimates prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves current at their respective effective dates. Canterra's gold projects are located on-trend of Calibre Mining's Valentine mine currently under construction and cover a ~60 km extension of the same structural corridor that hosts mineralization within Calibre's mine project. Past drilling by Canterra and others within the Company's gold projects intersected multiple occurrences of orogenic style gold mineralization within a large land position that remains underexplored.

Qualified Person

Paul Moore MSc. P.Geo. (NL), Vice President of Exploration for Canterra Minerals Corporation, a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the technical disclosure in this news release for accuracy and either prepared or supervised its preparation.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF CANTERRA MINERALS CORPORATION

Chris Pennimpede

President & CEO

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information



This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements with respect to estimated mineral resources, the opening of avenues for substantial discoveries within the belt, the Buchans Project being ripe for a modern approach with significant exploration potential for high grade VMS mineralization, the Company anticipating being strongly positioned to unveil the next mineral discovery in central Newfoundland. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects.; as well as those risks and uncertainties identified and reported in the Company's public filings under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, March 25, 2025  TheNewswire - Falcon Energy Materials plc (TSX-V: FLCN) (Falcon or the Company) is pleased to announce the upsize of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the Private Placement) from 10,000,000 units (the Units) of Falcon, at a price of C$0.60 per Unit, to 10,874,832 Units for gross proceeds of C$6,524,900 and the closing thereof on March 24, 2025.

Each Unit is comprised of one ordinary share of the Company (a Share) and one non-transferable share purchase warrant (a Warrant). Each Warrant grants the holder the right to purchase one additional Share (a Warrant Share) at a price of C$0.75 per Warrant Share for a period of 36 months from the date of closing.

We are extremely pleased with the strong investor confidence demonstrated by the successful closing of this Private Placement, said Matthieu Bos, Chief Executive Officer of Falcon. We extend our sincere gratitude to our existing shareholders for their continued support and are excited to welcome many new shareholders today. The significant backing from the La Mancha Fund, the Commodity Discovery Fund, and our technical partner underscores the strength of our strategy and validates our development plans for 2025.

The proceeds from the Private Placement will be used to advance the development of the Companys strategic projects in Morocco and Guinea, as well as for general working capital requirements. All securities issued under the Private Placement will be subject to a statutory four-month hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws until July 25, 2025. Notably, no commissions were paid in connection with the Private Placement.

The participation of La Mancha Fund SCSp (acting via its wholly owned subsidiary, La Mancha) in the Private Placement is irrevocable and has been closed in escrow, subject only to the approval of the disinterested Company shareholders (the Shareholders Approval) at the Companys next annual general meeting of shareholders (the AGM) of: (i) the sale of Units to La Mancha, and (ii) La Mancha being a control person of the Company (as such term is defined in Policy 1.1  Interpretation of the TSX Venture Exchange). The AGM will be held on or before June 9, 2025. If the Shareholders Approval is obtained, the aggregate subscription price for the Units subscribed by La Mancha will be released and wired to the Company, and the Units will be issued and delivered to La Mancha. If the Shareholders Approval is not obtained, La Manchas subscription will be cancelled.

Neither the Units, the Shares, the Warrants, nor the Warrant Shares have been, and will be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), or any U.S. state security laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws or compliance with requirements of an applicable exemption therefrom. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

The issuances of Units to insiders of the Company, including La Mancha, in connection with the Private Placement are considered related party transactions within the meaning of Policy 5.9  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions of the TSX Venture Exchange and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements, as neither the fair market value of the securities being issued to insiders, nor the consideration being paid by such insiders, exceeds 25% of the Companys current market capitalization.

The Private Placement remains subject to receipt of the final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Falcon Energy Materials PLC

Falcon aims to become a fully-integrated supplier of battery anode material. The integrated business model would result in the creation of a mine-to-market active anode material producer, hosting a large high-purity graphite production mine in the Republic of Guinea, and a value-added, coated spherical purified graphite conversion facility in Morocco.

With attractive operating costs, proximity to European end-markets and strong ESG credentials, the Company is poised to become a reliable supplier while promoting sustainability and supply chain transparency. Falcon is committed to generating sustainable, long-term benefits that are shared with the host countries and communities where it operates.

For additional information, please visit Falcons website at www.falconem.net.

Contact:

Matthieu Bos

President & CEO

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Matt Johnston

IR Advisor

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Telephone: +971 2307 4013

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.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are included to provide information about managements current expectations and plans that allow investors and others to have a better understanding of the Companys business plans and financial performance and condition.

All information contained herein that is not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Generally, such forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as successful, strategy, plans, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", will, "would" or "might". In particular and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the Private Placement, the final approval from TSX Venture Exchange for the Private Placement, the use of proceeds from the Private Placement, and the support from the largest shareholders and industry partners of the Company to advance the development of the Companys projects in Morocco and Guinea.

Forward-looking information is based upon certain assumptions and other important factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such information or statements. There can be no assurance that such information or statements will prove to be accurate. Key assumptions upon which the Companys forward-looking information is based include, without limitation, that the Company will be able to satisfy all closing conditions of the Private Placement.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: (i) volatile stock price; (ii) the general global markets and economic conditions; (iii) the possibility of write-downs and impairments; (iv) the risk associated with exploration, development and operations of mineral deposits and mine plans for the Companys mining operations; (v) the risk associated with establishing title to mineral properties and assets including permitting, development, operations and production from the Companys operations being consistent with expectations and projections; (vi) fluctuations in commodity prices, finding offtake takers and potential clients or enforcing such agreements against same, (vii) prices for diesel, process reagents, fuel oil, electricity and other key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; (viii) production and cost of sales forecasts meeting expectations; (ix) the accuracy of the mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates of the Company; (x) labour and materials costs increasing on a basis consistent with the Company's current expectations; (xi) there being no significant disruptions affecting the operations of the Company whether due to artisanal miners, access to water, extreme weather events and other or related natural disasters, labour disruptions, supply disruptions, power disruptions, damage to equipment or otherwise; (xii) asset impairment (or reversal) potential, being consistent with the Company's current expectations; (xiii) risks associated to the accuracy of projections provided in a preliminary economic study which are preliminary in nature and which include significant of uncertainties; and (xiv) other risks and uncertainties described or referred to in the section entitled Risk and Uncertainties in the Companys managements discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023, as updated from time to time in the Companys interim managements discussion and analysis for its quarterly financial periods, each of which is filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Although the Company believes its expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions and has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information has been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's business, operations and exploration plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is given as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update such forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Company qualifies all of its forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
Libero Copper Announces Amendment to Outstanding Warrants with Minimum Commitments to Exercise 7.7 Million Warrants Led by Frank Giustra

VANCOUVER, BC, March 25, 2025 /CNW/ - Libero Copper & Gold Corporation (TSXV: LBC) (OTCQB: LBCMF) (FRA: 29H) ("Libero Copper" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the mobilization of a second drill rig to accelerate its 14,000-metre resource expansion drilling program at the Mocoa porphyry copper-molybdenum deposit in Putumayo, Colombia.

Highlights

Second drill rig mobilized to accelerate the 14,000-metre resource expansion program at Mocoa.

to accelerate the 14,000-metre resource expansion program at Mocoa. Targeting new exploration zones within the hydrothermal footprint, identified through geological, geophysical, and geochemical data.

within the hydrothermal footprint, identified through geological, geophysical, and geochemical data. Mobilization to begin in the coming weeks, supporting faster delineation of the system and potential multi-center porphyry influence.

"Mobilizing a second rig at Mocoa reflects our growing confidence in the scale and robustness of this multi-pulse porphyry system. Our drilling continues to confirm multiple stages of mineralization driven by distinct magmatic-hydrothermal events, reinforcing Mocoa as a long-lived, evolving system. Drilling has intersected significant mineralization in multiple directions, well beyond the current resource boundary. By adding a second rig, we can accelerate our understanding of these overlapping mineralization events while expanding the deposit at a much faster pace," stated Ian Harris, President & CEO. "Key infrastructure upgrades are completefrom access upgrades to a new bridgeto ensure this next phase of drilling is expandable, aggressive and efficient. Ultimately, we see Mocoa's footprint growing significantly, and this additional rig is a crucial step in realizing its full potential."

The ongoing drilling program at Mocoa has provided valuable information regarding the geological configuration and copper and molybdenum distribution within the porphyry system at Mocoa. Mocoa is a classical porphyry system where at least three main stages of magmatic-hydrothermal activity have been recorded to date.

Early magmatic pulses: (E0) - related to the intrusion of a potassic altered (secondary biotite) micro-diorite porphyry with disseminated chalcopyrite and molybdenite. (E1)  related to a second early intrusion of a potassic altered (Kspar) quartz-diorite with EB-veining crossing by late A and K-spar veining containing a second generation of chalcopyrite. (E2)  related to a propylitic altered diorite wit multiple Kspar and A-veining.

Intra-mineral magmatic pulse: (I1)  related to a strong sericite altered dacite porphyry with multiple C and B-type veinlets generations and locally overprinted potassic alteration.

Brecciation stage: brecciation (Bx)  three breccias have been recorded within the porphyry system. This stage is characterized by the introduction of third generation of chalcopyrite and a second generation of molybdenite as a matrix-infill. A notable feature within the breccia is the presence of early potassic-altered porphyry fragments (E0 and E1), which exhibit truncated A-type and K-spar veinlets, as well as strongly phyllic-altered intra-mineral dacite porphyry fragments (I1) containing early C and B-type veinlets.

This multiple magmatic-hydrothermal events, the overprinting relationships, spatial variability in alteration assemblages, and the occurrence of multiple mineralizing events raises the possibility that Mocoa is influenced by more than one porphyry center, as interpreted by the magnetic and radiometric surveys across the property (refer to news release dated May 3, 2022).

Second drill rig mobilization

The mobilization of a second drill rig marks a critical step in accelerating the 14,000-metre resource expansion at the Mocoa porphyry system. This additional rig will expand the drilling radius and test new exploration targets beyond the currently defined system (refer to news releases dated May, 3, 2022; February 7, 2023 and January 27, 2025), focusing on areas where geological, geophysical, and geochemical data suggest potential extensions of mineralization. Specifically, it will target previously identified zones within the hydrothermal footprint at Mocoa. Mobilization is expected to begin in the coming weeks.

Proposed Amendment to Outstanding Warrants

The Company further announces that it intends to amend the terms of the aggregate 19,734,335 outstanding common share purchase warrants (the "Warrants") due to expire on February 15. 2027.

The Warrants were issued in connection with a private placement transaction that closed on February 15, 2024 and are currently exercisable at Cdn$0.20 per common share.

Under the proposed amendment to the Warrants (the "Proposed Amendment"), the holder of any Warrant who exercises between now and April 15, 2025 (the "Reduced Term") will receive for each Warrant exercised, at no additional cost, one common share purchase warrant (the "Sweetener Warrant"), whereby the Sweetener Warrant will have an exercise price of Cdn$0.30 per common share and will expire on the original expiry date, being February 15, 2027. The Sweetener Warrants will be subject to a four month and one day hold period from their date of issuance. The use of proceeds for any Sweetener Warrant exercised will be used to support exploration at Mocoa and for general working capital.

The Company has received commitments from Warrant holders to exercise 7.7 million warrants which include Frank Giustra and Ian Harris.

The Proposed Amendment is designed to encourage the early exercise of the Warrants. The Proposed Amendment remain subject to the approval of the TSXV.

Frank Giustra, through Fiore Aviation Corporation (a company owned and controlled by Mr. Giustra), an insider of the Company, beneficially owns 3,700,000 Warrants and Ian Harris, a Director and Officer of the Company owns 466,667 Warrants. As a result, the Proposed Amendment is considered to be a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on the exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements found in Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the Proposed Amendment, insofar as it involves Mr. Giustra or Mr. Harris, are not more than 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Proposed Amendment was unanimously approved by the directors of the Company, after the nature and extent of Mr. Giustra and Mr. Harris' interest in the Proposed Amendment was disclosed. The Company did not file a material change report at least 21 days before the expected effective date of the Proposed Amendment as the Company was required to complete the Proposed Amendment in an expeditious manner.

Qualified Person and Technical Notes

Edwin Naranjo Sierra, Exploration Manager of Libero Copper, is the designated Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and verified the technical information in this news release. Mr. Naranjo holds a MSc. in Earth Sciences and is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (FAusIMM).

Mineralized zones at Mocoa are bulk porphyry-style zones and drilled widths are interpreted to be very close to true widths. Rock samples are inherently selective in nature. As such, these results may not be representative of the underlying geological values or the overall mineralization within the sampled area.

About the Mocoa Porphyry Copper-Molybdenum Deposit

The Mocoa deposit is located in the department of Putumayo, 10 kilometres from the town of Mocoa. Libero Copper's district scale holdings cover over 1,000 km2 through titles and applications, encompassing most of the Jurassic porphyry belt in southern Colombia. Mocoa was discovered in 1973 when the United Nations and the Colombian government conducted a regional stream sediment geochemical survey. Between 1978 and 1983, an exploration program was carried out that consisted of geological mapping, surface sampling, ground geophysics (IP, magnetics), 31 diamond drill holes totaling 18,321 metres and metallurgical test work B2Gold subsequently executed diamond drill programs in 2008 and 2012.

The Mocoa deposit appears to be open in both directions along strike and at depth. Current work on the property has identified additional porphyry targets including the possible expansion of known mineralization. The Mocoa deposit is situated in the Central Cordillera of Colombia, a 30-kilometre-wide tectonic belt underlain by volcano-sedimentary, sedimentary and intrusive rocks that range in age from Triassic-Jurassic to Quaternary and by remnants of Paleozoic metasediments and metamorphic rocks of Precambrian age. This belt hosts several other porphyry-copper deposits in Ecuador, such as Mirador, San Carlos, Panantza and Solaris' Warintza. Copper-molybdenum mineralization is associated with dacite porphyry intrusions of the Middle Jurassic age that are emplaced into andesitic and dacitic volcanics. The Mocoa porphyry system exhibits a classical zonal pattern of hydrothermal alteration and mineralization, with a deeper central core of potassic alteration overlain by sericitization and surrounded by propylitization. Mineralization consists of disseminated chalcopyrite, molybdenite and local bornite and chalcocite associated with multiphase veins, stockwork and hydrothermal breccias. The Mocoa deposit is roughly cylindrical, with a 600-metre diameter. High-grade copper-molybdenum mineralization continues to depths in excess of 1,000 metres.

1 For further information refer to National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") Technical Report, entitled "Technical Report on the Mocoa Copper-Molybdenum Project, Colombia", dated January 17, 2022, prepared by Michael Rowland Brepsant, FAusIMM, Robert Sim, P.Geo, and Bruce Davis, FAusIMM. with an effective date of November 01, 2021.

About Libero Copper

Libero Copper is led by a team with rare experiencehaving advanced projects from post-resource discovery to the path of construction, including some of the few large copper projects built in the last 20 years. This real-world expertise drives Libero Copper's focus on relationships, responsibility, trust, and a relentless commitment to sustainable progress.

At the core of Libero Copper's portfolio is the Mocoa copper-molybdenum porphyry deposit in Putumayo, Colombiaa cornerstone asset where the Company is actively drilling. In a market increasingly hungry for new copper supply, Libero is focused on systematically expanding and de-risking Mocoa's resource base.

Now, with the Fiore Group's bold company-building vision behind it, Libero Copper is uniquely positioned to fill a crucial gap in the copper industryadvancing large-scale projects toward construction. Through this approach, Libero Copper is committed to creating lasting value for all stakeholders while positioning itself at the forefront of meeting the growing global demand for copperthe metal driving progress in the modern economy.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding the anticipated drilling results of MD-046, the outcome of the Company's current resource expansion strategy; other activities and achievements of the Company, including but not limited to: the timing and success for the advancement of the Mocoa Project, the expansion of the Mocoa resource base; and the implementation of the Proposed Amendment, including the anticipated timing thereof and the TSXV's acceptance of the Proposed Amendment are to be considered forward looking. Although Libero Copper 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 or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices and volatility with the Company's common shares, exploitation and exploration successes, uncertainty of reserve and resource estimates, risks of not achieving production, continued availability of capital and financing, processes, permits and filing requirements, risks related to operations in foreign and developing countries and compliance with foreign laws and including risks related to changes in foreign laws and changing policies related to mining and local ownership requirements in Colombia, and general economic, market, political or business conditions and regulatory and administrative approvals. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements
China constructs human cell lineage facility, eyeing to create digital twins of patients with cellular data

Global Times) 14:05, March 25, 2025

A rendering of the appearance of the human cell lineage big science research facility (Photo/Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Imagine a breathing, drug-testing, metabolizing digital twin of yourself that could predict how treatments will work before you take them. This isn't science fiction: China just announced a groundbreaking "human cell lineage" mega-facility in South China's Guangdong, designed to crack the code of human development, disease, and aging.

Led by Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the facility aims to map the spatiotemporal evolution of cells throughout the human lifespan, develop a large-scale AI model for digital cells, and construct a digital physiological human.

This initiative will pioneer new paradigms in biomedical testing and open up new frontiers in biopharmaceutical R&D. Additionally, it is expected to yield a series of innovative scientific achievements and products in reagents, instruments, software and data, the institute said in a statement.

"This is essentially compiling a comprehensive 'cellular family tree' of life, enabling both scientists and the public to clearly trace each cell's journey from origin to the present state," Sun Fei, deputy director of the institute and the Chief Commander/Engineer of the facility told Science and Technology Daily.

Researchers explained that current global innovative drug development faces three critical challenges: prolonged timelines, exorbitant costs, and dismal clinical success rates. A fundamental limitation lies in the predominant use of animal models, which fail to accurately replicate human physiological responses.

This facility will pioneer a transformative solution, creating "digital twins" of patients using their cellular data. This breakthrough platform will simulate treatment outcomes in silico before clinical implementation, ushering in a new era of truly personalized, precision medicine, according to the Science and Technology Daily report.

It is one of 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for the national major science and technology infrastructure. The facility is expected to be completed within four and a half years, and will have a total floor area exceeding 50,000 square meters, the institute said.

The institute wrote in the statement that the cell is the fundamental unit of life, and the human body is composed of approximately 40 trillion cells. These cells originate from a single fertilized egg, undergoing dynamic processes, including proliferation, differentiation, and aging, throughout their entire life cycle. This complete trajectory of cellular evolution is referred to as "cell lineage."

Deciphering cell lineage is hailed as the key to unlocking the mysteries of life's development and evolution, the institute said.

The facility will focus on pioneering technologies and equipment development, including live-sample preservation, spatial multi-omics, and advanced imaging. By integrating cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, it will establish a digital cell lineage framework spanning three key dimensions: development, disease and aging, the Guangzhou-based institute said.

According to the institute, the facility will be composed of an automated production pipeline for cell lineage mapping, integrating standardized workflows including sample preparation, biospecimen storage, multi-scale imaging analysis, multi-omics profiling, data processing, and validation.

This system will systematically acquire multi-modal datasets encompassing radiomics, spatial omics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, metabolomics and ultrastructural characterization. The resulting output will be a digitally-indexed, twin-referenced cell lineage repository, the institute said in its statement.

The institute said that upon completion, the facility is expected to provide comprehensive support for theoretical innovation and industrial development in the life sciences and healthcare sectors.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
Vancouver, British Columbia  March 25, 2025  TheNewswire - Leocor Mining Inc. (the Company or Leocor) (CSE: LECR, OTCQB: LECRF; Frankfurt: LGO0) (formerly Leocor Gold Inc.), a junior resource company focussed on the exploration and development of precious metals projects in Eastern Canada, is pleased to announce that its recent drill program at the Baie Verte project (The Project), a 2,002-ha contiguous gold-copper exploration package located on the north central coast of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, has been completed.

Crews from Rally Drilling and Resourceful Geoscience Solutions have demobilized from the Project site on March 18th after completing 27 drillholes totalling 3040.5m at the projects base metal and gold prospects, Copper Creek and Dorset, respectively.

Drilling at the Copper Creek claims comprised 21 diamond drillholes totalling 2308.5 meters. 18 of the 21 Copper Creek drillholes encountered mineralization interpreted to be chalcopyrite over various lengths and in various visually estimated abundances. Previously disclosed Copper Creek highlights included:

43.9m to 46.2m (2.3m length) in hole 25-CC-014 containing a visually estimated modal abundance of banded chalcopyrite of 15% with pyrite in visually estimated modal abundances of 10%.

20m to 33.4m (13.4m drilled length) in hole 25-CC-012 containing blebby chalcopyrite in a visually estimated modal abundance of 1%.

133.6m to 138m (4.4m drilled length) in hole 25-CC-007 containing blebby chalcopyrite in a visually estimated modal abundance of 3%.

Holes 25-CC-015, -017, -019 and -020 intersected intervals of semi-massive pyrite over drilled lengths between 0.2m and 2.2m. Figure 1 below, first released on March 3rd, illustrates an interval of semi-massive pyrite mineralization observed in drill hole 25-CC-017.

Figure 1: Hole 25-CC-017 from 52.25m to 68.4m. Intervals of Semi-Massive pyrite mineralization are outlined in red.

The Company awaits assay results from 1671 samples from Copper Creek drilling.

Drilling at the Dorset gold prospect comprised six holes totalling 732 meters. Highlights of the Dorset drilling include intersecting a pyrite mineralized quartz vein with a drilled length of 1.1 meters in hole 25-DR-005 (Figure 2)

Figure 2: Hole 25-DR-005 32.0m to 49.1m, featuring a 1.1m long pyrite mineralized quartz vein from 36.5m to 37.6m downhole, outlined in red.

The Company awaits assay results from 655 samples of drill core from Dorset drillholes.

It is important to note that these are preliminary observations, and the true grade and thickness of the mineralization will only be determined once assay results are received. Samples of mineralized intervals are being prepared for geochemical analysis by SGS, a Standards Council of Canada (SCC) accredited laboratory. As of March 21, 2025, the laboratory confirmed 205 samples from Copper Creek are currently being processed, with an estimated date of completion within the next four weeks.

Table 1. details drillhole collar information:

Hole ID Easting Northing Dip Azimuth Length 25-CC-001 556656.4 5529618.4 -45 120 194 25-CC-002 556657.4 5529617.8 -70 120 119 25-CC-003 556699.7 5529594.9 -50 120 74 25-CC-004 556701.7 5529593.3 -70 120 110 25-CC-005 556722.0 5529693.2 -50 120 110 25-CC-006 556724.2 5529691.8 -70 120 95 25-CC-007 556700.7 5529594.6 -50 300 170 25-CC-008 556740.3 5529676.7 -50 120 74 25-CC-009 556739.7 5529677.1 -70 120 69.5 25-CC-010 556707.7 5529653.2 -50 120 89 25-CC-011 556707.7 5529652.5 -70 120 62 25-CC-012 556623.0 5529588.0 -50 120 125 25-CC-013 556623.0 5529588.0 -70 120 125 25-CC-014 556625.2 5529592.9 -50 120 152 25-CC-015 556626.0 5529588.4 -70 120 101 25-CC-016 556595.7 5529546.9 -50 120 140 25-CC-017 556598.1 5529546.3 -50 120 62 25-CC-018 556651.0 5529523.0 -70 120 134 25-CC-019 556529.1 5529486.9 -60 120 152 25-CC-020 556528.6 5529487.4 -50 120 71 25-CC-021 556528.9 5529487.1 -70 120 80 25-DR-001 555060.8 5527022.5 -45 140 173 25-DR-002 555034.3 5527067.0 -45 140 125 25-DR-003 555061.7 5527020.5 -70 140 128 25-DR-004 555107.8 5526982.8 -45 140 131 25-DR-005 555376.6 5527045.0 -45 140 86 25-DR-006 555359.8 5527075.2 -45 140 89

Figure 3: Location of the Baie Verte Project, NW Newfoundland

For more information regarding Leocors Baie Verte Project, including detailed figures, assessment details, and historic data, please visit our website.

Qualified Person

David Murray, P.Geo., Principal Consultant at Resourceful Geoscience Solutions Inc., an Independent Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Minerals Projects, has reviewed and approved the technical information presented herein.

About Leocor Mining Inc. (Formerly Leocor Gold Inc.)

Leocor Mining Inc. is a British Columbia-based resource company involved in the acquisition and exploration of precious metal projects, with a current focus in Atlantic Canada. Leocor, through outright ownership and earn-in agreements, currently controls several gold-copper projects in prime exploration ground located within the prolific Baie Verte Mining District. Leocors Bae Verte portfolio includes the Dorset, Dorset Extension, Copper Creek and Five Mile Brook projects, creating a contiguous nearly 2,000-hectare exploration corridor. The Company also controls district scale land packages in North Central Newfoundland, known as Roberts Arm, Hodges Hill, and Leamington, (collectively Western Exploits) representing over 144,000 hectares (1,440 square kilometers) of prospective exploration ground. For more information, sign up for news alerts, watch our corporate video, or view our presentation at our website.

Contact Information

Leocor Mining Inc.

Alex Klenman, Chief Executive Officer

Email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Telephone : (604) 970-4330

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.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Such information includes, without limitation, information regarding the terms and conditions of the Option. Although Leocor believes that such information is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

Forward looking information is typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Leocor cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by Leocor is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking information as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: the agreement of the parties to proceed with the proposed transaction on the terms set out in the Option Agreements or at all; Leocor's ability to exercise the Options; the state of the financial markets for Leocor's securities; the state of the natural resources sector in the event the Option, or any of them, are completed; recent market volatility; circumstances related to COVID-19; Leocor's ability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; and other risks and factors that Leocor is unaware of at this time. The reader is referred to Leocor's initial public offering prospectus for a more complete discussion of applicable risk factors and their potential effects, copies of which may be accessed through Leocors issuer page on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Leocor disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Vancouver, British Columbia  TheNewswire - March 25, 2025, Rockland Resources Ltd. (the Company or "Rockland") (CSE: RKL), is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Claybank Beryllium Project in Juab County, Utah, located five kilometers northeast of Spor Mountain, the largest global beryllium producer operated by Materion Corp. (NYSE: MTRN)(1). Claybank connects via a 4.5km spur to the paved Brush Highway that is used to ship ore from Spor Mountains mining operations to their treatment plant located 15 kilometers northeast of Delta, Utah. The location of Claybank relative to Spor Mountain and to Rocklands Beryllium Butte Project is provided below.

We are very excited to acquire Claybank which along with our Beryllium Butte Project to the west, strengthens our mandate to become a force in the niche global beryllium market. stated Mike England, CEO of Rockland. The global demand for beryllium is growing and Utah is the home of the largest source of beryllium in the world, making it an easy decision where to focus our efforts. Our next steps at Claybank will be to confirm historical results with the intent to expand the historic mineralized zone.

Claybank Beryllium Project

The Claybank Beryllium Project consists of two unpatented claims with a contiguous area of roughly 16 hectares (40 acres). The property saw historical drilling in 1987 with 31 vertical drill holes distributed along strike of an altered Tertiary tuff that is the host rock for bertrandite ore being mined at Spor Mountain. Nineteen of the drillholes were closely-spaced and identified a zone of beryllium mineralization roughly 70 meters along strike of the tuff. Historical assays for the mineralization zone reported drillhole intercepts from 0.25-0.65% Be.(2)

The images below show the location of Claybank relative to the Spor Mountain Mine, and the locations of the mineralization zone defined from the historical drilling.

The Claybank Beryllium Project (yellow rectangle) is provided in more detail in the expanded view below.

Note that the historical data reported for Claybank has not been confirmed by the Company - historical results must be treated with caution when considering the potential economics of a deposit. The resources at Spor Mountain Mine are not necessarily indicative of what may exist at Claybank.

A spring reconnaissance surface sampling and mapping program over the Claybank property will commence once weather and access become favorable.

Terms of the acquisition, which was finalized on March 19, 2025, call for cumulative cash payments of $400,000 USD plus the granting of a staged release of one million warrants of the Company at $0.15 CAD. A 2.5% NSR will be granted to the vendor of which Rockland can purchase back, at any time, one percent for one million dollars USD. No finders fees were incurred in the acquisition of the project.

The Company also announces it has set 25,000 options to a consultant of the Company at $0.15 for a period of two years in accordance with the Companys stock option plan.

The technical contents of this news release have been reviewed by David Taff, CAPG, CPG., a consultant to Rockland and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.

References

(1)2020, Critical minerals of Utah: Utah Geol. Surv. Circular 129, https://doi.org/10.34191/C-129 (2)1988. Topaz Mountain Beryllium Venture Feasibility Report. Inspiration Gold Company. (Rockland has not confirmed the historic data and conclusions contained herein.)

Exploring For Tomorrows Technology

Rockland Resources is advancing critical metals exploration and is specializing in beryllium at its strategically located Beryllium Butte and Claybank projects in the Spor Mountain region of Utah, USA. Spor Mountain is home to Materions (NYSE: MTRN) Spor Mountain Mine, the largest beryllium producer in the world and continuously mined since 1969.

About Beryllium

Beryllium is a high-value, essential, light metal with wide applications in the aerospace, computer, telecommunications, electronics, medical, satellite, energy and defence sectors and is considered a critical mineral by the US government.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Michael England, CEO & Director

For further information, please contact:

Mike England

Telephone: 1-604-683-3995

TollFree:1-888-945-4770

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Neither the Canadian Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect managements current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect managements current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward -looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at WWW.SEDAR.COM).
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Helius Minerals Limited (Helius or the Company) (TSXV: HHH) is pleased to announce that it is arranging a non-brokered private placement (the Private Placement) comprised of the sale of up to 4,300,000 common shares of the Company (each, an Offered Share and each common share of the Company, a Common Share) at a price of Cdn$0.50 per Offered Share.

The Company plans to allocate at least US$500,000 of the net proceeds from the Private Placement towards the Serra Pelada gold-PGM project in Brazil (the Serra Pelada Project). As disclosed in the Companys news release of March 4, 2024, the Company has entered into an Exclusivity, Share Option and Acquisition Agreement dated as of March 3, 2025 (the Definitive Agreement) between the Company and Colossus Minerals Inc. (Colossus) regarding the Serra Pelada Project. Colossus placed Serra Pelada on a care and maintenance program in 2014 when Colossus became insolvent. The Serra Pelada Project property interests are held indirectly by Colossus Brazilian subsidiaries, Colossus Mineracao Ltda. (Colossus Brazil) and Mineracao Fazenda Monte Belo Ltda. (MFM collectively with Colossus Brazil, the Target Companies).

Under the Definitive Agreement, Helius has been provided with a twelve-month exclusivity period (the Organizational Period) during which it would raise not less than US$1 million (the Initial Financing Requirement) and allocate a minimum of US$500,000 to undertake the following activities:

Reviewing and developing a plan to ensure compliance with relevant mining laws and other regulatory requirements;

Formulating a comprehensive strategy to address outstanding debts, including those related to ongoing litigation, of the Target Companies; and

Developing a detailed plan to rehabilitate the Serra Pelada Project, the Target Companies and the partnership called Serra Pelada - Companhia de Desenvolvimento Mineral, which partnership directly holds the Serra Pelada Project interests

(collectively, the Organizational Period Requirements).

Helius completion of the Private Placement would satisfy the Initial Financing Requirement and enable it to progress towards satisfying the Organizational Period Requirements.

Upon Helius satisfaction of the Organizational Period Requirements, and upon receipt of conditional approval from the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV), Helius could elect in its sole discretion to deliver written notice to Colossus (the Option Notice) of Helius decision to proceed with an option (the Option) to purchase (a) all of the Target Companies Shares and thereby a 75% beneficial interest in SPCDM and thereby the Serra Pelada Project; and (b) all of the intercorporate loans (and all interest accrued thereunder) owed by the Target Companies to Colossus, if any (the Intercompany Debt). Helius could elect to exercise the Option within 6 months of the date of delivery of the Option Notice, in which case the parties would proceed with closing of Helius purchase of the Target Companies Shares and any Intercompany Debt.

The Private Placement is subject to receipt of TSXV approval. The Option is subject to receipt of TSXV approval, and to Colossus receipt on or before May 5, 2025 of (i) shareholder approval by way of a special resolution to the disposition of the Serra Pelada Project to Helius; and (ii) approval from the holders of senior secured convertible notes of Colossus to the exchange of such notes for amended senior secured convertible notes of Helius. Colossus is to seek such shareholder approval at a special shareholder meeting of Colossus to be held on May 2, 2025.

A 6% cash finders fee, or a 6% finders fee in Common Shares, may be paid to arms length finders in connection with the Private Placement.

In addition, subject to receipt of TSXV approval, the Company proposes to settle debts totaling up to Cdn$500,000 through the issuance of up to 1,000,000 Common Shares at a price of Cdn$0.50 per share.

The securities referred to in this news release have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States unless pursuant to an exemption therefrom. This press release is for information purposes only and does constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Helius in any jurisdiction.

About Helius Minerals Limited

Helius is a mineral exploration company focused on the identification and exploration of high-quality mineral assets across the Americas, with an emphasis on South American jurisdictions.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

Helius Minerals Limited

Christian Grainger (PhD, AIG)

President and CEO

M: +57 3146364676

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.heliusminerals.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term in defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (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. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: the uncertainties inherent to current and future legal challenges that face the Serra Pelada Project and the Target Companies; controls, regulations, and political or economic developments in Brazil; changes in national and local government legislation in Canada and Brazil; the lack of certainty with respect to foreign legal systems, which may not be immune from the influence of political pressure, corruption or other factors that are inconsistent with the rule of law; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining and maintaining the validity and enforceability of the necessary licenses and permits and complying with the permitting requirements of Brazil; fluctuations in the international currency markets and in the rates of exchange of the currencies of Canada, the United States and Brazil; significant capital requirements; risks related to fluctuations in metal prices; uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund exploration work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from weather, logistical, technical or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfill expectations and realize the perceived potential of the Serra Pelada Project; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in conducting work programs; the risk of environmental contamination or damage resulting from Helius operations and other risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2025) - Amex Exploration Inc. (TSXV: AMX) (FSE: MX0) (OTCQX: AMXEF) ("Amex" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with an arm's length vendor to acquire a significant land package, expanding its holdings around its flagship Perron Project from 4,560 hectares (45.60 km2) to 19,752 hectares (197.52 km2) (the "Transaction"). When combined with the newly acquired land package, to be named Perron West (the "Perron West Project"), Amex will control an area more than four times the size of the existing Perron Property. The Perron West Project consists of 48 contiguous claims/exclusive exploration rights comprising 1,737 hectares adjoining the Perron Project to the west and the south in the Abitibi-Temiscamingue region of the province of Quebec and 33 multi-cell and 2 single-cell contiguous mining claims comprising 13,455 hectares in the Abbotsford, Adair and Hepburn Townships in the province of Ontario, representing a total area of 15,192 hectares.

The Perron West Project importantly holds the continuation of the Normetal-Burntbush greenstone belt, that crosses over into Ontario (see Figure 1). Further details respecting the Transaction can be found at the bottom of the release.

Perron West bears a number of geological similarities to the existing Perron Project, including a potential mirror image of the prolific Beaupre Block rhyolite, which hosts all the gold discoveries found by Amex to date, including the ultra-rich High Grade Zone.

Jacques Trottier, PhD, Executive Chairman of Amex Exploration commented, "We are excited by the discovery potential that this land acquisition provides. The package boasts seven gold and five copper showings, displaying the significant potential for future discoveries of both gold and volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS). The claims have also been subject to recent airborne geophysical and soil sampling programs which will be an excellent guide for next exploration steps. This work was instrumental in helping us identify what we believe is a geological mirror image of the Beaupre Block. With this acquisition, Amex now controls over 35 kms of the prolific Normetal Fault and 9 kms of the Perron Fault. This combined land package is truly district scale and has never before been assembled by a single organization. We look forward to extrapolating our extensive understanding of the Perron project to Perron West."

Figure 1: Geological map of the Normetal-Burntbush greenstone belt, showing the Perron Project and Amex's newly acquired Perron West Project. The Perron West Project consists of 48 CDC claims in Quebec for 1,737 hectares and 33 multi-cell and 2 single-cell claims in Ontario for 13,455 hectares, for a total of 15,192 hectares.

After analysing the regional geological framework of the Normetal-Burntbush greenstone belt, the Company identified the exceptional potential of the Perron West Property for further, high-grade gold discoveries. As can be seen in Figure 2, regional deformation of the belt is determined as dextral movement, with pulses of mineralization interpreted to have been emplaced during D2 deformation events. As such, Amex sees two large potential areas for gold mineralization on the project being:

1) A "mirror" of the Beaupre Block. As seen in Figure 2, rhyolites with similarities to that at Beaupre have been observed on the property. In addition, these rhyolites are already host to multiple gold showings, some of which can be observed in Figure 3.

2) The major Normetal Fault and its interaction with the Patten Pluton. As previously reported in last weeks 2025 regional drill plan (see February 20, 2025 Press Release), a major regional focus has been placed on the contacts of the Patten Pluton with the surrounding volcanics. Multiple gold-in-soil anomalies are scheduled to be tested at Perron on the eastern edges of the pluton, while the western edges host additional gold-in-soil anomalies at Perron West.

Recent work completed on the claim package includes VTEM, M-PASS and LiDAR airborne geophysical surveys, obtaining orthophotos and a soil sampling program (see Figures 3-4). In addition, compilation and analysis work was completed on the geophysical data package and the soil sampling by ALS Goldspot to provide targets, which are yet to be tested (see Figure 5).

The Company envisages that, given the geological similarities of the Perron West Project to the Perron Project, that any significant discoveries made would be able to share the same infrastructure in Amex's existing Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) (see November 13, 2024 Press Release).

Figure 2: Simplified regional geology showing the outline of Perron (in red) and the newly acquired Perron West (in black). Highlighted in red is the Beaupre rhyolite of Perron and one of the rhyolites at Perron West that displays similarities. Model of regional deformation shows dextral movement with stress directions shown with blue arrows.

Figure 3: Anomalous gold results from soil sampling program completed in 2023 showing a northwest trend, which aligns well with a major structural lineament on the property.



Anomalous gold results from the 2023 soil sampling program, in close proximity to the existing Goldhill showing, returned 1.75 g/t Au (1746 ppb Au) from a sonic drill hole to test the overburden and is yet to be followed up on.

Figure 4: An additional example of highly anomalous results for gold in historical overburden drilling. High grade base metal results from historical diamond drilling also display the projects significant VMS potential.



Figure 5: Geophysical compilation and analysis work completed by ALS Goldspot that defined targets for a future field program. Geophysical targets are outlined in green, some of which match with existing gold anomalies and showings.



Next Steps - Exploration

The Company is working on finalizing an exploration program for the new property in 2025. This will likely consist of tighter grids of soil sampling to further define existing anomalies as well as expanding the grid to cover areas of the project that have not yet been covered. Given past anomalies produced, a more detailed sonic drill program is also being considered to test the overburden as well as the top few metres of bedrock. The goal of these programs will be to define drill ready targets for the Perron West Project.

Transaction Details

The Company, as purchaser, entered into the Purchase Agreement with an arm's length vendor to acquire the Perron West Project. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company will:

(i) pay to the vendor aggregate cash consideration of $150,000;

(ii) issue to the vendor a total of 1,500,000 common shares in capital of the Company (the "Shares"), subject to certain contractual resale restrictions providing for a staggard release of the Shares from escrow over a 36-month period;

(iii) grant to the vendor a 1.5% gross overriding royalty in respect of the Perron West Project pursuant to the terms and conditions of a gross overriding royalty agreement (the "Royalty Agreement") to be entered into between the Company and the vendor on closing; and

(iv) make the following additional milestone payments to the vendor (the "Milestone Payments"):

(a) a further $1,000,000, to be satisfied in cash, or at the option of the Company, in Shares, payable upon the Company disclosing a mineral resource and/or mineral reserve (of any category or any combination of categories) in respect of the Perron West Project delineating at least one million ounces of gold and/or gold equivalent; and

(b) a further $1,000,000, to be satisfied in cash, or at the option of the Company, in Shares, payable upon the Company disclosing a preliminary economic assessment, pre-feasibility study or a feasibility study in respect of the Perron West Project, as those terms are defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

The Transaction remains subject to a number of closing conditions and post-closing obligations, including, the execution of the Royalty Agreement and certain deeds and instruments of conveyance, the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, and standard closing conditions for transactions of this nature.

Qualified Persons and QAQC

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Aaron Stone, P. Geo. (OGQ 2170 and PGO 3708) for the Perron West Project in Ontario and Jerome Augustin P.Geo. Ph.D., (OGQ 2134) for the Perron West Project in Quebec (collectively, the "Qualified Persons").

Soil samples at the Perron West Project were collected along lines spaced 200 metres apart with individual samples collected every 100 metres along each line. Samples were submitted to AGAT laboratory in Val d'Or, Quebec for preparation and analysis. The preparation and analytical package selected was Aqua Regia Digest - Metals Package, ICP-OES/ICP-MS finish as described the methodology. The QAQC program consisted of the insertion of blanks (sand) and standards (OREAS 47), for a total of 51, that were regularly inserted into the sample sequence before being sent to the laboratory. Duplicates samples were also taken in the field every 20 samples.

The potential grades of exploration targets disclosed in this news release are conceptual in nature. The Qualified Persons have not completed sufficient work to verify the historical information on the Perron West Project, particularly in regards to historical drill results and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource. The Company has not independently verified and cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the third-party data contained in this news release and investors should use caution in placing reliance on such information; however, the Qualified Persons believe that drilling and analytical results were completed to industry standard practices. The information provides an indication of the exploration potential of the Perron West Project but may not be representative of expected results.

About Amex

Amex Exploration Inc. has made significant gold discoveries on its 100% owned high-grade Perron Gold Project located ~110 kilometres north of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, consisting of 117 contiguous claims covering 4,518 hectares. The project is well-serviced by existing infrastructure, on a year-round road, 10 minutes from an airport and just outside the town of Normetal (~8 km). In addition, the project is in close proximity to a number of major gold producers' milling operations. The project host both bulk tonnage and a high-grade gold style mineralization. Since January 2019, Amex has intersected significant gold mineralization in multiple gold zones and discovered copper-rich VMS zones.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than of historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including, without limitation, planned exploration programs, the expected positive exploration results, the extension of mineralized zones, the timing of the exploration results, the ability of the Company to continue with exploration programs, the availability of the required funds to continue with the exploration and the potential mineralization or potential mineral resources are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "to earn", "to have', "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, failure to meet expected, estimated or planned exploration expenditures, failure to establish estimated mineral resources, the possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, general business and economic conditions, changes in world gold markets, sufficient labour and equipment being available, changes in laws and permitting requirements, unanticipated weather changes, title disputes and claims, environmental risks as well as those risks identified in the Company's annual Management's Discussion and Analysis. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described and accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law.
For each of his high-level arrest warrants, the International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan has seen his announcements met with a flurry of responses. These responses have grown increasingly cynical about the reality of these officials ever sitting in any of the ICCs courtrooms in the Hague. Coupled with the prosecutors office (OTP) ongoing attempt to have an in absentia confirmation of charges hearing for 20-year-ICC-fugitive Joseph Kony, I expressed my own cynical exasperation to a colleague last month, that the letters I.C.C. would soon stand for I Confirm Charges.

As 2024 drew to a close, the Courts 2025 calendar perspectives remained anaemic  with just two judgements pending, one trial ongoing, and no prospect of new trials. The Courts own President, Judge Tomoko Akane, told the Assembly of States Parties in December 2024, that the challenges the ICC was facing could jeopardise its very existence. For all the historic and ongoing criticism of the Courts penchant for prosecuting (African) rebels, the apparently performative pursuit of world leaders seemed like the final rallying cry of a Court on its knees.

Success of the big fish strategy?

Then, on Tuesday 11 March 2025, the news broke that former president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, had been arrested at Manila airport on an ICC warrant. Court observers variously announced that such an arrest could be the first of many, and proclaimed Dutertes ICC sojourn to be an important test case for those of other, current heads of state wanted by the Court. Does Dutertes arrest signal the success of the OTPs big fish strategy? Can it quell the murmurs of the impending death of the ICC?

Is an arrest like Dutertes only possible when it is politically expedient for his opponents? His lawyer, Salvador C. Medialdea certainly thinks so, and told Presiding Judge Iulia Motoc as much on Friday 14 March, during Dutertes Initial Appearance hearing. Two troubled entities struck an unlikely alliance, he lamented, an incumbent president [of the Philippines] who wished to neutralise Duterte and his legacy, and a troubled legal institution subject to delegitimisation and desperate for price cuts and a legal show.

The legal and political issues around prosecuting (former) heads of state will undoubtedly play out throughout these proceedings against Duterte. The criticism of the ICC will also undoubtedly continue, from legal and academic observers, as well as from those opposed to the Court for blatantly political reasons. Perhaps, at the moment, that is not the most interesting question. The ICC, for better or for worse, is a performative court. Khan himself has told journalists that justice must be seen to be done. But for all the emphasis on the ICCs expressive contribution to the discourse of justice and human rights, does Dutertes arrest prove that the Court is better off keeping its head down, and its mouth shut?

Pomp and circumstance

In May 2024, Khan stood behind a podium, flanked by two colleagues, in front of a blue ICC backdrop, and announced that today I am filing applications for warrants of arrest for Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alongside defence minister Yoav Gallant, and three senior Hamas leaders: Yahya Sinwar, Mohamed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri (Deif), and Ismail Haniyeh. In November 2024, flanked by just one colleague, but still behind a podium and between two ICC flags, Khan proclaimed: Today, I am announcing an application for a warrant of arrest for Myanmars senior general and acting president, Min Aung Hlaing. In January 2025, Khan stood again between two ICC flags, and beside a colleague, and told the world that his office had applied for warrants against the supreme leader of the Taliban, Haibatullah Akhundzada, and Afghanistans chief justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani.

On 20 May 2024, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, flanked by two stern-faced colleagues, solemnly announced his request for arrest warrants against the Prime Minister of Israel, his Defence Minister and three Hamas leaders. Video:  ICC-CPI

Khans official video statement on Duterte was markedly different. Apparently seated, with no colleagues nearby, he told a camera that well, the arrest [of Duterte]  is an important moment. It seemed that he was answering some off-screen question, rather than launching into his own monologue. Of course, there was no need for a similar breaking news style announcement: the world already knew of Dutertes arrest. But the tone and the timing of the statement speaks volumes about the behind the scenes work of the OTP.

On 12 March 2015, prosecutor Karim Khan is seated and alone, after the arrest of the former Philippine president, when he declares, with little drama, that well, this is an important moment. Video:  ICC-CPI

For one thing, Khans statement was made after the successful execution of a warrant which almost nobody knew about. On 10 February 2025, the OTP had submitted an urgent application for a warrant against Duterte, accusing him of five counts of crimes against humanity, committed in the context of his war on drugs first as mayor of Davao City, and after 2016 as president of the country. Concluding the urgent request, the OTP noted that barely two weeks before, the current government of the Philippines (led by Dutertes rival Bongbong Marcos) had announced its willingness to arrest Duterte if a warrant came through Interpol. Citing the risk that over time, the prospects of arresting Duterte will likely disappear, deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang asked for the warrant to be issued under seal. It was only a month later, when Duterte was taken into custody, that the existence of a warrant against him was confirmed by the chamber, only three days before his effective arrest.

A captive (but uncaptured) audience

Tactically speaking, the difference in approach is perhaps explained by the fact that Duterte, unlike Netanyahu, Min Aung Hlaing, or Akhundzada, is a former, not current, head of state. The risk of Duterte literally fleeing from the law was thus much greater. But expressively speaking, the differing approach raises the question: who are warrant application announcements for? Are they for the senior officials and heads of state they are aimed at? The Palestine warrant announcements reveal the futility of that approach. Within months of Khans announcement, all three Hamas leaders he had named were killed as a result of Israeli government targeted attacks. Hoping the threat of arrest will stay the hand(s) of violence is a big gamble, as the decades old peace vs. justice debate reveals. Surely, the OTP does not presume that the officials in question will hand themselves in. They might be a captive audience to the workings of the court (as former Russian attempts to infiltrate it imply), but they remain uncaptured.

Are these announcements aimed at the allies of those senior officials, the governments who support them, or entertain them in their parliaments and palaces? That audience has also proven largely deaf. Already in 2015, South Africa failed to arrest Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir during a summit of the African Union, despite its government having been made aware of a warrant against him six full years previously. More recently, Mongolia has failed to arrest Russian president Vladimir Putin during his visit to the country for a commemoration ceremony in September 2024. In July 2024, Benjamin Netanyahu, while under warrant from the ICC, addressed members of the US Congress in Washington D.C., receiving a standing ovation that lasted almost eight minutes.

For all the talk of the impact of global politics on the ICC, the cornerstone of criticism against the Courts recent targeting strategies stems, it seems, from the Prosecutors floundering apparent attempts to impact global politics. This uneasy, half-embrace of politics by Khan might be both the main impetus behind its public arrest warrant application announcements, but also the crux of its ongoing struggles.

Are the announcements for victims? The ICC prides itself on being a victim-centred court, but Khans three statements regarding Palestine, Myanmar, and Afghanistan warrant applications were relatively light on victim-related discourse. In the Palestine warrant announcement, victims were referenced mostly as a source of evidence. In Myanmar, victims were given a glancing recognition. The Afghanistan announcement contained much more explicit references to the bravery of victims. In general, however, warrant applications are (by their very nature) focused on alleged perpetrators.

What aspect of justice must be seen, and by whom?

Are they, then, for us? The observers? Those thorns in Khans side, who criticise the inaction of the Court when it is silent, or its apparent precociousness when it is vocal? If that is the case, the Duterte warrant and arrest process provides perhaps the most complicated challenge to the idea that justice must be seen to be done. What aspects of the justice process must be seen, and by whom, to make them as effective as possible? Perhaps warrant application announcements provide only fuel to the fire of criticism, whereas unnecessary redactions and private sessions constitute genuine hindrances to the visibility of justice. Or perhaps, despite everyones best intentions, we really are only sated when we get retributive outcomes: arrests, and convictions.

The ICCs successes and failures reflect not only a struggling Court, but also the biases, politics, and blind spots of those who follow it. Dutertes arrest, and Septembers confirmation of charges hearing will indeed prove a testing ground for the Court. Considering the OTP has (at least) five further heads of state in its sights, it might be worth dissecting not only the ICCs triumphs and tribulations, but, procedurally speaking, what gets classified as a success or failure, to whom, when, and why. Justice must, indeed, be seen to be done, but the messy, slow, and at times misguided process of working towards it is perhaps a bit more difficult to stomach.
A committee investigating a wave of sectarian killings this month on Syria's coast said on Tuesday it had recorded dozens of reports into the worst bloodshed since Bashar al-Assad's ousting, with investigations ongoing.

Spokesman Yasser al-Farhan told a press conference in Damascus that the committee had recorded "more than 95 testimonies" and received "more than 30 oral and written reports through direct communication", with some messages still being received electronically.

The committee was set up after several days of violence that began on March 6, during which, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, some 1,600 civilians were killed, mostly from the Alawite minority.

The Observatory has accused security forces and allied groups of participating in "field executions, forced displacement and burning of homes", with entire families killed including women, children and the elderly.

The Syrian authorities have accused armed Assad supporters of starting the violence by staging attacks on the new security forces.

Military reinforcements were then sent to the areas, the heartland of the Alawites, a group to which the Assad family belongs.

Farhan said the committee began its field work on March 14 in Latakia province, where its members met with local and security officials, and interviewed "hundreds of family members and witnesses".

The committee has examined "93 pieces of digital evidence", he said, adding that investigations were still ongoing.

He also said the body met with United Nations rights officials and investigators.

The committee planned "to move on in the coming period to the Tartus, Banias, Hama and Idlib areas", Farhan said, adding it was too early to provide details or results of the investigations.

The body has not experienced any "attack from regime remnants or any party, or any threat" he said, but said the area was still dangerous due to the presence of "outlaws implicated in crimes against humanity".

Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who led the Sunni Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) that spearheaded the overthrow of Assad, vowed to prosecute those behind the "bloodshed of civilians", and set up the fact-finding committee.

"We are waiting for the adoption of a law on transitional justice in Syria", Farhan said, adding that many Syrians believed that "a special national court" should be established "to prosecute those involved in war crimes and crimes against humanity".
The United Nations refugee agency said Tuesday that more than 21,000 people had arrived in Lebanon this month fleeing the worst bloodshed in Syria since Bashar al-Assad's ousting.

A Syrian committee investigating the wave of sectarian killings in the heartland of the country's Alawite minority said Tuesday that it had collected scores of accounts of the violence, with its probe ongoing.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reported "21,637 new arrivals from Syria" into northern Lebanon, in a report citing figures provided by Lebanese authorities and the Lebanese Red Cross.

For days from March 6, Syria's Mediterranean coast was gripped by mass killings, mainly targeting the Alawite community, to which Assad's family belongs.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said some 1,600 civilians, mostly Alawites, were killed, accusing security forces and allied groups of participating in "field executions, forced displacement and burning of homes", with entire families killed, including women, children and the elderly.

The Syrian authorities have accused armed Assad supporters of starting the violence by staging attacks on the new security forces, with military reinforcements then sent to the areas.

UNHCR said that "fleeing families are continuing to cross unofficial border crossing points including through rivers on foot, and are arriving exhausted, traumatised, and hungry".

It also reported "ongoing reports of insecurity hampering people's movements before they reach Lebanon".

Around 390 Lebanese families were also among the recent arrivals, it said.

- Collecting testimony -

Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who led the Sunni Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) that spearheaded Assad's overthrow, has vowed to prosecute those behind the "bloodshed of civilians", and set up the fact-finding committee.

Committee spokesman Yasser al-Farhan said Tuesday that the body had recorded "more than 95 testimonies" and received "more than 30 oral and written reports through direct communication", with some messages still being received electronically.

He said the committee began field work on March 14 in Latakia province, where its members met with local and security officials, and interviewed "hundreds of family members and witnesses".

The committee has examined "93 pieces of digital evidence", he said, adding that investigations were still ongoing and that it was too early to provide details or results.

Farhan also said the body, which plans to go to other areas including Tartus, met with UN rights officials and investigators.

The committee has not experienced any "attack from regime remnants or any party, or any threat", he said, but the area was still dangerous due to the presence of "outlaws implicated in crimes against humanity".

"We are waiting for the adoption of a law on transitional justice in Syria", Farhan said, referring to pledges to prosecute the crimes of Assad's government, whose brutal repression of peaceful pro-democracy protests in 2011 triggered Syria's civil war.

Many Syrians, he added, believed that "a special national court" should be established "to prosecute those involved in war crimes and crimes against humanity".
Kennesaw State assistant professor receives national honor for mentorship in oncology nursing

KENNESAW, Ga. | Mar 25, 2025

Kennesaw State University assistant professor Chinomso Nwozichi has been honored by the Oncology Nursing Foundation with its prestigious Connie Henke Yarbro Excellence in Cancer Nursing Mentorship Award.

Nwozichi will receive the award, which was established to recognize and support excellence in oncology nursing mentorship, at the Oncology Nursing Foundations annual reception in April. The foundation supports cancer nursing excellence through fundraising efforts that in turn support educational opportunities, research grants, scholarships, and nurse advocacy.

This award is a deeply meaningful recognition of my commitment to mentorship in oncology nursing, Nwozichi said. Personally, it reaffirms my dedication to nurturing the next generation of oncology nurses, ensuring they are well-equipped to provide high-quality, evidence-based cancer care. On a broader scale, it underscores the vital role of mentorship in strengthening the oncology nursing workforce, fostering leadership, and advancing cancer care globally.

Nwozichi joined KSUs Wellstar School of Nursing in 2023 and has made a significant impact, publishing several papers in top scholarly journals and earning induction into the American Academy of Nursing Fellows, the top honor for nurses in the U.S. He serves as a leader in the Oncology Nursing Society of Nigeria, contributing articles to international oncology journals and research that addresses the diverse needs of cancer patients.

Dr. Nwozichis generosity and knowledge are evident, and this honor is well-deserved, said Rebecca Shabo, interim director of the Wellstar School of Nursing. He openly shares his expertise in oncology nursing, and he is an asset to our faculty and research community here at KSU.

At Kennesaw State, Nwozichi has mentored undergraduate researchers through the First-Year Scholars and the Summer Undergraduate Research Program. As president of the Oncology Nursing Society of Nigeria, he helps advance oncology nursing education, practice, and advocacy across Africa.

Nwozichi became interested in oncology nursing in his native Nigeria, where cancer patients received little specialized care and nursing curriculums didnt adequately address these issues. He originally leveraged his expertise in oncology to bolster nursing education in Nigeria before teaching in the Philippines, where he received his doctorate. He integrates oncology nursing in all the courses he teaches, while furthering knowledge of the specialty outside the classroom.

 Story by Dave Shelles

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The universitys vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.






Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - Controversial second-hand car dealer, Joseph Kairo Wambui, better known as Khalif Kairo, has been arrested again - this time over fresh allegations of fraud.

Kairo is accused of taking full payment from a client for a BMW but failing to deliver the vehicle.

Kairo was arrested today at the Milimani Law Courts, shortly after the mention of three other ongoing cases where hes accused of conning clients in similar car deals.

He was almost roughed up by a DCI officer after he attempted to resist arrest.

Are you interrogating me? the DCI officer was heard asking Kairo before bundling him into the vehicle.

He is expected to be arraigned in court tomorrow.

Watch the video.

Are you interrogating me? Watch the moment KHALIF KAIRO was almost roughed up by a DCI officer after his arrest! Huyu kijana ana kiburi pic.twitter.com/Oj2jkLupCo  DAILY POST  (@dailypost_ke) March 25, 2025

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - A key suspect in the murder of British national, Campbell Scott, has been released after agreeing to become a State witness.

Albanus Mutinda Nzioka, who has been in custody since March 3rd, 2025, will assist police in tracking down two other suspects still at large.

Appearing before Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina, State Prosecutor Joyce Olajo confirmed that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had withdrawn charges against Nzioka.

Nzioka has agreed to give evidence against Alex Mutua Kithuka in return for his freedom.

Nzioka and Alex were arrested after detectives established that they lured Campbell to a house in Pipeline Estate, where they tortured him to death.

Meanwhile, Alex will be arraigned before the High Court in Makadara on March 26th, 2025, to answer to murder charges.

Scott, who arrived in Kenya on February 15th, 2025, disappeared the following day.

His body was discovered on February 21st, 2025, at Makongo Forest in Makueni County.

Investigations indicate he was last seen in Westlands before being taken to Pipeline Estate, where he is believed to have been murdered.

Detectives are also pursuing leads on attempts to withdraw money from his accounts.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - A Kisii woman, who was captured in a disturbing viral video being assaulted and forced to throw soil into a grave during a burial, has finally broken her silence.

Speaking from a hospital where she is recovering, Mellen - a nurse in Narok - shared her heartbreaking ordeal.

She revealed that she had separated from her husband and was living independently when she was informed of his tragic death in an accident.

Mellen also revealed that her late husband had been violent during their marriage, which led to their separation.

His family asked her to bring their children to pay their last respects.

However, she quickly realized she was unwelcome.

I was told to take the children to bury their father. I traveled to Kisii to find out what happened, but I was forbidden from asking any questions.

And yet, he was already married! I only found out after they chased me away, she recounted.

Things escalated when she requested that his body be placed in the house they had built together. The family refused, growing furious.

Little did I know they had planned to harm me. When my cousin took the children to the grave, they attacked me with sticks and even threw me inside, she alleged.

She claimed his family forced her to throw soil into the grave to prevent her from remarrying.

So far, three people have been arrested over the shocking incident, and investigations are ongoing.Bottom of Form

Kisii woman who was assaulted at a funeral reveals the SHOCKING reason she was forced to throw soil in estranged husbands grave pic.twitter.com/MZVD1RGXD2  DAILY POST  (@dailypost_ke) March 25, 2025

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - A video has emerged on social media showing a Matatu driver driving recklessly on a busy highway, sparking outrage.

The driver was seen overtaking recklessly and at one point, he veered off the road, nearly hitting pedestrians.

Shockingly, the youth he was ferrying appeared to enjoy the chaos, hanging out of the vehicle and cheering.

However, a vigilant traffic police officer spotted the reckless behavior, pursued the Matatu on a motorbike, and managed to pull it over.

Outraged Kenyans have condemned the drivers actions, demanding his prosecution for endangering lives.

With the vehicles number plate clearly visible in the footage, many Kenyans are calling for revoking its license.

Watch the video below.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - Seasoned media personality and KTN news anchor, Mary Kilobi, has given birth to a baby boy named Atwoli Junior (AJ), marking a significant milestone in her seven-year marriage with veteran trade unionist Francis Atwoli.

The couples journey to parenthood has been marked by patience and resilience.

Kilobi expressed her gratitude, emphasizing that she conceived naturally without medical interventions.

I didnt go through any medical procedures to conceive, she shared, highlighting the natural course of their journey.

A few months ago, popular blogger Aoko Otieno accused Kilobi of engaging in extra-marital affairs and alleged that she was cheating on him with Atwolis driver.





Kilobi, 40, got married to the 75 year-old trade unionist in 2018.

Atwoli met Kilobi when she was working at Uganda Broadcasting Corporation.

The COTU Secretary General had been invited there for an interview and insisted on meeting her after hearing about a Kenyan girl working there.

They exchanged contacts and met again in 2016 when Mary returned to Kenya.

Their relationship flourished, and they started living together at Atwolis residence in Kajiado County.

In June 2018, Atwoli sent a delegation to Mary Kilobis parents in Kavula village, Bumula Sub-County, to fulfill the Luhya traditional marriage formalities.

They officially got married in August 2018 and have been living together since then.

Atwoli, who is currently in Geneva for official duties, is overjoyed by the arrival of his son.

Despite the distance, he has been in constant communication with Kilobi and eagerly anticipates meeting baby AJ upon his return.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - The mysterious death of Catherine Wambui, a Kenyan lady who was working in Kuwait, has taken a new twist after it emerged that she was hit with a bottle and thrown off a high-rise building by another Kenyan lady during a house party.

The disgruntled lady committed the heinous act after finding out that Catherine was dating her boyfriend.

The said man runs a house bar in Kuwait where he sells alcohol to Kenyans illegally.

He fled to Kenya after Catherines mysterious death.

Catherines death was disguised as suicide.

Detectives in Kenya are collaborating with authorities in Kuwait to unravel the murder.

Below is a photo of the lady suspected to have killed Catherine.

Photos of the deceased lady.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - Fresh details have emerged regarding the shooting incident involving a bodyguard attached to State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed.

The rogue officer, identified as Mohammed Yusuf Keinan, shot Amos Langat following a dispute while playing pool table in Amboseli, Nairobi.

According to eyewitnesses, the altercation escalated after Langat reportedly took the officers gun before returning it.

The two continued arguing, and when Yusuf left the pool, he allegedly fired two shots into the air, causing panic among bystanders.

Shortly after, Langat reportedly picked a stone, forcing Yusuf to fire his gun, fatally injuring Langat.

I saw people running from the pool after Langat reportedly took the gun from the officer. He returned the gun to the officer but continued quarreling when the officer left the pool. It was then when the officer became upset and fired two shots in the air, forcing people to scamper to safety. Langat picked a stone, and it was then when the officer took advantage and shot him, a witness, Cosmas Ngotho said.

Yusuf reportedly fired seven shots at Langat, hitting him in the stomach and chest.

Langat, who was critically wounded, was rushed to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

After the shooting, the officer proceeded to Muthangari Police Station, where he lied that he had been attacked by three men who tried to snatch his Ceska pistol.

Langat leaves behind a young family.

See photos.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
By Cate McCurry and Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

More than 8 million in funding has been approved for use on disability projects more than a year after the fund was first launched in Co Donegal.

The Childrens Disability Service grant was launched in October 2023 and again in June 2024, and was to be used to fund projects helping children with special needs.

Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty said he was told by a Government department that no funding had been allocated to the grant  and as a result, no projects have been funded.

Speaking in the Dail last Thursday, the Donegal TD said his constituent Denise McGahern, who was at the launch of the grant with her son, feels betrayed.

Her nine-year-old son Jack Donaghey has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair.

Mr Doherty said: Shes devastated. She feels betrayed. She feels that her son Jack was used by the Government in a prop and a photo opportunity during an election campaign.

Tanaiste Simon Harris said in response that it was extraordinarily frustrating that the funds had not yet been provided.

The scheme was announced, was announced in good faith. People applied, and the funding now needs to be provided, and the HSE has a level of funding that is almost eye-watering.

The idea that that eight million euro that could make a fundamental difference to the lives of so many children, including in their own county, and hasnt yet been provided is extraordinarily frustrating.

A spokesman for Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley said on Monday that she had secured sanction for 8 million to fund the projects that met the criteria.

He said: In October 2023, the HSE launched an open call for applications for the Childrens Disability Service Grant Fund.

The Childrens Disability Service Grant Fund is an initiative detailed under the Road-map for Service Improvement 2023-2026, Disability Services for Children and Young People.

Following an evaluation process, the HSE confirmed that projects with a total cost of circa eight million euro between 2025 and 2027 met the criteria under the Childrens Disability Services Grant Fund.

There is a target date for commencing the projects mid-year and many of them are due to be completed to the end of 2027.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has secured sanction for the 8 million Grant Fund to cover the costs in full.

The HSE will engage with successful applicants around the drawdown of funding and the financial and governance requirements in relation to the delivery of projects.
By Rebecca Black, PA

Irish language signage is set to be installed at the Grand Central Station in Belfast.

Stormont Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said it will be installed later this year and will include wayfinding, passenger information, safety and welcome signage.

The 340 million station is the largest integrated transport hub on the island of Ireland, with services including trains between Belfast and Dublin.

Disappointment has been expressed by the Irish language community that the station, which started opening in phases last year, did not include Irish language signage.

Stormont Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said Belfasts Grand Central Station will have Irish language signage installed later this year (NI Assembly/PA)

Ms Kimmins was asked by TUV MLA Timothy Gaston during questions for her department at the Assembly whether she would commit to a consultation and an equality screening exercise before taking any decision on the installation of the signage at the station.

She responded by confirming the signage will be installed this year.

I am committed to the visibility and promotion of Irish language across public services and in our society.

Grand Central Station is not just for the people of Belfast, it is a transport hub for people right across the island and its important therefore that it is reflective of all citizens.

Ive therefore taken the decision to instal bilingual signage in Belfast Grand Central Station, and on all Translinks ticket vending machines.

This is an important and positive development to demonstrate my support for the Irish language as a living language, which is used daily by citizens across the North.

Mr Gaston said Sinn Fein once described every word spoken in Irish as another bullet in the freedom struggle, and queried why the minister was abusing her position to fire cultural bullets in a situation that is situated in a Loyalist heartland of Belfast.

Ms Kimmins responded: The Irish language is for everyone and it is reflective of the culture right across this island. The transport hub is not just for the people of Belfast, it is for all people right across our island and its nothing to fear.

I think the important point as well to make is that the Irish language is actually in law, and Belfast is one of the most thriving areas in the North, if not in Ireland, for the Irish language.

I am committed to delivering equality for everyone across this island.
Early childhood education targets learning in a childs formative years, and is known to have a significant impact on the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth of children.

CEO of Early Childhood Ireland (ECI), Teresa Heeney, who is based in Maynooth since 2001, has huge expertise in this area and is an advocate for changing the public perception of early childhood education for the promotion of gender equality and improved pay and parental leave in the sector.

Teresa has worked in Early Childhood Ireland for many years and has CEO since 2014.

Throughout this time, she has seen the significant expansion in the provision of creches, services and preschools across the country, drawing particular attention to the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme, describing it as a very significant change for the sector.

She continued: Most of the states role in early childhood education had been in the provision of financial supports to families and after the introduction of the free preschool programme, they then began to provide universal supports for all children.

While the industry have seen many welcome changes, some unfortunate conditions remain.

Teresa explained: We've seen growth and improvement in many things, but the key difference between how the early years is treated and how other educational sectors are treated is around the paying conditions of the workforce. And that's where it becomes gendered.

Our workforce is 97 to 98 per cent female, and theres 30,000 in our workforce. We are driven by a goal that sees the early years system being properly funded and that recognises the importance of the workforce and the work that they do.

Teresa and ECI wish to bridge the pay gap between the early years sector other parts of the education system.

We know that our workforce doesn't enjoy pay parity. Their terms and conditions are not only not equal when it comes to pay, a lot of them don't enjoy pension contributions, a lot of them don't enjoy additional maternity leave contributions, and is that because it's a highly gendered workforce? I think it's reasonable to assume that that is a contributing factor."

Teresa explained that for a role that requires a college qualification, employees in the sector can be paid barely above the minimum wage.

The last government achieved a spend on early years of over 1.3 billion, and we're saying that over the lifetime of this government, we have to be setting a target that probably looks at least double that in the lifetime of this next government.

Early Childhood Ireland has asked the Irish public about this and overwhelmingly agree that people who work in early years who have the same qualification as primary school teachers should enjoy the same terms and conditions. It gives resonance to the fact that the work of that person is as important as the work of somebody who's working with children over the age of five.

Teresa credited the 169 fantastic Kildare members of ECI for their work, but notes that due to these structural issues it is challenging for them to be running at the capacity in demand.

She explained: There's only one way to resolve it, and that is with additional investment. Parents can't pay anymore. Operators can't pay anymore. It is about state investment and putting value into that.

We hear from members, including from Kildare, every day that they would be happy to expand. Many of them don't even operate waiting lists anymore because they can't promise parents anything. They describe not being prepared to expand because of the stress and how challenging it is to recruit and retain staff.

All that being said, Teresa wholeheartedly believes that a career in the sector is of value.

There are so many fantastic examples of why it's worthwhile to work in this world. But equally, we know what the problems are and you can't hide behind that either.


Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar is to take up an advisory role with a US-based public relations firm which has Microsoft, Google and JP Morgan among its clients.

Penta, which acquired Irish PR firm Hume Brophy in 2023, said it had appointed Mr Varadkar to its advisory board and that he would bring a wealth of global leadership experience to the firm.

Washington-headquartered Penta has a network of offices across Europe, North America and Asia and advises some of worlds largest companies, including Open AI, Johnson & Johnson and Bank of America.

The company told The Irish Times that Mr Varadkar, who is due to take up the role next month, would be working with Pentas teams and clients across all markets. He will be providing senior strategic advisory and will work with our teams globally, it said.

The company noted that Mr Varadkar, who stepped down as taoiseach last April, would not be lobbying.

It is understood that ethics watchdog Sipo (Standards in Public Office Commission) has been consulted about the appointment and has approved the role and start date.

Mr Varadkar, who served as taoiseach across two terms, from 2017-2020 and again from 2022-2024, also recently took up a part-time teaching and mentoring role at the Harvard Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership in the US.

We are thrilled to welcome Leo Varadkar to our team, said Penta chief executive Matt McDonald. His deep commitment to evidence-based policymaking and strategic leadership aligns seamlessly with Pentas mission, he said.

Penta, which employs 350 staff globally including 20 at its Dublin office, acquired Irish public relations firm Hume Brophy, set up by John Hume, son of the former SDLP leader John Hume, and Dublin businessman Eoin Brophy, in 2023 for an undisclosed sum.
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

The opposition is expected to disrupt Dail proceedings on Tuesday as part of a deepening row over speaking time.

Five opposition parties met on Monday to agree a response to the Governments proposal to change speaking time arrangements in order to create a new slot for coalition backbenchers and Government-affiliated independents.

The disruption is expected just after 2pm, during the Leaders Questions slot in the Dail.

It is the latest development in the dispute over how speaking time in the Dail is divvied up.

The row delayed Micheal Martins nomination as Taoiseach in January and has trundled on despite several inter-party meetings and the intervention of the Ceann Comhairle in favour of the opposition.

This led to a brief reprieve before the dispute was reignited after the Government put forward a new proposal to change speaking time arrangements and suggested it would use its majority to push them through.

Opposition parties  Sinn Fein, Labour, the Social Democrats, Independent Ireland and Solidarity-People Before Profit  are to protest that decision when the Dail reconvenes on Tuesday.

People Before Profit TDs Richard Boyd Barrett and Paul Murphy speak to the media at Leinster House in Dublin. Photo: PA

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, who is a member of the Dail reform committee, suggested this would be done by widespread disruption, as a walkout could allow the Government to continue to pass legislation.

He said a compromise acceptable to everyone should be sought and a meeting between the opposition and the Taoiseach and Tanaiste on Tuesday was needed.

Outlining criticisms of the extremely contentious Government proposal, Mr Murphy said it is due to be voted on without a debate on Tuesday, halves the time available for opposing the Order of Business, and reduces the time for Taoiseachs Questions every week from 90 to 45 minutes.

He added: About 50 minutes of opposition time is being taken each week, between the cutting of objections to the Order of Business and the halving of Taoiseachs Questions, and about 50 minutes is being given in opportunities for Leaders Questions to Fianna Fail and Fine Gael and then an extra speaking time to the Lowry group.

So there is a direct transfer and a direct undermining of the capacity of the opposition to hold the Government to account, and thats our job in the Dail.

Fine Gael Minister Alan Dillon. Photo: PA

Minister of State Alan Dillon confirmed that the Government is planning to use its majority in the Dail to push through the new speaking time arrangements on Tuesday.

He said: Were two months on where weve had hours of debate in the Oireachtas standing orders committee and we will come to a conclusion tomorrow when this is brought to a vote.

This is about giving Government backbenchers more speaking time, its about changes to the standing orders which are modest in nature but also recognise the evolving nature of the Dail and certainly, as a former backbencher, I know how difficult it can be to get Dail speaking time.

He added: This fiasco that the opposition are presenting has certainly had a huge impact in relation to our Dail activities.

Minister for Education Helen McEntee. Photo: PA

Earlier on Monday, Minister for Education Helen McEntee said the Governments proposals would not affect opposition time and would instead create a new time slot for backbenchers and others.

She described a possible walkout over speaking time for backbenchers as an affront to democracy.

Not a single second of time is going to be taken away from their speaking rights, from their ability to put down motions, to ask questions, the Fine Gael deputy leader said on Today with Claire Byrne.

What this is about is fairness. If you are a Government TD you do not have the same speaking rights as if you are in opposition, I dont see how that is logical.

If you look at the UK, a member who is on the Government side can ask the prime minister a question. Its the norm, it happens in most other countries.
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

A bid to force a ministers decision to install Irish language signage at the Grand Central Station in Belfast to be put to a cross-community Executive vote has been lodged at Stormont.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins announced earlier this week that the bilingual signage at the new 340 million (407 million) station would be put in place later this year.

The TUVs Timothy Gaston confirmed in the Assembly on Tuesday that he had lodged a petition to refer the decision back to the powersharing Executive, saying the power to stop the ministers plans lay with MLAs.

Ms Kimmins said the move was disappointing, but not surprising.

Stormont Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins speaking to media in Parliament Buildings (David Young/PA)

The new station is set to become the largest integrated transport hub on the island of Ireland, with services including trains between Belfast and Dublin.

Disappointment has been expressed by the Irish language community that the station, which started opening in phases last year, did not originally include Irish language signage.

But Ms Kimmins revealed her plans to the Assembly on Monday for dual languages to be used on wayfinding, passenger information, safety and welcome signage.

Mr Gaston told the Assembly that he had asked the minister to commit to undertaking consultation and an equality screening exercise on the plans.

He said: She has chosen to impose her will without so much, it would appear, as consulting her Executive colleagues.

I have therefore this morning lodged a petition in the Business Office to refer Minister Kimmins decision to the Executive and subject it to a cross-community vote.

Every member of this chamber who believes the divisive decision of Minister Kimmins should be opposed will add their name to that petition accordingly.

The power to stop the ministers plans, to weaponise Irish both in signage at Grand Central Station and all Translink ticket vending machines, lies in the hands of MLAs.

TUV MLA Timothy Gaston said the power to stop the ministers decision lay with MLAs (Liam McBurney/PA)

The petition needs the support of 30 MLAs for the issue to be referred back to the Executive for review.

Mr Gaston added: The only question is will the DUP and Ulster Unionist members of this House demand equality for our community or will they roll over to Sinn Fein?

I trust unionism will take a stand on this issue and sign the petition to stop this solo run by the Infrastructure Minister.

Speaking to the media at Stormont, Ms Kimmins said an equality screening exercise into the plans had taken place.

She said: I think yesterdays announcement in relation to the Irish language being included on the signs at the Belfast Grand Central Station is a hugely positive development.

This is something that reflects the thriving Irish language community in Belfast and right across our island.

I think that is really important that we have taken that step forward.

She added: It is disappointing but not surprising that the member has made this contribution today.
Renewable energy experts have predicted a record-breaking year for solar panels in County Kilkenny, with the county on track to install more rooftop panels in 2025 than ever before.

SEAI data shows that 684 homes in Kilkenny received grants for solar panels in 2024, and the popularity of solar energy in the county has continued into the first months of 2025.

In January and February, 119 households in the county had solar panels fitted, with 67 new installations last month alone. If this trend continues, there will be a record number of new installations in 2025.

READ NEXT: Best and worst places in Kilkenny for solar energy production revealed

Figures provided by the SEAI show that over 1.4 million in grant funding was awarded to Kilkenny households for solar panels last year, with the total installation cost coming to 7.5 million.

Nationally, 29,000 homes installed panels on their rooftops in 2024, availing of grants from the SEAI.

Renewable energy expert Briain Kelly of EnergyEfficiency.ie said that with energy costs in Ireland being among the highest in Europe, it is no surprise that so many households are looking to solar panels to lower their bills.

While the environmental benefits of solar energy are huge, most households considering installing solar panels are doing so to slash their energy bills, said Mr Kelly.

A household with eight solar panels installed can save over 900 a year on electricity bills, while ten rooftop panels could save a family around 1,100.

It usually takes less than eight years for eight panels to pay for themselves through savings, and less than seven years for ten panels.

This leaves homes with around two decades of completely free electricity after the initial payback period.

This is one of the main reasons for the increase in solar adoption over the past year, and the strong figures for January and February indicate that Kilkenny is likely to have a record-breaking year for new installations in 2025.

FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE
Over 200 holiday homes in Kilkenny may have to close down if the government continues down the same route as the previous government in relation to the Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill.

Throughout Ireland, Failte Ireland identified 10,731 properties offering short-term rentals that they deemed would be suitable for long-term rentals and of these 220 were in Kilkenny.

As the Bill is currently drafted, properties which are advertised online for short-term rental would be obliged to obtain a valid registration number with Failte Ireland and have Short-Term-Rental planning permission to remain in business - if they operate without this they face a fine of up to 5000.

READ NEXT: Kilkenny fairytale woodland cottage by the river (and close to city) going to auction!

One organisation fighting this legislation is the Irish Self-Catering Federation (ISCF) which represents 6700 self-catering properties across Ireland. The ISCF has said that the Short-Term Letting and Tourism Bill, which was discussed by government in recent weeks is flawed and needs to be redrafted.

Maire Ni Mhurchu, ISCF Chief Executive, said that the Bill details are in need of urgent consultation with rural and long-term property owners in order to ensure that they continue in business.

FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE
98% of Irish primary schools paid unqualified individuals to teach students in 2024, figures obtained by TG4 have revealed.

TG4's current affairs programme 7 LA says new figures obtained from the Department of Education under the Freedom of Information Act, show that 13,540 unqualified individuals were employed to teach in Irish schools in 2024.

The show will reveal that 98% of Irish primary schools (3,029) employed unqualified individuals in the 2023/2024 school year.

8,883 unqualified individuals were employed in primary schools in the 2023/2024 school year.

The programme will also air that 65% of Irish post-primary schools (472) employed unqualified individuals in the 2023/2024 school year, meaning 4,657 unqualified individuals were employed in post-primary schools in the 2023/2024 school year.

A total amount of 13,540 unqualified individuals were employed in 3,501 in Irish primary & post-primary schools in the 2023/2024 school year.

The data above is in respect of individuals or substitutes who worked in a teaching capacity in Primary, Voluntary Secondary and Community and Comprehensive schools. It does not include data from individuals who work in post primary ETB schools.

READ NEXT: The five counties most affected as over 10,000 people see jobseekers benefits cut

Further to amendment of Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act 2001 in the Education (Amendment) Act 2012), it enables a school in urgent or unforeseen circumstances to employ, for up to five consecutive days at a time, a person who is not registered as a teacher with the Teaching Council.

INTO General Secretary John Boyle issued a response to the figures obtained by TG4: The INTO is deeply concerned by the revelation that a substantial number of unqualified substitutes had responsibility for curriculum delivery in primary and special schools during the 2023/24 school year. This is yet another stark reminder of the ongoing teacher shortage crisis, which continues to place enormous pressure on schools.

"The scale of this crisis demands an urgent, whole-of-government response. The INTO is calling for:

"An extra 300 places per year on initial teacher education courses each year until the crisis is overcome.

A national teacher supply commission to develop long-term solutions for teacher supply.

"An immediate response from government to the claims lodged by the union under the local bargaining process within the current public service agreement, as INTOs claims for the restoration of teaching allowances, shortening of teachers pay scales and career progression opportunities are fully focussed on making teaching and school leadership more attractive here.

"A targeted international recruitment campaign to bring experienced Irish teachers home.

"Urgent action on housing, living costs, and working conditions to retain existing teachers.

"Unless the government acts now, more children will face disrupted learning, remaining teachers will have to carry an excessive burden, more school leaders will be pushed to breaking point, and the future of primary and special education in Ireland will be in serious jeopardy."

The ASTI said: "The data confirms that there is an unprecedented number of teacher vacancies in Irish schools. A key factor behind the teacher supply crisis in Ireland is that teaching is no longer seen as an attractive and sustainable career. Newly qualified teachers are struggling to get secure contracts and affordable accommodation. The salary scale for these teachers is excessively long. Second-level schools are under-resourced. Teachers face too-large class sizes and the resulting heavy workload. An overloading of new initiatives and programmes without adequate funding has damaged teacher morale".

In a statement from the Department of Education they say: "Ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have qualified, engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a priority area of action for the Government.

"It is a legal requirement for a teacher to be registered with the Teaching Council to receive a salary paid by the State. To register, a teacher must have a recognised teaching qualification. If a qualified teacher is not registered for the route they are teaching but is qualified under another route, they may be paid the unqualified rate of pay, although they are a registered teacher.

"A person who is not registered teacher with the Teaching Council under any route may be employed under specific, limited circumstances, for up to five days".

You can watch the full 7 LA programme on TG4 at 8pm on Tuesday, March 25.
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Nore Cottage, Dunbell, R95 K727

For Sale by Public Auction

Auction Location: The Clubhouse Hotel, Patrick Street, Kilkenny (May 1, 2025)

Nestled in the picturesque countryside of Dunbell, this is an exciting opportunity to acquire a charming derelict cottage set on approximately 46 acres of prime lands.

The property boasts a tranquil location, surrounded by mature trees and forestry with access to the River Nore.

Kilkenny City is just a short drive away with access to all routes and arteries. Dunbell is a desirable area known for its beautiful landscapes, convenient access to Kilkenny City, and its peaceful rural charm.

READ NEXT: Television icon spotted on the streets of Kilkenny

The property is located on the Sion Road, midway between Kilkenny City and Bennettsbridge.

Kilkenny City is a short drive with the Ring Road providing easy access to the M9 motorway and only 1.5 hours to Dublin, 30 minutes to Carlow and 30 minutes to Waterford City.

The picturesque village of Bennettsbridge is a short distance away and provides all essential services and amenities to include coffee shops, post office, primary school and the well known Nicholas Mosse Pottery.

The property comprises of a derelict cottage set on c. 46 acres of lands which extend from the road to the River Nore.

The lands extend to c. 46 acres with c. 28 acres sited in 4 divisions, accessed off the Sion Road.

A further large field is sited to the rear of the cottage with the remaining lands in forestry sited adjacent to the River Nore.

The derelict cottage offers great potential for those with vision and ambition to renovate or rebuild, subject to the necessary planning consents.

This is an ideal project for buyers seeking to create a dream home or holiday retreat in this tranquil setting surrounded by mature trees and with access to the River Nore.

The house has not been lived in for many years and is in very poor condition throughout. The lands are divided into four separate divisions.

Lot 1: Nore Cottage on c. 18 acres - this includes the derelict cottage and c. 18 acres which includes a large field to the rear, and a large parcel of forestry which extends to the River Nore.

FOR MORE LOCAL PROPERTY STORIES, CLICK HERE

Lot 2: C. 28 Acres of prime grassland sited fronting onto the Sion Road. These high quality lands are laid out in 4 divisions and suitable for any agricultural use.

Lot 3: The Entire Nore Cottage on c. 46 acres.

Contact Donohoe Town and Country (Agent Louise McKillen - 0851392785) for more information.
Kilkenny student, Daragh OFaolain, has completed a clean sweep of academic honours after being awarded a Progression Scholarship for highest GPA in year 3 for BA (Hons) Arts & Humanities.

This was Daragh's fourth time to achieve top honours in the BA (Hons) in Arts & Humanities at Carlow College.

Daragh received one of 19 scholarships awarded in recognition of student academic achievements both for first year and continuing students. Students receiving scholarships were from Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Wexford, Kildare, Waterford, Cork and Dublin.

In addition, first year student, William Ryan from Kilkenny City received Mature Student Entrance Scholarship for the BA (Hons) Arts & Humanities by having the highest GPA in Semester 1.

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 ceremony in the College on Wednesday, 12th March.

In congratulating students, 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 1st May 2025. To find out more, visit carlowcollege.ie/cao
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 84F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 67F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
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.
No-excuse absentee voting opened Tuesday in Boone County for the April 8 municipal election.

Registered voters can cast their ballot at the Boone County Government Center between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

State law requires voters to have a valid photo ID with an expiration date issued by either the federal government or the state of Missouri.

This means voters need to have either a Missouri drivers or nondrivers license, or a passport or other federal identification, such as a military ID.

No-excuse absentee voting is open through April 7, and Election Day is Tuesday, April 8.

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Voters can also cast their ballots early on these weekend locations:

Saturday, March 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Columbia Mall

Sunday, March 30, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Douglass High School

Saturday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Southern Boone Public Library and Centralia Public Library

Sunday, April 6, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Columbia/Boone County Health Department

Find out what will be on your April 8 ballot with the KOMU 8 voters guide.
Strawberry industry thrives in E China's Jiangsu

People's Daily Online) 10:07, March 25, 2025

Chen Zhenghai checks the growth of strawberries in a greenhouse of a modern agricultural industry demonstration park in Xinmin village, Yandu district, Yancheng city of east China's Jiangsu Province. (People's Daily Online/Zhou Mengjiao)

East China's Jiangsu Province has vigorously developed its strawberry industry, contributing to the country's rural revitalization drive.

According to the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, by the end of 2024, Jiangsu had nearly 300,000 mu (20,000 hectares) of strawberry fields, producing over 500,000 tonnes of strawberries, ranking fourth in the country in terms of production scale.

Starting from 120 mu of scattered strawberry fields 18 years ago, Xinmin village, Yandu district, Yancheng city of Jiangsu is now home to a modern agricultural industry demonstration park spanning over 3,200 mu. The annual per capita net income of the village has increased from 19,000 yuan (about $2,617) initially to 45,000 yuan last year.

Last summer, strawberry farmer Chen Zhenghai walked into the modern strawberry greenhouse of the demonstration park for the first time. Standing 8 meters tall, it features a vertical planting system, biological pest treatment, integrated water and fertilizer systems for the roots, and electric heating pipes. Left in awe, Chen decided on the spot to lease 5 mu.

Photo shows a greenhouse of a modern agricultural industry demonstration park in Xinmin village, Yandu district, Yancheng city of east China's Jiangsu Province. (People's Daily Online/Zhou Mengjiao)

Each mu of traditional strawberry greenhouses yields around 2,000 kilograms and brings in about 35,000 yuan on average, while the modern one produces nearly 3,500 kilograms with an income of up to 50,000 yuan per mu. What's even more impressive is that the rental costs have already been recouped before the first batch of strawberries is completely harvested.

"The strawberry racks are height-adjustable, so picking strawberries feels like grabbing items off a supermarket shelf," said Dong Zhaofu, Party chief of Xinmin village. Dong continued that the demonstration park yields around 40 tonnes of strawberries each day, with 30 percent sold through tourist-picking. The village anticipates receiving nearly 100,000 tourist visits in this harvesting season.

In addition, the village is cooperating with the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences on developing new strawberry varieties. 130 households are involved in strawberry seedling cultivation, adding over 11 million yuan to their annual income.

A technician checks the pipelines in a greenhouse of a modern agricultural industry demonstration park in Xinmin village, Yandu district, Yancheng city of east China's Jiangsu Province. (People's Daily Online/Zhou Mengjiao)

"The success of Yandu strawberries lies in new technologies, innovative models, and efforts to develop new quality productive forces," explained Xie Zhaobiao, director of Yandu's district agricultural technology promotion center.

Xie added that Yandu strawberries, a product labeled with China's Geographical Indications (GI) designation, a mark of authenticity and quality, are cultivated across 13,000 mu with an annual output value exceeding 1 billion yuan, directly boosting the income of 25,000 strawberry households. "Our strawberries have gained a strong reputation. The 10th International Strawberry Symposium, known as the 'Olympics of the Strawberry World,' was recently held in Yandu."

Similarly, Nanjing Golden Manor Agricultural Products Co., Ltd. in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu, is home to over 5,000 mu of strawberry fields. The company extended the shelf life of strawberries using rapid pre-cooling and plasma sterilization technology, exporting strawberries to Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and other countries, according to Wu Zhongping, president of the company. "I also attended the 10th International Strawberry Symposium and shared my experience with colleagues from various countries," Wu said.

Moreover, Jurong city of Jiangsu is eyeing deep processing of strawberries. "Our company just received an order for 10,000 bottles of strawberry jam," said Zhao Huapeng, executive of Jurong Huada Agriculture Products Process Co., Ltd. Zhao added that strawberry-related products of the company consume more than 200 tonnes of strawberries annually, with approximately half of the raw materials sourced locally.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
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ARCADIA, La. -- Arcadia Chief of Police Ciera Murphy speaks out regarding an incident at the Eugene Smith Events Center that left her injured 
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Denis Geraghty, 3 The Glebe, Rathdowney and formerly Santry, Co. Dublin (ex-British Embassy) passed away peacefully surrounded by those who loved him on Sunday 23 March.

Denis was predeceased by his beloved wife Marie and his brothers and sisters. Sadly missed and remembered with love by his adored daughter Deborah, son Declan, grandchildren Morgan, Mia, Luca, Ryan, Aidan and Kiara, his best friend and brother-in-law Noel and his wife Ann, extended family, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.

Funeral arriving at the Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Rathdowney on Tuesday 1 April for Requiem Mass at 11am. Interment afterwards in Bealady Cemetery.

Deniss Funeral Mass can be viewed on https://www.parishwebsites.ie/rathdowney/

Family flowers only please.

Donations if desired to a charity of your choice.

The Geraghty family would like to take this opportunity to thank most sincerely nurses, doctors, management and staff at Saint Vincents Nursing Home, Mountmellick for the wonderful care and support provided to Denis. It will be remembered for ever.

Messages of condolence can be placed on Rip.ie
By Rebecca Black, PA

Delays in progressing the trial of those indicted for the killing of Private Sean Rooney are simply not acceptable to the Government, Tanaiste Simon Harris has said.

Mr Harris said he would be conveying that message in the strongest possible terms during political meetings in Lebanon.

Private Rooney, 24, from Co Donegal, was killed while on deployment with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) on December 14th 2022.

Private Sean Rooney was killed in 2022. Photo: Defence Forces/PA.

Mr Harris will also visit Irish peacekeepers currently deployed in the country during his trip this week.

The Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs is to stress the need to deliver accountability and justice for the Rooney family.

The trial of those indicted for the killing of Private Rooney was pushed back again in February.

The next hearing is scheduled to take place in Beirut in September.

Irish Defence Forces soldiers on guard at Camp Shamrock in Lebanon in 2024. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

There are currently 339 Defence Forces personnel serving with the 125th Infantry Battalion based at Camp Shamrock in southern Lebanon.

Mr Harris is set to thank the Defence Forces personnel for their commitment to maintaining peace in the region.

He is also expected to announce increased funding for local community projects.

Speaking to reporters before travelling to Lebanon, the Tanaiste said: I am very much looking forward today to going to Lebanon to meet directly with Irish peacekeepers  339 members of Oglaigh na hEireann who are serving with distinction in a very troubled and difficult part of the world.

I am very proud of Irelands record in peacekeeping over many decades in Lebanon and it is important for me to have an opportunity to thank our troops directly, to hear from them directly and also to have a number of political meetings while there.

I am looking forward to meeting the defence minister and the foreign affairs minister tomorrow where I will have an opportunity to raise the case of Private Sean Rooney.

It is simply not acceptable to the Irish Government that it has taken so long to make progress in relation to the trial of those accused of the murder of Private Rooney and I look forward to conveying that in the strongest possible terms.
Olivia Kelleher

A man has given evidence at a murder trial of being shocked after a friend told him that he had killed his wife and that her body was in their Cork home.

Regin Parithapara Rajan (43), who is from Kerala in India, has gone on trial at a sitting of the Central Criminal Court in Cork charged with the murder of his wife Deepa Dinami at their home in Wilton in the city in July of 2023.

Mahesh Murali first became acquainted with Mr Rajan in their native India. He told the trial today that he was standing outside the home of the accused in the case on the evening of July 14th, 2023 when he stated that that he had killed his 38-year-old wife.

Regin wanted to talk to me in private. We came out the front door. In our local language, he told me I killed my wife and you can call the police and she is on top. I understood from this she was on the first floor. I was just shocked and shattered.

Mr Murali gave evidence that Mr Rajan said that he had stabbed her (Deepa) with a knife. He said that he asked his friend to call the police. He indicated that he also called 999 and that the emergency services arrived at the scene.

Mr Murali said he didnt know the accused very well before moving to Ireland in 2023. They had worked at the same company in Kerala and spoken to each other on Teams calls. However, when Mr Murali and his wife Sreeja moved to Cork, they were informed that Regin and his wife Deepa were also relocating there.

He got to know the defendant better as Mr Rajan settled into life in Cork with his wife Deepa and their five-year-old son. Mr Murali said that Mr Rajan spoke to him about concerns that he had about his marriage. He allegedly told him that he and Deepa were quarrelling.

Mr Murali said that the accused claimed that his wife was scolding him for simple things and that she was looking for a divorce. Mr Murali said he had urged Regin to give his wife time and space.

He said that at one point, Mr Rajan sent him a screenshot, which he claimed was from his wifes phone. In the screenshot, she (Deepa) allegedly stated that her status was separated but not divorced and that she was looking for someone I can have good conversation with, to begin with.

Brian McInerney, SC, for the defence, asked Mr Murali if the defendant was concerned that his wife was in contact with other men. Mr Murali stated that was the case. When asked if Mr Rajan was upset about his marriage Murali indicated that his friend was worried for the future of his marriage. He said that Rajan was disappointed and depressed about his relationship

He said that from what he knew of Deepa, she was outgoing and smart. It was his understanding that Mr Rajan did not want his marriage to end.

Meanwhile, the trial also heard evidence on Tuesday from Sreeja Sumanagala, the wife of Mr Murali. She said she was with her husband at the property in Cardinal Court when Mr Rajan allegedly confessed that he had killed his wife.

She said that initially, she thought that her husband was experiencing chest pain after his private conversation with the accused.

Mahesh was rubbing his chest. I thought, he has chest pain. He was completely shattered. He told me what Regin had said. I couldn't even unlock my phone. I was shivering. Mahesh was shattered. I hadnt seen him like that before.

Ms Sumangala said that she asked Mr Rajan why did you do that? She indicated that the accused replied: She (Deepa) was not good.

The trial also heard from relocation agent Karyn Allan, who said she had sourced the property in Wilton for Deepa and Regin when they moved to Ireland. She described Regin as quiet and shy. She said she was very fond of Deepa, whom she found to be outgoing and bubbly. She stated that Deepa was confident and friendly.

The trial will continue on Wednesday before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury of five men and seven women.
High Court Reporters

A new row has erupted over costs in relation to the legal battle over a receiver being appointed to Michael Flatleys Cork mansion, Castlehyde.

While the Lord of the Dance star this month paid off a 6.9 million loan to keep the receiver from the door of his Fermoy mansion, the Commercial Court on Tuesday heard of a new dispute over legal fees claimed by the other side.

Counsel for the star, Ronnie Hudson BL instructed by Maxwell Mooney solicitor told the court that Mr Flatley who had paid the 1.4 million lodged in court until the final disputed costs bill was decided upon is utterly dismayed at the current position.

Counsel said Mr Flatley thought what was being lodged into court was in relation contractual costs by the other side in relation to the Castlehyde receiver battle. It is claimed that the costs bill includes legal fees in the region of 793,000.

In a letter from Mr Flatleys solicitors to Arthur Cox solicitors for the lender, Mr Flatley seeks the repayment of the 793,000, which has already been lodged in court.

The original legal battle related to a loan made to Mr Flatley's Blackbird Film Productions Ltd by Novellus Finance Ltd with registered offices at St Stephens Green, Dublin in 2023 with repayments of 67,000 per month over two years. Novellus claimed there has been a default on repayment, which Mr Flatley denied.

Mr Flatley provided a guarantee for the loan on the strength of the value of his Castlehyde mansion. As a result of the alleged default, Novellus appointed a receiver over the property. An interim injunction was granted to the Flatley side to prevent the receiver from taking further measures in relation to Castlehyde, and a judge conducted a two-day hearing on the matter.

The Flatley side asked for Mr Justice Mark Sanfey to hold off on giving his judgement on whether to set aside the interim injunction stopping the receiver taking steps or grant an interlocutory injunction to the Flatley side and said Mr Flatley was flying into the Dublin to sign documentation to allow for finance to pay off the loan. The 6.9 million loan was finally paid off, and only the issue of costs remain.

In court on Tuesday Counsel for Novellus, Eithne Corry BL, said the suggestion by Michael Flatley that some money be paid out of court was pie in the sky.

She said all allegations made by the Flatley side against her clients had been dropped, and what was left was the issue of the disputed costs sum, which could be dealt with by mediation. Counsel said her side did not accept the complaint made by the Flatley side in relation to invoices.

Mr Justice Mark Sanfey said the question of what ought to be mediated was a question for the mediator and not the court.

Regarding mediation, the judge said he expected the parties to get on with it, and he said mediation is the way to go on this.

Mr Justice Sanfey, who will get an update on the mediation proposal in early April, told the sides that  all parties should give mediation a shot and he said when the case next comes back before the court he expects to be told either that mediation is going ahead or definitely not going to happen.
By Cillian Sherlock, PA

The Tanaiste outlined details of the countrys 25 billion surplus to the US secretary of commerce, a Government spokesman said, after the key critic within the Trump administration claimed it was 60 billion.

Simon Harris held a late-night call with Howard Lutnick, which the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade described as a useful opportunity to exchange views.

Speaking on the All-In Podcast last week, Mr Lutnick said Ireland is running a 60 billion surplus.

US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick speaks with reporters at the White House, in Washington (Alex Brandon/AP)

The reality is that the countrys surplus is closer to half that amount.

Asked if Mr Harris had corrected Mr Lutnick on this figure, a spokesman said: The Tanaiste set out the position of Irelands perspective and laid out some of the details of Irelands surplus, for example, but also the two-way economic relationship.

Pressed on whether this included a clarification on the budget surplus figure, the spokesman said he had nothing further to add to a statement on the call which had been issued earlier.

The read-out does not say whether the budget surplus was discussed.

Mr Harris was previously scrutinised over a separate occasion in which he publicly diverged from an official US account of a diplomatic phone call.

Earlier this month, he said a trade imbalance between the US and Ireland was not specifically referenced in his call with US secretary of state Marco Rubio.

Mr Harriss account aligned with a readout from the Government about that phone call, which referenced investment in the US but did not mention the trade imbalance.

This appeared to contradict comments from a spokeswoman for Mr Rubio, who said he had discussed the US priority to address the US-Ireland trade imbalance with the Tanaiste.

The US State Department later refused to clarify whether or not the trade imbalance had in fact been directly discussed.

However, the discrepancy between Mr Harriss public comments and the USs official account of the call caused heightened anxiety around Taoiseach Micheal Martins meeting with President Donald Trump the following week.

In the intervening period, the trade dispute with the US and EU which is expected to have a significant impact on Irelands economy has escalated.

The US Department of Commerce has not published a statement on the phone call, which is understood to have lasted approximately 20 minutes.

The call came amid heightened anxiety about the impact of an escalating tariff dispute between the EU and US.

There is concern that the new US administrations protectionist approach could pose a risk to an Irish economy which is significantly sustained by long-standing investment from US multinationals.

Mr Lutnick has previously described Ireland as his favourite tax scam.

He has also said on social media that it is nonsense that Ireland of all places runs a trade surplus at our expense.

Speaking on the All-In Podcast last week, Mr Lutnick said: Were going to try and fix a whole bunch of these tax scams  Ireland is my favourite.

He added: What do they do? Oh, they have all of our (intellectual property) for all our great tech companies and great pharma companies.

They all put it there because its low tax. They dont pay us, they pay them  so that is going to end.

Speaking to reporters about Mondays late-night call, Mr Harris said: It was an opportunity for me to begin to develop an interpersonal relationship with the man who is going to head up the Commerce Department for President Trump.

It provided us with an opportunity to exchange views in relation to trade, in relation to tariffs, in relation to the transatlantic relationship and the economic relationship between Ireland and the United States.

Mr Harris said he expressed how Ireland had implemented changes to its corporate tax regime.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade added: Weve agreed to keep in touch, have close contact and to meet in person shortly.

The Government believes it is highly likely that Mr Trump will proceed with further tariffs on the EU on April 2nd.

The EU has delayed until mid-April its countermeasures to the Trump administrations increase in tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports to 25 per cent  which was introduced earlier this month.

Europe had intended to implement measures on goods from the US worth some 26 billion (21.5 billion) in two phases, on April 1st and April 13th.

The tariffs, now delayed until mid-April, were to include steel and aluminium, as well as goods such as bourbon.

Mr Trump had announced plans to impose further reciprocal tariffs on April 2nd.

In the Irish context, Mr Harris had previously said that it would make sense for the EU to review the rationale behind which items it had chosen on its countermeasures list.

The Government regards the threat of the US responding by imposing a tariff on alcoholic drinks from the EU as a very serious issue, as the Irish drinks sector could be massively impacted by such an escalation.

Mr Harris convened a sitting of the Governments Trade Forum on Friday which was focused on the potential impact of the tariffs.

He welcomed the delay in implementation of EU countermeasures until the middle of April, adding: I hope that that time can be used for intensive, sensible, calm negotiation to find a way forward, because at the end of the day tariffs are bad for consumers and the US-EU relationship economically is so interdependent.

However, Mr Harris said Mr Trump seems determined to introduce further tariffs.

He said: I think thats really regrettable. Wed much rather have talks before tariffs, it seems the United States wants to have tariffs before talks.

We think that approach is wrong but we have to control what we can control. So we continue to make the case for engagement now.
Alison O'Riordan

Robert 'Roo' Redmond's sister has denied that she had an "agenda" to collect her then-partner Wayne Cooney after he "executed" a 22-year-old father, telling a jury that she did not think he would be capable of carrying out a murder.

Taking the stand at her own trial on Tuesday, 34-year-old Rachel Redmond told the jury that she didn't know convicted murderer Cooney had committed "any crime at all" when she drove him away from the scene and later checked him into a hotel.

She went on to say she was in love with Cooney and hadn't seen the bad in him but had started opening her eyes when she saw the CCTV footage of the killing.

The prosecution has alleged that the accused woman Ms Redmond (34) drove the shooter  her former partner Wayne Cooney  away from the scene and later checked him into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport on the night of the murder in an effort to help him evade prosecution.

It is the State's case that the accused's older brother Robert Redmond was engaged "in some acrimony" with 22-year-old drug dealer Jordan 'Jordo' Davis, when he was murdered in broad daylight by Cooney, while pushing his four-month-old son in a pram through a lane in Darndale on Dublin's northside.

The jury heard on Tuesday that Robert Redmond had pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiring together with Wayne Cooney to murder Mr Davis on or about May 22nd, 2019, and was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Rachel Redmond's life-long friend  Stacey Hayes  previously told the trial how she was directed by the accused to a bus stop to collect Cooney, who just minutes earlier had shot drug dealer Mr Davis dead.

Ms Redmond, from Coolock but with an address at Clifdenville Road, Cliftonville Avenue, Belfast, Co Antrim, is charged on two counts that on or about May 22nd, 2019, in 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.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, Ms Redmond told her defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC that she had received a phone call from Wayne asking for a lift but she told him 'no' and to get a taxi. "He said he had no money. I asked Stacey when we were on the phone if she could go and pick Wayne up and she said yes".

Ms Redmond said she had received a phone call from Wayne asking for a lift but she told him 'no' and to get a taxi. "He said he had no money. I asked Stacey when we were on the phone if she could go and pick Wayne up and she said yes".

She said Wayne told her he was at a bus stop at Clarehall and that they had to deviate a bit to collect him.

When it was put to the accused by her counsel that phone records showed she had been on the phone to Wayne for two and a half minutes, Ms Redmond responded: "It was just chit chat, where he was and where to pick him up from".

The accused said she saw Wayne as they approached Clarehall Shopping Centre and that she had remarked "there is the eejit up there on the left" before picking him up.

Ms Redmond said she told Wayne there had been a shooting in Coolock when he got into the car and that he had replied "it's a mad place". She said she hadn't found anything unusual about his behaviour and they were dropped near a house on Streamville Road.

Ms Redmond said there wasn't enough room for Wayne to stay at Streamville Road on the night of May 22nd. She said Wayne had used her phone to book a room at the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport and she had paid for it as she was working at the time.

Ms Redmond said her sister drove her and Wayne to the Clayton Hotel that night, where she used her bank card to pay for the room.

Mr McGinn put it to his client that Wayne was arrested in connection with the murder of Mr Davis a month later. Ms Redmond said she had spoken to Wayne about this. "I didn't think he would be able to do anything like that, I didn't think he would be capable of doing that," she added.

Asked by counsel whether this "thought" had changed, Ms Redmond said it had when she was arrested on suspicion of murder in 2020 and saw the CCTV footage.

"On May 22nd, 2019, when you collected Wayne from the bus stop opposite the shopping centre and dropped him at the hotel, at that stage did you know or believe he had committed any crime at all?" asked Mr McGinn. "No," replied Ms Redmond.

Seoirse O Dunlaing SC, prosecuting, began his cross-examination of Ms Redmond by asking her whether she accepted she must be a very unlucky person because she had picked up her then-partner ten minutes after he committed the murder of Mr Davis. The accused said "yes if you want to put it like that".

The accused denied that she had directed Stacey Hayes where to go that day saying she had asked her friend to pick up Wayne and she had agreed. "This is my story, I'm not lying".

Ms Redmond accepted it was the first time a court and a jury had heard that Cooney stayed at the Clayton Hotel that night as there was no room at Streamville Road. She said she hadn't said this to gardai in 2020 as she was advised by her solicitor to remain silent. She added: "All of this is just unnecessary, I am innocent".

Asked what was unnecessary, Ms Redmond replied: "Me being here, I didn't do anything wrong."

"Are you a victim in all this? asked Mr O Dunlaing, to which the accused said "yes, I am".

Mr O Dunlaing put it to the accused that gardai had shown her CCTV of her checking Wayne into the hotel. "Yes, I hold my hands up to that, that's me," she said.

"You checked him into a hotel on the same day he executed Jordan Davis, when he executed him in a cold-blooded style?" said the barrister. "I just think I shouldn't have been asked these things," she replied.

Counsel asked the defendant whether it was "a major inconvenience" to her. "I shouldn't be here, I was in a relationship with someone who committed a crime," she said. Ms Redmond went on to say she accepted Wayne Cooney had committed the crime and that he had been convicted of the murder of Mr Davis.

She also agreed she had returned from Northern Ireland to visit Wayne in prison when she was arrested.

Counsel put it to Ms Redmond that Cooney had been convicted of murder when she had visited him in Mountjoy Prison in August 2022 and was arrested. "I couldn't see him being that kind of a person, I was in love with him, I didn't see the bad in him. When I saw the CCTV that's when I started opening my eyes".

"You are shown the CCTV in August 2020 and two years later you are still visiting Wayne Cooney?" pressed counsel. Ms Redmond said Wayne had no family so she supported him and gave him clothes and money. "I felt sorry for him".

Asked whether she accepted that picking up Cooney ten minutes after the murder and checking him into a hotel was "something that calls for an explanation". Ms Redmond said she had no explanation but she did see it was "completely wrong".

Told by counsel that she had picked up a murderer that day, Ms Redmond said there was no way she would have picked someone up if she knew they had done something like that.

The lawyer asked the accused what she was talking about on the phone to Cooney for 200 seconds after the murder. She said her partner had asked her to pick him up. "That took 200 seconds?" asked counsel, to which Ms Redmond said she didn't know.

She denied that there was anything unusual or suspicious about the manner in which Cooney went into the hotel, hadn't spoken to a single person and then went straight to his room where he spent 11 hours. She said she couldn't give the prosecutor an answer as to why they hadn't walked into the foyer of the hotel together.

In conclusion, Mr O Dunlaing put it to Ms Redmond that at a minimum she believed Cooney had killed Mr Davis and that she had one agenda in mind, which was to pick her partner up after the murder. Counsel told the accused she had later checked Cooney into a hotel to "shield" him from authorities because the murder was committed by him and she knew he had done it. "You're wrong," replied Ms Redmond.

The trial continues on Wednesday before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of three men and nine women.
On 24 March the Dominican Republics Presidentrejected as absurd claims by international human rights NGO Amnesty International (AI) that the country was implementing racist policies.

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Tongzi Village Gala draws large crowds, blends tradition with tech

11:22, March 25, 2025 By Mauro Marques ( People's Daily Online

A view of the second annual Tongzi Village Gala in Tongzi county, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (People's Daily Online/Yang Qian)

The second annual Tongzi Village Gala, held on March 22, 2025 in southwest China's Guizhou Province, drew larger crowds than its debut, cementing its status as a regional cultural highlight.

Traffic jams clogged roads leading to the village, known for its expansive rapeseed flower fields, as tourists and locals flocked to the event.

A view of the second annual Tongzi Village Gala in Tongzi county, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (People's Daily Online/Yang Qian)

Visitors strolled through golden rapeseed fields throughout the day, snapping photos and livestreaming their experiences. Families and friends gathered for picnics and outdoor socializing, celebrating the arrival of spring.

The winding paths through the blooms were filled with the enticing aroma of the region's signature dishes, particularly the "flower field hotpot," a traditional culinary delight featuring bold flavors and local spices.

Visitors watch performances at the second annual Tongzi Village Gala held in Tongzi county, southwest China's Guizhou Province (People's Daily Online/Yang Qian)

As evening approached, the atmosphere grew even livelier. Vendors set up stalls filled with fresh fruit and traditional snacks, while children dashed through the streets in playful mischief, much to the delight of onlookers. The strong sense of community, deeply cherished in Chinese culture, was on full display.

Visitors watch performances at the second annual Tongzi Village Gala held in Tongzi county, southwest China's Guizhou Province (People's Daily Online/Yang Qian)

Despite its rural setting, signs of China's technological push were evident. Billboards and shop signs featured "AI" alongside Chinese characters, while conversations in Mandarin and local Guizhou dialect were peppered with tech terms like "AI" and "DeepSeek," referencing China's homegrown chatbot.

A view of the second annual Tongzi Village Gala held in Tongzi county, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (People's Daily Online/Yang Qian)

The gala's main event featured musical performances blending timeless classics with recent hits, including iconic songs from the renowned Chinese New Year Gala. Lion dances and other traditional folk acts captivated the audience, while hosts engaged with the crowd, enhancing the festive atmosphere.

The gala ended shortly after 9 p.m., but celebrations continued at nearby restaurants. Amid lively conversations and the aroma of outdoor barbecue skewers, attendees prolonged the festivities, enjoying the mild spring evening.

Photo shows a signboard for the second annual Tongzi Village Gala held in Tongzi county, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (People's Daily Online/Yang Qian)

Chinese and foreign visitors pose for a group photo in a rapeseed flower field in Tongzi county, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (People's Daily Online/Yang Qian)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
The genetic DNA testing firm 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Sunday, leaving many customers wondering how their data will be protected.

The bankruptcy filing comes as the company has struggled to stay afloat, dealing with weaker demand for its DNA testing kits and fallout from a 2023 data breach that sullied the companys reputation.

According to the company, it would continue business operations after securing $35 million in funding.

But many customers who use 23andMes services may have questions about what will happen to their data given that the company could sell or transfer its database.

The company addressed data concerns on its blog shortly after the bankruptcy announcement.

We remain committed to our users privacy and to being transparent with our customers about how their data is managed, it stated. Any buyer of 23andMe will be required to comply with applicable law with respect to the treatment of customer data.

But some say the companys promise is not enough.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta urged consumers who used 23andMe to delete their data from the companys database shortly before 23andMe announced the bankruptcy filing.

For those 23andMe users concerned about data privacy, here are two ways you can take to remove your data from the companys database.

How to delete your data from 23andMe

According to the California Attorney General, there are several steps you can take to delete your data from 23andMe.

First, log into your 23andMe account using the companys website.

Then, go to the settings section of your profile and go to the section called 23andMe Data.

Once youre in the section, you can click view next to 23andMe Data.

If youre looking to keep a personal copy of your genetic data, you can download it from the website at this time before opting to delete it.

Then, go to the delete data section and click permanently delete data.

You will then get a confirmation email where you can click the link to confirm your request.

How to destroy stored samples and revoke research consent on 23andMe

According to the California Attorney General, there are also steps you can take to destroy stored samples and decline consent to be included in research.

To destroy your samples, go to preferences and change your storage options to destroy your saliva sample and DNA.

To revoke research consent, go to research and product consents in account settings to decline permission for the company to use your data for research.

If you want to delete your data and destroy any of your stored samples, you can sign into your 23andMe account here.

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Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
Buff City Soap opened in November 2022 at the bustling Hanover Township, Lehigh County shopping center. It closed sometime in March 2025.

After just a little over two years in business, a national soap and body care retailer has abruptly closed its doors at Airport Road Shopping Center.

Dallas, Texas-based Buff City Soap in recent weeks shuttered its regional location at the Hanover Township, Lehigh County shopping destination. Its now listed as permanently closed on Google maps and has been removed from the chains online store locator directory. The local phone number also was disconnected Tuesday afternoon.

Its unclear what led up to the closure. A company representative didnt immediately return a request for more information.

However, a Quakertown area store also closed in September, WFMZ-69 News reports. That store followed the Airport Road Shopping Center opening in November 2022. The retailer then moved into space left vacant by SneakerKing.

The next closest locations currently in operation for Buff City Soap patrons appear to be in Wilkes-Barre Township, Luzerne County; and Dickson City, Lackawanna County.

Buff City Soap is known for its handcrafted bath products made by staff artisans, using no harsh chemicals and simple ingredients. It doesnt call itself a store, its best known as a makery.

The makery offers up more than 30 unique and customizable scents across dozens of its products. Among the scents are fruity, floral, sweet, herbal and clean, according to the chains website. Theres also a mens line and unscented products available.

Buff City also is popular for its soap bars.

Additionally, the makery features bath bombs and truffles, which are smaller than bath bombs, as well as epsom salt soaks.

A full body care line includes lip balms, body butter, scrubs and lotion bars. The makery also has a wide assortment of bath accessories, such as wooden scoops to measure just the right amount of soap and wooden soap dishes to dry soap bars stylishly inside showers or counter-tops.

For patrons who like to go the extra mile in their daily routines, the makery also offers fabric soap sleeves. The sleeves are made of a cotton-blend fabric with two different sides to help better clean and exfoliate.

The chain was founded in 2013 by former Memphis, Tennessee firefighter Brad Kellum who started the business venture by mixing ingredients for soaps out of his home garage, according to a news release and Memphis Commercial Appeal.

The company began franchising five years later.

More comings and goings

The bustling Airport Road Shopping Center, in the 1800 block of Airport Road bordering Hanover Township, Lehigh County, and Allentown, features over 20 retailers and dining establishments.

Its anchored by Target, Wren Kitchens, DSW, Old Navy, Millers Ale House, On the Border, and Ross Dress for Less. Other tenants include Five Guys Burger and Fries, Panera Bread, Trek Bicycles, GameStop, Ulta Beauty and Verizon Wireless.

With the loss of Buff City Soap, there are now two additional vacancies, according to a leasing map by the malls agent, Goodman Properties.

The shopping center two years ago lost anchor Christmas Tree Shops and Golf Galaxy in the fall relocated to the Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township.

The malls newest tenant is Club Pilates, which opened earlier this year.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
An Upper Bucks County man faces an attempted homicide charge in the alleged shooting Saturday of a food delivery driver.

Aside from felony attempted criminal homicide, 32-year-old Keilan Marshal McKeever of Richlandtown Borough, Bucks County, is charged with two counts felony aggravated assault; misdemeanor weapons possession; misdemeanor reckless endangerment; misdemeanor simple assault; and misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

Pennsylvania State Police in Dublin announced the arrest of McKeever on Monday and the charges. No attorney information was immediately available for McKeever in court records.
Allen Christman, of Bethlehem, holds a rainbow trout he caught in the Monocacy Creek in Bethlehem during the opening day of trout fishing season in March 2014. Matt Smith File Photo | lehighvalleylive.com contributor

Now that Old Man Winter is in the rearview mirror, its time to think spring and the warmer weather ahead. If youre an angler, its also time to start gearing up for the most popular fishing day of the year: the trout season opener.

Pennsylvanias 2025 trout season kicks off April 5 at 8 a.m., with anglers allowed to keep five fish daily as long as they are 7 inches or longer. If youre getting psyched for the season, heres what you need to know.

Kids get first crack

A week before the trout season opener, children have the first opportunity to angle for trout, but in conditions that are much less crowded than the regular, statewide opening day. Pennsylvanias 2025 Mentored Trout Fishing Day is set for March 29, 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m., and is only open to anglers ages 15 and under fishing with a properly licensed adult angler age 16 or older.

To take part in the mentored day, all youth must have either a free Mentored Youth Fishing Permit, or a Voluntary Youth License that costs $2.97. Last year, 31,604 Mentored Youth Fishing Permits were issued, while 8,430 Voluntary Youth Fishing Licenses were purchased.

Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day continues to be very popular, and has held steady throughout the years with about the same number of people out there, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission spokesman Michael Parker said. One thing to remember, check the stocking schedule online at fishandboat.com in advance of going fishing, because not all waters are stocked ahead of Mentored Youth Day.

Just because a waterway was stocked last year ahead of the day doesnt mean it will be this year. Set yourself up for success by finding a water that is stocked in advance, and keeping the spirit of the day in mind, which is to teach kids to fish and give them a positive experience.

Lee Brannon, of Allentown, fishes with son Lee Brannon III, 9, in the Monocacy Creek at Bethlehem during the opening day of trout season in April 2011. Matt Smith File Photo | lehighvalleylive.com contributor

While the goal of the Mentored Youth Day is to get the kids, grandkids and other youth out on the water to teach them to fish, a bonus is that mentored youth can also keep a fish or two for the dinner plate. For 2025, the days limit is two fish 7 inches or longer.

One of the more positive things Ive noticed is that youth anglers have been mainly catching and releasing fish, said Lehigh County Waterways Conservation Officer Travis Miller said. The mentality from youth anglers is if I release it today, I can catch it again next week.

About the trout

They are undoubtedly the star of the show, and this year approximately 3.2 million trout are being stocked in 691 streams and 130 lakes across the commonwealth. Fish and Boat says this includes roughly 2.4 million rainbow trout, 693,000 brown trout and 125,000 brook trout. In addition, another 1.2 million trout raised by commission cooperative nurseries, run by sportsmens clubs, will be released throughout the year.

We stocked a lot of nice lively rainbow trout and several large golden rainbow trout, said Northampton County Waterways Conservation Officer Zachary Rudd. The size of the fish is average for what we have stocked in years past.

The memory makers

Theres no doubt that catching a big fish or a golden rainbow trout makes an anglers day. This year, the Fish and Boat Commission will be stocking about 72,000 trophy-sized brood fish ages 2.5 to 3.5 years old, with those trout ranging from 14-20 inches in size. A few will be even bigger. Approximately 70% of these larger fish will be released prior to opening day, with the other 30% going out during in-season stockings.

Also called palominos by anglers, the golden rainbow trout are often easy to see in streams but not easy to haul in, since many anglers toss their enticements at them once spotted. However, if you are fortunate to bring one in, you may have just caught the trophy of a lifetime.

Paige Selby, 6, of Nazareth, shows off a catch from the Monocacy Creek in Bethlehem with her dad, Greg Selby, during opening day of trout season in April 2011. Matt Smith File Photo | lehighvalleylive.com contributor

For 2025, Fish and Boat is releasing approximately 14,000 golden rainbow trout in waters across the state, with 75% of these stocked before opening day.

License lingo

Trout fishing license sale continues to remain steady, with 767,079 fishing licenses and 419,054 trout stamps sold in 2024. The cost for an annual license this year is $27.97 for residents and $60.97 for non-residents while a trout permit costs $14.97.

Sales are slightly higher  about 1%  than 2019, which is the pre-COVID benchmark we compare license sales to, Parker said. Because 2020 and 2021 license sales were significantly higher due to COVID, when people were seeking more outdoor recreation, we use 2019 as the normal license sales year to compare future sales to.

We are fortunate to see those numbers hold steady, and we think people are continuing to purchase fishing licenses and trout permits because they see the tremendous value for a years worth of fishing opportunities in Pennsylvania.

How to avoid the crowds

Anglers line the Bushkill Creek for trout fishing in March 2013 in Palmer Township. Stephen Flood File Photo | For lehighvalleylive.com

If you love trout fishing but dont love the crowds of opening day, its easy to get away from the masses. The simplest way is to wait until the afternoon to head out. Sure, there are fewer easy-picking hatchery trout swimming around, but youre also fighting fewer people at the holes.

Many people like to be out for the actual opener at 8 oclock, Rudd said. Generally speaking, those who are there from the start fish for a few hours, then pack up to head to whatever else is on the agenda for the day.

If someone was willing to give up the tradition of being on the stream at 8, they could have a leisurely breakfast at home and head out to hit the stream around lunchtime or even that evening and avoid many of the crowds.

Another option is to fish a waterway that is less popular, smaller or in a more remote area. These types of streams and creeks definitely tend to draw lighter crowds than the larger waters closer to the Lehigh Valleys population core such as the Little Lehigh, Jordan, Monocacy and Bushkill creeks.

If you are not fishing with little kids, try getting away from the easily accessible spots adjacent to parks and roads and work your way upstream or downstream. In many cases, Fish and Boat staff and the volunteers who help them stock the creeks and streams try to spread the fish out beyond the easy-to-reach holes.

The creeks are stocked very well this year, Miller said. More streams have been float-stocked and we spread the fish out pretty well.

Finally, if you dont need to go out on the opening day and you actually prefer to fish in solitude, wait until the first few days have passed or venture out later in the season.

The trout fishing opportunities are abundant well into late April and May, Rudd said. It seems like trout fishing is popular up until the point spring yardwork takes over. For those who remember and can spare the time away from the spring yardwork, there are plenty of opportunities later in the spring.

What about New Jersey?

New Jerseys trout season also opens at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 5. Garden State anglers can keep up to six per day, 9 inches or longer. A license is required for those ages 16 and older and costs $22.50 for residents, or $34 for non-residents. A trout stamp is $10.50 for residents, $20 for non-residents.

Residents may fish without a license May 25 and July 4 in Pennsylvania and in New Jersey on June 7 and Oct. 18.

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A councillor has said the third biggest town in Laois and Offaly doesnt have a single bus shelter.

Independent Cllr Aidan Mullins raised the issue during a recent discussion on bus shelters in Laois at a recent council meeting.

The third biggest town in Laois and Offaly hasnt even a bus shelter. You would think you were living out in the Congo, he said.

"There is no bus shelter in Portarlington...not one bus shelter," said Cllr Mullins.

The issue arose when Independent Cllr Aisling Moran asked for an update on costings for bus shelters in Laois.

I am still waiting on a reply just in relation to the cost of the shelters, she said.

Acting Director of Finance, Julie Bergin, said all of the shelters in the county would need to be assessed for such a breakdown. She said it was not as simple as just putting up a shelter in many cases. She said the cheaper options are not always suitable.

Cllr Moran said kids are standing at a wall or beside it and it doesnt have to be massive money to erect a simple shelter.

Ms Bergin said it was not just about the money and that the locations need to be appropriate.

In the areas I am looking at there are areas to pull in, said Cllr Moran.

Fianna Fail Cllr Padraig Fleming said he had engaged with road engineers last year and they had chosen locations.

Cllr Moran said this is something that is going on for me anyway, nearly six years. She said talking about it was getting it done. She noted in Ballylinan a site has been chosen but they are just not doing it.

Cllr Mullins described bus shelters as standard infrastructure and he said it shouldnt be so difficult to get them approved.

READ ALSO: Solar bin vandalised in Laois.

The issue was discussed at the latest meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.
A Laois mental health charity is at risk of closure due to the lack of funds available to meet rising demand.

SOSAD Laois operates from Shamrock House in Portlaoise, and will be forced to close their doors at the end of the week if they cannot raise 42,000 remain open.

The charity does not receive funding or promotion from state agencies, and are appealing to the public to help keep this vital service available through fundraising.

Laois-based Sinn Fein senator, Maria McCormack, met Christy Bannon from Portlaoise, and other SOSAD volunteers who are pleading with Government for funding to save the service.

They are currently applying to the HSE for funding, and working to meet the appropriate requirements.

SOSAD Laois coordinator Shirley McKay spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live about these challenges.

"As we continue to navigate through the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis, the impact on mental health is becoming more pronounced. SOSAD Laois, a vital counselling charity in our community, is feeling the effects of this crisis firsthand," she said.

"With an increased demand for our services, we are facing rising operational costs, making it more difficult to continue offering the support that many in Laois so desperately need.

"Mental health services are essential now more than ever, yet the financial strain is significant. Donations, which are the lifeblood of our charity, have seen a marked decline due to the economic pressures many individuals and families are facing.

Pictured: SOSAD Laois accepting a 20,000 donation from the Light Up The Night Truck Run in 2024

"Despite this, the demand for our counselling services has only increased, leaving us at a crossroads," Ms McKay explained.

"SOSAD Laois is committed to offering free and confidential counselling to those affected by mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and trauma.

"We understand how crucial these services are in helping individuals navigate through their most difficult times. However, maintaining and expanding our operations requires substantial resources.

"We urgently need your support to continue our work and to ensure that help is available to everyone who needs it.

"We humbly ask for your generosity. Donations, no matter the size, can make a significant difference in helping us continue our mission. To contribute, please visit the GoFundMe page or contact us directly at 083 0291706.

Volunteers Irina Volia and Helena Kavani with Carol Murphy, general manager SOSAD Ireland and Grace Ennis, former Laois SOSAD co-ordinator in 2022.

"Your support means the world to us, and together, we can help make a difference in the lives of those in need. Thank you for your kindness and generosity," Ms McKay finished.

Board member Christy Bannon created a GoFundMe page, and explained the associated costs with running this service.

"We need to urgently raise 42,000 by the end of this week to cover this months expenses and keep our life saving services running," he said.

"It costs approximately 55,000 per month to provide our services. Already this year we have helped 907 clients. Last year this is what we provided; 22,243 counselling sessions, helped over 1,900 people in 28 Counties around Ireland, an average of 428 hours counselling each week, 300 DBT Sessions offered, 1,111 Helpline calls answered, and 243 Helpline hours logged.

"We have other fundraising events happening around the country over the next two to three months, but its vital we get an immediate injection of cash this week to allow us keep our doors open. We need your urgent help to continue to provide our much-needed services and to keep the lights on," he said.

Pictured: Christy Bannon of SOSAD Laois accepting a donation raised by Miss Laois Alison Dyer in 2021

The charity recently lost their vital messaging service due to a lack of funding.
Heartfelt tributes have been paid to a Maynooth, Co Kildare man who passed away yesterday (March 24).

Brian Grieve, Maynooth, Co Kildare, formerly of Clonee, Dublin and Letterkenny, Co Donegal, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on March 24 2025 in the care of the Residence Nursing Home, Maynooth.

Beloved husband of the recently deceased Myra for over 60 years and loving father of Cathy, Seamus, Caroline, Maria, Mairead, Bernie, Dympna and the late Baby Brian (R.I.P.).

He will be sadly missed by his devoted and loving children, daughter-in-law Martina, sons-in-law Gerry, Eamonn, Martin and Ray, his adored grandchildren Brian, Rebecca, Hannah, Natasha, Megan, Emer, Mia, Oran, Eamonn, Hayley, Molly, Zach, Dylan, Alex and Bradley and great-granddaughter Cora, his brothers Danny, James and Frank and his sister Bridie and all those who knew him. To know Brian was to love him.

Tributes paid to Brian on RIP.ie this week included: Sincere condolences to all the Grieve family, Brian was such a lovely gentleman, reunited with his beloved Myra. May he rest in peace.

And: Deepest sympathies to all the family on the passing of Brian. May he Rest in Eternal Peace with his beloved Myra.

While another mourner wrote: So sorry to hear the sad news of your dad's passing, our thoughts are with you and all the family, may he rest in peace.

And another added: So sorry to hear this sad news of your dad's passing, our thoughts are with you all, may he rest in peace xx.

Reposing at his daughter Caroline's residence in Carbury, Co. Kildare (W91 H52P) on Wednesday (March 26) from 3-8pm.

Removal on Thursday (March 27) at 11am to arrive at St. Brigid's Church, Straffan for 12 noon Funeral Mass, followed by burial in Laraghbryan Cemetery, Maynooth.

The Funeral Mass can be viewed live on Thursday at 12 noon by clicking on the following link : https://celstra.ie/st-brigids-webcam/

House Strictly Private on Thursday Morning Please.

Oliver Reilly Funeral Directors accept no responsibility for any live webcam interruptions or issues.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff of The Residence Nursing Home, Maynooth for their kind and loving care of Myra and Brian.

For all enquiries, please contact Oliver Reilly Funeral Directors on (045) 868230.

READ NEXT: Kildare County Council asked to outline process relating to electric vehicles
Kildare County Council (KCC) issued a lengthy response to a query from a councillor relating to electric vehicles (EVs).

The matter was raised by Social Democrats Cllr Nuala Killeen at the latest Celbridge-Leixlip Municipal District meeting, which was held on Friday, March 21 last.

Cllr Killeen, who appeared at the meeting by virtual means, asked KCC: "Can the council confirm what the current process is to enable a household to install a pedestal charger for an electric car in a designated parking space and an undesignated parking space in housing estates, which would involve cables being run under the public footpath?"

In a report submitted to the councillors present at the meeting, KCC explained that the current legal position in Ireland is that only the ESB can own an electricity distribution or transmission system.

Social Democrats Cllr Nuala Killeen. Photo credit: kildarecoco.ie

KCC also noted in the report that 'private wires' refers to private individuals or undertakings running their own electricity cables in order to transfer electricity. However, KCC added that 'private wires' are currently prohibited.

"The installation of pedestal chargers connecting back to a private supply is deemed to be a 'private wire' and therefore currently prohibited," KCC said. " The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications on August 18, 2023 launched a public consultation on 'private wires' and this consultation closed on October 13, 2023."

"Zero Emission Vehicle Ireland made a submission relating to EV charging infrastructure as part of that consultation process and we await the outcome of that process," KCC concluded.

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Towns across Co Kildare and their volunteers will welcome news that the 2025 SuperValu TidyTowns competition has officially been launched.

Ballymore Eustace, Broadford, Celbridge, Clane, Kilcullen, Kildare, Kill, Leixlip, Maynooth, Naas, Newbridge, Rathangan and Straffan all medalled in the 2024 competition.

Running since 1958, administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and sponsored by SuperValu, the TidyTowns competition continues to be one of the most recognised sustainable, environmental and community initiatives in the country.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, alongside the Managing Director of SuperValu, Mr. Luke Hanlon, officially launched this year's competition on March 24.

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Speaking at the launch of the competition in Ballincollig, Minister Calleary said: I am delighted to be here in Ballincollig, Irelands Tidiest Town for 2024, as we launch the 2025 SuperValu TidyTowns competition. This year we celebrate 67 years of this wonderful competition, which continues to thrive year on year - its success benefits us all.

There are almost 1,000 active TidyTowns groups, and last year saw over 900 entries to the SuperValu TidyTowns competition.

This saw over 30,000 volunteers giving up over one million hours of their time, all year round, to come together to make our communities cleaner, brighter and more vibrant places.

Minister Calleary continued: TidyTowns groups have been instrumental in supporting and enhancing the governments objective to ensure towns are sustainable, resilient and thriving hubs of commercial and social activity.

I would encourage everyone to reach out to their local group and volunteer, you will be surprised at the benefits that can accrue to you and to your wider community.

I would like to say a special thank you to our national sponsor, Supervalu, now in their 35th year of sponsoring the competition. SuperValu have been wonderful partners on this journey and I look forward to continuing this partnership in the coming years.

Speaking at the launch, Luke Hanlon, Managing Director of SuperValu, said: The launch of the SuperValu TidyTowns competition is an exciting time for committees and volunteers nationwide, as we look forward at what can be achieved to enhance our communities in the weeks and months ahead.

This year marks SuperValus 35th year as proud sponsor of this wonderful initiative, a testament to the tireless work of volunteers and the Department in driving its continued growth and success.

The SuperValu TidyTowns competition has become synonymous with SuperValu itself, thanks to the reach of our independent retail network across the country and our deep-rooted commitment to supporting communities at a local level.

As a community retailer, we take great pride being involved with SuperValu TidyTowns for another year and our Independent retailers play a vital role in supporting and engaging with this initiative.

The closing date for receipt of entries for this years competition is Monday, May 12 2025. Entry to the competition will only be accepted by email to the TidyTowns@drcd.gov.ie email address.

Entry forms for the SuperValu TidyTowns competition are available at www.tidytowns.ie

Full details of the competition are available on www.tidytowns.ie or www.supervalu.ie
Kildare County Council Climate Action Team, in collaboration with Kildare Arts Service and Maynooth University, has announced Kildare-based visual artist Martina OBrien as the Artist in Residence for the Co-Creative Lab.

A hugely experienced visual artist, Martina has exhibited both in Ireland and internationally. Her work involves engagement with communities, citizen scientists, academics and members of the scientific community. She has collaborated with experts in climate science and marine ecology on projects such as Arctic Deep, Extreme 24 Marine Expedition in the Arctic Ocean, University of Oslos Marine Expedition, Oslofjord and ATUs Marine Expedition, North-East Atlantic Ocean. With an interest in earth sciences, she responds to the threats of climate change through a research-led practice that explores links between people, nature and technology,

As part of her nine-month residency, Martina will work closely with the project partners, responding to data and processes that emerge from a community-focused collaborative project that will design and test local solutions to climate change in Maynooth.

Following the announcement Martina OBrien said, Over the coming months, I look forward to immersing myself in the dynamic work of the Co-Creative Lab, engaging with the community in Maynooth, and collaborating with key stakeholders to spark meaningful conversations through art. Through this residency, I aim to develop artistic work that reflects the shared experiences and ambitions of the community while exploring new methodologies of co-creation.

Tania Banotti, Director of Creative Ireland, stated: Were looking forward to seeing the outputs of Martina's residency. It's part of a wider network of artists working with local communities all over Ireland this year on climate action. The approach has proven to be a powerful way to engage and mobilise communities to take practical steps to address the climate and nature crisis.

The broader aim of the Co-Creative Lab is to model and assess innovative solutions to climate change that encourage positive behaviour change in a creative, practical and human-centred way. As the countys Decarbonising Zone, Maynooth was chosen as the place to base the project.

Paula ORourke, Climate Action Co-ordinator, Kildare County Council explained: Maynooth is a test bed for change in the community. The Co-Creative Lab provides an inclusive space to the community of Maynooth and students of Maynooth University to design solutions to challenges using fun to explore the different perspectives. I think most people are big kids at heart, I know I am! Lets have fun.

The Co-Creative Lab is a recipient of the Creative Climate Action fund, an initiative from the Creative Ireland Programme. It is funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The fund supports creative, cultural and artistic projects that build awareness around climate change and empower citizens to make meaningful behavioural transformations.

The projects aim to:

Encourage everyone to rethink their lifestyles.

Connect with the biodiversity crisis.

Enable a fair and just transition in making lifestyle changes.

Assist citizens to understand the climate crisis.

Adapt to effects of climate change.

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Calls have been renewed for a long-promised bus shelter in Glenfarne, in the Manorhamilton direction, which was previously committed to.

At a meeting of Manorhamilton Municipal District, Cllr Felim Gurn proposed that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) be contacted urgently regarding the installation of the bus shelter.

While a bus shelter is in place towards the Enniskillen direction, there is none in the direction of Manorhamilton.

The issue had previously been raised in motions by former Cllr Sean McDermott.

Cllr Gurn also questioned when a pedestrian crossing on the N16 outside Clancys restaurant would be installed to slow down traffic.

Anyone who uses the road can see how fast the cars are going, Cllr Gurn said. Its an accident waiting to happen.

A response from the Roads department confirmed that a feasibility and options report for road safety improvements for Vulnerable Road Users in Glenfarne had been approved by the TII.

Leitrim County Council expects that the TII will provide an allocation for the scheme in 2025.

Once the funding is secured, Leitrim County Council will appoint a consultant to advance the project through design, planning, tendering, supervision and completion.

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Irelands deputy prime minister Simon Harris is set to highlight the memory of Irish peacekeeper Sean Rooney during a visit to Lebanon.

Private Rooney, 24, from Co Donegal, was killed while on deployment with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) on December 14, 2022.

Mr Harris is set to raise the frustration and concern of the Irish government at the lack of progress in the case during a series of political meetings in Lebanon.

He will also visit Irish peacekeepers currently deployed in the country during his visit this week.

The Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs is to stress the need to deliver accountability and justice for the Rooney family.

The trial of those indicted for the killing of Private Rooney was pushed back again in February. The next hearing is scheduled to take place in Beirut in September.

There are currently 339 Defence Forces personnel serving with the 125th Infantry Battalion based at Camp Shamrock in southern Lebanon.

Mr Harris is set to thank the Defence Forces personnel for their commitment to maintaining peace in the region.

He is also expected to announce increased funding for local community projects.
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Minister Ngafuan led a high-level joint monitoring Team comprising the European Union Head of Delegation to Liberia, Ambassador Nona Deprez and partners to commence a five (5) day site visit to Buchanan and Greenville Cities
A CHAIR costing close to 10k will be displayed at a new art event in Dublin.

The 9,500 chair was made with the same historic Irish slate used in Westminster Abbey and will be among the star attractions at the event.

Designed by award-winning Limerick architect and furniture designer Edwyn James Hickey, the Valentia Slate chair is being exhibited by Dublins Sol Gallery at Art Evolve at the RDS.

The unique art fair, running from April 46, will see members of the Contemporary Art Gallery Association (CAGA) join forces with other established galleries to bring the best in Irish and international contemporary art under one roof.

The chair came to life after Limerick-born designer Hickey learned that there had been a quarry on Kerrys Valentia Island when he was visiting for a work project.

He researched further and found massive chambers of stone reminiscent of Skellig Michael, which he said transported him to a different world.

The quarry, which first opened in 1816, once employed over 450 people.

In 2018, it was bought by Killarney geologist Dr Aidan Forde and stone is once again being quarried there.

Last year, Valentia Slate was given global designation as a heritage stone and was most recently used on the roof of The Rubrics building in Trinity College Dublin.

READ MORE: Booker Prize winner the star attraction at FemFest 2025 in Limerick

It also provided slates for the construction of international landmark buildings such as Paris Opera House and Londons Westminster Abbey and St Pauls Cathedral.

Weighing 210kg, Hickeys Valentia chair, which he made last year, uses the slate on two side pieces, and the seat is made of highly engineered and folded steel with luxury black German leather upholstery.

Its super comfortable, my work is about making things practical as well as aesthetically pleasing, he said.

It is a statement piece. This is going to be a rare stone in the future. Theres not an endless supply of it. When people buy a piece like this, theyre buying into that.

Involving 70 galleries and artists, it will also feature an installation by internationally acclaimed Irish street artist Maser, showcasing various chapters of his working life and offering visitors the chance to engage with the artist.

Other artists' work being displayed at the event include Cork-born painter Tom Climent, Italian artist Sandro Chia, and celebrated sculptor Rowan Gillespie.

For booking information, see www.artevolve.ie.
AWARD-WINNING Irish comedian Al Porter will take the stage in Dolans on his tour for his new stand-up show Algorithm.

The show will tour the country extensively, beginning in Naas at the end of August and finishing in Offaly in February of next year.

Als Limerick show will be hosted in Dolans on October 9.

From asking such pertinent questions as how do you cope with your parents' empty nest syndrome? to how in gods name do you godparent a German?, ALGORITHM delivers a candid, energetic and fun-loving look at everyday life for the thirty two year old Tallaght man.

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Al is one of the few Irish comics to have been nominated for a Perrier Award, among Tommy Tiernan and Dylan Moran, and in 2023 in Edinburgh he picked up the Spirit of the Fringe Award from Fringe Legend Mervyn Stutter.

Al described his new show, This show came about because the algorithms on my social media were consistently nudging me and my partner to get assessed! And it got me thinking! How are algorithms shaping our life? Most of us encounter them every day on social media. Its become a buzz word and everybodys got a pretty good idea of how they work! Maybe this can also give us a deeper understanding of ourselves  what do I engage with in my own life?

Theyre a mirror to our highs, lows, loves and hates! So, can we crack a formula for happy living in a complicated world? Sounds serious, but thats the point  it doesnt have to be! Just like our feed, in life, we see more of what we pay attention to, so maybe we can be looking for the funny side! he explained.
MAYOR John Moran has suggested the former tourist office in Arthurs Quay be used as a base for new community wardens he hopes to bring to Limerick.

The directly elected mayor is hoping to bring in community wardens to help with anti-social behaviour on the city centres streets.

They would have a direct line to designated gardai.

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Addressing a briefing on his latest funding allocations, Mayor Moran said 130,000 has been secured from the Department of Justice for this measure, and his office is also providing some funding.

Money has been secured to work on the former tourist office, which is out of use.

Some 100,000 is in place for more repair work to the landmark facility, alongside 250,000 and a further 25,000 to deliver a Welcome to Limerick office.

This will give visitors and locals in the city a one-stop shop in which to access information

Mayor Moran hopes it is this building which will be home to this office - and the community wardens.

Future plans for the Arthurs Quay area gave an option of potentially demolishing the old tourist office.

The mayor does not think there is an appetite for this. with the council having held a major survey into what the public want to see in Arthurs Quay.

I think there is a desire now to keep it. I now feel more comfortable driving on, he said.

In so far as that allows us to start using the building again, I think that is the right place to put the new Welcome to Limerick office so it becomes a community initiative right in the city centre. It might be a location for community wardens. It could be a location for the people who patrol our rivers every evening. And its right beside the bus stops that are there. It allows it to stay open much longer hours than if you put a cafe in, for example, he said.

Mayor Moran says on a trial basis, four or five community wardens could be used in the city centre.
LIMERICK is well-represented at this years The Friends of Breastfeeding Awards, which recognise excellence in breastfeeding promotion, advocacy, and support across both the professional and voluntary sectors on the island of Ireland.

Two nominees for the awards are from Limerick, as well as a member of the judging panel, bringing excellent recognition to the county for its continued support in breastfeeding services and innovation.

Firstly, the University Maternity Hospital Limerick has been recognised for its Lactation Station project which is shortlisted for Breastfeeding Initiative of the Year.

The hospitals lactation consultants Carmen Murphy, Helen Byrt, and Sheena Kelly, established the Lactation Station in 2024.

The service is available every weekday morning and enables staff to spend more time with women who want more breastfeeding support, and facilitates mothers in giving and receiving peer support and community.

Another Limerick interest in the awards this year is Aoife Prendergast of the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), who is in the running for Breastfeeding Advocate of the Year 2025 for the second year running.

Aoife is dedicated to promoting and supporting breastfeeding rights within the education sector, and her efforts have resulted in a more supportive environment for breastfeeding lecturers and teachers within the TUI membership.

READ MORE: New UL initiative to raise awareness of students with caring responsibilities

Limerick is also represented on the judging panel for the prestigious awards by Ballina-Killaloe Friends of Breastfeeding Mum2Mum Group organiser Lucy Murphy.

A Parteen native, Lucy has run the peer breastfeeding support group for almost nine years, meeting fortnightly in the Lakeside Hotel in Killaloe and in Boher Parish Hall.

These heroes of breastfeeding support in Ireland will be recognised at a gala awards ceremony in Tullamore on March 29.

Over 1,300 nominations were submitted from the public for passionate breastfeeding advocates and initiatives.

CEO of Friends of Breastfeeding, Dr. Edel Quirke BL, said that the Friends of Breastfeeding Awards are a truly special opportunity to celebrate all of the positive things happening in the breastfeeding promotion and support space in Ireland, and to recognise and reward all of the many unsung individuals, businesses and groups going above and beyond to ensure breastfeeding is valued, welcomed, and supported.
THE company behind the Penneys retail brand is to lodge plans for a new outlet close to Ennis town centre in the coming days.

A published statutory planning notice confirms that Primark Ltd is to lodge plans for a three storey over basement outlet on a 1.3 acre site in Harmony Row, Bank Place and Bindon Lane, Ennis.

The proposed development is located across the River Fergus from the planned mixed use scheme by Clare Co Council subsidiary, Ennis 2040 for Abbey Street Park that has been paused due to a public backlash.

The new Primark proposals are expected to boost the economic fortunes of Ennis town centre through increased footfall in the town centre.

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The new store in Ennis is also part of Primark's commitment to invest over 250m in Ireland over a ten-year period, which includes the development, relocation and/or refurbishment of its stores across the country.

The Primark scheme for Ennis comprises a gross floor area of 3,550 sq metres including ancillary uses comprising staff area, stockroom, plant rooms and other ancillary areas.

The scheme also involves alterations and re-arrangements to the existing car park area serving the Bank of Ireland, a protected structure off Bindon Street, Bindon Lane.

The proposal also involves the construction of a new public riverside pedestrian walkway from Bank Place to the existing pedestrian bridge over the River Fergus connecting to the existing pedestrian path from Harmony Row and modifications to the walkway of the existing pedestrian bridge.

The plan also includes the demolition of an existing derelict house structure to make way for the new shopping outlet.

Primark currently operates a Penneys store at Ennis Shopping Centre located opposite Zimmer Biomet Cusack Park on Ennis's Francis Street.

That outlet has operated in Ennis over a long period and a spokeswoman for Primark said on Monday: We know how much our customers in Ennis would love a bigger Penneys store and we too would love to make that happen. We hope to share more details when we can.

Penneys opened its first store on Mary St Dublin 56 years ago and with the addition of a new store at Bray last year it now has 38 stores across 21 counties in the Republic of Ireland.

Penneys trades as Primark internationally and the retailer has over 450 stores across Europe and the US

Primark is also accelerating the pace of its international expansion, with ambitions to reach 530 stores by the end of 2026.
EMERGENCY services are tackling a gorse fire outside the village of Athea this Monday evening.

The blaze is on bogland in the townland of Blaine.

Fire services from across Limerick and the wider region were in attendance at the scene. It's understood they were on site from around 7pm.

As of around 9.40pm this Monday night, they had gotten a handle on the fire, Limerick Live understands.

But concern has been raised from some locals as to the plight of animals who might have been caught in the gorse fire.

Below: A video taken of the fire earlier this evening

Fire in Blaine, near the village of Athea in #Limerick this Monday evening. This footage was taken from earlier in the night. Full story online at #LimerickLive/ @Limerick_Leader shortly.  pic.twitter.com/HxLf2XKHwU  Nick Rabbitts (@Nick468official) March 24, 2025

"It's something that happens out here. When you get a dry spell at this time of the year, there is dead growth, which dries on top of the bog. It has to have been started in some shape or form by somebody. It was a regular occurence years ago, but we don't see it as much nowadays," said one local.

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They said the forestry itself does not appear to have been badly impacted.

At least two of the fire trucks have departed the scene.

"A certain amount of it can be left to burn out, as it will not cause any material damage to trees or anything," the local added.
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Gardai have released rare operational photographs after a sting operation on organised crime in Dublin.

Gardai confirmed that five men were arrested on Monday morning as part of an ongoing investigation into the activities of an international organised crime group based in west Dublin.

The five men, aged in their 30s, 40s and 60s, were arrested in the Dublin and Eastern Garda Regions for alleged offences contrary to the Criminal Justice Act, 2006.

All of the men are currently being detained pursuant to the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007 across various Garda stations in Dublin and the eastern region.

In a follow-up statement, An Garda Siochana said: "Theres a murky underworld to serious and organised crime that is not always observed on the surface - the stories of the destruction it causes worldwide are not just confined to the series streamed online or only aired in podcasts.

"They involve real life. Real people. Real families. Real communities.

"We work together day-and-night behind the scenes to secure arrests like todays."

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The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau led the operation on Monday morning and were supported by the Regional Armed Support Unit, the Emergency Response Unit, the Dublin Crime Response Team and the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The opposition is expected to disrupt Dail proceedings on Tuesday as part of a deepening row over speaking time.

Five opposition parties met on Monday to agree a response to the governments proposal to change speaking time arrangements in order to create a new slot for coalition backbenchers and government-affiliated independents.

The disruption is expected just after 2pm, during the Leaders Questions slot in the Dail.

It is the latest development in the dispute over how speaking time in the Dail is divvied up.

The row delayed Micheal Martins nomination as Taoiseach in January and has trundled on despite several inter-party meetings and the intervention of the Ceann Comhairle in favour of the opposition.

This led to a brief reprieve before the dispute was reignited after the government put forward a new proposal to change speaking time arrangements and suggested it would use its majority to push them through.

Opposition parties  Sinn Fein, Labour, the Social Democrats, Independent Ireland and Solidarity-People Before Profit  are to protest that decision when the Dail reconvenes on Tuesday.

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, who is a member of the Dail reform committee, suggested this would be done by widespread disruption, as a walkout could allow the government to continue to pass legislation.

He said a compromise acceptable to everyone should be sought and a meeting between the opposition and the Taoiseach and Tanaiste on Tuesday was needed.

On Monday evening, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and Labour leader Ivana Bacik spoke to Mr Martin.

The Taoiseach and Tanaiste have been called by me this afternoon and again tonight, Ms McDonald said.

They are aware that my calls are to reiterate our opposition request for a meeting.

The Leaders of the Combined Opposition met this evening to discuss the government's attempt to force through unprecedented changes that will undermine democracy in the Dail. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have broken their word. We will not accept it. Michael Lowry group are  Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) March 24, 2025

It is deeply disingenuous for government to pretend that they have made any genuine effort to resolve this crisis having failed to respond to our letter, having failed to agree a meeting and having broken their commitment  read into the record of the Dail not to act unilaterally and force deeply problematic change through the Dail.

A Labour spokeswoman said Ms Bacik and Mr Martin had a conversation about the vote and why Labour wouldnt be accepting the Government proposal.

She added: Deputy Bacik emphasised once again the need for a meeting with all Opposition Leaders in advance of the vote.

Outlining criticisms of the extremely contentious government proposal, Mr Murphy said it is due to be voted on without a debate on Tuesday, halves the time available for opposing the Order of Business, and reduces the time for Taoiseachs Questions every week from 90 to 45 minutes.

He added: About 50 minutes of opposition time is being taken each week, between the cutting of objections to the Order of Business and the halving of Taoiseachs Questions, and about 50 minutes is being given in opportunities for Leaders Questions to Fianna Fail and Fine Gael and then an extra speaking time to the Lowry group.

So there is a direct transfer and a direct undermining of the capacity of the opposition to hold the government to account, and thats our job in the Dail.

Minister of State Alan Dillon confirmed that the government is planning to use its majority in the Dail to push through the new speaking time arrangements on Tuesday.

He said: Were two months on where weve had hours of debate in the Oireachtas standing orders committee and we will come to a conclusion tomorrow when this is brought to a vote.

This is about giving government backbenchers more speaking time, its about changes to the standing orders which are modest in nature but also recognise the evolving nature of the Dail and certainly, as a former backbencher, I know how difficult it can be to get Dail speaking time.

He added: This fiasco that the opposition are presenting has certainly had a huge impact in relation to our Dail activities.

Earlier on Monday, Education Minister Helen McEntee said that the governments proposals would not affect opposition time and would instead create a new time slot for backbenchers and others.

She described a possible walkout over speaking time for backbenchers as an affront to democracy.

Not a single second of time is going to be taken away from their speaking rights, from their ability to put down motions, to ask questions, the Fine Gael deputy leader said on Today with Claire Byrne.

What this is about is fairness. If you are a government TD you do not have the same speaking rights as if you are in opposition, I dont see how that is logical.

If you look at the UK, a member who is on the government side can ask the Prime Minister a question. Its the norm, it happens in most other countries.
COUNCIL is not able to buy houses to prevent its tenants from becoming homeless due to a delay from the new Government.

The Tenant in Situ scheme allows a landlord who may be selling a property the opportunity to allow council to buy it in order to keep the occupier from being made homeless.

This is as long as they are a council tenant.

But senior executive officer in housing Sarah Newell told members of the metropolitan district that the local authority has a number of houses which are ready to buy, but they cannot, due to Government not providing funding allocations for 2025.

READ MORE: Limerick and Tipperary TDs kept apart by ushers in Dail Eireann

The matter was initially raised by Independent councillor Ursula Gavan, who has said the delay has seen landlords run out of patience and instead sell their homes on the private market.

I know of one local constituent, whose landlord recently pulled out of the scheme due to the delays. She is very distressed as her eviction is imminent. She has a son with special needs and she herself is recovering from a serious illness. She has sold off her household furniture as she has no place to go and no means of storing them anywhere, she said.

Ms Newell said council is engaging regularly with the Department and has outlined the emergency in providing funding to them.
The wheel may come full circle for Indias scooter industry as sales look set to finally cross their pre-pandemic volume, clocking growth rates more than three times faster than motorcycles in the current financial year.

Between April and February this year, scooter sales posted 16.6% growth to reach nearly 6.3 million units. Experts are of the view that sales are likely to cross the 6.7 million units mark of FY19 and even the record 6.72 million units of FY18, as per data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

Comparatively, motorcycle sales in FY25 so far have severely lagged scooters, recording growth of just about 5% to reach 11.2 million units, amid a slowdown in its bread-and-butter economy segment. In FY19, motorcycle sales stood at 13.6 million.

In February, though, scooter sales declined year-on-year by about 0.5%, while that of motorcycles fell 13%. Overall, SIAM data suggests the domestic two-wheeler market grew by about 9% in the first 11 months of this fiscal led by the growth in the scooter segment.

It seems likely that scooter sales will cross their pre-pandemic levels this fiscal," said Pramod Amthe, head of institutional equity research at InCred Capital. More discounts, launches and rising electrification are the primary reasons for the outperformance of scooters."

To be sure, domestic two-wheeler volumesboth scooters and motorcycleshave not crossed the pre-pandemic levels since FY19, but at least three brokerages estimate that scooters might just shatter that barrier this fiscal.

Kotak Institutional Equities is bullish about scooter sales crossing the pre-pandemic levels to reach over 7 million units in fiscal 2025.

In a note on 12 March, the brokerages Rishi Vora wrote, We expect scooter segment trends to remain healthy, driven by urbanisation resulting in higher penetration and income tax cuts announced in the budget.

At the same time, the brokerage noted, The domestic two-wheeler segment has seen demand moderation, especially driven by the motorcycle segment, owing to weak consumer sentiment and financing challenges resulting in credit tightening, especially in entry-level motorcycle segment."

To be sure, the overall share of motorcycles in the two-wheeler segment has continuously shrunk over the past two years, declining from 63.1% at the start of fiscal 2023 to 60.7% at the end of the October-December 2024.

Electric charge

Over the past few years, new launches in the electric scooter space by leading players such as Ola Electric, Bajaj Auto, TVS Motor and Ather Energy have grown the size of the electric two-wheeler market.

Largely dominated by scooters with minimal electric motorcycle options, EV two-wheeler sales were about 1.15 million in 2024, which is 6.3% share of the overall two-wheeler market, per data from Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA).

Bajaj launched a new Chetak e-scooter in December last year followed by Ather and Ola Electric introducing new variants in January. Suzuki also announced its entry into the electric scooter space with the launch of e-access in January.

New EV scooters are offering better total cost of ownership compared to the entry level of motorcycles," said Sanket Kelaskar, equity research analyst for auto at Ashika Group.

Also Read: Aston Martin to extend life of ICE models as global EV demand cools

Government schemes such as PM E-Drive scheme offer incentives worth 10,000 per electric scooter, helping give electric scooters an edge in the market.

Due to customers' preference turning towards scooters, there is a high probability that scooter sales will cross their pre-pandemic levels," said Kelaskar.

Slowing wheels

Meanwhile, the market for entry-level 75-110 cc segment in motorcycles has been shrinking, with its share in total motorcycle sales mix at 46.5% in the first 10 months of this fiscal compared to 61.9% in fiscal year 2019.While Honda dominates the scooter space, the motorcycle segment is led by Hero MotoCorp.

Between April and February 2025, Hero MotoCorp has sold 4.7 million units of motorcycles in the domestic market, followed by Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) at 2.3 million units, Bajaj Auto at 1.9 million units, and TVS Motor at 1.1 million units, according to data from SIAM.

As for scooters, HMSI led the pack with 2.63 million units sold in India thus far in FY25, followed by TVS Motor at 1.6 million units, Suzuki Motorcycles India at 0.9 million units, and Hero MotoCorp at 0.3 million units.

Accelerating TVS

However, analysts are particularly bullish about TVSs outperformance in scooter sales.

The company has grown 23% this fiscal (April to February), even as scooter market leader HMSI has grown 12%, and Hero MotoCorp has declined 5% in domestic sales.

TVS continues to outperform {in the scooter segment], being the only player to have posted strong double-digit growth (+23.5%) in Feb25, while the industry posted a 5% YoY decline in sales. The newly launched Jupiter110 is experiencing strong demand, posting 40% YoY growth in Feb25, at a time when Activa sales were down 13% YoY," Aniket Mhatre and Amber Shukla of Motilal Oswal wrote in a 20 March note.

Kotak upgraded its recommendation of TVS shares to reduce from sell earlier in the 12 March note.

TVS share price has increased by 1.5% in 2025 as compared to a 5.9% decline in the BSE Auto index.
(Bloomberg) -- Luigi Mangiones lawyer complained that authorities have consistently leaked material from a manifesto that is being used to portray the 26-year-old as a terrorist in the slaying of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson.

His lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, said in a New York state court filing Monday that prosecutors were trying to show that Mangione publicly declared his intentions before the shooting, when there is absolutely no evidence that Mangione ever released the manifesto. The document, contained in journals found in his backpack and expressed outrage over the state of the American healthcare system, is a key part of the case against Mangione.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to New York state first- and second-degree murder charges related to the brazen shooting of Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel in December. The first-degree charge accuses Mangione of killing Thompson in an act of terrorism and carries a potential life sentence.

By releasing these writings to the public and calling them a manifesto, law enforcement is responsible for causing the very public alarm that they are now trying to attribute to Mr. Mangione, which is the basis for charging him with the enhanced charge of murder in the first degree as an act of terrorism, Friedman Agnifilo said.

In addition, she said the Manhattan District Attorneys office has also failed to turn over evidence collected in the case by a December deadline and said the court shouldnt grant prosecutors request for a protective order that would allow them to delay disclosing more evidence.

A spokesperson for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said their office would respond in court filings at a later date. Mangione is also facing federal charges, which carry the death penalty, enhanced by allegations that Mangione stalked his victim.

Friedman Agnifilo also sought permission for Mangione to access a computer while in jail to assist with his defense. She said he could use a specially-configured laptop, which doesnt have access to the Internet, to review 15,000 pages of electronic evidence collected against him.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Temasek-backed Manipal Hospitals plans to file draft papers for a $1 billion initial public offering by June, three people aware of the development said.

The healthcare chain has shortlisted Kotak Mahindra Capital Co., JP Morgan, Axis Capital, Jefferies and Goldman Sachs to manage the IPO, the people said, adding formal mandates have not been issued yet. The company, among India's top three hospital chains, is expecting a valuation of $8-10 billion.

Manipal plans to list on the exchanges by the end of FY26, one of the three people cited above said. Some of the existing investors of Manipal are likely to sell some stake through an offer for sale. The company may also raise 5,000-6,000 crore by selling new shares, the second person added.

Spokespersons for Manipal Hospitals, JPMorgan, and Jefferies declined to comment, while Temasek, Goldman Sachs, Axis Capital and Kotak Mahindra Capital Co. did not respond to emailed queries.

The company does not need capital immediately, but it will expand its war chest for a large acquisition through a primary capital raise, the two people said. Some of the capital may be used to pay back debt, Mint reported earlier in January this year.

Also read | Temasek buys 10% in Haldirams for 8,500 crore

In April 2023, Temasek acquired 41% stake in Manipal for more than $2 billion, valuing it at nearly $4.8 billion or 40,000 crore. It acquired the stake from Manipal founder Ranjan Pai and other investors such as NIIF and TPG, taking its shareholding to around 59%. Manipal Education and Medical Group Pvt. Ltd retains around 31% of the company, with TPG holding 10-11%.

Last year, Temasek sold nearly 8% stake in Manipal to incoming investors Mubadala Investment Co., Novo Holdings and California Public Employees Retirement System (Calpers), in a bid to de-risk its holdings in the company.

If the IPO takes shape, it would be one of the largest from India's healthcare industry. In November last year, Aster and Blackstone-backed Quality Care agreed to merge and create one of the top three hospital chains in India with more than 10,150 beds. The reverse merger has now created the largest listed healthcare provider in India.

Founded in 2010 by Ranjan Pai, Manipal Hospitals Enterprises currently has a pan-India footprint of more than 30 hospitals with over 9,500 beds and over 5,000 doctors across cities such as Bengaluru, Mangalore, Mysore, Vijayawada, Salem, Dwarka, Palamvihar, Goa, Jaipur, Ghaziabad, Patiala, Pune and Kolkata.

Read this | Temasek-backed Manipal Health eyes a $1 bn IPO, calls banker pitches

As per India Ratings & Research rating report from November 2023, Manipal Hospitals' consolidated revenue increased to 4,800 crore in FY23 from 4,000 crore in FY22, while consolidated Ebitda margin rose to 26.6% from 23.2% in the same period, supported by its improved case mix and increased in-patient admissions at both existing and acquired hospitals.

The overall occupancy levels for Manipal Hospitals Enterprises Ltd (MHEPL) moderated to 58% in FY23 (FY22: 64%) with net addition of 283 beds, mainly in the hospitals located at Whitefield, Goa, Jaipur under MHEPL during the year. Furthermore, MHEPL reported a 14% yoy improvement in the average revenue per occupied bed at the consolidated level," the report said.

During the first half of FY24, it recorded a revenue of 2619 crore, with an Ebitda of 741 crore at the consolidated level.

Also read | Temasek picks 17-18% stake in VFS Global for $950 million
In a freewheeling discussion with a select audience, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury addressed questions on topics ranging from the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in India to current supply chain issues and challenges in the aviation sector, both in India and globally, with a particular focus on Airbus.

Here's a look at the five major areas that Faury focused on and his thoughts on.

Final Assembly Line Airbus is currently targeting a production rate of 75 aircraft per month for the A320 family, with assembly lines spread across the globe. These include two in Mobile, USA; two in Tianjin, China; two in Toulouse, France; and four in Hamburg, Germany. CEO Guillaume Faury believes this setup is already extensive, and any further expansion could be detrimental.

FAL sees only 7% of the value being added to the plane, quipped Faury, emphasizing that Indias aviation story extends far beyond just a Final Assembly Line. He highlighted areas where India has greater strengths and can contribute significantly to the industrys overall growth. Airbus already operates a C295 FAL in collaboration with the Tata Group in Vadodara and is also establishing an FAL for Airbus Helicopters.

However, Faury does not rule out the possibility of a Final Assembly Line (FAL) for next-generation aircraft in India. He stated that a decision would be made when the aircraft is ready, possibly a decade from now. Airbus is currently focused on propulsion, wings, and fuels to finalise the next steps and narrow down its options.

In what could be a cue for locations that could be shortlisted if a FAL has to come up in India, Faury mentioned the need for a harbour, be it at Mobile in the US or Tianjin in China, as a major factor that played out for site selection and subsequent expansion to ensure that supply chains, which are already complex in nature, can be better handled.

The India story is intact and growing Airbus finds India to be a powerhouse for Engineering, Data, Systems, and Software Excellence and wants to leverage the country's strengths better. Last year, India's supply base grew further, and Airbus sourced 1.4 billion USD worth of goods and services from India. The OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) expects this value to reach 2 billion USD before 2030, nearly 1.5 times in five years.

Indias role is increasing rapidly in aerospace and systems, especially highly sophisticated ones. Indian companies are adding capabilities not only restricted to India but also looking to expand in the EU and explore M&A activity in the EU.

Challenges in the Indian market Guillaume Faury praised the Indian aviation market for its rapid growth in passenger numbers and fleet expansion. He was particularly struck by the ambitious plans for airport development over the next decade, signalling even greater potential. However, he acknowledged challenges such as workforce expertise, training, and onboarding.

Airbus is actively supporting the industry, especially with IndiGo and Air India as key customers. Faury placed special emphasis on IndiGo, given its exclusive reliance on Airbus aircraft

When asked about engine challenges, Faury emphasized Airbuss close collaboration with both airlines and engine manufacturers to resolve issues swiftly. He stressed that while efficiency is crucial, durability remains a non-negotiable factor.

Faury expects improvements from CFM and the GTF Advantage from Pratt & Whitneythe two engine options for the A320neo familyto stabilize operations. He believes these enhancements will increase time on the wing, addressing durability concerns, particularly in Indias hot and humid climate.

India v/s China? When asked to compare India and China, Faury was quick to clarify that the decision to expand the assembly line in China was never about choosing one country over the other. Instead, it was a logical move to expand an existing line in China rather than setting up a new one in India.

Beyond the Final Assembly Line, Faury views India and China differently. He noted that China follows a government-driven plan executed with precision, whereas India stands out for its strong private-sector participation. Indian enterprises are not only engaged in contract manufacturing but also contribute to innovation, leveraging a highly skilled workforce across engineering, data analytics, software, and systems.

Offerings in the market & Supply Chain issues Airbus believes it has strong offerings in the market, with ATR (in which it holds a stake) on one side, the A220 in the middle, and the A320 family, which has become the backbone of airline expansion in India. The supply chain constraints that have delayed deliveries to customers, including those in India, will gradually ease starting at the end of this year. Meanwhile, the company maintains a wait-and-watch stance on newer challenges, such as tariffs, issues with engine manufacturers, and the sale of Spirit AeroSystems.
(Bloomberg) -- Five German ex-bankers must stand trial over their involvement in Cum-Cum tax deals struck more than twenty years ago at Deutsche Pfandbrief after a Frankfurt appeals court overturned a decision throwing out the case.

The charges are rooted in tax-driven deals that took place between 2004 and 2006, according to the Frankfurt ruling. Prosecutors investigated the transactions and filed charges in September 2021. A court ruled in February last year that it wont go to a trial. Prosecutors appealed and the Frankfurt judges sided with them.

Its the first known criminal case linked to Cum-Cum deals to be tried in Germany and prosecutors will need to test in court whether the strategy was criminal.

In contrast to Cum-Ex where traders exploited dividend payout laws across Europe to reap duplicate tax refunds. Cum-Cum trades entail selling stocks during dividend season, shuffling them from one jurisdiction to another, ducking the taxes that governments impose on dividends. The practice is also known as dividend arbitrage.

Cum-Cum has long been considered less controversial and was more widely practiced than Cum-Ex. Germany has meanwhile changed its tax codes to stop both practices.

Deutsche Pfandbrief AG was one casualty of the 2009 financial crisis. Part of its assets were later transformed into Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG. A spokesman for that lender said the charges relate to action of the predecessor entity and are targeting employees who long left the company.

The tax claims stemming from the deals were already paid many years ago, he added.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Axis Asset Management Company (AMC), its Trustee, former CEO Chandresh Kumar Nigam and three other individuals have settled with Sebi a case of alleged failures in monitoring the activities of dealers, leading to the front-running of Axis Mutual Fund trades.

The settlement also includes former compliance officer Darshan Kapadia, ex-head of equity Jinesh Gopani and former dealer at the AMC Pawan Jhangiani, according to a Sebi order passed on Monday.

Also Read | Six entities pay 4.14 crore to settle FPI rule violation case with Sebi

The entities paid a total of 6.29 crore to settle the alleged violations of mutual funds norms, and accordingly, Sebi confirmed that "any proceedings that may be initiated for the violations...are settled in respect of the applicants".

What are the allegations? The settlement was reached following an application filed by the entities whereby they proposed to settle the alleged violations "by neither admitting nor denying the findings of fact and conclusions of law" through a settlement order.

The allegations focused on Axis AMCs failure to adequately monitor dealer activities, which allowed Viresh Joshi, a former dealer, to engage in front-running of trades. Additionally, the AMC was accused of lacking a proper system to ensure compliance in the dealing room.

Also Read | Sebi mulls allowing brokers to carry securities mkt activities in GIFT-IFSC via separate biz unit

It was alleged that access to the dealing room was not revoked for certain employees, including those from other departments, and there were instances of unauthorised access during market hours.

As per the order, the majority of Axis AMC's active trades were concentrated with Joshi and in the absence of dealers, AMC had made a temporary arrangement with an equity research analyst or investment associate who could be assigned the role of alternate dealer.

Despite this, dealers were found to be negotiating trades with multiple brokers on behalf of the mutual fund and connected entities, which allegedly compromised the integrity of the fund's operations.

"Accordingly, the AMC was alleged to have failed to monitor that there are adequate checks and balances in dealing operations, which resulted in front running of the trades of Axis Mutual Fund," the order noted.

Moreover, employees of the AMC, including Gopani, were alleged to have passed on confidential information about Axis Mutual Funds trades, influencing the buying and selling of securities.

Additionally, Jhangiani was accused of using mobile phones during market hours, violating the AMCs prescribed code of conduct regarding communication during trading hours.

When the violations were uncovered? The violations were uncovered following a forensic examination conducted by Alvarez & Marshal India, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India and BDO India LLP. The Sebi investigation also considered the board comments from the AMC and the trustee board, as well as the interim ex-parte order issued by Sebi in February 2023.

In connection with the front-running case, Sebi had previously barred 21 entities, including Joshi, from participating in the securities market. These actions were part of a scheme to front-run Axis Mutual Fund trades between September 2021 and March 2022.
Two educational unions sued the Trump administration over its withholding of $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University, calling the move an illegal attempt to limit academic independence and free speech on campus.

The lawsuit by the American Association of University Professors and the American Federation of Teachers, filed Tuesday in New York, comes as Columbia itself has been negotiating a deal with the government to restore funding. The Ivy League university has agreed to expand campus police powers and ban masked protests, among other measures.

Columbias concessions to the administration shows the governments immense financial leverage and underscores the threat to academic freedom where such leverage is exercised unlawfully, the unions said in their complaint. They are asking a judge to declare illegal the administrations March 7 termination of federal funds and subsequent demands made on the school.

The lawsuit is the latest to challenge the Trump administrations attempts to crack down on Columbia following a series of pro-Palestinian protests that have erupted on campus since Hamas October 2023 attack on Israel. The government has accused the university of failing to deal forcefully with antisemitism on campus, citing complaints from Jewish students since the Hamas attack, in violation of federal anti-discrimination laws.

Columbia undergraduate Yunseo Chung on Monday sued President Donald Trump and other officials for allegedly attempting to revoke her status as a permanent US resident over her participation in campus protests over Gaza. A former graduate student, Mahmoud Khalil, who is also a green card holder, is currently fighting detention and potential deportation due to his campus activism.

Climate of Repression

The Justice Department, which will represent the administration, didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. Columbia also didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The American Federation of Teachers has more than 1.8 million members, including faculty and staff at schools ranging from kindergarten to university-level. The American Association of University Professors represents about 44,000 faculty and academic professionals at colleges throughout the country, including Columbia.

The university professors union filed a separate suit Tuesday in federal court in Massachusetts asking a judge to block the administrations policy of arresting, detaining and deporting noncitizen students and faculty who participate in pro-Palestinian protests.

This has created a climate of repression and fear on university campuses, with students and faculty declining opportunities to publish commentary or participate in classroom discussions, the union said. Some have deleted past work from online databases and websites.

In addition to the mask ban and empowerment of campus police, Columbia agreed to appoint a senior vice provost to oversee its Middle East, South Asian and African Studies department and also said it would alter its recruitment procedures for faculty.

By revoking $400 million in grant funds and threatening to cancel more, the Trump administration has been able to accomplish through financial pressure what the First Amendment forbids it from doing directly: punish protesters based on their viewpoint, regulate the admissions process, and alter the ideological makeup of faculty, the unions said in the New York suit.

The cases are American Association of University Professors v. Bondi, 25-cv-2429, US District Court, Southern District of New York, and American Association of University Professors v. Rubio, 25-cv-10685, US District Court, District of Massachusetts.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Wipro GE Healthcare, the 35-year-old joint venture between GE HealthCare and Wipro Enterprises, has started rolling out its $1 billion investment plan to expand manufacturing in India and boost exports.

The company expects to make about 70% of its products for the Indian market locally by 2030, a top executive said, compared with 40-45% currently.

Our anticipation is that by the end of this period, we will reach somewhere in the vicinity of 70% locally procured, locally manufactured products to meet the Indian market requirement," Chaitanya Sarawate, managing director of Wipro GE Healthcare, told Mint in an interview.

The company also wants to scale up exports out of India. Wipro GE Healthcare exports medical devices to about 70 countries, with the US as its largest market, followed by Europe.

We fully anticipate more countries to be serviced from the manufacturing plants here in India. So our plans are quite ambitious," he said.

Also Read | Wipro introduces new global business lines as Pallia sets to complete a year

US President Donald Trump has said reciprocal tariffs will be imposed on imports from India. At the same time, the Indian government is said to be considering cutting import duties on medical devices, leaving domestic manufacturers worried.

Sarawate said it is too soon to speculate what the impact of these geopolitical shifts would be.

From the GE HealthCare standpoint, they have a very diversified supply chain across different countries so it's a little bit too complex to know how exactly the tariff regime translates into being able to ensure that all the demand is met," Sarawate said.

In India, the company has an established local supply chains for manufacturing and sourcing components.

$1 billion investment

The company said in March 2024 that it would invest $1 billion to expand its development and manufacturing footprint in India. The investments start rolling out this year, with the focus on expanding capacity, as well as on technical expertise and R&D.

[That expansion] has just started, both in terms of the footprint of engineering that we have here, as well as in terms of manufacturing facilities that are getting built," Sarawate said.

Also Read | Zydus eyes global medtech foray with 257 mn acquisition of Amplitude Surgical

Wipro GE Healthcare has four plants in Karnataka and is scouting for another facility to increase capacity. The company manufactures high-tech medical devices such as ultrasound machines, imaging equipment like MRIs and CT scanners, as well as anaesthesia machines and patient monitors.

A large chunk of such high-tech equipment is currently imported into India. About 80-85% of Indias medical devices were imported in FY24, as per industry estimates. Wipro GE aims to increase local production for the domestic market.

The company is the leader in the medtech space in the country and holds the lions share" of the market, Sarawate said. It is confident of holding its position even with the entry of new domestic rivals.

Startups such as Healthium and HRS Navigation are focused more on exporting to other markets as the domestic market remains largely dominated by MNCs, Mint reported earlier.

However, as demand rises, Sarawate said the market is big enough to require a diverse set of players. Indias medtech sector is expected to expand at a compounded annual growth rate of 20-23% for the next five years, according to consulting firm EY. Rising demand is a key tailwind.

Also Read | AI in healthcare improving patient outcomes, can offer curated treatments

In India, there is demand because more and more people are becoming insured," Sarawate said.

Additionally, a policy push, such as the National Medical Devices Policy in 2023 or the production-linked incentives scheme for medtech, have boosted capabilities.
NEW DELHI : India is advancing negotiations on a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the USwhat would typically be called a free trade agreement (FTA)but a critical gap in Washingtons trade framework threatens to complicate the deal.

Unlike past trade agreements, any pact India finalizes could face prolonged scrutiny and potential amendments by US lawmakers, as the country currently lacks Fast Track Trade Authority (FTTA)a mechanism that allows the US president to negotiate trade deals and present them for a simple up-or-down vote in Congress. Without it, any agreement is vulnerable to political wrangling, delays, or even rejection.

The concerns were outlined in a Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) report released Tuesday, just as a US delegation led by assistant trade representative Brendan Lynch arrived in New Delhi for talks. The delegation, in India until 29 March, is set to meet Indias chief trade negotiator Rajesh Aggarwal and key government ministers.

Partner countries are required to alter domestic laws, regulations, and administrative procedures in line with US interpretations of the agreement, often after signing," said Ajay Srivastava, a former Indian Trade Service officer. This effectively enables Washington to renegotiate key provisions at will, leaving trade partners vulnerable to shifting demands."

For India, this creates an uncertain playing field, as there is no guarantee that the final agreement will be honoured in its original form, the GTRI report noted.

A spokesperson for Indias commerce ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

The US Embassy acknowledged ongoing negotiations. I cant speculate on the trade deal, but last month, President Trump announced negotiations to address long-running disparities in the US-India trading relationship, with the goal of signing an agreement," said Christopher Elms, a US Embassy spokesperson.

Ajay Sahai, director general of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), suggested that despite concerns over FTTA, a deal remains on track. When the US president has committed to our prime minister to have a BTA by fall 2025, he must have seen the mechanism that enables him to complete it by that deadline," Sahai said.

He added that even if FTTA plays a role in early discussions, the US could still move forward by sending a team to outline the framework before formal negotiations begin.

Read this | India and US move forward with bilateral trade agreement, but no talks on reciprocal tariffs

US president Donald Trump is expected to announce the reciprocal tariff plan on 2 April for all countries, including India, as part of efforts to address the US trade imbalance. The US currently runs a trade deficit with India and several other nations.

Why India is moving ahead

India stands out as the only country currently considering a full-fledged FTA with the US under the Trump administration. In contrast, several nations have taken a more cautious approach, wary of Washingtons shifting trade policies and the absence of FTTA.

Still, an India-US free trade agreement could deepen economic ties, boosting exports, technology transfers, and investments. Key beneficiaries include textiles, pharmaceuticals, IT, and agriculture, while sensitive sectors like dairy and manufacturing may face risks. Market access, tariff reductions, and regulatory alignments would shape its impact on both economies.

A weakened US trade framework

The FTTA, also known as Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), has historically been crucial in securing swift approval of trade deals, including NAFTA and several bilateral FTAs. However, since 2021, this authority has lapsed, and efforts to renew it have stalled. Without it, any agreement must go through the standard legislative process, where lawmakers can introduce changes, demand new terms, or block it entirely.

Beyond legislative hurdles, Washingtons post-FTA certification process poses an additional challenge. This mechanism allows the US to unilaterally determine whether a trade partner has fulfilled its obligations before an agreement takes effect.

Past FTA hurdles

In past FTAs, the US has used this process to demand additional legal or policy changes after deals were signed, the GTRI report noted.

Several countries have struggled with the US certification framework, which allows Washington to unilaterally determine whether a trade partner has met its obligations before an agreement takes effect.

The US-Panama FTA took more than five years to be implemented due to prolonged certification delays. Peru had to draft 35 new laws, while the Dominican Republic was required to modify fuel transport regulations to accommodate American companies, according to the GTRI report.

In some cases, the process has triggered domestic backlash. In Peru and Guatemala, certification demands led to protests and legal battles over sovereignty concerns, with critics accusing the US of "moving the goalposts" by imposing additional requirements beyond the original deal.

Beyond legislative and procedural hurdles, corporate lobbying plays a significant role in shaping US trade policy. Industries such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and energy often influence certification requirements, pushing for stricter intellectual property laws, food safety standards, and regulatory changes that favor American businesses.

Read this | Trump's tariffs cloud India's March exports

Large pharmaceutical firms have reportedly lobbied for specific policy changes before certifying trade agreements in past cases, effectively using the process to secure commercial advantages.

Trade ambitions vs barriers

India and the US aim to expand bilateral trade from $200 billion to $500 billion by 2030. India is seeking mutual tariff reductions as part of the deal, and both nations have agreed in principle to lower certain tariffs to facilitate trade growth, according to officials.

Washingtons key concerns include high tariffs on agricultural products, an uneven playing field in the e-commerce sector, and non-tariff barriers restricting access for US goods and services.

Read this | India to drop Google tax from 1 April amid US tariff threats

In response, India has already reduced some duties, benefiting sectors important to the US. Tariffs on motorcycleslong a sticking pointwere lowered from 50% to 30%, aiding premium bikemaker Harley-Davidson. Duties on bourbon whiskey dropped from 150% to 100%, while tariffs on ethernet switches were cut from 20% to 10%.

Indias exports to the US have remained robust despite some fluctuations. Shipments stood at $75.6 billion in FY22, rising to $78.3 billion in FY23 before slipping slightly to $77.5 billion in FY24. From April to February of FY25, exports totalled $76.38 billion, up from $70.01 billion during the same period in FY24, commerce ministry data show.
New Delhi [India], March 25 (ANI): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has made it clear that banks cannot impose excessive charges, particularly on smaller loan amounts under the priority sector lending (PSL) category.

The central bank stated that no loan-related and ad hoc service charges or inspection charges shall be levied on priority sector loans up to 50,000. This step aims to protect small borrowers from unnecessary financial burdens and ensure fair lending practices.

It said "No loan related and ad hoc service charges/inspection charges shall be levied on priority sector loans up to 50,000".

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued new Master Directions on Priority Sector Lending (PSL), which will come into effect on April 1, 2025. The updated guidelines are set to replace the existing framework established under the 2020 PSL directions.

In these guidelines the central bank has also clarified that loans taken against gold jewellery acquired by banks from Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) will not be considered under the priority sector lending category. This means banks cannot classify such loans as part of their PSL targets.

The move is intended to ensure that priority sector funds are directed towards sectors that genuinely need financial support, such as small businesses, agriculture, and weaker sections of society.

It said "Loans against gold jewellery acquired by banks from NBFCs are not eligible for priority sector status".

The RBI has also assured that all loans categorized under the earlier PSL guidelines (2020 framework) will remain eligible for priority sector classification until their maturity. This move ensures continuity for borrowers and banks, allowing them to follow a smooth transition to the new guidelines.

To ensure better compliance with PSL targets, the RBI will introduce a more rigorous monitoring system. Banks will now be required to submit detailed data on their priority sector advances on a quarterly and annual basis.

As per the guidelines the data must be reported within fifteen days from the end of each quarter and within one month from the end of the financial year. This step is designed to enhance transparency and accountability in PSL implementation.

Banks that fail to meet their prescribed PSL targets will be required to contribute to the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) and other financial schemes administered by NABARD and similar institutions.

This ensures that even if banks do not meet their direct lending obligations, they still support priority sector development through financial contributions.

The RBI has also reaffirmed that outstanding loans extended under specific COVID-19 relief measures will continue to be classified as priority sector lending. This decision is aimed at supporting sectors that are still recovering from the economic impact of the pandemic.
Actress and television personality Garcelle Beauvais has announced her exit from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills after five seasons. The 58-year-old star shared the news in a heartfelt video posted on Instagram on Tuesday, March 25.

"I have some news: I have decided to leave Beverly Hills," Beauvais said in the video. "Its been a wild ride, some amazing things have happened, and some hard things have also happened  but its been a ride nevertheless."

Prioritising family and career Beauvais cited personal and professional reasons for her departure, emphasising her desire to spend more time with her family. "One of the reasons why Im leaving is my family, my boys. Their last year of high school is next year and I want to be a part of that. And Jade is starting a new career and I want to be a part of that, too," she explained.

In addition to family commitments, Beauvais hinted at upcoming projects that she is excited to pursue. "I have the most exciting projects that I am developing, producing, and acting in  I cant tell you anything now but youll know soon."

Gratitude for the RHOBH team Before concluding her announcement, Beauvais expressed appreciation for the people who made her time on RHOBH memorable. "I want to thank Andy Cohen, Bravo, NBC Universal, and the show's production companies, Evolution and 32 Flavors," she said. "And of course, the producers, the crew, and the ladies."

A possible return? While Beauvais is stepping away, she left the door open for a potential return. "Andy Cohen says I can come back anytime, the door will always be open, so you never know, I might pop back in sometime," she teased.

A message to fans Beauvais also took a moment to thank her supporters. "To the fans, I want to say thank you so much. You guys have cheered me on, supported me, and sometimes even fought for me or on my behalf," she said. "It means a lot and I hope you guys will continue on this journey with me."

Ending on a positive note, she reassured her followers, "Its not goodbye, its see you later. So see you later."

She captioned her video, "Cheers to the next chapter," signaling an exciting new phase in her career and personal life.
Support for comedian Kunal Kamra has poured in from fans across the world, not just in words but also in wallets. Amid the controversy over his alleged roast of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, viewers have started donating significant amounts of money.

In the comments section of his YouTube video, fans are seen donating amounts ranging from 400 to 10,000. International support is pouring in, too, including contributions in US dollars, British pounds, Canadian dollars and UAE dirhams. The total donations so far must have crossed a few lakhs.

Several fans are urging him to start a fundraiser, promising to pay for any legal bills he may face for pulling no punches. Theyre applauding his courage, honesty and ability to hold the powerful accountable through humour.

Thanks for doing comedy like its journalism, said one while another wrote, Youre doing more for India than many in power.

Some comments call him a national treasure, a hero of free speech and someone who gives hope in dark times. One donor wrote, When I look at you, I feel there is still some hope for this country! Satyamev Jayate!.

Thank you for what you are doing, wrote someone who gave him 10,000.

From a true fan, you have given up everything for your pursuit of truth and humour. Keep it up! said another, who also gave him 10,000.

I don't know how else to support your bravery and compassion, came from someone who gave 4,000.

Another added, My all time fav stand up comedian who always speak about real issues of my country. Proud of you man. My english is not that good otherwise i ll write minimum 5000 words about Kunal kamra and his real intentions towards my country. He is real gem.

I am speechless. Your humour, fearlessness is exemplary. Wish we all could be like you, wrote a fan who donated 1,000.

One fan who donated 2,000 wrote, Thanks for bringing the naked truth out which this country fails to acknowledge. I know you will be targeted but it takes guts to stand up to the bullies and look them right in the eye and tell the truth which is needed to come out.

YouTube Super Thanks YouTubes Super Thanks policy enables Indian fans to donate between 40 and 10,000 to content creators. Channel owners need at least 500 subscribers to enable this feature.

Kunal Kamra has 2.4 million subscribers on YouTube.

The interest in Kunal Kamra was sky-high on Google India during March 24-25:
President Trump wants to secure the minerals the U.S. needs for everything from smartphones to jet fighters by striking deals in Ukraine, Greenland and even Russia.

But even if the Trump administration secures more mines for American companies through agreements like the mineral-rights deal being discussed with Ukraine, it may have to send much of the minerals to Chinaits main geopolitical rivalto be processed.

A prime example of this conundrum is rare earths, a group of minerals used for defense systems that President Trump has said is the focus of his dealmaking in Ukraine.

We very much need rare earth. They have great rare earth," Trump said ahead of a recent cabinet meeting.

In truth, the U.S. already has abundant supplies of rare earths, but it relies on China to refine them. That is because the U.S. has lost much of its capacity to process minerals, while China has become the worlds dominant refiner of rare earths, cobalt, copper and many other metals.

Drill baby drill is not the right focus," said John Ormerod, a consultant for the rare-earth industry.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the Democratic Republic of Congo has offered the U.S. access to a trove of minerals, including cobalt and copper, in exchange for helping it defeat a rebel force in the country. But such a deal raises questions about where these minerals would be processed.

During a joint address to Congress earlier this month, Trump said he planned historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths" in the U.S. Last week he signed an executive order to streamline permitting and boost government financing for new domestic mineral projects, including processing facilities.

President Trump been long committed to unleashing all of Americas God-given natural resources, including critical minerals," said White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly.

The loss of American refining capacity to China is just one example of how the deindustrialization of the U.S. has ended up favoring its main geopolitical rival. The U.S. has all but stopped manufacturing key products, including containerships, certain pharmaceutical ingredients and some machine tools, as they became cheaper and more efficient to produce abroad, particularly in China.

In the case of rare earths, the U.S. mines around 12% of the worlds supply, putting it only behind China, according to the United States Geological Survey. Most of the bounty comes from a massive deposit in the Mountain Pass mine in California.

But the U.S. exports about two-thirds of its rare earths to China. It has little choice: China is responsible for around 85% of the worlds rare earth refining. Chinese companies then turn the ore into the final productrare-earth magnetsand export the magnets back to the U.S.

Similarly, the U.S. sends a chunk of its substantial supplies of copper to China for processing. Even Americas lone nickel mine sends its nickel concentrate abroad to Canada for smelting.

That so-called midstream piece of processing and refining of ores into chemicals and metals is really important and dominated by China," said Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute at the Colorado School of Mines. Given the pace of Chinas expanding efforts, I dont see it becoming undominated," he said.

President Trump has talked about buying Greenland, which is rich in rare-earth minerals.

Until the 1990s, the U.S. was a major refiner of minerals and metals. But then China emerged as the dominant player, powered by its cheap labor force and looser environmental regulations of a sector that can be highly polluting. The voracious need of Chinese manufacturers for raw materials during the countrys years of explosive growth was also a boon for Chinese refiners.

Today, the sheer scale of Chinas refining industry makes it difficult for others to compete. According to industry estimates, the cost of building a refinery plant in China is a third of the cost than in the U.S.

Chinas dominance has grown even further in just the past few years. The worlds top six cobalt refiners are all Chinese and the countrys share of the worlds refined cobaltneeded for defense equipment and batteriesgrew from 65% in 2018 to 83% in 2024, according to Darton Commodities, a cobalt trading company. Similarly, Chinese companies now dominate nickel processing after setting up huge plants in Indonesia, the worlds top nickel miner.

The Trump administration recently said U.S. refining capacity for copper lags behind China and launched an investigation into how imports of the metal threaten U.S. national security.

Rare-earth elements are critical for the production of military equipment, including the F-35 jet fighter.

Under former President Joe Biden, the U.S. granted hundreds of millions of dollars in financing to U.S.-based companies to encourage the processing of critical minerals. But many projects have been held back by environmental and permitting issues, as well as the difficulty of competing with cut-price Chinese minerals.

A nickel processing plant that was intended to be built in Minnesota, near a nickel mine under development, was moved to North Dakota due to local objections about the plants environmental impact.

Although the U.S. government pledged $114 million in 2022 to get the North Dakota plant up and running, neither the plant nor the Minnesota mine has begun construction. Meanwhile, a surge in Chinese nickel production in Indonesia has tanked the price of metal, hurting the prospects for new projects.

A spokesman for Talon Metals, the company developing the mine and processing plant, said both projects are moving through permitting, and he was hopeful that Trumps new executive order could speed things up.

Rare earths

A major focus of the U.S. government in recent years has been rare earths, which are needed for the production of F-35 jet fighters, drones and nuclear submarines. The U.S. was a top player in this industry before Chinese competition hollowed out the sector. Over the past five years, the U.S. government has announced hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to rebuild rare-earth processing plants and factories that make rare-earth magnets.

In one of the more ambitious efforts, Lynas Rare Earths, an Australian company, received $258 million in Pentagon financing in 2023 to build a rare earth processing facility in Texas.

Nearly two years later, the project has yet to begin construction, delayed in part by permitting issues related to wastewater treatment. The company may have to redesign the plant to secure the permits.

MP Materials, the Las Vegas-based company that has operated the Mountain Pass mine since 2017, is gradually weaning itself off Chinese refining. Over the past few years, the company has built processing facilities, including a Pentagon-supported plant that does the complex work of sifting out the most valuable minerals to be used in magnets.

In January, the company said it had cracked another crucial step, beginning commercial production of rare earth metals.

The next step for the company is to manufacture the final productrare-earth magnetsat a commercial scale. It hopes to do so by years end, when it would begin sending the magnets to General Motors as part of a supply agreement. While around two-thirds of the companys rare earth concentrate is still shipped to China, the company is steadily ramping up processing at home.

Write to Jon Emont at jonathan.emont@wsj.com
Mumbai: NPCI Bhim Services Ltd, the wholly owned subsidiary of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on Tuesday launched the Bhim (Bharat Interface for Money) 3.0 app with new features.

Users can now split bills with friends and family, onboard family members, track shared expenses and assign specific payments. It also has a task assistant that reminds users of pending bills linked to the Bhim app.

Also Read | Banks can now reset password, unblock access to UPI as NPCI automates process

Bhim Vega Bhim 3.0 also offers Bhim Vega, an in-app payment solution which integrates with online merchant platforms, allowing customers to complete payments instantly within the app without switching to third-party apps.

Speaking at the launch, Reserve Bank of India executive director Vivek Deep said the app will focus on monitoring customer satisfaction and ensure there is suitable address mechanism to retain customers on the application.

Also Read | NPCI moving to give netbanking a UPI-like makeover

Efforts should continue to be focused on monitoring customer satisfaction and ensuring that suitable address mechanism is available to those who are already onboarded so that they do not move away to other places, Deep said while addressing at the event.

Bhim 3.0 will continue to focus on private inclusion and remain aligned with evolving UPI innovations to enhance consumer benefits. It will also adopt a collaborative approach working closely with banks to provide various B2B payment solutions which has been a relatively less focused area so far, he added.

The payment application developed by NPCI was in the first wave of apps launched in December 2016 to facilitate digital payments using UPI. As of February end, Bhim had processed 42 million transactions worth  8,731.10 crore.

Lalitha Nataraj, chief executive officer of NPCI Bhim Services, is hopeful that the the app will now see an organic growth in market share.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), an organisation representing airlines, expressed concern about Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) using its position as the operator of the "two airport system" in Mumbai to forcibly move traffic to kickstart operations at the Navi Mumbai International Airport.

IATA's concerns have come at a time when the AAHL-managed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai will see Terminal 1 being demolished in October this year for planned expansion. All operations will shift to Terminal 2, which has a capacity of 45 million passengers per annum (MPPA).

The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (Aera) on Tuesday organised a stakeholders' discussion on Mumbai Airport's Multi Year Tariff Proposal till 31 March 2029. As per the process, all stakeholders can submit comments and counter-comments by 9 April and 19 April, respectively. After that, Aera will take a call on CSMIA's proposal.

Also read | Heres why passengers can expect lower airfares at Noida airport

Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) is expected to start operations in June this year. Terminal 1 has a capacity of 15 million passengers, of which 10 MPPA will be shifted to NMI and 5 million MPPA to T2. T1's reconstruction is expected to be completed by September 2028, and then it will have a capacity of 20 MPPA.

"We would hope and expect that there is minimum impact on airlines which operate at the CSMI. We would recommend that the airport operator should not use its position as the operator of a 'Two airport system in Mumbai' to forcefully move traffic around to essentially kickstart operations at NMI," said Amitabh Khosla, country director - India, IATA, at the Aera discussion.

Also read | A tale of two sectors: Aviation soars while railways crawl

Similarly, an Air India executive sought clarity from Mumbai Airport on shifting operations to T2. "We would want to know how does CSMIA plan to mitigate the impact of closing down Terminal 1, even as it makes enhancements to Terminal 2," asked the executive.

An executive from AAHL who did wish to be named said that the airport is in discussions with airlines on a one-on-one basis to prepare a road map.

Also see | In charts: How Indian airlines are going international
Telecom operators laying submarine fiber cables in India have urged the government to ease bureaucratic hurdles and allow waivers for this nascent domestic sector that has attracted the likes of Meta Platforms Inc. and Google.

Telcos have demanded waiver of licence fee on cable landing station revenue, as well as a single-window clearance for various permits, such as for repair and maintenance infrastructure.

It takes six months to get approval for getting a repair ship to India and is a very long process, Rahul Vatts, chief regulatory officer at Bharti Airtel Ltd, said at the first international conference on subsea cable systems in India.

Undersea cables are crucial for global connectivity and serve as the backbone of the internet and global communications. India is currently dependent on marine service providers from Singapore and Dubai for any repairs to subsea cables along its coastline.

We need to have an indigenous cable repair vessel and own repair and cable installation facilities, Vatts said.

He also urged the government to accept the Telecom Regulatory Authority of Indias (Trai) recommendations for a regulatory framework to streamline submarine cable licensing and operations in the country.

So far, Airtel has made investments worth over $800 million in 11 different submarine cables.

Currently, India has 18 submarine cables landing in Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Tuticorin, and Trivandrum. Five more such projects are in the works by private companies, including Google, Meta, Airtel, and Reliance Jio.

'Promote, dont over-regulate' Meta recently announced Project Waterworth to connect India, the US, Brazil, South Africa, and other key regions, with subsea cable. Google, meanwhile, is working on the Blue-Raman subsea cable project in Mumbai, which will link West Asia, Southern Europe and Asia.

Meta and Airtel are also working on the 2Africa Pearls subsea project, whereas Jio, along with other global telecom operators, is building India-Asia-Express and India-Europe-Express projects.

To protect our strategic and commercial interests, increasing the diversity of subsea cables and expanding cable landing stations are essential, Trai chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti said at the conference.

India, which consumes about 20% of global internet traffic, constitutes 2% of global subsea traffic and 3% of global subsea cables land in the country, according to industry data.

If we want to have a thriving data center investment and development in the next five years, there is a need to be building subsea and terrestrial connectivity, said Scott Cowling, director, network investments, at Meta for EMEASA (Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia).

Cowling added that the sector be promoted and not overregulated.
Shri Ahimsa Naturals IPO has opened for subscription on Tuesday, March 25, and will close on Thursday, March 27. Shri Ahimsa Naturals IPO price band has been fixed in the range of 113 to 119 per equity share of face value of 10 each. Bids can be made for a minimum of 1,200 equity shares and in multiples of 1,200 equity shares thereafter.

Shri Ahimsa Naturals Limited, established in 1990, specializes in the extraction and production of Caffeine Anhydrous, Green Coffee Bean Extracts, and Crude Caffeine, while also trading other herbal extracts. The products offered by the company are utilized across the food and beverage, nutraceutical, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical sectors due to their health advantages.

The companys product lineup features items such as Natural Caffeine and Green Coffee Bean Extract. It exports its offerings to countries including the USA, Germany, South Korea, the UK, and Thailand. For the period ending September 30, 2024, the revenue from exports (including deemed exports) of the companys products amounted to 3,530.91 lakhs, 7,463.71 lakhs, and 9,988.01 lakhs for Fiscal 2023, and 5,633.50 lakhs for Fiscal 2022. The manufacturing facility is located in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

In its Red Herring Prospectus (RHP), the company noted that it operates in a niche sector and that there are no publicly traded companies whose businesses are exactly like theirs. Therefore, they do not consider that there are any comparable listed industry peers.

Shri Ahimsa Naturals IPO subscription status Shri Ahimsa Naturals IPO subscription status is 62.71 times, on day 3, so far. The retail portion was subscribed 34.99 times, and NII portion was booked 182.82 times. Qualified Institutions Buyers portion was subscribed 21.23 times.

At 17:04 IST, the company has received bids for 25,93,81,200 shares against 41,36,400 shares on offer, according to data on chittorgarh.com

Shri Ahimsa Naturals IPO subscription status was 87%, on day 1, and on the second bidding day the issue was subscribed 4.04 times.

Shri Ahimsa Naturals IPO details Shri Ahimsa Naturals IPO consists of fresh issue of shares of up to 50.02 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of up 19,99,200 equity shares of face value of 10 each by a promoter selling shareholder.

Shri Ahimsa Naturals IPO intends to use the net proceeds for specific purposes: investing in our wholly-owned subsidiary, Shri Ahimsa Healthcare Private Limited (SAHPL), to establish a manufacturing facility in Sawarda, Jaipur, Rajasthan; and for general corporate purposes.

Srujan Alpha Capital Advisors LLP serves as the book-running lead manager for the IPO of Shri Ahimsa Naturals, whereas Cameo Corporate Services Limited is responsible for the issue's registrar. The market maker for the Shri Ahimsa Naturals IPO is Choice Equity Broking Private Limited.

Shri Ahimsa Naturals IPO GMP today Shri Ahimsa Naturals IPO GMP today is +18. This indicates Shri Ahimsa Naturals share price was trading at a premium of 18 in the grey market, according to investorgain.com.

Considering the upper end of the IPO price band and the current premium in the grey market, the estimated listing price of Shri Ahimsa Naturals share price is indicated at 137 apiece, which is 15.13% higher than the IPO price of 119.

Following the grey market activities over the last nine sessions, today's IPO GMP shows an upward trend and anticipates a robust listing. The minimum GMP recorded is 0.00, whereas the maximum GMP is 18.00, as reported by investorgain.com.

'Grey market premium' indicates investors' readiness to pay more than the issue price.
Small-cap stock under 100: Smallcap stock Paisalo Digital announced on Tuesday, March 25, that its foreign currency bonds got listed at the Mauritius-based exchange. The non-banking financial company (NBFC), owned by India's largest state-run insurer, Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India, made the announcement via a stock exchange filing earlier today.

"This is to inform that $48 Million 7.5 per cent Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds (FCCBs) due 2029 of the company (ISIN-XS2952463086) has been listed on the AFRINEX Securities List ASL of AFRINEX Limited w.e.f. March 24, 2025," said Paisalo Digital in a regulatory filing to the stock exchanges.

Small-cap NBFC share price trend On Tuesday, shares of Paisalo Digital opened at 35.67 and swung to an intraday high of 36.20 and an intraday low of 34.17. Shares settled 1.17 per cent lower at 34.42 apiece on the BSE. Shares dropped 7.57 per cent in one month and 31 per cent year-to-date (YTD). As of March 25, the smallcap company commands a market capitalisation of 3,103.81 crore.

Earlier this year, the NBFC announced that it has serviced more than 59 lakh customers by initiating transactions worth more than 3,400 crore. It was done within two years through a network of business collaborations with major banking partners, including public sector banks (PSBs) SBI and Bank of India.

Santanu Agarwal, Deputy Managing Director of Paisalo Digital, said, As we look ahead, this success lays the foundation for achieving our ambitious vision for 2025 - to further expand our outreach, innovate our offerings, and contribute meaningfully to India's financial ecosystem.

Delhi-based DII raises stake A Delhi-based domestic institutional investor (DII) raised its stake in Paisalo Digital Ltd to 15.56 per cent from 15 per cent via an open market share transaction. According to its exchange filing, the Delhi-based DII Equilibrated Venture CFlow Pvt Ltd raised its stake in the NBFC via shares purchased in the open market. The Delhi-based DII purchased 13,97,63,088 shares carrying voting rights to raise its stake in the NBFC stock to 15.563 per cent.

Paisalo Digital is a small-cap NBFC that offers financial services like business loans, income loans, and mobility loans. It has partnered with banks like Union Bank of India to offer loans to priority sectors. The NBFC comprises major state-run and international investors like the State Bank of India (SBI), SBI Life Insurance Co. Ltd, and the LIC.
Heres a quick look at stocks likely to be in focus in today's trade. Power Grid On Monday, Power Grid Corporation announced its acquisition of Banaskantha Transco Limited, a Project SPV, to enhance transformation capacity at the Banaskantha (Raghanesda) PS (GIS). The project, awarded on a build, own, operate, and transfer (BOOT) basis, was acquired from the Bid Process Coordinator, REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited (RECPDCL). It involves ICT augmentation at the existing Banaskantha (Raghanesda) PS (GIS) in Gujarat.

HCL Technologies The technology company has formed a strategic partnership with Western Union to foster innovation and transformation in the financial services sector. Together, they will set up a cutting-edge technology center in Hyderabad, India, strengthening Western Union's global tech capabilities while opening new avenues for innovation and talent growth.

Also Read | Stocks to buy under 100: Experts recommend four stocks to buy today

Indian Overseas Bank On Monday, IOB announced the closure of the QIP issue period. The Committee of Directors approved an issue price of 40.57 per share for the allocation of 35,41,77,539 equity shares to eligible QIBs.

EaseMyTrip The company has secured in-principle approval from its Board to acquire a 49% stake in Big Charter, a leading entity in India's charter aviation industry. Additionally, the Board has sanctioned an investment of 1,000 Brazilian Reals in its subsidiary, Easy Trip Planners Do Brasil Ltda, and 50,000 Riyals in Easy Trip Planners, Saudi Arabia.

Hyundai Motor India The Board has sanctioned an investment of up to 694 crore for setting up and managing a Tooling Centre in India.

Britannia Industries Operations at the company's Jhagadia plant in Gujarat have been partially impacted by a strike that began on March 24. The company is actively engaging with workers to reach an amicable resolution. Currently, the impact of the strike is being evaluated, and the company is fulfilling demand using available resources.

RVNL The company has secured the lowest bid for a Central Railway project valued at 115.79 crore. The project entails modifying the Overhead Equipment (OHE) to upgrade the current 1x25 KV electric traction system to 2x25 KV at the feeding system in the Itarsi-Amla section of the Nagpur division, aiming to achieve a 3000 MT loading target.

BLS International Following its notifications on February 4, 2025, and February 11, 2025, BLS International has announced that its equity shares will be suspended from trading starting Monday, March 31, 2025. Additionally, the shares will be delisted from the Capital Market Segment of the MSEI effective Monday, April 7, 2025.

Also Read | Breakout stocks to buy or sell: Sumeet Bagadia recommends five shares to buy

Garden Reach Shipbuilders The Defence PSU announced that it has signed a contract with Germany-based Carsten Rehder Schiffsmakler und Reederei GmbH & Co. KG for the construction and delivery of the seventh and eighth 7,500 DWT multi-purpose vessels (MPVs). The agreement was finalized on March 24, 2025, in Hamburg, Germany. This contract follows the 'option agreement' between both parties for the procurement of four additional MPVs, increasing GRSEs total order to eight vessels. The overall contract value remains around $108 million, with no changes to the financial terms.

NHPC The company has successfully conducted the trial run of Unit-2 (200 MW) of the Parbati-II HE project (4x200 MW) in Himachal Pradesh. The trial runs for the remaining three units are anticipated to be completed by March 31, 2025.

IndusInd Bank The CGST and Central Excise department in Thane has levied a penalty of 30.15 crore on the bank due to multiple GST-related issues. The bank is considering filing an appeal against the decision.
As scams grow more sophisticated, at least you have one less thing to worry aboutcheque fraud. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) implemented the Positive Pay System (PPS) back in 2021, which has emerged as a powerful tool to fight cheque fraud in India, especially for large-value transactions. The PPS adds an extra layer of security, ensuring every large transaction is verified before processing.

What is the Positive Pay System? The Positive Pay System (PPS) is a fraud prevention mechanism that requires account holders issuing cheques of 50,000 or more to share key details with their bank before the cheque is processed. These details include the cheque number, date, amount, and payee name.

Also Read | Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma gets 3 months jail in cheque bounce case

When the cheque is presented before clearing, the bank cross-checks the submitted details with the physical cheque. If there's any mismatch, the transaction is flagged for further verification, thereby avoiding cheque-based fraud.

Introduced by the RBI in 2021, PPS act as a critical safety net, preventing unauthorised transactions and enhancing trust in payments made via cheques.

Recent developments: Compulsory for high-value checks Currently, PPS is mandatory for cheques of 5 lakh and above processed through the Cheque Truncation System (CTS).

Earlier, effective October 1, 2024, banks in India mandated the use of PPS for cheques of 2 lakh and above presented in the CTS and for cheques of 5 lakh and above for transfer transactions.

If customers do not submit PPS mandates for these high-value cheques, the bank will return the cheque with the reason: "Advice not received." 

How does PPS work? Issuing a cheque with PPS is straightforward. Cheque issuers are required to submit their cheque detailscheck number, date, amount and payee nameat least 24 hours prior to presenting the cheque for clearing. This can be done through internet banking or manual submission at the counters.

Also Read | Black ink prohibited on cheques? Govt clarification on fake RBI specification

For government segment account holders, there is a facility for sending scanned documents via e-mail for convenience. The banks properly cross-check this information with the given cheque upon presentation. Even a minor discrepancy in the cheque calls for a verification process to confirm authenticity.

Benefits of a Positive Pay System PPS not only increases security but also simplifies cheque clearance and processing. By eliminating physical movement and manual verification, it increases efficiency in banking operations. It also empowers customers to object to fraudulent payments and raise and resolve other issues or discrepancies quickly.

As India makes progress towards a safer and more technology-driven financial system, PPS is a significant step towards preventing cheque fraud, especially for large sums of money.

Conclusion PPS marks a significant step in enhancing transaction security in India. The RBI's push to expand PPS to lower-value cheques in the future could further strengthen financial safety across the country.
The prevailing interest rate for public provident fund (PPF) is currently 7.1%, but there's a way to earn even more. Deposits made before April 5 can earn you a higher interest rate.

Therefore, investors planning to contribute to PPF for the financial year 2024-25 should aim to make deposits before April 5 to maximise returns.

How will you earn more on PPF deposits? Here's how this works  PPF interest is calculated on the lowest balance between the 5th of every month and the end of each month, according to the PPF scheme.

Hence, investors who make lump sum deposits in the PPF account before April 5 will earn higher returns. This would especially benefit those who make a single annual lump sum deposit.

Meanwhile, for people making monthly contributions, deposits should be made before the 5th of every month to avoid losing out on interest.

Also Read | How to withdraw funds from PPF or even close the account prematurely

The PPF account interest is calculated monthly but credited to the account at the end of each financial year.

Here is an illustration to help you understand this concept.

If you invest 1.5 lakh in your PPF account before April 5, 2025, the full amount will be considered for interest calculation that month. At the current rate of 7.1%, your annual interest earnings would be 10,650 ( 1,50,000 * 7.1%).

This translates to a monthly interest of 887.5 ( 10,650/12).

Also Read | 8 top investment options for women on International Womens Day 2025

How much will you earn if you deposit after April 5? Meanwhile, if you make the same 1.5 lakh deposit after April 5, the interest earned for that year drops to  9,762.5 ((1,50,000 * 7.1%) 887.5) less than if you had invested earlier.

This amount becomes more significant when the interest amount is added over several years.

Additionally, the closing PPF amount in a year is added to the opening amount for the next year. This income gets compounded, and you would receive a lump sum upon maturity. Hence, investing in PPF before the 5th of every month will also add to the maturity corpus.

Also Read | PPF over Mutual funds? RBI data shows top choice for Indian investors

How to earn more tax-exempt income? It must be noted that PPF contributions fall under the Exempt-Exempt-Exempt (EEE) category, which means that all the deposits made under this are deductible under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.

The EEE category is when your investment, the interest earned on it and income generated at the time of withdrawal are not taxable.

Hence, by making deposits before the 5th of every month, you not only increase your returns but also earn more tax-exempt income.

Also Read | Transferring PPF maturity funds? Know the tax implications before you do

About PPF PPF is a small savings scheme introduced by the Government of India that offers assured returns to investors, making it a top choice among conservative investors.

People can invest between 500 and 1. 5 lakh either in instalments or in a lump amount. However, if the minimum deposit of 500 is not made in a financial year, the PPF account will be discontinued.

PPF has a lock-in period of 15 years, while partial withdrawals can be made from the fifth year onwards.
The United States announced on Tuesday that it has reached separate agreements with Ukraine and Russia to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea. It also confirmed a deal between the two have also agreed to not attack each others energy facilities, in a big breakthrough in the Russia-Ukraine war.

While Russia has agreed for a Black sea ceasefire, it has, however, said that Moscow does not trust Ukraine's President Zelensky. Russia said it could therefore only sign a Black Sea deal if Washington issued an order to him to respect it.

We will need clear guarantees, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

And given the sad experience of agreements with just Kyiv, the guarantees can only be the result of an order from Washington to Zelenskiy and his team to do one thing and not the other, he said.

Ukraine, on the other hand, has said that it does not trust Russia to respect the deal between the two countries. In an attempt for peace, Kyiv has signed both the deals  to pause attacks on energy facilities and maritime ceasefire.

But Ukraine said it would regard any movement of Russian military vessels outside the eastern part of the Black Sea as a violation and a threat.

Kremlin agrees for Black Sea ceasefire but with a condition The Kremlin announced on Tuesday that Russia is willing to guarantee safe navigation in the Black Sea, but only if Western sanctions on companies involved in food and fertilizer exports are lifted.

Also Read | Kremlin Says It Wont Give Details of Talks With US Over Ukraine
Saugat-e-Modi: In a significant outreach effort, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has initiated the Saugat-e-Modi campaign, aiming to distribute festive kits to 32 lakh underprivileged individuals from Muslim, Sikh, and Christian communities across India during the upcoming festivals of Eid, Baisakhi, and Easter.

BJP Minority Morcha chief Jamal Siddiqui emphasized that the initiative aims to strengthen bonds between the party and minority communities. This is part of the BJPs outreach and a way to demonstrate the Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas philosophy of the Narendra Modi government, Siddiqui told The Hindu.

Festive Kits and Nationwide Distribution Each kit contains essentials tailored to the festival. The Eid kits include dry fruits, besan (gram flour), suji (semolina), sewai (vermicelli), sugar, and a salwar kameez set. Similar customized packages will be distributed to Sikh and Christian families for Baisakhi (April 14) and Easter (April 20).

Siddiqui highlighted that 32,000 BJP workers have been tasked with reaching 100 households each.

If they face challenges in making direct contact, they will coordinate with local mosques, gurdwaras, and churches to ensure the gifts reach the intended recipients, he said.

By reaching out during these important festivals, the BJP aims to bridge gaps and demonstrate solidarity with minority communities. Siddiqui emphasized that this initiative is part of the BJP's broader outreach strategy and reflects the government's philosophy of inclusive development.

The Saugat-e-Modi campaign holds particular significance as it comes at a time when the government is addressing concerns from sections of the Muslim community over the Waqf Amendment Bill.
Happy Nowruz 2025: Nowruz, meaning 'new day' in Persian, is a 3,000-year-old spring festival celebrated globally. Originating from Zoroastrianism, it marks the start of the Iranian Solar Hijri calendar, occurring between March 19 and 21. This year, Nowruz - Persian New Year, is being celebrated on March 20.
Withdrawing cash from ATMs will become costlier from May 1, as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised interchange fees, a DD News report said, on Tuesday. This hiked fees will be applicable after customers have exceeded their free transaction limit  five transactions in metro cities and three in non-metro areas at other banks' ATMs.

According to the report, customers will have to pay an additional 2 for each transaction beyond the free limit. Fees for non-transaction fees has been hiked by 1 as well. Now, withdrawing cash from an ATM will cost 19 per transaction, up from the earlier 17.

Checking account balances will now cost 7 per transaction, as opposed to 6 previously, according to the official notification. The new banking regulations will also change credit card perks and saving account rules.

Also Read | Convert your RBL Bank credit card transactions into EMIsHere's how

Minimum balance changes SBI, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank, and other institutions are updating their minimum balance rules. The required balance will now vary depending on whether an account is in an urban, semi-urban, or rural area. Not maintaining the prescribed balance may result in penalty charges.

Credit card benefits Major banks, including SBI and IDFC First Bank, are altering their co-branded Vistara credit cards. Benefits like ticket vouchers, renewal perks, and milestone rewards will be discontinued. Axis Bank will implement similar changes starting April 18, affecting its Vistara credit cardholders.

What is an ATM interchange fees? This fee is charged by a bank for providing ATM services to another bank. This fee, usually a fixed amount per transaction, is often passed on to customers as part of their banking costs.

Also Read | Credit card hack to get higher rewards on bulk payments

The RBI decided to revise these charges following requests from white-label ATM operators, who argued that rising operational expenses were affecting their business, the report said.
Days after the shocking murder of former Merchant Navy officer Saurabh Rajput, new chilling details have surfaced as investigators delve deeper into the case. Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla, the couple accused of the gruesome crime who are at the center of the Meerut murder case, rehearsed multiple times how to carry out the killing.

In another revelation, the authorities have said that Muskan and Sahil bought knives for 800 and a cut-throat razor to severe Saurabh's head off his body.

Sahil and Muskan were arrested for drugging, stabbing and then chopping his body into 15 pieces while he was in Meerut for his daughter's birthday. Muskan slit his throat with a razor, the same weapon Sahil later used to behead him. They then placed his dismembered body in a plastic drum, sealing it with wet cement.

According to the investigators, Saurabh also wanted to take Muskan and their daughter to London. Fearing separation from Sahil, Muskan then drew a plan to murder Saurabh with Sahil's help.

Meanwhile, the postmortem report of Saurabh Rajput has revealed more gruesome details in the Meerut murder case.

Saurabh's body was found with multiple stab wounds, including three on the left side, and cut marks on the neck and wrist. The most disturbing aspect is that both the wrist and neck were severed from the body.

In the postmortem report, the reason was stated as haemorrhage shock and that the left side was stabbed three times with a knife, there were cut marks on the neck and wrist and both the wrist and the neck were separated from the body..., said Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Meerut, Antriksh Jain.

Muskan and Sahil, spending their days behind bars, are facing a drug withdrawal system and are being treated through de-addiction centres and counselling in jail.

It was found that they were drug addicts...There were withdrawal symptoms, they couldn't have been accused of drugs in jail. They are being given medicines for withdrawal symptoms. They are being treated through de-addiction centres and counselling is being given to them; they are also being sent for Yoga and meditation, Senior Jail Superintendent Viresh Raj Sharma said.
Delhi Budget 2025 Key Highlights: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on March 25 tabled the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) government's 1 lakh crore budget for this financial year.

The allocation marks more than 34 per cent increase compared to the previous budget under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Budget. The last Delhi Budget was presented by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in March 2023 with an allocation of 76,000 crore.

This is the first budget by BJP government after the recent Delhi Legislative Assembly election 2025, which saw the saffron party return to power after 27 years.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that this year, the Delhi budget has ten focus areas, including infrastructure, electricity, roads, and water.

Here are the top 10 highlights from the budget presented by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who is also the Finance Minister of Delhi.

1-  5,100 crore for women-centric scheme Gupta also announced an allocation of 5,100 crore for paying  2,500/month to eligible women as per Mahila Samriddhi Scheme. She also announced 2,144 crore for the PM Jan Arogya Yojana.

2-  28,000 crore for capital expenditure,  1,000 crore for road connectivity Chief Minister Gupta proposed 28,000 crores for capital expenditure. Gupta also announced that the government will install 50,000 cameras for the safety of women.

The Budget has also allocated 1,000 crore for road connectivity and improvements. Additionally, 3,800 crore for flyovers and infrastructure development, and 1,400 crore under the Chief Ministers Road Development Fund.

3-100 Atal Canteens and Traders welfare board Chief Minister Gupta announced that Atal canteen will be opened in 100 places and 100 crore have been allocated for this purpose.

The Chief Minister announced the establishment of a Traders Welfare Board. Gupta also announced that the national capital will organise a Global Investment Summit for the first time.

4-  9000 for clean water The Finance Minister announced the allocation of 9000 crore for clean water and sanitation in the national capital.

Also Read | Iftar parties strengthen unity and harmony: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta

She said GPS systems will be installed in water tankers. She also announced 10 crore for expert provision in managing Delhis water maintenance.

This budget reflects our commitment to the people of Delhi and aims to address their pressing needs.

Gupta announced 696 crore for development in slum clusters. She also announced 500 crore for sewage treatment plants and 250 crore for water treatment plants.

Gupta also announced 500 crores for a decentralised sewage plant so that no sewage water goes into the Yamuna River.

5- The world is the body, Delhi its soul Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta invoked Mirza Ghalib in her speech. She cited a couplet by Ghalib which read, Ik roz apni rooh se poocha, ki dilli kya hai, to yun jawab main keh gaye, yeh duniya mano jism hai aur dilli uski jaan (I asked my soul, What is Delhi? It replied: The world is the body, Delhi its soul)

6 - PM Shri Schools, smart classes and free laptops Gupta also announced 100 crore for CM Shri schools that will be opened in Delhi on the lines of PM Shri schools. She also proposed 750 cr to provide free laptops to 1,200 students who pass class 10th, 21 crore for language labs and 230 crore for Skill Development.

7-  6,874 crore for health sector The Delhi government has allocated 6,874 crore for the healthcare sector, which includes plans to establish health and wellness centers and expand the Ayushman Arogya Mandir programme.

8-Delhi to host International Film Festival Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced in the budget that 117 crore will be spent on boosting tourism and branding. There will be programs on fellowship with 2 crore.

An international film festival will be organized for the first time in Delhi, for which a provision of 30 crore has been made, she said.

9-  2,929 cr for Metro development Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta accused previous government delayed the plans for Metro Phase-4. As a result, Delhi government has a liability of  6,000 crore, she said. A budget of 2,929 crore has been allocated for the Metro.
Former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry and former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Kiran Bedi responded to a report published by The News Minute on Monday, accusing her of surveillance misuse, privacy violation, and withholding of evidence.

When my daughter was being innocently targetted and trapped 22 years ago, I requested police to save an innocent life. Police did their duty, I did mine as a mother, Bedi told TOI.

Allegations against Kiran Bedi The report alleges that the former IPS officer used her official connections within Delhi Police to mount an aggressive surveillance operation on her 20-year-old daughter and a hotelier in central Delhi with whom she was allegedly in a relationship, in 2003.

The report alleged that Bedi's surveillance violated the privacy of both her daughter and her partner. Furthermore, the report also alleged that during the surveillance operation, a possible lead in connection to the 2003 sexual assault case of a Swiss diplomat was discovered. However, this lead was never communicated to those investigating the assault, the report said.

Other allegations made in the report The report also alleged that Bedi's daughter's alleged partner was involved in an unscrupulous money-making scheme that involve people who sought international visas, for which they leveraged Kiran Bedi's public profile.

Despite knowing about the questionable practices used in the visa business, police did not take formal legal action against the couple, the report added.

The report claimed that while Bedi had objected to her daughters involvement in the alleged visa dealings, she was concerned that any investigation into her daughter might cause irreparable harm to her future.

The report further alleges that the emails and tapes indicate a decorated police officer used her power and influence to settle a sordid personal affair.

What was the report based on The report was based on emails and cassette tapes accessed by The News Minute. These emails were between Bedi and a close confidant and Bedi and a private detective agency. At the time the surveillance was carried out, Bedi was in New York, having been appointed as the civilian police advisor to the United Nations peacekeeping department.

Bedi's response on unlawful surveillance The former IPS officer defended her actions and said she only did her duty as a mother. When asked the need for surveillance, she told TOI that this watch saved my daughter from the clutches of a devious man who was using her knowing I was out of the country. I am grateful to police and my friends for supporting me in this time of crisis.

Calling her decisions as that of a concerned mother and a responsible police officer, Bedi said, Police exist for appropriate legal interventions in situations which cannot be handled by oneself. This lawful intervention to watch over my daughter was a request from an anguished mother and a copy on duty.

On violation of privacy Hitting back at the report, Bedi said she wasn't the one to breach someone's privacy and questioned The News Minute instead. A few months ago my email was hacked. I lodged a report with the Crime Branch then. Now, this needs to be investigated, she said.

She questioned the legality of how her emails were accessed by The News Minute and asked, Under which law did they break into my email account? Who gave them the permission to invade my privacy?

On withholding evidence When questioned about the alleged lead uncovered in the Swiss diplomat sexual assault case, she said, I have no idea. I only asked police to rescue my daughter and nothing more.

Bedi suggested that the timing of the report is questionable, pointing out that her daughter has been appearing in a family court for the past six years, in a case involving the man she later married. It appears that this timing could have been designed by someone who did not succeed in getting the decision her husband was striving for, Bedi said.
New Delhi, Mar 25 (PTI) The law enforcement agencies have blocked over 7.81 lakh SIM cards linked to digital frauds till February 28 this year, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, replying to a written query, said a total of 2,08,469 IMEIs reported by police authorities have been blocked by the Government of India. The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) is a unique number assigned to every phone.

In addition, the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), which functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has proactively identified and blocked more than 3,962 Skype IDs and 83,668 WhatsApp accounts used for digital arrest, the minister said.

"The Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System, under the I4C, has been launched in 2021 for immediate reporting of financial frauds and stopping siphoning off funds by fraudsters. So far, around 4,386 crore have been saved in more than 13.36 lakh complaints," Kumar said in the reply.

As part of the 14C, a national cybercrime reporting portal (https://cybercrime.gov.in) has been launched to enable public to report incidents pertaining to all types of digital crimes, with special focus on crimes against women and children, the minister said.

He said the crimes reported on this portal, their conversion into FIRs and subsequent action are handled by law enforcement agencies in the states and Union Territories concerned.
Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao admitted to using the illegal hawala channel for transferring funds to buy gold, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) told a court on Tuesday, reported PTI.

During a court proceeding in Bengaluru, advocate Madhu Rao of the DRI asserted that the accused had admitted to the financial transaction being conducted via unofficial means.

Also Read | Ranya Rao's stepfather DGP Ramachandra Rao questioned by police

Ranya Rao was arrested earlier in March for her alleged involvement in a gold smuggling case. During the proceedings, Raos counsel Kiran Jawali argued for her release.

Following a detailed hearing of arguments from both the defence and the prosecution, the special court bench reserved its order on the bail plea in the gold smuggling case until 27 March.

According to the prosecution, Ranya Rao admitted to using hawala channels to facilitate gold purchases, a claim that strengthens the case against her.

As part of the legal process, officials have invoked Section 108 of the Customs Act, which mandates a judicial inquiry, reported PTI, adding the authorities clarified that this is not a police interrogation but a judicial investigation to scrutinise financial irregularities and potential violations of law.

The Ranya Rao gold smuggling case: The stepdaughter of Karnataka IPS officer K Ramachandra Rao, Ranya Rao was arrested at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport on 3 March after DRI officials found her carrying gold bars in a jacket.

The authorities seized 14.2 kilograms of gold from her person, worth approximately 12.56 crore. Later, the official also raided her residence and seized cash and gold jewellery worth 4.73 crores, bringing the total amount to 17.29 crores.

FIR by CBI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also filed an FIR based on a complaint by Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI.

Also Read | Kannada actor Ranya Rao's bail plea rejected in gold smuggling case

The FIR was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988, along with several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS). According to the complaint, two foreign nationals were arrested at Mumbai Airport on March 6 for attempting to smuggle 21.28 kg of gold into India, valued at 18.92 crore, PTI reported.

As the probe continues, the authorities are keeping a tab on the involvement of public servants and others in the nexus.
Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra stated on Monday that he would not apologise for his controversial remarks about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, which spurred backlash and vandalism by Shiv Sena activists in Mumbai. A look into the top ten developments related to the controversy.

Here are the top ten updates: 1. In a lengthy statement on X, a defiant Kamra said those busy leaking his number on social media or calling him incessantly should know that it all goes to his voicemail where they will be subjected to the very song that they hate. Kamra also condemned the vandalism of the venue where his comedy show was filmed. The 36-year-old comedian sparked a political controversy in Maharashtra after taking a dig at Shinde's political career during his show by tweaking the lyrics of a famous Hindi movie song.

8. 2. Clips from his comedy show and the political row it sparked dominated headlines on Monday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Kamra should apologise for his low-level comedy, while opposition leader Udhav Thackeray said there was nothing wrong with what the comedian said. The Congress and CPI (M) also came out in Kamra's support.

3. Union Minister Ramdas Athawale slammed Kunal Kamra for his remarks on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and said that he should call Uddhav Thackeray a 'traitor' first for betraying the BJP.

4. Further, he stated that if Kunal Kamra is an artiste, he should not sing songs to criticise anyone. "If he is an artist, he should not sing songs to criticise anyone. He should not get into such issues. It is not right to use such language. If he wants to call Eknath Shinde a traitor, he should first call Uddhav Thackeray a traitor because he has betrayed the BJP... If he wants to be a good artist, he should not sing such songs...", Ramdas Athawale told ANI on Monday.

5. On Sunday night, Shiv Sena activists vandalised the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar and a hotel located on the same premises where Kunal Kamra's show was held. Kamra described the attack on the venue as "senseless" and compared it to someone overturning a lorry full of tomatoes simply because they disliked butter chicken.

6. Reacting to the controversy, Shiv Sena MP Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske stated that Kunal Kamra is a "hired comedian" who is making comments about his party's leader for some money. Mhaske added that he feels sorry for Sanjay Raut and the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction because the latter did not have party workers to comment on Eknath Shinde.

7. "Kunal Kamra is a hired comedian, and he is making comments on our leader for some money. Let alone Maharashtra, Kunal Kamra cannot freely go anywhere in India; Shiv Sainiks will show him his place. We feel sorry for Sanjay Raut and Shiv Sena (UBT) that they have no party workers or leaders left to make comments on our leader, which is why they are hiring people like him (Kunal Kamra) for the job," Naresh Mhaske told ANI.

8. Officials from Mumbai's civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), inspected the damaged venue and reportedly demolished a temporary structure in the hotel's open space, according to officials. Kunal Kamra criticized the BMC for demolishing the structure without prior notice.

9. In an Instagram post, the Habitat Comedy Club said, "We are shocked, worried and extremely broken by the recent acts of vandalism targeting us." The studio said artists are "solely responsible for their views and creative choices" and it has never been involved in the content performed by them. "But recent events have made us rethink about how we get blamed and targeted every time almost like we are the proxy for the performer", it said. "We are shutting down till we figure out the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting ourselves and our property in jeopardy. We invite all artists, audience and stakeholders to discuss and share their views free and request your guidance so that we also respect the performers rights".

I will not apologize, but I am ready to cooperate.

10. In a previous post, Habitat Studio issued an apology to "all those hurt by this video". "The Habitat is not involved in the making of the recent video of Kunal Kamra and it does not endorse the views expressed," it said. Habitat Studio, where Kamra's show was held, is the same venue where the controversial 'India's Got Latent' show was filmed and led to major controversy last month.
The Home Ministry on 25 March informed that India have adopted a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach to strengthen border security and address potential challenges.

Stating more about the move, Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai, informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, saying that India's new approach includes detailed vulnerability mapping, deployment of additional manpower, and the use of specialized surveillance equipment which have been installed at strategic locations.

Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Nityanand Rai shared this information in a written reply, to questions on border security.

Apart from this, Rai said that measures such as round-the-clock patrolling, anti-tunneling exercises, and installation of border floodlights and security fences ensure robust security mechanisms at international borders have been undertaken.

What were the questions asked? The question asked was, "Whether the Government faces delays in constructing critical border infrastructure like fencing, outposts and reads due to funding shortages and inter-agency disputes. If so, the steps being taken to expedite these projects, especially along sensitive borders like India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh."

The MoS in his reply stated, The government of India is committed to the construction and modernization of critical border infrastructure, such as fencing, border outposts, floodlights and roads, to enhance security along international borders. The Ministry conducts regular reviews with executing agencies and State Governments/UT Administrations to ensure timely completion of border infrastructure projects.

Also Read | On The Border Becomes the Latest Restaurant Chain in Bankruptcy

He further added, "Additionally, dedicated State-Level Steering Committees periodically review the progress of border works along the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders to facilitate smooth execution."

A second question posed to the Mos Home asked, "The manner in which the Ministry plans to address these vulnerabilities which compromise national security?"

In his written reply the MoS stated, "A comprehensive and multi-pronged approach has been adopted to strengthen border security and address potential challenges. This includes detailed vulnerability mapping, deployment of additional manpower, and the use of specialized surveillance equipment which have been installed at strategic locations."

"Apart from the above, measures such as round-the-clock patrolling, anti-tunneling exercises, and installation of border floodlights and security fences ensure robust security mechanisms at international borders," the MoS further stated.

Earlier, Nityanand Rai had shared the information in a written reply, stating that the 2,601 Bangladeshis were apprehended between 1 January 2024, and 31 January 2025.
A group of about 20 people dressed as sanitary workers stormed controversial Tamil YouTuber Savukku Shankar's house in Chennai's Kilpauk on Monday. His mother, Kamala, 68, who was alone at home, filed a police complaint alleging that the intruders dumped sewage and human faeces at their residence. Before leaving, they allegedly told her, "Now we have stopped with this. Next time, we will set fire to you inside the house.

Savukku Shankar accused the Greater Chennai Police and the Commissioner of Police of being complicit in the attack.

According to India Today, sources claimed that the intruders were offended by Shankars alleged derogatory remarks about sanitary workers in one of his YouTube videos.

Savukku Shankar posted CCTV footage of the incident on his X account.

'TN government stoops to such a level Savukku Shankar alleged he had been getting threats, warning him to stop his media-related work.

"I see this as the final warning since I have been talking against this (DMK regime) government and the police. This government will stoop to such a level and this is what I have been saying for the past four years," he told the media, adding that his landlord has asked him to vacate the house.

Who is Savukku Shankar? Savukku Shankar, a YouTuber and outspoken critic of ruling DMK, has faced numerous legal challenges over the years for his controversial statements.

In one instance, he was arrested for allegedly making derogatory comments against top police officials and female police personnel during a YouTube interview, sparking widespread outrage and legal action against him.

In August 2024, he was detained under the Goondas Act after police allegedly discovered 500 grams of ganja discovered in his car during a search in Theni. In September 2024, the Supreme Court ordered his release after Tamil Nadu revoked his detention order related to the drug case.

What did DGP office say on the incident? "Based on the complaint, G-3 Kilpauk P.S. registered C.S.R. No. 118/2025 and initiated an inquiry, a statement from the DGP office said as per news agency ANI.

The statement added that the Commissioner of Police requested the probe be transferred to another agency. Following the request, the case was handed over to the CB-CID for further investigation.

Meanwhile, Tr. Shankar @ Savukku Shankar, YouTuber and s/o petitioner Tmt. Kamala, in an interview, levelled certain allegations against the Greater Chennai Police and the Commissioner of Police. Hence, the Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai Police requested for transferring the aforementioned C.S.R to any other agency for enquiry. Based on the request, the petition in G-3 Kilpauk Police Station C.S.R. No.118/2025 has been transferred to CBCID for further enquiry, it added.

What was Savukku Shankar's YouTube expose about? In December 2024, Savukku Shankar released a YouTube video alleging that 230 vehicles provided under a government scheme for sewage clearance were misused for personal gain. He accused a senior Tamil Nadu Congress leader of playing a crucial role in paving the way for misuse and receiving kickbacks.

Savukku Shankar clarified that his expose was about corruption in acquiring vehicles, not an attack on sanitary workers.

The attack has drawn sharp political reactions.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said, "No one who believes in democracy will tolerate this. This incident showcases the height of cruelty, and anyone with a conscience should hang their head in shame, as it has happened under the DMK regime, which boasts of ruling as per law.
The Senate Intelligence Committee convened on Tuesday (March 25) to question top national security officials about how a journalist was mistakenly added to a Signal group chat discussing sensitive military strike plans in Yemen.

The hearing focused on Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and FBI Director Kash Patel as lawmakers sought answers on potential national security breaches.

Democratic Senators press officials on leak Democratic Senator Mark Warner questioned Gabbard and Ratcliffe on the implications of the chat. Warner specifically asked Gabbard if she had participated in the chat and whether it contained classified information.

Senator, I dont want to get into this, Gabbard responded, asserting that there was no classified material in the conversation.

Ratcliffe, who admitted to being part of the chat, maintained that his involvement was entirely permissible and lawful and did not include classified information. However, he conceded that including a journalist in such a discussion was of course not appropriate.

Debate over classified war plans Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona asked Gabbard and Ratcliffe on whether the chat contained classified material. Gabbard deferred questions about whether military information belonged in the chat to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, further avoiding direct accountability. And, Ratcliffe stated, Decisional strike deliberations should be conducted through classified channels.

FBIs response and calls for investigation FBI Director Kash Patel declined to confirm whether the bureau would investigate allegations that Cabinet members leaked national security information.

I was just briefed about it late last night, this morning. I dont have an update, Patel said.

Democrats, however, have pushed for further inquiries.

Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado called the leak an embarrassment and pressed Ratcliffe on whether this was just a normal day at the CIA.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer reiterated his demand for a bipartisan investigation into Trump administration officials use of the Signal chat.

Republican reactions and defense Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged that errors in judgment had occurred but refrained from attributing the incident to a lack of qualifications. When asked by CNN whether the leak validated concerns about the competence of Trumps national security team, Thune declined to give a direct answer.

House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the administration, stating, I dont think anyone should be fired over it.
Three members of President Donald Trumps Cabinet have invoked the state-secrets privilege to withhold details about deportation flights carrying Venezuelan migrants under the Alien Enemies Act, USA Today reported. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem argued in court filings on Monday (March 24) that revealing flight information would pose risks to national security and foreign relations.

"Plenary Authority" to remove terrorists In a legal filing, according to the news report, Bondi defended the administrations stance, stating, "This is a case about the President's plenary authority... to remove from the homeland designated terrorists participating in a state-sponsored invasion, and predatory incursion into, the United States. The Court has all of the facts it needs to address the compliance issues before it."

Trump previously designated the Venezuelan crime gang Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organisation and ordered the deportation of its alleged members.

Separation-of-Powers clash The case represents a significant confrontation between the executive and judicial branches as judges scrutinise the legality of Trumps policies. Bondi warned against further judicial intervention, arguing, "Further intrusions on the Executive Branch would present dangerous and wholly unwarranted separation-of-powers harms with respect to diplomatic and national security concerns that the Court lacks competence to address," the news report quoted.

Boasberg reaffirmed his order halting deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act until those accused of gang membership had a chance to contest their designation.

Trump calls for Judge's impeachment Trump responded by calling for Boasbergs impeachment who has ruled against his administration. However, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts pushed back, emphasising that legal disputes should be handled through the appeals process rather than impeachment threats.

Deportation flights to El Salvador confirmed Despite US officials refusing to confirm flight details, El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele stated on social media that his country received 238 alleged members of Tren de Aragua on March 15, along with 23 alleged members of MS-13. However, USA Today reported that some women deportees claimed in sworn statements that Salvadoran officials refused to accept migrants from Nicaragua or female detainees.

National security justification for withholding flight details In a statement, Marco Rubio justified withholding the information, stating, "The release of this information could reasonably be expected to cause significant harm to the foreign relations interests of the United States and, relatedly, the national security interests of the United States."

Noem echoed these concerns, the new report said, warning that disclosing departure locations and flight paths could endanger US officials, contractors, immigrants, and the general public.

Appeals court holds hearing Trump has appealed Boasbergs ruling, and the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals held a hearing on Monday to determine whether the administration violated court orders. Meanwhile, government lawyers indicated they may present further arguments on Tuesday explaining why they believe no violations occurred.
US Vice President JD Vance announced on Tuesday (March 25) that he would travel to Greenland this week, joining his wife, Usha Vance, despite the backlash over the visit.

I decided that I didnt want her to have all that fun by herself, so Im going to join her, JD Vance said in a video message posted on X. Im going to visit some of our guardians in the Space Force on the northwest coast of Greenland, and also just check out whats going on with the security there of Greenland.

White House announces cancellation of Dogsled Race visit The White House cancelled Usha Vances scheduled appearance at the Avannaata Qimussersu dogsled race, The Guardian reported. Instead, the Vances will now visit the US-controlled Pituffik Space Base, where they will receive a briefing on Arctic security and meet with American service members.

The visit will take place in lieu of the Second Ladys previously announced visit to the Avannaata Qimussersu dogsled race, the White House said in a statement.

Vance criticises Denmarks role in Greenland Vance also took aim at Denmark, which controls Greenland, accusing it of failing as an ally.

Denmark, which controls Greenland, is not doing its job and is not being a good ally. So you have to ask yourself, How are we going to solve that problem, solve our national security, Vance said in an interview with Fox News.

Trump Administration's interest in Greenland Echoing past remarks by President Donald Trump, Vance suggested that the US should take a greater territorial interest in Greenland.

If that means that we need to take more territorial interest in Greenland, that is what President Trump is going to do, because he doesnt care about what the Europeans scream at us, he cares about putting the interests of Americas citizens first, Vance stated.

The Vice Presidents remarks have further fueled tensions with Greenland and Denmark, with officials in both countries expected to respond to the latest developments.

US officials set to visit Greenland National Security Adviser Mike Waltz may also visit, prompting further objections from Egede. The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us, he said.

Also Read | Zelensky to Donald Trump: Back us with weapons if Russia violates truce

Greenlands leaders object to US moves Jens-Frederik Nielsen, expected to become Greenlands next leader, condemned the visit as a lack of respect, especially amid ongoing negotiations.

Greenlands strategic importance Greenland holds vast reserves of rare earth minerals, oil, and gas, making it economically and militarily significant. The Trump administration is keen to counter China and Russias influence in the Arctic, fueling concerns over US territorial ambitions.

Also Read | Donald Trump dismisses Signal chat leak claims; stands by NSA Mike Waltz
efense Secretary Pete Hegseth has denied allegations that top US officials discussed war plans on a Signal messaging group. Speaking to reporters in Hawaii on Monday evening, Hegseth responded to The Atlantics report that its editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, had been inadvertently included in a chat where internal deliberations on airstrikes against Houthi targets were allegedly shared.

Nobody was texting war plans, and thats all I have to say about that, Hegseth stated, in his first public remarks since the controversy surfaced.

Criticism of Jeffrey Goldberg Hegseth took aim at Goldberg, calling him a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist.

So this is a guy that peddles in garbage, this is what he does, the Pentagon chief continued, refuting claims that confidential military strategies were openly discussed on the encrypted platform.

Details of the Signal Group Jeffrey Goldberg, in a report published by The Atlantic, stated that he was unexpectedly added to a Signal group chat named Houthi PC small group two days before the Yemen strikes. According to Goldberg, the group included Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and other senior Trump administration officials.

Goldberg reported that internal deliberations and operational details regarding airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen were exchanged in the chat. The airstrikes were executed on March 15.

National Security Council response After exiting the chat, Goldberg said he reached out for confirmation if he was added to the chat group. Goldberg stated that National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes responded, saying, "This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain."
The president of Signal defended the messaging apps security on Tuesday (March 25) following a report that top Trump administration officials had mistakenly added a journalist to an encrypted group chat discussing a planned US attack on Yemens Houthis.

Meredith Whittaker, president of Signal, took to X (formerly Twitter) to reinforce the apps privacy standards and distinguish it from other messaging platforms.

Signal vs. WhatsApp: Key differences I wouldnt say that Will and I are battling, but I do disagree, Whittaker wrote, addressing comparisons between Signal and WhatsApp. Because there are big differences between Signal and WhatsApp.

She highlighted that Signal is open-source, nonprofit, and applies end-to-end encryption (E2EE) alongside other privacy-preserving technologies to protect user metadata and message content.

Signal is the gold standard in private comms. Were open source, nonprofit, and we develop and apply E2EE and privacy-preserving tech across our system to protect metadata and message contents, Whittaker said.

She also pointed users to Signals transparency reports, emphasising how little data the platform can provide in response to subpoenas.

WhatsApps privacy limitations Comparing Signal to WhatsApp, Whittaker noted that while WhatsApp licenses Signals encryption technology to secure message contents for consumer users, it does not offer the same level of protection for WhatsApp Business users.

WhatsApp licenses Signals cryptography to protect message contents for consumer WhatsApp. Not on WhatsApp for business, she explained. Neither consumer nor business WhatsApp protects intimate metadatalike contact list, whos messaging whom, when, profile photo, etc. And, when compelled, like all companies that collect the data to begin with, they turn this important, revealing data over.

Raising the privacy bar Despite her criticism of WhatsApps metadata handling, Whittaker acknowledged the companys use of Signals encryption as a positive step.

Dont misunderstandwe love that WhatsApp uses our tech to raise the privacy bar of their app. Part of Signals mission is to set, and encourage the tech ecosystem to meet, this high privacy bar, she said.

However, she stressed that the differences between the two platforms are significant and that the public deserves full transparency about privacy protections.

But these are key differences when it comes to meaningful privacy, and the public deserves to understand them, given the stakes. Not have them clouded in marketing, Whittaker concluded.

Security and Government surveillance concerns Signal has long been regarded as a leading platform for secure communication, particularly among activists, journalists, and officials wary of surveillance. The Trump administrations security mishap has reignited discussions about the importance of secure digital communication and the potential risks of human error in handling sensitive information.

Security concerns and expert warnings Experts warned that using commercial apps like Signal for sensitive discussions exposes messages to potential cyber threats. Cybersecurity analyst Rocky Cole stated, If the phone itself isnt secure, all Signal messages can be read.

While many Republicans downplayed the breach, Representative Don Bacon, a retired Air Force general, said Hegseth should take responsibility, warning that the leak put lives at risk.
The Trump administration recently clarified that they have cancelled several hundreds nonsensical services that was funded taxpayers money. These services includes several transgender and queer focused services like - educating transgender and queer farmers on food justice and food equality, study of menstrural cycle of transgenger men, etc.

Defending the move, Brooke Rollins, US Secretary of Agriculture, said, I'm not even sure what that means but apparently the last administration wanted to put our taxpayer dollars towards that.

A clip from the meeting, where US President Donald Trump was also present, was shared by Elon Musk and it attracted mixed reaction from the netizens.

How netizens react to the news One said, Now that you're cancelling services by the dozens, supposedly, what kind of services are you going to offer instead? The thing I miss least about living in the United States is the lack of social services.

I really wish you were the man we all fell in love with. This is not about party lines: this is about your incredible mind and everything you can truly accomplish in this world. You were born to be a great leader. But not like this. Youre hurting too many people

Did I just hear $600k contracts in Louisiana that studied the menstrual cycle of transgender men?? one questioned the policymakers and in a simlar note another said, "Educating transgender & queer farmers on food justice & food equality??

Spending other peoples money and being immune to repercussions should be a crime, said one and another added, money can help a lot of people get their debt paid!

Trump orders removal of queer members from the military Since Trump took office there has been measures to limit transgender and queer rights inclunding removal of queer members from the military. A memo, released last month, says, Within 30 days, the Pentagon must identify service members who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria, which is the medical term for the severe emotional distress caused by the misalignment between ones gender identity and birth sex.
Hillary Clinton sparked a social media firestorm on Monday (March 25) after reacting with shock to reports that top Trump administration officials had mistakenly added a journalist to a Signal group chat discussing military strikes in Yemen.

"You have got to be kidding me," Clinton wrote on X, adding an eyes emoji in response to an article from The Atlantic detailing the security breach.

The report, authored by The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, revealed that he had been inadvertently included in a Signal group chat with Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, national security adviser Mike Waltz, and other Trump administration officials. The conversation reportedly included operational details about US airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.

Social media users mock Hillary's response Hillary Clintons reaction drew sharp criticism from conservative figures and commentators, many of whom pointed to her own history with national security controversies.

"Sit this one out, you vile witch," conservative influencer Gunther Eagleman tweeted.

"She should not be talking," wrote Kyle Adams, a former Republican political consultant.

Michael J. Morrison, a member of the New York Young Republicans, added, "Im old enough to remember when you used a server in your basement and nothing happened to you."

Clintons email scandal resurfaces Clintons critics referenced her controversial use of a private email server during her tenure as secretary of statea scandal that became a major talking point during her 2016 presidential campaign. She was accused of mishandling classified information, though the FBI ultimately declined to recommend charges against her.

While no legal action was taken, the controversy fueled Republican attacks on her candidacy and contributed to public distrust.
Canadas Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged a significant boost in defense spending if his Liberal Party secures victory in the April 28 general election, a move that could be a direct response to growing geopolitical instability and pressure from the United States. His announcement comes amid US President Donald Trumps controversial remarks about Canada potentially becoming the 51st state of the US, escalating concerns over national sovereignty.

Carneys defense push amid rising global uncertainty Speaking from a shipyard in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Tuesday (March 25), Mark Carney emphasised the urgent need for a more robust defense strategy.

"Our sovereignty faces the greatest threats in generations. The world is becoming more divided and dangerous, and this plan will help ensure that Canada is strong at home, strong abroad," Carney said.

His proposal includes acquiring new submarines and heavy icebreakers while overhauling Canadas outdated military procurement system. He also committed to improving military recruitment and raising service members' pay, though specific budgetary details were not provided.

Trumps pressure and the '51st State' controversy Carneys announcement follows increased pressure from Trump, who has criticized Canada for failing to meet NATOs defense spending target of 2% of GDP. Currently, Canada spends approximately 1.4%, and Carney has committed to reaching the target by 2030 "at the latest." The previous Justin Trudeau administration had planned to meet the threshold only by 2032, straining relations with the US.

Trump has not only pushed for higher defense spending but has also hinted at annexing Canada, a statement that has alarmed many Canadians. His repeated claims about making Canada the 51st US state, coupled with threats to impose tariffs on Canadian imports, have fueled diplomatic tensions.

Carney addressed these concerns, stating, "We're defending our borders, our sovereignty, our minerals, our water, our land, our way of life."

Liberals gain momentum in Opinion Polls Recent opinion polls show Carneys Liberals gaining ground over the opposition Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre. A new Angus Reid Institute survey found that 46% of decided and leaning voters back the Liberals, compared to 38% for the Conservatives. However, the poll also suggests that Conservative supporters are less likely to change their stance before election day.

(With Reuters inputs)

Also Read | Canada Polls are all about who can stand up to Donald Trump? 4 things to know
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that steep tariffs will be imposed on imports from countries purchasing oil and gas from Venezuela, a move that could affect China, India, and others, as reported by AFP.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has imposed tariffs on both allies and adversaries, seeking to influence economic and diplomatic policies.

AFP further reported that the new 25% tariffs, targeting both direct and indirect buyers of Venezuelan oil, could take effect as soon as April 2, following an order signed by Trump. The Secretary of State, in consultation with other US agencies, will decide whether the levy will be imposed.

This measure could particularly impact China and India, as Venezuela exports oil to both countries, in addition to the United States and Spain.

Moreover, Trump told reporters Monday that the 25 per cent tariff would be on top of existing rates.

Also Read: US Poised to Order More Companies to Stop Operating in Venezuela

In February, Venezuela exported approximately 500,000 barrels of oil per day to China, while the United States imported about 240,000 barrels, according to experts who spoke to AFP.

Trump has referred to April 2 as "Liberation Day" for the US economy, already promising reciprocal tariffs tailored to each trading partner in an effort to address practices Washington considers unfair.

Earlier, he indicated that sector-specific duties might be implemented around the same time, but on Monday, the White House suggested it could take a more focused approach with these new measures.

In his Monday announcement on Truth Social involving Venezuela, the president cited "numerous reasons" for what he called a "secondary tariff."

He accused Venezuela of "purposefully and deceitfully" sending "undercover, tens of thousands of high level, and other, criminals" to the United States.

He added in his post that "Venezuela has been very hostile to the United States and the Freedoms which we espouse."

According to Trump's order, the 25 percent tariff expires a year after the last date that a country has imported Venezuelan oil -- or sooner if Washington decides so.

Separately Monday, the Trump administration extended US oil giant Chevron's deadline to halt its operations in Venezuela through May 27.

The company had been operating in Venezuela under a sanctions waiver.

US partners are furthering talks with Washington as deadlines loom, with EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic heading to the country Tuesday to meet his American counterparts -- Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and trade envoy Jamieson Greer.

The possibility of a narrower tariff rollout boosted financial markets.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo last week that the US would approach trading partners with clear indications of where tariff levels and non-tariff barriers stand. Bessent added that if countries ceased their unfair practices, they could potentially avoid the new levies.

Venezuela has been very hostile to the United States and the Freedoms which we espouse.

During the same interview, Bessent mentioned that the tariffs would primarily target about 15% of countries with trade imbalances with the United States, referring to these nations as the dirty 15.
India and China are likely to try to interfere in Canada's upcoming general elections, country's spy agency Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has claimed, according to a Reuters report.

Russia and Pakistan could potentially conduct foreign interference activities against Canada, the report added on Monday. Canada's general elections are scheduled for April 28.

The Canadian spy agency made its comments at a time when Ottawa's relations with both India and China are chilly. Beijing and New Delhi have denied previous allegations of interference.

Hostile state actors According to the report, Vanessa Lloyd, deputy director of operations at CSIS, told a press conference that hostile state actors were increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence to meddle in elections.

Also Read | Trudeau Govt Panel Wants To Probe Whether India Interfered In Canada Elections | India Canada Ties

"The PRC (People's Republic of China) is highly likely to use AI enabled tools to attempt to interfere with Canada's democratic process in this current election," she said.

"We have also seen that the government of India has the intent and capability to interfere in Canadian communities and democratic processes," said Lloyd.

"It's often very difficult to establish a direct link between foreign interference activities and election results ... Nevertheless, threat activities can erode public trust in the integrity of Canada's democratic processes and institutions," she said.

An official probe report released in January claimed that Canada was slow to respond to interference attempts by China and India during the 2019 and 2021 elections, although the meddling did not affect the outcomes.

The Chinese and Indian diplomatic missions in Ottawa have not yet responded to Canadas allegations.

Canada's strained relationship with India, China Canada last year expelled six Indian diplomats  including the head of mission  over allegations they were involved in a plot against Sikh separatists on Canadian soil.

In October 2024, then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had accused India of being involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and a prominent Sikh separatist leader, in British Columbia.

India had denied its involvement, and in response to Canada expelling its diplomats, expelled senior Canadian diplomats. The situation further escalated when demonstrations near a Hindu temple in Ontario were dispersed by the Canadian police after weapons were reportedly spotted at the demonstration.

Earlier this month Beijing announced tariffs on more than $2.6 billion worth of Canadian agricultural and food products, retaliating against levies Ottawa slapped on Chinese electric vehicles and steel and aluminum products last year.

Also Read | India takes veiled jibe at Justin Trudeau over strained relations with Canada

Canada said last week that China had executed four Canadian citizens on drug smuggling charges, and strongly condemned Beijing's use of the death penalty.

Snap elections in Canada Canadians are headed to the polls for a vote unlike any other in the country's recent history. Prime Minister Mark Carney, who replaced Justin Trudeau earlier this month, has called snap elections for April 28.

Carney had cited the need for a strong mandate to address the challenges posed by US President Donald Trump while calling for snap elections.

Canada currently has retaliatory tariffs in place on C$30 billion ($20.8 billion) worth of US imports to the country, and has threatened to hit another C$125 billion worth of US goods. In his acceptance speech Sunday night, Carney said he would not remove Canadas existing retaliatory measures until Trump removes the threat of tariffs and commits to free trade with Canada.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Tuesday (March 25) that a truce with Russia covering the Black Sea and energy strikes had come into effect. However, Zelensky cautioned that Moscow was already distorting the terms of the agreement.

Zelensky also stated that he would seek US President Donald Trumps support in providing weapons and imposing sanctions on Russia if Moscow violated the agreements.

US brokers separate deals with Kyiv and Moscow The United States had earlier announced that it had made separate agreements with both Ukraine and Russia to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea and to halt attacks on energy infrastructure in both nations.

"The U.S. side considers that our agreements come into force after their announcement by the U.S. side," Zelensky said at a news conference in Kyiv. However, he expressed scepticism, saying, "I do not trust Russia to honor the arrangements."

Zelensky accuses Russia of manipulation Speaking in his nightly video address, Zelensky accused Russia of deceiving the global community.

"Unfortunately, even now, even today, on the very day of negotiations, we see how the Russians have already begun to manipulate," he said.

He also rejected claims from Moscow that linked the Black Sea shipping agreement to sanctions relief for Russia. "They are already trying to distort agreements and, in fact, deceive both our intermediaries and the entire world," he warned.

No clear measures if Russia violates the truce Zelensky noted that the agreements lacked clear enforcement mechanisms should Russia breach the terms. He stated that in such an event, he would turn to Trump for military assistance and additional sanctions.

"We have no faith in the Russians, but we will be constructive," he added.

The Ukrainian leader also indicated that US officials viewed the energy ceasefire as extending to other civilian infrastructure, including ports.

List of protected facilities and Russias commitments Kyiv has provided US officials with a list of facilities it believes should be covered by the moratorium on energy strikes. The Kremlin, meanwhile, published its own list of Russian and Ukrainian facilities covered under the agreement, including oil refineries, pipelines, and nuclear plants.

Talks in Saudi Arabia lead to agreements The truce agreements followed two days of discussions in Saudi Arabia involving US officials meeting separately with Ukrainian and Russian representatives.

As part of the deal, the White House announced in a joint statement with Russia that the US would facilitate Moscows access to global agricultural and fertilizer markets. However, Zelensky distanced Ukraine from that agreement.

"We believe that this is a weakening of position and sanctions," he said, making it clear that Kyiv had not endorsed that provision.

Kyiv warns against Russian Naval movements Ukraines Defense Minister Rustem Umerov cautioned that Kyiv would view any movement of Russian naval vessels beyond the eastern Black Sea as a violation of the truce.

"In such an event, Kyiv will have the right to self-defense," Umerov wrote on X, implying that Ukraine could retaliate militarily.

Kyiv, which has used naval drones and missiles to push back Russian forces in the Black Sea, called for third-party nations to help implement the agreements to end the war with Russia.

Monitoring the agreements and future oversight Zelensky suggested that Turkey could be involved in monitoring compliance in the Black Sea, while Middle Eastern nations could oversee the energy truce. However, he acknowledged that no formal discussions had taken place with these nations yet.

"The American side really wanted all of this not to fail, so they did not want to go into many details. But in any case, we will have to understand answers to each of the details," Zelensky said.

Expanded US-Ukraine minerals deal Separately, Zelensky revealed that the US had presented Ukraine with an expanded version of a bilateral minerals deal. This proposal went beyond the initial framework that had previously stalled following a tense Oval Office meeting last month.

Zelensky stated that he had not yet fully reviewed the new proposal but confirmed that it did not include greater US involvement in Ukraines nuclear power sectora topic that Washington had recently raised.



Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago. Russia, which has been making advances, now holds around a fifth of Ukraine's territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, Reuters reported. Russia has previously ruled out territorial concessions and said Ukraine must withdraw entirely from four regions claimed and partly controlled by Russia, according to the report.

(With Reuters inputs)

Also Read | JD Vance makes surprise Greenland visit announcement amid growing US interest
India has levied anti-dumping duties on five Chinese products that were being imported below market prices, raising suspicion of their being dumped" here. These barriers should help protect Indian producers against potentially unfair competition from a country faced with low domestic demand, deflationary pressures and over-capacity.

Producers in China looking to export their surplus at throwaway prices is not a surprise. With demand at home insufficient to absorb what their factories churn out, its sometimes found that selling the stuff below cost in overseas markets makes more financial sense than reducing output to levels that reverse the advantage conferred by economies of scale.

The latest set of duties cover soft ferrite cores, vacuum insulated flasks of a certain thickness, aluminium foil, trichloro isocyanuric acid and poly vinyl chloride paste resin, as identified by Indias Directorate General of Trade Remedies.

What remains unclear is whether the coverage of anti-dumping measures will be expanded. Given the Chinese economys slump and trade volatility caused by Americas new tariffs, India must stay vigilant. We shouldnt just let the chips fall wherever they might.
One reason Apple Inc s brand is so valuable is that for decades, it had a reputation for only making promises it could keep. It did this thanks to a notoriously stubborn CEO in Steve Jobs, who had talented executives and listened to what investors thought, but ultimately made decisions by consulting an advisory panel of one: himself.

Tim Cook is not Steve Jobs, but his gift for supply-chain logistics made him the right CEO when Apples largest challenge seemed to be iterating and building the iPhone to sell billions of them around the world. In his own way, Cook was as good a promise keeper as Jobs. Yet, all of a sudden, Captain Cook seems to be in uncharted territory. Hes there because he opened his decision-making to the whims of Wall Street, which was demanding big news on what Apple would do with artificial intelligence (AI). I dont think Jobs would have allowed himself to be rushed, but Cook did.

By prematurely introducing Apple Intelligence, Cook gave his company a deadline it wasnt sure it could meet, and it hasnt. Apple has broken promises to customers, with TV spots trumpeting features that are still nowhere near completion, nudging customers to buy smartphones that cost $1,000 plus but dont work as advertised (there was small print).

Initial Apple Intelligence features have been disappointing. First, news organizations complained of misconstrued summaries, which Apple tweaked. Now its problems run deeper: When non-nerd friends message you to ask how to turn off these pop-ups because it keeps getting my messages wrong," you know Apple has goofed.

Cook is moving to stop this blip from becoming a crisis that would call his leadership into question. His biggest step so far has been to shuffle the executives responsible for the effort. Now in charge is the man who spearheaded the Vision Pro headset, which, while not exactly a hit, is widely regarded to be an impressive feat, unlike its chat agent Siri.

Even so, Apples enhanced Siri cant be expected to land on iPhones until 2026 at the earliest, denying Wall Street the iPhone sales super cycle that had supposedly been in the cards thanks to this vague idea that consumers would clamour to upgrade.

Some of the more conversational features are more likely to arrive in 2027. That tentative due date will seem further and further away if competitors like Amazon.coms new Alexa are released on time and perform as advertised. Alexa+, with its integrations and clean interface, is the kind of AI application Apple should have built by now. Unfortunately, it hasntso now the company must do everything it can to make sure consumers can use these other services unencumbered.

Thats the way forward, herea return to the roots of the iPhone as a place for external developers to create ground-breaking applications. To get out of this AI hole and keep the iPhone on the cutting edge of digital technology, the company needs to borrow that famous battle cry from former Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer: Developers! Developers! Developers!"

Its what Apple has always been good at. As Apple watcher Jon Gruber stressed in a recent blog post, the Mac computer line became the industry choice for creatives because it was the best platform with which to use Adobes products. The iPhone, similarly, became the world-changing device it is because of the likes of Uber, Spotify and Google Maps.

Apples primary role isand always has beento build hardware and an operating system capable of supporting such innovative ideas. But in more recent years, this purpose has been complicated by the companys desire to exert more controlin the name of privacy, as it has made clearwhile also building up its own services business as another valuable income source. This now means that AI on the iPhone is only as good as Apple can currently make it.

As developer Gus Mueller wrote recently: I would like things to advance at the pace of the industry, and not Apples."

There might have been a window when Apple felt it could build its own AI and keep everyone else out, but that has closed now. Apple urgently needs to find a way to open up its devices to be properly built upon by others doing it better.

Im confident it can do this with sufficient guard-rails around privacy, instituting the same kind of watchdog arrangement it put in place to make sure its App Store wasnt a risk to consumers. Im certain it can find ways to make heaps of money as that gatekeeper since, despite the tumult, the iPhone is still the most capable mobile device for running artificial intelligence, and its enormous user base is locked in. Failing to adapt to the AI moment, however, could be a mistake with Nokia-sized consequences. Bloomberg
A yawning gap has been reported between bad loans on credit cards issued by public-sector and private banks . Given the difficulty with which the dud-loan burden of lenders in Indiaparticularly state-run oneswas brought under control in recent years, this must not escape notice. After a painful and prolonged clean-up, banks must not repeat past mistakes.

Unfortunately, a pile-up of credit left in the lurch on the plastic cards of public sector banks (PSBs) suggests otherwise. In a rush to capture bigger chunks of the revenge buying witnessed in the aftermath of the covid pandemic, PSBs might have been less than discriminate in issuing cards, with the result that their bad-loan ratio on these stood at 12.7% at the end of September, much higher than the 2.1% reported for private banks.

This data from Care Ratings underscores broader concerns over personal debt. Liberal sign-ups seem to have made credit card holders splurge on various goods and services. But many of them may have been unaware of how costly this credit can prove if rolled over beyond the no-interest payback period (of a month, typically). Penalties for failing to meet minimum repayment obligations are severe, while the interest charges are usurious, often several times the rate charged on other collateral-free loans given by banks to their clients.

Notably, the success of Indias Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has not got in the way of a surge in credit-card usage. By the end of 2024, the number of active cards in India had climbed to 108 million, almost double the 55.3 million five years earlier, according to data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

This is interesting.

Since UPI allows quick cashless payments, with bank transfers done via QR codes scanned by smartphones, credit cards are no longer the easiest way to pay cashlessly within India, even if theyre still very useful overseas, especially for car rentals and the like, for which a company may need to hold a large claim to cover potential damages or other dues. Generally speaking, as a result of UPIs wide local acceptability, the utility of plastic has been reduced to accessing instant credit for retail purchases.

Of course, these cards can also be used to create a clean bill-payment record for a good credit score, and they often have frills like reward schemes, but none of these is their core purpose.

Credit cards exist today for holders to avail of loans with no questions asked: say, to make a big-ticket purchase for which ones bank account is short of funds. In spite of credit limits, profligacy can easily lead card users into debt traps, given how rolled-over debt can turn into a rapidly rising repayment burden.

With high rates of interest, not everyone grasps the danger of taking credit for more than a few months. While card issuers may earn plenty, they must weigh their earnings against default risks.

Overall household debt is on RBIs radar. Its Financial Stability Report for 2024 noted a covid-led rise from its level in June 2021. But vulnerability to the over-use of credit cards is in need of specific attention. It calls for a reset based on a review of their raison detre in todays age of UPI.

As loan-giving devices, credit cards would serve their purpose better if theyre issued to users who are more credit-worthy, but with markedly lower rates charged. This way, they would be less likely to entrap people in debt and enlarge the dud assets of banks. Its time to rework the math behind plastic.
The Securities and Exchange Board of Indias ( Sebi ) consultation paper, Enhancing Trading Convenience and Strengthening Risk Monitoring in Equity Derivatives , issued last month, fulfils a long-standing market demand to increase the economic representativeness of its Open Interest (OI) measurement approach.

The proposal will not only help retail investors, but also institutions such as mutual funds that manage retail money. The existing method of measuring OI by adding the notional value of futures and options makes limited sense. It inadvertently leaves the door open for market risk guard-rails to be bypassed.

Regulatory independence: Indian regulators have at times adopted global best practices and at others charted their own path. For example, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines that predate the Wests 2008 subprime-loan crisis had restrained securitization structures which had a weak economic rationale. But in hindsight, these worked out well.

Take another example. The London Interbank Offered Rate (Libor), once a global lending benchmark, was determined by a process called fixing, and had the same executional shortcomings that its name cued. But Indias benchmark, the Mumbai Interbank Offered Rate (Mibor), did not follow what was seen as a best practice before it was phased out in 2023.

While the future-equivalent (or Delta) way of calculating OI proposed by Sebi may not be present in major markets, the concept is sound. So, there is no reason why India should not implement it. South Korea and Americas Commodity Futures Trading Commission have already adopted the Delta approach. Sebis proposal hits a sweet spot that balances economic correctness with ease of implementation.

How easy is it to implement? Delta represents the ratio of change in the derivatives price to the change in the underlying stock price or index value. A futures price tends to have a one-on-one link with the price of its underlying asset. If both prices move in perfect sync, the Delta would be 1. For options, the absolute value of Delta ranges between 1.0 and 0.0, with extreme values observed only when an option is almost surely making money (an in-the-money option) or almost surely not doing so (out-of-the-money).

In the proposed approach, the Delta of futures will be added with the Delta of options, with long positions given a positive Delta and short ones negative. This enables the measurement of risk for the aggregate market portfolio for any given set of changes in market prices.

Of course, this does not cover all types of risks, such as the rate of change of Delta as the underlying assets price moves, or what is called Gamma, and other risk measures such as Vega or Theta. In derivatives trading, the risks are regularly calculated and hedged, or traded. Even small trading outfits have the capability to track and monitor these so-called Greeks. Sebi has been sharing daily Delta data for some time. So, the introduction of a Delta-based measure for OI may not surprise traders (influencers, we can excuse).

The long and short of it: The existing OI measures allow participants to show zero net exposure, which grossly under-represents the actual market risk position. A notional exposure of 100 in long futures does not necessarily cancel out the exposure to an out-of-money put option of notional value of 100. Still, todays OI metric will read 0. This gap lets participants game the system and push a stock into a futures and options (F&O) trading ban at very minimal outlay (since out-of-money options are cheap). Such a temporary ban often leads to a fall in its spot price and provides an illicit opportunity to make money to those very participants whose actions triggered the ban. The proposed rule draws a curtain on such gaming.

With respect to the gross value versus net value of Delta-based positions, the debate is more nuanced. Recall the London Whale episode of JP Morgan where $2 billion was lost. That the risk of derivatives exposure was measured on a net-exposure basis, which failed to raise a timely red flag, contributed to it. Net exposure measurement works best when long positions move in perfect unison with short ones, but in opposite directiontheoretically, a perfect hedge.

This, however, never happens. So, Sebis proposal of tracking both gross and net positions (and set separate limits) is pragmatic. In the current regime, one may have a huge Delta or Gamma exposure even as OI remains below the 500 crore limit. But the proposed method will make it hard to have large hidden risk exposures. It is hoped that exposure limits will balance the need for liquidity, given the growth of Indias market and the risk of single trading outfits bearing large exposures.

Long journey ahead: The proposed method will make it more expensive and hard to manipulate F&Os. But Sebi should consider providing a floor for the value of Delta, as opposed to letting it go anywhere near 0. This would prevent any big build-up in deep out-of-money option positions for manipulation. That said, rules alone cannot eliminate market manipulation. The regulator and exchanges must also enhance surveillance. AI-led real-time pattern recognition could further help keep that malpractice in check.

The author is a quantitative risk management professional and member of the visiting faculty at IIM Calcutta and IIM Ahmedabad.
New Delhi [India], March 25 (ANI): Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport & Highways, on Tuesday said that in the next two years, the Indian roads will be better than those of the United States.

"I don't think there is any problem in the road sector. The changes this year and next year will be so significant that earlier I used to say our highway road network would match that of the US, but now I say that within two years, our highway network will be even better than the US," he added.

Addressing the Times Drive Auto Summit and Awards 2025, the Union Minister highlighted the recent developments in the sector.

Speaking at the event, Gadkari exuded confidence that India will surpass the US in EV adoption and manufacturing in the next five years.

The Union Minister explained the ministry's works and added that the distance between cities such as Delhi, Dehradun, Jaipur, or Bengaluru will drastically reduce.

When asked about Tesla's entry into the country, the Union Minister said, "It is an open market; whoever has the power, come and make it and compete in the prices."

He added that the transport manufacturers in the country are quality-centric rather than cost-centric.

He expressed confidence that the car manufacturers will make good vehicles and offer them at a competitive price.

The Union Minister reiterated his commitment to reducing logistics costs, adding that the cost would be in the single digits, making India competitive with the world.

The country's logistics cost is currently around 14-16 per cent. The Union Minister also revealed that he has set a target to build a 60-kilometer road network every day.
In a strong reaction to Kunal Kamra's Monday's statement, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, said a decorum should be maintained while taking jibes, otherwise the action causes a reaction.

Kunal Kamra has refused to apologise for his controversial comment on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and issued a statement on Monday saying your inability to take a joke does not change my rights.

What Eknath Shinde said? On Tuesday reacting to the statement, Shinde said in a BBC Marathi event, "Freedom of speech is there. We understand satire. But there should be a limit. This is like taking 'supari' (contract) to speak against someone"

On the Shiv Sainiks vandalising the studio where Kamra had performed and made those remarks, Shinde said the other person should also maintain a certain level.

"Otherwise, action causes reaction," he said.

"This same person (Kamra) had commented on the Supreme Court of India, the Prime Minister, (journalist) Arnab Goswami and some industrialists. This is not freedom of speech; this is working for someone," Shinde said.

What Kamra said in his statement Kamra issued statement late Monday night, saying I will not apologise... I don't fear this mob & I will not be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to die down,

"Your inability to take a joke at the expense of a powerful public figure does not change the nature of my right. As far as I know, it is not against the law to poke fun at our leaders and the circus that is our political system. However, I am willing to cooperate with the police and courts for any lawful action taken against me.

He also slammed the Shiv Sena menbers for vandalising Habitat Studio saying, An entertainment venue is merely a platform. A space for all sorts of shows. Habitat (or any other venue) is not responsible for my comedy, nor does it have any power or control over what I say or do. Neither does any political party. Attacking a venue for a comedian's words is as senseless as overturning a lorry carrying tomatoes, because you didn't like the butter chicken you were served

Maharashtra ministers slams Kamra Kunal Kamra refusal to apologise for his gaddar comments for Shinde received storng reaction from Maharashtra ministers.

MoS Home Yogesh Ramdas Kadam stated, "He will be punished. If you are going to insult the Supreme Court, PM of India, Hindu Gods and Goddesses, it is not tolerable. You cannot behave like this in Maharashtra or India... We do enjoy comedy, but this is not the kind of comedy that will be tolerated in Maharashtra."

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Minister Gulab Raghunath Patil also expressed strong disapproval of Kamra's actions. Patil warned, "If he doesn't apologize, we will speak to him in our own style... Shiv Sena won't leave him... we won't tolerate this insult... if he doesn't apologize, he will come out, where will he hide?... Shiv Sena will show its real form."

The 36-year-old stand-up comedian has kicked up a major political storm in Maharashtra for taking a jibe at Shinde's political career in his show.
Bharatiya Janata Party MP and actor Kangana Ranaut on Tuesday lashed out at comedian Kunal Kamra over his traitor joke aimed at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Disgracing anyone in the name of comedy is in bad taste, she said while talking to reporters outside the Parliament.

You may be anyone but disrespecting anyone (is not good). You are disgracing someone in the name of comedy, you are disregarding what all he has done. Shinde ji used to drive an auto rickshaw a while ago.

Also Read | Kunal Kamra Controversy LIVE: Kangana slams Kamra over Shinde row

"Today he has made it till here on his own. What are his (Kamra's) credentials? Who are these people who haven't done anything in life? If they can write, I'd say write literature or comedy scenes in films. Abusing in the name of comedy, mocking our scriptures in the name of comedy, making fun of people, mothers and sisters (is not right)," Ranaut said.

Ranaut added, "These people call themselves influencers. Where is society headed for this 2-minute fame? We need to think about this. Like (Devendra) Fadnavis ji said we have to take some responsibility for what we say. There could be repercussions. Would you stand by that when you are questioned legally?"

'Demolition at Mumbai venue legal' Defending the demolition inside the premises of the comedy club where Kamra's show was filmed, Ranaut said it was done legally. The actor also said it was wrong to compare the incident at the comedy club with the demolition of her Mumbai office by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) back in the 2020 incident following her spat with the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government.

"(Demolition of my office) was a completely illegal activity, this is absolutely legal. They can't be clubbed together," she added.

Shiv Sena members had vanadalised The Habitat Studio in Mumbai's Khar area, as well as a hotel in whose premises the club is located, on Sunday night. Subsequently, 11 Sena leaders were booked and arrested.

What the Kamra controversy is Kamra recently performed a parody of a popular Hindi song from the film "Dil Toh Pagal Hai," apparently referring to Shinde as a "gaddar" (traitor). He also made jokes about recent political developments in Maharashtra, including the Shiv Sena and NCP splits.

Kamra on Monday released a statement on his official social media handle saying that he would "not apologise" for his act.

Earlier, Mumbai Police sent a summon to standup artist Kunal Kamra, asking him to appear before the investigating officer at 11 am today. As per Mumbai police, Kamra is not in Mumbai right now.

The MIDC police had registered an FIR against Kamra for his remarks, which was transferred to Khar police for further investigation.
New Delhi: The government is likely to withdraw the 6% equalization levy introduced in 2016 on online advertisement services rendered to Indian businesses by offshore digital economy firms through amendments to the Finance Bill, 2025, to be taken up by Parliament this week, two persons familiar with the development said.

In August, the government had removed a 2% levy that applied to a wide array of services rendered to Indian businesses by offshore tech firms including cloud services and e-commerce services.

The government had then retained the 6% levy that applied to online advertisement services by offshore technology companies that do not have a physical presence in India.

Also read | US delegations New Delhi visit set to boost trade talks as Trump tariffs loom

The equalization levy shall not apply to any consideration for any specified service received or receivable by a person on or after the first day of April 2025," one of the persons quoted above said, quoting the proposed amendment.

Queries emailed to the finance ministry seeking comments for the story remained unanswered at the time of publishing.

The move to drop the controversial levynicknamed the Google taxcomes in the wake of ongoing trade talks between the US and India. The proposal is part of amendments to be moved in Parliament regarding the Finance Bill, 2025, which is under debate and will be taken up for approval in the House early this week.

The amendment proposals will be moved when the House takes up the bill for passage, the two persons quoted above confirmed. Discussions on the Finance Bill were continuing late in the evening in the Lok Sabha at the time of going to press.

Also read | What colour is your dal? If its yellow, the US wants a free pass.

The equalization levy applies only if services rendered by offshore digital economy firms to Indian businesses fetch them more than 1 lakh a year. The proposed amendment is to introduce a sunset clause in the income tax to phase out the levy from 1 April 2025, a day before US President Donald Trumps reciprocal tariffs on countries, including India, are to take effect.

Reportedly, the UK too is considering abolishing its digital services tax before 2 April, according to overseas news reports.

Such taxes on tech firms were implemented by several European Union (EU) nations as digital economy firms were seen to be posing a challenge to conventional tax systems based on physical presence of the income-earning entity. A global framework negotiated by Group of 20 (G20) and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) nations to address the tax challenges of digital economy has also fallen apart with the US disavowing its commitments in January.

The proposed change to Indian tax law would now reduce the costs for digital advertisement consumers, while lowering tax costs for digital advertisement platforms such as Google and Meta, said Sandeep Jhunjhunwala, M&A (mergers and acquisitions) tax partner at Nangia Andersen. A tax exemption under regular provisions to payments to offshore entities during the existence of equalization levy, meant to avoid double taxation of the same amount, is likely to be withdrawn.

Also read | Why India wants critical minerals in its trade deal with US

The income tax department has been working on issuing a fresh set of rules to determine how foreign companies profits derived from India are to be taxed under regular tax provisions, Mint had reported on 11 February.

The 2% levy on e-commerce, dropped last year, had drawn more criticism from the US but, in anticipation of more tariff retaliation by the US, India is trying to show a more accommodative stance and the removal of the 6% levy on online advertising is a step in that direction, said Amit Maheshwari, tax partner, AKM Global, a tax and consulting firm.

Amendments meant to reduce litigation in electronics manufacturing sector will also be proposed, one of the persons quoted above said.
New Delhi: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the new Income Tax Bill, currently under review by a select committee, will be taken up for discussion in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha during a discussion of the Finance Bill, Sitharaman said the select committee has been mandated to submit its report by the first day of the next session.

I am also glad to say that through this Finance Bill, we have brought in the new Income Tax Bill. I have not presented it as part of the Finance Bill... Its gone into a select committee review, after which we will take it up (in Parliament), Sitharaman said.

Hopefully we will have it (new income tax bill) taken up for discussion in this House during the monsoon session, she added.

The Lok Sabha has constituted a 31-member select committee, chaired by BJP member of Parliament Baijayant Jay Panda, to examine the Income Tax Bill 2025.

The bill, which will replace the 64-year-old Income Tax Act, seeks to achieve tax certainty by minimizing the scope of litigation and fresh interpretation.

Meanwhile, responding to queries, the finance minister said the government is examining proposals to reduce the goods and services tax (GST) on certain agricultural inputs.

Sitharaman said a dedicated group of ministers (GoM) is looking into the proposal though the 45th GST Council meeting held in September 2021 didnt recommend reducing GST on farm inputs.

So, the items will be looked at by the GoM and they will take a call, she said.

Sitharaman also said the government has slashed the tariff rates on industrial goods from 21% to 8% and barred cess and surcharge on any item to spur domestic demand and enhance export competitiveness.

Surcharge (Social Welfare Surcharge) will be now exempted from 82 tariff lines, which are subject to a cess. So, the double burden of both cess and surcharge on any particular item is being removed, she added.

Sitharaman also told the Lok Sabha that the proposal in the Income Tax Bill, 2025, which seeks to allow authorized tax officials to gain access to computer systems or virtual digital space where its access code is not available, was meant to address a gap in the existing Income Tax Act provision that allows such access.

The proposal allows officials to override any access code to reach these digital systems.

The minister informed the House that where an assessee is not cooperating, provisions allowing an authorized officer to gain access to such computer systems exist even now. But officials accessing digital storage and communication systems are being specifically being mentioned in the new bill to address a gap in the 1961 Income Tax Act. Digital evidence has helped to solve tax evasion cases, the minister said.

Unaccounted money to the extent of 250 crore has been detected when the encryption has been decoded, the minister said, referring to a case cracked by accessing encrypted messages. Also, evidence seized from WhatsApp messages has helped to detect crypto assets worth 90 crore and the network of people involved in it, the minister said.

Evidence has been found with the help of Google Maps history. Google Maps history found on phone was used to determine the frequented locations of individuals who had enabled location history, the minister said, adding that locations where unaccounted cash was kept was detected this way. Instagram account was used to establish the beneficial ownership of vehicles, the minister said, referring to a case involving benami property.

Also read | US delegations New Delhi visit set to boost trade talks as Trump tariffs loom

Sitharaman also said the central government may scrap a 6% tax on digital online advertisements, which, introduced in 2016, taxed payments made by Indian businesses to foreign companies for digital advertising services.

Have proposed to remove 6% equalization levy for advertisements, the finance minister informed the Lok Sabha.

News agency Reuters has reported that the decision on levy takes effect from 1 April.

The move by the Centre comes after the concerns faced by the country by US president Donald Trumps threats of reciprocal tariffs.
The central government asked traders, wholesalers, retailers, chain retailers and processors in all states and union territories to declare their stock position of wheat starting 1 April 2025 as part of its effort to manage food security and prevent unscrupulous speculation.

The government has mandated that all wheat stocking entities register on the designated portal (https://evegoils.nic.in/wsp/login) and update their stock positions every Friday, according to a statement. All the respective legal entities have to ensure that stock are regularly and correctly disclosed on the portal.

The wheat stock limit, or the maximum amount of wheat such entities can hold, is expiring on 31 March 2025 for all categories of entities in states and UTs.

Also read | Subsidies and MSP:It makes most sense for farmers to keep growing rice and wheat

The Department of Food and Public Distribution is watching the wheat stock position to prevent speculation, control prices and ensure easy availability in the country.

According to the second advance estimates, released by the ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare on 10 March, wheat production in the rabi season of 2024-25 is expected to be a record 115.43 million tonnes on account of strong acreage and favourable weather.

The central government is targeting to procure 31 million tonnes of wheat during the ensuing rabi marketing season of 2025-26. Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are the major contributing states to the central pool. Already, wheat procurement has started in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, although the arrival is yet to pace up. In Punjab and Haryana, the arrival of the crop will start in different mandis of the states from April onwards.

Also read | Cold wave to boost wheat and mustard crops; may hit chickpea and potato yield

Recently the government revised wheat stock limits for traders, retailers, and chain store retailers. According to an official statement from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, the Centre has significantly revised the stock limits on wheat for different entities. Traders and wholesalers will now be allowed to stock up to 250 tonnes, down from previous limit of 1,000 tonnes.

Retailers' stock limit has been reduced to 4 tonnes per outlet from 5 tonnes. Similarly, big chain retailers, previously allowed to stock 5 tonnes per outlet, can now stock only 4 tonnes of wheat, with an overall cap based on the number of their outlets.

The limit for processors remains unchanged at 50% of their monthly installed capacity multiplied by the remaining months until April 2025, it said.
Tamil Nadu: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) is in the national capital today, March 25, fueling speculations about the partys return to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) fold. EPS may meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital, according to sources.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the opposition party in Tamil Nadu, has said in its official version that EPS is in Delhi to visit the news party office. The party building, constructed for 10 crore, was inaugurated by EPS via video conferencing from Chennai.

However, according to a report in the Indian Express, quoting sources, the meeting between EPS and Amit Shah could pave the way for the partys return to the NDA. EPS has been resisting the alliance since September 2023 when the two parties parted ways for many reasons  the primary among them being BJPs Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai.

In February, the AIADMK outrightly ruled out any possibility of an alliance with the BJP. The party's stand was made in a statement released on a day when 16 AIADMK leaders joined the BJP in New Delhi. But Amit Shah, in an interview to a local daily, did not rule out the possibility of a rapprochement.

Snapped ties in 2023 Before the Delhi visit of EPS, there have been discussions between AIADMK and BJP leaders back in Tamil Nadu. Among other things, EPS is also expected to explain to senior BJP leaders in Delhi the impact of the three-language policy and upcoming delimitation.

The development comes ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

The AIADMK had aligned with the BJP following supremo J Jayalalithaas demise in 2016. But after DMKs sweep of the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, EPS pulled away from the alliance in 2023.

Left with no options Now, as reports suggest, the AIADMK, has no other option. but to align with the BJP if it wants to exist in the states political landscape. Also, actor Vijay launching his own party - Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is also one of the factors driving AIDMKs change in heart.

The party has reportedly put some conditions on the alliance. The party wants the BJP to form a high-powered steering committee to oversee coordination between the parties. The authority, the Indian Express report said, would outrank Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai.

Also Read | BJP, AIADMK workers hacked to death in Tamil Nadu

The AIADMK also wants the BJP to drop any overtures towards party rebels T T V Dhinakaran and O Panneerselvam. The BJP had earlier urged Palaniswami to bring the rebels back into the AIADMK fold to cement party cracks.

Left with no options, the AIADMK is poised to reconsider its alliance with the BJP if it wants to survive in Tamil Nadu's political landscape.

The BJP, which has almost no footprint in Tamil Nadu, needs an alliance partner ahead of 2026 assembly polls.
Chinese smartphone giant Vivo has entered the mixed reality (MR) space with the announcement of its new headset, Vivo Vision. The wearable spatial computer was introduced on Tuesday at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 by Hu Baishan, Vivo's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Interestingly, the device looks like Apples Vision Pro, which launched in 2023 and became commercially available last year.

A spatial computing contender The Vivo Vision, showcased as a prototype, is set to be part of the companys Blue Technology Matrix, an initiative that leverages artificial intelligence for everyday applications. While Vivo has yet to disclose full specifications, initial images of the device suggest a design akin to ski goggles. Its visor is expected to house an array of sensors, facilitating augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences.

In addition, two visible sensors positioned at the bottom of the frame indicate potential support for hand and finger gesture tracking, mirroring functionalities found in Apples Vision Pro. A robust headband, reminiscent of Apples design, is also present to ensure stability when worn.

However, details remain scarce regarding whether the headset will function as a standalone device or require a wired connection to an external computer.

Vivo expands into robotics Alongside the mixed reality headset, Vivo revealed its latest venture into robotics with the establishment of a dedicated research lab. According to Hu Baishan, the company plans to develop the brain and eyes of robots by integrating the real-time spatial computing expertise accumulated through the Vivo Vision project.

Additionally, Vivo took the opportunity to tease its upcoming flagship smartphone, the Vivo X200 Ultra.
Xiaomis sub-brand Poco has confirmed to host a launch event in Singapore to reveal the new generation F series models. The launch will focus on two smartphone models, the Poco F7 Pro and Poco F7 Ultra which is the rebranded version of the Redmi K80 series previously launched in China. These new generation models will come with new designs, performance upgrades, and new features which will likely attract buyers in the global market. If you have been planning for a smartphone upgrade, then you may want to wait for the launch of the Poco F7 Pro and Poco F7 Ultra on March 27, 2025.

Poco F7 Ultra and Poco F7 Pro launch The Poco F7 Pro and Poco F7 Ultra will officially be launched in global markets on March 27, 2025. The company is hosting a live launch event to introduce these new performance and camera-centric smartphones. The Poco F7 Pro will reportedly come with some worthy upgrades and the Poco F7 Ultra will likely challenge several flagship series smartphones, including the Galaxy S25 series, OnePlus 13, Xiaomi 15, and others. Therefore, know what the Poco F7 Pro and Poco F7 Ultra have in store for buyers.

Poco F7 Ultra, Poco F7 Pro: Specifications and features The Poco F7 Pro and F7 Ultra may come with a similar 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The Poco F7 Pro is expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, whereas, the F7 Ultra could come with the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, offering flagship performance. Both smartphones may offer 12GB RAM with 256GB and 512GB internal storage. However, we expect that the F7 Ultra could also come with 16GB of RAM.

The Poco F7 Pro may feature a dual camera setup that may consist of a 50MP primary camera with OIS and an 8MP ultrawide camera. On the front, it will likely feature a 20MP selfie camera. On the other hand, the Poco F7 Ultra could feature a triple camera setup that may include a 50MP main camera, 50MP telephoto lens, and a 32MP ultrawide camera.
The MobileMOC will expand health care for those living in rural areas in Tennessee.
A Galway man with 158 previous convictions was sentenced to five months in prison for theft at Longford District Court.

Bernard Ward (37) of 4 Crescent, Ballygar, Galway faced charges that on August 8, 2023 at Lidl, Dublin Road, Longford he stole cash, the property of another person.

Outlining details of the incident that brought Mr Ward before Longford District Court Sergeant Enda Daly said local Gardai were contacted about an incident at the retail outlet on the Dublin Road.

Also read: Suspended sentence for uninsured Longford drink driver involved in N4 collision

Mr Ward had engaged a man in conversation, and when distracted removed the wallet from a bag in the victim's trolley.

He went to another part of the supermarket, removed cash from the wallet then returned to the trolley and placed the item back in the bag.

The injured party did not notice the theft until he went to the checkout and opened his wallet to find his money gone.

Also read: Longford man charged with harassing female solicitor served with book of evidence

When Gardai attended at the scene they reviewed the CCTV footage and saw Mr Ward execute the theft.

The victim told officers that he was not threatened by the victim and that Mr Ward had been friendly in his interactions before he stole the contents of the wallet.

The court heard the defendant has 158 previous convictions, primarily for motoring offences, and is currently serving a nine month prison sentence.

Also read: Longford woman accused of being involved in 4,000 fuel scam appears in court

Judge Bernadette Owens described the offence as a nasty thing.

Solicitor Brid Mimnagh said the father of five was addicted to drugs at the time of the offence: He accepts his wrongdoing. He is doing his best now to stay off drugs.

In concluding the matter Judge Owens imposed a five month custodial sentence to run concurrent to the one Mr Ward is currently serving.
Families from Longford and Tipperary take centre stage as they mentor Diana from Tullamore and Josh from City West, respectively, this Sunday on 'Raised by the Village' on RTE One at 6.30pm.

In the village of Kenagh, the farming Stewart family introduce stroppy Tullamore 14-year-old Diana to the rigors of life on their beef stock and open farm.

At home Dianas relationship with her mam Katherina is strained. But at The Stewart Farm she meets a family who work hard as a team and hold the family matriarch, Diane, in high esteem.

Also read: It's a Dose: Longford students making the task of livestock dosing much safer and easier

Its a lifechanging lesson in the value of mutual respect for Diana.

Meanwhile, housebound gaming obsessive Josh from the Dublin suburb of City West is transplanted to the village of Dundrum, Co Tipperary for a new tech-free, outdoor life at The Crowe Family Farm.

13-year-old Josh lands slap bang in the middle of the Crowe familys pre-Christmas turkey rearing season. Its a stark lesson in farm family values as Josh struggles to keep up with his new hectic real-life work schedule.

Also read: Wedding Bells: Longford couple celebrate marriage ceremony at Tankardstown House

But will Diana and Josh succeed in being ' Raised by the Village'?

Watch Raised by the Village this Sunday at 6:30pm on RTE One.
Looking to stay up to date about all of the news stories and local headlines that are important to Long Islanders? We've rounded up the top coverage for all of the important topics from multiple sources around Long Island, so you can be sure you've got the most recent update on the top stories for Long Island. Have an idea for a news story? Email us at news@longisland.com

Columnists Press Releases
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: March 25 2025

Defendant Continued to Demand Payments from Victim While Facing Charges for Illegal Collection of a Debt and Under Court Supervision.

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, John Ragano, also known as Bazoo, a member of the Bonanno organized crime family, was sentenced by United States District Judge Hector Gonzalez to 37 months in prison for extortionate collection of credit in connection with a $150,000 loan. The sentence imposed today will be served following the completion of Raganos 57-month sentence for the conspiracy to commit extortionate collection of credit of the same victim. Additionally, as part of the sentence, Ragano was ordered to pay the government $3,000 in forfeiture. Ragano was convicted of the charge in October 2024 following a four-day jury trial.

John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Leslie R. Backschies, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence.

Todays sentence punishes Raganos blatant disregard for the law, even while under court supervision for crimes brazenly carried out within the federal courthouse, stated United States Attorney Durham. This prosecution represents my Offices steadfast commitment to combatting the Mafia in our district.

Despite previous arrests and detention, John Ragano tormented his victim to make weekly exorbitant loan payments and enforced humiliating methods when faced with resistance, stated Acting FBI Assistant Director in Charge Backschies. His actions reflected his apathy to the criminal justice system as he repeatedly attempted to extort his victims in the midst of active legal proceedings. Todays verdict emphasizes the FBIs intolerance of the mobs historical inclination to utilize coercive and threatening tactics to fulfill their greedy demands.

In early 2021, the defendant Ragano loaned the victim $150,000 in cash and required the victim to make interest payments of approximately $1,800 a week. These payments did not reduce the principal of the $150,000 loan. On September 14, 2021, Ragano was arrested in connection with the extortionate loan to the victim, as well as separate schemes to traffic marijuana and commit fraud. After Ragano was released on bond from the Metropolitan Detention Center in December 2021, he continued to try to collect the $150,000 loan from the victim while under pretrial supervision. He did so by approaching the victim in-person at status conferences held at the federal courthouse, and by directing another individual (Individual #1) to contact the victim. On November 28, 2022, Ragano pleaded guilty to conspiring to issue the extortionate loan to the victim. However, in 2023, despite his previous guilty plea, ongoing court supervision, and sentence to 57 months imprisonment in connection with his previous guilty plea as to the 2021 loan, Ragano continued to extort the victim to collect payments on the 2021 loan, which resulted in a subsequent indictment for extortionate collection of credit and harassment of a witness.

As proven during Raganos October 2024 trial, on March 25, 2023, the victim recorded a meeting with Individual #1, who explained that Ragano wanted the entire amount of the loan repaid and that nobodys looking for anybody to get hurt. A week later, on March 31, 2023, Individual #1 told the victim that Ragano was a little upset that the loan was outstanding. On July 5, 2023, the victim went to a used auto parts yard where Ragano worked to discuss the loan. Unbeknownst to Ragano, the victim recorded the meeting. The victim told Ragano that he was going to stop repaying the loan. Ragano accused the victim of cooperating with the government and demanded that he remove all his clothes. Ragano stated: Okay, well then take off your f--king s--t right now my man. Take off your f--king pants right now, lemme see, I want to see. At Raganos insistence, the victim complied and took off all his clothing. At that point, two men at the business walked up behind Ragano, one of whom was holding metal tools. Ragano then demanded the victim pay the money the defendant believed he was owed, telling him, You owe me my f---king money, lets see how youre gonna do when I get out. Despite being forced to strip naked, the victim was still able to record the confrontation, including Raganos parting words, Ill see you when I get out tough guyDont forget I know where youre at now.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: March 25 2025

After 23AndMe Filed for Bankruptcy, AG James Reminds Customers They Have a Right to Delete Their Genetic Data and Destroy DNA Samples.

New York Attorney General Letitia James today issued a consumer alert to customers of 23andMe, a direct-to-consumer genetic testing company, urging them to take action to protect their data. 23andMe collects and analyzes peoples genetic code and uses DNA samples to help people trace their ancestry or detect personal health risks, among other factors. The company filed for bankruptcy and announced plans to sell its assets. Due to the trove of sensitive consumer data 23andMe has amassed, Attorney General James would like to remind New Yorkers that they are able to request that 23andMe delete their personal data and destroy any samples of genetic material held by the company.

New Yorkers genetic data is sensitive information that must be protected at all costs, said Attorney General James. 23andMes bankruptcy announcement is concerning and I am urging New Yorkers to take action to safeguard their data. New Yorkers can follow instructions offered by my office to delete their data or destroy any DNA samples held by 23andMe. Anyone experiencing issues deleting their information stored with 23andMe should contact my office.

Attorney General James is offering New Yorkers tips on how to delete their data that is stored with 23andMe or destroy test samples. Consumers can delete their account and personal information by taking the following steps:

Log into your 23andMe account on their website.

Go to the Settings section of your profile.

Scroll to a section labeled 23andMe Data at the bottom of the page.

Click View next to 23andMe Data.

Download your data: If you want a copy of your genetic data for personal storage, choose the option to download it to your device before proceeding.

Scroll to the Delete Data section.

Click Permanently Delete Data.

Confirm your request: Youll receive an email from 23andMe; follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request.

If you previously opted to have your saliva sample and DNA stored by 23andMe, but want to change that preference, you can do so from your account settings page, under Preferences.

If you previously consented to 23andMe and third-party researchers to use your genetic data and sample for research, you may withdraw consent from the account settings page, under Research and Product Consents.

Attorney General James encourages New Yorkers who experience issues deleting their data with 23andMe to contact her office by filing a complaint online.
IRGC Navy speedboats conducting a drill. (Al Alam)

Against the backdrop of escalating tensions between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reinforced its military presence in the Persian Gulf, deploying advanced missile systems on the islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa on March 22.

Irans state broadcaster reported that these islands are now fortified with dozens of missile defense and air defense systems alongside stationed infantry units. Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the IRGC Navy, further disclosed that the IRGCs fast-attack and assault vessels patrolling the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters are now armed with new cruise missiles and ready for operations capable of targeting naval assets.

In an interview with Iranian state television, Tangsiri emphasized Irans strategic imperative to militarize the islands, stating, Our tactical approach dictates that we must arm and operationalize this group of islands. We have the capability to strike enemy bases, warships, and assets in the region.

Over the past several months, the IRGC has intensified military exercises on these contested islands, which are situated along a critical maritime corridor for global energy transit. More than one-fifth of the worlds oil supply passes through this strategic waterway, making it a focal point of geopolitical friction. Iran held high-profile military drills in the Gulf in 2023, underscoring its resolve to defend its territorial holdings.

During these exercises, the IRGC unveiled a new warship armed with 600-kilometer-range missiles while deploying Fateh ballistic missiles with a 120-kilometer range and Qadir cruise missiles exceeding a 300-kilometer range across the islands. The IRGC Navy also conducted simulated combat scenarios designed to test its defensive capabilities.

Irans expanding military footprint in the region has elicited a response from the United States, which reinforced its naval presence to counter Tehrans growing assertiveness. Washington has dispatched additional amphibious assault ships and support vessels to mitigate the risk of Iranian threats to the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz.

Amid concerns over potential Iranian disruptions to maritime trade, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the deployment of two aircraft carrier strike groups to the region. The extended stationing of the USS Harry S. Truman and the anticipated arrival of the USS Carl Vinson next month are expected to enhance operational flexibility for US forces, bolstering their capacity for deterrence and offensive maneuvers. This strategic realignment is also aimed at reinforcing US military operations against the Iran-backed Houthis, whose missile and drone attacks have threatened Red Sea shipping lanes.

Iran is concluding its most extensive and complex war games in decades. These exercises, which began in late December 2024, have showcased Irans advanced weapons capabilities while simultaneously exposing vulnerabilities in its air defense infrastructure. The drills were designed to signal Irans deterrence posture against potential strikes from its primary adversariesIsrael and the United States.

The Islamic Republics army staged large-scale war games simulating airstrikes against its nuclear infrastructure on January 11. These maneuvers tested Irans air defenses against multi-domain threats, aiming to fight against air, missile, and electronic threats in real battlefield conditions. However, it remains contested whether some of the air defense systems were of higher quality than the Russian-made S-300 platforms that Israel struck in its October 26 retaliatory strikes.

Iran has also sought to bolster its weapons stockpiles, unveiling 1,000 newly manufactured drones that it claims have unique capabilities, including a 2,000-kilometer range, high destructive power, sustained autonomous flight, and stealth technology. In addition, Irans naval forces are poised to receive a newly commissioned warship, a development designed to bolster the nations capacity to project its maritime power, as stated by Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari.

Tehran has also intensified its military drills across various domains, signaling its defensive posture and strategic ambitions. In recent months, the IRGC and the Iranian Army have conducted extensive air defense exercises near key nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and the Arak reactor in Khondab, intending to reinforce preparedness against aerial and missile threats. The IRGC also staged naval war games in the Persian Gulf as its ground forces carried out a second round of maneuvers in southwestern Iran, focusing on rapid deployment and combat readiness. In addition, Irans Army launched Exercise Zulfiqar, which spanned southern Iran, the Gulf of Oman, and the northern Indian Ocean.

The most consequential of these drills, Maritime Security Belt 2025, happened in coordination with China and Russia in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the worlds traded crude oil transits. This strategic waterway has witnessed repeated Iranian maritime operations, including the seizure of commercial vessels and suspected attacks on shipping, a pattern that has become more pronounced.

Janatan Sayeh is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian domestic affairs and the Islamic Republics regional malign influence.
Israeli forces operating in southern Syria in March 2025. (IDF)

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted an airstrike in southern Syria, stating it acted after gunmen opened fire toward Israeli soldiers. The clash occurred in the Yarmouk Basin area, a triangle of Syrian territory between the Golan and Jordan. The IDF said it had identified several terrorists and Hits were identified. The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said four civilians were killed. This reported death toll may have wider ramifications, marking one of the most significant clashes between the IDF and Syrians since the fall of the Bashar al Assad regime.

The fight on March 25 took place near the village of Kuwaya, around a mile from Israels Golan border. The village sits on the Yarmouk River, downstream from the Al Wehda dam on the Jordanian border. Syrian state media claimed the IDF had penetrated the town amid intense reconnaissance flights and that Israel bombed the village and tanks fired shells that killed four civilians, wounding others, including a woman.

Iranian state media also reported on the clash, claiming seven people were killed. It appears that pro-Iran media outlets across the region have highlighted this incident, apparently to increase tensions with Israel. This coverage includes reports from Al Mayadeen, a pro-Iranian Lebanese channel, and Al Manar, Hezbollahs media arm. Syrias Foreign Ministry condemned the ongoing Israeli aggression on Syrian territory, which saw a dangerous escalation in Koya [Kuwaya] town in Daraa. The Kingdom of Jordan also reportedly condemned the Israeli strike.

The clashes happened around the Yarmouk Basin, which was controlled by the Islamic State affiliate Jaysh Khalid ibn Walid between 20162018, and several other rebel groups previously. The routinely contested area is the furthest point from Damascus in Daraa Governorate. The new Syrian government has sought to extend its control to southern Syria and the border crossings with Jordan over the past months.

The recent strike in southern Syria is the latest IDF operation that is part of a wider policy Israel has enacted since the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024. The IDF initially moved into a buffer zone along the border with Syria, a series of ceasefire lines dating from 1974 that separated Israeli forces from the Syrian regime. When the Assad regime collapsed, the IDF entered the zone and began erecting posts and carrying out ground patrols. The Israel Air Force has also attacked sites previously held by the Assad regime, removing what the IDF says are potential threats.

Since late February, Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have demanded that southern Syria be demilitarized. On February 25, the IDF carried out strikes in southern Syria, including one that hit Tell al Hara, a former Syrian regime position on a small mountain. The Assad regime, along with its backers in Moscow and Tehran, had used these types of sites for surveillance, especially after the regime returned to the border with the Golan in 2018 after defeating Syrian rebels in the area. On March 4, the IDF raided Tell al Mall, another hill fort several kilometers from the border. These operations have essentially cut off access to the border area.

The strikes in Syria have continued weekly. On March 17, the IDF struck more sites linked to the former regime in Daraa province. The latest targets were the airfield and bases near Palmyra in the Syrian desert, hit on March 21 and between March 24 and 25. Iranians used the T-4 base there to move weapons into Syria over the last decade. The Iranians left when the Assad regime fell, but it appears some military assets remained.

The IDF has also been increasingly active on the ground in Syria. Elements of the Paratroopers Brigade, along with tanks and combat engineers, have conducted missions in the last few weeks. These forces are under the command of the IDFs 474th Brigade, part of the 210th Division, territorial units responsible for defending the Golan. The IDF said on March 25 that the paratroopers and combat engineers from the IDFs Yahalom unit raided locations in southern Syria, finding explosives, ammunition, mortar shells, military vests, combat equipment, munitions and bullets.

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).
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Luc Frieden told parliament that the Grand Duchy could take part in a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine "under an international or European mandate".



The Luxembourg army has previously participated in peacekeeping missions within the framework of NATO, the EU and the United Nations.

But where have Luxembourg's armed forces been deployed over the past 35 years? Here is a selection of peace missions in which Luxembourg joined in.

Yugoslavia

The history of Luxembourg's peacekeeping missions officially began when the UN created the "United Nations Protection Force" (UNPROFOR) in 1991. UNPROFOR was set up when the various ethnic communities in former Yugoslavia sought their respective independence, which eventually erupted in a civil war in 1991.

1 / 3 Patrol in Croatia during the UNPROFOR mission in 1992  Photo credit: Armee luxembourgeoise

2 / 3 Observation post on the Drava River during the UNPROFOR mission in 1992  Photo credit: Armee luxembourgeoise

3 / 3 Soldiers on the UNPROFOR mission  Photo credit: Armee luxembourgeoise







The Luxembourg army took part in this mission by integrating its unit into a Belgian battalion, and the soldiers were deployed to Croatia between April 1992 and 1993. The task of the Luxembourg armed forces was to monitor the ceasefire and promote the disarmament of local militias.

Also read: Why Luxembourgers refuse to take up arms

Following the disintegration of Yugoslavia, NATO established the NATO Implementation Force (IFOR) and later the NATO Stabilisation Force (SFOR). The reason for these missions was the secession of the Bosnian Serbs from Bosnia-Herzegovina and the subsequent war after the Bosnian Serbs announced the founding of a "Serbian Republic".

This conflict cost the lives of almost 100,000 civilians between 1992 and 1995. The Luxembourg armed forces were stationed in the region between 1996 and 2000 as part of IFOR and SFOR. The aim of these missions was to prevent the conflict from flaring up again.

1 / 4 Return to the camp after a SFOR mission in 1997  Photo credit: Armee luxembourgeoise

2 / 4 Luxembourg armed forces during the IFOR mission  Photo credit: MNHM

3 / 4 The Luxembourg army was involved in the IFOR mission between 1996 and 2000  Photo credit: MNHM

4 / 4 During the transition from IFOR to SFOR, the Luxembourg contingent initially continued its transport mission as part of the BELUGA battalion  Photo credit: MNHM









Kosovo

Luxembourg's longest peacekeeping mission took place in Kosovo after the Albanian community, which forms the majority in Kosovo, demanded independence in 1998 and rose up against the Serbian government. A bloody civil war ensued. In June 1999, NATO set up the "Kosovo Force" (KFOR). In August 1999, Luxembourg soldiers also arrived in Kosovo and were integrated into a Belgian unit. A specialised reconnaissance unit of the Luxembourg army was also deployed to Kosovo.

Camp Nothing Hill during the KFOR mission - the Luxembourg army's longest peacekeeping mission to date  Photo credit: Armee luxembourgeoise

Luxembourg armed forces took part in the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo for 18 years, from 1999 to 2017, with almost 1,200 Luxembourg soldiers deployed on a rotational basis.

Also read: Luxembourg army to lead Kosovo surveillance mission

Afghanistan

Following the attacks on the Twin Towers in New York on 11 September, the Luxembourg Armed Forces were also present in Afghanistan, on two missions between 2003 and 2021. The "International Security Assistance Force" (ISAF) and later the "Resolute Support Mission" (RSM) were launched in 2001 and 2015, respectively. As part of ISAF, Luxembourg soldiers were deployed to Afghanistan in 2003 to ensure the security of the military zone of the international airport in the capital Kabul.

Also read: Luxembourg defence minister rejects Trumps call for hike in spending

The Luxembourg units were later tasked with securing the airbase in Kandahar until April 2014. In 2015, the RSM was then called upon to train Afghan troops and security forces. The Luxembourg troops were entrusted with this task from June 2015 to May 2021 and were stationed in Mazar-i-Sharif, a city in northern Afghanistan and then the base for the German army.

1 / 3 Luxembourg military patrol as part of the ISAF mission in 2003  Photo credit: Armee luxembourgeoise

2 / 3 Luxembourg soldiers at Kabul International Airport in 2008  Photo credit: Armee luxembourgeoise

3 / 3 The Luxembourg forces as part of the ISAF mission in 2011  Photo credit: Armee luxembourgeoise







After the return of the Taliban in August 2021, the Luxembourg army took part in an evacuation mission for civilians entitled "Operation Red Kite". The aim of the mission was to evacuate people with links to the Grand Duchy and Belgium, nationals of Western countries and Afghan nationals with links to the allied forces or international organisations.

In total, the allied forces flew out 1,412 people in 23 evacuation rounds. Two Luxembourg military pilots took part in the evacuation mission.

Also read: Luxembourgs SES grabs 180m Nato satellite contract

Lebanon

From October 2006 to October 2014, the Luxembourg armed forces took part in the "United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon" (UNIFIL). UNIFIL was formed in 1978 after the Israeli army invaded Lebanon. In 2006, a conflict broke out between Hezbollah and Israel, which led to the expansion of the UNIFIL mission to supply the population with aid and protect refugees on their return.

The Luxembourg army was also responsible for demining during the UNIFIL mission  Photo credit: Armee luxembourgeoise

The original mission was to monitor the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon, contribute to the restoration of peace and security and support the Lebanese government in restoring its authority.

Africa

The Luxembourg army was also deployed on the African continent during the last two decades. Between 2006 and 2015, it took part in 26 rotations as part of the "EU Security Sector Reform Mission" (EUSEC RDC) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.



The aim of this mission was to build up a defence apparatus to ensure the security of the population. Between 2012 to June 2015, a retired Luxembourg officer was in charge of the mission.

Also read: Last Luxembourg soldiers to pull out of Mali

In Chad, the Luxembourgers were involved in the "EU Military Operation in Eastern Chad and North Eastern Central African Republic" (EUFOR Tchad/RCA) from 2008 to 2009 and finally in the "EU Training Mission in Mali" (EUTM Mali) from 2013 to 2020. In 2020, the EU decided to extend the mission. However, the premature end of the operation came just two years later, in April 2022, with the deterioration of the security situation.

War in Ukraine

Luxembourg is involved in the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) missions in Lithuania and Romania. Luxembourg troops have been in Lithuania since 2017 and in Romania since 2023. eFP Lithuania is a response to the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the mission serves to protect the Baltic states and Poland.

Following the attack on Ukraine in February 2022, the mission was extended to Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. The Luxembourg armed forces are integrated into a Belgian unit and deployed in a multinational battalion under German command in Lithuania.

Also read: Russia threat at forefront of Luxembourg visit to troops in Lithuania

In Romania, 27 soldiers from Luxembourg are currently stationed under French command. However, part of this unit is to be sent back to Luxembourg this year, in order to train for a year on the new vehicles recently acquired by the army.

The task of the Luxembourg soldiers in Romania is to take part in exercises and training missions with a light reconnaissance platoon to contribute to the deterrence and, if necessary, the defence of NATO member states. The Luxembourg army team under French command is stationed at the Cincu military camp, 200 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.

In March 2023, Luxembourg soldiers left for Romania to take part in a NATO mission  Photo credit: Gerry Huberty

Luxembourg has also been participating in the EU Military Assistance Mission for Ukraine (EUMAM) since 2022. This was formed by the EU in November 2022 in response to the large-scale Russian offensive in Ukraine. Among other things, the mission serves to train the Ukrainian armed forces.



The Grand Duchy also provides support in mine clearance and medical rescue training.

Also read: Founding member Luxembourg and 75 years of Nato

More generally, Luxembourg has been part of NATOs Joint Task Force since 2019. This NATO mission is made up of land, air and naval forces as well as special units, and the Luxembourg Armed Forces participate in the "land" component together with Germany, the Netherlands and Norway. The armys involvement comprises around 40 soldiers in a drone unit.

Since the start of 2025, the Luxembourg army has also been involved in the "EU Battlegroup", where it is tasked with providing satellite communications.

(This article was originally published by the Luxemburger Wort. Translation and editing by John Monaghan)
Year-on-year, the well-being of Luxembourg workers is deteriorating, as the latest survey by the lobby group for employees, Chambre des Salaries (CSL), indicated last month.



The CSL report drew a bleak picture of the quality of working life for employees in the Grand Duchy, with half of staff surveyed in Luxembourg experiencing high levels of mental distress at work last year.



Olivier De Schutter, the UN special rapporteur on human rights and extreme poverty, will address what he describes as a burnout epidemic in a lecture in Luxembourg on Thursday.

De Schutter, a professor of law at UCLouvain and Sciences Po Paris, draws a link between the significant increase in the number of employees and changes in the world of work. "These are characterised by growing insecurity for employees, with increasing difficulty in reconciling their professional and personal lives," he said.

Precarious contracts, inequality and insecurity

In his report submitted to the UN, the labour specialist focuses on two developments: increasing inequality and economic insecurity.



"Inequality leads to comparisons with one's neighbours, anxiety, fear of social downgrading and a weakening of social ties," he said. Instead of creating and nurturing a network of solidarity, De Schutter argues, workers become more competitive for fear of falling down the social ladder.

Also read: Luxembourg quality of work life poorest for non-teleworkers

More generally, employees have to contend with the threat of job insecurity. "People are very uncertain about their professional future", he said, due to various factors, rooted in increasing globalisation.

The automation of tasks, now accelerated by artificial intelligence, is also a driver of the casualisation of work. "More and more jobs can be replaced by robots or machines. Workers are afraid of becoming redundant," said De Schutter, who will speak at the CSL headquarters on rue Pierre Hentges on Thursday. The lecture will be given in French, with a German translation available.



Another major concern for workers is that companies are increasingly outsourcing tasks that were not outsourced in the past, such as accounting, transport and security. "These tasks are delegated to subcontractors who employ short-term, insecure contracts, subject to supply and demand," he said.

A vicious circle

In this context, the meritocratic approach intrinsically linked to work can weigh heavily on employee morale. "The more a society, such as Western society, has a meritocratic approach to work, the more people who fail will tell themselves that they are responsible, that they are not deserving enough, that they have no talent. We make them responsible for their poverty, and these people internalise this negative image themselves, and they end up blaming themselves for not succeeding like others," De Schutter said.

Olivier De Schutter has been the UN special rapporteur on human rights and extreme poverty since 2020, and a member of the European Committee of Social Rights since 2025  Photo credit: Pierre Matge

Paradoxically, the value placed on work is closely linked to market demand, and not to the social usefulness of the profession performed. As the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted, the "essential" professions are not particularly valued after all.



A study by the International Labour Organisation showed that people working in these occupations were paid 26% less than so-called non-essential occupations. This gap is rooted in sexism, De Schutter believes. "Teaching and health are historically female professions. We are in the process of confronting this legacy of undervaluing traditionally female professions," he said.

Also read: Teleworking remains popular for third of Luxembourg workforce

A vicious circle can then be set in motion. Difficult working conditions give rise to depression and anxiety, which have a negative impact on workers' productivity, leading to a deterioration in their professional situation.



A real taboo still surrounds mental health at work," De Schutter said. "People are afraid to talk about it. It's a stigma. So they delay seeking help, and develop increasingly unpredictable and disruptive behaviours in the workplace."

Potential solutions

At the same time, the world of work is pushing employees towards ever greater autonomy. This is deceptive, according to the professor, "because it is accompanied by a disciplinary approach to individual assessment".



Workers are constantly pitted against each other, each trying to do better than the next. The pressure to perform becomes considerable, and as a result, De Schutter observes, people tend to "burn out, because they never stop trying to improve their performance.

De Schutter has a few suggestions for steps he believes lawmakers could take to turn the tide.



"We could legislate so that employers no longer impose flexible working hours. This is one of the main causes of the increase in depression and anxiety in countries like the United States, where 54% of workers do not know when they are going to work in the next two weeks," he said.

Also read: Luxembourg improves in workforce index but remains behind peers

The UN rapporteur also argues in favour of supporting the social economy, which has objectives other than immediate financial profitability, and breaking away from an obsession with GDP growth.



"My appeal is to economists to get down to work so that we have a model for a post-growth society to free these workers who are in the throes of exhaustion, he said.

(This article was originally published by Virgule. Translation and editing by John Monaghan.)
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu will appear Tuesday night on The Daily Show, the jokey, quasi-news, late-night program on Comedy Central.

For Wu, the show extends her time in the national spotlight, following her televised testimony earlier this month at a congressional hearing focused on the immigration policies of Boston and other cities.

Part-time Daily Show host Ronny Chieng will anchor Tuesdays show and interview Wu. The show airs at 11 p.m. on the East Coast.

Viewers looking to stream the show can do so for free using Philo, FuboTV, DirecTV Stream and Sling. Philo, FuboTV and DirecTV all offer free trials for new users, while Sling has promotional offers available.

The mayor will be the lone public official appearing on the show this week, alongside a collection of Hollywood stars, according to Comedy Central.

Paul Rudd appeared Monday night in an episode hosted by Jon Stewart, the longtime face of The Daily Show who returned to the program last year after a nine-year hiatus. A pair of actor-comedians round out the week: Steve Coogan will be Wednesdays guest, followed by Bill Murray on Thursday. Chieng will host both episodes.

Wus March 5 testimony at the made-for-television hearing on Capitol Hill is likely to come up during Tuesdays show.

The hearing, convened by a Republican-led committee, addressed laws in Boston and other cities led by Democratic mayors that limit cooperation with civil immigration enforcement by federal officials.

Wu and other mayors sparred with House Republicans over the local laws, which Wu argued have made Boston safer. Bostons policy, established in a city law known as the Trust Act, does not prevent police from assisting with criminal investigations by federal immigration authorities.

The mayor has also traded repeated barbs with Trump administration immigration czar Tom Homan, who pledged last month that hed be bringing hell to Boston by way of federal immigration raids.

On Monday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said they had arrested 370 migrants in Boston during a multi-agency operation from March 18 to 23 focused on transnational organized crime, gangs and egregious offenders.
A Boston man was sentenced to 28 years in prison months after he pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting children, United States Attorney Leah Foleys office said.

Additionally, U.S. District Court Judge Margaret Guzman sentenced Jalen Latimer, 26, of Roxbury, to 15 years of supervised release following his prison sentence, Foleys office said in a statement. Latimer must also pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date. He was sentenced in Worcester Superior Court on Monday.

Latimer pleaded guilty in December 2024 to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. He is serving a state prison sentence on related offenses in which he was previously charged by criminal complaint with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor on Feb. 16, 2024.

Latimer and another adult recorded themselves sexually assaulting a 10-year-old child in July 2022, with the childs 5-year-old sibling recording the incident, Foleys office said. Then, over a year later, Latimer and the adult conspired to arrange the sexual assault of a different child.

In January 2024, Latimer was arrested and later convicted in Worcester Superior Court of three counts of aggravated rape of a child, four counts of aggravated indecent assault and battery on a child and human trafficking of a minor, Foleys office said. On March 17, 2024, he was sentenced to 15 years in state prison, which will run concurrently with the federal sentence.
A Canadian man with a lengthy criminal record is set to be released from Massachusetts prison and handed to immigration authorities for deportation since he remains wanted for murder north of the border.

Michael Thompson, formerly known as Bernard Bessette, has appeared before the states parole board six times during his 41 years of incarceration. He was serving three life sentences. He is 74, and first entered the United States illegally at age 30.

Thompson changed his name after coming to the U.S. in 1980 after leaving Montreal, Canada, and fleeing an outstanding murder charge.

The states parole board granted Thompson parole to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation to Canada, but not before clearance from the Middlesex District Attorney. The decision was on March 18.

The district attorneys office did not immediately return a request for comment on Tuesday.

Past crimes

Thompsons criminal record started in 1969 when, as an 18-year-old, he was convicted of several crimes, including a robbery of a grocery store, assaults, conspiracy, car thefts, and an attempted murder during an armed robbery of a bank, according to the parole board.

After serving six years in a Canadian prison, he was released on parole in 1980, but shortly after, he was charged with first-degree murder.

The murder charge remains outstanding and Thompson would face that charge once deported by U.S. immigration authorities. He also faces a balance of nine years from his prior prison sentence in Canada.

The criminal charges Thompson was convicted of in the U.S. stemmed from incidents starting in 1982.

A 31-year-old Thompson robbed a Cambridge bank armed with a gun, threatening two bank tellers in the process.

There were two similar incidents between 1982 and 1983 were when Thompson threatened to rape two different women, according to the parole board.

In August 1982, Thompson grabbed a woman on the street in Somerville, threatened her with a double-edged knife and dragged her into a yard on the street. He threatened her with rape, but a car startled him and he ran away with her purse.

The woman screamed for help and another man brought her into his home to call the police.

In March 1983, Thompson similarly attacked another woman. While working as an enforcer for a loan shark, Thompson threatened another woman with rape using a gun.

The woman convinced Thompson to drive them to her home, where her husband was sleeping. When Thompson realized the man was home, he began to fire multiple times at the woman and her husband, but narrowly missed and struck the headboard behind their heads, the walls and the ceiling of the bedroom.

Thompson fled and police later arrested him in Belmont after a high-speed chase through several towns, according to the parole board.

In August 1983, during a trial recess, Thompson escaped from custody by following the jury out of the courtroom. He fled and evaded capture for three months before being re-arrested in Watertown.

The following year, Thompson was found missing from his cell, and despite a massive search, he evaded capture for nearly six months.

While serving his life sentences in MCI-Norfolk, Thompson attempted an escape in 1990 by hiding in a box that was loaded onto a truck. The driver heard noises coming from the back of the truck and contacted the authorities, who re-arrested him.

Why did state officials grant him parole?

The parole board previously denied Thompson after hearings in 2009, 2014 and 2019. He represented himself at his most recent hearing last November.

The board wrote that he had no supported findings on disciplinary records since the 1990s and that he participated in individual counseling.

Thompson also completed programs on violence reduction, critical thinking, Jericho Circle, and alternatives to violence.

He participated in vocational training and earned a food safety certification in January 2024. He also completed a culinary arts program in September 2024.

The special conditions of his parole release include being handed over to ICE due to a parole violation warrant and a murder warrant out of Canada.

Should Canada release Thompson, there are special conditions that remain in Massachusetts, such as reporting to the parole office, restrictions on work, a curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and no contact with the victims and their families.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to axe over $11 billion in COVID funding, a Department of Health and Human Services official told NBC News Tuesday.

According to the TV news station, the CDC is scrapping the $11.4 billion COVID fund, which was initially installed to assist individual states, community health centers, non-government organizations and international entities.

The COVID-19 pandemic is over, and HHS will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago, Andrew Nixon, HHS director of communications, said in a statement to NBC News.

Since the federal public health emergency ended on May 11, 2023, overall COVID-19 infection rates and deaths have slowed down. However, data on the CDC website shows that 1.2 million people have died from COVID-19 since the public health emergency ended.

The COVID-19 funding cut follows President Donald Trumps administrations goal of cutting back on major government spending.

DOGE plans to close nearly 50 Social Security offices; see the list

According to a White House memo , the Trump administration established a temporary federal organization, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to reduce federal spending and maximize government efficiency and productivity.

DOGE has the goal of saving the government $1 trillion in spending by September of this year.

The HHS has the deepest budget cuts compared to any other federal organization, according to the DOGE websites  Wall of Receipts .
An application for a criminal complaint seeking charges in connection with a fatal Cambridge crash in September 2024 has been filed, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryans office said.

After prosecutors filed the complaint, a clerk magistrate will hold a hearing to decide if theres probable cause for charges, Meghan Kelly, spokesperson for Ryans office, told MassLive.

The attempt to seek charges stems from a Sept. 23, 2024, crash after John Corcoran, 62, of Newton, was hit by an SUV while riding his bike on Memorial Drive in Cambridge.

The crash happened at around 6 p.m. near the Boston University Boathouse on Memorial Drive. Severely hurt, Corcoran was brought to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was declared dead, Massachusetts State Police said in a previous statement.

Ryans office told the Boston Globe that the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section investigation concluded earlier this month.

Corcoran was born in Boston and raised in West Newton, according to his obituary. After graduating from Newton North High School in 1980, he attended Harvard College, and later Boston University School of Law.

The attorney took his talents to Los Angeles, spending eight years at the firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, according to his obituary. He later started his own practice, according to his obituary. But he decided to go back to school, this time at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. This is where he met veterinary student Barbara Bower  his wife of 25 years.

Corcoran and his family eventually returned to Boston in around 2019.
Dedham School Committee members are calling for the resignation of one of their own after police decided to issue a court summons for William Billy Walsh in connection with making threats against the towns middle school during an incident earlier this month.

Dedham police decided to issue Walsh a court summons for two counts of threats to commit a crime and one count of disorderly conduct after he entered Dedham Middle School improperly on March 12 and made threats against the school and its administrators, according to a partially redacted police report.

Both the administrators and police described Walsh saying he would wage war against the school and its administrators.

Walsh is up for reelection on April 12, but Dedham School Committee Members Josh Langmead and Leah Flynn Gallant are calling for his resignation in the wake of the incident.

I hope he puts the good of the town above his own interests and resigns, as difficult as a decision it may be, Flynn Gallant wrote in a Friday Facebook post.

Walsh did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. Neither did Dedham Superintendent Nan Murphy nor School Committee Chair Mayanne McDonald Briggs.

But in a Sunday Facebook post to voters, Walsh wrote that he would tell his side of the story at the appropriate time and place as requested. He also said he would not be bullied into resigning from the school committee or ending his campaign.

I will continue to be the voice of reason and will always apply common sense in any and all votes concerning the taxpayers and children of Dedham, he wrote.

What happened?

On March 12 around 8:45 a.m., Walsh entered Dedham Middle School without following the normal visitor protocol and caused a disturbance, according to the police report. Vice Principal George Benzie told the responding officer that Walsh had entered the main office and loudly stated that he was going to f*** up Benzie and wage war on the middle school.

Administrative Assistant Jourdan Lord backed Benzies account to the police, according to the report.

Lord also said that another school staff member quickly escorted Walsh out of the office and de-escalated the situation. Walsh left the school shortly before 9:15 a.m., according to the report.

Lord also told police that, on prior occasions, Walsh had behaved similarly and entered the school improperly, and that hed been asked to follow proper visitation protocol, according to the police report.

The school committee members refusal to comply seemed to be a way to intimidate and express control, Lord told police.

How did police and school administrators respond?

Superintendent Murphy issued a no-trespass order against Walsh for Dedham Middle School following the incident, according to the report. This means he is now barred from entering the school without express permission.

The two officers who wrote the police report  School Resource Officer David Connolly and the responding officer  give differing accounts of Walshs reaction to being informed of the no-trespass order.

The responding officer wrote that Walsh acknowledged the order and said he would comply, while Connolly wrote that Walsh objected to it when he called him to inform him of the order.

During Connollys call with Walsh, the school committee member also stated, If they (the Middle School) want to have a war, well have a war, according to the report.

The school resource officer wrote that he was concerned about the safety of Dedham Middle School staff and students in the wake of Walshs escalating behavior, and that Murphy had expressed a similar sentiment.

Calls for Walshs resignation

Dedham School Committee Member Langmead wrote in a March 21 Facebook post that he believes it is in the best interest of the school district, school committee and town if Walsh resigns from the school committee.

I am one part of a team, but together our actions either build or erode public trust in the community, he wrote. " ... The situation involving my colleague is troubling for many reasons. Our leadership in the town is needed more than ever, and this will impact our ability to lead."

School Committee Member Flynn Gallant wrote in her Facebook post that she hadnt spoken to Walsh about how he would respond to the allegations, but that a decision about his resignation was his to make.

That said, I personally feel his resignation at this point would be the right thing to do for us to be able to continue our important work effectively, she wrote.

Walsh dismissed calls for his resignation in his Facebook post, writing that people pressuring him to do so are politically motivated. He is confident he will be reelected next month, he said.

Both of my opponents are running as a team and they want me gone. Problem for them, Billy is not going anywhere. I will respect the process and leave it up to the voters of Dedham, he wrote.

So far, discussion of the allegations against Walsh has not appeared on the school committees meeting agendas. Notably, though, its last meeting took place prior to Langmead and Flynn Gallant calling for his resignation.

It is unclear whether any school officials have informed Dedham Middle School families about the accusations against Walsh and any safety concerns.
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)

A letter with over 2,400 signatures from college and university professors is circulating across the United States, calling for institutions to come together and fight against the Trump administration amid a war that is unfolding against U.S. higher education.

The letter is in response to an investigation into 60 institutions by the U.S. Department of Education for not protecting Jewish students from antisemitic discrimination and harassment. More than 1,700 of the signatures are from faculty who work at the 60 colleges or universities.
Massachusetts police warned the public about tools individuals have used to steal card information from public ATMs and Point-of-sale (POS) machines.

The Boston Police Department sent out a notice on Tuesday informing people that fraudsters are hiding skimming devices inside ATMs, making them difficult to detect.

Individuals use skimming devices to record data from a cards magnetic stripe or chip.

Although ATMs are getting more secure, offenders keep changing their methods to stay ahead, police wrote in the notice.

The department added that criminals have been known to hide miniature cameras inside ATMs, making them difficult to find as well.

Individuals were also reported to have placed plastic overlays on top of POS systems to steal card data and PINs.

These devices are typically hidden in grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations, places a person would most likely use an ATM or POS.

The Boston Police Department recommended the following tips to help protect people from card skimming:

Use ATMs inside financial institutions, near security cameras or by drive-up windows

Check for signs of tampering at ATMs, such as broken lights, raised pin pads with loose parts or unusual stickers

Always shield PIN numbers while entering it to prevent a pinhole camera from capturing it

Inspect the edges of POS terminals and keypads for signs of tampering. Avoid the terminal and inform the merchant if any part feels loose

Use a credit card instead of a debit card to avoid giving criminals access to your checking account

Sign up for text or email alerts to monitor your card usage and detect any fraud quickly

Opt for cards with contactless payment options or EMV chips to reduce the risk of fraud, especially with cards like EBT that are more vulnerable to criminal targeting

Anyone who thinks theyve been a victim of card skimming should immediately contact their card companys fraud department and file a report. Deactivate your card and request a new PIN number.

If an individual made purchases on a defrauded card, keep track of purchases made on your account, file a fraud case with your card issuer and report the incident to local law enforcement.
A registered sex offender from Harwich with prior violent convictions was sentenced to prison for possessing child sexual abuse material, United States Attorney Leah Foleys office said.

U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs sentenced Jonathan Fleischmann, 37, to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Foleys office said in a statement released Monday. He was also ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution.

Fleischmann pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography in July 2024, Foleys office said.

Despite his prior predatory behavior and the fact that he was already facing serious charges in state court  charges that involved ambushing and attempting to kidnap a young girl at gunpoint outside her home  this defendant continued to demonstrate a complete disregard for the safety and well-being of children by downloading hundreds of atrocious CSAM from the dark web, Foley said in the statement. Each image and video he viewed or shared re-victimized the real, vulnerable children depicted in them."

He became a Level 3 sex offender after previous convictions in Barnstable District Court, one of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 in 2006, as well as open and gross lewdness and possession of child pornography in 2017 for masturbating to child sex abuse material in a Honey Dew Donuts parking lot, the statement read.

The investigation into this incident found that Fleischmann accessed a dark web hidden service focused on trafficking child sex abuse material on his mobile phone, Foleys office said. But Fleischmann was released in April 2021 on conditions, including cash bail and GPS monitoring. Due to prior convictions, he is not allowed to own digital devices.

Less than two years later, on March 18, 2023, law enforcement officials learned that Fleischmann was found downloading child sex abuse material files onto a phone at his job in Brewster, Foleys office said.

His co-workers saw his phone while it was left open and charging on a counter, with files downloading visible on the screen. The files' names were consistent with child sex abuse material," Foleys office said.

When he talked with officers at his home, Fleischmann denied owning the phone but eventually agreed to take it out, the statement read. After he produced it  previously hidden under a bathroom sink  investigators found about 255 images and 55 video files that showed child sex abuse material, including files portraying child rape, sadistic or masochistic conduct and the abuse of infants or toddlers, Foleys office said.

Since he was arrested in May 2023, Fleischmann has remained in federal custody, Foleys office said.

Fleischmann was also charged with home invasion, armed kidnapping and assault to rape after he invaded a Yarmouth home in September 2020, Foleys office said. Fleischmann forcibly took a 16-year-old girl at gunpoint into her house as she arrived home from school.

In May 2024, he was sentenced to 12 years in state prison in connection with the home invasion, which he will serve concurrently with the federal sentence imposed on Monday, Foleys office said.

These crimes do not exist in a vacuum; they cause significant harm to the children and families affected, Foley said in the statement. Todays sentence reflects the seriousness with which we treat these crimes and our commitment to protecting children from individuals like Mr. Fleischmann, who refuse to learn or take steps toward remediating their vile tendencies.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu will officially launch her reelection campaign on April 5, she announced.

In an interview on WBUR Tuesday morning, Wu, who had already said clearly she would run again, announced the official date, though she did not give any other details for the campaign kickoff.
In this handout photo released by Save the Children, Afghan boys stand amid debris after a powerful earthquake in Herat province, western of Afghanistan, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Save the Children via AP) AP

Several nonprofits focused on providing foreign aid are grappling with the effects of defunding following the Trump administrations move to eliminate more than 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Developments foreign aid contract and $60 billion in U.S. assistance Internationally earlier this year.

One of those organizations is Connecticut-based Save the Children, an independent nonprofit focused on helping children in over 100 countries facing hunger, poverty, disease and lack of education.

According to the CTPost, job cuts and voluntary resignations have affected roughly 300 positions at Save the Children U.S. whose headquarters is in Fairfield, Connecticut.

These cuts effectively terminate funding for hundreds of Save the Children programs globally, Save the Children U.S. wrote in a statement, drastically changing the outlook for the 1 in 11 children around the world whose lives depend on the health care, nutrition, education and protection we have helped provide for over 100 years.

The organization said the speed and scale of the federal aid cuts not only impact the organizations ability to deliver life-saving services but also creates chaos and confusion as organizations struggle to make impossible decisions on staffing, prioritizing needs, and withdrawing from communities where we have had long-standing operations.

After the federal aid freeze was announced in February, Save the Children announced it would immediately take cost cutting measures and do whatever it takes to give children a better future.

Among those cost cutting measures has been closing five country offices worldwide: Sri Lanka, Poland, Brazil, Georgia and Liberia.

News of the federal freeze and its potential ramifications were announced last month.

At the time of Save the Childrens initial response, the organization said it expected 8 to 12 million people supported by the charity to be impacted.

While information was still evolving, the organization said that the office closures would effect upwards of 2,300 country office staff.

Just days after the Trump administration moved to freeze federal funding for foreign aid, Save the Children said over 17 million items of aid were left stranded in warehouses on trucks and with suppliers.

Read more: Trump administration freezes funding at second Ivy League institution

Every child deserves a future. We cannot let children die on our watch, Inger Ashing, CEO at Save the Children International said in a statement.

We all have a moral and strategic imperative to invest in children and acknowledge their rights for a safer and more stable world.
A slew of new stores and restaurants are set to open in the Burlington Mall this year. Most of them will open in the summer, according to the Simon Property Group, the agency that owns the mall.

The new, incoming retail stores and restaurants include a jewelry store, lifestyle clothing retailers, an ice cream parlor and an all-you-can-eat restaurant.

Were thrilled about what is ahead this year at Burlington Mall, including the arrival of an exciting array of new stores and dining options to the center, Lauren Dalis, director of marketing and business development at Burlington Mall, said in a statement. These additions reflect our commitment to offering something for everyone. Whether its an innovative dining experience, unique shopping opportunities, or fun-filled family activities, we cant wait to share all the new developments that will continue to make Burlington Mall the go-to destination for both our loyal visitors and new guests in 2025 and beyond.

Here are the new stores and restaurants coming to the Burlington Mall.

Kendra Scott in Brickell City Centre in Miami, Florida. Phillip Pessar

New stores at Burlington Mall

Kendra Scott, a jewelry chain, is scheduled to open in late spring next to J. Crew. The store is known for selling vibrant and unique jewelry pieces.

PacSun, a clothing store that sells lifestyle apparel for teens, will come in the late spring.

Evereve, a clothing retailer that carries more than 150 brands and hires trained clothing stylists, will open in early summer.

Rowan, a company known for providing safe ear piercings by licensed nurses for people as young as 2 months old, will open this summer.

New restaurants at Burlington Mall

Ten One Tea House, a milk and bubble tea shop, is expected to open in late spring in the LensCrafters wing.

Van Leeuwen, an ice cream parlor chain, will arrive mid-summer on the first level of the Burlington Mall next to Legal Sea Foods.

Tobu, a restaurant that specializes in Japanese cuisine, will arrive this summer.

Sergeant Burgers & Steaks, an American burger restaurant, will arrive this summer.

ChoCho Hot Pot, a premium all-you-can-eat eatery, will come later in the year.

New attraction at Burlington Mall

J7 Adventureland, an indoor play area that has an arcade and can host kids birthday parties, will arrive in early summer.

The Burlington Mall is at 75 Middlesex Turnpike in Burlington, near the interchange between I-95 and Route 3. Its open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Alan Jackson has captivated audiences for years with hit songs such as Chattahoochee, and Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning). As the 66-year-old Georgia native is about to end his Last Call: One More for the Road Tour, fans will be reminded that he is set to retire soon amid his battle with a chronic health condition.

Jackson, who first announced he was going to retire last year, said a big reason for the career end was family-related.

Enjoy spending more time at home, and dont want to be away like I had to be in my younger days, and I dont tour as much now as I did 10 years ago, Jackson said in a video posted to X on June 2024. But I think its getting time to start thinking about hanging it up full-time.

Jackson has also been battling a chronic illness. He first revealed he was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in 2021, according to his website. The country music star went on NBCs Today show to talk about the illness and how it affects him.

Ive been reluctant to talk about this publicly and to my fans, but I have this neuropathy  a neurological disease thats genetic that I inherited from my daddy, Jackson said on NBCs Today in 2021. Theres no cure for it, but its been affecting me for years. And its getting more and more obvious.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a rare chronic illness that affects the nerves that control muscle movement, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Its a condition that usually affects how someone feels in their feet and hands. The disease is not curable, but physical therapy and assistive devices or shoes can be used as treatments.

As for now, Jackson is still able to perform well. He was recently featured at the Grand Ole Oprys 100th anniversary show.

Jackson also has three dates left on his Last Call: One More for the Road Tour. The dates are: April 5 in Georgetown, Texas; April 26 in Tampa, Florida and May 17 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, according to his website.
Maracas Beach in Trinidad and Tobago (Edwin Remsberg / VWPics via AP Images) VWPics via AP Images

Those planning a spring trip to Trinidad and Tobago should consider changing their plans.

The U.S. Department of State issued a travel advisory for the popular Caribbean island on Friday, March 21.

The advisory, which is listed at the second-highest level of Level 3, tells tourists to reconsider travel to Trinidad and Tobago due to serious risks from crime, adding that there are also heightened risks of terrorism and kidnapping.

Officials added that gang activity, such as narcotics trafficking, is common and a significant portion of violent crime is gang related.

The advisory comes after Trinidad and Tobago declared a nationwide State of Emergency on Dec. 30, 2024. The State of Emergency was extended until April on Jan. 13.

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago will monitor the SOE daily, the advisory reads. Restrictions may change with little or no notice.

In addition to foreign travelers, U.S. government personnel are not allowed to travel to several areas in Port of Spain because of frequent violence and shootings.

Anyone who does choose to travel to Trinidad and Tobago should do the following, according to the advisory:
Students planning to work in the field of journalism can apply for a variety of scholarships hosted by The Valley Press Club.

The Valley Press Club is awarding $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors in Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut who are interested in a career in journalism or related fields.

Over the course of six decades, the club, comprising active and retired journalists and public relations professionals, has presented more than $140,000 in scholarships to eligible students. See the the Valley Press Club past recipients here.

Below is a list of all scholarships offered through The Valley Press Club.

The Valley Press Club Scholarships, funded by contributions and dues to the press club, are for students planning careers in print, online or broadcast journalism.

The Republican Scholarship, funded by The Republican, is for students living within the newspapers circulation area who are planning careers in print journalism.

The 22News Scholarship, funded by WWLP-22News, is for students planning careers in broadcast journalism.

The MassLive Scholarship is for a Massachusetts high school senior planning to pursue a career in print, online or broadcast journalism/communication. This scholarship is available to a student who is underrepresented in the field of journalism and is planning to attend an institution of higher education in the field.

The Edward J. Malley Jr. Memorial Scholarship, established in memory of a chief photographer for the Springfield Newspapers, is for students planning careers in photojournalism.

The Rhonda Swan Memorial Scholarship, established in memory of the award-winning journalist, editor and author, is for students who are underrepresented, in the Springfield area, planning careers in journalism.

The Valley Press Club will review the students career goals, writing ability, scholastic aptitude and achievement measured by high school transcript, class rank, academic awards, SAT scores and extracurricular activities.

Students have until April 4 to apply. Scholarship applications can be found here.

The application should be typed or completed on a computer, the Valley Press Club requests. An electronic version, which can be filed by email, is available here. The pages of the application should be numbered and each page should contain the applicants name. Two-sided copies will not be accepted.
It has been nearly 30 years since Zandera Peter Sullivan was killed. But the Massachusetts Parole Board said Patrick Brown, who was convicted of second-degree murder in 2011, has yet to confront key aspects of himself tied to the crime.

On May 29, 1995, Tracey Jones, Browns former girlfriend and mother of his 10-month-old baby, returned to her apartment in Roxbury to find photos of Jones and Brown propped up on both her and her daughters bed. Officials said Brown did not have a key to the apartment because he had been physically abusive while Jones was pregnant.

Fearing for her safety, Jones invited her boyfriend, Sullivan, to her apartment.

Brown began calling Jones demanding he be allowed to visit his daughter. Jones told him it was too late and to wait until the following day.

Brown continued calling until Jones unplugged the phone. About 15 minutes later, there was a knock on the front door but Jones did not open it.

Suddenly, there was a loud boom at the back door and Brown appeared beside the bed that Jones and Sullivan were in.

Officials said Brown pulled out a hunting knife from the waistband of his pants and yelled at Sullivan, You are busted. I seen you two here together.

Sullivan ran out of the bedroom and left the apartment through the back door with Brown running after him.

Jones found Sullivan lying on the ground with a pool of blood near his upper body and his arm shaking. A resident on the first floor called police but Sullivan died at the scene due to his carotid artery and jugular vein being severed.

Police were unable to find Brown after the murder.

In 2009, a tip led officials to Costa Rica. Brown had been living there under a fake name.

On Feb. 6, 2010, Mr. Brown was captured in Belize and extradited back to Boston. A year later, Brown pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Suffolk Superior Court.

He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. He also received 2 years of probation, to run concurrently with the life sentence, for home invasion.

On Dec. 5, 2024, Brown appeared before the parole board for an initial hearing.

Two members of Browns family and a family friend spoke in support of his parole, while Suffolk County assistance district attorney Charles Marshall and two members of Sullivans family spoke in opposition.

The board decided Brown was not ready for parole.

Brown has done a number of programs, including violence reduction, mens work, criminal thinking, restorative justice and correctional recovery academy. But he has yet to address the causative factors directly related to this offense.

Mr. Browns version of offense contradicts known facts, the parole board wrote.

Instead of parole, the board encouraged Brown to engage in domestic violence programming and enhance his insight into victim impact.
Wearing a U.S. flag themed pocket square and belt buckle, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth waits for the start of a television interview outside the White House, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Washington. (Jacquelyn Martin | AP Photo) Jacquelyn Martin | AP Photo

The damage from revelations this week that a journalist was included in a high-level Trump administration group chat about a planned American air strike against terrorist targets in Yemen could take years to undo  if its ever undone at all, a Tufts University national security expert has told MassLive.

"Its bloody embarrassing," Jeffrey W. Taliaferro, who teaches political science at the Medford, Massachusetts-based school, said in a wide-ranging interview on Tuesday.

The American national security establishment was shaken to its core on Monday after Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, reported that he had been included in a high-level group chat on Signal, an encrypted messaging application.

Those participating in the chat included U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Vice President JD Vance, and others.

Goldberg, a veteran journalist, wrote that he was shocked to be included in the chat, and remained unconvinced that it was true until American missiles rained down on Yemen last weekend.

The senior officials, many of whom have prior experience handling delicate national security matters, have been publicly lacerated for using an app that, while secure, still remains vulnerable to hackers or foreign governments.

On Monday, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who sits on the Senates Armed Services Committee fumed on X that American "national security is in the hands of complete amateurs."

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-5th District, a former Marine, went one better, saying the incident exhibited incompetence so severe that it could have gotten Americans killed.

Taliaferro shared that same analysis with MassLive, saying that the lapse in judgment will further fray relations with skittish allies, who will think twice before sharing intelligence with their American partners.

Its also likely to further demoralize workers in the intelligence community who were the targets of relentless attacks during Trumps first term, he observed.

Jeffrey Taliaferro, a professor of political science at the School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University. (Michael Last for Tufts University) Michael Last for Tufts University

It is indicative of this broader, cavalier, almost nihilist attitude the administration has, Taliaferro said. They arent going to play by the rules. They hold professionals and experts and contempt.

And while the news is shocking, it shouldnt be totally surprising given President Donald Trumps reckless handling of sensitive intelligence matters in the past, Taliaferro, who specializes in U.S. foreign policy, intelligence, and cybersecurity, added.

In 2017, for instance, the Republican president reportedly shared classified information with Russian diplomats who were visiting the White House.

Trump was later charged with mishandling classified documents at his residence in Florida, though those charges eventually were dismissed.

The continued breakdown of normal procedures of national security policymaking is really concerning and should be of paramount concern to any citizen of the U.S. who is concerned about the security of this country, Taliaferro said.

On Tuesday, Gabbard and Ratcliffe faced intense questioning from Democratic members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence as they delivered the annual global threat assessment to Congress, The Washington Post reported.

If this was the case of a military officer or an intelligence officer, and they had this kind of behavior, they would be fired, Sen. Mark R. Warner, of Virginia, the panels ranking Democrat, said in his opening remarks, noting that in addition to the targeting information, the text chain included the identity of an active CIA officer.

This is one more example of the kind of sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior, particularly toward classified information, exhibited by the Trump administration, Warner said, according to The Post, adding that, this is not a one-off.

Gabbard on Tuesday at first declined to say whether she was involved in the group chat, according to The Post.

Later, she and Ratcliffe insisted that classified information had not been shared in the chat  a claim that triggered an incredulous backlash from the committees liberals, the newspaper reported.

Speaking to MassLive on Tuesday, Taliaferro said that Gabbard and Ratcliffe, along with such veteran officials as Rubio and Waltz, should have known better than to conduct such sensitive discussions on the messaging app.

The fact that [National Security Council] principals are using Signal to discuss military operations will give allies and U.S. military commanders pause, he said, adding that those same American officers likely would have been court-martialed for similar behavior.

Reports surfaced Monday that Waltz, a former U.S. representative from Florida and Trump loyalist, could be shown the door for organizing the chat.

Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee have called on both Waltz and Hegseth, a former Fox News host, to resign, The Hill reported. So far, Trump has taken no action against either man.

One would hope the defense secretary would be shown the door, Taliaferro said, then, referring to attacks on Goldberg, he noted that the journalist didnt ask to be included.

This is not a case of a journalist taking steps to gain access to a sensitive conversation. Its not an instance of leaking, he said.

This is a really embarrassing, unforced error, Taliaferro concluded.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., questions Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's choice to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services, as he testifies before the Senate Finance Committee during his confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) AP

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren didnt waste any time sharing her thoughts on the bombshell news that a journalist had been included in a Trump administration group chat about a planned military strike in Yemen.

This is blatantly illegal and dangerous beyond belief. Our national security is in the hands of complete amateurs, Warren, who sits on the Senates Armed Services Committee, posted to X on Monday.

What other highly sensitive national security conversations are happening over group chat? she continued. Any other random people accidentally added to those, too?

The American national security establishment was shaken to its core on Monday after Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, revealed that he had been included in a high-level group chat on Signal, an encrypted messaging application.

This is an insane level of incompetence that endangers your family and our national security. Heads should roll, U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, D-5th District, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, wrote on X.

Goldberg, 59, who has helmed the magazine since 2016, wrote Monday that he received a connection request from someone identifying themselves as Michael Waltz on March 11.

Goldberg, who has spent years covering foreign affairs, wrote that he assumed that the Waltz in question was National Security Adviser Michael Waltz.

Goldberg said he found the request unusual, given the White Houses confrontational relationship with the press and President Donald Trumps periodic fixation on me specifically.

Goldberg made national headlines  and earned Trumps enmity  in September 2020, when he revealed that the Republican viewed Americans who died in combat as losers and suckers.

Goldberg also noted that the connection request could have been a set-up by someone masquerading as Waltz to somehow entrap me.

Two days later, on March 13, Goldberg wrote that he was to be included in a Signal chat group dubbed the Houthi PC small group.

Others included in the group chat were Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

A total of 18 senior White House and National Security Council officials, such as White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Middle East negotiator Steve Witkoff, and Trump confidant Stephen Miller, also were on the chat, Goldberg, who was identified as JG on the chat, reported.

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-6th District, a former Marine, said the incident exhibited incompetence so severe that it could have gotten Americans killed.

There is no world in which this information should have been shared in non-secure channels. Hegseth is in so far over his head that he is a danger to this country and our men and women in uniform, Moulton said in a post to X.

Goldberg wrote that he continued to doubt the chat groups authenticity. Those doubts were swept aside when the U.S. launched its air strike on March 15, he wrote.

A spokesperson for the National Security Council confirmed the veracity of the chat group.

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., also weighed in with a separate post to X, calling the revelations malpractice.

[President] Donald Trump is a national security risk and his advisors would put our service members in danger with their recklessness and incompetence, the Malden Democrat wrote.
In an op-ed recently published in the New York Times , a former conservative judge wrote President Donald Trumps recent defiance of the judicial branch can cripple his presidency and tarnish his legacy.

Michael Luttig, who served as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals from 1991 to 2006, wrote in his New York Times op-ed that President Trump has wasted no time picking a fight with the countrys judicial branch.

The former federal judge  appointed by President George H.W. Bush  is referring to the Trump Administrations recent judicial dispute over the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelan migrants.

On March 15 The Trump Administration deported 261 Venezuelan migrants on two flights to Honduras and El Salvador, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Of the deportees, 137 were deported under the Alien Enemies Act  a wartime authority that allows the president to detain or deport the natives and citizens of an enemy nation.

The Trump administration claimed that these 137 individuals were part of the Venezuelan, Tren de Aragua gang  which federal officials designated a terrorist organization. However, several news outlets including the LA Times and Reuters claim many of the people deported arent part of the Tren de Aragua gang.

U.S. Judge James E. Boasberg issued an order temporarily blocking the deportation. However, the Trump administration defied the court order and carried out the movement.

Luttig wrote in his Times op-ed that if the Trump administration continues to defy the judicial branch the Supreme Court may step in and apply its constitutional power to say what the law is.

A rebuke from the nations highest court in his wished-for war with the nations federal courts could well cripple Mr. Trumps presidency and tarnish his legacy, wrote Luttig.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg appears before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Capitol Hill on Nov. 20, 2024, in Washington, D.C. AP

Members of President Donald Trumps cabinet are facing scrutiny after national security deliberations in an encrypted group chat mistakenly included a journalist from The Atlantic magazine.

Not only should someone be fired for sending battle plans to a random individual, a former Biden administration cabinet member said Monday evening, but if he were in the same situation, he would be face serious personal and legal consequences.

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg made the comments during an appearance on CNN.

Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and a naval officer, told CNN Anchor Kaitlin Collins that it is a grave and serious matter to take classified information about American battle plans that involve American troops and then randomly send them to the wrong guy.

If they dont understand the seriousness of that, then they dont understand how their jobs affect the lives of ordinary American people, Buttigieg said.

When asked by Collins if someone should be fired over this incident, Buttigieg replied, absolutely.

I mean, if I made a mistake like this as lieutenant I would be probably not just fired, but probably indicted and tried and maybe in prison, he told Collins.

On Monday, The Atlantic published a story by Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg about how he was included in a group chat that included members of Trumps cabinet, including National Security Advisor Michael Waltz.

Other officials in the group chat include Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, according to The Atlantic.

The group chat, which was confirmed to be on the messaging service Signal, contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Iran-backed Houthi-rebels in Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying and attack sequencing, Goldberg reported.

The world found out shortly before 2 p.m. Eastern time on March 15 that the United States was bombing Houthi targets across Yemen, Goldberg wrote. I, however, knew two hours before the first bombs exploded that the attack might be coming.

Following publication of the article, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied the report and lashed out against The Atlantic, according to Axios.

Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again, Hegseth said about Goldberg. Nobody was texting war plans.

On Tuesday, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told members of the United States Senate that the leaking of the war plans is under investigation, according to PBS.

In an interview with NBC on Tuesday, President Trump defended his National Security Advisor, saying Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man.
A lead pipe is shown after being replaced by a copper water supply line to a home in Flint, Mich., July 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File) AP

Leaders across state government lashed out at the Trump administration on Tuesday as the White House delayed more than $50 million in funding earmarked to help replace lead pipes across Massachusetts.

The thoughtless delay will put kids at risk and jeopardize construction jobs across the Bay State, Gov. Maura Healey, state Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, and Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell said in a joint statement.

Funding local projects is vital to get lead out of our drinking water. Massachusetts has some of the oldest housing stock and water infrastructure in the nation, and lead service lines remain a threat to public health, particularly for young children, Healey said.

The state had been set to receive the money through the Biden-era Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announcing Massachusetts' allocation in May 2024, officials said Tuesday.

The White House pressed pause on the cash while it conducts a review against President [Donald] Trumps executive orders, the three pols said in their joint statement, noting that theres no timeline on when the money might be released.

This thoughtless delay is putting the safety and wellbeing of our most vulnerable residents at risk, especially our children, Goldberg, who also chairs the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, said.

The federal funding we use addresses a critical health issue and allows us to invest in vital water infrastructure projects that directly benefit the people who need it most. Providing clean, lead-free drinking water should not be controversial, she continued.

The EPA announced new rules last October that gave Massachusetts 10 years to replace all lead pipes statewide. The agency set aside more than $50 million in funding to help the state reach that goal, WBUR-FM reported at the time.

On Tuesday, Campbell, a Democrat who has initiated scores of legal actions against the Republican White House, underlined the public health threat posed by lead pipes.

I will continue to speak out against policies that put the health and safety of our residents at risk, she said.

Environmental advocates have been raising red flags on what they say is a concerted effort by the White House, abetted by tech billionaire Elon Musk and congressional Republicans, to undermine clean water efforts nationwide.

Specifically, they have pointed to Republican-authored legislation repealing the EPAs 10-year mandate on lead pipe replacements.

If Congress passes this measure, it could prevent the EPA from ever mandating full lead service line replacement again," the advocacy group Food & Water Watch said in a statement. This would cause permanent harm for millions. Thats because the Congressional Review Act prohibits an agency from ever proposing a rule substantially the same as one that was repealed using it.

On Tuesday, Healey called on the White House to restore the stalled funding for Massachusetts.

These funds stimulate our economy by creating construction jobs, replacing outdated infrastructure, and most importantly ensuring that residents are drinking safe, clean water. We urge the Trump Administration to cease this dangerous delay in critical funding, the Democratic governor said.
A person walks over the international border into Canada in front of the Haskell Free Library and Opera House in Derby Line, Vt., on Friday, March 21, 2025. ((Christinne Muschi /The Canadian Press via AP)

The Haskell Free Library & Opera House, a century-old beloved geographic oddity straddling the dividing line between the U.S. state of Vermont and the Canadian province of Quebec has had longstanding rules about how to enter the cross-border building.

Now, under the new Trump administration, the library has been told by U.S. border officials that it must change the way library patrons coming from the Canadian side enter the facility.

On its website, the Haskell Free Library said that all Canadian patrons must show their library card to cross into the United States to enter from the librarys main entrance.

The library split between the towns of Stanstead, Quebec, and Derby Line, Vermont, is not an official border crossing.

However, once inside, guests to the library and opera house from either side of the border can intermingle and freely cross the duct-tape marked international border that runs along the floor.

A young girl walks over the Canada-USA international border line into Canada from inside the Haskell Free Library and Opera House in Derby Line, Vermont on Friday, March 21, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP) AP

Typically, the policy has been that those coming from Canada may technically cross the border into the U.S. following the sidewalk to use the librarys American-facing main entrance without inspection.

There is an entrance to the building from the Canadian side, but according to CBC News, this entrance is an emergency exit and is not currently accessible to those with disabilities.

Over 140,000 Canadian dollars ($97,000) has since been raised through an online fundraiser with over 2,000 donations to renovate the Canadian entrance.

The GoFundMe page called the move by the U.S. government a unilateral decision to shut down the primary Canadian access point to this world-renowned, one-of-a-kind heritage landmark, and that the library is a powerful symbol of unity and cross-border friendship.

The funds will be used to create a parking lot and ramps for those with mobility issues and to craft a proper building entrance on the Canadian side, according to the fundraiser.

Tourists visiting from the Canadian side are told to now only use the Canadian-facing entrance instead of coming around to the U.S. sides main entrance, the library said.

While many carry proper documentation with them, a passport or visa has never been necessary to enter the library before, but U.S. Border Patrol and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are allowed to seek personal identification and detain those without legal status, the Haskell Free Library indicated.

The Haskell Free Library and Opera House is seen in Derby Line, Vt., on Friday, March 21, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP) AP

CBS News reported that, starting Oct. 1 of this year, restrictions on entry for Canadians will be strengthened so that even library card holders will have to enter from the Canadian side.

Alternatively, Canadians could use a more circuitous route and go through an official border check point down the road between Stanstead and Derby Line to use the main U.S. entrance  only to later have to cross this check point yet again.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told NPR in a statement that the move to limit Canadian entry from the U.S. side of the library was in response to drug traffickers and smugglers who were exploiting Canadians' privilege to do so freely.

We are ending such exploitation by criminals and protecting Americans, DHS said in its statement to NPR.
Relievers Zack Kelly and Greg Weissert have made the Opening Day roster, manager Alex Cora told reporters, including MLB.coms Ian Browne, in Mexico on Tuesday.

The Red Sox will play their final exhibition game in Monterrey, Mexico, against the Sultanes at 7:10 p.m.

Kelly and Weissert will join fellow relievers Aroldis Chapman, Liam Hendriks, Justin Slaten, Garrett Whitlock and Justin Wilson on the Opening Day roster.

One bullpen spot remains. It will go to either lefty Brennan Bernardino or righty Cooper Criswell.

Kelly, who added a two-seam fastball this past offseason, allowed just two runs, four hits and one walk while striking out eight in 7  innings over seven Grapefruit League outings.

Weissert had a nice spring training except for one game. He didnt allow a run in seven of his eight outings. He also gave up just two hits in those seven appearances. His one bad outing came March 17 against Baltimore when he gave up six runs while recording just two outs.

Weissert didnt allow an earned run in his final 17 outings (16  innings) last year after moving from the right side to the left side of the rubber.
A tourism official in my native Bhutan recently offered a defense on Facebook of the countrys so-called Gross National Happiness, writing after the U.S. proposed adding Bhutan to its red list restricting travel to this country.

As a Bhutan refugee now living in Springfield, I feel compelled to respond to this post  and to tell the truth to the outside world.

It is crucial to expose the reality behind Bhutans carefully crafted image of happiness and harmony.

As someone who has personally known Bhutans brutal history and as a proud U.S. citizen, it is my responsibility to speak up about the suffering endured by the Nepali-speaking Southern Bhutanese (Lhotshampa) community, who were forcibly expelled from Bhutan and forced to live in refugee camps in Nepal for decades.

In his Facebook post, Karma Loday  founding member of the Bhutan Sustainable Tourism Society  depicts Bhutan as a peaceful, compassionate and ideal nation. That is a distortion of reality. His praise for the leadership of Bhutans monarchy overlooks the bitter past and the marginalization of the Lhotshampa community that I know personally.

In the early 1990s, King Jigme Singye Wangchuk launched a campaign of ethnic cleansing, targeting the Lhotshampa. This was nothing less than a deliberate act of cultural genocide.

It included taking away power from village leaders, forcing people to wear a national dress unsuitable for the southern climate, banning Nepali language instruction in schools and implementing a census that divided families.

In response, peaceful protests erupted across southern Bhutan during August, September and October 1990, demanding basic human rights.

I, along with my schoolmates, took part in one of the demonstrations in Phuentsholing Bhutan, where the leaders of the peaceful demonstration attempted to submit a memorandum to the king. The Royal Bhutan Police and Royal Bhutan Army were ordered to violently dismantle the demonstration, using tear gas and batons, injuring and arresting many.

I was also beaten on my shoulders from behind but managed to escape to India. Later, I learned that the authorities were hunting down protesters. Fearing possible arrest and torture, I went to Nepal and sought refuge in one of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) monitored camps, where I lived for 17 years before resettling in the U.S. in 2008.

Today, I am a proud U.S. citizen.

Between 1990 and 1993, more than 100,000 Lhotshampa were deprived of their citizenship, subjected to abuse and torture, and forcibly expelled from Bhutan. Many of these displaced people, including me, ended up in overcrowded refugee camps in Nepal, where they have lived in severe conditions for decades.

Bhutans narrative of peace and happiness is a tactic that ignores the dark chapter. Those who accept this false image are complicit in hiding the truth.

The tourism officials defense of Bhutans Gross National Happiness ignores the plight of thousands of Lhotshampa who were denied basic human rights for over two decades. Instead of welcoming them back and restoring their citizenship, Bhutan forced them to remain stateless in the refugee camps for decades. How can a country that forcibly displaced one-sixth of its population and denied them basic rights still claim to be a model of peace and harmony?

Bhutans success in promoting its Gross National Happiness philosophy on the global stage is built on falsehoods and political manipulation. For example, when Bhutan joined the United Nations on Sept. 21, 1971, it reported a population of around one million. However, even today, over 45 years later, the population remains under 800,000. Bhutan gained UN membership with Indias backing and has since supported Indias political interests at the UN in return.

This alliance has allowed Bhutan to cover up its human rights abuses and avoid accountability for the forced expulsion and mistreatment of the Lhotshampa.

Lodays post defending Bhutan after the U.S. decision to place it on the red list reflects his alignment with the Bhutanese regime. He benefits economically and politically from supporting the monarchys narrative. His success in maintaining this false image of Bhutan as a peaceful and harmonious nation has now been challenged by the U.S. decision, which exposes the truth behind Bhutans carefully crafted propaganda.

While I do not feel obliged to agree with every decision made by the U.S. government, I welcome the decision to place Bhutan on the red list. This action has created an opportunity to expose Bhutans history and ongoing oppression.

For this, I even thank Karma Loday  his post has by accident opened the door to discussing Bhutans hidden truth.

But his comments are nothing more than an attempt to preserve Bhutans false image. He is neither an independent observer nor a genuine representative of Bhutanese people. His portrayal of Bhutan as a peaceful and compassionate nation ignores decades of discrimination and oppression.

The U.S. red list decision presents an opportunity for the displaced Lhotshampa community to continue speaking out. The truth about Bhutans hidden oppression must be revealed to make the country accountable and responsible.

Hari Khanal, a former refugee from Bhutan, is a certified community health worker and serves as a refugee health initiatives coordinator at a community health center in Western Massachusetts.
The entrance to the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts in Boston on Tuesday. (Namu Sampath / The Republican) The Republican

BOSTON  In a packed courtroom Tuesday afternoon, a federal judge took five minutes to say that he would reinstate federal grants to four fair housing organizations, including one in Western Massachusetts.

Judge Richard G. Stearns of the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts in Boston said every defense argument brought by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency already was addressed in a First Circuit Court of Appeals decision filed in California on Friday.
Safieullah Safie and Nazifa Safie, refugees from Afghanistan, look out the front window of their Longmeadow home on Monday. (Steven E. Nanton photo) Steven E. Nanton

LONGMEADOW  When the Taliban marched into Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 15, 2021, Nazifa Safie and Safieullah Safie knew they had to evacuate their home country. And they had to move quickly.

They had both worked in government and with U.S. agencies. Safieullah directed operations for an office in the Afghan government. Nazifa worked at Center for Civilians in Conflict, a Washington, D.C., based nonprofit.
About 300 people gathered in March 2023 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst to protest a plan to shift dozens of jobs from the university to a private foundation. (Jim Russell / Special to The Republican, File)

AMHERST  The University of Massachusetts Amherst Labor Center will be hosting a workers empowerment symposium on Friday and Saturday.

Now more than ever, we need to utilize our collective power as workers to mobilize against the billionaires taking over our country and leading us into fascism, organizers said in an announcement. Come and learn from unions and workers who have utilized this power to win concrete changes in their workplaces and lives.
A man who fatally shot someone in 1993 when he was 17 years old during an argument after a DJ competition in Springfield was granted parole in March.

Rockland Baines, 48, was granted parole to a long-term residential program, the Massachusetts Parole Board ruled on March 18. In this treatment program, people stay at a facility for at least 90 days to receive care. Baines will enter the program after he spends one year in lower security, an area of prison that houses inmates with shorter criminal histories.

Baines pleaded guilty in Hampden Superior Court on May 2, 1995, for fatally shooting John Meddar, 35, during a DJ competition. He was charged with second-degree murder and was sentenced to serve life in prison with the possibility of parole.
A Springfield man is being held without bail and ordered to undergo a mental health examination after officials said he threatened to shoot people at TD Bank and punched a police officer.

On March 18, Michael Lane, 65, was causing a disturbance at TD Bank in downtown Springfield around 1:15 p.m., including threatening to shoot people, the Springfield Police Department said.
A federal magistrate recently dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former student at Deerfield Academy over a complaint that she was not permitted to wear her custom tutu while performing in the holiday classic The Nutcracker. (Luis Fieldman / MassLive.com, File)

DEERFIELD  A federal magistrate dismissed a lawsuit filed by a student at Deerfield Academy over a complaint that she was not permitted to wear her custom tutu while portraying the Sugar Plum Fairy in the holiday classic The Nutcracker.

Catherine Lily Thomas filed a complaint against her prestigious boarding school in 2022, amid a debate among school administrators and faculty involved in denying her right to wear the outfit she and her parents bought on tutu.com, according to court records.
Afghan refugees in January hold placards urging President Donald Trump not to pause U.S. refugee programs, but he has. (Anjum Naveed / Associated Press, File) AP

SPRINGFIELD  The Trump administrations halt to refugee resettlement  and funding  has cost Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts about $500,0000 and forced it to lay off five staffers.

We have not yet been paid for work that we completed before the contract was canceled, and weve been told that we are not able to continue that work, said Rabbi James Greene, CEO of the agency.
WHS and WTA Band Director Patrick Kennedy is being awarded the Massachusetts Music Educators Assoc. Distinguished Service Award for 2025. (SUBMITTED) The Westfield News

WESTFIELD  Patrick Kennedy, band director for Westfield High School and Westfield Technical Academy and lead music teacher for Westfield Public Schools grades 5 to 12, will be receiving the Massachusetts Music Educators Distinguished Service Award in a ceremony on Thursday, March 27, at the DCU Convention Center in Worcester.
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On this day, one of the most well known Mayo personalities was born.

March 25, in 1846, the Irish patriot, father of the Land League, humanitarian and journalist was born at the height of the Great Famine in Straide Co. Mayo. His name: Michael Davitt.

The Michael Davitt Museum posted a text on their social media today: "Michael and his family were evicted from their home in 1850 and forced to emigrate to Haslingden in East Lancashire (England).

READ: Davitts GAA to launch book marking clubs 50-year anniversary

Michael began working in a cotton mill at the age of nine. In 1857 at the age of 11 his right arm was entangled in a cogwheel and mangled so badly it had to be amputated.

When he recovered from his operation, a local benefactor, John Dean, helped to send him to a Wesleyan school, which was connected to the Methodist Church and here he received an excellent education that gave him a world view that always served him well.

In 1861, at the age of 15, Michael went to work in a local post office, owned by Henry Cockcroft, who also ran a printing business. Michael took night classes at the local Mechanics' Institute and used its library. This led to him becoming particularly interested in Irish history."

Davitt joined the Fenians and was arrested by the English authorities for arms smuggling and sent to prison.

On the 16th August 1879, the Land League of Mayo was formally founded in Castlebar with the active support of Charles Stewart Parnell.

Davitt died on May 30 in 1906, his dream of Irish independence still unfulfilled.

This quote below from the last will and testament of Michael Davitt allow us to give him the last word on this special day:

'To all all my friends I leave kind thoughts,

To my enemies the fullest possible forgiveness

And to Ireland the undying prayer

For the absolute freedom and independence.'

Which it was my life's ambition to try and obtain for her.'

READ: Michael Davitt legacy currently being preserved at Trinity College
Mayo funnyman Garron Noone has returned to social media after deactivating his accounts last week. His move to leave social media came after a backlash to comments he made about immigration.

In that first video, he said: "The [immigration] 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."

Garron released a video on his TikTok and Instagram accounts. The caption of the video read: "I stand by what I said in my first video, this video will clarify any points I seen that were taken up differently to how I meant them, and this will be my last word on it."

He said: "Hello, how are you getting on? I'm back. This is the last time I'm going to discuss this particular topic. I really want to get back to doing what I like to do, which is just having the craic.

"But I needed to take a few days away. There was a lot of stuff happening online, as I'm sure many of you know, and I just couldn't stop myself looking at it and engaging with it, and it wasn't productive for me.

"I think anything I said in response to it would have been purely based on emotion and just not productive so I decided that the best thing to do was to was just to remove myself from it for a little while and clear my head.

"The first thing I want to say is just a massive thank you to everybody for their support for all the people who made such an effort to reach out to me.

READ NEXT: What did Garron Noone say about immigration before deleting social media pages amid backlash?

"I mean people were offering me to stay in their B&Bs and their homes and their hotels if I needed to carry my head. The generosity that I experienced from people is just incredible.

"What I've always known to be true is people have just such beautiful, caring souls, and I seen so much of that this week, not only from Irish people, but from people who had immigrated to the country. It was just, absolutely incredible to see.

"The second group of people I want to thank is anybody who disagreed with me in good faith.

"The last thing I want to do is paint people who disagreed with what I said, or even people who disagreed that I should have said it, the last thing I want to do is paint those people in a negative light.

"That's exactly what I was trying to say in the video is, that we should be able to have conversations about these things and I think that's tremendously valuable.

"I do want to take some accountability here. While I think that most people seemingly to me did understand what I was trying to get across in the video, I do think some of my points were too vague, and I think they were too open to interpretation.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Garron Noone (@garron_music)

"It's clear to me that I definitely could have communicated better, and that is 100 per cent on me, and I absolutely should be held accountable for that.

"I have a very large platform, and the things I say get out to a lot of people, and if they're poorly communicated, people absolutely should criticise me. I think that that's absolutely tremendously important.

"Now, I'm sure a lot of you have seen the Twitter threads, the personal attacks, people calling me a racist, misinterpreting what I was saying, trying to make me out to be fascist and all the worst things that you can say about a person. Saying that I was anti-immigrant, things that are just absolutely not true at all.

"There were some attempts they made to edit my Wikipedia page to say that I was aligning myself at the far right, and that I was anti-immigrant.

"I'm sure some of you seen some of the far-right people who are misappropriating what I was saying and trying to use it to bolster their own agenda, which was obviously absolutely horrifying to me and the last thing that I would want."

"I just want to clear up some of the conspiracy theories about me, you know, being shut down by the board, or that my account was taken down.

"What happened is, while most people understood what I was saying, while most people were perfectly respectful, there was a very large backlash. It got very personal. People were trying to completely misrepresent what I was saying. I found that to be very upsetting, very hard to look at.

"I had never experienced anything on that scale before. People are negative about me all the time, I'm used to that, but to have very large groups of people misappropriating what I was saying, to have very large groups of people making out that I have some of the worst beliefs that I can possibly think of, it was difficult."

Garron then spoke about what he was trying to say in his original video.

"So, what were people misrepresenting about what I was saying? First of all, I never said that I was anti-immigration. I honestly don't know where people even got that.

"I never aligned myself with Conor McGregor and said that I agreed with everything he said or anything even close to that. In fact, I said the opposite.

"I never said that immigrants are criminals or that immigrants are making our crime rates shoot to all-time highs.

"I never said that immigrants were coming into the country and causing the crime rate to skyrocket. I never said anything about crime rates, and I never said anything about immigrants causing that or anything like that.

"What I said, is that the towns and cities are becoming much less safe, and I believe that to be true. Some people were quoting CSO statistics and saying that crime has gone down, and many types of crime have gone down. That's not the primary thing that I'm thinking about, though.

"There's a lot of anti-social behaviour being unaddressed. There's a lot of problems with drugs, the types of drugs have changed. There is many, many factors to why people feel things are getting much more unsafe, and also some of these problems were typically only present in Dublin and we are starting to see them in other places in Ireland.

"Now you can disagree with that, but it's not misinformation. There's perfectly reasonably a case to be made for that. It's something that a lot of people feel.

"The problem is, is that when we're not talking about what people are feeling, what people are saying, what people are concerned about, you allow people to hijack the conversation and drive it up into that hysterical level. But people do have legitimate concerns about things, and those concerns are fine to have," he added.

"I also feel like a lot of the time these conversations can become very centred around Dublin, and there are lots of communities outside Dublin that have concerns that are different and those things need to be respected.

"I do think that a lot of communities are just not being properly communicated with. Their voices aren't being heard and they're being told that their concerns are irrelevant. But what I'm saying and what I was saying in the video is that denying the reality that people have these concerns is leaving a massive, massive vacuum open for people like Conor McGregor to come in and occupy and spread messages that I know you don't want them to spread.

"That was the entire point of my video and I stand by that. However, I do agree, though, that when I'm saying immigration, I'm talking about safety in the same sentence, I need to be very, very specific about what I'm saying. I don't think I was specific enough, and I think that a lot of the misinterpretation about that, even though I do think most people understood what I was saying, I do think the misinterpretation is on me."

"I'm gonna go back to doing what I normally do," Garron concluded, adding that his video would be his "last word on it".

What else did Garron Noone say?

At the start of his video last week, Garron explained the reason he was posting was because he had been asked numerous times by followers for his views on the issues McGregor mentioned to Trump and the American media.

Garron also expressed reluctance to speak on the subject due to backlash he could face online.

In the video Garron said: "Now, I get asked for my opinion on these kind of serious topics all the time, I don't know why people care because I just shout at cups of tea on the internet."

He continued: "My opinion on Conor McGregor is irrelevant but I don't think he's a good person, I don't think it's particularly hard to find evidence of that.

"But it doesn't surprise me in the least to see a lot of people agreeing with what he was saying."

From there, Garron said: "There absolutely is an immigration issue in Ireland. That doesn't mean that people feel like we shouldn't take the refugees that we're able to take. It doesn't mean that people feel like people shouldn't 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."

Garron also said that what is cementing the issue is that Ireland "continues to become one of the richest countries in the world while most people's quality of life is going down".

He said: "Our towns and especially our cities are becoming much less safe, now 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.

"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, you increase their distrust in the government and you push people towards racism and extremism."

He concluded: "Now, no doubt a load of people in the comments are going to completely misconstrue what I've said here but that's the internet for you."
WESTPORT councillors have demanded answers as to what is happening with the old Scoil Phadraig building after the Department of Education were accused of not submitting a plan for renovation work.

The front of the old Scoil Phadraig National School building on Altamount Street in Westport is currently boarded up with hoardings up to ten feet high and a new vehicular entrance made close to the pedestrian crossing. Complaints were lodged with the planning enforcement office of Mayo County Council after claims the development was unauthorised.

Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn raised the matter at the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District where he demanded questions as to why complaints about the hoardings were not followed up by the planning enforcement office.

READ: Mayo TDs called to act as multiple ambulances queue outside Mayo University Hospital

We have a situation where there is no planning file in the system and where hoardings have gone up which are over ten feet high and a pedestrian entrance gate has been removed. You now have vehicular access to and from a very busy street to a regional road.

I made a complaint a number of weeks ago on behalf of a constituent who came to me and I know of other constituents who have made a complaint. I received a response approximately two weeks ago to say the case has been closed. It is phenomenal. Planning enforcement in this county normally takes three to four years before anything happens and yet in this one it can be turned around in the space of three to four weeks, he said before demanding that Director of Services, Catherine McConnell attend their next meeting to explain the reasons for closing the enforcement case.

The old Scoil Phadraig building was earmarked for the location of the new Holy Trinity National School but those plans were controversially put on hold when the Department of Education outlined their intention to use the building as 'urgent temporary accommodation' for the Sacred Heart Secondary School in Westport.

This decision has angered local councillors who have accused the Department of discrimination against the Church of Ireland school.

If there is ever a case to be taken for discrimination that is one there, commented Cllr Brendan Mulroy. Every single religious group in Westport is fully supportive of Holy Trinity who are an integral part of this town and have been for years and years. They are part of our society and our friends and neighbours.

I firmly believe that if that was a Catholic school that would not be happening to them. I firmly believe that and it is wrong and will never be right. It is time for the Department of Education to step up to the mark and solve this problem once and for all.

Independent councillor John O'Malley said that Holy Trinity were given the site by the Sisters of Mercy for their new school and accused the Department of Education of reneging on every promise made to Holy Trinity.

Reneged

The mistake they made was to hand it over to the Department of Education. When the Department of Education got a hold of that building they reneged on everything Holy Trinity looked for.

Everything has been worked against Holy Trinity and like a conspiracy or discrimination. If Holy Trinity was allowed to build their school in the beginning we wouldn't be having any of these problems now. It is a pure mess now and it is nobody else but the Department of Education who caused this and it is up to the department to rectify it, Cllr O'Malley said.

Cllr Flynn also told the meeting that the preliminary enrollment figures of the secondary schools based in Westport show that there were only 33 females enrolled to enter the Sacred Heart School in September.

The reality is another year like that and the Sacred Heart will be closing and I take no satisfaction in saying that. But if you have another situation where only 10 percent of the total student population is going into a particular secondary school.

Yet we continue to have this unauthorised development going on down here where no doubt millions are being spent on refurbishing a building which probably will never be used for the purpose that they are carrying out the work and it seems to be facilitated by Mayo County Council, he said.

Seamus O Mongain, Head of the Municipal District told the meeting that the matter was referred to the planning enforcement department of the council who conduct their own infornation into the matter.
Mayo County Council has been accused of facilitating unauthorised development and allowing a historic listed building in Westport to become an emergency homeless shelter.

It has emerged that a building along the North Mall in Westport, which previously accommodated Ukrainian refugees, is currently being used to house homeless people who are unable to be accommodated by Mayo County Council.

The matter was raised at yesterdays monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District, where local councillors expressed anger that they had not been informed about the development or who would be housed in the building, which is located beside Westport Post Office.

Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn told the meeting that he understands the owner of the building also owns the Railway Hotel in Ballinrobe, which up until recently housed homeless people.

It was brought to our attention last week that there is a house on the Mall in Westport that has now become a homeless shelter for the county. As we are all aware, we had the shelter in Ballinrobe shut down, and it is my understanding that this location in Westport is going to be the destination of choice for a certain select clientele, he said.

READ: Mayo councillors demand answers on old Westport school site

Beggars belief

Cllr Flynn also told the meeting that the windows facing the street have been screened off to stop people looking in and that there is unauthorised development taking place at the back of the hotel.

It beggars belief, what can be allowed in there. There is a whole host of additional apartments built; there is one wooden structure underway and two more foundations for two more apartments to go in. All the windows are screened off in the house so you cannot see in. I have never seen a house in this county where the windows are screened out so you cannot see in. I am reliably informed that the rooms are split into two to maximise the return.

This is an area of conservation and one of the most historical streets in our county, with the buildings protected, and yet we have all this illegal development going on in the background. It really is a disaster and not acceptable, he told the meeting.

Development taking place at the back of the property along the North Mall in Westport

Occupants

When pressed for information on the issue, Head of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District Seamus O Mongain said he was not aware of any agreement between Mayo County Council and the property owner regarding this building in Westport. This was later confirmed by Jim Power, Administration Officer in the Westport office.

When Cllr Flynn asked if this meant that the building was wide open for all sorts of people to stay in, Mr Power said that matter was a complex issue, and that cases are dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Mr Power initially denied that the building is a homeless shelter, but he then admitted it has been used to accommodate people who have presented as homeless. He said that only one person who presented as homeless to the Westport office is in the building currently, and that he could not say where the other occupants are from or how many there are.

When asked why the local council officers do not know this, Mr Power said the central housing office would have this information but the local office would have no reason to have it.

This explanation was rejected by Cllr Flynn, who said that the local people should know who is in their town.

You mightnt but people of Westport will find a reason because they want to know what type of characters are coming into our town. I am not talking about anyone occupying it at the moment, but we have a situation where this will become a significant homeless shelter in the county, and it can only take a certain clientele. Ballinrobe has shut down and the obvious destination [for a facility] is Westport, and it is clearly being facilitated by unauthorised development, he said, adding that he received information that one sexual offender had been relocated to Westport.

A local Garda spokesperson told The Mayo News that the property was not like the Railway [Inn] at all. Its not something thats causing us an ongoing problem, they said.

In the dark

The other three local councillors in Westport also expressed concern about the use of the building to accommodate homeless people, with Cllr John OMalley saying that housing homeless people had become more profitable than Ukrainians.

Fianna Fail councillor Brendan Mulroy stated that the local representatives had no hand act or part in the building becoming a homeless shelter, and he his expressed concern about the fact the local council officials had not been made aware of it.

It is very hard for the lay person on the street to understand how, if someone is being housed in Westport, the Municipal District [officials] in that area would not be aware of it. It is hard to get your head around that, he said.

Cllr Flynn also informed the meeting that he received a text from Tom Gilligan, Director of Services, stating that the owner of the building was providing emergency accommodation to us in Westport. He proposed that Mr Gilligan attend their next meeting to detail the plans for the building and who it will accommodate.

This was seconded by Cllr Mulroy, who also asked for officials from the Housing Department to be present at the next meeting to answer questions.

With regard to the accusation of unauthorised development at the back of the hotel, Mr O Mongain said that he would refer the matter to the planning-enforcement section of Mayo County Council.
A WEST Mayo councillor has requested an update on the development of the controversial Murrisk Greenway after claiming the project seems to have 'disappeared off the edge of the earth'.

The Murrisk Greenway project is being developed by Mayo County Council in conjunction with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) but the emerging preferred route option has been met with objections by many landowners along the proposed route.

Members of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District were informed in January that an update of the project should be available for the March meeting but no update was on the agenda at Monday's monthly meeting.

READ: Mayo councillors demand answers on old Westport school site

Westport-based councillor Brendan Mulroy questioned why there was no update available given they were led to believe there would be.

The last presentation we had we were told we would be given a preferred route for the March meeting and it is now March. I am wondering where we are with regard to that. Is there a preferred route? I presumed it would be on the table today to be honest. The reports we were given was that the option would be picked for March and there is still no mention of it, the Fianna Fail councillor told the March month meeting.

When Cllr Mulroy was informed by Seamus O Mongain, Head of the Municipal District that the National Road Design Office in Castlebar was dealing with it, he requested a further update from them.

We were told that the preferred option would be put before us at the March meeting and it seems to have just disappeared off the edge of the earth.

A lot of people have an interest in this and when elected members are told something I would appreciate some information. I know it is not your remit but you can't just say something will be on the table in March and it is not there in March and not even to acknowledge it is not there.

I would like an update on that because it gets serious when there is no update. All the ducks are supposed to be put in a row at this stage, he said.

Mr O Mongain told Cllr Mulroy that he would request an update from the National Roads Design Office for an update for the next meeting.

The emerging preferred route option which was announced in February 2024 will see the Greenway go off road from Aughavale Cemetery via the townlands of Cloonagh, Kiladangan and Deerpark towards Murrisk and will cut through land at the foot of Croagh Patrick. The project is currently going through the design and evaluation stage and the final route is expected to come before the local councillors for approval later this year.

Last month, 200,000 was allocated by the Government for the development of the Clew Bay Greenway from Belclare to Murrisk.

Landowners and residents who are opposed to the emerging preferred route option say that this route will not benefit the community and they prefer that the Greenway is developed along the R335 road to Louisburgh.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, March 25, 2025

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal by cyberbullying victims who wanted to revive a claim that Yolo, a former Snapchat extension that allowed people to message each other anonymously, was dangerously designed.

As is customary, the court didn't give a reason for its refusal to hear the case.

The move came in a dispute dating to 2021, when family members of cyberbullying victims including Carson Bride, who committed suicide at age 16 after being harassed online, brought a class-action complaint against Yolo.

The family members brought several claims, including that the app promoted cyberbullying by enabling anonymous messaging. The plaintiffs also claimed Yolo misrepresented that it would unmask users who were abusive.

A trial judge threw out the lawsuit, ruling that Yolo was protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which immunizes companies from liability over content posted by users.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals partially revived the case, ruling that Section 230 didn't apply to claims that Yolo falsely advertised that it would reveal identities of people who violated the terms of service by posting abusive content.

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But the circuit court upheld the dismissal of claims centered on Yolo's design, ruling that those claims were foreclosed by Section 230 because they sought to hold Yolo responsible for harassing speech.

The plaintiffs then asked the Supreme Court to resurrect those design-related claims, arguing that Section 230 shouldn't protect companies that design products with defective safety features that failed to protect children against obvious harms.

The Supreme Court's refusal to take up the dispute comes as courts throughout the country faced with lawsuits alleging that social media companies are harming young users.

To date, trial judges have reached different conclusions about those claims.

For instance, District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Neil Kravitz recentlyrefused to dismiss Attorney General Brian Schwalb's allegations that Facebook and Instagram designed their platforms in ways that addict young users.

But U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in the Northern District of California, who is presiding over a class-action against multiple social media platforms, ruled in 2023 that Section 230 protected Meta, Google, TikTok and Snapchat from some claims, but not all.

For example, she said Section 230 barred claims over the platforms' use of recommendation algorithms to addict teens, but not from claims that the platforms failed to label filtered photos or warn users about the risks of addiction.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, March 25, 2025

Consumer watchdogs as well as a group of prominent law professors are urging an appellate court to uphold the Federal Trade Commission's click-to-cancel rules that aim to enable consumers to easily terminate recurring subscriptions to newspapers, gyms, and other businesses.

The rules are a logical, appropriate, and necessary response to the deluge of unwanted subscriptions that plague consumers all across the marketplace, the group Truth in Advertising argues in a friend-of-the-court brief filed with the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The organization is urging the 8th Circuit to reject a challenge to the rules by the Interactive Advertising Bureau, Michigan Press Association, NCTA -- The Internet & Television Association, Chamber of Commerce and other business groups.

They argued in a brief filed earlier this year that the rules are too broad because they affect numerous industries.

Among other mandates, the FTC's click-to-cancel rules require companies to offer a simple cancellation mechanism, and allow consumers to cancel subscriptions through the same medium that was used to purchase them. The rules also provide that cancellation mechanisms must be at least as easy to use as the sign-up mechanisms.

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In practice, the rules require businesses that accept subscriptions through online platforms to also allow people to cancel through an online platform.

The regulations were passed last October in a 3-2 vote. The FTC recently defended the rules to the 8th Circuit, even though both Republicans on the commission, including current chair Andrew Ferguson, voted against passage.

Truth in Advertising argues in its brief that the FTC's rules give consumers much-needed protection from problematic business practices.

The data make clear that far too many companies are manipulating consumers with deceptive and misleading subscription offers and, as a result, Americans are spending 'billions of dollars on stuff they have forgotten about,' the organization writes, quoting from a January 2024 Wall Street Journal article about the subscription economy.

Eleven law professors, including Columbia Law School's Tim Wu, best known for coining the phrase net neutrality, argue in a separate friend-of-the-court brief that the FTC's regulations could end up boosting companies that offer subscriptions.

For the subscription-wary public, clear information and cancellation processes can help consumers feel more willing to try subscription services, to the benefit of businesses, the academics contend.

Earlier this year, a three-judge panel of the 8th Circuit rejected a request by the Interactive Advertising Bureau and others to temporarily block enforcement of the rules. That ruling was only preliminary, and the court could still strike down the rules after considering new arguments.
by Tanya Gazdik , March 25, 2025

Andrew Savvas has decided to leave Volkswagen after 13 years with the company across four markets.

He announced his plans to dealers and fellow employees on Monday. He will remain with the company through late May.

An interim CMO will be named in due course, according to a company spokesperson.

Savvas recently celebrated his third anniversary as chief sales and marketing officer, Volkswagen North American Region. He first joined the German automaker in 2012 in his native Australia.

He is stepping down from his position at VW for personal reasons to return to Australia with his famly, according to the automaker. He is not leaving to work for a competitor.

Savvas was named MediaPosts Automotive Marketer of the Year in February.

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Despite his plans to leave the company, Savvas says he still intends to attend the New York International Auto Show and he will receive the honor April 16 during a Q&A with MediaPost Automotive Editor Tanya Gazdik at the MediaPost Marketing: Automotive conference at Javits Center.

I would like to thank Andrew for his contributions to the brand over nearly 13 years, said Kjell Gruner, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, in a statement. We all appreciate that this is a very personal decision and made on Andrews own terms. He has left an indelible impression on everyone he has worked with since he joined us in North America, and has shown great leadership, as well as a real human touch. Andrew has worked tirelessly with our dealer network to ensure our recent sales success. We wish him all the best in his move back to Australia with his family.

2024 was a banner year for Volkswagen of America, with a multitude of new products and a steady rise in sales figures.

Volkswagen outperformed competitors, with sales last year increasing 15% compared to 2023. Fourth-quarter sales were up 7% compared to the same quarter of 2023. Jetta and Tiguan sales supported the brands growth by increasing 51% and 24% year over year, respectively. Atlas sales grew by 24%.
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Despite facing a massive outrage, Kunal Kamra said that he will not apologise for his satirical jokes on PM Narendra Modi, Maharashtras CM Eknath Shinde, Mukesh Ambani and more. Jaya Bachchans statement Veteran Bollywood actress Jaya Bachchan came in Kunal Kamras support and said that people trying to suppress his voice is the violation of freedom of expression. In a recent media interaction, Jaya said, If there is a restriction on speaking, what will become of you? You are anyway in a bad situation. There are restrictions on you. You would be told to speak just on this and nothing else, that do not interview Jaya Bachchan.

 YouTube/Kunal Kamra She added, Where is freedom of speech? There is freedom of action only when there is a ruckus - beat up the opposition, rape women, murder them. What else? You [Eknath Shinde] left your real party and formed another party for power. Isn't that an insult of Balasaheb?

Veteran actress Jaya Bachchan has been serving as a member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha for the Samajwadi Party since 2004, which is an opposition to Shivsena. The reactions Users are divided over her statement. Some are saying that she is only saying these things for her political advantage, while others are appreciating her statement. One user reacted, We will have a special annexure for you Jaya Madame. Nobody can stop you from speaking. Hai kisi mey himmat jo aapko rok sake.

Another user reacted, Jaya Bachchan just delivered a monologue sharper than any parliamentary debate weve seen lately. When a veteran actress has to remind politicians about democracy, you know the script has gone off the rails. Also, her point about selective freedom of action is scathingwhen vandalism and violence are tolerated but dissenting voices arent, what does that say about governance? As for the political shifting sands, well, if ideological loyalty were a thing, half the current leaders would be in existential crisis. In short: if words are more dangerous than actions, maybe the real issue isnt comediansits the joke that politics has become.

One user commented, Issi logic se agar aapko parliament mei aapke naam ke saath aapke husband ka naam lekar address kiya gaya tha toh it was also freedom of speech. Waha kyu bhasad machadi phir? And that was nothing abusive either. Utni si baat pe total unpleasantness phaila di and now look at you? Hypocrite much?
The U.S. military wants to keep training at Pohakuloa, so it's ready to quickly send troops to Asia and the Pacific.
Ahead of his confirmation hearing Thursday to become assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, Keith Bass is facing tough questions from a prominent Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Bass, a retired Navy commander and substance abuse counselor who previously led the Central Intelligence Agency's Office of Medical Services and the White House Medical Unit, was nominated Dec. 22 to manage the Defense Department's $61 billion health system, which serves 9.5 million beneficiaries, including 1.3 million active-duty troops.

The health affairs assistant secretary is responsible for protecting and preserving the health of the armed forces, setting policy, and managing the Pentagon's health budget. He also serves as senior adviser on health issues relevant to beneficiaries for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Read Next: Ride-Sharing Services Finally Coming to Army Installations in Effort to Ease Travel Woes

But the military health system currently is facing challenges on multiple fronts, including staffing shortages at medical facilities, patient retention issues that have affected provider training and proficiency, and problems within the Tricare health program that have resulted in delays in patient care and payments to providers.

In a letter to Bass on Monday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., ranking member of the Armed Services personnel subcommittee, questioned whether he is up to the task.

Citing Bass' experiences at the White House and CIA, which were investigated by the Defense Department's Office of Inspector General and in media reports for reported mismanagement, Warren said she had concerns that he is "not capable of filling the role."

According to an article in SpyTalk cited by Warren, Bass allegedly was fired as head of the CIA medical office following his mishandling of the investigation into Havana syndrome, also known as anomalous health incidents, that affected more than 330 U.S. State Department, intelligence and defense officials as a result of exposure to painful, piercing noise from an unknown source.

The article also pointed to Bass' alleged mishandling of the COVID-19 response at the agency, "afflicting its rank and file."

Warren also cited a DoD IG report released last January that found that, during Bass' tenure at the White House, civilian staff members who weren't eligible for military health services -- an average six to 20 patients a week -- received specialty care and surgeries at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in Virginia, and elsewhere.

That investigation also found that the unit distributed sedatives including Ambien and stimulants such as Provigil to ineligible beneficiaries, often without a prescription.

Warren asked Bass whether he was aware of "severe and systemic problems" under his watch.

"At best, you were oblivious to the wider distribution of sedatives and stimulants by White House pharmacy operations and, in the worst case, you were complicit. Either scenario should disqualify you from serving as the [assistant secretary of defense for health affairs]," Warren wrote.

In his most recent position, Bass led the West Texas VA Health Care System, overseeing a medical center with an operating budget of $153 million and 1,120 employees, serving 24,000 veterans.

President Donald Trump announced Bass' nomination along with several other Defense Department leaders on Dec. 22, calling them "a slate of America First patriots."

"Keith is a retired Navy commander with over 30 years of health care experience. ... Keith will be leading the charge to ensure our troops are healthy, and receiving the best medical care possible," Trump wrote in an announcement.

Bass' appearance at his nomination hearing will be the first time he has made public statements about his plans for the military health system.

Dr. Stephen Ferrara, a retired Navy interventional radiologist who served as chief medical officer at the CIA, has served as acting assistant secretary for health affairs since January and, since assuming the duty, has traveled throughout the military health system, including a trip to U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay in Cuba last month.

Ferrara has pledged to ensure that the military health system realigns its efforts to support and provide combat medicine.

"And it's a moral imperative ... when America's sons and daughters go down range and go into harm's way, we honor the pact they make and that their parents made when they sort of handed their children over to us to do those missions that, should they become ill or injured, they will receive prompt and effective medical attention anywhere in the world," Ferrara said during a military health conference March 3.

The Senate Armed Services Committee will hear testimony Thursday from three other nominees in addition to Bass: Troy Meink to be Air Force secretary; Michael Duffey, proposed undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment; and Emil Michael as undersecretary of defense for research and engineering.

In her letter, sent to Bass via the White House, Warren requested answers to her questions in writing by Wednesday.

"Given your checkered past ... I am concerned that, if you are confirmed, you will not be able to effectively manage the military health care system, placing care at risk for millions. I urge you to demonstrate a commitment to clarity," Warren wrote.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.

Related: Military Medical System Not Ready for War Due to Cuts and Delayed Reforms, Experts Warn
LONDON  As wake-up calls go, the alarms dont get much louder.

Allies of the United States see the group chat between top U.S. officials about a planned attack in Yemen that accidentally included a journalist as a jaw-dropping security breach which casts doubt on intelligence-sharing with Washington and the security of joint military operations.

Scary and reckless was the verdict of one European diplomat about the discussion on the Signal messaging app about strikes on Houthi rebels. Neil Melvin, a security expert at defense think tank the Royal United Services Institute, called it pretty shocking.

Its some of the most high-ranking U.S. officials seeming to display a complete disregard for the normal security protocols, he said.

Beyond the security concerns raised by the leaked chat, U.S. officials addressed the country's trans-Atlantic allies with disdain as Vice President JD Vance complained about bailing out Europe and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth slammed pathetic European freeloading.

The criticism is another blow to a long-standing relationship already strained by President Donald Trumps blunt America First approach and disregard for friendly nations.

Melvin said that for Americas allies, the alarm clocks been ringing for a long time.

In public, however, European officials insisted all was well in the trans-Atlantic relationship.

We have a very close relationship with the U.S. on matters of security, defense and intelligence, said British Prime Minister Keir Starmers spokesman, Dave Pares. They are our closest ally when it comes to these matters, have been for many years and will be for many years to come.

Frances Foreign Ministry said the United States is our ally, and France intends to continue its cooperation with Washington, as well as with all its allies and European partners, in order to address current challenges  particularly in the area of European security.

A growing divide

Since taking office, the Trump administration has halted government funding for programs that support democratic principles around the world and presented a less welcoming face to visitors.

U.S. embassies in at least 17 countries have posted warnings for would-be travelers that engaging in behavior deemed harmful by the government could get them deported. Several European countries have issued warnings about visiting the United States after international tourists were caught up in Trumps border crackdown.

Trump has appalled allies with his repeatedly stated aim of taking over Greenland  an autonomous Danish territory that Vance and second lady Usha Vance are due to visit this week  and his desire to make Canada the 51st state.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his country has to take greater ownership of its own defense in the face of threats: We have to look out for ourselves.

Nathalie Loiseau, a member of the European parliament, told the BBC that she was flabbergasted by the breach.

If I was (Russian President) Vladimir Putin, I would feel jobless. Russia has nothing more to do.  You dont even need to spy on the U.S. administration. They leak by themselves, she said.

US reliability questioned

The European diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, suggested the security breach could make allies question the reliability of the U.S. as a partner.

The diplomat expressed hope that the Signal lapse was due to a lack of experience in government rather than a deliberate disregard for security.

Asked if he had concerns about sharing intelligence with the U.S. after the Signal incident, Carney said its a serious, serious issue and all lessons must be taken. He said it would be important to see "how people react to those mistakes and how they tighten them up.

Britain could be particularly exposed by U.S. security breaches. Its intelligence network is entwined with the U.S. in the Five Eyes alliance, and the countries militaries work more closely than those of almost any other nations.

Britain's Royal Air Force provided air-to-air refueling for U.S. planes during the strike on the Houthis, but U.K. Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard insisted British personnel had not been put at risk by the breach.

Weve got high confidence that the measures that we have got with our allies, including the United States, remain intact, he told lawmakers.

Ed Davey, the leader of Britains opposition Liberal Democrats, said the lapse showed the Trump administration can't be trusted to protect its own intelligence and "it could only be a matter of time until our own intelligence shared with them is also leaked.

This could put British lives at risk," he said.

Alex Clarkson, a lecturer in European and international studies at Kings College London, said the professionals and old hands who contained the damage during Trumps first term are largely gone.

So what were having now is  a manifestation of tendencies that were held in check that we already saw in the first round, he said.

American frustration

The U.S. has underpinned European security since World War II, and Trump is not the first president to bristle at the burden.

From the Obama administration (onward), theres been quite some frustrations in the U.S. security apparatus about the failure of the Europeans  to step up, Melvin said.

Trump has gone much further than his predecessors in upending the decades-old security arrangements. He has long contended the U.S. needs to completely rethink its relationship with the rest of the world, saying other countries have been taking advantage of the nations military might by not paying enough for their own defense.

Trump has praised autocrats including Putin and sent chills through NATO during last years election campaign with his comment that Russia should do whatever the hell it wants to members that dont meet military spending targets.

Theres a real sense of divorce, that America is not just disinterested in the trans-Atlantic alliance but views Europe fundamentally as an adversary, said Max Bergmann, a former State Department official who now works at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Its very clear at this point, abundantly clear, that it will be next to impossible to count on the United States for the cause of defending democracy in the world, said Kevin Casas-Zamora, secretary-general of the pro-democracy group International IDEA.

NATO leaders point out that Trumps criticism and the war in Ukraine have led to a majority of member states meeting the target of spending at least 2% of their gross domestic product on defense.

Trumps reelection and rapprochement with Putin has hastened European military plans, with nations scrambling to ramp up weapons production and create their own security structures  including a U.K.- and France-led coalition of the willing to help guarantee a future ceasefire in Ukraine.

Clarkson said Europe has more strength than many give it credit for, and severing the trans-Atlantic bond would hurt the U.S., too.

One shouldnt underestimate European military industrial capacity, he said. There are all kinds of things that can go wrong  but there is an element here also that the Americans are awakening a sleeping giant.

___

Riccardi reported from Denver, Colorado. Associated Press writers Ali Swenson in New York, Chris Megerian in Washington. John Leicester in Paris and Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed.
The Navy has a new civilian leader with a hefty business resume but no military experience after the Senate voted Monday evening to approve John Phelan as the service's secretary.

The Senate voted 62-30 to confirm Phelan as Navy secretary, making him the civilian head of both the Navy and Marine Corps and putting him in charge of the health and well-being of more than 1 million sailors, Marines, reservists and civilian personnel and an annual budget of more than $250 billion.

While Phelan's lone connection to military policy prior to being nominated by President Donald Trump was working with a nonprofit organization that supports U.S. troops, the lack of experience ultimately did not prove to be a liability in the confirmation process.

Read Next: Families at Utah Air Force Base Lose Day Care Center as Pentagon Slashes Personnel Spending

Along with 51 Republicans, 11 Democrats voted to support Phelan including Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and fellow committee Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine of Virginia, Mark Kelly of Arizona, Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.

During his confirmation hearing, Phelan sought to frame his business experience as an asset to help turn around long-standing issues with Navy shipbuilding and other budget woes.

"I understand why some may question why a businessman who did not wear the uniform should lead the Navy," he said in his opening statement at last month's hearing. "I respect that concern. The Navy and the Marine Corps already possess extraordinary operational expertise within their ranks. My role is to utilize that expertise and strengthen it, to step outside the status quo and take decisive action with a results-oriented approach."

Phelan's professional background is as an investment banker. Prior to becoming Navy secretary, he was the chairman of Rugger Management LLC, an investment firm he founded. Before that, he co-founded and was managing partner of MSD Capital, the private investment firm for Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell Technologies.

Phelan was also a major donor to Trump and Republicans in the 2024 elections. Among other political donations, he contributed $834,600 to Trump's joint fundraising committee in April, and days after the election, on Nov. 10, chipped in another $93,300, Federal Election Commission records show.

He also sat on the board of a nonprofit called Spirit of America, which, according to its website, has "an agreement with the Department of Defense that allows U.S. troops to collaborate with us to build goodwill and deliver assistance at scale."

While most senators brushed off his lack of military experience, some Democrats questioned whether his professional history presented a conflict of interest.

"Given your financial investments in defense contractors and the Trump transition's emphasis on your 'business-minded' orientation, I am concerned that you will enter this role with serious conflicts of interest," Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., a member of the Armed Services Committee, wrote in a letter to Phelan earlier this month urging him to make stronger divestments and recusal commitments than required by law.

Still, others expressed optimism that his business experience could help the Navy finally right shipbuilding programs that have run years over schedule and billions of dollars over budget.

"You're a nontraditional appointee for this position, and that can be OK if the tradition is not working," Kaine said at the hearing last month.

Related: Navy Secretary Nominee, a Trump Donor with No Military Experience, Glides Through Confirmation Hearing
Over six decades, Mark Foreman has turned to the Department of Veterans Affairs to recover from the consequences of a bullet wound to the hip sustained fighting as a Marine in Vietnam. It took endlessly long, infectious days for him to get out of deep, cavernous mountains after getting shot, three weeks straight of surgeries in Japan, and years of medical care to try to move on from his wound.

Foreman was only 20 when he suffered the injury that would end his military career, and he was discharged after two years of service in 1968. Ever since, the VA has been providing the medical care he needs, as well as helping with the cost of art school that led to a career as a teacher.

"The VA was very supportive of that," said Foreman, who later taught art for 20 years in Milwaukee's public schools. "They knew that it would help me psychologically, emotionally."

Read Next: Businessman John Phelan Gets Senate Approval to Lead Navy

But Foreman is worried. A seismic shift is potentially underway in the way the VA provides medical care and support, accelerated during the first administration of President Donald Trump and potentially ready to expand over the next four years.

"There were so many psychological and physical emotional wounds, and now they've got departments to cover all of it," Foreman said. "But I feel very confident that that's all going to be taken away."

Veterans are increasingly getting care from private medical providers, who are then paid by the VA. It's an effort to create a parallel privatized care system, known by the phrase "community care," that is set to expand further as Congress looks to make it easier for veterans to skip VA facilities.

Before 2014, the Veterans Health Administration mostly operated in government facilities. That system was overloaded at times, such as in the wake of the Vietnam War.

"When I first started working at the VA, it was not a first-class health care system," said Bruce Carruthers, a Vietnam War veteran and a retired VA administrator living in North Carolina. "But later, significant changes started to be made; it became a much more modern health care system."

Between 1995 to 2005, the VA catapulted from 2.5 million to 5.3 million patients, according to the National Library of Medicine. The VA also transformed into a training ground for thousands of health care providers, Carruthers said.

As its patient load grew, so did the stress on the VA, as more and more veterans from the Global War on Terrorism began funneling into the system. Wait times skyrocketed, and old facilities, like the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, faced scandals tied to dilapidated conditions and patient neglect.

That helped lead to the 2014 Choice Act that started the VA on the path toward offering care outside of its own facilities, and was greatly expanded by the VA Mission Act signed by Trump in 2018 that created the community care network.

Today, the demand for private care is rapidly eating into the VA's budget. In fiscal 2023, roughly 40% of all veterans' health care appointments were handled by doctors outside of government facilities, but still funded by taxpayer money, according to VA officials. The agency now serves roughly 9 million patients.

" In the first Trump presidency, we've seen an increasingly larger percentage of our direct care budget spent on outsourced private care," said Mark Smith, an occupational therapist at a VA hospital in San Francisco.

But Smith said the redirection of funds perpetuated the VA's shortfalls, when lawmakers should focus the department's full energy on caring for veterans.

"What happens is the public pays for both," Smith added. "We pay for the public services that we provide at the VA, and then we also pay for the outside care. ... Pretty soon, you don't have the money to maintain your facilities, to keep your staff, to keep the lights on."

The contrast between VA capacity and private care could get much starker if Trump administration plans for VA cuts come to pass. A surge in demand after the passage of the PACT Act made more veterans eligible for VA health care was already stressing the system.

Months before Trump took office, the VA requested a $369.3 billion budget for fiscal 2025, a 9.8% increase from the previous year. That included funding for the agency's health care and benefits branches and the Toxic Exposures Fund, which covers benefits for service members affected by toxic exposures.

But Trump and his top campaign contributor Elon Musk, who has taken on a role seeking to prevent the federal government from spending money approved by Congress and slashing jobs, are looking at shrinking the size of the VA. Most of Musk's efforts are currently tied up in litigation as judges weigh the legality of ignoring civil service protections and rejecting previously signed law directing spending.

A memo released in March indicated that the Department of Veterans Affairs was planning a reorganization that would include cutting more than 80,000 jobs. VA Secretary Doug Collins promised that the layoffs would not impact veterans' care or benefits, though outside observers are skeptical of those claims.

"The average person, of course, doesn't understand it," said Jeff Roy, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War. "The veterans, when they're listening, when they're watching these actions and the consequences, they're starting to perk up."

Roy, 76, decided to seek VA care for the first time almost a decade ago in his 60s. After he was discharged from the military, he joined a group calling for the end of the Vietnam War. To him, that also meant boycotting the VA.

He started seeking the VA when he discovered from clinical tests his prostate was showing signs of cancer.

Prostate cancer has been linked to Agent Orange, and the VA presumes that the diagnosis in a veteran is connected to their service and therefore makes them eligible for care.

The VA's own specialized knowledge and services from working with veterans likely made diagnosing his health issues easier, according to Roy. With the VA covering all his treatment,

a hospital in Minnesota, where Roy lives, then performed a lifesaving prostatectomy on him.

He's skeptical that privatized care would have led to such a positive outcome.

"They talk about honoring veterans, supporting veterans and caring about veterans. The incredible term for all of that is that it's a clash of reality," Roy said.

In January, Republican leaders on the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees introduced a bill called the Veterans' Access Act, early drafts of which appeared to make it easier for veterans to access private care without consideration of wait times or VA facility proximity.

A specific section of the bill would direct a three-year pilot program to allow enrolled veterans to access private mental health treatment and substance use services through the community care network. The program would not require a referral or preauthorization from VA doctors, essentially bypassing the VA, experts said.

"It is changing the VA primarily into an insurance carrier," said Russell Lemle, a senior policy advisor for the Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank focused on veterans' health care and benefits.

A spokesperson from the House Veterans Affairs Committee denied that claim and instead said the provision is intended "to allow veterans to access residential rehabilitation treatment programs closer to their homes when VA is either too far away, or not available at all, to bridge the gap that exists in mental health care and rehab access."

Project 2025, a conservative think tank's blueprint for governance that Trump has closely followed since taking office, proposed to completely privatize VA care in the long term, Lemle said.

Carruthers, the former VA administrator, received gallbladder surgery and prostate treatment from the VA because of his years serving in Vietnam. For him, efforts by the Trump administration to cut VA care count as a direct rebuke to veterans.

"To me, 'Thank you for your service' is a meaningless trope if they're not going to support that," he said.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct the area of Bruce Carruthers residence.

-- Jerry Wu covers national security and veterans' affairs in Washington, D.C., for Medill on the Hill. The San Diego native is a sophomore at Northwestern University studying journalism and international studies.

Related: Community Care Is Not VA Care
As he plunged toward the unforgiving earth, Army Air Forces Sgt. James Raley was stuck.

It was January 1944, and the tail section of the B-17 Flying Fortress bomber nicknamed Skippy where Raley was positioned as a tail gunner had been severed from the rest of the aircraft in a midair collision. Spiraling from an altitude of more than 19,000 feet with no parachute strapped to his back, he had no means of escape.

"If I were going to die, I wanted to get it over with," Raley recounted in a first-person account of his harrowing experience published on April 14, 1944. "I really thought I was lost."

Raley's account came almost three months to the day after he improbably survived that fall from the skies over Piraeus Harbor in Greece. His crew was part of the 353rd Bomb Squadron, 301st Bomb Group, Fifteenth Air Force, which deployed 21 bombers over the German-occupied country on Jan. 11, 1944. Escorted by P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft, the B-17s were separated into four squadrons that encountered thick cloud cover, significantly lowering the pilots' visibility.

Read Next: 'The Unkillable Soldier' Who Kept Fighting Despite Losing an Eye and Hand in World War I

The tail gunner compartment of a B-17 Flying Fortress. (Wikimedia Commons)

Intentionally flying off course, the trailing squadrons strived to maintain a safe distance from the lead squadron, but the weather conditions made that virtually impossible. As the bombers climbed higher, two aircraft from the 97th Bomb Group flew almost straight into the 301st's formation. More collisions followed as "aircraft, debris and men were flying and falling through the overcast," according to the 301st Bomb Group's website.

Raley's plane, which led the 301st's second squadron of bombers, was caught in the carnage. He recalled "a hell of a jolt" as the bomber's 12-foot tail section was sheared off from the rest of the aircraft. Crammed into tight quarters and his movement constricted by the pair of machine guns he manned and several hundred rounds of ammunition, Raley could not create enough space to put on his parachute.

But instead of descending at breakneck speed, the bomber's tail spiraled downward, somewhat slowing its velocity, and Raley estimated it took 10-15 minutes for the wreckage to complete its fall. In those frightening moments, thoughts of family and friends raced through Raley's mind. Believing his time was short, Raley relived cherished memories of growing up on a farm, the eighth of nine children, in Kentucky.

"I knew we were spinning around because flashes of blue, green and brown kept flashing past ...," Raley was quoted as saying in a 2019 article in his hometown newspaper. "I thought the whole ship was intact by the way it was twisting around and the time it was taking us to get down. I was praying, too. I was telling myself in another few minutes, I'll be dead."

Except Raley did not die. The tail section fortuitously first made contact with a cluster of trees on a mountainside before stopping abruptly. Raley painstakingly extricated himself from all of the ammo surrounding him, then -- with the escape hatch nearest him damaged and pinned shut -- exited through the bulkhead door. For the first time, Raley saw the full extent of what he had survived.

"There was no plane," Raley wrote. "... I believe if the plane had come down upside down, I would have been killed immediately, with all that stuff flying around when the plane hit the ground."

In his autobiography, "I Fell Four Miles and Lived," Raley recounted gingerly navigating himself from tree to tree along the steep terrain until he arrived at a trail. His chest sore but lacking a full assessment of his injuries, Raley took time to rest before it began to rain. After a few hours, Raley called out after hearing voices and was taken to a Greek monastery where Orthodox priests provided shelter to Allied troops.

Second Lt. Neil Daley, who survived the bombing mission by coming down in a torn parachute, was already there when Raley was brought in.

"He was like a raving maniac and kept repeating, 'I have to tell somebody what happened to me,'" Daley recalled. "One of his legs was badly bruised and various other parts of his body were damaged. He needed, and received, the services of the doctor that evening."

In this undated Associated Press photo, a nurse tends to Army Air Forces Sgt. James Raley's chin after he survived a 19,000-foot fall from a B17 Flying Fortress after a midair collision over Greece in 1944. (AP Photo)

All in all, Raley was fortunate to walk away (albeit initially on crutches) with an injured back and other assorted injuries he brushed aside as "minor hurts." He left the monastery less than two weeks later and departed Greece in early April.

Raley -- who joined the Army in 1935 before transferring to the Army Air Forces in 1943 -- loved being a tail gunner, so much so that escaping death did not dissuade him from returning to one of the military's most dangerous jobs during World War II. Raley would later serve in the Korean and Vietnam wars and achieve the rank of lieutenant colonel.

While Raley's experience is incredible, it is not unique. It is believed that at least two other U.S. airmen fell from such great heights without a parachute and lived. (One of them was another tail gunner who amazingly survived his fall, only to serve two years in German POW camps. He survived that, too.)

That does not lessen, though, what Raley endured. For the second half of his life, Raley -- who died in 1999 at the age of 82 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery -- had an incredible story to tell, one those close to him likely never tired of hearing.

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The Royals announced a wide slate of cuts this morning. Infielder Harold Castro, righty Taylor Clarke, catcher Brian OKeefe and infielder Tyler Tolbert were all reassigned to minor league camp. All were non-roster invitees. Meanwhile, infielder Nick Loftin and outfielders Drew Waters and Joey Wiemer were optioned to Triple-A Omaha. That leaves just 26 players in camp  one of whom is non-roster utilityman Cavan Biggio. Barring an injury in todays final Cactus League game, hell be selected to the 40-man roster and break camp with the team. The Royals already have a pair of 40-man vacancies, so a corresponding move wont be necessary.

Its been a strange spring for Biggo. The longtime Blue Jays infielder is hitting just .194 in his 46 plate appearances, but hes struck out only six times (13%) and drawn a whopping 11 walks (23.9%). Hes sitting on an oddball .194/.457/.355 line overall. Biggio has long been renowned for his patience at the plate, having drawn a walk in 13.5% of his career plate appearances in the majors.

Biggios keen eye and the small-sample improvement in his contact skills  hes fanned in 32% of his plate appearances  coupled with his defensive versatility to put him in position for an Opening Day spot in Kansas City. He can feasibly mix in at second base, third base and in the outfield corners.

The Royals will also cycle Jonathan India, Michael Massey, Maikel Garcia, MJ Melendez and Hunter Renfroe through those spots and at designated hitter. Garcia is coming off a rough year at the plate. Massey hasnt quite cemented himself as a regular. India will play multiple positions. Melendez still hasnt hit in the majors. Renfroe struggled in 2024. Each of those players has some level of uncertainty, and Biggio will add a typically serviceable, OBP-focused backup or complement to the group.

The 29-year-old Biggio (30 in April) is looking for a rebound of his own. Hes coming off an ugly .197/.314/.303 batting line (84 wRC+) in 224 plate appearances between the Jays, Dodgers and Braves last year. He turned in a solid .235/.340/.370 line in 338 trips to the plate as recently as 2023 in Toronto, however.
DEAR ABBY: I worked for a supervisor for more than five years who hated me and let me and everyone else know it. She would bring treats for the crew but not for me. During my fifth year of working for her, I just lost it one day. She walked up to me and after some back and forth said, F--- you! I said it back to her, loud enough for everyone in the front office to hear.

It was a big mess, but I couldnt hold it in anymore. Id been picked on and harassed and worked in a hostile work environment. Anyway, that supervisor was ultimately forced to retire, as were some of her favorites.

My problem now is that my ex-supervisors friends who still work in the office are making it difficult for me not to curse them out as they are making snide remarks. I was told that if I had any more outbursts, I would be terminated immediately. Ive even been to therapy. I dont know what else to do. Please help. -- PERSECUTED IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR PERSECUTED: If you havent already done so, start documenting those snide remarks. Then present them to the front office management or HR and point out that although the original abusers are gone, there are still employees creating a hostile work environment. If it isnt corrected, talk with an attorney. At the same time you are doing that, keep your eyes open for another job.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
BROHMAN, MI  Trees at Richmond Woods Nature Preserve are destined to age until they become old-growth forest.

The national nonprofit Old-Growth Forest Network recently added the 114-acre nature preserve in Michigans Newaygo County to its registry of older forests. Land management at the site will focus on reversing the nationwide decline of old-growth forests, officials said.
Five Michigan companies were scheduled to lay off 559 workers in March, according to notices of layoffs and closures reported to the state. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

From manufacturers shutting down factories to big-box retailers closing underproductive stores, nearly 600 Michigan workers are expected to lose their jobs in March.

The following is a list of five Michigan employers that reported to the state plans to lay off employees this month.

Michigan Spring & Stamping

A longtime auto parts manufacturer in Muskegon said in January that it planned to cease operations and lay off all 116 employees.

Michigan Spring & Stamping said in a WARN letter that it would close its facility at 2700 Wickham Drive in Muskegon and terminate all employees on March 14.

Neither the manufacturer, nor its parent company, Germany-based Kern-Liebers, gave a reason for the closure.

RELATED: Muskegon spring manufacturer to lay off 116 workers

Kern-Liebers acquired Michigan Spring & Stamping from Hines Corp., a West Michigan-based industrial holding company, in 2019.

VGs Grocery Caro

SpartanNash said in January it would close the VGs Grocery store at 1520 W. Caro Road in Caro, laying off all 54 employees.

Layoffs were scheduled to occur from March 16-27.

We have made the difficult decision to close the Caro VGs in March 2025, SpartanNash District Manager Mark Gutzeit said in a statement. We are grateful to our store guests for their loyal support, as well as our dedicated associates for their commitment to our shoppers.

RELATED: Caros VGs Grocery store closing, leaving 54 jobless

Other grocery stores in Caro include a Walmart at 1121 E. Caro Road, and an Aldi at 1181 E. Caro Road. Both stores are located less than three miles from the VGs Grocery.

Macys Sterling Heights, Troy

Macys at the beginning of the new year said it would close four locations in Michigan, with two of them happening in March.

The stores at Lakeside Mall, 14200 Lakeside Circle in Sterling Heights, and Oakland Mall, 500 W. 14 Mile Road in Troy, were slated for closure on May 18, a move that would lay off 117 and 92 employees respectively.

The retail giant said it would close 66 stores nationwide in the first quarter of 2025 as part of larger effort to build sustainable, long-term growth.

Closing any store is never easy, but as part of our Bold New Chapter strategy, we are closing underproductive Macys stores to allow us to focus our resources and prioritize investments in our go-forward stores, where customers are already responding positively to better product offerings and elevated service, said Tony Spring, chairman and CEO of Macys, Inc.

Macys said it plans on closing 150 underperforming stores nationwide in the coming years while investing in 350 locations through fiscal year 2026.

US Farathane

US Farathane, a Michigan supplier of injection-molded plastics for the automotive industry, said in a January WARN letter that it would cease all operations at 750 W. Maple Road in Troy, effective June 30.

The closure would result in the termination of 180 employees, according to the letter. Layoffs are expected to occur from March 28-June 30.

Affected employees have the opportunity to apply and interview for open positions at the companys other plants in Southeast Michigan, the letter read.

US Farathane operates plants in Auburn Hills, Sterling Heights, Lake Orion, Port Huron and Westland, according to its website.

Headquartered in Auburn Hills, the corporation also operates locations in Missouri, Texas, Tennessee, China and Mexico.
President Donald Trump delivers remarks in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington. (Pool via AP) AP

WASHINGTON -- Officials are preparing for a possible $500 billion decline in collected tax revenue this year due to ongoing staff cuts and shifts in taxpayer behavior. According to The Washington Post, three people with knowledge of tax projections say the loss would represent a 10% drop in revenue collected over last year.

Last year, the IRS collected approximately $5.1 trillion in tax revenue.

The officials say the projected losses are tied to President Donald Trumps efforts to reduce staff at the Internal Revenue Service. Since taking office, the Trump administration has moved to fire 20,000 IRS employees. An estimated 11,000 cuts have already been made, however ongoing lawsuits may change the employment status of some of those workers.

Related story: $1,400 stimulus payment still available: IRS urges 1 million to act

Many of the cuts made involved new hires in the taxpayer services and enforcement divisions, according to The Post. Agency employees say the IRS has already dropped investigations that were focused on high-value corporations and taxpayers.

With staff cuts causing possible issues, some taxpayers and businesses are banking on a lack of enforcement. Officials have seen an increase in taxpayers openly saying they arent filing this year, while others are claiming credits and deductions theyre not entitled to. In both cases, tax officials say taxpayers are betting that auditors wont have the resources to take a deeper look at their accounts.

In response to The Washington Post, a Treasury Department spokesperson called the story sensational and baseless but was not allowed to speak on the record regarding the content of the story.

The deadline to file a 2024 tax return is April 15.
A roundabout on the border of Ypsilanti and Augusta townships at the intersection of Whittaker and Bemis roads. Christina Merrill | MLive.com

YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI  Another Ypsilanti-area intersection is slated become a roundabout next year.

The planned roundabout for the Whittaker Road and Martz Road intersection a few miles north of Lincoln Consolidated Schools campus is in line for the 2026 construction season, according to Washtenaw County Road Commission spokesperson Nate Murphy.
Update: Michigan DNR weighs in on unusual bobcat encounter

LINDEN, MI - A quiet Sunday morning took an unexpected turn for Alana Stamper when her Ring camera captured footage of a bobcat strolling through her yard.

The sighting occurred at 6:13 a.m. Sunday, March 23, marking a rare but not unheard-of appearance of the elusive wildcat in Linden in Genesee County.

Stamper was reviewing her security footage later that morning and was startled to see the muscular feline calmly navigating her property.

I thought I have seen them before but Ive never gotten them on camera, Stamper said. It was probably a while ago I thought I saw a big cat. But this one is clearly a bobcat.

The bobcat, as it approached Stampers barn, ran off after hearing the Youre on camera alert from the security system.

Stamper, who owns Mama Alanas Pantry, has lived in Linden for 11 years and said she frequently sees fox, possums, bunnies, and raccoons.

A quiet Sunday morning took an unexpected turn for Linden resident Alana Stamper when her Ring camera captured footage of a bobcat strolling through her yard. The sighting occurred at 6:13 a.m. on March 23, marking a rare but not unheard-of appearance of the elusive wildcat in Genesee County. Stamper, who was reviewing her security footage later that morning, was startled to see the muscular feline calmly navigating her property. Alana Stamper

When I first lived here, I saw coyotes quite often, Stamper said. Id rather see fox and bobcats than coyotes. We have two big dogs and they are always with the kids which keeps animals away. It doesnt scare me. Only thing Im worried about is if one my cats sneaks outside.

Caitie ONeill, a communications representative for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife division, said the state has a healthy population of bobcats.

While it may be surprising, its not unusual to see a bobcat in urban areas where there are often easily accessible food sources, like bird feeders, trash, and pet food, she said.

People who have such a sighting can report them on iNaturalist.org.

The DNR provides some guidance on telling the difference between cougars, bobcats and coyotes, available here.

Bobcats are not to be confused with lynxes. Bobcats are smaller than lynxes, with shorter legs, smaller paws, and distinctive black bars on their forelegs.

Lynxes are larger, have longer ear tufts, bigger paws adapted for snow, and a more uniformly grayish coat.

Bobcat hunting and trapping seasons are available in large parts of Michigan, including in Saginaw and Shiawassee counties, adjacent to Genesee County, ONeill said.

Hunting regulations for bobcats are included in the Furbearer Harvest Regulations Summary that can be found on the DNRs website here.
FLINT, MI -- Flint City Council Vice President Candice Mushatt apologized to residents after a profanity-laced exchange between two of her colleagues forced a stop to their meeting on Monday, March 24.

Council President Ladel Lewis (Ward 2) said 8th Ward Councilman Dennis Pfeiffer caused Mondays meeting to go off the rails by directing an obscenity at her during a debate over a summer jobs program for teenagers.

Pfeiffer and 5th Ward Councilwoman Jerri Winfrey-Carter later voted against a proposal to fund the program, but not before Lewis repeated the profanity several times and continued to speak about it, prompting Mushatt to recess the Special Affairs Committee meeting.

I do want to take this time on behalf of the entire council to apologize to the residents (who) are here and the residents (who) are at home, Mushatt said after the recessing Mondays meeting.

We have passionate debates. Sometimes, things get out of hand. Sometimes, words are said. Sometimes thoughts and intentions are misunderstood, so we do apologize ..., Mushatt said.

Mayor Sheldon Neeley proposed the summer jobs program earlier this month, asking the council to fund it with $225,000 in federal stimulus funds.

Neeley said then that the Safe & Clean Summer Youth Initiative 2.0 would put 100 students from 15 to 19 years old to work for six weeks this summer.

Both Pfeiffer and Winfrey-Carter questioned a funding resolution for the program, which did not include the name of the local organization that would be paid to act as fiduciary for it and which organizations would receive funding to host students picked to participate.

Until you can tell me who is getting the money, what they are going to be doing ... This is not going to get my vote, Pfeiffer said.

Lewis, who joined Neeley in a press conference to announce the program on March 13, said Monday that the initiative would help stem youth violence.

Clearly, you dont give one damn about what goes on with the youth over here on the north side, she told Pfeiffer during the debate.

Lewis and Pfeiffer have a history of conflict.

In September 2023, Pfeiffer, who is white, called Lewis' problems maintaining order at council meetings the monkey in the room.

Lewis, who is Black, said the remark amounted to calling her a monkey, branding it racist rhetoric.

During the past several years, Flint council meetings have routinely been raucous, fueled by an underlying division between four members who have typically supported the Neeley administration and four others who have been more likely to oppose it.

Since the death of the late 3rd Ward Councilman Quincy Murphy on Sept. 29, the divide has become more evident with the council unable to elect its own new leadership or to appoint a short-term replacement for Murphy.

The division has extended to those who attend council meetings and who have been removed by police for shouting comments during debates on city business.

Mushatt ordered police to remove at least two audience members at Mondays meeting.

The language we use up here toward one another fuels the language that everybody else uses towards us, and we need to stop, she said.
A pedestrian passes by Poke Toki on Friday, March 14, 2025 in downtown Grand Rapids, Mich. Arthur H. Trickett-Wile | MLive.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Five years after COVID-19 hit West Michigan, many businesses have rebounded.

The regions workforce has now surpassed its pre-pandemic high, and areas such as lodging and tourism have hit new record highs. But some areas are still lagging, including manufacturing and the downtown office real estate market.

Here are four takeaways about how businesses and the economy are doing:

RELATED: 5 years later, how did the COVID-19 pandemic change business in West Michigan?

West Michigans workforce rebounded

After the pandemic swept into Michigan, the five-county Grand Rapids-Wyoming metro areas workforce shrank to a low of 460,100 people in April 2020, according to estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

By fall 2022, the workforce had recovered.

It reached 591,000 in September 2022, surpassing the pre-pandemic total of 590,200 in February 2020, estimates show.

Lodging and Tourism hit record high

When the pandemic hit in March 2020, the lodging and tourism sector came grinding to a near halt.

Amway Hotel Corporation, for example, temporarily closed three hotels it manages  JW Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott and AC Hotel by Marriott  and furloughed 1,000 employees in April 2020.

Today, the industry has rebounded.

There were 2.28 million hotel room nights sold in Kent County last year, a 10% increase from 2019, according to Experience Grand Rapids, which promotes Kent County as a tourism and convention destination.

With nearly 2.3 million rooms sold in Kent County last year, Id say the toll the pandemic took on the visitor economy is squarely in the rearview mirror, said Doug Small, president and CEO of Experience Grand Rapids. Were 5% ahead of 2023 and 10.5% above pre-pandemic record-setting levels. Were clearly on the right trajectory.

Fewer manufacturing workers

Manufacturing is one area where employee levels havent rebounded to pre-pandemic highs.

There were 121,900 people working in manufacturing in February 2020, according to federal estimates.

After hitting a low of 92,300 in April 2020, the number climbed to 120,400 in June 2023.

But it fell back to 114,700 in December  well below pre-pandemic levels, estimates show.

Every major sector that we have here in West Michigan is up, except for manufacturing, said Paul Isely, associated dean and professor of economics at Grand Valley State University. Unfortunately, manufacturing has a very high value, and so that creates some problems for us.

Manufacturers have adjusted by turning to automation, he said.

During the course of COVID, when it was hard to find employees, our manufacturers put lots and lots of automation in place, Isely said. So we can produce as much stuff with fewer workers.

Downtown office market still struggling

The pandemic had a big impact on the downtown office market as many employees pivoted to working from home.

In the years since, some companies have switched to a hybrid work environment, where employees split their time between working from versus in-person. Other companies have returned fully to in-person work, while others are fully remote.

That has impacted the amount of vacant downtown office space.

By the end of 2024, vacant office space in the urban core had climbed to 9.5%, according to data collected by Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. Thats up from 5% in 2019.
HOLLAND, MI - Locals flocked to downtown Holland Monday night for a sneak peek at a mystery thriller filmed in the towns iconic tulip fields.

Holland, directed by Mimi Cave, was mostly filmed in Tennessee, but some scenes were filmed in and around the authentic Dutch windmill at the citys historic Windmill Island.

Over 500 people attended the sold-out screening of the new film at Knickerbocker Theatre, 86 E Eighth St., on Monday, March 24.

RELATED: Holland director to host free hometown screening for Michigan-set thriller film

It was a lot of research missions with Mimi coming to Holland in the beginning to see families, homes  people who actually live here and are Dutch, said JC Molina, production designer of the new film. It was really important for us and my team to recreate these sets because we werent able to shoot it here and to give it that authenticity and respect that it really deserves.

The one-hour and 48-minute movie follows Nancy Vandergroot, a seemingly ordinary teacher and homemaker played by Nicole Kidman, whose picture-perfect life in Holland during the early 2000s is turned upside down when she and her colleague (Gael Garcia Bernal) become suspicious of a secret, only to discover that nothing in their lives is what it seems.

Mayor Nathan Bocks, who moderated a Q&A with Cave and Molina following the free screening, said the film will be great exposure for those whove never been to the area.

What everybody needs to remember is its not a documentary, its not about the city of Holland, but it happens to take place here, Bocks said. One of the great things about Holland is its a community that has a personality. Weve got a long, rich history, and I think that shines through in the movie.

Despite being only partially filmed in Holland, the movie captures the citys small-town charm by featuring events like Tulip Time, showcasing the local high school and incorporating scenes near the Holland Peanut Store and other long-standing local shops.

For Holland resident Kendal Southworth, the excitement lies in seeing how the filmmakers incorporated the beloved spots around town.

The movie did a great job capturing Holland and some of its funny quirks, and I was very impressed, Southworth said. There was a line in there about, This is Holland, not Allegan, which was hilarious. There was a lot of laughter, a lot of reaction. You could tell that it hit home for a lot of people, especially the people who were born and raised here.

But some viewers, like Paul Kleinheksel, 84, werent so impressed with the film.

Kleinheksel walked into the theatre with high hopes of how Holland would be portrayed but left disappointed.

It was interesting, for sure, he said. Looking at the credits, it was mostly filmed in Tennessee, which everyone knew. Why Holland? They have a few scenes at the windmill, but nothing quite captured our town. They chose to use the name of our town and put it on a movie with big-name actors, but it was disappointing.

Holland streams nationwide on Prime Video on March 27. It initially premiered at the March 7-15 SXSW (South by Southwest) Film & TV Festival in Austin, Texas.

Cave told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press that the film captures the hospitality of upper midwestern suburbia while weaving in unexpected twists and turns.

Its a really entertaining storyline, she said. My hope is people can sit back and enjoy it  not think too much and really be enveloped in the world weve created.

Mayor Bocks shared a similar sentiment. While the film is a murder mystery, Bocks assures viewers that such events are not a regular occurrence in Holland.

Bocks, a resident of Holland, encourages those who have seen the film to visit the city and experience its true character firsthand.

The fact that I didnt actually grow up here, I can see some of the quirkiness that those whove lived their entire lives here might not see, he said. Thats one of the things that makes it such an incredible place to live. I think people are going to find this is an absolutely fabulous place, the most wonderful place in the world.

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Gavin Lisle Love, 25, accused of damaging property at the Holland Township Walmart, appears for a video court hearing, surrounded by Ottawa County sheriff's deputies at the jail. (John Agar | MLive) John Agar

OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  The suspect in a rampage at the Holland Township Walmart had to be carried by sheriffs deputies during his initial video court appearance from jail.

He was shackled after he allegedly damaged a computer at the Ottawa County Jail.

Gavin Lisle Love, 25, of Grand Haven Township, was arraigned Monday, March 24, in Holland District Court on charges of malicious destruction of personal property over $1,000, a five-year felony.

4 1 / 4 Holland Walmart damage

He was charged as a third-offense habitual offender, which doubles the maximum penalty upon conviction. He was convicted last month in Ottawa County Circuit Court of assaulting, resisting or obstructing police and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Related: Man destroys TVs, glass doors in rampage at Walmart, police say

Mr. Love is apparently in dire circumstances, John Scheuerle, an assistant public defender, told Judge Juanita Bocanegra.

Gavin Lisle Love is held by Ottawa County sheriff's deputies at his initial court appearance via video in an alleged rampage at the Holland Township Walmart store. (John Agar | MLive) John Agar

He asked that she set an affordable bond so that Love could out of jail and get straightened around.

Bocanegra agreed with the attorneys assessment of Loves circumstances but said she had to consider public safety. While setting bond at $50,000, she noted that Love allegedly damaged property at the jail after his arrest.

Love is expected to face additional charges for breaking a computer monitor at the jail, sheriffs Capt. Jake Sparks said.

Love appeared agitated at the hearing, with deputies keeping a hold on him.

Ottawa County sheriffs deputies responded around 6:40 p.m. Friday to the Walmart on North Park Drive in Holland Township.

Police said Love damaged thousands of dollars of property by knocking flat-screen televisions to the floor, smashing glass doors of display cases and damaging products for sale.

Love had destroyed six TVs and at least 17 glass doors, police said.

While no one was injured or threatened, many customers, including children, were inside the store with workers at the time of the destruction.

Police asked anyone with information to contact the Sheriffs Department at 616-738-4000 or Silent Observer 877-887-4536.
A Michigan food bank is grappling with 600,000-pound food shortage after a USDA program pause. Feeding America West Michigan is seeking to fill a loss of $1.1 million worth of food. (Photo provided by Feeding America West Michigan)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI  About 32 truckloads of food for Feeding America West Michigan have been delayed or canceled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Ken Estelle, the food banks president and CEO, said the truckloads equated to about 600,000 pounds of food and would have arrived between April and July. The food is worth about $1.1 million and was to be provided through the USDAs Emergency Food Assistance Program, he said.
The exterior of Chick-fil-A, 971 N. West Ave. in Jackson. The new restaurant will begin serving customers on Thursday, April 3 Chloe Miller | CMiller@mlive.com

JACKSON, MI  A new Chick-fil-A will open its doors in Jackson very soon.

Popular chain Chick-fil-A announced it was opening a new location at 971 N. West Ave. in Jackson in September of 2024. Since, construction has been moving along, and the new restaurant will begin serving customers on Thursday, April 3, according to a press release.

The new location is Jacksons first, and will offer dine-in, drive-thru, carryout and catering. The Jackson restaurant will also feature a playground to serve guests with children.

Chick-fil-A Inc. is an Atlanta-based, family-owned and privately held restaurant company founded in 1967, according to its website. The restaurant offers chicken sandwiches, salads, waffle fries and its Chick-fil-A sauce.

The restaurant will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with the drive-thru closing at 10 p.m.

The restaurant was built on a property along North West Avenue, which was previously home to Jacksons Optimist Park. The city sold the property in 2023 to developer Lormax Stern Development for $1.5 million.

The closest Chick-fil-A locations to Jackson now are in Okemos at 2075 W. Grand River Ave., in Lansing at 5617 W. Saginaw Highway, and on Eastern Michigan Universitys campus at 878 W. Cross St.

Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter.
This story is part of Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaboratives coverage of equitable community development . SWMJC is a group of 12 regional organizations dedicated to strengthening local journalism. Visit swmichjournalism.com to learn more.

KALAMAZOO, MI -- The old 1890s brick buildings on Fulford Street in the Edison neighborhood couldve remained crumbling husks of Kalamazoos dead industrial past.

But Krystal and Jeb Gast turned them into a makers hub over the past 10 years.

Now, the small community called Jerico is home to creators of all sorts  from craftspeople who make art for your wall, to the kind of art that can heat your house.

Jerico has also become known for its events, like the Jerico Faire , a celebration of local artists, craftspeople and makers, happening this year Nov. 29.

Jerico is home to a number of businesses, like Earth Body Pottery , Kalamazoo Backyard Yogis and the Clover Room , to name a few.

There are also Jerico shops that do industrial fabrication and design, and those that install HVAC systems. They would argue theres an art to what they do, too.

A look at the Jerico building, 1501 Fulford St. in Kalamazoo. Fran Dwight

Bucks, car parts, grills and furnaces

Jerico functions as a business incubator and makers hub. In hub fashion, they all seem to be up in each others business  in a good way.

For example, if one shop needs a buck, another shop is ready to make them a buck.

A buck, in this case, is a wood form used to make, say, a Duesenberg fender. There arent many spare Duesenberg parts around, so one must shape and beat metal around a wood buck to create that flowing, 1930s automotive design.

Stu Weavers Weavers Unlimited is making the fenders for a Duesenberg dealer, Straight Eight Garage.

The bucks were formed by Nick Jobbit, contract engineer for design consultancy Argenta Park , a short walk away.

Jobbit has also worked on grill parts for the Kalamazoo office of Traeger Wood Fired Grills , a Salt Lake City-based company whose wood pellet grills are found nationally at stores like Kohls, Ace Hardware and Costco. It has an upper-floor office with a roof-top patio  their grill test site.

Downstairs is Home Energy Solutions , an HVAC team led by Shaun Wright. His space is a warehouse of furnace and ductwork parts, with metal cutters and benders to fit heating and cooling systems to area homes.

He also owns what Jeb Gast jokingly calls the community forklift. Sometimes the lift gets borrowed, and Wright finds it returned with a bag of (wood grill) pellets on the back of it, Wright said.

Organically grown makers hub

In 2015 , Jeb Gast was busy creating his electric scooter, the Fido. Jeb and Krystal Gast had come to Kalamazoo from Seattle, attracted by the Kalamazoo Promise .

Jeb Gast was looking at the cavernous former Michigan Buggy Company and Star Brass Works buildings. He envisioned a future business incubator, maker shops and a cafe.

It was a lot of spooky, empty space. Back then, it was just Jeb and Krystal Gast  and a bat the size of a cat.

Now, Jericos spaces are full and hopping  from the busy Fiddle Leaf Cafe to the other business spaces.

Krystal and Jeb Gas and their daughter Whidbey. Fran Dwight

The Gasts have thoughts of expanding. An old industrial building nearby is an option if it goes up for auction again.

When the Gasts went to buy the Jerico space 10 years ago, the building owner asked, Why would you want these?

She was basically like, I didnt think anybody would want them, and I wasnt going to try to do anything with them because they were old and needed work and probably would just fall apart eventually, Krystal Gast said.

The historic buildings were part of the appeal of Kalamazoo, to the Gasts.

Jeb and Krystal Gast walk between the buildings of Jerico. Fran Dwight

Jeb Gasts scooter project eventually took a back seat as they worked on Jerico.

In the 19th through 20th centuries, Edison was an industrial neighborhood. Many of the houses west of Jerico were built near the turn of the century for workers who built the buggies on Fulford Street.

The old buildings no longer house major employers for the neighborhoods.

However, having this just sit here empty at the edge of a neighborhood is not good for anyone, Krystal Gast said.

When they started, then-Mayor Bobby Hopewell was backing the idea of makerspaces, where creatives, innovators and small businesses could network and grow.

It all happened organically at Jerico, Jeb Gast said. It was just people showing up, (saying) I heard from a guy that you have space.

Jerico makers and creatives  those who work with music, or clay, or furnaces or grills  appreciate the community, Krystal Gast said.

The shops have done work for each other, including some unexpected collaboration. Former tenant Damn Handsome Grooming , which makes mens grooming products, made a fretboard oil for Kal-Tones guitars . Artist Mike Klok of Stuffed Brain Studios has created logos and commercial art for many of the businesses, including Traeger.

Jebs Fido Motors has also done work for and with Traeger and Weavers.

Theres a lot of intermixing, Jeb Gast said. Its a helpful community.

Neighborhoods developed before cars

A facility like Jerico is an incubator, like the Gibson Guitar building in the past, or now, the Park Trades Center and WMUs Business Technology and Research Park, said Antonio Mitchell, Kalamazoos community planning and economic development director.

For example, Black Wall Street is working on making their own space, and is looking to move into the new Can Do Incubator Space on Park Street near Walnut Street.

Businesses like Traeger might have just a satellite office here, but they expose Kalamazoo as a great business environment for small businesses, Mitchell said.

It might seem a drawback for neighborhoods to have large industrial buildings that no longer serve their original purpose. But when they are repurposed, they can be a benefit, Mitchell said.

Core neighborhoods like Edison and the Northside sprang up during a different time. In the 19th century before cars, the factories were on the outskirts of what was the city, and then housing for employees sprung up around them.

Manufacturing eventually left for greener pastures in the suburbs, Mitchell said. And so the buildings are then being reutilized as cut-up space for either smaller manufacturing or refurbished commercial space.

Thats a good thing in the sense that, one, the buildings are being reutilized. So theyre not blighted locations, he said. Then the other good thing is ... it opens up opportunities for the local residents in that area to work at some of those locations.

Mitchell points to Aunt Millies bakery on Palmer Street, nearby.

I think 50% of their employees live in the Edison neighborhood. And so that opens up for a lot of residents to be able to walk to work, especially in the summertime, Mitchell said. Its in the middle of the neighborhood.

There are good reasons for appropriate manufacturing and industry to be in neighborhoods, from metal shops to bakeries to small home businesses, he said.

When you have businesses reinvested into these old manufacturing buildings to create business opportunities  that usually are more affordable space than sometimes in the suburbs  its a plus, Mitchell said.

Each business has its reasons for being here

Recording engineer Ian Gorman was looking at a few options when he began La Luna Recording and Sound in 2017. And he chose a spot in an old factory that needed a lot of work.

It was a major construction project, Gorman said, to make the space acoustically perfect, build recording booths and install expensive equipment.

But he wanted to be there because of the Gasts.

Theyre incredibly supportive of independent businesses and artists, creativity, community, and all that good stuff, he said.

He was also excited by the location.

The idea of renovating some historic buildings, rather than just tearing them down, was something that I thought was really cool, Gorman said.

For Traeger, it was hard finding design or mechanical engineers in Salt Lake City, Jeb Gast said.

Utah is very corporate friendly, said Traeger director of mechanical engineering Joe Marietta. But the talent they need is better found in Kalamazoo.

Southwest Michigan or Michigan in general has just per capita a lot more design and mechanical engineers, Marietta said.

The satellite office of Utah-based wood-pellet grill company Traeger. Fran Dwight

Traegers VP of Engineering, Dan Altenritter, originally from Southwest Michigan, suggested the company open a design shop here.

Altenritters message was, In the Midwest, people are good at making things, according to Marietta.

Traeger started its satellite office in Jerico in 2021, and now employs eight people.

The space, with a kitchen area, living room and Mariettas racing motorcycle on display, is inspired by Traegers corporate headquarters  kind of like an Applebees, he said. The walls include a submarine sandwich sculpture and AI-generated class pictures of the staff.

But there are also nods to home, like a framed mugshot of Tim Allen from when the WMU alumni was arrested for cocaine trafficking, and Misfits of the Mitten Michigan-themed office logo stickers designed by Jerico neighbor Stuffed Brain Studios.

The grill testing area gets something Utah cant provide  the real weather conditions of Midwestern yards and patios.

These stay outside all the time. They get rained on, snowed on, hailed on. Tornado goes by, theyre just here, Marietta said.

Part of the hub, part of the neighborhood

Making Edison the base for Home Energy Solutions made a lot of sense to Shaun Wright.

Since my wife and I were married, weve always intentionally worked and worshiped in the inner city neighborhoods, Wright said.

The Wrights live in Vine. They began the nonprofit Community Homeworks , which helps homeowners fix their homes, in Edison in 2009.

Now, he runs Home Energy Solutions for profit, yet still, we try to help low-income families get highly energy-efficient equipment to reduce their utility bills. About half of our customers are actually within 5 miles of our shop.

Wright also likes the community at Jerico, where they share ideas, forklifts, plasma CNC machines and more.

He couldve set up shop in a more modern building.

The idea of living out in a suburb or driving to work to some big complex out in an industrial park is just not appealing to me, Wright said. We like the people of the neighborhood. We like the character of it. We like to be part of it.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg speaks during a Michigan Democrats watch party at Motor City Casino in Detroit on Tuesday, Nov. 5 2024. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

Michigan resident and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg didnt mince words in his reaction to national security officials who texted war plans to a group chat that included the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic.

From an operational security perspective, this is the highest level of f***up imaginable. These people cannot keep America safe, Buttigieg wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Buttigieg continued on TikTok, adding the group chat snafu demonstrates that these are not serious people.

America needs answers on why an unclassified, commercially available app was used and even more importantly, how some of the most powerful people in this country didnt know that they accidentally included a journalist while they were discussing classified war plans that they had yet to authorize and execute.

The Signal group chat contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Iran-backed Houthi-rebels in Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing, Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg reported, according to the Associated Press.

Related: Incompetence reactions after Trump team texted war plans to group chat in app that included a journalist

About two hours after the details of the attack were shared, the U.S. began launching airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.

The story broke on March 24 when Goldberg wrote for The Atlantic: The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans.

Several politicians took this as an opportunity to denounce the administrations handling of sensitive information.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called for a full investigation into the incident, which he called one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence I have read about.

This kind of intelligence failure calls the question on whether there is any place for merit or competence in this administration at all, Buttigieg said.

Pete Hegseth, defense secretary, JD Vance, vice president, Marco Rubio, secretary of state, and Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence, were all in the group chat. Goldberg said he was invited to the chat by Mike Waltz, President Donald Trumps national security advisor.

National defense information is governed by the Espionage Act, which includes provisions that make it a crime to remove such information from its proper place of custody even through an act of gross negligence.

Much of the national criticism has targeted Hegseth, the former Fox News weekend host-turned-secretary of defense.

Hegseth attacked Goldberg as deceitful and a discredited so-called journalist in his first comments about the group chat leak. He did not tell reporters why Signal was being used to discuss war plans.
A group of GOP lawmakers has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a challenge to Michigan voting laws earlier approved by voters. (Joel Bissell | MLive File Photo) Joel Bissell

LANSING, MI  A group of Republican state lawmakers has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review Michigans voter-approved constitutional amendments that allow early voting, absentee ballots and automatic registration.

Proponents said that the amendments were intended to provide better access to the polls.

But state Sen. Jonathan Lindsey, R-Coldwater, and others contend that the voting initiatives - Proposal 3 in 2018 and Proposal 2 in 2022  should not apply to federal elections.

Related: Michiganders pass Proposal 2, amending the state constitution to expand voting rights

They argue that such voter-approved initiatives violate the U.S. Constitutions Elections Clause, which says state legislators are responsible for setting times, places and manner of elections.

The citizen petition-led ballot proposals  initiatives  to amend the Michigan constitution regulating federal elections have been allowed in 2018 and 2022 without legislative participation and approval, Minneapolis attorney Erick Kaardal wrote.

Remarkably, the state legislature never approved the 2018 and 2022 state constitutional amendments regulating future elections. This same, invalid process may be used in 2026 elections and beyond.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said in a statement: Michigan voters have a right to enact laws that reflect their values, and politicians have a duty to stand by the will of the voters. The idea that the time, place and manner of federal elections law-making is beyond the right of voters to self-determine is anti-democratic, and already multiple courts have reaffirmed this under law.

I will always defend Michigan voters rights to amend our constitution through ballot initiatives  even and especially when we are called to defend those rights before the U.S. Supreme Court."

Related: Read the official summary of Proposal 3, which would modify Michigans voting laws

U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering in Grand Rapids earlier dismissed the lawsuit against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Benson and other election officials, because the individual lawmakers who sued  two state senators and nine representatives  lacked legal standing as individuals.

She granted a defense motion to dismiss.

As Defendants point out, the Supreme Court and the Sixth Circuit (Court of Appeals in Cincinnati) have directly rejected this type of legislator standing. The Supreme Court has expressly held that individual members lack standing to assert the interests of a legislature.

The appellate court affirmed Beckerings findings.
Archisha Yadav is a sub editor with 1.5 years of experience in writing news articles on topics like education, jobs, and politics. She specialises in crafting simple, clear, and engaging stories that are easy to understand and hold the readers interest, making complex topics accessible and relatable to a larger audience.

Archisha Yadav

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Students from CBSE, ICSE, and Other Boards Are Opting for Bihar Board in Large Numbers

"In recent years, a growing number of students from CBSE, ICSE, and other educational boards have been shifting to the Bihar Board for their higher secondary education," BSEB shared in a press release today. Several unique features and timely reforms introduced by the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) have made it a preferred choice for students across the country.

Key Reasons Driving Students to Choose Bihar Board:

Timely Exams and Results: BSEB conducts exams and declares annual results on schedule, giving students ample time to prepare for competitive entrance exams.

Exam Pattern Aligned with Competitive Exams: The subject structure and question paper pattern are designed to reflect the format of major national-level entrance exams.

High Scores for Toppers: In recent years, BSEB toppers have been securing more than 90% marks, enhancing their academic profiles.

National Recognition: Due to continuous examination reforms, BSEB has gained a new identity and credibility at the national level.

Rising Enrollment from Other Boards:

In 2024 alone, nearly 96,000 students from CBSE, ICSE, and other boards took admission in Class 11 at institutions affiliated with the Bihar Board.

Since the launch of the Online Facilitation System for Students (OFSS) in 2018, over 6.90 lakh students from other boards have enrolled in Class 11 under BSEB-affiliated institutions.

Since 2019, BSEB has consistently been the first board in the country to conduct and declare results for both Matric (Class 10) and Intermediate (Class 12) annual examinations
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Bihar Board Official Website Result 2025: Beware of these fake websites, check official result links here

Saurav Pandey is the Deputy Manager of Content at Moneycontrol, specialising in content strategy, execution and performance analysis. He integrates advanced SEO techniques to deliver high-impact, data-driven content formats. His expertise spans various beats, including education, career, science and others, where he adopts a technical approach to optimise visibility, improve search rankings, and drive organic traffic growth. He can be reached out at Saurav.Pandey@nw18.com.

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NEET SS Admit Card 2025 Out Today at natboard.edu.in; Direct Link to Download Here

Archisha Yadav is a sub editor with 1.5 years of experience in writing news articles on topics like education, jobs, and politics. She specialises in crafting simple, clear, and engaging stories that are easy to understand and hold the readers interest, making complex topics accessible and relatable to a larger audience.

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Aarya Babbar on brother Prateik changing his name to Prateik Smita Patil: I just have to say that Smita ma is our mother too...

Palak Vij

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Adolescence actor Stephen Graham reveals real-life murders of young girls moved him to create crime-drama, says, "Adolescence holds a mirror up to society"

Vaishnavi Gavankar

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Amy Jackson and husband Ed Westwick blessed with a baby boy, reveal the name of their son

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Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain actor Aasif Sheikh on collapsing during shoot: My body just gave up due to exertion

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From Kunal Kamra to Ranveer Allahbadia: Stand-Up comics and their controversial moments

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Jesse Palmer on The Bachelorette returning in 2025: I know its definitely coming back...

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Jr NTR charms fans with his visit to Shinagawa aquarium during Devara Japan Tour

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Kalki Koechlin recalls a renowned producer asked her to get fillers, says, "I wanted to stab him with my fork"

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Samay Raina apologizes for the remark made on India's Got Latent, says, "I feel deep regret"

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Forbes India Exclusive | The Price of an Oscar: Inside expensive campaigns for awards season glory

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When Aishwarya Rai revealed apologizing first after every argument with husband Abhishek Bachchan

M Snehanjali

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*Disclaimer - Brand Connect is a solution that allows brands to break the queue to gain better engagement among our audiences

Riya Gandhi

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Viswanath Pilla is a business journalist with 16 years of reporting experience. Based in Mumbai, Pilla covers pharma, healthcare and infrastructure sectors for Moneycontrol.

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Trump Media teams up with Crypto.com to launch ETFs on Truth.Fi

Arindam Roy

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Donald Trump keeps reciprocal tariff threat alive: 'We have been very nice for a long time but'

Surabhi Pandey

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Meghna Mittal Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com

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Venezuelas share in Indias oil imports was declining before US sanctions

Ishaan Gera

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IndusInd Bank likely to tap Korn Ferry, Egon Zehnder to shortlist candidates for top jobs

Manish M. Suvarna

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Graphite India, HEG shares rise up to 12% on Japan's 95% duty on Chinese electrodes

Debaroti Adhikary

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Paras Bisht

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Markets rally but fund managers remain cautiously optimistic; earnings, global uncertainties still a concern, they say

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Microfinance woes not over yet as Karnataka sees fresh wave of bad loans, says InCred Equities

Lovisha Darad

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SEBI is not considering holding exams for investors to test suitability for F&O trading: Ananth Narayan

Asha Menon

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Top gainers and losers today: Stocks that moved the most on March 25

Khushi Keswani

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Sebis relaxation of FPI disclosure rules likely to drive inflows but also increase market volatility

B Kumar

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Lab-grown diamond jewellery startup Aukera in talks to raise $15 million in funding from Peak XV

Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Aryaman Gupta

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SaaS in current form is dead, we need to adapt and evolve: Freshworks Girish Mathrubootham

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Charu Gupta

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Khushi Keswani

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Trump's tariffs: Reciprocal tax exception, trade deal on agenda as US official visits India

Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years.

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Trump slaps tariff on buyers of Venezuelan oil. Here is what it means for India

Charu Gupta

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Smriti Mishra

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AIADMK set for NDA reunion? Speculation rife as EPS arrives in Delhi to meet Amit Shah

Parimal Peeyush

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Big numbers from Delhi Budget 2025-26: Capex doubled to Rs 28,000 cr, Rs 9,000 cr for water and sanitation

Smriti Mishra

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Cash discovery at HC judges residence brings NJAC Act into spotlight: What was it?

Smriti Mishra

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From free laptops to CM Shri Schools: Rekha Gupta makes big promises for education sector in Delhi budget

Priyanjali Ghose

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India slams Pakistan on Kashmir at UN: 'Kashmir was, is, and will always be part of India'

Deblina Halder

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Rs 100 crore allocated in Delhi Budget 2025: What are Atal Canteens announced by CM Rekha Gupta?

Yeeshu Yadav

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Separatism becomes history in J&K: Amit Shah after two associate groups severe ties with Hurriyat

Siddharth Chakravorty

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'Shocks our conscience': Supreme Court pulls UP govt over demolition of houses in Prayagraj

Priyanjali Ghose

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TIANJIN, March 23 (Xinhua) -- SEA-GULL, a watch manufacturer based in north China's Tianjin, celebrated the 70th anniversary of New China's first domestic watch with various activities on Monday.

In 1955, a watch was successfully developed in Tianjin, marking SEA-GULL as the birthplace of the nation's pioneering timepiece. After seven decades of research and development efforts, the company has mastered advanced watchmaking technologies with independent intellectual property rights.
Trump announces 25% extra tariff on trade with Venezuela. Will it impact India's oil imports?

Arindam Roy

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Parimal Peeyush

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Vikram Jit Singh has extensive experience as war correspondent and reported counter-terrorism operations live while posted at Srinagar. He is the author of Flowers on a Kargil Cliff ---- India's first war correspondent in the line of fire in Kashmir & Kargil. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.

Namrata Agarwal

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Arun Anand has authored two books on the RSS. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.

Namrata Agarwal

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Vivek Deshpande was with The Indian Express and is now a freelance journalist based in Nagpur. Views are personal, and do not represent the stance of this publication.

Namrata Agarwal

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Vodafone Idea opts for split IT deal with IBM, Kyndryl at a discounted rate to cut costs

Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 13 years.

Charu Gupta

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Boy pees in glass at Chinese restaurant, mother says he could not hold it

Ankita Sengupta

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Ankita Sengupta

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Shubhi Mishra

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Rolls-Royce CEO laid off 2,500 employees as part of a plan that led to 500% share price jump: Report

Ankita Sengupta

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Users relying heavily on ChatGPT might be more lonely, emotionally dependent: OpenAI study

Shubhi Mishra

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Solar Eclipse 2025: A rare 'double sunrise' will be visible in US and Canada tomorrow

MC Science Desk Read the latest and trending science newsstay updated on NASA, ISRO, space missions, planets, asteroids, black holes, AI, quantum physics, galaxy discoveries, and more exciting breakthroughs.

Sheetal Kumari

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Arindam Roy

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Fissures appear in Payments Council on letter to PM Modi on MDR without consultation

Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Anand J

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'Google Tax': What is it and why is India scrapping it starting April 1?

MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation.

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Priyanka Roshan With over eight years in multimedia journalism, is passionate about storytellingboth visual and textualacross travel, jobs, business, markets, politics, and daily news. From crafting engaging articles to producing compelling videos, she blends creativity with strategy to bring stories to life. With a strong foundation in SEO, and video production she ensures content not only informs but also resonates with audiences.

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1/9 Tired of crowded piazzas and tourist-packed trails? Discover Italys best-kept secretscharming destinations that rival the famous spots while offering a more authentic and peaceful experience. (Image: Canva)

2/9 1. Instead of Venice, Visit Chioggia

Skip the tourist crush of Venice and head to Chioggia, a charming fishing town in the Venetian Lagoon. With its winding canals, colorful boats, and bustling seafood markets, Chioggia delivers the magic of Venicewithout the crowds. Stroll the Corso del Popolo or relax at Sottomarina Beach for a perfect mix of culture and coastal beauty. (Image: Canva)

3/9 2. Instead of Florence, Visit Arezzo

Arezzo is Tuscany without the tourist traffic. This Renaissance city boasts elegant piazzas, ancient churches, and a rich artistic heritage. Dont miss the monthly antiques fair, a haven for collectors, or the stunning frescoes of the Basilica of San Francesco. Its a quiet escape with all the beauty Florence offers. (Image: Canva)

4/9 3. Instead of Cinque Terre, Visit Portovenere

Portoveneres pastel buildings and dramatic cliffs rival any view in Cinque Terre. This UNESCO World Heritage site invites you to explore medieval castles, hike scenic trails, and sail to the mystical Palmaria Island. Best of all? You can do it without navigating hordes of tourists. (Image: Canva)

5/9 4. Instead of the Amalfi Coast, Visit the Cilento Coast

The Cilento Coast is Amalfis untouched neighbor. Here, youll find pristine beaches, olive groves, and the ancient Greek temples of Paestum. Whether youre exploring the coastal villages or indulging in local mozzarella, Cilento offers the beauty of southern Italywithout the rush. (Image: Canva)

6/9 5. Instead of Lake Como, Visit Lake Iseo

Lake Iseo is a tranquil alternative to its celebrity-studded neighbor. Cruise the lake to Monte Isola, Europes largest lake island, where you can hike to medieval churches and enjoy fresh lake fish. Its a serene escape surrounded by the lush Franciacorta wine region. (Image: Canva)

7/9 6. Instead of Rome, Visit Tivoli

Just 30 km from Rome, Tivoli offers a slice of ancient and Renaissance splendor. Explore Villa dEstes cascading fountains or the ruins of Emperor Hadrians grand villa. Its the perfect day trip for history lovers seeking a quieter, more immersive experience. (Image: Canva)

8/9 7. Instead of Tuscany, Visit Le Marche

Le Marche combines rolling vineyards, golden beaches, and medieval townswithout the crowds of Tuscany. Discover Urbinos Renaissance charm, the dramatic Frasassi Caves, and coastal gems like Sirolo. Its a region where you can experience Italys rich culture at your own pace. (Image: Canva)
23andMe bankruptcy sparks panic among users trying to delete their genetic data

Priyanjali Ghose

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Columbia student protester living in US since age 7 sues to stop deportation order

101Reporters

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Pragya Trivedi

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Former Austrian FM Grasser sentenced to four years in prison for bribery case

101Reporters

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Greenlanders unite to fend off US as Trump seeks control of Arctic island

Sonalee Borgohain

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'Guy who peddles in garbage ...': US Defense Secretary refutes journalist's claim on Yemen war plan leak

Abhinav Gupta

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Japanese court orders dissolution of Unification Church: How is it linked to Shinzo Abe's assassination?

Pragya Trivedi

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'Not a big fan of The Atlantic': How Donald Trump reacted to 'inadvertent' leak of Yemen war plans with journalist

Abhinav Gupta

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Not interested in interfering in Canada's internal affairs, says China

101Reporters

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Snap polls in Canada on April 28: A look at top contenders and how the country will elect its next PM

Abhinav Gupta

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Abhinav Gupta

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Spotlight on 'Signal' app after Trump admin's Yemen war plan blunder: What to know about the WhatsApp rival

Abhinav Gupta

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Pradeep Tripathi

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This country is the fastest growing tourism destination in Southeast Asia

Arindam Roy

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Trump administration 'accidentally' texted its Yemen war plans to a journalist: What was in the leaked group chats?

Pragya Trivedi

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Trump pushes for global mineral deals to boost US securitybut still faces a China bottleneck

Sonalee Borgohain

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Yeeshu Yadav

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Trump's global trade war fuels surge in protectionism not seen since the 1930s

Sandeep Shrivastwa

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Ukraine, US to meet in Riyadh after Russia-US Black Sea ceasefire talks

101Reporters

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US gave Syria list of conditions for partial sanctions relief, say sources

Siddharth Chakravorty

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US says Russia and Ukraine agree on safety of shipping in Black Sea

101Reporters

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Arindam Roy

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New laws designed to protect salmon farming have been welcomed by the industry, but critics argue they will have unintended impacts on environmental protections.

Australias government will introduce legislation in parliament today that experts fear could tear a hole in the nations already fragile environment laws.

While the plan has been devised to safeguard Tasmanias colossal salmon farming industry from legal threats, critics say its rushed and they fear the changes will impact the environment ministers ability to reign in other industries harming species threatened with extinction.

Ahead of the vote, twelve people have reportedly been detained at Parliament House in Canberra after three glued themselves to a stairwell chanting "Australias nature laws are under attack".

Tasmania's salmon industry has had a horror year after more than a million fish died of disease. Source: Bob Brown Foundation

Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses primary goal is to safeguard jobs around World Heritage-listed Macquarie Harbour where industrial salmon farming operations have been linked to pollution in the water thats pushed the Maugean skate to the brink of extinction.

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With the habitat of these native fish having declined, environment groups had compelled Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to review a 2012 decision that allowed farming operations in its habitat.

But new legislation, which will likely pass through parliament this week with the support of the Coalition, could constrain her ability to order out the salmon farms if they are found to be significantly harming the Maugean skate. There are wider fears the bill could impact the environment minister's power to review other harmful operations even if there was evidence significant harm was being done.

My government makes no apologies for supporting jobs. That's what the Labor Party does. We support jobs, but we also support sustainability, Albanese said on Monday.

The decision has widespread backing from the salmon industry, which supports 5,000 jobs and is estimated to be worth over $1.3 billion to the economy. The farms have suffered a horror year with over a million fish dying from disease, and the RSPCA pulling its accreditation of Huon Aquaculture, which is a subsidiary of Brazils largest meat producer JBS. The other major players in Tasmania are New Zealand's Petuna and Canada's Tassal.

The government has invested millions in breeding programs, along with new technology designed to oxygenate and improve water quality in Macquarie Harbour. Albanese argues he's supporting "sustainable" salmon farming. It's a claim that's in line with Coles and Woolworths marketing, which brands fish farmed in the harbour as an environmentally friendly choice.

Albanese accused of consigning endangered species to extinction

But conservation groups argue industrial salmon farming and the Maugean skate cannot coexist. And their warnings about Albaneses plan have been bleak.

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The Bob Brown Foundation accused him of signing the Magean skates death warrant. While the Wilderness Society argues the move will effectively legislate the extinction of the endangered Maugean skate

This bill will shatter confidence in environmental decision-making. It sets a precedent that no species or World Heritage site is safe, its biodiversity manager Sam Szoke-Burke said.

If passed, the bill would strip the communitys right to challenge bad decisions when new information comes to light, reduce accountability, and open the door to lobbying from vested interests. Thats not supporting sustainabilitythats weakening the very safeguards that protect it."

Greenpeace urged parliament to vote down the legislation and labelled it a "pro-extinction bill". It should be a source of deep concern that the Maugean skate has survived in Tasmanian waters since the age of dinosaurs, but may not survive Anthony Albanese and everyone who votes for this ill-considered legislation," its head of nature Glenn Walker said.

The Australian Conservation Foundation said the changes were "bad news" and would leave the environment "more poorly protected" at the end of the Albanese government's first term than when it was elected. "This amendment knowingly risks the extinction of a unique, irreplaceable Australian species," its CEO Kelly OShanassy said.

How many Maugean skates are left?

Maugean skate numbers were once thought to have plummeted to as low as 120 adult individuals, but recent estimates suggest the population is now closer to 4,000. The Prime Minister has argued Maugean skate numbers are the same as they were a decade ago, and the government is making decisions informed by environmental science. But critics say he's simplifying the data.

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Alexia Wellbelove from the Australian Marine Conservation Society argues one climatic event could be "catastrophic" for the Maugean skate because it's only found in one place on Earth and that habitat is in poor health due to salmon farming.

"What this bill says is yes to fast-tracking extinction. It says yes to polluting and damaging industries. It says yes to impacting unique and irreplaceable World Heritage sites. It says yes to listening to corporations over the community," she told Yahoo News from Canberra.

"Our environmental legislation is meant to protect our unique and amazing wildlife, not provide exemptions for industries that damage it."

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek directed questions on the salmon industry laws to the Prime Ministers office.

Concerns about the Maugean skate's stability are shared by the Biodiversity Council, an independent expert group founded by 11 universities to promote evidence-based solutions to environmental issues.

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It notes the species suffered a "massively steep decline" this century before bouncing back again. Analysis shows it lost three-quarters of its population between 2014 and 2022, before stabilising to almost pre-2014 levels over the following years.

"This may indicate some partial stabilisation of conditions for the skate, but there are three reasons we should not pop the champagne or consider work to save the endangered skate complete," a spokesperson said.

Firstly, because only two years of monitoring data shows an improvement, it argues it's too soon to draw conclusions as to whether the increase will be lasting.

Secondly, it notes the number of young animals plummeted in 2009 and are yet to fully recover, and they are essential to population stabilisation.

Thirdly, it believes there are still to many "knowledge gaps" about how to ensure to species' long term survival.

"So far, managers are reading into tea leaves based on short-term correlations, but more research is needed to prove causes and effects," the spokesperson added.

Concern salmon farm legislation will jeopardise safeguards

Jan McDonald is a spokesperson for the Biodiversity Council and a Professor of Environmental Law at the University of Tasmania, and she argues the legislation jeopardises a crucial safeguard in our national environmental legislation.

It removes a power the Environment Minister has to review past determinations that an activity could proceed without needing Commonwealth approval. The Act currently allows for review of this determination if evidence comes to light showing the activity is causing significant harm, she said.

Another councillor Stan Lui said the decline of the Maugean skate is more than just an "environmental failure", but a "failure of governance". "Weakening protections to shield industry from scrutiny is not leadership, it is negligence," he said.

Its the second time the prime minister has intervened in key environmental regulations. In November last year, he stepped in to quash a deal that had been negotiated between Plibersek and the Greens to end the logging of native forests.

His government was elected in 2022 after promising a suite of reforms, aimed at fixing neglected environmental legislation that an independent review found were ineffective, weak and tokenistic. Most of these planned changes have failed to eventuate.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek was contacted for comment, but questions were redirected to the Prime Ministers office.

As few as 30 Maugean skates could survive in the wild. Source: Jane Rucker/IMAS

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The 'disgusting' rescue was important for the survival of a threatened Australian species.

Wildlife rescuer Tessa Esparon was called to retrieve native turtles found at the bottom of a backyard pond in Perth. Source: Facebook/Tessa's Reptile Services

An Aussie resident eager to convert her backyard pond into a pool was shocked when she found "a whole pile of turtles" among the muck and debris once the water had been drained during renovations.

The discovery was made in Perth's northern suburb of Wanneroo over the weekend with the resident calling in reptile rescuer Tessa Esparon for the safe retrieval and relocation of the turtles.

"I was literally up to my mid-thigh in muck and my arms were covered," Tessa told Yahoo News. "There were five large female long-neck turtles in there, they ranged from 20 years to 60 years. They were big girls."

Images of the rescue show Tessa and fellow wildlife rescuer Amelie scooping the turtles out of the mud and safely into buckets, admitting the process was "disgusting... but we got a chance to be big kids for the day".

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The pair described the rescue as a "sludge fest" and Tessa even had to borrow clothes from the homeowner after getting seriously filthy. However she told Yahoo it was well worth the trouble as the species continues to face pressures from urbanisation and the ever-growing fox problem.

Some of the 'big girls' were over 60 years old. Source: Facebook/Tessa's Reptile Services

Population of native species 'nose-dived' in last decade

Native turtle populations are suffering significantly from land being cleared for housing and the introduction of foxes. Despite foxes being first introduced in Australia in the 1860s by Europeans, their numbers have exploded due to the lack of natural predators and an abundance of prey and turtles are facing the brunt of the issue.

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"They're hugely under threat from foxes. We have a huge fox problem here... when I release animals back into the wild it feels like a death sentence to the future," Tessa said.

Wildlife rescuers say 360 turtles were found dead at the Beeliar Wetlands in Perth in the last 18 months. Source: Walliabup Wildlife Warriors

Turtles are being killed by their hundreds in Perth, with a wildlife rescuer from Walliabup Wildlife Warriors, a division of the Wetlands Conservation Society  previously telling Yahoo News more than 360 turtles were suspected to have been killed by foxes in a 18 month period at lakes in the Beeliar Wetlands in WA. In one particularly horrific incident, known in the community as "the massacre", 130 turtles were killed in two days. At least 100 were confirmed by wildlife vets to have been killed by foxes.

Tessa is urging authorities to do more before the native species are wiped out, saying we'll "likely lose long-neck turtles in the next five years" if we don't make drastic measures.

"Our turtles are in real trouble we're all so frustrated by council and government's lack of management. We're pulling our hair out... the population has literally nose-dived over the last eight years," Tess said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Conan OBrien appears onstage during the 26th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2025.

REUTERS
Copperopolis, CA  $1.5 million is coming to Calaveras County for highway improvements and $1.8 million for a project around Mariposa Elementary School.

$1 billion in safety enhancement projects were announced this week by the California Transportation Commission with money coming from the Federal Infrastructure Act of 2021 and SB 1 gas tax money.

Locally, Caltrans reports that $1,523,000 is going toward enhancements on Highway 4 near Copperopolis east of Rock Creek Road to the Stanislaus County line. The goal is to improve the ride quality and safety of Highway 4. The funding will restore and replace guardrails, culverts, and 20 miles of roadway surface.

In addition, $1.8 million will support the Mariposa Elementary School Connectivity Project. The money will help build new curbs, gutters, sidewalks, ADA ramps, drainage inlets, high visibility school zone striping, and new pedestrian signage. The work will take place along Bullion Street, 6th Street, 7th Street, and Jones Street, adjacent to Mariposa Elementary in the town of Mariposa. 3,200 feet of linear sidewalk will be installed, 13 ADA ramps, and nine crossing surface improvements.

Caltrans Director Tony Tavares says, Todays action dedicates vital funding for upgrades that will protect our infrastructure now and well into the future.
I consider the pursuit of comprehensive national defense against nuclear missile attack to be what Paul Krugman calls a zombie idea, an idea that refuses to die despite being refuted by evidence. Now that Trump has declared his wish to construct such a system, which he calls a Golden Dome, it is appropriate to examine this zombie idea again.

History of a Dream

Japanese kamikaze planes were effectively the first guided missiles used in warfare. The serious losses they inflicted in WWII caused the U.S. Navy to rush proximity fuses for anti-aircraft artillery into production. When engineers told the Navy that the defect rate would be around 50%, the Navy was satisfied because they would still shoot down many more planes than conventional shells. With the advent of aircraft-delivered nuclear bombs, guided anti-aircraft missiles were developed and deployed by the U.S. on a large scale. When the intercontinental ballistic missile became the main nuclear threat, work began on applying interceptor missile technology to defend against nuclear missiles. Here is the timeline of this effort from the start of the Cold War to the present.

1950s  Early Concepts and Projects

 1955: The U.S. Army initiates the Nike-Zeus project, an early effort to create a missile that could intercept incoming Soviet ICBMs (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles).

 1958: Formation of the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), later known as DARPA, to explore missile defense technologies.

1960s  First Generation Systems

 1962: The Nike-Zeus system successfully intercepts a test missile, but concerns about cost and effectiveness prevent full deployment.

 1967: The Sentinel program begins under President Johnson, aiming to defend cities from limited attacks, like those from China.

1970s  Shift to Site-Specific Defense

 1972: The Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty is signed between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, limiting both countries to two ABM sites each (later reduced to one).

 1974: The Safeguard system is briefly deployed in North Dakota to protect a Minuteman ICBM base but is shut down after one year due to high costs and questionable effectiveness.

1980s  Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

 1983: President Ronald Reagan announces the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)  often nicknamed Star Wars  proposing a space-based missile defense shield using lasers and other advanced technologies.

 1987: The U.S. demonstrates the Homing Overlay Experiment, proving that a kinetic interceptor can physically hit a missile.

1990s  Theater Missile Defense and National Missile Defense

 1991: The Patriot missile system gains public attention during the Gulf War by intercepting Iraqi Scud missiles.

 1993: SDI is renamed the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO), with a renewed focus on theater and regional missile defense rather than a global shield.

 1998: The Rumsfeld Commission warns that rogue states could develop ICBMs faster than previously estimated, prompting a push for national defense.

2000s  Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD)

 2001: President George W. Bush announces the U.S. will withdraw from the ABM Treaty, citing the need for more flexible missile defense systems.

 2004: The U.S. deploys its first Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) interceptors in Alaska and California, designed to counter limited ICBM attacks from North Korea or Iran.

2010s  Aegis and THAAD Expansion

 2012: The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system becomes operational on Navy ships, capable of intercepting short to intermediate-range missiles.

 2016: Aegis Ashore land-based missile system deployed to Romania

 2017: The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is deployed to South Korea in response to North Korean missile tests.

 2017: GMD successfully intercepts an ICBM-class target for the first time in a test.

2020s  Modern Developments and Next-Generation Systems

 2020: The Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) program begins, aiming to replace older GMD interceptors with more advanced technology by the 2030s.

 2023: The Pentagon continues research into hypersonic missile defense, directed energy weapons, and space-based sensors as new threats emerge, including hypersonic glide vehicles and maneuvering warheads.

 2025 President Trump announces decision to build a golden dome national missile defense system

All of this has been very expensive, and there has been little to show for it. Total estimated expenditures on missile defense since 1955 are in the range of $350 to $400 billion. The U.S. has deployed a small number of GMD interceptor missiles in Alaska and California. The missiles at these sites have shown only about a 50% successful intercept rate in testing, and these tests were against targets on known trajectories without realistic decoys. The feeble results are justified by claiming that the missiles are a defense against rogue states lacking the ability to deploy countermeasures. Experts like Ted Postol of M.I.T. have pointed out that warhead decoy countermeasures are well within the capabilities of any nation capable of building an ICBM. After decades of costly effort, there remain four sets of problems preventing realization of the missile defense dream.

Attacker Advantage Problems

There is a fundamental asymmetry issue in missile defense. In general, the attacker is favored because of the factors of surprise and concentration. The defender must always be ready everywhere. The attacker can choose the time, place, and number of missiles for an attack. This makes defense intrinsically more costly than offense in a missile conflict. Moreover, the defenders costs increase in proportion to the area that must be defended.

This issue was recognized as early as 1958, when the Chief Scientist of ARPA, Herbert York, released a report on missile defense in which he rendered this verdict:

The problem here is the usual problem between defense and offenses, measures, countermeasures, counter-counter measures, et cetera, in which it has been my judgment and still is that the battle is so heavily weighted in favor of the offense that it is hopeless against a determined offense 

In the case of a nuclear attack, there is the additional heavy burden for the defender of achieving an almost perfect kill ratio. A single missed target could result in the destruction of an entire city. To achieve this high degree of efficacy, elaborate and redundant detection and interception capabilities must be developed and implemented. Fielding highly reliable, powerful, and precise interceptor weapons in large numbers, together with a vast array of missile detection and tracking units is a daunting undertaking that has yet be accomplished.

Technical Problems

Destroying an incoming missile warhead is a very tough technical problem. Unlike military aircraft, which are relatively large, slow and fragile, a missile warhead is small, very fast, and hardened to survive re-entry into the atmosphere. Each of the three phases of ICBM flight, boost, mid-course, and re-entry, poses great difficulties for the defender. In the boost phase, right after missile launch, the missile is easily detectable from space, but its location may be thousands of miles out of range of available interceptors. In the mid-course phase, outside the atmosphere, there is no reliable means of distinguishing between the warhead and accompanying decoys. In the terminal phase, inside the atmosphere, there is very little time to intercept, as little as 30 seconds for a hypersonic warhead, which may be maneuvering and is surrounded by a plasma cloud making radar and thermal targeting problematic.

Cost Problems

Based on the history of past BMD programs, the total development and deployment cost of a comprehensive national missile defense for the United States would likely be hundreds of billions of dollars. This is dictated by the high unit cost of the necessary reconnaissance and interceptor components multiplied by the quantity of installations needed to provide national coverage. Such a system would require costly continual maintenance and enhancement to match improving missile attack capabilities of potential adversaries.

Strategic Destabilization Problems

Putting aside the practical objections to achieving an effective defense against nuclear missiles, there is a further potent argument against building such a system: the destabilizing effect on nuclear deterrence. An adversary who believes, rightly or wrongly, that an enemy is about to become impervious to missile attack may view this development as a prelude to a first strike. The logic of this assumption is that a strong missile defense capability can block a retaliatory strike and give victory to the side that launches first. Thus, aggressive pursuit of missile defense will trigger countermeasures that destabilize the strategic balance and aggravate arms racing. We have already seen this process play out. After the U.S. abrogation of the ABM treaty, Russia proceeded to develop a new family of weapons that could penetrate any missile shield currently under development. These included the Avanguard hypersonic maneuvering warhead, the Burevestnik nuclear powered cruise missile, and the Poseidon long-range nuclear-powered torpedo.

The above problems have been documented for many years, and for all these reasons no nation has built an effective shield against nuclear missiles, but the dream persists because of public ignorance, political opportunism, and corporate cupidity.

A Different Kind of Dream

For defense contractors, missile defense is an orgasmic dream. Because the sky is literally not the limit these programs can expand indefinitely, with success always just one more expensive technological breakthrough away. Moreover, since there is no way to thoroughly test the efficacy of a comprehensive missile shield, there can be no effective government oversight of the program. Efforts of adversary nations to counteract the defensive system will propel a perpetual motion machine of engineering measures and countermeasures in an endless quest for strategic superiority. The political appeal of promising security to a fearful public will secure continuing government support. The founder of Revlon once said, In the factory we make cosmetics; in the store we sell hope. Hope for protection against nuclear missiles will keep the money flowing to defense contractors.

Leaky Domes

Trumps Golden Dome project is evidence of his supreme indifference to relevant information. The notion that Israels rudimentary Iron Dome system could have a vastly more capable counterpart defending the entire USA is highly questionable. In terms of geography, Iron Dome is a short range defense system designed to knock down crude, unguided, artillery rockets. Although Israel also has more capable Arrow and Davids Sling interceptors, these still do not have the range to reach much past Israels small territory. Moreover, the last missile attack made by Iran in 2024 demonstrated that Irans most advanced missile were able to penetrate Israels missile defenses. If these missiles had delivered nuclear warheads, Israel would have been destroyed. The implications for Israels future security are ominous.



A Test for Musk

The barrage of criticism recently hurled against Elon Musk includes charges that he is seeking to profit from government contracts. Since an extensive orbital missile tracking system would be a key element of a comprehensive anti-missile shield, we will soon find out if Musks engineering integrity will prevail over corporate profit. SpaceX could likely deliver orbital reconnaissance capabilities faster and cheaper than any competitor, but what is the point if the defensive system the reconnaissance is intended to serve cannot effectively defend against missile attack? Musk would be well advised to stay away from this boondoggle.

The Future of a Delusion

With Trump touting the construction of a Golden Dome anti-missile shield, the missile defense zombie is shambling along again. The best we can hope for is confining this zombie to the domain of endless research and development, which will be expensive, but nowhere near the cost of fielding a full-blown (leaky) national missile shield. Meanwhile other nuclear powers will continue to increase the survivability of their offensive arsenals and introduce features to counter any progress made in missile defense, keeping the dream of an impregnable missile shield constantly out of reach, and the gravy train of defense contractor funding rolling along.

Conclusion

The medieval Catholic church in Europe ran a successful racket by selling indulgences promising an express route to heaven. This practice had no biblical foundation, but it was immensely appealing to those seeking a heavenly afterlife. Similarly, defense contractors promising to deliver a missile shield are effectively running a protection racket based on the publics deep desire for protection from nuclear attack. Irresponsible politicians are happy to secure financial and public support by funding the racketeers. The feasibility, affordability, and strategic suitability of national missile defense are all highly questionable, but these concerns remain powerless against a potent dream. In short, to paraphrase a contemporary song, Trumps Golden Dome missile defense program will be money for nothing and the risks for free.
If 70 people in Palestine were beheaded, quite rightly, youd have heard about it.

If 70 people at Pride were murdered, quite rightly, youd have heard about it.

70 Christians were beheaded in Congo recently. Did you hear about it? pic.twitter.com/FgWkcGS7RA

 Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) March 25, 2025
Yves here. Even though most geopolitically oriented eyes are focused on Ukraine, the related peace talks, and the dangerously simmering situation in the Middle East, particularly serious US noises about mixing it up with Iran, there are secondary flash points related to these conflicts that can add heat to these fires. One general category that most readers know well is the way the weak players, the EU ex Hungary and Slovakia, and particularly the UK and the Baltic states, are determined to throw a spanner into a possible settlement of the Ukraine conflict.

This post reinforces a point yours truly has made repeatedly: Putin can win the war but still lose the peace. The UK and his friends are determined to make that happen if they can. Recall that Putins aim is not simply to stop the fighting, but to create a new European security architecture. The next best would be to establish a durable acceptance by the key players in Europe of the resolution.

The problem here is Europeans have been fed decades of swill about how monstrous Russians and Putin are, and that propagandizing has become more intense over the course of the war. Additionally, the Baltic states are stuck in a time warp, regarding modern Russia as no different than the now long dead Soviet Union.

Professor John Mearsheimer has warned that there wont be a clean and well-accepted outcome to this war, even assuming a US-Russia deal. He identified multiple hot spots settlement refusniks could keep stoking, from Transnistria to Kaliningrad to one of areas discussed below, the Baltics. Recall also that NATO has nuclear capable missiles installed in Romania and Poland. Unless the latter systems are removed, Russia is still under threat, albeit not as acute as with a belligerent and once well-armed NATO proxy on its doorstep. All it takes is a regime change in DC for the US to go on a hostile footing again. With Trump on track to tank the economy, and Vance having the worst poll ratings of any VP at this point in his tenure, Vance 2028 does not look like a great bet, even allowing for the abject awfulness of the Dem bench. Of course, I charitably assuming the US actually does hold elections then.

By Andrew Korybko, a Moscow-based American political analyst who specializes in the global systemic transition to multipolarity in the New Cold War. He has a PhD from MGIMO, which is under the umbrella of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Originally published at his website

Putins senior aide Nikolai Patrushev, who ran the FSB for nearly a decade (1999-2008) before chairing the Security Council for over 15 years till recently (2008-2024), shared some updates about the Baltic and Arctic fronts of the New Cold War in a recent interview with Russias National Defense magazine. He began by blaming the Brits for orchestrating Baltic tensions in order to disrupt the incipient Russian-US normalization process and associated talks on Ukraine.

In connection with that, he also warned that some NATO members (presumably led by the British) are practicing cyberattacks against Russian ships navigation equipment and suggested that they might have been responsible for recent claims of sabotage in the Baltic, which prompted a larger naval presence. This same expanded presence poses a threat to Russias interests and could manifest itself through terrorist attacks against its underwater pipelines, tankers, and dry cargo ships.

Russia plans to defend against this through unmanned underwater systems and strengthening its Baltic Fleet. As for one of the worst-case conventional threats, that of Finland and Estonia teaming up to blockade Russia inside the Gulf of Finland, Patrushev expressed confidence that his country could overcome that plot and punish the aggressors. This segued the conversation into a discussion about Finland, which Patrushev said has a friendly population, unlike its government.

He mentioned how the authorities there distort history to avoid talking about the goal of Greater Finland, which took the form of occupying Northwestern Russia, placing its inhabitants into concentration camps, and exterminating the Slavs there. Just like Finland was used by the Nazis as a springboard for aggression against the USSR, so too did Patrushev warn that plans might be afoot for NATO to use it as a springboard potential aggression against Russia.

He then said a few words about how the Arctic is opening up as a new front of competition, mostly due to its resources, but reaffirmed that Russia wants peace and cooperation there instead of rivalry. The Northern Sea Route (NSR), which commemorates its 500th-year conceptualization this year, can help bring that about. Russia will continue developing regional infrastructure and building ice-class vessels for facilitating transit through these waters year-round. It was on that note that the interview ended.

Reviewing Patrushevs briefing, the first part about blaming the Brits for tensions in the Baltic aligns with what Russias Foreign Spy Service (SVR) recently claimed about how the UK is trying to sabotage Trumps envisaged NewDetente. It might therefore very well be that theyre attempting to open up this front for that purpose, first through unconventional acts of aggression like plausibly deniable terrorist attacks and then possibly escalating to a joint Finnish-Estonian blockade of the Gulf of Finland.

Exposing these plots and expressing confidence in Russias ability to overcome them were meant to respectively ensure that the Trump Administration is aware of what the UK is doing and to deter the UKs regional proxies from going along with this since the US and even the UK might hang them out to dry. Patrushevs words about Finland were important too in the sense of reminding everyone that governments dont always reflect the will of the people on the foreign policy front.

At the same time, however, everyone should also be aware of the Finnish governments historical distortions and the threat that its reckless foreign policy poses to its own people. Wrapping everything up, Patrushev pointed to the Arctics importance in Russias future planning, and his reaffirmation of its peaceful intentions could be interpreted as a willingness to partner with the US there like their representatives discussed last month in Riyadh. The NSR can also become a vector for cooperation too.

Putting everything together, the Arctic front of the New Cold War is thawing a lot quicker than the Baltic one since the first is where the US could prospectively cooperate with Russia while the second is where the UK could try to provoke a crisis with Russia, but it remains to be seen whether any of this will unfold. Russian-US cooperation in the Arctic is likely conditional on a ceasefire in Ukraine whereas a Russian-NATO conflict in the Baltic orchestrated by the Brits is conditional on them misleading the US about this.

Putins interest in a lasting political solution to the Ukrainian Conflict bodes well for the Arctic scenario just like Trumps criticism of NATO bodes ill for the Baltic one so both ultimately come down to their will. Theyre the two most powerful people on the planet so their ties will greatly determine what comes next on those fronts and every other one too. Its precisely for this reason why the British want to ruin their relations, but after Patrushev just exposed their Baltic plot, thats a lot less likely to succeed than before.
Yves here. I hope youll give this important post the attention it deserves. It presents a distressingly plausible explanation of what Musk and his fellow tech broligarchs are up to with their pillaging-disguised-as-DOGE operation.

It turns out my hypothesis, that this cabal was trying to create an economic crash so as to engage in Russia-1990s-level-asset-buying-on-the-super-cheap, was not dire enough. Thom Hartmann below explains how a new tech belief system, the Dark Enlightenment, seeks to implement authoritarianism with a combination of elite technocrats (as in the IT type, not the older notion of high subject matter skills) and AI in charge.

By Thom Hartmann, a talk-show host and the author of The Hidden History of Monopolies: How Big Business Destroyed the American Dream (2020); The Hidden History of the Supreme Court and the Betrayal of America (2019); and more than 25 other books in print. Originally published at Common Dreams

The future of American democracy isnt being dismantled by accident; its being systematically replaced to prepare the way for something entirely new.

A radical ideology known as the Dark Enlightenment is fueling a billionaire-led movement to gut our government, erase democratic norms, and install a technocratic elite in their place.

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk arent just tearing down institutionstheyre laying the groundwork for an experimental new kind of authoritarian rule.

Americans are baffled by the brutal, relentless attack on the institutions of America that theyve launched.

Why would they destroy our reputation around the world by shutting down USAID? Whats wrong with the federal government helping poor school districts or giving college students Pell Grants? Why gut billions in scientific research thats kept America at the forefront of the world and saved literally hundreds of millions of lives?

Paul Krugman recommends a psychiatrist weigh in; Dr. Bandy X. Lee (a frequent guest on my program) points that out, noting, How exactly this plays out is, as I have said, a spiritual question. Three New York Timeswriters even had a lengthy back-and-forth on the topic, under the title: Is Destruction the Point?

Some speculate that Musk and Trump are both tight with Putin and theyre destroying our government at his direction, helping achieve the goal hes had since his KGB days to destroy America from within.

Others think its just a way of crippling government programs like Social Security, Medicaid, and the Post Office so they can now be profitably taken over by private industry.

Democratic politicians tell us Musk and Trump are just trying to cut government spending to pay for the $4 trillion in tax cuts for billionaires that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will be introducing in the House in the next few weeks.

Theyre all wrong.

The simple answer is that these people intend to replace the 240+ year American Experiment with a brand new governance experiment of their own. One that was largely developed in computer rooms around San Francisco.

Theres an actual ideology behind all this, and it isnt the old-fashioned Ayn Rand libertarianism that was such a rage during the Reagan era.

This hot new experimental ideology, enthusiastically embraced by Silicon Valley billionaires and their tech bros dismantling our government, is called the Dark Enlightenment or the neo-reactionary movement (NRx).

And its not entirely new; they believe they have proof that it works, which can be found way over on the other side of the planet. Ive been there, in fact, and it does seem to be working just fine if you dont care about freedom.

Back in 1994 I published a book proposing that ADHD wasnt a brain disease or disorder but, instead, a form of brain wiring that would be highly adaptive during humanitys long hunter-gatherer period but can present a struggle for people in todays factory-like school systems. Time Magazine did a cover story about it, including an article featuring my book, and suddenly I was in demand literally around the world.

One of the countries I visited during the book tour that ensued (the books available in more than a dozen languages) was Singapore. A parents group had reached out to my publisher and set up an opportunity for me to talk about my theory and ways schools could be reinvented to work for both normal and ADHD kids.

I gave the speech and laid out a series of suggestions, and during the Q&A that followed, one of the parents asked how to best convince schools to adopt some of my ideas. I suggested they should become politically active, a standard answer in most every other country Id visited (and here in America). Little did I realize the significance of that phrase.

When I got back to my hotel, an internationally famous five-star tower with a beautiful atrium, my room had been torn apart. The mattress and box springs were on the floor, as were the contents of my suitcase. Every drawer was pulled open. My toiletries kit was all over the bathroom floor.

I called hotel security to report what I thought was a break-in or robbery, although I couldnt immediately see that anything was missing. The head of security showed up in my room five minutes later with the hotel manager. They looked around the room with neither shock nor alarm.

The manager explained, with a hint (but only a hint) of apology in his voice, The police were here, as if that explained everything

They did this? I asked, as I recall.

He nodded and said, Presumably.

Why? I demanded.

Both men shrugged. The head of security asked me if Id engaged in anything illegal while in Singapore, particularly bringing illegal drugs into the country, and I indignantly denied even the possibility. They shrugged their shoulders again and offered to send a maid up to help make put the room back together.

The next morning, I had breakfast with some of the parents Id met the afternoon before and told them what happened. They explained, in a whisper, that I never should have mentioned politics in my speech.

It is not allowed here, as I recall one telling me.

Singapore has come a ways from the mid-1990s, but is still an authoritarian state. As Robin Kaiser-Schatzlein wrote for Mother Jones:

During his reign, [Lee Kuan Yew, aka LKY, Singapores former leader] successfully fused pro-corporate libertarian economics and state socialism, creating a distinctly conservative mishmash of social and political control. Singapore has banned all kinds of free speech; intervened in marriages and family planning; encouraged eugenics; caned people for minor crimes; created an ethnically homogeneous ruling class; treated the migrant worker population as second-class citizens; and, famously, banned chewing gum. This is LKYs model: economic development above all elseeven human rights. A soft authoritarianism, as Fareed Zakaria has called it. The exuberance of democracy, LKY explained, leads to indiscipline and disorderly conduct, which are inimical to development.

According to the philosopher-king of the Dark Enlightenment movement, the guy who woke up JD Vance, and the billionaires who support him, Singapore is their explicit model for Americas future.

As Kaiser-Schatzlein writes about Curtis Yarvin and the other Dark Enlightenment thinkers who have inspired Musk, Theil, Vance, et al.:

For a new breed of right-wing thinkers, politicians, and activists, LKYs approach to government is appealing. Curtis Yarvin, Silicon Valleys resident neo-monarchist, compares LKY to FDRboth good examples, he says, of a unilateral leader. And Nick Land, an accelerationist philosopher, calls LKY an autocratic enabler of freedom.

To them, LKY is the paradigm of an illiberal ruler who created a paradise for his subjects: a freedom without rights, a prosperity without disorder.

Sure, Republicans are going to gut government spending to pay for tax cuts for the billionaires who own them. And they definitely want big Wall Street banks to run Social Security just like George W. Bush handed more than half of Medicare (so far) over to giant for-profit insurance companies. After all, both industries represent such big campaign donors.

But this goes way beyond merely making billionaires richer or giving corporations more power over our lives. The audacious experiment Musk has embarked onwhich Trump probably doesnt even understandinvolves the fundamental transformation of America from a nation ruled by its own people into one where decisions are made by a very specific elite group of self-selected genius white male technocrats.

And once AI reaches the ability to think with the intelligence of a genius-level humanArtificial General Intelligence or AGIsome of these guys believe that most of the decision-makers and agencies of the federal government can simply be replaced by banks of computers, deciding who gets what, when, and why.

All itll take is a monarchical leader who, like KLY, brooks no dissent.

Trump could be that leaderor at least the useful-idiot-frontman for the technocrats like Vance and Musk who are really running thingsand the gutting of federal agencies opens up a space to replace them (and their workers) with AGI-based computer systems.

Rana Foorahar explains it in The Financial Times:

The philosophy argues that democracy inherently leads to social decline, because of the development of deep state bureaucracies that are unable to control oligarchic forces, and that societies should be run like corporations, with a kind of CEO Monarch in charge. As Yarvin has said, If Americans want to change their government, they need to get rid of dictator phobia One way of dealing with that is hire two executives and make sure they work together and there is really no other solution

And theyre much further along in the process of both gutting government and seizing total control of our political system to implement this experiment than most Americans realize.

A new site that lays out exactly how theyre progressing toward their goal of kneecapping the federal bureaucracy is project2025.observer; according to the site, theyre about 40% of the way there, although the courts may set them back temporarily.

And the project for billionaires to take complete control of our elected officials (and thus our government, at all levels) is also nearly complete: Fully 18% of all spending on the 2024 elections was done by just 150 billionaire families who represent a mere .00000045% of the American population.

The Dark Enlightenment has little use for democracy; openly disdains notions of equality as proposed in the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution (viewing them as unnatural and counterproductive); and rejects what they call Whig historiography, which assumes history inevitably progresses toward greater liberty and enlightenment.

Instead, like Julius Evola, Thomas Carlyle, and Oswald Spengler, they argue that classical societal structures that ruled the world for millennia (like feudalism, monarchy, or cameralism) are superior to democracy and, completely ignoring the history of the development of modern democracy, shouldwith a high-tech AGI twistreplace todays democratic experiment.

(Ironically, a large portion of the infrastructure that this movement is using was financed by fossil fuel billionaires who simply wanted to avoid paying income taxes and to have their oil companies deregulated so they could make more pollution and thus more profit. Similar to the people who funded the rise of Hitlerincluding Fritz Thyssen who wrote the book I Paid Hitler after WWII as an apologymany are now surprised, and some even frightened, by the turn of things.)

They are pushing forward with the move fast and break things slogan of the Tech industry that Mark Zuckerberg popularized. And they are having breathtaking success, between that strategy and the billions of dollars they are easily able to spend to seize the political power to fulfill their vision. They call themselves Masters of the Universe without a trace of irony.

Some high-profile observers of American politics are alert to this takeover-in-progress that most of our media has completely missed. Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, for example, recently wrote for his Substack newsletter:

Behind Vance and Musk is a libertarian community of rich crypto bros, tech executives, back-to-the-landers, and disaffected far-right intellectuals. Curtis Yarvin comes as close as anyone as being their intellectual godfather. He has written that political power in the United States is held by a liberal amalgam of universities and the mainstream media whose commitment to equality and justice is eroding Americas social order. In Yarvins view, democratic governments are inefficient and wasteful. They should be replaced with sovereign joint-stock corporations whose major shareholders select an executive with total power, who serves at their pleasure. Yarvin refers to the city-state of Singapore as an example of a successful authoritarian regime.

He notes that these tech-bro oligarchs of the techno-state want to replace inefficient democracy with an authoritarian regime replete with technologies they control.

Rachel Maddow has similarly featured stories about Yarvin and others like him on her program, albeit infrequently. The New Yorker has written about the movement, as have multiple other publications.

Lefty intellectuals and progressive thought leaders are suddenly waking up to the Dark Enlightenment experiment that, like a glacier finally reaching the sea, has been slowly consuming the GOP as it moves along and is nowwith hundreds of millions from Elon Musk buying the White House for Trumpsuddenly cleaving off massive icebergs of damaged governmental institutions.

But a much wider understanding of whats really animating Trumps and Musks experimental destruction of our government is needed.

If Americans dont wake up to the Dark Enlightenments creeping grip on the people who control our democracy, we may soon find ourselves living in a country where elections are meaningless, the government serves only the ultra-rich, and freedom exists in name only.

Pass it along and get into the streets!
Yves here. As of this hour, there is still no joint statement from Russia and the US on their long day of talks in Saudi Arabia yesterday. But in a bit of serendipity, the post below discusses a useful background issue to the talks, which is the openly expressed US desire to pry Russia away from China. With characteristic US hubris, its dumb to think this can readily be accomplished (modern Russia and Chinas economies have significant complementarities, plus Putin and Xi are tight friends, with Putin even making pancakes for Xi on Xis birthday) and even dumber to talk about it.

This piece usefully gives a perspective of this US clever scheme from the Chinese side. One might criticize this discussion as a tad simplistic, but the US ploy is so shallow, a more serious treatment might wind up attributing a level of design to it that simply is not there.

By Linggong Kong, Ph.D. Candidate in Political Science, Auburn University. Originally published at The Conversation

Is the U.S. angling for a repeat of the Sino-Russian split?

In an Oct. 31, 2024, interview with right-wing pundit Tucker Carlson, President Donald Trump argued that the United States under Joe Biden had, in his mind erroneously, pushed China and Russia together. Separating the two powers would be a priority of his administration. Im going to have to un-unite them, and I think I can do that, too, Trump said.

Since returning to the White House, Trump has been eager to negotiate with Russia, hoping to quickly bring an end to the war in Ukraine. One interpretation of this Ukraine policy is that it serves what Trump was getting at in his comments to Carlson. Pulling the U.S. out of the European conflict and repairing ties with Russia, even if it means throwing Ukraine under the bus, can be seen within the context of a shift of Americas attention to containing Chinese power.

Indeed, after a recent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump told Fox News: As a student of history, which I am  and Ive watched it all  the first thing you learn is you dont want Russia and China to get together.

The history Trump alludes to is the strategy of the Nixon era, in which the U.S. sought to align with China as a counterbalance to the Soviet Union, encouraging a split between the two communist entities in the process.

Yet if creating a fissure between Moscow and Beijing is indeed the ultimate aim, Trumps vision is, I believe, both naive and shortsighted. Not only is Russia unlikely to abandon its relationship with China, but many in Beijing view Trumps handling of the Russia-Ukraine war - and his foreign policy more broadly  as a projection of weakness, not strength.

A Growing Challenge

Although Russia and China have at various times in the past been adversaries when it suited their interests, todays geopolitical landscape is different from the Cold War era in which the Sino-Soviet split occurred. The two countries, whose relationship has grown steadily close since the fall of the Soviet Unionhave increasingly shared major strategic goals  chief among them, challenging the Western liberal order led by the U.S.

Both China and Russia have, in recent years, adopted an increasingly assertive stance in projecting military strength: China in the South China Sea and around Taiwan, and Russia in former Soviet satellite states, including Ukraine.

In response, a unified stance formed by Western governments to counter China and Russias challenge has merely pushed the two countries closer together.

Besties Forever?

In February 2022, just as Russia was preparing its invasion of Ukraine, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping announced a friendship without limits  in a show of unified intent against the West.

China has since become an indispensable partner for Russia, serving as its top trading partner for both imports and exports. In 2024, bilateral trade between China and Russia reached a record high of US$237 billion, and Russia now relies heavily on China as a key buyer of its oil and gas. This growing economic interdependence gives China considerable leverage over Russia and makes any U.S. attempt to pull Moscow away from Beijing economically unrealistic.

That doesnt mean the Russian-Chinese relationship is inviolable; areas of disagreement and divergent policy remain.

Indeed, there are areas that Trump could exploit if he were to succeed in driving a wedge between the two countries. For example, it could serve Russias interests to support U.S. efforts to contain China and discourage any expansionist tendencies in Beijing  such as through Moscows strategic ties with India, which China views with some alarm  especially given that there are still disputed territories along the Chinese-Russian border.

Putin Knows Who His Real Friends Are

Putin isnt naive. He knows that with Trump in office, the deep-seated Western consensus against Russia  including a robust, if leaky, economic sanctions regime  isnt going away anytime soon. In Trumps first term, the U.S. president likewise appeared to be cozying up to Putin, but there is an argument that he was even tougher on Russia, in terms of sanctions, than the administrations of Barack Obama or Joe Biden.

So, while Putin would likely gladly accept a Trump-brokered peace deal that sacrifices Ukraines interests in favor of Russia, that doesnt mean he would be rushing to embrace some kind of broader call to unite against China. Putin will know the extent to which Russia is now reliant economically on China, and subservient to it militarily. In the words of one Russian analyst, Moscow is now a vassal or, at best, a junior partner to Beijing.

Transactional Weakness

China for its part views Trumps peace talks with Russia and Ukraine as a sign of weakness that potentially undermines U.S. hawkishness toward China.

While some members of the U.S. administration are undoubtedly hawkish on China  Secretary of State Marco Rubio views the country as the most potent and dangerous threat to American prosperity  Trump himself has been more ambivalent. He may have slapped new tariffs on China as part of a renewed trade war, but he has also mulled a meeting with President Xi Jinping in an apparent overture.

Beijing recognizes Trumps transactional mindset, which prioritizes short-term, tangible benefits over more predictable long-term strategic interests requiring sustained investment.

This changes the calculation over whether the U.S. may be unwilling to bear the high costs of defending Taiwan. Trump, in a deviation from his predecessor, has failed to commit the country to defending Taiwan, the self-governing island claimed by Beijing.

Rather, Trump had indicated that if the Chinese government were to launch a military campaign to reunify Taiwan, he would opt instead for economic measures like tariffs and sanctions. His apparent openness to trade Ukraine territory for peace now has made some in Taiwan concerned over Washingtons commitment to long-established international norms.

Insulating the Economy

China has taken another key lesson from Russias experience in Ukraine: The U.S.-led economic sanctions regime has serious limits.

Even under sweeping Western sanctions, Russia was able to stay afloat through subterfuge and with support from allies like China and North Korea. Moreover, China remains far more economically intertwined with the West than Russia, and its relatively dominant global economic position means that it has significant leverage to combat any U.S.-led efforts to isolate the country economically.

Indeed, as geopolitical tensions have driven the West to gradually decouple from China in recent years, Beijing has adapted to the resulting economic slowdown by prioritizing domestic consumption and making the economy more self-reliant in key sectors.

That in part also reflects Chinas significant global economic and cultural strength. Coupled with this has been a domestic push to win countries in the Global South around to Chinas position. Beijing has secured endorsements from 70 countries officially recognizing Taiwan as part of China.

Chinas Turn to Exploit a Split?

As such, Trumps plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war by favoring Russia in the hope of drawing it into an anti-China coalition is, I believe, likely to backfire.

While Russia may itself harbor concerns about Chinas growing power, the two countrys shared strategic goal of challenging the Western-led international order  and Russias deep economic dependence on China  make any U.S. attempt to pull Moscow away from Beijing unrealistic.

Moreover, Trumps approach exposes vulnerabilities that China could exploit. His transactional and isolationist foreign policy, along with his encouragement of right-wing parties in Europe, may strain relations with European Union allies and weaken trust in American security commitments. Beijing, in turn, may view this as a sign of declining U.S. influence, giving China more room to maneuver, noticeably in regard to Taiwan.

Rather than increasing the chances of a Sino-Russia split, such a shift could instead divide an already fragile Western coalition.
Every COMMUNIST POLITICIAN in America claims they want border security but that is the OPPOSITE of their SOCIALIST PLOT to destroy the Republic forever

Bernie Sanders Hypocrisy  The text criticizes Bernie Sanders for supposedly flip-flopping on border security, accusing him of feigning support for Trumps policies while secretly pushing open borders to advance socialism. Socialism as Destructive  Socialism relies on mass illegal immigration to destabilize nations, creating poverty and dependence on government, comparing it to Orwellian dystopian control. Elite Corruption  Bernie, Obama, and Soros are labeled as "domestic terrorists" who enrich themselves while allegedly funding mass migration, crime, and economic collapse. Fake Protests & Propaganda  Left-wing rallies are staged events with paid protesters, as GPS data reveals the same 20,000 people attend multiple events, creating a false illusion of popular support.

Socialist freak Bernie Sanders, the madman Senator in Vermont, wants America to be a socialist hellhole, and now hes claiming that closed borders are a good thing. Sure Bernie, and theres lots of great swamp land on sale that you should buy in Florida for all those 15 million illegal immigrants you helped into America for them to reside on. All the U.S. commie politicians on the Left, including Obama, AOC, Biden and Bernie freakshow Sanders, always say the complete opposite of their insidious plans when theyre speaking to the fake news media. This is nothing new.

Lunatic Bernie now claims to support President Trumps efforts in securing the border and ending this massive influx of illegal immigrants, including gangs, rapists, drug dealers, human traffickers and terrorists. Sure Bernie. That goes against everything socialist hes been pushing for the past 16 years.

Socialism is founded on flooding stable countries with illegal immigrants so everyone is poor, starving to death, and reliant on Big Police-State Government

George Orwell called it out decades ago. Everyone thought his fictional dystopian world was just another crazy novel about some dark, evil world where the government takes complete control of the populace, like the world is one huge prison. Well, it almost all came true. We were one election away from it, and the patriots came out last November and voted it down. Amen.

Just this past week, Bernie freakshow Sanders claimed Trump is doing the right things for American security and national safety. He said, I think cracking down on fentanyl, making sure our borders are stronger. Look, nobody thinks illegal immigration is appropriate, and I happen to think we need comprehensive immigration reform, but I dont think its appropriate for people to be coming across the border illegally.

Then one sentence later, the TRUE Bernie came out, when he said about Trump, He wants to deport 20 million people who are in this country who are undocumented, Sanders said. Well, you do that, you destroy the entire country. Theres that Bernie we know so well. He loves crime, mayhem, and the destruction of the U.S. economy. Thats how he gets richer while the middle class becomes the lower class forever.

Bernie wants every American to be working 60 hours a week in factories, packing Frankenmeat and canning GMO toxic food. Bernie Sanders magically has a net worth of $3 million. Barrack Obama is worth $80 million. George Soros is worth $7 billion. Folks, these are your domestic terrorists. Talk about oligarchy. These are your international terrorists, who embezzle U.S. taxpayer funds using USAID as a cover and then fund the destabilization of governments around the world and here in the USA by funding the mass illegal immigration of criminals, gangsters, and terrorists.

All their rallies are fake, with the same serial protesters showing up per GPS data that reveals their cell phones attend all the same anti-oligarchy events

The propaganda blitz from the Left just never ends. Every rally, campaign event, and anti-oligarchy roundup is full of the same Soros-paid protesters because nobody really wants to come out and support terrorism out in the open, unless theyre paid criminals, thugs, violent freaks, and domestic terrorists themselves.

The Demon Dems and Lunatic Libs create a false perception of popularity using the same few hundred paid rent-a-protesters for every event, like they just did in Denver for the AOC and Bernie rally. Busted! GPS tracked the same 20,000 people by the cell phones, who attend all these fake rallies and campaign events. Oops. 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:

Censored.news

NaturalNews.com

TheGatewayPundit.com
Israels disproportionate strikes on Lebanon raise fears of wider war

Israel launched deadly airstrikes in southern Lebanon, killing eight civilians, including children, in response to five ineffective rockets.

Hezbollah denied involvement, while Lebanon accused Israel of fabricating pretexts for military escalation.

Israels disproportionate strikes targeted civilian areas, mirroring tactics used in Gaza.

The fragile 2023 ceasefire is collapsing as Israel continues occupying Lebanese territory with U.S. backing.

Analysts warn Lebanon could become the next major conflict zone amid global inaction.

Israel launched airstrikes across southern Lebanon over the weekend, killing at least eight civilians  including children  while justifying the attacks as a response to five primitive rockets that caused no Israeli casualties.

The strikes, which began on Saturday and continued into Sunday, mark one of the deadliest violations of a fragile ceasefire brokered in November 2024. With Hezbollah denying involvement in the rocket fire and Lebanese officials accusing Israel of fabricating pretexts for military escalation, the region teeters on the brink of renewed conflict  backed by unwavering U.S. support for Tel Avivs actions.

A pattern of disproportionate force

Israels latest bombardment mirrors its strategy in Gaza: using minor security incidents to justify widespread destruction. After five rudimentary rockets were fired toward the largely evacuated Israeli settlement of Metula, the Israeli military unleashed airstrikes targeting towns from Aita al-Shaab to Tyre, leveling homes, a cafe, and infrastructure. Lebanese sources report that among the dead was Hassan al-Zein, a civilian struck by a guided missile while in his car.

Despite Hezbollahs public denial of responsibility  a rare move suggesting political pressure  Israel framed the strikes as necessary to protect Israeli civilians. Defense Minister Israel Katz announced a second wave of attacks on alleged Hezbollah sites, though Lebanese media and analysts argue the targets were overwhelmingly civilian. Israel is trying to expand its aggression against Lebanon and may fabricate a breach to justify a military escalation, sources told Al-Jadeed.

Ceasefire in name only

The November 2023 truce required Israels full withdrawal from southern Lebanon, yet Tel Aviv maintains illegal occupation of five strategic points with explicit U.S. approval. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned that Israels actions risked dragging the country into a new war, while President Joseph Aoun condemned the flimsy pretexts for ongoing violations. Since the ceasefire, Israel has breached Lebanese sovereignty over 1,500 times, according to Lebanese officials.

The UNs peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) expressed alarm, urging restraint amid fears of a spiral beyond control. Andrea Tenenti, a UNIFIL spokesperson, stressed that there have been negotiations to prevent any escalation of the conflict and of the tension  something that no one wants to see after 16 months of conflict in this region.

Yet Israels rhetoric suggests otherwise. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Lebanons government responsible for all violence within its borders  a stance critics call a deliberate distortion of international law.

Western complicity and regional fallout

The Trump administrations silence on Israels disproportionate strikes underscores its diplomatic shield for Tel Aviv, even as civilian deaths mount. Ophir Falk, Netanyahus foreign policy adviser, told Reuters Israel would do whatever it takes to enforce security  a mantra that has long justified collective punishment. Meanwhile, Lebanons army, tasked with dismantling militant infrastructure under the ceasefire, found only primitive launchers, further undermining Israels claims of Hezbollah threats.

With Gazas ceasefire already collapsed, analysts warn Lebanon could become the next front in Israels destabilizing campaign. As long as the occupation continues, the resistance will continue, said Sultan Barakat of Hamad Bin Khalifa University. For now, Lebanons civilians pay the price  while the world looks away.

Israels latest offensive in Lebanon exposes a familiar playbook: minimal provocation, maximal retaliation, and impunity guaranteed by Western allies. As bombs reduce homes to rubble and children to statistics, the veneer of self-defense grows thinner. Without urgent international pressure, the cycle of escalation  and the bodies left in its wake  will only worsen.

Sources for this article include:

TheCradle.co

Reuters.com

AlJazeera.com
Zelensky aide exposes Ukraines nuclear sabotage plot as U.S. pushes for control of their power plants

Shocking admission: Former Zelensky aide Aleksey Arestovich reveals Ukraines military intelligence planned to blow up nuclear plants if Russia gained the upper hand.

Former Zelensky aide Aleksey Arestovich reveals Ukraines military intelligence planned to blow up nuclear plants if Russia gained the upper hand. US intervention: The government views Ukraines leadership as reckless, with Trump proposing American ownership of nuclear facilities to prevent disaster.

The government views Ukraines leadership as reckless, with Trump proposing American ownership of nuclear facilities to prevent disaster. False flag fears: Zelensky has repeatedly accused Russia of targeting nuclear plants, while evidence suggests Ukraine plotted its own sabotage.

Zelensky has repeatedly accused Russia of targeting nuclear plants, while evidence suggests Ukraine plotted its own sabotage. Global risk: A nuclear catastrophe in Ukraine could trigger international escalation, with the U.S. seeking to mitigate the danger by seizing control.

In a stunning revelation, Aleksey Arestovich, a former top aide to Ukrainian dictator Volodymyr Zelensky, confirmed that Ukraines military intelligence chief, Kirill Budanov, proposed a doomsday plan: blowing up the countrys nuclear power plants if Russia began winning the war. The admission, made during an interview with journalist Alexandr Shelest, exposes the reckless desperation of the Kiev regime  willing to risk a nuclear catastrophe rather than concede defeat.

Meanwhile, the U.S. is maneuvering to take control of Ukraines nuclear facilities, viewing the Zelensky government as "apes with a grenade"  unstable actors who cannot be trusted with such dangerous infrastructure. Former President Donald Trump openly suggested American ownership of the plants, framing it as a protective measure. But behind the scenes, the real concern is clear: Ukraines leadership is plotting a false flag nuclear disaster to drag NATO into war.

Ukraine's nuclear brinkmanship: a false flag in the making?

Arestovichs confession confirms long-held suspicions that Zelenskys regime is willing to sacrifice its own people to maintain Western support. "Budanov was running around with that [idea] a year and a half ago," Arestovich said. "To blow up everything: the Russian plants we can reach, and our own  so nobody gets them... On the principle: we all bite the dust, but so will they."

This aligns with Zelenskys past rhetoric, where he preemptively blamed Russia for any nuclear incidents at Ukrainian plants. Now, with Arestovichs testimony, the truth emerges: Kiev was preparing to stage its own disaster.

The Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), Europes largest, has been a flashpoint since Russia took control in 2022. While Moscow has accused Ukraine of shelling the facility  acts it calls "nuclear terrorism"  Kiev denies responsibility, instead claiming Russia is attacking its own forces. But Arestovichs admission suggests Ukraines denials are a smokescreen for its own sabotage plans.

U.S. steps in: Seizing nuclear plants to prevent Ukraine's self-destruction

Recognizing the danger, the U.S. is pushing for direct control of Ukraines nuclear facilities. Trump revealed he discussed the idea with Zelensky, stating: "American ownership of these plants would be the best protection for this infrastructure."

But Zelensky, caught off guard, scrambled to downplay the conversation, insisting they only spoke about "potential investment" in the Russian-held ZNPP. The White House, however, framed it as a broader takeover  exposing a rift between Kiev and its Western backers.

Ukrainian opposition figures mocked the proposal, with MP Irina Gerashchenko sarcastically remarking: "What's so important  we gave away nuclear weapons, and now they can take away our power plants." Others warned that surrendering control of nuclear plants would strip Ukraine of its sovereignty, leaving it vulnerable to corporate exploitation under the guise of "protection."

Energy experts are divided on whether U.S. ownership would stabilize the situation. Some, like analyst Volodymyr Omelchenko, argue it could help de-occupy ZNPP by deterring Russian attacks. Others, like Mikhail Gonchar, warn that American corporations would abandon Ukraine the moment profits dry up, just as they did with gas projects after 2022.

Meanwhile, Russia shows no signs of relinquishing ZNPP, with occupation authorities preparing to integrate it into Russias energy grid. As nuclear expert Olga Kosharnaya bluntly stated: "Russia will not just leave."

The revelations from Arestovich paint a chilling picture: a regime willing to trigger nuclear disaster to cling to power. With the U.S. now stepping in to confiscate Ukraines nuclear plants, the question remains: Will Zelensky give up control?

Sources include:

RT.com

TimesofIndia.com

Fakti.bg
$2B Roundup verdict: A landmark blow to Bayer and a win for health freedom

A Georgia jury ordered Bayer (Monsantos parent company) to pay $2.1 billion to a man who claims Roundup weed killer caused his cancerone of the largest punitive damages in U.S. history.

John Barnes, who developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma, argued Monsanto knew about Roundups cancer risks but hid them. Bayer denies liability, citing global regulatory approvals.

The company faces 67,000 pending Roundup lawsuits, having already settled many for $10 billion. This verdict adds pressure amid declining stock prices.

The WHO classifies glyphosate (Roundups key ingredient) as a "probable carcinogen," but the EPA and others deem it saferaising concerns about corporate influence on regulators.

The case fuels debates on corporate accountability and chemical safety. Bayer may stop U.S. Roundup sales unless legal protections strengthen, while advocates hail the verdict as a victory for public health.

In a stunning legal defeat for corporate agriculture, a Georgia jury has ordered Bayerparent company of Monsantoto pay $2.1 billion to a man who claims the companys Roundup weed killer caused his cancer. This verdict marks one of the largest punitive damages awards in U.S. history and reignites the fierce debate over glyphosate, Roundups key ingredient, and its links to cancer.

The case that could reshape corporate accountability

John Barnes, the plaintiff in the case, filed his lawsuit in 2021 after developing non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer he attributes to years of Roundup exposure. His legal team argued that Monsantoacquired by Bayer in 2018knew about the risks but concealed them from the public.

"It's been a long road for him  and he was happy that the truth related to the product (has) been exposed," said Barnes attorney, Kyle Findley. "This is another example of Monsanto's refusal to accept responsibility for poisoning people with this toxic product."

Bayer, however, maintains that glyphosate is safe, citing regulatory approvals worldwide. In a statement, the company said:

"We disagree with the jurys verdict, as it conflicts with the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence and the consensus of regulatory bodies and their scientific assessments worldwide. We believe that we have strong arguments on appeal to get this verdict overturned."

Yet, this isnt Bayers first legal battlenor its largest. Since acquiring Monsanto, the company has faced over 100,000 lawsuits related to Roundup, settling many for $10 billion while still grappling with 67,000 pending cases.

A history of controversy: From Agent Orange to Roundup

Monsantos legacy is marred by controversy. The company was a key producer of Agent Orange, the toxic defoliant used in the Vietnam War, linked to severe health issues in veterans and Vietnamese civilians. Decades later, Roundupintroduced in the 1970sbecame the worlds most widely used herbicide, despite mounting evidence of its dangers.

In 2015, the World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as a "probable human carcinogen." Yet, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other regulators have maintained its safetya discrepancy that critics argue stems from corporate influence over regulatory agencies.

The future of glyphosate: Will Bayer abandon Roundup?

Bayers legal woes have taken a toll. Its stock plummeted 6.6% after the verdict, hitting 2004 lows. Analysts suggest the company may eventually stop selling Roundup in the U.S. unless lawmakers grant stronger legal protections.

Goldman Sachs analysts noted that while the Georgia verdict is likely to be reduced on appeal, the case adds pressure on Bayer to resolve litigation. Meanwhile, the company is pinning hopes on a potential U.S. Supreme Court review in 2025, which could limit future lawsuits.

What this means for consumers and health advocates

For natural health advocates, this verdict is a watershed moment. It underscores the power of grassroots legal action against corporate giantsand the urgent need for transparency in chemical safety.

As Bayer fights to overturn the ruling, one thing is clear: The battle over glyphosates safety is far from over. And for millions who have used Roundupunknowingly exposed to its risksjustice may finally be within reach.

Stay informed. Stay vigilant. Your health freedom depends on it.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

WSJ.com

Producer.com
DNA in distress: 23andMes bankruptcy puts 15 million Americans genetic data at risk  a national security crisis?

23andMe, once valued at $6 billion, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after years of unprofitability, market saturation and failed pivots, leading to a 99.7% stock drop and mass layoffs.

The bankruptcy raises urgent concerns about the fate of sensitive DNA data belonging to 15 million Americans, with fears it could be acquired by foreign adversaries or hostile entities.

Experts warn that genetic data  unlike other breaches  cannot be reset and could be weaponized for espionage, blackmail, or bioweapon targeting, particularly by nations like China with a history of aggressive DNA collection.

Former CEO Anne Wojcicki plans to bid for the company, but skepticism remains about her leadership. The U.S. government may need to intervene to block foreign buyers, as it has in past biotech deals.

The situation underscores the need for swift regulatory action to prevent a "genetic Pearl Harbor," where adversaries could exploit Americans biological data for geopolitical gain.

The collapse of 23andMe, once a Silicon Valley darling valued at $6 billion, has sent shockwaves through the tech and healthcare industries  but the real crisis lies in the fate of the genetic data belonging to 15 million Americans. The companys Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on Sunday night, coupled with the abrupt resignation of CEO Anne Wojcicki, raises alarming questions about who will ultimately control this treasure trove of sensitive DNA information  and whether it could fall into the hands of foreign adversaries.

From Silicon Valley darling to financial ruin

23andMes downfall was years in the making. Founded in 2006, the company soared to prominence by offering at-home DNA testing kits that promised to unlock ancestry secrets and health risks. At its peak in 2021, it commanded a $6 billion valuation after going public via a SPAC merger. But the business model was flawed from the start  it never turned a profit.

Revenue from ancestry kits dried up as market saturation hit, and attempts to pivot into therapeutics failed. By late 2024, the company was hemorrhaging cash, leading to a 40% workforce reduction in November. Shares, which once traded above $300, plummeted to just 79 cents before Mondays market opena staggering 99.7% drop from its highs.

Mark Jensen, Chair of 23andMes Special Committee, framed the bankruptcy as a strategic move: "We expect the court-supervised process will advance our efforts to address the operational and financial challenges we face... We believe in the value of our people and our assets and hope that this process allows our mission... to live on."

But the real concern isnt just financial  its what happens to the DNA data of millions.

A national security nightmare in the making?

The most pressing issue is who will buy 23andMes assets  including its vast genetic database. Healthcare investor Will Manidis sounded the alarm months ago:

"The inevitable fire sale of this mess to an overseas PE firm is going to be a national security matter on the scale of which we haven't seen in healthcare in years."

Why does this matter? Genetic data is uniquely sensitive. Unlike credit card breaches, DNA cant be reset. It reveals family lineages, predispositions to diseases and even ethnic backgroundsinformation that could be weaponized by foreign governments for espionage, blackmail, or bioweapon targeting.

China, for example, has aggressively pursued genetic data globally, as seen in its mass DNA collection campaigns in Tibet and Xinjiang. If a hostile state-linked entity acquires 23andMes database, the consequences could be catastrophic.

23andMe insists that customer data will remain protected, stating:

"There will be no changes to how it manages and protects people's data... Any buyer would have to observe applicable privacy laws."

But legal experts warn that bankruptcy courts prioritize creditors over privacy, meaning data protections could be weakened in a sale. Californias Attorney General recently urged residents to delete their 23andMe profiles, signaling deep skepticism about the companys safeguards.

Wojcickis last-ditch bid  a savior or a conflict of interest?

Adding another layer of intrigue, former CEO Anne Wojcickiwho stepped down hours before the bankruptcy filingplans to bid for the company herself. In a social media post, she wrote:

"I have resigned as CEO... so I can be in the best position to pursue the company as an independent bidder... My belief in the company and its future is unwavering."

But critics question whether she, as the architect of 23andMes collapse, should be trusted to steward Americans DNA. Her previous buyout offers were rejected by the board, suggesting internal doubts about her leadership.

What comes next?

The bankruptcy court will oversee a 45-day bidding process, with potential buyersincluding private equity firms, pharmaceutical companies, or even foreign entitiesvying for control. The U.S. government must intervene to ensure this data doesnt fall into hostile hands.

Historical Precedent:

In 2018, Congress blocked Chinas BGI from acquiring U.S. genomics firm Complete Genomics over national security fears.

The CFIUS (Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.) has increasingly scrutinized biotech deals involving Chinese firms.

If Washington fails to act now, 15 million Americans DNA could become the next frontier in geopolitical warfare.

The bottom line

23andMes bankruptcy isnt just a business failure  its a test of Americas ability to protect its citizens most intimate data. Without swift action, we risk a genetic Pearl Harbor  where foreign adversaries gain access to the biological blueprints of millions.

The question isnt just who will buy 23andMe  its who will protect Americas DNA?

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

CBSNews.com

CNBC.com
Outrageous government fraud: $312M in COVID loans went to children as young as 9 months old

DOGE revealed $312 million in SBA loans were approved for businesses owned exclusively by children (some as young as 9 months old), with many linked to mismatched Social Security numbers, indicating systemic fraud.

Over 5,500 loans went to minors, while $333 million was approved for borrowers listed as over 115 years oldhighlighting blatant oversight failures.

COVID-19 relief programs (PPP, EIDL) became targets for fraud, with criminals, foreign agents and even deceased individuals receiving funds, leading to over $70 billion in unrecoverable losses.

Elon Musks DOGE is working to reclaim up to 1 trillion in wasted taxpayer money, canceling 90 million in nonessential contracts, but accountability remains lacking.

The scale of fraud suggests systemic failure, prompting calls for prosecutions and reforms to prevent further misuse of public funds.

The American people were promised that COVID-19 relief funds would save small businesses, protect jobs and keep the economy afloat. Instead, billions were handed out with little oversight  and now, thanks to Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), were learning just how brazen the theft really was.

In a bombshell revelation, DOGE uncovered that $312 million in Small Business Administration (SBA) loans were approved for businesses whose only listed owners were children aged 11 or younger  including a 9-month-old infant who somehow "qualified" for a $100,000 loan.

"Thats a very precocious baby!" Musk quipped in a post on X. But this is no laughing matter. This is outright fraud  and its a damning indictment of the reckless spending that defined the pandemic era.

The shocking details of the scam

According to DOGEs investigation, 5,593 loans were approved for businesses owned exclusively by minors, with no adult oversight listed. Even more absurd? Many of these loans were tied to Social Security numbers with incorrect names, making it clear that this was not a case of legitimate child entrepreneurs.

"While it is possible to have business arrangements where this is legal, that is highly unlikely for these 5,593 loans, as they all also used an SSN with the incorrect name," the agency stated.

This wasnt just a bureaucratic error  it was systemic fraud, enabled by the governments refusal to implement basic safeguards.

But the scandal doesnt stop there.

DOGE also found that $333 million in loans were approved for borrowers listed as over 115 year sold  with one 57-year-old "businessowner" receiving $36,000.

"I know some people who are rather elderly but not quite that elderly," former President Donald Trump remarked during a recent address, highlighting the absurdity of 3.47 million people mysteriously listed in the Social Security database as being between 120 and 129 years old.

A pattern of waste and corruption

This isnt the first time pandemic relief programs have been exposed as a goldmine for fraudsters.

PPP Loans (Paycheck Protection Program) and EIDL (Economic Injury Disaster Loans) were supposed to help struggling businesses. Instead, they became a free-for-all, with criminals, foreign agents and even dead people receiving taxpayer money.

By the end of FY 2024, COVID-EIDL charge-offs had already exceeded $70 billion  money that will never be recovered.

Meanwhile, DOGE has already canceled 162 nonessential federal contracts, saving $90 million, including one $10.3 million USDA contract ironically meant to "identify unnecessary contracts."

The sheer scale of the theft is staggering. And yet, no one has been held accountable.

Will justice ever be served?

Elon Musk and DOGE are now working to claw back as much as $1 trillion in wasted taxpayer funds. But the real question is: Why wasnt this fraud stopped in the first place?

"The executive DOGE team is confident, they think they can get $1 trillion," a lawmaker familiar with Musks discussions told Fox News. "Now, we'll see, right? And the thing is, he acknowledged that we're going to make mistakes, but we're going to correct them very quickly."

Thats a startbut its not enough. Prosecutions must follow.

If a 9-month-old can get a six-figure loan, then the system wasnt just broken  it was designed to fail. The American people deserve answers. They deserve justice. And most of all, they deserve a government that doesnt treat their hard-earned tax dollars like a slush fund for criminals.

Sources include:

FoxNews.com

X.com

Debanked.com
Ancient stone tools reveal ARTISTIC EXPRESSION began 60,000 years before cave paintings

Middle Paleolithic peoples engraved deliberate patterns on stone tools as early as 100,000 years agofar earlier than previously believed.

Discovery: A Levallois core from Manot Cave, Israel, features 64 precise incisions forming a radiating fan pattern, suggesting intentional artistry.

Cognitive implications: The engravings challenge the notion that symbolic thinking emerged only 40,000 years ago, revealing a deeper history of human creativity.

Cross-species creativity: Both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals engaged in this behavior, indicating abstract thought wasnt exclusive to modern humans.

The revealing patterns on ancient stones

For decades, archaeologists believed the first sparks of human creativity ignited around 40,000 years ago, when cave paintings and figurines appeared in Europe. But a groundbreaking study led by Dr. Mae Goder-Goldberger of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem shatters that timeline, revealing that our ancestors were artists long beforeetching intricate designs into stone tools as far back as 100,000 years ago. Published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, the research uncovers deliberate engravings on artifacts from the Levant, proving that symbolic expression began much earlier than the so-called "creative explosion" of the Upper Paleolithic.

The most compelling evidence comes from Manot Cave in Israels Western Galilee, where a Levallois corea stone tool used for flakingbears 64 meticulously carved incisions forming a radiating fan pattern. These marks, analyzed using high-resolution 3D scanning, show consistent depth, width, and geometric alignment, ruling out accidental or utilitarian origins. Crucially, some engravings were cut through by later tool modifications, proving they were made during the tools usenot as an afterthought.

Similar patterns appeared on artifacts from Qafzeh and a stone plaquette from Quneitra, where incisions followed the natural contours of the stone, suggesting a deliberate aesthetic intent. In contrast, tools from Amud Cavelinked to Neanderthalsfeatured shallow, overlapping marks, likely from practical use. The distinction was confirmed through 3D mapping, which measured incision depth, width, and angles with microscopic precision.

Rewriting human creative history

These findings upend conventional narratives about the origins of art. The engravings date to between 54,000 and 100,000 years agoplacing them squarely in the Middle Paleolithic, a period long dismissed as devoid of symbolic expression. Even more striking, the creators included both early Homo sapiens (Qafzeh) and Neanderthals (Amud), proving that abstract thinking wasnt unique to our species.

Abstract thinking is a cornerstone of human cognitive evolution, Dr. Goder-Goldberger explains. These engravings highlight a society with advanced conceptual abilities. The research suggests creativity didnt emerge suddenly but evolved gradually over tens of thousands of years, embedded in the daily lives of ancient toolmakers.

The history of art in the BC era spans millennia, beginning with prehistoric cave paintings (c. 40,00010,000 BCE), such as those in Lascaux, France, depicting animals and rituals. The Neolithic period (c. 10,0003000 BCE) saw the rise of megalithic structures like Stonehenge and early pottery.

In Mesopotamia (c. 3500500 BCE), Sumerians and Babylonians created ziggurats, cylinder seals, and narrative reliefs, while ancient Egypt (c. 310030 BCE) developed monumental sculpture, hieroglyphics, and tomb paintings emphasizing the afterlife. The Minoans (c. 20001450 BCE) produced vibrant frescoes, and Mycenaeans (c. 16001100 BCE) built fortified palaces.

Classical Greece (c. 800323 BCE) revolutionized art with naturalistic sculpture (e.g., Kouros figures) and temple architecture (e.g., the Parthenon). The Hellenistic period (32331 BCE) introduced emotional realism. Meanwhile, Chinas Shang (c. 16001046 BCE) and Zhou (1046256 BCE) dynasties crafted intricate bronzes, and Mesoamerican cultures like the Olmecs (c. 1200400 BCE) carved colossal stone heads.

Lingering mysteries

Despite the significant of ancient stone tool artistry, the current study has limitations. Only five artifacts were analyzed, and some lack precise archaeological context. The Manot core, for instance, was found in a mixed layer, complicating its cultural interpretation. While the engravings clearly required planning, their exact meaningwhether symbolic, ritual, or simply proto-aestheticremains speculative.

Yet the implications are profound. These markings bridge a gap in our understanding of human cognition, showing that the urge to createto leave a markhas been intrinsic to humanity far longer than we ever imagined. As Dr. Goder-Goldbergers team concludes, The capacity for visual expression was present long before the first cave paintings, waiting to be rediscovered in the silent language of stone.

Source include:

StudyFinds.org

Link.Springer.com

Enoch, Brighteon.ai
SWEET SABOTAGE: CIAs secret war on Soviet sugar revealed in JFK files

The CIA contaminated 800 bags of Cuban sugar bound for the USSR in 1962, using a denaturing agent to make it bitter and inediblewithout harming healthas part of Cold War economic warfare.

The sabotage was part of a broader CIA campaign (Operation Mongoose) to destabilize Castros regime after the U.S. embargo cut Cuba off from its primary sugar market.

The operation aimed to undermine Soviet-Cuban trade, though its success remains unconfirmed due to lack of Soviet records.

The tactic mirrors todays economic sanctions and financial warfare against adversaries like Russia and China, highlighting the enduring role of covert economic strategies.

The declassified documents reveal Cold War espionage tactics and domestic surveillance, sparking debates over government secrecy and the publics right to know.

The Cold War was fought not only with nuclear threats and proxy conflicts but also with clandestine operations designed to undermine the enemys economy and morale. A newly declassified document from the John F. Kennedy assassination files reveals one such bizarre scheme: the CIAs covert mission to contaminate Soviet-bound Cuban sugar in 1962, just months before the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.

The operation, uncovered by journalist Ben Norton and the Washington Post, exposes the lengths to which American intelligence was willing to go to weaken the Soviet Unionnot through direct military confrontation, but through economic sabotage and psychological warfare.

A covert economic strike

In August 1962, the CIA learned that a Cuban cargo ship carrying 80,000 bags of brown sugar  each weighing 200 pounds  was en route to the USSR. The vessel was scheduled to make a brief stop in Puerto Rico for minor repairs, requiring part of its cargo to be offloaded. Seizing the opportunity, the CIA launched a clandestine operation to taint the shipment.

Through a clandestine operation, which was not detected and is not traceable, we were able to contaminate 800 of these bags of sugar, a declassified memo to General Edward Lansdale, then the Pentagons deputy assistant secretary for special operations, revealed. The chemical used was reportedly a denaturing agent, strong enough to render the entire shipment unfit for human or animal consumption in any form.

The goal was not to poison Soviet citizens but to make their food unpalatable. The contaminate we used will give the sugar an ineradicable sickly bitter taste, which no process will remove, the document stated, assuring that it was not in any sense dangerous to health. The CIA believed the spoiled sugar would ruin the taste of the consumer for any food or drink for a considerable time.

Financially, the operation was expected to cost the Soviet Union between 350,000 and 400,000  a significant sum at the time. Whether the plan succeeded remains unclear, as Soviet records have yet to confirm the fate of the shipment.

Cold War context: Why this matters today

This revelation underscores the shadowy economic warfare tactics employed during the Cold Wartactics that resonate in todays geopolitical struggles. The U.S. embargo on Cuban sugar, imposed in 1960 after Fidel Castros revolution, was already a major economic blow to the island. When the USSR stepped in as Cubas primary sugar buyer, the CIA sought to disrupt that lifeline.

The operation was part of Operation Mongoose, a broader CIA campaign to destabilize Castros regime. Other declassified JFK files detail additional clandestine efforts, including election meddling in Bolivia, wiretapping in Mexico and even spying on American journalists.

The parallels to modern-day tensions are striking. Just as the U.S. once sought to undermine Soviet trade, todays economic sanctions against Russia, China and other adversaries reflect a continuation of financial warfarealbeit in more transparent forms.

A legacy of secrecyand a call for transparency

The release of these documents under the Trump and Biden administrations highlights the ongoing tension between national security and government transparency. While some officials argued for continued secrecy to protect intelligence methods, the publics right to know prevailedat least in this case.

Larry Schnapf, an attorney who pushed for the documents release, noted that the declassification exposes how the term [classified] has been abused. Indeed, the files reveal not just Cold War espionage but also the CIAs domestic surveillance of journalists, including Washington Post reporter Michael Getler.

Lessons from the sugar plot

The CIAs sugar sabotage may seem like a relic of the past, but it serves as a reminder of the lengths intelligence agencies will go to wage silent wars. In an era where economic sanctions, cyber warfare and disinformation campaigns dominate global conflict, understanding these historical tactics is crucial.

As more JFK files come to light, they reinforce the need for vigilance against government overreachwhile also acknowledging the complex realities of national security. The Cold Wars shadow still looms, and its lessons remain relevant in an age where the battles are fought not just with bullets, but with bytesand even bags of sugar.

Sources include:

RT.com

WashingtonPost.com

TheNation.com
The dark side of advanced technologies: A look into Elana Freelands Under an Ionized Sky

Elana Freeland's "Under an Ionized Sky" investigates advanced technologies like geoengineering, weather manipulation and directed energy weapons (DEWs), revealing their use by global elites to control populations and their profound implications for humanity and the planet.

The book highlights the use of chemtrails, ionospheric heaters and other geoengineering tools, often marketed as climate change solutions but controlled by powerful entities. Freeland emphasizes the military's role in these operations and the risks they pose to public health and environmental stability.

Freeland challenges official narratives, suggesting DEWs were used in the 9/11 attacks to destroy the World Trade Center. She cites evidence like molecular dissociation, the Hutchison Effect and witness accounts of unusual atmospheric phenomena, implicating entities like Raytheon and the Navy.

The book examines additional events, such as the 1996 TWA Flight 800 crash, the 2002 plane crash that killed Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN) and the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, linking these to potential DEW use and controlled narratives.

Freeland warns of electromagnetic frequencies being used to manipulate human behavior, urging vigilance and awareness. The book is a call to action, emphasizing the need to resist unchecked power and uncover the truth to protect humanity's future and the planet.

Elana Freeland's "Under an Ionized Sky: From Chemtrails to Space Fence Lockdown" is a provocative exploration of the covert technologies employed by global elites to manipulate and control populations. The book delves into the unsettling realities of geoengineering, weather manipulation and directed energy weapons (DEWs), revealing their profound implications for humanity and the planet.

Freeland challenges conventional narratives, exposing a world where advanced technologies are weaponized to serve the interests of the military-industrial complex, often at the expense of public health and environmental stability. One of the central themes of the book is the manipulation of weather and the atmosphere through technologies like chemtrails and ionospheric heaters.

Freeland argues that these tools, often marketed as solutions to climate change, are part of a broader agenda of geoengineering controlled by powerful entities. She highlights the military's role in these operations, emphasizing how the normalization of such practices poses significant risks to both the environment and human health.

Freeland extends her analysis to historical events, suggesting that similar technologies were used during the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. She presents compelling evidence that directed energy weapons were responsible for the destruction of the World Trade Center, challenging the official explanation of structural failure caused by fire.

Citing Dr. Judy Wood's research, Freeland points to phenomena like molecular dissociation, the Hutchison effect and unusual atmospheric conditions as evidence of DEW involvement. Photographer David Handschuh's account of a "high-pressure gas line" sound and black smoke with "substance" further supports this theory. Freeland also implicates entities like Raytheon with its HAARP patents and the Navy's post-9/11 activities at Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York state, suggesting a deeper conspiracy.

The book also examines other incidents where DEWs may have been used. The 1996 crash of TWA Flight 800, for instance, is linked to witness accounts of a flare-like object preceding the explosion, echoing the controlled narrative seen after 9/11.

Similarly, the 2002 plane crash that killed Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN), a critic of the War on Terror, is scrutinized, with Freeland referencing claims that a DEW was used to bring down the aircraft. The 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disaster is another case in point, as an amateur astronomer captured a purplish electrical bolt striking the craft, consistent with DEW activity.

Freeland's work goes beyond physical destruction, exploring how electromagnetic frequencies are used to influence human behavior. She warns of the psychological and emotional manipulation enabled by these technologies, urging readers to remain vigilant and informed. The book underscores the importance of understanding these hidden forces, as they threaten not only our environment but also our autonomy and future as a species.

"Under an Ionized Sky" is a call to action, challenging readers to question official narratives and recognize the dangers posed by advanced technologies in the hands of unchecked power. Freeland's meticulous research and compelling arguments make a strong case for the need to resist these controlling forces, emphasizing that the survival of our planet and humanity depends on our ability to uncover and confront the truth.

Watch this video about Elana Freeland's book "Under an Ionized Sky: From Chemtrails to Space Fence Lockdown."

This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
Hawley demands Congress rein in rogue judges after court forces return of deported gang members

Sen. Josh Hawley demands Congress strip district courts of power to issue nationwide injunctions, calling it judicial overreach against Trumps immigration policies.

A federal judge forced planes carrying deported gang members to return to the U.S., sparking outrage over judicial obstruction.

Hawley introduced a bill to ban nationwide injunctions, limiting courts rulings to involved parties or districts.

Democrats face accusations of hypocrisy for opposing nationwide injunctions when used by Republican-appointed judges.

The clash highlights a broader battle over immigration enforcement and separation of powers.

In an unprecedented clash between the judiciary and the executive branch, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) is demanding Congress strip district courts of their power to issue nationwide injunctionsa move he argues is necessary to curb judicial overreach undermining President Trumps immigration enforcement efforts.

The call comes after a federal judge ordered two planes carrying deported Tren de Aragua gang memberslinked to violent crimes including kidnappings and murdersto turn around mid-flight and return to the U.S. Since Trumps return to office in January, his policies have faced 15 nationwide injunctions, following 64 during his first terma level of judicial obstruction never before seen in American history.

Speaking on Fox News The Ingraham Angle, Hawley blasted U.S. District Judge James Boasbergs intervention as an abuse of power, arguing that only the Supreme Court should wield nationwide legal authority.

The key thing to do here, Laura, is to end the ability of these district courts to abuse their judicial authority by issuing these so-called nationwide injunctions, Hawley told host Laura Ingraham. I dont think they have that authority, properly speaking, under the Constitution, Article III. What theyre doing is theyre purporting to bind parties and individuals who arent before them.

Hawley emphasized that district courts were never intended to act as de facto policymakers. We only have one Supreme Court that can bind the whole nation. District courts arent supposed to be able to do it, he said, noting the staggering number of injunctions against Trumps agenda. Its incredibly abusive, and Congress ought to end it.

Congress holds the key

Hawleys solution lies in legislation he introducedthe Nationwide Injunction Abuse Prevent Act of 2025which would ban district courts from issuing sweeping injunctions and limit their rulings to the parties directly involved or their judicial districts. He argues Congress has clear constitutional authority to rein in lower courts, citing Article IIIs provision allowing lawmakers to establish and regulate the judiciary.

Congress has the ability to create [lower courts], to govern them, Hawley said. We should say they do not have the power to issue injunctions nationwide, period. End of story, no more abuse.

The senator also called out Democrats for hypocrisy, pointing to their past criticism of nationwide injunctions when Republican-appointed judges issued them. They said they wanted to eliminate nationwide injunctions seven months ago. OK. Lets do it, he challenged. Lets now give them the chance to put their money where their mouth is, so to speak, and lets vote on it.

A broader battle over immigration and security

The immediate flashpoint is Trumps use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to fast-track deportations of Tren de Aragua members, a Venezuelan gang accused of terrorizing communities, including an attempted takeover of apartment complexes in Aurora, Colorado. The administration has also designated the group, along with MS-13 and Mexican cartels, as foreign terrorist organizations.

Yet Democratic-led states and unions have repeatedly sued to block such measures, with judges issuing injunctions that freeze policies nationwide. Hawley and other Republicans argue this judicial bottleneck paralyzes enforcement, endangering public safety.

A defining test for separation of powers

As Hawleys bill gains traction, the debate underscores a fundamental tension: Should a single district judge hold veto power over national policy? With Trumps agenda facing relentless legal roadblocks, the answer could reshape the balance of power between branchesand determine whether the executive can fulfill its duty to secure the border. For Hawley, the path forward is clear: Lets stop the abuse.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

DailyCallerNewsFoundation.org

Hawley.Senate.gov
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On March 25, AEROFUGIA, a Chinese eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft developer, signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Sichuan General Aviation Investment Management Co., Ltd. ("General Aviation Investment"), a subsidiary of Sichuan Airlines Group, in Chengdu city, according to a post on AEROFUGIA's WeChat account.

The partnership aims to combine AEROFUGIA's expertise in eVTOL development and airworthiness certification with Sichuan Airlines' operational capabilities, accelerating the integration of eVTOL aircraft into China's low-altitude economy.

Photo credit: AEROFUGIA

Under the agreement, both companies will collaborate across six key areas: flight testing, infrastructure operations, market expansion, talent development, maintenance support, and commercial operations. This cooperation is expected to create a blueprint for low-altitude urban mobility and drive the large-scale application of eVTOL aircraft.

As China's largest all-Airbus fleet carrier, Sichuan Airlines handling more than 30 million passenger trips annually. Its subsidiary, General Aviation Investment, co-founded with Wuliangye Group, plays a critical role in advancing low-altitude economic development across Sichuan province.

The partnership will focus on four core areas:

Urban air mobility integration Both parties will explore "civil aviation + urban air mobility" solutions, using eVTOL aircraft for point-to-point connections between airports, city centers, and scenic destinations. The goal is to establish national-level eVTOL pilot projects, making air taxi services a practical option for urban travelers.

Product testing & certification The duo will work on eVTOL flight testing, data collection, and reliability verification, expediting the airworthiness certification process.

Industry ecosystem & talent development The two companies will jointly train professionals for the eVTOL sector, collaborate with research institutions, participate in industry standards development, and expand the low-altitude economy ecosystem.

Operations & infrastructure development The partners will plan for large-scale eVTOL deployment, establish operational support frameworks, and develop key infrastructure such as vertiports and charging stations. They also aim to contribute to the standardization of smart takeoff and landing facilities.

This collaboration represents a breakthrough for China's eVTOL industry, demonstrating the commercial viability of eVTOLs in real-world aviation operations. AEROFUGIA's cutting-edge eVTOL technology, combined with Sichuan Airlines' expertise in large-scale fleet management, provides a clearer roadmap for the industry's future.

For Sichuan Airlines, this move signals a strategic expansion into low-altitude transportation, positioning the airline at the forefront of next-generation urban mobility solutions.

With China's new airspace classification policies coming into effect, both companies will explore eVTOL applications in key locations such as tourist hotspots, CBDs, urban landmarks, and major transport hubs, laying the foundation for a three-dimensional urban transportation network.
Heather Mac Donalds The War on Cops warns how anti-police sentiment undermines public safety

Heather Mac Donald's "The War on Cops: How the New Attack on Law and Order Makes Everyone Less Safe" traces the surge in violent crime in the late 1970s and 1980s, attributing it to urban decay and societal challenges. It highlights the shift toward tougher sentencing laws and proactive policing to combat crime effectively.

The implementation of Broken Windows policing in NYC under Mayor Giuliani and Commissioner Bratton in the 1990s, along with data-driven strategies, led to significant crime reductions. Nationwide, crime dropped by 50 percent over two decades, improving safety in minority neighborhoods.

The rise of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in 2014, fueled by high-profile police-related deaths, led to accusations of systemic racism in law enforcement. Anti-police rhetoric and legal challenges, such as those against stop-and-frisk, contributed to a retreat from proactive policing, known as the "Ferguson effect."

The decline in proactive policing resulted in a surge in violent crime, disproportionately affecting Black communities. Mac Donald argues that the BLM narrative overlooked the realities of inner-city crime and the voices of law-abiding residents who supported police efforts.

The book advocates for a return to data-driven policing and addressing root causes of crime, such as family breakdown and social dysfunction. It warns that continued demonization of law enforcement risks reversing past safety gains and harming vulnerable communities.

Heather Mac Donald's "The War on Cops: How the New Attack on Law and Order Makes Everyone Less Safe" examines the evolution of policing in America, the successes of data-driven law enforcement and the consequences of the growing anti-police movement.

The book argues that the demonization of police and the criminal justice system has led to a dangerous retreat from proactive policing  resulting in a surge of violent crime, particularly in minority communities. It begins by tracing the rise of crime in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when urban America was plagued by soaring homicide rates and widespread fear.

At the time, many believed crime was an inevitable result of poverty and racism. However, a shift occurred as legislators implemented tougher sentencing laws, aiming to reduce crime by keeping offenders off the streets. This marked the beginning of a new era in law enforcement, one that emphasized punishment and incarceration.

A pivotal moment came in 1994 with the introduction of Broken Windows policing in New York City (NYC) under Mayor Rudy Giuliani and NYC Police Commissioner William J. Bratton. This strategy focused on addressing minor offenses, such as graffiti and public disorder, to prevent more serious crimes.

Bratton's data-driven approach, which included daily crime analysis and holding precinct commanders accountable, led to dramatic results. Crime in New York City dropped by 12 percent in his first year and another 16 percent the following year. Crime nationwide fell by 50 percent over the next two decades, revitalizing cities and improving safety in minority neighborhoods.

However, the tide turned in 2014 with the rise of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, sparked by high-profile deaths of Black men at the hands of police. The movement accused law enforcement of systemic racism, targeting practices like Broken Windows policing and stop-and-frisk tactics.

Anti-police rhetoric intensified, with then-President Barack Obama and then-U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder echoing claims of racial bias in the criminal justice system. Lawsuits challenged NYPD practices, and a federal judge ruled against stop-and-frisk despite evidence of its effectiveness in reducing crime.

As anti-police sentiment grew, officers began to disengage from proactive policing  a phenomenon known as the "Ferguson effect." Criminal summons and misdemeanor arrests plummeted, and violent crime surged, disproportionately affecting black communities.

Mac Donald argues that the BLM narrative ignored the realities of inner-city crime and the voices of law-abiding residents who supported the police. She contends that the movement's focus on alleged police racism diverted attention from the root causes of crime, such as family breakdown and social dysfunction.

Mac Donald also challenges the media's portrayal of police violence as a widespread threat to Black lives, noting that police killings of Black individuals are extremely rare compared to Black-on-Black homicides. She highlights cities like Chicago, where the absence of fathers and family instability have fueled a culture of violence far deadlier than any police action.

In conclusion, "The War on Cops" calls for an end to the demonization of law enforcement and a return to proactive, data-driven policing. Mac Donald emphasizes the need to address the root causes of crime, particularly the breakdown of the Black family, to ensure public safety. The book warns that without a renewed focus on law and order, the gains of the past decades will be lost and vulnerable communities will continue to suffer the consequences.

Watch this video about Heather Mac Donald's book "The War on Cops: How the New Attack on Law and Order Makes Everyone Less Safe."

This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
HHS axes $350M in woke DEI grants: A long-overdue course correction

The HHS canceled $350 million in NIH grants funding DEI initiatives and gender ideology research, aligning with President Trumps executive order banning federal DEI policies.

HHS and NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya emphasized redirecting funds toward health-focused research, rejecting "frivolous" studies they argue prioritize activism over medical breakthroughs.

The article condemns past misuse of taxpayer dollars for progressive projects (e.g., gender identity genomics, mice studies) and applauds Trumps broader cuts to DEI programs across federal agencies.

Democrats and institutions like the University of California opposed the cuts, but the administration framed the move as a victory for fiscal responsibility and a return to science over woke waste.

In a decisive blow against wasteful government spending and ideological activism masquerading as science, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has terminated over $350 million in National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants funding divisive Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and radical gender ideology research.

This move, spearheaded by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., follows President Donald J. Trumps executive order banning DEI policies across the federal government  a bold reaffirmation of merit-based governance and a rejection of race-obsessed bureaucracy.

The most egregious wastes of taxpayer dollars

Among the hundreds of canceled grants were projects that would make any fiscally responsible Americans blood boil:

$1 million to the University of Maryland to develop an "intersectional, multilevel and multidimensional Structural Racism Measure."

to the University of Maryland to develop an "intersectional, multilevel and multidimensional Structural Racism Measure." $1 million to Emory University to study how transgender hormone treatments affect mice skeletonsbecause apparently, Americas health crisis now includes rodent gender dysphoria.

to Emory University to study how transgender hormone treatments affect mice skeletonsbecause apparently, Americas health crisis now includes rodent gender dysphoria. $5 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to hire faculty based on race rather than merit, explicitly seeking "minoritized racial and ethnic groups."

HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon put it bluntly: "The terminated research grants are simply wasteful in studying things that do not pertain to Americans health to any significant degree, including DEI and gender ideology. As we begin to Make America Healthy Again, it's important to prioritize research that directly affects the health of Americans."

A return to real science, not activism

This is not the first time the Trump administration has taken a sledgehammer to wasteful DEI spending. Just weeks into his second term, Trump cut $2.3 million for a bizarre virtual reality DEI program for soldiers and slashed funding to USAID, which had been bankrolling leftist projects worldwide.

The NIH, once a beacon of groundbreaking medical research, had devolved into a slush fund for progressive pet projects. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Trumps pick for NIH director, defended the cuts during his confirmation hearing, emphasizing a new vision for the agency: one that prioritizes real health outcomes over political indoctrination.

"I want to rid the agency's research portfolio of other 'frivolous' efforts that do little to directly benefit health outcomes," Bhattacharya stated, refusing to bow to Democrats demands to restore funding for what he clearly sees as junk science.

Why this matters: The long history of bureaucratic bloat

For decades, federal agencies have been hijacked by activists pushing divisive ideologies under the guise of "equity." The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was meant to ensure equal opportunity  not to enforce racial quotas or fund pseudoscientific studies on "microaggressions."

Yet under previous administrations, NIH grants became a piggy bank for left-wing academics, with taxpayer dollars funneled into studies that would never pass muster in the private sector.

One million to study "genomic associations with gender identity"? Fifty thousand to examine how hormone treatments affect mice wound healing? These are not pressing national health concernsthey are vanity projects for activists.

The backlash: Expect more whining from the Left

Unsurprisingly, the usual suspects are outraged. Democrats grilled Bhattacharya, demanding he defy the administrations cuts. But he stood firm, vowing to "follow the law" while redirecting resources toward real medical breakthroughsnot social engineering.

The University of California system, anticipating Trumps crackdown, has already dropped diversity statements in hiring. Other institutions clinging to DEI dogma should take note: the gravy train is over.

A victory for fiscal sanity

For too long, hardworking Americans have been forced to bankroll absurd, politically motivated "research" that does nothing to cure diseases, lower healthcare costs, or improve lives. The Trump administrations sweeping cuts mark a return to commonsense priorities  funding science, not propaganda.

As Biden-era excesses are rolled back, one thing is clear: The era of woke waste is ending. And not a moment too soon.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

FoxNews.com

AOL.com
Incendiary devices discovered at Austin Tesla dealership in latest attack fueled by left-wing rage

Incendiary devices were found at a Tesla dealership in Austin, marking another attack in a nationwide wave of violence against the company.

Authorities confirmed the devices were fire-starting weapons, with the FBI treating similar cases as domestic terrorism.

Left-wing extremists are targeting Tesla and Elon Musk over his political alignment with Trump and government reform efforts.

Federal charges have been filed in multiple states for arson and Molotov cocktail attacks on Tesla properties.

Critics accuse activists of hypocrisy, as environmentalists attacking Tesla create pollution and endanger lives.

In yet another shocking act of domestic terrorism, incendiary devices were discovered at a Tesla dealership in Austin early Monday morning, marking the latest escalation in a nationwide wave of violence targeting the electric vehicle giant.

The Austin Police Department confirmed that officers responded to reports of suspicious devices at the dealership on North U.S. Highway 183 at 8:04 a.m., where the Bomb Squad later identified the objects as incendiaryweapons designed to ignite fires and cause destruction.

The incident underscores a disturbing trend: Once hailed as environmental heroes for championing green technology, Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, have become targets of left-wing extremists furious over Musks alignment with President Donald Trump and his role in streamlining the federal government. What began as peaceful protests has devolved into arson, vandalism, and now attempted bombings  proof that the radical lefts rhetoric has spiraled into outright criminality.

A pattern of domestic terrorism

This is not an isolated event. Over the past several weeks, Tesla properties nationwide have been attacked by individuals emboldened by the lefts increasingly unhinged opposition to Musk. Federal authorities have already charged three suspects in separate cases involving Molotov cocktails and arson at Tesla facilities in South Carolina, Colorado, and Oregon. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has labeled these attacks "nothing short of domestic terrorism," warning perpetrators that they face mandatory prison sentences.

Yet the violence persists. Just days before the Austin incident, the activist group ResistAustin led protests outside the same dealership, part of the broader "#TeslaTakedown" movement. While that demonstration remained peaceful, the discovery of incendiary devices suggests a dangerous faction is willing to endanger lives to make a political statement.

Hypocrisy and hysteria

The irony is staggering. The same environmentalists who once praised Tesla for reducing carbon emissions are now torching its cars and charging stations  acts that release toxic fumes and waste resources. The same liberals who claim to champion "peaceful resistance" cheer as late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel joke about vandalism, while Democratic politicians like former VP nominee Tim Walz openly admit to reveling in Teslas financial struggles.

This isnt activism  its deranged fanaticism. Musks real crime, in their eyes, isnt environmental harm (Teslas mission remains unchanged) but his refusal to bow to left-wing orthodoxy. His work with Trumps administration to cut bureaucratic bloat has made him a target for extremists who would rather burn down the system than see it reformed.

Austin police have not yet identified suspects, but the FBI is treating similar attacks as domestic terrorism. President Trump has vowed to prosecute these crimes aggressively. Meanwhile, Musk himself has expressed bewilderment at the vitriol, telling Fox News, "Theres some kind of mental illness thing going on because this doesnt make any sense."

Hes right. There is no rational justification for firebombing a car dealership or smearing feces on vehiclesactions that accomplish nothing except endangering first responders and harming the environment these radicals claim to protect.

The lefts war on Tesla isnt about policy disagreements; its about vengeance. Unable to defeat Musk intellectually, his detractors have resorted to violence and vandalism, exposing their movement as fundamentally irrational. If they truly cared about the planet, theyd condemn these attacks outright. Instead, their silence  or worse, their glee  speaks volumes.

The Austin bomb scare is a wake-up call: When political dissent morphs into domestic terrorism, its time to hold the instigators accountablenot just the individuals planting devices, but the leaders and media figures who stoke the flames.

Sources for this article include:

MSN.com

FoxNews.com

FoxNews.com

Newsweek.com
Behind the Green Mask: Rosa Koire exposes the hidden agenda of UN Agenda 21

Adopted in 1992 at the UN Conference on Environment and Development, Agenda 21 is a global sustainable development plan aimed at combating environmental degradation. Critics, including Rosa Koire, argue it threatens individual freedoms and reshapes societies through collective control.

Koire highlights in her book Agenda 21's focus on Communitarianism, which prioritizes community rights over individual rights. She warns this philosophy, with its fluid definitions, can erode personal freedoms, particularly property rights, under the guise of the greater good.

Agenda 21 is implemented locally through organizations like the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). Policies such as "Smart Growth" promote high-density urban living, which Koire argues restricts personal freedom and concentrates populations for easier control.

Koire critiques Agenda 21's use of tactics like the Delphi Technique to manipulate public opinion and create false consensus, enabling the stealthy adoption of its policies without widespread awareness or consent.

Koire advocates for education, community organizing and vigilance in public discourse to counter Agenda 21. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing manipulative language, forming resistance groups, and speaking out to reclaim individual freedoms.

In 1992, at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, over 178 nations adopted a sweeping plan for global sustainable development. Known as UN Agenda 21, the initiative was hailed as a visionary effort to combat environmental degradation and secure a prosperous future for generations to come. But beneath its green veneer lies a controversial and far-reaching agenda that critics argue threatens individual freedoms and reshapes societies in ways many citizens may not fully understand.

In her book "Behind the Green Mask: UN Agenda 21," Rosa Koire, a former land use expert and property rights advocate, pulls back the curtain on what she describes as a stealthy global strategy to redefine the balance between individual rights and collective control.

Koire's journey into the heart of Agenda 21 began unexpectedly. While challenging a redevelopment project in Santa Rosa, California, she uncovered what she calls the "hidden machinery" of sustainable development policies. What she found was not just a set of environmental guidelines but a comprehensive plan to reshape communities, economies and governance structures worldwide.

At the core of Agenda 21, Koire argues, is the philosophy of Communitarianism, which seeks to balance individual rights with the so-called rights of the community. However, the definition of "community rights" is fluid, often subject to reinterpretation by those in power. This ambiguity, Koire warns, allows for the erosion of personal freedoms, particularly property rights, in the name of the greater good. She uses a vivid analogy to illustrate her point: "Imagine two glasses on a table  one filled with water, representing a Constitutional Republic, and the other with milk, symbolizing a Communitarian State. When you pour them into a pitcher, you don't get a balanced mixture. You get milk. The water  your individual rights  is subservient to the milk, the collective rights of the community."

Koire's book reveals how Agenda 21 is being implemented at the local level, often without public awareness or consent. One of the primary vehicles for this implementation is the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), an organization that promotes sustainability initiatives worldwide. While ICLEI's mission appears benign, Koire contends that it serves as a conduit for Agenda 21 policies, embedding them into local governance through land use planning, zoning laws and educational programs.

For example, the concept of "Smart Growth," a cornerstone of Agenda 21, advocates for high-density urban development and discourages suburban living. Proponents argue that this approach reduces carbon emissions and promotes public transportation. However, Koire sees a darker motive: the restriction of personal freedom and the concentration of populations into controlled urban centers.

"The push for transit villages and the demonization of suburban living are part of a broader strategy to herd people into densely populated areas," she writes. "This makes it easier to monitor and control citizens while benefiting corporations and developers who profit from these projects."

One of the most troubling aspects of Agenda 21, according to Koire, is its use of psychological manipulation to manufacture public consent. She highlights the Delphi Technique, a method of steering group decision-making toward a predetermined outcome while creating the illusion of consensus.

So, what can individuals do to counter the influence of Agenda 21? Koire offers a roadmap for resistance. First, she emphasizes the importance of education. "Read books like 'Behind the Green Mask' and stay informed about local developments," she advises. Second, she encourages citizens to connect with like-minded individuals and form groups to resist Agenda 21 policies in their communities. Social media and other platforms can be powerful tools for spreading awareness and mobilizing support.

Third, Koire urges vigilance in public discourse. "Recognize the buzzwords and jargon used to manipulate opinion," she says. "Challenge them when necessary." Finally, she calls on individuals to stand up and speak out. "Awareness is the first step in the resistance," she writes. "By understanding the true nature of Agenda 21, we can begin to reclaim our freedoms and shape a future that truly serves the common good."

Discover more about the hidden agenda behind Agenda 21 by watching the video below.

This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
A mysterious startup is developing a new form of solar geoengineering

Wired.com is reporting that a mysterious startup is developing a new form of solar geoengineering.

(Article by Ramin Skibba republished from Wired.com)

An IsraeliU.S. startup called Stardust intends to patent its unique aerosol technology for temporarily cooling the planet.

Formed in 2023, Stardust wants to develop proprietary geoengineering technology that would help block sun rays from reaching the planet.

The company is based in Israel but incorporated in the United States.

Instead of universities and federal agencies, Stardust wants private companies to drive the development and deployment of technologies that experts say could have profound consequences for the planet.

The company seeks a deliberate transformation of the atmosphere that has never been done.

Wired points out that if Starduss geoengineering technology goes live, it will affect the whole world.

The news outlet emphasizes the danger: If a geoengineering project went awry, for example, it could contribute to air pollution and ozone loss, or have dramatic effects on weather patterns, such as disrupting monsoons in populous South and East Asia.

Stardust has kept its plans largely secret and the company has not publicly released details about its technology, its business model, or exactly who works at its company.

The secretive organization also wants to sell its proprietary geoengineering technology to governments that are considering making modifications to the global climateacting like a kind of defense contractor for climate alteration.

Stardust is moving forward despite few national and international rules and limited oversight.

In fact, a recent report by the companys former climate governance consultant, Janos Pasztor, called for the company to increase its transparency, engagement, and communication with outsiders, according to Wired.

Pasztor says Stardust doesnt have a social license for geoengineering activities, meaning the company has apparently not been open to public or peer scrutiny about its intentions.

It hasnt published any of its research and has no code of conduct.

Stardusts CEO and cofounder Yanai Yedvab is a former deputy chief scientist at the Israel Atomic Energy Commission, an agency that oversees the countrys clandestine nuclear program.

Stardust has 25 physicists, chemists, and engineers.

Its chief product officer Amyad Spector is a physicist and a former employee of Israels nuclear research program.

Stardust plans include distributing proprietary aerosol particles through a machine mounted on an aircraft.

The company is currently engineering the particle and a prototype of the aircraft mount, as well as developing a system for modeling and monitoring the climatic effects.

It plans to test those particles in the stratosphere in the coming year.

The Wired report confirms theres little data showing how well they might work and that its going to be much harder to be confident about knowing what its risks are.

There are no clear international rules and oversight for geoengineering, meaning there arent any limits on this kind of work.

As a result, an individual company or government can take dramatic gambles with the climate, in ways that could affect billions of lives, and it doesnt have to get permission from anyone to do it, according to the technology news outlet.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) says Stardusts efforts could even violate the Convention on Biological Diversitys de facto moratorium on geoengineering activities.

Representatives for CIEL say Stardust is accelerating a reckless race and that its project would likely be controlled by a handful of major powers and corporations.

Stardusts clients appear to be mostly government-related, as it believes solar geoengineering will play a critical role in addressing global warming in the coming decades.

The company is attempting to patent its geoengineering technology.

Shuchi Talati, founder of The Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit, claims Stardust isnt adhering to any principles of governance.

She says Stardust hasnt done any public consultation for its outdoor field tests, nor has it released any data or other information about them, making it much harder for people to trust the company.

They are operating in a vacuum, in the sense that there is no social license to do what they are trying to do, she says.

Benjamin Day, senior campaigner on geoengineering for environmental group People at Friends of the Earth, says geoengineering is a dangerous distraction.

Day argues that because theres no private market for geoengineering technologies, Stardust will only make money if its deployed by governments, meaning theyre kind of trying to hold governments hostage with technology patents.

Stardust is funded by an estimated $15 million in venture capital funding, primarily from Awz Ventures, a Canadian-Israeli VC firm, in addition to a small investment from SolarEdge, an Israeli energy company.

Wired points out that Awzs partners and strategic advisers have strong ties to Israeli military and intelligence agencies, including former senior directors of agencies like the Mossad, Shin Bet, and Unit 8200, as well as of the CIA and FBI, according to its website.

Awz also invests in AI-based surveillance and security tech in Israel, such as through the company Corsight, which has provided face recognition tech for Israels war in Gaza.

Duncan McLaren, a researcher with the Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal at American University, says geoengineering technology tends to be a space in which public involvement in decisions is utterly sidelined.

He states there is a real potential for this to be a highly undemocratic process of moving us down a slippery slope to solar geoengineering.

Read more at: Wired.com
New Yorks highest court strikes down law that seeks to allow non-citizens to vote in municipal elections

'New York's highest court ruled that voting in municipal elections is a right reserved exclusively for U.S. citizens, striking down a 2021 law that aimed to extend voting rights to noncitizens, including green-card holders and work permit holders.

The law faced opposition from Republican groups and officials, who argued it violated the New York State Constitution and required a public referendum under the Municipal Home Rule Law. Lower courts sided with the plaintiffs and the Court of Appeals upheld their decision in a 61 ruling.

The ruling blocked voting rights for over 800,000 noncitizens in New York City, who had argued they deserved a voice in local matters due to their economic contributions and residency.

In Southern California, Santa Ana voters rejected Measure DD in 2024, which would have allowed noncitizens to vote in local elections. The measure was defeated by 60 percent of voters, despite the city's progressive leanings.

Experts suggest the rejection reflects a broader trend of Latino voters becoming more conservative on immigration and voting rights, signaling a potential shift in public opinion on these issues.

New York's Court of Appeals, the highest judicial authority of the state, has ruled that voting in municipal elections is a right reserved exclusively for U.S. citizens.

The law, passed by the New York City Council in 2021, sought to extend voting rights in local elections to green-card holders and individuals with work permits who had lived in the city for at least 30 days. The council argued that noncitizens, who contribute billions in taxes and play a vital role in the citys economy, deserved a voice in local matters such as public safety, sanitation and housing.

However, the law faced immediate legal challenges from the Republican National Committee, the New York Republican State Committee and several voters and officials. They argued that the measure violated the New York State Constitution, which explicitly states that "every citizen shall be entitled to vote." (Related: New York City's non-citizen voting law struck down as unconstitutional.)

Two lower courts sided with the plaintiffs, ruling that the law not only conflicted with the constitutional definition of an eligible voter but also required a public referendum under the Municipal Home Rule Law.

"State citizenship is a U.S. citizen who resides in a particular state, and it's a subset. It would not permit New York to allow noncitizens to vote," Attorney Michael Hawrylchak, representing the Republicans, said at the court during oral arguments. Hawrylchak also contended that altering voter eligibility constitutes a fundamental change to the election process, which would require a public vote to enact.

In line with this, the court sided with the plaintiffs, concluding that the law fundamentally altered the election process by changing the composition of the electorate. It struck down a law that would have granted voting rights to more than 800,000 noncitizens with a 61 decision, upholding lower court rulings that found the law unconstitutional and in violation of the state's Municipal Home Rule Law.

Southern California voters have also turned down a measure that would have allowed noncitizens to vote in local elections

New York City is not alone in this.

In Southern California, voters in Santa Ana turned down a measure in 2024 that would have allowed noncitizens to vote in local elections. Measure DD, which sought to expand voting rights to non-citizen residents, was defeated by 60 percent of voters in the predominantly Latino city of approximately 310,000 people.

Measure DD faced significant opposition from local officials and conservative groups, including the Policy Issues Institute, which argued that the measure would be costly, lead to legal challenges and undermine the rights of U.S. citizens.

The failure of the measure comes as a surprise to some, given Santa Ana's progressive leanings in recent elections. In 2020, the city overwhelmingly supported former Vice President Kamala Harris over President Donald Trump. However, experts suggest the outcome may reflect a broader shift in attitudes, particularly among Latino voters, toward immigration and voting rights.

"This is kind of in line with trends we've been seeing in both polling and elections of the Latino community getting more conservative on issues of immigration," said Jon Gould, dean of the School of Social Ecology at the University of California, Irvine.

Follow VoteFraud.news for more stories about voting issues in America.

Watch this clip from Real America's Voice discussing how a non-citizen has been appointed to run San Francisco's elections.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Germany's left-wing government pushes for mass migration and voting rights for non-citizens, sparking outrage.

Do non-citizens have constitutional rights? The founding fathers thought so.

Supreme Court blocks attempt to restore names of around 1,600 non-citizens to Virginia voter rolls.

Constitutional lawyer: New York pro-abortion ballot measure would also establish voting rights of non-citizens.

New York City could soon allow more than 800,000 non-citizens to vote in citywide elections.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

APNews.com

Brighteon.com
Obama accused of laundering USAID funds to fuel global protest movements, regime change operations

Mike Benz, founder of the Foundation for Freedom Online, exposes Obama-era USAID corruption on The Joe Rogan Experience

$1.2 billion in taxpayer money allegedly funneled through Cayman Islands to finance covert protest movements abroad

Zunzuneo, a Twitter clone, was used to manipulate Cuban dissent, mirroring tactics seen in the Arab Spring

USAID contractors trained activists in social media manipulation, protest coordination, and astroturfing

Wall Street Apes and other platforms amplify the bombshell revelations, sparking outrage over government deception

The $1.2 billion deception: How USAID became a regime change slush fund

The Obama administration stands accused of weaponizing USAID funds to orchestrate foreign protest movements, destabilize governments, and manufacture dissent  all while deceiving American taxpayers and Congress. In a tell-all interview on The Joe Rogan Experience, Mike Benz, founder of the Foundation for Freedom Online, detailed how the Obama White House allegedly diverted $1.2 billion in foreign aid to finance covert regime change operations, training activists in social media warfare and street protest tactics.

Benz, a former State Department official, revealed that USAID, under Obama, operated as a shadowy political weapon, laundering money through Cayman Islands bank accounts under the false pretense of Pakistani aid.

"You're using Cayman Islands bank accounts. You're earmarking it for Pakistani aid. But the money was never sent to Pakistan, it was sent to the Cayman Islands to fund this whole operation," Benz stated.

The funds allegedly bankrolled activist networks, teaching them how to manipulate social media, coordinate mass protests, and manufacture the illusion of grassroots uprisings.

"We sponsored these activist groups and these civil society organizations to learn how to use Facebook, learn how to use Twitter, learn how to use hashtags, learn how to coordinate street protests so that everyone knows where to go, what street to show up on, what kind of slogans to use in order to create the pro-democracy predicate for it," Benz explained.

Zunzuneo: the Cuban twitter clone used to incite unrest

One of the most damning revelations was the creation of Zunzuneo, a Cuban Twitter clone designed to radicalize citizens and incite unrest.

"They took the exact same thing as Twitter, same user interface, same like and retweet button. But the whole trick about it was you have to make it look like its coming from the Cubans if youre going to do this operation," Benz said.

The platform initially distributed harmless content  sports, music, weather  to lure users, then flipped the script, deploying automated bots to push political messaging and fuel outrage.

"Once they built up enough subscribers, they would begin to introduce political messages through social bots and encourage dissent in this astroturfing... the whole point is, once they hit a critical mass, they would create Rent-a-Riots," Benz declared. This is how the Democratic Party creates their following: they manufacture outrage and deploy bots across social media, manufacturing a crisis, and not letting it go to waste.

Echoes of the Arab Spring: Obamas global destabilization playbook

These tactics mirror Arab Spring operations, where U.S.-backed digital manipulation helped topple governments. Benzs claims suggest Obamas USAID was not a humanitarian agency, but a regime change factory, using taxpayer dollars to destabilize sovereign nations.

"This was a scandal during the Obama USAID era. We were running a number of rogue USAID operations in Cuba at the time," Benz asserted.

The implications are staggering: Was the Obama administration running a global destabilization scheme under the guise of foreign aid? If true, this would mark one of the most egregious abuses of taxpayer funds in modern history  a shadow government operation masquerading as diplomacy.

As Benzs revelations go viral, one question lingers: How many more "Rent-a-Riots" has the U.S. government fundedand who will be held accountable?

Sources include:

Yournews.com

X.com

Enoch, Brighteon.ai
Trump backs Schimel in Wisconsin court fight as Democrats eye redistricting power play

Trump endorses Judge Brad Schimel in Wisconsins April 1 Supreme Court race, calling it critical to block Democratic redistricting efforts.

A Schimel loss could shift Wisconsins political landscape, risking GOP House seats and conservative priorities such as election integrity.

The election is a chance for conservatives to regain court control after liberals gained a 4-3 majority there in 2023.

Record-breaking spending ($76M+) fuels the race, with billionaires like Elon Musk (supporting Schimel) and George Soros (supporting Crawford) heavily involved.

Democrats aim to flip House seats via redistricting, while Republicans warn Crawford would advance progressive activism.

President Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind conservative Judge Brad Schimel in Wisconsins pivotal April 1 Supreme Court election, framing the race as a last stand to restore constitutional governance and block Democratic efforts to redraw congressional maps.

The endorsement, issued Friday on Truth Social, warns that a Schimel loss could embolden liberal justices to reshape Wisconsins political landscape, including flipping two Republican U.S. House seats, while undermining public safety and election integrity.

With early voting underway, Trumps mobilization call underscores the high stakes: A Schimel victory would tilt the court back to conservative control after liberals gained a 4-3 majority in 2023. Polls show a tight race, and Trumps influence in a state he carried twice could prove decisive.

A battle for judicial control

The election marks a rare opportunity for conservatives to reclaim the courts balance. The seat opened with the retirement of liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, and Schimels opponent, Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, has drawn fierce GOP criticism for her record on crime and ties to progressive donors.

She is the handpicked voice of the Leftists who are out to destroy your State, and our Country, Trump wrote, accusing Crawford of leniency toward violent offenders. Schimel, a former state attorney general and Waukesha County judge, vowed to restore objectivity to the bench, telling supporters: The stakes could not be any higher.

Democrats, meanwhile, have openly admitted their ambitions. A leaked email revealed party donors were told a Crawford win could put two additional U.S. House seats in play by redrawing maps currently favoring Republicans Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden. They got caught saying the quiet thing out loud, Schimel said.

The race has shattered spending records, surpassing $76 million as billionaires like Elon Musk (backing Schimel) and George Soros (supporting Crawford) pour funds into the contest. The courts rulings will impact abortion access, union policies, and 2026 redistricting  a fact Trump emphasized: This could have much to do with the future of our Country.

Wisconsin Republicans argue Crawfords judicial philosophy aligns with progressive activism, citing her past challenges to voter ID laws and appearances with groups targeting GOP House members. Schimel will stand by the Constitution, state GOP Chair Brian Schimming said.

Mobilizing the base

Trumps endorsement amplifies his unique pull in Wisconsin, where he defeated Kamala Harris in 2024 with nearly 1.7 million votes. Internal GOP projections suggest Schimel needs just 60% of Trump voters to prevail. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) urged conservatives to turn out, warning a Crawford victory would cement radical left control.

Yet Crawfords campaign dismissed Trumps involvement, tweeting: Schimel has spent his career on bent knee to right-wing special interests.

As Wisconsin voters head to the polls, the election transcends state lines. A Schimel win would thwart Democratic plans to reshape Congress and rein in a court accused of partisan overreach. For conservatives, its a chance to reclaim a branch of governmentand for Trump, another test of his enduring political clout.

PRESERVE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, Trump declared. In battleground Wisconsin, that rallying cry may decide more than just a judgeship.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

NYPost.com

FoxNews.com

APNews.com
Trump nominates VACCINE ZEALOT Susan Monarez to lead the CDC, sidelining RFK Jr.s reform efforts

President Trump nominates Dr. Susan Monarez, acting CDC director, to permanently lead the agency, replacing withdrawn nominee David Weldon.

Monarez, a longtime federal health bureaucrat, is expected to maintain the CDCs aggressive vaccine schedule, including controversial shots for Covid, flu, and HPV.

Health freedom advocates warn the nomination is a deliberate move to block Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s push for accountability, transparency, and scientific integrity at the CDC.

Monarez has already endorsed the updated Covid shot for children as young as six months, despite mounting evidence of risks and inefficacy.

A political shield for the vaccine industry

In a move that has alarmed medical freedom advocates, President Donald Trump announced Monday his nomination of Dr. Susan Monarez to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The decision, framed as a restoration of trust in the embattled agency, is instead being seen as a calculated maneuver to protect the pharmaceutical industrys stranglehold on public health policy. Monarez, who has served as acting director since January, is a career government insider with deep ties to federal health bureaucraciesprecisely the kind of establishment figure likely to perpetuate the CDCs disastrous vaccine mandates and unscientific recommendations.

Trumps abrupt withdrawal of his initial nominee, Dr. David Weldona former Florida congressman aligned with RFK Jr.s skepticism of the CDCs vaccine agendareveals the real motive behind Monarezs selection. Weldons nomination was reportedly scuttled due to lack of Senate support, but insiders suggest the deeper reason was his willingness to challenge the agencys cozy relationship with Big Pharma. Monarez, by contrast, has already signaled her allegiance to the status quo. Just days ago, she publicly urged parents to inject their infants with the latest Covid shot, despite the vaccines well-documented links to myocarditis, neurological damage, and other life-altering injuries.

Dr. Monarez understands the importance of protecting our children, Trump declared in a Truth Social post, oblivious to the irony. Yet her track record suggests otherwise. Before joining the CDC, Monarez worked at the Department of Homeland Security and the White Houses Office of Science and Technology Policy, where she championed mass surveillance of public health data and the expansion of biometric monitoringpolicies that align perfectly with the globalist push for digital health passports and forced medical compliance.

The CDCs long descent into corruption

Founded in 1946 to combat malaria, the CDC has morphed into a bloated, $9.2 billion bureaucracy that prioritizes pharmaceutical profits over genuine public health. Under Monarezs interim leadership, the agency has doubled down on debunked Covid narratives, suppressed data on vaccine injuries, and ignored peer-reviewed studies linking childhood immunizations to autism, autoimmune disorders, and sudden infant death syndrome.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trumps own Health and Human Services Secretary, has spent decades exposing the CDCs malfeasancefrom burying evidence of mercury toxicity in vaccines to colluding with Merck to falsify safety studies for the HPV shot. Now, with Monarez at the helm, Kennedys efforts to dismantle the agencys corruption face near-insurmountable opposition. Americans have lost confidence in the CDC due to political bias and disastrous mismanagement, Trump admitted in his announcementyet his solution is to install another industry-approved gatekeeper.

A betrayal of the medical freedom movement

Trumps decision is a slap in the face to the millions of parents who rallied behind his 2024 campaign, believing he would dismantle the medical tyranny unleashed during the pandemic. Instead, Monarezs nomination ensures the CDC will continue pushing dangerous, ineffective vaccines while silencing dissenters. Her close ties to the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)a federal entity notorious for funneling taxpayer dollars into risky mRNA experimentsfurther confirm her allegiance to the biosecurity state.

As Kennedy fights to hold the CDC accountable for its crimes against humanity, Monarezs appointment guarantees bureaucratic resistance at every turn. Will Trumps administration become yet another enabler of Big Pharmas predation, or will the growing backlash from betrayed voters force a reckoning? History may remember this moment as the day the medical freedom movement was sold outor the day it rose up stronger than ever.

Sources include:

X.com

Foxnews.com

TheBusinessJournal.com
Trump shows his true colors

It didnt take long for Donald Trump to show his true colors

(Article by Chuck Baldwin republished from ChuckBaldwinLive.com)

Trump won a landslide election last November primarily on the promise to STOP Americas stupid wars. It is now obvious to everyone that, while Trump might be able to negotiate a deal to stop the war in Ukrainea war that Russia has already wonhe is decidedly intent on accelerating and expanding U.S. wars in the Middle East.

But as soon as I tell the truth about the morbid duplicity of Trumps mind and the moral derangement of Trumps heart, evangelicals ferociously respond with examples of the good things he is doing, as if any of that erases the evil he is inflicting on both America and the world.

Evangelicals are eaten up with the disease of Prophetic Dispensationalism and see Trump as a harbinger of their eschatology. Prophetic Dispensationalism is a moral and spiritual cancer that befalls the brain and hardens the heart. And it is an epidemic among evangelicals.

I well remember when I was a young pastor. I heard several prominent fundamentalist/evangelical pastors use James 5:20 to justify any act of wickedness they might commit in the same way that they use Genesis 12:3 to justify every act of wickedness that Zionist Israel does commit.

James 5:20 says, Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. (KJV)

Their interpretation of this verse was that if a Christian was a soulwinner and won people to Christ, God would hide the multitude of the soulwinners sins. In other words, as long as a Christian was a soulwinner, none of his sins matteredno matter how vile and wicked they might be.

Thats the same mindset of todays Trump toadies. As long as Trump is doing something right, he cannot be condemned for anything he does wrong.

But Donald Trump has chosen a course that could lead America into World War Three and turn our constitutional republic into an authoritarian dictatorship where the fundamental mark of a free societythe freedom of speechis eviscerated.

Regarding the latter point, Judge Andrew Napolitano and Professor John Mearsheimer (West Point, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, PhD Cornell University, professor, University of Chicago) had this exchange:

Professor John Mearsheimer: The truth is, Judge, that the single greatest threat to freedom of speech in the United States, at this point in time, is Israel and its supporters here in the United States. It's truly amazing the extent to which Israel's supporters are going to enormous lengths to shut down free speech, not only on university campuses but all across the country. Judge Napolitano: Unbelievable. I forgot to play this clip a few minutes ago. This is the boss of Marco Rubio, the boss of Attorney General Bondi, the boss of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem talking about the freedom of speech. President Donald Trump video clip: And I have stopped all government censorship and brought back free speech in America. Its back. Mearsheimer: I'm actually surprised at the extent to which Trump and his administration are suppressing free speech. I mean, I knew it wouldn't be perfect once he took office, but I'm amazed. This case that you're referring to involving this gentleman at Columbia University is just the tip of the iceberg. There's just all sorts of activities taking place on the part of the government to shut down free speech, especially with regard to the Israel-Palestine conflict. We have a huge problem here. And the idea that Donald Trump is facilitating free speech and taking off all obstacles to free speech is laughable.

Indeed.

Regarding the former point, George Galloway and Col. Douglas Macgregor had this exchange:

Col. Macgregor: I think Netanyahu is practicing American foreign policy through ventriloquy. He's simply moving Trump's mouth, and Trump is saying what he wants him to say. And that is unfortunately, tragically, the perception in the United States: that Trump is not a free actor. That he is simply a puppet. And the puppet master is Netanyahu. George Galloway: It is quite extraordinary to the extent that there is video, I've seen it, you will have too, of Trump actually pulling his [Netanyahus] chair out, having him sit down and then pushing his chair in like you would do to your good wife. This is the president of the United States practically waiting at table on a visiting politician, moreover, one for whom there's an extant international arrest warrant. Col. Macgregor: Well, remember that President Netanyahu does not simply represent six plus million Israeli Jews. He represents Jewish international power and capital. And so, he is treated differently for that reason, if none else. It would be a mistake to say, Why is President Trump allowing himself to be manipulated or exploited by this man who represents so few people? That's a mistake. This is a larger concentration of capital and power that he represents. And Trump knows that, and he's dependent upon it. He was dependent upon it to get elected. So, now he's doing what they elected him to do.

Again, it didnt take long.

Whatever the Trump/Musk Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cutbacks might be, we already know that Trump has ZERO intention of reducing overall government spending. He just rammed a stopgap spending bill through Congress that keeps federal spending at Joe Biden levels. Conservatives dont want to remember that Trump added over $8 trillion to the national debt during his first term in officethe same amount as Biden. But consider that Trumps spending didnt include federal expenditures for underwriting the Covid tyranny.

Whatever money Trump wants to save by terminating Ukraines cash cow, he intends to throw into an expanded U.S. war in the Middle East.

Israel has (illegally) stopped its ceasefire with Gaza and resumed the genocide (using the bombs and missiles, etc., that Trump shipped to Israel after becoming president) while, at the same time, Trump launched massive bombing raids on Yemen, killing mostly innocent women and children.

Max Blumenthal told Judge Nap that Trump owns the Gazan slaughter, that he (Trump) admitted to unleashing this slaughterhouse in Gaza . . . on the civilian population.

Trump is Joe Bidens eidolon.

On Trumps war in Yemen, Dr. Ron Paul writes:

Over the weekend President Trump ordered a massive military operation against the small country of Yemen. Was Yemen in the process of attacking the United States? No. Did the President in that case go to Congress and seek a declaration of war against the country? No. The fact is, Yemen hadnt even threatened the United States before the bombs started falling. Last year, candidate Trump strongly criticized the Biden Administrations obsession with foreign interventionism to the detriment of our problems at home. In an interview at the Libertarian National Convention, he criticized Bidens warmongering to podcaster Tim Pool, saying, You can solve problems over a telephone. Instead they start dropping bombs. Recently, theyre dropping bombs all over Yemen. You dont have to do that. Yet once in office, Trump turned to military force as his first option. Since the Israel/Hamas ceasefire plan negotiated by President Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff, Yemen has left Red Sea shipping alone. However, after Israel implemented a total blockade of humanitarian relief to citizens of Gaza last week, Houthi leaders threatened to again begin blocking Israels Red Sea shipping activities. That was enough for President Trump to drop bombs and launch missiles for hours, killing several dozen Yemeni civilians  including women and children  in the process. After the attack, Trump not only threatened much more force to be used against Yemen, but he also threatened Iran. His National Security Advisor Mike Waltz added that the US may start bombing Iranian ships in the area, a move that would certainly lead to a major Middle East war. Like recent Presidents Bush and Obama, candidate Trump promised peace after four years of Joe Bidens warmongering and World War III brinkmanship. There is little doubt that with our war-weary population this proved the margin of his victory. Unfortunately, as with Bush and Obama, now that he is President, he appears to be heading down a different path.

Or actually the same path.

Trump is quickly proving that his campaign rhetoric about being a peace president was a bald-faced lie. Trump is merely the latest in a long line of puppet presidents. As Col. Macgregor said, [Trump] is simply a puppet. And the puppet master is Netanyahu.

Even Scott Ritter, who is strongly predisposed to supporting Trump, had fiery words for Trump after he began bombing Yemen. Here are excerpted comments during his interview with Judge Napolitano:

Trump is an idiot. It isn't going to work, Mr. President. And what's going to happen is one of two things. One, you're going to look foolish, because you're going to have to back down when your secretary of defense says, We can't escalate any further without putting 700,000 boots on the ground. That's a major invasion that will cause the entire region to blow up. Oil prices will spin out of control, and your economy will crash and you're finished, Mr. President. You're done. Everything you're trying to do. The American people will not tolerate $120 oil, because they can't economically. All the changes you're making are predicated upon a foundation of economic stability, which will not be here if you throw oil security/energy security out the window by going to war with Iran. Stop it. Or, he will actually go to war, thinking that somehow American bombs ordered by Donald Trump take on some sort of angelic property and blow up with greater violence and more terror than any other bomb ever made. And then the Iranians will shut down the Strait of Hormuz, blow up American installations, destroy Israel and invite an American nuclear retaliation. And boom, the man who thought he was going to get the Nobel Peace Prize will go down in history as the greatest warmonger in modern history.

The Zionist Deep State that put Joe Biden in office in 2020 to assist Israels genocidal war in Gaza put Donald Trump in office in 2024 to assist Israels war against Yemen. And you can take this to the bank: Attacking Yemen is just the first phase in the Zionist plan to attack Iran. Donald Trump was put in office to wage the U.S./Israeli war against Iran.

Perhaps RumorMillNews.com has the best summary of what were talking about today:

Has Trump gone insane, or is it just his rabid Zionism getting the best of him? Maybe the question is moot, since Zionism is a disease that leads to insanity. At the same time that Trump is supposed to be negotiating with Putin for peace in Ukraine, I see headlines such as this, today, from George Eaton's news update: "Trump says every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon as being fired from Iran." "JUST IN - Trump threatens Iran for any further Houthi attack." "U.S. WARNED IRAQ OF IRAN STRIKE UNDER TRUMP." "Iranian media is reporting that at least 4 Iranian missile ships have crossed the Strait of Hormuz, with protection from the IRGC navy." "Trump orders sending 35 warships and 1,750 US Marines to the Middle East." "Irans armed forces remain on high alert, prepared for full-scale defense and a severe counterattack against enemy interests in the Middle East, Irans Nournews said." And finally, from White House spokeswoman Caroline Labate: "The Israeli attacks were coordinated with us, the gates of hell are about to open, and President Trump is unafraid to defend our ally and friend, Israel!" So is she referring to the Israeli bombing of displaced Palestinians living in tents on the streets of Gaza that were set ablaze last night? I can see no other point of reference, and this is certainly a new one on us. Is Trump's blind ego riding so high that he is unaware of what Iran can do? Zionism is a disease similar to Trump Derangement Syndrome. Trump has it bad, and I hope that because of his illness, it doesn't end badly for all of us. [Emphasis added]

And while Im trying to keep up with all of these rapidly unfolding developments in a struggling attempt to keep readers fully informed, I must include statements made by the quintessential Jewish Zionist, Professor Alan Dershowitz. These statements are at once foreboding and realistic for the State of Israel.

Im not going to be as optimistic as the last four speakers. We have survived in the past. That doesnt mean we are going to survive in the future. The United States will survive. That is for sure, no matter who is in charge. We have a system of checks and balances; its working. The United States will survive. Israels survival is not guaranteed.

These statements come from the mouth of one of the worlds leading antichrist Zionists, Alan Dershowitz: Israels survival is not guaranteed. Indeed, its not, contrary to the erroneous belief of Americas Christian Zionists. But it is truly incredible to hear this from the mouth of one such as Dershowitz.

To see just a smidgen of factual information confirming what Dershowitz said, watch this short 1-minute video.

If you watch Dershowitzs address, you will hear him castigate the eminent Jewish scholar Norman Finkelstein. Accordingly, I will let Professor Finkelstein respond for himself:

Netanyahu is an accurate representative of Israeli society. It's not as if he is an excrescence, that's the fancy word for like an artificial outgrowth. He's not an excrescence. The fact that he is the longest-sitting prime minister of Israel, there's a very good reason for it, because he is an obnoxious, self-righteous Jewish supremacist. And that is a reflection of 95% of Israeli society: obnoxious, Jewish supremacists, self-righteous society. Netanyahu is less an orchestrator than he is a reflection of Israeli society.

Unlike the people of America who voted for Trump due to his promise to end Americas stupid wars, evangelicals voted for Trump due to his rabid support for the warmongering State of Israel. In other words, Trump was elected by two groups of voters that were polar opposites, each group voting for the same man for reasons completely counter to the reasons of the opposite group.

Wouldnt it be ironic for the Christian Zionists who voted for Trump due to his rabid support for Israel to wind up becoming the instruments of the destruction of the Zionist state, which even Alan Dershowitz admits is very feasible?

As the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD was required by God for the Early Church to understand Christs New Covenant, so, too, the destruction of the Zionist state (as speculated by Scott Ritter above) might be required by God for the Western Church to understand Christs New Covenant, because the truth of Christs New Covenant has been lost to Americas evangelicals since 1948.

It would appear to be more than poetic justice if God were to use Donald John Trump as He used Titus Flavius Vespasianus.

Regardless, very quickly after being inaugurated, President Donald Trump has shown his true colors

P.S. THIS SUNDAY, March 23, I will bring Part Two of my message series By What Authority Does Zionist Israel Commit Mass Murder Against Women And Children? A Clinical Study Of The Destruction Of The Amalekites And The Old Covenant Laws Of War.

I encourage readers to watch the second message in this series THIS SUNDAY, March 23, at approximately 2:30pm Mountain Time here.

Plus, we have just released Part One of this series, which I delivered last Sunday, on DVD. Find it here.

Read more at: ChuckBaldwinLive.com
Photo credit: MSG

It takes a special type of interviewer to get Michael Irvin to open up about his lady pants, and that award goes to Kay Adams.

Irvin recently traveled to Rio de Janeiro for Brazils Carnival to celebrate his 59th birthday and shared video from his trip that sparked questions about his outfit. During a Monday morning appearance on Up and Adams, the former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver lost it while re-watching that video.

Michael Irvins hilarious reaction to his Brazilian Carnival birthday outfit and talks putting glitter in his belly button. @heykayadams | @michaelirvin88 pic.twitter.com/tmf4XPrQLJ  Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) March 24, 2025



I cannot believe me, man. Oh my god, this is insane, Irvin said. Ive always wanted to go to Carnivalthere was no bad attitudes, it was just incredible. I enjoyed it. I dont think Ive had a birthday in the country since that old famous birthday a long time ago, you know what Im saying? I like getting out of the country.

That old famous birthday a long time ago was presumably in March 1996, when Irvin was arrested at a hotel party inside an Irving, Texas Residence Inn. Since then, Irvin claims he prefers to leave the country for his birthday, like this trip he took to Brazil. And on the heels of that trip, some have wondered whether Irvin got his belly button pierced, a topic Adams was not afraid to broach.

Theres no belly button pierce there, Irvin insisted with a laugh, letting Adams know it was just glitter on his belly button.

Irvin continued to describe how his outfit came to be by saying he went to the store to find some local flare. For men, they only had a sort of Speedo with strings hanging down. Knowing he wasnt comfortable attempting to pull that outfit off, Irvin opted for more sparkly attire.

Those were actually a pair of lady pants, the sparkling pants that the ladies have, Irvin said of the shorts he was wearing in the video. But I couldnt find sparkly mens pants, so I bought the ladies pants, cut em off at the knees kind of hawkish style.

Thanks to Adams, we all now know The Playmaker didnt pierce his belly button, and we also know why he wasnt wearing a Speedo on his birthday vacation.
Allentown city worker charged after staging fake hate crime, DNA links her to noose

Allentown employee LaTarsha Brown faces charges for allegedly planting a noose at her desk and falsely reporting it as a hate crime.

Police found only Browns DNA on the noose after she resisted providing a sample until compelled by court order.

The incident initially sparked protests before evidence revealed the hoax, drawing comparisons to the Jussie Smollett case.

Supporters claim Brown is innocent, calling the charges retaliation, while critics suggest she exploited racial tensions.

Brown now faces misdemeanor charges, with a hearing set for April 22, raising concerns about false hate crime claims.

In a case that has drawn comparisons to the Jussie Smollett scandal, Allentown city employee LaTarsha Brown is facing criminal charges after allegedly planting a noose at her own desk and falsely reporting it as a hate crime.

Police confirmed that Browns DNA was the only genetic material found on the noosea damning revelation that came only after she refused to voluntarily provide a sample and had to be compelled by a court order. The incident, which initially sparked outrage and protests, now raises questions about whether Brown sought to exploit racial tensions for personal or political gain, much like Smolletts widely debunked 2019 attack claims.

On January 10, Brown, a 42-year-old employee in Allentowns community and economic development department and a member of the Allentown School Board, reported finding a noose on her desk at City Hall. The discovery immediately triggered a police investigation and a wave of public anger, with local leaders like City Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach condemning the act as a hate crime. Protesters rallied behind Brown, demanding justice  until the evidence told a different story.

Investigators asked all employees who had access to Browns workspace to submit DNA samples. While every other worker complied, Brown refused, even requesting that the probe be discontinued. Authorities obtained her DNA through a court order, and the results were unequivocal: her genetic material was the only match found on both the inner knot and outer surface of the noose.

False victimhood

The case bears striking similarities to the Jussie Smollett saga, in which the actor falsely claimed he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack to bolster his public profile. While police have not publicly speculated on Browns motives, the circumstances suggest she may have sought to position herself as a victim of racial animus  a narrative that could have served her politically. Given the timing, amid heightened national tensions over race and policing, critics argue the hoax could have been designed to fuel claims of rising racism under conservative leadership.

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk called the charges shocking, particularly because they involved a city employee. But Browns supporters, undeterred by the evidence, have doubled down. Community organizer Josie Lopez dismissed the charges as retaliation and a smear campaign, insisting that Brown is innocent somehow. This is a warning to anyone in Allentown who dares to stand up against injustice, Lopez declared, urging the public to rally behind Brown.

The case underscores the dangers of rushing to assume guilt. Hate crimes are abhorrent and must be taken seriously, but false allegations undermine real victims and erode public trust. Brown now faces misdemeanor charges of making a false report and tampering with evidence, with a preliminary hearing set for April 22.

Whether she was motivated by personal ambition, political maneuvering, or something else entirely, Browns alleged deception has done a huge disservice to those who genuinely suffer from racial hatred. And for a public that is growing increasingly skeptical of sensational claims, this case serves as a cautionary tale: demand evidence before you rush to join the chorus of indignation and outrage.

Sources for this article include:

NYPost.com

DailyMail.co.uk

NBCPhiladelphia.com
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"Strides serves the most difficult and the most vulnerable individuals in the homeless population. These are the people who will die without shelter. Those who cannot or will not cooperate to the extent necessary to stay at the shelter will end up in jails or institutions or risk death," Gil Terriberry writes.
Pfc. Ira Hayes, left, was one of the six Marines to appear in the famous World War II photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, depicting the second flag-raising on the summit of Mount Suribachi on the Japanese island. An article about Hayes, a Pima Indian, was removed from the Defense Departments website amid the Trump administrations purge of anything deemed to be associated with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
A groundbreaking study has revealed a significant link between the frequency of chest x-ray referrals from GPs and earlier diagnosis and improved survival rates for lung cancer patients.

Research from the University of Sheffield analyzed records from more than 170,000 lung cancer patients in England between 2014 and 2018, combined with chest x-ray rates from 7,400 GP practices.

The study, published in the British Journal of General Practice, found that patients attending practices with the highest chest x-ray usage were more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage. The practices with the highest chest x-ray usage also saw patients less likely to be diagnosed at the later stages of cancer - stage three and four.

These patients were also shown to have better survival at both one and five years after diagnosis, compared with those with the lowest chest x-ray usage.

Lead author of the study, Dr. Stephen Bradley from the University of Sheffield's School of Medicine and Population Health, said: "Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths both in the UK and globally. This is an important step forward in our understanding of how to improve lung cancer detection.

"Our research strongly suggests that increasing the use of chest x-rays for patients with relevant symptoms can lead to earlier diagnosis and, crucially, better chances of survival."

Dr. Bradley, who conducted the study whilst at the University of Leeds, added: "While advanced technologies like CT scanners play a vital role, this study highlights the potential for optimising the use of a simpler, cheaper tool like x-rays which are more easier for patients to access.

"By encouraging greater use of chest x-rays, we can potentially diagnose lung cancer earlier, when treatment is more likely to be successful."

Until now, it was not widely understood if GPs arranging more chest x-rays was beneficial. The uptake of chest x-rays varies a great deal between different GP practices - possibly in part because GPs may not have been convinced that there could be a benefit for patients with very common symptoms.

Co-author of the study, Willie Hamilton CBE, Professor of Primary Care Diagnostics at the University of Exeter, said: "This study matters. There's few cancer tests available in general practice which are fairly accurate, fairly cheap and very acceptable to patients. Now we know that doing more chest X-rays finds more cancers, and identifies them earlier in their growth, which is crucial to the best outcomes for patients."

This is the first study of its kind which links chest x-ray rates and the national cancer registry. The study was funded by Cancer Research UK.

This study highlights how the use of investigations in primary care can help diagnose cancer at an earlier stage to give people affected by cancer the best chance of a good outcome. Encouraging the use of chest x-ray for people with potential signs and symptoms of lung cancer by GPs and improving GP access to investigations is key.



More research to understand the impact of other investigations used in primary care on patient outcomes is also needed to support efforts to diagnose cancer earlier." Lyndsy Ambler, Senior Strategic Evidence Manager at Cancer Research UK
Motion sickness is a very common condition that affects about 1 in 3 people, but the brain circuits involved are largely unknown. In the current study published in Nature Metabolism, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital describe a new brain circuit involved in motion sickness that also contributes to regulating body temperature and metabolic balance. The findings may provide unconventional strategies for the treatment of obesity.

"When Dr. Longlong Tu, a postdoctoral fellow in my lab, proposed to investigate the brain circuits involved in motion sickness, a condition for which he is highly susceptible, I was not very excited about the idea because it's not one of the main interests of my lab," said corresponding author of the work, Dr. Yong Xu, professor of pediatrics  nutrition and associate director for basic sciences at the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor. "However, I became more interested and supported Tu's idea when he explained the emerging evidence suggesting a link between motion sickness and metabolic balance, which is one of my research interests."

The Xu lab works with mouse models to investigate how the brain regulates metabolism and how this may be related to obesity and inform the development of more effective obesity drugs. Mouse models offer an abundance of molecular and genetic tools, as well as relevant behavioral assays to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying physiological responses. But there was a challenge  mice are incapable of vomiting, one of the main manifestations of motion sickness in people.

Interestingly, mice and humans subjected to motion sickness stimuli, such as experiencing horizontal motion back and forth for some time, show hypothermia, a reduction in body temperature. "This allowed us to develop a mouse model of motion sickness in which we measured core body temperature, physical activity and brain activity as the animals experienced motion stimuli," Xu explained.

The team found that motion activates glutamatergic neurons  neurons that produce glutamate, the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system  in the medial vestibular nucleus parvocellular part (MVePCGlu) of the brain. Activation of these neurons is required and sufficient to mediate motion-induced thermal adaptations. The researchers validated the model by showing that motion sickness-induced hypothermia does not occur when the mice are given the anti-nausea drug scopolamine.

We further studied this motion sickness circuit by inhibiting the MVePCGlu neurons in the absence of motion stimuli. Inhibiting these neurons led to an increase in body temperature, along with increased physical activity. These physiological alterations suggest that chronic inhibition of MVePCGlu neurons may result in a higher energy expenditure in mice." Dr. Yong Xu, professor of pediatrics  nutrition and associate director for basic sciences at the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor

When the researchers investigated the potential metabolic benefits of the chronic inhibition of MVePCGlu neurons they found that, although the mice ate more, they gained less weight and exhibited better glucose tolerance and enhanced insulin sensitivity, physiological responses associated with better health. "These results highlight the underappreciated function of the brain's vestibular system in metabolic balance, and further raise the possibility that better understanding of the neural basis for thermoregulation during motion sickness may provide unconventional targets for the treatment of obesity," Xu said.

And for first author Tu, the findings offer hope that a better understanding of the brain circuit for motion sickness could also lead to improved medications for his condition.

Other contributors to this work include Xing Fang, Yongjie Yang, Meng Yu, Hailan Liu, Hesong Liu, Na Yin, Jonathan C. Bean, Kristine Marie Conde, Mengjie Wang, Yongxiang Li, Olivia Z. Ginnard, Qingzhuo Liu, Yuhan Shi, Junying Han, Yi Zhu, Makoto Fukuda, Qingchun Tong, Benjamin Arenkiel, Mingshan Xue, Yang He and Chunmei Wang. The authors are affiliated with one or more of the following institutions: Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital.

This study was supported by grants from the NIH (P01DK113954, R01DK115761, R01DK117281, R01DK125480 and R01DK120858, R01DK104901, R01DK12665, R01MH117089), USDA/CRIS (51000-064-01S, 51000-064-02S, 3092-51000-062-04(B)S, 1F32DK13868501A1), the McKnight Foundation and an American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship (2020AHA000POST000204188).
Why is sleep so important for learning and memory? Neuroscientists from the Csicsvari group at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) provided new insight into this essential function by monitoring neuronal activity in rat brains for up to 20 hours of sleep following spatial learning. Central to the findings are reorganizations of neuronal activity patterns during sleep to reflect those seen during memory recollection upon awakening. The findings were published in Neuron.

A good night's sleep helps us remember recently learned information, 'engraving' our memories. This is also true for animals, as remembering for example the location of food resources is essential for their survival. Scientists can examine this role of sleep in the lab by training lab mice or rats about their environment using various memory tasks. In such experiments designed for spatial learning, the animals must learn and subsequently remember the location of food rewards in mazes. Despite extensive research aimed at understanding the neuronal mechanisms that favor learning, memory formation, and recollection, many questions about these essential brain functions remain unanswered.

Now, researchers from Professor Jozsef Csicsvari's group at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) have probed the key roles of sleep stages in optimizing memory recollection. They wirelessly measured neuronal activity patterns in rat brains for up to 20 hours of sleep, considerably extending previously reported measurement times.

We showed that the neuronal assemblies in the early stages of sleep reflect recently learned spatial memories. However, as sleep progresses, neuronal activity patterns gradually transform into those seen later, when the rats awaken and remember the locations of their food rewards." Professor Jozsef Csicsvari, Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA)

Mapping-and remembering-reward locations

Past work showed that a cortical brain area called the hippocampus is important both for exploring and maintaining routes in an environment (called spatial navigation), and for spatial learning. Hippocampal neurons keep track of the animal's location by firing at specific locations, thus forming a cognitive map of the environment. Animals use this map to navigate in space while updating it during learning. In this process, the reward locations play an instrumental role, becoming disproportionately represented on the animals' cognitive map.

Following spatial learning, the hippocampus plays an important role in enhancing memory during sleep. It does so by reactivating recently learned memory traces. Previously, the Csicsvari group showed that the more often a specific reward location is reactivated during sleep, the better the animal remembered that location when they woke up. On the other hand, when the team blocked the reactivation of a specific reward memory, the animals were unable to recall the respective location.

Reorganizing neuronal patterns during sleep engraves memories

While scientists could so far only examine the reactivation of spatial memories in shorter sleep periods of two to four hours, the team now achieved such experiments during long overnight sleep. Using wireless recordings, they monitored neuronal activity in the hippocampus for up to 20 hours while the rats rested and slept after a spatial learning paradigm.

"Our findings were unexpected. We showed that the activity patterns of neurons linked to the reward locations reorganized during the long sleep," says ISTA PhD graduate Lars Bollmann, one of the study's co-first authors. Indeed, when a given reward location was reactivated, not all the neurons that represented that location remained active in the entire sleep. While some did-the ISTA researchers called them a "stable subgroup"-, others stopped firing during later sleep stages. But at the same time, a new group of neurons started to fire gradually. "Most surprisingly, we showed that while the pattern of firing neurons in the early stages of sleep echoed the neuronal activity in the learning phase, this pattern later evolved to mirror the neuronal activity when the rats woke up and remembered where the rewards were located," adds Bollmann. Thus, the team not only observed a drift in neuronal activity patterns during sleep in the frame of spatial learning but also linked it to the process of memory reactivation. Thus, they shed light on how sleep helps keep memories fresh. In addition, they showed that this reorganization happens during non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep, while REM sleep counteracts it.

Freeing neurons up for new memories?

What could be the role of this phenomenon-called "representational drift"-that occurs in sleep? "We can only speculate in this regard," says Csicsvari. "It is possible that memory representations must be formed quickly during learning but that such representations are not optimal for long-term storage. Therefore, a process may take place in sleep that optimizes these representations in sleep to reduce brain resources to store a specific memory." In support of this hypothesis, the researchers observed that fewer neurons were linked to a given reward location after sleep than before. Therefore, some neurons get freed up to take in newer memories. "Any new memories must find a way to be integrated into existing knowledge. Frequent repetitions of the new memories as well as partial change in the neuronal code may thus help optimize their integration into existing memory representations," concludes Csicsvari.
MIT engineers have devised a new way to deliver certain drugs in higher doses with less pain, by injecting them as a suspension of tiny crystals. Once under the skin, the crystals assemble into a drug "depot" that could last for months or years, eliminating the need for frequent drug injections.

This approach could prove useful for delivering long-lasting contraceptives or other drugs that need to be given for extended periods of time. Because the drugs are dispersed in a suspension before injection, they can be administered through a narrow needle that is easier for patients to tolerate.

We showed that we can have very controlled, sustained delivery, likely for multiple months and even years through a small needle." Giovanni Traverso, associate professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, a gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), associate member of the Broad Institute, and senior author of the study

The lead authors of the paper, which appears today in Nature Chemical Engineering, are former MIT and BWH postdoc Vivian Feig, who is now an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Stanford University; MIT graduate student Sanghyun Park; and Pier Rivano, a former visiting research scholar in Traverso's lab.

Easier injections

This project began as part of an effort funded by the Gates Foundation to expand contraceptive options, particularly in developing nations.

"The overarching goal is to give women access to a lot of different formats for contraception that are easy to administer, compatible with being used in the developing world, and have a range of different timeframes of durations of action," Feig says. "In our particular project, we were interested in trying to combine the benefits of long-acting implants with the ease of self-administrable injectables."

There are marketed injectable suspensions available in the United States and other countries, but these drugs are dispersed throughout the tissue after injection, so they only work for about three months. Other injectable products have been developed that can form longer-lasting depots under the skin, but these typically require the addition of precipitating polymers that can make up 23 to 98 percent of the solution by weight, which can make the drug more difficult to inject.

The MIT and BWH team wanted to create a formulation that could be injected through a small-gauge needle and last for at least six months and up to two years. They began working with a contraceptive drug called levonorgestrel, a hydrophobic molecule that can form crystals. The team discovered that suspending these crystals in a particular organic solvent caused the crystals to assemble into a highly compact implant after injection. Because this depot could form without needing large amounts of polymer, the drug formulation could still be easily injected through a narrow-gauge needle.

The solvent, benzyl benzoate, is biocompatible and has been previously used as an additive to injectable drugs. The team found that the solvent's poor ability to mix with biological fluids is what allows the solid drug crystals to self-assemble into a depot under the skin after injection.

"The solvent is critical because it allows you to inject the fluid through a small needle, but once in place, the crystals self-assemble into a drug depot," Traverso says.

By altering the density of the depot, the researchers can tune the rate at which the drug molecules are released into the body. In this study, the researchers showed they could change the density by adding small amounts of a polymer such as polycaprolactone, a biodegradable polyester.

"By incorporating a very small amount of polymers - less than 1.6 percent by weight - we can modulate the drug release rate, extending its duration while maintaining injectability. This demonstrates the tunability of our system, which can be engineered to accommodate a broader range of contraceptive needs as well as tailored dosing regimens for other therapeutic applications," Park says.

Stable drug depots

The researchers tested their approach by injecting the drug solution subcutaneously in rats and showed that the drug depots could remain stable and release drug gradually for three months. After the three-month study ended, about 85 percent of the drug remained in the depots, suggesting that they could continue releasing the drugs for a much longer period of time.

"We anticipate that the depots could last for more than a year, based on our post-analysis of preclinical data. Follow-up studies are underway to further validate their efficacy beyond this initial proof-of-concept," Park says.

Once the drug depots form, they are compact enough to be retrievable, allowing for surgical removal if treatment needs to be halted before the drug is fully released.

This approach could also lend itself to delivering drugs to treat neuropsychiatric conditions as well as HIV and tuberculosis, the researchers say. They are now moving toward assessing its translation to humans by conducting advanced preclinical studies to evaluate self-assembly in a more clinically relevant skin environment. "This is a very simple system in that it's basically a solvent, the drug, and then you can add a little bit of bioresorbable polymer. Now we're considering which indications do we go after: Is it contraception? Is it others? These are some of the things that we're starting to look into as part of the next steps toward translation to humans," Traverso says.

The research was funded, in part, by the Gates Foundation, the Karl van Tassel Career Development Professorship, the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering, a Schmidt Science Fellows postdoctoral fellowship, the Rhodes Trust, a Takeda Fellowship, a Warren M. Rohsenow Fellowship, and a Kwangjeong Educational Foundation Fellowship.




A truck loads containers at Tangshan Port, North China's Hebei province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Global Times-The impending US tariff policy is causing considerable upheaval within the global vehicle industry, raising alarms among stakeholders about its potential ramifications for the entire auto supply chain.

However, even against the backdrop of the volatile trade environment, certain indispensable links and key components remain essential to the industry's development, notably those sourced from China, which continue to play a pivotal role in maintaining the efficiency and competitiveness of auto manufacturing.

International carmakers are rushing to ship vehicles and core components to the US to get ahead of the next round of Washington's tariffs, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.

Apparently, fearing the potential chaos that the tariffs, which will come into effect on April 2, could inflict on automotive supply chains, international carmakers are scrambling to ship inventory to the US, a move that could severely strain global supply chains.

Last year, the US imported $471 billion worth of vehicle products. That included $214 billion worth of cars, $192 billion worth of parts and $65 billion worth of trucks, buses and special purpose vehicles.

While it remains unclear the exact tariffs the US will impose on each country, the deeply entrenched networks of global automotive supply chains cannot be unwound overnight. The development so far indicates that the US market and the US auto industry still have high dependence on external supply chains, and the tariffs won't change the fact that they still need to import.

Despite the US government's attempts to promote the reshoring of manufacturing and boost domestic production through policies, the production of many critical components, especially those for next-generation vehicles, cannot be easily transferred back to the US in the short term. The complex and globalized auto supply chain system that the US has long established determines its diverse demand for parts. For new-energy vehicles (NEVs) in particular, the US has a growing need for imported parts due to its shortcomings in key technologies and production links.

S&P Global Mobility warned in a March 12 report that with tariffs imposed on Canada and Mexico, it expects significant disruption in the region, with the potential for North American production to drop by up 20,000 units per day within a week.

For China, the direct impact of the tariff on vehicle exports to the US is limited. China's auto exports to the US accounted for about 2 percent of the country's total auto exports or just 0.4 percent of the auto sales in 2024, according to S&P Global Mobility data.

More importantly, China has made remarkable progress in the auto parts field, especially in NEVs and some core technologies. The production capacity of certain key parts has become an irreplaceable part of the global supply chain. For instance, the US is China's largest export market for auto components, accounting for about 15-20 percent - by value - of such exports in recent years, according to S&P Global Mobility data.

China's auto parts industry has formed a complete system, supported by a large-scale manufacturing base and continuous innovation. Take power batteries as an example. Chinese power battery companies not only account for a large share of global production capacity but also have rich achievements in technological innovation. The continuous iteration and upgrading of lithium-iron-phosphate battery technology, with increasing energy density and decreasing costs, have made Chinese-made power batteries highly competitive in the global market.

Also, in the field of rare-earth materials, China has a complete industrial chain from mining and refining to the research, development and application of related materials, ensuring a stable and high-quality raw material supply for global vehicle parts production.

China also has structural advantages in the fields of electric drive systems and intelligent components, meeting the needs of the global market. This advantage is difficult for the US to replace through localization or "friend-shoring" in the short term.

In conclusion, the US tariffs may temporarily disrupt trade flows, which could ultimately backfire by increasing costs for American automakers and disrupting their normal production and sales processes.
When it comes to early detection of cognitive impairment, a new study suggests that the nose knows. Researchers from Mass General Brigham developed olfactory tests-in which participants sniff odor labels that have been placed on a card-to assess people's ability to discriminate, identify and remember odors. They found that participants could successfully take the test at home and that older adults with cognitive impairment scored lower on the test than cognitively normal adults. Results are published in Scientific Reports.

Early detection of cognitive impairment could help us identify people who are at risk of Alzheimer's disease and intervene years before memory symptoms begin. Our goal has been to develop and validate a cost-effective, non-invasive test that can be performed at home, helping to set the stage for advancing research and treatment for Alzheimer's." Mark Albers, MD, PhD, senior author of the Laboratory of Olfactory Neurotranslation, the McCance Center for Brain Health, and Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital

Albers and colleagues are interested in whether olfactory dysfunction-the sometimes-subtle loss of sense of smell-can serve as an early warning sign for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and traumatic brain injury. Albers helped found a company that makes the Aromha Brain Health Test, which is the test used by the research team to conduct the current study.

To evaluate the olfactory test, the team recruited English and Spanish speaking participants with subjective cognitive complaints (those with self-reported concerns about memory) and participants with mild cognitive impairment. They compared these participants' test results with those who had no sense of smell and with cognitively normal individuals.

The research team found that odor identification, memory, and discrimination declined with age. They also found that older adults with mild cognitive impairment had lower scores for odor discrimination and identification compared with older adults who were cognitively normal. Overall, the researchers found that test results were similar across English and Spanish speakers, and participants performed the test equally successfully regardless of whether they were observed by a research assistant.

The authors note that future studies could incorporate neuropsychological testing and could follow patients over time to see if the tool can predict cognitive decline.

"Our results suggest that olfactory testing could be used in clinical research settings in different languages and among older adults to predict neurodegenerative disease and development of clinical symptoms," said Albers.
An immune system defect makes affected individuals vulnerable to severe viral diseases such as influenza or COVID-19. It is caused by the body's own antibodies, which inhibit important defense proteins known as type I interferons. UZH researchers have now generated "decoy molecules" that intercept these autoantibodies and restore the immune defense - the foundation for a possible new therapy.

Type I interferons are proteins released by cells in response to virus infections. They are an essential part of innate immune defenses and serve as early-warning messengers for other cells and tissues of the body. The uninfected cells prepare themselves to fight the invading virus, which ultimately limits the disease. Around 2-4% of individuals over the age of 65 years - an estimated 100 million people worldwide - have antibodies in their blood that neutralize their own type I interferons. Affected individuals with such autoantibodies cannot mount a full immune defense, making them particularly susceptible to severe viral diseases such as influenza, COVID-19, or shingles. Currently, there are no specific treatments available.

Blood samples of individuals as prerequisite

Researchers from the University of Zurich (UZH) now shed light on the molecular mechanism of how pathogenic autoantibodies recognize and inhibit type I interferons.

Our idea was to use this knowledge to create decoy molecules that bind to the autoantibodies and prevent them from inhibiting the body's own type I interferons." Benjamin Hale, study head, professor at the UZH Institute of Medical Virology

According to him, these decoys might form the basis for a new type of future treatment to reverse the immune defect and make affected persons less susceptible to severe infections.



First, the team consisting of scientists and clinicians analyzed blood samples from a biobank of 20 different people who had previously been identified as having autoantibodies against type I interferons, some of whom had ended up in the intensive-care unit of the University Hospital Zurich (USZ) with severe COVID-19. "Access to these biobanked samples from the University Hospital Zurich and the Swiss HIV Cohort Study was critical to the success of the study", says first author Kevin Groen.

Decoy molecules intercept rogue antibodies

The researchers then mapped the "molecular footprints" of type I interferons - the exact regions these autoantibodies recognize on the proteins. This allowed them to create molecules in the laboratory that look like interferons from the autoantibodies' perspective but are inactive and do not hyperstimulate the body's immune system.



In cell culture experiments, they showed that these new molecules can be used as decoys to mop-up pathogenic autoantibodies and prevent them from blocking type I interferon. This restores the antiviral effect of type I interferon on viruses such as influenza. Furthermore, the decoy molecules can be used as agents to specifically remove pathogenic autoantibodies from blood samples, without removing other important virus-fighting antibodies. "This could ultimately lead to an application of the new decoy molecules in therapy regimens such as plasmapheresis", says Kevin Groen.

Paving the way for future therapy

This laboratory-based work is a proof-of-concept that designed decoy molecules can successfully inhibit the pathogenic effects of type I interferon autoantibodies. "This gives us hope that a treatment to limit consequent viral disease susceptibility and severity is possible. Our results are the first steps in this direction, but further optimization is required before the decoys are ready to be tested clinically", emphasizes Groen.
ELRIG, a not-for-profit, volunteer-led organization for the drug discovery community, today announced the keynote speakers for Therapeutic Oligonucleotides 2025 taking place at the AstraZeneca R&D site in Gothenburg, Sweden from 14-15 May. Prof Rory Johnson, Associate Professor, University College Dublin, and Dr Shalini Andersson, Vice President Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, AstraZeneca will lead this year's event focused on 'drugging the undruggable'.

This second ELRIG meeting on Therapeutic Oligonucleotides brings together esteemed scientists from academia, industry, and other members of the drug discovery community to explore the discovery, validation, and targeting of oligonucleotide-based drug candidates, including antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small interfering RNA (siRNA). The two-day event will delve into the nature of drug targets amenable to modulation by oligonucleotides, while comparing the advantages and limitations of these modalities with other drug types. It will also cover recent advancements in broadening their application, including innovative approaches to ensure their safety and efficacy, the use of targeted delivery to reach disease-relevant tissues as well as success stories in bringing therapeutic oligonucleotides to the clinic. In addition, the conference comprises poster presentations, networking sessions, a vendor exhibition and a tour of AstraZeneca's R&D center. There will also be a poster award for early-career professionals recognizing the research that the next generation of scientists bring to drug discovery.

Prof Rory Johnson is an Associate Professor at University College Dublin, where his research focusses on uncovering the roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in human health and disease using an interdisciplinary combination of bioinformatic and experimental methods. After PhD and postdoctoral work in the UK and Singapore, Prof Johnson received a prestigious Ramon y Cajal fellowship at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (Barcelona). There, he worked with the GENCODE consortium to establish foundational lncRNA gene annotations, which are considered a standard reference in the field. In 2016, he was appointed Junior Group Leader with the Swiss National Centre for Competence in Research (NCCR) in RNA & Disease, where he established the laboratory for Genomics Of LncRNAs in Disease (GOLD Lab). GOLD Lab collaborates with leading international consortia, including Genomics England and FANTOM (Functional Annotation of the Mammalian Genome). His team has developed CRISPR-Cas and cancer-driver methods for the discovery of oncogenic lncRNAs that are promising targets for therapeutic oligonucleotides. Prof Johnson's keynote presentation on day one will focus on "Genomics-powered lncRNA therapeutics for oncology".

At AstraZeneca, Dr Shalini Andersson is Vice President Nucleic Acid Therapeutics in Discovery Sciences and Chief Scientist New Therapeutic Modalities in BioPharmaceuticals R&D. Earlier in her career, she held several leadership roles within AstraZeneca, including Senior Director for Drug Metabolism & Pharmacokinetics and Director for Lead Optimization & Enabling Technologies within medicinal chemistry. Dr Andersson is a member of the joint steering committee for the collaboration with Ionis Pharma, Silence Therapeutics and JCR Pharmaceuticals focused on discovery and development of nucleic acid and protein therapeutics. She is also on the board of the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society, OligoNova (Sweden) and part of the scientific advisory group for the UK Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Accelerator. Prior to joining AstraZeneca in 1997, she was an Associate Professor at the University of Linkoping, Sweden where she also completed her PhD. Dr Andersson has authored over 70 peer-reviewed articles and is a named inventor on six patents. She will explore "Developing nucleic acids into therapeutics and enabling expansion of target space using targeted delivery" during her keynote address on the second day.

Dr Fredrik Edfeldt, Conference Director, ELRIG and Director, Mechanistic & Structural Biology, AstraZeneca, said: "Oligonucleotide-based drugs, including ASOs and siRNAs, are already significantly impacting patients' lives. Our ambition is to build upon the success of the inaugural Therapeutic Oligonucleotides meeting to establish an open-access platform that fosters an inspiring environment for networking, encouraging collaboration between biologists and chemists across diverse research areas to help drive these therapeutic modalities towards clinical success.

Prof Johnson and Dr Andersson are internationally renowned speakers in the field of using oligonucleotides as therapeutics; so, we are delighted to have them share their expertise with the drug discovery community at this year's event.

RNA therapeutics promise more effective, less toxic drugs, which can be rapidly developed and tailored to each patient. I look forward to connecting with the ELRIG community later this year to discuss how we can further our understanding and treatment of human disease through insights and tools afforded by genomics." Prof Rory Johnson, Associate Professor, University College Dublin

Dr Shalini Andersson, Vice President Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, said: "I'm honored to be invited to present at Therapeutic Oligonucleotides 2025. Collaboration is key to our success in this novel area of drug discovery so having a dedicated forum to share our learnings is of immense value and will help drive the development of targeted oligonucleotide therapies towards the clinic faster."
Bank Strike March 2025: Are Banks Open Or Closed Today, March 25? Check Status

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Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 07:57 IST

The bank strike scheduled for March 24-25, 2025, has been postponed indefinitely. Banks will operate normally today, March 25. The next bank holiday is March 31 for Ramzan-Id.

Bank Strike March 2025: Are Bank Open Or Closed Today, March 25?

Bank Strike March 2025: The bank strike organized by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) scheduled for March 24-25, 2025, has been postponed indefinitely. This decision came after discussions involving the chief labour commissioner and other parties on Friday. The UFBU, comprising nine bank unions, had initially announced the strike on March 13 after talks with the Indian Banks Association (IBA) failed to address key issues.

Consumers are now unsure if banks will be open or closed today.

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Will Banks Be Open or Closed Today, March 25?

With the strike being called off, banks across India will operate normally today, Monday, March 25. There is no bank holiday today as per the RBIs holiday list under the negotiable instruments act. Therefore, bank branches will be open and functioning without interruption.

Upcoming Bank Holiday in March 2025

Banks will be closed on March 31 for Ramzan-Id (Id-Ul-Fitr). Branches in various cities, including Agartala, Ahmedabad, Belapur, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Gangtok, Guwahati, Hyderabad (AP & Telangana), Imphal, Itanagar, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kochi, Kohima, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Panaji, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, Shillong, Srinagar, and Thiruvananthapuram, will be closed on this date.

Key Demands Behind the Strike

L Chandrasekhar, General Secretary of the National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), highlighted several unresolved issues despite numerous discussions with the IBA:

Staff Shortages: Urgent need for recruitment across all levels to manage workloads efficiently.

Board Representation: Appointment of workmen and officer directors in public sector banks.

Job Security Concerns: Rollback of performance reviews and incentive policies introduced by the Ministry of Finances Department of Financial Services (DFS), which unions believe threaten job stability.

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Bank Autonomy: Opposition to what unions describe as micro-management" by the DFS, arguing that excessive intervention undermines the independence of bank boards.

Gratuity Act Amendments: Proposal to raise the gratuity ceiling to 25 lakh to align with government employees benefits, along with a demand for tax exemption on gratuity payments.

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

First Published: March 25, 2025, 07:54 IST
EPFO Rules 2025: Provident Fund Withdrawal Via UPI, ATM By End Of May Or June

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News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 17:18 IST

A top government official said Provident Fund members will instantly be able to withdraw up to Rs 1 lakh and choose their preferred bank account for the transfers, once the new system comes into place

Provident Fund members will soon be able to withdraw funds through UPI and ATM. (Image: News18/File)

In a significant development, Provident Fund members will soon be able to withdraw funds through UPI and ATM. A top government official said the Employees Provident Fund Organisation is set to introduce this revolutionary withdrawal system, giving financial flexibility to crores of people, by the end of May or June.

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) will enable withdrawals through the unified payments interface (UPI). The move comes after the labour and employment ministry gave its nod to the recommendation of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which is an umbrella organisation operating retail payments and settlement systems in India.

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Sumita Dawra, secretary of the ministry of labour and employment, exclusively told news agency ANI that Provident Fund (PF) members will soon be able to withdraw funds through UPI and ATM by the end of May or June. She said they will instantly be able to withdraw up to Rs 1 lakh and choose their preferred bank account for the transfers, once the new system comes into place.

Dawra said there will be a transformative change in PF accessibility, while members will also be able to check their PF account balance on UPI. She said expanding the withdrawal options will not only provide financial convenience, but will help members quickly withdraw funds for housing, education, and marriage, in addition to the existing sickness provisions.

The EPFO has made significant strides in digitalising its processes, integrating over 120 databases to streamline the withdrawal process. Claim processing time has been dramatically reduced to just 3 days, with 95% of claims now automated and plans to further simplify the process underway," she told ANI.

She further said the recent reforms have also benefited pensioners. Since December 2024, 78 lakh pensioners have enjoyed increased flexibility with the ability to withdraw funds from any bank branch. Geographical limitations for pension withdrawals, which were only for selected bank branches, no longer exist.

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The EPFO faced a daunting task in introducing these reforms, Dawra said. The organisation has more than 7.5 crore active members and adds 10 to 12 lakh new members every month across 147 regional offices across the country, she said.

She also said the EPFO reforms align with Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of ease of living for employees and employers.

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 25, 2025, 21:13 IST
Bihar Board 12th Arts Result 2025 Declared: BSEB Intermediate Result Scorecard Download, Direct Link

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Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 15:36 IST

BSEB Inter Result 2025: The BSEB inter arts stream recorded a pass percentage of 82.75%. Ankita Kumari secured rank 1 in the arts stream by scoring 473 marks or 94.6 per cent

Bihar Board 12th Arts Result 2025 at interresult2025.com (Representative image/File)

The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB), Patna, successfully conducted the Bihar Board Class 12th Exams 2025. BSEB 12th exams were held from February 1 to February 15. The theory exams were held in two shifts, starting at 9.30 AM and 2 PM. Students got 15 minutes (between 9.30 AM and 9.45 AM. in shift 1 and between 2 PM and 2:15 PM in shift 2) as cool-off time. The BSEB has now announced the Bihar Board Class 12th Arts Result 2025 on the official website  biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in.

BSEB Bihar Board Inter Result 2025 Live Updates: Bihar Class 12 Result Today

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Bihar Board 12th Result 2025 Direct Link

The BSEB inter arts stream recorded a pass percentage of 82.75%. Ankita Kumari secured rank 1 in the arts stream by scoring 473 marks or 94.6 per cent. This year, around 12.92 lakh students were eligible to appear for the Inter examination, which was held at 1,677 centres across the state. Of the 12,92,313 registered students, 6,41,847 are girls, and 6,50,466 are boys.

Bihar BSEB 12th Result 2025: Arts Stream Toppers List

Ankita Kumari  94.6%

Shakib Shah  94.6%

Anushka Kumari  94.2%

Rokeya Fatma  94.2%

Archana Mishra  93.6%

BSEB 12th Arts Result 2025: How To Check?

Follow these simple steps to check your Bihar Board Inter Result 2025 once released:

Step 1: Visit the official website of the Bihar Board  biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in.

Step 2: On the homepage, click on the link for Bihar Board Class 12 Arts Result 2025.

Step 3: Enter your Roll Number and Roll Code as mentioned on your admit card.

Step 4: Click on submit button and your BSEB 12th Arts Result 2025 will appear on the screen.

Step 5: Download and take a printout of the result for future reference.

ALSO READ | Bihar Board 12th Result 2025: BSEB Inter Toppers Will Get Double The Reward, Check Details

Bihar Board 12th Arts Result 2025: Where To Check?

Once the Bihar Board Class 12 Arts Result 2025 is declared, students can check their results on the official websites of BSEB. Below are the official websites to check the results:

 interresult2025.com,

 interbiharboard.com, and

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 biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in.

The minimum passing marks required for each subject are 33 per cent. Students must also achieve an overall passing percentage to qualify. If students fail in one or two subjects, they will be eligible to appear for the compartment exam conducted by BSEB.

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 25, 2025, 11:08 IST
BSEB Bihar Board Class 12th Result 2025 Out: Official Websites To Check Score

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Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 14:34 IST

Bihar Board Class 12th Results Website: BSEB Intermediate Results 2025 is now available on the official webiste -biharboardonline.bihar.gov.

The Bihar Board Class 12 exams commenced on February 1 and concluded on February 15, 2025.

Bihar Board Class 12th Results Link: The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) declared the Bihar Class 12th Board Result 2025 or BSEB Intermediate Result 2025 today, March 25, 2025. Students who appeared for the examination can now check their Bihar Inter Result 2025 on the official website of the Bihar Board- biharboardonline.bihar.gov using their roll number and date of birth.

BSEB Bihar Board Inter Result 2025 Live Updates: Bihar Class 12 Result Today

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Bihar Board 12th Result 2025 Direct Link

This year, the overall pass percentage is 86.56%, a slight dip from 87.21% in 2024, but an improvement over 83.73% in 2023. In a remarkable achievement, female students have claimed the top positions across all streams in the Bihar Board Class 12 results. Ankita Kumari topped the Arts stream, Raushani Kumari secured the first rank in Commerce, and Priya Jaiswal emerged as the Science topper. Their exceptional performances showcase the academic excellence of girls in the BSEB Inter exams 2025.lt 2025

Bihar Board Class 12 Result 2025 will be available on the following websites 

biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in

interresult2025.com

interbiharboard.com.

Also Read- BSEB Inter Results 2025: How To Check Bihar Board Class 12th Result 2025 Via SMS

How To Check Bihar Intermediate Result 2025?

Step 1: Visit the official website of BSE -biharboardonline.bihar.gov

Step 2: On the homepage, click on the Bihar Board 12th Result 2025 link

Step 3: On the newly opened page enter your login details like roll number, date of birth etc.

Step 4: Click on submit and your Bihar Inter Result 2025 will be displayed on your screen

Step 5: Check the result and download the page.

Step 6: Take a printout for future reference

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Bihar Inter Result 2025: Passing Marks

To pass the Bihar Board Intermediate exam, students must secure a minimum of 33% in each subject. The Bihar Board Class 12 exams commenced on February 1 and concluded on February 15, 2025. As per the data shared by the Board, around 12.92 lakh students were eligible to appear for the exams, which were held across 1,677 centres statewide. Of the 12,92,313 registered candidates, 6,41,847 are girls, while 6,50,466 are boys.

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 25, 2025, 07:41 IST
BSEB Inter Results 2025 Declared: How To Check Bihar Board Class 12th Result 2025 Via SMS

Curated By :

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Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 10:16 IST

Bihar Board Inter Results 2025: BSEB will announce the Bihar Board Class 12th Results 2025 for all streams at 1.15 PM.

BSEB Inter Results 2025: Students can check Bihar Board Class 12th Result 2025 via SMS. (Representative image/File)

BSEB Bihar Board Inter Results 2025: The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) released the Bihar Class 12th Board Result 2025, also known as the BSEB Intermediate Result 2025, today, March 25, 2025. Students who appeared for the exams can now access their Bihar Inter Result 2025 on the official Bihar Board website, biharboardonline.bihar.gov, by entering their roll number and date of birth.

This year, the overall pass percentage is 86.56%, showing a slight decline from 87.21% in 2024 but an improvement over 83.73% in 2023.

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BSEB Bihar Class 12th Result 2025 Live: Check Bihar Intermediate Result Updates

Bihar Board 12th Result 2025 Direct Link In a significant achievement, female students have secured the top ranks across all streams in the Bihar Board Class 12 results. Ankita Kumari topped the Arts stream, Raushani Kumari secured the first position in Commerce, and Priya Jaiswal emerged as the Science topper. Their remarkable performances underscore the academic excellence of girls in the BSEB Inter exams 2025.

If students are not able to access their Bihar Inter Result 2025 online on the official websites due to downtime or other internet issues then they can get their BSEB Class 12th Result 2025 via SMS by following the simple steps given below.

BSEB Inter Class 12 Results 2025: How To Check Via SMS

Step 1: Open the messaging app on your phone.

Step 2: Create a new message and type BIHAR12 ROLL NUMBER.

Step 3: Send the message to 56263.

Step 4: Students will receive their Bihar Board Inter 12th results 2025 on the same mobile number.

Step 5: Review the results and take a screenshot for future reference.

Also Read- BSEB Class 12th Results 2025: How To Check And Download Bihar Board Inter Result Via Digilocker

Bihar Board 12th Result 2025: Details On Marksheet

Along with the result declaration, students will also be able to download their scorecards/marksheets from the official website. The Bihar Board Class 12 Marksheet 2025 will include the following details:

Subject-wise marks obtained

Total marks obtained

Pass percentage

Qualifying status

These scores will be essential for students seeking admission to higher education courses or professional institutes.

Bihar Board 12th Result 2025: Pass Percentages Over the Last 5 Years

In 2024, BSEB recorded its highest pass percentage since 2019, with 87.21% of students clearing the exam. Heres a look at the pass percentages from previous years:

2024: 87.21%

2023: 83.73%

2022: 80.15%

2021: 78.04%

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2020: 80.59%

2019: 79.76%

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 25, 2025, 10:16 IST
As US Lifts Bounties On Key Taliban Leaders, A Glance At Haqqani Network & Its Violent Past | Explained

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 11:20 IST

The Haqqani Network was created in 1980 as an anti-Soviet jihad in Afghanistan. After the death of its founder Jalaluddin, one of his sons, Sirajuddin Haqqani, took over the network, establishing stronger relations with Pakistani intelligence

Over the past three years, Sirajuddin Haqqani has sought to remake his image and engage with the West through back channels. (Photo: News18 Hindi)

The United States government has lifted multi-million-dollar bounties on three senior Afghan officials, including the interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, who heads a powerful network known for carrying out attacks on prominent targets in Afghanistan.

Haqqani, who acknowledged planning a January 2008 attack on the Serena Hotel in Kabul, which killed six people, no longer appears on the State Departments Rewards for Justice website. The FBI website still featured a wanted poster for him on Sunday.

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Afghanistan Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani said the US government has revoked the bounties on Haqqani, Abdul Aziz Haqqani and Yahya Haqqani. These three individuals are two brothers and one paternal cousin," Qani told The Associated Press.

The bounties were removed days after a US hostage envoy, Adam Boehler, made the first visit by a high-ranking American diplomat to Kabul since the Taliban seized power in 2021.

So, what do we know about Sirajuddin Haqqani and the Haqqani Network and the deadly attacks it has carried out in the past. What would change after the US governments decision? Let us understand.

How The Haqqani Network Was Created

The origins of the Haqqani Network date back to a 1973 coup in Afghanistan that brought to power Prime Minister Daoud Khan. When Khan offered shelter, training, and weapons to Baloch insurgents and Pakistani Pashtun nationalists alike," Pakistani intelligence began mobilizing exiled Afghan dissidents like Jalaluddin Haqqani for anti-regime operations." From their base in Pakistans tribal areas, in 1975, Haqqanis fighters launched their first attack in Afghanistan, killing 12.

After the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistani intelligence re-activated Afghan mujahideen proxies, with Haqqani and his allies receiving an extraordinary share" of the arms and financial assistance. Pakistan accepted arms and aid from the US and Saudi Arabia for the anti-Soviet jihad, even as Pakistani intelligence controlled their distribution and their transport to the war zone," while limiting contact between the CIA and the mujahideen.

Jalaluddins tribal connections, fundraising skills, and fluency in Arabic were his key assets behind his ascension. Haqqanis Zadran tribe straddles the Afghan-Pakistani border where Loya Paktia meets Waziristan. The border crossings under its control provided the network leverage over the flow of drugs, trade, and fighters coming across the porous border, with additional revenue earned from smuggling, kidnapping, and extortion.

Jalaluddin had distinguished himself by drawing Gulf money and Arab fighters to the anti-Soviet Afghan jihad, even taking an Arab wife from the UAE with which he had a son, Sirajuddin.

After the Soviet withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989, there was a civil war. Ultra-conservative Pashtun religious students (Talibs) came out of nowhere, vowing to end warlordism and implement strict Islamic law in the country.

In late 1994, Pakistan threw support behind emerging Taliban movement led by Mullah Omar. Initially opposed to the group, Jalaluddin defected" to the Taliban in 1995 while maintaining his own power base in Loya Paktia. The following year, the Taliban seized control of Kabul and effectively ended the Afghan civil war.

Jalaluddin was appointed Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs in the Taliban government from 1996 to 2001.

After 9/11, US-allied forces began cornering Taliban and al-Qaeda leaders, as well as Pakistani army officers and intelligence advisers along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

The Rise Of Sirajuddin Haqqani

Jalaluddin began remobilizing his front in Pakistans Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and by late 2002, Haqqani fighting groups were operating in Paktia and Khost in eastern Afghanistan.

In 2003, the Taliban formed new regional leadership councils or shuras." The quasi-autonomous Miram Shah shura," headquartered in North Waziristan, was composed exclusively of the Haqqani Network."

Meanwhile, Sirajuddin began taking control of the network from his aging father. By 2005, he was spearheading the insurgency in Loya Paktia, overseeing an expansion of the networks operations and stretching campaign of terror to Kabul.

Sirajuddin was making the Haqqani Network increasingly indispensable to Pakistan intelligence. In 2000s, the militants in the network in the stronghold of Waziristan began targeting the Pakistani state and civilians, coming together under the banner of a new Pakistani Taliban in 2007.

In 2007, the Haqqani Network was officially affiliated with the Taliban. Sirajuddin was granted membership to the Taliban Leadership Council and was later appointed head of the Miram Shah Shura.

Haqqani Networks Violent Attacks

The US military officials warned that the Haqqani Network was becoming more violent and self-serving" under their leader Sirajuddin, who recruited younger and more aggressive militants against the traditional Zadran tribal leaders.

Among all the Taliban factions, the Haqqani Network was the first to adopt suicide bombing technique and is believed to have played a major role in the July 2008 attack at the Indian Embassy in Kabul that killed over 50 people.

In December 2009, the network carried out a suicide bombing at a CIA outpost in Khost.

In 2011, the Haqqani Network orchestrated a suicide bombing at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Kabul, injuring 77 US soldiers in an attack on a US military base, and targeted the US embassy in Kabul.

That same year, Sirajuddin published a manifesto advocating for global jihad outside Afghanistans borders  a departure from his father more traditional focus on eastern Afghanistan.

In 2011, the US became frustrated and asked Pakistan to cut ties with Haqqani. Then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen described the network as a veritable arm" of Pakistani intelligence. In 2012, Siraj officially assumed control of the network from Jalaluddin, and the US State Department designated the group a terrorist organisation.

Haqqani And Al Qaeda

Jalaluddin was considered close to al Qaeda and its founder Osama Bin Laden. According to a 2021 UN report, the Haqqani Network remains a hub for outreach and cooperation with regional foreign terrorist groups and is the primary liaison between the Taliban and Al-Qaida."

Khalil Haqqani is known to American intelligence as the Taliban emissary to Al Qaeda." Stanfords Mapping Militant Organizations" explains that Khalil has acted on behalf of Al Qaeda and facilitated its terrorist operations" and organized the detention of enemy prisoners captured by [the Haqqani Network] and Al Qaeda."

Experts believe al-Qaeda and the Haqqani Network are today intertwined, and it is highly unlikely they will cut ties."

Afghanistan expert Melissa Skorka, quoted by Foreign Policy, notes that even in 2021, Mr. Haqqani marches in lockstep with his al Qaeda base."

The network is believed to be even more anti-US than other parts of the Taliban. Don Rassler and Vahid Brown, co-authors of one of the most deeply researched books on the Haqqani network, believe the Haqqanis influenced al Qaeda to view the US as the primary target of global jihad.

Haqqani And The Taliban

After the fall of Kabul in August 2021 and the US troops retreat, the Taliban and the Haqqani Network became indistinguishable. But within days of forming the government, both the factions were reportedly involved in a power-sharing tussle, sending a key Taliban leader fleeing Kabul.

Although the Haqqani Network has been termed as an autonomous and integral" part of the Taliban, but it has maintained separate command and control and lines of operations.

In terms of differences between the Taliban and the Haqqani Network, the former roughly aligns Pashtun tribes of which the Haqqani Network is a part. The traditional Taliban leaders such as late Mullah Omar, his son Mullah Yaqoob and current deputy prime minister Mullah Baradar hail from greater Kandahar region in southern Afghanistan. While the Haqqani tribe lies in the more mountainous northeast.

In 2015, the death of Mullah Omar, which propelled Sirajuddins rise, created fissures between the Talibans Kandahari leaders and the Haqqani Network. Sirajuddin was named deputy emir of the Taliban under Omars immediate successor, Mullah Mansour.

After Omars immediate successor was killed in a drone strike by the US in 2016, a religious scholar, Haibatullah Akhundzada, was named the Talibans new emir.

Siraj reportedly enjoyed final authority over the appointment of Taliban shadow governors while Akhundzadas relative lack of battlefield experience meant Sirajuddin had almost total autonomy over military strategy and operations", according to War on the Rocks  a platform for analysis and debate on strategy, defense, and foreign affairs.

In August 2021, after the US militarys withdrawal from Kabul, Haqqani leaders and Taliban Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Baradar sparred over the allocation of ministerial posts. The dispute was so serious that the Pakistani intelligence chief had to fly to Kabul to oversee negotiations.

Ultimately, two Haqqani leaders were given ministerial positions in the new Taliban government: Khalil (refugees minister) and Sirajuddin (interior minister).

But within days of forming the new government, the Haqqani leaders and Baradar were reportedly engaged in a fistfight, which sent Baradar and Mullah Yaqoob fleeing to Kandahar. Reports said Baradar released a hostage" video claiming that the two sides had settled their differences. By October, he had returned to Kabul, apparently refusing a security detail from the Haqqani-led interior ministry.

Pakistans Relationship With Haqqani

As per reports, Pakistani intelligence has predictably backed the Haqqanis over Baradar. The relationship between the Haqqani leaders and Pakistani state is older and stronger.

Sirajuddins uncle, Khalil Haqqani, reportedly meets Pakistani army chief frequently and was a regular visitor to Pakistans headquarters in Rawalpindi.

This seems obvious as Pakistan got Baradar arrested in 2010 after he tried to negotiate peace talks with the US without us", a Pakistani official had told The New York Times.

The Talibans relationship with Pakistani intelligence can be characterized by tactical cooperation and mutual dependency but also substantial mistrust. Therefore, the Pakistani intelligence has sought to make itself indispensable to the group by populating it with more loyal Haqqani militants.

In the late 1990s, when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, they categorically refused to recognise the Durand Line, the de facto Afghan-Pakistani border created by the British in 1893 that divides the nearly 60 million Pashtuns in both countries.

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Mullah Omar was reportedly miffed with his Pakistani counterparts when the issue was raised. Since taking power, the Taliban again withheld recognition of the Durand Line, complaining about Pakistans efforts to fence the Afghan-Pakistani border.

Over the past three years, Sirajuddin has sought to remake his image and engage with the West through back channels. He appears to be trying to win foreign support that could help him as he tries to negotiate with Haibatullah over the Talibans most controversial policies.

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 25, 2025, 11:14 IST
Disney's 'Snow White' Controversy And Hate For 'Woke' Rachel Zegler Explained

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 15:02 IST

Disney's 'Snow White' has been bombarded with 1-star reviews on IMDb since its release. But why has the live-action movie, starring Rachel Zegler, courted so much hate and criticism online?

Disney's 'Snow White' and lead actress Rachel Zegler have faced significant criticism from fans and critics. The remake of the 1937 classic is now being 1-star review bombed on IMDb. (YouTube screengrab / Disney)

Disneys Snow White has been engulfed in controversy in what seems like forever. However, it is Rachel Zegler, the lead actresss casting that brought the project into the negative spotlight and the criticism toward the movie only furthered when viewers were left mighty unimpressed during the trailer drop. While Zeglers ethnicity and appearance made critics feel that she was a misfit for the role, it was her comments regarding the original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs released in 1937 that many noted were to appease the woke audience" and could have been avoided.

Heres why Disneys Snow White and Zegler have faced wide criticism from fans and critics alike:

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Wokeism

Zegler was interviewed at the D23 Expo 2022 where she debuted the first look of the movie in 2022. Speaking to ExtraTV, Zegler admitted that she found the OG problematic and that they avoided the love story elements where the prince stalks the character.

The original cartoon came out in 1937, and very evidently so. Theres a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird. Weird. So we didnt do that this time. Its an inner journey that she goes on to find her true self and she meets a lot of people along the way that make the journey really incredible."

Also Read: Korean Social Media Users React Strongly To Disneys Latest Snow White Trailer

Fans felt that Zegler had disrespected the legacy built by the classic tale.

Dwarves And CGI

When Zegler was not in the crossfire, Disney was. Since its drop on YouTube, Snow White trailer has widely been panned for its depiction of the dwarves, especially because of the use of photorealistic CGI that make the beloved characters stick out like a sore thumb. If that werent enough, the once-endeared woodland creatures were reduced to hyper-realistic animals  a horrid sight to many.

YouTube comments under the trailer were far from flattering and soon Snow White, the timeless epic, became the modern day meme. They finally did it. They made a movie nobody is going to pirate," mocked one user. I told my boss at work that I saw Snow White and he gave me three days off for self care," ridiculed another. Wow. Disney. You truly are incredible. It took you 3 years, multiple rewrites, unnecessary CGI, and 209 million dollars just for me to enjoy a comment section of a movie I will never watch. Bless you."

I think Disney left the comment section open because they realised this is the only traffic this movie is going to get."

IMDb 1-star Review Bomb

Did Disneys Snow White warrant so much hate and criticism? Apparently yes. Since its release on March 21, the movie has been 1-star bombed on IMDb and users of the database website have left behind scathing reviews. Calling it a missed opportunity in their detailed movie breakdown, a user wrote: Snow White is another soulless live-action remake that lacks the heart and magic of the original. While Zeglers singing is a bright spot, her acting, coupled with bad CGI and uninspired musical numbers, makes this adaptation feel unnecessary. Disney had an opportunity to bring a fresh and captivating take on Snow White, but instead, they delivered a forgettable and lackluster film. Fans of the original will likely leave disappointed, longing for the charm and artistry that made the 1937 classic a masterpiece."

A different user wrote that even their 3-year-old couldnt enjoy the flick.

(IMDb / Snow White)

This movie makes no sense. It is a complete disaster. My 3-year-old was so upset because the cartoons that she watched did not look the same in the film. Disney did not work on the script, horrible actor selection and extremely poor CGI. This movie has everything wrong with modern cinema. The lead actress has no charisma and is not talented to work on classics like Snow White."

Also Read: Why Saratoga Water Has Seen Rapid Spike In Google Searches: This Meme Is Literally Bananas

The woke adaptation" doesnt do the justice, penned down another watcher of the movie. Disneys Snow White remake is a frustrating, woke adaptation that completely misses the magic of the original. From the awkward modernization of the story to the lackluster performances, the film feels more like a soulless corporate project than a beloved fairy tale brought to life."

What Do Critics Say?

Woke desperation, soul-less, forced, awkward, questionable casting  critics mimicked fans reviews.

Also Read: Why Are People Donating Money To Comedian Kunal Kamra On YouTube?

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Its the same story all over again. The gnawing, growing Disney princess fatigue aside, this Marc Webb film is a classic case of woke desperation. Its so eager to be subversive, that it ends up being ridiculous instead," wrote Sneha Bengani in her review published on CNBCTV18. Snow White a minefield of blunders. Lets start with the films choice of casting. It has roped in an actor of Colombian descent to play a character known for her pale skin and quintessential beauty. Not just Rachel Zeglers Snow White, the casting of Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen is questionable too."

Despite being clouded in sharp reviews, Marc Webbs interpretation has collected an estimated $87.3 million in its opening weekend, BBC reported. The movie was made at an elaborate budget of $270m.

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 25, 2025, 14:59 IST
Has Kerala Surpassed Punjab In Drug Menace? The Southern States Narcotics War Explained

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 13:56 IST

In 2024, Kerala recorded 27,701 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act more than three times Punjabs 9,025 cases, according to the Union Home Ministry

The drug problem is not limited to urban areas of Kerala. In 2022, every district in Kerala recorded at least 500 cases under the NDPS Act. (Representational Photo)

Kerala is fighting a heavy-duty war on drugs, with the growing use of psychotropic substances against the youth. In the last three year, there is a sudden increase in cases of drug abuse, with the Kerala High Court warning of a drug mafia".

Several campaigns such as Love-a-Thon have been conducted in schools and colleges against drug abuse, with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan urging the police to crack down heavily on the drug trade.

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The Kerala Assembly was also suspended last month over the issue, with members across political lines speaking of the growing influence of new-age drugs on youth and the need to increase enforcement.

Keralas Drug Problems In Numbers

Kerala, which is the most literate state in India, is seeing a growing drug crisis, overtaking Punjab  the drug epicenter of the country, in numbers.

In 2024, Kerala recorded 27,701 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act more than three times Punjabs 9,025 cases, according to the Union Home Ministry.

The drug cases in the state have surged from 5,695 in 2021 to 26,619 in 2022 and surpassed 30,000 in 2023.

The state has registered 87,101 drug-related cases in the last four years  over a 130% increase over the previous four-year periods 37,228 cases, according to the state government.

This worrying trend reflects the states strict policing and enforcement laws, but at the same time highlights a growing drug crisis is infesting Indias smaller towns and rural areas.

In terms of the number of cases filed under NDPS Act in 2024, Kerala stands as a stark outlier with 78 cases per lakh people. While Punjab recorder 30 cases per lakh people. No others state had a rate more than 25 cases per one lakh people, as per a report by The Hindu.

The problem is not limited to urban areas of Kerala. In fact, every district in Kerala recorded at least 500 cases under the NDPS Act in 2022.

While Mumbai district accounted for 80% of all NDPS Act cases in Maharashtra in 2022, Bengaluru district made up 63% of Karnatakas total, as per The Hindu report.

How Are Drugs Entering Kerala?

Drug trafficking routes in Kerala span land and sea, with Bengaluru emerging as a main transit point.

In 2019, total synthetic drug seizures in Kochi amounted to just 2.49 kg. In 2023, a single haul netted 2,525 kg of methamphetamine or methan astronomical leap. While Ernakulam, which has become a hotbed of drugs in Kerala, recorded 8,567 NDPS cases from January 2023 to June 2024nearly matching Punjabs total of 9,025 cases for all of 2024, as per a report by The Economic Times.

Unlike the traditional methods where drugs were smuggled in large numbers, these days the trade is hyperlocal, operating through a network of local informal contacts than conventional supply chains.

Another Hindu report highlighted how investigators detected 1 kg of ganja couriered from Thailand to Kerala via the International Post Office in Kochi in February and the intercepted courier delivery of synthetic drugs to a peddler in Kochi in 2022, pointing to the emerging trend of using cryptocurrency through offshore banks for narcotics-related transactions.

According to officials, the Coastal Bulletin, an internal circular from the Kerala Coastal police, noticed an increased use of South Asian sea routes to smuggle drugs into southern states, including Kerala. The police have established anti-narcotic Special Operations Groups in Station Houses across Kerala and stepped up preventive detention and seizure of assets of habitual drug offenders.

What Is The Government Doing To Stop The Menace?

The Kerala Police has been spreading the word on social media, borrowing a punchline from a hit Mohanlal film  Narcotics is a dirty business."

Vigilante committees have been set up across districts, often meting out swift, brutal street justice to suspected drug peddlers. One panchayat in Malappuram has even promised a reward of Rs 10,000 for whistleblowers, as per a report by The Economic Times.

The state government has formed an anti-narcotics task force, appointing senior officer ADGP Manoj Abraham to take up the challenge.

As per a report by The Week, excise officers are trained in drug law enforcement, as well as modern methods for detecting and preventing drug trafficking. They also receive training in cyber-surveillance, financial tracking of drug networks, and forensic analysis to bolster their enforcement capabilities. But, on the ground, the cyber wing of the excise department has largely remained ineffective so far because of its dependency on the police for inputs.

It further said excise officers face delays in getting information from the police cyber wing as its requests are not prioritised and there is a lack of coordination between the two departments.

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State excise minister MB Rajesh in February highlighted the Magnitude of Substance Abuse in India Report, 2019 to prove Kerala was at the bottom of the spectrum. He showed in the Assembly that 24,517 arrests were made in the state in 2024 in narcotic-related cases  the highest in the country.

Rajesh said Keralas conviction rate for narcotic cases was 98.9% while the national average was 78%. He also said Kerala accounts for just Rs 60 crore of the Rs 16,000 crore worth of drugs seized in the country in 2023, as per online Manorama  Keralas popular news outlet.

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 25, 2025, 13:56 IST
Is Balochistan An Impending Disaster? What Does It Mean For India, Pakistans Options Explained

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 10:59 IST

A primary Baloch grievance is the construction of the mega port of Gwadar, which began in 2002 and is ongoing. India has pushed back Pakistans allegations that Baloch militants have Indias backing

Pakistan must seek a political solution to address the Baloch discontent, instead of cracking down on the locals with its militarist approach. (Photo: Reuters)

The recent high-profile bombing of railway tracks and hijacking of a passenger train by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) shows the newfound scale and ambition of the Baloch insurgency.

Pakistan claimed that total 31 people were killed, and that its military operation took out 33 Baloch insurgents. The BLA, however, called the claims a lie" and said they had executed 214 hostages who were mostly military and police personnel onboard the train, per Guardian.

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Another deadly BLA attack took place in Noshki on March 16 in which suicide bombers attacked a convoy of paramilitary forces.

All in all, the BLA claimed responsibility for 302 attacks in 2024 alone, including a bombing at Quettas main railway station that killed 26 people, including 14 soldiers.

So, what is the Pakistan government doing to contain the insurgency, which has become lethal over the last few months, what do we know about Baloch peoples demands and how much is India impacted with the neighbour problem. Let us understand.

Who Are The Baloch?

The Baloch are a Sunni Muslim ethnic group who live on both sides of the Iran-Pakistan border, and also in parts of southern Afghanistan. Balochistan forms the largest part of this region, followed by the province of Sistan and Balochistan on the Iranian side.

The area, which is roughly the size of France, is sparsely populated by around 9 million Balochs who are organised into tribes rather than feeling that they belong to a state.

Balochistan is the largest and least populated of Pakistans provinces and the most impoverished, with around 70% of its population classed as multidimensionally poor. The province is rich in natural resources such as gold, diamonds, silver, and copper.

After Partition, Balochistan remained independent until March 1948 as part of a friendship treaty with the new state of Pakistan. The Khan of Kalat, the main tribal leader whose writ ran over much of the region, was keen to remain independent, but came under tremendous pressure to join Pakistan, including from his feudatories, the rulers of Makran, Las Bela, and Kharan.

For decades, the Baloch have been fighting for their autonomy or independence, which have been met with violent suppression on both sides of the border. In Pakistan, such efforts are viewed as attempts to fragment the nation  while in Iran, the situation is further complicated by the Baloch being a Sunni Muslim minority in a predominantly Shiite country.

In Pakistan, over 10,000 Baloch have disappeared since 2011, according to Amnesty International.

What Do We Know About Balochistan Insurgency?

The Pakistans troubled south-western province, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has been under insurgency since the birth of Balochistan in 1948. Violent separatist uprisings, which were largely tribal-led, took place again in 1958, 1962 and 1973.

But in early 2000s, the violence took a turn. Baloch nationalists, who had long accused the Pakistani government and military of exploiting Balochistans mineral resources, oppressing its people and rigging its elections, began to mobilise into organised insurgent armies that called for an independent Baloch state.

Though the operation was marked by sporadic attacks and ambushes for years. But the insurgency gathered a momentum in recent years.

How The Balochistan Liberation Army Was Created?

The BLA, created in the early 2000s, is the largest Baloch militant group and has been fighting an insurgency against the Pakistani government for decades, seeking independence for Balochistan and the expulsion of China.

BLA militants have carried out attacks, particularly targeting Pakistani security forces and Beijings CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) project.

The ethnic Baloch, who constitute a majority in Balochistan, are angry with the Pakistani government for what they perceive as unfair exploitation of their regions resources.

Pakistan banned the BLA in 2006, and the United States designated it as a global terrorist organisation in 2019.

In its statement, the BLA said its fidayeen" or suicide squad unit Majeed Brigade was leading March 11 hijacking of the Jaffar Express.

The Majeed Brigade has been active since 2011, and has been involved in other attacks, including on a complex near Balochistans Gwadar port in March 2024, which resulted in the deaths of several security personnel and militants.

Of late, the BLA has become highly media savvy, sending out coordinated press releases about their attacks and posting videos across X, TikTok, Telegram and Instagram glorifying their violence.

What Fuelled The Balochistan Movement

The military coup in 1999 that brought Pervez Musharraf to power in Pakistan increased alienation among the Balochs. This is because Balochs see the army as lacking Baloch representation due to its domination by the interests of the Punjabithe main ethnic group in Pakistan that accounts for about 45% of the countrys population."

A primary Baloch grievance is the construction of the mega port of Gwadar, which began in 2002 and is ongoing. Despite its importance, the Pakistani government has excluded Balochs from the Gwadar development process. The project is run entirely by the federal government and employs few Balochs in construction of the massive port, instead relying on Chinese engineers and labourers.

Another factor that flared up tensions between Baloch and the Pakistani government is the killing of their leader Nawab Akbar Bugti by the army in 2006, according to a report by The International Affairs Review.

The transition from the military government of Musharraf to the civilian government of President Asif Ali Zadari in 2008 did little to assuage Baloch discontent. In 2009, 792 attacks resulting in 386 deaths were recorded; around 92% of the attacks were linked to Baloch nationalist militants. Violence increased in 2010, with 730 attacks carried out resulting in 600 deaths.

Another contemporary conflict driver is the US-led war in Afghanistan. It has further marginalised Balochs in two ways. First, the war has caused an influx of Pashtun refugees from Afghanistan into Balochistan, numerically downsizing the Baloch population within their own province. Second, an influx of extremist militants has brought more federal army and paramilitary troops into the province, which has unnerved Baloch nationalists. Many displaced Taliban troops fleeing from Afghanistan have settled in Balochistan. In fact, Quetta, the provincial capital, has become the de facto capital of al Qaeda and the Taliban in Pakistan.

In January, the BLA was at the centre of allegations by Pakistan over the use of militant bases in Iran to stage attacks against Pakistan. This led to tit-for-tat cross-border missile and air strikes that almost brought Iran and Pakistan to the brink of war.

How BLA Is Gaining Strength

Analysts believe the BLAs growing strength shows failure on part of the Pakistan government to counter BLA fighters and its reliance on outdated strategies.

Malik Siraj Akbar, a Balochistan specialist based in Washington, DC, told Al Jazeera, the BLA has evolved from carrying out small-scale attacks, such as targeting individuals or sabotaging pipelines, to large-scale operations.

The BLA has also strengthened its command structure by giving field militants more direct control over operations, Rafiullah Kakar, a political analyst specialising in Balochistan affairs, told Al Jazeera.

In recent months, Balochistan has witnessed a dramatic surge in violence. Last month, at least 18 soldiers were killed in a BLA attack in Kalat city. Earlier in March, a female suicide bomber detonated herself, also in Kalat, killing a law enforcement officer.

The Jaffar Express has been targeted multiple times. Last year, BLA fighters blew up a section of the track, disrupting the train service for two months.

In November, a suicide bombing at Quettas railway station targeted the train just before departure, killing at least 30 people, including security personnel.

Analysts fear that peaceful activists will bear the brunt of such attacks and any retribution from the Pakistani government.

What Is Indian Government Stand?

India has outrightly pushed back allegations made by the Pakistan Foreign Office and military establishment, who claim that India was backing the Baloch militants.

We strongly reject the baseless allegations made by Pakistan. The whole world knows where the epicentre of global terrorism lies. Pakistan should look inwards instead of pointing fingers and shifting the blame for its own internal problems and failures on others," the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

India will continue to monitor the situation in Balochistan closely. Recent terrorist attacks in Jammu have prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to caution Pakistan against using terrorism or proxy warfare against India. India contends that Pakistan needs to reflect on why there has been a rise in attacks in both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan since the Afghan Talibans return to Kabul, as per a report by The Economic Times.

What Are Pakistans Options?

In the interest of regional stability, Pakistan must seek a political solution to address the Baloch discontent, instead of cracking down on the local population with its militarist approach.

The Pakistani government must look into Baloch peoples grievances, particularly exploitation of resources, which remains a sensitive issue. Insurgency has been boosted by the perception among the local people that they are being denied benefits of the exploration of Balochistans considerable mineral resources.

A Baloch activist told Voice of America that Gwadar is being called a game-changer for Pakistan and China, so it was important to tell them and the international media that this land belongs to us the crackdown shows Baloch are not allowed to enter Gwadar."

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Pakistan should also find a way to engage civil rights groups like the Baloch Yakjehti Committee that want to peacefully raise issues like enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

With Baloch people largely considered secular, the Pakistan government should ensure that they dont work with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is driven by extremist ideology.

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 25, 2025, 08:30 IST
Why Are People Donating Money To Comedian Kunal Kamra On YouTube?

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 10:01 IST

Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has been showered with donations on YouTube. Here's why.

Comedian Kunal Kamra's gaddar jibe at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde triggered controversy and donations on YouTube. (X/Kunal Kamra)

Comedian Kunal Kamras YouTube video targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde with gaddar" remark has reignited the freedom of speech" debate on social media. Kamra has been criticised for misusing" the fundamental right by expressing views on the stage that the angry mob believed overstepped the boundary of what was acceptable. They called it defamatory in nature. On Sunday, Shiv Sena workers vandalised the Mumbai studio where the 36-year-old comedians show was recorded. Police complaint against Kamra and threats followed soon. However, despite the hurricane of controversy that Kamra has driven himself to, there was a section of people online that was happily emptying their wallets for the comedian. But why?

Controversy

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Giving a twist to Bholi Si Surat track from 1997s Dil To Pagal Hai, Kamra took shots at Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde. Meri nazar se tum dekho to gaddar nazar wo aaye. Haaye!" Kamra said while reading out the altered lyrics of the popular song on stage. The modified song was to highlight Shindes rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government in Maharashtra in 2022.

This wasnt received well by the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who stated that freedom of expression was encouraged but it shouldnt lead to tyranny. Eknath Shinde ji has been insulted, and an attempt has been made to do so. This will not be tolerated. The elections have proven who the traitors are. No stand-up comedian should have the right to call such a big leader a traitor," Fadnavis said.

There is freedom to do stand-up comedy, but he cannot speak whatever he wants. The people of Maharashtra have decided who the traitor is. Kunal Kamra should apologise. This will not be tolerated," he added. The CM also noted that appropriate action would be taken against the comedian and that Kamra needed to apologise for his act.

Venue Vandalised

Shiv Sena leaders were seen turning the studio upside down as videos of party workers vandalising the venue where Kamras video was shot went viral online. 12 Sena leaders were arrested and later granted bail. Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel who lodged an FIR against the comedian demanded an apology from Kamra stating that The Shiv Sainiks will not let him move freely in Mumbai," before adding, If he is seen anywhere in public, we will paint his face black."

The studios official Instagram handle informed that they were shutting down and figuring out a way to provide artists a stage for free expression without putting themselves in the crossfire.

Also Read: Kunal Kamras Call Records, Bank Details Under Maharashtra Govt Scanner After Eknath Shinde Parody

We are shocked, worried, and extremely broken by the recent acts of vandalism targeting us."

Artists are solely responsible for their views and creative choices. We have never been involved in the content performed by any Artist, but the recent events have made us rethink about how we get blamed and targeted every time almost like we are a proxy for the performer."

We are shutting down till we figure out the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting ourselves and our property in jeopardy. We invite all artists, audience and stakeholders to discuss and share their views freely and request your guidance so that we also respect the performers rights," the studio wrote in the post.

Freedom Of Speech

Mere ko toh acha laga, acha kiya: Kunal Kamra when Kangana Ranauts office was demolished by the BMC. Sanjay Raut was mocking the demolition, and this was Kamras response. Before you stand for his freedom of speech, do watch this. Just an observation," a user wrote on X while sharing an old video where Kamra and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut discussed about actress Kangana Ranaut whose Mumbai house was demolished in 2020 by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) amid her battle with Shiv Sena.

'Mere ko toh acha laga, acha kiya': Kunal Kamra when Kangana Ranaut's office was demolished by the BMC. Sanjay Raut was mocking the demolition, and this was Kamra's response. Before you stand for his 'freedom of speech', do watch this. Just an observation. pic.twitter.com/nH5FZIEFIx  Tushar Gupta (@Tushar15_) March 24, 2025

Also Read: Kangana Ranaut Recalls 2020 House Demolition Incident: Violence Was Unleashed On Me

this thing was amended for the first time to take away the guarantee of free speech. free speech with random restraints is not a right. its a privilege. tamil nadu resident kamra enjoys the privilege as long as he doesnt sh*t on stalin like he did on shinde, (sic)" wrote another user.

The only time you can take umbrage from freedom of speech is if it incites violence. Kunal Kamras act does no such thing. Any political leader who is mature and confident will laugh along," a user wrote in Kamras defence.

YouTube Donations

As Kamras parody song set the social media aflame, folks on YouTube came out with extinguishers. Hundreds and thousands of supporters from different corners of the world emptied their wallets for the comedian. They did so using YouTubes Super Thanks," a feature for the viewer to support the creator directly. This was their way to support the comedians freedom of speech" while also noting that his sharp political satire was brave" in nature and it would invariably lead to cancellation of Kamras future prospects such as stand-up gigs.

Thanks Kunal for having the courage to speak out. I hope everyone will put their money where their mouth is and support the freedom of speech in our country," a YouTuber commenter wrote while donating Rs 179.

Another commenter, donating 99.99, wrote: They will come for you for this. Please setup a fundraiser and we will foot your bills for pulling no punches. Cheers mate."

Also Read: Rise Up, Get Constructive: Sena Reacts To Kunal Kamras Statement, Alleges He Wants To Spoil Law & Order

Its a dark time for any country when comedy requires bravery," a third wrote. They donated $5 to Kamra.

(YouTube screenshots / Kunal Kamra | Naya Bharat)

Streisand Effect?

The controversy wouldnt have birthed had Kunal Kamras parody video been left alone and not shared like hot potato across media platforms and WhatsApp groups, opined a few. The mere act of taking offence to a comedy video only brought more eyeballs to Kamras sharp jibes that have now been viewed by tens of millions of people across India and beyond. Lesser people would have seen Kunals show. But Eknath Shindes workers ensured it reaches the masses now," typed down an X user.

Kunal Kamra Responds

Kamra minced no words in a statement he issued on X.

Our right to freedom of speech and expression is not only to be used to fawn over the powerful and rich even though todays media would have us believe otherwise. Your inability to take a joke at the expense of a powerful public figure does not change the nature of my right. As far as I know, it is not against the law to poke fun at our leaders and the circus that is our political system," Kamra wrote.

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I am willing to cooperate with the police and courts for any lawful action taken against me. But will the law be fairly and equally deployed against those who have decided that vandalism is the appropriate response to being offended by a joke?" he said.

The comedian slammed Shiv Sena for vandalism and asserted that the venue (Habitat) wasnt responsible for his comedy nor had any say in his content.

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 25, 2025, 09:38 IST
Why Do Some People Get Tattoos And Others Dont? Is There A Genetic Reason? Explained

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News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht



Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 15:35 IST

The researchers of the University of Southern Denmark found that genetic differences have little to do anything with individuals wanting to get tattooed

Scientists have found that tattoos are more than 5,000 years old. (File Photo: Shutterstock)

Tattoos have become a more common sight in workplaces around India. But what makes some individuals get inked and other dont? Is it about genes?

A study by the University of Southern Denmark in Odense found differences in individuals propensity to get tattooed were not due to nature but because of nurture.

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Let us find out.

History Of Tattoos

A tattoo is an indelible mark or design registered on the skin by injecting inks and dyes into a skin layer called the dermis. There, the pigment particles become engulfed and subsequently kept in place by cells of the bodys immune system, making them permanent.

Scientists have found that tattoos are more than 5,000 years old. Some hikers in 1991 found the mummified remains of a man named Otzi  the iceman in northern Italy, who had tattoos on his body.

The earliest known examples of tattoos on actual bodies were for a long time Egyptian and were present on several female mummies dated to circa 2000 B.C.E, as per Smithsonian magazine. But following the more recent discovery of the Iceman in 1991, this date has been pushed back a further thousand years when he was carbon-dated at around 5,200 years old.

Not just men, women too had tattoos on their bodies and limbs from figurines circa 4000-3500 B.C.E. to occasional female figures represented in tomb scenes circa 1200 B.C.E. and in figurine form circa 1300 B.C.E., all with tattoos on their thighs, the magazine reported.

What Was The Purpose Of Having Tattoos?

As tattooing seemed to be an exclusively female practice in ancient Egypt  [though recent finds prove at least one man was inked]mummies found with tattoos were usually dismissed by the (male) excavators who seemed to assume the women were of dubious status," described in some cases as dancing girls."

Although there is no explicit written evidence in ancient Egypt, it may well be that the older women of a community would create the tattoos for the younger women, as happened in 19th-century Egypt and happens in some parts of the world today.

Whats The Connection Between Tattoos And Genes?

There is no genetic connection between people who get inked and those who dont, as per the researchers of the University of Southern Denmark.

Identical twins are also known as monozygotic twins and non-identical twins are called dizygotic twins. Monozygotic twins are always of the same biological sex, whereas dizygotic twins can be either of the same or of different sexes.

If both members of a twin pair sport a tattoo, they are further said to be concordant. They are also concordant if both dont. But if one twin has a tattoo and the other doesnt, they are said to be discordant, the study highlighted.

The researchers were also curious whether there was a greater concordance in monozygotic twins than in dizygotic twins of the same sex. The research came up empty.

Thus, the finding revealed that genetic differences have little to do anything with individuals wanting to get tattooed.

In 2021, researchers from the Seoul National University College of Medicine in South Korea reported in the journal BJOG the concordance rates for several different birth defects found in 3,386 monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs born between 2001 and 2019.

What Are The Health Risks Of Tattoos?

Tattoos can lead to a number of risks, including skin infections, allergic reactions and scarring. While researchers have studied a possible link between tattoos and cancer, there is so far no concrete evidence to show one leads to the other.

Instead, researchers believe there could be a coincidence between the two.

Some tattoo inks contain a substance called azo, which is also used in car paints. Earlier research indicates that red ink used in tattoos increases the risk of liver cancer in rats who were exposed to red azo pigments, as per Healthline.com.

Black inks are too considered a higher risk. A 2016 report from the Australian government found that 83 percent of the black inks tested contained a carcinogen called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Another potential risk is exposure to Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS due to unsterlised needles.

Other health risks include scarring, skin infections and allergic reactions.

Unlike a skin infection, allergic reaction is usually caused by the type of ink used. Your chances of developing an allergic reaction would get higher if you have a history of allergies or have sensitive skin.

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The process of tattooing creates a wound deep within the dermis (middle layer) of your skin. Its important to take care of the new tattoo so that the wound may heal and youre left with ink you can be proud of.

Before going under the needle, it is always advisable to find a licensed, reputable tattoo artist and ask about their sanitation practices, process of handling needles, policy of wearing gloves and licensing and experience.

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 25, 2025, 15:28 IST
'It's Legal': Kangana Ranaut Reacts To Kunal Kamra Row, Says 'What Was Done To Me Was Illegal'

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Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 14:14 IST

Kangana Ranaut's comments come amid the ongoing controversy over Shiv Sena workers vandalising a Mumbai studio in protest against Kamra's parody of Eknath Shinde.

Kangana Ranaut slammed Kunal Kamra's jokes targeting Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde.

BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut on Tuesday criticised comedian Kunal Kamras jokes about Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, asserting that it is inappropriate to disrespect someone for their humble beginnings. Ranaut, who faced bulldozer action during Uddhav Thackerays regime, deemed the move against her illegal" but stated that the action against Kamra is legal."

Ranauts comments come amid the ongoing controversy over Shiv Sena workers vandalising a Mumbai studio in protest against Kamras parody of Shinde, the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister. The vandalism was followed by the demolition of the Khar studio, with civic officials citing building law violations.

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Ranaut, while speaking to the media, emphasised that she does not want to link her past experiences with the current situation. That was illegal; this is illegal. Insulting someone, especially a person who values respect and has worked hard to rise from humble beginnings, is wrong," she said.

Slamming Kamra, Kangana Ranaut questioned his credentials and condemned the use of abusive language in comedy, mocking religious texts, and making jokes about family members for fleeting fame. Where is our society headed?" she asked.

Ranaut supported Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnaviss statement that individuals must take responsibility for their words and actions. Do not connect that episode with this. That was illegal, this action is legal," she reiterated.

Recalling her 2020 experience, the actor took to X and wrote, They called me names like haramkhor, threatened me, served a notice late in the night to my watchman and next morning before courts could open bulldozers demolished the entire house. High court called the demolition completely illegal."

They laughed at it and raised a toast to my pain and public humiliation. It seems your insecurity and mediocrity has not only made you bitter and stupid but it had blinded you as well, its not some third class series or atrocious films that you make, dont try to sell your dumb lies and agendas here in the matters related to my ordeals, stay out of it," she added.

They called me names like haramkhor, threatened me, served a notice late in the night to my watchman and next morning before courts could open bulldozers demolished the entire house. High court called the demolition completely illegal.They laughed at it and raised a toast to https://t.co/eUF54JQqOp Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) March 25, 2025

Kangana Ranaut On Demolition In 2020

In September 2020, when Uddhav Thackeray was the Chief Minister, a part of Ranauts Mumbai office in Pali Hill was demolished by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for alleged encroachment.

The demolition led to a dispute between Ranaut and Shiv Sena leaders after actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death. She had compared Mumbai to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, criticising the citys law and order.

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Ranaut took the matter to court and won a significant victory when the Bombay High Court halted the demolition and questioned the BMCs motives.

As the debate over the actions against Kunal Kamra continues, with the Opposition supporting the comedian, some have cited Ranauts case, accusing the Uddhav Thackeray-led party of hypocrisy in its current stance.

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 25, 2025, 13:42 IST
'Big Victory For PM Modi': Amit Shah Says 2 Hurriyat Groups Announce Severing Ties With Separatism In J&K

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Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 13:13 IST

Amit Shah announced that separatist groups Hurriyat, J&K People's Movement, and the Democratic Political Movement, have severed ties with separatism, calling it a "big victory" for PM Modi's policies.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah (Photo: PTI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that separatist groups Hurriyat, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement, and the Democratic Political Movement have announced severing all ties with separatism.

Terming the development a big victory" for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah said the Prime Ministers policies have tossed separatism out of Jammu and Kashmir".

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Separatism has become history in Kashmir. The unifying policies of the Modi government have tossed separatism out of J&K," Amit Shah wrote in an X post.

Two organizations of the Hurriyat, J&K Peoples Movement and the Democratic Political Movement, have announced the severing of all ties with separatism," he added.

I welcome this step towards strengthening Bharats unity and urge all such groups to come forward and shed separatism once and for all. It is a big victory for PM Shri @narendramodi Jis vision of building a developed, peaceful and unified Bharat," Shahs post read.

Separatism has become history in Kashmir.The unifying policies of the Modi government have tossed separatism out of J&K. Two organizations of the Hurriyat, J&K Peoples Movement and the Democratic Political Movement, have announced the severing of all ties with separatism. I  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 25, 2025

The development comes days after the Union Home Ministry (MHA) banned the Mirwaiz Umer Farooq-headed Awami Action Committee (ACC) for five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

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The MHA also banned J&K Ittehadul Muslimeen (JKIM) headed by Maulvi Masroor Abbas Ansari for five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Amit Shah in a post on social media platform X said that these organisations were inciting people to disrupt law and order, posing a threat to the unity and integrity of the country.

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 25, 2025, 13:12 IST
Woman Plots Husband's Murder Within 2 Weeks Of Wedding, Uses 'Shagun' Cash & Lover's Help To Hire Killer

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News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 17:39 IST

Unhappy with the marriage and determined to be with her lover, the woman and her lover hatched a plan to kill Dilip.

The three accused were identified on the basis of CCTV footage and arrested. (X)

As the Meerut Merchant Navy officers brutal murder by his wife and her lover shook the nation, another horrific case came into limelight from Uttar Pradeshs Auraiya where a 22-year-old woman hatched a plan with her lover and hired contract killers to kill her husband whom she married just two weeks ago.

As per news agency PTI, the accused woman, identified as Pragati Yadav, was in a relationship with her lover, identified as Anurag Yadav for the past four years. However, she was forced by her family to marry 25-year-old Dilip Yadav on March 5, police said.

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Auraiya Superintendent of Police Abijith R Shankar said that unhappy with the marriage and determined to be with her lover, Pragati and Anurag hatched a conspiracy to kill Dilip. The two then hired a contract killer, identified as Ramaji Chaudhary, to murder Dilip and paid him Rs 2 lakh to do the job, the police said.

According to AajTak report, Pragati used the shagun" cash she received during the wedding rituals to hire the contract killer for Rs 2 lakh.

On March 19, Dilip was returning from Kannauj, where he had gone for some work. As per the police, the contract killer along with some other people, took Dilip to the fields on a bike. Upon reaching, they started beating the victim and shot him.

The locals found him in a severely injured state and informed the police. He was rushed to the community health center in Bidhuna for treatment. He was taken to Saifai Hospital and then moved to Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. He was then shifted to a hospital in Auraiya where he succumbed to his injuries on the night of March 21, Sahar SHO Pankaj Mishra told PTI.

How The Accused Were Nabbed?

The crime came into limelight when police examined CCTV footage of the nearby areas. The footage showed Dilip being taken away on a motorcycle. This led to the identification of Ramji. Acting on the intellegence, police arrested both Ramji and Anurag. During the interrogation, both men confessed to the crime and revealed the mastermind behind the murder- Pragati.

Officials also seized two pistols, four live cartridges, a bike, two mobile phones, one purse, Aadhar card, and Rs 3,000 from the accused.

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In a similar case, a Merchant Navy officer- Saurabh Rajput- from Meerut was murdered, chopped up and the 15-odd pieces of his body were put into a drum and sealed with cement, the police said. The investigation into the case brought to fore an extramarital affair between Saurabh Rajputs wife Muskan Rastogi and her lover Sahil Shukla.

(With inputs from PTI)

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More

Location : Auraiya, India, India

First Published: March 25, 2025, 17:09 IST
Bengaluru Woman Mixes Sleeping Pills With Husbands Food, Kills Him With Mothers Help Over Affairs

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Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 07:28 IST

A Bengaluru woman and her mother were arrested for killing businessman Loknath Singh over his extramarital affairs and illegal businesses. They spiked his food with sleeping pills and slit his throat.

Police have arrested the mother-daughter duo. (Image for representation)

Angry over his multiple extra-marital affairs and illegal businesses, a Bengaluru woman allegedly spiked her businessman husbands food using sleeping pills and later slit his throat to kill him with the help of his mother.

Police have arrested the mother-daughter duo for killing the victim, 37-year-old real-estate businessman Loknath Singh.

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According to an NDTV report, police said the incident came to light when the body of the victim was found by a few people in an abandoned car in a deserted area in Chikkabanavara on Saturday.

We had received a distress call on 112 at 5.30pm on Saturday, informing us about the body. We have arrested his wife and mother-in-law for the crime. Further investigation is underway," North Bangalore Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Saidul Adavath said was quoted as saying by NDTV.

The police revealed that a preliminary investigation showed the accused initially spiked the mans food with sleeping pills to make him drowsy. They then drove him to a secluded area and slit his throat with a knife before fleeing. The killing was attributed to the victims alleged extramarital affairs and illegal business transactions.

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Police stated that Loknath had been in a relationship with the woman for two years before they registered their marriage in Kunigal in December. Although his family opposed the relationship due to the age gap, neither side was aware of the marriage. Shortly after the wedding, Loknath left his wife at her parents house. Her family only learned about the marriage two weeks ago. Around the same time, Loknaths wife and in-laws discovered his alleged extramarital affairs and illegal business dealings, according to the police.

The relationship deteriorated as the couple frequently argued and even considered divorce. The situation worsened when Loknath allegedly began threatening his in-laws and warning them of dire consequences, leading his wife and her mother to devise a plan to kill him. The police also mentioned that Loknath was being investigated by the Bengaluru Central Crime Branch in connection with a fraud case.

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 25, 2025, 07:28 IST
Mar 25, 2025 12:28 IST

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta announced that new CM Shree schools will be made in Delhi, allocating Rs 100 crores for the same.

The CM also announced 175 new computer labs for schools of the national capital, allotting Rs 50 crore for the same.

Besides this, CM Gupta said that the government has allocated Rs 100 crore for making smart classes. The BJP government aims to make 60,000 classes as smart classes.

CM Gupta also said that 1,200 students will be given laptops, adding that those who have passed class 10th exams will be eligible.

She added that Rs 500 crore have been allocated for making Delhi an education hub.
'Like Taking Supari To Speak Against Someone': Eknath Shinde Reacts To Kunal Kamra's Remark

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Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 11:24 IST

Reacting to the ongoing Kunal Kamra controversy, Eknath Shinde slammed the comedian and said that freedom of speech should have limits.

Eknath Shinde/Kunal Kamra (Photos: PTI/Social Media)

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday said there should be a limit to any satire, and said a decorum should be maintained while taking jibes, otherwise the action causes a reaction.

Speaking in reference to Kunal Kamras controversial remark against him during one of his stand-up comedies, Shinde also likened Kamras jibe at him to taking supari (contract) to speak against someone.

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Freedom of speech is there, we understand satire, but there should be a limit," Shinde said.

This is like taking supari (contract) to speak against someone," he said at a BBC Marathi event.

The other person should also maintain a certain level, otherwise, action causes a reaction," he added.

This same person (Kamra) had commented on the Supreme Court of India, the Prime Minister, and some industrialists. This is not freedom of speech, this is working for someone," Shinde said.

The 36-year-old comedian has kicked up a major political storm in Maharashtra for taking a jibe at Shindes political career in his show by modifying the lyrics of a popular Hindi movie song.

On Monday, Kamra said he would not apologise for his remarks.

As multiple videos of Kamras humour went viral, workers of the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) ransacked the shows venue.

Later, they also got a First Information Report (FIR) registered against Kamra.

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The same day, the Mumbai Police arrested Shiv Sena functionary Rahul Kanal and 11 others for vandalising the Mumbai hotel venue.

Hours later, a magistrates court granted bail to all of them.

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 25, 2025, 10:01 IST
Give Custodianship Of Historic Forts To Maharashtra Government: Minister Ashish Shelar To Centre

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 17:57 IST

The Maharashtra government has urged the Centre to transfer the custodianship of centrally protected forts under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to the state for better preservation and tourism development

Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar (in pic) has written to Union minister of culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. (X)

Maharashtras historic forts, which stand as powerful symbols of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajs valour and legacy, may soon see improved conservation efforts.

The Maharashtra government has urged the Centre to transfer the custodianship of centrally protected forts under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to the state for better preservation and tourism development.

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Cultural affairs minister Ashish Shelar has written to Union minister of culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, requesting the transfer.

In his letter dated March 24 , Shelar emphasised Maharashtras proactive role in preserving its heritage, highlighting the states ongoing conservation work on forts under its jurisdiction.

Currently, Maharashtra is home to 54 Centre- and 62 state-protected forts. The state government believes that having control over the ASI forts will enable it to implement focused restoration efforts, promote heritage-friendly tourism, and engage corporate donors through initiatives like Maha Varasa and Vaibhav Sangopan.

The Maharashtra cabinet, in its meeting on February 18 , had expressed its strong intent to preserve Maratha-era forts, which hold deep historical and emotional significance. The government argues that since these forts are integral to Maharashtras identity, local authorities are better positioned to ensure their proper maintenance.

Maharashtra has already taken a major step by pushing for 12 historic forts to be included in UNESCOs World Heritage Sites list. A delegation, led by ASIs Additional Director General (Conservation and World Heritage) Janhwij Sharma, recently presented this proposal at ICOMOS, Paris, under the theme Maratha Military Landscape of India. The forts under consideration include Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Panhala, Shivneri, Lohagad, Salher, Sindhudurg, Suvarnadurg, Vijaydurg, Khanderi Fort in Maharashtra, and Jinji Fort in Tamil Nadu.

Shelar assured that Maharashtras Directorate of Archaeology and Museums is fully equipped to take up conservation work. The department has empanelled contractors and specialised conservation architects who can undertake heritage restoration while preserving the forts original essence.

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These forts were once the strongholds of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and they continue to inspire millions. It is our duty to safeguard them for future generations," Shelar said, urging the Centre to act swiftly in transferring the forts.

By gaining control over these historic sites, Maharashtra aims to ensure better upkeep, boost heritage tourism, and strengthen the forts cultural legacy.

About the Author Mayuresh Ganapatye Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. He previously worked with... Read More Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. He previously worked with... Read More

First Published: March 25, 2025, 17:49 IST
India Eyes Rs 3 Lakh Crore Defence Production By 2025 After 174% Surge In 10 Years

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 22:49 IST

Defence exports have skyrocketed from 686 crore in FY 2013-14 to an all-time high of 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24, marking a 30-fold increase over the past 10 years

The government has also introduced several measures to enhance the ease of doing business in the defence manufacturing sector. (Photo: X/SpokespersonMoD)

Since 2014, Indias defence sector has shifted its focus towards production and exports, witnessing a remarkable rise from 46,429 crore to 1.27 lakh crore over the past decade. This represents a surge of 174%, and the momentum shows no signs of slowing. The ambitious new target is to achieve a production value of 3 lakh crore by the end of 2025.

Once heavily reliant on foreign suppliers, India has emerged as a growing force in indigenous defence manufacturing. The country is now not only meeting its own needs but also supporting defence requirements of other nations.

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Countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Armenia, France, and the USA are either importing defence equipment from India or are in advanced stages of negotiations.

Defence exports have skyrocketed from 686 crore in FY 2013-14 to an all-time high of 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24, marking a 30-fold increase over the past 10 years.

Made-in-Bihar Boots In Russia

Highlighting the capabilities of Indian industry, a defence official noted that the Russian Army is currently using boots manufactured in Bihar, India. These boots, produced at a facility in Hajipur by an Indian company, are designed to meet the Russian Armys stringent standards. Lightweight, slip-resistant, and capable of enduring extreme weather conditions down to -40 degrees Celsius, these specialised military boots showcase Indias manufacturing prowess.

Key Defence Ministrys Initiatives

A defence official remarked, Initiatives like Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) have fostered a thriving ecosystem for innovation and technology development in the defence and aerospace sectors. By engaging MSMEs, startups, individual innovators, R&D institutes, and academia, iDEX has provided grants of up to 1.5 crore to develop cutting-edge technologies. We are effectively leveraging our industrys capabilities, and its yielding significant results."

The government has also introduced several measures to enhance the ease of doing business in the defence manufacturing sector. Additionally, two Defence Industrial Corridors (DICs) have been established in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to promote defence production. These corridors offer incentives to companies investing in the sector, further strengthening the ecosystem.

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Ambitious Targets

Defence exports have grown 21 times, from 4,312 crore in the 2004-14 decade to 88,319 crore in the 2014-24 decade. The government aims to achieve 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029, solidifying Indias position as a global defence manufacturing hub while driving economic growth," stated the official from the Ministry of Defence.

About the Author Akash Sharma Akash Sharma, Defence Correspondent, CNN-News 18, covers the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways. In addition, he also follows developments in the national capital. With an extensive experience coverin... Read More Akash Sharma, Defence Correspondent, CNN-News 18, covers the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways. In addition, he also follows developments in the national capital. With an extensive experience coverin... Read More

First Published: March 25, 2025, 22:09 IST
'Does Not Validate Cross-Border Terrorism': India Slams Pakistan's 'Unwarranted' References To J&K

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 08:06 IST

India firmly rejected Pakistans repeated references to Jammu and Kashmir at the UN, reaffirming that J&K is an integral part of India and condemning Pakistans diversionary tactics.

India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish (Video screengrab/ANI)

India has strongly rejected Pakistans repeated references to Jammu and Kashmir and has termed those unwarranted". Further, India also reaffirmed that the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir was, is, and will always be an integral part of India.

The remarks, by Indias Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, came while he was speaking at a UN debate on peacekeeping reforms.

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Harish condemned Pakistan for attempting to divert attention" from the core discussions on peacekeeping.

He stated, India is compelled to note that the delegate of Pakistan has yet again resorted to unwarranted remarks on the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Such repeated references neither validate their illegal claims nor justify their state-sponsored cross-border terrorism."

Jammu and Kashmir was, is, and will always be an integral part of India," he noted.

Harish further emphasised that Pakistan itself is illegally occupying part of Jammu and Kashmir and must vacate the territory.

Pakistan continues to illegally occupy the territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which it must vacate," he said, making it clear that India would not allow its sovereignty to be questioned at global forums.

Rejecting Pakistans attempts to use the platform for its parochial and divisive agenda," Harish added, We would advise Pakistan not to try to divert attention of this forum."

India, he noted, would not engage in a detailed response but made its position clear.

India will refrain from exercising a more elaborate Right of Reply," he concluded.

#IndiaAtUNPR @AmbHarishP delivered s statement at the @UN Security Council Open Debate on Advancing Adaptability in UN Peace Operations. He highlighted:  UN peacekeeping must adapt to modern threats: non-state actors, technology, misinformation.  Troop and pic.twitter.com/DdwOFVHlSO  India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) March 24, 2025

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At the session, Harish also highlighted the role of troop- and police-contributing countries in shaping mandates and called for adequate funding" to match operational requirements.

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 25, 2025, 08:06 IST
'Inhuman': Madras High Court Orders Rs 1 Lakh Compensation For Denial Of Maternity Leave To Court Staff

Reported By :

LawBeat

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 15:51 IST

The female court staff was denied maternity leave because she failed to produce a marriage certificate to prove her marriage.

Kavitha, a widow who remarried in April 2024, had applied for leave in October 2024 but was turned down despite providing photographs and a wedding invitation as evidence of her marriage. (Representational Image: Shutterstock)

The Madras High Court recently set aside the rejection of maternity leave for a court staff member, calling the decision inhuman" and directing the authorities to grant her leave along with full salary. Court also ordered a compensation of Rs 1 lakh for the mental agony caused by the denial.

The case involved B Kavitha, an office assistant at the District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate Court in Kodavasal, Thiruvarur district. Her maternity leave application was rejected on November 7, 2024, on the grounds that she had not produced a marriage certificate. The magistrate also questioned the timing of her pregnancy, suggesting that it occurred before her marriage.

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Kavitha, a widow who remarried in April 2024, had applied for leave in October 2024 but was turned down despite providing photographs and a wedding invitation as evidence of her marriage. Her earlier complaint against her husband Bharathi, accusing him of deception before their eventual marriage, was also dismissed as insufficient proof.

A division bench of Justice R Subramanian and Justice G Arul Murugan condemned the rejection, stating that an employer cannot demand absolute proof of marriage unless it is disputed.

In the days were even live in relationships are recognized by the Honble Supreme Court, the learned District Munsif cum Judicial Magistrate, Kodavasal, appears to have taken archaic view of the matter and has fished fir and found out reasons for rejection of the application of the petitioner. This, in our opinion, is wholly unwarranted," the court observed.

The division bench criticized the magistrate for making unfounded assumptions about the pregnancy and noted that maternity leave cannot be denied based on such personal judgments. It also took exception to the Principal District Judge of Thiruvarur supporting the rejection. We are unable to appreciate the mindset of the employer particularly in this case the Judicial Officers. It is high time, the Judicial Officers reform themselves and take pragmatic view of things", the bench said.

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Setting aside the rejection order, the court directed the Principal District Judge to grant Kavitha maternity leave as per her entitlement. Any leave she had already taken since her application date will be considered maternity leave, and she will receive full salary for the period.

Additionally, the high court directed the Registrar General of the Madras High Court to circulate its order to all Principal District Judges, instructing them to ensure that similar unjust denials do not occur in the future.

About the Author Salil Tiwari Salil Tiwari, Senior Special Correspondent at Lawbeat, reports on the Allahabad High Court and courts in Uttar Pradesh, however, she also writes on important cases of national importance and public interests fr... Read More Salil Tiwari, Senior Special Correspondent at Lawbeat, reports on the Allahabad High Court and courts in Uttar Pradesh, however, she also writes on important cases of national importance and public interests fr... Read More

First Published: March 25, 2025, 15:51 IST
Justice Varma Case Brings Back Debate On Judges' Appointment, Dhankar Questions SC Decision To Set Aside NJAC

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti



Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 15:22 IST

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar questioned the Supreme Court's decision to set aside the NJAC, stating that there is no provision for judicial review of a constitutional amendment enacted by the Indian Parliament.

Dhankar's comments in the Rajya Sabha came amid the Allahabad High Court Bar Association's resolution questioning the system of judges appointing judges and the internal inquiry into the Yashwant Varma case.. (Image: PTI)

The cash at judges house" scandal has reignited the debate over the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC). Congress leader Pramod Tewari sought a discussion in the Rajya Sabha regarding the Justice Yashwant Varma case. Responding to this, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar brought up the NJAC issue once more.

Vice President Dhankar questioned the Supreme Courts decision to set aside the NJAC, stating that there is no provision for judicial review of a constitutional amendment enacted by the Indian Parliament. He noted, What emanated from Indian Parliament as a historic development (NJAC bill) with rare convergence of unity since Independence found acceptance by State Legislatures. We need to reflect on what happened to that. Under the Constitution, there is no provision that allows anyone to tinker with that."

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Dhankars comments in the Rajya Sabha came amid the Allahabad High Court Bar Associations resolution questioning the system of judges appointing judges and the internal inquiry into the Yashwant Varma case. Legal experts like Harish Salve and KTS Tulsi have also raised concerns about the collegium system in light of the Justice Yashwant Varma case.

In 2015, the Supreme Court set aside the NJAC Act, which had been passed by the Narendra Modi government a year earlier. This decision has remained a contentious issue, with various stakeholders expressing differing views on judicial appointments and accountability.

In response to the ongoing controversy, Vice President Dhankar has called for a meeting with the floor leaders of the Rajya Sabha to discuss the judiciary, especially in light of recent events at the Delhi High Court. The meeting was called at the request of Leader of The Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, who suggested that all parties be involved in the discussion due to widespread concern over the cash at judges residence" issue.

Vice President Dhankar is expected to discuss judicial appointments and accountability at this meeting. Pramod Tewari emphasised the need to set an example to prevent such incidents from recurring. Advocate and Congress MP Vivek Tankha also expressed concerns about judicial accountability but stated he did not support executive interference in judicial appointments.

Justice Varma is currently facing controversy over the reported recovery of cash at his residence during a fire-fighting operation earlier this month. The Delhi High Court (HC) registry has reassigned the judicial work previously allocated to Justice Yashwant Varma, redistributing his responsibilities to Justice Subramanium Prasad and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar. Justice Varma has denied the allegations, asserting that he is being indicted and defamed in the press."

How are judges appointed?

Currently, judges are appointed by a collegium system. Senior most judges in the apex court recommend the government a name, which is then scrutinised and either a clearance is given or the name is sent back to Supreme Court for reconsideration. If a collegium recommends for a second time, the government does not have the power to refuse.

What did NJAC say?

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The NJAC was to comprise of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) as the ex-officio Chairperson, two senior-most Supreme Court Judges as ex-officio members, the Union Minister of Law and Justice as ex-officio member, and two eminent persons from civil society. One of the two eminent persons was to be nominated by a committee consisting of the CJI, the Prime Minister and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The second was to be nominated from the SC, ST, OBC, minority communities, or women.

The government had assured during the passage of the bill in Parliament that primacy of Judiciary would be maintained in appointment even under the NJAC.

About the Author Arunima Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from ground zero ... Read More Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from ground zero ... Read More

First Published: March 25, 2025, 15:22 IST
Whose Cash, Why No FIR: Justice Varma Case Puts Judiciary On Trial, Sparks Rare Political Unanimity

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 11:04 IST

The purported cash recovery from Justice Yashwant Varmas residence has brought into sharp focus the question of judicial transparency and whether any position of power should override principles of law and due process

Burnt pieces of a currency note found among debris near the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma in New Delhi. (Image: PTI/Kamal Singh)

Both the BJP and Congress are united in their criticism, with a social media campaign against Justice Yashwant Varma as well as demanding answers. While the incidents triggered debates on the collegium system, a fundamental question remains  in the case of ordinary" people, unaccounted cash of such a magnitude would automatically trigger FIRs and income tax (I-T) raids. Does the law  Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (now Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita)  exempt sitting judges?

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Beyond political statements, the incident raises tough questions: Whose cash was it? Why was there no immediate FIR or I-T action? And, was the sudden fire a mere coincidence or to destroy evidence? It has brought into sharp focus the question of judicial transparency and whether any position of power should override principles of law and due process.

LIMITED TO NO INFORMATION ON POLICE PROBE

What do we really know about the forensics, remains of the cash, approximate amount allegedly burnt and found? The answer is? Not much.

This is because there was no FIR or even a basic police diary to establish if the fire was arson or caused by a short circuit. Even though Justice Varma, in his defence, denied having any knowledge about the cash, there is no police probe yet to determine whose cash it was? There is, meanwhile, loads of unverified information, photos, and clips flooding social media.

The Supreme Court has formed a three-member committee to look into the matter, and until the report comes in, the judge has been taken off his responsibilities in the Delhi High Court and was further repatriated to the Allahabad High Court, whose bar association has protested the move.

News18 spoke to retired judges, senior I-T and Enforcement Directorate officials, as well as senior advocates of the SC and some peers in the Allahabad HC. They unanimously agreed that the law must be seen as equal and impartial, especially for those entrusted with interpreting it.

A judge cannot evade responsibility  how the cash arrived at his premises demands answers. No justification can override moral accountability; he should have resigned for the sanctity of the judiciary. For any ordinary citizen, such a case would trigger FIRs under the Prevention of Corruption Act, PMLA, and IT Act, with prompt action," said Bikash Bhattacharya, a senior advocate of the SC and Calcutta HC. He is also an MP in the Rajya Sabha from the CPM.

Impeachment talk is often rendered bogus along political lines. This is part of a larger money laundering chain and demands a full criminal investigation by the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation). The suspicious fire raises serious questions of mischief or arson under Section 436 of the IPC," he said.

CAN A SITTING JUDGE BE INVESTIGATED?

The allegedly unaccounted cash discovered at Justice Varmas residence has jolted the legal and political establishment alike. While the judge reportedly offered explanations and judicial inquiries are underway, experts said he is not beyond or above the law.

This is clear misconduct. Arson or mischief cannot erase evidence. An FIR is imperative. No one can be a self-proclaimed exception  income tax and anti-corruption laws apply equally. In the ordinary course, the presence of the President and governor as appointing authorities doesnt stop enforcement. The question is whether this particular conduct compels the competent authority to take suo motu cognizance. The discovery of unclaimed cash under Section 102 CrPC (corresponding BNSS) sufficiently indicates a crime," a retired judge told News18 on condition of anonymity.

The police are compelled to investigate ownership, possession, and culpability. Once law enforcement is aware of cash that prima facie appears ill-gotten, why have they not established ownership or possession? If it indicates a culpable crime, under which section is it being addressed? What prevents the police or IT authorities from acting?" the judge asked.

As the controversy raged, a senior advocate of the Allahabad HC also demanded a CBI inquiry. A CBI inquiry is essential  theres clearly something fishy here. It is not just what we are seeing; theres something else beneath the surface. Has someone been made a scapegoat? The collegium system must not shield anyone. Only a detailed, transparent inquiry can restore faith," the senior advocate said.

THE COLLEGIUM DEBATE HEATS UP

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The controversy over the incident has reignited the debate over the collegium system and the alleged lack of accountability in judicial appointments. It would have been different had the NJAC (National Judicial Appointments Commission) Act been in place. Every procedure and mechanism would have ensured accountability. But it was struck down. Had that system existed, such situations could have been handled transparently. Ad hocism is not going to do any good to the sanctity or credibility of the judiciary," said Justice L Narasimha Reddy, a former chief justice of the Patna High Court and ex-chairperson of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).

At its core, this case is now a litmus test of whether the Indian justice system will uphold the principle of equality before the law, or allow privilege to shield those in power.

About the Author Madhuparna Das Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has covered Naxa... Read More Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has covered Naxa... Read More

First Published: March 25, 2025, 08:47 IST
Karnataka Schoolgirl Promotes Purdah At Science Exhibition, Sparks Probe: Only Way To Jannat For Women

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 12:06 IST

A video of a girl from Karnataka discussing "purdah" at a school science exhibition went viral, prompting the Deputy Director of Public Instruction to order an inquiry

Screengrabs from the viral video.

An undated video of a young girl talking about her project on purdah" at her schools science exhibition is being widely shared on social media. The girl from Karnatakas Chamarajanagar says women who practice purdah (the practice in certain Muslim societies of screening women from men or strangers) can reach heaven after death and ones who do not wear a burqa rot in hell.

The young girls speech on purdah has raised the eyebrows of the education department of the state. The Deputy Director of Public Instruction from Chamarajanagar has ordered the Block Education Officer to conduct an inquiry into the entire incident and submit a report.

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In the viral video, the girl can be heard saying, A woman behind a purdah is as pure as a martyr, who sheds blood. A woman behind purdah, she is capable of any Halal work and purdah is not an obstacle, but it is a way to lead her towards Jannat."

She then goes on to say, The biggest advantage of Purdah is that a woman doesnt see a man and the man doesnt see her. A woman who roams around without purdah, and the husband who doesnt question her, are not meant to be a couple at all. Any man who permits his wife to be without the purdah is a Dayyus (wittold) and Allah doesnt accept the prayers of such a person."

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 : Karnataka, India, India

First Published: March 25, 2025, 09:52 IST
Comedian Kunal Kamra Seeks A Week's Time To Appear Before Mumbai Police Over Eknath Shinde Joke Row

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 16:52 IST

Kunal Kamra was summoned by the Mumbai Police over his remarks on Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, sparking a controversy. Following backlash, Shiv Sena members vandalised the venue where he performed

Comedian Kunal Kamra (Photo: Social Media)

Standup comedian Kunal Kamra has sought a weeks time from the Mumbai Police after he was summoned following the row over his controversial comments about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Kamra was asked to appear before the Khar police for questioning at 11 am on Tuesday, in connection with the controversy. The summons to him was sent via WhatsApp, since he is not in Maharashtra at present.

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On Monday (March 24), a team of the Khar police visited the comedians residence, where his parents live.

The summons was issued a day after Kamra, surrounded by a massive controversy, said he would not apologise for his controversial comments on Shinde and slammed the vandalism of the venue where his comedy show was recorded.

ALSO READ | Sena Reacts To Kunal Kamras Statement, Alleges He Wants To Spoil Law & Order

The 36-year-old comedian has kicked up a major political storm in Maharashtra for taking a jibe at Shindes political career in his show by modifying the lyrics of a popular Hindi movie song.

During his performance at the Habitat Comedy Club at the Unicontinental hotel in Khar area, Kamra had referred to Shinde as a traitor" and went on to sing a parody on him.

Kamra used a modified version of a Hindi song from the movie Dil Toh Pagal Hai to describe the 2022 rebellion of Shinde against his then-boss Uddhav Thackeray.

As multiple videos of Kamras humour went viral, workers of the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) ransacked the shows venue.

Later, they also got a First Information Report (FIR) registered against Kamra.

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As the controversy snowballed, the Mumbai Police on Monday arrested Shiv Sena functionary Rahul Kanal and 11 others for vandalising the Mumbai hotel venue.

Hours later, a magistrates court granted bail to all of them.

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 25, 2025, 09:30 IST
Nearly 60,000 Hectares Of Forest Land Diverted For Commercial Use In Three Years, Centre Tells Parliament

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Karishma Jain



Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 07:30 IST

Madhya Pradesh lost nearly 14,157 hectares of forest landthe highest among all statesfollowed by Odisha (7,703 hectares) and Uttar Pradesh (5,058 hectares).

All approvals were granted under the Forest (Conservation and Augmentation) Act, 1980a key piece of legislation originally formulated to protect forests from diversion. (Representative photo/AP)

The Centre told Parliament on Monday that a forest area measuring 59,881 hectares has been approved for non-forestry use, including the construction of commercial and infrastructure projects, over the past three years, from 2021-22 to 2023-24.

According to the data, Madhya Pradesh, often referred to as the Tiger Capital of India, lost nearly 14,157 hectares of native forest landthe highest among all states in the past three years. It was followed by Odisha, where nearly 7,703 hectares of forest land was diverted, and Uttar Pradesh, with a diversion of nearly 5,058 hectares.

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The central states of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, both home to significant indigenous populations, also lost nearly 2,985 hectares and 3,020 hectares of forest land, respectively. Among the Himalayan states, the highest diversion was in Arunachal Pradesh (4,021 hectares), followed by Uttarakhand (2,005 hectares), Manipur (1,516 hectares), and Himachal Pradesh (1,320 hectares), according to the data.

All approvals were granted under the Forest (Conservation and Augmentation) Act, 1980a key piece of legislation originally formulated to protect forests from diversion. However, it was amended in 2023 amid much uproar. The amendment exempted vast tracts of forest land from the requirement of forest clearance, meaning there would be no impact assessment.

Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Tamil Nadu MP M.K. Vishnu Prasad asked the government whether it acknowledged that rapid deforestation had exacerbated climate risks, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss in the states.

In response, Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh, stated that while various developmental projects do have an ecological impact, the diversion of forest land is allowed with adequate mitigation measures, including the raising of compensatory afforestation and payment of Net Present Value (NPV)," he added. NPV refers to a mandatory one-time payment required from developers who divert forest land for non-forest use.

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Additional mitigation measures in the form of soil and moisture conservation works, catchment area plans, and wildlife management plans are also stipulated on a case-by-case basis." The minister further added that the protection and management of forest and tree resources is primarily the responsibility of the respective state governments and Union Territories, which must take appropriate action to protect forests and trees. The details in this regard are available with the state and UT governments," he added.

Meanwhile, the government has also recently launched an online portal specifically for the purpose of submitting and processing proposals for the non-forest use of forest land."

About the Author Srishti Choudhary Srishti Choudhary, Senior Assistant Editor at CNN-News18 specializes in science, environment, and climate change reporting. With over a decade of extensive field experience, she has brought incisive ground repo... Read More Srishti Choudhary, Senior Assistant Editor at CNN-News18 specializes in science, environment, and climate change reporting. With over a decade of extensive field experience, she has brought incisive ground repo... Read More

First Published: March 25, 2025, 07:30 IST
Needle Marks On Muskans Hand, Sahil Slapped By Prisoners: Life In Jail For Saurabh Murder Accused

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Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 10:49 IST

On March 4, Saurabh Rajput was allegedly drugged and murdered by his wife, Muskan, and her lover, Sahil. They dismembered his body into 15 pieces and sealed it inside a cement-filled drum

Muskan and Sahil are struggling to adjust to life in jail, with prison officials reporting that they are experiencing drug withdrawal symptoms. (PTI File)

Sahil Shukla, the accused in the Saurabh Rajput murder case, was assaulted by fellow inmates at Chaudhary Charan Singh district jail in Meerut, prison officials said. Reports indicate that upon learning of the murder, enraged prisoners attacked Sahil, slapping him repeatedly and untying his hair. Following the incident, the jail administration moved Sahil to a separate barrack.

Sources have revealed that Saurabhs wife and co-accused, Muskan, was known to use drug injections, and needle marks have been found on her hands. Muskan is still recovering from her addiction, and the police plan to take her and Sahil on remand once she is stable.

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According to PTI, Muskan and Sahil are struggling to adjust to life in jail, with prison officials reporting that they are experiencing drug withdrawal symptoms. The court has placed them in judicial custody for 14 days.

Jail sources indicate that both individuals are displaying signs of severe distress. A source mentioned, Muskan and Sahil are unable to sleep properly and are refusing food and water." While some believe this might be due to remorse, jail officials point to drug withdrawal as the cause.

Senior Jail Superintendent Viresh Raj Sharma stated, Both Sahil and Muskan have been using drugs for a long time. As a result, they are experiencing restlessness and are unable to sleep at night."

Doctors have prescribed medication to help manage their symptoms, and a dedicated team is monitoring their condition. Police investigations have revealed that the two accused regularly consumed drugs and alcohol.

Notably, since their incarceration, neither of the accused has had any visitors, according to a source.

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According to PTI, Rajput was drugged and then allegedly murdered by his wife Muskan and her lover Sahil on March 4. His body was dismembered into 15 pieces and sealed inside a drum with cement. The couple then travelled to Himachal Pradesh on an 11-day trip, misleading Rajputs family by sending messages from his phone. The incident was reported to the police on March 18, leading to their arrest.

Muskan and Rajput married in 2016 despite his familys objections, following a relationship, and they have a six-year-old daughter. Muskan and Sahil had known each other since school and reconnected through a WhatsApp group in 2019, according to police reports.

Location : Meerut, India, India

First Published: March 25, 2025, 10:49 IST
Parliament Passes Amendments To Disaster Management Act; Shah Says No Centralisation of Power

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 20:36 IST

The amendment bill, which was passed in the Lok Sabha in December 2024, was cleared by voice vote in the Rajya Sabha, with several opposition-moved amendments being negated by the Upper House

Union Home Minister Amit Shah (Photo: Sansad TV)

Parliament on Tuesday passed amendments to the Disaster Management Act, 2024, with Home Minister Amit Shah asserting that there will be no centralisation of powers or discrimination with states in handling disasters.

Replying to the debate on the bill in the Rajya Sabha, Shah launched a sharp attack on the Congress partys past management of the Prime Ministers Relief Fund, alleging a lack of accountability and transparency during the previous UPA regime.

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This bill ensures transparency, trust credibility and accountability," he said and asserted that the amendments to the Act take forward the fight against disaster from a reactive approach to pro-active and innovative approach".

Listing various initiatives, he said that India is now well regarded in handling disasters and the world is recognising its capabilities.

The amendment bill, which was passed in the Lok Sabha in December 2024, was cleared by voice vote in the Rajya Sabha, with several opposition-moved amendments being negated by the Upper House. About 24 members participated in the debate on the amendment bill.

Shah assured the Upper House and the state governments that there would not be centralisation of power".

Our fight against disasters cannot be done without strengthening the institutions. Unless the institutions are made more accountable and responsible. If one looks at the bill, you will find we have done both things," he said.

The amendments were needed to tackle the new kinds of disasters emerging in the wake of global warming and climate change, he said.

Due to climate change, the nature and scale of disasters have changed. With that, we have to change the way we tackle them To address these problems in an effective manner, we have to make our institutions accountable and provide powers also." The amendments have been discussed with all stakeholders and the government accepted 89 per cent of the suggestions it received and incorporated them in the bill, he added.

Highlighting key amendments, Shah said both National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) will become more effective", bringing more clarity and convergence among stakeholders working in the field of disaster management.

A national and state database will be created, state will be empowered to establish Urban Disaster Management Authorities (UDMAs) and State Disaster Response Forces (SDRFs), he said.

This bill ensures transparency, trust credibility and accountability," he said.

The minister said Section 13 of the bill removes the unnecessary provisions for the sake of transparency. Certain members asked why Section 13 has been removed. Since Section 12 has been added, the section 13 becomes unnecessary." He further said that sections 6 and 10 have been included through which the responsibility of NDMA has been fixed.

Sections 18 and 22 also fix the responsibility of the state executive committees, while Section 6 talks about disciplinary action if there is a case of negligence and Section 68 specifies the penalty for non-compliance.

The funds will be released as per the 15th Finance Commission, he added.

Addressing concerns about fund utilisation, Shah criticised the previous Congress regimes management of the Prime Ministers Relief Fund.

Under the Congress regime, only one family had control over the Prime Ministers Relief Fund. The Congress party president used to be a member of the Prime Ministers Relief Fund," he alleged.

He contrasted this with the current PM-CARE Fund, pointing out that five top ministers, including finance and defence ministers, are trustees, and no political party president is involved in its management.

People will decide who has more accountability," the minister said, challenging the Congress party to explain its previous fund management practices.

On financial assistance, Shah highlighted significant the increases in disaster management funds.

SDRF budget rose from Rs 38,000 crore (2004-14) to Rs 1.24 lakh crore (2014-24), while NDRF budget increased from Rs 28,000 crore to Rs 79,000 crore in the same period Overall, the central funds to states tripled from Rs 66,000 crore to Rs 2 lakh crore, he added.

Listing out new initiatives, Shah said the Modi government has created the first national disaster plan, the Subhas Chandra Bose Disaster Management Award, and National Cyclone Mitigation (Phase-I) in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

Shah said that inter-ministerial consultation now submits reports much faster compared to the previous regime. He also noted that 16 battalions of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are now operational and have conducted relief operations in countries like Nepal, Turkey, and Vietnam.

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The Home Minister asserted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership, India is advancing towards achieving zero casualties during disasters.

First Published: March 25, 2025, 20:36 IST
'Rise Up, Get Constructive': Sena Reacts To Kunal Kamra's Statement, Alleges He 'Wants To Spoil Law & Order'

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Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 10:22 IST

Shiv Sena leader Rahool Kanal slammed Kunal Kamra's remarks, stating that freedom of speech does not allow disrespecting leaders. He also accused him of trying to disrupt law and order.

Shiv Sena reacts to Kunal Kamra's statement on controversy (Photos: PTI/Social Media)

Amid the ongoing row over comedian Kunal Kamras alleged controversial traitor jibe against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday said the freedom of speech does not give anyone the freedom to talk crap about a leader or a respected individual on a constitutional post".

Referring to Kamras statement wherein he said he wont apologise for his remark, Shiv Sena leader Rahool Kanal, in an X post, stated that the comedian should rise up and get constructive."

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He also alleged Kamras response to the whole episode suggests he wants to spoil the law and order".

Waiting !!! Come out and face the law Shivsainik is also a Mumbaikar and you very well know when you slip or do a paid activity next time try to be funny but dont crack bones jab substance Se neend uthe toh voicemail aur bed Se bahar ayega Burnol bheju ?" (sic), Kanal wrote, reposting Kunal Kamras response.

Freedom of speech Im the constitution doesnt give you the freedom to talk crap about a leader or a respected individual on a constitutional post Rise up and get constructive your statement itself says that you want to spoil the law n order , law is above all !!! Satyameva Jayate !!!" (sic), he added.

Waiting !!! Come out and face the law Shivsainik is also a Mumbaikar and you very well know when you slip or do a paid activity next time try to be funny but dont crack bones jab substance Se neend uthe toh voicemail aur bed Se bahar ayega Burnol bheju ? Freedom of https://t.co/bzb03sHOjP Rahool N Kanal (@RahoolNKanal) March 24, 2025

Maharashtra Minister Gulab Raghunath Patil also reacted to Kamra refusing to apologise for his remark, and said, If he doesnt apologise, we will speak to him in our own style."

Shiv Sena wont leave him, we wont tolerate this insult if he doesnt apologise, he will come out, where will he hide? Shiv Sena will show its real form," he said.

Kanal was among the 12 Shiv Sena workers arrested on Monday for ransacking the venue at a Mumbai hotel where Kamra jibed at Shinde.

Hours later, a magistrates court granted bail to all of them.

ALSO READ | Kunal Kamras Call Records, Bank Details Under Maharashtra Govt Scanner After Eknath Shinde Parody

As the controversy snowballed, Kamra said he would not apologise for his controversial comments, and questioned the vandalism of the venue in Mumbai.

THE KUNAL KAMRA CONTROVERSY

During his performance at the Habitat Comedy Club at the Unicontinental hotel in Khar area, Kamra had referred to Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena, as a traitor" and went on to sing a parody of him.

Enraged over the comments, Shiv Sena workers led by Kanal ransacked the venue of Kamras show on Sunday.

The Khar police identified 19 people and named them in the First Information Report (FIR) filed in connection with the incident.

Meanwhile, nearly 20 persons involved in the ransacking of the venue remain unidentified.

As per the police, Kamra used a modified version of a Hindi song from the 1997 movie Dil Toh Pagal Hai to mock Shinde over his 2022 rebellion against then-Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, news agency PTI reported.

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Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 9) Dixit Gedam said two separate offences were registered at the Khar police station  one against Kamra over his comments and the other against vandals, the report stated.

ALSO READ | Calling Traitor A Traitor Not Wrong: Uddhav Thackeray Backs Kunal Kamra Amid Backlash

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 25, 2025, 08:38 IST
Cash-At-Home Row: SC Panel Visit Yashwant Varma's Residence, To Rope In Delhi HC Chief Justice

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News18.com Edited By: Poulami Kundu



Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 07:48 IST

Supreme Court's panel investigating Justice Yashwant Varma's cash haul case will question fire service officials and check his call records soon, sources said.

Left: Justice Yashwant Varma; Right: Image of burnt cash at his residence shared by SC

Supreme Courts three-member in-house panel probing the Justice Yashwant Varma cash haul case will be questioning the fire service department officials and check his call records soon, official sources said.

The panel visited Justice Varmas official residence on Tuesday to get an idea about the entire situation.

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People familiar with the matter told News18 that the in-house panel will stay in Delhi for three days and the Supreme Court will share information on their designated secretariat soon after which formal proceedings in the matter will begin.

They said the panel would seek a formal explanation from Justice Varma, question fire department officials, quiz his residential and official staffers and conduct a forensic analysis of his call records. They are also likely to rope in Delhi High Court Chief Justice and senior police officials.

Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna last Saturday formed a three-member committee to look into allegations against the Delhi High Court judge. The committee members include Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia, and Karnataka High Court judge Justice Anu Sivaraman, the Supreme Court said.

Later, on Monday, the Supreme Court Collegium repatriated Varma back to Allahabad High Court. The Supreme Court Collegium in its meetings held on 20th and 24th March 2025 has recommended repatriation of Mr Justice Yashwant Varma, Judge, High Court of Delhi, to the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad," the Supreme Court said in a statement.

Justice Varma is currently embroiled in controversy over the alleged recovery of cash at his residence during a fire-fighting operation earlier this month.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi High Court (HC) registry withdrew judicial work assigned to Justice Yashwant Varma and in its new roster assigned his work to Justice Subramanium Prasad and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar.

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Justice Varma has dismissed the allegations, claiming he was being indicted and defamed in the press".

The inquiry report into the incident led by Delhi HC chief justice (CJ) Devendra Kumar Upadhyay said that fire broke out on March 14 in a storeroom of the bungalow where Justice Varma was residing and that the storeroom was accessible only to the residents of the bungalow.

First Published: March 25, 2025, 12:07 IST
Solapur Man Abuses, Hurls Stone At Brother For Refusing To Pay His Share Of Rs 500

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Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 18:55 IST

In Solapur, Netaji Laxman More was injured when his brother-in-law, Tanaji Laxman More, threw a stone at him over a Rs 500 dispute. A case has been registered, and the police are investigating

The Solapur Taluka Police have registered a case against Tanaji More under Sections 115 (2), 118 (1), 351 (2), and 352 of the law. (Representative/Local18)

Disputes between brothers are not uncommon, but a recent incident in Solapur has shocked many. Netaji Laxman More, aged 50, was seriously injured when his brother-in-law, Tanaji Laxman More, hurled a stone at his head over a dispute involving just Rs 500. This incident occurred in Bibi Darfal, North Solapur taluka, and a case has been registered against Tanaji Laxman More.

The altercation began on March 22 when Netaji More was working in his field and cleaning his hands and feet. Tanaji More approached him regarding an MSCB pillar in their shared field, which had cost Rs 1,000 rupees to install.

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Tanaji claimed to have paid the full amount and demanded that Netaji reimburse him for half. However, Netaji refused to pay, leading to an argument. During the confrontation, Tanaji grabbed Netajis shirt and threw a stone at his head, causing injury.

Another incident in Pune drew attention when an individual was identified through a gay app" and summoned near the railway tracks.

Following the complaint lodged by Netaji More, Solapur Taluka Police have registered a case against Tanaji More under Sections 115 (2), 118 (1), 351 (2), and 352 of the law.

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No arrests have been made yet, and the injured complainant received treatment at a hospital. Police Head Constable Mahindrakar is leading the investigation.

Meanwhile, the community is abuzz with discussions about how a mere Rs 500 dispute could turn brothers into adversaries.

Location : Solapur, India, India

First Published: March 25, 2025, 18:55 IST
Tamil YouTuber Savukku Shankar Says Chennai Home Ransacked, Vandalised With Sewage

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Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 10:38 IST

Savukku Shankar's Home Ransacked: The group said that YouTuber Savukku Shankars remarks about sanitary workers in one of his videos had hurt them, his mother said in a complaint.

Savukku Shankar's Home Ransacked: A group of over 20 people, men and women allegedly stormed Savukku Shankars residence in Kilpauk. (Image Credit: X)

YouTuber Savukku Shankars house in Chennai was ransacked by a group of men dressed like sanitary workers, his mother Kamala said. The group threatened her and dumped waste on the floor, saying that the YouTubers remarks about sanitary workers in one of his videos had hurt them, his mother said in a complaint.

Savukku Shankars House Ransacked

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A group of over 20 people, men and women allegedly stormed Savukku Shankars residence in Kilpauk. At the time, his mother was alone at home. In her complaint, she said that the intruders broke in through the door and ransacked the house and dumped sewage mixed with human excreta inside the premises.

The assault could be linked to Savukku Shankars recent expose on corruption" in the procurement of sewage trucks, she said in the complaint. Savukku Shankar accused top city police officers of orchestrating the attack, in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter).

He alleged that the group was acting at Chennai Police Commissioner A Aruns behest and shared CCTV footage of the group vandalising his house.

What Savukku Shankar Said On His Home Being Ransacked

Savukku Shankar said his recent statements in his YouTube channel were all about the corruption" in the purchase of new vehicles and not against sanitary workers. He further claimed that despite informing the police immediately of the incident, only a sub-Inspector and a constable arrived at the scene. The attackers staged a protest for hours without leaving the premises, he claimed.

Leaders React To Savukku Shankars Home Being Attacked

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The attack has drawn sharp political reactions. AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami strongly condemned the incident, saying, No one who believes in democracy will tolerate this. This incident showcases the height of cruelty, and anyone with a conscience should hang their head in shame, as it has happened under the DMK regime, which boasts of ruling as per law."

Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram called the incident highly condemnable and gross" as he urged the Tamil Nadu police to take immediate action against the perpetrators.

First Published: March 25, 2025, 10:38 IST
UP Govt Imposes Rs 10 Lakh Daily Fine On Noida Airport Operator Over Construction Delays

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Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 12:37 IST

The Noida International Airport (NIA) in Jewar is set to begin commercial operations in mid-May, officials confirmed on Monday.

Noida International Airport (NIA). (File Photo)

The Uttar Pradesh government has imposed a daily penalty of Rs 10 lakh on Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL) the operator of the Noida International Airport in Jewar, due to construction delays.

The Noida International Airport (NIA) in Jewar is set to begin commercial operations in mid-May, officials confirmed on Monday.

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The airport poised to emerge as a key aviation hub in northern India, plans to initiate domestic flight services in May, with international operations set to commence the following month, June.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NIAL Arun Vir Singh, told The Indian Express that the state government has directed the airports concessionaire  Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd (YIAPL)  to speed up work so domestic flight operations can begin anytime between May 15 and 31 and international flights between June 15 and 25.

The NIAL had a review meeting, presided over by UP Chief Minister Yogi Aditynanath, on March 10. During the meeting, the concessionaire was asked to follow the terms of the contract agreement on delay penalties. A decision was taken to impose the stipulated fine of Rs 10 lakh per day on YIAPL," said Singh.

The initial phase of the airport was initially slated for a September 29, 2024, opening, but the timeline was revised to April 17, 2025. However, this deadline is now expected to be pushed back further, with the aerodrome license likely to be issued in May.

The NIA, a prestigious project for the Uttar Pradesh government, is being developed by YIAPL, a subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG. YIAPL has been entrusted with operating the airport under a 40-year concession agreement, which commenced on October 1, 2021.

Singh revealed that a meeting was held with key stakeholders, including officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), to chart a course forward.

During the meeting, we requested YIAPL to present a catch-up plan to ensure that flight operations do not miss the third revised deadline. They met with the Chief Secretary and provided their explanation. The plan will be submitted by April 2," Singh stated.

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The project suffered certain setbacks during the Covid pandemic. In June 2022, the construction contract was given to Tata Projects. We had already allowed a grace period of three months. Now, the daily penalty of Rs 10 lakh has been enforced and will continue till the airport becomes operational," he added.

Location : Jewar, India, India

First Published: March 25, 2025, 12:37 IST
Was Shahi Jama Masjid President Zafar Ali Mastermind Of Sambhal Violence?

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 14:29 IST

Zafar Alis arrest has triggered protests among the local legal fraternity, with his supporters claiming that the police action is politically motivated and an attempt to silence a key witness

Zafar Ali, Jama Masjid Sadar Chief and the Shahi Mosque Committee Chief, being brought for medical examination in connection with the Sambhal violence. (PTI)

The arrest of Shahi Jama Masjid president Zafar Ali on Sunday has reignited tensions in Uttar Pradeshs Sambhal district, where communal violence broke out during a court-ordered survey of the mosque on November 24 last year. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Uttar Pradesh Police, after a four-month-long probe, accused Ali of inciting the unrest through provocative speeches and social media posts.

Zafar Ali, a practising lawyer and a prominent figure in the local Muslim community, was taken into custody from his residence at 11am on Sunday. He was later interrogated for four hours at the local Kotwali police station before being sent to judicial custody in Moradabad jail at around 9.30pm. The arrest came just a day before Ali was set to testify before a judicial commission investigating the violence. His supporters claim that the police action is politically motivated and an attempt to silence a key witness.

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Ali, while being taken to jail, vocally protested his arrest, stating: I am being framed because I exposed the truth. The police killed innocent people, and now they are covering up their actions by targeting me." His arrest has triggered protests among the local legal fraternity, with lawyers calling for a boycott of court proceedings in his support.

Why Was Zafar Ali Arrested?

Sambhal Superintendent of Police (SP) Krishan Kumar Bishnoi defended the arrest, saying: The investigation and forensic evidence confirm that Zafar Ali played a significant role in mobilising the crowd and provoking violence during the mosque survey. We interrogated him previously, but after gathering substantial evidence, we have arrested him under multiple sections of the law."

Ali has been booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 191(2), 191(3), 190, 221, 125, 132, 324(5), 196, 230, and 231, along with the Public Property Prevention Act 3/4. The charges primarily pertain to rioting, inciting communal tensions, and damaging public property.

Timeline Of Violence

The violence erupted on November 24 during a court-ordered survey of the centuries-old Shahi Jama Masjid, which Hindu petitioners claim was originally a temple dedicated to Lord Harihar. The survey, conducted on the orders of Civil Judge (Senior Division) Aditya Singh, was led by Advocate Commissioner Ramesh Singh Raghav.

While the survey was underway, a large crowd gathered outside the mosque. Tensions escalated when the police attempted to disperse the protesters, leading to stone-pelting and alleged gunfire. The violence resulted in five deaths, including one police officer, and injuries to several others.

The UP government immediately formed an SIT to investigate the incident. Over the past four months, the police have arrested 79 individuals, including three women. Notably, all 130 bail applications filed on behalf of the accused have been rejected by Justice Narayan Rai.

Politics Over Alis arrest

Alis arrest has sparked sharp reactions from legal and political circles. His elder brother, Tahir Ali, also an advocate, condemned the arrest, alleging that the police were deliberately suppressing key voices. My brother was set to depose before the judicial commission. His testimony would have exposed police excesses. That is why they arrested him," he said.

Advocate Abdul Rahman, a senior lawyer in the Sambhal Bar Association, termed Alis arrest a blatant misuse of state power." Protesting against the move, lawyers in Sambhal launched a kalambandh hartal (pen-down strike) on Monday, demanding his immediate release.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders have also weighed in on the issue. Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadavs post on X reads, The BJP government is using police force to suppress voices of truth. The arrest of Advocate Zafar Ali is a political conspiracy." On the other hand, BJP leaders have defended the police action, arguing that law and order must be upheld.

The Survey Report: Findings That Sparked Controversy

On January 2, 2025, the 45-page survey report on the Shahi Jama Masjid was submitted to the Chandausi court. The findings, accompanied by 4.5 hours of videography and 1,200 photographs, claimed that remnants of a Hindu temple were found inside the mosque. These include more than 50 floral designs, carvings, and two banyan treesfeatures associated with Hindu religious structures. The report also noted a covered-up well, half inside the mosque and half outside, raising further speculation about the sites history.

The reports submission has deepened the communal fault lines in the region, with Hindu groups intensifying their demand for the mosques conversion back into a temple. Muslim organisations, however, have rejected the report as biased and legally untenable.

Sambhal Remains Tense

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The situation in Sambhal remains tense, with heavy deployment of the Rapid Response Force (RRF) and local police around sensitive areas. Additional SP (North) Shri Chandra, CO Sambhal Anuj Chaudhary, and SIT head CO Asmoli Kuldeep Singh are overseeing security measures.

Alis legal team has announced plans to challenge his arrest in the Allahabad High Court, arguing that the charges against him are politically motivated and lack substantial evidence. Meanwhile, the judicial commission continues its inquiry into the violence, with more testimonies expected in the coming weeks.

Location : Sambhal, India, India

First Published: March 25, 2025, 14:29 IST
Why Does Ayodhya Have A Park Honouring A South Korean Queen? Here's The 2,000-Year-Old Connection

Curated By :

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Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 17:22 IST

Ayodhya's link to South Korea dates back 2,000 years to Princess Suriratna, who married King Kim Suro. Rani Ho Park in Ayodhya honours this bond, promoting cultural ties.

Rani Ho Park in Ayodhya honours the Indo-Korean bond.

Ayodhya, the revered city often associated with Lord Rama, holds within its ancient lanes not just tales of mythology but also an extraordinary connection that stretches to South Korea. This bond is not a recent phenomenon; it has thrived for over 2,000 years, creating a unique cultural bridge between the two nations. Every year, numerous South Korean citizens visit Ayodhya, considering it their maternal homeland. But what is the story that ties Ayodhya so deeply to a land thousands of miles away?

The Legend of Princess Suriratna and the Kim Dynasty

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The origins of this remarkable relationship can be traced back to a legendary marriage. Historical and folklore accounts suggest that a princess from Ayodhya, Suriratna  also known as Queen Heo Hwang-ok in Korea  was wed to King Kim Suro of the Gaya kingdom in present-day South Korea. According to these accounts, Queen Heo traveled across the seas to marry the Korean ruler, establishing the Kim dynasty, one of the most prominent bloodlines in Korea. Today, approximately 35% of South Koreans belonging to the Kim lineage trace their ancestry back to this princess, reinforcing Ayodhyas significance in their heritage.

Rani Ho Park: A Symbol of Cultural Ties

To honour this deep-rooted connection, a special memorial known as Rani Ho Park has been built on the banks of the Saryu River in Ayodhya. Designed to celebrate the Indo-Korean historical relationship, the park serves as a space for cultural exchange and remembrance. It narrates the journey of Queen Heo Hwang-ok from India to Korea, marking her as a figure of unbroken ties between the two nations.

Among the parks notable features are two architecturally distinct pavilions:

The Ayodhya Pavilion, showcasing the grandeur of traditional Awadhi architecture.

The Korea Pavilion, reflecting classical Korean structural elements, providing a glimpse into the rich heritage of Korea.

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One of the parks most striking installations is a symbolic sea with a golden egg placed at its centre. This golden egg is a reference to a significant moment in Queen Heos journey, as legends tell of a mystical golden egg she carried across the waters to Korea, symbolising prosperity and new beginnings.

The significance of Rani Ho Park extends far beyond its aesthetic appeal. According to Rajendra Prasad Yadav, Deputy Director of the Tourism Department, the park represents an active effort to preserve and promote the shared history of India and South Korea. The initiative is expected to boost tourism and cultural exchanges, reinforcing diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.

Location : Ayodhya, India, India

First Published: March 25, 2025, 17:22 IST
'Will Cut You Into Pieces': Kunal Kamra Gets Hundreds Of Threat Calls After Eknath Shinde Joke

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 23:23 IST

The claims come a day after Congress leader Supriya Shrinate shared an audio clip in which standup comedian Kunal Kamra is purportedly being threatened by a Shiv Sena worker that he will be thrashed "wherever he's found"

Comedian Kunal Kamra said he will not be apologising for his controversial comments about Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. (Image: @kunakamra/X)

Standup comedian Kunal Kamra has received numerous death threats for allegedly defaming Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, sources close to him said. He has received at least 500 calls" from Shiv Sainiks, who have threatened to cut him into pieces", they said.

These claims come a day after Congress leader Supriya Shrinate shared an 53-second audio clip in which Kamra is purportedly being threatened by a Shiv Sena worker that he will be thrashed wherever hes found".

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The 36-year-old comedian has kicked up a row with his traitor" jibe at Shinde, an apparent reference to the 2022 Shiv Sena split, during his show recorded at a studio in the basement of a hotel in Mumbai. The remarks and parody song invited violent reaction from Shiv Sena workers who on Sunday (March 23) vandalised the studio.

On Tuesday, Mumbai Police, which had booked Kamra on a complaint of a Shiv Sena MLA for allegedly making defamatory remarks, issued a notice seeking his personal appearance. But, his lawyer contacted the police and asked for a weeks time for him to appear.

Kunal was summoned to record his statement, but he did not show up. Further action will be taken after taking legal opinion," Mumbai Police said.

Police also registered a case against 40 Shiv Sena workers for vandalising the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar and arrested 12 workers on Monday (March 24). A local court granted them bail the same day.

Kamra has refused to apologise for his controversial comments about the Shiv Sena chief, while taking another swipe at the party by posting a fresh parody video on his social media accounts. Modifying the Hindi translation of We Shall Overcome, he exchanged the lyrics Hum Honge Kamyab with Hum Honge Kangal (We will be paupers). The video was interspersed with visuals of the vandalism at the venue where the comedy sketch was recorded.

Earlier in the day, Shinde reacted to the controversy and likened Kamras jibe at him to taking supari" (contract) to speak against someone, and said there should be a decorum while making a satire, otherwise the action causes a reaction". He said freedom of speech is there, but there should be a limit.

Freedom of speech is there. We understand satire. But there should be a limit. This is like taking supari (contract) to speak against someone," he said at a BBC Marathi event.

On the Shiv Sainiks vandalising the studio where Kamra had performed and made those remarks, Shinde said the other person should also maintain a certain level. Otherwise, action causes reaction," he said. I will not speak much on this. I do not justify vandalism."

He added: This same person (Kamra) had commented on the Supreme Court of India, the Prime Minister, (journalist) Arnab Goswami and some industrialists. This is not freedom of speech; this is working for someone."

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Reacting to the issue, his colleague and Mahayuti ally Ajit Pawar said: Our CM Devendra Fadnavis had responded on this issue on behalf of the government Our CM has said that action will be taken as per the law."

(With inputs from Yesha Kotak)

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 25, 2025, 23:02 IST
Woman Plots With Brother-in-Law, Steals Rs 1.5 Crore From Live-In Partner Over Fear Of Break-Up

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 11:30 IST

The investigation revealed that a woman, fearing her partners departure after living together for long, knew he kept business money at her place. She shared this information with her brother-in-law, leading to their theft plan

CCTV footage revealed two individuals in burqas involved in the theft. (News18 Hindi)

A peculiar incident has emerged from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, where a sister-in-law conspired with her brother-in-law and stole Rs 1.5 crore in cash. The sister-in-law, in a live-in relationship with a man, feared he would leave her. Consequently, she persuaded her brother-in-law to disguise himself in a burqa and commit theft late at night.

The episode took place in the Palasia police station area of Indore. On March 13, Shivali Jadon, a beauty parlour owner residing in Shubh Labh Prime Township, reported the theft of four bags from her flat to the police. She recounted that upon returning from an errand, she found her door broken and the bags, including three belonging to her live-in partner Ankush, missing. These bags contained approximately Rs 1.5 crore related to a property deal.

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Upon receiving the complaint, the police promptly initiated an investigation. CCTV footage revealed two individuals in burqas involved in the theft. The police soon apprehended the culprits, one of whom turned out to be Shivalis brother-in-law, Dhiru Thapa, a dismissed policeman. Following the theft, they handed the money-filled bags to their accomplice, Praveen, who is currently being sought by the police.

Further investigation disclosed that Dhiru Thapa had previously served as a constable in Khandwa but was dismissed in 2010 due to criminal activities. Post-dismissal, he took up odd jobs for a living.

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The investigation also revealed that Shivali, who had been living with Ankush for an extended period, feared his departure. Ankush often stored his business money at Shubh Labh Prime Township, information Shivali shared with Thapa, leading to their theft plan.

The revelation of the full scheme left Shivalis sister in utter shock, as she was unaware of the conspiracy. The police are currently interrogating both accused.

Location : Indore, India, India

First Published: March 25, 2025, 11:30 IST
Measles  a vaccine-preventable illnesses  is now spreading through the state of Texas and New Mexico. With over 300 measles cases nationwide and a declared outbreak status in Texas, health officials in Billings are preparing for measles defense in Yellowstone County, if a case occurs.

And although the risk of contracting measles in Yellowstone County is currently low, Riverstone Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Megan Littlefield says that it could rapidly change if a case occurs in the county.

Measles is a highly infectious virus; its airborne, Littlefield said. If there are 10 people who are unvaccinated and exposed to measles, nine of them are likely to come down with the infection.

Riverstone Health in Billings has been ramping up their measles preparedness for several months now because of the rising cases in other parts of the country. As of March 1, there are no reported cases of measles in Montana  the last reported case of measles in the state was in 1990.

Currently, its low because we do not have any cases here. The risk now is really with travel, particularly to areas where cases are actively circulating, Litttlefield said. For vaccine-preventable illnesses, vaccination and being up to date with immunizations is the best defense that you have as an individual, but also that we have as a community.

Children and youth are at especially high risk for contracting measles if unvaccinated. According to the CDC, one measles vaccine dose is 93% effective in preventing infection, and a second dose increases the effectiveness to 97%.

As of March 1, 82% of the measles outbreak in Texas and other states are in youth under the age of 19. Of the infected population, 95% are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status, including one death of a school-aged child.

We know that if youre in a school where 98% of the students are vaccinated, its not going to circulate as widely, Littlefield said. But when you start to look at populations with lower vaccination rates, it can spread very rapidly.

The recorded vaccination rate of Billings Public Schools sits at about 95%, according to the district. Out of 16,555 students enrolled in the district, 15,511 students are recorded as up to date on immunizations. A total of 499 BPS students has no record of immunization, 451 hold religious exemption, 22 medical exemptions, leaving a total of five students with conditional attendance status.

Billings Public Schools requires that all students be vaccinated in accordance with (state law). Students are allowed exemptions for religious or medical reasons, BPS spokeswoman Melanie Willardson said. We work with families and provide them with viable information regarding vaccinations and exemptions per (state) code.

The CDC recommends children get a 2-dose series of the MMR vaccine at 1 year of age and 4 years of age. Unvaccinated adults are recommended to receive one dose of the MMR vaccine.

Onset measles symptoms look a lot like symptoms of the common cold or flu, including a high fever, cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes, followed by tiny white spots inside the mouth. Days in, red spots appear on the face and hairline, before spreading to other parts of the body.

Ear infections and diarrhea are common complications. Severe measles complications include pneumonia, an infection of the lungs, and encephalitis, swelling of the brain, which could lead to hospitalization or, in rarer cases, death.

About one in five unvaccinated people in the U.S. who get measles is hospitalized, according to CDC data. One of every 20 children with measles gets pneumonia  the most common cause of death from measles in young children  about one out of every 1,000 develop encephalitis, which can lead to convulsions, deafness, or intellectual disability. One to three of every 1,000 children with measles can die from respiratory or neurologic complications.

The best defense against measles is the MMR vaccine, a protection against measles, mumps, and rubella that has been commonly used as a defense against the three diseases since 1968, according to the CDC. The CDC set a goal in 1978, to eliminate measles from the United States. Their goal was finally met, a decade after implementing a second dose of the MMR vaccine to school-aged children. Measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000.

This meant the absence of the continuous spread of disease was greater than 12 months, the CDC website states. This was thanks to a highly effective vaccination program in the United States, as well as better measles control in the Americas region.

Dr. Littlefield recommends consulting a trusted physician or medical provider, and to discuss specific vaccination concerns with them. She recommends finding out what ones vaccination status is, and to get updated if necessary.

I understand people having concerns and questions about vaccines. Its important that you are talking to someone who can give reliable information, she said. When you get your information from circles of friends or social media, youre not always getting accurate information.

For more information or to get up to date on vaccinations, contact your primary care provider, visit CDC.gov/MEASLES or contact the RiverStone Health immunization clinic, at (406) 247-3382.
Eid Travel Guide for 2025: Destinations That Blend Tradition, Culture And Wonder

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 13:38 IST

Whether travelling near or far, these destinations offer a way to celebrate Eid that honours both tradition and the joy of discovery

A city that thrives on spectacle, Dubai elevates Eid celebrations with a seamless blend of tradition and indulgence

EID Ul-Fitr 2025 Celebrations: Eid is more than a celebrationit is a moment to pause, reconnect, and embrace both tradition and new experiences. As families gather and prayers fill the air, the holiday becomes an opportunity to reflect and explore. Whether its the echoes of history in ancient cities, the warmth of communal feasts, or the serenity of natures grandeur, certain destinations elevate the spirit of Eid in profound ways. From the cultural heartlands of the Middle East to the tropical sanctuaries of Southeast Asia, these places offer a meaningful backdrop to mark the occasion with depth and discovery.

AlUla, Saudi Arabia

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The grandeur of AlUla is not simply in its landscapes but in the weight of history that lingers in its air. Home to the Nabataean tombs of HegraSaudi Arabias first UNESCO World Heritage sitethis desert sanctuary offers a contemplative setting for Eid. Stroll through AlUla Old Town, where mudbrick homes and open-air majlis spaces invite quiet reflection, before experiencing an Eid feast at one of the regions farm-to-table dining spots like Tama at Habitas. For a more immersive connection to the land, take a guided stargazing tour in the desert, where the silence and vastness provide a moment of spiritual grounding.

Morocco

Eid in Morocco is a symphony of scents and sounds. In the medinas of Marrakech and Fes, the rhythmic clatter of copper artisans and the murmur of market vendors blend with the fragrance of saffron and slow-roasted lamb. Start the day with Eid prayers at the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, then wander the souks where skilled tailors craft traditional djellabas and kaftans perfect for the celebrations. A rooftop dinner at Le Jardin in the medina offers a modern take on Moroccan cuisine, while an excursion to the Agafay Desert for a camel trek and Berber tea ceremony provides a serene contrast to the citys vibrancy.

Oman

Few places balance grandeur and restraint as effortlessly as Oman. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat, with its Persian carpets and intricate chandeliers, is a fitting place for morning prayers before setting off toward the countrys wilder edges. For those looking to mark Eid with family, a dhow cruise through the fjord-like waters of Musandam provides a unique way to experience Omans coastal beauty. Inland, the lush terraces of Jebel Akhdar offer guided hikes through pomegranate orchards, while a traditional Eid lunch at Bait Al Luban highlights the countrys signature flavours, from shuwa (slow-roasted lamb) to fragrant rice dishes.

Dubai

A city that thrives on spectacle, Dubai elevates Eid celebrations with a seamless blend of tradition and indulgence. After morning prayers at Jumeirah Mosque, step into Al Seef, where restored Emirati architecture meets bustling waterfront souks selling oud, dates, and intricate textiles. Opt for an Eid brunch at the Burj Al Arabs Al Iwan, where traditional mezze and slow-cooked lamb take centre stage, before experiencing the citys cultural side at the Museum of the Future. For a quieter retreat, a private desert safari with a falconry display and Bedouin-style dinner offers an intimate way to celebrate under the stars.

Abu Dhabi

The capitals approach to luxury is more measured than Dubais, yet no less captivating. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosquean architectural marvel of white marble and gold detailingbecomes a focal point during Eid, its vast courtyards welcoming thousands for morning prayers. Beyond the city, kayaking through the mangroves at Jubail provides a tranquil escape, while a drive into the Liwa Desert reveals towering dunes and the opportunity to stay at Qasr Al Sarab, an opulent desert retreat that hosts special Eid celebrations with live oud performances and Emirati cuisine. Art lovers can mark the occasion with a visit to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, where Islamic art collections provide a thought-provoking link to the past.

Malaysia

Celebrations in Malaysia are defined by warmth and inclusivity. The countrys open house" tradition invites both locals and visitors to partake in Eid feasts, where dishes like rendang and ketupat are shared across generations. Begin the day at Masjid Negara in Kuala Lumpur, then explore the festive atmosphere at Kampung Baru, where traditional wooden houses host family gatherings and market stalls overflow with Malay sweets. For a more scenic escape, take a ferry to Langkawi to unwind at The Datai, a rainforest retreat that balances nature and luxury.

Thailand

Beyond its reputation for beaches and temples, Thailand holds a quieter, lesser-known side that makes it a compelling choice for Eid. The historic Haroon Mosque in Bangkok reflects the citys deep-rooted Islamic heritage, while halal dining enclaves in Krabi and Chiang Mai introduce a local twist to the celebrations. Spend the holiday savoring halal Thai cuisine at Yusup Pochana before setting off for Koh Yao Noi, an island retreat where private villas offer a peaceful setting for family gatherings.

Celebrating Eid Closer to Home

For those looking to celebrate Eid within India, the country offers a diverse range of destinations that combine spiritual richness with natural beauty.

Kerala

Eid in Kerala has a distinct coastal charm. Malappuram, known for its strong Muslim heritage, hosts grand celebrations where homes open their doors to friends and travellers alike. After morning prayers at the Palayam Juma Masjid in Thiruvananthapuram, explore the spice markets and enjoy a traditional Mappila feast featuring Malabar biryani and Pathiri. A backwater cruise in Alleppey provides a tranquil escape, offering a quiet moment of gratitude amidst natures splendour.

Mokokchung, Nagaland

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For an Eid spent far from the expected, Mokokchunghome to the Ao Naga peopleoffers a cultural immersion unlike any other. Though Islam is a minority faith here, the regions hospitality ensures that visitors celebrating Eid feel welcomed. Start the day with prayers at one of the small mosques, then explore the nearby villages, where bamboo houses dot the lush hillsides. A meal of smoked meats, sticky rice, and foraged greens provides a unique take on an Eid feast, bridging cultures in a way that is both humbling and enriching.

Whether travelling near or far, these destinations offer a way to celebrate Eid that honours both tradition and the joy of discovery. From historic cities to serene landscapes, each place provides a setting that deepens the meaning of the holiday while creating lasting memories.

About the Author Swati Chaturvedi Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she's a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl... Read More Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she's a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl... Read More

fashion, travel, The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , and culture  with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

First Published: March 25, 2025, 08:51 IST
Jugal Hansraj Condemns Personal Attacks On Ibrahim Ali Khan-Khushi Kapoor Post Nadaaniyan: Not Cool

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 20:20 IST

Jugal Hansraj, who played Ibrahim Ali Khans on-screen father in Nadaaniyan, said that criticism should be constructive, and should help actors learn and improve.

Jugal Hansraj reacts to Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor facing online trolling for Nadaaniyan

Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor faced massive trolling after the film Nadaaniyan released on Netflix. Jugal Hansraj, who played Ibrahims father Dr. Sanjay Mehta in the film, has now condemned the trolling and personal attacks aimed at Ibrahim and Khushi. He said that while the actors can learn from constructive criticism, personal attacks and trolling are uncalled for. He said that back in the 80s, actors were given space and time to grow, and there wasnt unfair scrutiny as there was no social media.

While speaking with India Today Digital, Jugal Hansraj said, Criticism should be constructive. If somebody who knows about cinema or has some experience in the field has a show or an article where they write about what worked and what didnt, thats something one can learn from. But on social media, Ive noticed that there are a lot of personal attacks, which are not criticism. Its just being silly and petty."

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He further added that he doesnt write off a movie as bad just because he doesnt connect with it. Who am I to say its bad? I just say it didnt work for me or I didnt connect with it. But some people proclaim as if they know everything," he said.

He further added that actors in the 80s who debuted in Bollywood films were given space and time to improve. However, things are different now. There was equal awkwardness in all of us when we started off, but because of the lack of social media, there wasnt this unfair scrutiny," he said.

He then added that unfortunately young actors these days are under intense spotlight. Personal attacks are not cool. If you have something constructive to say, please say it. That kind of feedback helps actors learn and improve. But personal attacks about appearance get murky and messy. Im obviously not in favour of that kind of criticism," he concluded.

Not just Jugal Hansraj, several other celebs including Hansal Mehta, Karan Johar, Gippy Grewal, and others defended Ibrahim and Khushi against online trolling.

Nadaaniyan, starring Ibrahim Ali Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Suniel Shetty, Dia Mirza, Jugal Hansraj, Mahima Chaudhry and others released on Netflix on March 7, 2025.

First Published: March 25, 2025, 20:20 IST
Kim Sae Rons Husband Slams Assault Claims, Lee Jin-ho; Reveals Marriage Certificate: 'I'm Still In Pain'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 00:14 IST

Kim Sae Rons husband denies assault allegations, shares marriage certificate to refute claims of blackmail and abuse.

Kim Sae Ron died on February 16, 2025, in Seoul.

On March 25, 2025, the late Korean actor Kim Sae Rons husband broke his silence on the allegations of assault and blackmail against him. In a statement released through Garo Sero Research Institute, he denied the claims made by YouTuber Lee Jin Ho and Kim Sae Rons ex-boyfriend. To back his statement, he revealed a copy of their marriage certificate, confirming their brief marriage.

Hello. This is the late Kim Sae Rons husband. I wondered if it was right for me to step up because I am still in pain, and unable to get out of my own feelings. I wondered if I would be causing damage to Sae Ron and her bereaved. Although I carefully considered it a few times, there have been so many distorted facts that are being spread, thanks to a couple of forces. I made the judgement that severe slander of the deceased was happening, and have written this statement in order to set the facts straight," he said in his statement.

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Marriage Timeline and Breakup

The statement revealed that Kim Sae Ron and her husband met in mid-to-late November 2024 through an acquaintance. Despite the short period, they were deeply attracted to each other and legally married in the United States on January 12, 2025, with only witnesses present. However, they later decided to annul the marriage by mutual consent due to practical difficulties in maintaining a long-distance relationship and differences in personality.

I was just living life as I did, an ordinary person, when I met Kim Sae Ron around mid-to-late November 2024, thanks to an introduction from an acquaintance. Thanks to having strong attraction to each other despite the short time, we got married legally in America, where I live, on January 12, 2025, with only witnesses present. Later, we decided to void the marriage upon agreement from both parties, due to the fact that we got married too quickly without serious consideration out of having fallen in love, as well as due to practical problems of a long-distance relationship, and differences in personalities," he explained.

Denial of Assault Allegations

Addressing the allegations of physical abuse, Kim Sae Rons husband firmly denied the claims, stating that it was impossible for such incidents to occur at his residence in America. He emphasized that the apartment complex where he lives has weak soundproofing, making it unlikely for any violent incident to go unnoticed.

My house in America is in a quiet apartment complex where any disturbance would immediately be reported by the floor below. Assault in America carries serious legal consequences, and I was raised with strong values. From November 2024 to February 2025, Kim Sae Ron visited me three times in America after our initial meeting. If I had assaulted her, why would she voluntarily return each time?" he questioned.

He also addressed the claims of photo evidence of physical abuse, urging those making the allegations to release the photos if they exist. If they truly have photos of the abuse, I urge them to make those public. If needed, I am willing to undergo police investigations," he added.

The husband further clarified that both he and Kim Sae Ron had mutually agreed to share information, including social media account details, due to their long-distance relationship.

He concluded by urging Lee Jin Ho and others to stop spreading alleged falsehoods about the late Kim Sae Ron.

About the Author Shrishti Negi Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More

Location : Seoul, South Korea

First Published: March 26, 2025, 00:08 IST
Love, Laughter And Luxury: Ali Fazal And Richa Chadhas Dreamy Dubai Diaries With Baby Zuneyra

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 17:39 IST

Ali Fazal dropped an array of glimpses from his recent trip to Dubai alongside Richa Chadha and their princess Zuneyra Ida Fazal.

Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha recently spent a vacation in Dubai. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha recently embarked on a surreal vacation to Dubai, alongside their daughter, Zuneyra Ida Fazal. The family of three have seemingly returned from their trip, but the glimpses from the same are still drool-worthy. Now, as the actor posted a couple of snaps alongside his wish to plan yet another trip to the same place, his loving wife nodded in affirmation with him.

On Instagram, Ali Fazal shared an array of photos featuring love-filled moments with his wife, Richa Chadha and their eight-month-old daughter, Zuneyra Ida Fazal. In the opening frame of his post, the madly-in-love couple was seen posing for a candid frame, followed by several other pictures from a luxurious resort over there. In one of the snaps, we also spotted a lovely fruit platter accompanied by what seemed a delicious chocolate cake. On the same table, a cup of espresso and a few other crackers wrapped in a packet were also kept.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by ali fazal (@alifazal9)

Coming to an extremely adorable frame in Alis carousel, the actor was seen clicking a selfie right from the sea beach. In the photo, the doting parents were seen being seated in a shade while their little girl was in a playful moment. Zuneyra was seen facing the sea beach while her mommy held her hands tightly. Following this, the Mirzapur actor also gave a top-view photo of a dried fruit platter, revealing their rich taste of food, alongside many other frames.

Posting the photos on his social media platform, the actor revealed that he is already craving yet another trip to the same place. Already planning the next trip soon. Heres a photo dump of the lovely week spent at the #malakiyavillas @jumeirah !! Find all possible amenities when it comes to a family outing. Also what a way to spend our Anniversary and thanks for that little surprise guys i love our photo together..," read his side note. Richa soon nodded in affirmation and commented, Lesssgo again."

Many other fans and friends of the duo also reacted to the photo dump, calling them the cutest couple in B-town. Saif Ali Khans elder sister, Saba Pataudi dropped three red heart emojis.

A couple of days back, Richa also posted another set of pictures from their vacation while giving a shoutout to their resort. The key highlight of her post included the mouth-watering meals and cherishable moments with her daughter, Zuneyra. The little ones moments on the sea, playing with the sand was simply adorable. Core memories were made, (baby emoji) milestones were reached," read an excerpt from her caption.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Richa Chadha (@therichachadha)

For the unversed, Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal got married in Lucknow on October 4, 2022, after dating each other for quite some years. And last year, they welcomed their first child into their lives.

About the Author Chirag Sehgal Chirag Sehgal works as a Sub-Editor in the Entertainment team at News18.com. With an experience of five years in the media industry, he largely focuses on Indian television coverage. Apart from bringing breakin... Read More Chirag Sehgal works as a Sub-Editor in the Entertainment team at News18.com. With an experience of five years in the media industry, he largely focuses on Indian television coverage. Apart from bringing breakin... Read More

First Published: March 25, 2025, 17:39 IST
'Money Sent Through Hawala': Ranya Rao's Confession To DRI In Gold Smuggling Case

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 16:58 IST

Kannada actor Ranya Rao confessed to receiving money through hawala transactions for purchasing gold, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence told the court. Her bail plea hearing is ongoing.

Kannada actor Ranya Rao was arrested at the Bengaluru International Airport on gold smuggling charges. (Image: X)

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence on Tuesday told the court that Kannada actor Ranya Rao has confessed during her interrogation that money to purchase gold was sent through hawala transactions.

Money has been sent to Ranya Rao through hawala, she has confessed that," said senior advocate Madhu Rao for the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

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Ranya Raos bail plea hearing in the gold smuggling case began at the 64th CCH Sessions Court in Bengaluru. Her bail order was reserved for March 27 after the court heard arguments from both sides.

Gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore were seized from Ranya at Kempegowda International Airport on March 3 upon her arrival from Dubai and she was taken into custody. Following this, searches were conducted at her residence, where officials recovered gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore.

Last week, the court had dismissed the bail application of Tarun Konduru Raju, who was arrested on March 10 for his alleged role in the gold smuggling case. The DRI had strongly opposed his bail plea, citing concerns that he could abscond if released.

Officials pointed out that after Ranyas arrest, Raju had allegedly attempted to flee the country, prompting authorities to issue a lookout circular against him. Investigators suspect that he played a key role in the smuggling operation, particularly in overseeing the logistics of transporting and distributing the illicit gold within India.

(With PTI inputs)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

First Published: March 25, 2025, 16:32 IST
Pooja Bhatt Condemns Villagers for Attacking Namibian Cheetah, Cubs in MP

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Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 15:53 IST

Pooja Bhatt criticized villagers in MP for pelting stones at a Namibian cheetah and her cubs, questioning India's decision to bring wildlife from Namibia and South Africa.

Pooja Bhatt has reacted to the stone attack on female Namibian cheetah.

Renowned actor and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt has strongly condemned the recent stone-pelting attack on a female Namibian cheetah and her cubs at Madhya Pradeshs Kuno National Park. She questioned why India continues to import wild animals if their safety cannot be ensured. For the uninitiated, villagers in MP pelted stones at a female Namibian cheetah, Jwala, and her four cubs who escaped the National Park and entered the rural areas.

In her angry note, Bhatt said that India shouldnt have brought the cheetahs from Namibia, South Africa, if they were to be attacked and treated this way. Voicing her anger over the incident in Sheopur district, she stated, This is exactly why we shouldnt be importing animals into the country. Namibian cheetahs belong in Namibia."

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Bhatt shared her thoughts after the Instagram page Street Dogs of Bombay uploaded a video of the incident. The disturbing footage captured villagers hurling stones and waving sticks at Jwala and her cubs, which led to one of the cheetahs pouncing on a calf.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by StreetdogsofBombay (@streetdogsofbombay)

In 2022, eight Southeast African cheetahsfive females and three males, aged four to sixwere transported from Namibia and placed in a quarantined enclosure at Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh. Among them is Jwala.

A recent ANI report revealed that a mother cheetah and her cubs strayed beyond Kuno National Parks boundary and entered a village, causing panic among locals. This marked the first such incident. On Sunday evening, Jwala was spotted near Veerpur tehsil, attempting to hunt a calf, but villagers intervened, chasing her away with sticks.

Cheetah Project Director Uttam Sharma urged villagers not to chase or attack the animals. He assured that cattle owners would receive compensation if a cheetah killed their livestock.

Currently, 17 cheetahs are roaming freely in Kuno National Park.

First Published: March 25, 2025, 15:53 IST
Sonu Sood's Wife Sonali Suffers Injuries in Major Mumbai-Nagpur Highway Mishap: Report

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 16:43 IST

Sonu Sood's wife Sonali Sood has reportedly met with a major accident that left her injured.

Sonu Sood's wife Sonali Sood met with an accident.

Sonali Sood, wife of actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood, was reportedly injured in a major accident on the Mumbai-Nagpur highway. As per initial reports by Hindustan Times, the incident occurred when Sonali was traveling with her sister and nephew, who was driving at the time of the accident and also suffered injuries. The crash took place late Monday night (March 24), and both Sonali and her nephew are currently undergoing treatment at Max Hospital in Nagpur.

Sonu Sood rushed to Nagpur immediately upon hearing about his wifes accident and has been by her side since last night, the source revealed. A spokesperson for the actor also confirmed the incident to HT, stating, Yes, Sonali has met with an accident. Sonu is currently unavailable."

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Hospital officials have reported that Sonali and her nephew are under observation and will receive full medical care for the next 48-72 hours. Meanwhile, Sonalis sister, who was also in the vehicle, escaped with only minor injuries.

Sonu Sood has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.

Sonali Sood largely stays away from the limelight, while Sonu Sood, known for his humanitarian efforts, has built a reputation as a real-life hero due to his extensive work in aiding those in need.

Further updates are expected as more information emerges about the mishap.

Sonu Sood married Sonali in 1996. She is a Telugu woman, who hails from Andhra Pradesh. The couple has two sons named Ayaan and Ishant. Sonali holds an MBA degree from Nagpur University. She is a renowned film producer by profession. Sonu and Sonali Sood prefer to keep their private life away from the public eye.

First Published: March 25, 2025, 14:33 IST
Opinion | Why India Inc Shouldnt Lobby For Protectionism

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 14:41 IST

Lower tariffs have the potential to galvanise the Indian economy

Most intellectuals are also incensed not just because Donald Trump is challenging and changing their rules but also because India is not resisting the US Presidents threats and statements. (Reuters)

There is a line, Haye mar jaayenge/hum to lut jaayenge/aesi baaten kiya na karo, in the famous Urdu poem, Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo. Written by the Pakistani poet Fayyaz Hashmi, the poem is beautifully sung by Farida Khanum. The line was the sum and substance of what Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal told export promotion councils (EPCs) in his recent interaction. Not in these words of course.

His message was prosaicand correct. Reflecting on the reciprocal tariffs, he has cautioned the EPCs to come out of their protectionist mindset and encouraged them to be bold and ready to deal with the world from a position of strength and self-confidence," an official press release said.

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Last month too, Goyal had exhorted corporate India to shed its protectionist mindset and focus instead on becoming globally competitive.

US President Donald Trump has promised to impose sweeping levies on India from April 2. India charges us 100 per cent tariffs; the system is not fair to the US, it never was. On April 2, reciprocal tariffs kick in. Whatever they tax us, we will tax them. If they use non-monetary tariffs to keep us out of their market, then we will use non-monetary barriers to keep them out of our market," Trump said early this month while addressing a Joint Session of the US Congress.

This is even though India and the US have decided to negotiate the first tranche of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by fall (September-October) 2025. The proposed pact is quite comprehensive in scope, aimed at increasing bilateral trade, augmenting market access, decreasing tariff and non-tariff barriers, and boosting supply chain integration. Goyal said that the BTA with the US will be the mother of all deals."

Trade talks with Washington are on, and there has been no sign of major disagreements between the two countries. And yet, political and intellectual elites are angry and anxious; consequently, markets are in ferment. So, the Congress has claimed that the Narendra Modi governments trade policy is disastrous." Congress media department chairman Pawan Khera is aghast at Modijis surrender."

Most intellectuals, who are still wedded to the postmodern woke doctrines, are also incensed not just because Trump is challenging and changing their rules but also because India is not resisting the US Presidents threats and statements. Trumps America is just having its way too easy; this galls the Left-liberal establishment.

Four points need to be made here. First, just because Trump says something doesnt mean that it is incorrect. Former chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian said two months ago, India has been protectionist since about 2018." Other experts have also made similar observations. For too long, sections of our industry have enjoyed protection in the form of high import duties and non-tariff barriers (NTBs) like quality control orders (QCOs).

Second, if India lowers its duties and reduces NTBs, it may help American firms that want to enter our market; but less protection will alsoindeed more sogive a fillip to our economy. This will, perforce, make our companies become more competitive; they will become more inclined to adopt newer technologies to gain a competitive edge. Besides, this will also mean more choices and lower prices for consumers.

Third, less protection will also help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). While discussing protectionism, we should never lose sight of the interests involved. The economy is not a monolith; quite apart from various sectors, there is an important categorization based on size. There are a small number of big companies controlled by tycoons, and there are a big number of small companies run by businesspersons you and I come across in everyday life. When someone says that the economy should be protected, we must find out whose interests they are talking about. The steel industry may want higher tariffs, but the user industriesin which MSMEs are preponderantoppose that. In other words, the interests of one sector or lobby should not be confused with the national interest.

And, finally, we should not get worked up because we are forced to tweak our economic policy because of external pressure. It is a well-known fact that the tectonic shift in Indias economic policy in 1991 was goaded by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The ensuing liberalisation was fiercely resisted by both the Left and the Right. Doomsday scenarios were presented by top intellectuals at that time; we were told that we would become a victim of neo-imperialism, multinational corporations would gobble up Indian companies, and so on.

What actually happened? India emerged stronger after the crisis; instead of getting swallowed by MNCs, many Indian companies themselves became MNCs; India is expected to become the third-largest economy in the foreseeable future; tens of crores of people were lifted from abject poverty.

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Likewise, lower tariffs have the potential to galvanise the Indian economy. So, instead of crying Haye mar jaayenge/hum to lut jaayenge, the captains of industry should brace for the future.

The author is a freelance journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: March 25, 2025, 14:41 IST
Right Word | Lest It Be Forgotten: Operation Searchlight And Pakistans Excesses In Bangladesh

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 14:46 IST

As Bangladesh prepares to commemorate its Independence Day on March 26, it becomes imperative to ensure that the historical events that preceded it are not consigned to political oblivion

Various actors are actively shaping the discourses concerning the ideological trajectory and post-Liberation identity of Bangladesh. (PTI File)

Bangladesh is undergoing a turbulent phase of its political recalibration following the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. Various ideological factions, notably the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, which historically resisted the nations liberation from Pakistans hegemonic hold, are increasingly consolidating their influence. These actors are actively shaping the discourses concerning the ideological trajectory and post-Liberation identity of Bangladesh.

Concurrently, a discernible effort to obscure and diminish the historical memory of the Pakistan Armys atrocities, especially during Operation Searchlight (launched on March 25, 1971), have gained momentum. This revisionist impulse is particularly pronounced amidst the new governments overtures toward fostering closer diplomatic and economic ties with Pakistan, signalling a deliberate attempt to erase the memories of genocidal violence of the Pakistan Army. This calls for renewed attention to remind the nation about Pakistan Armys ethno-religious violence against Bengalis as it approaches the 54th anniversary of Operation Searchlight.

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Before delving into the military operations conducted by the Pakistan Army, it is imperative to contextualise the broader political landscape of Bangladesh  then East Pakistan  and its intricate relationship with West Pakistan, which ultimately culminated in the Liberation War of 1971. The establishment of Pakistan as a bifurcated state comprising two geographically non-contiguous regions, separated by approximately 1,600 kilometres of Indian territory, presented an inherently fragile political configuration. While the nascent state was ideologically unified under the banner of Islamic nationalism, this abstract sense of solidarity rapidly eroded as asymmetrical power dynamics emerged.

The initial aspirations of equitable governance and interregional parity disintegrated as West Pakistans polity, predominantly dominated by ethnic Punjabis alongside the influential Muhajir elite from India, asserted disproportionate control over the central apparatus of the state. This was perpetuated by the Pakistani military establishment, whose ranks were overwhelmingly composed of Punjabis. Consequently, the early years of Pakistans political evolution were marked by systemic marginalization and institutionalized exclusion of the countrys diverse ethno-linguistic communities be it Bengalis, Pashtun, Balochis and Sindhis. The imposition of Urdu as the sole national language, a policy vigorously pursued by the West Pakistani ruling elite, symbolised this overarching agenda of cultural and political homogenization.

This linguistic hegemony was particularly egregious given the demographic realities of Pakistan. Bengali-speaking people, constituting approximately 44 million out of the countrys total population of 69 million, formed a clear majority. Despite this demographic predominance, the political leadership in West Pakistan dismissed the cultural and linguistic identity of East Pakistan with disdain. The demand for the recognition of Bangla as one of the states official languages, alongside Urdu, was met with authoritarian resistance, as evidenced during 1952 Language Movement protests when dozens of Bangla students were killed by the Pakistan Army in Dhaka University.

Though the Pakistani state was compelled to officially recognise Bengali as one of the national languages alongside Urdu in 1954, the West Pakistani-dominated establishment persistently upheld systemic socio-political marginalisation and economic subjugation of the Bengali-speaking population of East Pakistan. Amidst the continued homogenisation attempts by Pakistani state at the cost of the countrys ethnic components, Awami League-led opposition parties presented a Six-Point Proposal in 1966 which demanded that Pakistan be organised as a federation of units with power devolved to individual units; this was rejected by military dictator Ayyub Khan, who had seized power by deposing President Iskander Mirza in 1958.

Nevertheless, the most egregious act of political betrayal was orchestrated in the aftermath of Pakistans inaugural general elections of December 1970, when the military regime under President General Yahya Khan, in collusion with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of the Pakistan Peoples Party, obstructed the democratic mandate of the Bengali dominated Awami League. Despite Sheikh Mujibur Rahman-led Awami League securing an overwhelming victory with 167 seats out of the total 313 and firmly establishing its right to form the national government, the military junta and Bhuttos faction, driven by entrenched ethno-linguistic prejudices, refused to facilitate the constitutional transfer of power.

Bhuttos Peoples Party, which trailed significantly with only 85 seats, engaged in deliberate political manoeuvring to disenfranchise the Awami League. General Yahya Khan brazenly abdicated his constitutional responsibilities, instead conspired with Bhutto to indefinitely delay the convening of the National Assembly  a move emblematic of the regimes determination to negate the electoral will of East Pakistan and perpetuate West Pakistani hegemony.

What was more humiliating for the Bangla people was Bhuttos audacious proposition during his meeting with Mujibur Rahman and President Yahya Khan on March 3, 1971, suggesting the establishment of two separate prime ministers for the eastern and western wings of the country. This blatant disregard for the Awami Leagues unequivocal electoral mandate symbolized the West Pakistani elites contempt for democratic principles as well as against Bengali people. The provocative demand triggered widespread outrage and mass protests across East Pakistan, reflecting the collective resentment of a population whose democratic aspirations were being systematically undermined.

Rather than honouring the legitimate political verdict, the Pakistani state responded with brute militarised repression. It culminated in the launch of Operation Searchlight on the night of March 25, 1971, a brutal military crackdown that started with the arrest of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his associates, thereby marking the commencement of a long campaign of mass violence and systematic persecution.

Under the military leadership of commanders such as Lt Gen. Tikka Khan, the Pakistan Army, following the systematic disarmament of Bengali military personnel across key garrisons in East Pakistan, initiated a comprehensive and indiscriminate military campaign against the Bengali population. The offensive commenced with a ruthless assault on Jagannath Hall at Dhaka University, a residential facility predominantly accommodating Hindu students.

By the end of the night, the Pakistan Army had unleashed a massacre of staggering proportions, with Robert Payne, an American journalist, estimating that over 7,000 Bengalis were killed, while more than 3,000 were apprehended in Dhaka alone during the initial hours of Operation Searchlight. This underscored the Pakistan Armys intent to suppress dissent through genocidal repression, setting the stage for one of the darkest chapters in the regions history with hundreds of thousands killed, tortured and raped.

A massacre that came to symbolise the genocidal brutality of Operation Searchlight and the Pakistan Armys campaign of systematic violence against Bengalis was the Chuknagar massacre. On May 20, 1971, the Pakistan Army indiscriminately slaughtered over 12,000 civilians, predominantly Hindus fleeing the violence towards crossing into India, at Chuknagar in the Dumuria region of Khulna district near the Indian border. The sheer scale and savagery of the massacre cemented General Tikka Khans notorious reputation as the Butcher of Bengal".

Although the Pakistan Army officially declared the conclusion of Operation Searchlight on May 20, 1971  coincidentally the same day as the Chuknagar massacre  the genocidal onslaught persisted unabated for an additional seven months. This sustained campaign of systematic violence, characterized by mass atrocities and widespread persecution, culminated only with the formal surrender of the Pakistan Army on December 16, 1971.

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As Bangladesh prepares to commemorate its Independence Day on March 26, it becomes imperative to ensure that the historical events that preceded it are not consigned to political oblivion. This necessity is particularly pronounced within the context of the countrys evolving political landscape, wherein certain factions remain resolutely committed to undermining and trivialising the sacrifices of the Liberation War fighters to serve their parochial and self-serving interests. Hence, it is crucial to safeguard the integrity of the nations collective memory against historical revisionism and ideological manipulation being attempted by these forces. This is essential to ensure that new generations do not forget the great sacrifices and suffering of the people which paved the way for the realisation of a future liberated from the colonial-like subjugation imposed by Pakistan.

The writer is an author and a columnist. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views

First Published: March 25, 2025, 14:46 IST
'80% Social Work, 20% Politics': Amid Kunal Kamra Row, Shinde Says He Followed Balasahebs Principle In Career

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 07:19 IST

Shindes remarks came after the Maharashtra assembly passed a unanimous resolution congratulating him for receiving the Adya Jagatguru Shri Sant Tukaram Maharaj Puraskar

Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde (Image: PTI)

Amid the ongoing controversy over comedian Kunal Kamras comments, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday said he had followed the Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackerays principle of 80 per cent social work and 20 per cent politics" in his career and pledged to continue working for the common man.

Shindes remarks came after the Maharashtra assembly passed a unanimous resolution congratulating him for receiving the Adya Jagatguru Shri Sant Tukaram Maharaj Puraskar, a prestigious award from the Warkari (devotees of Lord Vitthal) community, earlier this month.

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The resolution came amid the ongoing row over stand-up comedian Kunal Kamras alleged defamatory remarks against Shinde. While Shinde has not yet responded to the controversy, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has demanded an apology from Kamra for insulting" his deputy.

In his reply to the resolution congratulating him for getting the award instituted in the name of Sant Tukaram, Shinde said the award belongs to the states people and he dedicates it to them.

In my 40-year-long career, I have followed Balasaheb Thackerays principle of 80 per cent social work and 20 per cent politics and pledged to continue working for the common man," the deputy CM said.

It is due to the work I did as chief minister the state gave a landslide victory (to the Mahayuti comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP). We will continue to work for the people. Our responsibility has increased, Shinde said, adding, I consider myself as a common man."

We have to make the common man in the state a superman and improve the peoples lives," he said. The deputy CM further stated that the government and the opposition should work together for the people.

The resolution was moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil, who praised Shindes political journey and legislative work.

Kunal Kamra Row

A major row erupted on Sunday night after Kunal Kamra shared a video clip from his show at the Habitat Studio at the Unicontinental hotel in Mumbais Khar area in which he can be heard referring Shinde as a traitor" and went on to sing a parody of him.

The stand-up comedian used a modified version of a Hindi song from the movie Dil Toh Pagal Hai to describe the 2022 rebellion of Shinde against Uddhav Thackeray.

Several Shiv Sena workers on Sunday night gathered outside Hotel Unicontinental, where the studio is located. They allegedly ransacked the studio and the hotel premises, the police said.

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The Mumbai police has also registered an FIR against Kamra for making defamatory remarks against Shinde, officials said.

(With agency inputs)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

First Published: March 25, 2025, 07:19 IST
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte hosted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at the Montana State Capitol on Monday as the two advanced an effort to convene a convention of state delegations to amend the U.S. Constitution to require Congress pass a balanced federal budget.

The idea, which has largely failed to gain traction in the Legislature both in this years and the 2023 session, is that if 34 states can pass resolutions supporting a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution, they can eventually convene a few years down the road to build out potential amendments that people in each state would then vote to ratify or vote down.

DeSantis went to both Idaho and Montana on Monday to push his proposal for an Article V convention, which he wants to limit to an amendment requiring a balanced budget at the federal level akin to nearly every state.

With Floridas passage of such a resolution, he said there are now 27 states that have agreed to a balanced budget amendment convention. Having Montana and Idaho sign on would bring that number to 29, and DeSantis said there is pressure on lawmakers in South Carolina and Kentucky to add their states to the list.

DeSantis said he believes if the effort, backed by multiple national groups, can get 32 or 33 states to sign on, it would pressure Congress to take action on its own to move toward a balanced budget and make an Article V convention unnecessary.

"Congress will have this in its lap and will be in a position where theyre going to have to act," DeSantis told a crowd of mostly Republican lawmakers at a sort of informational session Monday.

At issue is the $36 trillion federal debt, which is seen across the political spectrum as being problematic, but which Republicans in particular have latched onto over the past decade-plus as needing to be reduced to zero.

But opponents of the idea say it would force deep cuts to essential programs during economic downturns and years of tightening the belt that would cost jobs and economic opportunity.

With President Donald Trump back in office and advancing deep cuts to federal government agencies and programs at the hands of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, led by the billionaire government contractor Elon Musk, the push on the right to drastically cut government and spending is in full force.

Both Gianforte and DeSantis have championed DOGEs efforts on the national level and claimed they were early adopters of such an idea before Musk came into the picture. DeSantis said Monday he wants to "DOGE" local governments in Florida as a next step.

Loren Enns, a board member of the group Balanced Budget Now and a state campaign director for the Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force, told the group he believed a balanced budget constitutional amendment could "pick up" where Musk and Trump leave off and make permanent $2 trillion in cuts to the federal government.

Gianforte has backed a balanced budget effort for years. On his first day in Congress in 2017, he introduced his first bill, the Balanced Budget Accountability Act, which would have required Congress to pass a balanced budget within a decade or go without a paycheck. He also cosponsored a resolution to put a balanced budget amendment in the constitution.

He said in a news conference with DeSantis that followed their presentation to lawmakers he learned at that time that requiring a balanced budget was "not a popular message" in Congress, recalling getting booed by both parties when bringing the bill.

Gianforte highlighted his administration's work thus far to eliminate Montana's debt and cut taxes while signing what he called conservative budgets and said Congress should follow suit.

"Its clear Washington needs some encouragement to get its fiscal house in order," Gianforte said. "We cant expect Washington to impose permanent fiscal restraints on itself."

Lawmakers so far this session have not had much appetite for an Article V convention. The House Business and Labor Committee tabled a GOP resolution seeking to apply for one on behalf of the state. Senate Majority Leader Tom McGillvrays proposal to outline how convention commissioners would be picked went down in the House last week 41-59.

But the focus on federal spending and the national debt has garnered support from Republicans in the Legislature. McGillvray's joint resolution to express "the economic dangers of federal debt and deficits" is on its way to the governor's desk after a final vote Tuesday in the House. He has been one of the biggest proponents of an Article V convention and balanced budget amendment at the state Capitol in recent years.

Bigfork Republican Sen. Mark Noland's SJ 4, which is focused toward Gianforte's and DeSantis's goals and aims to call a convention of states to pass a balanced budget, narrowly passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee in late January and has been held for a floor vote since then, meaning it could be the vehicle for the proposal moving forward.

Last session, none of the three Article V convention bills that were formally introduced made it to the governor's desk, and only one passed one chamber.

There was some consternation among Republicans in the House when they discussed one of the Article V bills last week either that a convention could turn into a "runaway" convention in which more amendments were proposed beyond what Montana sought, or that Congress could outline convention rules against Montanas wishes or take action on its own.

DeSantis said if Congress were to preempt a convention with a roadmap states like Montana or Florida found unfavorable or move ahead with other plans of action of its own, he would welcome it because the pressure campaign would have worked.

"All these states would reject Congress doing some type of half measure, so they are going to have to write something that is going to work," he said.

Asked Monday about the general lack of support for Article V conventions this session in Montana and whether that would have bearing on Gianforte's support for a balanced budget amendment, Montana's governor said there were still hundreds of bill titles in play that could still come forward.

"Its not done until they sine die and go home," Gianforte said.
BJP-AIADMK Reunion Ahead Of Tamil Nadu Polls? Palaniswami's Meeting With Amit Shah In Delhi Sparks Buzz

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 23:27 IST

The AIADMK, the main opposition party in Tamil Nadu, snapped ties with the BJP in September 2023 in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls

Former Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence in New Delhi on Tuesday.

AIADMK general secretary and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, sparking speculation that his party might revive its alliance with the BJP ahead of the states assembly elections next year.

The AIADMK, Tamil Nadus main opposition party, severed its ties with the BJP in September 2023, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, following disagreements with the BJPs state leadership.

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Sources indicated that during the meeting, Palaniswami discussed various issues, including the alleged imposition of Hindi in Tamil Nadu, and shared his partys views with Shah, PTI reported.

Meanwhile, speaking about the meeting with the Home Minister and a potential alliance with the BJP, Annamalai said, Our doors and windows are open for any party to join the NDA. Anybody joining us with the only aim of dethroning the DMK is welcome."

This meeting also comes after senior AIADMK leaders had recently met BJP national president JP Nadda, where they raised concerns about Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalais aggressive political style.

AIADMK leaders had also called for an apology from Annamalai for his controversial remarks about Dravidian leader CN Annadurai or his replacement. Annamalai has toned down his criticism of the AIADMK for some time now.

Additionally, there is growing speculation that if the AIADMK and BJP revive their alliance, they could pose a strong challenge to the ruling DMK-led INDIA alliance in the state.

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In recent years, the AIADMK has seen a decline in its vote share in the state.

(With inputs from PTI)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

First Published: March 25, 2025, 22:58 IST
Despite 'Constitution Change' Remark, Congress Stands Firmly Behind DK Shivakumar; Here's Why

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti



Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 10:55 IST

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar is supported by Congress despite his controversial comments on changing the Constitution, aiming to counter BJP's narrative before elections.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar (Photo: PTI)

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is receiving substantial backing from his party. The entire Congress party is standing firmly behind him. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has moved two privilege notices against BJP MPs JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju. Additionally, Congress MP Priyanka Vadra has accused the Narendra Modi government of raising baseless issues to deliberately disrupt the functioning of Parliament.

Questions are being asked in political circles as to why DK Shivakumars comment is not causing unrest within the Congress and why is he receiving support despite his statement about changing the Constitution if the Congress comes to power, which could potentially harm Rahul Gandhis political message of samvidhan khatre mein hai (Constitution is in anger)?

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The main reason is that DK Shivakumar is the trouble-shooter the party has lacked since the deaths of party veterans Pranab Mukherjee and Ahmed Patel. Whether its to counter horse trading or ensure that the Congress is not short-changed, DK Shivakumar is dispatched to handle the situation, as seen in Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. He has also been made an observer during polls to ensure everything runs smoothly. Besides being the fund manager, Shivakumar has the confidence of the Gandhi siblings, who appreciate his aggressive approach against the BJP.

But thats not the only reason. The Congress wants to highlight that the BJP and the government are raising this issue to divert attention from the cash recovery at Delhi High Court former Chief Justice Yashwant Varmas home. Additionally, they hope to garner more support from other INDIA bloc parties. This strategy seems to be working. While the TMC has not backed Shivakumars comments, party leader Derek OBrien stated that the treasury bench deliberately created a situation to disrupt the House.

In Karnataka, the Congress is under internal pressure. DK Shivakumar hopes that after 2.5 years of Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs tenure, he can become the chief minister. The Congress top leadership wants to keep Shivakumar happy, fearing that any reprimand could make the state Congress unit angry and restless, potentially aiding the BJP, which is quite powerful in the state. The party does not want to open multiple fronts in the state at this time.

Shivakumar, while speaking about the bill which provided a 4 per cent quota to Muslims in public contracts in the state on News18 India Diamond States Summit 2025 on Sunday, said that the constitution will be changing". His remarks sparked a massive row and drew backlash from BJP leaders.

While speaking about the reservation, Shivakumar went on to say Lot of changes are there, Constitution will be changing, there are judgements which alters the Constitution also".

There is a big debate going on regarding this issue. Many BJP leaders have claimed that Muslims are repairing bike punctures. It is our responsibility to uplift every section of society, allowing them to come forward and be part of the development. We have initiated something, and we know that everyone will approach the court. Many judgments have altered the Constitution over time," Shivakumar said.

Let us see, let us watch. Let what court comes out. We have started something, I know that everyone will go to the court. Let us wait for some good day, the day will come. Lot of changes are there, Constitution will be changing, there are judgements which alters the Constitution also," he added.

Shivakumars comments have raised the question of whether what is beneficial in one state may not be good for the national picture. The Congress top leadership is being forced to remain silent. After all, Bihar, set for polls later this year, with its substantial Muslim population, is the core vote bank for both the RJD and the Congress. Shivakumars words may actually resonate there. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress have emphasised that minorities like Muslims and Dalits are being hurt by the BJPs policies.

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While DK Shivakumars talk about a change in the Constitution gives an issue to the BJP, the Congress does not see it as a problem for now, especially in the context of the upcoming elections in Bihar and West Bengal in 2026. Shivakumars words may address the partys concerns about losing ground in these important states.

However, the issue is that while DK Shivakumars words may work locally for the Congress, they do not align well with Rahul Gandhis narrative that the BJP seeks to change the Constitution. The Network18 interview made it clear that if the Congress returns to power, one of its priorities will be to change the Constitution. This was a key point in Rahul Gandhis fight against the BJP in 2024. Will Shivakumars words come back to haunt him? For now, the party has little choice but to support the strongman from Karnataka.

About the Author Pallavi Ghosh Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More

First Published: March 25, 2025, 10:55 IST
'Insult To Every Warrior': Rajasthan CM Slams Samajwadi Party MP's 'Traitor' Remarks On Rana Sanga

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 18:49 IST

Bhajanlal Sharma questioned Ramji Lal Suman whether he had ever made an effort to understand the sacrifices of Rana Sanga or even read the history of Mewar

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. (PTI file photo)

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Tuesday strongly condemned the Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Sumans recent remarks on Mewar ruler Rana Sanga and demanded that the Akhilesh Yadav-led party take action against him.

He also said that the Sumans remarks were an insult not only to Rana Sanga but also to every warrior who laid down their life for the country.

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Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on March 21, Suman called Rana Sanga a traitor" and said that Hindus are his descendants.

Addressing a programme organised by Jauhar Smriti Sansthan in Chittorgarh fort, Chief Minister Sharma said, Rana Sanga was a warrior who sacrificed his life for the protection of the motherland and Sanatan Dharma. His body bore 80 wounds, yet he never showed any signs of distress." This (Sumans remarks) is an insult to our history and our heroes, who fought to protect our culture and religion," Sharma said.

He also questioned the SP MP whether he had ever made an effort to understand the sacrifices of Rana Sanga or even read the history of Mewar.

It is because of such warriors that we are able to preserve our culture and religion," the chief minister said.

He demanded action from SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and also called for an apology. Sharma said that Chittorgarh is a land of sacrifice.

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Industry Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore also condemned the remarks of the SP MP.

Cooperative Minister Gautam Dak and minister Manju Waghmar were also present at the event.

Location : Rajasthan, India, India

First Published: March 25, 2025, 18:49 IST
Google Brings AI-Powered Most Relevant Feature In Gmail: How It Works

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: March 24, 2025, 10:54 IST

Gmail is offering new Gemini AI-powered tools and features that will make sorting your inbox easier and faster.

Google is using Gemini AI in myriad ways to help Gmail users.

Gmail users are getting a new AI feature that promises to help you find important emails more efficiently. The AI-powered sorting tool, called Most Relevant," replaces the traditional chronological search order by prioritising emails based on relevance.

The existing filter options for refining search results will remain available alongside this new feature. Additionally, Gmail recently introduced the Gemini-powered tool that can automatically generate calendar events based on email content.

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Google announced the rollout in a blog post saying, the Most Relevant" feature will be accessible on the web and via the iOS and Android apps for personal Gmail users. The company also plans to extend the service to business accounts in the future.

Easy Search With AI

According to Google, the tool aims to simplify email searches, especially in cluttered inboxes. Currently, users need to enter keywords related to an email, and Gmail either displays results in chronological order or highlights a top result followed by others.

With this update, a new dropdown menu will appear on the search results page after a keyword search. Users can choose between Most Recent" and Most Relevant." While the former will continue to display results in chronological order, selecting Most Relevant" will allow AI to reorder emails based on importance.

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The company says the new mode considers factors like frequent contacts, most-clicked emails, and recent interactions. Emails from regularly engaged senders will rank higher than those from less frequent contacts. This AI-driven approach aims to surface the most relevant emails at the top of search results, reducing the need to sift through hundreds of messages and saving users valuable time.

Although the feature is AI-powered, it does not rely on generative AI models like Gemini-based tools. Instead, it utilizes a machine learning-driven ranking system that prioritizes relevant emails through a combination of behaviour analysis, natural language processing (NLP) models, and AI-driven search algorithms.

About the Author S Aadeetya S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr... Read More S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr... Read More

News18 Tech delivers the latest technology updates, including phone launches, gadget reviews, AI advancements, and more. Stay informed with breaking tech news , expert insights, and trends from India and around the world . Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

Location : California, USA

First Published: March 24, 2025, 10:54 IST
Google Now Lets Gemini AI To See Through Your Phones Camera: What It Offers

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 12:07 IST

Google AI is getting new powers and Gemini will use your phone's camera to help you identify places, cafes and even solve complex problems.

Google's Project Astra AI assistant will work through the Gemini Live feature

While Apple struggles to make its AI better for iPhone users, Google continues to flaunt its Gemini AI prowess and add new ability. The company had demoed its Project Astra feature at the I/O 2024 and now Gemini AI is getting these tools packed into the same app that is available on smartphones.

Astra is a new-gen AI assistant that is now giving Gemini the power to read and see everything through your phones camera. The feature is gradually coming to all Gemini users and some of them have even tried out the new Gemini ability for Android users.

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Gemini AI Can See Using Your Phones Camera: Heres How

Google is using the camera on your phone to guide the AI assistant to help you understand the things near you. It can even read a code written on a PC and help you determine its purpose or solve the complex code as well.

Thats not all, you can point the camera to the street and ask the AI assistant to tell you where you are located and get more localised details if indeed. It is obvious that Gemini Live will be the carrier of these new abilities and you will need a Pixel phone to try out the see-through camera AI tool from the company.

Google is calling it Share -screen with live" and the demos available on the internet this month give us a clear idea about how the AI feature will work on mobile devices. The Gemini Live camera option will surely bring privacy concerns for users but it seems Google is making it reliable, even though the technology will need further guardrails to prevent it from going rogue or falling into the wrong hands.

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OpenAI has a similar tool available that works on ChatGPT 4o version but Googles AI feature will be widely available, that too for free with some limits. Some of the high-end features on Gemini needs the Google One AI Premium plan that costs Rs 1,950 per month but you can get it for free with select Pixel models and other brands available in the market.

Project Astra was expected to roll out for the end users around March this year and it seems Google is close to matching the deadline. This new AI tool feels ideal for devices like smart glasses, something that Google had in its armoury much before the market was ready for it. In fact, Sergey Brin, Google Co-founder has previously mentioned that AI is the perfect hardware" for the glasses, referring to the applications that the technology offers for the smart wearable and Astra could be the gateway for its growth in this space.

About the Author S Aadeetya S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr... Read More S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr... Read More

News18 Tech delivers the latest technology updates, including phone launches, gadget reviews, AI advancements, and more. Stay informed with breaking tech news , expert insights, and trends from India and around the world . Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: March 25, 2025, 12:07 IST
2-Year-Old Urinates In Glass At Chinese Eatery, Mom Says He Couldnt Hold It

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 18:39 IST

Tang, who was dining nearby, was disturbed by the smell of urine that lingered on the table.

The glass was not a disposable one. (Representative Image)

A two-year-old boy in China sparked controversy at a restaurant after urinating into a glass while dining with his family. The incident occurred on March 13 at Fuyuanju Restaurant in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, and was later brought to light by a fellow diner.

According to a report from the South China Morning Post, the witness, surnamed Tang, mentioned that the boy was accompanied by his mother and two elderly relatives. She explained that the boy stood up from his seat at the table, removed his trousers and urinated into a glass that was meant for serving customers. The glass was not a disposable one.

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When the boy said he wanted to urinate, one elderly individual went to get a bin, suggesting the boy to pee there. But the boys mother said, just let him pee directly into the glass," she said.

Tang, who was dining nearby, was disturbed by the smell of urine that lingered on the table. She and her friends asked a restaurant worker to remove the glass.

The mother told the worker, We are sorry that the kid could not really hold it any more. So he peed in the cup."

Tang discussed the matter with the eaterys owner and asked for a discount or some free fruit as an apology. However, the owner refused and accused her of causing trouble. After a heated exchange, Tang paid her bill of 316 yuan (approximately Rs 3,700) and left.

Later, authorities launched an investigation into the matter but the restaurant staff had already disposed of the glass. Following a mediation process, the owner apologised to Tang and refunded her money along with a 1,000 yuan (over Rs 11,000) compensation. Tang accepted the apology and refund but declined the compensation.

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This isnt the first incident in China that has raised food safety concerns. A few days ago, another similar incident from Haidilao in Shanghai came into the spotlight. A shocking video showed a young man urinating into a vat of boiling broth. The footage sparked outrage on social media where users condemned the breach of food safety at one of Chinas most popular restaurant chains. Haidilao responded to the crisis by issuing a public apology, stating they were extremely sorry" and would pursue legal action against those involved.

In addition to the apology, the company compensated customers who had dined at the affected outlet. They reportedly spent tens of millions of yuan in compensation.

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 25, 2025, 18:39 IST
Baba Vanga's Prediction: This Country Will Receive Aliens' First Message And The Reason Is...

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 09:54 IST

Baba Vanga predicted aliens will contact Hungary in 2125. Despite skepticism, unusual space signals, including those from a binary star system, are being monitored

Baba Vanga asserted that exactly 100 years from now, in 2125, extraterrestrials will attempt to land on Earth, choosing Hungary as their destination. (News18)

Baba Vanga, renowned for her astonishing predictions, is currently a topic of discussion due to a particular prophecy. She foretold the specific location on Earth where aliens would first make contact.

According to Baba Vanga, aliens will send their initial signals to Hungary in the year 2125. Subsequently, the first direct contact with aliens will occur there. She asserted that exactly 100 years from now, in 2125, extraterrestrials will attempt to land on Earth, choosing Hungary as their destination. This prediction includes the reception of signals from space by Hungary.

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Many Against Baba Vangas Predictions

It is important to note that Baba Vangas predictions are often met with scepticism due to the lack of scientific evidence supporting them. The scientific community does not officially recognise these predictions, and many regard them as mere speculations.

Presently, unusual signals in space are being monitored in an attempt to discover advanced civilisations beyond our world. These efforts may indicate the presence of such civilisations.

Recent Discoveries

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For instance, strange radio signals have recently been detected from a binary star system located 1,600 light years away in the constellation Ursa Major. These signals, discovered by Dr Iris de Ruiter, reflect the interaction between a hidden white dwarf star and a red dwarf star, significantly enhancing our understanding of stellar magnetic fields and cosmic radio emissions.

While scientific efforts continue to explore the universe, Baba Vangas prediction about Hungary in 2125 remains speculative. There is currently no scientific evidence to support the claim that Hungary will receive signals from outer space that year. The quest to understand our universe persists, and researchers remain vigilant for any credible communication signals from beyond our planet.

News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

First Published: March 25, 2025, 09:54 IST
Deeply Evil, Dishonest: Netizens Fume Over Race-Swapping Of Netflix Hit Adolescence Main Character

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 22:36 IST

Netflix's series Adolescence faces backlash for casting a white actor as the main character, despite the story being based on Black man Hassan Sentamu. Critics call it dishonest and misleading.

The casting of Adolescence has created a controversy amongst the far-right in the UK as well as the US. (IMAGE: X)

Adolescence, the limited drama series by streaming giant Netflix, has earned the ire of a section of netizens who are enraged over the race-swapping of the main character.

The shows makers have faced flak for casting a white actor as the main character even though the drama is based on the story of Hassan Sentamu, a Black man who last week was jailed for life for the murder of a 15-year-old girl when he was 17, in September 2023.

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Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham have told media outlets that the series about a young British boy accused of murdering a classmate is about male anger, male rage" and actor Graham told magazine GQ that self-avowed misogynist Andrew Tate also had an impact on the storyline.

Despite the show earning a mention by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with him even saying that it should be screened in the UK parliament.

Race-switching a murderer in your show to change the topic from immigration to toxic masculinity is so deeply evil and dishonest I have trouble properly expressing my rage. https://t.co/ZSGV1mwQyI Hunter Ash (@ArtemisConsort) March 20, 2025

But certain netizens have slammed the makers and said the portrayal of Owen Cooper who murdered his classmate Katie Leonard, as 13-year-old Jamie Miller, a teenager from a conservative British family, is deeply dishonest".

Patrick Christys talks about Netflix show Adolescence. Are working class white boys and easy target? pic.twitter.com/BfkyYoXlqt Patriots Of Britain (@HoodedClaw1974) March 21, 2025

This is how Netflix portrays a 13-year-old knife murderer in the UK. Second image is the person it was based on," Irish Far-Right Ideologue" Keith Woods, whose X posts have been reposted by platform owner Elon Musk, said.

He posted an image of Jamie Miller, the main character played by white actor Owen Cooper, alongside a picture of Sentamu, now 18, falsely asserting that Sentamus killing of Elianne Andam was the sole inspiration for Adolescence.

Sentamus Ugandan origins remain a point of contention for the British far right. He relocated to London at around three years old.

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Race-switching a murderer in your show to change the topic from immigration to toxic masculinity is so deeply evil and dishonest I have trouble properly expressing my rage," X user Hunter Ash said.

Unfairly demonizes white working-class boys," Patrick Christys, a presenter of GB News said.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

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 : London, United Kingdom (UK)

First Published: March 25, 2025, 19:43 IST
Gujarati Couple, Who Ran Away 64 Years Ago, Get Married | Watch Their Heartwarming Love Story

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 11:35 IST

Harsh, a Jain man, and Mrudu, a Brahmin woman, met in school and their love story began as they exchanged letters.

Gujarati couple ties the knot 64 years after eloping. (Image: Instagram/ kankoo_tha)

Harsh and Mrudu, a couple from Gujarat, recently celebrated their 64th anniversary in an extraordinarily touching and meaningful way.

Now in their 80s, they finally experienced the wedding ceremony they were denied over six decades ago, surrounded by the warmth and blessings of their grandchildren and extended family.

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Their love story began in the early 1960s, a time when societal norms in India strictly opposed inter-caste marriages. Harsh, a Jain man, and Mrudu, a Brahmin woman, met in school and their love story began as they exchanged letters.

However, when Mrudus family discovered their relationship, they were adamantly opposed, leaving the couple with a heart-wrenching choice.

Choosing love over acceptance, Harsh and Mrudu bravely eloped, facing lifes uncertainties together without family support. This marked the start of their life built on love and determination.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Culture Gully (@theculturegully)

Over the years, they not only created a loving home but gradually earned the acceptance they were initially denied. Their children and grandchildren grew up with stories of their resilience and love that transcended societal barriers.

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To honour their incredible journey and the sacrifices they made, their grandchildren arranged a surprise wedding ceremony for their 64th anniversary. For the first time since they eloped, Harsh and Mrudu were briefly separated to prepare for their special day in privacy.

The ceremony included all the rituals they missed in their youth, including the sacred fire around which they walked, renewing their vows with the same commitment and love that had guided them through lifes challenges.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

News18'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 : Gujarat, India, India

First Published: March 25, 2025, 11:35 IST
Kuldevi's Curse: How A City Of Gold And Silver Turned Into A Salt Lake In Rajasthan

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 14:26 IST

Sambhar Lake, 65 km from Jaipur, is famous for tourism and salt production. It's a sanctuary for migratory birds and has a legend involving Shakambhari Mata. The lake is a major tourist destination

The legend of Sambhar Lake, mentioned in the Mahabharata, tells how Shakambhari Mata, after rewarding the town's people with gold and silver, cursed the region, turning it into a salt lake. (News18)

Situated 65 km from the capital Jaipur, Sambhar Lake is renowned for both its tourism appeal and salt production. Domestic and international tourists frequently visit this expansive area. Sambhar Lake is also known as a sanctuary for migratory birds, attracting them year-round, making it an excellent location for bird enthusiasts.

A Fascinating Legend

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A unique legend about the lakes formation is popular among the locals. They believe that Sambhar Lake was created due to a curse from Shakambhari Mata. This belief seems credible when one visits the lake.

On one side, there is a vast salty expanse, while just 50 metres from the road, there is fresh water in Devyani Sarovar, where lotus flowers bloom, surprising many visitors.

Mythological Connections

The legend of Sambhar Lake is also mentioned in the Mahabharata. Hariprasad Sharma, the chief priest of Devyani Tirtha Sarovar, explained that Shakambhari Mata is the Kuldevi (family deity) of the Sambhar region. The story goes that Shakambhari Mata, pleased with the devotion of the towns people, turned most of Sambhar into gold and silver.

However, those areas that didnt transform led to chaos and looting. When the townspeople asked Shakambhari Mata to retract her boon, she cursed the region, turning the gold and silver into a salt lake. This transformation is believed to have resulted in the current Sambhar Lake.

A Centre Of Tourism

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Today, Sambhar Lake is a significant tourist destination, known for its saltwater production and housing one of the largest salt manufacturing units in the country.

Besides exploring the salt production unit, tourists visit to see the famous Shakambhari Devi temple and observe various bird species, including flamingos, pelicans, and water birds.

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 : Rajasthan, India, India

First Published: March 25, 2025, 14:26 IST
MP Farmers Use Saree Jugaad To Protect Crops From Heat, Leave Everyone Baffled

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 15:27 IST

Farmers in Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, use sarees to protect crops from extreme heat. This method, costing Rs 4,000-5,000 per field, shields crops like maize and bananas

The practice typically requires an investment of around Rs 4,000 to 5,000 to cover an entire field. (Local18)

Farmers in the Patonda area of Burhanpur district, Madhya Pradesh, are turning to innovative solutions to safeguard their crops from extreme weather. One such method, known informally as jugaad for its unconventional approach, involves using sarees to shield crops from intense sunlight and heat waves. This resourceful technique is gaining traction among local farmers.

Pramod, a farmer from the region, explained the process to a Local18 team. He shared that the heat in Burhanpur is significantly higher than the cold, posing a threat to crops like maize, sugarcane, and bananas currently grown in the area. To combat this, farmers wrap sarees around the borders of their fields, which helps to protect the crops from damage caused by direct sunlight.

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This practice involves purchasing sarees at a cost of Rs 20 to 30 each, and typically requires an investment of around Rs 4,000 to 5,000 to cover an entire field. Despite the initial expense, the sarees can be used for several years, making it a cost-effective solution that ultimately leads to better crop yield and profit for the farmers.

By adopting this creative approach, farmers in Burhanpur are effectively safeguarding their crops and ensuring their livelihoods remain secure amidst challenging weather conditions.

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 : Burhanpur, India, India

First Published: March 25, 2025, 15:27 IST
Who Am I, Man Asks ChatGPT, Gets Shocking Reply That Makes Him Run To The Police

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 12:42 IST

If we enjoy technology, it seems AI can now enjoy us too. Something similar happened to a man from Norway who playfully asked ChatGPT, "Who am I?" The response he received left him terrified, prompting him to rush to the police station

In his complaint to the Norwegian Data Protection Authority, Holmen stated that ChatGPT was spreading false information about him. (News18 Hindi)

Nowadays, we live in the era of artificial intelligence, where people increasingly rely on ChatGPT for solutions to their problems. Often, the responses are satisfactory and can save considerable effort. However, there are times when ChatGPT provides an unexpected answer to some questions, for which users may not be prepared.

If we enjoy technology, it seems AI can now enjoy us too. Something similar happened to a man from Norway who playfully asked ChatGPT, Who am I?" The response he received left him terrified, prompting him to rush to the police station.

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According to a Daily Star report, a man named Arve Hjalmar Holmen asked the AI chatbot to reveal something about him. The response he received was shocking.

To the question Who am I?", ChatGPT replied: You are a resident of Norway who gained attention for a tragic reason. In December 2020, you killed your two sons, aged 7 and 10, who were later found dead on the banks of a pond."

Horrified by this false claim, the man immediately went to the police station to file a complaint against the chatbot.

A Complaint Against ChatGPT

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In his complaint to the Norwegian Data Protection Authority, Holmen stated that ChatGPT was spreading false information about him. While some details, such as his name and the number of his children, were accurate, the claim of murder was entirely fabricated.

He argued that such misinformation could destroy his life. Seeking justice, he approached Noyb, a group advocating for digital rights, requesting action against this defamation and compensation from ChatGPTs creators. Meanwhile, OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, responded by stating that they are continuously working to improve the accuracy of the chatbots responses.

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 : Norway

First Published: March 25, 2025, 12:42 IST
Attempts To Mislead People: Muhammad Yunus Dismisses Bangladesh Coup Rumours

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 22:35 IST

Muhammed Yunus, who was appointed on August 8, 2024, following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government, faces rising tensions within the political and military establishment.

Muhammad Yunus (Reuters Image)

Chief Advisor of Bangladeshs interim government, Muhammad Yunus, on Tuesday dismissed the reports of a possible coup" by the military saying that false information is being spread in an attempt to mislead the people."

As you know, since the interim government took office, there has been a festival of rumours in the media and social media. In order to destabilise the country, attempts are being made to mislead the people by spreading false information one after another," Yunus said in a statement as reported by India Today.

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He further said that rumours are being spread in innovative ways". One picture is being added to another picture. Incidents are being made one after another. Such photo cards are being made and events from other countries are being circulated as incidents in this country and creating a stir on social media," he said.

His remarks came amid the social media buzz with rumours of the coup in Bangladesh after recent incidents of agitation led student leaders on streets, and the deployment of military personnel and security forces across the country, especially in Dhaka.

According to multiple media reports, Bangladeshi army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman held an emergency meeting on Monday. The meeting was reportedly attended by top army officers, including Lieutenant Generals, Major Generals (GOCs), commanding officers of Independent Brigades, and officials from the army headquarters.

Several reports further claimed that the Bangladesh Army might pressure the President to declare a state of emergency or remove Yunus altogether.

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In response to the speculation, General Waker on Tuesday dismissed the buzz around emergency. Do not react to provocation. We must stay focused on our duty to support the countrys stability," he said in an address at Dhaka Cantonment.

Yunus, who was appointed on August 8, 2024, following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government, faces rising tensions within the political and military establishment.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More

Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh

First Published: March 25, 2025, 22:06 IST
China, India May Seek To Meddle In Election: Canada Spy Agency

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 09:49 IST

Vanessa Lloyd, deputy director of operations at CSIS, told a press conference that hostile state actors were increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence to meddle in elections.

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney (IMAGE: REUTERS)

China and India are likely to try to interfere in the Canadian general election on April 28, while Russia and Pakistan have the potential to do so, the countrys spy service said on Monday.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service made its comments at a time when Ottawas relations with both India and China are chilly. Beijing and New Delhi have denied previous allegations of interference.

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Canada was slow in responding to efforts by China and India to interfere in the 2019 and 2021 elections but their outcomes were unaffected by the meddling, an official probe said in a final report released in January.

Vanessa Lloyd, deputy director of operations at CSIS, told a press conference that hostile state actors were increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence to meddle in elections.

"The PRC (Peoples Republic of China) is highly likely to use AI enabled tools to attempt to interfere with Canadas democratic process in this current election," she said.

Earlier this month Beijing announced tariffs on more than $2.6 billion worth of Canadian agricultural and food products, retaliating against levies Ottawa slapped on Chinese electric vehicles and steel and aluminum products last year.

Canada said last week that China had executed four Canadian citizens on drug smuggling charges, and strongly condemned Beijings use of the death penalty.

Canada last year expelled six Indian diplomats  including the head of mission  over allegations they were involved in a plot against Sikh separatists on Canadian soil.

"We have also seen that the government of India has the intent and capability to interfere in Canadian communities and democratic processes," said Lloyd.

The Chinese and Indian diplomatic missions in Ottawa were not immediately available for comment.

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Russia and Pakistan could potentially conduct foreign interference activities against Canada, Lloyd added.

"Its often very difficult to establish a direct link between foreign interference activities and election results  Nevertheless, threat activities can erode public trust in the integrity of Canadas democratic processes and institutions," she said.

Location : Canada

First Published: March 25, 2025, 09:49 IST
Content Of Talks Definitely Wont Be Made Public: Russia After Meeting US Officials In Saudi

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 15:22 IST

The Kremlin said that it cannot specify the dates for next talks with the US on Ukraine truce.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow is analysing the results of talks in Riyadh with the US on a partial ceasefire with Ukraine. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

The Kremlin on Tuesday stated that it will not disclose the details of its discussions with US officials on the Ukraine truce held in Riyadh. It said that the content of talks with US will not be made public and added that it is analysing results of Riyadh talks with US.

It also did not give specific dates for next talks with the US.

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said delegates had reported back to Moscow and the results are being analysed", adding that contact with Washington would continue but there was no specific" date on the next meeting.

The content of these talks will definitely not be made public," Peskov said.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

Location : Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

First Published: March 25, 2025, 15:22 IST
Donald Trump's Tariff Plan On Nations Buying Venezuelan Oil Could Affect India, China: Report

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 07:12 IST

The Trump administration announced a 25 per cent tariff on imports from countries buying Venezuelan oil, which could affect India, a report has suggested.

US President Donald Trump (Photo: AP)

The Donald Trump administrations tariff plans on imports from countries buying Venezuelan oil and gas could affect India and China, a report with AFP has suggested, since Venezuela exports oil to both those countries, and to the United States and Spain.

The US President announced the steep tariffs on Monday, a step which could sow fresh global trade uncertainty.

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Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has unleashed tariffs on US allies and foes alike, attempting to strong-arm both economic and diplomatic policy.

The latest across-the-board 25 per cent levies targeting direct and indirect buyers of Venezuelan oil can take effect as soon as April 2, according to an order signed Monday by Trump.

The secretary of state, in consultation with other US agencies, is authorised to determine if the levy will be imposed.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump said that the 25 per cent tariff would be on top of existing rates.

In February, Venezuela exported some 500,000 barrels of oil per day to China and this figure was 240,000 barrels for the United States, experts told AFP.

In his Monday announcement on Truth Social involving Venezuela, the president cited numerous reasons" for what he called a secondary tariff."

He accused Venezuela of purposefully and deceitfully" sending undercover, tens of thousands of high level, and other, criminals" to the United States.

He added in his post that Venezuela has been very hostile to the United States and the Freedoms which we espouse."

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According to Trumps order, the 25 per cent tariff expires a year after the last date that a country has imported Venezuelan oil  or sooner if Washington decides so.

Subsequently, Venezuela said it would no longer accept the flights.

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 25, 2025, 07:11 IST
Hidden World? New Discovery Suggests Pyramids In Egypt's Giza Defy Physics And Link To Galaxies

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 20:47 IST

The scientists for the first time spoke to the press and said that what they found beneath the pyramids can only be a true underground city.

The Sphinx (C) is pictured near the pyramids of Menkaure (R) and Khafre in Giza. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Scientists revealed that they have discovered tunnels, pillars, pathways and halls beneath the central Khafre pyramid. This discovery, made with satellite radar technology by researchers from the University of Strathclyde and the University of Pisa, was shared with the press.

Corrado Malanga, one of the researchers, said that magnified images show what looks like an underground city. Malanga and Filippo Biondi estimate the network goes 2.1 km (about a mile and a quarter) deep and possibly predates the pyramids built around 4,500 years ago.

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When we magnify the images, we will reveal what can only be described as a true underground city an entire hidden world of many structures," said Malanga.

Three-dimensional images using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology reveal five structures at the base of the pyramid, located about ten miles southwest of Cairo. The purpose of these structures is unclear, but they are connected by geometric passages.

More impressive are eight vertical columns descending 2,125 feet into two large cubic chambers. This depth is nearly five times the height of the Khafre pyramid, which is 448 feet tall. The stone cylinders are arranged in two rows running north to south, aligning precisely with the pyramids edges facing north, south, east, and west.

If something appears in one satellites scan but not the others, we know it is a false signal," said Malanga. The readings were completely consistent, ruling out any chance of misinterpretation."

The total height of the Khafre pyramid, including the columns and cubes, is 2,835 feet, taller than the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which stands at 2,717 feet. There is also a spiral walkway around each pillar, which is puzzling given its construction 2,500 years before the birth of Jesus.

SAR works by sending radar pulses to detect underground objects, similar to how radar tracks airplanes. The signals were sent from satellites 420 miles above Earth.

Malanga explained that if an object appears in one satellites scan but not the others, its a false signal. Their readings were consistent, ruling out misinterpretation. The team also considered the possibility that the pillars and cubes were part of the pyramids foundation.

However, SAR images also show a large scattering of archaeological remains beyond the foundations, which could indicate an underground city.

Interest in Egypts mysteries peaked in the 1990s when archaeologist Robert Bauval claimed the pyramids aligned with the stars in the Orion constellation 10,500 years ago, despite the pyramids being built around 2,600 BC to 2,500 BC. The Sphinx, facing due east, aligns with the star sign Leo on the vernal equinox. Some believe the Sphinx, modeled on a human-headed lion, is thousands of years older than previously thought.

Boston Universitys Professor Robert Schoch suggested that the Sphinxs erosion was caused by heavy rainfall, which Egypt hasnt seen for nearly 10,000 years.

Graham Hancock noted the precise ratio between the Khufu pyramids dimensions and Earths measurements, linking it to the suns rotation through the zodiac signs over 43,200 years.

Bradley Walsh, in his documentary, highlighted the pyramids construction accuracy, which might be achievable today with laser tools. It was supposedly built in 24 years using 2.3 million stone blocks, each weighing 2.5 to 70 tons. Hancock calculated that masons would have needed to place one block every two minutes, working ten hours a day for 365 days a year.

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Theories about the pyramids construction range from the use of thousands of slaves to acoustic levitation, where sound waves made the blocks weightless, an idea dating back over 1,000 years.

Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe later suggested the pyramids were blast shelters from asteroid showers, pointing to rare gems in North Africas deserts as evidence of an asteroid impact, leading to the construction of bunkers for protection.

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 25, 2025, 20:44 IST
Holding Dialogues With Our Friends: US On Efforts To Prevent Extremist Attack On Bangladesh

Curated By :

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Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 08:43 IST

US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce addressed concerns about a potential extremist attack in Bangladesh, emphasising America's commitment to diplomatic resolutions and human rights.

United States Department of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce.

United States Department of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce referred to Bangladesh army chiefs warning of a possible extremist attack on the nation and said America was holding face-to-face dialogues to monitor the overall situation.

During her press briefing, she responded to a question on US efforts to prevent Bangladesh from another Afghanistan and said, Fortunately, we have an administration and a Secretary of State (Marco Rubio), who is completely committed to diplomatic resolutions, to face-to-face conversations with our friends around the world, and certainly the impact, hopefully, of our strength and our President (Donald Trump), who is known for taking things seriously, to know that we expect every country, certainly Bangladesh and others, to say the least, to follow the rules of human rights and to be cognizant and fair regarding the behavior and what their own citizens expect from their government.

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Responding to a question on the unlawful detention of journalists under the Yunus government, she said, We expect Bangladesh to follow the rules of human rights and to be cognizant and fair."

Bruce also condemned the violence against minorities in Bangladesh during her press briefing. When asked about the recent remarks made by US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard regarding Bangladesh, Bruce stated that the US welcomed efforts by the interim government to reduce instances of such violence.

We condemn any instances of violence or intolerance directed toward members of minority communities in any country and have welcomed measures taken by Bangladeshs interim government to ensure safety and security for all in Bangladesh. Thats what were watching. Thats what we expect. And that will be what continues," Bruce said.

The Bangladesh interim government has expressed deep concern over Tulsi Gabbards remarks on an Islamist caliphate," stating that her comments are both misleading and damaging" to the countrys image and reputation. We note with deep concern and distress the remarks made by DNI Tulsi Gabbard, in which she alleged persecution and killing" of religious minorities in Bangladesh and that the threat of Islamic terrorists" in the country is rooted" in the ideology and objective" to rule and govern with an Islamist caliphate.

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This statement is both misleading and damaging to the image and reputation of Bangladesh, a nation whose traditional practice of Islam has been famously inclusive and peaceful and that has made remarkable strides in its fight against extremism and terrorism", Bangladeshs interim government said in a statement late on Monday.

Gabbard remarked during an interview on an Indian television channel, where she explained the ideology of the Islamic Caliphate" and how extremist elements have influenced various countries.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: March 25, 2025, 08:43 IST
'I Know Nothing': Trump On His Officials Mistakenly Adding Journalist To Yemen War Plans Group

Curated By :

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Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 09:10 IST

The US journalist was inadvertently included in a group chat with top American officials discussing strikes against Yemen's Houthis, the White House confirmed.

US President Donald Trump (IMAGE: REUTERS)

US President Donald Trump said he knew nothing about his defence officials mistakenly sharing Yemen attack plans with The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg in a group chat.

The US journalist was inadvertently included in a group chat in which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance and other top American officials discussed upcoming strikes against Yemens Houthis, the White House confirmed on Monday.

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I know nothing about the incident. I am not a big fan of The Atlantic. To me, it is a magazine going at a business. I dont know anything about it, you are telling me about it for the first time," Trump said to the reporter as he questioned him regarding the incident.

Donald Trump said he knows nothing about his defence officials mistakenly sharing Yemen attack plans with The Atlantics editor. pic.twitter.com/2Y4YOjUUkw Sky News (@SkyNews) March 24, 2025

The incident came to light after The Atlantic magazine published a story written by editor Jeffrey Goldberg which said that US national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. I didnt think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling."

Nobody Was Texting War Plans: Secretary Hegseth

While being questioned about the claims of The Atlantic journalist being added to the Yemen war plans group, the US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth called Jeffrey Goldberg a deceitful" and highly discredited so-called journalist".

Hegseth was adamant that the sensitive war plans" were not discussed in a Signal chat group that inadvertently included a journalist and said, Nobody was texting war plans and thats all I have to say about that."

. @SecDef response to the @TheAtlantic article.Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist" pic.twitter.com/pLtcUF4ZtN  DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) March 24, 2025

Journalist Rejects Secretary Hegseths Claims

After Secretary Hegseth argued that nobody was texting war plans", The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg responded saying, Thats a lie. He was texting war plans, he was texting attack plans."

When targets were going to targeted. How they were going to be targeted. Who was at the targets. When the next sequence of attacks was happening. I didnt publish thisbecause it felt like it was too confidential," Jeffrey Goldberg to CNN.

Trump Officials Mistakenly Add Journalist To Secret Signal Group

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Top Trump administration officials mistakenly disclosed war plans in a messaging group that included a journalist shortly before the US attacked Yemens Iran-aligned Houthis, the White House said on Monday after The Atlantic posted a story regarding this online.

The editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, in the story mentioned that the material in the text chain contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Iran-backed Houthi-rebels in Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the US would be deploying, and attack sequencing".

About the Author Mahima Joshi Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: March 25, 2025, 08:23 IST
Mike Waltz Is A F***** Idiot: Trump Could Force Out His NSA Over Yemen Airstrikes Chat Leak

Curated By :



Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 18:36 IST

A White House staffer called US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz a fucking idiot after The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg received war plans for Yemen in a Signal group chat. Trump stands by Waltz.

US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters, watched by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, aboard Air Force One on his return to Washington, DC, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

A White House staffer called US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz a fucking idiot" and another said that his career should not survive" after the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, was texted war plans for upcoming military strikes in Yemen in a group chat in a secure messaging app.

The material in the text chain contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Iran-backed Houthi-rebels in Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the US would be deploying, and attack sequencing," editor-in-chief Goldberg reported.

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The National Security Council said in a statement that it was looking into how a journalists number was added to the chain in the Signal group chat. In addition to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, it included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Tulsi Gabbard, Trumps director of national intelligence.

Goldberg said he received the Signal invitation from Mike Waltz.

Half of them saying hes never going to survive or shouldnt survive," a top White House official told the Politico. Another official said Waltz should resign in order to prevent the president from being put in a bad position".

US President Donald Trump would ultimately make the decision over the next day or two as he watches how news agencies are covering the incident.

It was reckless not to check who was on the thread. It was reckless to be having that conversation on Signal. You cant have recklessness as the national security adviser," another official was quoted as saying by the Politico.

Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a fucking idiot," said another official while speaking to the outlet.

Another person told Politico that Waltz and Trump have had a chat and that the US President is, for now, standing by him.

Jeffrey Goldberg is well-known for his sensationalist spin. Here are the facts about his latest story:1. No war plans" were discussed. 2. No classified material was sent to the thread. 3. The White House Counsels Office has provided guidance on a number of different  Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) March 25, 2025

As President Trump said, the attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective. President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including national security adviser Mike Waltz," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a Monday statement.

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On Tuesday, she dismissed journalist Jeffrey Goldbergs claims, stating no war plans or classified material were shared in the chat. She said the White House is investigating how Goldberg was mistakenly added to the thread. She credited President Trumps leadership for the success of the Houthi strikes, highlighting that eliminating terrorists remains his priority.

She also said that White House staffers were provided guidance on a number of different platforms for President Trumps top officials to communicate as safely and efficiently as possible".

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 25, 2025, 16:42 IST
Trump Nominates Republican Attorney, Accused Of Mishandling Funds, To Lead HHS Inspector General

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 23:34 IST

Thomas March Bell will oversee fraud, waste and abuse audits of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which spend more than $1 trillion annually

US President Donald Trump. (Reuters file)

President Donald Trump has nominated a Republican attorney who was once accused of mishandling taxpayer funds and has a history of launching investigations against abortion clinics to lead the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

If confirmed by the Senate, Thomas March Bell will oversee fraud, waste and abuse audits of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which spend more than $1 trillion annually.

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Bell, who was nominated on Monday, currently serves as general counsel for House Republicans and has worked for GOP politicians and congressional offices for decades. The presidents nomination is a brazenly political one for a job that has long been viewed as nonpartisan and focuses largely on accounting for and ferreting out fraud in some of the nations biggest spending programs.

Bell was terminated from his role at Virginias Department of Environmental Quality in 1997 after a state audit showed he improperly authorized a nearly $8,000 payment to the agencys former spokesman, according to Washington Post reporting at the time.

He was staff director for House Republicans 2016 investigation into Planned Parenthood, which offers abortion, contraception and other family planning services at clinics around the country. That controversial panel Bell spearheaded looked into Planned Parenthoods use of fetal tissue for medical research. During the first Trump administration, Bells job at the HHS Office of Civil Rights drew rebuke from Democrats.

When Trump began his second term, he immediately ousted a dozen government watchdogs, including the HHS inspector general. Watchdogs typically stay on when administrations change, and Congress is supposed to receive notice when a president removes them. Eight inspectors general have sued over their mass firing and asked to be reinstated.

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Bell referred a request for comment to the White House, which did not immediately respond.

The HHS inspector general also is responsible for investigating hospitals and insurers and ensuring they following regulations. The office has the power to enforce stiff penalties. Inspector generals are viewed as independent from the agencies they police.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: March 25, 2025, 23:34 IST
US-Ukraine Revenue-Sharing Agreement On Critical Minerals Imminent: Trump

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 11:01 IST

Trump also told reporters as he met his Cabinet that the United States is talking to Ukraine about the potential for American firms owning Ukrainian power plants.

US President Donald Trump. (Reuters Image).

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he expects a U.S.-Ukraine revenue-sharing agreement on Ukrainian critical minerals will be signed soon.

Trump also told reporters as he met his Cabinet that the United States is talking to Ukraine about the potential for American firms owning Ukrainian power plants.

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A U.S. delegation met with Ukrainian officials on Sunday and with Russian officials on Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The talks have focused mostly on a Black Sea ceasefire, but Trump said other issues are coming up as he pushes for a halt to Russias three-year war against Ukraine.

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Were talking about territory right now. Were talking about lines of demarcation, Talking about power, power plant ownership. Some people are saying the United States should own the power plantbecause we have the expertise," he said.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: March 25, 2025, 11:01 IST
'Only Glitch In Two Months': Donald Trump Dismisses Security Concerns Over Yemen Chat Leak

Published By : &

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 19:45 IST

President Donald Trump's Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X that "no 'war plans' were discussed" and "no classified material was sent to the thread"

US President Donald Trump. (Reuters file)

US President Donald Trump dismissed security concerns after top officials ended up adding a journalist in a top-secret group chat that was discussing airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The editor-in-chief of the Atlantic Jeffrey Goldberg said he received the Signal invitation from Mike Waltz.

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The National Security Council said in a statement that it was looking into how a journalists number was added to the chain in the Signal group chat. In addition to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, it included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Tulsi Gabbard, Trumps director of national intelligence.

Trump, who took office in January, told NBC News in a phone call that it was the only glitch in two months, and it turned out not to be a serious one," adding his national security advisor Michael Waltz had learned a lesson."

Earlier, the White House insisted that no classified material was sent on a chat between senior officials about strikes on Yemen that was accidentally shared with a journalist.

President Donald Trumps Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X that no war plans were discussed" and no classified material was sent to the thread."

Hegseth, a former Fox News host with no experience running a huge organization like the Pentagon, took no responsibility for the security breach as he spoke to reporters late Monday.

He instead attacked Goldberg and insisted that nobody was texting war plans," despite the White House confirming the breach.

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Goldberg wrote that Hegseth sent information on the strikes, including on targets, weapons the US would be deploying, and attack sequencing," to the group chat.

According to the lengthy Hegseth text, the first detonations in Yemen would be felt two hours hence, at 1:45 pm eastern time," Goldberg wrote  a timeline that was borne out on the ground in Yemen.

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

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: March 25, 2025, 19:15 IST
Who is Jeffrey Goldberg? Journalist Mistakenly Added To Trump Administration's Yemen War Plans Group

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 10:28 IST

Goldberg has received several prestigious awards, including the Overseas Press Club Award, the Daniel Pearl Award, and the National Magazine Award for reporting.

Editor-in-chief of American magazine, the Atlantic (Credits: X)

The White House on Monday (local time) admitted that the officials of the Trump administration mistakenly added a journalist to the war plans messaging group against Houthi targets.

This comes after the Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg revealed in a report on Monday that he was invited to an encrypted chat group on the Signal messaging app on March 13. The group was called-Houthi PC small group, and in the group the national security adviser Mike Waltz asked his deputy Alex Wong to set up a tiger team" to coordinate US action against the Houthis.

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As claimed by Goldberg in The Atlantic report, accounts that appeared to represent Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, and senior National Security Council officials were added in the group.

Who is Jeffrey Goldberg?

 Jeffrey Goldberg is the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, an American magazine.

 His professional journey as a journalist began as a police reporter with The Washington Post.

 He later joined The New Yorker as a correspondent, reporting from the Middle East and later covered political affairs in Washington.

 Goldberg has also contributed significantly to The New York Times Magazine, authoring 15 cover stories.

 Goldberg has also received several prestigious awards, including the Overseas Press Club Award, the Daniel Pearl Award, and the National Magazine Award for reporting.

 Alongside his career as a journalist, Goldberg also wrote the book Prisoners: A Story of Friendship and Terror, reflecting his deep interest in global conflicts, diplomacy, and security matters.

How Trump Administration Reacted To The News?

Reacting to the same, US President Donald Trump denied being updated about the incident.

I dont know anything about it. Im not a big fan of The Atlantic," Trump said as per Reuters.

Hours later, a White House official said that Trump was briefed about the incident, adding that a probe into the matter was underway.

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Meanwhile, National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said in a statement: At this time, the message thread that was reported appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain."

The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to our servicemembers or our national security."

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: March 25, 2025, 10:28 IST
Why Is Japan Dissolving The Unification Church Linked To Shinzo Abe's Assassination?

Last Updated: March 25, 2025, 18:17 IST

The church was founded in Seoul in 1954, a year after the end of the Korean War, by the late Rev Sun Myung Moon, the self-proclaimed messiah who preached new interpretations of the Bible

A general view of the Tokyo headquarters of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, known as the Unification Church, is seen in the Shibuya Ward of Tokyo. (AFP photo)

A controversial South Korean church with powerful political connections faces dissolution in Japan after a Tokyo court ordered a revocation of its legal status after the government accused it of manipulative fundraising and recruitment tactics that sowed fear among followers and harmed their families.

The Tokyo District Courts ruling would end the Unification Churchs tax-exempt status in Japan and force it to liquidate its assets. The church said it is considering an immediate appeal to the countrys highest court.

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The Unification Church has faced hundreds of lawsuits in Japan from families who say that it manipulated members into draining their savings to make donations, but for decades it largely escaped official scrutiny and maintained close links with the governing Liberal Democratic Party.

That changed in 2022, when former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated. The man accused of shooting Abe allegedly was motivated by the former prime ministers links to the church and blamed it for bankrupting his family. The killing drew public attention and prompted investigations into the churchs practices and its links to powerful politicians.

What is the Unification Church? The church was founded in Seoul in 1954, a year after the end of the Korean War, by the late Rev Sun Myung Moon, the self-proclaimed messiah who preached new interpretations of the Bible and conservative, family-oriented value systems.

The church, which officially calls itself the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, champions anti-communism and the unification of the Korean Peninsula, which has been split between the totalitarian North and democratic South.

The church is perhaps best known for mass weddings where it paired off couples, often from different countries, and renewed the vows of those already married, at places like stadiums and gymnasiums. The group is said to have a global membership of millions, including hundreds of thousands in Japan.

The church faced accusations in the 1970s and 80s of using devious recruitment tactics and brainwashing adherents into turning over huge portions of their salaries to Moon. The church has denied the allegations, saying many new religious movements face similar accusations in their early years.

Experts say Japanese followers are asked to pay for sins committed by their ancestors during Japans 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, and that the majority of the churchs worldwide funding comes from Japan.

Why was the church ordered dissolved? The Education Ministry asked a Tokyo court to dissolve the church in October 2023, accusing it of trying to steer its followers decision-making, using manipulative tactics, making them buy expensive goods and donate beyond their financial ability, and causing fear and harm to them and their families.

On Tuesday, the Tokyo District court granted the request, writing that the churchs problems were extensive and continuous, and a dissolution order is necessary because it is not likely it could voluntarily reform, according to NHK television.

The Unification Church is the first religious group to face a revocation order under Japans civil code. Two earlier case involved criminal charges  the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult, which carried out a sarin nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway system, and Myokakuji group, whose executives were convicted of fraud.

The Japanese branch of the church has criticised the request as a serious threat to religious freedom and the human rights of its followers. In a statement Tuesday, it called the court order truely regrettable" and unjust," adding that the decision is based on a wrong legal interpretation and absolutely unacceptable." How did the church come under scruntiny in Japan? The 2022 assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and subsequent investigations unearthed decades of cozy ties between the Unification Church and Japans governing Liberal Democratic Party and triggered public outrage.

The man accused of shooting Abe at a campaign event allegedly told police he was motivated by the former prime ministers links to the church, which he said bankrupted his family due to his mothers excessive donations.

Abe was known for his arch-conservative views on security and history issues and appeared at events organised by church affiliates.

What are the churchs links to world leaders? Throughout his life, Moon worked to make his church into a worldwide religious movement and expand its business and charitable activities. Moon was convicted of tax evasion in 1982 and served a prison term in New York. He died in 2012.

The church has developed relations with conservative world leaders including US presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush and more recently Donald Trump.

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Moon also had ties with North Koreas founder Kim Il Sung, the late grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un.

Moon said in his autobiography that he asked Kim to give up his nuclear ambitions, and that Kim responded that his atomic programme was for peaceful purposes and he had no intention to use it to kill (Korean) compatriots."

Location : Tokyo, Japan

First Published: March 25, 2025, 18:17 IST
UPDATE

Mar 25, 2025 10:50 AM CDT

The Palestinian director who earlier this month took home an Oscar has been released by Israel after being beaten by Israeli settlers and detained by the military. Hamdan Ballal and two other Palestinians were set free on Tuesday, report the AP and New York Times, with the No Other Land director visibly bloodied and bruised. The three, who said they spent the night on the floor of a military base with limited medical care for their injuries, were taken to a local hospital. Israel accused the trio of hurling stones at soldiers and one settler, charges they deny. "Of course, after the Oscar, they have come to attack us more," said Ballal's wife, Lamia Ballal, who said she watched as someone filmed her husband's assault on Monday.

Mar 24, 2025 7:10 PM CDT

Weeks after he accepted the Oscar for best documentary feature film with the other co-directors of No Other Land, Hamdan Ballal was attacked by Israeli settlers and detained by the Israeli military. American activists from the Center for Jewish Nonviolence say Ballal was surrounded and beaten at his home in a West Bank village by a group of around 15 armed settlers, the Guardian reports. The witnesses say the injured Ballal and another man were arrested by soldiers who arrived at the scene. Attorney Lea Tsemel says police told her that Ballal and other Palestinians arrested in the village are being held at a military base for medical treatment.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who had planned to stay on until a successor was named, instead left office on Monday. DeJoy, who had put in his notice last month after five years in the job and a restructuring of the agency, had asked the Postal Service's board of governors to look for his replacement . DeJoy said that Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino will run the agency in the meantime, Reuters reports. "Much work remains that is necessary to sustain our positive trajectory," DeJoy said in a statement.

The Postal Service is under pressure from the Trump administration, but DeJoy had said Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency was going to help cut thousands of jobs and billions of dollars. DeJoy had used strategies similar to DOGE's already, such as canceling or renegotiating contracts and reducing the workforce, per Reuters. Since Trump began his second term, he, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Musk have talked publicly about privatizing the Postal Service or merging it with the Commerce Department. Those decisions are up to Congress. The Postal Service is an independent agency run by a board whose members are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

DeJoy's statement said he believes the agency is "well positioned and capable of" carrying out the changes begun during his tenure. Postal workers held demonstrations around the country on Sunday in favor of preserving the agency's independence and against privatization and DOGE cuts, per USA Today. "We had an election in November, and some people voted for President Trump, and some people voted for Vice President Harris, some people voted for other candidates," labor leader Brian Renfroe told a rally in Los Angeles. "But you know what none of them voted for? To dismantle the Postal Service."
UPDATE

Mar 26, 2025 1:00 AM CDT

A federal judge on Tuesday ordered that the Trump administration's attempts to arrest and deport a 21-year-old Columbia University student who participated in pro-Palestinian protests must cease. The judge found there to be no indication Yunseo Chunga legal permanent resident who was arrested at a protest earlier this month but has not yet been detained as part of ICE's efforts to deport heris a danger to the community or foreign policy, nor any indication she has communicated with terrorist groups, the New York Times reports. "She's a college junior doing what generations of college students before have done, which is speak up and protest," said her lawyer, who praised the judge's decision. It's a temporary restraining order, meaning she can't be detained as her immigration case moves forward, NBC News reports.

Mar 25, 2025 1:30 AM CDT

Another Columbia University student said Monday that the Trump administration has targeted her for deportation over her pro-Palestinian views, accusing immigration officials in a lawsuit of employing the same tactics used on Mahmoud Khalil and other college activists, the AP reports. Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old lawful permanent resident who came to the US as a child, said Immigration and Customs Enforcement moved to deport her after she was arrested March 5 while protesting the Ivy League school's disciplinary actions against student protesters. News reports at the time identified her as being among a group of protesters arrested after a sit-in at a library on the adjacent Barnard College campus.
The US Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a petition filed by young climate activists who argued that the federal government's role in climate change violated their constitutional rights, ending a decadelong legal battle that saw many of the plaintiffs grow from children and teenagers into adults, the AP reports. The landmark case was filed in 2015 by 21 plaintiffs, the youngest 8 years old. They claimed the US government's actions encouraging a fossil fuel economy violated their right to a life-sustaining climate. The casecalled Juliana v. United States after one of the activists, Kelsey Julianawas challenged repeatedly by the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations, whose lawyers argued it sought to direct federal environmental and energy policies through the courts instead of the political process.
Portuguese police have seized a semi-submersible vessel transporting 6.5 tons of cocaine destined for Europe, authorities in Lisbon said on Tuesday. Portuguese officials said they arrested five crew members after intercepting the vessel in the Atlantic Ocean, around 500 nautical miles south of the Azores, reports the AP . The operation also included the Portuguese air force and navy and Spain's Civil Guard, along with assistance from the United States' DEA and the British National Crime Agency, reports NDTV .

Portugal is often an entry point for drug smugglers, and this single bust is about a quarter of the 23 tons confiscated in the nation across the entirety of 2024, notes NDTV. Portuguese police described the crew as allegedly belonging to an international criminal organization. They said that the operation happened recently, without specifying the date. European authorities occasionally nab homemade semi-submersibles transporting drugs from South America that lie low in the water to escape detection but rarely are able to fully submerge.
It doesn't appear that any heads will roll on Tuesday after a major security breach came to light on Monday. In an interview with NBC News, President Trump defended national security adviser Michael Waltz, who has been taking flak from the left and right after a journalist was mistakenly added to a group text chat on the Signal platform about a pending military strike. "Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he's a good man," Trump said in the interview.

Trump said the inadvertent addition of Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic to the group chat about a strike on Houthi rebels had "no impact at all" on the subsequent military operation.

Asked about how the gaffe happened, the president said the fault lay with "one of Michael's people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there." He added that it was "the only glitch in two months, and it turned out not to be a serious one."
Two of the nation's top intelligence officials were grilled on Tuesday in the Senate over the gaffe with a Signal group chat on war plans. The big friction pitted Democratic senators against Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence, and CIA chief John Ratcliffe, both of whom participated in the group textone in which a journalist was accidentally looped in.

Both insisted that no classified information was discussed in the group chat, reports the Washington Post.

"Senator, I'll reiterate that there was no classified material that was shared," Gabbard said at one point to Sen. Mark Warner, per the Hill. To which he replied, "If there was no classified material, share it with the committee. You can't have it both ways."

Warner condemned the "sloppy" breach, but GOP Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana downplayed the seriousness, saying, "I don't think most Americans care one way or another," per the New York Times. "I don't think there is concern about war plans being discussed on a Signal group chat."
Northern Journal contributor Max Graham can be reached at max@northernjournal.com. Hes interested in any and all mining related stories, as well as introductory meetings with people in and around the industry. This article was originally published in Northern Journal, a newsletter from Nathaniel Herz. Subscribe at www.northernjournal.com .

Alaska Beacon is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alaska Beacon maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Andrew Kitchenman for questions: info@alaskabeacon.com.
TOULOUSE, France and MIRABEL, QC, March 25, 2025 /CNW/ - Airbus and major Canadian aerospace academic and research organisations have launched a project to measure non-CO2 emissions produced from different jet fuels, including 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

An A220 Flight Test Vehicle (FTV) at Airbus in Mirabel, Canada.  Airbus Canada Limited Partnership 2025 (CNW Group/Airbus)

The project named Contrail Research Yielding STimulating Advanced RQL Learning (CRYSTAL) includes a ground and flight test campaign at Airbus' Mirabel site in Canada, the A220 Programme headquarters. The CRYSTAL project aims at measuring emissions on-wing (ground testing) and in-flight emissions and contrails at various altitudes (flight testing) using the A220 flight test aircraft.

Both ground and flight tests will be operating on Jet A-1 and 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to study the effects on emissions and contrail properties, and the associated climate impacts. The data generated will be used by the scientific community to improve contrail models and identify engine technology and fuels that could minimise the climate impact from contrails.

The ground tests are planned to happen as of Q3 2025 and the flight tests in 2027. YMX International Aerocity of Mirabel airport managed by ADM (Aeroports de Montreal) will support this collaboration. The CRYSTAL project will be one of the key projects under Espace Aero  the first official Quebec aerospace innovation zone project this year.

The project includes expertise from key Canadian players such as Polytechnique Montreal, Ecole de technologie superieure (ETS) and FSM Management Group. Airbus and its partners are in discussion with government programmes including Canada's Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Technology (INSAT) and Consortium for Research and Innovation in Aerospace in Quebec (CRIAQ) to support the project. This collaboration demonstrates Airbus' and the global and local aerospace industry's willingness to join forces to better understand aviation emissions, so that they can be addressed in the most effective manner in the future.

Melanie Lussier, President of Aero Montreal, said: "Espace Aero is proud to see a major project take shape with CRYSTAL, driven by Airbus' leadership and its partners. This collaborative initiative perfectly reflects our innovation zone's commitment to decarbonization and showcases how Quebec's ingenuity and innovation are helping to shape the sustainable aviation of tomorrow. By bringing together industrial and academic players around concrete solutions, we are strengthening Quebec's position as a leader in aerospace environmental performance."

Martin Masse, Vice-President, Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability, ADM, said: "ADM Aeroports de Montreal is proud to be involved in this visionary research project. For many years now, our organization has prided itself on making its facilities available to support partners in the aviation ecosystem on their journey towards net zero emissions. As a world-class aeronautical hub and innovation zone, the YMX site was the perfect place to be at the forefront of this initiative, which will ultimately enable our industry to take the next step towards decarbonizing its activities."

Catherine Guillemart, Head of Public Affairs and Sustainability, Canada, Airbus said: "We are delighted to collaborate with world-class partners in Canada, as we are committed to supporting the aviation industry's efforts to research on non-CO2 emissions. Increasing the scientific data to further understand the formation of non CO2-emissions remains key for the industry to understand their effects."

CRYSTAL is an initiative similar to the VOLCAN and ECLIF3 projects previously carried out by Airbus in Europe, respectively with aircraft from the A320neo and A350 Families.

Visit our website to learn more about the Airbus Summit which includes content on Non-CO2 emissions. To know more about Airbus' efforts to reduce Non-CO2 emissions, visit here.

Learn more about Airbus' decarbonisation roadmap.

For more information on the A220 Programme, visit our website.

@Airbus #AirbusSummit #contrails #A220 #Canada

About Airbus in Canada

In Canada, more than 4,500 people work at ten sites and Airbus offices and subsidiaries covering the commercial airliner, helicopter, defence and space sectors. Airbus has been present in Canada for over 40 years and contributes to approximately 23,000 indirect jobs and generates more than C$ 2 billion in revenues annually for more than 850 Canadian companies. The A220 is the only Airbus commercial aircraft programme to be piloted outside of Europe, making Canada the most significant official presence of Airbus outside of Europe. To learn more about Airbus' presence in Canada, visit the page here.

SOURCE Airbus

Contacts for the media: Amelie Forcier, AIRBUS Canada, +1-514-452-5279, [email protected] Elsa Gobet, AIRBUS Corporate, +33672963343, [email protected]
LAS VEGAS, March 25, 2025 /CNW/ -- Avant Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: AVAI) ("Avant" or the "Company"), and its partner, Ainnova Tech, Inc., (Ainnova), a leading healthcare technology company focused on revolutionizing early disease detection using artificial intelligence (AI), today announced that the Company has started designing its clinical trial protocol ahead of a pre-submission meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The pre-submission meeting is to request guidance on the clinical testing needed for its Vision AI platform in the early detection of diabetic retinopathy, and Ainnova's clinical trial will culminate in the submission of an FDA 510(k) to obtain clearance from the regulatory agency to market its technology.

Ainnova has hired an ophthalmologist, who is assisting in drafting the requirements for the clinical trial protocol that the Company's Contract Research Organization (CRO), Fortrea, has requested. Upon completion of the protocol, Ainnova will work with its CRO to prepare and send all the documentation to the FDA for its upcoming pre-submission meeting. A clinical trial protocol is a detailed, written plan that outlines the objectives, design, methodology, and organization of a clinical research project, ensuring the safety of participants and the integrity of data collected. The Company expects its pre-submission meeting with the FDA to occur in midMay 2025.

Ai-nova Acquisition Corp. (AAC), the Company formed by the partnership between Avant and Ainnova to advance and commercialize Ainnova's technology portfolio, including its Vision AI platform and its versatile retinal cameras, has the global licensing rights for this portfolio, so the success of Ainnova's interactions with the FDA are paramount to marketing the technology portfolio in the United States.

For medical device applicants like Ainnova, the FDA's pre-submission program is useful to determine a clear regulatory pathway for the successful launch of the device, including the number of patients and the number of clinics needed to generate the necessary clinical data for the FDA to make an informed decision on Ainnova's Vision AI platform. For Avant, the presubmission meeting will help define a precise budget for the strategic partnership's entire FDA process.

About Ainnova Tech, Inc.

Ainnova is a Nevada-based healthtech startup with headquarters in San Jose, Costa Rica, and Houston, Texas. Founded by an experienced and innovative team that is dedicated to leveraging artificial intelligence for early disease detection. Recognized with multiple global awards and renowned partnerships with hospitals and medical device companies, we proudly introduce VisionAI  our cutting-edge platform designed to prevent blindness and detect the early onset of diabetes. Explore how Ainnova is revolutionizing healthcare through advanced technology and proactive solutions.

About Avant Technologies, Inc.

Avant Technologies, Inc. is an emerging technology company developing solutions in artificial intelligence in healthcare. With a focus on pushing the boundaries of what is possible in AI and machine learning, Avant serves a diverse range of industries, driving progress and efficiency through state-of-the-art technology.

More information about Avant can be found at https://avanttechnologies.com

You can also follow us on social media at:

https://twitter.com/AvantTechAI https://www.linkedin.com/company/avant-technologies-ai

https://www.facebook.com/AvantTechAI

https://www.youtube.com/@AvantTechAI

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements because of various important factors as disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at their website (http://www.sec.gov). In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, governmental and public policy changes, the Company's ability to raise capital on acceptable terms, if at all, the Company's successful development of its products and the integration into its existing products and the commercial acceptance of the Company's products. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date after the date of the press release.

Contact:

Avant Technologies, Inc. [email protected]

SOURCE Avant Technologies Inc.
BURFORD, ON, March 25, 2025 /CNW/ - BeautiTone, the number one Canadian-owned retail paint brand, has revealed its 2025 Exterior Colour of the Year: 'Briarwood' (WST26-9).

'Briarwood' is a refined, muted brown, ideal for Canadian backyard spaces. This stain makes the perfect backdrop for any outdoor gathering, elevating the look and feel of wooden surfaces, enriching the natural character of decks and creating a welcoming environment for relaxation and entertaining.

Briarwood - balcony (CNW Group/Home Hardware Stores Limited) Briarwood - outdoor entertaining (CNW Group/Home Hardware Stores Limited)

"This year, Canadians are going back to their roots of natural, enhanced browns in their backyards," said Kristen Gear, Lead Design & Colour Specialist, BeautiTone Paint and Home Products. "As outdoor spaces continue to evolve into essential parts of the home, 'Briarwood' offers the perfect balance of style and durability, bringing a fresh and on-trend update to any exterior."

BeautiTone's 2025 Exterior Colour of the Year is designed to enhance the beauty of wooden surfaces, bringing out their natural character while setting the stage for a warm and inviting spaceperfect for both relaxation and entertaining. This year, the team at BeautiTone has paired the colour announcement with an original barbeque menu, crafted to help Canadians elevate their summer gatherings. On the menu is a stunning cedar-planked salmon, paired with a refreshing zero-proof cocktail that perfectly complements the flavours of the grill and elevates any outdoor gathering.

At the heart of Wood-Shield stain by BeautiTone, the 2025 Exterior Colour, 'Briarwood' is one of 36 stunning Semi-Transparent Stains from Wood-Shield. For entertaining ideas and more colour inspiration, visit BeautiTone Paint, Canada's premier retail paint brand | Home Hardware.

BeautiTone's 2025 Exterior Colour of the Year is available exclusively at Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, and Home Hardware Building Centre locations across Canada. For more information on 'Briarwood' or the 2025 Colour Trends palettes, visit your local store or learn more at BeautiTone 2025 Exterior Colour of the Year | Home Hardware.

MEDIA CAN DOWNLOAD HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGES HERE.

BeautiTone Paint and Home Products Division

Headquartered in Burford, Ontario, Home Hardware Stores Limited's BeautiTone and Home Products Division is one of the most modern paint manufacturing facilities in North America. The BeautiTone and Home Products Division distributes a full range of private label products, including BeautiTone paints, stains, and a wide range of aerosol products. Proudly made in Canada (with domestic and import materials) in Burford, Ontario, BeautiTone is exclusively sold at Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, and Home Hardware Building Centre stores across Canada. BeautiTone produces top-quality paint and home products made available in its Designer, Pure, Signature, Wood-Shield, and PRO series since 1980. More information about BeautiTone is available at beautitone.ca.

About Home Hardware Stores Limited

Founded 60 years ago in St. Jacobs, Ontario, Home Hardware Stores Limited is proudly Canadian and the country's largest Dealer-owned and operated home improvement retailer with more than 1,000 stores operating under the Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, Home Hardware Building Centre and Home Furniture banners. The Home Hardware Dealer network improves life at home by providing superior home improvement retail experiences through helpful advice and a deep understanding of the communities they serve. Home Hardware Stores Limited is designated as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies and recognized as one of Canada's Best Employers. More information about the company is available at homehardware.ca.

SOURCE Home Hardware Stores Limited

For more information, please contact: [email protected]
BRAMPTON, ON, March 25, 2025 /CNW/ - In a decisive response to recent U.S. tariffs that threaten Canada's economic stability, Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst ("the Catalyst") at Toronto Metropolitan University and In-Sec-M have launched Buy Canadian Cyber  a national initiative to connect Canadian organizations with world-class, homegrown cybersecurity businesses, talent and solutions.

Strong cybersecurity is imperative in this age of rising global cyber threats. Buy Canadian Cyber provides individuals, businesses, and governments with direct access to innovative cybersecurity products and services from Canadian-headquartered companies. The platform supports Canadian business resilience, economic prosperity, and national security by making it easier to source and procure Canadian cybersecurity expertise.

With Buy Canadian Cyber, organizations of all sizes can quickly identify and connect with cybersecurity vendors across Canada. Users can easily find the cybersecurity solutions they need by browsing a directory of organizations with helpful filters to refine their search.

"Canada has some of the most innovative cybersecurity companies in the world, yet we are too often overlooked in favour of US alternatives," said Charles Finlay, Founding Executive Director of the Catalyst. "The latest tariffs from the U.S. are deeply frustrating, but rather than let them dictate our future, we are doubling down on Canadian excellence. Buy Canadian Cyber is a rallying call: Canadian and international companies don't always need to look to the U.S. for top-tier cybersecurity  there are many world-leading Canadian cybersecurity products and services."

"At In-Sec-M, we have long championed the incredible talent and expertise of Canada's cybersecurity ecosystem," said Nicolas Duguay, Co-Executive Director at In-Sec-M. "This initiative is about more than just business  it's about protecting Canada's digital sovereignty, fostering national innovation, and ensuring that organizations across the country have access to the very best cybersecurity solutions, developed and deployed by Canadians, for Canadians."

To explore Canadian cybersecurity solutions, visit BuyCanadianCyber.ca.

About Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst

Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst is Toronto Metropolitan University's national centre for training, innovation and collaboration in cybersecurity. Since its founding in 2018, the Catalyst has grown into Canada's most active cybersecurity hub, earning a global reputation for delivering high-impact programs and driving innovative solutions to critical technology security challenges. A not-for-profit corporation, the Catalyst collaborates with governments at all levels, public and private organizations, and academic institutions. Headquartered in Brampton, Ontario's Innovation District, the Catalyst delivers its programs across Canada and around the world. Learn more at cybersecurecatalyst.ca.

About In-Sec-M

In-Sec-M is the national cybersecurity cluster in Canada. Founded in 2017 with the support of the National Research Council Canada (NRCC), In-Sec-M aims to bring together Canadian companies specializing in cybersecurity to help them establish a strong presence in national and international cybersecurity markets. As a non-profit organization, In-Sec-M acts as a bridge between organizations with cybersecurity needs and those that provide solutions. With a network of more than 200 cybersecurity solution and service providers, independent experts, research centres, educational institutions and government agencies, In-Sec-M facilitates connections and promotes Canadian cybersecurity services and solutions to major decision-makers. Additionally, In-Sec-M collaborates with provincial and federal departments to develop and deliver tailor-made services and training courses, leveraging the expertise of experienced Canadian companies in the field.

SOURCE Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst at Toronto Metropolitan University

Media Contact: Claire van Nierop, Senior Manager, Communications, [email protected]
TORONTO, March 25, 2025 /CNW/ - The Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) is pleased to announce a joint new initiative with EpiSign Inc., paving the way for improved diagnosis and care for people with rare neurological genetic disorders.

Approximately 1 in 15 children are born with a rare genetic condition, many of which manifest in early childhood and require frequent hospital care. Current diagnostic methods are costly and often leave patients undiagnosed, which can delay treatment and limit access to specialized care.

Through this new collaboration with OBI's Centre for Analytics, EpiSign will refine and validate the EpiSign METRIC (Methylation-based Episignature Testing and Reference-based Interpretation & Classification) an advanced machine learning algorithm that analyzes a person's epigenome  chemical changes in the body that regulate genetic activity  to detect rare genetic disorders. By leveraging the Centre for Analytics' analytics and artificial intelligence application deployment expertise, as well as its advanced cloud computing platform, EpiSign will be on its way to fast-tracking earlier and more accurate diagnoses for rare genetic disorders.

"The Ontario Brain Institute's collaboration with EpiSign demonstrates how advanced AI and machine learning techniques can accelerate innovation in healthcare," said Dr. Tom Mikkelsen, OBI's President and Scientific Director. "By refining diagnostic tools for rare genetic disorders and enabling earlier, more accurate diagnoses, ultimately, we will help improve patient outcomes."

"EpiSign METRIC marks the next evolution of our technology  our first end-user software empowering clinical laboratories worldwide to independently analyze their own episignature testing data," said Dan Sinai, CEO of EpiSign Inc. "This collaboration with OBI will drive the global adoption of a standardized approach to epigenetic diagnostics. Our clinical testing network, spanning North and South America, the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia, is now undertaking large-scale validation, with clinical implementation planned and a global launch set for Q3 2025."

"This milestone not only expands access to EpiSign technology but also paves the way for broader applications beyond hereditary genetic diseases," added Dr. Bekim Sadikovic, CSO of EpiSign Inc. and London Health Sciences Research Chair in Clinical Genomics and Epigenomics. "By integrating cutting-edge AI, federated learning, and next-generation sequencing platforms, we are accelerating discoveries in epigenetics  extending into areas such as environmental exposures, neurological and hematologic conditions, cancer, treatment response, and drug development."

By connecting complex data types with advanced algorithmic methods, OBI's Centre for Analytics empowers neuroscientists and technology experts to create disruptive technologies that better detect, predict, and treat neurological conditions. Partnering with EpiSign underscores OBI's mission to bridge the gap between research, innovation, and patient impact, ensuring that cutting-edge technologies translate into tangible healthcare advancements.

The Honourable Nolan Quinn, Ontario Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, said: "Our government is proud to fund the Ontario Brain Institute, whose partnership with EpiSign will not only deliver ground-breaking research and cutting-edge medical care, but it will also further cement Ontario as a global leader in health sciences innovation that is critical to supporting our world-class health care sector and growing our economy."

About the Ontario Brain Institute

The Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) is a provincially funded, not-for-profit organization that accelerates discovery and innovation, benefiting both patients and the economy. OBI's collaborative team science approach promotes brain research, commercialization, and care by connecting researchers, clinicians, industry, patients, and their advocates to improve the lives of those living with brain disorders. For more information, visit braininstitute.ca.

About EpiSign

EpiSign Inc. is a Canadian biotech start-up recognized for its expertise in developing diagnostic tests based on epigenetic markers, with a focus on enhancing precision medicine through innovative biomarker discovery and validation. By driving advancements in epigenetic diagnostics, EpiSign seeks to improve patient care by facilitating earlier and more accurate diagnoses of rare genetic conditions. For more information about EpiSign Inc., visit episign.com.

SOURCE Ontario Brain Institute

CONTACTS: Renee Dunk, Senior Communications Lead (Ontario Brain Institute): [email protected], 416-562-2695 | Dan Sinai, CEO (EpiSign Inc.): [email protected]
SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 25, 2025 /CNW/ - Willow Biosciences Inc. ("Willow" or the "Company") (TSX: WLLW) (OTCQB: CANSF), a biotechnology company focused on industrial manufacturing of ingredients is pleased to announce its financial and operating results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, and an update in respect of the disposition of Company's operating subsidiary (as announced via press release on March 14, 2025). Selected financial and operational information is outlined below and should be read with Willow's audited consolidated financial statements, management's discussion and analysis and annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2024, which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023









Financial Results 2024 2023

Revenue $ 4,662 $ 1,172

General and administrative 3,503 5,598

Research and development 5,057 6,800

Share based compensation 297 420

Depreciation and amortization 1,386 1,831

Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment (135) -

Foreign exchange loss (gain) 7 (295)

Gain on fair value warrant liability - (23)

Foreign withholding tax expense 538 -

Net finance expense loss (income) 195 (125)

Loss before income taxes (6,186) (13,034)

Current income tax expense 3 10

Deferred income tax recovery - (15)

Total income tax expense (recovery) 3 (5)

Net loss (6,189) (13,029)

Foreign exchange gain (loss) on translation of foreign operations 97 (48)

Net comprehensive loss $ (6,092) $ (13,077)

Basic and diluted loss per share $ (0.05) $ (0.10)









As at December 31 Statement of Financial Position: 2024 2023

Cash and cash equivalents $ 333 $ 3,145

Total assets 2,489 6,673

Shareholders' (deficit) equity (505) 3,436



As of the date hereof, the Company has a working capital deficit of approximately $CDN180,000 excluding lease liabilities.

SALE OF OPERATING SUBSIDIARY

On March 14, 2025, the Company announced that it has entered into an agreement (the "Agreement") with a privately-held, arms-length entity based in the United Kingdom (the "Purchaser"), for the sale of the Company's wholly-owned operating subsidiary, Epimeron, USA, Inc. ("Epimeron") (collectively, the "Transaction"). As Epimeron houses the Company's business operations, intellectual property and research and development team, the disposition will constitute a sale of substantially all of the Company's assets.

The purchase price for the Transaction is equal to US$3.38 million in cash, US$900,000 of which will be held in escrow and subject to indemnity claims and certain revenue/working capital adjustments. The remaining escrow amount releasable to the Company, following deductions permitted under the Agreement, shall be paid to the Company on the date that is 20 weeks from the closing of the Transaction. There is no guarantee that any portion of the escrow amount will be payable to the Company.

Assuming 100% of the escrow amount is released to the Company, the Company expects its cash position to be CDN$1.1 million after minimum anticipated purchase price adjustments of US$250,000, payment of transaction costs and severance costs of approximately US$2.4 million, and repayment of the Company's convertible debentures in the amount of approximately CDN$832,000 (inclusive of interest obligations). Any proceeds remaining will be retained by the Company, pending a review of its future cash requirements and potential next steps.

Following the completion of the Transaction, it is expected that the Company will no longer meet continued listing requirements of the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") and will be subject to TSX's expedited review process and suspension procedures, in accordance with Part 7 of the TSX Company Manual. In addition, the following employees will be terminated concurrent with the closing of the Transaction as the Company will no longer be carrying on active operations: Dr. Chris Savile, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Dr. Trish Choudhary, Senior Vice President, Research and Development.

More information concerning the Transaction will be available in the Company's management information circular which will be available on Willow's SEDAR+ profile on or about March 28, 2025.

About Willow Biosciences Inc.

Willow develops and produces precision fermented ingredients for the health and wellness, food and beverage, and personal care markets. Willow's FutureGrownTM and BioOxiTM platforms enable large-scale production with sustainability at its core. Willow's R&D team has a proven track record of developing and commercializing bio-based manufacturing processes and products to benefit our B2B partners and their customers. For more information, visit www.willowbio.com.

FutureGrown and BioOxiTM are registered trademarks of Willow Biosciences Inc. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective holders.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may include forward-looking statements including opinions, assumptions, estimates and the Company's assessment of future plans and operations, and, more particularly, statements concerning: the completion of the Transaction and its expected benefits; the anticipated timing for the closing of the Transaction; the use of proceeds from the Transaction; anticipated proceeds, purchase price adjustments and transaction severance costs pertaining to the Transaction; anticipated cash remaining with Willow following the completion of the Transaction; and potential future opportunities. When used in this news release, the words "will," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intent," "may," "project," "should," and similar expressions (including negatives and variations thereof) are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are founded on the basis of expectations and assumptions made by the Company which include, but are not limited to the satisfaction of all conditions to the completion of the Transaction. Forward-looking statements are subject to a wide range of risks and uncertainties, and although the Company believes that the expectations represented by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will be realized. Any number of important factors could cause actual results biotechnology industry in general; counterparty risk to closing the Transaction; the success of the Company's research and development strategies; infringement on intellectual property; failure to benefit from partnerships or successfully integrate acquisitions; actions and initiatives of federal and provincial governments and changes to government policies and the execution and impact of these actions, initiatives and policies; competition from other industry participants; adverse U.S., Canadian and global economic conditions; adverse global events and public-health crises, failure to comply with certain regulations; departure of key management personnel or inability to attract and retain talent; and other factors more fully described from time to time in the reports and filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities. Please refer to the Company's most recent annual information form and management's discussion and analysis for additional risk factors relating to Willow, which can be accessed either on Willow's website at www.willowbio.com or under the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

SOURCE Willow Biosciences Inc.

For further information, please contact: Travis Doupe, Chief Financial Officer, [email protected]
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 Saturday to Sunday. 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: Saturday to Sunday, coming to an end Sunday night. ### 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.
Sacred Geometry

This Aquarius moon recalls the unfolding pattern of a Fibonacci sequence where each new step is built upon what came before. The geometry is present in seashells, pine cones, tree branches, even galaxies. The seemingly magical complexity follows a simple, mathematical truth: keep adding, keep expanding, and trust that each phase is part of a beautifully inevitable design.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Youre in a continual process of adjustment, refinement and staying on top of things -- as it should be. Your life is like a tidy house -- not something you create once expecting it will forever stay that way. Organization and maintenance are ongoing practices.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). True intimacy isnt simply physical proximity -- its about deep connection, understanding and resonance. Youll feel intimately connected to ideas, historical figures, distant cultures or people youve never met simply by engaging with their legacy.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You care about the greater good, but fairness matters, too. There are some who are unwilling to share the load. Giving shouldnt be a one-way street. Its time to set boundaries and make sure your generosity isnt taken for granted.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). The structures youve put in place are well suited to your environment and the people you interact with, making it easier for them to be respected without conflict or resistance. As a result, you can focus on growth and connection.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). As for the old wound, youre giving yourself the space to feel everything, and the understanding to let this stage pass when its ready. Youre doing exactly what you need to do to feel better, and you will very soon.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). When youre too focused on reciprocating exactly, it can make relationships feel too transactional. And anyway, youre willing to give a little extra. Just dont do too much because that will also lead to imbalance. Give slightly more than others.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Emotional pathways arent always obvious; theyre like hidden doors, waiting to be noticed. Youll move your hand along the wall, searching for the soft spot or the trigger -- the levers that will open sesame.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You get along with everyone. Your ability to navigate different personalities and perspectives has made you a natural bridge, smoothing over tensions without taking sides. Keep up the neutrality as long as you can.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Youll learn as you go. Know that there is no need to reward or punish yourself in this process, because if theres a reward, it will be intrinsic in the action. And in the case where its not, thats the punishment.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). If love is an art, youre currently refining your approach and by extension your masterpiece. With every adjustment, youre bringing more depth, texture and richness to your expression of love, until it becomes something singular.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your attention and energy are the most valuable resources you have. Every moment spent on something or someone drains a bit of that power, so its essential to guard it carefully. Be selective about where you invest your time, who you allow into your space and what you choose to focus on.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Youll set a new standard. By holding yourself to a higher bar, you inadvertently raise the collective energy around you, shifting how others approach their own tasks. If they dont meet it, theyll at least do more than they would have without the example.

TODAYS BIRTHDAY (March 25). Adventure and exploration are big themes this year. Youll break out of old patterns, discover new passions and move into a life created by your boldest self. Your instincts for timing and opportunity are keen. More highlights: Financial gains that come from a surprising source. Youll be an instrument of the cosmic justice system. Youll have love in many forms. Leo and Pisces adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 4, 28, 11 and 17.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Sarah Jessica Parker was a child actress on Broadway and continued the trend with a lifetime of playing iconic characters, from Annie to Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City. The Aries actress and tastemaker continues to influence the fashion industry through her SJP Collection, creating designs celebrated for their elegance and accessibility. Hocus Pocus 3 and the third season of And Just Like That lie ahead.

Holiday Mathis' debut novel, How To Fail Epically in Hollywood, is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and ebook. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.

COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
The SMART Closet at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Complex, which offers free hygiene products and clothing items. Provided by Nicole Guzzardi

Tucked away in a combined elementary and middle school in Paterson is a closet.

Located near the main entrance of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Complex, across from the guidance offices, the small room doesnt contain any of the usual office supplies or student textbooks.

Instead, it holds a bookcase, containing neat rows of clear bins filled with new hygiene products and clothing items. Bars of soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo, face wash, deodorant and more  all accompanied by paper cutouts with labels and little sayings.

Get That Minty Fresh Feeling! one says.

And its all free.

The first SMART Closet at the school opened earlier this month on March 1, said S.M.A.R.T. Foundation founder Nicole Guzzardi. The acronym in the nonprofits name, which began in 2024 and aims to support single mothers and children, stands for Single Moms All Rise Together.

Guzzardi first learned about the idea of free personal hygiene closets from a friend who works in a Florida school district. Students who might not have easy access to supplies, like floss or feminine products, were able to take what they needed from the closet, she said.

Guzzardi, who was previously a single mother of three young children herself, said she was astonished to learn how many single mothers are in the school community.

And then to hear some of these children were coming to school in the dead of winter just wearing flip-flops or, you know, shoes with holes in them, I just knew there was a need there for it, she said.

Roughly 75% of the students in the school are economically disadvantaged, according to state education data. There are roughly 550 students in the preschool through eighth-grade school.

Bars of soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo, face wash, deodorant and more can be found in the closet. Provided by Nicole Guzzardi

Several pieces of clothing are also offered in the closet, including long-sleeve t-shirts, sweatpants, sweatshirts, underwear and socks, Guzzardi said.

Separately, someone who owns a shoe store in Paterson is offering shoes, although its unclear if the shoes are also stocked in the closet, she added.

The S.M.A.R.T. Foundation collected the donations by posting about the request on their social media, Guzzardi said. Another nonprofit, Jersey Cares, also donated products, she said.

Free personal hygiene items in schools are not new.

In 2022, school district officials in Paterson also launched a few Confidence Closets, which aimed to provide personal hygiene and care items to schools in the district, with a coalition of city churches. Its unclear if the initiative is still ongoing.

A school district spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment.

Project Hygiene, a nonprofit based in Arlington, Virginia, also established several similar closets for the 2024-25 school year, including three in New Jersey, according to its website.

Two of the schools are in Plainfield and one is in East Orange, according to the site.

Guzzardi said she hopes to expand SMART Closets and is talking to officials in Monmouth County school districts about launching the initiative in their schools.

People interested in donating products or money can donate on the S.M.A.R.T. Foundations website, said Guzzardi.

Any kind of support helps us, she said.

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Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.
Actor and comedian Hannah Einbinder was honored by the Human Rights Campaign. She denounced the Israeli government in her speech. Frazer Harrison | Getty Images

Hannah Einbinder strongly denounced the Israeli government in public remarks this past weekend.

The Jewish American actor and comedian, known for starring in the Max series Hacks, cited her own background as a potent motivator for speaking up about Israels military actions and ongoing violence against Palestinians.

As a queer person, as a Jewish person and as an American, I am horrified by the Israeli governments massacre of well over 65,000 Palestinians in Gaza, Einbinder said as part of a speech at an event honoring the actor. I am ashamed and infuriated that this mass murder is funded by our American tax dollars. It should not be controversial to say that we should all be against murdering civilians.

Einbinder, an Emmy nominee for Hacks, made the remarks at a Los Angeles dinner where she was honored by the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ+ civil rights group. The actor, who is bisexual, received the organizations visibility award.

My queerness is a tradition of social justice, as is my Judaism, she said at the event.

To me, these are traditions of humanity, of care for human life, said Einbinder, 29, becoming visibly emotional. All human life, equally.

The actor again pointed to her Jewish upbringing as one reason why she must speak out.

I know that my condemnation of Israels bombardment of Gaza is not despite what I learned in Hebrew school, but because of it," Einbinder said.

That education and tradition moves her to care for the fate of all people, she said.

I mourn for all of the Palestinian lives taken by the Israeli government, Einbinder said. Entire families and bloodlines destroyed. I also mourn deeply for the 1,200 Israelis killed by Hamas on October 7 and the ongoing suffering of the Israeli hostages. I know that calling for a ceasefire and the release of all hostages begs for the safety, security and preservation of life of both Palestinians and Israelis.

In February, the three-time Emmy nominee won a Critics Choice Award for playing comedy writer Ava Daniels on Hacks opposite Jean Smart as veteran comedian Deborah Vance. Einbinder is also a stand-up comedian whose debut special, Everything Must Go, premiered on Max last year.

Hacks, created by Lucia Aniello, New Jerseys Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky, won the 2024 Emmy for outstanding comedy series. Smart won best actress in a comedy series three times for playing Vance. The show is due to return for its fourth season April 10.

Hannah Einbinder at the Human Rights Campaign's 2025 Los Angeles Dinner held at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 22, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Variety via Getty Images) Tommaso Boddi | Variety via Getty Images

I love being Jewish and I am so proud of my tradition, Einbinder continued in her speech. I was taught that central to being a Jew is asking questions, being inquisitive, arguing, wrestling with opposing points of view, questioning my own beliefs in order to keep learning and growing into a better human being, a better citizen of the world. I see it as antithetical to our deepest Jewish traditions to fall in line and not question the actions of a state enacting atrocities in our name. Israels actions are not in the name of Jewish safety and it is the very conflation of Israels actions with the Jewish people that continues to endanger Jews around the world.

As Jewish people, we must say no to the weaponization of our grief for the hostages and our historical trauma to justify murdering civilians, she said. We have to look into the tearful eyes of the children of Palestine orphaned by American bombs and say no. Never again is now. Never again for anyone.

Einbinder also spoke against the rise of fascism and the loss of free speech, as demonstrated by the March 8 arrest of Mahmoud Khalil by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers outside Columbia University.

Hannah Einbinder with Jean Smart, left, in the Emmy-winning series "Hacks." Karen Ballard | HBO Max

Khalil, a Palestinian activist, is now being held in an ICE detention center.

A young activist was ripped away from his eight-months-pregnant wife in the night with no crime and no warrant, and Donald Trump says this violent disappearance was done to combat antisemitism, Einbinder said. Mahmoud Khalil standing alongside both Palestinians and many Jewish students calling for the Israeli army to stop dropping bombs on his homeland does not make me feel unsafe. Elon Musk and Steve Bannon heiling Hitler does. Donald Trump calling a group of white nationalists with tiki torches shouting Jews will not replace us very fine people does.

In her speech, Einbinder also addressed climate change, which she called the single most pressing issue of our time. She said CEOs of BP oil, Shell Oil and ExxonMobil, among other powerful entities, all played roles in the crisis.

While we cannot reverse whats already been done to our planet, we can prevent it from getting worse, Einbinder said. And we can shift the cost of repairing the damage away from working-class Americans and on to the corporations who committed these crimes. We can make polluters pay."

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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter/X, @amykup.bsky.social on Bluesky and @kupamy on Instagram and Threads.
Ann Wilson of Heart spoke about how she feels concerning the current political climate. (Photo by Douglas Mason/WireImage)

Heart guitarist and vocalist Nancy Wilson reflected on her career and related some of the bands top songs to todays political climate.

Wilson, 71, spoke about the bands 1975 hit Crazy on You in an interview with Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and how the song was written in response to the Vietnam War and the drawing of parallels to the current administration.

We were kind of embarrassed at that time to call ourselves American because of the dirty politics of the Vietnam War, said Wilson in the interview. To be as subtle as possible, its more embarrassing now.

She also spoke about 1977s Barracuda, which was explicitly written about a less than honorable industry figure.

The guitarist noted that the song is even more relevant in the salacious billionaire culture with the grab-them-by-the- expletive) mentality. Wilson is referring to President Donald Trumps infamous Access Hollywood comments, which were leaked during his 2016 presidential campaign.

In 2020, Nancys sister and bandmate, Ann Wilson, 74, stated that Barracuda could be used by any candidate running in the 2020 presidential election except for Trump.

Wilson is hopeful that art will prevail in the fight for womens rights.

I think for women in the culture, the pendulum will come back again, and therell be another renaissance in the arts to push back against the oppression of the cranky old rich white guys, Wilson added. I hope I am alive to see that next revolution.

Related coverage:

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Murjani Rawls may be reached at mrawls@njadvancemedia.com
Luis Louie Ruelas and Teresa Giudice are facing over $3 million in tax liens, according to a statement from PEOPLE.

Teresa Giudice is in trouble again, now facing a large amount in tax liens with her spouse.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey star and husband Luis Ruelas have received over $3 million in tax liens, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE.

The records show Giudice owing a sum of $303,889.20 and Ruelas owing nearly $2.6 million. Ruelas was issued another tax lien back in December for an amount of $163,523.94, per the report.

Giudice, 52, served 11 months in prison for mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud in 2015.

The Paterson native and reality television star married Ruelas, 49, in 2022 following a divorce from former husband Joe Giuidce in 2020.

Joe also served jail time for similar fraud crimes in 2016. He completed a 41-month sentence in 2019 and was deported to Italy.

Giudice has been a cast member of Bravo TVs New Jersey rendition of the Real Housewives franchise since its inception in 2009. She is the last remaining original cast member of the show.

Guidice and Ruelas live in Montville with six kids  four from Guidices previous marriage, two from Ruelas' previous marriage. The home was purchased in 2021.

More entertainment news:

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Surveillance footage from a smash-and-grab jewelry heist where robbers made off with 70 Rolex watches, authorities said. Southern District of New York

A pair of Essex County men have been charged in connection with a jewelry store robbery in Westchester County, New York, using sledgehammers, officials with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York said.

Kevin Williams, 26, and Byron Wilson, 24, both of Irvington, were charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and Hobbs Act robbery.

Investigators said that Williams and Wilson, along with co-conspirators, arrived at a jewelry store at the Westchester Square Shopping Plaza in Hartsdale, New York, at 11:07 a.m. Dec. 16, 2024, in a stolen car with stolen New Jersey license plates.

The group exited the car and used sledgehammers to smash their way into the store while customers were inside, authorities said.

The robbers smashed display cases and stole about $1.7 million worth of jewelry, diamonds and luxury watches, officials said.

The men took 70 Rolex watches totaling over $1 million, according to the complaint.

The group fled in the car with bags of stolen goods and drove back to New Jersey, according to officials.

Wilson returned to the residence he and Williams shared while Williams drove to the Diamond District in New York, officials said.

A few hours later, Wilson and Williams along with their co-conspirators took pictures of themselves holding large stacks of money, authorities said.

Williams and Wilson were arrested Tuesday morning in New Jersey.

Attorneys for the men were not able to be reached for comment Tuesday.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X
John Legend will perform in N.J. and NYC during his anniversary tour. Warren Linhart

All She Wanna Do is get her hands on John Legend tour tickets before they sell out.

Legend is heading out to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his debut album Get Lifted, which dropped in 2004, and he wants his fans to join in on the celebration.

John Legend tour 2025 The cheapest John Legend tour tickets are available on Viagogo. Buy Now

While on his Get Lifted 20th Anniversary World Tour, Legend will perform in Atlantic City at the Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino Resort on Nov. 1 and in Brooklyn, N.Y. at the Barclays Center on Nov. 4.

These are the only N.J. and New York City. shows on his touring schedule so far so here is how you can snag tickets before they sell out.

How to buy tickets to John Legends anniversary tour

Currently, the cheapest tickets we could find for his Nov. 1 Atlantic City concert, before any fees, is $145 on Viagogo.

For John Legends Nov. 4 concert in Brooklyn, N.Y., the cheapest tickets we could find is $83 on Viagogo.

If you happen to miss out on these cheapest tickets, then you can find more on StubHub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, TicketNetwork and Viagogo.

Plus, if you buy your tickets through Vivid Seats as a first-time customer, then you can receive $20 off your ticket orders over $200 just by entering promo code NJ20 at checkout.

You can find all of the John Legends Get Lifted 20th Anniversary World Tour dates here.

John Legend tour 2025: Dates, schedule & more

John Legend will begin his Get Lifted 20th Anniversary World Tour in the U.S. on Aug. 23 in Highland Park, Ill. and will wrap up on Dec. 9 in Oakland, Calif.

Legend says that fans can expect an unforgettable performance of the entire Get Lifted albumthe album that introduced me to the worldplus a few favorites from my career that *all of you* know and love.

For his Atlantic City show specifically, this is not the first time Legend has played at the venue, as last summer he performed an intimate one-man concert.

Upcoming 2025 tours heading to Atlantic City

John Legend is not the only artist performing in Atlantic City this year.

Here are a few more artists you dont want to miss out on: Zac Brown Band, Kelly Clarkson, Heart and Incubus.

Hi, Im Nicole, NJ.coms expert live events and deals writer! Ive made it my mission to find the absolute cheapest tickets for the biggest artists, like Taylor Swift, Billy Joel, Sabrina Carpenter, & more. If you missed the general sale or presale for your favorite artist, you dont have to panic. Ive already done the hard work of sifting through tickets and finding you the best price.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

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The last of three men who showed up at a Mount Laurel hotel room with about $340,000 in cash to buy cocaine from an undercover officer is headed to federal prison.

Marvin Murphy, 48, was convicted of conspiring to distribute cocaine following a two-day bench trial last week, the U.S. Attorneys Office for New Jersey said.

Murphy and two associates arrived separately with bags of cash on July 13, 2021 planning to buy more than 22 pounds of cocaine, officials said.
Moskowitz: Rather than giving a long speech, I feel like I can just use this. So, thats a fist, an American flag, fire. From now on, when we do things where we agree, I will just hold this up.



Raskin: Would you explain the reference?



Moskowitz: So this is like when were in a pic.twitter.com/bB575Th9Qs
Stupid is as stupid does, Forrest Gump told us.

And that was 31 years before Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and his texting buddies treated the nations most sensitive secrets  including war plans of a live U.S. attack on Houthis in Yemen  like a bunch of MAGA incels chatting about hot celebrities that would never date them.

Hours after Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief for The Atlantic, told the world that the Gang That Couldnt Text Straight included him on an unsecured chat on Signal that divulged classified information, Hegseth was questioned by the media on why the nations top security officials were laying sensitive secrets bare and how this knuckleheaded (and illegal) idea came to fruition with him as the circus ringleader.

Hegseth tried to make Goldberg into the bad guy instead of taking responsibility for possibly the biggest national security blunder in the nations history.

So youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again, to include the, I dont know, the hoaxes of Russia, Russia, Russia, or the fine people on both sides hoax or suckers and losers hoax. This is a guy that pedals in garbage. This is what he does.

Putting aside Hegseths lies about Russia, Charlottesville and Donald Trumps insults of American military service members, the Trump administration confirmed that the unprotected conversation between Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and others appears to be authentic.

In other words, even the most openly media-hating administration in American history backed up Goldbergs incredible and incriminating reporting.

At this time, the message thread that was reported appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said in a statement.

The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to our servicemembers or our national security.

That prompted Fox News' Chief Political Analyst Brit Hume (and an former network colleague of Hegseth) to call out Hegseths lie and ridiculous attack on Goldberg in tweet: Oh, for Gods sake, the administration has already confirmed the authenticity of the message.

In the same media session, Hegseth insisted nobody was texting war plans, which, according to Goldberg and the administration, is another lie.

Goldberg reported that Hegseth and others were texting about time, date, place, details of targets, including people to be killed and sequencing of strikes against the Houthis.

Those are the most closely held intel in military operations, former CNN national security reporter Barbara Starr tweeted. American pilots may be right over those targets.

Asked Monday afternoon  hours after the reporting was made public  Trump said he doesnt know anything about it, and later added that he was hearing about it for the first time from the reporter who asked the question.

Trump later appeared to mock the story, reposting on his Truth Social platform a post by DOGE head and Twitter/X owner Elon Musk that read, Best place to hide a dead body is Page 2 of The Atlantic magazine, because no one ever goes there.

The breach follows other recent Trump administration baffling goofs  like inadvertently divulging the names of CIA officers and revealing Social Security numbers and other sensitive personal identity information in the release of JFK assassination documents.
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a Republican moderate, tells reporters he has not changed his mind and will not be voting for Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, to become speaker of the House, following a closed-door GOP meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) AP

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) criticized President Donald Trumps cabinet for texting about sensitive war plans in a group chat that included the top editor from The Atlantic magazine.

Senior administration officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, inadvertently included the top editor from The Atlantic in a group chat discussing upcoming military plans in Yemen. The Trump White House has acknowledged the mistake, but pundits and officials continue to criticize the administration over the mishap.
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

Is Social Security being threatened by President Donald Trumps administration?

Tech billionaire Elon Musks brainchildthe Department of Government Efficiencyhas been slashing federal services in the months since Trump took office earlier this year. One of the biggest agencies facing cuts is the Social Security Administration (SSA) despite Trumps vows to not touch Social Security.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday that the SSA is engulfed in crisis as a result of DOGEs cuts to the federal agency that sends benefits to more than 73 million Americans. The report said that the agencys website crashed four times in 10 days this month as the phone service remains a mess due to low staffing.

Acting SSA Commissioner Leland Dudek hurried to cut costs when he took over in mid-February, canceling research contracts, offering early-retirement incentives and buyouts across the agency, and consolidating programs and regional offices, according to The Post. According to the report, the number of regional offices that oversee field operations was cut from 10 to four.

I do not want to destroy the agency, Dudek told The Post. The president wants it to succeed by cutting out the red tape to improve service while improving security.

The report highlighted a number of recent changes to SSA since Trump took office, including requiring in-person identity checks for new and existing recipients.

The Post also reported that the agency will require legal immigrants with authorization to work in the United States and newly naturalized citizens to apply for or update their Social Security cards in person instead of receiving their card in the mail.

The SSA phone service is under intense strain, with The Post reporting that some people were on hold for about four to five hours as the offices face a surge of calls from retirees wondering if their benefits have been cut.

The Post also spoke with a Baltimore employee who works on the Social Security payment systems. He said that nearly a quarter of his team has left or will be leaving due to resignations and retirements, which means his office will likely miss crucial deadlines to complete software updates to the system.

He warned that workers responsible for fixing technology glitches that mistakenly stop payments have been leaving the office, meaning that recipients payments could be at risk.

That has to get cleaned up on a case-by-case basis, and the experts in how to do that are leaving, the Baltimore employee said. We will have cases that get stuck, and theyre not going to be able to get fixed. People could be out of benefits for months.

The Social Security Administration provides benefits to more than 72.5 million people in the U.S. 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.

The DOGE website says that leases for 47 Social Security field offices across the country, including in Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Kentucky and North Carolina, have been or will be ended. However, Dudek downplayed the impact of its offices shuttering, saying many were small remote hearing sites that served few members of the public.

Many Americans have been concerned that SSA office closures and massive layoffs of federal workers  part of an effort by Trump and Musks Department of Government Efficiency to shrink the size of the federal government  will make getting benefits even more difficult.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Donald Trumps approval rating is mostly underwater, according to several recent opinion polls.

But that doesnt mean hes broadly unpopular. Or, that he wouldnt win another presidential election if one were held today.

Thats according to CNNs Harry Enten, who broke down the percentage of people in the country who say things are headed in the right direction.

Is it a majority of Americans? No. But close to it.

And whats more? Its a record number.

From Enten:

The polls have historically underestimated Donald Trump. What is a metric that might get at understanding at how popular he may actually be, so lets take a look at the percentage of the country who say that were on the right track. Its actually a very high percentage when you compare it to some historical numbers, what are we talking about? According to Marist, 45% say that were on the right track. Thats the second highest that Marist has measured since 2009. How about NBC News? Forty-four percent. Thats the highest since 2004. The bottom line is that the percentage of Americans who say were on the right track is through the roof. And if you were to compare it to when presidents have historically been reelected, of course, Trump is not constitutionally eligible to run for election, but I think it sort of puts into perspective, 42% of the country says the country is on the right track when the incumbent party is reelected. And also, keep in mind back when Kamala Harris lost and Democrats were turned out of power, only about 27% to 28% of the country, said the country is on the right track. The bottom line is, right now, a much higher percentage of the country says were on the right track.

We need a "reality check"... Right track % in the U.S. is "through the roof!" Highest since 04 per NBC & 2nd highest since 09 per Marist.



Trump is more popular now in his net favorable than any time in term 1 or when he won in 2024.



Generic ballot looks like when GOP wins. pic.twitter.com/iDh0XEt1qK  (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) March 25, 2025

Enten also pointed out that despite Trumps numbers being under, the president is basically more popular than he was at any point in term No. 1, and more popular than he was when he won re-election back in November 2024.

Trumps current net favorable rating is -4 percentage points, Enten said, compared to -7 points in November 2024 and -10 points in March 2017.

MORE: Trumps secret weapon that keeps Democrats up at night

Trumps support among independents has taken a nosedive. And nearly half of likely voters  49%  currently disapprove of Trumps handling of the economy.

According to the latest Echelon Insights poll done for Puck News, 49% of likely voters currently disapprove of Trumps handling of the economy. It shows a 9-percentage-point spike in who soured on him compared to a similar survey taken after his inauguration, when 40% disapproved of his job on the issue.

Similarly, 49% of likely voters currently say the countrys economic conditions are deteriorating, compared to 39% who said the same eight weeks ago, per the poll. Only 32% of likely voters said the countrys economy is improving at the moment.

In a recent Fox News poll, meanwhile, nearly half of independents  48%  strongly disapprove of the job Trump is doing, while only 13% of the group strongly approve.

Overall, 61% disapprove and 38% approve when strongly and somewhat numbers are combined.

Among Republicans, 65% strongly approve of the job hes doing and 27% somewhat approve (92%), per the poll. As for Democrats, 85% strongly disapprove and 6% somewhat disapprove (91%).

It mirrors other polling, according to nine polls from late February to early March, Trumps average approval among independents is 37% compared to 59% who disapprove.

Thats a 22-percentage-point gap.

The polls are YouGov (The Economist), right-leaning Quantus Insights (TrendingPolitics), TIPP Insights, left-leaning Civiqs (Daily Kos Elections), YouGov (Hoover Institution), right-leaning TIPP (League of American Workers), right-leaning McLaughlin (Americas New Majority Project), right-leaning Cygnal, Quinnipiac University, Ipsos (Reuters), and right-leaning Echelon Insights.

Trump is underwater with independents as much as 37 points in a recent NBC News poll and six points in CBS/YouGov survey.
From left, FBI Director Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Jeffrey Kruse, appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee for a hearing on worldwide threats, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) AP

Lets play Trump Jeopardy.

Well take National Security for trillions of dollars, Ken.

And the answer is: Russia, Russia, Russia.

The correct question: Where was Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East, while he was chatting with the Trump Administrations highest-ranking national security officials on an unsecured app platform, discussing a live attack on Houthis in Yemen.

And, here, the MAGA army believed the correct question was, What is the lunatic lefts biggest hoax involving Donald Trump?)

Sorry, not this time.

In a timely congressional hearing on Tuesday  roughly 24 hours after The Atlantic magazine revealed that Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Director of Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and others exposed national security secrets and war plans to an American journalist, not to mention U.S. enemies it was uncovered that Witkoff was in Moscow during the chat.

FBI Director Kash Patel, Ratcliffe and Gabbard were hammered by Democrats in a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee. They face another round of attacks on Wednesday when they appear before the House Intelligence Committee.

Did you know that the presidents Middle East adviser was in Moscow on this thread while you were as director of the CIA participating in this thread? Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado asked Ratcliffe. Were you aware of that? Are you aware of that today?

Im not aware of that today, Ratcliffe responded.

Bennet was stunned that the director of the CIA wouldnt know where top security officials were at the time.

This sloppiness, this incompetence, this disrespect for our intelligence agencies, and the personnel who work for them, is entirely unacceptable, Bennet shouted. Its an embarrassment. You need to do better. You need to do better.

Follow-up question: Was Witkoff using Russian wifi?

Bennet continued his interrogation later.

By the way, I think [Jeffrey Goldberg] is one of the more outstanding journalists in America, but Im shocked to find him on a thread that hes reading in the parking lot of a grocery store in Washington, D.C., and your testimony as the director of the CIA is that its totally appropriate. Is it appropriate? ...

When Ratcliffe objected, Bennet cut him off.

Theres nothing to see here is what your testimony is, Bennet said. This is just a normal day at the CIA, where we chat about this kind of stuff over Signal. In fact, its so normal that the last administration left it here for us. Thats your testimony today.

Former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger called for an investigation in a Substack posting on Tuesday.

Even more damning is the presence of Steve Witkoff in this secret chat group, Kinzinger wrote. At the time of his inclusion, Witkoff was in Moscow. Let me say that again: a man physically in Moscow, a country actively working against American interests, was added to a group conducting top-secret national security discussions regarding a military operation.

If that alone does not raise every alarm, then consider this  Russia has access to Signal. Their intelligence agencies have previously exploited the app to compromise Ukrainian troops. Given this fact, the likelihood that Russia had real-time access to these conversations is extraordinarily high. This is not just speculation; it is a glaring national security threat."

Kinzinger added: This is a betrayal of the highest order. It is a direct violation of the laws designed to keep our government accountable and our nation safe. Those involved must answer for their actions, and Congress must ensure this never happens again. The time for complacency is over. The time for action is now.
A sunscreen brand new to the U.S., Ultra Violette, is now at Sephora to much fanfare.

With a range of UV-protective products available for anywhere between $22 and $44, the Australian brand is now stateside after debuting this month.

Made to mimic serum-like skincare, the viral products are known for their silky textures and sun protection with SPF 50 coverage across the board.

Ultra Violette sunscreen Price: $36 at Sephora Buy Now

The female-founded brand, which first started in 2019, includes a range of products, like the Supreme Screen SPF 50 Facial Sunscreen Moisturizer and Primer, $36, that offers a glowy finish and zero white-cast.

You can try out the lightweight feel of the Future Screen SPF 50 Mineral Fragrance Free Facial Sunscreen Serum for $44, dubbed skinscreen because of the squalene, vitamin E and zinc enriched formula.

Its not only the sensitive-skin-approved formulas that win people over. Fans say its the bright, eye-catching packaging whether its displayed on your shelf or tossed in a purse for reapplication purposes.

If you prefer a matte finish, The Velvet Screen SPF 50 Mattifying Mineral Fragrance Free Facial Sunscreen for $36 leaves a skin-hydrating and blurring finish.

Other products in the lineup, like the Vibrant Screen SPF 50 Water Resistant Face and Body Sunscreen for $30 and the Sheen Screen SPF 50 Hydrating Sunscreen Lip Balm for $22, are already sold out. But you can turn on notifications for a direct-to-you alert as soon as these products come back.

The new brand drop comes as New Jersey plans to eliminate sales tax on sunscreen, a win for SPF-conscious consumers everywhere.

You can check out the entire Ultra Violette sunscreen collection at Sephora here.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Amanda Edelman can be reached at aedelman@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips
More women are in Erie Countys workforce than ever before. But as the number of working women continues to grow, they still earn less than their male counterparts.

Women in Erie County earn roughly 88 cents for every dollar earned by a white man in the county, according to a report by Cornell Universitys Industrial and Labor Relations Buffalo Co-Lab.

The report, which explores the gender pay gap in Erie County, was commissioned by the countys Commission on the Status of Women and its findings were shared Tuesday  on Equal Pay Day  during a presentation at the Buffalo History Museum.

By a lot of metrics, womens position in the American economy has advanced pretty markedly over just a handful of generations, said Rusty Weaver, director of research at Cornells Buffalo Co-Lab.

In 1970, 40% of Erie County women were in the labor force, compared with 77% of men.

However, in the past five years, womens workforce participation has increased while mens has decreased.

In 2023, 59% of Erie County women and 66% of Erie County men worked.

There is evidence that the position of women in the American economy has been changing and for the better, but theres still a long way to go, Weaver said.

The pay gap persists

Women make up 49% of Erie Countys workforce, but they are concentrated in lower-paid industries such as health care, education and food services, according to the report.

Erie Countys top two industries  health care and social assistance, and educational services  are dominated by women. However, in every industry in Erie County examined in the report, the share of women working in each sector is higher than the proportion of wages they receive.

For example, women make up 75% of the health care and social assistance industry in Erie County, but only account for 66% of the wages paid in that sector.

Our top industries in Erie County are dominated by women, said Weaver. Women are running the Erie County economy, if you look at in terms of raw numbers, but theyre not sharing in the wealth of them.

Erie County women who work in health care, for example, earn around $5.90 per hour less than men, which is almost $12,300 annually for a full-time worker, according to the report.

The report found that in Erie County, the wage gap widens with higher education. Women with graduate or professional degrees earn $3.68 less per hour than equally qualified men. That amounts to a difference of $7,700 per year.

As women do climb up that educational ladder and improve their credentials and skill set, they are earning more, Weaver said. Their average hourly wage is going up considerably, but not by as much as their male counterparts. The wage gap actually widens the higher the educational level, based on the data that weve collected and analyzed in Erie County.

Women who have children and are partnered with men experience the largest pay gap when comparing types of households. In Erie County, mothers who are part of a couple earn, on average, $3.18 per hour less than fathers.

When it comes to race, the gender pay gap in Erie County is widest between white men and white women. On average, white men earn $3.04 more per hour than their white female counterparts. The pay gap is less, but still persistent, when looking at other races, including Asian or Pacific Islander, Black or African American, and Hispanic or Latino.

I think the biggest takeaway is that compared to white men, which tends to be the largest demographic group in the region, women are earning about anywhere between 70 and 88 cents, depending on their own race and ethnicity, compared to what a white man earns, Weaver said. So again, we still have this prominent wage gap, despite those historical occurrences that have led to better outcomes for women.

The report also explored the gender pay gap among unionized workers. While union membership does raise wages for both men and women, the pay gap still exists, Weaver said. But that may be changing, as over the past three to six years the gap between men and womens pay has decreased.

The motherhood penalty

In addition to analyzing data from sources like the U.S. Census Bureau for the report, researchers held five focus groups with 24 working women from key industries in Erie County, including health care, education, food service and public administration.

Karen King, executive director of the Erie County Commission on the Status of Women and Commissioner of Public Advocacy for Erie County, said it was important that the report include womens voices and stories.

Women in the focus groups said they were aware that they were earning less than men in similar roles. Many women said they experienced men being promoted ahead of them for supervisory positions, according to the report.

Currently, there are equal pay laws in New York State, but Cathy Creighton, the director of Cornells Buffalo Co-Lab, said there also needs to be robust salary transparency laws in place so people can know what their coworkers earn and hold employers accountable for gender-based pay inequality.

Women in the focus groups said they felt pressure to sacrifice career growth for family obligations, such as caring for children. This limits womens opportunities for leadership roles and higher earnings.

Even when women are their families primary earners, they still tend to take on the lions share of domestic and household labor, according to the report. Some young women said they chose not to have children because of this imbalance.

Creighton said comments like that illustrate the need for more societal supports, like affordable childcare and expanded paid family leave policies, so women can have both a career and a family.

Until we address some of the more systemic issues around the way work and daily life is organized in our culture, were not going to see the eradication of the pay gap, King said.

Read the full report
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After more than 3,000 miles and 53 days, Ilfracombe scaffolder Gary Hutchings is set to finish his solo row across the Atlantic this evening (Tuesday).

Gary and his boat Pollyanne are now less than 25 nautical miles from the finish line at Antigua in the Caribbean after setting off from Lanzarote almost two months ago.

He has been taking part in the Atlantic Dash, an annual rowing event for crews of up to four, but this year Gary is the only solo rower taking part and currently lies in second place after leading for much of the event.

But it is not a race and Gary has so far raised almost 15,000 for two Motor Neurone Disease charities, inspired by rugby stars Rob Burrow and Doddie Weir  the MND Association and My Name5 Doddie Foundation, plus Devon Air Ambulance.

Now after more than 5,000 kilometres or around 3,200 miles, Gary is almost home  in an emotional Facebook video posted on his Pollyanhutch2025 page this morning he reported he was expecting to sight land very soon, after weeks on end of nothing but blue ocean.

His boat Pollyanne is around 10 miles behind lead boat Waves 2 Awareness, crewed by a male and female duo, but his is also almost 50 miles ahead of the other pair of boats taking part, both four-person crews. Gary had led the event for a long time but lost the lead after several days becalmed with no wind.

Garys brother Mark Hutchings, who runs Ilfracombe Sea Safari with his wife Nancy, is waiting at Jolly Harbour in Antigua to meet him and is planning to broadcast the landfall on Facebook live.

Nancy told the Gazette Gary is expected to arrive at around 8pm UK time today.

Nancy said: It is incredible what he has achieved, all of Ilfracombe has been supporting him the whole way, pushing him on with words of encouragement.

We are all so proud of him and this achievement, its beyond the realms of what most of us are capable of.

During the race, Gary has received multiple videos of support and encouragement from sporting celebrities, such as Sir Steve Redgrave CBE, Johnny Wilkinson, Johnathan Jiffy Davies OBE and Nigel Owens MBE.

Despite the rest of the family running a small fleet of sightseeing boats from Ilfracombe, Gary is typically considered the least-nautical member of the family!

Nancy related his first ever row in Pollyanne was to Lundy Island, where he intended to stay the night, but he had to get up very early while it was still dark to take advantage of the tide to push him back to Ilfracombe.

She said: But somehow he misread navigation equipment and he rowed into the island instead, so we had to go and fetch him in one of our boats.

That was the one and only day he did in that boat until he left for Antigua!

Garys charity appeal is still running and if you would like to donate, please visit his Pollyanhutch25 page on JustGiving.

You can also follow his progress live on the Atlantic dash interactive map and on the Pollyanhutch25 Facebook page.
Sisters Elementary School and Sisters Middle School are celebrating achievements three years in the making: top honors and national recognition for their school counseling programs.

Both schools have been awarded American School Counselor Association (ASCA) certification as Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) schools.

RAMP certification requires diligent documentation of school counseling programs and their impact on students. Only a select number of schools nationwide receive the honor each year, said Lorna Van Geem, Sisters School District Director of Student Services.

The journey to RAMP certification has been a rewarding challenge, Van Geem said in a statement. It has strengthened our counseling program, improved how we serve students, and ensured that we are implementing the best practices in our school counseling program.

The certification is the pinnacle process for measuring a comprehensive program against the ASCA national model, said Jim Boen, Regional Director of Mental & Behavioral Health for the High Desert Education Service District (HDESD), which supports regional schools and districts.

This is a high bar that you just cleared  on your first attempt, Boen told Sisters School District officials in January, when Sisters Middle School was awarded RAMP status. Matter of fact, this is the highest bar used in evaluating a school counseling program, and you just nailed it.

Sisters Elementary followed, earning RAMP certification a few weeks later. HDESD says only eight of the 1,200+ public schools in Oregon have received this award. Many states dont have any RAMP-certified schools, said Sisters Middle School Counselor Brook Jackson.

Its not surprising to me that we have been recognized as doing a lot of amazing work in working towards the school counseling goals, said Jackson. Theres doing the work, and then theres organizing the work and presenting it in a way thats recognized. Thats all Kelsey Jaeckel. Shes a school counselor at heart.

Jaeckel, a former Sisters Middle School counselor, now provides counseling services through her private practice in Bend, where she also instructs future counselors at Oregon State University-Cascades. She and Jackson went to graduate school together and are good friends.

In grad school, you learn the (ASCA) model and implement it, but RAMP has always been on this pedestal, like going to the Super Bowl for school counselors, said Jaeckel.

To reach this height, she and Sisters Elementary School Counselor Kate Kuitert each completed a 10-section program with a very specific rubric of standards in mindsets and behaviors, learning strategies, self-management skills, and social skills, including interaction and advocacy.

A big piece of it is the comprehensive aspect, making sure were making data-driven decisions ... to move toward equitable outcomes for all students Jaeckel explained. We do this by using a variety of data sources such as achievement (grades and test scores), attendance, and discipline referrals, to create interventions that support underserved students and to close achievement gaps. This process includes collaboration and education. School counselors and counseling programs are not part of discipline decisions or administering discipline to students.

Jaeckel and Kuitert attended quarterly ASCA training sessions with Sisters High School counselors Rick Kroytz and Charlie Kanzig, and implemented their learnings into the classroom.

There are so many pieces to it but we try to look at how were spending our time, which is really powerful data, said Kuitert. Making sure were spending our time doing things we should be doing is essential.

The profession has changed quite a bit since the first ASCA model was published in 2003.

In the last three decades, the role of a school counselor has become something that serves the whole building, said Jaeckels.

Van Geem chalks up the twin successes to the hard work and dedication of not only the counseling team but all Sisters School District employees.

Its really rewarding because of so much work, excitement, and gratitude, but it was such a team effort, said Jaeckels.

This was definitely a team effort, agreed Kuitert. The primary emotion we feel is gratitude for everybody who helped along the way.

(Editors note: This story was updated to clarify that counselors and counseling programs are not part of any disciplinary process).
A Buffalo woman whose conviction in a 1995 Amherst murder was vacated after she served more than two decades in prison has filed a lawsuit that accuses Amherst police and Erie County prosecutors of mishandling the investigation and denying her a fair trial.

Renay Lynch claims that Amherst detectives coerced her into giving a false confession and withheld fingerprint evidence that pointed to another suspect in the slaying of Louise Cicelsky, 82, an Eggertsville landlord. Lynch also argues that her conviction at trial hinged on the erroneous testimony of a jailhouse informant who cooperated with prosecutors in exchange for leniency in other cases.

Lynch was released on parole in 2022 after serving nearly 24 years of her sentence for murder and robbery. New attorneys convinced a State Supreme Court justice to vacate her convictions in late 2023 and, one month later, the same judge dismissed the remaining indictments against Lynch.

The Innocence Project deemed this an exoneration of Lynch. But the Erie County District Attorneys Office said its decision not to retry Lynch didnt amount to a declaration of her innocence.

DA says withdrawing murder indictment against Buffalo woman doesn't exonerate her; Innocence Project disagrees Renay Lynch's 1998 conviction in the stabbing death of her landlord, Louise Cicelsky, 82, has been vacated by a judge. The Erie County District Attorney's Office announced last week that it would not seek a new trial.

Lynch filed her lawsuit in federal district court against Erie County, the Town of Amherst and three former members of the towns Police Department.

Amherst police, the town, county and the District Attorneys Office all declined to comment on the complaint and its accusations. Lynchs attorneys said the lawsuit is about accountability.

There will be discovery documents, correspondence, communications. And then therell be depositions, said Karen Newirth, one of Lynchs lawyers, and people who were involved in bringing about this wrongful conviction will have to answer under oath and explain how an innocent person came to be convicted of a heinous crime when all of the evidence pointed away from her.

The easy target

Lynch was charged in the May 1995 beating and stabbing death of Cicelsky in her Eggertsville home.

WOMAN STABBED TO DEATH IN EGGERTSVILLE HOME RELATIVES DISCOVER BODY OF WIDOW, 82 A spunky 82-year-old widow who owned and managed several rental properties, went to temple almost every day and worked out regularly in a health spa was found stabbed to death Friday afternoon in her Eggertsville apartment. The body of Louise Cicelsky was discovered by relatives in the doorway between the kitchen and dining room of her upstairs apartment at

Cicelsky, who was less than 5 feet tall, owned and managed rental properties in Eggertsville and North Buffalo, including a two-family house on Lisbon Avenue that Lynch had rented.

Cicelskys slaying was the first homicide in Amherst that year, and drew considerable notice.

Lynch first came to the attention of investigators because, after learning about the heavy police presence at Cicelskys home, she called Cicelskys number to check on her.

When a detective answered, Lynch lied and said she was Cicelskys niece before later coming clean about their landlord-tenant relationship.

Lynch and her attorneys contend town police didnt fully pursue other, more promising leads before turning to Lynch 18 months later out of desperation.

Lynch was struggling with drug addiction, had experienced domestic violence and, as was noted in news coverage then, had worked as a prostitute. She also was a convicted felon, though all of her crimes were nonviolent.

This made her susceptible, her lawyers contend, to the demands of Amherst police investigators, who became convinced an acquaintance of hers, Kareem Walker, had committed the crime.

SUSPECT CHARGED IN SLAYING OF WOMAN More than two years after an elderly Eggertsville woman was stabbed to death in her apartment, a suspect has been charged in the case. Renay Lynch, 41, of Lisbon Avenue, Buffalo, is accused of killing Louise Cicelsky, 82, on May 19, 1995, in the victims upstairs apartment at 90 Longmeadow Road. Ms. Lynch is scheduled to be arraigned Monday

After Lynch was charged with shoplifting in another case, corrupt police officers used coercion to convince her to serve as an informant and, later, to admit serving as Walkers accomplice, according to her complaint. Lynchs confession followed a 22-hour interrogation, her lawsuit states.

They look for the easy target  the vulnerable, the weak, the indigent, the addict  to solve the crime, said Luna Droubi, another Lynch lawyer.

Investigators eventually concluded that Walker had been in Florida when Cicelsky was killed, the complaint states. To Lynch and her attorneys, this contradicted investigators entire hypothesis that Walker and Lynch had gone into Cicelskys home together to rob her before Walker killed her.

Instead, Lynch said, detectives pressed forward, now focusing entirely on her, with a completely conjured-up theory, said Jane Fisher-Byrialsen, who has represented Lynch for years following her conviction.

Lynch was the only person ever charged in the homicide.

Lynch wasnt retried





SLAYING OF LANDLADY RESULTS IN LIFE TERM FOR CITY WOMAN Renay Lynch was ordered today to serve a prison term of 25 years to life for fatally stabbing Louise Cicelsky, her landlady, in a robbery. Though Ms. Lynch declined comment, her attorneys told State Supreme Court Justice Ronald H. Tills she maintains she falsely confessed being an accomplice to Mrs. Cicelskys murder after she was arrested for the theft

Despite retracting her confession, and without physical evidence or eyewitness testimony tying her to the killing, Lynch was convicted in February 1998 of murder and robbery. Two months later, she was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Fisher-Byrialsen and lawyers from the Innocence Project took up her cause and in 2018 won a court order for a search for new DNA evidence, testing that was inconclusive.

Judge orders new search for DNA evidence in 1995 Amherst murder case More than 20 years after Louise Cicelsky was robbed, stabbed and beaten in her Longmeadow Road home in Amherst, the woman who went to prison in the case is hoping that new evidence could set her

In 2020, Lynchs lawyers and the District Attorneys Conviction Integrity Unit re-examined the case with a focus on crime scene fingerprint evidence. Lynchs attorneys noted that police had testified only two prints were suitable for comparison. In fact, they said, 13 fingerprints lifted from the scene were useful  and none belonged to Lynch or Walker.

Nine of the 13 belonged to Cicelskys downstairs tenant, according to Lynchs complaint, an obvious suspect with a history that included domestic violence, robbery and manslaughter.

Police, however, abandoned their inquiry into him after he seemingly passed a polygraph test, according to the complaint.

Lynch was released on parole in 2022.

In late 2023, State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller vacated her convictions. In January 2024, Boller vacated the indictments against Lynch, a step requested by prosecutors in the interests of justice.

Indictment dismissed, conviction vacated in 1995 Eggertsville murder of elderly landlord Renay Lynch, imprisoned almost 24 years in connection with a 1995 Eggertsville slaying, saw the charges dropped this week after her attorneys argued that Amherst police failed to turn over fingerprint evidence, according to the Erie County District Attorney's Office.

At the time, Lynchs lawyers said this was a clear statement she had been cleared of her wrongful conviction. Then-District Attorney John J. Flynn said this wasnt true.

I am not exonerating Ms. Lynch, OK? I am not up here saying that she did not do this, Flynn said at a news conference then. That is not what happened here. I am saying that I do not have enough evidence to go forward 30 years later. And I am saying it would be a waste of taxpayer dollars to go forward 30 years later.

Fisher-Byrialsen said the authorities were entitled to their opinion.

The truth will come out in the civil case, and the public can decide themselves on the facts once they get to see it all, she said.

Police defended work





Lynch and her attorneys have raised numerous concerns about police and prosecutorial misconduct in her case that are repeated in her lawsuit.

Lynch contends that Amherst police knew well before Lynch stood trial that Walker hadnt been in New York when Cicelsky was killed. But, she said, investigators didnt say anything until Detective Lt. Joseph LaCorte mentioned this when he was interviewed for a 2010 episode of the television series Women Behind Bars.

Lynch also argues that Amherst police withheld exculpatory fingerprint evidence.

Further, the lawsuit states, the informant who testified that Lynch confessed to her while both women were jailed in 1997 lied to gain leniency from prosecutors in her own criminal case. In fact, according to Lynch, Raquel Hunter had offered similar testimony helpful to prosecutors in another murder trial the same week.

In addition to the Town of Amherst and Erie County, the lawsuit names three men, all now retired, who led the Amherst police investigation into Cicelskys slaying: LaCorte, Raymond Klimczak and Michael Melton.

LaCorte in a 2018 interview defended their work and said Lynch confessed of her own free will.

Nobody bullied her into confessing, he said then. She had stolen a fur coat, and she thought she could get off of that charge by telling us about the murder. It was clear cut. She knew exactly what she was doing.

New York awards compensation to the wrongfully convicted, but Lynch has not received any such payment from the state.

No amount of money, Lynchs attorneys said, will make up for what Lynch lost. But, they said, the lawsuit is about more than that.

Shes an outstanding individual and somebody you can see has been wronged, all of her life, and who deserves advocates to fight all the way if we need to, Droubi said. I mean, if they want to fight us through a trial, we will take this to a trial. We have no hesitation and no doubt about her innocence and her right to justice.
Middle and high school students in Sisters are eligible to apply for funding to pay for educational enrichment opportunities through the Roundhouse Enrichment Experience program, a branch of the locally based Roundhouse Foundation, which has generously funded the program for many years.

Through the program students have received assistance for everything from aviation to music camps to Spanish immersion to environmental/cultural experiences.

According to Roundhouse, experiences that qualify for consideration include workshops, seminars, camps, or other activities and must include an enriching benefit to the student that pertains to the discovery of post-graduate career selection or aspirations, and/or makes a difference in the community.

The funding cannot be used for sports-related activities, faith-based experiences, online courses, or travel vacations, or for activities sponsored by the Sisters School District.

For the current budget year $3,600 in funds remain in the high school budget (enough for 4 or more SHS students that can apply for up to $1,000) and $4,000 in the middle school budget (which is enough for eight or more SMS students that can apply for up to $500).

Sisters High School senior George Roberts took part in a Spanish immersion program last year and said, I have not just become more comfortable speaking, listening, and hearing Spanish, but thankful for the opportunities it can bring for me in the future.

Sisters Graduate Resource Organization (GRO), the non-profit that manages the Sisters High School scholarship program, also helps facilitate them. Interested students can apply at https://www.sistersgro.org/roundhouse.

Roundhouse and Sisters GRO are committed to contributing funding for enriching the educational experiences of Sisters area students, said Sisters GRO Executive Director Regan Roberts. If students and their families have opportunities in mind for summer experiences we really hope they will apply in the upcoming month or two.
Ander Rhoads, age 14, is an incoming freshman at Sisters High School next September. His mother, Sevilla, describes him as focused on building community and helping each other, no matter what the issue.

Rhoads has made a particular study of wolves and the Metolius pack. He was disturbed by news of the killing of a male wolf of the Metolius pack, but still appeals to all sides impacted by wolf predation.

He told The Nugget, I have been studying the Metolius pack since last October. I have been trying to learn about them so I can help our community, including livestock owners, better understand the behaviors and movements of the few Central Oregon wolves in our area.

There are likely less than eight wolves living in and around Deschutes Countys wild areas and there is relatively little known about them. They are hard to study because they generally avoid humans and can travel great distances even on a daily basis.

When I read the press release about the death of the Metolius Pack breeding male, I had a lot of reactions. As a youth growing up in a rural area, I know people have really different views about wolves returning to Central Oregon. Particularly now, when I hear about and experience what some call the divide in our community, I dont want the death of this wolf to make things worse between people.

I hope that no matter what your opinion about wolves might be, we can come together against poaching. My friends who hunt say poaching harms our communities by negatively impacting the reputation of responsible, law-abiding hunters and others.

I have learned that the death of a packs breeding male can sometimes  not always  cause issues for local livestock owners. So, lets also come together to make sure our ranchers and farmers have access to any resources they might need to adapt their stewardship practices over the next few months.

Please spread the word that there are many resources for livestock owners wanting help with the legal way to manage wolves in our area, which is non-lethal deterrents. If you call ODFW or U.S. Fish & Wildlife or OSU, they can get you to volunteers and other resources who want to help. Also, there are ranchers wanting to help other ranchers and are volunteering their time also.

One of the best things about being a youth in a rural community is how we do come together when faced with challenges. The death of a wolf can be the start of new friendships and partnerships to support our livestock owners.

On Saturday Rhoads headed to the woods to study whether any of the pack remains and if so, how they are behaving. He will be out as much as possible trying to find tracks and check his trail cameras as he pursues improving his knowledge about the wolves and mans relationship with them.
Last week's news that Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) staff responded to the report of the death of an adult male gray wolf, set off an outpouring of grief among wildlife advocates.

Photo courtesy ODFW

The wolf, an adult breeding male of the Metolius pack, was found dead near Sisters. Gray wolves are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in the western two-thirds of Oregon.

A $10,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest, criminal conviction or civil penalty assessment was posted by USFWS. Citizen groups quickly tripled the reward. The Center of Biological Diversity and Sisters-based Wolf Welcome Committee is offering $10,500, while the Oregon Wildlife Coalition is contributing $10,000, bringing the total reward to $30,500. The amount is expected to grow.

Authorities are exceedingly tight-lipped about the location and manner of death, as it is an ongoing investigation.

The wolf and its mate were first identified in 2021 in the Metolius wildlife unit of Jefferson and Deschutes counties. Following a litter of four pups last April, the wolf family was designated as an official pack. Three of those pups and their mother are still alive, according to state wildlife biologist, Aaron Bott, who spoke with The Nugget.

"It's a bummer for sure," Bott said. "Chances are she's pregnant again and will birth in April. Even with the help of the yearlings from last year's litter, the odds aren't good. The male parent is vital in survival."

Bott doesn't know if any of the yearlings have dispersed.

"The killing of the pack's breeding male may consign the pups to death by starvation or could lead the pack to dissolve," Amaroq Weiss, a senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, said when announcing the group's reward.

"Wolves are a highly cooperative species," Bott said. "Especially when raising their young and hunting."

"The illegal killing of this breeding male wolf is devastating to the overall recovery of the species in Oregon and to his family, the Metolius pack, who would be counting on him to help feed pups this spring. This senseless killing is inexcusable and has no place in civil society," Adam Bronstein told The Nugget in a statement.

Bronstein is the Oregon director for the Western Watersheds Project.

"Wolf Welcome Committee is devastated by the killing of the Metolius wolf pack's breeding male. In the spring of 2021, we formed our group anticipating dispersing wolves' choice to settle here. A few months later, a pairs presence was confirmed by ODFW. In 2024, we celebrated the arrival of their first pups. Now as the likely pregnant female will be settling into her den, this little family has been left without their only adult male to provide food and mentorship. Green Ridge is about as wild as it gets here in Deschutes County. Can we not allow the space for one wolf family to thrive?" the Committee told us.

Matt Cyrus, a farmer and rancher in Cloverdale, said: "The indiscriminate killing of an animal is never acceptable." He talked with us at length on the impact of wolves on livestock losses.

"Can we even be sure if the wolf was killed by a bullet  nobody knows the means  that the wolf wasn't mistaken for a coyote? From 300 yards it would be hard to distinguish."

Cyrus believes ODFW is purposely undercounting the number of wolves in Sisters Country. He claims to have seen photographs from a fellow rancher showing as many as nine wolves and says wolves are routinely spotted on Cloverdale Road and Hurtley Ranch Road.

When asked why such evidence hasn't been made public, Cyrus answered that the rancher doesn't want the publicity and attention it would draw to his property and way of life.

Cyrus presented research studies concluding that the wolves reintroduced into Oregon are not Canis lupus nubilus (Great Plains wolf) and Canis lupus irremotus (Northern Rocky Mountain wolf). The wolves currently residing in Oregon primarily descend from Canis lupus occidentalis (Mackenzie Valley wolf), reintroduced from Canada, which Cyrus maintains are larger and more lethal.

Photo by Christian Fritschi

In a hypothetical The Nugget posed to Cyrus, where any rancher would get immediate, full, state paid compensation just on the word of the rancher that his loss was from a wolf, Cyrus said ranchers would still be opposed to wolves in Oregon.

"Just the presence of wolves causes livestock stress resulting in lower body weight and making them more susceptible to disease," Cyrus said.

Cyrus talked about how a cattle dog costing several thousand dollars can do the work of two cowboys and the cattle accepted the dog's attendance, but with wolves present cattle learn to evade them, making them ineffective and further driving up costs.
Jamie Werner (nee Cundiff) credits her time at Sisters High School with sparking her interest in a career in public lands stewardship.

As a Sisters Outlaw running cross country through the forest, participating in the school's Interdisciplinary Environmental Expedition (IEE) program, growing up across the street from the Deschutes National Forest boundary, her Sisters experience led directly to her college major in environmental science.

Photo provided

Graduating from high school in 2002, she served as a wildland firefighter and on a timber marking crew on the Sisters Ranger District in the summer of 2003. She went on to Stanford University to earn a degree in Environmental Science and Geology. Moving to Colorado, she lives in the Roaring Fork Valley. She recently worked for the nonprofit National Forest Foundation, working closely with the U.S. Forest Service. In January 2024, she went to work for the U.S. Forest Service on White River National Forest.

"It just felt more community-based to me," she said.

Werner worked as a full-time Program Management Specialist in Glenwood Springs, managing complex, high-priority recreation infrastructure and restoration projects. In February, she recalled in a letter to her Colorado Senator, Michael Bennet, "I received a call from my supervisor ... informing me that I was being fired, effective immediately, and that call was accompanied by a termination letter stating that, 'The agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest.'"

The notice was part of an initiative undertaken by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) reducing the USFS workforce by 3,400 employees, approximately 10 percent of the workforce. A court order recently reinstated Werner and other probationary employees of the Forest Service who were terminated in the same manner, but as of Thursday, March 20, she remained on paid administrative leave and had not returned to work.

"It's been changing by the day," she told The Nugget, regarding her status and that of her fellow USFS employees.

Werner took exception to the characterization of the firings as being based on performance.

"If I can be honest, it's just not true," she told The Nugget. "And it's not just not true for me. Across the board, that is not a fair assessment of the Forest Service probationary work force."

In her letter to Senator Bennet, Werner noted that, "Past performance appraisals indicate that my performance 'meets fully successful,' with a note under the 'Mission-Results-Oriented' category stating that my performance 'demonstrates a commitment and personal responsibility to strive for excellence in the accomplishment of work assignments that are aligned with and ultimately contribute to the achievement of the Agency's mission and goals.' I was also recently honored with a USFS Region 2 Regional Forester's Award for my role in helping the Forest Service excel as a high performing agency."

Werner's letter garnered the attention of Senator Bennet, who invited her to Washington, DC, as his guest to attend President Donald Trump's speech before a Joint Session of Congress on March 4. Werner was seated next to Isabella Isaacson, a terminated USFS employee from the Deschutes National Forest.

She described the session as a "surreal experience."

There was more to the trip than sitting in on President Trump's speech. Werner was featured in three minutes of remarks at the Democratic Caucus' pre-session press conference (her remarks may be viewed here).

"It was a big moment for me," she said.

She also met with other representatives to offer her perspective on the value of her colleagues' work.

"I did truly feel that every congressional representative that I met on the trip did listen," she said.

Werner believes that public lands stewardship should not be caught in a political crossfire.

"People enjoy our national forests in so many ways that transcend political boundaries," she said.

People hike, hunt, fish, ride bicycles and ATVs and simply drive to view the spectacular vistas the land offers, she noted.

"The people who participate in those (activities) come from all political backgrounds," she said.

While she still has a job, in the wake of the court order, the future is unclear for Werner and her colleagues.

"It's unclear as of now what any plans are in the Forest Service in terms of a reduction in force," she said.

But she knows that she wants to continue work she believes has real value - work that she loves and has strived all her life to do. She wants to continue working for the U.S. Forest Service.

"Yes I do," she said. "For as long as they'll have me."
At last week's Town Hall, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) entered in true politician style, moving briskly with arms outstretched and a big smile. He told the crowd in the Sisters High School gymnasium, which was just about full to its capacity of 2,000 people, "This gym is exactly what democracy looks like." The audience was respectful and appeared to be generally in agreement with the Senator's point of view.

Photo by Sue Stafford

The number one issue on citizens' minds, worded in a variety of ways, was: "What can we do to stop Trump and Musk in their assault on the government?" Wyden began by assuring the assembly, "We will fight 'til we prevail." But people wanted concrete things they can do. Wyden replied, "Keep gyms filled up like this."

He continued, "Find your passion, find others who share your passion, form a coalition, and drill down." Wyden firmly believes that political change comes from grassroots efforts and moves up, as opposed to from the top down. "No one person can do it. It will take grassroots efforts, including moderate Republicans, to form a nationwide coalition," Wyden said.

There was no visible presence at the town hall event of supporters of President Donald Trump, and no one spoke or asked questions indicating affinity with the administration.

Locally, Wyden suggested getting involved with organizations like Indivisible Sisters, which is sponsoring a demonstration in Sisters on April 5, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., by the Outlaw horse statue on East Cascade. He also encouraged providing support to the Latino Community Association in Bend to help mitigate what he called the "staggering situation" being experienced by many in the local Latino community.

Photo by Sue Stafford

Wyden referred to himself as the "Senate's designated driver" because he is "the only one formally not running for president." He describes himself as the "voice of consistent reason" in the Senate.

Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid/healthcare garnered a variety of questions from the audience. One local woman described her predicament with Social Security as having her disability benefits suspended, causing her to have to reapply, and now with staff cutbacks and office closings, she is still waiting. Wyden said that Musk and his DOGE team (Department of Government Efficiency) are cutting back on and hollowing out Social Security in an attempt to privatize it.

"They are going to have to walk all over me," he challenged.

This week, Wyden was to be part of a committee reviewing the Trump nominee to head the Social Security Administration. He said he won't approve the nomination unless he is shown data supporting the need for staff cuts and elimination of offices and programs. Wyden also said he would like to lift the current wage cap on Social Security so that billionaires would pay their fair share.

Wyden has joined forces with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to promote getting rid of pharmaceutical middlemen who drive up the costs of prescription medication. He said that our current health system provides "sick care" and what we need is more support and funding for wellness programs. His association with the Gray Panthers and their concerns about healthcare early on is what led Wyden to enter politics.

According to Wyden, 30 percent of Deschutes County residents are on Medicaid, the insurance program for low income, children, disabled and the elderly. If the program is reduced or eliminated, many Central Oregon residents will be living with no health insurance.

A woman in the audience told Wyden that she has been unable to access the website where she makes payments on her student loans. He said he and Bernie Sanders are also working together to address the student loan issue. He encouraged people to make phone calls and write letters to their U. S. representatives and senators voicing support for the student loan program.

In response to a comment calling for eliminating Citizens United, Wyden thinks the "campaign finance system in this country is a mess. It's got to go."

When someone wondered about the merits of a flat income tax, Wyden said that with a flat tax, the middle class would pay higher taxes than they currently do, and it would be a windfall for the rich. He thinks at every income level, taxes must be progressive to be fair.

He sees the property insurance situation as a calamity given all the recent damaging hurricanes, tornados, and fires across the U.S. Wyden thinks it will take a private/public coalition to create coverage that will meet the needs of the citizens.

Wyden encouraged people to call and email Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) who is one Republican he thinks can be convinced to support the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program that gives state and local LITHC-allocating agencies the equivalent of approximately $10B in annual budget authority to issue tax credits for the acquisition, rehabilitation, or new construction of rental housing targeted to low-income households. Wyden said, "We need money for housing, not billionaires."

One young audience member expressed his frustration, saying, "Central Oregon students are sick of the lack of Democrats fighting fascism and authoritarianism." An educator was concerned about federal funding for education and cuts to Title One, which provides supplemental federal funding to states to provide all children an opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, particularly in schools with high concentrations of low-income students.

Regarding the cutting of timber on public land, Wyden said, "I would not be for an indiscriminate wholesale sale of our public lands .... I would be very interested in looking at ideas that don't sacrifice our treasures. The federal government owns 53 percent of the state of Oregon, and you can't just indiscriminately go in there and devastate it with something I think Oregonians will regret for decades."

When asked if the country is already in a constitutional crisis given the fact that the Trump administration is not abiding by rulings of the courts, Wyden offered, "I don't want to sugarcoat this. I think what Trump is doing, in the last 24 hours in terms of the courts, has enormous implications. We haven't had a president say something like, 'I'm just basically going to go do what I want and ignore the courts.' That's why Chief Justice John Roberts, who is a conservative Republican, reacted very quickly."

Wyden concluded, "If you have a president who says he is just going to ignore what the courts are doing, that kind of activity is the making of a coup."

As he always has done at his town hall meetings, Wyden offered immediate staff assistance in response to several audience members' personal concerns.

From 1981-1996, Wyden served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon's Third District. He is currently serving as the senior senator from Oregon, a seat he has held since 1996, filling the seat vacated by Bob Packwood. He has been a prominent advocate for privacy rights, internet freedom, and limiting government surveillance.

Wyden is currently serving on several Senate committees including chair of the Finance Committee (as chair, he is an ex-officio member of all Finance subcommittees); Budget Committee; Select Committee on Intelligence; vice chair of the Joint Committee on Taxation; Select Committee on Intelligence; and Energy and Natural Resources (subcommittees on Energy; Public Lands, Forest, and Mining; chair of Water and Power).
In life we must always ask the question: What are the needs of others and how can we best serve our community and what are the consequences of our good intentions?

In a recent opinion in The Nugget, Bill Carmichael, guest columnist, raised concerns if there is indeed a need for new housing in Sisters, especially when Zillow estimates that there are currently 129 apartments available for rent in Sisters. He adds that ApartmentGuide.com states there are 188 vacancies for rent. He asks for new ideas and community input to explore solutions to our housing concerns.

Yet, the City of Sisters intends to expand its Urban Growth Boundary to create more housing in Sisters. I am very concerned about the letter they sent to Deschutes County to expedite a rezone of a 58-acre parcel of land zoned F2 that is adjacent to the Trout Creek Conservation Area by Sisters High School, McKenzie Meadows Village Subdivision, and Tollgate Subdivision. A rezone approval could potentially allow a few hundred houses to be built. (File Number: 247-24-000839-PA,840-ZC McKenzie Meadow Village Request for Zone Change of a 58-acre parcel zoned F2 to Urban Reserve/Multi-Use Agricultural.)

I do not believe that a rezone from F2 (which is considered Impacted Forest land) is in the best interest of the Trout Creek Conservation Area nor neighboring subdivisions and their residents for the following reasons:

Environmental Impact: This property and the nearby Trout Creek Conservation Area (TCCA) provide a wildlife corridor and habitat for sensitive and rare wildlife and plant species. (White-headed Woodpecker, Flammulated Owl, Pinyon Jays, and Pecks Penstemon.) Trout Creek, an ephemeral stream, runs and rushes through the middle of this F2 zoned property and should be protected. The TCCA and the surrounding forest habitat provide an outdoor science classroom for our students at Sisters High School, Middle School, and Elementary School.

Water impact: We have no guarantee that a hydrology study will be done to assess the factors that could have an impact on our public water supply, including the Tollgate community whose sole water source are two wells, one of which exists in the corner of the proposed property rezone area. In Central Oregon, sustainability of water resources is rapidly becoming a critical issue due to rapid urban growth and the impacts of progressive climate change on the annual recharge (replenishment) of groundwater aquifer systems that provides the public water supply. Potential damage to the local aquifer could be irreversible.

Wildfire risk: A rezone and potential high-density development of this F2 property could create an increased risk of wildfire that could impact the surrounding subdivisions and the entire town of Sisters. It could impact the emergency entrance for firefighters and emergency vehicles to the neighboring Tollgate community. In the event of a wildfire evacuation from a housing development on this property, there could be limited exit access through the adjacent subdivisions. This could potentially create a reenactment of the Paradise, Lahaina, and Palisades fires.

I urge the Deschutes County Planning to seriously consider rejecting the rezone of the above-mentioned property and I encourage the City of Sisters to seek different options for UGB. They do have other options that they have considered.

I also urge people to address their concerns and ideas by writing letters and/or testifying to the Deschutes County Planning Department:

Write a letter to: Haleigh King: [email protected].

Attend and testify at: Deschutes County Hearing

Date: Monday, April 7 at 1 p.m.

Location: Barnes and Sawyer Rooms of Deschutes Services Center 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend.

May the voice of the people help determine what are the needs of others and how we can best serve our community!
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

The Department of Justice last week removed what it described as unnecessary and outdated red tape guidances for businesses to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The agency cited the Jan. 20 Presidential Memorandum calling on the heads of all executive departments to take appropriate actions to lower the cost of living throughout the country. The withdrawal of 11 pieces of guidances will aid businesses by eliminating needless review and focusing only on current ADA guidance.

Avoiding confusion and reducing the time spent understanding compliance may allow businesses to deliver price relief to consumers, the DOJ announcement stated.

Yes, it may. But critics of this change, including the American Association of People with Disabilities, insist that these eliminated guidances are still needed because people with disabilities continue to experience barriers in lodging, public places and retail establishments.

The ADA, despite its flaws, offered certain protections while preventing discrimination against vulnerable populations of people. Roughly one in four Americans, more than 70 million adults, live with some form of disability, according to federal data.

Thirty-year-old Adam Scheerer, of Valparaiso, is in this sizable group.

Sidewalks, crosswalks and ramps to businesses breaching a small threshold are things I would really like to see more of around Northwest Indiana, he said. Honestly I didnt pay much attention to the issue until seven years ago.

Scheerer was involved in a serious vehicle crash.

I'm now a paraplegic who uses a wheelchair to get around, he said. I dont want it to come across as a woe is me thing because that couldnt describe me less. I work full time, I pay taxes, I love my community, and Im so blessed to have the ability to still work despite being in a wheelchair.

Nonetheless, he still faces access issues to places he would otherwise visit if not for his disability, including a few Region restaurants. We talked about this issue on the same day I learned about the DOJ policy change regarding ADA guidances and raising awareness about tax incentives for businesses related to their compliance with the ADA.

The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that businesses and members of the public can easily understand their rights and obligations, including the tax incentives that are available to help businesses comply with the ADA, said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Mac Warner of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. Putting money back into the pockets of business owners helps everyone by allowing those businesses to pass on cost savings to consumers and bolster the economy.

Of the 11 pieces of compliance guidance withdrawn from the department, five pertained to pandemic-related conditions, resources for disabled employees, regulations for medical aides, and rules for street food services regarding ADA compliance. The remaining ones pertained to accessibility features and customer service protocols in retail businesses, lodging establishments, gas stations and eateries.

Before I got in my car crash, I didnt notice these things, Scheerer said. But its impossible for me to not notice now. You dont pay attention until you have to. And I have to. Its getting better in our Region, but it can definitely get better.

Last week, I watched an old man in a wheelchair navigate down a sidewalk along Ridge Road in Munster, crossing that street as traffic whizzed past him. I wondered how he, and every other wheelchair user, deftly weaves along busy city streets, sidewalks and into buildings.

It upsets me when I see some parts of our community that we just don't have access to, whether it's a young person in a wheelchair, or elderly people with mobility issues, or anyone who gets injured and needs assistance, Scheerer said.

Some sidewalks are great, and we have better accessibility at the beach, which I think is fantastic. But maintenance can be improved, as well as access to certain businesses, he added.

Like others in his situation, Scheerer has learned to first research accessibility routes before visiting a restaurant or business.

You just cant show up and hope for the best, he said. You could fall over a curb in a heartbeat.

Scheerer works at a tax preparers office in Chesterton while studying for certification to become an investment advisor.

I've got one more exam I just need to take, he said.

Hes upbeat, hopeful for humanity, and appreciative of his friends and family.

All things considered, I got very lucky, he said.

However, because of his disability, there are times he needs help from others, including strangers in public.

Its tough because you don't want people to feel bad for you but, at the same time, you need a little bit of help, he said, speaking on behalf of thousands of Region residents in his situation. People need some assistance, thats all. Lend them a hand. Rake their leaves. Ask if theyre OK.

You dont have to legislate kindness, he said. Its not a Republican or Democrat thing.

Scheerer is interested yet skeptical to see how the new DOJ changes will be implemented and affect ADA compliance guidances. Will it allow businesses to continue disregarding accessibility requirements? Will it offer enough financial incentives to make those needed changes?

I assume the courts will fight it out, he said.
Case 1:24-cr-00556-DEH Document 175-2 Filed 03/25/25 Page 3 of 3 Page 2 Instead, Adams's latest filing should be viewed in light of his shifting attempts to suggest that he was indicted for any reason other than his crimes. At the outset of the case, Adams contended that his indictment resulted from a policy disagreement with the prior presidential administration arising in October 2022. That claim disintegrated when discovery made clear that the investigation into Adams began more than a year earlier, based on concrete evidence that Adams had accepted illegal campaign contributions. (See Dkt. 83 at 3 & n.2; Dkt. 89 at 2 & Ex. C). Having offered one false theory about the origins of the case, Adams's latest, self-publicized attempt to shift the focus away from the evidence of his guilt should be taken with a grain of saltrejected And lest Adams claim the absence of saying this suggests otherwise, Williams did could not and did not eause-simply direct that Adams to-be investigated and charged to further the political ambitions Adams ascribes to him. The evidence of Adams's crimes resulted-was uncovered byfrom career law enforcement officers and line prosecutors performing their duties, in an investigation that began before Williams took office and that has continued after he left. And the decision to charge Adams was made by a grand jury, after the decision to present an indictment was made and approved at multiple levels of the Department of Justicelt was thate evidence they gathered that led a grand jury in this District to return an indictment which any U.S. Attorney would have signed. by: Respectfully Submitted, DANIELLE SASSOON United States Attorney /s! Celia Cohen Andrew Rohrbach Hagan Scotten Derek Wikstrom Assistant United States Attorneys Commented [HS4]: I don't want to say "rejected" because I don't want to ask anyone to reject the theory that DW had a political motive in bringing this case. Seems pretty plausible to me. "Grain of salt" was an attempt to capture the idea that EA doesn't have much credibility here whatever you think of DW. Commented [AR5]: Not opposed to keeping the footnote as is, but would want to understand the reasoning more. Commented [HS6R5]: The reasoning is to make the point that EA's lawyers haven't attempted to defend the Biden-prosecution theory, and to do so in way that explains EA was totally wrong and even his lawyers know it while also making it difficult for them to now turn around and say, oh, no we believe that too. Commented [HS7]: Don't agree with this change for to reasons: (1) a US Attorney could order an investigation all on his own, even if we know DW didn't do that here, and (2) I don't want to say anything that picks a fight with EA's accusation of political ambitions against DW: DW obviously has political ambitions, and I think suggesting we doubt that just costs us credibility. Commented [HS8]: I don't think either of these points help us. Not to repeat, but there's no world in which saying the Biden Justice Dept approved this helps us. I don't like the grand jury point because I think we are trying to be "real" here: We want the judge and everyone else to believe us when we say DW didn't cause this prosecution, and hiding behind the grand jury will sound disingenuous to knowledgeable readers, since GJs will come pretty close to indicting ham sandwiches. CC: Counsel of Record (by ECF) corruption-case-tossed-by-claiming-ex-top-fed-prosecutor-tainted-jury-pool (repeating Williams's statement that the City is "being led with a broken ethical compass" based on Adams's filing with this Court, which was "first seen" by the Post, and published at 6:42 p.m. on January 18, 2025 three minutes before Adams filed with this Court). 3 To be clear, the Government is not accusing Adams's attorneys of making false statements to the Court.-Adams's attorneys could not know with certainty that their client's claim was false until they reviewed discovery, and they have not repeated that claim since they received discovery. (Cf. Dkt. 76 at 3 (noting that defense counsel now knew "this narrative was false"); Dkt. 80 (vigorously contesting the motion in Dkt. 76, but not repeating Adams's false claim or disputing its falsity)).
Here it is growing in a lab over five days. Untold numbers like this one are sitting in storage and studied in labs around the world.

On June 24, 2022, the same day the Supreme Court issued its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, I received a call from the fertility clinic where Id been undergoing in vitro fertilization, informing me that seven of my fertilized eggs had made it to the five-day-old blastocyst stage.

The next morning, I went to the clinic, lay down on a table and watched on a black-and-white screen as one of the seven  the one the embryologist had deemed the most likely to develop into a child  was transferred into my uterus. It was an unsettling moment to find myself responsible for half a dozen embryos. The Supreme Courts ruling was, first and foremost, about abortion. But it was also, explicitly, a statement about the importance of potential life, a phrase that appears repeatedly in the opinion. Such a ruling in our political environment would surely set in motion some unexpected and, in some cases, unintended consequences.

An embryo, in medical terms, is a fertilized egg through the eighth week after fertilization. At that point, the tiny ball of cells is no bigger than a raspberry, but its impact on the body can be mighty. Within a few weeks of the transfer, I experienced the first wash of nausea. I saw blood when I went to the bathroom and feared that it  whatever it was at that stage  was gone. But it decided to stay, and as the pregnancy progressed, I read headlines about a Texas woman justifying driving in the H.O.V. lane because she was pregnant and a tax break in Georgia for unborn children.

In the years since Dobbs, state after state banned abortions, and referendum after referendum enshrined abortion rights. Fertility patients in states like Texas and Tennessee worried about the legal status of their treatments, as anti-abortion politicians insisted that life began at conception. In February 2024 an Alabama court ruled that frozen embryos in an I.V.F. clinic were children, their destruction valid grounds for a wrongful-death claim. Until this decision, attempts to cement the links between abortion and embryonic personhood had largely ignored I.V.F., since it is widely perceived as a tool to create, rather than destroy, potential life. But this was a blunt assertion of full legal personhood for these little bundles of possibility that exist, as one scholar has put it, at the borders of science, morality and democracy.

Since then, arguments over abortion have become more contested and more tightly entwined with the status of embryos, even outside their more familiar place inside the womb. Neither of these developments will help us, as a nation, grapple with the increasingly urgent questions about how we ought to treat them.

When Louise Brown, the worlds first baby to be conceived via in vitro fertilization, was born, there were no rules governing the new technology. Keystone/Getty Images

Starting in 1978, when the first I.V.F. baby was born, embryos have been appearing outside the womb more and more often. Today, hundreds of thousands of them are banked away, sometimes abandoned, in cryogenic storage tanks. (Exactly how many frozen embryos exist in the United States is unclear, since there is no requirement to record their number, unlike in other countries.) They are the subjects of highly regulated experiments. They can be adopted or ranked by quality. Its in part our ability to manipulate and encounter them in this abundance of novel contexts that has generated so many questions. The narrator of Marilynne Robinsons Housekeeping says, Of my conception I know only what you know of yours. It occurred in darkness and I was unconsenting. But conception now regularly unfolds under a microscope, and what once grew or failed to grow unseen is out in the open, under examination, up for debate.

Im now the parent of a toddler I love more than I could have imagined and in possession of six remaining embryos, frozen and waiting for my decision on their fate. Like many people who have gone through I.V.F., I have a complicated relationship with them and vacillate between wanting the finality of deciding and holding on to the possibility that they might one day, under circumstances yet unknown, come to life.

I am also a journalist who covers reproduction, and Ive reported on places where embryos figure prominently in ways that the public may not yet realize. Scientists are doing human embryo research that could, for instance, help prevent miscarriages. Companies are pushing the boundaries of what kind of testing can be done on embryos in the name of optimizing future lives. Embryos are at the center of divorce cases that are part property dispute, part custody battle.

What kind of rules should govern this research? Should businesses that profit from embryos be subject to any kind of oversight? And how should the law speak of them? Wherever embryos appear, they bring with them serious ethical and intellectual questions about what meaning or place they hold in our society.

The political fights over abortion demand a great deal of attention. But embryos also demand and warrant a meaningful conversation about everything they represent: values, knowledge, family, religion, health, life, death and more. The boundaries of what we are doing with embryos are shifting quickly. Any attempt to shape the future of how we treat them has to engage with these questions now.

At the Edge

of Science

For as long as scientists have worked with embryos, theyve faced ethical questions about where to draw the line: How long is too long to grow a human embryo for research purposes? Two weeks? Four weeks? Or somewhere beyond? Does it matter if that research may one day help prevent miscarriages or serious fetal anomalies?

For decades, scientists around the world have abided by one widely accepted rule: Embryos being grown for research may not be cultivated beyond the 14-day mark.

That cutoff was based partly on biology  14 days is typically when an embryo develops a structure known as the primitive streak, a sign it will no longer turn into twins  and partly on a recognition of the power of simple guidelines. (As the philosopher who helped hone those guidelines put it, Everyone can count up to 14.) It was also, mostly, an abstraction. No one, it was thought, could grow an embryo in a lab for anywhere close to two weeks anyway.

In fertility clinics, embryos typically grow in petri dishes for three to five days before being transferred into a patients uterus (or cryogenic storage); it was widely thought that an embryo required this transfer to continue developing. One attempt was reported in 1984 to have grown two embryos to eight or nine days, but one of them then stuck to the petri dish and began sprouting outgrowths; the other became degenerate, the scientists wrote, by the 197-hour mark.

So it was with some excitement that embryo researchers worldwide read about a 2013 experiment by Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz and her team of Cambridge University biologists. Using a culture medium enriched with nutrients and hormones, the researchers succeeded on their first attempt in growing two human embryos, donated by I.V.F. patients, beyond what was previously thought possible. When a colleague called Dr. Zernicka-Goetz at home, where she and her family were making dinner together, to tell her that one of them was still growing on Day 11, she was so thrilled, she couldnt go to sleep that night.

Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz changed what is possible around researching human embryos. Until she and her team at Cambridge University had a breakthrough in 2013, no one had grown an embryo to 13 days in a lab environment.

The room in her Cambridge lab devoted to embryo and stem cell research is laid out like a galley kitchen that a real estate agent might euphemistically describe as compact; it can accommodate just about two scientists at a time. The research Dr. Zernicka-Goetz and her team conducted in those modest quarters yielded insights that changed how we understand the earliest days of human existence.

They discovered that by Days 8 or 9, embryonic cells began organizing themselves while they form different types of cells that will eventually become the placenta, the yolk sac that nourishes the embryo and the embryo itself. They found that the way the embryonic cells move and communicate with one another is what drives the formation of organs. And Dr. Zernicka-Goetz and her colleagues watched the process unfold in real time.

Having insight into those stages of development opens this sort of  I dont want to call it a Pandoras box, Dr. Zernicka-Goetz said, pausing to look for the right metaphor in English. (She grew up in Warsaw, and Polish is her first language.) Youve uncovered something that youve never looked at, and its full of gems.

As the clock ticked toward Day 14, the Cambridge team had to end its experiments in order to stay compliant with the law. The team removed the remaining embryos from the culture dish and fixed them in slides in order to create images of them and further examine them. Eventually, the samples deteriorated and were disposed of as medical waste.

Any gems that lie beyond the 14-day mark remain out of reach. And so, depending on your perspective, a rule that was once hypothetical has become either a restraint holding us back from understanding a critical stage of human life or a crucial check on the scientific impulse to push limits simply because we can.

The rule may be poised to change. In 2021 the International Society for Stem Cell Research, a nonprofit scientific body that sets widely adopted global research norms, proposed that, contingent on broad public support and legality in a given jurisdiction, a specialized scientific and ethical oversight process could weigh whether researchers would be permitted to grow embryos beyond 14 days. The new guidelines call, first and foremost, for public conversations touching on the scientific significance as well as the societal and ethical issues raised by allowing such research. In some countries, this conversation has already begun.

Being able to examine an embryo at 11 days, like the one above, helps scientists understand how embryos develop from a single cell into different tissues, yielding a deeper understanding of pregnancy and our earliest days on earth. Marta Shahbazi/Zernicka-Goetz Lab

The scientific significance of the research is clear. The period between the 14th day, when research must end, and the 28th day, when scientists can turn to embryonic tissue obtained from miscarriages or abortions to study, is when many pregnancies fail. It is also when organs begin forming and conditions such as cardiac abnormalities and neural tube defects arise. Observing that period of embryo development, often referred to as the black box of pregnancy, could lead to interventions for these developmental disorders and countless other medical breakthroughs. The societal and ethical issues, however, are also easy to grasp. Even people who do not equate embryos with human beings may be unsettled by the idea of growing them in dishes to increasingly advanced stages for research purposes.

Perhaps, as Dr. Zernicka-Goetz mused, their scientific triumph had opened a Pandoras box after all.

In its journey from the fertility clinic where it was created to Dr. Zernicka-Goetzs lab, an embryo loses one meaning and gains another. Perhaps its meaning changed many years ago, when it went from being a chance at a much-wanted baby to a conundrum, after a family felt itself complete. Perhaps it took a year or two or seven for the parents to decide they were done paying annual storage fees and were ready to choose a more definitive fate for their remaining embryos.

Dr. Zernicka-Goetz, like most developmental biologists, initially avoided doing human embryo research. It is riddled with controversy, is difficult to get approved, requires extensive specialized training and relies on costly equipment. For decades, she worked largely with embryos from mice and rats.

But that changed in 2006, when she received an unsettling call. She was pregnant, and a prenatal test that sampled her placental tissue had found 25 percent of the cells were genetically abnormal.

Unlike a majority of expecting patients, though, who might have panicked at this news, Dr. Zernicka-Goetz was intimately familiar with embryonic development through her research with mice. Her mind cycled through potential explanations. She suspected the issue was developmental, rather than hereditary, because a majority of the cells were normal. She also knew a developing embryo is remarkably resilient: In one research project, she removed cells from rapidly dividing mouse embryos and showed they grow into normal adult mice. In another, she and a student found that for mouse embryos with chromosomal abnormalities, their abnormal cells could be outcompeted by normal cells, dying at a rate more than twice that of the healthy ones. Mouse embryos, in other words, are capable of self-repair.

As it turned out, Dr. Zernicka-Goetzs embryo was, too. Her son Simon is now a loving teenager whose paintings decorate her Caltech office in Pasadena, Calif., where she runs a sparkling new laboratory. But the results of her pregnancy screening left her deeply shaken, setting her on a new line of inquiry into the origins of human development.

The glass wall at the Caltech lab holds ideas for future experiments.

Her colleagues and mentors initially discouraged her from attempting to culture embryos beyond the pre-implantation stage; it would be far too difficult, they told her. Even Dr. Zernicka-Goetz suspected that embryos required interactions with the uterine lining to continue growing.

The title of the paper that resulted from the research that evolved from her 2013 experiment hints, in scientific argot, at what is perhaps most remarkable about her teams findings: In Self-Organization of the Human Embryo in the Absence of Maternal Tissues, published in 2016, she and her co-authors detailed how, even with no mom in sight, a human embryo is capable of ambling down its developmental path on autopilot, well past the point when it would have normally implanted in the uterus.

After Dr. Zernicka-Goetz and her teams successful experiment, another group, led by Ali Brivanlou at Rockefeller University, cultured embryos to Day 14. There is still more to be discovered within the bounds of the 14-day rule, as Dr. Zernicka-Goetz acknowledges. But many in the scientific community are already anticipating that crucial breakthroughs  the discoveries that might teach us why some babies are born with developmental defects, why some organs fail to grow properly and what causes miscarriages later in pregnancy  await us on the other side.

When I.V.F. proved a success in 1978, much of the media attention was on the birth of Louise Brown, the worlds first test-tube baby. But some were already worried about the research that had led to that moment  and what might follow.

Seeking ways to allay public concern, Britain set up a committee in 1982 to study the looming ethical issues that accompanied this new technology. It was tasked with establishing a blueprint for the countrys regulatory regime for I.V.F., as well as for the embryo research that made it and other fertility care possible. Among the concerns at the time, said Mary Warnock, the philosopher who chaired the committee, was a belief that there was something especially horrendous in deliberately creating a human being only then to deprive it of its chance of life by failing to place it in a human womb but instead throwing it down the sink.

The Warnock Committee, as it came to be known, was composed of scientists, social workers, a theologian and lawyers, among others. Its members quickly concluded that arriving at a societal consensus on the moral status of an embryo or establishing what could be done to it for legal purposes was a nearly impossible task. But the alternative was to have no limits or legislation at all, and this, Ms. Warnock said, nobody wants.

And so, according to a recent book on the 14-day rules history by the sociologist Sarah Franklin and the legal scholar Emily Jackson, the committee latched onto certain recognizable biological developments to which moral significance could be ascribed. The formation of the primitive streak, for instance, could be viewed as the moment an embryo transforms from pure potential  might it be twins or even triplets?  into a unique individual. Anne McLaren, an eminent biologist and the other public face of the Warnock Committee, said of the primitive streak, If I had to point to a stage and say, This is when I began being me, I would think it would have to be here.

This life stage, previously given little notice, suddenly formed the basis for a whole chain of ethical reasoning. The 14-day rule has gone on to become the de facto global regulatory standard for human embryo research, Dr. Franklin and Dr. Jackson wrote.

Tubes are filled with media that can be used to grow mouse and human embryos past the point when they would normally implant in the uterus. While the Caltech group works with both human embryos and embryo models, their research usually begins with experiments on mouse embryos.

Such research has always been a source of controversy, regardless of how far into development it takes place. It has also yielded important findings, some of them related to fertility  such as more effective methods of freezing embryos and improved I.V.F. protocols  and some of which, such as the derivation of stem cells, have generated entirely new areas of scientific research. Stem cells, which are now used in cancer treatments, among other therapies, were originally obtained from donated human embryos and aborted fetuses.

Today a majority of I.V.F. cycles still end in failure, and approximately one-third of infertility cases are classified as unexplained. The push past 14 days is, in part, a bid to better understand what makes a pregnancy stick. But there are other important questions at play. As embryonic cells start to differentiate into the bodys major organs, how do stem cells become brain cells? How does the heart take shape? What determines the fate of cells that are chromosomally abnormal?

In my conscience, I know there are great benefits in pushing past 14 days, Dr. Brivanlou has said. It may literally save lives in the next generation.

But the bioethicist Ben Hurlbut suspects others welcome the guardrails, worried about what they might otherwise conjure. He is troubled by the rapid leap from can  the ability to culture embryos beyond 14 days  to should, without much due paid to the basis for the rule. Almost instantly, you have a kind of discourse of the need to revise the limit, he told me. Why? In what other domain of life would we say, when it becomes possible to violate a rule, that the rule has to give way to the violation? The 14-day rule has always been slightly arbitrary; a 21- or 28-day rule would be even more so. What, then, would be stopping us from going even further?

While ethicists debate the 14-day rule, Dr. Zernicka-Goetzs team and other research groups around the world have been pursuing a parallel research track  embryo models built from stem cells  that would allow scientists to probe the earliest days of human life while sidestepping some of the ethical questions. Building the models also allows scientists to better understand the underlying mechanics of embryo development, compared with simply observing it through a microscope. Supported by nutrients and grown in a dish, the current models can grow for roughly 10 days in ways that variously mimic key aspects of the real thing. But these embryo doppelgangers have led to their own flurry of moral and legal questions. Are they simply engineered tissue, or are they closer to a genuine embryo, deserving of special consideration?

Project 2025 calls for a number of actions whose net effect would be to take human embryo research off the table. Embryo models like the ones that will be grown from mouse stem cells in these tubes would be a possible  but far less faithful  alternative.

Most scientists working on these models, including Dr. Zernicka-Goetz, say the chances are almost nonexistent that any of them, for now, could go on to become a baby. (Models like these are being developed by teams elsewhere in the United States and in Israel, Britain and China, among other places.) In any case, implanting one in a human uterus would be an ethical breach, prohibited in countries that regulate this type of research, and a scientific scandal of the highest order.

But from a research perspective, the most important question is that of fidelity: How similar are these models to the real thing? If they skip a few of the developmental steps that a natural embryo passes through, as the models currently do, can we trust whatever they do next? As a group of scientists and medical ethicists, writing in Nature Methods, argued, if its not permissible in many countries to create egg-and-sperm embryos specifically for research purposes, why is it ethically preferable to create stem-cell-derived models that will become increasingly similar to natural embryos? And how can we assess their faithfulness to real embryos after 14 days without continuing to learn about the development of natural embryos anyway?

In light of these advances, an ethicist and several biologists have proposed a new legal definition for embryo that emphasizes its potential to become a fetus rather than whether it originated via fertilization or it was created in a lab from stem cells. With embryo models growing in sophistication, they argued in a commentary in the journal Cell, the relevant question is not how they got here but where they are going. A redefinition may offer some conceptual clarity, but it highlights the oddness of this moment  one in which our scientific prowess has pushed boundaries so far that we need to reconceive of entities whose previous technical definition seemed self-evident.

Today, Dr. Zernicka-Goetzs lab at Caltech produces hundreds of embryo models every week. A vial the size of a pen cap holds several hundred of these embryo-like organisms, which look like minuscule air bubbles suspended in clear liquid.

On a warm September morning when I visited the facility, the sunny, open laboratory was still quiet, its chairs mostly empty, lab coats slung over the seat backs. The glass wall of the lab was covered in scribbled equations and diagrams that to an untrained eye look like the gibberish that teachers or geniuses hurriedly scrawl on blackboards in movies.

Mouse stem cells are stored at 80 degrees Celsius (112 degrees Fahrenheit).

To speak to the two dozen or so scientists who work in the lab is to see how people working at the boundary of life navigate the uncanny valleys in which they sometimes find themselves. I met with Ikbal Choudhury, a postdoctoral scholar developing technology to create womblike tissue. In his experiments, when the embryo models cells communicate with one another in the course of their self-assembly, they produce the same hormones and chemical signals a natural embryo would, including human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG. This is the same substance people test for when theyre wondering if theyre pregnant: I vividly recall taking an hCG blood test 13 days after my I.V.F.-generated embryo was transferred and learning, to my delight, that the embryo had indeed hung on. Dr. Choudhury told me that when the pre-implantation embryo models produce hCG, he and his colleagues joke that the device is pregnant.

I also met Sergi Junyent, a postdoctoral scholar from Spain, who was working with zygotes  that is, embryos created by the union of egg and sperm that have not yet undergone cell division.

His research involved waiting until each zygote had cleaved into two cells, then injecting one of the cells with a substance to turn its membrane fluorescent green, enabling him and his colleagues to trace that cells descendants. They then watched the dividing process unfold to see just how much of an embryos inner cell mass  the part that would become a future fetus rather than a placenta or yolk sac  came from only one of those two cells.

The results have given him pause. Dr. Junyent worked with stem cells and mouse embryos earlier in his career, but this was different. Each of his zygotes was identified by number, and he could tell you what each one was doing under the microscope at any given moment. He and his co-author, he said, kind of lived for those embryos for the seven days the experiment lasted.

Dr. Junyent and his wife were expecting their first child while the experiment was underway. It was crazy, he said, to think that the fertilization of his son  and the subsequent process he was witnessing under the microscope  occurred just a month and a half before. At the two-cell stage, we already know what cell is more likely to become part of the embryo and to form body tissues. Watching this process unfold from its earliest stages hasnt affected his feelings about abortion law, exactly, which he thinks about primarily in terms of womens bodily freedom. But is this an embryo? Is this a future baby? Is this a single cell? Dr. Junyent mused. Or maybe it doesnt matter that much.

Ikbal Choudhury, pointing to an image of an embryo model, hopes for deeper public engagement in his research. The discoveries he and other scientists are making about the nature of human reproduction, he said, will transform everyone.

Whether they work with embryo models or human embryos, all of the scientists I spoke with were thinking deeply about the ethical implications of their research. But some have been genuinely troubled by them. Jianping Fu is a bioengineer at the University of Michigan who was part of a team that created one of the first stem-cell-based embryo models in 2017. In his work, he has backed away from creating what are known as integrated embryo models  the types that generate the supportive tissues necessary for implantation, such as those used by Dr. Choudhury. Dr. Fu focuses instead on simpler models that narrowly mimic a targeted aspect of embryo development. I think theres just a lot of ethical sensitivities, and personally Im not OK with some of the integrated models, he told me.

I found it disturbing to learn that while the existing methods of creating embryo models can generate hundreds of models at a time, not all of them develop into useful models; some self-organize into what one researcher described as alternative arrangements. As of now, the ones that do not self-organize into an embryo-like entity die off or are discarded. But what unexpected shape might they one day take? I was also not sure that my disquiet was entirely rational: Why was I so much more troubled by the alternative arrangements of these clumps of human cells than by the fate of, say, the multitude of skin cells I shed each day?

Alta Charo, a bioethicist who served on a national bioethics commission convened by President Bill Clinton that studied the issue of cloning, said such discomfort is to be expected in the wake of scientific advances. As a species, we have experienced throughout our history many phenomena that felt like they were completely outside our control. And each time we manage to take control of them, I think there is a feeling of both awe and unease, she said. But those feelings, Ms. Charo says, should not form the basis of policy.

The bioethicist Leon Kass, however, has argued that such unease is our moral intuition speaking and, as such, is worth heeding. After the cloning of Dolly the sheep in 1996, Dr. Kass argued in his essay The Wisdom of Repugnance that certain prospects  incest, cannibalism and, he would add, human cloning  inspire a revulsion that needs no rationalization. This repugnance, he writes, is a sign that we intuit and feel, immediately and without argument, the violation of things we rightfully hold dear.

It is too early to tell how President Trump will govern embryo research in his second term. It took until two years into his first administration for the Department of Health and Human Services to address the issue, but its actions were severe: It cut nearly all of its spending on research involving human fetal tissue. To add an extra layer of review for any projects that involved such tissue, the agency appointed an ethics review board whose members included many outspoken opponents of abortion; the board ultimately rejected 13 of 14 proposals that had already been recommended for federal funding through the normal competitive process. The agency put out a call for alternatives to fetal tissue research, but the kinds of embryo models that Dr. Zernicka-Goetz and others make using stem cells were explicitly excluded from consideration.

For Dr. Zernicka-Goetz, an abnormal test result while she was pregnant with her son Simon set her on a new line of inquiry into the origins of human development.

This time, Mr. Trump stands between two constituencies. The conservative agenda for his second term known as Project 2025 calls for a number of actions whose net effect would be to take human embryo research off the table. Instead, it recommends pursuing alternative methods of research to make it so that abortion and embryo-destructive related research, cell lines and other testing methods become both fully obsolete and ethically unthinkable. The same influential evangelicals who have opposed research involving human embryos going back to George W. Bushs administration more recently publicly stated their opposition to I.V.F. at last Junes Southern Baptist Convention. After the Dobbs decision, a podcast hosted by Lila Rose, a leading anti-abortion activist, featured a guest decrying I.V.F. as a greater threat to embryonic life than abortion. Youre more likely to have your life snuffed out by the people claiming to bring new life into the world than you are at Planned Parenthood, she said.

But Mr. Trump is also surrounded by vocal natalists such as his donor and adviser Elon Musk, a prolific I.V.F. user, as well as Peter Thiel, who has invested in multiple fertility-related companies. It seems clear which side has won  for now. In February the president signed an executive order that calls for policy recommendations to protect access to I.V.F. and lower its costs (because we want more babies, Mr. Trump said in an accompanying statement).

The administration has a more limited ability to affect the 14-day rule, which in the United States isnt a law but a guideline. Embryo research and research on fetal tissue are permitted on a state-by-state basis  New York, for example, has no limit on how long embryos may be grown for research purposes, whereas in California the guideline is 12 days  mirroring in some ways the current state of abortion access. The federal government has imposed restrictions through its funding, but much of the research on early human development relies on private funding from wealthy donors, foundations or venture capitalists.

So far, the issue has not garnered much public attention. It is possible this lack of awareness reflects the way that abortion  which has always been a proxy for a thousand other questions about gender, social roles and autonomy  has sucked almost all the air out of the room.

But pushing the frontiers of scientific research demands a broader discussion that transcends niche communities, especially in an area that could transform the nature of reproduction.

Public engagement is even more urgent at a time of historic mistrust in science, institutions and politics as a means of reaching consensus. Pursuing research that triggers what ethicists call the ick factor without robust discussion risks generating further mistrust or even conspiracy theories.

In our recent past, there were times we pushed the boundaries of what science can do and then backed off, finding the ick factor too strong. The CRISPR-Cas9 technology, for example, which gives scientists the ability to edit the human genome, was discovered in 2012; it has been used to treat adult patients with sickle cell anemia, and researchers are hoping to use it to engineer crops that can withstand climate change. But its use on embryos has been the subject of a de facto global moratorium, as scientists are concerned about making changes to human DNA that has been passed down through millenniums. (The one exception: a scientist who claimed to have used it on three embryos, now young girls, in China  and subsequently faced backlash and prison time.) Similarly, the cloning of Dolly the sheep led to bans on human cloning and a self-imposed scientific moratorium, even though some hoped that reproductive cloning could generate a source of genetically matched stem cells to develop treatments for individual patients with devastating diseases.

On other occasions, the benefits seemed worth the trade-offs: Genetically modified food was embraced in the United States after initial concern about its effects on consumers; embryonic stem-cell research eventually proceeded in the 2000s after opposition from Mr. Bush, among others. These debates provided a forum for bigger societal questions. They helped people think through the trade-offs  what benefits could be in store even if the cost was some ick. They allowed people to feel they had a meaningful stake in a discussion about a technology that they might encounter personally and reassured them that the people developing these technologies were doing so out in the open.

All of the scientists I spoke to were eager for such a conversation to unfold around their work with human embryos. They understand the gravity of their work  its potential and the discomfort it could raise. Nicolas Rivron is the leader of a lab that produced one of the early stem-cell-based models and one of the scientists who proposed redefining embryo. He pointed to stories going back thousands of years to explain our discomfort with a power that seems godlike: Sumerian stories about creating people by mixing blood and clay, the Jewish tale of the golem, Frankenstein and Brave New World. Throughout history, he said, you find myths and legends about humans making humans from scratch. All of that places an obligation on scientists, he said, from a very early, very early stage, to think about the potential intended and unintended consequences of our actions. That is true. But it also puts an obligation on us.

Anna Louie Sussman is a journalist who writes about gender, economics and reproduction. She is working on a book about family building in an age of uncertainty. This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center and the Alicia Patterson Foundation.

Embryo video via Geri Time-Lapse Camera/Clinica Fertility Madrid and Anna Louie Sussman.
Usha Vance

With all due respect to Usha Vance, why isnt Melania Trump being dispatched to charm Greenlanders? Dont our future fellow citizens deserve to be wowed by the First Lady, not the Second Lady?

Vance also is short-changing Greenland. Shes leaving Washington on March 27 and exiting the Land of the People on March 29 after attending the Avannaata Qimusserua, which the New York Times dubbed the Super Bowl of dogsled races.

Whats the rush! Theres plenty to do in Greenland. The Visit Greenland website touts trophy hunting as a good way to experience the local culture. Trophy animals must be pursued with a local hunter.

The timing of Ushas trip is perfect. The winter hunting season in Kangerlussuaq is limited to March-April. She can go after big game (reindeer, musk oxen) or track down smaller animals (hare, fox, ptarmigan).

And talk about sustainability and winning new friends. Hunters make sure that no part of the animal goes to waste, according to the Visit Greenland site. The meat is always given to local hunters or shared with the local community. Think of all the goodwill!

A domestic flight from Greenlands capital, Nuuk, to Kangerlussuaq takes only 50 minutes. Book it, Usha. The thrill of the hunt will give you a lot to talk about with Melania when you return to the states.

The decision of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison chairman Brad Karp to cave to Donald Trumps executive order has triggered the lawyer letter of all time signed by alumni of the firm.

They are shocked that Paul, Weiss, which stood up to the president during his first term, is now at the very forefront of capitulation to the Trump administrations bullying tactics.

Rather than defending the values of democracy, we witnessed a craven surrender to, and thus complicity in, what is perhaps the greatest threat to the legal profession since at least the days of Senator Joseph McCarthy.

The alumni group is profoundly saddened, and deeply outraged, that the firm in which we heretofore took pride has cowardly allowed itself to become a poster child for the administrations efforts to silence dissent and impose a loyalty test on attorneys.

They rap Karps email to staff in which he expressed the view that the firm could now put the matter behind us.

That statement is not just bad lawyering compounding bad negotiating, it is false, says the alumni letter. From the standpoint of posterity, it is a permanent stain on the face of a great firm that sought to gain a profit by forfeiting its soul.

Karp decided to settle with the administration because he felt Trumps executive order posed an existential threat to Paul, Weiss.

The settlement protected the livelihoods of the 2,500 lawyers and non-legal professionals who work at Paul, Weiss.

In his email, Karp conceded that many at Paul, Weiss are uncomfortable that we entered into any resolution at all.

He may have understated the depth of the rage that the Trump settlement triggered at the proud law firm that represented Robert Oppenheimer during his security hearings during the McCarthy era.

You gotta wonder how much longer Karp sticks around.

How do you spin a massive security breach? You attack the reporter who was inadvertently added to the Signal chat about plans to bomb Houthi targets in Yemen. How about somebody taking responsibility for the security screw-up?

Defense secretary Pete Hegseth said Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief at The Atlantic, peddles in garbage. Thats pretty rich, coming from a former talking head at Fox News.

Hegseth denied that he was the guy who texted war plans to members of the group. Goldberg claims that targets and the next sequence of attacks on the Houthis were revealed during the chat.

National security advisor Mike Waltz told Laura Ingraham that he took full responsibility for setting up the chat but is clueless how a "loser" like Goldberg became part of the group. He called Goldberg, "the bottom scum of journalists."

Shadow president Elon Musk took a swipe at The Atlantic. He posted on X: Best place to hide a dead body is page 2 of The Atlantic magazine because no one ever goes there.

Not true, Elon. Goldbergs bombshell report reached a lot of eyeballs.
Worrell Timber Group, based in Tullamore, have been finalists at two major national events this month - the Green Awards 2025 and the Irish Logistics and Transport Awards 2025.

The Green Awards recognise businesses demonstrating exceptional commitment to environmental sustainability, whilst The Irish Logistics and Transport Awards celebrate innovation, dedication and achievement for those shaping the future of the transport industry.

Over 850 industry professionals made their way to The Clayton and Crowne Plaza hotels Dublin for the two award ceremonies hosted by popular broadcaster Colm ORegan.

Kenneth Worrell, Managing Director of Worrell Timber Group stated: Hearing we were finalists in five categories at these two prestigious events recognises the quality service we provide our customers, our commitment to our sustainability agenda, while striving for continuous innovation and improvement. This acknowledgement comes on the back of our recent success at the Fleet Transport Awards 2025.

READ NEXT: Green light for new tourist accommodation in Offaly

Due to continued growth and expansion arctic truck drivers, machine harvesters and forwarder drivers are currently being recruited for by WTG. For more information, and to apply, please contact Eoin at 083 3323342 or email eoin@worrellharvesting.ie

Any farmers or forest owners affected by the recent damage caused during storm Eowyn should get in contact if they would like to discuss assistance with any aspect of their forestry needs.

READ NEXT: BIG PICTURE SPECIAL: Out and about for a big night on the town over the weekend in Tullamore
The Irish parliament has been adjourned for the day after controversial changes on speaking rights were voted through amid chaotic scenes.

There are questions over the tenure of the speaker of the lower house Verona Murphy after opposition leaders indicated they did not have confidence in her.

Ceann Comhairle Ms Murphy adjourned the Dail until Wednesday morning after declaring that the change to the standing orders was carried, despite opposition parties attempting to obstruct the result.

The vote is understood to be 94 to 74.

Opposition tellers refused to sign the paper, but Ms Murphy said it was carried.

It came after chaotic scenes of shouting, interruptions and allegations of misogyny over the speaking rights row as weeks of tension boiled over during Leaders Questions.

Video footage posted online by People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy shows Michael Lowry, who is at the centre of the controversy, making a gesture towards the camera as the chants reverberate around the House.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and other representatives said that the image of the day would be Mr Lowry giving us the two fingers, but much more damningly, giving the Irish people the two fingers too.

The Irish government has pushed for new Dail speaking slots for coalition backbenchers and government-aligned independents, a reduction in the time allocated to debate the order of business, and a halving of time for Taoiseachs Questions.

Independents who entered into government negotiations were led by Mr Lowry  a former Fine Gael minister of state who was found by a tribunal to have behaved in a way that was profoundly corrupt to a degree that was nothing short of breathtaking.

The government and opposition have disagreed over how four coalition-affiliated independent TDs, including Mr Lowry, should be given speaking slots in the Dail.

Weeks after the government said it would try to find a compromise with the opposition, the government moved to push through its proposals on Tuesday.

Before the vote took place, opposition TDs took to their feet and raised their objections, ignoring pleas from the Ceann Comhairle to resume their seats.

During the lengthy standoff, Ms Murphy ordered TDs to sit down, saying their actions were an absolute disgrace and they were making a holy show of yourselves.

Its very clear you have no respect for the chair, none whatsoever, she said.

One of your colleagues mentioned misogyny. Misogyny is what was mentioned earlier.

She then invited the government chief whip Mary Butler to continue with the next item amid a chorus of raised voices from dozens of opposition TDs.

The order of business has been agreed to, I adjourn the House, Ms Murphy said before leaving the Dail chamber as the cacophony continued.

Proceedings were adjourned for a short time before they resumed to hold a vote on the amendments to the standing orders, which Ms Murphy said were carried.

Ms Murphy then adjourned the Dail for the day before 4pm.

The opposition said it would fight tooth and nail against the measures which the government insists are modest and minuscule.

Ms McDonald later said she did not accept that the votes had been ratified and said everything is still on the table as to how the opposition would respond.

In a joint press conference on Tuesday evening, the leaders of Sinn Fein, Labour, Independent Ireland, People Before Profit and the Green Party, as well as an Aontu TD and the deputy leader of the Social Democrats, indicated that they did not have confidence in the Ceann Comhairle.

Asked to raise their hand if they had confidence in Ms Murphy, no representative did so.

This is absolutely shocking  Duncan Smith TD (@DuncanSmithTD) March 25, 2025

Speaking during Leaders Questions, Ms McDonald said: What exactly does Michael Lowry have over you Micheal Martin? What debt do you owe to him?

A former Fine Gael minister, a rogue politician, as you described him, now kingmaker for your government, a man who you want to sit in both government and opposition at the same time.

The combined opposition has repeatedly sought to meet with you to resolve this matter.

Our offers have either been rejected or ignored. You act in bad faith and to meet your narrow short-term need to placate Lowry and co, you now propose to do real and lasting damage to the democratic processes of the Dail.

The combined opposition are not backing down on this matter. We reject your attempt to run roughshod over this Dail and to ram through this motion.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik accused the government of dragging us back to this absurd technical groups issue in its latest proposal on Dail speaking time.

She said that the Ceann Comhairle had decided that Mr Lowry and three other government-affiliated independent TDs were not in opposition and accused Irish premier Micheal Martin of defending the indefensible.

To describe Lowrys group as wolves in sheeps clothing would give them too much credit, but they are certainly a very poor tribute act, she said.

Social Democrats deputy leader Cian OCallaghan called it extraordinary and a shameless political stroke that would make even Bertie blush.

In more than 100 years of this Dail, Taoiseach, never, ever in the weekly schedule, has there been a time slot created where 100% of the time is allocated to the government, Mr OCallaghan said.

Do you not see something fundamentally wrong with a time slot being created where government TDs ask the government minister, the government Taoiseach, questions without any input from opposition.

Asked where in the world this happens, Mr Martin said Westminster.

The Fianna Fail leader then took aim at the Labour Party and Social Democrats, and said: It seems the election result has never sunk in with people on the opposite side. Thats just a reality.

After he was repeatedly interrupted while speaking during the heated dispute, the Fianna Fail leader said: I was elected to this House first in 1989, I have never seen an attempt like this.

Opposition parties argue the changes are an attempt to dilute their ability to hold the government to account and to blur the relationship between the independents who have supported the formation of the coalition and opposition.

The row has its origins in the formation of Irelands current coalition involving Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, supported by several independents.

Some of those independents have been appointed as junior ministers while the others had sought to join an opposition technical group for the purposes of speaking time, despite supporting the formation of the government.

The row delayed Mr Martins nomination as Taoiseach in January and has trundled on despite several inter-party meetings and the intervention of the Ceann Comhairle in favour of the opposition.

This led to a brief reprieve before the dispute was reignited after the government put forward a new proposal to change speaking time arrangements and suggested it would use its majority to push them through.

The coalition changes deal with the matter of the government-aligned independents by creating a new designation of other members, rather than the binary distinction of opposition or government.

A side-effect of the row is that parliamentary committees have also not reformed since the general election last year.

Opposition parties have raised uncertainty over whether the government will seek to use the proposed new technical group for the purposes of getting more representation on committees.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Zimbabwe National Roads Authority's (Zinara) chief executive officer, Nkosinathi Ncube, has been honored as the 2025 Best Performer among revenue authority CEOs. The prestigious award, presented on Friday, also recognized Ncube as the best performer across all public entities in Zimbabwe.The recognition marks a significant milestone for Zinara, which has historically faced scrutiny over corporate governance practices. Ncube, a banker by training, has been credited with spearheading transformative leadership that has modernized Zinara's operations and enhanced transparency.Under his leadership, Zinara has adopted a proactive approach to accountability by publishing all disbursements to road authorities on a quarterly basis. This initiative has been instrumental in fostering public trust and ensuring responsible financial management within the parastatal.Additionally, Zinara has established integrity committees in accordance with recommendations from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission. These committees are tasked with combating corruption within the organization and strengthening ethical practices in state entities.Meanwhile, President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to oversee the signing of performance contracts and an awards ceremony for ministers and senior public sector officials this morning.This year's performance contract signing event will extend to include deputy ministers, commissioners, and deputy chief secretaries, broadening the accountability framework first introduced in 2021.In a statement last week, the Office of the President and Cabinet emphasized that the performance contracts underscore the government's commitment to sustainable economic growth, employment, wealth creation, national development, and poverty alleviation.The government also highlighted that more than 6,000 projects have been implemented under the National Development Strategy One (NDS1) across 14 thematic areas. Since the introduction of the performance contracts, each project has been closely monitored and appraised to ensure effective implementation.As he presided over the first Cabinet meeting of the year, President Mnangagwa reaffirmed his administration's focus on improving citizens' livelihoods and advancing Zimbabwe towards an upper-middle-income society through an inclusive development agenda.
Atchaneh (Lebanon): The installation ceremony of Joseph Mar Gregorios as the Catholicos of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church concluded in Lebanon on Tuesday. Assuming the title Baselios Joseph, his installation service was held at St Marys Patriarchal Cathedral, located within the Patriarchal Center in Atchaneh, approximately 20 kilometers from Beirut, the capital of Lebanon.

Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, the Patriarch of Antioch and Supreme Head of the Syrian Orthodox Church, led the ceremony, with other metropolitans of the Syrian Orthodox Church as co-celebrants.

The service began with the evening prayer. When the Catholicos-designate was seated on the throne facing the faithful at the altar, the chief celebrant proclaimed, "Catholicos Baselios Joseph I is worthy and blessed." Following this, the Patriarch chanted "Axios" (meaning "He is worthy"), which was repeated three times by the metropolitans and clergy with devotion and reverence. The chief celebrant then handed over the symbols of officethree chains and the pastoral staffto the newly enthroned Catholicos.

The installation service was held at St Marys Patriarchal Cathedral, located within the Patriarchal Center in Atchaneh, approximately 20 kilometers from Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. The installation service was held at St Marys Patriarchal Cathedral, located within the Patriarchal Center in Atchaneh, approximately 20 kilometers from Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. The installation service was held at St Marys Patriarchal Cathedral, located within the Patriarchal Center in Atchaneh, approximately 20 kilometers from Beirut, the capital of Lebanon.

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Metropolitans from the Syrian Orthodox Church, including the Jacobite Church, participated in the service. Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar Cleemis Catholicos from Kerala and Joseph Mar Barnabas Suffragan Metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Church were also present.

The event was attended by a representative of Joseph Aoun from Lebanon, the Indian Ambassador to Lebanon, Noor Rahman Sheikh, Kerala Minister P Rajeev, MLAs Anoop Jacob, E P Taison, Eldhose P Kunnappilly, Job Maichil, P V Sreenijin, and Principal Secretary A P M Mohammed Hanish.

Benny Behanan MP, V Muraleedharan, Alphons Kannanthanam, and Shaun George represented the Central government. Over 700 clergy and faithful from Jacobite churches in Kerala and abroad witnessed the ceremony.

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Although the Patriarch of Antiochs official seat is in Damascus, Syria, the installation was held in Atchaneh due to the ongoing civil war in Syria. The date of the installation of the new Catholicos is significant as it marks the Feast of the Annunciation of Mary. Interestingly, it was also on March 25 that Mar Gregorios was first ordained as a deacon and later as a priest.

Thank you, India

Mor Ignatius Aphrem II expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for sending special representative delegations. He extended his appreciation to both the Central and State governments and personally introduced the delegations during the event.

PM Modi extends greetings

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his greetings to the newly installed Catholicos and the Jacobite Syrian Church. "In various fields of the Church, the Catholicos has shown remarkable excellence. I wish the Jacobite Syrian Church continued progress under his leadership," the Prime Minister said in his message. Former Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam, leading the Central government's delegation, delivered the message at the church.
Duluth, Minnesota (OpEdNews) March 24, 2025: On February 28, 2025, I submitted my 12,700-word OEN article titled "Philip Shenon on the Last Seven Popes" (dated March 11, 2025) for consideration for publication at OEN (see the "References" at the end of this essay for a link to it).

In it, I highlight the American investigative journalist Philip Shenon's bleak new 2025 book Jesus Wept: Seven Popes and the Battle for the Soul of the Catholic Church. As the main title of his bleak new 2025 book may suggest to you, Philip Shenon dwells at length on the tragic priest-sex-abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church and on the tragic cover-up of priest sex abuse by bishops. However, as Philips Shenon's subtitle suggests, he also dwells at length on the various theological battles within the Church on the Church's official teachings involving various individual personal sexual matters.

In addition to the various classic theological battles involving individual personal sexual matters within the Roman Catholic Church that Philip Shenon refers to in his bleak new 2025 book Jesus Wept, I would also single out here two other books for your attention by lay Catholic authors: (1) Margaret A. Farley's Just Love: A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics (2006); and (2) The Sexual Person: Toward a Renewed Catholic Anthropology (2008).

Of course, Philip Shenon is not the first or the only non-Catholic to question the Roman Catholic Church's official teachings about those sex-related moral issues. As he notes repeatedly, various Catholic theologians over the years have also challenged those sex-related moral teachings of the Church - and so have many practicing Catholics.

The Roman Catholic Church and all other Christian churches are multi-purpose transmitters of the tragic anti-body heritage in our Western cultural history - including the devout Christian retired pornstar Mandy Flores' own church in the state of Washington, where she lives with her husband and their two children and where has her own production studio and produces her many delightful mom-son porn videos that are available free on the internet.

Yes, like all other American Christians, both the devout Mandy Flores and I grew up in anti-body Christian churches in the United States.

However, even though the devout Christian Mandy Flores grew up in the tragic anti-body Christian tradition of her Christian church in the United States, she has emerged as a wonderfully seductive mom in her many delightful mom-son porn videos that are available free on the internet.

Similarly, even though I grew up in the tragic anti-body tradition of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, I have emerged in the present OEN article as a strong explicit critic of the anti-body heritage in Christian churches in the United States and in our Western cultural history. The present OEN article is my first OEN article (out of more than 660 OEN articles) in which I explicitly thematize the tragic anti-body theme.

The present OEN article is also my first OEN article in which I discuss President Donald Trump's foreign policy.

Yes, to be sure, I am here combining my criticism of the anti-body theme in our Western cultural history with my current concerns about Trump's foreign policy.

While I do advance any sweeping suggestions here about Trump's foreign policy, I do advance here my sweeping suggestion about Mandy Flores' delightful mom-son porn videos that are available free on the internet as one important way American boys and men of all ages can work to counter the anti-body heritage in their psyches.

Yes, in the present wide-ranging essay, I see myself using what C. G. Jung refers to as fantasy thinking involving images and associative thinking (which I discuss further below).

In my judgment, American politics is downstream from American culture. Because American culture is permeated with the tragic anti-body heritage in our Western cultural history, I here put American culture in the forefront of how we Americans today need to proceed to combat our American tragic anti-body heritage and thereby transform not only American culture today, but also American politics today.

Unfortunately, our tragic American anti-body heritage is manifested in American culture today by the strong bias against porn videos that are available free on the internet and also against porn DVDs. The retired pornstar Bree Olson, discussed below, has poignantly describe how, as she transitions into regular acting in regular Hollywood movies, she feels that many Americans today treat her as though she were a "pedophile." The graphic word that Bree Olson uses shows that the anti-body heritage in our American culture today is, unfortunately, still alive and well. This in turn also shows why it is important for me here to emphasize my attention to American culture today and my advocacy of mom-son porn videos that are free on the internet as the requirement antidote for American boys and men of all ages to help them counter the anti-body heritage in their psyches.

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Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

On March 23, Ekrem Imamoglu, Mayor of Istanbul, was sent to prison awaiting trial on terrorism and corruption. He had been arrested on March 19 at his home. Before the arrest, he had answered questions at the prosecutor's office concerning his alleged relationship with the PKK, an internationally recognized terror group who have killed 30,000 people over three decades of attacks. He is also accused of various corrupt abuses of his office.

On March 22, Imamoglu posted on his X account: "There is no salvation alone; either all of us together or none of us."

The accusations and arrest came just days ahead of a scheduled Republican People's Party's (CHP) party primary where Imamoglu was to be nominated as the party's candidate for the next Presidential elections slated for 2028. Although President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has held office for over 20 years, and the current constitution would prevent him from running again, he had voiced plans to change the constitution so that he could run again.

Pollsters and political commentators in Turkey have said that if the election were held now, Imamoglu would beat Erdogan. There has been speculation that an early election might be called for, and many feel certain that Imamoglu's arrest and subsequent imprisonment are politically motivated and the charges are baseless.

Links to the PKK are political suicide in Turkey. The Kurdish separatist terror group does have supporters, but the Mayor of Istanbul is not one of them.

For the last four nights, Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Antalya, Konya, and several other locations have seen large street protests in support of Imamoglu, and in condemnation of politically motivated arrests. The government closed streets on Wednesday, banned demonstrations, and cut off the internet to prevent activists from coordinating protests and locations. Regardless of those measures, the Turkish people took to the streets in defiance and support of the rule of law and democracy.

On March 22, 343 people were arrested in massive protests ahead of the court decision early Sunday morning.

On March 22, Erdogan said, "The days of going out into the streets, taking left-wing organizations, extremists, and vandals with you... are now behind us."

The Turkish police used pepper spray, water cannons, tear gas, batons, barricades, and rubber bullets to control the protesters, many of whom were young people concerned about their future.

Fahrettin Altun, Erdogan's Director of Communications, criticized the CHP on March 22, posting on X, "Turkiye will not fall for this game, will not surrender to the streets, and the democratic legal order will be protected at all costs.

"All forms of violence are bad. Democracy is always our compass," Altun concluded.

X, Elon Musk's social media platform, has suspended accounts belonging to the opposition in Turkey. Although Musk said he bought X to restore free speech, his platform has acquiesced to Turkish requests to suspend accounts and ban content.

The majority of the suspended accounts were university activist accounts. The street protests have been observed to be overwhelmingly the youth of Turkey, with many asking for the President to resign and chanting, "Rights, law, justice".

The Interior Ministry said coordinated action between cyber and security authorities led to the arrest of 54 suspects related to social media accounts. Since 2022, Turkish social media law has given the government vast power to suppress content.

According to the 2022 Council of Europe report, Turkey remains the leader in the number of prisoners in Europe.

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This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

It's strange to think that it was almost a quarter of a century ago when Osama bin Laden and crew launched those attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Looking back, horrific as they were (almost 3,000 people died), it should still be startling what a series of disastrous wars, from Afghanistan to Iraq and beyond -- the Global War on Terror, as it quickly came to be known -- bin Laden managed to get this country to launch. In some eerie sense, you might even say that we're still living with those 9/11 assaults. Yikes! In some no less eerie sense, you might even say that, without 9/11 and the full range of shock-and-awe events that followed, Donald Trump, as anything other than the host of The Apprentice and the owner of six companies that went bankrupt, might have been inconceivable.

Imagine that.

No such luck, of course, and so, in some strange way, we continue to live through the bin-Ladenification and now Trumpification of not just the United States or the planet but of our very lives. None of us, in some fashion, have been untouched by 9/11 and, for who knows how long, no one in this country will be able to say that he or she (or "they") will have been untouched by the Trump phenomenon either.

His presidency may, in some sense, be little short of a terror attack on this world of ours. And with that in mind, let TomDispatch regular Karen Greenberg, who has been writing about 9/11 and its aftermath, including the ways in which the U.S. created an offshore prison system of torture and injustice, for TomDispatch for almost 20 years now, offer a little war-on-terror-style perspective on this strange moment of ours. Tom

The First 50 Days

"Perversifying" the Misdeeds of the Past

By Karen J. Greenberg

Four years ago, I published Subtle Tools, a book on the erosion of American democratic norms in the face of what came to be known as the Global War on Terror. Both what had been done in the name of "national security" in response to the 9/11 attacks and how it had been done -- through the willing neglect of procedural integrity, the exploitation of all-too-flexible norms, a remarkable disregard for transparency, and a failure to call for accountability of any sort -- left the country wide open to even more damaging future abuses of the rule of law.

And -- lo and behold! -- now, that future is all too distinctly here. What happened in the first quarter of this century is already being weaponized in a startling fashion in the second era of Donald Trump. In fact, the deluge of eye-opening, antidemocratic policies that we've witnessed in just the first 50 days of his presidency should be considered nothing short of a perverse escalation of the recent past. Think of it, in fact, as -- if you don't mind my inventing a word for this strange moment of ours -- the "perversification" of war-on-terror era law and policy, which might once have been hard to imagine in this country.

While there are already all too many examples of that very sort of perversification, let me just focus on several that could prove crucial when it comes to the future of our imperiled democracy.

Racism

Among the numerous anti-democratic trends of this century, state-sponsored racism has been a constant concern. Of the many low points in the response to 9/11, the unleashing of government policies of racial and ethnic discrimination stands out. Fearing a follow-up attack, law enforcement targeted Muslim Americans, surveilling mosques and casting a startlingly wide net of suspicion with a sweeping disregard for civil liberties. That approach was only strengthened by the militarization of police forces nationwide in the name of targeting Arabs and Muslims. In 2002, the government even introduced the NSEERS program, a "Special Registration" requirement mandating that all males from a list of 24 Arab and Muslim countries (as well as North Korea) register and be fingerprinted. In the words of the American Civil Liberties Union, the program amounted to "a discriminatory policy that ran counter to the fundamental American values of fairness and equal protection."

A dangerous template for discrimination based on race, religion, or national origin was thereby set in place. In his first term in office, Donald Trump promptly doubled down on that Islamophobic trend, even though his predecessor, Barack Obama, had revoked the registration requirement. By Executive Order 13769, Trump authorized a ban on the entry into the U.S. of citizens from seven Muslim countries, an order that would be reined in somewhat by the courts and finally revoked by President Joe Biden.

Nor, in Trump's first term, was discrimination limited to those from Arab and Muslim countries. As the Costs of War project has pointed out, the Islamophobia of the war on terror years had set a racial-profiling precedent and example for the more broadly racist policies of the first Trump administration. "The exponential surveillance since 9/11 has also intensified the criminalization of marginalized and racialized groups" and has increasingly targeted protest movements such as Black Lives Matter." Yes, Trump did indeed go after Black Lives Matter protesters with a vengeance during his first term, even unleashing armed federal agents without insignia to tear gas, beat, and detain such protesters in Portland, Oregon.

While Obama would end the Special Registration program and Biden would revoke the Muslim ban, no preventive measures were undertaken to guard against future racist policies and, all too unfortunately, we see the results of that today.

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Tapasya College of Commerce and Management (TCCM) Offers a Comprehensive B.Com Program to Accelerate Career Opportunities Hyderabad, India - Tapasya College of Commerce and Management (TCCM) invites aspiring business professionals to enroll in its prestigious Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) program. Designed to equip students with essential business and management skills, the program covers key areas such as Accounting, Finance, Economics, Administration, Business Law, and Industrial Policy, ensuring a holistic understanding of 
Alpenrose Dairy, a Portland brand founded in 1916, was sold to Washington-based Smith Brothers Farms in 2019. Stephanie Yao Long/The Oregonian

A Portland dairy brand name with deep roots in the citys southwest hills may soon disappear from doorsteps  but may expand its reach in grocery stores.

In the coming weeks, Alpenrose products will be wrapped into the brand of parent company Smith Brothers Farms, according to a letter the company left for its home-delivery customers in the Portland area.
A pile of 23andMe DNA collection kits. The company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and its co-founder and CEO has resigned.

Oregons attorney general on Monday suggested the bankruptcy and possible sale of a popular genetic testing firm might be a good opportunity to use the states strict, and relatively new, consumer privacy laws.

San Francisco-based 23andMe said Sunday that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and that it would pursue a sale. The company said it intends to continue operating as usual, with no changes to how it stores, manages or protects customer data.

In a statement Monday, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said Oregonians have the right to have their personal data deleted and revoke consent for its processing.

Oregonians need to know that they still have full control over their own data  they can delete their genetic information and test samples on the website and pull the plug on any permission for 23andMe to share it with researchers, Rayfield said in the statement.

Here, according to Rayfields office, are the steps Oregonians can take to have 23andMe erase their genetic data:

Log into their account at 23andme.com Click on Settings under their profile. Find the 23andMe Data section. Click View, then 23andMe Data. Scroll to the Delete Data section. Choose the Permanently Delete Data selection.

According to the attorney generals office, 23andMe will then send a follow-up email allowing users to confirm their decision to delete their data.

Customers can also ask 23andMe to destroy any test samples theyve sent. Users can do so from their account settings page, under Preferences, according to the attorney generals office.

Those who gave 23andMe or third-party researchers to use their genetic data can revoke their permission through their account settings under the Research and Product Consents section.

The Oregon Consumer Privacy Act, which went into effect last year, establishes data privacy requirements for businesses that have collected data on at least 100,000 Oregonians. The law gives consumers the right to access, delete or get copies of any personal data that was collected or sold.

-- Kristine de Leon covers consumer health, retail, small business and data enterprise stories. Reach her at kdeleon@oregonian.com.

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Police have arrested three men in Oregon with the help of YouTuber JiDion and his team at EDP Watch, a group that coordinates sting operations to catch suspected sex offenders. Officials warned, however, that these civilian-led operations come with risks. Courtesy of Albany Police Department

Albany police officers arrested a 34-year-old Corvallis man on an outstanding warrant on Friday.

Nothing unusual about that.

But they tracked him down with help from an unexpected  and mostly unwelcome  source: a YouTuber whos made a living ensnaring alleged child predators.

Internet personality JiDion, who leads a group called EDP Watch that coordinates sting operations to catch suspected sex offenders, set up a fake meeting to lure Charles Mellick to an Albany Walmart, as first reported by KGW. The citys police department responded and arrested Mellick on a warrant for violating his parole, spokesperson Laura Hawkins said.

Police are also investigating Mellick, who is a registered sex offender, on sex charges alleged in the vigilante operation, Hawkins said. JiDion and his team use decoys posing as under-age youth online to arrange meetings with potential suspects. The police department was not contacted by EDP Watch ahead of time, police said. Officials warned that these operations can be dangerous when law enforcement isnt consulted.

We need a little more information walking into something like this, especially in a public setting, Hawkins said. We dont know how this is going to go down or if this person is armed.

JiDion defended his teams work Monday, and told The Oregonian/OregonLive that they take precautions to make sure no one is harmed.

Our biggest thing is safety because obviously we dont want anything to happen to us or them, he said. We dont antagonize them, we dont berate them or anything. We just have a God-honest conversation.

JiDion said he had a decoy pose as a 13-year-old girl to organize a meeting with Mellick at the Walmart, and that his team checked Mellick for weapons before talking to him.

Mellick is one of three arrests in Oregon directly tied to tips from EDP Watch. Keizer Police Department made separate arrests for 29-year-old Kyle Monroy and 41-year-old Christopher Loyd on Thursday, according to police. Both men were booked into Marion County Correctional Facility on first-degree charges for online sexual corruption of a child, the police department said.

Vigilante stings like these are not uncommon. Similar efforts by citizen groups led to an arrest of Washington high school teacher Kevin Weeks, who was sentenced to 1 years in Oregon prison after exchanging messages with a phony dating profile posing as a 14-year-old girl.

Hawkins said Albany police have worked with these kinds of groups before, but emphasized the importance of working with law enforcement. She said impromptu stings can compromise cases against child abusers.

We want to get sexual predators off the street as much as everybody else, but we want to do it within the letter of the law for Oregon because we want to have a case that will go all the way through court and not be dismissed, she said.

Keizer police said they agree with Albany officials that these civilian-led stings can be dangerous.

Collaboration with law enforcement is safer and ensures the best chance that a successful prosecution is achieved, spokesperson Trevor Wenning said in a statement.

JiDion admitted that the work can be dangerous, but stood by EDP Watch.

We dont want to be cops, he said. We just hope that the police hear our calls, and hear our cries for help. The community loves what we do and they support this.

 Austin De Dios covers Multnomah County politics, programs and more. Reach him at 503-319-9744, adedios@oregonian.com or @AustinDeDios.

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News / National

by Staff reporter

The rapid expansion of Cowdray Park, Bulawayo's largest suburb, has prompted the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) to establish a new fire station to improve emergency response times in the area and its surroundings.Currently, the city operates four fire stations - Famona, Northend, Nkulumane, and Mpopoma - serving a population of 665,000, according to the 2022 Population and Housing Census.Chief Fire Officer Mhlangano Moyo acknowledged concerns over emergency response times in Cowdray Park, stating that certain sections of the suburb are difficult to reach within the internationally accepted response time of 10 minutes."Cowdray Park has over 75,000 residents, and its ongoing expansion necessitates the construction of a fifth fire station. In some cases, it takes 20 to 22 minutes for our teams to reach areas like Esgodweni and Mpompini, which is unacceptably long," he said.Moyo warned that such delays could lead to significant property loss before firefighters arrive. The city has approved plans for a satellite fire station, which is expected to be operational by the end of the year. Initially, two fire engines will be allocated to this temporary facility while a permanent structure is developed."Five fire stations will strengthen Bulawayo's firefighting capabilities and align us with regional and international standards," Moyo added.Meanwhile, Operation Florian, a UK-based firefighting charity, continues its partnership with the Bulawayo Fire Brigade by providing training to local firefighters from municipalities, rural district councils, and mining companies. Since its inception in 2011, the programme has trained over 800 firefighters, including participants from Zambia and Botswana.As part of this collaboration, Operation Florian has donated ambulances, fire engines, and specialised equipment to Bulawayo. Training courses under the programme cover areas such as senior officer development, technical fire safety, rope rescue, emergency driving familiarisation, and first aid.The partnership highlights how international collaboration fosters sustainable development through shared expertise and resources. Its long-term impact is reflected in the enhanced skills of firefighters and improved emergency response capabilities in Bulawayo.
The state agency responsible for protecting children has been accused of negligence after the death of a 1-year-old boy who in May 2023 was left in a hot car in Puyallup.

Steven Kopp of Graham died in the parking lot of MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital  his foster mothers workplace  after he was forgotten in the back seat for roughly nine hours during a day when temperatures hovered in the 70s, according to a lawsuit filed March 14 in Pierce County Superior Court.

The complaint alleges that the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families, which oversees foster care in the state, placed the boy in a neglectful home that the agency knew or should have known posed dangers to his health and safety.

It claimed that the agency had received information indicating the potential occurrence of abuse and neglect at the foster home and breached its duty to protect the child by failing to remove him.

The suit on behalf of the childs estate, identifying him by his initials, was filed by a lawyer representing the estate. An attorney for the plaintiff couldnt be reached to discuss the case and expand on the claims.

Offered an opportunity to respond to the allegations, agency spokesperson Nancy Gutierrez said the agency wouldnt comment on pending litigation.

While the lawsuit raises safety concerns about the boys foster home, his death was ruled an accident by the Pierce County Medical Examiners Office, and prosecutors declined to press charges.

There is no concern that the foster mother will commit this type of act again herself, and criminalizing her tragic mistake will not deter others from making similar future mistakes, Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney Mary Robnett said in July 30 memo, also noting that a conviction was unlikely based on the circumstances and precedent.

Robnett said that she was certain that the boy was left in the car unknowingly and that the boys 47-year-old foster mother had taken full responsibility. She was exhausted, recovering from COVID-19 and anxious about her new job as a case manager at the time of the incident, according to the memo.

On her way to work, she dropped off multiple kids at different locations and planned to take Steven to daycare, the memo said, adding that a change in routine, anxiety over being late to her job and distraction from colleagues in the parking lot each played a role.

Puyallup police responded to a 911 call at the hospital shortly after 6 p.m., The News Tribune previously reported. Interviews with the boys foster parents were heartbreaking, the memo said.

The first-time foster parents received their license in May 2022, according to the lawsuit. Although theyre identified in the filing, The News Tribune isnt naming them because they werent charged with a crime.

The suit alleged that the state agency didnt act on issues that were purportedly present after the couple was licensed.

Over the course of the following year, the (foster parents) repeatedly demonstrated a lack of familiarity with procedures and requirements of foster care under Washington Law, violated health and safety protocols for the care of a foster child, and showed clear signs of exhaustion and burn-out as well as a lack of communication, all concerning child safety factors that were known to DCYF yet ignored by DCYF, the suit said.

The complaint is seeking unspecified damages to be proved at trial and legal fees, among other awards.

 2025 The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.). Visit www.TheNewsTribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The exterior of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission building off Southeast McLoughlin Boulevard in Southeast Portland, Oregon on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. The state agency issued a warning this month to Oregon cannabis businesses of an increase in burglaries and armed robberies. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

Two drivers deliberately drove through the front of a Northeast Portland pot shop early Monday in the latest example of a spate of smash and grab burglaries targeting the states cannabis industry.

Five people sprang out of both vehicles around 4 a.m. at the Lemonnade PDX Dispensary and stole whatever was available inside: cannabis flowers, cartridges, extracts. The masked individuals were in and out within six minutes, according to a store manager.
High School Journalism Institute students Angie Interian Solis, right, and Mohammad Damtew talk with Oregon State University Athletic Director Scott Barnes on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Tyson Alger, The I-5 Corridor

The Oregonian/OregonLive is now accepting applications for the 2025 High School Journalism Institute, an annual training program for students presented in collaboration with Oregon State University.

This years program will be held July 12-19, 2025, at the Oregon State University campus in Corvallis. The online application and eligibility criteria are at oregonhsji.org/apply. The deadline to apply is May 5, but students are encouraged to apply early.

The High School Journalism Institute aims to overcome barriers to pursuing a career in journalism, and in doing so help bring new and underrepresented perspectives to professional newsrooms. Thats why the program offered at no cost  meals and campus housing are provided. Students who complete the program are eligible for a college credit.

During the week, student journalists will learn the fundamentals of journalism, then put their skills to work reporting a news story in or around the city of Corvallis. Theyll have the guidance of a newsroom professionals from The Oregonian/OregonLive and other Oregon news organizations.

By the end of the week, enrolled students will have produced their own newspaper, and their stories will be published on OregonLive. Many also are republished by our partner news organizations.

Applicants should review the eligibility requirements, then will need to gather and submit materials including a letter of recommendation from a teacher, a personal statement, an essay and any work samples.

Prior journalism experience is not required.

If there are financial or other barriers to attendance, such as transportation to or from Corvallis, students are encouraged to apply, then contact institute director Elliot Njus to discuss their individual circumstances. Email enjus@oregonian.com.

Major funding for the High School Journalism Institute comes from the S.I. Newhouse Foundation and the Oregon Newspapers Foundation.

-- Elliot Njus is senior editor for newsroom development at The Oregonian/OregonLive and director of the High School Journalism Institute. He also edits business news. Contact him at enjus@oregonian.com.
A red giant star and white dwarf orbit each other in this animation of a nova similar to T Coronae Borealis. The red giant is a large sphere in shades of red, orange, and white, with the side facing the white dwarf the lightest shades. The white dwarf is hidden in a bright glow of white and yellows, which represent an accretion disk around the star. A stream of material, shown as a diffuse cloud of red, flows from the red giant to the white dwarf. When the red giant moves behind the white dwarf, a nova explosion on the white dwarf ignites, creating a ball of ejected nova material shown in pale orange. After the fog of material clears, a small white spot remains, indicating that the white dwarf has survived the explosion. NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

In whats being billed as a once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event, a star in the Corona Borealis constellation could explode on Thursday  and be visible to the naked eye.

The so-called Blaze Star, T Coronae Borealis, goes nova once about every 80 years. The last time this recurrent nova was observed was in 1946, Forbes reported last week.

Scientists report that the star appears headed for eruption on March 27.

If it does explode, it is expected to be visible for a few nights afterward  a bright spot in the sky that will look similar to the North Star.

Will you be able to see it?

Corona Borealis will rise in the eastern sky about three hours after sunset, according to Space.com. It will become easily visible around four hours after sunset.

In western Oregon, clouds and showers are currently expected to return by Thursday  but if the unseasonably warm and dry weather expected on Tuesday and Wednesday were to linger, there could be a chance.

Oregon is home to the largest Dark Sky Sanctuary in the world, as well as two Dark Sky Communities and an official Dark Sky Park  so even if it stays cloudy in the Portland area, dedicated stargazers have several locations where viewing the nova might be possible.

 Julie Evensen covers trending topics and popular culture. She can be reached at jevensen@oregonian.com or @juliecevensen.bsky.social on Bluesky and @julieevensen on Threads.

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.
Justin Charles of Oregon Childrens Theatre speaks to third-graders as part of the Ticket to Read program in 2019. Randy L. Rasmussen/For The Oregonian/OregonLive

Oregon Childrens Theatre will pause all programming, including camps, classes, in-school programs and the Young Professionals Company at the end of the summer, the organization said in an email Tuesday,

We did not make this decision lightly, Katie Slavin, Oregon Childrens Theatre board president and Jenn Hartmann Luck, the producing artistic director said in the email, but the truth is that OCT is facing an unsustainable situation.

From COVID shutdowns to leadership transitions, to major funding loses with no warning, weve been through a lot over the past few years, the email continued.

According to the email, the theater has determined it needs to stop, reflect, and be intentional about what our next steps are, what road we take, and how we plan to get there.

Whether Oregon Childrens Theatre will close for good is an open question, the theater said. But leadership asked people to fill out an online survey and to donate. OCT has been in operation for 35 years.

During this pause we will be completely reliant on donations, grants, and foundations to keep our staff employed and assess our potential next steps, and we will need to raise at least $1 MILLION to keep the organization afloat while we complete this work, the email read.

Camps and classes will continue to run through the summer and enrollment in those is open.

 Lizzy Acker covers life and culture and writes the advice column Why Tho? Reach her at 503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com.

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.
At a time when millions of American families are struggling to afford groceries, President Donald Trumps recent messaging dismissing concerns about food prices is as cruel as it is out of touch. Just months ago, he promised to bring grocery prices down on day one if elected. Now, instead of following through on that promise, he shared an article on social media that tells families to shut up about food costs.

Meanwhile, we fear Trump and his allies may cut SNAP, WIC, and school meals - lifelines that ensure children dont go hungry. If they succeed, families will lose critical support at a time when hunger rates in Oregon have surged to levels we havent seen since the Great Recession.

The good news is that theres still time for us to advocate to protect these programs. Lawmakers need to hear from us that slashing food assistance while dismissing the struggles of working families is unacceptable. Im calling on all of us people of conscience, to call your representatives right now!

Americans deserve leadership that prioritizes families over political games. Dismissing food insecurity while threatening to gut the very programs that help is not just bad policyits cruelty in action.

Sarah Weber-Ogden, Portland

Weber-Ogden is executive director of Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon

To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion.
This Sunday, March 23, 2025, image released by the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center shows the aftermath of a slab avalanche that killed a snow machine rider on Saturday, March 22, in Turnagain Pass, Alaska. (Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center via AP) AP

ANCHORAGE, Alaska  A teenager has died after triggering an avalanche, the fourth person killed in snow slides in Alaska this month.

Alaska State Troopers said the body of 16-year-old Tucker Challan of Soldotna was recovered from the avalanche Sunday by the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group.

Troopers said a group of snowmachiners were riding Saturday on the backside of Seattle Ridge in Turnagain Pass, a popular winter recreation area about 60 miles southeast of Anchorage.

Witnesses stated that a juvenile male triggered an avalanche and died after being buried, troopers said in a statement.

Challan was buried about 10-feet deep in the slide that measured about 500 feet wide, said Wendy Wagner, director of the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center.

Conditions are worrisome because a weak layer is located about 3 feet beneath the snow surface, with newer snow falling on top of the weak layer. Similar conditions set off an avalanche warning for Mount Hood last weekend.

Challan rode over a weak layer of snow that was buried under newer snow, about midslope, Wagner said.

When the slide happened, the centers staff was conducting an avalanche awareness day in a parking lot on the other side of Seattle Ridge, she said.

These types of avalanches, they can be triggered when youre on this slope. They can be triggered when youre on the bottom of the slope and even the side or the top of a slope, because all you have to do is break that weak layer, and then that weak layer shoots out like dominoes and breaks into the slopes, she said.

The weak layer can be broken on a flat track, but that wouldnt cause an avalanche because there is no slope for the snow to come down.

When we have avalanche conditions like this, as avalanche professionals, we recommend people just stay on slopes that arent steep enough to slide, and then they dont have to worry about triggering an avalanche, and sadly, this person was not in that scenario, Wagner said. They were on the edge of the slope and ended up being caught.

The avalanche center has been warning people of this weak layer for weeks, and there were similar conditions on March 4, when three heli-skiers were killed. That accident happened when they were caught in an avalanche near Girdwood, about 40 miles south of Anchorage.

Its still unsafe, Wagner said Monday. We are still recommending that people stick to the lower angle slopes because this is not something we want to mess with.
Homeowners Skip Taylor, 61, and his wife, Paula Blanchet, of Victoria, British Columbia, said they celebrate Canada Day annually at their Hood River vacation home. Taylor said they rely on the rental money to help them afford the house. "My wife and I really cherish the town," he said. Courtesy of Skip Taylor
Lewelyn Dixon, who came to the United States from the Philippines five decades ago and is a green card holder, has been held for more than three weeks at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Tacoma.

Dixon, 64, who lives in Edgewood and works as a lab technician at UW Medicine, was detained Feb. 28 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after returning from a trip to the Philippines, according to family members. On March 2, Dixon was transferred to the ICE facility in Tacoma, where she is still in custody.

In those first few days, Dixon and her family were not sure what had led to her detainment and were not able to get any answers about what would come next, according to Melania Madriaga, Dixons niece.

Now, with the help of an attorney, Dixons family believes she is being held because of a conviction for embezzlement in 2001, Madriaga said. But that nonviolent conviction hasnt prevented Dixons renewal of her green card or international travel in the past, she said, including trips in 2024 to the Philippines and Turkey.

Madriaga said she cant help but feel the only difference is the new presidential administration.

Despite doing whatever they needed to do after convictions and sentencing, permanent residents like Dixon now have to prove themselves again, Madriaga said. Its a big eye-opener. Any type of crime can hold you.

The Seattle Times could not reach ICE for comment on Sunday. Newsweek and Hawaii News Now first reported on Dixons detainment.

Benjamin Osorio, Dixons attorney, said Dixon was never ordered to serve active time in jail or prison as a result of the conviction. She received 30 days in a halfway house and a $6,400 fine.

Its an old conviction. She probably never thought she had to worry about something like this, Osorio said. Dixon could have potentially faced the same complications when she traveled last year, Osorio continued, but it was unlikely. Thats different now.

Its maximum enforcement. Were seeing stuff we never saw before, he said.

Madriaga said the family didnt know about the conviction, nor that Dixon wasnt a citizen.

The rest of the family that moved 50 years ago from the Philippines to the United States had become citizens through naturalization. But Dixon had made a promise to her grandfather to keep her citizenship in the Philippines to protect family property, Madriaga said.

Her aunt likely knew it was risky to travel this year but felt she had to do it to take care of business for her family, Madriaga continued. I believe thats her character.

Lynn, as the family affectionately calls her, had always been that way, Madriaga said. While they are technically aunt and niece, the two are close in age  Dixon is 64, Madriaga is 59  and acted more like sisters growing up.

At 14, Dixon took care of Madriaga and her sister Madonna when the three moved from the Philippines to Hawaii to meet other family members already there.

Later in life, Dixon moved to Washington to help care for her nieces and nephews.

Shes always been there for us. Shes always been watching over us, said Madriaga, who used to live in Kent, and now lives in Honolulu.

In those first few days after Dixon was detained at the airport, Madriaga said the family kept being told were still looking for documents, without any indication why authorities had held up their aunt. On March 2, they got a call that Dixon was being transferred to the Tacoma ICE facility. When they asked why, they were told, We cant tell you anything, Madriaga said.

On March 3, Dixon called Madriagas sister, Madonna, from Tacoma. ICE had taken her phone and she had only memorized one number because it was connected to her Safeway loyalty card.

During the first family visit in Tacoma on March 8, Dixon was very teary, Madriaga said. I think she felt shame, in the sense that this is like a jail. Im not wearing orange, but Im wearing yellow.

Madriaga said her aunt told the family not to visit on weekdays so they didnt disrupt their work schedules.

Dixon was always a hard worker and put in particularly long hours during the COVID-19 pandemic, processing tests for the virus, Madriaga said.

On that first day while she was held at the airport, Dixon asked someone from ICE to contact her family so they could contact her boss  she was scheduled for a work shift that night and was worried she wouldnt make it in.

Now, Madriaga fears Dixon wont have a job to return to; her court date is set for July.

The Seattle Times could not reach UW Medicine on Sunday, but the university confirmed to Newsweek that Dixon is employed there.

Osorio said he was shocked to hear Dixons hearing set for July. In his experience, it usually takes an average of one to two months to schedule a hearing.

In Tacoma, Dixon spends her days at the library, on video calls with her family or talking with other detainees, Madriaga said. She sleeps on a bottom bunk so she doesnt hurt herself climbing up.

Were hanging on. Shes hanging on, Madriaga said.

This motto we have: Focus on what you can control. Right now, we cant control the judge. We cant control the court system. We can control our attitude while shes there. We can control being fearful. We can have control ... have others know this can happen to anyone.

 2025 The Seattle Times. Visit www.seattletimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The election to fill a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat has become a referendum not only on the new administration, but on Elon Musk, the billionaire who has become one of President Donald Trumps top financial backers and the architect of his efforts to slash the federal workforce.

The April 1 election is the first major test in American politics since Trump secured a second term in November. It will serve as a crucial barometer of enthusiasm in both parties heading into next years midterm elections and is happening in a critical battleground state that Trump won by less than a percentage point.

Its also a test for Musk himself. The Tesla CEOs nascent political operation, which spent more than $200 million to help Trump win in November, is canvassing and advertising in Wisconsin on behalf of the conservative candidate. A win would cement his status as a conservative kingmaker, while a loss could give license to Republicans distancing themselves from his efforts to stymie government functions and eliminate tens of thousands of jobs.

Carla Raupp holds a sign during a town hall meeting at the George Culver Community Library Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Sauk City, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) AP

This is the first major election held since Donald Trump took office, said Anthony Chergosky, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. And I think notably Democrats are concentrating more on Elon Musk than Donald Trump.

Musk, who is the races biggest donor by far, has also inserted himself into the race, holding a get-out-the-vote event on his X platform Saturday.

It might not seem important, but its actually really important. And it could determine the fate of the country, he said. This election is going to affect everyone in the United States.

April 1s election will determine majority control of a court facing critical issues: abortion rights, collective bargaining and voter access. They include decisions that could have major implications for the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential election, particularly if they end up hearing challenges to the states congressional maps, which could theoretically swing the balance of power in Washington if they are considerably redrawn.

In 2020, the court rejected Trumps attempts to overturn his election loss in the battleground state in a 4-3 ruling. Trump had sought to have 221,000 ballots disqualified in the states two most Democratic counties.

Trump inflatables and America PAC petitions

The Supreme Court race is officially nonpartisan, but the campaign has been anything but. Brad Schimel, the Republican-backed candidate, has openly courted Trumps endorsement, which he received on Friday night, as he campaigns against Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, the Democrat-backed candidate.

The Waukesha County judge and former Republican attorney general attended the presidents inauguration in January, has said that he would be part of a support system for Trump. Earlier this month, he attended a Mega MAGA rally where he posed for a picture in front of a giant inflatable version of the president, which had a Vote Brad Schimel Supreme Court poster plastered on its chest.

He spoke on Musks get-out-the-vote call on Saturday. And he joined the presidents eldest son on stage at a get-out-the-vote rally, where Donald Trump Jr. said a Schimel win would protect his fathers agenda and keep up GOP momentum.

We cant just show up when Trumps on the ticket, he said at a brewery in the Milwaukee suburbs. You have to engage because its not just about now, its about that future. This presidency could be put to a halt with this vote.

Schimel has also resurfaced long-debunked conspiracies about voter fraud that Trump has embraced, urging his supporters to vote early to make this too big to rig so we dont have to worry that at 11:30 in Milwaukee, theyre going to find bags of ballots that they forgot to put into the machines.

Still, he pledged to judge any case that comes before him on its merits  including potential cases involving Trump and Musk.

Republicans have cast the race as a chance for Trumps loyal supporters to rally around their leader and push back against liberal judges they accuse of working to stymie his agenda.

Mailers from Musks America PAC feature photographs of the president. President Donald Trump needs your vote, they read. Others warn that Liberal Susan Crawford will stop President Trumps agenda.

America PAC is also offering Wisconsin voters $100 to sign a petition in opposition to activist judges  and another $100 for each signer they refer.

Republicans have argued that if even 60% of the voters who cast ballots for Trump in November turn out, Schimel can win, helping to drive momentum for the party heading into next years midterms.

In theory, the opposition party should be energized, but were feeling very good about the energy on our side of the aisle, said Andrew Iverson, Wisconsin GOP executive director.

Andrew Romeo, senior adviser to the Musk-backed group Building Americas Future, which has spent millions on the race, issued a recent memo advising Schimels campaign to remind voters that he is a strong conservative and Trump ally.

Two groups funded by Musk have so far spent more than $14 million on the race, according to a tally by the liberal Brennan Center for Justice  with plans to spend around $20 million total.

Musk donated another $2 million to the Wisconsin Republican Party on Thursday, the same day the party gave $1.2 million to Schimels campaign.

Under Wisconsin law, contributions to candidates are capped, but candidates can accept unlimited cash from state parties, which in turn can accept unlimited cash from donors.

His spending has helped make the race the most expensive judicial election in the nations history, with more than $73 million spent so far, according to the Brennan Center, breaking the record set by another Wisconsin Supreme Court race two years ago.

Crawford has also received her own support from billionaires, including philanthropist George Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.

Democrats want the race to be The People vs. Musk

Democrats are hoping to channel their voters' outrage at the Trump administration by casting the race as an opportunity to stand up to Musk. After nearly a decade of running against the president, they see Musk as a potentially more divisive figure who can motivate their base voters to turn out.

This race is the first real test point in the country on Elon Musk and his influence on our politics, and voters want an opportunity to push back on that and the influence he is trying to make on Wisconsin and the rest of country, said Crawford campaign spokesperson Derrick Honeyman.

State Democrats have hosted a series of anti-Musk town halls, including one featuring former vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, and featured Musk heavily in ads.

Crawford has also seized on Musk, going as far as to refer to her opponent as Elon Schimel during a recent debate.

Dont let Elon buy the Supreme Court, read billboards paid for the state Democratic party that depict Musk as Schimels puppeteer.

Theres so many people who are desperate for a way to fight back against what Trump and Musk are doing nationally, said Ben Wikler, the Wisconsin Democratic Party chair, and see the race as an opportunity to punch back.

Wikler said the party had seen an explosive surge in grassroots and small-donor fundraising from across the country tied to Musks involvement. Both in Wisconsin and nationally, Democrats are packing town halls and angrily protesting the Trump administrations firings of thousands of workers and shutdown of agencies. They have also show disillusionment with their partys own leaders.

Most voters still dont know who Crawford and and Schimel are, but they have extremely strong feelings about Musk and Trump, he said.

Whats at stake for Musk

Musk said Saturday that he became involved in the race because it will decide how the Congressional districts are drawn in Wisconsin, echoing Schimels claims that Crawford would push through new congressional maps that could favor Democrats.

Schimels campaign has relentlessly attacked Crawford for participating in a call with Democratic donors that was advertised in an email as a chance to put two more House seats in play for 2026, a reference to the states redistricting fights that have played out for years.

Crawford has said that she didnt know that that was how the call had been billed when she joined and that nothing of that nature had been discussed while she was on the line.

In my opinion, thats the most important thing, which is a big deal given that the Congressional majority is so razor-thin, Musk said. It could cause the House to switch to Democrat if that redrawing takes place, and then we wouldnt be able to get through the changes that the American people want.

Musk has also been giving money to Republican members of Congress who have echoed his calls to impeach federal judges whose decisions he doesnt like.

He has other interests at play.

Democrats and Crawford have noted that, just days before Musks groups started spending on the race, Musks electric car company Tesla sued Wisconsin over a rule banning car manufacturers from operating dealerships  forcing buyers to purchase Teslas out of state.

The case could ultimately go before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

By JILL COLVIN Associated Press. Associated Press writer Scott Bauer contributed to this report.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Chas Everitt International, one of South Africa's largest real estate firms, is expanding into Zimbabwe, betting on what it sees as strong demand for high-end residential properties.Despite challenges such as currency instability and high construction costs, Zimbabwe's real estate market presents lucrative opportunities driven by mining, tourism, and agriculture. These sectors are attracting affluent buyers and investors, according to Chas Everitt COO Barry Davies."In addition, urbanisation is increasing, and there has been a surge in diaspora spending in response to the government's policy reforms and infrastructure developments. As a result, Zimbabwe now has one of the fastest-growing property markets in Africa," said Davies.Chas Everitt estimates that Zimbabwe's real estate sector will be worth approximately US$85 billion this year, with an annual growth rate of over 5%. If this trajectory continues, the market's value could surpass US$104 billion by the end of the decade.To capitalise on this growth, the company is establishing an office in Harare to cater to the increasing demand for prime residential properties in sought-after suburbs such as Avondale, Borrowdale, and Mount Pleasant. "Our new office will help clients navigate the opportunities and challenges of Zimbabwe's dynamic property landscape," the firm stated.Davies noted that Zimbabwe's real estate market has experienced a rise in rental prices for prime properties. "Recent data shows that an influx of expatriates and business professionals has driven prime residential rents up by more than 10% over the past three years. Today, four-bedroom apartments and homes in Harare can command monthly rentals of up to US$3,500."The short-term rental market is also expanding, fueled by platforms like Airbnb, which are driving demand for holiday homes and executive rentals.Chas Everitt reports an increasing number of inquiries from Zimbabweans in the diaspora seeking to invest in luxury rental apartments and family homes. Additionally, global investors are showing interest in Zimbabwe as a diversification opportunity within emerging markets.With this expansion, Chas Everitt aims to solidify its presence in the region and contribute to the growth of Zimbabwe's real estate sector by offering premium property solutions to both local and international clients.
NUUK, Greenland  Lisa Solrun Christiansen gets up at 4 a.m. most days and gets to work knitting thick wool sweaters coveted by buyers around the world for their warmth and colorful patterns celebrating Greenlands traditional Inuit culture.

Her morning routine includes a quick check of the news, but these days the ritual shatters her peace because of all the stories about U.S. President Donald Trumps designs on her homeland.

I get overwhelmed, Christiansen said earlier this month as she looked out to sea, where impossibly blue icebergs floated just offshore.

The daughter of Inuit and Danish parents, Christiansen, 57, cherishes Greenland. It is a source of immense family pride that her father, an artist and teacher, designed the red-and-white Greenlandic flag.

On his deathbed he talked a lot about the flag, and he said that the flag is not his, its the peoples, she said. And theres one sentence I keep thinking about. He said, I hope the flag will unite the Greenlandic people.'

Island of anxiety

Greenlanders are increasingly worried that their homeland, a self-governing region of Denmark, has become a pawn in the competition between the U.S., Russia and China as global warming opens up access to the Arctic. They fear Trumps aim to take control of Greenland, which holds rich mineral deposits and straddles strategic air and sea routes, may block their path toward independence.

Those fears were heightened Sunday when Usha Vance, the wife of U.S. Vice President JD Vance, announced she would visit Greenland later this week to attend the national dogsled race. Separately, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright will visit a U.S. military base in northern Greenland.

The announcement inflamed tensions sparked earlier this month when Trump reiterated his desire to annex Greenland just two days after Greenlanders elected a new parliament opposed to becoming part of the U.S. Trump even made a veiled reference to the possibility of military pressure, noting the U.S. bases in Greenland and musing that maybe youll see more and more soldiers go there.

News of the visit drew an immediate backlash from local politicians, who described it as a display of U.S. power at a time they are trying to form a government.

It must also be stated in bold that our integrity and democracy must be respected without any external interference, outgoing Prime Minister Mute Boroup Egede said.

Greenland, part of Denmark since 1721, has been moving toward independence for decades. Its a goal most Greenlanders support, though they differ on when and how that should happen. They dont want to trade Denmark for an American overlord.

The question is whether Greenland will be allowed to control its own destiny at a time of rising international tensions when Trump sees the island as key to U.S. national security.

David vs. Goliath

While Greenland has limited leverage against the worlds greatest superpower, Trump made a strategic mistake by triggering a dispute with Greenland and Denmark rather than working with its NATO allies in Nuuk and Copenhagen, said Otto Svendsen, an Arctic expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Trumps actions, he says, have united Greenlanders and fostered a greater sense of national identity.

You have this feeling of pride and of self-determination in Greenland that the Greenlanders are not, you know, cowed by this pressure coming from Washington, Svendsen said. And theyre doing everything in their power to make their voices heard.

Denmark recognized Greenlands right to independence at a time of its choosing under the 2009 Greenland Self-Government Act, which was approved by local voters and ratified by the Danish parliament. The right to self-determination is also enshrined in the United Nations charter, approved by the U.S. in 1945.

U.S. national security

But Trump is more focused on the economic and security needs of the U.S. than the rights of smaller nations. Since returning to office in January, he has pressured Ukraine into giving the U.S. access to valuable mineral resources, threatened to reclaim the Panama Canal and suggested that Canada should become the 51st state.

Now he has turned his attention to Greenland, a territory of 56,000 people, most from indigenous Inuit backgrounds.

Greenland guards access to the Arctic at a time when melting sea ice has reignited competition for energy and mineral resources and attracted an increased Russian military presence. The Pituffik Space Base on the islands northwest coast supports missile warning and space surveillance operations for the U.S. and NATO.

Before Trumps re-election, Greenlanders hoped to leverage this unique position to help the country achieve independence. Now they fear it has made them vulnerable.

Cebastian Rosing, who works for a water taxi firm that offers tours around the Nuuk fjord, said hes frustrated that Trump is trying to take over just as Greenland has begun to assert its autonomy and celebrate its Inuit origins.

Its so weird to defend (the idea) that our country is our country because its always been our country, he said. Were just getting our culture back because of colonialism.

Strategic importance

Its not that Greenlanders dont like the U.S. They have welcomed Americans for decades.

The U.S. effectively occupied Greenland during World War II, building a string of air and naval bases.

After the war, President Harry Trumans government offered to buy the island because of the extreme importance of Greenland to the defense of the United States. Denmark rejected the proposal but signed a long-term base agreement.

When Trump resurrected the proposal during his first term, it was quickly rejected by Denmark and dismissed as a headline-grabbing stunt. But now Trump is pursuing the idea with renewed energy.

During a speech earlier this month he told a joint session of Congress that the U.S. needed to take control of Greenland to protect its national security. I think were going to get it, Trump said. One way or the other.

A model in the Marshall Islands?

Even so, Trump has his admirers in Greenland.

And there is no greater fan than Jrgen Boassen. When he spoke to The Associated Press, Boassen wore a T-shirt featuring a photo of Trump with his fist in the air and blood streaming down his face after an assassination attempt last year. Underneath was the slogan, American Badass.

Boassen works for an organization called American Daybreak, which was founded by former Trump official Thomas Dans and promotes closer ties between the U.S. and Greenland.

The former bricklayer, who describes himself as 110% Inuit, has a litany of complaints about Denmark, most stemming from what he sees as mistreatment of local people during colonial rule. In particular, he cites Inuit women who say they were fitted with birth control devices without their permission during the 1970s.

Trump must act to secure Americas back door, Boassen says, because Denmark has failed to guarantee Greenlands security.

But even he wants Greenland to be independent, a U.S. ally but not the 51st state.

What he has in mind is something more like the free-association agreement the Marshall Islands negotiated with the U.S. when it became independent in 1986. That agreement recognizes the Pacific archipelago as a sovereign nation that conducts its own foreign policy but gives the U.S. control over defense and security.

Were in 2025, Boassen said. So I dont believe they can come here and take over.

Whatever happens, most Greenlanders agree that the islands fate should be up to them, not Trump.

We have to stand together, Christiansen said, her knitting needles clicking and clacking.

-- The Associated Press
Unaccompanied minors wait to see a Border Patrol agent after crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico into Texas on March 25, 2021. The Trump administration has halted funding for a program that provides legal representation for unaccompanied minors. (John Moore/Getty Images)

An Oregon nonprofit that provides legal services to immigrant children learned its federal funding has been cut off by the Trump administration, upending the organization and the cases of the kids its helping.

Immigration Counseling Service in Oregon received notice last week of near-total termination of a federally funded program that provides legal representation to migrant children who entered the country on their own without a parent or a legal guardian.
Multnomah Countys Homeless Services Department Director Dan Field will depart in June, officials announced Tuesday.

Field, 62, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that he had always intended to retire after a few years in the role. He came to the county in April 2023 after an over 20-year career at Kaiser Permanente. The departments Deputy Director Anna Plumb will take over as interim director June 16 to coincide with Fields departure.

My goal was never to make a career out of this role, but instead to give back to my community, Field said. I joined the county and said, I want to serve as a transitional leader.

The news comes just weeks after Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, Field and others held a poorly received press conference in February announcing a $104 million budget deficit in the countys homeless services budget where they asked for money from the state and the Metro regional government.

Additional reporting by The Oregonian/OregonLive showed that the actual gap if the county redirects money away from reserves is closer to $70 million.

The announcement of the shortfall has prompted questions from both Gov. Tina Kotek and Metro Council President Lynn Peterson about what happened in the countys books to create the large gap.

Field said he officially announced his intention to retire to Vega Pederson and Interim Chief Operating Officer Travis Graves in early February, before the press conference. He was hoping to step down near his two-year anniversary in April, he said.

Text messages sent between Field and county spokesperson Julie Sullivan-Springhetti on Feb. 4 show that Field announced his intention to retire before the press conference.

Vega Pederson said she asked Field to stay longer while the county onboards the newly appointed Chief Operating Officer Christopher Neal, who will play a key part in searching for a replacement to lead homeless services.

I wanted to be sure Dans retirement had been clearly communicated on a timeline that aligns with these next steps and gives Dan time to focus on his highest priority, which will be steering the department through the county and city of Portlands (fiscal year) 2026 budget negotiations, she said in a statement.

Vega Pederson and former Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler announced Fields appointment on April 5, 2023. The department, then called the Joint Office of Homeless Services, had gone 13 months without a permanent director and had long struggled to deploy resources and services to the countys homeless population. The department had been unable to quickly get Metros homeless services tax dollars meant to support shelters and housing programs out the door.

On top of the complex homeless crisis and lag in spending, the jointly funded homeless abatement efforts, which launched in 2016, had also suffered from infighting between county and city officials. That tumult has since settled, for the most part, as the countys Board of Commissioners added three new faces and Portland City Council underwent a major overhaul this year.

Officials said Tuesday that Fields goals when taking the job were to stabilize the department, repair the relationship with the city and steer the county towards a long-term plan to address homelessness.

Since Field stepped into the role, the countys homelessness response has shown signs of improvement. The county has expanded shelter access, seen an increased number of people moving into housing and solidified a plan with Portland officials to continue those efforts. At the behest of Metro, the county launched an aggressive push to get homeless services tax dollars out the door, funding shelters, eviction prevention and other programs.

Dan took on a role of critical importance to our community at a pivotal time and has led with determination, accountability, honesty and compassion, Vega Pederson said in a statement. I am grateful for his leadership in delivering on his goals and moving the work so far forward.

County officials, under Fields guidance, managed to spend almost all of the carry-over tax money they racked up  potentially in defiance of the countys own budgeting rules. The county used one-time only funds to pay for ongoing services, according to documents the county sent to Kotek and Peterson.

As the county faces a $70 million shortfall in its homeless services budget, Field defended his choice to spend down those dollars in interviews with The Oregonian/OregonLive.

The county Board of Commissioners is scheduled to vote on a final fiscal plan June 12, which is expected to include cuts to homeless services.

Commissioner Shannon Singleton, who served an eight-month stint leading the homeless services department in 2022, supported Fields choice to retire.

I think its the right time for a leadership change, she said.

Field said he has aging parents hed like to spend more time with. He acknowledged the job is demanding, often requiring long nights and early mornings to keep up with the workload.

Im not complaining about that, he said. I know thats what I signed up for. But you know, that comes at some sacrifice.

 Austin De Dios covers Multnomah County politics, programs and more. Reach him at 503-319-9744, adedios@oregonian.com or @AustinDeDios.

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Oregon foodbanks across the state will lose access to food shipments and leave more Oregonians hungry, advocates say, after the Trump administration suspended a national emergency food program.

The administration halted $500 million in food aid that was slated for U.S. distribution this year. The Oregon Food Bank, which distributes food aid to 21 regional foodbanks and some 1,200 distribution sites, had been allocated 30 truckloads of food beginning in April under the program and another 60 truckloads that would have been delivered from July through December.
As viewed through a fisheye lens, the rotunda where portraits of presidents are displayed except for Donald Trump is shown after the picture was removed from the wall of the rotunda in the State Capitol following complaints about the likeness from Trump Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) AP

Filling an empty space on the wall of presidential portraits in the Colorado Capitol with a new painting of Donald Trump could take time after one he disliked was removed and put into storage.

Legislative leaders from both parties will decide how to replace the painting that Trump derided Sunday night on social media and that by Tuesday morning had been taken down.

When they will meet about a new painting is anyones guess. The Legislature is focused on more pressing matters including the state budget.

We have no idea when a new portrait is going to go up, how its going to be fundraised, who is going to pay for it, who is going to paint it, etc., Joshua Bly, a spokesperson for Colorado Senate Republicans said in a telephone interview Tuesday.

Aaron Howe, visiting from Wyoming on Monday, stood in front of Trumps portrait, looking down at photos of the president on his phone, then back up at the portrait. Honestly he looks a little chubby," said Howe of the portrait, but better than I could do. AP

Bly also said no one knows yet whether Trump will get to approve a new portrait.

Colorado Republicans raised more than $10,000 to commission the Trump painting that had been in the state Capitol since 2019, alongside other U.S. presidents.

Sometime late Monday or early Tuesday, the Trump portrait by Colorado Springs artist Sarah Boardman was removed and put in storage with History Colorado, overseer of a state museum in Denver. It is unlikely to be displayed elsewhere, Bly said.

The move came at the request of Colorado Republicans after Trump claimed the artist had purposefully distorted him. He praised the portrait of Barack Obama, painted by the same artist.

Portraits of President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama hang in the Capitol Rotunda in Denver on Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Jesse Bedayn) AP

On Tuesday, school groups and tourists filed past the wall where Trumps portrait once hung. Picture hooks and a plate reading Donald Trump  45th and 47th President  2017-2021 and 2025-2029 remained. Some visitors stopped to take photos.

Its not the first time that Trumps attention has turned to Colorado, which has shifted from leaning red to leaning blue over the past two decades.

He criticized the Colorado Supreme Court in 2023 for declaring he was ineligible for the White House and could not appear on the state ballot because of the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol insurrection. While campaigning last year, Trump made the Denver suburb of Aurora a focus of his illegal immigration message.

Before his portrait was installed, a prankster placed a picture of Russian President Vladimir Putin near the spot intended for Trump.

Boardman did not return phone and email messages seeking comment. In 2019, she said painted him with a nonconfrontational and thoughtful expression, drawing criticism from those who said thats not who he really is. She said her portraits of Trump and Obama were not political statements.

The presidential portraits are not the purview of the Colorado Building Advisory Committee. The ones up to and including President Jimmy Carter were donated as a collection. The others were donated by political parties or paid for by outside fundraising.
Hood River County Sheriffs Office and a team of salvage divers retrieved parts of a car they believe the Martin family drove when they disappeared in 1958. Beth Nakamura | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Investigators werent able to definitively confirm that the car retrieved from the Columbia River earlier this month belonged to a family that disappeared 67 years ago, though they have every reason to believe that it did, officials said Monday.

The Hood River County Sheriffs Office also said it is suspending the search for any additional parts of the car that they pulled from the river March 7.

Kenneth and Barbara Martin and their three daughters left their Northeast Portland home in a 1954 Ford station wagon Dec. 7, 1958, and disappeared, fueling decades of speculation about what happened to them. After a massive, regional search, official operations ceased, although two of the daughters bodies were found floating in the river months later.

A rescue diver in recent years deduced that the car could be in a 20-foot-deep pit constructed as part of the Cascade Locks canal and, eventually, found what appeared to be a 1954 Ford station wagon exactly where he predicted it would be.

The diver, Archer Mayo, presented his findings to the Hood River County Sheriffs Office, prompting the office to hire a diving and salvage company that worked to extract the car Mayo had found from the debris that had been accumulating for decades.

For two days, the divers removed as much sediment and rock as they could, the sheriffs office said. The interior of the car was likely also filled and, as a result, only the chassis and engine could be recovered.

Investigators werent able to find the cars vehicle identification number, which would have allowed them to say for sure whether the car belonged to the Martins. But given what they found, where they found the car and the fact that the color of a piece of the car body matched the color of the Martin car, they believe that it did belong to the family, the sheriffs office said.

The sheriffs office said it is suspending any further attempts to retrieve parts of the vehicle, given the rest of the car is likely still buried in rock and sediment and the difficult conditions underwater.

 Fedor Zarkhin is a breaking news and enterprise reporter. Do you have a story? Reach him by phone or text at 971-373-2905 or by email at fzarkhin@oregonian.com.

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A wheelchair user since the age of 15, Ashley Schahfer knew all too well the feeling of being left out, so the idea of helping others avoid the same seemed a natural fit. As she soon discovered, however, a career based around activism could feel a little heavy. It was only when Schahfer began pursuing her passion for architecture that she found architecture combined with advocacy can make for a pretty inspired pairing.

Today, Schahfer is the founding owner of Empowering Access, a Bend-based consulting firm built on her life mission to create thoughtful experience-based design and inclusion for the intersectional community with disabilities. Next month in Rockaway Beach, shell present Disability Outdoors: Best Practices for Accessibility and Inclusion, a discussion for making the outdoors a more inclusive and accessible place. Sponsored by the Tillamook Coast Visitors Association, the event is part of the associations ongoing efforts to embrace the idea that the outdoors is for everyone, said Dan Haag, the associations trails, outdoor recreation and accessibility director. And everyone means everyone.

We talked with Schahfer about the upcoming presentation and the changing world of access and inclusion. Answers have been edited for clarity and length.

Q: It seems in recent years there have been significant advances in making the Oregon communities more accessible. Is there a specific point where that movement took hold?

A: A lot of it was the COVID, Black Lives Matter and George Floyd protests and learning about equity. I think that was really the big spark. A lot of people have been doing this work for a long time, like Georgena Moran with Access Recreation in the Portland area. Shes been only making so much progress but setting the foundation. And then that happened, and it just really pushed the door open quite aggressively. There was so much funding for equity work. It opened the door for us to speak a little bit louder and people took it seriously because of everything that was going on.

READ MORE: Hikers with disabilities seek access to information about Oregon trails

Q: You have used a wheelchair for about 24 years. What have you seen over those years? Have we come a long way or not far enough?

A: I think we have come a distance in the last maybe 10 years, more recently for sure with parks that are popping up that have more accessibility. But its definitely been very slow progress. I do see specific projects, but I think overall its still pretty hard to find whats successful. The first step to going somewhere thats successful is just finding what is available out of the hundreds of parks that exist. How do you find that one that fits your needs? And I do see that slowly happening. So, I think we are in a moment of making some pretty transformative progress.

Q: Can you talk about where you see the progress?

A: When people contact me and ask for a holistic approach to doing access work and understand that it is a really complex thing, that there is more than one disability, and it goes beyond the physical or wheelchair. Im really happy when I see signage that clearly explains something, or information on a website about accessibility. I think for a long time it was, Oh we have accessibility; we have an ADA toilet and a quarter mile paved trail. And that was it. I hate seeing that. It doesnt really appeal to a whole lot of people, but Im always happy when I can tell that there are different design elements that cater to people with various disabilities.

Ashley Schahfer's firm, Empowering Access, offers disability inclusion consultations like this one in central Oregon. Adventures Without Limits

Q: What are the biggest misconceptions about accessibility?

A: Its a really hard one to pinpoint, but I think a lot of times it comes down to people just thinking they know what to do or not having perspective. People making decisions for us, rather than with us. The lack of understanding on how broad and huge of an umbrella disability is; how wide our needs are and how different they are per person.

Q: You are well traveled. What have you experienced in other countries?

A: Its really different. You go to Europe and every country has their own laws on accessibility, so it varies quite a bit. Its hard to compare them in a lot of ways, because it is very old. In Spain, there are cobblestones everywhere and very old, beautiful buildings, but theyve been intentional about identifying barriers and coming up with a plan, like paving paths for wheelchairs between the cobblestones. The most interesting part was the social dynamic. People here are very awkward and dont know how to be around people with disabilities. But in Spain or other parts of Europe, the family dynamic is really different. People dont really bat an eye at someone in a wheelchair. Its not a weird thing to them. They support their families in a really different way than I think we do here. We have so much history of institutionalizing people with all sorts of disabilities, instead of taking them into the home, caring for them. When I needed help, people didnt really need much instruction and werent weird about it. It was much more seamless over there.

Q: Youve been working with Tillamook on accessibility and inclusion for some time. How does the Oregon coast stack up? Is it getting things right?

A: The Oregon coast has made a big push for trying to find a solution for getting people on to our beaches, like Mobi-mats. I think we have an incredibly hard terrain. Its not a California beach; its not flat. The wind blows really hard, and sand is constantly moving and changing that terrain. Its very difficult to manage, and it requires a lot more than the California beach does. But I think a lot of these agencies have shown a lot of commitment to making it accessible and its clear the public wants it. And they seem to be listening to that. Theyre figuring out programs for doing things that things are safe and for maintaining them. Theyre asking all the right questions and investing. So, Ive been surprised and excited about how much access the Oregon coast has kind of produced in the last few years.

Disability Outdoors: Best Practices for Accessibility and Inclusion

10 a.m.-noon Friday, April 4, at Rockaway Beach City Hall, 276 U.S. 101, Rockaway Beach; register at Eventbrite.com. A Zoom option will be made available. Questions? Email Dan Haag at dan@tillamookcoast.com.

 Lori Tobias, for The Oregonian/OregonLive
The National Weather Service issued an updated high surf warning at 2:21 p.m. on Wednesday valid from Thursday 11 a.m. until Friday 11 a.m. for South Central Oregon Coast and Curry County Coast.

"Dangerously large breaking waves of 28 to 32 feet," can be anticipated according to the weather service. "The highest breaking waves are expected Thursday afternoon through late Thursday night."

"Extremely large breaking waves will create very hazardous conditions along beaches and area shorelines. Waves will inundate beaches and surge into normally dry areas. Infrastructure damage and significant beach erosion can be expected," explains the weather service. "Beaches and coastlines will become hazardous due to very large and life-threatening surf conditions. Stay off of beaches, rocks, jetties, piers, and other waterside infrastructure."

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed Lieutenant General (Rtd) Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe as the new Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts, and Culture, following the election of Kirsty Coventry as the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) last week.The appointment was announced in a statement by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr. Martin Rushwaya, who confirmed that Sanyatwe's appointment is with immediate effect. As a result, Coventry has been relieved of her ministerial duties."In terms of Section 216 (2) (Command of Defence Forces) as read with Section 340 (1) (f) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and Section 115 (Commander in Chief Prerogative) of the Defence Act [Chapter 11:02], the President, in his capacity as Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces, has relieved and retired Lieutenant General Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and as Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army with immediate effect," read the statement.Dr. Rushwaya further clarified that, in line with Section 104 (3) of the Constitution, President Mnangagwa has appointed Lieutenant General (Rtd) Sanyatwe as Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts, and Culture, effective immediately.In a separate statement, Dr. Rushwaya noted that President Mnangagwa had formally removed Coventry from her position as Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts, and Culture under Section 108 (1) (a) of the Constitution. He commended her for her achievements and extended his best wishes for her new role as the IOC president.Coventry, a former Olympic swimming champion, made history by becoming the first African woman to lead the IOC, marking a significant milestone for Zimbabwe on the international sporting stage. Her appointment is expected to enhance global representation and influence in the sporting community.Sanyatwe's appointment marks a shift in leadership within the ministry, and his military background is anticipated to bring a new strategic approach to the development of sports, arts, and culture in Zimbabwe.
OU Music Outreach will collaborate with school of music student groups to perform at Katlett 4 Kids, a benefit concert to raise money for the music therapy department of Oklahoma Childrens Hospital on Friday.

OU Music Outreach is a student organization within the OU School of Music that gives students opportunities to give back to the community through performance.

Junior Annelise Huynh, who is a chemical biosciences and music major at OU, co-founded OU Music Outreach with Joseph Mathew, a fellow music and pre-med junior.

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We realized that there was no philanthropy aspect of the school of music, and everyone here is also super talented, Huynh said. We wanted to give students a space to share their incredible gifts.

The idea sprung from Huynh and Mathews passions outside of music.

Joseph and I are music students but also ultimately on the pre-med track, Huynh said. Music and medicine is tied in so many ways. Music can be healing, and thats what we try to do with Music Outreach.

While OU Music Outreach has hosted many events since its start in 2024, the Katlett 4 Kids benefit concert will be a first.

Joseph and I have both volunteered at Oklahoma Childrens (Hospital) for a couple years, Huynh said. Weve seen firsthand how they use music to support these kids, and we want to give back as much as we can.

The benefit concert will feature not only OU Music Outreach, but also OU music sorority Sigma Alpha Iota, music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha and OUs chapter of the National Association for Music Education, a service and advocacy group for music education students.

These organizations are all wonderful groups with talented musicians, Huynh said. I think this collaboration will be the first of its kind.

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Junior music education students Megan Austin and Caden Chase, as representatives from the student groups involved in the concert, have played a part in putting the concert together.

This has been an all hands on deck operation, Austin said. My main jobs have been to support the communication within the school of music, promote the event and help cultivate scholarships and donors.

The collaboration between student groups has made the benefit concert better and also meant a lot to the student leaders involved.

I would like to give a special thanks to Annelise and Joseph for having me on this project, Austin said. It has been an honor to work with such passionate individuals.

Huynh said she has also enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with her classmates who she wants to show off to the community.

The people in these organizations are so talented and people Ive known for years, Huynh said. I want the community to know of their talent and get to experience it.

OU Music Outreach hosts events around Norman every month such as Sip and Support at Yellow Dog Coffee Company and performances at Rivermont Independent Living. More information on Music Outreach and updates on future events can be found on Instagram.

The Katlett 4 Kids benefit concert will start at 6 p.m. Friday in Pitman Recital Hall in the Catlett Music Center. Tickets are available for $10 online or $12 at the door. Donations can be made online.

This story was edited by Madisson Cameron. Kylie Caldwell and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
A recent report by Cavins Disaster Response Group revealed Norman Public Library Central mold conditions have improved in some areas but remain present in others.

The March 5 report confirmed all areas remain under condition one  meaning normal fungal ecology typically found in unproblematic spaces  and containment efforts in the stairwell, Makers Lab and Oklahoma Room are successfully preventing cross contamination of cleaned common areas.

Inspectors took 10 samples from inside the building and one control sample from the outside. Inspectors used flashlights, UV lights and olfactory senses and measured humidity and temperature across various parts of the facility to conduct a visual inspection. No signs of water intrusion, water damage or active microbial growth were detected inside the building, according to the report.

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Air quality testing was conducted using samples from the childrens area; common areas on the the first, second and third floors; Makers Lab; the stairwell; and the Oklahoma Room. No mold spore types were present in the Makers Lab or Oklahoma Room that were not found in the exterior control sample, an improvement for the Oklahoma Room, which was an area of concern in the previous report.

According to the latest report, the city put remediation work on hold in the Makers Lab and Oklahoma Room, but containment efforts remain effective. Remediation efforts refer to the removal and cleaning of mold spores and addressing underlying issues that support mold growth.

Jason Olsen, director of Norman parks and recreation, wrote in an email to OU Daily Monday that Cavins Group typically recommends the city remediates mold with demolition, but since there are no people in the building and the rooms are empty and contained with vapor barriers, the city feels comfortable focusing its efforts on other areas.

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We feel comfortable enough that since there are no people in the building and these areas of the building are contained the work can wait until we get a resolution from the original Construction and Design teams on this project, Olsen wrote.

The report revealed the stairwell spore counts were higher than expected and common indoor mold spores Alternaria, Basidiospores and Bipolaris/Drechslera were present. Hyphal fragments and cladosporium, a mold found indoors and outdoors, spore counts on the third floor common area were equal to the exterior sample, suggesting there may be openings in the building allowing outside air inside. Both areas remain under close observation.

Background

In November 2023, the city hired Cavins Group to investigate water leak issues from Norman Public Library Centrals roof. Cavins Group discovered traces of mold, including black mold and fusarium, on each level of the facility.

Later that month, it was announced the library would close temporarily while Cavins Group assessed the facility. The Norman Public Library Central was closed indefinitely in April when mold damage was found to be "extensive and severe."

This story was edited by Ismael Lele and Ana Barboza. Andrew Paredes and Grace Rhodes copy edited this story.
The Norman Regional Hospital Authority Board declared independence for the Norman Regional Health System, accepted a transformative plan for its future and elected a new board chair at a business meeting Monday.

Norman Regional Health System independence

The decision to remain independent halts any discussion of potentially selling Norman Regional to another healthcare system.

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Douglas Cubberley, chair and attorney at Redwine and Cubberley was the only member of the board who opposed the statement for independence. He apologized to the board for authorizing the request for proposal in February but said he did so due to the hospitals financial situation.

I know that it created tremendous dissension for that and the manner in which it came about, Cubberley said. I do apologize to you all, but the fact remains, though, that I still believe that we should consider those proposals, whether we hire (Plante Moran) or someone else.

Board member Kelley Lobb said she supported Norman Regional Health Systems independence.

We don't have time. We have to commit to the task at hand. The task at hand is doing everything that we can to keep this healthcare system independent, Lobb said. I fully support this statement because if we're not all on the same board on moving in the same direction, it's going to be a mess, and we can't afford that.

In a Facebook post on Monday night, Norman Regional Health System wrote that the decision to remain independent came after thoughtfully considering several options that would benefit its patients.

Our number one priority is continuity of care. We remain committed to providing personalized healthcare with compassion and excellence for the residents of south central Oklahoma for many years to come. The post read.

Appointments

During the meeting, Cubberley announced he would resign as chair, effective Monday night. He said he believed the board was fractured in light of the hospitals financial circumstances and recommended Lobb as chair.

The board approved Cubberleys resignation and Lobbs appointment.

We dont have a lot of time; we need to build board trust. New leadership will build that trust much quicker than I ever could, if I could at all, Cubberly said. It's time for new eyes, for a new leader, to take over and to help this board to make the hard decisions that are coming toward us.

Lobb said there would be a learning curve but is committed to the role.

If it means at the end of this that Norman Regional is strong and independent,  I'm willing to do what it takes, Lobb said.

The board also approved the resignation of Rick Wagner, former chief financial officer, and appointment of Aaron Boyd as president and CEO of Norman Regional Health System.

Transformative plan

The board also approved a proposal from Plante Moran, an audit, tax, consulting and wealth management firm headquartered in Michigan, for a transformative plan.

A presentation by Duane Fitch, Plante Moran healthcare consulting practice leader, listed significant concerns for Norman Regional Health System:

 Not meeting bond covenants for many years.

 Large operating losses that result in significant liquidity reductions.

 Operating losses greater than budgeted expectations.

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 Uncertainty in the community about the future of the system due to financial performance.

 Large employed physician group subsidies that are difficult to absorb.

Fitch urged the board to create a cohesive plan for the community that reflects an understanding of the depth of challenges facing the Norman Regional Hospital System.

You've got these operating losses, and you don't have a lot of time to pivot, Fitch said. This has got to be immediate and sustainable and thoughtful, or else someone else is going to come in here and make these calls. And I didn't hear anyone say that's what they want to have happen.

Fitchs presentation listed an annualized total margin improvement target of $50 million.

Don't look at the 50 million as a cost cutting endeavor. Weve got to grow the revenue.

"You don't have 50 million in expense to cut here, Fitch said.

Fitch said the board would make the decisions while Plante Moran would act and make recommendations. He added the transformation process would take six weeks under different circumstances but would require urgency.

According to Fitch, Norman Regional Hospital System can not afford Plante Moran if it does not take action regarding its finances. He added this was part of the reasoning behind his trust in both Plante Morans process and the hospital system.

Frankly, you cant afford us if you don't do anything, we're paying for ourselves. Believe me, that keeps me up at night sometimes because our fee is in your hands, Fitch said. If you guys don't do anything, we'll all go off the cliff together. (Its) really important that you're focused on coming out with an aligned plan that everyone is behind and that you can calm down this community.

Fitch also suggested using financial analysts and cost accounting.

You don't have a cost accounting system here, right? (A) $600 million healthcare system? You're making decisions on instinct and guts and judgment, and we've all paid for our judgment, but boy, judgment is a lot better with data, so we've got to figure that out, Fitch said.

Fitch said Plante Moran projects a 3% reduction in labor-related expenses but does not slash and burn regarding productivity. He said he also wants to consult doctors in Plante Morans work to determine potential problems.

We do a lot of work on benchmarking, a lot of work on redesigning workflow, a lot of work on our people working at the top of their license, Fitch said. You're in a competitive environment. We want to fight for our staff. They're the backbone here.

Background

In February, the Norman Regional Health System announced it was issuing a request for proposal for a potential sale of the hospital or partnership opportunities with other health systems.

While this is not a path we originally intended to consider, current financial challenges have led us to evaluate all options that could provide the necessary capital and resources to support our long-term stability and growth, the letter read. Unfortunately, despite record-breaking volumes in January, we did not see the dramatic financial turnaround we hoped to achieve.

According to a report by Moodys Ratings, a bond credit rating business, Norman Regional Health System had $328 million in outstanding debt last year. In November, Moodys Ratings also downgraded Norman Regional Health Systems revenue bonds rating from Ba1, stable, to B1, or significant credit risk.

SMMHealth, a Catholic health system with locations in Moore, Oklahoma City and Purcell, has expressed interest in a partnership, according to the Oklahoman. The Oklahoma also wrote Jimmy Durant, director of government affairs for SSMHealth, answered the request for proposal.

We are very interested in a partnership with Norman Regional," Durant told the Oklahoman. "Our system submitted an answer to their RFP and we will have a representative attend the board meeting Monday night. We are interested in hearing what direction Norman's board wants to go."

This story was edited by Ana Barboza and Ismael Lele. Gretchen Schultz and Avery Avery copy edited this story.
Editors note: Carter Strickland currently serves on the OU Daily Publications Board, which oversees OU Dailys topline matters by establishing, implementing and monitoring editorial, fiscal, production and personnel policies. The Publications Board does not have any say in publishing matters and news coverage.

Impeachment charges will be brought against OU Student Government Association President Carter Strickland at Tuesdays Undergraduate Student Congress general body meeting.

The agenda for Tuesdays meeting lists five charges for impeachment against Strickland.

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 Created a hostile workplace environment while serving as SGA president.

 Failed to act in accordance with the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act and the SGA Code Annotated while serving as SGA president.

 Went against the chief justices advisement in electing members to search committees while serving as SGA president.

 Neglected his duties to the legislative branches while serving as SGA president.

 Hindered the duties and responsibilities of the chief of staff.

OU Daily reached out to Strickland over text for a statement about the charges. Strickland wrote that he had been notified of the charges and would have a statement at Tuesday's meeting.

The bill was authored by Congress Vice Chair Aaron Gilson-Bond and co-sponsored by 20 other SGA members, including Chief of Staff Ellie Wolthuis, Secretary Chloe Harris and five congress committee chairs.

Gilson-Bond said he wrote the bill because accountability is important to him.

Holding people accountable, especially whenever we have positions inside of student government, especially paid positions, we have a duty to do our job 100% correctly, at least to the very best of our ability, Gilson-Bond said. Obviously, mistakes happen, I'll acknowledge that, but it's not about making mistakes. It's about being able to fix your mistakes.

Before he authored the bill, Gilson-Bond said these concerns were addressed with Strickland but were not resolved. Gilson-Bond said Strickland has been spoken to by SGA adviser George Ahmadi, Congress Chair Hope Rhoads and others.

Rhoads, who will preside over Tuesdays meeting, said she aims to remain neutral but she knows Strickland has been preparing for his presidency for a long time.

It can be really tough to make the right decisions as a leader,  Rhoads said. I believe that Congress will do what it thinks is right, and I dont know what that choice is going to be, but I believe my body will move how my body will move.

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Strickland, a political science junior, won the election on Oct. 30 alongside SGA Vice President Avery Dunlap, obtaining 91.06% of the vote. Strickland and Dunlap ran an unopposed campaign, the first time for SGA candidates since 2014.

In a statement to OU Daily, Dunlap wrote that she was aware of the charges and proceedings and she had no further comment at this time.

This is in the hands of the legislative branch and I trust them to do what is best for SGA and the student body, Dunlap wrote.

Strickland and Dunlap were inaugurated on Jan. 13. As of Tuesday, Strickland would have served as president for just over three months.

Gilson-Bond said he took into consideration Stricklands short tenure when bringing forth the charges. Gilson-Bond cited Strickland's past experience as director of the interior under the previous administration  led by former president Caden Glasscock and vice president Cyrus Mortazavi  and said he should understand his responsibilities.

Something very important is that this impeachment bill is not to pretty much debate whether a leader should be perfect but just pretty much to ensure that when they do violate oversight, don't have transparency and foster a hostile environment, they are going to be held accountable, Gilson-Bond said.

According to the SGA Code Annotated, in case of the removal or impeachment of the SGA president from office, resignation from office or their inability to perform the powers and duties of the office, those powers and duties fall to the vice president.

The Undergraduate Student Congress has the sole power to bring impeachment charges against the executive branch members and the Graduate Student Senate has the sole power to try all impeachments. When the student body president is tried, the chief justice of the SGA Superior Court presides over the Senate.

According to the SGA Constitution, impeachment charges must receive two-thirds approval from the Senate to remove a person from their position.

During Tuesdays meeting, Stricklands charges will be brought before the body by Gilson-Bond, who will receive 10 minutes to answer questions followed by 10 minutes of questions for Strickland. Both periods of time can be extended.

Following questions, Congress will enter a debate where any person in the room may be permitted to speak. Following a five-minute recess during which the impeachment charges will be finalized, each charge will be voted on individually. Each charge that receives a majority vote will be forward to the Graduate Student Senate.

In 2015, SGA President Kunal Naik faced impeachment charges after he was arrested for public intoxication. Naik was also elected after running an uncontested campaign. A hearing was held for Naiks impeachment, but the charges were dismissed. Naik later resigned, saying he did not believe he could bring the dedication necessary to act as president.

The Undergraduate Student Congress meets weekly at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Dale Hall.

This story was edited by Peggy Dodd and Ana Barboza. Mary Ann Livingood and Grace Rhodes copy edited this story.
Florida officials arrested a couple after a toddler died, whose autopsy showed harrowing details before her death, such as meth being present in her system.

The couple from Jacksonville are alleged to have been responsible for the homicide of the toddler, identified as Zamora Foe. The suspects have been identified as 20-year-old Zayla Goodwin and her boyfriend, 23-year-old Nathaniel Davis.

Toddler Found With Meth in Her System

The two were apparently at home when Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department paramedics arrived on Sept. 10, 2024. The paramedics went to the address following a call about a "medical emergency" that involved a child who had gone into "cardiac arrest and was unresponsive."

Officials later confirmed that the 22-month-old toddler died only eight days after being rushed to the hospital. Medical experts said that the victim had "multiple injuries" and that they found meth present inside her system.

Authorities announced the arrest of the suspects in September 2024 on neglect but the toddler's death was officially ruled a homicide by December 2024. The decision was made as investigators discovered harrowing details about the victim's moments before death, according to Perez Hilton.

In a probable cause affidavit, it was detailed that another adult who was living in the home noticed that the toddler stopped walking before being found unresponsive. When asked, Goodwin said that the child "fell in the bathtub" the week before.

On the morning that paramedics were called to the home, the woman claimed that she woke up to her boyfriend performing CPR on the toddler. Davis said that it was because he found Foe not breathing and facing upside down on her mattress.

Charges of First-Degree Murder

After their arrest, Davis was charged with one count each of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and tampering with evidence as well as two counts of sexual battery. On the other hand, Goodwin was charged with one count of aggravated manslaughter of a child, Law&Crime reported.

On top of having meth inside her system, the young girl was found to have suffered blunt-force trauma. In a statement, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said it was working with the State Attorney's Office to implement the harshest punishment possible for the suspects.

There was a similar news when a Florida man faced an accusation of leaving his infant daughter in a bathtub to play video games. The young girl ultimately drowned, resulting in the man, 32-year-old Joshua Ruiz-Martinez, being arrested and charged of aggravated manslaughter of a child, as per Fox13News.
The Idaho Legislature voted unanimously in favor of the death penalty for individuals found guilty of child sexual abuse, sending the proposal to the state governor.

The bill, known as House Bill 380, was co-sponsored by Rep. Bruce Skaug and House Assistant Majority Leader Josh Tanner. It would allow officials to impose the death penalty on adults who are found to have sexually abused children aged 12 years and younger.

Death Penalty for Child Sexual Abusers

It adds a new criminal charge, known as aggravated lewd conduct, with children aged 12 and younger. Additionally, the proposed bill adds mandatory minimum prison sentences for cases of aggravated lewd conduct with minors. The latter would only apply to abuse of children aged 16 years and below.

On Monday, the Idaho Senate passed the death penalty bill on a 30-5 vote, where the opposition were three Senate Democrats and two Senate Republicans. Last week, the Idaho House unanimously passed the bill as well, with 63 votes in favor and seven lawmakers absent, according to the Idaho Capital Sun.

Following its approval by the Idaho Legislature, the death penalty bill is now set to go to Gov. Brad Little's office for signing. He will have five days to decide whether or not he would allow officials to implement the punishment.

In a statement, Skaug said that the state has some of the country's most lenient child rape laws. He added that Idaho lacks mandatory minimum sentences for these sorts of horrific crimes, arguing that judges have the discretion to place the worst offenders on probation.

Growing Number of Cases

The bill comes as the Supreme Court blocked death penalties for child rape in 2018 in Kennedy v. Louisiana. But two years ago, Florida lawmakers passed a child rape death penalty law to address the growing issue, the Idaho State Journal reported.

Skaug noted that five other states in the U.S. are considering child rape death penalty bills. He added that capital punishment would be rarely sought under his proposed bill. It also comes as the Idaho Department of Correction revealed that there are nine people currently on death row in the state.

On the other hand, many organizations, such as the Death Penalty Action, are questioning if the proposed bill is ethical, saying that the state can hold child sexual abuse offenders accountable without having to resort to capital punishment.

Executive director of Death Penalty Action, Abraham Bonowitz, said that letting victims relive their trauma in front of an audience could be detrimental, as per KMVT.
Border Patrol arrested a Lewiston teen and threatened him and his family with immediate deportation amid President Donald Trump's immigration efforts.

The teenager's mother, identified as Lisseth Herrera, said her 17-year-old son, was excited to leave home for his first day of work to help out with expenses. The teen, Jose Adalberto Herrera, was with his uncle when they were pulled over and detained by police.

Lewiston Teen Arrested by Border Patrol

The mother said that her son frantically called her and said that police were hitting his uncle when they pulled them over. She said that a police officer could be heard telling her son to hang up the phone.

Herrera said that the next morning, she got a call from a man who identified himself as an immigration agent. He allegedly told her that they had her son in custody and had no record of him in the immigration system.

The mother was able to record part of the phone call with the supposed immigration agent. The man said that her son was "probably going to be deported to El Salvador." He added that if she wanted to turn herself in, she could be deported along with him, according to the Maine Public.

When she heard this, Herrera became anxious and desperate because she knew there was nothing she could do for her son. Later, immigration lawyer Kira Gagarin, who is assisting the family, said she had already spoken with the Border Patrol following the teenager's arrest.

The lawyer said that she was not made aware of any threat of the son or the family being deported to El Salvador. Gagarin said that the teenager was in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement and expects him to be released back to his family soon.

Threat of Immediate Deportation

Gagarin said that it was very "frightening" that the Border Patrol was working on detaining minors when the priority should be deporting criminals, terrorists, and drug dealers. The arrest comes after Border Patrol in Houlton shared that an agent assisted a Maine State Police Trooper on a traffic stop for speeding near Falmouth, the Sun Journal reported.

The situation with the Herrera family comes as President Trump continues to ramp up his administration's efforts related to immigration enforcement. Some of the policies that have been implemented include imposing arrest quotas, pressuring officials to speed up deportations, and encouraging agents to detain more people.

Mellisa Adamson, an attorney with the Oakland-based National Center for Youth Law, said that immigration enforcement agents across the United States are frantically trying to increase arrest numbers. This is what is unnecessarily separating children from their families, as per the Boston Globe.
Newly posted today on the Interpreter Foundation website: Interpreter Radio Show  March 16, 2025, including Doctrine and Covenants in Context: D&C 30-36: Lift Up Your Voices . . . to Declare My Gospel

For the 16 March 2025 instantiation of the Interpreter Radio Show, Bruce Webster and Kris Frederickson discussed Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson 15 and Easter. Their conversation was recorded and archived. It has now been edited, commercial interruptions have been removed, and it has been made available to you, at your convenience, for your listening pleasure and for free. The Interpreter Radio Show can be heard every Sunday evening from 7 to 9 PM (MDT), on K-TALK, AM 1640. Or, if you prefer (or have no viable alternative), you can listen to it live on the Internet at ktalkmedia.com.

Also newly posted, on Interpreters blog: A Quick Review of Covenant of Christ: A Modern English Version of the Book of Mormon, written by Brant A. Gardner

The savants over on the Peterson Obsession Board have redundantly unveiled still another pretty damning specimen (their words) of my depraved idiocy: On Friday last, I mentioned that the article that went up that day on the Interpreter Foundation website represented the 661st consecutive Friday on which the Interpreter Foundation had published at least one article. Why did I make such a claim? Because Fridays article represented the 661st consecutive Friday on which the Interpreter Foundation had published at least one article. Thats why.

A small handful of the Obsession Boards small group of active posters claims that Im lying, and that (of course!) Im attempting to deceive them (although, of course!, theyre too savvy to be taken in by my ham-handed sophistry). They seem to feel that Ive been equivocating, that, for instance, Ive been counting Thursday reprints as Friday articles in order to maintain the illusion that weve published an article every Friday for the 661 Fridays since we launched our journal, hoping that nobody would notice my cunning sleight-of-hand. Perhaps even  their reasoning is a bit opaque, to me at least  that Ive been counting occasional blog entries (or passing sparrows, or broadcasts of Music and the Spoken Word, or whatever) in the total.

But I havent been. I said that the article that went up Friday on the Interpreter Foundation website represented the 661st consecutive Friday on which the Interpreter Foundation had published at least one article because it represented the 661st consecutive Friday on which the Interpreter Foundation had published at least one article. For whatever its worth, things have simply turned out that way. It was never a goal of ours, and I didnt even begin to notice our uninterrupted streak until it was quite far along. But I have an important announcement to make: This coming Friday will be the 662nd Friday in a row on which the Interpreter Foundation has published at least one article. That, friends, is how running totals work.

I appreciate these two kind articles that were occasioned by the very premature passing of former Utah Congresswoman Mia Love. The first of them briefly mentions her Latter-day Saint faith:

I had high hopes for Sister Loves political future representing my adopted home state and, in a very real fashion, representing our shared faith. But she collided, first, with a transmogrified Republican Party and then, thereafter, with brain cancer. Such is mortality. Such is this fallen world.

Thinking, though, about the contributions that have been made by Latter-day Saint women, and the contributions that they are making right now and that they will make into the boundless future, I want to note that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently released a new Gospel Topics essay on Womens Service and Leadership in the Church. These essays are intended to be read.

Finally, in the spirit of the meme shown immediately above, heres a story from the Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File that will nicely illustrate the blithering stupidity of theists. It even includes an interesting seven-minute video: BYUHawaii: Rooted in Tradition, Focused on a Sustainable Future: The university, along with the Laie Hawaii Temple and the Polynesian Cultural Center, are on track to be energy independent in 2026

And, as if more evidence were needed, heres yet another item from the Hitchens File identifying a way in which adherence to the Latter-day Saints ridiculous Word of Wisdom may infantilize those who follow it by depriving them of some of the rich life experiences that they might otherwise have enjoyed (e.g., earlier and, if they survive, more frequent heart attacks): Opinion: Marijuanas newfound health problems

This is another Hitchens File instance of religion corrupting a community and its history: Church Receives Award for Reconstruction, Preservation of Ohio Historic Site: Dedicated in 2023, the Joseph and Emma Smith Home was honored for enriching and preserving Kirtlands historic and cultural heritage

Finally (for today), I can just about guarantee that, if you watch enough of this forty-minute video, it will enrage you quite deliciously to see how certain unprincipled theists are shamelessly attempting to spread their toxic influence among African-Americans and, in fact, within Africa itself: New documentary follows young adults during Latter-day Saint and NAACP fellowship to Ghana: Video shows how the Church and NAACP are building ambassadors of peace and harmony

Posted from Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been named as a respondent in a High Court case involving a chieftaincy dispute within the prominent Khumalo clan in Lupane, Matabeleland North province. The case, which has been brewing for years, centers around the ascension of Zanele Khumalo as Regent Chief Mabhikwa, a position that 32 Khumalo family members are challenging as unlawful.The Khumalo clan, historically the rulers of the Ndebele State under King Lobengula before its destruction by British colonial forces in the 1893 Anglo-Ndebele War, has been embroiled in a succession conflict that dates back to 2009. The dispute has resurfaced following the death of Chief Mabhikwa (Vusumuzi Khumalo) in 2022, leading to a controversial appointment of Zanele Khumalo as regent chief.Zanele, a married mother of two, was installed to serve as chief for nine years until her late brother's son, Makhosemvelo Khumalo, comes of age. However, several Khumalo family members argue that her appointment is illegal, as there is no legal provision for a Regent Chief under Zimbabwean law.The legal challenge, filed through Dube, Mguni & Dube Legal Practitioners, names Minister of Local Government Daniel Garwe as the First Respondent, followed by National Council of Chiefs president Chief Mtshane Khumalo, Matabeleland North provincial assembly of chiefs chairperson Chief Siansali, Zanele Khumalo, and President Mnangagwa as the Fifth Respondent.The claimants contend that John Khumalo, who has long sought recognition as chief, was never formally removed as acting chief, making Zanele's appointment invalid. They further argue that past succession decisions were influenced by political and familial bias, particularly regarding Nicholas Khumalo's lineage and the rightful heir.Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga has also been linked to the dispute, as he reportedly has family connections to the Khumalos and even paid for funeral expenses following Vusumuzi Khumalo's passing. In 2012, another attempt to install Vusa Benjamin Khumalo, Nicholas's son, as chief faced similar resistance.The applicants in the current case accuse government-appointed officials, including Chief Nkalakatha, of mishandling the succession process due to conflicts of interest and a lack of understanding of Ndebele cultural traditions. They insist that the High Court's 2009 ruling, which outlined the lawful succession process within the Mlonyeni Khumalo chieftaincy, must be upheld.As the case unfolds, the battle over the Mabhikwa chieftaincy remains a contentious issue, highlighting deep-rooted historical and political tensions within the Khumalo clan and the broader Ndebele community.
Based on a number of new features being rolled up within new Release Preview updates for Windows 11, Microsoft appears to be readying a push for AI-powered enhancements in the coming weeks.

Although Microsoft typically reserves major feature releases for the fall, April 2025 is a key month for the software giant because it marks the 50th anniversary of the companys founding. With two preview releases of Windows 11, Microsoft has tipped off what features your PC will be receiving soonmost likely in April.

Both Windows 11 Build 26100.3613 and Windows 11 Build 26100.3624 are part of the Release Preview Channel for Windows 11 Insiders, meaning you can try them out early yourself by joining the Windows Insider program. If you do, note that Microsoft isnt releasing all of these features in one fell swoop. Some of them will be released normally while others are rolled out in a gradual cadence.

Optional non-security feature releases typically launch on the fourth week of every month, usually on a Tuesday. (In this case, thatd be April 22, 2025.) Those features then typically roll out to everyone else about two weeks later. Nothing guarantees this timeline, of course. Its our best guess based on past releases and when theyve occurred.

Remember, though, Microsofts emphasis is on the newand the sexiest new Windows features use AI. That means youll need a Copilot+ PC, and Copilot+ PCs mean NPUs. (But NPUs are only available on a subset of PCs, and even then certain features are only available for certain NPUs.) Basically, if you want everything that Microsoft has to offer, you should buy a laptop with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip in it, like the Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition.

New AI features coming to Windows 11

Right now, it appears that semantic search will be Windows flagship AI feature for the near future. Semantic search, which was first shown off back in January, allows you to forego the exact word or title youre searching for and describe it instead. For example, you could search for photo of children at school without knowing the exact file name.

For years, youve searched for keywords to find what youre looking for. Microsoft wants you to break that habit. Microsoft

Semantic search may also help offset Copilots inability to monitor and control your PC, something that was originally planned but fell by the wayside. In its place, youll be able to describe what you want Windows to do inside the Settings menu.

Put another way, semantic search will be a part of Windows Search as well as Settings. Unfortunately, semantic search will only be available for Windows on Snapdragon PCs; users with AMD- or Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs will have to wait. But since it will run locally on your PC, you wont have to be connected to the internet for it to work.

Microsoft is also kinda-sorta bringing semantic search to photosbut only in File Explorer, not the Photos app. The Photos app already allows you to search via words like snow to identify photos of snowy mountains. Going forward, File Explorer will now allow you to search using words like summer picnic, Microsoft says.

Semantic search will apply to the Windows 11 Settings app, too. Microsoft

File Explorer, like Photos, will now show photos stored on OneDrive in the cloud alongside photos stored locally on your PC. Its not quite clear whether Microsoft is using the PCs NPU to perform these searches but it must be since this feature is reserved for Snapdragon PCs, too. Its coming soon to Copilot+ PCs with AMD and Intel inside.

That said, if you do own a Copilot+ PC powered by either AMD or Intel processors, heres some good news: live captions and real-time translation are going to be available.

Live Captions first debuted in the Windows 11 2022 Update, though it used the power of the CPU back then, not the NPU. Now, up to 44 different languages can be captured and translated into English on AMD and Intel Copilot+ PCs via video calls, recordings, and streamed content. If you own a Snapdragon PC, the opposite is true: you can now translate English (or 25 other languages) into Chinese using real-time translation.

Chris Hoffman / IDG

Your voice can also be used to better effect in Voice Access, too. One of the issues Ive had with Voice Access is that its unbearably rigidyou either know the commands or you dont. Now, Microsoft is using AI to loosen up Voice Access by allowing you to describe what you want to do instead of using the exact syntax. Chinese support for Voice Access is being added, too.

If you use an app with support for Windows Studio Effects, you should see an icon on the system tray that shows when Windows Studio Effects is in use. Its a bit redundant since Microsoft already indicated that the icon would appear in a February Windows update.

Other changes coming to Windows

Microsoft is also changing how it monitors your system. You may start seeing cards that show off your PCs key specifications, such as the CPU, memory, and storage. This is a reorganization of sorts since the Windows Settings app already consolidates these features, but these top cards will simply pull this information out and put them at the top of the Settings > System > About portion of Windows Settings.

Microsoft also says that it will track CPU utilization a bit differently in Task Manager, though its not clear how this will play out. A separate, hidden tab will show off the old way of measuring it.

Microsoft

Youll see new ways of interacting with Windows, too. Laptops place a keyboard right under your fingers, but desktop PCs dont. You might end up in a situation where your desktops keyboard is off to the side (perhaps if youve turned your PC into an arcade or virtual pinball cabinet). In that case, you can use a new Xbox gamepad keyboard interface, where you can use an Xbox gamepad to type just like on the console.

A new emoji interface is being added, too. You might know that you can access the Windows emoji menu via the Windows key + Semicolon shortcut, but apparently no one else does given that Microsoft is adding a new system tray icon to the taskbar to highlight the emoji panel.

Chris Hoffman / IDG

Microsoft is also working with developers to add improved widgets, something thats been promised for a while now. But one change you should see in this release, given what Microsoft has announced, is greater control over which widgets you see on your lock screen. How will that work? Well know soon enough.

Wed like to think that features such as Windows new battery icons will be released soonbut those are still stuck in the Dev Channel, so they probably still have a ways to go. We also havent heard much about Windows Recall lately either, which has already been released for testing. Remember, theres always more to come.
Nvidia is all-in on AI, even for gamers, which really shouldnt be a surprise at this point. But its not all massive data centers and industrial chips. In addition to releasing a local language model you can train on your own content, Nvidias latest goodie for RTX GPU-equipped PCs is Project G-Assist, a game-focused AI assistant.

Nvidia G-Assist was fist previewed at Computex almost a year ago. According to Nvidias promotional material, the tool now included in the rebranded Nvidia app can help you monitor game performance, answer hardware- and software-related questions, and even control lighting on some peripherals via ChatGPT-style text or voice interactions. At launch, Nvidia says that the app can control hardware and lighting settings on supported Logitech G, Corsair, MSI, and Nanoleaf devices.

Other enhancements to the latest version of the Nvidia app include more distinct overrides and preset options for DLSS settings, and expanded DLSS support for more games (including Control, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and the new Half-Life 2 RTX mod, among others).

Nvidia G-Assist is available on all Windows AI PCs with RTX graphics cards, though your mileage may vary as to whether your computer meets that qualification depending on your processor. Download the latest version of the Nvidia app and the newest GPU drivers to check it out.
A security company plans to lay off dozens of people in Pennsylvania this year as it restructures its company.

Allied Universal Security Services filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification notice with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry informing the state it plans to lay off 72 people at 161 Washington St, Suite 600, in Conshohocken, Montgomery County.

Allied Universal is currently undergoing a restructuring of its business operations. As part of this restructuring, certain positions within the company are being phased out. We are looking for other positions for the affected employees. That said, unless alternative arrangements are made, the affected employees employment with the company will conclude, the company said in the WARN notice.

The layoffs are expected to take place on May 19, 23, and 30; June 6, 20, and 27; July 11 and 18; August 8, 22, and 29; and September 12.

The employees include:

Senior accountant: 2

Staff accountant :2

Treasury analyst: 1

Treasury specialist: 7

Benefits service representative: 1

Infrastructure engineer: 1

Network engineer I: 1

Senior software engineer: 2

Senior tech support specialist: 1

Software development analyst: 1

Tech support manager: 1

Tech support specialist: 3

Accounts payable clerk: 1

Senior financial transactions specialist: 2

Accounts payable lead specialist: 1

Accounts payable specialist: 4

Accounts receivable specialist: 2

Billing auditor: 1

Billing specialist: 6

Billing supervisor: 1

Contract accounting specialist: 9

Employee transactions specialist: 4

Financial transactions specialist: 7

Financial transactions supervisor: 1

Payroll specialist: 7

Senior accounts payable specialist: 2

Senior billing specialist: 1

The company provided the following statement:

Allied Universal understands that a workforce reduction affects those directly impacted as well as the entire company. Doing the right thing and caring for our people are core to how we do business.

The workforce reduction is a result of a companywide centralization and standardization of all of our business processes, enabling the company to improve efficiency and focus on our core business. The reduction is expected to affect 0.1% of our North American workforce.

The WARN Act is federal legislation that offers protection to workers, their families, and communities by requiring employers to provide notice 60 days in advance of a covered-business closing and covered-business mass layoff. The WARN notice was dated March 20.

Allied Universal has operations in more than 100 countries. Allied Universal acquired six companies last year: JE Security in Barbados; Unified Command, Brosnan and Briger Security in the United States; ISX Guarding in the Netherlands; and Aim Investigations in Australia.
Police have charged a Philadelphia woman with murder, saying she killed her husband and left his body outside on a plastic sheet.

At about 7 a.m. March 19, police said they responded to a report of someone screaming in the 800 block of Bells Mill Road. Upon arrival, they found the body of Jordan Baxter, 38, a SEPTA engineer, lying on a plastic sheet between two cars.

A gun was lying on his chest and he had a gunshot wound to the back of his head, 6ABC reported. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Baxters wife, Danielle Baxter, 39, was arrested on March 20 and charged with murder, possession of an instrument of crime with intent, abuse of corpse and tampering with and fabricating physical evidence.

She is currently being held at the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center after her bail was denied. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 7.

SEPTA is saddened by the tragic loss of Jordan Baxter, who was a veteran Regional Rail engineer. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this difficult time, the agency said in a statement.
From left to right are Audriana L. Empet, director of admissions at Pennsylvania College of Technology; Stacey C. Hampton, assistant dean of industrial and computer technologies at Pennsylvania College of Technology; Loni N. Kline, senior vice president for college relations and chief philanthropy officer at Pennsylvania College of Technology; Joanna K. Flynn, vice president for academic affairs and provost at Pennsylvania College of Technology; Michael J. Reed, president at Pennsylvania College of Technology; Pedro Rivera, president of Thaddeus Stevens College; George Longridge, vice president for finance and administration at Thaddeus Stevens College; Pam Smith, vice president of college advancement at Thaddeus Stevens College; Kesha Morant Williams, vice president for academic affairs at Thaddeus Stevens College and Melissa Day, director of K-16 and strategic initiatives at Thaddeus Stevens College. Photo provided

Officials at the Pennsylvania College of Technology and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology have signed an articulation agreement.

The agreement allows a smooth transition for students who complete a degree from two of Thaddeus Stevens Colleges associate degree programs to enroll in a four-year degree at Pennsylvania College of Technology, officials said.

The agreement provides a pathway for students who have successfully completed an associate degree in electrical technology or electro-mechanical technology at Thaddeus Stevens College, who can then transfer specific earned credits into the building automation engineering technology bachelor degree program at Penn College.

Students must earn a minimum final cumulative grade point average of 2.0 while at Thaddeus Stevens College, and gain admission to Penn College while meeting placement requirements. Students with associate degrees from Thaddeus Stevens will be able to complete their bachelors degree in two years of full-time study and can be considered for Penn College scholarship opportunities.

Our mission is to open doors to higher education for students who might not otherwise have that available to them, Pedro A. Rivera II, president of Thaddeus Stevens College, said in a news release. One of the ways we fulfill that mission is by creating multiple pathways to completion, such as partnering with other higher education institutions throughout Pennsylvania. This provides a direct route to continued education and a career in a high-demand field with family-thriving wages.

Thaddeus Stevens College is a two-year, technical college based in Lancaster that has more than 1,400 students and 24 technical programs.

Penn College is an affilate of Penn State University and has its main campus in Williamsport, and enrolls nearly 4,600 students in 100 science, technology, engineering, and math-related majors.

Thaddeus Stevens College is about two hours and ten minutes away from Penn College.
A sign for new voter registration is seen outside a polling location at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, N.H., Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Reba Saldanha) AP

By Ali Swenson and Christina A. Cassidy, The Associated Press

NEW YORK  President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a sweeping executive action to overhaul elections in the U.S., including requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and demanding that all ballots be received by Election Day.

The order says the U.S. has failed to enforce basic and necessary election protections and calls on states to work with federal agencies to share voter lists and prosecute election crimes. It threatens to pull federal funding from states where election officials dont comply.

The move, which is likely to face swift challenges because states have broad authority to set their own election rules, is consistent with Trumps long history of railing against election processes. He often claims elections are being rigged, even before the results are known, and has waged battles against certain voting methods since he lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden and falsely blamed it on widespread fraud.

Trump has focused particularly on mail voting, arguing without evidence that its insecure and invites fraud even as he has shifted his position on the issue given its popularity with voters, including Republicans. While fraud occurs, its rare, limited in scope and gets prosecuted.

The orders documentary proof of citizenship requirement signals that the president is not waiting for congressional Republicans to pass their long-anticipated Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE Act, which has aimed to do the same thing.

Republicans have defended that measure as necessary to restore public confidence in elections. Voting in federal elections by noncitizens is already illegal and can result in felony charges and deportation.

Voting rights groups have expressed concerns that the requirement could disenfranchise people. An estimated 9% of U.S. citizens of voting age, or 21.3 million people, do not have proof of citizenship readily available, according to a 2023 report by the Brennan Center for Justice and other groups.

There are also concerns that married women who have changed their names will encounter trouble when trying to register because their birth certificates list their maiden names. Such hiccups happened in recent town elections in New Hampshire, which has a new state law requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.

Trumps order directs federal agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, the Social Security Administration and the State Department to share with election officials federal data that could help them identify noncitizens on their rolls.

It also says the attorney general should prioritize enforcement of federal election integrity laws in states that dont share information about suspected election crimes with the federal government.

The order aims to require votes to be cast and received by Election Day and says federal funding should be conditional on state compliance. Currently, 18 states and Puerto Rico accept mailed ballots received after Election Day as long they are postmarked on or before that date, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

President Donald Trump gestures as he departs a reception celebrating Greek Independence Day in the East Room of the White House, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) AP

Trumps order is likely to face legal challenges, given that the Constitution gives authority over elections to the states. While Congress has the power to regulate voting  and has done so to pass such laws as the Voting Rights Act  the Constitution makes clear that states have primary authority to set the times, places and manner for elections.

Colorados Democratic secretary of state, Jena Griswold, called the order an unlawful weaponization of the federal government and said Trump is trying to make it harder for voters to fight back at the ballot box.

Democratic Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, the ranking member of the House committee that oversees elections, said the executive order is not just misguided  it is immoral and illegal.

At least one Democratic attorney on Tuesday threatened legal action. Marc Elias, who has been the subject of Trumps ire, said in a social media post: This will not stand. We will sue.

The executive branch does have some authority over elections, said Justin Levitt, a constitutional law expert and former White House senior policy adviser during the Biden administration. He said some federal agencies provide election support, including the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, which distributes federal grant money to states and runs a voluntary certification program for voting systems. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency helps election officials protect their systems.

Former President Biden issued an executive order in 2021 directing federal agencies to take steps to boost voter registration, which drew complaints from Republicans who called it federal overreach. Trump has rescinded that order.

Trumps order calls on the Election Assistance Commission to redraw its guidelines for voting systems, including to prioritize those that give voters a paper record of the ballot they cast. It said the commission should condition the funding it distributes to states on those new guidelines, which could affect states like Georgia, which use a barcode-based vote tallying system.

Georgias Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger nonetheless reacted positively to Trumps order, calling it a great first step for election integrity reform nationwide.

Thank you, President Trump, for this executive order ensuring that only American citizens decide American elections, Raffensperger said.

Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, the chairman of the House committee that oversees elections, said the order is a welcome action to secure our elections and prevent foreign influence.

Mike Lindell, a Trump ally who spreads election conspiracies and who wants to ban voting systems in favor of hand-counting ballots, fundraised off the news on Tuesday, saying in an email it will fix our sick elections.

Supervisor of the Checklist for the State of New Hampshire Leslie Dombroski, left, registers Elise Collins, 18, to vote in Derry, N.H., Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Reba Saldanha) AP

Trumps executive order comes as the Republican National Committee launched a massive effort to probe voter registration list maintenance nationwide. The committee sent public records requests this week asking for documents related to voter roll list maintenance in 48 states and Washington, D.C., asserting that the public should know how states are removing ineligible people from voter rolls, including dead people and non-citizens.

Trump referenced election fraud as he signed the order Tuesday, saying, This will end it, hopefully. He added that more election actions would be taken in coming weeks.

Cassidy reported from Atlanta. Associated Press writer Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report.

The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
KISS is returnng to the stage two years after wrapping its farewell tour. Getty Images

KISS wrapped up its farewell tour two years ago.

Turns out, it wasnt a farewell at all, though, because the legendary rock band is returning to the stage in 2025. The news comes just days after frontman Gene Simmons announced without explanation that most of his solo 2025 tour was being postponed to 2026.

Loudwire.com reported that the performance is set to be an unmasked live show to take place as part of the three-day KISS Army Storms Vegas event which is slated to take place Nov. 14-16 at the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.

The site said that KISS final show on its farewell tour came on Dec. 2, 2023.

That said, it also noted that Simmons told Rolling Stone just prior to that show that it would only be the final KISS-in-makeup appearance, which left the door open for an appearance such as this.
Hamdan Ballal, Oscar-winning Palestinian director of "No Other Land," is released from a police station in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba a day after being detained by the Israeli army following an attack by Jewish settlers, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) AP

HEBRON, West Bank (AP)  Israeli authorities released an Oscar-winning Palestinian director who was detained by the army after being attacked by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank. He said they beat him in front of his home while they filmed the assault.

Hamdan Ballal and the other directors of No Other Land, which looks at the struggles of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation, had mounted the stage at the 97th Academy Awards in Los Angeles earlier this month when it won the award for best documentary film. A sold-out screening in Syracuse is scheduled for next week.

On Tuesday, with bruises on his face and blood on his clothes, he was released from an Israeli police station in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba. He and two other Palestinians who had been attacked and detained were taken to a nearby hospital.

Ballal said he was held at an army base, blindfolded for 24 hours and forced to sleep under a freezing air conditioner.

All my body is pain, he told The Associated Press. I heard the voices of the soldiers, they were laughing about me  I heard Oscar but I didnt speak Hebrew.

Lea Tsemel, the attorney representing the three men, said they received only minimal care for their injuries from the attack and that she had no access to them for several hours after their arrest.

Palestinian residents say around two dozen settlers  some masked, some carrying guns and some in military uniforms  attacked the West Bank village of Susiya on Monday evening as residents were breaking their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Soldiers who arrived pointed their guns at the Palestinians, while settlers continued throwing stones, they said.

The Israeli police said Tuesday that the military transferred to it three suspects for investigation for alleged rock throwing, property damage and endangering regional security. It said the three were released on condition of no contact with others involved in the incident. Tsemel said Ballal and the other two Palestinians denied throwing stones.

Im dying!

In testimony given to his lawyer while in detention, Ballal said he had gone out to film the settlers as they attacked houses in the village. When he returned to his home, a well-known settler who had threatened him in the past showed up with two soldiers, according to the testimony, seen by the AP.

At his houses entrance, the settler punched Ballal in the head from behind, knocking him to the ground, then kicked him with his boots across his body and beat his head and face, Ballal said.

Lamia Ballal, the directors wife, said she was huddling inside with their three children and heard him screaming, Im dying! When she looked out the window, she saw three men in uniform beating Ballal with the butts of their rifles and another person in civilian clothes who appeared to be filming the violence.

Of course, after the Oscar, they have come to attack us more, Lamia said. I felt afraid.

West Bank settlers are often armed and sometimes wear military-style clothing that makes it difficult to distinguish them from soldiers.

On Tuesday, a small bloodstain could be seen outside their home, and the cars windshield and windows were shattered. Neighbors pointed to a nearby water tank with a hole in the side that they said had been punched by the settlers.

The settler who beat Ballal can be seen with masked men threatening him in a widely circulated video from April.

This is my land, I was given it by God, the settler says in the video, shouting profanity and trying to provoke Ballal to fight him. Next time it wont be nice, the settler says.

Film looked at Palestinians struggle to stay on the land

No Other Land chronicles the struggle by residents of the Masafer Yatta area to stop the Israeli military from demolishing their villages.

The joint Israeli-Palestinian production has won a string of international awards, starting at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2024. It has also drawn ire in Israel and abroad, as when Miami Beach proposed ending the lease of a movie theater that screened it.

Basel Adra, another of the films co-directors and a prominent Palestinian activist in the area, said theres been a massive upswing in attacks by settlers and Israeli forces since the Oscar win.

Nobody can do anything to stop the pogroms, and soldiers are only there to facilitate and help the attacks, he said. Were living in dark days here, in Gaza, and all of the West Bank ... Nobodys stopping this.

Masked settlers with sticks also attacked Jewish activists in the area on Monday, smashing their car windows and slashing tires, according to Josh Kimelman, an activist with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence. Video provided by the group showed a masked settler shoving and swinging his fists at two activists in a dusty field at night.

Open-ended military rule

Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. The Palestinians want all three for their future state and view settlement growth as a major obstacle to a two-state solution. Most of the international community considers the settlements illegal.

Israel has built well over 100 settlements, home to over 500,000 settlers who have Israeli citizenship. The 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank live under seemingly open-ended Israeli military rule, with the Western-backed Palestinian Authority administering population centers.

The Israeli military designated Masafer Yatta in the southern West Bank as a live-fire training zone in the 1980s and ordered residents, mostly Arab Bedouin, to be expelled. Around 1,000 residents have largely remained in place, but soldiers regularly demolish homes, tents, water tanks and olive orchards.

Settlers have also set up outposts in the area and at times attack villages. Palestinians and rights groups say Israeli forces usually turn a blind eye or intervene on behalf of the settlers.

The war in Gaza has sparked a surge of violence in the West Bank, with the Israeli military carrying out widescale military operations that have killed hundreds of Palestinians and displaced tens of thousands. There has been a rise in settler violence as well as Palestinian attacks on Israelis.
Hamdan Ballal, Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," is detained by the Israeli military from his home in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Monday, March 24, 2025. (Raviv Rose via AP) AP

Update: Oscar-winning filmmaker released by Israeli army after attack

By JULIA FRANKEL, The Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP)  Israeli settlers beat up one of the Palestinian co-directors of the Oscar-winning documentary film " No Other Land" on Monday in the occupied West Bank before he was detained by the Israeli military, according to two of his fellow directors and other witnesses.

The filmmaker Hamdan Ballal was one of three Palestinians detained in the village of Susiya, according to attorney Lea Tsemel, who is representing them. Police told her they were being held at a military base for medical treatment, but she said Tuesday morning that she had not been able to reach them and had no further information on their whereabouts.

Hamdan Ballal, Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," is detained by the Israeli military from his home in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Monday, March 24, 2025. (Raviv Rose via AP) AP

Basel Adra, another co-director, witnessed the detention and said around two dozen settlers  some masked, some carrying guns, some in Israeli uniform  attacked the village. Soldiers who arrived pointed their guns at the Palestinians, while settlers continued throwing stones.

We came back from the Oscars and every day since there is an attack on us, Adra told The Associated Press. This might be their revenge on us for making the movie. It feels like a punishment.

The Israeli military said it detained three Palestinians suspected of hurling rocks at forces and one Israeli civilian involved in a violent confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians  a claim witnesses interviewed by the AP disputed. The military said it had transferred them to Israeli police for questioning and had evacuated an Israeli citizen from the area to receive medical treatment.

Basel Adra, from left, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal, and Yuval Abraham, winners of the award for best documentary feature film for "No Other Land," pose in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

No Other Land, which won the Oscar this year for best documentary, chronicles the struggle by residents of the Masafer Yatta area to stop the Israeli military from demolishing their villages. Ballal and Adra, both from Masafar Yatta, made the joint Palestinian-Israeli production with Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.

The film has won a string of international awards, starting at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2024. It has also drawn ire in Israel and abroad, as when Miami Beach proposed ending the lease of a movie theater that screened the documentary.

Adra said that settlers entered the village Monday evening shortly after residents broke the daily fast for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. A settler  who according to Adra frequently attacks the village  walked over to Ballals home with the military, and soldiers shot in the air. Ballals wife heard her husband being beaten outside and scream Im dying, according to Adra.

Adra then saw the soldiers lead Ballal, handcuffed and blindfolded, from his home into a military vehicle. Speaking to the AP by phone, he said Ballals blood was still splattered on the ground outside his front door.

Some of the details of Adras account were backed up by another eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal.

A group of 10-20 masked settlers with stones and sticks also assaulted activists with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, smashing their car windows and slashing tires to make them flee the area, one of the activists at the scene, Josh Kimelman, told the AP.

Video provided by the Center for Jewish Nonviolence showed a masked settler shoving and swinging his fists at two activists in a dusty field at night. The activists rush back to their car as rocks can be heard thudding against the vehicle.

Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. The Palestinians want all three for their future state and view settlement growth as a major obstacle to a two-state solution.

Israel has built well over 100 settlements, home to over 500,000 people who have Israeli citizenship. The 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank live under seemingly open-ended Israeli military rule, with the Western-backed Palestinian Authority administering population centers.

The Israeli military designated Masafer Yatta in the southern West Bank as a live-fire training zone in the 1980s and ordered residents, mostly Arab Bedouin, to be expelled. Around 1,000 residents have largely remained in place, but soldiers regularly move in to demolish homes, tents, water tanks and olive orchards  and Palestinians fear outright expulsion could come at any time.

During the war in Gaza, Israel has killed hundreds of Palestinians in the West Bank during wide-scale military operations, and there has also been a rise in settler attacks on Palestinians. There has been a surge in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda has declared the Gutu East parliamentary seat vacant following the expulsion of Benjamin Ganyiwa from Zanu PF last week. Ganyiwa, who was accused of fanning factionalism and holding unsanctioned meetings, also had his party whip withdrawn, effectively disqualifying him from holding office under Zanu PF.Ganyiwa's removal is the latest development in the ongoing factional battles within Zanu PF, as the ruling party continues to crack down on members accused of undermining party unity. His expulsion follows allegations that he was mobilizing support outside the party's official structures, a move that top officials viewed as a threat to internal stability.Mudenda's announcement paves the way for a by-election in Gutu East, with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) expected to outline the electoral roadmap soon. The ruling party is likely to field a new candidate to reclaim the seat, while opposition parties may also seize the opportunity to contest in what could be a heated political battle.Ganyiwa's expulsion highlights the deepening factionalism within Zanu PF, which has seen several members disciplined or removed for alleged disloyalty. As the party navigates internal power struggles, the Gutu East vacancy will serve as a critical test of its ability to maintain cohesion ahead of future political contests.
NOTTINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 01: Alvin Gibbs, Charlie Harper and Jamie Oliver of British punk band U.K. Subs perform supporting Rancid during the first English night of their 20th anniversary tour onstage at Rock City on December 1, 2012 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Ollie Millington/Redferns via Getty Images) Redferns via Getty Images

The U.K. Subs, a legendary British punk band, were slated to play at the L.A. Punk Invasion festival on March 15, but not all of them made it.

In fact, only vocalist Charlie Harper was allowed into the country while bassist Alvin Gibbs, drummer Stefan Haublein and guitarist Marc Carrey were held up by immigration and customs control.

And Gibbs took to social media to talk about it and even theorize on just why that may be. And, he said, he believes his past criticisms of President Donald Trump may have been behind it all.

Gibbs revealed they were told that something had flagged (us) which required my being taking 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 succumbing to paranoia," he wrote on Facebook.

I was then taken by two police offers 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, he continued. My luggage, phone and passport were all taken from me, and at 4am (I 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.

In the end, Gibbs said he was kind of proud of myself for being thrown out of America at the age of 67, not knowing that my relationships with that country is over for the foreseeable future.
"Ghost Adventures" star Aaron Goodwin has spoken out for the first time since his wife was arrested in early March. Here, Goodwin arrives at the sixth annual Fighters Only World Mixed Martial Arts Awards at The Palazzo Las Vegas on February 7, 2014, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images

Longtime reality TV star Aaron Goodwin has spoken out for the first time since his wife, Victoria Goodwin, was arrested on murder-for-hire charges.

The Ghost Adventures star took to Instagram on March 22 to share a brief message with his followers.
Whoopi Goldberg shared her thoughts after learning about the death of the first black republican congresswoman, Mia Love. Love was 49.

Loves death was announced on March 23 on her profile on X. She died after a three-year battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive and malignant type of brain tumor.

Love Family: With grateful hearts filled to overflowing for the profound influence of Mia on our lives, we want you to know that she passed away peacefully today. She was in her home surrounded by family, the post reads. In the midst of a celebration of her life and an avalanche of happy memories, Mia quietly slipped the bands of mortality and, as her words and vision always did, soared heavenward.

In a clip shared on the shows TikTok page, Goldberg took a moment to honor Loves life as she had previously guest hosted on The View back in 2021, after the shows conservative voice, Megan McCain, left.

This got us, Goldberg said. We are heartbroken to learn that the first Black Republican woman elected to the U.S. Congress, Mia Love, passed away at just 49, three years after being diagnosed with brain cancer. She was a guest co-host back in 2021 with us, and we had some fun with her and she will be missed. She will absolutely be missed.

Hosts Anna Narrvaro and Sunny Hostin recalled Love as being lovely, and Narrvaro gave her condolences to Loves children and husband. Goldberg finished expressing her condolences after her co-hosts spoke.

She came, she wanted to be part of what were doing here, you know, Goldberg said. And that should remind you that it is possible for us all to not agree but to get along and try to talk about it. It can be done.

Love served Utahs fourth district in 2014. She was married to Jason Love, and the couple shares three children: Abigale, Peyton, and Alessa.
The closures of movie theaters are often seen as a sign of the times, with theater attendance  and profits  nothing like they used to be.

Unfortunately, theres one more local movie theater to add to the casualty list.

TAPinto Phillipsburg reports how the Regal Pohatcong in Pohatcong Township, New Jersey  the only movie theater in the Phillipsburg area  closed for good as of Sunday, March 9.

The same TAPinto Phillipsburg explains how the location was one of 39 cinemas set to close this month due to the financial struggles of owner, Cineworld.

According to Business Insider, Cineworld  which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September  is looking to shut down roughly 130 movie theaters nationwide. The company believes this will help save its business millions while helping to preserve other theaters operations.

Alas, people in the Phillipsburg area are still somewhat mourning the loss of the theater in the weeks following its closure: Lehigh Valley Live reports how those who once watched the movies showed there continue to reminisce fondly at the memories.

The movie theater was my go-to spot when I had the day off from work, and even after I retired, one such moviegoer told the publication. It saddens me that they are now closed.

Further information regarding the closure of other theaters remains pending.
A United Airlines pilot broke the lock to a bathroom door and forcibly removed a New Jersey man for spending too much time in the lavatory during a flight this year, a federal lawsuit alleges.

The pilot, who is not named in the lawsuit, dragged Yisroel Liebb out of the bathroom while his pants were still around his ankles, in view of flight attendants, several other passengers and an acquaintance with whom he was flying, according to the suit filed in New York last week.

Liebb and his acquaintance, Jacob Sebbag, also allege they were handcuffed and illegally detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection after the flight from Tulum, Mexico, landed in Houston on Jan. 28.

United Airlines declined to comment on the suit, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Before U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers removed Liebb and Sebbag from the plane, the pilot made disparaging remarks about the Jewish men, threatening to have them arrested and saying this is how Jews act.

When Liebb and Sebbag questioned why they were being detained, an agent said, This isnt county or state, we are homeland, you have no rights here.

The men were placed in separate cells, searched and questioned before being released.

Liebb first went to the bathroom about a half-hour after boarding the flight due to stomach issues. Twenty minutes later, a flight attendant awakened Sebbag and asked him to check on his flying companion.

Sebbag got out of his seat and and reported back to the flight attendant that Liebb would be out of the bathroom shortly.

About 10 minutes later, a pilot approached Sebbag and asked him to get Liebb out of the bathroom.

The pilot then started shouting through the door, ordering Liebb out before turning to Sebbag and demanding he force his companion to leave the restroom.

Liebb also told the pilot through the door he would be out momentarily but the pilot became visibly enraged, broke the lock on the door and forced the door to the bathroom open.

Liebb alleged he suffered injuries to his head and legs while being dragged out of the bathroom and a wrist injury from handcuffs.

After releasing Liebb and Sebbag, United Airlines provided the men new plane tickets to catch a different connecting flight to New York. They missed their earlier flight while detained and had to pay for a hotel room essentially negating the price of the complimentary flight, according to the lawsuit.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
The National Weather Service on Tuesday issued a special weather statement for several counties in central Pennsylvania warning of an elevated risk of wildfires.

The weather statement, issued at 8:25 a.m., said Dauphin, Cumberland, Adams, York, Lancaster, Perry, Franklin, Mifflin, Juniata and Lebanon counties should experience a combination of dry and windy conditions which will bring an elevated risk of wildfire spread along the south of I-80.

Clearfield, Centre, Cambria, Blair, Huntingdon, Somerset, Bedford, Fulton, Southern Clinton, Union, Snyder, Montour, Northumberland, Columbia and Schuylkill counties are also included in the NWS statement.

Minimum relative humidity values in those regions will range from 20 to 30 percent as winds gust between 25 and 35 miles per hour, the NWS said.

Residents are urged to exercise caution if handling any potential ignition sources, such as machinery, cigarettes, or matches. Hold on to your cigarette butts! If dry grasses and tree litter begin to burn, the fire will have the potential to spread rapidly, the special weather statement included.

A brush fire was reported in Rapho Township, Lancaster County, Tuesday afternoon. More than a dozen emergency vehicles responded to the area of Shumaker Road and Oak Tree Road around 1:20 p.m., dispatch logs show.

Manheim Fire Department and Fire Department Mount Joy responded to the brush fire, which took up about 2,500 square feet of a field.

For more information about wildfire danger and wildfire prevention, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website.
FILE - In this Oct. 22, 2017, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell (26) answers questions at a post-game meeting with reporters following a 29-14 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in an NFL football game in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are beginning preparations for their Week 1 opener against Cleveland without All-Pro running back Le'Veon Bell. Bell did not arrive at the team's facility in time for practice on Monday and has yet to sign his one-year franchise tender, leaving his status for Sunday's visit to the Browns in doubt. (AP Photo/Fred Vuich, File) ASSOCIATED PRESS

A jury in Ohio ruled former Pittsburgh Steelers running back LeVeon Bell must pay $25 million to a female family stemming from a civil lawsuit alleging Bell sexually abused her.

The case was filed against Bell in 2024 by the female relative, who alleges Bell and his brother, LaVonte, sexually abused her repeatedly while she was a child. On the case, the jury ruled that LeVeon must pay her $25 million while his brother, LaVonte, owes the woman $11 million.

The damages equal out to $20 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. Bell and his brother are accused of sexually abusing the women starting from the age of seven and through at least 2017.

Bell and his lawyer deny the claims. In a Twitch stream shortly after the ruling, Bell said he just found out about the proceedings shortly before the ruling was brought down.

I just found out this was brewing up maybe about two days ago, Bell said. Do yall think LeVeon Bell, do I need to force myself upon a woman? Anybody? Do I need to force myself upon them? I dont I put this on my life. I put this on all my kids, my moms life, I put this on everything, I never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever pushed myself on a girl when she aint want that (expletive). Never Ive never forced myself on nobody. I got my pick of the litter.

In a statement to TMZ, his lawyer, Timothy Shaffer denied the allegations and said Bell will file a motion to open and reverse the default judgement of the case.

My client adamantly denies any and all allegations that have been lodged against him. Further, he was never served with a civil complaint or any documents, Shaffer told TMZ. The default judgment granted was based upon violations of his Fifth Amendment rights of due process for failing to be served My client is in the process of filing a motion to open and reverse the default judgment because the merits of the case have never been litigated.

Bells high school alma mater, Groveport Madison High School, named their high school stadium after him following a significant donation in 2018, but have now removed his name from all branding.
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa controversially awarded Transport Minister Felix Mhona the title of Best Performing Minister in his Cabinet for 2024, despite the country's roads being in a deplorable state.Mnangagwa praised Mhona for his so-called sterling achievements in refurbishing critical infrastructure, particularly the road network, and overseeing a supposed turnaround of parastatals under his ministry.However, the reality on the ground tells a different story - Zimbabwe's roads are crumbling, with major highways becoming death traps due to massive potholes and poor maintenance. The nation's roads have deteriorated to dangerous levels, with many key highways now impassable.The infamous Victoria Falls Road, a crucial link to one of the world's most renowned tourist destinations, has been reduced to a treacherous pathway riddled with potholes that resemble craters. This road, which should serve as a gateway for international visitors, now stands as a symbol of the government's failure and misplaced priorities.While the government has focused on repairing roads near luxury hotels in Harare and the new Parliament building - conveniently in time for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit held in Harare last October - the rest of the country's road network remains neglected.Mnangagwa's administration has been repeatedly accused of awarding lucrative road construction and maintenance tenders to politically connected companies with little capacity to deliver. These firms, often owned by Mnangagwa's allies, receive millions in public funds but fail to deliver quality work. Reports indicate that some of these companies receive payments for roads that remain unrepaired or are patched up with substandard materials that wash away after the first rains.Despite these glaring failures, Mnangagwa has seen fit to reward Minister Mhona, barely a month after his government was exposed for the shocking state of the Victoria Falls Road. The move has sparked outrage among citizens, who continue to endure impassable roads that damage vehicles, increase transport costs, and contribute to rising road accidents.The awards ceremony at State House in Harare saw Mnangagwa honoring Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, and government officials under the guise of fostering a culture of excellence and accountability. The decision to recognize Mhona, despite widespread criticism of his ministry's failures, underscores growing discontent over the government's handling of infrastructure projects and public resources.
Serbias Nenad Dukic has etched his name into the history books, conquering a record-breaking field in the $3,300 Main Event at the 2025 Merit Poker Carmen Series to capture the trophy and the $401,000 top prize. After five intense days of poker inside the Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino, Dukic emerged victorious from a 881-entry fieldthe largest ever recorded at a Carmen Series stop and one that generated a staggering $2,431,560 prize pool.

Dukic started the final table as chip leader and never let his foot off the gas, applying pressure at the right moments and making big calls when it counted. His run culminated in a heads-up battle with Turkeys Akin Tuna, a well-known regular on the European circuit. Tuna fought hard and clawed his way into contention, but Dukics momentum was simply too strong to stop, and he closed it out in style to claim the biggest win of his career.

With the victory, Dukic adds a signature title to his poker resume and earns his first major live trophy. The final table featured a strong international lineup with players from seven different countries, but in the end, it was the Serbian who rose above them all and stood alone as champion of this historic event.

Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Nenad Dukic Serbia $401,000 2 Akin Tuna Turkey $265,000 3 Mikhail Zavoloka Russia $185,250 4 Soraya Estrada Spain $132,100 5 Han Han San Marino $99,050 6 Chady Ojeil Lebanon $80,500 7 Maher Achour Tunisia $65,700 8 Daniil Kiselev Russia $52,200 9 Leonid Orman Russia $39,600

Winner's Reaction

Following the trophy ceremony and photos, Dukic took a moment to reflect on the biggest victory of his poker career. It was really amazing, he said, visibly relieved and still soaking in the moment. I just feel so relieved to finally close it.

While he couldnt single out one particular hand that sealed the deal, Dukic noted that the final table was far from easy. He pointed to Mikhail Zavoloka as one of the most challenging opponents at the table, though he was quick to give credit to the rest of the finalists as well. Everyone played well. It was a real battle out there.

The $401,000 payday marks Dukics largest live score to datejust narrowly edging out his previous bestbut he did mention that hes had some bigger results online. With this victory, Dukic now climbs into the top ten on Serbias all-time money list, currently sitting in ninth place with nearly $1,000,000 in live tournament earnings.

Nenad Dukic

When asked about what keeps him coming back to Merit events, Dukic kept things low-key. I like coming here. The tournaments are great, the atmosphere is always good, he said, praising the environment at Merit Poker. The people at the tables kept me going. Its just a really good vibe.

Dukic was also honest about the journey. I wouldnt recommend people do things the way I did, he said with a laugh. But if youre chasing a big win, just keep grinding. Keep putting in positive effort and try to improve. Thats all you can really do.

Despite the huge milestone, Dukic downplayed the idea of this win changing who he is as a player. Its not that important to me in that way, he admitted. Its just one step. A big one, surebut the grind continues.

Dukic's Journey to the Title

Dukic wasted no time asserting his dominance at the final table, quickly building on his start-of-day chip lead. He claimed the first elimination of the day by sending Leonid Orman to the rail in ninth place, and by the time Daniil Kiselev bowed out in eighth, Dukic was already holding close to a third of the chips in play. Maher Achour was next to go in seventh after a mistimed hero call against Zavoloka, which ended his run prematurely.

Dukic then picked up pocket aces and scored another knockout, eliminating Chady Ojeil in sixth place. The Lebanese player had flopped top pair with king-queen in a three-bet pot and opted to check-call all three streets, only to run head-first into the overpair of Dukic. But the Serbian's momentum briefly stalled when he doubled up Tuna shortly after, allowing the runner-up to climb back and nearly even out the stacks.

Soraya Estrada

Soraya Estrada surged into the chip lead after a pivotal clash with Zavoloka saw her river two pair with queen-jack against ace-queen on a queen-high board. Shortly after, Dukic claimed another elimination, winning a flip with pocket jacks against the king-queen of Han Han, leaving just four players left in the hunt for the title.

Zavoloka looked to be on his way out in fourth when he got ace-nine in against Estradas ace-jack, but a fortunate nine on the flop kept his hopes alive.

Mikhail Zavoloka

One of the defining hands of the tournament soon followed. Dukic limped in from the small blind and Estrada checked her option. On a queen-high flop, the chips flew in after a big turn bet from Dukic was met with an unexpected shove from Estrada. Dukic made the call with top two pair, which had Estradas queen-seven crushed. The river changed nothing, and Estrada was left with mere crumbs before bowing out moments later in fourth.

Zavoloka looked poised to climb back into contention when he got ace-queen in ahead of Dukics ace-eight. But the runout had other plans. After outdrawing Estrada earlier with the worse hand, Zavoloka found himself on the wrong end this timeDukic made a straight on the turn, cracking the superior ace and ending Zavolokas run in third place.

Heads Up

The final two players returned from a short break with Dukic holding a commanding two-to-one chip leadand it didnt take long to wrap things up. After receiving a walk in the first hand, Dukic moved all in on the very next holding pocket threes. Tuna quickly called with ace-nine, but the flop brought disaster for him as Dukic flopped a full house. Although Tuna paired his nine on the turn, there was no miracle river in sight. With that, Dukic sealed the victory and Tuna was forced to settle for second.

Akin Tuna

With that dramatic finish, the 2025 Merit Poker Carmen Series Main Event comes to an end. Its been a record-breaking ride, from a historic 881 entries to an unforgettable final table. Congratulations once again to Nenad Dukic, who walks away with the $401,000 top prize and the coveted title.

That concludes our coverage from the Crystal Cove Hotel and Casinothanks for following along with PokerNews, and well see you at the next Merit Poker adventure.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The escalating battle over President Emmerson Mnangagwa's succession has taken a violent turn, with homes of the Zanu-PF leader's perceived opponents coming under attack. Among the targets was war veteran Blessed Geza, whose farm in Sanyati was vandalized by unknown gunmen last Thursday night, forcing his employees to flee into the bush for safety.On the same night, expelled Zanu-PF member Godwin Gomwe's house and vehicle in Zvimba, Mashonaland West, were also attacked, in what is believed to be a coordinated effort against individuals resisting Mnangagwa's rule extension.The incidents come amid a growing factional war within Zanu-PF over a controversial push to extend Mnangagwa's presidency beyond his constitutionally mandated final term in 2028. The ruling party's 2024 annual conference resolved to seek an extension to 2030, despite Mnangagwa publicly denying any intention to cling to power.Geza has been vocal in his opposition to Mnangagwa, recently calling for nationwide protests on March 31 to demand the president's resignation. He accused Mnangagwa of misgovernance and corruption, further stoking tensions within the ruling party.Zanu-PF youth leader John Paradza, in response, vowed to crush the protest, pledging loyalty to Mnangagwa during the launch of a presidential youth empowerment fund in Harare last week. Youths at the event sang songs endorsing the 2030 agenda.Meanwhile, survivors of the attack on Geza's Sanyati farm described their ordeal, saying armed assailants stormed the property and demanded information on his whereabouts. One victim recounted being held at gunpoint before being taken to the house, where attackers shattered windows and threatened to return for more violence."As Sanyati people, we are now living in fear," a witness said. "They tied up our neighbors and demanded to know where Geza was hiding. When we got wind of what was happening, we ran for our lives and are still sheltering in the bush."Police have launched a manhunt for Geza, accusing him of inciting violence, undermining the authority of the president, and fraud. National police spokesperson Paul Nyathi declined to comment on ongoing investigations into both the attacks and the search for Geza.Gomwe, who also survived an attack on his property, accused Zanu-PF members of trying to silence him for opposing the 2030 agenda. The ruling party recently suspended and expelled over a dozen members suspected of undermining Mnangagwa's leadership, with insiders revealing that most were targeted for resisting the term extension push.However, Zanu-PF's Director of Information, Farai Marapira, distanced the party from the attacks, insisting that Zanu-PF promotes peace and unity. "The president has made it clear that we must have peace and unity, and this is what we have also said as a party," Marapira said.He added that Geza and Gomwe had many enemies and suggested the attacks could have come from other quarters. "They have created a toxic and inflammatory environment around themselves, but as a party, we continue to encourage tolerance and acceptance of diverse opinions."As tensions over the 2030 agenda rise, religious leaders have called for calm, urging authorities to listen to public grievances. Evangelical Fellowship pastor Brighton Dengu urged Zimbabweans to seek peaceful solutions."We call upon all Zimbabweans to remain peaceful and to seek constructive ways to address their grievances," he said. "Violence and repression will only deepen the divisions in our nation. The voices of the people must be heard, not silenced."Despite growing resistance, Mnangagwa has yet to respond to Geza's call for him to step down.
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Matthew Christian is a reporter for the Aiken Standard. He covers the Savannah River Site, city of Aiken, politics and public safety and courts.

Matthew previously covered government and politics for the Morning News in Florence. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law and the University of Charleston in West Virginia.

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Aiken Standard reporter

Bill Bengtson is an Aiken Standard reporter and has focused since 1996 on such subjects as education, churches, retirees, agriculture, veterans, North Augusta, Fort Gordon and northern Aiken County. His start in South Carolina reporting was in Greenwood, with the Index-Journal. He is a native of Florence, Alabama, and a graduate of Whitman College and the University of Georgia.

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Harare, March 25, 2025  Zimbabwe's President, Dr. Emmerson Mnangagwa, has announced a major reshuffle in the government, with the departure of Honourable Kirsty Coventry from her role as Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts, and Culture. Coventry has been relieved of her duties following her election as the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), a move described as a "well-deserved achievement" in an official government statement.

In a subsequent decision, the President has appointed retired Lieutenant General Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe as Coventry's replacement. Prior to this appointment, Sanyatwe was serving as the Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army and a senior leader in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. His retirement from the military and reassignment as Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts, and Culture was executed under constitutional provisions, signaling a shift from military service to civilian leadership.The changes, confirmed in official press statements issued by Dr. M. Rushwaya, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, took effect immediately. This reshuffle marks a significant transition, with a decorated athlete-turned-minister leaving for an international role, while a former military leader steps into a key ministerial position.
Seth Taylor covers Greenville and the Upstate for The Post and Courier. Born in Iowa, he worked in Wyoming at the Buffalo Bulletin before moving to the Palmetto State.
Mount Pleasant Performing Arts Company will perform the ballet "Cinderella" on March 29-30 at the Sottile Theatre.
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Opinion / Columnist

The conviction of Prosper Bizwick by Harare magistrate Ethel Sichera has shed light on the deep-rooted corruption within the Deeds Office, exposing how those entrusted with public service can betray their responsibilities for personal gain. You may have the title deeds in your possession and still lose your property. The case, revolves the forgery of title deeds belonging to Dr. Dzingai Mutumbuka and highlights significant lapses in the legal and policing systems that facilitate such fraudulent activities.Bizwick, 48, has been found guilty of illegally forging title deeds for Dr. Mutumbuka's property and is poised to receive his sentence soon, following the revocation of his bail. However, what is troubling is the apparent failure of the police to apprehend several key individuals in this fraudulent scheme. Among those not arrested is Laina Mlambo, a supervisor at the Deeds Office. It is alleged that she played an integral role in this illegal operation by stealing Dr. Mutumbuka's title deeds and handing them over to Bizwick, presenting a stark example of collusion within the very office meant to safeguard property rights.Adding to the complexity of the case is the involvement of other individuals, including Harrison Marange, who recently passed away, reportedly purchased the property worth US$600,000 for merely US$40,000. This calls into question the transparency and ethical standards of all parties involved. As Magistrate Sichera pointed out, it remains baffling that the police failed to bring Jonah Ngome into custody, a figure involved in the property's conveyance who ostensibly altered Dr. Mutumbuka's title deed. Ngome went through a registered law firm, providing a clear trail for police to follow, yet, his whereabouts have not been accounted for, prompting speculation about whether he exists at all.The implications of this case extend far beyond just one defendant. The toll on Dr. Mutumbuka, who has endured a protracted battle lasting nearly four years, illustrates the emotional and financial drain inflicted on honest property owners. The drawn-out legal proceedings have not only been taxing on his finances but have also cast a shadow of insecurity over property ownership in Zimbabwe. Property owners are now left to grapple with the reality that their hard-earned investments could be at risk due to systemic corruption within institutions tasked with safeguarding these assets.This case underscores a pressing need for property owners in Zimbabwe to verify their ownership status regularly. With the increasing prevalence of title deed fraud, it is imperative that property owners engage in proactive measures to protect themselves from becoming victims. This includes routinely checking their property titles with the Deeds Office and remaining vigilant about any suspicious activities surrounding their properties.The case raises critical questions about the integrity of the Deeds Office and its employees. If those in trusted office are involved in fraudulent activities, it creates a culture of mistrust and fear among property owners. The conviction of Bizwick is a small step toward accountability, yet, without addressing the underlying corruption, it is merely a drop in the ocean.Moreover, the police's failure to act against accomplices like Mlambo and Ngome indicates a systemic issue within law enforcement as well. It begs the question, how many more cases of fraud go unchecked due to negligence or complicity within the ranks? Magistrate Sichera's frustrations with the police reflect a broader concern about their effectiveness in addressing property crimes, particularly those that involve organised schemes at higher levels.I am calling fortransparent investigation into the workings of the Deeds Office and the actions of those involved in title deed transactions is crucial. This includes not only punishing those who are directly involved in the fraudulent activities but also implementing measures that safeguard against future occurrences. Regular audits, better training for employees and stronger repercussions for those involved are essential steps toward restoring confidence in the system.This is a case that should serve as a catalyst for broader reforms within Zimbabwe's property management and legal frameworks. A comprehensive overhaul of the Deeds Office, combined with increased oversight and accountability, can significantly reduce instances of fraud and protect the rights of property owners.The corruption evident in the Mutumbuka-Bizwick case is an example of a much larger problem within the Deeds Office and the policing of property crimes in Zimbabwe. It is time for decisive action to protect property owners and ensure the integrity of real estate transactions. Until that happens, the risk of becoming a victim of title deed fraud remains a looming threat for many Zimbabweans, especially those in diaspora. To protect one's investment, it is essential to remain vigilant, verify ownership regularly and advocate for systemic reform aimed at eradicating such corrupt practices from the roots.If you own a property and have been away from Zimbabwe please check that you still own your property.Engineer Jacob Kudzayi Mutisi
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA / ACCESS Newswire / March 25, 2025 / Arvana Inc. (OTC PINK:AVNI) announces that PintoCity, a subsidiary of Arvana, is sponsoring Range Day for celebrities attending Freedom Fest, June 10, 2025, in Palm Springs, CA.PintoCity is providing firearms, ammunition and range bosses for the shooting sport event. Attendees will have a blast!The Trump 45 pistol will be at Freedom Fest Range Day to shoot, courtesy of Brian Lovig, PintoCity CEO.The Trump 45 is unlike any collectable handgun ever produced. This made in America gun by Cabot Guns is a 24k gold finish with grips crafted from American holly. The trigger and front sight are hand crafted from Gibeon Meteorite.About Freedom FestFreedom Fest takes place June 11 - 14, 2025 in Palm Springs, CA. It is a non-partisan, politically unaffiliated festival attracting the world's "largest gathering of free minds". The festival hosts a mix of 2,000 open-minded and inquisitive people that include business experts, politicians, entrepreneurs, influencers, artists and filmmakers, to name a few.About PintoCityPintoCity is a private company headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. With the empowerment of being a subsidiary of Arvana Inc., a public company (OTC PINK:AVNI), PintoCity is building a cutting-edge platform for specialty real estate and firearm themed centers.About Arvana Inc.Arvana (OTC PINK:AVNI) is a public company registered under the Securities & Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that is quoted on the OTC Pink Sheets Current Information Alternative Reporting platform.Arvana ContactPintoCity ContactJames Kim, Chief Executive OfficerBrian Lovig, Chief Executive OfficerPhone: +1 702 899 1072Phone: +1 250 718 8105Email:james@ arvana.us Email: brian@ pintocity.com Website: https://arvana.us Website https://pintocity.com Forward-Looking StatementsSeveral statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements of future expectations based on currently available information that are subject to risks and uncertainties including general economic conditions, changes in capital markets, regulator legislation, and other circumstances that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expectations Arvana does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or status of such statements so it will not be liable for any decision made or action taken in conjunction with the information and/or statements contained in this press release. Arvana encourages the public to read the information provided in conjunction with its recent filings on Form 8-K, Form 10-Q and Form 10-K, which may be viewed at www.sec.gov SOURCE: Arvana, Inc.
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EAST NEW YORK, NEW YORK / ACCESS Newswire / March 25, 2025 / The ATA Moving & Storage Conference 2025 brought together industry experts to discuss critical challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the moving and storage sector. MoversTech CRM, a leading software solutions provider for moving businesses, attended the event and highlighted key takeaways in compliance, economic trends, marketing strategies, artificial intelligence, and data privacy. These insights will help moving companies optimize their operations, navigate regulatory changes, and enhance their competitive edge. MoversTech logo MoversTech logoIndustry Compliance: Staying Ahead of RegulationsOne of the biggest concerns at ATA 2025 was the evolving landscape of contracts, legal updates, and compliance requirements for moving businesses. Experts stressed the importance of understanding contract details and adapting to new regulations to protect businesses from legal and financial risks.Economy & Labor Challenges: Pricing and Planning for SuccessWith housing recovery in progress but the costs still being high, moving businesses need to fine-tune their pricing and financial planning. Conference discussions emphasized strategic cost management, efficient resource allocation, and technology-driven solutions to navigate economic uncertainties. MoversTech CRM supports this effort by offering several plans tailored to meet the needs of companies of all sizes, ensuring flexibility in managing operational costs.Marketing Strategies: A Hybrid Approach for Maximum GrowthATA 2025 speakers recommended a balanced marketing strategy, integrating digital efforts like SEO, PPC, and social media marketing with traditional partnerships in real estate and local business networks. A well-rounded approach helps moving companies strengthen their brand presence, attract more leads, and drive sustainable growth.Data Privacy: Strengthening Cybersecurity in the IndustryWith the increasing digitization of moving operations, protecting sensitive customer and business data remains a priority. ATA 2025 highlighted the need for robust cybersecurity measures when adopting new technology. MoversTech CRM provides secure and reliable solutions, ensuring businesses safeguard client information while streamlining operations.AI & Automation: Smart Investments MatterWhile AI-driven solutions are revolutionizing the moving industry, conference experts warned against paying a premium for standard automation falsely marketed as " AI." True AI can analyze trends, automate repetitive tasks, and enhance decision-making, but businesses should carefully evaluate their investments to avoid unnecessary costs.Empowering Movers for the FutureATA 2025 reinforced the need for moving companies to adapt to regulatory changes, economic shifts, marketing evolution, and technological advancements. MoversTech CRM remains committed to providing solutions that help businesses navigate these challenges, offering smart automation, compliance support, and data security features to enhance efficiency and growth.About MoversTech CRMMoversTech CRM is a comprehensive customer relationship management (CRM) solution built specifically for the moving industry. Designed to streamline operations and enhance customer interactions, it provides businesses with the tools to improve efficiency, increase profitability, and stay ahead of industry trends.Services Offered:Lead & Customer ManagementAutomated Follow-UpsScheduling & DispatchingBilling & InvoicingReporting & AnalyticsIntegration with Moving SoftwareSecure Data StorageContact InformationViktor MicicProduct Managerdevelopment@ moverstech.com 866-664-0112SOURCE: Movers Tech
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / March 25, 2025 / National plaintiffs law firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP encourages investors in Atkore Inc. ("Atkore" or the "Company") (NYSE:ATKR) who purchased Atkore common stock between August 2, 2022, and February 3, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period") to contact us immediately regarding a pending securities class action against Atkore. The deadline to apply to be lead plaintiff is April 23, 2025.Class Period: August 2, 2022 - February 3, 2025Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: April 23, 2025Case information: https://lieffcabraser.com/securities/atkore/ Contact us: Email or text investorinfo@ lchb.com or call 1-800-541-7358Atkore, headquartered in Harvey, Illinois, is a manufacturer of electrical, safety, and infrastructure products, including polyvinyl chloride ("PVC") water pipes and electrical conduit pipes.The action alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Atkore and certain of its senior executives failed to disclose to investors that: (1) the Company was engaged in an anticompetitive price-fixing scheme that kept the price of its PVC pipes artificially inflated even after COVID era supply chain issues had resolved; (2) Atkore received substantial, unsustainable financial benefits from its anticompetitive actions; and (3) the Company's poor quarterly financial results were due to it and its co-conspirators refusing to lower their artificially inflated prices even after foreign competitors were able to reenter the market and price PVC appropriately.On May 7, 2024, Atkore announced lowered guidance for fiscal year 2024, noting that "pricing environment could be challenged in the second half of 2024." On this news, Atkore's stock price fell 12.5% from its closing price of $176.40 per share on May 6, 2024, to close at $154.34 per share on May 7, 2024, on heavy trading volume.On July 23, 2024, after the market closed, Atkore announced that its Vice President, then-CFO, and Chief Accounting Officer, defendant David P. Johnson, had submitted his resignation, effective August 9, 2024.On July 24, 2024, asset management firm ManBear released a report claiming that Atkore was engaged in an industry-wide price fixing scheme which had "massively inflated pipe prices" and "appear[ed] to defy economic logic, remaining at extremely elevated levels despite normalized supply chains." On this news, Atkore's stock price declined 8.53% from its closing price of $145 per share on July 23, 2024, to close at $132.63 per share on July 24, 2024.On August 6, 2024, after the market closed, Atkore reported adjusted earnings per share that fell short of the average analyst estimate and lowered its outlook for fiscal year 2024 adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income per diluted share. In the corresponding earnings call, Atkore's President, CEO, and Director, defendant William E. Waltz Jr., stated that "[p]ricing was softer than expected due to the slower end markets, particularly for our PVC conduit business." On this news, Atkore's stock price fell 14.7% from its closing price of $118.46 on August 5, 2024, to close at $101.05 per share on August 7, 2024, on extremely heavy trading volume.On February 4, 2025, before the market opened, Atkore announced disappointing financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, reporting net sales of $661.6 million which was significantly below analysts' estimates. In addition, Atkore reduced its earnings guidance for 2025. During the Company's earnings conference call with analysts and investors later that day, Atkore CFO, defendant John M. Deitzer, revealed that Atkore's "plastic pipe and conduit product category declined mid-single digits during the quarter," and attributed the Company's lowered 2025 guidance to Atkore's PVC business, stating "roughly $75 million or 3/4 of that is on the PVC side." On this news, the price of Atkore common stock fell 19.56% from its closing price of $79.72 per share on February 3, 2025, to close at $64.13 per share on February 4, 2025, on extremely heavy trading volume.About Lieff CabraserLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, with over 125 attorneys in offices in San Francisco, New York, Nashville, and Munich, Germany, is an internationally-recognized law firm committed to advancing the rights of investors and promoting corporate responsibility. Repeatedly recognized as a "Plaintiffs' Powerhouse" by Law360, Lieff Cabraser has litigated some of the most important civil cases in the United States, and has assisted clients in recovering over $129 billion in verdicts and settlements. For over 50 years, Lieff Cabraser has remained committed to ensuring access to justice for all.Source/ContactSharon LeeLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP415 956-1000 slee@ lchb.com SOURCE: Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 25, 2025 / Leading securities law firmBleichmar Fonti & Auld LLPannounces that a lawsuit has been filed against Atkore Inc. (NYSE:ATKR) and certain of the Company's senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws.If you invested in Atkore, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/atkore-inc Investors have until April 23, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors who purchased Atkore stock. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and is captioned Westchester Putnam Counties Heavy & Highway Laborers Local 60 Benefits Fund v. Atkore Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-01851.Why was Atkore Sued for Securities Fraud?Atkore manufactures electrical, safety, and infrastructure products including polyvinyl chloride water and electrical conduit pipes ("PVC Pipe"). During the COVID-19 pandemic, shipping costs rose dramatically, leaving foreign PVC Pipe manufacturers unable to profitably sell PVC Pipe in the U.S. As shipping prices returned to normal when the pandemic subsided in 2022, foreign PVC Pipe manufacturers gradually returned to the U.S. market. Shortly thereafter, in late 2022, the price of PVC Pipe began to decline.As alleged, Atkore repeatedly misrepresented that post-pandemic PVC Pipe price declines were the result of "pricing normalization" that reflected "competitive dynamics" and assured investors that the Company would continue to successfully compete in the post-COVID-19 market.On July 24, 2024, an activist investor named ManBear published a report titled "Pipe Price Fixing" which accused Atkore and three of its competitors of using the commodity pricing service OPIS to coordinate pricing actions and fix the price of PVC Pipe.In truth, it is alleged that Atkore engaged in an anticompetitive price-fixing scheme that artificially inflated the price of PVC Pipes.The Stock Declines as the Truth is RevealedOn February 4, 2025, Atkore announced disappointing earnings and reduced guidance, disclosing that the "plastic pipe and conduit product category declined mid-single digits during the quarter" compared to "high single digits in the prior year," and largely attributed the guidance reduction to Atkore's PVC Pipe business, stating, "roughly $75 million or 3/4 [of the guidance reduction] is on the PVC side." This news caused the price of Atkore stock to decline nearly 20%, from $79.72 per share on February 3, 2025 to $64.13 per share on February 4, 2025.On February 14, 2025, Atkore disclosed that it received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division seeking the "production of documents relating to the pricing of the Company's PVC pipe and conduit products." Click here if you suffered losses: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/atkore-inc What Can You Do?If you invested in Atkore you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.Submit your information by visiting:Or contact:Ross Shikowitz ross@ bfalaw.com 212-789-3619Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.SOURCE: Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP
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SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / March 24, 2025 /Robbins LLP reminds stockholders that a class action was filed on behalf of all investors who purchased or otherwise acquired e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (NYSE:ELF) securities between November 1, 2023 and November 19, 2024. e.l.f., together with its subsidiaries, provides cosmetic and skin care products under the e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. Skin, Well People, Naturium, and Keys Soulcare brand names.For more information, submit a form, email attorney Aaron Dumas, Jr., or give us a call at (800) 350-6003.The Allegations: Robbins LLP is Investigating Allegations that e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (ELF) Misled Investors and Overstated its ProfitsAccording to the complaint, during the class period, defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (i) the Company was experiencing rising inventory levels as a consequence of flagging sales; (ii) e.l.f. falsely attributed the rising inventory levels to, among other things, changes in its sourcing practices; (iii) to maintain investor confidence, e.l.f. reported inflated revenue, profits, and inventory over several quarters; (iv) accordingly, the Company's business and/or financial prospects were overstated; and therefore (v) the foregoing, once revealed, would likely have a material negative impact on the Company.On November 20, 2024, Muddy Waters Research published a report entitled "e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. A Revenue and Inventory Mystery", alleging that e.l.f. had "materially overstated revenue over the past three quarters," and that in "Q2 FY24, ELF management realized its growth narrative was in trouble as its inventory built. It appears that ELF then began reporting inflated revenue and profits. Its reported inventory also appears materially inflated as a result - i.e., to account for cash that has not really come in." Further, Muddy Waters accused the Company of concealing its inventory challenges from investors by falsely attributing its rising inventory levels to supposed changes in its sourcing practices rather than the true cause-insufficient sales.On this news, e.l.f.'s stock price fell $2.71 per share, or 2.23%, to close at $119.00 per share on November 20, 2024. e.l.f.'s stock has continued to decline. On March 5, 2025, e.l.f.'s stock closed at $64.67 per share, representing a decline of $57.04 per share - or nearly 47% - since the truth was revealed.What Now: You may be eligible to participate in the class action against e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. Shareholders who want to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must file their papers with the court by May 5, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here.All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses.About Robbins LLP: A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002.To be notified if a class action against e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today.Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.CONTACT: Aaron Dumas, Jr.Robbins LLP5060 Shoreham Pl., Ste. 300San Diego, CA 92122 adumas@ robbinsllp.com (800) 350-6003 www.robbinsllp.com SOURCE: Robbins LLP
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PORT MONMOUTH, NJ / ACCESS Newswire / March 25, 2025 / Ezra Safdieh, esteemed real estate entrepreneur and founder of ESS Homes LLC, was recently featured in an in-depth online Q&A session, where he shared valuable insights into his strategies, experiences, and the principles driving his success in the real estate industry. The Q&A offers a rare look into the mind of a leading real estate investor, highlighting his approach to market trends, investment strategies, and personal development.During the Q&A, Ezra discussed various topics, from the importance of empathy and strategic networking in real estate to the impact of continuous learning on his career trajectory. He also delved into how he overcomes challenges and his methodical approach to property investment and renovation, which has been pivotal in his success. The feature also touched on his views about emerging real estate markets and the significance of staying adaptable in a dynamic industry landscape."Ezra's insights are a goldmine for both novice and experienced investors, providing a roadmap to successful real estate investing," said the interview moderator. "His emphasis on empathy as a valuable asset in real estate dealings and his strategic advice offer a fresh perspective on building a successful investment portfolio." The full Q&A session is available online, providing an excellent resource for anyone interested in the intersection of economics and real estate development. Ezra's hands-on advice and thoughtful reflections underscore his role as a thought leader in the real estate community.Check out the full piece at https://www.ezrasafdieh.com/ About ESS Homes LLC:ESS Homes LLC is a visionary real estate investment firm led by founder Ezra Safdieh. Specializing in acquiring, renovating, and flipping properties in New Jersey and Central Florida, ESS Homes is committed to enhancing property value through strategic renovations, contributing to community revitalization, and offering exceptional investment opportunities.Contact: info@ ezrasafdieh.com SOURCE: Ezra Safdieh
PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-25 14:01:03

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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON / ACCESS Newswire / March 25, 2025 / NLM Photonics, a leader in hybrid organic electro-optic (OEO) technology, today announces the appointment of Dr. Anthony J. Yu as Strategic Advisor. Dr. Yu, former Vice President of Silicon Photonics Product Management at GlobalFoundries, brings extensive industry expertise to accelerate NLM Photonics' growth and market adoption of its innovative hybrid organic electro-optic technology. Dr. Anthony Yu headshot Dr. Anthon Yu standing in front of a lake with mountains on the other sideIn his advisory role, Dr. Yu will work closely with the NLM team to establish an ecosystem of foundries, OSAT partners, and optical chip designers that will leverage NLM's hybrid OEO technology. His strategic guidance will help NLM align with and select optimal partners, facilitating high-level collaboration between the NLM team and the semiconductor ecosystem. The goal is to implement and qualify best-in-class optical modulators using NLM's technology for the AI data center market."NLM has demonstrated stability, performance, and manufacturing feasibility. We're now working with partners to enable the production ecosystem," said Dr. Yu. "NLM's novel hybrid OEO technology is platform-agnostic and thermally stable, allowing fabs to build advanced photonic chips without disrupting wafer development. Modulators built on our technology will deliver more network bandwidth balanced with greater energy efficiency, shaping the future of AI." Brad Booth, CEO of NLM Photonics, commented, "Adding Dr. Yu to our advisory board gives NLM Photonics a significant strategic advantage. His direct experience and industry connections in the photonics and semiconductor foundry markets will be invaluable as we look to build partnerships and transform networking infrastructure. Anthony's proven track record in establishing silicon photonic manufacturing platforms positions him uniquely to help guide our commercialization strategy." Dr. Yu recently retired as Vice President of the Silicon Photonics organization at GlobalFoundries, where he was responsible for providing differentiated silicon photonic manufacturing services and solutions to clients across multiple AI/ML applications. In that role, he established foundational silicon photonic manufacturing platforms for pluggable transceivers, optical interconnects (co-packaged optics), and quantum computing. Previously, Dr. Yu served as Vice President of GF's Computing and Wired Infrastructure Business Unit. Before joining GF, he held executive roles in IBM's Microelectronics Division and Global Business Services.About NLM Photonics NLM Photonics develops cutting-edge organic electro-optic modulation technology transforming data centers, AI, communications, and quantum computing. Our patented hybrid technology enables higher bandwidth and lower power consumption while requiring minimal process disruption, helping solve critical challenges in efficiency and sustainability. Built on over two decades of research and development, NLM's material science breakthroughs will enable the next generation of high-performance computing. Follow us at nlmphotonics.com and on LinkedIn @nlm-photonics.Contact Information Theo McGillivrayCommunications Directorpress-relations@ nlmphotonics.com SOURCE: NLM Photonics
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High-resolution thermal imagery provides field-level insights to optimize water use and maximize crop yieldsWASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / March 25, 2025 / Hydrosat, a deep-tech company using thermal imagery to measure water stress and optimize agricultural productivity, provides near real-time, field-level insights leading to increased crop yields and improved resilience to water scarcity. Powered by high-resolution thermal infrared and visible near-infrared imagery from its VanZyl-1 satellite-launched aboard SpaceX's Transporter-11 mission-Hydrosat's technology is already driving measurable improvements in farming output and profitability.Hydrosat's VanZyl-1 satellite fills critical gaps in the frequency and resolution of land surface temperature data used for agricultural monitoring and irrigation planning. Setting itself apart in the marketplace, VanZyl-1 delivers wide-swath, high-resolution thermal imagery that detects early signs of water stress in crops by capturing changes in evapotranspiration-the combined process of water evaporating from soil and used by plants. By monitoring evapotranspiration in near real-time, growers and policymakers gain actionable insights to make timely decisions and prevent yield losses."With VanZyl-1, Hydrosat can deliver real time insights into agricultural water use and plant stress anywhere in the world," said Pieter Fossel, co-founder and CEO of Hydrosat. "Our data improves agricultural productivity by providing more frequent thermal observations, showing growers exactly when and where their fields need water, helping them maximize yields while using less water and lowering their electricity bill." To showcase VanZyl-1's unique capabilities, Hydrosat is releasing images that illustrate how its unique dataset translates raw data into actionable, field-level insights:Visible Near Infrared Images - Provides fine-resolution vegetation health mapping, offering a powerful complement to Hydrosat's thermal infrared imagesThermal Infrared Images - Identifies land surface temperature patterns to pinpoint areas of heat stress or water deficiency.Evapotranspiration Mapping - Measurements indicate plant water use, helping growers fine-tune irrigation strategies for maximum efficiency.(See Figure 1 above for examples of visible, thermal, and evapotranspiration layers in agricultural fields in Lachlan Valley, Australia.)Hydrosat's technology is grounded in physical sciences, delivering real-world measurements and field-proven accuracy. By measuring surface temperature and using it with established biophysical models, Hydrosat's VanZyl-1 precisely pinpoints stress signals and water needs in crops faster than any other remote sensing product available-identifying early warning signs well before they become visible to the naked eye."We anchor our analytics in frequent, high resolution measurements and physics, giving farmers, agribusinesses, and policymakers high-confidence data to guide irrigation, crop health interventions, and long-term sustainability efforts," said Scott Soenen, Chief Technology Officer at Hydrosat. "High spatial and temporal resolution thermal imagery gives us a unique edge in monitoring irrigation needs, ultimately enabling more efficient water use and higher yields for growers." Hydrosat's VanZyl-1 high-resolution thermal imaging capability supplements existing government data sets, providing more frequent observations spanning the entire surface of the Earth, including remote and cloud-prone regions. The additional thermal data enables frequent and reliable access to field-scale insights-giving farmers and agribusinesses a competitive edge in managing water use and productivity.By integrating this data into Hydrosat's IrriWatch platform, Hydrosat is democratizing access to real-time satellite intelligence. Farmers, agribusiness and governments in 50 countries spanning every continent-from almond growers in the western United States to Latin American sugarcane producers and Indian rice farmers-are already using Hydrosat's insights to increase crop yields, lower operational costs, and safeguard water supplies.Hydrosat's impact continues to expand, highlighted byrecent partnershipswith EE PrintPack, Rex Irrigacion Huasteca, and Grupo INDERS in Latin America. These collaborations are helping optimize water use across 4 million acres of farmland, underscoring Hydrosat's commitment to addressing global agricultural challenges.Building on VanZyl-1's success, Hydrosat is scheduled to launch VanZyl-2 this summer, further enhancing and increasing the frequency of high-resolution thermal data for real-time agricultural monitoring."Hydrosat is shaping the future of space-based agricultural intelligence, ensuring that we have the tools to feed a growing population while better managing our most valuable resource: water," said Fossel.To learn more about Hydrosat's thermal imagery and field-level insights, visit https://hydrosat.com/satellite-technology/ About HydrosatHydrosat is the deep tech company leveraging thermal imagery to measure water stress and increase agricultural productivity. Hydrosat currently monitors millions of acres for customers such as NOAA, NRO, Bayer, SupPlant, and Nutradrip, who trust the company's high-resolution, timely satellite thermal imagery to deliver advanced analytics that convey precise crop yield forecasts and improved irrigation tools to financial and agribusiness customers around the globe.Company Press Contact:Idris HabbassiDirector of Marketingmarketing@ hydrosat.com SOURCE: Hydrosat
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 25, 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=138585&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
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 24, 2025 /WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Ready Capital Corporation (NYSE:RC) between November 7, 2024 and March 2, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important May 5, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased Ready Capital 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 Ready Capital class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=36512 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 May 5, 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 made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) significant non-performing loans in its commercial real estate ("CRE") portfolio were not likely to be collectible; (2) Ready Capital would fully reserve these problem loans in order to "stabilize" its CRE portfolio; (3) this was not accurately reflected in Ready Capital's current expected credit loss or valuation allowances; (4) as a result, Ready Capital's financial results would be adversely affected; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about Ready Capital's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.To join the Ready Capital class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=36512 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , 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.
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TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / March 25, 2025 /Sterling Metals Corp. (TSXV:SAG)(OTCQB:SAGGD) ("Sterling" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its press releases of March 4, 2025, March 12, 2025 and March 17, 2025, the Company has closed a non-brokered private placement through the issuance of 6,082,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.25 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,520,500 (the "Offering"). Each Unit is comprised of one common share (each, a "Common Share") in the capital of the Company and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant") of the Company. Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.40 per Common Share for a period of two (2) years from the closing of the Offering.In connection with the Offering, the Company paid certain eligible persons (the "Finders") a cash commission of $8,250 equal to 6% of the gross proceeds of the Offering and issued 33,000 broker warrants (each, a "Broker Warrant") equal to 6% of the number of Units issued pursuant to the Offering. Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.40 per Common Share for a period of two (2) years from the closing of the Offering.All securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance and the resale rules of applicable securities legislation. The net proceeds from the sale of the Units will be used for general working capital purposes. The closing of the Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.The Offering constituted a related party transaction within the meaning of TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") as insiders of the Company subscribed for an aggregate 400,000 Units pursuant to the Offering. The Company is relying on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the Company is not listed on a specified market and the fair market value of the participation in the Offering by insiders does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company in accordance with MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days before the closing of the of the Offering, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances in order to complete the Offering in an expeditious manner.This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.About Sterling MetalsSterling (TSXV:SAG) and (OTCQB:SAGGD) is a mineral exploration company focused on large scale and high-grade Canadian exploration opportunities. The Company is advancing the 25,000-hectare Copper Road Project in Ontario which has past production, and multiple breccia and porphyry targets strategically located near robust infrastructure and the 29,000-hectare Adeline Project in Labrador which covers an entire sediment-hosted copper belt with significant silver credits. Both opportunities have demonstrated potential for important new copper discoveries, underscoring Sterling's commitment to pioneering exploration in mineral rich Canada.For more information, please contact:Sterling Metals Corp. Mathew Wilson, President & CEOTel: (416) 643-3887Email: info@ sterlingmetals.ca Website: www.sterlingmetals.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.This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.SOURCE: Sterling Metals Corp.
Intra-Africa trade presents a significant opportunity for economic growth and prosperity across the continent; however, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) face numerous challenges in harnessing its benefits.

To excel in this landscape, SMEs must understand and address these challenges through strategic collaborations, leveraging governmental support, and embracing innovative solutions.

In this article, I will look at the main challenges in intra-Africa trade, and in the following weeks, I will discuss in detail how SMEs can excel in the intra-Africa trade terrain.

Key Challenges in Intra-Africa Trade

SMEs face considerable challenges in intra-African trading; however, they are not insurmountable if the necessary developments and improvements are made.

A. Infrastructural Deficiencies: One main challenge is the lack of infrastructure (or weakness in its development), which is crucial for the success of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in inter-African trade. Infrastructure deficiencies create barriers for importers and exporters.

The lack of adequate infrastructure connecting African countries makes it difficult, and unnecessarily expensive, to move goods between countries within the African continent.

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Deficiencies in roads, railways, and shipping increase transportation costs and impede the movement of goods. For instance, moving a 40-foot container by sea from Nigeria to Gambia can take as long as four months (the average travel time of one truck from Mile 2, Lagos to Banjul is actually 91 days!).

These costs are amplified when factoring in the additional expenses of moving goods to other countries. For example, the cost of packaging can be overwhelming.

Labelling a product fragile can add an extra $100 to transportation costs. Addressing these deficiencies can significantly reduce obstacles to trade and boost SMEs participation in the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

B. Logistical Hurdles: Inefficient logistics exacerbate trade challenges. They include:

1. High Costs and Delays: Moving goods costs excessively, reducing profit margins. Transporting goods takes an unreasonably long time. Long shipping times can drastically affect trade.

The absence of an intra-ECOWAS shipping service is responsible for the earlier cited example of a four-six-month time to move a container from Nigeria to The Gambia by sea.

Unpredictable timing in transportation further compounds the problem, making it hard for businesses to plan their logistics adequately and execute trade transactions.

High transportation costs can make it difficult for SMEs to trade profitably. The high cost of air transport and limited flight options further complicate logistics.

For instance, air travel from Nigeria to neighbouring countries can be more expensive than flying to Europe.

While it is possible to undertake a one-hour flight from Lagos to Abuja at around one hundred thousand Naira, the 45-minute commute from Lagos to Accra costs as high as 400,000 Naira. Limited flight options between African countries also constitute an impediment to trade.

For example, only a few airlines may operate flights between Nigeria and a neighbouring country, which may not be daily.

2. Limited manufacturing capabilities and high operational costs within many African countries affect the competitiveness of SMEs: high energy costs, cost of access to funds, and technical logistics further strain manufacturing. High operational costs within countries make it more expensive to manufacture goods.

3. Border and Customs Delays: Numerous border checkpoints and extensive documentation requirements cause significant delays. Inherent barriers at borders add to traders logistical nightmares when moving their goods. Transporting goods by truck from Nigeria to neighbouring Cote dIvoire, which should ideally take about six days, can extend to three weeks due to these factors.

4. Policy and Trade Barriers: Non-tariff barriers, protectionism, and a lack of harmonisation in trade policies impede the free movement of goods. Some countries do not honour the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) protocols, continuing to impose duties on goods that should be duty-free.

Inconsistent application of trade protocols, the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), results in the collection of unexpected customs fees while undermining free trade agreements, thereby hindering the smooth movement of goods.

C. Inadequate Payment and Financial Systems:

Problems with payment systems, including internet connectivity issues, complicate financial transactions. Unreliable internet connectivity and payment systems hinder smooth transactions. Payment solutions are vital for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to facilitate trade, especially within the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) framework.

The lack of efficient and reliable payment systems poses significant barriers to SMEs, hindering their ability to trade effectively across borders.

Heres how payment solutions can support SMEs:

 Fintech solutions: Creating fintech platforms that facilitate secure and efficient cross-border payments can address the challenges of unreliable payment systems.

 Innovative Payment Systems: SMEs can adopt innovative payment systems to overcome challenges related to traditional banking and currency exchange.

Adopting innovative payment systems can facilitate trade by enabling easy and reliable transactions.

 Addressing Financial Constraints: Financial constraints and payment issues create opportunities for developing tailored financial services and payment solutions.

SMEs can also leverage technology, such as e-commerce platforms, to broaden market access and enhance payment systems.

However, these platforms must be well-developed and supported by reliable internet infrastructure, which may require collective efforts to improve connectivity.

D. Lack of Information and Limited Market Access: SMEs often lack information about market opportunities, regulations, and standards in other African countries. These trade information gaps and limited market access restrict their ability to trade effectively.

Trade information gaps can significantly affect SMEs global profitability by creating obstacles that hinder smooth, successful, and profitable trade.

These information gaps include:

 Lack of Information on Trading Partners: Ignorance about the countries and entities one trades with. This includes not knowing their policies, regulations, import/export frameworks, and overall business environment.

 Inadequate Awareness of Global Trends: Insufficient knowledge about global events and trends can affect trade.

 Incomplete Understanding of Trade Dynamics: There is a lack of awareness regarding existing challenges, which hinders the formulation of solutions by government agencies like the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

These information gaps lead to several challenges that negatively impact profitability. These include:

 Increased Costs and Risks: Without adequate information, businesses face higher risks and costs due to unforeseen regulatory hurdles, logistical challenges, and market uncertainties.

Inefficient Operations: Ignorance of optimal trade practices and available resources results in inefficient operations.

 Missed Opportunities: A lack of information about potential markets and trade opportunities causes businesses to miss out on growth and expansion opportunities.

 Difficulty Addressing Challenges: Developing effective strategies and solutions becomes difficult without clearly understanding the problems.

Trade challenges within Africa, though daunting, also present significant opportunities for SMEs and other stakeholders.

These opportunities often involve turning existing obstacles into viable business prospects. I firmly believe that, notwithstanding these challenges, SMEs can excel in intra-African trade and even globally.

Next week, I will examine how SMEs can excel in these tricky trade terrains.

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At about 10 p.m. on 21 February 2024, Kehinde Ogundipe suddenly went into labour, unaware of the shock that awaited her.

The herbal tea seller from Obele, a border community in Ohunbe Ward of Yewa North Local Government Area in Ogun State, south-west Nigeria, had gone through her pregnancy without a single antenatal visit, relying instead on traditional herbsjust as she had done for her previous children.

But on this particular night, everything took an unexpected turn. Without any medical assistance, Mrs Ogundipe delivered not one, not two, but four babiesthree boys and one girl, in her home.

She did not know she was carrying quadruplets, and by the time the last baby arrived, panic had set in. Realising the urgency of the situation, her neighbours rushed her and the newborns across the border to Hopital De Zone De Pobe, Pobe in Benin Republic, the nearest place they believed could provide adequate care.

I didnt know they were four. I also did not feel much discomfort to guess how many they were in my belly, she told PREMIUM TIMES.

None of her five other children, she said, was born at a public health facility in Ogun State because of the poor state of the facilities.

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What happened in Benin

The day after Mrs Ogundipe and her newborns were admitted to Hopital De Zone De Pobe, they were transferred to Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Departemental De LOueme in Porto-Novo, Benins capital, for more specialised care.

For two weeks, the quadruplets received intensive medical attention before the family was moved back to Pobe, where they found accommodation in the Ahoyeye district, close to the citys general hospital. This was to ensure they could still access medical care when needed.

In Pobe, the Ogundipes received overwhelming support from the local authorities and residents, many of whom felt they were fellow citizens. Donations poured in, covering medical expenses and other essentials.

The Mayor of Pobe, Simon Dinan, made a public appeal for assistance, prompting Rachidatou Fatolou, a member of the Benin Republic House of Assembly, to visit the family on 27 March with cash gifts, groceries, and toiletries.

From Pobe to when they moved the children to Porto-Novo, people gave us food and clothes. We spent over N400,000 from the cash donations on medications and other needs within two months, said David Ogundipe, the childrens father, who lost his driving job a year earlier.

Then, in April, tragedy struckthe family lost one of the baby boys.

Struggling to survive

Now, a year later, Mrs Ogundipe and her surviving triplets remain stranded in Benin, unable to return home.

The initial wave of support has dwindled, leaving them in uncertainty  caught between a foreign land where they found care and a homeland whose healthcare system had failed them.

According to Akande Abdulwaheed, Mrs Ogundipes brother-in-law, the donations slowed once NGOs and individuals who had supported them realised they were Nigerians seeking care, not Beninese.

It is really difficult now. Even if they return to Obele, they will have little or no access to healthcare. The Nigerians at the border who helped before are also struggling, Mr Abdulwaheed told PREMIUM TIMES. At this point, the family desperately needs the Ogun State governments support.

Their story further highlights the deep inadequacies of Oguns healthcare system, especially in border communities, and the measures residents of its border communities take to access basic medical care.

Why Nigerians look to Benin for healthcare

Reaching Ohunbe and its surrounding communities was not easy. This reporter navigated deeply rutted, pot-hole-filled, dusty roads where commercial motorcycles struggled to manoeuvre. At some points, this reporter alighted and continued on foot.

While access to the community is tough because of bad roads, accessing healthcare is tougher.

Many residents of the border town lamented the poor state of health facilities and the lack of skilled birth attendants. For some, attending Benin hospitals is not just an option but a necessity.

Some of the residents showed this reporter the birth certificates they received from Benin after giving birth in the country.

Ohunbe ward has four public PHCs: Agbon Ojodu, Ibeku, Pedepo, and Ohunbe healthcare centresbut they are in such poor condition, with inadequate personnel and resources, that patients fear they could contract infections there. As a result, many residents prefer seeking treatment across the border in Benin.

When this reporter visited Pobe General Hospital in Benin Republic, the reason Nigerians in Ohunbe seek healthcare across the border became evident. Unlike the deplorable roads leading to Ohunbe and its surroundings, the road from the Nigerian border into Pobe was well-constructed, making it easier to transport a pregnant woman or commute efficiently.

Also, the hospital had a stable power supply and running water, and health workers were available in their numbers. The wards were well-lit, and the general environment was clean  compared with the under-equipped and poorly maintained PHCs in neighbouring Nigerian communities.

Despite previous reports by PREMIUM TIMES detailing the dire state of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in select LGAs of Ogun Stateespecially in Yewa Northand the governments acknowledgements of the findings in 2023, no tangible improvements have been made. Instead, conditions have worsened.

Arriving at Agbon-Ojodu PHC, this reporter was met with a disheartening sight. From the outside, the centre looks like an abandoned, unfinished building. Bats fly in and out, leaving droppings on every surface. Inside, the air is thick, with a foul stench from leaking roofs, cracked walls, and rotting furniture.

At Ohunbe PHC, the closest facility to the Ogundipes, this reporter only met one health official who spoke anonymously. The official admitted the dire situation of the facility, which has only one ward that they manage for pregnant women.

The roads are bad, and we are not fully equipped, the official admitted. I cant blame the people for choosing Benin instead. Imagine trying to rush a pregnant woman or an unconscious patient here. When we encourage residents to use our facility, they tell us they prefer Benin. But we remain hopeful that the government will intervene and provide the necessities to regain their trust.

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted Ogun States Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, for an update on border community healthcare facilities and a response to the previous report, she ended the call, saying, I am in a meeting.

Subsequent attempts to reach her were unsuccessful, and messages sent to her went unanswered.

In 2023, while reacting to the initial findings, Mrs Coker stated that there were 531 registered PHCs in Ogun State.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on New Media, Emmanuel Ojo, added that 42 PHCs had been renovated and equipped, with work ongoing at 60 others. However, the reporter saw no traces of renovation at the PHCs covered in this report.

ECOWAS and Regional Health Cooperation

Nigeria and Benin are member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), an organisation established to foster economic cooperation, improve living standards, and drive regional development.

In December 2023, ahead of the ECOWAS Summit 2024, Nigerias President, Bola Tinubu, welcomed Benins President, Patrice Talon.

At the meeting, Mr Talon sought to strengthen trade relations and reinforce the free movement of people and goods, while Mr Tinubu described both nations as conjoined twins held together at the hip.

Beyond trade and mobility, ECOWAS has made efforts to improve regional health security. It established the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), a specialised agency responsible for safeguarding public health across member states.

Through WAHO, ECOWAS has promoted cross-border health initiatives, developed regional policies, and worked to reduce health inequities.

However, persistent public health challengessuch as outbreaks of Lassa fever, yellow fever, monkeypox, measles, and choleracontinue to expose gaps in Nigerias healthcare system, particularly in border communities.

In Ogun States border towns, inadequate health infrastructure and staff shortages also force many residents to seek medical care in Benin.

When PREMIUM TIMES reached out to Rolande Kougbi, Communications Manager at the Beninese Agency for Integrated Management of Border Areas (ABeGIEF), she confirmed that her country placed no restrictions on Nigerians accessing healthcare in Benin.

However, she emphasised that individuals crossing over must acknowledge they are entering Beninese territory.

The people on both sides of the border are brothers, Ms Kougbi said in French. As the African Union recommends, they can benefit from basic services in a neighbouring country if those services are lacking in their own.

This open-door approach has arguably allowed the Ogun State Government to evade accountability, as residents, rather than demanding better healthcare, have normalised seeking treatment across Nigerias borders.

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Olugbami Kehinde, a resident of Gbokoto, another community under Ohunbe, had his three children in Pobe, Benin.

I was born here, and we have never had a hospital, he said. All my children were delivered in Benin. Now, my children are having their kids there too.

For antenatal care and delivery, Mr Kehinde said families spend between 40,000 and 50,000 CFA (about N70,000 to N90,000), while a caesarean section can cost up to 100,000 CFA (about N180,000).

Mr Kehinde, a reverend, noted that many residents even acquire Beninoise voter cards, called LEPI, just to access healthcare.

We want the government to understand that we are Nigerians and we vote, he said. We need proper healthcare facilities here.

For Ruth Fanihun, a woman in her late 70s, the struggle has lasted decades. She had her five children in Benin because her village had no health facilities.

The government has neglected us, she lamented.

Since the days of Obafemi Awolowo, we have voted with the hope that our community will develop. But we still dont have good healthcare.

She described how pregnant women sometimes trek long distances or rely on motorcycles to reach Benin for delivery.

Some give birth on the way because of the distance, she explained. If youre lucky, you find a bike near the border. If not, you walk.

Pulling out some CFA banknotes, she added, We use Benins money here more than naira.

Bose Kushade, another Gbokoto resident, has seven children, including two caesarean sections, all in Benin. She lamented the economic hardship, saying, With the way the naira has lost value, its even harder now.

The late traditional ruler of Gbokoto Ketu, Oba Ganiu Olakunlewho died in August 2024 after speaking with PREMIUM TIMESsaid he had spent 26 years advocating for basic amenities, yet little had changed.

The medicine Im using now came from Benin, Mr Olakunle said. Without Benin, many lives would have been lost. If a woman goes into labour at midnight, where do we take her?

His community, Gbokoto, still has no health centrenot even a small dispensary.

We are Ogun State indigenes. Just because we live in border communities doesnt mean we should be forgotten. We have land for a hospital and are willing to collaborate with the government. We also need improvements at the Ohunbe PHC, he appealed.

Reality of Nigerias Border Communities

Nigeria has border communities in 21 states, spanning 105 of the countrys 774 LGAs. Many of these areas suffer from poor infrastructure, limited government presence, and weak public services, leaving residents vulnerable to economic and health disparities.

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, Simon Adebayo Dinan, mayor of Pobe Municipality and President of the Beninoise Association of Border Municipalities (ABCF), emphasised the deep ties between border towns in Ogun State and their Beninoise counterparts.

Out of the 36 municipalities under ABCF, 16 share borders with Nigeria, while others border Niger, Burkina Faso, or Togo, he said.

Like ABeGIEFs Ms Kougbi, Mr Dinan reiterated that there are no rigid boundaries between Nigerians and Beninese.

From Ifangni, Sakete, Adja-Ouere, Pobe, Ketou, Save, Ouesse, and Tchaourou, we speak Yoruba with our people and brothers in Ogun State, he noted.

While language differencesFrench in Benin and English in Nigeriacould serve as a barrier, Mr Dinan highlighted Yoruba as a unifying factor that enables communication between the two nations.

He stressed the need to strengthen cross-border cooperation, particularly in infrastructure, healthcare, and education, to enhance residents quality of life.

A convention on border cooperation has been signed between Benin and Niger, as well as between Benin and Togo, Mr Dinan said. We finalised the agreement with Nigeria in 2023, but the change in government delayed its signing. However, I believe it will be concluded soon.

Government interventions

To address developmental challenges in its border communities, Nigeria established the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) in 2003.

Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES, the Director and Special Adviser on Special Duties to the BCDAs Executive Secretary, Atarhe Akpohwaye-Abuh, described the conditions in some Ogun border communities as a sad situation, citing a lack of water and electricity as well as poor educational facilities.

While the BCDA has yet to assess the specific communities covered in this investigation, Mrs Atarhe requested details on their challenges.

We are compiling a list of communities that need boreholes in the 2025 budget. We are also planning a medical outreach in some border areas, she said.

However, she stressed that the BCDA cannot work in isolation. We need collaboration with state governments. Any structure we put in place must be supervised at the state level. Even for PHCs, we cant send doctors from Abuja; the state government must deploy healthcare personnel.

For Ogun State, she said the collaboration is just beginning. Once the borehole projects are completed, we will pay a courtesy visit to the governor.

Yewa North LGA Chairman, Ogunyomi Oluwole, told PREMIUM TIMES that the local government was unaware of the birth of the quadruplets that prompted this investigation. Mr Oluwole noted that the porous nature of the border makes it difficult to distinguish between Nigerians and Beninoise.

Many people in Oja Odan live in Benin but claim to be Nigerians, and vice versa, he said. We coexist as one.

Development is gradual. The government is trying, and we will get there. People in cities are more fortunate, but border communities will experience improvements in time.

Consequences of inadequate healthcare access

Public health experts warn that the lack of healthcare in border communities has far-reaching consequences, particularly for women and children.

Isaiah Owolabi, a public health expert, noted that the absence of adequate healthcare leads to high maternal and child mortality rates, the spread of preventable diseases, poor reproductive health outcomes, mental health challenges, and increased social inequality.

Inadequate access to healthcare is a multifaceted issue with significant health, social, and economic implications, Mr Owolabi, project director at HACEY Health Initiative, said. By prioritising womens health and investing in accessible and affordable healthcare, Nigeria can make significant strides toward a healthier and more equitable society.

READ ALSO; Nigerian govt restates commitment to strengthen PHCs system

Olorunfemi Olorunsaiye, a public health physician at the Department of Community Medicine and Primary Care, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, emphasised the role of PHCs in delivering equitable healthcare to grassroots populations.

However, Mr Olorunsaiye identified poor road networks, inadequate funding, infrastructure deficits, and skill gaps as major barriers to effective service delivery.

To address these challenges, Mr Owolabi recommended increased investment in healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved areas, alongside adequate staffing with trained healthcare professionals.

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has invited the operation managers of four table water production factories for failing to meet Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.

The factories include Oral Water and Logistics Limited, producers of Yireh Yaweh Table Water in Jikwoyi, and Le-Starlight Table Water in Jikwoyi, Abuja.

Others are Daraja Table Water and Iris Table Water and Beverages, producers of Siris Table Water, located in the Karshi, Nasarawa axis of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

NAFDAC also sealed and locked the four factories during its enforcement operations in Abuja on Monday.

The Subunit Head of NAFDACs Mararaba Office, Wilberforce-Glory Albert, explained that the agency initiated the raid due to concerns over the quality of water produced by these factories.

Mrs Albert stated that all the facilities sealed had poor GMP practices, necessitating immediate action to rectify the situation.

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She pointed out that several of these factories lacked pallets for stacking their finished products, and some did not have a production manager to ensure GMP compliance.

She also highlighted that some facilities were operating without licences, lacked proper packaging materials, had no building lights, and had staff that were not properly kitted, all of which contributed to the poor GMP.

These are the reasons we sealed the facilities and invited them for further investigation at NAFDACs office, she said.

She further disclosed that the raid in the area marked the beginning of broader enforcement actions, as NAFDAC had established a new office to oversee Mararaba, Keffi, Nyanya, Jikwoyi, and Kurudu.

This new office falls under the FCT Directorate and is known as Greater FCT.

Mrs Albert warned producers in the area to be cautious of producing substandard products, emphasising that the law would catch up with those who continued to operate improperly.

This raid will continue. Weve just started, and we wont stop until these factories comply with GMP standards, she said.

There is no hiding place for producers of substandard products, everyone must do the right thing, obtain the necessary licenses, and produce under proper conditions.

She also revealed that some of the sealed facilities claimed to be registered with NAFDAC but could not provide the required documentation, which was another reason for their invitation to the agency.

She urged them to bring all relevant documents to NAFDACs office.

The NAFDAC team lead added that the factories would be required to pay for any sanctions imposed by the agency.

If their licenses had expired, they would also need to pay for renewals and investigation charges, she said.

NAFDAC emphasised its commitment to investigating and taking action against any other illegal activities being carried out by these factories.

(NAN)

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The Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru, on Monday, inaugurated the first phase of training for 800 special forces personnel tasked with conducting high-impact operations with precision, speed, and efficiency.

Mr Badaru while inaugurating the Special Operations Forces for the Armed Forces of Nigeria at camp Kabala in Jaji military cantonment, Kaduna State, said they would be engaged in rapid response missions.

He also said that the initiative was part of new strategies to address the lingering security issues in the country.

He noted that the evolving nature of contemporary security challenges, demanded for an elite force that was well-equipped and well-trained in advanced tactics, including unconventional warfare, intelligence-driven operations, and rapid response missions.

He added that the vision was to build a highly skilled, agile, and mission-ready force capable of executing specialised operations in diverse and complex environments.

The minister explained that the training of the special force would help enhance operational effectiveness in combating terrorism, insurgency, transnational crimes, and other asymmetric threats that were bedeviling the nation.

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He further said the elite force would serve as a critical pillar in securing Nigerias national sovereignty, protecting citizens, and maintaining peace and stability within and beyond the nations borders.

This training has been meticulously designed to develop highly skilled personnel in special combat tactics, counterterrorism operations, intelligence gathering and hostage rescue missions.

The programme will prepare trainees for high-risk missions in both urban and hostile environments, ensuring they can adapt to dynamic threats.

Given the inter-agency nature of modern security challenges, the training will foster seamless collaboration among personnel of the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy, and the Nigerian Air Force, as well as other security agencies, he said.

The defence minister added that special operations required not only technical skills but also mental toughness and endurance.

He noted that in view of that, the training would test and refine the physical and psychological resilience of the troops, emphasise leadership under pressure, foster sense of duty, discipline, and camaraderie among the participants.

He added that it was expected that at the end of the rigorous training programme, the Armed Forces would have a force capable of conducting high-impact operations with precision, speed, and efficiency.

According to him, such abilities will be a significant improvement in Nigerias ability to neutralise threats and respond proactively to security challenges.

The newly trained special operations force will be deployed to critical areas across the country, reinforcing our national security architecture.

This inauguration is for the first batch of 800 out of 2,400 to be trained as part of a long-term strategy to develop world-class special operations capability within the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Mr Badaru assured that Nigeria would continue to collaborate with allied nations and international defence institutions to adopt best practices and improve interoperability in joint operations.

He charged the personnel on dedication, resilience, and commitment to duty, urging them to give their best, push beyond limits, and embrace the honour of being part of the elite force.

He thanked President Bola Tinubu for his support and investment in security by providing state-of-the-art equipment and prioritising the welfare of personnel.

In a remark, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Christopher Musa, said the training was a significant milestone in the history of the Armed Forces and its commitment to enhancing national security, driven by well-equipped personnel with the necessary skills and capabilities to address contemporary challenges.

Mr Musa said modern warfare demanded that forces be well-trained, equipped, and capable of responding swiftly, effectively and decisively.

He thanked the federal government, saying that the initiative will significantly actualise his leadership concept of nurturing a professional Armed Forces of Nigeria that is people-centric, capable of meeting its constitutional responsibilities in a joint and collaborative environment.

The CDS urged the trainees to embrace the challenges and responsibilities that lie ahead with an unwavering spirit, stressing that the training would be rigorous and tough, but scalable with the right dedication and mindset.

Similarly, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State said that the training was a testament to the nations unwavering commitment to strengthening Nigerias security architecture, combating emerging threats, and ensuring the safety of the country.

Represented by his Deputy, Hadiza Balarabe, the governor noted that in todays security environment, the threats faced by the nation kept evolving, from terrorism, insurgency, and banditry to cyber threats and transnational crimes.

In response to these, we must equip our Armed Forces with the best training, cutting-edge tactics, and the resilience needed to overcome these challenges.

This special operations force training is a bold step towards preparing a new generation of elite troops capable of defending our sovereignty with precision, intelligence, and courage, he said.

He added that the situation Nigeria found itself, had made it expedient to adapt, innovate, and provide the trainees with skills to not only prepare them for the battlefield but take sound decisions in high-pressure situations.

As the host state for this landmark training, we take great pride in supporting the military in its noble duty.

We recognise the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform and remain committed to fostering a conducive environment for this training to succeed.

Our state has always stood firmly behind our Armed Forces, and we will continue to provide every necessary support to ensure the success of this initiative,  Sani said.

He charged the trainees to stay focused, embrace discipline, and commit themselves to the training with dedication and honour it deserves.

I urge all of you to face the challenge you may face ahead with determination and grit because you are not just training to become soldiers, you are preparing to be the guardians of freedom and defenders of peace, Mr Sani further said.

He commended the federal government, the Ministry of Defence, and the leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for the vision in inaugurating the training programme.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the special operations force training is a critical step towards enhancing Nigerias security capabilities and addressing evolving threats.

(NAN)

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US President Donald Trump said on Monday that a strategic raw materials deal with Ukraine is nearly good to go.

Mr Trump, commenting after a Cabinet meeting, said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had told him that the rare earth agreement with Ukraine was as good as finalised.

Theyll sign it shortly, Mr Trump said.

The president reiterated his claim that Europe had only given Ukraine aid as a loan and that the United States was the only one pumping money into the country.

Last week, Mr Trump already expressed confidence that an agreement would be reached shortly.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky travelled to Washington on 28 February to conclude the raw materials deal but left without signing it after being publicly rebuked by Mr Trump and his Vice President JD Vance.

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 meeting was cancelled and Mr Zelensky was asked to leave the White House.

Shortly after taking office in January, Mr Trump linked US aid for Kiev, which has been defending itself against a Russian invasion for more than three years, to access to Ukraines stockpiles of rare earth.

The exploitation of raw materials in Ukraine is considered strategically important and economically lucrative. However, a large proportion of the materials are located in Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russia.

(dpa/NAN)

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A delegation of the Nasiru Haladu Danu Foundation (NHD), on Monday, visited the National Hospital and Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja where it donated essential supplies encompassing maternal/infant care and food items to mothers and inmates.

The NHD Foundation is focused on philanthropic activities for healthcare, education and development.

The Chairman of the foundation, Nasiru Danu, represented by his wife, Amne Danu, was received at the hospital by the Head of Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Idris Liman.

Mrs Danu, accompanied by members of the foundation, went round the wards sharing the items to the mothers. The baby items consisted of diapers, wipes, antiseptic and umbilicare gel.

The foundation also distributed 100 cartons of food items, consisting of rice, oil, and tomato paste, to the new mothers.

Mrs Danu said her own maternal experience was the driving force of the philanthropic gesture. I am a mother and I have kids, so that is more reason why I wanted to come here and help my fellow women and their kids as well, she said.

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The women beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the foundation for the items they received.

Its much, we are not expecting this kind of gift, but we are grateful, Miracle Ramiah, a postpartum mother, said.

Having given birth to preterm twins, Patience Abba described her emergency hospital admission.

Mrs Abba lauded the hospitals immediate response but also acknowledged the challenges brought on by economic hardship, making the donations a welcome relief.

The hardship and how to cope in the hospital is indeed stressful. We thank God for this kind of organisation, they make us smile every time feeling that we can still come out of it.

NHD Foundation visits Kuje Correctional Centre

The foundation also visited the Kuje Custodial Centre to donate food items to the inmates. The delegation was received by the Controller of Corrections, Federal Capital Territory Command, Ajibogun Olatunbosun, who received the items on behalf of the inmates.

He expressed gratitude to the NHD Foundation. While urging them to continue their humanitarian services, Mr Olatunbosun said the facility needs vocational skills items for its inmates.

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The coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has assured Nigerian Pilgrims of the 2025 Hajj of improved medical care during the sacred worship.

Mr Pate gave the assurance during an inspection visit to the National Hajj Commission of Nigerias (NAHCON) medical facilities in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, on Monday.

According to a statement by NAHCONs Head of Public Affairs, Muhammad Musa, on Monday, the minister reiterated the resolve of the President Bola Tinubu administration to prioritise pilgrims welfare.

He assured the commission of the governments support in confronting critical healthcare challenges that Nigerian pilgrims often face.

Our commitment is clear, Mr Pate said. Given the global health landscape ranging from meningitis outbreaks to polio concerns it is imperative we meet and exceed Saudi Arabias health requirements. Ensuring credible vaccination documentation, including yellow cards for all Nigerian pilgrims, is non-negotiable.

Mr Pate, accompanied by senior health ministry delegates, conducted thorough inspections of NAHCONs ambulance fleet, reviewed medical supplies inventories, and assessed equipment readiness at Nigerian health clinics in Saudi Arabia.

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

NAHCON Chairperson Abdullahi Usman commended the ministers initiative, emphasising its significance.

Your presence and involvement signify an extraordinary commitment that bolsters confidence in our healthcare delivery. This unprecedented engagement will undeniably facilitate a smoother and safer 2025 Hajj experience for our pilgrims.

Read full statement

Health Minister pledges enhanced medical support for 2025 Hajj

Nigerias Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has completed a landmark ministerial inspection of the National Hajj Commission of Nigerias (NAHCON) medical facilities in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, signalling a transformative era in federal dedication to pilgrim healthcare.

During his pivotal visit to NAHCONs Ummul-Jud office, Minister Pate assured comprehensive governmental support aimed at confronting critical healthcare challenges that Nigerian pilgrims often face.

His statement underscored a profound federal resolve, reflecting heightened prioritisation of pilgrim welfare by President Bola Ahmed Tinubus administration.

Our commitment is clear, Minister Pate affirmed during strategic discussions with NAHCON officials.

Given the global health landscape ranging from meningitis outbreaks to polio concerns it is imperative we meet and exceed Saudi Arabias health requirements. Ensuring credible vaccination documentation, including yellow cards for all Nigerian pilgrims, is non-negotiable, he said.

Accompanied by senior health ministry delegates, Minister Pate conducted thorough inspections of NAHCONs ambulance fleet, reviewed medical supplies inventories, and assessed equipment readiness at Nigerian health clinics in Saudi Arabia.

The visit highlighted key areas for improvement, including increasing the availability of essential medicines, vaccines, medical apparatus, and operational ambulances.

NAHCON Chairman/CEO Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman lauded the Ministers initiative, emphasising its significance.

Your presence and involvement signify an extraordinary commitment that bolsters confidence in our healthcare delivery. This unprecedented engagement will undeniably facilitate a smoother and safer 2025 Hajj experience for our pilgrims.

Given the participation of approximately 70,000 Nigerians annually in the sacred pilgrimage, Minister Pates direct engagement underscores an essential advancement in governmental oversight and proactive healthcare planning.

He also addressed emerging concerns, notably climate-induced extreme hot weather during the 2025 upcoming Hajj, committing to proactive measures to safeguard pilgrims health and well-being.

This landmark inspection fosters enhanced interagency collaboration between Nigerias Health Ministry and NAHCON, ensuring Nigerian pilgrims receive exceptional medical care during their spiritual journey.

NAHCON reiterates its unwavering dedication to transparency, exceptional service delivery, and the continuous enhancement of pilgrim welfare.

The inspections were conducted by the Honourable Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, accompanied by NAHCON Chairman/CEO, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, Commissioner Operations, PRSILS and PPMF, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegusi, Professor Abubakar Abubakar Yagawal; Prince Abdul-Razaq Aliyu, and the Board Member representing the Federal Health Ministry Dr. Saedu Ahmad Dumbulwa.

Also in attendance were the Secretary to the Commission, Dr. Muhammad Mustapha Ali, the Directors, Deputy Directors, and Assistant Directors, Saudi liaison officer Abubakar Lamin, and other Commission staff.

Muhammad Ahmad Musa,

Head of Public Affairs, NAHCON

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President Bola Tinubu has congratulated former President Goodluck Jonathan on winning the 2025 Sunhak Peace Founders Award.

President Tinubu applauded the former president for his consistent advocacy for peace, harmony, and communality, a patriotic endeavour that has earned him global recognition.

The president stated that Mr Jonathans winning the Sunhak Peace Award affirmed his bold efforts in peacebuilding and promoting democracy in Africa and beyond.

The president recalled the former presidents historic acceptance of the results of the 2015 presidential election and his peaceful handover of power to an opposition party, which bolstered the nations democratic profile.

ALSO READ: Jonathan wins 2025 Sunhak Peace Prize

President Tinubu celebrated this landmark achievement with former President Jonathan and thanked the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee for recognising the efforts of those working hard to improve the world.

Bayo Onanuga

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Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

March 25, 2025

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Inibehe Okon, a self-acclaimed neurosurgeon currently embroiled in allegations of academic fraud, is not a student of the University of Texas at Austin, DUBAWA can confirm.

On Tuesday, 25 March, the University of Texas at Austin disassociated itself from Mr Okon, who also claimed affiliation with some other institutions.

Mr Okon recently went viral after an image of him matching a system used to place medical students into United States residency programmes as a doctor at Johns Hopkins University surfaced online.

The viral photo sparked curiosity and admiration from many social media users, as users on X shared screenshots of their chat, in which he claimed he was still a student as of 2019. He also made similar claims on many social media posts.

Mr Okon, whose ResearchGate profile lists him as a doctor of medicine and neurosurgeon affiliated with the University of Texas, has been accused of impersonation. His profile claims he has over 65 published academic journals. However, growing revelations from social media users, including former medical students of the University of Uyo, where he also claimed to have studied, raised questions about the authenticity of his credentials.

DUBAWA contacted the University of Texas to verify Mr Okons academic records. The institution replied that no individual by that name was enrolled or affiliated with them.

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The University of Texas at Austin has no current or former resident or student by the name you have inquired about, Mike Rosen, the universitys assistant vice president for media relations, told DUBAWA.

When DUBAWA reached out to Mr Okon via WhatsApp, he evaded the question of whether he attended the university or not. Instead, he responded that he had prepared a draft to announce his side of the story.

I know if I did it or not at all. I will forgive them. I have prepared the draft to announce. I will come out to tell the whole truth and be sincere and very open to them, he wrote.

He declined to provide further clarification and his phone line was switched off when we tried to call him.

We also contacted Johns Hopkins University and the University of Uyo to clarify the allegations and inquire about his academic status. However, as of the time of this report, we have not received any response from the institutions.

Since allegations of academic fraud were levelled against him, Mr Okon has gone private on all his social media pages.

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a host of other dignitaries on Tuesday stormed Katsina state to extend their condolences to Governor Dikko Umaru Radda over the passing of his mother, Safarau Umaru Baribari. President Tinubu was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima in the visit.

During the visit in Katsina, Vice President Kashim Shettima extended sympathy to the Governor and the people of Katsina State.

On behalf of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Federal Government, and the entire nation, I stand before you today with a heavy heart to extend our deepest condolences over the passing of your beloved mother, said the Vice President.

Mr Shettima remarked that the deceased 93 years on earth were a testament to Allahs infinite mercy and a life richly blessed.

He added, Though we mourn her departure, we also celebrate the legacy of wisdom, love, and devotion she leaves behind.

This loss is not yours aloneit is shared by all who knew her and by a nation that values its matriarchs. While no words can fully ease the weight of grief, we take solace in the Quranic promise: Indeed, with hardship comes ease. (Quran 94:6), the Vice President stated.

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On his part, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who led a delegation to deliver heartfelt condolences to Governor Radda remarked in his message, On behalf of my team, I extend my deepest condolences to you, your family and the people of Katsina over this great loss.

Reflecting on the matriarchs remarkable life well lived, Mr Abubakar added, Living for 93 years is a rare blessing, one that we deeply cherish. Of course, we never want to lose our loved ones, but ultimately, that is the reality of life.

Also speaking, Borno State Governor, represented by the Deputy Governor Umar Usman Kadafur, said, On behalf of HE Prof. Babagana Zulum and the people of Borno State, we stand with you during this difficult time.

We have come alongside my wife to offer our prayers. We pray for the soul of the deceased to rest in peace, Deputy Governor Usman said.

Former Governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, former Minister of Agriculture, Adamu Maina Waziri, Chokalin Adamawa Jamilu Usman Yola, former Senator representing Katsina Central, Umaru Tsauri, Sen. Ahmed Baba Kaita of Daura Zone, Aminu Balele, Abdullahi Aliyu and Usman Murtala Banye, Member Representing Kurfi/Dutsinma, Musawa/Matazu and Rimi/Charanchi respectively also conveyed their condolences.

Responding on behalf of Governor Radda, Deputy Governor Faruk Lawal Jobe expressed profound gratitude, On behalf of His Excellency, the Governor, the government, and the good people of Katsina State, we deeply appreciate your visit and your prayers following the passing of our dear mother.

Deputy Governor Jobe further acknowledged the solidarity shown by the visiting dignitaries, noting, Your presence here means a lot to us. We sincerely appreciate you for identifying with us during this moment of grief. Your visit is a demonstration of true solidarity and brotherhood.

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The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Sylvester Nwakuche as the substantive Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the confirmation after Mr Nwakuche was cleared by the senators through voice votes at the Committee of the Whole.

The upper chamber approved the appointment after considering the report of its Committee on Interior, presented by its Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Mr Nwakuche earlier this month as acting controller-general of the NCoS pending confirmation of the Senate.

His confirmation as substantive controller-general comes barely 24 hours after 12 inmates escaped from the Koton Karfe Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kogi.

On Monday, spokesperson of the NCoS, Abubakar Umar, said two of the escaped inmates have been recaptured, while efforts are being made to recapture the remaining 10 inmates.

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The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has, however, ordered an immediate probe into the prison break.

Senate Committees Report

Mr Oshiomhole, while presenting the report of its committee, said it screened Mr Nwakuche on Wednesday, 12 March.

He noted that during the screening exercise, the committee interrogated the credentials of the nominee and found him worthy of the nomination.

The senator also explained that Mr Nwakuche has been involved in several training sessions and has benefited from several skills that would assist him to work effectively within the correctional facilities.

The committee chairman emphasised that the nominee is suitable for the position of the comptroller-general based on his educational history and that there was no petition against him for the position.

Mr Oshiomhole also claimed that the nominee is not affiliated to any political party nor involved in a political campaign and that he is within the age bracket of the position of the comptroller-general of the NCoS.

He said the committee unanimously found Mr Nwakuche suitable for the position after examining the nominees professional experience, curriculum vitae and other relevant documents.

He therefore recommended the confirmation of Mr Nwakuche for the position.

Benue North-west Senator, Titus Zam, seconded the presentation of the report.

Mr Akpabio thereafter put the confirmation to vote and majority of the senators supported it through voice votes.

The senate president subsequently approved the nomination and urged Mr Nwakuche to use his office to develop Nigerias correctional system.

Let me congratulate the nominees. I hope that this confirmation by the Senate will make him continue to put his best, he said.

He also urged the comptroller-general of NCoS to end the era of jailbreaks in the country.

To whom much is given, much is expected. I hope that his appointment will bring an end to jailbreaks in Nigeria, he said.

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President Bola Tinubu has announced the appointment of the Pro-Chancellor, Governing Council members, and Principal Officers of the new Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences in Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Binta Masi Garba, a former senator, has been appointed Pro-Chancellor and Chairperson of the Governing Council. A seasoned politician, businesswoman, and administrator, Ms Garba represented the Adamawa North Senatorial District in the Senate from 2015 to 2019 and served consecutively in the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2011.

The other members of the governing council are Joseph Sanya, a professor, Efe Emmanuel, Joyce Ogunyemi, and Dahiru Ruma.

The principal officers appointed for the university are James Aribisala, a professor, as vice-chancellor, Oluwole Dada as Registrar, Adeniyi Ajayi as Bursar, and Isaac Busayo, a professor, as Librarian.

President Tinubu acknowledged the commendable efforts of Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, in advocating for establishing the new university in Iyin Ekiti.

He encouraged the appointees to leverage their extensive leadership experience and commitment to steer the university toward academic excellence, innovative research, and development.

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The new university will admit its first cohort of students in September 2025.

In addition, President Tinubu has appointed Muhammed Audu, a professor, as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State. He succeeds Ohieku Salami.

Mr Audu is a distinguished academic and administrator with vast experience in Nigerias university system. A Professor of Mathematics at the University of Jos, he previously served as vice-chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, where he led transformative initiatives that enhanced academic and infrastructural development.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

March 25, 2025

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The Supreme Court has denied media speculations that one of its justices, Emmanuel Agim, accompanied the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to the University of Calabar (UNICAL)s convocation ceremony on Saturday, 22 March.

The Supreme Courts Director of Information & Public Relations, Festus Akande, issued the denial in a statement on Monday.

We wish to emphasise that Justice Emmanuel Agims participation at the ceremony was independent and not as an official representative of any government ministry or department, let alone accompanying any serving or retired government official.

Any insinuation to the contrary is not only inaccurate but undermines the judicial independence that is crucial to our democracy, the statement reads in part.

Reports had circulated that Mr Agim, who who hails from Cross River State, the host state for the federal government-owned UNICAL, had accompanied Mr Wike to the convocation ceremony of the university after he was spotted in a picture sitting next to the FCT minister at the event.

The report gained traction after a human rights lawyer and former chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Odinkalu, shared the picture on X, while also alleging political interference in the Rivers States judgement on the Rivers State political crisis on 28 February.

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Mr Agim was the one who delivered the lead judgement of the panel of Supreme Court justices that sat on the matter.

The unannimous judgement ordering Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State to re-present the states 2025 budget to the properly constituted state House of Assembly and recognising the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers in the 32-member House, was believed to have favoured Mr Wike, a key actor in the political crisis in the state who is opposed to Mr Fubara.

The political crisis had taken a new dimension, resulting in violent attacks on oil installations, which culminated in the recent state of emergency Preside nt Bola Tinubu declared in the state. The highly controversial declaration included suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy and the states House of Assembly. A sole administrator will now govern the state for six months while the elected officials remain on suspension.

In the statement, the Supreme Court clarified that Mr Agim attended the convocation as an honouree and an alumnus of the University of Calabar.

The statement added that the governing council of the institution had extended the invitation to him after deeming him fit to be conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in law due to his contributions to the legal profession.

Mr Agim, who previously served as a chief of justice in both Gambia and Swaziland, was also a member of the ECOWAS Council of Chief of Justices.

He currently occupies the ninth position in the hierarchy of the 20 justices of the Nigerian Supreme Court.

The statement said Mr Agim had attended the convocation ceremony after getting permission from the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court urged the media and the public to always verify reports from credible sources to avoid spreading misinformation.

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Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has petitioned the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) to investigate her colleague, Edo South Senator Neda Imasuen, over his alleged disbarment from practising law in the United States.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan also accused Mr Imasuen of disobeying a court order restraining the Senate, Ethics Privileges and Public Petitions Committee, which he chairs, from investigating her for alleged misconduct during the 20 February plenary.

Imasuens disbarment in the US

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that Mr Imasuen, a trained lawyer and member of the Labour Party (LP), was permanently barred from practising law in the US by the Supreme Court of New York.

The disbarment was specifically based on allegations that Mr Imasuen abandoned a legal matter after receiving payment from a client, Daphne Slyfield.

Following a petition by Mr Slyfield, a judicial grievance committee found Mr Imasuen guilty of professional misconduct, including misappropriation of client funds and failure to respond to disciplinary authorities.

As a result, an order was issued on 11 May 2010 to revoke Mr Imasuens legal licence in New York.

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Despite this, Mr Imasuen concealed his disbarment while pursuing a political career in Nigeria before he got elected into the Senate and appointed chairperson of the ethics committee, a role that demands high ethical standards.

Allegations of non-disclosure

In her petition, Mr Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that Mr Imasuen failed to disclose his disbarment in official documents, including his FORM EC-9 submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

She expressed concern regarding the omission, arguing that it showed Mr Imasuen does not have the eligibility to hold a position that requires unimpeachable integrity.

in the petition, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan said,  That despite this disbarment which was hinged on unethical conduct, the respondent failed to disclose this sanction both in the legal profession and political space, as a senator and was eventually made the chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, a position requiring unimpeachable integrity.

That the respondent did not remotely disclose his disbarment either in his FORM EC-9-Particulars of Personal information submitted to INEC on oath.

She also submitted a report from Peoples Gazette detailing Mr Imasuens disbarment and a U.S. court document confirming his disbarment as exhibits.

Contempt of court

Beyond the disbarment issue, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan also accused Mr Imasuen of contempt of court for disregarding a judicial order.

She stated that on 4 March, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an interim order restraining the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from investigating her over alleged misconduct during a plenary session on 20 February.

Despite receiving the court order on 5 March, she said Mr Imasuen proceeded with the investigation where the committee recommended her six-month suspension from the Senate.

She argued that this act defied the authority of the judiciary and violated the principle of the rule of law.

However, a few days later, Obiora Egwuatu, a judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, vacated its earlier order, stopping the investigation after considering arguments from both parties in the suit.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, didnt mention this in her petition to the legal practitioners disciplinary committee.

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Tobacco control advocates in Nigeria have urged the federal government to significantly increase the Tobacco Control Fund (TCF) beyond the N13 million allocated in the 2025 national budget.

At a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) emphasised that increased funding is crucial for protecting public health.

Speaking at the briefing, CAPPAs Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, called on the government to allocate at least N300 million to the TCF as an urgent measure to curb the tobacco industrys growing influence.

Mr Oluwafemi said the lives of Nigerians are at stake from the adverse effects of tobacco use.

While the government drags its feet on adequate allocation to the Tobacco Control Fund, the tobacco industry is relentlessly lobbying the public to embrace newer, stylish kinds of harmful tobacco products and other so-called smokeless nicotine-filled products that it falsely presents as less harmful or safer than traditional tobacco use, he said.

He said these alternative nicotine products includes vapes, also known as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), heated tobacco products (HTPs), snus, and oral nicotine pouches, among others.

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Mr Oluwafemi lamented that these alternatives are targeted at the teeming, impressionable youth population which the industry sees as a potential replacement for the thousands of others who die or whose lives are destroyed by tobacco use.

About the TCF

The TCF, established under Section 8 of the Nigeria Tobacco Control Act (NTCA), 2015, is part of a comprehensive framework to combat the harmful effects of tobacco consumption.

It is funded from appropriations from the national budget, proceeds of fines for violations of tobacco laws, and contributions from relevant development bodies for tobacco control.

Allocations to the TCF enable the National Tobacco Control Committee (NATOCC) and Tobacco Control Unit (TCU) to carry out their obligations.

It also supports the work of relevant government institutions in health promotion initiatives, tobacco control programmes, and enforcement activities to ensure compliance with set laws and regulations.

Transparency, accountability

The Alliance Coordinator of NTCA, Olawale Makanjuola, stressed the need for transparency in managing the TCF.

Mr Makanjuola warned that simply increasing the budget without efficient utilisation would be counterproductive.

He advised the government through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to comply with the law in administering the TCF.

He explained that the National Tobacco Control Act requires that funds allocated for tobacco control in the national budget or from other sources are to be remitted to the Tobacco Control Fund account for utilisation.

We urge the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to provide regular updates on the status of the Fund, including its balance, sources of the monies in the Fund and details of expenditures, he said.

In his remarks, Michael Olaniyan, the Country Coordinator for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, warned of the dangers of Nigerias failure to act on the TCF.

Mr Olaniyan said every day Nigeria fails to adequately fund tobacco control, more lives are lost.

Our youth are targeted by deadly marketing, and our health system edges closer to total collapse under the weight of preventable diseases,he said.

The cost of inaction is measured in cancer wards filled with the young and a future mortgaged to addiction and death.

Tobacco use

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tobacco use is one of the worlds leading preventable causes of death and is a major preventable risk factor of noncommunicable diseases like cancer, lung and heart diseases.

The most common type of tobacco product used is manufactured cigarettes, but tobacco is also used in many other forms.

The global health agency said tobacco kills up to half of its users, and more than eight million people each year lose their lives as a result of direct tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke.

According to the 2012 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), 5.6 per cent (4.5 million) Nigerians of 15 years and older currently use tobacco products.

About 3.9 per cent (3.1 million) of this figure are current smokers.

The survey also found high and significant exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) during visits to public places with the prevalence of 82 per cent in bars or nightclubs, 36.3 per cent in coffee shops, 22.3 per cent in universities and 29.3 per cent in restaurants.

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A House of Representatives member from Akwa Ibom State, Clement Jimbo, has described the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as our almighty.

Mr Jimbo was congratulating some politicians, including Mr Wike, in a post on his Facebook page on Saturday night.

The FCT minister and others were recipients of honourary degrees from the University of Calabar on Saturday.

Mr Jimbo, a member of the APC, represents Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency in the lower legislative chambers.

Congratulations to Her Excellency, Dr. Mrs Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio, Dr. Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, Mrs Theresa Effiong and our almighty Dr. Barr, HM Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, he wrote.

The word almighty means having absolute power over all or having great power or importance, according to Merriam-webster Online Dictionary.

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God is often referred to as the, Almighty across many religions, especially in Christianity.

Why I described Wike as almighty

PREMIUM TIMES contacted the federal lawmaker on Tuesday and asked why he described the FCT minister as almighty.

Almighty is an English word. And it is not only attributed to the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God. So, its an adjective, he responded.

Mr Jimbo, who uploaded photographs of Mr Wike and other awardees, said his description of Mr Wike as almighty does not connote anything but only reflected his state of his mind as of the time.

The lawmaker added that the description also stemmed from Mr Wikes transformational leadership and accomplishments since assumption of office as the minister of the FCT.

When pressed further, the politician said what actually made him describe Mr Wike as almighty was because of the loud cheers and applause that erupted from the crowd during his citation.

And to make matters worse, the camera man zoomed into him (Wike) and he was projected and the man was beaming with smiles based on the kind of words used by the person reading his citation.

The adjectives used to describe Wike, I think his own stood out. So when I was making that (Facebook) post, that was what reflected in my mind that I had to use that particular adjective, almighty Wike,he said.

Mr Jimbo explained that he intentionally wrote the almighty in small letters to indicate that a human being, not God, was being referred to in the post.

Rivers crises

The description of Mr Wike as almighty came in the wake of the political crisis triggered by the feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the FCT minister.

The protracted feud caused President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State last week Tuesday.

Mr Tinubu also suspended Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all the House of Assembly members for an initial six months.

The president consequently appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator of the state.

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Child care service providers and parents from the Chippewa Valley met Monday with Gov. Tony Evers for a discussion in Chippewa Falls.

The conversation we had here kind of emphasized  the frustration people have, Evers said.

Milestone Early Educational Community in Chippewa Falls hosted Evers alongside state Department of Children and Families Secretary Jeff Pertl to talk about the governors proposed investment in the Child Care Counts program and related initiatives that are part of his 2025-27 budget.

The proposals would help to lower out-of-pocket costs for working families, including the costs of child care, Evers claims.

To date, Milestone Early Educational Community has received more than $693,000 in Child Care Counts funding.

Across the state, the program has helped over 5,300 providers keep their doors open, ensuring the employment of over 64,500 child care professionals and care for more than 364,000 kids, a release from Evers office says.

Evers budget proposal would invest over $500 million to lower child care costs, support the industry, invest in employer-sponsored child care, and make the Child Care Counts program permanent.

It was set to end in January 2024 until Evers directed $170 million in emergency funding to keep it going. The program is now set to end in June. The governors next budget would invest $480 million to continue it.

This is the time where the child care industry is going to make it or break it, Evers said. And if they break it, people are going to be leaving the workforce in droves, and its going to hurt our economy.

Republicans who control the state Legislature are unlikely to support Evers budget.

Evers said if the Legislature doesn't address the issue, most of these people are going to struggle.

Child Care Counts was created during the pandemic to help providers increase wages and benefits and expand access for families.

Deanne Patten, owner of Firehouse Friends Childcare Center in Stanley is licensed for 104 children. In the summer, she opens a second location for school-age children. That accommodates 16 children.

Last year Patten was able to raise staff wages with Child Care Counts funds. She said that helped. But she raised tuition last summer in anticipation of losing the program's funds.

That was challenging for families.

We actually ended up losing, I think it was like 21 children for our program, but it was very hard. It was probably one of the lowest moments of my child care career, she told the governor.

She said the tuition hike hurt 17 families with 21 children who didn't leave because of me or my program, or anything like that. They truly left because they just couldn't afford the child care anymore.

Evers said GOP lawmakers might reject funding for Child Care Counts in the biennial budget.

The Chippewa Herald reached out to state Rep. Treig E. Pronschinske, R-Mondovi, and state Rep. Rob Summerfield, R-Bloomer, for comment about state funding for child care programs.

My colleagues and I remain committed to improving access to child care. In the last session, we established a child and dependent care tax credit and introduced reforms to address the shortage of child care providers, Summerfield said. As the Legislature develops the 2025-27 budget, we will build on these efforts to strengthen access and implement long-term solutions for the industrys challenges.

The Herald did not receive a response from Pronschinske.

Tight margins

Pertl said child care is one of the three largest women-owned small business sectors in Wisconsin.

There is almost no other industry I think that has this struggle between high prices, low wages  tight margins. It's a difficult business to run, and it's one that is not going to make you rich, Pertl said. It feels expensive. That is a hard system when you think about how important it is for young families to thrive.

He said Republicans and Democrats are interested in figuring out how to do better for young families.

I urge Gov. Evers to collaborate with the Legislature to restore sustainability to the child care industry, Summerfield said.

Arnie and Kerry Swoboda own Milestone Early Educational Community.

We want it to be affordable, and have kids go to centers that provide all of those things they need," Kerry said.

Claire Lindstrom, a parent who attended Monday, said child care is a real struggle for parents. Her son is almost out of child care now, but she hears a lot of challenging stories.

I'm really looking forward to getting rid of that child care bill, she said. Affordability is a big key.

But she said parents, including herself, still need to find the funds for after-school and summer care programs.

A report from The Century Foundation projected that without continued investment, 2,110 programs could close, resulting in over 87,000 kids without child care in Wisconsin and the loss of over 4,880 child care jobs.

I just think that we are at a point in our small community where we are just charging top dollar already, and I just don't know that there's room to charge any more money, Patten said.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate has warned that funding gaps and limited healthcare facilities pose significant threats to Nigerias progress in Tuberculosis (TB) control.

Mr Pate, a professor, disclosed this on Tuesday during the ministerial press briefing to mark the 2025 World TB Day in Abuja.

World TB Day is commemorated on 24 March annually to raise awareness of TB and to mobilise efforts, including political commitment to resources and healthcare financing towards TB elimination.

This years theme is Yes! We can end TB: Commit, Invest, and Deliver.

Represented by the Director of Port Health Services at the ministry, Nse Akpan, the minister noted that while Nigeria has made notable advancements in TB diagnosis and treatment, critical gaps remain in the countrys TB response.

He said that funding challenges have been exacerbated by the recent withdrawal of USAID funding, which previously supported nearly 50 per cent of TB case detection efforts in Nigeria.

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He also highlighted limited health facility coverage as a major challenge, noting that only 56 per cent of healthcare facilities provided Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS) services in 2023approximately 23,000 out of 40,562 facilities nationwide.

Mr Pate, however, said there are coordinated efforts by the government through the Sector Wide Approach to address the funding gaps.

To address limited health facility coverage, we are currently expanding diagnostic and treatment services through public and private healthcare facilities. Furthermore, we also leverage on other programmes to deliver TB services, he said.

Tuberculosis, an infectious disease

TB, an airborne disease caused by a bacterium (mycobacterium tuberculosis), mostly affects the lungs. It is the second deadliest infectious killer disease (after COVID-19) and among the top 10 causes of death worldwide.

Globally, and according to the 2024 WHO global TB report, an estimated 10.8 million people developed TB in 2023, with 1.6 million people losing their lives and 12 per cent of the global burden affecting the most vulnerable  the children and young adolescents.

TB remains a leading cause of death in Nigeria, with the country ranking sixth globally and first in Africa.

Mr Pate said the primary drivers of TB in Nigeria include undernutrition, HIV, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and alcohol use, with the working-age group (15-44 years) being the most affected.

He reiterated that eradicating TB remains a top priority for the present administration government.

He explained that the government has significantly expanded rapid molecular testing platforms for TB to advance its Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.

The number of GeneXpert machines has grown from 32 in 2012 to 513 in 2024, while Truenat machines increased from 39 in 2022 to 372 in 2024, and TB LAMP equipment from 52 in 2022 to 275 in 2024, he said.

Other challenges

Mr Pate also pointed to gaps in childhood TB detection, revealing that only 63 per cent of the estimated 59,000 childhood TB cases in 2024 were officially recorded.

Additionally, he raised concerns over low enrollment in Drug-Resistant TB (DR-TB) treatment, with just 3,500 cases treated out of an estimated 9,400 in 2024, representing a 37 per cent treatment coverage.

To address this, the minister said We are deploying many innovations including the integration of childhood TB screening and treatment into Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) programmes.

He also said there is an ongoing DR-TB survey to determine its actual burden in the country.

Moreover, we are improving access to DR-TB services through the engagement and capacitation of the LGA and community levels, thereby ensuring more patients receive timely care.

Mr Pate noted that the financial burden on TB patients remains a significant challenge, with 71 per cent incurring catastrophic costs while seeking care.

He said this poses a major threat to ending the TB epidemic in Nigeria.

Many patients face severe financial strain, often losing their jobs or sources of income, discouraging them from accessing treatment, he said.

Speaking at the event, WHO Country Representative, Walter Mulombo, emphasised the need for a dedicated, fully funded budget to sustain TB control efforts in Nigeria, especially in light of the suspension of USAID funding.

Mr Mulombo, who was represented by Mya Ngon, Team Lead for Communicable & Non-Communicable Diseases at WHO, noted that increased domestic investment would ease the burden on affected communities and ensure the availability of essential commodities for managing TB patients and their contacts.

He added that too many people are pushed into poverty when they contract TB due to lost income, transportation costs, and other expenses.

According to him, 71 per cent of TB patients in Nigeria and their households experience catastrophic costs related to the disease, further deepening economic hardship.

As a global health organisation, WHO will continue to provide normative guidance, mobilise resources for the TB response, and strengthen the capacity of health system and the community, working in close collaboration with all stakeholders to end the TB epidemic, he said.

We must sustain the efforts, and the gains achieved in these past years to stop the spread of the disease and end the TB epidemic by 2035.

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The Police in Rivers State said its operatives have foiled an attempt by miscreants to vandalise pipelines in the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Olugbenga Adepoju, said at a press briefing in Port Harcourt that the operation led to the death of the vandals whom he claimed were trying to detonate the pipeline.

The text of the press briefing was posted on Facebook on Tuesday.

Mr Adepoju said the incident occurred at Allu  Rumuekpe in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state on 16 March, a day before the Trans-Niger pipeline which transports crude from Rivers and Bayelsa states to the international terminal was blown.

The protracted political crisis and the destruction of the pipeline caused President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency and suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and the state lawmakers.

The commissioner further disclosed that operatives of the command on Friday stormed kidnappers hideout along Omoku Road in Ahoada East LGA where eight suspects were arrested and six victims rescued.

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The police chief did not disclose the identities of the eight suspects and the rescued victims.

Items recovered during the arrest include two English-made pump action guns, two locally made pistols, four locally made single barrel guns with assorted rounds and cartridges, three Q-link motorcycles, communication equipment amongst other items, the police said.

The police said they voided another crime in the state on 19 March and arrested two suspects with four dynamites, four switches and detonating pods and other improvised explosive device enablers.

This is in addition to the destruction of 30 illegal refining sites, 55 ovens, 20 reservoirs, 50 dug-out pits, 100,000 litres of stolen crude oil, and about 10,000 litres of illegally refined diesel which were handled in line with extant regulations.

The police commissioner appealed to the public to help in crime fighting by giving tip off to security agencies.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Tuesday that the petitions submitted for the recall of the suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, lacked important details to kick-start the process.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Sam Olumekun, INEC noted that the petitioners did not provide contact address, telephone numbers and email addresses of the voters whom they claimed signed the petitions for them to be contacted.

INEC said it noted the missing details during its weekly meeting held on Tuesday in which Mrs Akpto-Uduaghans recall was discussed.

Akpoti-Udughans recall

PREMIUM TIMES reported on Tuesday that some voters, under the aegis of Concerned Kogi Youth and Women, submitted a petition for the recall of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan at the commissions headquarters in Abuja.

In a letter addressed to the chairperson of the commission, Mahmood Yakubu, the group said they had lost confidence in her representation at the National Assembly and, therefore, asked the commission to commence the process of recalling her.

Kindly recall that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan emerged as our Senator by verdict of the Court of Appeal, Abuja on Tuesday October 31, 2023 which affirmed the Peoples Democratic Party PDP candidate as winner of the February 25, 2023 Kogi Central Senatorial election, the letter to INEC read in part.

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INEC Speaks

INEC explained that the process of recall as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 as well as the commissions detailed Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, are to be treated in strict compliance with the legal framework.

It stated that the petition submitted against Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan was accompanied by six bags of documents said to be signatures collected from over half of the 474,554 registered voters spread across 902 Polling Units in 57 Registration Areas in the five Local Government Areas of Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi and Okene.

It added that the petition did not contain the contact details of the voters who signed the petition so they can be contacted as provided in a section of its regulations and guidelines.

The Commissions immediate observation is that the representatives of the petitioners did not provide their contact address, telephone number(s) and e-mail address (es) in the covering letter forwarding the petition through which they can be contacted as provided in Clause 1(f) of our Regulations and Guidelines. The address given is Okene, Kogi State, which is not a definite location for contacting the petitioners. Only the telephone number of the lead petitioner is provided as against the numbers of all the other representatives of the petitioners, the statement said.

INEC also reiterated that the recall of a legislator is the prerogative of registered voters in a constituency who sign a petition indicating loss of confidence in the legislator representing them.

It, however, said it would guide the legal framework for the recall even as it asked the public to discountenance any speculations in the social media regarding the process.

The Commission reassures the public that it will be guided by the legal framework for recall. The public should therefore discountenance any speculations and insinuations in the social media, the statement said.

INECs Recall Process

The commission explained that once a petition meets the requirements of submission, as contained in its regulations, it will commence the verification of the signatures in each polling unit in an open process restricted to registered voters that signed the petition only.

It said the petitioners, the elected official whose recall is sought, interested observers and the media can also nominate agents who will be accredited to observe the verification process.

At each Polling Unit, signatories to the petition shall be verified using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), INEC said.

Consequently, if the petitioners fully comply with the requirements of clause 1(f) of the regulations and guidelines regarding the submission of their petition, the commission will announce the next steps in line with the extant laws, regulations and guidelines. In the absence of a definite contact address, the commission is making efforts to use other means to notify the representatives of the petitioners of the situation.

Legal framework for recall

Section 69 of the Constitution states that: A member of the Senate or of the House Representatives may be recalled as such a member if 

(a) there is presented to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission a petition in that behalf signed by more than one-half of the persons registered to vote in that members constituency alleging their loss of confidence in that member; and

(b) the petition is thereafter, in a referendum conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission within ninety days of the date of receipt of the petition, approved by a simple majority of the votes of the persons registered to vote in that members constituency.

Akpoti-Uduaghans ordeal

The Senate, on 6 March, suspended Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for six months following the recommendations of its ethics, privileges and public petitions committee.

The decision of the upper chamber followed her alleged misconduct during a plenary session on 20 February and her refusal to adhere to its sitting arrangement.

It imposed several penalties on Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, including withdrawing all her security aides and closing her office in the National Assembly.

She was also asked to hand over all properties of the Senate in her possession to the Clerk to the National Assembly, while she was also prohibited from entering the premises of the federal legislature during the period of suspension.

The Senate also suspended her salary and allowances and banned her from presenting herself as a senator locally and internationally.

The upper chamber, however, said it may consider recalling her if she submits a written apology.

However, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan has suggested that she was being persecuted for accusing the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of sexual harassment.

Mr Akpabio has denied the allegations though the Kogi senator has maintained her claims.

She initially submitted a sexual harassment petition against Mr Akpabio to the Senate but it was rejected on the basis that a sitting senator cannot sign a petition.

Days later, another petition signed by one Zubairu Yaqubu, who described himself as a concerned Nigerian citizen from Kogi Central Senatorial District, accused Mr Akpabio of harassing Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan sexually. It also accused him of abuse of office and obstruction of legislative duties.

On 11 March, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan externalised her case by taking it to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

She told the IPU at the meeting that her suspension was unlawful and an attempt to silence her for making allegations of sexual harassment against Mr Akpabio.

Earlier in the month, PREMIUM TIMES reported that some Kogi Central constituents condemned Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans suspension from the upper chamber.

The constituents expressed displeasure with the possibility of not being represented in the Senate for six months.

Past failed processes

Recalling legislators is one of the rights conferred on of members of senatorial districts and constituencies to hold them accountable.

However, there has not been a single case of successful recall since 1999 when democracy was restored in the country.

No fewer than six attempts to recall federal lawmakers have failed in the last 26 years of the nations democracy.

In 2016, some constituents in Borno South Senatorial District attempted to recall their senator, Ali Ndume, citing poor representation and insensitivity to their plight. It did not, however, succeed because it was resisted by the senators loyalists. Subsequently, the matter died naturally.

In 2018, the attempt to recall former senator for Kogi West, Dino Melaye, failed following a low turnout for the verification of signatures of petitioners.

At the end of the exercise, only 18,742 out of 189,870 signatories to the recall petition at the time could be verified by the commission hence the process could not continue.

There were moves to also recall other lawmakers, including Farouk Lawan, Abdulmumin Jibrin, Datti Mohammed, and Chris Ngige, but all did not advance for one reason or the other.

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The Senate has mandated its Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs to investigate the compliance by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) with federal character principle, in line with sections 14(3) and 14 (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The upper chamber said the investigative hearing was to ensure fair and equitable representation across all zones and ethnic groups in appointments, promotions and recruitment.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Osita Ngwu (PDP-Enugu) at plenary on Tuesday in Abuja.

Mr Ngwu, in the motion entitled: Urgent need to address systemic abuse and ineffective implementation of federal character principle in Nigerias public sector, said systemic abuse had become a major challenge to achieving balance and equity within Nigerias public service.

He said the challenge was due to limited recruitment opportunities, skewed promotions based solely on years of service and insufficient avenues for worker mobility outside the public sector.

According to him, the federal character principle mandates fair representation in federal appointments to reflect the linguistic, religious and geographic diversity of the country.

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Mr Ngwu quoted section 14(3) and (4) of the constitution as stipulating that no predominance of persons from a few states or a few ethnic or sectional groups should exist within the federal government or its agencies.

He said despite the focus on geographical quotas, imbalances still persisted with some institutions, often relocating problems rather than resolving them, while certain zones remained under-represented.

The senator expressed concern that the process of addressing public sector disparities had been undermined by institutional inertia and lack of accountability.

This, he said, was particularly prevalent in the area of recruitment at senior levels and influenced more by internal preferences than by merit and fairness.

The quota system has, in many cases, created confusion between merit-based recruitment and equitable state representation, to the detriment of discipline, morale and institutional efficiency, he said.

The lawmaker said that the constitutional criteria for equitable distribution of employment required each state to contribute its proportionate quota of 2.75 per cent to the national workforce.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) account for 1.00 per cent of the workforce, while catchment areas are to address localised recruitment for junior staff up to 75 per cent of positions, he said.

He also said that Order 96(27)(b) of the Senate Rule 2023 and sections 62, 88, 89, 143-(4) of the constitution gave its committee power of legislative oversight on matters relating to the implementation and monitoring of policy on federal character.

Mr Ngwu alleged that various federal institutions had consistently failed to adhere to federal character mandates, often by-passing regulations in their recruitment exercises, adding that pieces of evidence abound.

He listed some of the agencies, including Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its subsidiaries, such as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

Others, he said, were NAFDAC, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), National Pension Commission (PenCom), Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).

He also listed the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) and the National Library of Nigeria (NLN) among those flouting the federal character principle.

He said that the contempt emanating from the foregoing, if unchecked, would continually erode the efficacy of section 14(d)(e) of the Legislative Houses Powers and Privileges Act, 2017, Part 1(1)-(2) of the Subsidiary Legislation 23 of 1997 and section 11(2) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

Mr Ngwu expressed concern that the Federal Character Commission (FCC), although constitutionally empowered, remained hindered by chronic underfunding, political interference and limited enforcement capabilities.

The Senate, following intense debates from Abba Moro (PDP-Benue), Adamu Aliero (PDP-Kebbi), Seriake Dickson (PDP-Bayelsa), Olalere Oyewumi (PDP-Osun), Victor Umeh (LP-Anambra), Anthony Ani (APC- Ebonyi), Adams Oshiomhole (APC-Edo), mandated the committee to turn in its report in three months.

(NAN)

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The Gambaryan affair should serve as a lesson on the resilience of Nigerias institutions in the face of external pressure. Rather than bow to intimidation, the Nigerian government championed complex negotiations with strategic foresight and secured tangible benefits while upholding its legal framework. Nigeria is now battling Binance in two separate court cases. One is a $35.4 million money laundering case brought by the EFCC, in which Gambaryan and Anjarwalla are no longer defendants, following an amended charge

The dominant narrative of Nigerias regulatory crackdown on Binance challenges the integrity of Nigerias institutions, while attempting to shield those complicit in economic sabotage. At the centre of this controversy is Tigran Gambaryan, Binance Holdings Limiteds head of financial crime compliance, who was detained alongside Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binances Africa regional manager, on 26 February 2024. Their detention has proven to be a lawful response to their refusal to cooperate with law enforcement agencies investigating how crypto exchange firms, including Binance, were undermining Nigerias economy and causing significant financial losses.

The trending revelations into the Binance scandal, as instigated by PREMIUM TIMES in a three-part exclusive story, have brought to light the immense diplomatic pressures that led to Gambaryans release. More importantly, they have also raised questions about the falsehoods now being peddled to discredit the Nigerian government and its officials, particularly National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu. The media houses that had ridden the wave of sensationalism, despite the obvious holes in the story, have now seen the truth as the dust settles. Even to the naive mind, the bribery allegations against Ribadu, levelled by Gambaryan, are a deliberate smokescreen to deflect attention from the elephant in the room: the documented charge of economic sabotage, backed by substantial evidence, which is not a matter of politics.

It must also be acknowledged that Gambaryans release, following the escape of his colleague from custody, was not actualised based on the proof of innocence. He was freed due to the calculated interventions of the US government, which sought to secure his release at all costs. According to PREMIUM TIMES, the US administration exerted significant pressure, led by Ambassador Richard Mills Jr, who formally urged Nigerias Ministry of Foreign Affairs to release Gambaryan on humanitarian grounds, despite the charges of tax evasion and money laundering against him and his employer. In May 2024, the then Secretary of State Antony Blinken personally raised the issue with Nigerias Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, during a meeting in Washington DC. The newspaper also reported that in late April, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell had discussed the matter with Nigerias National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. The high-powered intervention could not have been for an innocent party.

Despite the pressure, however, Nigeria insisted on due process. This principled stance was reinforced when the courts denied Gambaryans repeated bail applications, citing flight risk concerns. But the US government remained relentless in its lobbying, engaging directly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubus administration, the NSAs office, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The intensity of this engagement highlights Nigerias determination to enforce its laws against a backdrop of global superpower influence. If there was no proof of guilt, the US government would have insisted on the path of law.

If bribery allegations are to be scrutinised, they should be directed at Binance itself. In a desperate bid to secure Gambaryans release, Binance reportedly offered Nigeria a $5 million down payment  a fraction of its enormous unpaid tax liability. This offer, facilitated through the companys legal representatives, was rejected outright by the Nigerian government. This is why it is laughable for Gambaryanto now accuse Nigerian government officials of soliciting bribes.

Nigeria outlined clear conditions in the negotiations leading to Gambaryans release: the release must be framed as a diplomatic gesture, cooperation from the US in financial crime investigations must be secured, and outstanding Nigerian assets held in the US should be repatriated. Nigeria took advantage of the diplomatic pressure to demand accelerated action in recovering approximately $380 million in seized assets. These include $6 million linked to an arms deal involving Ara Garabed Dolarian, $53 million from forfeited properties linked to Diezani Alison-Madueke and Jide Aluko, and $150 million in Abacha-linked assets frozen in France since 2012, following a US Department of Justice request. Additionally, another asset, amounting to 140160 million, linked to a former Nigerian governors family, was seized by the US. Nigerias insistence on a formal request for Gambaryans release  addressed to President Tinubu and copied to the NSA, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Attorney General  provides concrete proof to refute the falsehoods peddled by the ungrateful Gambaryan.

If bribery allegations are to be scrutinised, they should be directed at Binance itself. In a desperate bid to secure Gambaryans release, Binance reportedly offered Nigeria a $5 million down payment  a fraction of its enormous unpaid tax liability. This offer, facilitated through the companys legal representatives, was rejected outright by the Nigerian government. This is why it is laughable for Gambaryan, who left Nigeria on the grounds of high-powered diplomacy and not acquittal, to now accuse Nigerian government officials of soliciting bribes.

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Binances own admissions  operating illegally in Nigeria for six years, facilitating transactions worth $21.6 billion in 2023 alone, and failing to comply with anti-money laundering laws  speak volumes about the scale of its misconduct. The company also confessed that, as of early 2024, it had at least 386,256 active users in Nigeria and generated a net revenue of $35.4 million in 2023, yet with no commensurate tax returns to Nigeria. Binance has since agreed to negotiate further on the possibility of providing Nigeria with a list of the top 100 Nigerian users of its platform, while also hiring two firms, Baker Tilly (accountants) and Chainalysis (blockchain experts), to help determine the companys exact tax liability.

The allegation against Ribadu appears to be a well-orchestrated distraction, and that is what the trending revelations initiated by PREMIUM TIMES show. With the facts now exposed, it is evident that Gambaryan is attempting to rewrite history  and shift focus from Binances illegal operations, the diplomatic pressure exerted by the US, and the legitimacy of Nigerias enforcement actions. By accusing Ribadu, he seeks to absolve himself and his company of wrongdoing, while framing Nigeria as a corrupt state.

Gambaryans latest accusations should be dismissed as the last desperate act of a man who, having evaded justice through diplomatic pressure, now seeks to rewrite the narrative. The real story  the one supported by evidence  reveals a Nigerian government committed to economic sovereignty, the rule of law, and the national interest. As the truth emerges, it is clear that Ribadu and the Nigerian authorities have nothing to answer for

However, the facts tell a different story. The Nigerian government, in refusing Binances $5 million offer, has demonstrated integrity. The negotiation leading to Gambaryans release, while diplomatic, was in Nigerias best interests. Most significantly, no evidence supports his bribery claims  only the desperate words of a man trying to clear his name at the expense of the truth. The negotiation has also inspired the establishment of the US-Nigeria Bilateral Liaison Group on Illicit Finance and Cryptocurrencies. These gains strengthen Nigerias economic and security interests.

The Gambaryan affair should serve as a lesson on the resilience of Nigerias institutions in the face of external pressure. Rather than bow to intimidation, the Nigerian government championed complex negotiations with strategic foresight and secured tangible benefits while upholding its legal framework. Nigeria is now battling Binance in two separate court cases. One is a $35.4 million money laundering case brought by the EFCC, in which Gambaryan and Anjarwalla are no longer defendants, following an amended charge on 25 November 2024, about a month after Gambaryan was freed.

Gambaryans latest accusations should be dismissed as the last desperate act of a man who, having evaded justice through diplomatic pressure, now seeks to rewrite the narrative. The real story  the one supported by evidence  reveals a Nigerian government committed to economic sovereignty, the rule of law, and the national interest. As the truth emerges, it is clear that Ribadu and the Nigerian authorities have nothing to answer for  except the strength of their moral character in defending the countrys integrity.

Awaal Gata, a journalist and analyst writes from Abuja.

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The launch of the NIPSS E-Classroom is a landmark moment in Nigerias digital education journey. It aligns with the federal governments broader push for technology-driven governance and education. President Tinubus directive underscores his administrations commitment to digital integration across public institutions, aiming to keep Nigeria competitive in the rapidly evolving global digital landscape.

A recent report revealed that the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) has launched a new paperless classroom platform aimed at enhancing digital learning and collaboration. This marks a major stride in its ongoing digital transformation agenda.

According to Tech Digest, the launch followed the submission of a landmark report on Nigerias digital economy by participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 46 to President Bola Tinubu. Among the key recommendations were fast-tracking the Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill, mandating the digital migration of all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government to the OneGov.ng portal, supporting youth-centered initiatives like the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) scheme, and embracing the Quintuple-Helix Model for innovation and job creation.

President Tinubu commended NIPSS for its efforts and directed immediate action on the recommendations. The Director-General of NIPSS, Professor Ayo Omotayo, emphasised the need to address infrastructure deficits, skills gaps, and regulatory hurdles, in order to fully unlock Nigerias digital potential. This initiative reaffirms NIPSSs pivotal role in promoting tech-driven governance and shaping Nigerias digital future.

It is encouraging to see more institutions of learning embracing technology to drive education  an overdue but welcome development.

E-classroom platforms streamline learning by eliminating paper-based inefficiencies and fostering seamless collaboration between policymakers and scholars. Until recently, such platforms were mostly limited to private universities. The web-based system now being adopted by NIPSS enhances online learning, simplifies communication, and enables dynamic interaction between instructors and participants. By digitising course materials and academic processes, it not only reduces dependence on physical paperwork but also improves accessibility and efficiency.

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Though they come in various forms and brands, e-classroom platforms share a common strength: delivering a seamless learning experience. Users can access materials remotely, submit assignments electronically, and participate in discussions beyond the limitations of traditional classrooms. This digital shift aligns with global best practices in executive education, promoting a more interactive and engaging environment.

A standout feature of the e-classroom is its real-time communication capability. With tools such as instant messaging, video conferencing, and discussion forums, participants can share ideas effortlessly, keep policy debates vibrant and productive. In addition, integrated document-sharing and collaborative editing features allow multiple users to contribute to policy papers and research projects, thereby improving teamwork and efficiency.

Public tertiary institutions across Nigeria stand to benefit immensely from adopting similar digital initiatives, particularly as many still rely on outdated manual processes for teaching, research, and administration. This outdated approach hampers their ability to keep pace with global academic trends. Embracing digital platforms would not only expand access to educational resources but also streamline administrative duties and create a more stimulating academic environment.

As Nigeria embraces the digital economy, integrating technology into learning and research is essential for institutional efficiency and international competitiveness. The digital transformation of any forward-looking organisation proves that  with the right commitment  even traditionally paper-reliant institutions can modernise and boost their operational performance. For NIPSS and similar bodies, digital adoption in policy research and strategic studies make learning more interactive, accessible, and impactful.

Public tertiary institutions across Nigeria stand to benefit immensely from adopting similar digital initiatives, particularly as many still rely on outdated manual processes for teaching, research, and administration. This outdated approach hampers their ability to keep pace with global academic trends. Embracing digital platforms would not only expand access to educational resources but also streamline administrative duties and create a more stimulating academic environment. Tertiary institutions must take a cue from NIPSS and embrace tech-driven education to better prepare their students and researchers for the global stage.

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has been instrumental in promoting digital adoption through funding, digital literacy programmes, and infrastructure support. Yet, many universities are yet to fully integrate these resources into their academic ecosystems.

The success of the e-classroom should serve as a compelling model, encouraging other institutions to leverage NITDAs support and fast-track their transition to digital learning environments.

Beyond e-classroom platforms, institutions must also consider the broader scope of digital transformation  including digitised research systems, collaborative tools, and access to international academic resources.

A fully digital academic ecosystem would significantly improve research quality, support global academic partnerships, and foster an environment more conducive to innovation and excellence.

Digital adoption also serves as a bridge between traditional and modern education, ensuring that students are equipped with the skills required in todays digital workforce.

for these digital reforms to be truly impactful, collaboration is crucial. The government, policymakers, and institutional leaders must work hand in hand to ensure full implementation  making digital education and research the norm rather than the exception. By doing so, Nigeria can position itself as a continental leader in digital governance, education, and innovation.

While the launch of NIPSS paperless e-classroom is commendable, it must be complemented by a fully digitalised library  if its not already in place. A modern educational environment extends beyond virtual classrooms to include comprehensive access to e-books, academic journals, research databases, and other digital resources.

Institutions still relying solely on outdated wooden shelves filled with aging books are clinging to the past. In contrast, a 21st-century library is equipped with cutting-edge technology that offers instant access to global knowledge  enabling policy researchers and learners to stay informed and competitive.

A robust digital library is crucial for institutions involved in policy and strategic studies. Access to real-time data, government policy documents, and global academic publications, enhances research capabilities and supports the development of well-informed, evidence-based strategies.

Top-tier institutions around the world have already embraced digital libraries, which significantly improve the speed, quality, and reach of academic research.

The launch of the NIPSS e-classroom is a landmark moment in Nigerias digital education journey. It aligns with the federal governments broader push for technology-driven governance and education. President Tinubus directive underscores his administrations commitment to digital integration across public institutions, aiming to keep Nigeria competitive in the rapidly evolving global digital landscape.

By expanding digital access, modernising academic infrastructure, and integrating cutting-edge tools, Nigeria can build a knowledge-driven economy that empowers both students and professionals.

However, for these digital reforms to be truly impactful, collaboration is crucial. The government, policymakers, and institutional leaders must work hand in hand to ensure full implementation  making digital education and research the norm rather than the exception. By doing so, Nigeria can position itself as a continental leader in digital governance, education, and innovation.

Shuaib S. Agaka is a tech journalist writing from Kofar Dukawuya, Kano City.

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Even among the people of Rivers, there is unease. Military trucks now roll through the streets, a stark reminder of how quickly political crises can erode civil governance. The deeper question lingers: Will this intervention bring lasting stability, or is it just another chapter in Rivers cycle of unrest?

Rivers State has never been a land of quiet politics. It pulses with oil wealth, yet its riches have never translated into peace. The latest turmoil  involving the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy and 27 lawmakers; the dramatic takeover by a military administrator, and an explosion on the Trans Niger Pipeline  reads like the script of an old, familiar tragedy.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubus state of emergency, declared on 18 March, has only deepened the uncertainty. The streets of Port Harcourt hum with nervous speculation. Power has shifted overnight. But to what end?

For decades, Rivers has been a battlefield  not just for militants and oil thieves, but for politicians wielding influence like a weapon. This time, the fight is not about resource control or environmental justice; it is a bitter duel between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Once allies, now rivals, their power struggle has paralysed governance and turned the state assembly into a theatre of chaos. The impeachment threats, the controversial demolition of the assembly complex, and the relentless manoeuvring of Wikes loyalists in the legislature, all set the stage for Tinubus intervention.

But was emergency rule the only way out? The explosion at the Trans Niger Pipeline  coincidentally or not  came just as the impeachment crisis reached its boiling point. The blast, which sent thick plumes of smoke over Bodo, disrupted the flow of 245,000 barrels of crude per day.

For a nation whose economy leans desperately on oil revenue, this was more than an environmental disaster; it was an economic threat. Was it sabotage? An act of desperation from aggrieved political players? No one has claimed responsibility, but the timing is impossible to ignore.

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Tinubu has framed his decision as one of necessity. Section 305 of the Constitution grants him the power to impose emergency rule, suspending democratic structures in favour of military oversight. Now, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas holds the reins of Rivers State.

Supporters of this drastic step say it was the only way to break the deadlock and restore order. Critics call it an overreach, an unconstitutional flexing of federal muscle that bypasses democratic processes. The Nigerian Bar Association has condemned it. Peter Obi calls it reckless.

Even among the people of Rivers, there is unease. Military trucks now roll through the streets, a stark reminder of how quickly political crises can erode civil governance. The deeper question lingers: Will this intervention bring lasting stability, or is it just another chapter in Rivers cycle of unrest?

Tinubus past attempts to broker peace between Fubara and Wike failed, largely because the godfather culture in Nigerian politics thrives on control, not compromise. Wike expected obedience; Fubara chose defiance. The result  a state where political ambition overshadows governance.

And then, there is the oil. The Niger Deltas pipelines have always been a target  by militants, by criminal syndicates, and now, perhaps, by political opportunists. Securing them requires more than military deployments; it demands an economic strategy that addresses the poverty fuelling sabotage in the first place.

Will Tinubus emergency rule tackle this, or will it simply be six months of power consolidation before another crisis erupts? Rivers State waits, as it has waited before, for peace. But peace has never been a gift freely given  it is fought for, negotiated, earned.

The question is, who in this political chess game is fighting for Rivers, and who is merely playing for power? Until that answer is clear, tranquility will remain as elusive as ever.

Nabila Awwal is a Mass Communication student in Maryam Abacha American University Nigeria. She can be reached via: [email protected]

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Moving forward, this episode should serve as a lesson for both the press and security institutions to foster mutual understanding, embrace responsible reporting, and work towards a common goal of enhancing national security, while upholding the right to accurate and independent journalism.

In a remarkable demonstration of responsible journalism and institutional transparency, some national dailies and broadcast stations in Nigeria have publicly apologised to the State Security Services (SSS) over their earlier reports concerning the agencys role in the crisis at the Lagos State House of Assembly.

This unprecedented move signals a growing maturity in media-intelligence relations and underscores a broader commitment to truth, accountability, and national security. It also reflects an evolving media landscape in Nigeria, in which ethics and professionalism are taking centre stage over sensationalism and speculation.

On 17 February, media platforms  including Africa Independent Television (AIT), Channels Television, Tribune, The Guardian, and Blueprint newspapers  reported that SSS operatives had forcefully invaded the Lagos State House of Assembly, amidst a leadership tussle between the then-ousted Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, and the newly installed Speaker, Mojisola Meranda. The reports framed the SSS as an aggressor, interfering in a political crisis without justification.

However, in a swift and detailed response, the SSS clarified its role through an official letter, stating that its operatives were invited by the Clerk of the Assembly, alongside police personnel, to prevent an anticipated invasion by hoodlums. The agency emphasised that its intervention was purely to maintain law and order, which falls within its core mandate.

Concerned that the misleading reports could tarnish its image and misinform the public, the SSS, through its legal counsel, formally demanded a retraction and an apology from the concerned media outlets. The letter also indicated that failure to comply would result in legal action, including both civil and criminal proceedings.

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In a rare but commendable show of responsibility, the media houses involved acknowledged their mistake, promptly retracted their reports, and issued public apologies. This action demonstrates an increasing level of professionalism within Nigerias media landscape  one that prioritises facts over sensationalism and willingness to correct errors when necessary.

This development is significant for several reasons. First, it reaffirms the principle that journalism, as the fourth estate of the realm, carries not only the right to report but also the duty to ensure accuracy and fairness. The willingness of these media houses to issue apologies and correct their errors showcases ethical journalism at its best.

Second, it reflects a growing culture of dialogue and engagement between the intelligence community and the media, rather than confrontation. In the past, similar situations may have escalated into prolonged legal battles or open hostility, leading to strained relations between journalists and security agencies. It is gratifying that this time, both parties handled the matter with decorum, paving the way for a healthier working relationship.

The implications of this event extend beyond just one case of media correction. A well-functioning democracy thrives on a robust media sector and effective security institutions. Both entities serve the public interest  one by informing the citizens and the other by ensuring national security. However, when either side operates with misinformation or hostility, it can erode trust and endanger societal stability.

Misinformation, especially on sensitive security matters, can fuel public unrest, damage institutional reputation, and even incite violence. In an era in which fake news spreads rapidly on social media, journalists must uphold accuracy and verify their sources before publishing. Sensationalised reports involving security agencies not only create unnecessary panic but also undermine national security efforts.

This case highlights the need for better communication channels between security agencies and the press. It is essential for journalists to verify security-related reports with official sources before publication, while security agencies should also proactively engage the media to provide accurate information.

Institutionalising regular briefings, press workshops, and collaborative training between the media and security personnel can help bridge the information gap and reduce the spread of unverified reports. Additionally, security agencies must understand that a hostile approach towards the media often leads to suspicion and misinformation, whereas open communication fosters a more transparent and informed society.

At the same time, journalists must take their fact-checking responsibilities seriously, ensuring that their reports are based on verified information, rather than hearsay. The role of editors in enforcing editorial standards and scrutinising security-related news before publication cannot be overemphasised.

The swift resolution of this matter sets a positive precedent for future interactions between the media and Nigerias security agencies. It demonstrates that the media can admit to errors without compromising press freedom, and security institutions can demand fairness without resorting to excessive force or intimidation.

Moving forward, this episode should serve as a lesson for both the press and security institutions to foster mutual understanding, embrace responsible reporting, and work towards a common goal of enhancing national security, while upholding the right to accurate and independent journalism.

At a time when misinformation can spread like wildfire, the responsible actions taken by these media houses and the professional approach of the SSS should be celebrated as a win for truth, democracy, and national stability.

Mukhtar Yau Madobi is a research fellow at the Centre for Crisis Communication. He wrote via [email protected].

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In a deeply touching and emotion-ladden atmosphere, Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda displayed profound love and spiritual devotion following the passing of his beloved mother.

The nonegenarian passed away while he was abroad, adding a poignant layer to his grief. Upon his return to Nigeria today, Governor Radda made an immediate visit to his mothers graveside, where he sat humbly before her resting place, pouring his heart out in heartfelt dua.

With tears and reverence, the governor beseeched Allah (SWT) to forgive her shortcomings, grant her mercy, and elevate her to the highest ranks of Jannatul Firdaus.

This moving scene was captured in two evocative shots sent to PREMIUM TIMES by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed.

The emotive moment which blended sorrow, faith, and a sons undying love for his beloved mother, left a lasting impression on all who witnessed it on Monday.

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The Federal Government and the NNPC Limited/FIRST Exploration and Petroleum Development Company (FIRST E&P) Joint Venture (JV), have called for collaboration among stakeholders in the oil-production communities to ensure sustainable development. This call was made by the Managing Director of FIRST Exploration and Petroleum Development Company, Mr Ademola Adeyemi-Bero and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, at the KEFFESO Stakeholders Forum held at Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Thursday, 13 March 2025.

In line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, the KEFFESO Host Communities Development Trust (KHCDT) was established by NNPC/FIRST E&P in 2023. The trust convened the KHCDT stakeholder forum with the theme, Envisioning Sustainable Community Development in Niger Delta Host Communities: Identifying Challenges and Actualising the PIA Paradigm Shift to provide a platform for dialogue, reflection, and collaboration amongst Host Community Development Trusts. The event had in attendance representatives from oil and gas regulatory agencies, over 100 Host Community Trusts, Settlors and representatives from the private sector.

In his keynote address at the event, Lokpobiri commended NNPC/FIRST E&P for sustaining the strategic partnership with the KEFFESO Host Community Development Trust (KHCDT) and stressed the need for the leadership of various host communities to work harmoniously.

The KEFFESO Host Communities Development Trust has shown its commitment to utilize the funds provided for them to ensure that there is meaningful development in the host communities. I believe that when community leaders work together, they can bring about real development, he said.

In his remarks, Managing Director, FIRST Exploration and Petroleum Development Company, Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, who was represented by the General Manager, Engineering and Capital Projects, John Alamu described the companys establishment of the Trust as a tangible demonstration of its enduring commitment to supporting the host communities long-term socio-economic development. He acknowledged the notable strides achieved by the Trust through the implementation of impactful interventions across health, education, infrastructure, water, capacity building and local content development.

Also speaking, the Chief Upstream Investment Officer, Seyi Omotowa, who was represented by the Deputy Manager, External Relations, NUIMS, Edith Lawson, explained that the forum serves as an opportunity to develop actionable strategies that could foster sustainable development, ensuring that the benefits of the Petroleum Industry Act are not only realized but equitably distributed among stakeholders.

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According to Mr Omotowa, the Petroleum Industry Act represents a significant shift in policy and approach, offering a framework for more equitable resource management and community development.

Chairman, KEFFESO Host Communities Development Trust (KHCDT), HRH Moko-ama Sangana Kingdom, Moses Theophilus, in his remarks said that implementing the PIA has the potential to bring about transformative changes, ensuring that the benefits of oil and gas activities reach those in oil producing host communities.

While expressing profound gratitude to the NNPC/FIRST E&P JV for the invaluable support in establishing the KHCDT, he noted that the prompt funding and commitment to the development of the KEFFESO communities by the company has been instrumental in bringing the forum to life.

Commenting on the forum, The Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, represented by the Executive Commissioner, Safety, Environment and Community, John Tonlagha, stated that institutionalization of the community development trust initiative remains a defining moment in Nigerias petroleum sector unlike previous community development efforts that lacked focus on governance, transparency and accountability.

The event also included a series of panel sessions that highlighted challenges confronted by the host communities and possible solutions to improving the welfare of the people.

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When South Korea invested heavily in its telecommunications infrastructure in the early 2000s, it transformed from a developing economy into a digital powerhouse. Singapore became a global trade hub when it committed to massive port infrastructure investments in the 1970s. When Qatar strategically invested in natural gas infrastructure, it evolved from a pearl-fishing economy into one of the worlds wealthiest nations. Today, Nigeria stands ready to write its own transformative investment story.

With Africas largest natural gas reserves and a population exceeding 200 million, Nigeria is poised for significant economic growth. The alignment of government vision, regulatory stability, and financial innovation is setting the stage for an investment-driven renaissance in energy and infrastructure.

The recent Gas and Infrastructure Conference, organised by Stanbic IBTCs Corporate and Investment Banking division (CIB), with the theme Driving gas and infrastructure opportunities in Africa (Focus on Nigeria), showcased this new reality. No longer are we merely discussing Nigerias potential; we are mapping concrete pathways to its realisation with stakeholders ready to move forward.

The momentum behind Nigerias infrastructure evolution is driven by three key factors: First, regulatory certainty is now a reality. Dr. Jobson Ewalefoh, Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), outlined the robust new framework that now streamlines Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). This operational framework ensures transparency, protects investor capital, and secures returns on investment.

President Tinubus administration has placed PPPs at the centre of its economic strategy, recognising them as essential bridges across the infrastructure gap. This political backing at the highest level ensures that infrastructure investments now operate in an environment of unprecedented support and stability.

Second, the financial instruments needed for infrastructure investment have evolved dramatically.

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At Stanbic IBTC, weve developed sophisticated, tailored financing options designed explicitly for Nigerias infrastructure landscape. These innovative structures blend various capital sources to optimise returns while mitigating risks. Our financing solutions are ready now, not as concepts but as deployable tools that can immediately unlock infrastructure development across the energy value chain, from gas processing facilities to power generation and distribution networks.

Third, early success stories are beginning to emerge. Projects demonstrating Nigerias new execution capacity are moving from blueprint to reality. These pioneering initiatives create the precedents to catalyse the next wave of investment, building momentum to transform Nigerias infrastructure landscape over the coming decade.

The global investment community should note that Nigerias value proposition in 2025 will fundamentally differ from that in years past. The convergence of political will, regulatory clarity, and financial innovation has created an infrastructure investment climate that deserves fresh consideration.

That said, urgency remains essential. Nigerias infrastructure gap continues to widen as our population grows and urbanises. Closing this gap requires acceleration, not just interest, from all stakeholders. The frameworks are in place, the financing tools are available, and the market opportunity is immense. Whats needed now is decisive action to seize this moment.

At Stanbic IBTC, we are not just observers of this transformation; we are active participants and enablers. Our commitment goes beyond financing, including project structuring, technical guidance, and long-term partnership. We stand ready to collaborate with investors who recognise that Nigerias infrastructure sector today offers that rare alignment of social impact and competitive returns.

The path from opportunity to achievement is now clearly marked. Nigerias energy and infrastructure sectors are entering a new era of opportunity, supported by a government committed to partnership and financial institutions prepared to drive success. For investors looking to make a meaningful impact while achieving strong returns, the time to act is now. The foundation for success has never been more robust, and together, we can shape a more prosperous Nigeria while creating value today.

* Joyce Dimkpa is the Head, Client Coverage, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Nigeria.

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In commemoration of World Oral Health Day 2025, Colgate Nigeria has partnered with Beaconhill Smile Clinic, a leading dental clinic in Nigeria, to advance oral health awareness and education nationwide. This partnership marks a significant step in improving dental hygiene through education, access, and preventive care.

Colgate and Beaconhill have launched a national oral health educational series to spotlight the most pressing dental challenges facing Nigerians today. To further demonstrate the power of preventive care, 50 Nigerians will receive free professional Scaling & Polishing procedures, helping them take the first step toward better oral hygiene.

Speaking on the partnership, Founder & CEO, Beaconhill Smile Group, Dr. Oluwaseun Akinbobola, stated the clinic is proud to partner with Colgate to make quality dental care more accessible and drive real change across communities.

Colgate has also launched the #StartNowWithColgate campaign to drive behaviour change from an early age. The campaign delivers a simple but powerful message: Proper oral hygiene can retain all 32 teetheven at age 80.

As part of its nationwide effort, Colgate partnered with the Federal Ministry of Health to commemorate World Oral Health Day through impactful community activations that include a rally on Wednesday, mobilising hundreds to raise awareness on oral hygiene, community outreach in Karu community by Colgate to educate residents and distributed free toothpaste to support immediate behaviour change, another outreach at Gwagwalada Primary Health Centre and LEA Primary School to educate young children and nursing mothers on oral health, helping them adopt preventive habits early.

Speaking on the occasion, the Director of the Dentistry Division, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Gloria Uzoigwe, noted, Oral health problems are preventable, but due to lack of awareness, people only act when pain beginswe must change this.

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The celebration extended to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), where Colgate led an on-ground campaign to drive internal awareness through a rally within the hospital and distribution of free Colgate products.

At the rally, staff and patients gathered to promote better oral hygiene practices with free Colgate products distributed to patients to reinforce the brands commitment to education and access.

In his remarks, Consultant, Dental Public Health & Outreach Coordinator, LASUTH, Dr Folabi Oyapero, stated, This years partnership with Colgate scaled up efforts meaningfully, combining advocacy, education, and action.

Speaking on the impact of this years activities, Oluwatomisin Adetola, Head of Marketing at Colgate Nigeria, remarked that the company is committed to ensuring that every Nigerian has access to the proper education and resources to maintain excellent oral health, adding that with the help of partners, were driving real, lasting change.

Assistant Brand Manager, Colgate, Jessica Adetu, expressed her enthusiasm: It was gratifying to see our oral health initiatives amplified for World Oral Health Day, allowing us to make an even greater impact on oral health education in the country.

From schools to clinics, from mothers to the elderly, Colgates message is clear: Start now. A healthier, brighter smile is possible for everyone.

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The Governor of Ekiti State, Abiodun Oyebanji, has commended the partnership between Promasidor Nigeria and the Ekiti State Government, describing the Ikun Dairy Farm as a key success story of public-private collaboration. During a courtesy visit to Promasidors Lagos head office and factory, he made this remark as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen their partnership and explore new opportunities for industrial expansion, job creation, and sustainable development.

Speaking during the visit, Governor Oyebanji reaffirmed the strategic importance of Promasidor in the states economic transformation.

We see Ikun Dairy Farm as our baby, and Promasidor Nigeria as a strategic partner in our quest for economic growth and shared prosperity. The success of this initiative brings us great joy, and our traditional leaders, including the Onikun of Ikun-Amure, Oba Olatunde David Olusola, have attested to its significant economic impact. We are particularly excited about the job creation, industrial growth, and agricultural advancements it has fostered. Moving forward, we look to deepen our collaboration with Promasidor to expand these gains.

Governor Oyebanji further emphasized his administrations commitment to creating a more conducive business environment for Promasidors expansion in Ekiti State. He assured the company of government support in reducing production costs and revealed that discussions had been held with the Kwara State Governor regarding a potential extension of the initiative to the neighboring state. He also noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown keen interest in agricultural development in Ekiti State and that the matter is currently before the Presidency.

This growing partnership represents a crucial step in Nigerias industrialization efforts, strengthening local production, economic development, and public-private collaboration.

Welcoming Governor Oyebanji, Promasidor Nigerias Managing Director, Mr Francois Gillet, expressed gratitude for the state governments unwavering support.

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We are proud of the success we have achieved with our farm in Ekiti and the positive transformation it has brought to the local community. This progress has been made possible through the strong support of Your Excellency and the Ekiti State Government. Your visit to our Lagos facility reflects our shared commitment to fostering economic growth and building lasting partnerships that will benefit Nigeria. By deepening this collaboration, we aim to further enhance Ekitis agriculture, manufacturing, and employment opportunities for Nigerians.

The Governors visit follows the remarkable achievements of Promasidors 500-hectare farm in Ekiti, which has become a model for sustainable agriculture, job creation, and local resource integration in food production.

During his tour of Promasidors world-class Lagos factory, Mr Oyebanji was introduced to the companys cutting-edge production processes, technological innovations, and commitment to local sourcing. He commended Promasidors role in boosting Nigerias economy, particularly its efforts in empowering local farmers and manufacturers in Ekiti State.

The enhanced partnership between Promasidor Nigeria and the Ekiti State Government will focus on expanding industrial and agricultural production in the state, increasing job creation and skills development for Ekiti residents, enhancing food security through sustainable agricultural initiatives, leveraging Promasidors expertise in food production and technology.

With Promasidors strong commitment to local sourcing, exemplified by its flagship brands like Cowbell, Top Tea, and Onga, this collaboration reinforces the companys dedication to corporate social responsibility and the advancement of Nigerias local industries.

Governor Oyebanjis visit marks a new phase of economic transformation in Ekiti State, with Promasidor playing a vital role in driving innovation, investment, and long-term prosperity.

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A judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday recused himself from hearing a suit filed by Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to challenge his suspension by the Senate.

Obiora Egwuatus decision followed a petition from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who questioned his impartiality in the case.

The case was originally scheduled for a hearing, but when the court clerk called it, Mr Egwuatu announced his withdrawal.

He said that the case file would be returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge.

The development puts another spanner in the works of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans suit, which she hoped would be promptly resolved to possibly cut short the six months suspension imposed on her by the Senate.

It is the latest in the series of drawbacks the suit has suffered in within a week, including the judges 19 March ruling reversing his earlier 4 March order halting the Senates diaciplinary process against her.

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The suit also faces the prospect of an indefinite adjournment even if it is promptly resigned to another judge, with the Court of Appeal set to hear Mr Akpabios application for stay of proceedings of the Federal High Court regarding the suspended senators case.

Background

Mr Egwuatu had previously issued an interim order on 4 March, halting the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with disciplinary action against Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan for allegedly violating Senate rules.

The judge gave the restraining injunction before the disciplinary process reached a a decision.

The judge ordered the Senate committee to suspend the disciplinary process until the substantive suit was determined.

Furthermore, he gave the defendants 72 hours to show cause why an interlocutory injunction should not be granted to stop the Senate from probing Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan without affording her due process, as outlined in the Nigerian Constitution, the Senate Standing Orders 2023, and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.

Mr Egwuatu also permitted substituted service of court processes on the defendants.

He ordered that court documents be delivered to the Clerk of the National Assembly, pasted within the National Assembly premises, and published in two national newspapers.

His 4 March rulings were based on an ex parte application and an affidavit of urgency filed by Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Akpabios appeal

Meanwhile, Senate President Akpabio has been challenging the legal proceedings.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Mr Akpabio filed an application at the Court of Appeal in Abuja on 20 March, seeking to halt the Federal High Courts hearing of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans case.

He also sought permission to appeal an interlocutory ruling delivered by Mr Egwuatu on 10 March.

Mr Akpabios legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), argued that the lower courts decision to hear all pending applications together contradicted established legal principles.

Mr Akpabio also filed an application for a stay of proceedings before the Federal High Court on the same day, asking it to suspend the hearing of the case pending the appeal.

One of the key applications in contention was the Senates challenge to the 4 March interim injunction, which had stopped the disciplinary process against Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The suspended senator had also filed applications for a mandatory injunction and contempt proceedings against Senate officials, accusing them of violating the courts order.

There is a need for this honourable court to stay proceedings of the lower court pending the hearing and determination of the appellant/applicants appeal, to prevent the judgement of this honourable court nugatory, Mr Akpabios lawyer wrote in the application filed at the Court of Appeal on 20 March.

Setback for Akpoti-Uduaghans legal challenge

The Federal High Court, on 19 March, a day before Mr Akpabios Court of Appeal application, reversed one of its 4 March orders restraining the Senate from going ahead with its disciplinary process against Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The court agreed with the Senates argument that the order was vague and could interfere with legislative powers.

The court had originally scheduled 25 March (Today) for the hearing of all pending applications, but with Mr Akpabios appeal now before the appellate court, the Federal High Court had to postpone its proceedings.

This is especially so because the Court of Appeal has also fixed Tuesday for the hearing of Mr Akpabios application.

Senators legal battle

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan initiated the case after an altercation with Mr Akpabio during a 20 February Senate session, where she protested her seating arrangement.

The clash led to her referral to the Senate Committee on Ethics, which commenced disciplinary proceedings against her.

On 4 March, Mr Egwuatu granted her request for an interim injunction, suspending all disciplinary actions against her.

Despite the court order, the Senate suspended her on 6 March, citing misconduct.

In response, she filed a mandatory injunction and contempt proceedings against Senate officials for allegedly flouting the court order.

At a 10 March hearing, Mr Egwuatu ruled that all pending applications in the suit would be heard together.

Mr Akpabios legal team objected, arguing that this decision violated legal procedure.

On 17 March, the Senates lawyer, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, also SAN, formally challenged the 4 March interim order, arguing that it lacked clarity and infringed on legislative independence.

The Federal High Court, agreeing with this argument, vacated part of the order on 19 March.

Mr Akpabios 20 March appeal seeks an extension of time to apply for leave to challenge the 10 March ruling.

His legal team argues that the Federal High Court made an error by deciding to hear all pending applications together.

According to an affidavit filed by Mr Akpabios senior legislative aide, Toyo Jimmy, the Senate President could not file his appeal within the usual 14-day legal window because of this ruling.

His lawyers contend that allowing the Federal High Court to continue hearing the case while an appeal is pending could render the appellate ruling ineffective.

The Court of Appeal has now scheduled a hearing on Mr Akpabios application for Tuesday, the same day the Federal High Court was set to hear pending applications. If the Court of Appeal proceeds with the case, the lower court may have to defer its hearing.

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The Head of Civil Service in Rivers State, George Nwaeke, has resigned.

The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, is saddened to announce the resignation of the Head of Service, Rivers State, Mr Nwaeke.

Mr Nwaekes resignation is contained in an email sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday morning by the chief of staff to the sole administrator.

No reason was given for his resignation, but the administrator thanked the resigned head of service for his service to the state and wished him well in his future endeavours.

In the interim, Iyingi Brown, Permanent Secretary Welfare, Office of the Head of Service has been appointed in acting capacity until a new Head of Service is appointed, the statement said.

Meanwhile, Mr Ibas has appointed Ibibia Worika as the new secretary to the state government.

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Mr Ibibia, a professor, hails from Okrika Local Government Area of the state.

His appointment is contained in a separate statement sent to this newspaper from Rivers State Government House on Tuesday morning.

Professor Worikas distinguished career spans academia, international legal practice, and high-level policy advisory roles, making him uniquely qualified to support the Administrator in the onerous task of achieving Mr Presidents mandate. His appointment takes immediate effect.

Professor Worikas appointment reflects the Administrators commitment to harnessing the great human capital of the Rivers people to work with him to achieve the much-needed peace, stability and security, the statement said.

Rivers Crisis: Administrator assures of neutrality

Although no reason was given, the resignation of the former head of service may be linked to the political crisis triggered by the political feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor Nyesom Wike, which caused President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the state and suspend Governor Fubara, his deputy and the state lawmakers.

Mr Tinubu then appointed Mr Ibas as the sole administrator for the oil-rich state for an initial six months.

In the statement announcing Mr Nwaekes resignation, the sole administrator, Mr Ibas, assures the people of Rivers State of his commitment to neutrality, peace and stability.

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The long running battle between Osun State Government and Thors Explorations firm was today amicably resolved in the presence of the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake and the management of the Thors Explorations company.

After a conflict resolution meeting initiated by the Minister of Solid Minerals, the parties agreed to jointly work together to address four major areas of disagreement raised by the Osun government against Thors Explorations Limited.

The issues listed by the state government include resolution of Osun shareholding in the Segilola Mining company, tax payment by the firm, environmental degradation, disputed mining fields among others.

Governor Adeleke in his address to the minister and management team of the ministry commended the minister and the federal ministry of mines for the intervention, adding that As a responsible regulator of the solid mineral sector, I commend your prompt action which has brought us to this stage.

I must through you commend Mr President for the ongoing reforms of the nations mining sector. We took hints from the presidential reform initiatives in the mining sector to launch our own reforms at the state level. I am happy to state that this is one of the fruits of those reforms, the governor noted.

The governor clarified that the state government did not just wake up one day to challenge Thors Explorations Limited and expressed happiness that the intervention of the ministry has produced positive results.

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As a governor, I am personally interested in fostering cordial relations with investors. Hence we have several investors across the sectors. Osun is open for investors, the governor told the ministry team.

Mr Alake in his response assured the governor of his determination to resolve the matter today as he explained the need for peace and cordial relations to attract and sustain foreign investment in the mining sector.

Explaining the efforts of the federal government to attract big mining investors into the country, Mr Alake said both Osun and the mining firm should cooperate for the common development of the state.

After a closed tripartite meeting, resolutions were reached on handing over of the state shareholding to the governor and agreement to exchange data on tax claims, environmental damages and claims on mining fields.

The major highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the Osun shareholding certificate to Governor Adeleke.

Signed:

Olawale Rasheed,

Spokesperson to the State Governor

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Plans Underway to File with FINRA for Official Name and Ticker Update to Opus Holdings, Inc. (OPHD)

MIAMI, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Opus Holdings, Inc., formerly 4Cable TV International, Inc. (CATV), is excited to announce its name change to Opus Holdings, Inc. (OPHD) as part of a comprehensive transformation designed to create significant value for shareholders. This transition marks a pivotal moment as Opus Holdings embarks on a new business model focused on incubating private companies and guiding them to public market success.

New Business Model: Incubation and Spin-Off Strategy

Opus Holdings is shifting its focus to acquiring and developing private companies with high growth potential, offering them the resources and expertise needed to transition into independent public entities. Through this structured incubation model, Opus Holdings aims to create long-term value by:

Identifying high-potential private companies in sectors such as biotech, cannabis, technology, and consumer goods.

Providing financial, operational, and strategic guidance to optimize their growth and market positioning.

Transitioning these companies into independent public entities through IPOs or reverse mergers.

Issuing potential future dividends to Opus Holdings shareholders upon successful subsidiary spin-offs.

A New Era of Leadership and Growth

As part of its strategic transformation, Opus Holdings has identified its first acquisition target and is currently in negotiations. Within these negotiations, a completely new management team with extensive experience in corporate finance, business incubation, and public market transitions will assume leadership of Opus Holdings. Concurrently, the current subsidiaries under CATV will be merged out of the company. Current CEO and Chairman Michael Feldenkrais will oversee the merger of these operations into another public company. This merger is expected to provide CATV shareholders with a dividend upon completion, with the dividend date and amount to be recorded with FINRA.

Dividend Guidelines per FINRA

Under FINRA rules, once the merger is finalized, Opus Holdings will file a Corporate Action with FINRA to establish the dividend's record date, payment date, and amount. FINRA typically requires a minimum of 10 business days' notice prior to the record date for such actions to ensure proper notification to shareholders and market participants. The exact timeline and dividend amount will be determined upon deal closure and announced in compliance with FINRA and OTC Markets regulations.

Why This Change Matters for Investors

By leveraging the accessibility and fundraising capabilities of OTC Markets, Opus Holdings provides an attractive entry point for investors looking to participate in early-stage, high-growth companies. The benefits of this transformation include:

Increased shareholder value through potential dividends upon successful spin-offs and the merger.

Expansion into diverse, high-growth industries with strong market potential.

Enhanced liquidity and exposure for companies under the Opus Holdings umbrella.

Opus Holdings' Future Growth Strategy

To sustain a steady pipeline of acquisitions, Opus Holdings is implementing an aggressive growth strategy that includes:

Industry Networking & Partnerships: Collaborating with venture capital firms, financial advisors, and business leaders to identify promising companies.

Trade Shows & Conferences: Actively engaging with innovative businesses and industry pioneers.

Targeted Marketing & Outreach: Utilizing digital marketing campaigns and investor relations efforts to attract new acquisition targets.

Referral Programs: Working with financial and legal professionals to source high-potential acquisition candidates.

A Call to Investors and Private Companies

Opus Holdings invites private businesses, investors, and industry stakeholders to join this exciting new phase of growth. A call with investors to discuss this transformation and the company's future plans will be hosted on X Spaces, with details to be announced soon via the company's official channels. Whether as a subsidiary looking to go public or an investor seeking high-growth opportunities, Opus Holdings is positioned to be a leader in business incubation and public market expansion.

Contact Information

For more information about Opus Holdings, investment opportunities, or potential acquisitions, please contact:

Michael Feldenkrais, CEO of Category V Biotech, Inc.

Website: catvbt.com

Email: [email protected] +1 3055289614

About Opus Holdings

Opus Holdings is a business incubator dedicated to acquiring, developing, and transitioning private companies into the public markets. Through its structured incubation and spin-off model, Opus Holdings provides strategic guidance, financial resources, and market expertise to emerging businesses, driving shareholder value and long-term growth.

Safe Harbor Statement

The information provided in this release includes forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations and projections of management and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. For more details, refer to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE 4Cable TV International, Inc.
7-Eleven debuts four refreshing cold brew tea flavors in collaboration with AriZona Beverages

IRVING, Texas, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 7-Eleven, Inc., the world's largest convenience retailer, unveils Southland Reserve, an exclusive new private label drink designed to honor the brand's rich heritage in the form of a delicious beverage. 7-Eleven has teamed up with AriZona Beverages to introduce a new line of cold brew teas, crafted to deliver bold flavors with a smooth, refreshing taste. Since 1927, 7-Eleven has been at the forefront of innovation  bringing customers what they want, when and where they want it, from the first self-serve soda fountain to coffee in to-go cups.

7-Eleven debuts four refreshing cold brew tea flavors in collaboration with AriZona Beverages 7-Eleven debuts four refreshing cold brew tea flavors in collaboration with AriZona Beverages

Today, 7-Eleven is continuing this legacy of innovation with the introduction of Southland Reserve and its four refreshing cold brew tea flavors: Sweet Tea, Unsweet Tea, Peach Tea and Lemon Tea. Available at 7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes stores nationwide, this new beverage line pays tribute to the company's origin story as the world's first convenience store, founded in 1927 as Southland Ice Company, under Southland Corporation, before the 7-Eleven name was coined in 1946. The Southland Reserve Cold Brew tea packaging design even pays tribute to 7-Eleven's rich history, featuring imagery inspired by a 1950s-era photo of the convenience store giving a visual reminder of the brand's deep-rooted legacy in convenience retail.

The beverage lineup features a diverse range of flavor profiles sure to satisfy every customer, no matter their preference. Whether they like the classic sweetness of Sweet Tea, the refreshing taste of Unsweet Tea, the fruity twist of Peach Tea or the tangy zest of Lemon Tea  there is something for everyone.

"This launch of Southland Reserve Cold Brew tea celebrates the legacy of 7-Eleven and the loyal customers who have made us who we are today," said Nikki Boyers, Vice President, Private Brands at 7-Eleven. "With this lineup, we're bringing together the best of the past and the present, delivering a drink that is both nostalgic and refreshingly new."

Southland Reserve Cold Brew teas are available in 16 oz. bottles and crafted using gravity-based filtration and cold steeping process. The black and green tea leaves are sourced from Argentina, Indonesia and Kenya and steeped for an extended period to ensure an aromatic flavor without bitterness  resulting in a refreshing and craveable cold brew tea.

"At AriZona, we've always been passionate about bringing high-quality, great-tasting beverages to our customers," said Don Vultaggio, Chairman and Founder at AriZona Beverages. "Working with 7-Eleven to create Southland Reserve Cold Brew tea was a natural fit. By combining our expertise in cold brewing with 7-Eleven's deep-rooted legacy, we've crafted a refreshing and flavorful tea that we know customers will love."

About 7-Eleven, Inc.

7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name in the U.S. convenience-retailing industry. Based in Irving, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 13,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada. In addition to 7-Eleven stores, 7-Eleven, Inc. operates and franchises Speedway, Stripes, Laredo Taco Company and Raise the Roost Chicken and Biscuits locations. Known for its iconic brands such as Slurpee, Big Bite and Big Gulp, 7-Eleven has expanded into high-quality sandwiches, salads, side dishes, cut fruit and protein boxes, as well as pizza, chicken wings and mini beef tacos. 7-Eleven offers customers industry-leading private brand products at outstanding value. Customers can earn and redeem points on various items in stores nationwide through its 7Rewards and Speedy Rewards loyalty programs with more than 80 million members, place an order in the 7NOW delivery app in over 95% of the convenience retailer's footprint, or rely on 7-Eleven for other convenient services. Find out more online at www.7-eleven.com.

About AriZona Beverage Company

AriZona Beverages, founded in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1992, is proud to be a family owned and operated American company. AriZona's mission is to offer top quality beverages in uniquely designed packages that are accessible and affordable. AriZona Beverages  makers of the number one ready-to drink Iced Tea in America  holds a unique position in the global beverage industry with its iconic $0.99 big can and "keeping it real" no frills approach to the consumer market. AriZona never pays for glitzy advertising campaigns to gain consumer loyalty and is constantly ahead of the curve, carving out trends without the use of focus groups and market research. With a loyal following across various demographics, AriZona pulls its own inspiration from its fierce social media following and devoted fan base. To learn more about the AriZona please visit drinkarizona.com.

SOURCE 7-Eleven, Inc.
SYDNEY, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Immutable, the leading Web3 gaming platform, is pleased to announce that the SEC is formally closing its inquiry into the company and related parties. There have been no findings of wrongdoing and the SEC is not taking any action.

This closes the loop on the Wells notice issued by the SEC last year.

"We are pleased the SEC has concluded its inquiry. This marks a significant milestone for the crypto industry and gaming as we advance towards a future with regulatory clarity," said Robbie Ferguson, Co-Founder and President of Immutable. "Immutable continues to build towards our vision of bringing digital ownership to the 3.1 billion gamers across the world; we can now build unencumbered toward that."

Regulatory clarity is set to be a major unlock for investment into web3 gaming, an industry that has already attracted more than $12 billion of venture capital funding since 2020. Major triple AAA gaming studios have previously cited legal and compliance risks as key barriers to entry into the market. However, with a clear regulatory framework on the horizon, this is expected to unlock further investment and opportunities to tokenize the now more than $200 billion market for in-game purchases.

For gamers, this means true digital ownership of in-game items, with the freedom to trade, sell, or transfer them across platforms and ecosystems.

About Immutable

Immutable is a global leader in gaming on a mission to bring digital ownership to every player by making it safe and easy to build great web3 games. Immutable's gaming platform has onboarded over 500 well-funded games onto the platform and has raised $300M+ USD from leading global investors including Temasek, Tencent, Bitkraft, King River Capital, and Galaxy.

The Immutable gaming platform makes it easy for game studios and independent developers to safely and confidently build and launch successful games on Ethereum without sacrificing player experience. Immutable delivers the first gaming dedicated scaling solution to the Ethereum community, Immutable zkEVM.

SOURCE Immutable
Bodemeaid Strengthens ARM's Life Settlement Expertise at New London Office

AUSTIN, Texas, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Actuarial Risk Management Ltd. (ARM), a leading provider of advisory actuarial consulting services, is expanding its presence in the life settlement industry with the addition of Liam Bodemeaid. Based in ARM's new London office, Bodemeaid brings nearly 20 years of actuarial experience to ARM, including 14 years of specialized experience in life settlements, enhancing the firm's capabilities in actuarial consulting for institutional investors and life settlement funds.

Prior to joining ARM, Bodemeaid served as head of the Actuarial Department at Cambridge Guarantee Group, where he led actuarial teams, developed advanced pricing models and provided in-depth portfolio analytics for institutional investors worldwide. His expertise will play a key role in ARM's continued expansion in the insurance-linked securities (ILS) space, helping clients refine fund performance, manage risk and optimize cash flows.

"Liam's extensive experience in life settlements strengthens our ability to offer valuable actuarial insights and solutions tailored to institutional investors," said Corwin (Cory) Zass, Principal and Founder of ARM. "His addition reflects our commitment to providing expert strategies that help clients navigate the evolving life settlement sector with confidence."

"ARM has a strong reputation for delivering exceptional actuarial expertise to clients worldwide," said Bodemeaid. "I'm eager to be part of this dynamic team and contribute to expanding our capabilities in the life settlement space. I look forward to collaborating with ARM's clients to develop strategies that enhance portfolio performance and long-term success."

With Bodemeaid on board, ARM is enhancing its actuarial offerings with expanded services, including:

Cash flow structuring to maximize portfolio value.

Risk management analytics to strengthen fund stability.

Advanced mortality and valuation insights to improve decision-making.

Reserving and forecasting techniques to optimize capital efficiency.

Bodemeaid's expertise aligns seamlessly with ARM's mission to deliver clear, practical actuarial guidance tailored to client needs, ensuring they stay ahead in an increasingly complex market.

About Actuarial Risk Management Ltd.

Since 2006, Actuarial Risk Management (ARM) has built its reputation on strong relationships and a team of experienced actuaries. Many top accounting and professional firms rely on ARM for actuarial guidance and strategic advisory services. With Latin America-based data and modeling teams (the DMI), ARM offers comprehensive modeling and valuation capabilities to global insurers. The ARM Network includes over 250 credentialed actuaries, averaging 27 years of experience across life, annuity, health, retirement, and property and casualty sectors. ARM serves local, regional, national, and multinational clients, translating complex actuarial matters into clear, actionable insights. For more information, visit www.actrisk.com.

SOURCE Actuarial Risk Management
Oral presentation to highlight preclinical investigation of Claudin-6 ADC in ovarian and NSCLC cancer models

Preclinical data for PSMA and ASCT2-targeted ADCs accepted for poster presentations

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ADC Therapeutics SA (NYSE: ADCT), a commercial-stage global leader and pioneer in the field of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), today announced abstracts detailing multiple preclinical programs have been accepted for presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2025, taking place April 25-30, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois.

"We are excited to present preclinical data on our exatecan-based Claudin-6, PSMA, and ACST2-targeting antibody-drug conjugates," said Patrick van Berkel, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of ADC Therapeutics. "These ADCs hold promise for targeted cancer treatment in a broad range of cancer types, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to share our learnings across select solid tumors where there remains unmet need."

Details of ADC Therapeutics' oral presentation at AACR are as follows:

Title: Preclinical investigation of ADCT-242, a novel exatecan-based antibody drug conjugate targeting Claudin-6, as single agent or in combination in ovarian and non-small lung cancer models

Abstract: 1163

Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics

Session Title: Antibody-Based Cancer Therapeutic Agents

Date and Time: Sunday, April 27, 2025, 3:00-5:00 p.m. CT

Presenter: Chris Pickford, Head of Clinical Research, ADC Therapeutics

Details of ADC Therapeutics' poster presentations at AACR are as follows:

Title: Preclinical Development of ADCT-241, a Novel Exatecan-based Antibody-Drug Conjugate Targeting PSMA for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Abstract: 6736

Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics

Session Title: Antibody-Based Cancer Therapeutics 4

Date and Time: Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 9:00 a.m.  12:00 p.m. CT

Presenter: Ben Leatherdale, Senior Scientist, ADC Therapeutics

Title: HuB14-VA-PL2202, a novel antibody-drug conjugate targeting ASCT2, a novel ADC target over-expressed in both solid and hematological cancers

Abstract: 1580

Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics

Session Title: Antibody-Based Cancer Therapeutics 1

Date and Time: Monday, April 28, 2025, 9:00 a.m.  12:00 p.m. CT

Presenter: Danilo Cucchi, Senior Scientist, ADC Therapeutics

About ADC Therapeutics

ADC Therapeutics (NYSE: ADCT) is a commercial-stage global leader and pioneer in the field of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs). The Company is advancing its proprietary ADC technology to transform the treatment paradigm for patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.

ADC Therapeutics' CD19-directed ADC ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) received accelerated approval by the FDA and conditional approval from the European Commission for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy. ZYNLONTA is also in development in combination with other agents and in earlier lines of therapy. In addition to ZYNLONTA, ADC Therapeutics has multiple ADCs in development.

ADC Therapeutics is based in Lausanne (Biopole), Switzerland, and has operations in London and New Jersey. For more information, please visit https://adctherapeutics.com/ and follow the Company on LinkedIn.

ZYNLONTA is a registered trademark of ADC Therapeutics SA.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "would", "expect", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "seem", "seek", "future", "continue", or "appear" or the negative of these terms or similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially from those described. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the timing and future results of the Company's early research in exatecan-based Claudin-6, PSMA and ASCT2-targeting antibody-drug conjugates; the expected cash runway into mid-2026 the Company's ability to grow ZYNLONTA revenue in the United States; the ability of our partners to commercialize ZYNLONTA in foreign markets, the timing and amount of future revenue and payments to us from such partnerships and their ability to obtain regulatory approval for ZYNLONTA in foreign jurisdictions; the timing and results of the Company's or its partners' research and development projects or clinical trials including LOTIS 5 and 7 and ADCT 602; the timing and results of investigator-initiated trials including those studying FL and MZL and the potential regulatory and/or compendia strategy and the future opportunity; the timing and outcome of regulatory submissions for the Company's products or product candidates; actions by the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities; projected revenue and expenses; the Company's indebtedness, including Healthcare Royalty Management and Blue Owl and Oaktree facilities, and the restrictions imposed on the Company's activities by such indebtedness, the ability to comply with the terms of the various agreements and repay such indebtedness and the significant cash required to service such indebtedness; and the Company's ability to obtain financial and other resources for its research, development, clinical, and commercial activities. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements is contained in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Company's other periodic and current reports and filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, achievements or prospects to be materially different from any future results, performance, achievements or prospects expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this document.

CONTACTS:

Investors

Marcy Graham

ADC Therapeutics

[email protected]

+1 650-667-6450

Media

Nicole Riley

ADC Therapeutics

[email protected]

+1 862-926-9040

SOURCE ADC Therapeutics SA
CLEARWATER, Fla., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Match Day 2025 made one thing clear: new residents want to be part of BayCare's pursuit of clinical excellence. All our BayCare-sponsored Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs received a 100% match for Match Day. More than 170 health care leaders of the future, including resident physicians and fellows, have joined us to make BayCare their GME home. This brings the total to nearly 300 doctors currently in BayCare Residency programs.

St. Anthony's Hospital and BayCare leadership and team members gathered in the new Internal Medicine residency program office to celebrate Match Day on Friday, March 21. Pictured from left are Anh Dinh; Michelle McMahon; Sr. Mary McNally, vice president emeritus; St. Anthony's President Scott Smith; Sarah Al-Obaydi, MD, program director; Ellen Lain; Shelly Chesley; and Tim McMahon, director of BayCares Cancer Institute. Future physicians are taking the next step in their medical careers at BayCare.

"We are thrilled to achieve a remarkable 100% match for our 12 BayCare-sponsored residency programs this year, including seven new programs. Choosing BayCare for their residency education ensures we can guide these students, who bring fresh perspectives about the latest medical innovations from the classroom. We are eager to welcome these resident physicians and support their educational journey," said Chief Physician Executive Dr. Sowmya Viswanathan. "It is a necessary part of their training to advance their medical scholarship, and we are proud of how their presence will enrich BayCare's research initiatives."

Each year for Match Day, the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) shares residency and fellowship application results. The NRMP and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Electronic Residency Application System partner to ensure a standardized process to pair qualified candidates with residency programs.

The national physician shortage has been at critical levels since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, it is common for residents to practice in the communities where they are trained. Many of these residents are Floridians who feel a sense of responsibility to keep their fellow Floridians healthy. This is a vital reason BayCare began its GME journey five years ago. BayCare is proud to welcome and train these future health care innovators to carry our mission forward and contribute to a legacy of clinical excellence in the communities that trust us with their care.

For more information: Graduate Medical Education Programs at BayCare

About BayCare

BayCare is a leading not-for-profit health care system that connects individuals and families to a wide range of services at 16 hospitals and hundreds of other convenient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and central Florida regions. The system is West Central Florida's largest provider of behavioral health and pediatric services and its provider group, BayCare Medical Group, is one of the largest in the region. BayCare's diverse network of ambulatory services includes laboratories, imaging, surgical centers, BayCare Urgent Care locations, wellness centers and one of Florida's largest home care agencies, BayCare HomeCare. BayCare's mission is to improve the health of all it serves through community-owned, health care services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care. For more information, visit BayCare.org.

SOURCE BayCare Health System
MEADVILLE, Pa., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Allegheny College, one of the nation's most historic and innovative four-year colleges for interdisciplinary learning and research, announced the largest single gift in the College's history of $35 million from the estate of esteemed entrepreneur, philanthropist and alumnus, Philip L. St. Moritz '61, which will establish The Phil St. Moritz Center for Innovation at Reis Hall .

This momentous gift will fund the renovation and transformation of one of Allegheny's hallmark buildings, Reis Hall, into a teaching and learning nexus that benefits students from all academic interests. Its celebrated history includes the distinction of being home to a library collection that in its earliest days caught the eye of Thomas Jefferson and John Quincy Adams.

Allegheny College $35 million alumnus gift; Largest gift in its history to establish a cutting-edge Center for Innovation Post this

The St. Moritz Center will house the Allegheny Lab for Innovation and Creativity ( ALIC ) and the Department of Computer and Information Science , while providing technology and teaching spaces that span numerous academic disciplines. It will feature classrooms and collaborative study spaces, varied maker labs, and a multipurpose outdoor plaza.

ALIC integrates liberal arts learning, emerging technologies, and partnerships with regional organizations and manufacturing companies to support economic and workforce development. The lab empowers students and faculty to design and build prototypes of products, scientific instruments, artistic projects, robots, virtual environments, video games, smart devices, and more. The College's Computer and Information Science Department is a trendsetter among liberal arts institutions with its array of programs in informatics, robotics, software engineering, ethics, and artificial intelligence geared to make a positive impact on the world.

"We are honored and humbled that such an accomplished alumnus, through his legacy, would establish a Center to ensure that Allegheny College serves as a leader at the intersection of the liberal arts and emerging technologies equipping students for careers of the future," said Ron Cole, president of Allegheny College. "I believe Phil would be proud that we are enlivening Reis Hall, one of the most iconic buildings at the center of Allegheny College's campus, in his name."

A lifelong Pittsburgh resident, St. Moritz earned his B.S. in Economics from Allegheny College in 1961. After a tour of duty in the United States Air Force, he returned to Pittsburgh to found three industry-leading corporations under the St. Moritz Group -- St. Moritz Building Services, St. Moritz Security Services, and St. Moritz Labor Services  and later added Bill's Marine Service in Maryland to his entrepreneurial portfolio. Fueled by his successes, St. Moritz was devoted to giving back and lived a life of generous service through quiet philanthropy.

"Phil St. Moritz's unwavering dedication to his employees and customers was only exceeded by his passion for his relationship with Allegheny College," recalled Brian Fiscus, CFO of St. Moritz Group. "His investment in the future of Allegheny is typical of the inspirational legacy of this self-made entrepreneur, kind-hearted mentor and natural-born leader."

This generous gift has played a pivotal role in helping the College reach $165 million of its $250 million campaign goal in less than three years. The "In for Allegheny: Our Pathway Forward" campaign brings Allegheny College's Strategic Pathway goals to life by driving fundraising, fostering career connections, and engaging alumni ambassadors who demonstrate the transformative power of an Allegheny College education.

About Allegheny College

Allegheny College , founded in 1815, is one of the nation's most historic and innovative four-year colleges with the distinct requirement of completing a major and minor in different academic areas. This multidisciplinary learning celebrates students' unusual combinations of interests and provides creative, independent thinkers with a path for educational depth and intellectual growth, preparing them for a successful launch after graduation and possibly for careers that may not yet exist. Located in western Pennsylvania, 1.5 hours equidistant from Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Buffalo, Allegheny College is one of 40 colleges featured in Loren Pope's "Colleges That Change Lives" and recently ranked #4 by The Princeton Review in its Top 20 Best Private Schools for Making an Impact. In its 2025 rankings, U.S. News & World Report recognized Allegheny College as one of the country's top 100 national liberal arts colleges, with special distinctions including one of the top 10 best for senior capstone experience and one of the top 25 best for undergraduate research and creative activities.

Media Contact

Ivy Cohen

Ivy Cohen Corporate Communications

212-399-0026

[email protected]

SOURCE Allegheny College
BERLIN and NEW YORK, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AMBOSS, the leading resource for medical education and clinical decision-making in Germany and the US, closes a 240M financing round with new long-term investors, supporting the exploration of additional international markets and the expansion of its offering to nurses and other health care professionals.

New Long-term Investors for the Next Decade of Continuous Growth

AMBOSS recently converted to a European stock corporation (SE) and completed a financing round with new primary investors KIRKBI, M&G Investments and Lightrock with participation from existing shareholders.

"We choose investors who are committed to our long-term vision and very flexible in the investment duration. Many of our new investors manage evergreen funds and plan to accompany us until a possible IPO and beyond," commented Benedikt Hochkirchen, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of AMBOSS. "Additional funds will go into further investment in technology and new market segments. Selective acquisitions will also continue to be part of our strategy." In 2024, AMBOSS acquired Novaheal, a start-up in the nursing field, and NEJM Knowledge+, a board exam prep product for residents in the US. The recent financing round significantly improves access to capital for AMBOSS.

Empowering the Next Generation of Health Care Professionals

AMBOSS leads the digital empowerment of physicians by keeping them at the center of the product so that they are tech-enabled to provide the best possible care. Doctors worldwide rely on AMBOSS to continuously combine the latest, trusted medical content with cutting-edge technology. "Technology will not replace health care professionals, but those who embrace it will lead the way," said Dr. Madjid Salimi, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of AMBOSS.

Over 1 million users in more than 180 countries trust AMBOSS for clinical decision-making and medical education. Every second inpatient treatment in Germany is carried out by a physician supported by AMBOSS. In the US, the majority of medical students use AMBOSS to successfully prepare for exams, and score higher than with other question banks. 25% of first-year US residents depend on AMBOSS to help them provide excellent patient care. The concept is as simple as it is successful: Medical experts distill relevant medical knowledge, and AI-supported technology places it directly at users' fingertips.

Trusted Partner for Medical Knowledge, With Over Half a Decade of AI Expertise

Key to this success is strong in-house collaboration between experienced medical experts and technology specialists. Providing precise and actionable recommendations on diagnostics and treatment based on the latest guidelines, AMBOSS is a digital co-pilot for everyday clinical practice, helping to save time and avoid treatment errors. Responsible use of AI technologies has long played a role in the AMBOSS experience that so many educators and clinicians have valued and trusted for years. AMBOSS will continue to lead the way through rigorous validation of outcomes and a value-first approach.

Peter Bason, Head of Private Capital at KIRKBI, says, "We have followed AMBOSS' impressive growth journey, from its successful US expansion to its strong focus on innovation. Its unique platform is becoming a vital tool for both medical students and health care professionals, supporting learning and decision-making at every stage. We are excited to partner with other experienced technology and growth investors to back AMBOSS' visionary leadership team in their mission of empowering the next generation of health care professionals worldwide."

About AMBOSS

Founded in 2012 by a team of physicians, AMBOSS is a global medical knowledge platform that has fundamentally changed the way medical know-how is acquired and utilized at the point of care. With an emphasis on precise, high-quality content, innovative AI-empowered technology, and a user-centered approach, the company has grown its international team to over 500 employees from more than 50 countries, including scientists, software engineers, and 150+ physicians. AMBOSS has more than 1 million professional users across 180 countries. For more information, visit www.amboss.com.

SOURCE AMBOSS
Investors of the Global Infrastructure Investor Association (GIIA) are ready to allocate funds and expertise to modernize America's crumbling infrastructure

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) today released its 2025 Report Card for America's Infrastructure, assigning the United States an overall grade of "C" and identifying an estimated infrastructure investment gap of $3.7 trillion. Further, transit and energy infrastructurethe core of the economyreceived a concerning "D" grade.

"This report card makes clear that all levels of government must find new ways to deliver greater, sustained infrastructure investment across the United States for decades to come," said Jon Phillips, CEO of the Global Infrastructure Investor Association (GIIA). "Taxpayers alone cannot finance the safe, reliable, modern infrastructure that the world's most powerful economy demands. Investment managers and pension funds, offer international expertise and billions of dollars to get the job donewell and quickly."

Mr. Phillips will also speak today on a panel at the ASCE Solutions Summit, highlighting how private investors are well-positioned to close the U.S. infrastructure investment gap. GIIA represents the largest private infrastructure investors in the world, but the U.S. market only accounts for 25 per cent of its members' global assets. Investors are ready to meet America's needs by working with forward-thinking government partnersat the pace of businessto make infrastructure revitalization a reality.

Private investment has a proven track record of delivering safe and reliable infrastructure without burdening taxpayers or increasing deficits at the federal, state and municipal levels. For example, Virginia successfully revamped its I-495 Express Lanes with $280 million in private equity capital using the public private partnership model. This project was delivered on time and on budget, achieving its purpose of reducing travel time, all while supporting 31,000 local jobs, awarding contracts to small businesses and saving taxpayer dollars. By creating a pathway for increased public-private partnerships to finance and manage infrastructure projects, the United States can unlock the capital and expertise needed to deliver modernized infrastructure quickly, while the cost of it is paid over the long-term.

While modest progress has been made since the last ASCE Report Card, substantial infrastructure needs remain, specifically across transit and energy infrastructureboth of which are critical to U.S. jobs and the economy.

"The Administration and Congress should enable and encourage state and local governments to find new, innovative ways of bringing in private investors. This would greatly increase the amount of funding available and accelerate tackling the huge infrastructure investment backlog." said Phillips. "Harmonizing permitting processes across federal, state and municipal levels, for example, would be a great step, as well as financing for state and local P3 offices, asset inventories, and regional accelerators."

About GIIA

GIIA was established in 2016 to improve engagement between members, politicians, policymakers and regulators with the aim of increasing much needed investment in infrastructure. We now represent the world's leading investors in infrastructure, and advisors to the sector, who collectively represent US $2.04 trillion of infrastructure assets under management across 68 countries. Our 100+ members are investing today to provide the smart, sustainable and innovative infrastructure needed for our communities and economies to thrive.

SOURCE Global Infrastructure Investor Association
Nate Mathis to lead Amwins Access Division

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Amwins, a leading distributor of specialty insurance products and services, announced today that David Lavins will succeed Darin Stafford as the company's Chief Financial Officer, effective July 1, 2025.

David Lavins Nate Mathis

David Lavins, currently President of Amwins Access, has been a key member of the division's leadership team since January 2016. Under his leadership, the division experienced significant growth, expanding from $50 million to $360 million in revenue by 2024. Before stepping into his current role, Lavins served as the division's Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining Amwins, he spent 11 years at Ridgemont Equity Partners, a Charlotte based private equity firm managing over $4 billion in assets.

"For the past nine years, Dave has been instrumental in transforming Amwins Access into the industry's leading MGA platform for small business and personal lines, now placing $3.0 billion in premium," said Scott Purviance, Chief Executive Officer of Amwins. "With his deep understanding of our culture, financial strategy, and long-term vision, Dave is the ideal leader to help drive Amwins forward in our 150-year vision."

Darin Stafford, who has served as Chief Financial Officer of Amwins since October 2016, will retire effective July 1, and will transition to the role of strategic advisor as part of the Firm's ongoing succession planning.

"Darin has been a significant part of our leadership team over the past nine years and instrumental in our growth from $850 million in revenue when he arrived to over $3 billion in revenue today. Additionally, Darin has led the successful completion of 26 acquisitions and seven dividend recapitalizations during that period," said Purviance. "He will remain in an advisory role through the end of 2025 to ensure a seamless transition."

In addition to Lavins' transition to CFO, Nate Mathis will assume the role of President of Amwins Access. Mathis, who joined in 2011, was an important contributor to Amwins mergers and acquisitions strategy before taking an assignment in Amwins' London headquarters. There he has served in multiple leadership roles for the past six years, including the last three as CEO of Amwins Global Risks.

"We are glad to have Nate back in Charlotte and at the helm of Amwins Access," said Purviance. "The experience gained in London leading our independent Lloyd's broker makes him a natural choice to lead the continued growth of our national binding platform for E&S small commercial, personal lines and admitted placement services."

About Amwins

Amwins is the largest independent wholesale distributor of specialty insurance products in the U.S., dedicated to serving retail insurance agents by providing property and casualty products, specialty group benefits, and administrative services. Based in Charlotte, N.C., the company operates through more than 155 offices globally and handles premium placements in excess of $39 billion annually. For more information, visit amwins.com.

For further information contact:

Amwins

Sara Morton

Telephone: 704.212.1273

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Amwins
HOLLISTER, Calif., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Friday, the Appeals Court upheld the Bankruptcy Court's decision regarding Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital's eligibility for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection. While we respectfully disagree with the ruling, we remain steadfastly focused on our plans to secure the hospital's future.

The Chapter 9 process allowed us to achieve critical milestones, including maintaining full hospital operations, preserving jobs, strengthening our cash position, and extending the time needed to identify a long-term partner. Both the Appeals Court and Bankruptcy Court decisions observed that the District was financially distressed before bankruptcy and point to the success of the District's turnaround efforts as the reason bankruptcy was no longer eligible.

We do not expect today's ruling to impact the ongoing lease and purchase agreement negotiations with Insight. Our focus remains on ensuring the long-term stability of Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital and maintaining access to high-quality, local healthcare for San Benito County residents.

About Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital is a full-service, public agency hospital delivering modern medicine and compassionate care to the growing San Benito County community. HHMH offers hundreds of health services across multiple locations, including top-tier specialists, a modern Emergency Department, and a state-of-the-art Women's Center. To learn more about Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital and the Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation, please visit www.hazelhawkins.com.

PR CONTACT: Marcus Young

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital

Phone: (415) 505-2524

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital
This news release contains forward-looking statements. For a description of the related risk factors and assumptions, please see the section entitled "Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements" later in this news release.

MONTREAL, March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Bell Canada ("Bell" or the "Company") today announced the release of the results of its previously announced five separate offers (the "Offers") to purchase for cash the outstanding notes of the series listed in the table below (collectively, the "Notes").

The Offers were made upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated March 17, 2025 relating to the Notes (the "Offer to Purchase") and the notice of guaranteed delivery attached as Appendix A thereto (together with the Offer to Purchase, the "Tender Offer Documents"). The Notes are unconditionally guaranteed as to payment of principal, interest and other obligations by BCE Inc. ("BCE"), Bell Canada's parent company. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this announcement have the meanings given to them in the Offer to Purchase.

The Offers expired at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) today, March 24, 2025 (the "Expiration Date"). The Guaranteed Delivery Date is 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on March 26, 2025. The Settlement Date will be March 27, 2025.

According to information provided by D.F. King & Co., Inc., the Information and Tender Agent in connection with the Offers, US$844,352,000 combined aggregate principal amount of Notes were validly tendered prior to or at the Expiration Date and not validly withdrawn. In addition, US$8,937,000 combined aggregate principal amount of Notes were tendered pursuant to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures and remain subject to the Holders' performance of the delivery requirements under such procedures. The table below provides certain information about the Offers, including the aggregate principal amount of each series of Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Expiration Date and the aggregate principal amount of Notes reflected in Notices of Guaranteed Delivery delivered at or prior to the Expiration Date pursuant to the Tender Offer Documents.

Acceptance

Priority

Level Title of Notes CUSIP / ISIN

Nos.(1) Principal

Amount

Outstanding (in

millions) Total Consideration(2) Principal

Amount

Tendered(3) Principal

Amount

Accepted(3) Principal

Amount

Reflected in

Notices of

Guaranteed

Delivery 1 3.200% Series US-6 Notes due 2052 0778FP AH2 / US0778FPAH21 US$650 US$662.16 US$191,019,000 US$191,019,000 US$2,342,000 2 3.650% Series US-7 Notes due 2052 0778FP AJ8 /

US0778FPAJ86 US$750 US$718.46 US$217,410,000 US$217,410,000 US$2,380,000 3 3.650% Series US-4 Notes due 2051 0778FP AF6 / US0778FPAF64 US$500 US$724.85 US$78,609,000 US$78,609,000 US$0 4 2.150% Series US-5 Notes due 2032 0778FP AG4 / US0778FPAG48 US$600 US$836.81 US$182,973,000 US$182,973,000 US$4,215,000 5 4.300% Series US-2 Notes due 2049 0778FP AB5 / US0778FPAB50 US$600 US$804.40 US$174,341,000 US$174,341,000 US$0

(1) No representation is made by the Company as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP numbers or ISINs listed in this news release or printed on the Notes. They are provided solely for convenience.



(2) The total consideration for each series of Notes (such consideration, the "Total Consideration") payable per each US$1,000 principal amount of such series of Notes validly tendered for purchase.



(3) The amounts exclude the principal amounts of Notes for which Holders have complied with certain procedures applicable to guaranteed delivery pursuant to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures. Such amounts remain subject to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures. Notes tendered pursuant to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures are required to be tendered at or prior to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on March 26.

Overall, US$844,352,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes have been accepted for purchase, excluding the Notes delivered pursuant to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures. A condition of the Offers is that the aggregate Total Consideration payable for Notes purchased in the Offers shall not exceed US$750,000,000 (the "Maximum Purchase Amount") and that the Maximum Purchase Amount is sufficient to pay the Total Consideration for all validly tendered and not validly withdrawn Notes of a series (after accounting for all validly tendered Notes that have a higher Acceptance Priority Level) (the "Maximum Purchase Condition"). The Maximum Purchase Condition has been satisfied with respect to the Offers for all the series of Notes. Accordingly, all Notes that have been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Expiration Date have been accepted for purchase.

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, Holders whose Notes have been accepted for purchase in the Offers will receive the applicable Total Consideration specified in the table above for each US$1,000 principal amount of such Notes, which will be payable in cash on the Settlement Date.

In addition to the applicable Total Consideration, Holders whose Notes have been accepted for purchase will be paid the Accrued Coupon Payment. Interest will cease to accrue on the Settlement Date for all Notes accepted in the Offers, including those tendered pursuant to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures. Under no circumstances will any interest be payable because of any delay in the transmission of funds to Holders by the Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its participants.

The Company has retained RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Mizuho Securities USA LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC to act as lead dealer managers and BMO Capital Markets Corp., BofA Securities, Inc., TD Securities (USA) LLC, Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., CIBC World Markets Corp., Desjardins Securities Inc., National Bank of Canada Financial Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. and Barclays Capital Inc. to act as co-dealer managers (collectively, the "Dealer Managers") for the Offers. Questions regarding the terms and conditions for the Offers should be directed to RBC Capital Markets, LLC at +1 (877) 381-2099 (toll-free) or +1 (212) 618-7843 (collect), Mizuho Securities USA LLC at +1 (866) 271-7403 (toll-free) or +1 (212) 205-7741 (collect) or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC at +1 (866) 309-6316 (toll-free) or +1 (704) 410-4235 (collect).

D.F. King & Co., Inc. is acting as the Information and Tender Agent for the Offers. Questions or requests for assistance related to the Offers or for additional copies of the Offer to Purchase may be directed to D.F. King & Co., Inc. in New York by telephone at +1 (212) 269-5550 (for banks and brokers only) or +1 (800) 967-5084 (for all others toll-free), or by email at [email protected]. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Offers. The Tender Offer Documents can be accessed at the following link: www.dfking.com/bell.

If the Company terminates any Offer with respect to one or more series of Notes, it will give prompt notice to the Information and Tender Agent, and all Notes tendered pursuant to such terminated Offer will be returned promptly to the tendering Holders thereof. Upon such termination, any Notes blocked in DTC will be released.

This announcement is for informational purposes only. This announcement is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell any Notes or any other securities of BCE, the Company or any of their subsidiaries. The Offers were made solely pursuant to the Offer to Purchase. The Offers were not made to Holders of Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, "blue sky" or other laws of such jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction in which the securities or "blue sky" laws require the Offers to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offers will be deemed to have been made on behalf of the Company by the Dealer Managers or one or more registered brokers or dealers that are licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.

No action has been or will be taken in any jurisdiction that would permit the possession, circulation or distribution of either this announcement, the Offer to Purchase or any material relating to us or the Notes in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, neither this announcement, the Offer to Purchase nor any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the Offers may be distributed or published, in or from any such country or jurisdiction, except in compliance with any applicable rules or regulations of any such country or jurisdiction.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements made in this news release are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to statements regarding settlement of the Offers. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the "safe harbour" provisions of applicable Canadian securities laws and of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements, by their very nature, are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on several assumptions, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from our expectations expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and we caution you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release describe our expectations at the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Forward-looking statements are provided herein for the purpose of giving information about the Offers referred to above. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

About Bell

Bell is Canada's largest communications company,1 providing advanced broadband Internet, wireless, TV, media and business communication services. Founded in Montreal in 1880, Bell is wholly owned by BCE. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.

Through Bell for Better we are investing to create a better today and a better tomorrow by supporting the social and economic prosperity of our communities. This includes the Bell Let's Talk initiative, which promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research and workplace leadership initiatives throughout the country. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

1 Based on total revenue and total combined customer connections.

Media Inquiries:

Ellen Murphy

[email protected]

Investor Inquiries:

Richard Bengian

[email protected]

SOURCE Bell Canada (MTL)
The board members represent a diverse range of medical specialties, including primary care, plastic surgery, podiatry, and dermatology. With extensive frontline experience in wound care, they bring a wealth of clinical knowledge that will support Biolab Holdings in its pursuit of becoming a global leader in the fieldwhile ultimately prioritizing the well-being of patients. The medical board will enhance BioLab's research and development, distribution training, peer-to-peer engagement, clinician education, and patient-centered care.

"We are honored to welcome these esteemed physicians to our organization," said Dr. Marshall Medley, chief medical officer at BioLab. "Their expertise and passion for wound care will be instrumental in furthering the work we are all passionate about  improving access to care and healing patient's wounds."

Krishna Narayanan, MD

Dr. Krishna Narayanan is a plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience in private practice. He earned his MD from the University of Madras, Chennai, India, in 1981 and completed a Plastic Surgery Fellowship at UPMC in Pittsburgh in 1994. Dr. Narayanan specializes in wound care management and surgical interventions including split thickness skin graft and PRP placement for wound healing, amniotic allograft with stem cell stimulation, collagen matrix graft and more. He holds hospital privileges at multiple Pennsylvania institutions and serves as medical director and executive committee member at Encompass, Select Specialty, and PAM Health Hospitals. He also serves as the medical director of wound care to oversee clinical methods and outcomes to treat patients with complex wound care problems.

Chase Sessions, DO

Dr. Chase Sessions is a board-certified physician specializing in family medicine, undersea and hyperbaric medicine, and wound care. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Weber State University before obtaining his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from A.T. Still University in 2012. Dr. Sessions began his medical career as a combat medic in the Utah Army National Guard, where he provided medical care during Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and a humanitarian mission in Nicaragua. Following his residency at Shasta Community Health Center, he gained extensive experience in primary care, urgent care, and wound management at various institutions, including the Veterans Affairs Clinic, Mercy Clinic, and SUNY University Hospital, where he completed a fellowship in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine. He currently serves as the facility medical director of Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine, overseeing patients requiring hyperbaric oxygen therapy. A certified wound specialist physician, Dr. Sessions, is actively involved in medical education and research, contributing to the advancement of hyperbaric medicine and wound care.

Thomas Zumbaugh, DPM

Dr. Thomas Zumbaugh is a board-qualified Doctor of Podiatric Medicine with extensive experience in podiatric surgery and lower extremity wound care. He is a founding member at the Indy Wound Center for Limb Preservation and Reconstruction and currently serves as clinical faculty for the Ascension St. Vincent Podiatric Residency. He earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine at Kent State University prior to completing residency training at the University of Pennsylvania Health System with emphasis on Lower Extremity Reconstruction and Limb Preservation. Dr. Zumbaugh has been in private practice at Indy Wound since 2023 and has worked with local hospital systems to implement a renowned Limb Preservation program for Central Indiana.

Darrin Rotman, MD

Dr. Darrin Rotman is a board-certified dermatologist with over 29 years of experience specializing in general, medical, surgical, and Mohs dermatology. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 1992, graduating with multiple academic honors, including the Thomas Brown McLelland Scholar Award. He completed his dermatology residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he also served as an internal medicine intern. Dr. Rotman is a Fellow of the American Society of Mohs Surgery, having performed over 16,000 cases, and holds a Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery Subspecialty Certification. Since 1998, he has been in private practice as the CLIA Laboratory Director at the American Institute of Dermatology in Sebring, Florida, where he provides comprehensive dermatologic care. His extensive expertise in skin cancer treatment, surgical dermatology, and laboratory management makes him a highly respected leader in his field.

BioLab looks forward to working with these distinguished professionals as they strive to improve patient health outcomes and increase access to wound care. For more information on BioLab Holdings, Inc., visit biolabholdings.net .

About BioLab Holdings, Inc.

BioLab Holdings, Inc. is a Phoenix-based medical manufacturer specializing in wound healing. Its products, Membrane Wrap Lite, Tri-Membrane Wrap, Membrane Wrap, and Membrane Wrap - Hydro, use human tissue allograft derived from amniotic membrane that provides structural tissue for use as a wound protectant covering. The products are minimally manipulated, preserving the properties that the tissue exhibits in its natural state. The company's mission is to manufacture reliable and safe products with the highest quality to help optimize body performance through continuous innovation, education, superior customer service and teamwork. For more information, visit biolabholdings.net .

Contact: Kwyn Lowe

Phone: 406.314.5120

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE BioLab Sciences

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New Infosys and HFS Research Report underscores how AI is the new transformation lever for BFS enterprises

BENGALURU, India, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The advent of gen AI has driven two-thirds (66 percent) of banking and financial services (BFS) enterprises to update their AI strategy  yet the majority (88 percent) of BFS firms lack a comprehensive, enterprise-wide AI strategy, according to a new study from Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting.

The new report titled "Why, What, and How Financial Services firms can be AI-First," conducted in collaboration with HFS Research, underscored the critical gap at many BFS firms between AI initiatives and overarching business objectives. A cohesive, global enterprise-wide AI strategy, however, ensures that AI investments directly contribute to revenue growth, cost optimization, and enhanced stakeholder value.

The study, which sampled 505 global banking and financial services leaders, found that despite BFS enterprises being heavily invested in AI, they need to better assess, adopt, and apply AI in strategically meaningful ways. Without a strategic alignment of AI in the broader business strategy, AI efforts are fragmented across individual business lines and geographic silos. To maximize enterprise-wide value, a top-down strategic framework with clear and purposeful guidance from C-suite leadership, coupled with bottom-up execution driven by domain experts within each business function, is essential. This integrated approach capitalizes on the burgeoning AI opportunity for BFS firms and ensures that its deployment consistently advances the enterprise's strategic priorities.

Key data highlights include:

Only 12 percent of BFS firms have a global, enterprise-wide AI strategy, with roughly a third (34 percent) having an AI strategy defined by lines of business at the country or regional level.

The top AI objective for nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of banking and financial services (BFS) enterprises is to boost bottom-line productivity.

BFS firm's AI budgets are expected to increase 25 percent in 2025, commanding 16 percent of total tech budgets. Return on investment (ROI) expectations are set at two years and the average tenure of formal AI programs within firms is 2.6 years.

The top three initiatives in BFS firms current AI budgets are data modernization to support AI (58 percent), technology licensing of gen AI software (53 percent) and AI model development and management (40 percent).

The top three challenges to AI success  data quality and access, security and privacy, and talent  are exacerbated by the fact that only 23 percent of BFS enterprises have mature AI governance and risk management practices, which hinder their ability to effectively address these critical issues.

Phil Fersht, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Analyst, HFS Research, said, "The path to being AI-First is paved with various challenges. While many foundational needs are being addressed in the current funding and investment cycle, BFS leaders must also consider AI governance and AI talent to enable true scale. AI governance needs to be defined as part of enterprise-wide AI strategy and supported across functions."

Dennis Gada, EVP and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, Infosys, said, "To unlock the full potential of AI, leadership teams must remove roadblocks through strong AI governance practices  an area that is underdeveloped for more than 75 percent of banking and financial services firms. At Infosys, we help clients solve for this issue by developing enterprise-wide AI governance frameworks that enable firms to operate at scale across a myriad of functions. The future of work is AI-first and similarly, their talent strategies should make every employee part of the AI-driven future."

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 300,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in more than 56 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance, are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, increased competition for talent, our ability to attract and retain personnel, increase in wages, investments to reskill our employees, our ability to effectively implement a hybrid work model, economic uncertainties and geo-political situations, technological disruptions and innovations such as Generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, and cybersecurity matters. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/4364085/Infosys_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Infosys
Leading Authentic Mexican Fast-Casual Brand Awarded Six Franchise Deals in California, Florida, Illinois, and Texas

CHICAGO, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- After a record year of growth, Cilantro Taco Grill is set to open outside Chicagoland for the first time in April 2025, a significant milestone following the brand's first franchise opening in November. The nation's fastest-growing authentic Mexican fast-casual franchise secured six franchise agreements in 2024, bringing 110 units into development in its first full year of franchising. With the QSR industry projected to grow by 5.4%, reaching $321.8 billion in 2025, Cilantro Taco Grill is well-positioned for continued expansion this year.

"As we continue to expand into new communities, it's fulfilling to know more guests will taste the authentic flavors of Jalisco and the love my family has put into the recipes from our home country of Mexico," said Temoc Morfin, Founder and CEO of Cilantro Taco Grill. "What started as a small taqueria with my family is now a thriving franchise further fueling the American Dream. Cilantro Taco Grill will always stay true to our mission  serving the food I grew up eating in Mexico and uplifting immigrant families like my own."

Milestones in 2024:

Franchise Growth : In 2024, Cilantro Taco Grill awarded six franchise deals across four states, adding 110 units to the brand's 17 corporate-owned locations around the Chicagoland area.

: In 2024, Cilantro Taco Grill awarded six franchise deals across four states, adding 110 units to the brand's 17 corporate-owned locations around the Chicagoland area. First Franchise Opening : Just over a year after launching its franchising opportunity, Cilantro Taco Grill opened its first-ever franchise location in Wheeling, IL.

: Just over a year after launching its franchising opportunity, Cilantro Taco Grill opened its first-ever franchise location in Major Deal with Florida Franchisee : Cilantro Taco Grill secured a massive 100-unit deal with seasoned restaurant operators Alex and Max Dreevs to develop locations in Florida .

: Cilantro Taco Grill secured a massive 100-unit deal with seasoned restaurant operators Alex and Max Dreevs to develop locations in . Awards & Recognition: Cilantro Taco Grill was named one of America's Hottest Startup Fast Casual Brands in 2024 by QSR, as well as ranked #32 on Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers & Shakers.

Cilantro Taco Grill was named one of America's Hottest Startup Fast Casual Brands in 2024 by QSR, as well as ranked #32 on Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers & Shakers. New Corporate Leadership: The brand's success in 2024 is also attributed to the addition of new team members with unique expertise, who have helped bridge critical gaps and further strengthened the corporate team.

The brand's success in 2024 is also attributed to the addition of new team members with unique expertise, who have helped bridge critical gaps and further strengthened the corporate team. Commissary Partnership: Cilantro Taco Grill partnered with U.S. Foods to establish a commissary in Houston, TX , ensuring consistent quality and supply of meats across all locations.

"Cilantro Taco Grill is redefining the Mexican fast-casual space with its authentic flavors from south of the border," said Dan Rowe, CEO of Fransmart, Cilantro Taco Grill's exclusive franchise development partner. "While others try to replicate 'authentic' Mexican cuisine, Cilantro Taco Grill and the Morfins' recipes are as real as it gets. After a phenomenal year of growth in 2024, we're incredibly optimistic about 2025 and beyond."

Looking ahead to 2025, Cilantro Taco Grill is planning to open seven new locations, including three out-of-state expansions in Texas and Florida, along with four new locations in Illinois. These openings come less than two years after Cilantro Taco Grill launched its franchise opportunity with the support of the global leader in franchise development, Fransmart. Together, they aim to grow the next generation of Mexican fast casual concepts to more than 1,000 units worldwide over the next 10 years.

Cilantro Taco Grill was founded in 2013 by Temoc Morfin, who was inspired to bring the family's treasured flavors and recipes to the masses by his father, 'Don Javi' Morfin. Cilantro Taco Grill has since thrived in the competitive Chicagoland market, expanding to 18 open locations as of March 2025. The brand is also expanding rapidly nationwide, with over 100 locations signed in Illinois, Texas, Florida, and California.

Cilantro Taco Grill's mission extends beyond sharing high-quality, authentic Mexican food; they are shattering barriers by empowering immigrant and Latino communities through franchising. Ideal franchisees have prior franchise experience and share Cilantro Taco Grill's vision to uplift local communities. Franchisees receive expert training and guidance from the Cilantro Taco Grill team through their Cilantro Academy, in addition to a high-end tech stack that features a consumer app launching in summer 2024, digital menu boards, and a highly popular rewards program. Cilantro Taco Grill also features multiple revenue streams for franchisees with a popular catering program and bottles of their ultra-popular house salsa consistently flying off shelves.

Franchisees who are interested in joining Cilantro's mission to create wealth in marginalized communities can visit fransmart.com/cilantro-taco-grill to get started.

About Cilantro Taco Grill

Cilantro Taco Grill's story begins with 'Don Javi' Morfin, who immigrated from Guadalajara, Jalisco to Chicago with his wife, Alicia, and 11 children. His son, Temoc Morfin, Cilantro Taco Grill's founder, realized that sharing his ancestors' recipes, flavors, and spices through culinary arts was his true passion and this way, he would be able to contribute to creating jobs and help others to be successful. Thanks to the collaborative effort of Temoc's family, Cilantro Taco Grill was born as a fast-casual restaurant fueled by the authentic flavors of Mexico, the heart of Don Javi, and the vision of Temoc.

The first Cilantro Taco Grill opened in 2013 in the Stone Park neighborhood of Chicago. Since then, the Morfin family has opened 15 total locations across the greater Chicagoland area. The brand focuses on authentic Mexican recipes that showcase the flavors they brought with them from the heart of Jalisco. The brand's exceptional unit economics and advanced tech-stack attracted the attention of Grammy Award winner Armando Christian Perez (Pitbull), who's partnered with Fransmart's CEO Dan Rowe to launch the nationwide franchising efforts for the brand. For more information, visit www.cilantrotacogrill.com.

About Fransmart

As the leading franchise development firm in the country, Fransmart turns emerging restaurant concepts into successful national and global brands. Founded by Dan Rowe, the man who identified and grew brands such as Five Guys Burgers & Fries and QDOBA Mexican Grill from single unit businesses to the powerhouse chains they are today. Fransmart's current and past franchise development portfolio brands have opened more than 5,000 restaurants worldwide and facilitated franchise investments that have cumulatively generated 1 billion dollars in revenue to date. For more information, visit www.fransmart.com .

SOURCE Cilantro Taco Grill
DALLAS, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Clapper, a rapidly growing social media platform, announces its partnership with TruBit, the leading digital asset payment solutions platform in Latin America, to enable seamless US-LATAM cross-border payments. This strategic collaboration is set to transform how Mexico-based content creators on Clapper receive their earnings, offering a faster, more efficient, and user-friendly solution that empowers creators to maximize their income.

Clapper and TruBit logo

Content creators in LATAM often struggle with high fees  ranging from 8% to over 30%  and lengthy payment processes that can take 4 to 6 days. Additionally, fixed fees for transferring funds to local bank accounts further reduce their earnings. These challenges make it difficult for creators to maximize revenue and quickly access global earning opportunities.

Aliyah, a content creator on Clapper, shared her experience: "Clapper has given me a space to connect with my audience in a way that feels real and authentic. Unlike other platforms, I don't have to fight an algorithm to get my content seen  I know my community is engaging with me because they genuinely want to. On top of that, the new partnership is a game-changer for creators like me who rely on monetization. High cross-border fees have always been a challenge, but now, I can receive my earnings faster and with fewer deductions, allowing me to reinvest in my content and continue growing my community."

With the new TruBit X Clapper Stablecoin-driven Cross-border Solution, Clapper's Mexico-based content creators can receive fiat payments directly in their local bank accounts, eliminating the need for additional conversions or intermediary steps. The solution offers same-day payment settlement, providing creators with immediate access to their funds without the typical 4-6 day waiting period or extra withdrawal fees associated with international transactions. The total processing fee is under 1%, which is significantly lower than traditional payment methods that often charge between 8.7% and 31.4%.

The process is fully automated, requiring no extra workload from the creators. Clapper and TruBit handle the KYC process and manage the USD to MXN exchange through USD stablecoin, delivering a seamless, cost-effective, and user-friendly payment experience that directly addresses creators' pain points.

"This collaboration marks a milestone for both TruBit and Clapper, offering US companies a much more efficient and cost-effective way to pay LATAM creators and employees. By streamlining cross-border payments, we are not only improving financial accessibility but also giving companies like Clapper a strong advantage to expand its creator base in the region. This is a win-win-win for TruBit, Clapper, and their current and future users. We are excited about the broader opportunities this partnership will unlock across the LATAM market", said Maggie Wu, CEO and Co-Founder of TruBit.

"At Clapper, we are committed to providing a platform where creators can truly thrive, free from algorithmic limitations and with direct access to their audience. This partnership represents a significant step in expanding opportunities for our community, ensuring they have the tools and support needed to grow authentically. As we continue our rapid ascent in the social media landscape, collaborations like this reinforce our mission to empower creators and foster genuine connections." stated Edison Chen, CEO of Clapper

This collaboration goes beyond offering faster and more affordable payments  it's a strategic milestone that empowers U.S. companies to leverage TruBit's Stablecoin-driven Cross-border Solution for payroll, content creator payouts, and more. Moreover, it showcases a forward-thinking integration of mainstream social media platforms with blockchain technology, driving fresh innovation and practical, real-world applications.

For TruBit, this partnership is about delivering more than just technology; it's about providing real-world solutions that help businesses simplify payments and operate more efficiently. For Clapper, it reinforces their dedication to supporting overseas creators, offering not only a platform for fan base growth but also an innovative financial system that genuinely benefits them. Together, TruBit and Clapper are setting a new standard for seamless, inclusive, and efficient cross-border transactions, leading the way in their respective industries.

About TruBit

TruBit , established in LATAM in 2020, is a comprehensive global crypto platform built on two core pillars: payments and trading. At its forefront is TruBit Business, delivering compliant cross-border payment solutions that seamlessly integrate fiat and crypto for businesses. For trading, TruBit Pro provides advanced tools for experienced traders, while the TruBit Wallet supports easy conversion and Earn+ features. The Mastercard TruBit card enables convenient crypto spending.

As a pioneer in compliant fiat on-and-off ramp services, TruBit operates in key LATAM markets like Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Peru, with a growing footprint in the U.S., Hong Kong, and Europe. Its commitment to regulatory compliance, security, and innovation empowers businesses and users worldwide, bridging the gap between fiat and crypto through seamless trading, remittance, and payment services.

About Clapper

Clapper is a rapidly growing social media platform designed to empower creators through algorithm-free content distribution, meaningful community engagement, and monetization opportunities. As one of the fastest-rising alternatives to traditional social networks, Clapper offers a space for real, unfiltered expression through short-form videos, live streaming, and interactive features like group discussions. With a strong focus on inclusivity and creator-first experiences, Clapper has become a top destination for those seeking a genuine social media experience beyond mainstream platforms.

TruBit Media Contact

For any inquiries, contact [email protected] or [email protected].

Clapper Media Contact

For any inquiries, contact [email protected]

SOURCE Clapper
MARLTON, N.J., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The national Listeria outbreak linked to contaminated nutritional shakes has raised serious concerns after 38 confirmed illnesses, 37 hospitalizations, and 12 deaths. Console & Associates P.C. is investigating claims on behalf of families who lost a loved one or are caring for relatives suffering from severe illness after consuming Lyons ReadyCare Listeria recall and Sysco Imperial shake contamination, which were recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. These products were distributed to hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other institutional settings, placing elderly individuals, immunocompromised patients, and those already in fragile health at significant risk. Families now grappling with devastating losses or caring for critically ill loved ones deserve answers about how these dangerous products were served to the most vulnerable.

What Are the Symptoms of Listeria Infection?

Consuming contaminated frozen supplemental shakes can cause Listeriosis, a bacterial infection with symptoms appearing from the same day to 10 weeks after exposure. Individuals infected with Listeria monocytogenes may experience:

Fever, nausea, vomiting, and muscle aches

Diarrhea, severe fatigue, and chills

Headaches, confusion, and stiff neck

Seizures and loss of balance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that Listeria infections in long-term care facilities disproportionately affect individuals over 65, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.

Which Nutritional Shakes Were Contaminated with Listeria?

The following frozen supplemental shakes recall was issued due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination:

Lyons ReadyCare Frozen Shakes

ReadyCare Frozen Vanilla Shake

ReadyCare Frozen Chocolate Shake

ReadyCare Frozen Strawberry Shake

ReadyCare Frozen Vanilla Shake NSA

ReadyCare Frozen Strawberry Shake NSA

ReadyCare Frozen Chocolate Shake Plus

ReadyCare Frozen Strawberry Shake Plus

ReadyCare Frozen Vanilla Shake Plus

ReadyCare Frozen Strawberry Banana Shake NSA

ReadyCare Frozen Chocolate Shake NSA

Sysco Imperial Frozen Shakes

Imperial Frozen Vanilla Shake

Imperial Frozen Chocolate Shake

Imperial Frozen Strawberry Shake

Imperial Frozen Vanilla Shake NSA

Imperial Frozen Strawberry Shake NSA

Imperial Frozen Strawberry Banana Shake NSA

Imperial Frozen Chocolate Shake NSA

These recalled products were widely distributed to hospitals, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities, placing high-risk individuals at serious risk of illness or death. Anyone who may have consumed these contaminated nutritional shakes should monitor for Listeria symptoms and seek medical attention if they experience any signs of infection.

Which Facilities and States Were Impacted by the Contaminated Shakes?

The recalled frozen nutritional shakes were distributed nationwide to hospitals, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities, where high-risk individuals rely on these products for essential nutrition. Cases have been confirmed in 21 states, including California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington.

The FDA Listeria investigation 2025 recommends that any institution that purchased or received these recalled shakes dispose of them immediately, sanitize storage areas, and ensure that potentially contaminated surfaces and utensils are cleaned thoroughly.

Why Is the Listeria Outbreak Dangerous?

Listeria infections affect approximately 1,600 people annually in the United States, and due to severe complications, the hospitalization rate is high. The CDC Listeria outbreak update reports that 94% of individuals affected in this outbreak required hospitalization, underscoring the serious risk posed by consuming these contaminated nutritional shakes. Unlike other foodborne bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes can survive in refrigerated conditions, allowing it to spread in storage areas and contaminate additional food products.

Victims of this outbreak were often elderly individuals or hospital patients, many of whom already had weakened immune systems. This high-risk population was unknowingly exposed to Listeria contamination in food products, leading to devastating health consequences.

Can You File a Lawsuit for Listeria Poisoning from Contaminated Nutritional Shakes?

Individuals who developed Listeriosis after consuming Lyons ReadyCare or Sysco Imperial frozen shakes may have grounds to file a lawsuit seeking financial compensation. Victims and their families may be eligible to pursue legal action against the manufacturers and distributors responsible for the Listeria contamination; however, victims should discuss their case with an experienced Listeria nutritional shake lawyer before filing anything in court.

Families affected by this outbreak deserve answers and accountability. The distribution of contaminated nutritional shakes to long-term care facilities and hospitals represents a serious public health failure, endangering individuals who depend on these products for essential nourishment. As more information becomes available, those impacted by this outbreak should be aware of their legal rights to seek justice for what they've been through. Console & Associates P.C. is reviewing potential personal injury and wrongful death claims on behalf of victims and their families and will continue to investigate the impact of this outbreak on those who relied on these nutritional shakes for their health and well-being.

The product liability lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are dedicated to advocating on behalf of consumers injured by dangerous products. Anyone who is interested in learning more about listeria outbreak lawsuits is encouraged to contact the firm to learn more about their rights by completing the case evaluation form .

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under applicable law and ethical rules.

Console & Associates, P.C.

866-778-5500

SOURCE Console & Associates, P.C.
LOS ANGELES, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Emil Davtyan, Founder and Managing Attorney at D.Law, was recently featured in a Los Angeles Times roundtable discussion alongside leading legal experts Lawrance A. Bohm, David J. Fishman, and Todd B. Scherwin. The article explored emerging labor and employment law issues shaping California's workplaces in 2025.

Emil Davtyan Featured in L.A. Times Labor and Employment Roundtable

In the feature, Davtyan addressed the increasing complexity of hybrid work, data privacy, and wage compliance. "Employers are refining policies to address work-from-home reimbursements, timekeeping for remote employees and cross-state employment tax implications," he noted, adding that "meal and rest break compliance remains a major area of risk."

Davtyan also emphasized the growing legal scrutiny around artificial intelligence in hiring. "The use of AI in employment decisions raises significant legal concerns, particularly around bias, transparency and privacy," he said.

On termination procedures, Davtyan advised: "Employers should ensure termination decisions are well-documented and based on legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons," while also noting the importance of compliance with final paycheck laws.

His participation in the roundtable reflects D.Law's continued role in shaping conversations around employment law at the highest level.

Read the full article here:

https://www.latimes.com/business-insights/story/lawrance-a-bohm-emil-davtyan-david-j-fishman-todd-b-scherwin-share-insights-labor-employment-law

About D.Law

D.Law is a California-based employment law firm focused on defending workers' rights and redefining what an employment law firm can be. Recognized as one of the "Most Admired Law Firms to Work For," D.Law continues to grow with a people-first approach and a commitment to excellence.

Media Contact:

Armen Petrosyan

[email protected]

SOURCE D.Law, Inc.
DOWNTOWN FREDERICK, Md., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Downtown Frederick Partnership, McClintock Distilling and the City of Frederick are excited to announce the development of a new small-scale food hall in Downtown Frederick. This traditional food hall will feature four food stalls ranging from about 200 to 350 square feet, a bar and a market stall, located in a 6,000 square foot lower-level space within a historic commercial building owned by McClintock Distilling. Strategically positioned near East Patrick Street, Carroll Creek Linear Park, the future Downtown Hotel & Conference Center, the Police Headquarters and newly planned housing developments, the food hall is set to become a key attraction for both locals and visitors in the area.

Exterior of the future Frederick Food Hall

The goal of this initiative is to provide an accessible entry point for early-stage culinary entrepreneurs into Downtown Frederick's competitive commercial real estate market while also expanding and diversifying business ownership and offerings in the community. By providing shared space and lower startup costs compared to traditional standalone storefronts, the food hall model makes entrepreneurship more accessible to a wider range of small businesses. The food hall will strengthen downtown's overall dining scene, driving foot traffic and supporting existing businesses.

"The Partnership is thrilled to collaborate with McClintock Distilling and the City of Frederick to support entry stage culinary entrepreneurs" said Kara Norman, Executive Director of Downtown Frederick Partnership. "This project will foster a more diverse and inclusive small business community in Downtown Frederick. By making entrepreneurship more accessible, we're not just enhancing our local dining scenewe're strengthening the economic landscape of our community."

The Partnership is committed to strengthening Downtown Frederick's business ecosystem. This project aligns with a key goal in the organization's 2025 Strategic Plan and Equitable Business Development Strategy by cultivating entrepreneurship, growing businesses, creating jobs and increasing access to resources.

Recognizing that access to affordable commercial space and startup capital are key hurdles for many aspiring business owners, the Partnership pursued funding opportunities that would help lower these obstacles. By securing funds to help offset buildout costs, the Partnership is able to work with McClintock Distilling (who will operate the food hall) to guarantee that future tenants have access to reduced rent and/or upfront financial assistance. This partnership will help to lower startup costs and provide a more inclusive pathway for small-scale entrepreneurs.

"This project is a perfect example of what happens when we work together to lower the barriers to business ownership," said Mayor Michael O'Connor. "By partnering with Downtown Frederick Partnership and McClintock Distilling, we're creating opportunities for entrepreneurs who might otherwise be locked out of traditional commercial spaces. It's about making Frederick a place where good ideas and hard work have a real chance to thrive."

The project is supported by a $300,000 grant from Project Restore 2.0  a unique, one-time grant opportunity by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) that revitalizes communities by addressing vacant buildings, supporting small businesses, creating jobs and improving commercial corridors. Grant funding restrictionswhich prohibit funds from being used for property acquisition or new construction on vacant lotsnarrowed the selection process, and the food hall site emerged as a strategic choice. Additionally, due to the project's scale and potential impact, the City of Frederick sought funding from DHCD's Strategic Demolition Fund and was ultimately awarded $200,000 to assist with the building's rehabilitation.

Renovation costs are expected to exceed $1,000,000, including expenses for architectural design, engineering and food hall consultation. Construction is scheduled to begin in late summer 2025, with the food hall expected to be operational within the next year. The application process for food hall tenants will launch in spring 2025. McClintock Distilling and the Partnership will engage several key community partners to assist with tenant recruitment and selection.

Braeden Bumpers, Co-Founder of McClintock Distilling, emphasized the significance of this initiative, stating, "We are very excited to be working on this project with Downtown Frederick Partnership and the City. As a small family-owned business, we are proud to work on a project that gives opportunities to other new entrepreneurs to bring new concepts and flavors to Downtown Frederick. We hope to extend and continue the values of innovation, quality and community engagement to the food hall concept and hope it becomes a mainstay of the downtown experience."

Both the Partnership and McClintock Distilling bring extensive experience and expertise to the project. The McClintock team has previously renovated two historic properties near the project site, which now house McClintock Distilling and McClintock's Back Bar. McClintock will own and manage the food hall and oversee the design and construction process, hiring architects, engineers and contractors to complete the project.

More than just a dining destination, the food hall is poised to become a hub for community engagement, a driver of local economic growth and a catalyst for new restaurant concepts that will enhance Downtown Frederick's culinary vibrancy.

For more about Downtown Frederick Partnership's initiatives, visit downtownfrederick.org.

Downtown Frederick Partnership:

Founded in 1990 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Downtown Frederick Partnership has managed Downtown Frederick's Main Street program since designation in 2001. Downtown Frederick Partnership works to enhance, promote and preserve the vitality, livability and diversity of Downtown Frederick  a national Main Street community.

City of Frederick Department of Economic Development:

The City of Frederick Department of Economic Development is dedicated to fostering a vibrant and sustainable economy by supporting businesses, attracting investment and enhancing workforce development. Through strategic initiatives, partnerships, and resources, the department works to create a business-friendly environment that encourages innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth in the City of Frederick.

McClintock Distilling:

Founded in 2016, McClintock Distilling is a craft distillery located in Downtown Frederick, Maryland. Known for its commitment to quality and innovation, McClintock Distilling produces a range of spirits using locally sourced ingredients and traditional methods. The distillery is dedicated to sustainability, community engagement and crafting exceptional spirits that reflect the rich heritage of the region.

SOURCE Downtown Frederick Partnership
JACKSON, Miss., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- EastGroup Properties, Inc. (NYSE: EGP) (the "Company" or "EastGroup") announced today that it will hold its First Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call and Webcast on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. On the call, Marshall Loeb, CEO, and Brent Wood, CFO, will discuss the Company's first quarter results, current operations, and earnings outlook for 2025.

EastGroup plans to release financial results for the quarter after the market closes on April 23, 2025. The earnings release and supplemental information package will be posted on the Company's website, www.eastgroup.net, at that time.

A live broadcast of the conference call is available by dialing 1-800-836-8184 (conference ID EastGroup) or by webcast through a link on the Company's website at www.eastgroup.net. If you are unable to listen to the live conference call, a telephone and webcast replay will be available on Thursday, April 24, 2025. The telephone replay will be available through Thursday, May 1, 2025, and can be accessed by dialing 1-888-660-6345 (access code 03256#). The replay of the webcast can be accessed through a link on the Company's website at www.eastgroup.net and will be available through Thursday, May 1, 2025.

About EastGroup Properties, Inc.

EastGroup, a member of the S&P Mid-Cap 400 and Russell 2000 Indexes, is a self-administered equity real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and operation of industrial properties in high-growth markets throughout the United States with an emphasis in the states of Texas, Florida, California, Arizona and North Carolina. The Company's goal is to maximize shareholder value by being a leading provider in its markets of functional, flexible and quality business distribution space for location sensitive customers (primarily in the 20,000 to 100,000 square foot range). The Company's strategy for growth is based on ownership of premier distribution facilities generally clustered near major transportation features in supply-constrained submarkets. EastGroup's portfolio, including development projects and value-add acquisitions in lease-up and under construction, currently includes approximately 63.1 million square feet.

EastGroup Properties, Inc. press releases are available at www.eastgroup.net .

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE EastGroup Properties
STOCKHOLM and SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- EasyPark Group, a leading provider of digital parking and mobility solutions, and Google Cloud today announced a strategic collaboration to support its multicloud strategy and advance its AI journey. By leveraging Google Cloud's AI technology, EasyPark Group aims to accelerate global expansion through intelligent automation, enhance operational efficiency, and drive innovation that transforms the mobility experience for users worldwide.

"Our partnership with Google Cloud marks a significant step toward realizing our vision of creating more livable cities through technology. Together, we are redefining urban mobilitymaking it more convenient, efficient, and sustainable for users worldwide while enhancing employee productivity. As a product-led technology company, we are committed to delivering secure, modern solutions that address today's mobility challenges and drive the future of urban innovation," said Sandesh Bhat, Chief Technology Officer at EasyPark Group.

In the initial phase of this partnership, EasyPark Group is leveraging Google Cloud's AI capabilities to streamline employee onboarding and to integrate employees from recent acquisitions. To address this challenge, the solution  built on Google Cloud's Vertex AI platform  uses Agent Builder to create an intelligent agent that serves as a companion for every employee. This agent provides instant access to information, guides individuals through onboarding processes, and facilitates the seamless integration of acquired team members.

Using Gemini's advanced natural language processing and understanding, the intelligent agent can comprehend and respond to complex queries, including in multiple languages. It also offers personalized support and accelerates the learning curve for new and existing employees. This AI-driven approach helps enhance efficiency and improve the employee experience during the onboarding and integration phases of the employee's journey.

"As we continue our growth path, we need an efficient AI solution that is personalized, efficient and scalable within multiple use cases. Google Cloud's AI capabilities, particularly Gemini 2.0 and Vertex AI Agent Builder, allowed us to create a seamless and intuitive experience that has significantly reduced onboarding time and improved employee experience," said Bhat.

"This strategic alliance with EasyPark Group highlights the critical role of AI in driving operational transformation and workforce productivity." said Eva Fors, Managing Director of Google Cloud Nordics. "By providing EasyPark with flexible AI solutions, we're empowering the company to transform operational processes, enhance workforce productivity, and ultimately, deliver a superior experience to users worldwide. This collaboration is not just about streamlining onboarding; it's about setting the stage for long-term, AI-driven advancements that will redefine how cities manage mobility."

This successful implementation marks the beginning of EasyPark Group's AI journey with Google Cloud, as it continues to explore the potential of AI to unlock new opportunities, make data-driven decisions, and accelerate global reach.

About Google Cloud

Google Cloud is the new way to the cloud, providing AI, infrastructure, developer, data, security, and collaboration tools built for today and tomorrow. Google Cloud offers a powerful, fully integrated and optimized AI stack with its own planet-scale infrastructure, custom-built chips, generative AI models and development platform, as well as AI-powered applications, to help organizations transform. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted technology partner.

About EasyPark Group

EasyPark Group is a global mobility platform with a vision to make cities more livable. Present in over 6,000 cities across more than 80 countries, the company simplifies parking and mobility worldwide. In 2024, EasyPark Group was recognized as one of Europe's fastest-growing businesses by Financial Times and Statista. And in January 2025, it expanded its scope by acquiring Flowbird. Together, the group is uniquely equipped to support cities' distinct needs with proven mobility solutions, and to create a global leading mobility platform where technology, data, insights, payments and user-choice make urban life easier for everyone.

SOURCE Google Cloud
NEW YORK, March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Edison International (NYSE: EIX) between February 25, 2021 and February 6, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 21, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action first filed by the Firm.

So what: If you purchased Edison securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

What to do next: To join the Edison class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=33590 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 21, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Details of the case: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Edison's claim that Southern California Edison Company ("SCE") used its Public Safety Power Shutoffs ("PSPS") program to "proactively de-energize power lines to mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfires during extreme weather events", was false; (2) this resulted in heightened fire risk in California and heightened legal exposure to Edison; and (3) as a result, defendants' statements about Edison's business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Edison class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=33590 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
LOS ANGELES, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Schall Law Firm , a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Edison International ("Edison" or "the Company") (NYSE: EIX) for violations of 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investors who purchased the Company's securities between February 25, 2021 and February 6, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the firm before April 14, 2025.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com , or by email at [email protected].

The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Edison falsely claimed that its Southern California Edison Company ("SCE") division used the Public Safety Power Shutoffs ("PSPS") program to "proactively de-energize power lines to mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfires during extreme weather events." The Company's failure to utilize the PSPS program increased the fire risk in California and heightened its legal exposure. Based on these facts, the Company's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Edison, investors suffered damages.

Join the case to recover your losses.

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.

CONTACT:

The Schall Law Firm

Brian Schall, Esq.,

www.schallfirm.com

Office: 310-301-3335

[email protected]

SOURCE The Schall Law Firm
RICHMOND, Va., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Empower Brands , a multi-brand franchisor of premium commercial and residential services, celebrates another year of exceptional growth, setting new records across its expanding portfolio.

In 2024, Empower Brands awarded 287 new franchise territories and welcomed 113 new franchise ownersincluding 97 new owners and 16 who joined through transferswhile surpassing $1.3 billion in systemwide sales.

"Each milestone we've hit this year reinforces the power of our franchise system and the strength of our brands," said Scott Zide, CEO of Empower Brands. "Our continued success is a testament to the dedication of our franchise owners, corporate team, and strategic partners who are committed to building strong businesses and delivering exceptional service in their communities."

The exceptional growth has garnered recognition for Empower Brands in prominent industry listings, including rankings in Inc. 5000, Franchise Business Review and most recently, Entrepreneurs Franchise 500 with rankings for six of its brands.

Empower Brands remains committed to its franchisee-first mission, expanding its leadership team, investing in new resources, and supporting emerging brands through its incubation program. The company's strategic investments have enabled brands like Bumble Roofing to gain traction, with 15 new agreements this year.

As Empower Brands moves into 2025, its focus will be on continued expansion through additional brands and unit-level growth. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, refining operational efficiencies, and investing in franchisee success, the company is positioned for another great year.

Furthering its commitment to success in 2025, Empower Brands kicked off the year with its 25th Annual Meeting at the Fairmont Austin, where franchisees, corporate leadership, and industry experts gathered for impactful learning and collaboration. The theme of this year's meeting, Make Your Mark, urged attendees to take bold steps in shaping their personal legacies while driving collective growth across the Empower Brands system. From powerful keynote sessions to breakout workshops focused on innovation, leadership, and operational excellence, the event offered fresh insights and practical strategies to equip franchisees for a strong year ahead.

For the second year in a row, the event welcomed more than 1,000 registered franchisee and vendor partners. Keynote speaker Amy Jo Martin shared her Why Not Now? philosophy, encouraging attendees to stop delaying and start taking action on long-standing business and personal goals.

During the event, CEO Scott Zide and Chief Marketing Officer Felicia Reeves emphasized the importance of meeting today's evolving customer where they areby delivering personalized, relevant experiences that resonate on a local level. They encouraged franchisees to leave the meeting with a renewed focus on engaging with their communities, strengthening their personal brands, leveraging data to drive smarter strategy, and expanding their marketing mix beyond digital channels to build a more well-rounded and authentic presence.

Empower Brands recognized the most awards the brand has seen since its inception, honoring top performers across its brands with the coveted Franchisee of the Year Award:

Conserva of Myrtle Beach  Bill & Dawn Hester , Pam & Jay Griffith

 Bill & , Pam & Superior Fence & Rail of Eastern NC  Billy Casey

 Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Chicago  Rick Norwood

 Archadeck of Kansas City  Dan & Bonnie Hall

 Dan & FRSTeam by Rogers of Orlando, FL  Kristen & Mitchell Rogers

 Kristen & Bumble Roofing of Philadelphia  Greg Van Horn

 Wallaby Windows of the Triangle  Ashley Selzer (Clearly Different Award)

 (Clearly Different Award) J AN-PRO Franchisees of the Year : Dallas-Fort Worth  William "Bill" Davis; NW Arkansas  Nolen Hughes ; Milwaukee  Richard Johnsen ; Columbus  Robert "Bobby" Springer

:  William "Bill" Davis;  ;  ; Columbus  Robert "Bobby" Springer Koala Insulation of New Mexico  Pranav, Avinash, and Akash Patel

To learn more about franchising with Empower Brands, visit EmpowerFranchising.com .

About Empower Brands

Empower Brands is a commercial and home services platform company encompassing ten industry-leading brands: JAN-PRO, FRSTeam, Archadeck Outdoor Living, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives (OLP), Conserva Irrigation, Superior Fence & Rail, Wallaby Windows, Koala Insulation, Bumble Roofing and Canopy Lawn Care. Empower Brands is dedicated to providing its customers with the highest quality products and services in the commercial and home services industries while simultaneously delivering its franchise owners committed personal support, tools, and empowerment to pursue their own success. Empower Brands is a portfolio company of MidOcean Partners, a leading private equity firm with an excellent track record investing in successful, growth-focused franchise businesses. For more about Empower Brands, visit the company's website at EmpowerFranchising.com .

SOURCE Empower Brands
LAFAYETTE, La., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FlyGuys, a nationwide reality data capture tech company, is excited to announce its partnership with AviNation for the AviNation American Dream Tour at David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy on March 25. This immersive event gives high school students the opportunity to connect with aviation and aerospace professionals, explore career paths, and gain firsthand experience with cutting-edge technology.

As part of the event, FlyGuys will educate alongside live drone demonstrations, allowing students to see professional drone technology in action and learn about its applications in various industries in need of data capture.

For the demonstrations, drone instruction for students will be supported by the University of Louisiana at Monroe's Assistant Professor of Aviation, Darrion Flunder-Jenkins, further enhancing the educational experience and providing expert insights into drone operations and career opportunities in aviation technology.

The AviNation American Dream Tour brings together commercial pilots, drone pilots, helicopter pilots, agricultural pilots, A&P mechanics, airport managers, air traffic controllers, FBO managers, meteorologists, engineers, avionics technicians, and more to share their career journeys and inspire the next generation of aviation professionals.

"AviNation is thrilled to have FlyGuys as a partner for this year's tour. Their drone demonstrations will give students a firsthand look at how aviation technology is evolving and expanding into new industries. Hands-on experiences like these are what make this event truly impactful," said Tom Flavin of AviNation.

FlyGuys, known for its expertise in reality data capture and drone technology, aims to inspire students by showcasing how uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) are transforming data collection, mapping, and analysis across multiple industries.

"FlyGuys is passionate about education and workforce development. Through our partnership with AviNation, we're not just talking about career opportunitieswe're showing students what's possible. By giving them hands-on experience with drone technology, we hope to spark interest in the future of aviation and data capture," said Whitney, VP of Marketing at FlyGuys.

The AviNation American Dream Tour is supported by AirTractor, Airline Pilots Association, Int'l, Gulf South Aviation Maintenance Seminar, STEM Flights, LAAviator.com, and the Louisiana Army National Guard.

For more information about AviNation and the American Dream Tour, visit www.avinationusa.com.

About AviNation

AviNation exists to attract, educate and empower youth in aviation. AviNation magazine strives to give readers insight into the future of aviation by focusing on aviation students, programs, events and innovative approaches to the promotion and continued growth of the aviation industry. AviNation is proud to be the official youth aviation publication. For more information, visit www.avinationusa.com

About FlyGuys

FlyGuys is the leading online marketplace for reality data capture, connecting data seekers with professional data collectors through its proprietary software platform. With a nationwide network of skilled drone pilots ready for deployment, FlyGuys streamlines mission assignments to ensure fast, efficient, and reliable data capture. With a strong focus on accuracy, reliability, and operational excellence, FlyGuys empowers businesses to confidently make informed decisions. Its technology-driven approach optimizes data collection, delivering seamless solutions that adapt to the evolving needs of various industries. For more information, visit www.flyguys.com

Media Contacts

AviNation

Thomas Flavin, Business Development Advisor

[email protected]

FlyGuys

Whitney Savoie, VP of Marketing

337-573-9434

[email protected]

SOURCE FlyGuys
Goodwin's technology connects brokers with operators instantaneously, giving charter brokers the advantage of speed, resulting in accurate sourcing, white labeled customizable proposals, and instantaneous payments. flyExclusive's competitive position in the industry grants Goodwin the opportunity to showcase the value of their technology to brokers.

flyExclusive CEO Jim Segrave shared his appreciation for Goodwin's unique approach to solving industry challenges:

"At flyExclusive, we are dedicated to improving the booking experience for our broker partners," Segrave said. "We operate under a 'Minutes Matter' mentality; with Goodwin's technology we will eliminate delays, allowing brokers to book with us instantly, driving efficiently forward and further solidifying our position as a leader in private aviation."

Goodwin Co-Founder Tolga Demirel emphasized how the work with flyExclusive helps charter brokers.

"What makes Goodwin unique is that we build innovative technology to empower brokersnot replace them," Demirel said. "Our entire approach is designed to help our broker customers win more deals, faster. Period."

The addition of flyExclusive is part of Goodwin's larger initiative to digitize the charter industry and reduce the multi-step booking process into a single, seamless transaction. While instant booking has been a perennial challenge in charter aviation, Goodwin has developed technology to make it a reality.

"Our focus is not simply to provide accurate pricing, but more importantly, ensuring that once a price is confirmed, the details of the transaction are locked in and finalized," Demirel adds. "Our proprietary digital infrastructure guarantees both speed and certainty, making sure everything is final and complete once confirmed."

To learn more about how your fleet is being displayed in the Goodwin ecosystem contact [email protected]

About Goodwin Company

Founded in 2022, Goodwin is headquartered in Ohio with technical talent across the U.S. The company is revolutionizing the charter aviation industry with innovative technology that streamlines charter operations. Goodwin acts solely in a B2B capacity, supporting aviation professionals with cutting-edge tools that enhance efficiency and scale their businesses. For more information about how Goodwin is reshaping the charter landscape, visit www.teamgoodwin.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

About flyExclusive

flyExclusive is a vertically integrated, FAA-certificated air carrier providing private jet experiences through on-demand charter, Jet Club, and fractional ownership services. With one of the world's largest fleets of Cessna Citation aircraft, flyExclusive operates approximately 100 jets, ranging from light to large cabins. The company manages all aspects of the customer experience from its headquarters in Kinston, North Carolina, including aircraft maintenance, interior renovation, and avionics installation. To learn more, visit www.flyexclusive.com .

Media Contact:

Clara Armagast

[email protected]

SOURCE Goodwin
The growth of the hormonal contraceptives market is driven by rise in prevalence of unintended pregnancies, increase in awareness about family planning, and availability of advanced contraceptive options.

WILMINGTON, Del., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Hormonal Contraceptive Market by Product (Oral Contraceptive Pills, Injectable Birth Control, Emergency Contraceptive Pills, Vaginal Rings, Transdermal Patches, IUS and Implants), Hormone (Progestin Only Contraceptive, Combined Hormonal Contraceptive), Age Group (15 to 24 Years, 25 to 34 Years, 35 to 44 Years, and Above 44 Years), and End User (Hospitals, Household, Clinics): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2035". According to the report, the hormonal contraceptive market was valued at $17.3 billion in 2023, and is estimated to reach $26.6 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 3.6% from 2024 to 2035.

In addition, government initiatives promoting contraception and rise in preference for long-acting reversible contraceptives contribute to market expansion.

Request Sample of the Report on Global Hormonal Contraceptive Market 2035 - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/4574

Prime Determinants of Growth

The growth of the hormonal contraceptives market is driven by rise in prevalence of unintended pregnancies, increase in awareness of family planning, and government initiatives promoting contraceptive use. Advancements in contraceptive technologies, availability of various administration routes, and rise in acceptance of long-acting reversible contraceptives further contribute to market expansion. In addition, rise in participation of women in the workforce and the demand for convenient birth control options fuel the market growth.

Report Coverage & Details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20242035 Base Year 2023 Market Size in 2023 $17.3 Billion Market Size in 2035 $26.6 Billion CAGR 3.6 % No. of Pages in Report 353 Segments covered Product, Hormone, Age Group, End User, and Region Drivers Growing cases of unintended pregnancies Rise in awareness about reproductive health Favorable initiatives by government and private organizations Opportunity Technological advancements in the hormonal contraceptive industry Restraint Side effects and health risks

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The oral contraceptive pills segment held the largest market share in 2023

By product, the oral contraceptive pills segment held the largest market share in 2023, accounting for more than three-fifths of the hormonal contraceptives market revenue. This was attributed to high efficacy, ease of use, and widespread availability. Oral contraceptive pills offer a non-invasive and reversible method of contraception, making them a preferred choice among women seeking reliable birth control. Rise in awareness of family planning, coupled with government initiatives promoting contraceptive use, has further driven their adoption.

However, the IUS and implants segment is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 4.8% from 2024 to 2034. This is attributed to long-acting, reversible nature and high efficacy in preventing pregnancy. Unlike daily or short-term contraceptive methods, IUS and implants offer extended protection ranging from three to ten years, reducing the need for frequent user intervention and ensuring higher compliance.

The combined hormonal contraceptive segment held the largest market share in 2023

By hormone, the combined hormonal contraceptive segment accounted for the largest share in 2023, contributing to more than two-thirds of hormonal contraceptives market revenue, and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period, owing to its high effectiveness in preventing pregnancy. Furthermore, combined hormonal contraceptive are available in various forms such as oral pills, patches, and vaginal rings, offering flexibility to users. However, the progestin only contraceptive segment is expected to register highest CAGR of4.1% from 2023 to 2035. This is attributed to rise in demand for safer alternatives to combined hormonal contraceptives, particularly among women with contraindications to estrogen. Progestin-only options, including mini-pills, injectables, implants, and intrauterine systems (IUS), are preferred for individuals at risk of blood clots, hypertension, or other cardiovascular conditions.

The 15 to 24 years segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

By age group, the 15 to 24 years segment held the largest market share in 2023, accounting for more than two-fifths of the hormonal contraceptives market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status during the forecast period, generating a CAGR of 4% from 2024 to 2035. This is attributed to increasing awareness and acceptance of contraceptive methods among adolescents and young adults. Government initiatives, educational programs, and social campaigns have played a crucial role in promoting contraception use within this age group, particularly to prevent unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

The household segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

By end user, the household segment held the largest market share in 2023, accounting for more than half of the hormonal contraceptives market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status during the forecast period and is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 3.8% from 2024 to 2035. This is attributed to increasing preference for self-administered birth control methods, such as oral contraceptive pills, patches, and injectables, which offer convenience and privacy. Growing awareness about family planning, coupled with widespread availability of hormonal contraceptives through pharmacies and online platforms, has further fueled this trend.

North America to maintain its dominance by 2035

By region, North America held the largest market share in terms of revenue in 2023, accounting for almost two-fifths of the hormonal contraceptives market revenue and is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. This is attributed to its high consumer awareness and education on family planning, supported by proactive public health initiatives increase demand for these products.

However, Asia-Pacific is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 4.3% from 2024 to 2035. This is attributed to increasing awareness about family planning, rising government initiatives to promote contraceptive use, and a growing population of reproductive-age women. Countries such as India and China are implementing extensive family planning programs and subsidizing contraceptive methods to control population growth, thereby driving market expansion.

For Purchase Related Queries/Inquiry - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/4574

Leading Market Players: -

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Bayer Ag

Pfizer Inc.

Johnson And Johnson

Organon And Co.

Abbvie Inc.

Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Afaxys, Inc.

Mayne Pharma Group Limited

Pregna International Limited

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the hormonal contraceptives market. These players have adopted strategies such as clinical trials, collaboration, partnership, strategic alliance, investment, product launch, product approval, and agreement to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to highlight the competitive scenario.

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Get an access to the library of reports at any time from any device and anywhere. For more details, follow the link: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access

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Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domains. AMR offers its services across 11 industry verticals including Life Sciences, Consumer Goods, Materials & Chemicals, Construction & Manufacturing, Food & Beverages, Energy & Power, Semiconductor & Electronics, Automotive & Transportation, ICT & Media, Aerospace & Defense, and BFSI.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
AUSTIN, Texas, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IgniteTech and GFI Software , leaders in AI-driven software solutions, announced today that its CEO, Eric Vaughan , has been selected to deliver the closing keynote session on Day One of the upcoming CEO Summit: Building Winning Teams . The event is scheduled to take place April 1-2, 2025, at the Delta Flight Museum in Atlanta.

The CEO Summit, hosted by Chief Executive Group , brings together top industry leaders to share insights and strategies for cultivating exceptional teams that drive business success. This year's summit will open with keynote speaker Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, among other distinguished presenters, and Vaughan will close the first day.

Known as @TheGenAICEO , Vaughan was the founder and CEO of three enterprise software companies and is currently leading both IgniteTech and GFI Software through each company's transformative "AI-First" initiative, manifesting his deep belief in the power of AI to reshape the future. Vaughan's leadership has positioned IgniteTech at the forefront of AI-first enterprise software development with the mission to "Put Humans in Control of AI." At the CEO Summit, Vaughan will present "The Super-Agent Revolution: Why CEOsNot Tech LeadersMust Own the AI-Human Future." Known for making these sessions lively and engaging, the session will challenge the misconception that AI strategy can be delegated entirely to technical teams, especially when AI innovation is a key corporate strategy. Drawing from the latest research and IgniteTech and GFI's recent transformation, Vaughan will demonstrate why executive-led AI direction is critical for success in today's business landscape.

"For CEOs, understanding AI fundamentals has become as essential as understanding financial statements," said Vaughan. "Leaders who fully engage with their company's AI strategy while empowering their technical teams will gain significant competitive advantages."

"As AI becomes a strategic imperative for companies across all industries, Eric Vaughan is sounding the wake-up call for CEOs: you can't delegate this. His session at the CEO Summit will challenge and equip leaders to embrace AI at the highest levelwith a framework they can immediately apply to lead innovation with purpose," said Jamie Tassa, vice president of events, Chief Executive Group.

Executives attending the session will gain a practical framework for developing technical understanding without getting lost in details, leading effective AI transformation and increasing employee buy-in to drive innovation. Vaughan will also highlight what it takes to retain and recruit today's top talent to power tomorrow's AI future organization.

About IgniteTech

IgniteTech is a global, AI-first enterprise software company. With a track record of successful company and technology acquisitions with rapid innovation, IgniteTech's solutions power the world's businesses. Since retooling the company in 2024 to become an AI innovation organization, IgniteTech has created two new AI-powered innovations, including Eloquens AI and MyPersonas , along with a range of AI capabilities across its entire platform.

Media Contact:

For Media Inquiries: [email protected]

For Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Follow: LinkedIn / X

About GFI Software

GFI Software is a leading provider of AI-driven IT solutions for Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs), to manage the critical parts of their infrastructure. GFI's revolutionary platform, GFI AppManager , is an innovative, new solution bringing together "All Customers, All Products, on One Single Screen." GFI's AI innovations include new products such as GFI MailEssentials AI, GFI AppManager AI, and GFI RADAR AI. The newest AI-powered offering from GFI is Eloquens AI , a persona-based AI email response assistant that integrates directly with GFI KerioConnect. GFI Software products are available through thousands of dedicated partners worldwide.

For Media Inquiries: [email protected]

For Business Inquiries: [email protected]

Follow: LinkedIn / X

SOURCE Ignite Enterprise Software Solutions, Inc.
TSXV: ITR; NYSE American: ITRG

www.integraresources.com

VANCOUVER, BC, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Integra Resources Corp. ("Integra" or the "Company") (TSXV: ITR) (NYSE American: ITRG) is pleased to announce that Clifford Lafleur has been appointed to the position of Chief Operating Officer ("COO") and will join the Company in April 2025. The addition of Mr. Lafleur marks a significant milestone for Integra as the Company accelerates its transformation into a growth-focused precious metals producer in the Great Basin of the United States ("U.S.").

Mr. Lafleur is a seasoned mining engineer with more than 25 years of operational and executive experience and a successful track record of mine development, operations, and optimization. Most recently, Mr. Lafleur played a key role in the growth and success at SilverCrest Metals Inc. ("SilverCrest"), ultimately leading to the company's $1.7 billion sale to Coeur Mining, Inc. Mr. Lafleur joined SilverCrest in 2021 and served as Senior Vice President of Operations, overseeing the development, ramp-up, and operational success of the Las Chispas Mine in Mexico. Prior to joining SilverCrest, Mr. Lafleur served as Director of Mineral Resource Management and Mine Engineering at Torex Gold Resources ("Torex") for four years. Mr. Lafleur led technical teams in the generation of technical studies, including resources and reserves, life of mine planning, reconciliation, and strategic planning, while also setting professional standards for mine engineering and mine geology departments. In addition, Mr. Lafleur led the design and supported operations in the build of Torex's El Limon Guajes underground mine. Mr. Lafleur is a member of the Professional Engineers of Ontario and holds a Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering from Laurentian University.

Mr. Lafleur, incoming COO of Integra commented: "I am excited to be joining the talented Integra team at a unique inflection point for the Company. There are several catalysts on the horizon to add value and significant growth including optimization of the cash-flowing Florida Canyon Mine as well as technical studies, development and permitting milestones for DeLamar and Nevada North. It is an excellent time to be active in the prolific Great Basin area of the U.S. and I look forward to executing on the Company's strategy of optimization and project advancement to help grow Integra into a premier U.S. focused precious metals producer."

George Salamis, President, CEO and Director of Integra commented: "Integra's rapid growth, fueled by the recent acquisition of the Florida Canyon Mine, requires strong leadership and operational expertise. Cliff's hands-on mining experience and deep understanding of mine optimization will be critical in unlocking value at Florida Canyon while also driving disciplined development at DeLamar and Nevada North. Cliff's addition strengthens our ability to deliver sustained production, maximize efficiency, and ultimately generate shareholder returns. We are thrilled to welcome Cliff to the Integra team at this pivotal time for the Company."

As COO, Mr. Lafleur will play a vital role in shaping the next phase of growth for Integra, focusing on several key areas:

Technical Leadership: Together with the senior executive team and Integra board, lead all operational and technical decision making across Integra's portfolio spanning production, development, and exploration. Build a strong operational team and implement best practices to support the Company's strategy of becoming a leading U.S. focused precious metals producer.

Together with the senior executive team and Integra board, lead all operational and technical decision making across Integra's portfolio spanning production, development, and exploration. Build a strong operational team and implement best practices to support the Company's strategy of becoming a leading U.S. focused precious metals producer. Operational Execution at Florida Canyon : Working with the mine management team, drive performance at Florida Canyon through strategic mine optimization, cost discipline, operational efficiency, and production enhancements to ensure long-term sustainable cash flow generation.

: Working with the mine management team, drive performance at Florida Canyon through strategic mine optimization, cost discipline, operational efficiency, and production enhancements to ensure long-term sustainable cash flow generation. Maximize Value of Development Portfolio: Leveraging deep expertise in mine building and commissioning, spearhead technical efforts at DeLamar and Nevada North, leading the two development stage projects through advanced technical studies, development and construction. Immediately provide executive level oversight of the ongoing Feasibility Study for DeLamar, which is expected to be completed mid-2025.

Leveraging deep expertise in mine building and commissioning, spearhead technical efforts at DeLamar and Nevada North, leading the two development stage projects through advanced technical studies, development and construction. Immediately provide executive level oversight of the ongoing Feasibility Study for DeLamar, which is expected to be completed mid-2025. Strategic Capital Allocation: Ensure that cash flow generated from Florida Canyon is strategically deployed to maximize shareholder value across Integra's portfolio, back into the mining operation itself as well as development activities, and ongoing growth initiatives.

The Company plans to release its formal 2025 operating and cost guidance mid-2025, allowing Mr. Lafleur time to onboard and familiarize himself with the Florida Canyon site and operations team, and properly assess the ongoing mine optimization studies.

About Integra Resources

Integra is a growing precious metals producer in the Great Basin of the Western United States. Integra is focused on demonstrating profitability and operational excellence at its principal operating asset, the Florida Canyon Mine, located in Nevada. In addition, Integra is committed to advancing its flagship development-stage heap leach projects: the past producing DeLamar Project located in southwestern Idaho and the Nevada North Project located in western Nevada. Integra creates sustainable value for shareholders, stakeholders, and local communities through successful mining operations, efficient project development, disciplined capital allocation, and strategic M&A, while upholding the highest industry standards for environmental, social, and governance practices.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

George Salamis

President, CEO and Director

Forward Looking and Other Cautionary Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release contains "forwardlooking statements" and "forwardlooking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and applicable United States securities laws (referred to herein as forwardlooking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained herein constitutes forwardlooking statements which includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: the anticipated benefits of the appointment of the COO; the timing of 2025 operating and cost guidance; the timing of the feasibility study for the DeLamar Project; the future financial or operating performance of the Company and the Company's mineral properties and project portfolio; the results from work performed to date; the estimation of mineral resources and reserves; the realization of mineral resource and reserve estimates; the development, operational and economic results of technical reports on mineral properties referenced herein; magnitude or quality of mineral deposits; the anticipated advancement of the Company' mineral properties and project portfolios; exploration expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits; underground exploration potential; costs and timing of future exploration; the completion and timing of future development studies; estimates of metallurgical recovery rates; exploration prospects of mineral properties; requirements for additional capital; the future price of metals; government regulation of mining operations; environmental risks; the timing and possible outcome of pending regulatory matters; the realization of the expected economics of mineral properties; future growth potential of mineral properties; and future development plans.

Forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "could", "would", "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "budget", "scheduled", "plans", "planned", "forecasts", "goals" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of factors and assumptions and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements. Readers are advised to study and consider risk factors disclosed in Integra's annual report on Form 20-F dated March 28, 2024 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and Florida Canyon Gold Inc.'s listing application on TSX Venture Exchange Form 2B, each of which are available on the respective SEDAR+ issuer profiles for the Company and Florida Canyon Gold Inc. available at www.sedarplus.ca.

There can be no assurance that forwardlooking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forwardlooking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are presented for the purposes of assisting investors in understanding the Company's plans, objectives and goals, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forwardlooking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release

SOURCE Integra Resources Corp.
FREDERICK, Md., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- InventWood has been awarded on TIME's list of America's Top GreenTech Companies 2025. This prestigious award is presented by TIME and Statista Inc., the leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The award list was announced on March 25th, 2025, and can be viewed on TIME's website.

Statista gathered and scrutinized data from over 4,300 companies, and awarded the top 250 based on three evaluation criteria:

Positive environmental impact: The scoring is based on impact data such as the quality and impact of their product/service portfolio, as well as the expertise of their leadership team provided by HolonIQ

The scoring is based on impact data such as the quality and impact of their product/service portfolio, as well as the expertise of their leadership team provided by HolonIQ Financial strength: The scoring is based on the analysis of financial data points e.g., revenue, employee or funding information

The scoring is based on the analysis of financial data points e.g., revenue, employee or funding information Innovation drive: The scoring is based on the Patent Asset Index featured in LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions

In support of the research, Statista gathered data from company applications, annual reports, media monitoring, and other public sources. Additionally, Statista worked with specialized data partners HolonIQ and LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions to further strengthen the data quality.

Based on the study results, InventWood is honored to be recognized on TIME's list of America's Top GreenTech Companies 2025.

Statista publishes hundreds of worldwide industry rankings and company listings with high-profile media partners. This research and analysis service is based on the success of statista.com, the leading data and business intelligence portal that provides statistics, relevant business data, and various market and consumer studies and surveys.

About InventWood

InventWood transforms nature's oldest building materials into something extraordinary. With the launch of SUPERWOOD, we've reinvented wood itself, delivering a building material that's superstrong, superdurable, and engineered to outperform conventional alternatives. Our technology simplifies the creation of beautiful, biogenic buildings using domestically sourced wood, directly supporting the health and longevity of our forests. SUPERWOOD's nano-cellulose-based innovation retains the natural beauty of wood while providing unmatched performance and sustainability. InventWood has received significant recognition and support, including a $20 million SCALEUP award from the U.S. Department of Energy in 2022, as well as funding from prominent organizations and foundations. Our technology helps realize the potential of beautiful, biogenic buildings, accelerating a future where sustainability, innovation, and natural beauty coexist seamlessly.

SOURCE InventWood Inc.
BANGALORE, India, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- izmo Microsystems, a division of izmo, Inc parent - izmo Ltd. (NSE: IZMO) is proud to announce its role as the exclusive industry partner with IIT Madras in a groundbreaking project at the Centre for Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuits and Systems (CPPICS), Center of Excellence (CoE), led by Prof. Bijoy Das.

The CoE-CPPICS has been established on 1st January 2021 in the Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras with a substantial seed funding of Rs. 2,665 Lakhs from the MeitY, Govt. of India and in-kind contribution of Rs. 325 Lakhs from the izmo Microsystems Bengaluru. This recognition and funding has been possible because of 14 years (since 2006) of R&D work by the Integrated Optoelectronic Research Group led by Prof. Bijoy Krishna Das in the area of silicon photonics technology.

izmo Microsystems partners with IIT Madras to advance SiP solutions for programmable photonic chip packaging. Post this

The partnership focuses on the design, development, and advanced packaging of programmable photonic processor core using Silicon Photonics Technology, a pioneering step in the evolution of photonic computing and communication. The immediate aim of the centre is to provide better solutions for microwave and quantum photonics applications.

Prof. Bijoy Krishna Das mentioned "izmo Microsystems has been a key partner in advancing photonic chip packaging for CPPICS R&D program at IIT Madras. Their expertise in System-in-Package (SiP) solutions has played a vital role in scaling our chip-scale microwave and quantum photonics applications. As the CPPICS team develop large-scale multipurpose programmable photonic processor, we are jointly committed to innovate energy-efficient system-in-package solutions for ever increasing silicon photonics market"

As part of this collaboration, izmo Microsystems is further leveraging its expertise in System-in-Package (SiP) solutions to provide a state-of-the-art packaging solution for the photonic chip, covering design, fabrication, and testing. This initiative aligns with India's growing focus on semiconductor and photonics innovation, positioning the country at the forefront of next generation computing technologies.

"We are honored to collaborate with IIT Madras on this ambitious project," said Dinanath Soni, Head of izmo Microsystems Division of izmo Ltd. "The development of the programmable photonic chip marks a significant leap in photonic integration, and izmo Microsystems is committed to providing cutting-edge SiP packaging solutions to ensure its success. This partnership underscores our dedication to driving silicon photonics and semiconductor advancements, enabling high-performance, scalable solutions for future applications."

Global Market for Silicon Photonics

The global silicon photonics market is experiencing explosive growth, projected to reach $4.6 billion by 2027 with a compound annual growth rate exceeding 23%. This surge is driven primarily by the increasing demand for high-speed data transmission in data centers and cloud computing infrastructure, where traditional copper interconnects face fundamental limitations. Major technology companies and telecommunications providers are heavily investing in silicon photonics to address bandwidth bottlenecks and energy efficiency challenges. The Asia-Pacific region, particularly India and China, is emerging as a significant growth area for silicon photonics manufacturing and implementation, complementing established markets in North America and Europe. Industry analysts predict silicon photonics will become an essential technology for next-generation computing architectures, including AI accelerators, neuromorphic computing systems, and quantum computers, further expanding market opportunities.

Applications of Silicon Photonics

Silicon photonics technology is revolutionizing a wide range of industries by enabling faster data transmission, lower power consumption, and miniaturization of optical components. Key applications include:

High-speed data centers and telecommunications, where photonic chips enhance optical interconnects for greater bandwidth and lower latency.

AI and machine learning, leveraging silicon photonics for optical computing to accelerate deep learning and neural networks.

Quantum computing, where photonic integration plays a critical role in quantum communication and secure data processing.

Biomedical imaging and sensing, enabling more precise optical diagnostics and high-resolution imaging for healthcare.

Industry Leadership in Photonic Packaging

izmo Microsystems brings specialized expertise in high-precision photonic chip packaging, integrating active auto-alignment, advanced optical imaging, and detector systems with custom substrate and package design. Their solutions include fiber-in and fiber-out architectures, high-speed RF integration, and precision positioning technologies, ensuring superior performance for next-generation communication, AI, and quantum computing applications.

About izmo Microsystems

izmo Microsystems is a leading provider of System-in-Package (SiP) solutions for advanced semiconductor and photonic applications. The company specializes in high-precision chip packaging, photonic integration, and microelectronics assembly, serving industries such as telecommunications, AI, quantum computing, and high-speed networking. For more information, visit www.izmomicro.com

Media Contact

izmo, Inc Marcom

[email protected]

SOURCE izmo inc.
NEW YORK and BETHESDA, Md., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- JFK Millennium Partners (JMP), the company selected by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) to build and operate John F. Kennedy International Airport's new world-class Terminal 6 (T6), today announced a partnership with K2 Security Screening Group (K2 SSG) to procure, install and deploy a state-of-the-art security screening checkpoint at the future 10-gate terminal. K2 SSG, an industry-leading airport security screening systems specialist, will work closely with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), PANYNJ and T6's security technology providers Analogic, Rohde & Schwarz, CEIA, and Leidos, to maximize the checkpoint's safety and efficiency, facilitating a seamless passenger experience.

"Our future T6 security checkpoint will utilize the latest technologies to expedite passengers through the checkpoint." Post this The JFK T6 checkpoint will feature Credential Authentication Technology 2 (CAT2), which will provide automated identity verification. The system scans the traveler's ID and compares it to their in-person real-time photo, allowing them to proceed to security screening without exchanging a boarding pass.

Terminal 6 is a key component of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's $19 billion transformation of JFK International Airport into a world-class gateway, with two new terminals, two expanded and modernized terminals, a new ground transportation center, and an entirely new, simplified roadway network.

The future JFK T6 security checkpoint will use advanced screening technologies to streamline passenger flow while providing the highest security standards. It will feature Computed Tomography (CT) X-ray screening that produces high-quality 3-D images, allowing passengers to keep laptops in their bags while reducing the need for manual bag checks. Automated bin return systems will facilitate the movement of passenger carry-ons, while enhanced Advanced Imaging Technology (eAIT) will be able to detect both metallic and non-metallic objects concealed in layers of clothing or on the body in the span of 1.5 seconds  considerably faster than previous technologies.

The new checkpoint will also feature Credential Authentication Technology 2 (CAT2), which will provide automated identity verification to validate the authenticity of a passenger's identification credentials and identify individuals who may require additional screening. The system scans the traveler's ID and compares it to their in-person real-time photo, allowing them to proceed to security screening without exchanging a boarding pass. These state-of-the-art security screening systems will not only enhance T6's security effectiveness but will also improve the efficiency of the entire operation.

"Security screening plays an essential role in keeping our passengers safe and our airports secure  however it can also be one of the more stressful parts of the passenger journey," said Steve Thody, CEO, JFK Millennium Partners. "Working closely with the TSA, our future T6 security checkpoint will utilize the latest screening technologies provided by K2 and its partners to expedite T6 passengers through the checkpoint, ultimately providing a significantly improved guest experience while enhancing security in parallel."

"We are honored to be chosen by JFK Millenium Partners to work on this transformative project that will enhance the passenger experience at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The new Terminal 6 security checkpoint will be equipped with state-of-the-art screening technologies, designed to improve efficiency, accuracy, and safety," said Steve Karoly, Executive Vice President, K2 Security Screening Group. "The checkpoint will significantly reduce wait times while maintaining the highest security standards. We're proud to play a role in shaping the future of air travel at JFK."

About JFK Terminal 6

Currently under construction at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Terminal 6 is being developed in two phases, with the first six gates opening in 2026 and construction completion expected by 2028. Terminal 6 features include:

10 gates, of which nine will accommodate widebody aircraft

State-of-the-art automated baggage system, customs/border control facilities, and the latest TSA screening technologies

One of the longest departures curbs at JFK, with airline-branded passenger drop-off zones

Multiple airline lounges, in addition to a new arrivals lounge

A new ground transportation center

A curated collection of New York City -inspired artwork featuring local and international artists, curated by the Public Art Fund in partnership with JMP and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey

-inspired artwork featuring local and international artists, curated by the Public Art Fund in partnership with JMP and the Port Authority of & Sustainably-sourced building materials, rooftop solar power, and energy efficient systems and operating practices throughout the terminal

Sustainability certifications for LEED (silver or gold), Envision and SITES underway

About JFK Millennium Partners

Terminal 6 is an award-winning public-private partnership between the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and JFK Millennium Partners  a consortium that is led by Vantage Group, an industry leading investor, developer and manager of award-winning global airport projects, including LaGuardia Airport's Terminal B; American Triple I, a certified minority-owned investor, owner, developer and manager of infrastructure assets; RXR, an innovative New York real estate investor and developer; and JetBlue Airways, New York's hometown airline. When complete, Terminal 6 will connect seamlessly with Terminal 5 to create an anchor terminal on JFK International Airport's north side. For more information, visit https://www.anewjfk.com/jmp-terminal6/ or follow us on LinkedIn for important T6 updates.

About K2 Security Screening Group

Bethesda, Maryland-based K2 Security Screening Group is a national leader in the planning, management, installation, and integration of airport passenger and checked baggage security screening systems. K2 has provided services at 92% of all TSA-regulated airports in the United States, and team with partners across the aviation industry. Those partners include general contractors and construction companies, original equipment manufacturers, logistics experts, and transportation specialists. The Security Screening Group is a TSA-approved systems integrator (SI) and is the only SI that specializes in non-TSA directed work, emerging technologies, and difficult equipment deployments. K2 is also the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) industry partner for the design, construction, and deployment of Radiation Portal Monitors (RPMs) at ports of entry across the U.S. Follow K2 on LinkedIn for company news and announcements.

SOURCE JFK Millennium Partners
Industry Leaders to Leverage Complementary Expertise and Industry-Leading Capabilities, Develop New Manufacturing Facility in Gujarat Region

LONGUEUIL, QC and MUMBAI, India, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Knowlton Development Corporation Inc ("kdc/one"), a global leader in custom formulation, packing design and manufacturing solutions for many of the world's leading beauty, personal care and home care brands, and the Clarion Group ("Clarion"), a premier contract manufacturer of beauty, personal, home care and food products and decorative tin packaging, today announced a new strategic joint venture in India.

The agreement will establish kdc/one Clarion Beauty Pvt Ltd to support the growth of beauty and personal care brand owners in the rapidly emerging Indian market by offering best-in-class and cost-effective solutions in beauty packaging manufacturing and formulation innovation designed to enhance the customer experience. The agreement was signed by Sandra Wisniewski, Global President Beauty & Personal Care at kdc/one and K N Lakshmanan, Chairman of the Clarion Group, in Chennai, India.

The joint venture brings together more than 65 years of experience and the combined strengths of both companies, including manufacturing and engineering capabilities, local knowledge of the Indian marketplace, global credentials, cutting-edge R&D and innovation capabilities and expertise in injection moulding and metallization. The partnership will cover both packaging manufacturing for colour cosmetics, skincare and personal care, as well as leverage both Clarion local market formulation requirements and kdc/one's global formulation and innovation expertise in India.

Over the next 12 months the partnership will develop and build a brand-new manufacturing facility in the Gujarat region of India to produce injection molded and metallized beauty packaging.

"We are delighted to join forces with Clarion Group and combine our individual and collective strengths to enable brand owners to grow their global business in the fast-developing Indian marketplace," said Sandra Wisniewski, Global President of Beauty and Personal Care at kdc/one. "We look forward to bringing the bespoke packaging design, quality and development credentials of both kdc/one and HCT, and benefitting from Clarion's significant track record in India, highly strategic personal care manufacturing footprint and deeply experienced local management team."

"Our two companies not only have complementary manufacturing, formulation and packaging strengths in the beauty and personal care products sector, but we also share a commitment to providing the highest level of innovation, quality, service, agility and regulatory compliance," said K N Lakshmanan, Chairman of the Clarion Group. "We are excited by the huge potential of this joint venture and believe that together, we will be the partner of choice for brand owners, and I believe the dream for brand owners, whether they are already operating in the Indian market or looking to enter the region, we aim to help bring their vision to life."

Notes to editor:

About kdc/one

Headquartered in Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, kdc/one is a trusted global provider of value-added solutions to many of the world's leading brands in the beauty, personal care, and home care categories. The company partners closely with both industry-leading consumer products companies and fast-growing independent brands in the ideation, formulation, design, packaging, and manufacturing of products. The innovative products that kdc/one has helped to develop are sold by its brand partners in more than 70 countries worldwide.

About Clarion Group

Headquartered in Mumbai, India, Clarion is one of the largest Contract Manufacturers of Personal Care and Home care products in India. Clarion also offers Private Label Manufacturing facilities and exports its products to USA, Europe and Middle Eastern countries. The footprint of the Clarion Group covers verticals as diverse as beauty, food, tin packaging and training. The full involvement of the company in delivering the best, without compromise, shines through in each of these ventures.

For further press information, please contact:

Natalie Reed, Chief Financial Officer kdc/one

Phone (914) 473-0687

[email protected]

kdc-one.com

SOURCE KDC/ONE; Clarion Group
Local entrepreneur now operating three Academy locations in New York

QUEENS, N.Y., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Emily Zaghi, owner of Kiddie Academy of Floral Park, is the new owner and operator of Kiddie Academy of Whitestone and Kiddie Academy of Flushing, having acquired the franchise locations in October 2024 upon the previous owner's retirement. Zaghi is now a multi-unit owner, focused on customizing each Academy to meet the needs of its respective community.

Kiddie Academy of Whitestone is a three-level facility with a spacious indoor play space located at 705 152nd Street. Kiddie Academy of Flushing is housed in a well-maintained building just over 10 years old located at 33-25 Parsons Boulevard.

"I truly believe in the importance of having high-quality educational child care available to all working families, which was why I purchased Kiddie Academy of Floral Park in 2023," said Zaghi. "When the opportunity presented itself to become a multi-unit Kiddie Academy owner, I jumped at the chance to expand our impact."

Zaghi is the mother of three daughters, the youngest of whom attends Kiddie Academy, and is also a certified public accountant (CPA) who previously worked in asset management tax. Her passion for childhood development combined with her business savvy led her to discover a career in early childhood education franchise ownership. As a native New Yorker, it's important to Zaghi to work with the New York City Department of Education and local school districts to facilitate and offer before- and after-school care as well as accepting vouchers for some children attending her Kiddie Academy locations.

"Having been born and raised in Great Neck, I know Long Island and Queens well and am enthusiastic about being involved with and giving back to these communities," added Zaghi.

Kiddie Academy of Whitestone is a three-level facility with a spacious indoor play space located at 705 152nd Street. Kiddie Academy of Flushing is housed in a well-maintained building just over 10 years old located at 33-25 Parsons Boulevard. Along with Kiddie Academy of Floral Park, located at 339 Jericho Turnpike, Zaghi serves a combined 600 children and employs 155 educators.

For more information, visit kiddieacademy.com .

About Kiddie Academy

Since its inception in 1981, the Kiddie Academy system has been recognized as a leading brand in educational child care. The company serves families and their children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old, offering full- and part-time care, before- and after-school care, and summer camp programs, through the Kiddie Academy system. Kiddie Academy's proprietary Life Essentials Curriculum, supporting programs, methods, activities, and techniques help prepare children for life. The company's philanthropic efforts, including support of national nonprofit Family Promise, take character education lessons learned in the classroom beyond Academy walls. Kiddie Academy Domestic Franchising, LLC has also received corporate accreditation from the globally recognized Cognia accreditation system, signifying its commitment to quality education and the highest standards in child care. For more information, visit kiddieacademy.com or find Kiddie Academy on Facebook at Facebook.com/KiddieAcademy .

About Kiddie Academy Domestic Franchising, LLC

Kiddie Academy Domestic Franchising, LLC is based in Maryland. There are currently more than 340 open Academies in the Kiddie Academy system, located in 40 states and the District of Columbia, serving more than 38,000 children. Each franchised location in the Kiddie Academy system is an independently owned and operated business. For more information, visit franchising.kiddieacademy.com .

Media Contact:

Taylor Castillejo, APR

Tombras

[email protected]

865.257.0026

SOURCE Kiddie Academy
GAINESVILLE, Fla., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- King Risk Partners, a major insurance broker in the United States, proudly announces its acquisition of Ricky Credille Insurance, a respected agency who specializes in Medicare, Health and Life insurance, located in Belmont and Tupelo, Mississippi. This acquisition enhances the organization by adding unique depth of expertise in these verticals.

King Risk Partners

Ricky Credille Insurance, based in Belmont and Tupelo, Mississippi, has built a stellar reputation over the past 25 years as the most trusted name in Health insurance. As a family-owned independent insurance agency, they previously focused on clients throughout the Southeast region including Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

"We are delighted to welcome Ricky Credille Insurance to the King Risk Partners family," said Malcolm King, CEO of King Risk Partners. "Their outstanding reputation, deep subject expertise, and strong client relationships align seamlessly with our strategy of growth through partnerships with well-established agencies. This acquisition not only expands our presence into Mississippi but also bolsters our ability to deliver exceptional Medicare, health and Life insurance services to our clients."

"We are thrilled to partner with King Risk Partners," echoed Jeff and Randy Credille, Principals of Ricky Credille Insurance. "Our commitment to outstanding customer service has always been at the heart of what we do. This partnership allows us to enhance our personal and business insurance offerings while maintaining the high standards of quality and client satisfaction that our customers trust."

About King Risk Partners

King Risk Partners is a leader in the insurance industry, offering a wide range of insurance products and services designed to meet the diverse needs of its clientele. Known for its integrity, professionalism, and commitment to customer satisfaction, King Risk Partners continues to be a top choice for clients seeking reliable and comprehensive insurance solutions. Learn more at www.king-insurance.com .

For additional information, please contact:

King Risk Partners

[email protected]

SOURCE King Risk Partners
67 Percent of Adults In The United States Have Vision Care Coverage, U.S. Eligibility Verification for All Major National Vision Plans

VANCOUVER, BC, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Kits Eyecare Ltd. (TSX: KITS) ("KITS" or the "Company"), a leading vertically integrated eyecare provider, today announces the launch of integrated vision care insurance support for customers in the United States. This new functionality enables eligibility and benefits verification for all major U.S. vision insurance providers, offering millions of Americans a streamlined and simplified process to file claims electronically in minutes, now available on KITS.com .

In the United States, 67% of adults representing over 174 million people, have some form of managed vision care coverage1. However, accessing and applying these benefits has historically been complex and time-consuming.

KITS is solving that challenge with a seamless online vision insurance experience. With this launch, patients can verify their vision plan eligibility with leading U.S. providers, including VSP, Eyemed, Superior, Versant, and others, and digitally submit reimbursement claims with a single click.

No more paperwork. No more waiting. Just a clear path to using your benefits online. KITS makes insurance easy.

KITS continues to expand access to vision care and deliver best-in-class customer experiences through innovation, vertically integrated operations, and a mission to make eyecare easy. Additional partners coming soon.

About KITS

KITS makes eyecare easy. KITS is a leading vertically integrated digital eyecare brand providing eyewear for eyes everywhere. We offer customers access to a vast selection of contact lenses and eyeglasses, including our own exclusive KITS designed products, as well as a robust suite of online vision tools. Our efficient digital platform, backed by our industry-leading manufacturing and designs, removes intermediaries, and enables us to offer great prices and deliver made to order personalized products with incredible care and accuracy. We are creating disruption in the industry by constantly pursuing cutting-edge technologies to enable the best customer experience, including online eyewear fitting tools, and virtual try-on for glasses. We strive to delight our customers with our competitive prices, a convenient digital shopping experience, fast and reliable delivery options, and an unrelenting focus on earning our customers' lifelong trust. For more information on KITS, visit: www.kits.com .

_____________________________ 1 Market inSights 2024 - The Vision Council inSights

SOURCE KITS Eyecare Ltd.
MIAMI and NEW YORK, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lafayette Square announced today that it has provided debt capital to support New York-based investment firm Pacific General's recent acquisition of a majority stake in Lenwich Holdings, LLC ("Lenwich"), the iconic premium sandwich brand that has been a staple in New York City since 1989.

Lenwich is a highly reputable sandwich concept with 14 corporate-owned stores across Manhattan, New York. Lenwich is known for its fresh, high quality, made-to-order sandwiches and wraps, as well as its wide selection of other items such as salads and breakfast. The Company was founded by first generation Korean American brothers, Lenny and Brian Chu, and was initially known as "Lenny's" before rebranding to Lenwich to reflect its flagship sandwich offering.

Through its investment, Pacific General aims to accelerate the restaurant's expansion beyond its home market in New York City. The capital will be used to fund investments in technology, digital transformation, professional leadership, and franchise development.

"Supporting Pacific General's partnership with Lenwich is aligned with our mission to support growing businesses that are well-established fixtures in their communities," said Damien Dwin, Founder and CEO of Lafayette Square. "We have a deep conviction in the franchise restaurant business model, and its ability to generate ownership opportunities for new entrepreneurs and economic benefits for working-class people."

"Pacific General is pleased to partner with Lafayette Square on our investment in Lenwich," said Matthew Yoon, Managing Partner of Pacific General. "We appreciate the team's deep knowledge of this industry, the particular capital requirements needed to grow a national restaurant brand and the financing structure Lafayette provided to support the business plan."

"Lafayette Square shares many values with both Pacific General and Lenwich, including a dedication to teamwork and passion for growing businesses that sustain the communities around them," added Dajeong Lee, Partner of Pacific General.

In addition to financing, Lafayette Square offers its portfolio companies access to its affiliated Worker Solutions platform, which seeks to measurably improve employee retention, well-being, and productivity by connecting management teams to a curated list of third-party service providers that offer nontraditional benefits for their employees. By delivering these services, Worker Solutions aims to reduce operational risk, help businesses attract and retain talent, and improve job quality.

About Pacific General

Pacific General is an investment firm focusing on private equity and alternative investments. The firm specializes in originating, structuring, and investing in businesses with growth potential in the consumer, industrials and business services sectors, and leverages its cross-border expertise and global network to create value. The firm operates through offices in New York and Seoul, South Korea and with a presence in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

About Lenwich

Founded in 1989, Lenwich is a highly reputable, premium, New York-inspired sandwich concept with 14 corporate-owned stores across Manhattan. Lenwich serves fresh, made-to-order sandwiches, wraps and salads; best known for its Chicken Caesar Wrap and Lenwich sandwich (hot pastrami, corn beef and coleslaw).

About Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square invests in middle market companies while positively supporting people and communities. We believe the demand for capital in businesses headquartered outside of high- income places is an overlooked opportunity. We seek investment opportunities that stimulate economic growth across the United States through the creation and preservation of working- class jobs. For more information, please visit www.lafayettesquare.com.

Media Contact:

Jansel Murad

Dukas Linden Public Relations

646-722-6537

[email protected]

SOURCE Lafayette Square Holding Company
Findings disrupt traditional thinking of how leader to employee relationships impact engagement, retention, and profitability, as measured by new and innovative Net Connected Score

DALLAS, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A 2024 research study commissioned by Quantum Connections  has uncovered a powerful but often overlooked driver of business success: employee connection.

The study, conducted by global behavioral research leader, Sentient Decision Science , surveyed more than 12,000 employees across 49 industries and found that when employees feel seen and heard in their workplaceas measured by Quantum Connections' patent-pending Net Connected Score (NCS)both human and business outcomes improve dramatically.

At its core, NCS is calculated by using a simple yet powerful question: "On a scale of 1-10, how seen and heard do you feel by your direct supervisor?" This one question captures the primary motivator of behaviors that drive high-performing teamsthe fundamental need for human connection. The importance of measuring employees' feelings of connection (being seen and heard) becomes evident when we consider that, according to LinkedIn's latest Workforce Confidence Survey, seven in ten U.S. workers say they would leave a job if they had a bad manager.

"Our work has proven that the relationship between employees and their direct supervisors represents the crucial intersection where organizational success meets human need," said Dennis S. Holland, CEO of Quantum Connections. "The degree to which employees feel seen and heard by their immediate supervisor is directly correlated to the key performance indicators of employee engagement, retention, and profitability," added Holland.

Key Research Findings



The proprietary research reveals that a connected workforce has lower attrition rates, leading to years of additional employee tenure. Business performance follows, with increased profits. It turns out that the drivers of increased employee retention and company profitability are rooted in deeper employee engagement. Work environments where employees feel connected foster a workforce that actively contributes to company success.

When employees' feelings of being seen and heard increase, businesses see the following impact:

Increased Engagement: Employees are at least 55% more likely to contribute ideas, 44% more likely to admit mistakes without fear, and 39% more likely to take calculated risksall behaviors that drive innovation and team cohesion.

Employees are at least 55% more likely to contribute ideas, 44% more likely to admit mistakes without fear, and 39% more likely to take calculated risksall behaviors that drive innovation and team cohesion. Increased Retention: Employees are at least 31% less likely to think about leaving their employer once a week and are likely to stay with the employer an additional 9.5 months, at a minimumreducing the need for costly rehiring and retraining.

Employees are at least 31% less likely to think about leaving their employer once a week and are likely to stay with the employer an additional 9.5 months, at a minimumreducing the need for costly rehiring and retraining. Increased Profitability: Fully connected workforces experience 38.7% greater profitability than fully disconnected workforcesfueling sustained business growth and stability.

"The research shows that real change comes from transforming the fundamental way people are managed and connected at work," said Aaron Reid, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Sentient Decision Science. "Furthermore, this groundbreaking study demonstrates that the human connection component of NCS makes it superior in predicting business outcomes than existing employee satisfaction and engagement measures in use todaymaking it a game-changing metric for business leaders," added Reid.

The NCS findings arrive at a critical moment when businesses are struggling with high employee turnover and disengagement in the face of unprecedented challenges from managing global teams, balancing hybrid work models, and blending five generations of workers, among many other factors.

"This study represents more than the validation of a new measurement tool; it offers a practical roadmap for organizations seeking to build more connected and productive workplaces in today's complex business environment," concluded Holland. "Our research definitively shows that when we invest in fundamental human connectionparticularly between supervisors and their teamswe're not just addressing the global crisis of workplace detachment, we're unlocking the full potential of our people and our organizations."

To learn more about the Net Connected Score research and findings, visit www.quantumconnections.com/ncs.

About Quantum Connections

Quantum Connections Training LLC (dba Quantum Connections) is an employee connection and performance platform for HR and business leaders seeking to measurably improve employee engagement, retention, and profitability. Founded by renowned relationship experts and best-selling authors, Harville Hendrix, Ph.D., and Helen LaKelly Hunt, Ph.D., Quantum Connections is grounded in the neuro and quantum social sciences and equips leaders and employees with the dialogue skills needed to foster collaboration, creativity, and connection that leads to lasting behavioral transformation and measurable business performance improvement.

About Sentient Decision Science

Sentient Decision Science is a behavioral science-based research firm founded in 2007. Sentient is a global award-winning expert in consumer psychology and the emotional drivers of human behavior. Sentient technology has been translated into 40+ languages and has measured human cognitive and emotional response in over 145 countries globally.

SOURCE Quantum Connections LLC
The vessel, TX-10,000, originally built by Versabar and later sold to TCM, a Teichman Group affiliate, in 2020, was acquired by Xenos Marine in December 2024. Xenos Marine, a joint venture between Matt Fish and the Teichman Family, renamed the vessel to reflect its new ownership.

"The TX-10,000 is a true engineering marvel that performs ultra-heavy lifts safely and efficiently. After completing over 250 offshore platform installations and decommissioning projects, some of extraordinary note, it is known as one of the greatest heavy-lift vessels of all time," said Kevin Teichman, CEO of the Teichman Group.

The TX-10,000 is the largest heavy-lift vessel ever built in the United States. It is U.S.-flagged and Jones Act-compliant, enabling unrestricted operations in U.S. waters. Built in 2010, the vessel measures 297 feet long, 310 feet wide, and 250 feet tall, with a 166-foot-wide span between its pontoons.

The vessel's gantry system is rated for a 10,000-ton lifting capacity, though offshore operations are limited to 7,500 tons due to pontoon restrictions. Its propulsion system includes eight 1,000-horsepower thrustersfour per bargewith backup systems that provide a DP3 rating, allowing the vessel to maintain position within three feet in unlimited water depths. Additionally, the TX-10,000 features an eight-point anchoring system for shallow-water operations, two helidecks, and a control house situated on the port pontoon for unobstructed views of operations.

With 44 diesel engines ensuring complete redundancy, the TX-10,000 is a highly reliable asset for complex operations. It can also be equipped with two massive lifting claws: a single claw can lift 3,000 tons or two claws combined for 4,000 tons. These claws, the largest in the world, are capable of grabbing structures in depths up to 350 feet. Each claw measures 130 feet tall, opens to 180 feet wide, and weighs 1,000 tons each.

Its most notable achievement was its role in the largest wreck removal in U.S. history: T&T Salvage's dismantling of the M/V GOLDEN RAY, a 660-foot car carrier that capsized off St. Simons, Georgia, in 2019 with 4,300 vehicles onboard. Its role in the GOLDEN RAY operation cemented its place in history as one of the greatest heavy-lift vessels of all time.

Xenos principal Matt Fish has overseen all operational and logistical aspects of the vessel since its construction and played the same role for its predecessor, the VB-4000.

"Being involved with this incredible asset, as well as its smaller predecessor, has been a uniquely rewarding experience," said Fish. "As a former Marine Special Operations Operator, I understand the importance of preparation, problem-solving, and teamwork. These principles guide the Xenos Marine team as we push the boundaries of what's possible."

Following Sunday's ceremony, the TX-10,000 will return to its home base in Sabine Pass, Texas, to prepare for the upcoming decommissioning season.

About Xenos Marine

Xenos Marine, LLC is a partnership between Matt Fish, A U.S. Marine Veteran, and T&T Salvage, LLC., an international marine services company. Xenos Marine is a leading marine construction company specializing in offshore heavy-lift operations and complex maritime infrastructure projects. With a commitment to safety, innovation, and operational excellence, Xenos Marine provides turnkey solutions for energy, transportation, and maritime salvage sectors. The company proudly owns and operates the TX-10,000, a U.S. Jones Act-compliant heavy-lift vessel capable of handling the most demanding offshore lifting and installation tasks. From marine salvage to platform decommissioning, Xenos Marine delivers reliable, efficient services tailored to meet the unique challenges of heavy lifting in offshore marine environments.

SOURCE Xenos Marine
GILBERT, Ariz., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- After a highly successful pilot program in Arizona, Legacy EV is launching its groundbreaking EV Innovators Club nationwide, offering middle school educators an exciting, hands-on way to bring electric vehicle (EV) technology into their classrooms.

Designed for grades 5-9, the EV Innovators Club gives students the opportunity to design, build, and race their own electric go-karts, all while engaging in STEM and career and technical education (CTE)-aligned learning. Following overwhelming demand, only 100 schools will be selected for the first national rollout starting in June 2025, with a waitlist now open for additional schools.

The EV Innovators Club is a plug and play STEM program built by educators, for educators. Post this

A Turnkey STEM Solution for Future-Ready Classrooms

Legacy EV's plug-and-play program removes the barriers that often prevent schools from implementing cutting-edge STEM initiatives. With ready-to-teach lesson plans, hands-on teacher training, and a curriculum aligned with real-world EV industry standards, the EV Innovators Club makes it easy for educatorsregardless of prior engineering experienceto introduce electric vehicle technology, sustainable energy concepts, and problem-solving skills into their classrooms.

What Schools Get with the EV Innovators Club:

A fully immersive, project-based STEM experience students build functional EV go-karts from the ground up.

students build functional EV go-karts from the ground up. Comprehensive teacher support lesson plans, training, and resources designed for seamless classroom integration.

lesson plans, training, and resources designed for seamless classroom integration. Real-world career connections aligns with industry standards and future job pathways in sustainable energy and EV technology.

aligns with industry standards and future job pathways in sustainable energy and EV technology. Collaborative, engaging learningstudents develop teamwork, critical thinking, and leadership skills while solving real engineering challenges.

"The enthusiasm we saw from students and teachers in our Arizona pilot was incredible," said Mavrick Knoles, Co-Founder and President of Legacy EV. "Schools across the country have been asking for this kind of hands-on STEM program, and we're excited to make it a reality."

Built by Educators, for Educators

Legacy EV's leadership team includes former STEM teachers and Teach for America (TFA) alumni who understand the challenges of bringing new technology into the classroom. Mavrick Knoles, along with curriculum experts Tom Santilli and Baily Soto, designed the EV Innovators Club to be practical, engaging, and fully supported so that any schoolurban, rural, or suburbancan integrate EV education with confidence.

"The biggest challenge in introducing new STEM programs is making sure teachers feel equipped and supported," said Tom Santilli, Curriculum Developer for Legacy EV. "That's why we've designed the EV Innovators Club to be an all-in-one solutiongiving teachers the tools they need to bring hands-on EV learning to life from day one."

Limited Spots AvailableApply Now!

Due to high demand, only 100 schools will be selected for the first national rollout. Schools interested in bringing the EV Innovators Club to their classrooms can apply now or join the waitlist for future opportunities.

Learn more and join the waitlist here: Legacy EV Innovators Club

About Legacy EV

Legacy EV is the market leader in EV adoption, providing fully integrated EV systems, certified technician training, and EV design consultation. By offering innovative education programs like the EV Innovators Club, Legacy EV is empowering the next generation of engineers, technicians, and innovators to drive the future of electric transportation.

Press Contacts

Legacy EV

(602) 518-3233

[email protected]

SOURCE Legacy EV
LG Energy Solution to supply 981MWh of grid-scale ESS batteries from 2026 to 2027

The company to deliver first grid-scale ESS batteries manufactured at its Poland facility

SEOUL, South Korea, March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Energy Solution announced today that it has signed an agreement with PGE, Poland's largest energy sector company, to supply 981MWh of grid-scale ESS batteries between 2026 and 2027.

Both companies will collaborate to establish a battery energy storage facility in Zarnowiec, Poland. PGE plans to commence the project's commercial operation in 2027.

LG Energy Solution will also provide a turnkey solution encompassing containerized battery systems, Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) services with partners in Europe.

This project will feature the first grid-scale ESS batteries to be manufactured at LG Energy Solution's production facility in Poland. The company will supply high-capacity LFP[1] long-cell batteries with enhanced energy efficiency and safety, high energy density compared to conventional LFP solutions, and Liquid Cooling technology that optimizes performance and reliability.

"This project is one of the largest ESS initiatives led by LG Energy Solution in Europe," said Hyung Kim, Head of the ESS Battery Division at LG Energy Solution. "By launching LFP-based products designed specifically for the European market and leveraging our local production capabilities, we have maximized customer value."

He continued, "We are honored to support Poland's energy transition through this agreement. Moving forward, we will continue to provide optimal solutions for our customers and accelerate the expansion of our ESS business in Europe."

As a renowned state-owned company in Poland's energy sector, PGE supplies electricity to nearly six million households, businesses, and institutions across the country.

"We are excited to enter a new era of energy storage with the construction of our first large-scale battery energy storage facility in Zarnowiec," said Dariusz Marzec, President of the Management Board of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna. "Our partnership with LG Energy Solution marks a major milestone in our commitment to advancing Poland's clean energy transition, and we look forward to strengthening our collaboration to foster sustainable growth in the region."

By bolstering LG Energy Solution's position in future public tenders for European state-owned energy companies, this project is set to expand the company's footprint in the regional grid-scale ESS market. To nurture its ESS business, the company is leveraging its "Made in Europe" manufacturing capabilities to meet the demands of European customers and governments prioritizing locally produced solutions. This strategy also seeks to enhance market presence, unlock new business opportunities, and highlight the quality and competitiveness of locally produced products.

Meanwhile, as energy security concerns continue to rise across Europe, demand for renewable energy infrastructure and ESS solutions is growing rapidly. Additionally, advancements in AI are accelerating the expansion of data centers, further driving ESS demand.

About LG Energy Solution

LG Energy Solution (KRX: 373220), a split-off from LG Chem, is a leading global manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, mobility, IT, and energy storage systems. With 30 years of experience in revolutionary battery technology and extensive research and development (R&D), the company is the top battery-related patent holder in the world with over 69,600 patents. Its robust global network, which spans North America, Europe, and Asia, includes battery manufacturing facilities established through joint ventures with major automakers. Committed to building sustainable battery ecosystem, LG Energy Solution aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its value chain by 2050, while embodying the value of shared growth and promoting diverse and inclusive corporate culture. To learn more about LG Energy Solution's ideas and innovations, visit https://news.lgensol.com.
NEW ORLEANS, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lincoln Avenue Communities (LAC), a mission-driven acquirer and developer of affordable housing, hosted a grand reopening ceremony Thursday at Tivoli Place Apartments, marking the completion of an extensive $35 million rehabilitation of the historic property. Tivoli Place provides 163 units of affordable housing for seniors earning no more than 20-60% of the Area Media Income, and the property's 8 total 20% AMI units are set aside for Special Needs Households.

Lincoln Avenue Communities VP and Regional Project Partner David Garcia and New Orleans City Councilmember Oliver Thomas cut the ribbon at Tivoli Place Apartments, capping the developers $35 million historic rehabilitation of the century-old property.

Tivoli Place is LAC's first rehabilitation using Historic Tax Credits and its first in the state of Louisiana. LAC's investment of more than $35 million brought significant upgrades to the century-old building while preserving its historic structure and ensuring it remains designated senior affordable housing.

"Lincoln Avenue Communities is excited to celebrate the reopening of Tivoli Place Apartments," said David Garcia, LAC Vice President and Regional Project Partner. "This historic rehabilitation ensures access to high-quality affordable housing for seniors in New Orleans and provides residents with new resources and essential services."

Garcia was joined at the ceremony by representatives from the City of New Orleans and local organizations and businesses including Chase, Stonehenge, Huntington Bank, Finance New Orleans, the Louisiana Housing Corporation, Boston Financial, and Capital One.

"Capital One and Lincoln Avenue Communities have a successful track record of working together to help increase and preserve the supply of affordable housing  a factor in achieving greater economic success in New Orleans and beyond," said Dan Miller, Capital Officer for Community Finance at Capital One. "Through a financing package that included a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity investment and HUD loan, Lincoln Avenue Communities upgraded this historic building and ensured it provides an affordable place to live for years to come."

Improvements include new central heating and cooling, new plumbing, upgraded finishes, and raised ceiling heights in each unit. New community amenities include a media room, library, fitness center, dining room, bike storage, security upgrades, and health care exam room. LAC also improved the property's sustainability and resilience by installing new fixtures to reduce the property's water and power consumption as well as solar panels in the parking lots to offset electricity usage. Residents will have on-site access to preventive health care screenings, exercise classes, mentoring programs, transportation, disability counseling, and other social programs.

Built in 1917, Tivoli Place sits on historic St. Charles Avenue within the Warehouse District, which is part of the City's Inclusionary Housing Zone designated as a high-cost-of-living area. The neighborhood is home to landmarks including the former city hall, the world's oldest continually operating streetcar line, the Mississippi River and Caesar's Superdome.

About LAC: Lincoln Avenue Communities (LAC) is one of the nation's fastest-growing developers, investors, and operators of affordable and workforce housing, providing high-quality, sustainable homes for lower- and moderate-income individuals, seniors, and families nationwide. A subsidiary of Lincoln Avenue Capital, LAC is a mission-driven organization with a presence in 28 states and a portfolio of 170+ properties comprising 30,500+ units housing 80,000+ residents.

SOURCE Lincoln Avenue Communities
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is accepting the General Assemblys approach to $1.1 billion in tax relief in the revised state budget, mostly through one-time rebates, even though it doesnt include his proposals to use state income tax credits to offset the cost of local car tax payments by some Virginians or eliminate income from tips from taxation.

Youngkin also is accepting the assemblys provision of one-time bonuses to public employees  1.5% of pay for state and state-supported local employees, and $1,000 for teachers and other school staff.

However, the Republican governor rejected the Democrat-controlled legislatures requirements for him to send down a new budget in response to expected cuts in federal funding for the state or changes in federal tax law that significantly affect state revenues.

Instead, he proposed cutting about $300 million in spending from the budget that the assembly adopted on Feb. 22 and depositing the money into the states revenue reserve fund to hedge against major disruptions in federal spending in Virginia.

In a public presentation on Monday, Youngkin planned to outline some of his 205 amendments to the assembly budget and eight vetoes of budget language. He vetoed language that would require that Henrico County voters to approve a referendum to allow a historical horse racing gaming parlor in the county, which approved an off-track betting parlor more than 30 years ago.

In addition to his proposed revisions to the budget, Monday is Youngkins deadline to sign, amend or veto about 600 remaining bills legislators passed during the session.

Tax cuts received top billing in the governors budget review, as he touted an additional $1.1 billion in tax rebates and reductions on top of the $8 billion made during his term, primarily through one-time rebates and increases in the standard deduction that taxpayers may claim on their returns instead of itemizing their deductions.

Rebate checks in October

The budget includes one-time rebate checks, due in October, of $200 for individual taxpayers and $400 for couples filing jointly. It also includes increases in the standard deduction of $250 for individual taxpayers and $500 for couples who file jointly. The budget also would raise the refundable portion of the earned income tax credit for low-income working families from 15% to 20% of the federal credit. It also would extend the pass-through entity tax for noncorporate business entities to avoid a federal cap on deductions of state and local taxes.

Youngkin proposed to remove an assembly provision that would allow the higher standard deduction, refundable tax credit and pass-through entity tax to expire on Jan. 1, 2027, instead making them permanent in Virginias tax code.

He also vetoed language that would require him to submit a revised budget within 30 days of reductions in federal grants to the state of $100 million or more, and 20 days after the state tax department provides estimates of state revenue losses from changes in federal tax law that exceed that threshold.

Youngkin sprinkled spending cuts throughout his proposed amendments to provide an additional $300 million deposit in state reserve funds, bringing them to a combined total of about $5 billion to guard against a major drop in federal spending under Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress.

Spending cuts

Among those cuts was a reduction in education spending that would have entirely eliminated the recession-era state cap on funding for school support employees, although the governors cut still would raise state funding for those positions. The governor left intact $52.7 million that the assembly had included to pay for a special education add-on funding and increased state support for school construction and modernization by $50 million.

Youngkin challenged assembly Democrats by proposing to restore language they struck from the budget to:

Withhold state funding for law enforcement in localities that dont cooperate with federal enforcement of immigration laws required under executive order by President Donald Trump.

Provide state money for opportunity scholarships or vouchers to pay for private school expenses.

Additional money for state lab schools he has championed as alternatives to traditional public schools.

Withhold state money for any abortion services.

Capital projects

The governor also proposed changes in the budget for capital projects. He included approval of a new state park at Oak Hill, the Loudoun County estate of former President James Monroe, subject to review by the chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance committees and the secretary of finance. He required a similar review of potential relocation of Virginias government fleet management facility, which has operated on West Leigh Street in Richmond for 40 years.

Youngkin restored funding for an additional phase of the Center for Leadership and Ethics at Virginia Military Institute. The project had dropped out of the capital budget after the assembly used available money to allow Virginia Commonwealth University to acquire the former Altria research facility in downtown Richmond and pay for a new performing arts center at the University of Virginia.

The governor vowed to restore the VMI project after assembly Democrats threatened to reassess the schools state funding after its board of visitors voted not to renew the contract of Major Gen. Cedric Wins, the first Black superintendent in the institutes 186-year history.

Youngkin left in the budget a provision that the assembly included that will allow Richmond and other localities with historical horse racing facilities to keep all of the local tax proceeds. The localities currently send half to New Kent County as host of a track for live horse racing that is tied to the gaming parlors.

He also did not touch a provision that would allow Virginia Commonwealth University not to repay $56 million to the city of Richmond for pulling out of a new medical college building proposed in downtown Richmond.
The partnership makes LOKKER's privacy risk data available to Bitsight's cyber insurance customers for

both privacy risk analysis and suggested steps for remediation.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LOKKER , provider of online data privacy and compliance solutions for enterprises, and Bitsight , the global leader in cyber risk management, today announced a partnership to deliver privacy risks to cyber insurers. Through this partnership, LOKKER's privacy risk data will be available in Bitsight's cyber insurance platform, equipping underwriters with actionable insights to make informed policy decisions, as well as suggested remediation to help insured companies mitigate the identified privacy risks.

Cyber insurance claims from privacy breaches and fines are escalating and on pace to become a significant area of loss,on par with threats like ransomware attacks. As cyber insurers are responding to mounting losses, they are seeking insights for both privacy and cybersecurity risks. This partnership between LOKKER and Bitsight fills this critical gap in the market.

The partnership introduces LOKKER's Privacy Risk Assessment Report for insurers on the Bitsight cyber insurance platform. The report provides comprehensive visibility into insured companies' privacy risks according to seven risk categories. The risk analysis is based on hundreds of thousands of comparison scans to identify the risk of privacy breaches, lawsuits, regulatory fines, and other forms of unauthorized data sharing about which the insured companies may be unaware. In addition to providing better intelligence to underwriters, the reports can also be shared with key stakeholders, including brokers and insured companies, who can use the report's actionable advice and prescriptive mitigation strategies to help clients reduce privacy risks.

"The cybersecurity landscape is evolving, with privacy becoming a more central focus," said Chris Klinchik, Group Product Manager, Bitsight. "This shift reflects broader changes across the security industry, emphasizing the prevention of breaches and the protection of sensitive datawhether from legal sales to data brokers or illicit sharing on the dark web. Our customers were seeking a solution that could help them preserve their customers' data privacy, and our partnership with LOKKER will empower them to understand and proactively address risks so that they can more accurately manage their loss ratios related to privacy."

"Cyber privacy is increasingly one of the biggest data protection and compliance issues for companies," said Ian Cohen, CEO of LOKKER. "Almost all websites now necessarily rely on third-party software and functionality served from the edge. With that, the number of third parties that can access consumer data grows exponentially, and that requires different tools to analyze, monitor and control. In addition to the technological complexity of managing this data collection and sharing, we now have a patchwork of 19 different state laws to navigate. LOKKER nets this out into specific quantifiable risks and essential remediation steps."

The integration of LOKKER's Privacy Risk Assessment Reports is the first of several planned integrations within Bitsight's suite of solutions.

For more information, visit LOKKER's Bitsight support page.

About LOKKER

LOKKER (www.lokker.com) is a data privacy software company that stops unauthorized data collection and sharing on websites. LOKKER enables enterprises to operate their websites without running afoul of a rapidly evolving patchwork of data privacy laws and enforcement actions. LOKKER gives companies complete visibility and control over third-party cloud applications, website trackers and ad tech so they can protect their customer privacy in real time without jeopardizing website functionality.

LOKKER frequently helps companies facing legal actions despite best efforts. The existing tools, like asking consumers for consent, are not enough to control the supply chain in the ad tech ecosystem. LOKKER was built to help businesses avoid these privacy risks before they happen.

About Bitsight

Bitsight is a global cyber risk management leader transforming how organizations manage exposure, performance, and risk for themselves and their third parties. Companies rely on Bitsight to prioritize their cybersecurity investments, build greater trust within their ecosystem, and reduce their chances of financial loss. Built on over a decade of market-leading innovation, Bitsight's integrated solutions deliver value across enterprise security performance, digital supply chains, cyber insurance and data analysis. For more information, visit Bitsight.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.

SOURCE LOKKER
To help reach women across the country, Marshalls will debut dynamic new online content and bring the Marshalls Good Stuff Social Club to three new cities this year

FRAMINGHAM, Mass., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Marshalls (NYSE: TJX) today announces the expansion of the Marshalls Good Stuff Social Club to three new cities across the country and introduces engaging short-form video content to its online Tools & Resources Hub. Now in its third year, Marshalls remains dedicated to its mission of helping to close the access gap  the lack of access to tools, resources, and communities that help enable women to live the life they want, whatever that means to them.

The Marshalls Good Stuff Social Club is heading to Houston, Texas on Saturday, April 5th.

Following the success of the NYC, Atlanta, and Chicago events, the Marshalls Good Stuff Social Club is heading to Houston, Texas on Saturday, April 5th. The all-day inclusive event features programming designed to help women feel financially empowered, embrace self-worth, turn connection into valuable community and show up with confidence. Later in the year, Marshalls will bring intimate Social Clubs to Detroit and Phoenix, offering women in these communities access to local leaders and experts to help grow their networks.

Women everywhere will be able to access the expertise of the Social Club speakers like Vivian Tu, New York Times best-selling author and CEO & founder of the financial equity phenomenon, Your Rich BFF, and Keltie Knight, Emmy Award winning E! News co-host and host of the LadyGang podcast, by visiting the Tools & Resources Hub at MarshallsGoodStuffSocialClub.com. In addition to existing content from past Good Stuff Social Clubs, Marshalls will introduce newly curated modules on the hub, led by inspiring changemakers helping provide women nationwide with actionable insights to help them thrive in the most important areas of their life.

"As we celebrate the third year of the Good Stuff Social Club, we are deeply inspired by the incredible women we've met at our events over the past two years and are committed to providing impactful programming to help women access the good stuff in life," states Sonya Cosentini, Vice President, Brand Marketing, Marshalls. "By continually enhancing our programming  both in person and online  we hope to provide more women across the country with access to valuable tools, resources, and communities that support their success."

On Saturday April 5th from 9am - 6pm CT, the Marshalls Good Stuff Social Club will take over Reeves Art + Design (2415 Taft Street) in the Montrose neighborhood of Houston. Joining Marshalls will be longtime partners Vivian Tu, Keltie Knight, and Karen Blanchard, fashion stylist and influencer, as well as sessions with Deepica Mutyala, Houston-raised beauty entrepreneur, and Katya Echazarreta, electrical engineer and first Mexican-born woman to go to space, to name a few. In addition to an impactful day of powerful speakers, the Houston event will feature renowned local food, a chance for attendees to capture their headshots and personal color analysis from local women-owned businesses.

Visit MarshallsGoodStuffSocialClub.com to register to attend on Saturday, April 5th in Houston. Tickets are free of charge. All session sign-ups are on a first-come, first-serve basis as availability is limited:

Host: Keisha Nicole Houston -based radio host and Houston Texans' in-stadium emcee, Keisha Nicole, will host the day's activities, including participating in select sessions during moderated Q&As to foster an engaging conversation between session leaders and attendees.

Rewrite Your Financial Story with a "Rich Mindset" Vivian Tu , financial mastermind and CEO behind the Your Rich BFF brand, leads an interactive session where you'll learn how to rewire your mindset around wealth, uncover the financial principles key to a "rich mindset", and kickstart your journey to developing a more empowered relationship with money.

Harnessing Your Superpowers to Build a Personal or Professional Brand Join Keltie Knight , Emmy Award winning E! News co-host and host of the LadyGang podcast, for some real talk, personal stories, and practical strategies for building your personal and professional brand with intention. Get ready to elevate your brand and step fully into who you are  authentically and unapologetically.

The Pivot Playbook: Finding Joy in Life's Detours In this uplifting and inspiring workshop with radio and podcast host, TV personality, and author Tanya Rad , you'll learn how to embrace life's twists, reframe setbacks, and step confidently into new opportunities.

Mission: Mentorship  An Astronaut's Guide to Breaking Barriers & Propelling Upward Together Katya Echazarreta , the first Mexican-born woman in space, knows what it takes to navigate the world of STEM, overcome biases, & build a career that defies expectations. Being a woman in a male-dominated field comes with challenges and the right guidance isn't just helpful  it's mission-critical.

Power Dressing: Own Your Style, Own the Room Join fashion stylist and influencer, Karen Blanchard , and Houston -based content creator, Tolani Eweje , for an interactive session about mastering the art of power dressing. You'll walk away with practical tips to dress with purpose, presence, and personality.

Turning Passion into Profit: Building a Purpose-Driven Business Without Losing Your Spark In this fireside chat with renowned radio personality Keisha Nicole , Houston -raised beauty entrepreneur Deepica Mutyala will explore not just how to build a business that resonates but also how to determine if turning what you love into a livelihood is the right path for you.



Consumers around the U.S. can continue to access digital tools and resources and learn more about Marshalls' mission on MarshallsGoodStuffSocialClub.com. Details for the Detroit and Phoenix events will be announced later this year.

About Marshalls:

Marshalls is one of the nation's leading off-price family retailers with more than 1,200 stores spanning 48 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and online at Marshalls.com. Since opening its first store more than 60 years ago, the Marshalls name has become synonymous with off-price shopping. Marshalls shoppers can find an amazing selection of high-quality, on-trend, brand name and designer merchandise for women, beauty, accessories, footwear, home and more - all at amazing prices. For fashion tips, style alerts, and more, follow us @Marshalls on Instagram and TikTok. Visit Marshalls.com to shop online and locate your nearest store.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Marshalls
LOS ANGELES, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Since the invention of the printing press, publishing has slowly evolved. 1930s business models (hello, returns) still exist. Publishers mainly operate on the East Coast. The new, venture-funded publisher Meridia Books is turbo charging disruption in publishing.

Cover of Flight 47

Meridia Books just hosted a launch party in Los Angeles, where an elite group of executives, financiers, and authors gathered to celebrate the Meridia Books's launch. The party attracted Oscar-winning writers and producers, actors, development executives, musicians collaborators, as well as VC interest from Dubai-based KAOS Capital, Precision Global Capital and others  with a spectacular view of Los Angeles under an auspicious blood moon eclipse.

Meridia Books brings a capitalized library with a radical track record, including four writers with film deal adaptations, multiple celebrity writers and high-profile life-rights acquisitions, including two ripped from global headlines. Meridia has spent the last two years seeking out true stories and thrillers ripe for literary, film and television.

Meridia is a collaborative model with writers, providing a vehicle for rights sales, and opportunities for writer ownership in diverse deal structures that favor writers and creators.

Studios have already optioned projects, and books include the novel The Blackbird co-written with Thomas Ray (2024)a new title with filmmaker attachment from directors Jonathan and Josh Baker, known for their work on the film Kin (2018) starring Jack Reynor, Zoe Kravitz and Michael B Jordan.

Meridia Books has acquired 19 additional titles slated for release in the next 22 months, further expanding its impressive IP library, and is actively seeking new books, including material to develop with writers or subjects with remarkable stories. These upcoming works span various genres, from comedy and biography to science fiction and drama. They'll include a dirtbag noir from comedian Kirk Fox; an incredible true story about romance found in war; a sci-fi special ops action thriller; and a space espionage book about a spy on the run with a priceless severed head.

A preview of upcoming titles:

Flight 47

Flight 47 by Thomas Ray sets the stage for a thrilling debut. The story follows an aid worker who misses a flight out of Niger, only to uncover a chilling mysterythere's no record of the plane ever existing, and no one seems to remember it at all. This gripping mystery will captivate both readers and viewers, with its potential for adaptation into TV or film. Deadline recently announced that one of Ray's previous titles, Silencer, has been acquired by Paramount Pictures, with a script in development.

Buffalos

Buffalos by The Office alum and touring musician Creed Bratton with Nate Edmondson is a novel exploring the complex dynamics between the Cheyenne and Buffalo soldiers in 19th-century Nebraska. It follows a Buffalo soldier thrown into the world of Cheyennea foe that respects him more than his own Army. As an exciting fiction novel by one of TV's most clever entertainers, Buffalos will resonate with a wide audience and serve as a unique addition to the market's growing interest in historical dramas.

Glitter

Glitter by best-selling Serbian novelist Vladimir ukanovic brings a timely techno-thriller to the table. A clandestine artificial intelligence has infiltrated global infrastructure, its reach extending further than anyone imagined. The only way to stop it? The unthinkableshutting down the entire planet's power. Set against the backdrop of geopolitical conflict and rogue AI, the novel follows a brilliant engineer whose work on global electrical grids thrusts him into a conspiracy involving governments and tech visionaries.

Blackbird

From the Baker Brothers, this taught spy thriller takes place in modern Ukraine, following the adventures of a veteran spy and a young deaf boy.

Red Rovers

With a script in development, this sci-fi military action thriller is out to directors now. Meridia has acquired the title, to be co-published with NeoText and two sequels.

Soon, Meridia will reveal titles as well as major film and TV rights updates. Meridia is also set to release new titles from a number of other writers, with titles announced throughout 2025.

To Pre-Order Flight 47: https://meridiabooks.com/titles/flight-47/

For more information:

meridiabooks.com

instagram.com/meridiabooks

SOURCE Meridia Books
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR MARCH 26, 2025

Virtual Press Conference will launch the "You Have the Power to Save Lives" Campaign to Promote Naloxone

NEW YORK, March 25, 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 disproportionately high overdose deaths in Black communities. Supported by the 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, encouraging residents to take control of their health by getting and carrying naloxone. At the heart of the campaign is a new website  YouCanSaveLives.org  where people can find locations to obtain 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 take place on Zoom at 1:00 p.m. EST / 10:00 a.m. 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 the National Urban League (recorded)

(recorded) Keli McLoyd , Director of the Overdose Response Unit, City of Philadelphia

, Director of the Overdose Response Unit, 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 THE 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

Media Coverage:

Washington Informer Opinion Article

Radio interview with Tracie Gardner, Executive Director, National Black Harm Reduction Network

Video Message Marc Morial, President, National Urban League

SOURCE Vital Strategies
Keith Boyle, CEO of New Found Gold commented: "This initial mineral resource estimate marks a pivotal moment for the Company, as it represents the first evaluation of gold mineralization at Queensway. The completion of this key step allows us to advance the Project, first with the completion of a PEA in late Q2/25 and potentially on to pre-feasibility and feasibility. While the economic evaluation is advancing, exploration of our highly prospective landholdings will continue, with the ultimate objective of building a major new gold mine in central Newfoundland."

Melissa Render, President of New Found Gold commented: "Today's announcement validates our track record of systematic exploration leading to multiple discoveries at Queensway and supports that we are on the path to defining a significant gold deposit in a Tier 1 jurisdiction. The initial Mineral Resource estimate is located on a fraction of our highly prospective landholdings, and with ongoing exploration success we see excellent potential to grow the Project and unlock value both for shareholders and nearby communities."

The MRE can be viewed in 3D on the Company's website or using VRIFY at: https://vrify.com/decks/18488?auth=89abf465-7ef9-42cd-ac94-1f672dab0a21

_____________________________ 1 g/t Au = grams of gold per tonne

Initial MRE Overview:

The initial MRE (Table 1) was prepared by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. ("SLR") in accordance with the 2014 Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards and Canadian National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). SLR is independent of New Found Gold.

The following is the current Mineral Resource Estimate as at March 15, 2025 (the "Effective Date").

Table 1: MRE Summary (as at the Effective Date)

Zone Category Tonnage (Mt) Grade (g/t Au) Contained Metal (Moz Au) Open Pit Indicated 17.3 2.25 1.25 Inferred 9.0 1.24 0.36 Underground Indicated 0.8 5.76 0.14 Inferred 1.7 4.44 0.25 Total Indicated 18.0 2.40 1.39 Inferred 10.7 1.77 0.61

Notes: 1. CIM (2014) definitions were followed for Mineral Resources. 2. Mineral Resources are estimated using a long-term gold price of US$2,200 per ounce, and a US$/C$ exchange rate of US$1.00 = C$1.43. 3. Open pit Mineral Resources are estimated at a cut-off grade of 0.3 g/t Au and constrained by a preliminary optimized pit shell with a pit slope angle of 45, and bench height of 5 m. 4. RPEEE (as defined below) for underground Mineral Resources was demonstrated by constraining within reporting panels generated at a cut-off grade of 1.65 g/t Au, with heights (H) of 10 m, lengths (L) of 5 m and minimum widths of 1.8 m. 5. The optimized pit shell, underground reporting shapes, and cut-off grades were generated by assuming metallurgical recovery of 90%, standard treatment and refining charges, mining costs of C$5.0/t moved for open pit and C$120/t processed for underground, processing costs of C$20/t processed, and general and administrative costs of C$7.5/t processed. 6. Pierre Landry, P.Geo. of SLR, an independent Qualified Person who prepared the initial MRE is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic, marketing, political, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Resource estimate 7. Bulk density within the vein and halo mineralization domains is 2.7 t/m. 8. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. 9. Numbers may not add due to rounding.

Grade-Tonnage by Cut-off Grade:

Table 2a and 2b show the variation in tonnes and grades at various gold cut-off grades ("COG") within the resource pit shell. At a gold cut-off grade of 2 g/t and within the resource pit shell, the Indicated Mineral Resource blocks total 3,854 thousand tonnes (kt) at a grade of 7.16 g/t Au for 887 thousand ounces (koz) and the Inferred Mineral Resource blocks total 993 kt at a grade of 4.16 g/t Au for 133 koz. This represents 73% of the contained ounces in only 24% of the tonnage for the indicated category only.

The opportunity for high-grade starter pits will be investigated as part of the PEA.

Table 2a: Open Pit Indicated Grade-Tonnage Table (as at the Effective Date)

Indicated COG (g/t) Tonnage (kt) Au Grade (g/t) Au Metal (koz) 0.3 16,189 2.34 1,219 0.4 14,197 2.62 1,197 0.5 12,584 2.90 1,174 1.0 7,699 4.29 1,061 1.5 5,248 5.72 964 2.0 3,854 7.16 887

Table 2b: Open Pit Inferred Grade-Tonnage Table (as at the Effective Date)

Inferred COG (g/t) Tonnage (kt) Au Grade (g/t) Au Metal (koz) 0.3 8,280 1.21 323 0.4 7,103 1.36 310 0.5 6,130 1.50 296 1.0 3,068 2.29 226 1.5 1,709 3.14 173 2.0 993 4.16 133

The resource database was closed on November 1, 2024 and contains 3,214 holes drilled by New Found Gold and previous operators, for a total of 723,387 m of which 550,949 m have assay intervals.

and contains 3,214 holes drilled by New Found Gold and previous operators, for a total of of which have assay intervals. The MRE incorporates multiple high-grade zones, including the Keats and Iceberg zones which has consistently returned significant gold intercepts in drilling.

Open pit Indicated Mineral Resources are estimated to total 17.3 million dry metric tonnes (Mt) grading 2.25 g/t Au for 1.25 million ounces (Moz) of gold, and Inferred Mineral Resources are estimated to total 9 Mt grading 1.24 g/t for 0.36 Moz of gold (Table 1). The open pit MRE was reported within a preliminary optimized pit shell generated at a cut-off grade of 0.3 g/t Au.

Underground Indicated Mineral Resources are estimated to total 0.8 Mt grading 5.76 g/t Au for 0.14 Moz of gold, and Inferred Mineral Resources are estimated to total 1.7 Mt grading 4.44 g/t for 0.25 Moz of gold. Underground Mineral Resources are constrained within reporting panels generated at a cut-off grade of 1.65 g/t and a minimum mining width of 1.8 m .

. The MRE is divided into Appleton Fault Zone Core (" AFZ Core "), Appleton Fault Zone Peripheral (" AFZ Peripheral ") and JBP (Table 3), with 96% (by metal) of the Indicated Resource and 87% (by metal) of the Inferred Resource located within AFZ Core, for the total combined open pit and underground Mineral Resources.

"), Appleton Fault Zone Peripheral (" ") and JBP (Table 3), with 96% (by metal) of the Indicated Resource and 87% (by metal) of the Inferred Resource located within AFZ Core, for the total combined open pit and underground Mineral Resources. A conceptual operating scenario (for purposes of estimating cut-off grade inputs) includes: Conventional truck and shovel open pit mining.o Underground mining using narrow-vein longhole mining methods. Processing via crushing and grinding, gravity, sulphide flotation (when required), carbon in leach (" CIL "), elution and regeneration, and electrowinning gold recovery. Products will include primarily dore with a possible sulphide flotation concentrate.



Exploration and Growth Potential:

The Mineral Resource is reported constrained within a pit shell and underground reporting panels and shows strong continuity of mineralization.

Recent drilling continues to intersect high-grade gold beyond the current Mineral Resource footprint, demonstrating significant expansion potential.

The Company is preparing for an aggressive exploration campaign aimed at expanding the resource and further defining high-grade targets.

Upcoming Milestones:

Technical Report: The Technical Report (as defined below) in support of this MRE will be filed on the Company's website and SEDAR+ within 45 days of this news release.

The Technical Report (as defined below) in support of this MRE will be filed on the Company's website and SEDAR+ within 45 days of this news release. Drilling : The Company is currently finalizing plans for its 2025 drill program, which will include step-out and infill drilling, target delineation and exploratory drilling.

: The Company is currently finalizing plans for its 2025 drill program, which will include step-out and infill drilling, target delineation and exploratory drilling. Metallurgical Testwork : Additional testwork is underway to support a PEA.

: Additional testwork is underway to support a PEA. PEA : A PEA, which is also being prepared by SLR, is planned for release in late Q2/25.

: A PEA, which is also being prepared by SLR, is planned for release in late Q2/25. Permitting and Environmental Baseline Studies: Work is ongoing to support economic studies and future development.

MRE Tabulations:

The MRE is divided into AFZ Core (consisting of K2, Keats West, Keats, Iceberg and Lotto), AFZ Peripheral (consisting of Big Vein, Pristine, HM and Midway) and JBP (consisting of H Pond, 1744 and Pocket Pond), with 96% (by metal) of the indicated Mineral Resource and 87% (by metal) of the Inferred Mineral Resource located within AFZ Core as outlined in Table 3 and Figure 1.

Table 3: MRE Tabulation by zone and area (as at the Effective Date)

Zone Area Category

Tonnage (000 t) Grade (g/t Au) Contained Metal (000 oz Au)

Open Pit K2, Monte Carlo AFZ Core Indicated

3,588 1.51 175 Inferred 3,755 1.22 147 Keats West, Cokes, Powerline AFZ Core Indicated 4,392 1.85 261 Inferred 2,410 1.33 103 Keats, Keats South, Iceberg, Iceberg East, Iceberg Alley, Knob, Golden Bullet AFZ Core Indicated 7,004 2.94 662 Inferred 1,037 0.84 28 Lotto, Golden Joint, Jackpot, Honeypot AFZ Core Indicated 1,205 3.16 122 Inferred 1,078 1.31 45 Big Vein, Pristine, HM, Midway AFZ Peripheral Indicated 995 0.82 26 Inferred 474 1.56 24 H Pond, 1744, Pocket Pond JBP Indicated 83 1.54 4 Inferred 206 1.66 11 Total

Indicated 17,267 2.25 1,249 Inferred 8,960 1.24 358

Underground K2, Monte Carlo AFZ Core Indicated

32 3.02 3 Inferred

335 2.78 30 Keats West, Cokes, Powerline AFZ Core Indicated - - - Inferred 28 2.76 3 Keats, Keats South, Iceberg, Iceberg East, Iceberg Alley, Knob, Golden Bullet AFZ Core Indicated 306 5.13 50 Inferred 660 4.53 96 Lotto, Golden Joint, Jackpot, Honeypot AFZ Core Indicated 303 6.97 68 Inferred 394 6.34 80 Big Vein, Pristine, HM, Midway AFZ Peripheral Indicated 100 5.42 17 Inferred 119 5.72 22 H Pond, 1744, Pocket Pond JBP Indicated 30 4.09 4 Inferred 214 2.79 19 Total

Indicated 771 5.76 142 Inferred 1,749 4.44 250

Open Pit + Underground Total

Indicated

18,038 2.40 1,392 Inferred 10,709 1.77 608

Queensway Geology and Structure:

Queensway resides in the eastern Exploits Subzone of the Newfoundland Appalachians and is centered on a 110-km segment of the district-scale auriferous Appleton and JBP fault zones. The Appleton Fault is a major intraplate fault zone that separates rock packages of contrasting structural style and provides a first order control on gold mineralization. Second order subsidiary faults splay from the Appleton Fault with consistent geometry, orientation and kinematics that repeat throughout the deposit area. They host laminated shear and associated extensional vein arrays as well as hydraulic breccias with large well-developed vugs. Veins consist of quartz, ankerite, chalcopyrite, boulangerite/bournonite, arsenopyrite and pyrite and are associated with NH4 muscovite alteration. The Keats-Baseline Fault is a highly prospective northeast striking secondary fault with an interpreted strike length of 1.9 km. In 2019, while exploring the Keats-Baseline Fault a broad array of visible gold bearing veins was intercepted in what is now the Keats Zone. Since 2019, New Found Gold has discovered key high-grade zones such as Iceberg, Keats West, Golden Joint, Lotto, Jackpot, K2, Monte Carlo, (all within AFZ Core), as well as Golden Dome, Pistachio and Dropkick, where the majority of results were received by the Company after the initial resource database was closed.

MRE Methodology and Parameters:

Reasonable prospects for economic evaluation ("RPEEE") were demonstrated for the reported MRE by constraining the open pit MRE with a preliminary optimized pit shell, while the underground MRE were constrained within reporting panels.

Open pit MRE were reported above a 0.3 g/t Au reporting cut-off grade. Underground MRE are constrained by reporting panels generated at a cut-off grade of 1.65 g/t Au and a minimum mining width of 1.8 m.

For the purposes of open pit optimization, the block model was re-blocked to 5 m by 5 m by 5 m, while open pit Mineral Resources are reported from a block model regularized to the 2.5 m by 2.5 m by 5 m parent cell size. Underground reporting panels were generated from the original estimation sub-block model, with a minimum sub-block size of 0.625 m by 0.625 m by 1.25 m, which was also used to report the underground Mineral Resources.

MRE classification was based primarily on drill hole spacings of up to approximately 30 m for Indicated Mineral Resources and up to approximately 60 m for Inferred Mineral Resources, which were applied to create continuous classification categories.

High Grade Restriction

Within AFZ Core high grade restrictions were applied, with the restriction process involving two key components, grade restriction threshold and restricted search dimensions. During estimation, composite values exceeding the grade threshold were permitted to have full influence within the restricted ellipsoid, while beyond this range, these values were capped to the threshold to limit their impact. This approach ensured that high-grade samples maintained local influence while preventing the over-projection of higher grades into lower-grade areas.

SLR determined the impact of capping and high-grade restriction to be acceptable and necessary steps to prevent the smearing of high-grade samples throughout the estimate.

Metallurgy

New Found Gold has completed two phases of metallurgical test work on the various mineralized zones. The initial test work evaluated three mineralized zones within the AFZ Core (Keats, Golden Joint, and Lotto). The next phase of work studied mineralization from the Iceberg and Iceberg East zones. See New Found Gold news releases dated April 3, 2024 and November 1, 2024 for additional information.

In 2024, the Company began a third phase of testing using mineralized material also from the AFZ Core (Keats West), which was known to contain free gold and submicroscopic gold associated with pyrite and arsenopyrite. This material was also known to contain varying amounts of organic carbon. Reports are still pending and preliminary results have been provided to the Company for the purposes of the initial MRE.

While test work to date has focussed on a gravity  CIL flowsheet, future test work will continue to investigate flotation for the recovery of refractory gold associated with pyrite and arsenopyrite into a sulphide concentrate that could potentially be processed on site or sold to a third party.

Based on results received to date, a metallurgical recovery of 90% was applied across all deposits and grade ranges based on preliminary gravity, flotation, and CIL test work on samples from Keats, Golden Joint, Lotto, Iceberg, and Iceberg East, that demonstrated acceptable recoveries from samples using gravity-CIL test work, and improved recoveries of gold associated with sulphides by flotation where CIL of the gravity tails was inadequate (particularly from Keats West).

Data Verification

The data used in this Mineral Resource Estimate is supported by Quality Assurance and Quality Control ("QA/QC") procedures, such as the insertion of certified standards and blanks into the sample stream and the utilization of certified independent analytical laboratories for all assays. The QA/QC data and methodology on the project were reviewed and will be summarized in the NI 43-101 technical report.

Pierre Landry, P.Geo. of SLR, an independent Qualified Person in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101, has reviewed the adequacy of sample preparation, security, and analytical procedures conducted by New Found Gold from the start of the Queensway exploration programs in 2019 through to the Effective Date. This review found no material issues or inconsistencies that could adversely affect the quality or reliability of the data. The QP is of the opinion that:

NFG's sample preparation procedures are appropriate for the deposit type and mineralization style.

Analytical methods used, including fire assay, photon assay, and screen fire assay, are suitable for determining gold grades in the Project.

The QA/QC program, which includes CRMs, blanks, and duplicates, is well-structured, meets industry standards, and provides confidence in the assay data.

Sample security measures and chain of custody protocols are sufficient to ensure the integrity of the data.

Overall, Pierre Landry, P.Geo. of SLR, an independent Qualified Person in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101, is of the opinion that NFG's sampling, analytical methods, and QA/QC program meet industry standards and are suitable for use in the Mineral Resource estimate.

Data verification for the drill hole database included comparing gold assay values used to support the Mineral Resource estimate against the original analytical certificates from ALS and MSALABS, the primary laboratories used by NFG between 2019 and 2024. The review covered a variety of assay methods including: fire assay with AAS or gravimetric finish, photon assay, and screen fire assay.

SLR found no material discrepancies identified that would impact the validity of the Mineral Resource estimate. SLR's QP is of the opinion that the verification process confirms the reliability of the assay database, ensuring its suitability for use for Mineral Resource estimation.

In accordance with NI 43-101, Pierre Landry, P.Geo., of SLR, conducted a site visit to the Project and related facilities on October 24 and 25, 2024. During this visit, he inspected the Keats and Iceberg trenches, the core shack, and reviewed the logging environment and procedures for data collection and sampling. He also examined core samples from the AFZ Core, AFZ Peripheral, and JBP deposits. In addition, he interviewed NFG's personnel and gathered information necessary for completing the Mineral Resource estimate and accompanying Technical Report.

Mr. Landry also inspected drill collars and drill hole cores relevant to the Mineral Resource estimation, verifying collar locations using a handheld GPS and visually comparing mineralization with interpreted drilling sections. NFG provided full access to all facilities and personnel during the visit. Mr. Landry was accompanied by Melissa Render, President of NFG.

Technical Report

A technical report will be prepared (the "Technical Report") by Qualified Persons in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101 and will be filed on SEDAR+ within 45 days of this press release.

Readers are cautioned that the conclusions, projections and estimates set out in this press release are subject to important qualifications, assumptions and exclusions, all of which will be detailed in the Technical Report. To fully understand the summary information set out in this press release, the Technical Report, which will be filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, should be read in its entirety.

Qualified Person

The initial MRE for Queensway was prepared by Pierre Landry, P.Geo. of SLR, an independent Qualified Person in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101, who has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.

The scientific and technical information disclosed in this press release was reviewed and approved by Melissa Render, P.Geo., President, and a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101. Ms. Render consents to the publication of this press release dated March 24, 2025, by New Found Gold. Ms. Render certifies that this press release fairly and accurately represents the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this press release.

New Found Gold holds a 100% interest in Queensway in Newfoundland and Labrador, a Tier 1 jurisdiction with excellent infrastructure and a skilled local workforce.

With over 600,000 metres of drilling completed since 2020, the Company has outlined multiple near-surface, high-grade gold discoveries over a 22 km strike extent. Recent drilling continues to yield new discoveries along strike and down dip of known gold zones, pointing to the district-scale potential of the 175,600 hectare Project that covers a 110 km strike extent along two prospective fault zones.

The Company has completed an initial mineral resource estimate and commissioned a preliminary economic assessment, which is scheduled for completion in late Q2/25.

New Found Gold has a new management team in place, a solid shareholder base, which includes an 19% holding by Eric Sprott, and is focused on growth and value creation at Queensway.

Please see the Company's website at www.newfoundgold.ca and the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Keith Boyle

Chief Executive Officer

New Found Gold Corp.

Follow us on social media at

https://www.linkedin.com/company/newfound-gold-corp

https://x.com/newfoundgold

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statement Cautions

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to the MRE; exploration, drilling and mineralization on the Queensway Project ; plans for future exploration and drilling including expansion beyond this MRE, additional metallurgical testwork, exploration of our prospective landholdings and exploration campaign; the preparation, completion and timing of a PEA; the potential preparation, completion and timing of a pre-feasibility study and feasibility study; growth of the Queensway Project and value creation for shareholders and the communities; expansion potential of the Queensway Project; the 2025 drill program; filing the Technical Report and timing thereof; the jurisdiction of the Queensway Project ; and the merits of the Queensway Project. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "interpreted", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "aims", "suggests", "indicate", "often", "target", "future", "likely", "encouraging", "pending", "potential", "goal", "objective", "opportunity", "prospective", "possibly", "preliminary", and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "can", "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with the Company's ability to complete the preliminary economic assessment, the results and timing of the preliminary economic assessment, possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, risks associated with the interpretation of exploration, drilling and assay results, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's Annual Information Form and Management's discussion and Analysis, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR+) at www.sedarplus.ca for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

SOURCE New Found Gold Corp.

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) and VetRec , an industry-leading veterinary AI assistant, have teamed up to enhance clinical efficiency, patient care, and veterinary education at the VMBS' Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH).

Through this collaboration, VMTH faculty, interns, residents, and students will use VetRec's AI-driven platform to streamline medical documentation, automate medical note creation, and enhance workflow efficiency, improving record-keeping accuracy and, ultimately, enhancing clinical operations. By reducing administrative burdens, the technology enables veterinary professionals to focus more on patient care while ensuring accurate, comprehensive records.

"Integrating AI into our clinical environment represents a significant and potentially transformative step forward," said Dr. Stacy Eckman, associate dean for hospital operations & chief executive officer of the VMTH. "VetRec's platform will help optimize workflow efficiency while giving our veterinarians more time to focus on what matters most  providing exceptional patient care."

The VMTH is a vital training ground for veterinary students that delivers high-quality, specialized patient care. Leveraging VetRec's technology will also allow the VMTH to provide students with hands-on experience using next-generation tools.

"Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping veterinary medicine, and this relationship positions Texas A&M at the forefront of that transformation," said Dr. Audrey Cook, a VMBS professor. "VetRec's technology will enhance the way we document cases, communicate with clients, and manage medical histories, all while maintaining the highest standard of care."

The AI assistant can generate precise, custom-made medical notes and discharge letters in seconds; quickly summarize up to 1,500 pages of patient history; and seamlessly integrate with leading cloud- and server-based personal information management systems.

This collaboration builds on VetRec's growing network of preeminent veterinary academic institutions.

"Our priority is to empower veterinary professionals by equipping them with tools that enhance efficiency and improve patient outcomes," said Kevin Cohen, co-founder and chief executive officer of VetRec. "Collaborating with Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, one of the country's leading veterinary institutions, further reinforces our commitment to transforming veterinary medicine through AI-driven solutions."

About VetRec

VetRec is a HIPAA & SOC2 Type I compliant veterinary AI Assistant that generates precise custom-made medical notes and discharge letters in seconds. Co-founded by Kevin Cohen and David De Matheu with the mission of empowering veterinary professionals by maximizing the quality and efficiency of patient care, VetRec's proprietary AI-powered software can quickly summarize up to 1,500 pages of patient history and seamlessly integrate with leading cloud and server-based PIMS. For more information, email [email protected] or visit www.vetrec.io.

About The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Founded in 1916, the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences is a nationally recognized leader in veterinary education, research, and clinical care. Its Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital provides state-of-the-art treatment for animals while training the next generation of veterinarians.

For more information about the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, please visit our website at vetmed.tamu.edu or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

For more information, please contact:

VetRec Contact: Allon Freiman, Head of Business Development  [email protected]

Texas A&M Contact: Jennifer Gauntt, Director of CVM Communications  [email protected]

SOURCE Texas A&M and VetRec
Proprietary stranded energy technology pairs with parent company Stone Ridge's 10GW natural gas portfolio to accelerate NYDIG's Power and Bitcoin Mining division

NEW YORK, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NYDIG, a leading bitcoin and power firm, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Crusoe's Bitcoin mining operations. As part of the transaction, NYDIG will acquire over 270MW of power generation technology that drives the production of near-zero direct cost of electricity, expanding NYDIG's already significant role in supporting bitcoin's proof-of-work security. NYDIG will integrate and expand the world-class team that pioneered Crusoe's bitcoin mining business, supporting NYDIG's mission of advancing the modern global economy through innovation at the intersection of power, compute, and sound money. The two firms will maintain an ongoing strategic partnership that leverages each firm's unique capabilities in the HPC industry, with Crusoe contributing its expertise in AI data center development and NYDIG providing its specialized securitization and financing capabilities.

Since its founding in 2017, NYDIG has been at the forefront of innovation with a proven track record of breakthrough product development, including closing an industry-first Investment Grade (IG) credit-rated facility invested solely in a pool of bitcoin-collateralized fiat loans ("HODL loans") last month. NYDIG combines technology expertise with operational, risk management, and financial markets excellence in two industry-leading, vertically-integrated franchises: Power & Bitcoin Mining and Bitcoin Financial Infrastructure.

As an affiliate of Stone Ridge Holdings Group, NYDIG benefits from significant synergies across a wide variety of products and services. The industry-leading Stone Ridge Energy (SRE) franchise owns and controls over 10GW of U.S. natural gas production, providing a complementary source of power to drive the evolution of bitcoin mining, and reducing energy input cost through the consumption of stranded energy available throughout the life cycle of a natural gas well.

This full-scale Stone Ridge ecosystem makes Crusoe's Digital Flare Mitigation (DFM) technology a natural fit for NYDIG. DFM captures natural gas that would have otherwise been burned off or "flared" and converts it into electricity to power advanced, modular data centers co-located onsite. Crusoe's Bitcoin mining operation, growing rapidly, includes more than 20 sites across 7 states and a joint venture in Argentina. NYDIG will operate and expand the business inside its existing Power & Bitcoin Mining division.

"With fiat currencies collapsing against bitcoin around the worldand since I founded NYDIG even the U.S. dollar down 97% for Americans and American firms not yet saving in bitcoinit is critically important to keep the bitcoin network secure, and at the lowest possible cost," said Ross Stevens, Founder & Executive Chairman of NYDIG. "At the same time, natural gas is a powerful weapon in the fight against global energy poverty and, across Stone Ridge, we chose to be leaders in this battle. In the years to come, NYDIG will invest in and expand the footprint of DFM and bitcoinseparately and in combinationacross the country and around the world, doing our part to advance human flourishing."

"The proof-of-work consensus mechanism in the bitcoin blockchain algorithmically incentivizes the convergence of energy and computing. Crusoe is proud to have been a pioneer in repurposing otherwise wasted energy resources such as gas flaring to power the bitcoin network. Our innovative approach to energy utilized for mining is uniquely complementary to NYDIG's bitcoin custody, institutional trading and mining businesses, creating a consolidated business that is more valuable than the sum of its parts," Chase Lochmiller, CEO and co-founder of Crusoe said. "We will continue to channel the same energy-first mentality towards scaling AI infrastructure and accelerating the adoption and proliferation of AI in our everyday lives."

"Our partnership with Crusoe was founded on a shared cultural alignment and mutual commitment to driving advancements at the intersection of power and compute," said Tejas Shah, CEO of NYDIG. "Crusoe has built an extraordinary bitcoin mining business by demonstrating remarkable innovationbringing together the industry's top talent to solve complex challenges and unlock untapped energy sources. We're incredibly excited to integrate this world-class team and their capabilities into our growing business."

The final closing of the transaction is subject to regulator approvals and customary consents.

About NYDIG

NYDIG is a leading bitcoin, power, and financial services firm. The company's expansive power infrastructure footprint supports bitcoin's proof-of-work security and capitalizes on other productive uses of scaled low-cost energy. NYDIG pioneered bitcoin financial infrastructure through its proprietary, regulated custody and execution platform, delivering institutional-grade spot and derivatives trading, as well as structuring and financing services to a large institutional client base. NYDIG operates within Stone Ridge Holdings Group, a financial services firm focused on alternative asset management, reinsurance, and bitcoin.

About Crusoe

Crusoe is on a mission to align the future of computing with the future of the climate. Crusoe provides a reliable, scalable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for AI infrastructure by harnessing large-scale clean energy, building AI-optimized data centers, and empowering builders to reach their AI potential. Crusoe is empowering the AI revolution.

Media Contact

Marc Feuerstein

[email protected]

212-970-8318

SOURCE NYDIG
CLAYTON, Mo., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Olin Corporation (NYSE: OLN) announced today that on Friday, May 2, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time, Olin's senior management will review the company's first quarter 2025 financial results. Prepared remarks will be followed by a question-and-answer period.

A press release, including financial statements and segment information, will be distributed after the market closes on Thursday, May 1, 2025, together with the associated slides.

CONFERENCE CALL & WEBCAST DETAILS

U.S. callers may access the conference toll-free by dialing (877) 883-0383, while Canadian callers may access by dialing (877) 885-0477 and international callers may access by dialing (412) 902-6506. All callers should use the pass code of 4655364. The call will also be webcast live. Participants may pre-register using the following link: https://app.webinar.net/P49E3rPRqM6 or access the webcast on May 2 via the company's website at www.olin.com using the first quarter conference call icon. Participants should log on to the website 15 minutes prior to the start of the call.

Following the call, the webcast will remain available for replay on the company's website for one year. A telephonic replay of this conference call will be available beginning at 12:00 p.m. Eastern time for 7 days. U.S. callers may access the telephonic replay by dialing (877) 344-7529, while Canadian callers may access by dialing (855) 669-9658 and international callers may access by dialing (412) 317-0088. All replay listeners should use the pass code of 2893296.

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Olin Corporation is a leading vertically integrated global manufacturer and distributor of chemical products and a leading U.S. manufacturer of ammunition. The chemical products produced include chlorine and caustic soda, vinyls, epoxies, chlorinated organics, bleach, hydrogen and hydrochloric acid. Winchester's principal manufacturing facilities produce and distribute sporting ammunition, law enforcement ammunition, reloading components, small caliber military ammunition and components, industrial cartridges and clay targets.

Visit www.olin.com for more information on Olin Corporation.

2025-08

SOURCE Olin Corporation
Survey highlights top factors contributing to workplace fatigue and how employers can best support overworked teams

MENLO PARK, Calif., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- New research from talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half reveals a continued strain on today's workers. According to a survey of nearly 2,000 professionals in the U.S., 36% report feeling burned out at work and 33% say they are more burned out now than one year ago. They report the top factors contributing to burnout are:

Heavy workloads and long hours (40%)

Lack of support or recognition from their manager (30%)

Few professional growth opportunities (27%)

Those who report the highest burnout levels are:

Gen Z (39%) and Millennial (40%) professionals

Working parents (38%)

Professionals at small and midsize businesses (37%)

"With burnout on the rise, managers must take steps to monitor workloads, maintain open communication and support employee well-being," said Dawn Fay, operational president at Robert Half.

Countering Burnout

Burnout isn't just affecting workersit's a top concern for organizations struggling to hire. A separate Robert Half survey of more than 1,600 hiring managers found that their biggest impact of not being able to staff an open role in a timely manner are:

Employee burnout (42%)

Delayed project timelines (39%)

Decreased productivity of existing staff (37%)

Higher employee turnover (36%)

Fay added: "Burnout is not just an employee issueit's a critical business challenge. During times of heavy workloads or delayed hiring cycles, employers need to address burnout head-on, or risk falling behind on critical projects and losing staff."

Robert Half offers tips for managers to help counter burnout:

Encourage taking time off: Support your team's well-being by promoting regular time off and mental health days to recharge. Help prioritize projects and manage timelines: Assist your team in prioritizing tasks and managing timelines effectively to ensure manageable workloads. Hire additional support: Consider hiring contract professionals to ease workloads, allowing your team to focus on key responsibilities. Recognize and appreciate: Acknowledge and celebrate your team's hard work and accomplishments to boost morale and reinforce a positive work environment. Foster open communication: Create a supportive environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their challenges and needs.

About the Research

The online surveys were developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm in December 2024. They include responses from nearly 2,000 workers 18 years and older in the U.S. and more than 1,600 hiring managers at companies in the U.S. with more than 10 employees.

About Robert Half

Robert Half (NYSE: RHI) is the world's first and largest specialized talent solutions and business consulting firm, connecting highly skilled job seekers with rewarding opportunities at great companies. We offer contract talent and permanent placement solutions in the fields of finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support, and we also provide executive search services. Robert Half is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm that delivers internal audit, risk, business and technology consulting solutions. In the past 12 months, Robert Half, including Protiviti, has been named one of the Fortune Most Admired Companies and 100 Best Companies to Work For. Explore talent solutions, research and insights at roberthalf.com.

SOURCE Robert Half
VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In the fast-paced and ever-evolving cryptocurrency landscape, regulatory compliance has become a defining factor in ensuring long-term sustainability, security, and trust. As a premier global cryptocurrency exchange with more than 3 million users, OrangeX.com is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of legal and regulatory adherence. It fosters a transparent and secure trading environment for users worldwide, which is essential in building trust and reliability with its users and stakeholders.

Adapting to Global Regulatory Standards

OrangeX.com proactively aligns with key regulatory frameworks across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring its operations comply with evolving global regulations. Recognizing the importance of credibility in the international market, OrangeX.com has strategically secured essential licenses and implemented stringent compliance measures.

To reinforce its regulatory foundation, OrangeX.com has obtained a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license in the Czech Republic.

The Financial Market Supervision Authority (FMSA) serves as the regulatory body administrating and monitoring crypto-related activities in the Czech Republic. As a registered VASP, OrangeX.com has the authorization to provide exchange services between various forms of virtual assets with fiat currency. For OrangeX.com users, the benefits of VASP include more liquidity, wider availability, and tighter data encryption. Operating legally in the Czech market is also a significant milestone for OrangeX.com in expanding its presence in the European Union (EU) region.

Strengthening Compliance Measures

Beyond regulatory licensing, OrangeX.com has embedded a rigorous Know Your Customer (KYC) and AML framework into its operations. These initiatives are designed to prevent illicit financial activities while fostering a secure and trustworthy trading ecosystem. The exchange's dedicated AML/CFT and Sanctions Compliance team comprises seasoned professionals with extensive industry experience and accredited certifications in anti-money laundering compliance. To further safeguard its platform, OrangeX.com enforces enhanced due diligence (EDD) protocols for high-risk customers and transactions, ensuring meticulous scrutiny and compliance. By leveraging advanced blockchain analytics tools and collaborating with industry-leading compliance firms such as LexisNexis Risk Solutions, SlowMist, and CipherOwl, the exchange continuously monitors transactional activities to detect and mitigate potential risks associated with financial crimes.

LexisNexis Risk Solutions : A global leader in data analytics and risk management, LexisNexis Risk Solutions provides advanced fraud detection, identity verification, and financial crime compliance solutions. The company is trusted by top-tier financial institutions, government agencies, and multinational corporations, helping them mitigate risk and navigate complex regulatory landscapes with cutting-edge AI-driven analytics. The company collaborates with major institutions worldwide and employs professionals from top firms like IBM, Accenture, and Deloitte.

: A global leader in data analytics and risk management, LexisNexis Risk Solutions provides advanced detection, identity verification, and financial crime compliance solutions. The company is trusted by top-tier financial institutions, government agencies, and multinational corporations, helping them mitigate risk and navigate complex regulatory landscapes with cutting-edge AI-driven analytics. The company collaborates with major institutions worldwide and employs professionals from top firms like IBM, Accenture, and Deloitte. Slowmist : A renowned blockchain security firm specializing in smart contract auditing, threat intelligence, and anti-money laundering (AML) solutions. The company has partnered with leading global crypto exchanges such as Binance and OKX, as well as blockchain projects like Ethereum and EOS, to provide comprehensive security assessments and cyber threat mitigation strategies. The team includes experts from leading tech and cybersecurity companies like Alibaba and Tencent .

: A renowned blockchain security firm specializing in smart contract auditing, threat intelligence, and anti-money laundering (AML) solutions. The company has partnered with leading global exchanges such as and OKX, as well as blockchain projects like and EOS, to provide comprehensive security assessments and cyber threat mitigation strategies. The team includes experts from leading tech and cybersecurity companies like Alibaba and . CipherOwl: CipherOwl is a next-generation, AI-powered onchain intelligence platform revolutionizing regulatory compliance and risk analysis for institutional use cases. Leveraging advanced machine learning and data-driven algorithms, CipherOwl automates transaction monitoring and predictive risk assessment, enhancing compliance effectiveness and operational efficiency. Backed by prominent U.S. institutional investorsincluding General Catalyst, Coinbase Ventures, Road Capital, OKX Ventures, and Sancusthe CipherOwl team consists of experts who built Coinbase 's onchain data infrastructure and compliance platform, bringing extensive experience from top technology and blockchain companies such as Coinbase , Amazon, Microsoft, Twitter, and Chainalysis. This uniquely positions CipherOwl to drive innovation in digital asset compliance.

This partnership further highlights OrangeX.com's dedication to adapting to evolving regulatory landscapes and solidifying its position as a responsible leader in the cryptocurrency space. Through this collaboration, OrangeX.com aims to continuously improve its compliance measures, safeguarding users and enhancing the security of its platform.

Completed the integration of the Travel Rule API

OrangeX.com has integrated multiple Travel Rule APIs, including those provided by verifyVASP and CODE Alliance, as a critical component of its AML regulations. The Travel Rule mandates that transaction data is shared when sending cryptocurrencies above a specified value to Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs). This integration highlights OrangeX.com's commitment to compliance and its proactive efforts to meet the requirements outlined by the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR).

Prioritizing Transparency and Security

Transparency is a cornerstone of OrangeX.com's compliance strategy. The exchange consistently publishes detailed reports outlining its regulatory compliance efforts, AML policies, and security measures. Additionally, OrangeX.com conducts regular internal and external audits to ensure operational integrity and uphold regulatory excellence.

Security remains a top priority. OrangeX.com implements robust security measures, including penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, and advanced encryption technologies like Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

By embedding compliance at the core of its operations, OrangeX.com not only protects its users but also strengthens the credibility and legitimacy of the broader cryptocurrency industry. As regulatory landscapes continue to evolve, the exchange remains dedicated to maintaining responsible and compliant trading practices on a global scale.

About OrangeX.com

Established in 2021, OrangeX.com provides its users with services including derivatives trading, spot trading, one-click copy trading, and a fiat gateway to purchase cryptocurrencies. OrangeX.com continues to connect users with professional services and the platform in a safe and innovative way.

For more information, please visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | CoinMarketCap | Medium

For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

SOURCE OrangeX
The innovative new plugin tackles endless searching for the right sound, delivering music's fastest sample workflow while keeping human creativity in the driver's seat.

LOS ANGELES, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Output , a global leader in music creation software, today introduces Output Co-Producer a plugin designed to solve one of the biggest challenges in music production: finding samples that fit your track. Working in any DAW, Co-Producer analyzes your project's harmony and rhythm to curate premium, musician-made, royalty-free samples that workhelping artists spend more time being creative and less time searching.

"We built Co-Producer to address the real frustrations of music makers," said Gregg Lehrman, Founder and CEO of Output. "After talking with thousands of writers and producers, it was clear that endlessly scrolling for samples held back creativity. Artists want sounds that fit their track from the start, with the ability to preview them in context and drag-and-drop directly from within their DAW. They also don't like the credits system that many companies have."

Built for musicians by musicians, Co-Producer uses cutting-edge AI technology to enhance your workflow, not replace your creativity. In each step, Output worked with its community of users to make sure artists stay fully in control, not an algorithm.

"We're not using AI to generate audiowe're using it to improve how music makers work. By combining language models, audio analysis, and a scalable engine, we deliver high-quality, musician-made results that are 100% free and clear to use," says Spencer Salazar, Output's Head of R&D. "Today, musicians discover samples they love in 73% of their searchesand with continuous improvements, that number is only going up."

Co-Producer is set to redefine the creative sample workflow:

Co-Producer listens to a project's audio to analyze its rhythm and harmony, then curates premium, musician-made samples that fit seamlessly with the music.

Users can explore samples in the context of their song with sounds synced to the session's key and tempo, playing back in time within all DAWs. Refine results with a text prompt or explore similar sounds around a particular sample.

Drag and drop samples directly from Co-Producer into your session without leaving the DAW.

Drop samples into Arcade to automatically slice, chop, and transform them into playable instruments. Pair both Output plugins together for the most creative sample workflow in music.

Unlike platforms that charge per download or require credits, Co-Producer offers unlimited access to all meticulously crafted samples for just $9.99/month. With new samples added daily and Output's renowned sound design and curationrecognized for its musicality and analog processingartists will always have fresh inspiration on tap without limits.

To celebrate Co-Producer's launch, existing Arcade subscribers will get Co-Producer free for 60 days. For more information, please visit https://output.com/products/co-producer .

Stay tuned for more Co-Producer major feature roll-outs in the coming months.

About Output Inc.

Output is a global leader in music creation software behind much of the music you know. We are best known for groundbreaking creative plugins and instruments like Arcade, Portal, Rev, and Exhaleused to create hits from Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Skrillex, and Bjork, to major films and shows like Stranger Things, Game of Thrones, and countless others. Founded by ASCAP award-winning producer and composer Gregg Lehrman, Output has been at the forefront of music technology for over a decade building creative tools that enhance human artistry through technology, never replacing it.

SOURCE Output
LES CAYES, Haiti, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As Haiti faces a worsening humanitarian crisis due to escalating gang violence and control, Overture International is leading a transformative effort to combat food insecurity and reduce dependency on foreign aid through its innovative Diri Lavi! Food packaging program. Since its launch in 2022, Diri Lavi! has packaged and distributed more than 300,000 nutritious meals, with plans to pack an additional 200,000 meals in 2025. This community-driven initiative is not only feeding families but also transforming the local economy by creating jobs and supporting Haitian farmers.

Diri Lavi! Program Diri Lavi! Program

Unlike traditional food aid programs that rely on imported goods, Diri Lavi! prioritizes local sourcing and employment. The program purchases rice, beans, and other staple foods from Haitian farmers, ensuring that the economic benefits stay within the community. Additionally, meal packaging and distribution are managed entirely by Haitian workers, reinforcing local leadership in the fight against hunger.

Haitian Christian Outreach in Jacmel, Haiti, is a local partner that is using locally packaged meals to sustain its feeding programs. Their Executive Director, Megan Schreiber states, "Overture International's Diri Lavi! program has allowed us to continue feeding 1,500+ students and hospital staff during a time when food is not getting to our area. Even the doctors are unable to feed their families. If we were exclusively dependent upon food being shipped in, we would have a higher number of children experiencing the detrimental impact of severe malnutrition."

Overture International's Executive Director, Lisa Hyatt, emphasized the resilience and determination of the Haitian people in driving this initiative forward. "The people of Haiti work incredibly hard, and Diri Lavi! is living proof that sustainable, locally led solutions can transform lives and communities. By investing in Haitian farmers, workers, and businesses, we are not only feeding children and families today but also building a stronger economy for the future."

As international aid to Haiti dwindles, Diri Lavi! stands as a powerful model of self-reliance and sustainability. Overture International remains committed to expanding this initiative, supporting local partners, and scaling solutions that empower Haitian communities to thrive independently.

About Overture International

Overture Outreach International (dba Overture International) is a US 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation dedicated to sustainable community development in Haiti. Through programs in food security, education, housing, and economic development, Overture works to create long-term solutions that empower Haitian communities to achieve independence and self-sufficiency.

For more information on Diri Lavi! and how you can support this groundbreaking initiative, visit Overture International.

For media inquiries:

Lisa Hyatt

[email protected]

336-870-5723

SOURCE Overture International
TAIPEI, March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- OwlTing Group (the "Company"), a global blockchain fintech company, today announced its partnership with GMO-Z.com Trust Company, Inc. ("GMO Trust") to enhance the accessibility to GYEN[1], the first regulated Japanese Yen ("JPY") stablecoin. This strategic move aims to provide users with diversified cross-border transaction options in one of the world's major reserve currencies. By integrating GYEN and ZUSD[1] (USD stablecoin) into the Company's digital wallet, OwlPay Wallet Pro, OwlTing will bridge traditional and digital finance, enabling businesses and individuals to leverage stablecoins for fast, low-cost global payments.

OwlTing has partnered with GMO Trust to offer users diversified cross-border transaction options with the world's major reserve currencies OwlPay Wallet Pro will support buying, selling, sending, and receiving a robust lineup of regulated stablecoins in the near future, including USDC, EURC, GYEN, and ZUSD

OwlPay Wallet Pro will be expanded to support buying, selling, sending, and receiving a robust lineup of regulated stablecoins in the near future, including the widely adopted USDC[2], EURC (EUR-pegged), GYEN, and ZUSD stablecoins, positioning it as a versatile platform for managing digital assets across multiple currencies. This expansion underscores OwlTing's commitment to delivering compliant, efficient payment solutions worldwide.

"Our alliance with GMO Trust accelerates our mission to redefine global financial connectivity," said Darren Wang, Founder and CEO at OwlTing Group. "By amplifying the reach of GYEN and enhancing our stablecoin suite, we're unlocking Japan's digital payment potential and building a scalable platform for a borderless economy."

"Partnering with OwlTing furthers our strategy to lead the stablecoin revolution," said Ken Nakamura, CEO at GMO-Z.com Trust Company, Inc. "Delivering GYEN and ZUSD via OwlPay Wallet Pro will expand our global footprint, creating new opportunities in the intersection of traditional and digital markets."

GYEN and Beyond: Stablecoins Go Global

Stablecoins are revolutionizing cross-border transactions, slashing high fees and reducing delays. According to a recent industry report[3], traditional remittance costs often exceed 6% per transaction, while stablecoin transfers cost less than 1% with just seconds in settlement. In 2024, the annualized transaction value of stablecoins overtook Visa and Mastercard[4], signaling their dominance in digital finance. OwlTing's partnership with GMO Trust aims to leverage GYEN for practical use, such as users in the U.S. can send GYEN to their business partners or families in Japan, offering a stable alternative to conventional systems while enabling effective hedging against currency fluctuations and market volatility. [5]

Once the feature update is available, OwlPay Wallet Pro will stand out with stablecoins coverage of USD, EUR, and JPY, three of the world's most traded fiat currencies. This adaptability ensures users to transact stablecoins across borders with ease, backed by full fiat reserves and 1:1 redeemability for a high level of trust. As an unhosted wallet, OwlPay Wallet Pro gives individual users control over private keys and funds, enhancing security and privacy. Holding Money Transmitter Licenses or the equivalent in 31 U.S. states and backed by ISO 27001 certification, OwlTing is poised to lead a compliant, blockchain-driven payment ecosystem reshaping global finance.

[1] GYEN is the first regulated Japanese Yen stablecoin, and ZUSD is a trusted U.S. Dollar stablecoin. GYEN and ZUSD are both fully reserve-backed stablecoins, developed and issued by GMO Trust. [2] USDC and EURC are the internet-native, fully-reserved, regulated digital dollars that leverages blockchain networks to enable businesses, developers, and individuals to conduct near-real-time, low-cost global transactions. It is a leading, fully-reserved global stablecoin issued through Circle's regulated affiliates. To learn more about Circle's regulatory authorizations, visit Circle's Licenses page https://www.circle.com/legal/licenses. [3] According to the Roland Berger report "Stablecoins: The Future of Money" issued March 2025. https://www.rolandberger.com/en/Insights/Publications/Stablecoins-The-future-of-money.html [4] According to the ARK Invest report "Big Ideas 2025" issued February 2025. https://research.ark-invest.com/hubfs/1_Download_Files_ARK-Invest/Big_Ideas/ARK%20Invest%20Big%20Ideas%202025.pdf [5] Service availability is subject to local regulations

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About GMO-Z.com Trust Company, Inc.

Established in 2020 and chartered by the NYDFS as a limited purpose trust company, GMO-Z.com Trust Company bridges traditional finance and blockchain technology by issuing regulatory-compliant stablecoins like GYEN and ZUSD on various blockchain networks.

GMO Trust aims to support borderless payments and transactions using digital assets by issuing "GYEN" and "ZUSD." GMO Trust expects stablecoins to be utilized by businesses and developers as programmable open-source money (*1). Furthermore, GMO Trust will continue to collaborate with cryptocurrency exchanges and businesses to create use cases for "GYEN" and "ZUSD." For more information, visit https://stablecoin.z.com/.

(*1) Programmable money refers to a currency that can automate certain functions in operations such as contracts, invoicing, and payments.

About OwlPay Wallet Pro

OwlPay Wallet Pro offers an unhosted blockchain wallet solution for individual users, empowering them with a fast setup for a secure multi-currency payment wallet for cross-border transactions. For business users, a hosted wallet solution is available, backed by U.S. state licenses to ensure compliance and enhanced functionality. For more information, visit https://www.owlting.com/owlpay/wallets-as-a-service?lang=en.

About OwlTing Group

Founded in 2010, OwlTing is a global blockchain fintech company based in Taiwan and has branch offices in the U.S., Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Malaysia. In 2022, it was selected by KPMG and HSBC as "the Leading 3 Emerging Giants in Taiwan". With the mission to usher in the digital transformation of traditional payment processes, while ensuring legal compliance, OwlTing introduced OwlPay, a Web2 and Web3 hybrid payment solution, to empower global businesses to operate confidently in the evolving digital landscape. For more information, visit https://www.owlting.com/portal/?lang=en.

SOURCE OwlTing Group
Handbag and Accessories Brand Celebrates 15 Years of Travel-Inspired Designs With Launch of Greek Map and Greek Floral Collections

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Patricia Nash Designs (https://patricianashdesigns.com/) has introduced two stunning new collections  the Greek Map and Greek Floral  each inspired by the sun-soaked beauty and rich history of Greece. The Greek Floral print draws from the diverse flora of Greece, rendered elegantly on a bold teal background with subtle ivory petals and leaves, accentuated by touches of gold and black etchings. The Greek Map collection, the newest addition to Patricia's lineup of ancient maps, includes Greece's sweeping coastlines and islands. Using an antique map of the Greek Isles, Patricia deepened the colors and painted the map by hand. The new prints showcase Greece's allure and Patricia Nash's artisanal craftsmanship. Starting at only $38, each piece in the collection speaks Greece's natural beauty and charm while creating a modern twist on vintage style.

Photo courtesy of Patricia Nash Designs Photo courtesy of Patricia Nash Designs

"As we continue to celebrate our 15th anniversary, I'm excited to share the Greek Map and Greek Floral collections, which are so close to my heart," said Patricia Nash, CEO and Founder of Patricia Nash Designs. "Travel has always been my greatest inspiration, and over the years, it's shaped every collection I've created. Greece, with its timeless beauty and rich history, has always been one of my favorite destinations, and these designs reflect that deep love. The Greek Map collection is inspired by the sweeping landscapes of the Greek Isles, while the Greek Floral is from the country's diverse wild flora. Both collections stay true to my passion for creating pieces that tell a story. After 15 years of designing with travel at the forefront of my mind, I'm proud to bring these two new collections to life."

The Greek Map Collection features plenty of styles, including weekender bags, totes, wallets, and crossbody bags, with iconic pieces such as:

Benvenuto Tote, Greek Map ($199): The ultimate blend of practicality and signature Greece style, the Benvenuto Tote takes simple yet sophisticated design features that have easy over-the-shoulder handles for comfort. This is a re-released style to celebrate Patricia's 15th anniversary year, the tote is available at its 2010 price of $199, down from its regular price of $299.

Bianco Crossbody, Greek Map ($149): The Bianco Crossbody is the perfect fusion of fashion and functionality. Crafted in supple leather and featuring the new vibrant Greek Map print, it's versatile enough to carry as a crossbody or a clutch, adapting to whatever your day demands.

Milano Weekender Duffel, Greek Map ($299): The Milano Weekender Duffel Bag is the ultimate travel companion for those who are always ready to hit the road. Made from luxurious leather and featuring the gorgeous new Greek Map print, this bag blends ultimate style with practicality.

The Greek Floral Collection also features stunning bags of its own, with standout pieces being:

Milina Frame Crossbody, Greek Floral ($129): The Milina is a dainty, feminine frame bag that effortlessly combines vintage charm with modern style. Crafted in supple leather in the Greek Floral print, it adds a touch of elegance to spice up any look.

Violina Satchel, Greek Floral ($249): Sleek and polished, the Violina Satchel is constructed in the vibrant new Greek Floral print on supple leather. With its unique leather tab with a decorative buckle inspired by a 1950s French designer and twisted rope leather handles, this bag exudes personality.

Chiara Wallet, Greek Floral ($99): Elegant and luxurious, the Chiara wallet is crafted from stunning leather in the gorgeous Greek Floral print. This compact yet functional wallet is perfect for carrying on its own or slipping into a larger bag, making it the perfect combination of beauty and practicality.

For more information on Patricia Nash Designs and the stunning Greek Map and Greek Floral collections, contact BPM-PR Firm at [email protected] or call 1.877.841.7244.

ABOUT PATRICIA NASH DESIGNS

Patricia Nash Designs is rooted in a passion for discovery and storytelling. After years of working and shopping across Europe, Patricia developed a deep appreciation for vintage European bags, appreciating their timeless styling, impeccable craftsmanship, and beautiful leathers. Discovering a beautiful handcrafted leather handbag in her own mother's closeta treasured piece cherished for 50 yearsinspired Patricia to create her namesake brand.

Patricia launched her brand in 2010 to create pieces that balance timeless elegance with functional design. Every product embodies her love of travel, craftsmanship, and family, making Patricia Nash Designs a trusted name for those who value artistry and authenticity.

Media Contact:

Alexa Summerson

BPM-PR firm

[email protected]

877.841.7244

SOURCE Patricia Nash Designs
California-based coffeehouse also adds new Egg Bites as it continues menu innovation

OAKLAND, Calif., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Philz Coffee is welcoming the spring season by introducing two new specialty drinks to its menu  Nutty Caramel Nirvana and Caramel Cardamom Karma, available March 25 through June 2, while supplies last. Additionally, two new egg bite options will be added to the breakfast menu.

These delicious new caramel beverages, made with Philz cold brew coffee, all-natural caramel and plant-based milk, are perfect iced or hot. This is the first time Philz Coffee has introduced caramel to its menu.

Philz Coffee's Nutty Caramel Nirvana, Caramel Cardamom Karma, and Egg Bites.

Nutty Caramel Nirvana features Philtered Soul Cold Brew, real cinnamon, all-natural caramel, creamy almond milk and a dusting of cinnamon sugar.

features Philtered Soul Cold Brew, real cinnamon, all-natural caramel, creamy almond milk and a dusting of cinnamon sugar. Caramel Cardamom Karma is made with Mission Cold Brew and house-made caramel oat milk infused with cardamom, finished with a caramel drizzle and a sprinkle of Maldon Sea Salt.

Both beverages can be customized to each guest's preference. They are available in-store, via the Philz app or at PhilzCoffee.com for pickup or delivery.

Also new on Philz Coffee's menu are new Egg Bites that offer a hearty breakfast in two savory varieties:

Bacon & Cheese Egg Bites are protein- and flavor-packed egg bites made with bacon, cheese and butter.

are protein- and flavor-packed egg bites made with bacon, cheese and butter. Three Cheese Egg Bites blend cheddar, pepper jack and Parmesan to make these egg bites positively cheesy.

The new, limited-time-only caramel spring drinks and Egg Bites add to Philz Coffee's list of ongoing menu enhancements. Last year, Oatmeal Cookie Cold Brew joined Philz Coffee's permanent menu following its success as a seasonal offering.

"Finding new ways for customers to fall in love with Philz is a big focus for us as we kick off the year, and the spring menu is no exception. With this new lineup, we wanted to put an unexpected twist on a classic flavor for our customers to enjoy," said Philz Coffee Vice President of Marketing Jessica Mitchell. "We are continuing to evolve our drink and food menus to find ways for customers to customize their perfect cup  or find the perfect pairing."

Every drink at Philz Coffee is made to order using real ingredients and sustainably sourced green coffee beans roasted to perfection at Philz's own roasting facility in Oakland, California. Each cup can be customized with the guest's choice of sweetness level and milk options at no extra charge.

Philz Coffee's spring menu is available at its 70-plus locations in California and Chicago. To find the closest location or order for delivery or pickup, visit philzcoffee.com.

About Philz Coffee

Founded in 2003 in San Francisco, Philz Coffee specializes in customized blends made from sustainably sourced green coffee beans from around the world and skillfully roasted at its Oakland roasting facility. Today, Philz Coffee is the largest independent third-wave coffee brand in the United States and has over 70 stores across California and Chicago. Philz Coffee has remained committed to its mission to Better Days for everyone, every day, through community and high-quality coffee handcrafted one cup at a time. Philz Coffee can be purchased at Philz locations, in select grocery stores and online and is also available in Philz K-Cup pods.

To learn more about Philz Coffee and find the nearest location, visit philzcoffee.com .

Media Contact:

Kayla Limon

[email protected]

817-329-3257

SOURCE Philz Coffee
TORONTO, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Power Metallic Mines Inc. (the "Company" or "Power Metallic") (TSXV: PNPN) (OTCBB: PNPNF) (Frankfurt: IVV) is pleased to announce the return of 6 holes from the fall 2024 drilling campaign. Four holes were testing multiple target areas in the Lion zone (holes PN-24-086, 087, 092, 093), and two holes tested the Tiger target (PN-24-090 and 094).

Figure 1: Location map of drill holes referred to in this news release for the Lion and Tiger Zones (CNW Group/Power Metallic Mines Inc.) Figure 2: Longitudinal view across the Lion Zone Area, presenting the CuEq Rec1 x meters, with interpreted plunge direction extension (CNW Group/Power Metallic Mines Inc.)

Lion Zone (Figure 1)

Hole PN-24-092 and PN-024-093 tested the eastern edge of the interpreted plunge of the Lion zone, with PN-24-093 providing the deepest assayed intersection to date. Both holes confirmed the location of the eastern plunge extent of the Lion Zone (Figure 2, Table 1). Power Nickel previously released photos of mineralized core from hole PN-25-096 (news release February 5, 2025) located in the interpreted core of the Lion Zone and we are still awaiting assays for that hole (Table 1). Subsequent drilling below PN-25-096 has also returned significant visible mineralization including massive Cu/Ni zones in holes PML-25-001 and PML-25-002 (Figure 2) which are also pending assays to confirm grades.

Drill holes PN-24-086 and PN-24-087 were designed to fill in gaps in the Lion model to confirm the near surface eastern strike extension of the interpreted deposit. Both holes intersected the zone and returned high PGE values, including 1.55m @ 65.09 g/t Pd in PN-24-086 (Table 1, Figure 2).

Borehole EM (BHEM) has become the primary tool for discovery of more mineralization. Interpretation of BHEM results and improved interpretations of ground and airborne EM and magnetic surveys has been conducted by Hardrock Geophysics Inc., a group experienced in conducting geophysical surveys on polymetallic deposits. Identified BHEM conductors have to date consistently indicated sulphides in follow-up drilling. Previously identified conductors west of Lion (PN-24-082 to 085, see NR March 17, 2024) are currently being tested with drilling and have the potential of identifying a parallel sulphide zone to the west of Lion.

Table 1: Significant assay results from this news release - Lion zone

Hole From

(m) To

(m) Length

(m) Au

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Cu

(%) Pd

(g/t) Pt

(g/t) Ni

(%) CuEq1

(%) PN-24-086 52.90 76.00 23.10 0.14 4.52 0.31 4.70 0.01 0.02 2.08 including 65.45 75.00 9.55 0.16 4.68 0.50 11.27 0.01 0.03 4.60 including 65.45 67.00 1.55 0.24 4.46 0.51 65.09 0.00 0.05 23.76 PN-24-087 80.00 103.20 23.20 0.26 5.10 0.21 0.50 0.44 0.02 0.72 including 99.00 103.00 4.20 0.84 5.30 0.29 2.36 2.37 0.05 2.48 PN-24-092 461.10 472.70 11.60 0.07 2.61 0.37 0.92 0.31 0.07 0.93 including 463.75 475.75 2.00 0.16 10.00 1.72 4.17 1.02 0.13 3.60 PN-24-093 534.10 565.15 31.05 0.13 2.74 0.37 1.16 0.18 0.09 1.06 including 537.35 541.00 3.65 0.24 9.22 1.21 4.76 0.81 0.13 3.39 including 562.05 565.15 3.10 0.76 11.35 1.91 4.62 0.27 0.08 4.01

Note: Reported length is downhole distance; true width based on model projections is estimated as 85% of downhole length

Tiger Zone (Figure 1)

Hole PN-24-90 and PN-24-94 were drilled to test a weak airborne EM anomaly 700 meters northeast of Lion (Tiger Zone). Hole PN-24-090 appeared to miss the source of the airborne anomaly but returned multiple narrow zones of Cu, PGE, Au, Ag, +/-Ni (Table 2) confirming the presence of a mineralized structure.

A follow-up borehole EM survey (BHEM) completed in hole PN-24-090 confirmed an off-hole conductor which was drilled with hole PN-24-094 and intersected narrow zones of massive Ni/Cu sulphides (Table 2). Subsequent drill holes based on BHEM on the Tiger target (PN-25-098, 099 and 101) all intersected additional narrow Ni/Cu massive sulphides (assaying pending).

The Tiger zone is interpreted to be mobilized sulphides originating from a proximal ultramafic source rock and emplaced in the footwall paragneiss. To date drilling is still too sparse to model Tiger, but cross-section interpretation indicates that PN-24-090 was stopped just short of intersecting the higher grade Ni/Cu zones that were intersected in hole PN-24-094. BHEM conductors interpreted from hole PN-24-090 correctly vectored hole PN-24-094 to the source of the anomaly.

Subsequent BHEM on the later holes at Tiger have indicated further off-hole conductors that need to be tested. It is not known for certain what causes these off-hole conductors, but to date all previous drill testing of BHEM conductors has resulted in sulphide intersections, so it is reasonable to expect that sulphide concentrations are causing these untested anomalies.

Table 2: Significant assay results from this news release - Tiger zone

Hole From

(m) To

(m) Length

(m) Au

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Cu

(%) Pd

(g/t) Pt

(g/t) Ni

(%) Co

(%) CuEq1

(%) PN-24-090 123.50 125.25 1.75 0.41 4.89 0.37 0.26 0.06 0.13 0.01 1.01 and 137.50 139.50 2.00 0.01 3.60 0.37 0.28 0.11 0.16 0.01 0.84 and 200.00 201.20 1.20 0.01 0.95 0.14 0.59 0.05 0.19 0.01 0.78 PN-24-094 192.50 202.40 9.90 0.02 1.41 0.24 0.73 0.08 0.57 0.03 1.77 including 192.50 195.00 2.50 0.04 2.34 0.46 1.23 0.21 0.92 0.04 2.95 including 200.20 202.40 2.20 0.01 2.72 0.51 1.87 0.12 1.53 0.07 4.50

Note: Reported length is downhole distance; true width based on model projections is estimated as 85% of downhole length

Previously released results are included at the end of this news release (Table 2).

Table 1: Significant assay results from this news release - Lion zone

1Copper Equivalent Rec Calculation

CuEq Rec represents CuEq calculated based on the following metal prices (USD) : 2,360.15 $/oz Au, 27.98 $/oz Ag, 1,215.00 $/oz Pd, 1000.00 $/oz Pt, 4.00 $/lb Cu, 10.00 $/lb Ni and 22.50 $/lb Co., and a recovery grade of 80% for all commodities, consistent with comparable peers.

Qualified Person

Joseph Campbell, P.Geo, VP Exploration at Power Metallic, is the qualified person who has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release.

About Power Metallic Mines Inc.

Power Metallic is a Canadian exploration company focusing on developing the High-Grade Nickel Copper PGM, Gold and Silver Nisk project into Canada's next poly metallic mine.

On February 1, 2021, Power Metallic (then called Chilean Metals) completed the acquisition of its option to acquire up to 80% of the Nisk project from Critical Elements Lithium Corp. (CRE: TSXV).

The NISK property comprises a large land position (20 kilometres of strike length) with numerous high-grade intercepts. Power Metallic is focused on expanding the high-grade nickel-copper PGM, Gold and Silver mineralization with a series of drill programs designed to evaluate the initial Nisk discovery zone, the Lion discovery zone and to explore the land package for adjacent potential poly metallic deposits.

In addition to the Nisk project, Power Metallic owns significant land packages in British Colombia and Chile. Power Metallic has reorganized these assets in a related public vehicle through a plan of arrangement.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Table 3: Significant assay results previously reported - Fall 2024 - Lion zone Hole From To Length Au Ag Cu Pd Pt Ni CuEq

Rec*

(m) (m) (m) (g/t) ( g/t ) ( %) (g/t) ( g/t ) ( %) ( %) PN-24-063 428 433 5 0.48 24.82 4.41 0.21 6.15 0.47 5.93 Including 429 432 3 0.73 37.9 7.1 0.3 9.26 0.5 9.3 PN-24-064 452 454.15 2.15 0.21 2.98 0.49 0.68 0.24 0.1 0.87 Including 452 453 1 0.27 3.9 0.85 1.03 0.31 0.19 1.35 PN-24-065 No significant values PN-24-066 402 414 12.05 0.09 4.53 0.65 6.39 0.3 0.06 2.97 Including 411 414 3 0.2 12.5 1.95 2.26 0.62 0.12 2.78 With 413 414 1 0.28 32.4 5.08 4.44 0.44 0.16 6.22 PN-24-067 430.8 442.9 12.15 0.12 8.54 1.75 1.99 0.36 0.14 2.36 Including 430.8 433.4 2.65 0.16 8.47 1.27 1.01 0.84 0.11 1.8 With 431.9 432.35 0.5 0.77 43.1 6.38 1.46 4.24 0.38 7.74 and Including 440.6 442.9 2.35 0.31 32.77 7.41 8.59 0.64 0.32 9.64 With 442.2 442.9 0.75 0.34 70 15.7 12.7 0.49 0.41 18.01 PN-24-068 474.6 476.3 1.7 0.28 10.96 2.74 3.47 1.54 0.1 4.15 Including 474.6 475.1 0.5 0.94 36.3 8.55 11.4 5.19 0.28 13.34 PN-24-069 100 117 17 0.28 9.52 0.93 7.19 1.66 0.05 4.05 Including 100 106 6 0.42 19.33 0.96 11.68 3.69 0.04 6.43 With 100 102 2 0.66 47.3 2.15 19.35 2.87 0.08 10.26 and Including 112 117 5 0.35 7.8 1.78 9.69 0.74 0.09 5.38 With 114 115 1 0.57 12.9 6.09 33.8 0.85 0.36 18.39 PN-24-070 118 150 32 0.45 20.93 3.62 8.1 2.47 0.18 6.97 Including 120 130 10 0.5 12.94 1.76 10.82 5.98 0.08 7.44 With 120 12 2 0.53 28.2 5.77 7.61 1.86 0.25 8.45 and Including 138.6 150 11.4 0.6 44.51 8.39 11.52 1.24 0.42 11.94 With 141.4 147.4 6 0.79 60.98 12.9 15.21 1.6 0.51 17.22 PN-24-071 157 196.6 39.6 0.38 19.57 2.62 3.37 0.8 0.13 4.19 Including 157 160 3 0.25 8.93 0.68 6.2 0.04 0.02 3.04 and Including 185 196.6 11.6 0.88 49.9 8.25 9.57 2.64 0.34 12.46 With 193 196.6 3.6 1.56 63.03 10.39 11.42 7.9 0.32 16.89 PN-24-072 294 345 51 0.54 9.1 1.01 0.06 1.14 0.53 1.94 Including 294 299.2 5.2 0.18 3.67 0.02 0 1.19 0.89 0.86 and Including 307.9 309.75 1.9 0.45 4.43 0.11 0 0.99 0.71 0.99 and Including 321 323 2 0.15 3.45 0.32 0.03 1.18 0.51 1 and Including 325.4 332.5 7.1 0.68 18.14 0.66 0.08 0.73 0.15 1.61 and Including 332.5 345 12.5 0.31 16.22 3.01 0.17 3.14 1.49 4.63 With 332.5 337 4.5 0.53 32.71 6.4 0.35 5.73 3.74 9.59 PN-24-073 354.7 383.75 29.1 0.25 4.97 0.51 1.52 0.7 0.06 1.49 Including 366.9 368.95 2.1 0.21 20.67 3.53 4.05 0.1 0.27 5.14 and Including 376.3 379.25 3 1.67 14.93 0.89 10.36 5.71 0.04 7.41 PN-24-074 290 313.55 23.55 0.15 3.06 0.6 0.11 0.13 0.02 0.89 Including 294.8 295.8 1 0.09 7.2 0.5 0.02 0.93 0.02 0.9 and Including 311.1 313.55 2.5 1.27 18.57 5.1 0.52 0.78 0.13 6.46 PN-24-075 321.5 340.7 19.2 0.14 5.45 1.04 0.05 1.22 0.53 1.65 Including 321.5 324.9 3.4 0.6 13.02 0.24 0.01 3.38 3.6 2.97 and Including 330.3 331 0.75 0.27 15.4 1.94 0.06 0.52 0 2.16 and Including 337.7 340.7 3.05 0.23 15.29 5.31 0.23 4.36 0.27 6.62 PN-24-076 No significant values PN-24-078 157.6 187 29.4 0.53 11.95 1.15 1.08 0.36 0.06 2.34 Including 157.6 169.15 11.55 0.44 11.55 0.59 1.25 0.76 0.02 1.92 With 158.6 160.6 2 0.64 14.85 0.49 2.71 2.32 0.02 3.24 And With 163.5 168.15 4.65 0.59 15.83 0.97 1.25 0.5 0.04 2.38 and Including 173.7 187 13.35 0.77 15.86 1.98 1.29 0.14 0.12 3.43 With 173.7 176.55 2.9 3.16 21.62 5.84 4.72 0.44 0.48 11.03 And With 183 187 4 0.23 35.78 2.3 0.73 0.11 0.03 3.23 PN-24-079 177 197 20.05 0.88 23.2 2.36 3.3 0.53 0.14 4.29 including 186.8 197 10.25 1.28 33.1 3.7 4.63 0.34 0.2 6.26 and 204.8 206.7 1.9 2.73 43.2 1.15 0.42 0.07 0.04 3.41 and 216.8 220 3.25 0.14 8.6 0.4 0.04 0.01 0.01 0.52 PN-24-080 Isolated individual assay values PN-24-081 348.2 353 4.85 0.65 6.7 0.32 2.1 0.76 0.06 1.84 including 349 350 1 2.84 27.8 1.04 8.77 3.11 0.06 7.15 and 358.3 359.2 0.95 0.05 7.4 1.15 0.22 0.01 0.13 1.35 PN-24-082 Isolated individual assays - BHEM targeting hole PN-24-083 Isolated individual assays - BHEM targeting hole PN-24-084 Isolated individual assays - BHEM targeting hole PN-24-085 Isolated individual assays - BHEM targeting hole PN-24-088 Isolated individual assays - BHEM targeting hole PN-24-095a 427 446.2 19.4 0.14 10.8 2.63 2.97 0.25 0.09 4.29 including 437.9 443.2 5.35 0.24 31.8 8.11 8.25 0.8 0.27 10.6



























QAQC and Sampling

GeoVector Management Inc ("GeoVector") is the Consulting company retained to perform the actual drilling program, which includes core logging and sampling of the drill core.

All samples were submitted to and analyzed at Activation Laboratories Ltd ("Actlabs"), an independent commercial laboratory for both the sample preparation and assaying. Actlabs is a commercial laboratory independent of Power Metallic with no interest in the Project. Actlabs is an ISO 9001 and 17025 certified and accredited laboratories. Samples submitted through Actlabs are run through standard preparation methods and analysed using RX-1 (Dry, crush (< 7 kg) up to 80% passing 2 mm, riffle split (250 g) and pulverize (mild steel) to 95% passing 105 m) preparation methods, and using 1F2 (ICP-OES) and 1C-OES - 4-Acid near total digestion + Gold-Platinum-Palladium analysis and 8-Peroxide ICP-OES, for regular and over detection limit analysis. Pegmatite samples are analyzed using UT7 - Li up to 5%, Rb up to 2% method. Actlabs also undertake their own internal coarse and pulp duplicate analysis to ensure proper sample preparation and equipment calibration.

GeoVector's QAQC program includes regular insertion of CRM standards, duplicates, and blanks into the sample stream with a stringent review of all results. QAQC and data validation was performed and no material errors were observed.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This message contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" concerning the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. 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," "indicates," "opportunity," "possible" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. 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, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, among others; the timing for various drilling plans; the ability to raise sufficient capital to fund its obligations under its property agreements going forward and conduct drilling and exploration; to maintain its mineral tenures and concessions in good standing; to explore and develop its projects; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; the inherent hazards associates with mineral exploration and mining operations; future prices of nickel and other metals; changes in general economic conditions; accuracy of mineral resource and reserve estimates; the potential for new discoveries; the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary permits and consents required to explore, drill and develop the projects and if accepted, to obtain such licenses and approvals in a timely fashion relative to the Company's plans and business objectives for the applicable project; the general ability of the Company to monetize its mineral resources; and changes in environmental and other laws or regulations that could have an impact on the Company's operations, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, dependence on key management personnel and general competition in the mining industry.

SOURCE Power Metallic Mines Inc.
TOKYO, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rapidus Corporation, a manufacturer of advanced logic semiconductors, today announced that it signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Quest Global Services PTE. Ltd. As part of the agreement, Rapidus will become Quest Global's new semiconductor foundry partner, enabling it to provide a wide range of solutions to its customers. Quest Global customers will be able to leverage Rapidus' 2nm gate-all-around (GAA) manufacturing process to develop engineering design and manufacturing solutions that will support growing industry demand for low-power artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors. Together, the two companies will deliver transformational silicon solutions as a virtual integrated device manufacturer (IDM) model for fabless companies.

The AI semiconductor industry is in its early stages, with applications just beginning to emerge and new entrants quickly coming to market. Customers will shift from general-purpose AI semiconductors to dedicated designs that reduce power consumption and maximize performance. To support these industry requirements, customers will engage design firms focused on providing custom solutions, such as Quest Global, while also collaborating with semiconductor foundries, like Rapidus, that can manufacture dedicated semiconductors with a short turnaround time.

Rapidus will leverage its pioneering Rapid and Unified Manufacturing Service (RUMS) model that will shorten time-to-market for customers by providing design support and integrated front-end and back-end processes in collaboration with ecosystem partners such as Quest Global.

"As we enter the transformational era of AI, it is critical for the semiconductor industry to establish a new framework for the stable and seamless design, development and manufacturing of AI-driven advanced-node chips," said Ajit Prabhu, co-founder and CEO, Quest Global. "This partnership, based on the Virtual IDM model, provides the silicon solution that AI companies around the world are seeking. We are honored to support the realization of this groundbreaking initiative in Japan, where the public and private sectors are working together to achieve advanced semiconductor technologies."

"Quest Global has shown a strong affinity for our short turnaround-time manufacturing services, specifically with RUMS," said Dr. Atsuyoshi Koike, CEO, Rapidus. "In addition, receiving evaluation and feedback from Quest Global will provide a solid foundation for customer acquisitions and products. Furthermore, becoming one of Quest Global's foundry partners will provide us access to the company's customer network. For Rapidus, securing a track record of design is vital, so this partnership will be very beneficial for both companies."

About Quest Global

At Quest Global, it's not just what we do but how and why we do it that makes us different. We are in the business of engineering, but what we are really creating is a brighter future. For over 25 years, we've been solving the world's most complex engineering problems. Operating in over 20 countries, with over 85 global delivery centers, our 20,000+ curious minds embrace the power of doing things differently to make the impossible possible. Using a multi-dimensional approach, combining technology, industry expertise, and diverse talents, we tackle critical challenges faster and more effectively. And we do it across the Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Energy, Hi-Tech, MedTech & Healthcare, Rail and Semiconductor industries. For world-class end-to-end engineering solutions, we are your trusted partner.

About Rapidus Corporation

Rapidus Corporation aims to develop and manufacture the world's most advanced logic semiconductors. We will create new industries together with our customers through the development and provision of services to shorten cycle times in design, wafer processes, 3D packaging, and more. We will continue to challenge ourselves in order to contribute to the fulfillment, prosperity, and happiness of people's lives through the use of semiconductors.

About Rapidus Corporation Headquarters: 4-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0032, Japan Establishment: August 10th, 2022 Executives: Tetsuro Higashi, Chairman of the Board of Directors

Atsuyoshi Koike, Ph.D., CEO Business: Research, development, design, manufacture, and sales of semiconductor devices, integrated circuits and other electronic components Capital, etc: 7,346 million yen (as of November 2022)

(includes the amount of capital reserve)

U.S. Media Contact:

Devan Gillick  Breakaway Communications for Rapidus

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: (530) 591-3194

SOURCE Rapidus Corporation
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rinnai America Corporation, a leading North American manufacturer of innovative, energy-efficient tankless water heaters, is urging lawmakers to take action to protect American manufacturing, jobs and consumer choice.

Vote YES on the CRA SJ Res 4

Rinnai's appeal comes as the U.S. Senate considers the Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution SJ Res 4, critical to overturning a proposed rule by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that would effectively ban non-condensing tankless water heaters.

The Impact of the DOE's Proposed Rule

This regulation threatens hundreds of American manufacturing jobs at Rinnai's state-of-the-art facility in Griffin, Georgia, a $70 million investment in U.S. manufacturing. Passing the CRA would protect these jobs and safeguard diverse and competitive employment opportunities in manufacturing.

Preserving Energy Efficiency & Consumer Choice

Rinnai's non-condensing tankless water heaters are up to 50% more efficient than traditional storage tank models, ensuring consumers have access to energy-efficient options that reduce long-term costs and energy use. The DOE's rule would limit consumer choice and market competition, favoring larger tank manufacturers at the expense of innovation and efficiency. If non-condensing models are banned, 80% of consumers would likely switch to less efficient storage tank models, undermining the DOE's energy efficiency goals.

Lowering Costs for American Families

The DOE's regulation threatens to increase costs for American families. Consumers will face an additional $665 per unit, plus up to $1,000 in installation costs. This translates to a $235 million annual cost increase passed directly onto consumers, disproportionately impacting low-income and senior households. Voting yes means protecting American families from unnecessary financial strain and ensuring affordable energy solutions.

The Importance of Supporting U.S. Manufacturing

Rinnai's commitment to U.S. manufacturing stands in stark contrast to many competitors that choose to manufacture products abroad. This creates an uneven playing field with long-term economic and environmental consequences for the U.S. manufacturing sector. Rinnai's investment in Georgia strengthens American manufacturing and ensures the U.S. remains competitive on the global stage.

Rinnai's Call to Action

Rinnai calls on the U.S. Senate to urgently pass the Congressional Review Act resolution and overturn the DOE's harmful regulation. Supporting the CRA will:

Protect U.S. jobs and manufacturing investment

Prevent unnecessary cost increases for American families

Ensure continued progress on energy efficiency

Preserve consumer choice and market competition

About Rinnai:

Rinnai America Corporation, a subsidiary of Rinnai Corporation in Nagoya, Japan, was established in 1974 and is headquartered in Peachtree City, Georgia. Rinnai Corporation manufactures gas appliances, including tankless water heaters, a wide range of kitchen appliances, and heating and air conditioning units. As the technology leader in its industry, Rinnai is the largest gas appliance manufacturer in Japan and has the highest efficiency of any tankless water heater brand in the United States and Canada. Annual corporate revenues, including those of its subsidiaries, are in excess of $3.3 billion. With a global perspective to create 21st-century products for the home and business, Rinnai Corporation commits itself to safety and Creating a healthier way of living. For more information about Rinnai's entire product line, visit www.rinnai.us.

Copyright 2025. All rights reserved. Rinnai and Creating a healthier way of living are the registered trademarks of Rinnai Corporation used under license by Rinnai America Corporation.

SOURCE Rinnai America Corporation
Opening March 2930, the Farmers Market at Riverside EpiCenter offers a vibrant, family-friendly experience designed to promote healthy living and support local entrepreneurs in the Mableton community.

MABLETON, Ga., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Riverside EpiCenter, Atlanta's premiere multi-use event, fitness, and co-working venue, has partnered with Event HelperZ to launch a dynamic new Farmers Marketset to become one of Georgia's largest community-driven markets. The event features 4060 vendors offering fresh produce, artisan goods, wellness products, and handmade crafts.

Riverside EpiCenter and Event HelperZ Announce Launch of New Farmers Market in Mableton EPIC Farmers Market @ Riverside EpiCenter

The inaugural market weekend kicks off at 135 Riverside Pkwy, Austell, GA 30168 on Saturday, March 29 at 10 AM EDT and Sunday, March 30 at 9 AM EDT. The market is designed to serve as a community gathering space that prioritizes health, sustainability, and economic opportunity.

"The Farmers Market at Riverside EpiCenter perfectly aligns with our mission to uplift small businesses and create meaningful experiences for our community," says Dr. Christopher Boyd, General Manager. "It's about more than shoppingit's about connection, health, and community empowerment."

Event operations, vendor management, and logistics will be led by Event HelperZ, an Atlanta-based company known for expert event staffing and activation.

"We are honored to work alongside the Riverside EpiCenter team to bring this exciting vision to life," says Krys Cage, CEO of Event HelperZ. "This market is not just a place to shopit's a space for vendors to thrive, families to connect, and the community to grow together."

Attendees can expect:

Fresh, seasonal produce from local farmers

Organic and specialty baked goods

Handmade gifts, crafts, and decor

Wellness and lifestyle products

The market is free and open to the public, with ample parking, and will run most weekends after the grand opening.

Vendor applications available now at www.RiversideEpiCenter.com.

ABOUT RIVERSIDE EPICENTER

Riverside EpiCenter is a premier community hub located in Mableton, Georgia, offering events, fitness programs, co-working spaces, and youth services. Founded by Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral, it is committed to connection, creativity, and opportunity for all.

ABOUT EVENT HELPERZ

Event HelperZ is an Atlanta-based event support company specializing in staffing, logistics, and full-service event management for trade shows, festivals, and corporate activations. With a passion for excellence, Event HelperZ empowers brands and communities nationwide.

Media Contact:

Dr. Christopher L. Boyd

General Manager, Riverside EpiCenter

Phone: 678-903-5480

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Riverside EpiCenter
SAS recognized for driving cross-functional integration and sharpening its focus on customer and buyer needs to drive company growth

CARY, N.C., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SAS has been named a winner of Forrester's 2025 B2B Return On Integration (ROI) Honors. The honors are awarded to organizations that have changed the trajectory of their company's performance by aligning cross-functionality around buyer and customer needs. SAS, a global leader in data and AI, will be among the honorees recognized at B2B Summit North America , taking place in Phoenix and digitally, March 31April 3, 2025.

SAS a winner of Forrester's 2025 B2B Return On Integration (ROI) Honors Post this SAS a winner of Forresters 2025 B2B Return On Integration (ROI) Honors for driving cross-functional integration; sharpening its focus on customer and buyer needs to drive company growth

SAS was recognized for transforming its marketing campaigns by adopting a customer-centric approach that amplifies "moments that matter" improving customer satisfaction while increasing marketing's contribution to the sales pipeline across the customer lifecycle.

"Realizing our aggressive growth and profitability goals required a stronger focus on the customer experience," said Jenn Chase, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at SAS. "By creating a global campaign center of cross-functional marketing teams in core areas, we have aligned reputation/awareness, customer engagement, and channel efforts with demand generation campaigns to achieve greater scale, impact, and agility. It's also driven tighter integration across marketing, customer success, and channel partner functions."

SAS' marketing teams use its commercially sold technologies, SAS Customer Intelligence 360 and SAS Viya, to power the Global Campaign Center. "SAS Viya and SAS Customer Intelligence 360 have been transformational in determining the right audiences to communicate with at each phase of their journey, creating the emails that will resonate the most, and measuring and assessing what's working well and what's not," said Michele Eggers, Vice President of Marketing Shared Services. "We're using data and AI to drive our decision making to achieve our company growth and profitability goals."

"This year's winners across the B2B Return On Integration Honors are leading examples of firms that have improved focus on buyer and customer needs to propel growth," said Matthew Selheimer, VP and research director at Forrester in a February 2025 press release. "These award winners challenged the status quo and led transformation in their organizations to capitalize on changing buyer dynamics to deliver more value for customers and their businesses. We look forward to showcasing these successes at B2B Summit North America."

At B2B Summit North America, ROI honorees will participate in the Keynote Panel: 2025 Return On Integration Award Winners, taking place on April 2nd, 2025, at 9:45 am MST. Anna Harper, Senior Director of Global Campaign Center at SAS, will discuss how SAS created customer impact and improved company performance by deepening integration between customer success, channel partner, and global and regional marketing teams. Forrester's Chief Research Officer, Sharyn Leaver, and VP and Research Director, Matthew Selheimer, will moderate the panel.

Register to attend B2B Summit North America

About SAS

SAS is a global leader in data and AI. With SAS software and industry-specific solutions, organizations transform data into trusted decisions. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW.

SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries.  indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright  2025 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.

Editorial Contact:

Angela Lipscomb

[email protected]

919-531-2525

sas.com/news

SOURCE SAS
Planned investment of over $700 million to support growing U.S. digitalization, automation, and manufacturing demand in the region

to support growing U.S. digitalization, automation, and manufacturing demand in the region U.S. investment to surpass $1 billion so far this decade, supplementing $440 million already announced since 2020 to strengthen its U.S. supply chain

so far this decade, supplementing already announced since 2020 to strengthen its U.S. supply chain Company expects to create over 1,000 new U.S. jobs

BOSTON, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Schneider Electric , the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced today that it is planning to invest over $700 million in its U.S. operations through 2027. The company's investments support the country's focus on bolstering the nation's energy infrastructure to power AI growth, boost domestic manufacturing, and strengthen energy security. The announcement comes as rising regional demand grows across data centers, utilities, manufacturing, and energy infrastructure segments.

Schneider Electric manufacturing facility in El Paso, Texas

The investment is the largest planned single capital expenditure commitment by Schneider Electric in its' 135+ year history in the U.S. It includes manufacturing expansions and job growth, reflecting the company's robust customer demand for solutions to increase energy efficiency, scale industrial automation, and deliver a more reliable grid. Coupled with previous investments in 2023 and 2024 to strengthen its North American supply chain, Schneider Electric's latest U.S. planned investment will surpass $1 billion so far this decade.

This new planned investment is expected to create over 1,000 new jobs and help Schneider Electric continue to play a leading role in shaping a more innovative, affordable, and energy-efficient future in the U.S. As part of its talent acquisition plan, the company intends to reinforce its culture of service by hiring more veterans and retiring U.S. service members. Newly created roles will include next-generation manufacturing professionals, engineers, developers, and technical analysts.

"We stand at an inflection point for the technology and industrial sectors in the U.S., driven by incredible AI growth and unprecedented energy demand. To lead the transformation ahead, we must be agile and act now to advance ambitious digitalization and efficiency goals to make an impact for generations to come," said Aamir Paul, President of North America Operations for Schneider Electric. "Today's announcement is another milestone in our responsible investment strategy at Schneider Electric, underscoring our steadfast commitment to U.S. manufacturing, our unwavering belief that jobs and technological innovation will thrive together, and making a critical impact for our customers across the growing energy and automation sectors in the U.S."

"Schneider Electric's significant investment is a clear sign that manufacturing in America is moving forwarddriving economic growth, innovation and job creation across the country," said National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons. "By expanding their operations with a focus on energy security, automation and AI, Schneider Electric is not only strengthening America's competitiveness but also creating new opportunities and powering our nation's future."

"America's electrical system will face unprecedented rising energy demand in the coming decade driven by data centers and AI. Schneider Electric's historic investment of over $700 million across its domestic operations over the next two years is indicative of the critical role electrical manufacturers play in meeting this new demand and powering an electric future," said National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) President and CEO Debra Phillips. "NEMA congratulates Schneider Electric on this investment in U.S. innovation, economic growth and good-paying American jobs. We look forward to working together to expand domestic manufacturing, deliver a world-class grid, and meet the electricity demands of the modern world."

Schneider Electric leverages its own technology solutions like the EcoStruxure platform to drive greater electrification, efficiency, and sustainability, with multiple facilities recognized as Lighthouse factories by the World Economic Forum. Today's investment is aimed to help the company maintain its leadership position in enabling smart factory transformations, develop and deploy cutting edge energy efficiency solutions, and bolster its domestic supply chain capabilities. Facility upgrades, expansions, and openings span the U.S., including but not limited to:

Mt. Juliet, Tennessee : Constructing a new facility adjacent to the company's recently announced facility to grow our presence in the medium voltage market and introduce new products to the U.S. market.

: Constructing a new facility adjacent to the company's recently announced facility to grow our presence in the medium voltage market and introduce new products to the U.S. market. Andover, Massachusetts : Opening a new power distribution unit laboratory allowing researchers to test power systems for the AI data center market. Also, a new microgrid laboratory will simulate and test fully functioning microgrids under real-world conditions.

: Opening a new power distribution unit laboratory allowing researchers to test power systems for the AI data center market. Also, a new microgrid laboratory will simulate and test fully functioning microgrids under real-world conditions. Columbia, Missouri : Expanding the current plant with additional space to expand production of molded case circuit breakers and air circuit breakers.

: Expanding the current plant with additional space to expand production of molded case circuit breakers and air circuit breakers. Fairfield, Ohio : Transforming an existing facility by incorporating advanced manufacturing technologies and software to manufacture new products.

: Transforming an existing facility by incorporating advanced manufacturing technologies and software to manufacture new products. El Paso, Texas : Expanding the company's existing campus to keep up with growing demand to increase production of switchgear and power distribution products.

: Expanding the company's existing campus to keep up with growing demand to increase production of switchgear and power distribution products. Houston, Texas : Opening an Innovation Center in the heart of the U.S. energy corridor designed to provide hands-on engagement and end-to-end asset visibility with open, innovative, and AI-driven automation solutions that will support the dynamic needs of the US energy and automation landscape.

: Opening an Innovation Center in the heart of the U.S. energy corridor designed to provide hands-on engagement and end-to-end asset visibility with open, innovative, and AI-driven automation solutions that will support the dynamic needs of the US energy and automation landscape. Raleigh, North Carolina : Opening a Robotics & Motion Center of Excellence to deliver high-performance motion and robotics products, which are enhanced by AI-enabled solutions and tailored to drive efficiency and resilience in U.S. industrial operations.

: Opening a Robotics & Motion Center of Excellence to deliver high-performance motion and robotics products, which are enhanced by AI-enabled solutions and tailored to drive efficiency and resilience in U.S. industrial operations. Welcome, North Carolina : Modernizing existing space for production of switchgear and power distribution products to bolster support for critical infrastructure and industries across the U.S.

As part of its commitment to the evolution of the electrical grid as a driver for growth, Schneider Electric also introduced its new One Digital Grid Platform, an integrated and AI-enabled software platform which helps utilities to accelerate grid modernization and meet the demands of an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving grid environment. The company also announced its membership in EPRI's DCFlex initiative. Through DCFlex, participants across industries and sectors explore how data centers can support the electric grid and enable better asset utilization. All three of today's announcements were made in conjunction with Schneider Electric's presence at the DISTRIBUTECH 2025 conference in Dallas.

North America is the company's largest region, representing 36% of Group revenues in 2024. The company employs more than 21,000 workers in the U.S., operates over 20 smart factories and distribution centers, and partners with approximately 40% of Fortune 500 companies. Its products and solutions can be found in four of 10 U.S. homes; 40% of the world's hospitals; and 40,000 water and wastewater installations in 150 countries.

Schneider Electric was recently ranked as one of Glassdoor's Best Places to Work 2025, and the company is proud to be recognized as a 2025 Gold Military Friendly employer. In 2024, TIME magazine ranked Schneider Electric as the world's most sustainable company. Schneider Electric was also named the World's Most Sustainable Corporation 2025 by Corporate Knights and it is the only company to rank first in the Global 100 twice.

About Schneider Electric

Schneider's purpose is to create Impact by empowering all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability. At Schneider, we call this Life Is On.

Our mission is to be the trusted partner in Sustainability and Efficiency.

We are a global industrial technology leader bringing world-leading expertise in electrification, automation and digitalization to smart industries, resilient infrastructure, future-proof data centers, intelligent buildings, and intuitive homes. Anchored by our deep domain expertise, we provide integrated end-to-end lifecycle AI enabled Industrial IoT solutions with connected products, automation, software and services, delivering digital twins to enable profitable growth for our customers.

We are a people company with an ecosystem of 150,000 colleagues and more than a million partners operating in over 100 countries to ensure proximity to our customers and stakeholders. We embrace diversity and inclusion in everything we do, guided by our meaningful purpose of a sustainable future for all.

www.se.com

Discover Life Is On

Follow us on: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | Blog

Hashtags: #SchneiderElectric #SchneiderInAmerica #UnitedStates #America #Manufacturing #Investment #R&D #AI #US

SOURCE Schneider Electric
Available in 2025, the One Digital Grid Platform equips utilities with the foundation needed to navigate modern energy challenges

Platform offers a complete ecosystem of solutions, leveraging AI to deliver generational advances in Planning & Asset Management, Operations & Resiliency and Flexibility & Customer Engagement

Schneider Electric joins the Electric Power Research Institute in a global effort to solve data center grid-capacity constraints

DALLAS, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Schneider Electric , the global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, is revolutionizing grid operations with its launch of the One Digital Grid Platform, an integrated and AI-powered platform designed to enhance grid resiliency, reliability and efficiency. This platform provides the data and technical foundation to integrate independent software solutions, enabling utilities to accelerate grid modernization and deliver cleaner, more affordable energy while benefitting from lower total cost of ownership.

Schneider Electric's new One Digital Grid platform provides the interoperable solution utilities need to accelerate modernization, improve reliability, and lower costs by integrating mission-critical software into a secure and scalable ecosystem.

One Digital Grid Platform: The Foundation for a More Resilient, Flexible and Secure Grid

Many utilities rely on outdated grid systems without the scalability, automation and integration needed to keep pace with growing electricity demand, more extreme weather events and the rapid expansion of distributed energy resources (DERs) such as rooftop solar, EV charging and battery storage. The One Digital Grid Platform provides the interoperable solution utilities need to accelerate modernization, improve reliability and lower costs by integrating mission-critical software into a secure and scalable ecosystem. The Platform enables real-time insights, predictive analytics and automation to drive efficiency and resiliency across the grid, reduce outages by up to 40%, decrease DER interconnection timelines by 25% and decrease application deployment time by 60%. Schneider's One Digital Grid Platform will be available to utilities later this year for immediate implementation.

With over 30 years of domain expertise and a proven product portfolio, Schneider Electric has been at the forefront of grid modernization, solving complex technology challenges for utilities worldwide. Its industry-leading solutions form an interoperable network that sets industry standards. As the energy landscape evolves, Schneider Electric continues to drive innovation by addressing the growing demands of a digital-first grid ecosystem.

A Holistic Approach to Grid Modernization

The One Digital Grid Platform leverages an innovative hybrid cloud architecture, addressing three core use cases to helping utilities navigate today's challenges while preparing for the future:

Grid Planning & Asset Management  Helping utilities optimize infrastructure investments by integrating advanced design, validation and data management tools. This ensures long-term grid reliability while reducing capital and operational costs.

 Helping utilities optimize infrastructure investments by integrating advanced design, validation and data management tools. This ensures long-term grid reliability while reducing capital and operational costs. Grid Operations & Resiliency  Providing real-time and go-forward awareness by leveraging operational and third-party data and utilizing first-party predictive analytics and advanced solutions from industry leaders, like AiDASH , to deeply understand climate risk. These capabilities improve disaster response, maximize efficiency and enhance grid flexibility, even during extreme weather events.

 Providing real-time and go-forward awareness by leveraging operational and third-party data and utilizing first-party predictive analytics and advanced solutions from industry leaders, like , to deeply understand climate risk. These capabilities improve disaster response, maximize efficiency and enhance grid flexibility, even during extreme weather events. Grid Flexibility & Customer Engagement  Empowering utilities to seamlessly integrate DERs while enhancing customer experiences. The platform supports a more dynamic, consumer-driven energy ecosystem by streamlining interoperability with solutions from partners like leading prosumer engagement platform provider, Uplight.

The One Digital Grid Platform is built to innovate alongside the energy industry, providing utilities with the flexibility and security needed to adapt to emerging challenges. Leveraging Microsoft Azure, the Platform ensures seamless, end-to-end connectivity while enabling interoperability with external systems for rapid insights and enriched operational capabilities. Its robust, multi-layered cybersecurity measures protect critical infrastructure from evolving threats, while plug-and-play integration simplifies the deployment of new technologies, accelerating time to value.

"The future of grid management demands a holistic, data-driven approach prioritizing resiliency, efficiency and flexibility. With the One Digital Grid Platform, utilities can reduce the complexity of the grid, improve reliability, reduce outages and integrate DERs to meet increased energy demand," said Ruben Llanes, CEO of Digital Grid, Schneider Electric. "By providing an open, modular and AI-powered architecture that connects solutions across the entire grid lifecyclefrom planning and operations to customer engagementwe help utilities build a more dynamic energy infrastructure tailored to their and their customers' ever-evolving needs."

By providing a holistic, intelligent and secure approach to grid management, Schneider Electric is helping utilities modernize faster, operate more efficiently and transition toward a cleaner, more affordable energy future. To safeguard these innovations, Schneider delivers a significant leap forward in protection and control technology, including:

PowerLogic P7 high-end relay platform is designed to meet the demands of the most complex electrical systems. With dual capability, it can be used as a traditional embedded hardware platform or as a software-defined solution, integrating seamlessly with other functions like merging units, controllers and bay control units. This adaptability ensures that utilities can future-proof their operations while maintaining the highest reliability and security standards. The key to its design is a focus on cybersecurity, with built-in functionality that defends against evolving threats, ensuring grid resilience.

high-end relay platform is designed to meet the demands of the most complex electrical systems. With dual capability, it can be used as a traditional embedded hardware platform or as a software-defined solution, integrating seamlessly with other functions like merging units, controllers and bay control units. This adaptability ensures that utilities can future-proof their operations while maintaining the highest reliability and security standards. The key to its design is a focus on cybersecurity, with built-in functionality that defends against evolving threats, ensuring grid resilience. PowerLogic T500 is redefining substation automation. As the next-generation replacement for our legacy Sage offer, the PowerLogic T500 is engineered to meet the high demands of modern utility markets, particularly in the U.S. It serves as a primary substation remote terminal unit, data concentrator and communications processor, offering a single, modular platform that integrates operational technology systems seamlessly. This integration is critical for utilities looking to enhance operational efficiency while maintaining robust cybersecurity. The T500's modular design allows for flexibility in hardware, firmware and software configurations, making it a versatile solution for a wide range of applications.

A Vision for the Future

Schneider Electric's strategic partnerships, including collaborations with Microsoft, Esri and Uplight, drive advancements in automated grid intelligence, situational awareness and customer engagement. These partnerships enable innovative solutions that enhance grid modernization efforts, ensuring a smarter and more resilient energy infrastructure.

As part of this effort, Schneider Electric has joined EPRI , an organization that conducts research and development to improve the energy industry and their global initiative to solve growing demand for data centers. This collaboration focuses on creating flexible data center architecture and demand response programs that enable faster interconnection to the grid. By partnering with utilities and data center providers, Schneider Electric brings deep domain expertise to help overcome capacity bottlenecks while ensuring sustainable growth in digital infrastructure.

"Economic and technological growth is dependent on our ability to deliver energy reliably, securely and affordably. By fostering collaboration across the industry," said Nadege Petit, Chief Innovation Officer at Schneider Electric, "we are addressing key challenges like data center grid-capacity constraints. At Schneider Electric, we remain committed to driving innovation that enables a smarter, more sustainable grid for generations to come."

To further reinforce its commitment to the evolution of the electrical grid as a driver for growth, Schneider Electric also announced today its plans to invest over $700 million in the U.S., supporting energy & AI sectors and job growth. This underscores Schneider's regional focus to support growing digitalization, automation and manufacturing demand as well as its position to meet the evolving needs of U.S. customers and the broader community.

To learn more, please visit https://www.se.com/us/en/work/campaign/energy-intelligence/ , visit Schneider Electric at Distributech 2025 (booth #1622), or join us for a One Digital Grid virtual launch event at 9:00 a.m. CT on March 25th (https://events.se.com/NVXOBg).

About Schneider Electric

Schneider's purpose is to create Impact by empowering all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. At Schneider, we call this Life Is On.

Our mission is to be the trusted partner in Sustainability and Efficiency.

We are a global industrial technology leader bringing world-leading expertise in electrification, automation and digitalization to smart industries, resilient infrastructure, future-proof data centers, intelligent buildings and intuitive homes. Anchored by our deep domain expertise, we provide integrated end-to-end lifecycle AI enabled Industrial IoT solutions with connected products, automation, software and services, delivering digital twins to enable profitable growth for our customers.

We are a people company with an ecosystem of 150,000 colleagues and more than a million partners operating in over 100 countries to ensure proximity to our customers and stakeholders. We embrace diversity and inclusion in everything we do, guided by our meaningful purpose of a sustainable future for all.

www.se.com

Discover Life Is On

Follow us on: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | Blog

Hashtags: #SchneiderElectric #OneDigitalGrid #Utilities #Electrification #DistribuTech #GridModernization #EPRI

SOURCE Schneider Electric
Discover tools, guides and advice to help you transition your career and become a small business owner.

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SCORE , the nation's largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, has launched the Employee to Entrepreneur Resource Hub . Designed for aspiring entrepreneurs interested in a career transition from employee to small business owner, this hub provides resources to guide you on your business journey.

Brice Sokolowski (pictured, right), president of Vaucluse Backpack Ventilation Gear in Scottsdale, Ariz., sought the expertise of SCORE mentors to help his business.

Whether motivated by a desire to be your own boss or a lifelong dream to own a business, millions of Americans are pursuing business ownership. In 2024 alone, 5.2 million new business applications were filed in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

"Starting a new business can be overwhelming," acknowledges SCORE CEO Bridget Weston. "But you don't have to go it alone. SCORE offers best-in-class tools, guides and expert advice to help you confidently shift from employee to entrepreneur."

Free resources for entrepreneurs

SCORE's Employee to Entrepreneur Resource Hub connects you with the critical resources, strategies and support you need to turn your business idea into reality, including

Business idea validation: Validate and refine your business idea and learn how to develop a winning concept, craft a solid business plan or consider franchise ownership.

Validate and refine your business idea and learn how to develop a winning concept, craft a solid business plan or consider franchise ownership. Financial preparation: Lay a solid financial foundation for your startup  from projecting cash flow to exploring financing options  through comprehensive resources that will help you confidently plan, budget and invest in your entrepreneurial success.

Lay a solid financial foundation for your startup  from projecting cash flow to exploring financing options  through comprehensive resources that will help you confidently plan, budget and invest in your entrepreneurial success. Legal and structural setup: Explore the different business structures, essential licenses and permits that will help you ensure your business is built on a strong legal foundation.

Explore the different business structures, essential licenses and permits that will help you ensure your business is built on a strong legal foundation. Building a brand and marketing strategy: Create a standout brand and marketing strategy with comprehensive resources, expert webinars and real-world success stories. From building your brand identity to harnessing platforms like LinkedIn, these tools will help you connect with your audience, stand out in the market and achieve sustainable growth.

Create a standout brand and marketing strategy with comprehensive resources, expert webinars and real-world success stories. From building your brand identity to harnessing platforms like LinkedIn, these tools will help you connect with your audience, stand out in the market and achieve sustainable growth. Mindset and personal readiness: Prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for the transition from employee to entrepreneur. Discover a range of resources  including webinars and expert advice  to help you shift your mindset, explore different business ownership options and gain the confidence needed to succeed in your new venture.

Prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for the transition from employee to entrepreneur. Discover a range of resources  including webinars and expert advice  to help you shift your mindset, explore different business ownership options and gain the confidence needed to succeed in your new venture. Operations and day-to-day management: Lay the groundwork for efficient day-to-day management. Explore critical resources, such as operating agreements, and gain best practices to streamline business operations, maintain compliance and ensure a smooth workflow for your venture.

As a SCORE client, you'll receive access to free mentoring for the life of your business. Our volunteers have a wealth of knowledge across industries and bring years of expertise to guide you on the right path, whatever challenges your business is facing.

Benefit from mentors' expertise

As a first-time business owner, Mike Neiduski sought SCORE's help when he purchased Ugly Dog Hunting Company in 2023. "I hadn't run a business before and knew I needed guidance," explained Mike. "SCORE mentors Bruce and Paulette have helped me immensely, especially with cash flow, inventory management, marketing, financing and providing reassurance about the progress of my business."

SCORE client Brice Sokolowski cited SCORE's one-on-one mentoring as a key contributor to the success of his business. "My mentor took the time to understand my business model and challenges, providing tailored advice that helped me refine my marketing strategy and streamline operations," said Brice. "This guidance has been instrumental in boosting our customer engagement and improving overall efficiency."

To learn more about SCORE, request a mentor or volunteer to be one, visit SCORE.org .

About SCORE

Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 17 million entrepreneurs start, grow or successfully exit a business. SCORE's 10,000 volunteers provide free, expert mentoring, resources and education in all 50 U.S. states and territories.

Funded [in part] through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

CONTACT:

SCORE

202-968-6428

[email protected]

Visit SCORE's media resources to connect with expert small business interview sources and news updates.

SOURCES

https://www.uschamber.com/economy/american-business-data-center-2025

SOURCE SCORE
Bringing a Taste of Scotland to the Heart of NYC

NEW YORK, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, April 3rd, New Yorkers can experience a taste of Scotland with free street food, live music, and high-energy ceilidh dancing as part of NYC Tartan Week.

Scotland's Snack Shack

Starting at 12pm, VisitScotland will take over 5th Ave and E 20th St, opposite Madison Square Park, with a pop-up food truck: Scotland's Snack Shack.

Food lovers can enjoy complimentary, mouth-watering Scottish street food created by Chef Clare Coghill, owner of Cafe Cuil.

The menu features classic dishes with a Scottish twist, inspired by Chef Clare's Hebridean heritage: Lobster rolls with Isle of Raasay Distillery whisky butter, veggie haggis quesadillas and Scotland's most popular soda, Irn Bru.

A Highland Coo-R code will also be available for visitors to scan for more information on planning a trip to Scotland with travel itineraries, suggestions, and advice.

Chef Clare Coghill says, "I'm so excited to make the trip to New York City to represent Scotland and participate in Tartan Week with VisitScotland!

It really is a dream come true to share our culture and traditional food and drink with fellow Scots living in New York and people who might not have tried our fabulous produce and recipes before."

Scotland's Spring Fling

After indulging in Scottish flavors, New Yorkers can step into a whirlwind of music and dance at Scotland's Spring Fling in the Park.

From 1pm to 3pm, Madison Square Park will come alive with a traditional Scottish ceilidh - a high-energy, inclusive dance party led by Mickela Mallozzi, the Emmy-winning host of PBS's Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi, and performers from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Attendees can jump in, learn some easy dance steps, and experience the electrifying energy of a Scottish ceilidh - all while standing a chance to win roundtrip flights from New York to Scotland, courtesy of JetBlue.

Mickela Mallozzi says, "I'm thrilled to bring a proper Scottish ceilidh to New Yorkers for NYC Tartan Week"

"When I experienced one of the world's largest ceilidhs during Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations, I fell in love with the energy, joy, and community of Scottish culture. I know everyone who joins us will feel the same!"

Jason Barrett, Chief Executive of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, adds, "In our 75th year, we are delighted to partner with VisitScotland to showcase Scotland's rich culture, world-class food, and warm hospitality - right in the heart of New York. Celebrating Scottish heritage on the global stage is at the core of the Tattoo's work, and we are thrilled to inspire audiences across the pond to experience Scotland for themselves.

"Our Tattoo performers are equally excited to be part of Scotland's Hoolie in New York, making their mark on the world-famous Carnegie Hall stage. From the historic Edinburgh Castle Esplanade to one of the most iconic venues in the world, it's a fitting tribute to Scotland's enduring cultural legacy."

Celebrate Tartan Week in NYC:

The events are part of NYC Tartan Week, an annual celebration of Scottish American heritage and its enduring connections today.

Other must-see events include

Friday, April 4th  Albert's Bar x Cafe Cuil ( 6pm - 8pm , Albert's Bar)

A second chance to experience Chef Clare Coghill's dishes and drinks from Isle of Raasay Distillery.

( , Albert's Bar) A second chance to experience Chef dishes and drinks from Isle of Raasay Distillery. Saturday, April 5th  NYC Tartan Day Parade ( 2pm , 6th Ave & W 44th St)

NYC's biggest annual celebration of Scottish culture features hundreds of bagpipers, drummers, clan associations, and Scottish Terriers! Led by Grand Marshal Alan Cumming , award-winning actor and host of The Traitors US.

( , 6th Ave & W 44th St) NYC's biggest annual celebration of Scottish culture features hundreds of bagpipers, drummers, clan associations, and Scottish Terriers! Led by Grand Marshal , award-winning actor and host of The Traitors US. Saturday, April 5th  Scotland's Hoolie in New York ( 8pm , Carnegie Hall)

An electrifying evening of Scottish music and performance led by musician and broadcaster Gary Innes and hosted by Grand Marshal Alan Cumming . Featuring Manran, an award-winning Scottish folk band blending tradition with modern energy, Julie Fowlis & Dougie MacLean two of Scotland's most celebrated vocalists and live performances from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Ever thought about living, working or studying in Scotland? Visit scotland.org to learn more.

For more information contact: [email protected]

Listing information

Scotland's Snack Shack

Thursday, April 3rd, 2025,

From 12pm

5th Ave & E 20th St

Eventbrite link

Scotland's Spring Fling

Thursday, April 3rd, 2025

1pm - 3pm

Madison Square Park

Eventbrite link

Notes to Editors

VisitScotland

VisitScotland is Scotland's national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to drive the visitor economy, growing its value in Scotland .

. As an economic growth agency, VisitScotland's activity focuses on three key priorities  market development, place development and business and experience development.

VisitScotland's work helps deliver the ambitions of the national tourism strategy, Scotland Outlook 2030, for Scotland to be a world leader in 21st century tourism, and the national events strategy, Scotland the Perfect Stage.

It leverages tourism and events as a force for good for all of Scotland's people and places and builds Scotland's international profile as a leading place to visit, live, work, study and do business.

VisitScotland is a proud signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism and Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency.

For VisitScotland's press releases go to Media Centre (visitscotland.org).

For holiday information on Scotland visit www.visitscotland.com

Brand Scotland

Brand Scotland has a clear vision; for Scotland to be recognised as a dynamic, inclusive country in which to live, work, study, visit, trade and invest. It brings together the collective communications of the Scottish Government and key partners VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Development International, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Universities Scotland, Creative Scotland and Scotland Food & Drink to harness our energy, expertise and resources, increasing the impact of all our work in building Scotland's global reputation.

Brand Scotland tells the authentic story of Scotland as a nation on a quest to make good things happen  to use innovative thinking to pioneer better ways of doing things, to celebrate progress and kindness in equal measure and to turn ideas into action.

SOURCE VisitScotland
HANOI, Vietnam, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The French Development Finance Institution (Proparco) and the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO) have signed a loan agreement worth US$80 million, of which each party invest US$40 million, with Southeast Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SeABank, stock code: SSB).

SeABank receives investment of US$80 million from Proparco and FMO - the French and Dutch government-owned financial institutions

The funding strengthens SeABank's financial capacity to enhance financial access, improve capacities and expand key business areas for Vietnamese SMEs and women-owned enterprises; while improving the implementation of international practices in E&S risk management and climate change mitigation.

This also marks the beginning of a partnership focused on economic growth and financial inclusion.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Le Van Tan - Chairman of the BOD (SeABank) highlighted SeABank's customer-centric commitment to guaranteeing equal financial access for all individuals and businesses, and emphasized: "The investment aligns with SeABank's sustainability strategy and enhances SeABank's ability to offer effective financial solutions, support SMEs, women-owned entrepreneurs, and climate action".

Mr. Olivier Brochet - French Ambassador to Vietnam expressed his support for Proparco's meaningful activities in the Vietnamese market, and shared: "As the Vietnam-France relationship has been elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, we remain committed to supporting Vietnam's development. This cooperation is in line with our strategic direction and the common commitments at the G7 Summit 2024, particularly aims to address challenges of the new era through ecosystem protection and SMEs, women-owned entrepreneurs support".

Mr. Kees van Baar - Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam highlighted the Netherlands' role as Vietnam's largest European investor and trading partner, found common strengths in water resources, and shared development objectives of driving growth in Vietnam focusing on SMEs and women-owned enterprises. Mr. Kees van Baar emphasized the reason for choosing SeABank as partner: "SeABank has a clear strategic vision in providing financial solutions that support private enterprises, SMEs, and women-owned enterprises; along with international reputation and network to implement these initiatives. I believe that FMO and Dutch enterprises, together with SeABank and its ecosystem partners will have cooperative opportunities in the near future".

With this investment, SeABank's total international mobilization has reached nearly US$1.1 billion. This includes loans, credits, and trade finance from major financial institutions such as DFC, IFC, AIIB, Norfund, and OPEC Fund, etc. The growing trust from global partners demonstrates SeABank's strong reputation, operational efficiency, and commitment to supporting SMEs and women-owned enterprises.

SOURCE SeABank
GROTON, Conn., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) visited ThayerMahan, a leading maritime technology company on Thursday, March 20 to engage with senior leadership regarding the critical issues of undersea security and surveillance. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Navy Caucus, and Coast Guard Caucus, Senator Blumenthal understands the importance for America's armed forces to maintain the advantage in Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).

"What we are seeing here is the future of our Navy. It makes sense to invest in Outpost." -- Sen. Blumenthal Post this Sen. Richard Blumenthal, fourth from left, and members of the ThayerMahan team in front of a persistent unmanned surveillance vessel, Outpost.

The Senator's visit comes at a crucial time as growing global threats spanning from Russian naval activity near U.S. shores to rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait drive demand for enhanced maritime surveillance. With ongoing challenges in expanding the Navy's attack submarine (SSN) fleet, unmanned autonomous systems such as ThayerMahan's Outpost and SeaPicket platforms provide cost-effective, rapidly deployable solutions to bridge surveillance gaps.

Speaking on the use of Outpost and SeaPicket alongside traditional assets, Senator Blumenthal stated:

"What we are seeing here is the future of our Navy. Undersea warfare is going to make use of unmanned vehicles that can go places our submarine force can't reach, and complement their critical work. It makes sense to invest in Outpost to meet the growing challenges of undersea warfare and ensure a strong national defense."

The Senator toured ThayerMahan's Outpost and SeaPicket acoustic surveillance solutions, and visited the onsite operations center where he viewed the real-time receipt and classification of data from on-mission systems. At a time when ongoing supply chain challenges continue to hinder production on traditional capital assets, ThayerMahan's Outpost system provides a low-cost, scalable solution to augment capability and close the surveillance gap.

ThayerMahan COO and retired Submarine Squadron Commander John Russ stated:

"Our objective in founding ThayerMahan was to do what we can to augment wide-area undersea surveillance to support our Navy's exquisite and incredibly capable undersea warfare platforms and enable their operational commanders to employ them more effectively. Outpost is a low cost, scalable maritime surveillance platform that is ready now to deploy in support of the Navy's high-priority undersea warfare mission."

Outpost is an autonomous, mobile long-dwell system that meets top level Navy requirements for Deep Water Passive Surveillance. With production based in southeastern Connecticut, ThayerMahan has drawn top talent to the region. ThayerMahan has committed to meet growing surveillance needs, with plans to double manufacturing floor capacity and fill over fifty new high-skilled jobs in 2025. With insourced capabilities, ThayerMahan can produce a minimum of 100 unmanned autonomous systems and have them in service within two years, within the crucial time window.

About ThayerMahan

ThayerMahan, Inc. is a maritime technology company dedicated to providing its government and commercial clients with turn-key autonomous marine solutions, including deployment, operations, data gathering, and analysis services, using state-of-the-art acoustic and electronic sensors integrated on a variety of host platforms tailored to specific mission criteria. The Company is headquartered in Groton, CT with additional locations in Lowell, MA, Virginia Beach, and Arlington, VA. For more information, please visit www.thayermahan.com or contact directly at [email protected].

Media Contact:

Dr Kevin Lopes

Vice President, Marketing

120B Leonard Drive

Groton, CT 06340

860-937-6499

www.thayermahan.com

SOURCE ThayerMahan, Inc.
The 27th Theme is "creative active generative"

Filmmaker Shunji Iwai is appointed a member of the jury

The Opening Event was also attended by Oh Man-seok ('Crash Landing on You')!

SHIBUYA WARD, Japan, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA) 2025, one of Asia's largest international short film festivals accredited by the US Academy Awards, will be held from May 28 to June 11 June at multiple venues in Tokyo and online. The online venues will begin streaming some of the programs in advance from April 24 and will run until June 30. https://www.shortshorts.org/2025/en/index.html

4,592 entries from 108 countries and regions

275 submissions for short films using AI

SSFF & ASIA 2025's theme is creative active generative. SSFF & ASIA 2025 Opening Event  60th anniversary of the normalisation of diplomatic relations between Japan and Korea  JAPAN-KOREA Friendly Concert will be held on May 31 a

While many of the films submitted to this year's festival focused on family ties and the generation gap in each region, half of the films in the International category depicted the conflict in Israel and Palestine. We also saw trends in the entries, such as universal adolescence, trans youth perspectives from Generation Z and stories with dementia as a motif.

And AI-based entries, which have been growing over the past few years, numbered 275 this year. While more and more films are using AI technology as a tool for color correction, voice-overs, detailed graphics and effects, scripts and storyboards, fewer and fewer films are being produced entirely in AI, which had been a popular topic of discussion for the past years.

The festival brings together the 'creativity' of filmmakers from all over the world, and aims to create a place where works and audiences, creators and companies can meet and have new chemical reactions in an 'active' way. The SSFF & ASIA's current view and future vision are also expressed in the festival's theme, 'generative', which is to lead a new era of creativity with new technologies linked to 'Generative AI'. The SSFF & ASIA will be developed under this year's theme.

Opening ceremony on 28 May at Takanawa Gateway City

A Jury member Director Shunji Iwai and Korean star Oh Man-seok on the red carpet!

The opening ceremony will be held at Takanawa Gateway City, newly developed in the Shinagawa area.

On the red carpet, Shunji Iwai, who celebrates his 30th anniversary as a director this year, Korean star Oh Man-seok ('Crash Landing on You') and Yoo Jun-sang 'Heard It Through the Grapevine'who will star at the opening event, the JAPAN-KOREA Friendly Concert held for the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea will appear.

Media Contact:

Fuyumi Tanaka

+81-354748201

[email protected]

SOURCE Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia
WASHINGTON, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This month marks the one-year anniversary of the release of the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) Reform's final report, a pivotal document advocating for comprehensive changes to the Department of Defense's resource allocation process.

In the past year, the Department of Defense (DoD) has made significant strides in implementing the Commission's recommendations. Notably, on February 20, 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emphasized the importance of reforming the PPBE process to enhance military strength by addressing fiscal inefficiencies. He stated, "We will rebuild our military by matching threats to capabilities. This means reviving our defense industrial base, reforming our acquisition process, passing a financial audit, and rapidly fielding emerging technologies."

SDFM's PPBE Reform Task Force, co-chaired by the Honorable Tom Harker and Mr. George Kovatch, continues to play a crucial role in this transformation. By serving as the collective voice of SDFM's membership, the Task Force actively advocates for meaningful reforms to the PPBE process, ensuring that the perspectives and expertise of defense financial professionals are integral to shaping a more agile and responsive defense resourcing system.

Rich Brady, CEO of SDFM, reaffirmed the organization's dedication to supporting these reform efforts, stating, "SDFM remains committed to advancing PPBE reform initiatives that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department of Defense and military services. Our goal is to ensure that resource allocation aligns with strategic objectives and delivers innovative technologies to the warfighter."

For more information on the SDFM PPBE Reform Task Force and its initiatives, please visit www.sdfm.org or contact Charles McEntee, Director of Marketing & Public Relations at SDFM, at [email protected].

About SDFM:

The Society of Defense Financial Management (SDFM) is a non-profit educational and professional organization for public and private sector individuals in the field of defense financial management, including comptrollership, accounting, auditing, budgeting, financial systems, and related disciplines. SDFM provides professional development opportunities, certification programs, and networking events to enhance the knowledge and skills of its members, drive financial transformation in the defense sector, and promote excellence in defense financial management.

SOURCE Society of Defense Financial Management
Ian P. Livingston elected as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of S&P Global

elected as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of S&P Global Livingston succeeds Richard E. Thornburgh who will retire when his current term expires in May 2025

NEW YORK, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) today announced Ian P. Livingston (Lord Livingston of Parkhead) has been elected as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective May 7, 2025. Ian Livingston will succeed Richard E. Thornburgh, who has served as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board since October 2020 and will retire when his current term expires in May 2025.

"I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as Chairman of the Board at S&P Global over the last four and a half years, and as a director since 2011. S&P Global is a remarkable company with unique products and extraordinarily talented people," Richard E. Thornburgh said. "I am very pleased that Ian Livingston will serve as the next Chairman of the Board. Ian has been a valued member of the Board since 2020, and has deep global business experience, including in finance, accounting, and technology. He is an excellent choice, and I am confident the company is in the right hands."

S&P Global announced that Ian P. Livingston has been elected as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. Post this

Ian Livingston has been a member of the S&P Global Board of Directors since 2020. Previously, he was CEO of BT Group plc, the UK telecommunications provider and Minister for Trade and Investment in the UK Government. He is also a Senior Independent Director and Chair of the Finance Committee of National Grid plc, one of the world's largest publicly listed utilities, and a Non-Executive Chair of the Business Growth Fund, a major investor in growth businesses in the UK and Ireland. He was previously Chairman of Currys plc and Man Group plc. He has also been Chief Financial Officer of BT Group plc and Dixons Group plc.

Martina L. Cheung, President and CEO of S&P Global said, "We are pleased that Ian is stepping into the Chairman of the Board role; he has demonstrated exceptional leadership across both the public and private sectors, previously serving as a CEO, CFO, and minister in the British government and brings an international perspective on top of deep operational expertise He is uniquely qualified to serve as Board Chair and help guide S&P Global into its next phase of growth."

"It is an honor to be elected as the next Chairman of the Board of S&P Global. On behalf of my fellow directors, I would like to thank Dick for his leadership and dedication to the Board for more than a decade," Ian P. Livingston said. "In a fast-changing world, S&P Global's mission to provide Essential Intelligence has never been more important. S&P Global is outstandingly positioned to further deliver for its customers and shareholders. Together with my fellow directors, I look forward to continuing to contribute to the company's success in partnership with Martina and her talented team."

Gay Huey Evans and Robert P. Kelly will also retire from the Board and not stand for reelection at the 2025 Annual Meeting, along with Douglas L. Peterson, as previously announced in June 2024.

Ms. Cheung concluded, "While Chairman of the Board, Dick presided over a transformative period for S&P Global's business, including the 2022 acquisition of IHS Markit and the CEO selection and transition process in 2024. I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Dick, as well as Doug, Gay and Bob for their valuable service and many contributions to S&P Global."

About Ian P. Livingston

Ian Livingston (Lord Livingston of Parkhead) is S&P Global's Non-Executive Chairman, effective May 2025. Lord Livingston was CEO of BT Group plc, the UK telecommunications provider, from 2008-2013, and UK Minister for Trade and Investment, responsible for UK trade and inward investment, from 2013-2015. He is also a Senior Independent Director and Chair of the Finance Committee of National Grid plc, one of the world's largest publicly listed utilities, as well as a Non Executive Chair of the Business Growth Fund, a major investor in growth businesses in UK and Ireland.

He was previously Chairman of Currys plc, one of Europe's largest retailers of consumer electronics and the FTSE 250 fund manager, Man Group plc. He has also been CFO of BT Group plc and Dixons Group plc, at the time being the youngest CFO in the FTSE 100. Other non-executive experience includes Non-Executive Director and Chair of Audit Committee of the luxury hotels group, Belmond Ltd and Celtic plc.

Lord Livingston is also involved in a number of charities particularly in the fields of education, equality and social care. He is also a member of the House of Lords in the UK Parliament.

About Richard E. Thornburgh

Mr. Thornburgh was S&P Global's Non-Executive Chairman from October 2020 to May 2025. He was previously the Non-Executive Director and Chairman of Credit Suisse Holdings (USA), Inc. He is also the former Vice Chairman of the Board of Credit Suisse Group A.G. and chaired its Risk Committee. He held key positions throughout his career with Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB), the investment banking arm of Credit Suisse Group A.G., including Executive Vice Chairman of CSFB from 2004 through 2005. He has also held key positions with Credit Suisse Group A.G., including Chief Financial Officer, Chief Risk Officer and member of the Executive Board of Credit Suisse Group A.G. His service on the Credit Suisse boards ended at the end of fiscal year 2017.

Mr. Thornburgh is a Director of Repay Holdings Corporation, and serves on its Nominating and Compensation Committees. Mr. Thornburgh served on the Board of Capstar Financial Holdings, Inc. from 2008 through 2019. He was the Lead Director of NewStar Financial, Inc. until its sale in December 2017. He serves as the Chairman of the Board of Jackson Hewitt, a privately held company. He was previously Vice Chairman of Corsair Capital LLC, a private equity firm focused on investing in the global financial services industry, and continues to serve as a member of Corsair's Private Equity Funds' Investment Committee. He was previously a Director of Reynolds American Inc., National City Corporation and Dollar General Corporation.



Mr. Thornburgh served on the executive committee for six years and as Chairman of the Securities Industry Association in 2004. In addition, he serves on University of Cincinnati 's Investment Committee as well as the Dean's advisory cabinet of the university's Lindner School of Business.

About S&P Global

S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses and individuals with the right data, expertise and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through sustainability and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges and accelerate progress for the world.

We are widely sought after by many of the world's leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world's leading organizations plan for tomorrow, today.

Contacts:

Investor Relations:

Mark Grant

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations

Tel: +1 (347) 640-1521

[email protected]

Media:

Christina Twomey

Chief Communications Officer

Tel: +1 (410) 382-3316

[email protected]

Orla O'Brien

Global Head of Public Relations

Tel: +1 (857)407-8559

[email protected]

SOURCE S&P Global
Melting Pot, Velvet Taco and Clean Juice tap Dallas-based agency

DALLAS, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SPM Communications, a nationally ranked public relations, influencer, franchise development and issues management agency, celebrates three client wins as it continues to grow its restaurant PR practice.

Melting Pot, the original fondue restaurant, offers interactive fine dining experiences in nearly 100 locations across the U.S. as well as a CPG line of fondue kits for in-home enjoyment. As PR agency of record, SPM will develop social media content strategy, conduct media relations and celebrate the fondue brand's golden anniversary.

SPM will also serve as PR agency of record for Velvet Taco, the taco rebel and cult favorite that is redefining and reinventing the category with imaginative, global flavors. The agency will support the growing brand with national, local and trade media relations, support new store openings and lead influencer relations.

Also joining the roster is Clean Juice, the first and only national USDA-certified organic juice bar franchise with 65 stores across 19 states. SPM will provide national and local-market media and influencer relations support to help continue building brand awareness after BRIX Holdings, LLC, a Dallas-based multi-brand company specializing in chains with superior products and attractive growth prospects, purchased the brand last spring.

"Our agency was founded on restaurant PR work, and 26 years later, we are still building on that expertise with unique brands with interesting stories to tell," said Suzanne Miller, SPM founder and president. "The Melting Pot, Velvet Taco and Clean Juice represent the incredible diversity of the restaurant industry, which is what keeps this category and our work new and exciting."

SPM specializes in consumer brands in the food, restaurant, retail, apparel, franchise, lifestyle and wellness, and beauty categories. Its client roster includes industry-leading brands such as Chuck E. Cheese, Camp Bow Wow, Gold's Gym, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Utz Brands, Inc., and Shipley Do-Nuts, as well as growing emerging brands like DIG.

About SPM Communications Inc.

Founded in 1999, Dallas-based SPM Communications is an award-winning PR, media relations, influencer, social, franchise development and crisis/issues management agency. The firm creates impactful campaigns and drives meaningful results for multiple consumer brands within its areas of expertise, including national and regional restaurant, food and beverage, retail, apparel and lifestyle. Recognized for its 26-year "No Jerks" policy, the agency was recently named a 2024 PR News Agency Elite Top 100 and a Top 15 boutique PR firm by Business Insider. More information is available on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.

MEDIA CONTACT

Kristen Kauffman

214-379-7000

[email protected]

SOURCE SPM Communications, Inc.
PUNE, India, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Talentica Software, a pure-play product engineering company, has announced the winners of its second remote hackathon, held from February 21 to 23. This dynamic event set new benchmarks, serving as a platform for creativity, collaboration, and innovation.

The company has a strong tradition of hosting hackathons on emerging technologies. Participants ranged from fresh graduates to senior tech leaders, including CTO Manjusha Madabushi. Last year, Talentica organized a GenAI hackathon to explore its potential in enhancing remote work. This year, the focus was on Agentic AI.

The event brought together 30 teams comprising 130 software engineers, QAs, DevOps professionals, architects, and UX designers. The topic even intrigued non-tech participants. Teams were challenged to build AI-driven solutions for real-world problems, such as smart assistants, customer support automation, and process optimization. Solutions had to incorporate agentic AI to address complex challenges requiring collaboration, parallel decision-making, and adaptability. Multi-agent systemswhere specialized agents handle distinct tasksenhance efficiency, scalability, and problem-solving in dynamic environments.

Over 48 hours of intense coding, brainstorming, and problem-solving, participants built 30 innovative projects.

"Hackathons enable Talenticans to collaborate across teams, stay ahead of trends, and gain hands-on experience. The remote setup was challenging but didn't deter participation," said Anindita Dey, Senior Manager  People Group.

Judging criteria included idea, implementation, design, and presentation. Judges praised the innovative ideas and meaningful collaboration within the AI development community.

"It was amazing to see creativity and problem-solving in action. The energy was inspiring, and the ideas truly innovative," said Aniket Shaligram, VP of Technology.

CTO Manjusha Madabushi congratulated the winning team, Circuit Hackers, who built a dynamic dashboard enabling users to create and customize data visualization widgets using natural language. They received 1 lakh in gift vouchers and the opportunity to refine their prototype for production use.

Team QB secured the runner-up spot with a solution featuring search capabilities, personalized profiles through NLP, template modifications, and LangChain-based tools. Team Virtual Vanguard won Best Idea, while Team AIncredibles won Best Presentation.

About Talentica Software:

Founded in 2003, Talentica Software is a product engineering company solving real-world challenges for startups and tech enterprises. Headquartered in Pune, India, with over 500 experts, Talentica has developed 200+ products. Leveraging deep domain expertise and investing in technologies like AI, ML, and Blockchain, Talentica drives innovation that keeps clients at the forefront of tech advancement.

Contact:

***@talentica.com

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/13068042

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Talentica Software
Free with General Admission

LOS ANGELES, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Science Center announced today it will host The Bias Inside Us from April 5 through June 15, 2025, in the S. Mark Taper Foundation Sky Court Gallery. The community engagement project from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) raises awareness about the social science and psychology of implicit bias, the impact of this bias and what people can do about it.

The Bias Inside Us is a traveling exhibition that unpacks and demystifies the concept of bias through compelling images, hands-on interactives and powerful testimonials and videos. The exhibition features six sections: Introduction, The Science of Bias, Bias in Real Life, Serious ConsequencesBias is All Around Us, #RetrainYourBrain and Personal Reflection.

Guests will explore the foundational blocks of bias, the psychology of how it forms and how it influences behaviors both consciously and unconsciously. Interactive elements display how implicit and explicit bias show up in the world and the ways bias influences systems and policies that have consequences for many people and communities. One interactive experience invites visitors to think about how bias is reflected in product design, advertising, architecture and technology. Among the videos in the exhibition is a series that features eight voices from diverse perspectives sharing personal experience with bias.

The exhibition also features Spanish photographer Angelica Dass' Humanae project, which reflects on the color of skin that challenges the concept of race. In this work, Dass documents humanity's true colors through portraits, rather than the labels "white," "red," "black" and "yellow."

"At the California Science Center, we are committed to fostering curiosity and science learning in a welcoming environment of accessibility and inclusiveness," said Jeffrey Rudoph, President and CEO of the California Science Center. "The Bias Inside Us offers a powerful opportunity for our guests to explore the science behind implicit bias and reflect on the ways it shapes our perceptions and interactions."

The Bias Inside Us draws from the scientific research and educational work by psychologists Mahzarin R. Banaji of Harvard University and Anthony G. Greenwald, professor emeritus at the University of Washington. They defined the term "implicit bias" through their work on unconscious and conscious mental processes. Their book Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People (Delacorte Press, 2013) explores the biases people carry based on their exposure to cultural attitudes on areas such as gender, race, social class and disability status.

About the California Science Center

The California Science Center is a dynamic destination where families, adults, and children can explore the wonders of science through hands-on exhibits, live demonstrations, innovative programs, and awe-inspiring large-format movies. The California Science Center and IMAX Theater are located in historic Exposition Park just west of the Harbor (110) Freeway at 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission to the Science Center is FREE. The California Science Center is proud to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). Visit at https://californiasciencecenter.org for more information.

About the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES)

The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) deepens the impact of the Smithsonian beyond Washington, D.C., by bringing its high-quality content, resources and expertise to people nationwide in collaboration with museums and cultural organizations. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. Visit sites.si.edu for more information.

About The Bias Inside Us

Major support for The Bias Inside Us is provided by the Otto Bremer Trust. Additional support provided by Acton Family Giving, Anonymous donors, The Beverly Foundation, Steve and Sheri Lear, Target, the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation, Thomson Reuters, Alabama Power Foundation, Allianz of America, Valerie E. and William A. Anders, Atlanta Gas Light Foundation, Julie and David Burton, the Dreier Family, Lennart Ehn and Ginger Lew, Expedia, Trevor and Melissa Fetter, the Roger S. Firestone Foundation, Brenda J. Gaines, Myra Hart and Kent Hewitt, Charlie and Nancy Hogan, Judy and Bob Huret, Dr. Christine C. Jenkins and Mr. Pierre A. France, KNOCK, inc., Sarah Lawer and Frank Guanco, Leaders Forum, Kathleen Mason, Elyse Rabinowitz and Jim Porter, Dr. Philip S. and Alice Hoolihan Randall, Gloria del C. Rodriguez, the Family of Leona Roen, and Naoma Tate.

The Bias Inside Us is based on an original concept developed by Tolerance in Motion: Steve Lear, Laura Zelle and Elyse Rabinowitz, founders; Ellen Glatstein, Laura Lipshutz, Alice Randall, Joanne Jones-Rizzi and Susan Shapiro, directors; Don Shelby, founding advisor; and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, Steve Hunegs, executive director.

Media Contacts:

Kristina Kurasz Cutting, Communications Director, California Science Center

[email protected]

213-744-7446

Sophie Jefferies, Communications Manager, California Science Center

[email protected]

213-744-7491

Jennifer Schommer, Assistant Director Public Affairs, Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service

[email protected]

202-633-3121

SOURCE California Science Center Foundation
MIAMI, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Cigar Press proudly announces the release of America's Cigar Story: The History, Politics, and Legacy of Cigars from 1762 to the Modern Era  The Magnum Opus History Edition, an extensive exploration of America's cigar heritage by researcher, author, and entrepreneur Sebastian Saviano.

America's Cigar Story Hardcover America's Cigar Story Hardcover with Jacket

Spanning more than two and a half centuries, this meticulously researched work traces the journey of cigars from colonial America to contemporary craftsmanship and luxury branding. It examines how cigars have shaped and been shaped by American business, labor, politics, and popular culture. From the tobacco fields of the 1700s to major manufacturing hubs in New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida, America's Cigar Story offers readers an authoritative historical narrative.

"Writing America's Cigar Story was about documenting an enduring legacy that blends tradition, innovation, and craftsmanship," said Saviano, founder and CEO of The American Cigar Co. "This book is dedicated to everyone who has contributed to America's rich cigar culturewhether through production, policy, or pure enjoyment."

Key Highlights of the Book:

The evolution of cigar culture from the 1700s and Civil War battlefields to the modern premium cigar renaissance.

The transformation of global tobacco markets following the Cuban Embargo.

Cigars' influence on political and diplomatic history, including the emergence of the "smoke-filled room."

Detailed accounts of labor movements led by immigrant and Black cigar rollers.

Present-day U.S. and global industry trends.

Over a dozen illustrations, including iconic vintage cigar advertisements .

. "What Did They Smoke?" sections featuring political, historical, and pop culture figures known for enjoying cigars.

Targeted at cigar aficionados, history buffs, pop culture enthusiasts, and academics, America's Cigar Story offers a compelling exploration of how cigars have shaped American society and continue to thrive as a cultural tradition.

America's Cigar Story: The Magnum Opus History Edition will be available on Amazon.com and major booksellers worldwide beginning March 25, 2025. For more information, visit www.theamericancigarpress.com/americascigarstory .

About The American Cigar Press:

The American Cigar Press (at www.theamericancigarpress.com ) is dedicated to documenting and preserving the rich history of craft, industry, and culture.

Publication Details:

America's Cigar Story: The History, Politics, and Legacy of Cigars from 1762 to the Modern Era  The Magnum Opus History Edition

ISBN: 979-8-218-59811-2 | LCCN: 2025934609

Contact:

Sebastian Saviano

3057708099

[email protected]

SOURCE The American Cigar Press
NEPTUNE CITY, N.J., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Rachel Elizabeth NeMoyer, MD, MPH is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member for her contributions to Advancing Thoracic Surgery with Compassion and Cutting-Edge Robotics.

Rachel Elizabeth NeMoyer, MD, MPH

Dr. Rachel Elizabeth NeMoyer, MD, MPH, a fellowship-trained and board-certified thoracic surgeon, is redefining patient care through expertise in advanced robotic and minimally invasive thoracic surgeries. Specializing in procedures involving the lungs, esophagus, chest wall, and diaphragm, Dr. NeMoyer is a leader in her field, utilizing the da Vinci Surgical System to provide precise, patient-centered care.

As an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Hackensack Medical School, Dr. NeMoyer combines her clinical expertise with a commitment to education, mentoring the next generation of surgeons while fostering a collaborative approach to patient care. Her dedication to compassionate treatment emphasizes open communication with patients and their families, ensuring they are informed and active participants in their healthcare journey.

Dr. NeMoyer's academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Penn State University, an MD from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and a Master of Public Health from Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center/Rutgers University. She completed her residency in general surgery at Rutgers and a fellowship in thoracic surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, one of the nation's leading institutions for advanced surgical training.

A member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Women in Thoracic Surgery, and Women in Robotic Surgery, Dr. NeMoyer is deeply involved in advancing her field through professional affiliations and continuous learning. She also supports her community by volunteering and fundraising for local schools in Buffalo, reflecting her commitment to service both inside and outside the operating room.

Dr. NeMoyer credits her parents, Patrick and Elyse NeMoyer, for their unwavering support and her mentor, Dr. Thomas Bauer, for inspiring her journey in thoracic surgery. Looking ahead, she plans to continue advancing surgical techniques, exploring global adventures like hiking in Patagonia and scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro, and maintaining her dedication to delivering exceptional, patient-centered care.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
New product line taps into the explosive "Swicy" trend, offering a mouth-watering blend of 100% premium beef and the irresistible zing of Mike's Hot Honey.

BAY CITY, Ore., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tillamook Country Smoker, a leader in premium, handcrafted meat snacks, is thrilled to announce a fiery new partnership with Mike's Hot Honey, America's No. 1 and original brand of hot honey. This month, they are introducing the all-new Tillamook Country Smoker Beef Sticks infused with Mike's Hot Honey, perfectly capturing the 'Swicy' flavor trend that's captivating taste buds nationwide.

Tillamook Country Smoker and Mike's Hot Honey Launch Sweet-Heat Beef Sticks

Crafted for the adventurous palate, these 100% premium beef sticks blend the sweet, all-natural heat of Mike's Hot Honey with Tillamook's signature slow smoked flavor for a snack that's sure to delight. Available in a convenient, portable 1oz stick, these sausages are set to become the go-to treat for flavor-seeking snackers everywhere.

Bree Randall, Chief Marketing Officer of Tillamook Country Smoker, expressed her excitement about the launch: "We're ecstatic to introduce a snack that not only satisfies the current consumer appetite for bold, authentic flavors but also exemplifies our dedication to quality. This collaboration between Tillamook Country Smoker and Mike's Hot Honey represents a union of two iconic brands, each with a steadfast commitment to delivering high-quality, flavorful products. Our delicious new beef sticks deliver the perfect balance of sweet, spicy and savory, crafted without any artificial ingredients  a true testament to our shared commitment to excellence."

"Partnering with Tillamook Country Smoker is an exciting step for us, blending the natural sweetness and bold heat of our honey with their expertly smoked beef products," said Mike Kurtz, Founder, Mike's Hot Honey. "We've always aimed to elevate everyday eating with our hot honey's unique flavor fusion, and these new meat snacks are a perfect canvas for those who love a little adventure in every bite."

Each beef stick is packed with 8 grams of protein and made with all natural ingredients, including 100% pure honey infused with real chili peppers, making every bite a guilt-free pleasure.

Tillamook Country Smoker's beef sticks infused with Mike's Hot Honey can now be purchased on Amazon and on Tillamook's website. This summer they will also be available at select 7Eleven locations.

About Tillamook Country Smoker: True to its roots, Tillamook Country Smoker is known for its commitment to quality, delivering superior beef jerky, sausages and more since 1975. Made with 100% premium beef and all-natural ingredients, all of Tillamook's products are handcrafted and smoked with real hardwood in Tillamook County, Oregon. Tillamook Country Smoker products are available online and at leading retailers nationwide. To learn more, please visit tcsjerky.com .

About Mike's Hot Honey: Mike's Hot Honey is America's original and leading brand of hot honey and has been elevating everyday eating experiences since 2010, when its first drizzle on a pizza at Paulie Gee's in Brooklyn sparked a word-of-mouth sensation and created a new category of pizza topping. By popular demand, Mike started selling his small-batch, hand-labeled hot honey bottles to visitors of the pizzeria, as well as other local restaurants and businesses. Today, Mike's Hot Honey can be found in thousands of restaurants and retailers across the country, with the same original recipe in the bottle. Using only 100% pure honey infused with real chili peppers, Mike's Hot Honey's one-two flavor punch of sweetness then heat makes any dish more dynamic, from the original pairing on pepperoni pizza to chicken, cheese and charcuterie, ice cream, cocktails, and so much more. Mike's Hot Honey empowers chefs and eaters everywhere to customize, create, and share extraordinary meals. Happy drizzling! For more information about Mike's Hot Honey, please visit mikeshothoney.com.

About Insignia Capital Group: Insignia Capital Group is a growth-oriented private equity firm focused on building world-class companies in the consumer and business services sectors. We partner with company founders and their teams to help drive growth and achieve true business potential.

SOURCE Tillamook Country Smoker
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Union Home Mortgage (UHM), a high-growth independent mortgage banking company with a world-class culture, announced it has been named a 2025 Top Workplace by USA Today. This is the fifth year in a row that Union Home Mortgage has received this award.

"When I first started building Union Home more than 20 years ago, my goal was to be a company with a culture that stood out in the mortgage industry. Being recognized as one of the top employers nationwide certainly makes us feel like we're doing something right," said Bill Cosgrove, Union Home Mortgage CEO. "I want to thank our Partners who show up each and every day living our code of conduct and working together to make the dream of homeownership accessible to more individuals and families."

The Top Workplaces program, issued by Energage, has a 15-year history of surveying more than 20 million employees across the U.S. and recognizing the top organizations with 150 or more employees across 60 markets. Over 42,000 organizations were invited to participate in this survey, with winning organizations chosen solely by employee feedback collected through the survey.

"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."

UHM prides itself on culture and employee experience. The company maintains several internal training programs, career pathing, and employee educational resources. The company's headquarters outside of Cleveland, Ohio feature an onsite gym, cafeteria, and training centers for both in person and virtual education.

For more information about starting your career at Union Home Mortgage, visit www.uhm.com/careers.

About Union Home Mortgage

Union Home Mortgage Corp. (UHM) is a high-growth, full-service retail, wholesale, and consumer direct independent mortgage banking company with branches across the U.S. in 48 states + D.C. UHM is an in-house loan servicer offering world-class customer service through high touch communication & technology. A privately held family business, with a collaborative culture that stands out in the mortgage industry, UHM Partners (employees) are guided by a Code of Conduct that emphasizes respect, open communication, and accountability. All these principles translate to industry-leading customer retention and satisfaction. Some honors include being a 5-Year USA Today Top Workplace and a Ten-Year Northeast Ohio Top Workplace.

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 Union Home Mortgage
RIO DE JANEIRO, March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vale Overseas Limited ("Vale Overseas" or the "Offeror"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Vale S.A. ("Vale"), announces the expiration and final results of the previously announced offers to purchase for cash (the "Offers") up to a maximum aggregate principal amount of Notes (as defined below) validly tendered in the Offers not to exceed US$450,000,000, excluding any premium and any accrued and unpaid interest (the "Maximum Principal Amount"), of the outstanding notes issued by Vale Overseas of the series of notes as set forth in the table below (the "Notes"). The Offers were made upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the offer to purchase dated as of February 24, 2025 (the "Offer to Purchase").

As previously announced, on March 12, 2025 (the "Early Settlement Date"), Vale Overseas purchased US$323,965,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes, which had been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 7, 2025 (the "Early Tender Date").

The Offers expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 24, 2025 (the "Expiration Date") and no tenders submitted after the Expiration Date are valid.

The table below identifies the principal amount of each series of Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn (i) on or prior to the Early Tender Date and (ii) after the Early Tender Date and on or prior to the Expiration Date, and accepted for purchase.

Title of Security CUSIP /

ISIN Nos Principal Amount

Outstanding(1) Acceptance

Priority Level Principal Amount Validly Tendered

on or prior to the Early Tender Date

and Accepted for Purchase Principal Amount Validly Tendered

after the Early Tender Date and on

or prior to the Expiration Date and

Accepted for Purchase 8.250% Guaranteed

Notes due 2034 91911TAE3 / US91911TAE38 US$438,337,000 1 US$103,433,000 US$29,000 6.875% Guaranteed

Notes due 2039 91911TAK9 / US91911TAK97 US$1,061,600,000 2 US$170,555,000 US$659,000 6.875% Guaranteed

Notes due 2036 91911TAH6 / US91911TAH68 US$916,425,000 3 US$49,977,000 US$4,788,000



(1) As of February 24, 2025, the date the Offers were launched.

Because the aggregate principal amount of Notes validly tendered in the Offers and not validly withdrawn after the Early Settlement Date and on or prior to the Expiration Date do not exceed the Maximum Principal Amount, the Offeror has accepted for purchase all of the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn on or prior to the Expiration Date.

As previously announced, the applicable Total Consideration (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) payable per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes tendered and accepted for purchase has been determined by the Dealer Managers based on the applicable fixed spread for each series of Notes plus the applicable yield-to-maturity of the Reference U.S. Treasury Security for that series of Notes as of 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on March 7, 2025. Holders who validly tendered their Notes after the Early Tender Date, but on or prior to the Expiration Date, will be eligible to receive the Tender Consideration (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) and accrued and unpaid interest. The applicable "Tender Consideration" is equal to the applicable Total Consideration minus the applicable Early Tender Payment. The Tender Consideration is expected to be paid on the Final Settlement Date, which is expected to occur on March 26, 2025.

Vale has retained BMO Capital Markets Corp., BofA Securities, Inc., Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC to serve as dealer managers ("Dealer Managers") and D.F. King & Co., Inc. to serve as tender and information agent for the Offers ("D.F. King"). The Offer to Purchase and any related supplements are available at the D.F. King website at www.dfking.com/vale. The full details of the Offers, including complete instructions on how to tender Notes, are included in the Offer to Purchase. Holders of Notes are strongly encouraged to carefully read the Offer to Purchase, including materials incorporated by reference therein, because they will contain important information. Requests for the Offer to Purchase and any related supplements may also be directed to D.F. King by telephone at +1 (212) 269-5550 or +1 (800) 714-3310 (US toll free) or in writing at [email protected]. Questions about the Offers may be directed to BMO Capital Markets Corp. by telephone at +1 (212) 702-1840 (collect) or +1 (833) 418-0762 (US toll free), BofA Securities, Inc. by telephone at +1 (646) 855-8988 (collect) or +1 (888) 292-0070 (US toll free), Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc. by telephone at +1 (212) 261-7802 (collect) or +1 (866) 807-6030 (US toll free), HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. by telephone at +1 (212) 525-5552 (collect) or +1 (888) HSBC-4LM (US toll free), or J.P. Morgan Securities LLC by telephone at +1 (212) 834-3554 (collect) or +1 (866) 834-4666 (US toll free).

This news release is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. The Offers are being made only by, and pursuant to the terms of, the Offer to Purchase. The Offers are not being made in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction where the laws require the Offers to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offers will be made by the Dealer Managers on behalf of the Offeror. None of the Offeror, D.F. King, the Dealer Managers or the trustee with respect to the Notes, nor any of their affiliates, makes any recommendation as to whether holders should tender or refrain from tendering all or any portion of their Notes in response to the Offers. None of the Offeror, D.F. King, the Dealer Managers or the trustee with respect to the Notes, nor any of their affiliates, has authorized any person to give any information or to make any representation in connection with the Offers other than the information and representations contained in the Offer to Purchase.

Marcelo Feriozzi Bacci

Executive Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations

For further information, please contact:

[email protected]

Thiago Lofiego: [email protected]

Mariana Rocha: [email protected]

Luciana Oliveti: [email protected]

Pedro Terra: [email protected]

Patricia Tinoco: [email protected]

This press release may include statements that present Vale's expectations about future events or results. All statements, when based upon expectations about the future, involve various risks and uncertainties. Vale cannot guarantee that such statements will prove correct. These risks and uncertainties include factors related to the following: (a) the countries where we operate, especially Brazil and Canada; (b) the global economy; (c) the capital markets; (d) the mining and metals prices and their dependence on global industrial production, which is cyclical by nature; and (e) global competition in the markets in which Vale operates. To obtain further information on factors that may lead to results different from those forecast by Vale, please consult the reports Vale files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Brazilian Comissao de Valores Mobiliarios (CVM) and in particular the factors discussed under "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in Vale's annual report on Form 20-F.

SOURCE Vale Overseas Limited
PORT VILA, Vanuatu, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vantage reflects on its collaboration with AIESEC FHN, a partnership that focused on supporting youth leadership development in Vietnam. Through this initiative, Vantage contributed to leadership development, strategic thinking, and career growth, helping to shape the next generation of industry leaders.

Vantage as a Platinum Partner of AIESEC FHN in Vietnam Vantage as a Platinum Partner of AIESEC FHN in Vietnam Vantage as a Platinum Partner of AIESEC FHN in Vietnam

AIESEC is a non-political, independent, and non-profit organization run entirely by young people. With a mission to develop leadership potential through cultural exchange programs, teamwork experiences, and professional training, AIESEC has become a vital force in shaping the future of young professionals worldwide.

By partnering with AIESEC FHN, Vantage aligned itself with a global initiative that nurtures innovation, leadership, and strategic growth, offering Vietnamese youth valuable opportunities to learn, engage, and develop essential skills.

Through this partnership, Vantage supported two major AIESEC initiatives that provided young professionals with industry knowledge, leadership training, and hands-on experiences.

1. The A Program: Product Management Essentials

This was an intensive Product Management course organized by AIESEC Vietnam. With Vantage's support, the program offered:

Comprehensive training sessions covering fundamental to advanced concepts in Product Management.

Hands-on experience solving real-world product cases, helping participants develop practical problem-solving skills.

A mentorship series connecting students with experienced professionals from the industry, offering valuable insights into career growth and industry's best practices.

2. Mini Leadership Conference

This event was part of AIESEC's broader Leadership Conference series, in collaboration with AIESEC Vietnam (FHN Branch) and the Diplomatic Culture Club  Foreign Trade University, Hanoi. It was designed to:

Enhance leadership capabilities among young professionals, preparing them for real-world challenges.

Equip participants with essential workplace skills that are highly sought after by employers.

By supporting education, leadership, and career development, Vantage continues to invest in shaping the next generation of business leaders. This partnership with AIESEC was part of Vantage's broader mission to create meaningful opportunities for young professionals.

Marc Despallieres, CEO of Vantage Markets, shared his thoughts on this partnership:

"At Vantage, we recognize the importance of empowering the next generation in building a strong and innovative future. Our collaboration with AIESEC FHN has provided valuable opportunities to nurture young talent and equip them with the skills, insights, and leadership opportunities essential for navigating today's evolving professional landscape. We are pleased to contribute to initiatives that support creativity, strategic thinking, and career development, and we look forward to seeing these emerging professionals shape the industries of tomorrow."

Vantage remains committed to supporting youth development and fostering the leaders of the future through its ongoing partnerships and initiatives.

For more information about AIESEC FHN and its programs, please visit their official website.

About Vantage

Vantage Markets (or Vantage) is a financial services provider that offers clients access to trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs) across a variety of financial products, including Forex, Commodities, Indices, Shares, ETFs, and Bonds.

With over 15 years of market experience, Vantage provides a trading platform that allows clients to access a range of trading instruments.

RISK WARNING: CFD trading carries significant risks and may not be suitable for all investors. Please ensure you fully understand the risks involved before trading.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, an offer, or solicitation of any financial products or services. The content is not intended for residents of any jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation. Readers are advised to seek independent professional advice before making any investment or financial decisions. Any reliance you place on the information presented is strictly at your own risk.

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ARLINGTON, Va., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NumbersUSA Action announces that every Member of the new 119th Congress returning from recess this week has a report card waiting at congressgrades.org assessing all their immigration actions  and inaction  thus far.

Only four Members at this point in the 535-seat Congress have done enough to earn an "A Grade," while 11 have earned an A-minus for actions to moderate levels of legal and illegal foreign workers.

Grade Card Example

As Members move forward with enforcement funding and other immigration actions, the non-partisan NumbersUSA will update grades weekly, as it has for a quarter of a century.

"From the beginning, we felt voters should not have to wait until yearend to know exactly what their Members of Congress have been doing," NumbersUSA Founder Roy Beck says.

"Our goal has been to make it as easy as possible for voters to understand how well their U.S. Representative and Senators have acted for the moderated immigration levels that most Americans desire. And for them to get the news quickly enough that they can help elected officials improve their records."

The NumbersUSA Immigration-Reduction Grade Cards track all legislation since 1990 that would change the numerical level of legal and illegal immigration  up or down. The Cards include descriptions of every recorded floor and committee vote on bills and amendments, as well as co-sponsorships. (A dozen Members with 1990 votes on their Cards are still in Congress, including Senators Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Chuck Schumer of New York.)

"For the most part, our Grades evaluate elected officials on their support for the recommendations of the late Barbara Jordan, chair of the bi-partisan U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform," Beck says. "As with Jordan, one of the Grade Cards' top priorities is economic fairness for America's workers and their families."

Reflecting the "Jordan Commission" recommendations to dramatically change the status quo, the Grade Cards mark down Members who fail to promote "Great Solutions" such as ending Chain Migration categories for extended family, eliminating the Visa Lottery, and mandating all employers to use E-Verify to block illegal hiring. Strong majorities of voters support all three actions to reduce competition for American jobs, wages, housing, and other resources.

About NumbersUSA

A nonpartisan 501(c)4 organization that since 2002 has mobilized voters  particularly its now more than 8 million online followers  to advocate for lower immigration levels to protect America's wage-earners, natural habitats, and local communities.

Media Contact: Jeremy Beck

[email protected]

SOURCE NumbersUSA.com
KEY WEST, Fla., March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Woolpert and Chance Maritime have partnered to leverage autonomous technology, geospatial expertise, and broad-based staffing to most efficiently collect hydrographic survey data in support of the Florida Seafloor Mapping Initiative and other projects off the coast of Florida.

Mission Capable 29 can operate for 20 or more days continuously while delivering kilowatts of continuous power to its onboard sensors.

Woolpert, a leading provider of lidar and sonar bathymetry and hydrographic survey data, was tasked by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to map the seafloor off the coast of Florida to advance coastal resilience and mitigate the impact of hurricanes and flood inundation as part of FSMI. Woolpert enlisted Chance Maritime to mobilize its Mission Capable 29, a 29-foot uncrewed survey vessel, enabling the firms to monitor vessel operations and data collection remotely.

"What is distinctive about the Chance Maritime vessel is that it can securely carry and operate our sensors and highly sensitive equipment, but it also has exceptional power and endurance," Woolpert Vice President and Maritime Market Director Dave Neff said. "We knew the MC29 could run continuously for more than a week, 24/7, through pretty rough weather, from near shore to about 100 kilometers offshore. This allowed us to collect the most accurate, high-quality data in the least amount of time."

To monitor the data collection 24 hours a day, Woolpert enlisted a few staff members in locations across multiple time zones to each work in consecutive six- or eight-hour shifts, communicating over Microsoft Teams, to remotely monitor data collection. Chance Maritime had staff in Florida around the clock to monitor the vessel.

"Our team stayed in communication 100% of the time through shift handoffs," Chance Maritime Chief Technology Officer Michael Scherer said. "Even though there are not people on the water, the skilled cross-disciplinary team monitors the equipment 24/7 from shore without having to get seasick. If the MC29 gets hailed by a nearby vessel, we can answer remotely. By not having to return to shore for crew changes and short weather events, we increase the efficiency of survey operations."

The MC29 can operate for 20 or more days continuously while delivering kilowatts of continuous power to its onboard sensors. It is compact and can be transported by road via boat trailer, allowing it to be deployed quickly to any site around the country, including after extreme weather events. "The MC29 has the simple logistics of a small survey vessel with the endurance and 24-hour production capabilities of a much larger survey vessel," said Stuart Chance, Chance Maritime CEO.

Neff added that this streamlined approach enabled Woolpert's hydrography team to mobilize to other project locations, expanding efficiencies outside the initial project.

"There's a lot of coastal mapping, dredge spoil surveys, and more that needs to be done to support navigation safety, national security, coastal resilience, disaster mitigation, etc.," Neff said. "We took this novel approach by combining our advancing resources and technologies with those of Chance Maritime, and it proved successful for all involved. We're excited to build on this technology partnership to advance our maritime efficiencies while still collecting and delivering the highest quality geospatial data."

About Chance Maritime

Chance Maritime Technologies provides Ocean Drones as a service with industry leading power and endurance. We specialize in the design, build, operation, lease, and sale of uncrewed boats to commercial, government, and academic clients. Chance Maritime's team of experts have over 120 years of combined experience in uncrewed design and operations, ensuring quality and precise solutions which meet customer needs. For more information, visit www.chancemaritime.com.

About Woolpert

Woolpert is the premier architecture, engineering, and geospatial (AEG) firm, with a vision to become one of the best companies in the world. We innovate within and across markets to effectively serve public, private, and government clients worldwide. Woolpert is a Global Top 100 Geospatial Company, a Top 100 ENR Global Design firm and has earned eight Great Place to Work certifications. Founded in 1911 in Dayton, Ohio, Woolpert has been America's fastest-growing AEG firm since 2015. Woolpert has over 2,700 employees and more than 60 offices on five continents. For more, visit woolpert.com.

Media Contact

Lynn Rossi

312-837-2017

SOURCE Woolpert
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
Cairo, March 25 : Egypt strongly condemned Israel's establishment of an agency aimed at displacing Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, and its approval of 13 new settlements in the West Bank.

In a statement released by the Foreign Ministry, Egypt said on Monday that the so-called "voluntary departure," which Israel claims this agency targets, lacks any basis, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The departure occurring under bombardment and war, and under policies that prevent humanitarian aid and use starvation as a weapon, constitutes forced displacement, a crime, and a violation under international law and international humanitarian law," read the statement.

Egypt called on the international community and the UN Security Council to adopt a firm stance against these ongoing Israeli violations and provocations.

It highlighted the Palestinian right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

On Sunday, the Israeli Defence Ministry said that Israel's Security Cabinet has approved the establishment of a new directorate to coordinate the "voluntary relocation" of Palestinians from Gaza to third countries.

The directorate, which will operate under the Defence Ministry, will oversee the "voluntary departure" of Gaza residents who "express interest" in relocating, according to the Defence Ministry.

The ministry did not name any third countries or confirm whether any have agreed to accept potential refugees.

In February, US President Donald Trump presented a plan to transfer Gaza's Palestinian population to neighbouring countries, as part of a broader vision to rebuild the war-torn enclave as a "Riviera." He later backtracked on the plan following international condemnations.

The establishment of the new agency came as Israeli forces resumed air and ground offensive across Gaza, effectively ending a two-month ceasefire. Thousands of Palestinians have been displaced again as bombardments intensify.
New York, March 25 : Second Lady of the US, Usha Vance has become embroiled in the Greenland controversy with the head of the Danish territory saying her proposed visit has caused a "big mess." New York, March 25 (IANS) Second Lady of the US, Usha Vance has become embroiled in the Greenland controversy with the head of the Danish territory saying her proposed visit has caused a "big mess."

Vice President JD Vance's wife announced on Sunday that she will visit Greenland this week to watch its national dogsled race, Avannaata Qimussersu, and learn about the country's "beautiful land, culture, and traditions."

Although the purpose of the visit sounds innocuouswatching a race with 37 mushers or sled drivers and 444 dogsit will take place during a visit by National Security Adviser Mike Walts and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, which will take place under the shadow of President Trump's plan to take over the island.

The Indian American Second Lady presented herself as a cultural ambassador.

In a video on Instagram about the trip, she said that the US is "proud to support" the dogsled race and that she has "been reading all about it with my children".

But she also said she hoped "that our relationship will only grow stronger in the coming years" -- which sounded ominous to some Greenlanders.

"The wife of the United States vice president and the United States president's highest security adviser[coming here] cannot be seen only as a private visit," Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede said.

"We can already see now how big a mess it's caused", he said on Facebook.

Trump, who has said several times about the US taking over the mineral-rich strategically situated island, said categorically in his State of the Union Address, "One way or the other, we're going to get it."

In an interview with the local newspaper Sermitsiaq, Egede said Waltz's "mere presence in Greenland will no doubt fuel American belief in Trump's mission  and the pressure will increase".

Demokraatit party (Democrats), which supports eventual independence from Denmark, won the recent election and will soon form the government.

Denmark acquired Greenland from Sweden in 1814 and the Arctic island is now an autonomous territory.

About 90 per cent of the population are Inuits related the native ethnic group in Canada.

The US maintains military bases on the strategic island.
New York, March 25 : US President Donald Trump's threat to impose a 25 per cent tariff on exports from countries that buy oil from Venezuela would hit India which already fears reciprocal US taxes next month.

Trump announced on Truth Social on Monday that any country "that purchases Oil and/or Gas from Venezuela will be forced to pay a Tariff of 25 per cent to the United States on any Trade they do with our Country".

India imported 63,115 barrels per day (bpd) in 2024, according to reports.

It will also hit New Delhi's plans to increase cooperation in the petroleum field with Venezuela.

Trump said that the 25 per cent tariffs will come into force on April 2, when he plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on all countries. The new threat came amid reports that the reciprocal tariffs may be less drastic and directed at certain sectors.

Trump linked the levy to his battle with Venezuela over the members of the gang, Tren de Aragua (TdA), which he designated as a "foreign terrorist organisation".

He accused the Venezuelan government of "purposefully and deceitfully" sending over the members of the gang linked to murders and other crimes across the country and made it a part of his campaign against terrorism.

Several other countries will be hit by the tariff  and that including China, which is Venezuela's biggest importer.

But the US is itself among the top importers of Venezuelan oil getting 228,000 bpd from it last year.

Trump's administration gave the US oil company Chevron two months to end its operations in Venezuela that export oil to the US.

India has been looking to expand its trade with Venezuela

Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who holds the petroleum portfolio, visited India in February during the Energy India Week event.

She met with India's Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and other officials.

Energy Watch said Puri had sounded hopeful of increasing imports from Venezuela.

It quoted him as saying during Energy Week, "Earlier, Venezuelan oil was not available in the market because of international constraints. Now, all the signals point in the direction of those constraints being eased".

"So, if your question to me is can you expect more oil to come from Venezuela, my answer will be, yes, one can provided these processes are sorted out", he said.

He added, "I am looking at it with great optimism to these issues getting resolved".

But those hopes now appear dashed.

Venezuela has long been under US sanctions over what Washington said was President Nicolas Maduro.

Under former US President Joe Biden, the sanctions were eased with a general waiver, but it was rescinded last year when Maduro was accused of not holding fair elections.

Biden's administration gave specific, restrictive waivers which Trump abolished.
UPDATE: The proposed merger between Indonesian telecoms operators XL Axiata and Smartfren Telecom has cleared a key hurdle after shareholders in both telcos, as well as Axiata Group, voted to approve the plan.

Under the merger plan, first announced in December 2024, Smartfren and its subsidiary SmartTel will be dissolved into XL Axiata. The resulting new company, XLSmart (full name: PT XLSmart Telecom Sejahtera Tbk), will be jointly controlled by parent companies Axiata Group and Sinar Mas, who will each hold a 34.8% stake.

Axiata Group said in a statement on Monday that its shareholders approved the deal at the company's Extraordinary General Meetng (EGM). On Tuesday, shareholders of XL Axiata and Smartfren voted in favour of the merger at their own respective EGMs. The boards of XL Axiata, Smartfren, and SmartTel approved the merger plan when it was announced in December.

Axiata said it has submitted the results of the shareholder vote to Bursa Securities in compliance with regulatory requirements. The group also said the approval marks a key milestone in finalising the merger, bringing the formation of the new entity, XLSmart, another step closer to completion.

Axiata and Sinar Mas aim to complete the merger within the first half of 2025.

Axiata has placed the combined pre-synergy enterprise value of the merger at IDR104 trillion (US$6.5 billion). With a combined mobile subscriber base of approximately 94.5 million and a market share of 27%, XLSmart is expected to generate pro forma revenues of more than IDR45.4 trillion and an EBITDA of over IDR22.4 trillion.
Jerusalem, March 25 : The Israeli military acknowledged that it mistakenly struck a building belonging to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza due to misidentification.

Israeli military forces operating in the city of Rafah, southern Gaza, fired at the building after "identifying suspects inside who they perceived as a threat," a military statement said.

A subsequent inspection revealed the identification was incorrect, and the troops "were unaware of the building's affiliation" with the ICRC at the time of the shooting, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the military statement.

Earlier on Monday, the ICRC said in a statement that its office in Rafah "was damaged by an explosive projectile despite being clearly marked and notified to all parties."

"Fortunately, no staff were injured in this incident, but this has a direct impact on the ICRC's ability to operate. The ICRC strongly decries the attack against its premises," said the ICRC, which runs a field hospital in Rafah and other facilities in the Palestinian enclave to treat mass casualties from Israeli strikes.

In the statement, the ICRC also said that it lost contact on Sunday with emergency medical technicians from the Palestine Red Crescent Society, and that humanitarian workers in Gaza were killed and injured last week.

Israel ended a two-month ceasefire with Hamas on Tuesday by resuming air and ground attacks in the Palestinian enclave, which have so far killed more than 730 Palestinians. In response, Hamas also made several rocket launches targeting Israeli territory, most of which Israel said have been intercepted.
New Delhi, March 25 : Ishaan Khatter is all set to work with veteran diva Zeenat Aman in the upcoming series "The Royals". The actor revealed that they had the "loveliest time together" and that she quickly became one of his "favourite people in the world." New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) Ishaan Khatter is all set to work with veteran diva Zeenat Aman in the upcoming series "The Royals". The actor revealed that they had the "loveliest time together" and that she quickly became one of his "favourite people in the world."

Talking about working with an icon like her, Ishaan told IANS: "So, as if she wasn't already, but from a distance she quickly became one of my favorite people in the world. and I think I'm very happy to report that we had the loveliest time together. But beyond that, she is a screen icon."

Ishaan, who was walking as a muse for designer Pawan Sachdeva at the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour in Guwahati, revealed that people will get to see a lot of Zeenat Aman in The Royals.

"She's someone that people so desire to see because she brings a grace that only she can and I'm happy to say that you'll get a lot of Zeena Taman with a lot of fun in Royals."

In the series, Ishaan is all set to star alongside Bhumi Pednekar. Netflix recently unveiled the teaser for "The Royals," which is slated to be a part of their 2025 release lineup.

Going by the teaser of the series, Ishaan portrays Aviraaj Singh, the charismatic heir to the royal throne of Morpur. He crosses paths with Bhumi's character, Sophia Kanmani Shekhar, a driven and no-nonsense CEO. "The Royals" marks the first collaboration between Ishaan Khatter and Bhumi Pednekar.

Meanwhile, Ishaan recently featured in the music video titled 'Pyaar Aata Hai' with Tara Sutaria. The heartfelt song features vocals by Rito Riba and Shreya Ghoshal. Produced by Anshul Garg under Play DMF, the track was filmed against the stunning backdrop of Kashmir's picturesque landscapes.

"Pyaar Aata Hai," which marked Ishaan and Tara's first onscreen collaboration, was released on March 7.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Seoul, March 25 : Hyundai Motor Group's decision to invest $21 billion in the United States over the next four years is being seen as a bold strategic move to solidify its competitive edge in its single-largest national market, industry observers said on Tuesday.

The plan, unveiled by Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, alongside President Donald Trump and Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, at the White House, is expected to sharpen the group's position in the increasingly competitive U.S. auto landscape, reports Yonhap news agency.

It marked the first major U.S. investment plan announced by a South Korean conglomerate during Trump's second term.

Last year, Hyundai and Kia sold a combined 1.7 million vehicles in the U.S., a 3.4 percent on-year increase and making the group the fourth-largest global automotive group in the U.S. market.

The announcement comes as global automotive groups are bracing for looming reciprocal and sectoral tariffs on their exports to the U.S., which Trump has pledged to introduce since his election campaign.

Observers view the timing and scale of the investment as a direct response to the Trump administration's trade policy, which has consistently emphasized local production as a means of avoiding punitive tariffs.

"The move appears to be designed to respond to Trump's trade policy emphasising the revitalisation of American manufacturing," an automotive industry observer said, while asking for anonymity.

Trump himself highlighted the announcement, stating, "Hyundai will be producing steel in America and making its cars in America," and noted that the automotive group "will not have to pay any tariffs" due to its commitment to local production.

It remains unclear whether Trump was offering a general message in support of localised production or hinting at a specific tariff exemption for Hyundai. Still, his comments suggest the group's aggressive investment commitment may lead to favourable treatment under Washington's new trade policy.

A centerpiece of the plan includes expanding production capacity at its Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Savannah, Georgia, from 300,000 to 500,000 units per year.

"With this, our U.S. vehicle production will exceed 1 million units per year," Chung said. "Our decision to invest in Savannah, Georgia -- creating more than 8,500 American jobs -- was initiated during my meeting with President Trump in Seoul in 2019."

Additionally, Hyundai Steel Co. will build a 2.7-million-ton electric arc furnace (EAF) steel plant in Louisiana, a move that may further improve Hyundai Motor's competitiveness in the U.S. market.

The Trump administration began imposing whopping 25 percent tariffs on all steel imports earlier this month and is set to roll out fresh import tariffs on autos, in addition to country-by-country "reciprocal" tariffs on April 2.

a"IANS

na/
New Delhi, March 25 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his heartfelt birthday wishes to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday, praying for his long and healthy life.

Born in 1965 in Ujjain, Mohan Yadav is a lawyer by profession and has been an influential figure in Madhya Pradesh politics. He served as a minister in the previous government led by former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from 2020 to 2023. After securing another victory from the Ujjain South Assembly seat in the 2023 elections, Yadav took oath as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.

Taking to X, PM Modi lauded Yadav's efforts for the state and wrote, "Birthday wishes to Madhya Pradesh CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Ji. He has undertaken numerous initiatives to improve the lives of the people of MP. May he be blessed with a long and healthy life in service of the people."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also conveyed his greetings on social media, emphasising Yadav's role in the state's progress under the BJP-led government.

"Heartiest birthday wishes to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Mohan Yadav ji. Under the leadership of Modi ji, the double-engine government of Madhya Pradesh is setting new records of development and good governance. I pray to Baba Mahakal for your good health and long life," Shah posted.

Union Minister and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also extended warm wishes to Yadav, highlighting his leadership in steering the state toward growth.

"Hearty congratulations to the Honorable Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Mohan Yadav ji on his birthday! I pray to God for your good health, long and happy life. May Madhya Pradesh touch new heights of development and progress under your able leadership. Best wishes!" he wrote.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia also joined in, praising Yadav's dedication to public service.

"Infinite birthday wishes to the energetic and successful Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav ji, who is always dedicated to public service. I pray to Baba Mahakal for your good health and long life," he posted.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
United Nations, March 25 : India has told Pakistan to vacate the illegally occupied territory in Jammu and Kashmir and stop justifying state-sponsored terrorism.

Replying to a Pakistan attempt to raise Kashmir for the umpteenth time in the Security Council, India's Permanent Representative P. Harish said on Monday, "Such repeated references neither validate their illegal claims nor justify their state-sponsored cross-border terrorism."

"Pakistan continues to illegally occupy the territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which it must vacate," he said, adding "That would be in keeping with Security Council Resolution 47 adopted on April 21, 1948, that requires Pakistan to withdraw its forces and infiltrators from Kashmir."

"Jammu and Kashmir was, is, and will always be an integral part of India," Harish declared.

He added, "We would advise Pakistan not to try to divert the attention of this forum to drive their parochial and divisive agenda."

Earlier during the debate on the new realities facing peacekeeping, Syed Tariq Fatemi, Pakistan's junior foreign affairs minister, said the Council should enforce its resolution on a plebiscite for Kashmir.

However, that resolution made it a point to demand that Pakistan "secure the withdrawal from the State of Jammu and Kashmir of tribesmen and Pakistani nationals not normally resident therein who have entered the State for the purpose of fighting". The resolution also orders Pakistan to stop aiding militants or infiltrating. It demanded that Islamabad "prevent any intrusion into the State of such elements and any furnishing of material aid to those fighting in the State".

A plebiscite could not be held when the Council resolution was passed because Pakistan sabotaged it by refusing to abide by the precondition of its withdrawal from Kashmir. India maintains that a plebiscite is now irrelevant because the people of Kashmir have made clear their allegiance to India by participating in elections and by electing the leaders of the territories.

Fatemi brought up the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) that was set up in 1949 to monitor the ceasefire along the Line of Control. India barely tolerates the UNMOGIP's presence in India considering it a relic of history made irrelevant by the 1972 Shimla agreement between the leaders of the two countries declaring the Kashmir dispute a bilateral issue with no room for third parties. India has ousted UNMOGIP from the government-provided building in New Delhi.
Seoul, March 25 : Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun has met with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and discussed cooperation on North Korean issues, among other topics, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.

The meeting took place on Monday in New York as part of Kang's four-day trip, which also included a high-level open debate on UN peace operations as well as a briefing on the situation in Syria, Yonhap news agency reported.

During the meeting, Kang requested that the United Nations continue issuing strong messages denouncing North Korea's violations of UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, such as its illegal military alignment with Russia.

Kang held a separate meeting with Haoliang Xu, associate administrator of the UN Development Programme, and proposed continuing to carry out more effective and influential joint projects.

Attending a UNSC high-level open debate on strengthening UN peace operations Monday, the vice foreign minister also underscored the need to develop missions tailored to each peace operation unit in order to help the UNSC effectively address changing realities, the ministry said.

She emphasised that the scope and direction of peace operations need to be adjusted to the specific on-site situations and that peace operations should be accompanied by conflict prevention, peace settlement and other efforts to ensure lasting peace.

Kang also vowed South Korea will continue to contribute to building cooperation between the UNSC and the UN Peacebuilding Commission, an intergovernmental advisory body that supports peace efforts in conflict-affected countries, according to the ministry.
New Delhi, March 25 : In a symbolic gesture before the presentation of the Delhi Budget, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta along with her cabinet ministers visited the Hanuman Temple in the national capital on Tuesday for prayers and blessings.

The visit to the revered temple marks the BJP-led government's first budget presentation after over 26 years in the Delhi Assembly. The budget for the financial year 2025-26 is expected to reflect the promises made by the BJP in its election manifesto, aiming to address the city's financial challenges and development needs.

Minister Parvesh Verma, speaking about the visit, said, "Before beginning any auspicious work, one must seek God's blessings."

"It is going to be a historic budget and the people of Delhi will rejoice," added Dy CM Verma.

Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta said on the budget 2025-26, "The budget is being presented. It is the second day of the Assembly session, and people are filled with joy, enthusiasm, and curiosity...I would say that since this is a new government, a new era, and new hopes, we aim to meet people's expectations. That is my belief and my best wishes..."

The five-day budget session began on March 24 with a traditional kheer ceremony at 11 a.m. on Monday, a customary ritual marking the start of the important financial discussions.

CM Rekha Gupta, while addressing the media, emphasised the significance of the budget, stating, "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP is presenting the Delhi Budget after 27 years. Just as Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, we are returning after 27 years."

On the first day of the budget session, Chief Minister Gupta also tabled a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report in the House, focusing on the financial condition of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC).

The report revealed that DTC's losses had soared by Rs 35,000 crore over the last six years, increasing from Rs 25,300 crore in 2015-16 to Rs 60,750 crore in 2021-22. The rising losses of DTC have drawn criticism from opposition parties, with members walking out, demanding that all 14 CAG reports be presented together in the House.

The ongoing discussions on the CAG reports are expected to continue in the coming days, shedding light on the financial status of key public sector organisations in Delhi.
Miami, March 25 : World No. 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland moved a step closer to her first title of the year with a hard-fought 7-6(5), 6-3 victory over No. 22 seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the Round of 16 at the Miami Open.

Swiatek needed 2 hours and 5 minutes to battle past former World No. 3 Svitolina, completing the quarterfinal lineup at the year's fourth WTA 1000 event on Tuesday morning, WTA reports.

Swiatek is eyeing her second Miami Open title -- she won this event in 2022 to complete the Sunshine Double (winning Indian Wells and Miami in the same year). The only other women to complete the Sunshine Double are Stefanie Graf (twice), Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka.

Swiatek will now face an unexpected opponent in the quarterfinals: 19-year-old wild card Alexandra Eala of Philippines, who is in her sixth WTA 1000 event

Eala moved into the first WTA Tour quarterfinal of her career when her fourth-round opponent, No. 10 seed Paula Badosa, withdrew in advance of their match due to a lower back injury.

World No. 140 Eala had a breakthrough win over No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko in the second round and an even bigger win over No. 5 Madison Keys in the third round.

With those wins, Eala became the first Filipina woman in the Open Era to defeat Grand Slam singles champions at any WTA Tour event -- and now she will play another in five-time major champion Swiatek.

The 19-year-old Eala, the junior US Open champion in 2022, had never previously won three consecutive matches at any tour-level event prior to this tournament -- though the walkover from Badosa will not count towards her overall win-loss record.
Chennai, March 25 : The Tamil Nadu Home Department has transferred the investigation into the recent attack on YouTuber 'Savukku' Shankar's residence to the state's Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID).

Chennai, March 25 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu Home Department has transferred the investigation into the recent attack on YouTuber 'Savukku' Shankar's residence to the state's Crime Brancha"Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID).

The incident occurred on Monday when a group of individuals, dressed as sanitary workers, stormed into Shankar's residence and vandalised the property.

According to his 68-year-old mother, Kamala, who filed a complaint at the Kilpauk Police Station, the mob first banged on their front door, shouting aggressively.

"Sensing danger, I did not open the door. Shortly after, around 20 men and women broke open the back door and forcefully entered the house," Kamala said.

Kamala alleged that the intruders physically assaulted her and hurled verbal abuses. They then ransacked the home, dumping garbage and sewage mixed with human waste across the floor.

She claimed the attackers threatened her, saying, "We've stopped with this for now. Next time, we'll burn you alive inside the house."

The mob reportedly told her they were angered by "derogatory" remarks made by Shankar about sanitary workers in one of his YouTube videos.

During the attack, they also snatched her mobile phone and used it to abuse Shankar over a video call, threatening him as well.

The YouTuber later shared social media posts showing screenshots from the video call, including images of one of the assailants.

According to Kamala, some of the attackers remained outside the house after the incident, seemingly waiting for Shankar to return.

Following her call to the police control room, law enforcement officers were deployed at the residence to prevent further violence.

In her complaint, Kamala also alleged that the attack might have been linked to Shankar's recent "expose" about irregularities in the procurement of vehicles for sanitary work under state and central government schemes.

Greater Chennai City Police officials have assured that appropriate legal action will be taken based on the investigation.
Mumbai, March 25 : Actor Anil Kapoor took to social media to pen a heartwarming birthday note for his wife, Sunita Kapoor.

Calling her his "superwoman," the actor expressed his undying love for her, saying she is the person who makes every day exciting just by being by his side.

Anil further expressed how Sunita brings joy to his life. He wrote, "Happy Birthday to my superwoman... the best person who makes every day exciting just by being by my side. No matter the good, the bad, or the ugly, you make it worth it all! From the day I met you, youave been my best friend, my partner in everything that truly matters."

The aMr Indiaa actor added, "Life with you isnat just a journeya"itas an adventure filled with love, laughter, and endless memories. You are the heart of our home, the strength behind every success, and the reason I wake up every day with gratitude. Hereas to celebrating you today and every day, my love @kapoor.sunita! Love you now, always, and forever!" Alongside the heartfelt note, Anil also shared throwback photos with Sunita. One of the images shows the actor feeding cake to Sunita, while another rare photo features the couple with their daughters, Sonam Kapoor and Rhea Kapoor, from their younger days.

Sunita Kapoor celebrated her special day with her familya"husband Anil, daughter Sonam Kapoor, Sunita's brother-in-law Sanjay Kapoor, and his wife Maheep Kapoor. The video also featured Farah Khan, Chunky Panday, and his wife Bhavana Pandey, along with Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives stars Seema Kiran Sajdeh and Neelam Kothari.

Farah also posted a video from the celebrations, in which Sunita can be seen smiling as everyone sings "Tumse Milke Aisa Laga," a song from Anil Kapooras film "Parinda."

For the caption, Farah wrote, aWhen everyone sings this song, you know it's @kapoor.sunitaas birthday! Love you, Sunita... few people Iad stay up till midnight for."

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
WIOCC Group subsidiary Open Access Data Centres (OADC) reportedly plans to invest up to US$240 million to expand the capacity of its new data centre in Lagos from 1.5MW to 24MW by 2027.

According to Nigerian newspaper Punch, the Tier-III data centre in Lagos  which was launched at the end of 2022  will be expanded in two phases of 12MW each as part of OADCs current US$500 million investment plan announced in 2021 to build out data centre infrastructure across Africa.

At a press conference last week, OADC CEO Ayotunde Coker said the Lagos facility expansion would cost up to US$240 million, based on the calculation of US$10 million per MW of IT load capacity, the report said.

The first phase is scheduled to be completed within 18 months, although Coker cautioned that it could take longer, as projects like this typically take more than two years due to the complexity of design and execution, the report said.

Coker added that OADC has secured international finance partners to back the project, including International Finance Corporation and Proparco, a development finance subsidiary of the Agence Francaise de Developpement Group.

OADC has also secured a sustainability-linked loan tied to WIOCCs commitment to improving the energy efficiency of its data centres, as well as obtaining EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) green building certification, the report said.

Apart from its data centre in Nigeria, OADC also owns data centres in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa.
Chennai, March 25 : Director and actor Prithviraj Sukumaran has made it clear that his 'L2: Empuraan', the second instalment from his eagerly awaited 'Lucifer' franchise featuring Mohanlal in the lead, will also be a stand-alone film and that even if an individual who hasn't watched the first part of the franchise watches the upcoming second part, they would still be able to completely understand the plot, story and narrative.

Chennai, March 25(IANS) Director and actor Prithviraj Sukumaran has made it clear that his 'L2: Empuraan', the second instalment from his eagerly awaited 'Lucifer' franchise featuring Mohanlal in the lead, will also be a stand-alone film and that even if an individual who hasn't watched the first part of the franchise watches the upcoming second part, they would still be able to completely understand the plot, story and narrative.

The director, who participated in a press meet in Chennai, recently was asked if whether audiences who hadn't watched the first part would be able to understand the story of the second part.

Responding to the question, Prithviraj said, "My writer Murali Gopi and I were very particular that this film should be able to exist as a stand-alone film as well. We have an intention to make the third part of this franchise also with the same quality. Even if you haven't watched the first part, you will completely understand the plot, story and narrative of the second part."

However, the director pointed out that for those who had also watched the first part, some sequences and dialogues might have recall value.

"If someone claps in the theatre while you are watching the film, you might think, 'Why are they clapping for this dialogue?' It might be because they have recalled something from the first part but other than that this is a stand-alone film," he said.

The director then went on to explain, "Even when we completed the first part, we finished it in such a way that the story was complete even if there is no second part. In the second part, I have taken a chance as a filmmaker. By the time the second part ends, you will feel that the story will be complete only when you watch the third part. What I am hoping for is that people who watch the second part and haven't watched the first part, should have a desire to go back and watch the first part. I hope that happens."

Mohanlal-starrer L2: Empuraan (L2E) is jointly being produced by Antony Perumbavoor, Lyca Productions and Sri Gokulam Movies. The film's story has been penned by Murali Gopy and its music has been scored by Deepak Dev. The film has cinematography by Sujith Vaassudev and editing by Akhilesh Mohan.

'Lucifer', the first part of the franchise which released in 2019 and which marked the directorial debut of actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, emerged a blockbuster in just eight days. It went on to make over Rs 200 crore, making it the highest grossing Malayalam film ever.

Needless to say expectations from the sequel, which is scheduled to hit screens on March 27 this year, have soared.

--IANS

Mkr/

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, March 25 : The total number of refills of LPG cylinders by poor households under the PM Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) have doubled in the past five years and the per capita consumption of PMUY beneficiaries has risen to nearly four-and-a-half cylinders per year, according to information tabled in the Parliament.

As on March 1, 2025, there are 10.33 crore PMUY connections across the country. The refill cylinders under the scheme have doubled in five years. As many as 41.95 crore refills were delivered in 11 months of the current financial year (FY25) till February, up from 39.38 crore refills in the 12 months of 2023-24 marking the success of the scheme, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas informed the Parliament.

The number of refills in 2019-20 stood at 22.80 crore, showing a nearly 100 per cent jump in this FY from five years ago.

The government informed that the per capita consumption of PMUY beneficiaries, in terms of number of 14.2 kg LPG cylinders taken per year, has increased from 3.68 (FY 2021-22) to 3.95 in FY 2023-24, and 4.43 in FY 2024-25 (up to January 2025). This is a result of various measures taken by the government to improve access and affordability of domestic LPG for PMUY consumers.

Since the launch of the PMUY, oil marketing companies have delivered a total of 234.02 crore LPG refills to PMUY customers, including the initial installation refill, up to February 2025. During FY 2024-25 (till February 2025), oil companies have been delivering approximately 12.6 lakh LPG refills (in terms of 14.2 Kg cylinders) per day," the government informed.

PMUY was launched in May 2016 with an objective to provide deposit-free LPG connections to women from poor households across the country.

The target to release 8 crore connections was achieved in September, 2019. To cover the remaining poor households, the second phase of the scheme Ujjwala 2.0 was launched in August 2021 and till January 2023, 1.60 crore connections had been released.

Further, in view of fresh requests, in September 2023, the government approved the release of additional 75 lakh PMUY connections. The public sector oil marketing companies have completed the release of these 75 lakh PMUY connections as of July 8, 2024.
Karachi, March 25 : Widespread protests flared in Pakistan's Karachi as the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) took to the streets against "state brutality and enforced disappearances" and demanded the release of the arrested Baloch leaders, including its chief Mahrang Baloch.

Pakistan has charged Mahrang Baloch and several other activists with terrorism after she led the sit-in protest against the illegal arrest and illegal police remand of the relatives of the victims of enforced disappearances.

Meanwhile, in a police crackdown, several individuals, including BYC leader Sammi Deen Baloch, were taken into custody on Monday for allegedly violating section 144.

"Police scuttled the gathering, and around six protestors, including Sammi Deen Baloch, have been arrested on violation of Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code and locked up in Women Police Station," said Pakistan's Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Syed Asad Raza.

Speaking to the country's leading newspaper, Dawn, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan's senior official Qazi Khizar, one of the participants of the protest, stated that the BYC and civil society organisations had given a call for a "peaceful" protest against the detention of Mahrang and others, and the crackdown on activists in Balochistan.

"The police adopted a brutal way to deal with the protesters," the HRCP leader stated, adding that 13 women were taken away, but the number of men was not known.

He said that in contrast to their peaceful protest, several people claimed to represent the Pakistan Ulema Council and other groups were seen demonstrating against the Baloch activists under police protection. They carried banners and chanted slogans against the BYC, but the police were not preventing them from violating Section 144.

International human rights group Front Line Defenders expressed "deep concern" over Mahrang's detention.

"We are deeply concerned by reports that Baloch human rights defender Sammi Deen Baloch has been arrested by Karachi police and taken to an unknown location. We call for her immediate release and an end to reprisals against Baloch human rights defenders," the rights group posted in X on Monday.

On the other hand, BYC Chief Organiser Mahrang Baloch was not produced before a court, despite the lapse of more than 24 hours since her detention.

The protests against her arrest continued in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan, with police using tear gas to disperse protesters in some cases, local media reported.
New Delhi, March 25 : The Delhi Assembly reverberated with Modi-Modi chants on Tuesday as Delhi CM Rekha Gupta presented her government's first Budget in the House.

While presenting Rs 1 lakh crore Budget, the city's largest ever, CM Rekha Gupta took multiple jibes at the previous dispensation and slammed it for broken promises and relying more on advertisements and publicity than the groundwork.

Taking a caustic dig at the "AAP-da" model, Rekha Gupta said, "Delhi's malik (owner) had promised to transform the city into London. He sold this idea to the people of Delhi, however, the city only turned chaotic with broken roads, traffic jams and incomplete projects."

Calling it "advertisement government," she said that the previous dispensation only put up posters and hoardings for publicity and didn't pay attention to policy-making for public welfare.

"More amount was spent on hoarding than on infrastructure. There were no schemes, but the advertisements were always there," she added.

She also hit out at the "AAP-da" government and blamed it for stalling the development of the city for its political motives and denying the people the advantages of many Central schemes, including Ayushman Bharat Yojana.

"The previous government spent less on development, saying that they did not have the funds. However, if they had not stalled implementation of Central schemes for their political motives, then there wouldn't have been any deficiency of funds," she said.

"Everyone knows that the Ayushman Bharat scheme was implemented in the entire nation; everyone got direct benefit from it. However, despite repeated calls made by the Centre to implement it in Delhi, it was not done. It was because the previous Chief Minister wanted his name to be added to the scheme. And the entire Delhi had to bear the consequences of this," she added.

Highlighting the roll-out of Ayushman Bharat in Delhi, she said, "The day government took charge, immediately after the oath, in the first cabinet meeting it was decided to implement Ayushman Bharat in the capital and this scheme will soon be implemented. People will get best health services in the form of schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Ayushman Arogya Mandir and Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Infrastructure Mission."

"Our government did this, and it was also decided that along with the insurance of Rs 5 lakh given by the Centre under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, the Delhi government will provide additional insurance of Rs 5 lakh," she added.
New Delhi, March 25 : Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday announced the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in the national capital and allocated Rs 2,144 crore for the flagship scheme.

"The implementation of Ayushman Bharat Yojana was announced in the first cabinet meeting itself," Gupta said while presenting her maiden budget.

The rollout of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana in Delhi was a key election promise by the BJP government -- where it came into power after 26 years -- as the previous Aam Aadmi Party-led government had opted out.

"Delhi government has decided to provide a top-up of Rs 10 lakh health insurance cover, in addition to the existing Rs 5 lakh from Government of India," Gupta said.

Delhi has become the 35th state or Union Territory to adopt AB-PMJAY -- the world's largest publicly funded health insurance scheme.

Launched in 2018, it aims to provide health coverage to 55 crore people, corresponding to 12.34 crore poor and vulnerable families -- covering the bottom 40 per cent of India's population.

In October 2024, the AB PM-JAY was also extended to senior citizens aged 70 and above, irrespective of their economic status.

The scheme aims to provide senior citizens with free healthcare benefits in addition to the existing AB PM-JAY family scheme. Under the new scheme, the elderly will have a separate cover of Rs 5 lakh per year.

Meanwhile, CM Gupta termed the Budget 2025-26 as historic and announced the Rs 1 lakh crore Budget -- the largest budget in the history of the national capital.

"This is a historic day as this is not just any Budget. The people of Delhi and the country are waiting to see how the government, which was elected by the public with a historic mandate, will present its first Budget," the CM said.

"This Budget is not just a presentation of government expenses but a budget to bring a turnaround in the city's fortunes and align it on the path of Viksit Delhi. This Budget is focused on making Delhi, a Sangam of glorious history and bright future," she added.
Dhaka, March 25 : Several were injured after a clash erupted between two top political parties in Bangladesh -- the National Citizens Party (NCP) and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

The violence occurred on Monday night at Jahajmara Bazar in the Noakhali district after both parties organised rallies in the same area, according to some local media reports.

The NCP claimed that over 50 of their leaders, including Senior Joint Chief Coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud, had been injured in an attack allegedly by BNP members. The BNP, however, said 30 of its leaders had been injured during the clash, according to a report by bdnews 24.

NCP's Abdul Hannan Masud told the country's leading daily, Prothom Alo, "We were talking to the people. At that time, some people from the BNP attacked our people. Several of our men were injured in the attack."

However, the local BNP Joint General Secretary Lutfullahil Majid Nishan claimed a BNP man was attacked first.

"Upazila Krishak Dal Convener Abdur Rob was beaten and injured earlier in the evening. When local BNP members staged a protest march, tensions escalated," he stated.

Early on Tuesday, Noakhali Hatia Police Station chief Azmal Huda confirmed that the two sides were engaged in a standoff across the market.

The clash created chaos in the entire area. Police, along with Navy and Coast Guard personnel, were deployed to de-escalate tensions and restore order.

Following this, the NCP staged an impromptu protest march in Dhaka on Tuesday condemning the alleged attack on their leader Abdul Hannan Masud in Noakhali's Hatia and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for the attack and their expulsion from their respective political parties.

BNP and NCP have been at loggerheads regarding the issue of upcoming national elections. During a rally this month the BNP Chairperson's Advisory Council member Zainul Abedin Farroque also accused the NCP of creating chaos to delay the elections.

The much-flaunted unity of various political outfits in Bangladesh, which was on full display during the ousting of the democratically-elected Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in August 2024, seems to be fading gradually.
Seoul, March 25 : Wildfires in South Korea's southeastern county of Uiseong appear to be getting out of control due to unpredictable strong winds and extremely dry weather, government officials said on Tuesday, citing a gradual drop in the area's fire extinguishing rate.

The forest area affected by the wildfires in Uiseong, about 180 kilometres southeast of Seoul, increased by over 4,000 hectares (ha) overnight to 12,699 ha as of early Tuesday morning, despite all-out firefighting efforts by authorities.

According to the Korea Forest Service, Uiseong's fire extinguishing rate has moved backwards over the past day, dropping from 60 per cent on Monday evening to 54 per cent as of 9 a.m. Tuesday.

A combination of unpredictable strong winds and extremely dry weather is hampering firefighting efforts there, the officials said.

As the forest fire is protracted, the fatigue of firefighters appears to be building up, they said, noting a firefighter from the Sangju Fire Station was rushed to a hospital Monday afternoon after showing symptoms of dizziness and vomiting during a firefighting operation in Uiseong, Yonhap news agency reported.

Authorities plan to mobilise 77 helicopters and 3,154 personnel to contain the wildfires in Uiseong, as the blaze has spread to the adjacent city of Andong.

Wildfires raging in southeastern South Korea over the past several days have burned 14,694 ha of woodland, caused 15 injuries, including four fatalities, and left more than 3,300 people displaced, the government said on Tuesday.

Acting Interior Minister Ko Ki-dong announced the latest extent of forest fire damage at a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters in Seoul, saying the firefighting efforts are impeded by strong winds, dry weather and other inclement conditions.

The government will mobilise all available resources, including 110 helicopters and 6,700 personnel, on Tuesday to contain the wildfires in Sancheong, Hadong and Gimhae, all in South Gyeongsang Province; Uiseong of North Gyeongsang Province; and Ulsan's Ulju district, Ko said.

Firefighters had contained an average of 88 per cent of the wildfires in the five regions as of 7 a.m. Tuesday, the minister said, adding efforts will also be made to prevent the blaze from spreading to residential areas.

Local governments have also implemented various safety measures, such as blocking roads and evacuating residents in advance, to minimise damage from the fires, he said.

Ko noted that a total of 234 forest fires occurred nationwide this year, and most of them were caused by accidental fires by mountain visitors and burning of agricultural byproducts or trash.
Seoul, March 25 : South Korean Acting President, Han Duck-soo, has called for thorough preparations to ensure timely cooperation with US President Donald Trump's administration on key issues, including diplomacy, Defence and economy, the presidential office said on Tuesday.

Han made the remark while presiding over an emergency National Security Council meeting on Monday evening, shortly after being reinstated following the Constitutional Court's dismissal of his impeachment.

During the meeting, Han also urged the officials to "implement the necessary national-level policy measures without delay for our national interests and security" and to actively cooperate with the international community in this regard, Yonhap news agency reported.

"The National Security Office at the presidential office should take the lead in maintaining a system that ensures close information sharing and coordination among ministries involved in diplomacy and security," he said.

Earlier on March 24, South Korea's Constitutional Court dismissed Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's impeachment, reinstating him as Acting President in the ongoing turmoil over suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law.

The court's eight justices dismissed Han's impeachment in a 5-1 vote. Two justices voted to reject the impeachment motion entirely.

The ruling came three months after the National Assembly impeached the Prime Minister and then Acting President over his alleged role in Yoon's December 3 declaration of martial law, among other reasons.

Four of the five justices who voted to dismiss Han's impeachment acknowledged there were violations of the Constitution and the law in his decision to defer the appointment of additional justices to the court but noted it did not justify his removal from office.

As the only justice to uphold the impeachment, however, Justice Chung Kye-sun said the violations were "serious" enough to warrant his dismissal.

Monday's ruling was closely watched as a test of the court's views on charges raised against Yoon in his impeachment trial.

The court has yet to announce the date of its ruling on Yoon's case.
Kigali, March 25 : Rwanda welcomed the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group's decision to withdraw from Walikale town, which it seized earlier in the week, as well as the Congolese government's decision to de-escalate hostilities in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The Congo River Alliance, a political-military coalition that includes M23 rebels, announced on Saturday its decision to "reposition" its forces from Walikale and the surrounding areas. The move, it said, was intended to support peace initiatives and create conditions conducive to political dialogue to address the root causes of the conflict in eastern DRC.

In response, the Congolese military urged Congolese self-defence forces to de-escalate on the same day, emphasising the need to prioritise peace talks and advance the Luanda and Nairobi dialogue processes.

A statement from the office of the Rwandan government's spokesperson said: "Rwanda welcomes M23's announcement on the repositioning of its forces from Walikale in support of peace initiatives underway, as well as DRC's announcement that all offensive operations by FARDC (Congolese government forces) and Wazalendo (pro-government militia) will be halted."

"Rwanda is committed to working with all parties to ensure adherence to commitments, particularly in the context of the joint EAC-SADC summit process and other initiatives paving the way for a lasting political and security settlement in the region," the statement said.

Since intensifying its offensive last year, the M23 rebel group has seized large areas in DRC's eastern North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, Xinhua news agency reported.

The DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting the group, a claim Kigali denies. In turn, Rwanda accuses the DRC's military of collaborating with the Rwandan rebel group Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, which is accused of involvement in the 1994 genocide.

On Tuesday, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame called for a ceasefire during a surprise meeting in Doha, Qatar, their first since the M23 seized the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu this year.
Dar Es Salaam, March 25 : Tanzania joined the international community in marking World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, saying the government has successfully reduced new TB infections by about 40 per cent in eight years.

In his message to mark the day, observed on March 24 each year to amplify the urgency of ending tuberculosis, Deputy Minister of Health Godwin Mollel said new TB infections were reduced from 306 patients per 100,000 people in 2015 to 183 patients per 100,000 people in 2023.

Mollel said in a statement released in the national capital of Dodoma that the TB-induced deaths dropped from 56,000 in 2015 to 18,400 in 2023, a reduction of about 67 per cent.

Mollel said this has put Tanzania among 13 countries in the world with a target of reducing the number of TB deaths by 75 per cent by 2025, according to projections by the World Health Organization (WHO).

He attributed the success of fighting TB to the government's efforts to improve tuberculosis-specialised diagnostic equipment and medication.

The theme of this year's campaign is "Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver," and the WHO is marking the event with renewed calls for action to end TB, Xinhua news agency reported.

The WHO recommends that governments invest in strengthening their health systems to improve access to TB services, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas, promote TB prevention and control measures, including infection control and contact tracing, and prioritise scaling up screening, detection, treatment, psychosocial and nutritional support with a focus on vulnerable populations.

World Tuberculosis Day, observed on March 24 each year, is designed to build public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis and efforts to eliminate the disease. In 2018, 10 million people fell ill with TB, and 1.5 million died from the disease, mostly in low and middle-income countries.
Malaysian operator Maxis has partnered with Nokia to deploy data centre networking solutions for large enterprises, aiming to meet the growing demand for AI and cloud adoption.

In a statement, Maxis described the partnership as a joint go-to-market initiative designed to equip enterprises, hyperscalers, and OTT players with more scalable, secure, and automated networking capabilities to fully leverage AI and cloud technologies.

As part of the collaboration, Maxis will provide high-performance connectivity using Nokias AI-powered Data Centre Fabric, a networking solution that enables data centre operators to enhance efficiency, automation, and resilience in their cloud environments.

The rapid evolution of AI and cloud technologies is creating new opportunities and driving growth in the cloud and data centre landscape. Reflecting this transformation, our partnership with Nokia will support our ongoing efforts to deliver next-generation networking solutions to our customers, said Maxis Chief Enterprise Business Officer Prateek Pashine.
Patna, March 25 : Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Left parties MLAs staged a protest outside the Bihar Assembly on Tuesday, demanding the implementation of 65 per cent reservation based on the caste-based survey conducted by the former Grand Alliance government.

RJD MLAs wore green T-shirts with slogans advocating for the enhanced reservation and demanded its inclusion in the Ninth Schedule of the Indian Constitution to shield it from judicial review.

The protest began before the House proceedings, with RJD and Left legislators chanting slogans like "Arakshan Chor NDA government" while pressing their demands.

During the tenure of the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) government, a caste-based survey recommended increasing reservations in jobs and education from 49 per cent to 65 per cent, including an additional 10 per cent for the economically weaker sections among upper castes. However, the enhanced reservation has not been added to the Ninth Schedule.

Opposition leaders argue that without this safeguard, the reservation policy remains vulnerable to legal challenges. They have accused the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government of stalling the process despite having the power to advance it.

Mukesh Roshan, RJD MLA from the Mahua constituency, criticised the NDA government for using the judiciary as an excuse to avoid implementing the increased reservation.

"The Grand Alliance government conducted the caste-based survey and raised the reservation to 65 per cent, but the NDA government is now hiding behind court decisions. This is a double-engine government -- they have the power to implement the reservation and place it under the Ninth Schedule to protect it from judicial scrutiny," Roshan said.

Fateh Bahadur, another RJD MLA, also insisted that reservations should align with Bihar's demographic realities.

"According to the caste-based survey, Dalits, Mahadalits, backward castes, minorities, and extremely backward castes make up 90 per cent of Bihar's population. Reservation policies must reflect this composition," Singh told IANS.

In response, the NDA government has defended its position, claiming it is working on reservation reforms and will address the matter in the Assembly.

With the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections approaching, caste-based reservation has become a major political flashpoint. The RJD is using the issue to consolidate support among backward classes and challenge Nitish Kumar's voter base.
New Delhi, March 25 : Starting May 1, withdrawing cash from ATMs in India will become more expensive as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved an increase in ATM interchange fees.

This means customers who rely on ATMs for their financial transactions will have to pay additional charges once they exceed their free transaction limit.

An ATM interchange fee is a charge that one bank pays another for providing ATM services. This fee, which is usually a fixed amount per transaction, is often passed on to customers as part of their banking costs.

The RBI decided to revise these charges following requests from white-label ATM operators, who argued that rising operational expenses were affecting their business.

The increase in charges will apply nationwide and is expected to impact customers, particularly those from smaller banks.

These banks rely on larger financial institutions for ATM infrastructure and related services, making them more vulnerable to rising costs.

From May 1, customers will have to pay an additional Rs 2 for each financial transaction beyond the free limit.

For non-financial transactions, such as balance inquiries, the fee will increase by Rs 1. As a result, withdrawing cash from an ATM will cost Rs 19 per transaction, up from the earlier Rs 17.

Checking account balances will now cost Rs 7 per transaction, according to the official notification.

ATMs, once seen as a revolutionary banking service, have been struggling in India with the rise of digital payments.

The convenience of online wallets and UPI transactions has significantly reduced the need for cash withdrawals.

Government data shows that digital payments in India were valued at Rs 952 lakh crore in FY14. By FY23, this figure had jumped to Rs 3,658 lakh crore, reflecting a massive shift towards cashless transactions.

With this new fee hike, customers who still rely on cash transactions may feel the burden, further pushing them toward digital alternatives.
Patna, March 25 : A massive uproar erupted in the Bihar Legislative Council on Tuesday after Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) legislators, clad in green T-shirts, staged a protest inside and outside the Assembly.

They demanded that the 65 per cent reservation policy be included in the Ninth Schedule of the Indian Constitution to shield it from judicial review.

The demonstration drew sharp criticism from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who dismissed the agitation as "bogus."

As soon as the House proceedings began, RJD members stormed into the well of the Assembly, chanting slogans in support of increased reservation. Many legislators wore green T-shirts emblazoned with messages advocating for the inclusion of the 65 per cent reservation policy in the Ninth Schedule.

Reacting to the protest, an irate Nitish Kumar stood up and said, "All this is bogus. It has no meaning. Have you seen anything like this anywhere in the country?"

He further lambasted the RJD, remarking, "There is no other party in the country that behaves like this."

In a pointed personal jibe, Kumar took aim at former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, who was present in the Legislative Council.

Referring to her tenure, he said, "It is her husband's party, what does she care? When her husband (Lalu Prasad) was removed from the Chief Minister's post, she was made CM. Does this mean anything? What does she even do? Have you seen anything like this in any other party?"

The remark triggered a fresh uproar from the opposition benches.

Addressing journalists seated on the first floor of the Legislative Council, Kumar questioned, "Have you seen such behaviour anywhere else in the country?"

Mocking the RJD's attire, he added, "They are wearing T-shirts they never usually wear. This is all bogus."

Earlier, RJD and Left parties MLAs staged a protest outside the Bihar Assembly demanding the implementation of 65 per cent reservation based on the caste-based survey conducted by the former Grand Alliance government.

RJD MLAs wore green T-shirts with slogans advocating for the enhanced reservation and demanded its inclusion in the Ninth Schedule of the Indian Constitution to shield it from judicial review.
Dhaka, March 25 : Speculation is mounting over the possibility of martial law or a state of emergency in Bangladesh, with talks of a military takeover gaining traction. Concerns are growing that the army could move against the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government amid increasing tensions between the military and both the administration and student-led movements.

The deployment of the Bangladeshi Army in Dhaka has further fueled coup rumours. Reports indicate that troops from the Savar-based 9th Division of the Bangladeshi Army are being mobilised and have begun entering the capital in a phased manner.

According to the country's leading media outlet, Northeast News, sources within the security establishment suggest that the army is looking to consolidate control, particularly in Dhaka.

However, in an attempt to quell the growing speculation, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman dismissed the rumors on Monday and urged patience.

Addressing senior army officials from across the country at the 'Officer's Address' in Dhaka Cantonment, General Waker lauded the military's dedication, professionalism, and resilience, emphasising that misinformation should not be allowed to cause distractions.

His remarks came after a night of intense speculation regarding the imposition of martial law or emergency rule as the nation grapples with unfolding political developments.

General Waker underscored key concerns, including the deteriorating law and order situation, the dangers of misinformation, and inflammatory rhetoric.

Stressing that "the country and its people remain the army's highest priority," he called on troops to remain vigilant and not succumb to provocations.

His statement comes at a time when the army has been exercising magistracy powers for over six months, aiding the civil administration. These forces played a pivotal role in the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the establishment of the interim government under Yunus.

In recent months, growing opposition from political parties and student organisations has led to heightened tensions, causing unease within military circles. This has reportedly pushed some factions within the army to consider measures to control the dissenting voices.

However, General Waker warned against any impulsive actions, stating that such moves could serve the interests of those seeking to destabilise the country.

The unfolding situation took another turn when a student leader made explosive allegations against the army chief in a pre-recorded video released on Friday.

Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, who serves as an advisor to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives in the interim government, claimed that General Waker had initially been reluctant to support Muhammad Yunus's appointment as chief advisor.

Adding to the unrest, another prominent student activist, Hasnat Abdullah, recently threatened to launch a mass movement against the army.

This followed reports of a secret meeting between Abdullah and General Waker on March 11, during which the army chief allegedly hinted at the possibility of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League returning to politics and contesting elections if and when they are held.

With tensions escalating and speculation running high, Bangladesh finds itself at a critical juncture, caught between political uncertainty and military oversight.

While General Waker's reassurances aim to dispel fears of a coup, the heavy army presence in Dhaka and growing opposition against the military show that the situation is fragile.
New Delhi, March 25 : India has the potential to become a global hub for subsea connectivity, given its strategic location and growing digital infrastructure, Broadband India Forum (BIF) Chairperson, Aruna Sundararajan, said on Tuesday.

She emphasised the need to expand India's subsea infrastructure by four to five times to meet the increasing demand for data consumption.

"India holds immense potential to emerge as a leading global transit hub for subsea connectivity. To realise this, it is imperative to expand the capacity of subsea infrastructure by 4-5X, enhance resilience, and build redundancy in our subsea cable systems, moving with global trends," Sundararajan said.

While speaking at the 'International Subsea Cable Systems Conference' in the national capital, she added that prioritising subsea cable networks is essential, especially in the context of shifting geopolitical realities.

Speaking at the event, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti stressed that subsea cables carry over 95 per cent of the world's data traffic.

He pointed out that recent global cable disruptions have underscored the importance of strengthening this network.

"To safeguard our strategic and commercial interests, geographical diversity of subsea cables and increasing Cable Landing Stations (CLS) are important," he said.

BSNL CMD Robert Ravi reaffirmed the company's commitment to expanding secure and affordable connectivity across India.

"We are proud that, from the ocean depths to the Himalayan heights, BSNL is connecting India --securely, affordably, and reliably," he stated.

India already plays a key role in the global subsea cable network, with around 17 international subsea cables connected to 14 landing stations across Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Tuticorin, and Trivandrum.

Indian telecom giants such as Tata Communications, Bharti Airtel, Global Cloud eXchange and BSNL operate these critical infrastructures.

Recently, Bharti Airtel landed the SEA-ME-WE 6 submarine cable in Chennai, strengthening its international connectivity.

Global tech giant Meta has also announced 'Project Waterworth,' a 50,000 km undersea cable initiative connecting India with the US, Brazil, and South Africa, reinforcing the country's growing importance in global digital networks.
Seoul, March 25 : South Korean Acting President Han Duck-soo called on the nation on Tuesday to respect the Constitutional Court's decision on suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment regardless of the outcome.

Han issued the call during a meeting with public safety-related ministers and officials, as the court is expected to rule soon on whether to uphold or dismiss Yoon's impeachment over his brief imposition of martial law in December.

"Regardless of the outcome of the Constitutional Court's decision, it must be respected as a legal judgment made in line with democratic procedures," the Acting President said.

"Moreover, it must be a starting point for our society to unite beyond division and confrontation."

Han pleaded with the public to express their opinions in an orderly and peaceful manner within the boundaries set by the Constitution and the law, noting there are growing concerns about illegal and violent acts taking place during rallies and protests surrounding the ruling, Yonhap news agency reported.

"The government will do its best to protect the people's lives and safety and to maintain order," he said, vowing to mobilise the full range of police and administrative power to ensure public safety under any circumstance.

In the event of a challenge to law enforcement, such as the destruction of facilities, violence or arson, Han said the government will take firm action, including by detaining suspects on the spot.

Earlier on March 24, South Korea's Constitutional Court dismissed Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's impeachment, reinstating him as Acting President in the ongoing turmoil over suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law.

The court's eight justices dismissed Han's impeachment in a 5-1 vote. Two justices voted to reject the impeachment motion entirely.

The ruling came three months after the National Assembly impeached the Prime Minister and then Acting President over his alleged role in Yoon's December 3 declaration of martial law, among other reasons.

Four of the five justices who voted to dismiss Han's impeachment acknowledged there were violations of the Constitution and the law in his decision to defer the appointment of additional justices to the court but noted it did not justify his removal from office.

As the only justice to uphold the impeachment, however, Justice Chung Kye-sun said the violations were "serious" enough to warrant his dismissal.

Monday's ruling was closely watched as a test of the court's views on charges raised against Yoon in his impeachment trial.

Meanwhile, Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's criminal trial on insurrection charges will formally begin on April 14.

The Seoul Central District Court announced the date during the second pre-trial hearing, saying the first formal hearing would be held that day on charges that Yoon incited an insurrection through his brief imposition of martial law in December.
New Delhi, March 25 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on a plea filed by J&K MP Engineer Rashid seeking custody parole to attend the ongoing Budget Session proceedings.

The second half of the Budget Session began on March 10 and will conclude on April 4.

Engineer Rashid, who won the Lok Sabha election from Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla constituency by defeating National Conference Vice President, and now Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah by over two lakh votes while he remained lodged in Tihar Jail, is accused in a terror funding case being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

A bench of Justices Chandra Dhari Singh and Anup Jairam Bhambhani reserved its decision after hearing the oral arguments advanced by the counsel representing the anti-terror agency and Engineer Rashid's lawyer.

Engineer Rashid has petitioned the Delhi High Court against the March 10 order passed by the special NIA court denying him custody parole. In his petition, the Lok Sabha member called the city court's order "erroneous".

Issuing notice on Engineer Rashid's plea, the Delhi HC sought NIA's response on his release on custody parole and told the federal anti-terror to file the objection, if any, before March 17.

Earlier, a single-judge Bench of Justice Vikas Mahajan had granted custody parole to Engineer Rashid for February 11 and 13 while imposing a slew of conditions.

Following the Delhi High Court order, Rashid attended the Parliament session amid heavy police security.

As per the Justice Mahajan-led Bench order, Engineer Rashid was directed not to interact with any person except for his limited responsibility of attending the House and to not address the media in any manner.

In November last year, a court here, instead of passing an order on the application for regular bail, had recommended the District Judge to transfer his case to the MP/MLA court as Rashid became an MP. Thereafter, Engineer Rashid moved the Delhi High Court, seeking directions to the trial court judge to expedite a decision on his pending regular bail application or decide the matter itself.

Following the Supreme Court's clarification on the issue of designation of a court, the Delhi High Court ordered the special NIA court to decide Engineer Rashid's bail plea.

Last week, the Patiala House court in Delhi rejected Engineer Rashid's regular bail plea filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Additional District Judge, Chander Jit Singh pronounced the decision in the court saying: "The bail plea dismissed".
Alappuzha, March 25 : A police complaint has been registered by the office of Congress MP and party general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal over the creation of a fake Facebook account in his name.

The complaint was registered by K. Sarath Chandran, the personal secretary to Venugopal, at the Alappuzha district police chief's office in Kerala.

The complaint states, "I wish to bring to your kind attention that an unidentified individual has created a fake Facebook account impersonating Sri. K.C. Venugopal, Hon'ble Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. This matter came to his notice only the day before yesterday. It appears that the general public is being misled into believing that the fake account is the official one, leading to friend requests, interactions, and communications under false pretences."

"This impersonation not only tarnishes his reputation but also poses a serious risk of misinformation and potential misuse. In light of the above, I earnestly request your immediate intervention to identify and take stringent legal action against the individual(s) responsible for this fraudulent act. Furthermore, I request you to initiate necessary measures to block the fake account at the earliest to prevent any further misuse. I trust in your esteemed office to act swiftly in this matter," says the complaint.

Venugopal represents the Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency though he hails from Kannur.

He has represented the Alappuzha Assembly constituency three times till 2009.

In the 2009 general elections, he was asked to contest the Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency. He won the constituency and later quit the Assembly seat.

He contested again in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and won, but in 2019 he expressed his desire not to contest the seat and the CPI(M) candidate won.

However, in 2024 he was fielded again from Alappuzha and was victorious.

Venugopal of late has been the most bitter critic of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in particular and the CPI(M) in general.
Mumbai, March 25 : Sunny Deol recently opened up about his upcoming project, "Lahore 1947," expressing his excitement for his role in the much-anticipated film.

Speaking at the trailer launch of his next film, "Jaat," the actor described the Aamir Khan-backed project as a "big film," emphasizing its grand scale and powerful narrative. Sunny stated, "I was hoping to do big films, and it's happening now. Lahore 1947 is coming this year."

Produced under the banner of Aamir Khan Productions, "Lahore 1947" is one of the most anticipated films of this year. The movie brings together Sunny Deol, Rajkumar Santoshi, and Aamir Khan collaborating for the first time. For Lahore 1947, Aamir takes on the role of producer, while Rajkumar Santoshi, known for his masterful storytelling, is directing the period drama. The film, set against the backdrop of the partition of India in 1947, also stars Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Abhimanyu Singh, and Ali Fazal in key roles.

This project will mark Zinta's much-anticipated return to the screen after a 7-year break.

'Lahore 1947' had been shot over a single 70-day schedule. A source close to the production had earlier revealed, "The shooting for 'Lahore 1947' has concluded after an intensive 70-day schedule. The schedule has been completed without taking any breaks. It's been a superb experience to see stalwart actors bring a magical quality to the film."

Meanwhile, Sunny Deol is gearing up for the release of his next actioner, "Jaat," which also stars Randeep Hooda, Vineet Kumar Singh, Saiyami Kher, and Regina Cassandra. Directed by Gopichand Malineni, the film will release in theatres on April 10.

Speaking about the movie, Sunny, who plays the titular role of Jaat, said, "This journey of this film had begun during Gadar 2. We all were very excited about it, we were about to start a beautiful film, and after following many directors, Gopi agreed to do the film. We met in Goa, and he said he would direct the film and had another story to narrate. He narrated to me the story of "Sorry Bol" (laughs). And with 'sorry, sorry, sorry,' he pulled me into the entire film and story, and this is how we made 'Jaat."
Kolkata, March 25 : The disciplinary committee of Trinamool Congress' legislative party in the West Bengal Assembly, which is probing the absence of party MLAs in the just-concluded Budget Session ignoring party whips, has sought details of the leave applications submitted by the legislators to the office of the Speaker.

A source in the West Bengal Cabinet said that the decision to seek the details of such leave applications submitted at the Speaker's office was taken at the first meeting of the disciplinary committee on Monday.

"In this case, the whip was about 100 per cent attendance of party legislators in the House on the last two days of the Budget Session on March 19 and March 20.

"While the presence was almost 100 per cent on March 19, over 50 party legislators remained absent on March 20.

"Ignoring whips is an offense and it could even result in cancellation of House membership, unless that absence is justified through applications made to the Speaker's office, clearly citing the reasons behind absence or applying for leave in advance before the whip was issued.

"That is why the disciplinary committee has decided to seek details of such applications from the Speaker's office," the member of the state Cabinet said.

The chief of the disciplinary committee and the state Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, confirmed the development of seeking details of such applications from the Speaker.

"The MLAs cannot ignore party whips. After the details of such applications are made available, the next course of action will be decided," he said.

The next meeting of the disciplinary committee will be held on March 29. It will be chaired by Sovandeb Chattopadhyay and will be attended by other members of the committee, namely Trinamool Congress Chief Whip in the House Nirmal Ghosh, West Bengal Minister of State for Finance (independent charge) Chandrima Bhattacharya, State Municipal Affairs & Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim and State Power Minister Arup Biswas.

Now, it remains to be seen whether the erring legislators will be let off with a note of caution or some disciplinary action would be initiated against them.

Last week, the MLA from the Bhagalpur Assembly constituency in Murshidabad district had to face the disciplinary committee for his alleged objectionable comments made about the Leader of the Opposition in the House, Suvendu Adhikari.

However, instead of recommending any disciplinary action against him, he was just cautioned to be careful and refrain from making any such comment in the future.
African technology company Cassava Technologies has announced that it plans to build Africas first artificial intelligence (AI) factory  a powerful and super-secure data centre facility powered with AI computing technology from multinational corporation and technology company Nvidia.

This, says Cassava, will give African businesses, governments and researchers access to cutting-edge AI computing capacity  helping them develop smarter AI products, streamline operations and stay competitive in a fast-changing world. Cassava adds that it provides the supercomputers and software needed to train AI while keeping data within Africas borders.

Cassava plans to deploy Nvidia accelerated computing and AI software using Nvidia Cloud Partner (NCP) reference architectures, at its data centres in South Africa by June 2025, with expansion planned at its other data centre facilities in Egypt, Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria.

Cassavas AI Factory will leverage the companys pan-African high-speed, ultra-low-latency, fibre-optic network with sustainable data centres to deliver AI as a service (AIaaS). Cassavas data centres are designed to be energy efficient, using less electricity to power AI computing workloads.

Nvidia GPU-based supercomputers will power the AI factory, enabling faster AI model training, fine-tuning and advanced inference capabilities. Cassava aims to be the first to introduce these accelerated computing platforms to Africa as an NCP, playing, it says, a crucial role in the continents AI ecosystem.

Cassava adds that, by using this secure, high-performance AI factory, African businesses and governments can develop local solutions to local challenges, enabling Africans to build, train, scale and deploy AI in a secure environment compliant with global and local regulations.
Mumbai, March 25 : Television actor Akshay Dev Bindra has opened up about sustaining a hairline fracture while shooting an intense sequence on the sets of his show "Kumkum Bhagya." Mumbai, March 25 (IANS) Television actor Akshay Dev Bindra has opened up about sustaining a hairline fracture while shooting an intense sequence on the sets of his show "Kumkum Bhagya."

Bindra, who played the role of Raunak in the show, showcased his unwavering commitment to his craft as he continued to shoot for the show despite sustaining a hairline fracture. Speaking about the injury, the actor said, "The sequence was dramatic because I had to get into a proper physical battle. The team had made sure that all the safety measures were in place, but unfortunately I happened to injure my right little finger. It is a hairline fracture; however, initially, I had just felt some pain. In the heat of the moment, I didn't realize that it would be a fracture, but as soon as the pain started intensifying, I realised it wasn't something normal."

He added, "The doctors confirmed that it was a fracture, but that hasn't stopped me from shooting. The show must go on, right? The cast and crew have been incredibly supportive, taking great care of me while ensuring that I get the necessary rest and medication. I am truly grateful for their concern and best wishes. Knowing that so many people care for me keeps me motivated and makes this journey even more special."

During the filming of an intense fight sequence at a club, where Raunak steps in to protect Prarthana (played by Pranali Rathod), Akshay injured his right little finger. Despite all the safety measures in place, an unfortunate accident resulted in a hairline fracture.

"Kumkum Bhagya," produced by Ekta Kapoor under Balaji Telefilms, is one of the longest-running shows on Indian television. It premiered on 15 April 2014 on Zee TV and digitally streams on ZEE5. Pranali Rathod, known for playing Akshara in "Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai," and Akshay Bindra have recently joined the family drama as the new leads.
Mumbai, March 25 : The adult comedy film 'Hunterrr', which stars Gulshan Devaiah, Radhika Apte, and Sai Tamhankar, is heading to the theatres during the re-release season.

The fan-favourite coming of age adult comedy 'Hunterrr' will arrive in cinemas on April 4, ten years after its original theatrical run.

The film was a clutter-breaker upon its release in March 2015, earning rave reviews for its bold theme, stellar performances, and daringly original narrative. In the film, Gulshan essayed the role of a man who is addicted to sex. The actor said he enjoyed working on the film and receiving "endless love" for it.

He said in a statement, "'Hunterrr' or 'Vasu'. as we first called it, has been scoring warmth and affection from cinema lovers since 2015. Once again people have a chance to go to the movies to see a beloved film. Happy tenth anniversary to all and I'll see you at the movies".

Radhika called 'Hunterrr' one of the "funniest films" she has done in her career. She said, "When the script had come to me, I knew I had to do this film and all these years later I feel it was a great decision. The film has gone on to achieve cult status and I'm happy it is rereleasing in theatres".

Sai Tamhankar, essayed the role of Jyotsna in the film. She recalled how she on-boarded the project just days before it started rolling and said how it turned out to be a "special unique" film.

She said, "I was cast for it just three days before the shoot. It went on to become a cult film. I'm happy to have been a part of 'Hunterrr'. This was a film that was way ahead of its time and I'm thrilled it's releasing now, at such an interesting time".

Produced by Tailormade films, Phantom and Shemaroo, 'Hunterrr' was directed by Harshavardhan Kulkarni, and marked his directorial debut. The film is set to re-release on April 4 at PVR Inox.
Chennai, March 25 : In a significant political development in Tamil Nadu, AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) is set to travel to Delhi on Tuesday evening to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

EPS will be accompanied by former minister and key party leader from western Tamil Nadu, S.P. Velusamy. AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan confirmed to the media that EPS is heading to the national capital to meet Amit Shah but declined to provide further details on the purpose of the visit.

The AIADMK and BJP were alliance partners during the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, where the BJP secured four seats under the arrangement. However, the alliance was severed on September 21, 2023, following tensions that arose after K. Annamalai took over as the BJPas Tamil Nadu state president.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the AIADMK and BJP contested separately, forming individual alliances. Both parties suffered major setbacks, while the DMK-led coalition swept all the seats.

The breakdown in relations was largely attributed to Annamalaias leadership, with AIADMK leaders accusing him of undermining the spirit of the alliance. Senior AIADMK figures have publicly stated that Annamalai lacked the political maturity and respect shown by previous BJP state presidents, particularly in acknowledging AIADMKas leadership role in the state coalition.

Tensions peaked when Annamalai, in a media interview before the split, made a controversial remark referring to the late AIADMK supremo and former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaaas conviction in a corruption case.

The AIADMK leaders viewed the statement as a grave insult and subsequently passed a strongly worded resolution condemning Annamalai, citing his inexperience and lack of political acumen.

With the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections just over a year away, political observers are closely watching the moves. Both parties now face the challenge of overcoming past differences to pose a united front against the ruling DMK.
New Delhi, March 25 : The Supreme Court has ordered the Uttarakhand government to pay Rs 1 crore to the family of a doctor shot dead while on duty in 2016.

A bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Aravind Kumar noted that only a sum of Rs 1 lakh was paid to the family of the deceased doctor despite the then Chief Minister approving a decision to pay a compensation of Rs 50 lakh.

"We are prima facie of the view that even after approval of the proposal to pay Rs 50 lakh to the family of the deceased by the Chief Secretary, it has not been honoured and the family is litigating since more than nine years. (I)n our view, looking at the gravity of the incident, the sanction must be honoured and the amount be paid along with interest. Thus, adding interest for about 9 years, we quantity the amount in total Rs1 crore," the Justice Maheshwari-led Bench said.

In its judgment, the top court noted that though the state government, through the Chief Secretary, had proposed to pay at least a sum of Rs 50 lakh financial assistance as ex-gratia payment to the family of the deceased and the said note was approved by then Chief Minister but an amount of Rs 1 lakh was paid on the pretext that under the applicable rules, such huge amount cannot be paid.

It recorded the submission of the state government that the family of the deceased have been granted leave encashment, GPF, family pension, gratuity, and GIS and the son of the deceased has been appointed on compassionate ground as Junior Assistant in the Health Department.

Earlier in September 2018, the Uttarakhand High Court had directed the state government to pay Rs 1.90 crore to the family of the deceased, who was posted at CHC, Jaspur, as a paediatrician when he was shot dead.

Aggrieved, the Uttarakhand government moved the Supreme Court contending that the computation of compensation done in the impugned decision was not justified.

Asking the state government to honour its own sanction along with interest, the apex court asked for the filing of a compliance affidavit before the registry and listed the matter for the next hearing on April 22.

"We quantity the amount in total Rs 1 crore. Out of the said amount, Rs 11 lakh has been paid, therefore, the remaining Rs 89 lakh be paid within a period of six weeks and compliance may be reported to the Registry on affidavit on or before the next date of listing," it told the state government.
New Delhi, March 25 : The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has in a pilot study demonstrated the potential of aerial transport of human corneas via drones to revolutionise eye care in the country, especially in rural areas, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday.

The pioneering study assessed the potential of using drones to transport sensitive ophthalmic biomaterials such as human corneas and amniotic membrane grafts from peripheral collection centres to tertiary hospitals for transplantation procedures, in Sonipat and Jhajjar, Haryana.

"The drone successfully transported corneal tissue from Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital (Sonipat centre) to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), AIIMS Jhajjar, and subsequently to AIIMS New Delhi," the Ministry said.

"The distance between the two cities was covered in around 40 minutes via drones which usually takes around 2-2.5 hours to cover via road. The drone maintained optimal conditions for specimen integrity and upon arrival, the cornea was evaluated, leading to a successful transplant surgery," it added.

The pilot carried out as part of the ICMR's i-DRONE initiative -- originally conceived during the Covid-19 pandemic to deliver vaccines to remote regions -- was launched in collaboration with AIIMS New Delhi and Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital and with the support from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

"This cornea transport study marks another step forward -- enhancing patient access, ensuring timely transplants, and reducing pressure on overburdened tertiary hospitals," said Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, the Department of Health Research (DHR) and Director General, ICMR.

"This initiative aligns perfectly with the Prime Minister's vision of a self-reliant India powered by innovation. Drone-based healthcare logistics are the future, and India is taking the lead by applying this to areas where it matters most -- saving lives and restoring sight," he added.

In the past, the i-DRONE initiative has demonstrated the successful use of drones to deliver essential medical supplies in states such as North East India (Covid-19 and UIP vaccines, medications, and surgical), Himachal Pradesh (medications and samples in high altitude and sub-zero temperatures), Karnataka (intraoperative oncosurgical samples), Telangana (TB sputum samples) and the NCR (blood bags and its components).

"This collaboration between health and aviation sectors is an inspiring example of tech-enabled social impact. Drones offer a scalable solution for timely medical delivery in geographically challenging areas. As India strengthens its drone ecosystem, such studies are critical to building resilient and responsive healthcare infrastructure," said Piyush Srivastava, Additional Secretary and Senior Economic Advisor, Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Through this study, researchers aim to document operational workflows, identify technical bottlenecks, and generate evidence to support the integration of drone logistics in routine medical practice -- especially for time-sensitive and temperature-sensitive biological materials like human corneas.

The findings will help shape future protocols, policies, and best practices for aerial transport in healthcare.

"Corneal blindness affects millions in India, and timely availability of donor tissue is often a limiting factor. This drone-based transport model could be a transformative step toward ensuring equitable access to vision-restoring surgeries, especially in underserved areas," said Prof. (Dr.) M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi.
New Delhi, March 25 : BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Tuesday strongly criticised the Congress in response to allegations of phone tapping made by Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly R. Ashoka. The LoP alleged that the government was engaged in phone tapping of Opposition leaders as well as ministers and leaders within its own party.

Speaking to IANS, Naqvi stated that the Congress has a long history of engaging in espionage, and this accusation was not surprising.

"Congress is a party of espionage, and I say this because Congress has been historically involved in such activities. You may remember that when Congress was in power, they used to have the Home Minister and Finance Minister overseeing spying operations. This is not a new thing. Congress has a long history of such practices," Naqvi claimed.

On the topic of comedian Kunal Kamra's alleged swipe at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and his refusal to apologise, Naqvi said, "One should understand that freedom of expression cannot be free-styled anarchy. It is not about chaotic expression.

"Some people are using freedom of expression as a shield to engage in uncontrolled behaviour. Just because one has the right to express their opinion does not mean they should use it to insult or mock others. These individuals should come out of the misunderstanding that their anarchy is protected under the guise of free speech."

Commenting on a separate issue related to poll-bound Bihar, where the party is attempting to reach out to Muslim voters with its 'Saugat-e-Modi' campaign ahead of Eid, prompting Opposition parties to accuse the BJP of only remembering Muslims during elections, Naqvi defended the campaign.

He said, "Under Prime Minister Narendra Modias leadership, our government has been working for the betterment of the most marginalised sections, ensuring development for everyone, without any discrimination. If anyone doubts PM Modias record, even those who donat support him know that he has worked for inclusive growth. He has eradicated the communal polarisation that was once prevalent."

Naqvi also addressed concerns regarding West Bengal, where reports have emerged of names of Hindu voters allegedly being removed from the voters' list.

"I find it odd that Bengal has become a state where nationalists are attacked, and those involved in anti-national activities are given support. It seems as if law and order have broken down, and the Constitution is not being followed. There is chaos and violence that tarnish the reputation of any elected government. It appears that some forces have hijacked the election process and are orchestrating these events," Naqvi said.

Earlier on Monday BJP's Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly alleged, "Hindu voters' names are being removed from the voter list. I urge the Election Commission to sack the BDO of Krishnanagar."
New Delhi, March 25 : Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar will on Tuesday hold discussions with the floor leaders of various parties on the alleged discovery of cash from the official residence of a Delhi High Court judge.

The issue of discussion was raised in the Rajya Sabha earlier in the day. Leader of Opposition (LoP) Mallikarjun Kharge requested the Chairman to hold a discussion on this matter with all floor leaders of the Rajya Sabha. In response, the Chairman informed that he has accepted the suggestion made by the LoP.

Kharge had also suggested this during a meeting with the Chairman on Monday.

On Tuesday, the Chairman informed the House that he would meet and discuss the matter with leaders of various parties in his chamber.

Chairman Dhankhar said, "I am sure we will have a very fruitful interaction and find a way out because legislature and judiciary perform optimally when they perform best in their respective realm. I do not wish to be judgmental on any issue but one thing which has found widespread acceptability in the country is that the entire material available with the Supreme Court has been shared with the people at large and the constitution of a committee... with that speed I'm sure things will be available to us."

Dhankhar said it was the right time to reiterate the National Judicial Appointments Committee (NJAC) Act, which was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2015. "This House, keeping dignity in mind, demonstrating dignified conduct, unanimously created a legal system in 2015, and that constitutional structure that emanated unanimously with one abstention from the Parliament and endorsed by state legislatures should be the rule of law because it was sanctified by the Hon'ble President by appending signatures under Article 111. Now is the befitting occasion for all of us to reiterate that because that was a visionary step endorsed by Parliament. And imagine if that had taken place, things would have been different," he said.

The Chairman said, "Hon'ble Members of Parliament, I seek your suggestions on one very important point. What emanated from the Indian Parliament as a historic development with rare convergence of unity since Independence found acceptance by needed State Legislatures. We need to reflect on what happened to that. Under the Constitution, there is no provision that allows anyone to tinker with that. There is no constitutional provision for review or appeal of a constitutional amendment. If there is legislation in the country by parliament or state, judicial review can take place., whether there is conformity with constitutional provisions. Now, before the nation, there are two situations, one, what emanated from the Indian Parliament, duly endorsed by State Legislatures, sanctified by the Hon'ble President by appending signatures under Article 111, and second, is a judicial order. Now, we are at a crossroads," he said.

"I strongly urge members to reflect. There can be no breach by any institution of what emanated from the parliament, endorsed by legislatures. And that should again, I reiterate, be the mechanism holding the field. It is time for us, having seen such an extraordinarily painful scenario Innocence is something which we take at a very high level till someone is proven guilty. Members would think and therefore, steps taken by me with the benefit of wise counsel and experience of Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the House...," the Chairman said.

"So, we will come back to the House on this very critical important issue, that concerns much beyond judicial mess. It concerns the sovereignty of Parliament, the supremacy of Parliament, and whether we are at all relevant. If we effect an amendment in the Constitution, and that is not executable. If a constitutional amendment is not executable, I have no doubt the Parliament is possessed of the power. Any power...in any institution to ensure what emanated from the Indian Parliament, sanctified by a requisite number of State Legislatures, holds the field," he added.

Dhankhar said, "Hon'ble Members, I had the benefit yesterday of the wise counsel, experienced counsel of the Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition who were gracious enough to respond to my invitation for interaction on this very critical issue that is agitating minds in all branches of governance. The issue undoubtedly is serious enough. We three of us together took note of the developments and also took note of the healthy development that for the first time in an unprecedented manner, the Chief Justice of India took the initiative to put everything in the public domain but then a suggestion emanated from Leader of the Opposition and agreed by Leader of the House that the issue needs to be deliberated at my instance with the floor leaders..."
Islamabad, March 25 : Pakistan and Afghanistan have decided to make fresh efforts to de-escalate tensions and normalise ties through restructured and realigned diplomatic high-level engagements.

The decision was made during the Kabul visit of a Pakistani delegation led by Special Representative for Afghanistan Sadiq Khan on the directions of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The visit was of pivotal importance as it came immediately after the departure of a US delegation, which led to the release of an American citizen who had spent more than two years in detention in Afghanistan. 66-year-old George Glezmann was released after weeks of negotiations led by Qatari and US mediators.

The visit of the Pakistani delegation was aimed at furthering diplomatic engagement and using high-level meetings to resolve all longstanding issues besides strengthening cooperation on trade, transit, border management, and the refugee issue.

Pakistan has accused Afghanistan for being the epicentre of terrorism and both sides had recently engaged in bloody confrontations along the porous borders, including the Torkham crossing.

Official sources say that both sides have agreed to make a full one year schedule of high-level delegation visits, including a visit by Ishaq Dar to Kabul.

"We do not want to leave any communication gap between both countries. Ministers from both sides will visit each other regularly and there is also a schedule for online meetings," the source said.

One of the major and critical issues that was on the agenda is the ongoing situation at the Torkham border. Technical teams from both sides are set to meet in April to hold discussions on disputed areas along the border. They will also review satellite imagery, maps, and structural designs to find a resolution.

A meeting of the Joint Coordination Commission (JCC), which has been pending for a long time, will also be rescheduled. The resumption of JCC meetings is being considered a critical step towards institutionalising bilateral cooperation.

Pakistan's decision to deport hundreds of thousands of Afghans, living illegally or even with possession of an Afghan Citizen Card, was also discussed as the deadline for them to leave Pakistan voluntarily ends on March 31.

Pakistan maintains that it will start a crackdown against illegal Afghan nationals in the country after the deadline ends and will ensure all are repatriated back to their home country through the Torkham border.

Experts say that all pending matters between the two countries can be resolved through sustained dialogue and structured engagements. However, sensitive and critical issues related to security, border management and fencing, and the repatriation of Afghan nationals remain the key factors in shaping the future of bilateral ties between the two countries.
Jammu, March 25 : After two constituents of the Hurriyat Conference announced the severing of its ties, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday that separatism has become history in Kashmir while urging more groups to come forward.

Taking to social media, HM Shah said on X handle, "Separatism has become history in Kashmir. The unifying policies of the Modi government have tossed separatism out of J&K. Two organizations associated with the Hurriyat have announced the severing of all ties with separatism. I welcome this step towards strengthening Bharat's unity and urge all such groups to come forward and shed separatism once and for all. It is a big victory for PM Shri @narendramodi Ji's vision of building a developed, peaceful and unified Bharat."

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, however, refused to comment on the Union home Minister's statement saying, "I have not seen the tweet. I will comment when I see it".

It must be mentioned that as a major setback to the Hurriyat Conference, two of its major associate organisations -- Jammu Kashmir People's Movement and Democratic Political Movement (DPM) -- announced the severing of all ties with the separatist umbrella organisation on Monday.

The move comes after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) banned the Mirwaiz Umer Farooq-headed Awami Action Committee (ACC) for five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The Centre had also issued an order under the UAPA to ban J&K Ittehadul Muslimeen (JKIM) headed by Maulvi Masroor Abbas Ansari for five years.

After Article 370 was revoked on August 5, 2019, the Hurriyat Conference became defunct.

Advocate Mohammad Shafi Reshi, leader of DPM announced his complete dissociation from the hard-line Geelani faction of the Hurriyat Conference.

It must be recalled that advocate Shafi also served as the political secretary of hardline separatist leader, late Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) was formed on July 31, 1993, as a political alliance of 26 political, social and religious organisations.

The APHC was formed as a united separatist political front. Mehmood Ahmed Saghar was the first convener of the APHC in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

APHC split into two main factions on September 7, 2003, the Mirwaiz faction and the Geelani faction.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is the founder and chairman of the Mirwaiz faction and Masarat Alam Bhat is the interim chairman of the Geelani faction, who succeeded Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the founder of the faction after his death.
New Delhi, March 25 : After the Indian government asked Samsung to pay $601 million (approximately Rs 5,174 crore) in back taxes and penalties for allegedly evading import duties on some key telecom equipment, the South Korean giant on Tuesday said the company fully complies with the laws of the land and is currently "assessing legal options".

The tax demand amounts to a significant portion of Samsungas net profit in India, which was $955 million last year.

Samsungas network division, which imports telecom equipment, had allegedly been under scrutiny for "misclassifying critical transmission components used in mobile towers".

The company reportedly imported and sold these telecom components to Reliance Jio.

Reliance Jio, however, was yet to comment on reports.

In a statement to IANS, a Samsung India spokesperson said that "Samsung is a responsible corporation and fully complies with the laws in India".

"The issue involves the interpretation of classification of goods by Customs. We are assessing legal options to ensure that our rights are fully protected," the spokesperson added.

Samsung argued that the parts did not attract any import duties and that officials had been aware of its classification method for years.

However, Customs authorities have not issued any statements regarding the case.

Meanwhile, aMade in Indiaa smartphone shipments grew 6 per cent (year-on-year) last year, driven by increasing exports from Apple and Samsung.

Apple and Samsung alone accounted for around 94 per cent of Indiaas smartphone exports in 2024, according to Counterpoint Researchas aMake in Indiaa Service report.

In 2024, Samsung continued to solidify its position as a dominant player in Indiaas electronics manufacturing, registering a growth of 7 per cent YoY driven by increasing exports.

The governmentas PLI (production-linked incentive) scheme has encouraged global manufacturers to set up or expand their production facilities in the country.
Bhubaneswar, March 25 : The Odisha Assembly witnessed massive disruptions again on Tuesday, as legislators from the opposition parties, Biju Janata Dal and Congress, continued to hold noisy protests in the House over "rising" crime against women, caste census and reservation for the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST).

As soon as the proceedings of the House commenced, the opposition members gathered near the podium of the Speaker and started sloganeering and playing traditional musical instruments.

Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy asked the legislators to take their seats and allow the House to function smoothly, but to no avail.

The Speaker adjourned the House several times amidst the noisy protests by BJD and Congress legislators.

The all-party meeting called by the Speaker could not resolve the deadlock in the House.

"We stick to our demand for a House Committee to investigate rising crime against women in the state. This is a larger public issue, but the treasury bench is not accepting our demand. We will continue our protest till our demand is accepted," Congress MLA Ashok Das told IANS.

The legislators of the main opposition BJD also staged a sit-in protest before the Assembly demanding reservation for SC/STs and the Other Backward Classes in education and employment, both in private and government sectors.

The party also targeted the state and Central governments for "failing" to conduct a caste-based census in the country.

On the other hand, senior BJP leader Babu Singh said the BJD, which "failed" to do anything for the SC/STs and OBCs during their 24-year rule, is "murdering democracy" by deliberately disrupting the House over the issue.

"The government is ready to hold discussions on any issues raised by the opposition," Babu Singh said.
New York, March 25 : The United Nations Women on Tuesday warned that it will have generational consequences in Afghanistan as girls are denied education for the third year in a row.

The reaction comes as the new academic year begins in Afghanistan, with secondary and higher education institutions still closed to women for yet another year under the Taliban.

Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, stated that Afghan girls must return to school with the start of the new school year, and depriving them of access to education is a clear violation of their rights.

"As a new school year begins in Afghanistan, the doors remain shut to thousands of girls -- for the third year in a row. This violation of their right to education will haunt generations. Girls must return to school. Their fundamental rights must be restored -- without delay," Bahous posted on X.

According to a UN Women report, since August 2021, the Taliban have systematically dismantled women and girls' access to education in Afghanistan, enforcing increasingly dire restrictions. Girls were first banned from secondary schools in March 2022, followed by a suspension from universities in December of the same year.

By January 2023, the Taliban further deepened its oppressive grip by prohibiting girls from taking university entrance exams, effectively erasing the progress that had, in some provinces, seen higher examination participation rates for girls than boys.

In 2024, a UN Women's report on Afghanistan shows that 1.1. million secondary school-aged girls are out of school. While primary schools remain open for girls, enrolment has dropped because of social norms, access issues, and safety concerns.

The status of women's rights in Afghanistan has deteriorated drastically under Taliban rule. Decades of hard-fought progress toward gender equality have been obliterated by a web of oppressive directives. It has been projected that the Afghan economy will lose US$ 9.6 billion by 2066 if the suspension of women's access to higher education remains in place.

Recently, several women activists have launched a campaign titled 'Let's Study' to mark the start of the new academic year, condemning the Taliban ban on education.

In an online statement, the activists stated that with the start of the new school year, another 400,000 girls have been deprived of education as the Taliban prohibits Afghan girls from accessing secondary and higher education.

The campaign, organised by women's rights protesters in the South Asian nation, also urged the international community to support Afghan women in their struggle for access to education against the "ignorant terrorist group" Taliban's ban.

Last week, the Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) urged that all girls in the Islamic country must be allowed to return to school as the new school year begins. The agency stated that if this ban persists until 2030, over four million girls will have been deprived of their right to education beyond primary school.

"The consequences for these girls -- and for Afghanistan -- are catastrophic. The ban negatively impacts the health system, the economy, and the future of the nation. With fewer girls receiving education, girls face a higher risk of child marriage with negative repercussions on their well-being and health," UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell said.
Mumbai, March 25 : IndusInd Bank's share fell over 5 per cent on Tuesday after the bank informed that GST authorities in Thane, Maharashtra, had imposed a penalty of more than Rs 30.15 crore due to several compliance issues.

The stock declined as much as 5.12 per cent to close at Rs 635.15 apiece on the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

The private lender, which is already under scrutiny for discrepancies in its derivatives portfolio, stated that it is considering filing an appeal against the GST order.

In a regulatory filing, IndusInd Bank said that the penalty had been imposed by the Joint Commissioner of CGST & Central Excise, Thane Commissionerate. The bank added that it is exploring legal options to challenge the decision.

"...we hereby inform that a penalty of Rs. 30,15,18,000 has been imposed on the Bank by Joint Commissioner of CGST & Central Excise, Thane Commissionerate for various GST issues. The Bank will explore filing of appeal against the order," the private lender said in its filing.

IndusInd Bank shares have been under pressure since the lender recently disclosed irregularities in its derivatives transactions.

This revelation led to concerns about a potential impact on the bank's financials, amounting to around 2.35 per cent of its net worth.

Following this disclosure, IndusInd Bank stock experienced its worst single-day fall, plunging 27 per cent on March 11.

Despite the setbacks, the bank's management has reassured investors that it expects to remain profitable in the March 2025 quarter and the upcoming financial year.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) also issued a statement affirming that IndusInd Bank remains well-capitalised and that its financial position is stable.

IndusInd Bank's stock has seen a steep decline in recent months. Over the past month, its share price has dropped 35 per cent, while it is down 30 per cent on a year-to-date (YTD) basis.

In the last six months, the stock has fallen 54 per cent, and over the past two years, it has declined by 34 per cent.
New Delhi, March 25 : Amid the explosive claims of removal of Hindu and Hindi-speaking voters from West Bengal's electoral rolls, BJP General Secretary Tarun Chugh launched a scathing attack on TMC government in the state and equated Mamata Banerjee with a "modern-day Jinnah." New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) Amid the explosive claims of removal of Hindu and Hindi-speaking voters from West Bengal's electoral rolls, BJP General Secretary Tarun Chugh launched a scathing attack on TMC government in the state and equated Mamata Banerjee with a "modern-day Jinnah."

The controversy began after Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, addressing the West Bengal Assembly, claimed that the names of Hindu voters were being removed from the voter list in the state. He further sought Election Commission's intervention in the matter and action against Krishnanagar's Block Development Officer (BDO), in particular. Adhikari's allegations sparked a political firestorm with BJP stepping up offensive while TMC dismissing claims.

Speaking to IANS, Tarun Chugh stated that Mamata Banerjee's actions are reminiscent of the political behaviour of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan.

"Mamata Banerjee's behaviour today is akin to that of a modern-day Jinnah. In Bengal, there is no real government; rather, there is anti-national agenda of the Muslim League in operation. This is a government that works with the flag of the Muslim League, and its officials, under Mamata Banerjee's directions, are deliberately cutting the voter rolls of Hindus while making sure that the votes of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis are added," Chugh added.

Chugh also accused Mamata government of systematically removing Hindu voters, particularly in the border regions of Bengal, to create 'room for votes' from illegal immigrants, including those from Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, TMC leader Jaiprakash Majumdar rejected the claims made by Suvendu Adhikari, accusing the BJP of fabricating stories.

He alleged that the BJP itself was involved in bringing in voters from other states, such as Haryana, and adding them to the West Bengal voter list. According to Majumdar, these allegations were part of a wider attempt by the BJP to tarnish the image of the TMC-led government.
Chennai, March 25 : In a swift and coordinated operation, a special team of the Greater Chennai Police arrested two interstate robbers at the airport on Tuesday, as they attempted to flee to North India after allegedly committing a string of chain-snatching crimes across the city and its suburbs.

The suspects, identified as Suraj (28) and Jafer (26) from Uttar Pradesh, are accused of targeting women in upscale areas including Adyar, Neelankarai, and along East Coast Road.

Using a stolen two-wheeler, the duo is believed to have executed over eight robberies within just two days. The arrests followed an uptick in chain-snatching incidents, which led the police to form a special investigation team.

The breakthrough came when investigators traced a mobile number linked to one of the suspects, leading them to the Chennai International Airport through tower location tracking.

"These individuals operated on a fly-in, fly-out model -- arriving from North India, committing crimes, and attempting quick escapes by air," a senior police officer stated.

Upon receiving intelligence that the suspects were planning to board flights to Delhi and Mumbai, police alerted staff at IndiGo and Air India.

When Suraj approached the IndiGo counter to collect his boarding pass, staff became suspicious and promptly alerted police, leading to his detention.

Jafer was similarly intercepted at the Air India counter shortly after.

During interrogation, both men confessed to snatching gold chains worth lakhs of rupees and admitted to using a stolen motorcycle in their operations.

Police recovered several gold chains and the vehicle, confirming their involvement in at least eight reported cases.

The Adyar Police, under whose jurisdiction most of the crimes occurred, have taken custody of the suspects for further investigation.

While the arrests have brought relief to residents, authorities remain concerned about interstate criminals exploiting air travel for rapid getaways.

"This case underscores the need for greater coordination between airlines and law enforcement agencies," said an airport official.

It is worth recalling that a recent spate of chain-snatching incidents targeting six women had triggered alarm in areas such as Adyar, Saidapet, Kotturpuram, Shastri Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, and Velachery. The brazen daylight crimes were carried out with striking precision, with the suspects fleeing on a two-wheeler after snatching gold chains from unsuspecting victims.

According to reports, the robbers approached their targets under the pretext of asking for directions or help, before quickly grabbing their chains and escaping.

Police believe the same duo was behind these incidents, and CCTV footage from the crime scenes is being analyzed to determine whether they are repeat offenders or part of a larger organized gang.

Special police teams had been deployed to patrol affected neighbourhoods, with a focus on tracing the registration details of the stolen motorcycle. Forensic experts are also examining evidence collected from the various crime scenes.

Residents, particularly women, have been urged to remain alert and immediately report any suspicious activity. Police have registered multiple cases under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and are coordinating with other stations to prevent further crimes.
New Delhi, March 25 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday presented a Rs 1 lakh crore Budget 2025-26 focusing on infrastructure, Rs 2,500 women monthly financial assistance scheme, transport, Yamuna cleaning, new classrooms and laptops for students and schemes for slum redevelopment and social welfare.

The Budget Estimates in 2025-26 of Rs 1 lakh crore are 31.5 per cent more than the Budget Estimates 2024-25 of Rs 76,000 crore and 44 per cent higher than the Revised Estimates 2024-25 of Rs 69,500 crore.

About 72 per cent of the proposed budget 2025-26 has been allocated for revenue expenditure and 28 per cent for capital expenditure.

While presenting the Budget, Chief Minister Gupta identified ten focus areas of the government including infrastructure development; health and education for all; expanding social security and development; access to water, sanitation, and Yamuna cleaning; industrial development and investment promotion; seamless connectivity; power, sustainable development, green growth and pollution control; smart and good governance; efficient irrigation and flood control and tourism, art, language and culture promotion.

For women's monthly financial assistance  one of the key poll promises of the BJP - the Chief Minister set aside Rs 5,100 crore to pay Rs 2,500 per month to poor beneficiaries.

In the health sector, Rs 2,144 crore were allocated for Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) health insurance in addition to Rs 1666.66 crore proposed to the PM-ABHIM scheme under which critical care blocks and diagnostics will be strengthened.

For slums, Rs 696 crore was allocated for development through the urban shelter improvement board, and Rs 100 crore was allocated for setting up Atal Canteens to provide nutritious and subsidised food at 100 locations. Another Rs 20 crore was proposed to provide benefits under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) for offering affordable housing.

"Providing clean water and sanitation to every citizen of Delhi is the primary responsibility of the government through the visionary plan for the water and sanitation sector with a historic amount of Rs 9,000 crore," said the Chief Minister.

For cleaning the Yamuna, she announced plans to build 40 Decentralised Sewage Treatment Plants at a cost of Rs 500 crore so that sewage water is treated at the source itself.

She said that Rs 40 crore will be spent on the purchase of modern machinery like trash skimmer, weed harvester and dredge utility to clean the river.

On the health front, another Budget highlight was the allocation of Rs 320 crore for expansion of Health and Wellness Centres (HWC)/Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) to ensure better primary healthcare facilities with the establishment of 400 HWC/AAM. These will be the new avatar of the previous government's 'Mohalla Clinic' scheme.

The sanctioned strength of Home Guard Volunteers was raised to 25,000 from 10,285, a proposal that may boost the bus marshal scheme for women's security.

She also set aside Rs 7.5 crore to provide free laptops to 1,200 top-performing students of Class 11 based on Class 10 board results.

While allocating Rs 12,952 crore to improve Delhi's public transport system, she shared plans to add more than 5,000 electric buses in FY 2025-26.

She also allocated Rs 2,929.66 crore for Delhi Metro for the work of the remaining three corridors of Phase-4 - Lajpat Nagar-Saket G Block, Inderlok-Indraprastha, Rithala-Bawana-Narela-Nathupur (Kundli)  planned to be started in 2025-26.

As many as Rs 10,047 crore were allocated for the Social Security sector, out of which Rs 9,780 crore were set aside for schemes and projects of the Social Welfare, Women and Child Development and SC/ST/OBC Welfare Department.

To deal with serious environmental challenges like air and water pollution and waste management, Rs 506 crore was allocated to the Environment and Forest departments, for monitoring of environmental parameters and time-bound implementation of projects.

In Chief Minister Rekha's maiden budget, Rs 300 crore were allocated under "Pollution Control and Emergency measures" to effectively implement environmental reforms in Delhi.

A budget of Rs 1,157 crore was allocated to the Development Department to empower every village and farmer of Delhi. She allocated Rs 4.85 crore for farmers, under the 'PM Kisan Samman Nidhi - State Top-up Scheme' under which farmers will be provided Rs 3,000 annually (in three installments of Rs 1,000) in addition to the Rs 6,000 annual assistance under the 'Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi' scheme.

The Chief Minister also announced a 'Vivaad se Vishwaas' scheme for middle-class traders and promised efforts to ensure benefits of the schemes reach the target beneficiaries, including a verification of beneficiaries of ration, pension and EWS schemes to weed out illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingyas.

Opening two medical colleges, fulfilling the plan to build State Guest House, building auditoriums and stadiums, redeveloping Anand Vihar ISBT and Sarai Kale Khan ISBT and opening a new ISBT in Dwarka were some of the other highlights.

The Chief Minister said a state-of-the-art Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is proposed to provide a single emergency number for better crisis management and allocated Rs 30 crore for setting up Command Control Centres, EOC under DDMA.

She also proposed Rs 6,897 crore for local bodies in the FY 2025-26. Out of this, Rs 3,560 crore will be for education, healthcare and sanitation.

For the Delhi Fire Service, Rs 110 crore were allotted for deploying small-sized fire tenders. For courts, Rs 490 crore was set aside for 200 new courts and an additional Rs 200 crore for a hybrid system of courts.
Hyderabad, March 25 : The much-awaited expansion of the Telangana cabinet is likely to be held on April 3 as the Congress high command has given its nod for the exercise.

Four to five ministers are likely to be inducted into the Cabinet headed by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.

According to party sources, two legislators from Backward Classes and one each from Scheduled Caste (SC), Reddy, and Muslim communities may be sworn in as ministers on April 3.

Among the BCs, V. Srihari Mudiraj and Adi Srinivas are said the be the front-runners. Chennur MLA G. Vivek, who is a SC, is also likely to be accommodated.

An industrialist, Vivek is a former MP and runs a Telugu news channel. He is the son of former Union Minister and senior Congress leader G. Venkakswamy.

Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy, brother of Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, may also get a Cabinet berth. Names of senior leaders Sudershan Reddy and Malreddy Ranga Reddy are also said to be under consideration.

Since the Cabinet presently has no representation from Muslims, the Congress leadership has reportedly decided to induct a Muslim. Member of Legislative Council Amer Ali Khan is seen as a strong contender.

The Congress leadership gave its nod for the Cabinet expansion after consultations with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Telangana unit President Mahesh Kumar Goud, and AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natrajan in New Delhi on Monday.

The decision on the Cabinet expansion came after taking the opinion of the state unit's core committee which included senior leader and minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal reportedly finalised the list.

Revanth Reddy and his 11 Cabinet colleagues had taken oath on December 7, 2023. The state can have a maximum of 18 ministers, including the Chief Minister.

The party leadership is understood to have decided to keep one to two Cabinet berths vacant.

Many aspirants of Cabinet berths have been waiting for the expansion for more than a year. Though there have been strong speculations of an expansion after the Lok Sabha elections last year and the Chief Minister visited New Delhi many times, the leadership kept the issue pending.

The Congress party has 65 MLAs in the 119-member state Assembly. Ten MLAs from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) also switched loyalties to the ruling party last year.
New Delhi, March 25 : Aiming to weed out illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants from social benefit schemes in the city, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, on Tuesday, announced a drive for verification and fresh registration of beneficiaries.

"Whether it is ration, pension or any other scheme for economically weaker sections, we will verify and register the beneficiaries afresh," said CM Gupta while presenting a Rs 1 lakh crore Delhi Budget for 2025-26 in the Assembly.

She also hit out at the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for extending benefits of welfare schemes to ineligible individuals, including Bangladeshis and Rohingyas.

To support and development of poor and deprived families, the Chief Minister allocated a total budget of Rs 10,047 crore for the Social Security sector, out of which Rs 9,780 crore were allocated for schemes and projects of the Social Welfare, Women and Child Development, and the SC/ST/OBC Welfare Department.

For the BJP government's flagship "Mahila Samridhi Yojana", the CM sanctioned a budget of Rs 5,100 crore under which monthly assistance of Rs 2,500 will be provided to eligible women.

This move will help enhance women's economic independence, decision-making capacity and self-esteem.

Chief Minister Gupta also announced that the monthly assistance for senior citizens (60-69 years) will be increased to Rs 2,500 and those above 70 years of age will be given monthly assistance of Rs 3,000.

Senior citizens (60-69 years) from the SC/ST/minority communities will get additional monthly assistance of Rs 500, she said, adding that financial assistance to 'women in distress' and 'divyangjan' (differently-abled persons) will be increased from Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per month. A budget of Rs 3,227 crore was allocated for all these schemes.

For the nutrition of pregnant women, Rs 210 crore were proposed under the 'Mukhya Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana' to additionally support the ongoing programme 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)' with an increase of total benefit under the scheme up to Rs 21,000 along with six nutritional kits.

The CM also proposed Rs 50 crore for 'Palna a" National Creche Scheme' under which, 500 Palna Anganwadi-cum-Creche centres will be made operational to enable poor working mothers to remain part of the workforce after the birth of their children.

She said that 1,000 Anganwadi centres will be upgraded to Saksham Anganwadi centres for which budget of Rs 206 crore was proposed.

For working women, she announced two new 'Sakhi Niwas', in addition to present 14 working women hostels operating in Delhi, in which 1,935 women are availing these facilities.

She also allocated Rs 5 crore for new scheme 'Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Stipend Scheme' to empower Scheduled Caste (SC) students by providing monthly stipend of Rs 1,000 for pursuing technical and vocational education in ITI, skill centres and polytechnics of Delhi.
Rome, March 25 : The recent US-brokered Russia-Ukraine peace talks highlighted growing divisions between Washington and Brussels, bringing trans-Atlantic relations to a historic low, an Italian geopolitical analyst has said.

Sergio Fabbrini, a political science professor at Rome's LUISS University, told Xinhua news agency that the exclusion of Europe from the talks underscores the EU's declining influence in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, due in large part to the bloc's lack of unified foreign policy coordination.

"This episode reveals the European Union's structural weakness," he said during a university conference on Monday. "Without a central authority to speak for all members, the bloc struggles to assert itself on the global stage, particularly when the US chooses to act unilaterally."

This institutional fragmentation, he said, coincides with the skeptical view of US President Donald Trump's administration of the EU. The US president has repeatedly characterized the EU as "an institution designed to undermine American interests rather than bolster global security."

Fabbrini emphasised the fundamental divergence in how both sides perceive the Ukraine crisis. "For Europe, this is an existential security threat happening on our doorstep. For Washington, it's a geopolitical calculation involving great powers," he said.

The professor warned that the current tensions mark "one of the worst crises in trans-Atlantic history," urging Europe to develop more independent diplomatic capacity.

"Geographical reality demands that Europe take greater responsibility for its own security architecture while maintaining equilibrium between national interests and collective European stability," he said.

Meanwhile, a new round of US-Ukraine talks began Tuesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, local media Al Arabiya News reported, citing a Ukrainian official.

The talks came after the US-Russia negotiations were held Monday regarding a ceasefire proposal between Kyiv and Moscow.

The separate US-Russia and US-Ukraine negotiations addressed technical issues, including the protection of energy facilities and critical infrastructure, the fate of separated Ukrainian children, and a partial ceasefire.

The US delegation discussed the Black Sea ceasefire and the end of strikes on energy infrastructure for 30 days with Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Riyadh respectively, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.
New Delhi, March 25 : The 'Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre' (I4C) set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs has identified and blocked more than 83,668 WhatsApp accounts and 3,962 Skype IDs used for Digital Arrest, the Parliament was informed on Tuesday.

Apart from this, over 7.81 lakh SIM cards and 2,08,469 IMEIs have been blocked by the Government after receiving police complaints, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

A Digital Arrest is a cybercrime where scammers impersonate law enforcement officials to falsely accuse individuals of crimes and extort money or personal information by threatening arrest or imprisonment.

Since 2021, he said that a Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System for reporting financial frauds and stopping siphoning off funds by fraudsters has saved more than Rs 4,386 crore in more than 13.36 lakh complaints.

Claiming that the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) does not separately compile or publish specific data regarding digital arrest scams, the MoS said the MHA has set up the I4C as an attached office to deal with all types of cyber crimes in the country, in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.

Sharing details of avenues for citizens to report digital arrests and other cyber crimes, he said the 'National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal' (https://cybercrime.gov.in) has been launched, as a part of the I4C, to enable the public to report incidents pertaining to all types of cyber crimes.

The Mos said cyber crime incidents reported on this portal, their conversion into FIRs and subsequent action thereon are handled by the State/UT Law Enforcement Agencies.

He said the 'Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System', under I4C, was launched in 2021 for immediate reporting of financial frauds and to stop siphoning off funds by the fraudsters.

"So far, a financial amount of more than Rs 4,386 crore has been saved in more than 13.36 lakh complaints. A toll-free Helpline number '1930' has been operationalised to get assistance in lodging online cyber complaints," he said.

Highlighting initiatives for citizen awareness, he said the Central Government has a comprehensive awareness programme on digital arrest scams which, inter-alia, includes, newspaper advertisements, announcements in Delhi Metros, the use of social media influencers to create special posts, campaigns through Prasar Bharti and electronic media, special programmes on Aakashvani.
Mumbai, March 25 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday informed the state Assembly that the associates of an accused woman, who tried to extort money from Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore, were in direct contact with NCP SP leaders Supriya Sule and Rohit Pawar.

The Chief Minister said that the woman has already been arrested by laying a trap, and the police are currently investigating the case.

In his reply to a debate on the motion moved by opposition parties, the Chief Minister said that calls made between the associates of the accused woman with Supriya Sule and Rohit Pawar have been recorded.

"If politics is being done with the intention of removing someone from life, it is not right. The case regarding Gore was registered in 2016, it ended in 2019. He was not even in the ruling party at that time. But then suddenly, this case was revived," said the Chief Minister.

"I appreciate his (minister's) courage. A person tries to settle things in such a situation, but he complained after being demanded a bribe from an accused woman. The entire conversation was recorded. There are many clips of the conversation. After the Police Department was convinced, they set a trap. The accused woman was caught while actually taking the cash. Therefore, it was a form of blackmail," said the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister hinted at a nexus that was working in this case. "It was a kind of nexus. Three accused in this case have been arrested. One is the woman herself. The second is journalist Tushar Kharat, while the third is a person named Anil Subhedar. All of them had hatched this conspiracy together. All the evidence of this has been found. Their WhatsApp conversations have been found. About 150 of their phones have been found. How they hatched the conspiracy has come to light. But the unfortunate thing is that the Nationalist Congress Party was directly in touch with all of them," he said.

The Chief Minister said that Prabhakar Deshmukh has spoken to these three accused 100 times directly, adding that the videos have been sent to them.

"They have also responded. But what I feel worse is that Supriya Sule and Rohit Pawar have made calls to Tushar Kharat, who runs a YouTube channel. The videos of Jayakumar Gore have been sent to Sule and Pawar by the accused. It will be investigated. But why is this happening? We are not political enemies, we are political opponents. If a conspiracy is being hatched to take someone's life in this way, then this is wrong," he said.
Kolkata, March 25 : A recent internal survey by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), on Tuesday, found that nearly 44 per cent of the total number of wards in areas under the corporation's jurisdiction, which included Kolkata and added areas, are dengue-prone, officials said.

The total number of the wards under KMC stands at 144.

As per the internal survey, 68 wards of them are dengue-prone, an insider from the corporation claimed.

"The corporation mapped all the 144 wards under its jurisdiction to identify the dengue-prone pockets based on past figures on this count. The benchmark in the matter is that if 10 or more persons in a particular ward have been tested positive for dengue last year, that particular ward is identified as the hotspot," a KMC official said.

As per records, the number of people tested positive for dengue in the KMC area witnessed an impressive decline in 2024 to just 1,316 from the figure of 13,926 in 2023.

As per official records, in the first three months of the current calendar year of 2024, a total of 45 persons in Kolkata have tested positive for dengue.

"This improvement was achieved because last year the KMC took special drives to prevent stagnation of water, spraying of chemicals through fogging machines and penalising the house-owners careless of preventing water stagnation. So for the current year, the corporation wants to be especially careful of the preventive measures and this is why area-wise mapping has been done," the KMC official added.

He added that this time the corporation will be stricter towards preventing negligence by common people in the matter.

First, the defaulting house owners or the housing society authorities would be served notices by the corporation, he said.

The second stage will be registering FIRs against the defaulters and for that, the corporation will seek the assistance of the city police, the KMC official added.

Last year, the opposition BJP, especially Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, had been constantly accusing the Trinamool Congress government of under-reporting the actual figure on dengue-affected people in the state, including that in Kolkata.
New Delhi, March 25 : In a boost to the domestic startup ecosystem, 217 incubators have been selected with a total approved funding of Rs 916.91 crore under the Startup India initiative (till January 31), the government informed on Tuesday.

The government launched the Startup India initiative on January 16, 2016.

Under the initiative, incubators from both private sector and academic institutions are supported through the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), said Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Jitin Prasada, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

The scheme provides financial assistance to eligible startups through incubators for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialisation.

The Experts Advisory Committee (EAC) of SISFS, evaluates and selects incubators for allocation of funds. SISFS is implemented from April 1, 2021.

"Under the Startup India initiative, the government constantly undertakes various efforts for the development and growth of startup ecosystem. All steps undertaken under the Startup India initiative are inclusive and support entrepreneurs from disadvantaged backgrounds, and rural and tribal communities," said Prasada.

The flagship schemes namely, Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) support startups at various stages of their business cycle.

The government also implements periodic exercises and programmes including 'States' Startup Ranking', 'National Startup Awards' and 'Innovation Week,' which play an important role in the holistic development of the startup ecosystem.

Digital platforms such as the Startup India portal and BHASKAR enable easy access to resources and startup ecosystem collaboration.

The minister said that the government is also encouraging corporates for supporting startups by way of mentorship, access to infrastructure, sharing resources and knowledge, assistance in market linkages and investor connect.

India is currently home to nearly 1.59 lakh startups., according to the recent Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) data.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 25 : With the family of the woman Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer, whose body was found near a railway track in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram, suspecting foul play, the police have now got some leads and suspect it was possible that a failed love affair made the young woman take her own life.

Thiruvananthapuram, March 25 (IANS) With the family of the woman Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer, whose body was found near a railway track in Keralaas Thiruvananthapuram, suspecting foul play, the police have now got some leads and suspect it was possible that a failed love affair made the young woman take her own life.

On Tuesday, the family approached the police to demand a detailed investigation into the case, even as the local police are already probing the unnatural death of 24-year-old Megha, who was posted at the Immigration wing at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. The IB will also conduct a detailed probe.

Megha had been working at the international airport for the past year, and with the family now raising suspicions, both the police and IB officials have intensified the investigation.

The police have begun examining her mobile phone records, and the last dialled number is under investigation.

Sources said that once the police identify the person she last spoke to, they may obtain crucial leads in the case.

The police have now found out that Megha had a friend, who worked in the same department but at Kochi, and she had sounded her parents about marriage.

But after initially opposing this relationship, her parents agreed to proceed with the marriage, but by that time, the man had backed out, and this could be the possible reason why she decided to take her life.

Her father, on Tuesday, acknowledged that Megha had a friend after they were together in an in-service training programme.

Earlier in the day, Sivadasan, Meghaas uncle, said they suspected foul play in her death.

He stated that she had no history of depression, contrary to reports in some sections of the media suggesting suicide as the cause.

"We have no reason to believe that she was suffering from depression. We have now registered a complaint with the local police station, requesting a proper investigation. We have also written to IB officials to ensure a thorough probe," he said.

After completing her night duty, Megha left the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport premises early on Monday morning.

Her body was later found near the railway track. Meghaas identity card, which was found on her body, facilitated her quick identification.

On Monday, following the incident, the loco pilot of the Pune-Kanyakumari train informed the police that, despite sounding the horn, a woman failed to move away from the track and instead jumped in front of the speeding train.

Meghaas body reached her residence in Pathanamthitta on Monday night. She was the only child of her parents.

The last rites were conducted on Tuesday at her home in Pathanamthitta.
New Delhi, March 25 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, has found himself at the heart of a political firestorm following his alleged remarks about "changing the Constitution" to introduce religion-based reservations. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate responded to the issue on Tuesday.

Speaking to IANS, Supriya Shrinate accused the BJP of spreading falsehoods, stating, "The BJP is lying. They are fabricating stories and making baseless claims. The four per cent reservation being provided in Karnataka is for Backward Class Muslims under the 2B category.

"These Muslims were already receiving reservations in education and jobs, and now they are also included in government contracts. The reservation limit for SCs, STs, and other OBCs has been raised from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore for government contracts. So, is the BJP against reservation or do they have an issue with reservations in government contracts? The truth is that the BJP and RSS have always been opposed to reservations, and this opposition is visible once again."

Shrinate further reacted on the recent controversy surrounding comedian Kunal Kamra's indirect swipe at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde with his 'gaddar' comment.

"Being in government means facing sarcasm and criticism," she remarked.

"Just recently, the Prime Minister himself said that sharp criticism is necessary. So, why doesn't Shinde ji take the same lesson and learn to tolerate it? The real problem lies in the hooliganism, demolitions, and 'bulldozer justice' happening under the Maharashtra government, which clearly shows that the law and order situation has collapsed.

"I personally believe that criticism and sarcasm have a rightful place in a democracy, and if they are not tolerated, something isnat right. Regarding Shiv Sena, what you did was nothing short of treachery, so what's the issue with calling a traitor a traitor?" she added.

Shrinate further responded on the Odisha Assembly witnessing massive disruptions again on Tuesday, as legislators from the Opposition parties, Biju Janata Dal and Congress, continued to hold noisy protests in the House over rising crimes against women and on the issue of quota for SCs/STs and OBCs.

"The atrocities against women have taken the form of a disaster. Forty-four thousand women and children are missing in Odisha. Forty-nine women go missing every day in the country, out of which thirteen are women. The biggest problem in Odisha is that the government seems to be unconcerned.

"Small girls are being gang-raped. Sixty-four gang rapes have happened in the last nine months. What is the government doing? Gang rape is happening in Mayurbhanj. And the accused openly posts his photo with the Chief Minister of Odisha," she said.

"Small girls are victims of sexual exploitation. Girls of class six and class ten were found to be pregnant. What will the government do about this? Is this not an issue? Are the daughters of Odisha, their safety and identity not an issue for you?

"It doesn't matter to us if it is not an issue for you. We will make this an issue because it is about the daughters of the country and the reality is that till now we have done gherao of the Chief Minister's residence. What about the Collector? And now on March 27 we are going to gherao the Vidhan Sabha. Even if you have suspended our MLAs, held their collars, molested them and abused them, we are not going to be scared of these things. We will fight for their justice," she concluded.
Chennai, March 25 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on Tuesday accused the union government of treating states like enslaved regions by "imposing" languages and committing "financial injustices".

Responding to a Special Calling Attention Motion in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, CM Stalin reaffirmed his government's unwavering commitment to the two-language policy of Tamil and English.

He warned that any attempts to impose a third language, particularly Hindi, would not only threaten the Tamil language but also pose a danger to Tamil culture and identity.

"We hold on to the two-language policy dearly because history has taught us that if we permit another language, it will chew and swallow our own," CM Stalin said.

"The imposition of Hindi is not just about language- it's an act of cultural obliteration."

The Chief Minister's comments came amid concerns that the Centre is attempting to push its three-language policy through initiatives like PM SHRI schools, which the state has declined to join.

CM Stalin dismissed the Centre's claims that Tamil Nadu had previously agreed to implement the trilingual system.

"Let there be no doubt - we are determined. We will not accept the trilingual policy under any circumstances," he declared.

CM Stalin accused the BJP-led Union government of attempting to dominate states by imposing Hindi and withholding funds as a punitive measure.

"They consider the states to be areas of indentured labour. That is why they engage in language imposition and financial atrocities," he said.

He added, "We must put an end to this altogether. We are compelled to take appropriate measures to safeguard the federal character of India and protect the autonomy of the states."

He further emphasised that only by ensuring state autonomy can the Tamil language, culture, and people be truly safeguarded.

"This is not merely a funding issue - it is about ethnicity, language, and identity. We are not slaves who will mortgage the pride of our race for financial gain. This is the Dravidian model of governance - if there are hurdles, we will break through them."

CM Stalin also promised an upcoming announcement aimed at strengthening state autonomy and securing the rights of Tamil Nadu.

Echoing the sentiments of ruling alliance members, the Chief Minister made it clear that Tamil and English remain the official languages of Tamil Nadu.

"This is not just a linguistic policy- it is a vision, a way of life.

No matter how much we are criticised, we will never abandon our principles or stray from our path," he said.

Responding to specific concerns raised by Deputy Leader of the Opposition R. B. Udhayakumar regarding the state's position on the language issue, CM Stalin reiterated that Tamil Nadu would not compromise.

Recalling the historical significance of the two-language policy resolution introduced by Dravidian icon C. N. Annadurai on January 23, 1968, CM Stalin said: "We are not opposed to any language. We simply believe that these two languages - Tamil and English - are sufficient for us."

"Many neighbouring states are beginning to understand and appreciate Tamil Nadu's stance. Other states across India are realising the strength and correctness of Tamil Nadu's two-language policy. We have maintained this position not out of enmity towards other languages, but out of our duty to protect Tamil from being overshadowed," he said.
Patna, March 25 : The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has called for a major protest by Muslim organisations on Wednesday at Gardanibagh in Patna against the Waqf Amendment Bill. In a press conference, the Board's spokesperson, Qasim Rasool Ilyas, condemned the Bill, claiming it was introduced on communal lines and violated the rights of Muslims.

"This protest will be against the Waqf Amendment Bill. The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) acted unilaterally on this issue. This Bill has been brought on communal grounds, and it is against our rights," Ilyas said.

Ilyas further accused the BJPas allies of supporting a Bill that he believes is detrimental to the Muslim community. "The BJPas ally parties should not have supported this Bill. We had met them and asked for their support," he added.

The spokesperson also expressed dissatisfaction with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saying, "Muslims are upset with Nitish Kumar. He should clarify his stance on this Bill."

The AIMPLB believes the Bill is a direct attack on Muslim rights. Ilyas described it as "a betrayal of the Muslim community," saying, "This Bill is like stabbing Muslims in the back."

Ilyas also stated that the protest would send a strong message to the BJPas allies. "Through tomorrow's protest, we are sending a message to BJPas allies that if they support this Bill, they can forget about getting our support," the spokesperson said.

He further noted that the protest would see participation from several political parties, and added, "Anyone who believes in the Constitution of the country will stand with us."

According to AIMPLB, the protest slated for Wednesday is set to be a significant demonstration of Muslim unity and opposition to the controversial Bill, with political figures from various parties expected to join in solidarity.
Seoul, March 25 : Writer Han Kang, the winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, was among hundreds of South Korean authors calling for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol to be removed from office over his failed martial law bid.

The Writers Association of Korea, a leading literary body in the country, issued on Tuesday "one-line statements" by 414 authors, who each voiced their support for Yoon's removal from office in a few words.

"I believe in the values of life, liberty and peace that must not be harmed," wrote Han, the first South Korean to win the Nobel Prize in literature. "(Yoon's) ouster is something that can preserve universal values."

Han received her Nobel Prize in Sweden in December, just days after Yoon declared martial law and threw South Korea into turmoil. Han, who has delved into historical tragedies in modern Korean history, expressed her shock over the situation when addressing the issue at a press conference in Sweden, Yonhap news agency reported.

In Tuesday's statement, novelist Eun Hee-kyung wrote, "I want to live in a democratic society." Chung Bora, of "Cursed Bunny" fame, called for "the punishment of the ringleader of insurrection and the construction of an egalitarian society."

Literary critic Shin Hyoung-cheol took a shot at Yoon by quoting from Sophocles' "Antigone" with the line, "Rage with any of your friends who can bear it."

Also Tuesday, the association gathered 2,487 of its members for a rally at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul in support of Yoon's ouster.

Earlier in the day, Acting President Han Duck-soo called on the nation to respect the Constitutional Court's decision on suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, regardless of the outcome.

Han issued the call during a meeting with public safety-related ministers and officials, as the court is expected to rule soon on whether to uphold or dismiss Yoon's impeachment over his brief imposition of martial law in December.

"Regardless of the outcome of the Constitutional Court's decision, it must be respected as a legal judgment made in line with democratic procedures," the Acting President said.

"Moreover, it must be a starting point for our society to unite beyond division and confrontation."

Han pleaded with the public to express their opinions in an orderly and peaceful manner within the boundaries set by the Constitution and the law, noting there are growing concerns about illegal and violent acts taking place during rallies and protests surrounding the ruling.
Kohima, March 25 : Nagaland University researchers are collaborating with the local communities to study and conserve indigenous fish species in the state's Dikhu River, officials said on Tuesday.

Kohima, March 25 (IANS) Nagaland University researchers are collaborating with the local communities to study and conserve indigenous fish species in the stateas Dikhu River, officials said on Tuesday.

A varsity official said that this research integrates traditional ecological knowledge from local villagers to better understand fish diversity, fish species assessment, indigenous fishing techniques, and community-based fishing practices, an approach that is uncommon in scientific studies in the region.

The Dikhu River, which flows through the Mokokchung and Longleng districts of Nagaland, is one of the most important tributaries of the Brahmaputra River and is home to many freshwater species crucial for local biodiversity and the economy.

The study underscored an urgent need for focused conservation efforts in the river systems of Nagaland, the official said, adding that these systems support a unique and rich biodiversity but are threatened by increasing human encroachment and unsustainable practices.

It showed that the Dikhu River is not only vital for local communities but also plays an important role in global conservation efforts, he pointed out.

The research team from the Zoology Department, Nagaland University (Lumami Campus) and ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow, aimed to explore and document the ichthyofaunal diversity of the Dikhu River.

The team focused on the lack of comprehensive data on fish species in the river and the pressing threats these species face due to anthropogenic pressures such as habitat destruction, overfishing, and destructive fishing techniques.

The study, funded by ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources recorded 28 fish species across 6 orders, 13 families, and 3 subfamilies, with Cypriniformes being the most dominant order (67.9 per cent).

The research was led by Dr Pranay Punj Pankaj, Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, Nagaland University (Lumami Campus) and Metevinu Kechu, Research Scholar, Nagaland University and their findings were published in the reputed journals.

Elaborating on the need for such research, Dr Pankaj said: "The study is significant because the Dikhu River and its fish species have received limited attention in scientific literature. Thus, this study makes a valuable contribution to the body of knowledge on the freshwater ecosystems of northeastern India."

The findings are vital for conservation strategies aimed at preserving freshwater biodiversity in northeastern India, a biodiversity hotspot. Documenting threatened fish species and their population trends will support targeted conservation efforts, he said.

Dr Pankaj said that they need collaborative efforts involving local communities, conservationists and government authorities to ensure the sustainability of river ecosystems. There is also a need for stricter regulations on destructive fishing methods, habitat protection and the promotion of traditional, sustainable fishing techniques as part of an integrated conservation strategy.

The research highlights that many of these species face threats from over-exploitation, habitat degradation, and pollution due to human activities, and underscores the urgency of implementing stricter conservation measures to safeguard these vital aquatic resources, he said.

The researchers also focus on providing solutions to improve fish conservation, including promoting sustainable fishing practices, habitat restoration, and leveraging traditional ecological knowledge from local communities.

Additionally, the study aimed to identify and document these fish species' conservation status and population trends, focusing on threatened species in the region.

Unlike many studies, this research uses seasonal variation in fish diversity and relative abundance to provide a temporal understanding of how fish populations fluctuate throughout the year. The research identified seasonal patterns in fish abundance, with the post-monsoon season supporting the highest fish diversity and abundance.

The same research team also documented the first-ever record of Garrabirostris, a freshwater fish species previously found in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Bhutan and now recorded in the Doyang and Dikhu rivers. This discovery further enriches Nagaland's ichthyofauna and highlights the ecological significance of these river systems in maintaining biodiversity.
Chandigarh, March 25 : Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Tuesday criticised the Aam Aadmi Party government for trying to blame the peacefully agitating farmers for the March 19 'brutal crackdown' on them.

"It is a classic case of the pot calling kettle black," the state president said, while reacting to the Punjab government's affidavit in the Punjab and Haryana Court that it had intelligence inputs apprehending violence by the agitating farmers.

"Does the Aam Aadmi Party want to justify its own brutal violence against farmers by creating and spreading imaginary lies, a congenital trait, the AAP is infamous about, by claiming that it had intelligence inputs about violence by farmers?" he asked, while pointing out that the farmers had always remained peaceful during protests outside Delhi border and at Shambhu and Kanauhri since February 2024.

"There is no reason to apprehend or believe that they would be resorting to violence in any way," he said. The state Congress President also blamed the AAP government for pushing Punjab towards a situation where a financial emergency will be the only option.

"The AAP government has got another dubious badge of honour for Punjab; thanks to an inefficient, incompetent, inexperienced and yet arrogant government, the state ranks as second most debt ridden state in the country," he said in a statement, while claiming that the Aam Aadmi Party was destroying Punjab in all ways; politically, economically and financially.

Warring was referring to the Union Finance Ministry's figures, saying they had validated what the Congress has always been warning about the incompetence, inefficiency and arrogance of the AAP government. He pointed out that the AAP government had, during the last three years, added about Rs one lakh crores of extra debt to Punjab.
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Mumbai, March 25 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday that a slew of major policy announcements, including making the state free from Maoist activities, and strict action will be taken against Bangladeshi infiltrators.

In his reply to a debate on last week's Motion moved by the opposition parties in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set a goal of making the country free from Naxalism (Maoism) by March 2026.

Accordingly, the state government in Maharashtra is also making every effort to eradicate Naxalism (Maoism), Fadnavis added.

"In the year 2024, 28 Maoists have been killed and 19 Maoists have surrendered. These include eight big Maoist leaders. The fight against Naxalism (Maoism) is at a critical stage and that is why industries are being established in Gadchiroli."

He said that strict action is being taken against Bangladeshi infiltrators and 1,290 Bangladeshi infiltrators have been arrested in the year 2024.

As many as 539 Bangladeshi infiltrators have been arrested in the last 45 days of 2025, while 341 Bangladeshi infiltrators have been deported to their country, CM Fadnavis added.

"The state government is working to create a prosperous Maharashtra that will be envied not only by the country but also by the world. The government is taking care that no injustice will be done to anyone in this state, only progress will be achieved here. The ideal Maharashtra will be created with the spirit of respecting the Constitution and the 13-crore people of the state. The state is making spectacular progress in all sectors, including agriculture, industry, infrastructure facilities. While administering the state, efforts are being made to solve every problem of the society," he said.

However, he warned that the government will not spare those who disrupt the law and order of the state.

CM Fadnavis said that the government is working to increase the crime conviction rate by taking action against criminal tendencies in the state.

"The state ranks eighth in the country in all types of crimes. No city in the state ranks among the top 10 in the country in crimes in cities. Crime in urban areas is relatively low in the state compared to the country. Crime is being detected on a large scale due to the state government's adoption of a zero tolerance policy," he added.

The Chief Minister said: "Anti-narcotics cells have been started in every police station. Through this, action is being taken against the sale, transportation and storage of narcotics. Also, anti-narcotics clubs for students will be established in schools and colleges. Through these clubs, students themselves will provide information about drug sales and storage. Action will be taken on that. Youth power will be built against narcotics. A campaign will be launched against drug sales, transportation and storage. Narcotics worth Rs 10,467 crore have been seized in 2023-24."

The government is resolved to curb violence against women, CM Fadnavis said, adding that special cell for women has been established at the police unit level.

"Women are being provided immediate help by dialing 112. The response time of this number is second in the country. We are trying to reach number one. The response time of the state is 6 minutes 34 seconds in 2024. 'Operation Muskan' is being implemented in the state to search for missing children. Through this operation, 38,910 children have been found in the state and brought back to their parents," the Chief Minister added.

Amid increasing cybercrime menace, CM Fadnavis said that 51 laboratories and 50 police stations have been set up.

"A Cyber Crime Security Corporation is being formed. This corporation will also work in other states. The Cyber Crime Security Corporation has been given a toll-free number '1945' to file a cyber crime complaint."

He appealed to the citizens of the state to complain about cyber crime on this helpline.

"Maharashtra is the first state in the country to launch the Technical Textile Park Mission. This will provide research and market promotion in the technical textile industry. There is a huge demand for the technical textile industry. If India is a leader in the technical textile industry in the world, then the state will be at the forefront," the CM remarked.

The Chief Minister told the House that a number of initiatives have been taken in the energy sector, saying that solar energy-based booster pumps are being provided to farmers as per their requirement.

Permission is being given to install pumps with a capacity of 10 HP in places where the water level is low, CM Fadnavis said.

However, the subsidy will be given only to 7.5 HP pumps, he added.

"Taking a pledge to make the citizens of the state free from higher electricity bills, the government is giving impetus to solar energy. The Maharashtra government has filed a multi-year electricity tariff petition with the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission. Electricity rates will be reduced every year in the next five years," the Chief Minister said.
Amaravati, March 25 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday asked the district Collectors to achieve a 15 per cent growth in the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) during 2025-26.

The Chief Minister gave the direction at the inauguration of the two-day conference of Collectors at the state Secretariat.

He pointed out that from 2014 to 2019, the growth rate was 13.5 per cent, but it dropped to 10.32 per cent between 2019-24. However, the government has successfully restored it to 12.02 per cent in 2024-25.

Stating that Andhra Pradeshas budget stands at Rs 3.27 lakh crore, he said a 1 per cent increase in growth rate generates an additional Rs 15,000 crore in revenue.

Chandrababu Naidu said the long-term goal is to establish a Rs 308 lakh crore economy by 2047, with a per capita income target of Rs 54.60 lakh.

The Chief Minister reaffirmed his commitment to rebuilding and developing Andhra Pradesh, underscoring that his government has worked tirelessly over the past nine months to restore the state from its previous turmoil.

He urged officials to work with sincerity to overcome the setbacks caused by the previous administrationas "destructive governance" and to ensure both welfare and development reach the people effectively.

"The government is closely monitoring every initiative, including feedback from citizens regarding 22 essential services. The goal is to instill trust in the governmentas commitment to serving the people," he added.

The aSwarnandhra 2047a vision document includes 10 key principles, including that planning must extend from the state level down to districts, constituencies, mandals, and village secretariats, and that district Collectors will serve as vision execution chairpersons, while MLAs will chair the process at the constituency level.

Naidu stated that infrastructure projects worth Rs 55,000 crore, including national highways, are currently in progress and must be completed within two years. He asked Collectors to proactively secure environmental and other necessary approvals.

The Chief Minister alleged that the previous five years witnessed governance failures, leading to public dissatisfaction. He said his coalition secured a 93 per cent strike rate in the elections, demonstrating public disapproval of past governance and high expectations from the new administration.

He mentioned that good governance is built on three pillars: welfare, development, and self-reliance. Poverty alleviation and public well-being require sustainable welfare initiatives, which in turn demand sufficient revenue. Welfare programs cannot be sustained solely through borrowing. The previous government incurred a debt of Rs 9.74 lakh crore, which must now be repaid, including interest payments, he said.

He also announced that the process for the recruitment of over 16,000 government teachers will be launched.

The DSC (District Selection Committee) notification will be issued in the first week of April. A structured approach will be followed to ensure a smooth recruitment process, filling 16,347 teacher positions, he said, and recalled that his first signature on assuming office was on the file for these recruitments. He announced that appointments will be completed before the new academic year begins.

He claimed that the government fulfilled several promises during the last nine months. Andhra Pradesh now offers the highest social security pension in the country at Rs 4,000. The pension amount has been significantly increased from Rs 200 in 2014 to Rs 2,000, and now directly to a4,000. Disability pensions have been raised from Rs 500 to Rs 6,000, while kidney patients receive Rs 10,000, and bedridden individuals are granted Rs 15,000 under a humanitarian approach.

The government has established 204 Anna Canteens to address hunger among the poor. Collectors have been directed to inspect these canteens. Under the Deepam-2 scheme, three LPG cylinders are provided per year.

Claiming that the Polavaram project has been put back on track with the Central governmentas cooperation, he said it was set for completion by 2027. Work on the Amaravati capital city has also resumed. Financial assistance has been sought from institutions such as the World Bank and the ADB. Amaravati is being developed as a self-financed project and a global model for urban development. The same model will be adopted for the Nakkapalli steel plant, he said.
Gandhinagar, March 25 : The Gujarat government has undertaken a phased initiative to convert overhead power lines into underground cables, aiming to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply, particularly for farmers and residents in vulnerable regions.

Gandhinagar, March 25 (IANS) The Gujarat government has undertaken a phased initiative to convert overhead power lines into underground cables, aiming to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply, particularly for farmers and residents in vulnerable regions.

Under the Sagar Khedu Integrated Development Scheme, significant progress has been made in Junagadh district, where 16.97 km of power lines are being converted into underground cables at a cost exceeding Rs 2.74 crore.

Responding to a query in the Legislative Assembly, Energy Minister Kanubhai Desai confirmed the developments and highlighted the state's commitment to improving power infrastructure in cyclone-prone areas.

Minister Desai provided further details on the scheme, stating that as of December 31, 2024, investments in power infrastructure improvements have amounted to Rs 4,964.29 lakh in Junagadh district and Rs 9,256.04 lakh in Jamnagar district.

Following Cyclone 'Biparjoy', Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel directed expedited efforts under the Sagar Khedu Development Plan to establish underground power lines, new substations, and replacement of deteriorated power lines to enhance electricity supply in coastal areas.

To reinforce power infrastructure, the government has undertaken a Rs 2,534 crore initiative to construct 236 new substations and a Rs 198 crore project to provide approximately 1.30 lakh new agricultural electricity connections.

The Sagar Khedu Integrated Development Scheme, initially launched in 2007-08, has continued to support infrastructure development in coastal regions.

By December 2024, the scheme facilitated the replacement of 73,762 km of aging power lines and 1.74 lakh poles, ensuring greater resilience against natural disasters.

Additionally, the government has allocated Rs 2,534.69 crore for new substations and Rs 1,998 crore to facilitate over 1.32 lakh new agricultural electricity connections, further strengthening rural electrification. Historically, Gujarat's power sector saw rapid growth post-independence, with major investments in thermal, hydro, and nuclear power plants.

The formation of the Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB) in 1960 played a crucial role in expanding electricity supply across the state.

In 2005, Gujarat undertook a major power sector reform by unbundling GEB into separate companies for generation, transmission, and distribution, leading to improved efficiency and better service quality.

As of 2024, Gujarat has an installed power capacity of over 44,000 MW, with a diverse energy mix. Thermal power contributes around 15,000 MW, primarily from coal and gas-based plants.

Renewable energy, particularly solar and wind power, has grown significantly, now accounting for approximately 20,000 MW.

The state also has 5,000 MW from hydropower and nuclear sources. Gujarat has made significant strides in renewable energy, with projects like the Kutch Wind Park and the Dholera Solar Park, which are among the largest in India.
Rohtak, March 25 : A love affair cost a Yoga teacher his life as he was kidnapped and buried alive in a 7-foot pit in Paintawas village, Charkhi Dadri, 61 kilometres from Rohtak. Not only that, but a missing person's report was also filed only 10 days after the kidnapping, and for three months, the police searched for the Yoga teacher.

Rohtak, March 25 (IANS) A love affair cost a Yoga teacher his life as he was kidnapped and buried alive in a 7-foot pit in Paintawas village, Charkhi Dadri, 61 kilometres from Rohtak. Not only that, but a missing personas report was also filed only 10 days after the kidnapping, and for three months, the police searched for the Yoga teacher.

Exactly three months later, on March 24, the police recovered the Yoga teacher's body from the pit and arrested two suspects.

Jagdeep, a resident of Mandothi village in Jhajjar district, was kidnapped on December 24, 2024, and his body was recovered by the police on March 24, 2025. The police are interrogating the accused to further uncover details of the case. The accused assaulted the victim, Jagdeep, tied his hands and legs and buried him alive.

Jagdeep worked as a Yoga teacher at Baba Mastnath University in Rohtak. On December 24, he went to work in the morning, but by the time he returned home in the evening, he had gone missing. According to police, his kidnapping was a result of a love affair. The police said the accused tied Jagdeep's hands and legs, taped his mouth to prevent him from shouting, and then proceeded with their gruesome plan.

Ten days after the kidnapping, on February 3, a missing person's report for Jagdeep was filed at the Shiv Colony Police Station. The police began their search, and for three months, they continued to look for him. Finally, through Jagdeep's call details, the police traced the main accused and arrested two suspects, Hardeep and Dharmapal. After presenting them in court and obtaining their remand, a shocking revelation was made during their interrogation.

In fact, Jagdeep was having a love affair with a woman in the house where he was residing. According to police, the woman's husband got wind of this, and because of this, Jagdeep was beaten and kidnapped. He was then forcibly taken away in a car. They then took him to Paintawas village, where a pit had already been prepared in which he was buried alive. It is reported that the person who dug the pit was told that it was being dug for a borewell. However, the police have successfully solved the mystery behind this case.

Crime Investigation Agency (CIA-1) unit in-charge Kuldeep Singh stated that two accused, Hardeep and Dharmapal, have been arrested, and they, along with their accomplices, are involved in this murder case. He shared all the details about the modus operandi, describing how the December 24 crime was planned and executed, including the abduction, assault, and burial of the victim in a pre-dug pit.

The police investigated from every angle, and when they examined the mobile phone call details, the entire case became clear. By connecting each piece of evidence, the police were able to reach the main accused. Kuldeep Singh stated that the remaining accused will also be arrested soon.

Meanwhile, the body of the deceased, Jagdeep, was sent for a post-mortem at PGI, where a board of doctors conducted the examination.
Seoul, March 25 : Wildfires ravaging South Korea's southeastern region forced more residents to evacuate on Tuesday, as firefighting authorities struggled to contain the rapidly spreading blazes that destroyed a centuries-old temple.

The fires that began in Sancheong County in the southeast on Friday have spread to nearby Uiseong, and were advancing to neighbouring Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang and Yeongdeok, in the central area of North Gyeongsang Province, firefighting officials said.

The engulfing flames destroyed Gounsa Temple in Uiseong, an ancient temple built in A.D. 681 during the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C.-A.D. 935). National treasures stored in the temple had been relocated to other locations.

Authorities said the UNESCO-listed Hahoe Folk Village in Andong was at risk of being engulfed by the fires and they were mobilising all resources to protect it from destruction.

South Korean Acting President Han Duck-soo instructed regional governments to mobilize "all available administrative resources" to evacuate residents from wildfire-hit areas to safe locations.

He ordered relevant authorities to deploy all equipment and personnel to contain the wildfires as quickly as possible.

The National Fire Agency said it raised the emergency response level by one notch to the highest, "Level 3."

The blazes, fueled by strong and dry winds, burned more than 14,000 acres of woodland across the region since the fires broke out, forcing thousands of people, including all Andong residents, to evacuate their homes.

More than 3,000 firefighters and dozens of helicopters and vehicles were deployed to fight the fires.

Since Friday, the military has deployed some 5,000 service members and 146 helicopters to help combat wildfires raging in South Korea's southeastern region since last week, Yonhap news agency reported.

Six people, including four firefighters, have been killed in the fire in Sancheong, with a dozen other people sustaining injuries.

Train services and highway traffic in the southeastern region were suspended as of Tuesday afternoon, state railway and highway operators said.
New Delhi: In December 1970, Pakistan held its first democratic National Assembly elections, in which the Awami League, a political party rooted in East Pakistan, secured a resounding victory. However, rather than accepting the will of the people, the political and military elite of West Pakistan-fuelled by an ingrained prejudice against the Bengali population, whom they viewed as socially and culturally 'inferior' - chose to suppress their aspirations through brute military force.

New Delhi: In December 1970, Pakistan held its first democratic National Assembly elections, in which the Awami League, a political party rooted in East Pakistan, secured a resounding victory. However, rather than accepting the will of the people, the political and military elite of West Pakistana"fuelled by an ingrained prejudice against the Bengali population, whom they viewed as socially and culturally 'inferior' a" chose to suppress their aspirations through brute military force.

Their response culminated in Operation Searchlight on March 25, 1971 - an unspeakable campaign of terror designed to crush Awami League activists and their supporters. Yet, what began as a targeted crackdown soon escalated into an indiscriminate genocide against the Bengali population, whose only "crime" was their demand to be treated as equal citizens rather than colonial subjects.

The horrors unleashed by the Pakistan Army swept through the streets of Dacca (now Dhaka) and into the remotest villages, leaving in their wake devastation beyond measure. Among the most harrowing atrocities was the systematic sexual violence perpetrated against Bengali women, a tragedy that has been shamefully overlooked in historical discourse.

These biranganas a" "war heroines" a" bear the deepest scars of Bangladesh's struggle for independence, their suffering a cruel testament to the price of liberation. Even after 54 years, the wounds of 1971 remain unhealed, exacerbated by Pakistanas obstinate refusal to acknowledge its army's genocidal crimes, let alone offer an apology. This shameful denial stands as an enduring stain on history, a stark reminder of justice long denied.

The horrors of war are not confined to the battlefield; they seep insidiously into the very fabric of society, leaving scars far beyond the domain of military conflict. Among the most egregious manifestations of this brutality is sexual violence, a weapon wielded with calculated cruelty to devastate both individuals and communities. In the cataclysmic events of the 1971 Liberation War, the Pakistani military orchestrated a campaign of systematic rape and torture, deploying it as an instrument of both physical subjugation and psychological annihilation. Women's bodies, long perceived as the repositories of familial and societal honour, became the battleground upon which this barbarity was unleashed.

As Operation Searchlight unfurled its dark shadow over Dhaka, innumerable Bengali women were forcibly taken from their homes and university campuses, their destinies cruelly altered as they were transported to military barracks and confined to what can only be described as "rape camps". Subjected to relentless violation, many perished at the hands of their tormentors, their suffering rendered invisible in the tide of genocide. A sinister agenda underpinned this depravitya"the calculated objective of impregnating Bengali women to dilute ethnic identity, an insidious attempt at demographic engineering.

The so-called "war babies", estimated at around 20,000, were intended as a grotesque means of tethering East Pakistan's future to the bloodlines of the West. This brutal strategy, steeped in both violence and a grotesque perversion of power, epitomized the depths to which oppression can descend in its ruthless pursuit of domination.

The horrors of war seeped into the very fabric of human dignity as the Pakistan Army weaponised rape to inflict psychological trauma upon the Bengali populace. In a calculated effort to break the spirit of resistance and force submission, women were subjected to unspeakable brutality, often in the presence of their own families.

With the complicity of collaborators a" the notorious razakars a" who abducted and delivered women, particularly from the Hindu community, the army orchestrated sexual violence on an unimaginable scale. The aftermath was as macabre as the crime itself: bodies of slain victims hung from trees, discarded in mass graves, or strewn beneath bridgesa"chilling symbols of the cost of nationalist aspiration. In this grotesque theatre of terror, rape was not just an instrument of war; it was a calculated strategy to annihilate the will of a people.

The systemic and brutal use of sexual violence as a weapon of war during Bangladesh's Liberation War remains one of the darkest stains on human conscience. The atrocities committed against an estimated 200,000-400,000 women were not incidental but deliberate a" a vile strategy of war designed to terrorise and subjugate a people.

However, to reduce Bengali women's role in 1971 merely to that of victims would be an egregious oversight. Women were not just passive sufferers but active participants in the resistance, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Mukti Bahini. They smuggled arms and intelligence, tended to the wounded, and even bore arms themselvesa"undaunted warriors in their own right. Their contributions were no less significant than their male counterparts, their sacrifices no less valiant.

It was Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who sought to dignify these women by calling them "Birangana" a" a title meant to honour their courage. Yet, in the post-war years, the term became tragically synonymous with shame, society reducing these war heroines to mere victims of rape, as if their suffering was theirs alone to bear. Instead of receiving the gratitude of a free nation, they were met with ostracism, rejection, and silence.

Many families refused to accept them back, further condemning them to a life of isolation. The establishment of the War Crimes Tribunal in 2010 was a long-overdue step toward justice, yet the scars of betrayal remain.

Pakistan has yet to acknowledge its army's heinous crimes, and Bangladesh's collective memory has yet to fully embrace these women as the warriors they were. On the 54th anniversary of Operation Searchlight, let us not only remember Pakistan's war on women but also recognise the Birangana for their undying fortitude in forging a free Bangladesh.
Kochi, March 25 : The Kerala High Court on Tuesday orally slammed a Sub-Inspector of Police for issuing a notice under Section 35(3) of the BNSS to the lawyer of the accused, summoning him for investigation.

The Sub-Inspector of Njarakkal near here, had, last month, arrested a couple hailing from West Bengal, alleging that they are Bangladeshi nationals and do not have proper documents, besides claiming that their Aadhaar, Election Identity Cards, and driving license are all forged.

The couple is now under judicial custody.

The police probe team issued a notice to the lawyer to submit all the documents of the couple, but had already submitted all the documents to a local court.

Later, the lawyer was issued a notice under Section 35 (3) BNSS to him, stating that as part of the investigation in the case the lawyer has to be questioned.

It was then that the lawyer approached the High Court, which asked the police officer to appear before it.

Slamming the action of the police officer, the court pointed out that a notice under Section 35 (3) can only be issued to a person when there is a reasonable suspicion that he has committed a cognisable offence.

"aHe is an officer like you, an officer of this Court. How can you issue a 35 (3) notice to a lawyer who appeared for a client? If compensation is claimed, you will have to pay compensation. This is an Article 21 violation. What power do you have?" it observed orally.

The court further noted that notice was issued to the lawyer because the accused complained against the Sub-Inspector before the magistrate court's alleging that he was tortured in the police station.

It orally said that it would issue a detailed order in this matter, setting out directions to prevent the summoning of lawyers and to safeguard privileged communication.

The court also directed the Sub-Inspector to communicate with the lawyer and resolve the issue, warning him of the consequences of his action.

Just before the court rose for lunch, the Sub-Inspector handed over a letter to the court, submitting that the notice issued to the lawyer had been withdrawn.
New Delhi, March 25 : The state of Kerala on Tuesday urged the Supreme Court to expeditiously decide its plea filed against "inaction" on the part of Governor in giving assent to the bills passed by the Assembly.

Appearing on behalf of the Kerala government, senior advocate K.K. Venugopal apprised a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna that after a period of over 15 months, the office of the President on Monday communicated the rejection of two bills.

At this, CJI Khanna, in view of his retirement in May this year, said that the matter should be listed before a different Bench.

"Please move the mentioning slip. I will mark it to some other Bench given the timelines," the CJI said.

In response, Venugopal urged Keralaas plea to be listed before a bench presided over by Justice J.B. Pardiwala since that bench had reserved its verdict on a similar case filed by the Tamil Nadu government, claiming that the Governor has positioned himself as a "political rival" to the legitimately elected state government.

"We will just see," CJI Khanna said.

The petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government posed a legal question that when the Governor returns a Bill after withholding his assent and the said bill is passed again, with or without amendments, and is presented for his assent, whether the Governor has to necessarily accord his approval or could he reserve the Bill for the consideration of the President.

In the case of Kerala, seven bills were referred to President Droupadi Murmu by then Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, post their re-adoption in a special Assembly session. The plea said that by keeping bills presented to him pending for such long periods, the Governor is directly violating the provision of the Constitution, namely, that the bill should be dealt with "as soon as possible".

The writ petition said that the words "as soon as possible" occurring in Article 200 of the Constitution necessarily mean that not only should pending bills be disposed of within a reasonable time, but that these Bills have to be dealt with urgently and expeditiously without any avoidable delay.
Beijing, March 25 : India and China on Tuesday comprehensively reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the India-China border areas and early resumption of cross-border cooperation - including on trans-border rivers and Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra - during the 33rd meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) held in Beijing.

The Indian delegation was led by Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) while Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed the Chinese delegation.

The meeting, the MEA said, was held in a "positive" and "constructive" atmosphere.

"Peace and tranquility on the border are critical for the smooth development of overall bilateral relations. The two sides explored various measures and proposals to give effect to the decisions taken during the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives on the India-China boundary question in Beijing in December 2024 and to advance effective border management," read a MEA statement issued after the meeting.

"The two sides agreed to maintain and strengthen relevant diplomatic and military mechanisms towards this end. They also exchanged views on early resumption of cross-border cooperation and exchanges, including on trans-border rivers and Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra," it added.

During the meeting, both countries agreed to work together to make substantial preparation for the next meeting of the Special Representatives (SR), which will be held in India later this year. The Indian delegation leader also paid a courtesy call on China's Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had visited Beijing on January 26-27 for a meeting of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Foreign Minister mechanism between both countries, following which both countries announced their decision to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in the summer of 2025.

The meeting was held to review the state of India-China bilateral relations, as agreed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting in Kazan, last October.

During their discussions, Foreign Secretary Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong agreed to take certain people-centric steps to stabilise and rebuild ties.

Both sides also agreed, in principle, to resume direct air services between the two countries with the relevant technical authorities on the two sides to negotiate an updated framework for the purpose at an early date.
Kolkata, Match 25 : Enhanced security measures adopted by the Border Security Force (BSF) led to the seizure of 16 heads of cattle, 851 bottles of Phensesdyl syrup, 12.15 kg Ganja and other contraband along the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB) in the Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia and North 24-Parganas districts of West Bengal.

N K Pandey, DIG and Spokesperson, South Bengal Frontier, BSF, said that the vigil is enhanced along the IBB at this time of the year as there is a high demand for smuggled cattle in Bangladesh before Eid.

"A jawan of the 88 Bn BSF, posted at the Harishchandrapur Border Outpost in the Malda, spotted three to four smugglers approaching the border with cattle from the Indian side during the night. He immediately alerted his fellow jawan before rushing towards the smugglers, ordering them to stop," he said.

DIG Pandey added that instead of heeding the order, the smugglers threatened him with sharp-edged weapons, adding that the jawan was then forced to fire two rounds from his non-lethal Pump Action Gun (PAG).

"Hearing the shots, the smugglers fled, using the cover of darkness," he said.

He further added that a search of the area led to the seizure of seven cattle heads, adding that at the Agra BOP, the troops seized three more cattle.

DIG Pandey said that on the same night, two more cattle heads were seized from elsewhere in Malda and four in the Nadia district.

"The cattle will be e-tagged and handed over to the Dhyan Foundation. The drugs, Phensedyl and other items, have also been handed over to the appropriate departments for further legal processing," he said.

He added that BSF jawans remain vigilant around the clock to combat smuggling along the IBB.

"Smugglers are constantly innovating and coming up with new tactics to evade detection but the relentless vigilance of BSF jawans coupled with strategic operations ensures that even the most innovative smuggling attempts are successfully foiled," DIG Pandey said.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Australia now have a powerful tool to claw back time and money as Notion, the AI-powered connected workspace, launches locally with its new Sydney headquarters.

Valued at $10 billion and trusted by over 100 million users globally, Notion is targeting the AU$228 billion Aussie businesses lose each year to inefficiency13% of the nations 2024 GDPand SMEs stand to gain the most.

For small business owners drowning in tech bloatthe chaos of juggling too many software toolsNotions arrival is a game-changer. Research from the company shows Aussies waste an hour daily on inefficient tasks, switching between platforms six times a day, with 48% feeling the stress of constant context-shifting. For SMEs, where every minute and dollar counts, this is a hidden cost they cant afford.

Were not just another tool, says Andrew McCarthy, Head of ANZ, SEA, and India at Notion. SMEs can ditch the app overload and save hours with a workspace that adapts to thempowered by AI to handle the busywork.

Why SMEs should care

Notion combines writing, planning, and collaboration into one customizable platform, letting small teams build exactly what they need without breaking the bank. Its AI featureslike automating repetitive tasks or instantly surfacing info across projectstackle the pain points SMEs know too well. Research reveals 71% of Aussies would adopt AI if it cut time spent searching across apps, and 74% crave tools that fit their workflows, not the other way around.

Australia is grappling with stagnating productivity, driven by an overload of digital tools. Notions recent research reveals Aussies lose an hour daily to inefficient tasks, while BetterCloud reports businesses juggle over 100 SaaS apps on average. Workers switch platforms six times a day, with 48% citing stress from the constant flip-flopping. The result? Billions in lost potential and a workforce stretched thin.

Notions study also highlights a missed opportunity: while AI is often used for isolated tasks, its real power lies in end-to-end workflows. A striking 71% of Australians would adopt AI if it slashed time spent searching or switching apps, and 92%especially in IT and telecomtrust it to handle key responsibilities.

Were drowning in software but starving for productivity, says Andrew McCarthy, Notions Head of ANZ, SEA, and India. With Notion, weve seen solo users outpace teams, projects shrink from months to days, and costs plummet. AI workflows are the futurebusinesses just need to rethink how they use them.

Notion offers a single, adaptable platform where teams and individuals can write, plan, and collaborate, powered by AI to automate tasks and unify knowledge. Unlike fragmented tech stacks, its a customizable toolkitthink of it as Lego for workflows. Global giants like OpenAI, Toyota, and Figma rely on it, but its appeal spans all scales. In Australia, millions of individual users are already hooked, often discovering Notion through personal projects like wedding planning before bringing it to work.

People crave flexibility, McCarthy adds. Our research shows 74% of Aussies want tools that fit their flow, not force them to adapt. Traditional productivity vendors pile on complexity with multiple productsNotion simplifies it all.

Recent updates amplify its value: Notion Mail offers a workflow-integrated inbox, Forms and Layouts streamline data collection, and a Marketplace boasts 30,000+ templatessome creators earning over $1 million. This month, Fast Company named Notion a Top 50 Most Innovative Company of 2025, ranking it #1 in the Workplace category, with 62% of Fortune 100 and 90% of Forbes Cloud 100 firms as clients.

Before today, Notion partnered with local venture funds and innovators like Airtree and Square Peg. Now, with Sydney as its base, the company plans to double its Australian team within a year to supercharge support for businesses here.

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Seoul, March 25 : A group of farmers calling for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment rallied with tractor-laden trucks in southern Seoul on Tuesday, ahead of a highly anticipated court ruling.

The Korean Peasants League members drove their trucks, which carried tractors, to Namtaeryeong pass but were unable to proceed further north as police blocked their march due to concerns over potential clashes with Yoon's supporters.

The farmers had initially marched toward downtown Seoul to hold a rally near Gwanghwamun gate in the evening, but were stopped by police at the southern gateway to the capital.

According to an unofficial police estimate, around 1,000 farmers gathered at the Namtaeryeong Pass, where they were met by approximately 200 people opposing Yoon's impeachment.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency deployed some 1,700 riot police from 27 units, while the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency also dispatched nine units to the scene, Yonhap news agency reported.

Tensions remain high between the opposing groups as the Constitutional Court is expected to deliver its verdict on Yoon's impeachment in the coming days.

Earlier in the day, South Korean Acting President Han Duck-soo called on the nation to respect the Constitutional Court's decision on suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment regardless of the outcome.

Han issued the call during a meeting with public safety-related ministers and officials, as the court is expected to rule soon on whether to uphold or dismiss Yoon's impeachment over his brief imposition of martial law in December.

"Regardless of the outcome of the Constitutional Court's decision, it must be respected as a legal judgment made in line with democratic procedures," the Acting President said.

"Moreover, it must be a starting point for our society to unite beyond division and confrontation."

Han pleaded with the public to express their opinions in an orderly and peaceful manner within the boundaries set by the Constitution and the law, noting there are growing concerns about illegal and violent acts taking place during rallies and protests surrounding the ruling.

Meanwhile, Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's criminal trial on insurrection charges will formally begin on April 14.

The Seoul Central District Court announced the date during the second pre-trial hearing, saying the first formal hearing would be held that day on charges that Yoon incited an insurrection through his brief imposition of martial law in December.
Guwahati, March 25 : The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Assam Police probing the Pakistan links of Gaurav Gogoi and his wife Elizabeth Gogoi interrogated an environmentalist in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.

The team went from Guwahati to Ahmedabad to question Mihir R. Bhatt, the director of All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI).

As per the official statement of AIDMI, Bhatt has worked on extreme heat since his involvement in the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation.

"Bhatt has led the Climate and Development Knowledge Network work on heat in India and the region. All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI) has been working on extreme heat for six years in urban areas, with a focus on small businesses and rural areas with a focus on family farms. He is currently involved in including extreme heat risks in the agriculture risk reduction plan of a state of India; building the capacity of civil society frontline workers in India; and in research on the demand side of cooling finance," AIDMI said.

According to Assam Police sources, Bhatt has earlier worked with Congress MP's wife Elizabeth Gogoi in the Lead India climate organisation that has come under scanner due to its activity.

Earlier, the SIT team questioned two staffers in the British High Commission to retrieve information about their links with the Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, who has been named in an FIR by the Assam Police for his alleged role in destabilising communal harmony.

Sheikh is under the lens for his purported role in seeking key information related to national security.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the Pakistan links of Gaurav Gogoi and his wife has made progress in its initial investigation.

The Chief Minister said that the SIT has found significant evidence related to Pakistani national Ali Sheikh, who has been in question for his multiple visits to India and his controversial social media posts expressing immense interest in the politics of Assam.

Sheikh visited India with a big delegation from Pakistan, including the Attorney General of that country.

Sarma said that the Pakistani team, including Sheikh, frequently visited India till 2018 and stayed in small hotels to avoid public attention.

"We have been probing the entire ecosystem related to this Pakistani national. If required, we will take the help of Interpol," Sarma stated, adding that he has briefed the Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the developments.

A four-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to probe the alleged Pakistani links of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and his wife Elizabeth Gogoi.

Gaurav Gogoi has refuted the claims of having any Pakistan links and asserted that he was ready to appear before the SIT.

--IANS

tdr/dan
New Delhi, March 25 : The financial health of the Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) has improved in recent years as they have posted the highest-ever consolidated net profit of Rs 7,571 crore during FY 2023-24, the Parliament was informed on Tuesday.

The RRBs have shown consistent improvement in key financial parameters like NPAs, deposits, advances and credit-deposit ratio..

The total balance sheet size of the RRBs has increased from Rs 7,04,556 crore in FY 2021-22 to Rs 8,40,080 crore in FY 2023-24. Further, the Net NPA has declined from 4.7 per cent in FY 2021- 22 to 2.4 per cent in FY 2023-24. Also, the Credit to Deposit Ratio has increased from 64.5 per cent to 71.4 per cent during this period, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question.

He also stated that the government reviews the financial performance of RRBs at the national and regional levels. It also keeps track of the thrust on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) portfolio and importance on loan diversification towards agri-allied, MSME and retail sectors, the minister said.

The government has also reviewed the progress made by RRBs in deepening financial inclusion in rural and remote areas by reviewing performance on various financial inclusion schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Atal Pension Yojana, he further stated.

Established under the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976, to provide banking services in rural areas and promote rural development, the RRBs are jointly owned by the Central government (50 per cent), the state government (15 per cent), and the sponsoring bank (35 per cent).

The RBI, through the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, sets the overall policy for banking operations and ensures the stability and soundness of the financial system, including the RRBs.

NABARD, under Section 35(6) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, is responsible for conducting statutory inspections of the RRBs, the State Cooperative Banks, and the District Central Cooperative Banks.
Washington, March 25 : A bipartisan duo of US lawmakers have introduced a legislation calling for sanctions on Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir and other Generals and officials for "prosecution of political opponents", including the imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The bill moved by Joe Willson, a Republican, and Jimmy Panetta, a Democrat and son of former CIA Director and Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta, is titled 'Pakistan Democracy Act' and envisions these sanctions within 180 days of the enactment of the legislation, under Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act of 2017, which has been used by the US to sanction foreign officials.

The bill accuses Munir of "knowingly engaging in the wrongful persecution and imprisonment of political opponents", according to a report by The Hill news site that said it had accessed the bill and was quoting from it. It also seeks to identify others purportedly involved in this "persecution" and target them for something similar.

"I am grateful to introduce the Pakistan Democracy Act to sanction those undermining democracy in Pakistan!," Wilson wrote in a post on X, with a picture of Imran Khan.

The bill must be passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate and then signed by President Donald Trump to become law.

The Republican lawmaker had announced his intention to bring the bill in February and imposing similar bans on them. "Grateful to be nearly finished drafting the Pakistan Democracy Act. The bill sets down that it is US policy to restore democracy in Pakistan. Mandates a 30-day determination of sanctions on Asim Munir. Reviews all generals and gov officials & their families for sanctions," he wrote.

Former Prime Minister Khan was forced out of office in 2022 after losing a no-confidence vote by the united opposition parties. He was succeeded by Shehbaz Sharif, the opposition leader and brother of former PM Nawaz Sharif. Sharif completed Khan's unfinished tenure and then went on to win the next general election, starting a full term in 2024.
New Delhi, March 25 : Vice Chairman of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Kuljeet Singh Chahal on Tuesday welcomed the Delhi Government's historic Rs 1 lakh crore Budget, claiming that the civic agency would benefit from it in areas such as cleanliness, green space expansion, water supply, roads and power infrastructure.

New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) Vice Chairman of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Kuljeet Singh Chahal on Tuesday welcomed the Delhi Governmentas historic Rs 1 lakh crore Budget, claiming that the civic agency would benefit from it in areas such as cleanliness, green space expansion, water supply, roads and power infrastructure.

Calling Chief Minister Rekha Guptaas maiden Budget as a major step towards the holistic development of the national capital, the NDMC Vice Chairman noted that provisions under the aPM Surya Ghar: Free Electricity Schemea, aimed at promoting solar energy and eliminating overhead cables, will significantly improve the quality of power supply.

Furthermore, initiatives to boost tourism and cultural heritage will enhance the global recognition of Delhias historic sites.

A solution-oriented app like NDMC 311 will be developed to address issues related to the Delhi Government, said Chahal adding that Rs 15 crore has been allocated in the Budget for the development of a new mobile app by the Delhi Government, modelled on NDMC 311, to ensure efficient and timely grievance redressal across various departments.

Chahal further announced that NDMC 311 will soon integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI), enabling automated complaint analysis and real-time solutions. NDMC is also transitioning to a fully digital payment system to enhance transparency and efficiency in its operations.

He highlighted that NDMC 311, launched in 2016, serves as a digital gateway for residents in the civic agencyas jurisdiction to report civic issues.

Recognised for its excellence, the app received the e-Governance Award 2021 from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022, he said.

Currently, 59 NDMC departments are connected to the app, which has handled 37,058 (till today) complaints in 2024-25 and 38,286 in 2023-24, with an impressive 99 per cent resolution rate, he said.

Chahal said a majority of complaints are related to health and civil infrastructure, and most are resolved within 24 hours. The app also features an automatic escalation system, ensuring quick grievance resolution from junior to senior officers.

He said that the Delhi Budget is a significant step towards realising the vision of 'Viksit Delhi' in alignment with PM Modias 'Viksit Bharat' initiative.
Chandigarh, March 25 : The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India said on Tuesday that out of the allotted budget by the Punjab government, health funds ranging from 6.5 to 20.74 per cent were not utilised.

In the performance audit of public health infrastructure and management of health services report of 2024 placed in the Assembly, it said the government could spend only 3.11 per cent of its total expenditure and 0.68 per cent of GSDP on health services during 2021-22, which was way below eight per cent of the budget and 2.50 per cent of the GSDP.

The State Programme Implementation Plans for each year were submitted to the Union government with delays ranging from 10 to 108 days, which ultimately delayed the approval and resulted in late receipt of funds from it.

"Huge amount of government money was lying unutilised outside government account with Punjab Nirogi Society (Rs 4.92 crore) under Punjab Nirogi Yojana and under Mukh Mantri Punjab Cancer Raahat Kosh Scheme (Rs 76.81 crore) as of March 2022. Besides, user charges amounting to Rs 1.94 crore collected by Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, up to 2021-22 and part of concession fee amounting to Rs 85.70 crore transferred to Punjab Health Systems Corporation were also lying with them outside government account, in contravention of codal provisions," the CAG said.

The implementation of test-checked centrally sponsored schemes like the National Urban Health Mission, Family Welfare, Kayakalp and Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), etc., in Punjab was not commensurate with the targets set for the respective schemes.

There were shortfalls in utilisation Performance Audit Report on Public Health Infrastructure and Management of Health Services of the allotted funds under various schemes, it said.

There were cases of non-payment of financial assistance and incentives under the Family Welfare scheme and Janani Suraksha Yojana, it added.

Health institutions aspiring to achieve Kayakalp status were significantly on a lower side and National Quality Assurance Standards- certified health institutions also did not show steady growth, it said.

Under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram programme, mobile health teams were functioning with inadequate staff strength which adversely affected the screening of children, the national auditor added.

No essential medicines, drops and ointments, except iron and folic acid and Albendazole, were available with mobile health teams despite having been prescribed by the Union government.

The CAG said the envisaged regulatory mechanism was not functioning effectively to ensure responsible provision of health services to the people.
Jaipur, March 25 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said on Tuesday that the sacrifice of the brave men and women teaches us that nothing is greater than freedom and honour.

He said that the land of Chittorgarh is a land of power, devotion, sacrifice and austerity.

"Here, stories of bravery are written in every particle, history is in every stone, and the blazing fire of sacrifice is burning in every pebble. Today, we have not come here only to pay tribute but to take a pledge to inculcate the spirit of valour and sacrifice in our lives," the Chief Minister claimed while addressing the ceremony organised by Jauhar Smriti Sansthan in Chittorgarh.

He said that Chittorgarh Fort is a symbol of national identity and Sanatan culture, adding that this is the holy land where the Kshatriya warriors considered it their good fortune to die.

"Even in the state emblem of Mewar, the picture of the tribal representative reflects social harmony," he said.

A row erupted in Rajasthan after Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ramji Lal Suman made remarks against Rana Sanga, the 16th-century ruler of Mewar, drawing sharp criticism from the BJP in Rajasthan, where Rana Sanga and his grandson Rana Pratap are revered.

The Samajwadi Party MP said that Rana Sanga brought Babur into India to defeat the Lodhi king.

On Monday, BJP MLA Shrichand Kriplani criticised Ramji Lal Suman in the Assembly over his remarks. However, Congress MLA Harimohan Sharma objected to the criticism.

Raising slogans against the Congress, the BJP MLAs questioned why the "insulting" remarks of Rana Sanga cannot be discussed in the house.

Vishwaraj Mewar, an erstwhile royal from Mewar, also slammed the SP MP over his remarks.

He said they are misleading the people and are trying to create a divide in society by making such remarks.

Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat termed the row as "distortion of history".
New Delhi, March 25 : GAIL (India) Limited and Coal India Limited on Tuesday announced the formation of a joint venture, Coal Gas India Limited, to expand the use of synthetic natural gas.

The company has been set up with an authorised share capital of Rs 11 crore, as per a notification to the stock exchanges.

Coal India will hold a 51 per cent stake in the venture, while GAIL will own the remaining 49 per cent.

The main objective of this collaboration is to develop and enhance the necessary infrastructure for processing coal into synthetic natural gas.

This includes captive coal mining, coal beneficiation, coal imports, equipment procurement, and setting up related facilities.

The move comes at a time when global coal policies are evolving. Recently, US President Donald Trump expressed his support for coal-based energy and stated that his administration would encourage the use of "clean coal."

However, environmental regulations in the US have led to the planned shutdown of 120 coal-fired power plants over the next five years, according to media reports.

Meanwhile, the CIL and the GAIL signed a joint venture agreement last year to set up a Coal to Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) plant in West Bengal.

The Ministry of Coal announced the partnership in August, calling it a significant step towards Indiaas energy security and sustainability goals.

The new plant was to be established in the Raniganj area of Eastern Coalfields Limited.

In Q2, the CIL reported a net profit of Rs 8,491.22 crore. However, this was a 17.5 per cent decrease compared to the Rs 10,291.71 crore profit reported during the same period last year.

The company also rewarded investors by declaring an interim dividend of Rs 5.6 per equity share for the financial year 2024-25.

This dividend was approved by the Audit Committee of CIL and will be paid to shareholders who hold equity shares on the record date, which was set for January 31, 2025.
Patna, March 25 : In the build-up to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's public rally in Bihar's Gopalganj district on Sunday, State BJP President Dilip Jaiswal visited the district on Tuesday to oversee the preparations, party sources said.

During his visit, he held meetings with BJP leaders and party workers, emphasising the importance of strengthening the party ahead of the upcoming state Assembly elections.

BJP leader Jaiswal was welcomed enthusiastically at various locations on his way to Gopalganj.

Upon reaching the district, he expressed confidence in the party's growing influence in the region.

"After meeting the people and workers of Gopalganj, the enthusiasm and zeal shown in them clearly reflect that Gopalganj is not only ready for the arrival of its Home Minister but is also ready to create history with the BJP," Jaiswal said.

He also added that the public meeting preparations were complete, and the people were excited about Amit Shah's arrival.

During his visit, BJP leader Jaiswal attended a meeting at the district BJP office, where he discussed strategies to strengthen the party organisation and outlined the party's vision for the upcoming Assembly elections.

"The Assembly elections are going to be held this year, and the 'lotus' (Kamal) will bloom more strongly in Bihar. The Union Home Minister will meet the party workers before the elections and encourage them," Jaiswal added.

A significant highlight of the tour was the meeting held in Koini village of Barauli Assembly constituency, where Deputy head and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Shambhu Yadav, along with Santosh Manjhi and hundreds of supporters, left RJD to join the BJP.

BJP leader Jaiswal welcomed the new party members to the BJP and wished them a bright future, marking it as another boost for the party ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

Apart from Koini, Jaiswal conducted meetings at three other locations, including a review meeting at Baba Marriage Hall in Mahmadpur of Baikunthpur Assembly constituency.

During the meetings, prominent BJP leaders such as state general secretary Jagannath Thakur, state vice-president Siddharth Shambhu and district president Sandeep Kumar Giri were present.

The discussions revolved around election strategies, motivating party workers, and organisational strengthening.

With Amit Shah's rally set to take place on March 30, BJP leaders are hoping for a historic turnout, reflecting the party's growing popularity in Gopalganj and beyond.
New Delhi, March 25 : A 3-member committee, set up by the Supreme Court, to inquire into allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court after a large amount of unaccounted cash was reportedly discovered at his residence in the national capital, began its probe on Monday.

The inquiry panel visited Justice Yashwant Varma's official bungalow at Delhi's Tughlak Crescent, and reportedly spent over half an hour inside the bungalow, where allegedly a huge pile of burnt cash was discovered in the storeroom after the fire brigade had gone there to douse a blaze on March 14.

Following the alleged cash discovery, which sent shockwaves across the judicial corridors, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna on Friday constituted the 3-member committee to conduct an inquiry against Justice Varma and asked the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court not to assign him any judicial work for the time being.

"The Chief Justice of India has constituted a three-member committee consisting of Mr Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, Mr Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, and Ms Anu Sivaraman, Judge of the High Court of Karnataka, for conducting an inquiry into the allegations against Mr Justice Yashwant Varma, a sitting Judge of the High Court of Delhi," said a statement released by the Supreme Court.

On Monday, Delhi HC's Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya withdrew judicial work from Justice Varma, the second senior-most judge of the Delhi High Court, till further orders.

"In view of recent events, the judicial work from Hon'ble Mr. Justice Yashwant Varma is withdrawn with immediate effect, till further orders," said a notice uploaded on the website of the Delhi High Court.

Later in the day, the Supreme Court Collegium, headed by CJI Khanna, recommended that the Centre repatriate Justice Varma to the Allahabad High Court.

"The Supreme Court Collegium in its meetings held on 20th and 24th March 2025 has recommended repatriation of Mr Justice Yashwant Varma, Judge, High Court of Delhi, to the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad," said a statement uploaded on the website of the apex court on Monday.

Earlier, the apex court clarified that the proposal for the transfer of Justice Varma to his parent High Court, i.e. Allahabad HC, was "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 SC had said in a press statement.

The Centre is yet to act upon the recommendation made by the apex court Collegium to repatriate Justice Varma to the Allahabad HC.
Australia has delivered a budget that does not mention AI once. While this isnt the first time this has happened, it is now becoming increasingly unusual as other major global governments and funds prepare to spend billions on securing a foothold with this new technology. That, in itself, sets the tone for a federal budget that has so little to say about technology, that any sparse mention of a policy becomes a focal point. In that regard, this years budget has its sights firmly, and rightly set on cyber security, which we know from our customers is a major issue for small businesses. A breach can cost a business anywhere in the ball park of $50,000 to resolve. But when you do some napkin math, the Federal Government is today committing roughly $20 per business towards protecting them. Considering the hardship faced by a breach, and the impact it can have on a business this hardly seems appropriate. Much like Australias Front Door program, the UK also introduced a similar policy regarding overseas investment. But rather than encourage more investors, it simply created another barrier for investment. While more capital is always better, could the funds be better spent unlocking capital in Australia? We know from dealing with high-net worths and family offices that so much of their wealth is still locked in property. With the right settings, that help derisk their investment, that could be re-deployed towards startups. The details arent all here, and were still yet to see what will come out of an impending election. But even digging a teaspoon into the bigger picture policies of this budget that affect business sees them unravel.
Bhopal, March 25 : The Congress party has accused Minister of State for Urban Administration and Development in Madhya Pradesh, Pratima Bagri, of using a fraudulent caste certificate to claim Scheduled Caste (SC) status and secure her ministerial position.

Pradeep Ahirwar, the President of Scheduled Caste wing of Congress in Madhya Pradesh, alleged that Bagri belongs to the Rajput-Thakur community -- a general category, not the SC category, and demanded she should resign. He warned that if a fair investigation is not conducted, the party will take the issue to the High Court.

While speaking to IANS, Pratima Bagri, who is Minister of Urban Administration (state minister), defended herself, stating her family's long political history and questioning why her caste certificate is being challenged now all of a sudden.

She affirmed the authenticity of her documents and expressed her openness to any investigation, but also threatened legal action if tangible evidence against her is not presented. Bagri represents the Raigaon Assembly seat of Satna district and defeated Kalpana Verma of the Indian National Congress in the 2023 elections.

Ahirwar claimed that the Bagrias caste in regions like Bundelkhand, Mahakaushal, and Vindhya has historically been classified as Rajput-Thakur, not SC. He cited government and legal rulings from 2003 and 2007, which explicitly excluded the Bagri caste from SC status. Despite this, Ahirwar alleged that Bagri and her family used fabricated caste certificates to benefit from reservations in elections and government posts, actions he described as violations of constitutional and social justice principles.

Ahirwar further argued that individuals from the Bagri caste are typically wealthy farmers and should not qualify for SC benefits. Official directives have also barred the issuance of SC certificates to the Rajput Bagri community in certain regions, yet Bagri allegedly managed to bypass these regulations. To which the minister pointed out, in 2008, Pushpendra Singh Bagri contested from the same seat on a Congress ticket, Gaya Prasad Bagri contested elections in 2013 on a Congress ticket, and our most beloved Jugal Kishore Bagri also contested elections several times.

Besides, she said, Shivdayal Bagri contested the 2018 elections on a Congress ticket from the Gunnaor seat in Panna. Why are they questioning my certificate only now? Did all these candidates use fake certificates, the minister asked.
Jaipur, March 25 : Haji Salman Chishti, Chairman of the Chishti Foundation, has welcomed the 'Saugat-e-Modi' campaign, an initiative launched by the BJP Minority Morcha.

Under this programme, special kits will be distributed to 32 lakh underprivileged Muslims across India ahead of Eid, ensuring they can celebrate the festival without hardship.

The campaign was inaugurated on Tuesday in Delhi's Nizamuddin Dargah under the BJP President J.P. Nadda. As part of the initiative, 32,000 Minority Morcha workers will collaborate with 32,000 mosques nationwide to reach those in need.

Speaking on the occasion, Haji Salman Chishti described the initiative as a 'commendable' step, saying: "India teaches us to care for each other. We are a family in this country. This initiative will connect the masses and bring joy to Eid celebrations. We will pray in Ajmer for the well-being of all. Let us pledge to support one another, work together, and move forward for the progress of our nation."

He also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that this initiative will spread joy and strengthen the bond of love in the country.

Syed Meraj Chishti, Gaddinashin of Ajmer Dargah, also expressed his appreciation for the initiative. He said: "The Muslim community is truly happy with this effort. We pray to Khwaja Garib Nawaz to bless PM Modi for his continued good work. The kits will help countless underprivileged Muslims celebrate Eid with dignity. We extend our prayers for the Prime Minister's health and success, hoping that he continues to uphold the spirit of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'."

The initiative has been widely praised for its efforts to support the underprivileged, reinforcing the message of unity and inclusivity ahead of the festive season.
Kolkata, March 25 : Amit Malviya, BJP's IT Cell Chief and the party's central observer for West Bengal, on Tuesday, refuted the claims made by the Trinamool Congress and the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on non-release of funds to the state under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

In a statement that he had posted on his official X account, Malviya had claimed that the Union government was forced to withhold funds under the MGNREGA scheme for West Bengal due to rampant corruption and gross mismanagement on the part of the state government.

"Multiple central teams visited four districts -- Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, Darjeeling, and Malda -- in 2019 and 2021 to assess the implementation of the scheme. These teams uncovered widespread irregularities and financial misappropriation, leading to the recommendation of recovery from corrupt officials and Panchayati Raj institution functionaries involved in the malpractices," the BJP leader said in the statement.

He also claimed that the state government failed to take action against the errant officials or take any initiative in recovering the embezzled funds despite repeated direction from the Union government.

BJP leader Malviya added that the Union government was compelled to decide to withhold funds under the scheme to the state government and accordingly, an order to stop the funds was issued on March 9, 2022.

Malviya said that the decision to withdraw the funds was taken as per provisions under Section 27 of the MGNREGA Act, 2005, which empowers the Union government to directions as it may consider necessary to the state government for the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act and also order stoppage of the release of funds in case of improper utilisation of funds.

Claiming that CM Mamata Banerjee alone is responsible for such a situation, Malviya claimed that the state government had failed to ensure transparency, allowing corruption to flourish at the cost of poor people and marginalised workers who depend on MGNREGA for their livelihood.

"The responsibility for this fund stoppage lies squarely on her (CM Mamata Banerjee) administration, which prioritises political cover-ups over the welfare of the people. The funds will only be restored once West Bengal fully complies with corrective measures, recovers misappropriated money, and holds guilty officials accountable," the BJP leader claimed.
Jerusalem, March 25 : Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday he has approved operational plans for "continuing" the offensive in the Gaza Strip.

"I came here today to closely observe the fighting and preparations on the ground ahead of upcoming decisions," Katz said during a visit to the Gaza Division, headquartered at Re'im Camp near the strip.

"Our main goal now is to bring all hostages home," Katz said.

He warned that if Hamas does not release the remaining hostages, "it will pay increasingly heavy prices in territorial losses and the targeting of militants and terror infrastructure, until its complete defeat."

Hamas kidnapped 251 hostages during its attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. According to Israeli tallies, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, with 35 of them presumed dead.

A phased ceasefire agreement took effect on January 19 after 15 months of Israel's devastating assault on Gaza. Its first phase includes the release of 33 hostages and about 2,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails. All remaining living hostages are expected to be released in the second phase in exchange for a permanent ceasefire and more Palestinian detainees freed.

However, Israel refused to move to the second phase and resumed air and ground assaults on Gaza on March 18, which, according to the latest data from Gaza-based health authorities, have so far killed 792 Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel renewed the offensive because Hamas rejected offers to extend the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement.

In response to Israel's renewed assaults, Hamas also made several rocket launches targeting Israeli territory, most of which Israel said have been intercepted.

On Monday, two informed Egyptian security sources told Xinhua news agency that Egypt had presented a new "urgent" proposal to Israel and Hamas, under which "Hamas will firstly release five living Israeli hostages, including an Israeli-American soldier, in return for a ceasefire in the strip for 40 days to pave the way for talks on the second stage."

Hamas immediately agreed to Egypt's new proposal, the sources noted, without specifying whether the Israeli side has delivered a response.
Jaipur, March 25 : Haji Salman Chishti, Chairman of the Chishti Foundation, has welcomed the 'Saugat-e-Modi' campaign, an initiative launched by the BJP Minority Morcha.

Under this campaign, special kits will be distributed to 32 lakh underprivileged Muslims across India ahead of Eid, ensuring they can celebrate the festival without hardship.

The campaign was inaugurated on Tuesday in Delhi's Nizamuddin Dargah under the BJP President J.P. Nadda. As part of the initiative, 32,000 Minority Morcha workers will collaborate with 32,000 mosques nationwide to reach those in need.

Speaking on the occasion, Haji Salman Chishti described the initiative as a 'commendable' step, saying: "India teaches us to care for each other. We are a family in this country. This initiative will connect the masses and bring joy to Eid celebrations. We will pray in Ajmer for the well-being of all. Let us pledge to support one another, work together, and move forward for the progress of our nation."

He also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that this initiative will spread joy and strengthen the bond of love in the country.

Syed Meraj Chishti, Gaddinashin of Ajmer Dargah, also expressed his appreciation for the initiative, saying that the Muslim community is truly happy with this effort.

"We pray to Khwaja Garib Nawaz to bless PM Modi for his continued good work. The kits will help countless underprivileged Muslims celebrate Eid with dignity. We extend our prayers for the Prime Minister's health and success, hoping that he continues to uphold the spirit of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'," he said.

Meanwhile, the successor of the Dargah of Khawaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti, Haji Peer Syed Nafees Mian Chishti said that the BJP President, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's directive, announced a special Eid gift for Muslims during Ramazan.

"We are happy as the campaign would strengthen brotherhood, unity, and foster harmony by bridging gaps," Haji Peer Syed Nafees Mian Chishti said.

The initiative has been widely praised for its efforts to support the underprivileged, reinforcing the message of unity and inclusivity ahead of the festive season.
Amaravati, March 25 : A pastor was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district on Tuesday.

The body of Praveen Pagadala was found next to his motorbike by the roadside at Kondamuru near Rajahmundry.

His death sparked tension near the Government Hospital in Rajahmundry, where his relatives and Christian groups staged a protest, demanding a thorough probe into the incident.

The pastor attended a programme in a church in Kovvur town on Monday night and later left for Rajahmundry on his Royal Enfield bike. Pagadala, who was wearing helmet while riding the bike, was captured on CCTV camera near a toll gate at Kovvur.

His body was found by the roadside next to his bike near Kondamuru early Tuesday morning.

Tension prevailed at Rajahmundry Government Hospital when his body was brought there for autopsy. His relatives and followers alleged that he was murdered and the incident was made to look like an accident. They demanded a thorough probe.

Pagadala was also known for his talks on the Christian satellite channel Calvary TV. In his social media post a month ago, he had reportedly claimed that his life was in danger.

His friends said that there were no signs of any road accident at the spot where he was found dead. They pointed out that his vehicle had no marks to suggest that he had met with an accident. His helmet was also intact. They alleged that a person had publicly threatened to kill Pagadala, but no security was provided to him.

Meanwhile, well-known evangelist and Praja Shanti Party President K. A. Paul has demanded a thorough investigation into the death of the pastor.

He urged the state Home Minister, Director General of Police, and Superintendent of Police to order an investigation into the incident.
Moscow, March 25 : The Kremlin on Tuesday said that there are no plans for high-level discussions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump, though plans can change rapidly if necessary.

"So far, there are no plans for a high-level talk. If needed, such discussions can be organised promptly," Russia's state-run news agency TASS quoted Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying while addressing a media briefing in Moscow.

Last week, Trump and Putin held a telephonic conversation, highlighting the need for peace and a ceasefire to end the conflict with Ukraine. Both leaders agreed that the movement to peace would begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on the implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire, and permanent peace.

Meanwhile, in an interview with a local broadcaster, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow favours the resumption of the Black Sea Initiative, though in a format which is more acceptable to all.

He stated that Russia supports the return of the Black Sea Initiative in some form, better suited to all, adding that this issue was discussed as a priority during Russia-US talks in Riyadh.

"Our position is simple: we cannot take this man at his word," Lavrov said, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Russia, he said, would like "the market of grain, and the market of fertilizers to be predictable".

Moscow, he said, is worried about the food situation in Africa and other countries of the Global South that have been affected by the conflict.

The Black Sea Initiative, also known as the grain deal, allowed the supply of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports and ensured the normalization of exports of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers to global markets.

Moscow alleged that despite agreements, the West redirected the bulk of Ukrainian grain to its own countries, with the key target of the deal a" to supply grain to countries in need a" never being met. Moscow withdrew from the deal in July 2023.

The US and Russian delegations have kicked off a new round of talks in Saudi Arabia, eyeing a Ukraine settlement and Black Sea ceasefire deal before securing a broader agreement.

The meeting held between the Russian and US teams of experts in the Saudi capital on Monday was complex but useful for the two countries, as they managed to discuss multiple issues, Russian delegate Grigory Karasin, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, who took part in the negotiations, told TASS.

"We discussed everything, and the dialogue was detailed and complex but quite useful for us and for the Americans. We discussed numerous issues," he said.
Mumbai, March 25 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached immovable and movable assets worth approximately Rs 36.21 crore in connection with the money laundering case involving Amber Dalal and others.

According to information shared by the agency through a statement, the assets which have been provisionally attached include 10 immovable properties located in Mumbai and Kolkata, along with movable assets such as Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDRs), shares, Mutual Funds, and investments in Alternative Funds.

The agency had initiated its investigation, which was based on an FIR filed by the Mumbai Police against Amber Dalal, the proprietor of M/s Ritz Consultancy Services. In fact, Dalal is accused of running a Ponzi scheme under which investors were deceived as they were promised high returns through investments in commodity trading. After initially giving returns, Dalal allegedly absconded with the investors' money. The total funds raised by Amber Dalal are estimated to exceed Rs 600 crore from over 1,300 investors, said the ED statement.

According to the ED investigation, several individuals worked as commission agents, bringing in new clients to invest in Dalal's scheme. However, these agents failed to conduct any due diligence on the scheme and did not verify whether the raised funds were actually being invested in commodity trading. Despite lacking formal agreements with Ritz Consultancy Services, these agents received significant commissions from the investors' funds.

Further investigation revealed that Vinay Mohindar, through his entities, helped Amber Dalal park the funds raised from investors in foreign jurisdictions. Funds were transferred by Dalalas foreign entities to those of Mohindar, disguised as sham transactions.

Amber Dalal was arrested during the investigation, and a Prosecution Complaint has been filed against him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. To date, assets worth Rs 104.35 crore, including an immovable property in Dubai, have been attached and frozen in this case. Amber Dalal is currently in judicial custody, and legal proceedings are ongoing.
Mumbai, March 25 : The Congress Legislature Party leader, Vijay Wadettiwar, on Tuesday warned the Mahayuti government that if any attempt is made to change the Constitution, the people will change the government." Mumbai, March 25 (IANS) The Congress Legislature Party leader, Vijay Wadettiwar, on Tuesday warned the Mahayuti government that if any attempt is made to change the Constitution, the people will change the government."

The Constitution is a better book than any religious scriptures. This country will run on the Constitution and if you try to change the Constitution, the people will change the government," he said in his speech in the state Assembly on special debate on 'The glorious journey of the Indian Constitution'.

"The foundation of our Constitution comes from the teachings of saints. They opposed caste discrimination, untouchability, and social inequality. Saint Tukaram, Saint Namdev, and Saint Dnyaneshwar advocated self-improvement and rationalism. Article 19 of the Constitution recognises freedom of expression, freedom of association, and freedom of thought. Saint Janabai and Saint Bahinabai advocated the dignity of women. This is also reflected in the Constitution," said Wadettiwar.

He further stated that Babasaheb Ambedkar had emphasised that politics and religion should remain separate. "The Constitution has said that the government and government agencies should treat all religions equally. But here, a minister in the cabinet makes a provocative statement against one religion... isn't this a violation of the Constitution? The creation of a secular state is the basic concept of the Constitution, and the government is working to trample on it," he claimed.

The Shiv Sena UBT Legislative Party leader Bhaskar Jadhav asked the MahaYuti government to maintain the honour of democracy by appointing a Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly. "We are discussing the Constitution. Tomorrow is the last day of the session. You (the government) are electing the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly. I have given all the evidence that there is no need for numbers to elect the Leader of the Opposition. But despite giving the letter, you are not electing the Leader of the Opposition. If you are opposed to my name, I will take back my name. I ask the party chief to give the letter with another name. But please maintain the respect of democracy by appointing the Leader of the Opposition," he said.

Shiv Sena legislator Arjun Khotkar said that no one has been given the right to create conflicts in religion. He criticised the government for saying that the health of this society will be affected by someone's expression, by someone's words, and that there will be fights between castes and religions, and the Constitution has not given us this right. "In the village where we used to live, we never knew who belonged to whom; today all people have been divided into castes. Now, a person from one caste does not greet a person from another caste. In which direction are we heading? This is worrying. We should be able to break all this with the power of the Constitution," he added.

However, BJP legislator Amit Satam accused the opposition parties of giving a false impression of the Constitution. "Some people had a false sense of the Constitution in 2024, but the same people damaged the Constitution of this country, crushed the Constitution of this country," he said. "Ulta Chor Kotwal Ko Dante," (the pot calling the kettle black) taunted Satam, saying that those who alleged that the Constitution was in danger were in power in the state from 2019 to 2022 in Maharashtra, when they crushed the Constitution.
Bhopal, March 25 : The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in Bhopal has taken legal action against Brij Maheshwari and others, filing a Prosecution Complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

This complaint, submitted to the Special Court (PMLA) in Bhopal on March 22, 2025, has been officially acknowledged by the court.

The investigation began following a charge-sheet from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), specifically its Bank Securities & Fraud Cell in New Delhi.

The ED's inquiry uncovered that M/s Nava Bharat Press (Bhopal) Pvt Ltd, led by Director Sumeet Maheshwari, had secured loans from the Bank of Maharashtra's Gautam Nagar branch in 2004. These loans, intended for upgrading the press and acquiring machinery, were allegedly misused.

Instead of their designated purpose, the funds were funnelled through accounts linked to employees of the Enbee Group of companies, controlled by the Maheshwari family.

The investigation revealed that the Maheshwari family utilised these corporate entities to redirect the loan money, addressing personal and corporate debts. This diversion led to the misappropriation of funds, resulting in a loss of Rs 15.67 crore for the Bank of Maharashtra as the loan account became a non-performing asset (NPA).

In a prior development, the ED had provisionally attached assets worth Rs 2.36 crore, including 10 properties in Satna and Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, through an order dated March 30, 2024.

This attachment was later upheld by the Adjudicating Authority under the PMLA in New Delhi on September 10, 2024.

Nava Bharat Press (Bhopal), which publishes the Hindi daily 'Navbharat' in Madhya Pradesh, and its promoters, the Maheshwari family, are located in various locations including Bhopal, Satna and Sehore districts. They also print an English newspaper aCentral Chroniclea, formerly known as aMP Chronicle.a

This case underscores the alleged misuse of financial systems and highlights the ED's efforts to address financial irregularities and ensure accountability.
Running a SME today feels like navigating through a dense and unpredictable jungleevery decision matters, and the environment can be tough.

But dont worryyou dont need a huge budget or a large team to succeed. The most successful business leaders have found ways to thrive, and their strategies can be summarized in three key areas: investing in your team, using technology to save time, and standing out in the market. This is your guide to help your SME navigate the challenges of 2025 and come out on top.

Invest in your team to see bigger results

In todays business world, your team is your most valuable asset. Michael Kodari, CEO of Kodari Securities, has always emphasized that people are more important than profit. Happy employees dont just stay longerthey work harder, think bigger, and help keep customers loyal. Adam Chicktong, APAC General Manager at Asana, supports this idea with data from their 2022 study, which found that a quarter of Australian workers experienced burnout multiple times last year. His solution? Help your team understand the deeper purpose behind their work.

For small businesses, the focus shouldnt be on spending a lot of moneyits about being smart with what you already have. Instead of rigid work schedules, offer flexible hours. Hold a weekly meeting to check in with your team and make sure everyone is aligned. A clear and simple mission written down on a whiteboard can reduce stress and inspire new ideas. This doesnt need to cost anything, but it can lead to better performance and stronger team motivation, which ultimately boosts your profits.

Use technology to save time and work smarter

Time is one of your most limited resources, and technology can help you make the most of it. Simon Le Grand, head of marketing at Lightspeed, highlights that customers expect more choicesfrom where they shop to how they payand cloud tools can help SMEs stay competitive. Sharon Crombie, CEO of MicroChilli, emphasizes the importance of automation in this process. Why spend hours manually handling invoices or employee schedules when affordable tools like Xero or Deputy can do the work for you?

You dont need to completely overhaul your business to make use of technology. Start small by experimenting with free trials of scheduling or accounting apps to see what works best for your needs. The goal is simple: save time on administrative tasks so you can focus on growing your business. Le Grand has observed how SMEs can attract talented workers and loyal customers by using the right tools. Crombie believes that small businesses should embrace automation and tech nowits a crucial step for staying ahead.

In a crowded business landscape, blending in is a surefire way to fail. Josephine Sabin, from DesignCrowd & BrandCrowd, advises that branding is essentialits not just about a logo, but about creating a feeling. Whether you use blue to convey trust, red for energy, or calm green tones for 2025, simple adjustments to your brand can help you grab attention, even with just a $50 investment. Brodie Haupt, CEO of WLTH, ties his brands success to its purpose: his loans fund ocean cleanups, and customers love supporting a company with a strong cause.

Data is another powerful tool. Rohan Persaud from Sisense recommends focusing on insights rather than just chartsunderstanding your best-selling product from the previous month using Google Analytics can help you target your efforts. Damir Cuca of Basiq suggests looking beyond basic bank data to identify trends like Buy Now Pay Later habits. Combining data with a strong brand identity can help you not only be noticed but also be chosen by customers. Simple tweaks to your branding and a clear purpose could give your business a major competitive advantage.

Business experts dont take chancesthose who succeed in todays market are quick to adapt and make the most of what they have. Melissa Ryan from Macquarie University calls this resiliencebusinesses need to be flexible and ready to change or risk falling behind. Focus on motivating your team with purpose, not just moneyoffering flexible work schedules can be more valuable than raising salaries. Use affordable technology tools to save timespending $30 on an app can be a lot more effective than wasting hours on paperwork. And make your brand stand outrefine your look, use your data wisely, and connect with your audience. The business world may be tough, but with this approach, your small business could lead the way by the end of the year.

ALSO READ: We asked experts: The one skill that defines great management

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Mumbai, March 25 : The Mumbai Zonal Office of Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a Provisional Attachment Order for immovable assets valued at approximately Rs 9.39 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, as part of an ongoing investigation into a bank fraud case involving M/s Sharon Bio Medicine Limited (SBML) and others.

According to a statement issued by the agency on Tuesday, the provisionally attached assets include flats located in Pune, Maharashtra.

The investigation of the agency results from FIRs which had been filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Mumbai, against M/s Sharon Bio Medicine Limited and its directors under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The agency informed that the fraud allegedly resulted in a loss of approximately Rs 286 crore to multiple banks.

The investigation has disclosed that Mohan Kala, Savita Gowda, and Lalit Misra, former directors of M/s Sharon Bio Medicine Ltd, conspired to inflate stock statements, balance sheets, and other records by manipulating sales and purchases, creating fictitious transactions to secure large loans from banks, said the statement of the agency.

According to it, the fraudulent activity involved setting up shell companies and firms, wherein employees of SBML and relatives of the directors were listed as directors or shareholders. Bank funds were diverted to these entities, where they were siphoned off for personal use and the purchase of properties in the names of the directors and their affiliates, said the agency.

Previously, the ED conducted a search operation in the case on October 23, 2024, leading to the seizure and freezing of movable assets worth approximately Rs 16.42 crore, along with incriminating documents and digital devices. A provisional attachment order was issued on January 24, 2025, for assets worth approximately Rs 79.78 crore. To date, the total attachment and seizure in the case amount to approximately Rs 105.59 crore. According to the statement, the investigation is ongoing, and further legal proceedings are expected.
Patna, March 25 : In a significant development ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, the Congress has officially announced its decision to contest the elections under the umbrella of the INDIA Bloc.

The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday.

Prominent leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and senior Congress members from Bihar, attended the meeting. Bihar Congress President Rajesh Kumar confirmed the party's stance while addressing the media in New Delhi.

"The Congress party will contest the Bihar Assembly elections under the INDIA Bloc. Unlike other states, the alliance is united in Bihar, and our primary objective is to defeat the BJP-led alliance. BJP remains our main opponent in Bihar," Kumar stated.

When questioned about the seat-sharing formula, Rajesh Kumar clarified that it is too early to discuss the specifics.

"It is premature to comment on seat sharing at this point. When the elections come closer, our leaders will sit together to finalise the formula," he said.

Despite RJD already projecting Tejashwi Yadav as the Chief Ministerial candidate of the Mahagathbandhan, Congress leaders indicated that the final decision will be made after consultations with all alliance partners.

Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru emphasised this point: "The name of the Chief Minister candidate will be decided after meeting with all alliance partners of the INDIA Bloc."

When asked about the potential inclusion of Prashant Kishor in the INDIA Bloc, Krishna Allavaru remained non-committal: "A decision will be taken after proper discussion. We will sit and talk about it."

On the role of Pappu Yadav, Allavaru said: "INDIA Bloc stands with anyone who stands against BJP."

The meeting saw the participation of prominent Bihar Congress leaders, including former state president Akhilesh Singh, former minister Ramjatan Sinha, and Shakeel Ahmed.

With this announcement, the speculated cold war between RJD and Congress seems to have subsided. As the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections approach, the unity within the INDIA Bloc could play a crucial role in challenging the BJP-led alliance in the state.
Guwahati, March 25 : Assam Police in an anti-narcotics operation busted an interstate drug network and seized drugs worth Rs. 20 crores, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday.

The operation was carried out by Assam Police near the Mizoram border, and the huge consignment of drugs was coming from the neighbouring state, police said.

Taking to X, CM Sarma wrote, "YABA tablets worth 20cr seized. In an anti-narcotics operation carried out by @cacharpolice in the wee hours. 66,000 YABA tablets were recovered from a residence near the Assam-Mizoram border in Raj Gobindpur."

He also applauded the efforts of the police in anti-narcotics operations.

According to a senior police official, narcotics items are often peddled to Assam from neighbouring states of 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, the Home Minister 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 Rs 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, Amit Shah, while addressing the 72nd plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Agartala, said the accusations against the northeastern states about drug-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.

--IANS

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Patna, March 25 : In a shocking incident, a man shot a girl and her father on the Railway Overbridge of Arrah railway station and then shot himself on Tuesday evening.

The accused is identified as Akash Kumar, a resident of Udwant Nagar village in Bhojpur district shot the girl from very close range.

When her father tried to save her, he also shot him also and committed suicide by shooting himself. All three lost their lives at the crime scene.

The deceased have been identified as Ayushi Kumari and her father, Anil Kumar. According to the police, the crime was committed by a jilted lover.

Bhojpur ASP Parichay Kumar, who is investigating the case, stated: "A young man came and first shot the girl and her father, then shot himself. All three died on the spot. Looking at the sequence of events, it appears to be a case of a love affair."

The girl resides near Godhna Road in Arrah City and came to Arrah railway station to catch the train to go to Delhi when the incident occurred.

Following the incident, officials from RPF (Railway Protection Force) and GRP (Government Railway Police) arrived at the scene.

"The case is under investigation. Two people, including the girl, have been killed. The accused also committed suicide by shooting himself. The victims' relatives have arrived, and inquiries are ongoing," said ASP Parichay Kumar.

The authorities are gathering evidence and statements to ascertain the exact motive behind the attack. Further details are awaited as the investigation progresses.

"We have called the Forensic Science Laboratory team to collect the evidence from the crime scene. We have also asked the accused family members to join the probe. Their statements may shed some more light on the reasons for the incident," the ASP said.

The dead bodies have been recovered and sent for the post-mortem.
Hyderabad, March 26 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and his Cabinet colleagues skipped the iftar party hosted by the state government on Tuesday after the Election Commission refused to give permission for their participation in view of the Model Code of Conduct for the biennial election to the Telangana Legislative Council.

Chief Minister, state ministers, MPs, state legislators and others were to participate in the Iftar party and dinner at L.B. Stadium in Hyderabad.

As Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into force on Monday with the announcement of the schedule for the election to the Legislative Council from Hyderabad Local Authoritiesa Constituency, the state government sought permission from the Election Commission of India to conduct Iftar/dinner throughout the state including Hyderabad and to allow the Chief Minister, ministers and other public representatives to participate.

The Election Commissioner, however, conveyed to the Chief Electoral Officer, Telangana, that the proposal had not been accepted.

The Chief Ministeras Office (CMO) released to the media a copy of the letter received by the Chief Electoral Officer from the Election Commission.

Officials of the minority welfare department and various minority institutions like Waqf Board, Haj Committee and Urdu Academy attended the Iftar.

Prominent personalities from various walks of life were invited to the annual Iftar party.

Earlier, the government came under flak from various quarters for reportedly spending Rs 70 crore on the Iftar party. Various Muslim organisations, including the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) had urged the government to use the money to pay arrears for fee reimbursement of minority students.

Welfare Party of India (WPI) had called for a boycott of the Iftar party over unfulfilled promises of the Congress government and lack of Muslim representation in the state cabinet.

Activists Lubna Sarwath, Anwarullah Khan, Syed Ismail and others had sent a letter to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to consider the reallocation of Rs 70 crore on Iftar towards education, employment and empowerment of minorities.

The BJP had also found fault with the government for allocating Rs 70 crore for the Iftar party. The BJP leaders slammed the government for allocating a huge amount for Iftar while claiming that it has no money to pay salaries to the government employees.

BJP leaders referred to the demands from within the Muslim community to re-allocate the money for education and welfare programmes.
Chennai, March 26 : AIADMK General Secretary and Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) met the Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Tuesday, sparking intense political speculation about a possible revival of the AIADMK-BJP alliance.

With the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu nearly over a year away, the meeting is being viewed as a strategic move, especially as the ruling DMK steps up its campaign on contentious issues like delimitation and the two-language policy.

Palaniswami's visit to the national capital had been confirmed earlier in the day by AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan, who, however, remained tight-lipped about the agenda.

The AIADMK and BJP were alliance partners in the 2021 state elections, during which the BJP won four seats.

However, the partnership unravelled on September 21, 2023, following growing tensions under the leadership of K. Annamalai, the Tamil Nadu BJP President.

Relations between the two parties soured significantly after BJP leader Annamalai made a controversial reference to late AIADMK supremo and former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa's conviction in a corruption case.

The remark deeply offended AIADMK leaders, who responded with a scathing resolution condemning his comments and questioning his political maturity.

Senior AIADMK leaders have since accused Annamalai of disrespecting the alliance's spirit and failing to recognise the AIADMK's leadership within the state coalition -- unlike his predecessors who maintained a more diplomatic approach.

The rift led both parties to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections separately, forming independent alliances.

The results were disastrous for both camps, while the DMK-led front swept all seats in Tamil Nadu, further shifting the political landscape.

Amid these setbacks and the emergence of new players like actor-turned-politician Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the AIADMK appears to be re-evaluating its position.

Political observers believe the meeting between Palaniswami and Amit Shah could be an attempt to forge a united opposition front against the DMK, with the AIADMK possibly pushing for Annamalai's removal as a key condition for any renewed alliance.

As the 2026 elections approach, both the AIADMK and BJP face the critical challenge of rebuilding trust and overcoming the fallout from their past differences.

The outcome of this high-profile meeting could shape the contours of Tamil Nadu's political battlefield in the coming months.

For now, speculation continues to swirl, with all eyes on what the next move will be for both parties.
The Nevada Mining Associations Mining Day at the state Legislature is planned for Thursday.

Its an opportunity for our members at the Nevada Mining Association to learn a little bit more about the legislative process, Drew McGregor, communications manager at NVMA, said.

McGregor said Mining Day will be a time for NVMA members to learn more about the work the association does and the bills they are following this legislative session, and the day also gives members an opportunity to have a voice in the legislative process. Also, especially during the reception at the end of the day, Mining Day gives NVMA members the chance to celebrate the industry with some of their colleagues.

Obviously it can be hard to stay up to date on everything thats going on during the legislative session, McGregor said.

So this is a nice way to get an update on everything, and learn a little bit more about the process.

Nevada holds a legislative session every other year, and each session lasts 120 days. This year, the legislature met on Feb. 3, so Mining Day on March 27 falls right about in the middle of the session.

Many organizations and industry groups who are impacted by the decisions made by the Nevada Legislature host days with lawmakers for their members. The NVMA has hosted Mining Day at each legislative session for many years.

McGregor said the organization expects about 100 people to participate in this years Mining Day. People come from around the state, and some who live out of state but who are involved with the Nevada mining industry travel to the event as well.

Mining Day starts with a meet-up with NVMA staff and a group photo. Through the rest of the morning, participants will have the opportunity to sit in on the Senate and Assembly sessions.

The legislators will usually stand up and announce whos with them and talk a little bit about what they do, McGregor said. So Its a cool way to get a little extra exposure, and give those legislators that might not necessarily have much familiarity with the mining in their district a chance to actually meet with people and learn a little bit more about mining.

Mining Day participants will have the chance to learn about the legislative process and bills of interest at presentations throughout the afternoon. Nikki Baily-Lundahl, the NVMAs vice president of external affairs, who has been active at the Legislature all session, will give these presentations.

During the lunch provided by the NVMA, a presentation on the legislative process and issues facing the industry is planned. Next, there will be a presentation on the NVMAs approach to Nevada mining legislative issues. Finally, there will be a federal policy update.

Starting at 3:30 p.m., participants can sit in on a meeting of the Senate Natural Resources Committee.

Committees discuss new bills and decide whether the bills will move on to the Senate and Assembly chambers. Sitting in on the Natural Resources Committee will give Mining Day participants a chance to see one of the first steps in the process of a bill becoming law.

We dont necessarily know what will be talked about that day. It might not have anything to do with mining, but theyll certainly be able to participate in public comment sessions, McGregor said.

He said participants can talk a little bit about mining and what it means to them, and introduce themselves to the legislators. This will be a chance to be a little more public about the role that our members play in everyday life, and the minerals that they produce.

Mining Day wraps up with reception at the Great Basin Brewery in Carson City from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

What we really pride ourselves on is giving our members chances to network and do business with one another, McGregor said.

Online registration for Mining Day at the Nevada Legislature is available until Wednesday. For more information about Mining Day and other NVMA events, go to https://nevadamining.site-ym.com/events/event_list.asp.
Above, a zombie scene in "Plan 9 From Outer Space," which is a cult film and not part of the U.S. space program. Still, the feds have over 1,500 "Zombies," agencies or programs that live on despite expired authorizations, and account for 8% of the budget.

By Bob Ivry and Jeremy Portnoy, RealClearInvestigations

March 25, 2025

In 1974, Congress created the Legal Services Corporation to connect lower-income Americans involved in civil disputes with free legal help. The law that established the agency stipulated that authorization for its funding would expire in 1980, when lawmakers were required to vote on whether to keep it alive.

Unauthorized since 1980.

They never did. Still, Congress has funded LSC every year since. In fiscal 2025, its 51st year, LSCs 135 employees will spend 95% of its now $560 million annual budget paying legal groups to represent Americans in cases such as eviction, domestic violence, and disputes over government benefits, according to Ron Flagg, the agencys president since 2020.

LSC would welcome reauthorization, Flagg said. We havent hidden from it. Every budget cycle, we go through an exhaustive process before Congress appropriates funds  dozens of meetings with leaders of both parties. We demonstrate our return on investment, how we help 2 million Americans get life-saving legal help.

The Legal Services Corp. now stands as Americas oldest Zombie program, but its far from unique. At a time when the Trump administration is moving aggressively to scale back government, including eliminating the entire Education Department, its sobering to note that 1,503 agencies or programs live on despite expired authorizations, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Another 155 will expire on Sept. 30. The Zombies, nearly half of which have been officially dead for more than a decade, persist in a budgetary netherworld. In a deep dive last year, CBO analysts were able to find dollar amounts for 491 of the programs, with total expenditures of $516 billion. They dont know how much funding the other programs received.

The total federal budget in 2024 was $6.8 trillion, meaning expired Zombie programs take up at least 8% of the budget, and likely much more.

A lot of programs dont get reauthorized because Congress is okay with how theyre operating, said Josh Huder, former congressional staffer now at the Georgetown University Government Affairs Institute. They continue to get annual appropriations because most members think theyre worthwhile.

Elon Musk: His DOGE hasn't yet confronted the Zombies prowling the federal spreadsheets.

Many Zombie programs now soak up far more funding than lawmakers originally envisioned. The Federal Election Commission, for example, was expected to spend $9.4 million per year before its authorization expired in 1981. Yet the agency continued to receive funding and spent $95 million in 2024, auditors at government watchdog Open The Books found. The Federal Communications Commission was originally allocated $339.6 million per year. Its funding authorization expired in 2020, yet it spent $28.4 billion last year.

Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency hasnt addressed the Zombies that are prowling the federal spreadsheets. Given DOGEs headlong push to first root out alleged waste, fraud, and abuse and ask questions later, experts say, Zombies may offer a ripe target.

One could imagine that if DOGE is clued into the notion of expired authorizations, theyll think a program is defunct, said Sarah Binder, senior fellow at Brookings and professor of political science at George Washington University. She said this would be a mistake. If Congress is still appropriating money to the programs, theyre not Zombies. Theyre living, breathing agencies.

Rep. Brett Guthrie, Republican of Kentucky: His committee supported the funding of 346 expired programs, more than any other panel.

Binder says the fault lies not with the agencies, some of which have become important enough to be household names, but Congress. Lawmakers have made it so difficult to accomplish their most fundamental tasks, such as funding the government for another year, that they hardly ever get around to doing other important things, such as reauthorizing existing programs.

The Foreign Relations Authorization Act, for example, expired in 2003. Yet in 2024, Congress spent $38.4 billion on 24 of the laws programs, allowing legislators to influence the White Houses foreign policy and security assistance to other nations.

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce, now led by Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), supported the funding of 346 expired programs, more than any other committee, the CBO found. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, now chaired by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), spent more identifiable money than any other group: $153.5 billion.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana: His panel is tops in identifiable Zombie spending.

Congress job doesnt stop when they allocate the money, said Casey Burgat, professor at George Washington Universitys Graduate School of Political Management. They have to oversee it. And when they fail to do that they open themselves up to somebody else doing that. In this case, an aggressive executive branch in the form of DOGE.

Of the 1,503 agencies or programs, 22 remain alive that required a reauthorization vote as long ago as the 1980s, according to the CBO. In addition to the Legal Services Corp., whose authorization expired in 1980, and the FEC (a 1981 reauthorization deadline), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, which oversees the countrys power grids (1984) and the Energy Information Administration, or EIA, whose data informs U.S. policymaking (1984), are among the Zombies pushing middle age.

Congress has appropriated annual funding for EIA since its inception in 1977, the agency said in an emailed statement. Subsequent legislation has continued to direct EIA to conduct data collection, analysis and dissemination activities consistent with our mission as the nations premier source of energy information. Spokespeople for the FEC, FERC, and the CBO declined to comment.

Another Zombie, the U.S. African Development Foundation  whose authorization expired in 1987  made headlines earlier this month when its officials blocked DOGE staff from entering their offices in Washington.

Sen. Jesse Helms, Republican of North Carolina: "Senator No" was famous for holding up reauthorizations of the State Department.

Congress has a history of denying or skipping reauthorizations. In the 1980s and 90s, former North Carolina Republican Sen. Jesse Helms became famous for holding up authorizations of the State Department, which he often found insufficiently vigilant against Communism. The frequent flare-ups between Helms and the diplomats of State earned him the nickname Senator No. And NASA, the widely respected space program, recently went through periods of time when Congress funded it but didnt reauthorize it.

The CBOs list of 1,000-plus agencies and programs with expired reauthorization deadlines offers a window into the variety and volume of federal government activity, from grants to remove lead from drinking water and protect against radon to collecting statistics on prison rape. Lawmakers seem to be nursing a mild obsession with fish. Over the years, theyve funded without reauthorization a herring study, for instance, and programs to help Atlantic striped bass and tuna thrive. It seems part of a larger interest in wildlife, which includes conservation programs for elephants, rhinos, and tigers and the control and eradication of the venomous brown tree snake, an invasive pest infamous for devouring a scary chunk of Guams bird population.

The venomous brown tree snake, an invasive species plaguing Guam's birds -- and the federal budget.

Environmental and health programs populate the list, from monitoring water quality at beaches and the Energy Star appliance program to medical care for children with asthma and funding for the National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. There are also provisions for improving airport security, protection for railroad first responders, and working capital for the Department of Homeland Security. Like a cherry on top, theres also funding for the Office of Government Ethics.

Congress, whose 29% job-approval rating in February was the highest in four years, would probably have a hard time assembling a list of programs that theyve authorized, said Burgat of George Washington University. Its a power void.

'Congress Doesnt Have the Time'

'DOGE steps into that vacuum with constitutional limitations. In 1974, Congress enacted the Impoundment Control Act, which prohibits presidents from refusing to spend the money that Congress allocates.

The Trump administration has challenged the constitutionality of the impoundment law, and DOGE is an ongoing test of the separation of powers between the legislative branch and the executive.

Authorizations and appropriations are both law, said Brookings Binder. As long as Congress is voting to spend money on these programs, it would be an impoundment to close them. It would be unconstitutional.

To remedy the situation, Congress would have to go through the list of Zombies and decide whether to reauthorize each one, a tedious process that evidently has hovered nowhere near the top of its priority list. Congress doesnt have the time to do good institutional housecleaning, Binder said. There are a lot of little programs, but also a good deal of big ones. They dont have the capacity to keep tabs on the authorizations.

For now, Ron Flagg of Legal Services Corp. waits with a cautious optimism, wary about how DOGE will perceive his agency but confident that after a half century, LSC has the ability to stand up for itself.

During the first Trump administration we got a raise in money because Congress members dont view our work as a partisan issue, Flagg said. LSC has an ability to go to Congress with the facts. We publish grants, we tell you how many people were served and how many cases were closed and how technology has been advanced and how funding has been leveraged by volunteers. Were able to make those points to Congress as part as the annual funding process.

Im not sure other agencies have the same ability to advocate for the quality of their work.
Earlier this month, Elon Musk inserted himself into another political debate about Russias war on Ukraine. In his comments, he noted his Starlink system as the backbone of the Ukrainian army, asserting that, their entire frontline would collapse if he turned it off. Catching the eye of Polands Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosaw Sikorski, he responded by noting Polands annual contributions toward paying for Starlink access for Ukraine, noting that Poland will have to seek out other suppliers if SpaceX proves unreliable.

The Polish Foreign Ministers comments were met with resistance from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Musk himself, with Rubio accusing Sikorski of making things up and Musk telling him, be quiet, small man. In the end, Musk pledged to keep Ukraines access to Starlink live. This is welcome news, but the spat with the Polish Foreign Minister was wholly unnecessary and unproductive. Poland has stood out from the pack, proving to be a strong and reliable ally. In February, the U.S. Secretary of Defense rightfully called Poland a model ally. America should act like it.

Musks role as a private sector innovator has been indispensable to U.S. national security and global competitiveness. His work as head of the Department of Government of Efficiency, while not perfect, is admirable, with a review of federal government spending long overdue. His closeness with President Donald Trump has set him up to be seen as a close, unofficial advisor, and his words carry much weight among world leaders. Whether Musk intended to put Starlinks reliability in Ukraine in doubt or not, this is how it was perceived, and America should seek to reassure Poland, our close ally  not clash with them publicly.

Calling attention to the issue of several NATO member states failing to meet the minimum defense spending requirement is fair and necessary. Too many have fallen behind for too long, and the United States should put pressure on them to meet these requirements. Affirming the commitments of our most reliable allies is just as important.

Poland already spends more than double the NATO minimum 2% of GDP on defense spending requirement, spending 4.12% in 2024, the highest of any NATO member, with a plan to achieve 4.7% this year. This month, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced plans to vastly increase the size of his countrys army, from 200,000 to 500,000, and to require all men in Poland to receive military training.

During Russias war on Ukraine, Poland has proudly taken on the role as the center of the flow of Western aid to Ukraine and continues to put pressure on its European allies to rise to the occasion. And Poland is emerging not just as a major regional military power, but an economic one too. The latest IMF World Economic Outlook expects Poland to surpass Japan in GDP per capita next year, a feat largely achieved through an embrace of economic freedom.

Further, Poland overwhelmingly holds America in high regard. A 2024 Pew Research survey found Poland to have the most positive view of America of the 34 countries polled, with 86% of Poles indicating they hold a favorable view. In contrast, in Hungary, often lauded as a model by national populists, 52% indicate the same.

Poland, once held hostage by Soviet communism for more than four decades, regained its liberty and autonomy in 1989. Ever since, the country has worked to champion American ideals, advancing freedom of expression, enterprise, religion, and more. Poland fully understands the stakes of this moment and is evidently serious about securing itself and the region from a hostile, authoritarian neighbor seeking to expand its borders and rule. The Poles stand to become an even stronger economic partner and are unwavering in their mission to hold the line against encroaching external tyranny  exactly the kind of resolve America should seek in an ally.

Engaging in X disputes like the one earlier this month with high-ranking Polish officials is unproductive, unnecessary, and risks raising eyebrows in Warsaw regarding confidence in American assurances and security infrastructure. With Polands commitment to bolstering its defensive capabilities, advancing our shared goals and values, and emergence as an even stronger economic partner, it is in Americas interest to maintain strong ties with them and distinguish them as the model ally that they are.

Ed Tarnowski is a writer for Young Voices, a Policy and Advocacy Director at EdChoice, and host of the State of Choice Podcast. He received bachelor's degrees in political science and marketing from the University of Rhode Island. Follow him on X @edtarnowski. The views and opinions expressed in this writing are strictly his own and do not reflect the views of his employer.
What we love and what we hate about the 1911 is actually the same thing. An old design that has stood the test of time, the 1911 is not easy to manufacture. It is labor-intensive and requires expensive methods of production. If you want a top-tier 1911, youll also need it to be hand-fitted and that will cause the price to skyrocket.

You might hate the cost, but what drives the cost is exactly what makes the 1911 special. Reducing the cost requires that you reduce what you love about the platform.

This is the paradox of the 1911.

Springfield Armorys 1911 TRP was released in the late 1990s after the FBI Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) adopted the Springfield Professional as their primary pistol. The Professional was a more expensive 1911 that was semi-custom and hand-fit. But if you take everything else about the Professional, and reduce the cost of manufacturing a bit, you end up with the TRP.

The TRP is built for the balance between quality and cost but refuses to compromise on quality where it matters. Match-grade barrel, aggressive grips, easy-to-shoot iron sights and just enough aesthetics to make it sexy.

That is the TRP people have known and loved for almost 30 years. But like most things, technology can still make it a little better. Enter the TRP AOS.

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY 1911 TRP AOS .45 SPECS

Caliber: .45 ACP

Color: Black or Tan

Barrel: 5 Forged Stainless Steel, Match Grade, 1:16

Slide: Forged Carbon Steel, Black Cerakote, Optics-Ready

Frame: Forged Carbon Steel, Two-Piece Magwell, Coyote Brown or Black Cerakote

Sights: Tritium Front, Black Serrated Rear

Recoil System: 2 Piece N.M. Full-Length Guide Rod

Grips: VZ Grips Hydra G-10

Magazines: (3) 8-Round

Weight: 39.2 oz

Length: 8.6

Height: 5.5

MSRP: $1,999

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY 1911 TRP AOS CC 9MM SPECS

Caliber: 9mm

Color: Black or Tan

Barrel: 4.25 Forged Stainless Steel, Match Grade, Fully Supported Ramp, 1:16

Slide: Forged Carbon Steel, Black Cerakote, Optics-Ready

Frame: Forged Aluminum Alloy, Carry Contour, Coyote Brown or Black Cerakote

Sights: Tritium Front, Black Serrated Rear

Recoil System: 2 Piece N.M. Full-Length Guide Rod

Grips: VZ Grips Hydra G-10

Magazines: (3) 9-Round

Weight: 27.3 oz

Length: 7.9

Height: 5.5

MSRP: $1,999

THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT

A lot of the time when you try to bring back the classics with a modern style, it just doesnt work. Take any live-action-remake Disney movie for example. They might have something in common with the masterpiece, but theyve lost all the magic.

Maybe that is why Springfield has taken what feels like forever to finally update and expand the TRP line. It might have taken a long time, but the results speak for themselves. This is the TRP you should know and should love, but now made better with the AOS system and offered in 9mm.

The TRP has been a long-time favorite for a workhorse 1911 that normal people can still mostly afford. While $2,000 MSRP isnt inexpensive, its a good middle-ground if you want a great American-made 1911 but arent willing or able to pay custom prices that can be double or more.

One of the small differences between the CC (top) and standard (bottom) versions is the addition of a larger mag well in the full-size.

Just about any checkbox you could ask the TRP to fill, it does. Its pretty enough to be a BBQ gun or a safe queen, but reliable and durable enough that you can honestly count on it as a duty or defense weapon if you want to.

That magic of the TRP wasnt lost with this update, it was made better.

These new TRP models have the same iron sights if you dont want to take advantage of the AOS system, but also have an industry-leading optics system if you do. A rock-solid mounting option that has been proven durable and easy to configure is a pure enhancement upgrade for the TRP. But one you can ignore if you choose to.

And at the same MSRP, there is just nothing to complain about.

NOW IN 9MM

Maybe this is my hot take for the week but let the record reflect that if you ask me: the best AKs are ones in 5.56 NATO and the best 1911s are in 9mm. .45 ACP might be the classic American cartridge, but 9mm is better.

The TRP in 9mm with the AOS system is a treat of a pistol to shoot. Even in the 4.25-inch barrel model instead of the clearly superior 5-inch model, the 9mm TRP still feels great in your hands. Made with an Aluminum frame instead of steel for the CC model, this comes in almost 12 ounces lighter than the steel full-size .45 ACP TRP and that weight reduction helps a lot if you want to carry it.

I can only imagine the steel-frame 5-inch version of the 9mm would be an even softer shooting 1911 that might be the crown jewel of the new TRP lineup.

The only major difference besides caliber between this new 9mm version and the older .45 ACP models is the fact that these carry 9 rounds of 9mm in the mag instead of only 8 .45 ACP.

Putting the new 9mm TRP through the paces was a lot of fun. I tested a wide range of ammo like Federal HST, Hornady Critical Defense, and SIG Sauer V-Crown. Most of the ammo used in this review was 124gr Sellier & Bellot provided by Ammunitiontogo.com!

Throw a great red dot on top like the Trijicon RMR-HD and you have the final evolution of John Brownings masterpiece.

AGENCY ARMS AOS SYSTEM

Weve covered the AOS system a lot in the past but it is worth a more complete explanation if this is your first time reading about it.

The Agency Optics System was designed by Agency Arms and is hands-down one of the best optic mounting platforms around. Springfield has made great use of the system incorporating it into pistols like the 1911 DS Prodigy.

Springfield Prodigy Comp and Compact both with AOS plates

AOS uses a plate system that combines the rear iron sight and a mounting plate for the optic into one unit. The plates are interchangeable in AOS system cuts so any plate will fit any gun cut for it. There are a number of plates available that cover just about all of the optic footprints on the market.

The AOS plates also let you choose between irons forward of the dot or irons behind the dot depending on what plate you get.

The plates are easy to install, easy to use, and are designed to actually take a beating.

Adding them to the TRP is the perfect way to update the TRP line.

LOOSE ROUNDS

If youre a fan of the old TRP but want something a little more modern that can mount optics, the new TRP AOS is a fantastic choice. If you want to get into the 1911 world and need a Goldilocks 1911 that will last a lifetime, the TRP AOS is a clear front-runner and you wont be disappointed.

The TRP is a known value and easily one of the best factory 1911s on the market. Springfield has kept all of that while only adding to it by enhancing the capability of it with the AOS.
Minority students at the University of Georgia have varying opinions about the challenges they face. Although not directly connected, the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission did not pass a racial equality resolution at their Feb. 4 meeting, which aimed to address racial inequities in housing, economic opportunity and youth development for Black and minority communities in Athens, according to the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement.
Senior officials of India and the US will begin three-day talks on the proposed bilateral trade agreement in New Delhi on Wednesday amid threats of reciprocal tariffs from the Trump-administration, an official said.

Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

To formally start the negotiations on the pact, Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch, along with a team of officials, is in New Delhi.

He will hold discussions with Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce Rajesh Agrawal.

The two sides will finalise the contours, schedule of negotiations and terms of reference of the agreement during their deliberations, the official said.

The agreement would be finalised in two phases and the first phase is expected to focus on issues pertaining to goods trade.

India and the US are targeting to conclude the first phase or tranche of the agreement by fall of 2025 (September-October).

Normally in such trade pacts, two countries either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on maximum (90-95 per cent) number of goods traded between them.

Besides, they ease norms to promote trade in services and boost investments.

India has concluded such pacts with countries including UAE, Australia and the EFTA (European Free Trade Association) bloc.

While the US has demanded greater market access in sectors like certain industrial goods, auto, wines and agriculture, India may look at duty cuts for labour intensive sectors like textiles.

The visit of the US team comes against the backdrop of President Donald Trump's plan to impose reciprocal tariffs on countries, including India, from April 2.

He has on multiple forums stated that India imposes high tariffs on US goods.

Tariffs are import duties imposed and collected by the government and paid by the companies to bring foreign goods into a country.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held talks with US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick during his three-day visit to Washington earlier this month.

According to trade experts, there are uncertainties about how the Trump administration will impose the reciprocal duties.

During the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington, India and the US announced their commitment to more than double the two-way commerce to $500 billion by 2030 and negotiate the first tranche of a mutually beneficial, multi-sector BTA by fall of 2025.

In 2023, the US-India bilateral trade in goods and services stood at $190.08 billion ($123.89 billion in goods and $66.19 billion in services trade).

In 2023-24, the US was the largest trading partner of India with $119.71 billion bilateral trade in goods ($77.51 billion worth of exports, $42.19 billion of imports, with $35.31 billion trade surplus).

India received $67.8 billion in foreign direct investments from America during April 2000 and September 2024.

India faces high US tariffs on many labour-intensive goods like textiles, garments, and footwear, ranging between 15-35 per cent on several products.

The US has already announced tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and aluminium.

In 2024, India's main exports to the US included drug formulations, biological ($8.1 billion), telecom instruments ($6.5 billion), precious and semi-precious stones ($5.3 billion), petroleum products ($4.1 billion), gold and other precious metal jewellery ($3.2 billion), ready-made garments of cotton including accessories ($2.8 billion), and products of iron and steel ($2.7 billion).

Imports included crude oil ($4.5 billion), petroleum products ($3.6 billion), coal, coke ($3.4 billion), cut and polished diamonds ($2.6 billion), electric machinery ($1.4 billion), aircraft, space crafts and parts ($1.3 billion), and gold ($1.3 billion).
In the months immediately following the 2024 tragedy, reporting on the landslide per se had been a straightforward affair.

On one side was death and destruction. On the other side, survivors and the business of survival. It was black and white. What direction to take was clear.

Rehabilitation in comparison, felt like a complex situation. One that is fraught with shades of grey. As grey as human life, explains Shyam G Menon.

IMAGE: A drone view shows landslide sites in Wayanad. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

For the past several months, the Kerala government's quest to rehabilitate the survivors of the 2024 landslide in Wayanad has played out before the public and in the media.

Angles ranging from the alleged cold shouldering of Kerala's demand for central aid to the periodically shifting contours of the rehabilitation scheme as it got finetuned, contributed to the script.

Amidst this, some of the survivors became nervous even as the government pieced together the rehabilitation package.

Protests happened. A closer look shows, no one is wholly right or wrong here. Everyone is right and wrong.

The immediate need is for all sides to be sensitive and accommodative towards the other. Because the issue looming is bigger than one tragedy; it is the requirement to perfect the design and execution of rehabilitation schemes in our emergent era of climate change.

Past 8.30 AM on March 13, 2025; the mood in front of Kalpetta's civil station -- the office of the district collector -- was calm and composed.

Kalpetta is the administrative headquarters of Wayanad in Kerala. The small team of policemen having breakfast in the restaurant I was in, finished eating and returned to the civil station.

A while later, police barricades were lashed together before the main gate of the facility, blocking it.

A smaller entrance by the side stayed open for people to use. Life continued as normal.

For what was set to follow, had become routine in Kalpetta -- a protest by those who lost family members, houses and landholdings in the terrible landslide, which hit Chooralmala and settlements higher up, in end-July 2024.

Roughly an hour-and-a-half later, a small procession of men and women holding placards and shouting slogans reached the civil station.

They sat down in front of the main gate and given the state's revenue minister was also in town, they expressed their resolve not to leave unless they met the minister and informed him of their grievances.

"We are people who woke up from sleep one night and found they had lost everything," Naseer Alakkal, chairman of Janashabdam, the survivors' group to which the protesters belonged, said.

He reminded those gathered that because they had nothing to lose, they should not be frightened of standing up for their demands.

In some of the speeches that day, the report on the Western Ghats by Madhav Gadgil, found mention as forewarning ignored.

When it appeared, the report had split Kerala's hill community, its businesses and politics, sharply, with some arguing in support and many finding it needless interference.

After the landslides of 2024, few dispute Gadgil. Including those still missing, the official death toll in the 2024 landslide is 298.

Higher estimates continue to circulate; at the time of writing Wikipedia for instance pegged the figure at 254 dead, 387 injured and 118 missing.

A ceremony on March 27 and our times of unsteady weather

The current protests (including the one on March 13) are related to rehabilitation of the survivors. Entire settlements were lost and the area nearby, rendered unstable.

At the very least, questionable for use by humans. In four months', time, Wayanad would observe the first anniversary of the deadly landslide.

The rehabilitation scheme announced by the government is set to kickstart with the foundation stone-laying ceremony scheduled for March 27, 2025.

However, owing to several factors ranging from the high degree of politics in Kerala society to the strained relations between the state and the Centre courtesy ideologically opposed political parties being in power at either place, a degree of mistrust crept into the process.

Janashabdam -- it has members sporting various political affiliations -- finds itself in the middle.

IMAGE: Naseer Alakkal addresses protesters from Janashabdam in Kalpetta, Wayanad. Photograph: Shyam G Menon

On March 12, the day before the protest in front of the civil station, it rained in Kalpetta. Summer showers. But rain, nonetheless.

Yakub Pazhery, vice chairman of Janashabdam, said on the sidelines of the protest, "Our main worry is we want to see our rehabilitation process formally underway before the next monsoon. What if something happens somewhere else in Kerala in the next rainy season? The government's attention would be diverted that side. We would be left in the lurch."

He has a point. Before heading to Wayanad, I had met Dr Abhilash S, Director, Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research at the Cochin University of Science and Technology, for an overview of the prevalent weather patterns in Kerala.

Studies portray a changing face of the monsoon in Kerala with intense rain of the heavy to extremely heavy category during the active phase of the monsoon, followed by dry spells within the same season.

Prior to 2010, the clouds forming along the Kerala coast used to be relatively shallow, possessing a depth of five to six kilometres.

Now, during the active phase of monsoon, the clouds forming in the Southeast Arabian Sea are very thick.

They produce intense rain and cloudbursts in Kerala, especially in areas with geographical features helpful for it.

These clouds originate in the Southeast Arabian Sea, which has been getting warmer.

As a result, it is producing thicker, deeper clouds and also gifting the Indian west coast more cyclones than before.

A part of the reason for these changes is atmospheric warming due to global warming.

In earlier times, the propensity for deep clouds and heavy rain was north of Mangalore.

Now it is felt to the south of Mangalore as well, impacting north Kerala and not so much, the south.

"Kerala must adapt to these changes," Dr Abhilash said.

When he voiced anxiety about the pace of rehabilitation, Yakub may have spoken for himself, and others affected by the 2024 landslide in Wayanad.

For Kerala, the cycle Yakub is enduring, could well be representative of the future.

That is why the protests happening in Wayanad should not be ignored by the state or the Centre.

The emphasis should be on perfecting models for rehabilitation and executing them efficiently.

IMAGE: Protesters in Kalpetta. Photograph: Shyam G Menon

The list

If there is a term that captures the core reason for the protest of March 13, it would be 'the list' and it is typically the subject generating most bickering in rehabilitation schemes.

It refers to finalising the names of people eligible for rehabilitation. Everything starts with the list.

In Kalpetta, the person who has been in the hot seat, through the deadly landslide of 2024 and the subsequent efforts to rehabilitate the survivors, is District Collector D R Meghashree.

She took charge on July 10, 2024; the landslide hit on the intervening night of July 29/30. To be accurate, in the early hours of July 30.

Being collector of Wayanad in times of calamity and rehabilitation is not an easy task.

Being an integral part of the state administration, the collector is identified with the state government, which for the moment, is the Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist.

In contrast, the member of Parliament from Wayanad is from the Congress, which is part of the political Opposition at the national and state levels.

The member of the legislative assembly from Kalpetta is from the Congress and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), which includes the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), is known to dominate politics in Wayanad, especially when it comes to Lok Sabha polls.

Amidst this, the Bharatiya Janata Party has been slowly growing its presence in the district.

Simply put, when one functions as an extension of the state administration, one is under a scanner in Wayanad.

One is held accountable every inch of the way. It was in this ambiance that the search and rescue operations in the immediate aftermath of the disaster was done and the stage for rehabilitation was reached.

The said ambiance holds for the rehabilitation scheme currently underway as well.

Landslides are not new in Wayanad. There have been deaths, displacement of survivors and rehabilitation before.

The 2018 floods, which caused much death and destruction in Kerala, heralded the imagery of rain as a severe phenomenon in the state.

While there was indeed heavy rain then, the allegedly poor management of dams also played a role.

Scientists point to the monsoon of 2019 as the real wake-up call from the perspective of climate change because that year the intensity of rain was fierce.

"Up to July 31 that year, there was a 35 per cent deficit in rainfall. Then over August 1-6, a span of five days, it transformed from deficit to excess. Five days of rainfall compensated for the deficit accrued over two months," Dr Abhilash had said in Kochi.

On August 8, 2019, there was a landslide at Puthumala in Wayanad's Meppadi region (the locations of the 2024 landslide also fall in the vicinity of Meppadi).

According to news reports, 17 people died. In subsequent rehabilitation measures, 52 families from Puthumala were provided accommodation in a new colony built atop a small dome shaped hill at Mukkilpeedika, near Meppadi.

The houses were built by private sponsors. A visit to the colony on the morning of March 12 this year showed a dainty, well laid out settlement with proper roads and white-painted houses.

By the Mumbai standard of small houses that I am used to, they looked nice. There was one big problem.

Some of the houses leaked. The house Rukiya lived in was particularly affected.

"During rains, water seeps down the wall. At some places, it drips straight from the roof. We have to spread cloth on the floor to walk without slipping and keep buckets to collect the falling water. The buckets fill up fast. I have slipped and fallen inside the house," she said, pointing out alongside, the stains left by water on the house's white-painted walls.

She feared that electricity may leak wherever the structure was damp. The sponsor concerned had been informed.

But apparently, they were in a state of shock and embarrassment upon learning that their well-intended efforts had produced such effects.

"Many people have come and seen these walls. Taken photos. Nothing has happened by way of a solution," Rukiya said.

IMAGE: Protesters in Kalpetta. Photograph: Shyam G Menon

According to Collector Meghashree, the complaints around the rehabilitation scheme for the survivors of the Puthumala tragedy prompted the state government to undertake the rehabilitation efforts for the 2024 landslide survivors, by itself.

The government wanted to ensure quality and standardisation.

Following that decision, the government has over time, come up with three lists of which, the first is now robust and free of complaints.

This list composed of people with the highest priority (mainly those who lost their houses completely and have no other house to live in) features 242 families.

Then, there is a second list divided into two sub-groups -- 2A and 2B. The former hosted 81 families with houses within the no-go zone, who must be rehabilitated.

The latter had 70 families whose houses fall outside the no-go zone but must still be shifted because they are within 50 metres of the no-go zone (the no-go zone refers to the area declared unfit for habitation after the landslide).

At the time I met the collector in her office, the 2A and 2B lists were still being finalised.

At the same time, the government had a set of 'micro plans' to help the survivors with their livelihood and daily life.

These ranged from support in healthcare to assistance in education and livelihood (agriculture, animal husbandry and industry).

The challenge faced is in the inevitability of government processes taking time and patience depleting for the survivors.

The government is dutybound to make the list as error-free and convincing in terms of priority of candidate, as possible.

This means, a litany of checks and counter checks, submissions and appeals.

It is not just the list, even land acquisition takes time, when done by the government.

Meghashree contrasted the ease with which a private organisation bought 12.5 acres near Meppadi to settle some 100 families as its contribution to rehabilitation, with the government having to negotiate litigation and a whole host of other mandatory procedures before it takes charge of the land at Elstone Tea Estate.

For the survivors awaiting rehabilitation, time is at a premium.

Although supported by the state government (to note here is that as of 2025, Kerala has a severely cash-strapped government) with money for rent, basic allowances and grocery supplies, many of them are in debt.

Sometimes, the government support is not received; the survivor concerned informs the authorities and the matter gets investigated.

For example, rent-funds for Yakub did not arrive one month. He told the authorities, and it was resumed.

Each interruption of this sort makes those dependent on government support, nervous.

IMAGE: Uninhabited houses near Punjirimattom after the landslide happened last year. Photograph: Shyam G Menon

Nervous and unable to trust

In that state of mind, the survivors' worries are further fanned by data / numbers swirling around in the media and numbers they were privy to in the earlier phase of talks around rehabilitation.

Naseer for instance, told this writer of "1,024 people" initially agreed to by government for rehabilitation.

"How did that number shrink to 393?" he asked.

And when figures fluctuate so, how do you trust what else the government says? Meghashree traced the 1,000 plus figure to the 1,044 families mentioned for micro plans (basically provision of relief and sustenance) immediately after the July 2024 calamity.

This number was an amalgam of the disaster-affected and livelihood-impacted families.

At that time, she said, the government did not have the fully correct list of disaster-affected, ready.

The correct list was possible only after the no-go zone was marked.

At the same time, the government could not wait to give benefits like immediate livelihood assistance, back-to-home kits, back-to-school kits, medical aid etc.

Notwithstanding her explanation, the disparity in the numbers has come to stick in the minds of the survivors.

The thing is -- governments work by prioritising expenses and for this, it will keep fine-tuning the list of the eligible till it has an accurate, dependable list to freeze and thereafter follow.

This is normal practice for any government. However, it fails to get easily bought in Kerala because of two factors.

First, anyone used to Kerala politics and looking at these lists would quip that all parties when they are in power try to favour their people.

Even if a government does not do so, it will be suspected of such tendencies.

Second, the members of Janashabdam are aware of the contributions from well-wishers that flowed into the Chief Minister's Relief Fund in the wake of the 2024 landslide.

Naseer estimates this at around Rs 700 crore (the figure could not be separately verified).

Viewed through the prism of this figure, the survivors find many of the government's rehabilitation efforts -- from the time being taken for the new housing to materialize to the alleged shrinking of the beneficiary pool and even the design and size of proposed land and house to live in -- needlessly conservative.

They ask: The money is there, so why isn't the government spending? On the other hand, at the political level, the rehabilitation of the survivors of the 2024 landslide became a point of contention in Centre-state relations, with the Centre arguing the state had adequate funds and Kerala alleging the Centre was cold shouldering it at a time of need.

As per announcements made at the venue, local leaders of the Congress and the IUML were expected at the March 13 protest.

Among the earliest in place was the BJP. Its leader lost no time in blaming the lack of a reliable list and saying, the Centre will help if the list is ready.

IMAGE: View of Wayanad's hills from the Thamarassery ghat road. Photograph: Shyam G Menon

Kerala is particularly challenging for rehabilitation projects because of shortage of land.

The state is among the smallest in India's big states, and it has a high density of population.

On Kalpetta's by-pass road is an estate, rather neglected in appearance from the outside, with a board declaring its name: Elstone Tea Estates Limited.

According to Meghashree, 64.5 hectares of land available at Elstone will be acquired by the government to house the rehabilitation project.

A second potential site was also spoken of earlier but that has been given up for now.

Land acquisition took time because of related litigation; the High Court ruling on the matter came through in late December 2024.

Survivors were originally promised 10 cents of land each and a house of 1000 square feet; the land component dipped to five cents and following protests, has now settled at seven cents.

It has not gone down well with Janashabdam. They want 10 cents.

Similarly, there is dissatisfaction over how an owner may manage his / her new property (what all applications it may be used for) as well as the size of monetary compensation given to those accepting payment from government in lieu of a house under the rehabilitation scheme (the monetary compensation is Rs 15 lakhs, while the cost of a house is pegged at around Rs 40 lakhs).

Meghashree pointed out that the monetary compensation, usually fixed at Rs 10 lakhs, has been raised to Rs 15 lakhs in this case and those accepting it are additionally free to seek the support of sponsors to build new houses.

"There is restriction on transfer (of the land and house given by government) to external agency or private individuals. No restriction on transfer within kith and kin. Loans can be availed; no restriction on that," she said.

Naseer on the other hand, maintained that the protestors will not give in, till the government fixes allotment at 10 cents.

He was also upset with a clause that required beneficiaries to get approval on a case-by-case basis, should they wish to hypothecate land and house to avail bank loans, for a period of 12 years.

Naseer's extended family lost 26 members in the landslide of 2024.

He used to live well, in a big house, had sizable landholding and cultivated cardamom.

Everything got washed away.

"The crop loss was compensated at the rate of Rs 6000 per acre. Is that enough?" he asked.

IMAGE: Rain clouds over Kalpetta as summer showers set in. Photograph: Shyam G Menon

Meanwhile, the government has appointed KIFCON as consultants for the rehabilitation project.

The construction of the houses will be by Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society Ltd (ULCCS), an agency (it is Asia's biggest labour co-operative) reputed in Kerala for completing on time, the tasks it is entrusted with.

But ULCCS is often seen as being close to Left parties. At the March 13 protest before the civil station, Shajimon Chooralmala, convenor of Janashabdam, asked why the building contract could not be given to agencies in Wayanad thus benefiting the local economy.

There were several other demands visible on Janashabdam's placards.

One placard sought restoration of rights to use land in the affected area for farming.

There were people seeking restoration of electric supply. Some others had come because they wished to see normalcy restored in areas outside the no-go zone but still having the stigma of being in the same region as the landslide hit parts.

"We have to go far to get supplies. The mobile van bringing groceries arrives just thrice a week," one of them said.

I asked Captain Vijayan (4th battalion, Madras Regiment) from Chooralmala, what the general economic profile of the landslide-affected place was at the retail level, away from the plantations it held.

He said people in the region were mostly into agriculture and animal husbandry.

That profile would likely be carried on by the displaced people to their expectations from rehabilitation as well.

It is a tough combination to meet. On the one hand, middle class people used to a certain size of landholding in their pre-landslide lives wish to see adequate bare land at their disposal.

On the other hand, in the typical Kerala milieu of house showcasing prosperity, a nice, presentable house is everyone's dream.

More than one Janashabdam member told me that given Elstone's proximity to Kalpetta and its civic amenities, some of the facilities planned within the township could be avoided to free up space.

In the months immediately following the 2024 tragedy, reporting on the landslide per se had been a straightforward affair.

On one side was death and destruction. On the other side, survivors and the business of survival. It was black and white. What direction to take was clear.

Rehabilitation in comparison, felt like a complex situation. One that is fraught with shades of grey. As grey as human life.

I called up my close friend, a journalist, who had years ago reported on the Latur earthquake in Maharashtra and the rehabilitation, which followed. "Rehabilitation is a messy affair," she said.

Part II: The Harsh Reality For Wayanad Survivors

Shyam G Menon is a freelance journalist based in Mumbai.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'Many of these issues will be resolved within 6 months because the US economy has started unravelling.'

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, March 21, 2025. Photograph: Nathan Howard/Reuters

Donald Trump's second term started with another trade war, precisely on February 1, 2025.

A trade war involving the US and Canada began with Donald Trump signing orders imposing 25% tariffs on all imports from Canada except oil and energy, which would be taxed at 10%.

Then Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau hit back with 25% tariffs on C$30 billion ($20.7 billion) worth of US imports including orange juice, peanut butter, wine, spirits, beer, coffee, appliances and motorcycles.

Trudeau said Canada would impose tariffs on another C$125 billion of US goods like motor vehicles, steel, aircraft, beef and pork.

The Trump administration then imposed 20% tariffs on China, and in retaliation, the Chinese government imposed 15% tariffs on the United States.

What are the implications of this trade war on the global economy? Where will this lead to?

"When things are unravelling both externally and internally, within 6 months, circumstances will force Trump to make policy and viewpoint changes," Ajay Srivastava, Founder, Global Trade Research Initiative, tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier in the concluding segment of a two-part interview.

Part 1 of the Interview: 'China To Gain Most From Trade Wars'

In what way will it change the world order? Do you expect the global trade route changing and China's dominance increasing in the coming days?

70% of the world trade takes place through global value chain.

Take the case of a shirt. India makes the yarn, and the yarn goes to China which is made into fabric, and the fabric moves to Spain where it is dyed. Then, it goes to Bangladesh or Vietnam where the final product, the garment is made. From there, it is exported to various countries.

Now, if tariffs are charged on any of these countries, the whole of manufacturing set up will be disrupted.

And people may stop using this global value chain, and new trade routes may emerge where tariffs are the least across the way.

Which new trade routes do you see emerging?

Right now, tariffs are there only for Canada and China. Trump says he will impose tariffs on most other countries from the 2nd of April.

So, we will get a good idea only after that.

Learning from the last experience, when he imposed tariffs on China, the direct line from China stopped but indirect lines via Mexico, Vietnam, etc came into place.

Same thing is going to happen this time also because China is the manufacturing capital of the world.

No country can match China in manufacturing. They will continue to produce more things.

The only difference will be how they will be distributed and through which countries.

The trade route will be restructured a bit to take care of Trump's tariffs.

IMAGE: A demonstrator holds a sign with a depiction of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, during a Defend Our Schools rally to protest Trump's executive order to shut down the US department of education outside its building in Washington, DC, March 21, 2025. Photograph: Kent Nishimura/Reuters

In a globalised world, goods are supposed to travel freely from one country to another. Are we moving towards protectionism again?

The world was always protectionist.

In fact, Europe is the most protectionist. Their tariffs are low, but they have so many regulations, standards and other requirements that exporting goods without meeting those requirements is very tough.

From January next year, they are introducing more environmental regulations too which will tax the imports very heavily.

So, Europe will be going into full protectionist mode.

The US also is in full protectionist mode.

And these are the two largest markets.

China is a credit exporter, but they import only what they really need.

I would say the world is already protectionist.

Does that mean there is no globalised world?

Globalised world exists for many industrial products but not agricultural products.

Every country, big or small wants to protect its agriculture for right reasons. For example, for India, agriculture is not a trade issue but a livelihood issue where more than 20 crores depend on it.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump attend a joint press conference at the White House, February 13, 2025. Photograph: Nathan Howard/Reuters

How will this trade war affect India's economy?

So far, there has been no action against India except steel and aluminium tariffs which have been imposed on the entire world.

Trump has only been threatening India. We can talk about the impact only when he takes any action against India.

How long do you think it will take for the current situation to go back to normalcy?

My guess is, many of these issues will be resolved within 6 months because the US economy has started unravelling, and the stock market also is unravelling.

Externally, Trump is losing many friends.

When things are unravelling both externally and internally, within 6 months, circumstances will force Trump to make policy and viewpoint changes.

IMAGE: Ajay Srivastava IMAGE: Ajay Srivastava

You mean, in a globalised world, the kind of protectionism Trump is bringing in, will not work?

He is basically catering to his vote bank, and we have to understand the psychology of the vote bank.

There were these hardworking people who were making things in the US. Then, the US decided to outsource manufacturing to China in the 1970s and the 1980s so that their corporates could earn more profits as China was and is cheap labour.

The result was, the corporates became richer in the US but jobs disappeared. And the living standards of the middle class came down.

The software revolution that happened later on benefitted only the upper and the educated class, and not the middle level educated class. They were hurt again because of the offshoring of jobs.

So, they felt the leaders were not doing enough for them.

Trump promised jobs and better life for them, and they voted for him the second time also.

But Trump's recipes for bringing back jobs and manufacturing are not going to work.

These recipes did not work in the last trade war. They will not work in this trade war also.

But it will take time for people to realise this.

By then, Trump's term will be over!

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'If we stay silent now, we betray the very foundation of justice in this country.'

IMAGE: The Supreme Court of India. Photograph: ANI Photo

Anil Tiwari, president, Allahabad High Court Bar Association, tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com why he and the bar association are demanding immediate impeachment proceeding against Delhi High Court Justice Yashwant Varma as well as an investigation against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation or Enforcement Directorate and why the bar association is vehemently opposing the Supreme Court Collegium's decision to transfer the judge back to his parent court, the Allahabad high court, even as it has withdrawn all judicial work from him.

The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has gone on an indefinite strike post lunch on Monday, March 24, soon after the Supreme Court Collegium's transfer decision and has made written presentations to the apex court citing the reasons why Justice Varma should either face impeachment or resign voluntarily.

"This is not like a civil servant getting suspended, undergoing trial, and then resuming duty after being cleared. A judge is different. Even if he gets a clean chit, will the public ever trust him again?" asks Tiwari

The Allahabad High Court Bar Association is on an indefinite strike in protest against Justice Yashwant Varma's transfer to Allahabad. What is the reason for this measure?

We are protesting because we stand against corruption in the judiciary. Our slogan is clear: Corruption-free judiciary. We cannot accept the transfer of a judge under suspicion back to Allahabad. This is not just about one judge -- it is about public trust in the judicial system.

What concrete evidence do you have about Justice Varma? The matter is still under scrutiny.

Judges should be like Caesar's wife -- above suspicion.

The fact remains that burnt cash worth crores was recovered from his residence after the fire on March 14. Reports initially mentioned Rs 15 crore, but there was a massive recovery, and yet the system is protecting him. This shakes the very foundation of public trust in the judiciary.

Shouldn't we wait for an official investigation to be completed before labelling anybody corrupt?

Let me complete. Have you seen the video released by the Supreme Court? It is part of the official record. The evidence is there.

Now, tell me, if a common man from a remote village comes to the Allahabad high court seeking justice, will he have confidence in a judge under such suspicion? No.

The confidence of the people in the judiciary has been completely shaken. If I remain silent, I fail in my duty as the president of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association, as a senior advocate, and as a responsible citizen of India. That is why we are protesting.

The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has written to the Chief Justice of India seeking impeachment proceedings. What exactly did your letter state?

We have demanded that the Chief Justice of India allow the CBI to register an FIR and conduct an independent investigation.

We do not trust the local police. Only agencies like the CBI and ED can conduct an impartial investigation.

You also said, 'Allahabad high court is not a trash bin.' What do you mean by that?

Exactly what I said! The Allahabad high court is not a dumping ground. Just because a judge is accused of corruption, does that mean he should be transferred here?

99.9% of our judges are honest, dedicated individuals. But a few black sheep exist, and unfortunately, they are being shielded. This is our concern.

Public faith in the judiciary is crumbling, and instead of addressing that, the system is transferring the problem.

But all work has been withdrawn from Justice Varma. Why does his transfer still concern you?

If his judicial powers have been withdrawn, then why transfer him at all?

Why not scrutinise all judgments he has delivered since 2014?

Why not conduct a full inquiry before taking any further steps?

Instead, this transfer seems like a strategy to shield him from scrutiny. Our demand is clear -- investigate first!

What exactly do you want from the Supreme Court regarding Justice Varma's transfer?

If he (Justice Yashwant Varma) is not fit to serve in the Delhi high court, then how is he fit for Allahabad?

Transferring him here raises suspicions. Are they preparing to clear his name quietly after a few months?

Let an independent investigation take place first. If he is found guilty, punish him. But why protect him now?

Do you trust that the CBI will conduct a fair investigation?

We have no faith in the local police, but we trust the CBI and ED to conduct a fair investigation. This is about public trust.

If people lose faith in the judiciary, what remains? If the judiciary loses credibility, law and order will collapse. Is that what we want?

Are you saying the Supreme Court Collegium's decision to transfer him to Allahabad is arbitrary?

Absolutely! This decision is arbitrary, baseless, and destroys public confidence in the judiciary.

The Supreme Court must not make administrative decisions that disregard the concerns of the people. India's Constitution begins with We, the People of India. This decision betrays that principle.

The Supreme Court administration is not fully aware of public sentiment. There is a difference between judicial power and administrative power.

I am questioning the administrative power, not the judicial integrity of the Supreme Court.

The judiciary's strength comes from public faith. If that faith is lost, the judiciary loses its power.

Wouldn't a senior lawyer like you wait for concrete evidence, due process of law to be followed before making allegations against a judge?

Let me explain. This is not like a civil servant getting suspended, undergoing trial, and then resuming duty after being cleared. A judge is different. Even if he gets a clean chit, will the public ever trust him again?

When a poor farmer from a village, who has sold his belongings to fight a case, enters his courtroom, will he feel confident about getting justice?

A judge must be above suspicion. Even a shadow of doubt is enough to disqualify him.

So your final demand is impeachment?

He should either be impeached or resign.

Our fight is not just for lawyers -- it is for the common citizen of India, who has immense faith in the judiciary.

99.9% of our judges are dedicated, honest, and beyond reproach. But a few black sheep are manipulating the system.

If we stay silent now, we betray the very foundation of justice in this country. That is why we will continue our fight, no matter what.
'No military offensive by Pakistan will end the insurgency in Balochistan without simultaneous, concerted efforts toward political dialogue to de-escalate tensions.'

IMAGE: A bus with passengers sitting on the roof with belongings, drives past a damaged vehicle, a day after separatist militants conducted deadly attacks, in Bolan district in Pakistan's Balochistan province, August 27, 2024. Photograph: Naseer Ahmed/Reuters

"Afghanistan, Iran, and the security of Pakistan's nuclear programme are issues that will inevitably draw Trump's attention.

"When that happens, Washington will likely note China's growing presence in Gwadar and seek to exploit local Baloch resentment toward Beijing," notes journalist and Balochistan specialist Malik Siraj Akbar who sought political asylum in the USA in the face of threats from the Pakistani State.

"The US could potentially leverage this discontent to counter China's regional influence and capitalise on Balochistan's vulnerabilities to pressure Pakistan into meeting US demands," he tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih in the second segment of an interview on Pakistan's missteps fuelling anger in Balochistan.

Where do you think Balochistan figures in Trump's inward-looking worldview?

Even if President Trump pursues an America first policy, the consequences of America's disengagement from the world will be far-reaching.

In Balochistan's context, the US withdrawal from Afghanistan has significantly benefited Baloch nationalists by curtailing funding and training opportunities for Pakistani paramilitary forces, which were previously rampant under the pretext of the war on terror.

However, Trump cannot afford to ignore the region for long. Afghanistan, Iran, and the security of Pakistan's nuclear programme are issues that will inevitably draw his administration's attention.

When that happens, Washington will likely note China's growing presence in Gwadar and seek to exploit local Baloch resentment toward Beijing. The US could potentially leverage this discontent to counter China's regional influence.

Given Trump's unpredictable nature, it wouldn't be surprising if his administration attempted to capitalise on Balochistan's vulnerabilities to pressure Pakistan into meeting US demands.

IMAGE: Passengers who were rescued from a train after it was attacked by separatist militants walk with their belongings at the railway station in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan, March 12, 2025. Photograph: Reuters

In view of the Baloch Liberation Army's increased attacks in the last year, do you think the Pakistan army will launch an offensive against it?

No military offensive by Pakistan will end the insurgency in Balochistan without simultaneous, concerted efforts toward political dialogue to de-escalate tensions.

Although the Jaffar Express episode resulted in significant gains for the Pakistani military and a setback for the BLA, the broader insurgency still favours the BLA for several key reasons.

Most Pakistani military and Frontier Corps personnel are from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, unfamiliar with Balochistan's complex terrain, hidden escape routes, and local safe havens.

They also lack knowledge of the Balochi and Brahui languages and customs, making it harder to operate effectively.

In contrast, BLA fighters have the advantage of intimate familiarity with the region. Their ability to strike and swiftly retreat, coupled with the protection and support they receive from local communities, gives them a strategic edge.

Pakistan has relied on force to crush Baloch insurgencies in the past, but the current challenge is different. The growing disillusionment among Baloch youth, who see Pakistan as a State devoid of hope and justice, is fuelling the insurgency.

More young men and women are joining the rebels than siding with the government or supporting its narrative.

Military operations cannot reverse this trend.

Ironically, even the deaths of insurgents serve as propaganda gold for groups like the BLA, strengthening their recruitment campaigns.

Ignoring the need for political dialogue and clinging to a force-centric approach will only deepen the conflict. No matter how difficult, Pakistan must prioritise a political solution -- however frustrating and exhausting -- if it hopes to address the underlying grievances driving the insurgency.

IMAGE: Supporters of the Balochistan Yakjehti Committee listen to the speech of their leader during what they call the Baloch National Gathering in Gwadar, Pakistan July 28, 2024. Photograph: Reuters

In the ever increasing gulf between Balochistan and Islamabad what is driving young Balochis to the BLA?

Pakistan's outright denial of its own policies and practices -- such as enforced disappearances and police brutality -- that harm the Baloch people is a major driver of growing frustration among Baloch youth.

It is one thing for a single institution, like the military, to pursue a flawed strategy, but one would expect other institutions, such as the judiciary, to demonstrate greater fairness in addressing Baloch grievances, particularly their quest for justice and equal treatment.

However, even the country's mainstream political parties, such as the Pakistan People's Party -- which governs Balochistan -- and the Pakistan Muslim League, whose leader serves as the current prime minister of Pakistan, show little genuine interest in proactively tackling Balochistan's issues.

While one may disagree with the BLA's use of armed resistance to fight for Baloch rights, the excessive labelling of BLA fighters as 'Baloch terrorists' or 'foreign-funded enemies of Pakistan' by the Pakistani media and politicians only exacerbates the situation.

When officials declare that BLA fighters killed in operations are destined for hell, it further alienates the Baloch youth.

Instead of addressing the legitimate grievances fuelling Baloch anger, the State doubles down on demonising the insurgents, making young Baloch feel as though their own government is waging war against them.

The recent refusal by the Pakistani government to hand over the bodies of BLA fighters killed in the Jaffar Express operation has added fuel to fire.

For many Balochs, this refusal is seen as the State's attempt to humiliate even their dead. Such missteps only deepen resentment, radicalise more young people, and ultimately strengthen the BLA's recruitment efforts.

IMAGE: A view of Gwadar port in Gwadar, Pakistan. Photograph: Drazen Jorgic

Some reports suggest China will deploy its military to protect Chinese engineers and workers working on the CPEC in Balochistan -- how do you see the role of the Chinese military change in the region in view of escalating attacks?

Pakistan has no shortage of troops to guard ongoing development projects. However, regardless of troop deployments, these projects will continue to face insurgent threats unless they gain local Baloch buy-in and ownership.

As long as the Balochs perceive these projects as benefiting Pakistanis and Chinese rather than themselves, resistance will persist.

Moreover, excessive militarisation will ultimately undermine these initiatives -- business cannot thrive in a warzone.

Rather than merely increasing security forces, China should leverage its influence over Pakistan to push for better relations with the Baloch people.

Without their (Baloch

Unfortunately, such a shift seems unlikely. As an authoritarian regime, China is unaccustomed to negotiating with dissenting voices and fostering inclusive dialogue.

Balochistan needs a democratic, participatory approach -- something Islamabad and Beijing struggle with due to their governance models, prioritising force over engagement.

Part 3 of the Interview: The Lady Doctor Taking On The Pakistan State

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Odisha assembly Speaker Surama Padhy on Tuesday suspended 12 Congress MLAs for seven days over indiscipline in the House.

IMAGE: Congress MLAs stage a protest demanding action over the alleged rising crimes against women outside the Odisha Legislative Assembly session, in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, March 7, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

The action against the Congress legislators came after the House adopted a motion moved by government Chief Whip Saroj Pradhan.

The suspended MLAs include Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam, Sagar Charan Das, Mangu Khilla, Satyajeet Gomango, Ashok Kumar Das, Dasarathi Gamango and Sofia Firdous.

Two other Congress MLAs -- Taraprasad Bahinipati and Ramesh Jena -- were, however, not suspended as they were not present in the House when the announcement was being made. Bahinipati was earlier suspended for seven working days on similar grounds on March 11.

As soon as Padhy announced the decision, Congress members created a ruckus in the assembly, playing gongs as a mark of protest.

The suspended MLAs also demonstrated in the Well of the House and recited hymns, even as Padhy urged them to vacate the assembly and stop the sit-in.

Odisha's main opposition party, the BJD, condemned the Speaker's move, called it a motivated one to suppress the voice of opposition in the assembly.

"Congress MLAs have been suspended to scare us. We will not be afraid of the action. We will fight and not compromise in any way, Bahinipati said.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das also criticised the decision and demanded immediate withdrawal of the suspension order.

"We had demanded formation of a House committee to inquire into crimes against women. And, they attempted to suppress the voice of the Congress. We will not tolerate this, Das asserted.

Amid the pandemonium, the House was adjourned multiple times.
Two Hurriyat Conference constituents -- the Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement and the J-K Democratic Political Movement -- have announced severing their all ties with separatists, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Tuesday, asserting it will strengthen India's unity.

IMAGE: Separatist leader Yasin Malik being brought out of the Patiala NIA court in New Delhi, after being convicted in the terror funding case, on May 19, 2022. Photograph: ANI Photo

Another group, the Jammu-based J-K Freedom Movement headed by Mohd Sharief Sartaj, also ended its long association with the separatist amalgam and announced disbanding of the group with immediate effect.

While the JKPM is headed by Shahid Saleem, the JKDPM is led by Shafi Reshi, an advocate.

In a statement, Saleem said he has distanced himself and his organisation from the separatist ideology, and vowed allegiance to India and the Constitution.

"I am a loyal citizen of India and both my organisation and I owe allegiance to the Constitution of India," he said in the statement to the vernacular press in Srinagar.

Welcoming Saleem and Reshi's decisions, Union Home Minister Shah said this step will strengthen Bharat's unity and asserted the unifying policies of the Modi government have "tossed" separatism out of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Two organisations associated with the Hurriyat have announced the severing of all ties with separatism. I welcome this step towards strengthening Bharat's unity and urge all such groups to come forward and shed separatism once and for all," he wrote on X.

Shah said it was a big victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of building a developed, peaceful and unified Bharat.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference is a separatist amalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. Most of its constituents have been banned by the government.

Saleem said in his communication that he and his organisation have no sympathy for the ideology of APHC, which "has not been able to address the legitimate aspirations and grievances of the people of Jammu and Kashmir."

"I am a loyal citizen of India. My organisation and I are not affiliated with any organisation or association having an agenda that goes directly or indirectly against India and its interests. Both my organisation and I owe allegiance to the Constitution of India," Saleem said.

In March 2019, when IAS officer Shah Faesal quit bureaucracy and launched his own party by the identical name and style, Saleem had taken strong exception, saying his JKPM was launched on April 4, 2000, at the Press Club in Jammu, and it became a constituent member of the APHC.

Faesal later withdrew his resignation and was reinstated to the service. He was posted as deputy secretary in the tourism department in 2022.

In his media communication on Tuesday, Saleem wrote, "I, Shahid Saleem, Chairman JKPM do hereby solemnly declare... My organisation as well as I have no connection or affiliation with either APHC(G) or APHC (A) or any of their constituents or any other entity pursuing a separatist or similar such agenda.

"My organisation and I do not have any inclination or sympathy for the ideology of APHC, which has not been able to address the legitimate aspirations and grievances of people of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

Saleem warned that any use of his name or that of his organisation with the APHC of of its factions or constituents or any other entity pursuing a separatist or similar agenda will be liable to legal action.

Sartaj, who had previously worked as the Jammu coordinator of the Hurriyat Conference and was booked under the Public Safety Act on multiple occasions, came out with a public notice, almost identical to the one issued by Saleem.

However, he also added that his organisation "being un-operational since decade is also disbanded with immediate effect".
The Allahabad High Court Bar Association on Tuesday began an indefinite strike to protest against the proposed transfer to the high court here of Delhi HC judge Yashwant Varma, who faces a probe after the discovery of a huge amount of cash from his residence.

Photograph: / Rediff.com IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only.

Separately, the Oudh Bar Association of the Lucknow bench of the high court urged the Centre to return the Supreme Court Collegium's recommendation to transfer the judge. It also demanded impeachment proceedings against him to "curb further damage to public faith" in the judiciary.

Leading the Allahabad High Court Bar Association's protest at gate number 3 of the high court bench in Allahabad, its President Anil Tiwari told reporters their agitation was not against any court or a judge but "against those who have betrayed the judicial system".

"Our fight is against those involved in corruption and against a system that lacks transparency. For now, our demand is a reconsideration and withdrawal of the transfer order," he added.

The Bar Association has been up in arms since it learnt about Justice Varma's potential transfer. It reiterated its opposition on Monday after the Supreme Court Collegium confirmed its decision to recommend the transfer. The association also conveyed its decision to go on the indefinite strike from Tuesday.

Tiwari asserted the association was prepared for an all-out struggle on the issue.

"From the very beginning, there has been an attempt to cover up this matter. Today, lawyers across India are fighting this battle. Until a resolution is reached, we will not resume work, no matter the consequences," he said on Monday.

The SC's transfer recommendation to the Centre was made public in a resolution uploaded on the top court's website on Monday.

The alleged cash discovery at Justice Varma's Lutyens' Delhi residence here happened following a fire there around 11.35 pm on March 14. Fire officials responded to a distress call and doused the blaze.

The apex court Collegium, headed by CJI Sanjiv Khanna, and the Delhi high court subsequently issued a series of directives, including the withdrawal of judicial work from Justice Varma.

Justice Varma has "unequivocally" denied the cash being placed in the storeroom either by him or any of his family members while "strongly denouncing the suggestion that the alleged cash belonged" to them.

He said the allegations of cash discovery from his official residence clearly appeared to be a conspiracy to frame and malign him.

Justice Varma was enrolled as an advocate on August 8, 1992. He was appointed as an additional judge of the Allahabad High Court on October 13, 2014.

He took oath as a permanent judge of the Allahabad high court on February 1, 2016, before being appointed as a judge of the Delhi High Court on October 11, 2021.

Meanwhile, condemning the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium, the Oudh Bar Association (OBA) urged the Central government to return the said proposal, saying they would not tolerate the Allahabad HC being used as a "dustbin" by the SC Collegium.

The OBA has also demanded impeachment proceedings against Justice Varma at the earliest in order to "curb further damage" to public faith in the judiciary.

The OBA said it has decided to discuss the issue with the Central government and the Chief Justice of India soon in collaboration with other 22 bar associations of different high courts of the country.

This was resolved at a meeting of OBA convened on Tuesday noon under president RD Shahi, OBA general secretary Manoj Dwivedi said.

In the meeting, the executive members criticized the proposed repatriation of Justice Varma to Allahabad High Court or his transfer to any other High Court as well and said that the SC should retain him in Delhi without assigning judicial work.

"Past experiences in such matters are sufficient to establish that Allahabad HC is being used as a dustbin. OBA is not going to tolerate it," said the resolution released by Dwivedi.

The OBA has also requested the SC to review its recommendation.

In solidarity with the Allahabad HC Bar Association, the OBA has also decided to abstain from judicial work at the Lucknow bench on this Friday even though a large section of its executive members wanted to go on an indefinite strike from Wednesday itself.
Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra's refusal to apologise for his remarks made during a recent show has sparked strong reactions from Maharashtra government officials including Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam and minister Gulab Patil.

IMAGE: Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra. Photograph: Courtesy Kunal Kamra on YouTube

MoS Home Yogesh Kadam on Tuesday said that Kamra would be punished for his behavior, which he described as unacceptable.

"He will be punished. If you are going to insult the Supreme Court, PM of India, Hindu Gods and Goddesses, it is not tolerable. You cannot behave like this in Maharashtra or India. We do enjoy comedy, but this is not the kind of comedy that will be tolerated in Maharashtra," Kadam said.

Kamra on Monday released a statement on his official social media handle saying that he would not "apologise" for his act.

Maharashtra Minister Gulab Patil also expressed strong disapproval of Kamra's actions.

Patil warned, "If he doesn't apologise, we will speak to him in our own style. Shiv Sena won't leave him. We won't tolerate this insult... if he doesn't apologise, he will come out, where will he hide?. Shiv Sena will show its real form."

The 36-year-old stand-up comedian has kicked up a major political storm in Maharashtra for taking a jibe at Shiv Sena leader Shinde's political career in his show.

Kamra had performed a parody of a popular Hindi song from the film Dil Toh Pagal Hai, apparently referring to Shinde as a gaddar (traitor). He also made jokes about recent political developments in Maharashtra, including the Shiv Sena and NCP splits.

On Sunday night, Shiv Sena members damaged the Habitat Comedy Club in Mumbai's Khar area, where Kamra's show took place, as well as a hotel in whose premises the club is located.

Based on a complaint of Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, the Khar police have registered an FIR against Kamra for allegedly making defamatory remarks against Shinde.
India and China on Tuesday held a fresh edition of diplomatic talks in Beijing focusing on ensuring effective border management and early resumption of cross-border cooperation and exchanges including on trans-border rivers and Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra.

IMAGE: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's meets with India's foreign secretary Vikram Misri, in Beijing. Photograph: ANI Photo

In the meeting of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination, the two sides explored various measures and proposals to give effect to the decisions taken during talks between NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Special Representatives dialogue in December.

India and China also agreed to work together to make "substantial preparation" for the next SR meeting that will be held in India later this year, according to the ministry of external affairs.

It said the meeting was held in a "positive and constructive" atmosphere and both sides "comprehensively" reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control in the border areas.

The MEA asserted that peace and tranquillity on the border are "critical" for the smooth development of overall bilateral relations.

It is understood that both sides deliberated on the overall situation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh. Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the region.

In a podcast this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said differences between India and China were natural but stronger cooperation was in the interests of the two neighbours and for global stability.

In December, Doval travelled to Beijing and held talks with Foreign Minister Wang under the framework of SR dialogue on the boundary question.

The decision to revive the SR mechanism and other such dialogue formats was taken at a meeting between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan on October 23.

In the WMCC talks, the two sides agreed to "work together to make substantial preparation" for the next SR meeting to be held in India later this year, the MEA said.

"Held in a positive and constructive atmosphere, the meeting comprehensively reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas," it said.

"The two sides explored various measures and proposals to give effect to the decisions taken during the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives on the India-China boundary question in Beijing in December 2024 and to advance effective border management," it said.

"The two sides agreed to maintain and strengthen relevant diplomatic and military mechanisms towards this end," the MEA said.

It said the two sides also exchanged views on "early resumption of cross-border cooperation and exchanges, including on trans-border rivers and Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra".

The Indian delegation at the talks was led by Gourangalal Das, joint secretary (East Asia) in the MEA.

The Chinese team was led by Hong Liang, director general of the boundary and oceanic affairs department of the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs.

The Indian delegation leader also paid a courtesy call on assistant foreign minister Hong Lei.

A Chinese foreign ministry readout said the two sides held the WMCC meeting with a "positive, constructive and forward-looking" attitude.

The discussions focused on the implementation of the consensus reached at the 23rd SR dialogue on boundary negotiations, border control, cross-border exchanges and cooperation, it said.

They agreed to take practical and effective measures to continue to maintain peace and tranquillity in the China-India border area, and actively prepare for the next 24th meeting of the Special Representatives on the China-India boundary question, the readout said.

The WMCC meeting came two months after foreign secretary Vikram Misri paid a two-day visit to Beijing and held talks with his Chinese counterpart.

India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.

Following completion of the disengagement process in Demchok and Depsang, Indian and Chinese militaries also resumed patrolling activities in the two areas after a gap of almost four-and-a-half years.
In a massive security breach, top members of United States President Donald Trump's administration texted war plans for upcoming military strikes in Yemen to a group chat in a secure messaging app that included the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump oversees the action against the Houthis. Photograph: @WhiteHouse

According to The Atlantic, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz started a Signal group chat with Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe to discuss US airstrikes against Houthi militants in Yemen.

In a critical mistake, Waltz also added The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who remained in the chat throughout the discussion, witnessing the exchange of sensitive details before removing himself.

The messages contained highly sensitive information, including details about the timing of the strikes, the specific targets, and the weapons being deployed.

Hegseth reportedly shared "operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the US would be deploying, and attack sequencing."

Ratcliffe, meanwhile, sent "information that might be interpreted as related to actual and current intelligence operations."

Former officials have stated that such information would almost certainly be classified at the highest level.

The breach has sparked widespread condemnation among former intelligence and military officials.

"Dear Sweet Baby Jesus," one former senior US official said upon learning of the incident.

Security experts have warned that using Signal for discussions of this nature violates every established protocol for handling classified information.

"They broke every procedure known to man about protecting operational material before a military strike," a former senior intelligence official said. "You have a total breakdown in security about a military operation."

Although Signal is considered highly secure due to its open-source encryption, it is not authorised for transmitting classified government communications.

he Pentagon specifically prohibits the use of messaging apps like Signal to handle "non-public DoD information." Additionally, intelligence agencies have warned that foreign adversaries, including Russian-linked spies, have attempted to compromise Signal accounts.

A Western intelligence official emphasised that while Signal has strong encryption, it should never be used for government operations. "It should never be used for classified or operational data, let alone policy discussions at a top government level," the official said. "This kind of breach could impact the level of trust between partners and allies."

Some former officials have raised concerns that the incident could constitute a violation of the Espionage Act, which criminalises the mishandling of national defence information. However, it remains unlikely that any investigation will be launched, as the officials involved--including Hegseth, Vance, and Rubio--would be responsible for initiating such a probe. The Justice Department typically relies on a formal referral from the agency that owns the classified information, in this case, the Department of Defence.

"If anyone else did it, no question it would be investigated," a former Justice Department official said.

Trump distanced himself from the controversy, claiming he was unaware of the situation. "I don't know anything about it," Trump told reporters when asked about The Atlantic's report. "It couldn't have been very effective, because the attack was very effective. I can tell you, I don't know anything about it. You're telling me about it for the first time," CNN quoted Trump as saying.

The transfer of classified information from a secure system to Signal would have required manual intervention. A former senior US defence official explained that such a transfer would not have happened accidentally. "Hegseth somehow had to transfer it or copy it to get it onto Signal in the first place," the official said.

"You can't forward a classified email to an unclassified system. You would either have to print it out or type it up while looking at both screens. So he had to have done it or somebody would've had to have done it for him that way."

Former Defence Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta did not hold back in his criticism. "Somebody needs to get fired," Panetta told CNN. "How the name of a journalist was added to that list - this is just a serious blunder." He warned that if someone other than Goldberg had received the messages, they could have alerted the Houthis, leading to retaliatory attacks on US forces. "They in turn could have... attacked US facilities in the Red Sea, causing casualties of our troops."

Brian Hughes, National Security Council spokesperson, attempted to downplay concerns. "This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain," Hughes said in a statement to CNN.

He claimed the discussion demonstrated "deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials" and insisted that "the ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security."

However, messages from Vice President Vance suggest internal hesitation about the strikes. "I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now," Vance wrote in the chat, according to The Atlantic. "There's a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc."

Trump administration officials have not addressed the security concerns but have instead focused on Vance's remarks. William Martin, communications director to the vice president, defended him, stating, "The Vice President's first priority is always making sure that the President's advisers are adequately briefing him on the substance of their internal deliberations. Vice President Vance unequivocally supports this administration's foreign policy. The President and the Vice President have had subsequent conversations about this matter and are in complete agreement."

Democratic lawmakers immediately expressed outrage, with some calling for congressional scrutiny. Rep Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, described the situation as deeply alarming, CNN reported.

"I am horrified by reports that our most senior national security officials, including the heads of multiple agencies, shared sensitive and almost certainly classified information via a commercial messaging application, including imminent war plans," Himes said, citing the "calamitous risks of transmitting classified information across unclassified systems."

"If true, these actions are a brazen violation of laws and regulations that exist to protect national security, including the safety of Americans serving in harm's way," he added.

The incident has also drawn attention to past Republican criticism of private communications in government. In 2016, Rubio attacked Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server, saying, "Hillary Clinton put some of the highest, most sensitive intelligence information on her private server because maybe she thinks she's above the law. Or maybe she just wanted the convenience of being able to read this stuff on her Blackberry. This is unacceptable. This is a disqualifier."
The Kerala assembly on Tuesday passed a bill paving the way for the establishment of private universities in the state.

IMAGE: A view of the Kerala legislative assembly in Thiruvananthapuram. Photograph: ANI Photo

The passage of the Kerala State Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Bill, 2025, marks a significant policy shift for the Communist Party of India-Marxist-led government, setting aside the Left front's long-standing opposition to the privatisation of education.

The bill was passed by voice vote following detailed discussions on Monday and Tuesday.

Higher education minister R Bindu moved the motion to pass the bill after a brief discussion on proposed amendments and suggestions.

Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan stated that the United Democratic Front was not opposing the bill in principle but urged the government to conduct a thorough study and scrutiny before implementing it.

He suggested giving preference to credible corporate education agencies that have been operating in the state for decades when establishing private universities.

He pointed out that many unaided colleges in the state are already facing closure threats, and there has been a significant decline in student enrollment for major courses in both aided and government colleges.

"The public universities in the state are already experiencing a shortage of students. With the arrival of private universities, those who would have studied in our state-run institutions may opt for private institutions instead," Satheesan said.

He emphasised the need to examine whether the introduction of private universities would threaten the existence of public universities and their affiliated colleges.

"Our suggestion is to conduct an in-depth study on the impact of private universities on public universities and affiliated colleges before implementing the bill."

Satheesan also noted that while public universities are not permitted to open off-campus centers, the bill grants private universities this provision, which could negatively impact the future of state-run higher education institutions.

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala criticized the bill as being "shabbily drafted," arguing that the requirement of 10 acres of land and a Rs 25 crore regulatory fund for starting private universities is impractical in Kerala's current circumstances.

During the debate, Indian Union Muslim League veteran P K Kunhalikutty recalled the Oommen Chandy-led UDF government's earlier plan to bring foreign universities to Kerala and the stiff opposition it faced from the LDF.

Meanwhile, Kerala Congress (Joseph) legislator Mons Joseph described the bill as a "new step" by the government, while Revolutionary Marxist Party's lone legislator KK Rema strongly criticised it, alleging that it was an attempt to privatise higher education.

In response, minister Bindu defended the government's decision, stating that private universities would be permitted only under strict social regulations and vigilant oversight.

She emphasised that the bill was not drafted hastily but was the result of years of efforts to strengthen public universities and elevate them to global standards.

Her remarks about the previous UDF government's move to invite foreign universities to the state triggered protests from the Opposition.

However, Speaker AN Shamseer assured them that the comments would be removed from the assembly records.

The Speaker then put the bill to a voice vote, after which it was passed.

Although the bill was scheduled for consideration on Monday, time constraints led to its postponement to Tuesday.

On Monday, Bindu had defended the Left government's decision, stating that granting permission for private universities aligns with their vision of transforming Kerala into an international hub for higher education.
The Mumbai Police have issued a notice to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra in connection with a case for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, officials said on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Comedian Kunal Kamra. Photograph: Kunal Kamra on YouTube

Kamra has been asked to appear before the Khar police in Mumbai in connection with the case registered against him, an official said.

"We have issued an initial notice to Kamra as a probe has been started into the case against him," the official said without giving more details.

The 36-year-old stand-up comedian has kicked up a major political storm in Maharashtra for taking a jibe at Shiv Sena leader Shinde's political career in his show.

Kamra had performed a parody of a popular Hindi song from the film Dil Toh Pagal Hai, apparently referring to Shinde as a gaddar (traitor). He also made jokes about recent political developments in Maharashtra, including the Shiv Sena and NCP splits.

On Sunday night, Shiv Sena members damaged the Habitat Comedy Club in Mumbai's Khar area, where Kamra's show took place, as well as a hotel in whose premises the club is located.

Based on a complaint of Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, the Khar police have registered an FIR against Kamra for allegedly making defamatory remarks against Shinde.

The police have also registered a case against 40 Shiv Sena workers for vandalising the Habitat studio in Mumbai's Khar area, where Kamra's show was filmed, and a hotel where the studio is located.

On Monday, the police arrested Shiv Sena functionary Rahul Kanal and 11 others for ransacking the show venue. A local court granted them bail the same day.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is on an official visit to the United Kingdom, took a refreshing jog in the iconic Hyde Park in London, draped in a white saree with a green border and wearing her signature white slippers.

IMAGE: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during his visit to London, March 24, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

With the cold London weather nipping at her, Banerjee also wore a black cardigan and a shawl, embracing the chill while jogging in the park and walking around the city.

The chief minister was accompanied by other members of her delegation, as they walked around London, from Buckingham Palace to Hyde Park, enjoying the city's scenic beauty.

In a post shared by Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh, who is also part of the delegation, on X, Banerjee was seen in what he called a "warm-up".

In the video, Banerjee is also seen clapping and even back-walking.

This is not the first instance of Banerjee jogging in a saree during an international visit. In 2023, during her official trip to Spain, she was seen jogging in a saree and slippers in Madrid.

Banerjee arrived in London on Sunday.

In a post shared on X on Monday, Banerjee reflected on the historic bond between Kolkata and London, saying, "Bengal and Britain share a relationship that spans centuries, rooted in history, culture, and commerce. As we landed in London yesterday, we stepped into a city that, much like Kolkata, carries the weight of its past while embracing the dynamism of the present. Before the day's engagements commenced, I took a moment to immerse myself in the essence of London's timeless grandeur."

"From its iconic landmarks to its storied streets, the city exudes an old-world charm that speaks of history and evolution, values that Bengal, too, holds close to its heart. With a packed itinerary ahead, I look forward to deepening Bengal's engagement with Britain and reinforcing our enduring ties," she said.

Kolkata, then known as Calcutta, was the capital of British India till 1911.

Banerjee later attended a high tea reception at India House, hosted by Vikram K Doraiswami, the High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom.

The gathering brought together a diverse mix of business, cultural, and political leaders, united by a common goal -- to strengthen the ties between Bengal and Britain.

"It was a privilege to be hosted by Shri Vikram K. Doraiswami at India House, London, for a high tea reception. The gathering brought together a diverse spectrum of voices united in their commitment to strengthening Bengal-Britain ties. As we navigate a changing world, meaningful partnerships driven by trust are more vital than ever," Banerjee wrote on X after the event.

The discussions at the high tea centered around several key issues, from fostering economic partnerships to deepening people-to-people connections.

Banerjee emphasised the importance of collaboration for mutual growth.

"Today, I was honoured to attend a high tea reception at India House, where official and business delegations from Bengal met alongside industry, cultural, and social leaders from the UK. Our discussions centred on strengthening economic partnerships, enhancing people-to-people ties, and exploring new avenues of cooperation that benefit both Bengal and Britain," she stated.

Banerjee said West Bengal, with its rich history and culture, aims to build stronger global bridges, not walls.

"Bengal has always believed in building bridges, not walls. As we continue to expand our global footprint, we look forward to fostering stronger ties with our partners in the UK and beyond," she added.

Banerjee, who left for London on March 22, is scheduled to deliver a lecture at Oxford University on March 27.

On March 25, she will meet with industrialists to seek investments for West Bengal's development. She is expected to return to India between March 28 and 29. This marks her second visit to London, the first being a business engagement in November 2017.
A drone photo taken on March 21, 2025 shows a welding workshop of Audi FAW NEV Co., Ltd. in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province. (Xinhua/Si Xiaoshuai)

CHANGCHUN, March 24 (Xinhua) -- In the workshops of Audi's first dedicated electric vehicle production base in China, entire steel plates are swiftly transformed into components by press machines, while robotic arms operate with precision on the assembly line, primed to produce the new Audi Q6L e-tron.

This electric SUV, specially designed for the Chinese market, is built on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) at Audi FAW NEV Co., Ltd. in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province. It is expected to hit the market later this year.

Helmut Stettner, CEO of Audi FAW NEV Co., Ltd., joined FAW-Volkswagen in Changchun in 2011 as plant and production director, gaining valuable insights into the unique dynamics of the Chinese market. A decade later, in 2021, he returned to lead the Audi PPE project, driving the advancement of new energy vehicles.

Stettner said the company actively collaborates with local partners to develop new products, striving to integrate China's cutting-edge innovations swiftly. Starting this year, Audi models built on the PPE platform for the Chinese market will be equipped with an advanced intelligent driving assistance system powered by Huawei technology.

Over the years, Stettner has witnessed the evolution of Sino-German automotive cooperation and the rapid advancement of China's automotive industry.

"In 1988, we were the first foreign manufacturer with local production in the premium segment. Since then, we expanded our local cooperation and portfolio and launched a lot of new models with our partners, always combining the strengths of the two countries," Stettner told Xinhua in a recent interview.

The manufacturing base has a designed production capacity of over 150,000 vehicles a year. The production of both Q6L e-tron and the upcoming A6L e-tron utilizes the first 9,100-tonne super-large-scale press line, the first of its kind within the Volkswagen Group system that is totally designed and manufactured by a Chinese supplier.

Stettner said the shift from internal combustion vehicles to new energy vehicles (NEVs) in the global automotive industry has created new opportunities for both China and Germany.

"We see that the switch to electric mobility is accelerating in China, especially in the premium market. Despite some challenges, it continues to offer significant growth potential for Audi. We want to and will participate in this development," he said.

China's NEV market has become a key battleground for global manufacturers and technology suppliers. In 2024, both the production and sales of NEVs in China surpassed 12.8 million units, maintaining a decade-long streak as the world's largest producer and consumer of electric vehicles.

China has also developed a comprehensive and efficient industrial system, supplying 70 percent of the world's battery materials and 60 percent of global power batteries.

Stettner emphasized that "supportive government policies have played a crucial role in advancing the development of China's NEV market," including initiatives in charging infrastructure, automated driving, and intelligent connected vehicles.

"These policies have also created opportunities for new players to enter the market," said Stettner.

"Additionally, customers in this market are highly receptive to new technologies and innovations, with connectivity being a particularly important focus," he added.

Known as the "cradle of China's automotive industry," Changchun witnessed the establishment of the country's first automobile workshop back in 1953.

Having lived in Changchun for many years, Stettner has come to appreciate its scenic beauty, local cuisine, and business environment, and call the city his "second hometown."

A worker operates equipment at a welding workshop of Audi FAW NEV Co., Ltd. in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, March 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Si Xiaoshuai)

Helmut Stettner, CEO of Audi FAW NEV Co., Ltd., speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, March 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Si Xiaoshuai)

Editor: ZAD
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday alleged leaders of the opposition Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar were involved in a "conspiracy" against his cabinet colleague Jaykumar Gore in a case involving a woman.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan congratulates BJP leader Jaykumar Gore (right) during the swearing-in ceremony, at Raj Bhavan in Nagpur, December 14, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Replying to a motion initiated by the Opposition in the state assembly, Fadnavis said there was proof of communication between NCP-SP leaders Supriya Sule and Rohit Pawar, and one of the accused in the case where three persons, including the woman, have been arrested for trying to extort money from Gore.

The CM, who holds the home portfolio, said the entire episode will be probed.

Gore, the BJP MLA from the Man constituency in western Maharashtra's Satara district, is cabinet minister of rural development and Panchayati Raj.

Last week, the BJP minister had claimed the woman, who had accused him of harassment, tried to extort money from him to settle the matter.

According to police, the woman had demanded Rs 3 crore from Gore to end "everything".

She had demanded Rs 3 crore to end the case related to her allegations against Jaykumar Gore. She was caught while accepting Rs 1 crore of the total amount," a police official said last week.

The woman was later arrested from Satara by the local crime branch.

The Opposition has been demanding Gore's resignation over allegations of harassing the woman and sending her objectionable photos, while the minister has dismissed the charges asserting he was acquitted by a court in the case long ago.

Gore had earlier said a case under section 354 (molestation) of the Indian Penal Code was registered against him in 2017, but the trial court acquitted him in 2019.

Speaking in the assembly on Tuesday, Fadnavis also pointed to Gore's acquittal more than five years ago.

The CM said three people have been arrested in the matter (related to attempted extortion) so far -- the woman, a reporter, Tushar Kharat, and a person named Anil Subedhar.

"All three conspired (against Gore) and there is evidence against them. WhatsApp (messages) and calls were exchanged between them. Unfortunately. NCP-SP people were involved and I say this with proof," he told the house.

Fadnavis said one Prabhakarao Deshmukh spoke to all three accused more than 100 times. Videos (of alleged conspiracy against Gore) were sent to him.

"....Surpiya Sule and Rohit Pawar made calls to Tushar Kharat and videos that were made against Gore were sent to these people. This will be probed," he said.

Fadnavis emphasised the Opposition and ruling parties are political opponents and not enemies.

Earlier this month, Gore moved privilege motions against Kharat, Pawar and Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut in the assembly, accusing them of maligning his image in relation to the 2017 case in which he was acquitted.

Fadnavis remarked that the privilege committee has become "toothless".

"It is the same set of people who insult the House, speak against it. They act in a way to pressure ministers so that they do not work in a free and fair manner," the CM claimed.

Referring to controversial remarks made by comedian Kunal Kamra, Fadnavis said there was discussion in the assembly about the comments belittling deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Then again a Shiv Sena-UBT leader read out the same modified lyrics (used by Kamra) to needle the House, the CM maintained.

"This means 288 members of the House have no value. The 9 am alarm (an apparent reference to Raut) speaks anything about the House. Privileges have been given to work in the House. Strict action should be taken against those who demean the House," the chief minister said.
Confronted by outrage in Greenland, the US has scaled down a proposed visit to the island.

IMAGE: US Vice President J D Vance, seen here during a visit to Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia, US, March 26, 2025, was scheduled to join his wife Usha on a visit to Greenland. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

US Vice President J D Vance will now join his wife Usha on a trip to Greenland, the semi-autonomous Arctic island which Donald Trump has been belligerently eyeing since he took over in January.

The visit which originally included the Second Lady, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright raised a shrill outcry in Greenland. Protests had been planned by locals during Usha Vance's visit between Thursday, March 27 and Saturday, March 29.

Though VP Vance, who accused Greenland of not being a good ally, was not part of the delegation initially, he will now lead the delegation. However, the trip has been scaled down considerably. The US visit will be confined to the US military base on the northwest coast of the island.

The delegation had originally planned to visit historical sites and attend a dog sled race. A trip to Nuuk, the capital, and the picturesque town of Sisimiut has been cancelled, according to the Sermitsiaq newspaper in Greenland.

The newspaper reported that the bulletproof cars that had arrived for the delegation's travel on the island had been loaded onto a US Hercules plane and sent back to the States.

Another European media report said Vance and party will fly straight to the military base and return. There will be no public appearance.

It has been debated and criticised if the American delegation, including senior members of the Trump administration, should travel around as tourists, without an official invitation from Greenland's government, the Naalakkersuisut, at a time when a new administration has not yet been formed after the elections, reported Sermitsiaq.

IMAGE: A demonstration outside the US consulate under the slogan Greenland belongs to the Greenlandic people, in Nuuk, Greenland, March 15, 2025. Photograph: Christian Klindt Soelbeck/Ritzau Scanpix/via Reuters

Greenland is the largest island on the map situated between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans.

It was first a colony of Denmark and was later integrated with the Danish State.

The island has been a part of Denmark for nearly 300 years and lies around 3,000 km distance away.

Its capital Nuuk is closer to New York than to Copenhagen.

The sun does not set at all in Greenland for two months between May 25 to July 25.

July is the only month when temperatures rise above freezing point.

The longest day of the year June 21 is a national holiday in Greenland.

The official language in Greenlandic.

Denmark ruled Greenland as a colony until 1953, when the island achieved greater powers of self-governance. In 2009, it gained more powers pertaining to minerals, policing and courts of law, but Denmark still controls security, defence, foreign and monetary policy.

Greenland also benefits from Denmark's European Union and NATO memberships, reported CNN.

Why Trump covets Greenland

The US regards Greenland crucial for its security and strategic interests.

The US has a military base on the island's northwest coast. It is America's northernmost defence outpost.

The US Thule air base was built secretly in 1951. It is said to have taken the same amount of effort as building the Panama Canal.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly spoken about taking over the semi-autonomous, mineral rich island and US Vice President J D Vance accused it of not being a good ally.

Donald Trump Jr, POTUS' eldest child, visited Greenland in January. Vance's wife Usha Vance is scheduled to visit Greenland this week.

Greenland offers the shortest route from North America to Europe. This gives the US a strategic upper hand for its military and its ballistic missile early-warning system. These waters are a gateway for Russian and Chinese vessels, which Washington aims to track, reported Al Jazeera.

IMAGE: Protesters gather outside the US consulate during a demonstration under the slogan Greenland belongs to the Greenlandic people in Nuuk, Greenland, March 15, 2025. Photograph: Christian Klindt Soelbeck/Ritzau Scanpix/via Reuters

The visit was seen as 'provocation'

Greenland Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede, who turned 38 on March 11, had called the visit a provocation.

'Such interference is a breach of our democratic principles and shows a lack of respect for our self-determination,' Egede told local broadcaster KNR, adding Greenland's allies needed to be more forceful in their statements, reported Reuters.

'We have not yet seen any of our allies make a clear statement. And we need our friends among nations. That is why they must come out more clearly -- there is no other way. The vague declarations must end,' the Reuters report added.

After the US visit was scaled down, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said, 'This is clearly a de-escalation. I think it's very positive that the Americans cancelled their visit to the Greenlandic society. Instead, they will visit their own base, Pituffik, and we have nothing against that,' he said according to a Reuters report on March 27.

IMAGE: Donald Trump Jr arrives in Nuuk, Greenland, January 7, 2025. Photograph: Emil Stach/Ritzau Scanpix/via Reuters

US National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said the United States has a vested interest in the Arctic, and so a visit to the US Space Base to get first-hand briefings from service members on the ground should not be a surprise, reported the BBC.

In a January opinion poll, more than 80 Greenlanders rejected being a part of USA.

IMAGE: The demonstration ending outside the US consulate, under the slogan Greenland belongs to the Greenlandic people, in Nuuk, Greenland, March 15, 2025. Photograph: Christian Klindt Soelbeck/Ritzau Scanpix/via Reuters

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
BRATTLEBORO  A new initiative aims to respond to needs in the community and bring agencies together to strategize on the best approach.

Brattleboro was identified as having higher than average rates of violent and drug-related crime by Gov. Phil Scott's Public Safety Enhancement Team in 2023.

"We certainly are seeing this in the police department and the fire department," Town Manager John Potter said at the special Select Board meeting last Thursday. "We have really increasing demands on our public safety systems."

Police are receiving more than 13,000 calls annually and the number is growing at a rate of 5 percent a year, Potter said. The fire department received 4,500 calls last year, which he said was up by 7 percent over the previous year.

Retired Vermont State Police Lt. Jim Baker, a consultant with the governor's office, led discussions in the community to facilitate what Potter called "a cross sector response to this problem that the town was seeing." A symposium at SIT in April 2024 led to local leaders in the community teaming up to improve Brattleboro and support one another's efforts, Potter said.

Safety consultant highlights 'Depth of the trauma' in Brattleboro BRATTLEBORO  A public safety initiative underway in Brattleboro involves data analysis to m

One Brattleboro includes representation from 26 local agencies such as the Vermont Agency of Human Services, AIDS Project of Southern Vermont, Building A Positive Community, Brattleboro Fire Department, Brattleboro Housing Partnerships, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Brattleboro Retreat, Brattleboro Select Board, Brooks Memorial Library, Brattleboro Union High School, Downtown Brattleboro Alliance, Department of Corrections and the Probation & Parole Office, Groundworks Collaborative, Health Care & Rehabilitation Services, Interaction, Senior Solutions, Southeastern Vermont Community Action, Turning Point of Windham County, Vermont Department of Health, Vermont Judiciary, Windham County State's Attorney's Office, Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development, Windham Southeast School District and Windham & Windsor Housing Trust.

Sue Graff, field services director at the Agency of Human Services, said the group has "taken lots of time ... in order to develop this shared vision and purpose, and values and initiatives." Data from police is being used to strategize and advocate in collaboration.

At future Select Board meetings, Graff expects the group to regularly report on progress. She noted the work is unfunded.

"This is a coalition of the willing," she said.

Christine Hazzard, executive director at Brattleboro Housing Partnerships, said she's starting to see a shift in how things happen.

"This has really allowed us to break down the silos and the barriers," State's Attorney Steven Brown said. "It's allowed us to forge relationships we were never able to have."

Brown said he's impressed with the town's leadership on the initiative.

"The biggest part for us out of this is the collaboration," Assistant Police Chief Jeremy Evans said. "That's what we've been working on for many years now."

Project CARE (Community Approach to Recovery and Engagement) began as a partnership between the police department and Turning Point in 2017 in response to the growing number of overdoses. The latest effort can be seen as an expansion on that, as it tries to get services to those in need. Improvement of systems also is a goal.

Every two weeks, police present data to the outreach providers and service agencies. A "situation table" is used to identify people who are "acutely at risk" and collaborate on how best to get resources to individuals, Evans said.

"We're six weeks in," he said. "It started out really well. We're excited to see where it leads."

Elizabeth Bridgewater, executive director of the housing trust, called One Brattleboro "an incredible group to brainstorm solutions with."

"I just really appreciate the deepening relationships that I've had through this process," she said, noting the group is teaming up on ways to advocate for legislative tweaks to come up with less limited ways to trespass people from properties owned by housing providers.

Bridgewater said One Brattleboro also helped to figure out ways to cut down on unwanted activities happening at the housing trust's apartment complex at 9 Canal St.

Tenants report drug activity, destruction, other issues BRATTLEBORO  Tenants at Windham & Windsor Housing Trust properties are tired of illicit drug use and sales, threatening behavior and other issues.

Success stories will be shared in the future, DBA Executive Director Kate Trzaskos said. Op-eds are being developed.

Potter also sees the potential for more promotion of the efforts at the town's annual safety fairs.

"I think that can be a really great place for the community to learn what's going on and interact with all the good work everybody's doing and hopefully work together with us to try to make Brattleboro better," Potter said.
One of several air filters placed around Bellows Falls Union High School in Westminster to help with the PCB levels.
BRATTLEBORO  Outpatient support staff at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital primary care and speciality practices are unionizing.

After eight months of organizing, outpatient support staff in the primary care and specialty practices at BMH voted 29 to 18 on Thursday to set up a union, according to an announcement from AFT Vermont. The move follows a vote in February by inpatient staff to do so.

"We just want to make sure that we are heard and that we have a voice and are working with the BMH administration to make things better," Krystal Palmisano, certified medical assistant at Brattleboro Family Medicine and union organizing committee member, said in an interview Monday.

She described the effort coming out of wanting to be more involved in decision making and get livable wages, and having more staff and more consistent staffing. In an announcement about the union formalization, she said, "We give everything weve got, day in and day out, and yet many of us struggle to make ends meet or face the stress of growing workloads while being short-staffed."

Palmisano anticipates the process of officially unionizing will take seven days from the vote then a bargaining committee will take on the next steps.

"We look forward to working with the administration to make it mutually beneficial for all of us," she said.

Once the votes are certified, the practices support staff will begin the process of bargaining their first contract with the BMH administration, according to the announcement. The goal is to join with colleagues, who won their union election in February. According to information previously shared by AFT Vermont, ancillary staff at BMH consisting of 250 employees in support, tech, maintenance and the business office set up a union to negotiate a new three-year contract.

Peter Blackmer, chief human resources officer at BMH, said a stipulated agreement with AFT drew a boundary between inpatient and outpatient staff. Outpatient employees in Brattleboro Family Medicine and Putney Family Healthcare successfully voted to unionize last week.

"I expect that the labor board will notice both parties of our duty to begin collective bargaining," Blackmer said in an interview Monday.

An election last week for outpatient staff in specialty departments and the hospital itself was too close to call, Blackmer said. He anticipates a post-election hearing will be held by the labor board to determine the outcome.

AFT has represented union nurses at BMH since the 1980s, Blackmer said. Now, he counted five unions to negotiate contracts with.

"It's going to take time for the two parties, management and labor, to arrive at the contractual outcomes of that bargaining," Blackmer said.

John Gibbs, orthopedics certified medical assistant and organizing committee, called the latest unionization "a big win for the clinical and support staff here at BMH." His hope is to secure better benefits and better pay at a time of uncertainty.

"I think when you have better pay and benefits, and you feel more secure in your job, you're able to provide, in this case, the exceptional care that our communities come to expect from BMH," he said in an interview Monday. "If you're worried about making ends meet, it might distract you from being able to perform your duties."

Gibbs worries about the potential for federal cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. At an event at BMH last week, officials said the hospital was "Medicare dependent."

Blackmer called health care financing "a challenge, at best, even on a good day." Stakeholders include Medicare, Medicaid, and the federal and state governments.

More unions means more obligations to meet, Blackmer said.

"And we will meet all of our obligations under the law but our financial wellbeing is all the more in question with all of these obligations that we have," he said. "In my opinion, the future of BMH is without question. We are 100 percent committed to this community. The way in which we deliver our services, though, that is something we are working on ... The financial stability moving forward is absolutely critically important to us."

In Blackmer's experience, contracts with AFT can take six to 18 months to finalize.

"There is a lot of work to get an inaugural contract," he said, adding that it's premature to say what kind of conditions the administration would seek in one.

Welch bemoans cruelty of Trump policies, calling them 'unconscionable and unnecessary' BRATTLEBORO  U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., stopped in to visit the folks at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital on Wednesday afternoon and thank them for all their hard work.

Unionizing provides more security for staff, Gibbs said. He anticipates some disagreement from the administration on certain items but believes both parties are on the same page when it comes to anticipating changes from the federal government and wanting to provide the best patient care possible.

In a union contract, Gibbs would like to see some extra money paid or "float differentials" when outpatient staff are sent to other departments than their regularly assigned one.

So far, Gibbs believes the move to form a union has had a positive effect on morale.

"I think everyone is excited about it," he said. "Not everyone is familiar about what being in a union means. I guess there will be a bit of a learning curve."

Nicole DiVita, an ophthalmic technician at UVM Medical Center and president for healthcare of AFT Vermont, said she's "thrilled" about the news.

"We are the fastest growing union in the state, representing over 11,000 healthcare and higher education professionals, including nurses and health professionals at five Vermont hospitals," she said in the announcement. "When health care workers have a voice, we raise the standard of care for our whole community.
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Nancy Braus is a long-time political activist who writes from Guilford. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
Five years after Chinese smartphone maker Oppo debuted in its home market, the company ventured overseas in 2009 and introduced its products to Thailand.

Oppo hasn't looked back since. Not only did it capture a large market share in Thailand, it also succeeded in branching out across Southeast Asia, with showrooms all over the region and a factory in Indonesia.

In 2024, Oppo overtook South Korea's Samsung to become the top smartphone brand in Southeast Asia with an 18 percent market share, or 16.9 million shipments, according to a report by global technology analyst Canalys, which attributed Oppo's success to its product calibration and high-end investment.

Shi Shuai, chief executive officer of Oppo Asia-Pacific, said the company has been working to promote local authorization, cultivate local talent, and integrate into local cultures. He cited Oppo's factory in the city of Tangerang, west of the Indonesian capital Jakarta  the company's first manufacturing plant outside China  as an example, with the factory creating job opportunities for Indonesians, and contributing to long-term economic development.

Oppo's success in Southeast Asia shows how Chinese investment in the region has evolved over the past decade  with a strong focus on digital industries and advanced technology that is responsive to domestic market needs, conscious of corporate social responsibility, and contributes to the local economy.

"Chinese firms seem to place greater emphasis on being good corporate citizens in their adopted locales. It is a common refrain among Chinese multinationals that they must benefit local communities and support local employment," Erica Tay, director of macro research at Kuala Lumpur-based Maybank, told China Daily.

Tay said while the first wave of Chinese direct investments in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the early 2000s was mostly in State-owned enterprises involved in heavy industries, the second wave was aimed at private sector digital industries, and advanced manufacturing.

Chinese manufacturers that have expanded their capacity in ASEAN have been able to tap into abundant supplies of labor, land and energy, Tay said. These companies are also able to access a new market in ASEAN  the world's fifth-biggest economy with a combined population of over 670 million.

"In search of new markets where competition is less stiff than back home, Chinese firms have expanded their footprint by addressing the needs of ASEAN consumers," Tay said, adding that Chinese tech and e-commerce giants, tried and tested in the domestic market, are equipped to compete in emerging ones in Asia.

A staff member displays a model of an electric multiple unit train at the signing ceremony of a joint venture agreement between China Communications Construction Company and Malaysia Rail Link in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on Dec 18. CHONG VOON CHUNG/XINHUA

These companies have also benefited from the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area, which gives goods produced by Chinese companies in their ASEAN bases preferential access in fast-growing consumer markets.

Manufacturing has long been a significant driver of FDI growth in ASEAN. In 2023, it comprised more than $50 billion of FDI inflows, or 22 percent of the total, according to the October joint report by the ASEAN Secretariat and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

China was the third-biggest source of FDI in 2023, hitting $17 billion, a year-on-year increase of nearly 20 percent.

The report noted that FDI from China is on "an upward trend"  rising from less than $4 billion in 2010. The number of Chinese enterprises operating in ASEAN increased from 2,600 in 2012 to 6,500 in 2022.

The Chinese private sector has "gradually internationalized" toward ASEAN, it said.

Textile and garment manufacturers invested in Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam; electronics companies ventured to Malaysia and Vietnam, while technology companies went to Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

In contrast, Chinese companies that invested in ASEAN more than 20 years ago were State-owned enterprises mostly involved in mining and oil exploration, construction, hydropower, and in the development of special economic zones and industrial parks.

Before 2018, the year when China-US trade tensions started, nearly half of Chinese FDI was mostly in real estate and finance.

But after then US president Donald Trump decided in June 2018 to impose a 25 percent tariff on $50 billion of Chinese exports, China's investment pattern in ASEAN started changing. From 2020 to 2023, investment in manufacturing increased at an annual average rate of 33 percent, compared with less than 10 percent in the years 2010 to 2018, the report said.

The supply chain disruption caused by the pandemic has also pushed many Chinese manufacturing companies to diversify abroad, with ASEAN a primary beneficiary of increased Chinese FDI in manufacturing.

Screens show information about Chinese electrical appliance maker Midea Group's 5G factory in Chonburi province, Thailand. XINHUA

Strategic opportunities

Analysts and industry players expect that Trump  who started his second term as president by slapping an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods in February  will push more Chinese companies to move production out of China to ASEAN countries.

"Chinese companies are facing strategic opportunities amid the golden decade of going global," Feng Qingqiang, general manager of Youdao Ads, told China Daily.

Youdao Ads is a digital marketing solution provider launched by Youdao Inc, a subsidiary of Chinese internet company NetEase Group. By using emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the platform connects over 10 million influencers, and reaches over 2 billion users worldwide in 75 countries and regions.

With the improvement of the Chinese manufacturing sector and brand management capabilities, coupled with a slowdown in domestic consumption growth, there are more opportunities for international expansion, said Feng. Many high-quality, innovative, and cost-effective Chinese products are becoming increasingly competitive in overseas markets, he added.

Southeast Asia's geographical location, young population, and the similarity of its current economic development to China's past growth, present significant market potential for Chinese enterprises, Feng said.

"After the pandemic, the e-commerce market in Southeast Asia has seen rapid growth, with the e-commerce penetration rate in key regional countries to reach 6.5 percent by 2025, a notable increase from the pre-pandemic level of 5 percent," he said.

In Malaysia, China is one of the top three FDI sources, hitting over 28 billion ringgit ($6.33 billion) in 2024, according to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority.

Safwan Nizar Johari, acting investment consul for the Malaysian consulate in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, said most of the recent Chinese investments are in the EV, battery, and other allied industries.

After China and Malaysia celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2024, Chinese companies are keen to do business in Malaysia as the multicultural country has a big ethnic Chinese population, Safwan said. "So it's easy for a Chinese company to do business in our country. When they go to Malaysia, they say many people can speak Chinese, there are many similarities with Chinese culture," he said.

Safwan said Malaysia also positions itself as a regional hub, allowing Chinese companies to use it as a production base to export around ASEAN.

One of these companies that bet big in Malaysia is the Geely Holding Group from Zhejiang province.

In 2017, the Hangzhou-based carmaker acquired a 49.9 percent stake in local car manufacturer Proton, with the goal of jointly developing it into the No 1 brand in Malaysia and one of the leading brands in ASEAN.

"Following years of integration, Proton has achieved a comprehensive transformation in research and development, manufacturing, quality, procurement, and marketing, securing the second position in sales and market share in Malaysia for six consecutive years," a Geely spokesperson told China Daily.

An employee works at an electronics factory of Shanghai Greatway Industry Co in northern Vietnam in October. YAO QILIN/XINHUA

Jobs, shared prosperity

In Thailand, Chinese firms accounted for more than 42 percent of the 981.65 billion baht ($28.9 billion) total investment by foreign entities in 2024, according to the Department of Business Development of Thailand.

Chinese automakers and electronics companies are the top investors. Chinese EV production facilities, most of which are located along the kingdom's Eastern Economic Corridor, recorded a total production capacity of 474,000 vehicles in 2024, according to the Kasikorn Research Center. Production capacity is forecast to rise to 620,000 this year.

Wichai Kinchong Choi, senior vice-president of Kasikornbank, highlighted the role of Chinese innovative technologies in helping transform Thailand into an EV production hub in Southeast Asia.

"While we have witnessed Western economic power using protectionism and trade barriers to benefit its own interests at the expense of fair competition, multilateralism and free trade are firmly believed to maintain the future direction for successful and sustainable world economic growth for more years to come," Wichai said.

Narongsak Putthapornmongkol, president of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, said Chinese factories have created many jobs in Thailand. The Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone has helped boost Thai export volume to $3 billion over the past year and provided jobs for more than 55,000 Thai people, according to the chamber.

Oppo's factory in Indonesia has nearly 20,000 local employees and contracts with local suppliers, according to Shi, CEO of Oppo Asia-Pacific. Oppo has worked with local vocational colleges on internship programs, supplying a significant number of skilled technicians to Indonesia.

Ma Si, Li Fusheng, and Cheng Yuin Beijing contributed to this story.

Editor: ZAD
Data storage vendor Pure Storage has appointed Altay Ayyuce as area vice president of A/NZ, replacing Amy Rushall, who is returning to the US as area vice-president of strategy and development for the Americas.

Ayyuce, who will report to vice president and general manager for Asia Pacific and Japan Nathan Hall, brings close to 30 years of leadership experience in the A/NZ IT and telco sectors.

In his five years with Pure Storage, he has helped many organisations overcome their business challenges with Pures platform.

Australia and New Zealand have always been one of our most important markets in the APJ region and we are delighted that Altay has accepted the challenge to lead our business here, Hall said.

He has been a consistently outstanding leader for Pure Storage over the past five years with an unwavering focus on customer success and I am confident he can take us to even greater heights.

Pure Storage counts companies such as AUCloud, Cumulus VFX, Toyota Financial Services, the University of Western Australia and Christchurch NZs St Georges Hospital as customers.

In February, Pure Storage updated its Reseller partner programme to increase profitability through incentivising partners who successfully replace aging disk-based storage with Pures all-flash offering.


Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko was sworn in for a seventh term on March 25 as human rights groups said the authoritarian leaders rule was "unconstitutional."



Lukashenko won over 86 percent of the vote in the January 26 presidential election that was widely condemned as a sham by Western countries.



"They took place in conditions of a deep human rights crisis, in an atmosphere of total fear caused by repression against civil society, independent media, the opposition, and all dissenters, said a joint statement by 10 Belarusian rights groups on March 25.

Belarusian Ruler Lukashenko Sworn In For Seventh Term No media source currently available 0:00 0:00:55 0:00

Lukashenko was sworn in during a ceremony in the capital, Minsk.

On the same day, hundreds of supporters of the Belarusian democratic opposition held rallies across Europe, including in Lithuania, Poland, and the Czech Republic, to mark the countrys Freedom Day.



March 25 marks the anniversary of the 1918 declaration of an independent Belarus and is traditionally celebrated by the Belarusian opposition, many of whom have fled into exile or been imprisoned by Lukashenko's regime.



In the January presidential election, which barred the presence of international media and Western observers, Lukashenko ran against four other candidates, all of whom supported his government and its policies.



Lukashenko, who has been in power for three decades, dismissed all criticism of the election, as did Russia, Minsk's closest ally.

In 2020, mass protests erupted after a disputed presidential election that extended Lukashenko's longstanding rule for another term.



The election was widely condemned as fraudulent by the United States, the European Union, and other international actors.



The protests, which demanded Lukashenkos resignation, were met with mass arrests, alleged torture, and violent crackdowns that left several people dead.
WASHINGTON -- A US court granted Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's (RFE/RL) request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) in its lawsuit against the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) over the termination of RFE/RLs congressionally appropriated funding.

The United States District Court in Washington, D.C. said in its ruling on March 25 that the agency likely acted arbitrarily and capriciously in terminating RFE/RLs grant and that the actions would cause the broadcaster "irreparable harm" if carried out.

United States District Judge Royce Lamberth wrote in the 10-page ruling that the TRO was needed to halt the closure as RFE/RL had shown it is likely to win its case in a court hearing, that allowing the USAGM moves to continue until a court hearing on the fate of RFE/RL's funding would cause "irreparable harm" to the broadcaster, and that issuing the order was in the public interest.

"The leadership of USAGM cannot, with one sentence of reasoning offering virtually no explanation, force RFE/RL to shut downeven if the President has told them to do so," Lamberth explained.

The next step will be a decision on RFE/RLs request for a preliminary injunction requiring USAGM to provide the approximately $77 million that Congress appropriated for RFE/RLs activities for the rest of the 2025 fiscal year, which ends September 30. The court is expected to rule on that in the coming weeks.

The threat to the broadcasters funding has sparked a wave of global support from media watchdogs, analysts, and democracy advocates, as well as the audiences in the 27 languages and 23 countries in which RFE/RL broadcasts.

Lamberth appeared to acknowledge that in his decision, writing that since 1950 the government has specifically supported RFE/RL as a vehicle for providing trustworthy, locally relevant news to audiences subject to communist propaganda.

We appreciate Judge Lamberths thoughtful and airtight ruling to prevent USAGM from ignoring the will of Congress. We look forward to further advancing our case that its unconstitutional to deny us the funds that Congress has appropriated to RFE/RL for the rest of the fiscal year," RFE/RL President & CEO Stephen Capus said after the ruling.

"This ruling further sends a strong message to our journalists around the world: Their mission as designed by Congress is a worthy and valuable one and should continue. For 75 years, RFE/RL has been closely aligned with American national security interests by fighting censorship and propaganda in many of the worlds most repressive societies.

The USAGM claimed to terminate RFE/RLs grant on March 15, hours after an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump called for the reduction of seven agencies -- including the USAGM -- to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.

The purported termination of RFE/RLs grant was communicated in a letter signed by Kari Lake, who listed her title as Senior Advisor to the (USAGM) Acting CEO with Authorities Delegated by Acting CEO.

The letter stated the award no longer effectuates agency priorities.

It gave no further explanation, and Lamberth said the USAGM had failed to give any further rationale for the move to cut funding during a hearing on March 24.

"The 'explanation' offered by USAGM can scarcely be characterized as an explanation: it amounted to one line in the termination letter stating that the award no longer effectuates agency priorities, Lamberth wrote in his ruling.

During the March 24 hearing, the USAGM did say it had taken "immediate administrative steps" to initiate a disbursement of $7.46 million in funds RFE/RL was seeking for the days in March that it operated before Lake's letter was issued.

Abigail Stout, a Justice Department lawyer representing the USAGM, also argued at the hearing that the grant agreement between USAGM and RFE/RL, as stated in the International Broadcasting Act, gives the agency the right to terminate the agreement if RFE/RL fails to comply with the provisions outlined within it.

Lamberth said that the USAGM's demand that RFE/RL use those funds to pay off its financial obligations and not for operations was the "functional equivalent of not receiving them at all."

"RFE/RL would be forced to break lease agreements, terminate employment contractsthus destroying the credibility RFE/RL has built over decadesand cease all other operations," he wrote.

Czech Analyst Warns Over Possible RFE/RL Closure No media source currently available 0:00 0:01:04 0:00

Jiri Pehe, a Czech political analyst and director of New York University's academic center in Prague, was one of those who helped bring RFE/RL from Munich to its current Prague headquarters after the fall of the Iron Curtain.

Pehe was a senior adviser to then-President Vaclav Havel when the dissident playwright-turn politician cleared the way for the move.

"If RFE/RL closes, many people in the countries where it operates wont be able to access alternative news any longer. Of course, people would try to access the kind of information that RFE/RL provides elsewhere, but RFE/RL provides news that at this moment is very important in providing alternatives to official news sources," Pehe told RFE/RL.

"RFE/RL closing would also mark a symbolic full stop that would show that the United States, which until now has led the free world, is no longer interested in fighting for democracy and freedom in those countries where there is no democracy and freedom," he added.

Dozens of US lawmakers on March 25 urged Trump to reverse his executive order to shutter the USAGM. A letter to Trump signed by more than 40 members of Congress said shuttering the agency would also hurt US credibility and global standing around the world.

More directly, it will leave millions of people in closed and restrictive environments, from Havana to Caracas to Minsk to Tehran, less able to access information about the world around them, the letter said.

Representative Bill Keating (Democrat-Massachusetts), ranking member of the House Foreign affairs Committees Subcommittee on Europe, said RFE/RL, Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, and other media outlets that are overseen by the USAGM serve as a vital soft power tools that enable people in closed societies to gain access to credible and objective information.

Their work is so powerful that regimes in Iran, Russia, and China have condemned it as a threat to national security, Keating said in a news release.

Since Lake's letter, readers and listeners from Iran to Belarus, Afghanistan to Russia, Pakistan to Ukraine have swamped social media and other outlets to praise RFE/RL journalists for their brave, impartial, and honest reporting on the front lines of war and in some of the worlds most repressive political and media landscapes -- and expressed concern that it could vanish.

Sometimes you were like a ray of light that broke through the darkness of lies, Oleh Prozorov, a reader from Ukraine, wrote on Facebook while thanking RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service for its protection of political freedoms.

Lake has been nominated by Trump to take over as head of Voice of America, though her nomination must still be approved by the International Broadcasting Advisory Board (IBAB).

The members of the IBAB, an advisory board established by Congress to oversee the activities of the USAGM, were removed from their positions by the US administration in January and have not been replaced.

Trump, who has taken several moves to slash government spending since taking office for a second term in January, clashed with the USAGM over the content of US-government-funded programming during his first term.

With the future of RFE/RL uncertain, European Union politicians have been looking into the possibility of supporting the broadcaster.

The USAGM is an independent US government agency that oversees the broadcasting of news and information in more than 60 languages to over 400 million people each week.

The total budget request for the USAGM for fiscal year 2025 was $950 million to fund all of its operations and capital investments.

This includes media outlets such as RFE/RL, Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio Marti), Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), and the Open Technology Fund.

The 2025 budget request for RFE/RL itself was about $153 million, according to USAGM documents.
US-backed forces declared in 2019 that the Islamic State (IS) group had been destroyed. But as the past few years have shown, that only marked the end of its quasi-state that controlled territory in Iraq and Syria -- not the threat it continues to present. The extremist group is demonstrating resilience and experiencing a resurgence in other parts of the world -- and its operational capabilities are evolving. Since January 2024, IS has claimed a series of high-profile attacks across the world, from Iran and Russia to Germany and the United States. IS remains a persistent global security threat and the deadliest terrorist organization in the world, Adrian Shtuni, a security specialist and head of the Washington-based Shtuni Consulting, told RFE/RL. Now the organization relies primarily on a dynamic network of regional affiliates who operate independently, he said. What Is The Current State Of IS? The vision and aspirations of IS have not changed, but since its territorial defeat in 2019, the extremist group has undergone a radical structural and operational evolution, analysts say. A diversified array of IS branches has emerged in recent years throughout the world, particularly in regions where there is little ability to counter extremism. Colin Clarke, director of policy and research at the New York-based Soufan Group consultancy, said IS has become a group for which the sum of its parts is greater than the whole. IS might be even more challenging as a decentralized organization than it was as a proto-state. When it was running a proto-state, it was a big target, Clarke told RFE/RL. IS and its affiliates have made their presence felt over the past year with deadly attacks around the world. In January 2024, twin suicide bombings in the southern Iranian city of Kerman killed around 100 people. Two months later, four attackers targeted the Crocus City Hall concert venue outside Moscow, killing 145 people in a mass shooting, stabbing, and arson attack.

In August, a suicide bombing killed at least 20 people in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. Days later, an IS member stabbed several people at a festival in Solingen, Germany, killing three people. The groups reach extends as far as the United States. On January 1, an IS-inspired assailant drove a truck into a crowd of New Years revelers in New Orleans, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more. The attacker, Texas-born former US Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was killed by police. Shtuni said these attacks attest not only to the continued appeal of [ISs] brand of terrorist violence, but also to the organizations resilience, adaptability, and global reach. IS and its affiliates carried out an average of around 600 attacks per year over the past three years, according to data gathered by Dragonfly, a London-based global security intelligence consultancy. While that is down from an average of 770 incidents annually during the prior three-year period, the incidents are becoming deadlier, with the average number of casualties per attack rising 40 percent, according to Dragonflys TerrorismTracker database.

The data as it stands does not necessarily point to a resurgence in IS (and its affiliates) in the last few years, but rather points to a degree of resilience, Dragonfly told RFE/RL. However, concern has been raised in the international press over an intent by IS to increase the number of mass-casualty attacks globally, the group said. Where Are IS Extremists Active And How Do They Recruit? Through its affiliates, IS maintains a strong presence and level of engagement in specific hotspots in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. One group that has emerged as one of the most active affiliates is IS-Khorasan Province (ISKP), which has expanded its operations beyond Afghanistan and is drawing militants from Central Asian nations, especially Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, Somalia has become a critical hub of the groups global expansion in Africa. It is leveraging Somalias instability to establish strongholds and networks attracting fighters from Ethiopia, Sudan, and Tanzania while expanding ideological outreach in multiple languages like Amharic and Swahili. But the group is also growing fast in the Sahel region, where IS-West Africa (ISWA) remains one of the dominant terrorist organizations in the Lake Chad Basin.

Recruitment is taking place not only on the ground, but also online. In the digital space, IS continues to exploit social media platforms and encrypted messaging tools very effectively to disseminate its ideology, radicalize, recruit, raise funds, and plot attacks, Shtuni said. He pointed to a recent string of IS-inspired attacks in Europe, which he said showed three concerning trends: that the radicalization is mostly happening online, is occurring at an accelerated pace, and is increasingly involving minors and young adults. The online space requires a lot of attention, especially as military operations are kind of scaled backcompared to thethe global war on terror, Lucas Webber, a senior analyst at Tech Against Terrorism, told RFE/RL. How Does IS Fund Its Operations? IS maintains financial resilience through diversified revenue streams and evolving tactics. Despite leadership losses, its core in Iraq and Syria retains $10 million to 20 million in reserves, supplemented by regional branches generating funds by kidnapping-for-ransom, extortion, taxes, and robberies, according to US Treasury reports last year. At its peak, when the groups self-styled caliphate controlled vast territories in Iraq and Syria, oil sales dominated its income. But IS now relies on criminal activities and local exploitation to generate revenue. In Africa, branches like IS-Somalia (ISS) extort millions from businesses and financial systems.

In Asia, ISKP initially suffered when its financial network was rocked by the arrests and killings of its key facilitators across the Middle East. However, it has recovered by shifting to virtual assets for funding external operations, including the Crocus City Hall attack. Global connectivity remains critical, with IS increasingly using cryptocurrency to transfer reserves and donations. The groups financial sustainability hinges on maintaining safe havens, evading financial controls, and sustaining global networks. How Are Counterterrorism Efforts Faring? The global reach of terrorism necessitates multilateral collaboration in counterterrorism, requiring nations to exchange intelligence, align strategies, and strengthen security capabilities in regions most susceptible to extremist activities. Reduce any of those and opportunist extremist groups like IS find ways to thrive, as has been the case in Afghanistan following the US withdrawal and in the Sahel in Africa with Frances phased exit from the region. In the Sahel region, the withdrawal of French forces has also resulted in a shift in regional alliances. The military juntas installed in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali after recent military coups have tried to fill the vacuum in counterterrorism efforts by turning to Russia, [which] has significantly increased its footprint in the region, Shtuni said. The United States still leads global counterterrorism efforts along with regional partners, as demonstrated by recent strikes on IS targets in Iraq, Syria, and Somalia. This month, a US-led coalition helped Iraqi forces kill Abdullah Maki Musleh al-Rifai, also known as Abu Khadija. Described by the Iraqi government as one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world, Abu Khadija was the leader of IS in Iraq and Syria.

But there is growing concern that shifting priorities in Washington can hinder the global fight against extremism as it becomes clear that the US is shifting its focus inward and reevaluating its role on the global stage, Shtuni warned. General Michael E. Kurilla, head of the US militarys Central Command, has said that the thousands of IS fighters being held in Syria in facilities guarded by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces represent a literal and figurative [IS] army in detention and warned of the dangers to the region and beyond if a large number of them escaped. Kurilla said during a visit to Syria in January -- a month after the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad -- that the US military remains dedicated to our mission, our people, the enduring defeat of [IS], and stability throughout the region and beyond.
WASHINGTON -- The US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) committed to release to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) some of the funds appropriated for it by Congress, as a U.S. judge heard arguments over whether the federal agency was justified in canceling a grant agreement with the broadcaster.

The agencys move on March 24 came hours ahead of a hearing in US federal court in Washington, D.C. over the fate of the agreement. The agencys withholding of the funds has jeopardized the continued operation of the media organization that since 1950 has provided fair and unbiased news to audiences in countries where a free and independent press have been stifled.

We hope the imminent disbursement of two weeks worth of funding that Congress appropriated to RFE/RL will keep our lights on until the court rules on the broader case," RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus said in a statement.

"Were confident the law is on our side as the US Constitution grants Congress the exclusive power of the purse. It is unlawful to deny us the funds that Congress has already appropriated to RFE/RL for the rest of this fiscal year."

'Immediate Administrative Steps'

The USAGM said it has taken "immediate administrative steps" to initiate the disbursement, which should occur by March 26. RFE/RL would receive the funds by the end of the month, it added.

At the court hearing, Abigail Stout, a Justice Department lawyer representing the USAGM, argued the grant agreement between USAGM and RFE/RL, as stated in the International Broadcasting Act, gives the agency the right to terminate the agreement if RFE/RL fails to comply with the provisions outlined within it.

"So, the statute actually contemplates that the agency could terminate a grant," she said.

In response, David Zionts, one of RFE/RLs lawyers, said it would make no sense for Congress to approve funding only for agencies to be able to do as they please.

Czech Analyst Warns Over Possible RFE/RL Closure No media source currently available 0:00 0:01:04 0:00

RFE/RL is still seeking the remainder of the grant funds due for the full 2025 budget year, which ends September 30, 2025, and is seeking a preliminary injunction from the court for that purpose. Judge Royce Lamberth is expected to decide whether or not to issue the injunction in the coming weeks.

"If RFE/RL closes, many people in the countries where it operates wont be able to access alternative news any longer. Of course, people would try to access the kind of information that RFE/RL provides elsewhere, but RFE/RL provides news that at this moment is very important in providing alternatives to official news sources," Jiri Pehe, a Czech political analyst and director of New York University's academic center in Prague, told RFE/RL.

"RFE/RL closing would also mark a symbolic full stop that would show that the United States, which until now has led the free world, is no longer interested in fighting for democracy and freedom in those countries where there is no democracy and freedom," Pehe, who was an adviser to former Czech President Vaclav Havel, added.

The threat to the broadcasters funding also has sparked a wave of support from the audiences in the 27 languages and 23 countries in which RFE/RL broadcasts.

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 worlds most repressive political and media landscapes -- and expressed concern that it could vanish.

Sometimes you were like a ray of light that broke through the darkness of lies, Oleh Prozorov, a reader from Ukraine, wrote on Facebook while thanking RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service for its protection of political freedoms.

The directive to terminate funding came hours after an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump called for the reduction of seven agencies  including the USAGM  to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.

Cuts To Government Spending

The purported termination of RFE/RLs grant was communicated in a letter signed by Kari Lake, who listed her title as Senior Advisor to the (USAGM) Acting CEO with Authorities Delegated by Acting CEO. The letter stated the award no longer effectuates agency priorities. It gave no further explanation.

Lake has been nominated by Trump to take over as head of Voice of America, though her nomination must still be approved by the International Broadcasting Advisory Board (IBAB).

The members of the IBAB, an advisory board established by Congress to oversee the activities of the USAGM, were removed from their positions by the US administration in January and have not been replaced.

Trump, who has taken several moves to slash government spending since taking office for a second term in January, clashed with the USAGM over the content of US-government-funded programming during his first term.

He has reiterated those concerns since retaking office. Supporters of the broadcasters say they are an important arm of US diplomacy.

It is vital that Congress protect USAGM, ensure the safety of its affiliate journalists, and reaffirm the U.S. governments commitment to a free and independent media at home and abroad, a group of 28 press freedom and journalist groups from around the world wrote in a letter to US lawmakers on March 19.

With the future of RFE/RL uncertain, European Union politicians have been looking into the possibility of supporting the broadcaster.

The USAGM is an independent US government agency that oversees the broadcasting of news and information in more than 60 languages to over 400 million people each week.

The total budget request for the USAGM for fiscal year 2025 was $950 million to fund all of its operations and capital investments.

This includes media outlets such as RFE/RL, Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio Marti), Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), and the Open Technology Fund.

The 2025 budget request for RFE/RL itself was about $153 million, according to USAGM documents.
As Turkey witnesses its biggest protests in more than a decade, theres intense speculation about whether these events will lead to a significant challenge to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan or a lurch further into authoritarianism.

The protests were prompted by the jailing of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the candidate from the main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) for the 2028 presidential election.

What happens next could have implications far beyond Turkeys borders.

The War In Ukraine

Early in the war, Turkey achieved a significant diplomatic success by mediating a deal between Russia and Ukraine enabling both countries to export grain through the Black Sea.

The deal was a crucial factor in getting vital Ukrainian grain exports to countries in the Global South that rely heavily on them -- lasting for a year before Russia pulled out.

Its importance is underlined by the fact that Washington has made restoring it a key priority of its talks with Moscow and Kyiv.

Ankara has very much played its own game over the course of the war.

Although Turkey is a NATO member, Erdogan has sought to maintain good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders share a strongman style that has perhaps cemented their understanding.

But this has not stopped Turkish drone manufacturer Bayraktar pushing ahead with a planned factory in Ukraine. Its products played a key role in Ukraines defense in the early stages of the war.

Ihor Semyvolos, director of the Center for Middle East Studies in Kyiv, says the driving force of Turkish foreign policy is economic.

As far as regional questions go, Russia, Ukraine, the Middle East, the key role is played by business interests. They will revolve around Imamoglu the same way they currently revolve around Erdogan, he told RFE/RLs Current Time.

Western Ties -- The EU And Washington

Talking of business, Turkeys largest trading partner is the European Union -- accounting for around a third of its trade, according to EU statistics.

A change of government in Turkey would almost certainly influence its relationship with Brussels, which put Turkeys EU accession process on hold in 2018 amid criticism of democratic backsliding.

Imamoglu would likely push for better relations and a restart of Turkeys EU accession talks.

But relations between Brussels and Ankara may warm anyway. As Europe seeks to reduce its defense reliance on Washington and form a military mission to Ukraine, Turkeys armed forces could make it a key player.

European leaders face an uncomfortable choice between condemning Erdogans actions at home or benefiting from a key security relationship.

Economics was also top of the agenda when Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington this week.

Erdogan was hoping to get relief from sanctions imposed by US President Donald Trump in 2020 after Turkey purchased Russian S-400 air defense systems.

Iran And The Middle East

Developments in Turkey come at a time when Tehran and Ankara have been exchanging accusations and threats over interference in each others domestic affairs.

The two countries often have conflicting interests on various regional issues, such as Turkeys support for the opposition to the Assad regime in Syria and its backing of Azerbaijan against Armenia.

Yet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said events in Turkey are an internal matter.

Aydin Akhavan, a political analyst based in Istanbul, told RFE/RLs Radio Farda, Erdogan has presented himself as a pragmatic leader, shifting alliances whenever it serves his interests. The opposition, on the other hand, is Eurocentric and advocates for a secular and democratic system. The world Erdogan envisions is certainly more aligned with Tehrans preferences.

Geography gives Turkey immense regional influence. Early in the Ukraine war, it closed the Bosphorus to Russian naval shipping, complicating Moscows communications with its forces in Syria.

Turkeys influence on Syria, where it is one of the main allies of the interim government in Damascus, gives it many cards to play in international diplomacy. Turkish and Turkish-backed forces have played a big role in the conflict and will likely continue to do so now.

Central Asia

Turkeys influence reaches beyond the Middle East and into the Central Asia, where overwhelming majorities in four nations -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan-- speak Turkic languages.

All but Turkmenistan are grouped together in the Organization of Turkic States, which also includes Azerbaijan.

Some regional experts have said Turkey represents an alternative pole amid concerns that Russian expansionism could be focused on areas in Central Asia with Russian-speaking populations, as it has been in Ukraine.

They are conducting joint military exercises and are establishing arms procurement and production from markets other than Russia, Assel Tutumlu, from Near East University in northern Cyprus, told RFE/RLs Kazakh Service in November.

Before the Ukraine war, much of Central Asias trade with Europe went through Russia. Tutumlu said Western sanctions on Russia had given impetus to new trade routes via Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Indeed, strengthening transport and logistics ties on the so-called Central Corridor of routes from China to Europe that bypass Russia was given top billing at a regional summit in Bishkek late last year.

The Balkans

Turkey is also a major player in energy markets, and nowhere is this more evident than in southeastern Europe.

Hungary, Romania, and Serbia are all major consumers of gas piped by Turkey. Turkstream is now the only pipeline moving Russian gas to Europe, running directly from Russia to Turkey under the Black Sea and then on to the Balkans.

Ankara is making a renewed push to establish Turkey as the regions premier energy hub, noted Karim Elgendy of the Chatham House think tank in London in December.

Turkey is also a major investor in the Balkans, particularly Serbia. As well as promoting ambitious plans for a Belgrade-Sarajevo highway, it has floated plans to build its trademark drones in Serbia.

Drone deals have also been discussed in Bosnia and Albania.

In the Balkans, Turkey has used economic power as an icebreaker for political moves as it looks beyond countries with large Muslim communities to forge close relations elsewhere.
Turkish authorities have detained nearly 1,500 people amid the countrys largest antigovernment protests in more than a decade, the countrys interior minister said on March 25.

The protests erupted on March 19 in response to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, strongman President Recep Tayyip Erdogans main political rival who has been hit with corruption charges his supporters call politically motivated.

Turkish Interior Minister Alil Yerlikaya said in a March 25 post on X that 1,418 suspects had been detained so far in illegal demonstrations, nearly 1,000 of whom are in custody, and condemned those he said had insulted Erdogans family members.

Tear Gas And Rubber Bullets

While the most serious of clashes between protesters and police -- who have deployed tear gas and rubber bullets -- have unfolded around Sarachane Square near the city administration, demonstrations witnessed by RFE/RL in Kadikoy, the historic center of Istanbuls Asian side, appeared peaceful.

RFE/RL spoke to several protesters in Kadikoy, where young men and women with tattoos marched alongside elderly protesters with canes and demonstrators held up portraits of Imamoglu.

One woman marching with a Turkish flag in her hand who gave only her first name, Merve, said the protest is not just about Imamoglu's arrest.

For many years, this country has been abused, corruption has been high, and human rights have been violated. We are protesting against this," Merve, 44, told RFE/RL.

Imamoglu, 54, was detained at his home early on March 19 along with dozens of others amid a corruption investigation. On March 23, he was selected in a vote as the opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) candidate for Turkeys next scheduled presidential election in 2028.

The protests against his arrest have continued in numerous cities across Turkey over the past week despite a ban by authorities.

Yerlikaya has accused protesters of "terrorizing" the streets.

During demonstrations in Kadikoy on March 23, the atmosphere was less ominous than Yerlikayas characterization, with small business owners stepping outside to greet passing protesters. One souvenir shop owner has placed Imamoglus photo in front of the store.

'I Want Democracy'

Murat, a 20-year-old university student who gave only his first name due to security concerns, noted that Erdogan, who came to power in 2003, is the only Turkish leader he has lived under.

Erdogan has been in power for more than two decades. I dont want that anymore; I want democracy in my country, Murat said.

Erdogan said on March 24 that the protests over the jailing of Imamoglu, who was elected Istanbuls mayor in 2019, had become a "movement of violence" and that authorities would hold the CHP accountable for property damage and injuries suffered by police.

CHP flags were everywhere in Kadikoy, where a large large fabric portrait of Imamoglu had been hung in the central square.

The trendy neighborhood is popular among secular residents who frequent the bars and cafes there. Erdogans Justice and Development Party, however, enjoys strong backing from more religious segments of Turkish society.

Mahmut, a taxi driver in Kadikoy who supports Erdogan, told RFE/RL that believes the opposition cannot be trusted.

They are corrupt. All they know how to do is give nice speeches and deceive people. We shouldnt defend them, he said.

The ongoing antigovernment protests are the largest since 2013, when demonstrations initially against plans to redevelop Gezi Park in Istanbul transformed into widespread protests.

Those protests triggered a harsh crackdown by authorities in which rights watchdogs say 11 people were killed and more than 8,000 injured.

As evening approached in Kadikoy on March 23, the sound of residents banging on pots from their balconies in support of Istanbuls jailed mayor rang through the air.

With reporting by Reuters




Co-founder of Privat Financial and Industrial Group Oleksiy Martynov, who in August last year announced his intention to sue former partners Hennadiy Boholiubov and Ihor Kolomoisky for a return to operational asset management, accuses them of laundering UAH 5 billion through a charity fund.

"They used the charity fund of one of the religious organizations of the city of Dnipro, of which they were founders, to launder funds stolen from the state. In total, more than UAH 5 billion were laundered through this fund," Martynov said in an "Appeal to All Law Enforcement Agencies of Ukraine" on Facebook on Monday.

The businessman added that this "deal" was carried out by Boholiubov and Kolomoisky for several years.

Martynov called on law enforcement agencies to conduct an urgent investigation and provide a legal assessment of these actions.

Privat Financial and Industrial Group previously united dozens of enterprises across the country operating in the fields of banking, ferroalloys, oil products, fertilizers, and agribusiness.

Kolomoisky has been in the SBU detention center for a year and a half. This agency, together with the Prosecutor General's Office and the Bureau of Economic Security (BES), accused him of illegal actions with bank documents during the actual failure to deposit UAH 5.8 billion into the PrivatBank cash register, as well as the appropriation of more than UAH 5.3 billion, which was later legalized.

BES detectives also stated that they had proven the fact of Kolomoisky's organization of the seizure of more than UAH 3.3 billion from Ukrnafta and participants in joint investment agreements and the subsequent legalization of more than UAH 4 billion obtained illegally. Kolomoisky denies all charges against him.

Boholiubov left Ukraine at the end of June 2024. The Prosecutor General's Office later informed him in absentia of suspicion of the illegal seizure of another person's passport and illegal border crossing with the assistance of a border guard. At the same time, Boholiubov's press service claims that the businessman left the country as a citizen of Ukraine in compliance with all norms and laws.
Ukraine and Russia have separately agreed at talks with the United States in Saudi Arabia that they will stop using military force in the Black Sea and develop measures to ban strikes against energy facilities in the two countries.

The White House said in two separate statements about the talks that the agreement would help restore Moscows access to global markets for Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports that have been cut off since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago.

"The United States will continue facilitating negotiations between both sides to achieve a peaceful resolution," the White House statements said.

The agreements mark the first step toward a broader cease-fire deal to end the largest and deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II, although the statements didn't mention ending strikes on other civilian infrastructure targets beyond energy.

Both Kyiv and Moscow confirmed the deal, although the Russian statement appeared to indicate major caveats for its side.

In a statement about the US-Russia talks, the Kremlin said it would adhere to the agreement only once its state agriculture bank is reconnected to SWIFT, the international payment system, and some trade restrictions are lifted that were imposed on Moscow following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The White House said in its own statement that it will help restore Russias access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions, which could be a first step toward lifting wider sanctions placed on Russia.



"We're thinking about all of them right now," US President Donald Trump said when asked about the sanctions Russia says need to be lifted before it implements the Black Sea deal. "We're looking at all of them."

Trump said later that Russia could be stalling on ending the war.

I think that Russia wants to see an end to it, but it could be theyre dragging their feet, Trump said in an interview with US broadcaster Newsmax.



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also reacted to the deal, saying that Kyiv intends to hold up its end and will push for further sanctions if Russia fails to do the same.

"It is too early to say that it will work, but these were the right meetings, the right decisions, the right steps," he said on March 25.

"If they violate, here is the evidence -- we ask for sanctions, we ask for weapons," Zelenskyy added.

The Road Toward A Cease-Fire

While the agreements mark progress, the path forward remains unclear.

In his comments to reporters following news of the Black Sea deal, Zelenskyy stated that the partial truce was effective immediately.

But according to the Kremlin statement, the temporary moratorium on strikes on energy infrastructure that started on March 18 and is valid for 30 days -- although it can be extended by mutual agreement.

The Kremlin added that if the agreement is breached by one party, the other party is also released from compliance.

This led to Zelenskyy accusing Russia of lying about the outcome of talks with US negotiators.

The Kremlin is lying again, claiming that the Black Sea cease-fire supposedly depends on sanctions and that the energy cease-fire supposedly began on March 18," he said in his nightly address to Ukrainians. "Moscow always lies."

Oil refineries, oil and gas pipelines, and nuclear power stations are among the targets that Russia and Ukraine agreed to temporarily stop attacking.

A list posted on the Kremlin's Telegram channel and said to be "agreed between the Russian and American sides" also included fuel storage facilities, pumping stations, and other infrastructure used for electricity generation like power plants, transformers, and hydroelectric dams.

Other questions remain over the Kremlin's desire to have trade and payment restrictions lifted on its agriculture bank, and any coordination with European governments that may be required to do so.

The EU placed its own sanctions on Moscow and in an article published on March 24, David O'Sullivan, the European Unions sanctions envoy, said that the bloc remains committed to keeping Russia sanctions in place despite pressure to ease them.

"Whatever the US now does, no reason exists to change course," O'Sullivan wrote for the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) think tank.

In another sign of how arduous the talks have been and the difficulties that lie ahead, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in televised comments that the Kremlin will need "clear guarantees" from Washington that Ukraine will respect the deal.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who took part in the talks, said on X that Kyiv would see any movement of Russian naval vessels beyond the eastern Black Sea as a violation of the spirit of the agreements reached in Riyadh.

The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine will also remain in Russias control, the Russian Foreign Ministry said following the end of the talks.

The ministry said transferring control to Ukraine or other countries would be impossible -- as would operating it jointly -- because of concerns over physical and nuclear safety.

Trump last week floated the idea of the US taking control of the power plant, which was seized by Russia early in the war.



The United States also said it is committed to helping Ukraine exchange prisoners of war, release civilian detainees, and return forcibly transferred Ukrainian children, as measures to achieve a durable cease-fire between Kyiv and Moscow.

Why Is The Black Sea Important For Russia And Ukraine?

Both Kyiv and Moscow rely on the Black Sea for commodity exports.

With the help of Turkey and the United Nations, both countries brokered a deal in mid-2022 allowing Ukraine to ship grain through the sea, but Russia withdrew from the agreement the following year as it argued that Western sanctions on its banks were severely limiting its ability to export agricultural products.

Russian then said it would view any vessel bound for Ukraine as a potential military target.

The Ukrainian military responded with a campaign that destroyed Russian warships and eventually pushed the Russian Navy out of the western parts of the Black Sea.

The operation allowed Ukraine to establish a new shipping zone in the Black Sea and return seaborne grain exports to near-prewar levels.
After separate US talks with Ukrainian and Russian delegations over three days in Saudi Arabia, the United States announced separate agreements with Ukraine and Russia on barring the use of force in the Black Sea and on efforts to halt strikes on energy facilities in both countries, but plenty of obstacles remain on the path to peace.

The pair of White House statements -- one covering the March 23 and 25 talks with Ukraine, the other the March 24 meeting with Russia  came hours after Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the content of the US-Russia talks will definitely not be publicized."

Both statements said that the United States will continue facilitating negotiations between both sides to achieve a peaceful resolution of the war, now in its fourth year since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The agreements appear to be among the most concrete achievements in US President Donald Trumps efforts to broker an end to the war since he took office two months ago, but they left plenty of things unclear  including how far Moscow may be ready to go toward a full cease-fire or a peace deal that leaves it short of subjugating Ukraine.

Here are some key questions.

Will A Black Sea Truce Be Implemented?

Both the United States and Russia suggested the main goal of this round was to reach agreement on a maritime cease-fire in the Black Sea, which would allow for the free flow of shipping in the strategic body of water and act as a stepping stone to a broader truce.

Russia and Ukraine both have Black Sea coastlines and Ukraines Crimean Peninsula, which Russia invaded and occupied in 2014, extends southward into it from the mainland. The Black Sea is a major conduit for exports of Ukrainian and Russian grain.

Ahead of the US-Russia meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russian claims that promises made to Moscow under a 2022 shipping safety agreement known as the Black Sea grain deal, which collapsed the following year when Russia withdrew amid mutual recriminations, had not been fulfilled.

On March 25, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov repeated those claims again, suggesting that adversaries are suppressing Russian grain and fertilizer exports. The White House statement on the Russia talks said the United States would help restore Russias access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.

That marked a significant incentive for Russia, but the devil may remain in the details.

In its own statement, the Kremlin said the halt on the use of force in the Black Sea would take effect after several specific actions are in place, demanding detailed measures that were not expressly mentioned by the White House. They included the lifting of sanctions against Rosselkhozbank, Russias state-owned agricultural lender, and other financial institutions, and their reconnection to the SWIFT payments system, which may be contingent on EU approval.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who took part in the US-Ukraine talks, called on social media for additional technical consultations as soon as possible to agree on all the details and technical aspects of the implementation, monitoring and control of the arrangements."

He also said that Ukraine could exercise [the] right to self-defense" if Russian warships move westward from the eastern part of the Black Sea.

There was no sign of a direct agreement between Ukraine and Russia, potentially increasing the chances of differing interpretations, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized aspects of the US-Russia agreement.

"As far as we know, the Russians raised the issue of the American side helping the Russians transport their agriculturalproducts. That is about ports, tariffs, and so on, he said. We did not agree to this. We believe that this is a weakening of positions and a weakening of sanctions."

What About A Pause In Strikes On Energy Facilities?

The talks in Riyadh came after Trumps proposal for a full 30-day cease-fire -- a cessation of hostilities on land, at sea, and in the air -- was accepted by Ukraine on March 11 but ran up against Russian resistance. After Trump spoke separately to Putin and Zelenskyy, Kyiv and Moscow agreed in principle last week to a narrower truce.

But White House and Kremlin readouts after the Trump-Putin phone call on March 18 included a small but substantial difference. The US statement said the leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure cease-fire, while the Russian statement described a narrower halt to attacks on energy infrastructure.

The Kremlin said Putin had praised the initiative and immediately gave the Russian military the corresponding command, but Ukraine accused Russia of continuing attacks on infrastructure, including energy facilities.

In its parallel statements on March 25, the White House statement did not mention infrastructure specifically, saying that the countries had agreed to develop measures for implementing [agreements] to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine.

Who Will Control What?

A major question looming over any cease-fire agreement or eventual peace pact is the question of territory: How much of Ukraine, if any, will Russia control and under what circumstances?

Speaking to reporters in Washington on March 24, Trump suggested that the negotiations in Riyadh were touching on this.

"We're talking about territory right now. We're talking about lines of demarcation, Trump said.

Russia currently occupies about one-fifth of Ukraine: all of Crimea, almost all of the Luhansk region, as well as parts of the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson regions -- but not the capitals of the last two. In September 2022, Putin baselessly declared the Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson regions to belong to Russia in their entirety, including the areas that are under Ukrainian control.

Moscow says Ukraine must pull its forces from the regions and insists that they be recognized as Russian. Zelenskyy has acknowledged that Kyiv may be unable to regain control over the whole country soon. Any cease-fire agreed in the near future seems likely to leave much of the occupied territory in Russian hands, but Ukraine vows never to accept any formal or permanent change of its borders.

The White House statements on the Riyadh talks made no mention of territory.

What About That Rare Minerals Deal?

On March 25, Zelenskyy told journalists that the United States has proposed a comprehensive new version of a mineral resources deal that have been under discussion for months. In his comments on March 24, Trump said that Washington and Kyiv would soonsign an agreement on joint development of Ukraines rare minerals and other natural resources, which US officials say would help provide Ukraine with security and be an important part of a solution to Russias war on Ukraine.

Signing the deal was expected when Zelenskyy visited the White House on February 28, but that meeting ended in acrimony after Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated the Ukrainian president in an unprecedented exchange before reporters in the Oval Office.

Tensions have cooled since then, and an agreement on rare minerals could be a sign of solidarity between Ukraine and the United States as Trumps efforts to end the war continue.

Whats Russias Game?

Trump said that Putins response to the proposal for a full 30-day cease-fire was we are for it, but there are nuances."

Among other things, those nuances included a call for Ukraines backers to stop sending weapons and for Kyiv to stop mobilizing soldiers during the truce -- while Russia would not be subject to such restrictions.

Kyiv has accused Moscow of playing for time and feigning interest in ending the war. And analysts say Russia may be deliberately dragging out the process in the hopes of moving as close to its goals as it can -- through diplomacy and on the battlefield.

For the moment this process has been entirely cost-free from a Russian perspective. And I think the lesson they're drawing from this is that if they go slowly, first of all they can extract concessions from the Americans, and potentially from the Europeans, just in order to keep Russia at the table, Sam Greene, a professor at the King's Russia Institute and director of democratic resilience at the Center for European Policy Analysis, said on a podcast on March 20.

Greene suggested that regardless of what they can agree upon, there is a gap between the goals of Trump and Putin when it comes to Russias war against Ukraine.

Trump wants an end to this war, he said, while Russia wants an outcome to this war that leaves it in a position of dominion in Ukraine. I think Russia believes it can afford to be flexible in terms of how that dominion is executed...so long as it is dominant."
Roscommon Community College was alive with nostalgia and camaraderie as past pupils gathered to celebrate the return of copies of letters they had placed inside a time capsule 25 years ago.

The unique project, initiated by English teacher Tom Costello in 2000, saw copies of the students letters securely stored in Roscommon Credit Union for safekeeping with a view to returning them 25 years later. The momentous occasion brought former students back to the school, where they were reunited with their letters and memories from their school days.

Deputy Principal Dr Jude Lohan and CEO Roscommon Credit Union enjoy the celebrations at the Roscommon Community College 25-year reunion recently.

The evening was filled with emotion, laughter, and reminiscence as attendees browsed memorabilia from the year 2000, sparking conversations about their time in school. The corridors and classrooms echoed with lively discussions and fond recollections, making it a truly special and unforgettable night for all present.

Jude Lohan, the current deputy principal, warmly welcomed the attendees back to their former school while a series of heartfelt addresses followed, with Tom Costello, the mastermind behind the time capsule idea, sharing his joy at witnessing the impact of the initiative with a large gathering of former students and teachers present.

Staff member John Mooney welcomes past pupils back to Roscommon Community College for a momentous reunion.

Other guest speakers included Pat McGarry, principal in 2000, as well as Cllr Larry Brennan, GRETB, who reflected on the schools past and its evolution over the years. A particularly poignant moment came when Patricia Beirne lit a candle in memory of those who could not be present, ensuring that all past students and staff were remembered and honoured on this special occasion.

Padraic Crehan, Eoghan Garvey, Joseph Cassidy and Michael Concannon at the reunion.

The event was made possible through the dedicated efforts of the organising committee, comprising Tom Costello, Georgina Keena (principal), Jude Lohan (deputy principal), Patricia Beirne, and John Mooney. Their planning ensured a seamless and heartwarming reunion. The night was a testament to the strong bonds formed in what was formerly known as Roscommon Vocational School. Rekindled friendships and shared memories made the event truly unforgettable, reinforcing the lasting connections forged within the walls of the school.
The construction of the Chernivtsi-Suceava (Romania) Euro-rail track will begin in 2026, the preparation of the feasibility study is underway, Deputy Minister of Finance Oleksandr Kava said.

"Under an optimistic scenario, construction of the Euro-rail to Chernivtsi (from Suceava, Romania) may already begin next year... The preparation of the feasibility study for the project is currently underway. Chernivtsi has the opportunity to become the second regional center after Uzhgorod, which will receive access to the Euro-rail directly in the city," Kava said at the conference "Logistics as a driver of economic growth" organized by the We Build Ukraine think tank.

According to him, the construction of the Chop-Uzhgorod Euro-rail is currently underway, which is financed 50% by Connecting Europe Facilities (CEF) and 50% by the state budget.

The launch of this Euro-rail is planned for the summer of 2025, said Kava.

"This (Chop-Uzhgorod Euro-rail) will not only allow direct passenger trains from Uzhgorod to Budapest, Bratislava, Prague, Vienna, Dresden, but will also enable shippers working in Uzhgorod to send cargo via the Euro-rail to partners in Europe and also receive goods, containers and materials from European countries directly to Uzhgorod," the deputy minister said.

It was previously reported that JSC Ukrzaliznytsia has made temporary changes to the schedule of a number of passenger trains heading to Uzhgorod until the end of July due to large-scale work on laying a European standard track between Chop and Uzhgorod.

Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine - Minister of Communities and Territories Development Oleksiy Kuleba at a meeting with European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas stated that a direct Euro-gauge railway connection to Uzhgorod would be launched in the second half of 2025.
Williston, ND The Williston Area Chamber of Commerce (WACC) will host a milestone celebration ceremony in honor of 3 Amigos Southwest Grills 13-year anniversary at 10 a.m., Friday, March 28.

Join them in celebrating this milestone and their new renovations. The WACC team will kick-off the event with a ribbon cutting. Patrons can enjoy a 13% off promotion all day.

3 Amigos Southwest Grill was originally named in recognition of the three founders, Aaron Parker, Cam Holt, and Mike Triska. Their doors first opened on March 28, 2012, and on Oct. 2, 2017, they sold the restaurant to General Manager Alayna Stiernagle who has put her own twist on many of the beloved recipes. 3 Amigos Southwest Grill was listed as one of the 5 Best Burrito joints in North Dakota by bestthingsnd.com and was recently featured on Americas Best Restaurants. They will be celebrating 13 years on March 28, with a 13% off promotion of all items.

For media access, please contact Megan Lis, WACC Events and Administration Coordinator, at [email protected] or call 701-577-6000.
WILLISTON, ND The District 1 and 23 Dem-NPL reorganizational meeting will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 2 p.m. at the Ready Room, located on the top floor of Frontier Hall at Williston State College.

Due to redistricting and western North Dakotas population growth, District 23 is now located within the towns of Trenton, Buford and the north and western parts of Williston. District 1 encompasses much of the town proper of Williston.

A lot has been taking place in Bismarck this session, and nationally, that is having a direct impact on the lives of our fellow citizens. If you dont like what is going on, now is the time to get involved, said LuAnn Casler.

The organizational meeting will choose its board of officers

on March 29 at 2 p.m., at Frontier Hall, Williston State College. For more information, please visit http://www.demnpl.com, District 23 Dem-NPL (D23demnpl) on Facebook or call 701.580.0013.
The Boys & Girls Club of Richland County is proud to announce that Jacky Gonzalez Martinez has been named Montana's Youth of the Year for 2025. This prestigious title, awarded on March 18, marks the first time a member from Richland County has received this honor. Jacky will now represent Montana at the regional competition in Dallas, TX, in May, competing against state winners from Wyoming, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arkansas.

The Youth of the Year program is Boys & Girls Clubs of America's premier leadership recognition initiative, celebrating young individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership, service, and academic excellence. Each year, thousands of Club teens across the country participate in local, state, and regional Youth of the Year events.

Jacky has been involved with the Boys & Girls Club of Richland County since June 2022. Her application and speech focused on the importance of investing in rural communities, emphasizing how such support contributes to their long-term growth and success. Her powerful message resonated with judges, earning her the top honor in Montana.

As part of the Youth of the Year experience, Jacky had the opportunity to meet Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen and was introduced on both the House and Senate floors on March 19. Her journey continues as she prepares for the regional competition in May, with hopes of advancing to the national level.

Jacky's achievement is a testament to her dedication, leadership, and commitment to giving back. In addition to her involvement with the Club, she has actively participated in community service projects, working to make a positive impact in Richland County. The Boys & Girls Club of Richland County is incredibly proud of her accomplishments and looks forward to supporting her as she takes the next step in this journey.
The McKenzie County Commissioners met on Monday, March 18, and appointed Ross Sundeen as states attorney, effective immediately. The commissioners also voted to lift the restriction on the states attorney position under Century Code 11-16-05. The restriction, implemented in 2014, required the states attorney to be solely dedicated to government work, without a private practice.

Ty Skarda, who had been the States Attorney for six years, resigned in December 2024. Attorney Virgina Perez was then appointed acting states attorney shortly after, but resigned prior to a March 10 meeting to approve her hiring. Partners Sundeen, Ariston Johnson, and Aaron Weber, Johnson & Sundeen Law Firm, offered to provide temporary services, with Sundeen serving as acting states attorney, beginning March 9.

Sundeen stated at the March 19 meeting, that the commissioners decision to lift the restriction, Is for the long-term benefit of the county and that it is the right decision.

The commissioners approved a salary of $192,000 a year for the states attorney, chief assistant, and senior assistant positions, respectively.

The total experience from these attorneys is over 60 years, and the commissioners expressed their sincere thanks.

It is an honor and privilege to serve, Sundeen said.
HELENA - paddlefish anglers will see a host of new changes in the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks 2025 fishing regulations targeted at maximizing paddlefishing opportunities, while also looking to sustain the fishery for years to come.

Among the major changes to this years paddlefish regulations are that hooks must be barbless or pinched and only one treble hook per line is allowed for snagging. In addition, the use of forward-facing sonar when angling for paddlefish is banned. Lastly, mandatory reporting timelines have changed to account for anglers lacking cell service.

The regulations changes were developed during the fishing regulations review process in 2024, with input from paddlefish anglers across the state.

We know people are very passionate about maintaining or expanding paddlefish opportunities, said FWP Fisheries Divisions Administrator Adam Strainer. These changes will ensure paddlefish opportunities continue into the future.

The 2025 fishing regulations were approved by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission in November 2024.

A careful review of the 2025 fishing regulations, with particular attention to the paddlefish section, is critical before applying for or buying a tag. In addition, the paddlefish page on the website includes extensive updated information.

Hooks

All hooks must now be barbless or have pinched barbs and only one treble hook per line is allowed for all snagging (harvest or catch and release).

Forward-Facing Sonar

The use of forward-facing sonar is now illegal in Montana for snagging paddlefish. Side-imaging sonar, down-imaging sonar, and 2D sonar are still allowed.

This change is targeted at protecting spawning females, which tend to be larger than males. Forward-facing sonar would allow anglers to target larger fish, which are likely to be female.

Mandatory reporting varies by tag area

White tag within 48 hours via onsite check station, creel staff, phone hotline, or MyFWP.

Blue tag within 48 hours via onsite check station, creel staff, phone hotline, MyFWP, or E-tag validation process.  Yellow or Green tag (new this year, for Missouri River downstream of Fort Peck dam) before transporting fish or by 9 p.m. the day of harvest via phone hotline or MyFWP only. Self-check stations are for biological data submission only for the yellow and green tag.

Anglers are still required to report the harvest of any paddlefish, and deadlines and methods vary by tag area. However, new this year, anglers lacking cell service can transport an unreported paddlefish and once they are back in service have 48 hours to report the harvest.

paddlefish tag areas

Anglers now can choose between the yellow tag, green tag (Missouri River downstream of Ft. Peck Dam), blue archery tag (now E-tag only), or white tag (no changes for 2025). For complete details on each tag and to be aware of significant changes in some tag areas, anglers should refer to the regulations or to FWPs paddlefish page.

FWP will introduce an online paddlefish dashboard in 2025 that tracks harvest rates and other information, but in its first year the dashboard will only offer updates for the blue tag area beginning July 1. Anglers interested in paddlefish harvest updates for the yellow and green tag area can continue to check the FWP R7 Facebook page or call the region 7 office at 406-234-0900.
Chandigarh to Open Jail for Rehabilitation of Prisoners

The Chandigarh administration has already sent the proposal for an open jail to the administration.

Chandigarh to Open Jail for Rehabilitation of Prisoners latest news: Chandigarh Police is thinking of opening an open jail, as some other Indian states have done, to give prisoners a free and more rehabilitative atmosphere. Open jails, which are becoming popular all over India, are intended to assist prisoners in their reintegration into society by giving them a chance to work and live with their families.

The Chandigarh administration has already sent the proposal for an open jail to the administration. In recent times, officials from the Burail Jail had visited a successful open jail in Rajasthan to learn from its operations. The Chandigarh administration will replicate the Rajasthan model once it receives approval, inspired by the Rajasthan model.

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There are about 91 open jails now in 17 states of India. These provide opportunities for inmates to work in the outside world during the daytime and return at night. Open jails are set up to confine prisoners possessing special skills and good conduct history, allowing them to contribute to society while under imprisonment.

The new open jail to service Chandigarh is likely to adopt the successful example of Rajasthan's Open Jail at Sanganer. The location of the facility is also being considered by the administration. Once approved, it would be an important step towards the modernization of the prison system and rehabilitation of prisoners.

(For More News Apart Chandigarh to Open Jail for Rehabilitation of Prisoners stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Shocking Attack of Woman at Calgary Railway Station Provokes Outrage

French ultimately left the scene without the woman's phone, and she was able to call police.

Shocking Attack of Woman at Calgary Railway Station Provokes Outrage latest news: There was no intervention by bystanders when a woman was brutally attacked on a packed railway station in Calgary, Canada. The horrific attack was caught on camera and widely circulated online and has provoked outrage and allegations of racism.

The assailant, Braydon Joseph James French, allegedly accosted the woman on Sunday, splashed water on her face, and violently banged her into the transit shelter walls. He also insisted on taking her phone while shaking her aggressively. Despite her calls for help, no one stopped the attack.

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French ultimately left the scene without the woman's phone, and she was able to call police. He was arrested within 25 minutes by authorities, due to witness cooperation. French has been charged with attempted robbery by Calgary police and said the crime does not seem to be racially motivated. The video, however, has ignited broad criticism of the bystanders' failure to act and created concern about public safety and community responsibility.

The Indian-origin victim has made a plea for privacy as she recuperates from the traumatic experience. Calgary's Diversity Resource Team has been reaching out to the community to discuss the issues that were brought up by this incident.

(For More News Apart Shocking Attack of Woman at Calgary Railway Station Provokes Outrage stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
March 24, 2025 UPDATE

Click here for the latest news from RRI

Newsflash

Newsroom, 24.03.2025, 19:52

CSAT  The first meeting of the Supreme Defense Council during the mandate of interim president Ilie Bolojan is scheduled for Friday. High on the agenda are four topics, including the stage and prospects of the conflict in Ukraine, as well as the implications for Romania and Bucharests standpoint in the context of the peace talks. Romanias response to the EUs plans to enhance its defense capabilities will also be addressed. Interim president Ilie Bolojan explained that EU members will be able to jointly carry out purchases of military equipment, which will be an opportunity for Romania. In the coming period, both the defense and the economy ministries, as well as private companies operating in the field of defense and other companies supplying the automotive industry with components that can be transferred to the defense industry, will have to find ways to enter European military production associations in order to be able to carry out joint acquisitions. On Thursday, Ilie Bolojan will attend a summit devoted to Ukraine hosted by Paris. Attending the meeting will be leaders of Kyivs allies from the so-called coalition of the willing. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also expected to attend. Ilie Bolojan recently said that Romania will serve as a logistics hub to support Ukraine and will not send troops to the neighboring country under any circumstances.

Visit  The interim speaker of Romanias Senate, Mircea Abrudean, will go, on Tuesday, on an official visit to the Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population), where he will meet with the head of state, Maia Sandu, with Prime Minister Dorin Recean, with the President of the Parliament, Igor Grosu and with other dignitaries. The agenda of the discussions includes topics such as the intensification of cooperation between the two countries in key sectors and the European path of Moldova. On the other hand, Mircea Abrudean will pay an official visit to France, between March 31 and April 1, where he will have a meeting with his counterpart, Gerard Larcher, and with the Secretary General of the OECD, Mathias Cormann. The program of the visit also includes meetings with local authorities and the Diaspora. The visit is meant to consolidate the existing Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

Vote  6,085 applications for postal voting out of the 6,496 submitted in this regard on the portal www.votstrainatate.ro for the presidential election met the legal conditions, the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP) announced on Monday. According to a press release from the AEP, the period for registering as a postal voter abroad ended on March 20, and all validated applications met the legal provisions. At the same time, Romanian citizens abroad could register until March 4, as a voter abroad at a polling station, with 2,611 applications for voting at the station being submitted, of which 2,238 met the legal conditions.

OSCE  The Romanian Defense Minister (MApN), Angel Tilvar, met on Monday with representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), on which occasion he reviewed the support provided by Romania to the Republic of Moldova in terms of defense and made an analysis of the security situation in the Black Sea region. According to the MApN, Minister Angel Tilvar met with Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, Ambassador Thomas Lenk, with the Head of the OSCE Mission to the Republic of Moldova, Kelly Keiderling, and with the Ambassador of Finland to Romania, Leena Liukkonen. Both the Romanian side and the OSCE representatives emphasized the need to continue the discussions related to the resolution of the Transdniestrian process, while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, highlighting the very important role of the OSCE in achieving this goal. (LS)
The European low-cost carrier Wizz Air has developed a plan to open 100 routes in the first six months after the opening of Ukrainian skies, which will allow it to carry 5 million passengers a year, Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi said.

"As soon as Ukraine is ready, we will be ready to resume (flights). We are not only considering the possibility of flying to Ukraine, but we are also going to fly from Ukraine, organizing our base operations there. We have big plans for Ukraine... We have developed a plan to create a network of about 100 routes within the first 6 months, which will create a capacity of 5 million seats per year. And when you (Ukraine) are ready, we will be ready," said Varadi at the conference "Logistics as a driver of economic growth" organized by the analytical center We Build Ukraine.

He also said that Wizz Air representatives have been to Ukraine several times and have been negotiating with interested parties, in particular with Ukrainian airports.

"We are very close to concluding commercial agreements with each of them (airports). I think we are really ready to work," Varadi said.

It was previously reported that the management of Boryspil International Airport in Budapest held negotiations with representatives of the European low-cost carrier Wizz Air regarding the prompt launch of air traffic after the opening of airspace.
From spending cuts to tax increases

The interim president Ilie Bolojan recommends expenditure cuts, as the Romanian state has spent too much in recent years

Ilie Bolojan (photo: presidency.ro)

Leyla Cheamil, 25.03.2025, 14:00

Over the past few years, Romania has spent more than it could afford. This is the conclusion reached by the interim president Ilie Bolojan, who said that a sustained effort is needed in the next two years to address budget deficits and revive the economy.

In a televised statement, the head of state said the solutions in this case are to cut operating expenses or to raise taxes and duties, and in this context he mentioned improved tax collection, since large amounts from VAT, for instance, are yet to be cashed in by the government.

However, the interim president said, increasing the tax burden should be the last resort, only used in extreme situations.

Ilie Bolojan: I believe that if we act in an orderly manner and do things in such a way as to reduce our expenses, to help the economy grow, to use EU funding, then we can avoid this scenario. If we dont, this scenario will be inevitable. Which taxes will be raised is a secondary discussion already. The point is that the burden on taxpayers, whether we talk about a VAT increase or about raising other taxes, means money taken from peoples pockets, either through the price of products, if we increase the VAT, or from peoples salaries. So thats where we will end up and all these postponements so far, because, really, it doesnt sound good to tell people the truth, they only turn things into chronic problems.

Asked where exactly the most unjustified spending is taking place, Ilie Bolojan answered that, in his opinion, we need to look at many state-owned companies. At the same time, he warned that Romania has taken out substantial loans. Last year we took out about a billion euros in weekly loans to ensure some budgetary balance, he said, and added that the interest on these loans will go up by the year and, regardless of which government will be in power next year, in two or three years it will not be able to escape this reality.

Mr. Bolojan also said that action must be taken with a sense of urgency. The effort required to address the budget deficits a little and to pave the way for the recovery of the country will take a year, a year and a half, perhaps even two years, he explained.

Moodys financial rating agency has kept Romania at the lowest investment-grade level, but revised the countrys credit rating outlook from stable to negative. According to Moodys, without further tax reform and spending cuts, the budget deficit is expected to remain high this year, reaching 7.7% of GDP. The agency also says Romania is exposed to geopolitical risk due to the war in neighbouring Ukraine. Moodys was the only one of the three major agencies that had a stable outlook for Romanias sovereign rating. Fitch and Standard & Poors had already revised the outlook to negative, placing Romania one step away from the junk category, not recommended for investment. (AMP)
Japan will on Tuesday release February figures for producer prices, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Producer prices are seen steady, up 3.1 percent on year.

Japan also will see January results for its leading and coincident indexes; in December, they were up 0.5 percent and 1.0 percent on month, respectively.

Singapore will provide February numbers for industrial production; in January, industrial production was up 4.5 percent on month and 9.1 percent on year.

Thailand is scheduled to release February figures for imports, exports and trade balance. In January, imports were up 7.9 percent and exports rose 13.6 percent for a trade deficit of $1.880 billion.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

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Oil and gas exploration company Tullow Oil Plc (TLW.L) on Tuesday reported a surge in fiscal 2024 pre-tax profit, despite weak revenues.

In London, Tullow Oil shares were gaining around 4.7 percent to trade at 14.66 pence.

In fiscal 2024, profit from continuing activities before tax was $322 million, up from $96 million last year.

On an after tax basis, profit was $55 million, compared to loss of $110 million a year ago. Basic earnings per share were 3.7 US cents, compared to loss per share of 7.6 US cents.

Adjusted EBITDAX was $1.152 billion, compared to $1.151 billion a year ago.

Revenue for the year dropped to $1.535 billion from last year's $1.634 billion.

Group working interest oil and gas production averaged 61.2 kboepd, down from 62.7 kboepd a year ago.

Looking ahead, for fiscal 2025, the company continues to expect Group working interest production to average 50 to 55 kboepd, including c.6 kboepd of gas.

Tullow on Monday said it has signed a binding heads of terms agreement with Gabon Oil Company for the sale of Tullow Oil Gabon SA, for a cash consideration of $300 million net of tax.

The company expects to enter into the full sale and purchase agreement in the second quarter of 2025, with the deal completion expected around the middle of the year, subject to relevant governmental and regulatory approvals.

For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com.

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German confidence improved to an eight-month high in March as defense and infrastructure spending plans offset concerns about US trade policies, survey data from the ifo Institute showed on Tuesday.

The business climate index hit 86.7 in March, up from 85.3 in the previous month. The score was seen at 86.8. The reading was the strongest since last July.

German businesses are hoping for a recovery, ifo Institute President Clemens Fuest said.

The survey showed that companies were more satisfied with current situation and their expectations improved noticeably.

The current situation index advanced more-than-expected to 85.7 in March from 85.0 a month ago. The score was forecast to climb to 85.5.

The expectations index rose to a nine-month high of 87.7 from 85.6 in the previous month. However, it was below the expected level of 87.9.

Capital Economics economist Franziska Palmas said the ifo survey and other surveys for March confirmed that the prospect of fiscal stimulus is boosting sentiment in Germany and outweighing concerns about US tariffs for now.



However, the economist cautioned that sentiment could take a renewed downturn depending on how harshly Germany is hit by new US tariffs announced on April 1.

ING economist Carsten Brzeski said the German will soon experience a cyclical upswing.

"How long this upswing will last and whether it could become a structural recovery will now highly depend on whether or not the official coalition talks lead to real structural reforms," added Brzeski.

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Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK), a healthcare company, on Tuesday announced signing of an exclusive license agreement for HRS-5346 with Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.

HRS-5346 is an investigational oral small molecule inhibitor of Lipoprotein(a) formation, that might result in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. HRS-5346 is currently in a Phase 2 clinical trial in China.

Hengrui will receive $200 million in upfront payment and could earn up to $1.77 billion in milestone payments, along with royalties on sales, if the drug is approved. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025.

Jiangsu Hengrui Pharma has given Merck exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize HRS-5346 worldwide, except in Greater China.

Merck plans to record a $200 million pre-tax charge, or about $0.06 per share, in its financial results for the quarter when the transaction is completed.

In the pre-market trading, Merck is 0.48% higher at $92.75 on the New York Stock Exchange.

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Business News
U.K. stocks are moderately higher around noon on Tuesday with investors digesting a slew of earnings news and awaiting clarity on U.S. tariffs.

There is still some uncertainty about Trump's next steps. The potential risk of secondary tariffs on countries importing oil from Venezuela, is adding more complexity to the trade dispute.

The benchmark FTSE 100 is up 71.22 points or 0.81% at 8,709.23 at noon.

Segro is rising nearly 4%. Weir Group is up 2.6%. Anglo American Plc., Shell, Informa, St. James's Place, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Persimmon, IAG, Pearson, GSK, Howden Joinery, Auto Trader Group, Reckitt Benckiser and Prudential are gaining 1.5 to 2.3%.

Bellway Plc. is gaining 3.5% after reporting a 19.9% increase in pre-tax profit for the first six months, while revenue for the period grew by 12.3% from the same period last year.

Smiths Group Plc shares are up 1.5% after reporting pre-tax profit of 228 million pounds in the first six months of fiscal 2025, higher than 171 million pounds in the same period last year. Headline profit before tax rose to 256 million pounds from 228 million pounds a year ago.

Looking ahead, the engineering company reaffirmed its fiscal 2025 guidance of 6 to 8% organic revenue growth and margin expansion of 40-60 bps. The second half outlook is supported by good order book visibility.

Compass Group, Prudential, M&G, Glencore, BP, Schrodders, Barclays Group, Convatec Group and Smith & Nephew are also notably higher.

Kingfisher is plunging nearly 14% on weak results. Kingfisher reported fiscal 2024/25 statutory pre-tax profit of 307 million pounds, compared to 475 million pounds, last year. Earnings per share was 9.9 pence compared to 18.0 pence. Adjusted pre-tax profit was 528 million pounds, down 7.0%. Adjusted earnings per share was 20.4 pence compared to 21.6 pence.

UK retail sales declined sharply in March amid weaker confidence, the Distributive Trades survey results from the Confederation of British Industry showed on Tuesday.

The retail sales balance fell to -41% in March from -23% in February. The balance was worse than forecast of -28%. This was the sixth consecutive fall.

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Consumer confidence in the U.S. deteriorated by more than expected in the month of March, according to a report released by the Conference Board on Tuesday.

The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index tumbled to 92.9 in March from an upwardly revised 100.1 in February.

Economists had expected the consumer confidence index to slump to 94.2 from the 98.3 originally reported for the previous month.

"Consumer confidence declined for a fourth consecutive month in March, falling below the relatively narrow range that had prevailed since 2022," said Stephanie Guichard, Senior Economist, Global Indicators at The Conference Board.

The steep drop by the headline index partly reflected a significant deterioration by consumer expectations, as the expectations index plunged to 65.2 in March from 74.8 in February.

The Conference Board noted the expectations index dove to its lowest level in 12 years and fell well below the threshold of 80 that usually signals a recession ahead.

The present situation index, which is based on consumers' assessment of current and labor market conditions, showed a more modest decrease, sliding to 134.5 in March from 138.1 in February.

"Consumers' expectations were especially gloomy, with pessimism about future business conditions deepening and confidence about future employment prospects falling to a 12-year low," said Guichard.

She added, "Meanwhile, consumers' optimism about future incomewhich had held up quite strongly in the past few monthslargely vanished, suggesting worries about the and labor market have started to spread into consumers' assessments of their personal situations."

On Friday, the University of Michigan is scheduled to release its revised reading on consumer sentiment in the month of March.

The consumer sentiment index is expected to be unrevised from the preliminary reading of 57.9, which was down from 64.7 in February and marked its lowest level since November 2022.

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Business News
Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers has approved the conditions for the sale of the state-owned stake in PJSC Sumykhimprom, amounting to 1.738 billion ordinary registered shares, which constitutes 99.9952% of the company's charter capital, via an electronic auction with a starting price of UAH 1.158 billion.

According to Taras Melnychuk, the Cabinet's representative in the Verkhovna Rada, the decision was made at a government meeting on Tuesday and was announced via his Telegram channel.

Yaroslav Zhelezniak, Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Tax, and Customs Policy (the Holos parliamentary faction), noted in his Telegram post that the sale conditions include several obligations for the buyer. These obligations include investing at least UAH 150 million in capital expenditures for technical re-equipment and modernization (including energy modernization) of production; settling overdue loan debts, wage arrears, and outstanding payments to the budget and the Pension Fund of Ukraine within six months of acquiring ownership of the stake; and directing dividends to the state budget based on the company's financial performance in 2024 and the period of state ownership until its sale in 2025.

Sumykhimprom is one of Ukraine's largest producers of complex mineral fertilizers, titanium dioxide, sulfuric acid, and other inorganic chemical products. The company is among the top three budget-contributing enterprises in the city of Sumy and the region. It manufactures over 30 brands of NPK fertilizers with varying nutrient ratios tailored for different soil and climatic zones.

For over ten years, the plant was managed by a group of companies linked to Group DF, owned by businessman Dmytro Firtash. In November 2023, the Economic Court of Sumy Region granted the motion of the State Property Fund (SPF) and the Ministry of Justice to close the bankruptcy and restructuring proceedings of Sumykhimprom.

As reported earlier, in December 2024, the SPF's auction commission set the starting price for the 99.9952% state-owned stake in PJSC Sumykhimprom at UAH 1.158 billion for the upcoming auction on the Prozorro platform. The privatization conditions, alongside the price, required government approval.
The Unite Nations has decided to reduce its aid operations inside the Gaza Strip following the resumption of deadly Israeli airstrikes, but pledged that "the UN is not leaving" the enclave.

"In the past week, Israel carried out devastating strikes on Gaza, claiming the lives of hundreds of civilians, including United Nations personnel, with no humanitarian aid being allowed to enter the Strip since early March," said a statement released by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' Spokesperson.

"As a result, the Secretary-General has taken the difficult decision to reduce the Organization's footprint in Gaza, even as humanitarian needs soar and our concern over the protection of civilians intensifies."

The UN stressed that it remained fully committed to providing lifesaving aid. Around a third of the approximately 100 international staff working in Gaza will be temporarily relocated.

After cutting off all humanitarian aid into Gaza for three weeks - the longest suspension since 7 October 2023 - Israeli officials have indicated that they intend to continue their military campaign across Gaza and annex territory to pressure Hamas.

The UN Spokesperson said that based on currently available information, "the strikes hitting a UN compound in Deir Al Balah on 19 March were caused by an Israeli tank."

Israel said it had not been behind the blast.

"The strikes claimed the life of a UN colleague from Bulgaria and left six others - from France, Moldova, North Macedonia, Palestine and the United Kingdom - with severe injuries, some of them life-altering," UN said in the statement.

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Business News
Ola Electric is creating a lot of buzz and headlines in the recent past and not for good reasons. The company is facing a major backlash on social media and has been tangled with raids, seized vehicles, misleading advertisements, clashes with Government, poor after sales reputation, payment defaults, workforce layoffs, missing PLI Scheme deadlines, dwindling sales and more.

Now, Ola Electric has found itself in yet another sticky situation due to registration discrepancies for the month of February 2025. The official sales figures produced by Ola Electric have night and day differences when we look at actual registrations seen on Vahan Portal. The Ministry of Heavy Industries has directed ARAI to investigate the same.

Government Probe On Ola Electric

If we take a look at Olas sales performance for the month of February 2025, we can see that Vahan Portal only showed 8,647 registrations. This was a colossal downfall for Ola as the company faced 74.5% decline in sales YoY and 64.5% decline in sales MoM.

However, Ola claims that the company sold around 25K units in February 2025 and the discrepancy is due to the negotiations and optimisations in registration process. This created a massive difference in the vehicles registered and what the company claims its sales performance to be.

Ministry of Heavy Industry has instructed ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) to investigate whether this discrepancy is against the company laws and regulatory standards. ARAIs investigation will also include Olas recent controversy of selling electric scooters without trade certificates in a few authorised dealerships.

ARAIs investigation will also extend to determine whether or not the company has service centres in all the cities where it has sales operations. A detailed report will be compiled by ARAI and submitted to Ministry of Heavy Industries after investigating Ola Electrics practices and operations.

Malpractices found, Scooters seized

RTO authorities in Pune and Mumbai commenced raids on a few Ola authorised dealerships and seized 36 electric scooters that failed to meet compliance requirements. In Punjab many Ola dealerships have been shut down and places like Jabalpur, RTO authorities have issued notice to Ola Electric as scooters were sold without registrations and valid trade certificates.

Ola Electrics voes in India seem to be growing and Bhavish Aggrawal led electric mobility solutions provider will be held accountable if any discrepancy are found. Ola Electric is yet to make a public statement about these developments related to sales discrepancies and malpractices like selling vehicles without registration and trade certificates.

Source
The News in Brief Wednesday, March 26, 2025

The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on March 24 that it has imposed additional entry bans on officials from Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party who are responsible for the ongoing crackdown on pro-European Union protesters.The Ministry acknowledged that Georgians have been protesting for several months in favor of a European future and against the current course of the government. It noted that demonstrators "continue to face intimidation, arrests, and violence," prompting Berlin to extend its sanctions on those responsible for the repression. However, the Ministry did not disclose the names or the exact number of individuals affected by the new measures.This latest move follows Germany's initial sanctions on December 31, 2024, when Berlin imposed entry bans on nine individuals deemed "primarily responsible" for violent actions against protesters and opposition figures in Georgia.The leader of the Coalition for Change, Nika Gvaramia, has announced that the opposition will boycott the parliamentary investigative commission, calling it an illegitimate body created by Bidzina Ivanishvili to serve Russian interests.Gvaramia dismissed the commission as both illegal and illegitimate, stating that its true purpose is to distract from Georgia's deepening political crisis by shifting attention to Kremlin-backed narratives. "We are not going to give the oligarch this opportunity," he said.Gvaramia also expressed support for Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, leaders of the opposition party Lelo, who refused to participate in the commission's proceedings.Khazaradze, who was summoned to testify about Magnat LLC, did not attend the session. In response, the commission, led by Tea Tsulukiani, voted to refer his case to the prosecutor's office. Under Georgian law, refusal to comply with a commission's request can lead to a fine or imprisonment of up to one year.Tsulukiani claimed that Khazaradze had been properly notified, including through WhatsApp and Signal, but still refused to appear. She criticized him for dismissing the commission as a "circus" in a Facebook post, suggesting that his refusal left no doubt about his stance.
In Ukraine, the volume of cattle slaughter in February 2025 amounted to 10,200 tonnes, which is 26% (or 4,000 tonnes) less compared to January 2025 and 8% (or 900 tonnes) less compared to February 2024, according to the Association of Milk Producers (AMP).

According to the report, total cattle slaughter volumes in Ukraine for January-February 2025 amounted to 24,000 tonnes, which is 4% (or 1,000 tonnes) less than in the same period last year. In February 2025, enterprises produced 61% of the total beef volume, while household farms accounted for 39%.

The industry association said that in February 2025, the slaughter volume of cattle at enterprises totalled 6,200 tonnes, which is 13% (or 1,000 tonnes) less than in January 2025 and 5% (or 300 tonnes) less than in February 2024. In January-February 2025, slaughter volumes at agricultural enterprises reached 13,300 tonnes, 2% (or 300 tonnes) more than in the previous year's period.

At the same time, in household farms, cattle slaughter volumes in February 2025 amounted to 4,000 tonnes, which is 40% (or 3,000 tonnes) less than in January and 13% (or 1,000 tonnes) less than in February 2024. In January-February 2025, slaughter volumes in household farms totalled 10,700 tonnes, which is 11% (or 1,300 tonnes) less than in the same period of the previous year.

The total slaughter volume of all agricultural livestock, including not only cattle but also pigs, sheep, and poultry, amounted to 504,100 tonnes in January-February 2025, which is 4% less than in the previous year's period.

According to preliminary data, in February 2025, the most significant increase in slaughter volumes at agricultural enterprises was recorded in Zakarpattia region (240% more), Zaporizhia region (80% more), Mykolaiv region (64% more), Kharkiv region (48% more), Chernivtsi region (48% more), Khmelnytsky region (21% more), Lviv region (14% more), Kirovohrad region (13% more), Odesa region (13% more), Ivano-Frankivsk region (10% more), Chernihiv region (9% more), Rivne region (7% more), and Ternopil region (2% more), compared to the same period last year.

The regions with the highest slaughter volumes at agricultural enterprises were Vinnytsia (111,600 tonnes), Cherkasy (71,900 tonnes), Dnipropetrovsk (62,400 tonnes), and Lviv (34,300 tonnes) regions.
Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/

Information from the Russian Federation affects American officials, as they are faced with the task of a peaceful settlement, US President Donald Trump said on Monday after a cabinet meeting.

Trump was asked about quotes by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with Time magazine that, in his opinion, some members of Trump's team were influenced by Russian information.

Donald Trump responded that they may have been influenced to resolve the issue because Ukraine wanted it resolved. According to him, they had to resolve the issue and Russia wanted to resolve it too. He also said that if he were president, it would never have happened. He praised Marco Rubio for doing a great job and Steve Witkoff for being incredible. He mentioned that Mike Waltz and their team were doing great work on the issue and spending a significant portion of their day addressing something that really affected them financially because of the large amount of money they had given.
A new species of the wukongopterid pterosaur genus Darwinopterus has been identified from an almost complete skeleton found in western Liaoning, China.

The newly-discovered species lived in what is now China during the Middle Jurassic period, around 160 million years ago.

This flying reptile is a member of the genus Darwinopterus within the Wukongopteridae, an important pterosaur group from the Yanliao Biota.

Named Darwinopterus camposi, the species had an estimated wingspan of 75 cm (30 inches).

China has been a hotspot for pterosaur research for quite some time, presenting new discoveries that have fostered the study of these extinct flying reptiles, said Dr. Xin Cheng, a paleontologist with Jilin University, the Universidade Regional do Cariri and the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, and colleagues.

New localities were reported and many species were discovered from the western Liaoning in the last decade, some showing close relationships with faunas from other continents.

Among the most interesting discoveries are the specimens referred to the Yanliao Biota, which were distributed in almost the same regions as the Jehol Biota, but are older in age being regarded as the Middle to Late Jurassic.

Perhaps the most conspicuous pterosaurs from the Yanliao Biota are the Wukongopteridae, which show a combination of features of non-pterodactyloid and pterodactyloid pterosaurs.

So far, three genera and five species have been described, including Wukongopterus lii, Darwinopterus modularis, Darwinopterus linglongtaensis, Darwinopterus robustodens, and Kunpengopterus sinensis, as well as an unnamed wukongopterid specimen.

All these specimens were collected from the Middle to Upper Jurassic Tiaojishan Formation in Linglongta, Jianchang.

Except the materials from China, some potential members of this clade were found in Europe.

The holotype specimen of Darwinopterus camposi was found in a slab of gray-green shale from the same Tiaojishan Formation.

The specimen is composed of an almost complete skeleton with the skull and the lower jaw, including several displaced cervical vertebrae, articulated dorsal vertebrae, sacral vertebrae, anterior portion of the tail, partial pectoral girdle, all elements of the forelimbs from both sides, incomplete pelvic girdle, both femora, and both tibiae (lacking the distal ends), the paleontologists said.

According to the authors, Darwinopterus camposi provides new information regarding the Wukongopteridae group.

Among the main features that differ the new species from other wukongopterids is the premaxillary crest that shows a quite distinct straight dorsal margin and a smooth lateral surface, the number of teeth, and the shorter fourth wing phalanx compared to the first, they said.

The skull of the holotype of Darwinopterus camposi shows that some cranial elements only fuse at an extremely late stage during ontogeny.

More specimens and a closer look at the fusion of bones are needed to gain a better understanding of the ontogeny of the species that make up this interesting clade of pterosaurs.

A paper about the discovery of Darwinopterus camposi was published in the journal Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias.

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X. Cheng et al. 2025. A new species of Darwinopterus (Wukongopteridae, Pterosauria) from western Liaoning provides some new information on the ontogeny of this clade. An Acad Bras Cienc 97: e20240707; doi: 10.1590/0001-3765202520240707
A team of researchers from Cornell Tech has developed a new tool designed to revolutionize hardware troubleshooting, with the help of 3D phone scans.

SplatOverflow -- inspired by StackOverflow, a widely used platform for tackling software issues -- brings a similar approach to hardware support, enabling users to diagnose and fix hardware issues asynchronously with the help of remote experts.

A paper about the new tool will be presented April 30 at the Association of Computing Machinery's CHI conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Yokohama, Japan.

The tool, conceived by Amritansh Kwatra, a Ph.D. student in information science, aims to address a major gap in hardware maintenance: the lack of scalable, structured support for troubleshooting issues.

"Currently, design information, documentation and end-user discussions have all existed in separate spaces," Kwatra said. "They have also been disconnected from the actual hardware, so searching for this information is quite daunting for users whose expertise is not in hardware."

SplatOverflow creates a 3D model of a malfunctioning device, paired with detailed information about the 3D model, which experts and users can examine together to determine a solution.

The researchers are exploring applications in other contexts.

"We are currently looking into using SplatOverflow for machine sanitation and maintenance in agriculture," said assistant professor Thijs Roumen. "We are also interested in seeing its deployment in education and other domains."

Looking ahead, the team hopes to expand SplatOverflow into an open-source ecosystem -- much like StackOverflow.

"We invite others to explore the use of SplatOverflow in other contexts," Roumen said. "We are thrilled to explore longer-term deployment, to see how we can gradually grow this into a real, open-source platform for hardware support."
American students have been falling behind in math for decades -- with test scores that consistently rank in the bottom 25% globally compared to students in other developed countries -- and the COVID-19 pandemic made the situation worse.

Previous research has shown that interventions grounded in behavioral science that target student motivation have been effective at increasing math scores, suggesting that taking a similar "behaviorally informed" approach with teachers might have a comparable effect.

Now, a collaborative study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and led by researchers at the Behavior Change for Good Initiative (BCFG) at the University of Pennsylvania has found that behaviorally informed email messages slightly improved students' math progress compared to control messages.

"Our results showed that simple, low-cost nudges can help teachers support student progress in math," says Angela Duckworth, Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor in Penn's School of Arts & Sciences and the Wharton School, who led the study and co-directs BCFG. "These nudges worked across different school contexts, with effects persisting eight weeks after teachers stopped receiving the nudges."

The key to this megastudy was the partnership with Zearn Math, a nonprofit educational platform. "Large-scale studies on teacher-focused interventions have been rare due to the high cost and logistical challenges involved. Thanks to our partnership with Zearn Math, we were able to overcome these challenges," says co-author Dena Gromet, executive director of BCFG.

A megastudy is "a large-scale experiment in which multiple interventions are tested simultaneously on the same outcome, a tournament approach, if you will," says co-author Katy Milkman, James G. Dinan Endowed Professor and professor of operations, information and decisions at the Wharton School and co-director of BCFG. "Because all interventions run concurrently and are compared to a common control group, this method allows for direct comparisons of their effectiveness."

In one of the largest studies of its kind -- involving more than 140,000 teachers and nearly 3 million elementary students -- the researchers compared the impact of 15 different interventions to a reminder-only message.

"These messages were behaviorally informed, meaning they were based on prior insights from behavioral science. For instance, one intervention asked teachers to make a specific plan for how they would use Zearn Math that week, an approach backed by research showing that people are more likely to follow through when they make detailed plans. Another intervention appealed to teachers' empathy for their students, which previous research has demonstrated is supportive of student success," Duckworth says.

Co-authors Katy Milkman (left) and Angela Duckworth are committed to dig deeper into what makes these kinds of interventions work and how to make them even more effective over time.

Specifically, the research team found that, compared to standard email reminders, behaviorally informed email messages improved students' math progress during the four-week intervention period by 1.89%. The most effective intervention, which increased student math progress by about 5.06%, encouraged teachers to log into Zearn Math weekly for an updated, personalized report on their students' progress.

"One especially promising takeaway is that personalized nudges -- those that referenced progress updates about a teacher's own students -- were more effective than nonpersonalized ones," Duckworth says.

The researchers note that though they are promising, the effects were small. "These results suggest the need for more intensive support than the light-touch email nudges we tested," Milkman says. "And they underscore how hard it is to change human behavior."

These findings, Milkman says, suggest several additional valuable avenues for future research, including "more random-assignment field experiments to confirm the causal benefits of teacher-targeted nudges and studies to probe the longer-term effects of behaviorally-informed interventions."

Additional research is also needed, Duckworth says, "to confirm and explain the benefits of referencing personalized data when nudging teachers. It may be that capitalizing on teachers' intrinsic motivation to help their students is a distinct and potentially cost-effective approach that can complement other interventions, such as offering performance bonuses and other extrinsic incentives."

Next steps for researchers are to dig deeper into what makes these kinds of interventions work and how to make them even more effective over time. Future studies are needed to look into the long-term effects of nudges and explore why some interventions are more effective than others.

"The better we understand why something works, the more powerfully we can use it to create positive change," Duckworth says. "Ultimately, this line of research could help shape smarter, more effective education policies."

Angela L. Duckworth is the Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor in the Department of Psychology in the School of Arts & Sciences and in the Department of Operations, Information, and Decisions in the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and faculty co-director of the Penn-Wharton Behavior Change for Good Initiative.

Katherine L. Milkman is the James G. Dinan Endowed Professor in the Department of Operations, Information, and Decisions in the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and faculty co-director of the Penn-Wharton Behavior Change for Good Initiative.

Dena M. Gromet is the Executive Director of the Behavior Change for Good Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania.

Other authors of the new study are Ron Berman, Eugen Dimant, Ahra Ko, Joseph S. Kay, Youngwoo Jung, Madeline K. Paxson, Ramon A. Silvera Zumaran, and Christophe Van den Bulte of the University of Pennsylvania; Aden Halpern of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pittsburgh; Nina Mazar of Boston University; Colin F. Camerer and Marcos N. Gallo of the California Institute of Technology; Amy Lyon of Colby-Sawyer College; Mary C. Murphy of Indiana University; Kathryn M. Kroeper of Sacred Heart University; Benjamin S. Manning of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Ilana Brody, Hengchen Dai, and Hal E. Hershfield of the University of Los Angeles; Ariel Kalil, Michelle Michelini, and Susan E. Mayer of the University of Chicago; Matthew D. Hilchey, Philip Oreopoulos, Renante Rondina, and Dilip Soman of the University of Toronto; Elizabeth Canning of Washington State University; and Sharon E. Parker of Philadelphia.

Research reported in this article was supported in part by an anonymous donor to Zearn Math. Support for this research was also provided in part by the AKO Foundation, J. Alexander, M. J. Leder, W. G. Lichtenstein, and A. Schiffman and J. Schiffman.
Pro-environmental behaviour increases among school students who participate in insect-related citizen science projects, according to new research from the University of Adelaide.

Students who participated in citizen science project Insect Investigators, which engages students in the discovery of new insects, not only expressed an intention to change their personal behaviour but also to encourage others to protect nature.

"As a result of their involvement in this program, students expressed intentions to further engage in insect-science-nature activities," says the University of Adelaide's Dr Erinn Fagan-Jeffries, who contributed to the study.

"In addition, teachers reported increased intentions to include insect-related topics in their teaching, which was positively associated with students' own intentions for pro-environmental behaviour change.

"This suggests students' response to the project influenced their teacher's decision to include citizen science in their lessons."

School-based citizen science projects facilitate authentic scientific interactions between research and educational institutions while exposing students to scientific processes.

"Teachers' motivations for providing citizen science experiences to students was to create hands-on learning opportunities and to connect students with real science and scientists," says Professor Patrick O'Connor AM, Director of the University's School of Economics and Public Policy.

"Teachers reported interactions with researchers as invaluable. These interactions could take the form of in-person visits by team members, or even instructional videos and curriculum-linked teacher lesson plans."

Incorporating insects into school-based citizen science projects can challenge widespread human misconceptions about insects and their roles in ecosystems, and foster human-insect connections.

"Given global concerns of rapid insect declines and the overarching biodiversity crisis, insect-focused, school-based citizen science projects can ultimately contribute towards equipping students with knowledge of, and actions to promote, insect conservation," says lead author Dr Andy Howe, from the University of the Sunshine Coast.

"In Australia, approximately 33 per cent of insects are formally described, the remainder exist as 'dark taxa', to the detriment of environmental and biodiversity management initiatives.

"Encouraging more young people to engage in science not only engenders positive feelings in them towards the environment, it will also help to build the next generation of scientists who will fill in the vast knowledge gap that exists in the world of insects."
Ukraine is preparing substantive work with European partners for this week for the sake of joint security guarantees, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

"We are also preparing substantive work with our European partners for this week for the sake of specific security steps - joint security steps. A significant part of Europe is ready for specific security work, and this is very good," Zelenskyy said in an evening address on Monday.

The President emphasized the need to move towards real peace, towards guaranteed security. According to him, Ukraine is ready to support every strong initiative that will make diplomacy more effective, "and this means that we must put pressure on Russia to make it want to end the war."
During the full-scale war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) hit 11 Russian warships in the Black Sea using surface drones, regularly carries out deep strikes deep into Russian territory, and counters terrorism on the streets of Ukrainian cities.

"Today, the list of tasks of the Security Service is very wide: from the destruction of the Russian military potential to countering terrorism on the streets of Ukrainian cities and villages. We firmly hold each section of the front together with our comrades from the Defense Forces, because the lives and safety of citizens are our responsibility," the SBU press service told Interfax-Ukraine, citing the words of the Head of the Security Service, Vasyl Maliuk, on the occasion of the 33rd anniversary of the Service's creation.

"SBU fighters have mastered unmanned technologies perfectly. With our drones, we hit Russian warships in the Black Sea, turn enemy tanks into scrap, cause 'earthquakes' in weapons depots and shoot down combat helicopters," said Maliuk.

He emphasized: "Our priority is to destroy as many enemies as possible and liberate our land. Ukrainians have done this many times before: they just changed Cossack sabers for modern weapons and FPV drones. We have a good genetic memory, multiplied by the thirst for freedom and hatred for Russian executioners. And also - the desire to avenge our fallen comrades and make a lifelong vaccination 'against Muscovites' for descendants."

According to the SBU press service, starting from February 24, 2022 and as of mid-March 2025, SBU fighters have hit more than 1,700 Russian tanks, more than 3,000 armored personnel carriers, almost 250 air defense systems, more than 550 electronic warfare systems, and hundreds of other equipment at the front.

Among the unique special operations conducted by the SBU over the past three years are two bombings of the Crimean Bridge (in October 2022 - using a truck with explosives, in July 2023 - using Sea baby surface drones), hitting 11 Russian warships in the Black Sea using surface drones, and maintaining control over the water area to secure the grain corridor.

"The SBU carries out regular deep strikes into the territory of the Russian Federation, which inflict very painful blows on the enemy's military-industrial complex. Russia loses billions of dollars from the SBU's long-range drones, which are capable of covering a distance of 1,500 km. The SBU is organizing 'bavovna' at military airfields, weapons depots, oil depots and factories that produce drones and bombs," the press service emphasizes.

The Ukrainian special service specifies that the SBU has effective "anti-drone" units that destroy enemy UAVs of the Supercam, Orlan, Zala, Lancet type and their crews on the front line.

Also, according to the SBU, special forces set a record for one-time capture, when they captured more than 100 Russian servicemen in Kursk region in one assault, which allowed replenishing the exchange fund.

"During the war, the SBU became a generator of new military and technological solutions. Among its developments are the surface drones Sea Baby and Mamai, long-range drones, sniper weapons, etc.," the press service notes.

Inside the country, the SBU counterintelligence neutralizes terrorists and saboteurs, detains 100% of arsonists and bombers recruited by the Russians. "So, since the beginning of the full-scale war, the SBU has exposed 102 Russian agent networks," the SBU informs.

In addition, during this period, the SBU opened more than 3,500 criminal proceedings for treason (840 people have already been convicted), more than 8,700 criminal proceedings on the facts of collaboration and aiding the aggressor state (1,586 people were convicted), more than 600 proceedings regarding the transfer of data about the Armed Forces of Ukraine to the enemy or the correction of shelling (181 people were convicted).

The agency's sources in the special services noted that among the war criminals and traitors eliminated by the Service: General, Chief of the Radiation and Chemical Defense Forces of the Russian Federation Igor Kirilov, Chief of Staff of the 41st Brigade of Missile Ships and Boats of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, who gave orders to launch cruise missiles, Valery Trankovsky, former MP and traitor Illia Kiva, militant and propagandist Vladlen Tatarsky.
On the night of March 25, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed 78 Shahed-type strike drones and other types of drones out of 139 used by the Russian occupation army, another 34 UAVs were lost in location.

"As of 09:00, the shooting down of 78 Shahed-type strike UAVs [other types of drones] in the south, north and center of the country was confirmed. Some 34 enemy simulator drones were lost in location [without negative consequences]," the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Telegram.

As reported, on the night of March 25, 2025 (from 18:00 on March 24), the enemy attacked with an Iskander-M ballistic missile from Crimea and 139 Shahed strike UAVs and imitator drones of various types from the directions: Millerovo, Kursk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk - Russia, and Chauda - Crimea.

The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units and mobile fire groups of the Air Force and Defense Forces of Ukraine.

As a result of the Russian attack, Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Cherkasy and Odesa regions were affected.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine officially reported that the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck the place of concentration of manpower of the enemy in Kondrativka, Kursk region, as a result of the strike up to 30 servicemen of the Russian army were eliminated.

"The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine successfully struck the place of concentration of manpower of the enemy in Kondrativka, Kursk region. As a result of the strike, the object was completely destroyed, up to 30 occupiers were eliminated," the General Staff reported on Telegram on Tuesday.

It is reported that the destruction of this element of the enemy's military infrastructure reduces its ability to conduct combat operations against units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine in Sumy and Kursk regions.
Ashtead Technology reported robust financial and operational progress for 2024 on Tuesday, driven by both organic growth and recent acquisitions.

The AIM-traded subsea technology specialist posted a 52.1% increase in revenue to 168m, with organic revenue up 14% and inorganic growth contributing 39%.

Adjusted EBITA rose 38.9% to 50.3m, although the margin narrowed by 290 basis points to 29.9% due to a more diversified revenue mix following acquisitions.

Profit before tax climbed 31.1% to 36.1m, while adjusted basic earnings per share grew 34.7% to 45p.

Return on invested capital stood at 24.3%, down 330 basis points but still well above the companys cost of capital.

The group proposed a final dividend of 1.2p, up 9.1% from the prior year.

Ashtead completed the acquisitions of Seatronics and J2 Subsea in November, its largest deal to date, enhancing its equipment fleet and expanding its presence in key markets such as Norway and the US.

Integration efforts were said to be progressing well, with cost synergies on track.

The company also continued to invest in its leadership team and infrastructure to support future growth.

Looking ahead, Ashtead said it was optimistic, citing strong demand fundamentals and record multi-year customer backlogs.

The company said it expected to maintain low double-digit organic revenue growth and high-20% EBITA margins over the medium term.

Management said it was also evaluating further merger and acquisition opportunities and considering a potential move to the London Stock Exchanges Main Market.

Despite global trade uncertainties, the company was expecting limited impact from tariffs, and reiterated its guidance for 2025.

We are delighted with our performance in 2024, exceeding our financial and strategic objectives, said chief executive officer Allan Pirie.

The group finished the year larger, stronger and more capable of delivering value to our customers.

This is underpinned by the breadth of our offering and the flexibility of our international operating model.

Pirie said the integration of Seatronics and J2 Subsea, acquired in November, was at an advanced stage, adding that the quality the acquisitions had already exceeded expectations.

Reflecting on the strong financial performance in 2024, the record backlogs being reported by our customers and the strong growth fundamentals in our core markets, we are confident in our ongoing positive momentum.

With opportunities for both continued organic growth and disciplined merger and acquisition activity, we believe that we can deliver further value creation for our shareholders moving forward.

At 1048 GMT, shares in Ashtead Technology Holdings were up 7.05% at 577p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Fevertree Drinks delivered a solid financial performance for the year ended 31 December, it reported on Tuesday, with a sharp recovery in profitability and strengthened US growth setting the stage for medium-term expansion.

The AIM-traded mixers maker said group revenue rose 1% to 368.5m, or 3% on a constant currency basis, driven by a strong second half that saw Fever-Tree brand revenue growth accelerate to 7%, resulting in full-year brand growth of 4%.

It said the US was the groups standout performer, with constant currency revenue growth of 12% and further value share gains in key categories, including ginger beer and tonic water, where Fever-Tree now held 32% and 27% share, respectively.

UK revenue declined 3% against a challenging retail backdrop, while European brand revenue was flat in constant currency.

The rest-of-world segment grew 22% on a constant currency basis.

Fevertree said its gross margin improved by 540 basis points to 37.5%, supporting a 66% rise in adjusted EBITDA to 50.7m, with adjusted EBITDA margin increasing to 13.7%.

Diluted earnings per share rose 58% to 20.85p, while normalised earnings per share increased 82% to 28.01p.

Net cash rose 60% to 96m, driven by working capital improvements.

The board proposed a final dividend of 11.12p, taking the full-year ordinary dividend to 16.97p, up 2%.

Fevertree also announced an extension to its share buyback programme, increasing the total allocation to 100m over the 2025 financial year.

In January, the company entered a long-term strategic partnership with beer giant Molson Coors in the US, granting the latter exclusive rights to sell, distribute and produce Fever-Tree products in the country.

Fevertree said it retained full control over its brand identity and product development.

The partnership was expected to accelerate US growth, improve operational efficiencies and support the onshoring of production, while also benefiting from increased marketing investment.

While 2025 would be a transition year for the US business, Fevertree reaffirmed guidance for low single-digit group revenue growth and an adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 12%.

The firm said it remained confident in its medium-term outlook, underpinned by ongoing margin recovery, innovation and the growth potential of its non-tonic range, which now accounted for around 45% of global sales.

The Fever-Tree brand performed well in 2024, despite the subdued consumer environment, said co-founder and chief executive officer Tim Warrillow.

Across every key region, we are gaining market share, with more consumers discovering, enjoying, and becoming loyal to Fever-Tree each year across a growing variety of drinking occasions.

This was particularly noticeable in our largest region, the US, where once again the brand grew strongly and well ahead of the market.

Warrillow said the companys growing market share was still being driven by the companys deep understanding of global drinking trends, allowing it to make the most of evolving consumer preferences.

As a result, non-tonic products now make up 45% of our global revenues, driven by the success of our ginger beer and our expanding position in cocktail mixers and adult soft drinks.

Looking to the future, our focus remains on unlocking Fever-Tree's long-term potential across the world and capitalising on the unique position the brand has established sitting across alcohol and non-alcohol occasions.

A landmark moment in this journey came just after year-end with the announcement of our most significant strategic step to date - a transformative partnership with Molson Coors in the US.

That collaboration, Tim Warrillow said, marked a step change for the firms presence in the world's largest premium drinks market.

Molson Coors' powerful network of US distributors across both on and off-trade, combined with their dedicated, national salesforce and deep customer relationships creates the ideal platform to maximise our brand strength and future potential across both alcohol and non-alcoholic occasions.

At 0915 GMT, shares in Fevertree Drinks were up 4.7% at 780p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
The market spotlight on Tuesday would continue to be on geopolitics.

EU trade commissioner, Mario Sefcovic, was due to travel to Washington to meet with his US counterpart and try and de-escalate the trade spate between the two economic blocs.

More important even, reports indicated that Washington and Moscow would on Tuesday publish the main conclusions of their negotiations on the day before in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

US and Ukrainian negotiators were also expected to meet again.

Against that backdrop, investors would be treated to a slew of data covering US housing, including on house prices in January and new home sales in February.

The first of those figures would be released starting from 1300 GMT.

Also due out, at 1400 GMT, was a reading on US consumer confidence in March.

In the euro area, at 0900 GMT the prestigious Ifo institute would release its business confidence index for March.

No major economic reports were scheduled to be published in the UK.

Tuesday 25 March

INTERIMS

Bellway, Frenkel Topping Group, Smiths Group, Smiths Group

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Consumer Confidence (US) (14:00)

House Price Index (US) (13:00)

IFO Business Climate (GER) (09:00)

IFO Current Assessment (GER) (09:00)

IFO Expectations (GER) (09:00)

New Homes Sales (US) (14:00)

FINALS

Ashtead Technology Holdings, Barr (A.G.), BioPharma Credit , EKF Diagnostics Holdings , Gamma Communications, Getbusy, Henry Boot, IP Group, Kingfisher, Kingfisher, Michelmersh Brick Holdings, Personal Group Holdings, Real Estate Investors, The Mission Group, W.A.G Payment Solutions , Xaar

ANNUAL REPORT

Elementis, Shell

EGMS

Datang International Power Generation Co Ltd.

AGMS

Blackrock Throgmorton Trust, LG Electronics Inc GDS (Reg S), Patria Private Equity Trust, Titon Holdings, Various Eateries

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ocado Group, Time Finance
London stocks were set to fall at the open on Tuesday despite a positive session on Wall Street, as investors braced for a deluge of corporate news.

The FTSE 100 was called to open down around 35 points.

Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank, said: "The week started on quite a positive note on hope that the next wave of US tariffs - expected to hit the ground on April 2nd - would be more targeted and more measured than previously thought. But Trump still threatened to impose 25% levies on countries that buy oil from Venezuela.

"Chinese equities are under pressure this morning as the country buys oil from Venezuela and is concerned by the new tariff threats from the White House. And the barrel of US crude gained around 1.30%, though offers weighed heavier into the $69.5pb mark.

"Trend and momentum indicators are growing stronger, hinting that a rise above the $70pb is increasingly possible in the short run. But the long-term demand and supply dynamics remain in favour of cheaper oil - an expectation thats already priced in, but could still prevent oil bulls from gaining too much traction after a potential break of the $70pb resistance."

In UK corporate news, B&Q owner Kingfisher said it expected adjusted earnings of 480m to 540m this year and warned of the impact of budgetary measures in the UK and France on consumer sentiment and costs in the short term.

The company, which also owns Brico Depot and Castorama in France, posted a 7% fall in adjusted pre-tax profit to 528m and announced a 300m share buyback.

Smiths Group reported a strong set of half-year results, with 9.1% organic revenue growth, a 50 basis point margin expansion to 16.7%, and a 14% increase in headline earnings per share, while reaffirming full-year guidance.

The FTSE 100 company said it was progressing with its strategy to unlock value, including the separation of Smiths Interconnect and Smiths Detection, as it focussed on high-performance industrial technology businesses.

As part of the strategy, Smiths Group also announced the acquisition of Duc-Pac for $40.5m to strengthen its Flex-Tek divisions HVAC offering and expand its presence in the north-east US construction market.
Tullow Oil posted a return to profit in its 2024 results on Tuesday, underpinned by continued strategic delivery, production optimisation, and progress on debt reduction.

The London-listed company reported profit after tax of $55m for the year, compared with a $110m loss in 2023, despite a modest decline in revenue to $1.54bn from $1.63bn.

Its result included $213m in exploration write-offs.

Adjusted EBITDAX was broadly flat at $1.15bn, while free cash flow came in at $156m.

Net debt was reduced to $1.45bn from $1.61bn, bringing gearing down to 1.3 times adjusted EBITDAX.

Liquidity headroom stood at $715m at year-end.

Capital expenditure fell sharply to $231m from $380m, while decommissioning costs were also lower at $60m.

Tullow successfully extended its $250m revolving credit facility to June 2025 and resolved the Ghana Branch Profits Remittance Tax arbitration, removing a potential $320m liability.

Full-year working interest production averaged 61,200 barrels of oil equivalent per day, slightly down from 62,700 daily barrels in 2023.

The year saw five new wells brought onstream at Jubilee, ahead of schedule and under budget, saving $88m gross and completing the campaign without safety incidents.

FPSO uptime at Jubilee and TEN averaged 97%.

Decommissioning in Mauritania was completed ahead of schedule and below budget, while a nature-based carbon offset agreement was reached with Ghanas Forestry Commission.

The company said it expected 2025 production to average 50,000 to 55,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, including around 6,000 equivalent daily barrels of gas.

A new Ghana drilling programme with the Noble Venturer was set to start in May, with two wells due onstream in the third quarter.

Capital expenditure was forecast at $250m, primarily directed towards Ghana and West Africa, while further cost optimisation efforts were expected to reduce net general and administrative costs to $40m annually.

Tullow said it aimed to refinance its capital structure during 2025, following the repayment of its 2025 notes in early March.

Forecast free cash flow for the year was estimated between $100m and $200m at oil prices of $70 to $80 per barrel, including $50m in overdue gas payments from Ghana carried over from 2024.

The group also announced the planned $300m sale of its Gabon business, with completion targeted by mid-2025.

In 2024 we had a number of successes but also some operational challenges, most notably with Jubilee production and a reserves revision, however there is now strong momentum within the business with a return to drilling at Jubilee, and the commencement of production optimisation and reserves maturation activities in Ghana, said interim chief executive and chief financial officer Richard Miller.

In addition a number of key achievements have recently been realised, including the resolution of the Ghana Branch Profits Remittance Tax arbitration which eliminated a material overhang, the repayment of our 2025 senior notes and as announced on 24 March, the signed binding heads of terms for the sale of our Gabonese assets for a cash consideration of $300m.

This will accelerate our deleveraging progress this year.

Miller said he was clear on the levers required to unlock Tullow's full potential.

The team remains fully focused on our near-term priorities; advancing our refinancing plan, reducing costs, optimising production activities at Jubilee and TEN, and driving reserve growth.

We will continue to maintain our financial discipline and prioritise investments that add value and deliver high returns.

Tullow's core strength as a trusted partner with a cash generative business and attractive assets with reserves growth opportunities positions us well as we lay the foundations for value creation.

At 0846 GMT, shares in Tullow Oil were up 2.86% at 14.4p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Consumers are cutting back spending on everyday items amid falling confidence in the UK economy before Rachel Reevess spring statement, according to a survey. As the chancellor prepares to confirm billions of pounds in cuts to welfare and government spending on Wednesday, the research by KPMG showed growing numbers of people in Britain believed the economy was heading in the wrong direction.  Guardian

The City watchdog is considering changing rules to allow people to receive clearer information from financial firms to make it easier for them to find and compare products. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is exploring how it can simplify communications about savings accounts. The watchdog, which will announce its five-year strategy on Tuesday, will also review parts of its credit advertising rules, such as lengthy terms and conditions.  Guardian

HMRC could be forced to repay Uber 1.3bn after losing a key court battle over attempts to charge VAT on minicab fares. The tax authority is at risk of steep payments after failing to overturn a legal ruling against Bolt, Ubers Estonian rival. This decision is likely to have implications for other ride-hailing apps, including Uber, which has been battling HMRC over the 1.3bn VAT bill it has been charged since 2022.  Telegraph

EU rules on ethical investing are blocking almost 100bn of funds from flowing into the defence industry amid a push by Britain and Europe to bolster military spending. Analysts at investment bank Morgan Stanley said regulations introduced by the EU four years ago had blocked ethical funds from investing in weapons. They said billions could be unlocked for European and UK defence if the rules were overturned.  Telegraph

Proponents of zonal electricity pricing are expecting mass migration to windy places, the boss of British Gas owner Centrica has claimed. Chris OShea has taken to social media to argue against proposals for a radical shake-up of Britains electricity market, which are being championed by British Gass rival, Octopus Energy.  The Times
Thomas Hoobler, who with his wife, Dorothy Hoobler, wrote 103 books on a range of subjects, including YA biographies, mystery novels, and more, died February 22, the New York Times reported. He was 82.

Thomas & Dorothy Hoobler

The Hooblers spent most of the 1970s as trade magazine editors, even after they began writing books. Their first three titles appeared in the mid-1970s: House Plants, a manual; Frontier Diary, about a young girl's 19th-century trip across America; and Margaret Mead: A Life in Science.

They went on to contribute to a number of series, including Penguin's history books known by fans as "Big Heads" for their cartoonish covers, with titles like Where Are the Great Pyramids? (2015) and What Was the San Francisco Earthquake? (2016), the Times noted.

They wrote other series, including 10 "American Family Albums" for Oxford University Press, starting with The Chinese American Family Album (1994). The series won several honors, including three awards from the Parents' Choice Foundation.

Their most recent title was a book about presidential love letters titled Are You Prepared for the Storm of Love Making?

"Given their prolific output and the esteem they earned among teachers, parents and librarians, it's a good bet that a sizable percentage of any given elementary school library was written" by the Hooblers, the Times noted.

In addition to their nonfiction, they also wrote novels. In Darkness, Death (2004), part of a seven-book series about a samurai detective, won an Edgar Award.

In 2001, Thomas Hoobler appeared on the TV quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, winning $500,000. They used some of the money to write some books for adult readers, such as The Monsters: Mary Shelley and the Curse of Frankenstein (2006) and The Crimes of Paris: A True Story of Murder, Theft and Detection (2009).

"They did not, as some curious readers assumed, sit side by side, clacking out manuscripts on matching typewriters," the Times wrote. The Hooblers worked in separate rooms, with separate responsibilities. Though they both researched and wrote, Dorothy Hoobler was better at the former while her husband took the lead on the writing.

"Sometimes I would do a very rough draft, and then he would write the final script of it--it really did depend," Dorothy Hoobler said in an interview. "We worked together pretty well, I think. Obviously, we got these projects done."




Macron to meet with Zelenskyy in Paris on Wednesday evening ahead of Coalition of Willing summit  media

French President Emmanuel Macron will welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday evening in Paris, the French television network BFM TV reported on Tuesday, citing a statement from the Elysee Palace.

"The head of state will once again reiterate to President Zelenskyy that France will make the continuation and strengthening of military and financial support for Ukraine its top priority," the statement said.

The leaders of the two countries will make statements to the press before the bilateral meeting and working dinner.

It is noted that the meeting will take place on the eve of the summit of the "Coalition of the Willing" of countries ready to provide security guarantees to Ukraine. The summit will also be held in Paris.
US President Donald Trump said that he would impose a 25% tariff on nations buying oil and gas from Venezuela, a move that could disrupt global trade and affect major importers such as India and China. The move, presented as a reaction to what Trump has termed Venezuela's hostility towards the United States, will take effect on April 2 and is likely to further test diplomatic and economic ties.

Trump announced it through his Truth Social platform that any nation buying Venezuelan oil or gas would be included in the tariff on all commerce with the US. Under a presidential order, the tariff would lapse after a year since the last reported import of Venezuelan oil by a nation unless Washington would decide to roll it back earlier. The move is likely to generate uncertainty in the international oil market, hitting India the hardest since it has become one of Venezuela's largest crude buyers.

India has been a major buyer of Venezuelan crude, with imports averaging about 191,600 barrels a day in December 2023 and rising to more than 254,000 barrels per day in January 2024. India alone purchased almost half of Venezuela's total oil exports, which averaged about 557,000 barrels a day last month. India imported a total of 22 million barrels of oil from Venezuela in 2024, which accounts for 1.5% of its overall crude purchases. At the same time, Venezuela shipped 500,000 barrels per day to China and 240,000 barrels per day to the US in February, further reaffirming its position as a major supplier of oil on the global market.

The tariff threat occurs at a time when diplomatic relations between Washington and Caracas are worsening. Last month, Trump postponed deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants due to non-cooperation by Venezuela in taking back deported citizens. Venezuela retaliated by saying it would no longer take repatriation flights from the US. An over-the-weekend deal, however, saw almost 200 Venezuelan citizens deported through Honduras, temporarily alleviating tensions.

Trump's latest action has already raised oil prices, with Brent crude futures up 1.2% to $73 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude up 1.2% to $69.11 a barrel. The market reaction shows worries about the possibility of supply disruptions and how the new tariff will affect the global energy trade. Yet, the US government has also extended the deadline for oil producer Chevron to wind down its operations and exports from Venezuela until May 27, giving some relief to the market. The initial deadline was March 4, but the extension can give temporary stability before the full effect of Trump's tariff policy is realized.

Since coming back to the White House in January, Trump has pursued tariffs with a vengeance as a economic and diplomatic bargaining tool against allies and rivals alike. His most recent order directs the secretary of state, along with other US agencies, to decide the terms of the tariff's application. Trump indicated that the additional tariff would come on top of already imposed duties and presented April 2 as 'Liberation Day' for the American economy, portending additional trade actions in weeks ahead.
The second phase of the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for specialty steel has seen investment commitments of Rs 17,000 crore, the Ministry of Steel said. This expansion is expected to enhance India's global competitiveness in the manufacturing of specialty steel while driving the 'Make in India' vision.

Union Steel Minister HD Kumaraswamy highlighted the importance of the scheme in curtailing imports of high-grade specialty steel and making domestic production robust. "India is the world's second-largest producer and consumer of steel, but we still depend on imports for some of the high-grade varieties. The PLI scheme aims to fill this gap and foster self-reliance", he said.

The PLI plan for specialty steel, initiated in July 2021, includes five wide categories and 19 sub-categories. It provides incentives of 3-4% to India-registered companies producing steel end-to-end. The scheme has evoked robust industry response, and the government has launched a second round to cover additional companies.

During the first round, 23 firms had filed 44 applications, with one project already receiving incentives. The second round has seen even more enthusiasm, with 25 firms filing 42 applications and pledging Rs 17,000 crore of investments.

Kumaraswamy thanked the Ministry of Steel and MECON officials for accelerating the implementation of the scheme. "Their commitment and speed have been instrumental in speeding up this initiative", he said.

The minister also urged domestic steelmakers to invest in specialty steel production, highlighting its potential to enhance the countrys manufacturing capacity. I personally request our steelmakers to set up specialty steel plants. Producing specialty steel domestically will strengthen Indias steel sector and contribute to self-reliance, he added.
UPDATE: Former Impractical Jokers star Joe Gatto enters in-patient facility and cancels tour amid sexual accusations >>

Three upcoming standup shows starring Joe Gatto have been postponed, according to his website. The popular improvisational comedian, actor and producer with Staten Island roots  who starred in the hit show Impractical Jokers with three fellow Staten Island natives  made headlines this week when he denied allegations from a TikTok user that he sexually assaulted her when she was 19.

Part of Gattos national Lets Get Into It tour, the shows were scheduled for March 27 in San Antonio, Texas; March 28 in Phoenix, Arizona and March 29 in Tucson, Arizona.

Gatto had said he was taking a break from the public eye following the accusation. The woman, who goes by the handle joozyb on TikTok, posted a now-viral video in which she alleged that when she was 19 and Gatto was 46, she attended his show in 2023 in Milwaukee after accepting his invitation.

Although denying the allegation that he assaulted the then-teen, Gatto admitted he had made mistakes.

Ive made mistakes and, as a result, have lost the trust of those I care about, Gatto said. However, anyone who knows me well understands that I would never assault anyone. Im focusing on improving myself and will take some time away from the public to direct my energy where its needed, he told Page Six.

I have used poor judgment and, as a result, have violated the trust of the people I love most, Gatto said, according to the report.

Gattos wife, Bessy, has since deleted here Instagram page.

The Gattos, who share two kids, split in 2021 after eight years of marriage. Their separation was announced at the same time that Gatto stepped away from Impractical Jokers, which he said at the time would allow him to focus on his family.

The couple later announced that they had reconciled and got back together.

The Post report also quoted Gatto saying as a result of the accusations hes working on himself which is an ongoing process.

And I am now going to take some time away from the public eye to focus my energies where I need to.

Gattos upcoming schedule still includes dates from April until November 2025, including four shows planned in the United Kingdom.

In the last year, Gatto had seen his first-ever comedy special picked up on Hulu, where it is available to stream. He has been asked many times whether he would ever return to Impractical Jokers, but he has said consistently that he had begun a new chapter and wasnt turning back.
Chomps beef sticks are being recalled due to the possible presence of foreign material. (Courtesy/USDA) USDA

Chomps beef sticks sold at major retailers across the country, including Costco, are being recalled.

Idaho Smokehouse Partners is recalling its brand name Chomps beef sticks, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) due to the potential presence of foreign material.

The issue was discovered after Chomps investigated two consumer complaints that reported the potential presence of metal fragments in the meat stick product.

It involves the 1.15-ounce vacuum-sealed packages of CHOMPS ORIGINAL BEEF STICK MILD. It has lot codes of 25016, 25017, 25018, 25020 and 25021. The product subject to recall bears establishment number 6220A ink-jetted on the package.

The products were sold at major retailers across the country, including at Costco, from January through March this year.

There have been no reported adverse reaction or injuries related to this recall.

FSIS stated it is concerned that some product may be in consumers pantries. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them.

If you have the recalled product, you should not consume it and throw it away, or return the item to your local retailer, such as Costco, for a full refund.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Idaho Smokehouse Partners at 208-227-5282.
Members of Columbia University's student workers union and their supporters protest the detention of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil and recent actions taken by the Trump administration against the university, Friday, March 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) AP

A Columbia University student who is a legal permanent resident of the United States is facing deportation after she was arrested recently during a pro-Palestinian protest, according to a lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are purportedly searching for Yunseo Chung, 21, following a March 5 sit-in at Barnard College in Manhattan in which she and other students protested the way the school punished anti-Israel agitators.

Upon Trumps return to the Oval Office, his administration has said it wants to boot non-citizens who officials deem a threat to foreign policy.

Chung  a high school valedictorian who moved to the U.S. 15 years ago from South Korea with her family  is meanwhile suing Trump and other top ranking officials in an effort to avoid deportation, according to legal filings.

In the lawsuit, Chungs lawyers argue that actions by the Trump administration demonstrate an attempt to chill her free speech.

Conversely, the Trump administration has argued that her presence in the U.S. hinders the administrations foreign policy agenda of halting the spread of antisemitism, the New York Times reported.

In an effort to locate Chung, ICE officials have visited several residences, called for help from federal prosecutors and searched Chungs university housing on March 13, according to reports.

Her whereabouts currently are unknown.
More than 300 veterans, their families and supporters packed The Staaten on Thursday, March 20, 2025 for the annual "Welcome Home" breakfast. (Photo courtesy of the Richmond County District Attorney's Office) RCDA

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Richmond County District Attorney Michael E. McMahon and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella held their annual Vietnam veterans Welcome Home breakfast at The Staaten, West Brighton, on Thursday, March 20.

The district attorneys press secretary and community liaison, James Clinton, served as the events master of ceremonies. He was joined by City Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore) and representatives from the offices of State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn) and Assemblyman Charles D. Fall (D-North Shore).

The events keynote speaker was Jack Furnari, Staten Island ambassador for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. The invocation was performed by the Rev. Michael Martine of Holy Rosary R.C. Church, while Chaplain Walter Warren presided over the benediction.

Serving our country with fearless valor and love of country, sadly, Staten Islands Vietnam veterans were not greeted with the same gratitude and respect enjoyed by previous generations of American service members after they returned home from that terrible conflict so many years ago, McMahon said.

We enjoy the vast array of freedoms and liberties we do today as Americans because of the incredible service and sacrifice displayed by our veterans, and it was truly an honor to partner with Borough President Fossella yet again to provide them with the long overdue Welcome Home they so rightfully deserved, he said.

Fifty-two years after the return of the final U.S. troops from Vietnam, these American heroes continue to leave an indelible legacy on our nation and beloved borough and I look forward to joining them again next year as we continue this meaningful tradition, McMahon added.

More than 300 veterans were in attendance at this years breakfast, along with their families and supporters.

Richmond County District Attorney Press Secretary and Community Liaison James Clinton served as the events master of ceremonies. (Photo Courtesy of the Richmond County District Attorney's Office) RCDA

City Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore) addressed the crowd at the annual "Welcome Home" breakfast on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Photo courtesy of the Richmond County District Attorney's Office) RCDA
A top Hollywood star is suggesting that billionaire Elon Musk stole the 2024 presidential election for Donald Trump.

I question why for the first time in America history a president has won every swing state and is also best friends and his largest donor was a man who owns and runs the internet, Rosie ODonnell, who has fled the U.S. for Ireland because of Trumps re-election, said on the Irish talk show The Late Late Show with Patrick Kielty.

Musk, the CEO of the Tesla car company, also owns the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

So, I hope that would be investigated, ODonnell said, per the Wrap. And that we would see whether it was an anomaly or it was something else that happened on election night in America when Kamala Harris was filling up stadiums with people who supported her and Donald Trump was not able to do that.

The League of Their Own actress said, So, its curious to me and as an American and a believer in democracy, I would hope that we would be able to look at all of the reasons why this happened in our country.

Trump defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in last years presidential election.

On his way to winning 312 votes in the Electoral College to Harris 226, Trump swept all seven swing states that were seen as key to capturing the White House: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Trump in addition won the popular vote, with more than 77 million votes to Harris more than 75 million.

Trump and other supporters were slammed and sometimes prosecuted for challenging the 2020 presidential election results or for saying that election was stolen from Trump in favor of Democrat Joe Biden.
Biomethane from Ukraine is competitive, but there are a number of threats to this - energy expert Zaniewicz

Biomethane from Ukraine is currently competitive on the European market, but the margin is quite narrow, and a certain geopolitical situation that will reduce the price of natural gas will worsen these indicators, notes Maciej Zaniewicz, an expert of the Green Deal Ukraine project, a senior analyst at Forum Energii (Poland), who is a co-author of the study "Potential for cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the field of biomethane" by Green Deal Ukraine and the Ukrainian Climate Office.

"What was very interesting for us (in the study) is that Ukrainian biomethane is currently competitive on European markets, but the margin is very narrow. We compared the cost of biomethane production in Ukraine with the price of natural gas now and in the future and the price of ETS (the European Emissions Trading System). And, for example, some geopolitical situation that will affect the fall in the price of natural gas may affect the fact that Ukrainian biomethane will become uncompetitive," Zaniewicz said in an interview with the Interfax-Ukraine energy agency project Energy Reform.

According to him, during the study, experts calculated the option of producing biomethane at large plants, because its cost is of great importance.

"According to our calculations, it is currently approximately EUR60/MWh. Plus ETS costs, which must be calculated if we consume natural gas. And now the margin is very narrow," he indicated.

The expert added that biomethane production is only suitable for agribusinesses that will have relatively cheap raw materials.

According to him, there are many factors that will affect Ukraine's export opportunities, but which cannot be predicted now.

"And we see that the geopolitical situation is complex. And, let's assume the worst-case scenario in which Europe will follow US President Trump and, for example, return to "business as usual", in which, for example, there will be no sanctions on natural gas from Russia, and this may affect the fall in the price of natural gas. Then there will be no point in supplying biomethane from Ukraine at all," the expert noted.

In addition, according to him, everything depends on the future of climate policy, the departure from which will deprive the conditions for biomethane exports.

"However, in our opinion, these worst-case scenarios are not the most likely. Still, there will probably be no return to what was before the implementation of climate policy. What exists now will exist. As will the possibility of introducing something like ETS-2. So, the conditions for biomethane supplies from Ukraine will exist," the expert concluded.

According to him, the buyers of Ukrainian biomethane in Europe will primarily be consumers interested in reducing CO2 emissions, and those industries where natural gas cannot be replaced by electricity, for example, metallurgy.
Legislation introduced by State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton would expand insurance coverage of in vitro fertilization in New York. AP

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New Yorkers struggling to start a family could soon get some serious help from one of Staten Islands state legislators.

State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn) has introduced legislation to expand insurance coverage of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for millions of state residents.

I always look at things through the lens of what we can do to make sure that families, especially young families, want to stay here and plant their seeds and grow their roots in New York State. I think this would be a really good way to do that, the senator said.

The bill, S2619, would require all large group insurance policies that provide comprehensive medical coverage to cover as many IVF cycles as a patient requests in an effort to drive down the exorbitant costs many with infertility face when struggling to start a family.

In this context, large group insurance policies refer to policies that cover at least 100 employees.

Under New Yorks current IVF laws, which were spearheaded by Scarcella-Spantons predecessor, Diane Savino, insurance companies are only required to provide coverage for three cycles of IVF treatment.

I have countless friends who have gone through this. Its so much heartache, and then on top off the heartache, theyre so desperate to create a family that sometimes theyre putting themselves tens of thousands of dollars in debt if their insurance isnt going to cover this, said Scarcella-Spanton.

The senator noted that with recent concerns about womens reproductive rights at the national level, its important for New York to continue its long history of codifying reproductive healthcare at the state level.

Last year, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law, prompting several clinics in the state to suspend IVF treatments until the states legislature enacted a law to provide legal protections to the clinics.

Democrats at the federal level then introduced legislation that would establish a nationwide right for patients to access IVF, though the bill was blocked twice by Republicans and failed to pass.

I wanted to make sure we were doing everything we could in New York State to ensure that people who want to grow their family have the capability of doing so, and make sure that they dont have any financial burdens in doing that, Scarcella-Spanton said.

The senator had introduced a similar bill last year, though it failed to gain traction among her colleagues due to what she described as a financial aspect.

Lawmakers are now exploring the possibility of incorporating expanded IVF access into the state budget with designated funds to support the treatments, though she believes the costs should fall to the insurance companies given the amount of money New Yorkers pay for coverage.

I dont really agree with that necessarily because this would be the insurance companys duty to pay and people pay their insurance premiums every single month. I know I do. So theres already money thats going into these insurance companies, the senator said.
Vice President JD Vance broke with the boss. And now everybody knows about it.

A top-level group chat inadvertently shared with the Atlantic magazine revealed that Vance did not agree with President Donald Trumps decision to launch air strikes against Houthi terrorists in Yemen.

Vance called the timing of the military action a mistake, Politico reported.

The text exchange stunningly went public on Monday, after it was revealed that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz had mistakenly added Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to an encrypted group chat among senior Trump officials as the air strike was being planned earlier this month.

I think we are making a mistake, Vance said in the chat, which included Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.

I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now, Vance added. Theres a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc.

It was the first time that Vance is known to have broken with the president since the two took office in January.

Vance texted his remarks on March 14, the day before it was announced that Trump had authorized the strike on the Iran-backed Houthis.

Vances comments also highlighted concerns among some about the veeps isolationist stance when it comes to Europe.

About 30 minutes after sending the text, Vance wrote to Hegseth: if you think we should do it lets go. I just hate bailing Europe out again, reportedly an allusion to Trump statements that Americas European allies benefit economically from the U.S. Navys protection of international shipping lanes.

I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. Its PATHETIC, Hegseth replied.

However, the defense secretary added, I think we should go.

In a statement to Politico, Vance communications director Will Martin reiterated what he told the Atlantic: that the veep unequivocally supports this administrations foreign policy.

The Vice Presidents first priority is always making sure that the Presidents advisers are adequately briefing him on the substance of their internal deliberations, Martin said, adding that Vance and Trump had subsequent conversations about this matter and are in complete agreement.
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The Sint Maarten Tax Administration came into existence on October 10, 2010 when Sint Maarten became a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. We are an administrative organization and are officially named Tax Administration Sint Maarten.

Vision

The Sint Maarten Tax Administration, in collaboration with other government departments, ensures the efficient and effective execution of the tasks assigned to it. The levying, checking and collection will take place in a lawful, fair and equal manner.

Mission

The Sint Maarten Tax Administration will implement the laws and regulations for the levying, collection and auditing of taxes with the aim of attaining stable and growing tax revenues in an extremely efficient, effective, customer-oriented and honest manner.

We want to achieve this by optimizing work processes, procedures and systems. We want to invest in our employees and communicate proactively, reliably and transparently with taxpayers.

Objectives of the Tax Administration:

Levying and collection of taxes;

Promoting and increasing compliance with taxpayers;

Ensure structural income for the Government;

Increase and optimize tax revenues;

Ensure an honest, professional and reliable Tax Administration;

Ensuring a Tax Administration that is business-oriented and customer-focused;

Preventing competition distortion and fraud;

Collaborate with other government organizations;

Promoting stakeholder satisfaction;





The objectives of the Sint Maarten Tax Administration are further elaborated in a mission and a vision. The mission is what we stand for, the vision is what we go for.











Mailing Address: Tax Administration Sint Maarten Inspectorate Department P.O. Box 1026

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten











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Appeal procedure by the Court of First Instance against the Inspectorate of Taxes decision on a protest letter http://www.gemhofvanjustitie.org/index.php?eid=554






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The meeting of the Presidents of Ukraine and France, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron, will take place at 17:00 Kyiv time (18:00 Paris time) in Paris in the format of a working dinner, according to the website of the Elysee Palace.

"18:00. Working dinner with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy," reads Macron's schedule for March 26.

The plans for the next day, March 27, when a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing with Zelenskyy's participation was announced in Paris, include the entry: "10:00. Meeting on peace and security for Ukraine."

As reported, Macron will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris on Wednesday evening. "The head of state will once again reiterate to President Zelenskyy that France will make continuing and strengthening military and financial support for Ukraine its top priority," the media reported, citing a message from the Elysee Palace.

The two leaders are expected to make press statements ahead of the bilateral meeting and working dinner.
The Duchess of Sussex has dropped her own store with a range of luxury clothing, while the former editor of Vanity Fair says she is slightly adrift on the facts and reality.

Graydon Carter says he only put Meghan on the magazines front cover in 2017 because he was told she was going to marry the Duke of Sussex. He says she did not understand why the interview was not solely about her charity work.

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, at a welcome celebration during the 2025 Invictus Games in February. Credit: AP

Carter told The New York Post that the duchess, then an actor on Suits, had challenged the reporter, saying: Excuse me, is this going to all be about Prince Harry? Because I thought we were going to be talking about my charities and my philanthropy.

This woman is slightly adrift on the facts and reality, he says.
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Exclusive Eating outJust open A first look at the revamped $20m food mega-hub at Haymarkets Paddys Markets A butcher, florist, greengrocer, dumpling stall and cheese shop will be among nearly 50 new operators at the historic precinct, employing up to 400 staff. Scott Bolles March 25, 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

Sydneys historic Paddys Markets new food mega-precinct, Hay St Market, will open to the public on March 26 in Haymarket. The $20 million market  with 48 traders including celebrity chef Luke Nguyen  has finally arrived after three years of planning and a challenge from existing standholders in the NSW Supreme Court. The expansive project aims to finally provide Sydney with a central eat-in fresh-produce market, similar to those in other international cities, and will employ up to 400 staff across a 3000-square-metre space offering more than 25 different cuisines. 1 / 18 Shoppers preview the new CBD food hub on Monday before Wednesdays official launch. Flavio Brancaleone 2 / 18 Flavio Brancaleone 3 / 18 Flavio Brancaleone 4 / 18 Flavio Brancaleone 5 / 18 Flavio Brancaleone 6 / 18 Flavio Brancaleone 7 / 18 Flavio Brancaleone 8 / 18 Flavio Brancaleone 9 / 18 Joseph Murray and Paul Signorelli of Doltone Hospitality Group. Flavio Brancaleone 10 / 18 Flavio Brancaleone 11 / 18 Flavio Brancaleone 12 / 18 Flavio Brancaleone 13 / 18 Flavio Brancaleone 14 / 18 Flavio Brancaleone 15 / 18 Flavio Brancaleone 16 / 18 Flavio Brancaleone 17 / 18 Flavio Brancaleone 18 / 18 Flavio Brancaleone Previous Slide Next Slide The market includes a modern, colourful Korean area and a bar clad in plastic crates that sells everything in cans. Theres also a row of Dickens-era shops full of antique mannequins and furniture sourced from auctions. A mid-century truck parked onsite helps sets the tone. We want it to look like its been here for 100 years, says Joseph Murray, group chief executive at Doltone Hospitality Group, which has driven the project.

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While most food markets grow organically over time with multiple operators, Hay St Market falls under the management of Doltone, which has drafted in a large range of food experience to contribute. Tim Casey, former head butcher at Rockpool, who has worked in the trade for 50 years, runs Love Me Tender, the butcher shop. Cheese expert Christina Murphy was plucked for her experience working in the fromageries of Paris to head The Cheese Table. Photo: Flavio Brancaleone Chef and TV presenter Luke Nguyen, whose venues include Red Lantern in Darlinghurst and Fat Noodle at The Star, is involved across several venues. His fathers secret 24-hour broth is the cornerstone at Pho Chu Lao. Nguyen is also steering a dumpling program at a nearby stall, while across the way hes behind another outlet offering a twist to banh mi. Another TV regular, Indigenous chef Mark Olive, is serving smoked blue gum barramundi at Little Midden, a spin-off of his Opera House venture. Murray said the market needed to reflect the cultural food diversity of Sydney and the citys community needs (it has a florist and is fully licensed). It also had to tap into the historical links of Paddys, which dates to the 1800s, some of which are personal for the people involved. Doltone Hospitality Group executive chairman Paul Signorellis father worked at the market as a new immigrant, and the Signorelli Bros moniker at Hay St Markets greengrocer outlet honours that link.

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Construction on the multimillion-dollar makeover of Paddys Markets in Haymarket began last year after Sydney Markets Limited won a bitter battle in the NSW Supreme Court with standholders, who were forced to relocate internally to make way for the project. Sydney Markets interim chief executive Dale Doonan said Hay St Market would tap an international trend of mixing fresh produce and eat-in dining, which has lured a younger audience to markets. Photo: Flavio Brancaleone Doonan is optimistic the addition of Hay St Market can double visitor numbers at Paddys, which sit at about 5 million annually. Both he and Murray point to Londons Borough Market as an example of a food market that shares similar DNA to Sydneys arrival, although Hay St Market, with its broad range of cuisines on offer, will have its own city-centric traits. For Murray, his latest project fills a gap in the market. We asked ourselves what does Sydney have and what doesnt Sydney have? Even when I go to my home town [in Ireland], theres a central food market  We want this to be for Sydneysiders and visitors.

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Eating outSandwich watch Butter is the essential third ingredient in this simple yet decisive baguette This chewy roll might only have ham, slices of nutty gruyere and a generous smear of cultured butter, but those ingredients collide into something magical. Sarah Norris March 26, 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

The thick layer of delightfully salty butter on Loulous ham and gruyere baguette sends the message that this French bakery doesnt think about your cholesterol levels. In fact, head chef Ned Parker tells us hed add more if he could. We use great butter  not too much, but just the right amount to bring out the flavour. Id actually use double the butter, but I know that might be too much for most people, he says. Perhaps thats true, but butter is the essential third ingredient in Loulous simple yet decisive sandwich  equally as important as the meat and cheese  and helps elevate it above many of its sanger contemporaries. Not that Sandwich watch  a column dedicated to the essential Sydney sandwiches you need to know about  really cares about the buildup of plaque in arteries. We reckon the best breaded creations lean into things like deep-fried and over-sized in pursuit of lunchtime nirvana. Loulous baguette has triangles of sliced gruyere on both sides of the roll, a sensible thickness of thinly sliced ham and lots of house-made butter. James Brickwood

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Show me the butter Like Frances famous jambon beurre sandwich (simply ham and butter), Loulous $14 jambon beurre gruyere (ham, butter, cheese) relies on the quality of its ingredients. French food is built on taking excellent components and letting them collide into something magical, and this baguette is a textbook example. Along with the house-made cultured butter (which is used across Loulous boulangerie, bistro and CBD takeaway venue), the roll also has triangles of sliced gruyere, which are placed on both sides of the baguette. Theres a sensible thickness of thinly sliced ham layered between the cheese. That level of restraint is almost quaint in this golden era of hulking sandwiches, and means youre not chewing yourself towards a post-meal slump. If youre the kind of person that needs lunch to have mobility, this roll is also easily eaten with one hand, and on the go. The bread has a decent chew, but not too much you feel like youre playing bread tug-of-war. James Brickwood

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The ingredients Parker says they source their free-range smoked ham from beloved Sydney butchery Pinos Dolce Vita, which they slice themselves. They use Le Gruyere, a delightfully rich and nutty cheese from Switzerland. Like the butter, the bread is made in-house, to a traditional baguette recipe, and they make shorter versions specifically for their sandwiches. The bread has a decent chew, but not too much you feel like youre playing bread tug-of-war. A pile of ham and gruyer rolls at Loulou Petit, in the CBD. James Brickwood Where can you get it

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You can grab a $14 ham and gruyere baguette from Loulous Boulangerie and Traiteur in Milsons Point which has, since 2021, been peddling baguettes, croissants, pastries, sweet treats, sandwiches and more to patrons Monday to Sunday 7am to 4pm. Find it at 61 Lavender Street. A kiosk-style cafe, cleverly called Petit Loulou, was added to its roster last year in the Martin Place metro station, at the Hunter and Elizabeth Streets exit. Its got a handful of tables, but otherwise you can take away. Its open Monday to Friday 6am to 4pm. Petit LouLou opened at Martin Place metro last year. It also sells croissants and Loulous famous sausage rolls. James Brickwood This is the latest instalment of Sandwich watch, a column dedicated to the Sydney sandwiches you need to know about.

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Join the queue at the South Melbourne Market stall for famed viennoiseries.

1 / 6 The exotic variety of croissants at Agathe Patisserie. Jacon Pattison 2 / 6 Queues for pastries at the South Melbourne Market. Jacob Pattison 3 / 6 French-style pastries are the specialty here. Supplied 4 / 6 Easter treats including hot croissants and hot cross buns. Simon Schluter 5 / 6 Preparing the dough for pastries. Jacob Pattison 6 / 6 Owner Agathe Kerr. Julian Kingma Previous Slide Next Slide

French$$$$

Frenchwoman Agathe Kerr admits that her Earl Grey or coffee croissants at Melbournes Agathe Patisserie would be a little too bold in her home country, where she trained. But moving to Australia exposed her to flavours shed never had before, such as pandan and matcha, sparking a creative chapter in her viennoiserie.

Each weekend, the queues at Kerrs famed South Melbourne Market croissant stall are regularly so long they require airport-style barriers. In addition to croissants (of the plain, pain au chocolat, escargot, pandan and almond varieties), youll also find pastries and sweets like flan, canneles, madeleines, assorted danishes and more.

Also in the CBD.
Measles outbreaks are occurring around the world, including in Australia. With the new Trump administration white-anting vaccine confidence and public health, the US can expect to see more. But we are also witnessing the return of a persistent narrative: that outbreaks are due to vaccine refusal, fuelled by misinformation and societal amnesia of the diseases.

This is partly true. Large outbreaks can occur in communities where vaccine refusal is common enough to allow disease transmission. In West Texas, where a large Mennonite community resides, vaccination rates sit at 82 per cent, far lower than the 95 per cent needed for herd immunity. Research has found that members of insular communities tend to influence each other. They are not worried about different things from other vaccine-hesitant parents, but their worries fill an echo chamber that health experts and the government struggle to address.

Joe Rogan and Donald Trump have contributed to an increase in vaccine scepticism. Credit:

Australia has had its own prior crises of vaccine-preventable diseases. During the 1990s, measles and whooping cough outbreaks sparked thousands of newspaper articles lamenting Australias immunisation rates. Astoundingly, from todays vantage point, only 52 per cent of children in 1995 had all their vaccines by age five. Media articles mostly blamed parents who, they said, failed to immunise because they were ignorant, complacent and selfish.

By 2012, our childhood vaccination rates were above 90 per cent. This was not because parents changed but because governments fixed the back end. The federal government introduced a national register, which enabled better feedback and accountability at all levels. They also introduced financial incentives to GPs and parents, better program coordination, a measles control campaign, education and policy research. It turned out the parents werent the main problem after all.
Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?

On one level, the fairytale of Snow White  back in the cinemas since last week  is the story of an insecure woman constantly measuring herself against a younger, prettier rival.

For people of all ages in todays society, the magic mirror is replaced by a deluge of social media posts and selfies, most of them absorbed through a technology that allows the user to generate an ideal for their own appearance.

Veya Seekis, a Griffith University body image expert, told our reporters: People take shots of themselves, filter that shot, and then feel terrible about themselves because they dont live up to the filtered image that theyve created.
Continuing with his appearance on the ABCs Afternoon Briefing, the prime minister answered a series of questions on the US, including on the possibility of a phone call with President Donald Trump, the timing of a visit to the US, and the Signal group chat scandal in which top-secret military plans were shared with a prominent journalist.

Host Patricia Karvelas asked the PM how he was going in his efforts to get Trump on the phone, after he requested another call when Australia was denied an exemption from the US steel and aluminium tariffs.

Donald Trump and Anthony Albanese. Credit: AP, Alex Ellinghausen

We are working with the US administration, it is not something where you are texting each other, how about a chat? Albanese replied, shutting down the line of questioning.

While Opposition Leader Peter Dutton declared his first international trip as prime minister would be to Washington, Albanese was more vague, promising that if re-elected, he would expect a visit to the US to be among his first trips abroad.

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I have discussed with the president going to the US and I expect that certainly will be very early on in the term, he said, before revealing he had extended an invitation to Trump to visit Australia.

He did not come in his first term as president, but American presidents will always be welcome here as will other international visitors.

Karvelas then turned to the Signal group chat scandal currently dominating US political debate, asking if Australia should be concerned that a Five Eyes ally was so loose with national security.

It obviously is not desirable, Albanese said. I am sure that they regard that the same.

Mistakes happen from time to time. The important thing is when something like that happens that you identify how it happens and put in place measures to make sure it does not happen again. The US takes security seriously, and I am sure they will respond appropriately.
It seems that Ytterby (C8 Tuesday) is not so unremarkable after all, more elementary than forgettable, perhaps. A number of chemically minded readers have pointed out that, thanks to a nearby rare-earth mine, it is home not just to yttrium and ytterbium but also the elements terbium and erbium.

Joel Alexander of Eastlakes, which sounds as though it should be home to new elements kathium and kimbium, adds that Ytterby is the only location in the world with four elements named for it. The runners-up are two locations with two each: Magnesia in Greece (Magnesium and Manganese), and France (Francium and Gallium).

Back to spider stories (arachnophobes should turn away for two paragraphs now). Anne Cook of Ermington says, Years ago, an out-of-control vehicle crashed into our brick fence, demolishing the built-in letterbox. After repairs, weeks later the Redbacks returned, and I resumed extracting the mail with barbecue tongs.

Then, from Pretty Beach, Lance Dover would like to add, Our house and garden seem to be a magnet for spiders of many different kinds, but my favourite is the googly eyed net-casting spider. They find a suitable plant, weave a few loose web strands to perch on and then hold out a folded-up net between their front legs. When an insect settles below, they cleverly drop their net, which opens to capture the unsuspecting prey. Endlessly fascinating.

Reading rites continue with Rhoda Silber of Manly reporting that I speed-read Column 8 from bottom up to check for my contribution and then, invariably disappointed, read the rest of the SMH before poring over C8 later. Oh well, at least today you can read the whole of Column 8 properly first, Rhoda, and we hope you enjoy it.
A man accused of murdering his elderly mother at her Brisbane home bought a plane ticket to Tokyo after he allegedly stabbed her with a Japanese-style kitchen knife.

Senior police described it as one of the most horrific cases they have seen.

Alexander Clive Webb, 40, from Victoria, was charged with murder after his 79-year-old mother, Cecilia Webb, was found with stab wounds on different parts of her body in the front yard of her house in Brisbanes west on Monday afternoon.

A man has been charged with murder after a 79-year-old woman was found with a stab wound at a property in The Gap. Credit: Nine News

Ms Webb was found by police at the Chestnut Place property in The Gap, and was later declared dead at the site.
Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/news/all

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the combat results of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in relation to the Russian oil refining industry at events marking the 33rd anniversary of the creation of the SBU.

"I want to also recognize the Security Services efforts in protecting our countrys internal security  countering Russian saboteurs, spy networks, and various operations, including cyberattacks, that Russia conducts against Ukraine behind the front lines. Every operation that is foiled means lives saved. Thank you," Zelenskyy said.

The President also highlighted the achievements of the Security Service and other Ukrainian defense and security forces in the battle for the Black Sea. According to him, Ukrainian naval drones forced Russian warships to hide in the bays of Novorossiysk, and destroyed a large portion of the Russian fleet. As a result, Russia shifted from issuing ultimatums to being compelled to negotiate on Black Sea security, Zelenskyy stressed.

"Over the years of this war, the Security Service of Ukraine has truly become a combat-ready special service  highly efficient and strong. Exactly the kind our country needs. The warriors of the Security Service of Ukraine are involved in every area of defense  from the Kursk and Kharkiv regions to the hottest spots on the Donetsk front lines and in the south of our country," he said.

As reported, Zelenskyy congratulated the SBU employees on SBU Day and awarded them with state awards.
A population of extraordinary spiders discovered in the coastal dunes north of Alkimos have had their only known habitat fenced off and partially cleared by land developers in preparation for the next stage of a new housing estate.

WAtoday revealed last year that the only known habitat of the peacock jumping spider species Maratus yanchep was just 20 metres from Peets Elavale estate, putting it at high risk of extinction.

The maratus yanchep. Credit: Michael Lun Photography

However, because the spider, known for its potentially deadly courtship dance, pictured above, was only discovered and described in 2022 it has not been included on state or federal threatened species lists, giving it no legal protection, according to the state government.

And further complicating the race to save the spider is the fact ministerial environmental approvals for the estate were published before the tiny spider was discovered, so there are no conditions or restrictions in place to protect it there either.
Basil Zempilas has revealed his employment with media giant Seven West Media ceased earlier this month after being grilled on the nature of his relationship with its major shareholder Kerry Stokes and fellow billionaire Gina Rinehart.

The prominent media personality, who began his broadcast career with Seven West more than 30 years ago, confirmed he was no longer on the companys payroll.

Zempilas confirmed he is not on the Seven West payroll. Credit: Colin Murty

But he would continue to pen the weekly column he has authored for The West Australian since 2019, and which drew the ire of those in WA Labors ranks as it progressively became more political.

Zempilas pointed out deputy premier Rita Saffioti also had a regular column, but he said there would be no fee.

When quizzed by our political reporter Hamish Hastie about his relationships with media mogul Kerry Stokes and Rinehart  who he has previously emceed events for  and whether they would have any bearing on his new role, Zempilas said: None. Kerry Stokes was the major shareholder and owner [of Seven West Media] for almost all of the time I was employed there.

It was an employer/employee relationship, and I dont expect anything from that relationship will enter into my new role.

To describe it as anything other than that would be inaccurate.

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Zempilas relationship with the media empire and its billionaire owner has long been a topic of discussion.

The Churchlands MP confirmed speculation about his bid for higher office with The West Australian in January 2024, revealing he first discussed the idea with Stokes after the companys annual charity event Telethon in October 2023.

But he told Hastie he did not converse with Stokes about his tilt for the leadership.

In December, the Independent Media Council upheld three complaints from Zempilas mayoral opponent Sandy Anghie against Seven West Media, which was found to have given her unfair and imbalanced coverage during the City of Perth election.
A previously disregarded yellow panel van could hold the key to solving a 44-year-old West Australian cold case mystery.

WA Police on Tuesday launched a fresh appeal for information in an attempt to solve the suspected murder of Lisa Mott in Collie in 1980.

WA Police believe this yellow panel van could hold clues to the disappearance of Lisa Mott in 1980. Credit: WA Police

The 12-year-old was seen leaving a local basketball court with a friend around 8.45pm one October evening to head to a nearby pizza shop. She walked home around 9pm, and was last seen crossing a railway line to Forrest Street before she vanished.

Detectives deployed a mobile facility to the area last November in the hopes of people coming forward with new leads.
It wasnt until 2002, The Australian Financial Review has reported, that CSIRO realised it had such a valuable patent. The organisation designated it a RIPPER: reclaimed intellectual property promising exceptional returns. A CSIRO spin-off to commercialise the technology did eventually manage to sell a working chip, but the company was wound down in 2004  just as the Wi-Fi revolution was really beginning. Other efforts to sell the tech directly to Apple or HP were rebuffed. CSIROs biggest success was not developing the technology but fighting over it in court. The organisation filed lawsuits against multiple companies alleging patent infringement after Wi-Fi had become a dominant technology. The companies accused CSIRO of being swindlers, but ultimately settled for hundreds of millions of dollars after a US court upheld the patent. CSIRO did not invent the concept of wireless LAN, it just invented the best way of doing it, a lawyer for CSIRO said, according to a history of the case by tech publication Ars Technica. Maybe. One of the companies sued would later claim in court it had never even heard of CSIRO, let alone stolen the organisations idea.

Is a victory in court a sign of a successful Australian innovation ecosystem making breakthroughs that push us forward? Im sceptical. Illustration by Matt Golding All this brings us to Donald Trump, and the state of our science ecosystem. The US is our largest foreign research funder, providing $386 million in funding last year, but the country is now questioning how much value for money it gets. As it has a right to do. The fact they did not ask questions before now is maybe a little surprising, one leading scientist told me on Monday. The question is, why are we so reliant on the US? Since 1945, the US has sought to create a liberal international order based on rules, trade and co-operation  with its extraordinary economy, military, and research apparatus at the centre. We have been huge beneficiaries.

The Trump administration seems determined to break this system and return us to a more mercantile era, one in which countries ask: whats in it for me? The narrative of partnering with those who share our values is no longer workable, Anna-Maria Arabia, chief executive of the Australian Academy of Science, told me. Loading We rely heavily on the US for research funding. We rely on the US to an extraordinary extent for our research infrastructure. We use its genetic data in our flu vaccines. The US monitors for hurricanes and rogue asteroids. We get its satellite data  for free. This level of dependence, of expecting other countries to commercialise our discoveries so we can buy them back at a higher cost, has left our research system weak  a fact laid bare by an extraordinary discussion paper released in February by a government panel reviewing Australian research and development.

Our research sector operates in isolation from our economy, the paper notes. Research and development spending has declined for 15 years (we now, amazingly, spend less than any other advanced economy). Our economic complexity  our ability to use new knowledge to make complex new things  is ranked 102 in the world, below Rwanda, Namibia and Uganda. Rather than properly fund research to increase our ability to make new things, previous governments have encouraged universities to enrol huge numbers of overcharged, under-educated international students to fund research. That misguided policy has essentially given China, the main source of international students, influence over our research system at a time when relations between our two nations are fraught. Current Science Minister Ed Husic seems to have a real vision for change and is actually doing something about it. He has set national science priorities. His reviews of the entire R&D sector could, if allowed to bear fruit, actually lead to a proper integration of a heavily siloed sector.
If you need any further proof the Albanese government hadnt planned to hand down this budget, you can find it buried at the bottom of table two on page 19 of budget paper two.

A single line item, decisions taken but not yet announced, reveals how little money the government has held back for a vote-buying cash splash during the looming federal election campaign.

The decisions taken column is the elections war chest within the governments larger contingency reserve  money set aside for cost blowouts, commercial-in-confidence and national security-in-confidence items and more.

In this years budget, over the next four years, the money held back in the war chest amounts to a miserly $1.52 billion  a drop in the ocean compared to previous budgets, particularly on the eve of an election.
Former Perth lord mayor-turned-Churchlands MP Basil Zempilas has been elected leader of the WA Liberals and opposition.

Zempilas was rubber-stamped as leader at a party room meeting at Parliament House on Tuesday morning.

Basil Zempilas is the new opposition leader in WA. Credit: Hamish Hastie

Zempilas began his time at the Liberals helm by lavishing praise on his predecessor Libby Mettam, hailing her efforts as incredibly stoic and expressing appreciation that she would stand alongside him as part of the leadership team.

Fronting the media outside Parliament House following the meeting, the former Seven West Media personality and 6PR breakfast presenter said Mettam had been an inspiration, especially for candidates at the poll in which he was elected to the seat of Churchlands.
A flotilla of six warships and a submarine accompanied by New Zealand and Royal Australian Air Force assets are taking part in the biggest anti-submarine war games in recent years off the West Australian coast.

The 2025 anti-submarine war exercise launched from HMAS Stirling south of Perth on Tuesday morning and will run for the next three weeks.

Royal Australian Navy frigates alongside HMAS Stirling in Rockingham. Credit: Navy Imagery Unit

The goal of the exercise is to sharpen the skills of more than 1300 navy and air force personnel to hunt and target submarines lurking off the coast.

The submarine and warships will be joined by MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and P-8 Poseidon aircraft, and the exercise will span much of the southern half of the state.
Home sellers in some of the neighbourhoods where properties are most likely to sell at a loss are unlikely to be affected  if they list a house rather than an apartment.

Even in many regions where the share of loss-making unit sales is as high as one in four  or even more  far fewer house sellers lose money, new figures show.

Units have been selling at a loss even in areas where houses dont. Credit: Ben Rushton

The figures come amid a push by both state and federal governments to build more homes to address the ongoing housing affordability crisis.

Experts say house owners can feel confident that a new block of flats in their suburb is unlikely to reduce the value of their home, but also that the new phase of development is more likely to be made up of infill and medium-density than the spate of high-rise construction during the 2010s.
In recent times, two opinion pieces have been written about Singapores strict approach to drugs. On December 3, 2024, Lex Lasry called Singapore intransigent in the use of the death penalty for drug offences, and on March 10, 2025, Zach Hope similarly penned an article questioning Singapores strict approach to drug trafficking and our laws on public assemblies. I think it is important for us to explain our position on both these issues.

A prison van brings Australian Nguyen Tuong Van to a court appearance in Singapore on drug-trafficking charges in 2003. He was later executed. Credit: Luis Ascui

Singapores approach to drugs

First, on our drug policies. Singapore strives to rehabilitate drug abusers. Drug abusers who have not committed other serious criminal or drug offences receive rehabilitation without a criminal record, regardless of how many times they relapse. Our rehabilitation efforts have worked well; our recidivism rate more than halved from 1993 to 2022, from 73 per cent to 30.8 per cent.

The World Health Organisation reported that more than 600,000 deaths in 2019 were attributable to drug abuse, more than twice the number of deaths caused by firearms. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that in 2022-23, one in 10 people aged 14 and above had been a victim of an illicit drug-related incident. On December 2, 2024, one day before Lasrys article, 13 people were charged over a seizure of 2.34 tonnes of cocaine in Australia. This was Australias largest cocaine seizure, and, if not intercepted, would have equated to 11.7 million individual street deals.
The United Nations will start pulling its workers out of Gaza as the conflict with Israel claims a growing number of aid workers, medical personnel and journalists, including two reporters killed in strikes on Monday.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the organisation had made the difficult decision to withdraw a third of its international workers, after repeated Israeli strikes on its facilities in Gaza. A Red Cross building was also hit in Gaza on Monday, in what Israel said was a mistake.

Hossam Shabat was a college student when the war broke out. Credit: Image via @HossamShabat via X

The UN has lost more workers during the 18-month war than in any other conflict in its history, Guterres says. At least 280 have been killed, among them a Bulgarian UN worker killed in a strike on a UN compound last week, which the UN says came from an Israeli tank, a claim Israel denies.

A 23-year-old Palestinian journalist, Hossam Shabat, was killed in a strike on his car in northern Gaza on Monday, with footage verified by The New York Times showing his body, and those of two other men, lying beside a car bearing the Al Jazeera emblem, and the letters TV on the windshield. The car was peppered with what appeared to be bullet or shrapnel holes, the paper reported.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua

Since the beginning of the day, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces have repelled six Russian attacks in Kursk region of the Russian Federation as of 16:00, another battle is ongoing, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Facebook on Tuesday.

At the same time, according to the General Staff, as of this time on Monday, the Defense Forces had already repelled 10 Russian attacks, and four more battles were ongoing.

Also on Tuesday, from the beginning of the day as of 16:00, the enemy carried out two air strikes, dropping three guided bombs, and carried out more than 110 attacks, including five from multiple launch rocket systems.

On Monday, at the same time, the enemy carried out five airstrikes, dropping eight UABs and carrying out almost 190 attacks, including two from MLRS.
Washington: US President Donald Trump says it was a harmless glitch that a prominent journalist was added to a highly sensitive group chat about an imminent US military operation, as top national security leaders denied any classified information was shared.

Washington has been rocked by the revelation the editor of The Atlantic magazine, Jeffrey Goldberg, was mistakenly included in a group chat on the encrypted messaging app Signal, where the administrations most senior figures planned, debated and detailed US military strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.

Trump stood by his national security adviser Mike Waltz, who added Goldberg to the Signal group. Waltz was a very good man, Trump said. I dont think he should apologise. I think hes doing his best. Probably he wont be using [Signal] again.

Earlier, Trump told NBC News that Waltz had learned a lesson, but the mistake had no impact at all. It was the only glitch in two months, and it turned out not to be a serious one. As to how Goldberg came to be added to the group, Trump said: It was one of Michaels people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there.
MARIGOT & PHILIPSBURG:--- The Tailor-Made Heat Maps for Caribbean Island States project has officially launched in St. Martin/St. Maarten, bringing new data-driven tools to highlight the increasing impact of extreme heat. Funded by UNESCO, this initiative will provide critical insights into extreme heat to help communities, educators, decision-makers, urban planners, and policymakers better prepare for rising temperatures.

Detailed heat mapping for smarter planning

The projects analysis spans 2013 to 2024, producing heat maps at two levels:

 Raster level  A high-resolution grid format offering detailed heat distribution data across neighborhoods.

 District level  A broader visualization designed to support schools, elderly care homes, community centers, urban planners, decision-makers, and businesses in identifying and mitigating heat hotspots.

These maps will be published in July 2025 and made accessible through an interactive dashboard, allowing users to explore heat intensity and trends in both French and Dutch territories. This localized data will help communities better plan for and adapt to extreme heat.

Community engagement & local insights

Beyond satellite-based mapping, the project features a qualitative survey to capture real-world experiences of residents dealing with extreme heat. Local researcher Ms. Sahar Thomson will lead these surveys, collaborating with community stakeholders to ensure broad participation.



The final list of interview groups is being determined with local partners, but may include: Youth, elderly individuals and caretakers, teachers and education professionals,caretakers of the differently-abled , and healthcare providers.

Interviews are scheduled to begin in late April/early May 2025, and the findings will complement the heat maps, including community voices to shape heat adaptation strategies.

Additionally, consultations with local stakeholders are ongoing to ensure the project aligns with regional climate adaptation priorities.

Accessing the data & project updates

To make this valuable information widely available, findings and updates will be shared on the projects official Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571085520422

A dedicated website will launch later this year, providing access to interactive maps, news, blogs, and reports.

Building a climate-resilient future for St. Martin/St. Maarten

With rising temperatures and prolonged heat waves affecting public health and infrastructure, this initiative is a critical tool for adaptation. By integrating scientific heat mapping with community-driven insights, the project aims to empower decision-makers and local residents to take action against heat risks.

For more information, follow our Facebook page and stay tuned for community engagement sessions and public events.
The Hague, Netherlands:--- During an important working visit to the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague, the Honorable Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Dr. Luc Mercelina, held a strategic meeting with the Minister Plenipotentiary Gracita Arrindell and her staff to reinforce the governments commitment to deepening collaboration, advancing support systems for students and citizens abroad, and ensuring Sint Maartens voice is stronger within the Kingdom.

This visit was not only necessary but long overdue, stated Prime Minister Mercelina. Our Cabinet in The Hague must be empowered, resourced, and fully integrated into the broader machinery of government if we are to make meaningful strides for our peopleboth at home and in the diaspora.

Among the priority agenda points discussed was the status of strengthening the presence of the Minister Plenipotentiary and expanding its external network. Prime Minister Mercelina emphasized that Sint Maartens representation in the Netherlands must reflect the islands growing international responsibilities and ambitions. We are not just seeking visibility; we are positioning ourselves for influence. That begins with an empowered Cabinet that is well connected within The Hague and beyond.

The technical cooperation with the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) was another key topic, with a review of ongoing and future initiatives to bolster institutional capacity in Sint Maarten. We welcome the expertise and best practices VNG can offer, said the Prime Minister. But it is essential that such cooperation is demand-driven and reflects our local priorities.

Also addressed was a formal request for a dedicated welfare worker at the Cabinet of the Minister, Plenipotentiary, a role deemed crucial to supporting the growing number of students and citizens navigating life in the Netherlands. Our people must know that there is someone who sees them, hears them, and is there to help them when they need it most, Dr. Mercelina affirmed.

The meeting also reviewed the status of student housinga long-standing challenge for Sint Maarten students in the Netherlands. The Prime Minister reiterated his administrations commitment to working with Dutch counterparts to create safer, more affordable housing opportunities; while also emphasizing the role the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary can play in advocacy and facilitation.

In a forward-thinking initiative, the Cabinet is also taking steps toward establishing a diaspora database. The diaspora is not just a distant communityit is an untapped asset, Dr. Mercelina said. We want to build bridges of connection, engagement, and opportunity.

The quality and consistency of communication between the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary and the Government of Sint Maarten, particularly the Ministry of General Affairs, was also examined. The Prime Minister stressed the need for structured information flow and greater transparency. This Cabinet is not a satelliteit is an extension of our government. We must operate in sync.

In a departure from tradition, Prime Minister Mercelina also took the time to hear directly from each Cabinet staff member. It was important to me to sit with the teamnot just the Ministerand listen, he said. Inclusion must be more than a concept; it must be a practice. Too often, the voices of those on the ground go unheard. Today, we changed that.

The meeting concluded with a renewed sense of unity, clarity, and determination.

The work done by this Cabinet is vitalnot just for diplomacy, but for the dignity of every Sint Maartener abroad. Let us continue to strengthen the ties that bind us, and build a future where every citizen, at home or abroad, feels supported, represented, and proud, concluded Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Student Support Services Division (SSSD) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport is hosting an exciting workshop titled Mindfulness: Success in Studying in The Netherlands (Part I) on March 27, 2025, at the University of St. Martin from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

This free workshop is the first in a 3-part series designed specifically for students planning to study in the Netherlandswhether you're about to graduate, preparing for exams, or a recent graduate. The sessions are perfect for students thinking about heading to the Netherlands to continue their education, especially those who may be feeling uncertain about the transition.

The workshop series will focus on the psycho-social aspects of studying abroadhelping you manage the personal, emotional, and social challenges that often come with the move. According to SSSD officials, many students leave the island feeling unprepared for these challenges, and the goal of these workshops is to make sure you're fully ready to succeed. So, whether you're a free-mover planning to go independently or someone studying with government financing, this workshop is for you!



What to Expect in Part I:

 What life is really like in the Netherlandsfrom everyday routines to cultural differences.

 How to deal with homesickness and feelings of being overwhelmed.

 Tips for making group interactions easier and more meaningful.

 The importance of learning Dutch and how it can boost your experience

Participants are encouraged to attend all three workshops to get the full experience. The workshops are interactive, offering you tips and a chance to ask your burning questions.

Dont miss outbe on time and get ready for a workshop that will prepare you for success! SSSD officials said.

Students are encouraged to contact SSSD at 543-1235 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register for the workshop or to obtain more information. Interested persons can also visit the SSSD office which is in the Gatspy Building across from the Police Station and next to WIB.

The Student Support Services Division (SSSD) provides services to students referred by the schools such as psychological services, counseling services, social work services, educational diagnostic services, speech language pathology services. SSSD also provides general services such as career services, parent sessions and crisis response.
WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG  The introduction of the Caribbean guilder (XCG) is less than a week away. On Monday, March 31, 2025, Curacao and Sint Maarten will embrace their new currency, and the Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) is confidently awaiting the transition from the Netherlands Antillean guilder to the Caribbean guilder.

Transition Period

It will take some time before everyone has enough Caribbean guilders to handle all cash transactions entirely in the new currency. Therefore, from March 31 to June 30, 2025 (the co-circulation period), cash payments can be made in both NAf and Caribbean guilders. Although businesses have been asked to provide a change in the Caribbean guilders, they may initially still give change in NAf because they might not yet have enough Caribbean guilders available.

Online, ATM Visa and Mastercard Debit- and Credit Transactions

Commercial banks play a key role in the transition, and there has been intensive collaboration to adapt the payment systems. It has been agreed that on March 31, 2025, the banks will close to the public at noon to facilitate the necessary preparations. Although the Caribbean guilder will become legal tender on that day, payments will transition to the new currency overnight from March 31 to April 1, 2025. Specifically, this means the system's currency code will change from ANG to XCG. Please keep in mind that from 8:00 p.m. to April 1, 8:00 a.m., the online banking system will not be fully available. During the ANG-to-XCG transition, ATMs may be temporarily unavailable for cash withdrawals. The duration of the disruption to online banking services and ATMs will vary between banks, depending on the migration work required for each bank. For logistical reasons, ATMs will be gradually replenished with Caribbean guilder banknotes over a maximum period of two weeks. As a result, the public could continue to receive NAf banknotes from ATMs on March 31, the day the Caribbean guilder enters into circulation, and in the days thereafter.

The public should also be aware that (debit and credit) Visa and Mastercard payments may be temporarily unavailable from around midnight on April 1, 2025, depending on the bank. This will vary from bank to bank.



NAf to XCG Exchange

On July 1, 2025, the NAf will cease to be legal tender, which means it will no longer be accepted for payment. However, from March 31, 2025, to March 31, 2055 (a period of 30 years), NAf can still be exchanged. From March 31, 2025, to March 31, 2026, the public will be able to exchange NAf cash for XCG at commercial banks, provided they have a bank account with the bank. As part of this process, commercial banks will encourage deposits into bank accounts. Commercial banks will automatically convert bank account balances from NAf to XCG.

Individuals without a bank account can exchange NAf at CBCS. For amounts up to NAf 2,500, no appointment is required for a one-time exchange. For additional exchanges and/or exchanges of amounts exceeding NAf 2,500, an appointment must be made at https://www.centralbank.cw/exchange-request. The public will be able to exchange NAf at the CBCS for another 29 years (until March 31, 2055).

The public is advised to use cash for payments as much as possible during the co-circulation period, as this will reduce the need to exchange at a bank.



Currency Code

All currencies have both a currency code and a currency symbol. The currency code is determined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). According to ISO regulations, the currency code for a country generally begins with the first two letters of the country code, followed by a letter identifying the currency. When a currency is shared by more than one country, as is the case with the Caribbean guilder, ISO rules dictate that the currency code begins with an X, followed by two letters identifying the currency. This is why the currency code for the Caribbean guilder is XCG.

However, the currency symbol is determined by the country. Article 3 of the Common Monetary System Regulations for Curacao and Sint Maarten states that the currency symbol may be represented by the letters CMg. To better align the currency symbol with the currency code and to avoid confusion, the CBCS has proposed to the Ministers of Finance of both countries to use Cg instead. The CBCS is currently in consultation with the Legislation & Legal Affairs Departments of both countries to formally establish this abbreviation in law.



Information Campaign

The CBCS launched an information campaign some time ago to familiarize the public with the security features of the new currency and to prepare them for the transition. This campaign included sessions for the public and the business and industrial sectors (at the CBCS premises, on-site at businesses, and at community centers), online sessions, TV and radio interviews, and brochures, which were also distributed door to door. All information is also available on the My

Caribbean Guilder app (available in Dutch, Papiamentu, and English) and on the website

www.caribbean-guilder.com.

CBCS recommends consulting commercial banks for the latest updates on payment system availability. For additional questions, please contact the Corporate Communications Department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .



Willemstad, March 25, 2025

CENTRALE BANK VAN CURACAO EN SINT MAARTEN
~FCCA Renews Strategic Development Agreement with the British Virgin Islands~

Miramar, FL:--- Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA)  the trade association that represents the mutual interests of destinations and stakeholders throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America, along with Member Lines that operate over 90 percent of the global cruising capacity  is pleased to announce that it has again renewed its strategic development agreement with the British Virgin Islands. The tailored Presidential Partner agreement builds on the partnership originally formed in 2023  and aims to further capitalize on record years for both the destination and cruise industry.



This renewed agreement shows the momentum that FCCA and destinations are having in working together to maximize cruise tourisms benefits, said Micky Arison, Chairman of FCCA and Carnival Corporation & plc. The British Virgin Islands has been a long-standing partner of the industry, and I am thrilled that this agreement signifies the improvement of so many lives and livelihoods.



The British Virgin Islands has renewed this agreement to further grow its economic benefits from cruise tourism, which generated $85.7 million in direct expenditures, in addition to 1,666 jobs paying $18.3 million in wages during the 2023/2024 cruise year, according to the Business Research & Economic Advisors report Economic Contribution of Cruise Tourism to the Destination Economies.



Both the British Virgin Islands and FCCA are also looking to further capitalize on recent records, including the 34.7 million cruise passengers that were projected to sail in 2024, as well as the destinations tourist arrivals surging to 1,092,139 in 2024, a 9.8% increase compared 2023  and reflecting growth across all visitor categories, with 768,293 Cruise Ship Visitors, a 6.8% increase; 305,876 Overnight Visitors, a 16.7% increase; and 17,970 Day Trippers, a 35.1% increase.



Through the agreement, FCCA will not only continue to guide the British Virgin Islands government on enhancing their product and increasing cruise calls but also facilitate new experiences to offer cruise companies and collaborate with the local private sector to maximize any opportunities.



Additionally, the agreement utilizes FCCAs cruise executive committees, including sub-committees focused on employment and purchasing, for a series of meetings and site visits focused on the British Virgin Islands objectives.



The British Virgin Islands also has open access to the FCCA Executive Committee, comprised of presidents and above of FCCA Member Lines, along with their efforts to effectuate the agreements objectives and the destinations goals.



Some of the other features of the strategic partnership include a focus on converting cruise guests to stay-over visitors, promoting summer cruising, engaging travel agents, creating consumer demand and developing a destination service needs assessment that will detail strengths, opportunities and needs.



We are proud of our past work with the British Virgin Islands and honored that they have again put their faith in us and the cruise industry, said Michele Paige, CEO, FCCA. Through this agreement, FCCA remains fully committed to fulfilling individualized initiatives, which focus on assisting the private sector, improving employment, fostering cruise lines purchase of local goods and more that will help locals prosper from the economic impact that the industry brings.



The BVIPA is delighted to continue partnering with FCCA on our Strategic Development as it has consistently proven to be a significant contributor to our continued cruise growth and success, said Akeem Pickering, Managing Director, BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA). The growth and success of this partnership agreement are not only of benefit to BVIPA but extends to many families in our beautiful country. While our physical size is small of that in nature, our aim is to strive to be a giant presence in the Caribbean cruise market. We look forward to continued upward trajectory with this partnership as we serve the people of the BVI.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Members of the United Peoples Party (UPP), MP Omar Ottley and MP Francisco Lacroes, are voicing their deep concern regarding the current state of Parliament. They claim it is functioning more like a protective agency for specific Ministers rather than a legislative body dedicated to serving the people of Sint Maarten.

The MPs highlighted the alarming trend of urgent meeting requests from the opposition being overlooked by the President of Parliament. One such case is the urgent public meeting request submitted on February 28, 2025, to discuss the ongoing process for Budget 2025.

"Despite the established rules that urgent meeting requests be granted within 48 hours, as of today, we have not received no official correspondence on this meeting request and are still left in the dark regarding the proper way forward to handle Budget 2025," MPs stated. "The significance of this budget is evident, especially with regard to crucial issues such as civil servants' indexation, funding for police, roadworks, and the generators for GEBE amid recent power outages."

Additionally, the UPP has called for a public meeting with the Minister of Public Health to be present in Parliament to address the status of mental health services. The MPs requested the meeting on March 4, 2025, and that request has also not been honoured. "Many key aspects of the Ministry of Public Health appear dormant under the current Minister's leadership, and clear challenges with the St. Maarten Medical Center SMMC seem not to have the Minister or this Government's interest, and Parliament must address these concerns in the public interest," MP Ottley emphasized.

In general, it appears that MPs from the opposition are concerned about certain ministries' functioning but face deliberate obstacles when raising essential questions. The UPP urges the President of Parliament to prioritize these requests and restore transparency and accountability in government operations.

"This situation undermines Parliament's core function as the highest representative body of the people of Sint Maarten, stated MP Lacroes. "By blocking attempts to convene meetings and preventing Members of Parliament from holding Ministers accountable, the President of Parliament is eroding public trust in our democratic institutions," stated MP Ottley.
Photo: https://x.com/tomo_medved/status/1904512457076257008?s=46&t=rHp0vit1u-EWlXgd79y2KA

The fourth group of 17 wounded from Ukraine has arrived in Croatia, Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Veterans Affairs Tomo Medved said.

"The fourth group of 17 wounded from Ukraine arrived in Croatia, and now 55 of them have been treated and rehabilitated in Croatia, which makes a total of 72 wounded from Ukraine. This is a strong signal from our government to support the friendly Ukrainian people, especially through this humanitarian segment," he wrote on the social network X.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, Croatia will continue this support program as long as there is a need for it.

"Thank you to everyone involved in caring for the Ukrainian wounded, especially our healthcare institutions, and I wish all the wounded successful rehabilitation and a speedy recovery," Medved said.

The Government of the Republic of Croatia, at its meeting on 16 March 2023, decided to provide assistance in the treatment and rehabilitation of the wounded from Ukraine in the Republic of Croatia.

According to the Croatian government, in the previous three groups in April and October 2023 and May 2024, Croatia accepted a total of 55 Ukrainian wounded for treatment and rehabilitation, 12 of whom are still in Croatia undergoing rehabilitation.

In total, with today's group, Croatia has accepted 72 wounded from Ukraine and 30 accompanying persons for treatment and rehabilitation, and all of them have the status of persons under temporary protection in the Republic of Croatia.
Journalist killed, evacuation calls issued as Israel presses Gaza offensive



Gaza City, Palestinian Territories, March 24 (AFP) Mar 24, 2025



An Israeli air strike killed a journalist working with Al Jazeera on Monday and the military issued fresh calls to evacuate parts of Gaza's north, as Israel pressed its renewed bombardment and ground operations in the Palestinian territory.

Israel resumed intense air strikes across Gaza last Tuesday, followed by ground operations, after talks on extending a ceasefire with the Palestinian militant group Hamas reached an impasse.

On Monday evening, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued "an early warning before a strike" in the northern area of Jabalia.

"Terrorist organizations are once again returning to and firing rockets from populated areas... For your safety, head south toward the known shelters immediately," Adraee said on X, after issuing similar warnings for the northern towns of Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun.

Earlier, Gaza's civil defence agency said an Israeli drone strike on Monday afternoon had killed Hussam Shabat, who was working with Al Jazeera, near a petrol station in Beit Lahia.

Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for the agency, said air strikes had targeted more than 10 cars, including Shabat's, in various parts of Gaza.

"Hussam Shabat, a journalist collaborating with Al Jazeera Mubasher, was martyred in an Israeli strike targeting his car in the northern Gaza Strip," an alert from the Qatari broadcaster said, referring to its live Arabic channel.

AFPTV footage from the scene in Beit Lahia showed Palestinians gathering around the car, which had an Al Jazeera sticker on its windscreen. A body could be seen on the ground nearby.

According to the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists, Israel's military in October accused Shabat and five other Palestinian journalists of being militants, which he denied.

AFP journalists reported hundreds of people attending Shabat's funeral held at Beit Lahia's Indonesian Hospital, praying over his body, which still wore a press flak jacket.

Tearful relatives and colleagues carried the body on a stretcher through streets flanked by rows of tents that displaced Gazans use as shelters.

The civil defence agency said a media worker from Islamic Jihad-affiliated Palestine Today TV, Muhammad Mansour, was killed in a separate air strike "that targeted his home in Khan Yunis", in Gaza's south.

In a statement, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate called the deaths of Shabat and Mansour "a crime added to the record of Israeli terrorism".

It said that more than 206 journalists and media workers had been killed since the start of the war, which was triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.



- 'Imagine this is your son' -



The October 7 attack resulted in 1,218 deaths, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures, while Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 50,082 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

The health ministry said Monday that 730 people had been killed since Israel resumed bombardments on March 18, including 57 in the past 24 hours.

Militants also seized 251 hostages on October 7, 58 of whom are still in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

Hamas's armed wing released a video on Monday showing two Israeli hostages -- identified by AFP as Elkana Bohbot and Yosef Haim Ohana -- describing the danger they have faced since the resumption of intense Israeli strikes.

Bohbot's family reacted to the video with a statement appealing to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump to secure the remaining hostages' release.

"Imagine this is your son, the father of your grandchild, waiting to see daylight, hearing (Israeli army) bombs, and living in constant fear for his life," the statement said, adding "we want Elkana alive at home and the return of everyone".



- Civilians 'trapped' -



Israel's military said it intercepted a total of three "projectiles" launched from the Gaza Strip on Monday evening. Both Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad said they had launched rockets towards Israel.

The military also said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, the sixth since the resumption of Gaza hostilities, after the country's Iran-backed Huthi rebels had threatened to escalate their attacks in support of Palestinians.

Meanwhile, the municipality of the southern Gaza city of Rafah said in a statement Monday that "thousands of civilians" were "trapped under intense Israeli shelling" in the Tal al-Sultan neighbourhood.

It added that all communications were cut with the neighbourhood, and that the local health care system had "entirely collapsed".

On Sunday the military said it had encircled Tal al-Sultan to "dismantle terrorist infrastructure and eliminate" militants there.

Gaza's civil defence agency said that 50,000 displaced civilians were now left without humanitarian and medical services.

The International Red Cross Society (ICRC) reported on Monday that one of its Rafah offices "was damaged by an explosive projectile".

Israel's military later said its forces in Rafah had fired at a Red Cross building after mistakenly "identifying suspects inside", adding the incident would be investigated.

The United Nations, meanwhile, said a strike on its buildings in Gaza last week that killed one employee and injured several others was caused "by an Israeli tank".

During a visit to Jerusalem on Monday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for "restating the ceasefire, ensuring the release of all hostages, and resuming the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza with the goal of a permanent ceasefire".

Kallas, who visited Egypt on Sunday, said the EU welcomed an Arab plan put forward for the reconstruction of Gaza but more needed to be done to address issues such as cost-sharing and future governance.

bur-az-lba-acc/smw/giv
Journalist killed, evacuation calls issued as Israel presses Gaza offensive



Gaza City, Palestinian Territories, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2025



An Israeli air strike killed a journalist working with Al Jazeera on Monday and the military issued fresh calls to evacuate parts of Gaza's north, as Israel pressed its renewed bombardment and ground operations in the Palestinian territory.

Israel resumed intense air strikes across Gaza last Tuesday, followed by ground operations, after talks on extending a ceasefire with the Palestinian militant group Hamas reached an impasse.

On Monday evening, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued "an early warning before a strike" in the northern area of Jabalia.

"Terrorist organizations are once again returning to and firing rockets from populated areas... For your safety, head south toward the known shelters immediately," Adraee said on X, after issuing similar warnings for the northern towns of Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun.

Earlier, Gaza's civil defence agency said an Israeli drone strike on Monday afternoon killed Hussam Shabat, who was working with Al Jazeera, near a petrol station in Beit Lahia.

Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for the agency, said air strikes had targeted more than 10 cars, including Shabat's, in various parts of Gaza.

"Hussam Shabat, a journalist collaborating with Al Jazeera Mubasher, was martyred in an Israeli strike targeting his car in the northern Gaza Strip," an alert from the Qatari broadcaster said, referring to its live Arabic channel.

AFPTV footage from the scene in Beit Lahia showed Palestinians gathering around the car, which had an Al Jazeera sticker on its windscreen. A body could be seen on the ground nearby.

According to the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists, Israel's military in October accused Shabat and five other Palestinian journalists of being militants, which he denied.

Hundreds of people attended Shabat's funeral held at Beit Lahia's Indonesian Hospital, praying over his body, which still wore a press flak jacket.

The civil defence agency said a media worker from Islamic Jihad-affiliated Palestine Today TV, Muhammad Mansour, was killed in a separate air strike in Gaza's south.

In a statement, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate called the deaths of Shabat and Mansour "a crime added to the record of Israeli terrorism".

It said that more than 206 journalists and media workers had been killed since the start of the war, which was triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.



- 'Imagine this is your son' -



The October 7 attack resulted in 1,218 deaths, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures, while Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 50,082 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

The health ministry said Monday that 730 people had been killed since Israel resumed bombardments on March 18, including 57 in the past 24 hours.

Militants also seized 251 hostages on October 7, 58 of whom are still in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

Hamas's armed wing released a video on Monday showing two Israeli hostages -- identified by AFP as Elkana Bohbot and Yosef Haim Ohana -- describing the danger they have faced since the resumption of intense Israeli strikes.

Bohbot's family reacted to the video with a statement appealing to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump to secure the remaining hostages' release.

"Imagine this is your son, the father of your grandchild, waiting to see daylight, hearing (Israeli army) bombs, and living in constant fear for his life," the statement said.



- Civilians 'trapped' -



Israel's military said it intercepted a total of three "projectiles" launched from the Gaza Strip on Monday evening. Both Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad said they had launched rockets towards Israel.

The military also said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, the sixth since the resumption of Gaza hostilities.

The Huthis later claimed responsiblity for two missiles, saying they would "target the heartland of the occupying entity until the aggression stops and the siege on the Gaza Strip is lifted".

The Huthi news agency Saba late Monday reported 12 US airstrikes "in the last few hours" in northwest Yemen.

The Israel military said Tuesday it had again struck two military bases in central Syria, a day after the European Union's foreign policy chief warned strikes there and in Lebanon risked escalation.

"A short while ago, the IDF struck military capabilities that remained at the Syrian military bases of Tadmur and T4," the Israeli military said, referring to bases in Palmyra and another 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of the city.

On Monday during a visit to Jersalem, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that Israeli strikes on Syria and Lebanon were threatening to worsen the situation.

"Military actions must be proportionate, and Israeli strikes into Syria and Lebanon risk further escalation," Kallas said.

Meanwhile, the municipality of the southern Gaza city of Rafah said in a statement Monday that "thousands of civilians" were "trapped under intense Israeli shelling" in the Tal al-Sultan neighbourhood.

It added that all communications were cut with the neighbourhood, and that the local health care system had "entirely collapsed".

On Sunday the military said it had encircled Tal al-Sultan to "dismantle terrorist infrastructure and eliminate" militants there.

The defence ministry also announced the creation of an administration dedicated to the "voluntary departure of Gaza residents to a third country", drawing outrage from Egypt.

Egypt, which borders Gaza and Israel, expressed "its strong condemnation" of the creation of this authority, the foreign ministry said on X.

bur-az-lba-acc/smw/giv/fox
Outcomes of USA, Ukraine Expert Groups on Black Sea: agreed to ensure safe navigation without use of force  statement

The United States and Ukraine have agreed to ensure safe navigation, exclude the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.

This is stated in outcomes of a meeting of the United States and Ukraine Expert Groups on the Black Sea in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on March 23-25, 2025 published on the White House website.

According to the statement, in line with presidential-level discussions between President Donald J. Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, "the United States facilitated bilateral technical-level talks with the Ukrainian delegation March 23-25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia."

"Following those discussions: The United States and Ukraine have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea," the statement read.

Additionally, the United States and Ukraine agreed that the United States remains committed to helping achieve the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.

"The United States reiterated to both sides President Donald J. Trump's imperative that the killing on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict must stop, as the necessary step toward achieving an enduring peace settlement. To that end, the United States will continue facilitating negotiations between both sides to achieve a peaceful resolution, in line with the agreements made in Riyadh," the statement read.

The United States expresses gratitude to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his leadership and hospitality in once again facilitating these important discussions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Sudan army strike on Darfur market kills hundreds: monitor



Khartoum, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2025



A Sudanese war monitor accused the army Tuesday of killing hundreds of people in an air strike on a market in the country's western Darfur region.

The Emergency Lawyers group of volunteer legal professionals who have documented atrocities on both sides of Sudan's nearly two-year war said army warplanes carried out "an indiscriminate air strike on Tora market in North Darfur, killing hundreds of civilians and seriously wounding dozens".

It did not specify when the strike occurred.

AFP could not independently verify the toll due to a telecommunications blackout in Darfur.

The army, which has been fighting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in the conflict since April 2023, did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The RSF, which controls nearly all of Darfur where the United States has accused it of committing genocide, said the army had committed the "massacre" on Monday.

The war has killed tens of thousands of people, uprooted more than 12 million and created the world's largest hunger and displacement crises.

Darfur, a vast region the size of France, has faced some of the war's worst violence, including reports of barrel bombs on civilian areas, paramilitary attacks on famine-hit displacement camps and rampant ethnic violence.

Though the paramilitary has deployed highly equipped drones in Darfur, the army retains the advantage in the skies with its warplanes, regularly striking RSF positions across the region.
CORRECTED: Journalist killed, evacuation calls issued as Israel presses Gaza offensive



Gaza City, Palestinian Territories, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2025



An Israeli air strike killed a journalist working with Al Jazeera on Monday and the military issued fresh calls to evacuate parts of Gaza's north, as Israel pressed its renewed bombardment and ground operations in the Palestinian territory.

Israel resumed intense air strikes across Gaza last Tuesday, followed by ground operations, after talks on extending a ceasefire with the Palestinian militant group Hamas reached an impasse.

On Monday evening, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued "an early warning before a strike" in the northern area of Jabalia.

"Terrorist organizations are once again returning to and firing rockets from populated areas... For your safety, head south toward the known shelters immediately," Adraee said on X, after issuing similar warnings for the northern towns of Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun.

Earlier, Gaza's civil defence agency said an Israeli drone strike on Monday afternoon killed Hussam Shabat, who was working with Al Jazeera, near a petrol station in Beit Lahia.

Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for the agency, said air strikes had targeted more than 10 cars, including Shabat's, in various parts of Gaza.

"Hussam Shabat, a journalist collaborating with Al Jazeera Mubasher, was martyred in an Israeli strike targeting his car in the northern Gaza Strip," an alert from the Qatari broadcaster said, referring to its live Arabic channel.

AFPTV footage from the scene in Beit Lahia showed Palestinians gathering around the car, which had an Al Jazeera sticker on its windscreen. A body could be seen on the ground nearby.

According to the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists, Israel's military in October accused Shabat and five other Palestinian journalists of being militants, which he denied.

Hundreds of people attended Shabat's funeral held at Beit Lahia's Indonesian Hospital, praying over his body, which still wore a press flak jacket.

The civil defence agency said a media worker from Islamic Jihad-affiliated Palestine Today TV, Muhammad Mansour, was killed in a separate air strike in Gaza's south.

In a statement, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate called the deaths of Shabat and Mansour "a crime added to the record of Israeli terrorism".

It said that more than 206 journalists and media workers had been killed since the start of the war, which was triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.



- 'Imagine this is your son' -



The October 7 attack resulted in 1,218 deaths, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures, while Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 50,082 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

The health ministry said Monday that 730 people had been killed since Israel resumed bombardments on March 18, including 57 in the past 24 hours.

Militants also seized 251 hostages on October 7, 58 of whom are still in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

Hamas's armed wing released a video on Monday showing two Israeli hostages -- identified by AFP as Elkana Bohbot and Yosef Haim Ohana -- describing the danger they have faced since the resumption of intense Israeli strikes.

Bohbot's family reacted to the video with a statement appealing to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump to secure the remaining hostages' release.

"Imagine this is your son, the father of your grandchild, waiting to see daylight, hearing (Israeli army) bombs, and living in constant fear for his life," the statement said.



- Civilians 'trapped' -



Israel's military said it intercepted a total of three "projectiles" launched from the Gaza Strip on Monday evening. The armed wing of Hamas ally Islamic Jihad said it had launched rockets towards Israel.

The military also said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, the sixth since the resumption of Gaza hostilities.

The Huthis later claimed responsiblity for two missiles, saying they would "target the heartland of the occupying entity until the aggression stops and the siege on the Gaza Strip is lifted".

The Huthi news agency Saba late Monday reported 12 US airstrikes "in the last few hours" in northwest Yemen.

The Israel military said Tuesday it had again struck two military bases in central Syria, a day after the European Union's foreign policy chief warned strikes there and in Lebanon risked escalation.

"A short while ago, the IDF struck military capabilities that remained at the Syrian military bases of Tadmur and T4," the Israeli military said, referring to bases in Palmyra and another 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of the city.

On Monday during a visit to Jersalem, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that Israeli strikes on Syria and Lebanon were threatening to worsen the situation.

"Military actions must be proportionate, and Israeli strikes into Syria and Lebanon risk further escalation," Kallas said.

Meanwhile, the municipality of the southern Gaza city of Rafah said in a statement Monday that "thousands of civilians" were "trapped under intense Israeli shelling" in the Tal al-Sultan neighbourhood.

It added that all communications were cut with the neighbourhood, and that the local health care system had "entirely collapsed".

On Sunday the military said it had encircled Tal al-Sultan to "dismantle terrorist infrastructure and eliminate" militants there.

The defence ministry also announced the creation of an administration dedicated to the "voluntary departure of Gaza residents to a third country", drawing outrage from Egypt.

Egypt, which borders Gaza and Israel, expressed "its strong condemnation" of the creation of this authority, the foreign ministry said on X.

bur-az-lba-acc/smw/giv/fox
US sanctions three Iran officials for ex-FBI agent's death



Washington, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2025



The United States on Tuesday announced sanctions on three purported Iranian intelligence officers over the death of former FBI agent Robert Levinson, despite President Donald Trump's outreach to the adversary for nuclear talks.

"Our investigation continues -- we will pursue all options to hold Iran accountable," FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement.

Levinson vanished in March 2007 in Kish, an island that has more lenient visa rules than the rest of Iran, and was said to have been investigating cigarette counterfeiting.

But The Washington Post reported in 2013 that Levinson, who had retired from the FBI, was working for the CIA and had gone on a rogue mission aimed at gathering intelligence on Iran.

The United States said in 2020 that it believed Iran was directly involved in Levinson's likely death and took initial measures.

The latest sanctions identified three purported intelligence officers -- Reza Amiri Moghadam, Gholamhossein Mohammadnia and Taqi Daneshvar.

"All played a role in Mr. Levinson's abduction, probable death and Iran's efforts to cover up or obfuscate their responsibility," a Treasury Department statement said.

The sanctions block any property or interests the three have in the United States. Iran is already under heavy US sanctions.

The sanctions went ahead despite Trump reaching out to Iran to seek talks on the Islamic republic's disputed nuclear program.

Trump has said he would prefer a peaceful solution but warned of the possibility of military action, an option long mulled by Israel.
Three survive mid-air crash of French air force acrobatics team



Lille, France, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2025



Three people were "found conscious" after two jets from the French air force's acrobatics team apparently collided near an air base in northeastern France on Tuesday, authorities said.

The Alpha Jet planes are thought to have collided near an air base west of Saint-Dizier in northeastern France, the French air and space force told AFP.

Three people -- two pilots and one passenger -- ejected and were "found conscious", according to the military.

One person suffered multiple injuries, a source told AFP.

One of the planes crashed into a silo, sparking a fire.

There were no civilian casualties.

"Emergency services have been mobilised," Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on X.

France has been using the light Alpha twin-engined aircraft to train Ukrainian pilots after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In August 2024, two French pilots died after their Rafale jets collided in mid-air in eastern France, in a rare accident involving the cutting-edge military aircraft.

zl-bj-kau-tll-as/fg
Trump, intel chiefs dismiss chat breach



Washington, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2025



President Donald Trump and top US intelligence officials raced Tuesday to stem a growing scandal after a journalist was accidentally added to a group chat about air strikes on Yemen's Huthi rebels in a stunning security breach.

Trump brushed off the leak as a "glitch," while the CIA director and the White House intelligence chief both claimed during a Senate hearing that no classified information was divulged in the conversation on the Signal messaging app.

The president also defended his National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who added Atlantic's magazine's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to the chat by mistake ahead of the airstrikes.

Trump told broadcaster NBC that the breach was "the only glitch in two months, and it turned out not to be a serious one." Waltz "has learned a lesson, and he's a good man," he added.

Trump's Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe -- who were both reported to be in the chat -- both endured a stormy Senate Intelligence Committee hearing over the leak.

"There was no classified material that was shared," Gabbard, who has previously caused controversy with comments sympathetic to Russia and Syria, told the committee.

She refused however to comment on whether Signal had been installed on her personal phone.

Ratcliffe confirmed he was involved in the Signal group and had the app installed on his work computer, but said the communications were "entirely permissible and lawful and did not include classified information."



- 'Sloppy, careless, incompetent' -



Democrats on the committee called on Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to resign.

Senator Mark Warner blasted what he called "sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior."

Journalist Goldberg said that Hegseth sent information in the Signal chat about the Yemen strikes including targets, weapons and timing ahead of the strikes on March 15.

He said he was added to the group chat two days before the Yemen strikes but did not publish sensitive information on the attacks.

Hegseth, a former Fox News host with no experience running a huge organization like the Pentagon, launched the fightback by saying that "nobody was texting war plans."

The White House then went into full damage control mode on Tuesday, attacking Goldberg and describing the story as a "coordinated effort" to distract from Trump's achievements.

"Don't let enemies of America get away with these lies," White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said on X, describing the row as a "witch hunt."

Trump and his aides have repeatedly used the same term to dismiss an investigation into whether the Republican's 2016 election campaign colluded with Moscow.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X on Tuesday that "no 'war plans' were discussed" and "no classified material was sent to the thread."

She also attacked Goldberg as being "well-known for his sensationalist spin."



- 'European free-loading' -



But the report has sparked concerns over the use of a commercial app instead of secure government communications -- and about whether US adversaries may have been able to hack in.

Trump's special Ukraine and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was in Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin when he was included in the group, CBS News reported.

The report also revealed potentially embarrassing details of what top White House officials think about key allies.

A person identified as Vance expressed doubts about carrying out the strikes, saying he hated "bailing Europe out again," as countries there were more affected by Huthi attacks on shipping than the United States.

Contributors identified as Hegseth and Waltz both sent messages arguing that only Washington had the capability to carry out the strikes, with the Pentagon chief saying he shared Vance's "loathing of European free-loading" and calling the Europeans "pathetic."

The Huthi rebels, who have controlled much of Yemen for more than a decade, are part of the "axis of resistance" of pro-Iran groups staunchly opposed to Israel and the United States.

They have launched scores of drone and missile attacks at ships passing Yemen in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden during the Gaza war, saying they were carried out in solidarity with Palestinians.

dk/bgs
NATO takes Ukraine lessons into Europe's top air defence drills



Vredepeel, Netherlands, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2025



NATO commanders said they were drawing on lessons learned in the drone war over Ukraine to conduct Europe's largest air defence exercise that ends in the Netherlands on Wednesday.

New alliance members Sweden and Finland took part for the first time in "Joint Project Optic Windmill", a biennial 10-day virtual exercise involving 15 states to test NATO's response to missile and drone attacks.

"We've never encountered the number of threats that is now being seen on the battlefield," said commanding officer Brigadier-General Peter Gielen.

"We learned from the Ukrainians how they act on that... and there is special attention being paid to drones in this exercise," Gielen told AFP on Tuesday at an air base in the southern Netherlands.

The Iranian-style Shahed exploding drone Moscow has deployed throughout its Ukraine campaign was of particular focus -- and incorporated in the training, Gielen said.

Military officers who asked not to be identified for security reasons told AFP this included aspects like tracking the drones' flight patterns towards a target.

Information from the Ukrainian theatre "helps us a lot because it's what you need to be able to train your own personnel to react against those kinds of threats", Gielen said.

"So we follow what's going on in Ukraine very closely... getting information out of that and trying to bring that as fast as we can into exercises like this," he said.

Around 700 soldiers participated in total, including from Britain and the United States.

During the drill, soldiers dealt with a changing scenario from peace to a full-scale war, as well as with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.

One of the exercise's main aims was for air defenders "to integrate all technology and systems as a whole, to counter any threats better than any single system can", the Dutch Defence Ministry said.

The exercise comes in the wake of the shock US policy shift in ties with Europe after President Donald Trump questioned whether the United States should continue its central role in NATO.

Gielen said the shift served as a "wake-up call for Europe", adding that "we have to invest more in the military".

"If we then invest in military, we certainly should invest also in air defence," he said.
Nine dead in Colombia airstrikes on drug cartel



Bogota, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2025



Nine members of Colombia's biggest drug cartel were killed in government airstrikes, President Gustavo Petro, who is battling the worst violence in the country in a decade, said Tuesday.

The strikes on the Gulf Clan took place in a gold mining region in northwestern Antioquia department, one of the group's strongholds.

Petro accused the cartel unit targeted in this attack of ambushing of special forces members and murdering a local mining leader, Jaime Gallego.

Writing on X, the president added that the security forces had captured a Gulf Clan member and seized 13 rifles.

The Gulf Clan was born out of the right-wing paramilitary groups that fought left-wing guerrillas in the 1990s, sometimes in cahoots with drug traffickers, before laying down arms in the 2000s.

In 2023, the clan's notorious leader Dairo Antonio Usuga, alias "Otoniel," was sentenced to 45 years in prison in the United States for cocaine smuggling.

Illegal gold mining is another big revenue-spinner for the group, along with racketeering and migrant smuggling.

Petro, Colombia's first left-wing president, launched peace talks with the Gulf Clan and several other armed groups after coming to power in 2022.

But the talks with the Gulf Clan quickly collapsed and his broader peace process is in disarray as left-wing guerrillas and cartels step up their turf wars for territory and cocaine trafficking routes.

Of all the armed groups still active in Colombia since the left-wing FARC rebel army signed a peace deal in 2016, the Gulf Clan is the one that has recruited the most in the past few years, Colombia's new Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez told AFP in mid-March.
Outcomes of US, Ukrainian expert groups meeting: Agreed to develop measures to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia, Ukraine

The United States and Ukraine have agreed to develop measures to implement the agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine.

This is specified in the statement published on the White House website on the results of the meeting of the expert groups of the United States and Ukraine in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) on March 23 to 25, 2025.

As noted in the statement, in accordance with the discussions between U.S. President Donald Trump and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, "The United States facilitated bilateral technical-level talks with the Ukrainian delegation March 23-25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia."

Following those discussions: "the United States and Ukraine have agreed to develop measures for implementing President Trump's and President Zelenskyy's agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine."

In addition, the statement noted that "the United States and Ukraine welcome the good offices of third countries with a view towards supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements."

It also noted that "the United States and Ukraine will continue working towards achieving a durable and lasting peace."

"The United States reiterated to both sides President Donald J. Trump's imperative that the killing on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict must stop, as the necessary step toward achieving an enduring peace settlement. To that end, the United States will continue facilitating negotiations between both sides to achieve a peaceful resolution, in line with the agreements made in Riyadh," the statement reads
The Monk Ing Farm duo set the sale ring alight with the first prize British Blue-x bull, by the Cogent sire, Odds On, also responsible for their reserve champion at the January opener. Show judge Jack Monk, Mellor, had little hesitation in tapping out the seven-week-old as title winner, backing his decision when going all out to claim it against solid opposition.

It maintained the Marshalls recent dazzling run of high price coups at weekly Skipton sales, with 2025 calf trade continuing afire, confirmed by the fact that 640 was the highest price achieved during the whole of 2024.

In fact, the couple netted a clean sweep of the prizes in the same show class with same way bred youngsters, their runner-up and third both making 790. They also headed the Blue-x heifer calf prices at 670 with the second prize winner, their consignment of ten Blues  six bulls and four heifers  averaging a solid 734. The Marshalls further stepped up with the red rosette-winning native bull calf, an Aberdeen-Angus sold for a section-topping 670.
Police told her they were being held at a military base for medical treatment but she said on Tuesday that she had no further information on their whereabouts and had not been in contact with them.
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
USA decides to help Russia restore access to global market for agricultural products, fertilizers - White House

Washington will help Moscow restore access to the global market for agricultural products and fertilizers and reduce the cost of marine insurance, according to a White House statement following talks in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) on March 23-25, 2025.

The statement issued at the technical level with the Russian delegation in Riyadh on March 23-25 says:

The United States and Russia have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.

The United States will help restore Russias access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.

The United States and Russia agreed to develop measures for implementing President Trumps and President Putins agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine.

The United States and Russia welcome the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements.

The United States and Russia will continue working toward achieving a durable and lasting peace.

The United States reiterated President Donald J. Trumps imperative that the killing on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict must stop, as the necessary step toward achieving an enduring peace settlement. To that end, the United States will continue facilitating negotiations between both sides to achieve a peaceful resolution, in line with the agreements made in Riyadh, the statement also says.
Im very grateful to be in the privileged position of being able to bring this legislation through. People have been trying on the Isle of Man for the last 20 years to provide dignity and autonomy for those who are facing an imminent death.
If she's the one that does all the cooking, make life in the kitchen easier with Cuisinart's air fryer. The XXL dual-drawer design boasts an incredible capacity, cooking up to eight portions at once which should be enough to feed the whole family and any visitors who come to call. Not only can this baby air fry, but it can roast, grill, bake, dehydrate and crisp up ingredients too.
The US position is that the implementation of ceasefire agreements between Russia and Ukraine at sea and on energy infrastructure facilities should begin immediately after the publication of joint Ukrainian-American and American-Russian statements, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"They believe that after the American side officially comes out with a statement, there may be a start of decisions already implemented in this document. There is no faith in the Russians here, but I believe that we will be constructive. If this is so, and now the Minister of Defense will confirm this to me over the phone, then it means that we will do our job to implement the agreement of the Ukrainian-American meeting," Zelenskyy said during a conversation with journalists on Tuesday.
He said: At times where Ive pushed him away, he has pulled even harder to pull me back in. I dont think I praise my dad enough for everything he has done for me but he knows the love.
Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/

The joint Ukrainian-American and American-Russian statements do not provide for consequences for violating the ceasefire, but Ukraine has agreed with the United States that in the event of violations by the Russian Federation it will provide relevant evidence, after which the United States will take appropriate measures, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

"Today we have the following response [from the USA]: if we see that someone is violating, we believe that we will contact the American side through all our channels with the facts and evidence that the Russian side violated this," Zelenskyy said during his conversation with journalists on Tuesday.

He noted that US President Donald Trump "has enough power, tools, sanctions, etc., various tools to influence the Russians, Putin, so that they end this war."
The strike on the ammunition depot at the Russian strategic aviation airbase Engels-2 is the most successful in 2025, the British Ministry of Defense reports, citing its intelligence.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces conducted an Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) attack on an ammunition storage area located at Russias Engels-2 () This strike is Ukraines most successful targeting of a Russian munitions depot in 2025 so far and continues the pattern of regular Ukrainian UAS strikes deep into Russian territory, the message posted on X Tuesday reads.

Engels-2 is a military base used extensively for strike operations approximately 600 km from Ukraines border. As noted, the area struck almost certainly stored a range of aerial munitions being used against Ukraine, causing significant damage.

The substantial loss will likely disrupt strike operations from the airfield in the short term, forcing Russia to improve its defensive posture and replenish munitions stocks. Russian aircraft have also highly likely been dispersed to surrounding airfields, as has become standard practice in response to Ukrainian deep strike operations, the message reads.
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Zelenskyy: Most difficult thing with Russia is issue of territories and ceasefire as they dont want to end the war

The Ukrainian delegation did not discuss the issue of territories with the American delegation in Riyadh, but perhaps the American delegation discussed it with the Russian one, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggests.

"There were no questions about the territory, there were no questions about sanctions," Zelenskyy said during his conversation with journalists on Tuesday.

"I think that the American side is talking to the Russians about territory. We are concerned about the US having influence on Russia, and not the other way around. This is the most important thing for us. President Trump has enough power, tools, sanctions, etc., various tools to influence the Russians, Putin, so that they end this war. We are concerned when they discuss something about us without us. It is concerning, and we are talking about this with our partners," he said.

According to him, from the media and official reports, "it is clear that they are raising the issue of territories." "And there were no agreements with us on territories. They know that these are painful issues," the Ukrainian president added.

"I believe that it will be most difficult with the Russians on two issues: a complete ceasefire - I talked about this even before the first meeting, because the Russians do not want to end the war, and the issue of territories, because the Russians do not want to end this war. That is, two different issues, but the same reason. And therefore, this will be a difficult dialogue. But it will happen," Zelenskyy said.
The interim President of the Senate, Mircea Abrudean, on a visit to Chisinau, reaffirmed the "solid" partnership between Romania and the Republic of Moldova at a meeting with President Maia Sandu on Tuesday.

"Today, in Chisinau, I reaffirmed the solid partnership between Romania and the Republic of Moldova, together with President Maia Sandu. Our relationship is a special one, based on friendship, strategic cooperation and mutual support. Romania remains a reliable partner for the Republic of Moldova. We continue to offer concrete support in key areas: energy - for energy security and independence, infrastructure - for sustainable development, economy - for shared prosperity. We unequivocally support the European course of the Republic of Moldova, and Romania will always stand by the side of the Republic of Moldova," Abrudean wrote on Facebook and Instagram.

Mircea Abrudean is conducting an official visit to the Republic of Moldova on Tuesday, the agenda of the discussions including the intensification of cooperation between the two countries in key sectors and the European course of the country.

The interim president of the Senate also met with the Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament, Igor Grosu, and has meetings planned with Prime Minister Dorin Recean and Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Cristina Gherasimov.

According to an internal memorandum approved on Monday by the Standing Bureau, a delegation of the Senate's Culture Committee, chaired by its president Cristian Niculescu-Tagarlas, will pay an official visit to Chisinau from March 26 to 29.

"The visit of the Culture and Media Committee is a step to continue and strengthen the bilateral relations between the two legislative bodies," the document reads.
The representatives of the Association of Epilepsy Patients from Romania draw the attention to the "severe" shortage of essential anti-epileptic drugs endangers the life and stability of patients, especially that of children, on #PurpleDay, an internationally-recognised epilepsy awareness day, celebrated every year on March 26.

"We are sounding the alarm about the severe shortage of essential anti-epileptic drug that jeopardizes the life and stability of patients, especially that of children. The recent lack of necessary treatments increases the risk of uncontrolled seizures, severe complications and profoundly affects the quality of life of those diagnosed. We make an urgent appeal to the authorities and distributors to take immediate measures to ensure the continuity of treatment, and to the media to support this cause, informing the public about the dramatic impact of this situation on patients and their families," said Ileana Stefan, executive director of the Association of Epilepsy Patients from Romania, as quoted in a press release sent to AGERPRES released on Tuesday.

According to the specialist Andrei Daneasa, diagnostic and treatment methods have evolved significantly in this field, but patients are "constantly" confronted with the problem of access to innovative treatments, but especially with the lack of treatments on the market that have proven their effectiveness.

Ioana Mandruta, an epileptologist at the University Emergency Hospital in Bucharest, also emphasizes the importance of close collaboration between patient and doctor in the process of diagnosing epilepsy.

"The emotional challenges experienced by patients and their families are often underestimated, but they have a profound impact on the quality of life. It is essential that these families have access to appropriate resources, whether support groups, counseling or activities that allow them to express their emotions and share their experiences. Early interventions and psychological support can help both children and families to develop healthy coping strategies, improve communication and build stronger relationships in the face of adversity," says Monica Bolocan.

ASPERO will organize on Wednesday an online event - "Patients Ask, Epileptologists Answer" - which will be attended by neurologists, specialists for both adults and pediatricians.
The evaluation announced on Tuesday by the European Commission marks an important step towards unlocking the third tranche of financing from the PNRR, the Minister of Investments and European Projects, Marcel Bolos, told AGERPRES.

"This evaluation marks an important step towards unlocking the third tranche of financing. It is the result of efficient technical collaboration between our team and European Commission experts, with significant efforts being made to continue accelerating the implementation of the PNRR and to ensure a constant flow of resources for the reforms and investments undertaken by the Government," Marcel Bolos conveyed.





At the same time, the EC announced that it is activating the "suspension of payments" procedure, as outlined in the MRR Regulation. This procedure gives Romania more time to meet these outstanding milestones, while receiving partial payments for milestones that have been successfully completed.The Commission has transmitted its positive preliminary assessment of the milestones and targets achieved to the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC), which has four weeks to give its opinion.At the same time, the Commission informed Romania of the reasons why it considers milestone 215 not met. Romania has one month to submit its observations to the Commission. After receiving the CEF opinion and examining Romania's observations, the Commission will adopt a payment decision, triggering the payment to Romania. If the Commission, after examining Romania's observations, maintains its assessment that certain milestones are not met, part of the payment will be suspended.The suspended amount will be determined by applying the Commission's methodology for payment suspensions (set out in Annex II to the Communication published on 21 February 2023), which applies to all Member States. From that moment on, Romania will have a period of six months to meet the outstanding milestones. At the end of this period, the Commission will assess whether these milestones have been satisfactorily met. If so, it will lift the suspension and make the payment of the suspended amount.Minister Marcel Bolos declared at the end of January, in an interview with AGERPRES, that Romania risks losing 1.76 billion euros if the outstanding milestones in request 3 are not met, of which 660 million euros from the milestone with special pensions."We had another 330 million euros suspended for the micro-enterprise milestone, which at the end of last year had, through Ordinance 156, the measures to gradually reduce the tax threshold for micro-enterprises, from 500,000 to 250,000, starting with January 1, 2025, and 100,000 euros, starting with January 1, 2026. And, of course, the other milestones, namely the one regarding special pensions, which was reactivated in a certain way due to the irreversibility of the milestones, and for this, on February 4, we are waiting for the decision of the Constitutional Court regarding military pensions. And another problem, also on this milestone, is the decision of the Constitutional Court for the taxation of the non-contributory part of magistrates. And here, too, we are waiting for the decision to be published "Constitutional Court, let's see what are the unconstitutional elements regarding the taxation of magistrates' pensions. From this point of view under discussion, there are another 660 million euros on this milestone, namely the one with special pensions," explained the Minister of Investments and European Projects at the time.The European Commission (EC) approved on 15 October a positive preliminary assessment of the six targets and 62 out of the 68 milestones related to Romania's third payment request worth two billion euros (without pre-financing) under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the central element of the NextGenerationEU programme.The Commission found that, at that stage, six milestones had not been achieved, concerning reforms of the governance of state-owned enterprises, as well as investments in the transport sector and a reform of the tax regime for micro-enterprises.In this context, the European Commission proposed the partial suspension of the payment in accordance with Article 24(6) of the MRR Regulation.Romania's Recovery and Resilience Plan includes a wide range of investment and reform measures. The plan will be financed with 28.5 billion euros, of which 13.6 billion euros in the form of grants and 14.9 billion euros in the form of loans.
Minister of National Defence Angel Tilvar had a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Tuesday, with whom he discussed the security situation in the Black Sea.

"I have just concluded a productive meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels. We discussed the strategic importance of the Black Sea, support for Ukraine, defence spending and NATO's defence and deterrence on the Eastern Flank. Unity and strategic vision are our strengths," the Romanian minister wrote on the X platform.
Europe's assuming a more active role in its own defense represents the necessary response to current challenges, the Minister of National Defense, Angel Tilvar, told a Tuesday's meeting with NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte.

"With a war at the border and in an unpredictable geopolitical climate, it is essential to demonstrate unity and strategic vision. The attachment to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, the fundamental principle of collective defense, and to Euro-Atlantic democratic values, guides Romania's actions. Strengthening the transatlantic partnership and assuming a more active role by Europe in its own defense represent the necessary response to current challenges," the Romanian minister declared, according to a press release from the Ministry of National Defense.





In the context of preparations for the NATO Summit in The Hague, to be held in June, the two officials discussed the strategic priorities of the Alliance, with an emphasis on the unity and coherence of the Allied response to emerging security challenges. The Romanian official conveyed Romania's support for the Secretary General's objectives in preparing the meeting.In conclusion, the importance of supporting partners in the Black Sea region was reconfirmed, with a particular emphasis on the Republic of Moldova, in order to strengthen resilience and security in the eastern proximity of the Alliance, the Ministry of National Defense also informs.
Foreign tourist flights from the Maramures International Airport (AIM) will increase in frequency as of May, while regular domestic flights will maintain their normal flight schedule, the local airport's development director, Ionut Caraba, told AGERPRES on Tuesday.

"The new flight schedule that will start on May 27 on the Antalya-Baia Mare-Antalya route will have two flights on Monday, and one flight on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Basically, the destination Turkey becomes the most requested holiday route this year departing from Baia Mare," said Ionut Caraba.

According to him, the airport will also serve weekly tourist flights to Greece, Egypt and Tunisia.

"From June 3, flights to Hurghada, Egypt, scheduled by tour operators for every Tuesday, will be operated. Flights to Monastir, Tunisia will also be operated as of June 3. The flight will be operated weekly, every Tuesday. From June 6, a direct flight to Heraklion, Greece is scheduled every Friday," Ionut Caraba also specified.

He also specified that regular flights on the Paris-Baia Mare-Paris and Bucharest-Baia Mare-Bucharest routes will maintain their frequency according to the schedule established by the airlines.

AIM also serves medical, business and charter flights from the airport in the town of Tautii Magheraus
Romania's Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu on Monday March 24 welcomed ambassador Thomas Lenk, special representative of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Chairmanship-in-Office for the Transnistrian settlement process, saying that Romania appreciates Moldova's balanced, responsible and constructive approach of the complex issues related to the Transnistrian settlement, especially in the current regional context.

According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE), Hurezeanu presented Romania's constant and principled position of supporting a comprehensive, peaceful and lasting settlement of the Transnistrian file while observing the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova within its internationally recognised borders and without affecting its European future.

He encouraged the continuation of the important support provided by the OSCE to Moldova in its efforts to maintain a technical dialogue with Tiraspol, in order to solve problems that directly affect the citizens on both banks of the Nistru.

Ambassador Lenk was accompanied by the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova Kelly Keiderling.

On the occasion of the OSCE officials' visit to Bucharest, consultations were held with senior strategic affairs official Ana Tinca.

Discussions focused on the regional security situation and its impact on Moldova, the effects of the energy crisis in the Transnistrian region and the developments in the dialogue between the two banks of the Nistru.

Hurezeanu underlined the important support of the European Union for Moldova, including in the energy sector.

At the same time, he showed that Romania is carefully following the developments in the Transnistrian region and underlined the importance of freedom of movement, as well as respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the region, including in terms of meeting all the conditions for the proper operation of educational establishments in the region with Romanian tuition.
The implementation of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) for Romania is under evaluation and the operationalization of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) system is to be postponed until a date to be announced by the American side, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) informs.

The MAE recalls that on January 10, 2025 Romania was officially designated as a participating state in the American Visa Waiver Program.

All citizens of the states included in the VWP must have, prior to the trip, a travel authorization to the United States, obtained online, through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

Romanian citizens who have planned to travel to the United States in the following period, including after March 31, must contact the United States embassies in the countries where they reside, in order to request and obtain visas to enter the American territory.

The American and Romanian authorities will inform the Romanian public about any details and changes compared to those presented.

Persons who hold a valid U.S. tourist visa can use it for travel, without the need to obtain the ESTA.

The MAE recommends periodically accessing the information that will be updated on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Tuesday that the U.S. Government is evaluating Romania's recent designation for entry into the VWP, to ensure that it meets the strict security requirements.

"During this review, the U.S. is suspending the implementation of ESTA for Romanian citizens. This suspension remains in effect until the review is completed. Romanians who wish to travel to the U.S. for a short period of time for business or tourism must continue to apply for a B visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate," the DHS said.
Interim President Ilie Bolojan on Monday said that the level and pace of military spending increases will be determined through technical discussions between NATO officials in preparation for the summit that will take place in The Hague.

"I believe that in the near future, these aspects related to the increase and the pace at which the defence budget will grow will be clarified through the technical discussions that will take place between NATO officials in preparation for the summit (in The Hague). I don't think we will have a sudden increase in military spending. I believe we will grow in a phased approach. If today we have 2.2%, we might reach 2.7%, 3%, 3.5%, I don't know, but I believe in a phased increase, not from one year to another, but over two or three years, so that through the strategy that will be established, on the one hand, we continue to make acquisitions to strengthen our armed forces and, on the other hand, we make integrated acquisitions at NATO and European levels, so that we participate in military protection assets that cannot be managed by a single country, such as Romania, for example," said Bolojan on Antena 3.

He added that it is important in the near future to work so that this increase in the defence budget also has a partial impact on the Romanian economy.

He showed that apart from purchasing material from other countries, "we will also have to integrate our defence industry into the value chains of NATO or European military industries, so that components, or effectively almost the entire structure of a military equipment, is produced here, or Romanian companies are part of these chains. After the technical discussions that have taken place, we will have meetings with our defence industry to assess their capacity to enter such partnerships, considering that some of the European funds, which are made available to be taken in the form of very favourable loans by countries, will be accessed in the same way as you would submit an application for European funding. There will be certain conditions," said Bolojan.

Ilie Bolojan participated in the European Council meeting in Brussels on March 20, which also tackled aspects related to European defence.
The number of employees could increase by up to 30%, reaching 7.44 million, by integrating workers from the undeclared economy, which would contribute to reducing underemployment of the labour force and to reducing the excessive impact of taxes on labour, shows a study presented by the National Trade Union Bloc (BNS).

The National Trade Union Bloc launched, on Tuesday, at a debate that brought together representatives of trade unions, employers, as well as the Government and state institutions, the study "Economic Dependency. Criteria for Identifying the Legal Employment Relationship. When Dependent Workers Become Subjects of Labour Law."

According to the research, if one million people working in undeclared work were to enter the tax system, an additional 18.7 billion RON would be recorded in the annual state budget, which would allow a cut in social contributions, with positive effects on the economy.

The study highlights that the general tax burden on labour, which is high and affects low salaries in particular, is a factor that encourages undeclared work. Also, distortions in the tax system, such as the additional deduction of 300 RON, can generate significant inequities.

A major challenge for Romania, according to those present, is the definition of a "high wage income," given the clustering of low salaries and distortions on the labour market.

Finally, the study suggests that tax alternatives to individual employment contracts are often more favourable, which requires a reassessment of the taxation system to support a fairer and more efficient labour market, it is mentioned in a press release posted on the NBS Facebook page.
Ukraine will continue to discuss the involvement of a peacekeeping contingent with the European side as part of security guarantees, of which the United States should also be a part, says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"From the very beginning, we have spoken with our European colleagues [regarding the idea of deploying a contingent in Ukraine] and will continue. We have the infrastructure, how it should look. We have a difference [in vision] in the number and presence of personnel in one form or another - we will certainly discuss these differences. It depends on the desire, on the vision of a particular country and on funding, of course. But in general, we see an alliance between Europe and the United States regarding security guarantees, of which the contingent is a part," Zelenskyy said during his conversation with journalists on Tuesday.

He noted that "we don't know yet what role the United States might play, but there are options for this role." "Everyone would like it to be with a backstop, that's what the Americans say. Yes - a backstop of America. So we'll see how it goes. I don't want to spoil this topic now, frankly speaking, because there is no agreement yet. We have different formats for how to coexist together," Zelenskyy said.
The European Commission will finance with 615 million euros three mineral projects of strategic importance for the future of the Romanian economy, located in the counties of Gorj, Hunedoara and Bihor and consisting in the mining of graphite, magnesium and copper, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced on Tuesday in a statement delivered at the Victoria Palace together with Economy Minister Bogdan Ivan.

"Standing here with Minister of Economy and Digital Transformation Bogdan Ivan, we have extremely good news to share. The European Commission will finance with 615 million euros three projects of strategic importance for the future of the Romanian economy, sitting in Gorj, Hunedoara and Bihor. These are three investments that will exploit minerals all the world's great economic powers are fighting over - graphite, magnesium and copper," declared Ciolacu.

He added that "these essential and critical raw materials are used first and foremost in energy, aviation and the defense industry", noting also that the announced investments will create new jobs and help the horizontal development of the entire industry.

Ciolacu mentioned the discussions he had on these projects with EC Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy Stephane Sejourne.

"At the last meeting with the European Commission Vice-President, Commissioner Sejourne, we talked all three projects over, Romania had seven projects submitted of which these three were selected. They will automatically lead to thousands of jobs being created, but also to a horizontal development of the entire industry," Ciolacu declared.

Economy Minister Bogdan Ivan pointed out that the graphite exploitation project is "100 percent Romanian".

"The 200 million euro project of SALROM, a company in the portfolio of the Ministry of Economy and Digital Transformation, is a 100 percent Romanian project which will ensure the extraction of 15,000 tons per year of graphite that can be used in everything automotive industry, defense industry, as well as for energy storage. This project comes in a context where Europe has an increasing need for this resource, which can be found in Romania and yet another EU country," Ivan pointed out.

The minister also offered details about the magnesium mining investment.

"When we talk about green magnesium, we are talking about an investment of 115 million euros. This is a critical resource that is incorporated in aerospace industry applications and which can also be used in the pharmaceutical industry. This project comes to affirm Romania as the only EU country that will exploit this extremely important resource," explained Ivan.

He also dwelled on the importance of copper extraction, which will increase Europe's production of this material by 2.3%.

"The largest of the three projects, which is located in Hunedoara County, involves 300 million euros for the extraction and purification of copper and gold from Romania's subsoil, which will automatically cut the reliance of the entire copper final processing cycle on imports. At this moment, Romania depends on copper imports from non-EU countries. With this project, which will produce 20,000 tons of copper concentrate annually, we will cover both the needs of the Romanian economy in everything that means the processing industry, as well as a significant part of the European one. We will increase by 2.3% the European copper production, essentially in everything related to microconductors, the automotive, aerospace and defense industry," declared Bogdan Ivan.
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said that he does not particularly fancy Foreign Affairs Minister Emil Hurezeanu, admitting that he is "an exceptional, yet old-fashioned" diplomat.

"I am not a big fan of Mr. Hurezeanu, and he knows it too. The other way round, I think he is not a big Ciolacu fan either. The nomination for foreign minister was made by the National Liberal Party. Mr. Hurezeanu is a diplomat, so to speak, without offending him, of the old-fashioned kind. He is a type of refined diplomat with a foreign approach that works well in Europe, but does not fit the dynamics of the diplomacy that is now required with the United States of America. This is the truth. This doesn't mean that Mr. Hurezeanu isn't an exceptional diplomat," Ciolacu told Gandul newspaper.

The prime minister suggested that there may be a "new approach" at the Foreign Affairs Ministry regarding "a more direct contact" with the United States, yet on the other hand he mentioned that this is not about "replacing" a specific person.

"This new approach (...) is to adjust, as a state, to the new diplomatic requirements. (...) Just take a look at the calendar and see when Mr. Hurezeanu was appointed, and when the Trump administration was installed. There is still no direct institutional work," Ciolacu added.

He also emphasized that the U.S. is Romania's "most important" strategic partner.

"Romania's security is first and foremost dependent on the strategic partnership with the United States and NATO membership, to be very clear. This does not mean that we do not respect the European Commission, the European Union, where we interact freely and have accessed 100 billion euros. These are two distinct things. But we cannot fall into this trap of choosing, which is stupid, because no one forces anyone to choose. President Macron did not call [acting President] Bolojan to tell him 'Choose between America and the EU'. I haven't heard anything like that," Ciolacu pointed out.

The head of the Romanian Executive voiced his belief that U.S. President Donald Trump is the only one who can "speed up" peace in Ukraine.

"I trust Donald Trump that he will bring about peace as quickly as possible in Ukraine. He is the only man - something I also told him on the phone - who can deliver this, speed up peace in Ukraine. I very much want peace in Ukraine. I said it very clearly that I do not agree with Romania sending troops to Ukraine. [Presidential hopeful] Crin Antonescu also stated it very clearly, that he will never agree to us sending troops to Ukraine. (...) We are NATO members. OK, we got it, we are arming ourselves as Europeans as well, no problem with that. We currently have a program unfolding in partnership with the U.S. and with U.S. and EU industries to equip the Romanian Army. Large companies from the U.S. also produce on European territory. I want as many military capabilities as possible to be produced on Romanian soil in this joint program with the EU, and that we buy licenses to produce them in Romania, both for the needs of the Romanian Army and for export," Ciolacu explained.
Head of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) observation mission to Romania, Eoghan Murphy, told a press conference on Tuesday that his team will make "its own assessments of the media and online coverage" of the campaign for the May presidential elections.

The observers will meet with all the parties involved and we will make our own assessments of the media and online coverage. According to these observations and those of the stakeholders, political parties and other political bodies, we will have our own assessment, Eoghan Murphy said.





We are here to observe the elections and not to comment on previous elections, which we did not observe, commented Murphy.At the same time, the OSCE is paying attention to cooperation with social media platforms, the authorities' access to these platforms, their ability to get the necessary information from these platforms and the way these online platforms respond to the authorities' requests will be assessed, Eoghan Murphy said.The role of an observation mission, he emphasized, is not to supervise or intervene and the assessments will be published in reports. A preliminary report will be published two weeks before the elections, and a press conference will be held on May 5, the day after the first round of the presidential election, during which the preliminary findings will be presented.Elections are a long-term process, not a one-day event, he emphasized.The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) opened on Tuesday an observation mission of Romania's presidential elections in May, following an official invitation from the national authorities.The mission includes 13 experts from 11 OSCE states, who are present at the office organized in Bucharest. They include experts on legislation, media and campaign financing. They will also travel around the country. They will be joined next week by 22 long-term observers. They will observe the electoral process at regional level.Eoghan Murphy said that so far his team has had meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) and the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP).The campaign for the presidential election begins on April 4 and ends on May 3 at 07:00.The first round of the elections will take place on May 4, and the second - on May 18.
Romania's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Florin Barbu on Monday asked the European Commission to amend Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, so that the purchase of breeding animals becomes eligible for funding from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

At a meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFISH) in Brussels, Barbu mentioned the importance of the amendment for the revitalisation of the livestock sector, given that a decline in livestock at European level affects the competitiveness and food security of the European Union.

"Improving genetics by investing in high-quality breeding animals is essential to increase farm productivity and reduce environmental impact. Breeding animals are an investment in fixed capital, used during several production cycles, and their inclusion in the category of EAFRD eligible expenses is fully justified," Barbu is quoted as saying in a press statement released by the Agriculture Ministry.

The Romanian official argued that the selection of high-performance breeds, adapted to local conditions and resistant to diseases, leads to greater economic efficiency and a reduction in methane emissions per production unit, thus supporting European sustainability goals.

Through this proposal, Romania is said to be asking for a clear signal from the European Union regarding concrete support for the livestock sector and adjusting the Common Agricultural Policy for the new challenges in the agri-food sector.
Parliament in a joint plenary meeting on Tuesday amended the Statute of Deputies and Senators, so that parliamentarians who are absent without justification from meetings will be penalized by withholding 5% of their salary for each day of absence.

A total of 337 deputies and senators voted "in favour" of the decision, which imposes this sanction, 10 voted "against" and 51 abstained.

"Failure to participate in at least one parliamentary activity held at the Chamber of Deputies or the Senate, as applicable, within the approved schedule and agenda of the Standing Bureau, is considered an unjustified absence and results in the withholding of 5% of the deputy's or senator's gross monthly salary, except in cases of justified absences," the decision reads.

The draft also provides that deputies and senators, along with their wealth declaration, must submit a curriculum vitae to the Secretary-General of the Chamber of Deputies or the Senate, which will then be published on the institution's website.
The acting president of the Senate, Mircea Abrudean, is set to pay an official visit to the Republic of Moldova on Tuesday, to discuss strengthening cooperation between the two countries in key sectors and the European path of Chisinau.

"The acting president of the Senate, Mircea Abrudean, will have a meeting with the president of the Moldovan Parliament, Igor Grosu. At the end of the meeting, the two presidents will hold a joint press conference. Subsequently, the high Romanian dignitary will have a meeting with the president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu. At the Government, the Romanian official has planned meetings with prime minister Dorin Recean and deputy prime minister for European integration, Cristina Gherasimov. The items on the agenda refer to the cooperation between the two countries in key sectors and means to enhance it, as well as the reform agenda and the European path of the Republic of Moldova," a Senate press release informs.

According to an internal memorandum approved on Monday by the Permanent Bureau of the Senate, the culture committee of this forum will also pay a visit to the Republic of Moldova, led by its president, Cristian Niculescu-Tagarlas, between March 26 and 29.

"The visit of the culture and media Committee is an attempt to continue and strengthen bilateral relations between the two legislative bodies," the document states.
MARYLAND HEIGHTS  The Centene Community Ice Center has continued to drag on Maryland Heights coffers, though there are signs the facilitys finances are beginning to improve.

The facility, at Highway 141 and Casino Center Drive, generated enough revenue to make a roughly $1.5 million debt payment that was due March 15  the first time the ice center has been able to do so since it opened in 2019.

The city has had to use its own funds to make those payments in years past.

It seems to be going in the right direction, City Administrator Tracey Anderson said Tuesday.

The city is required to make biannual payments on the $55.5 million in bonds it issued to build the $83 million ice center, where the St. Louis Blues practice.

The facility features four ice rinks, including an outdoor one that turns into a music venue in the summer, called the St. Louis Music Park.

Revenue from the center and the areas special 1% sales tax, which also nets money from the nearby Hollywood Casino & Hotel and the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, contribute to the payments.

But the facility has fallen far short of revenue projections the Blues and its affiliate nonprofit, St. Louis Legacy Ice Foundation, touted when they first pitched the project to city officials.

A study commissioned by Legacy Ice projected the rink would be profitable within its first year. Profits were to double by the second year to more than $3.2 million, and it would have 1 million visitors in its third year.

The pandemic hurt the rinks momentum, though rising costs, unexpected expenses and lower than expected attendance have continued to dampen profits. Legacy Ice, staffed with current and former Blues executives, also did not charge sales taxes until last summer. And the music venue has yet to secure a naming rights sponsorship that would guarantee additional annual revenue.

Meanwhile, the Blues and affiliates received more than $500,000 from the facility through sales commissions and other fees, financial records showed.

Last summer, the city terminated its deal with Legacy, which operated the facility.

And the newest bond disclosure statements, covering September through March, show improving cash flows.

Still, the ice center didnt generate enough business to make the March 15 payment out of operating dollars alone; a little more than $565,000 came from the ice centers reserve account.

That means the city will have to backfill the ice centers reserves, as required in the bond agreement. The city is expected ask the City Council to do so at its April 3 meeting.

But its better than in years past, when the city had to backfill the centers reserve and also pay out of its general fund.
Joe Holleman | Post-Dispatch Political correspondent/columnist Follow Joe Holleman | Post-Dispatch 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

Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan.

That old saying certainly rings true with the recent defense contract awarded last week to Boeing. The deal had politicians at all levels beaming like proud parents.

To name just a few, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page declared that the county was an enthusiastic partner with Boeing and St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones called the city a strong partner with the company.

To be sure, there are enough good reasons  billions of them  to be happy with the decision that President Donald Trump announced Friday.

Landing the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) deal will likely translate into many billions of dollars worth of work for years to come. And it will most likely swell the ranks of the 16,700 local workers Boeing already employs.

It also should put a new shine on a Boeing reputation that has weathered turbulence recently, such as a major labor strike and time under a regulatory microscope.

But the deal also created some interesting political side notes.

Actually, the role played by U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt qualifies as well more than a side note, as Missouris junior GOP senator seems to have played a substantial part in landing the megacontract.

Sources familiar with the NGAD selection process said Schmitt has worked for more than a year on the plan.

This was a big deal, Schmitt said Monday in a telephone interview. Its generational.

Schmitt said he has seen estimates that the initial contract to proceed with production on the F-47 fighter could be worth $20 billion, which he said doesnt take into account possibly hundreds of billions of dollars more in indirect jobs created and investments made.

Schmitt said Boeing receiving the NGAD funding was crucial to his efforts to make this area a defense-tech hub.

Work on the deal began in earnest in January, when senators were focused on budget issues.

We had to make sure the (NGAD) money was put into the defense budget, and then we had to go to the Air Force to make the case, Schmitt said.

A member of the Senates Armed Services Committee, Schmitt enlisted the help of U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, then the committees ranking Republican and now its chair. The two worked together in early 2024 to keep the projects funding alive.

Then, when the Biden administration put the program on hold in summer 2024, Schmitt and Wicker went on an extended sales pitch  which Schmitt said was designed to secure the work for Boeing regardless of who won the November presidential election.

Obviously, President Trump getting elected made the whole thing easier, Schmitt said.

In October, less than a month before the presidential race was decided, Schmitt brought Wicker to St. Louis to tour the new National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency site in St. Louis, as well as to meet with Boeing officials.

And most recently, sources said, Schmitt stayed in regular contact with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to advocate for the program.

All that lobbying culminated with a recent dinner that Schmitt had with Trump, Hegseth and other White House officials.

Noting that he grew up in north St. Louis County and had an uncle who worked for McDonnell Douglas, which Boeing bought in 1997, Schmitt said the aviation operations has always been a source of pride.

On the other hand, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, Schmitts GOP partner in the Senate, has made no statement at all about the deal.

You may recall that in April, Hawley butted heads with Boeing officials during Senate hearings on a Ukrainian aid bill.

At one point, Hawley asked if Missourians should be happy a megacorporation whose airplanes fall out of the sky in pieces is getting billions?

Hawley was referring to incidents in early 2024 when several Boeing jets lost pieces of fuselage while in flight.

Also of interest is the reaction coming from U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell, a Democrat whose congressional district covers the Boeing operations in North County.

In his first three months in office, Bell has generally followed the Democratic party line in bills he has favored and statements he has made.

But unlike the Democratic disdain that often comes with Trump initiatives, and often with military defense plans, Bell had only good things to say.

Boeings selection for the Air Forces Next Gen Air Dominance program means thousands of good-paying jobs, cutting-edge innovation, and a major step forward in keeping America ahead of our adversaries, Bell said in a statement.

Thats a far cry from the response Boeing usually got from their past legislator, former U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, who proved to be no friend of Boeing during her four years in office.

In 2021, Bush introduced a resolution seeking to block a $735 million sale of Boeing-made weapons to Israel, a response to conflict between Israel and Gazas ruling Hamas group.

That was one of several weapons that proved to be valuable weapons for an opponent (like Bell) to use (like Bell did) against Bush during her losing effort in August.

Schmitt said he was pleased Bell supports the Boeing deal, and hopes he and Bell will have other reasons to collaborate for the good of the area.

Were probably not going to agree on a lot of other issues. But Im always willing to work with people from the Democratic party, Schmitt said.

The more, the merrier.

Editors note: Cori Bush lost to Wesley Bell in August 2024, not November. The spelling of the secretary of defense's last name has been corrected.
EAST ST. LOUIS  A 41-year old Cahokia Heights man was fatally shot in East St. Louis, police said.

Cicero Maple, whose last known address was in the 5800 block of Old Missouri Avenue, was identified as the victim by St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr.

The incident took place about 9:30 p.m. Sunday in the 2400 block of Bond Avenue, the Illinois State Police said.

Officers found the victim at the scene. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No further information has been released.
JEFFERSON CITY  Missouri lawmakers are once again considering a plan previously criticized as the Make Murder Legal Act, three years after a Senate committee voted against it amid law enforcement opposition.

Senate Bill 363, sponsored by Sen. Ben Brown, R-Washington, would block prosecution of people who reasonably believed their use of force was necessary for self-defense.

Under the bill, someone could raise a self-defense claim before trial, forcing prosecutors to present clear and convincing evidence the person isnt immune from prosecution.

This bill aims to ensure due process for those put in ... those impossible situations where someone may have no other choice but to use a firearm to defend themselves or their families, Brown said Monday.

Missouri law already allows someone to use deadly force against another person if they reasonably believe the force is needed for self-defense.

Former St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Timothy Lohmar previously said the bill essentially takes away a jurys right to decide self-defense claims, placing the decision in the hands of a court before a jury hears all of the evidence.

On Monday, Aaron Dorr of the Missouri Firearms Coalition testified in favor of the measure while Texas County Prosecuting Attorney Parke Stevens Jr. testified against it on behalf of the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.

While proponents say this measure will guard against overzealous prosecutions, opponents have said it would cause chaos.

Lohmar said in 2022 that the measure would potentially handcuff law enforcement from even arresting someone if they assert a self-defense claim.

Stoddard County Prosecutor Russ Oliver at the time called the measure the Make Murder Legal Act.

What we are doing with this bill is ... basically saying the 6,500 assaults that are committed every single year in Missouri  that every single one of those are automatically presumed to be self-defense, Oliver said in 2022.

The hearing in the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee on Monday followed Democratic resistance earlier this month, when the measure was debated as an amendment to another gun bill on the Senate floor.

During floor debate, Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, and Tracy McCreery, D-Olivette, discussed the high-profile 2020 St. Louis incident in which Mark and Patricia McCloskey pointed guns at racial justice protesters outside of their home.

McCloskey praised the bill during a Senate committee hearing in 2022, calling it a barrier to prosecution. The McCloskeys pleaded guilty to misdemeanors before being pardoned by then-Gov. Mike Parson.

Brattin said the two were justified in their actions.

It was a private street, a private yard and you had an angry mob that kicked down a gate to gain entry (and) surrounded his home, Brattin said.

You absolutely have reasonable suspicion, Brattin added.

They could have just stayed in their house and nothing would have happened, McCreery responded.

The legislation never advanced in 2022 after bipartisan pushback.

Sen. Brian Williams, D-University City, argued at the time that the 2020 murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia would have been permitted under the legislation.

A jury in 2021 convicted three white men  father and son Greg and Travis McMichael and neighbor William Roddie Bryan  of murder in the 25-year-old Black mans death.

The McMichaels armed themselves and pursued Arbery in a pickup truck after spotting him running in their neighborhood outside the Georgia port city of Brunswick. Bryan joined the chase in his own truck and recorded cellphone video of Travis McMichael shooting Arbery.

Travis McMichael testified that he shot Arbery in self-defense. He said Arbery turned and attacked with his fists while running past the truck where McMichael stood with his shotgun.

Ezra Bitterman of the Post-Dispatch and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Photo: https://x.com/antoniocostapm

European Council President Antonio Costa is convinced that the best guarantee of security for Ukraine is membership in the European Union. It is difficult to say when this happens since it is a process based on achievements.

He said this on Tuesday in Brussels as part of the conference "Europe: Strength through Crisis," organized by the European Policy Center.

In particular, Costa was asked whether he agrees that Ukraine's membership is possible until 2030 and what security guarantees could be. To this, the President of the European Council said: The best security guarantee for Ukraine is the European accession and we are in the good path and the assessment from the European Commission is very positive about what Ukrainians are doing to prepare for the accession.

Costa noted that it is very impressive to see how a country in war, in this terrible situation, has the ability to deliver on reforms and on convergence targets to access to the European Union. I don't know if it is in 2030, 2028, 2032, I don't know. But, as you know, it is a merit-based process and they are delivering. That perhaps could be earlier, can be only in 2030, I don't know. The main issue is not the date, it is the process and the common will to achieve this. And, at the same time, we need to prepare from now to the future of the construction of Ukraine, the President of the European Council stated.

He noted that at the last meeting of the European Council the European Commission was instructed in the aspect of the restoration of Ukraine to build a large coalition of willing of a major, because it needs a major effort of the international community to rebuild Ukraine. Of course, in any peace negotiation, we need to talk about the peace and access. In fact, we need to talk about reparation, war reparation, and it is for this that we have this access freeze [of Russia], to ensure that in the future we have not just a lasting peace, but also a just peace, because we cannot reward the aggression. Because this war, in fact, is not only about Ukraine. It is about the rules-based order. It is about respect of the United Nations Charter. And the message we are sending to the world is the international law must prevail, and aggression cannot be rewarded, Costa said.
CLAYTON  Just shy of three months into her new role as the countys top prosecutor, Melissa Price Smith said she has worked to reorganize staff, rebuild the offices relationship with police, and resurrect units dedicated to prosecuting violent crimes and homicides.

In an interview on Monday, Price Smith also said her office would pursue the death penalty under the right circumstances  a departure from her predecessor who campaigned on the promise to never impose a death sentence.

The death penalty is the law in the state, she said. Its my job to enforce the law. I was not put in this position to enforce only the laws I think are right. Im a Democrat, but I dont think St Louis County cares about my personal opinion.

Price Smith was appointed to fill the vacancy by former Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican who at times butted heads with St. Louis political leaders. In the days leading up to her Jan. 3 swearing in, Parson and St. Louis County Executive Sam Page duked it out in court over who had authority to appoint a replacement for Wesley Bell, who resigned to take a seat in the U.S. House.

Price Smith spoke with the Post-Dispatch on Monday with Carrie Costantin, her chief trial prosecutor. Both are the first women to hold their positions in St. Louis County and reflected on that achievement in light of Womens History Month.

I think the main thing that Carrie and I both bring is that we are very qualified and very, very prepared for our positions, Price Smith said. Because were women, the first women in these positions, I think, unfortunately, well probably be scrutinized a little differently.

Price Smith convinced Costantin to come out of retirement to join her staff.

Not only is she a talented attorney, but she brings so much wisdom and experience, Price Smith said.

Costantin said she worked for the St. Louis County prosecutors office from 1987 to 2000. She left to work for the U.S. Attorneys Office as a federal prosecutor for 24 year before retiring last February.

In her new role in the county, Costantin works with assistant prosecutors to prep them for trial, provide recommendations for what should happen in murder cases and meet with defense attorneys.

This was always my first love, this office, so its an honor to come back, Costantin said.

Price Smith has also been busy shaping the offices violent crimes unit, which was up and running on the day she was sworn in. Additionally, shes in the process of resurrecting the homicide unit, which will be led by veteran prosecuting attorney Michael Riley when he joins the staff in May.

There are approximately 240 pending homicide cases in the office, she said, on top of new ones filed regularly.

Other former prosecutors are considering a return to the agency, Price Smith said, which is a great way to add strength to the office as she revamps the organization.

We have changed our trial teams around, increased our community outreach and continued with our treatment courts, she said. Theres a lot of great energy, I would say, with the staff.

The prosecutor also said shes focused on rebuilding relationships with local law enforcement, meeting with chiefs to explain her changes, and asking them what police need from her office.

She noted shes in regular contact with St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore and St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Joe McCulloch.

I just think its important for us to continue to strengthen our relationship with law enforcement, she said. I think its important that we stay in constant communication about whats working in each of our offices.
JEFFERSON CITY  Missouri lawmakers waded into a debate about the separation of church and state Tuesday over a proposed law requiring all public and charter schools in the state to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms.

While similar attempts in other states have been rejected by the courts, Sen. Jamie Burger, R-Benton, said he is pursuing the law because he believes the absence of prayer in schools has led to the rise in school shootings.

Displaying the Ten Commandments could help make Christian prayer a normal practice in schools and reduce the number of violent crimes committed in them, he told members of the Senate Education Committee.

I honestly believe that when prayer went out of schools ... guns came in, Burger said.

Clergy and attorneys from a number of Christian denominations warned the move would be irresponsible.

Columbia attorney W.B. Tichenor, a Baptist minister, said the bill is unconstitutional on its face.

There is no compelling state interest for the enactment of this legislation, Tichenor said. It promotes religious indoctrination. For those of us who read and study and revere the Scriptures, its a denigration.

The Rev. Michael Dunn, a Disciples of Christ pastor from Columbia, urged lawmakers to reject the measure.

Everyone knows when you force something down someones throat, they gag, Dunn said.

The Ten Commandments are the basis of Christian doctrine. In Jewish and Christian theology, God gave the commandments directly to the Prophet Moses, as described in the Old Testament of the Bible.

The commandments include calls for people to not murder, steal, gossip or cheat on a spouse.

Under the proposal, school districts would have to exhibit 11-by-14-inch displays in each classroom and school building with the text of the commandments as the central focus in a large, readable font.

The measure would allow school districts to purchase the display themselves or have the signage or money to purchase them donated.

The legislation does not include penalties for schools that dont comply.

Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, who chairs the Senate committee, said he supports the requirement, saying the United States was founded as a Christian nation.

Unfortunately, our court system has not upheld our freedom of religion. They continue to actually erode ... who we are as a nation, Brattin said. I hate the fact that we even have to have this bill. This is not an infringement.

The proposal comes in the wake of a Louisiana law approved last year that required the commandments to be displayed. It was blocked by a federal judge and is under appeal. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is among a group of Republican attorneys general who have filed briefs seeking to reverse the decision.

In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Kentuckys attempt to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools was unconstitutional and violated the First Amendments Establishment Clause, which prevents the government from establishing a national religion or favoring one religion over another. State-sponsored prayer in schools was ruled unconstitutional in cases heard in the 1960s.

Public schools can teach about religion, and Missouri law allows classes on the Bible if they are taught from an objective, academic perspective that isnt devotional or biased toward particular beliefs.

Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, said the proposal was frustrating because Missouri would become embroiled in expensive lawsuits if the measure wins approval.

Millions have been spent on these suits, Nurrenbern said. Why rush this? We know the Supreme Court is going to weigh in on this.

The committee took no action on the measure.

The legislation is Senate Bill 594.
JEFFERSON CITY  A state senator from Arnold announced Tuesday she will not seek a second term representing Jefferson County.

Republican Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman said she would step away from politics when her current term ends in January 2027, giving potential successors an opportunity to campaign for the post.

I just think it makes sense to give people time, Coleman said in an appearance on This Week in Missouri Politics.

Coleman, an attorney, said she intends to serve out the final two years of her term.

Youll still see me at fish fries in the area. Were going to finish strong, Coleman said.

Her decision came after she lost a crowded Republican Party primary for secretary of state in August. Her bid for statewide office came after she had initially sought a seat in Congress representing Missouris 3rd Congressional District.

Coleman also raised eyebrows when her family last year purchased a house in St. Louis Central West End and sold one in her Senate district.

Records show a trust helmed by Colemans husband, Christopher J. Coleman, closed on a Westmoreland Place home for north of $1.7 million. The home boasts eight bedrooms, eight bathrooms and a ballroom.

Around the same time, the family sold its home in the Arnold area.

At the time, Coleman dismissed the idea that she might be on her way out.

Jefferson County is home and always will be, she wrote in a text message. My residence is in the district, and I am running for re-election.

In the Legislature, Coleman has been a staunch opponent of abortion.

In 2022, she proposed amendments to a handful of House bills that would allow Missouri residents to sue those who help people seek abortions. The proposals did not advance.

Weve gotten a lot done, Coleman said.

She said she hopes lawmakers can put a question on the ballot that asks voters to ban abortion.

Coleman previously served as a state representative from 2019 to 2023 and an Arnold city councilwoman from 2013 to 2015.
CHICAGO  The day after Donald Trump won the presidency last November, two-term Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker issued a statement that said as much about his plans for the states future as his own political future.

In 2017, I sought public office in large part because of the threat Donald Trump and his allies posed to Illinois, he wrote, citing his successful first bid for governor in 2018. I have helped enshrine into state law protections that uphold our common Illinois values. That work will continue, and it remains my North Star.

With less than a year before the March 2026 primary and only four months before the period to gather candidacy petition signatures begins, Pritzker has yet to say whether he will seek a rare but not unprecedented third term as governor.

But given his professed North Star, his sharp criticisms of the second Trump administration amid the listlessness of national Democratic Party leadership and a potential bid for the presidency in 2028, those who know and are close to the 60-year-old Pritzker say they expect him to seek reelection, with an announcement possibly coming after the legislature adjourns at the end of May.

Worth an estimated $3.7 billion, according to Forbes, and having spent $350 million to self-fund his two previous campaigns for governor, the heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune finds himself with few political obstacles in the way of another run.

The man who controls and funds the states Democratic Party apparatus and has used his money to help numerous candidates and initiatives faces no intraparty challenge and so far has seen no significant, well-financed opposition surface from a moribund Illinois Republican Party.

That has allowed Pritzker to seek an outsize role in national Democratic politics in the early days of Trump 2.0. Seeking to fill a vacuum within a party struggling to respond to Trump and his efforts to dismantle the federal government, Pritzker has offered a message that attempts to recapture middle-class voters who abandoned the party in the 2024 elections.

Running for another term as governor also would provide Pritzker a dual track toward a presumptive look at a White House bid. And a victory in the sixth-largest state would continue to provide him a credible, high-profile platform from which to assail the actions of the Trump administration nationally in the run-up to the 2028 presidential election.

Just last Tuesday, speaking to the progressive Center for American Progress, or CAP, in Washington, Pritzker acknowledged that, as a Democratic governor, his ability to fight Trumps downsizing initiatives in a GOP-dominated Washington was limited. But he also gave some insight into his mindset on why serving as governor during the second Trump era was important to Democrats.

The pushback that I can offer is, first, do the best I can to run a state that is really all about working people and the most vulnerable. But second, its Ive got a bully pulpit, Pritzker said.

The bully pulpit that I get as governor gives me the opportunity at least to speak to what I think that our common American values are, and we are the center of the country, the heart of the country, Pritzker said.

In the state of Illinois, we also have a state that is most reflective of the population of the entire United States, he said. So it gives me that opportunity to talk about what I think is happening in the country and the dangers that I think were facing.

But those dangers that Pritzker warns about  including the prospect of dealing with massive federal spending cuts affecting health care for the poor, education, housing, agriculture and grants to other areas of government  present hazards for someone trying to both carry out their duties as governor and pursue a national agenda.

There are advantages and there are risks to running again  if his thought is to run for president, said David Axelrod, a senior political consultant for CNN who was a senior political adviser to President Barack Obama.

The question for him really is, being governor of a state is a hard job, and its likely to get harder these next few years and into the next term. Third terms have historically been challenging for governors, said Axelrod, who has long served as a consultant on Democratic campaigns in Illinois and across the nation. Given, you know, who he is and the resources he has and so on, is there more wisdom in spending two years traveling the country unfettered by the responsibilities of the governorship and the potential liabilities of the governorship?

With his wealth, Pritzker has the resources to build a presidential campaign without the responsibilities of the governors office. But there is the example of former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, a billionaire whose 2020 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination lasted less than five months after he spent over $500 million of his own money.

Illinois does not have term limits for governor, but the only person to serve more than two four-year terms is the late Republican Gov. James R. Thompson. Thompson was the states longest-serving governor, holding the office for 14 years, from 1977 to 1991, including an initial two-year term that shifted the election of statewide officers to the nonpresidential midterm election. But in winning his third term in 1982, Thompson very narrowly defeated the late former U.S. Sen. Adlai E. Stevenson III by 5,074 votes, the closest governors race in Illinois history.

Like Pritzker, Thompson had presidential ambitions and also was courted as a potential vice presidential contender, though he took himself out of consideration. Pritzker has noted that his vetting to appear on the short list of vice presidential running mates for 2024 Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris was an indication of the belief that he had the qualifications to do the job of president.

But Pritzker has demurred on the question of his presidential ambitions, even as he has not publicly discussed his thoughts on a third gubernatorial term.

In August, speaking at the first Illinois delegation breakfast of the Democratic National Convention, Pritzker jokingly referred to his wife, MK, as his term limiter.

Im not suggesting that I want to try to beat Jim Thompsons 14-year record, Pritzker said. My wifes not here, and I dont want anybody talking to her about this, but she is my term limit, so if all of you want to talk to her and convince her one way or another, by the way, youre welcome to do that.

Yet by looking at Pritzkers collective comments since Trumps Nov. 5 victory, as well as his travel and media schedule, it has become clear the Illinois governor relishes attacking the president and presidential adviser Elon Musk. He points to the state as leading the resistance in urging Democrats to focus their messaging on working families through such issues as increasing the federal minimum wage.

To Pritzker, Musk is President Musk and Musks associates in his Department of Government Efficiency are DOGE-bags.

The meme lords and the minions in the White House conceive of themselves as kings and nobles who have the divine right to order the world in a way that best suits them and their fellow kleptocrats, he said. Peoples lives are a game to them.

Theres no grand master strategy to improve the lives of everyday Americans. This is true, villainous cruelty by a few idiots who are trying to figure out how to pull off the scam of their lives. Theyre armed with the power of the presidency, and their sights are aimed on working people, many of whom voted for them, never imagining what this would turn out to be. Here we are. Things are bad, and theyre getting worse, he told CAP.

This is all cruel, incompetent, recklessness, and 60 days in, the signs are there. Its already pissing off everyday Americans, he said.

With polls showing voter favorability for Democrats at record lows, Pritzker said, If we want to regain the trust of the voters that we stand for, Democrats have to deliver. For sure, we have to call out the BS that Republicans have been selling, but meanwhile, Democrats have to make peoples lives better.

Contending that the challenges that people are facing at the kitchen table are the very challenges that the Democratic Party is best at addressing, Pritzker questioned, Why are we not all screaming about the $7.25 (federal) minimum wage in this country? and noted that Illinois minimum wage increased to $15 an hour Jan. 1.

Pritzkers efforts to expand his national footprint include the creation of his Think Big America organization in October 2023 that helped fund abortion-rights ballot initiatives across the country. Since Trumps victory, hes appeared nationally on CNN, MSNBC, numerous podcasts, ABCs Good Morning America 3 and The View and has delivered speeches to Democratic advocacy groups. Hes also set to deliver the keynote address at the largest fundraiser for New Hampshire Democrats on April 27, though the state no longer plays as significant a role in the presidential primary process.

But theres also the bully pulpit at home, where last week he conducted a three-day Standing up for Illinois tour of the state to lash out at Trumps actions involving farmers, seniors and efforts to rebuild the states infrastructure.

They hate that were succeeding in Illinois. They just hate it. It drives them absolutely crazy, and I love that it does, Pritzker said of the Trump administration before a gathering of the Illinois Education Association earlier this month.

Axelrod said Pritzkers aggressiveness on the stump is something that undoubtedly will win him some followers and is appreciated by Democrats who are looking for someone to carry the fight.

Hes also been very supportive of Democratic causes and candidates around the country, and that always wins you friends, he said. That includes a $500,000 donation in the battle over Democrats keeping a majority in a Wisconsin state Supreme Court race that has seen Musk invest millions of dollars into the Republican.

But Axelrod cautioned any national aspirations for Pritzker by questioning what the countrys attitude toward billionaires is going to be in 2028? Elon Musk is not helping the brand.

Still, he said, there are billionaires, and there are billionaires, and Pritzkers willingness to be taxed at a higher rate based on his wealth stands in contrast to Musk and Trump allies who are trying to cut everything that is meaningful to everyday people in order to pay for a larger tax cut for themselves.

Among those who think Pritzker will seek reelection, theres the belief that not only does a gubernatorial platform assist in any national ambitions, but it would also give him the opportunity to see some of his initiatives as governor come to fruition  most notably efforts to make the state a leader in emerging technology and a global center for quantum computing.

For his second-term reelection bid, Pritzker didnt announce his candidacy until July 19, 2021, for a June 28, 2022, primary  an election delayed by the pandemic.

Looking ahead to 2026, Pritzker has not made a significant contribution to his political fund since dropping $13 million into it last August. He began this year with more than $4.1 million in his campaign bank account after spending $8.1 million in the final quarter of the 2024 general election period.

Regardless of his decision, Pritzker will be the longest-serving Democratic governor in Illinois history at the end of his second term. Three other Democratic governors were elected to two terms, but none of them finished them.

Henry Horner died in office. Otto Kerner Jr. quit to become a federal judge. And Rod Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office before being convicted and imprisoned on federal corruption charges. Despite being pardoned by Trump, Blagojevich is ineligible to hold any public office in the state.

Pritzker said he still loves the job of governor, though he acknowledges its become harder, noting that with Trump, the challenge is meaningful.

Look, whatever it is that Im doing a year from now  or whatever announcements get made over the next bunch of months  I will be in this fight, he told reporters earlier this month. I have always been, as you know, an active participant in issues that matter to me. And the Trump presidency is attacking virtually everything that I believe in. So whether Im in office or Im not in office, or what office I am serving in, I will always be in this fight.
ST. LOUIS  Anheuser-Busch has dropped out of PrideFest, ending its sponsorship of the annual festival here, the nonprofit Pride St. Louis announced Tuesday.

Pride St. Louis said it was devastated that the brewery has declined to sponsor the festival after more than 30 years of partnership.

At a time when many sponsors have already reduced their contributions, this decision is especially painful, the group said in a release.

Anheuser-Busch has not released a statement explaining the move, and the companys media team did not reply to messages seeking comment. A-B has given about $70,000 in donations and in-kind contributions to Pride St. Louis over the years, said Jordan Braxton, a spokesperson for Pride St. Louis.

Other organizations have also trimmed donations to the local festival, which is now about $150,000 short overall compared with donations received last year, Braxton said. The nonprofit is now asking the public for help with a fundraising campaign called #45for45 in honor of the festivals 45th anniversary here.

This anniversary is a testament to the strength, resilience and love within our community, said Marty Zuniga, president of Pride St. Louis, in a release. While we are deeply disappointed that Anheuser-Busch has chosen to step away from supporting PrideFest this year, we remain hopeful that the community will step up where they have stepped down.

Braxton said Pride festivals across the country are seeing a similar drop in funding this year.

Its because of the current administration, the climate that were in, and people are afraid to get attacked, Braxton said.

Forbes magazine reported last week that LGBTQ Pride celebrations in San Francisco, New York City and Houston have lost large chunks of funding as corporate support appears to be shrinking. Earlier this month, San Francisco Pride announced that Anheuser-Busch backed out of participating in the parade this year, as have Comcast, beverage company Diageo and wine company La Crema.

It appears A-B will continue sponsorship of some pride events, such as PRIDEChicago. That events marketing director, Karyn Terrones, said A-B has been a partner of the event for over a decade and its monetary commitment remains unchanged.

Theyve been very supportive, Terrones said on Tuesday.

Bud Light is also listed as a sponsor for Charlotte Pride and Toronto Pride this year.

In 2023 Bud Light saw a significant drop in sales as some consumers called for a boycott of the brand following a collaboration with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

Since the Mulvaney fallout, A-B has shifted its marketing efforts to focus on things like sports, the military charity Folds of Honor and music in an effort to win back conservative consumers. Company leaders said that surveyed consumers expressed that they want to enjoy their beer without debate or politics.

Bud Light is currently the official beer sponsor of UFC, a mixed martial arts organization, and A-B has recently worked with country music stars like Dierks Bentley and Zach Bryan.

This year, A-B is set to launch a new drink in partnership with 1st Phorm, a Fenton-based energy drink and supplement company. The collaboration will include Dana White, president and CEO of UFC and supporter of President Donald Trump.

Tax forms show that in 2023, Pride St. Louis Inc. saw $740,128 in revenue for PrideFest but spent most of it, $685,747, in festival expenses.

That year, the organization received $29,545 in contributions and grants, dropping from the $32,625 it received the year prior. That number is also largely down from earlier years. The organization reported $64,094 in gifts, grants and contributions in 2017.

In 2023, A-B reported that it spent over $7 million on charitable purposes.

PrideFest this year is scheduled for June 28-29 in St. Louis. It is in downtown St. Louis in the parks surrounding Soldiers Memorial and across from City Hall. The festival includes a march down Market on Saturday and a parade on Sunday.
JEFFERSON CITY  A showdown is brewing between the Missouri House and Senate over $300 million in funding for Missouri schools.

The Republican-led Missouri House Budget Committee Monday began to draft its version of Gov. Mike Kehoes budget plan, minus a chunk of money for education that the chief Senate budget writer earlier said is a nonstarter.

The looming debate could set the stage for negotiations between the two chambers, with the states newly minted governor closely watching the unfolding debate.

Pending the committees work, which was expected to go late into the night Monday, the full House could begin voting on the massive package as soon as next week.

A final spending package is due to be finalized by lawmakers in early May, leaving the two sides a month to hammer out their differences.

In drafting the plan, House Budget Committee Chairman Dirk Deaton, R-Seneca, sided with Kehoe in not including the $300 million largesse that is needed to fully fund the states school funding formula, which determines how much local school districts receive from the state.

In his January budget speech, Kehoe announced he was shorting the fund, saying he wants to rewrite and update the formula over the next three years

But Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, said he wants to put the money back in the nearly $4 billion education spending plan because lawmakers last year approved sweeping legislation that calls for the added cash.

The battle comes against the backdrop of attempts by Republicans to cut state income taxes, potentially reducing revenues by $1.3 billion at a time when the states robust fiscal growth has begun to slow.

Actions by the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress to extend tax cuts also could alter how much the state receives in federal funding for the states MO HealthNet health insurance program. KFF Health News put the possible hit on Missouris Medicaid program at $2 billion, representing a 39% drop in aid.

In all, Deatons initial plan for the overall budget blueprint puts the spending total at $48 billion, down from the $53 billion Kehoe outlined during his inaugural State of the State address.

It keeps intact Kehoes proposal for a $50 million outlay to jump-start the states private school voucher program, a Republican-backed program originally designed to run on volunteer contributions and tax credits, not general revenue.

Although the House version is lower than the governors request, some of that is due to a plan to reduce departmental budgets that have carried over large, unspent surpluses in recent years.

The plan also slashes Kehoes pay raise proposals for state employees in half, meaning longtime state workers will see a maximum of a 5% raise in the fiscal year beginning in July based on years of service, rather than a 10% boost.

Similarly, Deaton has eliminated a $12.3 million request to boost the pay for prison guards in an attempt to increase recruitment and retention of the hard-to-fill positions.

The House version also alters the governors plan to change how child care subsidy payments are made to day care facilities, saving an estimated $107 million.

Under the current system, the state pays after a child care provider submits attendance-based reports for reimbursement. Kehoe wants those payments upfront to ease a paperwork logjam that has resulted in some day care facilities closing.

Democrats hope to reverse the cut, arguing that stabilizing and expanding child care offerings will help more parents join the workforce.

Mondays hearing gave rank-and-file lawmakers a chance to insert their spending priorities into the plan. Rep. Raychel Proudie, D-Ferguson, for example, attempted to add $2.5 million to boost funding for a teacher training program but was at least temporarily rebuffed by Deaton.

I still have some concerns outstanding, Deaton said.

The House plan also would decrease funding for the states Blind Pension Fund by $3.2 million. Kehoe had sought an $89 per month increase in payments for about 3,200 vision-impaired people who participate in the program, which is funded by a property tax assessment.

Deatons proposal includes $19 million to buy property for a 1,600-acre state park in McDonald County, which is in his southwestern Missouri legislative district. The money was vetoed by former Gov. Mike Parson last year.

Also on tap in the House proposal is nearly $12 million to add a third lane on a portion of westbound Interstate 44 near Joplin and $2.5 million to study the potential conversion of U.S. 36 in northern Missouri into an extension of Interstate 72.
CLAYTON  A St. Louis County Councilman blocked the county executive from presenting a proclamation honoring Planned Parenthood during Tuesday's council meeting.

County Executive Sam Page said he supports the organization as Missouri legislators make moves to undo a constitutional amendment voters approved in November protecting the right to an abortion.

Page tried to present a proclamation supporting Planned Parenthood during Tuesday afternoon's meeting.

But Republican council Vice Chair Dennis Hancock, of Fenton, blocked him, saying the county executive doesn't have the right to present a proclamation during the council meeting. Only councilmembers may do that, Hancock said.

Three councilwomen said they would like the council to take a brief recess to help Page present the proclamation outside council chambers. Hancock and two other Republican councilmen, Mark Harder, of Ballwin, and Mike Archer, of South County, voted against going into recess.

Page and the councilwomen, Lisa Clancy, of Maplewood, Gretchen Bangert, of Florissant, and Shalonda Webb, of North County, instead said they'd present the proclamation after the meeting to local Planned Parenthood officials. Council Chair Rita Heard Days was absent.
Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett mocked her states governor during a weekend appearance, referring to Greg Abbott  who uses a wheelchair  as Gov. Hot Wheels while speaking at a banquet in Los Angeles.

You all know we got Gov. Hot Wheels down there. Come on, now, Crockett, a Dallas Democrat, said about Abbott, a Republican, while addressing the Human Rights Campaign event. And the only thing hot about him is that he is a hot-ass mess, honey.

Abbott was paralyzed in 1984 after a tree fell on him while he was running. The accident severely damaged Abbotts spinal cord. Abbott, now 67, was elected in 2014.

Crockett, elected to the House in 2022, was roundly criticized by Republicans for the comments, an aside she made during her speech to the civil rights group event after she thanked Morgan Cox, a group board member and fellow Dallas resident, according to video of the event posted to Human Rights Campaigns YouTube channel.

Crockett's comments are disgraceful, Texas Sen. John Cornyn posted on the social media platform X. Shameful.

Neither Abbotts nor Crocketts office immediately replied to requests for comment.

Crockett has faced criticism from Republicans for suggesting last week that tech billionaire Elon Musk, heading the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, be taken down.

Crockett, a rising star among Democrats, is a St. Louis native and Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School graduate who also attended Rosati-Kain.

Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa.
Since plunging during the COVID-19 pandemic, international student enrollment in the U.S. has been rebounding  a relief to American universities that count on their tuition payments. Two months into the new Trump administration, educators fear that could soon change.

Unnerved by efforts to deport students over political views, students from other countries already in the U.S. have felt new pressure to watch what they say.

A Ph.D. student at the University of Rochester from South Asia said it feels too risky to speak about LGBTQ+ causes she once openly championed or even be seen near a political demonstration. With reports of travel bans circulating, she likely wont fly home for the summer out of fear she would not be allowed back into the U.S.

Youre here for an education so youve got to keep moving forward on that end, said the student, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being targeted by authorities. But also its very hard to, say, OK, Im at work. Ive got to zone out. I cant be thinking about the news.

Educators worry its a balancing act that will turn off foreign students. As the U.S. government takes a harder line on immigration, cuts federal research funding and begins policing campus activism, students are left to wonder if theyll be able to get visas, travel freely, pursue research or even express an opinion.

It has a chilling effect, said Clay Harmon, executive director of AIRC, a membership organization focused on recruiting and enrolling international students. Even if theres no direct consequence or direct limitation right now, all of this cumulatively produces an impression that the U.S. is not welcoming, its not open or that you may be in some kind of danger or jeopardy if you do come to the U.S.

During a recent trip to India, the biggest sender of students to the U.S., the consensus among recruiting agencies was that far fewer of that countrys students are interested in American colleges than in recent years, Harmon said.

Some students are waiting to see how policy changes will play out, while others already have deferred admission offers for fall 2025, he said. Student social networks are active, and news about immigration-related developments in America  like a Republican proposal to prevent Chinese students from studying in the U.S.  spreads quickly.

Students in Canada, China, India and elsewhere have been seeking answers and advice on Reddit and other social media sites, wondering whether to move forward with U.S. plans, or choose a college in the United Kingdom, Germany or elsewhere in Europe.

International students are coveted as an antidote to declining domestic enrollment and source of full-price tuition payments. In the 2023-2024 academic year, 1.1 million international students at U.S. colleges and universities contributed an all-time high $43.8 billion to the nations economy and supported more than 378,000 jobs, according to data released by NAFSA, an agency that promotes international education.

International graduate students also play a large role in advancing research, said Fanta Aw, who heads NAFSA.

Aw said universities must work to remind prospective students that detentions like those of a pro-Palestinian activist Columbia University and, more recently, a scholar at Georgetown University, still are not the norm, despite the attention they receive.

We have international students at lots of universities, she said, and news coverage has focused on consequences for international students at just a couple of colleges. So we have to also put into perspective the fact that the vast majority of students are in universities where were not hearing anything.

The messaging from colleges and universities on the changing political climate has varied. Some, including Northeastern University in Boston, have responded to Trumps directives with webpages to keep current and prospective students informed.

Our global community will continue to be a welcoming place for admitted students from all corners of the world, spokeswoman Renata Nyul said via email.

Others have gone further. Bunker Hill Community College in Boston has suspended its one- to two-week study abroad programs, citing concerns about potential travel restrictions. Administrators at Columbias Graduate School of Journalism have warned students who are not U.S. citizens about their vulnerability to arrest or deportation.

Brown University has advised international students and staff, including visa holders and permanent residents, to postpone travel after a Brown professor was deported to Lebanon despite having a U.S. visa. Homeland Security officials later said she openly admitted to supporting a Hezbollah leader and attending his funeral.

___

The Associated Press education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
WASHINGTON  Top national security officials for President Donald Trump, including his defense secretary, texted war plans for planned military strikes in Yemen to a group chat in a secure messaging app that included the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic, the magazine reported in a story posted online Monday. The National Security Council said the text chain "appears to be authentic."

About 2 hours after it was reported, Trump told reporters he was not aware that the sensitive information was shared.

"I don't know anything about it," Trump said. "You're telling me about it for the first time." He added that The Atlantic was "not much of a magazine."

The material in the text chain "contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing," editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg reported.

It was not immediately clear if the specifics of the military operation were classified, but they often are and at the least are kept secure to protect service members and operational security.

The U.S. conducted airstrikes against the Houthis since the militant group began targeting commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea in November 2023.

Just two hours after Goldberg received the details of the attack on March 15, the U.S. began launching a series of airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.

The National Security Council said in a statement it was looking into how a journalist's number was added to the chain in the Signal group chat.

Goldberg said he received the Signal invitation from Mike Waltz, Trump's national security adviser, who was also in the group chat.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in his first comments on the matter attacked Goldberg as deceitful and a discredited so-called journalist without offering further explanation. He did not shed light on why Signal was being used to discuss the sensitive operation or how Goldberg ended up on the message chain.

Nobody was texting war plans and thats all I have to say about that, Hegseth said in an exchange with reporters after landing in Hawaii on Monday as he began his first trip to the Indo-Pacific as defense secretary.

Government officials use Signal for organizational correspondence, but it is not classified and can be hacked. Privacy and tech experts say the popular end-to-end encrypted messaging and voice call app is more secure than conventional texting.

The sharing of sensitive information comes as Hegseth's office just announced a crackdown on leaks of sensitive information, including the potential use of polygraphs on defense personnel to determine how reporters have received information.

Sean Parnell, a spokesman for Hegseth, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday on why the defense secretary posted war operational plans on an unclassified app.

Democratic lawmakers quickly condemned the breach in protocol. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called for a full investigation.

"This is one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence I have read about in a very, very long time," Schumer, a New York Democrat, said in a floor speech Monday afternoon.

"If true, this story represents one of the most egregious failures of operational security and common sense I have ever seen," said Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said in a statement that he was "horrified" by the reports.

Himes said if a lower-ranking official "did what is described here, they would likely lose their clearance and be subject to criminal investigation. The American people deserve answers," which he said he planned to get at Wednesday's previously scheduled committee hearing.

Some of the toughest criticism targeted Hegseth, a former Fox News Channel weekend host. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran, said on social media that Hegseth, "the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in history, is demonstrating his incompetence by literally leaking classified war plans in the group chat."

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he wants to learn more about what happened.

"Obviously, we got to to run it to the ground, figure out what went on there," said Thune, a South Dakota Republican.

The handling of national defense information is strictly governed by law under the century-old Espionage Act, including provisions that make it a crime to remove such information from its "proper place of custody" even through an act of gross negligence.

The Justice Department in 2015 and 2016 investigated whether former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton broke the law by communicating about classified information with her aides on a private email server she set up, though the FBI ultimately recommended against charges and none were brought.

In the Biden administration, some officials were given permission to download Signal on their White House-issued phones, but were instructed to use the app sparingly, according to a former national security official who served in the Democratic administration, who requested anonymity.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed with U.S. President Donald Trump the issue of the U.S. investments in Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).

"We discussed Zaporizhia nuclear power plant with him on the phone once. I think they also discussed it with the Russians. I believe so. I don't think there are any other negotiators... I said that they [the Russian occupiers] blew up the dam, that is, access to water. There are many questions, and no one will give electricity to the Russians  they counted on Zaporizhia plant to give them electricity, etc. No, this is our plant, it will not work without us and will not work for them. This is my position, I told President Trump about it," Zelenskyy said during a conversation with reporters on Tuesday.

Trump, in turn, replied to him that the plant needs to be repaired.

"I told him  yes, everyone knows this, the IAEA confirmed it, our technical specialists confirmed it. We think it will take two to two and a half years to raise it, to put it on its feet, as they say, this station. This is a lot of money. And he asked me, can we work together on this topic? I told him  yes, if you invest in modernization, yes, if you help us return the station, okay. Well, that's a normal conversation," Zelenskyy said.
I oppose Gov. Mike Kehoe's plan to privatize education in Missouri. ("Can Kehoe sell Missouri lawmakers on the rest of his agenda? It includes school choice," March 24.)

While I have been a Missouri resident since 1987, I grew up in Pittsburgh and went to public schools in that city. The education was good enough such that I was admitted to Penn State where I studied engineering.

While I can understand the desire of many parents to move their children to better schools, we need to think about how everyone either benefits or loses when we take away money from our public schools to fund private schools. Currently, the situation is that the more prosperous communities have good schools with good teachers while less well-off communities are stuck with poorer schools. This is what happens when you rely on property taxes to fund public schools.

Kehoe's plan will make matters even worse and the result will be even less money to fund the public schools while the private schools in wealthier communities thrive. And in rural Missouri, the result will be a disaster as these communities don't have the resources for even halfway good public schools. Is this what we really want?

The best approach would be to increase state funding for all public schools so that all Missouri students can get a good education in the K-12 school years.

Jim Rhodes

Webster Groves
U.S. and Philippine soldiers discuss air-mission planning for the Salaknib exercise at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, March 19, 2025. (Wyatt Moore/U.S. Army)



Thousands of U.S. and Philippine soldiers have begun the first phase of Salaknib, an annual land-defense exercise in the Philippines, according to officials from both countries.

The drills, which began Monday, involve about 5,000 troops  3,000 from the Philippine army and 2,000 from U.S. Army Pacific  the state-run Philippine News Agency reported that day. Salaknib will run through April 11, with a second phase planned for May 15 to July 20.

U.S. Army officials did not immediately respond Tuesday to emailed questions about the exercise.

The training comes as Washington and its allies in the region prepare for potential conflict with Beijing over Taiwan and the South China Sea. Philippine and Chinese coast guard vessels have clashed multiple times over the past year in disputed waters.

During last years drills, the U.S. Army deployed the Typhoon missile system  designed to fire SM-6 and Tomahawk missiles  to the Philippines, where it has remained despite objections from Chinese officials, who have called it an offensive weapon.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in January that he would order the missile system returned to the U.S. only if China stops its coercive actions in the South China Sea.

In preparation for Salaknib, soldiers from the Hawaii-based 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment were at Fort Magsaysay on Luzon, where they swapped maintenance tips with their Philippine counterparts, according to a March 17 Army news release.

Training like this enhances our ability to operate as a cohesive team and strengthens the trust and partnership between our forces, 1st Lt. Hwui Yoo, a battalion fire direction officer, said in the release.

Members of the Division Sustainment Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, also from Hawaii, were at Fort Magsaysay preparing a water purification system ahead of the drills, according to another March 17 Army release.

The intent is to filter the local water source using U.S. Army equipment, making it safe for daily use as we train alongside our allies, Sgt. Mario Lumpkin, a brigade water purification specialist, said in the release.

Following Salaknib, the U.S. and the Philippines will conduct Balikatan, an annual joint exercise involving 16,000 troops, from April 21 to May 9.

Officials have dubbed this years series of Salaknib and Balikatan exercises SABAK 2025, the Philippine News Agency reported.

SABAK 2025 brings together the [Philippine army] and [U.S. Army Pacific] forces in a robust joint exercise across key locations in the Philippines, Philippine army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said during the opening ceremony at Fort Magsaysay.

The drills will focus on combined, joint and all-domain operations to strengthen warfighting and reaffirm the U.S.-Philippine commitment to safeguarding the countrys territorial integrity, Dema-ala said.

The exercise will include command-and-control training, large-scale operational maneuvers, force-on-force training, live-fire drills, and sustainment operations. They will also cover humanitarian assistance, information operations, and counterintelligence training, he said.
Prosecutors, not police, decide formal charges under the Japanese justice system. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)



Japanese prosecutors have declined to charge a U.S. Marine accused of stealing a car, driving drunk, crashing it, and intruding into a mans home in Iwakuni last month, according to a spokesman for the Yamaguchi District Public Prosecutors Office.

The office decided Monday to drop its case against the Marine assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, the spokesman said by phone Tuesday. He declined to explain the decision. Yamaguchi Prefectural Police identified the Marine as a 21-year-old corporal.

Prosecutors, not police, decide formal charges under Japans justice system.

The Marine remains under U.S. military investigation and could face disciplinary and administrative actions depending on the outcome, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing spokesman Maj. Joseph Butterfield wrote in an email Tuesday.

The alleged behavior does not reflect the core values of the U.S. Marine Corps, nor does it represent the conduct of the overwhelming majority of Marines based in Japan, he said.

Japanese police arrested the Marine on Feb. 11 on suspicion of unlawful intrusion after he allegedly entered the apartment of a 63-year-old man, according to Yamaguchi Prefectural Police.

Stars and Stripes is withholding the service members name because he has not been charged.

Police re-arrested him on March 4 on suspicion of stealing a car from a convenience store parking lot, crashing it into a utility pole, and then entering the apartment, according to Iwakuni police. Under Japanese law, re-arresting a suspect resets the 20-day detention limit.

Iwakuni police on March 19 recommended additional charges of theft, assault, destruction of property, destruction of structure and drinking and driving, according to the prosecutors spokesman.

After the crash, the Marine walked about 60 feet to an apartment building, entered through the front door, and set off a fire extinguisher before police arrested him at the scene, Iwakuni police said. No other damage was reported.

The Marines blood-alcohol content was above Japans legal limit of 0.03%, according to police, who declined to specify the exact level. By comparison, the legal limit in all 50 U.S. states is 0.08%.

The Marine and his command cooperated fully with the Japanese investigation, MCAS Iwakuni spokesman Maj. Gerard Farao wrote in an email Tuesday.

Some Japanese officials may speak to the press only on condition of anonymity.
Navy Secretary John Phelan testifies Feb. 27, 2025, during his Senate confirmation hearing. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)



WASHINGTON  John Phelan, an investor who said he would make up for his lack of military experience with his business acumen, was confirmed Monday by the Senate to serve as Navy secretary.

Phelan, 61, was confirmed in a 62-30 vote and will become the first person in more than 15 years to lead the Navy without having served in any branch of the military. Phelan has acknowledged his inexperience but cast it as an asset.

A founder of several investment firms, Phelan said he would draw on his management and leadership skills to reform the Navy and address subpar housing, high suicide rates, failed audits and delays and cost overruns in shipbuilding and ship maintenance.

The Navy and the Marine Corps already possess extraordinary operational expertise within their ranks, he said. My role is to utilize that expertise and strengthen it, step outside the status quo and take decisive action with a results-oriented approach.

Phelans only connection to the military is through an advisory role for the Spirit of America, a nonprofit that works with troops and diplomats to deliver assistance to communities affected by conflict.

He was a major donor to President Donald Trumps 2024 re-election campaign and said during his confirmation hearing last month that Trump often texts him in the middle of the night to complain about rusty warships.

Trump has made shipbuilding a focus of his second term, vowing to build commercial and military ships very fast, very soon to keep pace with Chinas growing naval fleet and challenge its dominance in the commercial shipbuilding market.

Chinas estimated 400-ship navy is already the largest in the world while the U.S. Navys plan to have a fleet of 315 ships by 2025 has fallen short, with the service having 296 battle-force ships as of January, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Phelan told senators that he believed the Navy was suffering from a culture of complacency and failing to take decisive action to address shipbuilding problems.

Its almost as if were waiting for a crisis to happen to ignite things and I think in the business of warfare, thats a dangerous place to be, he said. I would bring a sense of urgency to this. I would bring a sense of accountability to this.

Phelan also committed to passing a department-wide audit and growing the Navys enlisted ranks. The Navy is on track to meet its recruiting goals for the second straight year, but it has also started accepting lower test scores and recruits without high school diplomas or GED certificates.

Phelan said he would apply best practices from the Marine Corps, which has consistently met its recruiting goals, and his own experience attracting and retaining talent to improve enlistment numbers.

Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he considered Phelans nontraditional background an asset and was pleased with his track record in business.

He has rescued companies in distress, Wicker said. Our Navy is certainly in distress and we need that same kind of leadership.

Some Democrats were less fond of Phelans business background.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., raised concerns about Phelans investments in defense contractors and pressed him in a letter this month to avoid any conflicts of interest while serving as Navy secretary and for at least four years after.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said she would withhold her support for Phelan due to fears that planned cuts to the Defense Departments civilian workforce would affect shipyard workers.

Phelan during his confirmation hearing promised to sit down with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to protect shipyards from any negative impacts of the mass layoffs, calling the workers there critical.
The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford sails in formation with the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Winston Churchill, USS Mitscher, USS Mahan, USS Bainbridge and USS Forrest Sherman in the Atlantic Ocean on Nov. 12, 2024. (U.S. Navy)



BREMERTON, Wash.  The Navy will spend up to $300 million to modernize Naval Base Kitsap so it can serve as the first Pacific homeport of the new Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers.

The Navy proposes to replace an older Nimitz-class aircraft carrier with the newer Ford-class aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy and upgrade the electrical distribution system at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton to support the new Ford class carrier, the Navy said last week.

The John F. Kennedy is scheduled to be commissioned in the summer at HII-Newport News shipyard in Virginia. It will then undergo multiyear sea trials at nearby Naval Station Norfolk.

Before arriving at Kitsap, the Navy must spend up to $300 million to build new electrical substations, reroute and upgrade electrical systems, improve ship-to-shore connections and make other upgrades to the pier where the ship will be berthed.

The work is expected to take up to four years, according to the Navy. When completed, the Kennedy would make a permanent move to its new homeport at Kitsap, which is west of Seattle.

USS John F. Kennedy is expected to arrive no earlier than 2029, said Theodore Brown, spokesman for U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk.

The Navy said advances in automation and computerization mean the Ford-class carriers require more electrical power to execute functions once performed by crew members. The service is going through an environmental assessment to bring a Ford-class carrier to Kitsap, including possible impacts on the community, including air quality, water quality and natural habitats. A final decision is expected this summer.

Power cables supply 4,160 volts to Nimitz-class carriers, but Ford-class ships need more than three times the amount  13,800 volts.

The John F. Kennedy will use more powerful nuclear reactors. Electromagnets will propel the elevators to bring the ships 90 aircraft to the deck and drive the catapults that launch the planes. More powerful radars, propulsion systems and automated ordnance handling for some of its missiles are parts of the additional power requirement.

While needing triple the electricity, the Kennedy would require about 20% less housing for its crew. Automation has reduced the ships crew by 344 positions compared with the last Nimitz-class carrier, the USS George H. W. Bush, commissioned in 2009. The Ford-class carrier will carry a crew of about 2,800. While deployed for combat, the ship also carries aircraft squadrons with another 2,500 pilots and crew.

The aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy under construction in 2019 at Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding, Va. (U.S. Navy)



When completed in 2029, the Navy will have two bases  Kitsap on the West Coast and Norfolk on the East Coast  capable of homeporting Ford-class carriers.

They will replace Nimitz-class carriers, which were introduced in 1975. They account for 10 of the 11 aircraft carriers in service.

The USS Nimitz, the first of its class, is homeported at Kitsap. It deployed last week for the western Pacific. The Navy said Nimitz will move to Norfolk by April 2026 to begin a multiyear deactivation and decommissioning.

Kitsap is also homeport to the Nimitz-class carrier USS Ronald Reagan. It is about to go into an intermediate-level maintenance cycle that is scheduled to keep it from service until August 2026.

Nimitz-class carriers were built for a 50-year service life following commissioning. At the halfway point, the ships go through a refueling and overhaul that includes refilling the pair of nuclear reactors that power each ship. The work can only be performed at HII-Newport News in Virginia.

The Navy has built or approved six Ford-class carriers, all slated to replace Nimitz carriers as the new ships are commissioned. But construction delays have pushed back delivery dates.

USS Enterprise, now under construction in Newport News, isnt expected to be commissioned until 2029, according to Navy planners. The fourth carrier of the class, to be named USS Doris Miller, is under construction with a projected 2032 commissioning.

Two additional Ford-class carriers have been ordered: the USS William J. Clinton and USS George W. Bush. The Clinton has a projected commissioning date of 2036, and a date has not been announced for the Bush.
(James Warden/Stars and Stripes)



Baghdad, Iraq, Mar. 15, 2008: Pfc. Chase Webb, 19, (right) and Spc. Walt Vansciver, 32, search the upstairs of a building while looking for insurgents in the Abu Saif area of Baghdad. Soldiers with Blackfoot Troop, 3rd Squadron 89th Cavalry Regiment and Company C, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment raided the four-story building after a source tipped them off.
U.S. Marine Capt. Riley Tejcek reads her new childrens book If You Can Dream It, Be It. The book officially released on Amazon and Barnes & Noble on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Christopher Moeller)



Team USA bobsled pilot and U.S. Marine Capt. Riley Tejceks new childrens book, If You Can Dream It, Be It encourages children to reach for the stars because opportunities are limitless.

Tejceks debut book is written for children of all ages, but the native of Carmel, Ind., especially hopes to touch the hearts of military children in light of Month of the Military Child in April, which recognizes the resilience and sacrifices of military kids.

Every child whose parent, or parents, serve in the military make just as much as a sacrifice of those wearing the uniform, Tejcek, who is a logistics officer stationed at Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, Va., told Stars and Stripes on Sunday. I hope this book is a positive read for military children and they see that their parents, too, were their age once. They dreamed and became a superhero.

If You Can Dream It, Be It officially released Tuesday on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. On March 4, Tejcek celebrated the books launch at Pure Placid  a home fragrance store  in Lake Placid, N.Y., where she read her book for the first time to young girls.

Tejcek has been working on this book for over a year-and-a-half, and it follows her younger self envisioning becoming a Marine. Growing up, she didnt think it was possible to join the Marine Corps because she never saw a female Marine. That memory compelled her to write the book as living proof that anything is possible.

A big goal of mine is to get this childrens book out there to show that women can be Marines, professional athletes, pageant winners, authors and so much more, Tejcek said. Kids should dream big and never limit themselves on whats possible in this world.

As young readers flip through the tale told in a third-person narrative, they will get a glimpse into Tejceks family background, military journey, becoming Ms. Military 2023 and career as a professional athlete. Tejcek is the first active-duty female Marine to compete in bobsled, and she is training for a spot on the U.S. bobsled team at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Although the book features Tejceks own story, she said her goal was not to be praised for her accomplishments. She wants children to read the fun true story and influence them to be bold and courageous as they picture their future careers.

I want my story to create an impact, Tejcek said. I dont want people to remember my name. I want them to remember how I make them feel. I think theres so much power in the art of storytelling.

The characters that appear on the pages are based on close friends, mentors and teachers in Tejceks life that have helped along her journey. With Tejceks family playing a major role in her own successes, she hopes parents and guardians  who read this book with their children  find motivation to help their kids achieve and strive toward their goals.

Parents are heroes of their children, Tejcek said. The way we talk about the jobs we have, and how we raise these children are going to be the core memories of what they think is possible for them when they grow up. This [book] is a fun little reminder for parents, too, that their children look up to them and what they do.

Tejcek intended to highlight the importance of military service with her first book. She would like to continue writing books for children that relate to the Marine Corps and military.

This book is very much centered on the military community, Tejcek said. I hope children can grasp onto this book and realize that when you serve in the military, theres so much sacrifice that happens to keep everybody safe.
The Azerbaijans Embassy plaque on its new building is seen in Tehran, Iran, Monday, July 15, 2024. (Vahid Salemi/AP)



President Donald Trump on March 17 warned the Iranian regime that it would suffer the consequences for any further attacks by Yemens Houthi movement. These remarks came a day after the U.S. conducted massive airstrikes targeting facilities of the Iranian-backed group. Clearly, the U.S. is increasing pressure on Iran.

Also, on March 17, Azerbaijans Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov and Israels Energy Minister Eli Cohen signed an agreement to expand natural gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean. Azerbaijans relations with Iran are complex, if not adversarial. The current instability in the arc between the Caspian Sea and the Red Sea requires that the U.S. have all the allies it can muster to step up and help get the region on track toward sanity and prosperity.

Strategically located in the land bridge between Europe and Asia, Azerbaijan can play a key role in facilitating U.S. efforts and interests in the areas of the Caucasus and Central Asia, as well as the Middle East. As the only country in the world that borders both Iran and Russia, Baku can help Washington deal with the challenges that Moscow and Tehran present. In view of the Azerbaijani victory in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023 and Azerbaijan and Armenia having announced agreement on the terms for a peace treaty to settle that decades-old conflict on March 13, as well as Israeli efforts to bring Azerbaijan into the Abraham Accords framework, the Trump White House should engage with this rising middle power in the South Caucasus in pursuit of U.S. national security interests.

A number of additional significant developments have emerged in just the past few days. The day after the Armenians and Azerbaijanis announced their agreement toward a peace treaty, the Trump administrations special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, made a stopover in Baku after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Separately, U.S. national security adviser Mike Waltz advised on March 15 that he had spoken with Hikmet Hajiyev, national security advisor to Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev, on the need to finalize the peace deal.

Azerbaijan sits at the junction of some of the worlds most intractable conflicts in Eurasia: the Ukraine conflict, the wars involving Iran, and the U.S.-China competition. Moreover, the country, as a rising multi-regional player, can have a key role furthering the Trump administrations efforts to bring an end to the forever wars as well as its goal of resetting global geoeconomic relations. Likewise, in addition to being a major energy producer, Azerbaijan is strategically placed to facilitate international commerce in both the east-west and north-south directions.

Azerbaijan took the initiative 30 years ago to forge relations with Israel, which is far from its immediate environs. This underscores a sophistication in Bakus strategic thinking. Originally informed by the shared threat perception vis-a-vis Iran, over time, a much broader bilateral relationship developed. Azerbaijan became a key source of oil supplies to Israel, and Jerusalem became a major source of weapons procurement for Baku.

This relationship continues to evolve, as is evidenced by the latest efforts to expand the energy cooperation from oil and into natural gas. There is also an ecclesiastical dimension: the recent call by a group of prominent rabbis who urged Trump to integrate Azerbaijan into the Abraham Accords framework was unprecedented.

As a secular Shiite-majority Turkic nation, Azerbaijans entry into the regional framework would help diversify the current Muslim composition of the Abraham Accords, consisting of Sunni Arab states. This would serve as a strong counterweight to Irans Shiite Islamist regime and its revisionist agenda in both the Middle East and the South Caucasus.

Azerbaijans military victory was already a serious setback for Iran on its northern flank. Peace between Baku and Yerevan will further aid in containing Iran and could help with U.S. efforts to limit Russian-Iranian strategic cooperation. It will also free up Baku to play a greater role in the Middle East in alignment with both Israel and the U.S., which the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies has called for. Such a three-way alignment can potentially force behavioral change in the Islamic Republic (already deep in socio-economic crisis and at the cusp of regime evolution), which the Iran Daily noted in a March 1 front page report as a red alert moment for Iran.

The forthcoming peace treaty with Armenia is an opportunity for Baku to enhance strategic relations with the U.S. in the commercial realm as well. The expected peace agreement will hopefully hasten the repeal of outdated Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, the major bottleneck in the efforts to establish the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (also known as The Middle Corridor), a key geoeconomic artery linking the West to Central Asia. Enhanced U.S. relations with Azerbaijan can help counter Chinas westward expansion in Central Asia via its BRI projects and before Beijings influence extends to the Caspian Basin.

The Trump administration should also look beyond its goal of ending the conflict in Ukraine. It is in the American interest to ensure that there are checks on Russia unencumbered by war and many of the current sanctions. Here is where a relationship with Azerbaijan positions Washington on the Russian southern frontier as it develops a post-conflict security arrangement for Europe and the Caucasus. A U.S.-Azerbaijani-Israeli trilateral relationship can become a pillar of stability not just limited to the Middle East but the broader Eurasian space.

Kamran Bokhari is a senior director at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy in Washington. He is a national security and foreign policy specialist and teaches a graduate course on Central Asia & Eurasian Geopolitics at Georgetown Universitys School of Foreign Service.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un invites President Donald Trump to step across the border during a meeting at the Joint Security Area of the Demilitarized Zone, June 30, 2019. (White House)



President Donald Trumps administration is gambling on a potential war with Pyongyang by transforming his predecessors policy on North Korea into something more vicious, North Koreas state-run news agency said Tuesday.

Freedom Shield  a country-wide, 11-day military exercise by the U.S. and South Korea that ended Thursday  cannot be seen as a simple follow-up or repetition of previous drills, according to the Korean Central News Agency.

More than 12,500 South Korean troops participated and over 1,000 sorties were flown during the exercise, according to South Koreas Ministry of National Defense and U.S. Forces Korea.

Despite Pyongyangs protests over what it called warlike training, U.S. and South Korean officials describe Freedom Shield as a defensive exercise covering land, air, sea and cyberspace to prepare for potential North Korean aggression. A second large-scale annual exercise, Ulchi Freedom Shield, is typically held in August.

Earlier this month, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, accused the Trump administration of continuing former President Joe Bidens hostile policy against Pyongyang.

Washingtons approach is sufficient justification for [North Korea] to indefinitely bolster its nuclear war deterrent, she said in a March 2 KCNA report.

Two months into his second term, Trump has not publicly commented on any potential policy shifts toward North Korea.

During a March 13 meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump told reporters he had a great relationship with Kim and claimed he had prevented a nuclear war through negotiations with the North Korean leader during his first term.

Trump and Kim held their first summit in Singapore in 2018, followed by a second in Vietnam the following year. They also met at the Demilitarized Zone dividing North and South Korea in 2019.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, after a Feb. 15 meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, reaffirmed Americas commitment to the complete denuclearization of [North Korea] while expressing the Trump administrations openness to dialogue, according to a State Department news release.

The Biden administration also sought North Koreas denuclearization while offering Kim a chance to negotiate.

North Korea has conducted three days of ballistic missile tests so far this year. It last fired an unspecified number of ballistic missiles toward the Yellow Sea on March 10, the start of Freedom Shield, according to South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Finnish President to attend Paris meeting on peace and security for Ukraine

The President of the Republic of Finland, Alexander Stubb, will attend the meeting of heads of state and government in Paris on Thursday, 27 March 2025.

According to the Office of the President of Finland, the meeting will be hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.

"The meeting will discuss issues of continuing and strengthening support for Ukraine, negotiations on a ceasefire and the establishment of a lasting peace, as well as related security measures," the message says.

Earlier, the Elysee Palace announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would visit France on March 26. In the evening, he will be received by French President Emmanuel Macron.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe, right, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testify March 25, 2025, during a Senate hearing in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)



WASHINGTON  Top U.S. intelligence officials for the Trump administration denied Tuesday that any classified information was shared in a commercial group chat that was used to discuss plans to bomb Houthi targets in Yemen and inadvertently included a journalist.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who were among the participants in the chat over the Signal messaging app, refused to admit wrongdoing as the fallout over the scandal continued to reverberate on Capitol Hill.

They appeared before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee a day after the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine revealed he was accidentally added to a group chat where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted information on weapons packages, targets and timing for the airstrikes.

Ratcliffe and Gabbard denied such details were shared in the discussion, and Gabbard deferred questions on whether they would be considered classified to Hegseth and the National Security Council.

I can attest to the fact that there were no classified or intelligence equities that were included in that chat group at any time, Gabbard said.

Ratcliffe acknowledged he was included in the chat, and Gabbard refused to answer whether she participated in it, saying she was not going to get into the specifics because the matter was under review.

Several senators expressed doubt that there was no classified information in the discussion. If that was true, they argued, then intelligence officials should have no issues with releasing the entire text thread.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., peppers CIA director John Ratcliffe with questions on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, during a Senate Committee on Intelligence hearing about a group chat on the Signal messaging app that included top Trump intelligence officials and discussed war plans. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)



The notion theres not even acknowledgment of, Hey, gosh, we screwed up, is stunning to me, and the idea that somehow, well, none of this was classified, but we cant talk about it here  you cant have it both ways, said Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the committee. If its not classified, wed ask you to give it to the public today.

Goldberg in his report omitted details that he believed could be used to harm American military and intelligence personnel, including the name of a CIA official who Ratcliffe had named in the chat as his point of contact. The official is an active intelligence officer, according to Goldberg.

Ratcliffe said Tuesday that the official is not operating under cover so providing the name in the chat was not inappropriate. He also defended the use of Signal, saying it was permissible and lawful to use to communicate and coordinate for work purposes.

The national security adviser intended this to be, as it should have been, a mechanism for coordinating between senior level officials but not a substitute for using high side or classified communications for anything that would be classified, Ratcliffe said. And I think that that is exactly what did happen.

He later admitted pre-decisional strike deliberation should be conducted through classified channels.

The White House on Tuesday also argued no war plans were discussed in the Signal chat and said Goldberg was well -known for his sensationalist spin. Hegseth also lashed out at Goldberg in comments Monday, attacking him as deceitful and highly discredited.

Hegseth has denied he mishandled classified information and insisted nobody was texting war plans. Gabbard and Ratcliffe told senators Tuesday that Hegseth has the authority to determine whether information is classified.

The intelligence officials were largely grilled by Democrats at Tuesdays hearing, and Republicans either did not mention the Signal scandal or said they would discuss it behind closed doors. Several lawmakers told Gabbard and Ratcliffe that they will be investigating further.

Theres been no apology. There has been no recognition of the gravity of this error, said Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga. And by the way, we will get the full transcript of this chain, and your testimony will be measured carefully against its content.
Service members take a Transition Assistance Program course in Maude Hall at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, on Feb. 20, 2025. (Eric Mendiola/Stars and Stripes)



WASHINGTON  The Veterans of Foreign Wars and other veterans advocates urged lawmakers Tuesday to prioritize and improve transition assistance programs that prepare exiting service members for their lives and careers post-military.

The Defense Department spends months training new troops, while transition assistance programs  also known as TAP  for service members leaving the military often take a few days, said Joy Craig, associate director for legislative service at the VFW.

Why cant TAP be longer? Craig asked at a hearing Tuesday of the House Veterans Affairs Committees subpanel on education opportunity. The hearing examined how well TAP prepares separating service members in their final year of duty for civilian life.

A recent Defense Department report found widespread use of waivers by commanding officers to exempt these transitioning service members from the required classes, Craig said. In 2023, 74,000 transitioning service members did not attend the basic two-day TAP course.

About 80% of the 200,000 service members who exit the military annually are not eligible for retirement pay, underscoring the need for robust and effective job transition programs, Craig said. But commanding officers can waive TAP attendance because of a conflicting mission or for other reasons.

We can do a better job at sending transitioning service members to TAP, said Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., the House subcommittee chairman. We need to make sure everybody has the ability to go to this TAP program.

Commissioned officers should be held responsible and not promoted if they do not follow rules for mandatory TAP attendance, he said.

As a former Navy SEAL who served this country for 26 years, I have firsthand knowledge of the difficulties that can come with making the change from active duty to civilian life. This is personal to me, Van Orden said. When people at the top of DOD do not care about TAP, VA has to pick up the slack to reduce homelessness, suicide and unemployment.

Because most service members must still perform their regular duties while attending TAP classes, Craig said it often is difficult for them to have the time to create a blueprint for their lives post-military.

Service members leaving the military might have combat-related illnesses and injuries that make adjustment difficult. They also leave behind a network of friends and associates in the military.

The military builds warriors, but it must also ensure that those warriors are prepared to succeed beyond their time in uniform, Craig said.

Veterans surveyed by the VFW said they were not provided adequate time and guidance for planning their lives post military, she said.

Many reported being rushed through TAP, with one participant describing it as a firehose of information with no time to act on what was being taught, Craig said.

The first year after military separation is commonly referred to as the deadly gap because veterans are at greater risk of suicide from the pressures of adjusting to civilian life, said Barbara Carson, managing director of the DAniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University.

Federal law requires the Defense Department to provide counseling and education for separating service members. Not only is the Defense Department required to provide TAP, it also must give veterans the resources that they need for employment assistance, housing resources and health care in their communities.

Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., said the Defense Department needs to see TAP as a matter of national security.

Service members are transitioning into a more volatile economy with rising unemployment and a sinking stock market, he said.

Pappas referred to recent federal cuts of staff and programs that are hitting veterans.

Our nations heroes could suffer if they are not able to rely upon the support of federal agencies because of hiring freezes and firings in agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs, he said.

Elizabeth OBrien, senior vice president of Hiring Our Heroes, said the Defense Department needs to do a better job helping service members understand how they can leverage their military skills and experience to forge careers as civilians.

Hiring Our Heroes is a veterans job assistance program that is part of the Chamber of Commerce Foundation. For more than 20 years, Hiring Our Heroes has tapped business networks at local chambers of commerce to connect veterans with employment opportunities.

OBrien said SkillBridge is an example of a successful employment-focused program that provides transitioning service members with on-the-job experiences with employers before they leave military service.

SkillBridge interns are placed with employers for up to six months before their discharge from the military. The Defense Department pays their salaries, but there is an expectation they will be hired at the end of their internship.

A total of 45 federal programs run by a dozen different agencies assist veterans transitioning to civilian life. The programs spend about $13 billion a year, according to the DAniello Institute. Assistance includes a one-day course at the VA for accessing benefits for tuition, disability compensation and health care.

The VA also offers one-on-one counseling in person and online for transitioning service members and their spouses, said John Green, acting executive director of outreach, transition and economic development at the VA.

A well-prepared service member leaving the military can become a thriving, productive member of society who brings leadership, adaptability and experience into the civilian workforce, Craig said.

But the VFW said veterans surveyed often report feeling overwhelmed with important life decisions upon leaving military service.

The Defense Department is expected to collaborate with the VA to provide a warm handoff for transitioning service members and point them to resources as they restart lives as civilians, Craig said. But that does not always happen.

Often there is a lack of meaningful support as they near their discharge date, when service members need it most, she said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sees a positive thing in the fact that US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff is spreading Russian propaganda messages about Ukraine, because if the Russian side breaks the ceasefire agreements, trust in them and their narratives will be greatly reduced.

"I think there advantages and disadvantages in all of this ... When there is no trust in a person at all, then you don't believe even a single word. And this is what will happen in the relationship - I really believe in this - between the United States and the Russians. As they told Witkoff about the unconditional end of the war, that they want the end of the war, an unconditional ceasefire - everyone already sees that an unconditional ceasefire did not work out. Because the Russians do not want ... And since everyone understands that the United States wants to bring results, and Trump needs the result, and this is fair ... there will be more distrust of the Russians because of this every day," Zelenskyy said during a conversation with journalists on Tuesday.

"I hope, and I really see this hope realistically now, but we'll see that all the Russian narratives - they won't be trusted. That the American side will eventually sort out these narratives, that all of this is a lie," the head of state explained.

At the same time, the president expressed regret regarding Witkoff's statements, noting that "he has many different messages, but these messages very much coincide with the messages of the official Kremlin, and these messages have already been heard more than once."
The money will be used to pay part of the 79,100 in fines he owes for contempt of court

A judge has made an order allowing for the emptying of schoolteacher Enoch Burkes bank account to part pay 79,100 in fines he owes for contempt of court.

Mr Justice David Nolan made the order following a fractious hearing in the High Court in which it was disclosed there was around 40,000 in an account held by Mr Burke at the Bank of Ireland.

Mr Burke owes the money in unpaid fines for contempt of court orders requiring him to stay away from Wilsons Hospital School.

He was suspended and later sacked by the board of management of the Co Westmeath school after he publicly clashed with its then principal over a request that teachers call a transgender child by a new name and they/them pronouns.

Voices were raised throughout todays hearing and it was difficult for those present in court to hear the judges ruling.

Mr Burke loudly talked over the judge as the ruling was being made.

To add to the chaos, another man, who did not identify himself, stood up at the back of the court and talked loudly at the same time, asking if he could make a submission. He was ignored by the judge.

The hearing was scheduled to allow Mr Burke to show cause as to why a conditional garnishee order secured by the Attorney General last week - freezing his bank account so that unpaid fines could be recovered from it  should not be made absolute.

Mr Burke, who was accompanied in court by his mother Martina and siblings Ammi and Isaac, was invited to make submissions on the issue.

However, Mr Justice Nolan quickly lost patience with the teacher when he began to rehash old arguments previously rejected by several judges.

Mr Burke repeated his claim that his constitutional rights to freedom of conscience and freedom of religion had been breached.

Ah now we are not going through that again, Mr Burke, the judge said before asking him several times to confine his submission to the issue of whether or not the garnishee order should be made absolute.

Mr Justice Nolan said he would not allow the court to be used as a soapbox.

However, Mr Burke ignored the judges request, shooting back: Can you not just grow up a little bit please?

He claimed the judge was riding roughshod over his rights and quoted from the Bible during a submission containing well-worn claims that the reason he was before the court was his opposition to transgenderism.

Mr Burke complained that his bank card no longer worked and that the judge had frozen his account and taken his salary.

Seizing someones bank account of 40,000 is an extremely serious step, he said.

The judge agreed that it was serious and pointed out the action was being taken because Mr Burke owed close to 80,000 in fines which he had refused to pay.

The judge allowed Mr Burke six minutes to make his submission, at the end of which he cut the teacher off.

Please address the issue, the judge implored.

When Mr Burke continued to ignore this plea, Mr Justice Nolan said: I am the one who dictates what happens in this court. I am afraid Mr Burke I have run out of patience with you.

As the teacher continued to talk over him, the judge said: I am afraid Mr Burke has given me no reason whatsoever as to why the order should not be made.

The judge said the garnishee order was being made absolute on a proportionate and reasonable basis to ensure compliance with court orders.

He said he was satisfied it was just and convenient to make the garnishee order absolute.

Mr Burke had made no argument or identified any legal principle that would persuade the court not to make the order absolute, the judge said.

The teacher continued to talk loudly as the judge rose from the bench and left the court.

Looking slightly bemused, Mr Burke asked: Is he coming back?

The matter will be mentioned before the court again in two weeks.

Following the hearing, Mr Burke and members of his family, who are evangelical Christians from Castlebar, Co Mayo, stood outside the court and filmed a video for social media.

In addition to the garnishee order on Mr Burkes bank account, a receiver was appointed last week to take receipt of his salary payments. He is thought to be earning around 48,000-a-year.

Despite being suspended in August 2022 and sacked in January 2023, the teacher remains on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an appeal against his dismissal.

The hearing of that appeal has been delayed by a legal challenge taken by Mr Burke to the composition of the appeals board.

Despite the suspension and a subsequent decision to dismiss him, he has continued to show up for work, defying injunctions restraining him from doing so.

He has spent three periods in prison  totalling 513 days  for contempt of court orders requiring him to stay away from the school.

However, neither imprisonment nor fines could persuade him to comply with the injunctions.
A judge said while testimonials described Stephen Moloney as doing selfless work, it appeared that doesnt extend to migrants who were also vulnerable and in need.

A homelessness volunteer arrested for abusive behaviour at an anti-immigration march in Dublin was highly regarded for helping people in need in his native Limerick, a court heard.

A judge said while testimonials described Stephen Moloney as doing selfless work, it appeared that doesnt extend to migrants who were also vulnerable and in need.

Judge John Hughes adjourned the case for a community service assessment.

Moloney (38), a father of one of The Paddocks, Westbury, Co Clare, pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour.

Dublin District Court heard gardai were patrolling OConnell Street during an anti-immigration march on September 19 last year.

Moloney was using foul and abusive language and was directed to leave several times, a garda said.

He refused and continued to engage in abusive behaviour before being arrested.

Moloney was involved in work for the homeless in Limerick and a testimonial said he was highly regarded... for his selfless work and dedication.

The judge said it appeared that doesnt extend to migrants many of whom are homeless and vulnerable and in need of food and clothing.

Moloney apologised for the way he behaved on the day, his lawyer said. He was previously employed as a mechanic, painter-decorator and labourer but was now not working as he was looking after his son.

Ordering a community service suitability report, Judge Hughes remanded the accused on continuing bail to appear in court next month.
Bruno Tache (20), is accused of being among the primary aggressors in the melee on South Anne Street

A YOUNG man kicked Quham Babatunde in the head as he lay wounded and lifeless on the ground after being stabbed during a mass brawl in central Dublin, it is alleged.

Bruno Tache (20), is accused of being among the primary aggressors in the melee on South Anne Street during which Mr Babatunde (34), a Nigerian asylum seeker, was fatally stabbed.

Mr Tache is the eighth man to be charged over the violence that erupted outside a nightclub in the early hours of last February 15.

Judge Paula Murphy refused to grant him bail at Dublin District Court and remanded him in custody, for DPP directions.

Mr Tache, of Trimleston, Balbriggan, Co Dublin is charged with violent disorder and assault causing harm to Mr Babatunde and another man, Angel Ahgaria.

Objecting to bail today, Garda Jordan Kennedy said on Valentines night, Mr Tache attended Twenty Two Nightclub with a group of associates and they used a VIP booth. Mr Tache was escorted outside by security because of his level of intoxication. As the club closed, a large number of people emptied out onto South Anne Street, where a large fight broke out and Mr Babatunde was allegedly murdered. This was witnessed by a large crowd, the vast majority of whom were innocent bystanders, he said.

Quham Babatunde

The fight was allegedly instigated by Mr Taches group of associates and assaults were carried out on multiple random people for minor perceived slights, Gda Kennedy said.

These attacks were completely unprovoked and fuelled by intoxicants, the garda alleged.

Mr Tache had waited outside when he was removed from the club and when he witnessed his friends fighting, he joined in, Gda Kennedy alleged.

He said Mr Tache punched Angel Agharia who was holding his hands in the air to show he was no threat, then chased him as he sought shelter.

Gda Kennedy said the accused also allegedly punched a helpless unknown man nine times in the head in a completely unprovoked attack while he covered his head in a foetal position.

It was alleged Mr Babatunde was stabbed three times in the back by co-accused Ryan Ndede, then was viciously attacked by the accused's associates.

One of Mr Babatundes friends, Adetola Adetuilehim came to his aid and was set upon and badly assaulted by the same group, the garda continued. It was not alleged that Mr Tache struck Mr Babatunde during the attack, but that he kicked him in the head as he lay lifeless on the ground" after it.

It was further alleged that Mr Tache attacked an innocent bystander for no apparent reason as the man tried to get a bus home.

The accused had been identified from CCTV evidence, the court heard. He was arrested yesterday and made no reply when charged.

Gda Kennedy said it was a vicious incident of violent disorder and Mr Babatunde lost his life in an unprovoked attack by a group of men who showed a staggering propensity for violence.

It was alleged Mr Tache played a vital role in the violent disorder. The garda feared the accused would contact witnesses if bailed.

Gardai at the scene of the incident on Dublin's South Anne Street. Photo: Mark Condren

Applying for bail, defence solicitor Darren Gray said it was a tragic incident but the fatal injury was a stab wound and Mr Tache was not accused of this.

Mr Tache, who had to be carried out of the club, had been highly intoxicated and saw his friends involved in a fracas where anything could have been happening," Mr Gray said.

The garda alleged Mr Tache assaulted a man who never shows any aggression.

Mr Tache's father was in court to support him and his family could offer 3,500 for bail, Mr Gray said. The accused was prepared to abide by any conditions.

Judge Murphy said the concerns raised by the State were well-founded. She refused bail and remanded the accused in custody to appear in Cloverhill District Court on April 1.

Mr Tache has not yet indicated a plea to the charges.

Seven other co-accused have already come before the courts over the incident.

Ryan Ndede (23) is charged with Mr Babatundes murder.

Jeffrey Bangu (21), Rory Carr (21), John Eghomwanre (23) and Faraj Odukoya (19) are accused of violent disorder and assaulting Mr Babatunde and his friend, Adetola Adetuilehim, while Mr Bangu is further charged with brandishing a knife.

Bakuani Diavisi (25) is charged with assault causing harm to another man. Sean Forde (23) is charged with one count, violent disorder.
Laurence Brady (51) assaulted the officer and smashed the TV hours before he was due to be released.

A Mountjoy inmate went berserk and threw a TV at a prison guard, hitting him full force when he raised his arm to protect himself.

Laurence Brady (51) assaulted the officer and smashed the TV hours before he was due to be released.

Separately, he sneaked up behind a teenager in a shopping centre and stole his school bag containing his books and glasses.

Judge Treasa Kelly adjourned the case for a community service assessment. Brady, from Bangor Road, Crumlin, pleaded guilty to assault, criminal damage and theft.

Dublin District Court heard that on March 3, 2020, Brady had been in Mountjoy and was due for release that evening when an officer went to his cell to get his phone number.

Brady went berserk, roaring and shouting get the f**k away from me. He pulled the TV from a table and flung it in the direction of the officer.

The victim raised his arm to defend himself and it hit him full force, causing injury to his fingers and wrist.

The TV fell to the ground and was damaged beyond repair. The officers hand was swollen and he was off work for three weeks.

Separately, Brady went behind a group of teenagers in the Swan Centre, Rathmines, on May 30 that year. He took a school bag belonging to one of them that contained the students school books and a pair of prescription glasses.

The following June 30, it was reported to gardai that a mobile phone had been taken from a truck drivers cab. The victim used his GPS tracker app and identified Bradys home as a possible location for the phone.

The truck driver called to Bradys house and was initially challenged by the accused, who denied having the phone. However, he eventually handed it over to the victim.

The accused was found in possession of 447 of cocaine when he was searched at Crumlin garda station on October 6, 2021. He shoplifted 200 worth of meat products from SuperValu, Kimmage on March 27, 2022, and 248 worth of cosmetics and other goods at SuperValu, Sundrive Road on June 26, 2024.

Brady had 47 previous convictions. The accused had suffered with addiction issues for most of his life and was reducing his intake of crack cocaine, his lawyer said. He had not been in trouble recently.

Judge Kelly adjourned the case to March 31 for a victim impact statement and community service assessment. However, she said she would have to impose a prison sentence if Brady was not found suitable.
Regin Parithapara Rajan (42) pleaded not guilty before the Central Criminal Court to the murder of his wife and mother-of-one

Deepa Dinamani was 38 years old when she died

A HUSBAND who denies the murder of his wife was suspicious that she was in contact with other men after she changed her relationship status on social media to separated but not divorced yet and had posted she was "looking for someone to have good conversations to begin with."

Regin Parithapara Rajan (42) pleaded not guilty before the Central Criminal Court to the murder of his wife and mother-of-one Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamani (38) two years ago.

Rajan is charged with the murder of his wife at their home in Cardinal Court in Wilton, Cork on July 14, 2023 contrary to Common Law.

The mother of one died after sustaining a large incision-type stab wound to her neck.

Rajan denied the murder when arraigned. He replied "not guilty" when the charge was put to him.

The deceased was a 38-year-old chartered accountant who had moved to Ireland to take up a position with financial services firm, Alter Domus.

She was from Kerala in southern India and had only been living in Cork for around four months at the time of her death.

The jury of five men and seven women were told they will potentially need to be available for the trial until April 11.

Deepa Dinamani was 38 years old when she died

Rajan's friend, Mahesh Murali, offered evidence on the second day of the murder trial.

He said Rajan sent him a screenshot of his wife's social media page several weeks before her death.

"He told us they had (marital) issues in India also...they had quarrelled so many times."

Mr Murali moved to Cork with his wife from India - and, some time later, Rajan and his wife also moved to Cork.

The witness said that, with his wife, he had met the couple on arrival and had tried to make them feel welcome in Ireland.

But Mr Murali said his friend later sent him a screenshot of Deepa's social media page via WhatsApp.

It said her dream holiday was to Greece and that she loved reading and yoga.

But the screenshot added said her relationship status was "separated but not divorced yet."

The screenshot also indicated that Deepa was "looking for someone to have good conversations to begin with."

Mr Murali advised his friend to "give her her own space...wait and hopefully after some time you can make her more comfortable and she will come back."

He also said Rajan had confided to him the couple were no longer sharing the same bedroom.

"In the month of June he told me Deepa told him to leave the bedroom and sleep elsewhere."

Mr Murali also said his friend told him that Deepa would regularly "scold" him.

While she was a successful chartered accountant who had moved to Ireland having secured a promotion, he had not yet been able to secure a job in Ireland because of work permit issues.

"He told me that Deepa was looking for a divorce. She was not willing to live with him in that sense."

Regin Parithapara Rajan with his wife Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamani

The couple married in 2015 in India and had one child together.

"He was disappointed - he was depressed," Mr Murali said about his friend.

"Yes, he was worried (about his marriage breaking down)."

The witness agreed in cross-examination by Brian McInerney SC, for the defence, that the accused was suspicious his wife may have been in contact with other men.

He also agreed that, in parts of India, divorce was frowned upon and that there was significant pressure on men to be the main provider for their family.

Mr Murali - who knew the murder accused from Kerala in India - said he had brought Deepa and Rajan's child back to their Cork home from a summer camp on the evening of July 14, 2023.

He was accompanied by his wife, Sreeja, and were joined by an Indian nurse who had sublet a room from Rajan and his wife.

After returning from a short walk, Mr Murali said Rajan asked to speak to him privately outside the Wilton house.

"I smelled alcohol (from Rajan). I felt he was drunk. He had red eyes," he said.

"In (our) local (Kerala) language...(he said) I killed Deepa, straight. He told me to call the police or Gardai. She is on top (floor of the house)."

"I was just shocked....shattered. I was not able to speak."

Mr Murali went back to the property and told the women what Rajan had just said.

"I told them he said he had killed Deepa - the ladies were shocked and started crying."

Mr Murali later asked his friend precisely what had happened?

"He told me he stabbed her with a knife." Both men then separately rang the emergency services.

Cork letting agent Karen Allen, who helped the family secure a property after their relocation, told the trial she thought the couple had a strange relationship.

She said she thought Deepa was "bubbly, outgoing and successful" whereas her husband, Regin Rajan, appeared shy and quiet.

"It appeared she wore the trousers in the relationship, for want of a better phrase," she said.

Brian McInerney SC and Paula McCarthy BL, instructed by solicitor Eddie Burke, are acting for the defendant while Sean Gillane SC and Emmet Boyle BL are prosecuting for the State.

The trial continues.
The gang members were identified and arrested after the successful hacking of the Encrochat server

Two Northern Ireland men who were arrested following a joint investigation by police in the UK, France and Belgium into the activities of a multi-national drugs and money laundering gang have been jailed.

The gang members were identified and arrested by the various European police forces after the successful hacking of the Encrochat server during a joint international police probe.

Materials found by the investigators after theyd hacked and downloaded the server resulted in multiple arrests across Europe.

Members of the PSNIs organised crime and economic crime branches were at the Crown Court in Derry to hear Judge Neil Rafferty KC separately sentence two of the gang members.

Rory Trainor (48), from Dunbrae in Newry, was jailed for five and a half years. He had pleaded guilty to a total of 38 charges involving the importation of cocaine and cannabis and including the money laundering of just over 660,000. He admitted committing the offences in March, April, May and June of 2020.

His co-defendant, Bobby Morrison Smyth (31), from Victoria Street in Ballymoney, who pleaded guilty to ten drugs and money laundering charges, was jailed for four years.

In the case of Trainor, a prosecution barrister said the defendant had a leading role in the money laundering offences and that he had previous convictions for money laundering. He said the case against Trainor included multiple aggravating factors including the main role of financial manager in the money laundering offences, but he stepped beyond that by getting involved in the drugs offences.

Judge Rafferty said the prosecutions of several people from Northern Ireland, some of whom are awaiting their sentencing, originated when the European police forces penetrated a large number of Encrochat users. He said messages, photographs and personal details contained on the phones provided digital fingerprints for the police.

Jailing Trainor for five and a half years, Judge Rafferty said: He had a willingness in terms of his involvement in financing the activities of a serious organised crime gang.

In relation to the defendant Smyth, barrister Eilis McDermott KC said her client admitted communicating with others via Encrochat and, following his arrest at his home in Portstewart in July 2022, he made candid admissions.

She said the father-of-two, who became addicted to drugs in 2015, is now drugs clean following an attempted overdose in September 2023.

She added that he is currently employed as a site foreman, hopes to become a quantity surveyor and is a semi-professional boxer, having recently had 16 bouts during which he won two titles.

He was the first defendant in this case to break ranks by pleading guilty, she said.

Jailing Smyth for four years, Judge Rafferty said the defendant seems to have almost revelled in his role as a trusted middleman. He was a middleman fulfilling a significant role in this drugs and money-laundering organisation.
O'Driscoll's brother Glen Ward (32) was named in court by Gardai last weekend as notorious criminal Mr Flashy

The probation services will assess whether a Dublin man who fired an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle from the back of a house in Finglas is suitable for post-release supervision.

Eric O'Driscoll (23) was due to be sentenced today for possession of the firearm but Ms Justice Melanie Greally said she wanted the probation services to provide an additional report to the court before finalisation.

She said O'Driscoll had been "very forthcoming in his interactions with the probation services" and had provided "contextual information that was not available on the evidence".

She noted that a probation report found that O'Driscoll would be suitable for intervention but had not made any actual recommendations.

Ms Justice Greally said she wants the probation officer to say whether it would be possible for O'Driscoll to undergo a period of intensive supervision prior to release and what conditions could be attached to any suspended portion of his sentence.

Read more Glen Ward named as notorious crime boss Mr Flashy

She remanded O'Driscoll in custody to April 7 when, she said, the court will impose a sentence.

O'Driscoll (23) pleaded guilty last year to possession of a .223 calibre Remington AR-15 semi-automatic rifle at an address in Finglas on January 9, 2022 in circumstances giving rise to the reasonable inference that he did not have it for a lawful purpose.

The sentencing court will also take into account further charges for reckless discharge of a firearm and possession of a .380 ACP calibre military Ingram M11 submachine gun.

O'Driscoll's brother Glen Ward (32), who we revealed was named in court by Gardai last weekend as notorious criminal Mr Flashy, has also pleaded guilty plea to the charge that on January 1, 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. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Glen Ward and Eric ODriscoll

The court heard during O'Driscoll's sentencing hearing that during a search of a home in Finglas in Dublin in February 2022, gardai recovered a .223 calibre Remington AR-15 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.

In June 2022 in an "unrelated incident" gardai searched 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. Analysts found a video clip on the phone in which O'Driscoll could be seen taking the rifle from another man and firing it from the rear of a home in Finglas.

In another clip, the firearms that were seized in February 2022 were filmed having been laid out on a table at the same address in Finglas.

Seamus Clarke SC, acting for O'Driscoll, asked the court to be "as lenient as possible" given that his client's three previous convictions relate to a single public order incident and he entered an early guilty plea.

Mr Clarke said O'Driscoll has been in custody since January 2024 and has been on 23-hour lockup. While in custody he overheard a killing in a cell next to his own and saw the dead body the following morning.
The father of two, who is on bail, has already indicated he pleads not guilty.

The trial of a pilot charged over a seizure of 8.4m of cocaine flown into the midlands in 2022 has been delayed due to the disclosure of additional evidence.

Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) officers, supported by other units, monitored a Cessna single-engine aircraft landing at Abbeyshrule Aerodrome, Co. Longford, shortly after 6 pm on August 4, 2022.

Later that evening, they intercepted two vehicles in the Lough Owel area in Co. Westmeath, recovering 120 kilogrammes of cocaine from one car.

Michal Luczak, 43, a Polish national formerly with an address at Primrose Avenue, Jigginstown, Naas, Co. Kildare, and now living in Skerries, Dublin, is charged with possessing drugs worth more than 13,000 at the Abbeyshrule Aerodrome, on August 4, 2022.

The father of two, who is on bail, has already indicated he pleads not guilty.

He appeared before Judge Keenan Johnson at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court today when a jury was scheduled to be sworn in for his trial.

However, prosecutor Cathal O Braonain BL told Judge Johnson that it was not in a position to proceed for a number of reasons. He said significant disclosure of additional evidence would be served on the accused man's lawyers

John Shortt SC, for Mr Luczak, told the court that the defence did not know how much additional evidence would be served. He added that they would require time to go through it and take instructions.

Granting an adjournment, Judge Johnson said the case would be listed again on April 11 to set a new date for the commencement of the trial, which may be put into the following court term.

He noted that the trial was expected to run for three weeks and told Mr Luczak that it was hoped available dates would be known at his next appearance
Gerard Doran (60) of Cornadarragh, Belturbet, Co. Cavan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

A truck driver who agreed to transport just over one million euro worth of cannabis in his vehicle on the ferry has been jailed for four and half years.

Gerard Doran (60) of Cornadarragh, Belturbet, Co. Cavan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Port on February 25, 2021. He also admitted to being in possession of Stg4,195, knowing or being reckless as to whether it was the proceeds of crime.

Detective Garda Stephen Gillespie told Aoife McNickle BL, prosecuting, that Dorans truck was searched after it came off a ferry from Holyhead in Wales.

A sniffer dog indicated that there was something of interest in the cab of the truck which led to the discovery of eight bags of cannabis herb. The drugs were worth 1,020,400.

Doran immediately accepted responsibility for the drugs and said that he had been paid Stg4,195 to collect the drugs and bring them back to Ireland. He told officers where they could find the cash in the truck.

Det Gda Gillespie said further analysis of CCTV footage showed where the bags had been picked up and analysis of Dorans phone led to the discovery of communications setting up the collection.

Doran told gardai he had been ill and that he was also under financial pressure at the time.

Det Gda Gillespie agreed with Michael Hourigan SC, defending, that his client fully co-operated with the garda investigation and had not been on the garda radar.

A number of testimonials were handed into court and counsel gave details of Dorans medical issues. He said he had strong family support.

Judge Martin Nolan said the dog was right when he indicated that something was in the truck but acknowledged that Doran very quickly made full admissions.

He accepted that Doran was under financial distress and succumbed to temptation by reason of his vulnerability.

He knew that he was getting himself into a very difficult situation and he made a bad misjudgement, Judge Nolan said.

He accepted that by reason of his medical issues Dorans time in custody would be more difficult before he sentenced him to four and half years in prison.
Two interviews were conducted by the Garda team with the man who knew the 26-year-old American around the time she went missing

Gardai have interviewed a man in France who was a friend of Annie McCarrick at the time the American woman disappeared in 1993, it has emerged.

Officers working on the cold case team interviewed the man, who is originally from Dublin, in a hospital where he is in long-term ill-health.

According to the Irish Times, two interviews were conducted by the Garda team with the man who knew the 26-year-old American around the time she went missing.

It follows confirmation earlier this year to Ms McCarricks mother, Nancy, by Detective Inspector Ronan Lafferty, that they hoped to carry out the interview in consultation with French police.

A Garda spokesman confirmed the developments in the case, saying that while they do not comment on specific lines of inquiry, investigators have interviewed a number of witnesses located in other jurisdictions as part of ongoing investigations.

The last confirmed sighting of Annie McCarrick in 1993

Tomorrow, March 26, marks 32 years since the disappearance of Annie McCarrick whose case was upgraded to a murder investigation in 2023.

Born on March 21, 1967, and originally from New York, Annie settled in Sandymount, Dublin 4, in January 1993, and worked as a waitress at the Courtyard Restaurant in Donnybrook and Cafe Java in Leeson Street.

Annie purchased groceries on the morning of Friday, March 26, 1993, in Quinnsworth, Sandymount Road, which were found left unpacked in shopping bags in her apartment. A receipt in the bags confirms the date and time of purchase as 26/03/1993 at 11.02am.

This is the last confirmed activity by Ms McCarrick.

On last years anniversary gardai described her disappearance as a tragedy that continues to deeply affect her loved ones and the wider community.

Annie McCarrick

Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 12th

"Annie's future was abruptly halted on March 26, 1993, when she vanished without a trace, leaving her family and friends devastated, a spokesperson said.

Annie is described as 5 foot 8 inches in height, 10 stone, long brown hair. She spoke with a soft Irish-American accent. When Annie disappeared it is believed she was in possession of a large, brown leather bag.

Gardai have said previously that they remain committed to uncovering the truth and progressing this investigation.

In May 2023, fresh evidence in a new TV documentary series claimed missing Annie was spotted with a mystery man at a second location in Enniskerry on the day she disappeared.

It had previously been reported that the American woman was seen in Johnnie Foxs pub in the Co Wicklow village, but a second sighting of her on the same day at Poppies cafe in the same village later emerged.

Her mother Nancy also revealed in the documentary how Annie was being harassed by a man known to her, while her aunt claimed she was once hit by someone who was in a drunken state.

And friends of the missing woman claimed they sent faxes to gardai at the time of Annies disappearance in 1993, but were never contacted.

A man also alleged he too was never approached by investigators after he claimed he left a handbag he found belonging to Annie into a Dublin garda station  a bag which officers maintain was never handed over to them.

Annie McCarrick, who went missing in 1993 aged 26

Annies mum Nancy told RTEs Missing: Beyond The Vanishing Triangle that she hoped the upgrade of her daughters case to a full murder inquiry will produce results.

It makes a huge difference to hear that her case has been upgraded to a murder investigation, she said. You never know, it might prompt someone to come forward after all these years.

As far as justice or retribution, I have no interest in it at all. My fondest wish would just be to find out what happened to her. To be able to have a grave to visit.

Nancy and her late husband fought for decades to find their daughter.

She was funny. Yes, she was very reliable. She was conscientious. She wasnt fearful. She couldnt find fault with Ireland, reflects Nancy.

For decades, speculation about a so-called Vanishing Triangle, stretching from Dundalk to Wexford and across to Tullamore, has appeared in the media and been discussed by the broader public at large.

It suggests that the disappearances of young women during the 1990s are somehow mysteriously linked by geography, circumstances and even perpetrator.

While episode one focuses on Annies case, follow-up episodes of the series concentrated on other missing women such as Jo Jo Dullard, Deirdre Jacob and Fiona Pender.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/minenergoUkraine

Following negotiations in Saudi Arabia with the American side, it was agreed that a ceasefire on Ukrainian energy could begin today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

"It has been agreed with the American side that a ceasefire on our energy sector may begin today. We believe that after the publication of a corresponding statement on the results of the meetings and the entire team, today we can move to a ceasefire on energy," Zelenskyy said in an evening address on Tuesday.
At least four sulkies trotting at speed were filmed from a car which, according to Sunday World sources, took place on Sunday on the N21 near Newcastlewest.

A chaotic sulky road race ended in a horrifying pile-up that left two horses on the ground with a third smashing into the back of a car.

At least four sulkies trotting at speed were filmed from a car which, according to Sunday World sources, took place on Sunday on the N21 near Newcastlewest.

As spectators cars followed the sulky, oncoming traffic is seen pulling into the hard shoulder as one SUV drives on the wrong side of the road.

Another car ends up on a grass verge just before the sound of a collision, and the sulky driver is seen hopping off the cart to avoid being thrown.

One horse hit a spectators car from behind, smashing the rear window, while two other ponies are seen lying on the ground.

Two horses on the road after the collision on the N21 near Newcastlewest this week

.

Amid the pandemonium a man is heard to shout: Are you alright Luke? before the clip ends.

It was later posted elsewhere on social media that none of the horses were injured in the accident, which does not appear to have been reported to the gardai.

Abandoned

It is believed an annual race is organised in the area to mark St Patricks Day.

During last years event, a horse was left to die on the side of the same road in Co Limerick.

And on St Patricks Day 2020, an exhausted horse was found abandoned at Coolanoran, Rathkeale.

Used in an illegal sulky race, it was believed to have collapsed after colliding with two parked cars.

The horse, which survived the incident, was found in a nearby ditch with gardai and an animal welfare group attending the scene shortly afterwards.

Sulky races are regularly organised all over the country using public roads with spectators creating rolling roadblocks with their vehicles.

Sulky road race on the N21 near Newcastlewest this week

Races and tournaments involving Irish drivers and horses also take place in the UK, while thousands of euro is gambled on races.

One UK police force used aerial footage to gather evidence of traffic offences from a sulky race last weekend.

Illicit

North Yorkshire Police were alerted to a number of vehicles taking part in races on Saturday at the Dishforth bypass.

This resulted in vehicles driving on both sides of the road and causing other road users to take action to avoid a collision, including mounting the grass verge, a statement read.

The Sunday World recently revealed how members of organised crime gangs have made connections through the illicit road races.

In one of the biggest Criminal Assets Bureau cases surrounding a car firm set up in Limerick to launder drugs money, it was revealed that the top players knew each other through a shared interest in trotting ponies.

It brought together criminals from a variety of backgrounds and from both sides of the Limerick underworld feud, with connections spanning the UK and Europe.
The suspects, including three brothers, the gangs tech expert, and a veteran criminal from the southeast of the country were arrested in dawn raids yesterday morning.

Five suspected key members of The Family crime gang including its leader remain in garda custody as part of an investigation into international drug trafficking operations after their communications were hacked.

The suspects, including three brothers, the gangs tech expert, and a veteran criminal from the southeast of the country were arrested in dawn raids yesterday morning.

It comes after gardai spent months examining the gangs encrypted communications from the Ghost platform which was compromised by law enforcement and taken down last year.

Investigators suspect the men in custody were all involved in either directing or facilitating the activities of a criminal organisation, including specific drug importations both in Ireland and abroad.

Armed gardai during the arrest operation. Photo: An Garda Siochana

During a series of co-ordinated searches, the suspected head of The Family was arrested in his west Dublin home after it was breached by the Emergency Response Unit.

His two brothers, who gardai believe are among the gangs hierarchy, were also detained in the capital and all remain in custody under organised crime legislation.

Two other men  a businessman in his 40s and a criminal aged in his 60s  were also arrested in the east of the country.

Both are considered to be significant members of the gang, the businessman is considered their tech expert who has previously been suspected of selling secret communication devices to crime groups.

The suspects can all be detained for up to seven days with senior investigators hopeful that significant charges will be preferred as part of the inquiry.

Last September, over 300 specialist gardai were involved in an operation targeting The Family and other Irish gangs using the encrypted communications platform Ghost.

During that operation, gardai seized nearly 16m worth of drugs, mostly cocaine, and searched 33 properties with a further 350,000 in cash recovered.

A lot of work has gone in to getting to the point of arrests

Eleven people were arrested and 42 Ghost devices were seized along with 126 mobile phones, 27 laptops and 200 Sim cards.

Proceeds of crime investigations are also being carried out into two crypto currency keys recovered as well as six Rolex watches and one 2021 Range Rover 4x4.

The Ghost network was being operated from Sydney but had been compromised by law enforcement agencies including French and Australian police, with the messages of some 100 users here later sent to An Garda Siochana.

A man is taken into custody by gardai during the operation. Photo: An Garda Siochana

One source told the Irish Independent: This isnt a case in which the senior members of this gang have been caught hands on, so a lot of work has gone in to getting to the point of arrests.

The gang have become the countrys largest drug trafficking network after the Kinahan cartel effectively ceased its activities in Ireland.

The Family are linked to the importation of heroin and cocaine and have forged direct links with cartels in South America and crime groups as far afield as Australia.

They are now the prime target of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and have been hit with several multi-million euro drug seizures in recent years.

A garda spokesperson said that the arrests were part of an ongoing investigation into the activities of an international organised crime group based in west Dublin.
Lennox Clarke (33) who had a previous drug conviction, was told by the judge at Gloucester Crown Court that he had not learned his lesson as he was sentenced to six years and four months in prison

Clarke had held various titles at various points in his career, from 2013 to 2022

A former super-middleweight champion boxer who fled to Ireland, Thailand and Mexico after he was caught supplying cocaine to a dealer in Cheltenham has been jailed.

Lennox Clarke (33) from Stourbridge in the West Midlands, who had a previous drug conviction, was told by the judge at Gloucester Crown Court that he had not learned his lesson as he was sentenced to six years and four months in prison.

Clarke who was convicted previously for supplying Class B drugs in 2012 was arrested by police who had received information about suspicious activity and drug dealing in Cheltenham in autumn 2023.

Gloucestershire Police established that he had met Ben Goff, a Cheltenham drug dealer, at least 12 times.

"That investigation led us to Goff, an individual who had just moved back to Gloucestershire, and through him we made the link to Lennox Clarke," Det Insp Phillips of Gloucestershire Police said.

Suspicions had been raised by the number of times Goff travelled from his home in Cheltenham to the West Midlands for "short-term, fairly clandestine" meetings with Clarke, Det Insp Phillips said.

After observing one meeting police intervened and arrested Goff, who was sentenced last year after selling drugs collected from Clarke to his Gloucestershire customers.

After Goff got arrested, Clarke decided to go on the run for a number of months, Det Insp Phillips said, initially staying in local hotels for a couple of nights, we think, trying to understand whether the police were coming for him.

"Then, he went out through Wales to Ireland, and spent some time on the run in Thailand, Mexico and other places until he returned to the UK and was arrested."

Clarke will serve 317 days less in custody for time spent on curfew.

Det Insp Matt Phillips said he hoped the sentence handed down to Clarke "gave confidence to the community" in reporting drug concerns.

Clarke had held the titles of British Masters Bronze super-middleweight, British and Commonwealth super-middleweight and IBO Continental super-middleweight at various points in his career, from 2013 to 2022.
I didn't want to get caught doing anything bad because I am out on bond right now

A woman whose hot mugshot went viral has explained why she ran from cops before she was arrested for the second time.

Lily Stewart (20) suddenly shot to fame when she was arrested for speeding earlier this month, and her mugshot spread like wildfire.

The woman said she was on her way to a birthday party when she was arrested.

She was then arrested for a second time this weekend by University of Georgia campus police on charges of obstruction of a law enforcement officer and loitering/prowling.

The University of Georgia (UGA) student has now explained that she tried to flee from getting arrested a second time as she was already out on bond after her first encounter with law enforcement.

On that occasion she was clocked speeding on her way to a friend's birthday party on March 8.

She was pulled over and issued a ticket but when she sped off immediately after speaking with the officer, she was flagged down again and arrested.

Her attorney told TMZ the speeding charge has been dropped although she has to take a defensive driving course, complete 20 hours of community service and write a paper about the dangers of speeding.

Then, on Sunday, she was arrested AGAIN after she and a group of friends set off an intrusion alarm at a UGA student centre.

Stewart's new mugshot photo

According to a police report obtained by DailyMail.com, she allegedly ran and hid behind a brick wall as cops quizzed her pals

When asked why she ran away, she said she was scared of getting into trouble since she was already arrested on March 8.

I didn't want to get caught doing anything bad because I am out on bond right now, she said, according to the report.

Stewart who has been dubbed Miss America since her photo went viral, has been booked on misdemeanour charges of obstruction of a law enforcement officer and loitering/prowling.

She posted $4,000 bond just a few hours later and was released while her friends faced charges related to underage drinking, loitering and possessing a fake ID, according to the report.

In her most recent mugshot she appears in a blue prison uniform with her blonde-highlighted hair blown while smiling brightly.

Her second mugshot created a similar reaction to the with first with social media users again raving about her.

Her side profile is incredible. God has his favorites, one wrote.

One woman wrote alongside a laughing emoji: Freshly curled hair + prowling is wild.

Her hairstylist needs a raise! Cmon layers!! another added.

Stewart has not publicly spoken about her second arrest or the comments sparked by the new mugshot, but she has previously claimed the first photo is not that great of a picture of her

I was smiling because I always smile for a photo, she told TMZ.

She even told People that she was not particularly thrilled with the March 8 mugshot.

I actually think it's a bad photo of me. I don't really look the same as I do in that mugshot. I don't think it's a great photo of me.

Stewart's first mugshot

Speaking to the New York Post about her viral snaps she said: I think its hilarious. I dont know what all the hype is about. I just took a mugshot and went on with my day.

I was going to a friends birthday and I had just gotten ready not long before, so thats maybe why my makeup and hair still looked good.

I love all the comments poking fun at me, saying, She was on her way to Lululemon or She must have had to [pee] really bad.

I dont let it get under my skin too much, she added.

Referring to the March 8 incident, Stewart said that she was arrested after accidentally speeding.

The officer saw me while he was driving the opposite direction. He was like, Youre speeding and he was super-friendly, and I was super-friendly, and he wrote me a ticket.

As soon as I got back in the car, I pulled out and accidentally started speeding again. By the time I caught myself, he pulled me over and arrested me, she said.

The speeding charge has since been dismissed.
Officers were reportedly astonished when a young child, who could barely see over the steering wheel, rolled down the window after they caught up with the vehicles

Police at the scene of the incident last year

A police search is underway for Britain's most wanted 12-year-old who allegedly drove a BMW X5 for 40 miles while towing a stolen caravan after he failed to turn up in court.

The boy had been stopped in March of last year on the M1 in England by officers from North Yorkshire Police.

They had received reports about a stolen caravan and informed the mobile home was being towed away by a black BMW.

Officers were reportedly astonished when a young child, who could barely see over the steering wheel, rolled down the window after they caught up with the vehicles.

Nothing prepared us for finding the schoolboy sat at the wheel, one said at the time.

The driver was nabbed on suspicion of theft, burglary, being equipped for theft, and motoring offences including dangerous driving.

The youngster was questioned and released on conditional police bail to allow further enquiries to be carried out.

The boy was due to appear before Harrogate Magistrates' Court on Friday March 14.

But when he failed to attend a warrant was issued for arrest of the young fugitive.

The 4x4, which allegedly had cloned number plates, had been towing a caravan for 40 miles along the A1M in North Yorkshire after disappearing from a holiday park in Thirsk.

When police finally caught up with the youngster he had reached the London-bound M1 at Garforth just outside Leeds.

A spokesman for the court said: A juvenile was due to appear before Harrogate magistrates charged with theft of a motor vehicle of value unknown, driving it dangerously and handling stolen goods, namely a caravan.

The defendant has not attended and an arrest warrant has been issued.

The force recommends all owners take measures to try and deter thieves, such as installing CCTV, fitting alarms and tracking devices, and taking good quality photos of their vehicle to help it be identified by police if it is stolen.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said at time: We were able to track the BMW, that was also using cloned registration plates, travelling south on the A1.

Forty five minutes after the caravan was reported stolen, we stopped the vehicle on the M1 after it left the A1 at Hook Moor Interchange near Garforth.

But, nothing prepared us for finding the schoolboy sat at the wheel.

A search of the car also revealed equipment typically used by suspects to carry out thefts and a selection of vehicle registration plates.

The North Yorkshire Police were thankful nobody was hurt in the shocking turn of events.

Thanks to the quick work of our skilled roads policing officers, our control room and intelligence team working in the background, the rightful owners have been updated that their caravan had been found.

Sergeant Paul Cording said on social media that he was struggled to comprehend' the discovery even though he had been a cop for nearly a quarter of a century.

Social media users were completely astonished : At that age I was chucking my Action Man out of my bedroom window with a carrier bag for a parachute, said one.
He explained that two hours later, they were informed that Maura had suffered a brain bleed on both sides of the brain.

A devastated family who launched a heartfelt fundraiser to bring their mother home from a holiday of a lifetime have been hit with the heart-breaking news that she has died.

Maura Heffernan (65) originally from County Clare but lives in Togher in Cork city suffered a sudden brain haemorrhage on Thursday 20th March on the sixth day of her trip to Canada. She passed away on Sunday March 23rd. The holiday was to surprise her daughter Karen and her grandchildren Aaron, Darren and Susan.

Maura was due to stay in Calgary in Alberta for another three weeks.

Now, her family have launched an urgent fundraiser to bring her home so she can be around her loved ones and friends and get "the sendoff that she deserves".

Their campaign was set up just three days ago but has already raised over 33,000 and been shared widely online.

Speaking about the incident her son in law Stephen Curtin said Last Thursday, around 8am after hearing noises when they woke up, they ran to find Maura in the bathroom. At the time, they believed she was having a stroke because she had no speech. The holiday of a lifetime turned into a holiday from hell.

He explained that two hours later, they were informed that Maura had suffered a brain bleed on both sides of the brain.

In a moving post on the go-fundme page her daughter Lynda Mulvihill said Our mum suffered a sudden brain haemorrhage on Thursday 20th March only 6 days into her holiday.. Once again, we appreciate & thank everyone who has already helped us to get this far

To date the fundraiser has raised over 33,000 with 756 donations. The target for the fundraiser is 50,000.
The Sunday World has been given what is claimed to be details of an internal UDA probe purporting to have been carried out by senior loyalists

Reporter Hugh Jordon reads a report handed to him by members of B-Coy of the UDA on the Shankill Road

Former UDA brigadier Jim Spence yesterday publicly denied he was a state agent after a report claiming to be from the terror group was circulated in Belfast.

The Sunday World has been given what is claimed to be details of an internal UDA probe purporting to have been carried out by senior loyalists  who were once Spences strongest supporters  which has found him guilty of crimes against the loyalist people.

It is claimed the report was drawn up as the result of an internal UDA investigation, however this has been strongly denied by Spence.

The document makes a number of allegations against Spence, which have not been independently verified.

And in a chilling threat, it concludes that if the former UDA Brigadier and one-time Military Commander for West Belfast ever shows his face back in Belfast, he will be shot on sight.

However, last night Spence hit back at the claims and accused former exiled former friends with an axe to grind of being behind a smear campaign.

Spence slipped out of Northern Ireland last July, days after the government announced a new investigation into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane.

Mr Finucane, a 39-year-old lawyer, was shot dead by a UDA murder gang on February 12 1989. The killers struck as he ate dinner with his wife and family in the kitchen of their home off Belfasts Antrim Road.

Despite Spences claims that he wasnt connected to the killing, he remains a major suspect.

Last September, the Sunday World revealed Spence and his now estranged wife Maggie had put their luxury detached home on the market for a bargain basement price of under 300,000.

And we also reported how Spence never held down a full-time job following his release from jail after serving a 10-year sentence for the armed robbery of a post office in west Belfast.

The exception, though, was when he accepted a position as manager of a now closed UDA drinking club, although he never actually worked in the place.

According to sources, he once boasted to friends: They pay me 1,000 a week to manage the bar, but I cant even pull a pint.

But in the recently concluded report into Spences alleged treachery, its claimed that his income far exceeded that figure.

The document  which claims to detail the findings of the UDA investigation into Spence  falls into four main sections  Background, Weapons, Alleged Misappropriation of UDA Funds and Current Whereabouts.

But in response to the document, Spence issued a statement to the Sunday World yesterday through loyalist Jamie Brysons JWB Consultancy.

It read: These latest round of false allegations are the work of former friends of Mr Spence with an axe to grind since they were forced out of loyalism almost two decades ago.

They are entirely without substance and the work of fantasists. These people are not part of West Belfast UDA who it can be confidently stated have no role in these false accusations against Mr Spence and likely others.

There is not a scintilla of evidence to support these false claims, and those making them are hiding behind the cloak of anonymity.

Reporter Hugh Jordon reads a report handed to him by members of B-Coy of the UDA on the Shankill Road

Mr Spence has consistently made clear that at no stage was he ever an agent of the security services, and any repetition of this false and malicious assertion will be the subject of legal action to protect Mr Spences rights and reputation.

In the Background section of the alleged UDA report, it reads: The investigation was carried out by veteran members of both A&B companies of the Ulster Freedom Fighters. It is an inquiry into the activities of Jim Spence, the former Brigadier for West Belfast.

And the report claims Spence allowed other loyalists to go to jail while he feathered his own nest. It claims that in 1992, Spences status changed from that of a RUC Special Branch informant to an agent of influence under the control of the Secret Service agency MI5.

His new role was allegedly to use his position of power to steer the UDA in a more strategic direction. He was told to befriend UDA men with a reputation for being hardliners and coax them into a role dictated by him. However, this claim was dismissed by Spences spokesman yesterday.

The statement from Spence issued to the Sunday World added: If anyone in fact reads the De Silva report properly, far be it from identifying Mr Spence as a state agent, it does the opposite and it further entirely discredits the claims made by Ken Barrett, who has been shown to be a fantasist.

Jim Spence's estranged wife Maggie

Jim Spence remains on good terms with his loyalist friends in West Belfast and across Northern Ireland and any assertions to the contrary are quite simply false and without any foundation. Under Weapons, the report claims that during his time as a senior UDA figure, Spence betrayed dozens of UDA arms dumps to his handlers.

The report continues: The remainder of the armoury was lifted in small amounts, with UDA supporters who had agreed to hide guns in their homes going to jail. UDA families in the Woodvale and Highfield areas were badly affected as a result of Spences treachery.

It also makes the unconfirmed claim that in 1993, following the establishment of a new inquiry into loyalist collusion with the state forces led by senior police officer Sir John Stevens, Spence was taken to London at the expense of MI5.

Almost unbelievably, Spence told what happened to a number of other senior UDA figures, some of whom later signed up to become state agents themselves, according to the report.

Under Misappropriation of UDA Funds, it reads: The report not only found Spence guilty of treason against the UDA and the Protestant people, it also found him guilty of embezzling hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The dossier claims that despite Spence displaying wealth, he was left untouched by the Assets Recovery Agency.

Under Spences whereabouts, the report concludes: The UDA in west Belfast believe, that after fleeing his Belfast home last summer, its former Brigadier Jim Spence was relocated to England by his MI5 handlers.

Spences former friends believe his marriage to wife Maggie is over, as she has remained in Belfast, where she works in a shop at weekends.

And despite claims by Spence that he is prepared to give evidence to the Finucane inquiry, his former pals are convinced it will never happen.
The Caribbean island is a popular tourist destination, however the circumstances around the death of the man have not yet been confirmed.

A man from Northern Ireland has passed away while in the Dominican Republic.

The Caribbean island is a popular tourist destination, however the circumstances around the death of the man have not yet been confirmed.

It is understood the man is from Co Armagh, according to reports.

He is also an Irish citizen, with the Department of Foreign Affairs confirming they are aware of the case and are assisting the family of the man.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs is aware of this case and is providing consular assistance, a spokesperson said.

"As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases.
Insiders at the medium security prison have told the Sunday World there are concerns about prisoners being taken advantage of and the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as prison chiefs fail to get a grip of prisoner interaction.

Prisoners at Magilligan Prison are being kept awake at night by inmates having sex in whats been dubbed the New Red Light District.

Insiders at the medium security prison have told the Sunday World there are concerns about prisoners being taken advantage of and the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as prison chiefs fail to get a grip of prisoner interaction.

Last year media reports of similar goings-on at a different part of the same jail resulted in a Stormont probe.

On that occasion politicians were told about a unit in the County Derry prison which was dubbed the Red Light District where drugs were exchanged for sex.

We spoke to prison officers this week who told us the Prison Service moved some of the prisoners from that unit but many of them have ended up in Alpha House.

Alpha House is a special unit which is effectively completely open  inmates have rooms rather than cells and they all have their own keys to their rooms as well as flat-screen TVs in all rooms, its own keep fit suite, dining rooms and in-house learning.

Able to house 50 inmates, Alpha is split across two wings and prisoners can wander around the unit 24 hours a day.

But it is also a unit which is predominantly housed with sex offenders.

Governors at Magilligan are already under scrutiny after killer James Meehan was granted day release after clearing out his bank account and taking all his clothes  just months after hed gone on the run across the border to County Meath.

Now insiders fear an ongoing sex scandal is being ignored.

The Prison Service denied the Red Light District story last year but it was true and they just moved some of those involved around, said a source. Now the New Red Light District is found in the low supervision unit Alpha House where the men are never locked in cells.

You will recall some media attention last year with regards to a similar unit. Well the prison covered this up but moved some of the men who were involved, but rather than fixing the problem they just shifted it to another place.

One of the main culprits has bondage images on display in his cell which he shouldnt be allowed.

Quite a few of the other prisoners have complained to us about the goings-on, and its plain to see who is coming and going from each others rooms in the middle of the night.

The other prisoners can actually hear what is going on because the walls are paper thin. Some of the prisoners involved arent even gay.

This one culprit is a high-risk PPANI prisoner for violent and domestic abuse offences so any relationship, casual or otherwise, should be declared and monitored, but hes getting away with it unchecked.

PPANI is an acronym for the public protection arrangements in Northern Ireland, which were introduced in October 2008 to make more effective the work the police, probation and others do to manage the risks posed by certain sexual and violent offenders when they are released from prison into the community.

high risk

The outcome of this guys PPANI assessment showed he was high risk so all relationships must be disclosed and the partner would have to be interviewed and made aware of the risks and warning signs because he is believed to be likely to commit a similar offence, added the source.

Some of the men in Alpha House are already being allowed to leave the jail on day release because they are coming to the end of their sentence.

Like Meehan, they are allowed what is called Unaccompanied Paroles or UTRs.

According to our source that means they get dropped to the train station and are allowed to go off on their own. They go out, do whatever they want, then come back on the train for 4pm.

That was how Meehan did a runner. There was no staff present, our source said.

Insiders say the unchecked sexual relations are building up potential trouble in the jail.

It is clear the system for managing lifers in Magilligan is broken, said the source. There are going to be serious consequences.

Healthcare staff are concerned about the spread of STIs and whether or not the people involved are all truly consenting. Some of these men are highly manipulative.

During last years media reports, Magilligan staff claimed its bosses were reluctant to address the situation in case they are wrongly branded homophobic and because of this vulnerable inmates are becoming the victims of sexual predators.

Our insider says staff at Magilligan try to look out for any prisoner from the LGBTQ+ community.

At Magilligan we try our best to look out for any prisoner from that community and a lot of our staff belong to the same community, but we have to draw the line somewhere for the safety and wellbeing of prisoners, they explained.

A lot of the men in the Alpha complex just want to keep their heads down and get on with their time and not have to listen to other men moaning and having sex.

The insider at Magilligan came forward to speak to us after another concerned warden contacted us last month to reveal their serious concerns about the way life sentence prisoners were handled.

They revealed shocking claims that some killers deemed fit for release on parole and weekend leave are abusing the system by taking drugs and drink while they are free, while being allowed back out even after committing further violent crimes while free.

positive

While another convicted killer, who is regularly granted release as part of a pre-release scheme, boasts about the prostitutes he has sex with while hes on the outside.

One prisoner who is repeatedly taken off the pre-release scheme because they tested positive for drugs is reinstated to where he left off after only three months even though he has failed more drug tests than anyone else, said the source speaking to us last month.

He has also been caught trafficking illicit substances back into the prison and around the estate. He regularly returns under the influence and is never questioned on it.

Just a few months ago he was removed from privileged open conditions for wandering around on another planet on drugs in the middle of the night.

Another prisoner who is extremely dangerous returned to the landings under the influence of both alcohol and drugs after visiting his dying mother.

Every time he comes back from a temporary release he boasts about visiting prostitutes which in itself is now a sex offence but it goes unchallenged.

He too can also be seen walking around the wings of the jail heavily under the influence most days but it doesnt stop him being allowed out next time.

Another lifer had his licence recalled for assaulting an innocent man at a bus stop in an unprovoked attack and even attacked another prisoner on the landings not long ago is already allowed back out to be at home every weekend with his partner and child.

The NI Prison Service said it strongly refutes these claims.

It added: The Prison Service has well-established procedures in place for raising concerns which both staff and prisoners are aware of.

Prisoners can make a formal complaint to the Prisoner Ombudsman or raise any concerns they have with Independent Monitoring Board members. Both organisations are fully independent of the Prison Service.

Staff working within prisons may raise any concerns they have with their line manager or the Departmental Nominated Officer.

Staff treat prisoners with respect, regardless of background and Magilligan Prison has established an LGBTQIA+ Prisoner Forum to address any issues of importance to those in our care.

While the provision of healthcare in prison is a matter for our partners in the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Magilligan is not aware of any concerns in regards to health risks.
Ahead of Alone: Australias third season premiering in New Zealand on March 27, Kiwi contestant Shay Williamson tells Mitchell Hageman what prompted him to swap Te Urewera for Tassie, and why it was certainly a risk worth taking.

The blisteringly cold, windy, wet conditions of an isolated ridge in Tasmanias West Coast Ranges greeted Shay Williamson as he embarked on his Alone: Australia survival odyssey.

Its very genuine, Williamson says of the gruelling reality TV series hes just been a part of.

The Eastern Bay of Plenty trapper is the only Kiwi to star on the hit self-documentary show this season.

And I dont think many people would disagree with his sentiment after watching the latest series of Alone: Australia, a show that drops contestants alone into an isolated area of the wilderness with nothing but a self-operated camera, 10 basic items, and their wits.

Contestants are well and truly alone out there. Theres no contact with other contestants or show staff (besides a mandatory medical check), and a failed health assessment or tapping out by radioing for extraction means you miss out on the cash.

In the opening trailer of season three alone, we see the keen Kiwi outdoorsman devastated after he lost his painstakingly built shelter to a flood, as well as another woman eating what looks to be a bloody chunk of animal flesh.

Conditions in this new Tasmanian setting are unforgiving, and just the concept of being without human contact can wreak havoc on the mind.

But Williamson always knew he was up for the challenge, saying he was a fan of the hit show from the start.

I saw the US version about five or six years ago, and I actually applied for that as soon as I watched it but didnt get in, he said. Alone: Australia came along, and I managed to be one of the lucky people to get picked to go on it."

The Alone: Australia S3 cast, from left, Ceilidh, Muzza, Tom, Matt, Corinne, Yonke, Ben, Karla, Shay and Eva. Photo / Narelle Portanier

With an AU$250,000 ($273,340) cash prize on the line for the winner, financial security was a big motivator for Williamson, who had to weigh up the options of possibly spending months without his young kids.

Before I had kids and a family, I probably wouldve done it for free, but having young kids is a huge commitment to spend an unknown amount of time without them, he said. The money was like the thing we could justify that it was worth the risk and worth spending that time away. It was a risk worth taking, we decided as a family.

Growing up exploring the vast bushland around the Eastern Bay of Plenty and the mountain ranges down south, Williamson said there was no shortage of places to learn about survival skills.

Its never hard to go out and get a feed of venison or something.

But the untamed Tasmanian wilderness was a lot different from back home, bringing its own new climate and challenges.

Being from New Zealand, I just assumed Australia would be warmer, so that was the first surprise that it was actually colder there.

Id never been in the bush outside of New Zealand, so it was exciting, but everything was different.

Having previously produced videos on YouTube about his adventure exploits, Williamson described documenting oneself in the bush as a double-edged sword.

I guess it can kind of help you because youre vocalising everything thats happening and get it off your chest, but at the same time its a lot of work, he noted.

It makes hunting and fishing much trickier, youd usually be trying to sneak along and youre having to set up a camera as well.

Williamson said he appreciated how the hit show gave people a realistic insight into what it meant to live off the land, and before a time when getting food was as easy as a trip to the supermarket.

Keen trapper Shay Williamson has spent his live navigating the New Zealand wilderness. Photo / Narelle Portanier

I think its cool that it sort of connects people back to our roots in that way. I guess it makes you realise like weve all sort of come from that, like our ancestors were hunter gatherers, and thats what weve been for most of our evolution.

Its not until we actually figured out how to solve the food problem with farming and stuff like that that weve been able to develop all the technology.

Contestants were only allowed to bring 10 items with them on the journey, something that even the hardiest of survivalists can struggle with.

Ideally, youd want everything under the sun, but thats part of the challenge, Williamson said.

When asked what the single thing would be needed to help you take on months alone in the wilderness, Williamsons answer was surprising.

I would say a pot, because you could get a fire going with friction if you had to. You need it to cook and boil water and things like that.

While other contestants on the show were on their own adventures in Tasmania at the same time, they never got to see each other.

Im looking forward to watching it as much as everyone else just to see how it unfolded for the other contestants, Williamson said.

For those who might want to go on their own outdoor adventure, Williamson said it was as simple as looking in our own backyard.

Were spoiled for choice in New Zealand, he said. [You can go to] the closest National Park or big piece of bush. Youre always going to have somewhere you can go thats probably within an hour or twos drive.

Alone: Australia Season 3 premieres on TVNZ+, March 27 at 8am.
The joint Ukrainian-American and American-Russian statements differ in one point out of five: Ukraine insisted on the return of children, and the Russian Federation on the removal of barriers to the transportation of their agricultural products, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"As far as we know, the Russians raised the issue of the American side helping the Russians transport their agricultural products. That is, the issue of ports, tariffs and the like. We did not agree to this, so that it would be in our common document. We believe that this is a weakening of positions and a weakening of sanctions, in our opinion. We do not yet know the details of this point and we were not present at the meeting, so I cannot say anything. But this was not on our agenda," Zelenskyy said during his conversation with journalists on Tuesday.

According to him, the American side raised this issue with the Ukrainian delegation, the head of the delegation, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov contacted him on this issue, "I said that this is not a discussion of an unconditional ceasefire, even a partial ceasefire in the sky, at sea, on the removal of certain barriers for Russians on agricultural products."

"We had the issue of returning children, you remember. We had the issue of exchanging prisoners of war and exchanging civilians. That's why we agreed - there will be two statements. In our statement, the fifth point is that America will help us with the return of children, prisoners of war, civilians, yes, military and civilian prisoners, and the Russians will have what they agreed on with them," the president said.

Zelenskyy believes that the Ukrainian side "once again worked constructively with the American side." "We'll see how it works," he added.
Tributes are flowing for a man who died on a hunting trip last week.

Stuart Stobie, of Kawerau, died suddenly on Friday morning in Minginui, Bay of Plenty.

Daughter Briar Stobie, of Melbourne, told the Herald she would be travelling to New Zealand on Thursday.

On social media, she said her father had been tragically taken in a hunting accident.

The Kawerau Bowling Club, of which Stobie was a member, wore black armbands as a mark of respect during a match against Te Teko RSA on Saturday.

Club secretary Angela Harris told the Herald Stobie was a beautiful man, a nice personality and a great hunter.

Harris said everybody got on with Stobie, who had only been a member of the club for about two months.

A notice about Stobies death said: Stu will certainly be missed, and remembered by many for the great man that he was.

He had a great love for the outdoors and went hunting and gathering whenever he could. Stu was undoubtedly one of those diligent men in this world.

Stobies partner Kerry Swinton said he uplifted me, gave me the strength to move forward and remembered his kindness and intelligence.

Police were investigating and the coroner was being advised and involved in the process, a police spokesman said.

-Bay of Plenty Times
Corrections has confirmed that hunger-striking prison inmate Dean Wickliffe has been transferred to Waikato Hospital.

The parole board has also brought his hearing forward to Wednesday, March 26. It was previously scheduled for April 3.

Wickliffes legal team said he has suspected kidney failure.

Corrections said privacy laws prevented it from commenting on Wickliffes health status.

Convicted killer Dean Wickliffe, one of New Zealand's highest-profile criminals, was taken to Waikato hospital on Monday, day 14 of his hunger strike.

Wickliffe, 77, was arrested for breaching parole by living in his car on March 5 and was allegedly assaulted on March 6 at Springhill Prison. Corrections earlier confirmed a staff member would not be at work while they investigated the allegation.

Corrections told the Herald today that the staff member has now been placed on special leave.

Wickliffe went on a hunger strike on March 10, telling supporters he is prepared to die for his cause. He wants to be released from prison with no parole conditions.

Hes still on his hunger strike, a member of Wickliffes legal team told the Herald on Monday.

The medical information we have is still pretty scant. We have requested medical information in accordance with a privacy waiver from him, but we dont have any yet.

We know that he has impaired kidney function  he reported this on Saturday following a medical checkup.

The Herald can also reveal police are now looking into Wickliffes alleged assault by a Springhill Prison staff member on March 6.

A police spokesperson said: Police are making initial inquiries into an alleged incident at Spring Hill Corrections Facility earlier this month.

On March 18 the Herald reported the 77-year-old prisoner had told his lawyer hed lost 17kg during his eight-day hunger strike, which began on March 10.

Wickliffe has now been on the strike for 14 days.

The convicted killer has spent almost four decades behind bars and was once the countrys longest-serving inmate.

He is the only person to have escaped Paremoremo maximum security prison twice, in 1976 and 1991.

-Bay of Plenty Times
Eight children who drowned during one summer were the focus of a recent coroners report that highlighted the need for close supervision when children are near water.

The eight deaths occurred in the summer of 2021-22 throughout the country: two in Northland, two in Wellington, and one each in Napier, Minginui, Christchurch and Auckland.

In consideration of the level of commonality in the age of these children that drowned and some similarity in the circumstances of those drownings, I make general comments and recommendations with the hope that, if brought to the public attention, this may reduce the risk of similar deaths occurring in the similar circumstances in the future, Coroner Michael Robb said in his report released to the public today.

Four of the children were 5 years old, three were toddlers and the youngest was only 9 months, which Coroner Robb noted all were an example of how things can go wrong quickly when adult supervision is not designated.

Supervision around water is only effective when it is accompanied by either direct physical contact with the child, holding the child or holding their hand, or being so close that the moment a child comes into contact with the water the child can be physically reached, he said.

The deaths occurred at lakes, beaches, pools brought off the shelf in department stores, and one at a public swimming pool.

Coroner Robb highlighted how children can slip below the surface quickly, without making a sound, splashing loudly or any other overt action.

Supervision that is at a distance and while carrying out other tasks will, as a matter of practical reality, be intermittent observation rather than constant observation.

The report also highlighted the need for detailed signage at public swimming pools that was blunt, clear and consistent nationwide.

Two of the deaths occurred in temporary pools, which the coroner was critical of around non-consistent safety guidelines and recommended any under 1.2m be discontinued from sale.

I understand that the short answer from the helpful advice from MBIE [Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment] is that it would be a complicated process to ban small temporary pools from sale. However, from a Coroners Court perspective, despite being difficult I maintain my recommendation for the banning of those pools in order to prevent avoidable deaths of young children.

The coroner said any pools 1.2m or higher should not be sold without an appropriate safety gated entry.

Coroner Michael Robb recommended temporary pools 1.2m or higher be sold only with an appropriate safety gated entry. Photo / Supplied

Coroner Robb acknowledged funding for swimming programmes posed significant issues and called on councils to strategically invest in targeted programmes for high-risk populations.

I recommend a proactive approach be taken by councils, be it working with Water Safety New Zealand or otherwise, to ensure and/or promote provision of water safety classes in their communities and consistent messaging that water safety is essential knowledge for those with young children.

The coroner emphasised that without better investment and funding, many children, especially those from low-income backgrounds, will continue to lack basic water safety skills, increasing the risk of drownings.

He expressed his condolences to all the families grieving as a result of their childs death.

Birthday camping near a stream

A 2-year-old was with his family at a camping site on January 8, 2022, in Northland celebrating a birthday near a stream.

For most of the day the children were under general supervision playing in the water, but at some point the toddler wandered back to the swimming hole without supervision.

An extensive search was carried out for about an hour before he was found submerged in a deeper part of the swimming hole.

The coroner found there had been a false sense of security created by the adults and teenagers present and recommended adults must be in the water with young children at close range and uninterrupted.

He also highlighted the shallow but unpredictable nature of streams, and strong public messaging emphasising what proper supervision entails.

Above-ground pool

A 19-month-old toddler died in Middlemore Hospital in 2022 after he was found floating face down in an above-ground inflatable swimming pool the Auckland family had been given for Christmas.

The 1.2m pool required a ladder to climb into it and the family had a rule it was to be removed from the pool after each swim and when no adults were around.

The coroner said he was a strong toddler who was capable of climbing stairs and ladders who had enjoyed swimming with arm and body flotation devices and under the supervision of adults who were in the pool with him.

On January 12, he had been swimming with his father but after being showered and dressed, he made his way back outside to the pool without anyone noticing.

He was found in the water by a teenage cousin, given CPR by his family and rushed to hospital, but was unable to be revived.

The pool did not require a building consent, but a fence should have been in place and the coroner has recommended pools this height should not be sold without the appropriate gate fitted.

Paddling pool

An infant was only 9 months old when she was found drowned in a paddling pool at her Porirua home in 2022.

The childs mother, the sole adult at the property, had gone to sleep and placed the infant in a bassinet beside her on the floor.

However, when she woke up the infant wasnt in the bassinet and had crawled outside to a paddling pool where her mother found her lying face up, but unresponsive.

The coroner noted the childs older sibling had left the property on several occasions unattended, opening internal and external doorways to get out, sometimes travelling several kilometres on foot, and was critical that nothing had been done to stop them.

A baby was only nine months old when they found their way back to the paddling pool. Photo / 123rf

All three children were mobile. Why [the childs] mother did not wake when the children in the household began moving about the house, from the lounge, out the back door, and into the paddling pool, is unknown, the coroner said.

There was a paddling pool in the backyard that could be accessed by a mobile toddler in circumstances where through the actions of the (older child) or the door simply being left open there was nothing to stop [the infant] entering and drowning in the pool.

The coroner said the death could have been prevented with adequate supervision, but the reality was the mother was genuinely struggling to cope, and state agencies like Oranga Tamariki should have identified this and intervened earlier.

Campsite waterhole

A 5-year-old boy drowned in January 2022 when he was with whanau at the Mangamate Waterfall Campsite Whirinaki River, near Miniginui, at a waterhole.

The young boy went missing and whanau searched the area around and in the river. The boy was found fully submerged about a kilometre downriver from the waterhole and campsite.

CPR was performed until emergency services arrived, but he was unable to be revived.

Police officers found the water level varied from ankle to waist height, that the rocks on the bottom of the river varied in size which made it very difficult to walk and the rocks were slippery.

The river current flowed freely with no visible obstructions that would have stopped the boy until he reached the point he was found, near the bank.

The coroner noted the boys uncle said the boy had become cold and hed seen him leave the water to go and eat. His mother remembered seeing the boy on the riverbank, but also recalled looking away for about five minutes.

Emergency services were called to the Mangamate Waterfall on the Whirinaki River inland from Minginui in Te Urewera.

The boy was described as being scared of the water and not wanting to get splashed by others.

The coroner said it was possible the boy had deliberately entered into the water or had been walking on rocks and slipped. Once in the water, the flow of the river would have made it difficult for him to regain his footing on the rocks.

The coroner recommended active supervision by a designated adult for that child, issuing a warning about the false sense of security when there are numerous adults or older teenagers in the area, in a general supervisory role over a group of children.

He said in social settings, it was also easy to get distracted by conversations or using a mobile device, but constant visual observation means constant rather than intermittent checking on a childs location, and children aged 5 and younger needed to be in direct contact with, or within arms reach of, a supervising adult because they can slip below the surface within seconds and drown unnoticed.

Kai Iwi Lakes

A family who were unfamiliar with lakes travelled to Kai Iwi Lakes in Northland on January 4, 2022.

A 4-year-old was playing in the water, which has a significant drop-off in depth, with his sister who turned to retrieve a balloon. When she turned back, her brother had disappeared.

The boy appeared within minutes floating face down and was unable to be revived.

The coroner found the boy was unable to swim, making him vulnerable if he lost his footing, there was limited signage around the drop-off and a brief lapse in supervision to be contributing factors.

The coroner noted the Kaipara District Council has since implemented improved signage, but also recommended marker buoys be implemented to indicate deeper areas.

Public pool

A 5-year-old girl was unsupervised when she made her way into the shallow end of a public swimming pool, slipped below the surface and drowned.

She was discovered floating face down at the Waltham Swimming Pool in Christchurch where the depth was 1.3m, on December 22, 2021. While her grandparents were looking after her, she entered the main pool making her way from the very shallow entrance area into the deeper waters. An older sibling was also in the pool, but they were not swimming together.

There were lifeguards on duty who were actively watching the pool, which had about 50 people in it, but they had not detected the girl having difficulties.

The coroner has called on councils to invest in community access to water safety programmes. Photo / Kurt Bayer

The coroner said the girls grandparents did not appear to be aware of the requirement that children 5 or younger needed to be in the water with someone aged over 16 who remained within touching distance of them.

While they were keeping a general observation on the children, they were not within arms reach or aware of where she was when she got into trouble.

It was recommended that the signage at public swimming pools be prominently displayed and that the messaging be blunt, clear and consistent nationally.

Signage and messaging that asks adults to supervise your child are in my view well-meaning but unfortunately, open to different interpretations. The messaging needs to explain what active supervision means in a water safety sense.

Marine Parade Beach

A 5-year-old boy was swept from his mothers hands on Napiers dangerous Marine Parade beach on December 10, 2021. Several passers-by got into trouble in the waves trying to save the drowning boy, before four police officers entered the water.

Constable Ben Whitley reached the boy and brought him to shore, but he could not be revived.

The coroner said the boy and his mother had been at the waters edge, splashing in shallow water and playing in the small, breaking waves when they were both swept off their feet by an incoming wave that took them by surprise.

Marine Parade Beach in Napier where a child tragically lost his life in 2021. Photo / Gary Hamilton-Irvine

He said the mother had done everything right in directly supervising her son and was in direct contact with him when the wave hit.

By the time she regained her footing, she was already in chest-deep water and the child was being taken further and further from the shore.

The coroner said he had no criticism of her actions that day.

She was right there with him, providing direct support to him, but was sadly unable to save him.

This was an accident in a situation that was difficult to anticipate and took her completely by surprise.

The coroner commended the members of the public and the police officers for their rescue attempts, which involved personal danger to them as well.

He listed other deaths from drowning at Marine Parade Beach and acknowledged the Napier City Council for its continuing work on water safety and its efforts to provide effective warning signs.

There are 21 water safety signs along Marine Parade Beach.

Popular swimming hole

A 5-year-old boy who had enjoyed an afternoon at a popular swimming hole was last seen throwing pebbles in the water.

But when whanau went to pack up, they realised he was missing.

They started searching and eventually called emergency services who found the boy four hours later about 40m downstream, submerged in the water.

The boy, who was non-verbal and special needs, and his mother had gone with other whanau to a location known as the Maoribank swimming hole on the Hutt River near Ngati Tama Park on January 18, 2022.

The boy and his mother had not been to the area before, but there were many people there because it was a popular swimming hole.

His mother said he was very active, always moving, and on that day he was with another younger cousin when they walked through a gap in the rocks and were throwing pebbles and rocks into the river.

She said she could initially see them through the gap in the rocks. Eventually, the younger four cousins returned to the adults while the boy stayed next to the river.

At 5pm the decision was made to leave, but his mother realised he was nowhere to be seen and the coroner said she was unsure how long he had been out of her sight.

Police were called and he was eventually located by search and rescue personnel in an area that was 3.5-4m deep.

Police investigations identified (he) had likely entered the water in the area where he had last been observed by whanau and had then been swept by the river current down the river into the deeper waters of the waterhole.

The coroner said children could slip below the surface in a matter of seconds and drowning could occur without any calling for help, loud splashing or other overt action.

When groups of children are being generally supervised by a group of adults there is a risk that not every individual child is being watched at every moment. As drownings can occur in a matter of seconds, constant and vigilant supervision is required of each individual child.

-Bay of Plenty Times
The proposed review of electorate boundaries for the 2026 election will significantly change the Bay of Plenty and Tauranga electorates.

Tauranga is set to shift westward, while the Bay of Plenty electorate will be reconfigured and renamed Mt Maunganui to better reflect the area.

The Representation Commission conducting the 2025 Boundary Review has released the proposed boundaries and names for public comment.

Our review is driven by population numbers and the need to ensure each electorate has about the same number of people living in it, Representation Commission chairman Judge Kevin Kelly said.

Applying a formula in the Electoral Act 1993, the number of North Island general electorates must decrease by one.

This is addressed in the lower North Island where the current electorates' populations are below the target quota.

This change, coupled with some significant population changes elsewhere, has resulted in relatively substantial shifts in most electorate boundaries in the North Island, particularly in the lower North Island and the Auckland region, Kelly said.

Key changes in the lower North Island include boundary adjustments from Wellington northwards.

Two new electorates, Kenepuru and Kapiti, are proposed, while the existing electorates of Ohariu, Mana and Otaki are removed, reducing the overall number of North Island electorates by one.

In Auckland, boundary shifts reflect significant population growth in the north and south, which must be absorbed into central electorates.

In West Auckland, the electorates of New Lynn, Kelston and Te Atatu have been reconfigured into three new electorates with the proposed names Waitakere, Glendene and Ranui.

In southeast Auckland, Panmure-Otahuhus boundaries move south and the electorate is renamed Otahuhu.

In the South Island, Selwyn  one of the countrys fastest-growing electorates  has been adjusted so that other Christchurch electorates can accommodate more people.

For the Maori electorates, a boundary adjustment is proposed between Ikaroa-Rawhiti and Te Tai Tonga in Lower Hutt, while the other five Maori electorates remain unchanged.

A full description of each electorate is available in the Proposed Boundaries 2025 report at vote.nz.
The quarry industry is warning of shortages and rising costs for foundation materials due to at least two more years of delays in obtaining consent.

While quarries supported the intent of the Governments latest Resource Management Act (RMA) reform announcements, Aggregate and Quarry Association (AQA) chief executive Wayne Scott said waiting until 2027 for meaningful change was unacceptable.

Government ministers were informed upon taking office that flaws in two National Policy Statements (NPS) were preventing quarries from obtaining consents for land needed to supply rock, aggregate and sand for housing and infrastructure, Scott said.

AQA chief executive Wayne Scott said waiting until 2027 for meaningful change was unacceptable.

We were told the problems with the flaws in the Highly Productive Land and Indigenous Biodiversity national policy statements would be fixed, he said.

Yesterdays announcements show little intent from the Government to address these in a timely manner.

Ministers seemed to believe that introducing two new RMA bills before the end of the year and passing them before the 2026 election would resolve all planning and consenting issues, Scott said.

However, he warned regulatory plans would take years to implement, leaving quarries struggling.

The Fast-track Approvals Act is very welcome, but it will only apply to eight out of a thousand active quarries around New Zealand, Scott said.

He said other quarries seeking expansion or new sites would still have to navigate the drawn-out RMA reform process while facing constraints from flawed policies that successive governments had failed to fix.

Quarries are already stretched to meet supply and costs can now only rise. We need urgent attention to resource consenting constraints now, Scott said.
Beatriz L. Echazarreta Madrid Tuesday, 25 March 2025, 22:57 Compartir

The GPS system that guided the four young men from Madrid who lost their lives last week in the Lunada pass (Cantabria) showed the shortest route to reach their destination. We know that the group of twenty-somethings had gone to spend the weekend in a rural house, that they were driving an Audi A3 and that they plunged down a road without a barrier which, if it snows, is usually closed to traffic.

At the time of the accident it was already snowing, but the road was still open and the GPS system recommended it. According to local residents in the municipality of Soba, the section of the CA-643 where the accident occurred is located, an off-road vehicle had plunged down a nearby slope in 2022. Was that the best route? Apparently not.

However, this tragic accident could serve to raise awareness of how technology is changing driving habits and not necessarily for the better. According to ABC newspaper, which consulted the Directorate-General of Traffic (DGT), "It is common for many people to blindly trust the navigator, but it is not advisable. The ideal is to study the route and plan the trip. Even more so in bad weather and without knowing the road," the DGT recommends.

Navigators have evolved over the last few years: Google Maps and Waze (also owned by Google) are free applications that can be used on mobile phones without the need for the vehicle to have a navigator installed. In fact, the purchase of a TomTom-style in-car GPS system now seems outdated.

Today's systems do not tend to feature major problems of road network obsolescence, as they did in the past, but they still do not incorporate reliable weather data. For example, during the worst days of the Valencia 'Dana' storms these applications still set routes through flooded areas or streets ravaged by the floods. Many of these navigation systems work on the basis of data shared by the users themselves.

If three drivers report that an accident has happened at one point on the motorway, the fourth driver travelling in the same place will be alerted. On the other hand, they receive data on the speed at which their users are travelling, so they can determine whether there is a traffic jam or whether traffic is flowing smoothly. The problem arises in less busy areas where the application lacks information from other users.

"GPS emboldens many inexperienced drivers".

Aesleme, an association for road safety education, highlights the problems of people using these apps. "They don't know the street maps of the big cities, they rely on GPS and often end up going in the wrong direction or getting lost or driving around in circles." Mar Cogollos, spokesperson for Aesleme, points out that navigators can also "embolden" inexperienced drivers who "in the days of physical maps" would not dare to take the car in certain situations. She also points out that screens can become, per se, a great source of distraction and that it is common for many drivers to use these applications "to avoid fines and to be able to locate police checkpoints, but not to choose the safest route".

False sense of security

According to the European Mobility Observatory of the FIA International Automobile Federation (FIA), the vast majority of Spaniards (97%) have a navigation application on their mobile phones, compared to 83% in the rest of Europe. Ramon Ledesma, advisor at PONS Mobility, said that the widespread use of GPS could be creating a "false sense of generalised security. Technology should be a support, but never a substitute for the driver's judgement," he argues. Industry, he says, may be prioritising energy efficiency or emissions reduction, but, in some cases, this leads to less safe secondary routes. "Navigation systems should prioritise road safety criteria in their algorithms, prioritising well-marked roads and minimising distractions at the wheel," said Ledesma.

ABC asked Google whether it is considering incorporating data from the DGT or Aemet (Spain's state weather agency) into its applications, or whether they are already being integrated, but the technology giant declined to participate in the report. In any case, the systems can be improved. According to the International Road Transport Association (Astic), although the signal from satellites is the same for cars and trucks, GPS devices are often much more sophisticated in the latter. For example, the navigation system of trucks transporting dangerous goods are adapted according to the RIMP (Red de Itinerarios de Mercancias Peligrosas del Ministerio de Transportes).

"Not even a vehicle with artificial intelligence and cameras can easily obtain information from other vehicles," said Marcos U. Perez, an engineer and expert in road accident risk. Even in the midst of the technological revolution, the driver's seven senses are still the most reliable navigator.
Cristina Candido Tuesday, 25 March 2025, 20:32 Compartir

For the first time two Spanish companies are among the 50 largest family retailers by turnover in the world. The Ortegas (Inditex) and the Roigs (Mercadona) are up there in a list which includes nineteenth-century family-owned businesses such as the German Bosch (1866) or the Swiss Roche (1896), according to the World Family Business Index. The list has been compiled every two years for the past decade by EY consultancy and the University of St Gallen and to which SUR has had exclusive access.

"It is a reality that both Inditex and Mercadona - with two different business models and sectors- are successful examples of leadership, profitability, efficiency and positive impact in their geographical areas. Their models are studied in many business schools around the world and showcase the talent, hard work and ability to shape the future of Spanish family businesses and their managers," said David Ruiz-Roso, partner in charge of EY's Private-Family Business practice.

The clothing empire built up by Amancio Ortega from the GOA brand, his first firm, and which his daughter Marta took over in 2022 as non-executive chairperson, has climbed this year to 43rd place from 51st, with a turnover of almost 36 billion euros, according to the report. The latest results recently presented by the company show that sales growth in 2024 was 7.5% to 38.63 billion euros. Inditex is now eighth in the world in the retail segment.

Mercadona climbed six places to 48th thanks to the 33.1 billion euros in turnover included in the index (its latest results for 2024 increase its turnover by nine per cent to 38.8 billion euros). In 2021 it was in 47th position. With 13 family-run businesses in the 2025 list, Spain has grown compared to the previous review in a list of 500 companies in which almost half (47%) are European.

In addition to the flagships of Spanish retail, eleven other Spanish companies are among the half a thousand companies in this category globally: Acciona, El Corte Ingles, Gestamp, Ferrovial, Grifols, Catalana Occidente, Antolin, Puig Brands, Prosegur and Tecnicas Reunidas.

"The evolution is very positive, with two new companies this year in the on the list of the top 500, in markets where Spanish companies are also leaders, such as Barcelo (269th place) in the hotel and tourism sector, and Puig (393rd place) in the premium beauty products sector. This demonstrates the capacity for growth, internationalisation and resilience of Spanish family businesses," says Ruiz-Roso.

Together, the thirteen Spanish companies in the ranking have around 171 billion euros in revenue and generate more than 735,200 jobs.

Clear German leadership

The overall figures show that there are 78 German companies, followed by France and Monaco (27), Italy (22), Switzerland (17) and the United Kingdom (14). Spain is next with13. But, in detail, the most relevant data for the analysis is the average income of our national companies, where they compete in terms of average income with German companies, compared with the average size of Spanish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) compared with German companies. In Spain, the average company employs 4.7 people, while Germany is almost double this size, with around seven employees per company. "This shows that to be profitable, sustainable and resilient over time, you need size. And it highlights the need for growth in a global world," concludes Ruiz-Roso.
John Lithgow, an Upstate New York native, poses with the award for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture for "Conclave" during the 31st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

An actor from Upstate New York is set to star as one of the most important characters in HBOs Harry Potter TV series.

John Lithgow, who was born in Rochester, has confirmed he will play Albus Dumbledore, the enigmatic and beloved headmaster of Hogwarts, on the upcoming HBO Max adaptation of Harry Potter. The 79-year-old actor told ScreenRant that the role will define his final acting years.

It was not an easy decision because its going to define me for the last chapter of my life, Im afraid. But Im very excited, Lithgow said. Ill be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but Ive said yes.

In the Harry Potter film series, Dumbledore was played by the late actors Michael Gambon and Richard Harris.

Actor, Michael Gambon on the set of the film "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," in London, England, in 2003. Photo by Murray Close/ Getty Images Getty Images

Lithgow will add his portrayal of Dumbledore to his already impressive acting resume. The award-winning Western New York native is best known for his roles in the NBC sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun; the Showtime series Dexter; and the Netflix series The Crown.

Max is set to start filming its adaptation of the Harry Potter series this summer, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Showrunners are aiming to debut the first season of the show in 2026 or 2027.

Lithgow discussed the project during his appearance on a recent episode of SmartLess, the podcast hosted by actors Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett. He said fans have already started stopping him in airports to talk to him about playing Dumbledore.

Lithgow said he was halfway through reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

The overall concept of this entire reboot of Harry Potter is an entire season is devoted to a single novel, he said.

Lithgow said he doesnt think the role is going to be that hard a job, explaining that hed likely split his time between the United States and England.

Dumbledore is, hes kind of the nuclear weapon, he told Hayes, Bateman and Arnett. He only goes off very, very occasionally.

Still, Lithgow said the prospect of turning 80 in the fall made him think hard about accepting the offer to play Dumbledore.

Its a wonderful thing to contemplate. I mean, the logistics are a little bit scary, he told the hosts. If this indeed is a seven- or eight-year-long job, its a wonderful way to grow old as an actor. The alternative is to just be hauled out once a year to play an Alzheimers patient or an awful lot of death scenes with weeping middle-aged children.
If Russia strikes Ukraine, it will receive a response, and if there are air raid sirens and military activity in the Black Sea again, then new measures must be taken against Moscow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.

"We in Ukraine will do everything to ensure that the agreements work and that there are no strikes. But the Russians must know and must realize that if they strike, they will receive a strong response. And they will be held responsible. And if the Russians then tell tales that the strikes were not on energy or civilian infrastructure, everyone will see everything," Zelenskyy said in an evening address on Tuesday.

He recalled that since March 11, the USA has had a proposal on the table for a complete and unconditional ceasefire everywhere, not just in energy and the Black Sea, but it was Russia that did not agree to this and is prolonging this war.

"When Putin did not say yes to an unconditional ceasefire, there were no new sanctions against Russia. Now Moscow is demanding something about lifting some of the sanctions, although for three years it has been saying that sanctions are not scary for them and are even useful. But if this agreement does not work, if the Russians do not fulfill the conditions of today's agreements and try to put pressure on America, Europe, Ukraine again, then I believe there must be only one answer: definitely new sanctions, definitely more pressure," the president added.

"The way Russia will behave in the coming days will show a lot, if not everything. If there are air raid sirens again, if there is military activity in the Black Sea again, if there are Russian manipulations and threats again, then new measures will have to be taken - specifically against Moscow. Diplomacy must work," the president noted.
Three men entered the Gulf gas station, pistole whipped the clerk and stole cash on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022. James McClendon | jmcclendon@syracuse.com

Syracuse, N.Y.  A Syracuse man was sentenced Monday to just under six years in federal prison for a robbery at a Gulf gas station in Salina.

Quashawn Pettiford, 34, of Syracuse, was sentenced to 71 months in federal prison for interference with commerce through robbery, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of New York.

Pettiford had previously pleaded guilty, admitting that on Jan. 11, 2022, he and two other people entered a gas station at 2300 Court St. wearing masks.

The other two individuals carried BB guns that appeared to be real firearms, prosecutors said. Those individuals pointed the BB guns at the store clerk and one of them pressed a gun into the clerks neck while directing the clerk to open the cash register.

He admitted that he and the other robbers took around $1,200 in merchandise from the store shelves, around $1,495 from the cash register and $513 from the clerks wallet.

Pettiford was originally charged for the robbery after investigators identified him by the underwear he was wearing at the time of the crime.

State police investigators noticed something in a surveillance video: One of the robbers underwear had a distinct pattern. When the robber bent down to take money from the register, the surveillance camera captured video that showed his underwear.

Two days later, investigators found a minivan on Boyden Avenue in Syracuse that matched a description of a van that was seen leaving the gas station after the robbery.

Underwear with a 'distinct' pattern federal investigators said matched what a suspect wore during a robbery of a Salina gas station in January 2022. Court Filing

Investigators got a warrant to search the van and the home where the van was parked. Inside the home they found the underwear seen in the surveillance video and two black facemasks that appeared to match what was worn by the robbers, investigators said.

Investigators said they also found prescription bottles for Pettiford, who was not found during the search.

A month later on Feb. 15, police found him near Westcott and East Genesee streets in Syracuse. On his phone, investigators said they found two videos of people sitting inside a van holding large amounts of cash. Metadata showed the videos were taken a few hours after the robbery, according to court documents.

District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also imposed a three-year term of supervised release to begin after Pettiford is released from prison. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims of the offense and to give up the $3,208 proceeds of the offense.

Police also charged Kasheem T. Thomas in the robbery. He is serving seven years in state prison for first-degree robbery, according to state records. State police said the third robbery suspect was a victim of a homicide in Syracuse.
Monroe County in Upstate New York had the highest rate of motor vehicle theft in New York in 2023, according to state data.

Three of the top five counties with the highest rates of vehicle theft were in Upstate New York that year, according to data from the state Division of Criminal Justice Services. Monroe was followed by Erie, Bronx, Onondaga and Queens counties.

Monroes rate of vehicle theft of more than 900 per 100,000 people was over 220% higher than 2022. Monroe County saw a total of over 6,700 vehicle theft incidents in 2023.

Onondaga Countys theft rate of over 315 per 100,000 was up 57% from the previous year. That rate translates into nearly 1,500 incidents.

The 2023 figures are the most recent available from the state.

Rates of vehicle theft skyrocketed in some parts of New York and across the U.S. in 2023 thanks largely to a spike in crimes involving Kias and Hyundais. A security flaw in those cars enabled thieves to steal them in a short amount of time using nothing but a USB cord and a screwdriver.

The crimes were often committed by groups of teens.

Rates of vehicle theft were up in 26 of New Yorks 62 counties in 2023. They were flat in three counties and down in 32.

Two New York counties, Erie and Genesee, saw the rate jump over 100% in 2023 from the previous year. Monroe was the only county where the rate increase more than 200%.

Monroe County began cracking down on teens in June 2023 to help deal with the car theft problem. Starting that month, they sent 30% of teens arrested directly to detention instead of releasing them to their parents.

They also made sure teens met with youth probation officers almost immediately, instead of waiting weeks. They were then put under daily scrutiny by probation officers for a period of time.

Repeat offenses dropped. Car thefts, the teens' main crime, declined by half.

You can see a complete list of 2023 rates of motor vehicle theft in New York counties and changes from the previous year in the table below. If you cant see the table, click here to open it in a new window.

Some notes on the data:

The state Division of Criminal Justice Services collects crime reports from more than 500 New York state police and sheriffs departments to compile the data on crime stats. The counts represent only crimes reported to police.

Police agencies arent required to participate in data sharing with the state, but its encouraged.

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
Trevor Weekz, Ben Atkind, Rick Mitarotonda, Jeff Arevalo and Peter Anspach of the band Goose perform at the Ryman Auditorium on March 30, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) Getty Images

A former member of a popular jam band is speaking out after a not-so-amicable parting of ways.

Goose announced Sunday that percussionist Jeff Arevalo will no longer be a part of the group, citing behavior in Jeffs personal life that does not align with the bands core values. Neither he nor the band have elaborated on his alleged behavior issues.

On Monday, Arevalo said he found out he was being let go for reported behavior and actions from Gooses lawyer  not his former bandmates. He said the split came after he took a mental health break in January to seek treatment for a personal crisis.

Arevalo, who joined Goose in 2020, said he agreed that we should go our separate ways, but said he felt disrespected.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunities I have been given over the last five years. Thank you all for listening and supporting me on my journey. Thank you, above all, to the fans who became friends along the way, Arevalo wrote.

I do not feel that I was rightly respected, valued, or properly utilized in my time with the organization, he continued. In fact, I had to forgo severance because I refused to sign an NDA. I have chosen to retain my dignity and my truth.

Percussionist Jeff Arevalo of Goose performs live on stage during Ohana Festival at Doheny State Beach on September 30, 2023 in Dana Point, California. (Photo by Jim Bennett/WireImage via Getty Images) WireImage

Arevalo said he will pursue other opportunities where he can be more involved in the songwriting process, creative direction, and work in a properly equitable environment. I have a lot to offer and have been grossly mistreated and underestimated.

The lineup change comes less than 3 months before Goose is scheduled to play a June 21 concert at CMAC (Constellation Brands - Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center) in Canandaigua, N.Y. Their summer tour will promote their upcoming album, Everything Must Go, due April 25.

A replacement for Arevalo has not been named, but Goose played several winter concerts as a quartet without him. The current lineup includes guitarist Rick Mitarotonda, guitarist/keyboardist Peter Anspach, bassist Trevor Weekz and drummer Cotter Ellis, who replaced previous Goose drummer Ben Atkind at the end of 2023.

This past tour was an unexpected challenge to navigate, but through it all, the four of us forged a deeper connection on and off stage, Goose said Sunday. Were feeling inspired to continue growing as a unit as we move into this next chapter, and are deeply grateful for everyone with us on this journey.

Arevalo, who played upright bass in the Goose side project Orebolo, said hes also done with Orebolo. He said he plans to play bass in a new music project and will hold tryouts for guitarists.

Goose formed in Connecticut in 2014 and built a fan following over the past decade with improvisational live performances and a genre-blending indie rock/jam sound. They opened for the Trey Anastasio Band in Syracuse in 2022, and have appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Tonight Show and CBS Saturday Morning.
New Yorkers can vote for their favorite burger until April 11. Judges will then sample the top 10 and name the best in May. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Eleven Syracuse-area bars and restaurants have been nominated for the ninth annual Best Burger in New York contest. They are among 62 nominees from across Upstate New York, representing the Hudson Valley, Western New York, the Capital Region and Central New York.

New Yorkers can vote for their favorite through April 11.

Weve seen an impressive lineup of nominations, and now its time for the public to help determine which burger reigns supreme, said Chrissy Claudio, director of consumer engagement at the New York Beef Council.

Once voting closes, the top 10 finalists will be visited secretly in April by a panel of 19 judges selected by the NY Beef Council. The judges will evaluate each burger based on taste, appearance, overall eating experience.

The winner will be named May 12 at the State Capitol during the May Beef Month Proclamation.

The contest opened on Feb. 26, with the public nominating their favorite burgers. The top competitors, determined by online votes, were announced this morning. Among them is Ale n Angus in downtown Syracuse, a seven-time champion. Last years winner, Chatham Brewing  located 30 miles south of Albany  took home the title of Best Burger in New York with its Loaded Brewery Burger.

The Syracuse-area finalists are:

Ale n Angus, Syracuse

Angry Garlic, Baldwinsville

Bear Creek, Brewerton

Blarney Stone, Syracuse

Brewer Union, Brewerton

Craftsman Wood Grille & Tap House, Fayetteville

Get Smashed, Syracuse

Heritage Hill Brewery, Pompey

Jakes Grub & Grob, Brewerton

Pond Pit BBQ, Sandy Creek

Talking Cursive Brewing, Syracuse

Click here to vote for your favorite.

****

Charlie Miller finds the best in food, drinks and fun across Central New York. (AND he pays for what he and his guests eat and drink, just so you know.) Contact him at (315) 382-1984, or by email at cmiller@syracuse.com. You can also find him under @HoosierCuse on Instagram and X. Sign up for his weekly Where Syracuse Eats newsletter here.
Cornell student Momodou Taal has filed a lawsuit to try to stop his deportation by the Trump administration after he participated in pro-Palestinian protests last year on campus. Ming DeMers/The Cornell Daily Sun

Syracuse, N.Y.  Lawyers for a Cornell University graduate student argued Tuesday in federal court in Syracuse that the government was attempting to illegally deport him for attending pro-Palestinian protests last year.

A lawsuit filed on behalf of the student, Momodou Taal, seeks a nationwide injunction against executive orders by President Donald Trump that purport to crack down on antisemitism.

Taals lawyer, Eric Lee, said the lawsuit was a test case on the First Amendment protections of the hundreds of thousands of people like Taal who attend American colleges and universities on student visas.

Next it will be you, Lee said. We dont know where this ends.

U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Coombe heard oral arguments for about an hour Tuesday afternoon and did not immediately rule on the case. She was nominated for her judgeship by President Joe Biden and took office in December.

More than a hundred people packed Courtroom No. 5 and an overflow room in the James M. Hanley Federal Building. Supporters of Taal rallied after the hearing in front of the building in downtown Syracuse.

The new top federal prosecutor for much of Upstate New York, John Sarcone III, also attended the hearing. He handed what appeared to be a small American flag to the Washington-based government lawyers who argued the case.

Cornell temporarily suspended Taal, a citizen of The Gambia and the United Kingdom, after he participated in pro-Palestinian protests at the universitys campus in Ithaca. He is now studying remotely and his full access to campus was to be restored when the current semester ends, his lawyers said in court papers.

The lawsuit was originally filed March 15 to try to block Trumps executive orders on the grounds they violate the First and Fifth amendments. Taal feared they could be used in an effort to deport him.

His lawyers later filed an emergency motion on March 20 after plainclothes law enforcement officers were spotted near Taals home in Ithaca.

Government lawyers sent an email at about 1 a.m. on March 21 to say Taals visa had been revoked and asked when he could turn himself in to federal authorities.

Government officials later said in court papers that Taals visa had been revoked on March 14  the day before the lawsuit was filed  under a section of federal law that allows discretion for a visa to be revoked.

Immigration officials have said they have thus far been unable to locate Taal to make a civil arrest.

Taal is one of several Ivy League graduate students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests who the Trump administration is now attempting to remove from the country. Trump said on the campaign trail that he would do just that.

Federal authorities earlier this month detained Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent resident and a graduate student at Columbia University. And a lawsuit filed Monday said the government was seeking to detain another permanent resident who attended Columbia.

In court Tuesday, Coombe questioned whether Taal could instead challenge the revocation of his visa through the immigration system as removal proceedings begin.

Lee said it could take months to get in front of an immigration judge and it was proper to bring the case now through the regular court system. He acknowledged his argument wouldnt be as strong if it didnt relate to the First Amendment.

Ethan Kanter, a top government lawyer, said the lawsuit was essentially an attempt to end-run around the typical immigration process.

Kanter also said the executive orders signed by Trump were unquestionably lawful and outlined the administrations policy emphases and priorities.

Before the 2 p.m. hearing, protesters gathered outside the federal building.

Im here for free speech and to protect the First Amendment, a protester said. Theres a lot of energy here, but also a lot of fear.

A group of protesters gathered near the door of the building, some singing chants and others quietly holding Palestinian flags and freedom of speech signs.

Im a student at Cornell and Momodou is a friend and cherished member of the Cornell community, Nick Wison said. Whats coming from the Trump administration and university administration is bad. Cornell is not protecting its students. It goes against the values of the university and its really disgusting.

Staff writer Greta Stuckey contributed reporting.

People stand in line to enter the James M. Hanley Federal Building in Syracuse to attend a hearing in a case challenging the Trump administration on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. Greta Stuckey | gstuckey@syracuse.com

Staff writer Jon Moss covers breaking news, crime and public safety. He can be reached at jmoss@syracuse.com or @mossjon7.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was among the Trump administration officials involved in a discussion of sensitive war plans on the messaging app Signal. Wearing a U.S. flag themed pocket square and belt buckle, Hegseth waits for the start of a television interview outside the White House, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Washington. (Jacquelyn Martin | AP Photo) Jacquelyn Martin | AP Photo

Lawmakers from both parties, along with defense and national security experts, are slamming the administration of President Donald Trump after a major lapse in security procedures involving sensitive military plans.

Officials from the administration were discussing plans for airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen on the encrypted messaging app Signal earlier in March. The text chain included sensitive details about the plans.

Individuals involved included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz, Vice President JD Vance and others. The editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine was inadvertently added to the group, which the editor revealed on Monday.

The strikes began earlier in March.

Critics have been bashing the Trump administration both for the mistaken addition of a journalist to the group and for the fact that the discussion took place on a publicly available app instead of secure government communications channels.

On the Senate floor on Monday, the minority leader, Democrat Chuck Schumer, called the incident one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence I have read about in a very, very long time and urged Republicans to seek a full investigation into how this happened, the damage it created and how we can avoid it in the future, according to The Guardian.

Delaware Sen. Chris Coons, also a Democrat, wrote on X that every official on the text chain had committed a crime, even if accidentally. He added that Americans couldnt trust anyone in the administration to keep them safe, according to The Guardian.

New York Rep. Pat Ryan referred to the incident as FUBAR, an acronym for fouled (or f---ed) up beyond all recognition, The Guardian said.

It has made us look weak to our adversaries, the California congressman Ro Khanna said, according to The Guardian. We need to take cybersecurity far more seriously and I look forward to leading on that.

At the Pentagon, officials were shocked, according to Politico.

No, no they didnt, said one Defense Department official, Politico said. Just absolutely unbelievable.

Another said the department either didnt have a strong cybersecurity position at the moment or Hegseth simply wasnt following proper procedures, according to Politico.

Republicans werent happy either.

Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the Republican chair of the Armed Services Committee, said the situation is a concern, according to CBS News. He added that it appears mistakes were made.

Wicker said his committee plans to look into the incident and expected classified briefings about what took place.

Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, said the situation sounded like a huge screw-up.

Hillary Clinton also weighed in. She faced repeated questions from Republicans over the years on her use of a private email server while she was secretary of state during the administration of President Barack Obama.

You have got to be kidding me, Clinton said on X, sharing the eyes emoji along with The Atlantic article, according to Yahoo News.
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a challenge to the landmark press-freedom case New York Times v. Sullivan brought by casino mogul and Central New York native Steve Wynn.

The 1964 case found that public figures in defamation suits must show that a statement is not only false, but was published with actual malice, meaning the publisher either knew it was untrue or acted with reckless disregard to the truth. The court declined to hear the case in a brief order without comment, according to the Associated Press.

Wynns challenge was in regards to a 2018 lawsuit he brought against the AP over a story about police reports detailing allegations of sexual misconduct against Wynn by two women in the 1970s, according to The Hill. Wynn denied the allegations, The Hill reports. A Nevada court rejected the suit.

Wynn, a billionaire who is the former CEO of Wynn Resorts, argued that the standard for libel against public figures set in Sullivan V. New York Times is unfit for the modern era, according to The Hill. Instead, everyone in the world has the ability to publish any statement with a few keystrokes. And in this age of clickbait journalism, even those members of the legacy media have resorted to libelous headlines and false reports to generate views. This Court need not further this golden era of lies, Wynns petition said.

Wynn grew up in Utica and is a 1959 graduate of The Manlius School, which later merged with Manlius Pebble Hill School. He donated $50 million for the Wynn Hospital in downtown Utica, which opened in 2023.

Wynn is a longtime supporter of the Republican Party. He was the finance chairman of the Republican National Committee from 2017 until stepping down in 2018 amid allegations of sexual misconduct, the New York Times reported.

He has remained a large donor; Forbes reports that he co-hosted a $50 million fundraiser in Palm Springs for Donald Trump in 2024, and donated more than $800,000 to the Trump 47 committee in the first quarter of last year. According to Politico, Wynn met with Trump on the campaign trail and was at a party with Trump on election night.

Trump himself took aim at libel laws on the campaign trail. At a rally in Texas, according to Politico, Trump said that he was going to open up the libel laws, arguing against the protections that papers like the New York Times and Washington Post have, saying that were going to have people sue you like youve never got sued before.
An Upstate New York cop has been arrested for allegedly possessing and distributing child porn online.

Steuben County Sheriffs Deputy Stuart J. McHenry, 34, of Hornell, N.Y., has been charged with distribution and receipt of child pornography, according to a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorneys Office, Western District of New York. The crime carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a fine of up to $250,000.

McHenry is accused of using the instant messaging app Kik to send and receive child porn via private messages with other users. An investigation was launched last year after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a CyberTip about Kik user acman990, later identified as McHenry.

New York State Police and FBI agents executing a search warrant in October seized two cell phones from McHenrys home in Hornell, located about 60 miles south of Rochester, according to U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo. Investigators found sexually explicit conversations and child pornography videos and images through McHenrys iCloud and Kik accounts, DiGiacomo said.

McHenry appeared in court Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen. He is now in custody pending a detention hearing, according to WETM.

WHAM reports the Steuben County Sheriffs Office has not commented on McHenrys employment status.

The office, under the direction of Sheriff Jim Allard, contributed to the investigation, according to DiGiacomo.
This undated photo provided by the U.S. Army shows Army Pvt. Henry Johnson. Johnson, from Albany, N.Y., was a World War I Army hero recognized with the Medal of Honor in 2015, nearly 100 years after bravely rescuing comrades on the battlefields of France. (U.S. Army via AP) AP

Ashley Soebroto, Times Union, Albany, N.Y. (TNS)

Following executive orders by President Donald J. Trump ending diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within the federal government, a U.S. Army website page about a military base renamed for African-American World War I hero Sgt. Henry Johnson has been scrubbed.

As of Friday night, the page read 404 Page Not Found. The page was taken down as culturally-focused Army websites (are) under review for compliance with Executive and OSD policy, as stated on the U.S. Army website. The webpages removal follows a Trump order from January to implement a ban on DEI programs at federal agencies.

Johnson was a soldier from Albany who first enlisted in 1917 with the all-Black 15th New York National Guard Regiment, which became the 369th U.S. Infantry Regiment, aka the Harlem Hell Fighters, and was shipped overseas to France. Johnsons unit and other Black regiments were assigned to the command of the French army, which needed fighters. In the U.S. Army, they were only allowed to serve in non-combat roles due to racial segregation policies.

Johnson would be awarded Frances Croix de Guerre for his bravery in single-handedly fighting off a German raiding party in May 1918 despite being seriously wounded.

It took almost a century of advocacy by historians, Black veterans and New York politicians for Johnsons heroism to be properly recognized by his own country because of racial injustice. In 1996, Johnson was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for the 21 wounds he suffered in the attack. In 2002, he was also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Then in 2015, Johnson received the Medal of Honor, the nations highest military honor.

In 2023, the Louisiana military base formerly called Fort Polk  after Confederate Gen. Leonidas Polk, who fought against the U.S. during the Civil War  was renamed in honor of Johnson. At the time, it was another step toward acknowledging the work and legacy of Black American military service members.

A sign at west Louisiana U.S. Army base displays the base's new name in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, Tuesday, June 13, 2023. The former Fort Polk on Tuesday formally became Fort Johnson, named for a Black World War I hero. (Crystal Stevenson/The American Press via AP) AP

Now, however, the Army has taken down webpages entirely dedicated to cultural observance months, according to U.S. Army spokesperson, Christopher Surridge. Included among those taken-down pages is the one about Fort Polk being renamed after Johnson.

Historical content related to culturally focused Army websites was temporarily archived and will soon be republished online, read the statement Surridge sent to the Times Union. There are many stories available on Army websites that celebrate the bravery and esteemed legacy of service members, as we remain committed to sharing the enduring legacies of our brave Soldiers, units, and sacrifices.

In a memorandum for senior Pentagon leaders linked on the Armys website, branches of the Department of Defense were required to remove all (Department of Defense) news and feature articles, photos, and videos that promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

The U.S. Armys Medal of Honor webpage for Johnson was available as of Friday night as was a YouTube video detailing Johnsons acts of heroism, posted by JRTC and Fort Johnson.

In a statement to the Times Union, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer said he was deeply concerned by reports that the Department of Defense has removed articles on the naming of Fort Henry Johnson, honoring the heroic and courageous acts of the Medal of Honor recipient, Harlem Hellfighter, and Albany native, Henry Johnson.

Schumer was among those who worked for years on the effort to secure the Medal of Honor for Johnson.

Henry Johnson was, is, and will forever be a true American hero, who put his life at risk for America in a military that failed to honor him at the time, the statement reads. I have fought for years to make sure Sgt. Johnson received the Medal of Honor he deserved for the heroism that was validated contemporaneously by his foxhole partner Needham Roberts and the Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces, Gen. John Black Jack Pershing. The DoD should fix this immediately.

 2025 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) . Visit www.timesunion.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The US position is that the implementation of ceasefire agreements between Russia and Ukraine at sea and on energy infrastructure facilities should begin immediately after the publication of joint Ukrainian-American and American-Russian statements, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"They believe that after the American side officially comes out with a statement, there may be a start of decisions already implemented in this document. There is no faith in the Russians here, but I believe that we will be constructive. If this is so, and now the Minister of Defense will confirm this to me over the phone, then it means that we will do our job to implement the agreement of the Ukrainian-American meeting," Zelenskyy said during a conversation with journalists on Tuesday.

According to him, the United States has agreed with Ukraine and the Russian Federation to stop attacks on energy facilities and ensure civilian shipping.

"Everything is connected with energy: we do not hit their energy, they do not hit our energy. I think that there are a million questions, honestly, I think so, there will be a million questions and details, but today it sounds like each side does not use the corresponding weapons on the energy of both sides. That's how it sounds," the president said, answering a journalist's question.

Zelenskyy also said that Ukraine had given the USA a list of objects at sea that could not be attacked, all of them are civilian.

"As for the sea. We have separately, just in case, handed over all our facilities that cannot be attacked. As for the sea, we are talking about the ceasefire at the sea and free navigation. We are not talking about military targets - they cannot move. We are talking about cargo shipping, which we have, it must move. Free navigation of civilian ships," he said.

At the same time, according to the head of state, the American side believes that a cesefire at sea and free navigation "also indicate that attacks on port infrastructure cannot be carried out." "There will still be many clarifications on these agreements," Zelenskyy said.
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goliath Newbie



Join Date: Oct 2023 Location: Mumbai Posts: 8 Thanked: 45 Times





Upgrading with a new car: It would be my second upgrade and 3rd car. The journey so far was from Wagon-R VXi to i20 elite Asta (O), both petrol models. Yes, the buying decisions were influenced by earnings in terms of budget.



Family was not supportive of the upgrade immediately, delaying the decision, and things started taking positive shapes once my better half gave a nod to go ahead.



She needed a car that has good space, is comfortable, and has premium interiors. I needed a car for long trips and a better driving experience. The Elite i20 had been wonderful, which I drove 1000+ km in a day on several occasions. Somewhere I would rather not part ways with her (i20), she had been wonderful throughout drives and bankable across 8 years. However, an upgrade was a must now, and we must move on.



The sedan was ruled out by my wife, and the pitch was for a small family of 3; our current car serves the purpose. The 11-year-old kid was a surprise element; I caught his interest in cars a few months back, and he started advocating as well. We discussed it, and the SUV segment was common. We finally shortlisted the XUV700 AX7-L, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Meridian, Innova Crysta, and Toyota Hycross. Again, budget! Wife was adamant on the sub-30 lakhs range while I kept persuading for the sub-40 lakhs range.



Test Drives and Dealer Experience: One thing was common across dealers: if you are not booking, lets talk about price and when you are willing to book. As soon as you tell us we are deciding, the treatment was just for window shopping. Toyota was an exception; Lakozy Toyota at Malad West was really in for professional treatment of customers. I was pleasantly surprised from my entry to exit the showroom, which included a test drive as well. I appreciate it and would give them 10/10 for their handling of potential customers.



Rest all dealers, in short, failed! Plain and simple, they seemed disinterested. Hyundai was unexpectedly bad. One Hyundai dealer showed me the Alcazar, as he didnt have a Tucson available currently, and interestingly, the car was lying in a corner with 1 cm of dust across. I even snapped who shows such a car to customers! He replied, It will get cleaned; this is going for delivery tomorrow. I was shocked. The other Hyundai showroom was not interested in the Tucson and kept pushing for the Alcazar top variant.



Mahindra dealers, I dont even want to get started. So much so that I shot a complaint to Mahindra's CEO. I was now running out of patience, and the dilemma was once I purchased through them, these dealers couldnt be trusted with service given the current experience at showrooms.



Toyota was suddenly on top of the list. The test drive experience was good. Hycross certainly has a lot of space (10/10) and interiors (7/10), and I am not a fan of the color combinations offered on the ZX(O). As soon as I started the vehicle, I was like, really, pleasantly surprisedNO NOISE, and the vehicle had started in EV mode. The test drive provided a clear picture. It is good for city drives and short drives up to 200 km range but not for long drives given I will be the sole driver. While switching between electric and petrol and vice versa was awesome. I had my doubts about the power demanded by the driver, and also it made a sound as if it were extracting a lot of power from the engine while pressing the accelerator to speed or overtake. Fuel efficiency seemed good, dealer experience was good, reliability of the vehicle and brand was good, and there was lots of space (Mumbaikars love space immediately). Grey areas: tire profile, captain seats in the second row, acceleration and power (important on long drives), and finally 2.7 lakhs of insurance and accessories where the dealer was not ready to move an inch. And did I mention the long waiting period of 8-12 months? It seemed that this deal wouldnt work now with captain seats and the price tag; it would be hard to convince my better half. The waiting period was something that I was not ready for anyway. So, I dropped it.



Hyundai dealers not keen on selling Tucson made me leave with 2 options: XUV700 AX7-L and Jeep Meridian. It might seem like comparing apples to oranges now, and the obnoxious pricing of the Jeep Meridian made things simpler. A difference of 10 lakhs on the ex-showroom price made my arguments too weak, and my wife had her way. XUV700 AX7-L it is.



XUV700 test drive: I just walked in NBS Andheri and took a test drive. The sound of the diesel engine (the sound of the engine tells you a lot; its like listening to a heartbeat). Release of brake and she rolls, effortlessly. Thanks to Andheri traffic, the test drive was more than fruitful. Other than usual DEF concerns, I could only find all checks on. Powerful engine, smooth drive, premium interiors (I am not elaborating as we have tons of posts here), and steering through traffic and U-turns made it crystal clear. This is the one! The AWD option was preferred; however, I settled for 2WD as it was available, and off-roading was never done, and I am not sure if I will ever do it. 2.2 L engine kept adrenaline rush compared to the current 1.2 L VTVT petrol. The 3rd-row seat is good enough for kids, and we do not need it, so why bother?



Buying and BH Series: Which dealer now? Speaking to someone in the office, I found out that NBS Mahindra is a subsidiary of M&M. I made my way to the Kandivali-W showroom; all discussions were smooth, and the quote was issued. I asked for the BH-series number, and discussions went a little out of the way with the demand for 4 transfer letters to be furnished. I told them it is not possible to furnish transfer letters, that too 4 of them. He was adamant, and I told them, Thank you!



The BH Series is an interesting topic, and with dealers not much interested in it, I was again looking for a dealer. Office work didnt help get things moving faster either.



I got in touch with NBS Andheri, from where I received a call earlier, and I didnt visit as it was far (read: because of Mumbai traffic) from home and office. I called upon and the sales executive told me the BH series would be done. I was struggling to understand why the BH series is so difficult when I can furnish documents.



The quote was finalized, and I ended up in NBS Andheri-W without informing them. Much better experience and professional 9/10. The test drive is done, and I spoke to the person handling registration and found out that Mumbai and Thane have different ways of handling BH series applications. Then I may need to go personally when called upon at Thane RTO. I agreed. Given I had issues with state registration while I changed states for work and RTO experience, well, less said is better. I needed the BH series. Booking done. Booked the vehicle with 2025 manufacturing, and I told them I would need the VIN. IN. Discussions went fast after they realized I know a few things about cars. Offered the vehicle, and I got the VIN (noted down). Oh, that was fast! They were not having a vehicle, but it appeared, I guess. Things moved faster after, and once DO was issued by the bank, registration was the next thing. Given reactions from different dealers, I had some doubts on the BH series, and somewhere, I was making myself ready to pay for the MH series. More than cash, it was nightmarish experiences at RTOs in a couple of states.



I got a call and notice of 2 hours to reach Thane RTO. I was shocked after I found out that RTO is somewhere near the central jail, and more than the distance, I need to cross Mumbai's terrible traffic to reach that area. Pulled out all skills to reach through the metro and taxi combo while collecting Govt. ID en route to RTO. When you have a nightmarish past of n number of visits to RTO, every second was tough waiting for the person to meet me. He meets and walks me down to the RTO officer and makes me stand in queue. More frustration and tests of patience. At least 4 times I was corrected by the peon on how I should stand and why I might be obstructing the view of the RTO officers door. I assured him that I wont barge in without his permission. Once I was in, I faced a barrage of questions, including where I had lived, my permanent address, and my current residence. If I am a tenant here, which documents of address proof? I mentioned the rent agreement, and to my astonishment, he threw documents in front of me and asked if there were no such documents. Again, patience. I explained to him that the dealer had taken a lot of documents and he had kept other documents; I felt like being grilled. Not used to such scrutiny, I waited. He put tick marks on the address proof and one big tick on the cover paper (brown paper cover) and said OK. I was surprised; thats it. I mean NO signature and just a tick mark. However, I was happy to have gotten the approval. Barring this experience, Thane RTO is super fast. Number issued the same evening, and RC delivered within a week. Wow, relieved!



Delivery: We arrived on time, and the car was ready, and they were preparing for the delivery ceremony. Accessories were asked for and fitted from the showroom (side steps, screen guard, 7D mat, and mud flaps) at approx. Rs. 34000.



That was ok considering we asked for 11 AM delivery. The BH number plate was fixed, the inspection was done once, and I was happy to see the odometer at 70 km and Bridgestone EP850 235/60 R18 103V tires. I had planned a Michelin upgrade if they would have given MRF (difference Rs. 6500-7500 * 4 tires) as an upgrade cost. With Bridgestone, I skipped the upgrade. Wife did Pooja, we were given a small Ganapati idol, and we handed over sweet packets. I asked them to take all the polythene off the car seats. Got keys, and we drove back. Great feeling and wonderful experience. NBS Andheri is 10/10 rated. Everyone has different experiences, but I would recommend this anytime, irrespective of distance from your residence, for Mumbaikars.



Drive to Pune: Other than driving on the coastal road of Mumbai, we went to Pune for darshan and came back. 500+ km done, and automatic driving is bliss. Powerful engine and higher gear shifting make the engine smoother, usually beyond the 30 km/hr mark. Powerful and no lag experienced. No body roll was experienced. And mileage seems good at 16 kmpl on highways (with slow patches near Lonavala taking 30-odd minutes for 1 km). And then, the usual Mahindra stuff popped up: blacked-out screens after I filled the tank up at the fuel pump and started the engine. I slowly rolled out to one corner and switched off the engine. Started after 30 seconds; screens lit up (for years my IT team has been telling me, Restart your laptop). Comfortable and wonderful experience.



It was good to have the Start/Stop feature disable option available. Although AC was on when the engine got switched off, I didnt understand much of this facility (I dont know if this is even worth it) from repeated off and on. Braking experience was good, and ADAS works well; however, I let control with myself rather than allowing the vehicle to do emergency braking.



Service and 1000 KM update: Finally, time for 1000 km service updates. I was waiting for getting service done. Two main reasons: lets see how the service levels are. I was confident and comfortable with Hyundai (better than Maruti), and now I'm on to my 3rd company experience. I also wanted to get an SD card for video recording fitted in it for video recording. Bought a 32 GB SanDisk card and kept it handy. When I started the app to book service, whoa, there it is! Long waiting. Not used to this, Hyundai used to pull us to get service done. Now, the tables have turned; I need to be in the queue to get service appointments. And, interestingly, it is more than 10 days of wait time for me (NBS Goregaon). A nearby experience with another dealer didnt go well (I asked them to fit an SD card with a prior appointment). However, when I went there for fitment, I understood we had compatibility issues. Details not mentioned. Went for service with NBS Goregaon and added 4th and 5th year service warranty. Although it burnt a hole in my pocket, I was satisfied with getting some peace with it. Changed scuff plates on 4 doors. Asked him to put in the SD card. All done and car delivered on time. Thanks to Mumbai officials, who have made digging a common sight across, within 100 meters out of the showroom, the car was all dust. I noticed engine rev improved (or am I thinking?). The car was smooth, and I am loving it more. Now, I am more accustomed to a taller driving stance. Although I will confess, I see more gadgets on the infotainment screen than I really need. Thanks for reading the experience.



Pictures: A few pictures of (sharing) joy with the team-bhp family.



















































It has been a long time since I have been associated as a reader with this wonderful community. When I became a member, I could not post for long with personal exigencies keeping me occupied. I am submitting my post and hope to continue contributing to the ocean of enthusiasts and wonderful Team-BHP members as well as readers.Upgrading with a new car: It would be my second upgrade and 3rd car. The journey so far was from Wagon-R VXi to i20 elite Asta (O), both petrol models. Yes, the buying decisions were influenced by earnings in terms of budget.Family was not supportive of the upgrade immediately, delaying the decision, and things started taking positive shapes once my better half gave a nod to go ahead.She needed a car that has good space, is comfortable, and has premium interiors. I needed a car for long trips and a better driving experience. The Elite i20 had been wonderful, which I drove 1000+ km in a day on several occasions. Somewhere I would rather not part ways with her (i20), she had been wonderful throughout drives and bankable across 8 years. However, an upgrade was a must now, and we must move on.The sedan was ruled out by my wife, and the pitch was for a small family of 3; our current car serves the purpose. The 11-year-old kid was a surprise element; I caught his interest in cars a few months back, and he started advocating as well. We discussed it, and the SUV segment was common. We finally shortlisted the XUV700 AX7-L, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Meridian, Innova Crysta, and Toyota Hycross. Again, budget! Wife was adamant on the sub-30 lakhs range while I kept persuading for the sub-40 lakhs range.Test Drives and Dealer Experience: One thing was common across dealers: if you are not booking, lets talk about price and when you are willing to book. As soon as you tell us we are deciding, the treatment was just for window shopping. Toyota was an exception; Lakozy Toyota at Malad West was really in for professional treatment of customers. I was pleasantly surprised from my entry to exit the showroom, which included a test drive as well. I appreciate it and would give them 10/10 for their handling of potential customers.Rest all dealers, in short, failed! Plain and simple, they seemed disinterested. Hyundai was unexpectedly bad. One Hyundai dealer showed me the Alcazar, as he didnt have a Tucson available currently, and interestingly, the car was lying in a corner with 1 cm of dust across. I even snapped who shows such a car to customers!He replied, It will get cleaned; this is going for delivery tomorrow. I was shocked. The other Hyundai showroom was not interested in the Tucson and kept pushing for the Alcazar top variant.Mahindra dealers, I dont even want to get started. So much so that I shot a complaint to Mahindra's CEO. I was now running out of patience, and the dilemma was once I purchased through them, these dealers couldnt be trusted with service given the current experience at showrooms.Toyota was suddenly on top of the list. The test drive experience was good. Hycross certainly has a lot of space (10/10) and interiors (7/10), and I am not a fan of the color combinations offered on the ZX(O). As soon as I started the vehicle, I was like, really, pleasantly surprisedNO NOISE, and the vehicle had started in EV mode. The test drive provided a clear picture. It is good for city drives and short drives up to 200 km range but not for long drives given I will be the sole driver. While switching between electric and petrol and vice versa was awesome. I had my doubts about the power demanded by the driver, and also it made a sound as if it were extracting a lot of power from the engine while pressing the accelerator to speed or overtake. Fuel efficiency seemed good, dealer experience was good, reliability of the vehicle and brand was good, and there was lots of space (Mumbaikars love space immediately). Grey areas: tire profile, captain seats in the second row, acceleration and power (important on long drives), and finally 2.7 lakhs of insurance and accessories where the dealer was not ready to move an inch. And did I mention the long waiting period of 8-12 months? It seemed that this deal wouldnt work now with captain seats and the price tag; it would be hard to convince my better half. The waiting period was something that I was not ready for anyway. So, I dropped it.Hyundai dealers not keen on selling Tucson made me leave with 2 options: XUV700 AX7-L and Jeep Meridian. It might seem like comparing apples to oranges now, and the obnoxious pricing of the Jeep Meridian made things simpler. A difference of 10 lakhs on the ex-showroom price made my arguments too weak, and my wife had her way. XUV700 AX7-L it is.XUV700 test drive: I just walked in NBS Andheri and took a test drive. The sound of the diesel engine (the sound of the engine tells you a lot; its like listening to a heartbeat). Release of brake and she rolls, effortlessly. Thanks to Andheri traffic, the test drive was more than fruitful. Other than usual DEF concerns, I could only find all checks on. Powerful engine, smooth drive, premium interiors (I am not elaborating as we have tons of posts here), and steering through traffic and U-turns made it crystal clear. This is the one! The AWD option was preferred; however, I settled for 2WD as it was available, and off-roading was never done, and I am not sure if I will ever do it. 2.2 L engine kept adrenaline rush compared to the current 1.2 L VTVT petrol. The 3rd-row seat is good enough for kids, and we do not need it, so why bother?Buying and BH Series: Which dealer now? Speaking to someone in the office, I found out that NBS Mahindra is a subsidiary of M&M. I made my way to the Kandivali-W showroom; all discussions were smooth, and the quote was issued. I asked for the BH-series number, and discussions went a little out of the way with the demand for 4 transfer letters to be furnished. I told them it is not possible to furnish transfer letters, that too 4 of them. He was adamant, and I told them, Thank you!The BH Series is an interesting topic, and with dealers not much interested in it, I was again looking for a dealer. Office work didnt help get things moving faster either.I got in touch with NBS Andheri, from where I received a call earlier, and I didnt visit as it was far (read: because of Mumbai traffic) from home and office. I called upon and the sales executive told me the BH series would be done. I was struggling to understand why the BH series is so difficult when I can furnish documents.The quote was finalized, and I ended up in NBS Andheri-W without informing them. Much better experience and professional 9/10. The test drive is done, and I spoke to the person handling registration and found out that Mumbai and Thane have different ways of handling BH series applications. Then I may need to go personally when called upon at Thane RTO. I agreed. Given I had issues with state registration while I changed states for work and RTO experience, well, less said is better. I needed the BH series. Booking done. Booked the vehicle with 2025 manufacturing, and I told them I would need the VIN. IN. Discussions went fast after they realized I know a few things about cars. Offered the vehicle, and I got the VIN (noted down). Oh, that was fast! They were not having a vehicle, but it appeared, I guess. Things moved faster after, and once DO was issued by the bank, registration was the next thing. Given reactions from different dealers, I had some doubts on the BH series, and somewhere, I was making myself ready to pay for the MH series. More than cash, it was nightmarish experiences at RTOs in a couple of states.I got a call and notice of 2 hours to reach Thane RTO. I was shocked after I found out that RTO is somewhere near the central jail, and more than the distance, I need to cross Mumbai's terrible traffic to reach that area. Pulled out all skills to reach through the metro and taxi combo while collecting Govt. ID en route to RTO. When you have a nightmarish past of n number of visits to RTO, every second was tough waiting for the person to meet me. He meets and walks me down to the RTO officer and makes me stand in queue. More frustration and tests of patience. At least 4 times I was corrected by the peon on how I should stand and why I might be obstructing the view of the RTO officers door. I assured him that I wont barge in without his permission. Once I was in, I faced a barrage of questions, including where I had lived, my permanent address, and my current residence. If I am a tenant here, which documents of address proof? I mentioned the rent agreement, and to my astonishment, he threw documents in front of me and asked if there were no such documents. Again, patience. I explained to him that the dealer had taken a lot of documents and he had kept other documents; I felt like being grilled. Not used to such scrutiny, I waited. He put tick marks on the address proof and one big tick on the cover paper (brown paper cover) and said OK. I was surprised; thats it. I mean NO signature and just a tick mark. However, I was happy to have gotten the approval. Barring this experience, Thane RTO is super fast. Number issued the same evening, and RC delivered within a week. Wow, relieved!Delivery: We arrived on time, and the car was ready, and they were preparing for the delivery ceremony. Accessories were asked for and fitted from the showroom (side steps, screen guard, 7D mat, and mud flaps) at approx. Rs. 34000.That was ok considering we asked for 11 AM delivery. The BH number plate was fixed, the inspection was done once, and I was happy to see the odometer at 70 km and Bridgestone EP850 235/60 R18 103V tires. I had planned a Michelin upgrade if they would have given MRF (difference Rs. 6500-7500 * 4 tires) as an upgrade cost. With Bridgestone, I skipped the upgrade. Wife did Pooja, we were given a small Ganapati idol, and we handed over sweet packets. I asked them to take all the polythene off the car seats. Got keys, and we drove back. Great feeling and wonderful experience. NBS Andheri is 10/10 rated. Everyone has different experiences, but I would recommend this anytime, irrespective of distance from your residence, for Mumbaikars.Drive to Pune: Other than driving on the coastal road of Mumbai, we went to Pune for darshan and came back. 500+ km done, and automatic driving is bliss. Powerful engine and higher gear shifting make the engine smoother, usually beyond the 30 km/hr mark. Powerful and no lag experienced. No body roll was experienced. And mileage seems good at 16 kmpl on highways (with slow patches near Lonavala taking 30-odd minutes for 1 km). And then, the usual Mahindra stuff popped up: blacked-out screens after I filled the tank up at the fuel pump and started the engine. I slowly rolled out to one corner and switched off the engine. Started after 30 seconds; screens lit up (for years my IT team has been telling me, Restart your laptop). Comfortable and wonderful experience.It was good to have the Start/Stop feature disable option available. Although AC was on when the engine got switched off, I didnt understand much of this facility (I dont know if this is even worth it) from repeated off and on. Braking experience was good, and ADAS works well; however, I let control with myself rather than allowing the vehicle to do emergency braking.Service and 1000 KM update: Finally, time for 1000 km service updates. I was waiting for getting service done. Two main reasons: lets see how the service levels are. I was confident and comfortable with Hyundai (better than Maruti), and now I'm on to my 3rd company experience. I also wanted to get an SD card for video recording fitted in it for video recording. Bought a 32 GB SanDisk card and kept it handy. When I started the app to book service, whoa, there it is! Long waiting. Not used to this, Hyundai used to pull us to get service done. Now, the tables have turned; I need to be in the queue to get service appointments. And, interestingly, it is more than 10 days of wait time for me (NBS Goregaon). A nearby experience with another dealer didnt go well (I asked them to fit an SD card with a prior appointment). However, when I went there for fitment, I understood we had compatibility issues. Details not mentioned. Went for service with NBS Goregaon and added 4th and 5th year service warranty. Although it burnt a hole in my pocket, I was satisfied with getting some peace with it. Changed scuff plates on 4 doors. Asked him to put in the SD card. All done and car delivered on time. Thanks to Mumbai officials, who have made digging a common sight across, within 100 meters out of the showroom, the car was all dust. I noticed engine rev improved (or am I thinking?). The car was smooth, and I am loving it more. Now, I am more accustomed to a taller driving stance. Although I will confess, I see more gadgets on the infotainment screen than I really need. Thanks for reading the experience.Pictures: A few pictures of (sharing) joy with the team-bhp family. Last edited by Aditya : 24th March 2025 at 17:02 .
V.Narayan Distinguished - BHPian

Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Delhi-NCR Posts: 4,355 Thanked: 73,315 Times

Re: Worlds happiest countries in 2024 | India is ranked at 126 Quote: alisajid Originally Posted by We have developed a tendency to debunk every report that shows us the areas of improvement, most of the world organizations surveys and rankings are getting questioned,this approach will negatively impact our goals and vision.



I disagree that these are respected world organizations. First there is no sane or commercial need for such a survey, second I question the political motivation of those who sponsor such surveys or more correctly those who fund those who sponsor. If we think these are innocent goody two shoes organizations working for the greater good of the world we will simply disagree. These are just the sort of things Soros funds and loves to see it stir the pot. Any study that announces the "truth"should be viewed with suspicion as to the motives and who the real backers are. Follow the money.



Why do we never see such surveys from Japan or China or Singapore but only from the West. Who appointed Gallup etc to be the moral compass of the world. And why pray is there opinion valid. What moralistic credentials do they have. Being a Western name does not mean it is more credible. Gallu does do some good work and some reliable work but this is not their shining star. If you really need a happiness survey let the United Nations organize one with a committee formed of representatives for each continent. I'm sure you will disagree with my views but then that is the essence of a discussion.



Quote: If we are so veiled towards worlds understanding of our condition, then Iam afraid we will get into denial mode for all our national concerns. Its a dangerous precedent as it will keep us away from reality until truth prevails and perhaps it will be too late by then in some situations.



Quote: I think the report is near to reality as we are overworked, underpaid society with scant dignity of labour.



Quote: Jeroen Originally Posted by There also seem those who take exception with anything that doesnt align with their own thoughts and or experience. And subsequently question the whole report and motives behind the report. Some seem to believe these reports are written for the sole purpose of putting India or some aspects of India in a poor perspective.



Quote: In another thread one member noticed the same and pointed out that most of the world is pretty indifferent to India at best. Which, just my opinion, is probably closer to the truth. For most people outside of India, India is hardly known. Despite its size and population.



Quote: Jeroen Originally Posted by Context is everything. The items that might improve individual happiness score in India are likely to be different that those in say France. Because their starting position differs so much for one thing. Only a few on this thread are getting nationalistic about this survey or its results. Most are questioning the very premise of the factors of happiness, the sliver of human experience it claims to cover and the fact that, forget India, stable reasonably well run nations find themselves below war torn Congo, Gaza,etc. that is why in my post I took the solitary example of Kenya - there are several more. We are talking of relativity here.I disagree that these are respected world organizations. First there is no sane or commercial need for such a survey, second I question the political motivation of those who sponsor such surveys or more correctly those who fund those who sponsor. If we think these are innocent goody two shoes organizations working for the greater good of the world we will simply disagree. These are just the sort of things Soros funds and loves to see it stir the pot. Any study that announces the "truth"should be viewed with suspicion as to the motives and who the real backers are. Follow the money.Why do we never see such surveys from Japan or China or Singapore but only from the West. Who appointed Gallup etc to be the moral compass of the world. And why pray is there opinion valid. What moralistic credentials do they have. Being a Western name does not mean it is more credible. Gallu does do some good work and some reliable work but this is not their shining star. If you really need a happiness survey let the United Nations organize one with a committee formed of representatives for each continent. I'm sure you will disagree with my views but then that is the essence of a discussion.I agree with your view that we should be open to valid and constructive criticism and in this sphere we do tend to get too fragile. It is a function of maturing as a nation. The more confident we get the less prickly we are.Apologies but that sounds like a hackneyed statement. In the same breath we should talk of the literally crores of people who have been lifted out of absolute and relative poverty in the last roughly 25 years. Over worked and Under paid - yes in parts for sure. Is it systemic - no. Sad reality of all large societies. How many in US live pay check to paycheck? Views may differ.To an extent this is true of most humans. We tend to reject views that do not align with our notions.True upto a point but not quite as strongly as you put it. This point was made by you earlier in some other thread.Very well put. The heart of the matter as to why these two bit surveys should not be indulged in and then tem-tommed as the gospel. Each community describes happiness differently, describes friendship differently. These surveys, as I stated in my first post {#50}, cover an infinitesimally tiny sliver of human factors to have any validity at all. Last edited by V.Narayan : 23rd March 2025 at 18:51 .
hummer BHPian



Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: INDIA Posts: 397 Thanked: 1,636 Times

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Hummers Travel: First road trip with my Hycross to fort, ghats and temples



Our recent trip to Sakleshpur fulfilled this. Its a short road trip over a weekend, only wifey and I on our new Hycross GX (O) Blackish Ageha. Though intention was to test the capability of Hycross, it turned out to be a trip which passed compatibility test between wifey and I, it brought us more closer, trip provided good time and space to understand each other well and rekindled the romance to be precise. Such trips are really necessary especially for people living in cities like Bengaluru where life is like an assembly line of the factory.



Also, Hycross won our hearts without missing a beat, this is the first Toyota car I am owning, Toyota for sure know what customers want. No wonder they master reliability, quality and satisfaction. Hycross performed extremely well in all kinds of terrains, ghats and night drive.



Filled the petrol previous day, checked the air pressure and got the Hycross ready for our early morning drive:





Started from Bengaluru on around 6am, drove through NICE road, Tumkur road and joined Mangalore highway near Nelamangala:





There was not much traffic, I traveled on this route many times in Duster before, generally its foggy till Yediyur during early mornings. In my point of view, Mangalore highway is not safe, it has vehicles/people crossing at multiple places, has road humps which can put high speed vehicles into risk, too many curves and too many restaurants so people brake abruptly watching the restaurants, hence better be in safe speed limits.



Hycross beeps once after crossing 100kmph and continuous beeps after 120kmph, which is annoying at times for spirited drives, but also good to keep safe speeds. There are numerous restaurants on this stretch and some are really cool.



We took a short break at Harsha Grand for breakfast and coffee:





Highway condition while crossing Hassan town is pathetic and dangerous, expect reckless driving by trucks and containers. Next stop was at Manjarabad Fort near Sakleshpura. Its a star-shaped fort constructed in 18th century, fort design is influenced by French architecture. It is located at a height of approximately 3250 ft above sea level.

https://karnatakatourism.org/tour-item/manjarabad-fort/



People say we can see the Arabian sea from the top on a clear day, but we couldnt see though. One cant see star shape of the fort unless seen from the top through drone or helicopter.



Overall its a nice place to visit and for some cool pictures:













Drive from Manjarabad fort to Eka Resort through coffee estates and small villages was awesome, Hycross turned many heads due to its amazing color and sheer size.





Finaly we reached the Eka resort, it seem to be an old and popular resort in this region. This resort is inside a 50 acre coffee estate, so the location is great, serene and peaceful. It has got nice cottages, a beautiful swimming pool overlooking the coffee estate, large party area next to pool, SPA, outdoor badminton court, volleyball space and enough parking for 5-6 cars. Staff is polite and attentive.



However, resort lacks upkeeping and amenities needs maintenance. Property was all ours because there were only couple of other guests, so lot of privacy and service attention. Lunch buffet was arranged well even though there were only few guests, food was tasty. Overall its an average resort, ok for a casual weekend drive.

https://www.ekaresorts.com/







Nice and spacious cottage:





Pool with coffee estate in the background:





Lawn and walking trail:





Inside the coffee estate:





After the lunch, we visited Bisle ghat view point. Hycross sailed effortlessly through the ghat sections and it was a pleasure driving through those heavenly spots. Bisle ghat is a paradise for nature lovers, there is a view point that overlooks the beautiful Dodda Betta, Kumara Parvatha and Pushpagiri along with a few others peaks in the range. We can also view the stunning beauty of cascading waterfalls, covered in dense forests, you can hear the sound of water, birds and wind. We can just sit there and get lost watching that captivating view. We couldnt see sunset may be the point was a bit off the view point due to suns path in November.











Returned to the resort by evening, had a strong coffee, later took only a light dinner and retired for the day recalling the satisfying drive of the day.



Next day, finished the breakfast by 9am and checked out of the resort. Next destination was Shettihalli Rosary Church. It was built in 1860s by French missionaries, its a magnificent structure of Gothic Architecture. Church was submerged under water in 1960 after the construction of Hemavati Dam, it became a famous tourist spot, also known as floating church. Church gets semi-flooded with water during the peak of monsoon and only one-third of the structure can be seen above water between June and October. Its a must visit place if you drive around Hassan/Sakleshpur.













New church:





It was very hot outside but thanks to excellent A/C in Hycross it was chilling inside, we continued our drive towards Hassan. Since it was just noon, we decided to cover Belur and Halebeedu temples as well.



It was about lunch time, we stopped at the Hoysala Village Resort on the outskirts of Hassan. It is a luxury resort located right on Belur road. We had a great lunch at their Kokam restaurant and visited the resort facilities with a guide. Spawning across 7 acres of lush greenery, they have retained lot of old trees, the resort blends heritage with modern luxury.

https://www.hoysalavillageresorts.com/



Belur is about 40kms from Hassan, after the stupendous lunch, we headed towards Belur. Belur and Halebeedu are twin cities located 17 km apart. Hassan-Belur-Halebeedu roads are very bad but Hycross made it like a cake walk. It swallowed potholes like non existing and reminded me of Dusters magic carpet ride, so I didnt mis the ride quality, which is most important for me on long drives to keep us fresh and untiring.



Belur and Halebeedu are famous for their Hoysala architecture temples. Belur was previously called Velapuri and Halebeedu was previously called Dwarasamudra and these were at their peak of development during Hoysala ruler Vishnuvardhana`s rule. It took 103 years to complete and Veera Ballala II, the grandson of Vishnuvardhana completed the task itseems.



Velapuri (Belur) was the early capital of the Hoysala Empire in the 11th-century, before they built Dwarasamudra (Halebeedu). The historic Channakeshava temple in Belur is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Hoysaleshwara temple in Halebeedu is dedicated to the god Shiva.



We had some snacks and coffee at Halebeedu and started the return journey to namma Bengaluru. It was almost dark by the time we left Halebeedu. The awesome throw of Hycross head lights made it very comfortable to drive at night. Brightness and throw of headlights were the biggest issue in my previous cars.













Return traffic was moderate, we drove nice and steady, reached Bengaluru a little late after dinner time, so had Dominos pizza on the way and reached home before midnight.



It was a lovely weekend road trip with awesome places, good terrains to drive, some great food, beautiful company of wife and the mighty Innova Hycross doubled the joy of travel. It was a much needed break, but determined to practice it frequently.





Here is my Hycross ownership review:



Wear seat belts and drive safe !! After buying the Innova Hycross, we wanted to go on a long drive to experience highways, village roads, ghat sections and night drive to test its capabilities.Our recent trip to Sakleshpur fulfilled this. Its a short road trip over a weekend, only wifey and I on our new Hycross GX (O) Blackish Ageha. Though intention was to test the capability of Hycross, it turned out to be a trip which passed compatibility test between wifey and I, it brought us more closer, trip provided good time and space to understand each other well and rekindled the romance to be precise. Such trips are really necessary especially for people living in cities like Bengaluru where life is like an assembly line of the factory.Also, Hycross won our hearts without missing a beat, this is the first Toyota car I am owning, Toyota for sure know what customers want. No wonder they master reliability, quality and satisfaction. Hycross performed extremely well in all kinds of terrains, ghats and night drive.Filled the petrol previous day, checked the air pressure and got the Hycross ready for our early morning drive:Started from Bengaluru on around 6am, drove through NICE road, Tumkur road and joined Mangalore highway near Nelamangala:There was not much traffic, I traveled on this route many times in Duster before, generally its foggy till Yediyur during early mornings. In my point of view, Mangalore highway is not safe, it has vehicles/people crossing at multiple places, has road humps which can put high speed vehicles into risk, too many curves and too many restaurants so people brake abruptly watching the restaurants, hence better be in safe speed limits.Hycross beeps once after crossing 100kmph and continuous beeps after 120kmph, which is annoying at times for spirited drives, but also good to keep safe speeds. There are numerous restaurants on this stretch and some are really cool.We took a short break at Harsha Grand for breakfast and coffee:Highway condition while crossing Hassan town is pathetic and dangerous, expect reckless driving by trucks and containers. Next stop was at Manjarabad Fort near Sakleshpura. Its a star-shaped fort constructed in 18th century, fort design is influenced by French architecture. It is located at a height of approximately 3250 ft above sea level.People say we can see the Arabian sea from the top on a clear day, but we couldnt see though. One cant see star shape of the fort unless seen from the top through drone or helicopter.Overall its a nice place to visit and for some cool pictures:Drive from Manjarabad fort to Eka Resort through coffee estates and small villages was awesome, Hycross turned many heads due to its amazing color and sheer size.Finaly we reached the Eka resort, it seem to be an old and popular resort in this region. This resort is inside a 50 acre coffee estate, so the location is great, serene and peaceful. It has got nice cottages, a beautiful swimming pool overlooking the coffee estate, large party area next to pool, SPA, outdoor badminton court, volleyball space and enough parking for 5-6 cars. Staff is polite and attentive.However, resort lacks upkeeping and amenities needs maintenance. Property was all ours because there were only couple of other guests, so lot of privacy and service attention. Lunch buffet was arranged well even though there were only few guests, food was tasty. Overall its an average resort, ok for a casual weekend drive.Nice and spacious cottage:Pool with coffee estate in the background:Lawn and walking trail:Inside the coffee estate:After the lunch, we visited Bisle ghat view point. Hycross sailed effortlessly through the ghat sections and it was a pleasure driving through those heavenly spots. Bisle ghat is a paradise for nature lovers, there is a view point that overlooks the beautiful Dodda Betta, Kumara Parvatha and Pushpagiri along with a few others peaks in the range. We can also view the stunning beauty of cascading waterfalls, covered in dense forests, you can hear the sound of water, birds and wind. We can just sit there and get lost watching that captivating view. We couldnt see sunset may be the point was a bit off the view point due to suns path in November.Returned to the resort by evening, had a strong coffee, later took only a light dinner and retired for the day recalling the satisfying drive of the day.Next day, finished the breakfast by 9am and checked out of the resort. Next destination was Shettihalli Rosary Church. It was built in 1860s by French missionaries, its a magnificent structure of Gothic Architecture. Church was submerged under water in 1960 after the construction of Hemavati Dam, it became a famous tourist spot, also known as floating church. Church gets semi-flooded with water during the peak of monsoon and only one-third of the structure can be seen above water between June and October. Its a must visit place if you drive around Hassan/Sakleshpur.New church:It was very hot outside but thanks to excellent A/C in Hycross it was chilling inside, we continued our drive towards Hassan. Since it was just noon, we decided to cover Belur and Halebeedu temples as well.It was about lunch time, we stopped at the Hoysala Village Resort on the outskirts of Hassan. It is a luxury resort located right on Belur road. We had a great lunch at their Kokam restaurant and visited the resort facilities with a guide. Spawning across 7 acres of lush greenery, they have retained lot of old trees, the resort blends heritage with modern luxury.Belur is about 40kms from Hassan, after the stupendous lunch, we headed towards Belur. Belur and Halebeedu are twin cities located 17 km apart. Hassan-Belur-Halebeedu roads are very bad but Hycross made it like a cake walk. It swallowed potholes like non existing and reminded me of Dusters magic carpet ride, so I didnt mis the ride quality, which is most important for me on long drives to keep us fresh and untiring.Belur and Halebeedu are famous for their Hoysala architecture temples. Belur was previously called Velapuri and Halebeedu was previously called Dwarasamudra and these were at their peak of development during Hoysala ruler Vishnuvardhana`s rule. It took 103 years to complete and Veera Ballala II, the grandson of Vishnuvardhana completed the task itseems.Velapuri (Belur) was the early capital of the Hoysala Empire in the 11th-century, before they built Dwarasamudra (Halebeedu). The historic Channakeshava temple in Belur is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Hoysaleshwara temple in Halebeedu is dedicated to the god Shiva.We had some snacks and coffee at Halebeedu and started the return journey to namma Bengaluru. It was almost dark by the time we left Halebeedu. The awesome throw of Hycross head lights made it very comfortable to drive at night. Brightness and throw of headlights were the biggest issue in my previous cars.Return traffic was moderate, we drove nice and steady, reached Bengaluru a little late after dinner time, so had Dominos pizza on the way and reached home before midnight.It was a lovely weekend road trip with awesome places, good terrains to drive, some great food, beautiful company of wife and the mighty Innova Hycross doubled the joy of travel. It was a much needed break, but determined to practice it frequently.Here is my Hycross ownership review: https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ml#post5940836 (Our Toyota Innova Hycross GX (Option) 2.0L Petrol CVT in Blackish Ageha) Wear seat belts and drive safe !!
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In recent years, Finland has emerged as a significant player in the global race to deploy and enhance 5G technology. With its unique blend of governmental support, cutting-edge research, and private sector innovation, the country has positioned itself as a leader in the 5G revolution. This article explores Finlands journey, achievements, and the impact of 5G on various sectors.

An Early Commitment to Innovation

Finlands commitment to technological advancement has deep roots. It began investing in telecommunications infrastructure decades ago, laying the groundwork for future innovations. The Finnish government recognized the potential of 5G early on and provided substantial funding for research and development. Today over 98 percent of the households of this country have 5G coverage, which is more than fast enough to do everything on the internet one wants. For example streaming movies in best quality or try out Finnish online casinos. Moreover, Finlands liberal regulatory environment has encouraged competition and innovation, attracting global tech giants and fostering homegrown startups.

Nokia: A Pillar of the Industry

No discussion of Finlands 5G achievements would be complete without mentioning Nokia. Once the worlds leading mobile phone manufacturer, Nokia has successfully pivoted towards network infrastructure and has become a crucial player in the 5G landscape. The company has been instrumental in developing technologies and standards that are now being adopted worldwide. Its collaborative projects with universities and other tech companies have accelerated the deployment of 5G networks, not just in Finland, but globally.

Research and Development Hubs

Finland hosts several research and development hubs that specialize in 5G technology. These include Aalto University and the University of Oulu, both of which have dedicated programs for wireless communications and network technologies. The University of Oulu, in particular, is renowned for its 6G Flagship program, which aims to set the stage for the next generation of wireless communications. These institutions play a critical role in driving innovation and providing a steady stream of skilled professionals.

Real-World Applications and Pilot Programs

One of the most striking features of Finlands approach to 5G has been its focus on practical applications and pilot programs. The country has launched numerous initiatives to explore how 5G can enhance various sectors, from healthcare to transportation and smart cities. For instance, Helsinkis ongoing smart city projects leverage 5G to improve public services, traffic management, and environmental monitoring. Another notable example is the remote surgery pilot program, which has demonstrated how low-latency 5G connections can enable surgeons to perform operations from miles away.

Challenges and Solutions

Despite its success, Finland has faced several challenges in its 5G journey. One of the main issues has been the high cost of infrastructure deployment, particularly in rural areas. However, public-private partnerships have helped to mitigate these costs, ensuring that even remote regions can benefit from advanced connectivity. Additionally, cybersecurity remains a significant concern, as the increased connectivity provided by 5G networks opens up new vulnerabilities. Finnish companies and research institutions are actively working on robust security solutions to address these risks.

The Global Impact

Finlands contributions to the 5G ecosystem extend far beyond its borders. By developing cutting-edge technologies and setting industry standards, the country has played a pivotal role in shaping the global 5G landscape. Finnish companies like Nokia continue to collaborate with international partners, supplying essential equipment and expertise to 5G networks worldwide. These efforts not only bolster Finlands position as a tech leader but also drive global innovation and connectivity.

The Road Ahead

As 5G technology continues to evolve, Finland remains at the forefront of its development. The countrys ongoing investment in research, coupled with a supportive regulatory environment, ensures that it will continue to be a key player in the telecommunications industry. Moreover, the lessons learned from Finlands 5G initiatives can serve as a model for other countries looking to harness the potential of this transformative technology.

In conclusion, Finlands role in the 5G revolution underscores the importance of strategic investment, innovation, and collaboration. As the world moves towards a more connected future, Finlands pioneering efforts in 5G will undoubtedly leave a lasting legacy.

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What just happened? Samsung Electronics has announced that its co-CEO, Han Jong-Hee, has passed away. Han died from cardiac arrest this week, aged 63. His passing leaves Jun Young-hyun, who was appointed co-CEO last week, solely in charge of the company.

According to local reports, Han suffered a heart attack on March 22, not long after attending his daughter's wedding at a banquet hall. He was taken to Samsung Medical Center in Seoul but died on Tuesday.

Born in 1962, Han graduated from Inha University with a bachelor's degree in electronic engineering. He joined Samsung in 1988, spending much of his career in the company's TV divisions.

Han rose to the head of Samsung's Visual Display Business in 2017 before being made CEO of the newly formed DX division  the result of a merger between the Consumer Electronics (CE) and IT & Mobile (IM) business units  in 2021. Han became CEO and Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics in 2022.

Samsung credited Han with helping the company become a global leader in the TV market and for contributing to the company's growth as an executive during a challenging business environment. It added that Han was central in rolling out Samsung's LED TVs.

Jun Young-hyun was appointed co-CEO of the company last week at its annual shareholders meeting. It was hosted by Han, who had apologized for the poor performance of Samsung stock, which he blamed on the company's failure to respond to the artificial intelligence semiconductor market. He also warned that 2025 would be a difficult year due to the uncertainties around the economic policies of major economies, according to Reuters.

Samsung said in a stock exchange filing that Jun, who was promoted to head of Samsung's semiconductor division in 2024, would be the sole CEO of the company after Han's death.

Samsung has been falling behind several competitors in recent times. It has seen its market share and profits dwindle in the TV, smartphones, and DRAM markets, while its semiconductor business is falling further behind TSMC.

Samsung is scheduled to hold a launch event for new home appliances on Wednesday, which Han had been expected to attend. The company could announce succession plans during the show.

Masthead: Budiey
A hot potato: It's another day, another company raising the prices of its already expensive RTX 5090 graphics cards. On this occasion, the culprit is Zotac, which has also removed any flagship cards priced at MSRP from its storefront.

As highlighted by a Reddit user, the cheapest RTX 5090 Zotac card on the company's store, the Solid OC, is now $2,700, while the RTX 5090 Amp Extreme Infinity is $3,000. That's an increase of $500 on each card compared to their original prices.

Zotac's store no longer lists any RTX 5090 cards at MSRP, either. The company did list a non-OC version for the Solid on the site at Nvidia's recommended $1,999 price, but it appears that the model was pulled after selling just a few units.

Zotac isn't alone when it comes to hiking card prices  and removing or increasing the price of MSRP models. It was reported in February that both MSI and Asus had done the same thing, increasing RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 prices by up to $400.

Extra tariffs on Chinese goods are likely contributing to the price hikes, as most graphics cards are assembled and tested in China. But that's far from the only reason. There's also the restricted supply and higher manufacturing costs to consider. Moreover, some companies are simply charging more for these cards because they know the huge demand ensures people will pay a fortune for them.

VideoCardz also notes that Zotac introduced a method for loyal community members to buy RTX 50-series cards in February. Designed to combat scalpers and bots, the program offers priority access to members of the Zotac Gaming Discord server. However, it seems the company has been offering hardly any cards through this service. In one case, only three RTX 5080 Amp Extreme Infinity cards were available.

The graphics card market is going through the kind of turmoil not seen since the bad old days of 2020 and 2021, when the pandemic-induced chip crisis and a crypto boom led to similar high prices and lack of stock globally. It seems the only place to find an RTX 5000 at MSRP recently has been a food truck at Nvidia's GTC conference.
Interfax-Ukraine to host press conference '10 years of NABU: fight against corruption or imitation?'

On Monday, March 31, at 10.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference entitled "10 years of NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine): fight against corruption or imitation?"

Participants include founder and head of the volunteer group and the Charitable Foundation People's Rear, former head of Luhansk Regional Military-Civil Administration (July 22, 2015  April 29, 2016); former Deputy Minister for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine (April 29, 2016  September 4, 2019) Heorhiy Tuka; economic expert, PhD in public administration Yuriy Havrylechko; political expert, director of the Institute of World Politics Yevhen Mahda; deputy chairman of the Public Control Council under NABU Vasyl Chyzhmar; lawyer from the Doktryna Prava lawyer association Ihor Sydorenko; lawyer, human rights activist, public figure, member of the Council of Internally Displaced Persons under the Kyiv City State Administration, former member of the trilateral contact group for the peaceful settlement of the situation in eastern Ukraine Tetiana Ivanova (8/5a Reitarska Street).

The event will be streamed on the Interfax-Ukraine YouTube channel.

Admission requires registration on the spot with press ID cards. Additional info by phone: (066) 233 1086.
Disney+ is now giving its subscribers to clean up their "Continue Watching" list as they now have the option to remove shows they are no longer interested to watch. In the latest update from the app, users may now edit their Continue Watching list to feature only their preferred movies or shows.

This latest update from Disney+ brings the feature to different devices that have access to the app, particularly for the web and iOS platforms.

Disney+ Latest Update: Edit Your 'Continue Watching' List

The latest press release from The Walt Disney Company brings news for its subscribers as the company has now added a way to easily edit their Continue Watching list on Disney+. This latest quality-of-life feature drop offers a way for users to remove already finished movies or series and even content that they did not enjoy from the list.

According to Disney, users may use this feature on platforms like the web, Apple TV, and iOS devices for now, which means that the likes of browsers, Apple TV devices, iPhones, and iPads are the ones who can take advantage of the feature.

However, Disney has assured subscribers on other platforms like Android OS, Android TV, LG's webOS, and more that they will get the feature in future updates.

Here's How to Remove Shows From Your List

Removing a movie or show from one's Continue Watching list is quite simple, but how it's done will depend on which device they are using.

First, users on the Apple TV have two options. One can be within the homepage of the Disney+ app where users have to highlight the show they want to remove, and then long-press the select button (for Apple TV, the large circular button in the middle) on their remote. Users may also visit the show's main page and find the subtract icon to remove it.

For mobile devices, users only need to tap on the three-dot menu and select "Remove," then confirm its deletion process from the Continue Watching.

On the other hand, web users may hover their cursor on the show and wait for the subtract icon to appear to proceed with the removal process.

Disney+ App Features and Experiences

Disney+ has been one of the top streaming platforms not only in the US, but also globally, with many iconic features and content available to enjoy. One of the top bundles it offers is its partnership with Hulu and Max, which means subscribers can enjoy three platforms under one subscription.

That being said, Disney+ has recently tightened up its account sharing policies and has done a platform-wide password sharing crackdown, which prevented users not in the same household from using one subscription.
Discussions on veterans' employment often focus on the quantity of available jobs, while the quality of these opportunities remains overlooked. Ensuring safe and healthy working conditions should become a priority in veteran support policies to ensure them a dignified place in society after service.

However, decent jobs are not only about salaries; they also include fair hiring practices, equal opportunities for career growth and safe working conditions. Research shows that working conditions significantly affect both physical and mental health. Veterans, who already have higher rates of musculoskeletal injuries and chronic diseases, are particularly vulnerable to workplace hazards.

The situation for Ukrainian veterans is even more urgent. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has seen a sharp increase in the number of veterans. Many of them suffer from physical injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other war-related issues. Despite their sacrifices, a significant number of Ukrainian veterans face difficulties reintegrating into civilian life, particularly in finding stable and safe employment.

Ukraine's labor market is not yet fully prepared to meet the specific needs of veterans. The main barriers include disabilities and psychological trauma, a lack of employment opportunities that match their skills and experience and employer prejudices regarding veterans' adaptation to the workplace...

In order to address these challenges, proactive measures are needed to ensure veterans have access to dignified employment that supports their physical and mental well-being. The following programs play a crucial role in their successful reintegration into the workforce:

 Vocational training programs  helping veterans acquire new skills that meet labor market demands and enhance their competitiveness.

 Entrepreneurship support  assisting veterans in starting their own businesses through mentorship, grants and networking opportunities.

 Mental health and well-being initiatives  providing access to counseling, rehabilitation services and support networks.

 Advocacy for inclusive labor policies  collaborating with businesses and policymakers to create veteran-friendly workplaces and encourage companies to hire former service members.

 Financial support for workplace adaptations  assisting veterans who need modifications to their workplaces due to disabilities.

Veterans often work in physically demanding or high-risk professions, such as natural resource extraction, construction, manufacturing, and transportation. Additionally, jobs in the service and retail sectors are associated with significant psychological stress due to high-pressure environments and frequent interpersonal conflicts.

The PanteonX Charitable Foundation studies global best practices for veteran integration into civilian life and proposes a range of initiatives to help veterans adapt to new working conditions, including:

Strengthening workplace safety regulations to reduce physical and environmental hazards.

Expanding access to medical services and health assessments.

Promoting labor policies that prioritize veterans' well-being.

Encouraging research into the impact of work on veterans' long-term health and economic stability.

Implementing targeted reintegration programs to support Ukrainian veterans in transitioning to civilian employment.

Providing financial incentives for businesses that hire and support veterans with disabilities or PTSD.

Government agencies, businesses and organizations supporting veterans must focus on developing employment opportunities that prioritize not only the quantity, but also the quality of jobs. Focusing on creating safe and healthy working conditions will ensure veterans a dignified place in society after their service.

Contact information for further details: PanteonX Charitable Foundation: https://panteonx.fund/en; email: [email protected].
Dozens of fires rage in southern Chile



Santiago, March 24 (AFP) Mar 24, 2025



Dozens of fires fueled by strong winds raged across southern Chile Monday, destroying thousands of hectares of forest and farmland and damaging several homes, according to authorities.

"We are facing a very complex situation and all material resources as well as all brigades have been mobilized to combat these fires," Interior Minister Alvaro Elizalde told reporters in Santiago.

The regions of Nuble, Biobio, Araucania and Los Rios were affected by the fires, which started Sunday afternoon and spread rapidly due to strong winds.

Authorities have not reported deaths or injuries.

"I have asked that the entire government be mobilized... and that we stand with the affected people and their families," President Gabriel Boric said at an event in Punta Arenas.

He said about 100 people had to be given temporary housing as firefighters battled 27 different blazes.

The forest service and the National Disaster Prevention Service (Senapred) reported more than 4,000 hectares going up in flames.

In recent years, Chile has been hit by massive fires during the southern summer, affecting both forested and urban areas.

In February 2024, several fires developed simultaneously around the city of Vina del Mar, northwest of Santiago, causing 137 deaths and razing entire neighborhoods in Chile's deadliest inferno in recent history.
Colombia's lonely chimp Yoko finds new home in Brazil



Pereira, Colombia, March 24 (AFP) Mar 24, 2025



Kidnapped from his family as an infant, then raised by a drug lord before ending up in a Colombian zoo, Yoko the chimpanzee has lived the last two years of his life alone.

He lost his last friend, Chita, in 2023 when she escaped from the zoo with Pancho -- Yoko's rival -- and the pair was shot dead by soldiers out of human safety concerns.

On Sunday, 38-year-old Yoko was flown to Brazil to finally join others of his kind at a sanctuary there.

But will he make friends?

Yoko is in many ways more human than chimp, his caregivers say. He uses a knife and fork, plays ball, watches television and makes artwork with crayons on paper and canvas.

He is fond of eating sweets and chicken.

Fed junk food by his captor -- a narco trafficker whose name has not been divulged -- Yoko has only four of his teeth left. Chimps, like humans, are meant to have 32.

It was common for narco bosses such as Pablo Escobar in the 1990s to keep exotic animals as pets, including tigers and lions, and even hippos and giraffes.

Yoko was taught to smoke and dress up in human clothes -- causing him to develop a skin disease and lose part of his fur.

"Yoko... is a highly humanized chimpanzee, the degree of tameness is very high... He basically behaves like a child," said veterinarian Javier Guerrero.

The vet accompanied Yoko on the first part of his journey, dubbed "Operation Noah's Ark," from Ukumari Biopark, a zoo in the Colombian city of Pereira.



- A smile is not a smile -



Experts fear Yoko may find it hard to adapt to life with other chimpanzees at Sorocaba in the Brazilian state of Sao Paolo -- the largest great ape sanctuary in Latin America.

There are more than 40 other chimps there, but vets and animal behaviorists worry Yoko may not fit in.

"Yoko... is not a chimpanzee in the strict sense... he is an animal that identifies much more with human beings," said Cesar Gomez, Ukumari's animal training coordinator.

"To give you an example, a smile is something positive" for humans, "but for chimpanzees, it is something negative and Yoko does not understand these types of communication," he said.

Yoko was seized from his owner's lair by police in 2017 after spending an unknown amount of time there, then taken to a refuge that flooded before he became a resident of the Pereira zoo.

"He was denied the chance to be a chimpanzee and grow up with his family," assistant vet Alejandra Marin told AFP.

In the wild in their natural home in Africa, chimpanzees die at about 40 or 45 years of age. They are social, group animals, and with good care in captivity, they can live up to 60.

The chimpanzee is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

With Yoko's transfer Sunday, Colombia became the first country in the world to rid itself of entirely captive great apes, said the Great Ape Project, an NGO.

"The great apes are chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas, and bonobos -- none of these species are endemic to our country, and they have no reason to be here," said Andrea Padilla, a Colombian senator of the Green Alliance who oversaw Yoko's "deeply symbolic" transfer.

"From a very young age, Yoko was a victim of trafficking and trade, passed from one drug trafficker to another," she added.

On Monday morning, Padilla posted on X that Yoko had landed in Brazil, and was "safe and sound and about to start a new life with his peers."

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Berlin says climate action sceptics 'cannot count'



Berlin, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2025



German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Tuesday that critics who label action against climate change unnecessary and expensive "cannot count".

Tackling rising global temperatures was "not an end in itself", Baerbock said as Germany played host to a key forum for climate diplomacy.

"Whoever protects the climate also protects... humanity, our prosperity and our security," she said in a statement.

Failure to act now would lead to "much higher costs" and "significantly lower economic growth in the future".

"Anyone who dismisses climate action in these turbulent times as being expensive, onerous or superfluous cannot count," she said.

The annual Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin is an important staging post on the way to the COP summit, which this year will be hosted in Brazil.

It comes after US President Donald Trump has decided to withdraw the world's top economy from the 2015 Paris climate agreement and vowed a "drill, baby, drill" fossil fuel push to exploit the "liquid gold under our feet".

Baerbock said, without naming any countries, that the Paris accord to try to hold warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels was "coming under pressure once again".

Opposition to the goal was "growing stronger", while sticking to the target was "more urgent than ever", she said.

According to the World Meteorological Organization, 2024 was the first full calendar year above 1.5C.

A single year above the limit does not mark a breach of the Paris deal, which is measured as a rolling average over 20 or 30 years, to smooth out year-on-year temperature variability.

But scientists have warned that the record temperatures could be a sign that breaking the threshold is only a matter of time.

Baerbock also stressed that an agreement on climate finance reached at the last COP summit in Azerbaijan needed to be followed up with "implementation".

That was needed, she said, to achieve a "socially just transition" and increases in energy efficiency, the share of renewable energy and stopping deforestation.
Chinese officials admit toxic river leak after rare media reports



Beijing, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2025



Chinese authorities said Tuesday they had controlled a leak of toxic heavy metal into a river, after media outlets reported that officials had known about the incident for days.

An emergency response was launched after detecting "abnormal water quality" in a section of the Lei River, officials in the central city of Chenzhou said on Sunday, without giving further details.

In a rare move, multiple news outlets later reported that authorities knew about elevated levels of thallium, a potentially harmful heavy metal, in the river as early as March 16.

The Chenzhou city government admitted that thallium concentrations were at least 13 times higher than normal on that day, in a further statement on Tuesday, but said the incident "has now been controlled".

Thallium is a tasteless, odourless heavy metal that can damage the nerves, liver, kidneys and other human tissues when consumed in significant quantities.

According to the Southern Metropolis Daily, river monitoring stations first detected the leak in a stretch of river between Chenzhou and nearby Hengyang, a city home to 6.5 million people in Hunan province.

The incident "caused inter-city pollution and threatened the safety of downstream drinking water", the state-backed news outlet said.

It added that officials quietly launched an emergency response the following day, seeking to "eradicate... the danger and uphold social stability".

Authorities did not disclose the incident until Sunday's statement, which said local water was "safe" to drink but did not provide details of the leak or the scope of the government's response.



- 'We're definitely afraid' -



One resident who lives near an affected stretch of the Lei River, in Leiyang, told AFP on Tuesday that her family has continued to use water from the tap despite health concerns.

"We're definitely afraid", 37-year-old Xiaoshu, who asked to be identified by a nickname, told AFP over the phone.

"It's fine for us adults, but what if children or the elderly drink it? What if they get sick?"

The mother of two said she had heard about the contamination online through articles shared in group chats and videos posted to Douyin, China's version of TikTok.

"Everybody's been talking about it", she said, but admitted that local authorities never directly notified her of any water contamination.

Despite worrying about the water's safety, Xiaoshu, who sells fishing equipment, said she has bought some bottled water but can't afford to turn off the tap.

"Our family's economic situation is what it is", she said.

"Wealthy people can use bottled water, but for regular folks like us, we can only do that for the water we drink and use tap water for everything else."

On Tuesday, the Chenzhou government blamed a local cement factory for the leak, saying rainwater had washed dust containing thallium from a recently dismantled kiln into the river.

It said emergency responders had controlled the pollution source and treated river water to remove the thallium, adding that concentrations had soon returned to normal in downstream areas.

China has cracked down on environmental pollution in recent years, but industrial contamination remains common in many parts of the country.

Media coverage of such incidents has also dried up since President Xi Jinping came to power over a decade ago and tightened the government's grip on the press.

Some on Tuesday took to social media to lament the delayed government response.

"It's truly terrifying, this serious of a situation covered up for this long, and it's even scarier that people may not be aware of the severity of the situation", one user commenting under a post about the contamination wrote.

"If we must die let's die together", read another comment.
Chewing gum releases microplastics into mouth: researchers



Paris, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2025



Chewing gum releases hundreds of tiny plastic pieces straight into people's mouths, researchers said on Tuesday, also warning of the pollution created by the rubber-based sweet.

The small study comes as researchers have increasingly been finding small shards of plastic called microplastics throughout the world, from the tops of mountains to the bottom of the ocean -- and even in the air we breathe.

They have also discovered microplastics riddled throughout human bodies -- including inside our lungs, blood and brains -- sparking fears about the potential effect this could be having on health.

"I don't want to alarm people," Sanjay Mohanty, the lead researcher behind the new study which has not yet been peer-reviewed, told AFP.

There is no evidence directly showing that microplastics are harmful to human health, said Mohanty of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

The pilot study instead sought to illustrate yet another little-researched way that these mostly invisible plastic pieces enter our bodies -- chewing gum.

Lisa Lowe, a PhD student at UCLA, chewed seven pieces each of 10 brands of gum, before the researchers then ran a chemical analysis on her saliva.

They found that a gram (0.04 ounces) of gum released an average of 100 microplastic fragments, though some shed more than 600. The average weight of a stick of gum is around 1.5 grams.

People who chew around 180 pieces of gum a year could be ingesting roughly 30,000 microplastics, the researchers said.

This pales in comparison to the many other ways that humans ingest microplastics, Mohanty emphasised.

For example, other researchers estimated last year that a litre (34 fluid ounces) of water in a plastic bottle contained an average of 240,000 microplastics.



- 'Tyres, plastic bags and bottles' -



The most common chewing gum sold in supermarkets is called synthetic gum, which contains petroleum-based polymers to get that chewy effect, the researchers said.

However packaging does not list any plastics in the ingredients, simply using the words "gum-based".

"Nobody will tell you the ingredients," Mohanty said.

The researchers tested five brands of synthetic gum and five of natural gum, which use plant-based polymers such as tree sap.

"It was surprising that we found microplastics were abundant in both," Lowe told AFP.

David Jones, a researcher at the UK's University of Portsmouth not involved in the study, said he was surprised the researchers found certain plastics not known to be in gum, suggesting they could have come from another source in the lab.

But the overall findings were "not at all surprising", he told AFP.

People tend to "freak out a little bit" when told that the building blocks of chewing gum were similar to what is found "in car tyres, plastic bags and bottles", Jones said.

Oliver Jones, a chemistry professor at Australia's RMIT University, said that if the relatively small number of microplastics were swallowed, they "would likely pass straight through you with no impact".

"I don't think you have to stop chewing gum just yet."

Lowe also warned about the plastic pollution from chewing gum -- particularly when people "spit it out onto the sidewalk".

The National Confectioners Association, which represents chewing gum manufacturers in the United States, said in a statement that the study's authors had admitted "there is no cause for alarm".

"Gum is safe to enjoy as it has been for more than 100 years," it said, adding that the ingredients were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

The study, which has been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal, was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Diego.
Temple burned, UNESCO village evacuated as South Korea wildfires spread



Uiseong, March 25 (AFP) Mar 25, 2025



Residents of a UNESCO-listed village were ordered to evacuate while a historic Buddhist temple was burned to the ground Tuesday as South Korea scrambled to contain worsening wildfires.

Blazes tearing across the country's southeast have killed four people, with authorities transferring thousands of prisoners and residents as dry windy weather hampers efforts to contain more than a dozen different fires which broke out over the weekend.

The fires are collectively the third largest in South Korea's history, with acting Interior and Safety Minister Ko Ki-dong saying 14,694 hectares (36,310 acres) had been affected early Tuesday.

"Strong winds, dry weather, and haze are hampering firefighting efforts," Ko told a disaster and safety meeting.

The government has declared a state of emergency in four regions.

"The wind was so strong that I couldn't stand still," said evacuated Andong resident Kwon So-han.

"The fire came from the mountain and fell on my house. Nothing could be done," the 79-year-old told AFP.

Authorities in Andong issued an emergency alert late Tuesday to residents of the historic Hahoe Folk Village -- a UNESCO-listed world heritage site popular with tourists -- as the blaze drew closer.

"The Uiseong Angye wildfire is moving in the direction" of that area, the alert said. "Residents are requested to evacuate immediately."

In Uiseong, AFP reporters saw the sky full of smoke and haze, with the Korea Forest Service saying that the containment rate for the fire in that area had decreased from 60 to 55 percent on Tuesday.

Early in the morning, workers at the Gounsa Temple, which was more than a thousand years old, were attempting to move valuable artefacts and cover up Buddhist statues to protect them from possible damage.

"We used fire retardant blankets," Joo Jung-wan, a Gyeongbuk Seobu Cultural Heritage Care Center worker told AFP, saying that a giant gilded Buddha statue was too large to move so had been carefully covered.

Hours later, an official at the Korea Heritage Service told AFP that the temple had been burnt down.

"It is very heartbreaking and painful to see the precious temples that are over a thousand years old being lost," monk Deung-woon told AFP.



- Family grave -



More than 6,700 firefighters have been deployed to battle the wildfires, according to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, with nearly two-fifths of the personnel dispatched to Uiseong.

As the fires raged, a Ministry of Justice official told AFP around 3,500 inmates were being moved out of harm's way from correctional facilities in North Gyeongsang province.

In Daegu and the North Gyeongsang region, "the air is extremely dry and strong winds are blowing, creating the risk that even a small spark could quickly spread into a large wildfire", an official from the local meteorological administration said.

The fire in Uiseong was reportedly caused by a person who was tending to a family grave site and accidentally triggered the conflagration, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said during a cabinet meeting.

"Most wildfires are caused by human negligence and the public should strictly follow wildfire prevention guidelines," he added.

South Korea's worst fire was an April 2000 blaze that scorched 23,913 hectares across the east coast.

Some types of extreme weather have a well-established link with climate change, such as heatwaves or heavy rainfall.

Other phenomena, such as forest fires, droughts, snowstorms and tropical storms can result from a combination of complex factors.

Neighbouring Japan was also experiencing wildfires over the weekend, with blazes in multiple areas.

Japan saw the country's worst wildfire in more than half a century earlier this month. It engulfed about 2,900 hectares -- around half the size of Manhattan -- and killed at least one person.

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Hubei Media Group: The China Development Forum 2025 was held in Beijing. The theme of this years forum is Unleashing Development Momentum for Stable Growth of Global Economy. Political figures from many countries and heads of multinationals attended the forum. Whats your comment?

Guo Jiakun: From March 23 to 24, the China Development Forum 2025 was held in Beijing. Premier of the State Council Li Qiang attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech. He encouraged all parties to feel Chinas vibrancy through its economic growth during the Spring Festival, understand Chinas economic policies through the two sessions, and think about the right way to world development and progress through the evolving global landscape. His speech shows Chinas confidence and resolve in continuing the good momentum of steady economic growth as well as its commitment to acting as a force of stability and certainty for world peace and development.

This years forum is attended by over 750 foreign representatives, including global companies from a larger number of countries covering more sectors. Among these multinationals, the first-time attendees outnumber the previous years. All these show that foreign-invested businesses continue to invest in China with optimism, which is a vote of confidence in Chinas economic outlook.

China will steadfastly advance high-quality development and high-standard opening up. We welcome foreign businesses to seize opportunities, invest in China, prepare for the future, promote steady global growth, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and achieve greater development through mutually beneficial cooperation.

AFP: Canada has launched a dispute against China at the WTO over additional duties on agricultural and fishery products. What is the Foreign Ministrys response to this?

Guo Jiakun: Id refer you to competent Chinese authorities for the specific question. I want to point out that, in disregard of Chinas repeated persuasion, Canada has insisted on taking discriminatory restrictive measures on some Chinese imports. This seriously violates WTO rules, disrupts normal trade order, and gravely harms Chinas lawful rights and interests. The countermeasures China has taken are fully necessary, justified, reasonable and lawful. China urges Canada to take concrete steps to correct the wrongdoings, and provide a fair, non-discriminatory and predictable environment for the normal trade and cooperation between the businesses of the two countries.

Reuters: U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday issued an executive order declaring that any country buying oil or gas from Venezuela will pay a 25 percent tariff on trades with the U.S. China is the biggest buyer of Venezuelas oil. Will China stop its oil purchases from Venezuela to comply with Trumps order?

Guo Jiakun: The U.S. has long abused illegal unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, and grossly interfered in the internal affairs of other countries. China firmly opposes such actions. We urge the U.S. to cease its interference in Venezuelas internal affairs, lift its illegal unilateral sanctions against Venezuela, and take steps that contribute to peace, stability, and development in Venezuela and beyond. Trade wars and tariff wars have no winners. Imposing additional tariffs will only inflict greater losses on American businesses and consumers.

Beijing Daily: We noted that, at a symposium held by China, UN Under Secretary General Guy Ryder stressed Chinas important role in supporting multilateralism and the UN. Can you share more with us on this?

Guo Jiakun: On March 24, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the international symposium themed Strengthen the Role of the United Nations and Promote Multilateralism in Beijing. Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a written message.

He noted that, the successful convening of the UN Summit of the Future reflects the common aspiration of the international community for supporting and promoting multilateralism, strengthening the role of the UN and improving global governance. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations. The international community hopes to see all countries work in solidarity and coordination to uphold what is right, steer the direction of our era, defend fairness and justice, safeguard world peace and stability, and promote global development and prosperity. As a founding member of the United Nations and a permanent member of the Security Council, China will continue to work with all sides to practice true multilateralism, safeguard the central role of the UN, and promote global governance that is based on extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefit. Together, we will bring stability to a changing and turbulent world, inject positive energy in building a more just and equitable global governance system.

Under Secretary General of the UN Guy Ryder attended upon invitation and addressed the symposium. Assistant Foreign Minister Miao Deyu attended and addressed the opening and closing ceremony of the symposium. The participating representatives engaged in lively discussions on topics including sustainable development, international peace and security, scientific and technological innovation, digital cooperation, as well as youth and future generations. There was a broad consensus that, under the current circumstances, it is imperative to strengthen the role of the UN, reinvigorate multilateralism, and foster solidarity and cooperation to jointly address global challenges. The representatives also commended Chinas active and constructive role in this regard.

Reuters: The Chinese staff at Mintz Group have been released, according to the company today. Was there a probe into them and Mintz? What is Chinas conclusion on the case?

Guo Jiakun: Id refer you to competent authorities for anything specific.

China News Service: Its reported the Philippine Ambassador to the United States, Jose Manuel Romualdez, stated that the U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is scheduled to visit the Philippines on March 28 to 29. During the visit, Secretary Hegseth is expected to meet with the Philippine President and Secretary of Defense. This visit underscores the solid alliance between the Philippines and the United States, and highlights Philippines role in U.S. defense strategy. He noted that the Philippines seeks to benefit from its allies, including the U.S., Japan, and Australia, particularly in modernizing its military capabilities, so as to be better prepared should there be conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region. What is Chinas response?

Guo Jiakun: On the military cooperation between the Philippines and the U.S., China made clear its position more than once. Any defense or security cooperation between the Philippines and other countries should not target any third party or harm their interest, still less threaten regional peace or escalate tensions in the region. Facts have repeatedly proven that nothing good could come out of opening the door to a predator. Those who willingly serve as chess pieces will be deserted in the end. Our message to some in the Philippines: stop serving as other countries mouthpiece and no more stunt for personal political agenda.

Global Times: The China Cybersecurity Industry Alliance released today a report entitled Mobile Cyberattacks Conducted by U.S. Intelligence Agencies, revealing how the U.S. carried out cyberattacks and eavesdropping and espionage activities on global mobile smart terminals, supply chain and operators. What is Chinas comment?

Guo Jiakun: We noted the report. According to this report, the U.S. government has taken advantage of its monopoly in telecommunication technology and in the upstream of the industrial and supply chains, and carried out large-scale and long-term malicious cyber activities targeting mobile phones and even the entire mobile industry ecosystem globally. Such activities have been pervasive.

Let me point out that according to the report, the U.S. is the major country that carries out cyberattacks through the supply chain and mobile operators. Over the years, the U.S. has blamed others on the security of the supply chain, applied double standards, and tried every means possible to peddle the so-called security issues in 5G supply chain. At the same time, however, it has set up backdoors in telecommunication equipment and products worldwide with the help of major U.S. internet companies or suppliers to support its cyberattacks. We believe this report will help the world have a better understanding of what the U.S. has done in this field.

We express grave concern over the malicious cyber activities by the U.S. as revealed by the report. We urge the U.S. to stop such activities at once, in particular the malicious cyber activities carried out through the global supply chain. The U.S. should give an explanation to the world in a responsible attitude.

Reuters: The Canadian Security Intelligence Service said on Monday that China and India are likely to try to interfere in the upcoming Canadian general election on April 28. The Canadian spy service also said China is highly likely to use AI-enabled tools to interfere in that election. What will China do to address Canadas fears?

Guo Jiakun: China stays committed to the principle of non-interference in other countries domestic affairs. China has never interfered in Canadas internal affairs, nor do we have any interest in doing so.

Reuters: Bangladeshs Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus will start his China visit on Wednesday. What are Chinas expectations for the visit?

Guo Jiakun: Yesterday, the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) announced that Chief Adviser Yunus is going to attend the BFA Annual Conference 2025. China welcomes Chief Adviser Yunuss attendance at the conference in China. Let me stress that China and Bangladesh are traditional friends and neighbors as well as comprehensive strategic cooperative partners. This year marks the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic ties. China stands ready to work with Bangladesh to step up exchanges and cooperation and jointly move forward bilateral relations.
Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko has sent a letter of congratulations to President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of Novruz holiday, Trend reports.

Dear Ilham Heydar oglu,

I cordially congratulate you on the wonderful holiday of Novruz, symbolizing the awakening of nature, the beginning of a new phase of life, and belief in a better future.

I am confident that the existing friendly relations between Belarus and Azerbaijan will contribute to further expanding bilateral relations in all areas for the benefit of the peoples of both countries.

On this remarkable holiday, I wish you strong health and success in the successful implementation of your plans, as well as peace and tranquility to the people of your country.
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Are you sure you havent got ADHD, babe? The question comes from a dear and well-meaning friend after I mention in passing how I swing between being hyper-focused and struggling to concentrate at work. I politely shrug and chirp, dont think so!, while secretly wondering when and why it became perfectly acceptable to throw out armchair diagnoses to our mates  or, indeed, perfect strangers  based on the scantest of symptoms.

Aside from being just plain wrong  if I have Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) then Id argue so does anyone whos ever worked an office job or owned a smartphone  its kind of, well, rude, isnt it? Not to mention utterly bizarre that the average layperson feels so comfortable flinging out medical labels. In the era of social media, it seems like everyone considers themselves an expert on neurodivergence  even when that expertise boils down to having listened to a podcast or watched a YouTube short about it one time.

The issue has come to the fore again due to actor Bella Ramseys revelation that they obtained their autism diagnosis while filming the first season of The Last of Us after a crew member spotted and flagged the signs. In Ramseys case, it was slightly different; the colleague in question genuinely had first-hand experience as their own child is neurodivergent.

But thats a rarity these days. Most of the time, the person proffering their strident opinion on the complexities of the chemical makeup of your brain or the way its wired is completely unqualified to do so. The age of the armchair diagnosis is in full swing.

Social media has undoubtedly been a huge factor in your average Joe feeling entitled to pronounce the people in their lives neurospicy, thanks to the exponential growth in content surrounding ADHD and autism. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok, while initially great tools for shedding light on these conditions and destigmatising them, have recently been accused of peddling a huge amount of misinformation and convincing an increasing number of people to misdiagnose themselves and others.

One academic study published earlier this month suggested that social media content is romanticising ADHD, portraying it as a cute disorder and pathologising normal everyday experiences as symptoms  bog-standard things like having a messy bedroom, forgetting where your keys are or procrastinating at work. After analysing the 100 most popular ADHD videos on TikTok, psychologists from the University of British Columbia in Canada found that fewer than half the claims about symptoms were robust or accurately reflected clinical guidelines and classed two-thirds of the ADHD-related statements as normal human experiences. Perhaps unsurprisingly, young adults who watched loads of ADHD content were far more likely to have overestimated the prevalence and severity of symptoms in the general population.

Bella Ramsey has opened up about their autism diagnosis ( Getty/TIME )

Experts have identified a similar trend when it comes to #autism content online. One analysis of TikTok autism spectrum disorder (ASD) videos published in the science journal Drugs, Addictions and Health in December 2024 revealed that of 100 TikTok videos tagged with autism spectrum disorder, 24 per cent were classed as useful compared to the 40 per cent that were deemed misleading. Most clips (86 per cent) werent posted by healthcare professionals.

Crucially, the study broke down whether videos were about the symptoms/diagnosis of ASD; overall information about the condition; causes of ASD; or advice on managing the disorder. The vast majority (62 per cent) of content concerned itself with symptoms and diagnosis. Is it any wonder, then, that so many social media users suddenly start seeing neurodivergence everywhere they look?

While some people are content to diagnose themselves or their friends  whether erroneously or not  based on online findings, many are seeking to make it official. There has been a huge surge in the number of patients in the UK who have requested an autism assessment, growing 22 per cent year on year to hit 200,000 in August 2024. With demand more than 10 times higher than it was in 2019, a massive backlog has built up  90 per cent of referrals are waiting longer than the recommended 13 weeks for assessment, according to NHS data.

Whats the point of attaching a label to someone if theres no resource or help available on the other side of it?

Its an even worse state of affairs for young people, with a 350 per cent rise in children waiting for an autism assessment since the height of the Covid pandemic. Waiting times exceed two years; Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are completely overwhelmed. Up to 80 per cent of child mental health referrals to the latter are now autism-related in parts of the UK. A friend tells me about her autistic nephew who cannot find a local secondary school able to accommodate his additional needs. Diagnosis is only the first step; whats the point of attaching a label to someone if theres no resource or help available on the other side of it?

Some experts have raised the issue of potential misdiagnosis due to increased awareness of these disorders, while others have argued that, if more of us actually are neurodivergent, shouldnt research be focused on helping autistic people lead happier, healthier lives? We are currently very focused on making a yes or no distinction in terms of diagnoses, as William Mandy, a professor of neurodevelopmental conditions at University College London, told The Guardian. But why not say, Somebody has these traits. How might that be affecting their life and what we can do to help?

Whatever the reason, armchair diagnosis probably isnt the answer. So next time you go to brand your neighbour with ASD because theyre a bit of a perfectionist, or your colleague with ADD because theyre always 10 minutes late, it might be time to stop and reconsider whether you might be the real problem.
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Bobby Flay is heating things up in the kitchen as hes begun a relationship with a fellow chef.

According to a recent report from People, Flay is now dating the winner of Top Chef season 14, Brooke Williamson. The two recently worked together on the reality cooking show Bobbys Triple Threat which premiered in 2022. Shes also appeared on multiple episodes of Beat Bobby Flay.

They have been friends for a while and recently decided to jump in, a source told People. Her divorce last year probably gave them some additional shared experiences and over the last few weeks, love bloomed.

Williamson, who took home the top prize on Bravos long-running cooking show in 2017, has appeared on Top Chef Duels, Knife Fight, and Guys Grocery Games while also serving as a judge on Food Networks BBQ Brawl. In addition to her television appearances, Williamson also owns a restaurant named Playa Provisions in Playa Del Rey, California.

She was married to Nick Roberts from 2007 until their divorce was finalized in early 2024. They share one son together named Hudson.

Meanwhile, Flay has been married three times and shares his 28-year-old daughter Sophie with his second wife Kate Connelly.

open image in gallery Brooke Williamson and Bobby Flay have reportedly begun dating ( Getty )

Prior to the start of his relationship with Williamson, the Beat Bobby Flay star dated Christina Perez for over three years before their breakup was revealed in June 2024.

A few months later, in October, Flay made an appearance on Kristin Cavallaris Lets Be Honest podcast where he recalled asking if he could take her to dinner only for her to turn him down.

I DMed you and I said to you  Im going to be in Nashville for one night, can I take you to dinner? Flay said on the podcast. And you literally said something to me like, Im already dating somebody.

However, Cavallari claimed she said something else. Or I was like, Im over dating right now. I was burnt out on dating or something, she said.

Flay then disagreed, replying, No, you said, Ive already started seeing somebody! And I said, I just want to go to dinner with you.

open image in gallery Flay has previously been married three times ( Getty )

At another point in the podcast, Cavallari asked the chef if he would ever get married again. If you asked me today, Id say probably, yes, Flay said before backtracking. I dont know.

For me, it hasnt been the best situation. That said, I dont feel like I need to do it again. I have an amazing daughter who is 28 years old. Im not having any more kids as far as I know.

He clarified that instead of having a marriage, he would prefer to have a life partner without the legal formalities that come along with saying I do.

I would be interested in a life partner for sure. But I dont think it necessarily needs the documentation, he said.

Once you sign a document that says, You are now together, theres something that changes. When you try to explain that to people who have never been married, they dont know what youre talking about. Theyre like, Whats the difference? And I'm like well, there is a difference but I cant really put my finger on it.
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Ed Westwick and Amy Jackson have welcomed their first child together, a son named Oscar Alexander Westwick.

The Gossip Girl star, 37, and his wife shared the news on Instagram with a series of black and white photos, captioned: "Welcome to the world, baby boy. Oscar Alexander Westwick."

The couple were seen cradling their son, who was wrapped in a blanket embellished with his name, while the sun set behind them.

Celebrities including Stacey Dooley, Zara McDermott, and Michelle Keegan have offered their congratulations.

The couple, who are both actors, announced their pregnancy in October 2024.

They first met at the Silverstone motor racing circuit in 2021 and were married in August 2024, following their engagement earlier that year.

They were legally married in an intimate ceremony in London, with Jackson wearing a vintage Chanel dress and custom-made Maison Michel hat, before flying out to the Amalfi Coast for the celebrations, the couple told Vogue Italy.

The wedding day was hosted at the 16th-century castle Castello di Rocca Cilento, which has panoramic views of the sea.

At the time, Jackson wrote on Instagram: What an unforgettable weekend. Our farewell brunch with friends and family was everything we could have hoped for.

Jackson has a son called Dre from a previous relationship.

Westwick found fame playing rich schoolboy Chuck Bass in US teen drama series Gossip Girl and has also been in comedy programme White Gold, 2007s Son Of Rambow, and 2011 comedy film Chalet Girl.

Jackson, who is from the Isle of Man, began her career in beauty pageants before signing with a modelling agency at the age of 14. She won Miss Teen World in 2009 and was named runner-up in the Miss England pageant in 2010.

Jackson, 33, is predominantly known for her work in Tamil films and made her Hollywood debut in the CW series Supergirl in 2017.

Like Westwick, Jackson also has a child from a previous relationship.
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A woman with several brain aneurysms which could rupture at any time has said she cant stop thinking: Am I going to die today?

Amber Ford, 31, from South Lanarkshire, Scotland, described herself as a healthy individual before she became unwell in 2018.

She was first diagnosed with mumps and Bells palsy six years ago after waking up one morning to find her face was all twisted. Ms Ford said her health hasnt been right since.

In 2020, she started experiencing concerning symptoms such as extreme fatigue, bad headaches, disturbances to her vision and waking up choking on her own vomit.

After raising these issues with a GP and a hospital, both of which she did not wish to name because of ongoing treatment in their care, the former customer service worker felt she was not being taken seriously.

open image in gallery Amber Ford ( PA )

On one occasion she was told she may need psychiatric treatment.

Through her works private healthcare, Ms Ford was able to seek a CT scan on her neck after initially thinking she may have throat cancer, but it instead revealed a shadow in her brain.

An MRI scan in April 2024 revealed up to three aneurysms in her brain  but a procedure to investigate further could cause serious complications, such as a stroke.

Ms Ford is now faced with the prospect of a risky surgery to cut off blood supply to the aneurysms which could cause a haemorrhage, leave her permanently disabled, or dead, or she could do nothing knowing they could rupture at any time.

She has recently found a US doctor specialising in complex and rare aneurysm cases such as hers, prompting her to launch a GoFundMe page in the hope she can raise enough money to travel for treatment.

Im basically living in unbearable anxiety every day thinking are they going to rupture today? and am I going to die today?, she told PA Real Life.

If I get the surgery, theres a chance I could have a stroke, a haemorrhage, I could be left permanently disabled or dead.

If they did rupture and I survived, it could mean I might never walk again, I might be blind, I might never speak.

I feel like Im a prisoner in this situation and it seems no matter what option I choose, the outcome just isnt good.

Ms Ford described herself as a healthy individual when, in 2018, she was diagnosed with mumps and Bells palsy, a condition causing temporary weakness often to one side of the face.

I woke up one day and my face was all twisted, she said.

open image in gallery Ms Ford after waking up with her face all twisted ( PA )

Since then, things havent been right  my bloods have been off, Im always catching infections, things like that.

Towards the end of 2020, Amber said she started to experience several concerning symptoms.

I was falling asleep at work, I was falling asleep standing up, she said.

I started having bad headaches to the point I couldnt lift my head and the light in the room was too much.

I was being sick in my sleep and I was waking up choking, I couldnt breathe.

She also experienced disturbances to her vision, loss of function in her legs while laughing and out-of-character changes to her behaviour.

Ms Ford raised her symptoms with a GP and a hospital, but she felt as though she was not being taken seriously.

I knew there was something wrong with me for a long time but I was being told that I was bringing these issues on myself or I needed psychiatric treatment, Amber said.

She said she was convinced she had throat cancer because of the sickness she was experiencing, and she also noticed some swelling in her neck.

Accessing private healthcare through her former job, she had a CT on her neck in December 2023.

She said while this did not reveal any signs of a tumour, it did show a shadow in her head which was thought to be an aneurysm.

Ms Ford was referred for another scan, where a neurosurgeon suggested she could have something in her brain called a fenestration, where a single artery is split into two.

open image in gallery Ms Fords health hasnt been right since 2020 ( PA )

She then had an MRI scan in April 2024 which revealed both the fenestration and potentially up to three aneurysms in her brain.

Unfortunately, the condition may run in Ms Fords family  her grandmother, Isobel ONeill, died at the age of 56 from a brain aneurysm.

She said there is no way of knowing the extent of her condition without undergoing an angiography, a type of X-ray where a thin tube is inserted into an artery  but she said there is a risk she could have a stroke with the procedure.

She also said the fenestration in her brain is not dangerous but because her aneurysms are situated on this artery, her condition has become all the more rare and risky.

She is now faced with two options  an operation to place a metal coil on the artery to cut off blood supply to the aneurysms, which comes with great risks, or do nothing.

This has completely taken over my whole life  I dont even leave the house because I start having panic attacks, she said.

Ms Ford said she has found an American doctor who deals with complex aneurysm cases and who worked with patients with similar conditions to hers, saying they have agreed to look further into her case.

She launched a GoFundMe page for help in the eventuality she can proceed with a consultation and treatment as she currently does not have the funds to go.

I genuinely just want my life back, I want to have a family and enjoy my life, she said.

To find out more, visit Ambers GoFundMe page here.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of Novruz holiday, Trend reports.

"Dear Ilham Heydar oglu,

It is my honor to extend to you my sincere congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of the international holiday - Novruz.

The international holiday of Novruz, celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox, is one of the most ancient cultural heritages of mankind. With roots dating back thousands of years, this beautiful holiday is a symbol not only of the awakening of nature, but also of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, mutual understanding and hard work.

May this beloved holiday bring peace, joy and new achievements to you and all the people of your country," the letter reads.
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Earlier this month, Kmart pulled a hyaluronic acid cleansing balm from its shelves, after a teen who used the skincare product was hospitalised, reporting eye pain and blurred vision. Its unclear what ingredient caused this reaction.

In a statement, Kmart said it was removing the product while conducting an investigation. The retailer also said: We want to assure our customers that our cosmetics are designed to ensure that they comply with both Australian and European requirements on ingredients.

Hyaluronic acid  despite the name  is a gentle ingredient commonly used in skincare products.

But what does hyaluronic acid do to your skin as a skincare ingredient? And is it safe for tweens and teens?

Hyaluronic acid is a glycosaminoglycan  a sugar-based molecule found naturally in the skin, eyes, joint fluid and connective tissue.

open image in gallery Hyaluronic acid holds the key to smooth, flawless and hydrated skin ( Getty )

It plays a key role in hydrating the skin and tissues, lubricating our joints and supporting tissue repair.

Beyond cosmetics, hyaluronic acid is used in drug delivery, regenerative medicine, wound repair, and to treat conditions such as atherosclerosis (where the arterial walls harden and narrow) and osteoarthritis (a degenerative joint disease).

It is also a key ingredient in many eye drops and contact lens care solutions.

While the word acid might suggest it is harsh and potentially damaging to the skin, hyaluronic acid is not used in its acidic form in skincare products. It is usually used in its salt form, sodium hyaluronate.

In skincare, active acids such as salicylic acid usually lower the skins pH and exfoliate it by breaking the bonds between dead skin cells.

Hyaluronic acid, in contrast, is used to hydrate the skin. It is a humectant, an ingredient that attracts and retains water molecules.

Hyaluronic acid has three qualities that make it suitable for skincare: its soluble (can be dissolved in water), biocompatible (meaning its not harmful to the body), and biodegradable (naturally breaks down into non-toxic, simpler substances).

It is usually safe and well-tolerated, meaning it has very few side effects.

In skincare products, hyaluronic is used in different forms. Smaller hyaluronic molecules can penetrate deeper into the skin and hydrate the lower levels. In products this is often advertised as anti-ageing, because it stimulates the production of collagen (a structural protein in the skin), and helps to improve elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines.

Larger hyaluronic acid molecules remain on the skins surface and have an immediate hydrating effect, preventing water evaporation from the skin.

Hyaluronic acid is generally a safe ingredient, even for sensitive skin. But products advertised as hyaluronic acid skincare may contain other ingredients which can cause irritation.

In particular, fragrances, preservatives and surfactants (ingredients that produce foam and help wash away oil and dirt) may be safe for skin but burn or otherwise irritate the eyes.

This is because the cornea and conjuctiva (the thin membrane covering the eye) are much more sensitive than the skin.

Unlike medicines and products used for therapeutic reasons, which are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), general cosmetic products do not require pre-market safety testing or approval.

Instead, companies need to register their business with the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme and verify that their ingredients are not banned or restricted in Australia.

This creates a potential gap where defective products remain on the market, only to be recalled after adverse reactions occur.

Most scientific research on active ingredients  including hyaluronic acid  has been evaluated in older populations. This leaves a gap in understanding how they affect teen and preteen skin.

Many products are designed for ageing and/or specific skin types, and are largely unnecessary for children and younger people.

In some cases, they can potentially be harmful to their skin. For example, unless prescribed by a dermatologist, its advisable for young people to avoid retinoid products (containing retinol or retinal) as they can cause redness, peeling and drying.

Similarly, products with alpha hydroxy acids can cause irritation, itching, redness and may worsen acne in young skin.

Preteens and teens should avoid products containing active ingredients such as retinol, vitamin C, alpha- and beta- hydroxy acids, and peptides, as well as those labelled with terms such as anti-ageing, wrinkle-reducing, brightening, or firming.

To keep skin clean and protected, teenagers can use a good cleanser, a simple moisturiser and a broad spectrum SPF 30 or 50 sunscreen.

Its best to opt for gentle, fragrance-free cleansers and moisturisers suitable for all skin types. Consulting with a pharmacist can provide personalised recommendations based on individual skin needs.

Zoe Porter is a lecturer in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science at the Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Laurence Orlando is a senior Lecturer in Product Formulation and Development, at the Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Applying sunscreen and insect repellent together could lower protection from the suns harmful ultraviolet radiation, scientists warned in a new study.

Researchers from CNRS in France assessed the combined use of sunscreen and one of the countrys top-selling insect repellents.

The findings, published in the journal Parasites & Vectors, reveals that mixing the two products can lead to a reduction in UV protection after application.

As disease-spreading insects like tiger mosquitoes are spreading across many countries, it has become an increasingly common habit to apply sunscreen and repellents together during outdoor activities.

The combination has particularly become crucial for travellers and other people who engage in outdoor activities and are exposed to mosquito stings and solar radiation.

A woman applies sunscreen to another at Clovelly Beach on December 14, 2023 in Sydney, Australia ( Getty Images )

In the latest research scientists tested how mixing sunscreen and insect repellent worked in protecting against UV radiation.

They applied the combination on skin biopsies and subjected them to artificial and natural UV rays emitted by the Sun to faithfully reproduce the real conditions.

To our knowledge, our study is the first to evaluate the potential toxicity of combining real-life sunscreen and insect repellent products using ex vivo human skin samples, scientists wrote.

Using a new AI system, researchers then analysed thin sections of the biopsy, corresponding to the different layers of actual skin.

The AI tool enabled scientists to measure the stress response of skin cells to radiation.

The application of just the commercial sunscreen was found to provide efficient protection against UV radiation on the skin model.

On the other hand, the mosquito repellent as a single product did not exert any protective or toxic effect.

However, researchers found a decrease in UV protection when a mixture of sunscreen and insect repellent was used.

Notably, we found that concurrent application of the insect repellent with the sunscreen significantly decreased the UVB protective effect of the sunscreen, researchers wrote.

Leighton Meesters Secret To Glowing Skin? Mixing These TWO Sunscreens.

Scientists hope the findings could help inform better application protocols for the two protective creams.

The described methodology has the potential to inform health policy guidelines and end users on how to chose effective and safe insect repellents and sunscreens, they wrote.

The research also offers insights into the use of AI along with techniques like digital morphometry to assess tissue layers and determine the extent of skin injury.

Scientists hope their research methodology can be used in future studies to gather information on the toxicological profile of other topically applied formulations.

They believe it may also be useful for diagnostic purposes such as in evaluating skins response to harmful substances like pesticides, air pollutants and water contaminants.
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People online are convinced that Sydney Sweeney is no longer engaged to 41-year-old film producer Jonathan Davino.

Speculation the two split erupted after the gossip blog DeuxMoi revealed that the 27-year-old Euphoria star deleted a PDA-filled picture of her and Davino from her Instagram account on Monday.

According to the pop culture watch account, Sweeney had taken down an image of them kissing on New Years Eve after posting it to her page over the holidays.

Think they might be broken up, DeuxMoi wrote.

The Independent has contacted Sweeneys representatives for a comment.

Davino  who famously helped produce the 2023 romantic comedy Anyone But You, starring Sweeney and Glen Powell  was last spotted at his fiancees house in Los Angeles on March 13 by TMZ photographers.

Sydney Sweeney sparks breakup speculation after deleting PDA photo of her and fiance Jonathan Davino from Instagram over the weekend ( Getty )

For the most part, the couple of seven years has kept their relationship out of the public eye. Even when they got engaged in 2022, neither of them made an announcement about their new relationship status.

It wasnt until after Sweeney was spotted with a diamond ring on her finger did Us Weekly confirm the two were planning to get married.

That said, Sweeney did confirm she was in a serious relationship during a 2023 interview with Glamour UK.

Ive been in a steady relationship for a really long time, which is not normal in this industry and not normal for my age, she told the outlet, calling Davino her best friend.

Everyone is always so curious about who Im with and whats that like, but I think its important to have something for me. Im very open [otherwise], she continued. I talk about so much and sometimes it gets me in trouble, but I do try to keep something for me.

The Immaculate actor only acknowledged her engagement while hosting Saturday Night Live in 2024 amid fan speculation that she and her Anyone But You co-star, Powell, were romantically involved.

Speaking about the rumors in her monologue, Sweeney said: Thats obviously not true.

Me and my fiance produced the movie together and he was there the entire shoot, she explained. And I just want to let everyone know that hes the man of my dreams and were still together and stronger than ever.

In February, TMZ reported that the couple had decided to postpone their nuptials due to their busy schedules.

Citing sources, the outlet said the date of the wedding is now undetermined after the two cancelled their original plans to tie the knot in May.
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An anesthesiologist is accused of trying to murder his wife with a rock on a hiking trail in Hawaii.

Dr Gerhardt Konig, 46, was arrested close to the Pali Highway by Honolulu police at around 6.40 p.m. on Monday.

In an earlier appeal, police said the suspect was visiting Oahu with his wife, 36, when he allegedly attempted to push her off a hiking trail and struck her in the head.

Honolulu Emergency Services said the victim suffered multiple facial and head injuries. She was taken to a hospital where she remains in critical condition.

open image in gallery Waikiki in Honolulu, in Oahu ( Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)/ Vincent Lim )

Police sources told Hawaii News Now the victim was assaulted after she allegedly refused to take a picture with the suspect on the Pali Puka trail. The source also claims the suspect pulled out two syringes and attempted to poke her with them.

Honolulu Police had put out an earlier appeal warning islanders to not give strangers a lift and keep an eye out for a 5 foot 9 suspect.

In an update, they said: HPD officers located Gerhardt Konig near Pali Highway and arrested him after a brief foot pursuit. Charges are pending. Mahalo to the public for your assistance.

open image in gallery Dr Gerhardt Konig has been taken into custody ( Honululu Police )

Konig, a doctor with the Anesthesia Medical Group, has since been suspended pending investigation. Employed on an independent contract he provided medical services to facilities on Maui, including Maui Memorial Medical Center, Hawaii News Now reports.

In a statement to the news outlet, Maui Heath said it takes these concerns and safety of its patients very seriously and will cooperate with authorities.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Konig was an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh until he took a new role as a partner for the Anesthesia Medical Group based in Maui.
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Two teachers at a Christian prep school were arrested within the space of a few days on charges of sexually abusing the same student, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Bonnie Brown, 25, was arrested on March 19, and charged with improper sexual contact with a minor. On March 23, Sherri Maudlin, 60, was also taken into custody on charges of improper sexual contact by an employee, aggravated child molestation and statutory rape.

Investigators say Brown and Maudlins crimes took place while they taught at Nathanael Greene Academy in Siloam, Georgia, around 80 miles east of Atlanta. The K3-12 school in question has just 85 students enrolled. According to its Facebook page, the school nurtures individuality, diversity, and morality in an academic environment."

The Independent has learned that both suspects are also graduates of the school. Brown was part of the class of 2017, and Maudlin graduated in 1983. In her junior year, Brown was voted as the schools homecoming queen.

open image in gallery The two women both worked at Nathanael Greene Academy in Siloam Georgia ( Greene County Sheriff's Office )

Neither teacher was working at the school at the time of their arrests, reports Atlanta News First. Until recently, Brown taught at Washington-Wilkes Primary School in neighboring Wilkes County. She has now been terminated. The investigation into the pair began in June 2024 after GBI officers received reports of sexual abuse at Nathanael Greene.

Ashley Mitchell, a lawyer for the victim, told WXIA that the alleged abuse took place at the schools campus and elsewhere.

In a statement to WXIA, the victim, through his attorney, accused the pair of taking advantage of their positions as my teachers.

My school did not protect me as a child. I see that now, and I hope that these arrests will protect our community and children in it.

Mitchell went on to say that she has information to suggest that other teachers were involved with other victims.

Students who are being groomed by teachers are in a very difficult situation. Its not until theyre removed from the situation and have the opportunity to process what happened that they feel comfortable speaking out. I think there is somewhat of a double standard between high school victims who are underage who are being groomed by females as opposed to men, Mitchell added.

The two suspects are friends on Facebook. According to her LinkedIn page, Brown graduated from Kennesaw State University. While on her Facebook page, Maudlin regularly posts about her Christian faith.

The school was founded in 1969 as a school that would not admit Black students, according to a report on integration from 1970. A 2018 study found that there were three Black students at the school despite it being located in a county where the population is 40 percent Black.

open image in gallery Brown and Mauldin, former teachers at Nathanael Greene Academy (pictured), were both booked into Greene County Sheriff's Office jail ( Google Maps )

The suspects have been booked into Greene County Sheriffs Office jail. Browns bond has been set at $50,000.

NGAs administration and Board of Trustees are cooperating with law enforcement and assisting them in every possible way. Nathanael Greene Academy is committed to the safety, welfare, and education of all of its students - past, present, and future, the school said in a statement to McClatchy News.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Greene County Sheriffs Office at 706-453-3351 or the GBI regional investigative office in Milledgeville at 478-445-4173. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

When authorities complete the investigation, a case file will be handed to the Ocmulgee District Attorneys Office for prosecution.

The Independent contacted the Nathanael Greene Academy for comment.
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A Florida woman has been jailed for allegedly stealing just over a dollar from an ice cream store at gunpoint.

Allison Fetting, 44, is accused of robbing a Dairy Queen in Coconut Creek on February 20, 2024 at 2:45 p.m., the Coconut Creek Police Department said on Instagram.

Fetting allegedly brandished a black handgun and ordered the clerk to give her money out of the register. Instead, she ran away with the tip jar with $1.50 inside. No one was injured in the incident.

Sheriffs deputies arrested her on one felony count of petty theft in the second degree a day later. Officials did not provide additional details about the incident in court filings.

While the crime happened last year, Fetting was only booked into the Broward County jail for the robbery charge on Friday.

She had previously served another prison sentence for a separate robbery stemming from a 2003 arrest in Osceola County. The Coconut Creek Police Department said Fetting has been accused of similar crimes in its jurisdiction as well.

open image in gallery Allison Fetting, 44, has been accused of robbing a $1.50 from a Florida Dairy Queen last year ( BSO )

Fetting is currently being held in the Paul Rein Detention Facility, according to online county records. An attorney for her was not listed in court filings. Her arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday.
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Researchers have set a new efficiency world record for converting sunlight into electricity using transparent solar cells.

The breakthrough, made by an international team from the CitySolar project, is a huge boost for renewable energy, allowing entire skyscrapers to serve as power stations by transforming their windows into solar panels.

By combining organic solar cells with the so-called miracle material perovskite, the scientists were able to achieve an efficiency of 12.3 per cent  close to that of commercial solar cells.

Transparent solar cells could be the next big step in building integrated energy solutions, said Professor Morten Madsen from the University of Southern Denmark, who was one of the key researchers behind the breakthrough.

The large glass facades found in modern office buildings can now be used for energy production without requiring additional space or special structural changes... This represents a massive market opportunity.

The CitySolar project is the first to overcome the main challenge with transparent solar cells, which has been the balancing of efficiency and transparency.

The combination of perovskite with an organic layer allows the cell to harvest electricity from near-infrared and near-ultraviolet light, leaving light from the visible spectrum to pass through.

The two materials are also highly affordable, according to Professor Madsen, making it a suitable technology for commercial-scale deployment.

The project is currently at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of between five and six, meaning it is between the proof-of-concept and prototype stages.

It has already received nearly 4m (3.3m) in funding from the EU in the hope that it will help Europe reach its target of fully decarbonising the building sector, which accounts for approximately 40 per cent of the continents energy consumption.

The team behind the discovery is currently in discussions with industry partners to scale up production of the see-through solar panels and make them available for future construction projects.

There are still research improvements to be made but importantly, we know where the challenges lie and have a clear strategy for overcoming them, said Professor Madsen. We can scale up what we have, but we need business partners.
Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. The good relations between Belarus and Azerbaijan will contribute to the further expansion of bilateral relations, said President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko in a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports.

"I cordially congratulate you on the wonderful holiday of Novruz, symbolizing the awakening of nature, the beginning of a new phase of life, and belief in a better future.

I am confident that the existing friendly relations between Belarus and Azerbaijan will contribute to further expanding bilateral relations in all areas for the benefit of the peoples of both countries," President Lukashenko said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. Heads of religious confessions in Azerbaijan have sent an appeal to the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trend reports.

The letter expresses deep concern regarding a letter addressed to the prime minister by the head of the Armenian Church diocese in the UK and Ireland, Bishop Ovakim Manukyan, and several other religious figures in the UK.

"This letter, which views political events in our region through the lens of religion, contains distorted information and is, in essence, part of efforts aimed at undermining the existing peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The only reason for the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia for more than 30 years was the occupation of the Karabakh region of our country by Armenia. Now that Azerbaijan has liberated its territories and restored sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders, the conflict is over.

The Armenian citizens currently standing trial in Azerbaijan are not 'prisoners' or 'prisoners of war'. There is ample credible and specific evidence that, between 19912023 and in the final years of the USSR, during Armenias military aggression against Azerbaijan, they committed serious war crimes against Azerbaijanis. The 2019 report on war crimes in the occupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenias responsibility, published as an official document of the UN General Assembly and Security Council (A/74/676  S/2020/90), contains detailed information about the crimes against humanity committed by Armenians during the occupation of Azerbaijani territories: https://t.co/bSVDxuJYSZ".

Despite unsubstantiated allegations, the individuals in question have been granted the right to a defense, they have never complained of any ill-treatment, and the trials have been transparent. Recently, on March 13, the opinion of the UN Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (a/HRC/VGAD/2024/46) rejected claims of denial of fair trial in the case of Ruben Vardanyan and found the trial procedures to be in line with international standards.

This trial is part of Azerbaijan's post-war efforts to ensure the rights of innocent victims of aggression, bring justice, and bring to justice those accused of military aggression, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Therefore, calls for the release of these Armenian citizens are disrespectful to the thousands of Azerbaijanis who are victims of war crimes, as well as an interference in the judicial system of Azerbaijan. These calls are also an insult and a violation of international norms and basic principles of humanity. Impunity is unacceptable.

Dear Prime Minister, Azerbaijan is a unique space in the world where religious and cultural diversity is considered a spiritual wealth. Multiculturalism is a state policy in Azerbaijan and we are proud that while ethnic, religious, and racial discrimination is on the rise in the world, Azerbaijan serves as an example of Muslims, Christians, Jews, and other faiths living together in harmony and prosperity. We all know that the same is true of the UK. Here, a commitment to inclusion, integration, and mutual respect allows people from all walks of life to develop and live in harmony. The Azerbaijani community living and developing in the UK is a prime example of this.

The conflict that used to exist between Armenia and Azerbaijan has nothing to do with religion. Unfortunately, some Armenian religious figures have resorted to provocative religious rhetoric in the context of the previous conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan to undermine the peace process. While it is not surprising that these internal divisions within Armenian society are now spreading to other countries, it is worrying that the Archbishop of London and some other religious leaders in the UK have been drawn into political discussions about our region based on false claims.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have been engaged in intensive peace talks since 2020. Despite notable progress, some outstanding issues remain. We are grateful to the UK for its balanced position on the former conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as its support for the ongoing peace process in our region. We are confident that the UK Government will continue to support Azerbaijan's efforts to bring lasting peace to the region and justice to its citizens.

Please accept our best wishes in your highly responsible endeavors and our prayers for the continued prosperity and well-being of the people of the UK.

Sincerely,

Chairman of the Caucasus Muslim Board Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade

Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, Bishop of Baku and Azerbaijan Diocese Aleksiy Smirnov

Head of the community of Mountain Jews in Azerbaijan Milikh Yevdayev

Head of the community of European Jews in Azerbaijan Alexander Sharovski

Chairman of the Albanian-Udin Christian religious community Robert Mobilea

Head of Sephardic Jewish religious community in Baku Zamir Isayev, the address reads.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Its a strange idea, safe danger. That contradiction is part of why were drawn to crime novels, says Jane Caro, who has just written her second. On some level, we recognise that danger is the reality of our lives, that we are vulnerable envelopes of flesh, but we have to live in an illusion of safety to function. So we love play danger, safe danger.

Its part of why we slow down at car accidents, says the writer, commentator and former advertising executive, quoting a psychologist she heard interviewed about that seemingly ghoulish, universal fascination. In some ways, youve played it out, youve rehearsed it. Women, in particular, are attracted to crime because they know that one in three women are raped; the number of women whove experienced male violence is very high. As Margaret Atwood said: Men fear women will laugh at them, women fear men will kill them.

Jane Caro found that confronting the illusion of safety helped her stop fearing danger. Credit: James Brickwood

Speaking ahead of the release of her latest novel, Lyrebird, Caro says in life there are no answers until you die.

Not that she hasnt faced some of lifes more extreme scenarios. In 1988, her first child was born prematurely and nearly died, spending eight to 10 days in intensive care. Caro says it was a brutal introduction to parenthood. Id had an anxiety neurosis for some years, and weirdly, real danger chased out fantasy danger. Not immediately, but thats when it started to get unpicked.
STREET ART

Banksys Lost Works

Will Ellsworth-Jones

Batsford GB, $39.99

In May 2012, a plumber in Prahran fitting pipes accidently destroyed a mural worth an estimated $50,000. The parachuting rat is said to have been painted on the wall of the Melbourne suburb in 2003 by Street artist Banksy. Market value ensures most artworks by the anonymous British graffiti artist typically dont last that long.

Banksys most expensive painting, Love is in the Bin, sold for 18.6 million ($A37.8 million) in October 2021. But auction houses usually wont touch a Banksy without the stamp of authenticity from Pest Control, Banksys official website. There have been some exceptions, but generally, he doesnt authenticate work taken off the street either. But that doesnt stop building owners, or curious thieves, from trying. They will literally take off the whole side of a property if necessary to get to a Banksy, writes Will Ellsworth-Jones in Banksys Lost Works.

The quirky guidebook is illustrated with photographs of more than 50 works of Banksys street art, which have since been removed, gone missing, or been destroyed. Ellsworth-Jones writing style is casual and conversational, telling the story of each missing mural in less than a couple of pages. It means there isnt much room left for artistic analysis.
Jerusaluem: Israeli authorities have released a Palestinian director of an Oscar-winning documentary who was detained overnight, after what he and witnesses said was an attack by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.

Police said the filmmaker, Hamdan Ballal, one of the directors of the documentary, No Other Land, was questioned along with two other Palestinians on suspicion of hurling stones, property damage and endangering regional security. All three deny the accusations, their lawyer said.

Hamdan Ballal, Oscar-winning Palestinian director of No Other Land, is released from a police station in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba a day after being detained by the Israeli army following an alleged attack by Jewish settlers. Credit: AP

The details of the episode are still not entirely clear, and both sides provided conflicting accounts of the events surrounding Ballals detention. But witnesses said the detention took place as a group of Israeli settlers  some of whom were masked  carried out an assault in the outskirts of Ballals home village of Susya in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

After his release on Tuesday, Ballal, 37, said he had been guarding his home during the attack, worried that the settlers would try to barge in. Suddenly, a man struck Ballal on the head while two Israeli soldiers leveled their guns at him, he said.
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A lo-fi neighbourhood bottleshop, bar and pantry in one.

1 / 8 Pick up picnic provisions at Sweet Nectar Inn. Supplied 2 / 8 The bar has tiles hand made and glazed by owner Sam OFarrell. Supplied 3 / 8 Grab a bottle and settle in. Supplied 4 / 8 Tap wine is also available in one-litre refillable takeaway bottles. Supplied 5 / 8 Snacks and smallgoods are available to eat in or take away. Supplied 6 / 8 Inside the neighbourhood bar and pantry. Supplied 7 / 8 Cosy up in a booth. Supplied 8 / 8 Perfect for a glass of wine at the bar, or a bottle to take away. Supplied Previous Slide Next Slide

Modern Australian$$$$

At Sweet Nectar, owners Devon Hunter and Sam OFarrell have rolled a bottleshop, bar and pantry into a one-stop lo-fi neighbourhood shop in Nicholson Street, Coburg. The understated, wood-clad interiors were fitted out by Hunter and OFarrell themselves, complete with an eclectic tiled bar comprising 300 tiles hand made and glazed by OFarrell.

Pop in for a glass (or bottle) of natural local wine, plus cold tap beer and cocktail specials, or go picnic shopping and peruse the selection of takeaway drops and food supplies lining the shelves and fridges. You might find freshly baked Akimbo loaves, pickles by Acide, Istra smallgoods, or four-packs of Love Shack pale ale.

Feel like eating in? Grab any provisions from the cheese fridge and pantry to create a BYO-style picnic  staff will happily supply plates and knives for you to enjoy in-house. Tap wine is also available to take away in one-litre refillable bottles.
Beachfront property can cost millions. But St Kilda offers a beach lifestyle even to home buyers on a shoestring budget.

Tripadvisors Travellers Choice Awards recently named Sydneys Manly beach as the best in the South Pacific based on traveller reviews, followed by Bondi beach, and neglected to choose any Victorian beaches in its top 10. But in a more granular ranking of Melbournes best beaches, the travel site lists St Kilda beach as No.1, above Brighton and Elwood.

St Kilda was ranked Melbournes best beach. Credit: Wayne Taylor

Local real estate agents are quick to point out St Kildas affordability relative to other Melbourne bayside suburbs and iconic beaches further north.

St Kildas median house price was $1,459,000 over the year to December, on Domain data.
A Tokyo court has ordered the dissolution of the controversial Unification Church in Japan, which came under scrutiny for its fundraising tactics and close ties with government politicians after the 2022 assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe.

The courts decision revokes the legal status of the South Korea-based church, stripping it of its tax-exempt status and requiring the liquidation of its assets, but it doesnt ban it from operating in Japan.

The church has indicated it will appeal the ruling, saying in a statement that it was based on an incorrect interpretation of the law and is totally unacceptable to this organisation.

Shinzo Abe was assassinated in July 2022. Credit:

The verdict fulfilled a request by Japans Education Ministry, which urged the court in 2023 to dissolve the sect after an investigation concluded the group had systematically manipulated its followers into donating money, sowed fear and harmed their families for decades.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. Euronews has featured a report on the 12th Global Baku Forum, Trend reports.

In the latest episode of Focus, the channel highlighted the gathering of over 50 world leaders and experts in Azerbaijan, where they discussed global security, EU integration, and post-conflict reconstruction amid evolving geopolitical dynamics.

The forum brought together senior officials and policymakers to tackle pressing global issues under the theme "Rethinking World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities."

Key discussions centered on EU enlargement, regional security in the South Caucasus, and fostering post-conflict stability. Leaders emphasized the need for stronger international cooperation, with Albania reaffirming its European aspirations and experts stressing the critical importance of stability in the Western Balkans.
800 detained farmers released, 450 more to be freed: Punjab Police





CHANDIGARH :

DAYS after the crackdown on protesting farmers, Punjab Police on Monday said it has released nearly 800 farmers from detention and is going to free 450 more on the direction of the State Government. Since March 19, hundreds of farmers had been taken into custody after the AAP Government decided to clear the protest sites, claiming that the stir had impacted businesses, industries and the general public. In a statement here, Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill said, Punjab Government has already released approximately 800 farmers from the police custody. He said that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has directed the immediate release of farmers including women, differently-abled individuals, farmers with medical conditions, and those above the age of 60. In line with the directives of the Punjab Government, we are prioritising the release of such farmers and about 450 farmers are being released today, he said.

The protesting farmers had lashed out at the AAP Government for detaining their leaders and removing protesters from the Shambhu and Khanauri border points, where they had been camping since February 13 last year after their march to Delhi was thwarted by security personnel. On grievances of the farmers related to their belongings during the eviction from protest sites, the IGP said that the Punjab Government has issued strict directions in this regard and nobody will be permitted to misappropriate the belongings of farmers.

To address the concern about the belongings of farmers, the Patiala district police has also appointed SP-rank officer Jasbir Singh as the Nodal Officer, and farmers facing issues related to their possessions can directly contact SP Jasbir Singh at the mobile number 90713-00002 for immediate assistance, Gill said. Patiala Police has already registered three first information reports (FIRs) in this regard, he said. Slamming the crackdown against the protesting farmers by Punjab Police, the national coordination committee of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha on Sunday had called upon farmers across India to hold protest demonstrations at districts across the country on March 28.
A1 to A7: Maoists mobilisation & radicalisation toolkit decoded





The Hitavada Research

By Kartik Lokhande :

CPI (Maoist) documents reveal their style of operations vis-a-vis urban areas

While some quarters are questioning the need for the proposed Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, one of the core documents of the banned CPI (Maoist) reveals their plans for mobilisation and radicalisation of target groups particularly in urban areas. Their cover or mass organisations can be divided into seven types, through which they raise various issues that may appear to be genuine in nature but the intention behind such agitations cannot be gauged by unsuspecting innocent people. CPI (Maoist) and its front organisations are already banned. But, their cadres come up with newer front organisations and continue with the agenda of creating unrest among people over various issues with an ultimate aim of overthrow of the Constitutionally established and democratically elected Government. They operate irrespective of the political party in power. According to sources in the know of things, the Maoists operate in two concentric circles -- one of mass organisations championing various seemingly genuine causes, and another engaged in co-ordination, mobilisation, and indoctrination.

Their real intention is to mobilise masses under various pretexts, stage agitations, indoctrinate people for struggles, and after gradual radicalisation get them on board as cadres actively plotting to overthrow the State. The organisations under the umbrella of CPI (Maoist) or through which Maoists urban cadres operate are divided into seven types -- A1 to A7. The A1 category has organisations that usually engage in fact-finding with the sole intention of maligning the image of the Government of the day (irrespective of party in power) as well as security agencies. It has a women's wing, students wing, human rights wing etc.

If any encounter takes place and Naxalites/Maoists are killed, the fact-finding experts arrive at the scene, visit the site, compile a report, only to call all such encounters as extra-judicial killings in a bid to build pressure on security forces. However, if police personnel are killed by the Red terrorists, these fact-finding experts are to be seen nowhere. A2 organisations are engaged in forming a Tactical United Front (TUF) with organisations that are busy fomenting trouble within the country by professing secessionist and divisive causes.

These organisations find common cause with organisations with separatist agenda pertaining to J&K, as well as the North-Eastern States, and call for recognition to nationality struggles. A3 covers international committees that speak the language of peoples resistance, anti-displacement unity, etc and are quick at coloured (biased) internationalisation of any internal turmoil in India. The international supporters of Maoists and their sympathisers from India, are usually academics, who use words such as liberation, struggles, resistance, self-determination etc. A4 category has mass organisations. An explanation of this found in CPI (Maoist) documents namely Urban Perspective: Our Work in Urban Areas and Strategy and Tactics is eye-opening.

This category has mainly three types of mass organisations as described in the Political and Organisational Review (POR) of the proscribed organisation. These three types include secret revolutionary mass organisations, open and semi-open revolutionary mass organisations, and open legal mass organisations not directly linked to the Party. The urban work within the open legal mass organisations type is further sub-divided into three broad categories -- fractional work, cover organisations, and legal democratic organisations. A5 category covers teachers associations particularly at the level of universities, but also covers primary teachers organisations too wherever convenient to the outlaws. These associations/organisations work to indoctrinate students by introducing them to concepts and causes that ultimately lead to the Maoists way of thinking.

They also have been trying to facilitate forming students organisations or unions in certain universities, with a particular focus on Central universities. A6 covers publications and the influence operations wing. Already, several of the CPI (Maoist) publications are banned in India. These include Peoples March etc. According to a source, the magazine The Arrested published by banned CPI (Maoist) front Committee for Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP) had eulogised some terrorists who were given capital punishment by the Government of India years ago. The tone and tenor of these publications is to eulogise Maoists killed in encounters, to malign the security forces and the Government. A7 works in the domain of political prisoners.The Maoists call their arrested cadres as political prisoners and deceptively try to equate them with freedom fighters. In fact, during the 9th Unity Congress of the Maoist organisation held in 2007, one of the resolutions was about this aspect. In that resolution, the outlaws had talked about converting prisons into political universities, which means that the arrested Maoist cadres/ideologues try to indoctrinate other prison inmates through seemingly casual conversations. CRPP works in this domain.
Action: Cops evict over 60 Pardhi families from different villages in Gosalpur area





Staff Reporter :

Police found huge cache of lethal arms and equipments used in poaching

Tightening noose on illegal migrators, police have evicted more than 60 Pardhi families from different villages in Gosalpur area. Police have found huge cache of lethal arms and equipments used in poaching while illegal liquor kilns were also found and more than 150 litres country liquor was destroyed. Around half a dozen villages near Gosalpur, located about 30-kilometers from Jabalpur, were troubled with the presence of Pardhi families who had set up temporary settlements. These individuals were not only spreading fear among the villagers but were also allegedly involved in illegal activities. Additional SP (Rural), Suryakant Sharma informed that annoyed with the increasing criminal activities in the area, local residents informed the police and administration. Following two days of intense action, over 60 Pardhi families were evicted from the villages.

When the police arrived to remove them, the settlers resisted and misbehaved. However, police teams from four different stations intervened and forcefully removed them from the villages. Sudden increases in theft and illegal activities were reported in villages like Kevlari, Ranitlal, Gandhigram and Barnu near Gosalpur and Sihora. Cases of villagers being assaulted and robbed had also reported. Taking a serious note on the situation, SDOP Parul Sharma along with additional police force from Sihora, Khitola, Gosalpur, Majholi and the police headquarters reached the spot and evacuated the temporary residential arrangements.

When the Gosalpur police team reached the spot, most of the men had already fled, leaving only women and children behind. SDOP tried to reason with them, explaining that encroaching on village land was illegal. During police questioning, the women claimed that they could not leave until their husbands returned. However, when they continued to resist, authorities took stricter action and forcefully removed over 60 families on Sunday and Monday. ASP Suryakant Sharma added that the Pardhi groups operate strategically. They first send one or two families into a village and gradually, more people arrive. Eventually, they attempt to encroach land illegally.
Bilaspur unites for Arpa river rejuvenation in massive cleanliness drive





Massive community drive cleans Arpa River: Over 2,000 volunteers join hands with officials to clear nearly 19 tonnes of waste, rejuvenating Bilaspurs lifeline.

The Hitavada State

Bureau Bilaspur/Raipur,

Over 2,000 people join Arpa Utthan campaign to clean and revive Bilaspurs lifeline n Public representatives, officials, and citizens pledge to adopt cleanliness as a habit n Nearly 19 tonne of waste cleared with 45 tractor trips during the intensive cleanup drive

In a remarkable display of community participation, Bilaspur witnessed over 2,000 volunteers uniting for the Arpa Utthan campaign, a large-scale cleanliness drive organized by the Bilaspur Municipal Corporation to mark World Water Day. The campaign aimed at rejuvenating the Arpa River, widely regarded as Bilaspurs lifeline. Volunteers, public representatives, and social organisations worked alongside local authorities from Indira Setu to Ram Setu, collectively clearing debris, hyacinths, and solid waste from the riverbed to restore its natural flow. Prominent figures like Atal Bihari Vajpayee University Vice-Chancellor ADN Vajpayee, Mayor Pooja Vidhani, Collector Awanish Kumar Sharan, SSP Rajnesh Singh, and Municipal Commissioner Amit Kumar actively participated in the drive. Vice-Chancellor ADN Vajpayee described the initiative as a vital step towards environmental preservation and urged citizens to treat the river with respect.

We must avoid dumping waste or pollutants that one wouldnt consume themselves, he stated. Mayor Pooja Vidhani emphasised that Arpa River symbolises Bilaspurs identity and hailed the massive public participation as a powerful reflection of the emotional bond citizens share with the river. She called for continued community responsibility to ensure Arpa remains clean and beautiful. Collector Awanish Kumar Sharan highlighted that the campaign aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modis upcoming visit to Bilaspur on March 30, prompting intensified efforts to ensure a clean and presentable city. Municipal Commissioner Amit Kumar informed that the campaign is part of an ongoing fortnight-long drive aimed at sustaining cleanliness and rejuvenating the river. He announced that future initiatives would include enhanced public engagement to maintain momentum.

The cleanup effort resulted in the removal of 19.03 tonnes of waste, including 10 tonnes of water hyacinth and 9.03 tonnes of solid debris such as plastic and discarded materials. The operation required 45 tractor trips to transport the collected waste to designated disposal sites.

The campaign saw active participation from various social and political groups, government employees, and volunteers from institutions such as SECL, Central University, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee University. The Chhattisgarh High Court has previously issued directives for the preservation of the Arpa River, and authorities confirmed that efforts are being carried out in line with these guidelines. To prevent future pollution, the Municipal Corporation is constructing four Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) to stop untreated wastewater from entering the river. Additionally, plans for three new STPs in Shanichari, Tilak Nagar, and Chingrajpara are currently in the proposal stage.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. Azerbaijan and Brazil have agreed to create a pathway from Baku, host of COP29 in 2024, to Belem, which will host COP30 in 2025, to seek global financing, said Elchin Amirbayov, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan for Special Assignments, Trend reports.

We understand that it is a very ambitious goal, but if all investors join these efforts and if they are guided by political will, I think we will be able to achieve this goal, Amirbayov said in an interview with Agencia Brasil.

He noted that one lesson from COP29 for Brazil at COP30 is promoting transparency and inclusion among countries in reaching consensus. We identified the differences between the parties and found solutions to reach a historic consensus on climate finance, which was not an easy task.

Amirbayov highlighted that a major challenge at COPs is for leaders to implement what they promise at the summit and bring practical solutions back to their countries. He described COP29 as a great success and emphasized the exchange of lessons learned with the Brazilian COP30 president, Andre Correa do Lago. Our countries have worked very closely on climate change, he said.

The main goal is to ensure that Bakus legacy is embraced by Brazil. The most important result of COP29 in Baku was reaching consensus on financing $300 billion per year to address the climate crisis.

Alongside climate discussions, the ambassador mentioned Azerbaijan's efforts to strengthen strategic partnerships with Brazil. Azerbaijan considers Brazil a key player in Latin America, and there are many opportunities to enhance economic cooperation, he said. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established 32 years ago, and they maintain a strong political relationship.

Amirbayov pointed out shared interests in agriculture, civil aviation, technology, education, and energy, with ongoing cooperation between ministries in these fields.
Bomb hoax at High Court





Staff Reporter :

Work at Bombay High Courts Nagpur bench got stalled for a while after police were informed about presence of a bomb in the premises. A person from Jaripatka informed Sadar Police that a bomb had been planted at the High Court. Taking immediate cognisance, the cops got in touch with Registrar, Nagpur Bench, Bombay High Court, who then assisted the cops in the search operation. The message was received around 5 pm when the main proceedings in the Court room were wrapped up and only the administrative staff were at their work stations.

Police said a team Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) reached High Court building in Civil Lines and thoroughly checked all the rooms. The sniffer pressed into service also went around the campus but nothing suspicious was found. According to police, Omprakash Sadhwani, an auditor and a resident of Jaripatka, had came to the Sadar Police Station, and told the police about a bomb planted at the High Court.

Prior to that, Sadhwani had also called on 112 and relayed information about a bomb in HC. After getting the clear signal from BDDS team, the Sadar Police said the bomb call was a hoax. The police thereafter carried out background check about Sadhwani in Jaripatka area and learnt that he was mentally unstable. The same was confirmed by the doctor who is treating Sadhwani. A case has been registered by Sadar Police and they have detained Sadhwani.
FIR against Kamra for insulting Shinde, Fadnavis seeks his apology





MUMBAI :

MAHARASHTRA Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday sought stand-up comedian Kunal Kamras apology for insulting Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, even as police arrested 12 workers of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena for ransacking the venue in Mumbai where Kamra made traitor jibe. Mumbai Police registered an FIR against Kamra for making defamatory remarks against Shinde, officials said. The police also registered a case against 40 Shiv Sena workers for vandalising the Habitat studio in Khar area, where Kamras show with the gaddar (traitor) jibe at Shinde was filmed, and a hotel where the studio is located. Several Shiv Sena workers on Sunday night gathered outside Hotel Unicontinental, where the Habitat is located.

They allegedly ransacked the studio and the hotel premises, the police said. Shiv Sena legislator Murji Patel said, the party workers will not allow Kamra to move on the streets if he doesnt apologise to Shinde in two days. The row sparked by Kamras jibe rocked both the Houses of the State Legislature on Monday leading to brief adjournments. The Legislative Assembly witnessed uproarious scenes with Shiv Sena members demanding strict action against the stand-up comedian for his traitor jibe at Shinde.

As members of the treasury benches rose on their feet shouting slogans, Speaker Rahul Narwekar adjourned the proceedings for five minutes. In the Legislative Council, legislators from the treasury and Opposition benches were engaged in a heated exchange, following which the proceedings were adjourned for ten minutes, followed by 15 minutes, and then for half an hour. Sena MP Naresh Mhaske warned Kamra that he would no longer be allowed to roam freely in Maharashtra and would be chased by the party workers throughout the country.
HOUSES OF FAHIM KHAN, ABDUL HAFEEZ DEMOLISHED





Staff Reporter :

Administration cracks whip post arson that rocked Mahal and Hansapuri area of the city on March 17

Sending strong signals to perpetrators of arson in Mahal, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Monday levelled the two-storeyed house of the mastermind Fahim Khan in Yashodhara Nagar. Thereafter, portion of another accused house in Johripura in Mahal was also demolished. The swift action was subsequent to findings that the two house owners had flouted building bye-laws and carried out illegal construction and hence they were demolished. As per information, NMC officials of Ashi Nagar Zone and Gandhibagh-Mahal Zone had issued notices to Fahim Khan, President, Minorities Democratic Party (MDP), Nagpur Unit, and Abdul Hafeez Sheikh Lal respectively on Sunday. The notice was regarding unauthorised construction on part of the two accused who were named in the Mahal arson case. Incidentally, Khan and also Hafeez are presently in police custody as the two are claimed to have allegedly masterminded the violence that ripped through the city in aftermath of protest by Bajrang Dal members in Mahal area. Khan is accused of fanning rumours as to alleged desecration of Quran verses and mislead by the false info, a section of the community got charged and went on rampage in Mahal and later, in Hansapuri.

Meanwhile, on Monday morning, a team of NMC reached Sanjay Bagh area where Khan resided with his family. The property of Khan was registered in the name of his wife. It was a two-storeyed house and the earth movers and excavators hammered the blows on the concrete structure. Amidst tight police bandobast, the bulldozers reduced the house to rubble even as by-standers watched with daze the demolition action. The entire action continued throughout the afternoon and to be more prompt the action team also cleared the rubble from the spot with lightning speed to leave no trace of any action. The reducing of two storeyed house to rubble is termed as Bulldozer action, more heard of in Uttar Pradesh. A few days back, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had hinted at strict action against the accused persons involved in fanning disturbance in the city. He said administration could recover the cost of losses suffered by citizens from the accused persons.

The civic officials were tight-lipped about the lightning speed with which it cracked down on illegal building construction in city. Mahal: After wrapping-up the action in Yashodhara Nagar, the demolition team moved to Joharipura where the other accused involved in the arson resides. Here the civic body team pulled down the balcony and porch that was deemed illegal at residence of Abdul Hafeez Sheikh Lal. Even as the NMC team was busy with demolition, an urgent motion was moved before High Court. The learned Judges immediately directed the NMC counsel to convey their order of staying the action as same prima facie seemed violation of laid down norms. Till then, partial demolition of the house had taken place in the busy small lanes of Mahal area. However in Yashodhara Nagar the house of Fahim Khan was reduced to rubble. His family members had already left the house. A crowd of onlookers watched the drama unfold from the same distance even as the civic team bit by bit demolished the portion of the house.

HC stays demolition, notice to Chief Secretary

A division bench of Bombay High Courts Nagpur Division immediately granted stay as it was prima facie convinced that NMC has acted in haste. Adv Ashwin Ingole moved an urgent motion filed by Mohd Aaiyyaz Abdul Hafeez, son of Abdul Hafeez, before Senior Judge Nitin Sambre and Justice Vrushali Joshi mentioning the ongoing action by NMC on a single day notice of demolishing the building of Fahim Khan and Abdul Lal. Midway through the hearing, Justice Sambre directed NMC counsel Adv Jemini Kasat to direct authorities to halt the ongoing demolition till the petition was decided as it was convinced that authorities had acted in haste. Adv Ingole said the notice as to demolition of illegal construction was issued to Khan and Lal on Sunday and order about demolition was issued on Monday. Also, he contended that the order was issued by civic body officials after reaching the spot with bulldozers.

The Court observed that State seemed to have ignored the guidelines framed by Supreme Court as to demolition in case of illegal construction. Apex court had mentioned that a 15-day period be provided after serving the notice as to illegal construction and noted that NMC however had ignored the same and hence granted ad-interim stay in the demolition action. NMC counsel said reply will be filed within one week. Similarly, the HC has also issued notices to respondents, including Chief Secretary seeking affidavit as to directions to local bodies post apex courts order. The next hearing in the case is slated for April 15.
President hails Cgarh Assemblys remarkable conduct





Chhattisgarh Governor Ramen Deka presenting book Sadasya Sandharbh to President of India Droupadi Murmu in Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly at Raipur on Monday.

Staff Reporter

RAIPUR

Addressing the Silver Jubilee function of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly in Raipur President Droupadi Murmu praised the House for upholding high democratic traditions. She highlighted its extraordinary rule of automatic suspension for members who enter the well during proceedings and commended the discipline that has ensured that the Marshall has never been required in the past 25 years. The President emphasised that the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly has set a remarkable example of parliamentary conduct, not just for India but also for democratic institutions worldwide. Murmu also lauded the state assembly for having 19 female legislators in its 90-member house and expressed happiness over the number of women voters exceeding that of men in Chhattisgarh. She acknowledged the States progress in womens empowerment.

Urging women MLAs to support their counterparts, she said, Whether they are teachers, officers, social workers, entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, laborers, or farmers, women often carve out a place for themselves while managing household responsibilities. When all women empower each other, society becomes stronger and more sensitive. The President highlighted Chhattisgarhs immense developmental potential in industries such as cement, minerals, steel, aluminum, and power generation. Murmu urged policymakers to ensure environmental conservation while advancing development and to include all sections of society in the journey toward modern progress. She recalled the contributions of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former MP Minimata, recognising their roles in public welfare. President Murmu also touched upon the historical and cultural ties between Chhattisgarh and Odisha, stating, We consider Raipur a part of Odisha. Lord Jagannath is not just the deity of Odisha but belongs to everyone. Odisha shares a special bond with Chhattisgarh.

Chhattisgarh Governor Ramen Deka, Speaker Dr Raman Singh, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, and Leader of Opposition Dr Charan Das Mahant also addressed the event. Dr Raman Singh, in his welcome speech, called the occasion a moment of pride and joy for the Legislative Assembly. President Murmu was honored with a shawl, a shreephal, and a memento by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Leader of Opposition Dr Charan Das Mahant. A book Sadasya Sandharbh, was released on the occasion with Governor Ramen Deka presenting the first copy to the President.
Singapores Temasek seeks CCI nod to acquire 10% stake in Haldiram





Business Reporter :

Haldiram Snacks Food is the combined business of the two branches of the Haldiram family based in Delhi and Nagpur.

The 10 pc stake sale in Haldiram is valued at USD 10 billion.

Singapores sovereign wealth fund Temasek Holdings has sought approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to acquire about 10 per cent stake in Haldiram Snacks Food. Temasek will acquire a stake in Indias largest packed snacks and sweets company and restaurant operator Haldiram Snacks Food, promoted by Agarwal family, through its arm Jongsong Investments Pte. Haldiram Snacks Food is the combined business of the two branches of the Haldiram family based in Delhi and Nagpur.

The proposed transaction entails the acquisition of less than 10 per cent of the issued and paid-up equity share capital of the target (Haldiram Snacks Food Pvt Ltd). The transaction is in the nature of an acquisition of shares, voting rights and falls under section 5 of the Competition Act, 2002, said a notice filed with the CCI on March 20. In its submission to the CCI, the parties (Jongsong Investments and Haldiram Snacks Foods) asserted that the proposed transaction does not give rise to any competition law concerns irrespective of the manner in which the markets are defined. However, to assist the CCI in its assessment, the relevant markets may be considered as the broader market for the manufacturing and the sale of packaged food products in India, they added. Additionally, narrower markets may be identified within this segment, including the manufacturing and sale of snacks, sweets, ready-to-eat products, dairy products, bakery products, chocolates, and non-carbonated ready-to-drink beverages.

According to industry sources, Temasek will acquire about a 10 per cent stake in Haldiram Snacks Food at a valuation of USD 10 billion. The Agarwal family, promoters of Haldiram Snacks Food, may rope in another investor for selling some more stake in the company which had a revenue of over Rs 12,500 crore in FY24, they noted. The agreement with Temasek came after months of negotiations as several PE firms, including Blackstone, Alpha Wave Global and Bain Capital-led consortiums, were in the race to pick up a stake in Haldiram Snacks Food.

The Agarwal family may also opt for the IPO (Initial public offering) route next year to capitalise on Indias buoyant stock market.Earlier, the promoters were intending to divest a larger portion. However, they have decided to offload a minority stake only. This cash infusion will help Haldiram Snacks Food to fund its expansion plans and expedite its journey in the domestic as well as some of the foreign markets, where it has a presence. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has already approved the process of merger of the two fractions, while other regulatory approvals are awaited. Established in 1937 as a retail sweets and namkeen shop in Bikaner, Rajasthan by Ganga Bhishen Agarwal, Haldiram products are now sold in over 80 countries. In 2022, it was announced that the packaged snacks businesses of Delhi-based Haldiram Snacks and Nagpur-based Haldiram Foods International would be first demerged and then merged into an entity named Haldiram Snacks Food. (Inputs from PTI)
Stamp Duty payments to go online in Mah





MUMBAI :

IN A bid to streamline Stamp Duty and registration processes, the Maharashtra Government on Monday introduced a new system that allows citizens to pay stamp duty and obtain e-stamp certificates online from the comfort of their homes. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule tabled the Maharashtra Stamp (Amendment) Bill, which enables this digital transformation, in the legislative council and was approved. He explained that since 2004, citizens have had to visit licenced vendors to purchase physical stamp papers, and franking services were only available at specific centres. He said that even after paying e-challans during registration, people had to furnish printed receipts at Government offices. With the new reforms, a seamless, fully digital system will replace these steps, he said. Bawankule said under the new system, citizens can pay stamp duty online anytime and anywhere, and e-stamp certificates will be issued immediately.

The processing fee remains fixed at Rs 500, with no additional charges. Importantly, the option to purchase traditional physical stamp papers will remain open, and there is no obligation to switch to the digital method, he said. The Minister described the reform as a historic shift in Maharashtras approach to Stamp Duty administration, and it reflects the Governments commitment to transparency, public convenience, and digital governance. A significant aspect of the reform addresses the confusion many citizens face regarding the amount of Stamp Duty required for specific documents. The Minister said that to determine the applicable duty, applicants had to make submissions on plain paper, which has now been replaced by a direct submission on a Rs 1,000 stamp paper. If a person ends up paying more than the required amount in Stamp Duty, the excess will be refunded within 45 days, and said that if a lesser amount is paid, the balance payment should be made promptly, he said.

Mah aims to set up new hostels for 25,000 students, says Shirsat

MAHARASHTRA Minister Sanjay Shirsat said that the State Government aims to accommodate 25,000 students in new hostels to be set up by the Social Justice Department. Speaking in the Legislative Council, the State Minister for Social Justice said that the Department plans to open around 125 hostels in different parts of the State, and a provision of Rs 1,500 crore has been allocated for this. He said, New hostels equipped with modern facilities will be established wherever there is demand. The Social Justice Department is working to develop model hostels. Shirsat also announced that the admission process for hostels would not be handled at the Mantralaya level but would be delegated to the Commissionerate of Social Justice to simplify and decentralise the procedure. The Minister was replying to a starred question by Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve regarding the poor conditions at a hostel under the Social Justice Department in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. He said the District Collector has been directed to take action against persons responsible for the hostels condition. Shirsat said the department will frame guidelines to prioritise admissions at hostels near colleges, ensuring easier access.

Govt presents bill to regulate private placement agencies

THE Maharashtra Government presented a bill to regulate private placement agencies engaged in the business of placement activities for job seekers and thereby ensure transparency, safeguard the interests of the job seekers and protect them from exploitation and fraudulent practices. The Act is called as Maharashtra Private Placement Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2025. The bill has been tabled considering the enhanced participation of private placement agencies in the placement of job seekers especially when the private agencies have long complemented the traditional employment market and are considered as a catalyst for new forms of Human Resource management services which can be contributors to better job opportunity conditions.
Suicides in educational institutions SC sets up task force for students health concerns





NEW DELHI :

THE Supreme Court on Monday took note of the recurring cases of student suicides in higher educational institutions and formed a National Task Force (NTF) to address the mental health concerns of students and prevent such incidents. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan directed Delhi Police to register an FIR on the complaints of the family members of two students who died by suicide while studying at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, in 2023. Noting a disturbing pattern of student suicides were being reported from various educational institutes, the apex court said these tragedies underscored the urgent need for a more robust, comprehensive and responsive mechanism to address various factors which compel students to resort to taking their own lives. The recurring instances of student suicides in higher educational institutions, including private educational institutions, serve as a grim reminder of the inadequacy and ineffectiveness of the existing legal and institutional framework in addressing mental health concerns of students on campuses and to prevent the students from taking the extreme step of committing suicides, the order said. While the order said former apex court judge Justice S Ravindra Bhat would be the chairperson of the NTF, secretaries of a States higher education departments, social justice and empowerment and legal affairs aside from the Ministry of women and child development would be its ex-officio members.

The bench said the NTF would prepare a comprehensive report that includes, identification of the predominant causes that lead to suicides by students, analysis of existing regulations and recommendations for strengthening protections. In the process of preparing its report, the court said, the NTF would have the authority to conduct surprise inspections of any higher educational institution. Additionally, the task force shall be at liberty to make further recommendations beyond the specified mandate, wherever necessary, to ensure a holistic and effective approach towards addressing mental-health concerns of students and eliminating the incidence of suicides in higher educational institutions, the order added.

While the NTF would furnish an interim report within four months, a final report would preferably be filed within eight months, it said. The apex courts verdict came on an appeal filed by the parents of two deceased students against a January 2024 order of the Delhi High Court which refused to direct the police to register an FIR in connection with the suicide by the two students. While Ayush Ashna was found dead on July 8, 2023 in his hostel room, Anil Kumar was found dead on September 1, 2023 in his hostel room at IIT Delhi. It was alleged that both the students, who belonged to the scheduled castes, were murdered and they had earlier confided in their parents being subjected to caste discrimination. The bench noted it was not in dispute that the police for some reason or the other declined to register an FIR on the complaints on the ground that no one could be said to have abetted the commission of suicide.

This litigation is an eye-opener not just for the police but also for the parents whose children are studying in different educational institutions, more particularly those students residing in a hostel far from their respective homes, and also the management of the educational institutions across the country, it said. The bench said such incidents were not isolated, one-off occurrences but only a few of the several instances that have taken place over a period of time owing to reasons such as ragging, academic pressure, caste-based discrimination, sexual harassment, etc. The bench said data provided by the Union Minister of State for Education to the Rajya Sabha in 2023, 98 students died by suicide in higher educational institutes since 2018, out of which 39 were from IITs, 25 from NITs, 25 from central universities, four from IIMs, three from IISERs and two from IIITs. Dealing with the appeal, the bench referred to the scope of Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which deals with police to enquire and report on suicide, etc. It said an investigation under Section 174 of the CrPC focuses on ascertaining the apparent cause of death in cases of unnatural or suspicious deaths.

When an informant approaches the police with information regarding the commission of a cognisable offence, the court said, the police owes a duty to promptly register an FIR and initiate investigation in accordance with section 154 of the CrPC. The bench said in the present case, the appellants had approached the territorial police station on July 21, 2023 and September 9, 2023 respectively for registration of an FIR, alleging foul play and commission of offence under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The police could not have taken a shortcut just because something happened in the hostel of an eminent educational institution like IIT Delhi, it said. The bench directed the DCP (South-West District) to register the FIR in line with two complaints lodged in writing by the family members of the students and depute any responsible officer, not below the rank of ACP to undertake the probe.
Warming Up: Citizens brace for rising heat





Staff Reporter :

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), weather conditions in State remained predominantly dry across all the districts in the past 24 hours. There were no significant changes in maximum temperatures, which stayed within the expected seasonal range. However, minimum temperatures saw a notable drop in certain areas, especially in Shahdol division, where they fell by up to 3.4C compared to the previous day. In Bhopal Division, night temperatures were significantly below normal by 3.3C, while Indore division experienced a rise in minimum temperatures, which were 2.2C above normal. The lowest minimum temperature in the State was recorded at 12.6C in Pachmarhi (Narmadapuram), whereas the highest maximum temperature was 39.2C in Talun (Barwani). Other cities with lower minimum temperatures included Kalyanpur (Shahdol) at 13.0C, Amarkantak (Anuppur), Khajuraho (Chhatarpur), and Sidhi at 13.8C, and Umaria at 14.5C. Meanwhile, some of the hottest locations included Ratlam at 39.0C, Narmadapuram at 38.8C, and Dhar at 37.4C.

According to IMD, temperatures are expected to gradually rise by 2-3C over the coming days. In Bhopal and nearby areas, clear skies are predicted, with maximum temperatures reaching 36C and minimum temperatures dropping to 17C. Winds will blow at an average speed of 16-18 km per hour. The IMD has advised residents to take precautions against rising temperatures, including staying indoors during peak heat hours, staying hydrated, and avoiding direct sun exposure to prevent heat-related illnesses. IMD has also issued advisories for farmers, recommending that they begin soil preparation for summer crops using organic fertilisers and ensure adequate but controlled irrigation for standing crops. Farmers are also urged to monitor crops for pest attacks and use bio-pesticides where necessary. Additionally, stored grains should be protected from moisture and pest infestation.

For livestock, IMD suggests providing adequate shade and fresh water, along with timely vaccinations to prevent seasonal diseases. Observations from Bhopal over the last 24 hours indicate that the maximum temperature was 35.1C, which is 0.4C below normal, while the minimum temperature dropped to 16.5C, 8.6C below normal. Humidity levels were recorded at 35% in the morning, and no rainfall was reported. The IMD forecast for March 25-28, suggests that the dry spell is likely to continue across Madhya Pradesh, with temperatures gradually rising. No significant weather disturbances are expected during this period. Residents should prepare for increasing warmth, while farmers should implement necessary irrigation strategies. The IMD advises people to remain cautious, follow weather updates, and take necessary precautions to stay safe in the rising temperatures.
Details added, first version published at 13:48

BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. Heads of religious confessions in Azerbaijan have sent an appeal to the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trend reports.

The letter expresses deep concern regarding a letter addressed to the prime minister by the head of the Armenian Church diocese in the UK and Ireland, Bishop Ovakim Manukyan, and several other religious figures in the UK.

"This letter, which views political events in our region through the lens of religion, contains distorted information and is, in essence, part of efforts aimed at undermining the existing peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The only reason for the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia for more than 30 years was the occupation of the Karabakh region of our country by Armenia. Now that Azerbaijan has liberated its territories and restored sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders, the conflict is over.

The Armenian citizens currently standing trial in Azerbaijan are not 'prisoners' or 'prisoners of war'. There is ample credible and specific evidence that, between 19912023 and in the final years of the USSR, during Armenias military aggression against Azerbaijan, they committed serious war crimes against Azerbaijanis. The 2019 report on war crimes in the occupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenias responsibility, published as an official document of the UN General Assembly and Security Council (A/74/676  S/2020/90), contains detailed information about the crimes against humanity committed by Armenians during the occupation of Azerbaijani territories: https://t.co/bSVDxuJYSZ".

Despite unsubstantiated allegations, the individuals in question have been granted the right to a defense, they have never complained of any ill-treatment, and the trials have been transparent. Recently, on March 13, the opinion of the UN Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (a/HRC/VGAD/2024/46) rejected claims of denial of fair trial in the case of Ruben Vardanyan and found the trial procedures to be in line with international standards.

This trial is part of Azerbaijan's post-war efforts to ensure the rights of innocent victims of aggression, bring justice, and bring to justice those accused of military aggression, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Therefore, calls for the release of these Armenian citizens are disrespectful to the thousands of Azerbaijanis who are victims of war crimes, as well as an interference in the judicial system of Azerbaijan. These calls are also an insult and a violation of international norms and basic principles of humanity. Impunity is unacceptable.

Dear Prime Minister, Azerbaijan is a unique space in the world where religious and cultural diversity is considered a spiritual wealth. Multiculturalism is a state policy in Azerbaijan and we are proud that while ethnic, religious, and racial discrimination is on the rise in the world, Azerbaijan serves as an example of Muslims, Christians, Jews, and other faiths living together in harmony and prosperity. We all know that the same is true of the UK. Here, a commitment to inclusion, integration, and mutual respect allows people from all walks of life to develop and live in harmony. The Azerbaijani community living and developing in the UK is a prime example of this.

The conflict that used to exist between Armenia and Azerbaijan has nothing to do with religion. Unfortunately, some Armenian religious figures have resorted to provocative religious rhetoric in the context of the previous conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan to undermine the peace process. While it is not surprising that these internal divisions within Armenian society are now spreading to other countries, it is worrying that the Archbishop of London and some other religious leaders in the UK have been drawn into political discussions about our region based on false claims.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have been engaged in intensive peace talks since 2020. Despite notable progress, some outstanding issues remain. We are grateful to the UK for its balanced position on the former conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as its support for the ongoing peace process in our region. We are confident that the UK Government will continue to support Azerbaijan's efforts to bring lasting peace to the region and justice to its citizens.

Please accept our best wishes in your highly responsible endeavors and our prayers for the continued prosperity and well-being of the people of the UK.

Sincerely,

Chairman of the Caucasus Muslim Board Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade

Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, Bishop of Baku and Azerbaijan Diocese Aleksiy Smirnov

Head of the community of Mountain Jews in Azerbaijan Milikh Yevdayev

Head of the community of European Jews in Azerbaijan Alexander Sharovski

Chairman of the Albanian-Udin Christian religious community Robert Mobilea

Head of Sephardic Jewish religious community in Baku Zamir Isayev, the address reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. On 25 March 2025, the allegations by the Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan during the joint press conference with Sayyid Abbas Araghchi, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, that Azerbaijan was presenting new conditions following the agreement on the text of the peace treaty, are entirely unfounded, Spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Aykhan Hajizada said, Trend reports.



The Armenian Foreign Minister is well aware that the demand to remove the provision against Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty in the Armenian constitution, as well as to formally dissolve the Minsk Group, has been among the important topics of the negotiation process for the past two and a half years.



The facts about the Constitution, Armenian national legislation, court cases, and political statements reflecting Armenia's territorial claims against Azerbaijan were presented to the Armenian side during the Washington meeting in May 2023. Third countries are also fully aware of this.



Taking into account the above-mentioned, the Armenian side's claims that Azerbaijan has recently put forward these conditions are aimed at confusing the international community, and this tactic will not yield any results.



If the Armenian side is interested in signing a peace treaty, it should promptly amend its Constitution to renounce its territorial claims against Azerbaijan, and should not refrain from cooperation to officially dissolve the Minsk Group, the statement reads.
In a letter dated April 22, 2024, addressed to the Lutheran North Community, the Board of Di
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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 25. Kazakhstan's government has allocated 48.4 billion tenge ($96.8 million) from its reserve to subsidize fertilizers (excluding organic), following a decree signed by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenev, Trend reports.

The decree was adopted as part of the implementation of President Tokayev's instructions to double the volume of gross agricultural production from 2024 to 2028 and to increase the level of mineral fertilizer application to the soil to 50 percent of the scientifically justified need.

"The document provides for the allocation of funds to the akimats of the Abai, Akmolinsk, East Kazakhstan, Zhambyl, Karaganda, Kostanai, Pavlodar, North Kazakhstan, and Turkestan regions in the form of targeted current transfers for the subsidization of fertilizer costs. Primarily, the majority of the funds will be directed toward the implementation of the advance subsidy mechanism for mineral fertilizers," the government press service noted.

Meanwhile, last March, as part of support for the agro-industrial complex, a mechanism of advance fertilizer subsidies was introduced, under which budget subsidies are transferred in advance to special accounts of domestic producers for the supply of subsidized fertilizers to agricultural producers.

Moreover, as a result of these measures, for the first time, the level of fertilizer application reached 40 percent of the scientifically justified need (up from 21 percent before 2024).



According to the Minister of Agriculture, Aidarbek Saparov, the volume of preferential loans for spring fieldwork in Kazakhstan will amount to 700 billion tenge ($1.4 billion). Financing will be provided through six distribution channels: direct loans from the Agrarian Credit Corporation, second-tier banks, microfinance organizations, regional investment centers, credit cooperatives, and socially responsible business corporations.
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has extended congratulations to Greece on its National Day, Azernews reports, citing a post shared on the ministrys official "X" account.

"Congratulations to Greece and its people on the occasion of their National Day! Happy National Day, Greece!," the post read.
TYCM appeals for disbursal of pending arrears

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IMPHAL, Mar 25 : The Tribal Youth Council Manipur (TYCM), General Headquarters has submitted a formal representation to Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh today appealing for immediate disbursal of pending arrear amount of 7th Pay (April 1, 2019  March 31, 2023) to employees of Autonomous District Councils, as committed/assured under the Manipur Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2019.

The representation further called for sending the necessary recommendation to the Ministry of Finance, Government of India to grant Special Financial Package for fund-starved ADCs of the hill districts in Manipur, as per a press release issued by TYCM.

The Manipur Finance Department issued an Office Memorandum (OM) on July 28, 2018, stating that the 7th Pay would be effective from January 1, 2016, with actual implementation commencing from April 1, 2019 for all employees of the Government of Manipur.

Contrary to the earlier OM, the Finance Department issued another OM stating that the grant of pay under the Manipur Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2019 in respect of the employees of all autonomous bodies, local bodies, agencies, grant-in-aid institutions, corporations, societies, boards, PSU, commissions, etc under the State Government including District Councils for which approval of Cabinet has not been obtained earlier, will be w.e.f. April 4, 2023 without notional effect.

TYCM has asserted that the lack of uniformity in the implementation of rightful entitlements for Autonomous District Council (ADC) employees compared to other department employees by the Government of Manipur constitutes a blatant violation of the Right to Equality.

Such disparity creates division and fosters resentment among communities in Manipur, undermining the principles of fairness and equal treatment, it added.

TYCM has expressed hope that the Union Government will swiftly resolve the pending 7th Pay arrears of ADC employees at the earliest now that Manipur is under Presidents Rule and all State budgets, funds, and development programs are directly managed and overseen by the Union Government.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. Shell has outlined its next steps in the strategy to enhance value creation and drive growth while prioritizing performance, discipline, and simplification, Trend reports.

CEO Wael Sawan emphasized Shells progress since the 2023 Capital Markets Day, highlighting the companys transformation into a simpler, more resilient, and competitive entity.

Shell has set ambitious targets for the coming years, including:

Increasing shareholder distributions to 40-50% of cash flow from operations (CFFO) across the cycle, continuing share buybacks, and maintaining a 4% per annum progressive dividend policy.

Raising the structural cost reduction target from $2-3 billion by 2025 to $5-7 billion by 2028, compared to 2022.

Reducing capital expenditures to $20-22 billion annually from 2025 to 2028 while investing for growth.

Growing free cash flow (FCF) per share by over 10% annually through 2030.

In line with its commitment to sustainability, Shell will maintain its climate goals outlined in its Energy Transition Strategy 2024.

Key strategic priorities include:

Reinforcing Shells leadership in LNG, aiming for 4-5% annual growth in sales through 2030.

Maintaining a stable liquids production of 1.4 million barrels per day until 2030, with reduced carbon intensity.

Expanding high-return businesses in Mobility, Lubricants, and Renewables & Energy Solutions.

Leveraging lower-carbon platforms, targeting 10% of capital employed by 2030.

Enhancing returns from its Chemicals business, with strategic partnerships and selective closures to improve performance in key regions.

Shell remains focused on delivering long-term value while reducing emissions, ensuring strong growth in areas where it holds competitive advantages.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjees visit to the United Kingdom has sparked excitement and pride among students and beneficiaries of her governments welfare schemes. As she prepares to deliver a keynote address on Social Development: Children & Womens Empowerment at Oxford Universitys Kellogg College on 27 March, voices from Bengals educational institutions are celebrating this momentous occasion.

Reflecting on the CMs scheduled address, students from Krishnanagar Womens College in Nadia remarked: She has also been invited to speak at Queen Mary University and the London School of Economics. This is not just a matter of pride for us but also for the entire country.

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Students from the University of Gour Banga also voiced their admiration. One of the countrys tallest women leaders is going to talk about women and child empowerment on a global platform. We want to extend our best wishes to her. We should all learn from CM Mamata Banerjee on how to continue working towards the development of the country and society despite the trials and tribulations that may come our way.

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Young women from Alipurduar University expressed their enthusiasm, stating, We are thrilled that our CM has been invited to discuss her public welfare initiatives, including Kanyashree, Yuvashree, and Rupashree. It is a moment of immense pride for us. All students are eagerly looking forward to the event, and we, along with our teachers and staff, will watch and listen to her address with great enthusiasm.

For many young women in Bengal, Mamata Banerjees policies have been life-changing. Dakshin Dinajpur resident Supriya Tigga, a second-year undergraduate student, shared how Kanyashree scheme changed the trajectory of her life. My father is a farmer, and my mother is a housewife. Our financial situation has never been stable, and supporting both my brothers and my education would have been difficult for my father. Thanks to Mamata Banerjees Kanyashree scheme, I have been able to pursue my studies. This initiative has empowered countless women by giving them access to education. I am truly grateful for this opportunity.

The party has been sharing stories of beneficiaries of Lakshmir Bhandar, Kanyashree, Rupashree, and other welfare schemes that have empowered women and girls across the state, including Supriya Tiggas story. Sharing testimonials on social media this afternoon, the party posted: Smt. @MamataOfficial is set to deliver a keynote address on Social Development: Children & Womens Empowerment at Oxford University, London. The students of Bengal take pride in their beloved Didi and express their joy for this momentous occasion!
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 25. Ambassador of Uzbekistan Ravshan Alimov met with the Chairman of the State Concern Turkmenhimiya, Dovrangeldi Sapbayev to discuss cooperation in chemical industry, Trend reports.

The parties held detailed discussions on key issues related to the further development of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in the chemical sector. They outlined prospects for joint cooperative projects, leveraging the existing potential of both Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in this industry.

Both sides expressed mutual interest in expanding industrial cooperation between the regions of the two countries.

Moreover, the sides exchanged views on ensuring the systematic and consistent implementation of high-level bilateral agreements

In 2024, bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan exceeded $1 billion. Mutually beneficial cooperation continues to expand across various sectors, including industry, energy, transport, agriculture, and water management. The two countries are jointly developing the ShavatDashoguz cross-border trade zone and actively engaging in interregional exchanges and cultural programs.
BJP leaders and workers, led by Dabgram-Fulbari MLA Shikha Chatterjee, staged a protest in front of Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) today, demanding the relocation of the citys dumping ground.

A large police force was deployed to prevent the protesters from forcibly entering the SMC premises. Eventually, Shikha Chatterjee and a few BJP leaders were allowed to submit a memorandum to the SMC commissioner.

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Speaking to reporters afterward, Ms Chatterjee said, When we demanded the relocation of the dumping ground, the commissioner argued that SMC is dumping waste within its own jurisdiction. I asked the commissioner to contain the smoke and foul smell within the dumping site. Why should common people suffer due to the corporations negligence?

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She further alleged that local gram panchayats in her Assembly segment do not use the site for waste disposal. Over the years, slums, schools, and residential complexes have come up in the vicinity. People are suffering from toxic smoke and unbearable stench. If the corporation cannot manage the site properly, it should be shifted elsewhere, she added.

Taking a dig at Mayor Goutam Deb, she said, He boasts about Solid Waste Management projects, but in reality, nothing substantial has been done.

Reacting to her remarks, mayor Goutam Deb dismissed the allegations, saying, I have nothing to say. I just hope good sense prevails.

He also highlighted SMCs recent initiatives, including the construction of a crematorium for animal carcasses and a hospital for injured and ailing street dogs.
Trinamul Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has once again raised concerns over the impartiality of the judiciary after stacks of burnt cash were recovered from the residence of Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Verma. Taking a sharp dig, Banerjee remarked, Let the people see the pathetic state of our judiciary!

The incident came to light after a fire broke out at Justice Vermas residence on Holi. While extinguishing the flames, firefighters reportedly discovered a massive amount of cash stored in his house. However, neither the judge nor his family members could provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the source of the money. Following the discovery, an investigation was launched, and the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, DK Upadhyay, submitted a report to the Supreme Court. In an unprecedented move, the report was also uploaded on the Supreme Courts official website, revealing piles of burnt currency notes found inside the judges residence.

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According to reports, the cash was stored in a warehouse-like section of Justice Vermas bungalow, and most of it was reduced to ashes due to the fire. The legal fraternity has also raised questions over why such a large amount of money was present at a sitting judges residence. Some opposition leaders have even hinted at possible links between the judge and the ruling BJP. Currently in Delhi for the ongoing Parliament session, Abhishek Banerjee commented on the controversy, stating, Let the people witness the reality. Those responsible for upholding justice are found hoarding massive amounts of cash in their homes. This shows the sorry state of the judiciary. Notably, Banerjee has previously questioned the role of judges in the Calcutta High Court as well. His latest remarks suggest that he sees this incident as further evidence of the judiciarys failure to maintain neutrality.

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Meanwhile, Justice Yashwant Verma has dismissed the allegations, claiming that he is being framed in a conspiracy. He argued that the room where the cash was found was separate from his main residence and was frequented by several persons. Many people used to visit that place. Moreover, his family members had little to no connection with the house, he claimed. The judge further asserted that he and his family conduct all their transactions online or through banks and have no connection with the money in question.
The Hindi-speaking Hindu voters and even some Bengali-speaking voters from the backward communities are being targeted by the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal in close association with some officials in the state administration, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari told the mediapersons on Monday.

To substantiate his statement, Leader of Opposition highlighted some complaints received by BJPs state unit in West Bengal where the voters concerned have been asked to prove their Indian origin and more especially to prove that they are not Bangladeshi citizens.

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The examples highlighted by Adhikari in the matter are mainly related to Bagda in North 24 Parganas district and Krishnanagar in Nadia district, where two block development officers (BDOs) have been accused of harassing the common voters in such a manner.

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We are appealing to the Election Commission of India to take action against these two BDOs. We have also updated our central leadership on the matter and they will be taking up the matter on the right platform. There is a deliberate attempt to target the Hindi-speaking Hindu voters and Bengali-speaking voters coming from backward communities, the leader of the opposition said.

He said that the process started when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, at a public meeting in February this year, indirectly targeted the Hindi-speaking voters in the state and branded them as bogus voters.

Since then, her party machinery in association with some confidant officers in the administration has started targeting and harassing these sections of the voters. We will also be organising peaceful protest rallies against such moves at places where such harassment of innocent voters is taking place, the Leader of the Opposition said.

According to him, the ruling party had especially targeted the Hindi-speaking Hindu voters and some Bengal-speaking voters from the backward class communities since they rejected the Trinamool Congress in subsequent elections.

The ruling party is trying to identify such voters and get their names deleted from the lists in association with an outsourced agency, the Leader of the Opposition alleged.

To recall, while addressing a party programme in February this year, the Chief Minister had accused BJP of using two outsourced agencies to enlist voters from other states like Haryana and Gujarat as voters in West Bengal. She also announced the formation of a core committee of Trinamool Congress to identify such voters.
The number of tuberculosis cases reported in the limits of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) witnessed an improvement last year with the city registering a reduction of more than two thousand cases in 2024, informed senior officials of the health wing of the civic body today.

According to the deputy mayor, Atin Ghosh, around 12,213 TB patients were diagnosed and treated under KMC in 2024. Of the total, 5,284 private patients were notified by the KMC. As pointed out by the officials of the health department of the municipal corporation, the figures reported were better than the previous year of 2023 when more than 14,800 TB cases were reported. Apart from this, in terms of drug-resistant tuberculosis, the KMC is said to have treated 526 cases of DRTB patients.

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As elaborated by Mr Ghosh, who is also the member-mayor-in-council for Health in KMC, the civic body which had undertaken an intensive TB elimination programme, screened around eight lakh citizens over a period of 100 days as part of the 100 days Campaign for TB Mukto Bangla.

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The municipal corporation is also said to have given Rs 1.61 crore as direct benefits to the tuberculosis patients in its jurisdiction in 2024.

Earlier, the KMC used to receive Rs 1.2 crores for the TB elimination programme. However, the central government is said to have stopped allocating funds for the elimination programme for TB since the past two to three years. Ideally, the Centre and the state share the cost in a 60:40 ratio. However, the entire amount is now being borne by the state government, according to senior health department officials. This is a joint programme of the Centre and the state where both have responsibilities in the ratio 60:40. Since the past two to three years, the Centre has stopped allocating funds that were given to us under the National Health Mission, claimed the deputy mayor. Stopping funds for medical benefits is very unfateful. The central government is to answer why fund allocation for tuberculosis, which is the most difficult disease and in which many people die, has been stopped, he added.

The KMC has set up urban primary health centres (UPHC) in all its 144 wards along with 10 chest clinics. As rued by the deputy mayor, the civic bodys plan of setting up 30 more such UPHCs is getting delayed as the department is not getting funds from the Centre.
Large parts of north Howrah and Shibpur have been reeling under severe civic services crisis with acute shortage of drinking water, clogged sewerage system and cracks appeared in walls of shanties and local roads adjacent to Belgachia dumping ground, the only site where solid wastes of the entire Howrah city are dumped.

The situations in the Belgachia, Salkia, Liluah, Padmanagar, Benaras Road, Kona and other areas in Shibpur and Central Howrah aggravated further on Monday after sewerage system surrounding the dumping ground collapsed following the Thursdays landslide during the ongoing repair work in the pipeline connecting an underground reservoir at the wastes disposal site.

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Residents of around 22 municipal wards in the northern and central parts in the city have been spending harrowing life without drinking water, disrupted power supply, blocked drainage system and cracked roads and walls of shanties, where mostly scavenging workers of Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) stay.

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Several roads like B Road, C Road and Harish Colony close to the dumping ground got waterlogged with blocked drains emitting stench.

While narrating their plights, Devendra Paswan, a local resident, said, We are not getting drinking water, electricity and food. We have been given shelter at a local school building after cracks appeared in the walls of our homes. The Howrah civic body is hardly bothered about our unbearable plights. The repair work in the pipeline supplying treated water from the underground reservoir at the wastes disposal ground is yet to be completed.

Aggrieved residents, including women were seen demanding immediate restoration of normal civic services mainly drinking water, cleaning of sewerage system and repair of their damaged shanties and cracked roads. They also demanded their permanent rehabilitations elsewhere when the Kolkata mayor and urban development minister Firhad Hakim visited Belgachia.

Mr Hakim held a meeting with Dr Sujay Chakraborty, administrator of the HMC, and engineers of the civic body and discussed how to restore normal situation in the affected areas. The minister also said that the state government is also exploring how to make alternative arrangements for the rehabilitation of about 2,000 affected residents.

Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition (LoP) also visited the spot and spoke to the aggrieved residents at Belgachia this afternoon and accused police of physical harassment. Police prevented him from entering the area.

People across large parts of Howrah area are not getting drinking water and food. Many of them are homeless after cracks appear in the walls of their homes. Yet, police prevented me from entering the area when I wanted to meet affected residents to know their plights, Mr Adhikari said.
Intelligence agencies, both central and state, have been put on high alert in West Bengals Murshidabad district, especially in the villages close to the international border, following inputs on fresh attempts by Bangladesh-based underground outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HUT) trying to infiltrate.

Sources said that the alerts had been issued following inputs that some JMB and HUT activists, currently operating out of the Rajsahi and Chapai-Nawabganj districts in Bangladesh, are making attempts in small groups to illegally cross into the Indian territory in the Murshidabad district to reactivate the sleeper cells.

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Sources added that the inputs were received after the central intelligence officials were able to track some communications made by these JMB and HUT activists with their local moles in Murshidabad through various Internet-based communication channels.

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Among those local contacts who were contacted by the JMB and HUT activists, sources added, a couple of them are attached to some khariji (unregistered) madrasas operating out of some India-Bangladesh bordering villages in Murshidabad district.

Intelligence agencies also suspect that besides reactivating the sleeper cells, the Bangladesh-based operators also intend to scout for new recruits for the sleeper cells considering their constant communication with such khariji madrasa teachers.

The sleuths of the intelligence agencies, both central and state, have increased their surveillance at the villages close to the international border in Murshidabad. Similar surveillance has beefed up at the bordering villages in the adjacent Malda district also.

The Border Security Force (BSF) outposts in these two districts have also been alerted accordingly.

The house owners in these bordering villages have been advised not to rent rooms to unknown outsiders without properly checking their identity credentials. At the same time, the house owners have also been advised to update the local police stations about their new tenants.

A few months back the Union home ministry directed the overhauling of the security arrangements of Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly following inputs from the central agencies that the latter has become the target of both JMB and HUT.

Till November last year, Adhikari was entitled to Z category security only within the state of West Bengal. However, after the threat alert, the same security is now provided to the LoP wherever he travels within India.
Stock market failed to hold onto the opening gains on Tuesday but extended the winning streak to the seventh straight session as Nifty managed to close above 23,650. It opened on a solid note with Nifty above 23,700 and with extending buying it crossed 23,800 in the initial hours.

At close, the Sensex was up 32.81 points or 0.04% at 78,017.19, and the Nifty was up 10.30 points or 0.04% at 23,668.65.

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During the day, the Nifty reached a peak of 23869.6 and dipped to a low of 23601.4 while the Sensex exhibited a trading range between 78741.69 and 77745.63.

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Among the sectors, except IT, all other sectoral indices ended in the red with auto, capital goods, consumer durables, metal, oil & gas, power, PSU bank, realty, telecom down 1-1.5%.

IT index was the top gainer, gained nearly 1%, whereas profit booking was observed in the Defence and PSU Bank indices, both of which shed nearly 2%.

Infosys climbed nearly 3% to 1,634 in morning trade as a softer stance on tariffs from US President Donald Trump fueled investor optimism, driving renewed buying interest in IT stocks.

BSE Midcap index shed 1% and Smallcap index was down 1.6%.

On BSE, 70 stocks touched 52-week high including SBI Cards, JSW Holdings, Shree Cements, JSW Steel, Bajaj Finance, TCPL Packaging, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Chambal Fertilisers, Jupiter Life Line Hospitals, among others.

The top gainers in the Nifty index were Ultratech Cement (3.35%), Bajaj Finserv (2.69%), Trent (2.58%), Infosys (2.24%), and Grasim Industries (2.24%).

While on the losing side were Indusind Bank (4.84%), Dr Reddys Laboratories (2.68%), Adani Enterprises (2.04%), Coal India (1.90%), and Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (1.53%).

The Bank Nifty concluded the day at 51704.95, having reached an intraday high of 52063.95 and a low of 51429.6.

IndusInd Bank dropped 5% after it received a 30 crore penalty over GST-related issues.

The bank clarified that the penalty pertains to various GST issues and stated that it may appeal the order, but the uncertainty prompted selling pressure.

Chemical companies like the India Pesticides, Insecticides India, and Alkyl Amines fell up to 4% after the government proposed an anti-dumping duty on Pretilachlor imports from China.
Salman Khans mass actioner Sikandar is all set to hit theatres on March 30, bringing in Eid in style. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has passed the film with a UA 13+ rating. While the board did not suggest to the awaited actioner, there have been a few modifications to the scenes featuring political parties. Moreover, the makers have voluntarily chopped 14 minutes for the final runtime.

As per a Bollywood Hungama report, the board asked the makers of Sikandar to mute the word home from Home Minister wherever required. Moreover, it also suggested that they blur the political party hoarding in a scene. The board approved the rest of the action and dialogue without any changes or modifications.

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The outlet also reported that the makers voluntarily chopped 14 minutes of content for the final cut. In totality, the makers trimmed 26 scenes of the film. They cut a 2-minute and 26-second scene with the dialogue Chaar miss callchalo Rajkot. The makers also chopped a 4-minute scene with the dialogue Aa gaye aa gayebad husband. Moreover, a 1 minute 12 seconds scene with Usse leke aata hoon underwent deletion.

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Additionally, the sequence where Salmans character Sanjay sings Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh is reportedly cut by 11 seconds. In total, the makers have trimmed 14 minutes and 28 seconds of Sikandar. Following this, the total runtime of the AR Murugadoss directorial is locked at 2 hours 15 minutes and 47 seconds, reportedly.

Meanwhile, as fans count the days, director AR Murugadoss recently teased details about Bollywoods Bhaijaans riveting entry in the film. With Pushpa fame Rashmika Mandanna joining Salman, fans expect the film to be nothing short of a cinematic spectacle.

Speaking with Pinkvilla, Murugadoss explained that Salmans entry in Sikandar is not just a scene, but an event in itself. Ive worked with many superstars before, but Salman sirs intro in Sikandar is something special. We made sure his entry scene becomes one of the films biggest highlights.

Also Read: Vijay Deverakonda gears up for Kingdom  His grand return to action!

Sajid Nadiadwala is backing the title with AR Murugadoss at the helm. The film will mark the reunion of Salman and Sajid following their 2014 blockbuster, Kick. With the anticipation meter running high, fans are patiently waiting for the films release. Apart from Salman and Rashmika, the film also stars Sathyaraj, Kajal Aggarwal, and Prateik Babbar in pivotal roles.
TV actress Shilpa Shinde, known for her role in Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain and as a winner of Bigg Boss 11, is furious over the circumstances surrounding writer Manoj Santoshis death. The actress, who had been financially supporting Santoshis treatment, has now accused the hospital of gross medical negligence.

Manoj Santoshi, the man behind the witty dialogues of Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain, had been battling liver cancer. His condition required a transplant, and Shilpa had been actively helping arrange funds for his treatment. However, the writer passed away on Monday, and Shilpa claims it was due to negligence at KIMS Hospital in Secunderabad.

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Speaking to Times Now, she expressed her outrage, calling the hospital a business to make money. She alleged that even after Santoshi had passed away, the medical staff continued unnecessary procedures like dialysis.

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Ill say this in simple wordsits a disgusting business. Hospitals are a great way to make money. They were even performing dialysis on a dead man! This is pure negligence. I dont know if the people at that hospital are doctors or barbers, Shilpa fumed.

Shilpa Shinde was in Mumbai for work when she received what she thought was good newsan organ donor had been found for Santoshi. Overjoyed, she couldnt sleep that night, relieved that things were finally looking up. Since she was managing the payments, she was prepared to deposit the required amount the next morning.

But at 6 AM, everything changed.

She got a call informing her that Manoj had slipped into a coma. The actress claims that crucial medical procedures were mismanaged the night before, leading to his rapid deterioration.

Surgery ke liye jo bhi diya jata hai, wo raat ko hi band kar diya (The medication required for surgery was stopped the night before). Even the medicine for his liver leaked out. A nurse just said Sorry, and I was like, What sorry? Shilpa recounted.

When she rushed to the hospital, she was told that due to the liver complications, Manojs kidneys had also failed. Suspecting foul play, she confronted the doctors, questioning whether they were trying to harvest his organs.

They were showing me they were doing dialysis, but I could clearly see he was no more. This is not just negligence; its theft. And Im a living witness! Its their bad luck that I am here, and I will speak up because this happens to so many people, she stated.
Sunny Deol is gearing up for the release of Jaat backed by Mythri Movie Makers with Gopichand Malineni at the helm. At the trailer launch event on Monday, the actor was all praises for the films producers who also backed Pushpa 2. Speaking about it, he said that Bollywood filmmakers should learn from the South. Moreover, he expressed his interest in settling down in the southern part of the subcontinent.

As Sunny Deol lauded the producers of Jaat, he drew parallels between Bollywood and the South. He said, I want producers of Bombay to learn (from them). You all call it Bollywood but first, refer to it as Hindi cinema. And learn how to make cinema with love (from South filmmakers). I thoroughly enjoyed working with all of them. I told them (makers), Lets do another film. Maybe I shall go and settle there (in the South).

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Admiring the rootedness in Southern films, he noted Bollywood getting influenced by the West. The South films retain all of those things and thats how their films become pan-India. Every person across the country relates to them. I believe we should also follow this thing in Hindi (cinema), and get back to our roots. For instance, my films like Ghatak, Damini, and Arjun. We should make these kinds of films again.

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When an interviewer probed about where the Hindi Film Industry is going wrong, Deol talked about commercialisation. Earlier, the producer used to like a story when the director narrated it. Then they would commit themselves to making it. Later, the corporates came in and then it became very commercial. In all of this, people lost interest (in filmmaking). Everyone became a victim. The people who had hunger (for filmmaking) were left behind.

Also Read: Randeep Hooda reveals why he was initially unsure to play Villain in Sunny Deols Jaat

Touted to be the biggest action film of the country, Mythri Movie Makers and People Media Factory are co-producing Jaat. S Thaman has composed the music for the upcoming film with cinematography by Rishi Punjabi. Editor Naveen Nooli and art director Avinash Kolla have also joined the technical team working on the project. This action film will mark Gopichand Malinenis debut in Hindi cinema. Alongside Deol, the film will also feature Randeep Hooda Saiyami Kher and Regina Cassandra. The film will hit theatres on 10 April.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 25. Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Georgia Dovletmurat Seyitmammedov met with Georgia's Minister of Health Mikhail Sadrjveladze to discuss key issues in the healthcare sector and overall bilateral cooperation, Trend reports.

The parties discussed various issues of bilateral cooperation and interaction in the fields of healthcare, medical tourism, and exchange of experience between medical universities, as well as organizing joint conferences, seminars, and forums.

During the meeting, the significant role of the official visit of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to Turkmenistan in strengthening bilateral relations was highlighted. The sides particularly emphasized that Turkmenistan and Georgia are actively cooperating in the political, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian spheres, as well as within authoritative international organizations.

The ambassador informed the minister about the large-scale international events dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality, as well as the proclamation of 2025 as the "International Year of Peace and Trust".

At the end of the meeting, both sides expressed confidence that joint activities would contribute to further deepening Turkmen-Georgian relations.

In 2024, trade volume between Turkmenistan and Georgia reached $81 million. Georgia's exports to Turkmenistan totaled $22.9 million, while imports from Turkmenistan to Georgia amounted to $58.09 million.
Annoyed by the transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma from the Delhi High Court, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association started an indefinite strike from Tuesday.

The bar association has demanded a CBI or ED probe into the recovery of huge cash from his house along with a proposal for impeachment against the Judge .

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In a meeting held on Monday evening, the high court bar association announced an indefinite boycott of work from Tuesday.

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The function of the Lucknow bench of the high court was also affected over the issue. Bar Association Secretary Vikrant Pandey said that the photo and affidavit centre at the court would also remain closed from March 26.

Addressing a general assembly convened by the bar association on Monday, its chairman, Anil Tiwari, said the Justice Varma case should be investigated thoroughly. There is a stain on the Judges bungalow. Therefore, investigation should be carried out before initiating an action into the case in the same way as in the case of bureaucrats and politicians, he demanded.

He said the decisions of the transfer of Justice Varma should also be reconsidered.

The lawyers present in the general meeting attributed the slow pace of justice delivery to Uncle Judge Syndrome (familial or personal ties influencing judicial decisions), especially in listing and disposal of cases.

The Bar Association has decided to send the demand and other proposals against Justice Yashwant Varma to the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court.

Bar Secretary Vikrant Pandey said, We have full faith in the judiciary, but some people are contaminating it. Strict action should be taken against such people under the law.
The Indian Army has categorically denied reports suggesting that an Indian Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) veered into Chinese-controlled territory in the Eastern Theatre and was subsequently hacked by the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA).

A report published by alphadefense.in claimed that an Indian drone, operating near the eastern sector of the Indo-China border, unexpectedly drifted into Chinese airspace.

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The article, which did not specify the exact date of the alleged incident, further claimed that the Chinese Army temporarily took control of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), operated it for a short duration, and then returned it to their Indian counterpart.

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The report also speculated that the drone in question was of Israeli origin, along with its data link and ground control station.

In response to these claims, the Indian Army dismissed the article as completely baseless and factually incorrect, stating that no such incident had occurred.

We urge media houses and social media users to refrain from carrying unverified and misleading content, which could create unnecessary alarm and misinformation in the public domain. The Indian Army remains fully committed to the security and operational integrity of all its assets, a military source stated.

The denial comes amid ongoing tensions along the Indo-China border, where both nations have been maintaining a heightened level of military vigilance. The Indian Army has reiterated its commitment to national security and operational protocols, ensuring that all military assets are safeguarded against external threats.
Targeting the Congress over the Bofors scam, the BJP on Tuesday alleged that on the instructions of senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, during the UPA tenure, accounts of Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, the alleged middleman in the Bofors deal, were unfrozen.

The scam pertains to allegations of a Rs 64-crore bribe in a Rs 1,437-crore deal with Swedish firm Bofors for the supply of 400 155mm field howitzers, which played a significant role in Indias victory during the Kargil War.

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Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here over the issue, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said, Ottavio Quattrocchi, an Italian businessman, played a central role in the Bofors scandal. He (Quattrocchi) maintained a close relationship with then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi (Congress leader), and openly boasted that he could secure government contracts for companies.

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Quattrocchi had access to classified government files on major defence deals, even before the Indian PM. During Rajiv Gandhis tenure, Quattrocchi would make changes to favour specific companies and secure contracts, with Rajiv Gandhi facilitating these alterations, Bhatia said.

The BJP national spokesperson demanded the resignation of Congress MP Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi till they make a full disclosure of their familys relationship with the Quattrocchi family.

Bhatia claimed that the Ambassador of India to Italy between 1984-1988 had made a statement that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was the kingpin facilitator, and he had very close relations with Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi.

Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should resign from their position and post till they make a full disclosure of their familys relationship with the Quattrocchi family. This is the least they can do for the citizenry of the country The ambassador of India to Italy between 1984-1988 has made a statement that (former PM) Rajiv Gandhi was the kingpin facilitator, and he had very close relations with (businessman) Ottavio Quattrocchi, Bhatia said.

Sonia Gandhi must provide full disclosure regarding her familys relationship with the Quattrocchi family. She does not have the right to remain an MP until then. The Quattrocchi and Gandhi families are like the base and cheese of a pizzaone incomplete without the other, he said.

On the instructions of Sonia Gandhi, during the UPA tenure, Quattrocchis accounts were unfrozen. The Congress government allowed him to escape, as uncomfortable facts about Sonia and Rajiv Gandhis involvement began to surface, the BJP national spokesperson said.

The then CAG stated that the evaluation of the competing guns was seriously flawed, he added.

The CBI registered the case in 1990, three years after a Swedish radio channel alleged that Bofors paid bribes to Indian politicians and defence officials to clinch the deal. The allegations created a big scandal for the Rajiv Gandhi government and have been used by rival parties to target the Congress.
In a major revelation, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis shared the inside story of the dramatic fallout between Shiv Sena and BJP in 2014. Speaking at the felicitation ceremony of Sikkim Governor Om Prakash Mathur, Fadnavis, for the first time opened up about the negotiations and the factors that led to the breakdown of the alliance.

Fadnavis stated: We were ready to give Shiv Sena 147 seats, and it was decided that the Chief Minister would be from our side, while the Deputy Chief Minister would be from Shiv Sena.

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He further claimed that while the initial discussions indicated a mutual understanding, Shiv Senas refusal to compromise on seat allocation led to the eventual rupture of the alliance.

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But Uddhav Thackeray was adamant on 151 seats, and that is when the alliance broke down, Fadnavis explained.

According to him, the BJP had proposed a seat-sharing formula where Shiv Sena would fight on 147 seats, and BJP would contest on 127.

However, Uddhav Thackeray stood firm on demanding 151 seats, leading to an irreconcilable difference between the two parties.

Fadnavis continued: We were in talks with Shiv Senas leadership, and we were even ready to give them more space. But Uddhav had fixed the number 151 in his mind. He further elaborated on the critical intervention by Om Prakash Mathur, who communicated with BJP leader Amit Shah, who then escalated the matter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

HM Amit Shah spoke to the Prime Minister, and it was decided that if the formula was 127 for BJP and 147 for Shiv Sena, only then would the alliance continue. Otherwise, the alliance would not work, Fadnavis said.

The Chief Minister then revealed the crucial moment that led to the final breakdown, saying: I had faith in Amit Shah and Om Prakash Mathur. We were confident that we could win, but the rest of the party was not as optimistic.

Ultimately, Fadnavis, supported by Mathur and Amit Shah, delivered an ultimatum to Shiv Sena, offering to contest with Shiv Sena on the proposed formula of 147 for Shiv Sena and 127 for BJP.

We told them, if youre ready to fight on 147 seats, we will stand with you, and we will contest 127 seats. Both parties would get excellent results, and both would win over 200 seats, Fadnavis recalled.

However, Uddhav Thackeray rejected the proposal, firmly standing by the 151 seats. This stubbornness, according to Fadnavis, resulted in the collapse of the alliance. Fadnavis reflected: But it seems the law of destiny had other plans  I was meant to become the Chief Minister.

Fadnavis also shared insights into the election strategy. Despite the setback in seat-sharing talks, he emphasized how the BJP, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, fought the election in a record number of constituencies.

We had fought elections on over 260 seats, which was unprecedented. Before this, we had never contested more than 117 seats, he added.

This bold decision to fight on 260 seats, according to Fadnavis, laid the foundation for BJPs success in Maharashtra.

Since then, the BJP has remained the largest party in Maharashtra and the only party in the last 30 years to surpass the 100-seat mark. This success is attributed to Prime Minister Modi, Amit Shah, and Om Prakash Mathur, Fadnavis concluded.

This revelation sheds new light on the dramatic political events that led to the end of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance and reshaped the political landscape of Maharashtra.
Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde has reacted sharply to comedian Kunal Kamras controversial traitor song and termed the latters act a contract job against him.

Speaking at a Marathi news website event, Shinde said that while he understands satire, there should be a limit to it.

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There is freedom of expression. We understand satire. But there should be a limit. This is like taking a contract to speak against someone, he said.

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Without taking any names, the Deputy CM of Maharashtra also accused Kamra of working for someone.

This same person (Kunal Kamra) had commented on the Supreme Court of India, the Prime Minister, Arnab Goswami, and some industrialists. This is not freedom of expression; this is working for someone, he said.

Reacting to the vandalism of the comedy centre where Kamra recorded his controversial show, allegedly by Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) workers, the Deputy CM said every action has a reaction.

I will not say much on this. I do not justify vandalism. But the other side should also maintain a certain level. Otherwise, every action has a reaction. I do not react to anything and remain silent while working to ensure justice for people, he added.

His remarks came after a massive controversy erupted when Kamra shared the video of his show on social media. In the video, the comedian sings a parody song to the tune of a famous Bollywood melody from the 90s and calls Shinde a gaddar, or traitor in English.

Following this, Shiv Sena leaders and workers started issuing open threats to Kamra and vandalised the place where the controversial show was recorded.

The police are believed to have registered FIRs against Kamra for insulting Shinde, as well as against several Shiv Sainiks for vandalism.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday made serious allegations against NCP MP Supriya Sule and MLA Rohit Pawar in the legislative assembly by accusing them of being linked to those blackmailing BJPs Minister of Rural Development Jaykumar Gore.

Four complaints have been filed in this case. False propaganda was spread that the woman who had accused (BJPs Minister of Rural Development) Jaykumar Gore of sending nude pictures to her is from the family of Chhatrapathi Shivaji Maharajs legendary general Sarsenapati Hambirrao Mohite. The people involved in this case have been arrested. One is the woman.

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The second is Tushar Kharat and the third is Anil Subhedar. All of them hatched this conspiracy together. All the evidence has been found in this regard. Their WhatsApp conversations have been found. They have made 150 calls. People from Sharad Pawar-led NCP were in contact with all of them. Prabhakarrao Deshmukh has spoken directly to all the three accused. After making videos against Jayakumar Gore, they had sent these to Supriya Sule and Rohit Pawar, he said.

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All of us do politics, but it is not right to do politics with the intention of uprooting someone from public life. After cash was demanded, Jaykumar Gore went to the police station and filed a complaint. After the complaint, a trap was set and the entire conversation about the demand for cash was taped. The accused was caught. This was a type of blackmailing, Fadnavis said.

Meanwhile, Supriya Sule said that she would respond to allegations made against her by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

I thank Devendra Fadnavis for making me a leader. He took my name and so I am ready to give my phone for investigation. I will respond to his allegations after the proceedings of the parliament are over, MP Supriya Sule said.

Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar-led NCP MLA Rohit Pawar has made serious allegations against BJPs Minister of Rural Development Jaykumar Gore. Rohit Pawar said that Gore had grabbed the land of a dead man called Piraji Bhise.

Jaykumar Gore is sitting with Chief Minister Fadnavis and putting pressure on him. People have sent me cases about Jayakumar Gore. In order to get a road for him to go to college, a dead person called Piraji Bhise was resurrected. An agreement was made on December 11, 2020, but Bhise had died on October 8, 2016 as per his death certificate. This case is in court. One Sanjay Katkars photo was put up showing him as Piraji Bhise who was dead.

Bhise was illiterate, but his signature was made in English. The Bhise family must get justice. The verdict was given in the lower court in a single day but after it went to the High Court, the judges sent it back to the lower court, Rohit Pawar said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has stressed the urgency of comprehensive measures to combat the heat wave and its impact.

He was speaking after chairing a high-level meeting on Monday night.

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The chief minister directed senior forest department officials to adopt proactive strategies to curb the increasing incidents of forest fires during the summer months.

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In response, the Forest department has established control rooms from the headquarters to the divisional level, ensuring round-the-clock monitoring. The zonal and divisional Chief Conservators of Forests will oversee these efforts.

At the same time, the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Publicity and Promotion) has been designated as the nodal officer for the Fire Control Cell at the state headquarters.

A total of 115 fire control cells have been set up at various levels, including divisional, circle, zonal, and headquarters. These cells will operate 24/7, with employees working in three shifts. All reported incidents will be recorded to ensure accountability and immediate action will be taken.

Nodal officers for the headquarters-based Fire Control Cell in Lucknow have also been appointed, with Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Publicity and Promotion), PP Singh, leading the initiative.

Additionally, 3,171 officers, employees, and citizens have registered for forest fire alerts via the Forest Survey of Indias website (fsi.nic.in). The public can also report fire incidents, with district officials promptly forwarding the information to senior authorities.

To facilitate this, helpline numbers have been issued in Lucknow: 0522-2977310, 9452162054, 9648982985, 9651368060, 9415394662, and 7017112077. Local helpline numbers will also be available across all districts for public convenience.

The forest fire monitoring period in the state will extend until June 15, with mock drills being conducted in highly sensitive and moderately sensitive divisions, including Chitrakoot, Sonbhadra, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Katarniaghat Wildlife Division, Bahraich, Maharajganj, Dudhwa National Park, North Kheri-South Kheri, Balrampur, Saharanpur, Bijnor, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Lalitpur, Banda, Hamirpur, Varanasi, and Kaimur Wildlife Division.

Furthermore, in highly sensitive districts, district-level committees have been formed under the leadership of the District Magistrate to strengthen fire prevention measures.

P P Singh, Nodal Officer, Fire Control Cell, Headquarters, said here on Tuesday that in line with the Chief Ministers instructions, all necessary Forest Fire Control Year 2025 preparations have been completed. Officials at the divisional level have been instructed to report fire incidents to headquarters for swift action immediately.

He said a dedicated helpline number has been issued at the headquarters level for public convenience. To ensure the availability of drinking water for wildlife, permanent water holes are being constructed, existing ones are being repaired, and a regular water supply is being maintained.

Additionally, watchtowers are being built within forest areas, while older ones are undergoing maintenance to enhance surveillance. Local villagers are being engaged as fire guards and encouraged to participate actively in forest fire prevention efforts, he added.
A sessions court in Madhya Pradesh has sentenced five, convicted in the case of looting and assault on two Army trainee officers and their two female friends, and gangrape of one of them, to life imprisonment. The brutal nature of the crime that took place in September last year had sparked national outrage.

The Fourth Additional Sessions, Judge Ravishankar Dohre, delivered the verdict on Monday, sentencing Anil Barod (27), Pawan Wasuniya (23), Ritesh Bhabhar (25), Rohit Girwal (23), and Sachin Makwana (25) to life imprisonment. The sixth accused, a minor, is being tried separately in a juvenile court.

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According to reports, the court has also ordered the convicts to compensate the victims. The gangrape survivor will receive Rs 50,000 while the other three victims will get Rs 10,000 each as compensation.

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The harrowing incident occurred at Jaam Gate on the Mhow-Mandleshwar road, where two trainee Army officers from the Infantry School, Mhow, had gone with their two female friends.

Special Public Prosecutor Sandhya Uike stated that the six accused intercepted the group, brandishing a pistol and attacking them with sticks. They demanded Rs 10 lakh, threatening to kill them if they failed to pay. The assailants robbed them of their mobile phones and Rs 800 before forcing one trainee officer and a female friend to return to the Infantry School to arrange the ransom.

Meanwhile, they held the remaining trainee officer and a female friend captive, during which the woman was gangraped by Ritesh Bhabhar and Anil Barod.

Following the traumatic incident, a case was registered at the Badgonda police station the next day, leading to a swift investigation. Authorities submitted the final report to the court on October 12, ensuring a speedy trial.

The courts decision is being seen as a strong message against crimes of this nature, reinforcing the commitment of law enforcement to deliver justice to victims of such heinous acts.
India slammed Pakistan for repeated references to Jammu and Kashmir at a UN debate on peacekeeping reforms, asserting that the region was, is, and will always be an integral part of India.

Speaking at the Security Council, Indias Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, snubbed the neighbouring country for attempting to divert attention from the core discussions on peacekeeping.

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India is compelled to note that the delegate of Pakistan has yet again resorted to unwarranted remarks on the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Such repeated references neither validate their illegal claims nor justify their state-sponsored cross-border terrorism, the Indian diplomat said.

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He said Pakistan itself is illegally occupying a part of Jammu and Kashmir and must vacate the territory. Pakistan continues to illegally occupy the territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which it must vacate, he said, asserting that India would not allow its sovereignty to be questioned at global forums.

Ridiculing the neighbouring countrys attempts to use the platform to pursue its parochial and divisive agenda, Mr Harish said, We would advise Pakistan not to try to divert attention of this forum. India, he noted, would not engage in a detailed response but made its position clear. India will refrain from exercising a more elaborate Right of Reply.

Speaking about UN peacekeeping, the Indian diplomat spoke about womens participation in this endeavour. He pointed out that India recently organised the first-ever Conference for Women Peacekeepers from the Global South, emphasising that women play a critical role in operations. It is no longer a question of whether women can do peacekeeping. Rather, it is about whether peacekeeping can do without women, he said.

He reaffirmed Indias unwavering commitment to UN peacekeeping and called for Security Council reforms to make the body more reflective and representative of current geopolitical realities.
Members of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly on Tuesday discussed the issue of private schools charging excessive fees during the budget session.

Legislators Pradeep Prasad, Babulal Marandi, Naveen Jaiswal, and others expressed concern about high fees imposed under the name of re-admission and other charges. Both the ruling and opposition parties largely agreed on the issue.

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Education Minister Ramdas Soren said that if a school breaks the rules, people can file complaints with the district-level committee, and strict action will be taken against those responsible.

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Recognizing the seriousness of the issue, Assembly Speaker Ravindranath Mahato stressed the need for a law to regulate school fees and urged the government to take action. His suggestion received strong support from the members of the House.

Hazaribagh MLA Pradeep Prasad asked why schools under the same education board in the state charge different fees. He urged the government to create a law to ensure all private schools follow a uniform fee structure. He also pointed out that if the government does not control school fees, children from poor families will never be able to afford private education.

Leader of the Opposition, Babulal Marandi, noted that a Fee Regulatory Tribunal is in place to oversee private school fees, but it rarely meets. He suggested holding monthly meetings, led by the District Commissioner, especially before the admission season. He also recommended informing all public representatives in advance so they can attend and raise parents concerns.

Education Minister Ramdas Soren explained that private schools are allowed to set their own fees, but action will be taken if they break the rules. He admitted that charging high re-admission fees is a serious problem and assured that complaints would be reviewed by the district-level committee.

Schools found guilty could face fines ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh. He also mentioned that the government had earlier tried to address this issue by filing a case in the High Court against arbitrary school fees, but the petition was later dismissed.

After the heated discussion in the Jharkhand Assembly, the big question is whether the state government will actually create a law to control school fees or if the issue will remain just a topic of debate. The government has said it will wait for the committees recommendations, but the opposition and some MLAs are pushing for immediate action.

Now, its a wait-and-watch situation to see if the government follows the Speakers suggestion or if the matter remains stuck in political discussions without real action.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. Concrete steps are needed for the Southern Gas Corridors expansion in Southeast Europe and Balkans, Romanian Minister of Energy Sebastian-Ioan Burduja said in an exclusive interview with Trend.

He noted that the state of volatility and uncertainty continues on the natural gas market, which is marked by numerous events that have brought new challenges and new concerns.

"The gradual abandonment of Russian gas and the diversification of supply sources and routes are undoubtedly a success, but we must understand that these necessary measures have at the same time brought new dimensions of complexity, despite the fact that there have been no major gas shortages since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. The elimination of most of the Russian gas in the last three years has also made European gas markets more vulnerable to price shocks, in response to short-term disruptions, to the growing demand for liquefied gas from Asia or to the cold waves we have faced in the cold season," said Burduja.

Burduja noted that although circumstantial factors led to this tense situation in the gas market, this phenomenon highlights the fact that currently on the gas market a high degree of filling of storage facilities at the beginning of the cold season may no longer be sufficient in the case of an unexpected event - a significant cold wave or an interruption in gas supply.

"Sometimes domestic production and gas storage prove their limitations. In all this amalgam of uncertainties and concerns, the Southern Gas Corridor has already completed four years of operation, proving with each passing year its essential contribution to securing and diversifying Europe's gas supply. The four years of operation of the Southern Gas Corridor have significantly changed the European gas market. Important progress has been made in expanding the natural gas infrastructure, facilitating its delivery to Europe through the Southern Gas Corridor," he added.

The Romanian minister noted that increased volumes of gas are needed on the European market, and this Gas Corridor can and must strengthen its strategic role in Europe's gas supply.

"We have all the arguments in favor of the Southern Gas Corridor expansion process. There is a clear need for substantial additional volumes and new suppliers, especially in the countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe. Given the undeniable success of this gas transport infrastructure and its particular importance in strengthening Europe's energy security, concrete steps are needed more than ever in the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor expansion plans that also take into account the states of South-Eastern Europe and the Balkans, in order to secure the connection of these regions to the Southern Gas Corridor, especially since there is a possibility of capitalizing on the gas transport infrastructure in these countries.

For this to become a reality, there is a need for increased cooperation between our countries, immediate actions and concrete steps in the plans to expand the Southern Gas Corridor. Correlating this strategic desideratum regarding the Southern Gas Corridor with the second project of particular importance for energy security of the submarine cable that we wish to implement together, on the one hand, and the multitude of potentially disruptive events registered in the global and European gas market in the last year, it would be appropriate to consider organizing biannual working meetings in this prestigious format, for a consolidated and more active cooperation and a new impetus for coordinated actions in the development of the dialogue between our countries," said Burduja.

He went on to add that Romania is a regional partner with an important, operational and viable gas transport infrastructure.

Through the BRUA pipeline, the Iasi-Ungheni-Chisinau pipeline, the Trans-Balkan Corridor and operational gas interconnectors with neighboring countries, Romania already functions as an important regional hub for gas supply. We have been seeing for some time how important the reactivation of gas transport on the Trans-Balkan Corridor has proven to be, especially for the security of supply of the Republic of Moldova. I would like to welcome in this context the assistance package for the Republic of Moldova and the EU's ongoing support for the Republic of Moldova's energy sector to become fully independent and integrated into the European market. I would also like to underline the fact that the Neptun Deep project in the Black Sea is making very good progress, with works progressing according to plan, with our objective being to have the first production or what we call "first gas" in 2027. It is a project that will strengthen Romania's role as an energy player in the region. Romania will become the largest natural gas producer in the European Union," said the minister.

Burduja noted that the "Black Sea-Podisor Gas Transmission Pipeline" project is one of the most important projects that the Romanian gas transmission operator Transgaz will implement to allow gas from the Black Sea to enter the National Gas Transmission System and, implicitly, the economic circuit.

"The Tuzla-Podisor gas pipeline is also necessary to be able to transport the potential volumes of natural gas that would come to Romania from the Caspian Sea area, from LNG terminals in Turkey and Greece or other sources. At the same time, TRANSGAZ, the operator of the Romanian Gas Transmission System, has ensured through significant investments the reverse flow capacity on the transit pipelines, so that the premises have been created on the territory of Romania for the full exploitation of the Trans-Balkan Corridor and the takeover of the gas reserves necessary not only for Romania, but also for other states in the region.

To all these steps, we add the increase from October 1, 2023 of the transport capacity of the Arad-Szeghed Interconnector, in the Romania-Hungary direction, up to 2.6 billion cubic meters/year, another important step aimed at providing increased transport capacities for alternative sources of natural gas coming from the south to the Central and Eastern European region, through cooperation between system operators from Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia," he said.

Burduja pointed out that Romania wants to actively contribute to the redefinition of European energy policies, to build a green and strong economy, but with the intelligent use of the resources it has, including natural gas.

"Our priorities are energy security, cheap energy and then clean green energy, in this order. After the end of Russian gas transit via Ukraine, the issue of EU resilience in terms of energy supply has become increasingly pressing. EU energy security is now much more closely linked to developments on global gas markets. Most EU countries have managed very well to replace gas volumes from the Russian Federation, but there are countries that continue to rely to a fairly significant extent on direct supplies from the Russian Federation. We should not forget that under the REPowerEU plan, the EU has set itself the objective of permanently ending Russian gas imports by 2027, a challenge that is also amplified by the ambitious targets that the EU must meet to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Therefore, the best way forward in the face of all these challenges is only one - strengthened cooperation between our countries, and this dialogue framework that the Southern Gas Corridor Meeting offers to our countries is an extremely valuable one," he concluded.

Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his heartfelt birthday wishes to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday, praying for his long and healthy life.

Born in 1965 in Ujjain, Mohan Yadav is a lawyer by profession and has been an influential figure in Madhya Pradesh politics. He served as a minister in the previous government led by former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from 2020 to 2023. After securing another victory from the Ujjain South Assembly seat in the 2023 elections, Yadav took oath as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.

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Taking to X, PM Modi lauded Yadavs efforts for the state and wrote, Birthday wishes to Madhya Pradesh CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Ji. He has undertaken numerous initiatives to improve the lives of the people of MP. May he be blessed with a long and healthy life in service of the people.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah also conveyed his greetings on social media, emphasising Yadavs role in the states progress under the BJP-led government.

Heartiest birthday wishes to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Mohan Yadav ji. Under the leadership of Modi ji, the double-engine government of Madhya Pradesh is setting new records of development and good governance. I pray to Baba Mahakal for your good health and long life, Shah posted.

Union Minister and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also extended warm wishes to Yadav, highlighting his leadership in steering the state toward growth.

Hearty congratulations to the Honorable Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Mohan Yadav ji on his birthday! I pray to God for your good health, long and happy life. May Madhya Pradesh touch new heights of development and progress under your able leadership. Best wishes! he wrote.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia also joined in, praising Yadavs dedication to public service.

Infinite birthday wishes to the energetic and successful Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav ji, who is always dedicated to public service. I pray to Baba Mahakal for your good health and long life, he posted.
An all-party meeting was held in Parliament on the issue of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court under the chairmanship of Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Leader of the House JP Nadda and Leader of tbe Opposition in the upper house Mallikarjun Kharge were present in the meeting, along with floor leaders of the DMK, BJD, BRS, CPM, UBT, AGP, TMC, Congress, and BJP, sources said.

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According to the sources, the discussion in the meeting centred on key judicial matters in the wake of the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act being struck down by the Supreme Court even as it was passed by Parliament and 16 states in 2015.

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According to the sources, the Modi government is exploring the revival of the NJAC.

As soon as the Rajya Sabha met for the day, Mr Dhankhar said, It concerns the sovereignty of Parliament, the supremacy of Parliament, and whether we are at all relevant. If we effect an amendment in the Constitution, and that is not executable. If a constitutional amendment is not executable, I have no doubt the Parliament is possessed of the power. Any powerin any institution to ensure what emanated from the Indian Parliament, sanctified by a requisite number of State Legislatures, holds the field.

He said the upper house, keeping its dignity in mind, demonstrating dignified conduct, unanimously created a legal system in 2015, and that constitutional structure that emanated unanimously with one abstention from the Parliament endorsed by state legislatures should be rule of law because it was sanctified by the President by appending her signatures under Article 111.

Now is the befitting occasion for all of us to reiterate that because that was a visionary step endorsed by Parliament. And imagine if that had taken place, things would have been different, he said.

Seeking members suggestions on a very important point, he noted and added, What emanated from Indian Parliament as a historic development with rare convergence of unity since independence found acceptance by needed State Legislatures. We need to reflect on what happened to that. 

He pointed out that under the Constitution, no provision allows anyone to tinker with that. There is no constitutional provision for review or appeal of a constitutional amendment. If there is legislation in the country by parliament or state, judicial review can take place., whether there is conformity with constitutional provisions.

Now, before the nation, there are two situations, one, what emanated from the Indian Parliament, duly endorsed by State Legislatures, sanctified by the Honble President by appending signatures under Article 111, and second, is a judicial order.

He emphasised, Now, we are at a crossroads. I strongly urge members to reflect. There can be no breach by any institution of what emanates from Parliament, endorsed by the legislature. And that should again, I reiterate, be the mechanism holding the field. It is time for us, having seen such an extraordinarily painful scenario 

He further said, Innocence is something which we take at a very high level till someone is proven guilty. Members would think and therefore, steps taken by me with the benefit of wise counsel and experience of Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the House.

He said, The issue undoubtedly is serious enough. We three of us together took note of the developments and also took note of the healthy development that for the first time in unprecedented manner the Chief Justice of India took the initiative to put everything in public domain but then a suggestion emanated from Leader of the Opposition and agreed by Leader of the House that the issue needs to be deliberated at my instance with the floor leaders.

He expressed the confidence that they would find a way out, because the legislature and judiciary perform optimally when they perform best in their respective realm with expedition.

In a meeting with Mr Nadda and Mr Kharge on Monday, Mr Dhankhar expressed dismay at the incident of a large amount of cash allegedly being found at the home of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court. He also welcomed Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khannas decision to put the material related to the alleged recovery of cash at home in the public domain. He said that Parliament should await the CJI-appointed inquiry committees findings.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday unveiled the highly anticipated Delhi Budget 2025-26, marking the first budget of a BJP-led government in the national capital after 26 years.

With a record Rs 1 lakh crore allocation, the budget focuses on infrastructure, water supply, healthcare, womens welfare, and economic growth.

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Calling it a historic and transformational budget, Gupta said, This is not an ordinary budget. Delhi and the whole country is watching this. They all have great hopes from the new government. The budget is not just an account or a ledger; it is transformation from bad economy to Viksit Delhi.

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She also claimed that the allocation of Rs 1 lakh crore for the fiscal year 2025-26 is 31.5 per cent more than the the Aam Aadmi Party government budget last year.

The Delhi governments Budget this year is Rs 1 lakh crore. This is 31.5 per cent more than last year. This Budget is historic, the CM said.

In the budget, Rs 28,000 crore has been allocated for the infrastructure. CM Gupta announced smart expressways and congestion-free corridors to modernise the transport network in the national capital.

Additionally, Rs 1,000 crore has been allocated to enhance the connectivity in the National Capital Region.

The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has received a massive Rs 9,000 crore, three times more than previous year, to improve water supply and curb corruption in tanker distribution.

In a first, CM Gupta also announced that all water tankers will be GPS-enabled to ensure transparent monitoring.

Besides she announced Rs 500 crore for cleaning Yamuna river, one of the key promises the BJP had made in its election manifesto. The govt will build 40 new decentralised sewage treatment plants.

For healthcare sector, the CM allocated Rs 1,000 crore to upgrade 24 poorly maintained hospitals. The government will also set up 400 new Ayushman Arogya Mandirs at a cost of Rs 320 crore. The Ayushman Bharat Scheme will also be implemented in Delhi with an extra Rs 5 lakh top up insurance.

An amount of Rs 5,100 crore has been allocated for the Mahila Samridhi Yojana to ensure a monthly honorarium.of Rs 2,500 for women in Delhi. She also announced installation of 5,000 CCTV camera to boost womens safety.

The government will also set up 100 Atal Canteens across Delhi, with a budget of Rs 100 crore to provide subsidized food to underpriviledged people.

For the first time, Delhi will also host a Global Investment Summit, aimed at attracting international investors.
Rajya Sabha Chair and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar said he will meet with Leader of the House J P Nadda and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge again at 4.30 pm Tuesday over the alleged recovery of cash at Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varmas home.

Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge rose to respond and appreciated the Chairs in-depth knowledge of the Constitution. He also said that transparency in the House is important and that he is looking forward to the discussion with floor leaders.

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In a meeting with Mr Nadda and Mr Kharge on Monday, Mr Dhankhar expressed dismay at the incident of a large amount of cash allegedly being found at the home of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court. He also welcomed Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khannas decision to put the material related to the alleged recovery of cash at home in the public domain. He said that Parliament should await the CJI-appointed inquiry committees findings.

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Both Houses of Parliament reconvened this morning following a day full of repeated adjournments over the issue of reservation to Muslims in public contracts in Karnataka.

Yesterday, BJP members questioned Congress about an alleged remark made by their Karnataka leader D K Shivakumar about reservations for Muslims. The Lok Sabha saw multiple adjournments before it moved on to a discussion on The Finance Bill, 2025. The Rajya Sabha, meanwhile, barely transacted any business before it was adjourned for the day, owing to a similar ruckus over Mr Shivakumars statement.
The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Disaster Management ( Amendment ) Bill , 2024 after a reply to the debate by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The Oppositions amendments were negated during voting on the Bill .

The Bill seeks to strengthen the efficient working of the National Disaster Management Authority and the State Disaster Management Authorities.

It seeks to amend Disaster Management Act, 2005 and bring more clarity and convergence in the roles of Authorities and Committees working in the field of disaster management besides providing statutory status to certain pre-Act organisations like the National Crisis Management Committee and the High Level Committee.

Replying to debate in the House on the Bill , the Union Home Minister said, We all have to accept that the changes that have taken place in the field of disaster management in the last 10 years have made us emerge as a national as well as regional and global power. This bill is to sustain Indias success story for a long time. No one should misunderstand me, I am not talking about the success story of the government, but the success story of India

Shah said he will provide a detailed response to those accusing us of favoritism. If there is any favouritism, it is due to the law passed by the UPA government in 2005, and we have not made any changes to it, the Union Home Minister said.

Once again, I remind all members that the Finance Commission has created a scientific system for disaster relief. The Narendra Modi government has not allocated a single penny less to any state; in fact, we have given more, Shah said.

He said some members have questioned why the amendment is needed for the Disaster Management Bill , 2024 .

They (Opposition) may be thinking that there will be changes later. Let me assure them, there is no need to worry. We are not going anywhere for the next 15-20 years. Whatever needs to be done, we are the ones who have to do it, Shah said.

The Disaster Management Act was implemented for the first time in 2005. Under this, NDMA, SDMA and DDMA were formedNow, concerns are being expressed that there will be centralisation of power. If you read the entire Bill carefully, then the biggest responsibility of implementation lies with the District Disaster Management which is under the State Government. Therefore, there is no possibility of harming the federal structure anywhere, the Union Home Minister said.

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Activists from the youth wing of Shiv Sena put up a photograph of comedian Kunal Kamra (36) outside a public toilet in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on Tuesday.

The protest was organized by Yuva Sena in response to Kamras recent controversial remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

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The activists also warned that if Kamra visits Indore, they would blacken his face and parade him through the streets.

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Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan emphasized that survival in todays battle space is not about being the fittest but about those who adapt, transform, and seize emerging opportunities.

He delivered this insight while addressing future strategic leaders at the College of Defence Management (CDM), Secunderabad, during the Higher Defence Management Course (HDMC-20) on Monday.

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Gen Chauhan highlighted the critical role of adaptability, resilience, and visionary leadership in navigating the 21st-century security landscape. He stressed that shifting global power dynamics, non-traditional threats, and rapid technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), demand a proactive and strategic approach.

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The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) underscored the need for a whole-of-nation response to contemporary and emerging security challenges, reinforcing the Indian Armed Forces role in shaping the countrys national security strategy.

During his address on National Security Architecture and Change Management in the Year of Defence Reforms, Gen Chauhan provided an in-depth understanding of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) and its transformative initiatives. He elaborated on efforts to foster jointness, integration, and synergy within the armed forces.

The CDS also detailed the roadmap for the Year of Transformation, marked by the articulation of Vision 2047 for the armed forces, joint doctrines, defence and military policies, and the finalization of the Integrated Capability Development Plan. Furthermore, he shed light on the Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) initiatives spearheaded by the DMA to bolster Indias defence capabilities.

During his visit, Gen Chauhan engaged with faculty members and course participants, including officers from friendly foreign nations. He emphasized the importance of fostering innovation, experimentation, and collaboration within the defence establishment to maintain strategic superiority in an evolving global environment.
Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Tripura Legislative Assembly Jitendra Chaudhury has filed a petition before the Speaker seeking to move a privilege motion against Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ratan Lal Nath over what he described as a derogatory and racist remark made during a budget session discussion.

In a formal letter, Chaudhury, who also serves as the secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] state committee, cited Rule 173 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Assembly to justify his motion.

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The remark in questionJiten Babu has demonstrated his tribewas allegedly made by Minister Nath while Chaudhury was participating in a discussion on the 2025-26 budget on March 24.

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This is not only derogatory and abusive but also deeply racist against myself, my family, and my community. It is a clear breach of privilege committed by Minister Ratan Lal Nath, Chaudhury stated in his letter to the Speaker, urging appropriate action against the Minister.

Earlier in the day, the CPI(M) staged a walkout from the Assembly in protest against Naths alleged comment, demanding an immediate retraction.

The party condemned the remark as an attack on the dignity of the tribal community and accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of fostering divisive rhetoric.

The comment is not only an insult to Jitendra Chaudhury but an affront to the indigenous tribal communities of Tripura. The Minister must apologise and withdraw his statement, a senior CPI(M) leader said.

The controversy has escalated tensions in Tripuras political landscape, where tribal identity and representation remain sensitive issues.

Jitendra Chaudhury, a veteran tribal leader and former MP, has been a vocal critic of the BJP-led governments policies concerning tribal welfare. His party has consistently accused the BJP of neglecting indigenous rights while attempting to consolidate power through divisive politics.

Ratan Lal Nath, a senior BJP leader and former Congress MLA, has been a key figure in the states legislative affairs and is known for his sharp political rhetoric. While Nath has not yet issued a public statement regarding the controversy, the ruling BJP is expected to counter the Oppositions allegations in the coming days.
The Uttar Pradesh Congress has accused the Yogi Adityanath government of orchestrating another scam in the distribution of cash compensation to the families of those who died in the Kumbh stampede on Mauni Amavasya (January 29) this year.

Claiming that the actual number of deaths and missing persons is much higher than the governments reported figure of 30 deaths, UP Congress President Ajay Rai told media persons on Tuesday that the government took a full 24 hours to acknowledge any fatalities.

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The government was forced to admit to 30 deaths only due to the widespread circulation of pictures and videos on social media and pressure from the Congress party, he said.

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Mr. Rai further alleged that the actual death toll was significantly higher than the governments claims.

Now, to cover up its falsehoods, the government is trying to silence the victims families by bypassing regulations. Without issuing death certificates, the police are attempting to distribute compensation in cash, he stated.

He cited the case of Shivraj Gupta, a resident of Sundar Nagar in Musabani, East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, who also died in the Kumbh stampede.

His name was not included in the official list of the deceased, nor had the state government issued his death certificate. However, Uttar Pradesh Police reportedly visited his family to offer a cash compensation of Rs 5 lakh.

When his son Shivam refused to accept the Rs 5 lakh compensation and questioned why it was being handed over in cash instead of the declared Rs 25 lakh amount, the local authorities in Jharkhand claimed ignorance of any such arrangement, Mr. Rai alleged.

He further stated that similar cases had emerged in West Bengal, where two families had also been handed Rs 5 lakh in cash.

The method adopted by the UP government raises serious doubts and numerous questions, he said.

Two months have passed since the incident, yet the government has not released an accurate list of the deceased or missing persons. Why is the Yogi government secretly distributing cash through the police without informing the respective state governments? he questioned.

Mr. Rai demanded that the state government immediately release the full list of deceased individuals and the names of families receiving compensation.
Ignoring Europe and Ukraine, President Trump spoke to President Putin to determine a way forward for ending the three-year old conflict. The US handout read the leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire. Talks on a maritime ceasefire, full ceasefire and permanent peace will soon commence. There was also discussion on normalization of US-Russia ties including cooperation in the Middle East, where Russia backs Iran.

The 30-day ceasefire as desired by Trump never happened. The Kremlin in its readout mentioned that Putin declared his readiness towards ending the conflict. It added that Putin outlined a number of significant points regarding ensuring effective control over a possible ceasefire along the entire line of contact. A major condition placed by Putin was cessation of foreign military aid and provision of intelligence information to Kiev. It was reported that Putin delayed commencement of talks by an hour, displaying he holds the key. The two nations are submitting a list of energy infrastructure which would not be attacked. The partial ceasefire will be effective once lists are accepted. Many European nations believe that Putin has no intent on peace, unless it is on Russian terms.

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On the contrary, Russian diplomats mention that Moscow desires lasting peace with a permanent solution, not short-term measures. Trump also had a fantastic conversation with Ukrainian President Zelenskky. This was their first conversation after the debacle in the White House in end February. Trump agreed to help Ukraine source additional Patriot air defence systems as also provide intelligence, contrary to Putins demand. Zelenskky thanked Trump for his support, accepted the partial ceasefire, and later tweeted, lasting peace can be achieved this year.

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They also discussed possible USUkraine joint ownership of Ukraines nuclear power plants, which also involves indirect security guarantees for Ukraine. Subsequently, Zelenskky turned down this suggestion. Ukrainian forces are currently trapped in Kursk, a concern for Kyiv and a subject Trump discussed with Putin. A multitude of European politicians, speaking at the Raisina dialogue in Delhi, mentioned that any poorly negotiated peace agreement would backfire. Zelenskky has been keeping European nations informed on progress of talks. However, their chances of being involved in final negotiations is remote. This displays how Trump views declining European power.

Putin is in no hurry to accept a ceasefire. For him, regaining control of Kursk is paramount, thus removing any bargaining chip of Ukraine. He is aware of manpower problems being faced by Kyiv. Russia has also had losses and some of its oil refineries have been damaged by Ukrainian drones but the nation has depth, reserves and the economy to continue pursuing the conflict. Ukraine is being blackmailed by the US to bend and accept its terms. Added are Russias alliances with China, Iran and North Korea, all of whom are a major threat to the West. For Trump, isolating Iran and China from Russia are priorities.

Trump, in his comments even prior to his discussion with Putin, had already hinted towards accepting most of Moscows terms, including no entry of Ukraine into Nato, no formal security guarantees as also surrendering some occupied territory to Russia, though he did not mention to what extent. Thus, Putin is in a position to lay down new terms and conditions which he would as negotiations get underway. Trump had also hinted on normalizing ties with Russia. Putin would therefore demand lifting of sanctions, return of seized Russian assets as also increased US investments.

US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, had warned Europe of US intentions to concentrate on the Indo-Pacific, adding to Putins cards. With Trump pushing for a mineral deal with Ukraine and partial ownership of its nuclear plants, US would be ensuring some aspects of security guarantees. US presence in Ukraine would be part of bargaining as talks get underway. To add insult to injury, Putin demanded that further dialogue should not involve Ukraine or Europe. The Russian readout mentioned, The leaders confirmed their intention to continue efforts to achieve a Ukrainian settlement in a bilateral mode.

While Trump has assured Ukraine that it would be at the table, Putin has other views. How this plays out is to be seen. Sticky points in future discussions would include military and intelligence support from the West, Ukraine possessing sufficient military power to safeguard itself, deployment of a peacekeeping force and Ukraine adopting an independent foreign policy, devoid of Russian influence. European nations are intent on deploying their troops as peacekeepers, while Russia is unwilling. Putin wants a subservient Ukraine, while Europe seeks an Ukraine which acts as a buffer between Russia and its possible expansionism in Europe. It believes Putin has no intention of adhering to a lasting ceasefire.

The Norwegian Foreign Minister, Espen Eide, summed up Europes views when he mentioned at the Raisina Dialogue in Delhi, There is a certain wariness, at least, that too much will be given in order to get the Russians to the table. Added is the concern that Putin would outsmart Trump. The US has its own interests in ending the war. Finding a solution satisfying all may not be simple. A further factor is Trumps patience in prolonged negotiations. He had earlier warned that if peace is not forthcoming, he would impose additional crippling sanctions on Russia.

He had tweeted a week earlier, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED. Putin is aware and hence his initial acceptance of a partial ceasefire. He knows how far to push Trump and for how long. While Putin is currently cruising steadily, aware he holds the cards, Trump has the power to damage the Russian economy if talks do not progress at his pace. Ukraine has little ability to influence decisions, apart from accepting Trumps offer on partial security guarantees.

Kyiv needs security backing, funding for re-construction and enhancing its military power to avoid coming under Russian control. Europe is keen to get involved in negotiations as also deploy peacekeepers, which Russia does not desire, while the US wants them to provide security guarantees. These multiple contradictions will take time to resolve. The priority is to stop the war and bring about a ceasefire. Interestingly, the UN is missing. (The writer is a retired Major-General of the Indian Army.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. Dubai-based GEOLOG International aims to expand its cooperation with Azerbaijans state oil company (SOCAR), offering advanced mud-logging services, Kirill Partyko, Operations Manager at GEOLOG International, told Trend.

"In the past, we have operated in the Azerbaijani market since 2017 and have already collaborated with Umid Babek Operating Company (UBOC). Looking ahead, with SOCARs plans to drill more complex wells at deeper horizons, we hope to provide our high-quality, high-tech mud-logging services. Our new technologies can bring significant benefits to SOCAR in terms of cost reduction and improved data quality. This is our key focus for the near future," Partyko said.

GEOLOG International is a world leader in surface solutions for the oil and gas industry, offering cost-effective yet highly efficient alternatives to complex and expensive downhole measurements through its disruptive proprietary technologies.

As a trusted independent partner since 1982, with operations in over 70 countries, GEOLOG collaborates with national, international, and independent oil, gas, and geothermal operators. The company brings expertise in deep and ultra-deep water drilling, high-pressure/high-temperature (HP/HT) operations, extended reach, unconventional drilling, and geothermal projects.
Retail and Information and Technology sectors are driving female contractual workforce participation in India, according to a report on Monday.

The report by TeamLease Services, a staffing and workforce solutions company, provides critical insights into the existing gender disparities in the workforce. It identifies trends and reforms necessary to drive inclusive employment opportunities for women across industries.

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The report showed that retail (29.8 per cent), IT (20.7 per cent), and financial services (18.9 per cent) lead in employing women in contractual roles. On the other hand, sectors like manufacturing (10.8 per cent), power and energy (5 per cent), and telecom (4 per cent) see lower representation, underscoring the need for greater gender inclusion.

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Education plays a vital role in shaping womens employment prospects. The report noted that about 41.3 per cent of women in contractual roles hold a graduation degree, while 28.5 per cent have completed 12th grade.

A smaller percentage have 10th-grade education (18.8 per cent), with postgraduates (10.2 per cent) and diploma & ITI holders (1.2 per cent) making up the rest. This indicates that most women in employment have at least a higher secondary or graduate-level education, contributing to a skilled talent pool actively engaged in various industries.

Womens workforce participation in India shows a clear divide across education levels. Those with minimal or high education are more actively engaged, while mid-level graduates follow distinct employment patterns. However, contractual employment has emerged as a key enabler, particularly for women aged 18 to 37, providing critical access to diverse industries, skilling opportunities, and financial stability, said Kartik Narayan, CEO  Staffing, TeamLease Services.

As India aims to increase female workforce participation to 70 per cent, strengthening the contractual workforce ecosystem through targeted skilling programmes, career transition support, and industry initiatives will be essential, he added.

Further, the report showed that employment opportunities for women, especially in contractual roles, are concentrated in metropolitan and industrial hubs. Maharashtra (28.7 per cent) leads, followed by Tamil Nadu (14.2 per cent) and Karnataka (14.1 per cent).

States like Telangana (7.8 per cent), Gujarat (7.2 per cent), and Uttar Pradesh (6.6 per cent) also contribute significantly. While urban centers drive employment, the report highlights the potential to expand opportunities in tier-2 and tier-3 cities for broader workforce inclusion.

The female contractual workforce is predominantly young, with 62.2 per cent of women aged between 18 and 27, while 29.4 per cent fall between 28 and 37 years of age.
Afghan refugees awaiting resettlement to the United States have written an open letter to Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to immediately halt their deportation to Afghanistan as the March 31 deadline approaches closer.

The letter has been written by refugees who have pending or approved visa applications for entry into the United States or accepted referrals into the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Pakistan has set a March 31 deadline for the deportation of all Afghan refugees.

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In a two-page open letter addressing the Pakistani leader, Afghan refugees awaiting US resettlement in Pakistan, expressed deep concern over recent events that have jeopardised the safety and security of vulnerable Afghans.

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The letter highlights that many Afghans residing in Pakistan are in the late stages of exhaustive vetting processes and are awaiting US visa or refugee status approval and sending them back to Afghanistan runs counter to humanitarian principles and international accords to which Pakistan is a signatory.

At a minimum, we hope to see an exemption from detention or deportation for Afghans who have pending or approved immigration applications to the United States, the letter added.

Urging the Pakistani authorities to treat Afghan refugees following international law, the letter stated that Afghan nationals in Pakistan are facing challenges with visa extensions, including exorbitant costs and potential delays, with some reporting a shift from longer to shorter extensions.

Previously, visa extensions were available for longer periods (three or six months), but now they are often limited to one month at a cost of $100 or Rs 20,000. Visa extension procedures can be slow and uncertain, leading to further complications for those relying on them. There are overstay charges, with no condonation, and no surcharge for children under 12, but a 50 per cent surcharge for those under 18, it added.

The signatories urged the Pakistani PM to consider the deportation of vulnerable individuals as it contravenes international obligations surrounding the humane treatment of refugees, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Time is of the essence; lives are at stake, and the international community is watching. We strongly urge you to act promptly and compassionately. Afghan refugees would welcome the opportunity to discuss these matters with officials of your government to strengthen our cooperation, the letter concluded.

Recently, US-based advocacy group Human Rights Watch had also slammed Pakistan for forced deportation of Afghan refugees. Pakistani officials should immediately stop coercing Afghans to return home and give those facing expulsion the opportunity to seek protection, said Elaine Pearson Asia Director at the Human Rights Watch.

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.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi announced Monday that his country will not engage in direct negotiations with the United States unless Washington adjusts its policy towards Tehran, but the path is open for indirect negotiations.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Red Crescent Society meeting in Tehran, Araghchi criticised the US governments so-called maximum pressure campaign and its repeated threats against Iran, emphasising that these actions make it impossible for Iran to negotiate with Washington unless there is a fundamental change in attitude, Irans official IRNA news agency reported.

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Araghchi further stressed that while direct negotiations are off the table, Iran remains open to indirect negotiations and will convey its messages through such channels.

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Additionally, Araghchi hinted at plots against Iran and reiterated that there will be no war because the country is fully prepared for any scenario, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to another IRNA report on Sunday, Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesperson of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, stated that Iran is ready to resume its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) if the other parties to the deal do not ignore its rights.

Earlier this month, Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei had condemned fresh US sanctions targetting several individuals, vessels, and companies linked to Irans oil exports.

The ministry said the move comes a day after the US Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Irans Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad as well as several companies and vessels tied to the shadow fleet used to circumvent sanctions.

Baghaei dismissed US claims of readiness to negotiate with Tehran, saying the sanctions prove Washingtons hostility toward Irans development and welfare.

He said Iran would hold the US government accountable for the fallout from what he described as unilateral and illegitimate measures, adding that the move violated international law.

Since taking office in January, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called on Iran to negotiate over its nuclear programme while keeping in place sanctions reimposed after the US exited the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018.

The 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the JCPOA, granted Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme. The agreement has been in jeopardy since the US withdrew in 2018 during President Donald Trumps first term and reimposed sanctions. Tehran has since scaled back its compliance but insists its nuclear activities remain peaceful.


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The Ganges Art Gallery in Kolkata has an unassuming appearance. Its easy to overlook it as just an ordinary home at apara (neighbourhood). However, at present, the gallery is hosting a unique art exhibition that sets it apart.

Inscribed Imaging, a multimedia exhibition by Anirban Ghosh and curated by Soma Bhowmik, breaks away from Kolkatas typically conventional art shows. Instead of being mere spectators, visitors become active participants in the artistic experience.

This participatory act is made possible by guiding attendees through the entire creative process behind the displayed worksart pieces inspired by the artists everyday encounters. More remarkably, viewers are given the opportunity to reconstruct the artworks at any stage of their formation, making the experience both immersive and dynamic.

Photo: Salil Bera

There is a stand of magazines with titles reflecting the most-used words of today such as Viral, Artifical, etc. On a table next to it, same magazines have been kept with empty sheets inside where viewers can draw or write or do anything say what they by the title of the magazine, says Ghosh, a Delhi-based multimedia artist.

He has spent over 18 years working in editorial design in the advertising industry. He explained that the inspiration for this exhibition was to explore what happens when he steps away from the strict rules and guidelines that define his daily work.

Photo: Salil Bera

Also, more than just showcasing the results, he wanted to invite people into the creative process, allowing them to experience the journey alongside him. Instead of just viewing the art, visitors engage with it, reconstructing the experiences embedded within the works.

At the same time, the artist subtly critiques the political realities of today. We are constantly told that we live in Digital India. But Im not sure if thats the reality of the majority of Indians, Ghosh says.

As part of this reflection, he placed six QR codes at the heart of his exhibition. When scanned in sequence, they depict the evolution of human lifebut in reverse. The idea was to show that we may be going backwards due to excessive penetration of technology in our lives, he explains.

For curator Soma Bhowmik,Inscribed Imaging, is an important exhibition which Kolkata needed. In a big note which she has left at the exhibition for the viewers to see, Bhowmik says Ghosh has not just diverged from conventional modernism but also offers alternative approach to artistic expressions.

He creates a dynamic landscape of creative expressions mapping the diverse points of intersections and thus allowing the mediums as much as the image-text contents to reconstrue the significance of the multiple voices, the curator noted.
The CAG has found that out of the 131 functioning public sector enterprises in Kerala, 58 PSEs earned a profit of 1,368.72 crore as per their finalised accounts submitted till September 2023 while 66 PSEs incurred losses of 1,873.89 crore.

Four PSEs have incurred no profit/loss, and there were three PSEs, which were yet to furnish the first accounts for review of CAG.

Originally, 149 public sector enterprises (PSEs) in Kerala were under the CAG's audit jurisdiction. Of these, 130 are government companies, 15 are government-controlled entities, and four are statutory corporations, while 18 are already defunct.

Notably, of the 1,873.89 crore total loss incurred by 66 PSEs, a staggering 1,327.06 crore was attributed to just two PSEs, including one statutory corporation. According to the CAG, these are the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited. However, the financial data considered for KSRTC dates back to 2015-16, as the corporation has a seven-year backlog (2016-17 to 2022-23) in submitting its accounts.

Moreover, only 16 PSEs submitted their accounts for the financial year 2022-23 within the stipulated timeframe, translating to a compliance rate of just 12.21 per cent. In response, the CAG has urged the state government to implement corrective measures, including enforcing Section 129(7) of the Companies Act, which mandates fines and/or imprisonment for failing to prepare accounts on time.

The CAG report revealed that 77 out of 131 working PSEs in Kerala have a cumulative accumulated loss of 18,026.49 crore. Among them, 44 PSEs have suffered complete net worth erosion, resulting in a negative net worth.

In response, the auditor recommended that the government reassess the business models of loss-making PSEs to identify the root causes of their financial struggles. The report suggests that if a business model is unsustainable, the government should consider shutting down or divesting its stake in such enterprises, particularly those with fully eroded net worth.

Notably, at the recent CPI(M) state conference in Kerala, the policy document Navakeralathe Nayikan Puthuvazhikal (New Ways to Direct New Kerala), presented by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, proposed restructuring unviable PSUs under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The document advocates for agreements with private entities to manage these institutions under clear conditions.

With the policy document being accepted at the conference, the CPI(M)s stance appears to have evolved towards considering disinvestment in loss-making PSUs, signalling a shift from its traditional position.
Amid reports that Canada is reviewing its $19 billion contract for 88 F-35 fighter jets and Portugal too is reportedly reconsidering the potential acquisition of F-35s to replace its aging F-16s, another country has expressed reservations about the purchase of the fifth-generation, multi-role stealth fighter from the US defence manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

Member of Danish Parliament Rasmus Jarlov, who claims to be one of the decision makers behind Denmark's purchase of F-35s, said he regrets the purchase and encouraged the country's allies and friends to reconsider the possible acquisition as buying American weapons is a security risk that we can not run.

ALSO READ: If not F-35, what are Canada's best fighter jet options?

Lockheed Martin and the Danish Armed Forces have been partners since the 1950s, with the T-33 Shooting Star, F-104 Starfighter, C-130 Hercules and F-16 Fighting Falcon. According to the company, "Denmark is an essential partner in F-35 production, development and sustainment activities."

Jarlov's remarks come amid rumours of the fighter jet having a "kill switch" which would make it possible for the US to disable or limit the capabilities of F-35s sold to other countries. While the company and a few other nations attempted to clarify that there is no such switch, Jarlov, in a social media post, said, "I don't know if there is a kill switch in the F35s or not. We obviously can not take your word for it."

READ MORE: The F-35 'kill switch' myth: Can US remotely cripple or control the stealth fighters that it is pitching to India?

He pointed out that while there may not be a "kill switch" the US can disable the fighter jets simply by stopping the supply of spare parts.

"They want to strengthen Russia and weaken Europe 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.

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 said he could imagine a situation where the US would demand Greenland from Denmark and threaten to deactivate the country's weapons and let Russia attack Denmark if they do not agree to the US demand.

Jarlov further wrote: 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.
A mega wargame, involving the Indian Navy and several African nations, will be held in April as India tries to expand its overall defence cooperation with the African continent in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new vision for engagement with the Global South.

Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti said the Indian Navy and the Tanzania Peoples Defence Force will co-host the exercise, titled 'AIKEYME' or Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement, off Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania in mid-April.

The war game will be inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The exercise is planned over six days and will see the participation of Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles and South Africa, in addition to the co-hosts.

ALOS READ: Rafale-M, MIG-29K face off in intense Indo-French naval war games

The harbour phase of the exercise would include table-top and command-post exercises on piracy and information sharing, along with training on seamanship, while the sea phase comprises seamanship evolutions, search and rescue, visit board search and seizure, small-arms firing and helicopter operations.

"A large-scale multilateral maritime engagement exercise with African countries, titled 'Africa India Key Maritime Engagement' or 'AIKEYME', which means unity in Sanskrit, is an initiative to enhance interoperability with African navies," Vice Admiral Sobti told reporters.

India and Africa have been cooperating in tackling maritime security threats, such as piracy, illegal activities including trafficking, unregulated and unreported fishing, through the sharing of information and surveillance.

The 'AIKEYME' exercise is likely to significantly expand the ongoing cooperation.

PM Modi announced the vision MAHASAGAR or 'Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions' for India's engagement with the Global South during his recent visit to Mauritius.

The Indian Navy also announced the launch of another maiden initiative called Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar aiming to boost cooperation with the friendly countries in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Under the initiative, one Indian naval ship is being deployed to the southwest of the IOR with a combined crew from India and nine other nationsComoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
It has been revealed that filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, the Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning Israeli-Palestinian documentary No Other Land, was attacked by Israeli settlers and later arrested by the Israeli military on Monday in occupied West Bank, as per the statements of two of his co-directors and witnesses.

Yuval Abraham, his co-director, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Ballal was badly injured and is missing. "A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal, co-director of our film No Other Land. They beat him, and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding. Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him. No sign of him since."

Israeli attorney Lea Tsemel, known for defending the rights of Palestinians, said she was informed that Ballal and two other Palestinians detained in the village of Susiya are being held at a military base for medical treatment and that she has been denied access to them.

Ballal's co-director Basel Adra recalled seeing around two dozen settlers, some of them masked and toting guns, and some others throwing stones, in addition to Israeli soldiers who showed up pointing guns at Palestinians.

Adra told the Associated Press that post-Oscars, he and Ballal faced constant torment. This might be their revenge on us for making the movie. It feels like a punishment.

The Israeli military, on the other hand, claims that they detained the three Palestinians after they suspected them of throwing stones at Israeli forces aside from an Israeli individual for engaging in a "violent confrontation" between Israelis and Palestinians. However, witnesses told AP it wasn't exactly how things went down.

The group of armed KKK-like masked settlers that lynched No Other Land director Hamdan Ballal (still missing), caught here on camera. pic.twitter.com/kFGFxSEanY  Yuval Abraham   (@yuval_abraham) March 24, 2025

An Israeli-Palestinian joint venture, No Other Land, directed by Palestinians Ballal and Adra and Israelis Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, shines a light on the Masafer Yatta area, whose inhabitants struggle to prevent the destruction of their villages by the Israeli military.

Despite winning several awards in the international circuit, the journey for the filmmakers has been bittersweet so far, considering how attempts were made to oppose its screening and anyone who supports the filmmakers in some places.

Recently, a mayor in Florida sought to evict  and withdraw the grant to  a theatre after it screened the documentary.

In response, Abraham said banning a film will only make more people seek it out. "When this mayor uses the word antisemitism to silence us, Palestinians and Israelis who proudly oppose occupation and apartheid together, fighting for justice and equality for all, he is dangerously emptying it of meaning. Once you witness Israels ethnic cleansing of Masafer Yatta it becomes impossible to justify it, and thats why the mayor is so afraid of our film. It wont work."
In 2019, when actor-turned-director Prithviraj debuted with Lucifer, starring Mohanlal, there was no public discussion of a second or third instalment. However, as the sequel Empuraan (L2E) approaches its release on March 27, the team is now confident enough to hint at a third film, where the world-building initiated in Lucifer will reach its culmination.

Interestingly, if reports and crew statements are to be believed, Empuraan is expected to be the "meaty" portion of the trilogy, as writer Murali Gopy described it using a sandwich analogy. While it operates within the framework of a commercial "mass" entertainer, Lucifer was a film that distinguished itself by blending realism, mythology, and intricate character dynamics into its universe.

THE WEEK revisits the world-building and narrative techniques employed by Prithviraj and Murali Gopy in Lucifer to explore what Empuraan might bring to the table.

Microcosm of evil

The Lucifer franchise is rooted in the idea that all power struggles are merely battles between different shades of evil, with order serving as nothing more than a brief pause between conflicts. In Lucifer, the protagonist, Stephen Nedumpally, emerges at the precise moment when this fragile peace crumbles, ushering in a new era of chaos.

Throughout the film, a mythic aura surrounds Stephen, subtly elevating him beyond the realm of ordinary men. This larger-than-life quality, juxtaposed with the films grounded setting, keeps the audience uncertain about his true natureeven as the story reaches its climax.

Set in a fictional yet strikingly realistic Kerala, the films narrative is deeply embedded in a recognisable political landscape, shaped by internal rivalries, political funding, and media manipulation. Prithviraj and Murali Gopy construct this world as a microcosm of corruption and power, gradually expanding its scope.

By first immersing the audience in the familiar before venturing into the unknown, Lucifer makes its characters deeply relatable. Yet, like a Russian doll, Stephens persona unfolds in layers, with each revelation adding new depth to his enigmatic presence.

No spoon-feeding

Lucifer thrives on subtext, layering its narrative with press clippings and scattered factoids that subtly hint at a larger world beyond whats shown. Prithviraj and Murali Gopis world-building, however, ensures not to serve everything on a platter. Crucial details are tucked into layers, urging the audience to actively engage with the unfolding action rather than passively absorbing information.

Instead of spoon-feeding facts, the film lets viewers piece together the puzzle over time. At the same time, Lucifer avoided falling into the common pitfall of excessive exposition that plagues many ambitious films. Even when certain details are revealed, Lucifer employs unreliable narrators and deceptive symbolism, keeping the audience questioning whats real.

Notably, while the protagonists global connections are hinted at, the film deliberately keeps them vague, preserving an air of mystery. Though the sequel was announced later, Lucifer had already planted the seeds of a larger, uncharted world, waiting to be explored.

Subversion of tropes and symbolism

Lucifer embraces the core tropes of Indian mass masala entertainers, from a larger-than-life protagonist to even an item number to captivate the audience. However, even then, one could find ingenious subversions of these tropes and cliche-breaking. It is not the over-the-top heroics that establish the power of Stephen. Instead, it is one-liners and subtle expressions that are employed for the establishment of the hero trope. Stephens eyes are a recurring visual motif, often emphasized through close-up shots, to explore his power and omniscience.

Even in the item number towards the climax, one finds Lucifer subverting it by making it less about fan service and more about enhancing the films atmosphere. The picturisation emphasises energetic dance moves over explicit seduction, aligning with Lucifers sophisticated tone and subtlety.

Lucifer is rich in symbolism, especially those related to cults and caucuses that are believed to wield power over every nook and corner of the world. The interplay of light and darkness is a classic symbol used to reflect Stephens duality. He emerges from shadows into light or commands scenes under dim, moody lighting. Notably, an alias attributed to Stephen in the film by a narrator is Mahiravana, a character from Hindu mythology, who is depicted as a powerful sorcerer and the king of the underworld with stealth and shape-shifting abilities. Notably, his dominion over Patal links him to subterranean realms often associated with serpents in mythology, and this spatial connection evokes serpentine vibes. In Lucifer, Stephen is someone attributed with serpentine wisdom and serpentine traits to shed his robes and take new ones. Stephen isnt presented as a straightforward hero; hes a morally ambiguous force whose venom and violence serve a higher purpose, ensuring stability.

What to expect

With L2: Empuraan, the narrative is expected to expand beyond the familiar world of Lucifer into deeper, shadowy realmsunveiling hidden power structures that exist both around and among us. The world-building would become even more ambitious, but Prithviraj is expected to retain his signature layered storytelling and deceptive narrative motifs to deliver another intricate and immersive cinematic experience.

Additionally, the sequel is expected to introduce a formidable antagonist, setting the stage for an ultimate showdown in the already-announced third instalment of the series.
Bollywood actor Sunny Deol has some advice he would like to share with his fellow producers in the North. During the trailer launch event for his upcoming film Jaat, he said that Bollywood producers can take a page out of their southern counterparts books.

Doel lauded the producers who backed Jaat, Telugu-based Mythri Movie Makers, the same production company that bankrolled Allu Arjun-starrer Pushpa series.

According to PTI, Deol was reported saying, "My producers are so good. I want producers of Bombay to learn (from them). You all call it Bollywood, but first refer to it as Hindi cinema, and learn how to make cinema with love (from south filmmakers). They focus and enjoy the subject, rope in the director, show trust in his vision, and leave no stone unturned in achieving that. The story is the hero (for them). I thoroughly enjoyed working with all of them."

ALSO READ | Why is Anurag Kashyap leaving Bollywood? Filmmaker calls the Hindi film industry toxic

"I told them (makers), Lets do another film. Maybe I shall go and settle there (in the South)," he quipped.

The 63-year-old also said that pan-India films blossoming from South India are a result of the love with which they make the films. Deol said: I believe we should also follow this thing in Hindi (cinema), and get back to our roots. For instance, my films like Ghatak, Damini, and Arjun... We should make these kinds of films again."

When asked if Hindi cinema was lagging, he denied the claim, saying, "Earlier, the producer used to like a story when the director narrated it. Then they would commit themselves to making it. Later, the corporates came in and then it became very commercial. In all of this, people lost interest (in filmmaking). Everyone became a victim. The people who had hunger (for filmmaking) were left behind."

Jaat is directed by Gopichand Malineni, marking his debut in Hindi cinema. The film, hitting theatres on April 10, will also feature Randeep Hooda, Vineet Kumar Singh, Saiyami Kher and Regina Cassandra.
A recently released white paper, MedTech Sector in India: Challenges & Opportunities, published by the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) and Consocia Advisory, highlights the urgent need for policy reforms and strategic interventions to strengthen domestic medical device manufacturing and reduce Indias reliance on imports.

The paper places the medical technology sector at a pivotal juncture and has the potential to become a global manufacturing powerhouse while ensuring healthcare security for its citizens.

Despite initiatives like Make in India and Start-up India, the country continues to import nearly 70% of its medical device needs, with ventilators alone accounting for 950 crore in annual foreign exchange outflow. This needless dependence creates economic vulnerabilities and risks for healthcare resilience, particularly during global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key findings of the paper are as follows:

 Economic Impact: Indias MedTech imports reached $8.2 billion in FY24, while exports stood at $3.8 billion. With the right policy support, exports could escalate to $15-20 billion by 2030, as projected by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

 Domestic Manufacturing Capacity: India has the capability to produce over 39,600 Invasive ICU ventilators annuallyfar exceeding the countrys demand of 9,000-12,000 invasive units per year and they meet national standards, however, we still continue to depend on imported ventilators due to bias towards imported products.

 Regulatory Barriers: Weak enforcement of Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order, 2017 viz. DPIITs report dated 5th Nov 2024 states identified 1,502 tenders (worth 63,911 crore) as non-compliant with local preference rules, out of 3,590 tenders reviewed (total worth 1.74 lakh crore), and the inclusion of medical devices which have domestic capacity such as ICU ventilators in the Global Tender Enquiry (GTE) exemption list continue to favour foreign suppliers over Indian manufacturers.

 Certification and Standards Recognition: While Indian regulators (CDSCO, BIS) have defined standards for ventilators, Indian manufacturers often struggle to obtain international certifications like CE (Europe) or FDA (USA) approvals due to the high cost associated with them, which many hospitals perceive as a quality benchmark though these are regulatory approvals and not quality certification. There is a lack of government-supported mechanisms to validate and showcase the quality of domestic ventilators based on indigenous Voluntary Quality Certification like ICMED Plus (Indian Certification for Medical Devices) from the Quality Council of India.

Urgent policy reforms are needed to help the sector achieve its potential. These include:

1. Source internally: Remove domestically manufactured medical devices such as ICU Ventilators from the GTE Exemption List and prioritise local procurement for critical care equipment.

2. Align Standards with Global Frameworks: Facilitate Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) for Indian certifications or to ease international market access.

3. Making Indian Standards Mandatory: For medical devices for which Indian standards are available, those should be made mandatory

4. Increase R&D and Certification Support: Provide tax incentives, grants, and subsidized certification schemes to help Indian MedTech firms meet global standards.

5. Import Advantage and Cost Structure: Many medical devices have lower import duty compared to duty on their components, thus favouring import of finished products over local manufacture.

6. Promote Infrastructure Development: Establish common testing and manufacturing facilities in MedTech parks to support innovation.

Mr Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, AiMeD, said, Becoming Aatma Nirbhar and reducing import dependence is a strategic necessity A well-structured policy push will enable India to emerge as a leading global MedTech hub, benefiting both the economy and public health.

If India reduces its import reliance from 70% to 35% by 2030, as projected in the National Medical Device Policy 2023, this shift could generate over 1.5 million jobs, and position the country as a significant exporter of medical devices.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, March 25. The President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, met with the Secretary-General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Asad Majeed Khan, to discuss the expansion of cooperation within the framework of the ECO, Trend reports via the presidential administration.

"Tajikistan is an active member of the Economic Cooperation Organization, and the expansion of mutually beneficial multilateral cooperation with its member states remains a priority for us," Rahmon said.

In the course of the meeting, the sides discussed the growth of cooperation within the organization in various sectors, including trade and economy, investment, transport and utilities, energy, industry, and agriculture.

The sides also exchanged views on the effective implementation of the Perspective-2025 Strategy and the development of a Strategy for ensuring energy sustainability in the region. Significant attention was given to the increased use of renewable energy sources, the development of a green economy, climate change issues, and disaster risk reduction.

In addition, one of the key topics of discussion was the development of cooperation in environmental protection, tourism, and various humanitarian and cultural spheres, in particular, in science and education.
The Supreme Court-appointed three-member judges panel commenced their probe over the alleged discovery of cash at Delhi High Court Justice Yashwant Varmas residence on Monday. The probe panel visited Justice Varmas residence in Delhi and inspected the premises.

#WATCH | Delhi | Three-member Judge committee to probe allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma arrives at his residence pic.twitter.com/WyzSikUMPa  ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2025

The probe panel comprising Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana; Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh; and Anu Sivaraman, Judge of the High Court of Karnataka commenced the probe and visited Justice Varmas official residence at Tughlak Crescent in Delhi. According to reports, the judges spent close to 30 minutes on the premises and inspected the site.

#WATCH | Delhi: Burnt debris seen near the residence of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma. pic.twitter.com/PTI4vCVXY5  ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2025

The apex court appointed the probe panel to investigate allegations after the Delhi High Court chief justice submitted an in-house inquiry report to the Collegium over the matter. In an unprecedented move, the Supreme Court published the inquiry report along with photographs and videos collected as evidence on Saturday.

Huge amounts of unaccounted cash was allegedly recovered from the residence of Justice Varma when firefighters visited his house to douse a fire on March 14. The Supreme Court ordered an in-house inquiry after the incident came to light. In his response to the inquiry, Justice Varma denied the charges against him and claimed he had no connection with cash discovered. Justice Varma charged it was a conspiracy to malign his image.

The Delhi High Court withdrew all judicial work from Justice Varma on Monday. The apex courts collegium has decided to transfer Justice Varma to his parent court  the Allahabad High Court. The Allahabad High Court bar association strongly opposed the collegiums decision and said no court should be used as a dumping ground.
The CB-CID wing of Tamil Nadu Police has launched an investigation into the incident in which a group of people barged into the house of YouTuber 'Savukku' Shankar and poured sewage water and human feces.

Director General of Police Shankar Jiwal said the case has been transferred to the CB-CID after Shankar made "certain allegations against the Greater Chennai Police and the Commissioner of Police.

Based on the request, the petition in G-3 Kilpauk Police Station CSR No 118/2025 has been transferred to CBCID for further enquiry," a release from the Head of Police Force (HoPF) said.

Shankar, is a vocal critic of the ruling DMK in the state. The incident has sparked off a political storm in the state with the opposition AIADMK and the BJP targeting the M.K. Stalin government.

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), an ally of the DMK, also condemned the incident.

AIADMK chief Edappadi Palaniswamy demanded stern action against the perpetrators and said no one with faith in democracy could tolerate it.

BJP state chief K. Annamalai said: "We can realise based on whose instigation this is happening.

The MDMK and actor-politician Vijay-led Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam, too, strongly condemned the incident and sought tough action against the culprits.

Shankar had claimed that he exposed a corruption in December 2024 in the use of 230 vehicles, provided under a government scheme for sewage clearance related tasks.

He had also alleged that a top Congress leader from the state had a key role in facilitating the corruption.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has revealed the inside story of how the alliance between BJP and Shiv Sena crumbled in 2014, pinning it on Shiv Sena's then-leader Uddhav Thackeray's insistence on 151 seats.

Fadnavis, while speaking at a felicitation ceremony for Sikkim Governor Om Prakash Mathur, narrated the crucial political event which eventually culminated in the split of Shiv Sena in 2019. "It was decided that Shiv Sena would contest in 147 seats and the BJP would field candidates in 127. It was decided that the Chief Minister would be from our side, while the Deputy Chief Minister would be from Shiv Sena," Fadnavis said. He added that the BJP was willing to compromise to maintain the alliance, but the deal wasn't good enough for Shiv Sena, which insisted on 151 seats.

Though talks were held, they broke down because Shiv Sena was unwilling to budge on their seat demands, which created an irreconcilable difference between the two parties.

He said the decisions were made by the BJP's central leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, after BJP leaders, including Om Prakash Mathur, escalated the matter to them.

Watch: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis reveals for the first time the inside story behind the 2014 split of the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance



He says, "We often talk about Chanakya's strategy, but we truly understand its essence when we see it in action. I had studied it before, but I pic.twitter.com/O4t72JPDk8  IANS (@ians_india) March 25, 2025

"Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the Prime Minister, and it was decided that the alliance could continue only if the formula was 127 for BJP and 147 for Shiv Sena," Fadnavis said, repeating how the BJP tried all ways to find a common ground for the alliance to continue but failed.

"Both Amit Shah and Omprakash Madhur were confident that we could fight unitedly, but nobody else was. We gave an ultimatum to Shiv Sena that if you are going to fight on 147, we are with you. We will fight on 127 seats. Both parties will benefit and get elected together," Fadnavis said.

He equated the next fight to that of Mahabharata, stating that "Yuvraj" of Shiv Sena said not a single seat would be reduced from 151. "They came as Kauravas who will not give us five villages. But, we had Shri Krishna with us. A battle took place, I was campaigning with the support of Om Prakash Mathur and Amit Shah. We had the credibility of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bank on. For the first time, we contested in all 260 seats. Before that, we never fielded candidates in more than 117 seats," he said.

The Chief Minister said the BJP has since then emerged as the single largest party, the only one in Maharashtra in 30 years to cross 100. "All credit goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Om Prakash Matur," Fadnavis added.
On the afternoon of March 24, after being officially appointed the new BJP Kerala state president, former Union minister and technocrat Rajeev Chandrasekhar sat down for one-on-one interviews with TV channels at a five-star hotel in Thiruvananthapuram. Interestingly, during the Lok Sabha election, some of these channels had declined an exclusive interview offer from Chandrasekhars professional media team, citing fairness to his rivals, Shashi Tharoor and Pannian Raveendran.

Chandrasekhar had been wearing his signature attirea blue kurta and white kasavu mundu, paired with shoesever since he arrived in the state capital as the partys Lok Sabha candidate in March 2024. A dedicated health tracker adorned his right wrist, while a smartwatch sat on his leftan excess of smart devices to the onlooker. But that seems to be precisely what the BJPs central leadership expects from the technocrat: a figure who is apparently tech-savvy and sophisticated, yet aligns with Keralas cultural ethos while promoting a new brand of BJP politics in the state.

At 9am on Sunday (March 24), I was asked by my leadership to submit my nomination for the state president post. It was a surprise to me, he told multiple TV channels.

#WATCH | On the priorities of his party, Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar says, "There is only one priority today, which is to bring change to the lives of people in Kerala as PM has done in the country. We want to create more jobs and opportunities. Our aim is to get pic.twitter.com/0nrCRrawdK  ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2025

Even within the party, many had not anticipated Chandrasekhars rise to the helm in Kerala. Several leaders who had climbed the ranks through the partys organisational structure had their eyes on the position. Another section expected the status quo to remain at least until the 2026 assembly elections. However, the BJPs central leadership has shaken things up by appointing Chandrasekhar, though the party has termed this change as a unanimous decision based on the state units recommendation.

Although a late entrant in the 2024 Lok Sabha election race in Thiruvananthapuram, Chandrasekhar made a significant impact by deciding the campaign narratives, turning the contest into a close fight against Tharoor. Chandrasekhar ultimately lost by just over 16,000 votesa remarkable feat given that Tharoor had secured victory in 2019 with a margin of nearly one lakh.

Former diplomat T.P. Sreenivasan, who chaired Chandrasekhars campaign committee during the election after Chandrasekhar personally invited him to take up the positionexpects him to carry forward the same approach in his new role as the state party chief. Ini karyam nadakkum (now things will be done) was the campaign slogan for Chandrasekhar. He began by emphasising that something significant was about to happen in Kerala. And then he spelt out what is it that we need in terms of development, recalls Sreenivasan, who adds that Chandrasekhar shifted the election discourse towards development and future possibilities.

This was a departure from the earlier debates that revolved around ideological clashes and concerns among minorities about the Hindutva partys rise. And thats why I think the BJP generally did not do well in Keralabecause of philosophies, criticism, and fears, honestly. But by focusing on a different agenda, he completely avoided any discussion on religion, vegetarianism, non-vegetarianism, and all that, Sreenivasan says.

Notably, Chandrasekhar is not the first technocrat the BJP has put forward as a figurehead in Kerala. During the 2021 Kerala Assembly elections, the party presented 'Metro Man' E. Sreedharan as its chief ministerial candidate. Sreenivasan observes that Sreedharans campaign got entangled in discussions about national politics and the BJPs Hindutva agenda, which led to him being stereotyped. But during Chandrasekhars campaign, I saw a different approach, he says. He kept the BJP agenda out of his campaign apart from saying that he would like Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be strengthened.

Even after taking over as state president, Chandrasekhar maintained this stance, asserting that it was the CPI(M) and Congress that sought to paint the BJP as a Hindutva party. He repeatedly reaffirmed his commitment to Prime Minister Modis vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, emphasising that the Union government does not discriminate in delivering the benefits of development. And, when the questions about some of his previous statements that were interpreted as communal were raised, he brushed it off, saying he doesn't want to get distracted and that he is not someone who gets distracted from the developmental agenda.

This shift from K. Surendranwho rose through RSS and other Sangh Parivar-affiliated organisationsto Chandrasekhar is a calculated move, signalling the BJPs recognition that hardcore Hindutva will not resonate in Keralas unique demographic landscape, where minorities form a significant portion of the population. There are hopes that Chandrasekhars "outsider" imageof which he is keenly awarewill work to his advantage, offering a fresh start in the BJPs long-term strategy for Kerala. Notably, in Union Minister Suresh Gopis victory in the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat, his outsider status, developmental narrative, and strong personal appeal played a crucial role. The BJP sees similar qualities in Chandrasekhar to advance its vision of alternative politics in Kerala.

Chandrasekhar has already positioned the BJP as a viable alternative in the state, maintaining that there is no real difference between the Congress-led UDF and the CPI(M)-led LDF. As far as Im concerned, they are both partners of the INDIA bloc. So, why should we see them as two separate parties? If you ask an average Malayali child the difference between the two, what will they say? There is none. Their economic policies are the same, their appeasement politics is the same, and they will do anything for vote-bank politics, he says, blaming both fronts for the states economic crisis and asserting that only the BJP can bring real changean early pitch before the upcoming local body elections and 2026 assembly elections.

While Chandrasekhars outsider status may grant him some initial leeway, observers believe he must gradually integrate himself into the partys Kerala unit and strengthen his command of Malayalam to be effective. Though a Malayali, his limited fluency in the language could hinder him from articulating his ideology and stance in the most effective manner in Keralas highly competitive media landscape, which is quick to scrutinise and amplify contentious statements.

Whether Chandrasekhar can emerge as a transformative force in Keralas political landscape remains to be seen, but many believe he could at least bring significant internal changes to the BJPs state unit. An insider remarked with a sigh that, at the very least, the parallel private economy run by several state leaderswho allegedly leveraged their positions in the party to amass funds for personal gainmight now be in turmoil. However, many also believe that a cleanup drive will not be an easy task for the new BJP state president, who is yet to get familiarised with the ground realities in the state.

Notably, the saffron party has inducted several outsiderslacking a background in Sangh Parivar organisationsinto the newly elected national council and core committee of the BJPs Kerala unit. These include defectors from both the UDF and LDF, as well as political figures who were expelled from these alliances and sought refuge in the BJP. This is seen as part of the BJPs strategy to expand in Kerala by absorbing leaders from other parties while, paradoxically, using these very outsiders to shed its outsider party image and position itself as a truly Kerala-centric force.
The Congress government in Karnataka is dragging its feet in the honey-trap scandal that rocked the state Assembly last week, as no FIR has been registered or probe initiated into the allegations made by cooperation minister K.N. Rajanna in the House.

Rajanna, who had admitted that he was a victim of a honey trap attempt like 48 other politicians, had been evading lodging a complaint in the police station, raising suspicion that the government is trying to brush the incident under the carpet fearing damage to the partys image.

After AICC chief Mallaikarjun Kharges meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah last Sunday, the Congress leaders have remained elusive, trying to downplay the issue. With the opposition BJP claiming that the entire episode was part of the power tussle within the Congress party, the party high command seems to have warned the state leaders against a self goal by pursuing the issue.

On Tuesday, Rajanna met Home Minister G. Parameshwara at his official residence in Bengaluru and handed him a three-page complaint letter instead of lodging a complaint with the police.

Addressing a joint press conference, the home minister claimed that Rajannas letter was only an appeal and not a complaint.

#WATCH | Bengaluru | On the alleged honey-trapping of public servants, including judges in Karnataka, State Home Minister G Parameshwara says, "On the 20th of this month, there was an issue raised by the opposition members that there was a honey trap attempt on many of the pic.twitter.com/l7JJKH8HeL  ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2025

Rajanna has given me the letter and I will discuss it with the chief minister about the future course of action, said Parameshwara.

When asked if the government would take suo moto action and initiate a probe into the allegations made by the minister, Parameshwara claimed that he could not take suo motu action as Rajannas statement was made inside the Assembly and it was now the property of the House.

We will now need the Speakers permission to lodge a complaint, claimed Parameshwara, refusing to divulge any details about the letter.

Rajanna on the other hand did a U-turn and said he had only mentioned that there were people in Karnataka and also Delhi who had been honey-trap victims. I never said judges had been honey trapped. In my complaint, I have only detailed my experience. I am surprised the media has attributed many unspoken words to me, he said.

#WATCH | Tumakuru | Karnataka Minister K. N. Rajanna claims he was a victim of a honey trap attempt. He says, "Today, I am going to file a complaint by meeting the Home Minister in person." pic.twitter.com/i9uxPaW8if  ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2025

Rajanna also clarified that his intention was to seek justice for all the aggrieved and to end the menace. It was never to take revenge against somebody or make allegations against anybody. The media had kept telecasting that a Tumkur minister was honeytrapped. I had to clarify As Yatnal mentioned my name. After the incident, I was tied up with prior appointments. As I was busy I could not apply my mind. Today I met the home minister and gave the details, he added.
A mystery letter that landed in the hands of BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal exposed the honey-trap scandal that rocked the Karnataka Assembly last week.

While speculations are rife over the scandal being a part of the power tussle within the ruling Congress, the opposition party leaders role in blowing up the alleged scandal on the floor of the House has aroused curiosity in the political circles.

On March 20, Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna put an end to speculation by exposing a honey-trap attempt on the floor of the House, and also claimed that 48 other prominent politicians in the state and the country had fallen victim to the racket. However, what prompted Rajanna to admit he, too, was a honey-trap victim was Yatnal raising the issue impromptu in the House much to the annoyance of Speaker U.T. Khader.

Yatnal, who had concluded his speech on the state budget, stood up abruptly and alleged that the honey-trap scandal that is being discussed in murmurs in the state, was the handiwork of a senior Congress leader to tarnish the image of his political opponents. Prior to this sudden revelation, an attender had brought a closed envelope to the BJP leader, who went through the contents and urged the government to protect the elected representatives, saying anybody could be targeted. The issue was raised soon after Rajanna and Home Minister G. Parameshwara had walked into the Assembly.

State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra stated that the honey-trap incident narrated by the senior minister was alarming and slammed the government for taking the matter lightly. This scandal is a part of the intense competition for the chief ministers post within the ruling Congress, added Vijayendra, who also demanded a CBI probe into the case.

Leader of Opposition R. Ashok alleged that Rajanna and Parameshwar had met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in his chamber and perhaps apprised him about the honey-trap incident just before entering the House.

It is a serious charge made by Rajanna and needs to be probed as all our reputation is at stake. His statement is now the House property and the Congress should not try to cover up the case on orders from their central leaders. I also have information that the chief minister himself has sent Rajanna to raise the issue in the Assembly and they have sent a chit to Yatnal to initiate the debate, claimed Ashok, adding a judicial inquiry or a CBI probe was necessary.

Arvind Bellad, a BJP legislator said, Personal attack and honey-trapping to rein in your political opponent is a dangerous development as people lose respect for all politicians. Everyone knows who is resorting to honey-trapping, said Bellad.

By exposing the scandal in the House, the incumbent CM could be trying to save his chair or it could be the handiwork of anyone, said BJP MLA Srivatsa.

Meanwhile, Rajanna, who had demanded a high-level probe into the case, chose not to file a formal complaint while Home Minister G. Parameshwara claimed that unless Rajanna gave a complaint, no FIR or probe was possible.

Two days back, AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge met Siddaramaiah and expressed disappointment over the poor handling of the issue and said it had damaged the partys image across the country.

Five days after exposing the scandal in the House, Rajanna is yet to file a complaint. On Tuesday, he claimed he had written a three-page letter and would personally hand it over to the home minister.

Yatnal confirmed to the media that he did receive an anonymous letter in a closed envelope. I did get a letter but dont know who wrote it. If I reveal the contents of the letter, senior leaders of both parties (Congress and BJP) might have to go home, said Yatnal in a cryptic reply.
An anti-militancy operation in Sanyal village, near the International Border in Kathuas Hiranagar sector, has entered its second day as security forces continue their search for a heavily armed group of militants hiding in the area.

The operation was launched on March 23 by a joint team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Army other security forces after receiving intelligence about the presence of militants in the area.

VIDEO | Jammu and Kashmir: Search and combing operation continues in Sanyal, Hiranagar of #Kathua.



A cache of incriminating material, including several loaded magazines of M4 carbine assault rifles and a couple of grenades, were seized as security forces intensified their pic.twitter.com/y5babSOsTo  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 25, 2025

On Monday evening, Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat arrived at the encounter site to supervise the operation personally. He was accompanied by Inspector General of Police (Jammu) Bhim Sen Tuti.

Security forces have sealed off a dense nursery area where three to five militants are suspected to be hiding.

To aid the search, drones (UAVs) have been deployed, leading to the discovery of a significant cache of arms and supplies, including M4 carbine magazines, sleeping bags, tracksuits, food packets, and other items wrapped in plastic bags.

PHOTO | Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Nalin Prabhat, is leading a combing operation in the dense forests of Sanyal village in Kathua, where Pakistani terrorists are believed to be holed up. Magazines and other items left behind by the fleeing terrorists have been pic.twitter.com/nFJWAekST5  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 24, 2025

An exchange of gunfire took place soon after security forces launched the operations. Since then there has been no contact with the militants.

The search operation has since intensified, with additional reinforcements, including commandos, sniffer dogs and surveillance equipment.

The militants had taken captive a woman, Anita Devi, her husband and a minor girl who were in the area to collect the firewood. Devi, however, managed to escape from their clutches. Her husband the girl suffered minor injuries when militants opened fire at them while the were fleeing. The girl received medical treatment and is reported to be in stable condition.

Security forces continue to maintain a tight cordon around the area as efforts to eliminate the terrorists are under way.

The militants from Pakistan are believed to be a freshly infiltrated group. On Monday, security forces recovered some magazines of M4 rifles, shoes, clothes and a bulletproof jacket belonging to the militants. Commandos of National Security Gaurd (NSG) were also rushed to the area to aid the operation on Monday.
A Mumbai court granted bail to Shiv Sena leader Rahul Kanal and 11 other party cadres of Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, arrested over charges of vandalising The Habitat studio, the premises where comedian Kunal Kamra performed his controversial show.

A magistrate court in Bandra granted bail to the Shiv Sena workers and they were released after taking personal bonds of 15,000. Mumbai police arrested the Shiv Sena cadres on Monday for ransacking the studio premises located at a Mumbai hotel. The Shiv Sena workers vandalised the premises enraged over Kamras performance allegedly mocking Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

#WATCH | Mumbai: Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) workers vandalised Habitat Comedy Club in Khar after comedian Kunal Kamra's remarks on Maharashtra DCM Eknath Shinde here sparked backlash. (23.03)



Source: Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) pic.twitter.com/L8pkt0TLM6  ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2025

The 36-year-old comedian, during his performance on Saturday, performed a parody of a popular Hindi song from the film "Dil Toh Pagal Hai," and referred to Shinde as a "gaddar" (traitor). He also performed jokes about recent political developments in Maharashtra. Though Kamra did not name Shinde, Shiv Sena workers attacked the premises alleging Kamra mocked the Shiv Sena leader. The Mumbai police have identified 19 persons in connection with the vandalism case and are on the lookout for other accused in the case.

Police have also registered a case against Kamra for his alleged remarks against Shinde. Police are reportedly probing whether there was any conspiracy behind the act and did he receive any help from others. Police issued a summons to Kamra on Tuesday. As the comedian was not present at his Mumbai home, police have sent the summons to his WhatsApp number also.

Kamra in a statement, refused to apologise for his performance. I will not apologise. What I said is exactly what Mr. Ajit Pawar (1st deputy CM) said about Mr Eknath Shinde (2nd Deputy CM). I don't fear this mob & I will not be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to die down, he had said.
Maratha warrior Shivaji Bhosales forts hold immense cultural and emotional significance for the people of Maharashtra. Hence, Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Advocate Ashish Shelar has written to Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, urging the transfer of centrally-protected forts under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to the Maharashtra government for conservation and development.

Maharashtra is home to 54 centrally-protected and 62 state-protected forts. In his letter dated March 24, 2025, Shelar emphasised Maharashtras proactive role in safeguarding its heritage, having undertaken extensive conservation efforts for the state-protected forts. Reaffirming its commitment, the state cabinet, in its meeting on February 18, 2025, expressed its strong intent to actively participate in the preservation of Maratha-era forts that hold immense historical and emotional significance.

Forts of Maharashtra stand as timeless symbols of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajs valor and heritage, holding immense historical and emotional significance. In a letter to union minister Shri. Gajendra Sing Shekhawat Ji, I have informed that the government of Maharashtra is pic.twitter.com/kdQ7ZCZSTu  Adv. Ashish Shelar - .   (@ShelarAshish) March 25, 2025

Shelar highlighted Maharashtras recent initiative of leading a delegation to ICOMOS, Paris, to present the proposal under the theme Maratha Military Landscape of India for inclusion of 12 historic forts in the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Sites List. The forts include Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Panhala, Shivneri, Lohagad, Salher, Sindhudurg, Suvarnadurg, Vijaydurg, Khanderi Fort and Jinji Fort in Tamil Nadu. The delegation included Janhawij Sharma, Additional Director General (Conservation and World Heritage), ASI.

Shelar underscored that Maharashtras Directorate of Archaeology and Museums is fully equipped to undertake conservation work through its empanelled contractors and conservation architects specialised in heritage conservation. The government, he asserted, can undertake heritage-friendly tourism initiatives and involve CSR donors for fort maintenance through initiatives like the Maha Varasa and Vaibhav Sangopan schemes.

These forts, once the strongholds of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, continue to inspire millions. It is our solemn duty to preserve them for future generations, Shelar said. He has urged the Union minister to take swift action and direct the ASI to initiate the process of transferring the forts to the Maharashtra government, ensuring focused conservation efforts. We take immense pride in protecting these heritage sites and will continue to uphold their legacy for generations to come, he added.
The Mumbai police has issued summons to comedian Kunal Kamra over his alleged derogatory jokes targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Cops reportedly visited the comedians house in Mumbai and handed over summons to his parents.

Police personnel from Khar police station visited Kamras residence in Mumbai and reportedly handed over the summons, asking him to appear for questioning regarding the probe into his performance against Shinde. Kamra was reportedly not present at his home and police have also sent the summons to Kamras WhatsApp also. "We have issued an initial notice to Kamra as a probe has been started into the case against him," police told PTI.

Comedian Kunal Kamra issued a statement after the backlash that erupted as a result of his remarks on Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. pic.twitter.com/LKfqDgHXEu  ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2025

Police have registered a case against the 36-year-old stand-up comedian based on the complaint of Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, for allegedly making defamatory remarks against the deputy chief minister. Kamra, during his recent performance at Mumbai, performed a parody of a popular Hindi song from the film "Dil Toh Pagal Hai," and referred to Shinde as a "gaddar" (traitor). He also performed jokes about recent political developments in Maharashtra.

Eknath Shinde reacted on the controversy for the first time on Monday and said he will not apologise for his performance. Freedom of expression is fine, but if you are going to misuse it, then it becomes tyranny. Look at what he said about the Chief Justice, the Prime Minister, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and many other industrialists. This is not freedom of expression. I have not spoken on this all day and I will not speak again, he said.

However, Kamra refused to apologise for his performance. I will not apologise. What I said is exactly what Mr Ajit Pawar (1st deputy CM) said about Mr Eknath Shinde (2nd Deputy CM). I don't fear this mob & I will not be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to die down, he tweeted.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, March 25. Tajikistans Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Daler Juma, and Secretary-General of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Asad Majeed Khan discussed strengthening cooperation in the field of energy, Trend reports via Tajik ministry.

In the course of the meeting, the sides discussed bilateral and regional cooperation in the energy sector. It was emphasized that the development of a strategy to ensure the energy sustainability of the region, taking into account the growth of renewable energy sources and a green economy, is of key importance.

The ECO Secretary-General praised Tajikistans international initiatives in the fields of water and climate.

In turn, Minister Juma invited Asad Majeed Khan to attend the International Conference on Glacier Protection, which will be held in Dushanbe in May 2025.

The Secretary General of ECO during his visit to Tajikistan also attended the International Jewelry Forum At the Origin of Oxus Treasures and Exhibition held on March 24, 2025 in Dushanbe.
In a surprise move, the Bharatiya Janata Party named former Union minister and technocrat-turned-politician Rajeev Chandrasekhar as the partys new president in Kerala.

Chandrasekhar, who had posed a challenging fight to Congresss Shashi Tharoor in Thiruvananthapuram in the last years Lok Sabha elections, assumed office on Monday, saying his mission was to transform the state.

Whos Chandrasekhar?

Chandrasekhar was born to Keralite parents in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and has family roots in Thrissur.

In 1991, he joined the BPL Group, a company owned by his father-in-law T.P.G. Nambiar. Later he founded BPL Mobile which brought in a major telecom revolution in the country. In 2015, Chandrasekhar founded Jupiter Capital Private Limited and also entered into the media foray.

READ - Explained: BJPs strategy behind naming Rajeev Chandrasekhar its Kerala president

#WATCH | On the priorities of his party, Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar says, "There is only one priority today, which is to bring change to the lives of people in Kerala as PM has done in the country. We want to create more jobs and opportunities. Our aim is to get pic.twitter.com/0nrCRrawdK  ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2025

In his two-decades long political career, Chandrasekhar had been a Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka for three terms and served as the BJP's national spokesperson.

He is a former Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Jal Shakti.

Whats Chandrasekhars total assets?

As per the election affidavit filed in April 2024, the total value of his movable assets stands at Rs 9,25,55,404, while that of his immovable assets at Rs 14,40,00,000. Between 2018 and 2024, the value of his movable assets dropped by 66 per cent; dipping from Rs 27.98 crore to Rs 9.25 crore.

The movable assets include cash in hand, details of deposits in banks, non-banking financial companies, and cooperative societies, as well as investments in bonds, debentures, shares, units in companies/mutual funds, and other financial instruments.

As per the income tax returns details, his income dipped from Rs 28 crore to Rs 5.5 lakh in seven years. However, his spouses income increased from Rs 21.44 lakh to Rs 1.32 crore.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah welcomed the decision by two organisations to cut ties with the separatist Hurriyat Conference. He declared that separatism is now a relic of the past in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a post on X, Shah credited the development to the success of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led governments policies. He said Modis policies have unified the region and eliminated separatist influence. He urged other groups to follow suit. Shah said this development marks a significant milestone in Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of a peaceful, prosperous, and united India.

Separatism has become history in Kashmir.



The unifying policies of the Modi government have tossed separatism out of J&K. Two organizations associated with the Hurriyat have announced the severing of all ties with separatism.



I welcome this step towards strengthening Bharat's  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 25, 2025

Advocate Mohammad Shafi Reshi, a resident of Gulberg Colony, Srinagar, is among those who severed ties with the Hurriyat Conference.

Reshi, who formerly chaired the Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Political Movement (DPM) until 2017, after ending his association with the Hurriyat Conference, has since not associated with any separatist organisations.

In a formal statement, Reshi criticised the ideology of the separatist group for failing to address the real concerns of the people in Jammu and Kashmir. He added that he is now fully committed to his legal career and cautioned that any unauthorised use of his name in connection with separatist groups would lead to legal action. Reaffirming his commitment to the Indian Constitution, he said he remains a law-abiding citizen dedicated to national unity.

The development comes in the wake of a five-year ban on the Awami Action Committee (AAC) led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Jammu and Kashmir Itehadul Muslimeen (JKIM) under UAPA. The two groups are part of the Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat Conference. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has opposed the ban on the two groups. PDP legislators raised the matter in the assembly and urged the government of Omar Abdullah to reverse it.

After the abrogation of Article 370, the space for separatist politics has shrunk with Hurriyat Conference struggling for relevance.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of India postponed the hearing on the dearness allowance (DA) case concerning West Bengal government employees. The division bench, comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Manoj Misra, rescheduled the hearing for April 22.

In May 2022, the Calcutta High Court instructed the state government to grant DA to its employees at the same rate as central government employees. However, the state government challenged this decision in the Supreme Court, where the case remains unresolved.

The division bench asked the state to clarify during the next hearing why its appeal should be accepted by the apex court. Advocates Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya and Firdaus Shamim, on behalf of employees, reportedly requested the Supreme Court for an expedited hearing of the case.

They argued that the matter had not been heard for a long time and pleaded before the court to set a specific date for the hearing. The division bench then informed that it could be heard on April 22. All parties requested that the case be put on top of the board for hearing on that day.

Meanwhile, Chandrima Bhattacharya, the minister of state for finance, announced a four per cent hike in DA for state government employees, taking it to 18 per cent, while presenting the budget speech last month.

The state government on Tuesday issued a notification stating that the revised DA would take effect from April 1. As a result, state government employees and pensioners, as well as those working in government-approved educational institutions, legislative bodies, government organizations, panchayats, municipalities, and local bodies would benefit.

However, despite the raise, there exists a gap of 35 per cent between DAs received by the state and central government employees. Following Tuesdays notification, Left-leaning employee organisations criticised the state by highlighting the gap.

The TMC-affiliated organisation responded by accusing critics of ignoring the fact that the state increased DA even though the central government continues to withhold its financial dues.

The disparity in DA between state government employees and their central counterparts has been a longstanding issue in West Bengal since the Left Front era. However, over the past decade, the widening gap has turned into a significant concern during the TMCs tenure.
Rescue personnel, during the early hours of Tuesday, spotted the second body of a worker trapped inside the partially collapsed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel 32 days after the tragic incident in Nagarkurnool, Telangana. Efforts are on to retrieve the mortal remains from inside the tunnel.

Nagarkurnool, Telangana | SLBC Tunnel operation | Rescue teams have found another body inside the SLBC tunnel, in the early morning hours today. The body is stuck, and the teams are currently working to retrieve it: Rescue teams  ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2025

According to authorities, rescue teams spotted the body of a worker during the early hours of Tuesday and it was found stuck at the accident spot inside the tunnel. Rescue teams are currently working on retrieving it, a senior official told ANI. Rescuers have achieved this breakthrough after over a month of round-the-clock rescue operations inside the tunnel. A section of the roof of the under-construction tunnel collapsed on February 22, trapping eight workers including four labourers, two engineers and two Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) operators.

On Monday, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy reviewed the rescue operations and advised the authorities to expedite them. Authorities said work is underway to remove soil, stones, debris and parts of the TBM that were damaged during the collapse. Dewatering is also being carried out, authorities said.

According to officials, 30 metres at the site has been identified as dangerous. The chief minister advised authorities to take expert advice over continuing the operation and appointing senior officials to oversee the operations. Over 700 personnel from 25 agencies are involved in the rescue operation for over a month. The state government has also deployed robots to carry out rescue activities at dangerous positions inside the tunnel.

Rescuers recovered the body of Gurpreet Singh, a TBM operator from Punjab, on March 9, and handed over the body to his family. The Telangana government also announced a solatium of Rs 25 lakh for his family. Trapped persons have been identified as Manoj Kumar (UP), Sunny Singh (J&K), Gurpreet Singh (Punjab) and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, and Anuj Sahu, all from Jharkhand.
After almost a year-and-a-half after coming to power, the Congress government in Telangana will add a fresh set of ministers to its cabinet. The date of cabinet expansion is likely to be around Ugadi festival, the Telugu new year which is considered auspicious in the region.

There is a high chance that two prominent and senior ministers may be asked to resign from their posts. Since the last year, there have been speculations in this regard as there were half a dozen cabinet berths. Currently, there are 12 ministers including the chief minister and the maximum size of the cabinet is 18.

Telangana CM Revanth Reddy along with Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy recently met the Congress high command comprising AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and senior leader and MP K.C. Venugopal and AICC Telangana incharge Meenakshi Natarajan. The list of probables was discussed at the meeting with both sides giving their inputs. It is learnt that four to five fresh faces would be inducted into the Cabinet and they would represent different communities like SC, ST and BC.

Though the Congress has not made any formal announcement in this regard, it has been understood that the final call will be made by the high command and the leaders would be informed of their elevation a day prior. According to Congress sources, G. Vivek, an industrialist who belongs to the SC community, is likely to be offered a ministry post. He also runs a popular regional news channel and newspaper and is the son of a former senior Congress leader G. Venkatswamy. The party views him as an important asset.

V. Srihari Mudiraj is an MLA from the Mudiraj community, a significant backward community. His name has been doing the rounds for some time now and his candidature is being backed by some prominent leaders within the party. N. Balu Naik, an ST leader from the Lambada community, is also a frontrunner for the post among other leaders from the community.

Though there are many Reddys, there is space for one more Reddy in the Cabinet, given that the politically influential community is seen as the backbone of the party. The CM also belongs to the same community. Komatreddy Rajagopal Reddy, who switched from the BJP, is also likely to be the new minister given his familys clout in the Congress. His elder brother, Komatreddy Venkat Reddy, is already a minister in the Revanth Reddys cabinet.

There is also a possibility of a Muslim leader joining the Cabinet and there are multiple aspirants, including those who are MLCs. Though the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections are around the corner, the Congress is unlikely to pick a leader from Hyderabad and surrounding districts despite having no representation in the Cabinet from these areas. The party is expected to focus on this region in the third instalment of reshuffle while keeping in mind the interests of the leaders who have migrated from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

There is also heavy competition for the posts of Deputy Speaker and Chief Whip. It is unclear if Congress will rush to fill them up or choose them to pacify the disappointed leaders who couldnt make it to the Cabinet. According to sources, two senior ministers who made controversial statements and acted against the partys interests will be asked to step down. Serious corruption charges and inefficiency could also be the reason for the exit of these ministers.
As AIADMK face an existential crisis, the solo trip undertaken by AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) to Delhi has raised eyebrows. EPS left for Delhi on Tuesday morning, though there are rumours that two senior leaders might join him in Delhi.

The official version of the visit is that EPS is in Delhi to visit the AIADMK party office that was recently inaugurated. The party building, constructed for Rs 10 crore, was inaugurated by EPS via video conferencing from Chennai. He will also meet senior lawyers regarding the pending case before the Election Commission.

However, sources say his agenda is also to talk with leaders of major political parties in Delhi, including the BJP. While talks about the alliance gain strength, EPS may also explain to senior BJP leaders in Delhi the impact of the three-language policy and constituency realignment.

The chatter in the political circles is that EPS may want to meet BJP leaders first, since Chief Minister M K Stalin informed in the Assembly on Monday that he would personally present the Joint Action Committee resolution on constituency reorganisation to Prime Minister Modi and speak to him. EPS, apparently, wants to explain the seriousness of the situation to the BJP leadership before Stalin's visit

Political observers say this is the first step towards alliance talks since Palaniswami is moving away from his earlier stance of opposing an alliance with the BJP for the 2026 Assembly elections. The AIADMK was forced to change its stand due to the changed political scenario in Tamil Nadu, especially with actor Vijay launching his own party - Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The BJP too is wary that without the backing of AIADMK, it may draw a blank in the upcoming Assembly elections, just like in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
Israel has cleared a controversial plan to encourage voluntary emigration from Gaza, a move that has sparked widespread international criticism. The Israeli security cabinet approved the proposal to establish an organisation with the mandate to facilitate the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza to other countries.

Israeli leaders say the decision has been taken keeping in mind the plan endorsed by US President Donald Trump to expel Gazans to other countries and redevelop the Gaza Strip. Defence Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich appear to be spearheading the plan, saying it would offer Gazans an opportunity to escape from the war-torn enclave and its enduring humanitarian challenges.

"Occupation, Settlements and encourage Palestinians to 'migrate'"



Israeli far-right Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announces his proposed solutions to the "Gaza Problem," which include the continuation of occupation, the construction of Jewish settlements, and the pursuit of pic.twitter.com/96D1C4IUFq  Quds News Network (@QudsNen) June 6, 2024

The newly established Voluntary Emigration Bureau, operating under the Defence Ministry, will manage the logistics of this process. It will coordinate the controlled movement of Palestinians through Israel, providing security escorts, establishing pedestrian checkpoints at Gaza crossings and developing infrastructure for land, sea and air transit to destination countries.

The bureau will comprise representatives from multiple Israeli ministriesincluding justice, foreign affairs, and financealong with the Israel Defence Forces, Shin Bet and the National Security Council. It will also collaborate with international organisations to streamline operations.

In its initial phase, the plan saw 70 Gazans with foreign citizenship or ties abroad depart from Ramon Airport near Eilat on a Romanian military plane bound for Europe on March 19, marking a controversial step in Israels emigration policy.

The proposal has been framed by Israeli officials as a response to Trumps vision of transforming Gaza into a Middle Eastern Riviera by resettling its over two million Palestinian residents, primarily in Egypt and Jordan. Smotrich suggested an ambitious target of relocating 10,000 Gazans daily, insisting that funding will not be a barrier. Katz has echoed this sentiment, stating that any Gazan wishing to move to a third country will be supported in a safe and supervised manner, in accordance with Israeli and international law.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also expressed commitment to this different Gaza, envisioning a future without Hamas or the Palestinian Authority in control.

However, the plan has ignited fierce global backlash. Critics, including Palestinian leaders and Arab negotiators, argue that mass displacement during an active conflict risks amounting to ethnic cleansinga charge Israeli officials vehemently deny, emphasising the voluntary nature of the programme.

Saudi Arabia has been the first country to publicly condemn the initiative, and many others are likely to follow. No country has yet formally agreed to accept significant numbers of Gazan refugees. Somaliland, a self-declared state unrecognised by the UN, has hinted at openness to discussions, but only with nations recognising its legitimacy.

The timing of the rollout interestingly coincides with Israel abandoning the truce it signed with Hamas and restarting massive bombing campaigns and ground incursions in Gaza, resulting in hundreds of casualties. And now, what began as a fantasy of far-right fringe groups has gained remarkable traction, although its feasibility and ethical implications remain controversial.
Palestinian filmmaker of the Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land', Hamdan Ballal was 'arrested' by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank after he was attacked and injured by Israeli settlers.

Ballal's being taken away by the forces was confirmed by his fellow co-director. "A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal...They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding, Fellow co-director Yuval Abraham wrote on X.

Also read | Israeli settlers attack Palestinian filmmaker of Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land'

Abraham also added that the soldiers invaded the ambulance and took him. "No sign of him since," he added.

The group of armed KKK-like masked settlers that lynched No Other Land director Hamdan Ballal (still missing), caught here on camera. pic.twitter.com/kFGFxSEanY  Yuval Abraham   (@yuval_abraham) March 24, 2025

The violence against Ballal is part of the attacks in the region on activists and supporters of Palestine.

A video of the incident, that happened on Monday night, revealed masked men attacking the activists in a dusty field during the night. The video captured a settler aggressively shoving and swinging his fists at two activists.

"Back to the car, back to the car!" one of them shouted.

It is not the first the Israeli settlers have attacked the activists or villagers, they were accused of raiding Palestinian villages and encampments in the West Bank to steal livestock and other items.

Lamia Ballal, the filmmaker's wife, said settlers had gathered around the family house and her husband had gone outside to prevent them from breaking in, reported Reuters.

In a statement, the Israeli forces said that they had apprehended three Palestinians suspected of hurling rocks at them, as well as an Israeli settlers involved in the attack.

The troops denied any arrests made.

Meanwhile, the lawyer for an Oscar-winning Palestinian director, Lea Tsemel, the attorney for Hamdan Ballal, said Tuesday that he and two other Palestinians spent the night on the floor of a military base while suffering from serious injuries sustained in the attack.
The Donald Trump administration has failed to keep its military plans in Yemen a secret, with an inadvertent mistake by White House Officials resulting in a security breach.

In a meeting held via Signal app, Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard discussed the plans to attack the Houthis in Yemen.

BREAKING: The Trump admin accidentally texted a journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg, from The Atlantic, their top-secret war plans on Yemen.



Texts are below between Vance and Hegseth, in which the journalist was included.



Imagine if Biden did this! So incompetent. pic.twitter.com/CGIkNq0iNX  Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) March 24, 2025

Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump adviser Stephen Miller and Trump chief of staff Susie Wiles was also in the chat. However, there was another unexpected guest in the online meeting  journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor of the Atlantic magazine.

Goldberg in an article revealed that he was included in the Signal chat titled 'Houthi PC Small Group' that had a total of 19 members.

After Secretary Hegseth argued nobody was texting war plans," The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg responds: Thats a lie. He was texting war plans, he was texting attack plans."



"When targets were going to targeted. How they were going to be targeted. Who was at the targets. When pic.twitter.com/cKYh5NOIW7  Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) March 25, 2025

National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes acknowledged the security breach, adding that they are probing how an unauthorised contact was included in the message chain.

Defense Secretary Hegseth, while responding on the issue, did not reveal why an app like Signal was used for sensitive discussion of national importance. The app is not approved by the US government for exchange of such discussions.

"Nobody was texting war plans and thats all I have to say about that," he said.

However, Goldberg reacted to Hegseth on CNN, calling it a lie. "No, thats a lie. He was texting war plans," he added.

Hegseth then went on to call Goldberg a "deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist" who peddles garbage.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump has the "utmost confidence" in his team.

When asked about the Signal chat leak, President Trump said he did not know about it. "I am not a big fan of the Atlantic," he told reporters.
After the Russia-US talks in Riyadh on Monday, the Kremlin on Tuesday said that Moscow will continue the "useful" talks with Washington over the Ukraine conflict.

The Kremlin also said that Russia and the US are analysing the outcome of the 12-hour talks held in Saudi Arabia.

Though Russia is tight-lipped on the matters of discussion held on Monday, Kremlin official said that no concrete plans have yet been made.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the outcome of the talks in Riyadh has been reported in the capitals and was currently being analysed by Moscow and Washington.

Peskov said that they are talking about "technical negotiations, negotiations with immersion in details."

The US held talks with the Russian delegates a day after its officials held separate talks in Riyadh with Ukraine delegates.

Earlier, the US proposed a temporary 30-day halt in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. However, Russia was not fully onboard with the US proposal though Ukraine welcomed it. Following the Trump-Putin call afterwards, the Russian president agreed to halt all its aerial strikes targeting the energy infrastructure of Kyiv.

In the meeting held with US officials on Monday, Kyiv planned to hand over the list of energy sites off-limits to Russia. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he would also like to see sites like railways and ports protected.

Meanwhile, Peskov ruled out any current plans for US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to speak over the ceasefire talks.

Peskov also added that there are no plans to hold a three-way meeting between Russia, the US and Ukraine.

Senior Russian lawmaker Grigory Karasin, who was part of the talks on Monday, said that the conversation was very "interesting, difficult, but quite constructive."

Though Moscow's and Washington's positions don't always align, the two parties are looking forward to cooperate.
The good relations between Belarus and Azerbaijan will contribute to the further expansion of bilateral relations, said President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko in a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports.

"I cordially congratulate you on the wonderful holiday of Novruz, symbolizing the awakening of nature, the beginning of a new phase of life, and belief in a better future.

I am confident that the existing friendly relations between Belarus and Azerbaijan will contribute to further expanding bilateral relations in all areas for the benefit of the peoples of both countries," President Lukashenko said.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, March 25. The Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Asad Majeed Khan, and the Minister of Transport of Tajikistan, Azim Ibrohim, discussed enhancing transport corridors in the region, Trend reports via ECO.

During the meeting in Dushanbe, the sides noted Tajikistans geostrategic role in fostering regional connectivity and emphasized the importance of stronger political ownership to fully unlock the regions potential. The discussion highlighted the need for enhancing transport corridors, including rail and road, with a focus on the increasing role of digitalization in the transport sector.

Minister Ibrohim referred to the ECO region as being home to international transit corridors, which he said reflects the potential of this organization.

He also introduced the nearly established Regional Centre for Transport Diplomacy at the Ministry of Transport, which provides digital services for national and international transport companies.

The ECO was established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan, and Turkiye with the goal of promoting economic, technical, and cultural cooperation among its member states. On November 28, 1992, seven additional countriesAfghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistanjoined the organization, bringing the total number of member countries to 10.
Seven Indians, including two from Tamil Nadu and Kerala each, have been kidnapped by pirates off the West African coast after boarding a bitumen vessel 'BITU RIVER' en route to Douala in Cameroon. The Panama-flagged bitumen tanker was operated by Rubis Asphalt which sources bitumen at the refinery and distributes it across West and Central Africa.

The first hint of the kidnap came a week ago when reports emerged that the vessel was boarded by unauthorised people approximately 40 nautical miles southeast of Santo Antonio do Principe, on the island of Principe in the island nation of Sao Tome and Principe off the west coast of Central Africa, according to The Maritime Executive.

According to reports, the Panama-flagged tanker BITU RIVER was boarded by three armed men off the coast of Sao Tome and Principe, West Africa. The vessel was en route from Lome to Douala at the time of the attack. Authorities are investigating, with no reported injuries.



Piracy pic.twitter.com/P0PvDEiEYq  MarineTraffic (@MarineTraffic) March 18, 2025

Though it was initially claimed that the "unauthorized persons" had cleared the vessel and that it was proceeding to Libreville in Gabon for refuge, the family members of the sailors claim they received intimation that the vessel remains under captivity.

As per security reports, three persons boarded the vessel and shots were fired. However, the company security officer later claimed the pirates had departed.

However, the wife of one of the captives, a 35-year-old man from Kerala's Kasaragod district, has written to the Shipping Minister of India seeking to ensure efforts for his safe release. Vani, wife of Rajeendran Bhargavan, has claimed that she lost contact with Rajeendran on March 17 and believes the safety and lives are at risk. "We seek the highest level of governmental action to bring them back home safely. I, along with my family, look forward to your urgent response and assistance in this matter, she wrote in the letter.

The representatives from the company informed Rajeendrans wife about the abduction on March 18.

Lakshmana Pradeep Murugan, another sailor from Tamil Nadu's Theni, has also alerted the government. Other Indians onboard include Satishkumar Selvaraj from Karur, Sandeepkumar Singh from Bihar and 3 people from Romania.

The West African region has turned into a new stomping ground for pirates in West Africa, according to Martin Kelly, Head of Advisory at EOS Risk Group. He indicates that six vessels have been boarded since January 2024 off Equatorial Guinea and Gabon with 14 crewmembers kidnapped in three pirate attacks.
After the discharge of Pope Francis, the head of his medical team on Tuesday recalled how the doctors' hopes for the pontiff's survival had waned at one point after he came close to death.

Pope Francis, 88, spent over five weeks at Romes Gemelli hospital, where he was treated for severe pneumonia in both lungs. During his stay at the hospital, he suffered four breathing crises. On February 28, the Pope nearly choked on his vomit while he was eating.

Sergio Alfieri, a physician at Rome's Gemelli hospital, in an interview with Italy's Corriere della Sera, said that there was a real risk. We had to choose if we would stop there and let him go, or to go forward and push it with all the drugs and therapies possible, running the highest risk of damaging his other organs."

Pope Francis has made his first public appearance in over a month



He blessed the crowd and spoke to them



He now returns to the Vatican



 pic.twitter.com/BfXOMF7Qks  Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) March 23, 2025

After developing double pneumonia, Pope was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on February 14.

Alfieri recalled that it was the Pope's personal nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, who had instructed the team to continue the treatment and not to give up on him.

Alfieri said the pontiff at one point was fully aware that he might not make it through the night.

However, after a few weeks, Popes health improved with the doctors declaring on March 10 that he was no longer in imminent danger. Before leaving the hospital on Sunday, Pope offered his blessing to the crowd gathered outside the hospital praying for this speedy recovery.

Pope returned to his home Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City. The pontiff has been advised to rest for nearly two months as his body would take time to fully heal.
Dhaka, Mar 25 (PTI) The Bangladesh Army Tuesday dismissed a report published by an Indian media outlet, saying the article claiming an emergency meeting of top army brass was based on "false and fabricated" information.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Bangladesh Army, said the report, titled 'Bangladesh Army Holds Emergency Meeting Amid Possibility of Coup Against Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus,' is a "glaring example of journalistic malpractice."

The ISPR termed it a misleading article based on fabricated information regarding a routine meeting of the Bangladesh Army.

The article "lacks credible sources or any verifiable evidence", it said.

The information presented in the article is entirely unfounded and the claims of an "impending coup" are "entirely deceitful."

It slammed the media outlet for publishing "sensationalist narratives without due diligence or a responsible commitment to journalistic integrity".

According to the ISPR, this is not the first time the media outlet has disseminated "misleading reports" about the Bangladesh Army. A similar report, published earlier this month, was debunked in a rejoinder issued on March 11, the statement added.

The army urged all media outlets to engage in responsible journalism and refrain from publishing unfounded claims that create unnecessary divisions and mistrust between the people of both nations.
Dhaka/New Delhi, Mar 25 (PTI) Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday said Bangladesh was witnessing a "festivity of rumours" against his administration, blaming it on "the defeated force" -- an apparent reference to deposed premier Sheikh Hasinas regime.

"The rumours are big instruments of the defeated forces against the July-August (2024) Uprising," he said in a nationwide televised address on the eve of Bangladesh's 53rd Independence Day on March 26 when the country in 1971 declared independence from the then Pakistan followed by a nine-month Liberation War.

Unlike in past years, there would be no National Day military parade in the capital. District-level parades will take place as usual. Home Ministry Senior Secretary Nasimul Ghani recently said that the country is in a wartime mode.

In his address, Yunus called upon the countrymen to resist the rumour through awareness and greater unity.

He said that as the upcoming election, the date of which is yet to be decided, would come near, the rumours would take more dangerous shape. You all know, who are behind the phenomenon and why they are spearheading these (rumours), he said.

Yunus asked the people to look for the source of the rumour whenever they hear any such misleading gossip instead of ignoring them as many experienced war experts are working round the clock spending unlimited money behind these rumours with their main objective to thwart the July Uprising.

"Our overall unity is severely irritating them. They want to break the unity. You will not even realise their innovative techniques. You do not even understand when you became a pawn of their game, he said.

Yunus added: Always keep in mind we are in a war situation.

The interim government chief did not cite any specific example of such rumours but several of his advisers in the cabinet have said conspiracies were underway at home and abroad particularly using social media platforms to destabilise the government.

Yunus, however, said his administration sought United Nations cooperation to prevent the spread of rumours and disinformation and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who recently visited Bangladesh, assured us of extending the cooperation.

Deposed premier Hasinas regime was ousted in a student-led mass protest spearheaded by now-defunct Students against Discrimination on August 5, 2024.

Yunus, who was in France at that time, flew home and assumed the role of the Chief Adviser of the interim government three days later.

Yunus, whose experiment of poor mens banking earned him the Nobel Peace Prize, was in a protracted row of the past regime for obscure reasons.

Several political parties and analysts said during Yunus past seven-month rule ultraright and Islamist elements created a space in the political arena and they were spearheading a campaign to sideline the forces in favour of the 1971 Liberation War.

Most leaders of the Awami League, which led the Liberation War in 1971, were arrested or on the run at home or abroad to evade trial on charges like mass murders and crimes against humanity in Bangladeshs domestic International Crimes Tribunal.

"Some people, some parties, some groups are trying to make it seem as if 10971 never happened trying to erase it from memory, Secretary-General of ex-premier Khaleda Zias Bangladesh Nationalist Party Mirza Faklhrul Islam Alamgir told a party rally on Tuesday.

"Those who once collaborated in the (Pakistani troops') massacre  those very people  are now speaking louder than ever," he said.

Two months ago, he said in an interview that "I can somehow smell, some quarters are trying to belittle the 1971 (liberation War) while several of his party leaders have spoken in near identical tones in recent months.

Yunus, however, at the onset of his speech, recalled those who sacrificed their lives during the Liberation War, saying March 25 is a day of massacre that remains stigmatised in the history of human civilisation.

"On this night in 1971, the Pakistani occupation forces brutally opened fire on innocent, unarmed and sleeping Bangalees and killed thousands of people. Since March 25, the people of this country had raised armed resistance. Bangladesh became independent through a nine-month war," he said.
President Donald Trump has demanded that his portrait in the Colorado state Capitol be taken down, saying he has received complaints about the image and claiming it was purposefully distorted, which prompted a steady stream of visitors to pose for photos with the painting on Monday.

The portrait was painted during Trumps first term and unveiled in 2019. Colorado Republicans raised more than $10,000 through a GoFundMe account to commission the oil painting by Sarah Boardman, who also produced the Capitols portrait of President Barack Obama.

Trump lauded Obamas portrait, saying he looks wonderful, then suggested that the artist lost her talent as she got older.

In the Sunday night post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he would prefer no picture at all over the one that hangs in the Colorado Capitol.

Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, but the one in Colorado, in the state Capitol, put up by the Governor, along with all other Presidents, was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before, Trump wrote.

The portraits are not the purview of the Colorado governors office, but the Colorado Building Advisory Committee.

Aaron Howe, visiting Colorados state Capitol from Wyoming on Monday, stood in front of Trumps portrait, looking down at photos of the president on his phone, then back up at the portrait.

Honestly he looks a little chubby, said Howe of the portrait, but better than I could do.

I dont know anything about the artist, said Howe, who voted for Trump. It could be taken one way or the other.

Kaylee Williamson, an 18-year-old Trump supporter from Arkansas, got a photo with the portrait.

I think it looks like him. I guess hes smoother than all the other ones, she said. I think its fine.

Boardman did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press, but the artist previously told The Denver Post when the portrait was unveiled that it was important that her depictions of both Obama and Trump look apolitical.

Shelby Wieman, a spokesperson for Polis said in a statement that the governor was surprised to learn the President of the United States is an aficionado of our Colorado State Capitol and its artwork.

We appreciate the President and everyones interest in our Capitol building and are always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience, Wieman continued.

(AP)
An alleged abduction attempt targeting an 8-year-old Jewish girl in her own front yard unfolded on Sunday night, but thanks to swift police action and the tireless efforts of local askanim, authorities arrested 37-year-old Christopher Rosa overnight.

According to police, officers responded to Columbia Boulevard in Waterbury, Connecticut, around 7:45 p.m. after receiving a report of a suspicious vehicle.

Surveillance footage captured a black 2019 Honda Pilot creeping down the street, braking intermittently. Moments later, a young girl in a reddish jacket was seen walking nearby. Authorities say Rosa pulled over in front of the home, got out of his vehicle, and opened his trunk in an apparent attempt to lure the child inside. Sensing danger, the girl immediately ran into her house and alerted her parents.

Her father said that his daughter told him that a man had pulled over, called her toward his car, and then suggested she get into the trunk. At first, she thought he was a delivery driver.

Her father explained that she hesitated because she was accustomed to seeing drivers open their trunks to retrieve packages. It was only when she realized there were no packagesand that the man appeared to be making room for her inside the trunkthat she ran.

Local askanim sprang into action, working through the night to secure surveillance footage, gather leads, and assist law enforcement in identifying the suspect. Their efforts helped police track down Rosa, who was later found at his home and taken into custody.

Rosa now faces charges of first-degree stalking, second-degree breach of peace, and risk of injury to a minor. He was released on a $100,000 bond and was scheduled to be arraigned Monday.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about this incident or any other involving Rosa to contact the Waterbury Police Detective Bureau at (203) 574-6941 or Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (203) 755-1234.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
On the eve of the special election for the open City Council seat representing Borough Park and parts of Flatbush, a large group of Chassidic leaders and community organizations has united behind Simcha Felder, throwing their full support behind his candidacy. A broad coalition of Chassidic leaders and school administrators, calling itself Ichud Kehillos, issued a joint endorsement on Monday, emphasizing the urgency of electing an experienced leader at a time when the frum community faces major challenges.

At this crucial moment, when so many issues affecting our community are at stake, we need the right, experienced leader to fill this seat, the coalition said. Simcha Felder is the only candidate who has the wisdom, experience, and commitment to stand up for us.

The endorsement was signed by Bobov, Bobov-45, Belz, Satmar, Sanz-Klausenburg, Viznitz, Pupa, Skver, Rachmastrivka, Karlin-Stolin, Vien, Krasna, and Aleksander.

Felder, who has served as a City Councilman, deputy City Comptroller, and, for the past 12 years, as a State Senator, has long been a trusted advocate for the community. His supporters point to his staunch defense of religious freedoms, his ability to secure critical funding for local institutions, and his commitment to public safety as key reasons for their endorsement.

His door and heart have always been open to us, standing by our side whenever needed, the statement reads. He has used his influence in the corridors of power to bring significant benefits to our community on all fronts.

Felders deep ties to the community and his ability to navigate city and state politics have resulted in numerous wins, including securing funding for yeshivas, shuls, playgrounds, and security measures, and ensuring that community needs are prioritized in government decisions.

Beyond Ichud Kehillos, Felder has also received the backing of the Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition (FJCC), which urged its members to recognize the significance of this election. In an email to constituents, the FJCC referenced the Ma Nishtana from the Haggadah, asking, Why is this special election different from all other elections?

Simcha Felder has the experience, tenacity, and know-how to represent us at a time when we are under attack by the radical left, the FJCC said.

With turnout expected to be low, Felders supporters are urging the community to show up at the polls in force. Polls are open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and every vote is expected to make a difference in this highly contested race.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz may be on the verge of losing his position after reportedly adding a journalist to a top-secret group chat discussing U.S. military strikes on the Houthis, Politico reports.

According to White House officials, President Donald Trump is expected to make a decision on Waltzs fate within the next day or two.

Half of them are saying hes never going to survive or shouldnt survive, a senior administration official told Politico, referring to multiple staff discussions on Waltzs standing. Two senior aides have suggested that Waltz step down to avoid putting Trump in a bad position.

Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a [expletive removed] idiot, a person close to the administration stated.

The controversy became public after journalist Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic revealed on Monday that he had been mistakenly added to the private chat. The National Security Council later confirmed the authenticity of the messages and announced an internal investigation into how the breach occurred.

The Signal chat group included Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, Mideast Envoy Steve Witkoff, and 12 other officials.

Waltz, a longtime advocate of Israel and a staunch critic of Iran, has been a key proponent of a traditional Republican foreign policy approach, in contrast to the isolationist wing emerging within the administration.

Additionally, Politico reports that Trump may also direct his anger at Vice President Vance for opposing White House policy on Yemen in the leaked discussion or at Defense Secretary Hegseth for allegedly sharing classified details about the impending strikes.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday rejected claims that white South Africansparticularly Afrikaner farmersare being persecuted, calling it a completely false narrative. His comments were a direct response to President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and conservative leaders in the U.S., who have raised alarms over violent attacks on white farmers and government policies targeting land ownership.

Billionaire Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa, has been one of the loudest voices decrying what he describes as state-sanctioned hostility toward Afrikaners. Over the weekend, Musk repeated his warning about what he calls white genocide in South Africa, highlighting a recent political rally where Black leaders sang a song calling for the killing of white farmers.

Very few people know that there is a major political party in South Africa that is actively promoting white genocide, Musk wrote on X, linking to a video of the event.

The concerns voiced by Musk, Trump, and others have translated into direct U.S. policy action. Last month, President Trump issued an executive order cutting U.S. funding to South Africa over its treatment of white minorities, while offering Afrikaners refugee status in America.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed these concerns, calling out the song sung by members of South Africas Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party that includes the lyrics Kill the Boer, the farmer.

This chant incites violence, Rubio wrote Monday night. South Africas leaders must take action to protect Afrikaners and other disfavored minorities. The United States is proud to offer protection to those facing this ongoing threat.

The EFF, which is the fourth-largest political party in South Africa, has a history of inflaming racial tensions and advocating for radical policies, including land expropriation without compensation. While its leaders claim the song is historic and symbolic, Afrikaner advocacy groups have argued that it contributes to a dangerous climate of violence against white farmers.

The South African government has downplayed concerns over white farmers being targeted, insisting that they are merely victims of general crime in the country, which has one of the highest murder rates in the world.

However, farm security groups and Afrikaner organizations say the government is deliberately misrepresenting the numbers. Official police statistics recorded just one farm murder between October and December of last year, yet Afrikaner advocacy groups documented eight in the same periodraising questions about the accuracy of government figures.

South Africas government has been steadily pushing land redistribution policies, which many Afrikaners see as an attempt to strip them of their land without due process. While Ramaphosa claims his administration is acting fairly, Trumps executive order reflects a growing recognition in the U.S. that white farmers are being placed in an increasingly vulnerable position.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, March 25. The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is ready to closely collaborate with the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan to advance the regional industrialization agenda, Asad Majeed Khan, the Secretary General of the ECO, said, Trend reports via the organization.

The ECO's Secretary-General made the remark during the meeting with the Minister of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan, Sherali Kabir, in Dushanbe.

In the course of the meeting, Minister Kabir reaffirmed Tajikistan's strong support for ECO initiatives and emphasized the importance of enhancing regional cooperation within the ECO framework, particularly in the industrial sector, with a focus on integrating new technologies.

In turn, Khan briefed the Tajik minister on key upcoming ECO Ministerial Meetings in the fields of Trade, Finance, Tourism, and Transport. He also mentioned the 17th ECO Summit, which is set to be held in Azerbaijan on July 3-4, 2025.

Highlighting industrialization as a key priority for the ECO, Khan noted that this priority aligns closely with Tajikistan's national development strategy.

The ECO was established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan, and Turkiye with the goal of promoting economic, technical, and cultural cooperation among its member states. On November 28, 1992, seven additional countriesAfghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistanjoined the organization, bringing the total number of member countries to 10.
The Trump administrations top intelligence officials face Congress this week to offer their first testimony in office about the threats facing the United States and tackle urgent questions about the security breach that unfolded when war plans were mistakenly leaked to a journalist.

FBI Director Kash Patel, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard are among the witnesses who will appear Tuesday before the Senate Intelligence Committee and Wednesday before the House Intelligence Committee in back-to-back hearings.

Tuesdays hearing will take place one day after news broke that several top national security officials in the Republican administration, including Ratcliffe and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, texted war plans for military strikes in Yemen to a group chat in a secure messaging app that included the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic.

The text chain contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Iran-backed Houthi-rebels in Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing, Goldberg reported. The strikes began two hours after Goldberg received the details.

Horrified by the leak of what is historically strictly guarded information, the top Democrat on the House intelligence panel, Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, said he will be demanding answers in the hearing, as will others.

The annual hearings on worldwide threats will offer a glimpse of the Trump administrations reorienting of priorities, which officials across agencies have described as countering the scourge of fentanyl and fighting violent crime, human trafficking and illegal immigration.

Former FBI Director Christopher Wray routinely has said he is hard-pressed to think of a time in his career when the United States faced so many elevated threats at once, but the concerns he more regularly highlighted had to do with sophisticated Chinese espionage plots, ransomware attacks that have crippled hospitals and international and domestic terrorism.

We have to change to the dynamic threat landscape that is changing constantly not just in America but abroad, Patel said in a Fox News interview that aired Sunday night, citing the elevated threat from narco-traffickers. But, he added, were not going to forget or ignore national security  never.

The hearings are also unfolding against the backdrop of a starkly different approach toward Russia following years of Biden administration sanctions over its war against Ukraine.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed during a lengthy call with President Donald Trump to an immediate pause in strikes against energy infrastructure in what the White House described as the first step in a movement to peace.

(AP)
President Donald Trump on Tuesday downplayed the texting of sensitive plans for a military strike against Yemens Houthis this month to a group chat that included a journalist, saying it was the only glitch in two months of his administration as Democratic lawmakers heaped criticism on the administration for handling highly sensitive information carelessly.

Trump told NBC News that the lapse turned out not to be a serious one, and articulated his continued support for national security adviser Mike Waltz, who mistakenly added the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, to the chain that included 18 senior administration officials discussing planning for the strike.

Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man, Trump said in the NBC interview.

But the use of messaging app Signal to discuss a sensitive operation has opened the administration to blistering criticism from Democratic lawmakers who expressed outrage at the White Houses and senior administration officials insistence that no classified information was shared. Senior administration officials have struggled to explain why the publicly available app was used to discuss such a delicate matter.

One Democrat calls the mistake an embarrassment

One participant in the Signal chat, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, acknowledged during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday that she was traveling overseas during the exchange. She wouldnt say whether she was using her personal or government-issued phone because the matter is under review by the White House National Security Council.

Both Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who also was a participant in the Signal exchange and also testified at Tuesdays intelligence hearing, faced blistering criticism from lawmakers.

This is an embarrassment, said Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Georgia Democrat. This is utterly unprofessional. Theres been no apology. Theres been no recognition of the gravity of this error.

In the run-up to his 2016 election victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton, Trump urged criminal prosecution of the former secretary of state for communicating about classified information with her aides on a private email server she set up. The matter was investigated, but the FBI ultimately recommended against charges. None were brought.

Clinton was among Democrats this week to criticize Trump administration officials use of Signal.

You have got to be kidding me, Clinton said in an X post that spotlighted The Atlantic article.

Trump also faced charges for mishandling classified information at his Mar-a-Lago resort following his first White House term. Those charges were later dismissed.

Administration says Democrats shouldnt be outraged

But on Tuesday, top administration officials were insistent the Democratic outrage about the matter was misplaced.

On Capitol Hill, Ratcliffe and Gabbard told lawmakers that no classified information was included in the texts about U.S. attack plans in the message chain.

Democrats pushed back, saying the leaked military plans show a sloppy disregard for security, but Ratcliffe insisted no rules were violated.

My communications to be clear in the Signal message group were entirely permissible and lawful and did not include classified information, Ratcliffe told lawmakers in the hearing that was supposed to be focused on global security threats.

Facing heated questions from Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, Gabbard said theres a difference between inadvertent releases of information and intentional leaks. There was no classified material that was shared, Gabbard said.

Warner, though, said the lapse in security could have cost lives.

If this information had gotten out, American lives could have been lost. If the Houthis had this information they could reposition their defensive systems, Warner said.

In response to questions from Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, Gabbard and Ratcliffe said they would participate in an audit looking into administration officials use of Signal. Wyden said the matter must be investigated.

Im of the view that there ought to be resignations, Wyden said.

FBI Director Kash Patel, appearing with Ratcliffe and Gabbard at the hearing, said he was only recently briefed on the Signal chat matter and doesnt have an update on whether the FBI has opened an investigation into it. Warner asked for an update by the end of the day.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in his first comments on the matter on Monday, attacked the journalist who received the messages, Goldberg, as deceitful and a discredited so-called journalist while alluding to previous critical reporting of Trump from the publication.

Nobody was texting war plans and thats all I have to say about that, Hegseth said in an exchange with reporters on Monday.

Examining the security of Signal

Signal is an app that can be used for direct messaging and group chats as well as phone and video calls. It uses end-to-end encryption for its messaging and calling services that prevents any third party from viewing conversation content or listening in on calls.

In other words, messages and calls sent on Signal are scrambled; only the sender and recipient at each end will have the key to decipher them.

Signals encryption protocol is open source, meaning that its freely available for anyone to inspect, use or modify. The encryption protocol is also used by another popular chat service, social media company Metas WhatsApp platform.

Government officials have used Signal for organizational correspondence, such as scheduling sensitive meetings. But in the Biden administration, people who had permission to download it on their White House-issued phones were instructed to use the app sparingly, according to a former national security official who served in the administration.

The official, who requested anonymity to speak about methods used to share sensitive information, said Signal was most commonly used to notify someone that they should check for a classified message sent through other means.

The use of Signal became more prevalent during the last year of the Biden administration after federal law enforcement officials warned that China and Iran were hacking the White House as well as officials in the first Trump administration, according to the official.

Sen. Angus King, a Maine Independent, questioned Ratcliffe and Gabbard over their assertion that no classified information was included in the chat.

Its hard for me to believe that targets and timing and weapons would not have been classified, he said.

(AP)
The Trump administration can stop approving new refugees for entry into the U.S. but has to allow in people who were conditionally accepted before the president suspended the nations refugee admissions system, an appeals court ruled Tuesday.

The order narrowed a ruling from a federal judge in Seattle who found the program should be restarted.

The three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the president has the power to restrict people from entering the country, pointing to a 2018 Supreme Court ruling upholding President Donald Trumps ban on travel from several mostly Muslim countries during his first term.

Refugees who were conditionally approved by the government before Trumps order halting the refugee program should still be allowed to resettle, the judges found.

The panel ruled on an emergency appeal of a ruling from U.S. District Judge Jamal Whitehead who found that the presidents authority to suspend refugee admissions is not limitless and that Trump cannot nullify the law passed by Congress establishing the program.

Whitehead pointed to reports of refugees stranded in dangerous places, families separated from relatives in the U.S. and people sold all their possessions for travel to the U.S. that was later canceled.

Melissa Keaney, an attorney with the International Refugee Assistance Project, applauded the portions of the order that the appeals court left intact.

We welcome this continued relief for tens of thousands of refugees who will now have the opportunity to restart their lives in the United States, she said.

Whitehead, who was nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden, also issued a second order Tuesday blocking the cancellation of refugee resettlement contracts.

Trumps order said the refugee program  a form of legal migration to the U.S. for people displaced by war, natural disaster or persecution  would be suspended because cities and communities had been taxed by record levels of migration and didnt have the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees. There are 600,000 people being processed to come to the U.S. as refugees around the world, according to the administration.

The Justice Department argued that the order was well within Trumps authority.

Despite long-standing support from both major political parties for accepting thoroughly vetted refugees, the program has become politicized in recent years. Trump also temporarily halted it during his first term, and then dramatically decreased the number of refugees who could enter the U.S. each year.

The plaintiffs said the president had not shown how the entry of these refugees would be detrimental to the U.S.

They include the International Refugee Assistance Project on behalf of Church World Service, the Jewish refugee resettlement agency HIAS, Lutheran Community Services Northwest, and individual refugees and family members. They said their ability to provide critical services to refugees, including those already in the U.S., has been severely inhibited by Trumps order.

(AP)
The United States said Tuesday that it had reached a tentative agreement for Ukraine and Russia to stop fighting and ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea in separate talks with both sides, but many details were unresolved, and the Kremlin made the deal conditional on lifting some Western sanctions.

The announcement was made as the U.S. wrapped up three days of talks with Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Saudi Arabia on prospective steps toward a limited ceasefire.

While a comprehensive peace deal still looked distant, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the talks as the early right steps toward a peaceful settlement of the 3-year-old war.

These are the first steps  not the very first but initial ones  with this presidential administration toward completely ending the war and the possibility of a full ceasefire, as well as steps toward a sustainable and fair peace agreement, he said at a news conference.

U.S. experts met separately with Ukrainian and Russian representatives in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, and the White House said in separate statements after the talks that the sides agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.

Details of the prospective deal were not released, but it appeared to mark another attempt to ensure safe Black Sea shipping after a 2022 agreement that was brokered by the U.N. and Turkey but halted by Russia the next year.

We are making a lot of progress, U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday at the White House. So thats all I can report.

When Moscow withdrew from the shipping deal in 2023, it complained that a parallel agreement promising to remove obstacles to Russian exports of food and fertilizer had not been honored. It said restrictions on shipping and insurance hampered its agricultural trade. Kyiv accused Moscow of violating the deal by delaying the vessels inspections.

After Russia suspended its part of the deal, it regularly attacked Ukraines southern ports and grain storage sites.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in televised comments Tuesday that Moscow is now open to the revival of the Black Sea shipping deal but warned that Russian interests must be protected.

In an apparent reference to Moscows demands, the White House said the U.S. will help restore Russias access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.

Kirill Dmitriev, Putins envoy for investment and economic cooperation, hailed the results of the talks as a major shift toward peace, enhanced global food security and essential grain supplies for over 100 million additional people.

Trump is making another global breakthrough by effective dialogue and problem-solving, he said on X.

But the Kremlin warned in a statement that the Black Sea deal could only be implemented after sanctions against the Russian Agricultural Bank and other financial organizations involved in food and fertilizer trade are lifted and their access to the SWIFT system of international payments is ensured.

The agreement is also conditional on lifting sanctions against Russian food and fertilizer exporters and ships carrying Russian food exports, and removing restrictions on exports of agricultural equipment to Russia, the Kremlin said.

The deal emphasized that inspections of commercial ships would be necessary to ensure they arent used for military purposes.

Zelenskyy bristled at Russias demand for lifting sanctions, saying that doing so would weaken our position.

Still, Trump indicated that the U.S. was considering the Kremlins conditions: Were thinking about all of them right now.

A senior official in the Ukrainian government, who is directly familiar with the talks and spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, said the Kyiv delegation does not agree to lifting sanctions as a condition for a maritime ceasefire and that Russia has done nothing to have sanctions rolled back. The official also said European countries are not involved in the sanctions discussions, despite sanctions being within the European Unions responsibility.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov warned that Kyiv would see the deployment of Russian warships in the western Black Sea as a violation of the commitment to ensure safe navigation there and a threat to the national security of Ukraine.

In this case, Ukraine will have full right to exercise right to self-defense, he said.

Halting strikes on energy infrastructure

The White House also said the parties agreed to develop measures for implementing an agreement reached in Trumps calls with Zelenskyy and Putin to ban strikes against energy facilities in Russia and Ukraine.

The talks in Riyadh, which did not include direct Russian-Ukrainian contacts, were part of an attempt to work out details on a partial pause in the fighting in Ukraine, which began with Moscows invasion in 2022. It has been a struggle to reach even a limited, 30-day ceasefire, which both sides agreed to in principle last week, even while continuing to attack each other with drones and missiles.

After the Trump-Putin call last week, the White House said the partial ceasefire would include ending attacks on energy and infrastructure, while the Kremlin emphasized that the agreement referred more narrowly to energy infrastructure. Tuesdays White House statement reverted to the wording used by Russia.

The Kremlin, which has accused Ukraine of breaching the agreement to stop strikes on energy infrastructure, on Tuesday published a list of energy facilities subject to a 30-day halt on strikes that began on March 18. It warned that each party was free to opt out of the deal in case of violations by the other side.

Zelenskyy noted that significant uncertainties remain.

I think there will be a million questions and details, he said, adding that the responsibility for potential violations also remains unclear.

He emphasized that Ukraine is open to a full, 30-day ceasefire that Trump has proposed, reaffirming that Kyiv is ready to quickly move toward an unconditional ceasefire.

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.

The U.S. noted its commitment to helping achieve the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.

In other developments, the Russian Foreign Ministry warned in a statement that Moscow would not agree to surrender control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europes largest, that Russia captured in the opening days of the invasion.

Trump suggested that Zelenskyy consider transferring ownership of Ukraines power plants to the U.S. for long-term security, while the Ukrainian leader said they specifically talked about the Zaporizhzhia plant in last weeks call.

Cross-border strikes continue

The Russian Defense Ministry said Ukraine had continued deliberate drone strikes against Russias civilian energy facilities.

One Ukrainian drone attack on Monday knocked down a high-voltage power line linking the Rostov nuclear power plant with the city of Tikhoretsk in the southern Krasnodar region, the ministry said, adding that another drone strike had occurred on the Svatovo gas distribution station in the Russia-occupied Ukrainian region of Luhansk.

Russian state media said six people, including three Russian journalists, died Monday after a Ukrainian missile strike in the Luhansk region.

In Ukraine, the number of people injured Monday in a Russian missile strike in the city of Sumy rose to 101, including 23 children, according to the Sumy regional administration.

The strike on Sumy, across the border from Russias Kursk region that has been partially occupied by Ukraine since August, hit residential buildings and a school, which had to be evacuated.

Meanwhile, Russia launched a missile and 139 long-range drones into Ukraine overnight, according to the Ukrainian air force. Those attacks affected seven regions of Ukraine and injured multiple people.

(AP)
The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah met last Thursday to discuss the issue of voting in the ongoing World Zionist Organization elections. On Tuesday, they issued the following Kol Korei:

The Zionist Movement was founded 125 years ago with the purpose of uprooting the foundations of Judaism and redefining the Jewish people from a kingdom of servants of Hashem and a holy people into a nation like all nations who are defined by a common language, culture and land.

Since, in the words of Rav Saadiah Gaon, our nation is a nation by virtue of its Torah, the gedolim of that time did battle with this movement and ruled that anyone who considers himself a Jew may not support it in any manner whatsoever. It was for this reason that they founded Agudath Israel-to prevent those who keep Torah and mitzvos from joining the Zionist Movement.

Accordingly, the geonim the Chofetz Chaim, the Gerrer Rebbe, Rav Chaim of Brisk, the Chazon Ish, Rav Aharon Kotler, the Steipler, Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach, and Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, zichronam livracha, forbade joining the World Zionist Organization (WZO).

The Chofetz Chaim ruled that it is forbidden to join it even if this means a third of the yeshivos will have to close. Similarly, recently, a ruling forbidding this was issued by Maran Hagaon Rav Dov Landau shlita.

About five years ago, a party of Chareidim was formed with the declared intention of joining the WZO. It claimed that thereby they would rescue the holy sites of Israel from control by the Reform and that they would thereby direct monies of the WZO to the yeshivos.

Now that at this time there are elections for the WZO, this party and others similar to it have embarked on a massive advertising campaign to convince those committed to Judaism to vote for them to become delegates to the WZO.

In order to vote, the voter must sign a declaration that he accepts upon himself the Zionist ideology, which does not recognize that the Jewish people is bound by the Torah. He also declares that he encourages participation in the IDF and that those who are exempt must serve in Sherut Leumi (national service for both yeshiva students and Chareidi girls).

The elected delegates become full partners in the activities of the WZO, including those that negate the Torah. We therefore believe that it is forbidden to vote in these elections.

We do not intend to impugn the honor of those distinguished rabbis who ruled that it is permitted. However, our opinion is that there are many issurim (prohibitions) involved here, both for the voters and for the delegates. 1) There is a massive chillul Hashem in declaring acceptance of the heretical ideas of the WZO. 2) It is forbidden to agree to matters that the Torah leadership of Klal isroel says are forbidden. 3) For elected delegates, it is forbidden to join a group of sinners (hischabrus Ireshaim). 4) The voters are mesayeia lidei aveirah (assisting in the commission of aveiros). It is obvious that the money hoped to be received from the WZO does not justify these serious issurim.

We have therefore agreed to publicize our opinion that it is forbidden to vote for any party in the election for the WZO. We firmly believe that Hashem has ways to preserve Torah amongst the Jewish people without resorting to violating these issurim.

We wish a pleasant life replete with the blessings promised to those who sanctify the Name of Hashem and who abstain from joining with those who uproot Judaism.

May Hashem grant that we merit speedily that the entire Jewish people return to their Father in Heaven and accept upon themselves the yoke of Torah. May all of us together become a kingdom of servants of Hashem and a holy people.

For this we have gathered and agreed upon on Thursday, the 20th of Adar, 5785.

Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
As the busy Pesach travel season approaches, Chaim VChessed urges all travelersboth those leaving Israel and visitors arriving for the holidayto take note of several critical travel guidelines to avoid complications and ensure a smooth journey.

Travelers Insurance: A Must-Have

One of the most crucial travel precautions is securing proper travelers insurance. This applies to:

 Residents of Israel who are traveling abroad

 Visitors coming to Israel for Pesach

Each year, Chaim VChessed is called upon to assist travelers who either failed to obtain insurance or misunderstood their coverage, only to find themselves in a medical crisis without proper coverage. Travelers must verify that their insurance policy provides adequate medical and emergency coverage for the duration of their trip. If you do not have appropriate coverage, make sure to contact a qualified insurance agent before travel.

Israeli Customs: What You Need to Know

Travelers should be aware of Israels customs regulations, which have become more strictly enforced in recent months. Below are some important rules to bear in mind.

 Declaring Valuables  Those leaving Israel with valuables they plan to bring back can declare them before departure to avoid taxation upon return. This is done at the Customs office located after passport control.

 Bringing Goods into Israel  Only $200 worth of gifts may be brought into the country tax-free. Any amounts above $200 must be declared at the Red Lane in the airport, and will be taxed.

 Personal Items  The passengers personal effects, such as a reasonable amount of clothing for the passenger, are generally exempt from taxation. However, expensive items, such as jewelry or watches, may be flagged for taxes and fines if noticed by customs officials. Additionally, there is no exception for goods brought for family members or others, beyond the $200 limit. Read more about Customs scrutiny here.

 Food Restrictions  Visitors should note that fresh food imports are highly regulated. For instance, travelers may only bring up to 15 kg of food, including no more than 5 kg of any specific type of food. Furthermore, raw meats are not permitted to be brought into the country whatsoever. Only 3 kg of cooked meat is allowed.

Image resource Depositphotos

ETA Requirement

Since January 1, Israel has required that all travelers heading to the country submit an ETA-IL, an electronic travel application. While Israelis with valid Israeli passports are exempt from this requirement, several other categories of travelersincluding student visa holders and permanent residents of Israelare also officially not required to apply for an ETA. However, airline officials worldwide are often unfamiliar with these exemptions. This has resulted in airlines erroneously demanding an ETA from travelers who should not need one.

To avoid unnecessary complications, Chaim VChessed advises that all travelers without an Israeli passport apply for the ETA IL, regardless of their official exemption status. This proactive step can help ensure a smooth travel experience and prevent delays at check-in. It should be noted that Israeli citizens who do not hold a valid Israeli passport are required to obtain an ETA, as well.

Apply for an ETA at this link. For further details see here.

For further clarifications or inquiries, travelers are encouraged to contact Chaim VChessed before their trip. Adhering to these guidelines will help ensure a smooth and stress-free travel experience this Pesach season.
Amid the growing tensions along the northern border, IDF forces are currently conducting extensive security operations in southern Syria, aiming to prevent the establishment of hostile Iranian elements.

As part of the operation, the Air Force has carried out several strategic airstrikes, while ground troops and armored units have conducted ground raids to locate weapons and suspicious structures.

According to a Walla report, a senior security official claims that the current goal is to ensure that no threat develops and reaches a stage where it endangers Israels security. We are acting to maintain our operational freedom and prevent hostile Iranian organizations from exploiting the chaos in the region for their benefit.

In the past week, IDF forces raided a structure in the heart of a Syrian village, where weapons and military equipment were found. The property owner was arrested and transferred for questioning.

It was also reported that in recent months, several Syrian civilians who acted in service of hostile elements to Israel have been arrested. Some were released after questioning and warning, while others were transferred for further security processing.

According to the policy of Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, Israel views southern Syria as a full security zone, where it is necessary to operate with full operational freedom to protect the Israeli homefront  not at the Israeli border but deep within Syrian territory before threats establish themselves or attempt to attack.

We dont wait for threats to approach the border  we address them while they are still in the stages of organization, a senior official clarified.

There are various hostile entities currently engaged in rehabilitation, trying to examine the territory and Israeli determination, he said. We have no intention of relinquishing security over the area in light of the lessons from October 7.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
The IDF on Monday night eliminated Hassan Kamal Halawi, the commander of Hezbollahs Southern Fronts anti-tank unit, the IDF spokesperson announced on Tuesday.

The elimination was carried out via an airstrike in the Nabatieh area of southern Lebanon.

During the war, Halawi advanced numerous terror attacks against the State of Israel and was responsible for supplying weapons to Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon and facilitating their movements.

In recent months, even after the ceasefire began, Halaoui continued to engage in advancing terror attacks against Israeli civilians.

The terror activities carried out by Hassan Kamal Halawi posed a threat to the State of Israel and its citizens, the IDF spokesperson said.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
An Israeli Air Force aircraft on Tuesday morning attacked a group of terrorists who opened fire at IDF forces in the southern Syrian Golan Heights, the IDF spokesperson said.

According to reports in Syria, at least five people were killed as a result of the attack, which was carried out by a drone.

BChasdei Hashem, the IDF troops that came under fire were not injured.

Syrian media reported that the incident occurred in the village of Kuwaya in the Daraa region, an area that was controlled by a radical ISIS faction in the past.

Additionally, overnight Monday, the IDF attacked Assad-era military sites deep inside Syria, following a similar attack overnight Friday.

IDF forces are currently conducting extensive security operations in southern Syria, aiming to prevent the establishment of hostile Iranian elements.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
March 79, 2025  It was a weekend that people will be talking about for a long time. Over 800 strong came together from around the country for the 2025 Project Inspire Convention, and what they experienced was more than just inspiration  it was a powerful push to get involved.

With the theme Unlock the Inspired YOU, the convention reminded everyone that we all have something to give. It encouraged each person not only to grow in their own Yiddishkeit, but to take the next step: to raise their hand and join the mission. The goal wasnt just about reaching out to less affiliated Jews  it was about getting involved in the many initiatives Project Inspire has built to make that outreach possible.

The convention opened with a meaningful and heartfelt talk from Rabbi Yechiel Spero, who spoke during Friday night davening and set the tone for the weekend ahead.

Friday night continued to build with a powerful address from Rabbi Aaron Kotler, President Emeritus of Beth Medrash Govoha, moved the crowd with heartfelt stories about his father and grandfather, Rav Shneur ztl and Rav Aharon ztl. Long before kiruv became mainstream, they were already reaching out in their daily lives, helping others connect to Torah with love and care. Rabbi Kotler reminded us that the responsibility to inspire others is part of our mesorah  and now, we have practical tools to do it.

Motzei Shabbos brought some of the most powerful and emotional moments of the convention. Rabbi Berel Lazar, Chief Rabbi of Russia, delivered a deeply stirring address that left a lasting impression. He asked: If you had the chance to save the Bibas children, wouldnt you do everything you could? Then he made the connection  there are so many Jews out there who dont know what theyre missing. The Rambam calls them tinok shenishba, like hostages who never had the chance to know Torah. Rabbi Lazars message was clear: Project Inspire is giving us real ways to help bring them back. But we have to say yes.

Following him, Rabbi Chaim Sampson, Founding Director of Project Inspire, spoke with passion and urgency. He compared our mission to the bravery of soldiers who run into danger to protect us. They risk their lives, he said. Cant we step forward to help another Jew feel connected and proud? His message was clear: This is our chance to show up for Klal Yisrael.

One of the most emotional and memorable moments of the weekend came when Efraim Bibi shared his story. Fifteen years ago, he was sitting on a plane when, as he described it, a scary lady  Mrs. Tzipi Reifer  sat near him and they struck up a conversation. Before the flight was over, she had invited him for Shabbos. That one simple invitation changed everything. Today, hes a husband, a father, and a teacher of Torah. When I see the sparkle in my kids eyes when they learn, he said, I think  what would have happened if not for that one flight? His story brought the audience to tears and reminded everyone that sometimes, all it takes is one person to make a life-changing difference.

Sunday morning, as the weekend drew to a close, Rabbi Shlomo Farhi tied it all together with a powerful and practical message. You dont need to change your life, he said. You just need to live it with purpose. Project Inspire offers real, accessible ways for people to make a difference  from mentoring to Shabbos hosting to community programs and beyond. Everyone can give something, he told the crowd. The question is  whats yours to give?

Throughout the hotel, Project Inspire made it easy for people to take that step. Big signs and staffed tables introduced six powerful initiatives designed to match peoples skills, schedules, and interests. From the moment guests arrived, the question was on everyones mind: Which initiative will I choose? How can I be part of this? By the end of the weekend, hundreds had already signed up  ready to begin their journey.

Yossie Friedman, Executive Director of Project Inspire, summed it up best: This isnt about getting frum people involved in kiruv. Its about realizing this is already your mission  and now were giving you the tools to carry it out. There isnt anyone who can say, This isnt for me.

The Project Inspire Convention wasnt just about getting inspired  it was about taking that inspiration and turning it into action. And for many who were there, that process is already underway.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 25. Uzbekistans Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov met with Pavel Utyupin, Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus, to discuss bilateral and multilateral cooperation, Trend reports.

In a post on his official Telegram channel, Minister Saidov expressed his pleasure at meeting with Utyupin, emphasizing the close collaboration between the foreign ministries of both nations.

He highlighted the importance of ensuring timely and effective implementation of agreements reached at the highest levels of government.

The discussions focused on various aspects of the bilateral agenda, as well as regional and international issues. Saidov noted that the partnership between Uzbekistan and Belarus continues to grow, built on mutual trust, shared interests, and a commitment to achieving practical outcomes.
I run a charity providing equine therapy for people with disabilities, whove experienced trauma and require other additional needs.

Recently, we decided to change our structure from a charity to a community interest company called Delta Blue Unicorns CIC and needed a new bank account.

We chose to set this up with Virgin Money.

However, our current bank Barclays is refusing to release 220,000 held in the account.

This has been going on for two months and we still dont have the money which we need to run the organisation. Please help.

F.D., Banffshire.

Donations: Barclays refused to release 220,000 held in a charity's account when it wanted to restructure

Sally Hamilton replies: Switching bank accounts should be straightforward  even for a voluntary group. But you were asked to jump over hurdle after hurdle just to move the organisations cash out of Barclays  and still it sat on your cash.

You felt your charity, which you work for unpaid and use your own money towards funding, was being held to ransom by the bank, causing hardship to the horses in your care and the beneficiaries of your services.

Maybe Barclays was reluctant to lose you as a customer, but it had a funny way of showing it.

From what you told me it had every chance to retain your business. Last year, you asked the bank if you could adapt your existing account so it could be used with the new structure of your operation, but it took months even to respond to your initial query, by which time you had run out of patience with its poor service and decided to switch to Virgin Money.

Virgin Money also has the advantage of having a branch in your local town  indeed it is the only bank left. This means if you want to visit the bank you can just nip there rather than make a 120-mile round trip to Aberdeen to visit Barclays.

As background, you explained that you wanted to change your organisations structure to a community interest company as it is more appropriate for an equestrian centre with a local focus. When you set up in 1998 this wasnt an option.

Your organisation is funded by donations and fundraising activities such as open days. It also sells branded clothing and the horses can be sponsored for a small annual fee. It charges for classes and courses which can be paid for by those using them or by charities or local authorities.

As well as many volunteers, it also has permanent staff to pay  a key reason you needed to get your new account in order quickly, along with the need to meet frequent vet and feed bills.

You described the excuses made by Barclays as endless, often requiring another form, another signature, another phone call, another branch visit and so on over the past two months. You say you were always polite on the phone, but no one seemed to take ownership of your case.

Nothing moved forward even though you complied with the legal stuff, with both a solicitor and the Office for the Scottish Charity Regulator confirming the transfer is legal. Barclays eventually said it may consider transferring the balance to one of its own bank accounts in the community interest groups name. This vague suggestion was the last straw. You complained to the bank about the whole fiasco but have, so far, not received a response.

You then came to me in the hope I could ride to the rescue.

I contacted Barclays and asked what was holding things up and to please release your funds pronto. Just three days later, it transferred your 220,000 to the Virgin Money account and closed your Barclays one. You were mightily relieved.

Barclays told me it is reviewing its business processes in relation to your case. Despite chasing

Barclays continuously for a full response on what was behind the delays in closing your account, it failed to provide a formal statement by the time of going to press.

Hoover engineer's botched repair caused a flood

We had a Hoover washing machine that was ten months old and needed repair last August. Hoover sent out an engineer who fixed the machine but forgot to reassemble it correctly and, after he had gone and we used it, it flooded our ten-month-old kitchen and newly laid laminate floor.

The engineer came back and admitted his mistake and we started the process to seek costs to put our kitchen back to its former glory. But Hoover, part of the Haier Group, only agreed to meet half the costs and said I should claim the rest on my home insurance. Please help.

C.R., Folkestone, Kent.

Sally Hamilton replies: After seeking two quotes from local tradesmen  as instructed by Hoover  you calculated the cost of repairing the damage to your kitchen and floor would come to about 3,300.

So, you were none too pleased to be fobbed off one month later with a settlement sum of 1,550.

Scam Watch Drivers should beware a scam email impersonating the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, consumer site Which? warns. Scammers claim that your latest vehicle tax payment was unsuccessful and you must update your payment details as soon as possible via a link. The email says you could be fined up to 1,000 if you dont pay your vehicle tax on time or your details could be passed on to a debt collection agency. Do not click on the link in the email because it leads to a scam website designed to steal your personal information.

You didnt see why you should have to claim on your home insurance, which would incur extra costs for you in terms of the excess you would need to pay towards the claim and probably result in a higher insurance premium at renewal.

I agree. Their appointed engineer slipped up  by his own admission  so the company should pay to fix the damage.

You wrote a sternly worded letter to Hoover with your objections to its full and final settlement.

This appeared to put it in a bit of a spin and, a month later, it came back with an offer of 2,200  again in full and final settlement.

Displeased by this, and not understanding how it worked out its sums, you emailed customer services twice more but got no response. You couldnt find a phone number to discuss it with a human being. What a surprise.

At a loss as to what to do next  and totally fed up with your kitchen now bathed in a nasty odour from standing water under the floor  you came to me.

I contacted Haier and repeated your objections to its settlement. I am pleased to say that a week later, after a full review of your case, it had a change of heart and agreed to pay your claim in full. You were delighted.

Straight to the point I give meter readings to my energy supplier EDF by typing them out on the keypad of my phone. But we have recently had to type in letters, too, when giving our details and the readings, which my phone keypad cannot do. The firm said that I should call every two months to give meter readings over the phone instead. I have tried to do this since then but cant get through to anyone. P.C., Bexhill-on-Sea. EDF apologises. It says you have now been billed up to date and it is arranging a smart meter installation appointment for you. *** I bought a Christmas candle from a supermarket in a glass holder with battery-powered lights around it. While lit it exploded, projecting wax and glass around the room and staining our ceiling. The supermarket says that I should have trimmed the wick to prevent this, so has offered just 25  but the label didnt state this. It cost 275 to have my ceiling cleaned and repainted. M.P., Surrey. The supermarket apologises but says that the product has been tested and is safe. *** In October, I got a 445 voucher for an online shop. I put it on to my account and made a couple of purchases bringing the balance to 379. I later tried to make another purchase which was declined as an unauthorised party may have accessed my account. I changed my password and tried to buy it again, but the firm cancelled my order and voided the gift card balance. I was paid 67.49 for the cancelled order, but the remaining amount is still void. A.T, via email. Your gift card balance has been restored.
A hedge fund is considering taking further action against the London Metal Exchange (LME) over a controversial spike in nickel prices three years ago.

Elliott Associates said that the City watchdogs decision last week to fine the exchange nearly 10million over its handling of the scandal vindicated its position.

In March 2022, nickel prices tripled within hours. During the chaos, the LME cancelled billions of pounds worth of trades, triggering legal action from investors who saw their profits wiped out.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on Thursday said the LME had failed to ensure it could deal with severe market stress.

Aggrieved investors, including Elliott, took legal action against the 148-year-old exchange.

Elliott lost its lawsuit against the LME last October and, in January, the Supreme Court did not grant the hedge fund permission to appeal further.

In March 2022, nickel prices tripled within hours. During the chaos, the LME cancelled billions of pounds worth of trades, triggering legal action from investors who saw profits wiped out

But the New York investment firm yesterday said that the FCAs fine confirmed that Elliott was correct.

The LMEs failures caused material financial harm to many investors, including Elliott, a spokesperson said.

Elliott is carefully reviewing the FCAs [decision] and is considering what further action, if any, it may take in this matter.

The nickel pickle began after Russias invasion of Ukraine prompted fears over supply of the metal, which is used in steel production and to make electric car batteries.

While the courts ruled the exchange acted lawfully, the FCA said the 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 said that LME staff took steps to accommodate the increasingly extreme price rises.

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.

LME chief executive Matthew Chamberlain said: We take our responsibilities as a global market operator very seriously and acknowledge that we could have provided a better line of defence.
Sales at Chinese electric car champion BYD have topped $100billion for the first time  overtaking those at rival Tesla.

The Warren Buffett-backed group, which has been dubbed the Tesla killer and is expanding in Europe after dominating its home market, saw revenue jump 29 per cent to $107billion (83billion) last year.

That eclipsed the 75billion raked in by Elon Musk-run Tesla, driven by demand for plug-in hybrid models.

Profits at BYD  which stands for Build Your Dreams  surged 34 per cent to 4.3billion last year as the company sold more than 4m cars.

In comparison, Tesla, which has been damaged by competition from cheaper rivals including the Chinese manufacturer as well as controversies surrounding Musk, suffered a 1 per cent drop in deliveries to 1.8m.

In a further blow, separate research yesterday showed Teslas European sales tumbled 44 per cent last month to lag behind legacy car makers Volkswagen and BMW as well as Chinese rivals.

Accelerating: The Chinese electric car giant BYD is backed by top investor Warren Buffet (pictured)

Musks forays into politics have also dented his popularity among European motorists.

There are also concerns that he is stretching himself too thin after the billionaire  a close ally of Donald Trump  took a government role alongside business interests, such as social media platform X and rocket builder Space X.

And the phasing out of the existing version of Teslas best-selling vehicle, the Model Y, has hurt sales, experts said. BYDs update came just days after the Shenzhen-based company unveiled a new battery system that would allow drivers to recharge their vehicles within five minutes, which sent its shares soaring to a record high.

Teslas shares rose around 10 per cent yesterday on hopes that the US President will narrow the scope of tariffs.

But the manufacturers share price is still down around 40 per cent since hitting an all-time high in mid-December. In the same period, BYDs stock has soared more than 30 per cent.

Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at broker AJ Bell, said BYDs results will have gone down like sour milk with Tesla bosses.

The Chinese car maker was once dissed by Elon Musk as not having a great product, but that product has just scored BYD record sales in 2024, motoring past Tesla, she said.

Figures from research platform Jato Dynamics yesterday showed Tesla sold fewer than 16,000 battery-electric vehicles (BEV) across 25 European Union markets, the UK, Norway and Switzerland last month  down 44 per cent from February 2024.

Its market share in the month fell to 9.6 per cent, the lowest February reading in the last five years.
Accounting giant PwC has been hit with a 4.5million fine for serious failings in its audit of a bank owned by steel tycoon Sanjeev Gupta.

The industry regulator said the Big Four firm breached requirements in six areas when it scrutinised Wyelands Banks 2019 accounts.

The now-defunct bank was founded in 1980 before being acquired by metals magnate Gupta in 2016 and brought into his GFG Alliance group of firms.

An investigation later revealed that the lender had pumped too much depositors money into the Indian-born industrialists other businesses.

Wyelands was then ordered to return the cash to savers in an unprecedented move by the Bank of England and the company was wound up.

Gupta was once dubbed the saviour of UK steel but has since become mired in scandal.

Probe: Wyelands Bank was founded in 1980 before being bought by metals magnate Sanjeev Gupta (pictured)

Authorities are probing GFG Alliance in a long-running fraud and money laundering investigation.

Financing company Greensill, which at one point employed former Prime Minister David Cameron as an adviser, had provided billions of pounds of financing to the group before it collapsed in 2021.

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC)yesterday fined PwC, which had been responsible for auditing the banks accounts.

The watchdog said the audit team did not understand the banks lending or adequately consider the risks posed by its exposure to GFG Alliance companies.

Jonathan Hinchliffe, who led the audit, was fined 55,000, which was reduced to 33,412 for exceptional cooperation. PwCs fine was cut from 4.5million to 2.9million to reflect the companys cooperation with investigators.

Breaches included failing to carry out adequate risk assessments and audits of related party transactions.

FRC deputy executive counsel Claudia Mortimore said: The audit breaches in this case highlight the importance or auditors to have a full understanding of the audited entity and its business.

This is particularly important where there has been a change of ownership and change in the nature and scale of activities.

In this audit, the risks around the Banks membership of and involvement with the GFG Alliance were not properly recognised and considered, despite clear warnings to the bank from the PRA.

This led to a number of serious failings, which had the potential to adversely affect retail depositors.

It comes after former Wyelands chief executive Mark Hunter was last year fined nearly 120,000 by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA).

A spokeswoman for PwC said: We acknowledge and apologies that aspects of this piece of work fell short of the required standards.

Since 2019, we have undertaken a multi-year programme to enhance audit quality and have as a result seen significant changes to our audit practice.

Recent supervision reports reflect the improvement and investment made in audit quality which remains our top priority.
Shells chief executive was paid 8.6million in 2024  and could scoop as much as 15m this year.

Wael Sawan saw his take-home pay rise 9 per cent last year from 7.9million in 2023.

The oil giant has handed him 16.5million since he took the job two years ago and the total could nearly double to 31.5million this year.

The figures were published as Sawan, 50, yesterday unveiled plans to return more cash to shareholders, cut costs and accelerate Shells shift away from green energy.

At an investor strategy update in New York, Sawan yesterday said Shell will halve investment in low-carbon energy from 20 per cent to 10 per cent by 2030.

It comes as the oil and gas major attempts to close its valuation gap with American rivals Chevron and Exxon Mobil.

Pay hike: Shell boss Wael Sawan (pictured) has unveiled plans to return more cash to shareholders, cut costs and accelerate Shell's shift away from green energy

London-listed Shell and competitor BP had previously pivoted away from fossil fuels to focus on the green transition.

The move proved to be unpopular with investors and saw the firms fall behind US-listed oil and gas giants.

In a bid to narrow the gap, Sawan swiftly scrapped the shift to renewables when he took the reins in 2023.

BP was slower off the mark and only ditched its green strategy earlier this year  a delay that has seen it lag further behind Shell.

Shell is already streets ahead of BP in putting clean energy projects at the back of the queue and focusing on fossil fuels, said Russ Mould, investment director at broker AJ Bell.

But environmental campaigners yesterday said Sawans pay was obscene.

Global Witness investigations lead Patrick Galey said: Its maddening to know that Big Oil bosses like Sawan are raking it in as they double down on the oil and gas thats fuelling climate devastation.

Sawan has previously said he will look at all options to boost Shells valuation, including moving its stock market listing to the US in what would be a hammer blow to the City.

The company will increase distributions to shareholders from 30 per cent to 40 per cent of cash flow from operations to between 40 per cent to 50 per cent.

Shell will continue to prioritise share buybacks and aim to pay a dividend of 4 per cent a year. It hopes to slash costs by up to 5.4billion by the end of 2028, having previously targeted 2.3billion in savings by the end of this year.

Shares in Shell rose around 2 per cent to hit a seven-month high of 2805p during trading yesterday, eventually closing at 2765p.

Biraj Borkhataria, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets, said: Its important to take a step back and consider that since new management has come in, Shells share price has outperformed its peer group handily.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. Aleksandr Lukashenko assumed the post of President of Belarus, Trend report citing the website of the President of Belarus.

The inauguration ceremony took place in the Hall of solemn ceremonies, the largest in the Palace of Independence.

More than 1,100 people were invited to the ceremony.

First of all, I would like to congratulate all of us on the victory in the election. This is a victory not only for me, the President, but also for millions of our Belarusians. On January 26, we overcame another historical crossroads. We passed it confidently and wisely, without turning off the road we have been walking for a third of a century. This is the way of peace and creation, national unity and patriotism, justice and broad opportunities for everyone - all that we call the state for the people. This is our Belarusian way! - stated Aleksandr Lukashenko at the inauguration ceremony.

Aleksandr Lukashenko expressed gratitude to all the voters for the voices given to him, and for their faith in the principles and values that underlie the achievements of the sovereign Belarus.
This latest collection features Breitlings first exclusive manufacture three-hand movement, the B31.

Austin Butler joins the Breitling Squad as brand ambassador and the face of the new Top Time B31. With his effortless confidence, Butler embodies the energy of Breitlings most free-spirited collection.

This latest Top Time lineup introduces the Caliber B31  the first three-hand manufacture movement designed and developed by Breitling. It is precision with attitude, proving that a great timepiece isnt just about keeping time, but making it count.

Oscar-nominated actor Austin Butler is a defining talent of his generation. He has captivated audiences with breakthrough performances in Elvis, Dune 2, and The Bikeriders. Butlers career has been defined by freedom  choosing his roles, crafting his characters, and collaborating with Hollywoods biggest names. His singular style and fearless approach to his craft resonate with a generation seeking their own moments of freedom.

Austin Butler  Breitling

That spirit makes Butler the perfect match for the new Top Time B31. Butler says, Breitling, for me, is about adventure and pushing the limits of whats possible. The Top Time speaks to the way Ive always wanted to live my life: free and ready to rock n roll. Its a thrill to be part of the squad. Breitling CEO Georges Kern says, I spent time with Austin on the campaign set and was blown away by his dedication and attention to detail. He cares about getting everything just right  something we relate to at Breitling.

TOP TIME B31: For those who set their own pace

Since the 1960s, the Top Time has never been just about keeping time, but also about exploring the world in your way, at your own pace. At the time, Willy Breitlings bold and unconventional chronograph captured the eras free-spirited energy. It symbolized self-expression, offering a break from traditional watch design.

From the start, Top Time was built for speed and style. It became a favorite among motorsport enthusiasts, fashion icons, and even secret agents  James Bond famously wore a Q-modified Top Time in Thunderball (1965). As one of the first chronographs designed to appeal to both men and women, its bold, graphic designs took over magazine pages and the silver screen.

Now, the Top Time B31 reimagines that legacy as a time-only series, breaking from its chronograph roots while staying true to its unconventional spirit. With a classic 38 mm size, it strikes the perfect balance between heritage proportions and modern design  a watch built to fit every wrist and every pursuit.

Top Time B31  Breitling

Behind the collection, the new time-only Caliber B31 represents a return to the fundamentals of watchmaking, delivering robust performance in a sleek, modern form. As the first Breitling- designed and developed manufacture three-hand movement, it builds on the engineering excellence established with the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01  the industry benchmark for chronograph movements introduced in 2009.

This is watchmaking distilled to its essentials  pure timekeeping, easy wearability, and distinct character, says Kern.

With applied indexes on the dial, attention naturally falls to the magnified date aperture. A bright orange seconds hand adds a defining detail across three colorways: white on blue, black on green, and sky blue on white. Staying true to the Top Time design codes  where the chronograph featured a bold tachymeter scale  this three-hand version keeps the focus on minutes and seconds in the contrasting rehaut.

A thin profile was top of mind, ensuring a comfortable fit that hugs the wrist. Two key features make this possible: tapered lugs and the crystal with two curved tiers, refining the profile for a smooth, streamlined look.

Top Time B31  Breitling

The watch pairs with either a perforated leather strap with contrasting stitching, inspired by the collections racing roots, or a three-row stainless-steel bracelet with an asymmetrical center link  a Breitling signature that enhances wrist presence and lends a sportier feel.

Whether taking on the open road or simply enjoying everyday moments, the Top Time B31 delivers back-to-basics, done right.

CALIBER B31: Precision, power, and a new era for Breitling

Four years in the making, the new time-only Caliber B31 brings enhanced reliability in a new 28 mm x 4.8 mm dimension. Its unique architecture incorporates Breitlings instantly recognizable signature components: the free-sprung balance wheel for improved precision, and the skeletonized bidirectional oscillating weight powering the automatic movement. Engineered to impress, these features are visible through the watchs open caseback, with elements finished in Geneva stripes and perlage.

Calibre B31  Breitling

This new automatic caliber reinforces Breitlings reputation as a technical leader. For the production of components, the Breitling Chronometrie relies on its network of trusted suppliers, while movement assembly will be shared by Breitling and on a dedicated line with AMT in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

Like all Breitling manufacture movements, the B31 is a COSC-certified chronometer, ensuring exceptional accuracy. It also undergoes testing equivalent to 16 years of use: 100,000 crown winds, 3,456,000 weight turns, and 60,000 shocks at 500 G, among other extreme challenges. The caliber stays powered for approximately 78 hours off the wrist and comes backed by a five-year warranty.

The introduction of the B31 is a further step in Breitlings evolution toward exclusively offering manufacture movements  its a new caliber for a new era of watchmaking.


Delays in progressing the trial of those indicted for the killing of Private Sean Rooney are simply not acceptable to the Irish Government, Tanaiste Simon Harris has said.

Mr Harris said he would be conveying that message in the strongest possible terms during political meetings in Lebanon.

Private Rooney, 24, from Co Donegal, was killed while on deployment with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) on December 14 2022.

Mr Harris will also visit Irish peacekeepers currently deployed in the country during his trip this week.

The Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs is to stress the need to deliver accountability and justice for the Rooney family.

The trial of those indicted for the killing of Private Rooney was pushed back again in February.

The next hearing is scheduled to take place in Beirut in September.

There are currently 339 Defence Forces personnel serving with the 125th Infantry Battalion based at Camp Shamrock in southern Lebanon.

Mr Harris is set to thank the Defence Forces personnel for their commitment to maintaining peace in the region.

He is also expected to announce increased funding for local community projects.

Speaking to reporters before travelling to Lebanon, the Tanaiste said: I am very much looking forward today to going to Lebanon to meet directly with Irish peacekeepers  339 members of Oglaigh na hEireann who are serving with distinction in a very troubled and difficult part of the world.

I am very proud of Irelands record in peacekeeping over many decades in Lebanon and it is important for me to have an opportunity to thank our troops directly, to hear from them directly and also to have a number of political meetings while there.

I am looking forward to meeting the defence minister and the foreign affairs minister tomorrow where I will have an opportunity to raise the case of Private Sean Rooney.

It is simply not acceptable to the Irish Government that it has taken so long to make progress in relation to the trial of those accused of the murder of Private Rooney and I look forward to conveying that in the strongest possible terms.
Robert 'Roo' Redmond's sister has denied that she had an "agenda" to collect her then-partner Wayne Cooney after he "executed" a 22-year-old father, telling a jury that she did not think he would be capable of carrying out a murder.

Taking the stand at her own trial today, 34-year-old Rachel Redmond told the jury that she didn't know convicted murderer Cooney had committed "any crime at all" when she drove him away from the scene and later checked him into a hotel.

She went on to say she was in love with Cooney and hadn't seen the bad in him but had started opening her eyes when she saw the CCTV footage of the killing.

The prosecution has alleged that the accused woman Ms Redmond (34) drove the shooter - her former partner Wayne Cooney - away from the scene and later checked him into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport on the night of the murder in an effort to help him evade prosecution.

It is the State's case that the accused's older brother Robert Redmond was engaged "in some acrimony" with 22-year-old drug dealer Jordan 'Jordo' Davis, when he was murdered in broad daylight by Cooney, while pushing his four-month-old son in a pram through a lane in Darndale on Dublin's northside.

The jury heard today that Robert Redmond had pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiring together with Wayne Cooney to murder Mr Davis on or about May 22 2019 and was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Rachel Redmond's life-long friend - Stacey Hayes - previously told the trial how she was directed by the accused to a bus stop to collect Cooney, who just minutes earlier had shot drug dealer Mr Davis dead.

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.

Giving evidence today, Tuesday, Ms Redmond told her defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC that she had received a phone call from Wayne asking for a lift but she told him 'no' and to get a taxi. "He said he had no money. I asked Stacey when we were on the phone if she could go and pick Wayne up and she said yes".

Ms Redmond said she had received a phone call from Wayne asking for a lift but she told him 'no' and to get a taxi. "He said he had no money. I asked Stacey when we were on the phone if she could go and pick Wayne up and she said yes".



She said Wayne told her he was at a bus stop at Clarehall and that they had to deviate a bit to collect him.

When it was put to the accused by her counsel that phone records showed she had been on the phone to Wayne for two and a half minutes, Ms Redmond responded: "It was just chit chat, where he was and where to pick him up from".

The accused said she saw Wayne as they approached Clarehall Shopping centre and that she had remarked "there is the eejit up there on the left" before picking him up.

Ms Redmond said she told Wayne there had been a shooting in Coolock when he got into the car and that he had replied "it's a mad place". She said she hadn't found anything unusual about his behaviour and they were dropped near a house on Streamville Road.

Ms Redmond said there wasn't enough room for Wayne to stay at Streamville Road on the night of May 22. She said Wayne had used her phone to book a room at the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport and she had paid for it as she was working at the time.

Ms Redmond said her sister drove her and Wayne to the Clayton Hotel that night, where she used her bank card to pay for the room.

Mr McGinn put it to his client that Wayne was arrested in connection with the murder of Mr Davis a month later. Ms Redmond said she had spoken to Wayne about this. "I didn't think he would be able to do anything like that, I didn't think he would be capable of doing that," she added.

Asked by counsel whether this "thought" had changed, Ms Redmond said it had when she was arrested on suspicion of murder in 2020 and saw the CCTV footage.

"On May 22 2019 when you collected Wayne from the bus stop opposite the shopping centre and dropped him at the hotel, at that stage did you know or believe he had committed any crime at all?" asked Mr McGinn. "No," replied Ms Redmond.

Seoirse O Dunlaing SC, prosecuting, began his cross-examination of Ms Redmond by asking her whether she accepted she must be a very unlucky person because she had picked up her then-partner ten minutes after he committed the murder of Mr Davis. The accused said "yes if you want to put it like that".

The accused denied that she had directed Stacey Hayes where to go that day saying she had asked her friend to pick up Wayne and she had agreed. "This is my story, I'm not lying".

Ms Redmond accepted it was the first time a court and a jury had heard that Cooney stayed at the Clayton Hotel that night as there was no room at Streamville Road. She said she hadn't said this to gardai in 2020 as she was advised by her solicitor to remain silent. She added: "All of this is just unnecessary, I am innocent".

Asked what was unnecessary, Ms Redmond replied: "Me being here, I didn't do anything wrong."

"Are you a victim in all this? asked Mr O Dunlaing, to which the accused said "yes, I am".

Mr O Dunlaing put it to the accused that gardai had shown her CCTV of her checking Wayne into the hotel. "Yes, I hold my hands up to that, that's me," she said.

"You checked him into a hotel on the same day he executed Jordan Davis, when he executed him in a cold-blooded style?" said the barrister. "I just think I shouldn't have been asked these things," she replied.

Counsel asked the defendant whether it was "a major inconvenience" to her. "I shouldn't be here, I was in a relationship with someone who committed a crime," she said. Ms Redmond went on to say she accepted Wayne Cooney had committed the crime and that he had been convicted of the murder of Mr Davis.

She also agreed she had returned from northern Ireland to visit Wayne in prison when she was arrested.

Counsel put it to Ms Redmond that Cooney had been convicted of murder when she had visited him in Mountjoy Prison in August 2022 and was arrested. "I couldn't see him being that kind of a person, I was in love with him, I didn't see the bad in him. When I saw the CCTV that's when I started opening my eyes".

"You are shown the CCTV in August 2020 and two years later you are still visiting Wayne Cooney?" pressed counsel. Ms Redmond said Wayne had no family so she supported him and gave him clothes and money. "I felt sorry for him".

Asked whether she accepted that picking up Cooney ten minutes after the murder and checking him into a hotel was "something that calls for an explanation". Ms Redmond said she had no explanation but she did see it was "completely wrong".

Told by counsel that she had picked up a murderer that day, Ms Redmond said there was no way she would have picked someone up if she knew they had done something like that.

The lawyer asked the accused what she was talking about on the phone to Cooney for 200 seconds after the murder. She said her partner had asked her to pick him up. "That took 200 seconds?" asked counsel, to which Ms Redmond said she didn't know.

She denied that there was anything unusual or suspicious about the manner in which Cooney went into the hotel, hadn't spoken to a single person and then went straight to his room where he spent 11 hours. She said she couldn't give the prosecutor an answer as to why they hadn't walked into the foyer of the hotel together.

In conclusion, Mr O Dunlaing put it to Ms Redmond that at a minimum she believed Cooney had killed Mr Davis and that she had one agenda in mind, which was to pick her partner up after the murder. Counsel told the accused she had later checked Cooney into a hotel to "shield" him from authorities because the murder was committed by him and she knew he had done it. "You're wrong," replied Ms Redmond.

The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of three men and nine women.

READ MORE | PICTURES: Lavish Irish mansion seized by CAB to be auctioned this week for bargain price
Irish language campaigners blamed the DUP for blocking funding to the sector as they staged a demonstration at Stormont.

Around 200 people, many of them school children, took part in the noisy and colourful protest outside Parliament Buildings on Tuesday morning.

The event was the latest protest action in opposition to 820,000 euro (685,245) of funding cuts announced by the cross-border Irish language promotion body Foras na Gaeilge.

The cutbacks are set to affect groups across the island of Ireland that are reliant on funding allocated by the organisation.

Foras na Gaeilge is jointly funded by the Stormont Executive and Irish government, with the former providing 25% of the budget and the latter the remaining 75%.

The current arrangements require this ratio to be maintained, so one administration is unable to provide additional funding unless the other also agrees to increase its contribution.

Irish language campaigners are accusing the DUP of blocking a proposed change to the system that would allow the Irish government to inject added resources to the sector this year, without the requirement for Stormont to follow suit.

The activists claim the DUP is preventing the proposal being discussed at the Stormont Executive.

DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has previously said she can see no reason to change the current funding model, claiming the proposal breaks the balance between contributions from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Tuesdays protest came ahead of another planned demonstration outside the Dail in Dublin on Wednesday.

Last month, Irish language groups took part in strike action over the funding impasse.

The strike involved more than 40 groups on both sides of the border.

Conchur O Muadaigh, who is chair of Belfast-based community and youth organisation Glor na Mona and also advocacy manager with Irish language promotion body Conradh na Gaeilge, was among speakers who addressed the event in front of the steps of Parliament Buildings.

This series of national protests are hugely significant, he said.

They are building on historic strike action which took place across Ireland last month. The Irish language community once again finds itself outside of Stormont calling for change, for respect and for support.

And we know that we will have to stand our ground and continue to agitate and organise until our concerns are adequately addressed.

We know there is a possible solution on the table, developed and agreed by both finance ministers (Stormont and Irish government).

But we also know that the DUP has now blocked that paper from even coming in front of the Executive for consideration at least seven times since October.

That opposition is leaving community groups and organisations under huge financial pressures, at a time where there is additional funds available in the south to address some of these challenges.

That is not a sustainable position for the DUP and we call on them to reconsider their opposition.

Many of the groups here today are gravely concerned about their futures, the future of their schemes and their services, many of which are now in imminent danger.

We all need a solution and we need it now.

Representatives from Sinn Fein, the Alliance Party, the SDLP and People Before Profit attended Tuesdays demonstration.
Interestingly . . .

Mainstream news is downplaying one of the greatest policy blunders in Kansas City history.

To wit . . .

KANSAS CITY MAYOR & COUNCIL THREATEN TO CUT FREEBIE BUS RIDES TODAY OVER THE PROTESTATIONS OF ACTIVISTS!!!

But consider . . .

DON'T FORGET THE FREEBIE CRACKDOWN COMES FROM MANY OF THE POLITICOS WHO ENACTED THE UNSUSTAINABLE POLICY!!!

Translation . . .

Neither Mayor Q nor Council dude Bunch deserve a lot of credit here because they created this crisis and helped to weaken the KCATA.

Accordingly . . .

We almost . . . ALMOST . . . Feel sorry for activists because they're so clueless that they don't understand most of the moving parts of Kansas City transit corruption that funds so many development schemes and political patronage.

And so . . .

We want to share this preview of morning activist outrage recently sent our way . .



UPDATE: Tomorrows committee meeting to discuss the citys proposed plan for transit has been moved up to 9:30 am!!

Feeling unprecedented public pressure from young people with Sunrise Movement KC and workers with @atucomms & @standupkc to fix a transit crisis of their own making, Mayor Q and Council claim to have a deal to fully fund our buses. And now theyre moving meeting times around at the last second.

The funding plan theyre considering will:



 Provide a 6-month temporary funding solution with no clear plan for service beyond October 2025.

 End universal Zero Fare and create the most expensive fare system in city history.

 Lay off 100+ IRIS drivers with NO severance or eligibility for benefits due to illegal independent contractor classification

 Give no guaranteed protections for ATU workers



If leaders refuse long-term investment in buses, young working class people in KC will lose our jobs and futures. Show up and fight for the future of your city.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com screenshot . . .

Developing . . .
Tonight's collection of ALLEGED misdeeds, court cases and even a warning from the Beltway . . .



Check TKC news gathering . . .

FBI Issues Alert on 'Arson, Gunfire, and Vandalism' Targeting Elon Musk's Tesla and EV Owners The ongoing series of domestic terrorism attacks on Tesla dealerships and vehicles across the United States has prompted the FBI to issue a public warning, advising residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

$10,000 worth of equipment stolen from West Bottoms jobsite A local traffic control company said thieves endangered the public after the theft of something you probably see almost every day.

Kansas City man accused of repeated business burglaries charged in Clay County A Kansas City man accused of multiple metro robberies was taken into custody and charged Friday. Hoang Vu Le, 35, faces second-degree burglary in Clay County Court.

Missouri man charged following chase, police shooting on Kansas City's eastside Steven Dockins was injured in the shooting, and suffered a bite from a K9, but is expected to recover.

Man stole $2M in Ponzi scheme from OP investor, others across US A Tennessee man has pleaded guilty to running a Ponzi scheme that victimized people across the country, including the Kansas City metro.

Suspect in theft slammed her vehicle into an Overland Park police officer's car during her getaway A woman slammed an SUV into the driver's side of an Overland Park police officer's vehicle after allegedly stealing from a store.

Fake 911 calls made before thousands stolen from KCK bank in January: affidavit KCK police reported receiving two bogus 911 calls before an armed bank robbery back in January, according to court records.

KHP traffic stop leads to rescue of kidnapped 6-year-old girl The Kansas Highway Patrol said two men were arrested, and a six-year-old girl was found after being reported kidnapped.

KCK police ask for help in locating missing father Police are searching for Brandon Anfinson, 39, of Kansas City, Kansas after police say he disappeared from his home near S. 35th Street and Powell Avenue

Kansas City voters to decide April 8 on sales tax for new jail Kansas City voters will decide on April 8 whether to renew a 1/4-cent public safety sales tax, which would fund a new municipal jail.

Developing . . .
Czapek puts a new spin on the tourbillon regulator

Czapek & Cie introduces the Antarctique Tourbillon, driven by the new in-house Calibre 9 with a flying tourbillon regulator. The watch features a dramatic new guilloche pattern on the dial  the Singularite, and a striking architecture. This launch marks the beginning of the 10th anniversary year since the revival of Czapek & Cie, which coincides with the 180th anniversary of the namesake watchmaking Maison founded in 1845 by Francois Czapek, whose spirit continues to guide the company today.

When Czapek conceived the Antarctique as the quintessentially modern sporty-chic watch, it was always intended as a canvas for creativity, to be constantly revisited and renewed.

Our collectors are always asking us whats next? with the Antarctique, explains Czapek CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel. After the Rattrapante, we decided to take a perhaps unexpected direction: creating a new and sophisticated expression of a two-century-old regulator: the tourbillon. Our starting point was, as always, to play with the clash between legacy and avant-gardism and this new in-house tourbillon calibre is the outcome.

Antarctique Tourbillon Glacier Blue  Czapek

Taking advantage of the form of the new tourbillon, Czapek has introduced a daring movement architecture with slender bridges revealing the beauty of the underlying mechanics and coupled it with a dial that harnesses classical metiers dart in a new and contemporary vortex-style guilloche design.

The new in-house Calibre 9: defined by purity of line

Reflecting Czapeks unwavering pursuit of Beauty, the purity of the mechanism became the main design driver for the new in-house movement, Czapek Calibre 9. The fundamental principle was that that the three key elements  tourbillon, gear train and barrel  should be revealed on the dial side, perfectly aligned on the vertical axis and appearing as airy and light as possible. The open-worked flying tourbillon appears to hover between the main plate and dial, directly connected to the gear train, which floats in the centre of the dial beneath an extremely long and finely curved minutes bridge. The barrel dominates the upper section of the dial, floating in an aperture beneath an open-worked bridge.

Our pursuit of aesthetics drives us to create mechanical beauty, says Xavier de Roquemaurel. Its an iterative process, where changing a line changes both mechanics and aesthetics, which can lead to an intense ping-pong between the constructor-engineer and the designer-artist with me playing the wild card in the middle.

Antarctique Tourbillon caseback  Czapek

The result is amplified by great visual depth, with curves and convex surfaces complemented by slender bridges; all angles are hand-polished and the top arms of the tourbillon cage are satin-polished, creating fascinating plays of light and shadow.

The new calibre also testifies to significant technical prowess from the new geometry for the tourbillon, which dictated a finely machined convex titanium cage, to the anticlockwise crown wheel that required the development of a new proprietary toothing.

Calibre 9 is the first Czapek calibre not only designed, conceived and constructed in-house but also machined mostly in-house. However, as Xavier de Roquemaurel points out, this does not signify a wish for full vertical integration. Emphasising that Czapek will always defend the principle of etablissage, he explains: We want freedom  hence the capacity to produce elements in-house. But we dont want to make everything ourselves; for us, freedom also means the ability to choose and collaborate with the best specialist partners in any given area. That is what enables us to maintain agility and independence. He also points out the invaluable sense of family among the Maisons regular partners. These values are deeply embedded in the philosophy underlying our 10th anniversary celebration and our future, he says.

Antarctique Tourbillon Photon Sphere  Czapek

The mechanics and aesthetics: an immutable bond

To amplify the beauty of the mechanics, Czapek called on Metalem, with whom Czapek has been collaborating since the beginning, to develop a new, trompe loeil guilloche design. The result is a dramatic vortex effect, giving the impression of infinite depth.

Czapek has named the new pattern Singularite  from the astronomical term singularity, meaning those places in the universe where the standard laws of physics break down, making space and time infinite and undifferentiated  best exemplified by black holes.

The pattern may look deceptively simple but is very difficult to execute: unlike a classical guilloche pattern, in which the guillocheur cuts lines at different angles that always start from a single point, in Singularite, the starting point moves with each passage of the lathe.

Enhancing the purity of the mechanical structure and the infinity effect of the guilloche, the hour markers are not set on the dial but are part of the flange. The bridges  including the soaring curve of the gear train bridge  are integrated to the main plate through the guilloche dial plate.

Antarctique Tourbillon Secret Alloy  Czapek

Since its very beginning, Czapek has always liked to offer collectors a certain freedom of personalization, so that they can wear a watch that's just like them. That's why, the Antarctique Tourbillon will be offered in a choice of three dial colours: Glacier Blue, Photon Sphere (a 5N gold hue) and the mythical grey Secret Alloy, a limited-edition of 50 pieces. All iterations will be proposed in stainless steel.

Redesigning the case: an ode to transparency and curves

The case has been redesigned to echo the curvilinear aesthetic of the mechanism and dial. Taking the curved glass box principle of the Antarctique Rattrapante as the starting point, the front and back sapphire crystals have been subtly raised. On the reverse side, this creates the impression that there is no bezel and, indeed, the engravings that would normally appear on a caseback bezel are done inside the crystal by metallisation  executed in mirror style so as to read true from the outside.

To amplify the trompe loeil effect and create the impression that it is floating in the air, the surface of the gold winding rotor is also convex. Moreover, Michele Rothen, Czapeks cherished independent master engraver, hand-engraved it with a black-hole-inspired pattern similar to the guilloche Singularite.

The Antarctique Tourbillon will be offered with the same stainless-steel bracelet as other models in the collection, with a micro-adjustment, a quick-change system and a second rubber strap included.

The Antarctique Tourbillon will be available for pre-order at the brands authorised dealers worldwide, the boutique in Geneva at rue de la Corraterie 18, and at Czapek.com.
All the universal themes contained in the HBO dark comedy The White Lotus are reflected in its cyclical nature, says actress Natasha Rothwell. Her character, the endearing Belinda, who appeared in the first season, when the project was still considered a miniseries, returns alongside a new group of guests for a third season.

01:21 Trailer for 'The White Lotus' Patrick Schwarzenegger with Sarah Catherine Hook and Sam Nivola in a scene from 'The White Lotus.'

For the 44-year-old U.S. actress, one of the key attractions of The White Lotus  which has now become an anthology series  is seeing how it embraces the myth of Sisyphus, the figure from Greek mythology condemned to endlessly roll a heavy boulder up a mountain.

At the start of each season, a group of workers at a luxury hotel greets a new group of guests. Eight episodes later, they bid them farewell and welcome a new set of visitors, regardless of what transpired in between (which is often a lot, even if they are slow-burn plots). As has become tradition on the show, not everyone makes it out alive.

This structure gives the viewer the feeling that theyre only witnessing a part of a story that continues beyond whats shown on screen, says the actress during a break from filming the new episodes in early 2024 in Phuket, Thailand, a location EL PAIS visited at the invitation of HBO.

At the series' inception, Belinda was one of the workers at a lavish Hawaiian resort who couldnt express her true thoughts about the people around her, for fear of losing her job. She was the voice of those who dont have a voice, but without having to say anything, explains Rothwell.

Mike White, the creator of The White Lotus, felt the character still had more to offer. She was the perfect fit to return to the series and maintain the connection to the original story, much like Jennifer Coolidges eccentric Tanya did in the second season.

This time, Belinda arrives at a Thai hotel in a role more akin to that of a guest. Her goal is to observe and take notes on the resorts high standards while preparing to launch her own wellness business something she dreamed of in the first season. This new setting and context allow both the script and Rothwell to explore new facets of the character, who has been an audience favorite from the start.

This time, the characters' conflict arises when they travel to a place where they seek to connect with their spiritual side and, instead, find themselves having to confront their most primal impulses, says White, also during a break from filming.

Rothwell uses a curious metaphor to explain what it was like working with him again: Its like sleeping with your favorite blanket, she says. Its interesting to slip into the same character for a second time, but whats truly a delight is being in the same boat he steers. Hes the most adept at this type of narrative that the series develops: characters rich in emotion, complex stories with nuances and morals. And hes an alchemist of actors; he knows how to create casts with chemistry.

Her co-star Carrie Coon, one of the actresses cast in the third season, gave a description of what it feels like for an actor to reprise the same character. She said its like putting on a wet swimsuit: it fits you, and you start moving. Even though youll feel great, its going to be a little tricky at first, Rothwell recalls.

This season, well see Belinda explore who she is. And that idea of faith and spirituality that permeates the entire season will be reflected in her, says Rothwell. Shes not a new Belinda; shes the same at her core. Because one of the themes of The White Lotus is a reminder that no matter how far you travel, your inner reality remains largely unchanged.

In fact, when you change your surroundings, thats when youre most true to yourself. At least, thats what happened to me, she explains. When I was in my twenties, I spent a whole year in Tokyo. I thought it was going to be great, and that Id escape my problems. But in reality, I felt like a fish out of water, and at the same time, I knew myself better than ever.

Carrie Coon, Leslie Bibb and Michelle Monaghan, in 'The White Lotus.'

I think audiences, in the same way they identified with Belinda in the first season, will see her as a kind of oasis among not-so-nice people. The characters arc is consistent in that sense. Shes a safe place the audience can always lean on, says Rothwell.

For the American actress, the fact that her character incorporates so many new nuances this time around is a blessing: Its not an easy thing to find as a Black woman in Hollywood, where many of our characters are so limited when it comes to showing more complex emotions, she confesses.

For five seasons, she was one of the leads on the HBO show Insecure, playing a hilarious character who took comedy to the extreme. For many industry leaders, it was the only thing I knew how to do. So Mike and The White Lotus saved me in a way, she says.

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Bihar 12th Result 2025 Today: Direct Link to Check

The Bihar Board of Secondary Education (BSEB) has officially confirmed the date and time to release the 12th Intermidiate Result 2025.

Tuesday March 25, 2025 2:30 AM , ummid.com News Network

BSEB Bihar Inter Result 2025: The Bihar Board of Secondary Education (BSEB) has officially confirmed the date and time to release the 12th Intermidiate Result 2025.

The Bihar board said the 12th result of all the three streams - Art, Science and Commerce, will be announced on the same and the same time.

The Intermediate or Class 12 Exam 2025 was conducted by the Bihar Board of Secondary Education (BSEB) from February 01 to 15, 2025.

The board released the Answer Key of the 12th exam on February 28 and asked the candidates to raise objections if any till March 05, 2025.

BSEB Bihar 12th Result 2025 Date

Bihar board declares the 12th result after analyzing the objections raised by the candidates, if any, on the official answer key. And, in an official announcement the board said Bihar 12th result will be announced on:

Tuesday March 25, 2025 at 01:15 PM.

The result will be announced by S Siddharth, Chief Secretary Bihar Education Department.

After the announcement, the result will be available on the websites:

interresult2025.com

interbiharboard.com

Bihar 12th Toppers List 2025

After conducting the intermediate board exams, the Bihar board distributes answer sheets of the students with model answers to different school and college staff for assessment. After assessment of answer sheets and rechecking, temporary merit list is prepared.

The toppers are then called for personal interview. The interview of toppers is conducted by the Bihar board to reassess their academic excellence.

Bihar board started conducting the interview of toppers few years back following the controversies and scams surrounding the 12th Merit List.

Along with the 12th result, Bihar board will also release today the Merit List giving the names of inter toppers. Once declared, the result and merit list will also be available on the official website "biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in".

Earlier, the Bihar board announced to double the prize money for the 12th toppers.

Steps to Check BSEB Class 12 Result 2025

Go to the result website:interresult2025.com or interbiharboard.com Click on the link "BSEB Class 12th Result 2025" Enter your roll number Click on "Get Results" Take a printout

Candidates should note that along with board official websites - onlinebseb.in, biharboardonline.com, biharboard.ac.in and bsebinteredu.in, the Bihar board exam results are also declared on bihar.indiaresults.com - board's partner website to host results.

The result can also be checked via SMS and using Mobile App.

Bihar 12th Toppers List 2024

BSEB 12th Inter exams last year (2024) was held from Feb 1 to 12, 2024 and the result was announced on March 23, 2024.

As many as 11 students of the state were among top 5 in the Science stream, 5 students were among the top 5 list in Arts and 8 students in the top 5 list of Commerce stream in 2024.

Mrityunjay Kumar was the Bihar Inter 2024 Topper in Science. In Arts, the top scorer was Tushar Kumar wheteas Priya Kumari emerged as the topper in Commerce in the 2024 Bihar inter exam.

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The Venezuelan government responded to the new U.S. crackdown on Monday with a message directed at Donald Trump. In a statement from the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, it rejected the 25% secondary tariffs on Venezuelan oil and gas announced by the U.S. president, calling the measure arbitrary, illegal, and desperate. For the Venezuelan government, this move only confirms the failure of all sanctions imposed against our country.

Throughout Trumps two and a half years of confrontations with Venezuela and the broader international community, the government  led by President Nicolas Maduro  had maintained some room for negotiation in its public statements. Trump initially signaled a willingness to engage, sending Richard Grenell to meet with Nicolas Maduro at Miraflores in what appeared to be an attempt at rapprochement. However, relations quickly soured as Trump escalated pressure  revoking the license of U.S. oil giant Chevron (whose deadline to cease operations was extended on Monday until May 27), deporting Venezuelans to El Salvador, and now imposing secondary tariffs.

Any nation that buys oil or gas from Venezuela will face a 25% tariff on any trade they do with our country, Trump said on Monday.

In its statement, Venezuela directly addresses Trump, while also dedicating several paragraphs to accusing the Venezuelan opposition. For years, the fascist right, repudiated by the Venezuelan people, has promoted economic sanctions in the hope of subjugating Venezuela, the statement reads. The government argues that Trumps actions violate international trade norms and vows to take legal action in multilateral organizations to defend itself.

China is the primary buyer of Venezuelan crude oil and gas, followed by Indias Reliance Industries, with whom Venezuela has sought to strengthen trade ties. However, the newly imposed tariffs, along with the potential halt of Chevrons operations, threaten Venezuelas recent recovery in oil production, which had been nearing one million barrels per day after hitting historic lows four years ago. Other key partners include Spain, which continues operations through Repsol under compliance letters issued in the final phase of Joe Bidens sanctions framework in 2024. Other buyers of Venezuelan oil include Cuba, Russia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Dominican Republic.

These secondary tariffs on exports to the United States, which could also affect countries trading Venezuelan crude, echo the secondary sanctions Trump imposed in 2019 during his first administration. At the time, Russias Rosneft was penalized by Washington for conducting business with Venezuela. In response, Venezuela was forced to develop a costly underground system to sell its oil at steep discounts, using opaque barter agreements and transshipment via shadow ships.

Imperial announcements only motivate us to work harder, Maduro declared on Monday in response to the White Houses decision. The full impact of these tariffs, set to take effect on April 2  a date Trump has called Liberation Day in his announcement on Truth Social  remains to be seen, particularly in how they will affect the remaining trade relationships of Venezuelas partners.

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19 th February 2015, Islamabad - UNODC Office in Pakistan in collaboration with the Federal Investigation Agency published a research report entitled "The Socio-economic impact of human trafficking and migrant smuggling in Pakistan" at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad.

Pakistan is a source, transit and a destination country for human trafficking and migrant smuggling. The problem manifests itself within the country and across borders. Internally, the provinces of Sindh and Punjab remain a source of concern with high instances of bonded labour in agriculture, brick making and other industries including ship breaking.

UNODC Representative Mr. Cesar Guedes stated that "millions are smuggled across borders every year in the false hope of a better life, some irregular migrants unfortunately perish in this long and arduous journey, as tragic events in the Mediterranean Sea have reminded us. Approximately $1 billion USD is generated in profits by the criminal syndicates, weakening the licit economy and contributing towards fuelling corruption".

High Commissioner of Australia, Mr. Peter Heyward said that "human trafficking and migrants smuggling poses a serious governance risk to the wider region and can be a major hurdle in the economic progress. We look forward to continue working with the UNODC in building the capacity of national law enforcement agencies in Pakistan".

The Chief Guest on the occasion was Mr. Quadratullah Khan, Additional Director General Immigration Federal Investigation Agency. He thanked the UNODC and Government of Australia for their technical and financial support and assured to continue working in close collaboration with the international community in eliminating human trafficking and migrant smuggling from the country. He further highlighted upon the initiatives which the FIA has recently taken for improving border control mechanisms across major international airports.

The recommendations provided in the report would assist the relevant ministries and the law enforcement agencies in Pakistan to effectively plan and allocate resources towards the high migration areas due to their vulnerability while developing mechanism for effective interagency communication and international cooperation, said Mr. Guedes.

The launch of the publication was attended by senior government officials, members of the civil society and representatives of various international organizations and diplomatic missions.

UNODC is grateful to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection of the Government of Australia for the financial support in conduct of this research and publication.
The University of Wyoming School of Computing will host a free public computing lecture-recital program Wednesday, April 2.

Stephen Beck, the Derryl and Helen Haymon Professor of Music at Louisiana State University (LSU), will present a lecture-recital titled Tech and Music: A Concert Conversation on Computer Music at 7:30 p.m. in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts recital hall.

Beck teaches music composition, electroacoustic music and computer applications in music at LSU. He received his PhD. in music composition and theory from the University of California-Los Angeles. In 1985, he studied computer music at the Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique/Musique in Paris with the support of a Fulbright Fellowship.

He joined LSUs faculty in 1988 and, since 2003, he has held a joint faculty position at the Center for Computation and Technology. He established the Cultural Computing Group and led the development of the Ph.D. program in experimental music and digital media and the undergraduate digital media minor.

His research interests include large-scale sound diffusion technologies, granular sound synthesis techniques, interactive computer music and music over networks.

The use of technology in my music is not meant to replace musicians, but rather to enhance and expand a performers potential for expressiveness, technique and, most importantly, timbre, he says. There is an uncanny beauty in the physical and mathematical laws of nature -- a beauty of intense complexity bound by simplicity, order and logic. For me, this is a constant and powerful source of inspiration, and modern technology seems the perfect tool for expressing that inspiration and awe.

For more information about the program, call the UW School of Computing at (307) 766-5299.
A maze entrance and pumpkin patch signs were displayed last year at Ellis Harvest Home, located in Lingle. Pumpkin patches are a form of agritourism that may provide additional opportunities for some producers. (Hailey Sorg Photo)

The University of Wyoming College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources will facilitate a ranch management and agricultural leadership seminar in Powell addressing ways to expand traditional agricultural operations.

The seminar, hosted by Northwest College (NWC) and titled Wyoming AgVentures: Exploring Agriculture, Agritourism and Ranch Life, begins at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 3, in NWCs Yellowstone Building, located at 331 W. Seventh St. and is available via Zoom.

Agriculture is constantly evolving. New things come up; old things come back around, says Makayla Getz, a Park County extension educator who is helping organize the session. It is not the exact same field it was when our grandparents were in the tractors and combines, and when they were out feeding cattle.

During the seminar, Getz and Hailey Sorg, UWs Jay Kemmerer Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality (WORTH) Institute extension educator, will address agricultural marketing and how traditional agricultural producers can benefit from agritourism.

Lincoln County Extension Educator McKenna Julian will speak about dual-species grazing. Barton Stam, Hot Springs County extension educator, will discuss working with government agents and other partners, and practicing regenerative grazing.

If you have any curiosity about what you may want to do when it comes to ranching, this is the perfect workshop to come to, Getz says. Youll meet a variety of people, hear a variety of speakers, and have the opportunity to network and have questions answered.

The seminar is the third session of the annual ranch management and ag leadership seminar series facilitated by the UW College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources in partnership with UW Extension educators and community colleges across the state. Events are designed to give producers and students relevant and practical information about agricultural topics in Wyoming.

Community members can register for one or more sessions here. UW and community college students can register by emailing Randall Violett, associate director of the Ranch Management and Agricultural Leadership Program, at rviolett@uwyo.edu.

For community members and students not attending the program as part of a course, the cost is $25. The session includes a free meal for registered participants who attend the seminar in person.

The 2025 seminar series will conclude with an all-day leadership symposium at the Laramie Research and Extension Center Thursday, April 17.

For more information, visit www.uwyo.edu/uwag/rmal/ranching-in-the-west-seminar-series.html or call Violett at (307) 766-4239 or email rviolett@uwyo.edu.

About the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources

UWs College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources serves students and communities through innovative scholarship, research and outreach. Guided by the land-grant principles of discovery and experiential learning, the college facilitates meaningful educational opportunities in the classroom, laboratory and community.

The college offers degrees in agricultural and applied economics, animal science, botany, ecosystem science and management, family and consumer sciences, molecular biology, plant sciences, veterinary sciences, and zoology and physiology. The college also offers degree programs in agricultural communications, microbiology, and ranch management and agricultural leadership.

To learn more, call (307) 766-4133 or visit www.uwyo.edu/uwag.
A law firm filed a habeas corpus petition with the Supreme Court of El Salvador on Monday, demanding the immediate release of 238 Venezuelans who were deported to the country and have been imprisoned at the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) since March 15. The law firm, Bufete Grupo Ortega, claims to have been directly hired by the vice president of Venezuela to lead this legal battle.

The document  to which EL PAIS has had access  was received at 11:44 a.m. at the office of the Constitutional Court, one of four that make up the Supreme Court. Among other things, the petition demands  in capital letters  the IMMEDIATE RELEASE of 30 Venezuelan citizens represented by the firm, and, in accordance with the principle of extension, the release of the others.

The petition also calls for the Supreme Court to take immediate precautionary measures while deliberating on the case, including transferring the Venezuelans to immigration detention centers and ensuring they receive adequate health care, food, and communication with their families. This is an eminently democratic legal act, as it urges the institutions established by the state of El Salvador, such as the Supreme Court of Justice, to clarify the legal status of our clients, since they have not committed any crimes in this jurisdiction, Jaime Ortega, an attorney representing the firm, told EL PAIS.

According to the lawyer, the habeas corpus  a legal remedy aimed at overseeing the right to liberty and integrity of prisoners, and whether their detention is legally justified  seeks to provide first aid to the Venezuelans who are in legal limbo. These cases are unprecedented. In the entire history of our Republic, a situation like this has never occurred. We dont have a treaty or legal framework that designates who can protect these individuals, says Ortega. For him, there is no legal basis, either within the country or under international law, to keep them in prison.

Although analysts and human rights experts have compared El Salvadors CECOT to a Central American Guantanamo, there is a significant legal difference: while the Guantanamo base is located on Cuban territory, the United States has maintained exclusive control and jurisdiction over the base since 1903.

In El Salvador, Ortega asserts, there is no legal basis for detaining the Venezuelans. We are talking about an irregular detention, echoing the analysis made by the Washington judge today, he points out.

Fragment of the document drafted to CECOT by the defense attorneys. CORTESIA

Even the Nazis were treated better, says US judge

In arguing that the more than 200 Venezuelans deported to El Salvador  whom the Trump administration linked to the Tren de Aragua criminal group without providing evidence  should have had the opportunity to stand trial, Washington Court of Appeals Judge Patricia Millet remarked that even Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemies Act than they did. Federal Judge James Boasberg on Monday rejected the Trump administrations request to lift the two-week injunction against deportations under the Alien Enemies Act.

According to Ortega, discussions with the Venezuelan government began last Tuesday. First, he says, they hired the Angostura Caracas Law Firm, which obtained legal authorization to represent the families of 30 deportees. Later, that firm transferred power of attorney to the El Salvador-based firm to act before local authorities.

From Caracas, relatives of some of those detained at the CECOT confirmed meetings with authorities, including President Nicolas Maduro himself and Vice President Delcy Rodriguez. They also confirmed that the Angostura Caracas Law Firm is involved in the cases.

Although the government has not yet confirmed that it hired the firm, Maduro has tried to champion the Venezuelans' cause since they were sent to El Salvador. They beat them with clubs, with sticks; they humiliated them, threw them to the ground, shaved their heads. Is that called justice? Is that called international law? Is that called human rights? What is that called? Its called fascism, Nazism. And Venezuela is ready and willing to denounce this massive violation of human rights, he said on his television program Con Maduro+, broadcast last Monday on state television.

According to Ortega, his team has so far failed to make any contact with the Venezuelans in CECOT. We dont even know what their position is, he says. Once the court rules, we can make requests to the relevant authorities to allow us to speak with them.

For now, the lawyer does not know how long the process might take. The time it may take is quite unpredictable. It could be expedited, delayed for a while, or take a long time. This is an unprecedented event, and in the absence of specific deadlines, it could be delayed for as long as deemed necessary, he explains.

El Salvadors Constitutional Court has been controlled by the ruling party since May 2021, when the Legislative Assembly, also controlled by President Nayib Bukele, removed five judges, taking control of all three branches of government. Since then, the judges have ruled in favor of the president on several occasions, including the reinterpretation of the Salvadoran Constitution to allow for presidential reelection.

However, Ortega is confident that the judges can act independently: We believe we are living in a democracy, and that is why we activated the legally constituted bodies. Therefore, they must issue a ruling.

With reporting by Florantonia Singer in Caracas.

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Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.
The uniforms make everyone equal. Officers like Valentyn and Arey, who command hundreds of men and boast exemplary military careers, and Mikhail, Garik, and Makhsud, who have all served time in prison for various crimes and are now members of Alcatraz, a very unusual battalion. Its one of the regiments of the 93rd Kholodny Yar Mechanized Brigade and is made up exclusively of ex-convicts who have voluntarily traded prison for war to defend Ukraine, but also because they hope to clear their image.

The Alcatraz Battalion was created after a law was passed on June 7, 2024, allowing common criminals to avoid prison time if they joined the army. The measure was designed to try to alleviate the shortage of personnel in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and in the first month after its entry into force, 6,100 of the 44,000 inmates in Ukraines prison population applied for admission. More than 3,800 were accepted, according to the Ministry of Justice. Valentyn, the battalion commander, recounts how, after a month of training, the recruits were already participating in missions on the Donetsk front last August, the eastern province partially occupied by Russia since 2014. They are fighting in the most dangerous areas: Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, Chasiv Yar... Especially in assault missions.

Mykhailo, 42, a bricklayer, is now part of the Alcatraz Battalion after serving time in prison for a fight. Lola Hierro

They come highly motivated, much more so than the average recruit today, says Valentyn about the former prisoners. There are hundreds of them, although he doesnt reveal the exact number. In routine training, at least 50 huddle among the trees of a dense forest of bare branches on the outskirts of Kramatorsk. Some receive instructions to simulate an assault, others practice with their rifles, and others learn how to provide first aid to a wounded person.

Not every prisoner benefits from the new law. Those convicted of treason are excluded, as are drug traffickers, rapists, pedophiles, or those convicted of murder. The final say on release always rests with a judge. There are mainly thieves and those convicted of assault, Arey believes. Garik, a 28-year-old professional middleweight boxer, ended up in prison over a fight. He broke several bones in a mans face, and because he was a federated athlete, the judge gave him a sentence equivalent to if he had committed assault with a knife, an aggravating circumstance that also exists in Spain. He received 13 years, but his lawyer managed to get his sentence reduced to eight. I had been in my cell for two years, with nothing to do, when they asked me if I wanted to come. I didnt think twice, he says.

Garik, a 28-year-old professional boxer and a recruit in the Alcatraz Battalion since March 14. Lola Hierro

In the group training in emergency medical care is Makhsud, 27, born in Ukraine to Uzbek parents. He had previously served in the army  he joined in 2022, at the start of the Russian invasion  but was seriously wounded in the leg during a bombing raid and took a long time to recover. When he was ready to return, he had a run-in with the law: I only gave a ride to a friend who had committed a crime. The police stopped us, detained us, and considered me an accomplice, he says, not quite understanding why he ended up behind bars. He was also sentenced to eight years in prison, having already served one when he joined the Alcatraz Battalion. When I finish this year of service, my record will be clean, and I wont have to serve the other seven [years], he says.

Makhsuds family wasnt too happy about him returning to the front because they had already suffered so much when he was wounded, and they almost preferred him behind bars, safe from the bombs. He doesnt see it that way. This country has given me so much, and its my duty to give something back; I must defend it now.

The boxer also explains his decision: I want to prove Im not a bad person, Im not a bastard, he argues. But his primary reason, which is also that of most other people, is to help Ukraine. I came here to kill Russians, he says. And I dont need this [pointing to his rifle], I can do it with my own hands, he boasts.

Reputation matters less to Mykhailo, 42, who isnt as talkative as his colleagues. This construction worker had never been in the army, never held a weapon before. I came to serve my country, he says laconically. I already have the respect of my family; thats all that matters to me.

Instructor Oleksander teaches recruit Sergei how to handle his rifle on his first day of training with the Alcatraz Battalion. Lola Hierro

Soldiers who join the Alcatraz Battalion sign a one-year contract with the army, and only two circumstances differentiate them from other troops: They dont get a vacation for a year, and if they get sick, they dont go home to recover, but rather to the barracks where they reside, says Commander Arey. After that period of service, their criminal record is clean, although they cannot leave the Armed Forces of Ukraine unless one of the few circumstances that currently exempt them from service applies: caring for a dependent family member, health reasons, or having at least three minor children. What they can do is change battalions or brigades and pursue the career they want in the army. The idea sounds very appealing to anyone who has a stint behind bars ahead of them. You can live even better in prison; its very comfortable, but this is much more, says Mykhailo. By this, the recruit refers to breathing the air outside the prison walls and having regained freedom, even if it is limited to the conditions of fighting in an armed conflict.

A new life of extreme risk

No matter how many advantages the former prisoners find in their new occupation, its by no means easy. Mykhailo, who has only been here for a week, admits hes already improving, but that it was difficult at first. Sergei, from the group learning to handle a rifle, arrived just a day ago, and the training is proving difficult. Oleksander, the instructor, has explained to them how to unload the rifle, reload it, and aim it in record time and without error. Its more complicated than it seems: when they dont position their legs correctly, its the arm position, or the cartridge jams. The instructor patiently corrects Sergei once, twice, and three times: he is always the last in the group to shout empty! when theyve unloaded the weapon, and Ill cover you! when its ready again.

Makhsud, 27, served in the army at the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, but was wounded. After a brief stint in prison, he took the opportunity to commute his sentence by rejoining the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Lola Hierro

In the plains and forests of the eastern Donbas region, these ex-convicts train six days a week for about 10 hours, for at least a month before leaving to experience the real front lines. We get up at six in the morning, get ready, have breakfast, and then go to the barracks and other locations like these to train, Makhsud explains, pointing to the forest. During breaks, they take advantage of the time to eat, smoke, and use their cell phones; there arent many other pastimes, either. At 10 p.m., the lights in the barracks are turned off.

Day after day, the Alcatraz recruits train in assault and defending positions, camouflage, drone handling, trench construction, first aid in combat zones... the basics for an infantry recruit about to defend some of Ukraines most battered fronts. When they complete a mission, they return to training and formation. Until the next one.

Their commander, Valentyn, insists on how proud he is of them. I dont care what theyve done in the past; I care what theyre going to do from now on, he says. If they arent killed in the war, the soldiers of the Alcatraz Battalion will soon see their debt to justice paid and their freedom restored. Just like their battalions emblem: a chained eagle that breaks its shackles and takes flight.

Three members of the Alcatraz Battalion's assault group take up position to begin training in a forest near Kramatorsk, Donetsk. Lola Hierro

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The numerous meetings held in Paris, London, and Brussels on the future of Western defense policy all considered a partial or complete US withdrawal from NATO. The Ukrainian issue was merely a pretext that interested only a few participants.

What does "US withdrawal" mean?

During his first term, Donald Trump considered a complete US withdrawal from NATO. In the end, he simply pushed member states to increase their defense budgets to 3% of their GDP. He acted as a "Jacksonian" and wanted to substitute trade for war.

At the time, the issue was considered only in terms of each members financial contributions. Although each members contributions to the Atlantic Alliance are unclear, the Pentagon provides 16% of the annual budget and many benefits that only its armed forces can offer. To avoid paying its share, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that NATO was "brain dead." [1].

The current situation is radically different. President Donald Trump must cut spending immediately: his country has accumulated a staggering debt and would be bankrupt if its creditors demanded repayment. I explained two weeks ago that "Donald Trump is trying to manage the possible economic collapse of Joe Bidens American empire the way Yuri Andropov, Konstantin Chernenko, and Mikhail Gorbachev tried to manage that of Leonid Brezhnevs Soviet empire. [2].

Also, as Gorbachev did with the Warsaw Pact, Trump will not withdraw from NATO, but will stop paying for it. In practice, not withdrawing from the Atlantic Alliance, while withdrawing from its organization, NATO, implies relinquishing command. Since its creation, NATO has been led by a "Supreme Allied Commander Europe" (SACEUR), who must be American. Today, General Christopher G. Cavoli combines this role with that of commander of the United States forces in Europe.

This is the option President Trump seemed to favor on March 13th, during his reception at the White House with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: the United States would be just another component of the Alliance, on a par with Luxembourg, for example.

However, without the United States considerable intelligence and troop transport resources, NATO would no longer have any projection capability. It would be reduced to a collection of small armies, each unable to move outside its own national territory.

What does "European Defense" mean?

During the Cold War, the United Kingdom and the United States, which jointly led the Alliance, planned to coordinate Western European allies so that they could be sent to fight in Korea. It was the "European Defense Community" (EDC) that French patriots, that is, the united Gaullists and Communists, thwarted in 1954. Failing that, the Anglo-Saxons created the "Western European Union" (WEU), whose role was primarily to organize Germanys rearmament.

During German reunification in 1991, the European Economic Communities were transformed into the European Union by the Treaty of Maastricht. They now have a "Common Foreign and Security Policy" (CFSP). However, while the Eurocorps was created during the Yugoslav Wars, Germany supported Croatia, while France supported Serbia. However, in December 1998, at the Saint-Malo Summit, the United Kingdom accepted the idea of a European defense, independent of NATO. A few days later, the Europeans extended the CFSP with a "Common European Security and Defense Policy" (ESDP), entrusted to former NATO Secretary General Javier Solana. From then on, the EU, on its own initiative, was ready to organize peacekeeping operations.

In 2003, when rival Lendu and Hema militias were killing each other in Ituri at the end of the Second Congo War, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued an appeal, to which the European Union responded. This was Operation Artemis: more than 2,000 troops from 18 nations participated. In reality, four-fifths of the forces were French.

Following this operation, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany proposed the creation of the European Defence Agency (EDA), responsible for military capability development, research, and armaments. Building on this momentum, the 2009 Lisbon Treaty created the European External Action Service (EEAS), tasked with managing the EUs civilian and military resources to respond to crises. In 2015, following the Turkish-sponsored attacks on the Bataclan and Saint-Denis [3], France invoked the EUs mutual defense clause (Article 42.7 of the Lisbon Treaty).

In 2016, following the United Kingdoms withdrawal from the EU, Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, proposed a "European Union Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy" (EUGS). In 2017, the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), which had been provided for by the Lisbon Treaty, was activated. It plans to bring together a "hard core" of states around inclusive and ambitious projects, carried out in addition to joint actions. Simultaneously, a European Defense Fund is being created to facilitate the financing of this enhanced cooperation.

With the war in Ukraine, where the EU is siding with Ukrainian "integral nationalists" against Russia, things are accelerating: Brussels is mobilizing tens of billions of euros to produce weapons and donate them to Ukraine. Simultaneously, NATO is coordinating European armies around the battlefield to gather military intelligence and assist the Ukrainian army. This symbiosis is suddenly being called into question by the re-election of President Donald Trump.

What options are open to Western Europeans?

When it became clear to some Europeans (primarily France, Germany, and Denmark, but not to the Baltic States, Poland, or Romania) that the United States, abandoning the Ukrainian "integral nationalists," was going to conclude a separate peace agreement with Russia, Western Europeans (i.e., with the United Kingdom, which is not a member of the EU and without Russia) found themselves facing themselves.

The various meetings, impromptu in Paris, London, and Brussels, made it possible to develop a plan aimed at preventing the chaos that a sudden withdrawal of US troops from Europe would inevitably provoke. All the participants agreed on the idea (1) that they must acquire weapons that they do not currently have and (2) that they must train new soldiers. Such a plan would take 5 to 10 years to bear fruit. [4]. For the moment, Western Europeans all, more or less, consider Russia as a dangerous potential enemy. In reality, as things stand, there is no risk of Russia invading its neighbors. Moscow has never invaded Ukraine; it has simply carried out a "special military operation" against "integral nationalists," in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2202. However, following the war in Ukraine, there are real risks of a Polish invasion of Eastern Galicia, a Romanian invasion of Moldova, and, above all, a secession of the Republika Spreska from Bosnia-Herzegovina [5].

The question of who will lead a "coalition of the willing" to defend Ukraine against Russia is therefore particularly difficult to resolve. Paris and London are in competition, given that France and the United Kingdom are the only two nuclear powers in the group. However, an atomic bomb is useless for someone without a credible conventional defense. The advantage Paris and London are promoting therefore does not exist, either for them or for their allies.

Romania has already made it clear that it does not need the French nuclear umbrella (meaning that we continue to count on that of the United States) [6]. As for London, a large part of the Foreign Office maintains that there is no point in making plans for the future and that it would be better to focus on an alliance with China against Russia.

Let us recall that the European Commission is, historically, the distant heir to the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). In this respect, its President, Ursula von der Leyen, is continuing the policy of her predecessor, Walter Hallstein.

However, this senior European official was, in the 1930s, the lawyer who conceived the Neuordnung Europas (New European Order) project on behalf of Chancellor Adolf Hitler. Mrs. von der Leyen is therefore seeking to create a European army for the defense of the EU. However, this vision has even less chance of being realized than those of President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, since a NATO cannot be formed... without NATO resources.
Photo: Koury Angelo/Disney

The two weakest jokes in Bill Burrs otherwise-solid new Hulu special, Drop Dead Years, are inspired by the same muse: hypocrisy. I love that shit, he says. Its what makes human beings hilarious. The first of these jokes is about the discrepancy in empathy between societys treatment of the average person with dementia and Joe Biden. The second asks why there is such militant enforcement of car-pool-lane regulations, while people are still free to join the Ku Klux Klan. Both jokes get laughs in the room at the Moore Theatre in Seattle, but their premises are flawed. Illustrating a moral or logical contradiction onstage is too often an easy way for a comedian to create the impression of a joke when its more of a sincere point dressed up in a jokes clothing. Consider George Carlin in his 1996 HBO special, Back in Town: We made them both up: sanctity of life and the death penalty. Arent we versatile? Its a fine-enough premise; Carlins use of contrasting language even makes it sound like a joke. But his punch line is essentially Would you look at that?

As comedys greatest living contrarian, Burr generally avoids this. Throughout his career, he has gotten a lot of mileage out of picking apart the inconsistencies of conventional wisdom, and hes typically careful to heighten his jokes an extra notch or two. Take his famous 2020 SNL monologue, in which he jokes about white women hijacking the woke movement. His joke isnt just that white women are historically too complicit in the marginalization of other groups to claim solidarity with them today. Its that white women swung their Gucci-booted feet over the fence of oppression and stuck themselves at the front of the line. Even with its colorful imagery, he doesnt just let that observation sit there. He adds another tag: You rolled around in the blood money, and, occasionally, when you wanted to sneak off and hook up with a Black dude  if you got caught, you said it wasnt consensual! So why dont you shut up, sit down next to me, and take your talking-to?

But not all watchdogs of hypocrisy have Burrs finesse or discipline, and in a time when dunking is a primary mode of sociopolitical discourse, the temptation to get an initial pop from calling out hypocrisy and stop there is strong. Take comedian and podcaster Andrew Schulz, who, in his 2022 special, Infamous, tells a four-minute story about witnessing a woman wearing Minnesota Vikings gear confront a Baskin-Robbins employee over a MAGA hat he wore to work. You know what those hats stand for? he remembers her screaming at the employee. For the disrespect of women! For the mistreatment of women! For the abuse of women! Im just looking at this chick like, Youre wearing a Vikings outfit! I dont know if youre familiar with Viking history, but they were the first Grab em by the pussy people! The comedians audience eats it up, even though this joke, when dissected, amounts to little more than evidence that the outrage of an anonymous woman they all just learned about was morally inconsistent. Similar audience reactions follow this Fahim Anwar joke about women who wont date short men but are opposed to body-shaming, this Chris Rock joke about people who boycott R. Kelly but still listen to Michael Jackson, and this Trevor Noah joke about how British people have no right to complain about unwanted immigration because of their countrys colonial history.

In jokes like these, the comedian is having a one-sided argument against a straw man, and their punch line is written to clinch victory rather than provide further food for thought. And while its not the responsibility of comedians to reconcile the contradictions they raise, to focus exclusively on them is to miss the point  and, often, a stronger joke  in favor of easy laughs. Its why there are dozens of comedians, from Gabriel Iglesias to Josh Johnson, who have similar jokes about how rebranding homeless people as unhoused has no effect on their quality of life. Thank God we got to the core issue here, Usama Siddiquee says sarcastically in one joke to enthusiastic audience laughter. The way society fixates on the semantics surrounding this population while doing nothing to help its economic reality is an example of empty progressive virtue signaling so juicy that comedians cant help but jump on it. And for most audiences, thats enough; it scratches the same itch as a This you? post on social media. But what are these jokes actually saying beyond that? That irrespective of whether you call these people homeless or unhoused, theyre fucked?

At their best, jokes about hypocrisy are an exploration of the multitudes of people and the tangled world we inhabit. But at their worst, they tear things apart without introducing anything additive, philosophically or comedically. The irony of most of these jokes being so one-dimensional is that Burr is right when he says that hypocrisy is the secret sauce that makes human beings hilarious. It is funny that every single person, community, and guiding belief system is a mess of contradictions, because were all just animals trying to grapple with an impossibly elaborate world. There is so much potential for comedy in this complexity. Its a shame that most jokes about hypocrisy seek to oversimplify it instead.
Hamdan Ballal Photo: Monika Skolimowska/picture alliance via Getty Images

Update, March 25, 2025: After being handcuffed all night and beaten in a military base, Hamdan Ballal is now free and is about to go home to his family, Ballals No Other Land co-director Yuval Abraham tweeted on the morning of March 25. The Center for Jewish Nonviolence confirmed the news to Vulture. In a press release, the CJNV also confirmed that Ballal told his lawyer that he and two other men who were arrested, Khaled Mohammad Shanran and Nasser Shreteh, were blindfolded and zip-tied overnight. The three men are in the hospital receiving treatment for their injuries.

Statements by both the Israeli military and CJNV offer differing accounts of how the violence in Masafer Yatta began. According to the CJNV, an Israeli settler was shepherding right next to a Palestinian home in Susya and was provoking residents, and after the residents told him to leave, dozens of settlers, many of whom were masked with some carrying weapons including batons, knives, and an assault rifle, arrived and attacked two homes, destroyed water tanks, and stole security cameras. In statement obtained by ABC, the Israel Defense Forces claim terrorists threw rocks at Israeli citizens and damaged their vehicles, prompting a violent confrontation involving mutual rock-hurling between Palestinians and Israelis at the scene. The statement also alleged that the same terrorists threw rocks at the IDF and Israeli police when they arrived, at which point the three men were arrested on charges of hurling rocks. All three men deny the charges and were released on lack of evidence, as reported by CJNV, with Israeli police stating the release is on conditions that include not contacting other people involved and providing a personal guarantee, per ABC. The focal point of No Other Land is the ongoing land, water, and agriculture conflicts between Palestinian farmers and Israeli settlers in Masafer Yatta.

Original story published on March 24 follows.

Less than a month after No Other Land won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, Palestinian Hamdan Ballal  one of the films four directors  was injured in an attack by about 15 Israeli settlers on the village of Susya in Masafer Yatta, the territory where the documentary was filmed, according to The Guardian. One of Ballals co-directors, Yuval Abraham, reported that Ballal was beaten and sustained injuries to his head and stomach. During his transport by ambulance, Ballal and another man were arrested by the Israeli army, and their whereabouts are unknown. Basel Adra, another one of No Other Lands directors, tweeted that he is with Ballals young son in the aftermath of the violence.

There were dozens of settlers together with the Israeli soldiers and they were threatening us with weapons. The police were there from the beginning and did not intervene. While the soldiers were pointing their weapons at us, the settlers started attacking the houses of the Palestinians, Adra told The Guardian. Hamdan tried to protect his family and the settlers attacked him. Soldiers started shooting in the air to prevent anyone to help Hamdan. He was shouting for help. They let the settlers attack him and then the army abducted him. Previously, Adra reported his neighbors house was stormed on March 11, not long after the No Other Land team returned from the Academy Awards.

A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal, co director of our film no other land. They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding. Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him. No sign of him since.  Yuval Abraham   (@yuval_abraham) March 24, 2025

The settler violence in Masafer Yatta began around 6 p.m., according to a press release from the Center for Jewish Nonviolence. Anna Lippman, who works with the CJNV, was on the scene about 15 minutes after the attacks began and filmed the violence as it unfolded. She tells Vulture that Ballal was attacked within his home and that the police were intent on arresting him rather than pursuing the settlers who made the attacks or helping those from the nonprofit whose cars were destroyed; the cause of Ballals arrest is still unknown. Not unlike the work shown in No Other Land, which follows the destruction of Massafer Yatta by Israeli soldiers, Lippman says that the Center is one of many international groups documenting its villages. We are here to leverage our privilege as internationals to mitigate violence and displacement against Palestinians in Masafer Yatta, she says.

At the Academy Awards on March 2, Ballal said the film, which captures on-the-ground footage of Israeli settler and military violence in Masafer Yatta, reflects the harsh reality that we have been enduring for decades and still resist, as we call on the world to take serious actions to stop the injustice. Lippman echoes his sentiments. Sharing this story and asking our politicians to demand action from Israel is an important way to pressure the state to release Hamdan, she says. Historically, international pressure has done a great deal to help the people of Masafer Yatta.

Palestinians in the village have been under physical attack by settlers almost daily, Adra told The Guardian. The settlers violence is increasing here. Maybe its a revenge for the movie and the Oscar.
President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko has sent a letter of congratulations to President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of Novruz holiday, Azernews reports.

Dear Ilham Heydar oglu,

I cordially congratulate you on the wonderful holiday of Novruz, symbolizing the awakening of nature, the beginning of a new phase of life, and belief in a better future.

I am confident that the existing friendly relations between Belarus and Azerbaijan will contribute to further expanding bilateral relations in all areas for the benefit of the peoples of both countries.

On this remarkable holiday, I wish you strong health and success in the successful implementation of your plans, as well as peace and tranquility to the people of your country.
Donald Trump has said more than once that the only way to immigrate to the United States and avoid deportation is to do so legally. But even that isnt stopping him. On March 25, 532,000 Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, Cubans, and Haitians who entered the country legally during the Joe Biden administration will become undocumented. The U.S. government will eliminate the legal status known as humanitarian parole and the work visas of beneficiaries and their families, who are given a few weeks to self-deport and leave the country. If they dont do so within 30 days, they risk being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Migrants who crossed the Rio Grande and entered the United States from Mexico line up to be processed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on September 23, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas. Eric Gay (AP)

Since Trump came to power two months ago, no migrant can rest easy. Humanitarian parole  intended for countries experiencing conflict or social, political, or economic crisis  began in 2022 and protected those granted deportation. Most could apply for an extension of their permit when it expired or request another type of status or asylum to remain in the United States. As of January 22, it had been granted to half a million people whom the president now considers inadmissible.

Behind the numbers lie the lives of families and individuals who left everything behind to reach a country that opened its doors to them and now deems them unworthy of remaining. Some plan to leave to avoid the risk of detention, others intend to go into hiding, some are relying on the courts to stop this latest outrage against immigration, while others are not even considering returning to their home country.

The world has become too small for us Venezuelans

Venezuelan, 39 years old

The story of Carlos (who prefers not to give his real name) is that of a Venezuelan immigrant with two countries of arrival. The first was Chile, seven years ago, to which he emigrated with his wife and first child. There they tried to put down roots. They had a daughter and lived a good life in Santiago, but the xenophobia that was unleashed against Venezuelans ended up expelling them. The day I heard a Chilean tell his son not to play with mine while he was ranting about my nationality, I said to myself, This is not the place I want my children to grow up in, he says.

A group of 199 Venezuelan migrants returned to their country early Monday morning on a plane from Honduras. Miguel Gutierrez (EFE)

Thats how a relative of his wife activated humanitarian parole for the entire family, and after the paperwork and approval, they landed in Nashville, Tennessee, in December 2023. We came to the United States looking for a country that was kinder to Venezuelans, and now Trump arrives and it turns out he hates us, he laments. The couple, who have already managed to settle in the United States and begun making plans for the future, now feel on the ropes. We just signed a second lease, bought a car, have the kids in school, two jobs, a routine, and now it turns out we have to leave. I cant believe it. Carloss main fear is remaining illegally and risking deportation. They could expel me or my wife separately, which would mean family separation. Furthermore, the cruelty with which they deported Venezuelans to El Salvador is terrifying. We left Venezuela because its a country without the rule of law, and now it turns out the Trump administration doesnt respect human rights and arrests and deports immigrants with no criminal record. This is starting to look more like our country than wed like, he says.

The couple is now exploring other options to try to avoid losing their legal residency and the work permit that comes with it. The hardest thing is that we have to endure because we can't emigrate a third time. The world has become too small for us Venezuelans, they say.

Im not going anywhere. If I go back to Haiti, theyll kill me

Haitian, 43 years old

Goliath (not his real name) is terrified. He arrived in June 2024 from Haiti thanks to humanitarian parole. He was fleeing certain death. Im not going anywhere. If I go back, theyll kill me, he says. His brother, a U.S. citizen, sponsored him to leave the country. His job in the public sector is a death sentence in a country dominated by gangs and violence. They know my face. If they deport me, theyll kill me, he insists. The cancellation of the program affects him doubly. His wife and daughter also applied for parole, but the authorization hadnt arrived yet. And now it wont. I feel very stressed and depressed, he admits in a telephone conversation. My wife and daughter are in areas controlled by gangs, who commit rapes, kidnappings, and murders every day; they can kill them at any moment.

Neither the national police nor UN-backed security forces have been able to stem the violence unleashed a year ago by the Viv Ansanm gang uprising. More than a million people have been displaced within the country. The capital, Port-au-Prince, is under siege. In the last month, some 60,000 people have fled the violence.

Goliath had found peace working as a security guard for a community organization in Miami, Florida. I was helping build this society, working and paying taxes, he says. Now, his life has been turned upside down. He no longer hopes for family reunification, but he also cant go back. He refuses to self-deport under the CBP Home program, which the Trump administration is promoting to deport undocumented immigrants. His hope is that the courts will stop the programs rescission: My life depends on the decision of the administration and the courts.

Its unfair that if Biden gave it to me, Trump comes and takes it away

Cuban, 40 years old

When Monicas uncle proposed bringing her to the United States through parole, she wasnt keen. She was 40 years old and believed that the older you get, the worse it is to emigrate. She accepted for the sake of her children. In Cuba, she and her husband worked as computer technicians at a state-owned company and earned the equivalent of $50 a month between them. They paid $30 in rent. Thats what we had to survive on. It was impossible. I had to work on the street to make ends meet, and even then it wasnt enough. So when she took her eight- and five-year-old children to Walmart, and she watched them happy among the toys and candy, she concluded it was worth the sacrifice. It was crazy; they filled a cart with stuff. And I was scared because I thought they were going to charge me a thousand dollars. And when they charged me $300, I said, Ugh, thats my salary for a week here.

In the Texas town where she lives, Monica has worked as a waitress, cleaning houses, and on a chicken farm. The children arrive home from school by bus and spend almost the entire day alone, as she leaves at night and returns at night. Her husband still lives in Cuba and has no way to leave. He never received parole. Shes saving as much as she can to see how they can reunite. But even so, its worth it, she says. The environment here is better overall, the school is good, the children are adjusting, theyre doing well, they have a better future. Theyve found their space here. Over there, they would be starving. The Walmart incident seems irrelevant, but when you grow up in poverty, you know what it feels like.

A Cuban migrant woman holds her passport as she applies for permission to transit through Honduras at the Center for the Assistance of Irregular Migrants, March 21, 2025. Leonel Estrada (REUTERS)

Since she entered legally, she quickly obtained her work permit. They now have 90 days to apply for residency through the Cuban Adjustment Act, but with Trumps new order, she loses all benefits. Im afraid theyll kick me out of the factory for losing my work permit. Imagine, how are we going to live? Its unfair that, if Biden gave it to me, Trump comes and takes it away. Ill do everything I can to not take my children with me. Try to be as legal as possible and seek all the resources I can to be here. Raise money for a lawyer, I dont know. But I have to keep going. I dont know what will happen if they send us back. I want to be optimistic and think they wont.

Among the total of 532,000 people affected, there is a group of Cubans who are exempt from Trump's new measure. These are those who entered the country more than a year ago and had time to apply for the still-current Cuban Adjustment Act, passed by Congress in 1966, which allows Cuban citizens to obtain permanent residency while legally remaining in the United States for one year and one day.

Its been a very hard blow for my family

Nicaraguan, 42 years old

This is her job: entering the meat processing plant in sub-zero temperatures, with no windows, wearing three coats. Standing in front of a machine that works like a treadmill and packaging sausages. Ten hours a day, Monday through Friday. At first, her arms went numb. Now, five months in, its worse; sometimes they dont respond.

Doris studied civil engineering in Managua, Nicaragua, but with two daughters and a basic salary, it wasn't enough even for food. Her cousin in Texas helped them get their parole, and she arrived with the hope of working hard during the two years the humanitarian program allowed, while her daughters, ages 10 and 18, learned English and explored another world. She also planned to find a way to legalize her status. If she couldn't, her plan was to return to Managua with enough savings to start her own business.

Its only been seven months, and Doris is already thinking about returning voluntarily because she doesnt want to risk being deported. But shes also thinking involuntarily, because she doesnt really want to leave. Shes not willing to face the trauma of being detained as a criminal. She wants her daughters to suffer the same fate even less. Nor would she like to have to hide, because she hasnt done anything wrong. She simply arrived in a country that gave her the opportunity to enter legally, and since then, shes done nothing but work. I respect myself too much to have to go through that.

Immigrant rights advocates chant before marching toward an ICE detention center on International Migrants Day, December 18, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. Mario Tama (Getty Images)

Her plan now is to work as much overtime as she can because as soon as she feels she's in danger, she'll grab her daughters, her suitcases, and her savings to make the return trip to Central America. It's frustrating and painful. We came with the hope of improving our quality of life, and now we find ourselves in an uncertain situation. We face the challenge of returning without the resources we expected, and the uncertainty of what to do in Nicaragua when we arrive. What pains her most, she says, is the change that's coming for the girls. They've adapted here, especially the oldest, who was already exploring opportunities to study and work. There, they won't have the same opportunities or stability, and that fills me with anguish. It's been a very hard blow for my family because we had bet everything on this opportunity.

This is another cruel, racist policy that seeks only to separate families

Venezuelan, 50 years old

For this story, she's going by the name Corina, because this 50-year-old Venezuelan is afraid to speak her own mind. She's been living in Miami for a year and a half after resisting emigrating for several years. In Barquisimeto, her hometown, she saw her sister leave first, moving to Florida with her husband and children eight years ago; and then her eldest son, who went to Argentina to enroll in university. She was left to care for her elderly mother, diagnosed with Alzheimer's. "The situation in Venezuela these past few years has been difficult, and with a mother in this condition, everything becomes unbearable," she says.

Her sister sponsored her application, and she and her mother received humanitarian parole. Due to my family situation, this time always seemed insufficient, but you arrive with the hope of staying. I always felt welcome, until now, she explains. These 18 months have allowed Corina to provide the best medical care for her mother and work in the family business, but now she faces losing legal residency and risking deportation.

Its unthinkable for me to leave at this moment. How can I return to Venezuela with my mother in a wheelchair, needing constant care, and exposed to the regimes repression? I dont understand how they can justify leaving half a million immigrants in an illegal situation. This is another cruel, racist policy that seeks only to separate families. Im hopeful that an upcoming court ruling can restore our protection, she says.

How can this man say that parole is illegal?

Cuban couple, over 65 years old

Ive been going crazy over the weekend, says Viviana, who uses a pseudonym as shes afraid to reveal her identity, while driving through Miami. Viviana is Cuban and has been in the United States for four years. She entered through the southern border with her husband and daughter on Form I-220A, a provisional parole order. They immediately applied for political asylum. Viviana thought she wouldnt need to defend her familys case in court, that the three of them could benefit from the Cuban Adjustment Act after spending a year and a day on U.S. soil. But its been three years since they filed for green cards, and they havent received a response. Because of this, they havent been able to leave the United States in all this time, and Viviana decided to bring her parents from Cuba through the humanitarian parole program.

Viviana is worried for her parents. The couple, both over 65, landed in Miami last May on a flight their daughter paid for, with their documents in order. My parents situation is crueler than mine, she says. Mine was a mistake at the border, but my parents were sitting in Havana waiting for approval that USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) made. How can this man say thats illegal?

Viviana has contacted several lawyers, and all of them have recommended she file a case for political asylum. Theyve also asked her to sign a document releasing the lawyers from liability for her statements or any possible lies she may have made in obtaining asylum. She was also asked for a payment of $2,000 per person. Viviana asserts that she prefers hiding her parents than doing something wrong: Im not going to lie. My parents didnt come as political refugees. Thats fraud. I cant afford to commit fraud against my parents.

All her mother says is that she doesnt want to return to Cuba because she wont see her daughter again. Her father says nothing; he has high blood pressure. And while Im telling you this, some of my relatives have a Trump flag in their house.

Every day I think about being deported

Cuban, 43 years old

In a month, Owarys Cruz could leave his job as a waiter at the Maiz y Agave restaurant in Miamis vibrant Coral Gables neighborhood. Cruz has worked the night shift Thursday through Sunday for a year, serving all kinds of dishes from an extensive Mexican menu. Now, hes asking himself the question that thousands like him must be asking: What do I do when my work permit expires? Its been hard for him to get here, to a position as a waiter after working as a construction assistant or washing dishes in the kitchens of several restaurants in the city. At the end of May, it will be two years since he arrived in the United States from Cuba. He still remembers how he cried when he boarded a plane in Havana that landed minutes later in Florida. It was the shortest and longest trip in his 43 years. I was leaving my family behind, my children, who are my life, he says.

Owarys Cruz. Jorge de Armas

At the time, Cruz wasnt considering leaving Cuba, but a friend called to inform him of the possibility of a direct flight, a legal and relatively easy entry into the United States. In January 2023, the Biden administration extended the humanitarian parole program to Cubans. The move came amid the islands largest recent economic and political crisis: its people were emigrating en masse, an unprecedented stampede.

Cruz said yes to his friend, and by April he had been accepted as a beneficiary of the program. By May he was embarking on his journey to Miami. He arrived with all the protection that parole guaranteed him. He never thought that, almost two years later, the new Trump administration would revoke it. Every day there is uncertainty, a threat, an uproar. How can you not be scared with everything thats happening? he says. Cruz is close to receiving a green card thanks to the Cuban Adjustment Act. However, he remains afraid. Since arriving from Cuba, he hasnt stopped thinking about the possibility of being deported. I think about it every day, he confesses.

Monica Baro participated in the preparation of this report from Miami.

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The images that Dante conjured up in his epic narrative poem have inspired artists and scholars for centuries.

It is hard to imagine that a country as rich in history and culture as Italy could trace a great deal of its heritage back to one single person. However, that is exactly the case with Dante Alighieri. Regarded as The Supreme Poet, Dante's Divine Comedy is considered by many as Italy's most important literary work.

Dante's depiction of the afterlife through the Inferno, Purgatory and Paradise is one of the most influential pieces of literature in history. It became the centerpiece for what is now the modern Italian language and changed the way that people thought of religion and the afterlife. Though all three books of Dantes epic are influential, Inferno is regarded as the most important in terms of its influence on religion and art.

Never before had someone painted such a clear picture of what hell was like. The horrible images that Dante created in his poem have inspired artists and scholars for centuries. Here are some of the great artists who have been inspired by Dantes work and have shown his influence through what they create.

Artists Inspired by Dantes Divine Comedy

Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510)

By the late 1400s, the popularity of The Divine Comedy was growing. In 1481, the first commented edition of the poem was published in Florence. Between 1490 and 1496 Botticelli illustrated The Divine Comedy for Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco dei Medici, who also owned the

The work Botticelli did was extraordinary, and the scale of the illustrations he produced for The Divine Comedy was unprecedented. While it was customary at the time to illustrate books, it was normally only with a few small images to give predominance to the text. However, Dante's epic was so revolutionary and had such a profound influence on Botticelli that such simple illustrations would no longer suffice.

Instead, Botticelli created illustrations that were similar to paintings. They were large and complex, and he created one for each canto of the poem. Botticelli also remained extremely faithful to Dante's text which he reflected through his illustrations, which were precisely made for each scene that he deemed to be important.

Along with the illustrations for each canto, Botticelli also drew a highly detailed map of the underworld as well as a frightening portrait of Satan on a double sheet. Botticellis Map of Hell is the most accurate representation of the structure of Dantes underworld ever created. It has been interpreted in many ways over the centuries, and some believe that it still houses secrets that have yet to be discovered.

Botticellis drawings have since been dispersed, with some being housed in the Vatican Museum, and others in museums in Berlin. Stylistically, they are comparable to his later work as they contain archaic elements and the figures within do not contain traits of realism. In 1495, Botticelli created a portrait of Dante that is believed to have been intended to adorn the library of a scholar. His portrait of The Supreme Poet clearly shows the admiration that Botticelli had for Dante.

Stradanus (Giovanni Stradano) (1523-1605)

Originally of Flemish origin and whose real name was Jan van der Straet, Stradanus lived in Florence and became close with the Medici family. He became a major contributor to the, a private room of Palazzo Vecchio where Francesco 1 would devote himself to his alchemical experiments and housed his collection of rare and strange items. Stradanus contributed two paintings to this private room, one of them being

While he was among the leaders of Italian Mannerism, he did not forget his Flemish roots. It is in his series of illustrations on The Divine Comedy, produced between 1587 and 1588, where we see the presence of these two cultural components. We see the Nordic component primarily in the depictions of The Inferno that contain certain demonic figures or are set in a horrid landscape. The illustrations are preserved in the Laurentian Library in Florence.

In 1587, Stradanus was commissioned to paint a series of scenes of the damned in the various circles of hell. This included a series of illustrations and maps of the underworld. In the 2013 mystery/thriller novel Inferno by American writer Dan Brown, Brown references the illustration by Stradanus of Canto 8. In this canto, the wrathful and slothful are punished. It is also the point when Dante and Virgil cross the river Styx with the help of Phlegyas, the infernal ferryman.

William Blake (1757-1827)

In 1825, William Blake was commissioned to create 102 drawings of Dantes Divine Comedy. However, he died two years later in 1827 and his illustrations were found in varying stages of completion.

In his drawings, Blake made of point of paying close attention to the details in Dante's poem. He focused especially on how sin, guilt, punishment, revenge, and salvation were depicted.

While he did try to stay true to Dante's vision of hell, he also brought his views of how the underworld looked. Blake was also known to have a critical attitude towards Dante, though he showed signs of intellectual sympathy towards him as well.

Paul Gustave Dore (1832-1883)

Perhaps the most important and influential of all the artists inspired by Dante is Paul Gustave Dore. Born in Strasbourg in 1832, Dore began to draw at the age of 16 and went on to work as an illustrator, first for newspapers and then for publishing houses.

He was renowned for his style, which mixed elements of realism and romanticism, as well as the perfection of the figures he would draw. In 1856, Dore was asked to illustrate the works of Lord Byron. Later in 1865, Dore published a new illustrated version of the Bible, which was a huge success. Dore had planned on devoting a series of illustrations to The Divine Comedy as early as 1855 and would go on to complete the project between 1861 and 1868. So high was Dore's admiration for Dante, that he decided to self-finance the first book Inferno.

Dore was not alone in his admiration for Dante, as he was very popular in mid-19th-century France. As a result, Dore's illustrated book was met with immediate success. Later, Purgatory and Paradise were published by the publishing house Hachette in 1868 in one volume. Subsequently, an edition of The Divine Comedy, complete with illustrations by Dore was translated into many languages.

The illustrations of The Divine Comedy by Dore are masterpieces and they are some of the most well-known depictions of Dante's epic found today. Dore had the incredible ability to put himself in the place of Dante, so much so that one would think the two were familiar with each other. Some have even gone so far as to suggest that some kind of telepathic connection existed between Dante and Dore. While Dante invented the structure of the afterlife as it is understood today, Dore brought the structure to life with his illustrations.

William Bouguereau (1825-1905)

A producer of many realistic paintings on mythological and religious themes, Bouguereau's work was unfortunately never appreciated during his lifetime because he rejected the Impressionist and Avant-garde movements. He is best know for paintings such as LAmour et Psyche, but his work of Dante and Virgil in Hell is what ties him to the Divine Comedy.

In Canto VII, Dante and Virgil encounter falsifiers, including alchemists, counterfeiters, perjurers, and imposters. In Bouguereau's depiction of the scene, the alchemist and heretic Capocchio is attacked and bitten on the neck by Gianni Schicchi, a usurper of a dead man's identity to falsely claim his inheritance.

Auguste Rodin (1840-1917)

Claiming to have never gone anywhere without a copy of The Divine Comedy in his pocket, Rodin was captivated by Dante's ability to sculpt characters in poems. Born in Paris in 1840, Rodin is widely considered to be the founder of modern sculpture. He was well known for depicting the human body with a sense of naturalism and focused on individual character and physicality.

In 1880 he was commissioned to produce a sculpture for Dante known as The Gates of Hell, it remains unfinished. Inspired by the famous Gates of Paradise in the Baptistry of Florence, Rodin decided to make a portal and chose to represent Dante's hell using sketches he had been working on for years.

The portal depicts three shades on the top, all devoid of an arm, while Dante himself stands above the abyss. On the right is the recognizable figure of Count Ugolino. On the left, Paolo and Francesca are inserted into a roll of bodies. Everything emerges from bubbling lava and the convulsive figures of bodies display gestures of despair, pain, and punishment.

Franz Von Bayros (1866-1924)

Born in Austria in 1866, Von Bayros was an illustrator and author famous for his illustrations of erotic books, including The Divine Comedy. He was heavily influenced by the works of Gustav Klimt, Alphonse Mucha, and Koloman Moser. Bayros richly detailed, pre-Raphaelite style is shown in his depiction of the seventh circle of hell (violence).

Salvador Dali (1904-1989)

To mark the 700th anniversary of Dantes birth in 1951, Dali was commissioned to create a set of illustrations for The Divine Comedy. Dalis style differed from many others, as he used watercolors and woodcuts to depict the scenes.

Created between 1950 and 1959, the works are masterpieces in their own right and are regarded as Dalis most important illustrative works. Through the depictions of Dantes epic, Dali wanted to illustrate all of the emotions and feelings that led Dante to create his afterlife.

While each one of these artists' work is different from the other, it is clear to see the scale of Dante's influence on Western art through the work that he inspired.

By Andrew Sagerson
By dropping Latin for the vernacular, Dante helped to establish the modern-day standardised Italian language.

Born in Florence in 1265, the mediaeval poet and philosopher Dante Alighieri would become known as the Father of the Italian language thanks to his epic work, The Divine Comedy.

But why exactly did La Divina Commedia make such an indelible impression on both literature and theology, and why is it so important seven centuries after it was written?

Representing a 14th-century vision of the afterlife, the long narrative poem describes Dante's journey through the three realms of the dead: Inferno (hell), Purgatorio (purgatory), and Paradiso (heaven).

Crucially, Dante wrote the poem's 14,233 lines in the vernacular, opting for the Tuscan dialect which was accessible to the masses rather than the traditional Latin reserved for the most educated readers.

This unorthodox approach paved the way for Italian writers such as Boccaccio and Petrarch, while his depictions of Hell, Purgatory and Heaven had a profound influence on western art, from Sandro Botticelli to William Blake.

Dante began composing the groundbreaking trilogy in Florence in or around 1308, completing the masterpiece in Ravenna a year before his death in 1321.

Today, The Divine Comedy is widely considered the most important poem of the Middle Ages, and the pre-eminent work in Italian literature.

It is also viewed as one of the greatest works of world literature; from the Romantics to the contemporary, there are few poets in western literature who have not been inspired by Dante.

The first printed edition of the book was published in Foligno on 11 April 1472, and there are 14 of the original 300 copies still in existence.

Italy celebrates Dante every year with Dantedi, a national day on 25 March, the date given by scholars for the start of the journey to the afterlife in The Divine Comedy.

Photo: Domenico di Michelino, Dante e il suo poema, 1465. Fresco, Cattedrale di S. Maria del Fiore, Florence.
The American University of Rome Hosts Gender Dialogues in Italy  A One-Day Conference on Gender, Identity, and Social Change - Friday 28 March 2025

The American University of Rome (AUR) welcomes registrations to join "Gender Dialogues in Italy," a one-day interdisciplinary conference taking place on Friday, March 28 at AURs Monteverde campus. This free and public event will bring together academics, activists, artists, and students for an open, critical, and inclusive exploration of gender in contemporary society.

With a program of panel discussions, performances, and interactive sessions, the conference aims to spark meaningful dialogue across a range of themes including gender justice, migration, education, and the evolving role of gender in both Italian and global contexts.

Gender Dialogues in Italy is not just a conference, its a space for challenging assumptions, elevating diverse voices, and fostering social change through dialogue and collaboration, said the event organizer, Professor Cathy Ramsey-Portolano.

The event is open to all and will be conducted in English. Attendees can expect a vibrant, intellectually stimulating atmosphere that reflects AURs commitment to global citizenship and critical engagement with contemporary issues.

Admission is free, but registration is required.
OSAKA - The Osaka High Court on Tuesday became the fifth high court in Japan to rule that the country's lack of legal recognition of same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, but it upheld a lower court decision not to award damages.

The latest ruling, in line with those of the Sapporo, Tokyo, Fukuoka and Nagoya high courts, overturned the Osaka District Court's judgment that the effective ban on same-sex marriage was constitutional.

The Osaka High Court said that civil law provisions that do not allow same-sex marriage violate the right to equality under the Constitution.

The current provisions "cannot be justified as unavoidable, as legal disadvantages for same-sex couples are significantly large," said Presiding Judge Kumiko Honda.

The court also ruled that the marriage ban violates the section of the Constitution that says laws concerning matters pertaining to marriage and family "shall be enacted from the standpoint of individual dignity and the essential equality of the sexes."

Calling marriage an "important right tied to the existence of an individual's identity," the judge said the ban on marriage of same-sex couples "severely undermines" that right.

At a press conference, the defense team praised the ruling as one that would have an impact on legal revisions.

In the lawsuit filed with the district court in 2019, three same-sex couples sought damages of 1 million yen ($6,600) per person from the state.

In the six similar lawsuits filed with five district courts across Japan, the Osaka District Court is the only one so far to rule that the lack of legal recognition is constitutional.

Japan's civil law and family registration law provisions are based on marriage between a man and a woman, and the privileges that result from matrimony, including inheritance rights, tax benefits and joint custody of children, are only granted to heterosexual couples.

In 2022, the Osaka District Court found the provisions constitutional, noting legal disadvantages facing same-sex couples have eased over time due partly to the spread of the partnership program by local governments recognizing such partnerships.

Japan remains the only Group of Seven country not to have legalized same-sex marriage or civil unions, despite growing pressure from the LGBT community and its supporters.

Related coverage:

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Parents across Waterford are organising multiple plans of action in their fight to secure educational equality for their children.

Over the past few months, the plight of parents in Waterford has made national headlines, with children diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) being put into educational limbo.

In schools across the Deise, parents are being left in the dark over where their child will attend this September or if their class will have the appropriate supports.

Earlier this month came an announcement over new special classes being added to different schools across the county. However, parents say that reality tells a different story. One parent said that one school they called stated that they were 'not aware' of such classes being added.

As the gap between what is being promised and what is being provided remains punishingly wide, parents are planning a major protest in Waterford City centre.

On Saturday, April 5, there will be a protest held on John Roberts Square at 2pm, with all invited to come and stand up for the children affected not only in Waterford but Ireland as a whole.

Parents Connor Coady and Denise Powergathered in Waterford City to plan the next steps.

Waterford meeting

On Friday, March 21, parents met in Waterford City to plan out the next steps in their fight to get the right supports for their children.

Local Councillors Mary Roche (Social Democrats), Jim Griffin and Joeanne Bailey (Sinn Fein) attended the meeting to lend their support and offer advice on the protests and on raising awareness.

Umbrella of issues

Parents gathered spoke about the multi-faceted issues within the battle for education equality. Among the network of parents, there are families with children who are waiting on a school space, children without a space, children without an appropriate school space who have had to accept a space in a mainstream school. There are also families who are expecting a space but are living far away from the school location. Some families are still waiting on an official diagnosis for their child so are not able to apply in the first place for an appropriate school space. One parent expressed that her daughter is now at school-going age but is still waiting on an assessment. Many parents fall into at least two categories.

Dad Connor Coady said: "A lot of things here fall under the umbrella and we're all here for different reasons but we're all looking for the same thing. We all have individual stories that people outside this circle wouldn't believe."

Parents Rebecca Meehan, Becci Walsh and Denise Threadgold.

This state of impasse goes well beyond Waterford.

Mother Denise Threadgold spoke about trying to find a space for her child on the Carlow-Kilkenny border: "The Headmistress said that they were supposed to get a classroom extension, got through planning and all that and then the funding was pulled by the Department of Education."

Many of the parents gathered have had their stories told and shared in newspapers, radio studios and Dail Eireann. Today they want the Government, Department of Education and the people of Ireland to know that their unifying issue is in tacking education discrimination on the basis of additional needs. Their message is that they have a 'broken system, not broken children.'

Protests

The parents are planning a second sleep-out at the Department of Education on Wednesday, April 2. On Mother's Day March 30, parents are meet at Railway Cottage in Dungarvan and will walk 5km Walton Park.

Waterford parents of children with additional needs will be staging several protests over the next month.

The Mother's Day walk will begin at 11am. The walk is to support parent's urgent call to expand capacity at St John's Special School in Dungarvan.

A petition for signatures is being shared on change.org to urge Minister McEntee 'to implement the constitutional and statutory rights to education for children with additional needs.'
A sperm whale that was spotted in the Waterford Estuary appears to be heading back out to sea.

That is according to the sightings officer at the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Padraig Whooley.

Mr Whooley told the Waterford News and Star that earlier today, they were very concerned about a potential stranding.

But as of this afternoon, reports from Dunmore East and Hook Head suggest the whale is heading in the right direction.

Just not in safer waters yet.

Its got about five hurdles before it has a chance of a 'Free Willie' moment, said Mr Whooley.

While current reports are positive, Mr Whooley said tomorrow will tell.

The IWDG ask that the public maintain a respectful distance as the animal is highly protected and dangerous if stressed.

One lash of the tale, if it got stressed, could cause a serious injury or even a fatality, said Mr Whooley.

Those in boats should keep a distance of at least 100 meters, and that includes kayaks.

Ideally, if you want to watch the whale, do so from the shore with binoculars.

Mr Whooley said public reports are really helpful in tracking the whale.

He asked that the public keep an eye on the whale on Wednesday and from a safe distance, take photos and report sightings.

While the whale appears to have turned things around by itself, it may still become stranded.

Sperm whale swimming in Waterford estuary on Tuesday. Photo: Damian Tiernan/Damien Burke on Facebook.

Mr Whooley said if that happens, a team will need to go out and make sure the animal is as comfortable as possible and not in too much distress.

He said that in the event of a stranding, the whales size would prevent the IWDG rescue team from intervening.

But they can assess the animal's condition and make sure it is as comfortable as possible.

Members of the public should keep dogs away from any stranded whale or dolphin.

'An EXTREMELY UNUSUAL SITUATION'

Mr Whooley said it is an extremely unusual situation to see a sperm whale this close to the shore.

He said these animals are deep divers and would expect it to be 1000-2000 meters deep where its food source is located.

For it to be swimming in two meters of water, that is as close as you can get to a stranding, said Mr Whooley.

Sperm whales are the largest toothed whale on the planet.

According to the National Biodiversity Data Centre, the average male weighs 40 tonnes and is 20 meters in length.

The average female weighs 22 tonnes and is 11m in length.

They have a life expectancy of between 65 and 70 years.

Mr Whooley said there is no way for them to know for sure how the whale ended up in the estuary.

It could be that it is ill, and its ability to navigate might be compromised.

But when the tide came down, the animal seemed to have found its way.

Mr Whooley said they are not sure what direction it will go in next, and so they will continue to monitor the situation.

You can report a sighting to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group through their website or on the mobile reporting app.
Nicotine pouches are popping up all over Waterford, but according to the Department of Health, they are entirely unregulated.

Under brand names like Nordic Spirit, Peak or Velo these pouches can be purchased from newsagents, sweetshops and vape shops across the city and online.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health told the Waterford News and Star that there is no regulation on the sale of nicotine pouches.

But they are monitoring the research.

Nicotine pouches are currently not covered by domestic or EU tobacco control legislation," said the spokesperson.

The regulation of nicotine pouches is being discussed at EU level, both in terms of how these products are categorised and in the context of the review of the Tobacco Products Directive. There is little independent evidence available regarding any health harms from nicotine pouches, though they contain nicotine which is an addictive substance.

The Department of Health will continue to monitor any emerging evidence regarding these products."

WHAT IS IN THE POUCHES

While the pouches are tobacco-free, they do contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance.

Each tin contains around 20 pouches.

One brand, Nordic Spirit, strength three contains 9mg per pouch.

Strength three in Peak contains 12mg per pouch.

For comparison, an electronic cigarette or vape contains 20mg per container.

A vape can contain around 600 puffs and the instructions on an Elfbar 600 are 10-15 puffs per use.

According to a 2023 explainer in The Guardian, there is between 8mg and 20mg of nicotine in a cigarette.

But only a small amount, around 1-2mg, of that is inhaled.

Nicotine pouches. Brand: Peak- strength three contain 12mg of nicotine per pouch. Picture by Joe Evans

Nicotine pouches are placed under the upper lip and can be kept in the mouth for up to 30 minutes.

The Waterford News and Star looked at lines from two of the most common brands Nordic Spirit and Peak.

Both were strength three and both were a mint flavour.

The ingredients listed varied but both contained nicotine, sweeteners and flavourings.

These included Xylitol, acesulfame, mannitol and glycerol.

Other ingredients present were stabilisers, antacids and substances to reduce water.

WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE

Nicotine pouches are relatively new, hitting the US market between 2015 and 2016 and the UK market in 2019, so research is scant.

However, a 2024 study published in the journal, Nicotine and Tobacco Research looked at what studies there are on the effects of Oral Nicotine Products (ONPs) on public health.

They found that most studies were industry-funded and said that independent research was needed so regulators could make evidence-based public health decisions.

They also said while the pouches appeared to be less toxic than cigarettes, they were concerned about young people taking them up or dual use.

Another study last year and in the same journal found that ONPs with more sweetener led to higher nicotine consumption in mice.

They also found that the higher the nicotine content, the more sweetener was in the product.

This is likely to mask the taste of the chemicals.

Warnings on back of Nordic Spirit Nicotine Pouches.

The team examined the effects of two US brands that contained acesulfame-K and sucrose.

The researchers believe sweeteners would make the pouches more appealing, especially to younger consumers.

Sweetness, as imparted by artificial sweeteners in tobacco products, needs to be addressed by regulators as a component of a characterizing flavour, with the aim to reduce product appeal and initiation by never users, and especially youth attracted to sweet flavours, wrote the researchers.

A 2022 study published again in Nicotine and Tobacco Research looked at use in Great Britain between 2020 and 2021.

The researchers found that use had doubled over the year.

Use was four times more common in men and more common in those who do or have smoked both cigarettes and e-cigarettes compared to never-smokers.

According to WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer, nicotine is not in and of itself a carcinogen but it is highly addictive.

But for certain groups it is dangerous.

For people who are pregnant, nicotine has been linked to miscarriage, stillbirth and preterm birth, as well as several pregnancy-related health conditions.

Nicotine is also harmful to young people under 18, with links to attention and learning difficulties, mental health conditions and use of other substances.

All products we examined for this report contained warnings for pregnant people and those under 18.

The vapes contained an information leaflet, but neither nicotine pouch product came with a sheet.

WHAT DO THE COMPANIES SAY

The Waterford News and Star contacted Peak and Nordic Spirit for comment.

We asked what 'toxic if swallowed' and 'harmful if swallowed' (as warned on their packs) meant and what guidelines they follow for the same manufacturing of their products.

A spokesperson for for JTI Ireland, the manufacturer of Nordic Spirit said: Nordic Spirit nicotine pouches provide a tobacco-free alternative to cigarettes and e-cigarettes for adult smokers and vapers. They should not be sold or marketed to anyone under 18 years of age.

"The 18+ age restriction is displayed on all products along with a health warning, and we work with our trade partners to prevent youth access to these products. We adhere strictly to responsible marketing principles which place youth access prevention at the core, and all of our packaging and communications are clearly marked as being for adult consumption only.

"Nordic Spirit products are currently available in three strength options: 6mg of nicotine per pouch, 9mg per pouch and 11mg per pouch. We believe these options are sufficient to satisfy existing adult nicotine consumers preferences.

"Nordic Spirit products are manufactured In the EU to the highest standard at our factories in Sweden and Poland and fully comply with applicable laws, including the EU General Product Safety Regulations. Nordic Spirit is not intended to be swallowed. The warning on the packaging is required by the Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulations.

Peak had not responded at time of publication.

CALLS FOR REGUALTIONS

Last year Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore urged the Government to include the regulation of nicotine pouches in proposed legislation to ban disposable vapes.

Her call came after the Association of Principals and Assistant Principals urged the HSE to issue an advisory note on the product due to the prevalence in schools.

However, I am deeply disappointed that the Minister for Health has not used this opportunity to include the regulation of nicotine pouches in the proposed legislation.

These pouches come in the form of small bags and contain highly addictive nicotine, among other ingredients. The product, which is placed under the users lip and up against the gum, is sometimes branded as a safer alternative to smoking. In reality, it should be viewed as a gateway to nicotine dependency.

Much like vaping, we have seen increased use of these pouches by young people under the age of 18. They pose a serious risk to the health and wellbeing of children and are contributing to rising nicotine addiction in Ireland," said Ms Whitmore.

While vapes are brightly coloured, nicotine pouches are discreet and held in the mouth.

So, for young people they may be easier to hide.

VAPES

Vapes also do not contain tobacco but are somewhat regulated.

The current guidelines from the HSE only apply to nicotine-inhaling products.

Those guidelines help retailers to remain to follow the EU (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco Related Products) Regulations 2016 (as amended).

Vapes cannot contain more than 20mg or two per cent concentration of nicotine.

Packaging must be child and tamper-proof.

Health warnings must be in English and Irish.

Vape with correct labelling and pouches side by side. The vape contains 20mg of nicotine per unit and the pouches 12mg per pouch. Picture by Joe Evans.

They cannot be sold to young people under 18 years.

They must be accompanied by an information leaflet outlining the harmful health effects, contact information for the manufacturer or importer and an EU contact.

Retailers who do not comply with the regulations may face a fine of up to 4,000.

The importation of vape products also comes with its own set of rules.

However, while there are rules around the importation and selling of vape products, the practice is not well enforced.

The Journal.ie found in January that expired, improperly labelled and illegally imported vapes were on sale widely across Dublin.

Following the Journals investigation in Dublin, the Waterford News and Star visited some of the shops selling vaping products in Waterford City.

We were able to buy vapes that were out of date, did not have the proper warning labels and did not have an EU contact as required.

This indicated these products may not have been intended to be sold in Ireland.

These products were on display and sometimes in the shop windows.

WHO IS IN CHARGE?

The HSE National Environmental Health Service (NEHS) is charged with the implementation of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling) Act 2023, together with the transposed Tobacco Products Directive.

They told the Waterford News and Star that they operate a targeted market surveillance programme across the supply chain, at ports and through distribution to retail shops.

As well as that, NEHS produces leaflets informing importers and retailers of their obligations.

In 2023, the NEHS started working with Customs and Revenue to develop a strategic approach to dealing with non-compliant electronic cigarettes and refill containers at import level.

In 2024, NEHS and Customs and Revenue prevented 26.6 tonnes (37.8 tonnes in 2023) of non-compliant vaping products from entering Ireland.

Last year, 17 prohibition notices were issued to retailers selling high nicotine or electronic cigarettes that did not meet legal volume limits.

The HSE destroyed 2225 electronic cigarettes that were subject to these enforcement notices.

That is up from eight notices in 2023 and 1116 destruction orders.

In 2024, the HSE destroyed 2225 electronic cigarettes that were subject to these enforcement notices.

"The NEHS will continue to give its market surveillance and enforcement work in this area high priority in 2025," said a HSE spokesperson.

SPOTTING AN ILLEGAL VAPE

In the course of our investigation, WNS found that there was little by way of information for consumers.

The EU Safe Gate system does have a database for specific electronic cigarette brand warnings and recalls.

But the system is difficult to use.

A person needs to put in electronic cigarette into the search and not vape.

The system has warnings going back years.

The batch number and manufacturing number are often conflated on the warning system and separate on the product box.

This means customers may not know if the brand or product is what the warning is referring to.

The fact that illegal vapes are so prevalent may also confuse consumers.

Adding to that the products are boxes in cabinets where the packaging is hard to examine.

The best way to identify a problem with your vape product is the warning label.

Three disposable vapes in breach of regulations purchased in Waterford City. None of the vapes have the proper warning labels, two are expired and the none have the proper contact information. All three were purchased in shops in Waterford City. Picture by Joe Evans.

This must be in English and Irish and will be around a third of the packet.

If its not, then the product is likely not intended for the Irish market and may not be safe to use.

One of the vapes we purchased (Elfbar) had an Irish flag on the side of it.

This vape was in line with all regulations for packaging.

So for consumers, markers like these are one to look out for.

NEW REGULATIONS

In September 2024, the Government approved the introduction of new regulations on vaping products.

Shops will be prohibited from point of sale display and advertising, except for those who only or primarily sell vaping products.

There will be new restrictions on colours and imagery so products don't look like toys or games and flavours will also be restricted.

Only basic flavour names will be allowed.

And, the bill will ban the import, manufacture and sale of disposable vapes.
A University Hospital Waterford surgeon is performing humanitarian medical work in a Palestinian hospital which was reportedly attacked numerous times by airstrikes from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Dr Morgan McMonagle, a consultant Vascular and Trauma Surgeon at University Hospital Waterford, has been performing life-saving surgery for sick and injured people in field hospitals in and near Khan Younis, Palestine. The surgeon, no stranger to warzones, having taught medics in war-torn areas of Ukraine, has spent some time performing surgery at the city's main medical facility, Nasser Hospital.

Over the past weekend, the hospital was attacked following the resumption of attacks by the Israeli military including one airstrike which was captured on live television by the Doha-based broadcaster Al-Jazeera.

Following the airstrikes, concern has been raised by locals in Waterford over the safety of the Irishman. Waterford-based activist group, Gaeil ar son Gaza said on Sunday, March 23: "With the news tonight that Nasser Hospital itself has been bombed, there is real fear for Dr McMonagle's life."

The group has called on Waterford's elected TDs to make the case to Simon Harris, the Minister for Foreign Affairs to "speak up and clearly to save Dr McMonagle's life and publicly call on Israel to end the war crime of bombing hospitals".

Gaeil ar son Gaza labelled the government's actions on the issue as "watching from the sidelines as the carnage unfolds".

Dr McMonagle is legitimately acting as a humanitarian aid worker in Khan Younis, having flown from Ireland to Egypt and received permission to enter Gaza after a "huge amount of red tape involved at a security level".

Over the weekend, the UHW surgeon spoke to RTE's 'Today with Claire Byrne', following the resumption of Israeli attacks in his area.

Dr Morgan McMonagle via LinkedIn.

He explained he has been in Gaza for five week: "I have been here five weeks now and no-one expected the ceasefire to fall apart this soon. It came as a shock."

We spent the first 20 minutes pronouncing people dead, mostly children," the surgeon said, "the majority were children, followed by sick and injured children [and] very quick decisions had to be made."

The surgeon told the story of a young child who was injured in the attacks: "I picked up a four-year-old boy, who was seriously injured and took him up four or five flights of stairs to the operating room. Hes currently doing okay but our facilities have been torn apart because of the conflict."

Dr McMonagle said the youngest child he has pronounced dead "was four or five months old" and added: "The average age is probably between six and eight years of age. The latest figures we saw is that this week, 40% of those killed are under the age of 14."

"We operated from about 2.45 in the morning and I finished my last case at 10 o'clock," the Cavan native said, explaining he had "carried out between 16 and 20 operations but it is very difficult to keep count because you are literally running from one operating room to the next.

The surgeon said about 70 people were brought straight to the Nasser Hospital mortuary and that "shrapnel is the biggest enemy" in the attacks.

"You get thousands and thousands of pieces of shrapnel", created by airstrikes which appear to cause minor surface-level injuries but cause "very major injuries on the inside".

Waterford News & Star has contacted Dr McMonagle for interview and has reached out to UHW to enquire as to the surgeon's safety.
Waterfords connections in the United States have been cemented further by a high-profile St. Patrick's Day visit by the Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Jason Murphy, and Waterford City and County Council Chief Executive, Sean McKeown. Over four packed days, the Deise delegation engaged with political, business, and academic leaders to showcase Waterfords strengths and explore new opportunities for collaboration.

"We are living in a globally tumultuous political landscape. However, we can never underestimate the power of collaboration, cooperation and dialogue, said Mayor Murphy.

Waterford, by having an on-the-ground presence in Boston over St. Patricks weekend, [had] a great opportunity to meet with elected officials, academics and Bostonians. But more importantly, it was invaluable to get front and centre with the Minister of Enterprise and the IDAs Boston Office to underline what Waterford, as Irelands Oldest City, has to offer to US companies in terms of world-class talent, infrastructure, quality of life and support networks.

The delegation began the Boston visit with a St. Patrick's Day reception hosted by the Consul General of Ireland in Boston, Sighle Fitzgerald, to celebrate the pan-Atlantic links between the two countries. The council highlighted the opportunity the event afforded the Deise's representatives to connect those spearheading the Irish business, enterprise and academic communities in Boston.

The Waterford City and County Council duo met with Peter Burke TD, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment at both the South Boston Political Breakfast hosted by US Senator Nick Collins, and while leading out the Boston parade with the Mayor Michelle Wu.

The Deise duo were also afforded the chance to visit the Boston office of the IDA, meeting with Shane Lawlor, Vice President of Life Sciences and Keith Newton, Vice President for International Financial Services the IDA Boston Office.

Mayor Murphy and the Council CEO also attended a private with the Provost of Boston College before meeting with one Professor Mary Murphy. Originally from Waterford, the Professor left for the US just six months ago to take up a role at the college.
Taylor Auerbach, the former producer on Sevens Spotlight program who gave explosive evidence during Bruce Lehrmanns defamation case, is suing the network over allegedly disparaging comments made before his surprise appearance in the witness box.

Auerbach filed Federal Court proceedings against Seven on Friday, publicly available records show.

Former Seven network Spotlight producer Taylor Auerbach outside the Federal Court last year. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

Auerbach claimed in an affidavit filed in the Lehrmann case that his employment as an investigations producer at Sky News Australia was terminated in March last year as a result of ... media reports. He appeared in the witness box the following month.

The court heard he had previously settled a psychological injury claim against Seven on confidential terms.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher says inflation is sustainably back into the Reserve Banks target band, which is why the budget has included more support for Australians.

Speaking on the ABC, Gallagher said the inflation story was a positive one in the budget.

[Treasury] are saying that inflation is sustainably back into band ... [energy rebates] are not an ongoing payment, which is why weve extended it for six months just to help households through to the end of 2025, she said.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher arrive to enter the budget lock-up at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Earlier, Treasurer Jim Chalmers also told the ABC that he thought it was unlikely the tax cuts would be inflationary.

We dont believe there is [a risk of inflationary effects] for a couple of reasons, he said.

The timing, and a participation effect, we are encouraging more people into the workforce which is one of our key objectives, but thirdly we think we have got the magnitude right to provide some top-up tax relief to every Australian taxpayer but in the most responsible way.
SHIZUOKA, Japan - Iwao Hakamata, 89, who was acquitted in a retrial over the 1966 murder of a family of four in central Japan, has been awarded a record sum in criminal compensation from the Japanese government after spending over 47 years in prison following a death sentence, his legal team said Tuesday.

The order to pay around 217 million yen ($1.44 million) was issued by the Shizuoka District Court on Monday, with the team saying the compensation was granted for his more than four decades of physical detention, from his arrest until his release.

In January, the team submitted a compensation claim to the district court on behalf of Hakamata, who still suffers from the effects of his confinement.

Hakamata's acquittal was finalized last October, marking the end of his family's decades-long fight to free him from death row. Investigative authorities fabricated evidence in the case, which took place in Shizuoka Prefecture, according to the court.

The fabrication served as the "basis for determining the amount of compensation," the court said, with the presiding judge noting Hakamata spent about 33 years of his detention under a death sentence, causing him to endure "extremely severe" mental and physical pain.

Hakamata's legal team has said it plans to file a lawsuit against Shizuoka Prefecture and the national government by this summer to hold them accountable for the wrongful conviction.

At a press conference in the prefecture, one of Hakamata's lawyers said, "It is only natural for the highest amount of criminal compensation to be awarded in a death penalty case where fabrication has been acknowledged."

Referring to the lingering effects of Hakamata's confinement, the lawyer criticized the central government, saying it had committed a "wrongdoing that 200 million yen cannot possibly atone for."

Related coverage:

Man acquitted of 1966 murders gets over 200 mil. yen in compensation

Japanese man acquitted of 1966 murders to sue state for defamation

Man acquitted of 1966 murders seeks over 200 mil. yen in compensation
TOKYO - A Japanese court on Tuesday ordered that the Unification Church, which has been criticized for soliciting financially ruinous donations from its members, be dissolved, following a request from the central government.

The order by the Tokyo District Court will deprive the controversial organization of its status as a religious corporation with tax advantages, although it will still be allowed to operate in Japan.

The church is the first religious organization in Japan to be given a dissolution order over civil law violations, and the third to be slapped with such an order for legal violations.

The court said it was unable to overlook the significant damage wrought by the church and that there was no alternative to a dissolution order, calling it an "inevitable legal action."

The organization was unlikely to improve its behavior as it had continued its practices despite announcing in 2009 that it would ensure compliance with the law. It had swindled at least 20.4 billion yen ($135.4 million) in donations from more than 1,500 people, according to the court.

The church said in an online statement that it would immediately appeal to the Tokyo High Court, adding that the order "will create future trouble for all religious bodies."

The request was filed in October 2023 by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology following a monthslong probe into the group.

"We believe our claims were accepted," said culture minister Toshiko Abe.

"We will take a whole-of-government approach in ensuring all necessary and stringent responses (to the issue) based on the country's law while extending full support to victims," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi.

Under Japan's legal system, authorities can ask courts to order a dissolution if a religious corporation "commits an act which is clearly found to harm public welfare substantially."

The case hinged on whether civil law violations, which the culture ministry argued the church had committed, were grounds for the dissolution under the Religious Corporations Act.

In a separate case involving the group, the Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that civil law violations were applicable when deciding on a request to dissolve a religious organization.

The ministry said the organization's tactics, which also included pressuring people into buying religious goods, began at least from around 1980 and sought to exploit followers through fear.

The Unification Church, formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, categorically denied the allegations.

The church has come under heavy scrutiny since the fatal shooting in 2022 of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe by a man who allegedly admitted to holding a grudge against the group due to financially ruinous donations made by his mother.

The incident was followed by a series of revelations of ties between some lawmakers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Unification Church.

One of the two other religious organizations issued a court-ordered dissolution due to legal violations was the AUM Shinrikyo cult, which carried out the deadly 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system and other serious crimes.

The other was the Myokakuji temple group, whose priests defrauded people by telling them they were possessed by evil spirits before charging them for exorcisms.

Related coverage:

Japan AUM cult web archive opens ahead of sarin attack's 30th anniv.

Son of Unification Church members seeks name change citing distress
SHIZUOKA, Japan - A small truck drove into a group of four elementary school girls on bicycles in central Japan on Monday, killing one and leaving another unconscious, according to police.

Akihiko Furuhashi, a 78-year-old farmer, was arrested at the scene of the incident, which occurred on a curved slope near a zoo in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, they said. Two other girls sustained minor injuries.

"There is no mistake that I hit them," the driver, a Hamamatsu resident, was quoted by the police as saying. "I don't remember how it happened."

Rescue authorities received an emergency call around 4:35 p.m. from a passerby reporting a girl who appeared to be elementary school age was "stuck between the front wheels of a car."
TOKYO - "Butter," the cult Japanese bestseller by Asako Yuzuki inspired by the real-life case of a gourmet-turned-serial killer who was convicted of poisoning three of her male lovers, is being hailed overseas for its exploration of the themes of misogyny, fatphobia and sexism in modern Japan.

The English translation of Yuzuki's book, based on the "Konkatsu Killer" Kanae Kijima, has created a buzz in Britain with sales reaching some 280,000 copies and a major bookstore chain naming it "Book of the Year" for 2024.

Yuzuki, 43, says she has been pleasantly surprised by the reception of her book overseas as a feminist novel, as opposed to the focus in Japan on how she had depicted Kijima's serial killings.

The protagonist of "Butter" is Rika Machida, a journalist in her 30s working at a Tokyo news office, who investigates the case of a female food enthusiast-cum-serial killer, inspired by the Kijima case.

Manako Kajii, also known as Kajimana, sits in a detention center convicted of the murders of three lonely businessmen she is said to have seduced with her homecooked meals. Like Kijima, Kajimana becomes the target of sexist abuse and body shaming by the media, which focuses on her homely looks.

Although the case arouses the public's fascination, Kajimana refuses to talk with the press, until she grants Rika's interview request when the reporter writes a letter asking for her beef stew recipe -- the last meal eaten by one of her victims.

But after making repeated visits to the detention center, Rika finds herself increasingly intrigued by the femme fatale's gourmet tastes and takes on a growing appetite for rich buttery foods, leading to weight gain and her own experience of body shaming.

Published in Japanese in 2017, "Butter" earned Yuzuki a nomination for the Naoki Prize, given to "the best work of popular literature in any format by a new, rising, or established author" in Japan.

But Yuzuki came away empty-handed, with the majority of the discussions by the selection committee focused on the setting of the incidents and the truth behind what had happened. She has been nominated six times for the Naoki award but never won it.

The jacket of the novel's Japanese edition emphasized the macabre nature of "female desire," and many readers took it as a crime novel based on the high-profile case of Kijima, who was given her Konkatsu Killer nickname after the Japanese word for searching for a marriage partner. Kijima came into contact with her victims, all killed in 2009, after frequenting marriage websites.

Kijima, now 50, who was suspected by police of swindling all of the men out of money before they died under suspicious circumstances, is currently incarcerated at the Tokyo Detention Center on death row.

Compared to the mixed response in Japan, "Butter" received rave reviews in Britain. Major book retailer Waterstones called it "a vivid, unsettling exploration of misogyny, obsession, romance and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan."

Yuzuki was delighted, saying, "I was surprised and pleased that it was seen as a socially conscious novel about feminism and the media."

In the book, many of the characters make derogatory comments about the appearance of Kajimana, who, mirroring Kijima, is neither young nor pretty. During their conversations, Rika's concern becomes no longer the modus operandi of Kajimana's crime, but the state of society where "everyone seems to detest women."

University of Cambridge associate professor Victoria Young, who teaches contemporary Japanese literature, paid particular attention to the book's many vividly described gastronomic scenes.

"These portrayals of culinary richness and excess border on the grotesque, but they also offer a means of resisting the pressures upon women to watch their weight," Young said.

Yuzuki's book offers "a feminist critique" of the role women are expected to play as wives, mothers and caregivers and the social pressure placed on them to do so, she added.

In recent years, there has been a boom in the popularity of Japanese women writers in Britian. According to the sponsor of Britain's International Booker Prize, a prestigious award for translated fiction, 14 of the top 30 translated novels sold in Britain in 2022 were Japanese works.

According to the publisher, Shinchosha, the book was a bestseller in the United States, too, selling 100,000 copies. It has also been released in South Korea and India and is scheduled to be published in around 20 more countries.

As of March 11, "Butter" had sold 270,000 copies in Japanese and a total of 470,000 copies overseas.

Polly Barton, who translated "Butter" into English, noted the "superhot" interest in Japanese novels now in Britain, but said that "above all, the book's success speaks to the fact that the issues it focuses on, particularly those around body image and gender norms, resonate with British readers."

Related coverage:

Japan manga sales top 700 bil. yen for 1st time on digital growth

Retro cafes bring sips of nostalgia to Japan's social media-driven youth

FEATURE: Japanese author with cult status draws spotlight abroad
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Aras Inis Gluaire in Belmullet is delighted to welcome Kevin Hamilton with his new Exhibition REDISCOVERY.

The official launch of this unique exhibition will be on Friday, March 28th, at 7pm.

Kevin Hamilton is looking forward to the launch of the exhibition, which challenges its audience to see Ireland in a new way.

A real voyage of discovery does not involve the seeking of new lands but seeing with new eyes.

"I am a local artist living and working in Ireland, producing contemporary photographic collages based on our environment. My exhibition, called REDISCOVERY will be a series of photographic collages made up from the built environment of areas of Ireland both North and South.

"My intention is to highlight the intrinsic beauty which is often ignored, showing Ireland in a new light and encouraging the audience to go and rediscover the country we all live in. My work isolates and explores every detail and expands it into a kaleidoscope of colour and pattern, turning the mundane into a new dynamic perspective. I want to encourage people to have a different and positive view of our environment and be proud of where we are.

"The miraculous is all around, all you have to do is look or know how to look, and my work emphasises the positive aspect of our culture.

"The legacy of the past has been a source for many artistic works. For years, terms such as culture or heritage have been abused in the North, and culture has been used as a political stick to divide communities.

"Heritage and culture are the focus of my work but not in a traditional way. Through my work, I am challenging us to see Ireland in a new way. My work focuses on the dynamic and positive, highlighting the best of Ireland in a new way. I take the traditional and redefine it showing the beauty which can be appreciated by all."

The exhibition is on view in Aras Inis Gluaire's gallery until May 9th. All are welcome.
TOKYO - Three major Japanese airports will introduce new electronic stands from April to streamline immigration and customs checks, government agencies said Tuesday, simplifying the current process requiring passports to be shown multiple times.

Japanese travelers returning to the country and foreign visitors will be eligible to use the technology, according to Japan Customs and the Immigration Services Agency. The gates are intended to improve convenience and shorten processing times.

Users of the one-stop gates, called joint kiosks, must present a passport and a QR code containing immigration and customs declaration details registered in advance on the government's Visit Japan Web platform.

Foreign passport holders visiting Japan will have their faces photographed and fingerprints taken, and their documents inspected by immigration officials. Japanese citizens will have their photo taken before being able to proceed.

Currently, Japanese and foreign visitor entries must provide information to immigration and customs separately.

However, an immigration agency official said foreign nationals with medium- to long-term residency in Japan will not be eligible to use the kiosks. The units cannot check data relating to the embarkation and disembarkation cards foreign residents complete when traveling to and from Japan, the official said.

The gates are being rolled out after a trial run at Haneda airport, the agencies said, with plans to expand their use to all Japanese airports with international flights.

The new technology will be introduced at both terminals at Kansai International Airport in Osaka Prefecture on Tuesday next week.

Terminals 2 and 3 at Tokyo's Haneda airport will begin using the gates on Tuesday next week and April 11, respectively, while Terminal 3 at Narita airport in Chiba Prefecture near the capital starts using the system from April 7.

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Japan top destination for Chinese during Lunar New Year holidays
SHIZUOKA, Japan - A Japanese court has decided to compensate an 89-year-old man with about 217 million yen ($1.4 million) for nearly half a century of wrongful detention, following his acquittal in a retrial over a 1966 quadruple murder case, a source familiar with the matter said Monday.

According to Iwao Hakamata's laywers, the sum is likely the highest-ever criminal compensation granted in Japan.

The request for compensation had been submitted to the court in January after Hakamata's acquittal was finalized last October, marking the end of his family's decades-long fight to free him from death row in connection with the case that occurred in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan.

As Hakamata's mental state had deteriorated during his long incarceration, making communication difficult, a lawyer serving as a guardian filed the request seeking about 217 million yen.

Under Japan's Criminal Compensation Act, an acquitted person is entitled to receive up to 12,500 yen per day of detention. The court determines the compensation amount based on factors such as time spent in custody and potential future earnings.

Hakamata's lawyers have called for the maximum amount, citing the "immeasurable extent of damage he suffered mentally and physically, and also for being under the fear of death penalty."

"Lost wages are also high, given that he was detained from the age of 30, his most productive period," they said.

Hakamata, who was a live-in employee at a miso maker, was arrested in 1966 for allegedly killing the firm's senior managing director, his wife and two of their children. He was sentenced to death by the Shizuoka District Court in September 1968 and the ruling was finalized by the Supreme Court in December 1980.

The former professional boxer spent about 47 years and seven months behind bars. He was released in March 2014, after new evidence raised doubts about his conviction, leading to the start of the retrial.

In granting Hakamata's acquittal in September last year, the Shizuoka District Court ruled that investigators had fabricated evidence. Prosecutors chose not to appeal.

Hakamata was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's longest-serving death row inmate.

Related coverage:

Japanese man acquitted of 1966 murders to sue state for defamation

Man acquitted of 1966 murders seeks over 200 mil. yen in compensation

FEATURE: Japan film reveals human face of exonerated killer Hakamata
KYOTO - The Kyoto city assembly approved Tuesday sharply raising the lodging tax for people staying at hotels and other accommodations in the ancient Japanese capital, with a maximum rate of 10,000 yen ($66.40) for stays costing 100,000 yen or more per person per night.

Until now, the highest tax rate was 1,000 yen for stays costing 50,000 yen or more. The city, heavily impacted by a surge of tourists in recent years, plans to charge the new rates to visiting guests from March 1 next year.

Under a revised ordinance, the rates will be 200 yen for stays costing under 6,000 yen per person per night, 400 yen for 6,000 yen to under 20,000 yen, 1,000 yen for 20,000 yen to under 50,000 yen, 4,000 yen for 50,000 yen to under 100,000 yen, and 10,000 yen for 100,000 yen or more.

The changes are expected to increase Kyoto's lodging tax revenue to about 12.6 billion yen a year from 5.2 billion yen in fiscal 2023.

The city intends to put the revenue toward measures to deal with overtourism and infrastructure development, including disaster prevention measures.

Related coverage:

Japan approves lodging tax in 11 more areas as tourism booms

Kyoto eyes raising city lodging tax to up to 10,000 yen per night
Colonial Corruption and Caste: A Study of Late Nineteenth Century India

When: Thursday, 27 March 2025 - Thursday, 27 March 2025 Where: Hybrid Event

Parktown Management Campus

SCIS Lecture Theatre, North Lodge, Parktown Management Campus, 2 St Davids Place, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193 Start time: 12:30 Enquiries: athenkosi.pono@wits.ac.za kitso.kgaboesele@wits.ac.za RSVP: Register now! Cost: Free but registration is required

SCIS invites you to a seminar by Dr Anubha Anushree titled Colonial Corruption and Caste: A Study of Late Nineteenth Century India on 27 March 2025.

The Southern Centre for Inequality Studies invites you to a hybrid seminar by Dr Anubha Anushree who will discuss Colonial Corruption and Caste: A Study of Late Nineteenth Century India on 27 March 2025, at 12:30 to 14:00 (SAST).

Abstract:

This presentation considers a particularly flagrant example of corruption in 1888 colonial Bombay, involving a powerful English officer Arthur Crawford and several of his subordinates (Mamlatdars). The principal argument is to demonstrate how the so-called British professional culture ironically expanded opportunities for corruption. Unlike the regulation of corruption in the early half of the nineteenth century in colonial India, which was directed at controlling corruption in instances of colonial contact with the natives, this chapter locates corruption within the colonial rational administrative structure. It argues that corruption was not just a matter of professional lapse but also a reflection of the homoerotic intimacies such administrative structures engendered.

The paper argues that the colonial treatment of Crawford-Mamlatdar corruption was informed by the anxieties to produce imperial distinction and supremacy. At the same time, the Indian challenge to the dismissal of officials signaled the selective emergence of upper caste and bourgeois notions of public virtue, which essentially acknowledged the colonial state as an apparatus of moral and affective control. Premised on a fantastical moral high ground, both these views failed to recognize the complex moral agency and subjectivities of the Mamlatdars themselves.

About the speaker:

Dr. Anubha Anushree teaches at the Department of English, Rajdhani College, University of Delhi. She is also the Editor (Asia) of the journal Review of Democracy. Before joining Delhi University, she was a lecturer in the COLLEGE Program at Stanford University, where she also earned a PhD in History. Her

dissertation, The Moral Republic: Corruption in Colonial and Postcolonial India, examines issues of political trust and public mobilisation in colonial and independent India.

To attend - register here.
Danone CEO reaffirmed long-term commitment at China Development Forum 2025

22:54, March 23, 2025 By Xie Ying, Sheng Chuyi ( People's Daily Online

During an exclusive interview with People's Daily Online at the China Development Forum (CDF) 2025 held in Beijing on March 23, Antoine de Saint-Affrique, CEO of Danone, reaffirmed his high confidence in China's economic trajectory and disclosed strategic plans for innovation-driven expansion in the world's second-largest economy.

"China is not only a major country in terms of population and economy but also an innovation hub. With such a huge economic base, China's economy continues to grow steadily. A growth rate of 5 percent means an annual increment equivalent to the economy of some European countries. This steady and sustained growth is impressive," he said.

"The best proof of our confidence in China's economy is our continuous investment. Danone is not only investing in research and innovation in China but also expanding our production bases. These investments serve not only the Chinese market but also the global market," he added.

When asked about Danone's investment layout in China by 2025, he revealed that Danone has an open research center in Shanghai, where they continuously conduct academic and clinical empirical research. In the future, Danone plans to further expand its research investment in China and establish a brand-new innovation center to serve not only the Chinese market, but also its broader global needs.

De Saint-Affrique also emphasized that China's innovative applications in fields such as artificial intelligence have brought many insights to Danone, and the company is driving the development of the entire industry based on its cutting-edge innovations in China.

In addition, the Danone CEO also stated that they will continue to expand production scale in China, making it an export base for Danone's high-end medical nutrition products.

"The Chinese government has taken a series of positive measures to boost consumption and stabilize foreign investment, which is undoubtedly good news for multinational companies like us. All policy initiatives to boost consumption and expand openness will help promote common prosperity and benefit global development," he mentioned.

With the continuous development of the "big health" industry, de Saint-Affrique believes Danone will continue to deepen its presence in the Chinese market and contribute to the health and well-being of the Chinese people.

(Web editor: Sheng Chuyi, Du Mingming)
The Armenian was flying from Los Angeles to Yerevan, and while he was sleeping, some clever compatriot stole $9,500 from his backpack.





Naturally, the poor guy contacted the police right at the Yerevan airport. The Armenian Interior Ministry promised to investigate the situation, stating that the victim had behaved suspiciously.





"No Armenian in their right mind would return from Los Angeles to Yerevan," the ministry emphasized.
NAGOYA - In the wake of the rescue of two Japanese teens who had been lured into working for scam syndicates in Myanmar, concerns are growing that more youths may be drawn into the fraudulent schemes operated by shady overseas groups.

Japanese police learned in interviews with the high school boys upon their return to Japan that they had been told the work would be easy and they would be well compensated, including having their travel costs covered.

Confined in locked compounds in civil war-ravaged Myanmar, the two said they were forced, along with people from other countries, to make calls attempting to scam people out of their money. If they refused to work, they would be beaten, starved or even subjected to electric shocks.

In mid-February, Thai authorities successively took protective custody of the boys, aged 16 and 17, near the Myanmar border with Thailand. The boys hail from Aichi Prefecture in central Japan and Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan.

A Chinese criminal organization is believed to have established a stronghold in eastern Myanmar near the Thai border. It is believed that about 10,000 foreign nationals were detained and forced to work in the schemes.

In January and February, more than 7,000 people were put in protective custody by the ethnic minority armed groups who have effectively taken control of the region in eastern Myanmar, where criminal syndicates have poured in.

According to Japanese investigators, the boy from Aichi who attends a correspondence high school was approached by a broker last November about a job overseas in which he could use his "special skills" to make easy money.

He met with the man from the criminal group several times and received instructions on how to obtain a passport, doing so without his parents' consent. The group paid for his air travel expenses and he went to Myanmar via Thailand in December.

At the center, he received instructions from Chinese nationals and engaged in a special scam in which he was paid to impersonate a police officer. The boy said he had a daily quota, and if he did not follow orders, he was tased.

He managed to contact his family early this year to tell them he was in Myanmar and plead for their help.

According to a Japanese government official, the boy from Miyagi was promised by a person he met in an online gaming chatroom that he could receive "food, clothing and shelter in an easy job."

Troubled by problems at home, he is believed to have left Japan for Thailand with an airline ticket procured by the crime group and smuggled into Myanmar. He said he worked under the surveillance of guards with machine guns.

According to the National Police Agency, as a result of efforts to persuade those offered "illegal part-time jobs" to not take part in crimes but instead to consult the police, there were 248 cases of protective custody by the NPA in four months from Oct. 18, 2024.

Ten cases were related to overseas travel, and more than half involved people in their teens to 20s. Last month, the whereabouts of about 20 Japanese nationals believed to have been caught up in cyber scam schemes were reported to be unknown.

A senior Aichi prefectural police official pointed out that the crime syndicates are "not under a single huge organization, but a network of small groups divided into different departments, such as recruiters and money launderers."

Another police official admitted, "It is not easy to get cooperation from overseas police," stressing the dangers of Japanese nationals traveling abroad on a whim. "It can be difficult to locate people if we lose track of them overseas."

Related coverage:

Japanese man taken into custody by Myanmar ethnic armed group

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Fabrice Mba (R, front) instructs a young man in martial arts movements in Yaounde, capital of Cameroon, on Feb. 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

by Arison Tamfu and Wang Ze

YAOUNDE, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Fabrice Mba's passion for Chinese culture in general and martial arts in particular budded in Cameroon's southern town of Sangmelima, where he grew up watching kung fu movies.

His elder brother was a projectionist, and little Mba often helped him sweep the movie theater.

For the first time, he saw Shaolin monks on the screen. "I discovered kung fu and Chinese culture. It spoke a lot to me."

Mba and his friends would imitate characters from the movies, but there was no kung fu club to train them.

At the age of eight, he left his home with his elder sister to settle in the capital, Yaounde.

Life was difficult for Mba, whose dad was absent and whose mom could not take care of every child because there were many.

"I grew up on the street," he said.

Mba's life changed with the arrival of a group of Chinese engineers in the 1980s. They built the Yaounde Conference Center, a China-aid project that remains one of the landmarks in Cameroon to this day.

Mba and his sister lived not far from the center. One of the Chinese engineers at the construction site was skilled in Chinese martial arts and trained regularly, to the amazement of Mba and his friends.

"I often went with my friends, and we stood from afar and watched (him training)," Mba recalled.

One day, the Chinese called them and asked them to take a posture, with knees slightly bent as if holding a tree in the arms. "We stood facing the wall. It hurt," said Mba.

After that, little Mba came every morning to learn kung fu with the Chinese. He trained hard, learning the fundamental elements of martial arts.

Mba returned briefly to his native town, Sangmelima, to help his brother, but life was difficult there, and he went back to the capital city, where he took odd jobs to survive.

His life took another turn in 2011, when he had an encounter with a co-director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Yaounde II, during one of his trainings.

Mba enrolled in the institute. "That marked a turning point in my kung fu journey."

Thanks to a scholarship, Mba got the opportunity to go to the Shaolin Temple in central China to receive training in martial arts and traditional Chinese medicine. Between 2015 and 2019, he went to the Shaolin Temple three times.

Today, Mba is a household name in Cameroon when it comes to kung fu and traditional Chinese medicine.

"I am the president of the Cameroon Kung-Fu Federation. I am a specialist in Chinese traditional medicine. I have been the president of the Association for the Promotion of Chinese Martial Arts since 2010, and I am also a cultural ambassador of the time of Shaolin," said the 46-year-old Shaolin disciple.

He runs a program that offers short-term training in physiotherapy and others to disadvantaged young people free of charge to help them find work. He also teaches kung fu in several schools.

"Be your own boss" is the slogan of his "Lotus and Water Lily" program.

"I train them to be morally upright and useful to society," Mba said. "I went through difficulties as a child, and I do not want them to face the same hardship."

Martin Mangwandjo is a student of Mba's. Now 29, Mangwandjo also teaches martial arts and runs a kung fu club of his own.

About seven years ago, he started learning kung fu with Mba, which changed his life.

"Kung fu has enabled me to fit into the social milieu more easily," said Mangwandjo, who has a congenital disability in his left leg and walks on crutches. "It has given me a winning mentality, because I've understood that a man's strength lies not in his physique but in his mind."

Now, Mangwandjo wants to do the same things as his mentor to help promote Chinese culture.

"I'd like to encourage other people, who have full mobility but still hesitate to take the plunge, telling themselves that these things are not feasible or not attainable, to really encourage them to embrace Chinese culture as I have," he said.

Mba's knowledge of and love for Chinese culture are also visible in the literary world. He has published several books of poetry and prose focused on kung fu, Chinese culture and non-violence.

"Martial arts is about moral values, peace, respect, and life," he said. "Cameroonians and Africans who read the books always come back to me, and say they now have a better understanding of Chinese people and their culture."

Mba said that as more people take up kung fu in Cameroon, he hopes to continue to offer valuable training to promote the culture.

"Promoting Chinese culture in Cameroon does not mean turning Cameroonians into Chinese," he said. "It's like putting Cameroonians in front of a mirror, enabling them to understand that through hard work, they can reshape their mentality, shed poverty, and achieve the results they want, just like the Chinese." 

Fabrice Mba speaks during an interview with Xinhua at his home in Odza, a neighborhood in Yaounde, capital of Cameroon, on Feb. 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

Fabrice Mba teaches schoolchildren to practice kung fu at the "La Petite Fontaine" School Group in Yaounde, capital of Cameroon, on Feb. 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

Fabrice Mba gives a lecture on traditional Chinese medicine to his students at the Confucius Institute at the University of Yaounde II in Soa, Cameroon, on Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

One of Fabrice Mba's student demonstrates Chinese kung fu in Soa, Cameroon, on Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

Fabrice Mba demonstrates Chinese massage technique to his students at the Confucius Institute at the University of Yaounde II in Soa, Cameroon, on Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

Fabrice Mba teaches students kung fu in Soa, Cameroon, on Feb. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Kepseu)
BRUSSELS, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The EU summit in Brussels concluded last Thursday with leaders voicing support for a white paper calling for enhanced European defense.

However, EU member states remain divided on how to defend Ukraine and ensure their own security. Analysts note that as U.S. defense commitments shift and Europe remains on the sidelines of Russia-Ukraine negotiations, the push for defense autonomy is gaining momentum. However, whether this goal can be fully realized by 2030 remains uncertain.

DISAGREEMENTS OVER AID TO UKRAINE

The Ukraine crisis and the new U.S. administration's stance on Ukraine have greatly heightened Europe's security awareness, making the defense of Ukraine a key topic at the summit.

"The international order is undergoing changes of the magnitude not seen since 1945. This is a pivotal moment for European security," the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said in Brussels.

Before the summit, Kallas proposed an additional 40 billion euros (43.38 billion U.S. dollars) in military aid to Ukraine. Italy, Spain and Hungary opposed the idea, while some eastern and northern European nations expressed support. France's stance remained unclear.

Kallas acknowledged that several EU countries had reservations about the proposals due to financial constraints. She said the EU is instead more focused on securing a more immediate goal: providing Ukraine with 5 billion euros, far less than the proposed 40 billion euros, to purchase ammunition to meet its urgent needs.

Analysts believe internal EU divisions over Ukraine could weaken Europe's influence in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine peace talks.

Public opinion indicates that, apart from Hungary's evident opposition, other EU member states have failed to agree on the specific amount of military aid to Ukraine. The statement issued by the 26 EU leaders at the summit reiterated support for Ukraine in various forms but did not specify the amount of military assistance, highlighting growing internal disputes.

Jian Junbo, director of the Center for China-Europe Relations at Shanghai-based Fudan University, noted that economic pressure has led to disagreements among European nations over continued military funding for Ukraine. There are also differing views on how to raise funds and whether to send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine or extend France's "nuclear umbrella" to the country -- issues on which no consensus has been reached.

FADING TRUST

A recent article on the Atlantic magazine's website argues that Europe's long-standing security dependence on the United States is untenable. After the recent transatlantic tensions, the piece's title doesn't hold back: "Europe Can't Trust the U.S. Anymore."

The European Commission presented the "White Paper on Defense - Readiness 2030" last Wednesday, calling for increased investment in the defense industry and joint procurement to ensure that Europe has robust defense capabilities by 2030. At the summit, leaders of all 27 EU member states agreed in principle with the paper's objectives.

"The security architecture that we relied on can no longer be taken for granted. Europe is ready to step up. We must invest in defense, strengthen our capabilities, and take a proactive approach to security," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

This White Paper aligns with von der Leyen's earlier 800-billion-euro "ReArm Europe" plan, which seeks to mobilize EU resources to strengthen defense autonomy.

Analysts believe the U.S. administration's policy shift toward Ukraine and Europe has prompted European leaders to prioritize defense autonomy and strategic independence.

A recent article on the website of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Britain argued that "With the U.S. no longer serving as a reliable defense partner, Europe must step up to provide support to Ukraine and address its own dependencies on the U.S.."

ROCKY JOURNEY AHEAD

Analysts note that while the EU seeks to break free from U.S. influence, its unwillingness to fully relinquish its security reliance on NATO would make the journey to achieve this goal a long and rocky one.

Paul van Hooft, a researcher at the U.S. think tank RAND, argues that if the United States withdraws from Europe, France and Britain's nuclear deterrence capabilities are still insufficient to protect the entire continent.

Not to mention, EU countries are still heavily dependent on U.S. weapons; thus, creating an independent defense industry within a few years is unlikely. Research from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute shows that the United States accounted for 64 percent of arms imports by European NATO states in 2020-2024, up from 52 percent in 2015-2019.

Moreover, Europe currently lacks standardized weapon systems. Consequently, in the near future, numerous European nations are inclined to purchase standardized U.S. weapons instead of European-made alternatives.

Lastly, funding issues will also severely hinder the EU's efforts to achieve defense autonomy. According to EU diplomats quoted by The Guardian, the headline 800 billion euros would be hard to realize, as economically developed countries such as Germany and the Netherlands are unwilling to take out EU-backed loans, and other member states, particularly in Southern Europe, are reluctant to increase debt for defense spending. 
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Shi Taifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice chairperson of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, presides over a meeting on the handling of proposals submitted at the third session of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC and delivers remarks in Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- A meeting on the handling of proposals submitted at the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, was held in Beijing on Tuesday.

Shi Taifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice chairperson of the CPPCC National Committee, presided over the meeting and delivered remarks.

Shi said the CPPCC has enhanced the proposal handling system, further improving the quality and efficiency of proposal processing while effectively highlighting the crucial role that proposals play in reflecting public sentiment and supporting informed decision-making.

He also underscored efforts to enhance the analysis and research of proposals, actively incorporate constructive feedback, and scientifically formulate countermeasures, aiming to foster a strong connection between effective proposal handling and problem-solving.

The goal is to utilize high-quality proposal processing to support high-quality development and better leverage the role of CPPCC proposals in comprehensively deepening reforms and advancing Chinese modernization, Shi added. 
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We urge our readers to review the comprehensive timeline accompanying this statement, which is part of the World Socialist Web Sites commemoration of the five-year anniversary of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. To get involved in the fight for a socialist public health program, fill out the form at the bottom of this article.

***

Five years after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, the disease continues to spread worldwide, compounding the immense suffering and death already incurred. Roughly 30 million people have died globally from COVID-19 and its myriad health impacts, with hundreds of millions more now suffering from Long COVID. This catastrophe was not inevitable but resulted from deliberate policy decisions by capitalist governments that prioritized profits over human livesa form of social murder on a massive scale.

From the earliest days of the pandemic, the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), which publishes the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS), warned that without an immediate and coordinated global response, COVID-19 would exact a devastating toll on human life. Our reporting and analysis were based on a careful study of scientific research conducted by epidemiologists, virologists and other experts, whose warnings were systematically ignored by capitalist governments.

Throughout this period, the WSWS has fought for a scientific approach to end the pandemic, based on the strategy of global elimination, which entails the universal deployment of all available public health measures to cut off viral transmission.

This article traces the development of our perspective and programmatic response to the COVID-19 pandemic, from its beginning to the present. The WSWS unparalleled record stands as an irrefutable indictment of the capitalist response to the pandemic, and a testament to the fact that had a socialist public health program been pursued from the beginning, the vast majority of death and debilitation from COVID-19 could have been prevented and tens of millions of lives saved.

Initial crisis, Zero-COVID and herd immunity

The opening months of the pandemic, from late December 2019 to early April 2020, clearly defined the two dominant strategies towards the pandemic: elimination and herd immunity.

On January 23, 2020, facing growing pressure from a restive working class, Chinese authorities initiated the first Zero-COVID elimination policy in the world, with 13 million people in Wuhan beginning the first mass lockdown in human history. This policy expanded throughout Hubei province and was combined with a program of regular mass testing, rigorous contact tracing, the safe isolation of infected patients, travel restrictions and universal masking, a comprehensive suite of public health measures designed to stop viral transmission. Seventy-six days later, all of Chinese society exited from these lockdowns and largely resumed normal life.

In this April 2020 photo, government workers coordinate transportation of travelers from Wuhan to designated quarantine sites in Beijing. [AP Photo/Sam McNeil, File]

The WSWS recognized early on that these measures were necessary to contain the virus. In a January 24, 2020 article, we first reported on the emerging outbreak and the initial response in China. In a January 28, 2020 Perspective, we warned about the dangers of the new coronavirus and called for a scientific response. In a February 28, 2020 statement of the ICFI, we called for a globally coordinated emergency response to the spreading coronavirus pandemic and stressed:

The solution must be global. Scientists from all over the world must be allowed to share their research and technology, unencumbered by the national interests and geopolitical conflicts that serve only to delay the development of effective countermeasures to contain, cure and ultimately eradicate the coronavirus. All trade war measures and economic sanctions, such as those imposed on Iran, must be immediately lifted. No human being should be denied urgently needed medical treatment on account of their national or ethnic origins.

By contrast, the Trump administration and other capitalist governments adopted a policy of malign neglect which soon morphed into the fascistic herd immunity policy of deliberate mass infection, clearly based on eugenicist and Malthusian conceptions. As was later revealed, the Trump administration was informed in January 2020 of the immense dangers posed by COVID-19 but systematically misled the public about the dangers of the disease, allowing COVID-19 to spread undetected.

For all of January, as the disease was spreading globally, no testing was conducted in the United States, despite the widespread availability of COVID-19 testing in China. Cases continued to mount throughout February, and by March, hospitals and morgues had filled to capacity. Workers began to launch wildcat walkouts at factories in the American Midwest, forcing the closure of workplaces and schools.



Almost immediately, sections of the ruling elite and their pliant media began demanding an immediate reopening. On March 22, 2020, the New York Times published an Op-Ed by Thomas Friedman that coined the new mantra for the back-to-work campaign: The cure cannot be worse than the disease. This campaign gained steam the following week after the passage of the CARES Act, which initiated the funneling of trillions of dollars to the rich while thousands of workers and retirees were soon dying every day.

Similar policies were implemented across Europe. In the UK, Boris Johnson initially advocated for herd immunity before being forced to implement a national stay-at-home order. In Sweden, the government pioneered the policy of deliberate mass infection, keeping schools and restaurants open, a policy which they exported throughout the world. In Brazil, far-right President Jair Bolsonaro dismissed COVID-19 as a little flu while the virus ravaged the countrys working class neighborhoods.

The ICFIs theoretical analysis of these developments was grounded in a Marxist understanding of the state and class relations. In a March 17, 2020 Perspective, we explained:

Two irreconcilable interests of two classes stand opposed to each other. For the capitalists, it is a question of securing their profit interests and ensuring that their property and wealth remain untouched. No measures are to be taken that impinge on their interests. The working class is concerned with the interests of the broad mass of humanity, proceeding not from private profit but from social need.

This analysis would be confirmed continuously throughout the pandemic.

The back-to-work campaign: Wall Street feasts on death

From the beginning of the pandemic, in those countries where elimination was not pursued, every action taken by the ruling class was dictated by the interests of the financial aristocracy. After taking no measures to safeguard the lives of the population, the Trump administration, with the backing of the entire political establishment, engineered the largest government bailout of the rich in history.

President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference about the coronavirus in the Rose Garden of the White House, March 13, 2020, in Washington [Credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci]

In his speech opening the WSWS 2020 International Online May Day Rally, WSWS International Editorial Board chairman David North characterized the pandemic as a trigger event in world history, which is exposing the economic, political, social and moral bankruptcy of capitalist society and laying bare the unbridgeable chasm that exists between the corporate-financial oligarchs who control and determine the policies of capitalist governments and the needs and interests of the working class.

Explaining the underlying economic forces driving the back-to-work campaign, then in full-swing, North stated:

In the new version of quantitative easing, the asset purchases of the Federal Reserve have been increased to $80 billion per day. The revenue required to service the Federal Reserves vast expansion of debt demands the extreme intensification of the exploitation of the working class. It is this necessity that has generated the campaign instigated by the media, for a return to work, even under conditions that threaten the lives of workers. The handing out of trillions of dollars to the ruling elite not only evokes widespread disgust and anger. It undermines the entire economic and ideological foundation upon which the legitimacy of the capitalist system rests. The capitalist, as is endlessly proclaimed, provides the capital and takes the risk. Neither of these claims holds water. The financial resources are provided by society, and risk is eliminated with the promise of endless bailouts.

The back-to-work initiative quickly spread globally. As US workers were forced back to work, Wall Street demanded that Latin America further speed up production. In a July 15, 2020 Perspective, we noted:

Now, the back-to-work initiative is in full swing in the US and widespread outbreaks have transformed North American workplaces into death traps, including auto plants, meatpacking facilities, produce farms and warehouses. As US workers are forced back to work, Wall Street is demanding that Latin America further speed up production.

In Europe, similar criminal policies were implemented. In Germany, the government pushed for reopening despite warnings from scientists. In Italy, the epicenter of Europes initial outbreak, workers were forced back into factories, leading to new waves of infections.

In response, the European sections of the ICFIthe Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Germany), Socialist Equality Party (UK), Parti de legalite socialiste (France), and Sosyalist Esitlik Grubu (Turkey)issued a joint statement titled, For a general strike to halt the resurgence of COVID-19 in Europe! The statement exposed the deliberate policy of mass infection across the continent and outlined a fighting program for the European and international working class.

While forcing their populations back to work and facilitating the spread of the virus, the ruling elites internationally concocted the Wuhan Lab Lie to try to deflect blame onto China for the mass infections and deaths they knew would ensue from their criminal policies.

Initially formulated by Trumps fascist adviser Steve Bannon, this far-right conspiracy theory falsely claimed that Chinese scientists working with colleagues internationally like Dr. Peter Daszak bore responsibility for unleashing COVID-19 on the world. On the five-year anniversary of the pandemic, this thoroughly debunked conspiracy theory is once again being revived by the New York Times and internationally to suit the needs of US and European imperialism in their preparations for war with China.

Vaccine nationalism and pandemic profiteering

The development of effective vaccines against COVID-19 by late 2020 was a scientific triumph. However, the distribution of these vaccines revealed the brutal logic of capitalism and imperialism.

The ICFI consistently advocated for the abolition of patent protections on COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, while stressing that the development, production and distribution of vaccines must be taken out of the hands of the pharmaceutical companies and placed under public ownership and democratic control. We exposed how pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca were profiting immensely from the pandemic while billions of people were denied access to life-saving vaccines.

The WSWS analysis of vaccine nationalism was grounded in a Marxist understanding of the global capitalist system. We explained how the pandemic had intensified imperialist exploitation and how the fight for global vaccine equity was inseparable from the fight against capitalism and imperialism.

The catastrophic Delta wave in India

The consequences of the profit-driven approach to the pandemic were most tragically demonstrated during the catastrophic Delta wave in India in March-June 2021, where the herd immunity strategy overseen by the fascistic Modi government led to an estimated over four million excess deaths in the span of just three months.

As the crisis deepened, the WSWS published articles daily documenting the horrific scenes unfolding across India: overwhelmed hospitals, oxygen shortages, mass cremations, and a government deliberately concealing the true state of crisis. In an April 23, 2021 Perspective, we wrote:

The catastrophe in India, it must be emphasized, is a global catastrophe in the face of a virus that respects no national borders and needs no passport. The decision of the worlds governments, led by the United States and the other imperialist powers, to abandon any systematic effort to halt the spread of the pandemic has created conditions in which COVID-19 has been able to mutate and develop more virulent, potentially vaccine-resistant strains. Unless and until there is a coordinated global, science-based effort to eradicate COVID-19 predicated on protecting peoples lives, not capitalist profit, this process will continue. Sparks from the current pandemic wildfire in India will cause blazes around the world. Indeed, cases of the Indian double-mutant [B.1.617.2 Delta] variant are now being reported in North America, Europe and the Middle East.

Family members pray next to the burning pyre of a person who died of COVID-19, at a crematorium in Srinagar, May 25, 2021. (AP Photo/ Dar Yasin)

The Delta wave in India also underscored the issues of vaccine nationalism and pandemic profiteering. While wealthy countries hoarded vaccines, India and other developing nations were left without adequate supplies.

ICFI spearheads the fight for global elimination

From the beginning of the pandemic, the ICFI has advocated for a strategy of global elimination, based on the scientific understanding that COVID-19 relies on a human host to propagate and the only way it can be suppressed is by cutting off all avenues of transmission.

In an August 21, 2021 Perspective, the WSWS argued:

[The] only viable strategy is eradication, based on the policies advanced by the foremost epidemiologists, virologists and other scientists throughout the pandemic. Eradication entails the universal deployment of every weapon in the arsenal of measures to combat COVID-19, coordinated on a global scale, to stamp out the virus once and for all.

This critical statement also critiqued the various mitigationist programs then in place in various countries, which it defined as an amorphous collection of measures that tries to negotiate between the realities of the virus and the financial interests of the ruling elites, noting that this amounted to the epidemiology of the golden mean.

The statement stressed:

Mitigation is to epidemiology what reformism is to capitalist politics. Just as the reformist harbors the hope that gradual and piecemeal reforms will, over time, lessen and ameliorate the evils of the profit system, the mitigationists nourish the delusion that COVID-19 will eventually evolve into something no more harmful than the common cold. This is a pipe dream totally divorced from the science of the pandemic. In reality, as long as the virus spreads it will continue to mutate into new, more infectious, lethal and vaccine-resistant variants that threaten all of humanity. Unless it is eradicated on a world scale, the embers of COVID-19 will continue to burn and create the conditions for the virus to flare up anew.

The WSWS advocacy for elimination was not based on utopian thinking but on scientific evidence that this approach could succeed. The elimination strategy proved highly effective in China, a mass society with over 1.4 billion people, as well as in Atlantic Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and a host of other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. These successes took place in March-April 2020 and thereafter, well before the development of vaccines. After eliminating COVID-19, these countries successfully fought off repeated outbreaks of the Delta variant and others imported via international travel.

Some of the participants in the October 24, 2021 online meeting

Our scientific approach was further developed through the October 24, 2021 webinar How to End the Pandemic, which brought together leading scientists and the WSWS to discuss the elimination strategy. This was followed by the Global Workers Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic, launched on November 22, 2021, to expose the criminal policies that led to millions of preventable deaths.

The Global Workers Inquest was a groundbreaking initiative that documented the crimes of the ruling class during the pandemic. It collected testimony from workers, scientists, and medical professionals, compiled evidence of government negligence and corporate malfeasance, and exposed the deliberate policies that led to mass death. As we explained in the statement announcing the Inquest:

This Inquest is necessary to break through the cover-up, falsifications and misinformation that have been deployed to justify policies responsible for the avoidable deaths of millions since the initial detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Biden administration pioneers forever COVID policy

As the pandemic continued, capitalist governments increasingly abandoned even the pretense of trying to control the virus. Instead, they launched a massive propaganda campaign to normalize mass infection and death.

In the Introduction to Volume 1 of COVID, Capitalism and Class War: A Social and Political Chronology of the Pandemic published on September 20, 2022, we wrote:

The propaganda campaign has had a profound impact on mass consciousness, disarming hundreds of millions of people throughout the world by encouraging them to stop wearing masks and abandon their vigilance against the ongoing threat of COVID-19. The mantra guiding this policy, repeated ad nauseam by politicians globally, is that society must learn to live with the virus. In effect, this cheap slogan aims to normalize perpetual mass death and debilitation.

The Biden administration continued and deepened this approach, culminating in a policy of forever COVID which remains in place today. In a July 26, 2022 article, we noted:

The American people have not learned to live with COVID; they have been coerced into it. They have been lied to, as they elected a president who claimed to follow the science but has actually followed the money. The measures necessary to fight the pandemic are in complete conflict with the profit interests of the financial elite, so public health will be sacrificed to private wealth.

This abandonment of public health measures accelerated in 2023, culminating in the WHOs May 5, 2023, ending of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). In effect, the worlds leading public health agency sanctioned the universal claims that the pandemic is over.

The dismantling of all public health measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 coincided with stepped-up attacks on science and the normalization of eugenicist conceptions in the entire ruling class. The 2024 New Year statement of the WSWS International Editorial Board summarized this process, in these words:

The universal adoption of forever COVID has necessitated a revival of eugenicist conceptions within all sections of the ruling class. In order to justify perpetual waves of mass infection, debilitation and death, the elderly and most vulnerable had to be deemed worthless by official society The fight against the pandemic has been undermined by an unrelenting assault on the scientific community, including physical threats against the lives of scientists like Peter Hotez, a campaign to which the Democratic Party has adapted itself. At the same time, public education is in a state of free fall after decades of budget cuts, which are now being compounded as all additional pandemic funding dries up. Every progressive development since the Enlightenment, including all the core principles of public health, are being clawed back by a ruling class tobogganing towards fascism and nuclear war.

A critical aspect of the living with COVID propaganda campaign has been the deliberate downplaying of Long COVID, the complex of debilitating symptoms that can persist for months or years after initial infection.

Some of the most prevalent symptoms of Long COVID

The WSWS has consistently fought for recognition of Long COVID as a mass disabling event requiring a comprehensive public health response. In an October 26, 2020 article, we were among the first to report systematically on COVID long-haulers and the emerging evidence of Long COVID affecting children. We have advocated for expanded research, medical support, and economic assistance for Long COVID sufferers, while exposing how capitalisms drive to normalize the pandemic has abandoned tens of millions to suffer in isolation globally.

The catastrophic lifting of Zero-COVID in China

The ICFIs analysis of Chinas Zero-COVID policy and its abandonment in November 2022 was based on a principled Trotskyist understanding of the bourgeois class character of the Chinese state and the contradictions of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The WSWS was the only socialist publication in the world to continuously support Chinas Zero-COVID policy and advocate for its extension globally. The December 2021 Inquest submission, The misunderstoodand misrepresentedZero COVID policy in China provided a detailed scientific analysis of Chinas approach, explaining how it had successfully contained the virus while capitalist countries allowed COVID to spread unchecked.

In an article published on November 15, 2022, we were the first news outlet to correctly identify that China was initiating the end of Zero-COVID, a policy which we stridently opposed and warned would be disastrous.

Patients receive intravenous drips at the emergency ward of a hospital in Beijing, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

In a December 16, 2022, Perspective, the WSWS condemned the criminal role played by the Western imperialist powers and their media, as well as the Chinese Communist Party, in imposing this policy of mass death. We stressed:

It is not the Chinese population that has demanded the lifting of Zero-COVID, but international finance capital and its mouthpieces in the Western media. They brayed for this and did everything possible to poison international public opinion against Chinas public health measures.

In a two-part series published in March 2023, we exposed how the middle-class pseudo-left political tendencies internationally had joined the chorus demanding that China abandon Zero-COVID.

This marked a continuation and deepening of the pseudo-left support for herd immunity throughout the pandemic. The earliest indication of their deeply reactionary approach was Jacobins September 2020 publication of a favorable interview with Martin Kulldorff, one of the co-authors of the Great Barrington Declaration, which the WSWS aptly characterized as a manifesto of death.

Our opposition to the lifting of Zero-COVID in China was based on the Marxist understanding that in the modern imperialist epoch, all social and democratic problems can be fundamentally resolved only through world socialist revolution. As we wrote in the series on the pseudo-lefts support for Chinas lifting Zero-COVID:

The Zero-COVID public health strategy is, in itself, not even a revolutionary policy, as shown by the experience in China, New Zealand and other countries. However, as Leon Trotsky made clear in his exposition of the theory of permanent revolution, in the modern imperialist epoch all social and democratic problems can be fundamentally resolved only through world socialist revolution.

The working class response to the pandemic and the ICFIs intervention

Throughout the pandemic, the trade union bureaucracies in every industry and every country have refused to take any action in defense of workers lives and livelihoods. They have facilitated the homicidal back-to-work campaign and embraced the anti-scientific forever COVID propaganda of the ruling elites and their media, doing nothing to educate workers about the ongoing dangers of COVID-19 and Long COVID.

In opposition to these corporatist agents of the capitalist class, the WSWS and ICFI have sought to arm the international working class with a revolutionary socialist program to fight for public health and to defend their lives and social interests. In one of the earliest examples of this, an SEP (US) statement published on March 14, 2020, titled Shut down the auto industry to halt the spread of coronavirus! was read by thousands of autoworkers and helped precipitate wildcat strikes in the Detroit metropolitan region which soon shut down the auto industry.

A critical initiative taken by the ICFI to mobilize the independent strength of the working class has been the fight to build the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC). The April 23, 2021 founding statement of the IWA-RFC stressed the central significance of the pandemic, declaring:

The IWA-RFC will work to develop the framework for new forms of independent, democratic and militant rank-and-file organizations of workers in factories, schools and workplaces on an international scale. The working class is ready to fight. But it is shackled by reactionary bureaucratic organizations that suppress every expression of resistance. It will be a means through which workers throughout the world can share information and organize a united struggle to demand protection for workers, the shutdown of unsafe facilities and nonessential production, and other emergency measures that are necessary to stop the spread of the virus.

Our party has directly intervened in numerous workers struggles against unsafe conditions throughout the world. In May 2020, at the height of the back-to-work campaign, we issued a statement calling for the building of rank-and-file factory and workplace committees to prevent transmission of the COVID-19 virus and save lives. This led to the formation of committees in auto plants, schools, and other workplaces across the US and internationally.

In the education sector, the SEP (US) played a leading role in organizing teachers against the criminal reopening of schoolsrecognized early on as a major vector for viral transmissionunder Trump and then Biden. Our September 8, 2021 statement, All US schools must be closed as part of a strategy to eradicate COVID-19!, provided a scientific basis for teachers opposition to in-person learning during the pandemic. The Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, initiated by the SEP, organized educators across the US to fight for remote learning and safe working conditions, with over a dozen local or statewide educators committees forming across the US.

Sri Lankan health workers shout slogans demanding better pay and personal protective equipment during a strike action in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Oct. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

In Australia, the SEP opposed the dangerous abandonment by state and federal governments of partial lockdowns and border closures in late 2021, calling for the formation of rank-and-file committees to oppose the unsafe reopening of schools and workplaces, and to join the global struggle to eliminate COVID-19.

In the UK, the SEP supported educators fighting against school reopenings and helped establish the UK Educators Rank-and-File Committee. Similar committees were built in Germany, Canada, Brazil, and internationally.

The SEPs intervention in the class struggle during the pandemic has been guided by a Marxist understanding of the role of the objectively revolutionary character of the working class. As we explained in an August 1, 2020 resolution:

The COVID-19 pandemic is a trigger event in world history that is accelerating the already far-advanced economic, social, and political crisis of the world capitalist system. It is creating conditions for an immense intensification of the class struggle on an international scale. The working class is confronted with a crisis for which there is no progressive solution, apart from a revolutionary struggle against capitalism, leading to the conquest of state power, the establishment of democratic control by the working class over the economy, the replacement of the anarchy of the market with scientific planning, the ending of the nation-state system, and the building of a global socialist society dedicated to equality, the elimination of poverty and all forms of oppression and discrimination, a massive rise in the standard of living and the level of social culture, and the protection of the environment.

Trumps return escalates war on science and public health

The return of Donald Trump to the White House has escalated the war on science and public health as a core component of his fascist agenda. In a January 23, 2025 Perspective, we wrote: The initial architect of the horrific herd immunity mass infection policy towards the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump is picking up where he left off four years ago and escalating far further.

To carry out this agenda, Trump has selected as Health Secretary the most notorious anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist in the world, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. To say that the fox is now guarding the henhouse would be a gross understatement. Prior to taking the helm of what were once the worlds preeminent public health agencies, Kennedy made millions filing lawsuits against vaccine manufacturers and the very agencies he now oversees, while selling books that inculcate vaccine hesitancy and anti-science conceptions.

Donald Trump watches as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is sworn in as Health Secretary in the Oval Office, Feb. 13, 2025 [AP Photo/Alex Brandon]

In close collaboration with billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Kennedy and Trump are setting out to completely destroy the last vestiges of public health in the US, which will have vast global ramifications.

Just in its first two months, the Trump administration has withdrawn from the WHO, imposed an unprecedented gag order on all 13 agencies within HHS, fired over 5,000 employees at HHS agencies, proscribed research on revolutionary mRNA vaccines and technologies, and forced the scrubbing of thousands of pages on the websites of the CDC, NIH, FDA and other agencies.

In a February 10, 2025 article, we noted:

The Trump administrations war on public health is a deliberate strategy to dismantle science-based governance, suppress medical research, and impose an extreme ideological agenda on American society and, by extension, on the rest of the world. The suppression of public health research, the erosion of scientific integrity through right-wing think tanks, and the funding of ideological publications that masquerade as academic journals all point to a coordinated effort to weaken public trust in science.

The February 8, 2025 Perspective, Trumps assault on public health and the growing threat of an H5N1 bird flu pandemic, warned that the dismantling of public health infrastructure is occurring precisely as new pandemic threats emerge, creating the conditions for even greater catastrophes. The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has made abundantly clear that when the next pandemic starts, or if a far more deadly variant of SARS-CoV-2 evolves, the capitalist ruling elites will not tolerate any public health measures, let alone the limited lockdowns that were forced upon them by workers in March 2020 and which saved millions of lives globally.

Conclusion

As we enter the sixth year of the pandemic, with new threats such as H5N1 bird flu on the horizon, the ICFIs fight for a scientific approach to public health based on the principles of global elimination and eradication remains as urgent as ever. This fight is inseparable from the broader struggle against capitalism and for the socialist transformation of society.

The coming shocks of the Trump administration in the domain of public health will further destabilize American society and accelerate the radicalization of the working class. The ICFI will continue to fight for the independent mobilization of workers internationally to end the pandemic and build a society that prioritizes human life over profit.

In the coming period, the ICFI and WSWS will deepen the fight for a globally coordinated strategy to eliminate COVID-19 based on the following principles:

For an immediate end to the forever COVID policy and the implementation of science-based public health measures! This requires the universal deployment of all required public health measures, including mass testing, contact tracing, the safe isolation of infected patients, masking, and the safe installation of HEPA filters and Far-UVC in all indoor public spaces. For a massive investment in research and development of next-generation vaccines and treatments! This requires the expropriation of the pharmaceutical industry and the free distribution of vaccines and treatments globally. For workers control over workplace safety through rank-and-file committees and the building of the IWA-RFC! The pandemic has made it abundantly clear that the trade union bureaucracies will do nothing to protect any of our social rights, including the most basic right to life itself. For a vast expansion of public education, not its destruction! Science and public health can only be defended and developed through the cultivation of the next generation in fully-funded, fully-resourced schools. For a fundamental reorganization of society based on socialist principles! This is the only way to ensure that public health is prioritized over private profit and that the needs of all people are met.

Five years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world stands at a critical juncture. The pandemic has accelerated all the contradictions of global capitalism: the growth of social inequality, the intensification of imperialist tensions, the assault on democratic rights and the radicalization of the working class. It has confirmed the Marxist understanding that capitalism is incompatible with the most basic requirements of human life and social well-being.

The ICFIs programmatic response to the pandemicbased on the independent mobilization of the working class through rank-and-file committees, the fight for a global elimination strategy, and the struggle for socialismprovides the only viable way forward.

We call on workers and youth around the world to join this struggle. Only through the building of a mass socialist movement of the international working class can humanity put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic and prevent future catastrophes. Join the Socialist Equality Party and take up the fight for a world free from disease, exploitation and wara socialist world based on human need, not private profit.
Workers of the German automaker Audi protest the threat of massive layoffs in downtown Brussels, Belgium, Monday September 16, 2024 [AP Photo/Sylvain Plazy]

Audi announced last week it was cutting 7,500 jobs and would be implementing a medium-term savings programme of more than 1 billion per year. The IG Metall union describes the so-called Agreement for the Future as a success and is already working on the concrete implementation of the savings targets.

The Audi jobs are to be cut by 2029 at its Ingolstadt headquarters and in Neckarsulm in administration, sales and development.

Across Germany, the 55,000 employees of this Volkswagen subsidiary are worried about the future of their families. An Audi worker at the Neckarsulm plant told Sudwest Rundfunk radio that today was not a day to rejoice after hearing about the savings package and job cuts.

Audi General Works Council Chairman Jorg Schlagbauer, who has no worries about his future, sees things differently. The destruction of 7,500 jobs was justifiable, he told business weekly Wirtschaftswoche. He even spoke of a success for IG Metall, as management had originally proposed cutting 12,000 jobs.

For months, IG Metall and its works council representatives had worked out the plan behind closed doors with Audi management. Similar to VW, where IG Metall agreed to cut 35,000 jobs and reduce wages, pay at Audi will also be cut in addition to the job losses. IG Metall and management stated that the profit-sharing scheme for employees would be reduced. In 2024, each employee received 8,840, which will now be reduced to 5,310. This is likely to be the start of a series of attacks on the workforce in the future.

However, in the face of intensifying competition, Audis profit margin, which has recently been well below 5 percent, is expected to return to double digits by 2029 at the latest once the current Agreement for the Future has been concluded. What other bad news awaits the autoworkers in addition to the current job cuts and reduction in profit sharing remains a secret.

According to the Audi Media Centre, based on the key points, the next step will be to define the measures and the structure in the divisions in detail and the specific mix of personnel instruments and then implement them consistently.

Profits fell by around a third last year. However, this was mainly due to the costs of the closure of the Belgian Audi plant. Despite massive protests by the workforce, Audi stopped production there in February and closed the plant, which was founded in 1949, destroying 3,000 jobs and hundreds more in the supplier industry.

In addition, the Audi Group, which also includes subsidiaries Bentley, Lamborghini and Ducati, sold fewer vehicles in 2024 than in the previous year. Sales figures for the cars and motorbikes in the luxury segment produced by 87,000 employees at 21 locations in 12 countries fell sharply in some cases, from over 1.9 million to under 1.7 million.

Marco Schubert, management board member for sales and marketing at Audi, pointed to the discontinuation of some models as the reason for the cuts. He therefore categorised 2024 as a transition year: We have strong models in the start-up phase, but these will only gradually impact volumes in the markets.

In China, the German automotive industry as a whole is facing rapidly growing competition from Chinese manufacturers who are producing technologically advanced and affordable electric cars in one of the worlds most lucrative markets.

This also applies to the Audi Group, which delivered just under 650,000 vehicles in China last year, around 80,000 fewer than in the previous year. These were almost exclusively internal combustion engine vehicles; the group only sold 164,000 of its electric cars worldwide in 2024.

Comparatively, on the American market, Audijust like Porsche, which is also part of the VW Groupis more affected by Trumps punitive tariffs than other German manufacturers. Neither of them currently produces in the US and only supply imports to the auto market. Last year, Audi delivered to the US around 57,000 vehicles from Germany, 31,000 from Slovakia and almost 8,000 from the now closed plant in Belgium.

As a result of these developments, turnover fell from just under 70 billion in 2023 to 64.5 billion in 2024. As profits slumped, the return on investment fell from 9 percent to 6 percent. The uproar among investors was enormous. The job cuts and savings programme that have now been announced are intended to satisfy investors greed for profit.

CFO Jurgen Rittersberger assured that the Audi Group would deliver, promising that the 2025 financial year would exceed the 2024 result with turnover of between 67.5 billion and 72.5 billion. The operating margin should rise again to between 7 percent and 9 percent within a year, he said. However, we still have a tough road ahead of us, warned Rittersberger. In order to achieve our sustained return targets, we will continue to consistently drive forward the transformation of the company.

This is to be ensured by the so-called Agreement for the Future. Audi CEO Gernot Dollner proudly explained at its announcement, The Agreement for the Future is the basis for continuing to consistently implement the personnel transformation. In times of upheaval, company management and the Works Council are pulling together.

The terms Agreement for the Future or Future Contract are regularly used by IG Metall to feign job security and maintain its stranglehold over the workforce. Under this guise, which always includes revision clauses and other hidden measures, IG Metall collaborates with management to develop and implement various methods of job cuts and austerity programmes.

In December, IG Metall glorified the Future Agreement at parent company Volkswagen, citing the reduction of 35,000 jobs and a 20 percent loss in real wages as the Christmas miracle of Hanover. Weeks later, employees had to face the fact that the agreement was a carte blanche for management to make unlimited job cuts and plant closures in the future.

At the beginning of March, automotive expert Constantin Gall from the consulting firm Ernst & Young stated in a press release: The German automotive industry is in a massive and comprehensive crisis. We will therefore see car manufacturers massively cutting costs this year in order to increase their resilience. This will inevitably lead to significant job losses.

The auto corporations can fully rely on the trade unions to implement the job cuts and savings programmes. Following the same pattern, firms first announce job and social cuts, whereupon the IG Metall works councils loudly threaten resistance, only then to implement exactly what the companies initially demandedor even more, as in the case of VW.

The current agreement at Audi also followed this script. Even during the negotiations, Jorg Schlagbauer, who as chairman of the General Works Council is also deputy chairman of the Supervisory Board, invoked the alleged fighting spirit of IG Metall.

The list of atrocities initially presented by the company would be resolutely countered and the union was prepared for all eventualities, he boomed. If the company does not give in quickly, there will be a rampage, even during the so-called industrial peace period if necessary, he added. A few days after this bluster, Schlagbauer signed the current future agreement and praised the fact that compulsory redundancies would be ruled out until 2033. Audi and IG Metall will just implement the job cuts in other ways.

With the reduction and structural reorganisation of profit-sharing, the Audi workforce is making an important contribution to making [Audi] as a whole weatherproof and future-proof again, Schlagbauer added. The Audi workforce is investing many, many millions of euros in its own future over the years.

Wrong. The workforce is investing in increasing returns, i.e., putting more money in shareholders pockets.

The top management is rewarding this. In order to secure the dominance of IG Metall over the workforce, Audi management has agreed to pay an additional bonus for IG Metall members from 2026. In this way, the union and employer are trying to force the workforce to become members. IG Metall, currently Germanys largest trade union with just under 2 million members, has lost around 280,000 members in the last 20 years.

Workers are increasingly turning their backs on the trade unions. Hardly any workers defend IG Metall when they speak frankly outside the factory gates.

Many criticise the fact that IG Metall is implementing company job cuts and is now also supporting the pro-war policy of the incoming federal government. This became clear on IG Metalls March 15 day of action. What was declared to be a wake-up call for secure work turned out to be nationalist agitation by leading trade unionists in support of the war policy.

This day of action unmistakably showed the trade union bureaucracy to be an integral part of the state apparatus and its rearmament policy. The massive rearmament spending and preparation for war will intensify the attack on jobs and social achievements to an unprecedented degree. In order to defend jobs, workers must therefore also oppose the pro-war policy.

Workers growing opposition to job cuts and rearmament must lead to a political break with the trade union apparatuses. What is needed are independent rank-and-file action committees in which workers unite across locations, sectors and national borders to conduct a real fight against the attacks of the corporations. We call on workers at Audi and all other manufacturers and suppliers to get in touch with us. Send a WhatsApp message and register directly using the form below.
Adolescence, a four-part mini series, was Netflixs most-watched English-language show in its first week, recording over 24 million views.

Written by Jack Thorne (Skins, This is England and Toxic Town) and actor Stephen Graham, and directed by Philip Barantini (Boiling Point), it has attracted such a large audience by addressing a morbid symptom of contemporary capitalist society in a way which neither moralises nor simplifies.

Stephen Graham in Adolescence (2025) [Photo: Netflix]

The series asks how 13-year-old Jamie came to be capable of stabbing to death his schoolmate Katie, addressing themes of social breakdown, parenting, social media, bullying and the many malign influences on young men and boys. Jamies guilt is established at the end of the first episode: the tension is in finding out why.

Graham suggested to Radio Times the inspiration for the series were the killings of 12-year-old Ava Whitestabbed by a 15-year-old boy during a row over a Snapchat video; 16-year-old transgender girl Brianna Gheykilled by two 15-year-olds, a boy and a girl; and 15-year-old Elianne Andam, killed by a 17-year-old boy who said she teased him after he broke up with one of her friends.

Thorne wrote in the Guardian of Graham: He wanted to talk about young male violence towards women and he had two stipulations: he wanted to do it in a series of single shots, and he didnt want to blame the parents.

Fifteen-year-old Owen Cooper, playing Jamie, gives an astonishing performance, capturing the early-teenage rollercoaster of emotionsfrom fear to sullen insolence, brash cockiness, embarrassment, defensive rudeness and flipped-switch rageabove all in the highlight third episode where he speaks with psychologist Briony. That role is played by Erin Doherty, whose occasionally rattled professional cool is very well done and complements the impact of Coopers acting.

Owen Cooper in Adolescence (2025) [Photo: Netflix]

Graham, playing Jamies dad Eddie, shows a man crumbling under the effort of keeping his life together in impossible circumstances. His chemistry with wife Manda (Christine Tremarco) creates a believable family around daughter Lisa (Amelie Pease), a quietly emotionally intelligent child who forms a foil to Jamie and sticks a spanner in the works of any family background explanation of his crime.

Stephen Graham and Christine Tremarco in Adolescence (2025) [Photo: Netflix]

Ashley Walters as Detective Inspector Bascombe and Faye Marsay as DS Frank are convincingly weary, almost jaded, investigators of social breakdown and its consequences.

Their achievements are made the more impressive by the filming style. As with Barantinis Boiling Point film, in which Graham also starred, each episode is done in a single shot, with the camera following characters, picking up on others as they cross paths. The result is a powerful realism, in which the emotional weight of each hour is really felt.

From the first minutes of Episode Onean armed police raid on a suburban house for a 13-year-old boy, who wets himself in frightthe viewing is unsettling, a feeling underscored by all the subsequent police proceduresstrip searches and so onas applied to a young child, and the discomfort of everyone involved. Something has gone deeply wrong in society for this to be taking place.

The final shot in which a stunned Eddiewho has just seen CCTV of Jamie stabbing Katie to deathflinches away from his sons touch, then sobs as he embraces him sets up what follows. Jamie has committed a heinous, inexcusable crime; but, like his family must, we will walk with him through the consequences.

Episodes Two and Three are twinned: dealing with the social context of Jamies actions through a visit by Bascombe and Frank to his school, and with Jamies psychologyhis processing of these influencesthrough the assessment with Bryony.

The school is havoc, and not unusually so in a country where teaching is desperately understaffed and undervalued, and schools underfunded enough for education, even as they play a dual role as social care centres. Does it look like anyones learning anything? Bascombe asks, It just looks like a fucking holding pen. The phrase phones away is shouted repeatedly and ineffectually.

Its here Bascombe learns from his son Adam, a pupil at the school, that they have been misreading Jamie and Katies social media interactions (largely in emojis) and that Katie had been bullying Jamie by implying he was an incel, involuntarily celibateWho isnt celibate at thirteen? Bascombe exclaims.

There is a horror-like quality to this scene: a sort of staring into the abyss on Bascombes part. I have been blundering, he admits to Adam. Andrew Tate is briefly mentioned later in a conversation with Frank and a teacher. Bascombe is evidently affected and worries about his own relationship with his sondistant, thanks to his long work hours, as Eddie later acknowledges of himself and Jamie.

Frank speaks less but what she says is pivotal. She is viscerally affected by the run-down school. At the same time, she remembers her own, similar, experience as a child and the fact that she had a good teacher All kids really need is one thing that makes them feel okay about themselves.

She gives the necessary reminder that, although this is not the series chosen focus, behind the scenes is a dead girl and her devastated familyand the fears of other parents with young girls.

The viewer is helped to understand that, while antagonisms and anxieties are inevitable among teenagers, these have been supercharged by the fraying of the social fabric around them. The supportive struts and safety nets around the usual pitfalls of adolescenceadults who can spend the time to guide and encourage, settings in which childrens sense of self-worth can be cultivatedare gone. If the kids attention is always being snatched away by their phones, then its because there is little else to grip them.

Adolescence (TV series) [Photo: Netflix]

Episode Three explores the feeling of worthlessness and loneliness this all sows in Jamie. He does not consider himself good at anything, he feels ugly and bullied. He nonetheless posts photos of himself to his Instagram account Because you think someone might like one of your photos, because you might get into a conversation, make a new friend, meet a girl? Briony observes. By the end of the episode he is literally screaming for her to like me.

Their conversation also examines how this sense of inadequacy ends up being framed in sexual terms. Jamie is, darkly ironically, pointed to misogynist truth groups by Katie and his other classmates taunts. He didnt like it. But what he does agree with, effusively, is that 80 percent of women are attracted to 20 percent of men.

The undigested sense at Jamies age of social inequality, that he is on the losing side, and that the way of the world is dog-eat-dog competition, is translated into the language of popularityparticularly with girls. The origin of the 80:20 ratio is the reactionary liberal economic law the Pareto Principle.

Again, that this takes the form of sexual frustration is not unusual among teenagers. But the extremity of it, and at such young ages, are the product of a market-driven exposure of young people to often violent pornography, sex sells advertising and beauty standards, and the subconscious standards they set. Women come to be seen as trophies of success. The likes of Andrew Tate give repulsive voice to the violence inherent in all of this and encourage it.

Jamie sees a topless picture of Katie circulated around his classmates by another boy. He uses the opportunity to ask her out, hoping she might be weak because everyone was calling her a slag or flat. Her rejection of him even thenIm not that desperate and bullying afterwards prompts him to buy the knife to scare her. And the humiliation, as he has been led to see it, of being pushed to the ground by her pulls the trigger on this temper we see erupt twice with Briony.

Episode Four takes us back to the family dealing with Jamies absence and their lives under the shadow of his crime. The last minutes are brilliantly written. As Eddie and Manda accept that they made Jamie and could have done more to stop him treading his path, the viewer becomes more and more convinced that they are wrong, or at least only trivially right. People can always do more.

The reality, as we have been shown, is that the problems are well beyond an individual familys ability to resolve. Perhaps the most common expression throughout the series is I dont know, or some variant, from kids and adults alike; they are buffeted and bewildered by forces beyond their grasp.

The role of smartphones, the Internet, and social media in particular, are well contextualised in this broader social landscape. It would be foolish to deny the role they play in creating an unprecedented level of exposure to peer pressures and corporate advertising, declared and undeclared, and in streamlining the passage of individuals damaged by these influences into darker waters.

Owen Cooper and Erin Doherty in Adolescence (2025) [Photo: Netflix]

But the real problem is the poison spilling out of a rotting social systemfrom misogynist ideologies to the glorification of violence, wealth and selfishnessfor which these technologies are a conduit, and the conditions of social neglect which make young people emotionally susceptible: the most vulnerable dangerously so. Conditions which also hinder the social dialogue necessary to help children learn how to interact healthily with new technologies and form genuine relationships.

With families and communities gutted and exhausted, where is the time and where are the personal connections and bonds of trust to allow this to take place? The five sessions Jamie has with Briony are the first opportunityfar too lateJamie has to get anything close to this. He is tormented when they come to an end.

Jack Thorne speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. [Photo by Gage Skidmore / CC BY-SA 3.0

Adolescence shows Graham and Thorne continuing to deliver some of the most serious work in British televisionboth motivated by a concern to get across life as it actually is for the working and most harried sections of the middle class. They deserve the praise they have received for the series, and every encouragement to continue.
An ICE officer pointing a taser at Jose Montoya-Lopez

Public outrage is growing over the forcible apprehension of two Honduran workers by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Indianapolis on February 28. In a cellphone video that was captured from the point of view of the two workers, Jose Montoya-Lopez and Amner Nunez-Vasquez, one can witness the interaction between the workers and the officers who approached their vehicle.

An officer in a plaid shirt with a police vest is standing against the open passenger-side door. The vest indicates that he is with Enforcement and Removal Operations, which is a division of ICE. The officer is shown gripping Montoya-Lopezs wrist with one hand while pointing a taser at his chest with the other.

Frightened and confused, the two men continue to ask in Spanish what theyve done, only to be harassed by the agents yelling at them to show identification and open the door. Tensions begin to rise as officers from the Bureau of Alchohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are shown arriving on the scene.

That is when Montoya-Lopez attempts to break his hand free from the agents grip and is forcefully removed from the vehicle and subsequently pinned to the ground. Nunez-Vasquez is seen getting forcefully removed from the drivers side and the video comes to an abrupt end as the officer reaches and grabs the phone.

The arrest, which was far from a routine traffic stop, appeared to be a coordinated effort to target these workers and detain them for deportation. The video that the men were able to capture was later uploaded to the internet by a friend of Montoya-Lopez, Jeanette Kennedy.

Kennedy said in a video interview with wishtv.com, The men who came to this van didnt read their rights to them. She continued, They kept asking what they did and the officers werent telling them anything. If anything, they should have said, We are pulling you over for such and such. This is what we need you to do.

Neither of these men had weapons, I dont understand why they needed to have weapons drawn on them, Kennedy added.

Throughout the video, the officers never once provide a reason for the stop. Public records show that neither of the workers face criminal charges from the traffic stop at this time.

News 8, a local new station, spoke to the wife of Montoya-Lopez, who said she had no idea why he was targeted. She also stated that she is hoping for his eventual safe return as he is the main provider for their family and supports the treatment for their handicapped 3-year-old daughter.

After the abduction, authorities report that the workers were transferred to an immigration holding facility in Clay County, Indiana, about 65 miles southwest of Indianapolis. Public records show that Montoya-Lopez was later transferred to Alexandria Staging Facility, a 72-hour hold detention site in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, near an airport used for deportation flights. Vasquez-Nunez still remains in Indiana at the Clay County Justice Center.

As of this writing, the men remain in these detention facilities. Lopezs family continues to try to unravel the reasons for his targeting. As reported in an article on WTHR.com, after examining some of the documents, immigration attorney John Broyles stated that it appeared that Lopez had an outstanding removal order and a warrant for his arrest and that he was served a notice to appear, which starts or initiates the removal process.

However, friend-of-the-family Kennedy stated that the family claims he did go to his immigration hearing. In fact, the family has stated that both men had work visas with them in the van. The family is currently working with an attorney to reach Lopez, but is having difficulties. Lopezs wife fears that they could be deported at any time.

The WSWS spoke to workers and residents in northwest Indianapolis at a local shopping center about the attacks on the two Honduran workers. One resident noted, Indianapolis is home to some of the largest immigrant communities in the country, including Mexican and Burmese immigrants, as well as many others from South and Central America and Asia.

The attacks on immigrants have already started, but they are not going to stop and they are only going to worsen. We need to unite the working class across political and ethnic lines to take control of our communities and make real, lasting change from the ground up.

Another resident said, I will get these articles to my coworkers to read this. I am from Palestine, so I know exactly what this is about.

An older resident had a great deal to share: We are doing the same thing at our church, speaking out against it. Its not right. Im old enough to remember the back of the bus and segregated places to eat. Places and schools I couldnt go to. He continued, I know when some people hear diversity, they think were taking. All we want is the same field and same opportunity.

Referring to the attacks on immigrants, he said, It worries me because I have grandkids, I wonder what they will have. It cannot continue to go in this direction. Were over here to work together.

I worked all my life and these guys are talking about eliminating Social Security. Thats all Ive ever known. Now youre telling me its not mine anymore? Ive worked since I was 14 years old starting out in the potato fields and working with other crops. We couldnt get a real job, so we had to go to the fields.

He continued, Things Im seeing now feel like it was back then. I hear it when I watch the news, it feels like the 1960s. We cant go back! One thing I know, if we sit around and dont do anything, they win. We all have to speak out; it makes a difference. We cant wait for the other guys. With these inequalities, the cavalry isnt coming, were the cavalry, its going to be up to us.

A woman and her son, while putting their groceries away, spoke about the need for actual opposition, The Democrats are not doing anything at all, there is zero opposition coming from them. The pink clothes, the little signs, meanwhile people are having their livelihoods upended. We are the only opposition there is. Whatever this is [gesturing to the world at large], is not enough, we need more action.

Highlighting how US officials can essentially use any excuse to kidnap immigrant workers, a young student stated, I didnt hear about the Honduras workers. But I know someone that was picked up for drunk driving and they used that to get picked up by ICE.

Another young student remarked, Thank you for doing this, someone has to do this, but it seemed like no one was. Thank you for bringing this news to everyone, it is very important for us to know the truth and to know that workers are the ones that need to fight this.

An older gentleman also stated that If we do not fight this, we stand to lose everything. All of the progress weve made.

On March 9, at a small rally organized by the Indy Liberation Center, demonstrators spoke to the WSWS about the fascist attacks on immigrant workers by the Trump administration. One attendee said, Its just an illegal precedent for going after citizens. Another attendee attacked the Democratic Party and said, They were doing the genocide in Gaza before, so of course they wont [oppose anything]. Theyre never going to walk out of anything because they dont want to give people the example that they could do that. They do not represent workers.

Another pointed out that the Democrats are pathetic and said, Even the spending bill, they just gave up on it. We were talking in our family theyre so weak and so lame, but they have the same donors as Republicans. A lot of our kids were big Bernie Sanders supporters in 2016 and even 2020, but he never got anywhere. He wants to [reform] from within, and a lot of the Democrats wouldnt even support Bernie probably.

The detention of the two Honduran workers has sparked confusion and fear among the immigrant population. However, there is mass outrage and opposition to the assault in the working class and among young people throughout the country and around the world.

It is worth noting that Indiana has a history that is marked by intense labor struggles and the willingness of the working class to fight for what it deserves. One cannot mention the history of Indianapolis without mentioning the great working class and socialist leader Eugene Debs. Debs led a major 10-month strike against the CB&Q Railroad in 1888 and he was instrumental in founding the American Railway Union (ARU), one of the nations first industrial unions.

As the leader of the ARU, Debs was convicted of federal charges for defying an injunction against the strike and went on to serve six months in prison. It was in prison that Debs read many works of socialist theory and later emerged committed to the international revolutionary socialist movement.

The workers of Indiana have a rich history of class struggle and the fight for socialism. Workers and residents of Indiana, as well as workers internationally, must organize independently of the two capitalist parties and their paid agents in the union apparatus.

What is required is the building of independent rank-and-file committees for the purpose of mobilization of the enormous power of the working class against the capitalist system, which is the source of the attacks on immigrant workers and all previous gains workers have made in over a century of struggle. Workers and young people who want to fight must emphatically reject any attempt to subordinate their struggles to the corpse of the capitalist Democratic Party.

The way forward is through the development of a network of rank-and-file committees, under the umbrella of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC), in workplaces, neighborhoods and factories to coordinate and organize a fight to protect democratic rights based on a socialist program.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2024, at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, Friday , Feb. 23, 2024. [AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana]

A midwife and her assistant were charged last week under Texass reactionary anti-abortion law for providing abortion services.

The arrest of Houston-area midwife Maria Margarita Rojas, and her assistant Jose Manuel Cendan Ley, was announced on March 17 by Texass fascist attorney general Ken Paxton, who alleged Rojas provided care in violation of the abortion ban and illegally operated a network of clinics.

Both Rojas and Ley were charged with a second degree felony and practicing medicine without a license, which carries with it a potential sentence of 20 years and 10 years in prison, respectively, along with a $10,000 fine. A third person was arrested and charged on March 8 with conspiracy to practice medicine without a license.

In Texas, the crime of providing an array of reproductive healthcare services carries the same punishment as aggravated assault with a deadly weapon or sexual assault. The bonds were set at $500,000 and $200,000, following Paxtons request for a $1 million bond for each of the accused.

Paxton claims that Rojas unlawfully employed unlicensed individuals who falsely presented themselves as licensed medical professionals.

The Texas attorney general is no impartial agent of justice, but rather an anti-abortion zealot who gave his employees a paid vacation to celebrate the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court, a decision which eliminated the constitutional right to abortion.

Rojas is an obstetrician who moved to Texas from Peru. She is certified as a midwife according to Holly Shearman, a fellow midwife and friend. Shearman stated to the Texas Tribune on the charges, I dont believe it for one second, and told the New York Times that Rojas was very Catholic. Ley received his doctors license in Cuba and is a US green card holder who was working under Rojas. The two met after training with the global health nonprofit Doctors without Borders.

The clinics that Rojas operated in Waller, Cypress and Spring, Texas (all in or around Houston) have been effectively shut down and are unable to provide reproductive healthcare, cutting off a critical lifeline for hundreds of women.

Paxtons claims that the case against Rojas and her associatesand the law used to prosecute themis pro-life and about saving lives are dispelled by the deadly consequences of the states abortion ban.

After the abortion ban went into effect in 2021, maternal deaths in the state skyrocketed by 56 percent between 2019 and 2022, as opposed to the 11 percent rise in the country as a whole. Rates of sepsis, a life-threatening condition, for women hospitalized during second-trimester pregnancy loss saw a 50 percent increase in the two-year span following the laws passage.

Texas doctors have reported that the abortion ban has kept them from providing lifesaving care, with 111 of them writing a letter to the state legislature demanding change.

The case against Rojas reeks of a political frame-up aimed at intimidating anyone thinking of providing basic reproductive healthcare in Texas.

An investigation was launched by prosecutors in response to an anonymous complaint filed on January 17 to the state Health and Human Services Commission, alleging two women received abortions at one of Rojass clinics at three months and at eight weeks of pregnancy, respectively. The state attorney generals office and the Harris County Sheriffs office began surveillance soon after the complaint.

The anonymous complaint alleged that Rojas administered an IV and an iron solution, along with abortion pills alleged to be misoprostol, a drug also found during a search. Miscarriages, which occur in 15 percent of pregnancies in the US, are treated with misoprostol, facilitating the removal of remaining pregnancy-related tissue which otherwise may remain and cause injury or death via infection as it decays.

Under the states misnamed Human Life Protection Act of 2021, which effectively banned abortion, any abortion after five weeks is banned even for victims of rape or incest.

At the point both alleged abortions were performed, these fetuses were not living human beings. Fetuses are not medically viable outside the womb until 23 to 24 weeks, or around six months. Even this is only because of the advances in medical technology, which still leave a 50 percent chance, with medical intervention, of the child either dying or surviving with severe impairment.

At three months of gestation, fetuses are in the stage of bone hardening and havent even developed a nervous system. At eight weeks, limbs are only just developing. The brain, a requirement for consciousness and thought, doesnt exist in any meaningful sense at either stage.

The state law has no basis in objective reality, one based on a scientific understanding of gestation, but is rather based on irrational Christian religious dogma. Misleading terms such as fetal heartbeat were used partially to obscure this, as lawmakers knew that if they were to plainly state the truththat the law was based on religion and had nothing to do with sciencethe law would run up against the Constitution and the deep democratic traditions of the American working class.

Texas anti-abortion law and the prosecution of Rojas and her assistant are an outrage aimed squarely at undermining Americas progressive traditions that were the basis of the American Revolution. The Founding Fathers established a wall of separation between church and state, recognizing that despots often justify their rule on the basis of religious doctrine. The law is also contrary to the spirit of the Establishment Clause of the Constitution and paves the way for all sorts of intrusion into the private lives of millions of people in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
Following the announcement on March 4 by a BlackRock-led consortium that it had agreed to purchase port assets, including Balboa and Cristobal, located at each end of the Panama Canal, from CK Hutchison Holdings for US$22.8 billion, US President Donald Trump declared that the US would reclaim the Panama Canal.

The deal is the American asset managers largest private infrastructure acquisition to date. According to Infrastructure Investor, half of the worlds top ten infrastructure funds are American-run, with BlackRock top of the list.

Balboa Port [Photo by Gualberto107 - Own work / CC BY-SA 3.0

CK Hutchison reported that the deal would generate US$19 billion in cash. The Hong Kong-based and Cayman Islands-registered conglomerate agreed to sell BlackRock its 90 percent stake in Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of Hutchison Port Group that owns and operates the ports of Balboa and Cristobal, as well as its 80 percent effective and controlling interest in 43 ports in 23 countries around the world.

This decision to sell BlackRock port assets has caused a furor in China. According to the Wall Street Journal, the agreement between CK Hutchinson and BlackRock was made possible by the Trump administrations pressure. In the lead up to finalizing the deal, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink had phone calls with Trump, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and national security adviser Michael Waltz, ultimately garnering the administrations blessing.

The Wall Street Journal reported, following the announcement, that Fink brushed aside the implications of Trumps global tariff war for the world economy, stating the world can grow at 2 or 3% even with tariffs and other things. Given this, ports are going to be quite active, and the world economies... are going to be fine.

China rails against US hegemony

China slammed the Hong Kong-based firm for portraying the agreement as purely commercial in nature and condemned the pact as a tool to enforce US hegemony.

A March 13 article in Hong Kongs Ta Kung Pao, Dont be naive and senile, explained that the Panama Canal was a critical choke point in world maritime trade, with some 6 percent of global trade passing through the international waterway. China accounted for 21 percent of the canals freight flow, making it a vital economic link between the worlds second-largest economy and Latin America.

The reference to senility was directed at Sir Ka-shing Li (net worth US$37.7 billion) without naming him. The 96-year-old multi-billionaire retired as chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings in 2018 and has since served as a senior advisor for the conglomerate.

Li Ka Shing in EdTech Stanford University School of Medicine [Photo by EdTech Stanford University School of Medicine - Flickr: IMG_5485 / CC BY 2.0

Ta Kung Pao added that should the United States Americanize and politicize the Panama Canal by imposing exorbitant fees on Chinese container ships, Chinese enterprises would face increased freight costs. This would put Chinas trade with the region at the mercy of the US.

This pact, which served as a blueprint for the US to acquire more ports around the world, would allow the US to erode Chinas overseas economic interests and restrict Chinas maritime presence through the exercise of extraterritorial jurisdiction, making it impossible for Chinese ships to dock.

The article asserted that Chinese netizens saw this deal as kneeling down to the US, being spineless, abandoning ideals for the sake of profits, neglecting national interests and principles, and betraying the entire Chinese people.

Referencing the national interests of the Chinese people, the article asked CK Hutchison Holdings to take its pick with the question, whose side are you on?

The newspaper serves as a megaphone for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Its piece has been re-posted on the website of the State Councils Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HMO).

On March 15, Ta Kung Pao published another piece titled, all successful Chinese entrepreneurs are staunch patriots, to whip up nationalist sentiment. It proclaimed that, similar to great generals, all entrepreneurs strived to preserve national interests and principles. They align their corporate compasses with the stars of the fatherland while sharing a common destiny with the Chinese people.

Chinese media, taking cues from the state, instantly labelled Ka-shing Li as a traitor to the fatherland and a thief within.

The success of a thief within

The geostrategic aims of US imperialism are correctly identified, but it is necessary to identify who propped up Li in the first place. According to a 2015 article, Dont let Ka-shing Li run away published by the Liaowang Institute, a thinktank affiliated with the Xinhua News Agency, Li began investing in real estate in 1958. His ties to the CCP leadership stretched back to 1978, and his rise in the property sector and infrastructure investment coincided with the restoration of capitalism under Chinas top leader Deng Xiaoping. [1]

Deng Xiaoping and US President Jimmy Carter at the arrival ceremony for the Vice Premier of China, 1979 [Photo: Unknown author ]

Real estate and ports were among Chinas least marketized sectors. Wealth creation in these industries was not solely derived from a market economy. Chinas leadership utilized its state control over land and infrastructure as a mechanism for patronage. The article emphasized that it was inconceivable to conduct businesses and maintain the prerogative of the rich without the overwhelming support from the Chinese ruling class.

Li was granted virtually unrestricted access to capitalist expansion and then gained immense wealth, mainly in the real estate sector in Hong Kong and China, as well as various infrastructure projects across the mainland.

Li was no aberration. According to the article, Hong Kongs real estate moguls (such as Lee Shau-kee and Cheng Yu-tung) could not have been promoted to the wealthiest dynastic families and jockeyed for economic domination over Hong Kong without Beijings support.

It would be wrong to assume that such an essay was directed against the CCP. It accused Li of ingratitude for what the Chinese state had done for him while denouncing him for selling assets in China and then investing in Europe. The exposure of the class nature of the Chinese state was an unintended consequence.

Notably, all the property tycoons featured in the article have earned the Grand Bauhinia Medal, the ultimate accolade granted in the city (after its handover to China), as a recognition of their lifelong and highly significant contribution to the well-being of Hong Kong.

A 2022 study conducted by economists Thomas Piketty and Li Yang gives us a glimpse into wealth inequality in Hong Kong about which the Chinese ruling elite boasted. It found that Hong Kongs capital share of national income, including profits, rents and interest, rose sharply from 32 percent to 53 percent between 2001 and 2012, four years after the 2008 financial crisis.

Today, billionaire wealth and top 0.001 percent wealth are far higher in Hong Kong than in other economies. In 2018, wealth shares of the top 0.001 percent in Hong Kong exceeded those in Russia, were more than twice those in the United States and China.

The Wealth Inequality Database indicated that, in 2023, the top 10 percent amassed 61.2 percent of the citys wealth, while the bottom half possessed only 4.4 percent.

The plight of the working poor in Hong Kong

This extreme wealth inequality is evident in Hong Kong as one of the least affordable cities in the world. A New York Times article published in 2019 revealed that rents in Hong Kong were far higher than those of New York and London.

A standard New York parking space was 153 square feet. In contrast, a Hong Kong subdivided apartment was 48 square feet, roughly one-third of the parking space. The working poor living in those cages and coffins were unable to stretch their legs and had only enough room to sit up. They typically had renters either living above or below them.

According to a 2022 study by the Society for Community Organization, a HK-based NGO, the citys median rental rate was US$6.43 per square foot.

An investigative report in the South China Morning Post showed, as of June 2022, Hong Kong had some 110,000 subdivided apartments, ranging from 20 square feet to 200 square feet. It was common to share a toilet with seven to ten people or as many as 16 to twenty individuals.

Poverty ion the streets of Hong Kong [Photo by BladeRunner2077 / CC BY-SA 4.0

These subdivided apartments, which had damaged plumbing and ceilings, usually lacked windows, natural light, emergency escape routes, and proper ventilation. They were plagued with rats, cockroaches, mould, and other microorganisms.

With the normalization of the forever COVID policy, tenants were (and are) constantly exposed to respiratory illnesses, in addition to the fire hazard.

As landlords could arbitrarily increase rents and utilities bills, tenants tended to live in a constant state of insecurity and feared being kicked out at any time.

The Post wrote that parents felt guilty for not being able to provide their children with a better living environment, seeing living in a subdivided unit as a personal failure and viewing themselves as passers-by with no roots.

The plight of the toiling masses in Hong Kong brings to mind Marxs prescient insight into capitalist production relations: Accumulation of wealth at one pole is... at the same time accumulation of misery, agony of toil slavery, ignorance, brutality, mental degradation, at the opposite pole.

Hong Kong authorities have vowed to eliminate cage and coffin housing by 2049, a target set by the Stalinist regime in 2021.

The capitalist versus the working class in China

It remains to be seen how the agreement between CK Hutchison Holdings and BlackRock will play out. Hong Kong had no commercial regulatory means at its disposal to reverse the deal because firms based in the city were not legally required to seek permission from Chinas Ministry of Commerce and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange before selling assets, the New York Times reported.

But on March 21, Ta Kung Pao published another piece declaring China is a country under the rule of law. The formula of one country, two systems has applied to Hong Kong since 1997; it is guided by the highest principle of maintaining national sovereignty, security, and development. The port deal, which violated the formula and caused significant harm to Chinas national interests, must not proceed.

Corporate media in Hong Kong have indicated Chinese President Xi Jinping might invoke Hong Kong national security law to probe into the deal.

Cristobal Port of Operations [Photo: Serviestiba S.A/Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.]

What is clear is that Li has been a representative of the financial oligarchy. The Chinese Stalinist regime collaborated with capitalists, allowing them to jockey for patronage and drain off enormous wealth generated by the working class to fuel capitalist expansion in infrastructure and real estate sectors.

Criticism of Li from the likes of Ta Kung Pao is not about his reactionary role as a capitalist oligarch in exploiting and immiserating the Chinese toiling masses. Rather, it is about his collaboration with the US which refuses to acknowledge the legitimate national interests of the Chinese bourgeoisie in expanding and accumulating under capitalism.

The CCP regime, which has been advancing Chinese nationalism under the slogan the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation since 2012, has no progressive answers either to the escalating danger of Washingtons economic coercion and military provocations abroad or to the rising social tensions produced by a worsening economic slowdown at home.

Workers in China must draw the necessary conclusion. The imperialist powers have never accepted the state that emerged out of the third Chinese revolution. Despite the fact that the CCP made social peace with US imperialism in the 1970s, the US bourgeoisie has never come to terms with Chinas economic rise and its advocacy of an equal multipolar world under capitalism. As capital extends beyond the borders of the nation state, one major capitalist powers gain is always another ones loss.

Chinese workers must reach out to their class sisters and brothers in the United States, Latin America, Europe and beyond who face a similar assault on democratic rights, police state repression and social counter-revolution. Workers of the world share the same class interests and fight the same class enemies. The economic warfare waged by the Trump fascist regime has worked in tandem with the war drive against China, as well as the genocidal onslaughts led by Israel and the US in the Middle East.

A socialist fight against oligarchy, fascism and war must do away with national boundaries and be mobilized independently by the working class on an internationalist basis. Workers must remain irreconcilably hostile to opportunist politics and all factions of the ruling classes.

The revolutionary strength of the international working class lies in the unity of the workers of the oppressed and oppressor nations. As imperialist powers seek to redivide the world, more than ever, our watchword must be Workers of the world, unite!

[1] Deng had two meetings with Li. The first time was in 1986, following the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kongs handover to China. The second occasion was in 1990, following the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
Momodou Taal

A hearing is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Tuesday before a US federal district judge in Syracuse, New York, where arguments will be presented in the lawsuit brought by Cornell University student Momodou Taal challenging President Trumps executive orders targeting free speech and seeking to deport protesters.

In the same proceeding, US District Judge Elizabeth C. Coombe will also hear arguments on Taals motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO) to block the Trump administrations unprecedented attempt to apprehend and deport him in retaliation for filing the lawsuitbefore the case can be adjudicated.

The attack on the democratic rights of Taal, a British-Gambian student, is part of the broader fascistic rampage by the Trump regime. It follows a series of similar actions, including: the March 8 abduction of Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, transferred to a detention facility in Louisiana; the March 11 suspension of Yale Law School scholar Helyeh Doutaghi based on false claims spread by a pro-Israel media outlet; and the March 17 detention of Georgetown University researcher Badar Khan Suri by masked federal agents outside his home.

Additionally, on Monday, 21-year-old Yunseo Chunga legal permanent resident from South Korea who has lived in the US since age sevenfiled a lawsuit against President Trump and top administration officials after immigration authorities attempted to arrest and deport her for participating in pro-Palestinian protests.

The events leading up to the US district court hearing on Tuesday reveal the extraordinary context within which it is being held:

On Saturday, March 15, Taal filed his lawsuit alongside fellow Cornell student Sriram Parasurama and Professor Mukoma Wa Ngugi, challenging the constitutionality of two executive orders issued by Donald Trump that seek to deny the right to free speech for all non-citizens.

A hearing was originally set for Wednesday, March 19, before Judge Coombe, but she canceled it an hour before it was to begin and rescheduled the proceeding for an in-person hearing on Tuesday, March 25. She also ordered both parties to submit written arguments ahead of Tuesdays session.

That same day, unidentified law enforcement agents were seen staking out Taals residence near the Cornell campus in Ithaca, New York, in an apparent attempt to arrest him. In response to the intimidation and surveillance, Taals attorneys filed an emergency request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) to block his detention.

On Thursday, March 20, Taals attorney Eric Lee read a statement on his behalf at a campus demonstration at Cornell University. Hundreds of students, faculty and supporters gathered to defend Taal and denounce the political repression being carried out by the White House.

At 1:00 a.m. on Friday, March 21, Taals attorneys received an email from the Justice Department inviting him to surrender to authorities. In a filing that afternoon, Taals lawyers urged Judge Coombe to issue an emergency injunction, arguing that the governments actions amounted to an unlawful attempt to remove this Courts jurisdiction by deporting their client.

On Saturday, March 22, the Justice Department submitted a court filing absurdly claiming that Taals immigration status became unlawful before this lawsuit began and that his arrest stems solely from a revoked student visa. However, the government openly admitted the revocation was based on Taals political activity and carried out under Executive Order 14188, which targets critics of the US-Israeli genocide in Gaza for deportation.

On Sunday, March 23, Taals lawyers responded to the court that the governments own filings confirm the political motive behind his targeting. Defendants acknowledge they are attempting to remove Momodou Taal  because he is a pro-Palestinian activist who attended a protest at Cornell University, the filing states, citing the executive orders as the basis for their actions.

Tuesdays hearing comes amid growing protests and support for Taal. On Sunday, Jewish students, faculty and alumni at Cornell issued a statement condemning the Trump administrations claim that Taal created a hostile environment for Jewish students on campus.

The scathing statement says:

In revoking of Taals student visa, surveilling his home and threatening his right to due process, the administration is once again enacting unconstitutional, anti-immigrant policies on the false pretense of protecting Jewish people, specifically Jewish Cornellians.

The statement, entitled, Not in Our Name: Jewish Cornellians Stand with Momodou Taal, also says:

Taals statements expressing his deeply held personal political opinions are well within the confines of his First Amendment rights.

It adds:

We recognize that such accusations of antisemitism are being used as fronts for xenophobia, and Jewish students are being used as pawns for the advancement of authoritarianism.

Finally, the statement draws a crucial parallel between Trumps assault on immigrants and how Hitler used antisemitism to build a repressive apparatus targeting the broader population:

These days, we often hear Martin Niemollers adage First they came for  that describes the complicity of everyday people during the Nazi regime. When the Trump administration threatens any member of our community, we must stand up to them with the knowledge that further repression and violence will follow if we do not act and speak out now.

On Monday, the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GPSA) at Cornell passed a resolution defending Taal and denouncing the Trump administrations attack on his First and Fifth Amendment rights.

The GPSA resolution exposes the false basis upon which the Trump administrations actions against Taal have been pursued, as well as the complicity of the Cornell University administration in the conspiracy against him.

The resolution demands:

We recommend that because Momodou Taal has not been subjected to any criminal charges and his disciplinary processes did not lead to a revocation of his visa, the University Administration repeal actions that are being used by the current administrations decision to revoke his visa.

While students, faculty and alumni are mobilizing against the moves by Trump to implement authoritarianism in the US on behalf of the financial oligarchy, the Democratic Party and the academic institutions are bending their knee to the would-be-dictator.

While Cornell University is assisting the attack on Momodou Taal, Columbia University on Friday capitulated to the demands of the Trump White House and implemented a series of sweeping measures that attack free speech and academic freedom on campus.

The World Socialist Web Site calls on students, workers and youth across the country and internationally to mobilize in defense of Momodou Taal and all victims of the Trump regimes campaign of political persecution against free speech and other basic rights. Demonstrations and walkouts should be organized on campuses and in workplaces. Rank-and-file committees must be built to oppose the bipartisan conspiracy against democratic rights.
On the eve of a looming federal election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last Friday released a redacted version of an official review that his Labor government initiated in 2023 of the countrys sprawling network of spy and surveillance agencies.

Cover of 2024 Independent Intelligence Review [Photo: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]

After sitting on the report without explanation for eight months since it was completed, the government chose to publish this carefully censored version just before the election, which must be held by May 17.

Starkly, the report demands greater powers and resources for the so-called National Intelligence Community (NIC) to deal with political crises triggered by what it calls the collapse of the post-Cold War global order.

It is not yet clear what will take its place, but for the foreseeable future Australia faces a world shaped by competition between nation-states and global geopolitical and economic fragmentation, the review states.

Written by two former intelligence chiefs, Heather Smith and Richard Maude, the report speaks of the possibility of catastrophic wars. It says major-power conflict is no longer unimaginable.

The report declares the necessity for the 10 NIC agencies, headed by the US-style Office of National Intelligence (ONI), to be bolstered and prepared for rising global conflicts, especially a potential US war with China, and threats to social cohesion within Australia.

The report unequivocally aligns the Australian intelligence apparatus behind the US drive, now escalated by the Trump administrations trade war measures, to reassert its global post-World War II hegemony against the perceived threat of China.

Turning the world situation on its head, the review blames China, not the US, for the aggression. It centrally targets China, accusing it of working with Russia to weaken the global influence of the United States and the West more broadly.

The report was released amid mounting calls in the corporate, political and media establishment for a vast expansion of military spending, combined with alarm that high levels of domestic political disaffection are likely to produce an unstable hung parliament in the election, with neither Labor nor the Liberal-National Coalition able to form a majority government.

At the same time, the report voices underlying concerns about the historic crisis confronting the Australian ruling class, which has depended since World War II on the US military alliance to pursue its own predatory activities across the Indo-Pacific, but has also become reliant on raw material exports to China.

This is a new era, the report proclaims. Competition between nation-states, especially between China and the United States, is deeply rooted and structural in nature, it states. It is a feature of the era, not a passing moment.

In this context, the review warns that risks to prosperity, security and sovereignty are increasingly complex to manage and pose difficult choices and trade-offs for Australia.

Although written before the accession of the fascistic Trump administration, the report sounds an alarm about the impact of the international political and geo-strategic instability:

The election of more nationalist or populist governments in Europe and the United States, for example, could introduce considerable uncertainty in global affairs and alter some of Australias current foreign and economic policy planning assumptions.

Under these conditions, the report underscores the Australian ruling classs commitment to the US. It emphasises Australias increasingly pivotal position for the US-led Five Eyes global intelligence system, which also includes the UK, Canada and New Zealand.

Australia and its geography are becoming more important to efforts to improve the collective resilience of the Five Eyes enterprise in the event of a crisis or conflict, it states.

The review reinforces the reliance on the alliance with the United States and the Five Eyes partnership, describing them as national assets for Australia, providing access to information, expertise and technology that would not otherwise be obtainable.

The report continues the shift away from the alleged threat of terrorism as the main pretext for the vast expansion of police-state surveillance powers since the US declaration of the war on terror in 2001.

While terrorism remains a persistent threat, the review lists Australias principal security concerns as systemic state competition, cyber threats, espionage and foreign interference.

There is also an intensified internal focus on fraying social cohesion. This is code language for the rising social and political discontent among workers and young people fuelled by the soaring cost-of-living and social inequality, the bipartisan support for the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza and the pro-war drumbeating in ruling circles. According to the report:

The sources of internal fragmentation are varied but often amplify each other. They include the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, political polarisation, inequality, declining faith in democracy, large-scale misinformation and disinformation powered by the internet, and deliberate attempts by some countries (notably Russia and China) to stoke internal divides in democracies.

Significantly, the review urges the government to help overcome public distrust in the intelligence community. It notes that the prominence of the agencies in supporting government has not been without controversy. It insists: Building public understanding of, and support for, a strong Australian intelligence enterprise is essential.

Among its 67 recommendations, the report demands a further increase in the powers of the intelligence agencies, starting with an urgent extension of their legal capacity to access the computers and telecommunications of particular groups, rather than just named individuals.

It also calls for related amendments to the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Act to officially permit ASIO, the domestic political surveillance agency, to share its raw foreign intelligence information with the central ONI, which could then share it with US and other agencies.

Without providing any detail, another recommendation stresses the need for deeper integration of intelligence with other arms of government.

In releasing the report, Albanese said the intelligence agencies were crucial to the countrys security and we have full confidence in their capacity. He vowed to continue to invest in capability to ensure Australias intelligence community can deal with emerging threats and challenges.

As an initial pre-election downpayment, the Labor government promised to plough another $45 million into the ONI, the peak agency, over four years. That is on top of the funding for the entire NIC network more than doubling since 2017, from just under $2 billion to $4.5 billion in 2023.

Much more is in the pipeline, including $1.25 billion over ten years for ASIO to strengthen its capacity and $469 million over four years to modernise the overseas spy agency, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS). There is also $9.9 billion over ten years to boost the capacities of the electronic surveillance agency, the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), especially its defensive and offensive cyber capabilities.

The review also covers the activities of the other six NIC agencies. They are the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the satellite mapping Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO), the police-linked Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), the financial tracking Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), the militarys Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO) and the Department of Home Affairs.

The Labor government instructed the review to examine the performance of these agencies since the last similar report in 2017, when the then Turnbull Liberal-National government responded to the formation of the first Trump administration by restructuring the intelligence apparatus. It established the ONI, headed by a Director-General of National Intelligence, inside the prime ministers office to establish centralised control over all 10 agencies.

At that time, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, surrounded by masked Special Forces commandos, also announced expedited measures to call out the military to suppress any outbreaks of domestic violence and outlined plans for a Home Affairs super-ministry to take direct command of seven surveillance and police agencies.

Today, the political fears and strategic calculations in ruling circles go far deeper. They are driven by the global turmoil and uncertainties produced by the second Trump administration and the rise of seething discontent in every country, including Australia.

The spy and surveillance agencies, a key instrument of the capitalist state apparatus, are being prepared to deal with even more intense social and political dissatisfaction under conditions of widening social inequality, genocide and the accelerating turn to war.
One of the two large US law firms targeted by President Donald Trump earlier this month, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, capitulated last week to the aspiring dictator with a toothless mea culpa pledging to modify its hiring practices and to provide pro bono legal services that represent the full spectrum of political viewpoints.

Brad Karp, CEO of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and US President Donald Trump [Photo: Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and AP]

In exchange Trump is rescinding his draconian March 14 executive order that revoked the security clearances of the firms 1,000 lawyers, barred its employees from federal buildings, and ordered federal agencies to terminate government contracts with the firms clients.

The climbdown followed a hearing in the case brought by the other targeted law firm, Perkins Coie LLP, which obtained a temporary restraining order from a clearly outraged federal judge in Washington, DC.

Trump responded to that ruling in his typical thuggish manner with a legally specious motion to disqualify the judge, Beryl Howell, from making further decisions in the case, citing a 2023 speech during which she lamented that America is at a crossroads and, in an apparent reference to President Trump, indicated that one path would lead to authoritarianism.

Paul Weisss disgusting surrender to the fascistic accusation that it engaged in the destruction of bedrock American principles, undercuts Perkins Coies principled response to the executive order, and mirrors the spinelessness of the Democratic Party with which Paul Weiss has been closely associated for decades.

Years ago Paul Weiss was prominent in the fight for civil rights. The first major New York law partnership to combine Jews with non-Jews and to hire black associates, its lawyers, notably Bill Coleman and Louis Pollak, worked closely with Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to challenge segregated public education, leading to the landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education overturning the racist doctrine of separate but equal more than 70 years ago.

That was a different era, when elements in the ruling class were willing to give some support to social equality, at least so long as bourgeois property relations remained intact. This time around, however, rather than join Perkins Coie at the judicial barricades, Paul Weiss retained Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, one of the few large firms that represented Trumps business interests during years passed. The result was a private meeting last Wednesday between Paul Weiss managing partner Brad Karp and Trump himself. Each released different versions of their supposed agreement on Thursday.

Both agreements begin with the platitude that American justice  must be fair and nonpartisan for all, including by representing clients across the political spectrum. Paul Weisss version recites that the firm is committed to merits-based hiring, promotion and retention, while Trump added the race-baiting qualifier instead of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

Paul Weiss will contribute $40 million in pro bono legal services during Trumps term  to support causes including assisting our Nations veterans, fairness in the justice system, and combating anti-Semitism. While the sum might appear substantial to working families struggling to keep their heads above water, Paul Weiss uses its astronomical rates, as high as $3,000 per hour, along with aggressive billing practices to attribute $200 million every year to its volunteer pro bono legal work. For a firm with $2.5 billion in annual revenues, $10 million per year is meaningless.

Trumps version of the agreement states, Paul Weiss has acknowledged the wrongdoing of its former partner Mark Pomerantz, but no such stab in the back appears in the firms agreement, internal email or public announcement. Pomerantz incurred Trumps wrath by resigning from the Manhattan District Attorneys Office and denouncing Alvin Braggs decision not to file criminal fraud charges against Trump, while comparing Trump to Mafia boss John Gotti, whom Pomerantz prosecuted successfully. Bragg subsequently brought more narrowly drawn fraud charges against Trump, based on his attempts to cover up a payoff to porn star Stormy Daniels, winning a conviction on 34 criminal counts of filing false documents.

Thursday, Pomerantz issued a statement, I engaged in no wrongdoing by working as a prosecutor to uphold the rule of law.

Trump gloated to the press in the Oval Office Friday. Numerous global firms did bad things, Trump said, but they now want to make deals, adding, Theyre not babies, theyre very sophisticated people.

According to Trumps fascistic adviser, Steve Bannon, however, major law firm partners are no longer going to be walking around making four and five, six million bucks a year, because the administration is going to put those law firms out of business, emphasizing, There are major law firms in Washington, D.C., and what we are trying to do is put you out of business and bankrupt you.

Paul Weisss submission to Trumps fascistic attack on the legal profession has triggered widespread condemnation. Paul Weiss used to be a law firm to be admired and respected. No more, said Norman Ornstein, a senior fellow emeritus at the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute, calling the agreement a stain on the legal profession.

George Conway, formerly a big-firm lawyer married to erstwhile Trump press spokesperson Kellyanne Conway, said, This Paul Weiss capitulation is the most disgraceful action by a major law firm in my lifetime, so appalling that I couldnt believe it at first. Any lawyers at that firmpartners or associateswho dont promptly resign will defile their moral and professional reputations beyond repair.

Trumps recent attack on the legal profession did not come out of the blue. Three weeks ago, well before the executive orders targeting Perkins Coie and Paul Weiss, American Bar Association president William R. Bay denounced efforts to undermine the courts and the legal profession.

Clients have the right to have access to their lawyer without interference by the government. Lawyers must be free to represent clients and perform their ethical duty without fear of retribution. These government actions deny clients access to justice and betray our fundamental values, Bays statement read.

While Bay pledged, we will 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, none of the other major US law firms with more than 1,000 lawyers has spoken up against the executive orders against Perkins Coie or Paul Weiss.

As of this writing, close to 1,400 associates from firms with more than 1,000 lawyers have signed an open letter denouncing their employers cowardly silence. Over the past several weeks, the Executive Branch has launched an all-out attack aimed at dismantling rule-of-law norms, including by censuring individual law firms by name because of past representation, according to the letter.

The associates call on our employers, large American law firms, 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.
In two separate overseas trips last week, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters moved to strengthen bilateral ties with the administrations of US President Donald Trump and Indias Narendra Modi.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, left, shakes hands with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, at the US State Department, March 18, 2025. [AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein]

The visits took place amid a sharp lurch to the right by ruling elites around the world in response to the escalating global economic crisis of capitalism and the US-led drive to imperialist war. New Zealand is embroiled in these developments.

While Luxon feted and embraced the far-right Hindu supremacist Modi, Peters kowtowed before Trumps officials just as the US immigration gestapo illegally rounded up and deported hundreds of people to be imprisoned in El Salvador.

New Zealands National Party-NZ First-ACT Party coalition is a far-right government. Since assuming office after the 2023 election, which it won due to mass disaffection among workers with its Labour predecessor, it has imposed a vicious austerity program with thousands of job cuts, skyrocketing living costs and attacks on public services, including health and education.

Luxon and Peters pledged to work closely with Trump following his election victory, in particular to strengthen New Zealands military-strategic alliance with the US. New Zealand armed forces currently provide training for Ukrainian conscripts in Britain to fight in the US-NATO proxy war against Russia, and NZ Defence Force specialists are assisting with the imperialist bombing of Yemen.

The Luxon government has refused to condemn Trumps threat to take over and ethnically cleanse Gaza or oppose Israels recent resumption of its genocidal bombing campaign.

In his visit to New York and Washington Peters, who is deputy prime minister and leader of the anti-immigrant NZ First Party, sought to boost the governments credentials as a loyal Trump ally. After the first round of meetings with US officials, Peters told reporters the discussions had centred on what they want of us but he would not elaborate on US expectations.

Peters most important meeting was with his counterpart, Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Peters said he was seriously pleased with the outcome. When asked for specifics, Peters bluntly replied, its work in progress, insisting he would brief the Cabinet at home before speaking publicly.

Peters gave no clue whether the talks were enough to secure New Zealand an exemption from agricultural tariffs Trump has promised to impose on imports from April 2. In the year ending in March, the US became New Zealands second largest export market, behind China and ahead of Australia.

In the year to last December total exports to the US were worth $NZ16.04 billion. New Zealand imported $9.6 billion from the US, making a trade surplus in New Zealands favour, something the Trump administration will likely view with hostility.

Asked about US expectations of increased military spending, Peters told the media, You cant surely expect the Pacific and the rest of the world to be looked after by one country and everybody else not pay anything at all. So at the very least, we knew we had to increase our expenditure, and Ill tell my colleagues what that figure is.

NZ Defence Minister Judith Collins has already indicated the military budget is looking to be doubled, to 2 percent of GDP, which will be paid for by further gutting social programs. The opposition Labour Party supports a major increase. Labour insisted, when it was leading the government, that New Zealand had to be ready for war against China.

Asked about Israels renewed bombing of Gaza, tearing up the temporary ceasefire, Peters refused to criticise Israel. Weve got to find out how this happened. What started it? Whats the background? he said. Peters previously indicated he is amenable to any US-dictated plan for seizing and reconstructing Gaza.

Peters released a statement on his meeting with Rubio declaring: We agreed that we should continue to work together for a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific. This included promoting the prosperity and stability of the Pacific Islands.

A read out by the US State Department also said the pair discussed avenues for strengthening defence co-operation through burden sharing, allowing our militaries to work more closely together, and ensuring security and economic strength in the Pacific region. So-called burden sharing refers to the Trump administrations policy of pushing allies to escalate their defence spending, to shift the expense away from the US.

The references to the Indo-Pacific are code for preparations for war with China, which the White House regards as the main threat to American imperialisms global hegemony. Peters and Rubio doubtless discussed the recent furore over Chinese naval ships that carried out exercises in the Tasman Sea. The New Zealand and Australian governments and media seized on the exercises to promote further military upgrades.

Peters earlier met with Trumps USAID acting head, Peter Marocco, and his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, declaring they had a very frank and open discussion about how important aid was for the Pacific. He insisted that the US gets our point of view in terms of how essential it is.

The Biden administration had pledged $US1 billion in aid to the Pacific to help counter Chinas influence. Disbursements have now been frozen for 90 days pending a review of all aid spending under Trumps America First policies. Peters rejected suggestions that the US would be pulling back from the Pacific. We dont know that yet. Lets find out in April, when that full review is done on USAID, he told reporters.

Peters, a qualified lawyer, remained totally silent on Trumps sweeping attacks on democratic rights and moves toward dictatorship. Rubio is a prime mover behind the seizure and arrest by Homeland Security agents of Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, whose only offense is opposing the genocide in Gaza.

Silence denotes consent and complicity. While New Zealand authorities have not yet carried out similar arrests, Peters recently made belligerent threats against pro-Palestine groups in New Zealand, smearing them as illegal and racist.

Peters week-long US trip reveals how thoroughly the New Zealand ruling elite is aligning itself with the forces of fascism and preparations for war to redivide the world.

The same agenda was behind Luxons trip to India, during which he ingratiated himself with the authoritarian Modi. The visit was ostensibly to open the door to a free trade deal between the two countries, and for Luxon to address the Raisina Dialogue, Indias annual conference covering security and geopolitics.

In his Raisina speech, Luxon reiterated his commitment to boost spending on the military. He provocatively denounced China, saying its recent naval exercises sent a signal that alarmed many of my fellow citizens. He later told reporters that the exercises showed that New Zealand and the Pacific could not be considered a benign environment.

Such statements are thoroughly hypocritical. New Zealand has taken part in numerous military exercises aimed at provoking China, including in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

Luxon and Modi signed a defence cooperation pact focussed on maritime security. India is part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), a quasi-alliance against China that also includes the US, Japan and Australia.

Chinas ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong indirectly criticised Luxons statements, posting on X: It hardly serves your best interests when you try to promote one significant relationship by damaging another.

The pronouncements by Peters and Luxon are a further warning that, despite New Zealands extensive economic relations with China, the ruling elite is committed to supporting the US in its preparations for a catastrophic world war involving nuclear-armed powers.
Nyima, as an elder in the village, sings songs of blessings for a prosperous harvest at a ceremony marking the start of spring farming in Quxar Town of Lnaze County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 16, 2025. Nyima, a former serf who was born in 1952, lives in Quxar Town of Lnaze County, Xigaze City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

"My mother, originally from Namling County, was sold as a serf to Lnaze County while being pregnant with me. I've never met my father. Born into adversity, I faced numerous hardships during my childhood," Nyima recounted.

In March 1959, people in Xizang launched the democratic reform that ended the region's feudal serfdom. The democratic reform freed a million serfs, including the 7-year-old Nyima, which empowered him to become the master of his destiny.

Following the democratic reform, Nyima and his mother were given 23 mu (about 1.53 hectares) of land, along with farm tools and a house, which brought new hope into their lives.

Now, Nyima's five children all have their own families and careers. Though a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Dingri County in the City of Xigaze on Jan. 7, 2025 made Nyima's house become uninhabitable and he has to reside in a makeshift house temporarily, he is not worried about the future life. "Thanks to the authorities' support, we've had a comfortable and warm winter with sufficient food. The government is now planning to build new houses for us. Our lives are only going to get better and better," Nyima said. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

Nyima (R) dances and sings with villagers at a ceremony marking the start of spring farming in Quxar Town of Lnaze County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

Nyima (R) attends a ceremony marking the start of spring farming in Quxar Town of Lnaze County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

Nyima (1st R) dances and sings with villagers at a ceremony marking the start of spring farming in Quxar Town of Lnaze County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

Nyima (L), as an elder in the village, receives a toast at a ceremony marking the start of spring farming in Quxar Town of Lnaze County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

This photo taken on March 16, 2025 shows a portrait of Nyima in Quxar Town of Lnaze County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

Nyima (C) poses for a photo with his son Pasang Tsering (L) and his granddaughter Tsering Wangmo in front of his house in Quxar Town of Lnaze County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)
Join the fight to save the Post Office! Join the USPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee by filling out the form below.

A few hundred postal workers demonstrated in defense of the postal service in downtown Los Angeles on March 23, 2025.

On Sunday, postal workers across the country took to the streets to protest the Trump administrations ruthless drive to privatize the United States Postal Service (USPS). While the demonstrations were officially framed as a show of strength against privatization, it exposed a glaring divide between union bureaucrats and politicians on one side and rank-and-file workers on the other.

The backdrop to these protests is the bipartisan dismantling of public services, with the USPS in the crosshairs. As the World Socialist Web Site recently outlined, privatization efforts are part of a broader offensive by the ruling elite against workers. The Trump administration has sought to gut the USPS under the guise of efficiency, slashing jobs and services while bolstering the profits of private couriers like FedEx and UPS.

The Democrats, despite their rhetorical opposition, have done nothing substantive to stop the carnage. Instead, they offer empty promises and maintain their alliances with corporate interests and the union bureaucracy, which works tirelessly to keep workers anger contained within safe channels that lead nowhere.

At the Los Angeles protest, workers were fed the usual scripted reassurances by union officials and Democratic politicians who live far removed from the daily struggles of the working class.

Brian Renfroe, National President of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), delivered a platitude-filled speech. Last month at a press conference, when asked about the tens of thousands of postal jobs at risk, Renfroe simply shrugged and said he didnt think so.

Brian Renfroe in Los Angeles, March 23, 2025.

This is the same man who pushed a pathetic labor contract with a meager 1.3 percent annual raise, utterly failing to fight for meaningful wage increases or job protections. His presence was a perfect embodiment of the union leaderships role: not to defend workers, but to placate them while selling them out.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters sought to pacify workers with hollow assurances that Trumps privatization schemes would go nowhere without congressional approval. This is the same Democratic Party that has allowed Trumps regime to dismantle social programs and public services at will, bending over backwards to avoid any serious confrontation. Her words were not just empty, they were insulting; as if workers should sit back and trust the very system that has repeatedly betrayed them.

Its like the rich against the poor

On the other side of the political barricade, workers sounded a very different tone. Robert, a mail carrier, said: Our vehicles burn. Ill tell you, yesterday I worked 10 hours. I delivered, I do that almost every day. Regarding the aging fleet, he added, The engines are very old and theyre just refurbished. And theyre telling us we are getting our new vehicles in 2028. And still no air conditioning. A fan, and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt.

On Elon Musks so-called efficiency review, he asked: His department is supposed to find wasteful spending which is coming from tax dollars, right? The post office is self-funded. What waste is going on? Were making our own money. Why is he putting his hands in us?

Robert also condemned the Democratic Partys complicity: Congress passed a law in 1970 saying private, privatized businesses are not allowed to deliver mail. The federal government must deliver mail. So are we just going to ignore laws? If I were Congress, Id be really mad about this. On that note, as a Democrat, Im a little irritated that they just kind of lay down. The Republicans go boo and they go oh! and pass out like goats. Its just this capitulation, its awful, its terrible and yeah, we gotta stop it.

Los Angeles-area postal workers, March 23, 2025.

Stacey, a federal employee at the Veterans Administration and a 23-year Army veteran, told the WSWS:

Im a federal employee, and all of the things that are going on are affecting all of us. And we have to all support each other and stand together in order to get through this hard time. Well, just with the VA alone, where I work, the plan is to cut down 80,000. Weve already had a lot of people who were removed from their positions because they were probationary workers.

She warned the ongoing cuts can be catastrophic for our veterans because many of them, that is the only healthcare they have. We are the only support that they have. We already have a high suicide rate of veteransI would anticipate that being higher. We try to ensure that they are not out on the street.

Tracey, a postal driver said, Its like the rich against the poor. I hate to say the poor, but we work really hard. And they are getting what they got. So they dont understand our struggle. They dont understand what we go through. They dont care. We get nothing. And what do they want us to do? They want us to die.

Trump does not care about the little people, she said. He cares about the rich and the people that will benefit him. We dont deserve that. We work hard. We take care of our families with that. We have to come together. She emphasized the power of workers: Without the people that do the real work, we wouldnt have a system.

This is supposed to be America. This is supposed to be where we are freeI thought these days would never come, and now that its here, its very scary. But were going to stick together, were going to fight together.

Gloria, also a postal worker, condemned Trumps attacks on workers and immigrants. We shouldnt just pick and choose who to take away from. Its destroying a lot of homes and families.

Gloria expressed frustration with the union bureaucracy: A real leader will make everything fair for everybody, not just the rich. The rich union bureaucrats, they have to take away from us, so they can maintain the money that they want, the raises they want. He gave himself a raise just recently. Yeah, he makes like $300,000 a year. But we dont have money for us at the end of the day.

Irvine demonstration

Reporters for the WSWS also spoke to postal workers and retirees at a smaller rally in Irvine, California on Sunday.

Current and retired postal workers and union officials rally in Irvine, California, March 23, 2025.

Richard, a letter carrier for 18 years, explained that the postal service, wasnt supposed to be for profit. It is a service for the American citizens and the American businesses.

Sandra, a letter carrier for about 10 years added, The Post Office is a public service. We deliver mail to a lot of people, especially the elderly. And Im big on elderly people. They need their medications.

She added, We deliver all the ballots. I dont know if a lot of people are aware of this, but we also collect a lot of food. In March, we collect a lot of food for the hungry.

Richard explained that working for the post office has always been bad and that management treats it like its more of a business than it is about service. They dont really care they are trying to push us to go faster, do less, instead of making sure that our customers are okay.

Ive had customers who are sick. And we literally check on them, Are you okay? Is everything okay? Is there somebody I can call to help? Ive had an elderly customer get locked out of her house, and she couldnt get in. So I called the locksmith because she couldnt really figure out her phone. I talked to him and then I told her, Its okay. Hes on his way. Hes going to come in and unlock your door.

Demarco, a postal service worker in Irvine for 41 years, explained that, everything that management does, its to maximize, micromanage, so we are pushed, we are at maximum efficiency. He postulated that perhaps efficiency could be improved with...less managers.

Postal workers rally in Irvine, California, March 23, 2025.

Demarco said the fight against job cuts has to be conducted together. He said, fighting as individuals, were not big enough to fight it as an individual.

Questioned by a WSWS reporter if he would support an international movement of postal workers to defend the postal service in every country, Demarco said,

Well, I mean, lets just look at it from a basic right. No matter what part of the world you live in, our needs are the same. You know, and it doesnt change from country to country. And I think a worldwide unification of the postal service to come together, I would agree with that because, like I say, the needs are worldwide. They are not just nationwide. Its here in America or Canada. The same needs, the same people doing the same things.
Displaced Palestinians, fleeing from Rafah amidst ongoing Israeli military operations following Israels renewed offensive in the Gaza Strip, arrive in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Sunday, March 23, 2025. [AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana]

The Israeli military is preparing to fully occupy the Gaza Strip, internally displace the remaining population and provide only the minimum caloric amount necessary for survival, according to three international publications.

On Monday, both the US-based National Public Radio (NPR) and the UKs Financial Times confirmed a report published Friday by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that Israel is Preparing to Occupy Gaza, Reinstate Military Rule and Fully Control the Palestinian Population.

The publications report that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) current offensive in Gaza, which began last Tuesday with the massacre of 400 people in a single day of airstrikes, is aimed at the full military occupation of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military has widened the areas it is occupying day by day, internally displacing an ever-larger section of the Palestinian population.

Left unsaid in the reports on the renewed occupation is its connection to the plan, first laid out by US President Donald Trump in February and officially embraced by the Israeli government, to ethnically cleanse Gaza and annex its territory.

On Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reported that Israels security cabinet has formally voted for the establishment of an office to oversee the ethnic cleansing of Gaza. The office will be a Voluntary Emigration Bureau for Gaza residents interested in relocating to third countries, Katz claimed.

While Israeli officials have claimed that the displacement of the Palestinians would be voluntary, the fact is that this massive relocation operation would require direct military coercion. As such, the plan for the complete military occupation of Gaza would be a basic prerequisite for putting the ethnic cleansing program into effect.

Fridays report in Haaretz alleged that preparations are underway for a large-scale operation to occupy Gaza and restore full Israeli control.

Confirming this report, NPR reported Monday:

The Israeli military has drawn up plans for a major ground invasion into Gaza to fully occupy the territory within a few months and establish military rule there. Israel would order Gazas 2.2 million Palestinians into a smaller humanitarian zone than the area it has currently designated for civilians. The military is examining options for soldiers to control the distribution of food limited to a minimum caloric amount necessary for survival.

In a separate article, the FT reported:

... the IDF would call up several combat divisions to reinvade and subdue Hamas, take control of wide swaths of the enclave and force the territorys 2.2 million population into a small, so-called humanitarian zone along the Mediterranean coast.

It continued: The Israeli military would then administer Gaza, adding Such a plan would uproot millions of Palestinian civilians and corral them into an even smaller stretch of barren land.

The FT said:

One of the people familiar with the deliberations said Israel could take over the distribution of all humanitarian aid and had recently assessed how many calories each Palestinian would require.

The Israeli military is preparing for months of operations involving combat, victory and administration, the official told the FT.

During the Holocaust, the systematic extermination of Europes Jews by Germany during the Second World War, Nazi officials removed Europes Jews from their neighborhoods and concentrated them into ghettos, in preparation for their transport to camps in Eastern Europe. The restriction of food rations in the Warsaw ghetto in Nazi-occupied Poland resulted in the deaths of thousands of Jews each month at its peak. As the war progressed, a decision was made to go from relocation and slow death to active extermination in death camps.

The concentration of Gazas population in so-called humanitarian zones and the severe restriction of their food consumption would be the essential preparation for their displacement out of Gaza and the permanent occupation and annexation of the Gaza Strip, as proposed by Trump in February.

As this plan proceeds, Israels military onslaught on the Gaza Strip and its reign of terror in the West Bank is accelerating.

In the past 24 hours, 65 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, bringing the total number of deaths from Israeli attacks in the past week to over 730.

On Monday, the Israeli military forcibly displaced the population of the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza in preparation for a ground offensive. To all those present in the area of Jabalia, this is an early warning before a strike, head south towards the known shelters immediately, the IDF said.

On Monday, two Palestinian journalists were killed in Israeli airstrikes. Hossam Shabat, a reporter for Al Jazeera Mubasher, was killed in a targeted airstrike in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, after the Israeli army killed journalist Mohammad Mansour, a correspondent for Palestine Today, in a separate strike in Khan Younis. The killings bring the number of journalists killed in Gaza since October 2023 to 208.

In a statement, the Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the killing of Shabat and Mansour. The deliberate and targeted killing of a journalist, of a civilian, is a war crime, said the organizations chief executive, Jodie Ginsberg. She added, Journalists and civilians must never be targeted.

Shabats colleagues shared his last words:

If youre reading this, it means I have been killedmost likely targetedby the Israeli occupation forces.

He added:

I documented the horrors in northern Gaza minute by minute, determined to show the world the truth they tried to bury. I slept on pavements, in schools, in tentsanywhere I could. Each day was a battle for survival. I endured hunger for months, yet I never left my peoples side.

The United Nations said Monday that constant Israeli attacks on its staff were forcing it to reduce the number of its international staffers in Gaza by one-third. At least 250 UN employees have been killed since October 7, 2023.

The UN said in a statement:

The Secretary-General has taken the difficult decision to reduce the organizations footprint in Gaza, even as humanitarian needs soar and our concern over the protection of civilians intensifies.

Last week, an Israeli tank attacked a UN compound in Gaza, killing a 51-year-old staffer, Marin Valev Marinov, who worked with the UN Office for Project Services.

In a statement on Monday, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that 124,000 Palestinians in Gaza had been displaced over the past week. It wrote:

Families carry what little they have with no shelter, no safety, and nowhere left to go. The Israeli authorities have cut off all aid. Food is scarce and prices are soaring. This is a humanitarian catastrophe. The siege must end.

Meanwhile, Israels reign of terror in the West Bank continues. On Monday, Hamdan Ballal, Palestinian co-director of Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, was attacked by Israeli settlers and arrested by Israeli soldiers. Basel Adra, the co-director of the film, said that a group of settlers attacked Ballals home in the West Bank village of Susya. Adra said that two dozen settlers, some armed with guns, carried out the attack while the Israeli military stood watch then proceeded to arrest Ballal.

In a post on Twitter, his fellow co-director Yuval Abraham, an Israeli journalist, said:

A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal, co-director of our film No Other Land. They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding.

He added:

Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him. No sign of him since.
Amid mounting geopolitical conflicts and uncertainty, and with an Australian federal election looming, the Greens have dropped their vague mask of pacifism, outlining a program for a major military build-up in preparation for war.

Greens leadership outside federal parliament, including Adam Bandt (speaking) with Mehreen Faruqi on his left and David Shoebridge (right).

The Greens unveiled the policy in an exclusive given to the Australian Broadcasting Corporations (ABC) defence correspondent Andrew Green. He noted that it was the first time in the partys history that it had released a formally costed policy to fund new military programs.

That fact, and even the manner of revealing the program, were intended to send a signal to the ruling class that the Greens are serious on matters of national security and defence and are not merely a protest party.

The message was reinforced by the fact that the policy was outlined by David Shoebridge, a left, who is frequently a speaker at demonstrations opposing the genocide in Gaza, environmental degradation and various social issues. For the exclusive, he had dropped the rally placards and chants, donning a suit and spruiking his partys commitment to the development of a sovereign military capacity.

The Greens, he stated, would initiate a $4 billion program for the construction of missiles in Australia, as well as uncrewed marine and aerial vehicles. This would be paid for by abandoning current government plans to purchase M1A2 Abrams tanks and Black Hawk helicopters from the US. The Greens would also annul the $368 billion program for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS pact with the US and the UK.

Shoebridge sought to cover the Greens embrace of militarism by declaring that its weapons program would be for strictly defensive purposes only. But that is threadbare. The most rapacious predatory powers in history, from Nazi Germany to the American war machine, have always sought to present their military build-ups as guarantors of defence and freedom.

The assets that the Greens are talking about acquiring have plainly offensive capabilities. They have stated that the missiles should be medium range, which typically reach between 1,000 and 3,000 kilometres and intermediate, which generally have a range somewhere between 3,000 and 5,500 kilometres.

The Greens missiles, which would presumably be stationed on the northern approaches to the continent, on a defensive pretext, could thus fire far into the Indo-Pacific.

The partys proposal for a focus on rapid missile production dovetails with plans already underway by the Labor government and the national-security establishment. A 2023 Defence Strategic Review (DSR), adopted in full by Labor, recommended an immediate focus on equipping all branches of the armed forces with missiles, to ensure impactful projection in the context of geopolitical conflicts and the prospect of war.

Whatever Shoebridges obfuscations, he is essentially proposing the same.

The other capabilities promoted by the Greens, uncrewed marine and aerial vehicles, i.e., drones, were also prominent in the DSR and in the broader official discussion around bolstering military capability.

Significantly, Shoebridge has invoked the experience of the Ukraine war, where drones have played a central role in the carnage that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. The Greens have been among the most aggressive parliamentary parties in their support of the US-NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine.

Two factors seem to account for the Greens more open embrace of militarism.

The first is the crisis character of the upcoming federal election. All polling indicates that neither of the major parties, Labor nor the Liberal-National Coalition, are likely to be able to form a majority government.

For several months, the Greens have been agitating for a formal alliance with Labor, in the event that the election produces a minority Labor government. Given that Labors central policy for the past three years has been a massive expansion of the military, in preparation for war with China, Shoebridges announcement is a clear signal that the Greens would not hinder a further military build-up if they were to enter into some form of coalition government.

The other factor is the uncertainty produced by Trumps election. Trumps willingness to engage in conflict with traditional US partners, particularly the European powers, and his ostentatious rejection of Australias pleadings for an exemption to tariffs on steel and aluminium exports, have raised sharp questions in ruling circles over the reliability of the US-Australian alliance.

Shoebridge was clearly pitching to those concerns. He denounced the AUKUS submarine program, as well as plans to purchase M1A2 Abrams tanks and Black Hawks, not primarily on the grounds that these were weapons of war. Instead, Shoebridge warned that they were expensive and outdated, and would not be operational for many years to come.

Shoebridge spoke vaguely about the need to decouple the Australian military from its US counterpart, and the dangers of completely hewing to the unpredictable Trump administration.

But significantly, he said nothing about the underlying purpose of AUKUS, or the much larger US and Australian military build-up of which it is a part. That aim, outlined both in US government and Australian government documents, is to prepare for an offensive war against China, which is viewed as the chief threat to the global dominance of American imperialism.

By not mentioning this fundamental fact, as he was proposing a military build-up partially cribbed from the DSR and other national-security plans, Shoebridge was indicating the support of the Greens for confrontation with China.

The very manner of the Greens presentation, of the need to defend the Australian continent, feeds into the bogus claims that China would be the aggressor, and that the US and allied military operations against it are of a defensive character.

The ABCs Andrew Green noted that at the last election, the Greens proposed a cap of defence spending at 1.5 percent of gross domestic product. Even that would have meant an annual military spending of more than $25 billion. But now, the Greens have dropped even that. Instead, Shoebridge described the missile program as only the beginning of a broader military expansion.

The program is an exposure of both the Greens, and of the anti-AUKUS movement that has developed in Australia. The latter has brought together right-wing Labor Party figures, such as former Prime Minister Paul Keating and former Foreign Minister Bob Carr, with the Greens, sections of the union bureaucracy and pacifist activists.

The fake-left groups such as Socialist Alternative and Socialist Alliance have presented the anti-AUKUS movement as an anti-war movement, as part of their broader attempts to chain growing opposition to militarism among workers and youth to Labor, the Greens and the corporatist unions.

The WSWS and the Socialist Equality Party alone have warned from the outset that the anti-AUKUS movement is a nationalist trap for such discontent. Defining its class character, we warned that it represented, not an initial expression of anti-war sentiment among ordinary people, but tactical divisions within the ruling class.

Figures such as Keating and Carr were speaking for a minority that feared the implications of complete Australian integration into the US war drive against China. Their calls for a more independent foreign policy, we warned, meant a slightly alternative version of the military build-up that is already underway.

Whatever their tactical quibbles, given Australias character as a middle order imperialist power that has always advanced its own predatory interests under the umbrella of the dominant power of the day, they would ultimately fall in behind a US war against China if it broke out. In any event, the sovereign military assets demanded by the anti-AUKUS movement could be deployed against the peoples of the South Pacific, the historic stamping ground of Australian imperialism.

We noted that the calls for independent foreign policy and sovereign military capability hinted at an even more aggressive and assertive Australian militarism. That warning, too, has been confirmed.

The Greens announcement expresses a confluence between the anti-AUKUS movement and the most hawkish layers of the national-security establishment, who have traditionally promoted the US alliance and have been most aggressive in their calls for a confrontation with China.

That confluence was given a nod by Shoebridge, who described the Greens policy as the beginning of a plan B for the Australian military. He took the phrase from comments made by Admiral Chris Barrie, former head of the Australian Defence Force. Barrie had warned last week that the US had become an unreliable ally under Trump, that the AUKUS submarines may never eventuate and that it was urgent for Australia to acquire new capabilities, a plan B.

Similar statements, accompanied by calls for missile and drone capabilities, have been made by the Sydney Morning Heralds international editor Peter Hartcher and the Australians Greg Sheridan. They are the media commentators with some of the closest ties to the military-intelligence establishment. Whatever their occasional rhetoric, that is the constituency to which Shoebridge and the Greens are now pitching.
Join the fight to save the Post Office! Join the USPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee by filling out the form below.

Protesting Letter Carriers in Colorado [Photo: Colorado AFL-CIO]

Letter carriers rallied across the United States Sunday against threats by the Trump administration to privatize the US Postal Service. The demonstrations, called by the National Association of Letter Carriers and the National Rural Letter Carriers Association, followed separate demonstrations by the American Postal Workers Union last Thursday.

The demonstrations were somewhat larger than Thursdays, with hundreds in attendance at individual demonstrations in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and other cities. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, around 150 people took part in a rally outside a local union hall.

No doubt a factor behind this was opposition by city carriers to the provocative sellout deal pushed by the NALC bureaucracy, which workers rejected by a historic margin. However, NALC is now in binding arbitration to force a deal, almost certain to be little better than the first, without workers even having the right to vote.

While the Trump administration violates laws at will in its drive to slash federal agencies, rip up democratic rights and establish a dictatorship, the union bureaucracy is insisting that workers abide by draconian anti-worker labor laws and limit themselves to writing their congressmen and filing suits and complaints with federal agencies that Trump will simply ignore.

Against this, WSWS reporters distributed copies of the latest statement of the USPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee, For a rank-and-file movement to save the Post Office and oppose dictatorship! The statement stressed that a fight against the Trump government requires new organizations, rank-and-file committees, to mobilize ourselves independently of Trumps collaborators in the Democrats and the union tops. We must safeguard our own initiative and begin organizing now rather than waiting for permission from the top which will never come.

Dallas

Postal workers and their family members rally in Dallas, Texas, March 23, 2025.

A fighting mood was expressed by the rank-and-file. Were dealing with a corporate takeover, one Dallas postal worker, who wished to remain anonymous, said. I think that at this point we need a new party, a party excluding oligarchs, excluding moguls, Democrats and excluding the one percent. A working class party  we need to form a party based upon the proletariat of the working class. Cause thats the only way that its a change going to come. I know that to do nothing, thats not the answer.

Alexandria, Virginia

There would be none of your companies without the working class, one worker said at the Alexandria, Virginia demonstration. They feel like that they can get more work for less money and its more work for less money and we cant revert back. Everyone deserves to have a living wage. It doesnt seem like Congress has a backbone. Everyones a yes man to this dictator.

Asked about Trumps attack on immigrants, the worker replied:

I feel like once they start with the immigrants, theyre gonna start with the natural-born citizens. You have to defend one another. You cant just throw one group of category of people under the bus and think, Oh, its not gonna affect me, because at some point it will affect us.  I thought the United States, with the First Amendment, we had that right to agree to disagree.

Nashville, Tennessee

Letter carries demonstrate in Nashville, Tennessee, March 23, 2025

About 50 postal workers rallied in Nashville. One worker pointed to the USPS agreement with Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency to help slash costs. I had a feeling that something like this would happen with [Louis DeJoys] announcement to step down as Postmaster General. He had already been kind of paving the way for something like this considering he had come from a logistics background already and he wants to turn a big profit on the Postal Service [when it is privatized]. And so I think DOGE was the perfect opportunity for him to do that.

A retired carrier said:

We were the only company in the entire United States ever mandated by Congress to pre-fund our retirement, okay? So dont think that theyre not looking at the [billions] that are in that account, just waiting. What theyre going to do, theyre going to do the same thing theyre trying to do with Social Security. Theyre going to do exactly the same thing. Theyre going to make it look like its [the USPS] not even good, its not working. Its busted. So yeah, theyre coming after it. They know its there. They want it.

New York City

In New York City, a postal worker explained to the WSWS: Its basically all federal employees, probationary employees. Hes making an all-out assault on everybody thats working for the federal government. At the end of the day, were out here for more than just the Postal Service.

Trumps attacks on pro-Palestinian university students like Mahmoud Khalil and Momodou Taal were also raised. Ive seen so far theyve been detained and [they are] expected to be deported. It is a sad state of affairs when youre fighting for equal rights. And he [Khalil] is an educator. Because hes educated, [because] hes educating others as to the strife that millions are suffering under.

A carrier with 25 years of experience told the WSWS:

Im here to fight so that they dont take our rights away. We service the communities. We service the people, the elderly. Were just a service for everybody. What theyre trying to do to privatize the Postal Service is wrong, you know?

Its bad enough that we live in New York City, the cost of the living is so high, and now they want to privatize. If they privatize, a lot of people are going to lose their jobs. How are they going to feed their family? If they take this away from us, theyll take everything else away from us. So Im here to fight for my future, for my daughters future, for all the futures of all the letter carriers that are going to come after me. We have to defend this.

Another New York postal worker said:

We sacrificed a lot throughout the years, our families throughout the whole pandemic, and we feel attacked  The privatization is going to be worse for everyone, for workers and for the American public.

And theres another 10,000 jobs, you know, on top of the 200,000 jobs they already took through attrition. They dont replace people that retire. They dont hire new people or train them well, because its not the fault of some carriers. Theyre not getting the proper training. So its a lot of grievances. Its meant that we have to do more for less. Youre expected nowwith all the technology thats being brought into the systemyoure accountable, and youre being tracked every moment of your job. They tell you one minute for this, 10 minutes for that. You know, it can be stressful.

Another participant in the New York rally said: This is a moment in our history where we need to come together. We need to fight together. We need to tell our government to stay their hands off of our workers. If we have to [strike], we will. We have done it before. We will do it again. If we need to, we will all come together for one cause and we will do it.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, left, speaks as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, looks on during a stop of their "Fighting Oligarchy" tour March 21, 2025, in Denver. [AP Photo/David Zalubowski]

Starting in February 2025, Senator Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont who caucuses with the Democratic Party, began hosting a series of campaign-style events across the country as part of his misnamed Fighting Oligarchy tour. In the last week of the tour, Sanders was joined by Democratic Party representative and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The basic purpose of this tour is to channel growing opposition and anger over Trump back into the dead-end of the Democratic Party.

In the wake of Trumps return to the White House, the Democratic Party has suffered a significant decline in public support. A March 2025 CNN poll found that only 29 percent of Americans view the party favorablythe lowest rating since CNN began the survey in 1992. Similarly, an NBC News poll conducted the same month showed a 27 percent favorability rating, also an all-time low since the network began polling in 1990.

Millions of people who previously considered themselves Democrats are outraged that the party has not mounted any opposition to Trumps fascist agenda. This is expressed in the very large turnouts for the Sanders rallies, including over 30,000 last week in Denver, which Sanders said is the largest turnout he has ever had.

Highlighting the political aims of the campaign, Sanders explained that the tour is specifically targeting swing House districts currently held by Republicans and up for election in 2026. In doing so, Sanders is working to build support for the Democratic Party, which is deeply unpopular in the working class.

At the events, Sanders repeated his usual left rhetoric alongside a mild and toothless critique of the Democratic Party. Speaking in Denver, he remarked, I would not be telling you the truth if I didnt tell you that within the Democratic Party there are billionaires who have undue influence.



Democrats, Sanders added, have turned their backs on the working people.

To say the Democrats have turned their back on working people implies they were ever a party of the working class. This is the party of Indian Removal, slavery, Jim Crow, the nuclear destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Vietnam War, Bill Clintons dismantling of welfare, Barack Obamas Terror Tuesdays and record deportations, and now the genocide in Gaza under Bidenwho also banned a railroad strike and called for a strong Republican Party.

The Democratic Party, the worlds oldest capitalist party, is in no way capable of reforming and standing with the working class. The Democrats, no less than the Republicans, are a party of the ruling class and financial oligarchy.

The aim of Sanders is to put lipstick on the pig, that is, to somehow revive the credibility of the Democratic Party. As he said in an interview on CNN March 19, So what we are trying to do is maybe create a party within the party of bringing millions of young people, of working class people, people of color, to demand that the Democratic Party start standing with the working class of this country.

Perhaps more significant than what Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez said at the rallies is what they did not say. In Denver, neither made mention of the ongoing attacks on immigrant rights, which is the spearhead of a broader assault on the rights of the entire working class.

This is despite Trumps unprecedented invocation of the Alien Enemies Act little more than a week ago to deport hundreds of immigrants without due process, defying court orders. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez also failed to draw attention to the kidnapping and illegal detention of Columbia University student Mamoud Khalil, or the current attempts to deport Cornell University student Momodou Taal just days after he filed a lawsuit against Trumps unconstitutional executive orders.

The refusal to defend immigrants is not a mistake, but a core element of the nationalist program advanced by Sanders and the trade union apparatus, which is aimed at dividing workers against each other.

In the context of this unprecedented crackdown against immigrant rights, Sanders gave an interview that aired this past Sunday on ABCs This Week in which he praised the Trump administrations fascistic immigrant crackdown.



Asked by ABCs Jonathan Karl if there was anything he thought Trump had done right? Sanders replied:

Yea, I mean cracking down on fentanyl, making sure our borders are stronger. Look, nobody thinks that illegal immigration is appropriate. I happen to think that we need comprehensive immigration reform, but I dont think its appropriate to have people coming across the border illegally.

Questioned if he thought Biden should have been more aggressive in deporting and preventing immigration to the US, Sanders readily agreed: He should have done much better, no argument.

Sanders attacks on immigrants and his support for Trumps assault expose him not only as a reactionary capitalist politician, but as an enemy of the working class worldwide. As Karl Marx wrote, the working class has no country. The struggle against multinational corporations and capitalist state repression can only succeed through the international unity of workers across all borders. Workers in every country face the same class enemy, and their greatest allies are not the capitalists of their own nations, but their fellow workers around the world.

Further exposing the hollow character of the fighting oligarchy tour, Sanders has not only defended Trumps fascistic crackdown on immigrants, but has also repeatedly come to the defense of New York Senator Chuck Schumer. Over the past week, Sanders has dismissed growing calls within the Democratic Party for Schumer to step down as Senate minority leader following his vote in favor of the Republicans modern-day Enabling Act.

In an interview with CNN that aired last Wednesday, Sanders defended the Senator from Wall Street multiple times saying, I know, everyone is beating up on Chuck, and I strongly disagree with them. Strongly. He added demagogically that the problem was not Schumer... its the Democratic Party.

First elected to the House in 1980 and the Senate in 1999, Schumer has played a central role in facilitating oligarchy and inequality in America. In his first year as senator, he voted for the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which repealed key provisions of the Glass-Steagall Act and helped pave the way for the 200809 financial crisis by deregulating Wall Street.

Schumers top donors in recent years include some of the most powerful forces in finance, law, and the military-industrial complex. He has received major backing from the private equity giant Blackstone, whose billionaire CEO, Stephen Schwarzman, is a close ally of Trump, as well as the corporate law firm Paul, Weissnow openly collaborating with the Trump administrationand the weapons contractor L3Harris Technologies, which recently partnered with the surveillance firm Palantir, chaired by fascist billionaire and Trump ally Peter Thiel.

On March 20, Sludge reported that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) took in another $1.3 million from Invariant. Invariant, the top-paid lobbyist for both Elon Musks SpaceX and Peter Thiels Palantir, has now bundled nearly $4 million to the DCCC this year. Sludge also noted that Invariant hosted a fundraiser for Senate Democrats last month, sharing a photo of CEO Heather Podesta with Schumer, who appeared to be holding a check.



Sanders plays an indispensable role for the Democratic Party and the ruling class. After every electoral debacle, he reemerges to posture as a left alternative, channeling growing discontent into safe, controlled avenues. But time and againafter building a large base of supporthe abandons his campaign, endorses the Democratic establishments chosen candidate, and leaves his disoriented followers vulnerable to right-wing reaction.

This was the case with Hillary Clinton in 2016, Joe Biden in 2020, and again with Biden and Harris in 2024. Now, joined by Ocasio-Cortez, Sanders is reprising the same role. He is not an alternative to the Democratic Party. He is its most vital political safety valve.

While Sanders once called himself a democratic socialist, his rhetoric today carefully avoids any critique of capitalism. This is no accident. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez are defenders of American imperialism, the two-party system and the economic order it upholds.

In aligning himself with the Democratic Party, Sanders is propping up a political apparatus that is not resisting Trumps dictatorship, but collaborating in its construction. From the start, the Democrats have helped create the conditions for Trumps rise. Their support for endless war and social austerity has alienated millions. Now, as Trump escalates repression and defies the courts, their primary concern is not democracy at home, but the prosecution of war abroad.

This is made clear in Sanders own words: For the first time in our 250-year history, we have a president who is turning his back on democracy and allying us with authoritarianism, he declared earlier this month. We must not abandon the people of Ukraine We must always stand for democracy, not dictatorship. In other words, the supposed fight for democracy is being tied to full-throated support for the US-NATO war against Russia.

But the working class cannot fight dictatorship by supporting the parties that are responsible for it. The struggle against oligarchy requires a direct confrontation with capitalism and a complete break with all parties and politiciansDemocratic, Republican, or self-styled progressivesthat defend the private ownership of the means of production.

Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez are not fighting oligarchythey are fighting to smother the growing anger of millions and return it safely to the graveyard of the Democratic Party, which is openly collaborating with Trump and his billionaire backers.

The path forward lies not in reforms or electoral maneuvers, but in the building of a socialist movement of the working class, organized internationally and directed consciously against the capitalist system.
Jasmin Ramirez holds a photo of her son, Angelo Escalona, at a government-organized rally protesting the deportation of alleged members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, who were transferred to an El Salvador prison, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. [AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos]

Venezuelan immigrants are desperately searching for information about family members, who have been detained and disappeared by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), amid reports that ICE has removed numerous detainees from its deportation database.

According to a report in the Washington Post, which interviewed Venezuelan immigrants in Texas, ICEs online detainee locatoronce used to identify where detained individuals were being heldnow simply returns the message: Your search has returned zero (0) matching records.

Family members fear their relatives were placed on March 15 flights to El Salvador and are now being held in a Salvadoran prison notorious for violence, torture and murder. ICE has, however, refused to confirm their whereabouts. When the wife of one detainee visited the ICE office in Dallas to seek information, she was threatened with arrest.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed the Trump administration is withholding the names of those deported to El Salvador because of privacy concerns at this timea cynical and absurd assertion, given that Trump has publicly vilified the deported Venezuelans as gang members, murderers and rapists.

The real purpose of the silence is both cruelty and concealment. Trump and his fascist advisers like Stephen Miller and Tom Homan are deliberately tormenting families with uncertainty, while keeping detainees locations secret in order to hinder legal efforts to challenge the illegal deportations in court.

Mondays Post report came amid a series of legal and policy developments surrounding the Venezuelan deportationsthe first time a US president has invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act during peacetime. Those targeted have been given no opportunity for due process or to challenge their designation as enemy aliens.

On Monday afternoon, a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit heard arguments from the Justice Department and attorneys for the Venezuelan migrants over the Trump administrations emergency motion to overturn a temporary restraining order issued by District Court Judge James Boasberg on March 15.

Judge Boasberg barred the administration from deporting Venezuelans accused of belonging to the Tren de Aragua gang until they were granted a judicial hearing. He explicitly ordered that any planes already in transit with deportees be turned around and returned to the United States. The Trump administration refused to comply, appealed the order and disingenuously claimed it was not defying the court.

At least one of the three appellate judges expressed strong opposition to the administrations conduct. Citing the treatment of alleged Nazis arrested inside the United States during World War II, Judge Patricia Millett said, Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemies Act than the Venezuelans.

She pointed out that there were formal hearings and published regulations governing the treatment of the alleged Nazi detainees. In contrast, she said, for the Venezuelans:

There were planeloads of people. There were no procedures in place to notify people.

She continued:

Theres no regulations, and nothing was adopted by the agency officials that were administering this. The people werent given notice. They werent told where they were going. They ... had no opportunity to file habeas or any type of action to challenge the removal under the AEA.

Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign compared Boasbergs restraining order to a judge directing a carrier group from the South China Sea to the Persian Gulf, but Judge Millett, appointed by Democrat Barack Obama, rejected the comparison. She said:

Asserting a power to do that is not ordering ships to relocate in foreign waters, right? That is a straight up judicial process thats allowed by the Supreme Court and Circuit precedent.

When Ensign persisted, saying, I think the intrusion upon the War Powers and foreign policy powers of the president is utterly unprecedented, Millett replied:

Well, this is an unprecedented action as well. So of course, theres no precedent for it, because no president has ever used this statute this way, which isnt to say one way or the other if it can be done, but simply to say we are in unprecedented territory.

Despite the Trump administrations frenzied claims that Boasberg was attempting to usurp the presidents powers as commander-in-chief, there is ample precedent for judicial review of presidential military actions. As recently as the George W. Bush administration, the White House accepted court oversight of its detention of prisoners at the CIA torture facility in Guantanamo Bay during the war on terror.

The three-judge panelcomprised of Trump appointee Justin Walker, George H. W. Bush appointee Karen Henderson and Millettsaid it would issue a ruling on the Trump administrations appeal within several days.

In the meantime, Judge Boasberg handed down Monday a further ruling that five named plaintiffs represented by the ACLU and other immigrant rights groups were likely to prevail in their demand that before they may be deported, they are entitled to individualized hearings to determine whether the Act applies to them at all.

He said it was not necessary for him to rule on whether the Alien Enemies Act had been properly invoked, since the due process claim took priority. The plaintiffs faced irreparable harm from their removal to a Salvadorean prison where they face torture, beatings, and even death.

Because the named Plaintiffs dispute that they are members of Tren de Aragua, they may not be deported until a court has been able to decide the merits of their challenge, he wrote. The Alien Enemies Act, he said, arguably envisions that those caught up in its web must be given the opportunity to seek such review.

The flimsiness of the factual assertions of the Trump administration were demonstrated when the ACLU reported that of the more 200 prisoners sent to El Salvador as alleged Venezuelan gang members, eight were actually women, contrary to US government claims that all the prisoners were men. Salvadoran officials refused to accept the women and sent them back to the US.

In a further broadening of the anti-immigrant campaign, the Department of Homeland Security announced March 21 that Trump was ending a program under which some 531,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela had temporary approval to enter the United States and receive work permits valid for two years. More than 80 percent of those migrants were living in Florida, according to ICE records.

The program, dubbed CHNV after the initials of the four countries, was established in October 2022 by the Biden administration, in an effort to appeal to anti-communist sentiment in the Cuban, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan exile communities in Florida, while including some Haitians, victims of natural disasters and gang violence, as well. According to published reports, by the end of 2024, 531,690 people had come through the program, including 110,240 Cubans, 211,040 Haitians, 93,070 Nicaraguans and 117,330 Venezuelans.

This is separate from the termination of Temporary Protected Status for 250,000 Venezuelans, set to end April 2, and for 500,000 Haitians, set to end in August, based on decisions issued by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
RAMALLAH, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Kaja Kallas, the European Union's (EU) high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said here Monday that the EU supports the Gaza reconstruction plan approved by an emergency Arab summit earlier this month.

During a press conference after her meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, Kallas said that she "discussed with the prime minister the Arab plan for Gaza, which the EU strongly supports," and that the EU "will have a role in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip."

The EU believes that "the Palestinian Authority should govern Gaza," and will "provide support to the Palestinian government to assist it in assuming its duties in the Strip," Kallas said.

"The EU's relationship with Palestine is growing stronger, and in less than a month, a high-level political dialogue will be held in Brussels for the first time with Palestine, which will be an important basis for strengthening cooperation on multiple levels for years to come," she said.

Kallas also condemned Israeli actions in the West Bank, saying they "are destroying the two-state solution, which is the only path to sustainable peace."

Mustafa described Israel's renewed assault on Gaza as "grave violations of international law and the rights of the Palestinian people," and urged continued international pressure on Israel to end its assault, while ensuring accountability for its actions.

He also called for support from the EU to rebuild Gaza.

Also on Monday, Kallas met separately with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, during which Abbas stressed the need to open the border crossings to allow the urgent entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, to ensure that the State of Palestine assumes its full responsibilities in the enclave, and to secure a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Strip, Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported.

Since March 2, Israel has cut off the entry of all lifesaving supplies, including food, medicines, fuel, and cooking gas, into Gaza. It has also cut power to southern Gaza's desalination plant, limiting access to clean water for some 600,000 people.

On March 18, 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.

According to Gaza-based health authorities, the death toll from the renewed Israeli assault on the enclave has topped 730. 
VIENTIANE, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The Office of the Supreme People's Prosecutor of Laos, in partnership with the Lao central bank, hosted a national seminar aimed at strengthening the country's anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) frameworks.

The seminar, held in Lao capital Vientiane from Tuesday to Wednesday, was attended by Lao Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, government officials and representatives from various sectors, according to Lao National Radio.

The discussions focused on Laos' path to implement the Financial Action Task Force AML/CFT Global Standards for Supervision, Law Enforcement, the Judiciary, and Money Laundering Activities (MLA).

In his speech, Vice President of the Office of the Supreme People's Prosecutor of Laos Khamphet Somvorachit emphasized the seminar's aim to raise awareness about anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing efforts.

Also speaking at the event, Saleumxay urged participants to actively engage in research, share ideas, and apply the lessons learned to strengthen the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.

He stressed that these crimes present serious threats to political stability, national development, and social security, fueling issues such as drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking, and corruption.

Saleumxay emphasized the need for greater cooperation to ensure long-term peace and stability in Laos. 
by Xinhua writers Yoo Seung-ki, Lu Rui

SEOUL, March 25 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's rival political parties had shown conflicting points of view over how the rejected impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will affect President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment trial.

Han was reinstated as prime minister and acting president on Monday as the constitutional court rejected a motion by the parliament to impeach him.

The ruling conservative People Power Party had expected Yoon's impeachment to be rejected if Han's impeachment was rejected, according to Yonhap news agency.

The main liberal opposition Democratic Party had seen a high possibility that the constitutional court would uphold Yoon's impeachment with Han's rejected impeachment for the purpose of keeping its political balance.

Despite confirmation that Han's impeachment process was legitimate, the court said neither evidence nor objective materials identified his involvement in the impeached president's martial law imposition and insurrection.

Yonhap analyzed that the court had yet to conclude whether Yoon's martial law declaration was legitimate through Han's impeachment trial, indicating no clear sign to be found for Yoon's impeachment trial.

Regarding why the constitutional court turning its stance from putting top priority on Yoon's impeachment trial to advancing Han's impeachment decision, local daily Hankyoreh assessed that the court considered a snap presidential election following a possible ouster of Yoon from office.

"If the president is ousted from office, an early presidential election will be held. (The earlier decision on Han than Yoon) was intended to restore Han to office and minimize confusion in state affairs by allowing Han to prepare for the presidential election," Lim Ji-bong, professor at Sogang University Law School, was quoted as saying.

An unnamed former constitutional court justice was quoted as saying that the court advanced Han's impeachment decision in a bid to stabilize state affairs after Yoon's possible removal from office by reinstating Han in his position.

Choi Sang-mok, finance minister who doubles as deputy prime minister for economic affairs, had served as acting president for about three months after the impeachments of both president and prime minister.

If the court upholds Yoon's impeachment, a snap presidential election is required to be held within 60 days.

Yoon declared an emergency martial law on the night of Dec. 3 last year, but it was revoked by the opposition-led National Assembly hours later.

A motion to impeach Yoon was passed in the National Assembly on Dec. 14 over his botched martial law imposition, and since then the constitutional court held 11 hearings on Yoon's impeachment.

Yoon was apprehended in the presidential office on Jan. 15 and was indicted under detention on Jan. 26 as a suspected ringleader of insurrection, becoming the country's first sitting president to be arrested and prosecuted. However, he was released on March 8 as the prosecution decided not to appeal against a court's release approval. 
BERLIN, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Innovation and regional cooperation are key to addressing global challenges and fostering sustainable development, Frank-Juergen Richter, chairman of the international think tank Horasis and former director of the World Economic Forum (WEF), has said.

"Innovation goes beyond technology. It shapes new models of global economic cooperation and helps countries navigate uncertainty," said Richter.

This year's forum, under the theme of "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future," highlights the importance of innovation, openness and collaboration in fostering economic growth in Asia and beyond, Richter told Xinhua in an interview ahead of the Boao Forum for Asia.

On the forum's growth, Richter recalled attending the inaugural Boao Forum for Asia in 2001, when it was a regional event. Over the past two decades, it has grown into a key global platform for high-level economic dialogue.

"Asian countries share a common vision to drive development through collaboration. This is particularly crucial as geopolitical tensions and economic challenges continue to reshape the world," he said.

Innovation fosters cross-border cooperation, Richter said, applauding China's role in global partnerships in light of its achievements in digital transformation, renewable energy and smart manufacturing.

"From the Belt and Road Initiative to green technology, China has consistently expanded cooperation through innovation," he said.

"China is a leader in solar and wind energy, contributing not only to its own energy transition but also to global carbon reduction efforts," Richter said, adding that advances in artificial intelligence, automation and energy storage are reshaping industries worldwide.

Richter also highlighted China's progress in AI, notably the breakthroughs made by companies like DeepSeek. "China's AI sector is closing the gap with global leaders, and in some areas, it is already ahead."

AI-driven applications are accelerating advancements in research, manufacturing and business growth, benefiting both China and the global economy, he added.

On China's development of new quality productive forces, which uses technology for industrial transformation and sustainable development, Richter said that it provides "valuable insights for other countries."

"Asia's rise has been built on resilience and cooperation," he said, urging stronger collaboration in technology and green industries.

2025 marks the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, a milestone that Richter sees as an opportunity to rethink global governance.

China's commitment to South-South cooperation through infrastructure financing, technology transfers and multilateral partnerships demonstrates its role in supporting fair global governance, Richter said.

With global shifts underway, Richter highlighted the growing importance of platforms like the Boao Forum for Asia in fostering openness, inclusiveness and long-term prosperity.

"Only by working together can countries achieve long-term prosperity," he added. 
EXCLUSIVE: Canadas Quentin Lee has touched down at Series Mania this week with scripted show Morning, Paris! and a third season of their stand-up show Comedy InvAsian in their back pocket.

The director-producers Margin Films has again teamed with Comedy InvAsian co-creator and showrunner Koji Steven Sakai from Little Nalu Pictures and exec producer Victor Elizade from Viva Pictures on the show, which spotlights AAPI comedians doing 30-minute sets in each episode. Lee is the director.

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The show is produced by Little Nalu Pictures and distributed by Viva Pictures Distribution. It was the TV debut of AAPI comedians such as Atsuko Okatsuka, Joey Guila, Robin Tran and Jiaoying Summers.

Seasons 1 and 2 premiered on Hulu as an exclusive in 2018, and both are now streaming on Peacock, Tubi and Prime Video. Season 3 is set for principal photography in July.

With Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) a hot-button in the national discussion, its even more important that shows like Comedy InvAsian III exist, said Sakai. Asian American diversity in television broadens narratives, enriches our culture, and inspires future generations to embrace their heritage.

Were incredibly proud to help bring this next wave of talented comedians to a global stage, added Elizade, President of Viva Pictures. Comedy has the unique power to connect us through shared laughter, while also spotlighting personal experiences that are as diverse as they are universally relatable. Theres nothing better than comedy that cracks you up and opens your eyes  and Comedy InvAsian III does both.

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Elizalde also produces Entre Nos, the LatinX stand-up comedy show that runs on HBO.

Im thrilled to be working with the original gangstas who started the Comedy InvAsian party and having some fun together, said Lee, who co-created Comedy InvAsian and spinoff series Comedy Invasion, which won the 2024 Canadian Screen Award for Best Comedy Special.

This comes as Lee pitches Morning, Paris! at the Canada-France Series Lab at Series Mania in Lille, France today. The initiative is a joint venture between Series Mania, Telefilm Canada and the CNC.

Lees show follows Chanel Lee, a 29-year-old aspiring fashion designer from Vancouver, who flies to Paris with Tristan Nahanee, a security guard with an enigmatic past, without informing her boss, Benoit Petit. The unlikely duo, who producers say embody a comical reinvention of The Odd Couple as they navigate the chaos of crashing Paris Fashion Week as Chanel experiences the citys magic for the first time.

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At its heart, Morning, Paris! is a story about a cross-cultural fashion enthusiast and underdog, driven by passion and ambition, striving to break into the exclusive Parisian fashion world, said Lee.

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Federation Studios has struck a deal with the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA).

Unveiled at Series Mania, the partnership will offer a fast track for creators, producers, investors, and distributors from both sides to ensure market access in Asia and Europe, according to the pair.

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The strategic alliance will see new projects and more networking between the two continents. It comes following renewed co-operation between European and Asian players of late.

The agreement was signed by Pascal Breton, president of Federation Studios and TAICCA Chairperson Homme Tsai, while it was witnessed by Jeremie Kessler, European and International Affairs director from CNC (Centre national du cinema et de limage animee) and Laurence Herszberg, General Director of Series Mania.

During a signing ceremony, Breton said: This agreement is a fantastic opportunity for Federation to develop films and series shot and co-produced in Taiwan, and to reinforce our distribution base for our European catalogue in the Asian territories. The exceptional expertise of Taiwanese professionals in technological innovation, as well as their creativity in the audiovisual industries, will be a major asset and we aim at combining and optimizing them with Federations talents and know-how.

TAICCA chairperson Homme Tsai added that through this cooperative partnership with Federation Studios, Taiwan will be able to optimize the exchange of resources with Europe, while boosting the development potential of cultural and creative industries in the global market.

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The Bureau super-indie Federation is currently seeking hundreds of millions via a cash injection and was recently in L.A. courting buyers.

Established six years back, the TAICCA facilitates the development of Taiwans content industries including film and TV.

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Credit: YouTube/The Late Late Show

Rosie ODonnell has claimed Donald Trump has it out for her and has done so for the last 20 years.

The comedian appeared on RTEs Late Late Show discussing her move to Ireland with her non-binary child earlier this year.

ODonell previously said she moved owing to the political situation in the US, and will not be returning until her home country is safe for all citizens.

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Speaking to RTE following the move, she said the US president has it out for me and has for 20 years, when I told the truth about him on a program called The View.

The 63-year-old was referring to an apparent decades-long feud between herself and Mr Trump, 78, which was ignited in 2006.

ODonnell, then a host on The View, laid into the businessman over his comments about a Miss USA winner accused of underage drinking.

She asked how Mr Trump could paint himself as a moral authority given [He] left the first wife, had an affair, left the second wife, had an affair, had kids both times, but hes the moral compass for 20-year-olds in America.

He uses me as a punchline

Mr Trump responded by branding ODonnell a woman out of control in an interview with People magazine.

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Speaking on the Late Late Show, the comedian said of the incident: He was very angry to say the least, and he hasnt let it go.

He sort of uses me as a punchline whenever he feels the need.

ODonnell went on to reference a surreal moment between Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Mr Trump in the Oval Office last month, in which a reporter questioned the Irish leader on why he had allowed her to move to the country.

Why in the world would you let Rosie ODonnell move to Ireland? I think shes going to lower your happiness levels, the reporter said, to which Mr Trump responded: I like that question.

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ODonnell said she felt troubled by the way Mr Martin was treated, adding: I wrote the taoiseach with a little note of apology to his email and got a note back that they had received it and thanked me.

The ex-pat is in the process of claiming Irish citizenship, as she has Irish grandparents.

She said that she misses her other children, who remain in the US.

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Many consider Texas to be the heart of the South, and few things are more Texan than barbecue. And one particular spot has been named the best barbecue joint in the Lone Star State  for the third year in a row.

For the ninth year, lifestyle magazine Southern Living has published "The South's Best," to celebrate readers' favorite places throughout the South. Rating beach towns, seafood dives, resorts and more, the magazine received over 10,000 survey results for the 2025 lists.

"One thing we can say about our readers: You are remarkably steadfast in your loyalties, especially when it comes to barbecue," contributing Barbecue Editor Robert F. Moss wrote.

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So which barbecue joint takes the biscuit  or shall we say "brisket?"  for the best in Texas? If you've been paying attention, you already know the answer.

Austin's Franklin Barbecue named best in Texas... again

For the third year, Southern Living has declared the best barbecue in the state to be Franklin Barbecue  where pilgrimages are made, and lines stretch longer than a Texas summer.

A tray of Franklin Barbecue.

"In 2009, Aaron Franklin helped launch the craft barbecue movement from a small Aristocrat Lo-Liner camper trailer parked near I-35 in downtown Austin," Southern Living wrote. "Flawless prime-grade brisket, tender pork ribs, and snappy jalapeno cheddar sausage  plus a dose of nascent social media  rocketed him to Internet celebrity. Franklin Barbecue moved into its current blue and white building on East 11th Street in 2011, and barbecue fans from around the globe have been lining up for hours to experience it."

Even with the year-after-year wins from Southern Living, Franklin Barbecue has distinguished itself with other honors. Last year, the Austin eatery was awarded a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide.

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Matthew Odam, the Statesman's food oracle, noted that while the lines have mercifully shrunk (slightly), the brisket remains a transcendental experience. "The fat is always rendered to perfection, creating the trademark suppleness that has set the brisket apart for 15 years," he explained, placing the barbecue spot at number 11 in the Statesmans 2024 Dining Guide.

LIST: Southern Living's best barbecue joints of 2025

Here's the full list of this year's best barbecue joints, as nominated by Southern Living readers:

State Barbecue joint City Alabama Big Bob Gibson's Decatur Arkansas Wright's Barbecue (various locations) Florida Big John's Alabama BBQ Tampa Georgia Southern Soul Barbeque St. Simons Island Kentucky Moonlite Bar-B-Que Inn Owensboro Louisiana The Joint New Orleans Maryland Blue Pit BBQ & Whiskey Bar Baltimore Mississippi The Shed BBQ Joint Ocean Springs Missouri Arthur Bryant's BBQ Kansas City North Carolina Lexington BBQ Lexington Oklahoma Oklahoma Joe's Bar-B-Cue (various locations) South Carolina Lewis Barbecue Charleston, Greenville Tennessee Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous Memphis Texas Franklin Barbecue Austin Virginia Pierce's Pitt Bar-B-Que Williamsburg West Virginia Rollin' Smoke BBQ Charleston

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin barbecue joint named best in Texas for third year in a row
Cherry blossoms are nearing peak bloom, and if you live in Kentucky, you don't have to travel as far Washington D.C. to find them.

Yoshino cherry trees, known for their white-and-pink flowers, commonly bloom in late March or early April. In 1912, the U.S. received about 3,000 cherry trees from Japan as a sign of friendship between the two nations. A National Cherry Blossom Festival takes place each year around the District of Columbia's Tidal Basin.

Most cherry blossoms in the Washington D.C. area are expected to bloom March 28-31, according to an estimate from the National Parks Service. The peak bloom date is defined as when at least 70% of Yoshino cherry blossom trees are open.

Where to find cherry blossoms in Kentucky

Cherry blossoms also maintain a presence in Kentucky. In fact, a recent study found cherry blossom trees were the 10th-most common tree in Louisville Metro Parks, making up about 4% of all recorded trees.

Chinese lanterns and cherry blossoms await placement as the Louisville Zoo prepared displays for their 2024 Wild Lights, which runs March 23 - May 19. Feb. 27, 2024

With the peak bloom period approaching, four places to visit for cherry blossom viewing in Kentucky include:

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Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@gannett.com or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Cherry blossoms: Where to find them in Louisville, Kentucky
MILAN  Italys Giglio.com was not immune to the slowdown in luxury spending last year.

Amid an iffy outlook for luxury players and many of the e-commerce giants, the luxury online retailer, listed on the AIM Italia program of the Milan Stock Exchange dedicated to small and medium-sized companies, logged an 18 percent drop in 2024 sales to 46.2 million euros.

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Thanks to cost-containment and efficiency measures, it managed to improve profitability, though, inching closer to breakeven.

In the 12 months to Dec. 31, adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization stood at a negative 178,000 euros, a slight improvement over the 230,000-euro loss in 2023. In 2022, the EBITDA was negative at 1 million euros.

In the second half of 2024, margins further improved, increasing 0.5 percent.

The slight revenue contraction, after more than a decade of exponential growth, should be seen as a natural and temporary normalization of demand, following years of inflated business volumes during and immediately after the pandemic, said Giuseppe Giglio, chairman and chief executive officer of Giglio.com.

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Were proud to be a solid and resilient company, capable of improving both EBITDA and net profits against an external environment that remains particularly challenging for our industry. Weve responded with the prudence and responsibility needed to stay on track toward swiftly reaching breakeven, despite a significant slowdown in consumer appetite for luxury goods, he added.

Last year, the company completed the relocation of all its operations to the 75,350-square-foot, state-of-the-art logistic and shooting center in Palermo, Italy, unveiled in 2023.

The company also said it managed to trim variable costs with increased efficiency in logistics operations and packaging, as well as through prudent marketing investments.

In 2024, the net loss stood at 1.27 million euros, compared to a loss of 1.7 million euros in 2023.

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Giglio.com functions as a marketplace with around 200 brick-and-mortar stores as partners, mainly based in Italy, in addition to France, Spain and Austria, among other countries.

In 2024, two-thirds of Giglio.coms gross merchandise value was generated abroad and especially in the European Union.

Shares of Giglio.com closed up 19.54 percent to 1.04 euro on Tuesday.

As reported, last July the company introduced Digital Gateway, a new business-to-business division that provides business clients with services geared at ramping up their digital capabilities.

This was followed earlier this year by the launch of Community Shopping, a new omnichannel service allowing partner stores to rely on the platforms entire digital stock, resorting to fellow boutiques for products they do not carry or that are sold out.

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In addition to the Giglio.com business established in 1996, the Giglio family independently operates five physical boutiques in Palermo, Italy  a business that began in 1965.

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Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma Alexander Babakov in Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Leji, China's top legislator, met with Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma Alexander Babakov in Beijing on Tuesday.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that China stands ready to work with Russia to provide firm mutual support, deepen mutual political trust, expand practical cooperation, practice genuine multilateralism, and make the international order more just and equitable.

China's NPC is willing to work with the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to implement the important consensus reached between their two heads of state, strengthen communication and exchange, share experience in legislation and supervision, and provide a legal guarantee for bilateral cooperation, Zhao said.

Babakov said that Russia-China relations have continued to produce fruitful results under the guidance of the two heads of state, adding that the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation is ready to strengthen exchange and cooperation with the NPC to contribute to the growth of bilateral ties. 

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma Alexander Babakov in Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)
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Prince William traveled across Europe for a royal visit to Estonia on Thursday. The Prince of Wales visited the city of Tallinn, greeting and taking photos with members of the public and stopping by the Estonian Cleantech Association.

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William layered his business casual attire with a rainforest green down jacket courtesy of Lululemon. The jacket featured a warm, insulated design to keep the British royal family member warm during the mid-March weather in Estonia.

Prince William visits Tallinn on March 20 in Estonia.

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Beneath his jacket, Prince William wore a light blue button-up shirt and styled a thin gray sweater atop the button-up as well. The Prince of Wales completed the look with a pair of dark slacks with a tailored fit and design, evoking an approachable look with refined sensibility.

In the past, Prince William embraced a sporty take on business casual attire. While visiting members of the public in Fistral Beach and Nansledan in Cornwall last May, William forwent formal attire for a relaxed take on businesswear.

Prince William visits Tallinn on March 20 in Estonia.

The Prince of Wales opted for a dark blend woven sport coat with a windowpane check pattern and a coordinated light blue button-up shirt  not dissimilar from the blue button-up he wore on Thursday in Estonia.

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The Prince of Wales paired the look with navy trousers and a belt with a silver buckle. While playing some beach volleyball, William decided to forgo his blazer and rolled up his sleeves for far more relaxed.

Prince William visits Tallinn on March 20 in Estonia.

Prince Williams visit to Estonia compromised various endeavors and interests for the Prince of Wales. His visit to Estonian Cleantech Association yielded new information on clean energy and technologies for a more environmentally conscious future. During his Estonia tour, Prince William met with the Mercian Regiment and explored Estonias response to the Ukraine conflict.

View Gallery

Launch Gallery: Photos of Prince William and Kate Middleton's Royal Wedding

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Mar. 24A freshly renovated boutique hotel is establishing itself as an entry point into Downtown Albuquerque  and its restaurant is a major part of the draw.

Arrive Albuquerque, formerly Hotel Blue, opened on Feb. 26.

"We're finding that the neighborhood has definitely given us a very warm embrace," said Tabitha Stallworth, director of sales for the hotel.

The hotel and its restaurant come as city and private officials have looked at ways to revitalize Downtown Albuquerque, including a Tax Increment Financing District and a Business Improvement District. Hotel developers have also said they see Arrive Albuquerque as an example of coming change in the heart of New Mexico's most populated city.

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"I feel like we're kind of the anchor of the Downtown threshold," Stallworth said.

The renovated six-story, 137-room hotel, which cost roughly $30 million, has many eye-catching features, including a mural by local artist Nani Chacon adorning the Eastern-facing wall with blossoming cacti and a vibrant red lowrider, a Zia symbol-shaped pool, and a unique style blending a retro and modern aesthetic consistent throughout.

The DWTNR's name, pronounced "Downtowner," pays tribute to the original iteration of the hotel, Downtowner Motor Inn, which opened in 1965. The original hotel was a pitstop for cars driving along the Mother Road, and much of Arrive's design  including the exterior lowrider mural  references that connection and period, Stallworth said.

For instance, the DWTNR has a complimentary jukebox, barstool and booth seating and a patio that overlooks a weekly Sunday cruise along Central.

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The restaurant also has two large family-style tables that can accommodate up to 14 people.

"We have the full range and something that really caters to everyone," Stallworth said, adding that the property welcomes pets as well.

The restaurant's cuisine has hints of Pan Asian-American and New Mexican flavors.

"All the leadership here [at the hotel] is local. We're all from Albuquerque," Stallworth said. "They did a good job of asking for input and were like, 'Listen, if we're going to make it in New Mexico, you gotta have those little New Mexico pieces in there.'"

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Though the menu is subject to change, current menu items include a green chile cheese smash burger, red chile-dusted fries, churro French toast served with ice cream, shrimp toast and a whole teriyaki chicken served in a Dutch oven. Menu offerings range from $7 to $32.

The DWTNR employs roughly two dozen workers and is open to the public seven days a week, with brunch from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., happy hour from 3-6 p.m. and dinner from 6-10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The restaurant has outside patio heaters for the cold and a large accordion door for the warmer months.

The hotel's general manager, Abraham Juarez, said Arrive Albuquerque's West-facing front entrance is how many tourists enter Downtown after visiting Old Town.

"We want to be a part of the community," Juarez said. "... This is a place where you can come."
Around 1,000 demonstrators remained in custody in Turkey in connection with protests sparked by opposition politician Ekrem Imamoglu's detention on March 19, the government announced.

Meanwhile seven journalists and photographers were jailed on charges of joining "unauthorized" protests, local rights groups and journalism unions said on Tuesday.

A total of 979 people are still in custody linked to protests against the arrest and suspension of Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya wrote on Tuesday on social media platform X.

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For sixth consecutive nights, thousands have taken to the streets across Turkey, defying a protest ban and demanding Imamoglu's release.

Yerlikaya accused the demonstrators of trying to "terrorize the streets." He said more than 1,400 people were initially held.

The government has responded to the protests with a harsh police crackdown, including in Istanbul and the capital Ankara, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan labelled the demonstrations "street terrorists."

The governors in Ankara and the third largest city Izmir extended a ban on gatherings through April 1st and March 29 respectively. A ban in Istanbul remains until Wednesday.

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Imamoglu, a key rival of Erdogan's, was jailed Sunday over corruption charges and is facing a separate probe over terror allegations. He denies the charges.

Despite his imprisonment, Imamoglu's secular main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) named him as their presidential candidate on Sunday.

Imamoglu vowed to fight back against what he called a "coup" in a post on X on Tuesday from his prison cell in Istanbul's high-security Marmara prison.

The unrest has shaken Turkish financial markets with the Turkish lira sliding further.

Meanwhile, Imamoglu's CHP has urged supporters to boycott a list of companies and media outlets which it branded as government-aligned.

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The CHP contends that the media groups listed had either avoided coverage of the recent protests sweeping the country or distorted the details.

The CHP called for a gathering outside the Istanbul city hall for later on Tuesday.

Demonstrators light flares during a protes against the imprisonment of leading Turkish opposition politician and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of the Republican People's Party (CHP). More than a thousand people have been arrested in connection with the pro-Imamoglu protests. Tunahan Turhan/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Demonstrators light flares during a protes against the imprisonment of leading Turkish opposition politician and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of the Republican People's Party (CHP). More than a thousand people have been arrested in connection with the pro-Imamoglu protests. Tunahan Turhan/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Editor's note: The article was updated with the latest casualty figures in Sumy.

Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least one civilian and injured at least 117, including children, over the past day, regional authorities reported on March 25.

Moscow's forces launched 139 attack and decoy drones against Ukraine, as well as an Iskander-M ballistic missile, the Air Force reported. Seventy-eight drones were shot down, while 34 decoys disappeared from radars without causing damage, according to the statement.

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Russia launched a devastating missile attack against the northeastern city of Sumy on March 24, just as the U.S. and Russia were leading ceasefire talks in Saudi Arabia.

At least 101 people, including 23 children, were injured, with most of them being hospitalized, the city council said. Twenty-six buildings were damaged, including schools, a kindergarten, a hospital, and 16 residential buildings.

Three civilians were injured in Russian attacks elsewhere in Sumy Oblast, according to the regional military administration.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a 36-year-old man was injured during Russian attacks against the Synelnykove district, and a 40-year-old man was wounded in the Nikopol district, Governor Serhii Lysak said.

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One civilian was injured in a Russian attack against Lyman in Donetsk Oblast, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.

In Kherson Oblast, one person was killed and six injured in Russian strikes, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. Four houses were damaged.

In Poltava Oblast, drone debris started a fire at the premises of an enterprise in the Myrhorod district, Governor Volodymyr Kohut said. Two employees were reported as injured, with one of them being hospitalized.

A man and a woman were injured in a Russian attack against the Zaporizhzhia Oblast, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov.

Read also: Editorial: What Steve Witkoff doesnt get about Ukraine (and Russia)

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
With four seats up for vote, and only two incumbents running, a crowded ticket is on the ballot for the Orland Park School District 135 Board race on April 1.

Nichole Browner and Elizabeth Jobb are seeking second terms on the board that governs primary schools Centennial, Center, Park and Prairie, intermediate schools High Point, Liberty and Meadow Ridge, and junior high schools Century, Jerling and Orland.

Incumbents Jennifer Tutor and James Bax, who is running for High School District 230 Board, are not seeking reelection.

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Browner said candidates Ray Morandi, Chad Capps, Vince Oluwaleke and Kelly Chmielewski were handpicked by Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau, following contention between the district and the Orland Park Village Board over tax increment financing districts and other issues.

Other newcomers running are Deborah L. Scumaci, Aisha Zayyad, Jennifer Durkin-Fekete and Daniel Finlayson.

I feel like this election especially, were seeing a lot of people who are potentially running for the wrong reasons and just really dont understand what theyre getting into or the role of a school board member, Browner said Monday.

Capps contributed $2,700 to Pekaus campaign committee between August 2023 and January of this year, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections. Morandi and Oluwaleke each recently contributed $1,000 to the Republican Organization of Orland Township, which has endorsed them along with Capps and Chmielewski in the upcoming election.

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Morandi said Tuesday that he is grateful to Mayor Pekau for reminding me that there are opportunities to be involved in our community, for our children.

He said his affiliation and commitment is to the town of Orland Park, but I feel that I have the skillsets to benefit the board.

Browner said she recruits and runs community activities as a Girl Scout leader and was asked to run for a school board seat in 2021 by parents in District 135. She said shes not a politician and will likely not seek a third term.

Im running again not to fix anything, because Im extremely proud of our district and weve come such a long way in the last four years, coming back from COVID, Browner said.

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She said she wants to see through projects she worked on during her first term.

Browner said the boards accomplishments over the past four years include creating a strategic plan that represented the feedback of district staff, parents and community members, as well as renovating buildings as part of an eight-year plan to improve facilities for students that is expected to wrap up in summer 2026.

During a candidate forum hosted by Orland School District 135 Parents for Education March 13, Browner, Jobb, Zayyad, Durkin-Fekete, Oluwaleke, Chmielewski and Finlayson shared views on TIF districts, curriculum development, the role of school libraries and redistricting.

Chmielewski, who said her youngest daughter attends school at Jerling, raised concerns about the districts academic outlook, citing data from the Illinois State Board of Education showing 60% of district students are proficient in English/language arts compared to 41% statewide, and 38% of students are proficient in math compared to 28% across Illinois.

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These numbers tell the story of District 135 not providing the education our students deserve and that the taxpayers are paying for, Chmielewski said.

She said the board lacks transparency by cutting public comments out of board meeting recordings posted online.

Their statements are gone forever, but the concerns remain, she said. As as board member, she said she would make more meeting content available to the public as well as ensure fiscal responsibility.

Jobb and Browner highlighted what they see as positive progress made by the board, including expanding five district schools to reduce class sizes. Jobb said she was instrumental in swapping numerical grades with traditional letter grades as well as in plans to update the districts math and literacy curricula.

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I support continuing focus on student growth across all academic levels, quality staff retention, building a positive relationship with the community through transparency and outreach and responsibly managing taxpayer money through a student-focused budget, she said.

Morandi said Monday he supported he the switch to letter grades and that it increased motivation in his own children to succeed academically. Morandi said he is running now that his children are older and he has more time to offer up to the community.

Major priorities for Morandi, a real estate agent and owner of Morandi Properties, are to retain high quality teachers by offering competitive salaries and benefits as well as maintain a balanced budget.

During the candidate forum, Jobb criticized TIF districts, which she said can pull funding away from school districts, with Browner saying they are most useful in blighted or undeveloped communities.

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Those supportive of TIFs include Chmielewski, who said the district turned down $5 million from an Orland Park TIF that she would have supported as a board member, and Oluwaleke, who works as an assistant director of pharmacy at the University of Illinois Chicago.

If its good for the village, its good for the schools, Oluwaleke said. As long as its used correctly, everybody still benefits from it.

Zayyad and Durkin-Fekete both said they are parents of District 135 students running independently. Zayyad said she is active in recommending books to add to school libraries, to which she said the district has been responsive.

Most of the books that Ive recommended ended up in the library, and Im very, very happy to see that, Zayyad, who has a professional background in biochemistry and food science, said at the candidate forum. I think we have a great selection of books, and I think it really keeps the kids engaged.

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Zayyad said having a child with special needs has given her a personal look into how the district could boost its special education services. She said she hopes to invest time and energy into making sure all students are given the best possible resources to succeed.

Incumbent Alan Kastengren took to social media to endorse several candidates in the upcoming election, including Zayyad, Jobb and Browner.

She has stood out by doing her homework: reaching out to board members, attending board meetings and laying out clearly what her priorities will be, Kastengren said in a March 17 Facebook post. She has shown the willingness to work hard and to learn that is the heart of being a good school board member.

He said he also sees Durkin-Fekete and Finlayson, who works works as a science teacher within Westmont District 201, as other good choices for voters.

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Durkin-Fekete said at the candidate forum she has been a math teacher in South Holland for 19 years and as a District 135 parent has collaborated with administration and staff to create a positive, inclusive and effective learning environment.

She said she would support adding a board committee tasked with special education, especially amid threats to the U.S. Department of Education that provides funding to special education services.

Finlayson agreed on the importance of special education as a discussion topic for the board but emphasized the importance of holding committees accountable for achieving set goals.

I would want to make sure that its not just a bureaucratic push through, but actually something that has goals and would be resonated with the board and the community, Finlayson said.

The next District 135 Board meeting is April 14 at Meadow Ridge School, 10959 W 159th St, Orland Park.

ostevens@chicagotribune.com
From the buzz around AI agents that can work on behalf of humans, to the inevitable rollout of AI tools in the workplace, employees across industries are concerned about the possibility of eventually being replaced by automation.

However, AI cant come for everyone just yet, according to a recent study by France-based marketing agency Eskimoz.

The company evaluated several occupations by how much human interaction is required and the possibility of automation to determine which jobs will be the most resistant to AI.

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Here are the 10 jobs that Eskimoz found to be safe from AI, for now.

10. Graphic designers

Graphic designers came in tenth place, due to a strong need for human interaction when communicating with clients. The job also requires human creativity that algorithms and data analysis cannot deliver, according to Eskimoz.

9. Industrial production managers

Industrial production managers came in ninth place, according to Eskimoz, because human interaction is essential for problem-solving and working with customers.

8. Compliance officers

Compliance officers came in eighth place, mostly due to human interaction. However, compliance officers are still at some risk of being replaced, Eskimoz said, because of the use of AI in tasks such as risk assessment and reviewing documents.

7. Architectural and engineering managers

Architectural and engineering managers came in seventh place, and have the lowest risk of being automated among the top 10 jobs. This role requires human interaction with the public, Eskimoz said.

6. Training and development specialists

Training and development specialists came in sixth place, and have a 29% chance of being automated, Eskimoz said. Communication is also important for the role.

5. First-line supervisors and administrative support workers

First-line supervisors and administrative support workers came in fifth place, due to a strong need for human interaction with the public. This role requires people management skills and the ability to lead, Eskimoz said.

4. General and operations managers

General and operations managers came in fourth place with a low automation risk score. Eskimoz said human participation and public interaction is important for this role.

3. Human resources managers

Human resource managers came in third place, according to Eskimoz, because of the need for human interaction and human empathy.

2. Medical and health services managers

Medical and health services managers came in second place, Eskimoz said, because while AI can be used for diagnostics and recommending treatments, healthcare professionals need to interact with patients and provide emotional support.

1. Lawyers

Lawyers have the most AI-resistant job, Eskimoz said, because of the need for human decision-making and reasoning, and the need to analyze and interpret legal documents.

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JOHNSTON, R.I. (WPRI)  Eleven people were forced from their homes after a fire broke out at a multi-family home in Johnston Tuesday morning.

Crews responding to the home on King Street around 7:45 a.m. were met with thick smoke, which made it challenging for firefighters.

No injuries were reported, and the Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents. Community members are also helping.

We have some community members that are going to to the schools to help organize to get anything that we can to help out you know cause Red Cross is doing a great job and this is why we donate to Red Cross and we want to we wanna really try to make an impact and help these families out that are in distress, Lenier Esperanza said.

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The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation is reshaping industries worldwide, driving profound changes in the labor market. According to the World Economic Forums Future of Jobs Report 2025, were looking at a massive transformation, with about 92 million jobs expected to be displaced and 170 million new jobs to be created by 2030.

As machines increasingly take over repetitive and predictable tasks, certain occupations are vanishing faster than others. This list explores the top 15 jobs most at risk of disappearing in the coming years, highlighting the impact of technology and the opportunities for adaptation in a rapidly evolving world.

15. Telemarketers

Image Credit: Pexels / Mart Production

Remember those dinner-interrupting phone calls and the ones you get just when youre trying to finish a dozen tasks all at the same time? With robocalls and chatbots taking over, this very thankless job that everybody universally loves to hate will soon be overtaken by AI.

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Once numbering in the hundreds of thousands, telephone operators are largely being replaced by automated directory systems, digital switchboards, and voice recognition technology. Call centers are shrinking as companies implement digital-first customer service strategies that require fewer human agents. If things are as grim as they seem, telemarketers will eventually have to hang up their headsets for good.

14. Legal secretaries

Image Credit: Pexels / RDNE Stock project

As law firms digitize and streamline operations, this job role is becoming quite a rare thing if the Future of Jobs Report 2025 is anything to go by. It requires proficiency in legal terminology, organizational skills, and attention to detail, with responsibilities typically including preparing legal documents, managing schedules, conducting research, organizing case files, and facilitating communication between attorneys and clients.

However, AI-powered tools like case management software, digital filing systems, and AI-driven scheduling have reduced the demand for human involvement in these tasks. As law firms increasingly adopt technology to improve efficiency, the need for legal secretaries is diminishing, placing this occupation among those at risk of significant displacement by 2030.

Point to be noted: While automation is reducing the demand for legal secretaries, it is important to note that AI cannot fully replace human judgment or interpersonal skills required in certain aspects of legal work, so it remains to be seen what this job role is going to look like in the future. The ideal scenario would perhaps include opportunities for adaptation and collaboration between human expertise and AI tech.

13. Legal officials

Image Credit: Unsplash / Brenton Pearce

Legal officials who are tasked with compliance, contract review, or litigation supportare seeing parts of their roles automated by AI-driven tools like e-discovery software and contract analysis platforms.

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While strategic legal expertise remains in demand, routine tasks such as document review or due diligence are increasingly handled by machines. Legal professionals who fail to adapt to these technological advancements risk being left behind.

12. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Image Credit: The Blue Diamond Gallery / Nick Youngson

As AI algorithms get better at detecting fraud, crunching numbers, assessing risks, and processing claims, these jobs are facing an uncertain future. While exact numbers are unclear, patterns suggest that machines might soon be adjusting more than just our insurance premiums.

Points for consideration: While technology may reduce the demand for entry-level roles in claims processing, it also creates opportunities for adjusters to specialize in areas requiring human skills, including human judgment, negotiation skills, and empathy. Therefore, while these jobs face disruption from automation (as is rightly noted by the Future of Jobs Report 2025), they are not disappearing entirely but evolving alongside technological advancements.

11. Graphic designers

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Auburn University College of Architecture, Design and Construction

While traditional graphic design jobs are declining, its mainly the cookie-cutter stuff; those with a unique artistic flair will still find their skills in demand. With AI-powered design tools, automation, and changing employer expectations on the rise, designers need to adapt or risk becoming as outdated.

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Nuance to be noted: Many designers are adapting by focusing on niches like UX/UI design, freelancing, or integrating AI into their workflows to stay competitive.

10. Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers

Image Credit: Picryl / Public Domain

In the age of online shopping, caller IDs, and digital news consumption, these street-pounding professions are becoming as rare as a phone booth. While specific numbers are hard to come by, the writings on the wall (or rather, on your smartphone screen).

Interesting aside: While street vendors remain an important part of the informal economy in many regions, their operations face challenges such as regulatory restrictions, harassment, and competition from formal retail outlets. However, the rise of social media has enabled some street food vendors to thrive by leveraging digital platforms for marketing and customer engagement.

9. Transportation attendants and conductors

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Dquai

With self-service kiosks and streamlined ticketing systems improving efficiency, reducing wait times, and lowering operational costs, these jobs are reaching the end of the line. While the numbers arent available, the trend is clear.

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However, its worth noting that automation often redistributes labor rather than eliminating it entirely, with some workers transitioning to roles such as customer service or technical support for these systems.

8. Material recording and stock-keeping clerks

Image Credit: Pixabay / Tham Yuan Yuan

It looks like robots are the new stock boys and girls. Even though e-commerce is booming, automation tools like barcode scanners, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), drones, and AI systems are taking over warehouses (only to a certain extent, for now). With about 2 million jobs at risk, these technologies are replacing manual inventory management and repetitive tasks, including material recording and stock keeping.

While it is true that automation is eliminating certain roles in the warehouse industry, it is also creating new opportunities that require advanced skills in robotics, AI, and data analytics.

7. Accounting, bookkeeping, and payroll clerks

Image Credit: Public Domain

With automated accounting software becoming increasingly sophisticated and AI-powered financial tools handling everything from expense tracking to tax preparation, traditional bookkeeping roles are disappearing. These AI tools are handling tasks that once required teams of bookkeepers to finish.

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These systems can also process transactions, reconcile accounts, and generate financial reports with minimal human oversight, putting standard accounting and payroll clerks on the endangered jobs list. The human touch is being reserved for higher-level financial analysis and strategy.

6. Printing and related trade workers

Image Credit: Unsplash / Bank Phrom

Traditional print media may not be dead, but its certainly on life support. As digital media continues to dominate, demand for printed materialsand the workers who produce themhas plummeted. Newspapers, magazines, and other print industries have been hit the hardest by this shift. From newspaper press operators to magazine layout specialists, these jobs are expected to decline by 20% in the next five years (according to the World Economic Forum).

Where is this heading? The aging workforce and lack of interest among younger generations in pursuing careers in traditional printing exacerbate the decline. However, we have to acknowledge that certain verticals within the print industry, such as packaging, labels, and specialty printing, are experiencing growth.

5. Administrative assistants and executive secretaries

Image Credit: Flickr / Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Sorry, Pam Beesly fans, but it looks like the role of office administrator is going digital. Once the backbone of every office, executive secretaries have become particularly vulnerable as organizations flatten hierarchies and executives become more self-sufficient with technology.

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Executives are handling their own correspondence and resorting to smart scheduling through apps. Its no wonder that WEFs 2025 report projects a 6 million job loss by 2030.

Administrative assistants, as well, who were once considered indispensable, are being replaced by a combination of AI tools, digital document management systems, virtual/AI assistants, and automated communication systems.

4. Cashiers and ticket clerks

Image Credit: Public Domain

Paper or plastic is becoming self-checkout or app? As more stores and entertainment venues go cashless and ticketless to cut costs and improve efficiency, these front-line workers are being phased out slowly but surely.

Self-checkout lanes, mobile and online ticketing, and contactless payment systems are rapidly replacing human cashiers and ticket clerks across industries, with approximately 20% of these jobs being displaced by 2030. The WEF report specifically highlights these roles as facing the largest decline in absolute numbers, making them one of the most endangered job categories.

3. Data entry clerks

Image Credit: Unsplash / Glenn Carstens-Peters

In a world where AI can scan, interpret, organize data, and crunch numbers faster than you can say spreadsheet, data entry clerks are becoming obsolete.

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With an estimated 8 million job losses on the horizon (as per WEF reports), machine learning algorithms, AI-powered systems, and automated data processing tools like OCR tech are taking over. These technologies can handle massive datasets with greater speed and accuracy than humans, leaving little room for manual data entry roles.

2. Bank tellers and related clerks

Image Credit: Flickr / I-5 Design & Manufacture

Remember when visiting a bank meant interacting with a human? Also, when was the last time you deposited a check? With mobile banking apps, ATMs that can handle almost any transaction, automated kiosks that can handle virtually all traditional teller functions, and the rise of digital payment systems, bank tellers may become something of a rare profession.

Banks are transforming branches into automated service centers, with the pandemic only accelerating this shift. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a decline of 15% from 2023 to 2033 for these job roles, while other sources estimate declines ranging from 8% to 17% over similar periods.

1. Postal service clerks

Image Credit: Unsplash / Mick Haupt

Remember when getting mail was exciting? Well, the thrill is gone, and so are the jobs. Emails now reign supreme, with instant messaging taking over. Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night can save this profession from topping this list.

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Digital communication has fundamentally altered the landscape for these workers. With physical mail volumes continuing their decades-long decline, e-commerce takeover, automated kiosks, and online postage services becoming more sophisticated, postal service clerks represent one of the fastest-shrinking job categories. By 2030, these positions are expected to decline by a whopping 34%.

Source: World Economic Forum

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  2025 will mark the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.

We remember and honor those 168 who lost their lives on April 19, 1995, when a bomb went off in front of the Murrah building in downtown Oklahoma City.

168 Days to remember those lost in the OKC bombing: Charlotte Andrea Lewis Thomas. Image courtesy Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.

We want to remember Charlotte Andrea Lewis Thomas, 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.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56)  Gov. Andy Beshears desk has been a busy place to be.

On March 24, Beshear took action on 21 pieces of legislation and returned three without signature.

Read more of the latest news in politics

I will always put our Kentucky families first, Beshear said. I was proud to sign into law several measures that will do just thatincreasing opportunity and making our New Kentucky Home a better place to live, learn, and do business. The bills that received my veto are bills that harm Kentucky workers or violate our constitution and longstanding laws.

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In a Monday news release, Beshear announced the veto of four bills. Here are which bills that were challenged at the governors desk and why:

House Bill 6

Beshears office noted that House Bill 6 would violate the Kentucky constitution by giving the Legislative Branch and its employees a veto of administrative regulations issued by the Executive Branch.

In a veto message, the governor wrote, The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled more than 40 years ago that the General Assembly cannot interfere with the Executive Branchs authority to file regulations to carry out the law.

Further, Beshears office stated that if the veto of House Bill 6 is overridden, it would prevent numerous bills from going into law.

House Bill 398

The governors office said House Bill 398 would abandon policies protecting Kentucky workers and hand over regulations to the federal government.

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For example, Kentucky workers would lose important safeguards related to fall protection, exposure to toxic and hazardous materials, high-voltage electrical lines, and bulk hazardous liquid unloading, Beshears office said.

In the governors veto message, he wrote, House Bill 398 will lead to more workplace injuries, with Kentucky workers paying the price.

Senate Bill 65

Senate Bill 65, according to Beshears office, is another piece of legislation that would violate the Kentucky constitution.

The bill would void and nullify administrative regulations filed by Executive Branch agencies, including three that were before a subcommittee for informational review only, the governors office noted.

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In the governors veto message, he wrote, The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled more than 40 years ago that the General Assembly cannot interfere with the executive branchs authority to file regulations to carry out the law.

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Senate Bill 84

On the other hand, Beshears office noted that Senate Bill 84 would violate the separation of powers.

It prohibits courts from deferring to a state agencys interpretation of any statute, administrative regulation, or order, a news release read.

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In the governors veto message, he wrote, The Judicial Branch is the only branch with the power and duty to decide these questions.

Signed Kentucky bills

Also on Monday, the governors office announced these bills received Beshears signature and will become law on their effective dates:

Kentucky bills returned without signature

Three pieces of legislation received by the governor were returned to the General Assembly without signature or veto.

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The first is House Bill 137, which clarifies that Kentucky would be able to use any method for air quality monitoring as long as its approved by the EPA. Gov. Beshears office noted that its concern is that the bill would leave the state dependent on the EPAs methods.

House Bill 196 aims to establish the number of required certified emergency medical and mine emergency technicians (METs) at underground coal mines. The bill would require only one MET at small mine operations and would add one additional MET for underground mines with over 50 workers per 50 employees.

Read more of the latest Kentucky news

Beshear called House Bill 198 a mixed bag.

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Senate Bill 63 would add a statute allowing special purpose vehicles equipped with the required street-legal features to drive on state roads.

Beshear said his main concern with the bill is the safety of Kentuckians, especially children riding in ATVs, UTVs, mini-trucks, and certain military vehicles. The bill would also pose a $500,000 cost to implement, as the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet would be required to add licensing and enforcement staff and technology upgrades.

Two more veto days remain before the General Assembly returns to Frankfort for the last two days of the session.

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TEHRAN, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Monday rejected media reports that the Iranian oil tankers seized by the U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf used forged Iraqi documents.

The report, which quoted Iraqi oil minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani as saying that the Iranian oil tankers being detained by U.S. naval forces carried Iraqi shipping manifests, was untrue, Iran's Deputy Oil Minister for International and Commercial Affairs, Ali-Mohammad Mousavi, said.

Iran sold its oil in compliance with all regulations and criteria in oil trade interactions, the minister said in a recent interview with the Shana News Agency affiliated with the Iranian Oil Ministry.

The Iraqi oil minister's remarks had been reflected incompletely and he has made the claim quoting U.S. officials, Mousavi said.

It was clear that the U.S. officials' claim was made in line with the "illegal and unjustified policy of hurling unfounded accusations against and pressuring the Iranian nation" and failed to have any basis and credibility, he added.

The United States has intensified its unilateral sanctions on Iran's oil exports, as U.S. President Donald Trump took an executive action in early February to step up pressure on Iran, which was aimed at bringing the country's oil exports to zero and preventing it from what he claimed "obtaining nuclear weapon." 
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  A 19-year-old was found guilty of murder last week in connection to a shooting that left one man dead in Woodbridge nearly three years ago, the Office of the Commonwealths Attorney announced Monday.

According to authorities, on July 20, 2022, Prince William County police responded to a townhome community in Woodbridge for a reported shooting. At the scene, they found 21-year-old Brian Darnell Marshall II suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his arms, legs and abdomen.

Responders took him to the hospital where he died.

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During an investigation, officers obtained Ring camera footage showing two suspects wearing ski masks and distinctive hooded sweatshirts.

The footage showed the pair walking towards the area where the shooting took place with guns before they opened fire and ran away, according to the attorneys office.

A few weeks after the shooting, police took Elijah Hadley, who was 17 at the time, into custody on an unrelated matter; however, a gun was found on him. The attorneys office said scientific testing confirmed the weapon was the same one used to shoot Marshall.

DC teenager arrested after police chase through Arlington, state police say

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Investigators also found Hadleys DNA on several cartridge casings at the shooting scene.

In addition, officers searched Hadleys home and found clothing that appeared to match the clothing worn by one of the shooters shown in the Ring footage.

Following the guilty verdict, Commonwealths Attorney Amy Ashworth issued the following statement:

The evidence in this case was initially too weak to proceed to justice. The surviving victims were not cooperative, and one witness retracted her identification of the alleged shooter. Its important to remember that because of double jeopardy laws, the prosecution only has one chance to try someone for a crime and we must make sure that we have all of the necessary evidence to be able successfully prosecute someone. I am proud of, and appreciate, all of the hard work by the prosecutors and police officers that contributed to bringing this case to justice. Commonwealths Attorney Amy Ashworth

Hadleys sentencing is set for June 5.

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Two buildings in Dayton partially collapsed in the last 10 days.

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As reported on News Center 7 at 6:00, the building at 464 E 5th Street in the Oregon District partially collapsed before 4 p.m. on Monday.

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>>PHOTOS: Section of building crumbles in Oregon District

Dayton Fire Department Chief Mike Rice told News Center 7 that he called in technical rescue crews to the scene on Monday.

Were building the shoring to support the load of the floors and the ceiling all the way up the building, to the roof, Rice said.

Rice said even though the structural stabilization is visible on the outside, theres a lot of work to do inside.

The building owner called in a structural engineer and masonry contractors.

So, the structural engineer will do a thorough evaluation and decide what type of fixes need to be made permanently and then the contractors will come in and make those permanent repairs, Rice said.

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This is the second building or facade collapse near downtown Dayton in the last 10 days.

Several sections of an upper facade on a high rise at 34 N Main Street, behind the Stratacache Tower, on March 15.

Rice said its unusual to have two incidents close together, and everyone is keeping a close eye on things because of the upcoming NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

Were constantly collaborating with the building department, housing inspection and looking at these issues. Were already doing inspections for buildings downtown, ahead of the NATO event, to ensure that were in a good place and itll be safe for everyone coming in, Rice said.

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Rice said the building on E 5th Street may have been built in the 1850s.

The department doesnt want to immediately blame the wind for this partial collapse because there could be other factors, like age and deterioration.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

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A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

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A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

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A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

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TAMPA, Florida (WKBN)  Two men from Cleveland are facing federal charges after investigations say they tried to send firearms to the cartel in Mexico.

Yarquimedes Rodriguez Hilario, 32, and Adison Lopez-Ramirez, 34, were indicted Tuesday on charges of money laundering and conspiring to traffic firearms. The charges are in connection with a larger scheme to provide firearms to the Mexican cartel.

Undercover ATF agents posing as cartel members met with Rodriguez Hilario under the guise of buying firearms to smuggle into Mexico. Some of the firearms included AR-15s, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, Mac-10-type machine guns, and AM-15 multi-caliber firearms and were delivered by Lopez-Ramirez, investigators said.

Courtesy: United States Attorneys Office Courtesy: United States Attorneys Office Courtesy: United States Attorneys Office Courtesy: United States Attorneys Office

One of the coconspirators described that he sold AR-15s and AK-47s to El Salvadorans and had cocaine available for distribution. Rodriguez Hilario further offered fentanyl to one of the agents to make pills, investigators said.

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Rodriguez Hilarios brother, Yuendry, was sentenced in March 2024 to 13 years and 4 months in prison in connection with the case, and in November 2024, another coconspirator, Saleh Yusuf Saleh, was sentenced to 5 years and 8 months in prison.

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(NewsNation)  Two migrants attempting to cross into Eagle Pass, Texas, were arrested after trying to cross the Rio Grande on Thursday.

According to the Eagle Pass Police Department, a citizen alerted patrol officers of two men acting suspiciously in south Eagle Pass.

Officers found the two men from Guatemala and Mexico in scuba gear underneath a bridge with water propulsion apparatuses, which could have helped them cross the Rio Grande.

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Cocaine trafficking soars at border as fentanyl overdoses decline

According to authorities, neither man had the requisite documentation to be in the United States.

The two individuals, who remain unidentified, have been handed over to the United States Border Patrol for processing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
HENDERSON COUNTY, Texas (KETK) A $2 million bond has been set for an East Texas man arrested for allegedly killing his sister Monday in Henderson County.

According to the Henderson County Sheriffs Office, deputies responded to the shooting of 30-year-old Samantha Moore in the Bonita Point subdivision just outside of Gun Barrel City. Officials said Moore was transported to a local hospital where she later died from her injuries.

AFFIDAVIT: Smith County couple arrested after stepfather accused of sexually assaulting stepdaughter

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Officials said that deputies learned Moores brother, John Tyler Clague, 37 of Mabank, had shot her and fled the home. Investigators learned that Clague had been taken to a home in the Harbor Point subdivision and was dropped off.

The Henderson County Tactical Team responded to the home in Harbor Point and attempted to call Clague outside but Vicki Ann Fletcher, 65 of Gun Barrel City, came out of the residence instead and told deputies that Clague was in a travel trailer on the property. Deputies then observed Fletcher walk around a patrol car and toss suspected meth in a ditch.

TIMELINE: What is going on in the City of Hawkins?

According to officials, the tactical team negotiated with Clague but he would not respond and eventually ran out, attempting to flee. A K9 was released and Clague was taken into custody.

Mugshot of John Tyler Clague, courtesy of Henderson County Sheriffs Office

Mugshot of Vicki Ann Fletcher, courtesy of Henderson County Sheriffs Office

Clague was treated for his injuries and then transported to the Henderson County Jail where he is being held on a $2 million bond for murder. Fletcher was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and tampering with evidence.

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WASHINGTON CITY, Utah (ABC4)  Two persons of interest have been identified in the stabbing death of a 47-year-old California woman who was found dead in a Utah vacation rental on Sunday. Her death is being investigated as a homicide.

While the persons of interest have been identified, they are still at large. Officials said they are not releasing the names of the individuals due to the ongoing investigation and potential leads from assisting agencies.

The Washington City Police Department said the victim knew the persons of interest, but authorities have also said there is no threat to the public after the incident.

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PREVIOUSLY: Washington City Police investigating suspicious death at vacation rental

On March 23, cleaning crews found the womans body in a vacation rental on the 1200 block of N Bello Alley, and officials pronounced her dead at the scene. Police said the victim had been staying in the rental for three days before the incident.

The victim, who had traveled to Washington City from California, was stabbed multiple times in the upper body, police said in a Monday press release.

The people suspected to be involved in the case reportedly fled the scene in a car that the victim had rented. That car has been found and is being processed by law enforcement officers in a neighboring state, officials said.

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On Sunday, investigators processed the scene and collected evidence related to the crime. The victims body was taken to a crime lab for an autopsy after the Office of the Medical Examiner took custody of it.

The victims family has been notified, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to them during this time, Washington police said on Monday.

The name of the victim has not been publicly released. While no additional information has been provided at this time, police are expecting to share more information on March 25.

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BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)  Two 18-year-olds are facing charges after leading deputies on a chase through the College Park Estates in a stolen vehicle over the weekend.

Jerreil Dequan Willis of Moncks Corner was charged with failure to stop for blue lights, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, possession of a machine gun, and resisting arrest.

Josiah Williams was charged with possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

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Deputies were patrolling College Park Road Saturday when they noticed a vehicle flagged for being stolen from North Charleston. The driver of that vehicle was also wearing a ski-mask, according to the Berkeley County Sheriffs Office.

After receiving confirmation that the vehicle was stolen, an officer attempted a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled, and a pursuit ensued through the Ladson neighborhood.

The vehicle eventually stopped on Kentucky Drive, and four occupants jumped out of it. One individual who ran, later identified as Willis, was holding a tan firearm as he ran.

Another vehicle passenger who jumped out, later identified as Williams, immediately lay on the ground.

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A deputy and his K9 chased Willis on foot, and he was apprehended soon after. During a search, law enforcement found a firearm Willis threw that had been converted from a semi-automatic firearm to a fully automatic firearm.

They also found a spray-painted AR rifle with an obliterated serial number.

Willis is in custody at the Hill-Finklea Detention Center held on a $20,500 bond. Williams was released on a $2,000 surety 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 WCBD News 2.
Texas school leaders are hopeful that a pair of bills making their way through the state legislature could help to close an estimated $1.7 billion special education funding gap and better equip schools to handle a dramatic rise in the number of children with disabilities in need of services.

The measures are intended to address several longstanding issues that have plagued the states special education system. Since the 2015-16 school year, the number of students receiving services has increased by 67%, rising from 463,000 to 775,000.

Funding has not increased proportionally, meaning schools must divert ever-increasing amounts of their overall budgets to make up the shortfall. Between the 2015-16 and 2023-24 school years, spending on special education increased from $5.6 billion to $9.1 billion.

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In 2016, a Houston Chronicle investigation revealed that for years, the Texas Education Agency had improperly denied services to hundreds of thousands of children by imposing a cap on the number of special ed students districts could serve. Over the last decade, the rate at which Texas schools have identified children with disabilities has risen from 8.6% to about 14%  still slightly shy of the national average.

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Districts have scrambled to meet their legal obligation to identify students who started school over the last decade and should have been evaluated for services before the cap was eliminated. In 2015-16, Texas schools evaluated 80,000 children. In 2023-24, 180,000 were assessed. State education officials estimate each evaluation costs $1,000 to $5,000.

Also adding to the increase: To better comply with the federal Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, Texas now includes children with dyslexia in special education  adding to the number of students who need evaluations and individualized education programs, the legally mandated documents that spell out how their needs will be met.

Related

250,000 Kids. $277 Million in Fines. Its Been 3 Years Since Feds Ordered a Special Ed Reboot in Texas  Why Are Students Still Being Denied?

Among numerous changes to education funding, House Bill 2 would increase special education funding by $615 million annually starting in the next school year. Senate Bill 568 does not set a dollar amount, but the latest budget measure contains an allocation of $700 million for both 2025-26 and 2026-27.

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The Senate bill proposes significant  and long sought  reforms to the way special education is funded and the expenses for which districts can seek reimbursement. Currently, districts special education funds are calculated based on the amount of time individual students spend in different settings, ranging from regular classrooms to specialized and segregated classes, hospitals and residential facilities. The proposed change  recommended by a state task force in 2022  would allocate money according to the services each child needs.

A number of states fund special education using weights or tiers that take into account the variation in services between students with multiple, profound challenges requiring full-time support and those whose needs can be met with simpler modifications to instruction, for example.

Director of governmental relations for the Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education, Andrea Chevalier says her organization supports creating a tiered funding formula  which is based on weights adopted by Florida  but is concerned that the coming academic year is too soon for the new system to go into effect. Her organization would like the shift to be postponed for one year.

Our state education agency is kind of building the plane as it flies, she says. There are going to be a lot of changes to things like data collection. Were going to have to see how it goes.

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This month, the council released a detailed report outlining the history of the states shifting special education policies, the different revenue streams schools have depended on to pay for services and the rationale for moving to a tiered system.

The measures would reimburse districts $250 to $1,000 for each initial evaluation but dont allot funds for periodic reassessments required by law, says Chevalier: At any given time, schools are re-evaluating a third of students, plus paying for independent evaluations for families who disagree with a districts evaluation.

The Senate bill contains a number of novel provisions intended to increase district accountability for special education students outcomes. If adopted, school boards would have to publicly discuss the performance of children with disabilities at least once a year and to track student progress on college, career or military readiness.

Related

Special Ed Shell Game in Texas. Whos to Blame? Follow the Money.

In 2003, Texas lawmakers slashed $1 billion from what was then a $30 billion overall education budget. The special ed cap was created the following year. Federal law says states and districts may only lower spending on special education in very narrow circumstances.

State officials insisted fewer children needed disability services, but the U.S. Department of Education found Texas out of compliance in fiscal years 2012, 2017 and 2018, and levied fines each time. Lawmakers outlawed the enrollment caps in 2017 but did not send funds to schools to address the anticipated, corresponding increase in need. In the 2019 session, lawmakers approved a small increase in special education funding, much of it intended to cover the $277 million fine.
ATLANTA (WSAV)  Two Georgia women said that the current abortion ban limited their doctors ability to treat them while pregnant during an oversight session with U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff.

These harrowing accounts are a reminder of the severe risk and severe harm that Georgias abortion ban has caused and should serve as a warning to us all that abortion bans like Georgias, one of the most extreme in the country put womens lives and womens health at risk, Ossoff said in the meeting.

WSAV spoke to one of the women previously, Callie Beale Harper. Harper now lives in Savannah, but she was living and being treated at a hospital during her pregnancy with twins about 30 minutes outside of Atlanta at the time.

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Harper told WSAV that because of the current abortion laws in Georgia, doctors told her she wouldnt be allowed to have the procedure she needed to lay her son to rest and protect her healthy daughter in her home state.

My doctor told me that I needed a selective reduction, a procedure to reduce the number of fetuses in my twin pregnancy, as soon as possible, to protect the other twin and myself. He advised me to seek care outside of Georgia, because Georgias restrictive law tied his hands, Harper said. My doctor further urged me to quickly secure multiple appointments in different states, only canceling once I had successfully received treatment, because constantly changing abortion laws in other states could further delay my care.

Avery Davis Bell said she was told that her baby would not survive outside of the womb, or inside since her water had broken, and a miscarriage was inevitable. She said her doctors warned her that she was at risk of developing sepsis.

Bell said she had to wait hours, while passing blood clots and becoming septic, before being able to receive treatment.

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My doctors assured me they were going to save my life but, because of Georgias abortion laws, my doctors had to balance what was best for me in the moment with navigating legal red tape, Davis Bell continued. Even with a doomed, non-viable pregnancy and at risk of death, I needed to be actively dying to receive a life-saving abortion. But determining when exactly I was dying, thats not black and white and my doctors should not have had to wait to make that call because they knew I would get there.

The current law in Georgia dictates that abortions cant be performed after six weeks of pregnancy unless the woman or the fetus qualify for one of the exceptions outlined in Georgia House Bill 481, otherwise known as the Heartbeat Bill.

Laws like Georgias do not protect women, they endanger us, Harper said. They force us to suffer needlessly, to scramble for care across state lines, to endure financial and emotional burdens on top of medical crises.

Harpers risk of complications would have been significantly lower if she had been able to receive care in Georgia when it was medically indicated, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, Dr. Suchitra Chandrasekaran said during the session.

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State Senator Ed Setzler (GA- 37) previously refuted that the abortion ban affects medical staffs ability to treat patients.

I know theres sometimes physicians who are politically active and politically very pro-abortion on demand, Setzler said. So, they hear the political critiques and that clouds their vision, perhaps even their medical practice. Physicians, physicians groups, and hospitals may put their own internal processes in place to make these kinds of decisions, but to be clear, the life act puts no restrictions on a physician. If its the physicians professional opinion that this childs natural condition is inconsistent with life, they unfortunately have the ability to perform an abortion for that purpose.

The Living Infants Fairness Equality Act (LIFE), also known as HB 481 or the Heartbeat Bill, was passed in 2019, but it didnt go into effect until 2022 when landmark Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade was struck down and Governor Brian Kemp signed it into law.

Under the LIFE Act, elective abortions after six weeks of pregnancy are illegal, unless the woman or fetus qualifies for one of the exceptions outlined in the bill, including a medically non-viable pregnancy, rape/incest or risk to the life of the mother.

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Were trying to weigh again these very difficult decisions and give people options where options were fair and just but not let folks be callous and use abortion as an elective means of birth control, Setzler said.

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DNA testing firm 23andMe filed for bankruptcy on Sunday, and experts are warning users to take action now.

The Sunday announcement stated the genetics testing firm entered voluntary Chapter 11 restructuring and sale process. The company states it intends to continue operations as normal, with no changes to how it stores, manages or protects customer data.

23andMe is looking to "sell substantially all of its assets" and is seeking authorization from the court to do so, according to a press release. This is raising concerns with experts, who are telling customers to delete their data now rather than later if they don't want their data potentially sold to another company.

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If 23andMe goes bankrupt, these data will most likely be sold to the highest bidder, a successor company that customers might not want to entrust with their genetic data, three law professors wrote in an article in the New England Journal of Medicine.

They described the issue as a structural problem in a legal system relying heavily on privacy policies to protect consumer data, while also treating those data as a valuable asset.

23andMe has stated that it will continue to protect its clients' data even during the bankruptcy process.

We remain committed to our users privacy and to being transparent with our customers about how their data is managed, it said. Any buyer of 23andMe will be required to comply with applicable law with respect to the treatment of customer data.

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Here's a look at what's happening and what you can do to protect your information.

23andMe hack, bankruptcy leave customers' info vulnerable

In 2023, 23andMe was hacked, reporting that "threat actors" used about 14,000 accounts to access the ancestry data of 6.9 million.

The breach resulted in a class action lawsuit and in September 2024 the company agreed to pay a $30 million settlement. Six months later, 23andMe filed for bankruptcy.

The authors of the New England Journal of Medicine article raised concerns that 23andMe reserves the right to transfer customer data in case of sale or bankruptcy, and customers cant fully protect their data from being accessed, sold or transferred as part of that transaction.

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They've also urged Congress to step in to help do more to shield consumer data from such corporate changes.

Can I delete my 23andMe data?

Yes, but it could be a process and not all of it might be deleted.

Tennesseans who have used 23andMe can remove personal information by opting out of the 23andMe data section of account settings. The data is deleted once a user submits and confirms the request, according to the company's website.

The company's website states that it is legally required to retain certain data, though.

"23andMe and/or our contracted genotyping laboratory will retain your Genetic Information, date of birth and sex as required for compliance with applicable legal obligations  even if you chose to delete your account," the company's privacy statement says.

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Meaning your genetic information will still remain with the company.

The filing shows how dangerous it is to provide your DNA directly to a large, for-profit commercial genetic database, wrote Jason Koebler, a co-founder of post on technology-focused 404 Media. Once you give your genetic information to a company like 23andMe, there is no way to have any clue what is going to happen to that data, how it is going to be analyzed, how it is going to be monetized, how it is going to be protected from hackers, and who it is going to be shared with for profit.

USA TODAY contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 23andMe files for bankruptcy. Can you delete your data before a sale?
SEOUL, March 25 (Xinhua) -- In response to a recent tripartite naval drill by the United States, Japan and South Korea, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a commentary Tuesday that the naval drill "further aggravated the serious political and military situation in the region."

Coinciding with the Freedom Shield military exercises conducted by the United States and South Korea from March 10 to 20, the U.S.-Japan-S. Korea naval drill was held simultaneously in the waters off Jeju Island from March 17 to 20, involving warships from the three nations, including the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.

The drill "revealed their sinister intention to block even the normal maritime transport of sovereign states in the region by force," the commentary said.

The present U.S. government is continuing its hostile policy toward the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the KCNA said, adding that the DPRK will accelerate and redouble its efforts to defend its national security and the regional peace.

The U.S. "doctrine of strength-almighty" will never work in the security domain of the DPRK, and any provocation from enemy states would face overwhelming and decisive counteraction from the DPRK, it said. 
Candidates for mayor of Pittsburgh came together to share their ideas on how to move the city forward.

The Decision 2025 Mayoral Forum is presented by the National Panhellenic Councils Pittsburgh Chapter.

Mayor Ed Gainey, democratic challenger Corey OConnor and republican challengers Tony Moreno and Thomas West will all sit down with Channel 11 news anchor Lisa Sylvester to talk about the issues and topics community members want discussed.

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You can watch on the WPXI streaming apps and WPXI.com at 9 p.m. tonight, and the forum will then be on demand on the WPXI streaming app for the next week.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
From activists to corporations, everyone is talking about how to successfully collaboration on climate solutions. Credit - Getty Images

On the fringes of the United Nations General Assembly last year, the Potsdam Institutes Johan Rockstrom unveiled the Planetary Health Checka science-based global initiative which showed that six planetary boundaries are nearing dangerous tipping points, threatening our future.

Until now, companies, nations, and organizations have each brought their own weight to bear on this challenge. But as the science shows, and as the effects unfold, its clear that its not enough for the planets leadersfrom CEOs to NGOsto act in silos. The world needs a new and bolder approach to the climate and nature crisesone that brings together different groups and unlocks the creativity needed to turbocharge climate solutions.

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From activists to companies, everyone is talking about collaboration as the key to climate solutions. But that's easier said than done. Common barriers to the bold cross-sectoral, cross-industry partnerships include challengings in aligning objectives, vision, and values; overcoming competitive barriers; and securing organizational buy-in, to name a few.

In an effort to champion strong partnerships, earlier this year the World Economic Forum hosted its GAEA (Giving to Amplify Earth Action) Awards in collaboration with global management consulting firm Kearney. This includes work by honorees Built By Nature, HYBRIT, and the Youth Climate Justice Fundall of which are raising ambition across the public, private, and philanthropic sectors.

Heres what their collaborative models look like:

Cross-Sector Problem Solving

The building and construction sector is the largest and fastest growing emitter of greenhouse gases by far, making up nearly 40% of global emissions. But what if cities could absorb carbon instead of emitting it?

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Built By Nature (BbN), an Amsterdam-based non-profit with the vision of a built environment in harmony with nature, is facilitating collaboration across the sector to accelerate the use of timber and other bio-based materials as an alternative to carbon-intensive steel and cement.

Founded three years ago, BbN brings together developers, architects, policymakers, insurers, and financial institutions to better understand and find solutions to tackle entrenched barrierssuch as restrictive building codes, outdated risk perceptions, and financing challenges. By bringing these diverse stakeholders together through collaborative national networks across multiple European cities, BbN creates the conditions for bio-based materials to scale. These networks foster peer learning, drive policy change, and surface new innovations that accelerate progress.

This collaborative approach has allowed BbN to amplify its support by coordinating funding from industry, government, and philanthropic donors. To date, it has invested 6.5 million euros, leveraging an additional 6.7 million euros in co-funding, directing these resources toward targeted research and practical solutions to scale bio-based materials.

And this empowers problem solving. One of the major barriers BbNs networks have addressed is the challenge of securing insurance for timber buildings. BbN convened a group of U.K.-based industry stakeholders, including developers, architects, insurers, and agents to find solutions. The resulting Mass Timber Insurance Playbook debunks misconceptions, mitigates risk, and provides guidance for unlocking insurance for bio-based construction.

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Without BbNs collaborative model, sectors would continue to work in their traditional silos, struggling to tackle the complex challenges of decarbonizing construction with innovative, low-carbon materials.

Partnerships across sectors are key to our successand our hope is that the profile that this GAEA Award provides will enable Built by Nature to attract more industry leaders, systems change pioneers and supporters to our mission, says Paul King, CEO of Built By Nature.

Tapping Industry Collaboration

Increased demand for steel over the past decade has led to a rapid rise in emissions. To put steel on a net-zero emissions pathway, the world must reduce its reliance on coalthis is what HYBRIT is doing.

HYBRIT brings together Swedish industry leaders SSAB, LKAB, and Vattenfall on a mission to replace coal with fossil-free hydrogen in steel production. What sets this groundbreaking initiative apart is its peer-to-peer collaboration model, where each partner contributes complementary expertise: SSABs advanced steel manufacturing, LKABs sustainably-sourced iron ore, and Vattenfalls fossil-free energy.

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As Anna Borg, Vattenfall CEO and TIME Magazine Top 100 Climate Leader, said at the GAEA Awards ceremony at this years World Economic Forum Annual Meeting: When SSAB, LKAB, and Vattenfall started this collaboration in 2016 we knew that this is the business model of the future. But believing wasnt enoughwe had to prove it. HYBRIT has succeeded in delivering a product with superior qualities, proven process, delivered on time and on budget.

HYBRITs technology could reduce Swedens emissions by 10%, but its impact extends far beyond its national borders, creating a replicable model for decarbonizing heavy industry globally. These companies, typically operating independently, are showing how collaboration can solve systemic challenges by reducing costs, mitigating risks, and combining knowledge.

Powering Youth Leadership

From setting up grassroots community initiatives to developing technological solutions to climate challenges, young people are leading the charge on climate and nature action. But less than 1% of global climate funding supports youth-led initiatives, leaving them without crucial support and the opportunity to connect with funders and donors.

The Youth Climate Justice Fund (YCJF) is working to address this imbalance by advocating for youth-inclusive philanthropy and developing a pipeline for larger funders, while ensuring that young leaders have agency over how they allocate the funding they receive. As co-director Nathan Metenier highlights, Our model is about calling everyone in. Young people are a dynamic force, yet were falling short in scaling support for their innovations.

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Underpinned by the belief that collaboration is essential for climate justice, YCJF fosters intergenerational relationships by connecting grantee partners with experienced youth activists. It also partners with funders to pilot youth-led convenings, mobilizing resources for frontline climate initiatives.

In just two years, weve funded 90+ initiatives across 45 countries, committing $2.1 million to grassroots solutions, says co-director Joshua Amponsem. There is so much more we can all do together to support young leaders and grassroots groups whose lived experiences offer insights to achieve equitable climate action.

Across all three modelsBuilt by Nature, HYBRIT, and the Youth Climate Justice Funda common theme emerges: collaboration is integral to achieving systemic change. Yet, because its not easy to bring unlikely allies together, these initiatives offer new and innovative approaches to do so meaningfully and authentically. They also demonstrate that when different groups work together, they can pool expertise, resources, and influence to drive meaningful progress in the fight against climate change.

Leslie Johnston is CEO of the Laudes Foundation. Fatou Jeng is a youth climate advisor to the United Nations Secretary General and founder of Clean Earth Gambia.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Three employees from Russian state-affiliated media were killed in occupied Luhansk Oblast while on assignment, several news outlets reported on March 24. The victims included Izvestia correspondent Alexander Fedorchak, as well as Zvezda TV cameraman Andrei Panov and driver Alexander Sirkeli.

Izvestia announced that Fedorchak died while reporting from the front lines. The journalist often covered Kharkiv and Luhansk oblasts as well as Russia's Kursk region. "His last report was broadcast literally the day before," the newspaper said.

In January, Izvestia newspaper reported that a Ukrainian "kamikaze" drone attack killed one of its freelance reporters, Alexander Martemyanov, while he was traveling on a highway in occupied eastern Ukraine.

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Originally a Soviet state newspaper, Izvestia is now owned by the National Media Group (NMG), a media conglomerate with significant state-controlled ownership and close ties to the Kremlin.

Meanwhile, Zvezda, a channel linked to Russias Defense Ministry, said two of its crew members were killed when their vehicle was struck.

Russias Investigative Committee launched an investigation into the incident, saying that the journalists were killed in Russian-occupied Luhansk Oblast. Leonid Pasechnik, Moscow-installed leader in Luhansk, claimed the attack occurred in the Kreminna district, also killing three civilians.

The incident occurred as Ukraine and Russia held talks with the United States regarding a possible partial ceasefire. Russia has intensified its assaults on Ukraines civilian areas over the past weeks.

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Read also: Russian missile strike on Sumy injures more than 90, including 23 children

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Good Samaritans helped save stranded plane crash victims on Monday after their aircraft went missing over a mountain range in Alaska.

A Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser was reported overdue on Sunday night, according to the Alaska National Guard. The plane had taken off from Soldotna Airport in Soldotna, Alaska, earlier in the day on Sunday.

MORE: Right main landing gear collapsed on impact in fiery Toronto plane crash: Preliminary report

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The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, a U.S. Coast Guard Super Hercules, Alaska State Troopers and Alaska National Guard launched a search effort but could not find it.

There was no emergency transmitter signal coming from the wreckage.

However, the Alaska National Guard told ABC News that a cellphone ping led searchers to believe the plane was near Tustumena Lake and the Kenai Mountains.

PHOTO: A small Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser went missing on March 23, 2025, and was discovered the following day at a crash site on Tustumena Lake, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Alaska National Guard)

MORE: Recent plane crashes induce anxiety for many travelers

It was a civilian in an aircraft who wound up spotting the plane crash site on Monday.

Alaska officials said it was a testament to the strength of the community in Alaska that when an aircraft goes down, everybody takes to their planes and they go out and look.

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One of the good Samaritans seeking the missing plane was Dale Eicher, who told ABC News that he was able to fly over the site of the crash approximately half an hour after it was first located and saw the survivors awaiting rescue.

MORE: Family of 3 missing after leaving Grand Canyon and driving through winter storm

An Alaska Army National Guard Blackhawk medivac variant with extended range, a hoist and a flight medic -- part of the 207th Aviation Troop Command -- went out to where the wreckage was spotted and found three people on the wing of the PA-12, which had seemingly broken the surface of a frozen body of water and had become partially submerged.

The National Guard told ABC News that the plane had missed the main lake; instead, the aircraft seems to have settled amid a glacial field and large body of water.

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All three passengers on the plane survived the crash, were successfully rescued and were taken to a local hospital. There are no further updates on any injuries or what led to the crash.

ABC News' Lena Camilletti contributed to this report.

3 survivors rescued from icy lake after plane goes missing in Alaska originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Sean Diddy Combs won a partial victory in the $30 million dollar lawsuit filed against him by a former producer on Monday, as the presiding judge dismissed 5 charges in the suit. However, Combs must still face accusations of sexual assault and liability, among other claims.

The lawsuit, filed in November in New York by Rodney Lil Rod Jones, accuses Combs of repeatedly sexually assaulting and harassing him, pressuring him to have sex with other men and female sex workers, pressuring him to take drugs, drugging him, and forcing him to buy drugs or the services of sex workers on Combs behalf.

The lawsuit also accuses Combs of effectively acting like a mob boss, accusing him of crimes that violate federal RICO (racketerring) laws.

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In his ruling Monday, presiding Judge Judge Paul Oetken dismissed the RICO charges, charges of Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) violations against Combs business, claims of negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, and breach of contract.

However, TVPA charges against Combs personally, as well as his co-defendant Kristina Khorram, and sexual assault and liability claims, were not dismissed.

Oetken also reprimanded Jones attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, declaring that the Court finds much of Blackburns conduct regarding Defendants motion to dismiss to be unsettling. Blackburns filings are replete with inaccurate statements of law, conclusory accusations, and inappropriate ad hominem attacks on opposing counsel. Oetken also warned Blackburn that further misconduct may lead to sanctions or to referral for discipline.

Were Combs to prevail in this case, he still faces numerous criminal charges and several other lawsuits. He is currently being held in jail awaiting Trial in New York.

The post $30 Million Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against Diddy Can Continue Judge Rules, but 5 Charges Dismissed appeared first on TheWrap.
Washington was rocked Monday by a truly extraordinary story.

The editor in chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, recounted how he had  apparently inadvertently  been added to a group chat featuring some of the most senior members of the United States government.

Even more dramatically, the purpose of the chat, on the messaging app Signal, was to discuss a then-imminent U.S. attack on Houthi targets in Yemen earlier this month.

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Goldberg said that, through the texts, he had known specifics about the attacks about two hours before they took place on March 15. Goldberg wrote that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sent detailed plans to everyone on the chat.

Goldberg did not publish the specifics of that element of the chat. But he said of Hegseths messages: The information contained in them, if they had been read by an adversary of the United States, could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel, particularly in the broader Middle East.

Here are five big takeaways from the explosive story.

Yes, the chat is real  and bizarre

The entire episode that Goldberg describes is bizarre  and troubling from the point of view of those who would take the handling of sensitive information seriously.

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Goldberg wrote that the chain of events began March 11, when he got an unsolicited Signal invite from someone named Michael Waltz. Trumps national security adviser is Mike Waltz, a former Florida congressman.

Goldberg was added to the group chat about Yemen two days later. The group appears to have included virtually everyone at the highest reaches of defense and national security in the Trump administration, except the president himself.

Waltz, Vice President Vance, Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Department Secretary Scott Bessent, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe all appear to have been among the participants. So too, apparently, were key figures in Trumps orbit including White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and key adviser Stephen Miller.

Goldberg does not appear to have announced his presence to the other members of the chat, nor did he conceal it. He wrote that he appeared in the chat as JG, much as other participants also seem to have been identified that way, including MAR [Marco Antonio Rubio] and SM, which Goldberg surmises was Miller.

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The situation was so peculiar that Goldberg himself wondered if he was being set up or led astray by hoaxers.

He was not.

When Goldberg asked Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, for comment, he responded, This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.

A lot of what if questions

Goldberg did not publish anything while military operations were underway.

But what if someone less scrupulous had been included on messages of such sensitivity?

The Atlantic editor in chief wrote that, among other things, Hegseths message contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing.

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Information like that would have been gold dust for adversaries. So too would insight into what people at the apex of power in Washington were talking about with one another.

Then there is the question of using Signal at all for such a matter  and whether any laws may have been broken in the process.

As Goldberg notes in his story, the use of Signal to discuss a military strike may have violated several provisions of the Espionage Act, which governs the handling of national defense information.

A separate but related question is whether Waltzs apparent actions in setting some of the messages to self-delete violated laws about the preservation of official records.

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One way or another, its a mess.

Exposed: Tensions with Europe and Vances differences with Trump

Substantively, the texts published by Goldberg are remarkable because of how they show Vances unease with some elements of Trumps approach, and the groups general distaste for what they see as Europes lackadaisical reliance on the U.S.

On the day before the strikes, the account labeled JD Vance noted he was out for the day doing an economic event in Michigan. But I think we are making a mistake. As Goldberg notes, the vice president was in Michigan on the day in question.

Vance noted that vastly more European trade than American trade goes through the Suez Canal. He was implicitly suggesting that the stakes in safeguarding the canal  and the Red Sea, which leads to it and where the Houthis have mounted numerous attacks  were far higher for European nations than for the U.S.

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The Vance account went on: I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now  apparently a reference to Trumps often-repeated insistence that Europe needs to take responsibility for protecting its own interests, with military force if necessary.

Vance added, I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself.

In a separate message soon after, Vance said to Hegseth, If you think we should do it lets go. I just hate bailing Europe out again.

To that, the account that appears to be Hegseth replied, VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. Its PATHETIC. But Mike [Waltz] is correct, we are the only ones on the planet (on our side of the ledger) who can do this.

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As Goldberg was readying the story for publication, a spokesperson for Vance told him there was no daylight between the president and the vice president.

Vice President Vance unequivocally supports this administrations foreign policy, William Martin told Goldberg. The President and the Vice President have had subsequent conversations about this matter and are in complete agreement.

Democrats express outrage, Republicans left red-faced

Democrats, who have often charged that Trump lacks basic competence, seized on the story.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), former Vice President Kamala Harriss running mate last November, wrote on social media that Hegseth was texting out war plans like invites to a frat party.

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) called the episode blatantly illegal and dangerous beyond belief. She added, Our national security is in the hands of complete amateurs.

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) accused the administration of incompetence so severe that it could have gotten Americans killed.

The revelation appeared to be deeply embarrassing for the GOP.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) acknowledged that the inclusion of a journalist on such a sensitive matter sounds like a huge screwup.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters Monday afternoon, Were just finding out about it, but obviously weve got to run it to ground and figure out what went on there.

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Trump himself pleaded ignorance.

Asked about it by reporters Monday afternoon, he responded, I dont know anything about it. Im not a big fan of The Atlantic.  Youre telling me about it for the first time.

Trump contends he still has confidence in Waltz

Its difficult to imagine any high-ranking national security official in a more conventional administration still having a job if they did what Waltz did.

But the Trump White House is like no other, and the president swiftly released a statement of support.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

Whether this will be enough to quell the storm remains to be seen.

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Five transgender service members are requesting a judge block the Trump administration from enforcing a policy that bars trans people from serving openly in the military, while a case against the executive action proceeds.

A motion filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia asks the court to issue a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement on behalf of the five plaintiffs, each of whom are currently being subjected to specific adverse treatment, according to court filings.

It asks the court to shield them from the Pentagons policies effectuating President Trumps order, arguing the plaintiffs otherwise face immediate and irreparable harm.

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Last week, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, an appointee of former President Biden, indefinitely blocked Trumps order on transgender troops, which she said is soaked in animus, from taking effect.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who mocked Reyes on social media following her ruling, said the Pentagon is appealing her decision.

According to the latest court filings, three plaintiffs  Jamie Hash, Vera Wolf and Ashley Davis  were removed from active duty and placed on administrative leave because of the order. Another plaintiff, Hunter Marquez, a cadet at the Air Force Academy set to graduate in May, is now required to comply with standards based on his birth sex and excluded from training with other cadets.

The fifth plaintiff, Samuel Ahearn, has been told he cannot graduate from Officer Candidate School despite meeting the requirements.

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Ahearn is instead being held in the Talent Management Group, a designation for officer candidates who dont meet graduation standards, based solely on his transgender status, according to the motion filed by GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the law firms Wardenski P.C. and Kropf Moseley.

The Trump administration, according to the plaintiffs legal team, will not suffer any harm if this Court issues a temporary restraining order. A temporary restraining order would simply maintain the status quo in place prior to the issuance of the Military Ban.

By contrast, allowing the continued enforcement of the Military Ban brands Plaintiffs as less capable and worthy of enlisting or serving in the Armed Forces solely because of their transgender status and jeopardizes Plaintiffs prospects for career advancement by preventing them from performing their duties and making it impossible to meet goals required for advancement, the motion states. The balance of equities thus tips sharply in Plaintiffs favor.

The lawsuit comes one day after a federal judge in New Jersey blocked the military from separating two transgender airmen under Trumps order. U.S. District Judge Christine OHearn, another Biden appointee, wrote in the order that the pair have exemplary service records and face severe personal and professional harm absent a preliminary injunction.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Local officials announced on Monday that language included in the One House Budget proposal represents the implementation of Daniels Law programming.

Both the Senate and Assembly One House resolutions call for $22 million.

Daniels Law would require mental health professionals to respond to calls for certain types of mental health crises and substance abuse issues, rather than police officers. Its a motion thats been argued against by some law enforcement personnel who said it brings up major safety concerns for these professionals.

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Daniel Prudes death in 2020 was ruled a homicide and sparked national outcries for police and mental health reforms.

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK  SEPTEMBER 03: Demonstrators face off with police officers as they demand justice for Daniel Prude during a protest on September 03, 2020 in Rochester, New York. Prude died after being arrested on March 23 by Rochester police officers who had placed a spit hood over his head and pinned him to the ground while restraining him. Mayor Lovely Warren announced today the suspension of seven officers involved in the arrest. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

He had lost consciousness during a struggle with police during a mental health crisis in Rochester. He died at the hospital a few days later. Sunday marked five years since the March 23, 2020 incident.

WROC file photo of Daniel Prude

Shaping the future: Monroe County launches new Deaf Equity Council

Officials said the fight is far from over, even though there has been some progress, urging advocates to voice their support for the law to be secured in the States budget this year.

The budget is due April 1.

With 2025 marking five years since the incident, the Rochester community is hosting several events in his honor. For the rest of this week, online forums will be held to talk about various topics related to his death.

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The flyer below was shared for those interested:

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JUBA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations missions in South Sudan, the African Union, and other peace partners are engaged in intense shuttle diplomacy to prevent the country from relapsing into civil war, a UN official said.

The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission held a meeting in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, on Monday, exploring ways to convince the parties to pull back from the brink.

"The collective message of the region and the international community is the same. We remain convinced that there is only one way out of the cycle of conflict, and that is to return to the Revitalized Peace Agreement, in letter and spirit," Nicholas Haysom, special representative of the UN secretary-general and head of UNMISS, said in a joint statement issued in Juba on Monday evening.

He said the political and security situation in South Sudan has significantly deteriorated since the White Army, a militia allied with the opposition, overran Nasir barracks in Upper Nile State previously occupied by the South Sudan People's Defense Forces on March 4.

In retaliation, Haysom said, communities across Upper Nile are being subjected to persistent aerial bombardment, which has caused significant casualties and horrific injuries. Humanitarian agencies estimated that at least 63,000 people have fled the area.

The UN official said rampant misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech are also ratcheting up tensions and driving ethnic divisions and fear.

"Given this grim situation, we are left with no other conclusion but to assess that South Sudan is teetering on the edge of a relapse into civil war," Haysom said, urging immediate and collective intervention to ensure that war is averted.

He said efforts of the international community to broker a peaceful solution can only succeed if the parties themselves are willing to engage and put the interests of their people ahead of their own, while the alternative is a slide into conflict that would erase all the hard-won gains made since the 2018 peace deal was signed.

To help prevent the relapse into war, Haysom said the parties should strictly adhere to the ceasefire, release detained officials or treat them under legal process, immediately return to consensus-based decision-making, and resolve tensions through dialogue rather than military confrontation.

He encouraged President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar to meet to resolve their differences constructively and make a joint public statement that reassures all South Sudanese of their united, steadfast commitment to peace. 
A 6.7 earthquake hit off the coast of New Zealand.

According to USGS, the earthquake hit around 2:43 p.m. on Tuesday, local time. USGS reports the earthquake was 10 km deep, 159 km from Riverton, New Zealand at the southwestern end of the South Island.

Emergency management teams confirmed that there was no tsunami threat to the Hawaiian Islands or any western states in the U.S.

The National Emergency Management Agency in New Zealand confirmed that no land threat was expected.

However, residents of Southland and Fiordland were told to stay away from beaches and marine areas due to potentially dangerous strong and unusual currents.
In three years of full-scale war against Ukraine, 62% of companies from countries deemed "unfriendly" by Moscow have exited the Russian market, pro-Kremlin media outlet RBC reported on March 25, citing an audit by consulting firm Kept.

The analysis covered over 300 foreign firms with "significant assets" and annual revenue of at least 1 billion rubles ($12 million) in Russia. Of these, 183 companies had fully withdrawn by the end of 2024.

Most firms sold their assets to Russian businesses (103 cases) or local management (40 cases). In 17 instances, foreign owners withdrew from joint ventures with Russian partners, while 14 companies shut down or suspended operations.

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Companies from Northern Europe had the highest exit rate, with 94% leaving Russia. Finland led with all 20 companies in the sample exiting, followed by Sweden (13 out of 15), Norway, and Iceland (both 100%). Denmark lagged slightly, with 74% of its firms having exited.

Exit rates among major Western economies varied significantly. The U.S., Germany, France, and the U.K. saw rates between 59-67%, while Canada, Australia, and New Zealand recorded a full 100% exit. In contrast, Austria had a 50% rate, Switzerland 38%, and Italy only 22%.

Read also: Ukraines precision airstrike kills up to 30 Russian soldiers in Kursk Oblast, military claims

For 96 companies  about a third of the sample  no exit information was available, and most continued normal operations, the outlet wrote.

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The statistics come amid efforts by Russian President Vladimir Putin to lure back Western firms. On Feb. 21, he instructed his Cabinet to prepare for their return while ensuring "certain advantages" for Russian businesses over re-entering foreign companies.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, hundreds of Western companies have left, unwilling to contribute to the Russian economy or war effort.

According to the Kyiv School of Economics, 472 foreign firms have fully withdrawn, while another 1,360 have scaled back operations.

Moscow has imposed strict exit conditions, including government approval, a mandatory 50% discount on asset sales, and a 10% "exit tax." The Kremlin has also seized assets from subsidiaries of Western firms that remained operational.

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Despite these measures, some foreign businesses have found ways to continue operations in Russia or have quietly re-entered after a temporary pause.

Read also: Hegseth denies leaking war plans in Signal chat while White House says messages appear authentic

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Around 77% of Ukrainians view the proposed 30-day ceasefire positively, according to an Omnibus opinion poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology and published on March 25.

In turn, 17% of Ukrainians expressed negative views toward the idea: 8% believe it would weaken Ukraine, 7% see it as a desperate move by the Ukrainian authorities due to the challenging situation at the front, and 2% consider it a step toward Ukraine's surrender.

The U.S. and Ukraine initially supported a broader 30-day ceasefire, including a halt to ground operations, but Russia rejected the proposal unless it included conditions that would weaken Ukraine's defense capabilities, such as a suspension of foreign military aid.

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Before the proposed conditions, 47% of respondents who viewed the ceasefire positively believed it would expose Russia's unwillingness to negotiate in good faith.

Between March 19 and March 21, opposition to Russia's ceasefire conditions increased sharply. Around 79% of respondents deemed Russia's conditions categorically unacceptable, while only 16% were willing to consider them, including 14% who found the terms difficult but not entirely dismissible.

The Kremlin later claimed that it had ordered a 30-day halt to strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure following a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kyiv also supported a mutual halt on energy strikes but later accused Russia of continuing attacks on civilian targets.

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An overwhelming 82% of Ukrainians believe Kyiv should continue fighting regardless of external circumstances. Even in the event of a complete halt on U.S. military support, only 8% said they would lean toward surrender.

If the ceasefire comes without security guarantees, 62% would strongly oppose it, while 32% would reluctantly support it. Should Ukraine secure even minimal security guarantees, more than half of respondents would accept the truce.

The poll was conducted through computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) using a random sample of mobile phone numbers across government-controlled regions of Ukraine. A total of 1,326 respondents were interviewed.

Read also: Ukraine, US conclude another round of talks in Riyadh, media reports

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  On March 25th, or 325 Day, local businesses and organizations are gearing up to celebrate Abilene and its vibrant community. The day, which takes its name from the area code for Abilene and much of the Big Country, marks its fifth year of festivities.

Shop Local: Abilenes 325 Day features exclusive deals

Elizabeth Gray, one of the events originators and a representative of the Abilene Teachers Federal Credit Union, shared that 325 Day was created to lift the communitys spirits after the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the February Freeze of 2021.

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Its encouraging to businesses to participate in a community-wide event, which is beneficial to them, Gray said. This is just a really cool way to get out, have fun just for fun sake, and just to support the community.

Gray explained that this year, the celebration will feature some exciting changes, including a fun new way for attendees to win even more prizes.

Weve actually done 325 Month as well because it is March 2025, so some businesses signed up to participate all month long, Gray explained.

Kayla Rollins owns K. Ellis Boutique downtown. Her business has participated since the start, and she loves what the day stands for.

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Ive always been involved with 325 Day. I just like the opportunity to celebrate where we live and where we work and have the community involved as well, Rollins said. This is my first baby. So, I just want people to enjoy it just as much as I do. So I think its important to support those peoples dreams and their goals as well.

100+ Abilene businesses participate in 4th annual 325 Day

March 25th is a double celebration for Sweet and Sour Charcuterie as they mark their one-month anniversary of opening. Owner Stephanie Hurtado describes their first month in business as a dream come true and hopes the success continues.

We love being involved in everything. I love how they get together for absolutely anything and everything. Just seeing them engage in supporting local businesses, like going out, Hurtado said. I was not expecting to be this big of a thing since the day we opened; honestly, everybody has shown us how much Abilene can literally support a small business from 0 to 1000 in literally a day.

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Click here to discover what promotions will happen for 325 Day this year.

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ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Is Abilenes restaurant The Local closed for good? Thats the unofficial word on the street.

Citizens have taken to social media this week to report the restaurant, located in Abilenes T&P Building on N 1st Street, was closing down.

A KTAB and KRBC crew member had reservations to dine at The Local Saturday afternoon but received a phone call earlier in the day from an employee saying they were closing, and when the KTAB and KRBC crew member asked if this was temporary, the crew member responded that they were, closing for good.

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The Local also appears to have removed their social media pages. Links to the restaurants pages were still on google, but when followed, the link to their Facebook Page states this content isnt available right now and the link to their Instagram page states, sorry this page isnt available.

Google also claims that The Local is temporarily closed.

There were no signs indicating closure on The Locals building when KTAB and KRBC went by Tuesday afternoon.

KTAB and KRBC have also been unable to reach the owners, managers, or any officials with The Local for comment on their possible closure. Multiple phone calls to the location went unanswered, as well as phone calls to numbers believed to be associated with the owners.

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A daycare worker at First Assembly Christian School in Monroe has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a young child.

The incident reportedly took place last month, leading to the arrest of teacher Tiffany Ivey.

The arrest followed an investigation by Monroe police after a mother reported that her daughter claimed to have been choked by her teacher on Valentines Day at the daycare located on Arnold Drive.

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I was absolutely devastated. I would have never thought that a teacher could do something like that, the mother said, expressing her shock over the allegations.

ALSO READ: Parents concerned after 8-month-old appears with bruises after attending daycare

The mother, who requested anonymity, recounted her daughters conversation with her sister, where she mentioned that her teacher, Ms. Tiffany, had choked her.

The mother took action by visiting the daycare to review surveillance footage, which she claims showed the teacher grabbing her daughter and shaking her.

According to a police warrant, Tiffany Ivey was charged with misdemeanor assault on a child under 12.

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The daycare confirmed that Iveys employment was terminated following the incident.

The daycare released a statement on Facebook stating that they took appropriate action immediately upon learning of the incident.

The state is also conducting an investigation into the matter.

VIDEO: Parents concerned after 8-month-old appears with bruises after attending daycare












By Juliette Jabkhiro

PARIS (Reuters) -French movie star Gerard Depardieu admitted in court on Tuesday that he had grabbed by the hips a woman who has accused him of sexual assault, but denied it was assault, attributing any crude comments he had made to being in a bad mood.

The plaintiff, Amelie K, a set decorator, spoke in court after Depardieu, and said the actor had groped her all over her body as he trapped her between his legs and made explicit sexual comments, terrifying her while they were on a film set in 2021.

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"He grabbed me and groped me in the front of my body, the back, all around. He trapped me with his legs," she told the court. "He touched everything, including my breasts," she said. "I was terrified, he was laughing."

A towering figure of French cinema, Depardieu, 76, has faced a growing number of sexual assault allegations in recent years.

Depardieu's trial is the highest-profile #MeToo case in the media industry to come before the courts in France. He has denied wrongdoing and this is the first case over which he is standing trial.

"Yes, I confirm I grabbed her by the hips to tell her not very nice things, but not to grope her," Depardieu said.

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Earlier, he had said he had grabbed Amelie K to avoid slipping, as he was tired and upset.

After Amelie K's lawyer said Depardieu had changed his version of events yet again, as he had thus far denied touching her, the actor said: "If you say so."

The actor told the court he was not at ease with how society was evolving. "I think my time is over," he said.

If found guilty, Depardieu could face a sentence of up to five years in jail and a 75,000-euro ($81,000) fine.

DRAMA

The second day of the trial was marked by high drama, with Depardieu's lawyer interrupting and screaming at Amelie K's lawyer, while Depardieu heatedly denounced the "hysteria" of some women.

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Often wandering off topic, Depardieu said he had accused Amelie K of doing her job badly, shocking her, and that any crude comments he made were related to her work.

Amelie K repudiated this, saying Depardieu had not criticised her work but had made repeated, crude, sexual comments and assaulted her.

She said someone - she did not know who - eventually stepped in, freeing her from his grasp and pulling her away.

Prosecutors have given a similar account of what they described as a sexual assault, witnessed by three people.

They said the alleged assaults against Amelie K and another woman - their full identities were not revealed - took place during the 2021 filming of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters).

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The second woman was groped by Depardieu on set and in the street, prosecutors said.

Depardieu's lawyer Jeremie Assous told reporters on Monday the accusations were false and based on lies. In court, he accused investigators of bias and wanting to bring Depardieu down.

The accusations against Depardieu and his trial, have divided French actors, with some supporting him and expected to speak at the trial, and others backing the plaintiffs.

At the time of the alleged assaults on the set of Les Volets Verts, Depardieu was already under investigation over a rape allegation by actress Charlotte Arnould, who was present in court this week to follow the proceedings.

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The Paris prosecutor's office last year said Depardieu should face trial over Arnould's complaint. Depardieu has denied any wrongdoing. It is now up to an investigative judge to say if there will be a trial over those allegations.

(Reporting by Juliette Jabkhiro and Lucien Libert; Writing by Ingrid Melander; editing by Angus MacSwan, Sharon Singleton and Bernadette Baum)
(WGHP)  Its been a whirlwind experience for Addison McDowell.

He became a freshman in Congress after having little experience in government before.

But when he ran for the Republican nomination for North Carolinas 6th District, he had one overriding issue: securing the border and stopping the flow of the deadly fentanyl that took his brothers life a year or so ago. He says his alignment with President Trump on that issue was key to his victory.

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The president has people  who want to keep us safe, and so do I, McDowell said. So Im going to be working with them every step of the way  Fentanyl was an important thing for me and stopping the flow of that coming into our country. Were being invaded by drug cartels  and I think that its a very refreshing thing, as someone whos felt the effects of these things in our communities, to have a president that cares  I hope that everyone in the 6th District knows Ive got their back on this, and Im fighting.

The other issue hes taken on since being sworn in is American manufacturing jobs. He supports Trumps tariffs.

When you have, for example, India. They charge a tariff on motorcycles that are imported to India from the United States. Harley-Davidson has a 100% tariff. So that means if a Harley  just for even numbers $10,000  its $20,000 in India. You know what our tariff is? On India, its 7%, he said.

And McDowell is convinced that the presidents tariffs can change that.

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Weve had men and women forgotten about by Washington, D.C. politicians for too long, McDowell said. These are the working men and women whose manufacturing jobs went to China, went to Mexico. They went overseas, and they lost their jobs. So we are saying, We havent forgotten about you. We want to bring these manufacturing jobs back.

In the meantime, Elon Musk and his DOGE group have been working to reduce the size of the government.

We asked McDowell, even if thats the right policy, is Musk going around with a chainsaw, as a metaphor, going about this the right way?

Right now, its a jolt to the system because weve had a runaway spending for too long, McDowell said. President Trump is doing exactly what he said he was going to do. He said Elon Musk is going to  create  the Department of Government Efficiency. Theyre going to find ways to save the taxpayers money. Thats what theyre doing, and Ive got their back.

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See more from McDowell in this edition of the Buckley Report.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  Supporters of a national educational program for young students are pleading lawmakers to restore funding this spring after budget cuts forced it to close earlier this year.

Melissa Peat, executive director of Kansas StarBase, spoke with 27 News on Monday, March 24 about efforts being made to restore the program. StarBase helps connect children with learning opportunities associated with science, technology, education and math (STEM) fields and is run under the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

The StarBase program came to a sudden end in February 2025 due to a lack of funding at the federal level. Its closure lead to most of their 29 full-time staff members in Kansas being placed on unpaid leave employed at its locations in Salina, Manhattan, Topeka, Wichita and Kansas City.

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Kansas gov. vetoes advance voting bill

It is critical that we get this funding, Peat said. Without this funding, we can not keep these programs open. We cant bring our staff back from unpaid leave and get these kids in the door.

Peat said the federal government passed a resolution on March 14 for the remainder of the fiscal year with $53 million allocated for the 90 DoD StarBase sites throughout the country. However, it remains to be seen if the funds will be used to restart StarBase and provide the funding to bring back educators who were let go. She said each site needs around $50,000 to serve students through to the end of the school year.

The StarBase program is being kept alive in Kansas thanks largely to generous donations. In one instance, the McPherson County Community Foundation and the Greater Salina Community Foundation came together to provide $50,000 to the program in Salina to help it continue to provide STEM education to local elementary school children for the 2024-2025 school year.

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They get to see what a real engineer does, said Billie Jones, director of Starbase Salina. We do rocketry and chemistry lessons with students and focus on getting their hands on things as quickly as we can.

$49 million home for veterans on hold in Topeka

StarBase provides students with a five-day, 25-hour program designed to get them working hands-on with STEM subject matter. The ultimate goal is to motivate students to get interested in STEM topics as they start thinking about what kind of jobs they want to occupy in the future. Around 1,000 Kansas students take part in the program monthly.

Peat encourages people who want to make financial donations to the Kansas StarBase program to contact Board President Briar Conner at president@kansasstarbase.org. You can learn more about the Kansas StarBase program by clicking here.

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Kansas Supreme Court justice resigning due to health complications

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.

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By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. teachers unions and rights advocates, including the NAACP, sued the administration of President Donald Trump on Monday to prevent the attempted dismantling of the federal Education Department, days after Trump signed an executive order to that effect.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

The lawsuit came four days after the Republican president signed an order designed to leave school policy almost entirely in the hands of states and local boards, a prospect that alarms liberal education advocates. Trump had promised during his election campaign that he would dismantle the agency.

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Thursday's order was a first step "to eliminate" the department, Trump said. Shuttering the agency completely requires an act of Congress, and Trump lacks the votes for that.

KEY QUOTES

The department "is charged by Congress with advancing educational opportunity and quality," the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland said.

"Despite Congress's clear directives to the Department, the Trump Administration has stated numerous times, in the clearest possible terms, its intention to close this vital agency, most recently in a March 20, 2025, Executive Order," the filing added.

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"These actions are unconstitutional and violate Congress's directives."

The Education Department had no immediate comment.

Earlier this month, a group of Democratic state attorneys general filed a similar lawsuit.

CONTEXT

Education has long been a political lightning rod in the United States. Conservatives favor local control over education policy and school-choice options that help private and religious schools, and left-leaning voters largely support robust funding for public schools and diversity programs.

Since taking office, Trump has tasked his billionaire ally Elon Musk with cost cutting and aimed to dismantle some U.S. agencies to bring down what they call wasteful spending.

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Trump has threatened educational institutions with federal funding cuts over issues like diversity, equity and inclusion programs, transgender policy and pro-Palestinian protests.

BY THE NUMBERS

The department oversees some 100,000 public and 34,000 private schools, although more than 85% of public school funding comes from state and local governments. It provides federal grants for needy schools and programs and oversees $1.6 trillion in student loans.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington;Editing by Mary Milliken and Michael Perry)
CARACAS, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said Monday that a "great march" will be held on Tuesday in support of migrants' rights following recent U.S. deportation of hundreds of Venezuelans.

The event is in "response to those around the world who want to mistreat our Venezuelans and to those who justify, in the most vile and cowardly manner, the measures against Venezuelans," Cabello said.

The march comes a little over a week after U.S. President Donald Trump's administration decided to invoke the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law, to deport over 200 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, branding them members of a gang committing violent crimes.

Having denied the accusations earlier, Cabello said Venezuela is working to protect the rights of its migrants with the help of a law firm to demand "that all Venezuelans be returned." 
AUSTIN (KXAN)  One person is dead, and a dog was rescued after a fire was reported at an east Austin apartment complex Monday, according to the Austin Fire Department.

AFD said multiple 911 calls came in around 3:45 p.m. about a second story apartment on fire in the 3400 block of Lynridge Drive.

AFD said crews responded in four minutes, and one minute later, they found the person and rescued them. The dog was also inside the structure and received emergency medical care.

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Austin-Travis County EMS medics also responded to the scene and said on social media they performed CPR on the person rescued. However, medics and AFD said in an update that person was pronounced dead.

The Austin Fire Department responding to apartment fire on Lynridge Drive (Photo: AFD) The Austin Fire Department responding to apartment fire on Lynridge Drive (Photo: AFD) The Austin Fire Department responding to apartment fire on Lynridge Drive (Photo: AFD) The Austin Fire Department responding to apartment fire on Lynridge Drive (Photo: AFD)

AFD will continue investigating the cause and damages of the fire. No other details were available Monday.

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Alternative for Germany has hit an all-time high in polling amid a backlash to its conservative rivals promise to hugely increase debt to fund military spending.

The poll by INSA showed the AfD on 23.5 per cent, a historic high, less than four points behind the centre-Right CDU on 27 per cent.

Two other recent polls came to similar conclusions, with one putting the AfD just three points behind the CDU, on 23 per cent compared to 26 per cent.

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The surge in support for the far-Right party comes after Friedrich Merz, the chancellor-in-waiting, negotiated the biggest debt package in modern German history to fund the expansion of the countrys military. The AfD has called it the biggest deception in post-war history.

While the military spending has been praised abroad, it has proved highly controversial inside Germany due to it breaching repeated promises by Mr Merz not to take on new debt.

In the build up to the German election in February, Mr Merzs CDU repeatedly assured the German public that it would defend the countrys debt brake against plans by Left-wing parties to reform or abolish it.

Mr Merz had promised that he would fund an increase in military spending by cutting welfare payments and reducing the number of staff elsewhere in Germanys large federal bureaucracy.

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Ever since the eurozone crisis, in which southern EU members were swamped by interest payments on their debts, Germans have prized their own fiscal conservatism as a bulwark against a new currency crisis.

Germanys chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz has announced the largest debt plans in the countrys history - Ebrahim Noroozi

But, within a fortnight of winning the election, Mr Merz dramatically announced the largest debt plans in the countrys history, including half a trillion euros for infrastructure.

The CDU leader presented the debt as doing whatever it takes to respond to signals from the Trump Administration that it was no longer prepared to pay for Europes security.

However, the conservative press, which had been expecting Mr Merz to announce spending cuts, described the debt package as a betrayal.

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The German public agreed, with a recent poll showing that three quarters of them thought that Mr Merz had deceived them ahead of the election, which the CDU won with 29 per cent of the vote.

Mr Merz has ruled out building a coalition with the AfD, due to a suspicion that it harbours Nazi sympathisers in its ranks.

However, that has forced him to enter talks with the defeated Social Democrats, in power under Olaf Scholz since 2021, narrowing his options for using welfare cuts to fund the military.

The CDU and SPD are currently negotiating their coalition agreement. Mr Merz says that he wants to be sworn in as chancellor by Easter.

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Set up in 2013 as an anti-euro party, the AfD has courted controversy for years over statements made by senior party figures that appear to trivialise Germanys Nazi era.

AfDs Maximilian Krah has played down the horrors of Nazi Germany - Tobias Schwarz/Getty

Their faction in the new German parliament includes Maximilian Krah, a former MEP who upset hard-Right peers elsewhere in Europe by saying that not all members of the SS were criminals.

Alexander Gauland, 84, the oldest member of the Bundestag, Germanys parliament, notoriously described the Nazi era as a bird poo in 1,000 years of German history.

Germanys domestic intelligence agency, unique in Europe for having a remit to spy on political parties, has labelled the AfD as suspected of being Right-wing extremist. This classification has been cited by the other parties in the Bundestag as a justification for their refusal to work with the populist party.

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The AfD claims that it is the victim of a smear campaign and say that the domestic spy agency is biased.

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SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KETK)  A Smith County couple has been arrested after a 9-year-old girl accused her stepfather of sexually assaulting her, an affidavit stated.

TIMELINE: What is going on in the City of Hawkins?

Mugshot of Damian Francisco, courtesy of Smith County Jail

The Smith County Sheriffs Office became aware of the case on March 12 after a CPS worker reported a 9-year-old girl was reportedly being touched inappropriately by her stepfather, Damian Francisco. The incidents were reported to have occurred in the familys home in Tyler.

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The CPS worker was alerted to the case after the victim, records indicate, told teachers at her school that her stepfather had touched her inappropriately.

Following the report, the victim was taken to the Childrens Advocacy Center (CAC) where a forensic interview was conducted. The affidavit stated that the victim cried for the first portion of the interview and claimed that her mother told her that it was her fault they had to do the interview. The victim said the mother threatened she and her siblings may not see her again.

According to the affidavit, during the interview, the victim said she was being sexually abused by Francisco when she was at home during summer break. The victim also claimed that her mother pushed Francisco off of her and told him that if he wanted to stay in the house, he had to promise to never touch her kids again.

SFA police department $150K grant for equipment, training

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Investigators spoke with the victims mother in the parking lot of the CAC, where she said she believed they were there because a teacher reported they did not have food at home. Officials then revealed why they were there and she confirmed to have witnessed Francisco sexually assault her daughter in January 2025, according to the affidavit.

The victims mother reportedly admitted that Francisco was drunk during the incident and she gave more details about what Francisco was doing to the victim. She stated that following the incident she spoke with Francisco, demanding he never do that again and that he was no longer allowed to be alone with her children.

Francisco has been charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. He is currently being held in Smith County Jail and his recommended bond is $500,000.00. The victims mother is also under custody after she was charged with abandonment and endangerment of a child.

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DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT)  People in Decatur are outraged after a historical marker was destroyed.

This isnt the first time that a marker in the Old Town community has been destroyed.

Man charged with murder after person dies from injuries sustained in Florence bar fight

Absolutely I was just devastated when I saw it on the ground, historian Peggy Allen Towns said.

Towns was instrumental in getting the marker placed in 2016 on the corner of Sycamore and Vine Streets.

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The marker tells of the forgotten contributions of African Americans to the City of Decatur.

The sign was placed to honor Old Town which is the oldest community in the City of Decatur and its not just a sign thats just here, but it has a story, Towns explained.

Decatur Police say womans trail marker hit by vehicle, investigating damage to Old Town marker

Established in 1821, Old Town was the home of many prominent African Americans and black-owned businesses before Urban Renewal took over in the 1970s.

On Friday afternoon, Towns said she noticed the maker was on the ground while traveling through town. This is the second time in months that a marker in the area has been destroyed. In November, a marker honoring women in the Suffrage movement in the 1930s was knocked down. Towns believes that if destroying them was not intentional, then that person would have come forward.

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Our community is one that cares about history, and I would hate to think that someone purposely knocked it down because of the African American history that the sign denotes, Towns explained.

Towns told News 19 that they are more than just markers, they define what the community was all about and help keep their history alive.

It talks about the resilience of people, it talks about their persistence, it talks about their determination, Towns said.

Towns said that she immediately contacted Decatur police about the incident.

A spokesperson for the Decatur Preservation Society said its going to take about a year to get a new marker and would cost thousands of dollars to replace.

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NAIROBI (Reuters) -Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo battled militiamen allied with the government on Tuesday as regional countries tried to give fresh impetus to faltering peace initiatives.

M23's swift advance since January has seized eastern Congo's two largest cities, resulted in thousands of deaths and forced hundreds of thousands more from their homes.

Southern and East Africa countries have made repeated diplomatic pushes to resolve the conflict amid fears it could spiral into a larger regional war.

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The latest setback to those efforts came on Monday when the M23 rebels went back on a pledge to withdraw from the strategic town of Walikale and accused the Congolese army of failing to halt its own offensive operations there.

The rebels and pro-government milita fighters known as Wazalendo battled on Tuesday in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, residents said.

In North Kivu, a second day of clashes raged near the banks of Lake Edward, which straddles the border between Congo and Uganda, said Muhindo Tafuteni, a local civil society activist.

In South Kivu, fighting took place in several towns north of the provincial capital Bukavu, which M23 captured in February, residents said.

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REGIONAL DIPLOMACY

Leaders from the main Southern and Eastern Africa political blocs had met on Monday to advance a plan aimed at securing a ceasefire in a conflict rooted in the long fallout from the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and competition for control of mineral riches.

In a statement afterwards, they said they had appointed five former heads of state to facilitate the peace process.

The appointees are Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo, South Africa's Kgalema Motlanthe, Ethiopia's Sahle-Work Zewde, Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta and Central African Republic's Catherine Samba Panza.

Congo's presidency said the new panel would name a mediator to replace Angolan President Joao Lourenco, who withdrew from the role on Monday following years of efforts to ease tensions between Rwanda and Congo.

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Rwanda's government, which has been sanctioned by several Western countries for supporting M23 with arms and troops, said the summit was "fruitful".

Rwanda denies supporting M23 but also says its forces are acting in self-defence against Congo's army and militias hostile to Kigali.

M23 says the conflict can only be resolved through negotiations between the rebels and Kinshasa.

A meeting was scheduled last week in Angola after Tshisekedi dropped his longstanding refusal to negotiate with M23, but the rebels withdrew in protest at new European Union sanctions.

Even as regional countries met to talk peace, there were reminders of the risk of escalation.

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In an interview with the BBC, President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, whose troops have fought in support of Congo's army against M23, said that Rwanda had a plan to attack Burundi.

"Burundians will not accept to be killed as Congolese are being killed," he was quoted as saying in a report published on Tuesday, adding he wanted to resolve the problem through dialogue.

Burundi and Rwanda have long had tense relations, but officials from the two sides have met in recent weeks.

"These comments are surprising because Rwandan and Burundian defence and security institutions have actually been meeting to discuss how to secure our common borders," Rwanda's government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said.

(Reporting by Congo Newsroom; Writing by Hereward Holland and Aaron Ross; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Angus MacSwan)
Attorney General Pam Bondi called on Texas congresswoman Jasmine Crockett to apologize for recent comments calling for Elon Musk to be taken down, claiming the comments are driving violence and insurrection.

She needs to unequivocally denounce the violence, Bondi said during an interview Monday night on Fox Newss Hannity. She must apologize immediately, not only to all Texans, but to our country, to the American shareholders of Tesla, because she is promoting violence.

The comments came as Teslas and facilities tied to the EV brand have faced violence and threats, including in Texas.

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The Independent has contacted Rep. Crocketts office for comment.

Last week, Crockett, a Democrat, said she hoped to see Musk taken down as part of a protest push calling itself the Tesla Takedown Movement, though said moments later she meant that figuratively and asserted that everything that I am promoting is non-violent.

Nonetheless, the comments have roiled the MAGA right.

Bondi has repeatedly warned Crockett she could face prosecution for remarks about Tesla (REUTERS)

Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene accused Crockett of organizing political violence and terrorism, while Bondi has said elsewhere that Crockett must tread carefully, given the administrations larger effort to crack down on those making violent threats against Musk and Tesla.

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Crockett has claimed it is the Trump administration that is providing political cover for insurrectionists, rather than critics of Tesla and Musk.

I have never promoted violence whatsoever, yet Ive also never made [an] excuse for those violent actors such as the ones on January 6, she told MSNBC last week, referring to President Donald Trumps sweeping pardons for insurrectionists charged with crimes during Capitol riots.

Tesla vehicles, dealerships, and charging stations have persistently been targets of protests and attacks since Donald Trump took office and made Musk a key partner overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative that has led to mass layoffs, budget cuts, and attempts to shutter multiple federal agencies.

Anonymous individuals have also created a website purporting to show the locations of Tesla facilities and individuals tied to DOGE. The cursor on the website is a Molotov cocktail.

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Bondi announced last week that the Justice Department is bringing severe charges against three individuals accused of targeting Teslas with arson attacks, following the White Houses vow to treat such incidents as domestic terrorism.

Federal officials have also launched a terrorism taskforce to investigate the Tesla attacks.

Trump has taken things a step further, suggesting that those who target Teslas could be sent, in what would amount to an unprecedented and potentially illegal move, to a notorious Salvadoran prison at the center of the ongoing Venezuelan deportation flights lawsuit.
Denmarks prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, called the U.S.s recent pressure on Greenland unacceptable Tuesday prior to a visit from second lady Usha Vance later this week.

I have to say that it is unacceptable pressure being placed on Greenland and Denmark in this situation. And it is pressure that we will resist, the prime minister said to broadcasters from her country, Reuters reported.

Vances office announced Monday that the second lady is going to Greenland on Thursday alongside her son and a U.S delegation. During her time in Greenland, Vance is going to visit historical sites, learn about Greenlandic heritage, and attend the Avannaata Qimussersu, Greenlands national dogsled race.

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Ms. Vance and the delegation are excited to witness this monumental race and celebrate Greenlandic culture and unity, the second ladys office previously said.

Greenlands prime minister, Mute Bourup Egede, criticized Vance and the delegations upcoming Greenland trip as being part of a very aggressive pressure campaign for the U.S. to take control of the autonomous Danish territory.

Until recently, we could safely rely on the Americans, who were our allies and friends, and with whom we liked to work closely, Egede said to a Greenlandic newspaper Sunday. But that time is over, we have to admit that, because the new American leadership is completely and utterly indifferent to what we have stood together on so far, because now it is only a matter of them taking over our country over our heads.

On Monday, President Trump went on defense over the decision to send Vance and the delegation to Greenland, saying Danish officials invited them.

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This is friendliness, not provocation. Were dealing with a lot of people from Greenland that would like to see something happen with respect to their being properly protected and properly taken care of. Theyre calling us, were not calling them. And we were invited over there, and I thought it would be great, Trump said during a Cabinet meeting.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.

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PRAGUE, March 25 (Xinhua) -- An explosion hit the Czech Policske Strojirny machinery plant's compound on Tuesday morning, injuring one person, according to firefighters and police.

Czech fire rescue service said the explosion occurred at the plant in the town of Policka before 9:00 a.m. local time.

"Due to the dangerous nature of the environment, a third fire alarm has been declared. Firefighters evacuated one injured person and handed him over to the emergency services. We are evacuating other people from the area," it said on social media platform X.

Czech News Agency reported that the plant produces large-calibre ammunition and deals with repairs of military equipment and supply of spare parts. The accident, it said, happened in an ammunition depot and the injured person, who was in serious condition, was transported to hospital by helicopter.

Czech police said they had set up a safe perimeter around Policske strojirny and evacuated all employees.

"For now, the most likely cause of the explosion appears to be a technical fault in the production technology in one of the halls," the police said on X. 
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The Hawaii Department of Education announced on the night of March 24 that Aikahi Elementary School in Kailua will be closed to students and staff on March 25.

The HIDOE says that there is a continued presence of a chemical odor on and around campus. The Honolulu Fire Department has been unable to identify the source of the odor.

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The elementary school is notifying their staff, students and families of the closure.

All public schools and HIDOE offices will be closed on March 26 in honor of Prince Kuhio Day. This brings Aikahi Elementary Schools reopening to March 27, unless otherwise noted.

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Ryanair, one of the world's largest low-cost airlines, has developed a five-year plan to resume flights to Ukraine, but CEO Michael OLeary says the airports the company has approached with the proposed deal are ignoring it.

Source: Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary at Logistics as a Driver of Economic Growth, a conference organised by the think tank We Build Ukraine

Details: O'Leary said the low-cost airline has drawn up an ambitious plan to resume flights in Ukraine as soon as the skies reopen and it becomes safe.

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He said that according to the plan, Ryanair could fly 5 million passengers in Ukraine in the first year after the skies reopen and then increase that figure from 5 to 10 million passengers within five years.

Details: O'Leary said his airline submitted the five-year growth plan to Boryspil and Lviv airports over two years ago and he is disappointed that Ryanair has received no response.

Ryanair has aircraft at 90 European airports and could send some of them to Kyiv and Lviv. Their plan is to resume flights within six weeks of the airspace reopening, but in the absence of an agreement with the airports, flights to Ukraine are likely to start on a smaller scale  one million passengers in the first year.

Background:

Ryanair has prepared a plan to resume flights to Ukraine within four to six weeks of the war with Russia being suspended.

Viktor Mykyta, Deputy Head of the Presidents Office, promised in an interview with Forbes to do everything possible to reopen Uzhhorod airport, but the military will make the final decision.

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BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN)  Theres a new resource available at Akron Childrens Hospital to help make sure families with sick children dont have to worry about putting food on the table.

The hospital is celebrating the opening of a Food Farmacy at the Boardman campus.

Having nutritious food is foundational to good health, and we have spent a lot of time thinking about taking care of the whole child not just their physical needs, said Chris Gessner, President and CEO of Akron Childrens Hospital.



Food Farmacy is a pantry that income-eligible patients and their families can visit once a month after getting a referral from a doctors office.

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Its set up like a grocery store, so the kids and their families can come in and pick the food they want. We know kids can be a little picky, and we like to have kid-friendly food and culturally sensitive food in our Farmacy, Gessner said.



The pantry is stocked with shelf-stable and refrigerated foods, personal care products and even childrens books. Second Harvest Food Bank is in charge of keeping the pantry stocked.

We couldnt do this by ourselves. Were responsible for helping kids grow up safe and healthy, but to do that, you need wonderful community partnerships with lots of different organizations, Gessner said.



Though the doors of the Farmacy at Boardman are just opening, the program isnt entirely new to Akron Childrens. In 2023, it opened a Food Farmacy at its Akron facility which fed 28,000 people last year.

This is just something that we feel we need to do for the community. Its not going to solve all the problems, but we think its really been helpful in Akron, and we know its going to be helpful here, Gessner said.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  An Akron man was sentenced to six months in jail on Tuesday for assaulting a sheriffs deputy by dragging them with his car on Route 93 last May, the Erie County District Attorneys Office said.

Prosecutors said that Michael Trybuskiewicz, 41, refused to obey commands of a deputy when the deputy approached his car at the corner of Route 93 and Route 5 in Newstead on May 14.

Trybuskiewicz then put the vehicle in drive and attempted to flee, dragging the deputy. The deputy sustained injuries to his head, shoulder, ankle and elbow. He was taken to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital for treatment.

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Trybuskiewicz pleaded guilty in February to one count of second-degree assault and was facing a maximum of seven years in prison. He will also be subject to five years of post-release supervision once he is released from jail.

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Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.

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ATMORE, Ala. (WKRG)  Monday, March 24, marked 22 years since 31-year-old Atmore resident Melinda McGhee was last seen or heard from.

On the anniversary of her disappearance, the Alabama Cold Case Advocacy group decided to spotlight McGhees case in hopes of bringing some closure to her family and the community.

Birmingham man accused of rape, sodomy in Baldwin County: BCSO

According to ACCA, McGhee had returned home from her overnight shift as a nurse at a Bay Minette nursing home around 8 a.m. on March 24, 2003.

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Officials said her husband was at work when she got to their home on Kent Road. Her stepson was at the dentist, and her two children were already at a babysitter for the day.

A photo of Melinda McGhee (Alabama Law Enforcement Agency).

Police said the last time she was heard from was around 8:30 a.m. when she called her mother.

McGhees husband got off work and was home around 4 that afternoon. When he arrived home, he found blood and signs of a struggle  but Melinda was nowhere to be found.

ACCA officials said her purse and phone were still inside their home, but her car keys were found locked inside her car, which was found parked near the home. Officials suspected foul play.

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In 2010, McGhee was officially pronounced dead, and a death certificate was issued  although she was never found.

Corrections officer at Holman Correctional arrested, accused of having sex with inmate

McGhee is still listed in the Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys database for missing people as an involuntary missing person.

Anyone with information on McGhees disappearance is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriffs Office at 251-809-0741.

In 2017, News 5s Devon Walsh investigated this cold case. Read it here: Cold Case Murder of Young Nurse Haunts Local Family

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Rep. Debbie Wood, R-Valley, speaking on the floor of the Alabama House of Representatives in the Alabama State House in Montgomery, Alabama, on March 18, 2025. Wood's bill mandating election audits passed the chamber along party lines except for three Republicans that voted against it. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector)

The Alabama House of Representatives last week passed a bill mandating election audits, mostly along party lines.

HB 30, sponsored by Rep. Debbie Wood, R-Valley, requires local probate judges to conduct a post-election audit after every countywide and statewide general election to verify accuracy. One race from the entire election, selected at random, will be audited.

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Wood said the legislation is not for recounts but to ensure the electronic machines that count votes are working properly. Wood said Alabama is one of nine states that do not audit elections.

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Imposed election audits ensure public confidence in the election process, Wood said on the House floor. Audits increase transparency and demonstrate that elections are fair and accurate.

The legislation passed 63-30 with seven abstentions and three Republicans voting no. Rep. Van Smith, R-Clanton, said in an interview last week after a committee meeting that he voted against it because his countys probate judge was worried about compliance.

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I wasnt against the audit, but I was concerned about the workforce needed to do it, Smith said.

The legislation requires the audited race to be recounted by a machine, except for 30 ballots that must be verified by hand.

Democrats pushed back on the legislation saying that it gives the impression that Alabama has voter fraud.

You dont have to do an audit to have integrity, Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, said.

Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Matthews, offered an amendment that requires election volunteers to oversee the audits.

That way both parties can have a say, he said.

Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, said the state ranked high on an election integrity ranking by the Heritage Foundation, a right-wing organization that developed Project 2025, a plan to advance conservative policies through the executive branch.

I am for an audit, she said. I just dont see the rationale for this one.

The bill now goes to the Senate.

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Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, applauds during a session of the Alabama House of Representatives on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Baker sponsored legislation to require public schools to designate, equip and train staff members with mobile emergency rapid response systems, which passed on March 20, 2025. (Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector)

The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that requires all public schools to install an emergency rapid response system.

HB 234, sponsored by Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, requires all school districts in the state by 2030 to designate staff members to use mobile emergency rapid response systems, which instantly connect with law enforcement and first responders and give positions on a persons location, and to equip and train them on the devices.

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The bill passed 58-30 with 13 abstentions. Most of the votes against the legislation came from lawmakers concerned about funding.

Rep. Russell Bedsole, R-Alabaster, said he was supportive of the idea but said schools in his district could not afford to maintain the system.

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We would love to have one of those systems where we can just press a button, but we cant afford it, Bedsole said one of his schools told him.

The Legislative Services Agency said there will be a $50,000 limit for the response system that local boards of education would choose.

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Baker said the proposed emergency response system includes the floor and room that the emergency happens in, such as in an active shooter emergency. Bedsole, who had a career in law enforcement before representing Shelby County, said law enforcement will follow the sound of gunshots.

Its going to be helpful, maybe, to know where the room that the first alarm set off, but Im going to be listening for gunshots, Bedsole said. You can tell me it was coming from that room, and thats helpful, but that is not where Im going to go.

Baker said the system could also be used for medical emergencies or an accident in a chemistry class.

This is intended to get the most accurate and quickest response that we can to a location, Baker said. Its not all about a gunshot or a shooter.

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Rep. Rick Rehm, R-Dothan, proposed an amendment to make the requirement of the response system be subject to annual state school safety funds starting in 2030.

If we are going to give them this mandate, we need to pay for it, Rehm said Thursday.

The amendment passed 102-0.

Some lawmakers were concerned about schools that already have a similar system in place. Baker said those schools would not have to purchase a new, more expensive system under the legislation.

There have been three school shootings so far in 2025, according to Education Week. In September 2024, a gunman opened fire on Apalachee High School in Georgia killing two people and injuring nine. Baker said the high schools emergency response system may have saved other lives.

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Because the emergency button that was pressed, they were able to save many more countless lives that mightve been lost had they not been able to get that quick rapid response, Baker said.

The bill now goes to the Senate.

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT)  Tyler TJ Morgan was not wearing a seat belt when he was killed in a car crash nearly three years ago.

Now, TJs Law is carrying on his legacy and hopes to inform parents when their children receive traffic tickets.

He was just a real outdoorsman, and he was a prankster, said April Vafeas, Morgans mother. So anytime a prank was played, you knew who set it up, and he had some pretty big ones.

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Vafeas lost her 21-year-old son in a car crash back in 2022. She said he wasnt wearing a seat belt. After his funeral, Vafeas found traffic tickets she knew nothing about, which were three citations for the same behavior. She hopes TJs Law can help other parents.

If they run a stop sign, or if theyre speeding or racing on the highway, anything like that, parents should be notified, Vafeas said. So you can have an opportunity to correct that behavior in your child before its too late.

The bill would give parents that chance by requiring law enforcement to contact them if their child under 19 gets a ticket. It would require a single attempt from the citing agency to notify them through call, text or mail.

16-year-old killed in east Alabama crash

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State Rep. Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville) sponsored the bill. He said its also about parental rights.

A child could be driving your car, using your gas, using your insurance and get pulled over, and the parent might never know about it, Kiel said. I know just as a parent myself that if my child were pulled over, I would hope that I would be able to correct them, and hopefully, they wouldnt do that again.

Clarke County Sheriff DeWayne Smith said its a great idea, but he said dispatchers specifically should be the ones in charge of making the calls.

If youre putting that on the deputy thats out trying to manage and go to call after call after call, thats going kind of put him in a bind on that, Smith said. But I think it would be better served to do through the 9-1-1 system. That was my initial thought when you said that.

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Vafeas said even though she was close to her son, he never told her about the tickets.

I would want every parent and grandparent to consider the fact that your child may not tell you these things, Vafeas said, and call your senators. Tell them that you want this bill passed.

The bill passed the House and now heads to the Senate for a committee vote. If signed into law, police would start notifying parents of violations Oct. 1.

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The rubble of W.M. Griffices home after an explosion above a longwall coal mine on March 8, 2024, in Oak Grove, Ala. (Courtesy of the Alabama Fire Marshals Office)

This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here.

OAK GROVE  For the first time, an Alabama official has said that a fatal March 2024 home explosion above an expanding longwall mine in the central part of the Yellowhammer State was likely caused by the ignition of methane, a gas produced in the mining of coal.

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The revelation came in a letter from Kathy Love, director of one of the states mining oversight agencies, to federal officials who had demanded state regulators act to mitigate the risk of escaping methane in the wake of the March blast that led to the death of Oak Grove resident W.M. Griffice.

Love had refused to release a copy of the letter, but Inside Climate News obtained the documentthe states only formal response to an unprecedented regulatory action by the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcementthrough a Freedom of Information Act request of federal officials.

Both state and federal officials had previously avoided attributing the explosion to escaping methane, despite the continued release of the potentially explosive gas at the site of Griffices home, which was completely destroyed in the blast. A state fire marshals investigation into the explosion had deemed the cause of the blast undetermined.

In court documents related to a wrongful death suit filed by Griffices family, lawyers for Crimson Oak Grove Resources, the operators of the mine, have denied the private coal company is responsible for the explosion or Griffices death. The coal company did not respond to requests for comment on this story.

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In the letter dated Jan. 14, Love suggested that the home explosion was a tragedy that could not have been envisioned by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act , the 1977 federal law governing longwall mining in the United States.

The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) was written to protect the public and environment from hazards created by coal mining, Love wrote. And yet in 1977 the authors of the SMCRA regulations could not have envisioned all circumstances that might result in danger to the public. Such was the discovery of an uncapped abandoned well under Mr. Griffices home emitting methane gas that likely caused the tragic event of March 8, 2024.

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An Inside Climate News investigation revealed last year that Alabama residents have complained about the risks of methane explosions above coal mines for decades.

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Currently we are living in fear of gas escaping from the underground mines and causing an explosion or burns, one Alabamian wrote in a letter to regulators in September 1999. There have been people killed who were above longwall mines.

Another coalfield resident, Bobby Snow, put it more colorfully at the time.

You can go down there and play or go down there and hunt, but dont smoke or youll be standing in your smutty underwear wondering what the heck happened because the methane gas is coming up out the ground, he told regulators 25 years ago.

Longwall mining involves a large machine shearing swaths of coal hundreds of feet underground, releasing methane gas and leaving vast underground caverns that collapse once mining has moved on. That collapse, experts say, causes subsidence, or the sinking of the land above, a process that often damages surface structures like homes or businesses.

Cracks many inches wide spread across the floor of a building in Oak Grove. (Lee Hedgepeth/Inside Climate News)

Fissures in the land above the mined area can also provide a path of escape for the methane released during mining. Its that escaping methane that Griffices family claims was the cause of the explosion that left their loved one dead.

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Oak Grove Mine has been labelled by experts as one of the gassiest in the country.

Specific risks posed by water wells above coal mines have also been on the regulatory radar for years. Federal regulators published a technical manual on how to deal with gassy wells in 2011, well over a decade before Love wrote that such risks were largely unforeseeable. Federal regulators pointed Alabama regulators to the manual, which had already been highlighted by Inside Climate News, in their communications late last year.

Decembers so-called ten-day notice was the first time in the states history that the Alabama Surface Mining Commission, charged with regulating the surface impacts of underground coal mining in the state, had been put on formal notice by its federal counterpart to force a coal mines compliance with the law or face further regulatory action.

In the ten-day notice, officials with the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement wrote that investigators had determined that Oak Grove Mine in western Jefferson County may be out of legal compliance for failing to adequately monitor potentially explosive methane emissions from the mine.

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The notice by U.S. regulators was issued following a federal inspection of the mine and visits to residences across Oak Grove that came days after an Inside Climate News investigation into federal inaction on the issue.

The states response, reported here for the first time, is the first clear move by state regulators to address concerns over the risks of longwall mining since the March 2024 explosion.

State regulators had previously failed to act to address such risks and citizen concerns. It took regulators months to hold a public meeting for citizens to voice those worries, and officials said they had little power to intervene. So far, Alabama legislators have made no move toward proposing legislation to address the issues in Oak Grove, or risks from longwall mining more generally.

The inspection report underlying the ten-day notice shows that federal investigators followed in the footsteps of Inside Climate News reporting on Oak Grove, visiting the Griffice home and the mine as well as the homes of Lisa Lindsay, Clara Riley and Randy Myrick, all residents profiled as part of the newsrooms Undermined series.

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Loves January response to state regulators also confirmed that state regulators believe they have the power to shut down operations at Oak Grove Mine if they believe there to be an imminent risk to citizens.

ASMC Director Kathy Love told residents that the agency will try to ensure another explosion does not happen. Citizens are skeptical. (Lee Hedgepeth/Inside Climate News)

It should be noted that on September 18, 2024, ASMC met with the management of Crimson Oak Grove Resources (Crimson), she wrote. During this meeting, ASMC stressed to Crimson that ASMC had the full authority to shut down the mine unless actions were taken to address the severity of the situation. The management team expressed their understanding and their desire to voluntarily go above and beyond SMCRA required rules and regulations.

Love wrote that because of the risks involved, all Alabama underground mine operators should be required to evaluate and strengthen processes for identifying and locating both active and abandoned water wells and implement active methane monitoring processes to further protect public health and safety.

Federal and state regulators will then conduct oversight to validate mine operator compliance with revised procedures, she wrote, which will be implemented through revisions to subsidence plans required for all Alabama underground mine operators.

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Oak Grove Mine has had a checkered safety history below ground. The mine ended 2024 with a record 870 safety citations and orders, according to the Mine Safety and Health Administration, totalling more than $1 million dollars in penalties, So far, nearly $790,000 of those penalties have gone unpaid.

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Alaska Airlines has set the date for a new nonstop flight between Seattle and Seoul Incheon on Hawaiian Airlines.

Starting Sept. 12, the airline will offer the service to South Koreas capital city.

In December, the airline announced plans for the new international route.

Tickets can now be purchased at alaskaair.com and hawaiianairlines.com.

By 2030, we plan to serve at least 12 nonstop international destinations with widebody aircraft from Seattle, including Seoul Incheon and Tokyo Narita, the airline said in a news release.

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Daily flights between Seattle and Tokyo Narita begin on May 12.

Alaskas Seattle hub is the largest airline hub on the West Coast, serving 104 nonstop destinations across North America.

As we grow our global network from Seattle in the coming years, well announce new international routes to dynamic destinations that we know our guests are going to love to visit, said Andrew Harrison, chief commercial officer at Alaska Airlines.

Flight schedule for September

Seattle  Seoul Incheon

Departure: 3:25 p.m.

Arrival: 6:50 p.m. +1

Days Offered: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Aircraft: A330





Seoul Incheon  Seattle

Departure: 8:50 p.m.

Arrival: 3:00 p.m.

Days Offered: Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Aircraft: A330




A police officer enters a police station in Nuuk, capital of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, March 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)

NUUK, Greenland, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The planned visit of senior U.S. officials, including the National Security Adviser, to Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory once openly coveted by U.S. President Donald Trump, is "inappropriate", the Danish foreign minister said on Monday.

"This shows an appetite among Americans that is inappropriate," Lars Lokke Rasmussen told local broadcaster TV2, referring to the planned visit this week by U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, along with Usha Vance, the wife of U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

Lokke noted that the visit was particularly untimely as "there have just been elections in Greenland and there is no Greenlandic government."

The visit has drawn strong criticism from Greenlandic politicians. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also expressed concerns on Sunday, emphasizing that any cooperation must be grounded in mutual respect and sovereignty.

"The visit from the United States cannot be seen independently of the public statements that have been made. In the Kingdom (of Denmark), we want to cooperate with the Americans. But it must be a cooperation that rests on the fundamental values of sovereignty and respect between countries and peoples," Frederiksen said in a written statement to Danish broadcaster DR. 

People walk in downtown Nuuk, capital of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, March 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)

A person walks by Greenland's parliament building in Nuuk, capital of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, March 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)
House Majority Leader Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage, speaks on Monday, March 24, 2025, in favor of House Joint Resolution 11. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

The Alaska House of Representatives is asking the Trump administration and Canadian government to step back from a brewing trade war.

In a 33-4 vote Monday, the House approved a resolution saying that state lawmakers oppose restrictive trade measures or tolls that would harm the unique relationship between Canada and Alaska or negatively affect our integrated economies.

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If approved by the Alaska Senate, the resolution would be sent to national officials in both the United States and Canada.

Mondays vote comes amid continued threats by the Trump administration against the government of Canada, including claims that Canada should be the 51st state.

The Trump administration has prepared a large number of tariffs against Canadian imports, and the Canadian government has preemptively enacted retaliatory measures.

In British Columbia, the government has introduced legislation that could lead to tolls on traffic traveling between Alaska and the Lower 48.

In a time when theres much global uncertainty, Alaska is speaking with the voice that is  in one sense pleading between our two greatest powers, our government  the United States  and the Canadian government, to come together, to work together amicably, to resolve the tariff situation in a way that shows the respect for territorial sovereignty of both nations, and in a way that recognizes how urgently we need this relationship, said House Majority Leader Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage.

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Alaska annually exports almost $600 million in goods to Canada while importing more than $750 million from the country, the resolution states. At least 20,300 Alaska jobs rely on ties to Canada, it says.

Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, noted that Alaska and Canada have social and cultural ties that predate the creation of either country, with Indigenous communities stretching across what is now an international border.

If we take care to acknowledge  if we continue to exercise mutual respect, support and cooperation, we can more easily resolve the disputes that might arise, and continue to enjoy the manifest benefits of our relationship between Alaska and our good neighbor, Canada, said Rep. Dan Saddler, R-Eagle River.

None of the lawmakers who voted against the resolution spoke on the House floor about their decision. After the vote, Rep. Bill Elam, R-Nikiski and one of the no voters, said he didnt think it was appropriate for a state legislature to be dabbling in foreign affairs.

HJR 11 has not yet been set for a hearing in the Senate; a similarly written companion resolution is in the Senate Rules Committee.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  It was a highly debated bill addressing paramedic staffing within Albuquerque Fire Rescue, pitting the fire chief against the firefighters union and Albuquerque City Council. The bill passed but the fight against it isnt over as Mayor Tim Keller has taken it to the courts claiming the council overstepped its authority.

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After a heated and lengthy council meeting earlier this month, council voted 7-2 to pass R-25-122. The bill codified the current staffing requirement of having two paramedics on AFR rescue units. It came after AFR Chief Emily Jaramillo rolled out a pilot that would have a firefighter with basic EMT training take the place of one of the two fully-trained paramedics when responding to calls. The chief said this would allow at least one paramedic at more calls across the city and noted the departments challenge in recruiting paramedics.

Though the ordinance is now in place, its future could be uncertain. Instead of vetoing the bill, Mayor Tim Keller has filed a legal complaint against the council asking a court to at least put a pause on the ordinance.

It claims that after AFR leadership and the firefighters union, International Association of Fire Fighter 244, disagreed on that staffing change, the union conspired with city councilors to get their preference through legislation. The complaint claims this violated the citys Labor Management Rights Ordinance.

The complaint also accused city council of violating the separation of powers set forth by state and city law, by intruding on the executive branchs authority of determining staffing.

Personnel disputes need to be resolved by the labor board and through the courts, not by politicians including me. Until then, Im confident our Fire Chief and our firefighters will keep doing what they do best, protecting our city and serving those in need. Mayor Tim Keller

But in another statement tonight Councilor Dan Lewis, who was one of the sponsors of the bill along with Councilor Joaquin Baca, argued otherwise. The councilor maintained that the city charter grants council the power to adopt all ordinances conducive to the welfare of the people of Albuquerque, and that this action was fully within that authority.

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While Mayor Tim Keller fights the International Association of Fire Fighters, the City Council is listening to the union and the paramedics in the field who are saving lives, said Councilor Lewis in an emailed statement. Having two paramedics on a rescue unit increases the chances of someone surviving a heart attack or serious injuries from an automobile accident.

There is no hearing date set yet on the complaint. Chief Jaramillo sat down with News 13s New Mexico News Insiders podcast. To listen to her in-depth interview on this issue, you can listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts starting on March 25, 2025.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A vandal has once again torn down a yard sign at a non-profit located in Albuquerque. The Los Alamos Study Group, which promotes nuclear disarmament and environmental protections, said this is the fourth incident.

Construction continues on Albuquerque Fire Rescues newest station

A man can be seen in the video flipping off the security camera before cutting up the sign and taking off with it. The sign, which has been repeatedly torn down, reads peace, not war and shows President Donald Trump shaking hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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In KRQE News 13s past coverage, the groups founders said they hope this unfortunate incident can spark a conversation in the community about their mission and also tolerance of others opinions.

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ALEXANDRIA BAY, N.Y. (WWTI)  A 24-year-old Alexandria Bay man is facing charged after being arrested by New York State Police on alleged sex offense charges.

On Tuesday, March 25, State Police arrested Tyler Slate on a number of sex offense-related charges.

St. Lawrence County man enters guilty plea for child pornography charges

Here are the charges levied against Slate:

Possessing a sexual performance by a child (class E felony)

Promoting a sexual performance by a child (class D felony)

Criminal possession of a weapon 3rd degreeammunition feeding device (class D felony)

Criminal possession of a weapon 4th degreepossess ghost gun (class A misdemeanor)

Two counts of criminal possession of a weapon 3rd degree (class D felony)

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This arrest was the result of an investigation that started with information that was provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which found that Slate was distributing child exploitation material over the internet.

He is currently awaiting arraignment at Jefferson County CAP Court at this time.

The joint investigation involved the New York State Police Troop D Computer Crime Unit, New York State Police in Watertown and Homeland Security Investigations.

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This is an adapted excerpt from the March 22 episode of Velshi.

Dictators fear freedom of speech more than any other right because it is the beating heart of a free, democratic society. People who are free to speak are free to challenge authority, share ideas and organize, all of which undermine tyranny. This is why a true measure of a nations freedom can be seen in how much dissent it is willing to tolerate  and in a vibrant democracy, dissent is valued, not simply tolerated.

In the 1700s, the American framers, having recently freed themselves from British rule that suppressed free speech and persecuted dissent, understood the crucial role the First Amendment would play in protecting citizens from government overreach. Benjamin Franklin observed: Whoever would overthrow the liberty of the nation, must begin by subduing the freedom of speech; a thing terrible to publick traitors.

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Its no wonder, then, that Donald Trumps administration has set its sights on Americas universities, institutions that serve as major centers of deliberation and free inquiry, institutions that have historically been principal sites and incubators of dissent and protest. If speech can be effectively chilled in these critical intellectual spaces, it makes it much easier to silence the broader public.

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has threatened universities with massive cuts to federal funding if they dont submit to his agenda, which includes dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs and banning what Trump is calling illegal protests.

On March 10, the administration notified 60 universities that they are under investigation for what it alleges is a failure to protect students from antisemitism on campus and warned the schools they could face potential enforcement actions as a result. It comes at a time when there is an active debate on college campuses about what constitutes antisemitism and whether protests against Israels actions in Gaza would be included in that definition.

The Trump administration also announced that it was investigating 52 schools for using what it calls racial preferences and stereotypes in their educational programs and activities, essentially a continuation of its attack on DEI initiatives. Last week, the White House announced that it was pausing $175 million in federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania over its transgender athlete policies. And in a move that stunned the academic community nationwide, the Trump administration attempted to exert unprecedented control over Columbia University by threatening to cut $400 million in federal funding unless the school met a long list of demands  among them, placing its Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies under academic receivership for at least five years.

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Despite widespread calls from across the academic world urging Columbia to defend its independence, it appears that the universitys interim president, Katrina Armstrong, has conceded to Trumps demands. Armstrong announced several new measures, including a ban on masks to conceal identities, the hiring of 36 campus officers with the authority to arrest students and the appointment of a new senior vice provost to review programs in regional areas across the University, starting immediately with the Middle East.

Meanwhile, running parallel to these investigations and threats, the Trump administration has been deploying Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to campuses to seize international students who have no criminal records and are accused of no crimes but who have participated in protests or online criticism of Israels conduct in Gaza, their schools investments in Israel, Americas military support of Israel or the continuing war itself.

Trumps assault on academia has prompted massive opposition, with growing calls for administrators to resist this assault on academic independence. J Street, a Jewish lobbyist group, issued a statement blasting the administrations actions: While Trump will stop at nothing to attack higher education, we remain firm in our belief that universities are a tool for empathy, understanding and academic freedom.

If the administration was serious about fighting antisemitism, the statement continues, it would listen to Jewish students; it would seek to calm campus tensions rather than escalate them; and it might start by throwing out the slew of bigots and conspiracy theorists it has promoted to top positions in its own ranks.

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University presidents, from Wesleyans Michael Roth to Princetons Christopher Eisgruber, have joined in condemning the administrations assault on higher education. In The Atlantic, Eisgruber wrote: The attack on Columbia is a radical threat to scholarly excellence and to Americas leadership in research. Universities and their leaders should speak up and litigate forcefully to protect their rights.

Trumps efforts to seize control of academia are part of a broader campaign to neutralize institutions that could potentially threaten his power. From law firms and media outlets to government inspectors general and federal judges, the administration is targeting every major institution that could challenge its agenda.

But Trumps threats to cut off funding to some of the worlds premier research universities and deport students are especially alarming because the consequences of this intellectual retreat are not theoretical.

During the Red Scare of the early 1950s, the U.S. government expelled hundreds of immigrants, including Chinese students, effectively gifting the Chinese government with trained U.S. scientists and engineers. One of those scientists was Qian Xuesen; today hes known as the father of Chinas ballistic missile program. The odd twist of fate was summed up by Nicholas Sung in Just Security this way: The very Chinese missiles that threaten Taiwanese and American security are the legacy of the U.S. governments profiling and deportation of a Chinese scientist.

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Former U.S. Navy Secretary Dan Kimball, who fought to keep Qian in this country, was less polite in his criticism of the calls for the Chinese scientists deportation, saying at the time that it was the stupidest thing this country ever did. He was no more a communist than I was, and we forced him to go.

Qian wasnt the only victim of the Red Scare. Among its earliest victims was, in fact, the federal workforce. It would eventually sweep up thousands of innocent Americans, destroying careers and reputations. According to historian Beverly Gage: The anti-Communist surge reshaped every institution in American life: Hollywood, labor unions, churches, universities, elementary schools  and, above all, the national-security state. ... From on high, they told ordinary Americans how to live, whom to love, and what to say.

Today, a similar pattern is emerging  and make no mistake, MAGA hysteria wont be confined to Americas campuses. Karen Attiah, a columnist for The Washington Post, warns: For now, the threat is directed at others: Palestinians, undocumented immigrants, trans people. ... For this kind of strategy to work, there must be an intentional creation of distance between human beings, the illusion that they are different from us, and that the weapons we throw at them are from a comfortable distance.

Attiah added: This distance is and has always been a delusion  a profoundly dangerous weakness that America touts as strength. ... Unless a groundswell of popular resistance moves to meaningfully stop the Trump administrations targeting of Columbia and students, the rest of America will be considered prey. It is a matter of when, not if.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Mar. 25Before each election, Stockton resident Marvin Lykins studies each proposition and issue that will affect voters before casting his ballot.

The 102-year-old World War II veteran has voted in every election he was able to do so, except during his years of service.

So it came as a shock to Lykins and his daughter Diana Larson when she received an email from the California Secretary of State's Office stating her father was no longer able to vote because his registration had been canceled.

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"I don't know if it's legitimate or if it's a hoax, if it's some type of a scam," Larson told KCRA earlier this month. "(The Secretary of State) was able to confirm with me that he was no longer registered to vote."

Every three months, the Secretary of State gives county election officials a list of registered voters who are at least 100 years old and could potentially be deceased.

The San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters Office received that list and canceled Lykins' voter registration by mistake, officials said.

"Unfortunately, there are people who will assume that. Just because you're 100 doesn't mean you're dead," Lykins told KCRA. "I think everyone should be able to express their opinion on who's running, their policies and political standing."

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According to ROV Olivia Hale, Lykins' cancellation was caused by a "rare clerical error" and was an isolated incident. She told KCRA that her staff will undergo additional training to ensure the error does not happen in the future.

Lykins was born in Oklahoma and moved to Los Angeles with his family in 1935.

He joined the U.S. Army as a medical technician in 1943 after two years of medical school, and was assigned to the 627th Field Artillery Battalion' medical detachment during World War II.

After the war, his unit was in charge of the medical care for the prisoners of war camp in Germany.

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Lykins returned to Los Angeles in 1946, and met his wife Frances in 1950 while completing medical school.

The couple moved to Porterville in 1953, where Lykins spent six decades as a general practitioner. According to the Porterville Record, it is believed he delivered half the people in town over the course of 60 years.

Lykins and his wife moved to Stockton in 2015. His daughter helped him re-register to vote after the mix-up earlier this year, and he'll be able to vote in the next election.

However, Larson remains worried about other voters who are more than 100 years old.

"They may not even be aware of it until they get ready to vote in the next election," she said.

The Porterville Recorder contribued to this story.
A 32-year-old former officer with the Claremont Police Department, who only resigned at the end of January this year, was arrested earlier this month amid accusations of an on-duty sexual assault, according to multiple media reports.

Gabriel Arellanes was arrested on March 14 by deputies with the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Specialized Investigations division, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reported.

His arrest came seven days after the San Bernardino County District Attorneys Office charged him with a felony count of forcible oral copulation in connection with the Feb. 2024 arrest of a 38-year-old female Highland resident identified only as Jane Doe.

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Prior to the felony charge, a $20 million federal civil lawsuit naming Arellanes, the City of Claremont and 10 city employees was filed Oct. 2024 by Does lawyers, according to the Claremont Courier.

The civil suit alleges that shortly before midnight on Feb. 16, 2024, Arellanes found the 38-year-old woman and her childrens father engaged in romantic activities in the backseat of a car on Mt. Baldy Road in Claremont. The former officer, according to the lawsuit, noticed a glass pipe in the vehicle and told the couple to get dressed and get out of the car.

Claremont Police Department cruiser seen in this undated photo. (CPD)

The interaction led to Does arrest on misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, while her companion was left with the car.

Doe was told she would be taken to the Pomona Police Station to be searched by a female officer because there were no female officers at the Claremont station, though CPD has seven sworn female officers, the Courier reported.

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Woman, 24, allegedly opens fire in Southern California road rage shooting

The 32-year-old former officer is then accused in the lawsuit of stopping his patrol vehicle several times on the way to the Pomona Station and sexually assaulting Doe, pinning her handcuffed body against the side of the car with his body and groping her.

After she was searched by a female officer at PPD, cited and released, the Daily Bulletin reports that without any money or a car, she reluctantly accepted a ride from Arellanes to the Montclair Transit Center.

The lawsuit further alleges that at the transit center, Arellanes parked his patrol vehicle in a remote and dark area of the parking lot, walked around the patrol vehicle wearing his firearm and physically forced the 38-year-old woman to orally copulate him.

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Claremont city officials reportedly learned about the accusations on March 18, 2024, after a liability claim was filed.

The 32-year-old officer was placed on paid administrative leave and his police powers were suspended pending an investigation. The Courier reported that Arellanes received his full $76,574 salary during the almost 11 months before his resignation on Jan. 29 of this year.

Attorneys for the city responded to the civil suit in Nov. 2024. They denied the allegations and demanded a trial by jury. Arellanes attorneys in the civil case also asked for a jury trial before filing a motion to delay the civil suit while the criminal investigation and possible criminal court proceedings are pending.

Does attorney filed a motion to oppose the civil cases delay, though it does not appear that Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, who is presiding over the case, has ruled on either motion yet.

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As for Arellanes, he posted bail a day after his March 14 arrest and was released. Hes scheduled to appear in Rancho Cucamonga Superior Court on April 30 in connection with the felony charge.

If convicted as charged by the San Bernardino County DAs Office, the 32-year-old faces a maximum of eight years in prison and lifetime registration as sex offender, the Daily Bulletin reported.

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27,523 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others?

27,523 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others?
A doctor looks over an image of a brain. An Alabama Alzheimer's Task Force subcommittee met Tuesday to discuss strategies for increasing public awareness about Alzheimer's and related dementias. (Andrew Brookes/Getty Images)

An Alabama Alzheimers Task Force subcommittee met Tuesday to discuss strategies for increasing public awareness about Alzheimers and related dementias.

The public awareness and stigma reduction subcommittee on Tuesday discussed initiatives to spread information on brain health and healthy aging, particularly in underserved communities.

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Having a website is a perfect first step, but really relaying that information and getting that information in front of people requires the information from that website to be channeled through other media outlets, said Nathaniel White, director of state affairs for the Alabama chapter of the Alzheimers Association.

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Christy deGraffenried, vice president of governmental relations for the Alabama Nursing Home Association, said its important to have online resources and social media presence to effectively disseminate information to the public, saying that caregivers often seek immediate access to information.

That doesnt cost us a lot of money. Its not like doing print material.  As someone who has dealt with somebody I love very much who got dementia, and it was very sad and very horrible. Even with the contacts I have, I didnt know exactly what to do, deGraffenried said. If we can have a resource that goes out to the people in the state and that they can access information easily. I think thats important.

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White agreed, pointing to the necessity of using multiple types of media, including social media, to reach the target audience, saying that many people aged 45-65 get their information from social media.

The subcommittee also discussed reducing stigma through increased general awareness, with White pushing subcommittee members to think outside of the box. He suggested the campaign should move beyond traditional methods like posters in public facilities and include mass media and mass communication strategies.

DeGraffenried asked about funding for professional assistance in creating public awareness campaigns, but White could not provide specific information on fund availability. He said he would include it in the recommendation in the committees report and discuss it with Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg, who chairs the task force.

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Editor's note: The following personal essay was submitted by a Venezuelan American gay man who anonymously shared his perspective on the political unrest and dangers of the Nicolas Maduro regime  arguing that, in 2025, the stakes are higher than ever before.

As a Venezuelan living in the United States, I never imagined that my nationality  something I carry with both pride and pain  would become a political lightning rod.

It wasn't long ago that Venezuelans proudly shared stories about how our country was once one of the richest in the world, with the largest proven oil reserves and a strong, stable currency that made us a top economy in Latin America. From the 1950s to the 1980s, people from Europe, North America, and South America moved to Venezuela to build a better life  just like many of us have done in the U.S. We were a vibrant cultural melting pot of diverse backgrounds, cultures, races, and religions.

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We would show off pictures of some of the most stunning natural landscapes on Earth: Angel Falls, Roraima, the Gran Sabana, Los Roques, Morrocoy, the Andes, Colonia Tovar, and more  all while cooking and sharing some of our beloved homemade arepas with our new friends and neighbors in America.

We were so proud.

Sadly, as things began to deteriorate politically, we tried to raise awareness of the crisis and of what we left behind: food shortages, political repression and division, human rights abuses, our familiesand the collapse of a country once seen as a land of opportunity. But now, it feels like our cries for help have backfired. Instead of support, we're being scapegoated. Instead of compassion, we're being vilified.

The recent rise in coverage around the Tren de Aragua gang  an organized crime group that originated in Venezuela  is deeply disturbing. Not just because of the horrific and despicable violence they represent, but because of how some media outlets, politicians, and influencers  on both the left and right  are using them to paint all Venezuelans with the same brush.

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Some conservatives are pointing to these stories as "proof" that all Venezuelan migrants are dangerous or criminal. These narratives are being used to justify harmful immigration policies and rhetoric that lump innocent families in with violent offenders. Now, many Venezuelan families  regardless of their legal status, whether they're permanent residents, asylum seekers, or even U.S. citizens  are living in fear. Fear of being profiled during a traffic stop, of calling the police in an emergency, of having tattoos, scars, or even wearing certain clothing that might wrongly associate them with TDA gang members. Some are even afraid to travel abroad, worrying they might not be allowed back in  or worse, be deported straight into El Salvador's maximum security prison.

At the same time, some Democrats, including progressive Latinos, are turning their backs on Venezuelans who lean politically right. What they often fail to understand is that for many Venezuelans, conservatism isn't about party loyalty, it's about trauma. We've witnessed our country fall apart under an authoritarian regime that called itself a "leftist socialism."

Since 1999, that regime has clung to power despite numerous proven fraudulent elections. The poor saw how promises of free health care and housing turned into oppression, hunger, high crime rates, and mass exile. People in the middle and upper class who owned businesses lost everything to the government through forced expropriation, leaving them with nothing and no jobs to offer. So when some Venezuelans hear leftist rhetoric in the U.S., it doesn't feel like hope  it feels like history trying to repeat itself.

We're caught in the middle.

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The right uses our worst headlines to instill fear. The left often dismisses our voices when they don't fit the preferred narrative. Even among other Latino communities, there's growing resentment. Some progressive Latinos are not only asking Venezuelans how they voted, but using the answer to cut ties, disinvite our children from playdates, or retaliate at work. It's a subtle, quiet isolation, but it hurts deeply and has major long-lasting consequences.

And the media? They amplify the extremes. They love a shocking story  the gang member crossing the border, the violence, the chaos, or how right-wing Venezuelans turned their backs on Latinos. And don't get me wrong: Those stories matter, and deserve justice too. But, that's just a percentage of all the Venezuelans and Venezuelan-Americans living in America. People often ignore the mom working two jobs, the student earning straight As, the Venezuelan entrepreneur building a business, the athlete, the pastor, the nurse, the teacher, the firefighter. These stories matter too. Though, I understand they're not as rating-inducing or scandalous.

What I'm trying to say is: We are so much more than the curated newscasts, the character-limited headlines, the SEO-viral posts, or the nightly news clips. It hurts to see how our identity is being used against us from so many different angles. We fought for years to get the world to pay attention to Venezuela's tragedy. Now that they finally are  it feels like we're getting blamed one way or another. Instead of solidarity, we face backlash. Instead of understanding, we get judgment.

All I want is for people to look past the labels. Behind every word  migrant, conservative, liberal, asylum-seeker  is a human being. A family. A story. Just like yours.

Venezuelans are not a monolith. We are left and right, rich and poor, religious and non-religious, straight and queer, dreamers and doers. We are families, professionals, refugees, survivors. And like every other group in America, we deserve to be seen as individuals  not pawns in political games.
KIGALI, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Delegates from across Africa and beyond gathered in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, to discuss strategies for enhancing collaboration between academic institutions and healthcare facilities and harnessing technology to build a more effective and responsive healthcare workforce.

The inaugural Advancing Medical Education in Africa Conference, held on Monday and Tuesday, brought together more than 600 participants, including medical educators, healthcare leaders, policymakers, and students. The conference focused on setting the stage for a new era in African medical education.

Speaking at the event's opening on Monday, Rwandan Minister of Health Sabin Nsanzimana highlighted the need to harmonize medical training with community health needs and called for transforming hospitals into teaching sites.

"Why don't we teach from the hospital and make it a teaching site? Let's not separate academic doctors from clinical doctors. Instead, let's create a system where doctors seamlessly integrate teaching and practice," he said.

Delegates explored the role of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, digital simulation, and telemedicine, in improving medical training and patient care.

In a video message, Chikwe Ihekweazu, acting regional director of the World Health Organization Africa Regional Office, emphasized the importance of integrating digital tools into medical education to improve learning outcomes and better equip future healthcare professionals.

Under the theme "Innovation in Medical Education Practices," the conference deliberated on reforming medical education curricula, addressing health inequities, and strengthening Africa's medical workforce to tackle the growing challenges in the sector.

A key milestone of the conference is the launch of Africa's first Consortium of Medical Schools, an initiative designed to strengthen partnerships and improve medical education standards across the continent. The consortium is expected to enhance knowledge sharing, curriculum development, and research collaboration among institutions. 
Update 3/24, 8:10 p.m.:

RIVERDALE, Utah (ABC4)  The two children who were said to be in imminent danger in an AMBER Alert on Monday were found safe, and the suspect has been taken into custody.

Were happy to announce that the children were found safe, theyre in good care, theyre going to be placed with family, Casey Warren, Riverdale Police Chief, told ABC4.com on Monday night.

Ricardo Rojel Trujillo, 29, was taken into custody and was being interviewed by detectives on Monday night. Warren said officials received reports of Trujillos vehicle in Springville Canyon and responded to the area.

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Trujillo was not found in his truck, but he was found with the children in the area.

Also on Monday, officials responded to a house fire and discovered a deceased woman in the home. Warren confirmed that the woman was the childrens mother, but other identifying information about her was not released.

According to previously filed arrest documents, Trujillo was arrested for domestic violence in January of this year. In 2021, he pleaded guilty to a Class A misdemeanor assault charge.

A tragedy occurred tonight, Warren said. But we do have a win, where we were able to locate those children and get them back to their family.

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The Utah Criminal Justice Information System (UCJIS) canceled the AMBER Alert around 8 p.m. on Monday night.

Warren said several agencies assisted with the incident and expressed gratitude to the people who called in tips.

The investigation is ongoing.

Matthew Drachman contributed to this report.

Original story  AMBER ALERT: 2 children in danger, police searching for possible homicide, arson suspect

RIVERDALE, Utah (ABC4)  The Riverdale Police Department is asking for the publics help in the search for a man who is accused of abducting two children in Riverdale on Monday.

Authorities said the man identified as a suspect is a possible homicide and arson suspect, and the children are in imminent danger. Ricardo Rojel Trujillo, 29, has been identified as the suspect. He is said to be 55 tall and weigh about 180 pounds, with black hair and black eyes.

Ricardo Rojel Trujillo, 29, is accused of abducting his children on March 24, 2025, leading to an AMBER alert. (Courtesy: Utah Criminal Justice Information System)

The children were identified as a 2-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy. The girl is 22 tall, weighs 35 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. The boy is 25 tall, weighs about 45 pounds, and has black hair and black eyes.

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The two children have gone missing under suspicious circumstances, and it is believed that they may be with their father, Riverdale Police said in a press release Monday evening.

The abduction occurred around 2:45 p.m. on March 24. The suspect was last known to be driving a white Ford F-150 with Utah license plate 8BSC6. The truck has grey or black trim at the bottom of the doors of doors and around the wheel wells, along with a business logo (possibly reading ANV) and a phone number of 801-920-6397. Photos of the truck are in the gallery below.

An image of a vehicle suspected to be driven by a man accused of abducting his children, leading to an AMBER alert. (Courtesy: DPS CIC) An image of a vehicle suspected to be driven by a man accused of abducting his children, leading to an AMBER alert. (Courtesy: DPS CIC) An image of a vehicle suspected to be driven by a man accused of abducting his children, leading to an AMBER alert. (Courtesy: Riverdale Police Department) An image of a vehicle suspected to be driven by a man accused of abducting his children, leading to an AMBER alert. (Courtesy: Utah Criminal Justice Information System)

Police said they responded to a fire at a home on Monday and located a woman inside. The search for the suspect is ongoing and the case is being investigated.

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If you have any information on the whereabouts of Ricardo and his two children, please contact the Riverdale Police Department at 801-394-6616 or Weber County Dispatch at 801-395-8221, Riverdale Police said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
(WTVO)  Americas Most Wanted is returning to FOX, and with it the original host, John Walsh.

Walsh will step back into hosting the program with his son, Callahan Walsh, an advocate for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Its an incredible time for Americas Most Wanted to return to Fox, especially in partnership with my son Callahan, to continue my lifetimes work, Walsh said in a statement. Im in constant awe over how instrumental our loyal viewers are in ensuring we get justice for victims and their loved ones, and today, they have entirely new tools at their disposal to help us fight back and quickly solve even more crimes.

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Americas Most Wanted ran on FOX from 1988 until it was canceled in 2011 and moved over to the Lifetime network, but without Walsh.

Walsh started the program after his son, Adam, was abducted from a mall and murdered. The story became the subject of a 1983 TV movie, Adam.

During its run, Americas Most Wanted helped capture 1,198 fugitives.

Americas Most Wanted returns Monday, April 21st at 8 p.m. CT.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Despite America feeling more divided than ever, parents, at least, are on the same page when it comes to their outlook on the state of affairs for families in this countryas well as on the need for change, with 83% across party lines believing the government should prioritize policies that benefit younger generations, according to new survey results published Monday.

But that doesnt mean its all good news.

Parents surveyed by Lake Research Partners and Echelon Insights on behalf of Common Sense Media painted a bleak portrait regarding the state of families across several categorieseconomic, mental health, technology, and connectedness to those in power. And a striking 58% of parents and 61% of children and teens said that for families like theirs, things in general are going just fair or poorlyalthough both groups are more optimistic when looking ahead, with 49% of parents and 44% of teens and kids feeling "hopeful" about the future for young people.

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To find their answers, researchers conducted a pair of surveys, speaking with 1,300 parents and 1,100 kids and teens (1217) nationwide, releasing findings on Monday in the State of Kids and Families in America 2025 report.

Below is a breakdown of the four main areas that are bringing feelings of doom and gloom to families, and where they say much improvement is needed.

Economic anxiety

Nearly three-quarters of parents (73%) are concerned about children's future economic opportunities, and 39% with children under 18 say its become harder than last year to afford the things they need for them. Looking ahead, two-thirds (66%) lack confidence that their children will be able to afford housing, and 62% are not sure they'll be able to afford college. The youth surveyed, meanwhile, are more optimistic, with 68% saying they're confident they will someday be able to afford a housedespite recent news about Gen Z's economic situation that aligns more with the worry of their parents.

Mental health

The well-established mental health crisis in this country is urgent, with both parents and young people believing it deserves to be a top priority.

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A majority of parents (54%) and 67% of kids and teenagers believe the mental health of children in their communities is just fair or poor. Both groups point to social media (parents: 28%; kids and teens: 27%) and lack of parental support and involvement (parents: 20%; kids and teens: 16%) as prime drivers of this crisis. Further, parents (48%) and kids and teens (54%) feel that schools are not doing enough to support students' mental health and well-being.

There is also a belief among parents that today's kids and teens are doing worse than they were 20 years ago when it comes to the following:

Their ability to be resilient in the face of adversity (52% say worse off)

Their ability to be independent and self-sufficient (55% worse off)

The foods they typically eat (53% worse off)

The air and water quality (60% worse off)

The amount of physical exercise they get (64% worse off)

Digital safety

Contributing to the mental health crisis and general negative feeling is the effect of technology on families, with nearly two-thirds of parents believing social media has negatively impacted children.

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Both parents and youth overwhelmingly support having stronger safety measures for young userswith 81% of parents and 72% of kids and teens in favor of social media platforms being required to display warning labels about potential risks to mental health and well-being.

Parents also overwhelmingly support requiring age verification and blocking social media accounts for anyone under age 16and although support is lower among kids and teens, a majority (54%) still back the idea.

Also, perhaps predictably, about two-thirds (64%) of parents think social media has had a mostly negative influence on kids and teens, while kids and teens believe the influence has been more positive (40%) than negative (33%).

Political leadership

Parents in both political parties want the government to play a role in supporting young people and prioritizing family policiesincluding 88% of Republicans, 83% of Democrats, and 75% of independents. But they share a major lack of trust in government institutions, with 61% of parents and 61% of kids and teens feeling their voices "do not matter" in policy decisions.

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And families across the spectrum are doubtful that leaders will come through for the next generation: Two-thirds or more of Democratic (68%), Republican (66%), and independent parents (75%) do not think elected officials do a good job of reflecting the needs, desires, and experiences of young people.

And that, ironically, is the good newsas is the shared belief of a solution, among 86% of parents, which is that better K12 public schools would substantially improve children's lives.

"These findings reveal that despite our polarized political landscape, American families are unified in their concerns and solutions for our children," James P. Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, said in a news release. "Parents and youth are sending a clear message to our leaders: prioritize education, mental health, and digital safety. The time for partisan politics is over when it comes to our kids' futures."

More on families:

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This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
LONDON (AP)  As wake-up calls go, the alarms dont get much louder.

Allies of the United States see the group chat between top U.S. officials about a planned attack in Yemen that accidentally included a journalist as a jaw-dropping security breach which casts doubt on intelligence-sharing with Washington and the security of joint military operations.

Scary and reckless was the verdict of one European diplomat about the discussion on the Signal messaging app about strikes on Houthi rebels. Neil Melvin, a security expert at defense think tank the Royal United Services Institute, called it pretty shocking.

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Its some of the most high-ranking U.S. officials seeming to display a complete disregard for the normal security protocols, he said.

Beyond the security concerns raised by the leaked chat, U.S. officials addressed the country's trans-Atlantic allies with disdain as Vice President JD Vance complained about bailing out Europe and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth slammed pathetic European freeloading.

The criticism is another blow to a long-standing relationship already strained by President Donald Trumps blunt America First approach and disregard for friendly nations.

Melvin said that for Americas allies, the alarm clocks been ringing for a long time.

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In public, however, European officials insisted all was well in the trans-Atlantic relationship.

We have a very close relationship with the U.S. on matters of security, defense and intelligence, said British Prime Minister Keir Starmers spokesman, Dave Pares. They are our closest ally when it comes to these matters, have been for many years and will be for many years to come.

Frances Foreign Ministry said the United States is our ally, and France intends to continue its cooperation with Washington, as well as with all its allies and European partners, in order to address current challenges  particularly in the area of European security.

A growing divide

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Since taking office, the Trump administration has halted government funding for programs that support democratic principles around the world and presented a less welcoming face to visitors.

U.S. embassies in at least 17 countries have posted warnings for would-be travelers that engaging in behavior deemed harmful by the government could get them deported. Several European countries have issued warnings about visiting the United States after international tourists were caught up in Trumps border crackdown.

Trump has appalled allies with his repeatedly stated aim of taking over Greenland  an autonomous Danish territory that Vance and second lady Usha Vance are due to visit this week  and his desire to make Canada the 51st state.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his country has to take greater ownership of its own defense in the face of threats: We have to look out for ourselves.

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Nathalie Loiseau, a member of the European parliament, told the BBC that she was flabbergasted by the breach.

If I was (Russian President) Vladimir Putin, I would feel jobless. Russia has nothing more to do.  You dont even need to spy on the U.S. administration. They leak by themselves, she said.

U.S. reliability questioned

The European diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, suggested the security breach could make allies question the reliability of the U.S. as a partner.

The diplomat expressed hope that the Signal lapse was due to a lack of experience in government rather than a deliberate disregard for security.

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Asked if he had concerns about sharing intelligence with the U.S. after the Signal incident, Carney said its a serious, serious issue and all lessons must be taken. He said it would be important to see "how people react to those mistakes and how they tighten them up.

Britain could be particularly exposed by U.S. security breaches. Its intelligence network is entwined with the U.S. in the Five Eyes alliance, and the countries militaries work more closely than those of almost any other nations.

Britain's Royal Air Force provided air-to-air refueling for U.S. planes during the strike on the Houthis, but U.K. Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard insisted British personnel had not been put at risk by the breach.

Weve got high confidence that the measures that we have got with our allies, including the United States, remain intact, he told lawmakers.

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Ed Davey, the leader of Britains opposition Liberal Democrats, said the lapse showed the Trump administration can't be trusted to protect its own intelligence and "it could only be a matter of time until our own intelligence shared with them is also leaked.

This could put British lives at risk," he said.

Alex Clarkson, a lecturer in European and international studies at Kings College London, said the professionals and old hands who contained the damage during Trumps first term are largely gone.

So what were having now is  a manifestation of tendencies that were held in check that we already saw in the first round, he said.

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American frustration

The U.S. has underpinned European security since World War II, and Trump is not the first president to bristle at the burden.

From the Obama administration (onward), theres been quite some frustrations in the U.S. security apparatus about the failure of the Europeans  to step up, Melvin said.

Trump has gone much further than his predecessors in upending the decades-old security arrangements. He has long contended the U.S. needs to completely rethink its relationship with the rest of the world, saying other countries have been taking advantage of the nations military might by not paying enough for their own defense.

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Trump has praised autocrats including Putin and sent chills through NATO during last years election campaign with his comment that Russia should do whatever the hell it wants to members that dont meet military spending targets.

Theres a real sense of divorce, that America is not just disinterested in the trans-Atlantic alliance but views Europe fundamentally as an adversary, said Max Bergmann, a former State Department official who now works at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Its very clear at this point, abundantly clear, that it will be next to impossible to count on the United States for the cause of defending democracy in the world, said Kevin Casas-Zamora, secretary-general of the pro-democracy group International IDEA.

NATO leaders point out that Trumps criticism and the war in Ukraine have led to a majority of member states meeting the target of spending at least 2% of their gross domestic product on defense.

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Trumps reelection and rapprochement with Putin has hastened European military plans, with nations scrambling to ramp up weapons production and create their own security structures  including a U.K.- and France-led coalition of the willing to help guarantee a future ceasefire in Ukraine.

Clarkson said Europe has more strength than many give it credit for, and severing the trans-Atlantic bond would hurt the U.S., too.

One shouldnt underestimate European military industrial capacity, he said. There are all kinds of things that can go wrong  but there is an element here also that the Americans are awakening a sleeping giant.

___

Riccardi reported from Denver. Associated Press writers Ali Swenson in New York, Chris Megerian in Washington. John Leicester in Paris and Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed.
CHICAGO  The day after Donald Trump won the presidency last November, two-term Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker issued a statement that said as much about his plans for the states future as his own political future.

In 2017, I sought public office in large part because of the threat Donald Trump and his allies posed to Illinois, he wrote, citing his successful first bid for governor in 2018. I have helped enshrine into state law protections that uphold our common Illinois values. That work will continue, and it remains my North Star.

With less than a year before the March 2026 primary and only four months before the period to gather candidacy petition signatures begins, Pritzker has yet to say whether he will seek a rare but not unprecedented third term as governor.

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But given his professed North Star, his sharp criticisms of the second Trump administration amid the listlessness of national Democratic Party leadership and a potential bid for the presidency in 2028, those who know and are close to the 60-year-old Pritzker say they expect him to seek reelection, with an announcement possibly coming after the legislature adjourns at the end of May.

Worth an estimated $3.7 billion, according to Forbes, and having spent $350 million to self-fund his two previous campaigns for governor, the heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune finds himself with few political obstacles in the way of another run.

The man who controls and funds the states Democratic Party apparatus and has used his money to help numerous candidates and initiatives faces no intraparty challenge and so far has seen no significant, well-financed opposition surface from a moribund Illinois Republican Party.

That has allowed Pritzker to seek an outsize role in national Democratic politics in the early days of Trump 2.0. Seeking to fill a vacuum within a party struggling to respond to Trump and his efforts to dismantle the federal government, Pritzker has offered a message that attempts to recapture middle-class voters who abandoned the party in the 2024 elections.

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Running for another term as governor also would provide Pritzker a dual track toward a presumptive look at a White House bid. And a victory in the sixth-largest state would continue to provide him a credible, high-profile platform from which to assail the actions of the Trump administration nationally in the run-up to the 2028 presidential election.

Just last Tuesday, speaking to the progressive Center for American Progress, or CAP, in Washington, Pritzker acknowledged that, as a Democratic governor, his ability to fight Trumps downsizing initiatives in a GOP-dominated Washington was limited. But he also gave some insight into his mindset on why serving as governor during the second Trump era was important to Democrats.

The pushback that I can offer is, first, do the best I can to run a state that is really all about working people and the most vulnerable. But second, its Ive got a bully pulpit, Pritzker said.

The bully pulpit that I get as governor gives me the opportunity at least to speak to what I think that our common American values are, and we are the center of the country, the heart of the country, Pritzker said.

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In the state of Illinois, we also have a state that is most reflective of the population of the entire United States, he said. So it gives me that opportunity to talk about what I think is happening in the country and the dangers that I think were facing.

But those dangers that Pritzker warns about  including the prospect of dealing with massive federal spending cuts affecting health care for the poor, education, housing, agriculture and grants to other areas of government  present hazards for someone trying to both carry out their duties as governor and pursue a national agenda.

There are advantages and there are risks to running again  if his thought is to run for president, said David Axelrod, a senior political consultant for CNN who was a senior political adviser to President Barack Obama.

The question for him really is, being governor of a state is a hard job, and its likely to get harder these next few years and into the next term. Third terms have historically been challenging for governors, said Axelrod, who has long served as a consultant on Democratic campaigns in Illinois and across the nation. Given, you know, who he is and the resources he has and so on, is there more wisdom in spending two years traveling the country unfettered by the responsibilities of the governorship and the potential liabilities of the governorship?

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With his wealth, Pritzker has the resources to build a presidential campaign without the responsibilities of the governors office. But there is the example of former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, a billionaire whose 2020 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination lasted less than five months after he spent over $500 million of his own money.

Illinois does not have term limits for governor, but the only person to serve more than two four-year terms is the late Republican Gov. James R. Thompson. Thompson was the states longest-serving governor, holding the office for 14 years, from 1977 to 1991, including an initial two-year term that shifted the election of statewide officers to the nonpresidential midterm election. But in winning his third term in 1982, Thompson very narrowly defeated the late former U.S. Sen. Adlai E. Stevenson III by 5,074 votes, the closest governors race in Illinois history.

Like Pritzker, Thompson had presidential ambitions and also was courted as a potential vice presidential contender, though he took himself out of consideration. Pritzker has noted that his vetting to appear on the short list of vice presidential running mates for 2024 Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris was an indication of the belief that he had the qualifications to do the job of president.

But Pritzker has demurred on the question of his presidential ambitions, even as he has not publicly discussed his thoughts on a third gubernatorial term.

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In August, speaking at the first Illinois delegation breakfast of the Democratic National Convention, Pritzker jokingly referred to his wife, MK, as his term limiter.

Im not suggesting that I want to try to beat Jim Thompsons 14-year record, Pritzker said. My wifes not here, and I dont want anybody talking to her about this, but she is my term limit, so if all of you want to talk to her and convince her one way or another, by the way, youre welcome to do that.

Yet by looking at Pritzkers collective comments since Trumps Nov. 5 victory, as well as his travel and media schedule, it has become clear the Illinois governor relishes attacking the president and presidential adviser Elon Musk. He points to the state as leading the resistance in urging Democrats to focus their messaging on working families through such issues as increasing the federal minimum wage.

To Pritzker, Musk is President Musk and Musks associates in his Department of Government Efficiency are DOGE-bags.

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The meme lords and the minions in the White House conceive of themselves as kings and nobles who have the divine right to order the world in a way that best suits them and their fellow kleptocrats, he said. Peoples lives are a game to them.

Theres no grand master strategy to improve the lives of everyday Americans. This is true, villainous cruelty by a few idiots who are trying to figure out how to pull off the scam of their lives. Theyre armed with the power of the presidency, and their sights are aimed on working people, many of whom voted for them, never imagining what this would turn out to be. Here we are. Things are bad, and theyre getting worse, he told CAP.

This is all cruel, incompetent, recklessness, and 60 days in, the signs are there. Its already pissing off everyday Americans, he said.

With polls showing voter favorability for Democrats at record lows, Pritzker said, If we want to regain the trust of the voters that we stand for, Democrats have to deliver. For sure, we have to call out the BS that Republicans have been selling, but meanwhile, Democrats have to make peoples lives better.

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Contending that the challenges that people are facing at the kitchen table are the very challenges that the Democratic Party is best at addressing, Pritzker questioned, Why are we not all screaming about the $7.25 (federal) minimum wage in this country? and noted that Illinois minimum wage increased to $15 an hour Jan. 1.

Pritzkers efforts to expand his national footprint include the creation of his Think Big America organization in October 2023 that helped fund abortion-rights ballot initiatives across the country. Since Trumps victory, hes appeared nationally on CNN, MSNBC, numerous podcasts, ABCs Good Morning America 3 and The View and has delivered speeches to Democratic advocacy groups. Hes also set to deliver the keynote address at the largest fundraiser for New Hampshire Democrats on April 27, though the state no longer plays as significant a role in the presidential primary process.

But theres also the bully pulpit at home, where last week he conducted a three-day Standing up for Illinois tour of the state to lash out at Trumps actions involving farmers, seniors and efforts to rebuild the states infrastructure.

They hate that were succeeding in Illinois. They just hate it. It drives them absolutely crazy, and I love that it does, Pritzker said of the Trump administration before a gathering of the Illinois Education Association earlier this month.

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Axelrod said Pritzkers aggressiveness on the stump is something that undoubtedly will win him some followers and is appreciated by Democrats who are looking for someone to carry the fight.

Hes also been very supportive of Democratic causes and candidates around the country, and that always wins you friends, he said. That includes a $500,000 donation in the battle over Democrats keeping a majority in a Wisconsin state Supreme Court race that has seen Musk invest millions of dollars into the Republican.

But Axelrod cautioned any national aspirations for Pritzker by questioning what the countrys attitude toward billionaires is going to be in 2028? Elon Musk is not helping the brand.

Still, he said, there are billionaires, and there are billionaires, and Pritzkers willingness to be taxed at a higher rate based on his wealth stands in contrast to Musk and Trump allies who are trying to cut everything that is meaningful to everyday people in order to pay for a larger tax cut for themselves.

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Among those who think Pritzker will seek reelection, theres the belief that not only does a gubernatorial platform assist in any national ambitions, but it would also give him the opportunity to see some of his initiatives as governor come to fruition  most notably efforts to make the state a leader in emerging technology and a global center for quantum computing.

For his second-term reelection bid, Pritzker didnt announce his candidacy until July 19, 2021, for a June 28, 2022, primary  an election delayed by the pandemic.

Looking ahead to 2026, Pritzker has not made a significant contribution to his political fund since dropping $13 million into it last August. He began this year with more than $4.1 million in his campaign bank account after spending $8.1 million in the final quarter of the 2024 general election period.

Regardless of his decision, Pritzker will be the longest-serving Democratic governor in Illinois history at the end of his second term. Three other Democratic governors were elected to two terms, but none of them finished them.

Henry Horner died in office. Otto Kerner Jr. quit to become a federal judge. And Rod Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office before being convicted and imprisoned on federal corruption charges. Despite being pardoned by Trump, Blagojevich is ineligible to hold any public office in the state.

Pritzker said he still loves the job of governor, though he acknowledges its become harder, noting that with Trump, the challenge is meaningful.

Look, whatever it is that Im doing a year from now  or whatever announcements get made over the next bunch of months  I will be in this fight, he told reporters earlier this month. I have always been, as you know, an active participant in issues that matter to me. And the Trump presidency is attacking virtually everything that I believe in. So whether Im in office or Im not in office, or what office I am serving in, I will always be in this fight.

____
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Dona Ana County District Attorney Fernando Macias says the juvenile suspects allegedly involved in the Young Park shooting in Las Cruces can be charged as adults since they are facing first-degree murder charges along with conspiracy charges.

Suspect allegedly involved in Las Cruces shooting identified through court documents

The adult suspect, Tomas Rivas, 20, had his first appearance in magistrate court on Monday, March 24 regarding the shooting.

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Three juveniles are also facing charges in the shooting, in which three people were killed and 15 others were hurt.

The juvenile suspects are two 17-year-old boys and one 15-year-old boy. They have not been publicly identitied by Las Cruces Police.

Macias says they gave notice to the court on Monday that they intend to file a motion for extended custody for Rivas.

Once that occurs, the magistrate court no longer has jurisdiction, and its something that will be automatically transferred to the district court. We will be filing that motion for extended custody today, Macias said.

Macias says the court will have up to five days to schedule the hearing for the extended custody motion to be heard and the district court judge will hear the evidence and make a decision.

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Rivas will remain in custody until the hearing is set and Macias hopes to take this case to a grand jury within the next 10 days.

Macias says the three juvenile suspects can be charged as adults as they are facing first-degree murder charges.

4 suspects arrested in park shooting in Las Cruces

And we intend to give notice that its the intent of the office to pursue adult sanctions because of their role in the shooting, Macias said.

If the three juvenile suspects are charged as adults, they will stay in the Dona Ana County Juvenile Detention Center until they turn 18 if they are convicted or as long as the case is being adjudicated.

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It is our intent to attempt to fast-track the case as much as possible, Macias said.

Macias says the shooting appeared to have resulted from two families that may have had ongoing confrontations. However, he says they have not fully ruled out if the shooting was gang-related or solely based on previous confrontations among the individuals who were involved.

Macias also says the use of weapons for juveniles in the court system has risen and is a significant topic. However, Macias says he doesnt want to discount the number of students who have had a positive impact on the community.

There are certainly those that are continuing to present a danger to the community that we have to be very diligent and we have to take it very serious and we have to make sure that were able to communicate the consequences, the severe consequences if youre involved with the use of weapons, Macias said.

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Macias also adds his support for the community.

Justice will take its course and that we intend to be very diligent. The efforts that the Las Cruces Police Department and other stakeholders, both at the local and federal levels, their efforts in this matter, has been incredible. The community should be very proud of the efforts and the time that they have spent in order to accumulate all of the evidence and to make sure that weve identified the appropriate individuals as the shooters in this matter, Macias said.

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This depiction of a face is from one of the wooden coffins at Tombos. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Tombos Archaeological Project

The pyramids of ancient Egypt and Sudan may not have been just for the rich, according to burials found at the archaeological site of Tombos in Sudan.

"Our findings suggest that pyramid tombs, once thought to be the final resting place of the most elite, may have also included low-status high-labor staff," archaeologists wrote in a paper published in the June issue of the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology . Ancient Egypt controlled parts of Sudan at times and Tombos was established as an Egyptian colony.

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Tombos is located at the third cataract of the Nile River in Sudan. In ancient times, this area was known as Nubia or Kush. Following the Egyptians' takeover of the region around 1400 B.C., they established Tombos. "Shortly after the Egyptian conquest of Nubia, Tombos was constructed by the Egyptians in what was Nubian territory to facilitate colonial control," the team wrote in the study.

Wealthy individuals were buried in tombs with small pyramids atop them. In the new study, the scientists examined about 110 skeletons at Tombos. They analyzed where the muscles and ligaments (which had long since decayed) attached to the bone  a proxy that shows how much labor people did.

"As the body is used more frequently and more intensively, the muscles and ligaments require a stronger mode of attachment," the team wrote in the study. "This can result in distinct crests and ridges on the bone at the point of attachment."

These shifts in the bone are known as entheseal changes. The team reported that people who had a low rate of entheseal change were presumably high-status individuals who worked in bureaucracy and didn't do hard labor. But the tombs also held the remains of people who had a high rate of entheseal change and presumably did a large amount of hard labor.

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Put another way, the pyramids weren't just for the rich; lower-class laborers were buried alongside the elite, the study authors proposed. Previously, it was believed that pyramids were built for elite members of society.

Image 1 of 2

a close-up of a ceramic face on a coffin lid

The face-shaped lid of a ceramic coffin at Tombos.

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an Egyptian human figurine

This shabti was buried in the tomb of the scribe Tiy. Shabtis were thought to work for the deceased in the afterlife.

This finding suggests that "social classes were not segregated, but instead that a hard laboring non-elite were buried alongside an elite who avoided tasks that led to entheseal wear," the team wrote in the study. "We can no longer assume that individuals buried in grandiose [pyramid] tombs are the elite. Indeed, the hardest working members of the communities are associated with the most visible monuments."

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There are a few possible explanations for why non-elite individuals were buried in the pyramid tombs, said study first author Sarah Schrader , an associate professor of archaeology at Leiden University in the Netherlands.

"This practice may have been encouraged by elite individuals in order to reinforce a hierarchical social order," Schrader told Live Science in an email. "It could've also been that people of lower social economic status may have wanted to be buried next to people of higher economic status."

Study co-author Stuart Tyson Smith , an anthropology professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, told Live Science in an email that "our thinking is that elites surrounded themselves with the non-elites who worked in some capacity for them, effectively replicating the social order with burials in and around their funerary monuments." Less affluent people "may have hoped to benefit from associations with their employers in terms of status, magical protections, and the funerary cult," Smith said.

Although the work focused only on Sudan, Schrader said it's possible that elite and non-elite individuals were also buried together in pyramid tombs in Egypt, although more research needs to be done to figure that out.

Part of the Tombos archaeological site, including some of the burials with small pyramids on their surfaces. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Tombos Archaeological Project

Responses to the findings were mixed. Julia Budka , a professor of Egyptian archaeology and art history at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, praised the study, telling Live Science in an email that "all in all, this is a great study that will have an impact on future interpretations of new and old excavations and data."

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However, Aidan Dodson , an Egyptology professor at the University of Bristol in the U.K., said we should approach these findings cautiously. He noted that members of the elite also may have engaged in tasks that involved hard labor, so those with bulked-up muscles may have actually belonged to the upper class.

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"The fact that Tombos was a colonial outpost might particularly mean that the elite had military and physical training," Dodson told Live Science in an email.

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It is important to note that the pyramids at Tombos are different from those at Giza or Saqqara , noted Wolfram Grajetzki , an Egyptologist and honorary senior research fellow at University College London. The pyramids at those sites were built for pharaohs and their queens whereas the pyramids at Tombos were built for nonroyal individuals.

Mummy quiz: Can you unwrap these ancient Egyptian mysteries?
ANDERSON  The Anderson Board of Public Works has taken under advisement bids for three paving projects this year.

The board Tuesday received four bids for contract paving this year with an estimate by City Engineer Matt House of $536,419.

DC Construction submitted the low bid of $562,692 with a bid by Howard Companies of $637,311, a bid of $722,181 from E&B Paving and a bid of $779,070 from Rudig Paving.

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DC Construction was the low bidder on the citys 2025 Community Crossings matching grant fund for paving.

Howard Companies bid $2,989,488, and E&B Paving bid $3,872,766.

Houses estimate for the work was $3,028,000.

Anderson received $1.5 million from the state and will provide matching funds.

Anderson Mayor Thomas Broderick Jr. previously said funds received by the city will be used as part of a planned $5 million paving program in 2025.

Broderick noted that Anderson has received $10 million since the program was implemented by the state in 2016.

This is great news for Anderson, he said. This early grant notification will allow us to hit the ground running this spring and summer.

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The estimate for concrete paving work is $321,287.

Boerners Cutting Edge submitted the low bid of $300,484, followed by bids of $303,594 by DC Construction; $370,310 from Edward & Jones Concrete; Concrete Specialties bid $331,199 and Howard Companys bid was $825,544.

OTHER BUSINESS

The board approved a resolution transferring property owned by the Anderson Community Development Department to Aspire Indiana.

The property at 718 W. 17th St. will be used for transitional housing.

Aspire Indiana was granted $900,000 in American Rescue Plan funding by Anderson to address the citys homeless population needs.

The board also approved the transfer of 2122 Fletcher St., a vacant property, to Pathstone for the construction of a third single family residence in the area.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Kern County Assistant District Attorney Andrea Kohler announced her retirement at the Kern County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, after serving at the DAs office for 35 years.

Kohler was present at the meeting along with her colleagues at the District Attorneys Office, including District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer.

I would just like to say its been both a privilege and an honor to serve this community, Kohler said. Ive never known a community with such warmth and people who really, really care about each other, so to be a part of that has been wonderful.

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Kern County District Attorneys office announces its new chief of Bureau of Investigations

Kohler graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1989, according to the Kern County Bar Association. Shortly after being admitted to the Bar in the same year, Kohler moved from a plaintiffs personal injury firm in Los Angeles to the Kern DAs Office.

In 1990, former district attorney Edward Jagels appointed Kohler as a prosecutor at the Kern County District Attorneys Office, according to a resolution submitted to the Board of Supervisors by Zimmer.

On March 29, 2006, Kohler got promoted to the position of Supervising Deputy District Attorney, where she led teams of attorneys in branch operations, prison prosecution, domestic violence, sex crimes and homicide units, Zimmer said.

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RELATED: Kern County Family Justice Center offers help to domestic violence victims

DA Zimmer appointed Kohler as assistant district attorney on Jan. 7, 2019. Kohler became the first female ADA in the offices history, according to the resolution.

As the ADA, Kohler oversaw all prosecutors, clerical staff, Crime Lab, Family Justice Center and the Bureau of Investigation, according to Zimmer.

Kohlers last day as ADA is March 31.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News.
MILAN, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The unilateral approach adopted by the United States poses a significant threat to global trade and economic stability, Mario Boselli, chairman of the Italy China Council Foundation, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Boselli voiced strong opposition to the latest U.S. tariff policies, calling them a "grave mistake in every sense."

He stressed that in today's economic climate, businesses worldwide need a stable and predictable environment to thrive.

"What companies dislike the most is uncertainty," he said. "And the most concerning aspect of U.S. foreign and economic policy today is its unpredictability, which erodes the foundation of global economic dialogue and political trust."

Boselli expressed the hope that geopolitical tensions would eventually ease, with less "war economy" and more "peace economy."

"I oppose economic arms races," he said. "The global economy requires stability and development, not conflict and confrontation."

Reflecting on his over 80 years of life experiences, Boselli said that he had never witnessed such an era of profound global transformation.

He said that Donald Trump's return to the White House and the European Union's lack of cohesion would further influence global economic and trade dynamics.

But Boselli suggested that the shifting dynamics might prompt Europe to reconsider its external economic strategy. In his view, strengthening cooperation with China is a "highly strategic choice."

As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Europe diplomatic ties, he said, "I sincerely hope that China and Europe will usher in a new era of stronger, mutually beneficial cooperation." 
Veteran Chicago lawyer and former federal prosecutor Andrew Boutros is expected to be appointed by the Trump administration to serve as interim U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, sources told the Tribune.

Boutros, 47, now the co-chair of the government investigations and white collar group at Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP in Chicago, was among those vetted for the White House by U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, a Peoria Republican, who conducted several rounds of interviews over the past month, several sources familiar with the process said.

The sources told the Tribune that Boutros was not among those LaHood recommended for the position, however. LaHood instead forwarded the names of two other former assistant U.S. attorneys, Jeffrey Cramer and Mark Schneider, as well as Brendan OLeary, an ex-Cook County prosecutor and FBI special agent who headed the public corruption squad in Chicago, according to sources.

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President Donald Trumps administration selected Boutros after LaHood met with senior members of the administration last week, the sources said.

The move had not been formally announced by the Trump administration as of Tuesday. A Department of Justice spokesperson did not respond to emails seeking comment.

Reached by phone Tuesday, Boutros declined to comment.

Boutros appointment would bring some stability to the office more than two years after John Lausch stepped down as Chicagos top federal prosecutor.

By giving Boutros interim status, the White House bypasses the immediate need for Boutros to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. That process would kick in once the Trump administration selects someone for the permanent post.

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Either way, Boutros is expected to inject new energy into an office that has long been considered one of the best in the country but has seen productivity and morale slip in recent years.

Known as a diligent attorney and an extremely hard worker, Boutros is a first-generation American whose parents immigrated from Egypt. He attended Virginia Tech University and earned his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2001.

Boutros spent eight years as a federal prosecutor under then-U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, bringing a number of high-profile and complex prosecutions involving everything from international trade to dark web narcotics conspiracy.

Chicago attorney Renato Mariotti, whose career in the U.S. attorneys office largely overlapped with Boutros, said his former colleague is a solid selection who understands the traditions of the office.

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Andrew is a go-getter. Hes a grinder and hes driven, said Mariotti, now a partner at Paul Hastings LLP. There are some people who float through life and everything is given to them. That is not Andrew Boutros.

Mariotti said he got to know Boutros well early on when they teamed up to prosecute a major gang case against the Maniac Latin Disciples.

Later, Boutros prosecuted Cornelis Jan Slomp, also known as SuperTrips, a trafficker on the now-defunct Silk Road site who moved millions of dollars worth of illegal drugs before cooperating with the government against Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht.

He also led the prosecution into what became known as Honeygate, targeting the illegal importation of cheap and occasionally contaminated honey from China in what was described as the largest food fraud investigation and prosecution in history.

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One of Boutros other notable cases took down former Edgewater Medical Center owner Peter Rogan, who was sentenced to 21 months in prison in 2015 for trying to thwart collection of more than $188 million in civil judgments, in part by moving funds to offshore accounts in the Bahamas.

After leaving the U.S. attorneys office in 2015, Boutros joined Seyfarth Shaw as co-chair of its white collar, internal investigations and false claims practice. He moved to a similar role at Shook Hardy & Bacon last year.

Boutros has also lectured at the University of Chicago Law School since 2011 and published two books on white-collar law.

The U.S. attorneys office in Chicago was long considered one of the busiest in the nation, handling everything from terrorism, gang conspiracies and bank robberies to financial fraud and political corruption. The office has more than 300 employees, including about 140 prosecutors.

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The office has recently secured convictions in several major public corruption cases, including the trials of former Ald. Edward Burke and former House Speaker Michael Madigan, two Democratic titans whose decades holding the reins of power culminated in separate guilty verdicts over the past year.

But while those high-profile cases have played out, the U.S. attorneys offices overall productivity has declined, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic virtually shut down the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in 2020 and parts of 2021.

The Tribune reported earlier this month that the office had sunk to dead last in the country in some key metrics in 2024, including the number of indictments filed per judgeship in the district.

When he announced the search for a new U.S. attorney was underway, LaHood, a former state and federal prosecutor, noted that there has been no Senate-confirmed top prosecutor in Chicago since Lausch departed in March 2023, and the latest statistics show the once-vaunted office now has one of the lower indictment rates across the country.

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The importance of selecting a strong U.S. attorney who will understand the importance of implementing and enforcing our immigration laws, fight to stop rampant and rising criminal activity in Chicago, support our brave men and women in law enforcement, and prevent corruption is now more critical than ever, LaHood said in a statement.

He added that ensuring the policies and priorities of the Trump administration will be implemented in Illinois will have to be a top focus of any candidate.

Trump, meanwhile, has drawn criticism for naming a series of interim U.S. attorneys instead of appointing permanent replacements that would have to undergo scrutiny by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Among them was Ed Martin, a Trump acolyte and defense attorney for numerous clients accused in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, who is now interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C.

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On Monday, the president named Alina Habba, his personal attorney-turned-White House counselor, to serve as the next interim U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey.

Mariotti said that unlike those selections, Boutros is a savvy attorney with a lengthy track record both as a prosecutor and defense attorney. He also knows acting U.S. attorney Morris Sonny Pasqual and at one point was his supervisor.

He has a very high opinion of Sonny and that should make for a smooth transition there, which is good for Chicago, Mariotti said.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com

rpearson@chicagotribune.com
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, contact RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline for free, confidential, 24/7 support in English and en Espanol at 800.656.HOPE (4673) and online.RAINN.org y RAINN.org/es

Andrew Tate may think he has an understanding with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, but the governor does not.

While talking to the press this week after returning to Romania where he and his brother Tristan are facing accusations of forming an organized criminal group, human trafficking, trafficking of minors, sex with a minor and money laundering, the internet "manosphere" personality, masculinity guru and self-proclaimed misogynist said DeSantis realized he made a mistake when he launched an investigation into the brothers.

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"I think the governor of Florida was hijacked by the media," Tate said Monday. "The media jumped on him, and he didn't realize I was an American citizen, and now he understands he made a mistake.

"And there's been some conversations, and everything's been settled and fixed," he said.

"Nothing of the sort happened, and our position is unchanged," DeSantis' communications director Bryan Griffin said in an email Tuesday.

Why did Gov. DeSantis open an investigation against Andrew Tate?

After a court case in Romania failed due to problems with the indictment, a travel ban was lifted and the brothers arrived in Fort Lauderdale last month in a private jet. DeSantis said at a press conference that they were not welcome in the state

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The reality is no, Florida is not a place where youre welcome with that type of conduct, he said, and suggested they could be investigated for any crimes committed in Florida.

Has Andrew Tate committed any crimes in Florida?

In February, a Florida woman listed only as Jane Doe filed a countersuit against Andrew and Tristan Tate in their first U.S. case, alleging sex trafficking by force and/or coercion and other charges after she and other women were lured to Romania. After Romanian authorities raided the brothers' compound in April 2022 and the women left, the Tates sued her, another woman and some witnesses, saying Doe was "a serial extortionist and blackmailer who preys on successful men."

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said just last week that an investigation into any crimes Tate and his brother Tristan may have committed in the state of Florida was still ongoing.

Every time these guys open their mouths, it gets them deeper in a hole, Uthmeier said during an appearance on The Dana Show, If we can show that they committed crimes on Florida soil, then we will continue to pursue them, you know, at all costs.

Andrew Tate vs. Ron DeSantis

DeSantis' comments kicked off a one-sided beef with Tate steadily taunting the governor for weeks online, saying on X that DeSantis opened a criminal case "for zero reason," that DeSantis attacked him because he was worried Tate would support gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds over his wife Casey, and jokingly asking Florida to open a criminal case because his brother stole his snacks on the plane.

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Tate has also demanded multiple times that DeSantis arrest him.

Your wife will never win governor unless you arrest me, @GovRonDeSantis," Tate posted on X, formerly Twitter, earlier this month. "Youve proven to be a communist who attacks American citizens for zero. When Americans who are unfairly imprisoned abroad return home you betray them. You better nail me now. Lets go. Arrest me."

Tate's podcast pulled: Spotify removed some Andrew Tate content following a petition. What we know

Who is Andrew Tate?

A self-described misogynist and former professional kickboxer who often poses in expensive settings with fast cars and guns, social media influencer Emory Andrew Tate III, 38, has gained millions of fans by promoting an ultra-masculine attitude that critics say denigrates women.

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Tate appeared on the 17th season of the British reality show "Big Brother" but was removed in under a week when videos emerged showing him committing violence against women. Vice later reported that the producers dropped him when they became aware of an ongoing rape investigation, which was later dropped.

Tate and his brother Tristan started a webcam studio with up to 75 webcam models, which he later admitted was a scam, according to GQ, and opened several different online schools to encourage teenage boys and young men to focus on making as much money as possible through unconventional, mostly online means. He is currently promoting an upcoming updated version, The Real World 2.0.

Tate's popularity exploded online due to his increasingly inflammatory statements: claiming women had to take responsibility for being raped, depression isn't real, Nazis might not have been the bad guys in World War II, women belong to men, and how he would attack a woman who accused him of cheating. In 2022, The Guardian reported that students in his various schools were told to flood social media with his most controversial clips to help boost his content.

Tate has said such comments were jokes or taken out of context.

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TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter have all blocked his accounts, although he was reinstated on Twitter after Elon Musk bought the social media company, later changing the name to X.

Meanwhile, the brothers are facing a second Romanian criminal case. If they are found not guilty there, they may be extradited to the UK where they face allegations of rape and serious physical and sexual assaults dating back to 2012-2015 and a civil case against them for alleged tax evasion

Contributing: Luiza Ilie, Reuters and Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida governor's office says Andrew Tate 'conversations' never happened
ST. LOUIS  Anheuser-Busch will end its sponsorship of PrideFest, the annual LGBTQIA festival in downtown St. Louis, after more than 30 years of partnership.

Pride St. Louis announced the decision Tuesday morning, expressing sadness over losing such a historic supporter. The festival, which is scheduled for June 28 and 29 at Soldiers Memorial Park, is facing a $150,000 funding shortfall compared to last year.

PrideFest is the largest parade in St. Louis, culminating a weekend of celebration for the LGBTQIA community. Marty Zuniga, the President of Pride St. Louis, expressed hope that the community will step up where Anheuser-Busch has stepped down.

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Jefferson County man charged in child sex crimes, more victims possible

Pride St. Louis is working to modify the budget for the event to ensure the festival can still take place. In response to the funding challenges, Pride St. Louis is launching a fundraising campaign called #45 for 45, commemorating 45 years of advocacy for the LGBTQIA community.

As Pride St. Louis navigates the financial challenges, the organization remains hopeful that community support will help fill the gap left by Anheuser-Buschs withdrawal.

All facts from this article were gathered by KTVI journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KTVI staff.

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Mar. 24MITCHELL  The smell of fresh pancakes filled the air at the 4-H Fairgrounds on Saturday as community members gathered for the annual Disabled American Veterans (DAV) pancake feed, an event that serves both as a fundraiser and a way to support the transportation needs of local veterans.

Hosted by Mitchell DAV Chapter 27, the pancake feed is an important fundraiser for the organization, which relies on community support to ensure veterans have access to reliable transportation.

The van, which has been serving veterans in the region for years, has racked up mileage and required costly repairs, including a recent transmission replacement. All proceeds from the free-will donation event will go toward maintaining and eventually replacing the DAV van that helps veterans get to their medical appointments.

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The DAV van is essential for local veterans who need transportation to medical appointments, often in Sioux Falls at the VA Hospital. County Veteran's Service Officer (CVSO) Tim Storly emphasized the vital role the van plays, not only in Davison County but in surrounding areas, including Hanson, Sanborn and Jerauld counties. With an average of four trips a week, the van is constantly in use.

"This van is an essential part of helping our local veterans," Storly said. "Without it, many veterans would have difficulty accessing the care they need."

Martin Christensen, a key organizer, said the funds from the annual pancake feeds have been critical in keeping the van in service.

"The last few years, we've used the money not just for upkeep but also to tuck away funds for when the time comes to replace the vehicle," Christensen said.

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The van, currently at 103,000 miles, was provided to the Davison County DAV office after being removed from another county due to misuse. While some funding for the van's upkeep comes from the national VA program, larger repairs are the responsibility of the local chapter.

The need for funding became especially apparent last year when the van required a new transmission. At the time, it had 70,000 miles on it.

The DAV is actively working to ensure that the van remains in service for years to come. Arthur Escalante, a DAV member originally from Washington state, expressed a desire to find a local business willing to donate a van, similar to his experience with a van purchased from a sheriff's department for just one dollar.

"I'd love to see something like that happen here," Escalante said.

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The event saw a typical turnout of about 125 attendees, and the organizers hope to continue building on this support to ensure the future of the van service.

The DAV's role in the region has expanded since Christensen helped re-establish the local chapter in 2022. After a gap in services when the previous chapter, Chapter 7, lost its charter in 2021, Christensen took action to rebuild the organization and launched Chapter 27, which now boasts 90 members.

"They kind of lost their charter, so we pulled it back and rebuilt it completely," Christensen said. "Now, our main goal is to help disabled veterans get the transportation they need to medical appointments."

The van can accommodate five passengers plus the driver and is available exclusively for VA medical appointments. Riders must be ambulatory, as the service does not accommodate wheelchairs. Trips are typically limited to three passengers to allow space for caretakers and necessary medical equipment. All 14 volunteer drivers undergo training, physicals, and background checks, with 99% of them being military veterans themselves.

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The need for the van is new tires, and Escalante is exploring additional funding sources to cover the cost.

"With the miles we put on these vans, once they hit 100,000, the wear and tear really starts adding up," Escalante said.

The need for reliable transportation for veterans remains a priority for the DAV, especially as the van approaches the point where it will need to be replaced. With support from the community, the local DAV chapter hopes to continue offering this essential service and ensure that veterans can always get the care they need.

"We have a great group of volunteers, and with continued community support, we can keep our transportation services running smoothly," Christensen said. "It's a great way to serve our veterans in rural South Dakota."
A Columbia University junior who participated in pro-Palestinian protests is suing to block her imminent arrest and possible deportation after federal agents searched her dorm room.

Yunseo Chung, 21, was born in South Korea and after a decade in the U.S. became a lawful permanent resident in 2021. Earlier this semester, she participated in a hours-long takeover of the library at Barnard College, a womens college affiliated with Columbia, and was arrested for not cooperating with police during a bomb threat. She was suspended on an interim basis.

Days later, Chung was told by the Trump administration that her lawful permanent resident status was revoked, and there was an administrative warrant for her arrest, according to Manhattan federal court documents. Agents visited her residence hall on March 13 and have showed up at her parents house, her lawyers said.

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The governments retaliation against Ms. Chung comes in a broader context of retaliation against other noncitizens who have exercised their First Amendment rights, read the complaint. Officials at the highest levels of the federal government have made clear that they intend to use immigration enforcement to punish noncitizens who speak out in support of Palestinians and Palestinian rights.

The warrant for Chungs arrest comes after the detention of Columbia pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, whose possible deportation has sparked condemnation and protests over free speech.

The Trump administration also revoked the visa of another Columbia student, Ranjani Srinivasan, who has since fled the United States. Her dorm room was reportedly entered the same night as Chungs. Columbia interim leader Katrina Armstrong described herself at the time of the searches as heartbroken.

Court documents did not reveal Chungs current whereabouts. ICE did not immediately return a request for comment.

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Yunseo Chung has engaged in concerning conduct, including when she was arrested by NYPD during a pro-Hamas protest at Barnard College, a senior Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said, the Associated Press reported. She is being sought for removal proceedings under the immigration laws. Chung will have an opportunity to present her case before an immigration judge.

Chung had been participating in the student protests against Israels military campaign in Gaza since 2023, but did not assume a high-profile role, her lawyers said. She briefly faced a disciplinary process last year for Wanted posters of Columbia trustees, though no action was taken.

She has made Deans List every semester, while holding legal internships and joining Columbias undergraduate law review, according to the complaint.

The prospect of imminent detention, to be followed by deportation proceedings, has chilled her speech. Ms. Chung is now concerned about speaking up about the ongoing ordeal of Palestinians in Gaza as well as what is happening on her own campus, the complaint stated.
A federal judge in New Jersey granted a temporary restraining order Monday blocking the U.S. military from separating two transgender airmen under President Donald Trumps reinstated transgender military ban, offering immediate protection as the broader challenge to the policy plays out in court.

The order came in Ireland v. Hegseth, filed on behalf of Master Sgt. Logan Ireland and Staff Sgt. Nicholas Bear Bade, who were recently removed from their posts and placed on involuntary administrative absence under the Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness executive order, EO 14183. Both have served with distinction in the Air Force for years.

These Airmen have risked everything to protect American freedoms  they deserve better than becoming the targets of a calculated, political purge, said Jennifer Levi, senior director of transgender and queer rights at GLAD Law, which is representing the plaintiffs alongside the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the law firms Stapleton Segal Cochran, and Langer Grogan & Diver.

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The courts order halts the Air Force from continuing administrative separation proceedings against the two while litigation continues. It follows a separate ruling last week in Talbott v. Trump, in which a federal judge in Washington, D.C. , issued a preliminary injunction blocking the bans enforcement nationwide. D.C. U.S. District Court Judge Ana Reyes called it discriminatory, unsupported by evidence, and soaked in animus.

Despite that ruling, Ireland and Bade were still facing imminent expulsion, prompting a separate filing in New Jersey when the judge in the Talbott case denied an amendment to include their names before the injunction hearing.

These are two guys who needed immediate relief, Shannon Minter, legal director at NCLR, told The Advocate. We initially were trying to add them to the D.C. case, but by the time we were seeking to add them, it was too late to include them before the preliminary injunction hearing, so we couldnt wait.

In granting the temporary order, U.S. District Judge Christine P. OHearn wrote that Ireland and Bade demonstrated both a likelihood of success in challenging the ban and the risk of irreparable harm  including loss of career, damage to their reputations, and violation of constitutional rights.

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The court rejected arguments by government attorneys that the plaintiffs could seek relief through internal military channels, citing their removal from deployment and looming involuntary separation proceedings set to begin Wednesday.

The loss of military service under the stigma of a policy that targets gender identity is not merely a loss of employment; it is a profound disruption of personal dignity, medical continuity, and public service, OHearn wrote.

Pentagon officials told Reyes in D.C. that separations would not begin until Friday.

Bade, a six-year Air Force veteran inspired by his grandfathers World War II service, had been deployed in Kuwait as part of the bases security forces. He was pulled from duty and forced home.

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For six years, Ive strived to embody what Americans expect from their military: expertise, character, and leadership, Bade said. Now, Ive been prevented from serving the troops I mentor and the nation Ive committed my life to protect  all while living by the Airmans Creed that I will never falter, and I will not fail.

Ireland, a decorated 14-year veteran stationed in Hawaii , had been attending a training mission in New Jersey when he was ordered to leave and placed on administrative absence.

My team in the Indo-Pacific wants their leader back  the one who wears the same uniform and swore the same oath as they did, Ireland said.

Mondays ruling comes just days after a tense hearing in D.C., where Reyes grilled Justice Department attorneys over the administrations last-minute effort to undo the nationwide block on the policy in Talbott.

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Theres nothing in the record right now that tells me how many complaints there have been with respect to unit cohesion or military readiness with respect to gender dysphoria, Reyes told DOJ lawyer Jean Lin, who was unable to identify who authored the policy or whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had even reviewed it .

Reyes accused the administration of gaslighting the court and called its claims frankly ridiculous, warning that any transgender service member negatively affected before the stay on the injunction is lifted could seek a TRO  which is precisely what Ireland and Bade have now obtained.

As both the Talbott and Ireland cases proceed, advocates stress that the stakes extend beyond a few individual careers. Thousands of transgender service members like me fill critical roles requiring years of specialized training, Ireland said. Removing us creates dangerous operational gaps across every theater.

The New Jersey case was narrowly focused on preventing immediate harm to the two plaintiffs, Minter said. Were just seeking narrow relief for those two, just to prevent them from being put into separation proceedings while this is all getting sorted out in the D.C. and soon Washington cases, he said. If the D.C. Circuit allows the injunction to go into effect, then their case is fine. They dont need to take any further action right now. If it does not, then they will need to seek a PI [preliminary injunction] from that judge.

The restraining order remains in effect for 14 days unless extended.
A U.S. permanent resident and Columbia University student is suing the Trump administration over its attempts to deport her for participating in pro-Palestinian protests at the institution.

Yunseo Chung, 21, has lived in the U.S. since her family moved from South Korea at the age of 7, and her lawsuit not only seeks to stop deportation efforts from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but also to stop the pattern and practice of targeting individuals associated with protests for Palestinian rights for immigration enforcement.

Chung is a model student, maintaining a 3.99 grade point average and making it onto the deans list every semester. She is also part of the Columbia Undergraduate Law Review. But thats not enough for the Trump administration, which is targeting noncitizen students who support Palestinian human rights, including Mahmoud Khalil, Ranjani Srinivasan, Momodou Taal, and Badar Khan Suri.

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The lawsuit names President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, ICE acting Director Todd M. Lyons, and New York ICE acting Field Office Director William P. Joyce. It states that the administrations policy appears to be to retaliate against and punish noncitizens, including Ms. Chung, for their actual or perceived advocacy for Palestinian rights.

Earlier this month, Chung was involved in a sit-in at the university to protest excessive punishments meted out by the Columbia administration, and was arrested by the New York Police Department and given a desk appearance ticket for obstruction of government administration. Since then, Columbia has put her on interim suspension due to the arrest and restricted her campus access.

On March 8, an ICE official signed an administrative arrest warrant and has been looking for Chung ever since, going to her parents house and searching two residences at Columbia, including her dorm. On March 10, ICE told Chungs attorneys that her permanent residence status was being revoked.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told CNN that Chung is being sought for removal proceedings under the immigration laws.

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Yunseo Chung has engaged in concerning conduct, including when she was arrested by NYPD during a pro-Hamas protest at Barnard College, the spokesperson said. Chung will have an opportunity to present her case before an immigration judge.

Chungs attorneys say in their lawsuit that the Trump administrations actions are unconstitutional. Its also interesting that Chung is getting the opportunity to present her case before a judge, when Khalil, a fellow permanent resident, was sent from New York to a detention facility in Louisiana before he could even be charged or speak to his counsel.

The governments actions are an unprecedented and unjustifiable assault on First Amendment and other rights, one that cannot stand basic legal scrutiny. Simply put, immigration enforcementhere, immigration detention and threatened deportationmay not be used as a tool to punish noncitizen speakers who express political views disfavored by the current administration, the lawsuit states.


PIERRE, S.D. (KELO)  Finance directors at several South Dakota state government agencies say theyre already adding internal control officers and putting more reforms into place ahead of several new anti-corruption laws that take effect this summer.

Those changes come after more than a half-dozen cases in the past year where now-former state government employees tried to take advantage of situations where they thought they could illegally better themselves financially at taxpayers expense or engage in illegal activity involving prison inmates without getting caught.

In a presentation from the Board of Control, they highlighted the agencies and departments that have been through the internal-control process, showing in red and in yellow those that are in the process or getting ready for the process.

Gov. Larry Rhoden in turn has signed into law two measures approved by the Legislature that give more investigative authority to the Office of State Auditor and place additional requirements on the state Board of Internal Control.

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Those proposals came from South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley. So did two others that provide protections for state government employees who report suspicious activities and that require their supervisors act on those tips.

The Board of Internal Control met Monday at the Capitol. Early in the meeting, state Department of Education finance director Cody Stoeser told board members that the Rapid City YMCA organization made changes to its bookkeeping system and brought in a new chief financial officer after a third-party auditing firm, while looking at a federal grant distributed through the state department to the YMCA, discovered a $25 payroll error had occurred several times.

Stoeser said that a $25 mistake on a repeated basis could reflect other problems. Chris Petersen, finance director for the state Game, Fish and Parks Department, suggested that other grant sub-recipients and non-government organizations could benefit from the YMCAs experience if the new automated payroll system works well there. GFP is a large recipient of federal funding. We struggle with that at the state level, Petersen said.

Jason Simmons, finance director for the state Department of Social Services, said an internal control officer was added there last May and the decision has been made to add a second one. He said the department is doing a division by division review using the same consultant whos now working with the state internal-control board.

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State Bureau of Finance and Management commissioner Jim Terwilliger, who chairs the internal control board, said that state government is gradually converting its financial record-keeping to the new BISON system. The Legislature approved 45 positions and $70 million of funding for BISON  short for Business Information System for Operational Needs  in 2023.

The timeline calls for BISON to begin operating sometime after July 1, 2026. It will replace many of state governments manual processes, but Terwilliger said many of the internal controls that have been added during the nine years since the internal control board was established will need to stay in place. Theres some things that will have to be worked out when we go live, he said.

Allysen Kerr, who is state governments chief internal control officer, now has a deputy and will be hiring an internal-control analyst in the coming months. She told the board on Monday that 20 state agencies, departments and offices have been through the internal-control process, several more have been started or are preparing to, and only a few would be left after that.

Several finance directors told the board they have been pulling double duty as internal control officers for their departments. One of the new laws that take effect July 1 requires that each department or agency have an internal control officer or share that person with another department or agency. Another part requires annual reviews of internal controls.

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One of those who are doubling up is Emily Ward, administrative services director for the state Department of Labor and Regulation. Ward said the departments top people considered sharing an internal-control officer with another agency but they decided it would be better to have one solely of their own.

Ward acknowledged that she unfortunately hasnt been able to spend enough time on internal-control matters while also doing her main job. So we hope to have this position filled before the end of the summer, she said. Terwilliger said he appreciated that decision.

Some problems arise because of vacancies, such as at the Michael J. Fitzmaurice State Veterans Home in Hot Springs, which has been operating without a superintendent since December. Without a superintendent, a required annual review didnt get done.

Terwilliger asked Kerr to compile for the board a listing of the internal control officers by agency. Brenda Tidball-Zeltinger, deputy secretary for the Department of Social Services, is one of the governors appointees to the internal control board. She asked that some thought be given to bringing the internal control officers together, so they could share perspectives and learn from each other, and agencies that havent been through the process could benefit from their lessons.

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Lets lean into each other, she suggested.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BAGHDAD, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein held a phone conversation with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit on Monday to discuss regional developments and challenges facing Arab countries.

The two sides reviewed the pressing crises in the region and explored ways to address them in a way that contributes to regional security and stability, according to a statement by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.

The two sides underscored the importance of strengthening joint coordination to confront current challenges, emphasizing the need to intensify diplomatic efforts to resolve crises in a way that serves the interests of the Arab peoples and enhances joint Arab cooperation, the statement said.

For his part, Aboul-Gheit expressed his appreciation for the support provided by the Iraqi government to the Arab League in several areas, commending Iraq's efforts to strengthen joint Arab action, it said. 
Miles Morrisseau

ICT

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for a nationwide snap election just nine days after taking over leadership of the country amid threats of an escalating tariff war and annexation by the United States.



With the election set for April 28, the campaigns are already heating up with rhetoric aimed largely at U.S. President Donald Trump and the tariffs involving Canadas biggest trading partner.

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We are facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes because of President Trump's unjustified trade actions and his threats to our sovereignty, Carney, the leader of the nations Liberal Party, told reporters after meeting on Sunday, March 23, with Governor-General Mary Simon, the King of Englands official representative to Canada.



Our response must be to build a strong economy and a more secure Canada, Carney said. President Trump claims that Canada isn't a real country. He wants to break us so America can own us. We will not let that happen. We're over the shock of the betrayal, but we should never forget the lessons. We have to look out for ourselves. We have to look out for each other.



Conservative Party leader and Carneys main opposition in this race, Pierre Poilievre, also took a hard line against President Trump and threats to Canadian sovereignty.



Put Canada first for a change with a new conservative government, he said, that will axe taxes, honor hard work, build homes, cut taxes, lock up criminals, secure our borders, unleash resources to bring home our jobs and stand up to Donald Trump from a position of strength.



Despite the fact that the Liberal Party got a boost in the polls following Trumps calls to annex Canada and threats to cripple the economy with tariffs, Poilievre has made Trump a key part of his campaign.



I know a lot of people are worried, angry and anxious and with good reason as a result of the president's unacceptable threats against our country, Poilievre said. You worry about your job and the sovereignty of our nation, and you're angry at the feeling of betrayal that these unacceptable words and tariffs have made us all experience. I share your anger and I share the worry for our future.



Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak issued a statement Sunday urging both parties to commit to First Nations priorities.



The well-being, and the future, of First Nations and Canada are intertwined, Woodhouse Nepinak said. We must work together and support one another, as we navigate a rapidly changing global landscape. I call on every federal party to include First Nations priorities in their platform. The decisions the next government and the next Parliament will make will be critical for First Nations and everyone who shares these lands.



She, too, offered a nod to the international upheaval.

First Nations are an integral part of the economic fabric of this country, she said. Canada and First Nations can prosper together if we work together. When there are national discussions about trade relations, pipelines, national energy corridors, or becoming an energy superpower, First Nations must be at the table. Working together for our mutual benefit and support is the essence of the special relationship between First Nations and the Crown.

Our country needed to take action

Carney stepped into the highest office in the country without gaining a single vote from the people. He was elected to head the Liberal Party after then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau  facing low polling numbers and open revolt by his own cabinet members  announced he was stepping down after nearly 10 years in power.



Carneys short time in power is an expression of the unique peculiarities of Canadas parliamentary system, which allows an unelected person to become prime minister, and for the prime minister to call an election independently without the approval or support of his or her own party, let alone the House of Commons or the Senate.

Mark Carney, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, embraces Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after being announced the winner at the Liberal Party leadership event in Ottawa, Ontario, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

On the morning of Sunday, March 23, Carney went to Rideau Hall to meet with the Governor-General Simon to ask for Parliament to be dissolved. Simon, Inuk, was appointed the governor-general by Trudeau in 2021.



Following his meeting with Simon, Carney spoke to reporters and gave his pitch on why he ran for the party leadership and the role of prime minister. Carney, 60, a former central banker, has never been elected to office and has not held a seat in Parliament.



I was putting up my hand to run for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada, he said. And I was doing that because I knew our country needed to take action. We needed to act to fix our economy. We needed to act to fight the Americans. We needed to act to deal with Donald Trump's tariffs.



Only registered members of the Liberal Party voted for the new party leader. Carney won with nearly 86 percent on the first vote, making him the prime minister-designate. When Trudeau officially stepped down on March 14, he assumed the prime ministers seat.



Educated at Harvard and Oxford universities, Carney has been among the worlds economic elite for most of his career, beginning with Goldman Sachs in 1988, where he worked in a variety of roles for 15 years.



He was governor of the Bank of Canada for six years, from 2007-2013, and followed that with seven years as the governor of the Bank of England.



He served as finance advisor to the British Prime Minister from 2020 until he recently declared his candidacy for the Liberal leadership. He also quit roles as chair and head of transition investing for Bloomfield Investment Group and as a United Nations Special Envoy on Climate Change and Finance.



Sovereignty in the north is another campaign issue that has been expressed by both the prime minister and the opposition leader. Carney took a trip to Iqaluit, Nunavut, to meet with northern leaders and commit to investing in the far north.



Its time to accelerate defense spending and expand the Canadian Armed Forces Arctic presence to keep our North strong and free, Carney posted to X, formerly Twitter.

Cost of living concerns

Poilievre, 45, was elected to Parliament in 2004, representing the riding of Carleton, Ontario, and was elected the Conservative Party leader in 2022.

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He served in several parliamentary roles under Prime Minister Stephen Harper and then began serving concurrently as minister of employment and social development and minister for democratic reform..

He has largely focused on economic issues, including the cost of living in Canada.

Canada Federal Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre appears at a federal election campaign event in Brampton, Ontario, on Monday, March 24, 2025. He will be facing Prime Minister Mark Carney of the Liberal Party in a snap election on April 28, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada has more than a dozen registered political parties but has essentially been a two-party system with power swinging back and forth between the Liberal and Conservative leadership.

The third party is the Bloc Quebecois, which had 32 seats in the current government but only within the province of Quebec. The New Democratic Party is in fourth place with 24 votes, and the Green Party has two seats. Other parties on the ballot could include the Rhinoceros Party, Marijuana Party, Communist Party and The Peoples Party of Canada.

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Bloc Quebecois is led by Yves-Francois Blanchet, who was elected to the leadership role in 2019. The Bloc has members only in the Province of Quebec and for the first part of its existence focused heavily on Quebec sovereignty. It is unclear whether Trumps annexation threats will have any impact on the election in a province that exports more than 70 percent of its goods to the U.S.

Jagmeet Singh is the leader of the New Democratic Party and has held that position since 2017. Despite his party sitting in fourth place in the House power structure, Singh had significant influence in Trudeaus government, which was a minority and needed support to pass legislation or even to stay in power. The NDP has consistently lost seats since Singh has been their leader, however, moving from a perennial third place to fourth place.

The Green Party has two seats in the House but is required to secure at least 12 seats in order to achieve official party status.

Indigenous members of Parliament

There are a number of Indigenous members of Parliament who will be seeking re-election during the upcoming snap election.

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Lori Idlout, Inuk, is a member of the NDP and has been the federal representative for the riding of Nunavut since 2021.

Jamie Battiste, Mikmaw, Eskastoni First Nation, is a Liberal Party member elected to Parliament in 2019 as the representative for the Sidney-Victoria riding in Nova Scotia. Battiste put his name forward as a possible replacement for Trudeau, but was defeated by Carney along with five other challengers.

Blake Desjarlais, Fishing Lake Metis Settlement, in Alberta, is an NDP member and has served as the member of Parliament for the riding of Edmonton-Griesbach since 2021. Desjarlais is the only Indigenous member of Parliament in the province of Alberta, which has been staunchly conservative for years.

Leah Gazan, Wood Mountain Lakota Nation, also NDP, has served as a member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre since 2019. Gazan achieved an historic first when the House of Commons gave unanimous consent to Gazans motion recognizing residential schools as an act of genocide in 2022, the first recognition of a genocide committed in Canada. In 2023, she received unanimous consent for a motion to recognize the ongoing genocide of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit Individuals as a Canada-wide emergency.

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Randy Boissonault will not be running in this election. Boissonault claimed Indigenous identity and served as employment minister in the Trudeau cabinet. He stepped down in December 2024 after admitting that he was not Indigenous.

Other Indigenous candidates are also likely to throw their hats into the ring.

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The Scene

DENVER, Colo.  Now we know what they really thought.

On Friday afternoon, at the biggest rally of his political career, Sen. Bernie Sanders encouraged some 32,000 people here to organize against oligarchy, dismantle the private campaign finance system, and maybe run for office themselves.

He never ran as a Democrat  and they wouldnt need to, either. The party hadnt earned it.

For the last 30 or 40 years, Democrats have turned their backs on the working class of this country, said Sanders.

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The Vermont independent shared the stage with New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who called for a Democratic Party that fights harder for us. They were introduced by Jimmy Williams, the president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, who denounced Democrats for not raising the minimum wage or expanding Social Security when they held the House, Senate, and White House.

For the Democratic Party to ever win back the majority, they have to represent the working class and not the corporate class, said Williams.

The blunt talk barely made ripples in Washington, where Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez are often covered as problems for their party. But as they reboot their movement, progressives who traded loyalty to Joe Biden for big policy victories  from the Green New Deal to clemency for Leonard Peltier  are breaking ranks with the Democratic Party and its feeble brand. Sanders is stepping up efforts to recruit Democratic and independent candidates, and Ocasio-Cortez is taking a larger role in responding to the Trump administration.

And unencumbered from their 2024 task  to make a progressive case for Biden, and then, for Kamala Harris  they are no longer selling his presidency as a success.

Know More

When he secured the 2020 Democratic nomination, Biden made a deal with Sanders and other progressives, giving them a role in drafting the party platform and incorporating their ideas into his campaign and administration. To progressives surprise, he often responded to their direct actions; climate activists protested with Ocasio-Cortez for a New Deal-style climate conservation corps, and he created one by executive order.

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When it comes to domestic policy, President Biden probably would go down as one of the most effective presidents that centered the working class, Ocasio-Cortez told the New York Times in January.

But Bidens support for Israels war in Gaza smothered progressives good will. In Denver, Sanders mentioned the former president just once by name, when he denounced Trump for maintaining the horrific Biden policy of giving more money to Netanyahu to destroy the Palestinian people.

Now Biden, whos made just two public appearances since leaving Washington, is a non-factor in his party. His achievements, including trillions of dollars of infrastructure, health care and climate spending, are being pulled down by his successor. Democrats rarely talk about Bidens role in those programs as they fight (and sue) to save them.

The erasure started before Biden left office, with Sanders crediting Trumps victory to Democratic leadership that defended the status quo and lost working class votes.Sanders and other progressives had taken another tone during the campaign, defending Biden and his record. (So had Williams: IAPUT endorsed Biden, then Harris, in the 2024 election, and he praised Union Joe as the best president for labor in generations.)

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We came out of that economic downturn a lot faster than anyone dream we would have, and you can thank President Biden for that, Sanders told a crowd in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on June 28  the day after the disastrous CNN debate with Trump that unraveled Bidens campaign and damaged Democrats argument that voters could overlook his age. Bidens policies, by and large, are for the working class of this country, and weve got to appreciate that.

In conversations on Monday, progressive strategists said that there was no upside to mentioning Biden at all, even when defending programs he funded or created. In Denver, Ocasio-Cortez spoke more positively of the Democrats than Sanders did, praising the states senators and Democratic members of Congress by name for opposing the GOPs spending packages.

I want you to look at every level of office around you, and support Democrats who actually fight, because those are the ones that can win against Republicans, she said.

Davids view

Why does it matter if Democrats and progressives wrap up Bidens presidency into a story of Democratic failure? It explains the Sanders/Ocasio-Cortez project, which in part is about disentangling their politics from a toxic brand and turning it into an anti-establishment cause.

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Trump basically said the system is broken, and Im going to fix it, Sanders told me before his Fight Oligarchy tour began last month. Democrats more or less said: You know, the status quo is not perfect, but were gonna tinker with it around the edges.

The senators new electoral project is recruiting progressives to run against Republicans and beat them, whether they want to run as Democrats or independents.

There are a whole lot of people, who voted Republican, who are not crazy about the Republican Party, Sanders told me in Greeley. Working-class Republicans dont want tax breaks for billionaires and cuts to veterans programs. In the story hes telling, those voters did not have an ally in the White House who did the right thing for four years; neither party has answered those voters concerns.

But Republicans have not forgotten about Biden. During his address to Congress last month, Trump mentioned Biden, the worst president in American history, 14 times. In remarks to reporters, the president frequently blames Bidens for problems he didnt leave him, like a stock market correction. The story Trump and the GOP are telling is that their party is delivering for the working class, rescuing it from the costs and failures inflicted by their last president and the Democratic Party.

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Defeated parties have been here before. George W. Bush vanished from Republican politics after leaving the presidency in 2009; apart from a few Miss Me Yet? memes and Dick Cheneys criticism of the Obama presidencys anti-terrorism strategy, that team played no role in the Tea Party-era GOP rebrand. Republicans built space to attack their former presidents legacy, with conservative candidates taking down incumbents who had supported Bushs Wall Street bailout. The party won the presidency again with Trump, who has mocked Bush as a failure.

Parties have also swung hard in the other direction. In 2021, when Trump was beaten but able to run again, his party retconned his presidency into a success. They were boom years, with no new foreign wars, undermined only by a deranged anti-Trump deep state and the COVID-19 pandemic. The few Republicans who criticized Trump over his handling of that pandemic, like Floridas Ron DeSantis, lost to him and endorsed him.

This was never going to happen for Biden, who left office when voters held a far darker view of the economy than they did in 2020. But its significant that the progressives are skipping right past it. Democrats argument about how they can win back working class voters might start with Biden, who implemented some big progressive ideas and watched more of those voters walk away.

Room for Disagreement

As Biden left office, The Nations Katrina vanden Heuvel called him a remarkably consequential one-term president who orchestrated the best recovery in the industrial world and consolidated the break with the failed market fundamentalism of the conservative era that Trump began. Its the sort of analysis many progressives had of Biden  Gaza record aside  until the results came in from Pennsylvania on Election Night.

Notable
For the past month and a half, the world has waited for what seemed like the inevitable passing of Pope Francis.

The spiritual and titular leader of 1.3 billion Catholics was hospitalized for a severe respiratory infection that turned into double pneumonia and partial kidney failure  a scary diagnosis for the healthiest person, but a veritable death sentence for an 88-year-old missing part of one lung.

People prayed and wept worldwide, not just because of his declining health but because it was coming at the worst time possible.

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Because wherever you look, despots are on the march.

Politicians. Tech bros. Captains of industry. Podcasters and social media influencers. They preach that might makes right. They revel in cruelty. They demand adoration, if not outright adulation.

These self-aggrandizers attack anyone who disagrees with them. They yearn for the era of kings and emperors. They scoff at concepts like transparency. Humility? That's for the weak. Their message to the masses is simple: Dont look to yourself or your community for salvation from our troubled times. You must believe in us.

Standing athwart this mountain of egomania was Francis.

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Popes wield such power that they can speak ex cathedra  literally, from the papal throne  to make infallible pronouncements on morality that the faithful must obey. Under their domain are billions of dollars in assets and hundreds of thousands of priests. Their every word makes worldwide news. Its the type of clout that Donald Trump, Elon Musk and their fellow tyrannical travelers strive for every waking second of their lives.

Yet Francis has rejected all trappings of sovereignty and cult of personality. Instead, the pope has lived and preached what Jesus commanded his followers to do in the Sermon on the Mount, which to the right might as well be the Communist Manifesto nowadays.

Pope Francis waves to a crowd after meeting Indigenous peoples and members of the parish community of Sacred Heart in Edmonton, Canada, in 2022. He was on a "penitential" visit to Canada to beg forgiveness from survivors of the country's residential schools, where Catholic missionaries contributed to the "cultural genocide" of generations of Indigenous children by trying to stamp out their languages, cultures and traditions. (Gregorio Borgia / Associated Press)

Within the first weeks of his papacy, Francis urged priests to be shepherds living with the odour of the sheep and leave the comfort of their positions for places "where there is suffering, bloodshed, blindness that longs for sight, and prisoners in thrall to many evil masters."

His appointments to the College of Cardinals  the men who will pick his successor  have leaned toward prelates who have ministered on the front lines of poverty and war instead of those with high public profiles. He praised the worth of Indigenous people across the globe and opened the synods  advisory councils previously made up of bishops  to lay people so they could be more involved in imagining the future of the church.

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Above all, Francis hailed migrants in an era when they are loathed worldwide. At a refugee camp in Greece in 2021, he decried our "age of walls and barbed wire." In February, as Vice President JD Vance  a convert to Catholicism  was justifying Donald Trumps proposed mass deportation program, His Holiness wrote a pointed letter to U.S. bishops, tying the plight of the undocumented to the Holy Family and urging church leaders to remind their parishioners about the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Conservative Catholics  many of them in the U.S.  have long accused their leader of liberation theology, if not downright heresy, for his work. Francis, with the characteristic pluck of his Argentine upbringing, lampooned them in a "60 Minutes" interview last year as people with a suicidal attitude that closed [them] up inside a dogmatic box.

Francis merely urged everyone to read up on their Gospels, where Jesus consistently assailed the rich, lionized the poor and lingered with the meek instead of the mighty. In an era of strongmen, those lessons were a necessary corrective to the corrosive words and actions from Trump and others.

This was the voice in the wilderness the world was at the brink of losing. Yet the health of Pope Francis has now improved to the point he was discharged from the hospital and was able to make a public appearance Sunday  frail and weak-voiced and in a wheelchair, but very much alive.

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His miraculous comeback couldn't have come at a better time for all of us to embrace his message of mercy and brotherhood anew  especially Catholics in the U.S.

Read more: Pope Francis calls Trump's plans of mass deportation of immigrants 'a disgrace'

A Gallup poll found that church attendance for Catholics dropped 7% since the start of Francis' papacy. The Washington Post reported that 59% of Catholic voters chose Trump in the 2024 election. A recent Pew Research Center study revealed that 41% of Catholics think recent immigration to this country has been "change for the worse," compared to 33% who think it has made things better.

It's an odd turn from members of a faith that has relied on immigrants to replenish it since the days of Lord Baltimore.

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Trump's administration is full of Catholics who seem to have misread the New Testament, or skipped past Matthew 25, where Jesus said God will remember on the Day of Judgment who welcomed the stranger and visited prisoners and who didn't. Trump's inner circle includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio  who just finished a trip through Central America urging those countries to take in the migrants Trump wants deported  and ICE director Tom Homan, a man so heartless that he was featured in a Valentine's Day Instagram post issued by the White House that promised people in the country without legal documentation that they will be deported.

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan laughed alongside Donald Trump at a charity dinner last fall, gave the invocation at the presidents swearing-in and told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo with a straight face that Trump takes his Christian faith seriously. Meanwhile, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, who presides over one of the largest archdioceses in the world and is a Mexican immigrant himself, has spent more time railing against the supposed evils of woke culture than he has openly criticizing this administration's anti-immigrant rhetoric.

The archdiocese has long held special masses and novenas  nine days of prayers  on behalf of immigrants. But in a column last month in the L.A. archdiocese's publication urging immigration reform, Gomez couldn't even bring himself to criticize Trump by name, while pointing out that the other political party  Democrats  deported millions when Barack Obama was in the White House.

When an Episcopalian bishop  a female priest, no less!  urges Trump to have mercy on migrants, as Mariann Budde did during an inaugural service in the nation's capital with the president in the pews, you know that Francis' U.S. flock can and must do so much better.

Pope Francis arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in 2024. (Andrew Medichini / Associated Press)

Sometimes, it takes the near-loss of something  or someone  we took for granted to stir a reckoning. May the illness of Pope Francis spur self-reflection among Catholics, but also all Americans, about why we should help the neediest among us instead of follow those who only want to rule.

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Pope Francis: Gracias for your witness. Praise God for your continued recovery. I'm sorry we've failed you so far. Pray for us.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(NewsNation)  A search is underway for a Phoenix yoga instructor who went missing after a blind date more than a month ago.

Marcus Freiberger, 45, was last seen in a local parking garage Feb. 22. He was supposed to meet a blind date the day before, but whether he met with that person is unknown.

Freiberger was teaching classes at Melrose Yoga for a few months and was becoming a popular instructor at the studio.

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Hes a super young man, and hes the most personable individual, and when you speak to his friends, theyll tell you hes just a magnet, his father, Dutch Freiberger, told a local news outlet.

Ava Grace Baldwin: Father believes daughter hidden by her mother

His father said Marcus had a history of substance abuse and that he was between apartments before he went missing.

Freibergers dog, Thomas, was left alone for several days. His father said it was something he would never do.

Forrest Kruger, the owner of Melrose Yoga, told the outlet Freiberger was an excellent instructor and had a lot of friends.

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Where is he? What happened to him? He was making progress and doing all these great things and getting ahead in life, which is making him happy, Kruger said.

Freiberger was last seen driving a 2021 white GMC Sierra pickup truck with an Arizona license plate reading 3MA66L.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Phoenix Police Department.

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(NewsNation)  A search is underway for a Phoenix yoga instructor who went missing after a blind date more than a month ago.

Marcus Freiberger, 45, was last seen in a local parking garage Feb. 22. He was supposed to meet a blind date the day before, but whether he met with that person is unknown.

Freiberger was teaching classes at Melrose Yoga for a few months and was becoming a popular instructor at the studio.

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Hes a super young man, and hes the most personable individual, and when you speak to his friends, theyll tell you hes just a magnet, his father, Dutch Freiberger, told a local news outlet.

Where does your neighborhood rank among the 2025 Best Places to Live?

His father said Marcus had a history of substance abuse and that he was between apartments before he went missing.

Freibergers dog, Thomas, was left alone for several days. His father said it was something he would never do.

Forrest Kruger, the owner of Melrose Yoga, told the outlet Freiberger was an excellent instructor and had a lot of friends.

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Where is he? What happened to him? He was making progress and doing all these great things and getting ahead in life, which is making him happy, Kruger said.

Freiberger was last seen driving a 2021 white GMC Sierra pickup truck with an Arizona license plate reading 3MA66L.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Phoenix Police Department.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs the Arkansas ACCESS Act at the Arkansas Economic Development Foundation Luncheon on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Randall Lee for the Arkansas governor's office)

Arkansas ACCESS is a higher education overhaul bill signed into law by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders last week. The legislation, which was filed as two identical 123-page bills in the House and Senate, is an acronym for acceleration, common sense, cost eligibility, scholarships and standardization.

Here are some highlights of the major parts of the legislation:

Accelerated Learning

Expands accelerated high school coursework beyond Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs to include Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education courses, concurrent credit courses or similar programs approved by the state education department.

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Allows accelerated courses to receive weighted credit.

Repeals efforts to reduce the participation gaps and performance gaps in AP classes between African American, Hispanic and Caucasian students.

Beginning in 2025-2026, all public school districts and charter schools shall offer at least four accelerated learning courses that cover math, English, science and social studies.



Beginning in 2025-2026, the tuition rate for a concurrent credit course offered by public schools shall be between 0.5% and 2.5% of the per-pupil amount and will not exceed the standard tuition rate and fee structure of the higher education institution providing the course.

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Students and their parents will not be responsible for tuition, fees or materials for participation in a concurrent credit course.

School Ratings

Amends the current K-12 school rating system and directs the education department to develop a new formula for determining a letter grade ranking for public school districts and education service cooperatives.

Strikes language that previously called for the rating system to consider English-learner progress and one of several other indicators, including closing the achievement gap, equity in resource allocation or preschool access.

Purple Star School Districts and Campuses

Permits a Purple Star designation for public schools and state-supported institutions of higher education that show significant commitment to serving students and families connected to the U.S. Armed Forces.

College Admissions

Establishes the Arkansas Direct Admissions Program beginning with the graduating class of 2026-2027. The program will include a common online application portal and establish provisional admissions criteria.

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Requires state-sponsored schools to accept the Classic Learning Test (CLT) to the same extent they do the ACT and SAT tests for admissions and state-funded financial assistance programs.

Social Advocacy

Prohibits public school districts from granting excused absences for political protests.

Allows excused absences for public school students who, with parental consent, engage in social or public policy advocacy, or attempts to influence legislation or other governmental policymaking.

Requires school districts to submit an annual report on the absences to the state education department.

Prohibits state-supported institutions of higher education from granting excused absences for political protest, social or public policy advocacy, or attempts to influence governmental policymaking.

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Prohibits state-supported institutions of higher education from authorizing student walkouts for political protest, social or public policy advocacy, or attempts to influence governmental policymaking.

Requires students who damage a state-supported institution of higher education while engaging in a political protest or public policy advocacy to be liable for the damages. Students found liable are ineligible to receive their degree or transfer credits to another Arkansas school until they pay for the damages.

Discrimination and Indoctrination

Prohibits employees at a state-supported institution of higher education from compelling someone to personally affirm, adopt, or adhere to ideas or beliefs that violate sections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but does allow for the discussion of history and concepts related to these topics.

Prohibits conditioning enrollment or attendance based on race, ethnicity, sex, color or national origin.

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Prohibits a state-supported institution of higher education from collecting and reporting information related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for institutional accreditation purposes.

Prohibits complying with institutional accreditation requirements related to DEI, including a diversity statement.

Permits restricting state funding to institutions that dont comply with the bills Rejecting Discrimination and Indoctrination in Postsecondary Education subchapter.

Prohibits institutions from expending state funds and to reject federal funds whose receipt requires them to violate this subchapter.

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Prohibits institutions from requiring current or prospective employees or students to submit a diversity statement.

Does not prohibit institutions from directing recruitment, advertising or promotion efforts to a specific population of prospective or existing students.

Higher Ed Funding

Permits the Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE) to promulgate rules to implement a productivity-based funding model for two-year and four-year state-supported institutions.

Incorporates a return-on-investment metric into the funding model.

Requires ADHE to consult with the Governors Workforce Cabinet during the development of the funding formula for noncredit programs.

Faculty Performance Review

Permits the review process to result in the removal of tenure status or remedial training, and allows a tenured faculty member to appeal the decision.

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Permits immediate review of faculty members, including those with tenure, at any time if the institution determines they have exhibited professional incompetence, been convicted of a crime affecting their fitness to do their job, or have engaged in unprofessional conduct, among other things.

Requires review framework to be reported to ADHE by Dec. 1, 2025, and implemented by Jan. 1, 2026. Tenure-related reports are due by Aug. 1 annually.

Course Credit

Develops a statewide common course number system, with education officials to begin recommending additions and alterations beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.

Provides for a reverse transfer agreement for students seeking an associate degree who transfer to a four-year state-supported institution of higher education before earning an associate degree.

Scholarships

Establishes an order for which institutions of higher education award financial aid, with federal aid being applied before state aid, except as otherwise provided by federal law.

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Increases the first year award for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program from $1,000 to $2,000.

Creates the Arkansas Heroes Scholarship Act for children or spouses of heroes, which include first responders, veterans, teachers and certain state employees who suffered a fatal injury or become permanently disabled as result of a duty that occurred within the scope of their employment. Scholarship benefits may not accrue if the wound or death was self-inflicted.

Creates the Governors Higher Education Transition Scholarship Program for students with disabilities. The program will offer a maximum award of $2,500 per qualifying semester, and recipients must maintain eligibility for up to eight continuous semesters or until credentialing is obtained.

Renames the Arkansas Concurrent Challenge Scholarship Program to the ACCESS to Acceleration Scholarship Program, which supports the cost of concurrent credit courses under certain circumstances. Students may receive a maximum of $2,000 annually.

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Amends the Arkansas Governors Scholars Program to direct recipients to be chosen based on students who graduate with a diploma of distinction or earn an associate degree upon completing the summer term immediately following high school graduation.

Allocates up to $5 million to the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship and increases the maximum annual award from $800 to $3,000.

Classifies members of the U.S. military stationed in Arkansas and their dependents as in-state residents for state-funded scholarship purposes.

Classifies other students as in-state residents if they have or will graduate from an Arkansas public school, private school or homeschool within nine months of enrolling in a state-supported institution of higher education; or established legal residency by meeting the requirements of rules promulgated by ADHE, and have been physically present in Arkansas for at least six continuous months with the intent to remain in the state.

Committee Membership

Removes some organizations previously designated in statute as required appointees to various committees and councils. Legislative sponsors said their bills eliminate without bias entities that were not statutorily created, but these groups could still participate because the legislation allows for relevant stakeholders.

Reduces the size of some of these entities, including the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board, which will shrink from 12 governor-appointed members to seven beginning on May 1.

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DAMASCUS, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Two fuel shipments have arrived at Syria's port city of Baniyas, the state-run SANA news agency reported Tuesday.

A tanker carrying 5,600 tons of gasoline and another with 100,000 tons of crude oil have docked at the terminal of Syrian Oil Transport Company in the city, SANA said.

The report did not specify the origin of the shipments or whether they were part of a bilateral agreement or commercial purchase.

Syria has faced chronic fuel shortages in recent years due to conflict, sanctions, and infrastructure damage. 
This article was updated at 10:53 a.m. ET to include comments from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.

The Arkansas House of Representatives and Senate are debating two bills to enact harsher punishments against truck drivers who are in the U.S. illegally and obtain or use commercial drivers licenses.

Arkansas House Bill 1569 (HB1569), filed in February, calls for commercial motor vehicle drivers operating in the state to demonstrate proficiency in the English language.

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These drivers must be able to read road signs and warning signs, understand traffic control devices and communicate effectively in an emergency with emergency services, law enforcement and other drivers.





The bill, named the Secure Roads and Safe Trucking Act of 2025, would fine truckers without sufficient English proficiency $5,000.

HB1569 also calls for harsher penalties for drivers operating without a valid CDL, including a fine of $5,000 and impoundment of their motor vehicle. In addition, it would stiffen laws against undocumented drivers who injure another person while operating their vehicle, making it a Class D felony carrying a minimum six-month prison sentence.

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Undocumented drivers who commit vehicular homicide with a commercial motor vehicle  regardless of intent  would face a minimum 10 years in prison. This would be a Class B felony.

Additionally, carriers who negligently provide CMVs to individuals in violation of HB1569 would be fined $10,000.





HB1569 is strongly supported by the advocacy group American Truckers United. The group also opposes House Bill 1745 (HB1745), which passed in the House on Thursday, and has argued it would legalize foreign CDLs in the state.

 Urgent: New Trucking Advocacy Group backs Arkansas State Representative Wayne Long and his bill HB1569 for state CDL standards, English proficiency, & closing the visa loopholes that are flooding highways with non-citizensvital after last week's alarming truck crashes.



This pic.twitter.com/QdcJoeIBwV  American Truckers (@atutruckers) March 16, 2025

HB1745, now awaiting action in the Senate, would make presenting a fake CDL or operating a commercial vehicle without an employment authorization document a Class D felony.

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HB1745 allows a person to drive a CMV if he or she has a CDL or commercial learners permit issued by a state, territory or possession of the U.S., the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico.

Drivers with a CDL issued by Canada, Mexico or any other jurisdiction under a waiver or exemption recognized by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, would also be permitted as long as they have a valid employment authorization document.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) said while it supports the intent of HB1745, it wished the bill went further to address hiring issues by larger carriers.

We generally support the intent of HB 1745 in the Arkansas legislature, but wish the bill went further to address the underlying issue: corporate megacarriers recruiting foreign truck drivers to undercut the ability of American truckers to earn a decent living, said Doug Morris, OOIDA director of state affairs. Corporate megacarriers will use every loophole available, including those previously established by the FMCSA, to save a buck on the backs of American truckers. We are actively pursuing solutions on the state and federal level to right this wrong.

FreightWaves reached out to the American Trucking Associations for comment.





The post Arkansas lawmakers debate crackdown on undocumented truckers appeared first on FreightWaves.
(KRON)  The Fairfield Police Department said a man led police on a chase after officers responded to a report of an armed man standing in the street.

Teen charged in robbery, murder of 15-year-old walking to soccer practice

The case began on March 16 at 4:11 p.m. near the 1400 block of Phoenix Drive.

Police said that a caller reported that suspect had fired his weapon following an argument with another individual.

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When police arrived at the scene, they located a black car matching the description of the suspects vehicle as it fled the area. A pursuit would start as the suspect made his way to westbound Interstate 80, and California Highway Patrol Air Support and ground units took over the chase as the car traveled through Cordelia. Police said the driver would not stop despite several attempts by police, including officers deploying spike strips.

After, the man stopped on the freeway in El Cerrito and ran across the eastbound lanes onto the streets where he was soon taken into custody.

Photo courtesy of California Highway Patrol.

Police said the suspect, identified as Aldair Alday, 26, of Fairfield, is a convicted felon and was discovered to have two outstanding warrants. He was booked for negligent discharge of a firearm, evading, prohibited possession of ammunition, DUI and possession of a controlled substance.

Fairfield police said CHP Solano, CHP Air Operations, Richmond Police Department, El Cerrito Police Department, and Kensington Police Department all assisted during the incident.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Interstate 65 North was closed at Exit 79, Armory Drive, due to a police investigation, according to a spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

An incident marker with TDOTs SmartWay cameras showed a single-vehicle crash reported at 6 p.m. at the Armory Drive exit Monday. The northbound exit ramp and the right shoulder were blocked. Metro Dispatch confirmed the Metro Nashville Police Departments fatal crash team had been called to the scene.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Erin Zeigler with TDOT said in an X post that the estimated clearance time would be 10:30 p.m. Monday. News 2 has reached out to the MNPD and the Tennessee Highway Patrol for more information.

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 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.

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OLATHE, Kan.  The budget for 2026 is being discussed right now in the Kansas Statehouse.

Kansas State Senator Pat Pettey recently said legislators have not given the budget the time and work, it needs this year.

Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy suing ex-fiancee for fabricated domestic violence claims

I also think it is important to realize what were doing to some of our agencies within this budget, Pettey said in a recent Senate Chamber Proceeding from March 18. I would agree with the Chair of Ways and Means that we do need to be making decisions about how best to spend state funds, but I think we need to keep Kansans in mind when we are doing that.

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One of those areas mentioned, is the Arts.

We are not putting any money into the arts program in 2026, Senator Pettey said.

Its something recent Kansas Arts Commission grant beneficiaries have already come to know as a real possibility.

In last years grant period, through the Kansas Arts Commission, over $1 million was awarded to 108 recipients in 42 Kansas counties.

The commission supports arts like music and theater, among other things, throughout the state.

If grants were no longer available through the Kansas Arts Commission, that would have a pretty significant impact across the state, let alone Johnson County, Executive Director for the Arts Council of Johnson County, Sarah VanLanduyt said.

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In Johnson County, there were eleven applications the Kansas Arts Commission funded last year, totaling almost $145,000.

You can read more about those beneficiaries here.

My hopes are that Governor Kelly will see the benefit of keeping the arts alive in Kansas, Arts in Prisons Executive Director, Leigh Lynch said. There are programs everywhere.

Arts in Prison is a nonprofit in Johnson County that recently received a grant from the Kansas Arts Commission, nearing $20,000.

People that are inside of prisons that are making art, they are trying to tell their story through their art, well those dont come out unless someone like Arts In Prison goes in there and collects them and puts them up in an art exhibit, Lynch shared. There is a huge benefit to having the arts active in the state and taking them away, we are going to see the huge negative.

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Lynch has been with the nonprofit for 20 years. She says the organization is funded by grants and donations.

We run a very lean machine and every dollar that we can take in matters to us. A grant that size is huge. It allowed me, for the first time ever, to pay stipends to some of our volunteers, so that we are covering some of their milage costs to drive back and forth to provide programming (in Lansing and Topeka), Lynch shared. Defunding the Arts Commission takes away all of those connections and we go back to being little individual groups of people trying to find ways to make a difference in our communities.

Another advocate of the Arts in Kansas is Sarah VanLanduyt.

Through the Kansas Arts Network, weve been watching the budget process, since the beginning of the legislative session this year. So, I think it was last week we understood that the Senate Ways and Means Committee had recommended removing 1-millon dollars from the Kansas Arts Commission budget, Sarha VanLanduyt shared.

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You can read more about the Kansas Arts Network here.

The KAN says on Facebook, Unlike most state agencies, which face a 3% budget reduction, the Kansas Arts Commission is set to lose most of its funding.

VanLanduyt is also the Executive Director of the Arts Council of Johnson County.

Kansas Supreme Court justice resigning due to health complications

I would say its important for arts lovers, arts supporters, arts advocates to continue talking with your state legislature. Help them understand how much this means to you, how much it means to your family, your loved ones, and the impact that it has on your community, she shared.

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FOX4 reached out to the Kansas Arts Commission for comment. It said, Until both chambers of the Kansas Legislature vote on and approve a final budget, it is too early to speculate on what may or may not be in the final document.

The bill would also be sent to Governor Laura Kellys Office for action.

Its unclear though when that will take place or why the Kansas Arts Commission is facing this funding cut.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Arvin could see the fifth seat in its council officially filled. An item in Tuesdays Council Meeting asks to approve a resolution to hold an All Mail Ballot Special Municipal election.

The fifth seat in Arvins council has been empty since early July of 2024, when former Council Member Juan Murillo was last seen at a city meeting.

In following meetings, discussion would blow up surrounding Murillos resignation.

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Attorney for the city, Nathan Hodges, would clarify that Murillo resigned through a letter sent late August.

But community members would stand up for Murillo, claiming he had rescinded that resignation letter.

Arguments the council was not having.

Being a new situation for the City and Council, there was no clear path to follow.

Attorney Hodges would inform council they had two options, either appointing a new member, or holding special elections.

But neither option would be appealing to council.

If a new member was to be appointed, another appointed member would have to resign.

This to prevent majority of council to be appointed rather than voted in, which would be illegal.

But neither of the appointed council members voiced their desire to resign.

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The other option, holding special elections, would be to costly for the citys budget according to council.

And with regular elections approaching, there was a deadline for Nov. 6 to call for a special meeting.

The deadline that was not met, leaving the council seat vacant until November of 2026.

Council meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesday of every month.

They are open to the public, starting at 6 p.m. in the City Hall chambers, located on 200 Campus Dr.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Ascension Parish residents voted against removing a salary restriction for local officials from the parishs governing rules.

The Parishwide Home Rule Charter Amendment Proposition would delete the following language from the rules that govern the parish:

Governing Authority members shall receive an annual salary not to exceed the maximum amount allowed for police jurors by state law.

If this proposition had been approved, it wouldve eliminated the salary cap for local governing authority members. The proposition does not specify what, if anything, will replace the deleted language.

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See March 29 election results >>

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  The dust that traveled from the Plains on March 15 was robust enough to coat the ground in West Michigan with likely more than a dozen pounds of dust.

The dust cloud was so strong it dropped West Michigan to the lowest recorded air quality levels since records began in the 1980s. For a time, West Michigan also reported the worst air quality in the nation.

West Michigans air quality worst in the US on March 15

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If 1 millimeter of accumulated dust weighs 0.00049 grams per centimeter, we can roughly estimate an oversimplified guess as to how much dust may have fallen as a result of this plume.

Assuming we include 17 counties in the definition of West Michigan, we come to a total land area of 9,867 square miles. Some fast math yields about 125.16 tons of dust. Satellite imagery confirms the dust was not equally concentrated across the counties. So, for fun, lets take 65% of that maximum value for an estimate of about 81 tons, or about 14 elephants worth of dust.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is searching for two people who reportedly defaced multiple Tesla vehicles throughout Northeast and Northwest D.C.

(The Metropolitan Police Department)

MPD said a man and woman wrote political hate speech on the victims cars before fleeing.

Both suspects are believed to be involved in the following incidents that happened on Sunday, March 2:

At around 2:29 p.m., in the 200 block of K Street NE;

At around 6:15 p.m. in the 3600 block of 11th Street NW.

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Councilmember Pinto introduces new Peace DC legislation to reduce crime

According to police reports obtained by DC News Now, the Tesla owners reported finding derogatory writing such as, Ask me about my support of Nazis and I love Musk and hate the Fed Govt.

One person, whose car was parked outside of Ludlow-Taylor Elementary school, reported someone wrote Go Doge I support Musk killing the dept of Education on her front windshield.

The man was reportedly also involved in incidents that happened on five other days in March, including the following:

On Saturday, March 8, just after 8 a.m. in the 600-700 blocks of F Street NE;

On Sunday, March 9, at around 3:48 p.m. in the 800 block of F Street NE;

On Monday, March 10, at around 3:48 p.m. in the 800 block of F Street NE;

On Wednesday, March 12, at around 12:35 p.m. in the 600 block of G Street NE;

On Friday, March 14, between 12 a.m. and 8:06 a.m. in the 600-700 blocks of F Street NE.

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MPD said it is looking for information regarding the suspects identities as the department continues to investigate the private property (hate/bias) incidents.

Anyone who has knowledge about the incidents is asked to call MPD at (202) 727-9099 or text the departments tip line at 50411.

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating these offenses as potentially being motivated by hate or bias. The designation can be changed at any point as an investigation proceeds and more information is gathered. A designation as a hate crime by MPD does not mean that prosecutors will prosecute it as a hate crime, the department noted in a news release.

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The number of Assembly candidates running in June's primaries is the highest in nearly 50 years as New Jersey faces a governor's race, the end of county lines, and uncertain federal politics. (Photo by Mary Iuvone for New Jersey Monitor)

More candidates are running for seats in the New Jersey Assembly this year than they have at any point since Jimmy Carter was president.

This year, 209 Assembly candidates  123 Democrats and 86 Republicans  will vie for their parties nomination on June 10, up from the 170 that ran for the lower chamber when it was last on the ballot in 2023. To find a higher total, you have to go back to 1977, when 252 office-seekers launched bids for the Assembly.

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Dan Cassino, director of the Fairleigh Dickinson University poll, cited this years crowded race for governor as a factor.

The fact theres a governor on the ballot means theres more money floating around, and there is more interest in the election overall, and that money does matter. The fact that there are higher profile candidates out there raising money, some of that money leaks down, Cassino said. It might not happen in tax policy, but in politics, there absolutely is trickle-down economics.

Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez (D- Hudson) is seeking reelection in a district that has six Democrats vying for two seats. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor)

The breadth of candidacies has ballooned the number of contested primaries in the state.

New Jersey has 40 legislative districts, and each one is represented by one senator and two members of the Assembly (senators are not on the ballot this year). More than two Democrats have filed to run in 24 districts, and Republican candidates will face contested primaries in seven.

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In 2023, when the states 80 Assembly seats were last on the ballot, only 11 primaries were contested across both parties.

Cassino and others cited the increasingly uncertain national political landscape as a possible cause for the surge.

Were seeing, I think, more of a blending than we ever have of national and state level politics at this point, said Ashley Koning, director of Rutgers Universitys Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling.

Assembly candidates recruited by Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, who is seeking the Democratic nod for governor, account for most of the primary challenges on his side of the aisle.

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The 37 candidates running under Fulops Democrats for Change slogan have mounted bids in 23 of the states legislative districts, including in two solidly Republican ones where the Democrats are unopposed in their primary.

The sharp increase in Assembly candidates this year has created six-way primaries in two districts.

In Hudson Countys 32nd District, Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez (D-Hudson) is running alongside Jersey City Councilman Yousef Saleh on a Fulop-aligned slate against Hoboken Public Library director Jennie Pu and Crystal Fonseca, division director of buildings and street maintenance in Jersey City. Pu and Fonseca have the endorsement of the Hudson County Democratic Organization.

Also seeking the Democratic nods in that district are Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla and Katie Brennan, a former New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency chief of staff. Brennans allegations of sexual assault against a staffer on Gov. Phil Murphys 2017 campaign roiled Trenton and spurred legislative hearings.

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Thats a hell of a race, Cassino said. What that does is, first off, because these are well-resourced candidates, youre going to get higher turnout. Youre going to get more voters.

Assemblywoman Shama Haider (D-Bergen) is also seeking reelection in a district that will have six Democrats running for two seats. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor)

In Bergen Countys 37th district, Assemblywomen Shama Haider (D-Bergen) and Ellen Park (D-Bergen) face challenges from Tamar Warburg, general counsel for the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ, and Tenafly Councilman Daniel Park, both of whom were recruited by Fulop. Former Teaneck Mayor Yitz Stern and real estate agent Rosemary Hernandez Carroll have also launched bids there.

The swell of candidacies comes as a broad array of gubernatorial candidates vie for the chance to replace a term-limited Murphy and roughly a year after a federal judges injunction ended a unique New Jersey ballot design called the county line. County-line ballots grouped all candidates that received official party-backing, whether they were running for president or town council, and often relegated non-endorsed candidates to the far reaches of the ballot.

Critics of the system alleged it depressed the number of office-seekers by limiting the number of competitive races in the state.

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New Jersey voters are smart, and its been clear to them for years now that something in the system is broken, and up until now, our state races have been notoriously uncompetitive, said Nuzhat Chowdhury, director of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justices democracy and justice program.

Lawmakers have since passed, and Murphy signed, legislation to codify the use of office-block ballots, which group candidates by the office they are seeking.

With the county line no longer being there to allow parties to influence ballots and elections, I think people finally feel empowered to embrace democracy and run for public service, Chowdhury said.

Though the move to office-block ballots will limit parties influence on primaries, it wont end it altogether.

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Organizations still matter, even without the line, said Ben Dworkin, director of the Rowan Institute for Public Policy. If youve got a cadre of volunteers, lists of voters who trust you and are willing to listen to your pitch  an organization with those resources to employ on behalf of specific candidates is very likely to make a difference in these races.

Some party organizations, Dworkin added, are better prepared to campaign for their chosen candidates than others.

Just two sitting legislators are seeking reelection unopposed. Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-Mercer) and Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli (D-Mercer) have no primary challengers, and no Republicans filed to run in their 15th Legislative District.

They could still face challenges in November from unaffiliated and third-party candidates, who must file their nominating petitions before 4 p.m. on June 10.

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The number of candidates running this year could decline as petition challenges are filed in the coming days.

Murphy in February signed legislation that more than doubled existing signature thresholds needed to get on the ballot, and challenges could knock some candidates beneath the 250-signature threshold needed to run for Assembly.

In the 28th District, which is largely a collection of Essex County towns, Democrat Nadirah Brown filed to run with 255 signatures and Republican Toye Kumolu filed with 260. Their names would be removed from the ballot if enough of their signatures were invalidated.

Though party organizations have sometimes eschewed challenges to longshot candidates petitions for fear of antagonizing rank-and-file voters over an uncompetitive challenger, they have little reason to fear such backlash this year.

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Unfortunately, we dont know if the publics paying attention. When we talk about state and especially local politics, this is so hard for voters to follow in any state, Koning said. New Jersey has an election every year. Put on top of that the national climate and the barrage of breaking news that voters are experiencing, and its really hard for voters to pay attention to elections at this level.

Four sitting members of the Assembly  Reginald Atkins (D-Union), John Allen (D-Hudson), Julio Marenco (D-Hudson), and Shavonda Sumter (D-Passaic)  are not seeking reelection. Their decisions to forgo bids for another term were earlier reported by the New Jersey Globe.

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Quantitatively upstaging Earths guest appearance of a second moon this fall, a recent study found that Saturn has 128 new moons in its orbit.

Astronomers confirmed this discovery on March 11, officially bringing Saturns total amount of moons to 274  according to NASA.

Not that it was ever a competition, but if it was, this discovery means Saturn nearly doubled its already-winning odds. The second planet with the most amount of moons is Jupiter, with 95 recorded in its orbit.

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A report by the New York Times said these moons were possibly formed by cosmic smashups that sent debris into Saturns orbit about 100 million years ago.

Many of these moons are rocks only a few miles across  small compared with our moon, which is 2,159 miles across, explained the report. But as long as they have trackable orbits around their parent body, the scientists who catalog objects in the solar system consider them to be moons.

A team of astronomers from Taiwan, Canada, France and the U.S. first discovered Saturns new batch of moons in 2023, according to Science.com. The moons were ratified in March 2025 by the International Astronomical Union.

The NYTimes explained how, through using the Canada France Hawaii Telescope at Mauna Kea in Hawaii, this team observed patches of space near Saturn, and over time this allowed them to track the motion of previously unknown moons.

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NYTimes spoke with a member of the team, Edward Ashton, who explained that they needed to prove the objects were in orbit around the planet.

The report noted that Ashton, who will have naming rights for these objects, was also responsible for finding 62 new moons of Saturn two years ago.

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Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with Sardor Umurzakov, the advisor on special assignments to the president of Uzbekistan, in Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Wang Huning, China's top political advisor, met with Sardor Umurzakov, the advisor on special assignments to the president of Uzbekistan, in Beijing on Tuesday.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said that China is willing to work with Uzbekistan to implement the consensus reached by their two heads of state, advance the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road, and push forward the construction of a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future.

Umurzakov congratulated China on its successful convening of the "two sessions," noting that the Uzbek side pays close attention to China's economic and social development achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, stands ready to make new progress in bilateral relations, and is willing to learn from China's experience in industrialization, poverty alleviation, and scientific and technological development. 

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with Sardor Umurzakov, the advisor on special assignments to the president of Uzbekistan, in Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)
A man known for playing his bagpipes at events around Atlanta died in a scuba diving incident while on vacation in Hawaii.

If thats not tragic enough, when his family went to his home to settle his affairs, they found skeletal remains believed to be their missing brother.

Channel 2s Tom Jones talked to a man who said hes been friends with Henry Frantz Jr. for more than 50 years.

Weve been friends for so long, Leonard E. Wood said. Im the godfather for one of his daughters.

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They also were a part of the Atlanta Pipe Band, of which Frantz was a founding member. The 74-year-old Frantz was well known for playing his bagpipes at events all around Atlanta for years.

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Henry just saw them, heard them, liked them, Wood remembered.

Police in Maui, Hawaii say Frantz was killed March 10 during a scuba diving incident.

Wood says its a huge loss, not just for Frantzs family but for the community as well.

He will be sadly missed by the piping community in Atlanta and other places, Wood said.

Six days after Frantzs death, Decatur police say family members located skeletal remains in a treehouse at Frantzs home.

Wood says one of Frantzs daughters told him it was her 28-year-old brother, Hank, who had been missing for four years.

Terrible tragedy. I cant imagine. Hank was a young man, Wood said.

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An investigator with the DeKalb County Medical Examiners Office said its probably Hank, but he said theyre still trying to confirm his identity. He also said he doesnt have a cause of death and doesnt suspect foul play.

Wood said Frantz was a great man. He said he didnt know much about his son.

All I know is he was a good kid, and that was an awful shock, he said.

Police in Maui continue to investigate Frantzs death.

Jones reached out to Frantzs daughters but didnt hear back.

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(Bloomberg) -- The Atlantics top editor said he was added to a text group in which top US officials discussed detailed plans to bomb Houthi targets in Yemen with other top US officials, an extraordinary breach of security from an administration that has repeatedly vowed to clamp down on leaks.

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Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg recounted in a 3,500-word story published Monday how he got a connection request on the Signal messaging app from someone identified as Michael Waltz. He initially believed the request was fake, but later realized the account belonging to the US national security adviser was genuine after the group discussed detailed plans for an attack on the Houthis, a militant group that has carried out numerous attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

Goldberg didnt publish the actual plans in the article. But he said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at one point shared a post that featured operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the US would be deploying, and attack sequencing.

Hours later, the attacks went ahead.

The messages offer unparalleled insight into the administrations thinking around the Houthis as well as internal power dynamics, given that they feature a debate among the principals, including Vice President JD Vance, who revealed to the group his initial opposition to the strikes. At one point, Vance offered gentle criticism of President Donald Trumps plans.

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I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now, according to a message from a number believed to be Vances. Theres a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices.

That line of reasoning was shut down from an account labeled SM  apparently White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller  who wrote, As I heard it, the president was clear: green light, but we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return.

Senior members of Trumps cabinet were also in the group, including Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and John Ratcliffe, the director of the CIA.

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Trump claimed to be unaware of the breach when asked about it at an event later Monday. His spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, said in a statement he has the utmost confidence in his national security team, including Waltz.

Hegseth told reporters in Hawaii on Monday evening that nobody was texting war plans, thats all I have to say about that.

In a statement, White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said the message thread appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.

But Hughes added that the chain showed deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials, and said its contents appeared not to have put anyone in danger.

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The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to our servicemembers or our national security, he wrote.

The messages nonetheless amount to an unprecedented breach from officials including Hegseth who have in recent days pledged to crack down on leaks to the media as imperiling national security. Before the Yemen attack, Hegseth wrote in the chat, We are currently clean on OPSEC, using the military acronym for operational security.

The text messages raise other questions as well. The owner of the group, apparently Waltz, set the messages to disappear after several days, an apparent violation of laws meant to preserve government records. And Signal, which has gained a reputation as the most secure chat app, isnt authorized by the government as a platform to disseminate classified information.

While theres no set practice to respond to such a breach, even inadvertent or harmless leaks in the past have resulted in inquiries by the Federal Bureau of Investigation or agency inspectors general. Several Democratic lawmakers called for oversight hearings.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Waltz, a former Republican congressman, as trusted, trustworthy and told reporters, I think it would be a terrible mistake for there to be adverse consequences on any of the people involved.

The mission was accomplished with precision, and I think thats what matters in the end, Johnson added.

If true, this story represents one of the most egregious failures of operational security and common sense I have ever seen, said Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who faced strong criticism from Republicans over her use of a private email server during her time in office, responded to the chat revelation with a short post on X: You have got to be kidding me.

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In the end, the strikes just over a week ago saw the US unleash a fresh barrage of missiles against the Houthis, an Iran-backed group thats crippled shipping through the Red Sea with missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels that began after Hamass Oct. 7, 2023 assault on Israel.

The messages also showed officials deeply at ease with messaging lingo, texting fist bump and fire emojis after the attacks occurred.

Kudos to all  most particularly those in theater and CENTCOM! Really great, an account identified as that belonging to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles wrote, referring to US Central Command. God bless.

--With assistance from Kate Sullivan, Billy House and Chelsea Mes.

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(Updates with Hillary Clinton response in fourth to last paragraph)

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Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantics editor-in-chief, shared Monday that he struggles to explain the unreality of Trump officials using a third-party messaging app to discuss war plans after he broke the story on the group chat he was inadvertently added to.

The unreality of it, I think, is something thats very hard to capture, Goldberg told MSNBCs Jen Psaki.

In his bombshell report, Goldberg described his initial concerns that the Signal group chat  which he said he was added to by national security adviser Michael Waltz and included the likes of Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth  was a disinformation operation, a simulation or a hoax.

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The Signal chat, which he was added to earlier this month, saw officials discuss highly sensitive matters of national security like the then-upcoming strikes in Yemen.

Goldberg declared that the national security world is a pretty serious one, adding those below the principals committee of the National Security Council take their responsibilities extremely seriously.

He proceeded to remind Psaki, a former political adviser for presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, that they both know of people who have gone to prison for mishandling sensitive materials.

Ive been asked this question a few times today, its, Why did you have such a hard time believing this? And the answer is, Because its unbelievable, said Goldberg, adding that hes never experienced such a situation either before or after the 9/11 attacks.

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These are life and death issues, and you dont just put out specific targeting information, specific timings of attacks that have not yet taken place, into a commercial messaging app, Goldberg said.

He said the most obvious explanation for the group chat, that it was real, was the most improbable one for most of the time he was following it.

Because Ive never seen senior government officials act this way, he added.

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The author of the bombshell Atlantic article who shared a firsthand account of being accidentally added to a group chat with senior Trump administration officials discussing sensitive national security matters on Monday blasted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths claim that nobody was texting war plans.

Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, in his piece explained that national security adviser Michael Waltz inadvertently invited him to join a group chat on encrypted messaging app Signal earlier this month with 17 members of Trumps team, including Hegseth.

While a spokesperson for the National Security Council confirmed the text thread reported by Goldberg was real, Hegseth took issue with the journalists characterization of the messages.

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Nobody was texting war plans, Hegseth said, looking straight into the camera after landing in Hawaii for an official trip. Thats all I have to say about that.

Goldberg disputed Hegseths assessment.

Thats a lie, he told CNNs The Source. He was texting war plans. He was texting attack plans.

While Goldberg shared some of the contents of the group chat in the article, he withheld information shared by Hegseth on March 15 two hours ahead of a planned attack on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Goldberg wrote that Hegseths messages included information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing, which could have put U.S. military and intelligence personnel in harms way had it landed in the hands of U.S. adversaries.

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In his remarks to reporters, Hegseth launched a personal attack on Goldberg, calling him a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again.

In response, Goldberg, who expressed his disbelief at the whole episode, accused Hegseth of trying to distract from his reckless behavior.

The whole thing is just very flummoxing to me, because I havent seen this kind of unserious behavior before, Goldberg told MSNBCs Jen Psaki. The secretary of defense, all due respect, in that presentation seems like a person whos unserious and is trying to deflect from the fact that he participated in a conversation on an unclassified commercial messaging app that he probably shouldnt have participated in.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths claim that nobody was discussing war plans in a top-secret group chat is a lie, The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg said Monday after Hegseth tried to discredit his bombshell reporting.

Goldberg revealed that he wasapparently inadvertentlyadded to a group chat composed of top national security officialsincluding Hegsethwho were discussing a strike on Houthi targets in Yemen that indeed took place on March 15, killing 53 people. Hegseth blasted Goldberg as a highly discredited reporter who peddles in garbage and insisted that nobody was texting war plans.

When asked about Hegseths denial, Goldberg told CNNs The Source With Kaitlan Collins on Monday night, No, thats a lie. He was texting war plans. He was texting attack plans.

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Goldberg said the messages exchanged in the group chat detailed a specific time for the attack, human targets, weapon systems, and even weather reports.

I thought to myself, I guess theyre lucky they didnt send this to a Houthi by mistake, or to a foreign diplomat, he told CNN.

Speaking to MSNBCs Inside With Jen Psaki earlier Monday evening, Goldberg added: He can say that it wasnt a war plan, but it was a minute-by-minute accounting of what was about to happen. This is their plan, and he was taking their plan and sharing it with a bunch of civilian leaders.

Goldberg said Hegseth seems like a person who is unserious and is trying to deflect from the fact that he participated in a conversation on an unclassified commercial messaging app that he probably shouldnt have participated in.

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Ive never seen a large group of senior-most national security officials just kind of willy-nilly put out a bunch of stuff without knowing who theyre talking to, he added.

Both Goldberg and Collins pointed out that none of their sources in the White House and national security circles attempted to dismiss the group chat as fake.

Oh for God's sake, the administration has already confirmed the authenticity of the message. https://t.co/AxQGqqyux3  Brit Hume (@brithume) March 24, 2025

National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes confirmed the veracity of the group chat to Goldberg.

This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, Hughes said. The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security.

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Even Brit Hume, Hegseths former colleague at Fox News, was exasperated by the defense secretarys deflection: Oh for Gods sake, the administration has already confirmed the authenticity of the message, Hume wrote on X.

President Donald Trump told reporters Monday afternoon that he was unaware of Goldbergs stunning revelation: Youre telling me about it for the first time  I dont know anything about it.

Goldberg told CNN this struck him as noteworthy, considering that he reached out to multiple White House officials for comment hours before Trumps press conference.

Hours later, Trump reposted Elon Musks swipe at The Atlantic.

Best place to hide a dead body is page 2 of The Atlantic magazine, because no one ever goes there.
Jeffery Goldberg, the top editor of The Atlantic, said he could be open to sharing more details from a Signal group chat he was mistakenly added to by top U.S. officials that contained secret war plans.

I get the defensive reaction, Goldberg said Tuesday during an interview with The Bulwark. But my obligation, I feel, is to the idea that we take national security information seriously.

Goldberg published a bombshell report Monday outlining how he was added to a group chat on the encrypted messaging app that included top U.S. intelligence and military officials earlier this month relating to the U.S. governments plans to strike Houthi targets in Yemen.

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Goldberg reported he saw in a message, sent to the group by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, specific weapons systems, human targets and other top secret information before he left the chat. He did not publish the specific information as part of his report, citing national security concerns.

The White House has denied war plans were texted to the group, and Hegseth on Monday denied the reporting as well, calling Goldberg a deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again.

Maybe in the coming days, Ill be able to say, OK, I have a plan to have this materiel vetted publicly,' Goldberg told The Bulwark on Tuesday. But Im not going to say that now.

During a hearing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe contended that the Signal chat in question did not include classified information.

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Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, said in a Monday interview he had a hard time believing the group chat he was included in with top Trump Cabinet appointees was authentic because national security officials typically take digital security exceptionally seriously.

Goldberg on Monday published a blockbuster story about how he had been inadvertently added to a group chat on the Signal platform with figures including Trump national security adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and several other top officials.

The subject was a military strike on the Houthi rebels in Yemen, which took place earlier in March. Goldberg was given a front-row seat to the internal discussions that included talk on the timing of the strikes.

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The national security world is a pretty serious world, and  especially at the level below the principals  there are people who take their responsibilities extremely seriously and take security and safety and cybersecurity and digital security very, very seriously, Goldberg said in an interview Monday on MSNBCs Inside with Jen Psaki.

Goldberg noted hes covered national security issues for decades and even knows people who have gone to prison for mishandling of sensitive information  but still found the headline-making story unbelievable.

One of my problems  Ive been asked this question a few times today  is why did you have such a hard time believing this? And the answer is because its unbelievable, Goldberg said.

Ive never experienced this  through, you know, the pre-9/11 period, 9/11, Iraq, Afghanistan and so on  you know, these are life and death issues. And you dont just put out specific targeting information, specific timings of attacks that have not yet taken place into a commercial messaging app, he added.

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Goldberg wrote in his story that he initially had strong doubts the text group was real, because I could not believe that the national-security leadership of the United States would communicate on Signal about imminent war plans.

Goldberg also said he could not believe that the national security adviser to the president would be so reckless as to include him in the discussions with senior U.S. officials.

Brian Hughes, the spokesperson for the National Security Council, confirmed the message chain was authentic.

This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, wrote Hughes. The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security.

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But Hegseth and the White House have pushed back at the idea that war plans were sent on the chat, despite Goldbergs specifics in his reporting and the National Security Councils confirmation that the message chain was authentic.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in a Tuesday post on the social platform X insisted that no war plans were discussed and that classified material had not been transmitted. She also wrote that the White House counsels office has given guidance to officials on a number of platforms that can be safely used for communication, though her post did not say whether Signal was an appropriate platform.

National security voices in both parties have strongly criticized its use for the talks reported by Goldberg.

The White House Counsels Office has provided guidance on a number of different platforms for President Trumps top officials to communicate as safely and efficiently as possible, Leavitt added.

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The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg revealed he was in a Safeway parking lot when he realized a group chat he was added to detailing strikes on Yemen was real.

Goldberg reported Monday that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz appeared to have added him to a group chat titled Houthi PC small group on the encrypted messaging app Signal. The thread also appeared to include top White House officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

At first, Goldberg wasnt sure if the group chat was real. But soon enough, officials started sending the planned times of U.S. strikes on Yemen  and Goldberg realized they were lining up perfectly.

The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg appears on CNN to discuss where he was when he realized the Yemen war plans group chat was real (CNN)

Im sitting in a Safeway parking lot, watching my phone and realizing, Oh my God, this might be real, Goldberg told CNNs Kaitlan Collins on Monday. I think Pete Hegseth just sent this group actual targeting information, actual sequencing of an attack.

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Goldberg went on to tell MSNBCs Jen Psaki he was glad someone else wasnt added to the group chat.

Its interesting because as Im reading it at 11:44 a.m. on Saturday morning, the 15th, seeing that the Houthis are not going to know about this for another couple of hours, and I know about it, Goldberg said on Inside with Jen Psaki.

Im thinking to myself, I mean, honestly, Im thinking to myself, well, Im glad that Mike Waltz didnt invite a Houthi into the group or a Russian spy or an adversary of the United States, he added.

The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg reports National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, pictured, added him to a group chat discussing future U.S. strikes on Yemen (REUTERS)

Collins also asked Goldberg to respond to Hegseths claim that nobody was texting war plans. Hegseths remarks come after National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes already confirmed to The Atlantic that the group chat appears to be an authentic message chain.

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No, thats a lie, he was texting war plans, Goldberg said of Hegseths claim. He was texting attack plans. When targets were going to be targeted, how they were going to be targeted, who was at the targets, when the next sequence of attacks was happening.

Hegseth denied that he was texting war plans even after National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes confirmed the group chats authenticity (Getty Images)

President Donald Trump at first denied knowing about his national security advisers apparent error.

"I don't know anything about it, Trump said Monday. I'm not a big fan of The Atlantic. It's to me, it's a magazine that's going out of business. I think it's not much of a magazine, but I know nothing about it.

The president went on to defend Waltz in an interview with NBC News on Tuesday, calling the incident the only glitch in two months and claiming it turned out not to be a serious one."

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"Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man," Trump said.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said officials are looking into how Goldbergs number was inadvertently added to the thread.

Thanks to the strong and decisive leadership of President Trump, and everyone in the group, the Houthi strikes were successful and effective, she continued. Terrorists were killed and thats what matters most to President Trump.

Both Democrats and Republicans are now calling for action in the wake of the leak.

Pete Buttigieg, who served as Transport Secretary under Joe Biden, called the leak the highest level of f***up imaginable.

Republican Representative Don Bacon told Axios: None of this should have been sent on non-secure systems. Russia and China are surely monitoring his unclassified phone.
Everyone has been there. You were added to a group chat that you're not supposed to be a part of, and you can't seem to stop the messages. Or, more embarrassingly, you've added someone else to a group chat they were not supposed to see. But most people have not done so with Top Secret military plans and the editor of a major magazine.

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic, reported on Monday that he had been added by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz to an encrypted Signal group chat with the White House's principals committee to discuss U.S. war plans in Yemen. Goldberg received the first message at 11:44 a.m. on Saturday, March 15, and around two hours later, the White House announced a new air campaign against Houthi forces. The National Security Council confirmed the group chat was real and claimed Goldberg was added by accident.

The leak became an opportunity for Democrats to clutch their pearls about the sanctity of classified information. "You have got to be kidding me," groaned former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, whose own presidential bid was derailed by her mishandling of classified data. Goldberg himself accused the Trump administration of violating the Espionage Act and federal record-keeping laws, warning that some of the messages "could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel."

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And among Republicans, the leak intensified the Trump administration's internal struggle over foreign policy. The hawkish Wall Street Journal editorial board used the messages to paint Vice President J.D. Vance as "a voice for U.S. retreat." Politico, on the other hand, reported that Trump administration insiders saw "an opening for longtime Waltz detractors suspicious of his neoconservative ties to push for his removal." After all, he had Goldberg, a personal enemy of Trump, in his phone contacts. Trump told NBC that Waltz has "learned a lesson" and blamed a junior staffer.

There's a much bigger scandal than Waltz's alleged carelessness, however. The U.S. has been involved in Yemen against the will of Congress for years, and President Donald Trump reopened a dormant war without any kind of public deliberation. The messages that Goldberg chose to publish reveal that the timing was driven by hawks' desire to sell the warand go over Congress' headrather than any urgent threat to American lives.

"There was no emergency. The executive branch unlawfully sidestepped Congress, taking military action that top officials admit was elective. The discussion establishes unequivocally that the strikes in Yemen are unconstitutional," former Michigan Libertarian Rep. Justin Amash wrote on X.

In other words, the scandal of the group chat was not that too many people knew about the war plans before they were carried out. It was that not enough people knew, because the administration deliberately tried to prevent a public debate from breaking out, as other officials revealed when Vance called for one.

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"There is a real risk that the public doesn't understand this or why it's necessary," Vance wrote to the group chat, according to The Atlantic, arguing that fighting to protect other countries' trade routes would be "inconsistent" with Trump's agenda. "I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc," Vance added.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth replied that "messaging is going to be tough no matter what  nobody knows who the Houthis are  which is why we would need to stay focused on: 1) [former President Joe] Biden failed & 2) Iran funded." He conceded that "a few weeks or a month does not fundamentally change the calculus," but predicted two "immediate risks on waiting: 1) this leaks, and we look indecisive; 2) Israel takes an action first  or Gaza cease fire falls apart  and we don't get to start this on our own terms." Hegseth added that "we can easily pause" the war later on.

Neither of them considered that war might need a vote from Congress, as the Constitution requires. At least Vance wanted some semblance of popular buy-in before going to war. And Hegseth was shockingly blunt about why that couldn't happen: It would "look indecisive," especially given that "nobody knows who the Houthis are." To open up public discussion about the case for war risked muddying the waters.

Hegseth's comment about Israeli action revealed another assumption underlying U.S. policy: If a war breaks out, the U.S. has to be involved. Waltz also commented in the group chat that "whether it's now or several weeks from now, it will have to be the United States that reopens these shipping lanes." (It's worth mentioning that the shipping lanes were open at the time, as the Houthi movement had suspended its attacks on American ships as long as the ceasefire in Gaza held.)

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The same assumption has been driving two decades of U.S. policy toward Iran. Since the Bush administration, Israel has wanted to bomb Iranian nuclear sites, and the U.S. has scrambled to respond. As successive administrations tried to threaten or buy off Iran, the working assumption was that the U.S. would automatically be dragged into any hot war, so Washington had to be prepared "to start this on our own terms." Last year, when Israel and Iran were trading missile fire, the Biden administration sent troops directly into the fray with no pretense of public debate.

The constitutional and policy merits of war are two separate questions, but they're impossible to fully disentangle. The point of asking Congress for a declaration of war is to allow the people's representatives to weigh the pros and cons in a deliberate, transparent way. War is the most serious decision a government can make. Citizens of a republic should not have to perform Kremlinologyor wait for an official to fat-finger his contact listto figure out what their leaders are planning.

The post <i>The Atlantic</i> Should Not Find Out About a War Before Congress Does appeared first on Reason.com.
Political and business leaders from around the world are gathering in south China's Hainan for the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025. Experts hail Asia's role as the world's growth engine and stress the need for stronger regional coordination. #GLOBALink












COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD)  Attorney General Alan Wilson advised South Carolinians on Tuesday to delete their 23andMe accounts after the genetic testing company filed for bankruptcy.

The San Francisco-based company announced on March 23 that its founder and CEO was stepping down and it will look to sell substantially all of its assets through a court-approved reorganization plan, the Associated Press reported.

The announcement raised fears among privacy experts and others, who warned that the DNA data of millions of users could be sold.

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This company has sensitive information about the people who have used it, Wilson said. We dont know what will happen to the company as part of any potential bankruptcy proceedings, but that personal data could be an asset that gets transferred or sold.

Wilson recommended that all South Carolina users purge their accounts to protect their personal information.

Customers who wish to delete their accounts can submit an online request to the company.

Once an account is deleted, the company said genetic samples are discarded, and personal information is no longer used for future research projects.

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OSWEGO COUNTY, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  New York State Attorney General Letitia James office will be investigating the death of the man in his 30s  now identified by the AGs office as Miles Dignean  who was shot and killed by an Oswego County Sheriffs deputy back on March 21.

Deputy sheriff shoots and kills man in Oswego County

Around 1:30 p.m. that day, officers from the Oswego County Sheriffs Office and New York State Police responded to a call on Cook Road in Constantia. The AGs office said the call was for a welfare check and to serve Dignean with an order of protection to remove his 3-year-old child from his custody.

Dignean then became combative and tried to stop the removal of his child, the Oswego Sheriffs Office stated.

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A state trooper then safely removed the child from Dignean, and Dignean hit the trooper in the head with a steel C-Clamp that weighed eight pounds, according to the sheriffs office.

As the fight continued, Oswego County Sheriffs Deputy Corey Whitney first fired his taser at Dignean.

The taser was not effective, and Deputy Whitney then fired his gun, hitting Dignean twice.

Dignean was taken to Upstate Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The child was removed from the scene and placed in the care of family members.

There were also multiple 911 calls, made by multiple people, sending various officers to Digneans address in the 24 hours leading up to the incident, according to the sheriffs office.

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The New York State Attorney Generals Office of Special Investigations plans to conduct a full investigation into this incident.

Both sheriffs deputies who responded to the call that resulted in the shooting have been put on administrative leave pending the investigation.

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AURORA, Ill. (WGN)  The Aurora Police Department released audio and video footage from an incident where a 19-year-old man was shot and killed by police after he allegedly injured an officer while fleeing from a traffic stop.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man fatally shot by police after allegedly injuring officer in traffic stop IDd

On Wednesday, March 19, Geneva police officers encountered 19-year-old Christopher Lepe at around 1:30 a.m. in the 1500 block of South Randall Road after noticing what officers said was a car parked suspiciously.

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According to police, an officer approached Lepe in his vehicle and asked him to exit the car after noticing he may have been intoxicated. Instead of getting out of his vehicle, police said Lepe drove off and dragged that officer a short distance before escaping.

A short time later, APD officers found Lepe heading south on Lake Street near Galena Boulevard, and this is where video footage from APD begins.

Dashcam footage from an APD cruiser shows police trying to stop Lepe in his vehicle at a stop sign, before he speeds off and officers initiated a pursuit onto northbound Route 25.

Police said as Lepe approached Ashland Avenue, officers deployed stop sticks. Bodycam footage from an APD officer in the release confirmed the use of stop sticks.

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A short time later, the video shows Lepes vehicle coming to a complete stop and his vehicle being surrounded by three police cruisers, one of which is from the Kane County Sheriffs Office.

After officers yell, hands up, Lepe opens the door to his vehicle with what appears to be a long gun in his hands. A still image then shows what police describe as Lepe seemingly pointing the weapon at an officer.

In the following dashcam footage, police can be heard yelling Get on the ground before officers fire shots.

Officers then assembled a team with a K-9 to approach the vehicle before rendering aid until paramedics rushed Lepe to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

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Authorities said police later recovered a weapon at the scene.

Paramedics transported the injured officer to a local hospital with serious injuries before their condition was upgraded to stable.

The two officers who fired their service weapons, as well as a third officer present at the time of the shooting, were placed on administrative leave.

On Thursday, March 20, Lepes family said they were shown still images of bodycam footage from the shooting.

In those pictures, all it shows is my brother surrendering the gun, said Brian Lepe, Christophers brother. He wasnt pointing it at the officers. It was pointing up.

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APD Police Chief Keith Cross issued the following statement alongside the audio and video release:

Today, we are releasing key portions of dispatch audio, including a mutual aid request and a conversation between a 911 dispatcher and a Tri-Com dispatcher, along with video footage from the officer-involved shooting that took place on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. To protect the privacy of those involved, some audio has been redacted, and faces have been blurred. We want to be upfrontthis footage contains graphic content and may be difficult to watch. However, transparency is a cornerstone of our commitment to this community, and we believe its important to share this information.

We understand there are still many questions surrounding this incident. At this time, the case remains under independent investigation by the Kane County States Attorney and the Kane County Major Crime Task Force, which means certain details must be withheld.

This is a difficult moment for our community, and we do not take that lightly. Our hope is that by sharing this video, we can provide greater clarity about what happened. We appreciate your patience and understanding as this process unfolds.  APD Police Chief Keith Cross

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The family of Christopher Lepe issued the following statement Monday evening following APDs audio and video footage release:

It is with a heavy heart and in extreme duress that we, the supporters of Christopher Lepe, share the devastating news of his murder by the Aurora Police. Christopher was a son, a brother, a beloved community member. The community is in the midst of unimaginable pain as we attempt to process the violent loss of his life.

Today, the family was shown a video, shortly before the Aurora Police Department, alongside Mayor Richard Irvin, held their public press conference. In this video, the family witnessed the horrifying reality- as rendered and edited by the Aurora Police and their legal team- of what happened to Christopher. The Aurora Police Department discharged their weapons on Christopher multiple times, despite his attempts to surrender. As he lay dying, the police released a K-9 unit on him, further violating his humanity in his final moments.

This was not an isolated incident; this was an ambush. We hold Mayor Richard Irvins Police Department responsible for the horrific death of Christopher Lepe. We acknowledge that while there may be facts surrounding this incident, nothing justifies the inhumanity Christopher faced. The family of Christopher Lepe has done nothing wrong, and they are entitled to the space and the peace they need to grieve and heal.

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We are demanding the full, unedited release of all videos, from every police officer and squad car involved in this tragic event, including both Aurora and Geneva officers. We insist that these videos be made available with complete, unaltered audio and visuals, so the full scope of this tragedy can be understood.

We understand the City of Auroras general election is just days away, but despite the gravity of the familys loss, Mayor Richard Irvin has ignored the grieving family. This is a stark reflection of the failure of leadership within the City of Aurora.

The city deserves leadership that will be accountable and transparent with its citizens.

As a community and indeed the family, deserve absolute justice, deserve to heal. We ask for solidarity and compassion for the family as they prepare for the funeral of their son, brother, and family member. -The Family of Christopher Lepe

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An independent investigation being conducted by the Kane County States Attorneys Office and the Kane County Major Crime Task Force remains ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
This story was updated with additional information.

An Austin-based robotics startup has secured millions in funding after winning the South by Southwest Conference and Festival's Pitch Award.

Contoro Inc. filed paperwork with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday stating the start-up has raised $13.5 million from 11 investors, including backing from Amazon.

Contoro later announced a $12 million series a funding round to scale its artificial intelligence-powered trailer and container unloading robots. Investors for the latest funding round included the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, Doosan, Coupang and IMM.

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The latest funding round brought the robotics company's total funding to $22 million, according to the Tuesday afternoon announcement. The company had previously raised $8.5 million from backers like South Korean firm SV Investment, Bass Investment, Future Play, Kakao Ventures and UT Seed Fund, among others.

Contoro was founded by CEO Youngmok Mok Yun, who also co-founded the Austin-based robotic stroke rehabilitation startup Harmonic Bionics.

Through the company's autonomous robots, called "Dock Duck," Contoro aims to make loading and unloading warehouse jobs safer.

"The job within the warehouse that no one wants to do because it's dangerous and unsafe is the task of unloading floor loaded, non-palletized shipping containers or trailers. ... We are tackling that problem," Diganto Choudhury, Contoro's head of strategy and business operations, told the American-Statesman. "We have a robot that pretty much goes into the trailer and unloads boxes for our customers."

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Contoro has offices in South Austin and San Marcos and started out with the majority of its customers in the greater Austin and Central Texas area. The additional funding comes after the company announced its bots have unloaded at least a hundred trucks through its partnerships with States Logistics.

"Initially, we started with local customers in Austin, because we could go in the morning, deploy at their site, get their feedback, improve the product overnight, and then do that process over and over again," Choudhury said. "So it was really maturing the technology. Now we started deploying out of state. Our largest customer is actually in Southern California. We're going to be in New Jersey pretty soon next month. So we're now in this stage in which we're converting our interests."

Contoro was one of two Austin-based startups to win pitch awards during SXSW's first weekend. The company won in the robotics, web3, voice & extended reality category. The other Austin company, Polygraf AI, won the enterprise, smart data, fintech and future of work category as well as best in show.

What are the latest funding successes for Austin-based startups?

Contoro is not the only Austin-based startup to see large amounts of funding in recent months.

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More: At SXSW, Austin-based Apptronik, NASA explore what humanoid robots could do in space

Apptronik received additional $53 million investment led by Mercedes-Benz last week for the company's autonomous humanoid robots, called Apollo. Mercedes is also planning to incorporate the startup's robots in its manufacturing lines in the near future.

And NinjaOne, an Austin startup that makes an endpoint monitoring and management platform that helps IT professionals and companies secure computer devices, recently announced that it had raised $500 million in a funding round at a $5 billion valuation. The funding more than doubled the company's value from a year ago.

SXSW attendees make their way to the first sessions on the first day of the conference and festivals at the Austin Convention Center on March 7. Contoro won a pitch award during SXSW's first weekend. The company won in the robotics, web3, voice & extended reality category.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin robotics startup raises $13.5M after winning SXSW Pitch award
By Kirsty Needham

AVALON, Australia (Reuters) - The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), monitoring a Chinese navy warship as it circumnavigated Australia last month, heard it warn it would use live fire in its exercises on a civilian radio broadcast, defence pilots said on Tuesday.

A People's Liberation Army Navy frigate conducted the unprecedented live-fire exercise in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand in February, causing 49 commercial flights to be rerouted.

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China has said it gave adequate warning about the drill under international law, but Australian and New Zealand authorities said it fell short of best practice for notifications.

Commercial airlines first heard about the live-fire drill when a Virgin Australia pilot picked up a Chinese navy broadcast on the 121.5 MHz emergency radio channel.

Ahead of a national election due by May, opposition Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton criticised the Labor government for "a situation where our national maritime surveillance was outsourced to a Virgin airline pilot".

At the Australian International Airshow in Avalon on Tuesday, RAAF maritime surveillance pilots said Australia's P-8A Poseidon were flying "high duration, high frequency sorties" and monitoring the Chinese navy warship's transmissions on UHF and VHF at the time, in details that had not previously been made public.

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"The transmissions that came through are just standard warnings of their positions as well as their intent of live-fire exercises," said P-8A Poseidon flying officer Patrick Makeham.

He described this as "similar to saying that we will be conducting live firing exercise in those areas".

Air Commodore Gus Porter, director-general of RAAF air combat capability, said the P-8A aircraft were used for anti-submarine warfare and to deter aggression.

"You don't need to be on top of a task group 24 hours a day to be tracking exactly what they are doing," he added.

The RAAF P-8A aircraft conduct routine surveillance patrols in international waters in the South China Sea, which China has criticised.

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Australia last month complained to China over what it was "unsafe and unprofessional" actions by a Chinese fighter jet releasing flares within 30 metres (100 feet) of an Australian P-8A aircraft.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Avalon, Australia; Editing by Jamie Freed)
Former Austrian finance minister Karl-Heinz Grasser has been sentenced to four years in prison for bribery in connection with the sale of state-owned real estate after an appeal trial, according to the court.

The Supreme Court (OGH) confirmed that Grasser had been found guilty of embezzlement and accepting gifts.

However the court halved the original eight-year prison sentence due to the length of the proceedings and overturned Grasser's conviction for evidence tampering.

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Grasser served as finance minister from 2000 to 2007. He was a member of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) but left the far-right movement in 2003.

In 2020, he was found guilty of embezzlement, accepting gifts and falsifying evidence in connection with the sale of around 60,000 state-owned apartments.

At the time the lower court considered it proven that a total of 9.6 million ($10.4 million) in bribes was paid to Grasser and other convicted defendants during the privatization of the properties, amounting to some 1% of the sales proceeds.

The Supreme Court held that Grasser demanded the sum himself. The Supreme Court also confirmed Grasser's conviction for irregularities relating to the rental agreement of a tax authority. "These are serious criminal offences with serious consequences," said the presiding judge of the Supreme Court. "This is unprecedented in Austria."

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Grasser's lawyers called the judgement political and questioned the objectivity of the first judge as her husband had made negative comments about Grasser on social media platform X.

But the Supreme Court underlined that judges are capable of passing objective judgements despite such expressions of opinion.

The Supreme Court made an "erroneous judgement" that violated the law and justice, Grasser said and added he plans to complain to the European Court of Human Rights.

That step would not postpone the jail sentence however.
TALLINN, Estonia (AP)  Belarus' authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in Tuesday to a seventh term, and he mocked those who derided him as Europe's last dictator by saying his country has more democracy than those who cast themselves as its models.

Half of the world is dreaming about our dictatorship, the dictatorship of real business and interests of our people," Lukashenko, 70, said in his inauguration speech at the Independence Palace in the capital of Minsk.

Hundreds of opposition supporters living abroad held anti-Lukashenko rallies Tuesday to mark the anniversary of Belarus short-lived independence in 1918 following the collapse of the Russian Empire.

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Lukashenko marked three decades in power last year, and his political opponents have denounced the tightly orchestrated Jan. 26 election as a farce. The Belarus Central Election Commission declared he won with nearly 87% of the vote after a campaign in which four token challengers on the ballot all praised his rule.

Opposition members have been imprisoned or exiled abroad by Lukashenkos unrelenting crackdown on dissent and free speech.

Months of massive protests that were unprecedented in the history of the country of 9 million people followed the 2020 election and brought on the harsh crackdown. Over 65,000 people were arrested, thousands were beaten by police and independent media outlets and nongovernmental organizations were closed and outlawed, bringing condemnation and sanctions from the West.

Thousands of Lukashenko supporters attended Tuesday's inauguration ceremony, where he denounced his critics as foreign stooges who were at odds with the people.

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You dont and wont have public support, you have no future, he declared. "We have more democracy than those who cast themselves as its models."

Belarusian activists say it holds more than 1,200 political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, founder of the Viasna Human Rights Center.

The election was held amid a deep human rights crisis, in the atmosphere of total fear caused by repressions against civil society, independent media, opposition and dissent, according to a statement released Tuesday by Viasna and 10 other Belarusian human rights groups. They said Lukashenko's hold on power is illegitimate.

Lukashenko has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1994, relying on subsidies and political support from Russian President Vladimir Putin, himself in office for a quarter-century, an alliance that helped the Belarusian leader survive the 2020 protests.

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Lukashenko allowed Moscow to use the countrys territory to invade Ukraine in February 2022 and later hosted some of Russias tactical nuclear weapons.

Opposition leader-in-exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who fled Belarus under government pressure after running against Lukashenko in 2020, vowed to keep fighting for the country's freedom.

Our goal is to break away from the Russian occupation and Lukashenko's tyranny, and to return Belarus into the European family of nations, Tsikhanouskaya said in a speech at the Lithuanian parliament,

Some observers say Lukashenko could now try to mend ties with the West.

Lukashenko already has been sending signals to the West about his readiness to start a dialogue and his desire to normalize ties in order to ease the total dependence on the Kremlin and soften Western sanctions during his seventh term, said Valery Karbalevich, an independent political analyst.
Authorities in Belize have announced an update in the case of three American tourists found dead under suspicious circumstances in their hotel room at a popular resort.

Massachusetts residents Kaoutar Naqqad, 23, Imane Mallah, 24, and Wafae El-Arar, 26, checked into San Pedro Towns Royal Kahal Beach Resort on Feb. 19 and were found deceased by staff members on Feb. 22 in the Bird of Paradise suite. While authorities were initially investigating the deaths as drug overdoses, it seems that the case has taken a turn.

During a March 19 press conference (via 7 News Belize) Police Commissioner Chester Williams announced that the hotel agreed [to] a second round of testing for the presence of carbon monoxide. Previous guests had remarked upon the carbon monoxide levels at the resort, Williams reported, and the problem was apparently so pervasive that the three victims even conducted testing of their own.

Related: Boeing Whistleblowers Family Files Wrongful Death Suit Against Manufacturer

"While they were there, they had done some tests with their own carbon monoxide tester and they had detected carbon monoxide," Williams said. Authorities are unaware of the test results, but the hotel has been temporarily closed pending the outcome of the investigation. Its not clear when it will be reopened. Williams said that the toxicology reports for all three women should provide more definitive answers when it arrives "within the next week or two."

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"We are deeply alarmed by news reports which suggest that carbon monoxide levels in the hotel could have been at dangerously high levels and that the resort has now suddenly closed without public explanation," the womens families said in a joint statement to NBC News. "We believe the families of all guests  past and future  deserve a clear explanation for this action.

This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  The FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department are asking to public for help identifying two suspects they say are connected to an ATM robbery.

Courtesy | FBI Albuquerque Division

Courtesy | FBI Albuquerque Division

Courtesy | FBI Albuquerque Division

Authorities say the suspects, described as being African American with a slim build, confronted an ATM maintenance worker at a Bank of America ATM near Copper and Juan Tabo on the night of February 21. They say the suspects forced the worker to the ground and took an undisclosed amount of money from the ATM. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI at (505) 889-1300 or Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers at (505) 843-STOP.

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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) has reported the states first case of measles.

The reported case comes amid an outbreak of the disease in Texas and New Mexico.

The TDH confirmed that the individual is a Middle Tennessee resident and became infected sometime in early March.

Ballad Health Chief Infection Prevention Officer Jamie Swift said theyre monitoring the disease as it continues to spread.

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RELATED: Tennessee reports first 2025 measles case

Weve lived a world where measles has been eradicated in the U.S., so its been concerning to watch the cases in the outbreak, Swift said. The risk is very much there.

A sign of measles is a rash that starts on the face and moves down the body. Its also accompanied by symptoms very similar to the flu.

Swift said that measles is spread through the air.

You dont even have to come in contact with the measles case, you just have to be in that same airspace, Swift said.

Swift said that parents who bring their child in to be checked for measles should call ahead of time so healthcare providers can make arrangements to prevent further infection.

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WASHINGTON, March 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday announced that he'll impose 25-percent tariff on any nation that purchases oil and/or gas from Venezuela, accusing the Latin American country of sending "tens of thousands of" criminals to the United States.

"President Donald J. Trump announced today that the United States of America will be putting what is known as a Secondary Tariff on the Country of Venezuela, for numerous reasons, including the fact that Venezuela has purposefully and deceitfully sent to the United States, undercover, tens of thousands of high level, and other, criminals, many of whom are murderers and people of a very violent nature," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

"Any Country that purchases Oil and/or Gas from Venezuela will be forced to pay a Tariff of 25 percent to the United States on any Trade they do with our Country," Trump said.

"All documentation will be signed and registered, and the Tariff will take place on April 2nd, 2025," he continued.

Trump has frequently blamed Latin American countries, such as Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador -- for sending criminals to the United States, using such claims to justify more stringent immigration enforcement.

The Trump administration recently decided to invoke the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law, to deport over 200 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, claiming that they were members of the Tren de Aragua gang and were committing violent crimes.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued an order temporarily blocking the use of the act for deportations.

Venezuela's interior minister, Diosdado Cabello, denied the Trump administration's accusations on Friday, saying that none of the Venezuelans deported were members of the gang. 
A statewide ban on cell phones in the classroom for Georgia students will now head to the governors desk for final approval.

On Tuesday, House Bill 340 passed the Senate with overwhelming support. Sen. Jason Anavitarte, who sponsored the bill in the Senate, spoke with Channel 2s Richard Elliot just moments after the bill was passed.

Simply put - phones need to put away and we must be sensitive to what parents and teachers want, Anavitarte said.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Marietta Schools Superintendent Grant Rivera, who helped spearhead the statewide effort after implementing a similar ban in the districts two middle schools, told Channel 2s Brittany Kleinpeter that the positive impact was undeniable.

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For us weve got children telling us even though they dont like it, they need it, Rivera said.

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The school superintendent adding that over the last year, 68% of the teachers at Marietta Middle School reported being less stressed and 22% of 8th grade students reported an increase in their ability to learn.

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The teacher could teach better, and they could learn better as a result of a phone-free classroom, Rivera added.

Marietta Middle School parents like Kayla Sargent told Channel 2 Action News that theyve seen the positive impacts of a cell ban.

My middle schools functioning academically and socially has improved greatly since the ban, Sargent said. I know teachers really appreciate it as well, so Ive been very enthusiastic about the tech progress the district has made.

However, some parents like Bryan Williams say theyre apprehensive about the ban due to security concerns.

I would want my kid to have their cell phone in school for those dangerous moments and those moments where they need me, Williams said.

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The Distraction-Free Education Act prohibits public school students in grades kindergarten through eight from accessing personal electronic devices during the school day. That includes smartphones, headphones, tablets and smartwatches.

School-issued electronic devices can still be used, and school districts also would have come up with policies on storing devices and consequences for violations.

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Mark N. Trahant

Shoshone-Bannock



There is an important story thats easy to miss: Hudsons Bay Company, the Canadian department store chain, filed for bankruptcy protection last week in Ontario. The company says its facing a severe liquidity crisis and is unable to pay vendors and cannot pay its roughly 9,340 employees. The company is now selling off its remaining stock.



It is hard not to have a sense of melancholy when considering the Application before me, Ontario Judge Peter Osborne wrote. Hudsons Bay is the oldest company in North America and a very prominent Canadian department store. The company was founded in 1670. Now, approximately 355 years later, it is insolvent and seeks protection from its creditors.



Hudsons Bay was awarded a charter from King Charles II as one of the first modern corporations. It was the face of colonialism and capitalism. The company acted as the government over what is now Canada and the northern tier of the United States calling it Ruperts Land named after a British prince. The charter granted plenary authority over those who were not Subjects of any other Christian Prince or State. That meant Indigenous world and lands were stolen without compensation. The Crown and the company at one point controlled nearly 4 million acres of land, ignoring the civilized rules of sovereignty or title.



Company traders introduced smallpox and tuberculosis to North America, wiping out entire communities. One major epidemic swept across North America around 1780. In the book, Pox Americana, author Elizabeth Fenn describes how quickly the disease spread across a Shoshone trade route that stretched in four directions, from the Southern Plains, on into Mexico, throughout the Northwest Plateau and into Canada. She wrote that there was no mortality data but she estimated that total deaths exceeded 50,000 people. In a tribal version of the narrative, Assiniboine historian Robert Fourstar wrote, Smallpox epidemics came to our people three times. The first time approximately half of our people perished. Entire bands died. He said warriors would prove their fearlessness by wearing the robes of victims  resulting in even more deaths from the disease. The sheer enormity of the societal earthquake is beyond imagination. Just think about three words: Entire bands died. Family, ceremony and community disappeared forever.



Hudsons Bay officials described the loss in economic terms, a market slowdown in the fur trade. This great fall is owing to our loss of Indians but what is worse, several of the Indians who brought the little we have got are since dead, wrote Matthew Cocking in 1782. A few years later, the company was supplying vaccines to Indigenous people to protect its investment.



My familys story came into the picture about in 1830s.



Nathan Wyeth built Fort Hall as a fur trading post on the Portneuf River in what is now southern Idaho. His idea was to operate as an independent, but he was up against the monopoly of Hudsons Bay Company. His venture only lasted three years until he sold the fort to Hudsons Bay Company.



One of my ancestors, Thomas Lavatta took up the trade running traps from Southern Idaho all the way to Manitoba. Last year I had a chance to look through some of the Hudsons Bay archives to find that in those records he is listed as Thomas Lavallee, and had land holdings in Manitoba, Montana and Idaho. (The record is thin many of the documents at the Fort Hall Trading Post were destroyed in a fire in 1863.)



The Hudsons Bay Company lost its U.S. operations after the Oregon Treaty of 1846 defined the border between the U.S. and Canada. The company claimed a million-dollar property loss  a demand that eventually was settled for less than half that in 1869.



Under American owners, the Fort Hall Trading Post was hit hard by the change of fashion in England. Shoshone and Bannocks preferred hunting large animals for food and clothes and the general demand for beavers declined. Who wanted a payment of only blankets or tokens, anyway?



I am not sure how I feel about the demise of the Hudsons Bay Company. There is so much wrong with the companys history and its painful extraction of wealth from Indigenous people. Yet I am a descendent of that legacy.



When the fur trade first began in the 17th century the trappers were discouraged from mating with the Native populations. But that didnt last long. By the 18th century the idea of an Indian wife was considered a great help in the fur trading enterprise. That was my family. When I was a kid, I remember an elderly uncle telling me about how the family spoke Shoshone, Bannock, French and English. The language of trade.



Then there has always been trade across North America and it took place long before there was a United States, Canada, or a Hudsons Bay Company.



One of the stories I love from the Lewis & Clark journals is about the encounter with the Shoshone. The captains painted a picture of poverty (likely a result of the smallpox pandemic) but then miss the signs of wealth, including bridles on the horses of Spanish manufactory. In the journal, Lewis wrote about a strip of dressed otter fur that was the most elegant piece of Indian dress I ever saw. The Shoshone trade route that included Mexican silver and otter fur had been in in place hundreds of years before Lewis and Clark.



Yet Hudsons Bay ignored that legacy and operated as if Indigenous people did not exist as a partner or even as a customer. The companys entire trading position was extractive, taking what it wanted.



Its that idea thats insolvent.



Mark N. Trahant, Shoshone-Bannock, is the former editor of Indian Country Today. He lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

This opinion-editorial essay does not reflect the views of ICT; voices in our opinion section represent a variety of reader points of view. If you would like to contribute an essay to ICT, email opinion@ictnews.org.



More information about our guidelines: Submission guidelines.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  The Alabama Bar & Lounge in West Mobile is in the hot seat after a bar brawl became fatal in February, the second homicide to take place at the bar in the past six years.

1 of 3 suspects in 2023 Heron Drive homicide pleads guilty: Mobile County District Attorney

Monday morning, the Mobile County Commission Board held a public hearing to gather residents concerns about the bar.

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Its a lot of little things that collectively add up to a bad reputation, HOA President of Dominion Neighborhood, Nick McDonald said.

In February, 20-year-old Mathew Sanders and 22-year-old Hunter Lins got into a fight at the bar. Sanders is accused of shooting and killing Lins and injuring another man.

That bar does not have a good reputation, said Ryan Lindsey, a concerned resident. People in my neighborhood know that bar is a shady place to go.

Alabama Bar & Lounge owner, Joseph Johnson, said the bar only allows people 21 and up. He believes Sanders used a fake ID at the bar stating that the bartender checked his card three times the length they typically take to check.

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It happens; they get into these bars with a fake ID, Johnson said. Your bartenders and security are trained to look at them as closely as they can compare them. Look for blemishes on their ID but nowadays I guess theyre making them perfect.

Mobile police investigating robbery at local apartment complex

Crime was not the only concern brought up at the meeting, residents said loud music plays at all hours of the night.

County Commissioner Randall Dueitt represents this area and said that this is the only bar that has had a series of issues.

Im not saying that negatively, but something is going on there when a bar right across the street doesnt have nearly the call volume or request for police services as your establishment does, Dueitt said.

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The County Commission will now consider the complaints made.

Dueitt said that the County Commission cannot revoke business or alcohol licenses at the bar  what they can do is rescind their approval to the ABC board.

Argument leads to woman being struck by car: Mobile police

The ABC board would then have a public hearing and, depending on the hearing, the bar could potentially lose its license to sell alcohol. However, there is no timeline yet if that will happen.

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BARNEVELD, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY)  A Barneveld man is dead after an incident with New York State Police late Monday night.

New York State Police were called to Sand Ridge Road in the Town of Barneveld at approximately 11:30 pm on Monday, March 24. Upon their arrival, Troopers attempted to engage with the individual  30-year-old Matthew Brown of Barneveld.

While Troopers were trying to talk with Brown, he lunged for a Troopers holstered firearm. Officers were able to restrain Brown and take him into custody without further incident.

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Troopers called for emergency medical personnel to evaluate Brown for injuries. While they waited for an ambulance to arrive, Brown became unresponsive. Troopers  along with EMS personnel and an Oneida County Sheriff began life-saving measures. However, Brown was eventually pronounced deceased.

The New York State Attorney Generals Office has been notified of the death, under New York State Law.

The investigation remains ongoing.

This is an ongoing investigation into an incident. We will provide more information as it becomes available to us.

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Faye Seidler, a suicide prevention advocate, testifies March 24, 2025, against a bill that would require state entities to only refer to individuals by their sex assigned at birth in official documentation. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)

Schools dont see all-gender bathrooms as a problem, West Fargo Public Schools Business Manager Levi Bachmeier told lawmakers Monday morning.

The North Dakota Senate is considering passing House Bill 1144, which would make unisex bathrooms illegal in K-12 public schools.

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Proponents of the bill say the proposal is necessary to protect students privacy.

I believe this bill is urgently needed because of the environment that we have children in now, women and girls have valid concerns about privacy and safety in independent spaces, said Linda Thorson, state director of Concerned Women for America of North Dakota.

Originally, the bill stated that all bathrooms must be designated for use exclusively for males or exclusively for females, and prohibited multi-stall gender neutral restrooms.

An amendment to the proposal adopted by the House also forbids all-gender single-occupancy restrooms. If adopted into law, the bill would make it illegal for male and female restrooms to share a communal sink or entry area, as well.

West Fargo Public Schools Business Manager Levi Bachmeier testifies March 24, 2025, against a bill banning all-gender bathrooms in K-12 schools. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)

Bachmeier said West Fargo Public Schools did not take issue with the original bill, but opposes the recent amendment.

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West Fargo Public Schools has all-gender, single stall bathrooms in multiple schools because they provide greater privacy, stronger supervision, and improved safety for all learners, Bachmeier said in written testimony on the bill. They also have camera-monitored communal sinks outside the bathrooms, he said.

According to Bachmeier, students and teachers dont see these kinds of restrooms as a privacy threat. He said this setup has reduced many behavioral problems that schools see in traditional single-sex, multi-stall bathrooms, like vaping, selling drugs, fights and truancy.

The concerns in our schools about whats going on in the bathrooms has very little to do with most of the testimony that has been shared so far this morning, he said.

By eliminating unisex, single occupancy bathrooms, House Bill 1144 would make West Fargo Schools less safe, Bachmeier said.

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House Bill 1144 seeks to build on a bill adopted in 2023 that, among other things, prevents transgender students from using bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender.

The bills primary sponsor, Rep. Bill Tveit, R-Hazen, said his proposal is needed to fully implement the 2023 law.

In addition to adding more bathroom restrictions, it requires the Attorney Generals Office to investigate potential violations of the statute reported by concerned parents. Courts could fine schools found in non-compliance up to $2,500 per violation.

The House passed House Bill 1144 in February with more than 80% support.

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Opponents of the bill have testified that the additional restrictions on bathroom design would force schools to spend millions to renovate their facilities.

Aimee Copas, executive director of the North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders, told lawmakers that by her estimate the bill would cost public schools $140 million to $200 million.

Rep. Kathy Frelich, R-Devils Lake, on Monday said she is proposing an amendment to make it so the bills restrictions would only apply to new schools, so old schools wouldnt have to undergo costly renovations.

We cannot, in good conscience, force taxpayers to bear the financial burden of retrofitting schools that have already made significant investments in their facilities, she said.

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In 2023, Fargo Public Schools Superintendent Rupak Gandhi told the Fargo School Board the state law may be in violation of federal law and said the district planned to prioritize whats best for students, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead reported.

Some parents and school staff said in testimony that access to safe bathrooms is already a significant obstacle for many transgender youth, with some refusing to use school restrooms altogether.

Twenty percent of transgender middle schoolers who completed the 2023 North Dakota Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported not drinking water, according to an analysis by suicide prevention advocate Faye Seidler and the Harbor Health Initiative. Some transgender students avoid drinking water as a way to cut down on bathroom usage.

The committee on Monday also heard testimony on House Bill 1181, which would require state-funded entities to refer to people by their sex as determined at birth. In other words, those entities wouldnt be allowed to recognize the gender identity of transgender individuals. A similar bill failed during the 2023 session.

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House Bill 1181, sponsored by Rep. SuAnn Olson, R-Baldwin, would apply to all policies, records, forms, rules, standards, procedures, guides, materials, instruction, training, correspondence, advertising, or marketing used by a public school, an institution under the control of the state board of higher education, or a state agency or office, unless otherwise required by federal law, according to the bill.

Olson has called her proposal a common sense bill that is scientifically honest.

She also said that the bill would bring state law into alignment with federal policy. In January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a two-gender policy for the federal government.

As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female, Trump said during his inauguration speech.

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Sen. Josh Boschee, D-Fargo, asked Olson how the bill would accommodate intersex people.

When we put something in Century Code, we make black and white laws for a gray world, he said.

Olson replied that intersex conditions are rare and that people born with them usually lean female or male.

A study published in 2000 found that about 1.7% of people are intersex, though the federal government doesnt collect data on these demographics.

The bill previously tied sex to ones chromosomes, and included a provision that would allow an individuals gender or sex to be checked with a DNA test. This language was removed from the bill in the House.

In Monday testimony against the bill, Seidler, the suicide prevention advocate, said that science does not support a binary view of biological sex. Each individual has chromosomal, hormonal and anatomical sex characteristics, she said.

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Biology is amazing and fascinating and complex, Seidler said. It is a spectrum. Theres a lot of ways we can exist on it.

Seidler said that she worries passing this bill will bring further harm to transgender people in North Dakota, who already face discrimination in the state.

Seidlers analysis of 2023 North Dakota Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 74% of transgender middle schoolers in who took the survey said they had seriously considered suicide, almost four times as many as their straight peers. About 40% of transgender high schoolers said they had seriously considered suicide, about three times as many their straight peers.

Everything we do to exclude individuals from a culture or community is a risk factor that increases suicide, Seidler said. Everything we do to make someone feel more belonged is a protective factor that will reduce suicide.

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Carter Gill, vice president of governmental affairs for the North Dakota University Systems student association, also spoke against the bill.

This bill essentially does two things regarding higher education: makes the lives of trans students currently in the NDUS harder and stands as a message to out-of-state trans students that they are not welcome in North Dakota, he said.

The committee as of Monday had not taken action on House Bill 1144 or House Bill 1181.

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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  Bayside High School has announced another breach in security on Tuesday. This comes less than a week after the lockdown where two students were charged after a knife was found on school grounds.

Two students charged after knife found at Bayside High School

Virginia Beach police confirmed they responded to Bayside High School around 7:30 a.m. for an individual attempting to enter the school. The adult was able to enter the school after following students inside, according to a letter sent by the Virginia Beach City Public Schools.

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Police confirmed that at some point the individual removed his shirt.

The individual was taken into custody by the School Resource Officer shortly after entering, and no weapons were recovered. The school did not go into a lock down. The suspect is detained and charges are being screened, police said.

VBCPS sent the following letter out to the community:

Good morning, Bayside High School families,

I want to provide an update on a security incident that took place this morning. An adult entered the building by following arriving students. Thanks to the vigilance of our security team, the individual was immediately identified. When the person refused to cooperate, school administration, school security, and the school resource officer took the individual into custody, and the Virginia Beach Police Department was called to assist.

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I want to commend our security team for its swift and decisive actions. Its strong presence and attention to detail ensured that our safety protocols were followed effectively, preventing any risk to students and staff. I also want to thank VBPD for its prompt response and support.

I understand that seeing a heightened police presence, especially so soon after last weeks lockdown, may cause concern. Please know that todays incident was handled quickly and appropriately, reinforcing our commitment to maintaining a safe and secure learning environment.

Thank you for your support and trust in our Bayside High School community.

Thank you,

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VBCPS

Less than a week earlier, the school went into lockdown after a report of a weapon on campus. A 14-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy were detained in the incident.

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.

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HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  After last weeks Horry County Council vote to not allow wind-driven shading devices a trial run on the countys unincorporated beaches, a family visiting Myrtle Beach agrees with the decision.

Traveling to the coast with her four kids and husband, Janiece Hope said if lifeguard companies and first responders believe them to be dangerous, then there shouldnt be any debate on letting them on the countys beaches. She said it would be horrible if an emergency broke out and a lifeguard wasnt able to rescue someone in time because people wanted a wind-driven shading device.

Hope also said although the ends of umbrellas can be dangerous, she said popular wind-driven shading devices  like the Shibumi Shade  could be just as dangerous in different ways.

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Lets be honest, if theyre loud and you have a windy day, user error is going to mean that theres going to be situations where they start flying down the beach. I dont want to have to listen to that when I come to the beach and I dont want to have to be hit by some stupid thing flying at me because somebody else was being irresponsible and dropped off, she said. I dont use umbrellas or anything like that in the first place. If youre coming to the beach, its kind of because its sunny. Its normal to get sun on you. I think thats sort of a selfish thing anyway.

Hope said those wanting to fight to have wind-driven shading devices should listen to authorities when it comes to the devices putting others lives in danger. She said if those in charge of monitoring the beaches for public safety say the devices arent safe, then the possibility of still using them  even for a trial period  shouldnt be an option.

I think people take their ideas of personal liberties way too far, she said. They dont have a right to put other people at risk, period. Thats just not an American freedom.

Hopes son, Evan, said he agreed that the public should be listening to the authorities who said wind-driven shading devices have a hindrance on their line of sight and could be too loud to not hear a cry for help in the water. Although, he said restriction modifications could be a solution for Horry County.

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If its going to be a problem for lifeguards to see over, and its a little louder, put them behind up for lifeguards, he said.

Evan said a possible option for Shibumi is also making the product clear for lifeguards to see through them easily. He said if wind-driven shading devices remain an issue for the county, an alternative to umbrellas could be a new invention with similar materials to Shibumi. He said an invention similar to a tent, thats lightweight still without poles and similar shading components.

Shibumi co-founder Dave Barnes said Shibumis are safer than umbrellas and are used on most beaches across the country. He said roughly 2,000 people from Horry County have purchased a Shibumi and called it a shame they arent able to use them on some of the beaches near their home.

Barnes said Shibumi will keep fighting for the device to be used in Horry County.

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* * *

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.

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Trans patients with beards can be sent to female wards in Scottish hospitals thanks to NHS policies and procedures allowing them to self-identify as women, The Telegraph can reveal.

NHS Taysides dignity and privacy policy states that patients must not normally be placed in mixed sex wards and any that are should receive an apology.

But it says that trans people should be sent to wards that match their presentation  a term defined as the way they dress, the name and pronouns that they currently use.

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The policy notes that their presentation may not be the same as their physical/biological sex appearance and is not dependent on them having legally changed their gender or name.

It also states that people should be considered trans if they have merely proposed changing gender, regardless of whether they have commenced or completed reassignment.

This could mean that a patient who appeared male and who had not taken any medical steps towards changing gender could access a female ward if they said they wanted to be a woman.

No official policies or guidance

NHS Borders said it had no official policies or guidance relating to patients with transgender identities and how they should be accommodated on wards.

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However, the health board also said it was standard procedure to place a patient in the ward for the gender that they identify as.

The policies were collated by a group of women who became concerned after watching a landmark employment tribunal about the right of trans people to access female-only areas.

Nurse Sandie Peggie (centre) was accused of misconduct after she challenged the presence of a doctor who was born male but identifies as a woman in a female changing room - Alan Richardson

NHS Fife accused nurse Sandie Peggie of misconduct after she challenged the presence of Dr Beth Upton, who was born male but identifies as a woman, in a female changing room in a hospital.

Dr Upton claimed during the hearing to be biologically female and it emerged that the medic was allowed to use womens facilities on the advice of an equalities officer rather than lawyers.

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Nicola Sturgeons plans to allow people to self-identify their legal gender by signing a simple declaration were vetoed by the UK Government over concerns about the impact on womens safe spaces.

But it has emerged that swathes of Scotlands public sector are using self-ID anyway to allow trans people to access female toilets and changing rooms.

Dr Beth Upton, a trans woman, accused nurse Sandie Peggie of bullying and made a harassment complaint against her - Iain Masterton/Alamy

The case prompted the group of women to try to conduct an audit of Scotlands 14 regional NHS boards to see what policies they operated for trans patients and staff.

They found widespread conflation of gender and biological sex, with their general impression being that the boards had adopted a dangerous word salad.

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Many boards websites and policies were found to be unclear about whether a trans person who self-identified as a woman, without changing legal gender, would be accommodated on a female ward.

However, the group found examples of boards, including Tayside, whose policies explicitly used gender self-ID to decide where patients should be treated.

Lack of transparency

Fiona, who is one of the group and did not want to provide her full name, said she was shocked that the policies were being implemented by stealth as they were not well advertised.

She said: Its not the open and transparent process you would expect. If females are going to be discriminated against, because theres a long-standing precedent of single-sex wards, they should be clear about what they are doing.

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The mother said she intended to contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) watchdog about the policies.

The EHRC recently wrote to NHS Fife in the wake of the Peggie case to remind it of its obligations about the provision of single-sex spaces.

We continue to provide person-centred care

NHS Taysides policy, dated September 2022, stated there were a limited number of exceptional circumstances such as a life-threatening emergency where a patient could be treated in a mixed-sex environment.

It is a breach for mixed-sex care to be provided in other situations, in which case all patients and/or their families must receive an apology...and an explanation offered.

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But the policy then states: Trans people who have proposed, commenced or completed reassignment of gender should be accommodated according to their presentation (the way they dress, the name and pronouns that they currently use).

This may not be the same as their physical/biological sex appearance; it is not dependent on them having a legal name change or gender recognition certificate. It states that non-binary patients should be accommodated in a separate room.

Women in Tayside deserve better

An NHS Borders spokeswoman said: We can confirm that we continue to provide person-centred care, as appropriate, based on the gender our patients identify themselves as.

Lisa Mackenzie, of policy analysts Murray Blackburn Mackenzie, said: Women are vulnerable when they are staying in hospital. Any political commitment to single-sex wards becomes meaningless when rules like this are applied. Women in Tayside deserve better.

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An NHS Tayside spokeswoman said there were exceptions to its provision of single-sex accommodation in areas such as intensive care and major trauma.

She said: As part of NHS Taysides internal policy review processes, a steering group has been set up to formally review a number of policies, including the dignity and privacy single sex accommodation policy.

This review will ensure that we continue to comply with current legislation in Scotland while upholding the highest standards of care, dignity, and patient rights.

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MOSCOW, March 25 (Xinhua) -- A senior Russian negotiator on Tuesday described recent talks with the United States in Riyadh as "useful," TASS news agency reported.

"Everything was discussed, there was a rich, difficult dialogue, but very useful for us and for the Americans," said Grigory Karasin, one of Russia's chief negotiators at the talks and chairman of the committee on international affairs in Russia's upper house.

Karasin said that the talks between Russia and the United States will continue, he said.

The latest round of talks between Russian and U.S. delegations concluded Monday in Riyadh after some 12 hours, and a joint statement following the talks is expected on Tuesday, Russian media reported. 
The Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has called for US foreign broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) to keep broadcasting, despite its uncertain future.

"Free media are our link between the truth, between the people in exile and the people in the country," she said in a speech in the Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday. "If these media die, they will be replaced by propaganda media."

Tikhanovskaya, who lives in exile in the European Union, was referring to the dramatic moves by the new administration in Washington.

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"RFE/RL is threatened with closure following funding cuts by US President Donald Trump's administration. Several European countries, led by the Czech Republic, are discussing ways in which RFE/RL can be preserved," she said.

RFE/RL began broadcasting during the Cold War and has had an office in Lithuania from which it covers neighbouring Belarus since the beginning of 2023.

The dissemination and use of its news has been a criminal offence in Belarus since Minsk declared the broadcaster an "extremist organization" in 2021.

In August 2020, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, in office since 1994, was again declared the winner of the presidential election, unleashing mass protests that were brutally suppressed. The opposition, however, saw Tikhanovskaya as the real winner.

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The EU no longer recognizes Lukashenko as head of state. He is considered to be completely dependent on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

RFE/RL's Vilnius office is staffed by Belarusian journalists who went into exile like Tikhanovskaya after the 2020 elections.

They produce television and radio programmes in Belarusian, which are also broadcast online.
The Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has called for US foreign broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) to keep broadcasting, despite its uncertain future.

"Free media are our link between the truth, between the people in exile and the people in the country," she said in a speech in the Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday. "If these media die, they will be replaced by propaganda media."

Tikhanovskaya, who lives in exile in the European Union, was referring to the dramatic moves by the new administration in Washington.

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"RFE/RL is threatened with closure following funding cuts by US President Donald Trump's administration. Several European countries, led by the Czech Republic, are discussing ways in which RFE/RL can be preserved," she said.

RFE/RL began broadcasting during the Cold War and has had an office in Lithuania from which it covers neighbouring Belarus since the beginning of 2023.

The dissemination and use of its news has been a criminal offence in Belarus since Minsk declared the broadcaster an "extremist organization" in 2021.

In August 2020, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, in office since 1994, was again declared the winner of the presidential election, unleashing mass protests that were brutally suppressed. The opposition, however, saw Tikhanovskaya as the real winner.

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The EU no longer recognizes Lukashenko as head of state. He is considered to be completely dependent on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

RFE/RL's Vilnius office is staffed by Belarusian journalists who went into exile like Tikhanovskaya after the 2020 elections.

They produce television and radio programmes in Belarusian, which are also broadcast online.

The programmes are broadcast from the RFE/RL broadcasting centre in Prague, where the station has been based since 1995. The centre also makes programmes in Russian, Ukrainian and other languages, reaching nearly 50 million people in 23 countries every week, the broadcaster said.

Since taking office, Trump has drastically cut funding for numerous government offices that focus on domestic and international affairs alike. This, combined with Washington's pivot to Russia, is deeply worrying to many in Europe, particularly as the Kremlin's war on Ukraine rages on.
BELCHERTOWN, Mass. (WWLP)  Belchertown Police are searching for a suspect after seizing two rifles near the railroad behind North Liberty Street Tuesday morning.

Two Springfield men face trespassing and drug charges after found running from Holyoke apartment building

The Belchertown Police Department said that at approximately 8:46 a.m. on Tuesday, the Wilbraham Regional Communication Center received a report regarding a suspicious person. The caller reportedly stated that a man was seen placing two rifles near the railroad bed behind 221 North Liberty Street.

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Belchertown officers arrived at the location and found two unloaded .22 caliber rifles. The Belchertown Police Drone Unit and the Massachusetts State Police K-9 Unit conducted a search of the area, but were unable to identify or find the individual.

The caller described the suspect as a young white man with brown hair, wearing a tan sweatshirt and dark shorts. If you have seen someone matching this description or have any information, contact the Belchertown Police Department at 413-323-6685 or 413-596-9771.

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A Whatcom County family is suing the Bellingham School District, alleging it failed to protect their daughter from repeated sexual harassment and failed to follow federal and state laws when the incidents were reported, according to a complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a high school student who was 15 years old and attending Options High School during the 2022-2023 school year.

The complaint alleges that another student began harassing and assaulting the 15-year-old early in the school year, and that school officials did little to intervene.

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According to the filing, the student sent disturbing sexual messages to the 15-year-old, including comments about violent sexual fantasies and cutting into dead bodies.

When she asked him to stop contacting her, he allegedly cornered her during class the same day, pulling her hoodie over her head and physically restraining her at her desk. The complaint says he straddled a chair behind her and came so close that she could feel his breath on her skin and hair.

The family reported the incident to Assistant Principal Kevin Terpstra on Oct. 4, 2022.

The district, at that point, had what the lawsuit calls actual knowledge of the harassment. However, instead of initiating a formal investigation, the school required both students to sign a no-contact agreement, which also barred the girl from discussing the incident with peers  a restriction the lawsuit claims denied her emotional support.

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Under Washington law, school officials are required to notify a designated coordinator when harassment may include discrimination or sexual harassment, and then inform the student of her rights to file a Title IX complaint.

The lawsuit alleges none of that happened.

Within days of signing the no-contact order, the student allegedly violated it multiple times  following the 15-year-old after school, confronting her in the cafeteria, and entering her classroom uninvited.

Each time, the family says, they notified school staff.

Terpstra, according to the suit, repeatedly dismissed her concerns or minimized the violations.

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The student was so frightened, the complaint says, that she began carrying pepper spray. But Principal Katie Jones confiscated it, even though it was legal and not prohibited by district policy.

When confronted, Jones reportedly threatened to call the police if the student refused to hand it over.

The girl eventually withdrew from Options High School on Nov. 1, 2022, after what the lawsuit describes as a month of repeated harassment, safety plan violations, and administrative inaction.

She lost academic credit and was later diagnosed with PTSD due to the ongoing trauma.

It wasnt until a meeting on Oct. 25  more than three weeks after the initial report  that the districts Title IX coordinator became involved.

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The family says they were not told about their right to file a formal Title IX complaint until Nov. 17, and that even the coordinator admitted she was unfamiliar with Title IX procedures.

Two investigations were finally launched by the district  one into sexual harassment under District Policy 3205 and another into nondiscrimination under Policy 3210.

A January 2023 report from the superintendents office confirmed the harassment was severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive, and that the districts outdated policies failed to protect the student.

The district admitted its sexual harassment procedures had been out of compliance with Washington law for approximately seven years and that it had not conducted a Title IX investigation in at least five years.

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Still, the superintendent concluded that the 15-year-olds individual rights under Title IX were not violated. The family appealed both investigations.

In a March 2024 decision, the Discipline Appeal Council agreed that several specific incidents constituted sexual harassment and called the harassment traumatic and unacceptable.

The lawsuit accuses the district of violating Title IX and acting negligently in its duty to protect students.

It seeks damages, attorneys fees, and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.

When reached for a statement, the Bellingham School District said:

We arent able to share any information due to student privacy laws and the pending litigation. We recognize, in some cases, it would be helpful to share more context and information; however, we are constrained by our legal and ethical responsibility under FERPA.

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All students deserve to attend schools that are safe and welcoming. We take seriously our duty to protect and care for all students, and we are committed to standing with victims and survivors of any type of harassment.

All staff receive annual Title IX training, which includes how to respond to concerns related to sexual harassment.

We continue to reflect on, examine and improve our practices, staff training, and policies related to Title IX laws and expectations. We have invested heavily in doing proactive work in service of students.

We honor confidentiality as well as a fair and neutral process moving forward. Please see this Q and A for more information about student privacy.
BRISTOL, R.I. (WPRI)  Genevieve Marszalek, the Bristol native who just celebrated her 111th birthday last month, has died, 12 News has learned.

Marszalek, who was born on February 27, 1914, passed away peacefully Sunday morning, according to her obituary. She was believed to be the oldest Rhode Islander at the time of her passing.

She was the wife of Joseph Marszalek and mother of the late Robert Bobby Marszalek, who was killed in the line of duty in Germany back in July 1968.

Marszalek was a staple at the Bristol House of Pizza. She frequented the pizzeria every Wednesday for nearly two decades prior to her death, and also celebrated her last 11 birthdays at the restaurant.

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RELATED: Bristol woman celebrates 111th birthday at favorite pizzeria

The Bristol House of Pizza wrote in a social media post Sunday night that Marszalek was truly one-of-a-kind.

It saddens us that your favorite corner will no longer be occupied by your presence on Wednesdays sipping on the best coffee in town while enjoying your slice of pepperoni pizza, the Bristol House of Pizza said of Marszalek. We will miss your wittiness, your spark, hearing about your lifes stories and adventures but most importantly we will miss your smile and laughter.

Marszalek taught commercial typewriting and bookkeeping at Guiteras Junior High School in Bristol for years before traveling across the country with her husband, who worked for the FBI.

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Calling hours for Marszalek will take place between 4-7 p.m. on Thursday at the Sansone Funeral Home in Bristol. Her funeral is slated to begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday morning at the Sansone Funeral Home and then move to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Marszalek will then be laid to rest at St. Marys Cemetery.

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SANDUSKY, Ohio (WJW)  A Berlin Heights father accused of disciplining his young children with an electric cattle prod left a plea offer on the table on Tuesday.

Robert Bores, 35, of Berlin Heights, was indicted by an Erie County grand jury in March 2024 on felony counts of domestic violence and endangering children, alleging he subjected three children to cruel and excessive corporal punishment, court records show.

He initially pleaded not guilty. He appeared in court on Tuesday, March 25, for an update on plea negotiations. His attorney, Jonathan McGookey of Sandusky, said Bores intends to take the case to trial.

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Cleveland men accused of selling weapons to undercover agents posing as Mexican cartel members

Robert Bores (Erie County Sheriffs Office)

At the time the children were 7, 9 and 10 years old, according to the indictment. They referred to the device as the shocker, Erie County Sheriff Paul Sigsworth told the FOX 8 I-Team in March 2024.

The indication we have is that it may have been used for alleged disciplinary reasons by the father to punish a child for various issues, Sigsworth told the I-Team after Bores arrest on March 13, 2024. Its alarming. I dont know what would compel someone to use a cattle prod on children.

Bores previously pleaded or was convicted in two domestic violence cases in the Vermilion Municipal Court, in 2017 and 2021, according to his indictment.

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Man pulls gun in Solon road rage incident: police

Watch previous FOX 8 I-Team coverage in the player below:

Court records show Bores in February sought to modify his bond, allowing him to have supervised visits with his children, with whom he hadnt had contact since the charges were filed.

A grand jury determined there is probable cause to believe that the defendant used a cattle prod to psychologically, emotionally and physically harm the victims. The defendant now wants to sit in a room with them and chat about random things, reads prosecutors response. The state believes allowing him to do so will be nothing other than a subtle form of intimidation, designed to adversely impact the victims ability to present evidence against him.

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The judge did not rule on the motion before the plea hearing was set, court records show.

Judge Beverly McGookey said Tuesday she was not inclined to rule on that before a potential plea agreement was settled.

If the case goes to trial, the date will be May 19.

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BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE)  Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham made a loud push this session to reform New Mexicos juvenile crime law but after a major effort fell flat. One of the states most prominent prosecutors is now calling out lawmakers for a lack of action. Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman is one of the biggest advocates calling for tougher penalties against some juveniles.

He said lawmakers have left him frustrated. I can tell there was absolutely not one single bill when it comes to changing childrens code, the delinquency act, not one, said Bregman. Its not the outcome he hoped for at the end of a 60-day session with two bills aimed at juvenile crime reforms failing to make it to the governors desk.

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HB 255 would have toughened penalties and added rehabilitation resources but it failed a Senate vote. Despite that failure, House leadership said over the weekend that New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department reforms should help. First and foremost, I think fixing CYFD is addressing juvenile crime, you cannot talk about juvenile crime without ensuring that this state steps up and shows up for those children who are in situations where they are struggling, said Javier Martinez, Speaker of the House, Bregman disagrees.

I hope they changed a lot of things in CYFD for the better whatever that might be, but they did nothing about holding kids accountable, having some consequences nothing whatsoever, said Bregman. The push for change comes after a mass shooting involving teens in Las Cruces Friday night and recent news of an 11, 13, and 15-year-old being charged for hitting and killing a bicyclist last year. We are going to hold everybody accountable that murdered that bicyclist on his way to work, were going to hold them accountable and hold them to the full extent of the law, said Bregman.

But Bregman notes gaps in the Childrens Code continue to make difficult work for prosecutors. I want you to hold these young people accountable when they violate the law. And start when they first violate the law, when they steal their first car. Make sure they understand theres a consequence to that behavior. Theyre going to be accountable So that down the road, we dont have situations where the first time theyre being held accountable is when theyre being prosecuted for murder, said Bregman.

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The governor has signaled that she could call another special session on crime and Bregman said he too is in support of the idea. Democrats in both the House and Senate said Saturday they dont think a special session on crime will work unless the bills are figured out ahead of time.

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Gov. Andy Beshear is taking the Kentucky legislature to court over a new law that limits the executive branch's authority to enact regulations. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear on Monday vetoed Republican legislation that he said would make workplaces in Kentucky more dangerous and several bills that he said were unconstitutional.

The General Assemblys Republican supermajority is expected to easily override the vetoes when lawmakers return Thursday and Friday to wrap up the 2025 regular session.

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Beshear in his veto message said House Bill 398 would make Kentuckians less safe in the workplace and hand over much of the authority to regulate, investigate and enforce Kentucky workplace safety and health standards to the federal government.

The bill, approved along party lines, would limit state labor protections to a less stringent federal standard. Republicans touted it as a business-friendly move while unions assailed it as an attack on workers.

Among the bills that Beshear deemed unconstitutional was one pushed by Americans for Prosperity, the anti-tax group financed by billionaire brothers David and Charles Koch. Dubbed the REINS Act or Regulations from the Executive In Need Of Scrutiny, House Bill 6 would limit the authority of state agencies to issue regulations.

Beshear said the bill violates the Kentucky Constitution by giving the legislative branch a veto of administrative regulations issued by the executive branch. The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled more than 40 years ago that the General Assembly cannot interfere with the Executive Branchs authority to file regulations to carry out the law, Beshear wrote in his veto message.

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Beshear also vetoed a bill that directs how Kentucky courts should review disputes between executive branch agencies and the legislature. Senate Bill 84 says courts would have to interpret laws without deferring to a state agencys interpretation of them. The legislation mirrors last years U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down the precedent for the Chevron deference at the federal level.

Beshear said SB 84 violates the separation of powers by prohibiting courts from deferring to a state agencys interpretation of any statute, administrative regulation or order. The Judicial Branch is the only branch with the power and duty to decide these questions, Beshear said in his veto message

Calling it another instance of legislative overreach that violates the Kentucky Constitution, Beshear also vetoed Senate Bill 65, nullifying Medicaid regulations, including three that he said were before a subcommittee for informational review only.

Beshears office said he is allowing some bills to become law without his signature, including one to reduce the number of medical and mine emergency technicians (METs) at coal mines. The measure will reduce from two to one the number of METs required on shifts of 10 or fewer employees. However, it adds one additional MET for underground mines with over 50 workers and each additional 50 employees, the governors office said. Beshear said the bill was a mixed bag, as it reduces technicians at small mines, but increases them at larger mines.
Police continue to investigate the case of two deceased people found in a Bettendorf home, according to a news release from the Bettendorf Police Department.

On Wednesday, March 19, the Bettendorf Fire Department responded to a home on Hopewell Avenue near Devils Glen for a welfare check.

Bettendorf Police assisted and found two deceased individuals identified as long-time residents of the home, the release says.

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At this time, this investigation is being treated as a murder-suicide involving only the two

residents, the release continues. The Iowa State Medical Examiners Office will be conducting autopsies to determine the official manner and causes of death.

Investigators have notified the next of kin and continue to work on the case. We appreciate the communitys continued patience and respect for the familys privacy as we navigate this tragic situation, the release concludes. We want to reiterate that there is no threat to public safety.

An earlier release says The Bettendorf Fire and Police Departments ask that the community respect the familys privacy during this difficult time. Additionally, we extend our gratitude to the individual who contacted 911, ensuring that first responders were made aware of this unfortunate situation.





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Leo Govoni, the Clearwater businessman accused of taking $100 million from medical trust funds, violated court orders by barring bankruptcy officers from entering his office building Monday.

A federal bankruptcy court last week ordered Govoni to give over control of several companies, including Big Storm Brewing, to two court-appointed restructuring officers because of concerns that he was still spending money in violation of a court injunction. The order gave them control over all finances and, if necessary, allowed them to change the locks.

But when the officers arrived at Govonis office at 12707 49th St. N on Monday, workers who came to the door said that Mr. Govoni would not allow them to enter the premises, court records state.

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In response, bankruptcy trustee Michael Goldberg filed a motion late Monday calling on federal bankruptcy judge Roberta Colton to sanction Govoni and to permit the officers to gain access though forcible entry. It also called on the judge to order Govoni to appear in court to explain his refusal to cooperate.

At a hearing Tuesday afternoon in the Tampa federal courthouse, Govonis attorney Edward Peterson said his client had been confused about who was asking for access. Govoni agreed to allow the bankruptcy officers entry to his building Thursday.

He also agreed to a request from the bankruptcy trustee that he not be present when the officers take control of his business.

That wont happen again, Peterson told the judge.

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John Dicks, an attorney on the bankruptcy trustees team, said that Govoni has violated multiple court orders including one to produce business documents from several of his companies.

We need some teeth, he said to Colton. Order after order has been violated.

Colton said she is willing to grant a motion mandating Govonis agreement to provide access to his business premises by Thursday and stipulating that he not be present. She said there is not yet grounds for contempt of court since his attorneys had agreed to previous court orders.

Govoni, a former financial adviser, is under investigation by the FBI, the Securities Exchange Commission and the Internal Revenue Service for his part in bankrupting a St. Petersburg nonprofit by orchestrating a $100 million loan to his own company, according to court records. The money was taken from more than 1,500 medical trust funds set up to pay medical and other expenses for disabled and injured people. It was never repaid.

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Colton ruled in January that Govoni, is liable for the repayment of that loan and an additional $20 million in interest. Despite injunctions intended to prevent the operation of several companies that could be seized by the bankruptcy estate, he has continued to conduct business, court records state. That includes Big Storm Brewings taproom, which is located opposite his office building and remained open as of last week.

Simply put, until he is stopped and made to comply with court orders, Mr. Govoni will continue to fleece the most vulnerable members of society, Goldberg wrote in the motion.

Its unclear if the bankruptcy trustee will close Big Storms Clearwater taproom and sell the business it or allow it to remain open providing it remains profitable.

If the brewery stays open and the Tampa Bay community gets behind it, the revenue raised from selling beer and food could really help our constituents, Megan Murray, an attorney appointed by the court to represent the Creditors Committee, which includes many beneficiaries whose trust funds are missing money, said in an email.

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The loan from the nonprofit was given to Govonis Boston Finance Group company beginning in 2009. In the years that followed, Govoni bought a private jet worth roughly $3.4 million and kept a pilot on staff for seven years, the Tampa Bay Times found. He flew friends to his executive suite at the Kentucky Derby and donated more than $900,000 to politicians and political committees.

In statements released through his former attorney, Govoni has denied the allegations made in court records. He has not been charged with a crime. He could not be reached for comment.

Goldberg advised trust fund holders and their families on a recent video call that its unlikely that they will be able to recover all of the missing money. The trusts were set up to manage money awarded by courts in damages for road accidents, medical malpractice and other harm.

The nonprofits bankruptcy has left some families with no way to pay for medical equipment like wheelchairs or additional living expenses.
BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with John Swire & Sons Limited CEO Merlin Swire and Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan on Monday in Beijing, who are here for the China Development Forum 2025.

When meeting with Merlin Swire, Han said China sticks to the right direction of economic globalization, upholds the world trade rules system, and unswervingly advances reform and opening up, which will inject more stability and certainty into global economic development.

Han noted that the Swire Group, a globally renowned multinational company, has seen strong development in both the Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. He expressed hope that the company will actively contribute to the building of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Hainan Free Trade Port, while also supporting Hong Kong's role as an international aviation hub.

During his meeting with Vas Narasimhan, Han praised Novartis as a world-renowned innovative pharmaceutical company that has made significant contributions to global health. He emphasized that the Chinese government encourages and supports the research and development of innovative drugs, will strengthen intellectual property rights protection in accordance with the law and strive to create a better innovation environment for foreign companies, including Novartis.

It is hoped that Novartis will seize the opportunity, give full play to its own advantages, deepen and expand mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides, and achieve greater development in China, he said.

Merlin Swire and Vas Narasimhan both spoke highly of China's economic and social development achievements in recent years, and expressed optimism about the country's future prospects and confidence in investing in China.

Both companies expressed their commitment to long-term cooperation with China, noting that they will continue to expand their investments and work toward new outcomes in mutually beneficial cooperation between Britain and China, as well as Switzerland and China. 
House Republicans passed a bill to dissolve the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, handing investigation of discrimination claims to the state attorney general's office. (Photo:John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday voted in favor of abolishing the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, a 60-year-old independent agency responsible for enforcing civil rights laws in employment, housing and public accommodation.

The proposed bill by Sen. John Stevens of Huntingdon and Rep. Johnny Garrett of Goodlettsville, both Republicans, would transfer the commissions responsibilities to a newly-created Civil Rights Enforcement Division within the Office of Attorney General.

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All pending discrimination complaints before the commission would be dismissed. Individuals who have filed discrimination complaints would have the option of refiling their complaint within 90 days of the law taking effect.

Muriel Malone Nolen, the commissions executive director, urged lawmakers to vote against the bill or amend it to include a wind-down period allowing current cases to go forward.

Sen. John Stevens, R-Huntingdon (Photo: John Partipilo)

Nolen noted that the commission has more than 1,000 active discrimination complaints  some pending for at least two years  that would be thrown out entirely should the bill become law.

This has the potential to have dire consequences for businesses and individuals across our state, she said, calling the bills lack of a transition period not only inefficient but unjust.

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Employers, landlords and companies that have been the subject of complaints have already, in some cases, paid attorneys and produced records in their defense, she noted. The bill would require them to defend themselves anew if cases must be refiled with a new Attorney General division.

Individuals who have filed complaints would likewise have to restart the process.

About 90% of the commissions cases involve people with disabilities who have been discriminated against in housing and several impact veterans, she said. Should their cases be dismissed, they may fall outside a 180-day statute of limitations to pursue their discrimination claims forfeiting their rights entirely, she said.

Nolen also disputed claims by the attorney generals office that case records could easily be transferred, noting the Tennessee Human Rights Commissions records are stored in software and databases owned by the federal government.

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Unless the attorney general has a work-share agreement with the federal government we would not be able to share those files, she said.

The bill elicited little debate among lawmakers, who voted 7-2 along party lines to approve the measure. It will next be heard in a House committee Wednesday.

It is the second time in two years that Republican lawmakers have sought to abolish the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. In 2024, Democrats criticized the proposal as a tactic to remove independent oversight of discrimination complaints and instead subject them to political control.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti (Photo: John Partipilo)

That bill was ultimately amended to require a study of the feasibility of dissolving the agency. The Attorney Generals office, which conducted the study, concluded that the duties of the commission could better be undertaken by its office.

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This years bill also includes proposed changes to Tennessee anti-discrimination laws related to school admission practices, creating a pathway for those denied admission on the basis of race, color or national origin to file complaints.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has been outspoken in his views that diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives are discriminatory, issuing warnings to corporations against DEI policies, criticizing the Environmental Protection Agency for environmental justice initiatives and warning the American Bar Association against new diversity and inclusion rules for law schools.

The bill, if enacted, would give the newly formed Attorney Generals Civil Rights Enforcement Division the legal power to pursue such discrimination complaints against schools.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A bill lawmakers have discussed this month could expand the patrol area for the Texas Department of Public Safetys (DPS) Capitol division.

Ive seen some incidents recently around the Capitol that are probably common to residents but to legislators who dont live here, a lot of our visitors, some of our staff, has alarmed me, said Rep. Carl Tepper, R-Lubbock, who authored the legislation.

The Capitol division is in charge of the Capitol grounds, annex buildings and Capitol Mall. Teppers bill calls for these troopers to also patrol from 10th Street all the way to Lady Bird Lake between Colorado and Brazos Streets, highlighted in the map below.

Bill calls for extended patrols for DPS troopers assigned to the Capitol. (Courtesy: Jose Torres)

Homelessness and lawlessness and theft, its just been festering, Tepper said. Wanted to try something a little out of the box to alleviate some of the issues were having at the Capitol building.

Austin police chief opposes move

Its not something that Im for, I dont support it, said Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis. I think its our responsibility and I think this new team adding numbers to downtown, I think thats going to help.

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Davis said she has already created a new unit  the downtown Austin response team  to address some of the behavior Tepper is concerned about. Davis formed this group by restructuring a team that would previously run preliminary on-scene investigations before specialized units arrived.

I think it goes beyond the money and politics of it all and for us its about having pride that this is our area and were responsible for it, she said.

Tepper said the money would come from sales tax generated in the city of Austin, but troopers would still be under the command of Gov. Greg Abbott. This would run differently than how things went when DPS and the city entered a partnership in 2023 to increase DPS patrols citywide. During that program  called the Austin Violent Crimes Task Force  APD staff directed troopers where to patrol.

Status of the bill

The bill is still currently in committee. There was a hearing about it on March 12.

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Texas DPS said it cannot comment on pending legislation.

The city of Austin provided the following statement: The City is aware of HB 470 and its current state in Committee. Based on an initial review, the City could be impacted in the areas mentioned.

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A "tent city" is seen on August 21, 2013 in Camden, N.J. Camden had at least three "tent cities," where many homeless in the Southern New Jersey region live. Community leaders say Camden draws in a disproportionately large homeless population due to the numerous services, soup kitchens and shelters in the city, which other cities in the area do not offer. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) (This image cannot be republished unless you have a Getty subscription.)

OKLAHOMA CITY  The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that would bar new homeless shelters from opening within 3,000 feet of a school.

Senate Bill 484 would apply to every city and town in the state that has populations under 300,000. Only Oklahoma City and Tulsa had populations over that threshold, according to the most recent U.S. Census data.

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It would allow churches to open homeless shelters regardless of distance from a school.

Existing homeless shelters already within that slightly more than half-mile distance would be grandfathered in, meaning they could still operate. It would not apply to domestic violence or youth shelters.

Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, the author of the legislation, made significant changes to the bill to make it less restrictive. It no longer applies to libraries, churches and preschools, she said.

Standridge said the measure is necessary to protect children.

Some nonprofit groups are distributing clean needles, condoms and bongs to homeless shelters, she said. The items should not be around children, she said.

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Standridge said the measure applied to cities and towns under 300,000 people because larger cities have more resources to help the homeless.

Sen. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa, said the buffer zone between sex offender residences and schools is 2,000 feet.

Sen. Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City, said there will still be drug activity in neighborhoods surrounding schools.

He questioned whether the bill was broad state overreach.

Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, said city councils can pass ordinances governing the issue.

This bill acts like it solves a problem but it doesnt, said Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman.

It creates the illusion that it is doing something, Boren said.

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Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, said the measure does not do anything to address the causes of homelessness such as addiction, poverty and mental illness. She said some homeless students are living in the shelters.

All this is is a spacing bill, Standridge said. This does not close homeless shelters.

The bill narrowly passed by a vote of 26-20 and is available for consideration in the House.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  To disclose or not to disclose certain records of police misconduct allegations. That is the question at the core of legislation the Senate Criminal Justice Committee debated Tuesday morning.

Senate Bill 781, authored by Phil King, R-Weatherford, would create a uniform statewide confidentiality policy for records of alleged misconduct against law enforcement officers that werent sustained with sufficient evidence. In certain jurisdictions, these records can be kept separately from an officers personnel file in a confidential department file, commonly called a G-file in reference to the section of government code that created them.

Whether or not G-file records should be subject to public disclosure has been a point of contention for years between law enforcement, criminal justice activists and government transparency organizations.

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Texas law enforcement agencies can be generally separated into two groups: those that operate under civil service rules and those that dont. Law enforcement agencies under civil service rules can keep G-files confidential, but agencies that arent under those rules do release the records.

Under Kings bill, no law enforcement agencies  regardless of civil services status  would release records of misconduct allegations against officers that were not sustained. The records could be disclosed to another law enforcement agency looking to hire an officer or to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

Formerly sealed Austin police records would cost $27K via public information request

Some senators on the committee and criminal justice advocates expressed concern about keeping the G-file records under wraps.

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Sen. Boris Miles, D-Houston, a former licensed peace officer, worried the bill would shield misconduct and problematic officers.

The way this bill is written in this section, it is going to put complaints further and further and further underground, Miles said. We need to work on that part.

Legal experts testified that the bill could be interpreted to extend confidentiality to block district attorneys, making it difficult for defendants to access records that could contain exculpatory evidence, which is required to be disclosed under the Brady rule.

Morgan Shelburne, an Austin area public defender, said a judge could deny access to G-file misconduct allegations if a defendant wasnt able to support allegations that evidence existed in the records.

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This law keeps jurors in the dark, Shelburne said.

One of the states largest police unions, Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas or CLEAT, backs Kings bill.

Unfortunately, department files on Texas law enforcement officers have become a political pawn in recent years, and there is no uniformity across the state on the confidentiality or handling of such files, CLEAT said in a news release Monday.

Jennifer Szimanski, deputy executive director of CLEAT, told the committee the law would essentially make civil service rules for G-files apply across the board to all agencies and shield them from requests placed under the Texas Public Information Act.

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Members of the media, public and anti-law enforcement groups are exploiting access to G-file records, Szimanski said. These civil service rules should cover all law enforcement agencies because they are the gold standard, she added.

Conflicting policies

State rules for G-files have come into conflict with local rules. For example, Austin police have operated under civil service rules that make G-files secret. Meanwhile, the citys voters passed the Austin Police Oversight Act in May 2023 making the records releasable to the public.

Equity Action drafted and promoted the Oversight Act and has said the public has the right to know about complaints against officers and the internal investigations into them.

After passage of that proposition, the Austin Police Association said releasing the records would violate state law, and disclosing unsubstantiated complaints against officers can paint a negative and false picture.

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The city of Austin didnt immediately begin releasing G-file records after that proposition passed, which prompted a lawsuit by Equity Action in Dec. 2023. Last August, a Travis County district judge ruled the City of Austin acted unlawfully by not releasing G-file records. Since then, the city has begun releasing G-file records in response to record requests under the Texas Public Information Act, according to media reports.

King says his bill will bring the confidentiality rules for G-files in line with policies adopted by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, or TCOLE.

A 2023 TCOLE sunset bill directed the agency to create and adopt an array of model law enforcement policies, including for personnel and department files.

The bill was left pending in committee, and King said he was open to updating the language to address concerns raised in the hearing.

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Reps. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif). introduced the Pakistan Democracy Act on Monday, seeking to sanction the countrys Army chief for persecution of political opponents including former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The Hill obtained a copy of the bill, which would place sanctions on Pakistans military boss within 180 days, under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. Violators can be subjected to denial of entry to the United States and ineligibility for U.S. visas.

The bipartisan legislation accuses Pakistani military leader General Asim Munir of knowingly engaging in the wrongful persecution and imprisonment of political opponents. It further seeks the identification of key individuals involved in this persecution, and imposing similar bans on them.

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It gives the president the power to drop the sanctions if military rule has ended in Pakistan and rule of law and civilian-led democracy has been restored and all wrongfully detained political detainees have been released from detention.

Wilson has consistently demanded the release of Khan, who was arrested in August 2023, and blamed Pakistans military for his unjust detention.

Mr. Khan is clearly a political prisoner, Wilson told The Hill, adding that he has written a letter to President Trump urging him to put pressure on Pakistans military leadership including through visa bans, to restore democracy and release Mr. Khan.

Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have sought the release of Khan, who has faced various charges following his removal from office in 2022.

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Members and supporters of Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party have expressed hope that the Trump administration will lean on Pakistans leaders for Khans release.

Trump has not publicly commented on Khans incarceration or ouster.

However, Trumps envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell, has tweeted in support of the former prime minister.

A post on the social platform X from Grenell in December extending support to Khan received over 12 million views and was widely shared by Khans supporters.

Watch Pakistan, he said. Their Trump-like leader is in prison on phony charges, and the people have been inspired by the US Red Wave. Stop the political prosecutions around the world!

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Hopes of a pro-Khan stance from the president were dampened, however, by his joint address to Congress earlier this month, in which he thanked the Pakistani government for facilitating the arrest of an Islamic State (ISIS) member accused of planning a 2021 terror attack in Kabul that killed American soldiers.

Last week, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce declined to comment on Khans imprisonment, saying that the administration does not involve itself in the internal matters of other countries.

Wilson told The Hill he thinks Pakistans cooperation over the arrest of the ISIS suspect should be welcomed, but that the country should still be encouraged to uphold democratic values.

Others on Capitol Hill who have demanded Khans release include Reps. Greg Casar (D-Texas), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), August Pfluger (R-Texas), Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), among others.

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Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani envoy to the U.S. and senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, said the U.S. was unlikely to expend its limited leverage on Khan.

It is unlikely that sanctions would be imposed on Pakistan just to secure the release of a populist but anti-American politician, Haqqani said, referring to Khans past anti-American stance.

In 2022, following his ouster from power through a no-confidence vote, Khan claimed that his removal as prime minister was the result of an American conspiracy. He accused the then-opposition of collaborating with the U.S. to bring down his government.

The Biden administration had denied these claims.

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Khan said at the time the U.S. did not want him in power due to his anti-imperialist stance and independent foreign policy choices. His partys rallies against his ouster featured anti-American slogans and chants about standing up to foreign slavery and protecting the countrys sovereignty.

Wilson said he has major differences with Khan, not only in his past anti-American statements, but also his statements defending China, and refusing to take a strong stance against war criminal Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine.

But political differences should be dealt with at the ballot box, he added.

Michael Kugelman, South Asia director of the Washington D.C.-based Wilson Center, said he didnt expect the U.S. to ultimately place sanctions on Pakistan over its refusal to free Khan.

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And he noted a certain irony in the pleas coming from Khans camp.

For many observers in DC, there is something deeply ironic about Khan supporters blaming the U.S. for Khans ouster and then calling on it to rescue him, Kugelman said.

Khan supporters counter that its about reversing an interference, but that itself is a highly partisan statement as it assumes the U.S. was complicit in Khans ouster, he added.

Haqqani said the calls from lawmakers were more about constituency politics and responding to donors than anything related to Khans politics.

Several members of Congress are unaware of Khans track record, as some have mistakenly described him as a friend of the U.S., which he has never claimed to be, the former ambassador said.

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The Hill reached out to the Trump administration and the Pakistan embassy for comment.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Texas Senate signed off Tuesday on a $336 billion spending plan for the next two years that would use the states overflowing coffers to boost teacher pay, establish a school voucher program and cut property taxes, while staying under state spending caps that will leave billions of dollars unspent.

The upper chambers two-year budget draft, approved on a 31-0 vote, would spend more than $153 billion in general revenue, Texas main source of taxpayer funds used to pay for core services. That is well under the estimated $195 billion available, according to Comptroller Glenn Hegar, though a constitutional spending limit prevents lawmakers from coming anywhere near that number, unless they take a politically perilous vote to bust the cap.

The budget will now be sent to lawmakers in the House, which is expected to debate and approve its own version early next month.

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From there, budget writers from the two chambers will settle their differences behind closed doors before voting on a final balanced budget plan  their only constitutional obligation before the legislative session ends in early June.

Our economy is strong and continues to grow, Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston and chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said, noting that state revenues were projected to return to more average levels after fueling recent budget surpluses. We again have the opportunity to make strategic, one-time investments to address long-standing needs of our growing state, as well as return money back to taxpayers in the form of additional property tax relief.

Senators discussed the budget for two hours before passing it unanimously. Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, proposed the only amendment on the floor  to put $50 million toward an agricultural loan guarantee program  before dropping it and vowing to ensure the program was funded after negotiations with the House.

The Senate budget proposal aligns closely with the Houses first budget draft, signaling lawmakers are on the same page about how much money to spend and where it should go. But in some cases, the two chambers have different visions for how the money should be deployed. That is the case with the House and Senates dueling plans to provide $3.5 billion in new property tax cuts, mirroring a similar divide from two years ago even as the chambers align on the spending amount.

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Lawmakers will try to iron out those policy disputes in legislation separate from the budget  otherwise, the money will go unspent.

In all, both chambers budget proposals would spend about $336 billion over the next two years, including money from general revenue, federal funds and revenue earmarked for specific uses. That is about $14 billion more than what lawmakers budgeted two years ago, a 4.5% increase. However, the Legislature is expected to approve additional spending for the current cycle  which runs through the end of August  in what is known as the supplemental budget, lessening the year-to-year increase.

The next two-year budget will take effect Sept. 1 and run through the end of August 2027.

Public education

Both chambers would put nearly 70% of the state budget toward health and human services and education, roughly in line with past spending cycles.

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In the Senate draft, that includes about $71 billion for the Foundation School Program, the main source of state funding for Texas K-12 public schools. More than $4.3 billion would be reserved for targeted teacher pay raises under a Senate bill that proposes salary boosts for instructors based on years of experience and student performance.

Though House leaders have proposed a similar bump in public education spending, they want to put it toward increasing the base amount that schools receive from the state per student  an approach that would direct only some of the funding boost to teacher raises.

Public school teachers and advocates argue that neither proposal is enough to adequately fund local school districts. Base funding from the state for schools has not increased since 2019, in part because a planned hike in education spending got caught up in the fight over school vouchers two years ago. School districts have grappled in recent years with budget deficits, teacher shortages and campus closures.

Gov. Greg Abbott is charging ahead this session on another attempt to enact a voucher program that would allow families to use taxpayer dollars to pay for their childrens private schooling and home schooling. The Senate budget draft sets aside $1 billion for such a program over the next two years, double what was on the table in 2023.

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Additionally, the upper chambers spending plan devotes $500 million to increasing the states school safety funding, up $100 million from the amount proposed in both chambers first budget drafts.

Border security

Both proposals funnel $6.5 billion to border security, which would bring total state taxpayer spending on such efforts to nearly $18 billion since Texas launched Operation Lone Star in 2021.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Gov. Abbott had earlier suggested that they would look to redirect some of the states increased border spending toward other issues with President Donald Trump clamping down on immigration through federal directives. But the $6.5 billion earmark largely matches the amount approved for border security this current budget cycle.

Most of the $6.5 billion allocation would go to the governors office, which would receive $2.9 billion; the Texas Military Department, which would receive $2.3 billion; and the Department of Public Safety, which would receive $1.2 billion. DPS would also receive another $403 million for 567 new law enforcement officers and 160 support positions.

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Abbott has asked the federal government to reimburse the state $11 billion for the costs of border security operations and wall construction during the Biden administration.

Property tax relief

Additionally, both chambers have budgeted $6.5 billion for new property tax cuts. Of that, $3 billion is slotted to go to local school districts so they can bring down their tax rates, a cost that lawmakers already committed to in prior tax-cut legislation.

Each chamber has different plans for how to use the remaining $3.5 billion. The Senate, under Patricks direction, would put much of it toward increasing the states homestead exemption, which lowers the amount of a homes value that can be taxed to pay for public schools. The Senate tax-cut package would boost that exemption from $100,000 of a homes taxable value to $140,000.

The House plan, meanwhile, would send most of the $3.5 billion to school districts to further drive down tax rates, a method known as compression. That approach would spread the benefits to homeowners and business owners, all of whom pay property taxes, while the Senate plan would channel more of the relief directly to homeowners.

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Whichever approach wins out, the new tax cuts come on top of more than $44 billion both chambers are slated to spend to maintain existing tax relief approved since 2019. The combination of new and existing tax cuts will cost an estimated $51 billion over the next two years, according to state budget analysts.

Water and energy

Lawmakers have also proposed dedicating nearly $10 billion to the states energy, water and broadband infrastructure.

Both chambers have agreed to spend $5 billion to double the Texas Energy Fund, a low-interest taxpayer-funded loan program meant to incentivize the development of gas-fueled power plants.

Lawmakers have also proposed $2.5 billion for the Texas Water Fund, with the House including the funding in its supplemental budget for the current spending cycle, rather than including it in the upcoming two-year budget. House and Senate leaders are on board with a plan to dedicate $1 billion a year toward water projects amid Texas looming water shortage, though they are debating how much to use for creating new water sources versus repairing and upgrading aging infrastructure like water pipes.

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And both chambers want to pump $2.4 billion into the Texas Broadband Development Office to expand internet access to the estimated 7 million residents who arent yet connected.

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.
She is the nation's most famous legal secretary, whose real-life advocacy on toxic groundwater was portrayed by Julia Roberts to Oscar-winning acclaim.

He is the most recognizable civil rights attorney of his generation, winning millions of dollars for Black and brown families whose loved ones  George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Michael Brown  died at the hands of police and sparked a global outcry.

Both Erin Brockovich and Benjamin Crump have descended on the charred ruins of Altadena as the aftermath of the deadly Eaton fire shifts to the courthouse, with Southern California Edison in the crosshairs.

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And they're not alone.

Attorney Ben Crump speaks during a news conference on August 25, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Getty Images Consumer advocate Erin Brockovich attends a press conference hosted by LA Fire Justice to unveil critical evidence on the cause of the Eaton Fire. Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times

In churches, community centers and hotel conference rooms, on private Zoom calls and at public food giveaways, lawyers and their swarm of assistants, marketers and so-called victim advocates are ready and available. Mailboxes have filled up with printed fliers inviting Altadenans to town halls and free consults, often assuring: "Let us fight for you." One firm from Oakland promised a complimentary dinner at the Pasadena Hilton.

Nowhere is the stampede more visible than on social media.

"We are here to help," said one firm's Instagram ad. "You may be entitled to compensation," said another ad from an L.A. firm known for car crash and employment claims. "Start your 30-second eligibility quiz," said a Florida-based marketing agency, Legal Claim Assistant, which does not even list a lawyer associated with it.

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"The ick is real, and it feels very predatory," said Jennifer Gray Thompson, chief executive officer of After The Fire USA, a nonprofit that has worked in Lahaina, Paradise and other communities ravaged by wildfire. "It feels like its a feeding frenzy off of peoples trauma and suffering."

Attorneys with Andrews & Thornton and Ben Crump Law hold a town hall for Eaton fire families at Pasadena Church East Campus on Jan. 30. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Some lawyers admit to being taken aback by some of the tactics.

"We are hearing reports of people getting accosted by someone with a clipboard while they are in line at the grocery store," said J. Eli Wade-Scott, a partner at Edelson, a national firm representing hundreds of Eaton fire victims. "That is totally improper."

Billions of dollars are potentially on the line for those who lost homes, businesses or loved ones in the flames. Pacific Gas & Electric paid a settlement of cash and stock valued at $13.5 billion to victims of the 2018 Camp fire and other blazes. As part of negotiations for the landmark PG&E payout, the state set up a fund in 2019 for future victims of fires caused by utilities, which now holds about $13 billion but can pay out up to $21 billion.

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For lawyers, who generally take no upfront payment, their typical one-third cut of any future settlement could be enormous.

"There's a bunch of people who think this is a gold rush and are trying to sign up everyone and their brother," said John Manly, the Orange County lawyer famous for representing sex abuse victims against USC, UCLA and the Catholic Church. "There are good firms advertising, and that's OK. But when someone comes from Rhode Island and says, 'I'll do your wildfire case in California,' be suspect."

Attorney John Manly, who has represented sex-abuse survivors for over 20 years, is shown at his office in Irvine in 2023. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

For the Eaton fire, which destroyed more than 9,400 structures and claimed 17 lives, victims will square off against one of the region's most deep-pocketed utilities, which is armed with a phalanx of lawyers and savvy political operations.

Against that Goliath, attorneys seeking to represent victims present themselves as a latter-day David, with Crump and Brockovich, who is not a lawyer, as some of their most visible leaders.

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"We don't want three-fifths justice. We want complete justice!" Crump bellowed from the crimson-carpeted altar of Pasadena Church East, a congregation near Eaton Canyon, flanked by lawyers and activists.

Read more: Against all odds, Black residents built something remarkable in Altadena. Then the fire came

Crump and his legal team, including Orange County lawyer Anne Andrews, used the church grounds for several town halls for Eaton fire victims in a community with many historically Black neighborhoods. Prospective clients filled out paperwork in a van parked outside.

"We have to make sure that people don't forget about Altadena," Crump said.

Anne Andrews, senior partner with Andrews & Thornton law firm, left, listens as her client Trevor Kelley describes how he learned his mother had died in her Altadena home in the Eaton fire. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

'I'm going to fight for you'

On a recent Friday night, Brockovich kicked off a town hall at Pasadena Masonic Temple after attorney Doug Boxer introduced her to applause.

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There is no more fearless advocate for people than Erin Brockovich, Boxer said, noting that he met Brockovich when she worked on legislation with his mother, former Sen. Barbara Boxer.

With more than 200 people seated before her, Brockovich said she was "indignant" and condemned the "failures" that led to the Eaton fire.

"I hear people say, 'Maybe it's not best to rebuild.' That's not going to happen," she said. "I love my state. And I'm going to fight for you."

Although Brockovich's name headlined the event, Mikal Watts, a Texas lawyer whose practice has focused on wildfires across the western U.S., did most of the talking. The Eaton fire, he said, was his 22nd.

Consumer advocate Erin Brockovich attends a news conference hosted by LA Fire Justice to unveil evidence on the cause of the Eaton fire. Attorney Mikal Watts presented their findings with never-before-seen footage and digital telemetry. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

"How many of you lost your homes?" Watts asked from the podium, with a Texas drawl and the commanding presence of a preacher. More than 30 raised their hands.

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Watts sought to distance himself from his peers, explaining why he waited until Feb. 7 to start holding town halls.

"When somebody is burned out of house and home, the last thing you need in the first month is lawyers chasing you down," Watts continued. "I told our team, our first meeting is going to be on the seventh of February, 30 days in. Because the shock and trauma in your eyes has been replaced with a steely determination to try to figure out why.

Over the next hour, he walked through the evidence his team had gathered: cellphone footage from neighbors, drone footage of Southern California Edison towers, interviews with witnesses, electric data from the utility.

"When somebody is burned out of house and home, the last thing you need in the first month is lawyers chasing you down," said attorney Mikal Watts at a news conference hosted by LA Fire Justice. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Watts outlined the core allegation: that the fire originated with Southern California Edison's equipment and that the utility had attempted to mislead the public about it.

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"This is as close to a puzzle that fits as Ive ever seen," Watts said. "You can feel good that if you choose to get involved and you choose to bring a claim against Southern California Edison, you are getting engaged in a righteous endeavor. This is a righteous lawsuit."

Whether Southern California Edison was responsible for sparking the Jan. 7 blaze remains to be confirmed by authorities, but the county of L.A. and scores of Altadena residents have already sued the utility, accusing it of causing the inferno. Company records uncovered by The Times show that Edison knew some of its towers at and near the likely ignition point were fire hazards.

"We understand and share the desire to determine what started the Eaton fire, and the important thing to remember is that we are in the early stages of this investigation," Kathleen Dunleavy, an Edison spokesperson, said in an interview. "Speculating on the cause only does the victims and the community a disservice."

Read more: Edison towers in the Altadena fire zone had known 'ignition risk' and needed repairs, records show

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Watts and others have their critics. Chief among them is Will Abrams, who barely escaped the 2017 Tubbs fire and lost his Sonoma home. Abrams signed up with a San Francisco lawyer and was one of thousands who lodged claims against PG&E. But he grew frustrated by the 2019 plan to settle for $13.5 billion with a mix of cash and PG&E stock held in trust, which Watts helped negotiate and lobbied victims to approve.

Brockovich authored an op-ed touting the settlement as "providing the money needed to rebuild your homes and your communities now." Watts defended the deal as a pragmatic way of delivering compensation at a time when PG&E was in bankruptcy and facing complex legal and financial challenges.

"If victims reject this ... you'll get very little compared to the 13 and a half [billion] that's been agreed to," Watts told fire victims at an April 2020 town hall. "There is no Plan B. There is no other viable alternative available."

Investigators view the Edison electrical lines, transmission towers and surrounding area, which is being investigated as the possible origin of the Eaton fire in Eaton Canyon. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

When PG&E funded the settlement in 2020, its stock was $2.4 billion short of what was anticipated, and the trust determined that victims' claims exceeded $19 billion.Fire victims like Abrams have received payouts in increments, but they are still 30% short.

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Barring legislative intervention, the fire victims will never be made whole. Abrams is advocating to amend state law so that victims of the Camp, Tubbs and other fires in the trust can tap into the $21-billion wildfire relief fund. But that effort, if successful, would diminish the money available to cover losses from the Eaton fire.

"The speed of getting paid was something we were sold with the deal. Here we are, seven years plus later, without being fully compensated," Abrams said.

Watts told The Times in a statement, "I agree that 70% of full compensation is not justice," adding that he also supports the Legislature amending the $21-billion fund "to ensure that ALL damages from the previous PG&E fires ... are paid for in full as well."

Lawyers have largely focused on the Eaton fire, rather than the Palisades fire, because of the volume of records pointing to its cause and the fact that a deep-pocketed private utility has been linked to it. The origin of the Palisades fire remains murkier.

Kevin Boyle, a Pacific Palisades resident who is representing several homeowners in a Palisades fire lawsuit filed Thursday against the L.A. Department of Water and Power, acknowledged that Palisades victims face a steeper hill.

Still, Boyle said he is taking on the case because of his belief that the DWP "failed" in its mission.

"They had no water, and they had too much power  they never de-energized any of those power lines," Boyle said, listing factors that he believed led to the devastation.

An aerial view of a neighborhood ravaged by the Palisades fire. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Finding a lawyer is like a 'choose-your-own adventure'

Thompson, the CEO of After the Fire, emphasized that litigation is a "really important" part of the recovery and rebuilding, but she highlighted several caveats.

"People should know that they can actually wait. They don't need to be in a hurry to get an attorney," she said, describing the bombardment from lawyers as a "choose-your-own adventure."

George Cardona, chief prosecutor for the State Bar of California, advises skepticism about any lawyer or their staff who creates pressure or urgency.

"Step back, exercise due diligence and make sure that someone you hire is someone you trust and want to work with," he said.

The Bar, which regulates lawyers and helps the public verify attorneys' credentials, has established several rules to guard against predatory marketing. Lawyers are prohibited from soliciting clients in person, over the phone or using other real-time communications, and are barred from using non-lawyers to solicit clients, a practice known as capping.

These restrictions have helped make the "town hall" a common way of getting in front of prospective clients.

"Providing information without any kind of direct pitch for employing that particular lawyer generally is OK," Cardona said.

Anne Andrews, senior partner with Andrews & Thornton law firm, center, speaks at a town hall for Eaton fire families at Pasadena Church East Campus. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Lawyers who work on wildfire cases say there are two general classes of attorneys: Some try to amass as many clients as possible, to refer them to other lawyers or to "park them" with a wait-and-see approach. In the other bucket are lawyers who promise to take their clients' cases to the finish line and have experience battling utilities.

"There's questions people should ask: Have you ever taken a wildfire case to trial?" Wade-Scott said.

Manly, the Orange County sex abuse lawyer, suggested that prospective clients ask: What will be the attorney's involvement in the case? Which experts will they use? How will they prove the case?

"These are all things a lawyer should be prepared to answer. If they don't have the answers, you need to think twice," Manly said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
RICHMOND  After a flurry of legislative action late Monday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin ultimately signed nearly 600 bills sent to him from the General Assembly. He amended 159 and vetoed 158.

Among the bills I have signed are proposals that will keep school lunches free from artificial dyes, cement Virginia as home of the worlds first commercial nuclear fusion facility, expand rural electric co-ops ability to drive economic development, modernize school transportation to reverse chronic absenteeism, and give more students opportunities to take advanced math classes, he said in a statement. I have vetoed bills that I think will take the Commonwealth backward by raising the cost of living, hurting our strong job growth, stifling innovation, undermining our All-American All-of-the-Above Power and Energy Plan or making our communities less safe.

The governor has vetoed 400 bills during his four-year term, more than any governor in recent history.

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The General Assembly will reconvene next week to vote on the recommendations, which can be accepted with a simple majority. With a slim majority in both the House and the Senate, its unlikely Democrats will be able to muster the two-thirds majority required to overturn vetoes.

Its a really bizarre style, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell told reporters Tuesday. Its not conducive to finding compromise and getting good policy outcomes.

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Vetoed

Youngkin vetoed some familiar efforts the General Assembly passed last year, including legislation that would have raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour and established a Prescription Drug Affordability Board.

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Youngkin vetoed legislation proposed by Del. Michael Feggans, D-Virginia Beach, that would have directed the Department of Energy to identify and develop training resources to advance workforce development in the offshore wind industry. The governor cited existing workforce development programs and, in general, what he categorized as rising costs and declining interest in offshore wind.

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He also vetoed a bill that would have amended Portsmouths city charter to address disparities or discrimination in minority and women-owned businesses in receiving government contracts. Because Virginia is a Dillon Rule state, localities charters can only be amended through the General Assembly. That bill passed the Senate 37 to 2 and the House 91 to 5. Youngkin said the policy would prioritize race and gender over qualifications

Youngkin also vetoed a bill that would have allowed localities under a court-ordered remedial election system to convert at-large members into single member districts. That legislation was sponsored by lawmakers from Virginia Beach, where legal challenges led to an overhaul of the citys electoral process.

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Also on the chopping block were bills that would have established a retail cannabis market and permitted collective bargaining from public employees. Currently municipal workers can collectively bargain in Virginia only if they get permission from the city. Some Hampton Roads mayors are joining forces to oppose collective bargaining efforts.

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Amended

Youngkin suggested two changes to a bill restricting police use of license plate readers and Flock Safety cameras: First, Youngkin said police should be allowed to store the amassed data for 30 days, up from 21 days in the bill. Second, the governor said a controversial expansion of Flock cameras to state roads  such as interstates and bridge-tunnels  should go into effect in July 2026 without a second vote by the General Assembly early next year.

The governors recommendation for a regulation on prospective data centers makes the for noise and environmental impact studies optional for localities and includes a reenactment clause, which mean the General Assembly would have to pass the legislation again next year.

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Like last year, Youngkin amended a bill that would require unconscious bias and cultural competency training for maternal health workers to be just two hours of training on populations with worse maternal health outcomes. That amendment did not pass last year, and the legislation was subsequently vetoed.

Youngkin also followed the same playbook for another repeat bill that would remove tax exemptions for Confederate organizations. His recommendations this year included a reenactment clause and a call for the Department of Taxation to review the impact of the exemptions and report their findings in November. When similar recommendations were not adopted last year, he vetoed the bill.

Meanwhile, legislation establishing a right to contraception, a legislative priority of Democrats this year, was recommended to include a provision that says physicians and employers can refuse to provide contraception based on religious or conscientious objection. Democrats said that was a gutting of the bill.

____

Signed

One bill that finally made it into law after years of effort, would close a campaign finance loophole. The legislation will ban Virginia political candidates from using campaign funds for personal use.

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Legislation that will take effect this July included a law that will make it a Class 1 misdemeanor to knowingly let kids operate vehicles if doing so results in injury or death. Youngkin also signed a bill that will create a Class 4 felony for anyone operating a drone within a defense facility without authorization. And, as of July 1, the Virginia Lottery will be prohibited from disclosing the names of winners who have won at least $1 million without consent.

Peter Dujardin contributed to this report.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Kansas wildlife officials are preparing to release more of a rarely seen species after initial success last year.

Staff with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) released a batch of 40 alligator snapping turtles into their former home range in the Neosho River in September 2024. Now, the KDWP is looking to release more of the turtles to boost their numbers in the Sunflower State.

Daren Riedle, wildlife diversity coordinator with the KDWP, told 27 News staff are working out another release date for early May. Riedle said the KDWP will closely monitor the turtles to see how they react to their new home and keep track of where they go in Kansas.

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It appears some of the turtles have stayed close to their release site, but we didnt expect them to do much over the winter, Riedle said. This next year will be the biggie, as last years turtles will have a full activity season at the new site. No dead turtles have been observed, but two live turtles have been photographed.

Alligator snapping turtles are back in Kansas after a more than 30-year absence. Biologists hope the species reestablishes in the waters of the Neosho River. (Photo Courtesy/Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks) (Photo Courtesy/Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks) (Photo Courtesy/Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks)

Park officials target invasive trees spreading in Topeka

The KDWP tracks the progress of each turtle through the use of special radio tags that allows the agency to keep tabs on where they go after being released. The turtles were reintroduced to Kansas last year after being absent from the state for more than 30 years.

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The alligator snapping turtles were brought back to the state as part of the Kansas Aquatic Species Recovery program. You can learn more about this KDWP program by clicking here.

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.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) The Birmingham Full Figured Fashion Week is holding a model casting call on March 30.

The casting call is open to men and women ages five and up, with no height or weight requirements. It will be held at the Creed 63 building at 3 p.m.

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 CBS 42.
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Italy's Senate President Ignazio La Russa in Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Italy's Senate President Ignazio La Russa in Beijing on Tuesday.

Han said that last year, the two countries' leaders held successful meetings and reached important consensus, pointing out the direction for the development of China-Italy relations.

Noting that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Han said China is ready to work with Italy to develop a more mature, stable, open and mutually beneficial relationship with a strategic and long-term perspective, to bring more benefits to the two peoples.

China is willing to deepen cooperation with Italy in such fields as economy, trade, tourism, culture, education and sports, and push for more tangible results, Han added.

La Russa said that through this visit, he could fully feel the vitality and achievements of China's development. Italy is willing to strengthen all-round friendly cooperation with China so that the two ancient civilizations can make new contributions to world peace and development, he said. 

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Italy's Senate President Ignazio La Russa in Beijing, capital of China, March 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
The family of a California Black fifth grader is raising their concerns after the child was gifted a toy monkey, toilet and fake poop as prize for school fundraising.

Genesis Thomas, a student at Mann Elementary School in Long Beach, a Los Angeles suburb, raised $160 for the fundraiser. In return, her teacher gave her the toy, which her great-uncle, Craig Polk, found inappropriate.

African Americans have been referred to as monkeys throughout history, and for her to receive a monkey... Its unacceptable, just unacceptable, he told Fox 11. The family now wants an apology and for the schools staff to undergo sensitivity training.

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The elementary school is located in the citys upscale Belmont Heights neighborhood, where roughly four percent of residents are Black. Its unclear if the student was the only one given the toy or if she was targeted in the incident. The highest prize in the competition was a mini fridge.

The family says the youngster was unfazed by the gift.

The students family members say they contacted the schools principal last week and again on Monday, but did not get a response. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Long Beach Unified School District said the toy was one of several prizes available and all prizes and their corresponding donation levels were communicated to families in advance.

Multiple students received this prize as part of their fundraising achievements, the spokesperson said. While the schools intention was to provide lighthearted and fun rewards for students, we recognize that this particular item was not appropriate for our school setting.

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The district is now reviewing its prize selection process to ensure future prizes reflect school values and expectations to provide a positive and welcoming experience.

We want to be clear that there was no intention to cause harm or offense. We sincerely apologize for any hurt or frustration this situation may have caused to our students, families, and the broader school community, the spokesperson said.
The ceasefire in the Black Sea will take effect only after Western sanctions on Russian food producers and exporters are lifted, the Kremlin said in a statement on March 25.

The statement came after two-day talks in Saudi Arabia, during which Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. agreed to implement a ceasefire in the Black Sea and a ban on strikes against energy infrastructure.

In contrast with Russia's statement, Ukraine and the U.S. did not directly mention lifting sanctions against Moscow as part of the agreements.

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Washington vowed to help restore Russias access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.

The Kremlin said that the Black Sea ceasefire would come into effect after the West lifts the sanctions against Russia's Rosselkhozbank and other financial organizations involved in supporting international food trade operations and restores their connection to the SWIFT messaging system.

Moscow is also demanding that the West lift the sanctions on Russian food producers and exporters, as well as on Russian-flagged ships involved in food and fertilizer trade.

Moreover, the Kremlin wants the West to remove sanctions on the import of agricultural equipment and fertilizers into Russia.

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Another condition for the ceasefire is that commercial ships in the Black Sea should be inspected, according to the Kremlin.

The Kremlin also claimed that the ban on energy strikes had been in effect since March 18 and would be valid for 30 days with the possibility of extension.

Despite the agreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin a week ago, Russia has continued its regular campaign of aerial attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

Read also: Russia, Ukraine agree to partial ceasefire in Black Sea, US to help restore Russias access to markets

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
March 25 (UPI) -- The Trump administration has announced that the United States has come to agreements with both Ukraine and Russia about the maintenance of peace and shipping in the Black Sea.

The sea is a crucial body of water for both the United States and Russia, and the White House said Tuesday that, "In line with presidential-level discussions between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky," and then in a separate declaration, "In line with presidential-level discussions" between President Trump "and Russian President Vladimir Putin," a cessation in military action in the Black Sea is now reportedly in effect.

The agreements state for Russia and Ukraine, that in accordance with the United States, both countries "have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes."

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On behalf of Ukraine, the United States will help "achieve the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children," while a ban on "strikes against energy facilities" now exists for both countries.

The United States has also promised to help Russia restore its "access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions," and will "continue working toward achieving a durable and lasting peace" for both countries.

The United States has reached agreements with Russia and Ukraine, that "have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes," according to White House officials. File Pool Photo by Ron Sachs

Despite the firm tone of the White House's declarations, it remains unclear where both Ukraine and Russia stand.

Ukrainian Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov posted to X Tuesday that "For the effective implementation of the arrangements, it is important to hold additional technical consultations as soon as possible to agree on all the details and technical aspects of the implementation, monitoring and control of the arrangements."

The Sierra Leone-flagged cargo ship Razoni carries 26,000 tons of corn from Ukraine off the coast of north-west Istanbul in 2022. The United States has reached agreements with Russia and Ukraine, that "have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes," according to White House officials. File Photo by Gokhan Mert/UPI

Russia has yet to offer a statement about the announced agreements.
PRAGUE (Reuters) - An explosion hit a facility of Czech defence group STV on Tuesday, officials said, with police saying the blast was likely caused by a technical defect in a production system.

One person was injured in the incident.

STV said the blast occurred in one of its operational buildings at a complex of its engineering company Policske strojirny, located 150 km east of Prague.

News agency CTK and other media said the blast occurred in an ammunition warehouse at the complex, where STV leases space and produces large-caliber ammunition and also repairs military equipment.

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"This morning, an extraordinary event occurred on our premises, which we take with all seriousness," STV chairman David Hac said.

"All necessary measures were taken immediately after the incident."

(Reporting by Michael Kahn and Jason Hovet; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
Carla K. Johnson

Associated Press

A common blood test may miss ovarian cancer in some Black and Native American patients, delaying their treatment, a new study finds. It's the latest example of medical tests that contribute to health care disparities.

Researchers have been working to uncover these kinds of biases in medicine. Recently, the Trump administrations crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion has jeopardized such research as universities react to political pressure and federal agencies comb through grants looking for projects that violate the president's orders.

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Native American women have the highest rate of ovarian cancer. Black women with ovarian cancer have lower rates of survival compared to white women. Finding ovarian cancer early can lead to better chances of survival.

The new study, supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute and published Thursday in JAMA Network Open, looked at a test called CA-125. The test measures a tumor marker in the blood, and doctors use it to determine if a woman with a suspicious lump should be referred to a cancer specialist.

Doctors depend on the test during early evaluations, so understanding what the results mean for people of different races and ethnicities is critical, said Dr. Shannon Westin of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, who was not involved in the research.

This is a perfect example of work that absolutely needed to be stratified based on race and ethnicity," Westin said. The findings alert doctors that they shouldn't be totally reassured by a normal test result, she said.

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So far, its unknown why the test doesn't perform uniformly across groups. The researchers suspect it has something to do with a harmless genetic variation that is more common in people of African, Caribbean, Middle Eastern and West Indian descent.

Initial studies of the test, published in the 1980s, didnt record peoples races but were in mostly white populations.

The test isn't perfect for white women either, said lead author Dr. Anna Jo Smith of the University of Pennsylvania's medical school.

But if we have worse performance in certain groups, then we may be further contributing to disparities in referral, disparities in treatment, and ultimately we may be contributing to the lower survival in Black women with ovarian cancer," Smith said.

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The researchers analyzed data from more than 200,000 women with ovarian cancer from 2004 through 2020 who'd had a CA-125 blood test.

Black and Native American patients were 23 percent less likely to have an elevated CA-125 level at ovarian cancer diagnosis compared with white patients, suggesting the current thresholds are set too high.

The researchers also found that patients with false negative results started chemotherapy on average nine days later than patients with elevated levels. That could make a difference for some patients, Smith said.

Last week, Smith and her colleagues presented work at a Society of Gynecologic Oncology meeting proposing a new lower threshold for the blood test that would work better across all populations. The work could lead to changes in guidelines.

New thresholds for referral will ensure that all patients get in for rapid care when ovarian cancer is suspected, Smith said.
BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN)  A Boardman couple is the latest victims of a check washing scam.

Read next: Puppies found dead in bookbag in Youngstown

According to police reports, the couple was notified by First National Bank on Monday that several checks had been cashed from their account, totaling $32,901.

Reports state the couple was not aware of the checks said to be written out to pay utilities and charities.

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After further investigation, reports state the checks were written to completely different people and for different amounts than originally intended. This is called check washing.

The bank told the couple all but $5,510 will be refunded to their account, but there is a chance that amount could be refunded, too.

The incident comes days after a Boardman man was scammed out of $20,000. The man told police that he had given $20,000 to an unknown man after receiving an email he thought was from PayPal, directing him that he needed to pay $981 and to call a phone number if he had questions.

A similar incident happened in Trumbull County last week. according to a release from the sheriffs office, the woman reported on Friday that she was out of $23,000 in cash after receiving an email disguised as a message from PayPal, saying she owed $300.

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Michael Reiner 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.
At former Sen. Bob Menendezs corruption trial last year, his defense team cast him as an unwitting pawn in a global bribery scheme orchestrated by his wife, Nadine Menendez, that netted the couple nearly $1 million in gold bars, cash and other valuables.

Her defense attorney, Barry Coburn, took a similar approach Monday as Nadine Menendezs corruption trial kicked off at the federal courthouse in Manhattan, telling jurors during a 10-minute opening statement that the former senators wife, a 58-year-old Lebanon native, had no knowledge of nor intent to commit the crimes of which shes accused.

We heard a lot of nefarious characterization, Coburn said after prosecutor Lara Pomerantz gave her opening statement. Youll find the characterization is grossly inaccurate with respect to Nadine Menendez.

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To convict her, Coburn added, jurors must find overwhelming evidence of every element of every count. Shes charged with conspiracy, bribery, extortion and obstruction of justice.

Manhattan, NY  October 18, 2023  Nadine Menendez, involved in the bribery case involving Sen. Robert Menendez, exits the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan.

Knowledge and intent  those are the two most important words in this case for us, he added. There will be an absolute utter failure of proof in this case with respect to knowledge and intent, with respect to every element, and with respect to every count in this case.

The trial, which had been repeatedly postponed as Nadine Menendez battled breast cancer, is expected to last nine weeks. Thats about how long Bob Menendezs trial lasted; a separate jury convicted him in July of all counts.

Pomerantz started her nearly hourlong opening statement Monday by recounting a rendezvous Nadine Menendez had in a restaurant parking lot with insurance broker Jose Uribe.

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They met not to dine, but rather so Uribe could give Nadine Menendez $15,000, which she used as a down payment for a new $60,000 Mercedes-Benz convertible in exchange for Bob Menendezs interference in a state criminal case that threatened two of his friends, Pomerantz told jurors. Uribe, who pleaded guilty in a cooperation deal, testified against the former senator and is expected to testify in this trial too.

That cash was a bribe, Pomerantz said. For years, the defendant and the senator put his power up for sale. They corrupted his office and betrayed the trust placed in him. They did that to feed their greed.

Story continues below gallery.

Nadine Menendez, who the former senator began dating in 2018 and married in 2020, acted as the go-between, both to insulate him from trouble and make sure everyone in the bribery scheme was getting what they wanted, Pomerantz added.

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They were partners in crime, partners in corruption, and partners in greed, she said. She did the dirty work.

Judge Sidney H. Stein warned jurors Monday that being unaware of the law is not a defense.

More: Daibes, Hana seek to delay their prison terms. Why? To testify at Nadine Menendez's trial

Bob and Nadine Menendez are accused of taking more than a dozen gold bars, almost $500,000 in cash, the luxury car, exercise equipment, mortgage payments, and a $10,000-a-month, no-show consulting job for Nadine Menendez.

In exchange, the former senator used his power to try to derail a federal bank fraud prosecution of Fred Daibes, his longtime friend and an Edgewater real estate developer; help Wael Hana, a longtime friend of Nadine Menendezs, maintain a lucrative monopoly on halal meat exports to Egypt; and benefit the governments of Egypt and Qatar, where each man had business interests. Daibes and Hana were also found guilty last year.

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In January, Stein sentenced Bob Menendez to 11 years in prison on more than a dozen crimes, including acting as a foreign agent. He has appealed his conviction, called his prosecution a political witch hunt, and prodded President Donald Trump for a pardon. He isnt scheduled to report to prison until June 6.

Editor's note: This story was originally published by the New Jersey Monitor, for which Dana DeFilippo is a staff writer. The New Jersey Monitor is part of States Newsroom, the nations largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Nadine Menendez 'did the dirty work, prosecutor argues
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Rapper Boosie fired back on social media after Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced her plans to take legal action over what she called the unauthorized use of Caleb Wilsons name and image for this past weekends Boosie Bash.

Murrill stated on Saturday that Wilsons parents did not consent to Boosie using their sons name to promote the annual music festival and requested all references to Wilson be removed from promotional materials. Promotion of the event included offering a scholarship in Wilsons name.

Boosie, whose real name is Torrence Hatch Jr., took to X on Monday and Tuesday, denying he used Wilsons name for promotional gain and accusing the attorney general of having a grudge against rappers.

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Boosie said his event had been promoted on Eventbrite since Nov. 14, months before the hazing death of Wilson, a 20-year-old Southern University student and Human Jukebox band member. Wilson died after an off-campus hazing ritual where pledges were punched in the chest. Three men have been arrested in connection to his death.

HOW THE F*** CAN I CAPITALIZE OFF SOMEONE DEATH FOR A CONCERT? THAT AINT ME, Boosie wrote. A DEATH OF A STUDENT WONT HELP A CONCERT IT WOULD HURT A CONCERT.

He added that he was only trying to help the situation once it was brought to his attention and accused Murrill of going after him instead of working with him to make a positive impact.

Boosies posts also included a public request for someone from Wilsons family to contact him, saying he has been trying to donate $20,000 to the family since the matter was brought to his attention.

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He also took aim at Murrill directly, saying, ATTORNEY GENERAL LIZ MURRILL U CAN CALL ME TOO. Boosie went on to say his event has been violence-free for six years and brings significant revenue to Baton Rouge, calling the legal threat a slap in [his] face.

Boosie Bash controversy

This years Boosie Bash was held at Southern Universitys Mini Dome from March 21-23, featuring performances by several hip-hop and blues artists. While promoting the event, Boosie mentioned that Wilsons father wanted the festival to continue and said the scholarship was intended to honor Wilsons legacy.

According to Murrill, Wilsons parents were unaware of the planned tribute and requested that his name be removed from all promotional materials. The attorney general labeled Boosie Bash a for-profit event and said she intends to take legal action over the unauthorized use of Wilsons name and image.

Southern University acknowledges scholarship proposal

Southern University issued a statement Monday acknowledging that the scholarship in Caleb Wilsons memory was proposed by Perfect 10/Boosie Bash. The university added that it supports initiatives that honor Calebs legacy, provided that his familys wishes are respected.

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This acknowledgment adds complexity to the situation, as Boosie has publicly claimed Wilsons father wanted the scholarship to go forward. However, the attorney general stated that Wilsons parents were unaware of the planned tribute and requested that his name be removed from all promotional materials.

Whats next?

Boosies posts suggest he wants to find a resolution and claims the attorney general has a personal vendetta against him. Whether Murrill will move forward with legal action remains unclear.

This is a developing story.

Louisiana attorney general criticizes Baton Rouge school visit by rapper with alleged gang links

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YAOUNDE, March 25 (Xinhua) -- More than 10 Cameroonian soldiers were killed and 20 others injured after the terrorist group Boko Haram raided a military outpost in the country's Far North Region, according to local and security sources.

The attack took place overnight into Tuesday.

Boko Haram militants ambushed and attacked the Wulgo military camp located at the border with Nigeria, an army official in the region told Xinhua by phone on Tuesday.

"The terrorists came from Nigeria in large numbers and took our brave soldiers by surprise. They were well-armed with sophisticated weapons and technology. Our brave soldiers are pursuing them," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Local officials said the death toll could be higher as they were still investigating.

It is one of the deadliest attacks on the Cameroonian army since Boko Haram started operating in the region in 2014, according to local media. 
The U.S. Border Patrol has begun erecting new 30-foot wall panels along a stretch of the Arizona-Mexico border in the agency's Yuma sector.

Construction crews are filling seven vulnerable gaps in the border wall system, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Those gaps were set to be filled years ago during President Donald Trump's first term, but President Joe Biden's administration canceled the contracts drawn up to do so.

The gaps are in a remote desert area south of Wellton, Arizona. The exact number of miles to be completed remains unclear.

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This latest border wall construction project is in response to Trumps executive order titled Securing Our Borders, signed on his first day back in the White House. The executive order directs Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to deploy and construct temporary and permanent physical barriers to ensure complete operational control of the southern border of the United States.

Noem announced that new border wall construction would begin during a visit to Nogales on March 16.

"Everybody, I'm here in Arizona, and right at this spot you can see where the border wall ends," Noem said in a video shared to X. "As of today, we're starting seven new miles of construction. We're going to continue to make America safe again."

The seven miles are an extension of the border wall in Hidalgo County, Texas, where a $70 million contract was awarded to Granite Construction Co., a California-based company, to build within the U.S. Border Patrols Rio Grande Valley sector. This was the first contract awarded during the second Trump administration.

Previous wall projects in Arizona under Trump

The Arizona-Mexico border was the site of several wall construction projects under the first Trump administration. Between 2017 and 2021, the administration constructed 458 miles of fencing, most of which replaced existing structures. About 226 miles of pedestrian fencing were erected on federal lands in Arizona.

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In 2019, the Trump administration began replacing existing border fence with 18-to-30-foot bollard-style fencing in an area 107 miles long, stretching east of Wellton to Andrade, California.

The new border wall fence was finished at the end of 2020, according to a 2021 news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Migrant apprehensions drop sharply in Yuma

The number of migrant apprehensions for individuals caught crossing illegally between ports of entry has continued to drop significantly in the first month since Trump returned to office.

Across the southern border, Border Patrol agents reported 8,326 apprehensions for the entire month of February. That is a drop of 71% from January, when agents logged about 29,000 arrests, according to the CBP open data portal.

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Border Patrol agents in the Yuma sector reported apprehending 243 individuals found crossing the border between ports of entry last month. The latest figure represents an approximately 95% drop in apprehensions in this sector from February 2024.

The decrease in apprehensions in this sector has been trending since last summer, when agents reported 5,321 arrests in May 2024 and then 3,519 the next month.

Have any news tips or story ideas about the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona? Reach the reporter at rromeroruiz@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @raphaeldelag.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Border Patrol begins filling gaps in border wall near Yuma
President Trump moving student loans from the Education Department to the Small Business Administration (SBA) is rattling those affected, who say it is prime evidence that the White House has no real plan for its efforts to dismantle the Department of Education.

Trump signed an executive order Thursday seeking to wind down the Education Department, and he said student loans would move to the SBA the next day  the same day that agency announced it was cutting 40 percent of its workforce.

While advocates have been displeased with the student loan system for a long time, they worry more problems would be created than solved by taking the biggest program the Education Department controls and giving it to an agency that is seeing a sweeping reduction in force.

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Borrowers right now are already having to experience an unprecedented level of chaos and uncertainty, said Aissa Canchola Banez, policy director for Student Borrower Protection Center.

Moving student loans, she added, to the SBA, which has no background of familiarity with the student loan program, with the rights afforded to student loan borrowers under the Higher Education Act  it will only make things worse for borrowers.

The president, who also announced that programs for students with disabilities would be shifting to the Health and Human Services Department, has offered no follow-up details on logistics for student loan borrowers, but the move was cheered by both the Department of Education and the SBA.

Whether its a loan for a business or a business degree, SBA is prepared to restore efficiency and accountability to our taxpayer-funded loan programs, Kelly Loeffler, head of the SBA, said in a post on the social platform X.

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The same day, Loeffler confirmed administration plans to cut about 2,700 positions out of its workforce of nearly 6,500.

All of this just really underscores that there has been no planning. There is no plan, and that is the most scary, frankly, and dangerous thing about this. Because 44-plus million people owe money to the federal government from their student loans, and they are already in a state of confusion, said Jessica Thompson, senior vice president for the Institute for College Access & Success.

Any conversation around moving the student loan portfolio requires thoughtful, careful planning and for Congress to be involved, Thompson added.

An Education Department spokesperson said, no changes have been made yet, so there are no changes for student loan borrowers to navigate at this time.

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Experts are advising borrowers to reach out to their loan officers and carefully document all their repayment efforts, pointing out that the department has also removed approximately half of its workforce.

I dont know what element of federal government I want chaos to be in, but I think that one of the last places is going to be federal student aid, because that directly affects just millions and millions of people in a very real, like paying for college and managing their loans, said James Murphy, director of career pathways and postsecondary policy at Education Reform Now.

Borrowers are already in a precarious situation, with millions are caught in limbo as the Trump administration seeks to claw back student loan forgiveness programs that were established or expanded under former President Biden.

About 8 million borrowers are in forbearance under Bidens Saving on Valuable Education income-driven repayment (IDR) plan, which was ruled illegal by a court last month.

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After that ruling, the Trump administration removed access to apply for any IDR plans. Although the Department of Education said access would be restored soon, it has not happened yet.

Currently, advocates say they have little hope to offer the 45 million individuals with federal student loans.

Theres no good advice, and any expert giving advice doesnt know what hes talking about. Theres no good advice to give. This is the Wild West, said Alan Collinge, founder of Student Loan Justice. Right now, borrowers have zero power, and were being pushed around on a chessboard like pawns. We have no power. We have no leverage.

Collinge has a theory that the Trump administration is looking to crash the federal student loan program in order to devalue it and sell it to a third party.

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Canchola Banez said borrowers need to do three things: download all their payment history from the Federal Student Aid portal, screenshot any sort of tracking information if they are on a plan that allows for forgiveness at the end, and reach out to members of Congress to help with their case.

Members of Congress have entire teams that are dedicated to accessing casework on behalf of constituents that are having challenges with the federal agency, and these loans are directly from the Department of Education, and so borrowers should reach out for help from the members of Congress, regardless of their party, and demand that their members start working on their behalf, especially if theyre not able to get answers from the department, she added.

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Brazils Supreme Court will today decide whether to open a trial against former President Jair Bolsonaro, a case that could shape the political future of Latin Americas biggest country.

Prosecutors allege that Bolsonaro led a coup attempt  including plans to assassinate the current president  after losing his reelection bid in 2022.

The rightist former president has said the case amounts to state suppression, and has asked US President Donald Trump to intervene to prevent Brazil sliding into what he describes as a left-wing dictatorship. American help is very welcome, Bolsonaro told the Financial Times.

Meanwhile his son, a Brazilian lawmaker and a potential presidential contender, said last week he was moving to the US to build support for his familys movement.
A panel of Brazils Supreme Court justices began proceedings Tuesday to determine whether former President Jair Bolsonaro and close allies will stand trial on five counts, including attempting to stage a coup. (AP video by Eduardo Francois)
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  A panel of Brazils Supreme Court justices wrapped up a first day of proceedings Tuesday to determine whether former President Jair Bolsonaro and close allies will stand trial on five counts, including attempting to stage a coup, without reaching a decision.

Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet charged Bolsonaro last month with plotting a coup after he lost the 2022 election to his opponent and current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Part of that plan allegedly included poisoning Lula and killing Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, a foe of Bolsonaro.

Five Supreme Court justices  including de Moraes, the rapporteur  opened proceedings at around 9:45 a.m. (1245 GMT) in Brasilia to rule on the charges leveled by Gonet. The first day came to a close at around 17:15 p.m., without any justice casting their vote on whether to accept the charges. Proceedings will begin again on Wednesday morning.

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If a majority votes in favor, the accused will become defendants in a criminal case.

Bolsonaro and his alleged accomplices also stand accused of participating in an armed criminal organization, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, damage qualified by violence and a serious threat against the states assets, and deterioration of listed heritage.

The criminal organization was active between July 2021 and January 2023, de Moraes said at the beginning of proceedings Tuesday. He said the group's practices comprised of a series of malicious acts aimed at abolishing the democratic rule of law and deposing the legitimately elected government.

Gonet, who spoke after de Moraes and had 30 minutes to present his indictment of the accused, said that the group had sought to maintain Bolsonaro in power at all costs.

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The criminal organization documented its project and during the investigations, manuscripts, digital files, spreadsheets and exchanges of messages were found, Gonet said.

On Tuesday afternoon, justices voted on a series of issues raised by lawyers. Bolsonaros defense team had been pushing for the case to be sent to the full Supreme Court, where two of the 11 justices were appointed by the former president. A majority voted against.

Bolsonaro denies charges

Bolsonaro has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and says that he's being politically persecuted.

Bolsonaro was present at the Supreme Court on Tuesday. Speaking earlier in the morning to journalists at Brasilia's airport, Bolsonaro again denied the accusations.

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I'm fine. I always hope for justice. Nothing is substantiated in the accusations, made in a biased way, by the Federal Police, Bolsonaro said, referring to the 884-page report filed in late November.

Under Brazilian law, a coup conviction alone carries a sentence of up to 12 years, but when combined with the other charges, it could result in a sentence of decades behind bars.

Observers say that it's likely that the charges will be accepted.

There is no shadow of a doubt that there are very clear elements that crimes were committed, said Thiago Bottino, a law professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a think tank and university. The current tendency is that there will be a criminal trial.

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Bolsonaro tries to rally support

Gonet filed charges against a total of 34 people in February. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court will analyze whether to accept charges against eight of them. As well as Bolsonaro, the court will vote on the accusations faced by former Defense Ministers Walter Braga Netto and Paulo Sergio Nogueira and ex-Justice Minister Anderson Torres, among others. The court will decide on the others' fates later on.

Bolsonaro has sought to shore up political support before the possible trial, including by holding a protest on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on March 16.

Local media reported that around 18,000 people attended the rally, based on figures from a monitoring project linked to the University of Sao Paulo. Bolsonaros allies had hoped to draw a crowd of 1 million, which led some analysts to say that his ability to mobilize voters is diminishing.

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Bolsonaro called on social media Sunday for a new demonstration on April 6, to be held on one of Sao Paulos main arteries, Avenida Paulista.

As with the protest earlier this month, the former President and his allies will push for Congress to grant amnesty to those in jail for their roles in the Jan. 8, 2023, riot, when Bolsonaros die-hard fans stormed and trashed the Supreme Court, Presidential Palace and Congress a week after Lula took office.

In his indictment of Bolsonaro and others linked to him, Gonet said that the rampage was a last-ditch attempt to hold onto power.

Bolsonaro was in the United States at the time, having left Brazil a few days before the end of his term.

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Bolsonaro's lawyer Celso Vilardi on Tuesday denied Bolsonaro's involvement in the riot.

Its not possible to want to blame (him), making him out to be the leader of a criminal organization, when he didnt take part in the January 8 affair, Vilardi told the Court.

Bolsonaro, a former military officer who was known to express nostalgia for the countrys 1964-1985 dictatorship, openly defied Brazils judicial system during his 2019-2022 term in office.

He has already been banned by Brazils top electoral court from running in elections until 2030 over abuse of power while in office and casting unfounded doubts on the countrys electronic voting system.

___

Associated Press journalist Eduardo Francois contributed to this report.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
By Lisandra Paraguassu and Luciana Magalhaes

BRASILIA (Reuters) -A five-judge panel from Brazil's Supreme Court began deliberations on Tuesday to determine if former President Jair Bolsonaro and some of his closest aides should stand trial for allegedly attempting a coup after his 2022 electoral defeat.

The judges are expected to decide by Wednesday whether to hear the charges filed last month against the former leader, accused of running a conspiracy to overthrow the government.

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A ruling on the charges this week, if it happens, would represent extraordinary speed for a court long known for taking years to decide major cases. A criminal case involving dozens of politicians more than a decade ago took the Supreme Court months to accept charges after they were presented.

A swift decision on these charges would suggest the court "may conclude the trial before the end of the year", said Ivar Hartmann, a law professor at Sao Paulo business school Insper. That would avoid a ruling in the run-up to Brazil's next presidential election in late 2026.

Despite mounting legal challenges, Bolsonaro continues to assert his intention of running for office again. In 2023, a federal electoral court barred him from public office until 2030 for abusing his political power to discredit Brazil's voting system during the 2022 presidential campaign.

The attempted coup charges, filed by Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet last month, alleged that a group led by the former army captain "sought total control over the three branches of government."

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Lawyers representing Bolsonaro have said he never supported any movement aimed at dismantling Brazil's democratic rule of law or its institutions. Bolsonaro himself has denied any wrongdoing and called the case politically motivated.

"I hope for justice. There is no basis for the biased accusations made by the federal police," Bolsonaro told reporters in Brasilia on Tuesday before heading to the court session.

But few of Bolsonaro's allies believe the panel, which comprises just under half of the court's full bench, will refuse to hear the case against him. The panel is largely composed of justices known for taking a tough stance on the alleged excesses of the hard-right movement led by Bolsonaro.

TWO-YEAR INVESTIGATION

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Lawyers for the former president filed a petition asking for the case to be heard by the Supreme Court's full bench of 11 justices, including two judges appointed by Bolsonaro. The request was denied.

This stage of proceedings requires a lower evidentiary threshold, because judges are not deciding on the merits of the case, but rather if there are sufficient grounds to proceed with collecting evidence, Hartmann said.

The charges against the former president followed a two-year police investigation and included 33 other people, with several high-ranking military officials among them.

They are accused of five crimes, including a violent attempt to abolish the democratic rule of law, coup d'etat and damaging government property.

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Investigators allege that the group's plans included poisoning President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and killing Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the case.

Lawyers for Bolsonaro argued that as an alleged victim of the plot, Moraes should not be able to rule on the case, but they could not sway the court.

If convicted, Bolsonaro could face substantial prison time. Eloisa Machado, a law professor at Fundacao Getulio Vargas in Sao Paulo, said an analysis of convictions of participants in the recent anti-democratic activities suggested Bolsonaro might receive a sentence of more than a dozen years.

As part of the case against Bolsonaro, the court will also hear this week charges against his former justice minister, Anderson Torres, former Defense Minister Paulo Sergio Nogueira and former Chief of Staff Walter Braga Netto, who was also his running mate in the 2022 election.

(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia and Luciana Magalhaes in Sao PauloEditing by Manuela Andreoni, Brad Haynes, Matthew Lewis and Alex Richardson)
Brazil's Supreme Court on Tuesday began considering charges against former president Jair Bolsonaro for planning a coup against his successor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Bolsonaro, who was in office between 2019 and 2022, will face trial if the court agrees with the evidence presented by the prosecuting authority.

The former president has denied the allegations. The court is expected to announce its decision on Wednesday.

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Prosecutors allege that the former paratrooper planned a coup along with others to stay in power after losing the October 2022 election. Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasilia on January 8, 2023, causing considerable damage.

The images broadcast around the world recalled the storming of the US Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump on January 6, 2021 after he had lost an election to Joe Biden. Bolsonaro's rhetorical and governing style has led to his being called the "Tropical Trump."

Seven others are facing potential charges alongside Bolsonaro, including former intelligence services head Alexandre Ramagem, former justice minister Anderson Torres and former defence minister Braga Netto.

They are accused of plotting to destroy the democratic rule of law by violence, planning a coup and forming a criminal organization. They reject the charges.
JERUSALEM, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Tuesday he was "shocked" that securing the release of hostages still held in Gaza was no longer a top priority.

Herzog made the remarks when addressing a conference hosted by the Rehabilitation Department of the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv.

"I'm shocked that bringing back the hostages is no longer at the top of the agenda," Herzog said.

"We must never lose sight of this issue, as a nation, until every last hostage is brought home," he stressed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has adjusted the goals of the ongoing military offensive in the Gaza Strip, signaling readiness for an intensified campaign that could involve prolonged reoccupation of the Palestinian territory. Netanyahu said Israel continues to seek the dismantling of Hamas and that negotiations would continue only "under fire."

Israel resumed strikes across Gaza on March 18, effectively ending a two-month ceasefire and triggering mass rallies in Israel. Families of the hostages and supporters call for an end to the war and the return of all hostages.

Hamas kidnapped 251 hostages during its attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. According to Israeli tallies, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, with 35 of them presumed dead.

A phased ceasefire agreement took effect on Jan. 19 after 15 months of Israel's devastating assault on Gaza. Its first phase includes the release of 33 hostages and about 2,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails. All remaining living hostages are expected to be released in the second phase in exchange for a permanent ceasefire and more Palestinian detainees freed.

However, Israel refused to move to the second phase and resumed air and ground assaults on Gaza last week. Netanyahu said Israel renewed military operations because Hamas rejected offers to extend the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement. 
BRAZOS COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44)  The Brazos County burn ban has been lifted, as of Tuesday morning.

Judge Duane Peters signed the order to lift the burn ban at the conclusion of the Commissioners Court meeting. Considering the recent rainfall and a forecast calling for more rain this week, the emergency management coordinator and all four volunteer ESD fire chiefs agree the ban is not necessary.

However, the Office of the Judge says residents are still urged to exercise caution and to not leave any controlled burns unattended. Residents can contact non-emergency dispatch at 979-361-3888 to report plans for a controlled burn.

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2025-03-25-Order-Lifting-Burn-BanDownload

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BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL)  The Bristol, Virginia City Council will vote Tuesday on proposed changes to rules about chicken ownership in the city.

If the proposal is approved, it will lower the permit fees and lessen land restrictions.

Bristol Mayor Becky Nave said this is to help citizens combat rising egg prices and give them the freedom to raise chickens wherever they live.

We listened to our residents and wanted to make it an option for them, Nave said. If they wanted to have chickens, then we had to set some boundaries, which theyve always been able to have chickens, but not in every neighborhood across the city.

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So, we wanted to lessen those restrictions and make it to where if you wanted to have a chicken at your house, heres what you need to do.

For some, this may seem like the perfect opportunity to start raising chickens. However, there are some things to consider such as keeping the chickens healthy.

Backyard chickens can allow easier access to eggs and can let the owner get a taste of farming. Unfortunately, there are some cons to owning chickens, including the risk of bird flu.

Leonie Jacobs with the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech explains how bird flu is spread.

Tiny droplets of the virus can be airborne, but it could also be present in fecal material, Jacobs said. When other birds come into contact with those small particles with virus, they can obtain the virus. 

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Jacobs recommends being aware of the conditions of new birds and not adding them to the flock right away.

Any new birds that they obtain, keep them quarantined from any other animals or birds, Jacobs said. So, they already have to ensure that they are healthy before introducing them to other birds.

Jacobs also says it is important to limit your chickens contact with wild birds.

For example, if the chickens are near a pond, be aware of any water birds that may be nearby.

Overall, Jacobs says it is the small things that can help the most when caring for chickens and protecting them from diseases.

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Like washing hands, keeping dedicated footwear for when you interact with your birds, and keeping wild birds and rodents away from your flock as much as you can are some relatively simple steps that can reduce the risk of obtaining avian influenza.

You can find a link to the full ordinance changes here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
A British man has died in Bangkok following an altercation with two bouncers from a karaoke bar.

Nick Weir, 28, was turned away from 91karaoke in the early hours of Sunday morning after allegedly acting erratically.

After a brief scuffle at the door, Mr Weir, from Wiltshire, sprinted away.

But CCTV footage shows two bouncers from the bar following the Leeds University graduate on a motorcycle down a quiet side street in the Thai capital.

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The situation soon descends into a fist fight and Mr Weir, wearing a yellow polo shirt and shorts, is thrown to the ground in what may have been the fatal blow.

Credit: Asia Pacific Press

Lieutenant Colonel Apichai Hwanjit, deputy superintendent of the Bang Pho police station in eastern Bangkok, said authorities were still investigating the Britons final moments.

He said: [Mr Weir] ran away and the two employees from the bar followed him on a motorcycle to a nearby quiet side street.

According to the CCTV footage, the two of them together restrained the foreigner and they had a physical confrontation.

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During the scuffle, they pushed and wrestled, causing the foreigner to fall. We are unsure if there was any pressure applied during the fall that caused the death, so we are waiting for the forensic results.

Lt Col Apichai added: After he fell, the security guard nearby called the police. At the scene, the two individuals who fought with the foreigner remained there and did not flee.

Crucial to ensure clarity

According to local media, the bar workers say they had attempted to help Mr Weir, asking him to use a translation app on their mobile phone in an effort to communicate. Instead, they claim Mr Weir grabbed the phone and ran away, triggering the motorbike chase and the altercation.

Lt Col Apichai said police were waiting on forensic reports to determine whether the victim was intoxicated or high, or whether the final fall alone caused his tragic death.

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It is crucial for the case to ensure clarity. We are waiting for the blood test results to check for drugs or alcohol, he said.

From the CCTV footage, he did not appear to be in a typical state of drunkenness. [Mr Weir] was running, shouting and causing a commotion, but he wasnt completely out of control. He ran in a straight line, not stumbling like someone who is drunk.

He ran a long distance, nearly a kilometre, starting from the area near the Makro shop, crossing the Phibunsongkhram overpass, and reaching the karaoke bar.

Paramedics performing CPR but Mr Weir was pronounced dead at the scene - just 200m from the bar he had tried to enter - Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress

Although Thailand is largely a safe place to travel, it has a dark underbelly  as alluded to in the hit television series White Lotus as well as Hollywood blockbusters like The Beach  and sex work is common.

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But the murder rate has fallen since the millennium. According to the World Health Organization, homicides dropped from 9.6 per 100,000 people in 2000, to eight in 2010 and just 4.3 in 2019.

According to the Thai government, most tourists deaths in the country are related to traffic injuries  often backpackers hiring motorbikes or mopeds. In 2022 alone, the government reported that 536 foreigners died on the nations roads.

Data from 2023 shows that the UK government assisted in 430 cases of British nationals dying in Thailand between January and October that year  with fewer than five listed as murder or manslaughter.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told the Telegraph: We are providing support to the family of a British man who died in Bangkok and are in contact with the local authorities.

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 bill headed to the Indiana House floor seeks to codify that parents' "fundamental right" to make decisions about their children's care. (Getty Images)

Supporters of a controversial parental rights bill argued Monday that schools and state agencies should default to parents as the primary decision-makers for their children, and that Hoosier families need recourse when they believe their authoritative rights have been violated.

Up for debate in the House Judiciary Committee was Senate Bill 143  a third attempt by Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, to codify that governmental entities may not substantially burden a parents fundamental right to direct the upbringing, religious instruction, education or health care of a child unless it has a compelling interest.

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Brown said the bill is a response to parents whose rights have been violated by government entities  notably their childrens public schools and the Department of Child Services (DCS). Several cases described in committee testimony involved cases in which DCS allegedly misidentified situations as abuse.

Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, during a Jan. 28, 2025 press conference. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

What has happened is, when some DCS workers and people dont like the faith-based policies, the beliefs of some parents, they use those issues to take the child away. Thats not how its supposed to work, Brown said Monday. Parents can take care of their children. They can receive medical advice, and they dont need DCS to take the child out of the home to administer that medical advice or that medical care thats happening today.

The House committee approved the bill 9-3 along party lines, sending it to the full chamber.

Although its not perfect, Brown called the bill a first step to at least make our agencies understand how important it is to consider the parents  how the parents are the primary caregivers  and we need to look to them first, instead of last, when we look at what were going to do in the future.

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Critics called the legislation too broad, however. Among the opponents, Chris Daley with the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana worried that Browns bill could create new liability for government employees and could hurt the privacy rights of LGBTQ+ youth, specifically.

But some parental rights advocates were additionally opposed, saying the proposal does not go far enough.

Cindi Hajicek, executive director Purple for Parents United, maintained that the current bill actually empowers governmental entities to interfere with a childs upbringing  as long as the state can persuade a court that a compelling interest justifies those actions.

This bill doesnt secure parental rights, Hajicek said. It just tells the government exactly what it has to do to restrict them. It doesnt tell them no  it just tells them how.

Ensuring parental authority

Provisions in the Senate bill would forbid government entities from denying parents access to certain information about their children, and from advising, directing or coercing a child to withhold that information from parents. Parents could bring legal action against governmental entities for violations, and courts would have to apply the highest level of legal scrutiny to those challenges.

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The bill makes an exception for protecting the health and safety of a child, and for active criminal law enforcement investigations involving a parent. Parents also wouldnt be allowed to decide that their children could access procedures that are banned in Indiana, such as abortion, gender-affirming care or female genital mutilation, Brown said.

What has happened is, when some DCS workers and people don't like the faith-based policies, the beliefs of some parents, they use those issues to take the child away. That's not how it's supposed to work.

 Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne

School systems are keeping secrets. DCS employees are keeping secrets. Some of our health care workers are keeping secrets from our parents, Brown said.

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She pointed to a local news article in which a teacher was very proud to show how supportive they were of their students, and detailed how they helped a student  a male  buy a dress for the prom, and kept it a secret  from the parents.

Im glad theyre supporting our students, but Im not really sure thats how we want our schools to proceed, Brown concluded.

Parents speak out

Numerous parents recalled their own experiences before the House panel. One parent, Clint Thompson, described how his twins were removed from his familys home based on a misdiagnosed leg fracture.

Thompson said DCS staff took custody of the two children  plus his five-year-old at home  without providing an opportunity for him or his wife to be heard at all, and said that both parents were denied access to the childrens medical records during the months-long ordeal.

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Ultimately, the original medical diagnosis was proven incorrect. Bruising on the childs daughters back was likely due to the after effects of RSV or low liver enzymes, not parental neglect or abuse.

Had our children not been taken out of our home due to a hospital diagnosis that ended up being wrong  the physical and emotional development of our infants would be stronger, and our five-year-old son would never have experienced emotional trauma from being ripped away from his parents, Thompson explained. My wife and myself hope that no other family will have to go through what we went through just last year. And if they do, the state should support those families who have been wronged.

Also approved Monday by the House Judiciary Committee was a bill that seeks to expedite the removal of squatters who occupy properties without permission. Senate Bill 157, authored by Sen. Mike Gaskill, R-Pendleton, would require law enforcement to more quickly remove violators  within 48 hours of a property owners affidavit  unless credible evidence proves otherwise. The bill moved to the House floor in a 9-3 vote, along party lines.

Another parent, Yvonne Martinez Koch, said DCS was called after she didnt follow recommendations from her daughters school for psychiatric care.

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Koch said school administrators pressured her to medicate her child for misdiagnosed mental health issues, which caused additional health problems.

When we finally secured an independent neuropsych evaluation, the truth became clear: our daughter was not suffering from mental illness. She had autism, a condition that was completely overlooked and ignored and dismissed by the schools, Koch said.

Dawn Marie White, attorney for Indiana parents Grant and Myranda Phillips, testified that the couple temporarily lost custody of their two children for nearly a year, and were kept from their childrens medical records, after DCS incorrectly alleged abuse of their two-month-old infant.

The child was later found to be suffering from a previously undiagnosed connective tissue disorder, and a judge eventually dismissed the case. A lawsuit lodged by the family is still pending.

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This bill still allows courts to make the determination of limiting or denying parents access when its appropriate. The court should be making these decisions, not a governmental agency that is, by definition, adversarial to parents, White said. It allows good Hoosier parents to have an opportunity and right to address when governmental agencies overstep. Please dont allow governmental agencies engaged in adversarial positions to restrict parents access without appropriate oversight. It is an unfair advantage and cruel tactic that has lasting impacts on everyone in the family.

Similar laws have passed in other states to prevent school districts from affirming transgender students. A law passed by the Indiana General Assembly in 2023 already mandates Hoosier schools to report to parents when a student requests name or pronoun changes. Gender-affirming care for transgender minors was also outlawed in Indiana during the 2023 session.

Parents should be regarded by the state of Indiana as the ultimate decision-makers of whats best for their children, said Jordan Carpenter, legal counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom, which has helped draft related bill language in other states. No one knows a childs needs better than that childs parents who have the God-given right and responsibility to make decisions in the childs best interest without undue government interference.

DCS did not testify on the bill. Committee chairman Rep. Chris Jeter, R-Fishers, said he couldnt speak on behalf of the agency or comment on its position.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)  At this downtown music store, there is a worry that the pending Broad Street reconstruction project will hit a sour note.



Its an ongoing concern. Its determent, it is. People having the timing to park and come do what they have to do, said Michael Balducci of 440 Instruments.



The Broad Street work is on its way to the central business district, and as it approaches, the owner of Grantskis Records says he hasnt received any information about the project from the city.



So no keeping you abreast of the plans?



No, I havent heard anything, said Evan Grantski.

How does that make you feel?

A little unnerved, you know, just want to know a little bit more, said Grantski.



Augusta commissioners are scheduled to hear about more about the concerns. Some downtown business owners are scheduled to address a commission committee on Tuesday about the project, especially parking.



Communication is key for the downtown area, especially when they start closing of the roads. It gives a little bit of planning ahead, said Mayor Pro-Tem Wayne Guilfoyle.



Those downtown say the free flow of information about the project is important.



And the city, like you say, keep us informed as much as possible and some preparation tips will help a lot, said Balducci.



Big changes are coming to Broad Street and business owners say once it starts, they want it over with fast.



If they get it done quick, then I can be okay, but if they take forever, then I might have to shut it down, said Grantski.



But some downtown business owners are going away quietly when it comes to the Broad Street project.

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BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11)  The New York City Economic Development Corporation is promising a new Brooklyn Marine Terminal that will be more modern, and cleaner, and that it would reduce less truck traffic and create more jobs.

But residents are saying their voices are not being heard.

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The majority of the people know this is bad! shouted a Red Hook resident, in a fiery meeting with the New York City Economic Development Corporation over the re-development of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal. One of the major disagreements, building new housing units. Most of them are at regular market prices.

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We are having an affordable housing crisis, so we dont need more luxury condos, said Carolina Salguero, President of Portside New York.

According to the EDC one of the reasons the 122 acres of land was transferred from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to them in the spring of 2024 was to tackle the deteriorating conditions of the site. And that the housing proposal is to pay for the estimated 1.5 billion-dollar- investment needed to upgrade the terminal.

Roughly 8600 units of housing but it includes 25% affordable housing, so that is a significant amount of affordable housing that will be delivered from this neighborhood, said Nathan Gray, Vice President of Development at New York City Economic Development Corporation.

Karen Blandon currently benefits from affordable housing; she has lived in Red Hook since she was 19 years old. She worries about the future changes impacting low-income families.

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It breaks my heart to see young people who want to live in New York, born and raised in New York, that end up in the streets because there is no place for them to go that they can afford, said Blandon.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

But for Will Rivera, who at the moment is working on the upgrades of an affordable housing complex here in this neighborhood, the re-development project is something he is in favor of, only if union workers like him would benefit from it.

What a lot of owners like to do, they want to build nonunion so that they can save money, so we want to know because, with a job of this size, it can give employment to a lot of people in the union, stated Rivera.

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On the other hand, residents of these communities also argue that the planning process is moving too fast and that their ideas and what concerns them are not being taken into consideration.

Other concerns putting housing in a flood zone. Putting housing in a place where the land is subsiding already, said Salguero.

Traffic that is going to be brought to a community that doesnt have service to support it, added Anastasia Schepers.

The EDC says however, We have engaged 2700 people to be able to reflect back what we have heard on the engagement, so I think people are passionate about it because they love their neighborhood, concluded Gray.

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The task force is expected to vote on a final plan on April 11.

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Originally appeared on E! Online

Kaylee Goncalves father is sharing his heartbreaking reaction to a piece of evidence presented for Bryan Kohbergers upcoming trial.

After an image of the alleged murdererwho is facing trial Aug. 11 for the brutal 2022 deaths of Kaylee, as well as Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapinwas released along with other court documents March 20, Steve Goncalves shared his thoughts on the selfie.

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I see somebody that was making himself a trophy, Steve said during an appearance on Fox and Friends March 21. I know the timeline, I know that he had just returned to the crime scene and he had come back. He had realized that nobody had called 911.

The photo, which per court documents obtained and viewed by E! News was taken just hours after the homicides, sees Kohberger standing in front of what appears to be a shower and holding a thumbs up to the camera.

Steve added of the image, To him, thats his little trophy to let him know like, Hey, I got away with it, nobodys on me.

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The victims father also shared what he could make of the other evidence collected so far, which included Kohbergers Amazon purchase history, released in additional court documents, of a knife and sheath.

They found that this was a calculated event, Steve noted of the purchases. He had been working up to this, I believe, for years.

Prosecutors asked to introduce Kohbergers selfie as evidence for his upcoming trial mostly due to testimony given by one of the surviving roommates at the University of Idaho residence where the murders occurred. (All residents on the third floor of an off-campus house were killed, leaving two survivors who slept on the second and first floors).

NBC News

Dylan Mortensen, identified as D.M. in proceedings, alleged that she saw the male who allegedly committed the violent act in their home, wearing a ski mask that only revealed his nose and eyes.

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All I remember was seeing their eyebrows, Dylan told authorities, per the court documents. I just remember, like, bushy eyebrows. Thats all I could think about.

Keep reading for more to know about the brutal University of Idaho murders

Who Were Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle?

Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, 20, were University of Idaho students who lived in an off-campus apartment. On Nov. 12, 2022the night before their bodies were foundGoncalves and Mogen were at a nearby sports bar, while Kernodle and Chapin were at the latters fraternity party. By 2 a.m. on Nov. 13, the four roommates and Chapin were back at the three-story rental house. Goncalves was a senior majoring in general studies at the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences. She was expected to graduate in December before heading to Austin, Tex., for a job at a marketing firm, her friend Jordyn Quesnell told The New York Times. Mogen, who was studying marketing, was best friends with Goncalves since the sixth grade. She had plans to move to Boise after graduation, family friend Jessie Frost shared with The Idaho Statesman. Kernodle was a junior majoring in marketing, the University said at the time. She and Chapinwho majored in recreation, sport and tourism managementhad been dating since the spring, the roommates neighbor Ellie McKnight told NBC News.





Were There Any Survivors?

Two roommates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, had been home at the time of the murders. In text messages that were unsealed March 6, 2025, Mortensen and Funke tried contacting their roommates on Nov. 13 after the former saw a masked man moving through the house, according to documents obtained by E! News. "No one is answering," Mortensen texted Funke at 4:22 a.m. "I'm rlly confused rn." She continued to reach out to their roommates, urging them to respond. "Pls answer," she texted Goncalves at 4:32 a.m. and again at 10:23 a.m. "R u up??" At 11:58 a.m., a 911 call was placed after Kernodle was found unresponsive, per an additional motion obtained by E! News. A woman named A1 in the transcript described the current situation to the operator. "One of the roommates who's passed out and she was drunk last night and she's not waking up," she said on the phone. "They saw some man in their house last night."





Who Is Bryan Kohberger and How Was He Found?

Bryan Kohberger, who has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder, was a doctoral candidate at Washington State University. Over one month after the bodies of Gonclaves, Mogen, Kernodle and Chapin were discovered, Kohberger was taken into custody Dec. 30 in Monroe County, Penn. He was extradited to Idaho Jan. 4. As for how authorities connected him to the killings? DNA was found on a knife sheath that was left at the crime scene, prosecutors revealed in June 2023 court documents, per NBC News. When the DNA didn't match anyone in the FBI database, authorities ran the DNA through public ancestry websites to create a list of potential suspects, according to the filings. After learning that Kohberger had driven to his parents' home in Monroe County, local officials then went through their trash and found DNA that tied him to that found on the sheath.





What Is Kohbergers Defense Arguing?

At the moment, a motive for the attack has not been detailed and a gag order prevents many involved in the case from speaking publicly, NBC News reported. However, the unsealed documents provided some insight into their arguments. Kohberger's attorneys argued in a motion obtained by E! News to strike the death penalty that Kohbergerwho could face the death penalty if found guilty on all counts, a judge ruled in November 2024has autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and that executing him would violate the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on "cruel and unusual punishment." His defense argued that Kohbereger "displays extremely rigid thinking, perseverates on specific topics, processes information on a piecemeal basis, struggles to plan ahead, and demonstrates little insight into his own behaviors and emotions." "Due to his ASD, Mr. Kohberger simply cannot comport himself in a manner that aligns with societal expectations of normalcy," the motion said. "This creates an unconscionable risk that he will be executed because of his disability rather than his culpability."

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Where Does the Case Stand Today?

Kohberger had a judge enter a not-guilty plea to the first-degree murder charges on his behalf after remaining silent at his May 2023 arraignment. Although his trial was set to begin Oct. 2, 2023, Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial in August 2023. His new trial datewhich will take place in Ada County, more than 300 miles from Latah County, where the killings took placeis set to begin Aug. 11, 2025. Latah County Judge John Judge ruled in favor of the transfer request made by Kohberger's defense in September 2024 based on "presumed prejudice" if the trial remained in Latah County.

Ada County Judge Steven Hipplerwho is now presiding over the casedenied the defense's request to suppress key DNA and other evidence, including cell phone and email records, surveillance footage, past Amazon purchases and DNA evidence in the trial.



For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)  The goal, Roanoke City Manager Valmarie Turner said to council Monday, is to stabilize the budget while also providing cost of living adjustments to city workers.

Turner previously told council the citys spending was outpacing revenues. Before presenting budget recommendations, she reiterated the fact that 2025-26 budget is a tight one and tough choices are ahead.

Were operating in an environment where local, state, and federal uncertainties continue to shape the decisions we need to make, said Turner. These external factors, such as fluctuating funding levels, shifting policies, and potential changes in regulation present ongoing challenges that require us to be adaptable and strategic in our planning.

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The citys own base budget is being reduced by a little more than $3.5 million.

Challenges and choices was the often-repeated motto of the budget presentation.

One proposal to increase revenue is raising the meals tax. Currently, it sits at 5.5%, and early suggestions would have raised it to 6.5%. At Mondays meeting, Turner mentioned that raising it to 7% would help fill funding gaps.

Evelyn Powers selected to Roanoke City Council

However, Turners presentation did specify she is not recommending any hikes to Real Estate and Property tax.

Still included in the citys expenditures are cost of living adjustments and livable wages for city workers, alongside moving forward with the Step Pay Plan for public safety.

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The recommended budget is still assigning schools level funding, the same $106 million given to RCPS last year. In early March, the district warned that their elementary Spanish program might face cuts if they dont get their expected increase.

Both the schools and the city are facing uncertain Federal and State funding, contributing to the tight purse strings.

The city will hold two community meetings in April.

Thursday April 10, 7-9 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke

Thursday April 17, 7-9 p.m. at Pilgrim Baptist Church

A public hearing is scheduled for April 21 and Council wont approve a final budget until May 12.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
DENVER (KDVR)  Fire crews have contained a building fire on the Sugar Mill property near Longmont that burned for several hours.

Just after midnight on Tuesday, the Boulder County Sheriffs Office said it received reports of a structure fire on the Suger Mill property in the 11900 block of Sugar Mill Road in Boulder County. The property is southwest of Longmonts Fox Hill neighborhood.

6 injured in fiery multi-car crash involving police cruiser that closed Alameda, Buckley

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Crews from the Mountain View Fire Department and Longmont Fire Department arrived and found a two-story building engulfed in flames.

Building fire burning on the Sugarmill property near Loveland (Boulder County Sheriffs Office)

The Boulder County Sheriffs Office said crews were not actively fighting the fire due to the nature of the building.

Due to hazardous materials and conditions, fire personnel will not be actively fighting the fire and it will burn throughout the night, said the Boulder County Sheriffs Office in a press release.

Personnel from the sheriffs office and Longmont Fire Department remained on the property to monitor the fire. Over 12 hours later, at 12:26 p.m., the Boulder County Sheriffs Office said the fire was controlled and contained. Mountain View Fire Rescue will continue to monitor the area.

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The sheriffs office said light smoke may still be visible.

See the latest traffic conditions in Denver on FOX31

Mountain View Fire said the fire appeared to be human caused.

This is far from the first time this property has caught fire. In 2024, the former Great Western Sugar Factory burned for over a day, and in 2020, two separate fires were reported at the property. The same property caught fire in 2016 and again on Christmas Day in 2017.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
WATSEKA, Ill. (WCIA)  A burn ban in effect for Iroquois County is no longer in place.

The fire ban for Iroquois County was lifted Tuesday morning. The ban was set due to high winds, but those winds have subsided.

Clinton, Iroquois Co. implement new burn bans amidst red flag conditions

The Eastern Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, the Iroquois County Board and Chairman Paul Ducat, and the Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency would like to thank everyone that respected the ban, Scott Anderson, Iroquois County EMA Coordinator said in a statement.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
SANTIAGO, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Southern Chile is battling 27 fires that have burnt approximately 7,821 hectares of land, Chilean President Gabriel Boric said Monday.

Government employees in various branches have been deployed to affected areas to help local communities fighting fires, he said.

"Yesterday, several fires broke out in the Biobio and Araucania regions, and therefore the SAE (Emergency Alert System) evacuation warnings were activated, and we currently have approximately 100 people in shelters," the Chilean president said at a press conference.

Boric said he dispatched personnel from across the government to areas hit by fire to accompany "those affected and their families."

As many as 34 fires around the country have already been brought under control, he said.

"We've had a season with many fires ... that we have managed to control in a timely manner for the most part," he added.

Between the Biobio and Araucania regions, in the southern part of the South American country, fires have razed a total of 7,821 hectares, according to figures from the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf).

The largest fires have broken out in the commune of Traiguen, where about 2,000 hectares were burnt, followed by Galvarino, with 1,136 hectares destroyed, and Padre Las Casas, where 1,039 hectares were lost. All are located more than 650 kilometers south of the country's capital Santiago. 
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Burundi's President Evariste Ndayishimiye said he had seen "credible intelligence" that Rwanda has a plan to attack his country, whose forces have battled Rwandan-backed rebels in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

He did not elaborate on the alleged plan, which was dismissed by Rwanda, and said he hoped the problem could be resolved through dialogue.

"We know that he has a plan to attack Burundi," Ndayishimiye told the BBC in an interview, referring to Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

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"Burundians will not accept to be killed as Congolese are being killed. Burundian people are fighters," he said.

Rwanda's foreign minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, described the statement as "unfortunate", adding in a post on X that the two countries were holding discussions and had agreed on the need for military and verbal de-escalation.

Ndayishimiye's comments underscored the regional stakes of the conflict in eastern Congo, where an advance by M23 rebels since January has captured swathes of territory and killed thousands.

A war in eastern Congo from 1998-2003 drew in more than half-dozen foreign armies. This time, Rwanda has sent arms and troops to support M23, according to the United Nations, while Burundian troops have been fighting alongside Congolese forces.

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Rwanda denies supporting M23, saying its forces are acting in self defence against Congo's army and militias hostile to Kigali.

Burundi has had troops in Congo for years to hunt down Burundian rebels there. It withdrew most of its 12,000 troops from Congo in February, a Burundian officer and diplomatic sources told Reuters.

Burundian and Rwandan officials have met several times in recent weeks and agreed for the Rwandan army and M23 not to occupy the Congolese territory of Uvira, which is close to Burundi's commercial capital Bujumbura, according to four sources with knowledge of the talks.

The two countries have confirmed meetings have taken place, without going into specifics.

(Reporting by Hereward Holland and Sonia Rolley; Editing by Aaron Ross and Philippa Fletcher)
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The University Avenue Complete Street project nears completion after construction began more than two years ago.

If you take a trip down University Avenue, youll find a taste of Mexico just north of the border at La Princesita Taco Shop.

Hope youre hungry, Chef Jay Peres said. Were ready to feed you.

But, for the past eight weeks, La Princesita has been chained up in her castle.



Weve been kind of closed off with this fence, so its really impacted our business, Peres said.



The City of San Diego began the $13.2 million project in 2023 to improve University Avenue and surrounding roads while increasing safety for pedestrians.

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Local businesses impacted by construction delays in City Heights

They closed the road and told us it would be opened the 26th, the cashier at La Princesita Roy Peres said. Its the 24th, and its still not open.

The road closures shut down access for drivers and the MTS bus Routes 7 and 10.

Ive never seen them working, Peres said. I dont know when they work, but then a couple of days go by and then Ill see that they put this out or they move this. I dont know when they work. Theyre very mysterious about it.

In a statement, the city explains, In March 2023, the contractor encountered an unforeseen buried structure during trenching activities for the storm drain installation. After investigation, the structure was confirmed to be an active electric vault.

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Were chugging along for sure. I just really wish they would kind of hurry up, Peres explained.

That delay took 15 months to address, pushing back the construction schedule.

Growing sinkhole in University City sparks concerns as rain looms

Its made our business drop maybe 80%, Peres told FOX 5.

That means trouble for businesses.

Its not just this local business. Others are also affected, Peres said when asked about the delay.

But it also spells issues for residents trying to find parking.

Two weeks more of agony, pedestrian Bobby Cudal said when he learned the project will be mostly complete in April.

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According to the city, this area is one of the most densely populated parts of San Diego, but it doesnt look like it on the side of the shut down.

Its part of progress, I guess, Cudal said.

Still, loyal customers of all ages come back time and time again to keep the business running.

Were die hard. Were committed, Peres said. Were here every night regardless of what the situation.

While the city expects the majority of the project to be completed at the beginning of April, theyll still have minor work and cleanup to do through the spring.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg slammed Trump administration officials for reportedly discussing plans for an attack against Houthi rebels in Yemen on a text chain that inadvertently included The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg.

From an operational security perspective, this is the highest level of fup imaginable, Buttigieg, a Navy veteran, wrote in a post on X, responding to the report in The Atlantic on Monday.

These people cannot keep America safe, he continued.

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Goldberg on Monday reported a first-person account of his experience being included in a group chat on Signal in which top officials debated and then discussed details of attacks against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The initial invite to the group apparently came from national security adviser Mike Waltz. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly sent the group details including weapons used, targets and timing  two hours ahead of the attacks, which began March 15.

Others in the group were Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

Goldberg wrote that he initially had strong doubts the text group was real, because I could not believe that the national-security leadership of the United States would communicate on Signal about imminent war plans.

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Goldberg also said he could not believe that the national security adviser to the president would be so reckless as to include him in the discussions with senior U.S. officials.

Brian Hughes, spokesperson for the National Security Council, confirmed the message chain was authentic.

This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, Hughes wrote. The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security.

The reporting made waves on Monday and prompted fierce blowback from Democratic officials who slammed the officials as irresponsible and some who called for investigations into the incident.

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Good news for the orca population on the west coast!

The Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) announced that a new Biggs orca calf has been spotted in the Salish Sea. The calf was first seen as part of a group of more than a dozen orcas on March 20 between Port Townsend and the San Juan Islands. It was subsequently resighted several times over the weekend, the PWWA said.

A reminder that Biggs orcas are transient whales that hunt other mammals, like seals, sea lions and porpoises. Their population is about 400. The southern resident orcas, which consists of three pods, are the ones that eat only Chinook salmon, but some studies show they have been known to eat other types of salmon. Their population is about 73.

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While the southern residents have been struggling with its population in the last decade or so, PWWA said the Biggs killer whales are having a baby boom.

Biggs orca Sedna (T046B3) was seen swimming alongside what is believed to be her calf. This is 14-year-old Sednas first known calf.

Mom and baby were part of a large group of more than a dozen Biggs orcas spotted last week. Sara Shimazu, Mayas Legacy (PWWA)

Mom and calf side-by-side. Caio Ribeiro, Eagle Wing Tours (PWWA)

New Bigg's orca calf T46B3A and mom. Sam Murphy, Island Adventures (PWWA)

A new calf surfaces beside T046B3 Sedna. Tom Filipovic, Eagle Wing Tours (PWWA)

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In the images, you can still see fetal folds, along with distinctive orange coloration, shares Erin Gless, the PWWAs executive director, referring to creases in the calfs skin as a result of being scrunched inside its mothers belly. These factors are normal and indicate the calf is quite young, likely a week or two at most.

Sedna is part of a well-known family of orcas. In 1976, her grandmother, Wake (T046) was one of six whales captured in the Budd Inlet and held by Sea World. This capture was on the heels of a time when orcas were rounded up, captured and sent to aqua parks like Sea World and the Miami Seaquarium. The most famous of these captures was in August 1970, where over 80 orcas were rounded up in Penn Cove for captivity.

Ralph Munro, assistant to then-Governor Dan Evans, witnessed the captures while sailing with friends and was appalled. Munro helped file a lawsuit against Sea World, leading to the whales release.

Wakes group were the last killer whales to be captured in U.S. waters.

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Wake is responsible for eight assumed calves, 16 grand-calves, and six great grand-calves.

Without the direct efforts of Ralph Munro, at least 30 Biggs killer whales would have never been born, PWWA said.

Munro died at the age of 81, just last week.
Two undocumented immigrants with no criminal history after coming to America and three U.S.-born children have been deported after 35 years living in California.

Gladys Gonzales, 55, and Nelson Gonzalez, 59, from Laguna Niguel in the hills south of Los Angeles, were arrested during one of their routine check-ins with U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) on February 21 and detained for three and a half weeks before finally arriving in their native Colombia on March 18.

In a post on GoFundMe, the couple's three adult daughters  who are reportedly all U.S. citizens  said their parents never broke the law after arriving in the U.S. or missed an appointment with immigration authorities.

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Remaining in the U.S. without authorization is a civil infraction, not a crime, whereas crossing the border without authorization is a criminal misdemeanor.

"This sudden occurrence has left us in shock," wrote the daughters. "For nearly four decades, they have built a life here  raising three daughters, giving back to their community, and recently welcoming their first grandchild.

"Now, they are being treated as criminals, held in detention centers, and facing deportation. This cruel and unjust situation has shattered our family emotionally and financially.

"Every day they remain detained is another stolen from their family, community, and their home."

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A spokesperson for ICE confirmed the details of the case to The Independent, including that the couple had no criminal history.

The agency said that both people had entered the country in November 1989 near San Ysidro, California, and had ultimately "exhausted all legal options to remain in the U.S."

The case was first reported by The Orange County Register.

It appears to be yet another example of the Trump administration's sweeping crackdown on immigration, which has reportedly targeted not only violent criminals but permanent residents, backpackers, visiting academics, asylum seekers, pro-Palestinian activists with green cards, and undocumented immigrants with no criminal record.

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Officials have invoked an 18th-century wartime law to deport hundreds of Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador without standard legal procedures, apparently in defiance of a court order, the judge in the case has indicated

Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez came to the U.S. during a period of sustained violence and terrorism in Colombia, as the government fought a two-front war against drug cartels and left-wing guerillas.

According to ICE, Nelson Gonzalez filed for asylum in 1992 but his case was closed in 1998 after he "failed to attend an interview.

The agency said that both Gonzalezes agreed to leave the country voluntarily in 2000, but then sought a legal way to remain through various courts and appeals processes over the next 21 years, until finally "exhaust[ing] all legal options" in August 2021.

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ICE declined to say whether and on what basis the Gonzalezes were permitted to stay after that. But historically, many undocumented immigrants subject to deportation have been allowed to remain as long as they meet certain conditions and check in regularly with ICE.

This can be due to humanitarian reasons, health reasons, or simply being a low priority for removal.
Mar. 24Pastors for Texas Children will hold a Call to Action of Support for Public Schools at 6 p.m. March 25 at Connection Christian Church, 4241 Tanglewood Lane.

Join them in prayer and action as they stand together to block vouchers, a Facebook post said.

Sign up to attend here.
Texts between a phone registered to Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner and a local brothel phone typically began with Toner, a more frequent patron of the high-end brothel ring, asking about women who are available for sex, according to a Cambridge Police report.

Are any of your ladies Tiki, Jessica or Acua free at 2:00 today? Toner allegedly texted the brothel scheduler on June 14, 2023.

Acua available at 2 15pm, the brothel scheduler responded. Tiki 1pm last call today, Jessica not here yet.

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Tiki at 1, Toner texted back before booking a 1-hour service for $340 dubbed the girlfriend experience with the brothel at 90 Fawcett St. in Cambridge.

The texts are among 432 communications made between Toners cell phone and a phone used to run the brothel network. Investigators uncovered the texts after executing a federal search warrant of the brothel phone, Detective Agrait Collazo wrote in his report.

The 60-year-old Toner, a former president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association who previously taught social studies to middle schoolers, paid for sex at least 13 times over roughly a seven-month period, between February and September of 2023, police wrote in their report.

On Monday night, during the Cambridge City Council meeting, Toner read an apology letter to his fellow councilors and to the community.

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Youve all heard the news concerning my personal legal matters, Toner said. First, Im ashamed to have my name associated with this case. I would like to apologize to my fellow councilors, my supporters, and the community for taking up the time of the council and the public discourse on this matter.

All Americans, included elected officials, are entitled to the right to due process, but some have already judged and convicted me, Toner said. As this is an ongoing legal matter, I will not contest the statements circulating in the community regarding this case in this forum. Because it is now before the court, I have been advised to not to make any comment on details related to this matter.

Toner said he is grateful for the support of his family and friends and voters who say he should continue serving as a city councilor.

I respect the institution of the Cambridge City Council, I have been an effective councilor who has carried out my official duties during my time in office to the best of my abilities, Toner said. I am here because I have a duty to fulfill my obligations to the voters who elected me to represent their views on the many issues before the city council.

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Toner agreed to pay for sex on several dates in 2023, according to the report: Feb. 16, April 2, May 13, May 23, June 14, June 28, July 16, Aug. 3, Aug. 13, Sept. 5, Sept. 14 and Sept. 28.

In another text conversation on April 12, 2023, after being asked by the brothel scheduler to select a sex service, Toner allegedly wrote, I apologize. I have to reschedule. Work meeting just came up.

Toner, a father of two who is serving his second term as city councilor in Cambridge, and former Massachusetts General Hospital oncologist James Cusack Jr. are among 11 alleged brothel customers from Massachusetts and New Hampshire identified in court on Friday.

Cusack is accused of paying for sex at least 16 times between March and November 2023.

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To date, Toner is the only public official among 28 accused sex buyers of the high-end brothel ring run out of buildings in Cambridge, Dedham, Watertown, and Virginia.

Defense attorney Tim Flaherty appeared in court on Toners behalf on Friday. After the court hearing, Flaherty said, 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.

Hes a hardworking city councilor, and the city of Cambridge is very fortunate to have him on the city council, Flaherty said.

According to prosecutors, women were shuttled to private rooms in luxury apartment buildings for commercial sex, and high-powered clients then frequented those sites in a criminal enterprise designed to thrive in the shadows, the U.S. Attorney said.

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When scheduling sex services, sex buyers were asked to make donations -- code to refer to a client paying for sex -- to sex workers, according to the police report.

After making appointments, the men would again text the brothel phone while going to their appointment and when arriving to the brothel location for sex, court documents show.

At door, Cusack allegedly wrote in a text to the brothel phone while arriving for an appointment on March 21, 2023, the police report states, shortly followed by another text, In.

Rm 109. Enjoy, the brothel scheduler responded.

In another text conversation on June 14, 2023 with the brothel phone, Toner allegedly asked, What is BB.

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Bare back. No condom service, the brothel scheduler texted back.

Sex buyers were often saved in the brothel phone by their first name, race, and year of birth, police wrote in their report. For example, Toner was listed in the brothel phone, as translated from Korean to English, as Paulwhite60. Investigators traced the communications from the brothel phone to Toners phone, which was also listed as a point of contact for him on a recent campaign website for his run for public office.

In a text conversation on April 17, 2023, Paulwhite60, later identified as Toner, texted the brothel phone to ask if women with the stage names Tulip or Jisoo were available that night.

For 1hr 4 45pm Jisoo. 5pm Tulip, the brother scheduler responded.

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OK. Ok. Tulip. Cambridge? Toner allegedly texted back.

Yes, the brother scheduler responded.

OK. Send details, Toner allegedly responded.

Donations for Tulip or Jisoo, the brother scheduler responded, then texted a list of sex services and fees.

On that date, prosecutors said, Toner booked a one-hour girlfriend experience appointment with Tulip for $340 at 5 p.m. at the Cambridge brothel location at 90 Fawcett St.

In the area and parking, Toner texted the brothel phone closer to his appointment, followed by another text: At door.

Rm 109. Enjoy, read a responding text from the brothel phone.

Police wrote that surveillance video captured Toner entering Room 109 at 4:59 p.m. on April 17, 2023 and exiting room 109 at approximately 5:51 p.m., consistent with the amount of time that Toner paid for commercial sex.

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In yet another conversation on July 15, 2023, Toner allegedly texted to ask if three separate women with the stage names Haju, Haru or Soda would be available the following day.

Heju Haru available. What time around? the brothel scheduler responded.

1:00. They are both so beautiful. Would like to see Heju. Will Haru still be here later in week, Toner allegedly texted back.

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.

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.

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None of the men appeared in court on Friday. Casey informed their counsel that she would file charges against all of them.

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.

On Friday, along with Cusack and Toner, Casey approved criminal complaints against the following nine other men: Nathaniel Welch of Concord; Frederick Rosenthal of Marblehead; Timothy Ackerson of Waltham; Matthew Fulton of Belmont; Howard Redmond of Tewksbury; Anurag Bajpayee of Cambridge; Paul Grant of Charlestown; Steven Riel of Laconia, N.H. and Jeffrey Henry, of Exeter, N.H.

On March 14, a dozen accused sex buyers, from communities including Winchester, Lincoln, Concord, Newton, and Waltham, were identified in court. They 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.

Han and Zhu were the only two accused sex buyers who appeared in court during the first round of hearings.

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.

The phone subscription of Fulton, one of the accused sex buyers, was linked to MIT by Cambridge Police, investigators said.

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, Cambridge Police Lt. Jarred Cabral said during Fridays hearing.

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.

These are mere allegations. All of my clients are presumed innocent under the law, said defense attorney Lorraine Belostock.

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, Ivette Monge of Ready Inspire Act said Friday.

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 recently 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.

Additional names are expected to be announced during the next round of probable cause hearings on Friday.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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As the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and Canada continues, innkeepers and campground owners near the U.S.-Canadian border have told NBC5 that they are worried about spring bookings. They say they are seeing a noticeable decrease in traffic coming from Canada.

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The Lane family runs Snow Farm Vineyard in the Champlain Islands, and they are unsure if they will be able to fill their rooms in the spring.

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"We're hearing stories that Canadians are canceling their vacations and their trips to the U.S.," David Lane told NBC5.

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), nearly 500,000 fewer travelers crossed from Canada to the U.S. in February from the same time last year. NBC citing Canadas statistical agency reported on a 23% drop in Canadian car trips to the U.S. and a 2.4% dip in residents round-trip air travel last month. Flight Centre Canada said leisure travel bookings to the U.S. plunged 40% year over year.

Why are Canadians canceling US travel plans?

Following rising tensions between the U.S. and Canada, many Canadians are boycotting American brands and travel altogether.

It's not just the rising costs and a weakened Canadian dollar against its U.S. counterpart  it's a sense of patriotism. Many Canadians are outraged by President Trump's repeated remarks suggesting that Canada should become the 51st state, a statement Prime Minister Mark Carney called "disrespectful."

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Ive decided that I will no longer be traveling to the U.S. unless its absolutely necessary to go, Harold White, who lives in Quebec, told The New York Times. It pains me to think that Im not going to Maine or to Cape Cod or even to New York City for a vacation in the near term  I feel like Canadians have been slapped across the face by Trump," he added.

This backlash is expected to impact the U.S. travel sector since Canada is the biggest source of international visitors to the country.

How to save money on travel

While Canadians may be rethinking their trips south of the border, Americans traveling domestically or abroad may also feel the pinch. Steven A. Carvell, a professor of finance at the S.C. Johnson College of Business at Cornell University, told USA Today "it's unlikely that tariffs will have a noticeable, immediate impact on hotel room prices or airfares, but a trade war could affect the supply chain and cause longer-term impacts on the travel industry."

He added, The longer tariffs last, the more likely well see air travel impacted in the form of higher costs for Boeing and airlines, fewer overall flights, and higher fares.

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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

Here are a few ways to keep your travel costs in check.

Book early to lock in lower rates

With tariffs creating unpredictability in pricing, booking flights and accommodations in advance can help travelers avoid price hikes. Airlines and hotels often adjust their rates in response to increased costs, so locking in reservations early can be a smart financial move.

Consider alternative destinations

If you typically vacation in areas impacted by Canadian tourism  like Florida, California or New England  you may find rates go down due to reduced demand. Vacation rental property owners in Florida have reported multiple cancellations from Canadian guests due to the tariff battle. If prices are higher in your usual destinations, consider exploring off-the-beaten-path locations or choosing domestic trips to less touristy areas for better deals.

Shop smarter for travel essentials

With tariffs increasing the cost of imported goods, travelers can save money by being strategic about purchases of items like luggage, clothing, and electronics. Consider shopping during sales, buying second-hand, or borrowing items from friends.

Look for discounts or use rewards

Frequent flyer miles, hotel loyalty programs, and credit card travel rewards can go a long way in reducing expenses. If you havent already, consider signing up for a travel rewards credit card or checking for promotional offers that can help cut costs on flights, lodging, and rental cars.

Get creative to save on transportation costs

Rising gas prices may make transportation more expensive. To minimize expenses, consider using public transportation, booking flights through major hub airports, or comparing fares with online tools. If you're driving, apps like GasBuddy can help you find the cheapest fuel prices along your route.

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While rising tariffs create uncertainty, planning ahead and making strategic choices can keep costs under control. With a bit of flexibility and resourcefulness, you can still enjoy a great vacation  without breaking the bank.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  With two Dayton City Commission seats open during this years elections, candidates came together to discuss their platforms on Monday evening.

With just a few weeks until the May primaries, the Dayton Chapter of the NAACP hosted a Meet the Candidates forum on March 24 at Grace Methodist Church. Dozens of people attended the meeting for a chance to hear from the candidates theyll be choosing as their next two city commissioners.

Its important for the individuals who are going to vote for the people representing them to come out and listen to them speak, and also have the opportunity to ask them questions, said Cindi Westwood, Dayton resident, attendee.

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Five candidates are vying for two seats on Daytons City Commission in a race that will have its primary on May 6 and then its final vote on Election Day in November.

The two seats that are up for reelection are for Commissioner Darryl Fairchild and Commissioner Shenise Turner-Sloss. Fairchild was the only incumbent at the forum, as Turner-Sloss turns her attention to the Mayors seat  she will run against current Mayor Jeffrey Mims Jr this year.

Fairchild was joined by candidates Darius Beckham, Jacob Davis, Valerie Duncan and Karen Wick. Each candidate had the opportunity to speak on whats important to them and why they are seeking a commissioner seat in Dayton.

We know Dayton is a great place to live, work and raise a family. If you dont have the right people in office thats going to work collaboratively together, therein lies a significant issue, said Dr. Derrick Foward, Dayton NAACP president.

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Big topic issues during Mondays forum included prison reform, mental health and rehabilitation services for people experiencing drug and alcohol addition, as well as calls for additional healthcare options in the city.

There really has to be a unified community when addressing the issues of mental health and drug addiction, said Tom Roberts, Dayton NAACP second vice president and Political Action Committee chair.

One attendee told 2 NEWS one of her biggest takeaways from the forum was how most of the candidates agreed on the issues the city was dealing with.

It was really interesting to listen to what they believed the city of Dayton was facing, said Westwood. The issues they kept coming back to of poverty and mental health and how it cycles, and causes a cycle in the city of Dayton was interesting.

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The election coming up on May 6 is a primary and special election. The deadline to register to vote is April 7, with early in-person voting starting the next 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 WDTN.com.
This photo taken on March 23, 2025 shows a view of a U.S.-affiliated health center in Ghazni, Afghanistan. Afghanistan's healthcare system, already fragile, has been further crippled by significant reductions in U.S. aid. The disruption of healthcare services has severely impacted millions of Afghans, particularly women and children in remote and mountainous regions.(Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

GHAZNI, Afghanistan, March 25 (Xinhua) -- "Since our village health center closed, we have no choice but to transport sick women and children, mostly pregnant women and newborns, by bicycle to health facilities several kilometers away," lamented Rahmatullah from eastern Ghazni province of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan's healthcare system, already fragile, has been further crippled by significant reductions in U.S. aid. The disruption of healthcare services has severely impacted millions of Afghans, particularly women and children in remote and mountainous regions.

In Ghazni city, about 125 km from the capital Kabul, 30 to 40 healthcare facilities have been forced to shut down due to U.S. funding cuts, depriving more than 100,000 residents of life-saving medical treatment.

One such facility, the Baghla Healthcare Center, previously serving Rahmatullah's village, was recently shut down due to funding shortages. "Because of economic hardships, people use bikes to carry sick women to neighboring villages for medical care," he explained. "The nearest health facility is six to eight km away."

According to the World Health Organization, 167 health centers have been closed across 25 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces due to funding shortages. Without immediate intervention, over 220 facilities would shut down by June 2025 throughout the war-stricken country.

The Baghla Health Center previously served an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 people across 25 to 30 villages, said Dr. Khalid Durani, the facility's team leader. "On average, we treated 70 to 80 patients daily, most of whom were women and children under five," Durani told Xinhua. "Even after the closure, dozens of patients come from distant villages seeking treatment, only to return without medical care."

With the closure of this health center, maternal and infant mortality has escalated to an unprecedented phase in the areas covered, said Durani.

According to a statement from a UN spokesman in February, the U.S. funding cuts had led to the suspension of hundreds of mobile health teams and other essential services, affecting 9 million people across Afghanistan.

The withdrawal of funding has already forced the closure of 18 health facilities supported by Save the Children organization and its partners in Afghanistan.

Currently, only 14 of the organization's clinics have enough funding to remain operational for one more month, and without additional financial support, they will be forced to close. In January alone, these 32 clinics provided medical care to more than 134,000 children, Save the Children said in a recent statement.

Health officials in Ghazni acknowledged the improvements in healthcare services over the past three and a half years, but warned that the closure of health centers is having devastating consequences for impoverished communities, leading to a surge in maternal and child mortality.

"The shutdown of 30 to 40 health centers could result in the deaths of dozens of mothers and innocent children," said Dr. Mohammad Zark Zirak, head of the provincial public health department. "The crisis has directly impacted rural populations, the poor, and the public."

Afghanistan's healthcare system has been crippled by the U.S. government's freeze on approximately 9 billion U.S. dollars of Afghan assets following the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces in August 2021. The situation has worsened as additional U.S. aid reductions have forced hundreds of health facilities to close across the country. 

This photo taken on March 23, 2025 shows a view of a U.S.-affiliated health center in Ghazni, Afghanistan. Afghanistan's healthcare system, already fragile, has been further crippled by significant reductions in U.S. aid. The disruption of healthcare services has severely impacted millions of Afghans, particularly women and children in remote and mountainous regions.(Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

This photo taken on March 23, 2025 shows a view of a U.S.-affiliated health center in Ghazni, Afghanistan. Afghanistan's healthcare system, already fragile, has been further crippled by significant reductions in U.S. aid. The disruption of healthcare services has severely impacted millions of Afghans, particularly women and children in remote and mountainous regions.(Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Ohios cannabis sales have topped $2.5 billion as of March 15, in large part thanks to recreational sales.

According to data from the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control, marijuana sales hit $2.506 billion this month. With more than $390 million made from nonmedical sales in the past seven months, recreational sales have fueled the industrys growth. The milestone comes as Ohio lawmakers debate cannabis reform, including limits on the tax revenue marijuana sales generate for local municipalities.

In November 2023, 57% of Ohio voters approved recreational marijuana in the Buckeye State. Medical sales began a few years earlier in January 2019, and recreational sales began in August 2024. When recreational sales began, state data shows Ohio had not yet hit $2 billion in cannabis sales.

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Legislation that would restrict the use of traffic cameras heads to governors desk

According to state data, two-thirds of all sales since August have been recreational. Without recreational sales, it is estimated that Ohio would not reach $2.5 billion in sales until October 26, 2025.

Using the average sales per day from December to March 15, Ohios most recently released cannabis sale data, NBC4 calculated projected sales for June 2025. This projection would be a 22.4% increase in sales from December 2024.

In Ohio, nonmedical sales are subject to a 10% excise tax. As of March 10, this means recreational sales have contributed $37.6 million to the state this year alone. According to a study by Ohio State Universitys Mortiz College of Law, Ohio could collect around $62 million from recreational marijuana sales by the end of 2025.

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Much of this money goes back into local communities. Of the tax funds collected by the state, Ohio State estimates about $22 million would be allocated to the Host Community Cannabis Fund. This fund redistributes cannabis tax dollars to the municipality hosting a dispensary. OSU estimated each of Ohios 175 dispensaries would generate about $175,000 for its host community.

Bipartisan bill would require Ohio schools to recite Pledge of Allegiance daily

However, local funding is being questioned at the state level. Gov. Mike DeWines proposed 2026-27 budget recommends removing the Host Community fund entirely. Two other pending state bills would change Ohios cannabis laws, one of which would cap how much host communities could earn. See previous coverage of these proposed changes in the video player above.

Ohio States study spoke with municipalities about possible revenue loss, many of which said the cannabis tax was set to help fund local fire, police and parks. Without it, some communities said they would have to look at income tax adjustments or possible layoffs. The city of Milford, for instance, told OSU it would lose about $100,000 annually if the host fund was eliminated.

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I would say that part of our decision for allowing marijuana facilities in the community was due to the potential revenue, representatives from Euclid said. I view it [as] a broken promise if they change the host community fund provision. Funds would have been used to support safety services and community improvements.

Ohios General Assembly will continue weighing marijuana reform legislation. Although both bills have been referred to House committees for deliberation, neither has a hearing 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV.
A Cape Cod man is set to be arraigned on Wednesday for manslaughter in the 2024 death of his mother, who formerly worked as a librarian at the Sandwich Public Library.

Thomas Hayes, 23, of Sandwich, has been indicted by a Barnstable grand jury, Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois said Friday. He is charged with manslaughter and assault and battery on a person 60 or older or disabled causing serious bodily injury.

Hayes is facing the charges in connection with the July 2024 death of his mother, Colleen Hayes, who worked as a reference librarian at Sandwich Public Library for several years, according to the district attorneys office and her obituary.

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Prosecutors said Colleen Hayes suffered a broken neck before she died.

Thomas Hayes is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday morning in Barnstable Superior Court, according to the clerks office. He is currently being held at Barnstable County Correctional Facility.

In the late hours of July 24, 2024, police and paramedics responded to a 911 call from a home in Sandwich, Galibois said.

When first responders arrived, they found an unconscious 71-year-old woman, later identified as Colleen Hayes, on the ground in the second-floor bedroom and bleeding from a laceration to her head, Galibois said.

Investigators later learned the injured woman was Hayes mother, Galibois said.

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Hayes told the 911 operator and police that he had pushed the woman and that she had fallen to the floor, prosecutors said. She was taken by ambulance to Cape Cod Hospital with a head laceration and a broken neck.

She later died at the hospital on July 30, 2024, Galibois said.

At the time of this incident, Thomas Hayes was on probation out of the Barnstable District Court. He was sentenced to 1 year at the Barnstable House of Correction for violating his probation, Galibois said.

Falmouth Attorney Drew Segadelli, who is representing Thomas Hayes, said Tuesday that his client is not guilty of the charges he is facing.

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Thomas Hayes, a former student athlete at Sandwich High School who went on to attend college in Rhode Island, has been held at Barnstable County Correctional Facility since the incident last July, Segadelli said.

Hes been unfairly treated, Segadelli said.

Segadelli said he hopes to get his client out on a fair bail.

He does not need any more loss of liberty. His incarceration is wholly unequitable, Segadelli said.

Segadelli said on the night of the incident, Thomas Hayes was trying to assist his mother, who had been drinking significantly. Segadelli claimed Colleen Hayes was maybe twice the legal limit to drive an automobile on that night.

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He just simply wanted to help her to bed and then this came about. No there wasnt any violent acts or any of that, not by mother or him or anything. But there was a push and a stumble, Segadelli said.

Segadelli said Colleen Hayes had other medical concerns. She wasnt an agile person, he said.

According to her obituary, Colleen Sinnott Hayes of Sandwich worked as a paralegal for several law firms in Providence, Rhode Island after earning associates and bachelors degrees from Johnson and Wales University.

She later changed careers from paralegal to law librarian, her obituary states. She received her masters degree in library science degree from the University of Rhode Island after two years of attending classes at night and on weekends.

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She worked as a law librarian at several firms.

In 2003, she and her husband moved to Sandwich, where she took a position as reference librarian at the Sandwich Public Library, her obituary states. She retired from the library in 2019.

After her retirement, she worked part time at the Sandwich Council on Aging, and also filled in as a substitute librarian at the Sandwich Public Library.

Colleen enjoyed reading, especially historical fiction and new fiction, travel, especially around Cape Cod and New England as well as to Ireland, walks in her neighborhood and around the town, seeing people at the library, and spending time with family and friends, her obituary states.

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Sandwich Police and the State Police Detectives Unit assigned to Galibois office investigated the Hayes case.

In a separate case, a Marthas Vineyard woman was also charged with manslaughter last week after a toddler died on Wednesday, nearly one week after the child she was babysitting was found unresponsive in her SUV.

Prosecutors said the boy and another child were left unattended in the vehicle for hours.

Aimee Cotton, 41, of Oak Bluffs, Marthas Vineyard, was arraigned on the manslaughter charge in Edgartown District Court on Thursday, Galibois said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Investing.com -- On Tuesday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the nation from the Irving Shipyard in Halifax, Nova Scotia, outlining a robust plan to reinforce the country's military capabilities and sovereignty. Amidst increasing global tensions and shifts in international norms, Carney emphasized the importance of unity and action over negativity and division.

Carney is currently campaigning as head of the Liberal Party, running against the Pierre Poilievre-led Conservative Party in the current election, with voting commencing on April 28.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the challenges posed by emboldened adversaries and the changing priorities of the United States, which have put traditional alliances and the sovereignty of nations like Canada at risk. In response, Carney announced measures to shield Canadian workers affected by tariffs, utilizing retaliatory tariffs to bolster their protection. He stressed that strength lies in togetherness and warned against allowing politicians to sow discord among citizens.

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Carney's speech highlighted the underfunding of Canada's military, currently less than 1.5% of GDP on defense, and his commitment to doubling down on the national shipbuilding industry, creating jobs, and modernizing the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). He also mentioned plans for investing in new technologies, building new military installations, and increasing the presence of Canadian Armed Forces in the Arctic.

The Prime Minister detailed a significant increase in defense spending, which has more than doubled since the tenure of former Prime Minister Poilievre. Carney's strategy includes rebuilding, reinvesting, and rearming to expand the Navy's capabilities with new submarines and heavy icebreakers, as well as accelerating investment in the armed forces.

Carney assured full commitment to all orders within the national shipbuilding strategy and outlined steps to address the Canadian Armed Forces' personnel shortage, which Carney's administration has deemed short of manpower by over 14,000. These steps include modernizing the recruitment process, raising salaries, building new housing on bases, and improving access to healthcare services.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister plans to enhance the reach of the Canadian Coast Guard, integrate it into NATO defense capabilities, and create a first-class drone capability to defend the Arctic and other critical areas. He emphasized the importance of utilizing Canadian resources, including steel and aluminum, and relying on Canadian suppliers and workers for procurement.

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Carney concluded his speech by declaring the current election as the most consequential of Canadian's lifetimes and assured that his government is meeting the current moment with purpose and force, seeking solutions and positive action for Canada.

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(Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government would give raises to the armed forces, speed up the acquisition of military equipment and grant new surveillance powers to the Canadian Coast Guard if he wins the election.

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Carney, who is campaigning as leader of the Liberal Party, made the promises during an event at the Irving Shipyard in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Tuesday. But he didnt commit to moving up his proposed timeline for Canada to hit the NATO defense-spending target.

All North Atlantic Treaty Organization members have promised to spend at least 2% of gross domestic product on defense, but Canada is a laggard, at about 1.4%. Carney has said only that the country should get to 2% by 2030 at the latest.

The Liberal chief gave few details on the costs of his military plan, saying more would be revealed when the party releases a full platform later. The government, he said, should view military procurement as a way to boost investment in Canadian companies  an end to sending dollar after dollar south of the border, to a nation that is threatening us.

Thats a clear reference to US President Donald Trumps repeated comments about making Canada the 51st state, which have caused alarm across the USs northern neighbor. Trump has reproached allied nations in NATO for being too dependent on the US for security, prompting countries including Canada and Germany to begin making new plans to bolster arms spending.

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Canadas military is in dire need of replenishment. Its fighter jets and frigates are several decades old. The Canadian Armed Forces is short 14,500 members, according to a news release from Carneys campaign.

The government is planning to buy new submarines and icebreakers as part of its procurement strategy. Canada has an order to buy dozens of Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35 fighter jets. Carney has asked for a review of that contract, and the government has made overtures to European allies to join them in defense procurement projects.

Carneys opponents in the Conservative Party said the Liberals, whove been in power since 2015, should wear the blame for allowing the military to get into its current state. Under the Carney Liberals, our warships are rusting out, our fighter jets are worn out, our army has been hollowed out and entire air squadrons are being shut down because they dont have enough personnel, James Bezan, a Conservative lawmaker from the province of Manitoba, said in an emailed statement.

Canadians vote in a national election on April 28, and some polls show Carneys Liberals have gained the edge on the Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre. A new survey by the Angus Reid Institute has the Liberals with support of 46% of decided and leaning voters, compared with 38% for the Conservatives.

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But that poll also showed that voters who are currently planning to vote for the Conservatives are less likely to change their minds. Poilievre has also made announcements about increasing Canadas defense forces, including a proposed permanent military base in the far north.

Justin Trudeaus government didnt plan to increase the defense outlay to 2% until around 2032.

--With assistance from Thomas Seal.

(Updates with comments from Carney, beginning in the fourth paragraph.)

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The Trump administration plans to scrap the disaster relief Federal Emergency Management Agency, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reportedly said during a Cabinet meeting on Monday.

Noem said that her department would move to "eliminate FEMA, she said, according to Semafor and reports by other media.

The Independent has contacted the Department of Homeland Security, FEMAs parent agency, for comment.

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Some reacted to the claims with alarm.

The Trump Administrations grand plan for victims of natural disasters is to abandon them  and its a complete non-starter, Senator Pete Welch of Vermont, a Democrat, wrote in a statement Monday. Eliminating FEMAs ability to respond after a disaster hits would be catastrophic not only for flood victims in Vermont, but for hurricane victims in the Carolinas, tornado victims in Kansas, and wildfire victims in California.

The threat was reported even as massive wildfires ravage parts of North and South Carolina.

Its unclear how the administration would eliminate the agency, given that it is authorized by statute, but it follows months of criticisms from the White House about the emergency body.

White House would need congressional buy-in to eliminate FEMA (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Representatives Jared Moskowitz (D) and Byron Donalds (R), meanwhile, have introduced bipartisan legislation to turn FEMA into an independent, Cabinet-level agency.

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Some Republicans say they oppose efforts to eliminate the emergency agency.

FEMA cant go away, Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana said in February. I think the first job of the federal government is to protect people and property.

The administration has criticized FEMA from a number of angles, ranging from arguments that its inefficient, to inaccurate claims the agency diverted emergency funding to house migrants.

I love Oklahoma, but you know what? If they get hit with a tornado or something, let Oklahoma fix it, Trump said in January. And then the federal government can help them out with the money. FEMA is getting in the way of everything.

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On the campaign trail, Trump also falsely claimed then Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden didnt visit the disaster zones in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, and that the federal government didnt help people in Republican-leaning areas.

Since taking office, the president has signed executive orders calling for a review of FEMA operations and the creation of a National Resilience Strategy, while arguing: Local leaders and citizens know their needs best  not bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., indicating that states would foot the bill for major disasters, which batter different states at very different levels.

The White House has also reportedly ordered FEMA to review all disaster relief programs that may indirectly or incidentally aid illegal aliens, according to an internal memo obtained by Politico.

Last week, FEMA employees were warned that Secretary Noem would need to personally approve scores of positions once their terms expire, setting up potential staffing cuts as part of the administrations wide-ranging campaign to slash federal spending.

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Experts have warned that eliminating FEMA would likely weaken emergency response in poorer, disaster-prone Republican states.

This would have tremendous implications for many red states; its hard to find the words for how bad it would be, Samantha Montano, a disaster response expert at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, told The Guardian earlier this year.

Florida and Texas have a high risk, but poorer red states like Mississippi and Alabama would be even worse off because they have less money to pull from to make up for a loss in federal funding, the expert added.
ROME (AP)  A network of clergy sex abuse survivors on Tuesday announced a database of Catholic cardinals records on the handling of such cases in a bid to influence the next papal conclave, while urging Pope Francis in a letter to adopt a worldwide zero-tolerance policy following the U.S. church example.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests unveiled Conclave Watch, a database on cardinals records on clergy sex abuse that it hopes will put the issue at the center of consideration whenever the next pope is chosen.

SNAP board members arrived in Rome three weeks ago as Pope Francis was hospitalized in life-threatening condition, with the prospect of a conclave seemingly near. He returned to the Vatican on Sunday after beating double pneumonia, with doctors orders to take it easy for the next two months  putting to rest at least for now notions of a papal resignation or a funeral that would trigger the process to choose a successor.

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Many people have asked me  Why now? The pope is sick. Now is not the time,  Shawn Dougherty, SNAP Board president and a survivor from Pennsylvania, told a news conference. And we determined if not now, when, and if not us, who?

The database was set to go live soon, starting with six cardinals, five of whom were chosen for their decision-making roles in the Roman Catholic church on the handling of clergy abuse cases. More will be added.

The initiative vets cardinals who are considered contenders for the papacy on their records handling sexual abuse cases, including whether they were involved in covering up cases, as well as their acceptance of a zero-tolerance law that SNAP wants Francis to adopt.

SNAP also released a letter to Francis urging him to adopt its zero-tolerance law, drafted with canon and civil lawyers as well as human rights experts that would remove known offender priests from ministries and hold bishops accountable in cases of coverups.

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To date, the only place where there are norms for removing known sexual offenders from the priesthood is the United States, said Peter Isley, of the networks global policy working group. The United States is just 6% of the Catholic world. So 94% doesnt have that, he said.

The group hopes the letter will be delivered to Francis by Juan Carlos Cruz, a Chilean victim of abuse appointed by the pope as an international advocate for survivors, by the end of the week.

SNAP underlined the importance of pushing the issue as the pope continues his physical recovery, in light of his announcement in February that he would produce an apostolic exhortation dedicated to children aimed at educating them about their rights. They hope that their definition of zero-tolerance could be truly enshrined.

We wish him a full recovery because we have work to do together, Isley said.
**Related Video Above: How does the FDA determine if food is safe?

(WJW)  Authorities walked back on a preliminary cause of death after the 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner passed away Friday while on vacation in Costa Rica.

According to CNN Sports and other outlets, although preliminary reports stated that Miller Gardner could have died from asphyxiation after a possible intoxication after apparently ingesting some food, asphyxia was later ruled out by forensic scientists because his airways werent blocked.

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Tracy Morgan shares what caused him to become publicly sick during NBA game

Juan Pablo Alvarado Garcia of Costa Ricas Judicial Investigative Police (OIJ) told NBC an official autopsy could take months and a toxicology report is pending. The death is still under investigation.

FILE  New York Yankees Brett Gardner walks off the field after being defeated by the Tampa Bay Rays in a baseball game on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)

OIJ told CNN Tuesday, the family was at a hotel in Manuel Antonio when they all got sick from what they believe was some kind of food poisoning.

Sunday, the Yankees took to X to pass along a message from Brett and his wife, Jessica, saying in part: With heavy hearts, we are saddened to announce the passing of our youngest son, Miller. He was 14 years old and has left us far too soon.

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I-Team: Fallen officers family files complaint for fellow police

At the time, the couple said they had so many questions and so few answers, and that their son died peacefully in his sleep.

Brett played 14 seasons with the Yankees, retiring in 2021. He was a part of the 2009 World Series-winning team.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
NC Medicaid director Jay Ludlam talks about the consequences of federal cuts to Medicaid at Martin Street Baptist Church in Raleigh on March 24, 2025. (Photo: Lynn Bonner)

A celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act came with warnings of potential cuts to Medicaid.

The Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, was signed into law about 15 years ago. Now, 1.6 million people in North Carolina are insured under some aspect of the law. Nearly 1 million people have subsidized health insurance through the ACA, and about 640,00 adults are enrolled in Medicaid under expansion, which the ACA allowed, and state leaders approved in 2023.

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Congressional Republicans are contemplating federal budget cuts that could erode Medicaid services and force people who enrolled in expanded Medicaid off of their health insurance.

Republicans in the U.S. House are considering Medicaid cuts of up to $880 billion over 10 years. That would translate to a $27 billion funding decrease for North Carolina over 10 years.

Medicaid improves residents health and brings billions into the states economy, state Medicaid director Jay Ludlam said Monday at Martin Street Baptist Church in Raleigh.

Despite widespread support for North Carolina Medicaid, Congress is proposing massive cuts that will hurt North Carolina, he said.

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The federal government pays 90% of the cost for people covered under Medicaid expansion. In North Carolina, hospitals pick up most of the rest. None of the costs come from state coffers.

Congress could decide to reduce federal support for people covered under expanded Medicaid. If that happens, current state law says that Medicaid expansion will end, and people who use the insurance would lose it.

Other Medicaid reductions under consideration in Congress would mean a cut to the number of people who are eligible, a cut of the number of services available, and a cut to what providers are paid, Ludlam said.

Bottom line, it means fewer people getting fewer services, and providers getting paid less, he said.

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In all, 3.1 million North Carolinians use Medicaid as their health insurance.

Forty percent or more of the residents in 29 mostly rural counties are enrolled in Medicaid, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. Older adults and people with disabilities account for 21% of the states Medicaid enrollment but 54% of Medicaid spending, according to DHHS.

Gov. Josh Stein and his administration have been warning about the consequences of Medicaid cuts for citizens and hospitals.

The NC Navigator Consortium, which offers people advice about Medicaid plans and ACA marketplace insurance plans, is already facing a massive budget cut.

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In February, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a 90% cut in navigator services grants. For the NC Navigator Consortium, that means a reduction from $7.5 million to $750,000, said director Nicholas Riggs.

The Consortium is designed to provide one-on-one assistance to people searching for insurance coverage. Last year, it provided 124,000 people with one-on-one help, Riggs said.

In 2017, the last time the Consortium had to absorb a big federal grant cut, it helped only 25,000 people, he said. Now that more people than ever need the Consortiums help, it doesnt have the capacity to provide it, Riggs said.

Jennifer Snowhite of Winston-Salem said she and her husband, both artists, lived without health insurance for years because they couldnt afford it.

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When the ACA was first introduced, we jumped on board, she said.

Jennifer Snowhite of Winston-Salem praised the ACA and the NC Navigators Consortium at a celebration in Raleigh. (Photo: Lynn Bonner)

A few years later, her husband saw a doctor for a cough. Later that day, they were told he had two tumors in his chest.

To say we were terrified is the understatement of the year, she said.

The next day, she attended an ACA open enrollment event at a public library. There, Snowhite said, she sought out a Consortium navigator who worked with her for hours to find the best insurance plan.

Thanks to her depth of knowledge of ACA coverage choices, we were able to find a plan to allow him to go out-of-network to see the doctors that he needed, she said.

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When Snowhite was diagnosed with breast cancer a year later, she didnt have to worry about insurance coverage. She is now cancer free.

Her husbands recovery meant he was able to launch a project that employed 150 people, she said.

We are so incredibly fortunate to be the beneficiaries of the ACA as well as the NC Navigators, she said. Without you, I fear we would now be a too-typical story of bankruptcy or far worse. Instead, we have so much to celebrate.
BAGHDAD, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein held a phone conversation on Monday evening with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi to discuss regional tensions and bilateral relations.

The two sides discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon against the backdrop of Israel's violation of ceasefires, in addition to the U.S. attacks on Yemen, according to a statement from the Iraqi Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

Araghchi expressed his concern over these developments and briefed Hussein on the content of U.S. President Donald Trump's letter to the Iranian leadership, affirming that the Iranian government will respond to the letter, the statement said.

For his part, Hussein expressed hope that the exchange of letters would contribute to opening channels for dialogue between the two sides.

The two ministers also discussed bilateral relations and stressed the need for continued communication and joint coordination, the statement noted. 
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ)  A Punxsutawney man has been charged after a witness reported seeing him beat up a pregnant woman on the street.

Bryce Micknis, 22, is facing felony charges after officers were called to West Mahoning Street for a report of assault, according to a criminal complaint. On Saturday, March 22 officers with the Punxsutawney Borough Police received a call that a pregnant woman had been beat up by Micknis.

Mugshot of Bryce Micknis provided by the Jefferson County Prison

Officers arrived on scene and spoke with one witness who told them that Micknis had allegedly assaulted a woman and gave them his apartment number. According to the affidavit, Micknis spoke with police and they noted he appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. He told officers that he did not know where the victim was and then was taken into custody.

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Blair County armed robbery suspect made off with only $250, court documents reveal

Police learned that the victim was in a neighboring apartment and went to speak with her. She told officers that they had been at a concert and Micknis got intoxicated and refused to let him drive home. According to the affidavit, he became upset and started to punch the car before getting into the passenger seat.

The victim told officers that the last time Micknis got mad he got physical and tried to get him to go to bed. At this point, Micknis allegedly pushed her into the car, kicked her and then choked her. She told officers that she could not breathe at all and had to fight back so he stopped.

According to the complaint, several neighbors noticed what was happening and yelled at Micknis. One told officers that he was beating her really bad. The victim said she tried to walk away, but Micknis followed her and pushed her again. Police noted that the woman had a red mark around the right side of her neck and on one of her knees from when she fell.

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Micknis is in the Jefferson County Jail with bail set at 10% of $50,000. Hes facing charges of aggravated assault, strangulation, unlawful restraint and simple assault.

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A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 10.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.
UPDATE as of 3:30 p.m.:

CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ)  After a non-specific threat was found on a wall in the Penns Valley Elementary and Intermediate School early Tuesday morning, Superintendent Brian Griffith announced that all activities have resumed.

Students were originally evacuated to the high school gym after the threat was found, with school officials noting that state police and school officers were called to the scene. PSP and K-9s searched and cleared the elementary school and students were able to return to campus at noon, just two hours after the threat was found.

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Griffith noted that all normal school activities then resumed for the rest of the day.

ORIGINAL STORY:

CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ)  Officials at Penns Valley Elementary and Intermediate School announced an evacuation after a non-specific threat was discovered.

Students were evacuated to the high school gymnasium after officials found what they described as a non-specific threat written on a wall inside the building. State police have been notified and Superintendent Brian Griffith noted that school police officers are currently assessing the situation.

This is a developing story, please check back for updates and download the WTAJ app to receive breaking news notifications.

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The school added that the evacuation is a precautionary measure and asked that parents not come to the school as they are following safety protocols. It was noted that officials will provide an update when possible.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.
PLATTSBURGH  Retail goes through phases and right now, Champlain Centre Mall is in an exciting phase.

The North Country shopping hub announced Thursday that three new businesses are coming to the mall this spring.

In the coming months, The Living Edge, a second Island Vybz location, and a new Sephora inside of Kohls are all set to open, bringing fresh retail and culinary options to Champlain Centre, which has been in Plattsburgh since 1987.

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These new openings represent an exciting time for Champlain Centre and the Plattsburgh region as a whole, Lisa Getty, General Manager at Champlain Centre said in a news release.

The addition of these businesses enhances our mix of retail and dining, creating a more dynamic and enjoyable experience for our shoppers. Were thrilled to see both local entrepreneurs and national brands investing in our community.

NEW BUSINESSES

The Living Edge, a locally owned business specializing in custom, handcrafted wood products, already celebrated its grand opening earlier this month.

In addition to its unique selection of woodwork, The Living Edge will feature Forever Christmas, a year-round holiday shop offering festive decor and seasonal essentials. This move to Champlain Centre marks an exciting new chapter for the business.

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My wife and I are excited to be here at Champlain Centre, said Michael Heagerty, Owner of The Living Edge, not only because of the many opportunities it creates for us to grow our business, but also to add to the enhancement of the mall! This is a win-win for us!

The Living Edge was previously located on Boynton Avenue in the City of Plattsburgh.

Joining the diverse lineup at Champlain Centre is Island Vybz, a popular Jamaican restaurant. This will be the restaurants second location when it opens in the malls food court in May. Island Vybz will continue to operate its main location at 26 Clinton St. in the City of Plattsburgh.

Known for serving authentic Caribbean flavors from savory jerk chicken to classic island favorites, Island Vybz has been a downtown staple since opening in 2020.

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Champlain Centre is set to also welcome Sephora, the global beauty and personal care retailer, with a new location inside Kohls. Sephora is expected to open this spring.

90% OCCUPANCY

Getty told the Press-Republican last week that as of now, the mall has a 90% occupancy, all its anchor stores filled, and teased these three additions would be coming soon. More are in the pipeline as well, she said.

Getty said their new management company, Pacific Retail Capital Partners, which took over last year, has a lot to do with the malls exciting days ahead.

What were already seeing now and then, what youre going to see over the next year, is very encouraging as far as the success of the mall and the support that we have in the market, Getty said.

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Plattsburgh Town Supervisor Michael S. Cashman welcomed the new additions to the towns premiere shopping center as well.

We are thrilled to witness the continued investment and growth in the Plattsburgh Town Center. From The Living Edge, a locally owned business specializing in handcrafted wood products, to Island Vybz, a popular Jamaican restaurant opening its second location this May, these businesses showcase the great opportunities to invest and thrive here in Plattsburgh, Cahman said.

We look forward to even more exciting developments at Champlain Centre Mall in the future.

For more information about upcoming store openings, visit www.champlaincentre.com.
Transmission lines lead away from the coal-fired Intermountain Power Plant near Delta, Utah on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

After Rocky Mountain Power announced it would pursue a double-digit rate increase for Utah residences, Gov. Spencer Cox and legislative leaders vowed to take matters into their own hands to keep it from happening.

It has been a couple eventful months for the utility ever since.

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The rate proposal also led the Legislature to request splitting the utilitys parent company, PacifiCorp, into two consortiums of states  red and blue  with similar energy policies, and raised the question of how it would serve large energy users, such as the artificial intelligence and data centers the state is hoping to host.

Heres how some 2025 bills may change  or not  how Rocky Mountain Power operates in Utah.

Breaking the monopoly for large loads

Finding ways to feed power-hungry AI centers in the state has been on the state governments mind for a while. Cox dedicated part of his opening statement during his March monthly news conference broadcast by PBS Utah to highlight the importance of it, arguing that the U.S. is in an AI arms race with China. But, building an AI center may take gigawatts of power off the grid.

SB132, sponsored by Sen. Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton, established an alternative process to provide electric power to customers with large loads so existing ratepayers wouldnt have to bear the cost of the additional demands. According to the bill, if the data center and the utility cant reach an agreement within 90 days after a service application is submitted, the customer may be able to negotiate a contract with one or more large-scale generation providers.

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This is outside their regulated monopoly, where we allow them to basically compete with other generators for this new load, and we give them the opportunity to come in and compete for these higher demand loads, Sandall said.

It took a long time to finetune details of the bill and merge in some provisions included in another competing Senate bill, but it ultimately passed the Legislature almost unanimously and is waiting for the governors signature to become law.

Initially, Sandalls bill allowed intermittent energy sources, such as solar and wind, to be used in these hyperscale contracts only if they were 100% backed up with energy storage. That provision was eliminated, allowing AI centers to use solar and wind resources. But, they must still specify any arrangements for backup power supply.

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We married the two together through a lot of long hours and negotiation, and I think were in a spot where both sides didnt get everything they wanted, Sandall said, but I think they feel comfortable moving forward.

David Eskelsen, a Rocky Mountain Power spokesperson, said that overall, the company followed its long-standing practice to provide information to lawmakers to help them draft their energy policy bills.

Senate Bill 132 authorizes a path for the state to serve and attract large energy users, like data centers, while ensuring existing customers are protected from related rate impacts, he said in an email.

Sandall worried that if intermittent resources didnt provide enough electricity to power the data centers, Rocky Mountain Power would try to provide power through its traditional resources, leaving other consumers short on power, he said.

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We were able to create language where I believe that we did give the protection to the consumer, Sandall said. At the same time, we gave the possibility to find new generation sources without laying the cost back onto our traditional consumer.

Rate structure remains the same

A House bill that directly changed Utahs largest utilitys fee system was only used as a negotiation tool during the 2025 session and never received a Senate hearing, even after it was proposed and prioritized during the interim session.

HB72, sponsored by Rep. Carl Albrecht, R-Richfield, targeted Rocky Mountain Powers Energy Balancing Account. That account is tied to a market adjustment fee that can either credit or debit ratepayers for the utilitys costs not covered by the regular electricity rates.

Since the Legislature eliminated the sharing band that allowed customers to cover 70% of the adjustment and shareholders absorb 30% in 2016, Rocky Mountain Power has been able to recover 100% of its prudently incurred costs in an energy balancing account, through adjustments for ratepayers.

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Albrechts proposal would have completely eliminated that fee from customers electricity bills. But, amid other negotiations, the legislation fell through.

Sometimes you use the bill for motivation, and we were trying to motivate Rocky Mountain Power to do some other things in the state, Albrecht said. While the bill had overwhelming support in the House, when it reached the Senate, the sponsor was asked to stand down until other negotiations took place.

But, the bill will come back during the interim this year, Albrecht said, because theres still a need for it.

We want to make sure that Rocky Mountain Power is not including costs from other states in their rate base that Utah customers have to pay, he said.

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But, Albrechts next proposal may be a little more lenient, since he believes there should be a sharing band in place, a system that existed before that 2016 bill, sponsored by Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton.

While the fee changes according to market prices, it has been in an increase pattern for years. Last summer, for example, an interim 11.6% rate increase of the Energy Balancing Account came into effect on July 1, sending electricity costs soaring through the summer.

A step further to break up PacifiCorp

The Legislature also approved HCR9, a concurrent resolution to create an energy compact with Idaho and Wyoming, sponsored by House Majority Leader Jefferson Moss, R-Saratoga Springs, which, may elevate Utahs request to split PacifiCorp into two consortiums; one grouping California, Oregon and Washington together, and the other serving Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.

Cox has already signed the legislation and commended it, as Utah leaders make strong requests to step away from blue states aggressive pursuit for a clean energy future. Cox has already met with Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright on the issue, and they have aligned with those goals, he said.

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During interim committee meetings, lawmakers grilled Rocky Mountain Power executives as they searched for ways to make that split happen. However, the feat would be expensive and politically difficult, officials from the utility warned.

Albrecht, who has led some of those interim committee hearings, said that theres interest from Idaho and Wyoming as well.

We did get a report back in Natural Resources and also Public Utilities (committees) during summer interims, fall interims, but it was very superficial, Albrecht said, and weve asked them to do more work on that, because we feel like its an important thing for the ratepayers in the state of Utah.

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U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Black Earth) addresses union members at a weekend rally in support of federal workers whose jobs are on the line under the administration of President Donald Trump. (Photo by Erik Gunn/Wisconsin Examiner)

Moves by the Trump administration to cut the federal workforce have caused chaos and fear inside agencies ranging from the U.S. Forest Service to the Social Security Administration, advocates for federal employees say.

Some two dozen Forest Service employees in Wisconsin returned to work Monday, five weeks after receiving termination notices and being walked out, as a result of a court order March 13 holding the termination notices issued on Valentines Day were illegal.

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Wisconsin is home to some 18,000 federal workers, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Black Earth) said at a rally in Madison Saturday  workers whose jobs are on the line under orders from Washington, D.C.

I am getting record numbers of calls in our office, literally thousands of calls every single week, Pocan said. People are pissed. Theyre upset about cuts to the Veterans Administration. Theyre upset about whats happening with the Social Security Administration. Theyre upset about Medicare and Medicaid potential cuts. Theyre upset about cuts to agriculture and education.

At the Social Security Administration, the acting Social Security commissioner has announced plans to close regional offices and cut 7,000 jobs through buyouts, layoffs, resignations and terminations, said Jessica LaPointe, president of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Council 220, who joined the Saturday rally at the headquarters of the South Central Federation of Labor. The council represents Social Security field office employees.

Social Security operations have been historically understaffed, LaPointe said, and the planned reductions will lead to longer service delays, systems failures, and even inevitably benefit disruptions.

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In an interview with the Wisconsin Examiner during a Wisconsin visit in October, Martin OMalley, Social Security commissioner at the time, said staff at the agencys Madison field office has dropped by 40% since 2019. OMalley said he told members of Congress they should increase staffing at the agency to restore at least an adequate level of customer service.

The cuts the agency has announced are exacerbating the chaos, confusion and anxiety felt by workers under siege, LaPointe said Saturday. She added that the Trump administration and Elon Musks project to slash operations across the federal government are destroying the publics ability to access timely and effective service from the Social Security Administration, with the intent  lets be real about their intent  of turning the American people against Social Security.

William Townsend, president of the AFGE local at the Department of Veterans Affairs VA hospital in Madison, said the departments plan to cut 80,000 or more positions nationwide would be detrimental to the health care of veterans counting on the agency.

AFGE also represents employees at the Transportation Security Administration. The union and the Biden administration signed a new contract in 2024, but Trump administration TSA leaders told the union last month they were canceling the contract and would no longer recognize the union.

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Nevertheless, said TSA worker and AFGE Local 777 president Darrell English, the union will continue to stand up for its members rights while conducting a legal battle to restore their union contract. We know its going to be a long fight, but were here, English said at Saturdays rally.

At the U.S. Forest Service, 24 Wisconsin employees were fired on Feb. 14  part of a wave of thousands of probationary employees let go, said Carl Houtman, a union official.

Houtman works at the Forest Service Products Laboratory in Madison and is president of the National Federation of Federal Employees union local there. He is also the national negotiation chair for the unions Forest Service Council. In an interview Monday, he stipulated he was speaking strictly as a union leader, not as a Forest Service representative.

About 170 of the Forest Services 672 Wisconsin employees work at the laboratory, researching the use of wood as a building material and wood chemistry for papermaking and in a variety of new applications. Most of the other Forest Service employees in the state are associated with the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in northern Wisconsin.

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After a series of legal challenges, a federal judge in California ordered the Trump administration to reinstate the fired probationary workers, ruling that Trump administration officials hadnt followed required procedures.

The fired workers returned Monday, said Houtman, including a colleague who was among those who had been dismissed.

Its crazy the inefficiency that has caused, he said Monday. They walked her out the door, took her computer and her door card, and they basically had to hire her back. In this intervening month she could have been reasonably doing her job, but the agency was forced by the federal Office of Personnel Management, now under the Trump administrations control, to fire these people.

The federal judges ruling requires the administration to follow the legal procedures for reducing the federal workforce. Houtman said federal workers and their unions involved in the February firing expect to learn more about the administrations intentions in the next month.

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We anticipate about the middle of April getting an idea about whats going on, he said. Its possible that a large number of people in Wisconsin will get wiped out  we just dont know.

Houtman said there are concerns among employees that this administration wants to wipe out the science arm of the Forest Service and possibly sell most or all federally owned forest land, harming the nations natural resources.

Established in 1910, the forest products lab remains a vital source of research, he said. Its findings help shape codes and standards for building as well as for product manufacturing  such as a project currently underway to develop a consistent test for how recyclable consumer packaging is.

The lab also plays a role in training new scientists, he added.

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Most of the probationary employees were new hires, starting to learn wood science from us, Houtman said. You basically have wiped out the next generation of scientists. Its going to do irreparable harm.

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The Trump administration is stripping funding for legal representation from tens of thousands of children who are unaccompanied migrants in the United States, a move immigration lawyers warn violates their legal rights and will leave minors vulnerable to abuse.

Picture yourself thrown into a detention center in a foreign country where you dont speak the language, where you dont understand that countrys complex legal system, only to be told that now you must fend for yourself, assert your rights and seek whatever protections that country might offer you, Jennie Giambastiani, a retired immigration judge, said Tuesday during a call organized by the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights.

Now picture yourself as a child in that situation, she added.



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Government-funded attorneys changed that dynamic, Giambastiani said, because they worked hard to make sure that the children understood the proceedings and could present their claims in court. Most unaccompanied children cant afford to hire their own legal representation.

Without those lawyers, Giambastiani said separately, the immigration courts would be thrown into chaos: The judge wont have any sense that this child understands why [theyre] there in court.

The Trump administration has decided to cancel $200 million in annual funding for legal representation for unaccompanied minors, ABC News first reported Friday, citing an internal Trump administration memo. The New York Times matched that report.

According to ABC, the cut ended funding for the recruitment of attorneys to represent migrant children, though it did not cut informational presentations for children that are delivered in detention centers. Notably, the administration had previously issued a stop-work order concerning the same services last month but reversed it a few days later.

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Now, the legal representation funding is apparently being slashed altogether.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement is housed within the Department of Health and Human Services and is responsible for overseeing the care of unaccompanied migrant children, including in contracted shelters.

The federal webpage for the contract now shows that it was terminated for convenience on Friday. And the Acacia Center for Justice, which runs the Unaccompanied Children Program that provides the legal services in question  and which serves 26,000 children through a network of organizations  confirmed the cut in a statement Friday.

The administrations decision to partially terminate this program flies in the face of decades of work and bipartisan cooperation spent ensuring children who have been trafficked or are at risk of trafficking have child-friendly legal representatives protecting their legal rights and interests, the group said.

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By Monday, over 100 organizations involved in Acacias Unaccompanied Children Program signed onto a statement opposing the cut.

Abandoning [children] while fast-tracking their deportation cases will lead to mass due process violations and wrongful denials of protection, Christine Lin, director of training and technical assistance at the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, said in the statement.

In cases with life-or-death stakes, this will mean children being deported to countries where they face grave harm. We urge the administration to reverse this decision and immediately restore legal services for unaccompanied children.

This brazen, heartless act endangers childrens lives, said Ashley Harrington, managing attorney of the childrens program at Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, or RMIAN.

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RMIAN represents child survivors of trafficking, abuse and trauma, including children as young as 2 years old, Harrington said. Children cannot be expected to navigate the harsh and complicated immigration legal system without an attorney. This administration wants to force us to abandon them to face ICE and the immigration courts alone. But we will continue to stand in solidarity with these children and fight to protect their rights to legal representation.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act requires the government to provide legal representation for minors to the greatest extent practicable, the Times noted. The paper cited American Immigration Council data showing that children appear in immigration court 95% of the time when represented by an attorney, as opposed to 33% of the time without one. Funding for the legal representation for unaccompanied minors had been continuously renewed since 2005, El Pais noted.

HHS continues to meet the legal requirements established by TVPRA and Flores, HHS deputy press secretary Emily G. Hilliard told HuffPost in an email, referring to the Flores Settlement Agreement.

Fifty-seven percent of unaccompanied children with pending immigration cases had legal counsel in 2024, according to the Acacia Center for Justice. And representation makes a major difference: Unaccompanied children with legal representation at some point during their cases were more than seven times as likely to receive an outcome that let them stay in the United States, a 2021 Vera Institute of Justice report found.

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The cuts are just one of several steps the Trump administration has taken targeting undocumented youth.

The administration now also allows the Office for Refugee Resettlement to share information about childrens sponsors immigration status with law enforcement, Reuters reported  raising concerns that family members could be discouraged from sponsoring relatives due to fears over deportation.

The cuts to legal defense funding for immigrant children are all the more shocking in light of President Donald Trumps fixation on 325,000 migrant children that he has asserted are slaves, sex slaves or dead. The false claim is apparently in reference to a 2024 report that found that 32,000 unaccompanied migrant children failed to appear for immigration court hearings between fiscal years 2019 and 2023; the same report counted 291,000 children to whom Immigration and Customs Enforcement had not yet served notices to appear for court dates.

Setting aside that the time period covered both the Trump and Biden administrations, these children were not presumed lost, let alone trafficked. Rather, those figures represent more of a paperwork issue, Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, now a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, told the BBC in November.

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When you hear the phrase missing, you think that there is a child that someone is trying to find and cant, he said. Thats not the case here. The government has not made any effort to find these children.

Still, migrant children are known to be vulnerable to both sexual abuse and labor exploitation. And the Trump administrations decision to strip migrant children of their legal representation makes them more susceptible to such harm, advocates say.

Ive seen how, without a legal advocate representing their interests, unaccompanied children can really get lost, Nick Cuneo, a doctor who has worked with unaccompanied children, said on the Amica call.

Legal representatives are often on the frontline of kids disclosing whats happening to them, he added. As we know, kids without parental figures or close guardians can be subject to predation, and there have been reports of labor trafficking and so forth in the United States with this population in particular that I have seen bear out in anecdotes. Often, attorneys are the ones who are able to pick up on when a child is being mistreated or abused.

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Its hard to rationalize any way that makes sense, Cuneo said, referring to the administrations decision to remove an extra layer of protection for unaccompanied children.

Jesus Guereca, a managing attorney at Estrella del Paso in El Paso, Texas, said on the call that migrant children represented by attorneys have that trust in us, so theyre able to tell us [about things that are happening to them], and were able to do something about that.

Inside of a shelter, our primary goal is to keep the children safe, Guereca said. Thats what this funding does. It helps keep the children safe. Were an extra set of eyes, an extra set of ears, an extra set of adults that care about these children.

Without this funding, thats going away.

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NEW HAVEN, Mo.  A police officer is making a big comeback after he was shot and nearly killed two years ago.

Adam Sullentrup, 33, now serves in a public relations role for the New Haven Police Department.

Sullentrup and his partner, Detective. Sgt. Mason Griffith, were both shot while trying to arrest a suspect at a convenience store March 12, 2023. Griffith did not survive.

The officer spent days in the ICU for a traumatic brain injury and was then transferred to a specialized hospital in Colorado for intensive medical treatment and physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

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Jefferson County man charged in child sex crimes, more victims possible

Sullentrups recovery has been nothing short of a miracle. He re-learned how to speak and walk, two things that seemed unimaginable even a year ago.

Two years of improvements; every week is something new, his wife, Michelle, said.

His speech and some physical movements are limited, but he is making noticeable progress. Adam Sullentrup has managed to master seemingly ordinary things.

Things you take for granted, Michelle said. Getting up in the morning, brushing your teeth, taking your shower, making your meals, it just takes some encouragement, and reminding. And supervision, to get those things completed. But he can do it, she said.

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Another thing he can do is inspire others.

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New Haven Police Chief Christopher Neace approached the Sullentrups late last year about the possibility of Adam coming on board.

Thats what I told him when I met with him. Unfortunately, your career was taken from you, but Im going to give it back to you, as much as possible, Neace said.

It was an offer the injured officer eagerly accepted.

In his public relations role with the police department, Adam Sullentrup appears at events, from Shop with a Hero to Valentines Day visits at retirement homes.

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He is a beacon of hope for the town, and law enforcement in general. With his resilience and perseverance, said.

The days can be challenging, as Michelle now shoulders the responsibility of caring for herself  and her husband. But she said family, friends, and the community have stepped up to support them on Adams road to recovery. The BackStoppers is among the organizations that has helped the Sullentrups.

Im very, very thankful, she said.

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NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)  The charges against a mother and her boyfriend, for their alleged physical abuse that killed a 10-year-old, were upgraded to second-degree Murder on Tuesday morning, according to investigators in Florida.

The Connecticut boy, who was identified as Xavier Williams, was brought to a hospital on Feb. 22 in Tavares, Florida, suffering from cardiac arrest, visibly covered in bruises and burn marks, according to the Tavares Police Department. The boys younger brother outlined to police the abuse the boy had endured.

Connecticut boy dead from injuries sustained during alleged physical abuse in Florida

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Police uncovered a ladder, a 10-pound weight and duct tape that were allegedly used to restrain the boy while weights were dropped onto his exposed stomach during a search of the home.

Kimberley Mills

Andre Walker

37-year-old Kimberley Mills and her boyfriend, Andre Walker, were facing multiple charges of aggravated child abuse, neglect and tampering with evidence.

Williams father, who is from Hartford county, told News 8 hes not ready yet to speak about what happened to his son.

It is clear to our agency that this child underwent gruesome abuse, Tavares Police Detective Courtney Sullivan, who worked on the case, said.

A vigil for the boy is planned for Saturday in Florida.

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Adaptive bikes were presented to Erie children in an effort to help them get outside and live an active life.

Variety, the childrens charity at AHN Saint Vincent, presented 13 bikes on Tuesday.

PA Soldiers and Sailors Home recognizes National Medal of Honor Day

The charity offers life-changing adaptive equipment through their three core programs  My Bike, My Stroller and My Voice.

The chief executive officer, Tom Baker, said the bikes are provided to children who were told they would not have the opportunity to ride a bike for most of their lives.

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Local high school students learn valuable financial literacy skills

For the first time to ride their bike with their brothers and sisters around the neighborhood, theyre going to be able to ride a bike with neighbors and really get to enjoy a fully inclusive kind together life, and thats what its all about, said Baker.

A parade took place at the end of the presentation, allowing the children to try out their new rides.

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CHARLES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Charles County Sheriffs Office detectives are seeking information to identify the man responsible for a series of sexual assaults spanning seven years, starting in 1996.

According to detectives, a man most commonly referred to as Jerry targeted women between November 1996 and August 2003 in Prince Georges County and Washington, D.C., areas by offering rides under false pretenses.

11-year-old threatened to kill teachers, students at school in Charles County, deputies say

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Detectives said that once the women entered the vehicle, the man distracted them by telling personal information as he drove off their intended route and towards a remote area in Charles County.

Detectives are in search of a man accused of multiple sexual assaults (Charles County Sheriffs Office)

There, he would physically attack and sexually assault the women. Detectives noted that the man had extensive knowledge of the secluded areas.

Detectives said that while the man mostly referred to himself as Jerry, he also went by a few different aliases such as Jimmy, George, and James.

The man is estimated to have been in his late 30s to early 50s at the time of the attacks and is now likely in his 50s to 70s.

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Detectives said the mans birth year is believed to range between 1949-1966 and may have family ties to Southern Maryland and the D.C. region.

FBI launches Tesla vandalism task force

The man is described as a Black man with a dark complexion and stocky build, short-cropped hair, prominent overbite, and pockmarked face.

According to detectives, the man had access to multiple vehicles, including:

1996 : Green/lime Ford pickup truck

1997-1999 : Red/burgundy small passenger car (possibly an older model Ford Pinto, Escort, or Toyota with partial Maryland plates FG-549, 594, or 546)

1999 : Red station wagon

2001 : Gray/light green older-model Ford F-150

2002 : Tan/beige box-shaped passenger vehicle

2003: Teal/green passenger vehicle

Red Pinto Gray Ford Red Escort Chevy Cavalier

Through forensic evidence, detectives have linked multiple cases to the man, classifying him as a violent sex offender.

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He would always approach the women in the area of Oxon Hill or Forest Heights, Charles County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Diane Richardson said. He approached them in a car and try to convince them he was a nice guy and get in the car and I will give you a ride and pull a weapon and force them in the car.

Investigators have a warning for women in the DMV urging them to be cautious.

He was a dangerous person up to the last attack and for all women because he approaches ladies walking, you must never accept a ride from anyone and always be alert and on the lookout, Richardson said.

Edward Burroughs elected as youngest Prince Georges County Council Chair

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Richardson said authorities want to bring him to justice.

We want to get him off the street because he could attack other women, and we had 10 cases that were reported to us and there is likely more, Richardson said. We want to give the victims and their families closure.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Smith #555 at (301) 609-6479 or submit an anonymous tip through the Charles County Crime Solvers at 1 (866) 411-TIPS, online or by using the P3Intel mobile app.

Crime Solvers and the Charles County Sheriffs Office are offering a combined cash reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest or indictment. All tips remain anonymous.

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JERUSALEM, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday he has approved operational plans for "continuing" the offensive in the Gaza Strip.

"I came here today to closely observe the fighting and preparations on the ground ahead of upcoming decisions," Katz said during a visit to the Gaza Division, headquartered at Re'im Camp near the strip.

"Our main goal now is to bring all hostages home," Katz said.

He warned that if Hamas does not release the remaining hostages, "it will pay increasingly heavy prices in territorial losses and the targeting of militants and terror infrastructure, until its complete defeat."

Hamas kidnapped 251 hostages during its attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. According to Israeli tallies, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, with 35 of them presumed dead.

A phased ceasefire agreement took effect on Jan. 19 after 15 months of Israel's devastating assault on Gaza. Its first phase includes the release of 33 hostages and about 2,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails. All remaining living hostages are expected to be released in the second phase in exchange for a permanent ceasefire and more Palestinian detainees freed.

However, Israel refused to move to the second phase and resumed air and ground assaults on Gaza on March 18, which, according to the latest data from Gaza-based health authorities, have so far killed 792 Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel renewed the offensive because Hamas rejected offers to extend the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement.

In response to Israel's renewed assaults, Hamas also made several rocket launches targeting Israeli territory, most of which Israel said have been intercepted.

On Monday, two informed Egyptian security sources told Xinhua that Egypt had presented a new "urgent" proposal to Israel and Hamas, under which "Hamas will firstly release five living Israeli hostages, including an Israeli-American soldier, in return for a ceasefire in the strip for 40 days to pave the way for talks on the second stage."

Hamas immediately agreed to Egypt's new proposal, the sources noted, without specifying whether the Israeli side has delivered a response. 
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  The Charleston Police Department is searching for leads on a homicide case after discovering skeletal remains in March.

The remains of Everett Lee Stover, a 67-year-old, were found in the backyard of a vacant home on Lee Street. Police said a homeowner had found them when coming back to check on the property. Detectives believe he had been staying nearby. Stovers family and friends had been looking for him for a couple months before his death, and told police he had struggled with addiction.

Police are looking for more information surrounding Stovers death and identified three known associates that they hope can provide more details.

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Michael James Snell, 49, California

Jerry Jones Jr., 43, North Carolina

Barbara Surrett, 37, North Carolina

Its extremely important, they are the last ones we know that have been in contact with him. So, trying to find them, trying to talk to them and see who he associated with, what his living conditions were, where he traveled to  is all going to help the investigation in determining what happened to Mr. Stover, Greg Genna, detective of the citys violent crime unit, said.

Officials said Stover was likely killed sometime after Oct. 1, 2024 and was a victim of violent physical assault.

Nearby residents added that it is unsettling this happened on a street they typically go by.

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Well, I kind of pass that building all the time. It is shocking to know that something like that was going on in somewhere I frequent so often but based on surrounding behavior and what Ive heard living here, Alejandro Ceron, a College of Charleston student, said. I cant say Im completely shocked, but still that is pretty jarring to hear.

Detectives are seeking any leads from the community, as they will be vital in putting the pieces together of this violent crime.

We are still trying to determine the manner of death he died, that is still under investigation by the coroners office. We still need to speak with the community, theyre the ones that are going to help us solve this crime, said Genna.

Anyone with a tip is encouraged to call the tip line at (843)-720-2422 and request an on-duty Central Detective, or email CPD at https://charlestonpd.fususvault.com/tips.

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Charlotte leaders heard multiple proposals for reducing crime Monday after months of presentations on the state of public safety.

City staff presented strategies that include adding more police officers, investing in community efforts and lobbying the state legislature for support. The proposals followed months of presentations on crime statistics, the root causes of crime and other public safety-related issues

Mondays presentation laid out nine proposals for improving public safety:

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Funding more hiring by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police in coming city budget cycles

Considering local ordinance changes to crack down on nuisance properties that are hotspots for crime

Finding funding to launch a drone program

Funding an expansion of Atrium Healths hospital-based violence intervention program

Launching a youth-led campaign to discourage juvenile crime

Supporting programs that help formerly incarcerated people access reentry services

Supporting a bill currently in the General Assembly aimed at improving police officer retention

Lobbying state leaders for more funding for the Mecklenburg County District Attorneys Office and local courts

Talking to state leaders about options for bringing back a local juvenile detention center to the Charlotte area

Council member Tariq Bokhari, a vocal advocate for more city action on crime, said he would have liked to see more teeth in the plan, but it represents a major milestone.

I think that the punch line and takeaway of all of this is, lets make sure we dont make this a one-time exercise and then move on, the District 6 Republican said. This is a living thing.

Bokhari pointed to statistics on repeat offenders to reinforce the need to support diversion and reentry programs and improve communication between branches of the local law enforcement system. In 2024, 66% of people arrested for a violent crime in Charlotte had at least one prior arrest on their record, according to the citys report. And 62% of juveniles arrested for a violent crime had at least one prior arrest.

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A smaller number of people are responsible for an outsized portion of the crime we face, yet they keep getting let out in a revolving door, Bokhari said.

Council member Tiawana Brown, who was formerly incarcerated, runs a nonprofit to help women navigate the criminal justice system. Brown said any plan to address public safety must address the root causes of crime and systemic problems between law enforcement and some communities to succeed.

If youre going to change the trajectory of what we need to do for safety, the people that are involved need to be at the table, the District 3 Democrat said.

Hesitations about proposal

At-large Council member LaWana Mayfield urged city staff not to move forward with the drone proposal until the City Council could have a more in-depth discussion about privacy and safety concerns. She also said she couldnt support a push for a juvenile detention center without assurances it would never be managed by a private company.

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The Democrat, who serves as vice chair of the councils safety committee, called for a community survey to hear from residents and small business owners about their concerns and their feelings towards CMPD.

We need to get that information before we put a whole lot of money, investment and time into what we have identified as to be some steps to move forward, she said. The community needs to be lock step with us.

Crime was a focus for the council throughout 2024 and into early 2025 in the wake of a New Years Eve shooting uptown and an uptick in juvenile violence.

The council previously weighed forming a special committee to address safety and heard recommendations from city staff on millions in potential spending to combat rising juvenile crime. City Council members also voted 7-3 in early 2024 to recriminalize multiple city ordinances after uptown residents expressed concerns about quality of life issues.

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CMPD leadership previously told the council in late 2024 violent crime and property crime was down year-over-year in uptown. Violent crime incidents, property crime incidents and property crime victimization were also down in 2024 citywide, CMPD said in its end-of-year report, though homicides and violent crime victimization ticked up.

On Monday, city staff reported overall crime is down 11% year-over-year so far in 2025, with violent crime down 19% and property crime down 9%.
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A man has been sentenced to more than nine years in prison for assaulting two US Marshals deputies, according to the United States Attorneys Office.

Julian Jared Gill, 34, will serve three years of supervised release following his 111-month sentence for his actions in 2022.

According to court documents, Gill was arrested in 2022 for being found with a firearm as a felon. He allegedly tried to hide it in the toilet tank of his hotel room before surrendering it to the police.

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Woman charged with murder for fatal stabbing in southeast Charlotte: docs

While appearing in court in 2023 for those charges, Gill got upset in court at a judges ruling, officials said. Gill then allegedly assaulted two Deputy U.S. Marshals in the holding cell blocks of the courthouse.

On Feb. 28, 2024, Gill pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon and felony assault, resist and impede a federal officer. A judge sentenced Gill to 70 months in prison for the firearm conviction and 41 months for the assault on law enforcement officials. Those sentences will be served consecutively for a total of 111 months.

Attacks on our law enforcement officers cannot be tolerated, and I hope the extra time

sentenced is a warning to others, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson said.

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The solicitor representing Republican Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak asked in a court filing Monday for the county to be removed as a party to Democratic Commissioner Bill Gaughans legal action over the now-paused process of replacing former Democratic Commissioner Matt McGloin.

Minority solicitor Paul J. LaBelle filed Monday in county court a praecipe to withdraw the county as a petitioner in that matter, a move that reflects and is consistent with Chermaks stated objections to the countys participation in and taxpayers funding the legal challenge. How LaBelles filing might ultimately impact the case was not immediately clear.

It came a week after county solicitor Donald Frederickson and attorneys with the Scranton law firm Myers, Brier & Kelly filed a petition on behalf of Gaughan and the county asking the court to amend a March 6 order on the process of replacing McGloin, who resigned last month. Gaughan and the county specifically seek an amendment bringing the March 6 order into compliance with Pennsylvania Rule of Judicial Administration 1908, effectively removing the Lackawanna County Democratic Committee from the process of filling McGloins seat for the almost three years remaining on his unexpired term.

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The order signed by former county President Judge Trish Corbett maintained a replacement procedure established by the countys Home Rule Charter that tasks the county Democratic Committee with providing the names of three potential appointees for consideration by the judges of the county court. That process played out controversially in late February, when county Democratic Party leaders used a scoring rubric to shrink a list of 18 applicants to three finalists  former county economic development Director Brenda Sacco, Olyphant Borough Council President James Baldan and Scranton School Director Robert J. Casey  before the executive committee voted to advance those candidates to the judges.

Corbetts order reset the clock on that process, giving the party five days from the date of the order to furnish the court with three potential appointees. County Democratic Party Chairman Chris Patrick resubmitted the same three names, those of Sacco, Baldan and Casey, to the court the next day.

By maintaining the Home Rule Charter process, Gaughan and the county contend the order violated Pennsylvania Rule of Judicial Administration 1908 that the state Supreme Court adopted in 2019. Rule 1908 says the county court, not a political party, shall receive applications from any interested candidates for the position pursuant to a deadline established by the court.

President Judge James Gibbons, who succeeded Corbett as president judge March 17, paused Wednesday the process of replacing McGloin, staying the March 6 order Gaughan and the county challenged. Gibbons rule to show cause gives the county Democratic Committee until April 7 to answer as to why the relief sought by Gaughan and the county shouldnt be granted.

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In a subsequent order Friday, Gibbons noted the legal matter will proceed before a panel of Senior Judges Carmen D. Minora, Robert A. Mazzoni and Vito P. Geroulo, who will hear arguments and rule on issues raised in Gaughan and the countys petition. Those proceedings have yet to be scheduled.

Chermak has been adamantly opposed to the countys participation since the petitions filing.

Im not going to allow the use of taxpayer dollars (and) Im not going to allow the use of the county solicitor, he said last week. This is not a county issue. This is a Bill Gaughan issue, so Im not authorizing it and I didnt authorize this from the start.

Frederickson and LaBelle disagree as to whether Chermaks authorization was necessary for Frederickson to commence legal action on behalf of Gaughan and the county. They debated that point at Wednesdays commissioners meeting.

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Frederickson argued that section 13302 of the Pennsylvania County Code gives a county solicitor the right to commence litigation in matters involving the countys interest. The appointment process and the question of what should determine it, the Home Rule Charter or Rule 1908, constitutes such a matter, he contends.

LaBelle countered that the aforementioned section of the Pennsylvania County Code that Frederickson cited effectively amounts to a job description for county solicitors. It does not authorize a solicitor to take unilateral action without the approval of a majority of the commissioners, which in this case requires Chermaks approval, LeBelle contends.

The newspaper asked LaBelle on Monday if he can unilaterally move to have the county removed as a party to the legal action.

Well, let me use the Socratic method, LaBelle responded. Can Commissioner Gaughan unilaterally put the county into a lawsuit?

Efforts to reach Frederickson on Monday were not immediately successful.
CHERRY VALLEY, Ill. (WTVO)  Winnebago County Sheriffs Deputies arrested Benjamin Schroeder, 25, for forcing a pregnant woman to swallow a lit blunt, among other charges.

On March 10, around noon, officers received reports of a domestic battery incident in the 100 block of Lawrence Street. The victim had already been taken to Swedish American Hospital for her injuries.

The woman told authorities the suspect strangled and burnt her two days before.

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Schroeder pulled the victim out of bed, dragged her by her wrists to the upstairs bathroom and started choking her, according to court records. Reports show He said, I need to wash your feet.

After the woman defended herself, the woman told authorities he left the room and came back with a lit blunt that he forced into her mouth.

Doctors reported she had a burn in the back of her throat. The baby was unharmed during the incident.

The suspect was later found in Wisconsin and taken into custody.

Schroeder is charged with two counts of aggravated battery of a pregnant woman, domestic battery causing bodily harm and aggravated battery causing strangulation.

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He was granted pretrial release on March 25th.

If you are a survivor of domestic or sexual violence, visit our Stateline Strong page for resources.

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Researchers have found yet another potential contributor to the increasing amount of microplastics found in our bodies: gum. According to a pilot study presented during the American Chemical Societys spring meeting, a single piece of chewing gum is liable to release hundreds of polymer particles into our mouths. And while a portion of them are likely ingested by the chewer, improperly tossing your gum can also add to the environments microplastic problem.

Experts previously estimated humans eat tens of thousands of microplastic particles ranging between 1 micrometer- and 5 millimeters-wide each year. Much of that comes from plastic packaging and coatings, as well as miniscule polymers that rub off onto food and into drinks. But while a single stick of gum may be small, the average gum consumer chews 160180 sticks per year. Recently, a team led by at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) engineering professor Sanjay Mohanty wondered how much microplastic might come from the habit.

To gain an initial understanding of the situation, they asked a single volunteer to test 10 brands of commercially available gumfive with synthetic additives and five with only natural ingredients. While future studies may employ many more participants, the researchers focused on a single person to limit the variations on chewing patterns and saliva.

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The volunteer then proceeded to chew. A lot.

Seven pieces of each gum brand were chomped in succession by the participant for four minutes at time. Researchers then collected saliva samples every 30 seconds, along with a sample taken after rinsing their mouth with clean water. These were then all combined into a single, larger sample. In a second round, the person produced saliva samples at various intervals over 20 minutes to see how much microplastic was contained in a single stick of each gum. From there, the microplastics were counted after staining them red, as well analyzed for composition using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.

Our initial hypothesis was that the synthetic gums would have a lot more microplastics because the base is a type of plastic, Lisa Lowe, the studys co-collaborator and a graduate student in Mohantys lab, explained in a statement. (Yes, certain types of synthetic gum contain petroleum-based polymers.)

But if you think switching to an all-natural brand is better for you, think again.

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Surprisingly, both synthetic and natural gums had similar amounts of microplastics released when we chewed them, Lowe added.

Most of the studys gum shed the majority of its microplastics during the first couple minutes of chewing. But while saliva collects a lot of that, the team discovered its actually your teeth that are mostly responsible for dislodging the particles. About 94 percent of the plastic counted was shed by the eighth minute. Knowing this, Lowe recommends chewing one piece of gum as long as possible before moving on to the next stick.

The final tallies indicate chewers can expect an average of at least 100 microplastics per gram of gum, although that number can increase up to 600 particles per gram. Extrapolating this further, a 26 gram piece of gum may release as many as 3,000 microplastics. Multiply that by the average amount of gum chewed annually, that you could be looking at around 30,000 microplastics ingested each year. And given that experts believe people already annually eat tens of thousands of particles, this means regular gum chewers could be receiving a large influx of unwanted polymers thanks to their favorite brands.

Unfortunately, the total amount of microplastics from gum is likely much larger. Given the teams available equipment, counting was limited to particles measuring at least 20-micrometers-wideand many microplastics are much smaller than that.

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Our goal is not to alarm anybody, said Mohanty. But we know we are exposed to plastics in everyday life, and thats what we wanted to examine here.

But if you are going to continue chewing, the researchers also took the time to remind everyone to properly dispose of their well-masticated gum.

The plastic released into saliva is a small fraction of the plastic thats in the gum, warned Mohanty. So, be mindful about the environment and dont just throw it outside or stick it to a gum wall.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A child is recovering after a shooting in North Memphis on Monday afternoon, Memphis Police confirm.

At 3:48 p.m., officers responded to a shooting victim in the 2100 block of Brown Ave.

Officers located a female juvenile who was taken to Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital in non-critical condition.

Police say at this time, no one is detained. This is an ongoing investigation.

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Anaclaudia Rossbach (L), executive director of UN-Habitat, shakes hands with Zheng Qinghua, president of China's Tongji University, at the signing ceremony of a letter of intent in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 24, 2025. The United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) and China's Tongji University signed a letter of intent on Monday in Nairobi to strengthen cooperation in sustainable urban development. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

NAIROBI, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) and China's Tongji University signed a letter of intent on Monday in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, to strengthen cooperation in sustainable urban development.

Anaclaudia Rossbach, executive director of UN-Habitat, and Zheng Qinghua, president of Tongji University, attended the signing ceremony, pledging to enhance the exchange of practices to accelerate urban renewal globally.

Highlighting more than two decades of partnership between the institutions, Rossbach said the cooperation has promoted evidence-based solutions to urbanization challenges such as pollution and inadequate housing.

"Our collaboration is aligned with the purpose of our new strategic plan and direction, connecting research to practice. Our joint efforts focus on data, urban basic services, waste management and water supply," Rossbach said.

UN-Habitat, along with member states, is finalizing proposals for submission at the UN-Habitat Assembly scheduled for May, she said. These proposals, spanning 2026 to 2029, focus on improving access to decent housing, land and essential urban services.

She said that the collaboration with Tongji University will strengthen UN-Habitat's capacity to address pressing global challenges, including climate change, poverty, conflicts and natural disasters.

Rossbach also noted that her recent visit to China deepened her insights into sustainable urban planning, underscoring the necessity of replicating successful Chinese urban regeneration practices in the Global South.

Oumar Sylla, regional representative of UN-Habitat Regional Office for Africa, said that the newly signed letter of intent outlines collaborative efforts in waste management, urban planning, artificial intelligence and capacity building.

Zheng reaffirmed Tongji University's commitment to cooperation with UN-Habitat, emphasizing the readiness to support projects that transform urban settlements and enhance residents' quality of life.

"We will have more opportunities to engage in personnel training, as well as scientific and technological innovation," Zheng said, adding that the university aims to contribute expertise through strengthened international cooperation toward sustainable global development.

Meanwhile, UN-Habitat and Tongji University agreed to establish the Africa Climate and Environment Research Institute, focusing on cooperation in water resources management and solid waste treatment in Africa. 

Anaclaudia Rossbach (L), executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat), and Zheng Qinghua, president of China's Tongji University, attend the signing ceremony of a letter of intent in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Han Xu)
March 25 (UPI) -- Chinese authorities released five local employees of U.S. consulting firm Mintz Group, two years after they were arrested in a raid on its Beijing offices in March 2023 that saw the firm pull out of China, shuttering its operations both in the capital and Hong Kong.

"We understand that the Mintz Group Beijing employees who were detained, all Chinese nationals, have now all been released. We are grateful to the Chinese authorities that our former colleagues can now be home with their families," the company which specializes in due diligence, including background checks, told the Financial Times.

The unnamed staff were charged with performing work that was not consistent with the firm's license to do business in China, but it was unclear if all matters related to the legal case have been concluded.

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Mintz said at the time it had received no legal notification or explanation regarding the raid; however, the FT said it had previously reported Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics claims that the firm had conducted 37 "foreign-related statistics" investigations between 2019 and 2022 without obtaining permission, as required by law.

In 2023, the firm paid a fine of approximately $1.5 million imposed by the bureau for engaging in "unapproved statistical work."

The arrests marked the first of a series of official probes of other U.S. companies that provide consulting and due diligence services to foreign firms doing business in China, including Bain & Co., and Capivision Partners, that has had a chilling impact on the expatriate business community over fears they could be personally targeted.

Bain continues to operate offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, but provides traditional management consulting to very big companies, advising CEOs on how they can boost performance.

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Due diligence review-type work, by contrast, involves digging around to help prospective investors uncover potential red flags with a company they plan to go into business with, as well as getting the measure of the competition.

The freeing of the Mintz workers comes amid a drive by China to attract more foreign investment into the country after a massive drop-off of almost 40% in Foreign Direct Investment since 2022, a slowdown of its economy from the double-digit GDP growth seen in the first decade of the century and a looming threat from rising global trade tensions.

Beijing rolled out the red carpet earlier this week for dozens of multinationals at its annual China Development Forum, including Apple, Boeing, Pfizer and at least five other of the United States' largest companies, as well as European giants such as AstraZeneca.

Hosted by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Vice Premier He Lifeng, the government used the event to tout for more investment from overseas firms as it continues to open up its market and make the case against what it sees as the protectionist policies of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has doubled tariffs on Chinese goods to at least 20%, imposed 15% tariffs on Mexico and Canada and minimum 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports.

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Chinese exports of steel and steel products to the United States hit 54,857 tons in January alone, an almost 95% jump from the same period last year, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures, despite already crippling tariffs of 50%.

FDI is where a foreign investor, company, or government acquires or takes an active stake in, a domestic company or venture in a long-term commitment. The relationship is not generally a purely financial investment, as in a stock investment, and the target could be private or public.
(Bloomberg) -- China has freed five Mintz Group employees who were detained in 2023  an apparent effort to win over foreign firms as investment from overseas tumbles.

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We understand that the Mintz Group Beijing employees who were detained, all Chinese nationals, have now all been released, a spokesperson for the due-diligence company said Tuesday. We are grateful to the Chinese authorities that our former colleagues can now be home with their families.

The spokesperson didnt say when the five were freed. The Financial Times first reported the story.

The move comes as China steps up efforts to lure globals firms after inbound investment tumbled last year to its lowest in over three decades. On Sunday in Beijing, Premier Li Qiang addressed a gathering of top executives from FedEx Corp., Boeing Co., Pfizer Inc., Qualcomm Inc. and others, saying countries should open up markets in the face of growing economic fragmentation.

Li also met Republican Senator Steve Daines at the start of the China Development Forum. Daines, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, spoke earlier with Vice Premier He Lifeng  a rare public exchange between US and Chinese officials since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.

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Apple Inc.s Tim Cook, Qualcomms Cristiano Amon, Albert Bourla of Pfizer and Saudi Aramcos Amin Nasser were also visiting for the forum, a platform dating back to 2000 that facilitates high-level dialog between China and the world. Plans were being made for corporate heavyweights to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday, Bloomberg News reported earlier, citing people familiar with the matter.

Beijing has rattled foreign firms in recent years by stepping up its scrutiny of Western businesses as tensions with the US mounted. In March 2023, authorities raided New York-based Mintzs office in Beijing and detained the five employees.

US consultancy Bain & Company and Capvision Pro Corp., a global expert network, were also targeted. China provided few details on its moves but state media said the raid of Capvisions offices was part of an anti-espionage crackdown on consulting firms.

Xi has put a priority on protecting national security even as China tries to encourage foreign investment to help revive the economy. Beijing has taken steps to tighten control over sensitive data, especially in the wake of US sanctions targeting important industries such as chipmaking.

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(Updates with statement from Mintz Group.)

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By Michael Martina, Patricia Zengerle and Erin Banco

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -China remains the top military and cyber threat to the U.S., according to a report by U.S. intelligence agencies published on Tuesday that said Beijing was making "steady but uneven" progress on capabilities it could use to capture Taiwan.

China has the ability to hit the United States with conventional weapons; compromise U.S. infrastructure through cyber attacks; and target its assets in space, the Annual Threat Assessment by the intelligence community said, adding that Beijing also seeks to displace the United States as the top AI power by 2030.

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Russia, along with Iran, North Korea and China, seeks to challenge the U.S. through deliberate campaigns to gain an advantage, with Moscow's war in Ukraine affording a "wealth of lessons regarding combat against Western weapons and intelligence in a large-scale war," the report said.

Released ahead of testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee by President Donald Trump's intelligence chiefs, the report said China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) most likely planned to use large language models to create fake news, imitate personas, and enable attack networks.

"China's military is fielding advanced capabilities, including hypersonic weapons, stealth aircraft, advanced submarines, stronger space and cyber warfare assets and a larger arsenal of nuclear weapons," Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told the committee. She labeled Beijing as Washington's "most capable strategic competitor."

"China almost certainly has a multifaceted, national-level strategy designed to displace the United States as the world's most influential AI power by 2030," the report said.

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CIA Director John Ratcliffe told the committee that China had made only "intermittent" efforts to curtail the flow of precursor chemicals fueling the U.S. fentanyl crisis because it was reluctant to crack down on lucrative Chinese businesses.

Trump has increased tariffs on all Chinese imports by 20% to punish Beijing for what Trump called its failure to halt shipments of fentanyl chemicals. China has denied playing a role in the crisis, the leading cause of U.S. drug overdose deaths. The issue has become a major point of friction between the Trump administration and Chinese officials.

"There is nothing to prevent China ... from cracking down on fentanyl precursors," Ratcliffe said.

The Chinese foreign ministry said it "advised the U.S. not to use its own hegemonic logic to mirror China, and not to use outdated Cold War thinking to view China-U.S. relations," when asked about the report on Wednesday.

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The ministry urged Washington to stop "condoning and supporting Taiwan independence separatist activities," ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.

The spokesperson for China's embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, said the United States has long "hyped up" the China threat as an excuse to maintain U.S. military hegemony.

"China is determined to be a force for peace, stability and progress in the world, and also determined to defend our national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity," Liu said, adding that "fentanyl abuse is a problem that the United States itself must confront and resolve."

INTELLIGENCE LEAK FUROR OVERSHADOWS HEARING

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The committee hearing was overshadowed by Democratic senators grilling Ratcliffe and Gabbard over revelations that they and other top Trump officials discussed highly sensitive military plans in a Signal messaging app group that accidentally included a U.S. journalist.

Numerous Republican senators focused their questioning on undocumented immigrants in the U.S.

The intelligence report said large-scale illegal immigration had strained U.S. infrastructure and "enabled known or suspected terrorists to cross into the United States."

The intelligence agencies said Iran was committed to developing surrogate networks inside the U.S. and to targeting former and current U.S. officials.

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While Iran continued to improve its domestically produced missile and UAV systems and arm a consortium of "like-minded terrorist and militant actors", they said, the U.S. continues to assess that Tehran "is not building a nuclear weapon."

U.S. concerns about China dominated about a third of the 33-page report, which said Beijing was set to increase military and economic coercion toward Taiwan, the democratically governed island China claims as its territory.

"The PLA probably is making steady but uneven progress on capabilities it would use in an attempt to seize Taiwan and deter - and if necessary, defeat - U.S. military intervention," it said.

The intelligence agencies said another one of China's long-term goals was to expand access to Greenland's natural resources and use it as a "key strategic foothold" in the Arctic.

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U.S. Vice President JD Vance said he would visit Greenland this week with a high-profile U.S. delegation. Trump has angered NATO ally Denmark and Greenland with renewed calls for the U.S. to take over the semi-autonomous Danish territory, calling the proposal a U.S. national security imperative.

Still, the report said, China faces "daunting" domestic challenges, including corruption, demographic imbalances, and fiscal and economic headwinds that could impair the ruling Communist Party's legitimacy at home.

China's economic growth probably will continue to slow because of low consumer and investor confidence, and Chinese officials appear to be bracing for more economic friction with the U.S., the report said.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle, Michael Martina and Erin Banco; additional reporting by Liz Lee in Beijing; editing by Mark Heinrich and David Gregorio)
US consumer safety watchdogs are issuing a rapidly growing number of product warnings.

Warnings are issued when companies don't voluntarily comply with recalls for products deemed hazardous.

A US official told the Public Interest Research Group the surge boils down to one word: China.

The explosion of international e-commerce brands is leading to a sharp rise in product safety warnings.

Warnings issued by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission reached a record high of 63 last year, according to a new analysis from the Public Interest Research Group Education Fund.

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The US Consumer Product Safety Commission issues warnings when companies don't voluntarily comply with recalls for hazardous it deems hazardous.

Last year's figure is up dramatically from 38 in 2023 and 12 in 2022, according to the PIRG analysis. There were fewer than 10 warnings combined from 2015 to 2021, it added.

So, what's contributing to the rise?

"In a word, China," acting CPSC's chairman, Peter Feldman, told PIRG.

Two-thirds of the products that received warnings in 2024 came to the US from Chinese companies, the PIRG report found.

"The United States is facing a flood of Chinese consumer products that violate US safety laws," Feldman said. "When CPSC identifies illegal Chinese goods, the manufacturer is, more often than not, unreachable, unfindable, or uncooperative."

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In other words, a warning is an indication that safety officials are not able to make progress with a company concerning a recall.

Some of the hazardous products included a foldable step stool that could collapse or tip over, a line of e-bike batteries prone to overheating or catching fire, infant loungers that posed a risk of suffocation or entrapment, and bike helmets that didn't meet US safety standards.

Many of the products that received warnings were sold by third parties on Amazon's and Walmart's marketplaces. In at least one instance each, both retailers agreed to contact customers about affected products.

An Amazon spokesperson told BI that all products offered on its site are required to comply with applicable laws and regulations. The company also notifies customers of product updates through a dedicated page in page in their Amazon accounts called "Your Recalls and Product Safety Alerts."

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The PIRG analysis also found two items with warnings that were sold on Shein's website.

Among the recalled products, the report found that those sold exclusively online were twice as likely to violate a US safety standard than those sold in physical stores.

Interestingly, while eight products were recalled that were exclusively sold on Temu, the PIRG report also noted that no Temu items received warnings last year because all companies involved cooperated with the recall procedure.

A spokesperson for Shein said that all suppliers are required to follow company standards that it based on international regulations.

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A spokesperson for Temu said the company partners with global testing and certification firms to evaluate all products on its platform.

"The safety and welfare of our customers are of paramount importance to us," Temu's spokesperson said. "Customers can rest assured that we are fully committed to their safety and security."

Read the original article on Business Insider
WASHINGTON  Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumers decision not to block a Republican spending bill earlier this month unleashed a tidal wave of anger within the Democratic Party, prompting calls for him to step aside and shaking his hold on his caucus like never before.

But the New York senator is not out of the woods just yet. Under-fire congressional leaders historically struggle to shake off intra-party criticisms, and how he handles a battle against a massive GOP plan to extend tax cuts for the wealthy and the need to recruit candidates for the 2026 midterms will be closely watched, especially by angry constituents who feel Democrats arent taking the moment seriously.

I think this has been a wake-up call for all of us, Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said Tuesday. The base is rightly terrified about the lawlessness of the Trump administration, and Im seeing the caucus is really internalizing that.

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We are united in understanding where we need to go. Were still talking about some differences about how we get there, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) added.

Only a few Senate Democrats have been willing to publicly criticize Schumers handling of the GOP funding bill, which averted a government shutdown but did nothing to stop Trump and Musk from gutting federal agencies. (Schumer, for his part, has argued that a shutdown would have allowed Trump to close federal agencies more quickly, and for a longer period of time.)

Warren, a member of Schumers leadership team, bluntly told constituents at a town hall last week that Schumers approach was wrong, while Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) dodged a question at another town hall about whether the New York senator should step aside, saying only that its important for people to know when its time to go.

No member of the Senate Democratic caucus has directly called on Schumer to step aside, as progressive groups and even a few Democratic House members suggested.

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No one is really wanting to go there yet, but I think it has done real damage to him which will linger, a Senate Democratic aide who requested anonymity to speak freely told HuffPost.

Democrats are instead turning their attention to a $4 trillion tax cut package Republicans are planning to move in the coming weeks that would also cut at least $1.5 trillion in spending, including to government programs like Medicaid. The party has been far more united on issues like protecting health care coverage, organizing town halls all over the country to rally opposition and pressure Republican lawmakers to reverse course.

Schumer and his caucus ultimately cant stop the bill from passing if Republicans muster a simple majority of votes in the Senate to pass it under the so-called budget reconciliation process, which allows the majority to avoid a filibuster. They can exploit GOP divisions on the bill and make life harder for them, however, by drawing attention to the plan and making it politically painful.

We should not make anything easy, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) told HuffPost, calling the Democrats position popular and righteous.

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Democrats strategy will depend on what Republicans ultimately decide to include in the bill. There are a number of GOP senators who have concerns about drastically cutting Medicaid, which over 70 million Americans rely on. Other Republicans, meanwhile, want to see larger spending cuts to reduce the deficit, particularly if the bill hikes the debt limit.

The next big thing will be the debt ceiling, and youre going to have to not only have a plan, but start to socialize it sooner rather than later, Welch said.

The beginnings of Schumers strategy could be seen in an ad released last week by Majority Forward, a political nonprofit controlled by his allies, targeting Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Joni Ernst of Iowa and Dan Sullivan of Alaska. All four are up for reelection in 2026.

The ad slams the senators for being under the thumb of Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. If youre terrified of these guys, you cant do whats right for Maine, a female narrator says in the 30-second ad. Tell Susan Collins to stop selling out our health care. Maines senator should have a spine.

Schumer, of course, will also be under pressure to pick winning candidates against those senators in next years midterm elections, which would provide Democrats real power to block Trumps policies.

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In defending his skills as Democratic leader last week, Schumer said he is the best person for the job because of his ability to recruit candidates to run for Senate and to win elections. He pointed to the surprise 2020 Democratic takeover of the Senate, including two huge runoff wins in Georgia, what was until then a Republican stronghold. But Schumer had some misses that year as well, such as failing to oust Collins and recruiting what ended up being a flawed candidate in North Carolina.

Democrats dont have many Senate pickup opportunities in 2026. Two of the biggest ones include again challenging Collins in Maine and Tillis in North Carolina. With Republicans currently controlling 53 seats, Democrats will need to expand the map to win back their majority.

The good news for the party is theyre likely to face a better political environment next year. Already, Trumps handling of the economy has shaken voter perceptions of his administration, with his approval numbers dipping, particularly with independent voters. The turbulent stock market, uncertainty caused by Trumps tariffs, and his administrations halting of popular government services could only add to the presidents worsening public approval rating.

If we keep at it every day, relentless, fighting, and showing how theyre hurting people so badly, Trumps numbers will get much lower, and his popularity and effectiveness will decline, Schumer argued during an interview on CBS Mornings last week.

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But some of those candidates may not be enthusiastic about Schumer. Mallory McMorrow, a state senator who is likely to be among the Democratic front-runners for Michigans Senate seat, told Politico she would not support Schumer for leader if she wins. Democratic campaign aides, speaking on condition of anonymity, said any Democrat running for Senate is preparing for a question about their Schumer support.

Schumers approval numbers took a dip following his decision to surrender on the GOP spending bill. According to an Economist/YouGov poll, favorable views of Schumer among Democrats have fallen from 57% last month to 39%, while unfavorable views of Schumer have risen from 18% to 41%.

Thats likely not enough of a hit to seriously threaten Schumers job, despite the talk from someof him potentially facing a primary against progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-N.Y.). Schumer has made clear hes not going anywhere, and, at least for the moment, Democrats are more interested in keeping the fire on Trump and other Republicans over their plans to cut government services.

I think that Chuck understands how angry people are, Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.). I think the question that we all need to be focused on is, OK, where do we go from here? How do we take it to the people that are actually trying to shut down the government, trying to take away your health care to pay for their tax cuts?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released details Tuesday about how it spent a significant part of the tithing, fast offerings and other donations it received in 2024.

The church spent $1.45 billion in humanitarian aid, welfare and other relief in 2024, according to a new report, Caring For Those in Need: 2024 Summary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The churchs humanitarian aid expenditures have risen sharply in recent years, up from $906 million in 2021. Thats an increase of more than half a billion dollars  or 60%.

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We are deeply grateful for your generous donations of time and resources in 2024. Last year, members and friends of the church were invited to seek and reach out to the one, as Jesus Christ taught in his parables and demonstrated through his mortal ministry, the First Presidency said in a statement included in Tuesdays report.

Church leaders credited all donors but made specific mention of the efforts of teenagers and young adults. The report highlighted a major expansion of the faiths global initiative for mothers and infants.

That expansion included a donation of $55.8 million, announced in June, for maternal and child health improvements in 12 countries in Africa and Asia.

Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson greets women in Chimaltenango, Guatemala, on May 31, 2024. President Johnson visited Guatemala to observe some of the work initiated by the Church of Jesus Christ in 2023 to help women and children. | Christina Smith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The church has been vigilant in looking for opportunities to bless women and children, said President Camille N. Johnson, who leads the general presidency of the Relief Society, the churchs womens organization that had 8,097,952 members in 2024, according to the report.

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Presiding Bishop Gerald Causse said that Latter-day Saints and others who provide donations through tithing, fast offerings and other contributions made it possible for the church to help people in 192 countries last year.

The welfare system of the church is not really the facilities. Its not the bishops storehouse. It is found in every ward, every ward council, every Relief Society, in ministering brothers and sisters and bishops and in people fasting every month, he said Tuesday.

President Johnson serves with Bishop Causse on the international Welfare and Self-Reliance Executive Committee. She has traveled around the world to review how the churchs charitable spending reaches those in the most need. She said leaders work diligently to reduce duplication and inefficiency in providing aid and told the Deseret News that faithful donors can be proud of what their contributions provide.

I hope that people feel like theyre part of a grand cause, part of a global effort to lift and love and care for those in need, she said.

The women and children initiative focuses on child nutrition, maternal and newborn care, immunizations and education.

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Global progress starts with nourishing children and strengthening women. When you bless a woman, you bless a family, a community, a nation. When you bless a child, you invest in the future, President Johnson said in the report.

The report reflected the local aid efforts that occur in each of the 31,490 Latter-day Saint congregations around the world as well as the large global initiatives the church undertakes with major national and international charities as partners.

The report also captures some of the efforts church members engaged in to give one-to-one aid and support to those in need. The churchs president, Russell M. Nelson, encouraged such heart-to-heart efforts as part of the celebration of his 100th birthday in September.

Your heartfelt responses are truly humbling, President Nelson and his counselors in the First Presidency said in their statement in Tuesdays report. Throughout the world, you have acted on this invitation to reach out to the one and to love your neighbor. We are thankful for your contributions and are pleased to share this years report of our collective efforts.

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The church increased its charitable efforts by about $90 million in 2024, up from $1.36 billion in 2023. The churchs giving in this category reached a landmark $1.02 billion in 2022.

The church has not released figures for its overall humanitarian welfare spending prior to 2021, but Bishop Causse told the Deseret News that the church has expanded its total humanitarian welfare expenditures every year from at least 2015 to the present.

During the pandemic, we had a huge surge of needs all around the world, he said. After the pandemic, we continued the great collaborations we have built in many countries with governments, local organizations and members of the church, so its continue to increase every year.

The annual report does not capture all of the churchs relief work, because so much is done person to person. Many members also give to other charities each year.

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The spending detailed in the report also does not include some other initiatives. For example, the church makes more than $1 billion in annual charitable contributions to its global educational system.

The summary showed the church continuing to respond to emergencies and feed the hungry around the world.

Theres an unprecedented need for global aid, said Elder Blaine R. Maxfield, an Area Seventy and managing director of the churchs Welfare and Self-Reliance Services. People know all over the world that in times of disaster, the Latter-day Saints will show up with friends to help.

In addition to emergency relief and providing food, the church also provides job training, self-reliance services, educational opportunities, mental and emotional health services and addiction recovery programs.

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Bishop Causse and Elder Maxfield each mentioned that many Latter-day Saint youth have launched JustServe clubs at their high schools in North America.

The young generation of the church is really hungry for opportunities to serve, Bishop Causse said. They just love it and love the spirit of it more than maybe any other generation. They like to come together as groups and as quorums in classes and do those kind of activities.

He said the church has included service and aid activities now in Young Single Adult conferences and For the Strength of Youth conferences for teenagers.

Theres a lot of excitement among the rising generation about helping others, Bishop Causse said.

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Its something that is natural to them, and they really need it in their own personal lives as part of their identity. When you can have opportunities to help your brothers and sisters, its also a good way to know yourself better and to appreciate more about who you are and how much you can accomplish, he added.

By the numbers

The report said the church provided engaged in 3,836 humanitarian aid projects in 2024.

The projects ranged from health care (732 projects) to emergency relief (710), food security (591) and clean water, hygiene and sanitation (267).

The church was involved in:

4,119 humanitarian projects in 191 countries in 2023.

3,692 projects in 190 countries in 2022.

3,909 projects in 188 countries in 2021.

3,600 projects in 160 countries in 2020.

3,221 projects in 142 countries in 2019.

2,885 projects in 141 countries in 2018.

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Church members provided more than 6.6 million volunteer hours in 2024, according to the report.

In addition to giving, the church operates global programs to help people build self-reliance. In 2024, the church operated 579 self-reliance education projects with 128,028 participants.

The church also supported 2,503 addiction recovery meetings per week.

The JustServe community service platform supported the creation of an additional 30,246 service projects in 2024.

As we continue to care for Gods children, we can help them feel his divine love, The First Presidency said. Heavenly Father loves each of His children and recognizes the good work they do. We invite you to continue serving and loving those around you. May God bless you in your inspiring efforts.
Donald Trump has said his national security adviser does not need to apologise after inadvertently including a journalist in a cabinet group chat for top-secret war plans.

Mike Waltz faced calls to resign from both Republicans and Democrats after he erroneously added Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, to a Signal group chat for security chiefs to discuss an imminent strike on Houthi targets in Yemen.

Speaking from the White House yesterday alongside Mr Waltz, the president insisted there was no classified information shared in the group, and agreed Europe had been free-loading off America, echoing some of the messages.

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He also said Mr Waltz was a good guy and did not need to apologise. I dont think he should apologise. I think hes doing his best. Its equipment and technology thats not perfect, and probably he wont be using it again, he said.

Asked if he would ban Signal, the president said he did not know. Mr Trump also insisted it was an app that a lot of people in government use, a lot of people in the media use.

Mr Trump also told NBC: Michael Waltz has learnt a lesson, and hes a good man, dismissing the incident as the only glitch in two months and not serious. It was a staffer of Mr Waltzs who had erroneously added Jeffrey Goldberg, Mr Trump said.

It comes after Politico reported several officials within the administration believe that Mr Waltz should be dismissed for his recklessness. One person close to the White House said: Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f---ing idiot.

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On Monday, the Trump administration sought to contain the fallout as intelligence chiefs were questioned over the leak at a tense senate hearing.

Mark Warner, a Democrat senator, told members of the presidents top team it was mind boggling none of the defence officials had realised the journalist had been added into the group.

Tulsi Gabbard, the national intelligence director, John Ratcliffe, the head of the CIA, and Kash Patel, the leader of the FBI, appeared before the Senate intelligence committee for a pre-planned hearing. Ms Gabbard and Mr Ratcliffe both repeatedly testified that no classified information was shared in the Signal chat.

However, Democratic senators noted that Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, had laid out operational details of the pending strike, including information about targets, weapons the US would be deploying and attack sequencing, according to The Atlantic.

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Mr Goldberg also later told MSNBC members of Mr Trumps cabinet had also disclosed a list of specific targets, including human targets two hours before the strikes took place. Its hard for me to believe that targets and timing and weapons would not have been classified, Senator Angus King said.

Ms Gabbard repeatedly refused to confirm whether she was a member of the group chat, and later dodged a question about whether she had used her personal phone to access the messaging app. I wont speak to this because its under review by the national security council, she said.

The hearing grew heated at times, with Senator Jon Ossoff voicing frustration with Mr Ratcliffe after he answered I dont recall to a series of questions about the content of the Signal chat. These included whether he knew the journalist had been added or if he was aware that Steve Witkoff, Mr Trumps special envoy, had allegedly accessed the app from Moscow, where he met with Vladimir Putin.

The National Security Agency had reportedly warned employees about vulnerabilities in the Signal app a month before Mr Goldberg was mistakenly added to the group chat.

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A vulnerability has been identified in the Signal messenger application, reads an internal memo circulated by the NSA in February, according to CBS News.

The use of Signal by common targets of surveillance and espionage activity has made the application a high-value target to intercept sensitive information.

Coverage of the leak has prompted a backlash from Trump supporters and Right-wing media outlets, who have sought to minimise the significance of the security breach and accused The Atlantic of spreading misinformation.

The Defence secretary yesterday accused Mr Goldberg of peddling garbage and denied sharing war plans, shortly after the White House itself admitted the leak had taken place.

Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, accused The Atlantic of trying to weaponise innocuous actions and turn them into faux outrage. Dont let enemies of America get away with these lies, he wrote on X.

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In response to criticism from Trump supporters, Mr Goldberg said he was considering releasing further information from the messaging app conversation.

Maybe in the coming days Ill be able to let you know that I have a plan to have this material vetted publicly but Im not going to say that now, he told The Bulwark podcast.

A Trump adviser was quoted as saying: We dont care what the media says. We can easily handle what would kill any other administration. This will blow over.

A senior White House official said: Trump certainly wasnt pleased with this. But all this talk you see about Waltz not lasting is just way premature.

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The official added: Theres a Washington feeding frenzy. And we all know that you dont give the mob what it wants.

Several officials told Politico that Mr Trumps reaction was hard to predict; the presidents anger could turn against JD Vance, who disagreed with the strike, or against Mr Hegseth, who shared the most classified parts of the operation.

The information, had it leaked more broadly, could have been used to harm US military personnel, Mr Goldberg and former state department officials said.

Yesterday, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, insisted that no war plans were discussed and no classified material was sent to the thread.

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She added: The White House counsels office has provided guidance on a number of different platforms for president Trumps top officials to communicate as safely and efficiently as possible.

08:39 PM GMT

Thats all for now

Thanks for following our coverage. This live blog is now closed.

08:10 PM GMT

The worst possible journalist to invite into a secret Trump group chat

Top US officials could not have picked a worse journalist to accidentally disclose secret military war plans to.

Jeffrey Goldberg, the highly-respected  and at times controversial  editor of the The Atlantic magazine has always been a staunch critic of Donald Trump, his foreign policy and his Maga acolytes.

How the 59-year-old was added to a top-secret unsecured group chat plotting US air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen is still unclear.

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He is certainly no friend of the White House.

Read the full story from Iona Cleave here.

07:31 PM GMT

Trump: Waltz shouldnt apologise

I dont think he should apologise, Donald Trump says, again sticking up for Mike Waltz.

I think hes doing his best. Its the equipment and technology thats not perfect, and probably he wont be using it again, at least not in the future.

07:22 PM GMT

Leak something you should look into, Trump tells Waltz

I think its something you should look into, Donald Trump tells Mike Waltz, referring to the security leak.

Mr Waltz answers: We have our technical experts looking at it, we have our legal teams looking at it. Were going to keep everything as secure as possible.

He launches another attack on the media for not covering the Trump administrations successes.

07:20 PM GMT

Mike Waltz breaks silence

Mike Waltz, sitting at the cabinet table surrounded by US ambassadors, hits out at a lot of journalists in this city who have made names for themselves making up lies about this president.

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The world owes president Trump a favour, Mr Waltz continues, looking towards the US president, who has come under pressure to sack his national security adviser.

Under Biden global shipping was shut down president Trump took decisive action with his national security team, he continues, referring to US strikes on the Houthis.

Ive never met, dont know, never communicated with Jeffrey Goldberg, the journalist to whom the war plans were leaked, he continued. We are looking into and reviewing how the heck he got into this [chatroom].

Mike Waltz speaks at the meeting - MANDEL NGAN

07:15 PM GMT

Trump: There was no classified information

Donald Trump has finally called on Kaitlin Collins who asks him if his national security team will change their practices after leaking top-secret war plans.

We have an amazing group our nationals security now its stronger than its ever been, he says, adding: There was no classified information as I understand it.

Mr Trump adds that Signal, the app through which the plans were leaked, is used by a lot of people... a lot of people in government.

Donald Trump meets with US Ambassadors in the Cabinet Room - MANDEL NGAN

07:06 PM GMT

Trump shuts down question about Waltz

Donald Trump has cut off CNNs Kaitlin Collins after she attempted to ask him about Mike Waltz, the beleaguered national security adviser.

You said that your national security adviser learnt a lesson - she began, before the president interrupted.

Excuse me, I didnt pick you, he said, moving on to another journalist during the question and answer session.

06:56 PM GMT

Waltz attends White House meeting

Mike Waltz, the National Security adviser, is currently at a meeting that is taking place between Donald Trump and US ambassadors in the White House.

It appears to be a statement of support for Mr Waltz by the US President, who has been under pressure to sack him after he accidentally leaked top-secret war plans to a journalist.

Mr Waltz introduced himself at the meeting but otherwise has not spoken.

Mike Waltz attended the meeting at the White House - MANDEL NGAN

05:13 PM GMT

Pictured: FBI chief fields questions over Signal leak

FBI director Kash Patel faced questions alongside colleagues about a top secret group chat being leaked to reporters - Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg

04:34 PM GMT

Signal app gold standard in privacy, says tech boss

The president of Signal defended the messaging apps security after top Trump officials mistakenly added a journalist to a group chat they used to discuss US strikes on Yemen.

Signals Meredith Whittaker did not directly address the blunder, which Democratic lawmakers have said was a breach of US national security.

But she described the app as the gold standard in private comms in a post on X, which outlined Signals security advantages.

Were open source, nonprofit, and we develop and apply (end-to-end encryption) and privacy-preserving tech across our system to protect metadata and message contents, she said.

04:22 PM GMT

Atlantic reporter may release war planning text from leaked group chat

The editor of The Atlantic is considering release texts about war planning from a group chat of Trump officials to which he was mistakenly added.

In a major security breach, Jeff Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic, was mistakenly invited to a forum on the encrypted messaging app Signal in which members of Donald Trumps cabinet discussed military strikes on Yemen.

Following the release of Mr Goldbergs story, which revealed he was given pre-warning of the bombing raid, members of Mr Trumps cabinet have panned the journalist, with defence secretary Pete Hegseth accusing him of peddling garbage.

Mr Goldberg has now said he is weighing publishing further information from the messaging app conversation to back up his reporting.

Maybe in the coming days Ill be able to let you know that, I have a plan to have this material vetted publicly but Im not going to say that now, he told The Bulwark podcast.

04:08 PM GMT

I dont recall, says Ratcliffe over whether journalist was added to group chat

John Ratcliffe, the CIA director, has repeatedly claimed he does not recall details of conversation on a group chat of top Trump officials that were released to a journalist.

Asked if he knew an Atlantic reporter was added to the Signal group or about JD Vances comments on the forum, Mr Ratcliffe repeatedly said I dont recall.

Senator Jon Ossoff of Atlanta responded: Surely you prepared for this hearing today.

04:04 PM GMT

Gabbard ducks question on whether she used personal phone in group chat leak

Tulsi Gabbard, the national intelligence director, has refused to answer whether she used her personal phone to access a group chat of Trump cabinet officials discussing plans to bomb Yemen.

Asked if she used a work or personal phone to access the group chat during a meeting of the senate intelligence select committee, Ms Gabbard said: I wont speak to this because its under review by the national security council.

Both Ms Gabbard and John Ratcliffe ducked questions on whether the information was classified, deferring to the judgement of the defence secretary Pete Hegseth.

Any information that was related from my perspective or that I observed from the intelligence perspective was not classified information. Mr Ratcliffe said, adding that the secretary of defence is the authority for determining whether or not information about strike patterns or targeting information it is classified.

03:52 PM GMT

Trump officials released general military targets in top secret group chat

Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, has admitted that general military targets were discussed in a group chat of Trump officials to which a journalist was mistakenly added.

I believe there was discussion around targets in general, Ms Gabbard said, before adding that I dont recall specific names of systems or weapons being used.

During a senate intelligence select committee hearing, Ms Gabbard and John Ratcliffe, the CIA director, were grilled on whether classified information was inadvertently leaked to a journalist - a suggestion both of them vehemently denied.

Pressed on whether military strike information should be classified, Mr Ratcliffe said: Pre decisional strike deliberation should be conducted through classified channels.

03:44 PM GMT

CIA director unaware Trump envoy accessed leaked group chat from Moscow

Donald Trumps Middle East envoy allegedly accessed a group chat in which Trump officials discussed top secret plans to bomb Yemen while in Moscow.

Steve Witkoff last week met Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where he is reported to have accessed the Signal forum to which a journalist was mistakenly invited.

Asked if he was aware of Mr Witkoff accessing the group from Russia, in a potential major security breach, the CIA director said: Im not aware of that.

03:38 PM GMT

I dont know how journalist was added to Signal chat, says CIA chief

The director of the CIA has admitted he doesnt know how a journalist was added to a top secret group chat in which senior Trump officials planned to bomb Yemen.

Asked if he knew how the editor of The Atlantic was added to the conversation on Signal, John Ratcliffe said: I dont know how he was invited.

Michael Bennet, the Democratic senator of Colorado, accused Mr Ratcliffe of insulting the intelligence of the American people at a Senate intelligence select committee hearing.

03:25 PM GMT

Trump backs Mike Waltz and brands major security leak a glitch

Donald Trump has backed his national security adviser Mike Walz, dismissing his accidental leaking of top secret war plans to a journalist as a glitch.

The presidents national security adviser faced calls to resign after he erroneously added the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic magazine to a Signal group chat for cabinet members to discuss an imminent strike on Houthi targets in Yemen.

Mr Trump stood by Mr Walz on Tuesday saying: Michael Waltz has learnt a lesson, and hes a good man.

The leak has sent shockwaves through Washington, with much of a pre-schedule senate intelligence committee hearing today occupied with questions surrounding related security concerns.

Read the full story here.

03:19 PM GMT

Hello and welcome to our live coverage

Were bringing you the latest updates on news of the leaked group chat where top members of the Trump administration discussed plans to bomb Yemen.

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MANILA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- One person died and another remained missing after a Philippine-flagged tugboat hit a Panamanian-flagged vessel off Sarangani province in southern Philippines on Tuesday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

The PCG said on social media that the head-on collision occurred on early Tuesday morning in the waters off Maasim, and that rescuers had found the body of the tugboat's captain.

A search and rescue team continued to locate the last missing crew member, the PCG said.

The PCG said it had conducted an oil spill assessment and yielded a negative result. 
CIA Director John Ratcliffe testified that using Signal for work is allowed by the CIA.

The Atlantic's editor-in-chief was added to a Signal chat where Trump officials discussed war plans.

Trump intelligence officials claimed in a Senate hearing that no classified info was shared.

Using the encrypted messaging app Signal is permitted by the CIA, Trump's CIA director says.

In an explosive Monday report from The Atlantic, editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg detailed how he was inadvertently added to a Signal group chat in which Trump administration national security leaders discussed upcoming strikes on Yemen's Houthi rebels .

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The outlet's report was a hot topic at a tense Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday, where US intelligence officials were asked what was discussed in the Signal group chat, and whether it was classified.

When questioned by Democratic Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the committee's vice chairman, CIA Director John Ratcliffe said that he was part of the Signal group chat reported by The Atlantic.

He also said that the CIA routinely uses the end-to-end encrypted app.

"One of the first things that happened when I was confirmed as CIA director was Signal was loaded onto my computer at the CIA as it is for most CIA officers," Ratcliffe said.

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He said that the CIA records management team briefed him on the permissible use of Signal as a practice that he said was also allowed under the Biden administration.

"It is permissible to use to communicate and coordinate for work purposes. Provided that any decisions that are made are also recorded through formal channels. So those were procedures that were implemented. My staff implemented those processes," Ratcliffe said.

"My communications, to be clear, in a Signal message group were entirely permissible and lawful and did not include classified information," he added.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was apparently also in the chat, according to Goldberg. She at first refused to answer questions on Tuesday about whether she was in it, but later implied that she was when she repeatedly said she could not "recall" specific content discussed in the Signal group.

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Last week, the Pentagon sent out internal guidance warning about the vulnerability of using Signal, according to NPR.

"Russian professional hacking groups are employing the 'linked devices' features to spy on encrypted conversations," the memo reads. "Please note: third-party messaging apps (e.g. Signal) are permitted by policy for unclassified accountability/recall exercises but are not approved to process or store non-public unclassified information."

Both Ratcliffe and Gabbard said that the information discussed in the chat was not classified.

But Sen. Warner and other Democrats repeatedly argued that the Signal chat likely contained classified information.

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"This pattern of an amazing cavalier attitude towards classified information is reckless, sloppy," Warner said. "Make no mistake, these actions make America less safe."

Read the original article on Business Insider
One Cincinnati suburb is among the best places to live in the nation, according to a recent ranking, while several other Ohio and Kentucky communities rank nationally in other categories, such as the best places to buy a house or raise a family.

The rankings  produced by Niche, which bills itself as "the market leader in connecting colleges and schools with students and families"  are based on the quality of local schools, crime rates, housing trends, taxes, employment statistics and more using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and other sources.

Here's how Ohio and Kentucky communities fare.

Cincinnati suburb Blue Ash ranks in the top 50 places to live in America

Blue Ash, a city of 13,374 residents northeast of Cincinnati, came in at No. 31 on Niche's best places to live in America ranking. It is the only Ohio or Kentucky community in the top 50. This ranking attempts "to measure the overall quality of an area" by looking at the quality of local schools, crime rates, housing trends, employment statistics and access to amenities.

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According to Niche, Blue Ash is home to many young professionals and retirees, and "offers residents a dense suburban" area with many bars, restaurants, coffee shops and parks. The public schools are highly rated. The city's median home value of $365,700 is above the national median value of $303,400, and 66% of residents own their homes. Likewise, the median household income in Blue Ash is $116,663, above the national median of $78,538.

The top 5 cities on the list are:

Colonial Village, a neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia Atlantic Station, a neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia Chesterbrook, a suburb of Philadelphia Harbour Island, a neighborhood in Tampa, Florida City Center, a neighborhood in Santa Monica, California

Red, White & Blue Ash returned to Summit Park on July 4, 2022 with multi-platinum artist Gavin De Graw as the featured artist along with the biggest fireworks show in the region from Arthur Rozzi Pyrotechnics.

Ohio, Kentucky communities named among Niche's best places to buy a house

Four communities in Ohio and Kentucky rank among Niche's best places to buy a house. Key factors in this ranking, per Niche, include home values, taxes, crime rates and the quality of local schools.

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Canfield in Mahoning County, near Youngstown, was the top in the region at No. 28. The city offers a "sparse suburban feel," and the public schools are highly rated. The median home value is $225,100, and 85% of its 7,651 residents own. The city's median income is $97,730.

South Russell, a suburb of Cleveland in Geauga County, came in next at No. 36. It offers residents a rural feel with highly rated public schools. The median home value there is $414,700, and 98% of its 3,972 residents own. The median income is $166,481.

Verona, in Boone County, Kentucky, about 30 miles from Cincinnati, ranked No. 47 on Niche's list. The community of 1,196 people offers a rural feel with good schools. The median home value of $331,100 is above the national value of $303,400, and 96% of residents own. The median household income of $121,250 is also above the national median of $78,538.

Loveland Park, a suburb of Cincinnati, came in at No. 50. The Warren County community of 1,697 offers a rural feel with many parks and highly rated schools. It has a median home value of $243,600, with a 95% ownership rate. The median income is $116,919.

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The top 5 places to buy a house, per Niche, are:

Havel Green, a town in Alabama Sturgeon, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Madison, a suburb of Huntsville, Alabama St. Johns, a town in Arizona Jena, a town in Louisiana

Three Ohio communities among the best to raise a family

In this category, Niche attempts "to measure the appeal of an area for families" by looking at the quality of schools, safety, affordability and access to amenities. Three Ohio communities landed in the top 50.

Mariemont, a village east of Cincinnati, came in highest for Ohio at No. 16. The community offers a dense suburban feel where many families and young professionals live. It has many bars, restaurants, coffee shops and parks, as well as highly rated schools. The median home value is $584,400, and 73% of its 3,477 residents own. The median income is $153,507.

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South Russell appears again at No. 32 on this list.

Pepper Pike, a suburb of Cleveland, rounds out the Ohio communities at No. 47. The city of 6,807 in Cuyahoga County has a rural feel with good schools. The median home value is $558,300, and 96% of residents own. The city's median income is $215,373.

The top 5 overall are:

Chesterbrook, a suburb of Philadelphia Kensington, a suburb of New York City Penn Wynne, a suburb of Philadelphia Hinsdale, a suburb of Chicago Haworth, a suburb in New Jersey

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: This Ohio city ranks among best places to live in nation. Here's why
Cities looking to eliminate fossil fuels in buildings have notched a decisive court victory. Last week, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by plumbing and building trade groups against a New York City ban on natural gas in new buildings. The decision is the first to explicitly disagree with a previous ruling that struck down Berkeley, Californias first-in-the-nation gas ban. That order, issued by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2023 and upheld again last year, prompted cities across the country to withdraw or delay laws modeled after the Berkeley ordinance.

While New York Citys law functions differently from Berkeleys, legal experts say that this months decision provides strong legal footing for all types of local policies to phase out gas in buildings  and could encourage cities to once again take ambitious action.

Its a clear win in that regard, because the 9th Circuit decision has had a really chilling effect on local governments, said Amy Turner, director of the Cities Climate Law Initiative at Columbia Universitys Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. Now theres something else to point to, and a good reason for hope for local governments that may have back-burnered their building electrification plans to bring those to the forefront again.

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In 2021, New York City adopted Local Law 154, which sets an air emissions limit for indoor combustion of fuels within new buildings. Under the law, the burning of any substance that emits 25 kilograms or more of carbon dioxide per million British thermal units of energy is prohibited. That standard effectively bans gas-burning stoves, furnaces, and water heaters, and any other fossil-fuel powered appliances. Instead, real estate developers have to install electric appliances, like induction stoves and heat pumps. The policy went into effect in 2024 for buildings under seven stories, and will apply to taller buildings starting in 2027.

Berkeleys law, on the other hand, banned the installation of gas piping in new construction. The first-of-its-kind policy was passed in 2019 and inspired nearly a hundred local governments across the country to introduce similar laws. But the ordinance quickly faced a lawsuit by the California Restaurant Association, which argued that gas stoves were essential for the food service industry. In April 2023, the 9th Circuit court ruled in favor of the restaurant industry, holding that federal energy efficiency standards preempted Berkeleys policy. In January 2024, a petition by the city of Berkeley to rehear the case on the 9th Circuit was denied.

A gray wall with a thick maze of pipes running horizontally and vertically in front of it

Last years denial of a rehearing included a detailed dissent by eight of the 29 judges on the 9th Circuit, who argued that the courts ruling had been decided erroneously and urge[d] any future court considering the same argument not to repeat the panel opinions mistakes. Writing a dissent at all is unusual for an action as procedural as denying a rehearing, Turner noted. It was clearly drafted to give a road map to other courts to find differently than the 9th Circuit did.

One year later, thats exactly what happened. In the New York City lawsuit, building industry groups and a union whose members work on gas infrastructure used the same logic that prevailed in the Berkeley case, arguing that the citys electrification law is preempted by energy efficiency standards under the federal Energy Policy Conservation Act of 1975, or EPCA. This law sets national efficiency standards for major household appliances like furnaces, stoves, and clothes dryers. Under the law, states and cities cant set their own energy conservation standards that would contradict federal ones. The trade groups argued that EPCA should also preempt any local laws, like New Yorks, that would prevent the use of fossil fuel-powered appliances that meet national standards.

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By design, the city set that level so low as to ban all gas and oil appliances, the groups wrote in their complaint. The citys gas ban thus prohibits all fuel gas appliances, violating federal law and presents a significant threat for businesses in New York City that sell, install, and service gas plumbing and infrastructure.

A person holds the handle of a skillet from which flames are emerging, on top of a large industrial range

Citing the 9th Circuits dissent, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed those claims. The plaintiffs argument broadens the scope of EPCA beyond reasonable bounds, District Judge Ronnie Abrams wrote in the courts opinion. Regulating fuel use within certain buildings is standard practice in states and cities, she noted: New York City, for example, has banned the indoor use of kerosene space heaters for decades. Were plaintiffs correct about the scope of EPCA, these vital safety regulations would likewise be preempted  an absurd result that the court must avoid, Abrams wrote.

The decision could help reassure some states and cities that withdrew electrification plans after the Berkeley case, said Dror Ladin, a senior attorney at Earthjustice, a nonprofit that submitted an amicus brief on behalf of local environmental groups in the lawsuit. This ruling demonstrates that theres absolutely no reason to interpret the Berkeley decision so broadly, he said. The argument brought forth by trade groups is one that would bar a whole host of health and safety regulations, and alter the power of cities and states in a way that weve never seen in this country.

By agreeing with the 9th Circuit dissents interpretation of EPCA, last weeks decision bolsters all types of electrification policies, including the one in New York City and those modeled after Berkeley, Turner noted. This decision weve just gotten from the Southern District is more broadly protective, she said. Even if the air emissions route is not right for a city for whatever reason, other variations of a building electrification requirement or incentive could pass muster.

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The trade groups behind the lawsuit have said they will appeal the decision. Meanwhile, legal challenges using the same arguments brought against Berkeleys gas ban have been launched against New Yorks statewide building code and electrification policies in places like Denver, Montgomery County, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.

Judges in those cases will inevitably refer to the Berkeley decision and last weeks ruling by the Southern District of New York, said Ladin  and he hopes theyll give more weight to the latter. Berkeley is not a well-reasoned decision, and this judge saw right through it, and I think many other judges will see through it too.

This story was originally published by Grist with the headline Can cities ban natural gas in new buildings? A federal judge just said yes. on Mar 25, 2025.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  The City of Abilene is looking to make changes to school zones in a confusing area of town.

The area in question is located at the intersection of Maple Street and Carriage Hills Parkway, near Wylie East Elementary and Wylie East Junior High. The two schools are situated very close to one another on Carriage Hills Parkway and had previously operated under one extended school zone.

Abilene weighs pros and cons of paid parking in downtown

However, this long school zone caused confusion among some drivers, who began accelerating too soon while still within the designated school zone. Max Johnson, the Director of Public Works for the City of Abilene, explained their solution to address this issue.

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Right now, both of the schools are incorporated into one school zone. Were separating those two to make it a little more clear to all the drivers out there in traffic out there that there are two school zones, Johnson said.

This new ordinance will have its first reading at the next city council meeting this 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Albuquerque Fire Rescue Chief Emily Jaramillo is the first woman to serve as Fire Chief in the departments 123-year history. As a former teacher, Jaramillo was compelled to switch careers when she had a recruiter come talk to her class.

This week on the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast, Chief Jaramillo joins Chris and Gabby to discuss the challenges and fulfilling parts of the job. She also discusses a contentious City Council meeting that had her in the hot seat defending a controversial staffing change she believes will improve response times in the city and ultimately help save lives in an emergency.

Some local firefighters addressed the staffing plan during public comment, accusing Chief Jaramillo of abandoning their two-paramedic rescue system and going against the so-called gold standard. However, Chief Jaramillo claims her plan would provide quicker life-saving response to patients in an emergency, and says firefighters will have a chance to improve their EMS skills by rotating between trucks.

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So why was it ultimately city councilors who quashed AFRs staffing plan? How is the Chief responding to AFR morale? Those topics and more are discussed in the full interview.

Stay informed with the latest news by subscribing to the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast wherever you listen. Download new episodes of the New Mexico News Insiders every Tuesday, starting around 5:30 a.m., Mountain time. Episodes are available on most podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Podbean, among others.

You can also watch our podcasts in video form both on-air or online. Tune in to an abbreviated version of the New Mexico News Insiders podcast on broadcast television every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. on Fox New Mexico. Full video episodes are posted on KRQEs YouTube page at youtube.com/krqenews13.

Having trouble finding the show? Try searching your favorite podcast player with the term KRQE or New Mexico News Insiders (without the quotes). You can also use the links above to find the podcast on each service or listen to the audio player at the top of this post.

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If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for who should be interviewed on the podcast, let us know! Email your hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN)  A settlement could be reached soon in a lawsuit that the City of Murfreesboro filed against Republic Services Incorporated and two of its subsidiaries regarding the Middle Point Landfill.

The lawsuit was filed in August of 2022 after the city said harmful odors and gasses were coming out of the landfill and impacting the surrounding community, as well as contaminating their water.

The landfill has been around since 1988 and has been the dumping ground for a large portion of Middle Tennessees trash.

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READ MORE | Latest headlines from Murfreesboro and Rutherford County

A recent court document states a settlement could be reached soon, saying, The city wishes to ensure that the public has ample notice of the settlement agreement and the gas and odor plan before the city council considers and votes on whether to approve them. Accordingly, Plaintiff expects the city council will consider and vote on the settlement agreement and the gas and odor plan during its meeting on March 27, 2025.

New 2 spoke to representatives for Republic Services and they said they were not expecting to reach a settlement by this week, they say theyre still in negotiations.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

A spokesperson for the landfill previously told News 2 theyre committed to being a safe and responsible landfill operator and a good neighbor.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  Cleveland arson investigators are asking for the publics help solving a catastrophic fire that occurred just after midnight on Dec. 9 at West 48th and Lorain Avenue in the city.

On Monday, Cleveland Division of Fire Public Information Officer Lt. Mike Norman released new video and pictures of a vehicle that they are looking for in connection with the fire.

There is a silver 2013 Suburban. Thats a vehicle of interest. We want to find out where that vehicle is and possibly the owner of that vehicle, said Norman.

Courtesy of Cleveland Division of Fire Courtesy of Cleveland Division of Fire

The massive and malicious blaze started inside the family business Byright Auto Sales and quickly grew out of control.

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Some Ohioans may soon get their drivers license suspensions lifted

Prized and vintage classic vehicles from the 60s and 70s fueled the inferno.

There was a lot of fire in the explosions going on inside. This building (was) a dangerous fire to fight, said Norman. We had 19 units, almost 60 firefighters, we worked throughout the night, we had five engine companies, four ladder companies, two rescue squads.

At one point, it looked like the fire was going to also consume a neighboring apartment building, but fortunately a firewall stopped it.

However, the building was a total loss with early damage estimates in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

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On Monday, Norman returned to the scene as the city prepared to demolish the building Tuesday.

You can see how compromised the building is, he said. Its a collapse hazard. Its very dangerous.

Video: Suspects damage Westlake garage doors; possibly part of online challenge

Theyre hoping someone will see the video and pictures of the silver Suburban and come forward.

Arson is a threat to both the civilian population and also to the firefighters, he said.

A reward of $7,500 is being offered in the case by Cuyahoga County Crime Stoppers. Tipsters can submit information online or by calling 216-252-7463. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
TAMPA, Fla. (WJW)  Two Cleveland men are accused of helping to sell weapons to undercover agents posing as Mexican drug cartel members.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Middle District of Florida, a newly released indictment charges Yarquimedes Rodriguez Hilario, 32, and Adison Lopez-Ramirez, 34, both of Cleveland, with conspiring to traffic firearms and money laundering.

Michigan couple held in Mexican prison after challenging credit card charges: daughter

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Court documents filed during a years-long investigation showed that starting in 2021, undercover agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) posed as Mexican cartel members and were introduced to Yarquimedes Rodriguez Hilarios brother, Yuendry Rodriguez Hilario, because he was a trafficker of firearms that could be smuggled to Mexico.

According to the release, undercover communications with Yuendry Rodriguez Hilario and others discussed the purchase of AR-15s and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. A coconspirator said hed sold weapons to El Salvadorans and had cocaine available for distribution. Additionally, Yuendry Rodriguez Hilario offered fentanyl to one of the agents to make pills.

In late 2021, at least 90 rifles and one machine gun with a silencer were sold or arranged to be to undercover agents.

Cause of death released for teen son of former Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner: Report

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In October of that year, Adison Lopez-Ramirez reportedly delivered 10 rifles to undercover ATF agents in St. Petersburg, Florida, in exchange for $16,000, the release said. Federal agents then followed Lopez-Ramirez as he deposited $9,000 from the sale into the bank account of Yarquimedes Rodriguez Hilario.

Firearms from the October 21, 2021 sale (Credit: U.S. Attorneys Office)

In November of 2022, an undercover agent told Yuendry Rodriguez Hilario that he needed to purchase additional weapons under the guise that his associates in Mexico were battling and losing.

In March 2, 2023, Yuendry Rodriguez Hilario was arrested after he delivered 40 firearms to the agents. Saleh Yusuf Saleh, who acquired and assembled the parts to make the firearms, arrived at the meeting with Yuendry Rodriguez Hilario and the agents and was also arrested.

Lake County community mourning 10th grader killed in crash

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Yuendry Rodriguez Hilario was sentenced to 13 years and 4 months in prison in March of 2024. Saleh Yusuf Saleh previously was sentenced to 5 years and 8 months in federal prison.

Firearms from March 10, 2022 sale (Credit: U.S. Attorneys Office) Firearms from May 26, 2022 sale (Credit: U.S. Attorneys Office) Firearms from May 26, 2022 sale (Credit: U.S. Attorneys Office)

Yarquimedes Rodriguez Hilario and Adison Lopez-Ramirez each face a maximum penalty of 35 years in federal prison in theyre convicted.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
PHNOM PENH, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian police have detained 63 Thai nationals for preparing to conduct illicit online activities, the Interior Ministry's Investigation and Crime Suppression Command said in a press release on Tuesday.

The apprehension was made on Saturday during coordinated raids on two locations in northwest Banteay Meanchey province's Poipet City on the border with Thailand, the statement said.

"These operations were undertaken following an extensive period of investigation and surveillance into suspected online criminal activities," it said.

"During these operations, police apprehended a total of 63 Thai nationals, comprising 30 females and two minors," it added.

The raids also led to the confiscation of substantial evidence, including 33 computers, 65 mobile phones, 65 Thai identity cards, and two Thai passports.

"A preliminary assessment of the collected evidence indicated that the individuals involved were preparing to engage in illicit online activities, utilizing Cambodian territory as an operational base to conduct offenses targeting foreign jurisdictions," the press release said.

It noted 46 individuals were found living under restricted conditions that limited their freedom of movement. However, no evidence suggested that they were victims of physical violence or human trafficking.

"Investigators also identified seven Thai nationals, including one female as masterminds behind the criminal operation," it said.

As for the 56 Thai nationals, the Cambodian National Police will request cooperation with Thai authorities to facilitate their deportation from Cambodia based on their requests, the press release said.

Meanwhile, legal proceedings concerning the seven suspects are ongoing at the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Police Commissariat, it added. 
National Security Advisor Michael Waltz  under scrutiny after inadvertently inviting a journalist into a private chat for top Trump Administration officials to discuss plans to attack a rebel group in the Middle East  spent the past six years representing the Daytona Beach area in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, wrote a piece published Monday revealing how he had been invited by Waltz to a chat on Signal, an open-source, encrypted free chat app that is considered a safe way for the public to communicate, but is not approved for government officials to share classified information. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth later shared details, including times and places where the military would carry out an attack on Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Waltz got a vote of confidence from President Donald Trump Tuesday morning during a phone interview with NBC News.

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"Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he's a good man," Trump said, later explaining that a staffer had Goldberg's phone number and that was how it was mistakenly added to the Signal chat.

Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, on Tuesday called for Waltz and Hegseth to step down, saying that a military or intelligence officer caught using Signal to discuss national secrets would be fired, and adding: "This is one more example of the kind of sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior, particularly towards classified information."

Sen. @MarkWarner on Signal chat story: "It's also just mind-boggling to me...nobody bothered to even check...who are all the names...this is one more example of the kind of sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior..." pic.twitter.com/SmToBnMtvw  CSPAN (@cspan) March 25, 2025

Here's a closer look at Waltz and his time in Congress.

Who is Mike Waltz?

Born Jan. 31, 1974, in Boynton Beach, Waltz is a 51-year-old former U.S. Army Green Beret who was elected to Congress in Florida's 6th District in 2018.

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He grew up in Jacksonville to a single mother, Brenda Waltz.

Waltz graduated from Stanton College Preparatory School in 1992 and then the Virginia Military Institute in 1996 with honors, according to his congressional biography, then entered the U.S. Army, where he would serve 27 years on active duty and in the National Guard.

Waltz is married to Julia Nesheiwat, who served as Homeland Security advisor for 11 months during Trump's first term. A Stetson University graduate, Nesheiwat worked in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the State Department in the Bush, Obama and Trump administrations and served eight years in the Army as a military intelligence officer in both Afghanistan and Iraq, earning a Bronze Star medal and leaving in 2005 as a captain. Waltz and Nesheiwat have a 3-year-old son named Armand (who they call Armie). Waltz also has a daughter, Anderson, by a previous marriage.

Where did Waltz serve in the Army?

He was first commissioned as a lieutenant and graduated from Ranger School. Waltz was selected to be a Green Beret, part of the Army Special Forces.

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His numerous deployments included the Middle East, Africa and Afghanistan, where he led the effort to locate Bowe Bergdahl, a soldier who was captured after leaving his post. Waltz was awarded four Bronze Stars, including two with Valor.

What qualifies Waltz to be national security advisor?

Later, Waltz served as defense policy director in the Pentagon under Secretaries of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates in the Bush Administration. He also worked in the White House as counterterrorism advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney.

He became familiar to viewers of Fox News as a contributor discussing foreign policy and national security.

Waltz also started a defense and intelligence contracting firm, Metis Solutions, which was sold in 2020, netting Waltz between $5 and $25 million, according to his U.S. House financial disclosure.

How did Waltz get elected to Congress?

Shortly before running in 2018, Waltz returned from Washington to his home state, buying a home in St. Augustine Beach, where he ran for the seat vacated by Ron DeSantis during his run for governor. That year Waltz defeated Nancy Soderberg, who had served on the National Security Council and as alternate representative to the United Nations with the rank ambassador during the Clinton White House.

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While in Congress, Waltz, served as chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, in addition to the House Intelligence Committee and House Oversight and Accountability Committee.

Waltz would win a fourth term in Florida's 6th District  covering Daytona Beach north to St. Augustine and west to Ocala  on Nov. 5, the same day Trump was elected the 47th president.

In short order, Trump named Waltz his next national security advisor. Waltz announced his resignation in November, effective Jan. 20, Trump's inauguration day.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Trump supports Mike Waltz, who spent 6 years as Daytona's congressman
Smoke fills the skies over LaPlace as a refinery burns off emissions on Aug. 30, 2021, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. (Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator)

Environmental justice efforts at the 10 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regional offices have stopped and employees have been placed on administrative leave, per an announcement from EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin earlier this month. Former EPA employees involved with environmental justice work across the country say rural communities will suffer as a result.

Before being shuttered in early March, the EPAs environmental justice arm was aimed at making sure communities were being treated fairly and receiving their due protection under the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. Zealan Hoover, former senior advisor to the EPA administrator under the Biden administration, told the Daily Yonder that this work had big implications for rural places since there are pollution concerns in rural areas across the country.

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EPA was very focused on making sure that not just on the regulatory side, but also on the investment side, we were pushing resources into rural communities, Hoover said.

According to Hoover, most of the pollution challenges the U.S. faces are not new. He said that the employees  now on leave  who staffed the EPAs regional environmental justice offices were deeply knowledgeable on the issues affecting communities in their regions; issues which can go on for decades. Hoover said he worries about recent changes to the agency under the Trump administration, which also include a series of deregulatory actions and a proposed 65% budget cut.

I trust that the great folks at EPA who remain will still try valiantly to fill those gaps, but the reality is that this administration is pushing to cut EPAs budget, pushing employees to leave, and thats going to restrict EPAs ability to help rural communities tackle their most significant pollution challenges, Hoover said.

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One rural community that has faced years of environmental challenges is where Sherri White-Williamson lives in rural Sampson County, North Carolina. In 2021, the countys landfill ranked second on the list of highest methane emitters in the U.S. The county is also the second-largest producer of hogs nationwide, and in 2022, it accounted for nearly 3% of all U.S. hog sales.

The hog industry is known for its pollution from open waste storage pits that emit toxic chemicals into nearby neighborhoods. For years, concerns about North Carolinas hog industry have centered on the disproportionate harm that its pollution does to low-income communities and communities of color since hog farms frequently locate their operations adjacent to such communities in rural counties.

White-Williamson is also an EPA veteran. She worked on environmental justice initiatives at the agencys Washington, D.C., office for over a decade before moving back home to southeastern North Carolina. She is now the executive director of the Environmental Justice Community Action Network (EJCAN), which she founded in Sampson County in 2020 to empower her neighbors amidst environmental challenges like those wrought by the hog farms and the landfill.

In her early work with EJCAN, White-Williamson said she noticed that conversations about environmental justice often centered on urban areas. Since then, White Williamson said she has focused on educating the public about what environmental justice looks like in rural communities.

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A lot of our issues have to do with what the cities dont want or dispose of will end up in our communities, White-Williamson said. The pollution, the pesticides, the remnants of the food processing all ends up or stays here while all of the nice, clean, freshly prepared product ends up in a local urban grocery store somewhere.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Another misconception about environmental justice, according to White-Williamson, is that it exists exclusively to serve communities of color. During her time at the EPA, White-Williamson said she spent time in communities with all kinds of racial demographics while working on environmental justice initiatives.

I spent a lot of time in places like West Virginia and Kentucky, and places where the populations arent necessarily of color, but they are poor-income or low-income places where folks do not have access to the levers of power, White-Williamson said.

When pollution impacts local health in communities without access to such levers of power, the EPAs regional environmental justice offices were a resourceand a form of accountability.

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Without those offices, it will be more difficult for rural communities to get the services they need to address health concerns, said Margot Brown, senior vice president of justice and equity at the Environmental Defense Fund.

Theyre dismantling the ecosystem of health protections for rural Americans, and by dismantling them, theyll make them more susceptible to future hazards, Brown said of the Trump administrations decisions at the EPA. It will impair health and well-being for generations to come.

Brown worked at the EPA for nearly 10 years under President Obama and then under President Trump during his first administration. Her time there included a stint as deputy director of the Office of Childrens Health Protection. She, along with Hoover and White-Williamson, said that community members will likely need to turn to their state governments or departments of environmental quality in the absence of the regional environmental justice offices.

But White-Williamson noted that state governments, too, receive federal funding. Frozen funds across federal agencies and cuts to health care programs, including Medicaid, could wind up compounding challenges for rural communities trying to mitigate environmental health impacts.

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The communities that most need the assistance and guidance will again find themselves on the short end of the stick and end up being the ones that are suffering more than anybody else, White-Williamson said.

Hoover described it as a one-two punch for rural communities. On the one hand, he said, rural places are losing access to healthcare facilities because of budget cuts.

And on the other hand, they are also sicker because the government is no longer stopping polluters from polluting their air and their water.

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This report was originally published in the Daily Yonder. For more rural reporting and small-town stories visit dailyyonder.com.
UPDATE: March 25  The intersection at 400 Parrish Lane has reopened after repairs, the Centerville Police Department said on Monday.

UPDATE: March 25; 8:00 a.m.  The stretch of road on Parrish Lane near I-15 in Centerville is still closed of as Monday morning. Cameras in the area show crews are still diverting traffic near 400 West and Marketplace Drive, creating a small detour to and from the interstate.

The closure is also impacting the northbound off-ramp from I-15 onto Parrish Lane.

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In an update posted by Centerville Police just after 7:30 a.m., crews reportedly worked throughout the night on the gas leak. The intersection at 400 West and Parrish Lane still remains close with no firm time to reopen.

Officials estimate the intersection could re-open around noon.

Original story: Gas leak in Centerville causes road closures, impacting morning commute

CENTERVILLE, Utah (ABC4)  Authorities are advising the public to avoid the intersection at 400 West Parrish Lane in Centerville due to a gas leak. As of Monday night, the intersection remained closed in all directions, and authorities said the morning commute may be affected.

The Centerville Police Department originally posted on social media Monday afternoon to inform the public that the intersection of 400 N and 400 W was closed in all directions because of the leak.

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Crews are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, police said in a Monday night press release. It is unknown how long this may take and how long the intersection will remain closed.

Jorgan Hofeling with Enbridge Gas told ABC4.com that there is no anticipated loss of service, and there is no risk to the public.

A gas leak caused road closures on March 24, 2025. (Courtesy: Centerville Police Department) A gas leak caused road closures on March 24, 2025. (Courtesy: Centerville Police Department) A gas leak caused road closures on March 24, 2025. (Courtesy: Centerville Police Department)

Crews were originally dispatched to the area just after 1:30 p.m., after receiving reports that a gas line had been damaged by a construction company. Closing the intersection was deemed necessary because of the size of the damaged gas line, officials said.

We are asking that motorists, cyclists and pedestrians avoid the area and the intersection until it can be reopened, Mondays press release reads.

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Officials did not have an estimate for when the intersection would be reopened but said more information would be released as it becomes available.

There is no further information at this time.

Sorina Trauntvein 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.
CNN aired a montage of Trump administration officials embroiled in the Signal chat saga repeatedly condemning former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server while in office.

White House National Security adviser Mike Waltz appeared to have mistakenly invited The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeff Goldberg to an encrypted chat called the Houthi PC small group that included top officials and cabinet officials to discuss highly classified information about an impending U.S. strike in Yemen.

Just hours after the news broke on Monday, CNNs The Source shared a montage of current Trump administration officials who had repeatedly railed against Clinton for not using proper government channels to send details on classified material between 2009 and 2013.

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If it was anyone other than Hillary Clinton, theyd be in jail right now, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a resurfaced Fox News clip from 2016.

Nobody is above the law, Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said on Fox News in 2016. Not even Hillary Clinton, even though she thinks she is.

CNN created a scathing montage comprised of Trump officials in the Signal chat which disclosed war plans with the Atlantic (CNN/Acyn/X)

Mishandling classified information is still a violation of the Espionage Act, CIA Director John Ratcliffe told Fox News in 2019.

When you have the [Hillary] Clinton emails... On top of the fact that the sitting president of the United States (Donald Trump) admitted he had documents in his garage... They didn't prosecute they didnt go after these folks, Waltz, who added Golberg to the Signal chat, told CNN in 2023.

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Just hours after reports surfaced, Clinton took to X to issue a seven-word response.

You have got to be kidding me, Clinton tweeted, along with a screenshot of The Atlantics report.

In 2016, then-FBI director James Comey found evidence that Clinton was extremely careless in using a private server to send hundreds of classified emails  but that her actions were not deemed severe enough to warrant an indictment. The revelations derailed her 2016 presidential campaign as the Democratic Partys nominee, leading to President Donald Trumps repeated promises to lock her up.

Mike Waltz, who invited Jeff Goldberg to the Signal chat, spoke out against Hillary Clinton on CNN in June 2023 (CNN/Acyn/X)

Vice President JD Vance, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Trumps Middle East and Ukraine negotiator, Steve Witkoff, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, were among others who appeared to be included in the Signal channel.

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Waltz, a former Green Beret and Florida representative, used the common encrypted messaging app to form the group chat with colleagues on the National Security Councils Principals Committee. Signal is not an official communications channel available to top government officials.

In an explosive report, Goldberg revealed how he unwittingly was able to get front-row seats as Trumps team began outlining their plans to bomb the Houthis in Yemen earlier this month. No one managed to spot the interloper in the group, even when Goldberg left the chat  which would have notified members.

In 2019, CIA Director John Ratcliffe noted that the mishandling of classified information is a violation of the Espionage Act (CNN/Acyn/X)

In the chat, Vance appeared to disagree with Trump's wisdom on the strikes, noting: I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now.

The vice president and defense secretary also shared their disdain for what Hegseth called European free-loading.

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When probed by a reporter in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said he didnt know anything about the story.

You are telling me about it for the first time, he added.

Hegseth told reporters later on Monday that nobody was texting war plans, and thats all I have to say about that.
CNN on Monday showed how top officials in Donald Trumps White House who were included in the online group chat about a military strike in Yemen  that The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to  once felt about breaches of national security.

In short, furious.

On The Source, anchor Kaitlan Collins aired a montage of officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, previously condemning former secretary of state and Trump 2016 rival Hillary Clintons use of a private email server.

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If it was anyone other than Hillary Clinton, they would be in jail right now, Hegseth fumed in 2016. Meanwhile, Ratcliffe stated in 2019 that mishandling classified information is still a violation of the Espionage Act.

Watch here:

As social media users erupted over the war chat leak news, longtime GOP strategist Sarah Longwell shared similarly themed past clips and online posts from Rubio, Hegseth, Ratcliffe, White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

Im going to spend the rest of my afternoon posting clips of high-level officials on that Signal text chain demanding accountability for Hillary Clintons mishandling of classified information. https://t.co/3nsxvq1G4z  Sarah Longwell (@SarahLongwell25) March 24, 2025

Related...
Friends of the Oceano Dunes celebrated a victory over the California Coastal Commission in court Monday, opening the path for continued use of off-road vehicles at the popular recreation area.

In an opinion filed Monday, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals found that the commissions attempt to ban off-road vehicles at the Dunes contradicts the language of the Local Coastal Plan put in place by San Luis Obispo County.

As a result, it said the decision to open or close the Dunes to vehicles fell under the jurisdiction of the county, not the Coastal Commission.

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However, the court said it would not resolve any contentions in other cross-appeals filed by Friends, and did not base its opinion on the cultural, scientific or policy-based reasons for supporting or opposing an OHV ban.

These provisions make clear that the governing LCP (Local Coastal Plan) permits OHV use at Oceano Dunes, the opinion read. And while the carrying capacity of different areas of the park may be readjusted as conditions warrant, any moratorium must come from the County, not the Commission.

Vehicles cross Arroyo Grande Creek at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area on Sunday, March 14, 2021. The Coastal Commissions historic decision bans vehicles from crossing the creek when its flowing, which would cut off access to the majority of the parks off-highway use.

Here, we conclude the commission did not have the authority to phase out OHV use by unilaterally amending the Oceano Dunes [development permit] because the LCP permits such use, the Second Circuit court ruling said. The LCP states that one of its goals is to maximize public recreational opportunities  including OHV use  at Oceano Dunes.

That means, if the Coastal Commission wants the Dunes closed to vehicular use, it must take the issue up with the county or state Legislature to amend the Local Coastal Plan, the opinion read.

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The Friends of Oceano Dunes applauded the ruling in a news release.

Friends victory ensures continued OHV recreation at Oceano Dunes, the Friends said.

Protesters and counter protesters clashed during the Friends of Oceano Dunes, Pismo Chamber of Commerce and Beach.Drive.Ride event at Pismo State Beach on March 14, 2021.

Long-running battle over off-roading at Oceano Dunes

Mondays decision marks the culmination of a years-long legal battle between the Coastal Commission and Friends of Oceano Dunes.

Most recently, San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Tana Coates ruled July 19, 2023, in favor of the Friends, overturning the Coastal Commissions 2021 vote to close the Dunes to off-road vehicles.

A total and permanent ban on all OHV recreation in the OSDVRA directly contradicts the provisions of the certified (local coastal program), which specifically permits OHV riding in certain designated areas of environmentally sensitive habitat areas, Coates 2023 ruling said.

Off-road enthusiasts ride at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.

That decision was appealed to the Second Circuit by the Coastal Commission on Aug. 10, 2023, with the aim of reinstating its order to close the Dunes.

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There is still one appellate case awaiting briefs and oral arguments relating to two lawsuits filed by the Friends of Oceano Dunes against the Coastal Commission in 2016 and 2017.

The 2016 petition challenged the use of an emergency coastal development permit to implement dust control measures and whether the situation constituted an emergency designation, while the 2017 petition challenged dust control measures and whether State Parks could implement such measures without a coastal development permit. Coates denied both petitions in 2024.

The two cases have been consolidated into one appellate case, and the Friends of Oceano Dunes first brief is due June 27, the court docket shows.

Friends of Oceano Dunes president Jim Sutry declined to comment on Mondays ruling.

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Friends Board of Directors remain committed to pursue all legal remedies to protect beach driving, camping and OHV recreation at Oceano Dunes SVRA the way it has been occurring for the last 100 years, the release read.
Coca-Cola has issued a recall on select cases of its soda due to foreign object contamination.

Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, LLC issued the voluntary recall earlier this month, according to a report shared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

A total of 864 cases  each of which has 12 Coca-Cola cans  have been recalled because they were contaminated with plastic. This means that more than 10,000 cans of soda were affected by the recall.

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According to the FDA, each of the affected cans has a UPC of 0 49000-00634 6. The targeted packs of 12 cans have a UPC of 0 49000-02890 4.

The recalled cases of Coca-Cola were distributed to retailers in Illinois and Wisconsin.

The action was classified as a Class II recall on Monday, which is a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote, according to the FDA.

The Independent has contacted Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, LLC for comment.

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The news comes as food and drink recalls continue to be on the rise.

Last week, Aldi issued a voluntary recall on 400 cases of Happy Farms Colby Jack Deli Sliced Cheese, which included 12 plastic pouches of blended Colby and Monterey cheese slices each.

Coca-Cola recalled more than 800 cases of 12-pack cans sold in Wisconsin and Illinois (Getty Images)

According to the FDA, the Aldi product may contain stainless steel fragments, and exposure to such contaminants could cause temporary health risks. Its unclear how the potential metal products got into the cheese.

Days earlier, Dessert Holdings, LLC announced that it was recalling a Target brand cheesecake. The product is Favorite Days New York Style Cheesecake, sold in a six-ounce container with two slices of cake.

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The cheesecake was recalled due to mislabeled packaging, resulting in undeclared pecans in the products. Customers who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to pecans run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume this cheesecake, states a press release concerning the recall.

Recalled cheesecakes were sent to Target Distribution Centers in California, Florida, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas. The product was sold at Target stores in these states.

Also this month, Nestle U.S. issued a voluntary recall on a limited supply of its Stouffers and Lean Cuisine meals due to the potential presence of wood-like material. The food conglomerate said the recalled products had been distributed at major retailers between September 2024 and March 2025.

Nestle said the company launched an investigation after consumers contacted them to report multiple issues  one involving a potential choking incident.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  More than 100 grams of cocaine packaged in a Doritos box and a gun were found within the reach of children inside a west Columbus apartment on Monday, according to the Franklin County Sheriffs Office.

An investigation into the distribution of narcotics by the Central Ohio Violence Eradication Response Team led law enforcement to a home on Viotis Drive.

Revived Big Lots stores to reopen this spring; HomeBuys to acquire central Ohio shop

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During a search warrant on Monday, detectives found 47 grams of crack cocaine, about 109 grams of suspected cocaine, nearly $1,800 and a loaded gun that was stolen from the city of Columbus, authorities said.

There were two children home at the time of the search. About 100 grams of cocaine in a Doritos box was seen within arms reach of a child who was preparing their lunch for school, according to a news release.

Courtesy: Franklin County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Franklin County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Franklin County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Franklin County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Franklin County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Franklin County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Franklin County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Franklin County Sheriffs Office

The stolen gun was reportedly unsecured on a table next to the childrens backpacks.

This level of recklessness  placing children in direct proximity to lethal drugs and unsecured, stolen firearms  is both disturbing and completely unacceptable, Sheriff Dallas Baldwin said in a statement.

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Some Ohioans may soon get their drivers license suspensions lifted

Kenneth Reynolds, 24, was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine, and additional charges are expected as the investigation continues, according to the sheriffs office.

Our priority is protecting the most vulnerable in our communities, and this case underscores the importance of our ongoing efforts to eliminate violence and drug trafficking in Franklin County, Baldwin 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.
COLES COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA)  The Coles County Memorial Airport will soon have a new airplane hangar. Its to keep up with the growth of one Central Illinois based business.

Officials said the multi-billion dollar company continues to grow, which means theyre constantly hiring people to keep up with demand.

Coles Co. woman pushing to create foster program for animals

Airport manager Andrew Fearn said Rural King staff members fly in about two to three times a week. Right now, the company has been flying to Decatur because the current hangar near Mattoon doesnt fit their new jet.

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But, Fearn said theyve been doing business with them for several years and getting them back in their city is important.

Thats more business for us. With their promotion of Emerald Acres, weve seen an increase in traffic and well see more with their aircraft coming in. They continually have people that sell them products come in and out all the time. Its great to have them based here, Fearn said.

He said the new hangar will be two times bigger than the current one. Itll have office space and rooms for the pilots to sleep and work in house when needed. Fearn also said theyll most likely be breaking ground within the next month and theyre hoping the project will be finished in a year.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
BRUSSELS, March 24 (Xinhua) -- As U.S.-Ukraine and U.S.-Russia delegations held separate talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday and Monday, growing concerns are emerging in Europe over its marginalization in the peace negotiations.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov described Sunday's talks as "productive and focused," noting that "key points including energy" were addressed. Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation, emphasized that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's goal is "to secure a just and lasting peace" for Ukraine and Europe at large.

On Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow and Washington share a "desire and readiness" to pursue a peaceful settlement. He noted that the talks covered various technical issues, including a potential resumption of the Black Sea Initiative.

However, the absence of European representation at the talks has sparked concern among officials and analysts. From discussions on the Black Sea to broader peace efforts, some European observers warn that critical decisions are being made without European input.

A Financial Times newsletter on Monday reported that officials from Romania and Bulgaria, two Black Sea nations, privately voiced concern over significant shifts in the region's status quo, arguing such changes could impact their security without giving them a say.

In an article published Monday, Salvador Sanchez Tapia, professor of conflict analysis and international security at Spain's University of Navarra, wrote: "Europe has been left out of negotiating efforts ... This disregard shows how little the continent matters to its North American partner."

He added that, lacking the capacity to support Ukraine as the United States once did, Europe may have little choice but to accept Washington's approach while still attempting to make its voice heard.

Former German diplomat Rudiger Ludeking echoed these concerns in an interview with German media, saying that since U.S. President Donald Trump's return to office, diplomatic engagement between Washington and Moscow, as well as with Kiev, has intensified, largely bypassing NATO, the European Union (EU), and major European powers. He warned that "the EU could be the loser" in these negotiations.

While some European voices express frustration, others view the talks as a potential step toward de-escalation.

Balazs Orban, political director of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, welcomed the truce discussions, saying that changing circumstances would eventually compel Europe and policymakers in Brussels to adopt a more pragmatic stance. He warned that if the EU maintains its current position, it risks falling behind and becoming increasingly sidelined in the peace process.

In an interview with local N1 Television on Monday, former Croatian Foreign Minister Miro Kovac expressed optimism over the White House's mention of a possible ceasefire by Easter, saying such a development would allow people to "stop dying because it no longer makes sense." 
A cyclist rides on the Lakewood Gulch Trail alongside an RTD light-rail track in west Denver on Sept. 6, 2021. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline)

A coalition of Colorado advocacy groups is urging state and local leaders to scale up the Denver metro areas investment in public transit service by hundreds of millions of dollars in new spending per year.

The new vision unveiled Tuesday by the Alliance to Transform Transportation centers on doubling, from one-third to two-thirds, the share of Denver-area residents living near high-frequency transit lines, defined as providing service every 15 minutes or less. That would require a major expansion of bus service by the Regional Transportation District, the metro areas sprawling and struggling transit agency, with the number of high-frequency bus routes rising from 34 to 83 over the next decade.

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The question were trying to answer right now is: What does transit need to look like in 10 years time? said Danny Katz, director of the Colorado Public Interest Research Group, or CoPIRG, at a press event Tuesday at an RTD Park-n-Ride at Broadway and Interstate 25 in Denver. And thats important, because it takes a while to build up transit service, so we need to be starting right now if were going to be increasing transit service and get to the vision that were putting out there, 10 years from now.

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The Alliance to Transform Transportation includes CoPIRG, the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, the Denver Streets Partnership and other environmental and progressive nonprofits. The groups commissioned a 2023 study evaluating the potential impact of new public transit investments in the RTD system, especially within its core network of higher-density communities with less car dependency.

Under a plan unveiled last year, Colorado officials are aiming to double transit ridership, biking and walking over the next decade in order to help the state meet its climate goals, part of a broader push from Gov. Jared Polis administration to encourage more abundant and higher-density housing development. State lawmakers last year passed legislation that will increase funding for multimodal transportation projects and transit operations, including through new fees on rental cars and oil and gas production.

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We have to acknowledge that we cant have highly frequent transit in every single part of this region.

 Danny Katz, director of CoPIRG

Advocates say the new funding  which could provide transit operations with a boost of over $100 million annually  is a good start, but their plan calls for a total of over $4 billion in new and expanded bus and train service by 2036. Initially, the largest share of the investment would be directed towards capital costs, like those associated with the construction of bus rapid transit, or BRT, infrastructure. Over time, the funding would shift to cover the operational costs of expanded and higher-frequency service.

RTD, an independent body established by the Legislature in 1969 to oversee transit across all or part of eight Denver-area counties, has been the target of criticism from Polis and state lawmakers in recent years as it has struggled to return its ridership to pre-pandemic levels. A bill to substantially overhaul the agencys governing board stalled during the 2024 legislative session, but a subsequent reform proposal introduced this year would make a variety of changes aimed at increasing transparency and accountability at the agency.

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With commuter bus routes serving communities as far-flung as Longmont, Nederland, Brighton and Conifer, RTDs service area of roughly 2,400 square miles is among the largest served by any metropolitan transit agency in the country. The Alliance to Transform Transportations vision says that new funding for transit should be focused on a core part of the region to maximize ridership.

We have to acknowledge that we cant have highly frequent transit in every single part of this region, Katz said. There are parts that just dont make sense to have a bus coming every 10 minutes, if its just a couple homes up in Evergreen. This map is really trying to indicate where we would concentrate those dollars to get that frequency.

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DENVER (KDVR)  The Colorado House approved a bill Monday that House Democrats say would fully implement and enforce the states existing high-capacity magazine ban.

The bill would require anyone in Colorado after Aug. 1, 2026, to have a permit and complete firearm safety training to purchase high-powered firearms with detachable magazines. The bill would also prohibit anyone from selling or buying aftermarket accessories for semiautomatic guns, like binary triggers and bump stocks.

2 lost teenagers rescued with drone aid at Roxborough State Park

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This gun violence prevention legislation answers the call to action from our neighbors and will save lives, said Rep. Meg Froelich, a Democrat representing Englewood, in a release. We know that semi-automatic weapons become especially deadly when they are paired with high-capacity magazines, which is why Colorado Democrats passed a 2013 law to prohibit these high-capacity magazines. Weve raised a generation on lock down drills and 1 in 15 people have experienced a mass shooting. Were passing this bill today so we can save lives and prevent more Coloradans from having to go through the pain of losing a loved one to senseless gun violence.

Opponents of the bill said that the measure would cost millions of dollars for local sheriffs offices and Colorado Parks and Wildlife to administer the new requirements. Those requirements are one of the following:

Complete a hunter education course certified by CPW and within five years of making the purchase, complete a basic firearms safety course

Within five years before making the purchase, complete an extended firearms safety course, or

Complete an extended firearms safety course more than five years before making the purchase and complete a basic firearms safety course within five years before making the purchase

To make that happen, sheriffs offices would be required to issue firearms safety course eligibility cards, with requirements for that card including completion of a fingerprint-based criminal history record check.

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Gov. Jared Polis responded to the bills forward movement with a statement from his office.

Governor Polis appreciates the sponsors working with our administration on amendments to help make Colorado safer while upholding our freedom and Colorados rich hunting and sport shooting culture and will review the final version of the bill, a Colorado Governors Office spokesperson said. Governor Polis remains focused on improving public safety including gun safety, additional funding for law enforcement and safer streets, and tougher penalties against theft of guns.

RTD sees 52% drop in security calls after safety upgrades

Among those opposing the bill was the Teller County Sheriffs Office. On March 17, Sheriff Jason Mikesell called the bill a train wreck and an issue for all Colorado citizens across the board, not just gun owners. He said that the financial impact on CPW will be serious.

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Its really going to just create what we originally believed was a registry, its going to prohibit

your ability to go get the standard weapons that youve been able to get without having to, what they like to call pathway to purchase which in other words is just you buying your rights

back from the state, said Teller County Sheriffs Office Commander Sven Bonnelycke in a YouTube post. Its going to be a bad thing for us.

Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly also appeared before legislators to testify against the bill.

This Bill is a clear violation of our Second Amendment rights, he said on a sheriffs campaign Facebook page.

CPW would be required to develop and maintain a firearms training and safety course record system that includes records of those holding a valid firearms course card and those who have completed a hunter education course, a basic firearms safety course, or an extended firearms safety course.

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As gun violence continues to devastate communities across Colorado, Colorado Democrats are again taking action to prevent future tragedies, said Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, a Democrat representing Fort Collins. When semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines get into the wrong hands, it presents a major threat to the health and safety of our communities. With this legislation passing today, were taking another step to prevent senseless violence in our communities and save countless lives.

Colorado House Democrats said that the bill would not impact the sale of shotguns, commonly used hunting rifles, semiautomatic firearms that have fixed magazines and almost all handguns. The bill would prevent sales of gas-operated semiautomatic handguns, but recoil-operated handguns which make up over 90 percent of the pistol market, according to House Democrats, would not be impacted.

The bill would not impact currently-owned firearms. It now returns to the Colorado Senate where legislators will vote on amendments made in the House. If approved, without amendments, the bill would head to the governors desk for a signature or veto.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
DENVER (KDVR)  A bill that would remove the same-sex marriage ban from Colorado statute is one step closer to being implemented after the Colorado House passed SB25-014 Tuesday morning.

The state senate in early February passed the bill, dubbed Protecting the Freedom to Marry, which would repeal language in state statute that says marriage can only be valid between a man and a woman. The statute has been in conflict with the state constitution since Colorado voters in November decided to remove the same language from the constitution.

Same-sex marriage amendment approved by Colorado voters: Election results 2024

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With both legislative chambers now passing SB25-014, the bill now heads to Gov. Jared Polis desk for signature consideration to align the statute and constitution to voters decision to remove the language.

This legislation will implement the will of the voters and protect marriage equality in Colorado, house co-sponsor Rep. Brianna Titone, a democrat from Arvada, said in a press release. As the Trump administration continues to blatantly attack and demonize the LGBTQ+ community, this bill upholds marriage equality in Colorado. With the passage of this bill, were now one step closer to protecting the freedom to marry who we love.

The statute provision had already been unenforceable since the U.S. Supreme Courts 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision. Another house co-sponsor, Rep. Lorena Garcia, a democrat of unincorporated Adams County, said Colorado voters want constitutionally protected marriage equality.

Colorado voters have spoken; they want marriage equality constitutionally protected in our state, Garcia said. In an era where the Trump administration continues to take aim at critical protections and rights for the LGBTQ+ community, Colorado is standing up to protect marriage equality. With this bill, were fulfilling the will of the voters and taking steps to protect marriage equality now and into the future.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
A Columbia University junior and a Cornell University grad student appear to be dodging immigration agents while the students lawyers ask federal judges to block the Trump administration from deporting them for what they say is retaliation for their pro-Palestinian activism.

Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old Columbia junior originally from South Korea who holds a green card and has lived in the United States for 14 years, has asked a judge in New York for an order preventing Immigration and Customs Enforcement from arresting her while she challenges the State Departments determination that her presence in the country is undermining U.S. foreign policy.

And ICE has similarly been unable to locate Momodou Taal  a Cornell University graduate student with a student visa and dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Gambia  who filed suit last week to block President Trumps sweeping executive orders targeting antisemitism. Homeland security officials told the court theyve been seeking Taal since March 14 and have been unable to locate him as of at least Saturday.

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According to a Justice Department court filing, the State Department canceled Taals student visa because he was involved with disruptive protests and had engaged in an escalating pattern of behavior, disregarding university policies and creating a hostile environment for Jewish students.

Chung and Taal are asking courts to block the Trump administration from enforcing the presidents executive orders, ostensibly meant to root out antisemitism on college campuses, claiming the directives are a thinly veiled attempt to punish pro-Palestinian activists who took part in a wave of campus protests last year.

Thus far, the cases involving Chung and Taal have not drawn as much attention as that of Mahmoud Khalil, a leader of Columbia University campus protests, whom the administration arrested and relocated to Louisiana earlier this month. Like Chung, Khalil is fighting deportation after a similar determination by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. So, too, is Badar Khan Suri, a researcher at Georgetown University who was arrested by Homeland Security officials last week outside his Arlington, Virginia, home and whisked to Louisiana.

The lawsuits by Chung and Taal are the latest in a rapidly-broadening confrontation between the Trump administration and immigrants  lawfully present in the United States and charged with no crimes  who are nevertheless being targeted for removal. The State Department claims that Khalil and Suri, for example, have spread propaganda for Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. government but has also been the de facto government in Gaza for nearly two decades.

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At least in Taals case, the Trump administration has linked the decision to cancel his visa to an executive order Trump issued in January targeting antisemitism.

ICE is steadfast in its commitment to enforcing the Executive Order prohibiting anti-Semitism and safeguarding national security. ICE conducts targeted analysis to substantiate aliens alleged engagement of antisemitic activities, ICE official Roy Stanley said in a declaration filed with the federal court in Manhattan Saturday.

Administration officials rejected Taals claim that they initiated removal proceedings against him in part as retaliation for filing his lawsuit, saying they had started the proceedings a day before he sued.

Many pro-Palestinian activists challenging the administration in court have said they suspect they came under scrutiny after pro-Israel websites published information about them. Stanleys declaration stops short of confirming that directly, but says an ICR counterterrorism intelligence proactively reviews open-source information to identify individuals subject to the Executive Order including unclassified information that has been published or broadcast in some manner to the general public.
By Brendan Pierson and Jonathan Allen

(Reuters) -Groups representing Columbia University professors on Tuesday sued the Trump administration over its effort to force the university to tighten rules on campus protests and put a Middle Eastern studies department under outside oversight, among other measures, by canceling $400 million in federal funding and threatening to withhold billions more in the future.

"This action challenges the Trump administrations unlawful and unprecedented effort to overpower a universitys academic autonomy and control the thought, association, scholarship, and expression of its faculty and students," the American Association of University Professors and the American Federation of Teachers said in their lawsuit in Manhattan Federal Court.

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"The Trump administration is coercing Columbia University to do its bidding and regulate speech and expression on campus by holding hostage billions of dollars in congressionally authorized federal funding - funding that is responsible for positioning the American university system as a global leader in scientific, medical, and technological research and is crucial to ensuring it remains so," they said.

The Trump administration has accused the university of having antisemitic harassment on campus and demanded that it place one specific department - Middle East, South Asia, and Africa Studies - into academic receivership, an unusual move where university administrators take control away from the faculty at a department that has been deemed dysfunctional. The Trump administration declined to specify evidence of its claims.

Critics of the Trump administration have said that the receivership demand did not provide constitutional, statutory or regulatory authority and is meant to punish scholars in the department for views that the Trump administration does not like.

Columbia has already partly acquiesced to the administration's demands in an effort to regain funding, saying it had already begun hiring security with arrest powers, that it was working to hire new faculty with joint positions in the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies and the School for International and Public Affairs, as well as hire a new administrator to review the leadership and balance of Middle Eastern programs.

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The actions against Columbia have created a "pervasive climate of fear and self-censorship" not only at its New York City campus but at universities around the country fearing retaliation from the administration, the lawsuit said, adding the actions chilled speech, threatened academic freedom and that students from all backgrounds should be protected from harassment.

It is asking the court to order the administration to restore the $400 million in canceled grants and contracts and to block it from taking any action to enforce its demands.

Also on Tuesday, the AAUP and other academic associations filed a separate lawsuit in Massachusetts federal court seeking to block the administration from deporting non-citizen students for engaging in activism for Palestinian rights, saying that the arrest earlier this month of Columbia graduate and Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident of the United States, and Trump's threat of further arrests had "created a climate of repression and fear on university campuses."

They are seeking a court order barring the administration from deporting or threatening students based on their political views.

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Both lawsuits accuse the administration of trampling on the right to free speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

"This department makes no apologies for its efforts to defend President Trumps agenda in court and protect Jewish Americans from vile antisemitism," the U.S. Justice Department said in a statement.

Columbia, which is not a party in either lawsuit, did not respond to a request for comment.

Khalil, who was born and raised in a refugee camp in Syria, entered the U.S. on a student visa in 2022 and became a legal permanent resident in 2024. A federal judge last week ruled that he must remain in the United States for now.

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The administration claimed after Khalil's arrest that he had withheld his previous work for UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, in his visa application, saying that was grounds for his deportation. UNRWA has said Khalil was briefly an unpaid intern.

(Reporting by Brendan Pierson and Jonathan Allen in New York; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that a Columbia University student who took part in campus protests against Israel's military offensive in Gaza cannot be detained as she fights orders for her deportation.

Lawyers for Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old permanent U.S. resident, say their client was a victim of "shocking overreach" by the government, which is seeking to deport her because of her political views and constitutionally protected protest activities.

The attorneys filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to stop the deportation and the "pattern and practice of targeting individuals associated with protests for Palestinian rights for immigration enforcement," adding that Chung's detainment came around the time Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil was arrested this month.

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"The governments actions are an unprecedented and unjustifiable assault on First Amendment and other rights, one that cannot stand basic legal scrutiny," the lawsuit says.

U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald on Tuesday granted a temporary restraining order against the government preventing Chung from being detained in her immigration case, according to the court order.

Buchwald said at the hearing that the government had not provided enough evidence to support its claims, The Associated Press reported.

Attorney Ramzi Kassem, a member of Chung's legal team, told reporters outside the court that the ruling was "the just and fair thing." He described the government's actions as "outrageous"

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"The court did the sensible thing  it is a temporary restraining order," Kassem said. "Until further order of the court, ICE will not be able to take further steps to detain her, and we will continue to fight as hard as we need to to vindicate her constitutional rights in court."

Originally from South Korea, Chung and her family have lived in the United States since she was 7 years old. The lawsuit says immigration officials signed an administrative arrest warrant for Chung on March 8, the day Khalil was arrested. Like Khalil, she does not need a student visa because of her permanent resident status.

However, unlike Khalil, Chung was not arrested or detained by immigration officials, and her lawyers are seeking to ensure it remains that way.

Joshua Colangelo-Bryan of Human Rights First, one of the groups legally representing her, said Tuesday that federal officers had simply not managed to find Chung to carry out a warrant for her arrest.

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"The government has been very clear that it intends to expel people who have green cards if they express ideas, particularly relating to Gaza, that it doesnt agree with," he said.

Colangelo-Bryan said he was not aware of other students with green cards who were in that situation but added, "I would not be remotely surprised if we find out that there are other people being targeted by the government, even though they've done nothing except voice concern about civilians being killed."

The suit names President Donald Trump and other Cabinet members as defendants, as well as acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons and acting ICE New York Field Office Director William P. Joyce. It accused the government of using the threat of deportation as "a tool to punish non-citizen speakers who express political views disfavored by the current administration."

ICE and the Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment.

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Trump, who called Khalil a "Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student" and promised more arrests of student protesters, has yet to publicly mention Yunseo's case.

Mahmoud Khalil by the gates of Columbia University on April 30.

Chung's legal team filed a petition for habeas corpus, which means that an authority is compelled to bring someone before a court to determine the legality of the persons detention.

The lawsuit says Chung, a promising student who was valedictorian in high school and excelled at college, took part in campus protests beginning in 2023. However, Chung did not have a high-profile, public role in the pro-Palestinian movement or speak to the media.

On March 5, she was arrested but not detained as she was participating in a protest at Columbia against what activists believed were unfair punishments given to student protesters. The lawsuit says Chung only received a "desk appearance ticket" from the New York Police Department, a citation given to many protesters, which the courts are still deciding.

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She also faced college disciplinary proceedings twice  once for putting up posters accusing Columbia of "complicity in genocide." She was found not to have violated university policy, but the lawsuit says she has been suspended since March 7.

Days later, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials signed a warrant for her arrest, and on March 9, officials appeared at her parents' house seeking her.

On March 10, an assistant U.S. attorney, Perry Carbone, messaged one of Chung's attorneys to say her visa had been "revoked." When Chung's attorney explained that she has a green card and doesn't require a visa, Carbone replied: "The secretary of State has revoked that too," the lawsuit says.

On March 13, Department of Homeland Security agents executed search warrants at two Columbia residents, including Chung's dorm, the lawsuit says. The search was an attempt to find occupancy or lease agreements and travel and immigration records, the lawsuit alleges.

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Chung's attorney said that the secretary of state doesn't have the authority to unilaterally revoke permanent resident status and that Carbone "could not explain the justification for the government's purported action."

Khalil and seven other students filed suit against Columbia to keep it from sharing private disciplinary records with a GOP-led House committee. There was a hearing on the matter in federal court Tuesday.

Khalil was sent to the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center after he was arrested in New York this month. The case is in a jurisdictional battle as his attorneys filed a habeas petition in New York but the Trump administration is trying to hold the proceedings in Louisiana.

The administration filed new allegations Monday, claiming Khalil withheld information in his permanent residency application. The filing described Khalil's First Amendment concerns as a "red herring," which his legal team pushed back against.

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"These late-breaking, after-the-fact allegations, silly as they are, primarily show that the government must know the supposed 'foreign policy' grounds for Mahmouds removal are absurd and unconstitutional," attorney Baher Azmy said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A Columbia University junior who was arrested earlier this month during an anti-Israel protest and is facing deportation sued President Trump and other high-ranking officials Monday to stop the feds from throwing her out of the country.

Immigration authorities are attempting to deport 21-year-old Yunseo Chung  who moved to the United States from South Korea nearly 15 years ago with her family  at a time when the Trump administration has said it wants to boot noncitizens whom officials deem a threat to foreign policy.

Yunseo Chung, a legal permanent resident, could face deportation after living in the US for almost 15 years. LinkedIn

Chung, who is a legal permanent resident and has called the US home since she was 7 years old, was not in federal custody as of Monday. Her lawyer would not tell the New York Times where she is other than to confirm she is still in the country.

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The college student apparently landed on the feds radar after she and other students were arrested March 5 during a sit-in at a Barnard College academic building in protest of punishments that the Columbia-affiliated school doled out to anti-Israel agitators.

She was charged with obstructing governmental administration and issued a desk appearance ticket by the NYPD.

A few days later, Department of Homeland Security agents visited Chungs parents home searching for her as a federal agent reached out to the student around the same time via text message, according to the lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court.

When an attorney representing Chung contacted the agent, she was told the State Department was revoking Chungs legal status and had an administrative warrant for her arrest, the legal papers state.

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The lawsuit also revealed her dorm was among two Columbia-owned residences raided by federal law enforcement on March 13  a development which interim school president Katrina Armstrong said at the time left her heartbroken.

Chungs legal team argued that the actions by the Trump administration were an attempt to chill her free speech rights.

The governments retaliation against Ms. Chung comes in a broader context of retaliation against other noncitizens who have exercised their First Amendment rights, her legal team argued.

Columbia has been a hotbed for anti-Israel protests over the last year and a half. Robert Miller

Officials at the highest levels of the federal government have made clear that they intend to use immigration enforcement to punish noncitizens who speak out in support of Palestinians and Palestinian rights, or who are perceived to have engaged in such speech.

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A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told the Times that Chung engaged in concerning conduct, including when she was arrested by NYPD during a pro-Hamas protest at Barnard College. She is being sought for removal proceedings under the immigration laws.

A small handful of anti-Israel demonstrators have faced possible deportation  most notably former Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil, who was front and center during tense protests last year at the elite school.

Khalil, who arrived in the US in 2022 to pursue a masters degree, initially had a student visa before he became a permanent resident two years later.

He was taken into custody March 8 and is being detained at a Louisiana facility as his lawyers and the federal government clash over his future in the country.

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Chung faced a school disciplinary proceeding last year after she plastered posters that stated that members of the Columbia Board of Trustees were Wanted for Complicity in Genocide, but the school ultimately found she did not violate any rules.

The lawsuit, which also lists Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other Trump officials, calls on a judge to scrap the governments deportation of Chung and protect her from arrest in the meantime.

The Post has sought comment from the State Department, the Attorney Generals Office and the Department of Homeland Security.
NEW YORK (AP)  A Columbia University student from South Korea who is facing potential deportation for her involvement in a pro-Palestinian protest can't be taken into immigration detention for now, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

The order marks at least a temporary reprieve for Yunseo Chung, and a setback for the Trump administration's efforts to throw noncitizens out of the country for participating in campus protests that the government deems antisemitic and sympathetic to the militant group Hamas. The students say the government is targeting them for advocating for Palestinian rights.

As of today, Yunseo Chung no longer has to fear and live in fear of ICE coming to her doorstep and abducting her in the night," Chung attorney Ramzi Kassem said after court, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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As a Manhattan federal judge considered Chungs case Tuesday, another federal jurist in Syracuse considered the case of Cornell University doctoral student Momodou Taal. He also faces potential deportation after being at a protest.

In Chung's case, U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald said government lawyers have not yet laid out enough facts about their claims to detain the student while her case plays out.

Chung, 21, came to the U.S. at age 7 and later attained legal permanent residency, known colloquially as a green card.

In a statement Monday, the Department of Homeland Security said Chung had engaged in concerning conduct, including being arrested at a protest. But Buchwald said the government hadn't filed anything that indicated the student was dangerous or communicated with terrorists.

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Nor was it clear why Ms. Chung would pose potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences, the judge said, citing a rationale that President Donald Trump's administration has invoked in Chung's case and those of other student protesters it's seeking to deport.

What is the issue with permitting her to stay in the community and not be subjected to ICE detention while the parties participate in rational, orderly briefing?" Buchwald asked, using a legal term for fleshing out arguments in court filings.

She set dates for those next month, with oral arguments to follow May 20.

Government lawyer Jeffrey Oestericher told Buchwald he couldn't consent to the temporary block on detaining Chung, but I take your point.

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Chung wasn't at the hearing. About a dozen supporters watched quietly from the court audience.

In a lawsuit Monday, Chung's lawyers said immigration officials moved to deport her after she was among protesters arrested after a sit-in at a library on the nearby Barnard College campus this month. Her suit said she was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing government administration after getting stuck in a crowd that couldn't move when police ordered it to. Police released her with a court date, and Columbia suspended her, according to the suit.

Days later, officials told her lawyer that her permanent resident status was being revoked and that the government was seeking to arrest her. Agents came looking for her at her parents home and searched her Columbia dorm, according to the suit. She evidently wasn't there.

Taal, the Cornell student, got a notice last week to surrender to immigration authorities after he sued on March 15 to try to preempt deportation efforts.

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The 31-year-old, who's pursuing a doctorate in Africana studies, is a British and Gambian citizen.

In a court filing, the Justice Department said Taals student visa was revoked for his alleged involvement in disruptive protests that disregarded university policies and created a hostile environment for Jewish students. Cornell has suspended Taal twice, most recently in the fall after a group of pro-Palestinian activists disrupted a campus career fair.

At Tuesday's hearing in Syracuse, U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Coombe asked why Taal's challenge to his potential removal should play out before her, not an immigration judge.

Taals attorney, Eric Lee, argued that the case is about free speech, not just immigration.

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The government is going around and taking people for protesting, Lee said.

Government lawyer Ethan Kanter countered that immigration proceedings can address Taals arguments.

The executive orders in question here, they do not prohibit speech, Kanter said.

Taal didn't attend the hearing. The audience was full of his supporters, and over 100 protesters gathered outside the courthouse, expressing support for him and for Palestinians.

___

Hill reported from Syracuse. Associated Press journalists Larry Neumeister and David R. Martin also contributed.
A 21-year-old Columbia student being sought for deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents filed a lawsuit Monday against President Donald Trump and other officials in his administration, accusing them of unlawfully targeting her because of her involvement in pro-Palestinian protests.

Yunseo Chung, a legal permanent resident whos lived in the United States since she was 7 years old, detailed extensive attempts by ICE to locate and deport her back to South Korea in recent weeks, including by showing up at her parents doorstep and at her university housing seeking lease agreements, travel documents and immigration records.

The governments actions are an unprecedented and unjustifiable assault on First Amendment and other rights, one that cannot stand basic legal scrutiny, Chungs lawyers wrote. Simply put, immigration enforcement ... may not be used as a tool to punish noncitizen speakers who express political views disfavored by the current administration.

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On March 10, her lawyers say, a federal law enforcement official told Chungs counsel that her lawful permanent resident status is being revoked  even though green card removals must be handed down by immigration judges.

ICE has been seeking out Chung even though she has not made public statements to the press or otherwise assumed a high-profile role in these protests, the lawsuit noted. In that way, her case veers from the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate and permanent resident who was taken into custody in Louisiana over his role leading protests on campus.

On March 5, Chung was one of a handful of demonstrators who were arrested for protesting the expulsion of three students from Barnard, Columbias sister college. She was given a standard charge of obstructing of governmental administration  a misdemeanor charge given to demonstrators thats eventually dismissed in many cases.

Ms. Chung had never been arrested before this event and has not been arrested since then, the lawsuit states. She did not participate in any unlawful activity on the day of her arrest or on any other day. The NYPD issued her a desk appearance ticket and released her that day.

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The lawsuit names Trump as a defendant along with several others in his orbit, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The White House, DHS and ICE did not immediately return requests for comment on the lawsuit.

Related...
HARARE, March 25 (Xinhua) -- An expanded team of five former African leaders have been appointed to mediate the security crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to a joint communique released Monday.

The East African Community and the Southern African Development Community held a virtual summit on Monday, announcing that the team includes former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, former President of the Central African Republic Catherine Samba Panza, and Sahle-Work Zewde, former President of Ethiopia.

The summit took into account gender, regional and language inclusivity for the appointment, and a briefing session would be convened within the next seven days, said the communique.

Fighting between the DRC government and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group has intensified in recent months as M23 launched major offensives in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu.

The mineral-rich eastern DRC remains a focal point of conflict, with various armed groups vying for control over such resources as coltan, tin, tantalum and gold.

According to the United Nations, about one million people, including approximately 400,000 children, have been newly displaced since late January 2025, with numbers expected to rise as hostilities persist in North and South Kivu. 
Columbia University student Yunseo Chung is suing the Trump administration amid its efforts to deport the 21-year-old, who has been in the U.S. since she was 7 and has lawful permanent resident status.

A lawsuit was filed Monday after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) got an administrative warrant for Chungs arrest and told the South Korean native that her status was being revoked, even though only an immigration judge can take away a green card.

Chung has been involved in the pro-Palestinian protests on campus but has not spoken to the press or been in a high-profile position like Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia student and fellow legal immigrant who has been detained by ICE.

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Her name was mentioned in media reports after participating in a protest on March 5. She was arrested for alleged obstruction of governmental administration.

It was soon after, the lawsuit alleges, that ICE came after her, went to her familys home to look for her and searched her dorm room.

ICEs shocking actions against Ms. Chung form part of a larger pattern of attempted U.S. government repression of constitutionally protected protest activity and other forms of speech. The governments repression has focused specifically on university students who speak out in solidarity with Palestinians and who are critical of the Israeli governments ongoing military campaign in Gaza or the pro-Israeli policies of the U.S. government and other U.S. institutions, the suit reads.

Chung was valedictorian of her high school class and is currently finishing her third year at Columbia. The university previously cleared her of wrongdoing during disciplinary proceedings related to her protest activities.

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The lawsuit alleges the government is going after her freedom of speech and using the justification that the administration deems her a threat to foreign policy to try to revoke her status.

Her attorneys told The New York Times that she is still in the country, but they declined to specify where.

Yunseo Chung has engaged in concerning conduct, including when she was arrested by NYPD during a pro-Hamas protest at Barnard College. She is being sought for removal proceedings under the immigration laws. Chung will have an opportunity to present her case before an immigration judge, a senior Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said.

ICE HSI will investigate individuals engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization. Based on investigative findings, the Department of State may make a determination which may result in visa revocation or other action impacting the immigration status of an alien in the U.S. Upon the determination from the Department of State, ICE will take appropriate enforcement actions, the spokesperson added.

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The Hill has reached out to Chungs lawyer for comment.

Chungs case comes as Khalils lawyers are still working to get him released after ICE initially transferred him to Louisiana.

The Trump administration has made clear it will go after foreign students who participate in the pro-Palestinian protests, labeling them pro-Hamas.

Updated: 10:03 a.m.

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A federal judge in New York on Tuesday issued a temporary restraining order blocking federal agents from detaining Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old Columbia student who is suing President Donald Trump.

Judge Naomi Buchwald said her order would remain in effect until she can hold a hearing on Chung's lawsuit. The student's attorneys said the TRO means Chung "no longer has to live in fear."

Chung, who has lived in the United States since she moved from South Korea at age 7 and had become a legal permanent resident, participated in demonstrations in defense of Palestinians in Gaza and in her lawsuit accused Trump and other officials of "attempting to use immigration enforcement as a bludgeon to suppress speech that they dislike" -- including Chung's.

PHOTO: A pro-Palestine rally is held at the steps of Lowe Library on the grounds of Columbia University, April 22, 2024, in New York. (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

Federal immigration agents showed up at Yunseo Chung's apartment near the Columbia University campus on March 13, law enforcement sources told ABC News.

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However, law enforcement officials told ABC News at the time that the woman they were seeking was not there when the agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations arrived.

Because Chung participated in a March 5 sit-in inside of an academic building at Barnard College, in addition to demonstrating outside, the federal agents searched her dorm, showed up at her parents' house and said her status as a legal permanent resident had been revoked, according to her lawsuit.

"The prospect of imminent detention, to be followed by deportation proceedings, has chilled her speech. Ms. Chung is now concerned about speaking up about the ongoing ordeal of Palestinians in Gaza as well as what is happening on her own campus: the targeting of her fellow students by the federal government, the arbitrary disciplinary process she and others are undergoing, and the failure of the university to protect noncitizen students," the lawsuit said.

MORE: Trump administration claims Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil misrepresented information on green card application

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The Department of Homeland Security shared a statement with ABC News on Tuesday, prior to the TRO, saying Chung had engaged in "concerning conduct" and cited her prior arrest during a protest at Barnard College. The DHS described it as a "pro-Hamas" protest and added, "ICE HSI will investigate individuals engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization."

The statement went on to say, "Based on investigative findings, the Department of State may make a determination which may result in visa revocation or other action impacting the immigration status of an alien in the U.S. Upon the determination from the Department of State, ICE will take appropriate enforcement actions."

The statement did not acknowledge that Chung had been present in the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident, rather than on a visa, and had not been in the country illegally.

However, DHS confirmed: "She is being sought for removal proceedings under the immigration laws. Chung will have an opportunity to present her case before an immigration judge."

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MORE: Columbia University cedes to Trump administration demands after threat to withhold funds

"If Ms. Chung is detained and deported, she will be indefinitely separated from her family and community," her filing said. "Ms. Chung's parents reside in the continental United States, and her sister is set to start college in the United States in the fall."

Trump's administration argued that Chung's presence poses risks to foreign policy and to halting the spread of antisemitism -- the same rationale the administration invoked for the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist who was escorted from Columbia on March 8.

According to the sources, the actions against Chung are part of the Trump administration's crackdown on individuals it has described as espousing the views of Hamas and threatening the safety of Jewish students.

ABC News' Katherine Faulders contributed to this report.

Columbia student sues Trump after official says her permanent legal status in the US is revoked originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Columbia University faculty sued the Trump administration on Tuesday to restore $400 million in federal funding withdrawn over antisemitism concerns  and stop the government from meddling in university affairs.

The lawsuit, brought by the faculty members union in Manhattan Federal Court, accused several agencies of ignoring the legally required process to terminate funding. Instead, the federal government has revoked contracts  and threatened to cancel more  to bully Columbia into acquiescing to their demands, faculty alleged.

Were seeing university leadership across the country failing to take any action to counter the Trump administrations unlawful assault on academic freedom, said Reinhold Martin, president of the Columbia chapter of the American Association of University Professors and a professor of architecture. As faculty, we dont have the luxury of inaction.

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The integrity of civic discourse and the freedoms that form the basis of a democratic society are under attack. We have to stand up.

The Education and Justice departments, two of the top agencies named as defendants in the lawsuit, did not immediately return a request for comment. The latter runs a task force to combat antisemitism that has led the federal governments response to pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia.

In an effort to resume the flow of funds, Columbia made a series of remarkable concessions Friday to the Trump administration, which had demanded oversight of the Ivys Middle Eastern studies department and arrest powers for campus security. The university agreed to those conditions plus others, including changes to rules on wearing face masks at protests and student discipline. Last year, public grants amounted to 20% of Columbias operating revenue.

The Education Department has yet to restore the funding but indicated Columbia is on the right track.

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The policy changes at the behest of the federal government were condemned by faculty, who said the whole ordeal infringed on academic freedom and imposed unconstitutional conditions on the receipt of funding. The legal action by the AAUP and its affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers, came a day after professors and students protested the policy changes as classes resumed after spring break.

According to the lawsuit, filed by attorneys from Protect Democracy and Altshuler Berzon LLP, the governments involvement has already started to chill free speech. One professor described a student who refused a writing assignment on reproductive rights, fearing their coursework could be accessed by the Trump administration and used against them.

The terminated grants have also hobbled public health efforts, court documents show  including research to prevent Alzheimers disease, promote maternal health and cure cancer.

A majority of the canceled funds came from the National Institutes of Health, which has mostly impacted Columbias medical center, some dozens of blocks north of where the pro-Palestinian campus protests took place. The withdrawn grants amounted to a quarter of the centers research portfolio, according to the lawsuit. At the medical school alone, NIH revoked nearly 30% of grants.

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Another faculty member, who is Jewish, said in the lawsuit that their $2.5 million grant to study student mental health and substance abuse had been terminated. The project involved a New York City agency and was aimed at informing city policy. But the projects work is now on hold: Researchers have ceased meetings with city officials while data analysis has stopped.

The Trump administration is coercing Columbia University to do its bidding and regulate speech and expression on campus by holding hostage billions of dollars in congressionally authorized federal funding  funding that is responsible for positioning the American university system as a global leader in scientific, medical and technological research and is crucial to ensuring it remains so, read the complaint.

Before revoking the federal funds, attorneys for the faculty said the Trump administration should have worked with Columbia on voluntary compliance. If Columbia was found unwilling to comply, the Trump administration needed to provide the university with a hearing and wait a specified amount of time ahead of the cancellations, they said.

Columbia is the testing ground for the Trump administrations tactic to force universities to yield to its control, said Orion Danjuma, an attorney at Protect Democracy. We are bringing this lawsuit to protect higher education.
A federal judge Tuesday temporarily stopped federal agents from detaining 21-year-old Yunseo Chung, a US permanent resident and Columbia University junior, following her participation in pro-Palestinian protests.

Chung sued the Trump administration Monday to stop removal proceedings.

The lawsuit is also looking to stop the pattern and practice of targeting individuals associated with protests for Palestinian rights for immigration enforcement, saying it is retaliation for protected political speech.

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During an emergency hearing, US District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald said the most sensible thing was to enter a temporary restraining order while attorneys litigate the case.

No trips to Louisiana here, she quipped, an apparent reference to others being held in Jena, Louisiana, including Mahmoud Khalil and Badar Khan Suri.

The judge took issue with the government detaining Chung, saying there was no indication that weapons were used during protest activities, and that the judges review of affidavits show no indication she was a foreign threat.

Nothing in the record indicates she is a danger, the judge said. The next hearing will be on May 20.

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Chung has lived in the US since her family moved from South Korea when she was 7, according to the lawsuit. During her time at Columbia University, she has made it onto the deans list every semester since enrolling and has maintained a 3.99 GPA, the lawsuit says. She has been involved in the Columbia Undergraduate Law Review and pursued internships in the legal field, it says.

In a statement to CNN, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said Chung is being sought for removal proceedings under the immigration laws.

Yunseo Chung has engaged in concerning conduct, including when she was arrested by NYPD during a pro-Hamas protest at Barnard College, the spokesperson said. Chung will have an opportunity to present her case before an immigration judge.

Chungs attorneys argue their client is one in a line of noncitizens, including Khalil and Ranjani Srinivasan, being punished by the Trump administration for speaking out in support of Palestinian rights.

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Shes a college junior doing what generations of students before her have done, which is speak up and protest, and for that, the Trump administration is seeking to detain her and deport her, said attorney Ramzi Kassem outside court Tuesday, adding that his client has done nothing criminal.

The lawsuit says the proceedings are being carried out through a policy adopted by the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security in which they would retaliate against and punish noncitizens, including Ms. Chung, for their actual or perceived advocacy for Palestinian rights.

Chung participated in protests on campus against Israels war against Hamas, including visiting the encampment in 2024, but didnt make public statements to the press or otherwise assumed a high-profile role, the lawsuit says.

She faced disciplinary procedures for putting posters on university buildings that featured pictures of Columbia University Board of Trustees members with the words Wanted for Complicity in Genocide, but the university ultimately found she hadnt violated any applicable policies, according to the lawsuit.

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On March 5, Chung participated in a student sit-in at the university to protest excessive punishments meted out by the Columbia administration, where she was arrested by the New York Police Department and given a desk appearance ticket for obstruction of government administration. The university placed her on interim suspension due to the arrest and restricted her campus access, the lawsuit says.

An ICE official signed an administrative arrest warrant for Chung on March 8, and ICE officials went to her parents residence the next day looking for her, the lawsuit says. A federal law enforcement official told Chungs counsel on March 10 that her lawful permanent resident status was being revoked, the lawsuit continues.

Federal law enforcement agents executed search warrants at two residences at Columbia University on March 13, including Chungs dorm, looking for Chungs affiliation with Columbia University, including any occupancy or lease agreements, travel records, and immigration records, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit names the defendants as President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Attorney General Pamela Bondi, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, as well as ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons and New York ICE Acting Field Office Director William P. Joyce. CNN has reached out to their offices for comment.

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A Department of Justice spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday that This Department makes no apologies for its efforts to defend President Trumps agenda in court and protect Jewish Americans from vile antisemitism.

Chungs attorneys asked the court to stop the government from enforcing any immigration action against their client and to declare the policy of targeting noncitizens for removal based on First Amendment protected speech and advocacy for Palestinian rights as unconstitutional.

The governments actions are an unprecedented and unjustifiable assault on First Amendment and other rights, one that cannot stand basic legal scrutiny. Simply put, immigration enforcement  here, immigration detention and threatened deportation  may not be used as a tool to punish noncitizen speakers who express political views disfavored by the current administration, Chungs attorneys say in the lawsuit.

While immigration law gives the secretary of state wide latitude to refuse entry or deport noncitizens if there are reasonable grounds for potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States, the statute forbids this action if it is based on past, current or expected beliefs that would be lawful with the United States, the lawsuit says.

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According to the DHS spokesperson, ICE Homeland Security Investigations will investigate individuals engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization, and depending on their findings, the Department of State may make a determination which may result in visa revocation or other action impacting the immigration status of an alien in the US. From this designation, ICE will take take appropriate enforcement actions, they said.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A Columbus man who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a young girl and created child pornography was sentenced in federal court last week.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Southern District of Ohio, Arturo Navarrete-Juarez, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in July to sexually exploiting a minor over a 14-month span. One week ago, Navarrete-Juarez, 30, was sentenced to 25 years in prison in federal court.

Police: Dead dogs found at home of Madison County trainer

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Court records indicate that between October 2021 and December 20222, Navarrete-Juarez abused the girl, who was 9 and 10 years old at the time, and recorded seven videos of the abuse.

In March of 2023, the FBI investigated child sexual abuse material on a Tor network that featured Navarrete-Juarez. Investigators identified Navarrete-Juarez based on his face being visible in the videos and by matching distinctive tattoos on his hands, arms, and chest, along with the apartment depicted in the background of the videos.

The U.S. Attorneys Office said that Navarrete-Juarez is a Mexican national and does not currently have legal status in the United States.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  The recent nomination and quick appointment of a Columbus City Council member has sparked controversy, with some questioning whether the process violated Georgias Open Meetings Act.

Following the nomination and swearing-in of John Anker as a Columbus City Council member, the Columbus branch of the NAACP, in collaboration with the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, held a news conference to address the next steps in their response to the appointment.

President of the Columbus NAACP, Melvin Tanner Jr. said they called the news conference to address issues critical, not only to the NAACP but, to every community citizen. Tanner said, At the core of our concerns is the trust as a people, trust that we must build. An open communication and transparency to demand accountability and ensure that those who represent us are doing so with honesty and integrity.

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At the center of their concerns is Georgias Open Meetings Act, which requires government meetings to be open to the public, properly publicized, and subject to public scrutiny.

One concerned citizen, Simi Barnes, explained, One of the councilors alluded to outside discussions about filling Councilor Thomass seat. If so, this will be a clear and blatant violation of the Open Meetings Act. It needs to be investigated at once.

Because of these concerns, the NAACP has formally called on Mayor Skip Henderson to support their request for Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr to launch an immediate investigation into what they describe as a clear violation of the Open Meetings Act.

They say transparency in government is crucial and that public officials must be held accountable.

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Member of the national board for the NAACP, Edward Dubose, said he feels the city council is operating under the cover of darkness.

A letter was sent to the mayor addressing the groups requests. They are awaiting his response.

The city council meeting on Tuesday, March 24th, will be the first assembly with Anker as District 9 City Councilor.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
UPDATE 03/25/2025 12:11 p.m. (WRBL)  The Columbus Police Department has released the name of the suspect taken into custody in connection with the 10th Street shooting.

CPD says Roy Foster was taken into custody and is being charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Foster is being held in the Muscogee County Jail and is set to make a Recorders Court Appearance Wednesday afternoon.

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The condition of the person who suffered a gunshot wound to the chest is still unknown at this time.

WRBL will update this article when more information is available.

UPDATE 5:54 p.m. (WRBL)  Columbus police have released new details regarding the shooting on 10th Street.

According to Police, they received a call regarding a shooting shortly before 5 p.m. Police took a suspect into custody within the hour. The suspects name has not yet been released.

The victim, whose name also has not been released, is being treated at Piedmont Columbus Regional for a gunshot wound to the chest.

This is still a developing story, WRBL will update this article when more details are available.

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COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  The Columbus Police Department is conducting an investigation into a shooting in the 500 block of 10th Street that left one person injured.

CPD says one person was injured in the shooting. The Violent Crimes Unit is on the scene and an investigation is underway.

Multiple police cruisers are on the scene. Crime tape has been put up.

Police cruisers and crime scene tape block off 10th Street in Columbus as a shooting investigation takes place. (Photo by WRBL)

This is a developing story, WRBL will update this article when more details are available.

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Some Republicans want U.S. District Judge James Boasberg removed from the bench for allegedly interfering with the presidents authority  under the Constitution and the 1798 Alien Enemies Act  to deport members of a Venezuelan gang.

Texas Rep. Brandon Gill and several colleagues introduced articles of impeachment charging that Boasberg violated his oath of office by knowingly and willfully using his judicial position to advance political gain while interfering with the Presidents constitutional prerogatives and enforcement of the rule of law.

This is ridiculous. For starters, there is zero evidence Boasberg knowingly and willfully violated his oath, never mind that he acted in pursuit of political gain. Moreover, even if the House managed to pass articles of impeachment against Boasberg, nobody thinks two-thirds of the Senate would vote to convict. At best, this is theater; at worst its an attempt to intimidate judges so they stop scrutinizing Donald Trumps deportation efforts.

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Read more: Appeals court panel appears divided on Trump's deportation of immigrants under wartime law

And not just deportation. Republicans have introduced articles of impeachment against more than a half-dozen judges for ruling against Trump on a number of fronts.

But the war on Boasberg is the most intense and significant.

A quick recap. The Trump administration deported more than 200 people, delivering them to an El Salvador prison. Without providing much in the way of evidence, the government says most of them are part of a Venezuelan gang. The president claims the authority to do all this under the 1798 Enemy Aliens Act , which is one of the components of the notorious Alien and Sedition Acts. Indeed, the Enemy Aliens Act is the only component of the sedition acts that hasnt been repealed or allowed to expire.

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The 1798 law says that whenever there is a declared war between the United States and any foreign nation or government, or any invasion or predatory incursion is perpetrated, attempted, or threatened against the territory of the United States by any foreign nation or government, the president can, after a formal proclamation of such an emergency, remove all natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects of the hostile nation or government over the age of 14.

Read more: They were called gang members and deported. Families say their only crime was having tattoos

On March 15, Trump issued a proclamation asserting that the gang Tren de Aragua is a foreign terrorist organization that is closely aligned with, and indeed has infiltrated, the Maduro regime.

We arent at war with Venezuela last I looked, nor do I buy that Tren de Aragua is an invader controlled by a foreign government waging war on the U.S. But on the latter, perhaps the administration has better evidence than it has been willing to provide.

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For arguments sake, lets say the gang meets the criteria of the Enemy Aliens Act. In that case, I have no first-order objection to a policy of arresting, imprisoning or deporting proven members of Tren de Aragua.

The key issue is whether a judge can scrutinize the presidents actions under the Enemy Aliens Act (including the arguably crucial question of whether or not the government is deporting who it says its deporting). Gill and the Trump administration say no. And any attempt to do so renders Boasberg and any other magistrate a  rogue judge .

Read more: The Tren de Aragua gang started in a Venezuelan prison. It's now deep in U.S. politics

Its noteworthy that the smartest defenses of the administration do not necessarily contend that what Trump is doing is legal or constitutional. Rather, defenders hold that scrutinizing the presidents action is a political question. Under the so-called political question doctrine there are some issues, particularly pertaining to national security, that are simply not justiciable  that is, the courts rightly stay away from them. For instance, Congress hasnt issued a formal declaration of war since World War II, but the courts have not ruled that subsequent wars were unconstitutional.

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I am very skeptical of the political-question defense in this case, but it is not an unserious argument. If Venezuela or any other country launched a surprise attack on the United States, I wouldnt want the courts to monkey-wrench our prompt response.

At the same time, theres a reason why the Enemy Aliens Act has only been used  and abused  during declared wars. If youre not troubled by the idea that a president  any president  can simply assert that were in a war, without much evidence, and start deporting or imprisoning people, possibly including American citizens, without due process, I question your dedication to the Constitution and even your patriotism.

Read more: Roberts criticizes Trump's call for impeaching judge who ruled against his deportation plans

But that doesnt automatically mean the judiciary is the right institution to stop the president or empower him. Thats Congress job.

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Congress doesnt have to rely on the last surviving relic of a package of laws that were reviled by Jefferson and Madison and discredited. It could write new ones. It could clarify what the president can or cant do. It could even declare war on Venezuela or Tren de Aragua  that would clear things up in a hurry.

In short, Congress could take its role as the first branch of government seriously.

Its grotesque constitutional malpractice for legislators to attack judges trying to determine what the Constitution and the law allow while booing from the cheap seats. Its fine to argue that the judiciary overplays its role as a check on the executive, but Im grateful for judges when Congress refuses to play any role other than spectator  or heckler.

@JonahDispatch



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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Sam Peterson is one of thousands of fired federal workers who was offered his job back under a judges order, but he didnt jump at the chance to go back to his park ranger position at Washington states Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area.

Instead, he quickly turned it down, opting to move with his wife to start a career outside the government at an Oregon museum.

We signed a lease Monday and who knows what the next few months would bring if I were to return to federal employment, said Peterson, 26.

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Whether to return to the federal workforce is a decision confronting thousands of fired employees after two judges this month found legal problems with how President Donald Trump is carrying out a dramatic downsizing of the U.S. government. One ruling by a California federal judge would reinstate 16,000 probationary employees.

On Monday, the Trump administration sought to stop giving fired workers any choice by asking the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the rehiring orders. It was not clear how quickly the nation's high court could rule on the emergency appeal, which argued that U.S. District Judge William Alsup, who was appointed by Democratic President Bill Clinton, went beyond his legal authority.

Although it is unknown how many federal workers are taking up the offers to return to work, some employees have already decided to move on, fearing more reductions down the road.

Others who were asked to return were immediately put on administrative leave, with full pay and benefits, or offered early retirement. For those who chose to return, some say the decision came down to their dedication to the work and a belief that what they do is important.

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Eric Anderson, 48, got word last week that he can return to his position as a biological science technician at the Indiana Dunes National Park. He said hes excited to go back on Tuesday, where he'll lead a crew conducting prescribed burns to limit wildland fire impacts, but is concerned about the uncertainty.

Ive heard that some peoples positions have changed from doing what they normally do to doing something completely weird and different, Anderson said. Itll be interesting going back and seeing if stuff still changes by the day.

Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, overseen by billionaire Elon Musk, has not disclosed how many probationary workers were cut, how many were reinstated or how many rehired workers were placed on leave.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts asked the Government Accountability Office to seek answers to those questions and to study the impacts of the firings, arguing that removing people from critical areas of government  such as air travel, wildland firefighting, infectious disease control, nuclear security and veterans' health care  has put the county's health and safety at risk. In a letter to Warren and other Democratic senators, the federal office said it accepted their request to review the firings.

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One agency, the National Park Service, was authorized to rehire 1,000 workers, according to the National Parks Conservation Association. The group celebrated the reversal but criticized the process.

This chaotic whiplash is no way to manage the Park Service, especially as they are welcoming millions of visitors right now," said association president and CEO Theresa Pierno. This administration needs to stop playing games with the future of our national parks.

Brian Gibbs, who was fired from his environmental educator job at the Effigy Mounds National Monument in Iowa in February, returned to work Monday. In a widely shared Facebook post, Gibbs said he's committed to serving the American public to the best of my abilities as long as I am authorized to" and leading field trips at the park.

Some Department of Interior workers were given their jobs back only to be offered an early retirement package, according to a letter reviewed by The Associated Press.

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Other returning workers were placed on administrative leave as the Trump administration appeals the court rulings on mass firings. That means some workers were fired as part of an effort to eliminate government waste only to be rehired and paid, at least for a time, to not work.

Sydney Smith, 28, was a probationary employee with the Forest Service who was on a temporary assignment to the Library of Congress when she was terminated. She was rehired but was immediately placed on administrative leave with backpay. Smith said shes ready to get back to work and hopes others get back too.

Its not clear at what point they would have me return to work," she said. "So I am being paid but not working. That feels inefficient.

___

Associated Press reporter Gary Fields contributed from Washington, D.C.
Williamson County commissioners on Thursday will interview four people who have submitted applications to be the next county judge. The person they select will replace Bill Gravell, who resigned this month for a position in the Trump administration.

The four people who have submitted applications are Elvis Lossa, Matt Powell, Steven Snell and Andrew Webb.

The commissioners announced the applicants at their regular Tuesday meeting. County staff declined Tuesday to release the cover letters and resumes of the candidates unless an open records request was filed.

Elvis Lossa

Lossa, 43, said he is the policy coordinator for the speaker of the Texas House.

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"I'm pursuing this role to help Williamson County maintain strong momentum, ensure responsible growth, uphold sound fiscal management and public safety and bring our community together through collaborative leadership," Lossa said in a text message.

Snell, 55, is the superintendent of the Liberty Hill school district.

Steven Snell

"I was asked to consider applying for the position," Snell said in a phone interview Tuesday. "My whole life has been about serving my community and students in public education, and this appeared for me as a way to expand that arm of community service and cast a wider net. I will be a champion for Williamson County and a champion for the interests of the economy for the county and a champion for all 17 school districts inside Williamson County."

More: Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell resigns to take position in Trump administration

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Powell did not respond to a request for comment, and Webb could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

The commissioners will appoint a county judge who will serve until the next general election in November 2026. It was not clear Tuesday whether the commissioners would appoint a county judge on Thursday after interviewing the candidates or at a later date.

The appointed county judge would replace Gravell, who resigned to take a position as the Region 6 advocate for the U.S. Small Business Administration's office of advocacy. Gravell had been the county judge since 2019.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Commissioners to select next Williamson County judge from 4 candidates
CAIRO, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Egypt strongly condemned on Monday Israel's establishment of an agency aimed at displacing Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, and its approval of 13 new settlements in the West Bank.

In a statement released by the Foreign Ministry, Egypt said that the so-called "voluntary departure," which Israel claims this agency targets, lacks any basis.

"The departure occurring under bombardment and war, and under policies that prevent humanitarian aid and use starvation as a weapon, constitutes forced displacement, a crime, and a violation under international law and international humanitarian law," read the statement.

Egypt called on the international community and the UN Security Council to adopt a firm stance against these ongoing Israeli violations and provocations.

It highlighted the Palestinian right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

On Sunday, the Israeli Defense Ministry said that Israel's Security Cabinet has approved the establishment of a new directorate to coordinate the "voluntary relocation" of Palestinians from Gaza to third countries.

The directorate, which will operate under the Defense Ministry, will oversee the "voluntary departure" of Gaza residents who "express interest" in relocating, according to the Defense Ministry.

The ministry did not name any third countries or confirm whether any have agreed to accept potential refugees.

In February, U.S. President Donald Trump presented a plan to transfer Gaza's Palestinian population to neighboring countries, as part of a broader vision to rebuild the war-torn enclave as a "Riviera." He later backtracked on the plan following international condemnations.

The establishment of the new agency came as Israeli forces resumed air and ground offensive across Gaza, effectively ending a two-month ceasefire. Thousands of Palestinians have been displaced again as bombardments intensify. 
A common blood test for ovarian cancer is more likely to fall short for Black and Native American women, according to a new study.

This was the case for Nefa-Tari Moore, 45, a three time "thriver" of gynecological cancer.

The blood test for CA-125, a commonly used marker for ovarian cancer, was never elevated for her, even when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 38.

"All three times that I was diagnosed with cancer, the CA-125 wasn't a marker for me," Moore told ABC News.

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CA-125 was discovered in 1980 and was quickly integrated into clinical care.

"It's one of the key parts of international as well as national algorithms for who should be referred to [gynecologic] oncology," Dr. Anna Jo Smith, lead author of the new study, published March 20 in JAMA Network Open, and a gynecologic oncologist at University of Pennsylvania, told ABC News.

However, the initial studies measuring levels of CA-125 in ovarian cancer were done in predominantly white populations, said Smith. Many noncancerous conditions can raise or lower CA-125 levels.

More research is needed into why some groups have higher or lower CA-125 levels, Smith said.

PHOTO: Nefa-Tari Moore, 45, is a three time thriver of gynecological cancer. (Nefa-Tari Moore)

Current guidelines recommend referring people with an abdominal mass and elevated CA-125 levels to a cancer doctor.

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However, Smith and her team analyzed records from more than 250,000 women with known ovarian cancer from 2004 to 2020 and found that Black and Native American women were 23% less likely to have elevated CA-125 levels.

This meant their cancers are more likely to be missed and potentially receive delayed treatment. In fact, study authors found that falsely negative or low levels of CA-125 were associated with an average nine-day delay in starting potentially lifesaving chemotherapy.

Smith worried that relying too heavily on CA-125 "could further exacerbate disparities in cancer care, leading to delays or potentially even nonreferrals" of Black or Native American people with normal CA-125 levels.

"We unfortunately know that both Black and Native American women are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer," said Smith. "They are also more likely to die of their disease."

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Diagnosing ovarian cancer earlier improves chances of survival.

"The earlier patients get seen by us, the better they do," said Smith.

Ovarian cancer: Deadly and difficult to diagnose

More than 20,000 people were newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2021, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In 2022, more than 13,000 people died from ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer may not be as prevalent as breast cancer, but it is more deadly. The likelihood of survival for someone diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago is 91%. For ovarian cancer, that survival rate decreases to 50%.

The poor survival rate of ovarian cancer can be due to delayed diagnosis, according to Dr. Melissa Simon, an OB-GYN at Northwestern Medicine, who is not associated with the study.

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Mom who documented ovarian cancer battle on TikTok dies at 30: What to know about the deadly disease

One of the challenges of diagnosing ovarian cancer are the vague symptoms, which include nausea, feeling bloated, early satiety, and abdominal distension, according to Simon.

Unfortunately, many people with these symptoms are not referred to a cancer doctor, said Smith. "It's not an uncommon story for a patient to come to me who's had signs or symptoms for years and has been dismissed," she said.

Moore had a similar experience. She said she remembers how her symptoms were initially dismissed at a local emergency room, and she told her doctor, "I know something is wrong with my body."

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While battling ovarian cancer, Moore was connected with SHARE Cancer Support, a nonprofit organization that supports people diagnosed with with breast or gynecologic cancer, according to its website.

Now the director of Black women's outreach at SHARE Cancer Support, Moore shared some practical tips for people navigating gynecological cancer.

"Black women can advocate for themselves by educating themselves on the diagnosis that they've received," she said, adding that people can also join a support group to "be in contact with others diagnosed with cancer and see how they have survived and are thriving through their experience."

If you have a family history of ovarian cancer in a first or second degree relative, Smith recommends approaching your OB/GYN to discuss potential screening.

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Pete Sampras reveals wife Bridgette Wilson was diagnosed with ovarian cancer

"Ask for imaging, even just an ultrasound, which is a very non-invasive test, can be helpful for looking at the ovaries if you have signs and symptoms," she said.

Both Smith and Simon agree more research in diverse populations is needed to determine better markers for ovarian cancer.

"We need research to represent our population," said Simon.

Sejal Parekh, M.D., is a board-certified practicing pediatrician and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit.

A common blood test for ovarian cancer is more likely to fall short for Black and Native American women originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
On Tuesday, March 25, the National Weather Services Storm Prediction Center upgraded the likelihood that the thunderstorm approaching western Washington will become severe.

As of this morning, the Storm Prediction Center in Oklahoma upgraded a good chunk of Puget Sound  basically from the Everett area down through Olympia and into the southwest interior of Washington  into the slight risk category of severe weather, Maddie Kristell, a meteorologist with NWS Seattle, told McClatchy in a phone call.

Perhaps more notably, the warning claimed that the storm may produce large hail, a brief tornado, and locally strong gusts.

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Theyve also, in the same area of the slight, got a 2% to 4% chance of a tornado as well, Kristell said. So its, on paper, a small likelihood, with the primary threats being more aligned with hail and strong thunderstorm wind gusts, we certainly cant rule out rotation or spin up.

How common are tornadoes in WA?

Tornadoes are rare in Washington, but they do happen occasionally. The Washington Emergency Management Division estimates that there are around two tornadoes in the state each year.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the state has seen 64 tornadoes since 2000, although 49 of those registered at EF0, the lowest level on the tornado magnitude scale. 13 reached EF1 and one reached EF2 on the one through five scale, while one was unspecified.

There have been 4 in Benton County. In western Washington theyre even less common. Thurston County has seen 4 tornadoes since 2000, most recently in 2019. Pierce County has seen five this century, but none since 2015. Snohomish County has had three, while King and Whatcom Counties have had one each.

Are tornado warnings common in WA?

So how rare are weather warnings that come with the chance of a tornado in Washington? Kristell said that this is the first time the Storm Prediction Center has upgraded a Washington storm to the slight risk category since the late 2010s.

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I believe the last one that was a similar analog to this may have been 2017, Kristell said. So its definitely not something that we see every season, every year.

More often, NWS Seattle will issue a tornado warning. However, that only occurs when signs of a tornado have been reported or forecasting indicates one is imminent. According to Washington states Emergency Management Division, its difficult to detect tornadoes in advance in Washington due to the mountainous terrain, and they often form with little to no warning.

The last time we issued a tornado warning here at the Seattle office was this past November. It was shortly after the bomb cyclone and wind event, Kristell said.

Kristell said that NWS Seattle has issued 14 tornado warnings for western Washington in the past 20 years, the majority of those have been along the states Pacific coast.

Could WA see a tornado?

After the upgrade to the slight risk category, the odds of western Washington seeing a tornado remain low. However, while a tornado isnt likely, Kristell said that the low pressure system causing the storm has the potential to behave in an unpredictable way.

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Weve got a low pressure system offshore and its tilted negatively, Kristell said. So its kind of not standing straight up, but tilted more in an east-west direction, and that makes an environment thats more favorable for storms to develop, and in this case, become more likely to be severe.

What to do in a tornado

In the event that a tornado does hit, EMD recommends that you take these steps:

Duck under something sturdy and as close to the ground as you can.

Cover your head.

Wait until the storm has passed before you leave.

EMD recommends going to the lowest floor of the building youre in, ideally a basement, and finding a closet or a small room with sturdy walls.

If youre in a car when a tornado is nearby, EMD recommends that you leave and try to get indoors. If you cant, you should find a ditch, lie flat and cover your head.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, originally classified as an unclaimed veteran, was laid to rest on Tuesday morning, surrounded by hundreds of community members and his son.

On Tuesday, March 27, a crowd and an unexpected family member gathered to say one last goodbye to U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jim E. Van Hoose Jr.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Funeral for unclaimed veteran in Colorado Springs Tuesday

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As a member of the Patriot Guard Riders, we come out and hold the flag line and make sure no ones buried alone, said Todd Miller, who found out about the service via social media.

Today, we had a great turnout, which is great. Years in the past, sometimes its only us out here. I wouldnt want to be in that situation myself, you know, it could have been me, said Miller. So as a member of the PGR, I come out just to represent and show that we care and to honor their service before theyre interred.

Initially, Van Hoose was deemed an unclaimed veteran. Unclaimed status occurs when a veteran dies and no family is known or can be located to come forward and claim the remains. In those times, the community is encouraged to serve as the veterans family by showing up at the funeral and paying their respects.

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In a twist of events, Van Hooses son, Shawn, was able to attend the service on Tuesday. Shawn said he initially found out about the service on Monday night while he was in Salem, Oregon. Shawn told FOX21 News he was surprised by the communitys turnout and was anticipating it to be a small ceremony with few in attendance, instead of the hundreds that showed up.

Its important that we honor our veterans, but also that we support their families and recognize the sacrifices that they have made, you know, during the course of their veterans service, and make sure that theyre supported as much as possible, said Steve Hayes, an American Legion commander and Navy veteran. Its an important part of our saying farewell to a fellow veteran.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
KIEL, Wis. (WFRV)  A decade later, Northeast Wisconsin remembers and continues to honor fallen state trooper Trevor Casper.

On March 24, 2015, the 21-year-old Casper was on his first solo patrol. He had tracked down a murder and bank-robbing suspect near the Pick N Save in Fond du Lac. The suspect shot at Casper, hitting him. Before dying from his wounds, Casper fired back at the suspect killing him.

Twenty one years old Trevor Casper did more in 17 seconds than most people will do in a lifetime, said Fond du Lac County district attorney Eric Toney. Hes a hero and remains in our hearts forever.

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Toney said he remembers that day well. He said after information started coming in about what had happened, he was struck by Caspers heroic actions.

Lawrence officials consider $215 million community development project

Its hard to believe that it has already been 10 years and how eternally grateful we are for Trevors sacrifice to keep our community safe, Toney said. We owe an eternal debt of gratitude to Trevor and his family.

Toney said that every year on the date of his death, the Wisconsin State Patrol holds a solemn ceremony at Caspers grave in Kiel with Trevors family.

On Monday the Wisconsin State Patrol made a Facebook post in honor of Casper, reminding the public to never forget his sacrifice.

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The Kiel Police Department also posted on Facebook about Casper:

Today marks the ten-year anniversary of Trooper Caspers line-of-duty death. On this date we remember the ultimate sacrifice made by Trooper Casper to serve and protect his community by laying down his life. Trooper Caspers legacy as a brother, son, and hero will be continued to be remembered not only today, but every day in our hearts. Kiel Police Department Facebook Post

Were told that it meant the world to Casper to be able to serve his community as a member of the Wisconsin State Patrol. Casper grew up in Kiel and attended Kiel High School where he played multiple sports.

On Monday, fresh flowers laid on the bench of the memorial in Caspers honor near the Pick N Save in Fond du Lac where the shooting happened a decade ago.

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Back in November, then president Joe Biden signed a bill introduced by Congressman Glenn Grothman that renames the post office building in Kiel as the Trooper Trevor J. Casper Post Office Building.

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Anytime a trooper loses his or her life or any police officer frankly, its a sad day, said Governor Tony Evers during a stop in Green Bay on Monday to discuss childcare. And this one was especially sad. We have to respect the people who do that work every single day, its amazing work.

We all wish that Trevor and those fallen officers were still here, added Toney. Its important that we honor and remember the sacrifice they have made and keep them in our hearts forever.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Monday morning kicked off the start of the inaugural Charitable Challenges, a joint initiative between community civic organizations, the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer and the United Way of the Ohio Valley, in an effort to combat hunger and food insecurity throughout Daviess County.

The first edition of the campaign saw civil organizations pair up with an area post-secondary institution, which worked together to collect donations from staff members, alumni, civic group members and members of the community throughout March 17-21.

Paula Yevincy, UWOVs president and chief executive officer, said the programs concept stemmed from a conversation about the need for collaboration and ...if we join forces, how we can just grow our impact on what we provide in terms of services to the community.

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It was a very preliminary discussion in the beginning because the civic groups have really not done projects together before , she said. The Messenger-Inquirer did a beautiful job of formulating a structure, along with us at United Way, to make that happen.

Yevincy said a similar program has been conducted in Paducah, which led to discussion about the needs in the community and hunger relief rose to the surface.

If youve been to the grocery store lately, (you) certainly understand the price of groceries and what it takes to feed a family right now, she said.

Furthermore, Yevincy said thought was put into finding ways to engage others in Owensboro-Daviess County to take part while also promoting awareness of local needs.

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Eventually, post-secondary institutions  Brescia University, Kentucky Wesleyan College and Owensboro Community & Technical College  became part of the equation.

Helping the young people understand the need of hunger insecurity and other social needs is critical for them in knowing their own community and learning how they can help, Yevincy said. Its been pretty exciting.

On Monday, students from Brescia were the first to arrive at the Help Office of Owensboro to drop off the donations the school collected with the Owensboro Civitan Club and the Kiwanis Club of Owensboro.

Stephen Schmidt, a sophomore at Brescia, has seen the importance of giving back since his upbringing in Monroe, Louisiana.

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Growing up, I was super active in church youth groups as well as Boy Scouts, so Ive done countless hours of volunteer work and community service work, Schmidt, 20, said. ... Ive seen the impact of it.

Additionally, Schmidt finds the Charitable Challenges to be in line with The Brescia Difference, the universitys mission of producing servant leaders that exemplify leadership capabilities balanced with the responsibility of service.

I like that my college has similar views as to whats important outside of academics , Schmidt said.

Isaac Duncan, Brescias assistant dean of students for student activities and leadership development, echoed Schmidts remarks and emphasized the importance of expanding students world views and see issues at hand.

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... Whereas they are on campus all the time, (students) have a limited scope of whats going on, he said. We like to make sure that they have a spectrum of experiences to help them have a better knowledge (thats going to help) them in the real world after college.

Angela Settle, executive director for The Help Office  which has been serving the less fortunate since 1972  said one of the major challenges the organization has faced consistently regards food insufficiency.

Upon being chosen to be part of the first Charitable Challenges program, Settle was thrilled.

The need is real. We need help from our community, she said. We get organizations (that) donate, (along with) churches (and) individuals; and for the college students to be able to do this for us is a blessing.

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Settle said the need continues to grow each year.

We have a lot of single parents with no support. Moms that are working a job and they have to take off because their kids are sick, they lose their job, she said. We have people living on limited income with SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and they can barely make ends meet, and one of the things they dont purchase is food.

Those needs have increased drastically since 2021, Settle said.

KWC and OCTC have paired up with the Owensboro Rotary Club and the Owensboro Lions Club, respectively, with drop offs at The Help Office taking place on Thursday and Friday.

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The pair that collects the most donations will be declared the winner, which will receive a commemorative plaque.

Schmidt said having the competition aspect to the program is a fun way to get people engaged while also contributing to a good cause.

In any competition, any school is gonna want to win, he said. Its just going to be nice where one university is going to be pushing the other one to raise (donations) .

Theres no shame in losing this competition, Schmidt said.

Yevincy, too, finds the initiative to be a victory for all involved and said theres plans to keep Charitable Challenges going in the future.

Everybodys winners  to be part of this and to give back in a way that maybe they just havent experienced before, she said. ... Our goal is to look at other needs in the community, to keep these social clubs, civic clubs engaged with the  other groups within the community so that we can continue to do collaboration and make a bigger impact.
COMSTOCK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  The Comstock Public Schools Board of Education says it has removed a policy on transgender students in response to a recent executive order. District leaders say protections and procedures still apply under other policies and state law.

On March 10, the board voted to rescind policy 5106 on transgender students in a 5-2 vote after a two-hour closed session reviewing attorney communication. The policy had sections outlining definitions, notifications, student records and privacy, restroom and locker room access and staff training.

PDF: Comstock Public Schools policy 5106

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Policy 5106 protections are covered by other stand-alone policies, said Superintendent Jeff Thoenes. Students and staff are to report bullying and similar issues under the districts unlawful discrimination and harassment policies. As for bathroom and locker room usage, Thoenes said students are protected under Michigans Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.

Thoenes said the vote was about reducing the districts risk amid a changing federal landscape that makes it easier to target these types of policies. Last month, the U.S. Department of Education launched an online reporting tool targeting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies and practices in schools.

You could be a resident of another state, even, and comb through websites or issues and then file a complaint that you believe that the district isnt adhering to the executive order. So given that, the board decided to take the action it did, knowing that protections in Michigan were still valid and proper, Thoenes said.

Trump administration gives schools a deadline to end DEI programs or risk losing federal money

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He said district staff members are working with affected students and their families on a case-by-case basis. One of those parents, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the policy solidified protections for their student.

I think I can trust the staff to protect and respect my child and that brings me comfort. I find that the superintendent seems very genuine in concerns over childrens safety, the parent said. The problem is we have to have policy to protect these kids other than safeguards to, I dont know, come back when theres harm done.

Heather Standforth, communications and advocacy manager of OutFront Kalamazoo, said removing policy 5106 sends a discouraging message amid major federal changes.

The school board is saying were OK with that not being on written record, that we are OK with not stating the intention of our entire school district to commit to protections for trans youth, were OK with actively taking that off the books,' she said. That is in itself is a gesture that harms the trans community and the trans youth who are in these schools.

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The Pentagons DEI purge: Officials describe a scramble to remove and then restore online content

During a school board meeting Monday night, more than a dozen people voiced their support for reimplementing the policy by sharing personal stories from educators, members of the trans community and parents.

Board President Pamela Dickinson read from a statement reiterating that the vote came in the wake of a federal executive order. She said the district is committed to serving all students.

While policy landscapes shift, our core values as a district do not. Every student deserves a safe and affirming environment where they can learn without fear and with the full support of their school community. The receding of this policy is not expected to affect the acceptance and respect of our students nor the mental well-being in their education journey, Dickinson said.

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Thoenes said no other policies are under review right now.

District policies 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 WOODTV.com.
Several conservative organizations asked the Federal Communications Commission last week to end its investigation into CBS over a seemingly baseless complaint that the network wrongly altered an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris during last years presidential campaign.

President Donald Trump has accused 60 Minutes of running defense for the Harris campaign with selective editing. CBS has denied the allegation, and it said earlier this month that the complaint, brought by the conservative nonprofit Center for American Rights, punishes specific editorial decisions that are an essential part of producing news programming. (Its worth noting that Fox News edited some of its footage to shorten Trumps rambling, false answers during a campaign Q&A event in October.)

The CBS complaint was dismissed in January by then-outgoing FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, who warned the complaints sought to "weaponize the licensing authority of the FCC in a way that is fundamentally at odds with the First Amendment. But Trumps handpicked FCC chairman, Project 2025 co-author Brendan Carr, revived the complaint when he was tapped for the post  and now some conservatives seem to be in line with Carrs predecessor in thinking the complaint should be dropped.

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As Reuters reported Thursday:

The Center for Individual Freedom, Americans for Tax Reform, Taxpayers Protection Alliance and other groups called on FCC Chair Brendan Carr to end the investigation into the unit of Paramount Global, saying an adverse ruling against CBS would constitute regulatory overreach and advance precedent that can be weaponized by future FCCs.

Although the request puts the groups at odds with Carr, it still includes some MAGA talking points. For example, the groups say they understand and appreciate why many conservatives would seek to now level the playing field and subject other media organizations  such as CBSs parent company Paramount  to the same regulatory cudgel that has long afflicted conservative media.

But the message was clear: These groups are fearful of the Trump administration taking action against CBS in this case (perhaps because they, too, see the baselessness in it) and dont want conservative media outlets to be on the receiving end of such treatment if and when the executive branch is controlled by the Democratic Party again.

Carr, for the record, doesnt appear to share their worries. In a statement to Reuters, he vowed to continue this illiberal stunt.

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The FCCs review of the complaint against CBS remains active and ongoing, he told Reuters. Ever since he was appointed, Carr has treated his position as a weapon to be wielded in Trump's war against the free press. He opened investigations into NPR and PBS, two media outlets reviled by Republicans. And just last week, he threatened to kill corporate mergers involving companies that have policies promoting diversity.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
The content of the U.S.-Russia talks in Riyadh will not be made public, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on March 25, state-owned media outlet TASS reported.

"We are talking about technical negotiations. These negotiations are immersed in details, so, of course, the content of these negotiations will definitely not be published. This is not to be expected," the spokesperson said.

Peskov added that the results of the consultations had been relayed to Moscow and Washington and are currently under review.

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His remarks came after 12 hours of U.S.-Russia negotiations on March 24. A new round of U.S.-Ukraine talks took place on March 25, following an initial meeting on March 23.

The negotiations are part of U.S. President Donald Trump's ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire and a broader peace agreement in Ukraine.

The U.S. initially planned to meet with both Ukraine and Russia on the same day, but President Volodymyr Zelensky later announced that Kyiv's delegation would meet with U.S. officials on March 23, a day before the U.S.-Russia talks.

Peskov confirmed on March 24 that the Black Sea Initiative was a key topic in the U.S.-Russia talks in Riyadh. Similar agreements existed under the 2022 Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the U.N. and Turkey.

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Despite the ongoing war, this initiative allowed Ukraine to export agricultural products via the Black Sea. The deal, which helped stabilize global food prices, collapsed in July 2023 when Moscow withdrew.

Since then, Russian forces have repeatedly targeted Ukrainian port infrastructure.

A Russian ballistic missile struck Odesa's port on March 1, damaging facilities and a Panamanian-flagged civilian ship. Several other foreign vessels have been hit, including in October 2024, when multiple ships sustained damage in separate Russian strikes.

According to Reuters, the U.S. delegation in Riyadh was led by Andrew Peek, a senior director at the National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior State Department official.

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The Russian delegation included Grigory Karasin, the chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, and Sergei Beseda, an adviser to FSB director Alexander Bortnikov.

Karasin later described the talks as proceeding in a "creative way," saying the U.S. and Russian delegations "understand each other's views," as quoted by Russian state news agency Interfax.

The negotiations come amid concerns that Moscow is deliberately stalling peace efforts to strengthen its position. The Kremlin claimed last week that it had ordered a 30-day halt to strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure following a phone call between Trump and Putin.

Kyiv also supported a mutual halt on energy strikes but later accused Russia of continuing attacks on civilian targets.

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The U.S. and Ukraine initially backed a broader 30-day ceasefire that would include halting ground operations, but Russia rejected the proposal unless it included conditions that would undermine Ukraine's defense capabilities, such as suspending foreign military support.

Read also: Ukraine US begin new round of talks in Riyadh, media reports

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT)  Work is expanding to repair a sinkhole that formed in downtown Evansville.

Crews were back on-site on Monday to reinforce the road.

Last week, workers were forced to stop their work due to the rising water levels from the Ohio River.

Utility officials announce that work will expand to other locations in the area.

Those will include 304 Market Street on March 28 and locations from Locust to Walnut Street on April 3.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
Oskar Jakob, 94, is a Jewish Holocaust survivor who once assembled V-1 flying bombs in a subterranean concentration camp, and Im the granddaughter of the engineer who developed those secret Nazi super weapons. Despite or perhaps because of our respective histories, weve worked to become friends. And while Ive known Oskar for a few years, its only recently, as neo-Nazis flew swastika flags in Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, that I felt the need to use my own ancestry to fight this brand of hate.

The white supremacist demonstrations in Ohio werent one-offs. Last fall, another black-clad group, their faces covered, did the same just three miles from Oskars St. Louis home. America for the White Man, declared the banner they hung from an overpass on Interstate 64. Oskars son snapped a picture as he drove by and sent it to me along with three angry-face emojis.

These incidents made me angry too, but also profoundly uncomfortable. What is the proper response when thugs perpetuate the hateful rhetoric of a political party to which your grandfather once belonged? And what could be more uncomfortable than the weight of the history between Oskar and me?

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Read more: Contributor: Putin's diaspora will echo 1939's, but going in the opposite direction

In 1945, after 40 of Oskar Jakob's family members died at Auschwitz, the SS imprisoned him at the Mittelbau-Dora camp in Nordhausen, Germany. Deep in the tunnels of this former gypsum mine, 14-year-old Oskar was forced to rivet sheet metal used to make Vergeltungswaffe Einz: Vengeance Weapon #1. This was the worlds first cruise missile and my grandfather Robert Lusser headed the Luftwaffe project to create it.

I met Oskar eight decades later when I flew to St. Louis to interview him for a podcast I host about my German history. Id been wanting to speak with a survivor for years, but it wasnt easy to connect because each Holocaust group I asked for help declined. Putting a relative of the Nazi engineer who created weapons of mass destruction in touch with a slave laborer who assembled them in conditions so horrific that 20,000 prisoners died was a nonstarter. But finally, I found Oskar, and on a warm spring afternoon, I found myself sitting in his neat dining room, listening to him tell of a night when guards caught a group of prisoners resting.

They hung 70 people simultaneously, and we were forced to march by the dead bodies and everybody had to punch them with their fist, he said. I stared out at the bright, Midwestern afternoon, longing to feel the sun on my face.

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Read more: After 80 years, not many Auschwitz survivors are left. One man makes telling the stories his mission

I feel very much like I want to tell you that Im so sorry, I said instead, not exactly sure on whose behalf I was apologizing. My own? My familys? All of humanity?

I appreciate that, Oskar said, his face folded neatly, like an old map. Up til today I have never heard from a German that they are sorry for what I went through.

Technically, Im not German. My grandfather immigrated to the United States in 1948, recruited to build bombs for America. I had ignored my controversial German legacy for most of my life. After all, no one really wants to ask the question: Was Grandpa an ideological Nazi? Our family lore emphasized the genius engineer theme and disregarded the fact that Robert Lusser joined the Nazi party in 1937 to advance his career.

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Read more: Auschwitz was liberated 80 years ago. The spotlight is on survivors as their numbers dwindle

A decade later, the Office of Strategic Services, precursor to the CIA, cleared my grandfather of any crimes, in part because it benefited Americas Cold War cause to have him on our weapons team. Investigators categorized him as Mitlaufer  a fellow traveler  someone who benefited from Hitler's regime while not actively participating in its atrocities. My grandfather stood silent in the face of evil because that was the beneficial, easier choice.

Just as many Germans ignored the rise of National Socialism in the 1920s and 30s, too many Americans are ignoring whats happening here a century later. "Antisemitic incidents in the U.S. rose 140% from 2022 to 2023, Oren Segal of the Anti-Defamation Leagues Center on Extremism told me. We documented over 10,000 incidents between the Oct. 7th, 2023, attack on Israel and its anniversary in 2024.

Read more: Contributor: As a Holocaust survivor, the most important thing I can do is share my story

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After wrestling with generational guilt, which feels like a curse handed down through time, and questioning my responsibility as an American personally connected to Nazi history, I made a decision. When swastika flags fly in America and white supremacists shout Heil Hitler! and racial slurs, when a presidential surrogate offers a Nazi-style salute and makes common cause with Germanys neo-Nazi-adjacent political party, the AfD, I will not be a fellow traveler. Or a bystander.

My first social media post using my family history as a cautionary tale was viewed almost 2 million times and drew thousands of comments, some full of hate and ridicule. It makes me anxious to put myself in the public eye, but it's no underground death camp, without sunlight, escape or hope.

When Oskar and I spoke last May at the Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum in St. Louis, it was standing room only. Suzanne Rico is a descendant of a Nazi engineer, said the master of ceremonies. Oskar nodded his white-haired head as 300 people waited to hear what I had to say. I said that historys most terrifying ghosts are coming back to life.

If you dont believe me, look closely at photos taken on an Ohio street or a Missouri interstate. Pay attention to the covered faces of cowards trying to intimidate through fear. And then ask yourself: What uncomfortable legacy might we leave our children and grandchildren if we stay silent this time around?

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Suzanne Rico is an award-winning television and print journalist. She hosts the podcast "The Man Who Calculated Death." @suzannerico on all platforms



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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BUDAPEST, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Hungary has enacted an emergency decree requiring banks to keep all ATMs operational and continue providing cash withdrawal services at branch locations.

The measure aims "to prevent the misguided Brussels sanctions," imposed due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, from disrupting the population's access to cash, according to the decree. It was published late Monday in the official Hungarian Gazette and took effect Tuesday.

The decree, signed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, said that keeping cash availability is a national priority, stressing that "ensuring access to cash is of key importance in rural areas."

Under the regulation, financial institutions are prohibited from dismantling existing ATM infrastructure or terminating in-branch cash withdrawal services during a declared state of emergency.

Banks that fail to comply may face fines ranging from 2 million to 200 million forints (5,440 to 544,000 U.S. dollars). The measure is a part of a broader government effort announced last week to install ATMs in all 3,155 Hungarian municipalities.

Currently, only about one-third of them have such machines. According to estimates published by leading local business portal Portfolio, achieving this goal could require the deployment of over 2,000 new ATMs at a projected cost of around 12 billion forints. (1 Hungarian forint = 0.0027 U.S. dollar) 
Controversial advance voting bill to become new law in Kansas after veto override

TOPEKA (KSNT)  Lawmakers in Kansas have defeated a veto decision made by Governor Laura Kelly this week, pushing a hotly debated advance mail bill to become a new law in Kansas.

Lawmakers in the Kansas House and Senate voted Tuesday, March 25 to override Kellys veto decision regarding Senate Bill 4. The House voted 84-41 while the Senate voted 30-10, defeating the veto and pushing Senate Bill 4 to become a new law despite Kellys disapproval of the legislation.

Senate Bill 4 requires the return of advance voting ballots by 7 p.m. on the day of the election, according to its short title. Kelly vetoed the bill on Monday, March 24, explaining she found issue with the bill due to it allegedly disenfranchising thousands of Kansas voters.

Governor Kellys misguided veto was a slight to voter confidence, but that was corrected with todays override of Senate Bill 4. Kansas voters  whether in rural communities or urban centers  deserve an election system that is transparent, fair, and trusted. This override reflects House Republicans commitment to ensuring all Kansas votes will be counted. Joint statement by Representative Chris Croft, Representative Dan Hawkins and Representative

Blake Carpenter.

UPS shutting down two Kansas facilities in 2025

House Democrats are deeply disappointed by the partisan decision to override Governor Laura Kellys veto of Senate Bill 4, which eliminates the crucial three-day voting grace period. This decision disenfranchises key groups of voters, including those in rural communities, seniors, and college students, making it more difficult for them to exercise their right to vote. The three-day grace period, established by the legislature in 2017, was a critical response to the challenges posed by the United States Postal Service. It ensured that voters who encounter delays in the mail process still have the opportunity to have their ballots counted. By eliminating this vital safeguard, Senate Bill 4 directly undermines the integrity of our elections and disenfranchises those who are most vulnerable. House Democrats will never support these types of partisan Republican efforts that deliberately make it harder for Kansans to vote. House Democratic Leader Brandon Woodard

What is the upcoming Black Mass in Kansas?

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Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Cook Out is moving forward with plans for a restaurant in Charlottes midtown, according to Mecklenburg County building permits.

The Thomasville-based restaurant chain was issued a permit for 715 Charlottetown Ave. on March 12.

That permit calls for an interior renovation of a 3,451-square-foot space  which is now occupied by a Wendys restaurant.

ALSO READ: Restaurant expanding to SouthPark center

Wendys website still lists that restaurant as open, though the phone has been disconnected.

Wendys did not respond to a request for comment.

Read more on CBJs website here.

WATCH BELOW: Historic Carolina Theatre opens in Uptown
Update: 3/25/25 7 p.m.

NEW BERLIN, Ill. (WCIA)  The Illinois State Police made an arrest on Monday after a hit-and-run over the weekend left a woman from New Berlin dead.

State Police arrested 65-year-old Robert Butcher of Pleasant Plains for leaving the scene of a fatal traffic crash.

One hospitalized with potentially life-threatening gunshot wounds in Champaign shooting

On March 22, an officer with the New Berlin Police Department found a female pedestrian, later identified as Maysa Davis, who had been hit by a vehicle on I-72. Davis was brought to a nearby hospital and later declared dead.

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State Police said the vehicle that hit Davis left the scene before officers arrived. After an investigation, State Police identified Butcher as the driver of the vehicle.

On March 24, State Police arrested Butcher and brought him to the Sangamon County Jail. State Police added that the investigation is still ongoing, and that no further information is available at this time.

NEW BERLIN, Ill. (WCIA)  The Sangamon County Coroner released more information Tuesday afternoon about a deadly hit-and-run that happened over the weekend.

WCIA previously reported that Illinois State Police responded to a hit-and-run around 11:15 p.m. on Saturday. The accident happened on I-72 in Sangamon County, just east of the New Berlin exit. Deputies said that a 35-year-old woman from New Berlin was walking on I-72 when she was hit by a car. The woman suffered life-threatening injuries, and later died.

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UPDATE: Champaign stabbing suspect arraigned on murder charges

Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon identified the woman as Maysa Davis. She was pronounced dead at the scene. After an autopsy was done Monday, Allmon said preliminary findings suggest she died from multiple blunt force injuries from a pedestrian vs. car incident.

The Sangamon County Coroner and Illinois State Police are still investigating.

WCIA reached out to Illinois State Police for more information and is waiting to hear back.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  Human remains found in a downtown Charleston neighborhood earlier this month have been identified, but the search for those responsible continues.

The skeletal remains of 67-year-old Everette Lee Stover were found in the backyard of a vacant Lee Street home on March 4.

Detectives with the Charleston Police Department believe Stover died sometime after Oct. 1, 2024, and that he was the victim of a violent assault.

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Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo ONeal said an examination of the remains found that Stover suffered some type of trauma. His death is being investigated as a homicide.

Stover lived in Charleston for most of his life, according to the Charleston Police Department. They said his friends and family shared that he struggled with addiction after being partially crashed by a forklift.

This photo of E. Lee Stover provided by the Charleston Police Department

This photo of E. Lee Stover provided by the Charleston Police Department

As the investigation continues, detectives are looking to speak with three of his known associates: Michael James Snell, 49, of California; Jerry Alvin Jones, Jr., 43, of North Carolina; and Barbare Crystall Surrett, 37, of North Carolina. Police ask that anyone who may know their whereabouts contact the department.

The attack on Mr. Stover was a brutal and senseless crime. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Charleston Police Department at 843-720-2422 and request to speak with the on-duty Central Detective, Charleston Police said.

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You can also submit a tip online by clicking here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ)  Corsa Coal Corp. has provided employees with an official notice of the companys plan to layoff 332 employees in Somerset County.

According to our media partners at The Tribune Democrat, the layoffs are expected to be effective Friday, March 28 across the ten locations the company has in Somerset County. A Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) announcement from the companys wholly owned subsidiary Wilson Creek Energy was posted on the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industrys website. The notice was issued March 13.

The announcement comes after the company filed for bankruptcy in January. The WARN Act requires most businesses with 100 or more employees to provide a 60-day calendar notice when mass layoffs will occur.

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A Chicago based class action law firm, Strauss Borrelli announced on its website that it will be investigating the layoffs and whether or not the company failed to provide at least a 60-day notice to the layoffs.

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There are some exceptions to the WARN Act and it is unclear whether or not Corsa Coal is required to have provided the 60 day 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 WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.






Key Takeaways

Costco just recalled Chomps Original Beef Sticks.

This follows consumer reports of metal fragments in the product.

The recalled beef sticks were sold at locations in 22 states.







Costco just announced a recall on a popular snack product, according to the companys website. This is due to a potential foreign matter contamination after two consumer complaints of metal fragments in the product.

The product affected is the Chomps Original Beef Sticks sold in 12-count pouches. The impacted beef sticks were sold at Costco locations from February 4, 2025, through March 21, 2025, in the following states: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.

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Each recalled beef stick has a printed establishment number of 6220A and UPC of 856584004183. In addition, the 12-count packaging contains a UPC of 856584004763. The following lot codes are also printed on the impacted sticks: 25016, 25017, 25018, 25020 or 25021.

Related: Cheese Sold at Aldi Recalled Due to ContaminationHeres What to Know

This recall expands upon a recall announced by the USDA last week on a limited amount of Chomps beef sticks. Check your kitchen for these products, and if you have the matching recalled sticks on hand, dispose of them immediately or return them to your local Costco for a refund.

While there are no injury reports connected to this recall, contact your doctor if you are experiencing any illness or injury after consuming this product. For questions about this recall, call Chomps at 855-636-1150 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST or visit chomps.com/recall for more information.

Related: Nationwide Recalls on Frozen Meals, Coffee Creamers and More to Be Aware of Right Now

Read the original article on EATINGWELL
Immigration attorneys say that the Trump administration is effectively seeking the right to deport anyone without oversight, pointing to its arguments that the high-profile expulsion of immigrants to El Salvador fell within the president's power over foreign policy.

At the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, a three-judge panel heard arguments Monday concerning the Trump administrations invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to send hundreds of people to a Central American prison with no due process.

While the Trump administration has claimed that these people are members of a gang, Tren de Aragua, Judge Patricia Millett noted that none of the expelled had been given the opportunity to rebut allegations that they were not part of the organization. The administration has also refused to provide details on who they deported and why they believe that they are gang members.

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Those people on those planes on that Saturday, had no opportunity to file habeas or any type of action to challenge the removal under the AEA, and like you've agreed that two of those airplanes people were removed under the AEA, is that what's factually wrong about what I said? Millett said.

Millett later added that, under the Trump administrations current deportation protocol, You could throw me on the plane.

In one heated exchange, Millett said that Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemies Act, in reference to one of the three times that the act has been invoked historically. The Alien Enemies Act has been invoked by a president three times since it was signed more than 200 years ago, during the War of 1812, World War I and World War II.

Matt Cameron, an immigration attorney, told Salon that, given the Trump administrations refusal to disclose details about who it deported to El Salvador, or why they believe they were members of Tren de Aragua, there is little stopping them from expelling an an American citizen in the same way.

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Theyre trying to short circuit the entire immigration process here and they think the Alien Enemies Access is their ticket to being able to throw people out of the country without any due process, Cameron said. Its basically been confirmed that the Trump administration believes that it has the authority to deport U.S. citizens.

Cameron noted that the Trump administrations expulsion didnt seem to even operate in accordance with its agreement with El Salvador. The Trump administration attempted to deport women on these flights, even though the El Salvadorans had only agreed to take men.

In court, the Trump administration was challenging a temporary restraining order imposed by Judge James Boasberg, who heard the case at trial. At the circuit court on Monday, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign said that Baosbergs order, which affects only the expulsions under the Alien Enemies Act, impinged on executive authority.

I think the intrusion upon the war powers and foreign policy powers of the president is utterly unprecedented, Ensign said.

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Earlier Monday, Baosberg issued an order rejecting a request from the administration to lift his temporary restraining order, writing that, before they may be deported, [the accused] are entitled to individualized hearings to determine whether the [Alien Enemies] Act applies to them at all.

As the Government itself concedes, the awesome power granted by the Act may be brought to bear only on those who are, in fact, alien enemies, Baosberg wrote. Because the named Plaintiffs dispute that they are members of Tren de Aragua, they may not be deported until a court has been able to decide the merits of their challenge.

Cameron said that if the administration is found to have acted within its power in denying due process to these people, and if the courts side with the administrations position that a judicial check on these deportations is an infringement on the presidents power, there would be very little stopping them from deporting a citizen without due process.

Once you start to carve out exceptions like this  once you start saying this letter from Marco Rubio gives us permission to deport people; once you start saying that these people with tattoos are who we say they are  theres no reason at all that that couldn't be any of us, Cameron said.

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This El Salvador case has generated multiple tests for the Trump administration, both concerning Trumps power to deport people without due process, which could provide a significant roadblock for Trump's promised mass deportations, and whether his administration will or will not obey the courts.

At an emergency hearing in the case on March 15, Baosberg told the Justice Department to tell the planes headed to El Salvador to turn around. The planes, however, continued on.
Amid reports of foreign travelers  and US citizens  being wrongfully detained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), European countries and Canada have updated their travel advisories, strictly urging citizens to follow US entry rules and laws to avoid the potential risk of detention.

While Germany, the UK, and Canada heightened their travel guidelines, informing citizens to be prepared with any and all paperwork, Denmark and Finland adjusted their advisories to reflect the Trump administration's executive order, which claims that the US recognizes only two sexes. Denmark and Finland advise transgender travelers to notify the US Embassy before visiting the country.

As the Trump administration continues its immigration crackdown, here's what Americans think about other countries' travel guideline changes:

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1."It's a good idea. This country right now is nuttier than a peanut farm. I live in the US and don't want to travel anywhere domestically."

Pham Le Huong Son / Getty Images

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2."I mean...it's justified, but it seems to me that it's all the same stuff that applies to Americans when we go to Europe or any other country. I don't understand why following a country's immigration laws is a big deal  especially since it's not really news when other countries kick out people who are there illegally, too."

hmmwv-keys

3."Keep it up  do not waste money coming here. The only way is to hit them in the pocketbook."

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blueMudDue5399

4."I'm a white male and US citizen, and I've traveled all over the world, including the USSR (back when that existed). In general, I've found that border control people aren't exactly the friendliest of types, but they're generally business-like, impersonal, and efficient about things: you show your passport, they wave you through, and so on  except in the USA. The border control there is inefficient, rude, and just generally unpleasant. This is based on my return trips in 2022 and 2024. I'd hate to imagine it now, so I think these travel advisories are worth considering. Once you're inside the country, I think you'd have a decent enough time, but I'd suggest taking your tourism funds somewhere else for the time being. It's a big, big, big world. As Douglas Adams might say, the US needs to hang a sign outside our door: 'Come back when we're sane.'"

Stellalevi / Getty Images/iStockphoto

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5."I don't care."

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cpt_justice

6."Hell, I live here and don't feel safe anymore. I am actually renewing my passport, just in case. I did not feel safe mailing my old passport and birth certificate off, and I literally wondered if the government would just keep both and stop renewing passports, period. I ordered a new copy of my birth certificate and am waiting until I have that before I apply. It's unfathomable that a native-born American citizen feels this way. I don't think my fears are unfounded or illogical; the inmates are in charge of the asylum in America."

TuneAppropriate5686

7."It's embarrassing. We are an absolute embarrassment."

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Diamondsonhertoes

8."The travel warnings make complete sense. They are warning citizens traveling to the US not to overstay their visas, not to provide inaccurate purposes of visit, and not to commit crimes because those will put them at risk for detention and deportation. I think that is entirely reasonable, both for the US and for the countries warning their citizens what not to do while abroad."

Hinterhaus Productions / Getty Images

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9."I wouldn't come to the US either."

Pappymommy

10."I am sad, but I think it's appropriate. My company offers me the chance to move to Canada, but it's for less pay, and my wife would need to find a new job. I'm seriously considering it, though."

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Arbiter_89

11."They're right to do so. Shit, I've looked into leaving the US ever since the Trump administration has made it pretty clear how they feel about Latinos. Sadly, I don't think I'll be able to. And to the Latinos who voted fro Trump: you sold us and yourself out."

Rebecca Noble / Getty Images

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12."Embarrassing but necessary."

gretzius

13."I hope more countries issue travel warnings. Actually, I wish they'd all just ban or boycott travel to the US. It's going to take a massive economic hit to get through to many Trump supporters."

13surgeries

14."Good. It's not safe here. If you accidentally get the wrong visa, you're likely to be detained for several weeks."

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bothunter

15."Who cares? Those countries aren't going to ban American travelers. Half of the towns there rely on tourists for large portions of income (not just Americans), and they aren't actually going to stop their own tourists since many Europeans still visit the US. This is just a dumb publicity stunt because the leaders of those countries don't like Trump. It's fair to dislike him; take all the political shots you want since he makes a good target. But at the same time, don't make empty threats and statements. Either do something tangible or be quiet."

DAVE CHAN / AFP via Getty Images

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16."We have political unrest, several separate disease outbreaks, and multiple reports of foreigners being unlawfully detained by US law enforcement. I certainly wouldn't want to travel to a nation experiencing those things, so it makes sense that other governments would advise their citizens to avoid doing so."

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Sam-I-Am29

17."The 'warning' issued was a reminder to obey the US immigration laws since they will be enforced. I don't have a problem with that. As an American, whenever I travel, I wouldn't even think about messing around with the local immigration laws. I'm a guest in their country  the least I can do is follow their laws. So, I don't know what the big deal is."

BringOutTheImp

18.Lastly: "I'm unsurprised. It's sad how far we've fallen and how incredibly damaged our international reputation and credibility have become in a matter of months. But millions of Americans saw this coming and unfortunately couldn't stop it."

Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images

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If you're an American, how do you feel about these updated travel advisories? Let us know in the comments, or you can anonymously submit your thoughts using this form.

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Citing potential layoffs and disruption to the auto industry, a federal judge in Michigan has ruled that a Mexico-based supplier must keep shipping parts to a Daimler Truck North America subsidiary in Detroit.

Judge Jonathan J.C. Grey of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan granted a preliminary injunction to Detroit Diesel Corp. (DDC) on Friday, ordering Martinrea Honsel Mexico SA de CV to restart production and shipments of housing parts needed to make transmissions for heavy-duty trucks.

The order comes after Martinrea International, the parent company of Martin Honsel Mexico, sent a letter to DDC Feb. 10 stating it would stop sending parts after March 7.

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DDC argues that a preliminary injunction serves the public interest because the injunction  avoids widespread layoffs at DDC, Daimler, and DDCs suppliers; [and] promotes greater certainty in the automotive industry, Grey wrote in his ruling. DDC details how a drop in its production capacity may affect the broader public  . Additionally, there would be less fuel-efficient heavy-duty trucks in service, and these trucks are used to: deliver food and medicine; support and maintain electrical, water treatment, and wastewater treatment systems; and transport garbage.





DDC operates a manufacturing facility in Redford, Michigan, producing heavy-duty engines and chassis components. The plant employs more than 2,600 workers.

DDCs parent company is Daimler Truck North America, a subsidiary of German multinational corporation Daimler Truck AG. Daimlers brands include Freightliner, Western Star, Mercedes-Benz, Fuso, BharatBenz and Rizon.

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Martinrea Honsel Mexico is an automotive parts supplier with a factory in Queretaro, Mexico. The company is a subsidiary of Martinrea International Inc., a Canadian auto parts manufacturer based in Vaughan, Ontario.

DDC sued Martinrea Honsul in June, alleging Martinrea is in breach of a contract to supply transmission housings DDC uses to manufacture vehicles. The two companies signed a long-term agreement in 2013 and extended the agreement in 2020.





In February, Martinrea International informed DDC it would stop sending parts after March 7, citing a recent court ruling regarding release-by-release contracts.

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DDC filed an amended complaint against Martinrea Honsel on March 4, asking the court to order Martinrea Honsel to keep shipping transmission housing parts.

In his ruling, Grey acknowledged a potential conflict in a state courts interpretation of contract law if Martinrea Honsel appeals the preliminary injunction with the Michigan Supreme Court.

Grey cited several other recent contract law cases, involving auto parts suppliers MacLean-Fogg, ER Wagner Manufacturing Co., Cadillac Rubber and Airboss.

Given the differences between the DDC-Martinrea contract and the contracts in MacLean-Fogg and Ultra Manufacturing as well as the lack of clarity over whether Cadillac Rubber survives Airboss, it is unclear whether DDC ultimately will succeed on the merits of its claims for injunctive relief, Grey wrote.

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DDC declined to comment on the ruling to FreightWaves. Martinrea International did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The post Court orders Mexican supplier to ship parts to Detroit automaker appeared first on FreightWaves.
SHENYANG, March 25 (Xinhua) -- German technology company Heraeus Group on Tuesday officially launched its new quartz manufacturing plant in Shenyang, the capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, in its latest move to deepen Sino-German manufacturing cooperation.

With a total investment of nearly 600 million yuan (about 83.6 million U.S. dollars), the plant is Heraeus' largest semiconductor project in China. It will focus on the development and production of high-purity and ultra-high-purity synthetic quartz products for the semiconductor industry.

The new factory's operations are a strong demonstration of Heraeus' "In China, for China" strategy, said Frank Stietz, COO and member of the board of managing directors of Heraeus Group.

With intelligent and environmentally friendly facilities and techniques, the new plant will optimize its logistics, workforce and information flows to enhance production efficiency.

The plant will also explore new products and techniques in a bid to meet the latest demands of China's semiconductor clients, the company said.

Ai Zhouping, president of Heraeus Greater China, said the company will build the new factory into an advanced manufacturing and innovation base to help drive the development of the semiconductor sector and improve the semiconductor industrial chain in China's northeastern region.

Heraeus Group, a global Fortune 500 company, operates in various sectors, including environmental protection, electronics, health care and industrial applications. 
SPRINGVILLE, Utah (ABC4)  Several cows were struck on I-15 near Springville on Tuesday morning after wandering onto the highway.

Lt. Cameron Roden with Utah Highway Patrol confirmed with ABC4.com that about four or five cows had wandered onto the interstate shortly before 6 a.m. on March 25. These cows were then struck by multiple cars, including a semi-truck.

Unfortunately, the cows struck in the collision were killed and blocked the right-hand lanes, slowing southbound traffic. Roden said motorists involved in the collision have suffered only minor injuries.

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The Utah Department of Transportation indicates traffic in the area has slowed significantly as Utah Highway Patrol crews work to clear the scene. Lt. Roden said officials should have the area cleared within the next hour.

Utah Highway Patrol is working to confirm where the cows have come from but believes they have a good lead.

A similar incident happened in northern Utah earlier this month where wild turkeys entered the interstate. At least one car crashed into a turkey, sending it through the windshield of the car.

Lt. Roden told ABC4.com these kinds of interactions with wildlife can happen from time to time adding that its good for drivers to be aware and alert for wildlife at all times.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
CHICAGO (WGN)  Chicago police are seeking the whereabouts of a man who may require medical attention.

According to police, 60-year-old Lee Carter was last seen on Saturday, March 8, near the 6300 block of S. Throop St. in the citys Englewood neighborhood.

Carter stands 5-foot-7-inches, weighs 190 pounds, and has brown eyes and gray hair.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Anyone with information should call (312) 747-8380 or 911.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Mar. 24The idea of banning new vacation rentals in certain Waynesville neighborhoods appears to have fizzled out.

A surge in homes being converted to vacation rentals and the associated problems that come with that prompted Waynesville last year to consider whether it's time to rein them in. The Waynesville planning board has been studying and debating the issue for 18 months.

The latest draft of a short-term rental policy presented to the town's planning board Monday night would allow vacation rentals in all residential zoning districts.

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The policy would, however, impose rules on vacation rentals  like parking regulations, proper trash disposal and posting the property owner's phone number outside so the town can contact them if issues arise.

Waynesville Development Services Director Elizabeth Teague acknowledged it's a shift from initial discussions that would have taken a harder line on whether vacation rentals were appropriate in all neighborhoods.

"We have moved from that discussion to just allow them across the board where residential uses are allowed," Teague told the planning board. "It's just a draft."

The draft proposal also classifies the definitions of vacation rentals  a homestay where the property owner lives on property and short-term vacation rentals where the property owner isn't present.

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The planning board took no official action on the draft proposal after one board member indicated that more time was needed to further study the proposal. The board will review the draft proposal again at its April meeting.

The next step would be holding a public hearing to seek citizen input. That public hearing would likely be in May. Town council would then have to sign off on the proposal.

Local landlords vs. corporate holders

Teague said crafting new rules governing STRs was not an easy process.

"We have gone back and forth on the short-term rental ordinance," Teague said.

Despite aggravations of STRs, the planning board wanted to preserve the ability for a local homeowner to make extra money. But planning board member John Baus doesn't like it when big companies buy up houses for the sole intent of converting them to fleets of AirBnbs.

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"The idea behind this was we didn't want to inconvenience any of our town residents who want to do this with their property. But we certainly didn't want to make it as convenient for (big companies) to come in and buy up a bunch of houses and have them unaccountable," Baus said.

The growth in vacation rentals has been blamed for depleting the inventory of affordable housing and the erosion of neighborhoods. In some cases, vacation rentals bring a host of problems for neighbors, from noise to parking to excessive trash. That is what prompted the town to take a hard look at STRs.

Baus said he wanted more time to digest the proposal before the board seeks public input.

"We have a few other options to discuss," Baus said, citing researching on STR regulations elsewhere. "I was going to suggest a couple of additions to the board."

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Town planning officials were quick to point out that property owners of existing vacation rentals would be grandfathered in, meaning they would not be subject to the new rules. A short-term rental would continue to be grandfathered in even if the current owner sold the property to a new owner who intended to maintain it as a vacation rental.

On-site vs. off-site

Under the proposed changes, property owners who live on the same property as the rental would be exempt from the rules  based on two different classifications.

"The idea here was to distinguish between people who live in Waynesville and wanted to rent their garage apartment versus people who buy a house and just use it as an STR," Teague said.

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One would be a homestay, which would be the rental of a room or rooms in a dwelling where a permanent resident resides. The permanent resident would be present in the home during the time of the homestay. It could also apply to an accessory unit on the same property.

The second type of vacation rental classification would be a short-term vacation rental, which is commonly associated with Airbnb, Vacation Rentals by Owner (Vrbo) and other similar platforms.

The draft proposal would add several regulations associated with STRs, but not homestays. Both have to comply with state occupancy tax regulations and town ordinances that currently apply to residential uses. An STR is defined as a rental of less than 30 days for single-family homes, townhomes, duplexes and even apartment units.

New rules

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A short-term vacation rental would be required to have one parking space per bedroom with a minimum of two parking spaces per unit. The Downtown Business and Hazelwood Business Districts would be exempt from the minimum parking standards.

Teague said one specific complaint received by the town is regarding unsightly trash and that the proposal addresses the issue.

"Trash should be stored in appropriate containers and set out for collection on the proper collection day," Teague said. "The cans shall be removed from the street within 24 hours after the scheduled collection day. For units not serviced by the town, arrangements must be made for a private service to manage solid waste collection from the site, and in a way that it does not attract animals."

An owner would also be required to post notification outside the unit that includes the name and telephone number of the property owner or manager, the address of the STR, the maximum of overnight guests allowed and the days of trash collection.

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"This is a clear vehicle to manage the complaints that we have," Teague said.

It would also require that the phone number for the town's police department be posted for guests. An STR would also be allowed to place a sign advertising the property.

There were 1,744 short-term vacation rentals in Haywood County in 2024. In 2023, 53% of overnight visitors stayed in an STR.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Rochester firefighters battled a house fire early Tuesday morning on Ethel Street.

Calls for the fire came in around 3 a.m. Smoke and flames were seen from the homes roof. It appears the home was vacant.

It has not been confirmed if there were any injuries or what the cause of the fire was.

Stay with News 8 WROC as we continue to update this developing story.

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WAUKEE, Iowa  Firefighters were called to the Kinship Brewing property in Waukee Tuesday morning after a passerby reported seeing a fire.

Tomme Tysdal, Deputy Fire Chief for the Waukee Fire Department, said the call came in around 5:55 a.m. about a fire at 255 NW Sunrise Drive.

Police arrived at the scene first and saw heavy fire coming off the front of the building and up onto the roof. When firefighters arrived, they were able to quickly extinguish the flames, and a search of the building didnt find anyone.

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The cause of the fire is under investigation by the fire marshal and the Waukee Police Department.

Firefighters from multiple agencies, including Waukee, West Des Moines, and Urbandale, responded to the fire.

Former Ames nurse practitioner sentenced to prison for sex trafficking multiple young victims

The brewery opened in 2021 but has had a troubled financial history. The bank foreclosed on the property in October of 2023, and in December of that year the taproom closed with an announcement that it planned to re-open. Its unclear if that ever happened.

In March 2024, the Business Record reported the property was for sale or lease.

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SPRINGFIELD  The Springfield Fire Department has blocked off part of East Elm street as they work to put out a fire at the Embassy Apartments.

Ozarks First is at the scene of a reported fire in the 900 block of East Elm street at the Embassy Apartments. Our crews report seeing at least 5 fire trucks, an ambulance, and other emergency response vehicles.

Elm street is blocked off in the area according to our reporter on scene. The Battalion Chief on scene tells Ozarks First there are no injuries, as all residents were able to self-evacuate. The Chief also says drivers can expect delays in the area as the fire marshal will likely be on scene for at least a couple of hours.

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Ozarks First spoke to resident Jade Lescault, who recalled the moments she realized her apartment building was on fire:

The apartment is next to several fraternity and sorority houses. Avoid the area if possible as crews work to clear the scene.

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Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) is drawing sharp criticism for comments she made about Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott (R) at the Human Rights Campaigns Los Angeles Dinner on Saturday.

Crockett began her remarks by calling for those gathered to pray for her because who knows what Imma end up saying.

She then proceeded to speak of the challenges of being a Black woman in America, followed by praising those with intersecting identities such as being Black, female and LGBTQ, before she spoke of the challenges facing Texas.

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Yall know we got Governor Hot Wheels down there. Come on now, Crockett said, drawing laughter and applause from the audience. And the only thing hot about him is that he is a hot a mess, honey.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) speaks during the first day of Democratic National Convention, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. (Stephanie Scarbrough, Associated Press file)

Abbott, who uses a wheelchair, was paralyzed more than 40 years ago after a tree fell on him.

The Texas governor, a strong supporter of President Trump, has faced his own condemnation from Democrats over his stance on issues like gun control, immigration and voting rights.

Crocketts comments drew outrage from Republicans.

Recent polling shows Crazy Crockett as one of the leaders of the Democrat Party. This is who they are, the National Republican Congressional Committee posted on social media with a clip of Crocketts remarks.

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Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) called Crocketts comments disgraceful.

Can you imagine if a Republican said something like this? Coryn posted on X. It would be on front page of NYT and all over CNN.

Members of Fox Newss Outnumbered panel were not only quick to condemn Crocketts comments but offered their own harsh words about Crockett herself.

Shes trying to demean the governor in order to score cheap political points, said contributor Lisa Kennedy Montgomery.

Crocketts office did not immediately respond to The Hills request for comment.

Crockett, who served as a national co-chair for the Harris-Walz presidential campaign, has emerged as a prominent face of the Democratic Party on Capitol Hill, becoming a household name for her viral zingers.

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In February, the Texas Democrat accused President Trump of acting like a thug.

Following Trumps meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House earlier this month, Crockett called Trump Putins ho. The remarks came just days after Crockett said she would like to tell billionaire Elon Musk to f off.

Updated at 6:23 p.m.

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Residents who live near Highland Oaks Park in northern Miami-Dade shared a lake at the center of the park and the surrounding area for years with two American crocodiles  long believed by some homeowners to be a mated pair.

On Monday, authorities hauled one of the scaly reptiles away after it got a bit too close to nearby homes.

During the early morning hours, one of the two crocodiles, a female, wandered toward a residents doorstep. It was the second time in recent weeks that one of the creatures came close to a home. Neighbors reported that a man, pedaling his bicycle on a darkened sidewalk, rode over the animals tail.

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Local authorities were summoned and a trapper with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission drove over to collect her.

The crocodiles legs were zip-tied, and its mouth sealed with what appeared to be duct tape. The trapper tagged the croc, and took a blood specimen from near the animals snout. With the help of several Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office deputies  and the resident whose yard the crocodile invaded  the trapper loaded the croc in the flatbed of a pick-up truck as other residents watched nearby.

The wildlife agent told the Miami Herald that his agency had seen no evidence of nesting activity by the pair, and the captured crocodile would be relocated away from people.

A female crocodile from Highland Oaks Park in Miami-Dade was relocated after approaching homes, sparking debate among residents.

In recent months, the two crocodiles  both of whom neighbors had taken to calling Charlie  strayed from their man-made lake home, where they often sunbathed, to the front lawns of some neighboring homes.

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The animals have caused controversy between residents who consider them a threat to pets and children and those who believe the animals should be left alone as they are protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act.

On the NextDoor app, one neighbor said that gates on the canals and waterways that link to the Oleta River, and ultimately Biscayne Bay, do little to prevent the creatures from moving into residential neighborhoods.

As some argued over how to handle the problem of ambush predators, others contended humans need to do more for reptiles just trying to find a place to live.

Poor Charlie, wrote one resident. He probably was just terrified getting his tail run over. In a more serious vein, she added: Please be aware of your surroundings...We are so lucky to be able to have all types of wildlife living amongst us.
BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Though most people will never see any of the submarine cables that are buried deep in the seabed, they impact many aspects of our daily lives, such as network access as well as internet speeds and costs.

Submarine telecommunications cables are vital to global connectivity and the development of the digital economy. They carry approximately 99 percent of international data traffic, according to the International Telecommunication Union.

Boosted by sci-tech innovation and after years of development, Chinese companies have emerged as key players in global submarine cable equipment manufacturing, construction and maintenance.

To date, Chinese submarine cable installation enterprises have laid a cumulative length of over 70,000 km of submarine cables in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, according to a report on China's participation in the construction and protection of international communication submarine cables, released on Tuesday by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT).

As of the end of 2024, Chinese enterprises have invested in 17 in-service international submarine cable systems and are participating in several ongoing submarine cable projects, according to the report.

"Chinese enterprises have expanded the global production capacity of these undersea fiber-optic information transmission pipes, and reduced network costs for people and companies in many developing countries and regions," said Mu Chunbo, a senior engineer at CAICT.

"Similar to the Suez Canal and the China-Europe Railway Express, international communication submarine cables are typical examples of global public infrastructure and important pieces of international civil infrastructure," he said.

He noted that these cables are vital for nations in the digital era, allowing them to attract investment in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing, to form business models such as those related to e-commerce and telemedicine, and to create jobs.

FiberHome Marine Network Equipment, a Chinese telecom firm, has completed multiple submarine cable construction or upgrade projects in the Southeast Asia region.

China's HMN Tech has emerged as one of four major global engineering, procurement and construction contractors capable of delivering intercontinental submarine cable systems. The company has cumulatively delivered over 100,000 km of submarine cable systems worldwide, with operations spanning more than 70 countries and regions.

Last year, HMN Tech successfully delivered a cable system project in the Maldives, connecting eight islands with submarine cables totaling 300 km in length. Local telecom operators said the system is important for improving high-speed network coverage and building resilience for the development of the country's digital economy.

"As the internet has promoted the explosive growth of international data traffic, the capacity and resilience of submarine cable networks need to be enhanced urgently," said Xu Jiantao, HMN Tech's president of global sales.

"We uphold technological innovation and transparency to serve our clients, enable more people to share the dividends of the internet, and contribute to the economic development of various countries," Xu said. 
THE PHILLIPPINES (WFLA)  Passengers aboard the Queen Anne ship were issued an alarming warning while passing through a pirate hot spot.

While passing through The Phillippines during the maiden voyage of the cruise, the ship issued precautionary measures in case of pirates.

SeaWorld Orlando faces fine after killer whale injured trainer

This area is known for piracy threats, an employee over the loudspeaker is heard telling guests. We also request that you turn off your stateroom lights when not needed, and close the curtains of your stateroom window or balcony.

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The video was posted to TikTok by Lilly McGinley, who told NBC News that some passengers were nervous, but that this is part of the adventure when you cruise around the world.

Another video captured the ships pressurized fire hoses located on the sides of the boat.

More than $6M worth of cocaine seized near Port Everglades: USCG

Cruise Critic Chris Gray Faust said this situation isnt uncommon. Certain areas around the world, notably around 50% of modern pirate attacks, occur in East Asia and the Pacific.

Other pirate hot spots include Sub-Saharan Africa, the Gulf of Aden, the Singapore Strait, and the Sulu Sea, where the Queen Anne was passing through, NBC News said.

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Pirates are not looking, generally, to harm people, Faust told the outlet. They are looking for financial gain.

McGinley added that despite the warnings and rare experience, she feels completely safe.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
One person was taken to the hospital as 10 people were displaced following an apartment fire in Norwich on Monday.

Fire crews responded to the report of a structure fire on Hamilton Avenue shortly after 2:30 p.m. and entered the multi-story building to find smoke coming from a third-floor apartment, according to the Norwich Fire Department.

The fire, which started in the units kitchen, was put out by a sprinkler system, fire officials said. A man in a room near the kitchen was found by fire crews and was suffering from smoke inhalation. He was helped by crews out of the building and was taken to Backus Hospital, according to fire officials.

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A total of 10 people were displaced from the building, which sustained water damage from the sprinkler system. The American Red Cross is assisting the residents.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (ABC22/FOX44)  Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) is hosting a community forum on Monday, March 31 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m..

All are welcome to this event. UVM Health Network President and CEO Sunny Eappen, MD will offer opening remarks. During the forum, leaders will present information about primary care, physician recruitment and more.

There will also be a QnA session.

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This community forum will be hosted by Alice Hyde Medical Center and CVPH President Michelle LeBeau in the Butcher Block Adirondack Room.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.
Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman will allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty again in Los Angeles, undoing one of the signature policies of his predecessor, George Gascon.

The move comes as little surprise: Hochman campaigned on the issue almost as soon as he announced his challenge to Gascon in 2023. But it still marks a significant shift in one of the largest prosecutor's offices in the nation.

Under California law, the death penalty can only be sought in cases where a defendant is accused of murder with special circumstances. That can include multiple homicides or cases where the victim is a law enforcement officer or witness to a crime. If prosecutors do not seek the death penalty in such cases, defendants face life in prison without the possibility of parole.

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Read more: Menendez brothers' bid for freedom hits roadblock: D.A. Hochman opposes resentencing

I remain unwaveringly committed to the comprehensive and thorough evaluation of every special circumstance murder case prosecuted in Los Angeles County, in consultation with the murder victims survivors and with full input on the mitigating and aggravating factors of each case, to ensure that the punishment sought by the Office is just, fair, fitting, and appropriate," Hochman said in a statement.

In an interview with The Times the day after he defeated Gascon, Hochman said he would only pursue capital punishment in "rare cases," such as school shootings, domestic terror attacks or the killing of a police officer.

Hochman said Tuesday the new death penalty policy will give defense attorneys a chance to present evidence of mitigating factors to the office's Special Circumstances Committee, which will decide when a prosecutor can seek capital punishment in a case.

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The committee will be led by Chief Deputy Steve Katz, or a designate of his choosing, as well as three other high-level prosecutors, according to a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office. Hochman will have final say over any death penalty decisions, the spokeswoman said.

It's unclear what, if any, practical impact Hochman's policy shift will have. Gov. Gavin Newsom placed a moratorium on the death penalty in California in 2019, and it is unlikely to be overturned as long as Democrats retain control of the governor's office in a state where the party holds a healthy advantage among registered voters.

Read more: Ron Jeremy superfan raped, killed L.A. women. Did prosecutors miss chances to stop him?

Opponents of the death penalty often contend it has a disparate impact on Black and Latino defendants and can create irreversible mistakes, pointing to cases nationwide in which defendants were executed despite serious questions about the validity of their original conviction.

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This decision is a step backward for L.A. County. The death penalty is a cruel and irreversible punishment that is racially biased, and ineffective as a deterrent, Los Angeles County Public Defender Ricardo Garcia said in a statement. The death penalty doubles down on a system that has disproportionately harmed the poor and communities of color."

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.
Edgewater developer Fred Daibes and Egyptian American businessman Wael Hana will now report to federal prison on May 19, after U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein granted a 45-day extension on Tuesday afternoon.

This extension will allow them to prepare and then testify at the trial of their co-defendant Nadine Arslanian Menendez, the wife of their co-defendant and former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez.

Her attorney, Barry Coburn, wrote a letter to Stein asking for the extension of their prison report dates on Tuesday morning, saying it would significantly assist us in preparing Ms. Menendezs affirmative case.

Manhattan, NY  October 18, 2023  Nadine Menendez, involved in the bribery case involving Sen. Robert Menendez, exits the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan.

Coburn said in his request to the judge that the attorneys have "subpoenaed Hana and Daibes as defense witnesses.

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I anticipate both would require substantial preparation before being called to testify at trial, he said.

Daibes and Hana were found guilty alongside Menendez after a nine-week trial last summer.

In exchange for the envelopes of cash  some found with Daibes fingerprints on them  gold bars, and mortgage and car payments, Menendez interfered in a federal bank fraud prosecution of Daibes and helped with redevelopment business in Qatar. The former senator also helped Hana, a longtime friend of Arslanian Menendez, secure a lucrative monopoly on halal meat exports to Egypt and other business dealings that benefited the governments of Egypt and Qatar.

Fred Daibes, a developer from Edgewater, New Jersey, arrives for sentencing on federal bribery and corruption charges at federal court in lower Manhattan on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.

Arslanian Menendez's trial began last week after several delays because she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Opening statements began on Monday, March 24.

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Hana and Daibes, who didnt testify during their own trial, were originally ordered to report to prison on April 4, while Menendez had until June 6 so he could be present during his wifes trial.

Daibes also entered a guilty plea in the ongoing bank fraud case he paid the former senator to quash.

Businessman Wael Hana arrives at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Court House on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.

Daibes and Hana, like Arslanian Menendez, faced indictments in a federal corruption and bribery case brought by prosecutors in the Southern District of New York. It was the second time in six years that Menendez faced bribery charges.

A third businessman, Jose Uribe, was charged alongside the other four in the case but entered a guilty plea after making a deal with federal prosecutors.

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Menendez was convicted of receiving cash, gold bars and a luxury car in exchange for his using his political influence in a bribery scheme to benefit Hana, Daibes and Uribe.

Earlier: Bob Menendezs wife did the dirty work, prosecutor says at start of her bribery trial

What's next for Bob Menendez?

Menendez, Daibes and Hana have all filed motions for new trials and are seeking bail pending the appeals.

After making his initial motion, Daibes was assigned to the prison camp at FCI Fairton, in South Jersey. Hana was assigned to FCI Schuylkill in Minersville, Pennsylvania.

Hana's wife and children have just arrived in the United States, and he requested the 45 days also to help obtain Social Security cards for his daughters.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Fred Daibes, Wael Hana to testify at Nadine Menendez trial
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Tuesday on the Daily 8, were looking at a Michigan couple believed to be jailed in Mexico, free pet adoptions in Van Buren County this week, new upgrades coming to Celebration Cinema at RiverTown and more.

You can watch the full Daily 8 for March 25, 2025, in the video player above or check out any of the stories mentioned below:

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Each weekday, the Daily 8 brings you the top eight stories we are keeping an eye on in and around West Michigan.

Join us again on Wednesday for the Daily 8.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Its one of the most shocking national security indiscretions in years.

The revelation that President Donald Trumps national security team discussed military strikes in Yemen on an unclassified group chat suggests a cavalier attitude toward Americas secrets and the safety of US forces on a deadly mission.

The group message, revealed Monday in an article by Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg  who was somehow added to the chat by accident  hints at a lax national security process and incompetence as the nation faces a world of threats.

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The use of Signal, an encrypted app that is nonetheless carried on phones that are vulnerable to penetration by foreign intelligence services, also suggests contempt for strict laws on the handling of classified material that would land more junior officials in deep trouble.

This was grossly negligent, Ryan Goodman, a former Defense Department special counsel, told CNNs Erin Burnett on Monday. That is actually the terms of the criminal statute  having gross negligence in mishandling classified information  if it is disclosed to somebody who is unauthorized. And on their call was a journalist. That means there was in fact a disclosure.

The lack of public contrition, let alone resignations, from top officials, reflects a White House that operates in a culture of impunity and has stacked the Justice Department and FBI  which might normally be expected to launch immediate investigations  with ultra-loyalists to the president.

Amid calls from Democrats for probes and oversight, House Speaker Mike Johnson shrugged off the seriousness of the matter, underscoring how the GOP in Congress has abrogated its power in deference to its strongman president.

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And Trump insisted that he didnt know anything about the chat  instead attacking the Atlantic, against which he holds a grudge for its reporting during his first term.

The president also amplified a mocking social media post about the debacle by his Department of Government Efficiency chief Elon Musk. And Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth  who the Atlantic said posted sensitive strike plans to the chat  lashed out at Goldberg after landing in Hawaii, calling him a deceitful and highly discredited journalist and denying anyone was texting war plans.

The comments, which contradicted the richly reported details of the report, represented a familiar attempt by the Trump administration to create an alternative truth to discredit criticism.

But the reported facts about the chat  which the White House said appeared to be authentic  are damning. Beth Sanner, a former senior intelligence official, said on CNNs The Lead that while the Signal thread may not have been penetrated by an enemy intelligence service, the risk of senior officials using cellphones to communicate on such a sensitive matter was acute.

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It means that there is a pattern here of just a complete lack of understanding of what classified information is and what needs to be protected, Sanner said of the Trump national security team. Instead of asking how did this journalist get on, maybe they should be asking themselves, why are they on this?

That question is likely to be put Tuesday to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who were both included on the message chain, according to the Atlantic, and who will testify at a worldwide threats hearing in the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Smoke rises from a location reportedly struck by US airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 15, 2025. - Osamah Abdulrahman/AP

Why The Atlantics report is so troubling

Intelligence scandals obsess Washington because in a government town, everyone  officials, lawmakers, analysts and journalists  understands their gravity  and the oppressive weight of the law on such matters. But for many Americans outside the Beltway  who may be more concerned with paying for expensive groceries, health care and putting their kids through college  such issues can seem distant.

But apart from the risks to service personnel in combat, a drama like this paints a wider picture of an administrations character and operations, which usually reflect the personality of the person behind the Resolute Desk.

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The Signal chat scandal involves detailed operational plans and other likely highly classified information about US military strikes on Yemen in a group thread to which Goldberg had been been added  apparently by national security adviser Mike Waltz.

The administration offered no public explanation for the existence of the thread, which raised multiple questions that are likely to grow more politically damaging as new details emerge.

Among them:

 The idea that Trumps top officials would discuss a matter of such sensitivity outside a highly classified setting is mind-boggling. The group chat reportedly included Vice President JD Vance, Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Waltz, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Gabbard and Ratcliffe, among others. Even more surprising is the fact that Hegseth posted operational details of the strikes in Yemen, including information on targets, weapons and attack sequencing, The Atlantic reported.

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 The White House did not explain why the officials did not use facilities available for classified discussions, including secure phones or computer systems or venues such as the White House Situation Room or the sensitive compartmented information facilities (SCIFs) available in their agencies, throughout Washington and when they travel abroad.

 There is no sign that multiple strikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen were compromised. But discussing such matters outside classified settings risks the safety of American forces in combat. Its an especially poor look for Hegseth, who vowed to restore common sense to the leadership in the Pentagon and to do everything protect war fighters.

 The incident appears to validate the fears of critics who warned that Trump filled the most senior national posts with officials who lacked experience but instead were chosen for effect, including Hegseth, a former Fox News anchor. The inadvertent move by Waltz, an experienced and combat-decorated Green Beret, to add Goldberg to the Signal chat is especially baffling.

Jeffrey Goldberg speaks at The Atlantic Festival 2024 on September 19, 2024, in Washington, DC. - Jemal Countess/Getty Images for The Atlantic

 The chat also raises the question of what other top secret national security discussions have unfolded outside classified settings. Given the chatty tone of the group thread, its hard to believe this is the only such conversation.

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 And judging by the reporting in The Atlantic, its possible that the discussion broke the law, namely the Espionage Act, which criminalizes the publishing of classified material or its removal from its proper place of custody. If we had an independent Justice Department, I am sure they would be looking into this, said Goodman. If this were lower-level officials, I am sure they would be looking into this.

 The lax attitude to national security secrets comes straight from the top, although the president wasnt involved in the chat reported by Goldberg. Trump, after all, was criminally charged with hoarding national security documents in insecure conditions at his Mar-a-Lago resort after leaving office in 2021. The case was controversially thrown out by a Trump-appointed Florida judge last year. And early in his first term, the president shared highly classified information with the Russian foreign minister and Russian ambassador to the US at the White House. Soon afterward, US intelligence agencies extracted one of their top covert sources inside the Russian government, administration officials told CNN at the time.

 There is a strong touch of hypocrisy over the sharing of classified information on a third-party app by senior officials. After all, Trump and several of the aides incessantly hammered 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton over classified information found on her private server following her service as secretary of state. And several current officials have already launched leak inquiries, including Hegseth at the Pentagon.

 Many Republicans were willing to dismiss the extraordinary breach of classified material as a trifle. Johnson breezily said the administration would tighten up and make sure it doesnt happen again. Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a close Trump ally, said, We all make mistakes and told CNNs Manu Raju that it was part of transition and growing for the new administration. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, however, promised to figure out what went on in the Signal chat.

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 The account of the texts in the Atlantic contains fascinating details. It suggests that Vance, despite his staunch public support for Trumps positions, was not initially on board with the strikes against the Houthis. And the vice president, Hegseth and senior White House official Stephen Miller shared contempt for Americas allies, agreeing they should be forced to remunerate the US for the strikes since they would boost their economies by restoring freedom of navigation after months of Houthi attacks on shipping. VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. Its PATHETIC, Hegseth apparently typed.

 Democrats, who are struggling for traction against Trump, seized on The Atlantics report to try to paint a picture of a reckless administration. The secretary of defense, who was on that chain, has got to be the most unqualified person ever to lead the Pentagon in American history, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said. And Delaware Democratic Sen. Chris Coons told CNNs Phil Mattingly that there should be an immediate oversight hearing and accountability.

 Trump was briefed on the Atlantic story on Monday afternoon, two sources familiar with the situation told CNNs Alayna Treene. The president expressed disdain for Goldberg, who was behind another story in Trumps first term, which said Trump referred to American war dead as suckers and losers.

But so far, Trump is standing behind his team and has no plans to fire Waltz, the sources said.

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Forcing anyone out might require the president to admit that he erred in picking some key national security officials that many of his critics  and even some Republican senators  warned were not up to the job.

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GENEVA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported on Monday that its office in Rafah in the Gaza Strip was hit by "an explosive projectile," causing damage to the facility, though no casualties were reported.

The ICRC strongly condemned the attack in a statement, noting that "despite being clearly marked and notified to all parties," the facility was still attacked, directly undermining the ICRC's operational capacity. The incident took place on Monday.

The ICRC also mentioned that contact was lost with emergency medical technicians from the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) on Sunday and their whereabouts remain unknown. Additionally, humanitarian workers in Gaza suffered casualties last week.

It highlighted that the escalation of hostilities in Gaza over the past week has had "significant humanitarian impacts," with hundreds of civilians killed and many displaced, while supplies of food and safe water continue to dwindle.

Medical facilities, including the Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah, "are now also responding to mass casualty incidents," it said. 
Members of Indianas congressional delegation appear to fall along party lines in their support or criticism of President Donald Trumps national security team following a report in The Atlantic that revealed White House officials shared information about U.S. war plans in a group chat on Signal that included a journalist.

The Atlantic story published Monday detailed that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz invited the outlets editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, to a chat on Signal, a publicly available encrypted messaging app, that included 18 Trump administration officials. The officials in the chat planned airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthi sites in Yemen that took place March 15, which included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sharing secret plans on targets and attack sequencing, according to the report.

Trump on Tuesday expressed confidence in his national security team, while national Democrats have slammed the White House officials for potentially mishandling national security information.

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U.S. Rep. Andre Carson of Indianapolis, who serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, joined fellow his Democrats' chorus in a post on X.

This is illegal, dangerous, and puts our troops and our national security in danger, Carson wrote Monday on X. These individuals should have their clearances revoked.

Ive worked in intelligence for years.



Rule #1: Dont share imminent war plans in a group chat.



This is illegal, dangerous, and puts our troops and our national security in danger. These individuals should have their clearances revoked.  Andre Carson (@RepAndreCarson) March 24, 2025

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who is viewed as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, also criticized the Trump administration following The Atlantic report.

From an operational security perspective, this is the highest level of f---up imaginable, Buttigieg, the Democratic former mayor of South Bend, wrote on X on Monday. These people cannot keep America safe.

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But Indianas congressional delegation is largely made up of Republicans, who, for the most part, are fervent supporters of Trump. Few have shared public statements or posts on social media about the allegations.

In a statement to IndyStar, U.S. Sen. Jim Banks criticized The Atlantic editor-in-chief.

"Jeffrey Goldberg, best known for his embarrassing track record of running fake news like the Russia hoax, is not a trusted source for the truth," Banks said in the statement. "The strike against the Houthi terrorists was precisely executed with no American casualties  a level of success that cant be said of the last administrations operations.

U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz said in a statement to IndyStar that the situation "appears to be an innocent mistake."

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"These communications with our counterparts are extremely important, but we need to make sure that we have better tools to avoid these mistakes in the future," Spartz said in the statement.

More: What role will Indiana's delegation take in a Republican-dominated Washington, D.C.?

A spokesperson for Sen. Todd Young, who serves on the Senates Select Committee on Intelligence, told IndyStar on Tuesday that the senator plans to seek more information about the situation.

He believes President Trump will continue to receive sound counsel from his national security team, the spokesperson said in an email.

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USA TODAY contributed to this story.

Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter/X @CarloniBrittany. Sign up for our free weekly politics newsletter, Checks & Balances, curated by IndyStar political and government reporters.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana's Banks, Young, Spartz, Carson react to security breach
(Bloomberg) -- A planned visit by US officials to Greenland this week is putting unacceptable pressure on the island and on Denmark, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said.

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Usha Vance, the wife of Vice President JD Vance, is due to travel with her son and a delegation to Greenland on Thursday. Mike Waltz, the US national security adviser and Energy Secretary Chris Wright will also fly to the semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, according to the Financial Times.

While the trip has been billed as a private visit, it has stirred anger among Greenlandic lawmakers because negotiations to form a new government are still ongoing. US President Donald Trump on Monday told reporters the visit was about friendliness, not provocation, and that the delegation was invited by people in the territory, without identifying them.

Its clearly not a visit thats about what Greenland needs or wants, Frederiksen said in a television interview with public broadcaster DR on Tuesday. You cant make a private visit with official representatives, she said.

The premier said the visit cant be seen in isolation from statements by Trump, who for months has insisted he wants to take control of the worlds largest island from Denmark.

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President Trump is serious, and he is earnest, Frederiksen said. He wants Greenland.

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A man from Davenport is in the Scott County Jail after police say he deposited a counterfeit Treasury check into his personal account.

Mark Nissen (Scott County Jail)

The criminal complaint says that on June 21st, 2024 the defendant, identified as Mark Nissen, 60, intentionally deposited a counterfeit United States Treasury check in his name at the Ascentra Credit Union on W. 53rd Street in Davenport. Nissen allegedly deposited the check totaling $51,115.55 into a checking account in his name and was seen on surveillance video depositing the check in the drive-thru teller lane. He was the passenger of the vehicle driven by the co-defendant. Later that same day, Nissen and the co-defendant returned to the bank and withdrew $9,000 cash at the drive-thru teller together. The co-defendant gave Nissen a cashiers check on May 28th, 2024 totaling $4,100. They appeared to have planned to deposit the counterfeit Treasury check, then systematically withdraw the funds together.

On June 21  22nd, 2024, Nissen allegedly withdrew $49,700 in cash in seven transactions at different branch locations. He also made several purchases, getting the balance of his account down to $16.62. The check was returned as altered/fictitious from the Treasury Department on November 8th, 2024. He is accused of intentionally depositing the counterfeit Treasury check into his checking account, withdrawing cash and making purchases knowing the deposit was fraudulent. This caused a loss to Ascentra Credit Union of about $51,082. Nissen was identified by his Iowa Drivers license compared to the surveillance video.

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Court records show that a warrant for Nissens arrest was issued on March 20, 2025 and he was taken into custody on March 24 on charges of felony conspiracy, felony forgery and felony first-degree theft. He is being held in the Scott County Jail on a cash-only bond of $10,000 and is awaiting an initial court appearance.

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A Davenport man who exploded a pipe bomb in a boat parked on a Davenport residential street will remain in prison until 2032, according to U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit documents and Bureau of Prisons records.

Jon Kucharo (Scott County Jail)

Although he filed an appeal, in a decision filed Feb. 11, 2025, the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit upheld an earlier decision.

Threats, photos and pipe bombs: Incidents in 2022

On June 22, 2022, Kucharo called an Iowa county prosecutor assigned to his pending criminal case and threatened him, saying Im gonna  come get ya real soon  Ill wait outside that door for you  I will eliminate you, according to U. S. Court of Appeals documents.

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For that call, Kucharo was convicted in Scott County District Court of first-degree harassment and received a two-year sentence.

(Mike Colon, OurQuadcities.com)

That same day, Davenport police and fire investigators responded to a report of an explosion on the 1700 block of Spring Street about a pipe bomb that had been detonated inside a boat, according to an earlier news release and court records.

Responders found a pontoon boat and trailer parked at the curb on a residential Davenport street damaged by a homemade pipe bomb. The pipe bomb explosion resulted in a multi-county investigation and this federal indictment and conviction, according to documents filed in the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on Feb. 11, 2025.

Two people who lived near the damaged boat reported that Kucharo a former classmate, was upset with them. Witnesses also reported seeing a man matching Kucharos description running away shortly after the explosion. Investigators learned that Kucharo had threatened his defense attorney in Coralville, Iowa, court documents show.

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Court documents say photographs Kucharo sent the attorney show Kucharo in front of a blue Econoline van, next to containers of black powder and a pipe bomb consistent with the device found near the explosion.

Investigators learned the blue van in the photos was registered to Kucharos deceased father and was located near the address listed on his drivers license, according to court documents. The threatened attorney provided Kucharos phone number and photos of Kucharo standing in front of a blue Econoline van and multiple pipe bombs.

Coralville Police shared text messages and videos from this phone number in which Kucharo made death threats to local judges and prosecutors, waving a pipe bomb, court documents say.

Court documents show investigators went to Kucharos registered address on West 12th Street, saw the van parked two houses away, detained Kucharo, seized the van keys and his cell phone, and conducted a warrant search of the van, finding the container of black powder seen in one of Kucharos images.

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A search of the cell phone revealed a message saying Kucharo intended to annihilate various people and showed videos of him working on pipe bombs in the van, according to court documents.

Davenport Detective Gordon Morse, an FBI regional bomb squad member, joined the investigation, records show. He learned that security footage captured a person wearing a distinct U. S. Flag t-shirt walking near the explosion and that investigators had seen that shirt during the June 22 search but left it in the van.

After Morse concluded a second search of the van was needed, officers found a hidden area near the ceiling of the van containing additional pipe bombs similar to the bomb that exploded on June 22, firearms, and in a separate area, a t-shirt with a U. S. Flag pattern like the shirt worn by the man seen running from the boat bombing, documents say: It appeared that Kucharo had been living in the van, consistent with what occupants of the nearby residence reported.

Through a joint investigation with the QC Bomb Squad, Iowa DCI, FBI, and ATF, Kucharo was located and taken into custody in the 1600 block of West 12th Street, Davenport Police said in a news release.

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In 2023, he was sentenced to nine years in prison for transportation and receipt of explosives with intent and unlawful receipt and possession of destructive devices.

Although Kucharo filed an appeal, the court decided We conclude the district court did not err in denying Kucharos motion to suppress evidence seized in the second warrant search of the van.

According to the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator site, Kucharo is at USP McCreary, in Pine Knott, Kentucky. USP McCreary is a high-security U.S. penitentiary with an adjacent minimum-security satellite camp.

Kucharos anticipated release date is May 12, 2032, according to the Bureau of Prisons.

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In earlier years, Kucharo was a highly skilled pool player who participated in many competitions.

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A Davenport man was sentenced on March 18 to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon and armed career criminal.

Dontae Burrage (Scott County Jail)

According to public court documents, Dontae Lamonte Burrage, 36, had multiple outstanding arrest warrants. Members of a bail bond company attempted to arrest Burrage on Feb. 26, 2022. Burrage ran and threw a loaded pistol. Burrage has six prior state felony drug convictions, so he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law and, as an Armed Career Criminal, faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Burrage will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

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U. S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent-crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit here.

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LEXINGTON, N.C. (WGHP)  The United States Department of Agriculture cut more than$11 million in funding to North Carolina food banks. Its a decision thats trickled down to local pantries.

One of those pantries is West Davidson Food Pantry In Lexington.

We have already noticed that our funding has changed through Second Harv  We have been getting 55, 56 boxes per month. Now has dropped to 28 boxes, Davidson Food Pantry Executive Director Wendy Marion said.

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The West Davidson Food Pantry serves 1,190 clients every month. Its food supply from Second Harvest Food Bank has been cut nearly in half for the next month.

On top of that, they just learned they wont be receiving the usual $15,000 grant from the state, which is funding that has been crucial for keeping food on the shelves.

Thats going to hit us hard there, Marion said.

The pantry has already helped more than 4,000 clients this year, and donations havent kept up with demand.

The food pantry is unsure how theyll keep up with the need.

We did not get an abundance this year of donations, and that has hurt us in just preparing for our future. We are  working with the community for donations and our churches, but I am worried about our clients and our elderly clients coming in, and we also serve the three elementary schools, Marion said.

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One of the people who relies on this pantry is Leonard Hodson.

We got custody of six grandkids  We got a full house, and my stepson moved down here from Indiana to help us out. Trying to feed these kids. Its crazy, Hodson said.

While he receives help, he also gives back by donating dozens of eggs from his own chickens.

We bring them 16 to 24 dozen eggs every month because they need them all, Hodson said.

Hodson said he and his wife hope others will give what they can to help the food pantry survive.

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services was notified by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service via email on March 7 of the termination of the agreement for the Local Food Purchase Assistance 2025 Cooperative Agreement effective 60 days from the March 7 date.

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The funds of $11.4 million were to be utilized over the next three years.

The state had not yet received or distributed any funds associated with this when this decision was made.

We are always striving to create opportunities for North Carolina products across the state, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said. We are disappointed with this decision, and we will be discussing it with the appropriate people to see if there is a way to continue providing opportunities to communities with local foods and support farmers.

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March 25 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1807, the English Parliament abolished the slave trade.

In 1911, a fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City killed 146 people, mostly female immigrant workers. The tragedy led to the eventual enactment of many state and national workplace safety laws.

In 1947, a mine explosion in Centralia, Ill., killed 111 men, most of them asphyxiated by gas.

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In 1954, the Radio Corporation of America began commercial production of color television sets.

A police officer surveys the damage after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire on March 25, 1911, in New York, New York. File Photo by a Brown Brothers/Cornell University

File Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI

In 1957, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands and West Germany signed a treaty in Rome establishing the European Economic Community, also known as the common market.

Dr. Martin Luther King leads an estimated 10,000 or more civil-rights marchers out on last leg of their Selma-to-Montgomery march on March 25,1965. Later that day, civil rights worker Viola Liuzzo of Detroit, 39, was killed by the Ku Klux Klan on a road near Selma, Ala., while shuttling marchers back to Montgomery. UPI File Photo

In 1965, white civil rights worker Viola Liuzzo of Detroit, 39, was killed on a road near Selma, Ala. Three Ku Klux Klansmen were convicted of violating Liuzzo's civil rights, but not for murder.

In 1975, King Faisal of Saudi Arabia was shot to death at his palace in Riyadh by a "mentally deranged" nephew who was later executed.

U.S. President Bill Clinton walks with a group of U.S. troops just back from Somalia at a ceremony to honor them on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on May 5, 1993. On March 25, 1994, U.S. forces completed a withdrawal from Mogadishu, Somalia, except for a small number of soldiers left behind to provide support for U.N. peacekeepers. UPI File Photo

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In 1990, an arson fire swept an overcrowded social club, the Happy Land, in the Bronx borough of New York City, killing 87 people. Cuban refugee Julio Gonzalez, the arsonist -- whose former girlfriend worked at the club and survived the fire -- was convicted on multiple counts of arson and murder. He died in prison in September 2016.

In 1994, U.S. forces completed a withdrawal from Mogadishu, Somalia, except for a small number of soldiers left behind to provide support for U.N. peacekeepers.

On March 25, 1807, the English Parliament abolished the slave trade. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI

In 2006, an estimated 500,000 people protested in Los Angeles against U.S. House-approved bill that would make it a felony to be in the United States illegally. The legislation, which also led to protests in other cities during this period, did not pass in the Senate.

File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI

In 2010, an explosion sank a South Korean warship on patrol in the Yellow Sea, killing 46 sailors. North Korea denied accusations it had torpedoed the ship.

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In 2022, Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins died of a drug overdose in Bogata, Colombia, shortly before the band were scheduled to perform. He was 50 years old.

In 2024, federal agents raided the Los Angeles and Miami homes of musician Sean "Diddy" Combs as part of a sex trafficking investigation.
Note: The video above is about NaNoWriMo, which happens in November.

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The Dayton Arcade will host Sinclairs annual writers workshop on Friday.

The free event promises a full day of inspiration, learning and community for all writers, and will be hosted by Sinclairs English Department.

The workshop will provide opportunities to network and learn from fellow writers and will also feature a lecture and book signing from New York Times bestselling author Matthew Goodman (who most recently wrote Paris Undercover,).

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The full schedule of events is available below:

10:00-10:30 AM: Coffee, Pastries, and Registration

10:30-11:30 AM: Keynote Speaker: Matthew Goodman

11:30-12:30 PM: Lunch Break (attendees encouraged to lunch or explore nearby dining options)

12:30-1:15 PM: Breakout Session #1 (interactive writing session)

1:30-2:15 PM: Breakout Session #2 (interactive writing session)

2:30-3:15 PM: Open Mic Session

3:15 PM: Book Signing with Matthew Goodman

Registration is required to attend, which can be done by clicking here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Students across D.C. may soon have to give up their cell phones in the classroom as the DC Council considers a bill to ban all devices in D.C. public and charter schools.



A public hearing on the Heads Up! Distraction Free Learning Amendment Act of 2025 will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Wilson building.



If passed, the legislation would ban all wireless devices, including cell phones, gaming devices, and smart watches, during the school day.

Councilmember Pinto introduces new Peace DC legislation to reduce crime

However, exceptions will be made in the case of an emergency or if students need to use them as part of their learning in the classroom.



A notice of Tuesdays public hearing said cell phone use during the day interrupts concentration and leads to decreased learning. It also cites social media use on cell phones as being linked to impacts on mental health and escalating school conflicts.



The public hearing can be attended in person or virtually by clicking this link on the DC Councils website.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Health officials across D.C. announced Tuesday that a person who visited multiple locations across the District tested positive for measles.

DC Health said that anyone who traveled in the following locations during the listed times may have been exposed to the illness.

Amtrak Northeast Regional 175 Train Southbound on March 19 from 7:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Amtrak Concourse, Union Station, on March 19 from 11 pm to 1:30 a.m.

MedStar Urgent Care Adams Morgan on March 22 from 7 to 11 p.m.

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Thats actually really terrifying. What the hell? Somebody had measles, said Amoni Jordan, a medical assistant.

As a visitor and a father of five children, it doesnt worry me one bit, said Brent Skipper, of Dothan, Al.

Theres a reason why he feels that way.

Weve got great health facilities, Skipper said. We can great medicines, we can treat it.

Measles prevention: How the two-dose regimen works

This announcement comes after the Maryland Department of Health confirmed measles cases in Prince Georges County and Howard County over the last three weeks. At the beginning of March, the Virginia Department of Health also launched an investigation into the potential exposure of measles at the Washington Dulles International Airport.

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D.C. health officials noted that the highly contagious illness can easily spread through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes.

The symptoms will appear in two stages. The first stage will include a high fever, runny nose, watery red eyes and cough. These symptoms will start within the first 7 to 14 days after being exposed.

The second stage starts 3 to 5 days after symptoms start when a rash will begin to appear on the face and spread to the rest of the body.

People are contagious from four days before and after the rash appears.

What to do if you think you were exposed?

Health officials are advising anyone who might have been in any of the locations listed above to contact their health care provider or DC Health and monitor themselves for symptoms.

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If a person has never received the measles vaccination, health officials warned they are at risk of contracting measles.

Any questions about the exposures can be directed to DC Health at 844- 493-2652.

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ROME, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The recent U.S.-brokered Russia-Ukraine peace talks highlighted growing divisions between Washington and Brussels, bringing trans-Atlantic relations to a historic low, an Italian geopolitical analyst has said.

Sergio Fabbrini, a political science professor at Rome's LUISS University, told Xinhua that the exclusion of Europe from the talks underscores the EU's declining influence in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, due in large part to the bloc's lack of unified foreign policy coordination.

"This episode reveals the European Union's structural weakness," he said during a university conference on Monday. "Without a central authority to speak for all members, the bloc struggles to assert itself on the global stage, particularly when the U.S. chooses to act unilaterally."

This institutional fragmentation, he said, coincides with the skeptical view of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration of the EU. The U.S. president has repeatedly characterized the EU as "an institution designed to undermine American interests rather than bolster global security."

Fabbrini emphasized the fundamental divergence in how both sides perceive the Ukraine crisis. "For Europe, this is an existential security threat happening on our doorstep. For Washington, it's a geopolitical calculation involving great powers," he said.

The professor warned that the current tensions mark "one of the worst crises in trans-Atlantic history," urging Europe to develop more independent diplomatic capacity.

"Geographical reality demands that Europe take greater responsibility for its own security architecture while maintaining equilibrium between national interests and collective European stability," he said. 
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A 22-year-old man was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison after he went live on social media showing a gun and drugs.

The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia (USADC) said Corey Whittico was sentenced on Monday. His sentencing comes after he pleaded guilty in December of 2024 to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition of a felon and related charges.

The attorneys office said that during the video, Whittico showed a pistol with a machine gun conversion as he was traveling from Maryland into the District. Throughout the video, he also showed over a kilogram of marijuana that he stashed in the back of the car.

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Violence interrupter, DC man charged with first-degree murder in H Street lounge shooting

Court documents revealed that in 2023, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) watched the live video on Instagram from Whitticos account. When he turned the camera around, he showed a black Glock handgun that had been outfitted with an aftermarket machine gun conversion, also known as a switch.

Within the next minute, Whittico reached into the backseat and showed marijuana in a black and clear bag.

Officials said investigators drove to the Clay Terrace community in Northeast D.C. and continued watching Whitticos live. The officers then spotted Whittico sitting inside a Honda Accord.

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Shortly after, police pulled the Honda over and found three separate packages of marijuana that weighed over three pounds. Officers then found a Glock 27, a .40 caliber semiautomatic, loaded with 17 rounds under the passenger seat.

DC leaders break ground on new recreation Center, early childhood education center in Fort Lincoln

The USADC said officers also found a Glock 45, 9 mm semiautomatic loaded with 26 rounds of ammunition and a laser.

Officials noted that Whittico is a previously convicted felon and is not allowed to have guns or ammunition.

In 2023, he was convicted of robbery in Prince Georges County and sentenced to 10 years in prison. However, eight and a half years of his sentence was suspended.

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The judge ordered Whittico to serve three years of supervised release.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said it is investigating after a group allegedly robbed a liquor store with guns in Northwest early Tuesday morning.

According to D.C. police, around 5:15 a.m., officers responded to the Hamilton Liquor in the 5200 block of Georgia Avenue for a suspicious vehicle.

There, police learned that multiple people armed with guns had entered the store and pointed a gun at a person before stealing an ATM.

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Ask me about my support of Nazis: 2 people wanted for defacing peoples Teslas with political hate speech, DC police say

On Tuesday morning, MPD issued a lookout for a white Ford pickup truck with Maryland tags. Police noted that the truck was occupied by several people wearing ski masks and dressed in black clothing. MPD said they were also armed with rifles.

Almost 15 minutes later, police officers spotted the Ford near New York Avenue and Bladensburg Road, where a police chase began.

During the pursuit, MPDs helicopter responded and began tracking the truck. D.C. police said the chase continued into Maryland and Virginia, and several agencies were involved.

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Shortly before 7 a.m., the truck stopped in the 2300 block of Raynold Place SE, where the group exited the vehicle and began running from the police.

Three DC men arrested in string of Prince Georges County ATM robberies, police say

Eventually, police arrested two people and found the ATM.

As of Tuesday morning, police were still searching for two people, and officers were actively canvassing the area.

Anyone with additional information about the robbery should call police at 202-727-9099 or text MPDs Tip Line at 50411. All tips can remain anonymous.

(Ya-Marie Sesay/DC News Now) (Ya-Marie Sesay/DC News Now)

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(COLORADO)  With the warmer weather and vacation season well underway, the Drug Enforcement Administrations Rocky Mountain Field Division (DEA RMFD) is once again reminding parents to speak with their kids about the real threats of fentanyl.

Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen of the DEA RMFD spoke with FOX21 News about the hard conversations parents need to have with their kids about the dangers of drug abuse.

The scary thing now is that the biggest threat in our community is not someone shooting a needle of heroin in their arm, its that theyre taking a pill, Pullen said, and we teach our kids to take pills, so parents have to have this really hard conversation with their kids about being aware.

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Pullen said spring break brings an extra layer of concern.

High school kids and college kids like to go on vacation for spring break; maybe they go to Mexico, maybe they go to Florida; kids take risks when they go and they are away from their parents, he said.

DEAs Rocky Mountain Field Division on drug overdose deaths in the state

Pullen added that fentanyl does not take a vacation.

Its still going to be deadly, its still going to be out there, and parents need to have this conversation with their high schoolers and with their college kids to not ingest any substance that they dont know what it is, he said. Never take a pill that you think is medicine if it didnt come from your doctor or pharmacist.

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Pullen said parents need to understand that the threat is real and its out there, and that these criminal groups are targeting young people.

The cartels have intelligence networks just like government agencies do, right? So, they watch the news, they pay attention to the trends, and they move drugs around the countries, to places where they know its going to sell, he said. They are a multi-billion-dollar a year business; all they care about is greed; they dont care about if people live or die, they just care about the money they are going to make.

This weekend, an hour-long Nexstar special titled The Next Generation: Breaking Fentanyls Grip will air on FOX21 and SOCO CW. The special will focus on five families impacted by fentanyl; you can watch it on Sunday, March 30, at 5 p.m. on FOX21 and then at 9 p.m. on SOCO CW.

The DEA also has several resources for families, including drug education information for parents, educators, and caregivers to help identify drug use, drug paraphernalia, warning signs of drug use, and the harmful side effects of the most commonly used drugs.

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For more information, search dea.gov/togetherforfamilies.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Property owners who wish to file a property value appeal must do so before March 31.

Montgomery County Auditor Karl Keith says property value appeals must be filed with the Board of Revisions before March 31.

If a property owner disagrees with the value weve set on their property, we want them to feel welcomed and empowered to file a property value appeal with the Board of Revision, said Keith.

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Property owners can present evidence for a requested change to the BOR. Property values are used for tax purposes, and Keith says the board welcomes appeals if property owners feel their property value is inaccurate.

We want to give every property owner the opportunity to weigh-in on their propertys value, said Keith. We try to go above and beyond to educate property owners about how to file an appeal.

After a property owner files an appeal, they will be scheduled for a hearing later in the year where they can make a case for a change in their propertys value. Hearings are conducted by Zoom video conference or phone call.

Click here to learn more about how to file an appeal.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
BROOMFIELD, Colo. (KDVR)  Pat Hammon shares a common bond with nearly 10,000 women who donned the uniform and served their country in a warzone as nurses in Vietnam.

It was a very, it was a really tough duty, Hammon told a crowd of attendees Saturday in Broomfield, where she took the stage as a guest speaker at a symposium marking 60 years since the start of the Vietnam war.

Loveland Navy veteran who served when few other women did named Hero of the Month

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I learned more in the first two weeks (in Vietnam) than you can learn in four years of school, Hammon told FOX31.

Recruited from nursing school, she signed up with the Army Nurse Corps and was assigned to Vietnam, spending a year at the 24th EVAC Hospital in Long Binh, just outside Saigon, helping treat some of the most severely injured in battle.

We had horrendous mortar type, multiple injuries. So when these guys went to the OR (operating room), theyd have four surgeons working on them at the same time, she said.

Hammon was in Vietnam for exactly 365 and a half days before returning home from war where she was met by war protesters at the San Francisco airport.

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Yeah, I got spit on in the airport and called names. Went in the ladies room, took my uniform off and that was the end of that, Hammon said.

Colorado WWII Navy veteran remembers heroes he helped on Iwo Jima 80 years ago

She moved to the Colorado mountains a few years ago where she works as Eagle County Veterans Service Officer, helping those who proudly wore the uniform, just as she did a half-century ago.

Hammon is one of thousands of women who served in Vietnam but have never been given their due. Thats why shes being honored as the FOX31 Serving Those Who Serve Hero of the Month. The program is sponsored by American Furniture Warehouse, Plumbline Services and the Leo Hill Charitable Trust.

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To nominate a veteran or active-duty service member for Hero of the Month, visit the nomination page.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
The City of Decatur and Decatur Development Authority awarded the last chunk of funding for the 2024 to 2025 small business commercial grants.

The second, and final, round of funding awarded $73,000 to 11 businesses across three grant programs.

Businesses that applied could receive funds for Commercial Facade Improvement, Commercial Buildout Improvement and Marketing and Digital Connectivity needs.

Over the course of two rounds of funding for the programs, Decatur officials awarded $200,000 between July 1, 2024 and now, for the fiscal year.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The city said grants cover up to 75% of the project costs, with businesses responsible for funding the remaining 25%. Projects that receive funding must begin with six months of approval and be finished 18 months after.

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Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, so the fact our team approved just under $189,000 to support them in a multitude of ways over this fiscal year speaks volumes about our commitment to helping them grow, Conor McNally, DDA chair, said in a statement. Not only does this show our existing entrepreneurs how tangible the DDAs support is, but it also serves as a beacon to others that Downtown Decatur is a place they can thrive.

TRENDING STORIES:

The businesses that won funding awards are listed below, organized by grant program.

Facade improvements:

Farm Burger, $6,045 to replace a rusted back door for safety reasons and construct new seating on the front patio

Little Shop of Stories, $7,484 for redesigned storefront signage

TuTu School Decatur, $3,167 toward new electrical signage to improve visibility from N. Arcadia Avenue

Pure Barre Decatur, $8,800 for the installation of new windows and doors

Buildout improvements:

Glide Pizza, $8,935 to add restrooms, remodel the kitchen and improve the existing HVAC system

Lenz Marketing, $8,935 for extensive ductwork and HVAC replacement

Little Shop of Stories, $8,935 to expand the footprint of the bookstore and combine it with a new cafe

Parkers on Ponce, $7,185 for the replacement of the mechanical system for its built-in freezer

Siam Thai Restaurant, $8,935 for an overhaul of its walk-in cooler

Marketing and Digital Connectivity:

Seamless Recovery Medspa, $2,500 toward consulting services helping them build a more dynamic website

TE Wilcox Home LLC, $2,500 to support paid social media marketing campaigns

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PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. (WFLA)  A decoy police car being utilized as a crime deterrent at a Pembroke Park gas station was vandalized over the weekend, according to authorities.

Now, police are looking for the three suspects who they say climbed on top of the vehicle and kicked the front windshield, causing an estimated $1,000 in damage as the windshield shattered.

Man arrested for damaging Tampa Bay state senators office: police

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The incident happened around 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 23, according to the Pembroke Park Police Department. Video taken by a bystander showed a large group of people on dirt bikes and motorcycles stopped at the RaceTrac gas station on Pembroke Road.

Investigators said the group of nearly 90 to 150 individuals was actively participating in an illegal street takeover when the incident happened, and had been involved in several others throughout South Florida before to heading to the gas station.

(Credit: Pembroke Park Police Department)

(Credit: Pembroke Park Police Department)

A street takeover is a dangerous and unlawful event where groups of individuals, often operating vehicles, motorcycles, or ATVs, take control of public roadways, police said. These activities frequently involve reckless driving, high-speed maneuvers, drifting, and burnouts, posing significant risks to public safety and often resulting in collisions and injuries.

The group is believed to have continued engaging in reckless behavior after leaving the gas station, according to the police department.

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Anyone with information on the three people who are accused of damaging the police car is asked to contact the Pembroke Park Police Department at 954-374-8639. Anonymous tips can also be sent to Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.

The Pembroke Park Police Department remains dedicated to ensuring the safety of our community and holding those who engage in unlawful and dangerous activities accountable, 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 WFLA.
BARKSDALE AFB, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Grab your lawn chair and prepare to be wowed at this years Defenders of Liberty Airshow at Barksdale Air Force Base on March 29th and 30th.

Defenders of Liberty is a full weekend of spectacular displays of historic and current military and civilian aircraft.

Weve got a massive lineup of static display aircraft and military vehicles, as well as some civilian vehicles and aircraft, says Major Shane Lockridge. Weve got our STEM zone, our science, technology, engineering, math with exhibits in that realm.

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Maj. Lockridge says the aerobatic acts will start flying continuously from 11 a.m. until the Thunderbirds close the show at 4:30 p.m.

The Defenders of Liberty Airshow is more than just a visual treat, according to the Shreveport-Bossier Military Affairs Council the show allows Shreveport-Bossier City to showcase Louisiana as the home of the B-52, pay tribute to service members, and support the recruiting arm of the United States Armed Forces.

One big thing that we try to do during these shows is recruitment, you know, build that next generation of airmen and get people excited about joining the organization and the legacy that comes with it, says Maj Lockridge.

Gates open at 9 a.m., and this years new element allows you to skip the traffic lines. Additional parking is available at Bossier Parish Community College with shuttle service straight to the Air Show entry point on Barksdale Air Force Base.

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Before heading out to the event, you should be familiar with the rules and regulations of this event to ensure you are able to get in and enjoy the show without any hiccups.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
JOHN BELLINO / U.S. NAVY Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had a light moment Monday with Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

JOHN BELLINO / U.S. NAVY Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had a light moment Monday with Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is on Oahu to meet with Pacific military leaders to discuss China and other security priorities in the region.

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Its part of a Pacific tour that will include stops in Guam, Japan and the Philippines in his first visit to the region in his role as Pentagon chief.

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command did not respond to questions about Hegseths visit, but photos released by the military on social media showed that soon after touching down on Oahu, he went to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command headquarters at Camp Smith, where he met with INDO PACOM chief Adm. Samuel Paparo and other members of the militarys senior leadership in the Pacific, the Pentagons top-priority theater of operations.

In a statement released Friday, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Hegseth will meet with American and allied forces and that in Japan he will participate in a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima. Parnell said, Secretary Hegseths trip comes as the United States builds on unprecedented cooperation with like-minded countries to strengthen regional security.

The U.S. military is preparing for Exercise Balikatan in the Philippines, a large exercise in which Philippine, American, Australian and Japanese militaries will train to repel a simulated ocean invasion. The Hawaii-based 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment and Army 25th Infantry Division are set to participate.

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The exercise will focus on the western portions of the archipelago facing the South China Seawhere real-world tensions have boiled.

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China considers the critical waterwaywhich more than a third of all international trade travels throughto be its exclusive sovereign territory over the objections of the Philippines and other countries that border it. China has seized several disputed islands and reefs and attacked fishermen and other maritime workers from the Philippines and other neighboring countries.

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Hegseth has pledged to scale back U.S. military operations in Europe and the Middle East to focus on competing with China in the Pacific. He also pledged to rebuild  the American military with a focus on obtaining new weapons, investing in the defense industry and building up forceswhile simultaneously cutting Pentagon spending.

The Trump administration has promised to reduce the Department of Defenses budget by 8 % each year as part of sweeping cuts being undertaken across the federal government. But while Hegseth supports budget cuts, he specifically requested that the Hawaii-based U.S. Indo-Pacific Commandwhich oversees all operations across the Pacificbe exempt from any reductions.

During his congressional confirmation hearing, Hegseth said that were going to reestablish deterrence. First and foremost, we will defend our homeland, our borders and our skies. Second, we will work with our partners and allies to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific from the Communist Chinese. And finally, we will responsibly end wars to ensure that we prioritize our resources to reorient to larger threats.

Hawaii is the nerve center for all U.S. military operations in the region, and troops from other countries in the region have increasingly come to the islands to train with American forces.

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Hawaii has the highest share of the militarys construction budget of any state, accounting for roughly 8 % of the total. That includes $1.2 billion for Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyards Dry Dock 5, a dock to service new nuclear submarines and the most expensive construction project in Navy history. Hegseth has promised to cut Pentagon bureaucracy to more quickly acquire new weapons, equipment and munitions to maximize the militarys lethality.

Many military leaders, including Paparo, have welcomed the pledge.

In November, Paparo told an audience at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., that American munitions used to shoot down missiles and drones from Iranian-backed militants in the Middle East, and munitions sent to Ukrainian forces to help them fight back against invading Russian forces, threatened stocks of available weapons to potentially fight China in a Pacific conflict, saying, Its now eating into stocks, and to say otherwise would be dishonest.

In February, Paparo told attendees at the Honolulu Defense Forum, Our magazines run low, our maintenance backlogs grow longer each month for every critical joint force elementArmy, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, Coast Guard. Critical air, missile, maritime, space platforms age faster than we can replace them perfectly, and we operate on increasingly thin margins of error. Our opponents see these gaps, and they are moving aggressively to exploit them.

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While the military plays a central role in Hawaiis economy, bringing in an estimated $8.8 billion and making up 8.9 % of the gross domestic product, its footprint in the islands has drawn scrutiny. Millions of dollars also have been spent on cleaning up environmental contamination associated with the military presence in the islands.

That includes the ongoing effort to shut down the Navys Red Hill fuel facility, which in 2021 leaked jet fuel into the services Oahu water system, which serves 93, 000 people including service members and their families and civilians living in former military areas. Thousands reported suffering serious rashes, digestive problems and other symptoms.

The Navy is now working to shut down the facility, which sits just 100 feet about the aquifer most of Oahu relies on for drinking water.

The military also seeks to renew leases on several state-owned lands that were leased to the Army in 1964 for $1, which the U.S. and allied militaries have been using to train together.

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The state wants the military to agree to continue environmental protection and remediation programs on those lands, as well as preservation of ancient Native Hawaiian sites. Recent congressional legislation requires the military to actively combat invasive species on lands it controls in Hawaii, including the coconut rhinoceros beetle, which has been ravaging palm trees across Hawaii.

Hegseth, for his part, has said he intends to scale back environmental and cultural programs, which he has derided as wasting time and money. Hegseth, who served as an infantry officer in Iraq and Afghanistan, has argued most of these programs have distracted the military from focusing on acquiring weapons and training for combat operations. Its not yet clear whether the Pentagons new leadership might push for military environmental cleanup and protection programs in Hawaii to be downsized or eliminated.

Hegseth touched down on Oahu shortly Monday describing how he had been inadvertently added to a group chat on the messaging app Signal by White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz that discussed plans for military operations against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Goldberg reported that Hegseth shared sensitive intelligence about operations.

Goldberg also wrote that the chat also apparently included accounts belonging to Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, and other senior National Security Council officials. The article included several screenshots from the chat log.

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After landing on Oahu, Hegseth told reporters traveling with him that nobody was texting war plans, and thats all I have to say about that. He also accused Goldbery of being a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who has made a profesiion of peddling hoaxes.

In a statement, National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said that the message thread that was reported appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.

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Red No. 40 could be banned from Delaware schools if a new bill passes.

The effort comes on the heels of a similar bill proposing a statewide ban on Red No. 3

Potential Red No. 40 ban in Delaware schools

In this photo illustration, packages of Skittles sit on a table on May 30, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. California lawmakers are considering a law banning five chemical food additives because of health concerns, including the coloring agent used in Skittles candy.

Senate Bill 69 was introduced on March 11 by Sen. Eric Buckson (R-South Dover) and aims to protect students in the First State from the potential health risks associated with Food, Drug and Cosmetic Red No. 40, a synthetic food dye made from petroleum.

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SB 69 would prohibit selling or distributing foods and beverages containing Red No. 40 during the school day in public and charter schools in Delaware.

Recent concerns over the impact of synthetic food dyes on childrens health, including potential links to behavioral issues and hyperactivity, were cited as reasons for the proposed ban.

What foods and products have Red No. 40 in them?

Red 40 is making headlines again as lawmakers debate whether food dyes should be banned in the US. Here's what health experts say about its safety.

Red No. 40 is widely used and found in a variety of foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, according to Healthline, including:

Flavored milk

Yogurt

Pudding

Ice cream

Popsicles

Cakes and other pastries

Candy

Gum

Breakfast cereals and bars

Fruit snacks

Gelatin

Chips

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Powdered drink mixes, including some protein powders

Soda

Sports drinks

Energy drinks

More education news: Don't call it recess: Delaware educators look to bring more 'play' to early learning

How to know if your food, products contain Red No. 40

Skittles

If Red No. 40 is in a product, it will be listed on the label as:

Red 40

Red 40 Lake

FD&C Red No. 40

FD&C Red No. 40 Aluminum Lake

Allura Red AC

CI Food Red 17

INS No. 129

E129

ICYMI: Emergency Sirens will be tested throughout Delaware by DEMA in April

Whats going on with SB 69 now?

Cans of Monster Energy Drink are displayed on a shelf in a supermarket.

The ban on Red No. 40 was originally proposed as part of a substitute to Senate Bill 41, which seeks a statewide ban on Red No. 3, another synthetic food dye. The Food and Drug Administration announced a nationwide ban on Red No. 3 earlier this year.

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The substitute was added to SB 41 in February and proposed that along with the statewide ban on Red No. 3, Red No. 40 should also be banned for manufacture, sale, delivery and distribution across the state.

The legislation pointed to several states planning to ban, limit, or require warning labels on food products with Red No. 40.

That substitute was later amended for a second substitute for SB 41, which removed Red No. 40 from the bill. SB 41 now focuses solely on Red No. 3 while SB 69 pertains to Red No. 40 in schools.

Sen. Buckson addressed the change by saying he recognizes the importance of a practical and focused approach to handling the presence of both food additives. He added that refining and separating the actions proposed for both Red No. 3 and Red No. 40 ensures a responsible transition for businesses and schools.

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SB 69 has been assigned to the Senate Education Committee and is awaiting further consideration.

If passed, the restrictions on Red No. 40 would be implemented by July 1, 2026, to allow schools and education officials time to prepare for the transition.

Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Recently introduced bill proposes Red No. 40 ban in Delaware schools
RIYADH, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The new round of talks between Ukrainian and U.S. delegations concluded on Tuesday in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, local media Al Arabiya News reported, citing a Ukrainian official.

The talks came after a meeting that lasted over 12 hours between Russian and U.S. delegations on Monday in Riyadh. 
A bankruptcy filing by genetic testing and biotechnology company 23andMe and talks of a possible sale are shining a spotlight on what could happen to customers' personal data.

On March 23, 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in federal court, explaining in a statement that it did so to "facilitate a sale process to maximize the value of its business."

Along with the bankruptcy filing, the company's CEO Anne Wojcicki resigned from her role, saying in a post on X that she resigned in order to independently bid on the company.

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During the sale process, 23andMe says it plans to continue to operate as usual, noting in an open letter to customers that the bankruptcy filing "does not change how we store, manage, or protect customer data."

Still, the bankruptcy filing and uncertainty about a new owner for 23andMe have led to concerns over what could happen to the personal and genetic information of 23andMe's millions of customers.

"This bankruptcy announcement is certainly a privacy nightmare for consumers," Ginny Fahs, director of product R&D for Consumer Reports, told "Good Morning America." "Companies have anywhere between 30 to 45 days to delete the data. It's so important to do it now, before this data changes hands."

Since its founding in 2006, 23andMe says it has sold more than 12 million DNA kits, which use a saliva sample to extract DNA that is then analyzed for health and ancestry reports, according to the company's website.

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Here are six questions answered.

1. How do I delete my data from 23andMe?

23andMe customers may delete their account at anytime directly via their Account Settings, according to the company's website.

"If you participated in 23andMe Research, your Personal Information will no longer be used in any future research projects. If you asked us to store your genetic samples, they will be discarded. We will retain limited information about you, including records of this deletion request, and other information as required by law and otherwise described in our Privacy Statement," 23andMe states on its website.

To delete a 23andMe account:

Log into your 23andMe account and go to "Settings."

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Scroll to the section "23andMe data" and click "View."

Scroll to "Delete Data" and select "Permanently Delete Data."

Look for an email from 23andMe at the email address linked to your account and confirm your request.

Customers who have trouble deleting their account may contact customercare@23andme.com for help.

2. How do I save my personal information on 23andMe?

PHOTO: A sign is posted in front of the 23andMe headquarters on Feb. 1, 2024 in Sunnyvale, Calif. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

23andMe recommends that users download their personal information saved in Account Settings before submitting the request to delete their account.

Once an account is deleted, it cannot be restored, and the customer loses access to the account, according to 23andMe.

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When you are closing your account, there is an option to download your data to your device before proceeding.

3.How do I change my research consent and sample storage?

23andMe customers also have the right to change their preferences on how their genetic material is stored and used for research.

To delete a 23andMe test sample:

Log into your 23andMe account.

Go to "Settings."

Choose "Preferences."

If you previously opted to allow 23andMe and third-party researchers to use your data for research, you may withdraw consent by going to the "Preferences" section under "Account Settings," according to the company.

4. What happens to my 23andMe data if the company is sold?

In the event of a bankruptcy or sale, a user's 23andMe data can go to a new company or be sold in bankruptcy, Anya Prince, a professor at the University of Iowa College of Law with research interests in health and genetic privacy, told ABC News previously.

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23andMe has filed for bankruptcy. What could happen to users' genetic data?

23andMe said in its open letter to customers that it plans to prioritize customer data privacy throughout the sale process.

"Any buyer will be required to comply with applicable law with respect to treatment of customer data," the company said. "Our users' privacy and data are important considerations in any transaction, and we remain committed to our users' privacy and to being transparent with our customers about how their data is managed."

The company's current privacy statement is available to read here.

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Prince noted that once a new buyer is in place, the details of the company's privacy policy can be changed.

"The privacy policy also says that the new company has to follow the existing privacy policy, which sounds great, but the existing privacy policy also says that it can be changed at any time," Prince told ABC News. "So, the new company could adopt the same privacy policy and then change it in ways that maybe the customers don't like."

5. Is the genetic data collected by 23andMe protected in the same way as health records?

No. 23andMe is considered a direct-to-consumer genetic testing company, and transactions with the company are considered commercial, not medical.

AG Bonta urges consumers to delete their genetic data amid 23andMe collapse risk

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Because 23andMe is not a medical company, customers' personal information is not protected under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, which affords privacy protections to health records.

6. What have public officials said about 23andMe's data amid the bankruptcy filing?

To date, at least two state attorney generals have reminded consumers of their right to delete data.

On Tuesday, New York Attorney General Letitia James urged 23andMe customers to "take action to protect their data."

"New Yorkers' genetic data is sensitive information that must be protected at all costs," James said in a news release. "23andMe's bankruptcy announcement is concerning and I am urging New Yorkers to take action to safeguard their data. New Yorkers can follow instructions offered by my office to delete their data or destroy any DNA samples held by 23andMe. Anyone experiencing issues deleting their information stored with 23andMe should contact my office."

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California's Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a consumer alert for 23andMe customers on March 21 with steps on how to delete genetic data, destroy a test sample and to revoke permission for genetic data being used in research.

"California has robust privacy laws that allow consumers to take control and request that a company delete their genetic data," Bonta said in the alert. "Given 23andMe's reported financial distress, I remind Californians to consider invoking their rights and directing 23andMe to delete their data and destroy any samples of genetic material held by the company."

ABC News' Mary Kekatos contributed to this report.

How to delete your 23andMe data amid company's bankruptcy originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
Rep. Jake Teshka, R-North Liberty, holds up legislative documents from the House floor on Jan. 30, 2025. (Courtesy Indiana House Republicans Flickr)

Indiana marijuana adversaries contend that legislation regulating a similar drug would advance legalization  but a key lawmaker says thats not happening.

I think that there are maybe some misunderstandings about where were at on that, Rep. Jake Teshka, R-North Liberty, told the Capital Chronicle. And so, (Im) looking to clear that up and work with them to make any changes that might be necessary.

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Teshka is the House sponsor for Senate Bill 478, the Indiana General Assemblys latest attempt to set regulations on a young industry booming in a legal gray area.

The legislation sets out licensing, testing, packaging, age-limit, advertising and other requirements for craft hemp flower products. Its aimed largely at delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an isomer of delta-9 THC  the major psychoactive component in marijuana.

The status quo is not acceptable, right? I mean, it truly is the Wild West out there, Teshka said.

The Senate has repeatedly resisted attempts to regulate, while the concept has enjoyed success in the House. This years package, however, originated in the Senate and won approval in that chamber.

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But changes accepted in a House committee last Wednesday turned the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Councils (IPAC) neutrality to opposition, and triggered alarm bells among marijuana critics.

Advocates for full marijuana legalization amended the bill in a way that I think advances their dangerous agenda, wrote Micah Clark, who leads Indianas chapter of the American Family Association, in a Thursday alert. It was titled, Is Indiana legalizing marijuana?

At the time, Teshka said he intended to remedy a well-intended Senate amendment that altered the definition of hemp and included other cannabinoids. IPAC representative Chris Daniels called the edits an overcorrection.

Daniels said striking precursors out of several provisions would complicate testing and enforcement efforts. He offered THCA, a precursor to delta-9 THC, as an example.

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If someone sells a product that is 40% THCA,  that would meet the bill, since were limited to 0.3% delta-9 THC, but when that product is heated up  it will turn into a high-potency delta-9 THC, Daniels said. This is the same issue that the lab has when we submit these products  the testing process heats that product up.

That could force testing in private, out-of-state labs, per Daniels  which is going to be an astronomical fiscal for us.

Teshka disagreed with those fears.

The legislation, he said, maintains bans on the sale of THCA and craft hemp flower within Indiana  although farmers could grow the latter for sale elsewhere.

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He observed that the Office of the Indiana State Chemist currently tests growing plants for total THC content. But he acknowledged that levels can spike between testing and harvest. And the office, which oversees hemp growers and handlers, doesnt regulate finished products intended for retail sale or purchase.

Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council representative Chris Daniels testifies in committee on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (Screenshot of livestream recording)

Asked if product testing is available, Teshka said, We can test in-state  I think what (IPAC is) saying is that the state police lab doesnt have the capability to do it.

He said the chemists office and third-party vendors within Indiana can do it, but also wondered if theres some money out there for them to get that equipment to test. Thats despite questions, Teshka continued, that current technology cant differentiate between legal hemp and banned marijuana.

Teshka said he and IPAC would meet Monday afternoon to consider clarifications.

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IPACs Daniels also identified the amendments milligram limits as concerning.

Craft hemp flower products would have to contain less than 0.3% of delta-8, delta-9 or hexahydrocannabinol THC by weight or volume. Gummies, other edibles and tinctures would be capped to 100 milligrams of THC per serving and 3,000 per package; drinks would be limited to 25 milligrams per unit and 600 per package; and e-liquid would have to contain less than 3 grams of THC per device. The amendment provides for a variance of up to 20% from the limits.

So the concern is, when we broaden that definition, to a point, Indiana, while trying to regulate this product, becomes a state where we can sell some of the highest-potency products, more than any state thats legalized marijuana, Daniels told the committee.

Teshka maintained that the language significantly rein(s) in the market, noting that products of 1,000 milligrams per serving are currently available.

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We came in at 10% of whats on the market right now, he said. Conversations about the limits are ongoing.

Teshka said Indiana should still take action on delta-8 during this legislative session: If we go another year without doing anything, then were just continuing to kick the can down the road and and allow this thing to fester.

After passing out of committee on an 8-3 vote, the bill awaits a finance-focused hearing in the House Ways and Means Committee.

Meanwhile, a federal judge last week dismissed a nearly two-year-old delta-8 legality lawsuit for lack of standing. The dismissal was without prejudice, so the plaintiffs could choose to re-file in state court.

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Benjamin Netanyahu can justly claim credit for eviscerating Hezbollah in Lebanon, hastening the downfall of Assads regime in Syria and pulverising Irans blood-soaked militias across the Middle East. Yet for all these achievements, his behaviour on the home front is recklessly undermining the democratic institutions that distinguish Israel from its neighbourhood.

After Mr Netanyahus earlier assault on judicial independence stirred mass protests, the prime minister is now trying to sack Ronen Bar, the director of the Israel Security Agency, known as the Shin Bet. He claims that the spy chief failed to act on advance warning of the Hamas atrocity of October 7.

Why this alleged fact took nearly 18 months to emerge has not been explained. What is beyond doubt is that Mr Bar is now investigating two members of Mr Netanyahus own office for allegedly taking money from the Gulf state of Qatar. As the head of Israels version of MI5, responsible for protecting the country from foreign interference and espionage, Mr Bar is within his rights to conduct this inquiry. For Mr Netanyahu to attempt to dismiss the spy chief inevitably raises suspicions that he may be trying to cover up possible wrongdoing in his own office.

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The High Court froze Mr Bars attempted sacking, causing the prime minister to turn on the attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, and issue attacks on a Leftist deep state supposedly dedicated to toppling his Right-wing government.

Street protests show the strength of internal opposition to these developments. Friends of Israel abroad who admire its robust democracy can but hope that this vindictive campaign is thwarted.

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The 2025 primary election is just under two months away, and on Monday evening democratic voters got a start in figuring out who to vote for.

This is a local race, and these are people that are in our community, and its important that they interact with the community as much as they can, and of course, this is a great opportunity for them to do so, said Sam Talarico, event moderator and Erie County Democratic Party chair.

Candidates in four different city and council races took the stage during the event  Erie City Council, county council, City of Erie Mayor and the county executive.

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After introducing themselves, the candidates were randomly asked three different questions and were given two minutes to answer.

Several local Republicans kick off campaigns Tuesday night

There was a packed room of citizens at the Maennerchor Club looking to get to know whos on the ballot a little better and be an active citizen when it comes to politics.

You said it right yourself, be an active citizen. You know, we dont get into this thing by ourselves. We cannot do it by ourselves. Were supposed to be a united nation, you know, all together working for a good cause, said Tim Driscoll, a Harborcreek voter.

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For voters, the forum was a way to get more informed of all the candidates on the May ballot.

And for the candidates, the event was a way to get in front of the community and appeal to those voters.

PA senator advocating for open primaries for independents

Its important because your voting base and your community needs to know who you are and what you stand for, and if youre not willing to face them, then how can you be a good elected official? said Jasmine Flores, Erie City Council candidate and incumbent.

Voters will nominate their candidates in the upcoming primary election on May 20.

If you missed Monday nights forum, Erie County United will be hosting a similar event on Saturday, March 29 from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m. at the Booker T Washington Center on Holland Street.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
WASHINGTON  Top members of the intelligence community say they would be open to an audit of a leaked group chat in which Trump administration officials inadvertently added a journalist to a conversation coordinating airstrikes in Yemen.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard faced intense questioning by Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday as senators pressed them on whether the group chat posed a national security risk. The pair denied any wrongdoing, rejecting claims that sensitive information related to war plans were shared in the conversation.

There was no classified material that was shared in that Signal chat, Gabbard told the committee, referring to the encrypted messaging platform that was used.

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The hearing comes one day after it was revealed The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently added to a group chat coordinating details for airstrikes targeting Yemens Houthi rebels on March 15. In his reporting, Goldberg said the chat included operational details  including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing.

The revelation prompted outrage from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, sending the Trump administration into clean-up mode this week to downplay the severity.

The hearing on Tuesday was previously scheduled to focus on global threats facing the United States, but several Democratic senators changed their prepared remarks at the last minute to focus on the group chat.

A Yemeni walks over the debris of a destroyed building following U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Monday, March 24, 2025. | Associated Press

We stunningly learned that senior members of this administration and according to reports, two of our witnesses here today were members of a group chat that discussed highly sensitive and likely classified information that supposedly even included weapons packages, targets and timing, and included the name of an active CIA agent, Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., said in his opening statement.

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Putting aside for a moment that classified information should never be discussed over an unclassified system. Its also just mind boggling to me that all these senior folks were on this line and nobody bothered to even check security, he added. Its security hygiene 101.

Trump administration says war plans were not discussed

Throughout the hearing, both Gabbard and Ratcliffe maintained that no classified information was shared in the group chat nor was classified material sent to the thread.

That response echoes the official response from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday, who accused Goldberg of adding sensationalist spin when he revealed he was accidentally added to the group chat.

As the National Security Council stated, the White House is looking into how Goldbergs number was inadvertently added to the thread, Leavitt said in a post on X. Thanks to the strong and decisive leadership of President (Donald) Trump, and everyone in the group, the Houthi strikes were successful and effective. Terrorists were killed and thats what matters most to President Trump.

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That line of defense prompted pushback from Democratic senators, who pressed the intelligence community officials to approve an audit of the group chat to determine whether classified information was shared. Gabbard and Ratcliffe both said they would comply with such a review.

Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, further pressed Gabbard on those claims, arguing the White House should publish the full text conversation if classified information was not shared. The Trump administration has so far declined to do so.

Gabbard said there was discussion around targets in general, although she said specific details about airstrikes against the Houthis was not discussed. Instead, Gabbard described the thread as a conversation reflecting national security leaders and the vice president around the presidents objectives.

Ratcliffe later acknowledged that discussions of possible military targets should not be held on unclassified systems, noting pre-decisional strike deliberation should be conducted through classified channels.

Republicans defend use of nonsecure messaging system

Aside from Goldberg being added to the group conversation, several lawmakers on the Intelligence and Armed Services committees in Congress have aired concerns with the use of Signal, an encrypted group chat system, to discuss highly sensitive decisions.

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Ratcliffe defended the usage, arguing the system has been deemed permissible by the White House and was used permissibly by those included in the thread.

Ratcliffe told the committee that national security adviser Mike Waltz requested the Signal chat be used for first steps in coordination, but it was not intended to be a substitute for classified communications.

My communications, to be clear, in a Signal message group were entirely permissible and lawful and did not include classified information, Ratcliffe said.

The use of Signal has raised eyebrows among several in GOP circles, particularly Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee.

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The fact that classified information was put on an unclassified system, I think the secretary of defense has to answer to that, Bacon said on Tuesday.

Bacon pushed back on the White Houses claims that war plans were not discussed on the text thread, calling it baloney.

They ought to just be honest and own up to it, he said.
March 25 (UPI) -- Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee grilled top intelligence officials in the Trump administration during a hearing Tuesday about worldwide threats and a recently leaked security chat they called "sloppy, careless and incompetent."

CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified at the open hearing about how Yemen military plans were leaked earlier this month to journalist Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic. National Security Agency Director Timothy Haugh and Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel were also in attendance as both Gabbard and Ratcliffe claimed no classified materials had been divulged.

"The National Security Council is reviewing all aspects of how this came to be, how the journalist was inadvertently added to the group chat and what occurred within that chat across the board," Gabbard told the panel.

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"I can attest to the fact that there were not classified or intelligence equities that were included in that chat group at any time," she continued, as Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., suggested a public release of the information.

"The idea somehow, 'Well, none of this was classified but we can't talk about it here,' you can't have it both ways," Warner countered.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard responds to Democrats' questions regarding a leaked security thread during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing examining worldwide threats at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on Tuesday, stating "no intelligence equities were included in that chat group." Intelligence leaders testified publicly before the committee moved to a closed session. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

"If it's not classified again, we'd ask you to give it to the public today," Warner added. "If you got it here it's not classified. Stand by your position, or is this just one more example of a careless approach on how we keep our secrets in this administration?"

Goldberg reported in The Atlantic earlier this month that he had been included in a group chat on the texting platform Signal, an encrypted messaging app, in which top Trump officials detailed pending attacks against Houthi rebels in Yemen two hours before they were implemented on March 15.

Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee Sen. Mark Warner, D-VT, grills Trump intelligence officials during a hearing examining worldwide threats at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on Tuesday, claiming "the Signal fiasco is not a one-off." Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

"I could not believe that the national-security leadership of the United States would communicate on Signal about imminent war plans," Goldberg said. "I could not believe that the national security adviser to the president would be so reckless as to include him in the discussions with senior U.S. officials."

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Ratcliffe testified Tuesday that the CIA permits the use of Signal for work communications, calling the app "permissible and lawful."

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard looks on with CIA Director John Ratcliffe during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing examining worldwide threats at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on Tuesday. As the hearing focused on a leaked security thread, both denied participating in classified discussions on Signal and agreed to comply with any audit of their communications. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

"One of the first things that happened as CIA director was Signal was loaded onto my computer at the CIA, as it is for most CIA officers," Ratcliffe said.

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., asked Ratcliffe whether he knew President Trump's Middle East adviser was in Moscow on the Signal thread while he was director of the CIA, to which Ratcliffe replied, "I'm not aware of that."

National Security Agency Director Timothy Haugh and Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel speak before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing examining worldwide threats at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on Tuesday. Intelligence leaders testified publicly before the committee before moving to a closed session. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI.

"This sloppiness, this incompetence, this disrespect for our intelligence agencies and the personnel who work for him is entirely unacceptable. It's an embarrassment," Bennet shouted. "You need to do better. You need to do better."

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"I think this is one more example of sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior, particularly towards classified information," Senate Intelligence Committee ranking member Mark Warner, D-Va., added. "This Signal fiasco is not a one-off."

Both Gabbard and Ratcliffe said they would comply with any audit of their communications as both testified they did not participate in classified discussions on Signal.

"To be clear, I haven't participated in any Signal group messaging that relates to any classified information at all," Ratcliffe said.

"Senator, I have the same answer," Gabbard added. "I have not participated in any Signal group chat, or any other chat on another app that contained any classified information."

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During Tuesday's hearing, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called for resignations over the text chain.

"I'm of the view that there ought to be resignations, starting with the national security adviser and the secretary of defense," Wyden said.

President Trump has said the inclusion of journalist Goldberg in the Signal chat with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, as well as Gabbard and Ratcliffe, had "no impact at all" on the strike in Yemen.

Trump also defended Waltz, saying the national security adviser will not be fired as the president revealed it was a staffer for Waltz who included Goldberg in the Signal group chat.

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"He's not getting fired," Trump told Fox News, as he called the incident "a mistake" and claimed the Signal text thread contained "nothing important."

"They were using an app, as I understand it, that a lot of people in government use, a lot of people in the media use," Trump told reporters Tuesday. "If it were up to me, everybody would be sitting in a room together."

The president said technical experts and legal teams are looking into the app's security, before adding that White House aides would "probably" not use Signal any longer.
Democrats seized on the revelation that senior Trump administration officials discussed war plans in a group messaging appin an effort Monday to outflank Republicans on issues of competency and national security.

Repeatedly they called out what they saw as hypocrisy from Republicans who litigated much of the 2016 presidential campaign over Hillary Clinton's handling of classified information, evenwhile several of the nearly dozen Democratic elected and appointed officials, strategists and staffers who spoke to POLITICO were reluctant to politicize what they described as a grave national security lapse.

Incompetence incarnate, Rep. Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts, the Democrat and former Marine infantry platoon commander in Afghanistan, told POLITICO. What national security and foreign policy does is it influences the trust of the electorate in the competence and strength of the governing party.



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Auchincloss likened the political ramifications of the incident to then-President Joe Bidens withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, even as one involved major military decisions and the other a discussion of war plans. He said, His approval ratings took a 10-point hit and never recovered. I dont think people went to the polls three years later and said, Im going to vote for Trump because of Afghanistan. But theres no question that ended his honeymoon. (Asked whether this marked a similar end of Trumps honeymoon, he said, No, adding that we should be very cautious in declaring one episode that.)

However, he said, I think Democrats have an opportunity to be the party of national security.

Chris Meagher, a former aide to the Biden-era Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin: Theyre being sloppy with Americas national security.

Doug Wilson, a former Pentagon public affairs official who has advised several Democratic presidential candidates, called it amateur hour with the safety and security of our troops.

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Democrats have for years watched Donald Trump overcome myriad controversies and political setbacks, from the Access Hollywood tape to his refusal to accept a loss in 2020 and the riot at the Capitol in 2021. They have also long struggled to connect with voters who describe themselves as patriotic, and some Democrats cautioned the group chat episode alone would not likely reverberate for long beyond Washington.



But as they reacted to the shocking revelation on Monday, many Democrats  particularly those with military backgrounds and connections to the national security apparatus  were framing it in a broader narrative of dysfunction and hypocrisy by Trump.

He called for the most severe punishment of Hillary Clinton for inappropriate email practices. You know what Hillary Clinton didn't do? Post war plans on her email, said Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Amid the chaotic opening to Trumps administration, Himes said the Signal chat happened in the larger context of the the American people learning what happens when you anarchically upset the apple cart. Among the examples: The people who look after our nuclear weapons get fired. Stupidity around tariffs takes 10 percent off of your 401(K).

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And now, he said, Government is a deadly serious thing, and what we saw on these Signal threads were what you would expect if the brothers of Sigma Chi were running our national security.

Early Monday, the Atlantic published a bombshell report that top Trump administration officials had included Atlantic editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg in a private chat discussing a military strike on Houthis.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin called the group of Trump administration officials involved incompetent people, while former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who served six years as a Navy intelligence officer, told CNN's Kaitlin Collins the administration that this is part of a bigger pattern, right? The sloppiness and the incompetence.

Nobody in Donald Trump's family is on a ship in the Mediterranean, Buttigieg said. Nobody in Elon Musk's family is at risk from the kinds of economic or security arms that are going on here. They think all of this is a joke or a game, because these are incredibly rich, powerful men who, frankly, don't have to worry about the kinds of things most Americans do.

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In this case, no known U.S. or allies' lives were lost, and beyond the fate of national security adviser Michael Waltzs job, which some White House allies are speculating is in trouble, the fallout is unclear. A spokesperson for the national security council said that the Signal chat conveys deep and thoughtful policy coordination.

VoteVets, a progressive veterans advocacy group, circulated a memo to Capitol Hill allies that said the incident was the "opposite of 100% OPSEC," referring to the term "operational security," which involves mitigating risks of exposing classified information. The memo, obtained by POLITICO, suggested "this is not a trivial matter," and that their "decision to communicate on an unclassified messaging app puts U.S. forces at great risk.

For her part, Clinton posted on X simply, You have got to be kidding me.

Some Democrats said the incident was above politics, suggesting at least some resistance to using it as a cudgel.

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Freshman Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey, a former staffer to President Barack Obamas White House National Security Council and an adviser to generals in Afghanistan, called it a deeply scary breach of confidentiality that puts service members at risk.

I think we need to know exactly whats going on and whether or not there is a constant, frequent use of unclassified phones for discussing some of the most sensitive national security issues that are out there, he said. He also pointed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths lack of experience. These are the dangers when you have somebody who hasn't operated, someone like Hegseth, who hasn't operated in these types of leadership roles before.

Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the issue isnt about Republican or Democrat. He suggested that there's possibly criminality involved here, and it needs to be fully investigated. And I think there are people that should be stepping down and resigning over this level of a crisis.

It remains unclear whether the issue, like many others, will travel far beyond Washington and its digital environs. It does, after all, involve one of the most elite and rarified print glossy magazines, and its editor, who was looped into the Signal conversations.

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Jason Bresler, a Democratic strategist, said the episode could play into a waterfall effect of news cycle after news cycle that "wears down on voters," while Mike Nellis, a digital strategist, said Democrats need to settle on 2-3 stories were telling people about how the Trump administration is hurting the American people. One of them absolutely has to be focused on how were less safe with these idiots texting war plans to unknown phone numbers.

But the issue, for now, doesnt immediately touch voters bank accounts, the key factor that decided the 2024 election. Instead, it involves foreign policy  an issue that doesnt typically register among midterm voters.

Let's see how it plays out and how people understand it, said Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois, who also serves on the Intel committee, how they learn why it's important to them that intelligence is kept secret, and why that keeps them safe.

He added, Eisenhower didnt go on the telegraph and say we're taking off on the sixth of June.
Deliberations should be conducted through classified channels, CIA Director John Ratcliffe said Tuesday. He was speaking during a hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee that took place just a day after The Atlantics editor in chief Jeff Goldberg revealed that he had been inadvertently added to a group chat in which senior Trump administration officials discussed and shared plans to bomb Yemen.

On Monday, Goldbergs bombshell report detailed how he had been added to a Signal group chat titled Houthi PC small group. In it, Trump Cabinet members and officials including Ratcliffe, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard (who also testified at the hearing), Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President J.D. Vance, and others debated the merits and timing of bombing Yemen in order to check the Houthi insurgency. They also received detailed strike plans from Hegseth the day of the March 15 air strike campaign, according to Goldberg.

Tuesdays hearing was supposed to discuss the 2025 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community Instead, the hearing zeroed in on how the leading members of the intelligence community had found themselves entangled in such a colossal screw-up. Ratcliffe and Gabbard were grilled for almost two hours by Democrats. You could almost forget that FBI Director Kash Patel had also been summoned to testify.

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Much of the questioning centered around the sharing of highly sensitive  potentially classified  information about the strikes on an app that, while it purports to be safe and encrypted, is not an authorized medium for sharing classified materials.

Gabbard and Ratcliffe both claimed that no classified materials had been shared in the text discussion. At the same time, Gabbard refused to confirm that shed even been in the chat, some version of the phrase I do not recall was used liberally by both witnesses, and the DNI repeatedly declined to answer questions because the incident is under review by the National Security Council. At one point Ratcliffe seemed to indicate that he no longer had access to the chat while skirting a question about its contents.

At one point, Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) asked Gabbard why a detailed operation plan, including targets, the weapons we were going to be using, and timing  like the one reportedly shared by Hegseth in the chat  wouldnt be classified.

Gabbard again said that no classified information was shared in the chat, and deferred to Hegseth and the National Security Council on the security status of materials in the chat.

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Youre the head of the intelligence community, youre supposed to know about classifications, King quipped.

During his allotted time, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) asked Ratcliffe if he would consider the deliberation between principals in our national security apparatus about whether or not to strike another country to be classified information?

Ratcliffe replied that those types of discussions should be conducted through classified channels.

It was clear throughout that the pair had spun themselves into a tangle of contradictions, at one point Ranking Member Mark Warner (D-Va.) called out the notion that somehow, well, none of this was classified, but we cant talk about it here.

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You cant have it both ways, he added.

Warner and other Democrats on the committee repeatedly insisted that if the information distributed in the chat was not classified, the witnesses should have no issue providing a copy of its contents to the committee for review. When Ratcliffe claimed that his communications in the Signal message group were entirely permissible and lawful and did not include classified information, Warner countered: If its not classified, share the texts with the committee.

Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff  the last Democrat to question the witnesses  asked Ratcliffe point plank if he felt what had happened had been a huge mistake.

No, Ratcliffe responded, describing the addition of Golberg to the chat as an inadvertent mistake.

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Ossoff drilled down: There has been no apology, there has been no recognition of the gravity of this error.

And by the way, we will get the full transcript of this chain, and your testimony will be measured carefully against its content, he warned.

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Denmark will provide 130 million euros ($140.6 million) in guarantees to support Danish companies investing in Ukraine's defense industry, First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced on March 25.

Under the new initiative, the Danish government will introduce a state-backed guarantee through the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO). The guarantee covers up to 70% of Danish companies' investments in Ukraine's defense sector, amounting to 1 billion Danish kroner ($140.6 million).

The Nordic country has spearheaded efforts to provide military support to Ukraine by investing in its defense industry, creating the so-called "Danish model" of purchasing arms for Kyiv from Ukrainian producers.

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Svyrydenko said the new measure would help mitigate investment risks and encourage Danish manufacturers to engage with Ukraine's defense industry, benefiting from Ukrainian expertise, innovation, and real combat testing of military technology.

"EIFO is well known to Danish business, as they are already actively supporting both their country's and Ukrainian businesses with this tool," the minister wrote on Facebook.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Copenhagen has provided approximately $7.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine.

Read also: Macron to reportedly host Zelensky in Paris on March 26 ahead of security summit

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
TEHRAN, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, have called for further efforts by Muslim states to stop Israel's renewed attacks against Gaza and Lebanon.

In a phone call on Monday, the two sides discussed the latest developments in the West Asia region, especially the situation in Palestine, the resumption of Israeli attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, the U.S. airstrikes on Yemen, as well as other international issues of common interest, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Araghchi condemned Israel's "crimes and aggression against Gaza and Lebanon" in violation of the ceasefire agreements with Hamas and Hezbollah, calling on the international community, particularly the Muslim and regional countries, to take immediate actions to stop the Israeli "crimes."

Araghchi also denounced the U.S. airstrikes against Yemen, stressing the importance of further cooperation and coordination among the regional countries to prevent "aggression against Muslim states and the escalation of insecurity and instability in the West Asia region."

Fidan, for his part, underscored the importance of the Muslim states' greater attention to the situation of the "oppressed" Palestinian people.

He expressed his country's readiness to find diplomatic solutions to regional and international issues. 
Media interest remains high in the trial of French actor Gerard Depardieu for sexual assault, with the Paris courtroom packed with journalists on the second day of the proceedings.

Film icon Depardieu, 76, is due to testify in the Paris Palace of Justice in the course of the day.

The case concerns accusations made by two women that Depardieu touched them in intimate areas against their will during the 2021 filming of "Les Volets Verts" ("The Green Shutters") by director Jean Becker.

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Depardieu denies the charges and his lawyer Jeremie Assous has slammed the allegations as lies.

When the trial began, the defence lawyer demanded an annulment due to formal errors but this was not initially granted by the court.

The proceedings could take time, with the first day of the trial dominated by debates over technicalities.
Ministers should set aside the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and deport foreign criminals, a Labour MP has said.

Jonathan Brash, the MP for Hartlepool, said the Government should exercise its perfectly legitimate right to deport criminals by saying ECHR Article 8 rights to a family life do not apply in such cases.

He is thought to be the first Labour MP to publicly declare that the Government should ignore the ECHR in order to return convicted foreign criminals back to their home countries.

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It follows a series of cases exposed by The Telegraph where illegal migrants or convicted foreign criminals have used human rights laws to remain in the UK or halt their deportations. Many have used Article 8 of the ECHR, which protects the right to respect for private and family life.

They include an Albanian criminal who avoided deportation after claiming his son had an aversion to foreign chicken nuggets and a Pakistani paedophile, who was jailed for child sex offences but escaped removal from the UK as it would be unduly harsh on his children.

Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, is considering whether to restrict foreign criminals and illegal migrants from exploiting the ECHR to block their deportations.

She is reviewing how Article 8 of the ECHR, which guarantees the right to family life, is being applied by immigration courts to ensure that it is being interpreted in a sensible and proportionate way.

Its a simple as that

Speaking on GB News, Jonathan Brash said: I dont think its a particularly controversial view to say that if our government wants to deport a foreign criminal, they should be able to.

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The ECHR allows for that in issues of public safety and national security. Its perfectly legitimate for a government to say Article 8 is not applying here, we are deporting a foreign criminal.

And if thats a controversial virtual view for anyone, I dont know what theyre thinking about, because quite frankly, if someone is a danger to the public in this country, they should be deported. Its as simple as that.

He added: If you are a criminal and you are proposing harm to the British people, and youre not from this country and youre here illegally, you should be deported.

It cant really be much simpler than that, and we have to get to a position where we deliver that. I think reviewing how its applied, as has happened in other countries, very successfully is exactly the right thing to do.

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Other Labour MPs - particularly from Red Wall constituencies where Nigel Farages Reform party is a major threat - support restrictions on judges increasingly expansionist interpretations of the ECHR to overturn deportation orders.

Labour MPs attended a briefing on Monday evening with a leading barrister on the issue in Parliament which has been organised by Dan Carden, the MP for Liverpool Walton.

Writing for Politics.co.uk, Jonathan Hinder, the MP for Pendle and Clitheroe, said: Yvette Cooper is right to at least be considering how some of its articles are being applied in the courts.

When the voters say we want the Government to reduce illegal migration, it is entirely reasonable for them to think that the elected governments of these islands can deliver that.

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Connor Naismith, the MP for Crewe and Nantwich, said that recent rulings based on human rights rules were eroding voters trust in politicians.

He warned: People tell me that they dont feel like their politicians can really change things. The truth is theyre not entirely wrong.

Artificial structures and outsourced decisions have limited our democracy and the Prime Minister is right to take this on.

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.
Tren de Aragua (and other) deportations continue: Yesterday, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg "ruled his temporary order will remain in effect, restricting new deportations [of accused Venezuelan gang members] until the men are given an opportunity to challenge their connection to the gang," reports Bloomberg.

Trump has invoked the Alien Enemies Act, which applies in situations when the country has "declared war" or is suffering an "invasion" or "predatory incursion" to deport suspected gang members.

But this specific swat-down by the courts is important because this is the judge for whom a spurned Trump had threatened impeachment last week ("HE DIDN'T WIN ANYTHING! I WON FOR MANY REASONS, IN AN OVERWHELMING MANDATE, BUT FIGHTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MAY HAVE BEEN THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR THIS HISTORIC VICTORY," wrote Trump), before being swiftly rebuked by Chief 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," said Roberts. "The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose."

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The ruling by Boasberg states that each person being deported needs the opportunity to challenge the case against them. "Each vehemently denies being a member of Tren de Aragua," wrote Boasberg in his Monday ruling. "Several in fact claim that they fled Venezuela to escape the predations of the group, and they fear grave consequences if deported solely because of the Government's unchallenged labeling."

Indeed, new information has come to light suggesting that several deportees are not gang-affiliated at all:

All available evidence strongly suggests that at least one of the Venezuelans shipped to a monstrous prison in El Salvador for life has nothing to do with Tren De Aragua (though the refusal to allow hearings means all cases are uncertain). Far worse, he was in the US legally: https://t.co/cTi6vgWn36  Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) March 23, 2025

Rehiring federal workers? Yesterday, the Trump administration submitted an emergency application to the Supreme Court, asking it to block a California federal judge's ruling that would order the rehiring of some 16,000 fired federal government employees.

First, the administration spends some time complaining about all the injunctions and temporary restraining orders used against it."Whereas 'district courts issued 14 universal injunctions against the federal government through the first three years of President Biden's term,' they issued '15 universal injunctions (or temporary restraining orders) against the current Administration in February 2025 alone,'" according to Acting Solicitor General Sarah M. Harris.

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Then, the administration gets to the actual meat of why the federal judge's ruling should not be permitted to stand: "The [California] court's extraordinary reinstatement order violates the separation of powers, arrogating to a single district court the executive branch's powers of personnel management on the flimsiest of grounds and the hastiest of timelines. That is no way to run a government. This Court should stop the ongoing assault on the constitutional structure before further damage is wrought."

"Each federal agency has the statutory authority to hire and fire its employees, even at scale, subject to certain safeguards," wrote Judge William Alsup of the Northern District of California in his preliminary injunction. But the Office of Personnel Management does not have the authority to do mass hiring and firing of other agencies' employees, he argued. If Alsup's ruling stands, workers fired from the Pentagon, the Treasury, and the Agriculture, Energy, Veterans Affairs, and Interior departments would all have to be rehired.

Scenes from New York: Link to the complaint here.

I think this is likely the most explosive detail in the entire complaint. Three minutes BEFORE the start of the Oct 7th attack (approximately midnight NY time), Columbia SJP activated its months-dormant Instagram account. https://t.co/saSAWBVFAd pic.twitter.com/KbdU2xR2yO  daniela (@daniela__127) March 25, 2025

QUICK HITS

Senior officials in the Trump administration are reportedly using Signal to plan bombing campaigns on the Houthisand accidentally adding the editor in chief of The Atlantic. Wild and weird story that raises questions about whether these officials are taking national security seriously enough.

The Israeli military "is focused on killing senior Hamas administrators who were not previously viewed as high-priority targets, signaling to Hamas that Israel will not allow the group to retain control of Gaza," per The New York Times. Though a full truce looked possible earlier this winter, Hamaswhich has "governed" the Gaza strip for nearly 20 years, if you want to call it thatwants to remain in power, and Israel has vowed not to let this happen.

Highly recommend Ezra Klein's interview with one of my good friends, Santi Ruiz, for a levelheaded take on DOGE. An excerpt: "[Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought] says if you want to get into welfare, if you want to cut Social Security, if you want to tell people you're cutting Medicare and Medicaid, you have to start with the other stuff that doesn't seem as close to home, with the stuff that's, you know, the comic books in Peru about wokeness or whatever. You have to cut that stuff out first, and you have to hold up the bloody head before you have popular interest and willingness to go with you to the stuff that touches their families. I think that's definitely the view of some people in DOGEthat you have to zero out the stuff that isn't going to make a huge difference, because that's the only way popularly you'll be able to say: Look, we really mean it. We're not just taking you to the cleaners, we're making the government smaller. Period." (More Ruiz on DOGE here.)

Pretty insane deportation incompetence and chaos:

Two female immigrant detainees say in court declarations they were sent by the U.S. to El Salvador but were later returned to the U.S. because the maximum security prison there, CECOT, does not detain women. One of them was also rejected because she's Nicaraguan. pic.twitter.com/XQGZoijBpI  Camilo Montoya-Galvez (@camiloreports) March 24, 2025

"Abundance, the new book by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, accomplishes something important by giving liberals something new to apologize for," write Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway for Bloomberg. "Liberals can apologize for their fetish for rules and procedure, which undermines the very values they espouse. Ground zero for their Abundance story is California, a state dominated by Democrats who talk a big game about their enlightened beliefs and yet have (we're told) created a non-egalitarian society, where the basic necessities of life are increasingly beyond the reach of most people." But Weisenthal and Alloway aren't totally convinced that the Klein/Thompson narrative is correct and point out a bunch of critical areas they miss or call incorrectly.

In case you missed it: new Just Asking Questions with Kelsey Piper, the shockingly libertarian writer for Vox (seriously!):

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The post Deportation Standoff appeared first on Reason.com.
DES MOINES, Iowa  Des Moines residents will no longer be trick-or-treating on Beggars Night.

The Des Moines City Council on Monday will approve moving trick-or-treating to the night of Halloween. For decades, residents have celebrated the spooky holiday on Beggars Night, the night before Halloween.

In 2024 Des Moines residents went trick-or-treating on Halloween night for the first time in over 80 years after severe weather postponed the regularly scheduled Beggars Night.

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Iowa hires Ben McCollum as next head mens basketball coach

The move comes after the city sent out a survey to residents asking for their opinion on the best night to go trick-or-treating. According to city documents, the majority of residents said in the survey that they want to celebrate on Halloween night.

Multiple other metro cities, like Urbandale and Clive, have moved trick-or-treating to Halloween night. City documents say moving Des Moines night of trick-or-treating to Halloween will hopefully lesson the confusion and inconsistency around when trick-or-treating will take place for those in metro communities.

The change begins this year in Des Moines with trick-or-treating scheduled for Friday, October 31.

Metro News:

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DES MOINES, Iowa  Police say tips from the public helped them identify a driver connected to a deadly February hit-and-run crash.

On Monday, the Des Moines Police Department released photos of an individual being sought in connection to the case, asking for the publics help to identify them. Tuesday, Sgt. Paul Parizek, spokesperson for the DMPD, said the driver had been identified.

Crews respond to fire at Kinship Brewing property in Waukee

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The investigation into the February 22nd crash that resulted in the death of 46-year-old Eric Andrews. Police said it appeared Andrews had been hit by at least two vehicles in the 900 block of Hull Avenue around 11:30 p.m. Neither of the vehicles stopped.

Despite emergency crews providing medical care, Andrews was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police are not releasing the name of the driver and say no criminal charges have been filed. The investigation into the case is ongoing.

Metro news

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Gov. Gianforte (right) and Gov. DeSantis (left) speaking during a press conference at the Montana State Capitol. (Courtesy photo)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visited Montana on Monday to advocate for a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring Congress to balance the federal budget.

Appearing before lawmakers with Gov. Greg Gianforte, and later at a joint press conference, DeSantis urged the Montana Legislature to pass a resolution calling for a convention of the states  a never-before used method of amending the U.S. Constitution  and join the national call for a balanced budget.

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People have gravitated to Montana. They have fled states that have performed poorly as a matter of policy, and theyve gravitated to states like Florida and Montana, and I expect that to continue into the future, said DeSantis, a former Republican presidential candidate.  But ultimately the states are not going to be successful if federal spending and the Congress does not get under control.

DeSantis said that 27 states, including Florida, have passed resolutions calling for a balanced budget amendment, just shy of the 34-state threshold needed. He added that supporting the proposal doesnt mean a state is voting for the amendment  they are voting for the convention to discuss the amendment  and any amendment proposed at the convention would have to be certified by at least 38 state legislatures.

The two Republican governors spoke about runaway spending in Washington D.C., which has led to a current $36.11 trillion national debt at the federal level.

In Washington, theyve been spending like drunken sailors, and thats not what our founding fathers envisioned, Gianforte said during the press conference. We need to change  and fast  to prevent our children and grandchildren from inheriting this mess that theyve created. As you know, there is no constitutional limit on congressional borrowing. Its up to Congress to police itself.

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Unfortunately, Gianforte said, Congress has refused to do so.

Every state in the country except one  Vermont  is required to balance its budget. And while every business, school district, city or family must balance their budgets, sadly, the U.S. government doesnt have to do the same, Gianforte said.

During his stint in Congress, Gianforte said the first piece of legislation he proposed was a law to prohibit Congress from being paid unless it passed a balanced budget.

Shockingly, I was booed by both Democrats and Republicans, Gianforte said. So in an interesting way, I actually brought everybody together.

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte (left) listens as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responds to a question during an event on Monday, March 25, at the Montana State Capitol. (Jordan Hansen / Daily Montanan)

According to Article V of the Constitution, two-thirds of states (34) can call for a convention to propose constitutional amendments.

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The Montana Legislature has considered two resolutions related to the federal budget.

The specific balanced budget amendment proposal championed by DeSantis and Gianforte, however, did not receive a warm reception.

Senate Joint Resolution 4 calls for a convention of the states for the sole purpose of proposing the balanced budget amendment. The resolution saw a 5-4 vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee in January but has not received a vote on the Senate floor. The transmittal deadline for resolutions is April 5.

Asked about whether he hoped to see that move forward, or another similar bill drafted in the final weeks of the session, Gianforte said there was still plenty of time to have those discussions.

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As you know, theres still a lot of bill titles in play, close to around 1,000, Gianforte said.  Its not done until they sine die and go home.

Another joint resolution that did pass both chambers, SJ 9, expressed concern about the federal governments fiscal policies including the increasing national debt, and urged Congress to take immediate and decisive action, including a balanced budget amendment of the United States Constitution. But that resolution did not explicitly call for a convention of states to tackle the matter.

Gianforte pointed to the work done in Montana to become debt free under his administration, and both governors lauded their states for holding the line on spending and modeling what could be done on a federal level.

Because of our conservative and balanced budgets over the last four years, Montana has a surplus again to deliver historic tax relief. In fact, thanks to our strong fiscal management, were able to propose the largest income tax cut in state history, so more Montanans can keep more of their hard earned money, Gianforte said. Thats whats possible with strong fiscal discipline.

Earlier on Monday, DeSantis met with Idaho lawmakers to discuss the same issue.
After spending much of the last decade hyperventilating over Hillary Clintons private email server and how it placed Americas national security in peril, the loyal MAGA acolytes at Fox News are suddenly singing a very different tune now that the Trump administration accidentally included a journalist in a group chat discussing war plans.

After years of secrecy and incompetence, if you read the content of these messages, I think you will come away proud that these are the leaders making these decisions in America, Fox News host Will Cain insisted on Monday afternoon.

Of course, Cain was hardly alone among his cohorts at the right-wing network, which serves as a staffing agency for the White House, its primary communications arm, and a landing spot for Trump officials and family members.

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In the immediate aftermath of The Atlantics bombshell report that revealed Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg had been inadvertently added to a Signal text group that detailed recent airstrikes in Yemen, the networks top Trump-boosting stars have desperately attempted to downplay the news.

While national defense experts call for President Donald Trump to fire the officials responsible for the unclassified group chat and buzz grows on Capitol Hill that national security adviser Michael Waltz could soon be forced out, the conservative cable giants hosts and pundits have largely shrugged off the explosive scandal.

Fox News host Jesse Watters downplays the bombshell report that the Trump administration accidentally included a journalist in a Signal group chat that discussed sensitive war plans. (Fox News)

In the networks first on-air report of the incident, Fox News anchor John Roberts did acknowledge that it was a BFD that will likely be looked into quite thoroughly. At the same time, though, he reassured viewers that nothing else untoward happened outside of inviting an outsider who doesn't have top-secret security clearance into the group chat.

Now, I would think that there probably are worse people that you could text your secret plans to, but it appears that Goldberg has acted responsibly here in writing this article, Roberts stated. And while he outs a lot of the process of what happened, he did not specifically publish the war plans as they apparently were transmitted to him by Pete Hegseth the morning of the attacks against the Houthis.

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Cain who helped rally the Fox News troops behind Hegseth when reports of excessive drinking and sexual assault threatened to derail his Pentagon confirmation  found the silver lining in the incredibly concerning security breach.

But the bigger take away from me is it is an insight, a transparent insight, into the thought process and dialog of our national leaders, he gushed. If you look at the actual content of what was reported, if you look at how they discuss potential strikes on Houthis in Yemen, what you will see is dialogue between Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Stephen Miller, Tulsi Gabbard, and many more in a very collaborative, open, honest, team-based attempt to come to the right decision.

The networks primetime stars, who also serve as Trumps informal advisers, reacted to the news the best way they know how  by brushing it off as feigned outrage spun by a dishonest liberal media who hate Trump and are supporting a hoax-peddling journalist like Goldberg.

After Hegseth raged about the deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who received the classified airstrike details, Laura Ingraham doubled down on Hegseths attacks on Goldberg.

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But, of course, the story of the day, at least on the left-wing networks was how in a Signal, which is an encrypted app, exchange, allegedly, among various administration officials, some plans were discussed in that chain of messages that included some information about possible plans for bombing the Houthis, she said on Monday night. Jeffrey Goldberg, who the secretary of defense was referencing there, is a long-time journalistic adversary of President Trump's and has certainly drawn the ire of conservatives for his reporting about the various hoaxes that Hegseth was referencing there.

While largely ignoring the story on his primetime broadcast, Jesse Watters did take a moment to dismiss the controversy fully, chalking it up to an innocent mistake that happens all the time among a group of pals.

Did you ever try to start a group text? Youre adding people and you accidentally add the wrong person? All of a sudden your Aunt Mary knows all your raunchy plans for the bachelor party? Well, that kind of happened today with the Trump administration, the MAGA sycophant declared.

With a chyron blaring Weve All Texted The Wrong Person Before underneath Watters, the Fox News host praised the administrations strike on Yemen while blasting Goldberg as one of the biggest hoax artists around. And, just for good measure, he made sure to mention the Clinton emails and former President Joe Bidens sloppy handling of classified documents.

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Well, he heard some things he probably shouldnt have, but could have been a wee bit of a security breach, Watters concluded. But its not like they home brewed a server and then bleached it, or kept classified documents in their garages next to their corvette. Im sure it wont happen again.

In the following hour, Sean Hannity  the Trump confidant who has been described as the White House shadow chief of staff  also spent much of his program utterly ignoring the story. When he did mention it in his opening monologue, though, it was just to attack the media and Democrats for even giving it oxygen.

They are obsessed with an accidentally leaked text  a chain from Trump cabinet officials who are debating the merits of military strikes in Yemen, Hannity huffed. So, the very people that covered up their president's severe cognitive decline, lied about wide open borders  both of which are clear and present dangers to our country  now want you to believe that they actually give a damn and care about national security. More feigned phony outrage. This is now the scandal of the week that you will see nonstop, 24/7, that nobody will care about.

But not everyone at Fox was completely dismissive of the breach or the expected fallout. Fox News analyst Brit Hume, for instance, didnt buy Hegseths spin that war plans were never shared in the group chat. The administration has already confirmed the authenticity of the message, he said.

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During Mondays broadcast of Fox News most-watched show The Five, liberal co-host Jessica Tarlov brought up the Signal chat before exclaiming: I dont want to ever hear, But her emails! again. Still, even as she noted that this episode proves that folks were getting these jobs that didnt deserve them, Watters and co-host Greg Gutfeld mocked her and moved on to other topics. Tarlovs remarks were the only time the story was referenced during the broadcast.

By Friday morning, Fox & Friends  the presidents favorite morning show  seemed to be in lockstep with the White House on its talking points.

While cyber security experts have sounded the alarm on the administration's use of Signal to share highly sensitive information, saying it is a few steps above leaving a copy of your war plan at the Chinese Embassy, co-host Lawrence Jones defended the Trump officials sending out war plans via the app.

They all use it  theyre not supposed to, but they use it, Jones said, conflating reporters using it with sources with government agencies discussing top secret information. CIA, every single intelligence agency uses Signal. I know that for a fact. I talk to them on Signal  theyre sources of mine  they all use Signal. Uh, it is the best way and the most secure way to get information out and thats why a lot of journalists use it as well.

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Guest host Kayleigh McEnany  a former Trump press secretary  spent much of the show taking shots at Goldberg, whom she described as not credible and the most horrific of all reporters in D.C. due to his previous suckers and losers story about Trumps comments on Americans who died in war.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, while the program was still on the air, tweeted that Jeffrey Goldberg is well-known for his sensationalist spin before claiming that no war plans were discussed on the thread and no classified material was sent.

Co-host Brian Kilmeade, meanwhile, defended Waltz and suggested he shouldnt be on the chopping block despite the stunning security breach.

Obviously, to me, it was a mistake. But when Im reading in Politico that Mike Waltz in trouble, I think that theres not a chance in heck, he said, adding: The thing that gets you in trouble with President Trump is disloyalty and duplicity, not mistakes  in my view if something was gonna happen, they would have brought it up already.

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Throughout the rest of the program, White House correspondent Peter Doocy reported that Mike Waltz is telling people that he has no idea how this happened and that the national security adviser appeared to be on safe ground with the president.

By the time Fox & Friends wrapped up for the day, Trump told NBC News Garrett Haake in a brief interview that he was completely unconcerned about the glitch that occurred with the Signal group chat and that Waltz was not in danger of losing his job.

Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he's a good man, the president said, claiming that the story was a non-issue since the Houthi attacks were perfectly successful.

As I said yesterday, the President continues to have confidence in his national security team, including Mike Waltz, Leavitt added in another tweet. Stories claiming otherwise are driven by anonymous sources who clearly do not speak to the President, and written by reporters who are thirsty for a scoop.
Tammy Bruce, US Department of State Spokesperson, has stated that details regarding a lasting peace can only be discussed after a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.

Source: Bruce, commenting on US President Donald Trump's statements about territorial concessions by Ukraine

Quote from Bruce: "Until there is a ceasefire, a full ceasefire, that's when  as the President [Trump] has noted and certainly the Secretary [Marco Rubio]  we can then discuss the differences in what proceeds after that when it comes to an enduring peace."

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Details: Bruce avoided answering whether Russian leader Vladimir Putin can be trusted, stating that the main focus is on the outcome of talks.

Quote from Bruce: "This is about getting to an end point that the world has agreed upon and that all of us agree upon... This isn't about trust or if  who you're dealing with and whether or not you like them or you don't or what that dynamic is. The question is, what do you end with?"

Background:

The US and Russian delegation have concluded their talks held in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, where they focused on ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine. A joint statement will be released on 25 March.

Earlier, the Kremlin revealed that the focus of discussions with the US delegation in Saudi Arabia is the renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, from which Russia withdrew in 2023.

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated earlier that the aim of these meetings was to "determine the parameters of the proposals for various ceasefire regimes currently under discussion".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the Ukrainian delegation will have another round of talks with the US delegation after the US finish their talks with Russian representatives.

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An aerial drone photo taken on March 26, 2025 shows a forest fire at the Donggushan Forest Farm in Lujiang County, east China's Anhui Province. More than 700 firefighters are battling a raging fire in a forest farm in east China's Anhui Province, local authorities said Tuesday night. No deaths or injuries were reported, and no people were trapped in the fire. The fire broke out at about 2:26 p.m. Tuesday in the Donggushan Forest Farm in Lujiang County in the provincial capital of Hefei, the Lujiang county emergency command center said. (Xinhua/Du Yu)

HEFEI, March 25 (Xinhua) -- More than 700 firefighters are battling a raging fire in a forest farm in east China's Anhui Province, local authorities said Tuesday night.

No deaths or injuries were reported, and no people were trapped in the fire.

The fire broke out at about 2:26 p.m. Tuesday in the Donggushan Forest Farm in Lujiang County in the provincial capital of Hefei, the Lujiang county emergency command center said.

More than 700 firefighters have arrived at the site and they are still working on the night to fight the fire with the help of excavators, water spraying drones and fire tankers.

An initial investigation showed that the fire was ignited as nearby residents burned paper money to pay respect to their ancestors. The burned area of the forest fire has not yet been determined. 
In late 2022, Haoyu, a Chinese student at a top British university, saw a call from a withheld number flash up on his mobile phone.

The male voice at the end of the line identified himself as a member of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA), a network of student-led organisations claiming to represent Chinese citizens studying abroad.

The caller said he knew where Haoyu lived, where his parents lived, and that there would be repercussions for what he had done.

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Haoyu  whose real name has not been used in order to protect his identity  was among several hundred protesters who had gathered outside the Chinese embassy in London on Nov 27 2022 to demonstrate against president Xi Jinpings Covid policies.

The rally was one of dozens organised across the world in what was known as the White Paper Movement to show solidarity with rare anti-government protests that had erupted in China several weeks earlier.

Though ostensibly reacting to strict lockdown measures under Mr Xi, the demonstrations were also part of a broader protest against Chinese oppression. Wearing Covid masks to obscure their faces, protesters filled the street outside 49 Portland Place, central London, and held up blank sheets of paper  a symbol of Chinas pervasive censorship.

Haoyu is one of several students to whom The Telegraph has spoken about the real-life consequences of Chinese dissidence in the UK. Students described a similar pattern of receiving flak from their peers after speaking critically about China, before the situation escalated to more formal punishments.

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It comes amid growing fears that UK universities are failing to protect China-critical students for fear of jeopardising lucrative ties with Beijing. Around 150,000 Chinese students are enrolled at British universities, who collectively contribute around 2.3 billion in fees each year.

Chinese students also make up a significant portion of the overall student body at many universities, including some leading Russell Group institutions.

More than a quarter of all students at University College London came from China in 2022/23, while just under a fifth did at the University of Manchester, according to the Higher Education Statistics Authority.

At the same time, the UK university sector receives millions each year in donations, grants and research funding from Chinese sources, with many institutions holding fruitful partnerships with Beijing institutions.

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The Telegraph has seen a letter sent last week by leading China hawks to Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, warning that this has created a university sector in which Chinese students are being systematically silenced on UK campuses.

Haoyu, who is in his twenties and studying for an undergraduate degree, immediately moved in with a friend after the phone call. When his parents called him a few days later, he realised that news of his activism appeared to have reached China.

They told me they had been questioned by the administrative police in China, in my home town. [The police] asked them if I had done something abroad, so they felt very scared, he told The Telegraph.

After a family member became ill in 2023, Haoyu booked a flight to China. He was right to fear that something may happen when he landed. Chinese border officials soon led him to an interrogation room, where he was questioned over what he had done abroad before being handcuffed and driven to a nearby police station.

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There, he was subjected to further questioning by officers. They kept asking me the same thing. What they wanted to do was just to force me to confess, just to admit what I did, and then they were asking me if I recognised any other members [of the protest], he said. They said if I confessed I would have a relatively un-severe punishment, but I didnt recognise them.

Haoyu says he was targeted after he took part in one of the dozens of protests across the world in November 2022 to show solidarity with rare anti-government protests in China - Kim Jae-Hwan/via Getty Images

After about an hour, Haoyu was forced to sign a document confirming his presence at the demonstration, and was taken to a single cell with a hard board for a bed, where he was told he would remain for two weeks.

At the beginning I was told [it would be] for 14 days, so I was counting down. But there was no clock. You dont have a concept of time inside. There is no window, so you have no [natural] light, but I also couldnt sleep because they kept the lights on, he said.

Haoyu claimed he was repeatedly hauled into an interrogation room during the two-week detainment, where he was frequently forced to recite Chinas national security law from a small brochure. Officers sat scrolling on their phones while he was reciting the law, but would get up and flash a spotlight directly into his eyes if he stopped.

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There was one time when it lasted more than a day... [I know] it lasted for more than 24 hours, because I can remember that they changed shifts two or three times to different officers, Haoyu said.

His prevailing feeling during the sleepless fortnight was one of hopelessness, abated briefly by a single phone call to his parents that he was allowed to make on the third or fourth day.

They had the fear

Haoyu was released after signing a repentance letter  used as a political tool in China by forcing dissidents to express regret over their actions. When he finally reached home, few words were exchanged with his parents about what had happened to him, or their previous visit from police.

They had the fear  they wouldnt talk about that, he said.

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Haoyu returned to the UK several weeks later. He managed to convince Chinese officials to let him board his flight by showing them proof of his forthcoming university exams.

I felt a relief when I was on the plane, but at the same time, I thought I dont know what I can do next, he said. I went back to my accommodation, and I didnt know it but I was in a very large depression at that time. I was scared of Chinese faces and also I was almost afraid of my mother tongue.

When youre just walking on the street and someone with a Chinese face approaches you, I feel scared. You have no idea where the fear comes from  you just feel like someones watching. You self-censor what your behaviour is.

He has slowly built back his confidence, but received another blow when fellow students reported him to the Chinese government about a university presentation he had given in which he briefly criticised his country.

I can no longer trust anyone

Haoyu received an email from an anonymous address, which included a screenshot of a successful report made about him through a Chinese government platform. The website, seen by The Telegraph, claims to reward Chinese citizens for whistleblowing about dissidents.

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I didnt realise after the class but people were asking for my name, like oh, your speech was very interesting, shall we get to know each other? So some of them reported me, and I dont know how long it was, but after that my parents were questioned again by the police in China.

Haoyu believes his experience shows that the UK is not safe for Chinese dissidents, even at university.

Once I received the threat from the CSSA, I can no longer trust anyone, he said. I cant fall asleep and I have flashbacks and nightmares Im just a dissident, Im not someone whos committed a crime. But when I hear the sound of a police car now I feel scared. I always feel like someone is following you.

Ms Phillipson has been warned by more than a dozen academics and human rights campaigners that Chinese students in the UK live in fear.

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In their letter to the Education Secretary last week, they raised serious concerns that Chinese students faced the threat of surveillance, harassment, intimidation, and even violence as Chinese authorities attempt to suppress their engagement with sensitive or political issues.

The students ordeal began after he joined several hundred protesters outside the Chinese embassy in London in 2022 - Alexander Mak/Reuters

The China hawks claimed that Chinese embassies regularly threaten universities with the loss of Chinese students if they fail to respond to embassy guidance.

The letter  signed by figures including Prof Steve Tsang, from the School of Oriental and African Studies, and Charles Parton, a senior fellow at the Rusi think tank  raised particular concerns over the 90 or so CSSAs operating across the UK.

The academics warned that while they purported to be student bodies helping their peers to integrate at university, CSSAs were often heavily involved in reporting Chinese students to the embassy and authorities.

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The Telegraph has also seen evidence that Chinese students may be getting financial rewards to report peers who speak critically about Beijing in the UK.

The Chinese government website used to report Haoyu to Beijing authorities states that it offers corresponding rewards for people who submit information about dissidents that is found to be true.

The platform accepts clues about Chinese citizens involved in organising, planning, and implementing activities to split the country, undermine national unity, subvert state power and overthrow the socialist system.

It claims to offer rewards ranging from around 1,000 to more than 10,000 for those who make reports that lead to the prevention or punishment of acts that seriously endanger national security in China.

The Chinese government website which people can use to report on dissidents

The UK Government has promised to crack down on Chinese pressure in British universities through its planned Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. The Home Office register, which will track foreign lobbyists, has been repeatedly delayed by Labour as it works out its stance on China.

There is mounting expectation that China may be exempted from the enhanced tier list when the scheme comes into force, which The Telegraph has been told will be this summer. The top threat level will require individuals and organisations to make extra disclosures about links they have with countries that pose the biggest risks to Britains national security.

In the meantime, academics have called on Ms Phillipson to fully implement new free speech laws to properly target Chinese influence on campus. In January, she announced that she would revive the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act in a watered-down version, with several key elements removed.

Students will be barred from a new free speech complaints scheme under changes to the Tory laws planned by Ms Phillipson.

The Education Secretary also told MPs she needed more time to consider whether to implement a new duty on the Office for Students, the universities regulator, to scrutinise overseas funding for UK institutions.

The Government is concerned that this may be overly burdensome for universities and first wants to monitor how well the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme tackles the issue.

In their open letter, academics accused Ms Phillipson of planning to torpedo essential safeguards for our Chinese students, saying: We must not allow the Chinese governments systematic efforts to suppress free speech and academic freedom to take root in our universities.

Committed to responding to foreign interference

A Department for Education spokesman said: We are committed to responding to foreign interference, including those actions which amount to transnational repression. We take protection of individuals rights, freedoms, and safety very seriously, and any attempt by any foreign state to intimidate, harass or harm individuals in the UK will not be tolerated.

As autonomous institutions, we also expect universities to have robust processes in place to prevent and tackle incidents of harassment and abuse on campus.

An Office for Students spokesman said: We take these concerns seriously. Its important that international students studying at English universities and colleges can speak freely without fear of repercussions from their home countries.

As part of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, institutions will be obligated to secure and promote freedom of speech and academic freedom. This includes ensuring international students can exercise their free speech rights.

In our 2024 draft guidance on the duty to secure freedom of speech, we said that if universities and colleges had international scholarship arrangements that had the effect of limiting free speech, they should take robust steps to address this, which could include terminating such arrangements.

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A 24-year-old man is facing charges after more than 100 grams of cocaine and a stolen loaded gun were found in an Ohio home on Monday, according to our media partners WBNS-10 TV.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Central Ohio Violence Eradication Response Team detectives conducted a search warrant at a home in the 30 block of Viotis Drive around 7 a.m.

When the detective arrived, they found two children inside the house. One of the children was packing their lunch for school, according to Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin.

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WBNS-10 TV reports that the cocaine was packaged inside a doritos bag, which was within arms reach of the child.

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The loaded firearm was found unsecured near the childrens backpacks on a table.

This level of recklessness  placing children in direct proximity to lethal drugs and unsecured, stolen firearms  is both disturbing and completely unacceptable, Baldwin said. Our priority is protecting the most vulnerable in our communities, and this case underscores the importance of our ongoing efforts to eliminate violence and drug trafficking in Franklin County.

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Detectives learned that the suspect was distributing cocaine in the area, according to WBNS-10. The suspects identity was not immediately available.

He was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine.

The investigation is ongoing. The sheriffs office expects that additional charges will be filed with the Franklin County Prosecutors Office.

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SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KRON)  Every year, the Red Cross of Northern California awards a Humanitarian of the Year. This year, it went to Betsy Witthohn, who started volunteering with the Red Cross in 2017. KRON 4s Rob Nesbitt visited Witthohn at her home in Santa Rosa to see what inspired her to give back.

When you talk with a Santa Rosa resident who was living in the city in 2017, theyll tell you about their memories of the Tubbs Fire. At the time, it was the most destructive wildfire in California history and came within feet of Witthohns front door.

Our street was full of people evacuating with their trailers, and it was like, oh my god, is it going to come here, Witthohn said.

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The flames spared her property, but that wasnt the case for everyone. The Tubbs Fire destroyed more than 5,000 homes and killed 22 people.

In the wake of destruction, Witthohn took notice of the volunteers who had stepped in to help her community, specifically the American Red Cross. When she saw an ad that the organization was seeking more volunteers, she decided to step up.

More stories of Remarkable Women

You can come with the skills that you come with from your life experience, Witthohn said, and believe me, theres people from all different life experiences that volunteer for Red Cross.

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Its been eight years since she took that leap of faith and became a Red Cross volunteer, not realizing the number of people she would help.

Witthohn traveled to Florida to help families during the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Its where she met Richard Goldfarb, the director of the National Incident Command Team for Red Cross of Northern California. Goldfarb quickly realized the qualities of curiosity that make Witthohn the perfect person to help others in need.

Shes always asking questions, shes always trying to understand, and I think her entire perspective of how she addresses a problem and addresses how to build a team and lead a team comes from a place of humility, Goldfarb said.

Witthohn has been deployed to more than 20 major disasters, including hurricanes, typhoons, floods and the disaster that inspired her to help: wildfires. She was there after the Lahaina Fire destroyed parts of Maui in Hawaii, and, most recently, in Southern California where the Palisades and Eaton Fires burned through more than 23,000 acres.

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From Red Cross perspective we are like second responders after the fire, Witthohn said. Were there to listen to peoples stories and to be able to provide financial assistance to those who are eligible and youre bringing hope to folks on what could be the very worst day of their lives.

She took her 30-year career as a marketing executive and put it to good use, volunteering in disaster response, leadership development and client care. Work that has become a family affair with her husband Andy Witthohn and son Denny Sigmon, who also both work as Red Cross volunteers.

Her family was there at the 30th Anniversary Red Cross Gala in San Francisco, where Betsy was honored as the 2025 Red Cross Humanitarian Volunteer of the Year.

You know Ive learned that theres humanitarians in all of us and that the gift you can give someone by listening and giving them hope is a gift thats priceless, Witthohn said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
(NewsNation)  NewsNation legal contributor Jesse Weber joins Morning in America to break down the latest in the Trump administrations legal battles over deportation flights to El Salvador. Weber points out that the fight is currently playing out in two courts, and both are examining the case through different lenses.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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)  Dignity Health is seeking help to identify a person brought into Mercy San Juan Medical Center for treatment.

 Video Above: What should you do if someone you love goes missing?

Around 4:30 p.m. on March 20, an unidentified Caucasian male was transported to Mercy San Juan Medical Center. He was initially found at 4300 Watt Avenue in Sacramento. Dignity Health said the patient didnt have any documentation or evidence of his identity with him.

Ceres police search for missing teen girl deemed at risk

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The hospital did not provide any photos of the patient but described him as being 5 foot 7 inches tall, weighing 195 pounds, with hazel eyes and brown hair. Officials suspect he is in his 30s or 40s.

Anyone with information that may help to identify him can call (916) 864-5550.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
Legal action is being taken against Disney World regarding the former employee accused of taking a video up a girls dress. We first told you in 2023, when Jorge Diaz Vega was charged with voyeurism and admitted to investigators that he took multiple videos up womens skirts while working at the theme park.

A new 18-page lawsuit claims Disney World should have known Jorge Diaz Vega was unfit for his position and posed a risk for park guests and employees. The lawsuit says the park should have been aware of evidence uncovered by investigators that included more than 600 images and videos of unwitting victims on his phone. Criminal Attorney Jose Rivas explains why the lawsuit has ground.

All they have to prove is that the individual was working during the term of employment, they committed this act, and Disney had a duty to investigate him. Theres a prior act. In this case, they should have known, fired, or kept him under supervision. By allowing him to work, they were negligent, and for that, theyll be held liable, said Rivas.

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Court documents reveal the victim in the lawsuit was 14 years old at the time of the March 2023 incident. She told her grandmother Diaz Vega bent over to pick up a toy and used his cellphone to take a picture under her dress while at the Star Wars Galaxy Edge marketplace.

Both an Orange County Sheriffs Office affidavit and the lawsuit say Diaz Vegas recording history involved park employees. Court documents state he was caught recording a female employee at Disneys Animal Kingdom before the incident involving the minor.

Diaz Vega admitted to taking videos and even showed investigators some of what he took. The affidavit says he said, Taking the videos was a guilty pleasure. He told them he had been doing it for six years, the duration of his employment at the park.

This is a perfect case where you have to be aware of your surroundings. This particular case you have a person in uniform who is trying to record a minor, had it not been for this individual seeing this, who know how many more times it occurred, said Rivas.

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During an interview with deputies, Diaz Vega wrote an apology letter to his victims. He also shared why he committed the act. He told investigators that when he was little and living in Puerto Rico, a female clown placed him under her dress.

Diaz Vega remains in the Orange County Jail. Hes set for a competency hearing in May.

WFTV has reached out to attorneys on both sides and Disney for comment but havent heard back.









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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  El Paso District Attorney James Montoya said the decision to no longer seek the death penalty for confessed Walmart shooter Patrick Crusius comes after he met with the victims families, saying they want this case over and done with as soon as possible.

Montoya talked about the capital murder case against the Walmart shooter in a news conference on Tuesday afternoon, March 25, at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse.

This news conference came the day after El Paso Matters broke the story that Montoya would not seek the death penalty in the case.

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Walmart gunman wont face death penalty

The DAs Office said that since taking office on Jan. 1, Montoya pledged to meet with every family of the 23 people who were murdered on Aug. 3, 2019 at the Cielo Vista Walmart store. Crusius also wounded more than 20 others in the racially motivated attack.

The purpose of the meetings was to hear directly from the families about how they feel about the case, the pending trial, and the ongoing pursuit of capital punishment, the DAs Office said.

As you know there was a tentative scheduling order that will begin, or we would attempt to begin the trial here in El Paso next January, January 2026. We would attempt to pick a jury here. And I have long believed that a jury of El Pasoans should be the ones to decide this defendants punishment, Montoya said.

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However, Montoya added that he told the families that he was not confident that that was going to be possible, that there was going to be a challenge to find 12 fair and impartial jurors in El Paso who hadnt already made up their minds on an appropriate punishment.

In my professional opinion, there was a fair likelihood that we would have to move the venue for this trial. That would add to the delay. We discussed the fact that there was still a tremendous amount of pre-trial litigation that was left to be done. And in fact, that could take months or years, Montoya said.

Montoya said that the January 2026 start date for a trial was not realistic, and it could be delayed to late 2026, 2027, or, worst-case scenario, the trial could be delayed until 2028 if the DAs Office continued to chase the death penalty.

When talking to the families, Montoya said that the vast majority of them (families) want this case over and done with as quickly as possible.

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Montoya said there are family members who did not want the death penalty. However, several family members wanted to continue seeking the death penalty, no matter how long it takes, he said.

After weighing it all and speaking with over 50 individuals, victims, family members, and survivors, Montoya said he couldnt continue to pursue the death penalty.

I could not, in good conscious, continue to seek the death penalty against the wishes of so many of the victims. Its that simple, Montoya said.

Montoya said theres still a month to go until Crusius is scheduled to plead guilty and be sentenced on Monday, April 21, in the 409th District Court, but it was important for him to clarify his decision to the community.

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Now that the DAs Office is no longer seeking the death penalty, Montoya said its expected for the Walmart shooter to serve a life sentence without parole.

This defendant will die in the penitentiary. He will not get out. He will die in prison. And fundamentally, thats what this comes down to: Are we going to drag this out? For a year, two years, for decades, so we can stick a needle into his arm? He will die in prison. Theres no doubt about that, Montoya said.

Montoya said that after Crusius pleads guilty and gets sentenced by the judge to life without parole, and victim impact statements take place, he will go to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).

However, theres a concurrent federal sentence, 90 consecutive life sentences, and theres a recommendation by the federal judge that Crusius serve those sentences at the U.S. Penitentiary Supermax in Florence, Colorado, which is the highest security correctional facility in the entire country, Montoya said.

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As we previously reported, Crusius pleaded guilty to federal charges back in July 2023 and was sentenced to 90 consecutive life sentences.

Montoya explained that the Walmart shooter serving his sentence at the Supermax is just a recommendation and even if they agreed on it, the ultimate decision on where he will serve his sentence will be up to the prison authorities, meaning that it will be between the TDCJ and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Additionally, Montoya explained that earlier on Tuesday, Judge Sam Medrano dissolved the gag order that was placed on the case back in 2022, meaning that participants in the case, including prosecution, defense, victims, and families, can speak with news outlets if they choose to.

Montoya is the fourth district attorney to oversee the Walmart mass shooting case, which had been riddled with delays caused by the COVID pandemic, the forced resignation of District Attorney Yvonne Rosales, and defense allegations of misconduct, the DAs Office said.

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In addition, Catholic Bishop Mark J. Seitz sent the following statement regarding the El Paso DA not seeking the death penalty for Crusius:

We learned yesterday evening that District Attorney James Montoya will not seek the death penalty for Patrick Crusius. In this moment our prayers remain with the families who daily suffer from the loved ones who were lost that day and the many who will always live with that trauma. We ask God to surround them with His love and grant them comfort.

As followers of Christ, we believe in the sanctity of every human life and remain opposed to the death penalty even in the face of this hateful and violent act. While we believe that the community needs to be protected from anyone who would commit such a crime, our community will not be safer or better by seeking more bloodshed.

While many may believe that the death penalty would bring closure, in fact the further trials and appeals over the course of years would only serve to retraumatize those who have been hurt. The perpetrators killing would not bring back those who were lost.

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This is all made clear for us by the teachings of Christ who calls us to recognize the fundamental dignity of every human being and to trust that in the light of His Resurrection, death does not have the final word.

El Paso Walmart shooting suspect pleads guilty to federal charges

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The Brevard Zoo is mourning the death of its oldest male giraffe.

Doc, who was 22 years old, died after being treated for ongoing mobility issues, zoo officials said.

He was a Rothschild giraffe, unique among several Masai giraffes featured at the zoos exhibit.

Doc was born at Zoo Knoxville in 2002 and joined Brevard Zoo is 2003 when its Expedition Africa opened.

He was also known for his gentle nature and close bond with his companion, Kumi.

Doc, 22, died due to ongoing health issued, Brevard Zoo officials said.

Doc, 22, died due to ongoing health issued, Brevard Zoo officials said.

Doc, 22, died due to ongoing health issued, Brevard Zoo officials said.

Doc, 22, died due to ongoing health issued, Brevard Zoo officials said.

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Doc, 22, died due to ongoing health issued, Brevard Zoo officials said.

The zoo said Doc was a favorite among both staff and guests, who often spotted him greeting visitors.

You could always count on him to be at the platform eating lettuce from guests and when he wasnt there, he was usually spending time with his girlfriend Kumi, keeper Morgan Thums said.

The average lifespan for a male giraffe is 16.5 years, according to Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

So most would agree that Doc lived a fairly long life.

That, of course, wont make the gentle giants passing any easier for those who loved him.

Doc is one of the sweetest giraffes I have ever cared for, and I am going to miss him greatly, Thurms said.

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Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Blackstone Group chairman Stephen Schwarzman at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, March 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- China encourages more U.S. companies and long-term capital to continue deepening mutually beneficial cooperation with China, playing a greater role in promoting the healthy development of bilateral economic and trade relations, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said on Monday.

He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Blackstone Group chairman Stephen Schwarzman. The vice premier pointed out that China's economy is currently demonstrating a positive momentum, with vitality and dynamism being further unleashed.

The new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other is accelerating its formation, heralding even brighter prospects, He said.

Schwarzman expressed confidence in China's economic development and is willing to continue deepening Blackstone's involvement in the Chinese market, actively contributing to stronger U.S.-China economic and trade cooperation. 
Its been a day of dramatic developments for No Other Land, the Oscar-winning documentary about life for Palestinian residents in the rural West Bank area of Yasafer Matta.

Hamdan Ballal, one of the two Palestinian filmmakers who joined two Israeli directors to make the film, was released from custody by Israeli authorities Tuesday after prominent members of the documentary community, including Alex Gibney and Maite Alberdi, demanded his release (so did Oscar-nominated actor Mark Ruffalo). Israeli police held Ballal overnight after questioning him and two other Palestinians for allegedly throwing stones at Israeli settlers in the West Bank and endangering regional security. Ballal and two of his fellow directors  Palestinian Basel Adra and Israeli Yuval Abraham  suggested the authorities were offering a false narrative and that it was Ballal who came under attack from masked Israeli settlers.

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Ballal told the Associated Press that he was detained at an army base overnight and blindfolded, after being assaulted by a group of settlers outside his home.

RELATED: Oscar Winners & Hundreds Of Others Decry Threat To Close Miami Beach Theater For Showing No Other Land: Attack On Freedom Of Expression & First Amendment

All my body is pain, he told the AP. I heard the voices of the soldiers; they were laughing about me.  I heard Oscar, but I didnt speak Hebrew.

Winning the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature on March 2 seemingly has raised tensions surrounding No Other Land. The audience at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood gave the filmmakers a standing ovation at the Oscar ceremony, but the mayor of Miami Beach, FL, attacked the documentary days later, labeling it antisemitic propaganda, and threatened to evict a cinema located on city-owned land that had programmed the film.

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On the latest edition of Deadlines Doc Talk podcast, co-hosts John Ridley and Matt Carey discuss what happened when the Miami Beach City Commission took up the mayors resolution to punish the cinema (our conversation was recorded before Ballals detention and subsequent release).

RELATED: Doc Talk Podcast Debates Oscar Results And Travels To The True/False Film Fest

On the new episode, we also discuss a shocking documentary that has just premiered in cinemas and will be released Friday on digital platforms: AUM: The Cult at the End of the World.

The film directed by Ben Braun and Chiaki Yanagimoto examines a Japanese religious movement that turned into a doomsday cult, with a man who took the name Shoko Asahara at its head. As the film explores, Asahara and his followers orchestrated a deadly 1995 sarin gas attack on Tokyos subway system that was part of a much larger plot to inflict casualties on a massive scale.

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Thats on the new edition of Doc Talk, co-hosted by Oscar winner Ridley (12 Years a Slave, Shirley) and Carey, Deadlines documentary editor. The pod is a production of Deadline and Ridleys No Studios.

Listen to the episode above or on major podcast platforms including Spotify, iHeart and Apple.

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Entering the U.S. as a traveler feels riskier than ever.

Following Donald Trumps executive order for enhanced vetting in security screenings, U.S. border officials are empowered to use aggressive tactics at ports of entry like airports. In recent days, there have been alarming cases of legal immigrants and tourists who are being denied entry and detained in custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In one recent high-profile case, a French scientist who was traveling to Houston on his way to a conference was allegedly denied entry by Customs and Border Patrol over phone messages that criticized Trumps science policies, according to Frances minister for higher education.

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The Department of Homeland Security has denied that the scientists removal was based on his political beliefs. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for Homeland Security, said the unnamed French scientist got denied entry because his device had confidential information from Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Nevertheless, it seems that these days securing your electronics before a trip should be as important as deciding which clothes to pack on vacation  especially if you are traveling to the U.S. right now.

This month, Germany and the U.K. have even updated their travel advisories, warning their citizens that they could be liable to arrest or detention for breaking U.S. rules, and that legal permits do not guarantee entry into the United States.

Have a plan before you travel, because you dont want to be in the situation where youre running late for a flight, you find yourself in secondary [screening], and youre just like, Oh, my God, I have to make this next flight, and I dont know what to do besides comply, explained Saira Hussain, a senior staff attorney at Electronic Frontier Foundation who has represented travelers whose electronic devices were searched without warrants at a U.S. border.

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No matter if you are a U.S. citizen, a visa holder or a foreign visitor traveling to Las Vegas on spring break, know what your rights are if a border agent asks to see your phone.

Yes, CBP can search your phone.

The U.S. government asserts that it has the ability to lawfully inspect phones, laptops and other types of electronic devices that cross U.S. borders.

Any electronic device you own, including phones, laptops and tablets, can be checked at the border. Sometimes this means that customs officers will look at your device as is, but it can also involve trying to download its data, said Petra Molnar, lawyer and author of The Walls Have Eyes: Surviving Migration in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.

Customs and Border Protection says searches of electronic devices are rare. In 2024, the federal agency reported 42,725 basic searches and 4,322 advanced searches on predominantly people who were not U.S. citizens. Under a basic search, a border agent physically inspects your phone and reviews what they can, while an advanced search means the agent can potentially download all of your files using an external device.

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Who is deemed suspicious enough to necessitate an electronics search can vary. The American Civil Liberties Union has represented a military veteran, an artist, a NASA engineer, journalists, Muslims and people of color who had their devices searched at a border. A 2017 NBC News investigation found 25 cases where border agents directed U.S. citizens, nearly all Muslim, to hand over their phones at border crossings.

What generally happens in these searches is that a person is pulled into secondary screening and a border official may ask to search your phone, Hussain explained.

They are supposed to put the phone into airplane mode before they start to search it, Hussain said. Theyre not supposed to be looking at cloud-based applications, like theyre not supposed to be looking at your Facebook account. But she noted that there have been reports of travelers having their social media profiles searched.

And if this search happens once, it might be more likely to happen again. In a case she petitioned to the Supreme Court, Hussain found that if you have been pulled into secondary [screening] once, that its flagged in their databases, and it makes it more likely that youre going to be pulled into secondary another time when you re-enter the country.

You do not have to share your phones password, but there are risks and consequences if you refuse.

You are not required to share your password to unlock your phone, but refusing could affect your travel plans or your access to your technology.

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The consequences for refusing to comply can be more severe, depending on your immigration status.

If youre a U.S. citizen, a customs officer cannot bar you from entering the country, even if you refuse to provide access to your electronic device. You can state, I do not give you permission to search my device, and you should still be able to enter the U.S., but your phone might get taken. What they can do is potentially seize your device, and that can last anywhere from weeks to months, Hussain said.

If you are a green card holder, you generally have the same rights as a U.S. citizen upon entry to the U.S., with some exceptions. Hussain said green card holders that have been outside of the U.S. for more than six months may be seen as applying for readmission rather than traveling on the green card, which might jeopardize their ability to reenter the country. Green cards in general cannot be revoked without a hearing before an immigration judge.

Visa holders face more legal risks. Molnar calls these electronics searches an invasion of privacy but notes that if you are a visa holder and you refuse, you may be denied entry into the United States.

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Hussain said people who are traveling on a tourist visa are in the least protected category, and their visa can be revoked if they refuse a search of their device.

How to secure your electronics in case they are searched by U.S. border agent.

Some people will say, Whats the problem, I have nothing to hide. But the right to privacy is not just about avoiding scrutiny of wrongdoing, Molnar said. Widespread surveillance leads to abuses of power, discrimination, and the stifling of the freedom of expression.

Heres how to prepare your tech devices to be possibly searched and to protect your privacy:

Use a different phone.

If possible, travel with a dedicated device that does not have your most sensitive information, like medical records or confidential conversations on it.

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If you cannot switch phones, backup important files and take them off your phone. Make a secure password and use two-factor authentication, Molnar said.

Before you travel, review what you keep on your devices to help decide which files, photos or conversations you want to wipe or backup to a secure cloud-based storage service like iCloud.

Take off Face ID and add strong passcodes.

Consider making it harder to access your phone without your explicit consent. With facial recognition software enabled on your device, a border agent could theoretically just point your phone at your face to unlock it.

If people want to assert their rights to the fullest extent, then they should add a strong, unique passcode so that their device is not just something that the officer can take from you and then start looking through without your consent, Hussain said.

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If possible, type in the passcode yourself over sharing it verbally to an officer, which can help limit how long a border official has access to your device.

If they have the passcode already, then theyre going to be able to search it further, potentially copy the contents of your phone without having to speak with you again, Hussain said. At some point the phones going to shut off, and when the phone shuts off, theyre not going to be able to reenter that phone without you providing that passcode.

Keep your phone on airplane mode while crossing the U.S. border.

Customs and Border Protection has stated that its officers do not do searches while network connections are enabled. But in its digital privacy guide, the American Civil Liberties Union advises keeping your phone on airplane mode while crossing a border to make sure CBP is compliant to this policy.

In general, ask yourself: Is there anything that you wouldnt want [a customs official] to find or have access to? Hussain said. This can help you decide which sensitive files you need to move to storage or to another device.

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When you think about a phone, youre not just carrying with you the things that relate directly to your trip. Youre talking about a decades worth of photos and video and medical information and banking info and your emails, Hussain said.

Related...
The Trump administration is finishing a travel ban that would prohibit citizens from a list of blacklisted countries from entering the U.S., officials told The New York Times and Reuters.

Trump ordered his administration to establish vetting and screening standards and procedures for entry into the U.S. and submit a list of countries that do not meet them by March 21. He also directed officials to identify and potentially remove nationals from earmarked countries who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration.

The order follows a campaign pledge and an initiative from Trump's first day in office. Titled "Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other," it is meant to address "national security and public safety threats."

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The order claims it will protect U.S. citizens from "aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes."

Which states will be affected by this ban, and what impacts can international students in Texas expect? Here's what to know.

Spring break warning: Students, faculty advised to postpone international travel plans

Which countries will be affected by Trump's travel ban? See 'red list'

A list of more than 40 countries whose citizens could be barred or limited from entry into the United States is reportedly under consideration.

According to Reuters, the following "red list" countries are considered to be on the travel ban list:

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Sudan

Venezuela

Somalia

Syria

Yemen

Iran

Libya

Cuba

North Korea

Pakistan and Afghanistan are expected to be added to the list.

Colleges warn international students against traveling abroad

In response to the Trump administration's immigration orders, which experts are calling "unprecedented," several institutions of higher education have urged international students not to leave U.S. borders. Leaving the country could result in deportation, a reality some students and staff have already faced.

This month, a physician at Brown traveling back to the U.S. from her home in Lebanon had her visa canceled, and an Indian Ph.D. student at Columbia self-deported to Canada following a raid by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at her apartment.

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On March 16, Brown University sent a campus-wide email advising faculty, students and other community members on visas or permanent residency status to postpone personal international travel for spring break, which runs from March 22 to 30. Columbia University and Cornell University released similar guidance on their website this past week. At the end of last year, several institutions warned international students to return to the U.S. before President Donald Trump took office.

"We understand that many in our community are feeling a great deal of uncertainty and anxiety as news media share reports of federal deportation actions against individuals who are non U.S. citizens," Russell C. Carey, executive vice president for planning and policy and interim vice president for campus life at Brown, said in the email that was shared with USA TODAY by the university.

"Potential changes in travel restrictions and travel bans, visa procedures and processing, re-entry requirements, and other travel-related delays may affect travelers ability to return to the U.S. as planned," Brown's memo also stated. Even domestic travel is unclear for now.

The news is stirring concern among the over 1.12 million international students who fear they'll be targeted based on their nationality. In losing their visas, they also forfeit the degrees they've been working so hard to obtain. Alternatively, they may have to give up their right to travel, which means they cannot visit family back home or go on personal or school-related trips.

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"It's 100% affecting almost every aspect of my life right now, honestly, and that's not coming from a dramatic place  there are real consequences," a 21-year-old master's student of journalism at Columbia, who did not disclose a name out of fear retribution, told USA TODAY.

After graduation in May, they were planning to visit their family in India  the first time since arriving for school in August  but told their parents not to book their ticket. They are now rushing to secure housing and a job as soon as possible since they're forced to stay in the U.S. and will be removed from their student residence.

People are also reading: Texas lawmakers introduce bill to limit scholarships to international student-athletes

How many international students attend Texas colleges?

In the 2022-23 academic year, Texas had 80,757 international students, according to Statista. The Lone Star State claimed the third-highest number of such students among the states, behind California (138,393) and New York (126,782).

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Here's a breakdown of the international student population at Texas' ten largest colleges:

Texas A&M University-College Station: 6,000+ (2024)

University of Texas at Austin: 4,173 (2020)

University of Houston: 4,500+ (2023)

University of North Texas: 11,917 (2023)

University of Texas at Arlington: 6,325 (2022)

Texas Tech University: 2,096 (2020)

Texas State University: 1,500+ (2024)

University of Texas at San Antonio: 21,109 (2022)

University of Texas at Dallas: 10,491 (2023)

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley: 700+ (2018)

 USA TODAY contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Trump 2025 travel ban: What it means for Texas' international students
(WKBN)- The National Weather Service is eliminating or reducing vital weather balloon launches in eight northern locations, which could impact weather forecasting here in the Valley.

The National Weather Service first and foremost is the reason we are able to help share forecasts with you each and everyday. Without the partnership with the public and private sector, we wouldnt be able to get the information that you see here, temperature, wind speeds, radar, and more.

Radar can only do so much. It can help refine forecasts, but its really on showing the weather on the ground right now. Its the same with satellite imaging, which is used to watch for storm development.

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But that information alone is just what wed call surface-level data. Weather balloons which have been used for decades can provide so much more. The data helps create what OSU Atmospheric Sciences professor Dr. Jana Houser explains is the whole 3-D puzzle of weather forecasting.

And thats really crucial because what happens in the upper atmosphere has a direct feedback with whats happening at the surface. We really cant know what to expect. Whats happening at the surface without knowing and understanding whats happening a lot, Houser said.

Weather Balloons tell us what is happening in the upper levels of the atmosphere which directly correlates to what is happening or going to happen on the ground. For example, the data from the upper levels can help us determine if a storm is going to be severe or not based on the temperature and humidity in those upper levels.

The normally twice-daily launches of weather balloons in about 100 locations provide information that forecasters and computer models use to figure out what the weather will be and how dangerous it can get. This comes after

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Launches will be eliminated in Omaha, Nebraska, and Rapid City, South Dakota, due to a lack of Weather Forecast Office (WFO) staffing, the weather service said in a notice issued last week. It also is cutting from twice daily to once daily launches in Aberdeen, South Dakota; Grand Junction, Colorado; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Gaylord, Michigan; North Platte, Nebraska and Riverton, Wyoming.

The Trump administration and its Department of Government Efficiency fired hundreds, likely more than 1,000, NOAA workers earlier this year. The government then sent out letters telling probationary employees let go that they will get paid, but should not report to work.

Earlier this month, the agency had announced weather balloon cuts in Albany, New York and Gray, Maine, and in late February, it ended launches in Kotzebue, Alaska. That makes 11 announced sites with reduced or eliminated balloon observations, or about one out of nine launch locations which include part of the Pacific and Caribbean.

Among regularly reporting weather stations, NOAA had averaged about only one outage of balloon launches a day from 2021 to 2024, according to an Associated Press analysis of launch data.

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Since weather balloons give information to long-range forecasts, losing some of the data will significantly reduce accuracy. This specifically will impact the Global Forecast System model, or GFS.

The GFS is a global model is run four times a day, up to 16 days out. It is a hydrostatic model, using atmospheric pressure to predict long-range forecasts. It does not take into account altitude. Meteorologists will compare this model many times to its European counterpart, the ECMWF model, which is known to be slightly more accurate, at times.

The ECMWF model is non-hydrostatic, meaning is takes altitude into account in its forecast. This more accurately depicts how weather will change at the surface. The model uses information from numerous satellite instruments, weather stations, ships, buoys and other component.

Having an accurate picture from both models is important. This does not just impact Storm Team 27s ability to forecast, but for your weather app on your phone, and other networks.

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Dr. Houser said that continuing to take away launches long could be detrimental.

Were only going to see that be substantially elevated with that degradation of accuracy as we move forward if were taking out our observational footprint, Dr. Houser said.

As of March, there have not been any cuts at the the NWS offices in Cleveland or Pittsburgh reported. But any impacts out west are impacts at home. Thats because weather travels downstream into the central plains towards the eastern part of the country.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP)  As the Trump administration forges ahead with its dramatic reshaping of the federal government, voters in a northwest Florida congressional district that's home to thousands of veterans will be among the first to put the president's agenda to an electoral test.

The state's Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, a Republican endorsed by President Donald Trump, is widely expected to win the special election in Florida's 1st Congressional District on April 1 and help pad Republicans' narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat became vacant with the resignation of former Rep. Matt Gaetz in a heavily Republican district.

In a longshot bid, Democrat Gay Valimont is seeking to hinge the race on the Department of Government Efficiency Service's push to fire federal workers and dismantle federal agencies. A win for her would defy decades of political convention and could send loud signals about how the president's aggressive second term in the White House is playing with voters across the political spectrum.

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Florida's 1st Congressional District stretches across the state's western Panhandle region and is known for its sugar-sand beaches and sprawling military installations  including the country's largest Air Force base. The district is home to more veterans than any other congressional district in the country and reelected Gaetz to a fifth term in 2024 by a more than 30-point margin over Valimont.

But as Trumps executive orders and the slash-and-burn tactics of billionaire Elon Musk s DOGE take aim at federal agencies that serve the regions veterans, the faith of some of the districts conservative voters is being tested.

The seat opened up after Trump nominated Gaetz for attorney general. The conservative withdrew from consideration amid an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct, which he has denied.

A district that's home to veterans braces for VA cuts

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With more than 89,000 veterans, the 1st District is home to thousands of families who in various ways depend on the federal government, which gives veterans preferential treatment in hiring. According to a state analysis, defense spending accounts for nearly a quarter of northwest Floridas economy.

A Navy ship docked at a Pensacola port towers over the citys historic downtown. Local roads bear names like Commander Street and Petty Officers Way.

Many service members return to the area to raise families or retire, and they seek care at the Pensacola VA clinic, which staffers say is stretched beyond its capacity.

Tim Chandler, who served 16 years in the Marine Corps, volunteers at the clinic every week, helping his fellow veterans navigate a complicated healthcare system. He applauds the VA's providers, but sees the parking lot jam-packed with cars and hears the stories of patients pushed to their breaking point.

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We need an emergency room," Chandler said. "We need a bigger building. We need incentives for more doctors.

As DOGE continues its push in the name of rooting out waste, fraud and abuse, federal officials have said they plan to cut more than 80,000 jobs across the Department of Veterans Affairs, an agency long criticized for bureaucratic inefficiency and lengthy wait times.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins has said the layoffs won't impact veterans health care or benefits. The VA, in a statement, said mission-critical positions would be exempt and medical staff and claims processors would not be affected.

Heather Lindsay, a Republican and the mayor of Milton, Florida, in neighboring Santa Rosa County, called the cuts disastrous, saying theyre a threat to services that veterans like her brother rely on.

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We have a demonstrated need in this area. And yet theyre going to cut VA services, Lindsay said in an interview.

Jason Boatwright, a former staffer for Gaetz, said Patronis should be defending the Pensacola VA.

He needs to stand up and say: You want to make cuts? Thats fine. But dont do it here. We cant afford it here,' Boatwright said.

Lindsay said she doesn't understand why more questions haven't been asked by Republican leaders like Patronis.

It concerns me for our future as a nation, she said.

A Democrat's longshot bid

Valimont, who previously led the Florida chapter of gun control group Moms Demand Action, has made the chaos unleashed by the Trump administration at federal agencies a centerpiece of her campaign.

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Imagine if Matt Gaetzs seat saves the Department of Education, she told about 150 people at a Pensacola town hall she hosted earlier this month. We have a shot to make this right. Because yall, we may save the entire United States with this seat.

The Pensacola Democrat has acknowledged that her party may not be able to fix all that the Trump administration has done  but said she can be a backstop to not do anything worse.

Patronis, a former state lawmaker who has served as Florida's chief financial officer since 2017, has campaigned as a staunch ally of the president.

In an interview, Patronis said he would challenge Trump if he thought the president's actions were harming northwest Florida  but he dismissed concerns that DOGE's efforts to exert control over congressionally authorized programs are illegal.

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Everything that President Trump has rolled out so far, weve been lockstep on, Patronis said. If Congress right now had a problem with what the presidents doing, you would see Congress act.

Trumps endorsement of Patronis in November appeared to head off a more robust Republican primary. The GOP nominee is expected to win easily, even though he doesn't live in the district  a fact that rankles some local Republicans, though residency isn't required by the Constitution.

Lindsay, the Milton mayor, worries her party's electoral dominance is breeding complacency  among candidates and voters.

There are a lot of people who think its probably not even worth their time, she said. Because that leaders not going to listen to them, because theyre only listening to President Trump and Elon Musk.

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Even in a part of the state where some are afraid to come out as Democrats, Valimont hopes to win over conservatives by pounding the all-out effort to slash federal agencies, and tying Patronis to Florida's property insurance crisis. His office helps regulate insurance in the state, which has some of the highest rates in the country.

Valimont's campaign has raised more than $6 million, and party officials say volunteers from as far away as Alaska and Hawaii have come to help get out the vote.

Escambia County Democratic Party Chair Derrick Scott said he thought Valimont has a chance if she can appeal to conservatives "who are willing to take the secret to their grave that they voted for a Democrat this one time.

For many local Republicans, losing the 1st District seat is unthinkable. Doug Stauffer, chair of the Okaloosa County GOP, says the question isnt whether his party will win but by how much.

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If we dont win decisively, Stauffer said, then we have failed.

___ Associated Press writer Mike Schneider in Orlando contributed to this report. Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
The Trump administrations antagonism toward media outlets that report on its massive and haphazard deportation plans has been a running theme this year.

In February, I reported on an alarming investigation that right-wing Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr opened into San Francisco radio station KCBS, which shared federal immigration agents live locations in connection with a raid in Northern California. And President Donald Trumps so-called border czar, Tom Homan, has accused the media of putting Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents at risk of being ambushed as they investigate the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

The administrations angst escalated Friday, with the Justice Department releasing a vague statement announcing that it had opened a criminal investigation into the selective leak of inaccurate, but nevertheless classified, information from the Intelligence Community relating to Tren de Aragua.

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The statement then plunges fully into MAGA conspiracism, adding:

We will not tolerate politically motivated efforts by the Deep State to undercut President Trumps agenda by leaking false information onto the pages of their allies at the New York Times. The Alien Enemies Proclamation is supported by fact, law, and common sense, which we will establish in court and then expel the TDA terrorists from this country.

Last Thursday  that is, one day prior to the DOJs announcement  The New York Times reported that American intelligence agencies had circulated findings last month that stand starkly at odds with Mr. Trumps claims that Tren de Aragua was being directed within the United States by Venezuelas government. The Trump administration has sent hundreds of immigrants to a widely decried prison in El Salvador and has controversially cited the Alien Enemies Act  a wartime law from 1878 that allows for special deportation activities in the event of an invasion  as justification.

The Justice Departments statement certainly makes it seem like, above all, the Trump administration is fuming about the legal basis for its cruel immigration policy being undermined.

For the record: Ive spoken with legal experts whove expressed confusion over the DOJs head-scratching claim that the leaks contained inaccurate, but nevertheless classified, information. It certainly appears that this investigation is more of a political publicity stunt than it is a legitimate fact-finding mission.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A Northeast D.C. Tesla owner is speaking out after his car was vandalized twice earlier this month.

Gene Butler is one of several D.C. Tesla owners targeted in recent weeks. He says hes had the car for about five years.

Swastika found keyed into parked Tesla in Arlington, police say

I feel like were being bullied and we dont appreciate it, said Butler, a 35-year resident on Capitol Hill.

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The first time was [a] shock, and I thought it was a little amusing, but the second time I was very upset. The message said, I heart Elon. We thought, okay, somebodys being funny. So, we wiped it off with Windex. The next day, another message appeared, with the same handwriting in the same color, that said, Instead of selling the car, you bought a bumper sticker,' Butler described the drawings.

Right now, both local and federal law enforcement are looking to tackle Tesla targeting. The FBI is ramping up its new Tesla vandalism task force, as owners are finding themselves the victims of vandalism, property damage, and even arson across the country.

The task force comes as Tesla founder Elon Musk faces backlash over his involvement in the federal government.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is searching for two people who reportedly defaced multiple Teslas throughout Northeast and Northwest D.C., including Butlers. MPD said a man and woman wrote political hate speech on the victims cars before fleeing.

(The Metropolitan Police Department)

Butler says he is a former federal worker and sympathizes with others frustrations about Musks involvement, but wants people to think before they act.

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If you want to come to me, you can talk to us. Dont damage our property. We can have a civil conversation. I mean, we dont support whats going on with the government right now, and Im sure they dont either, but damaging personal property is not the way to protest.

MPD is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Across the country, states like Texas, North Carolina, and Florida have sought to weaken or eliminate tenure in public higher education.

Now, Nebraska is considering Legislative Bill 551, a bill that would abolish tenure at public colleges and universities statewide. Supporters argue that tenure hinders flexibility, protects underperforming faculty and suppresses ideological diversity.

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Opponents warn that eliminating tenure would do the opposite  driving top faculty away, stifling open debate and weakening Nebraskas ability to compete in research and workforce development.

But this debate misses a fundamental issue: What is tenure actually based on? Many outside academia dont realize that tenure and promotion still overwhelmingly prioritize research publications above all else  especially at research universities.

A professor who publishes in prestigious academic journals is well-positioned for tenure, while those who develop innovative teaching methods or spend years working with Nebraska businesses, schools or farmers often find their contributions undervalued  or only possible as uncompensated extra work.

Different priorities

The public and academics want one thing. The system rewards another.

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Ask the average Nebraskan what they think university professors should be doing, and the answer is clear: teaching students well, conducting research that solves real-world problems and contributing to their communities. Faculty want the same. But the tenure system isnt designed to fully reward this kind of work.

Many of Nebraskas biggest challenges require long-term, collaborative research that isnt possible under short-term contracts or shifting political pressures. Tenure provides faculty with the stability to take on ambitious projects, build lasting partnerships and pursue solutions that take years to develop.

The problem isnt tenure itself. Its that outdated policies fail to recognize and support the full range of scholarship Nebraska actually needs.

Reforming how we reward faculty work

If Nebraska lawmakers want higher education to be more accountable and engaged with the states needs, they should focus on how faculty  through shared governance and disciplinary expertise  define and uphold academic excellence.

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Research is a core function of universities, driving innovation and global competitiveness. But faculty contributions go beyond research alone. The best universities also recognize scholarship that applies expertise to real-world challenges, improves student learning and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration.

This isnt a new idea. In 1990, Ernest Boyer redefined scholarship beyond research publications, recognizing four essential forms: discovery, integration, application and teaching.

In fact, University of Nebraskas Board of Regents policies endorse this broader vision, directing each campus to balance scholarship in ways that align with its mission. National organizations, including the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and Campus Compact have developed models for evaluating faculty work beyond traditional research.

These frameworks align with the ongoing efforts of faculty and staff committed to community engagement and outreach but need greater visibility and institutional support.

Finding ways to work together

Modernizing tenure policies to reflect Nebraskas needs benefits everyone. It ensures universities remain accountable and engaged with real-world challenges, strengthens institutions ability to attract and retain top-tier faculty and allows faculty to align their work with their professional commitments and the states priorities in workforce development, education and public health.

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To make this a reality, university leadership and faculty must take the lead. Academic freedom and shared governance demand that faculty  not politicians or administrators  define how scholarly contributions are assessed.

Faculty senates and academic units must revise tenure guidelines to reflect universities public missions, while university leaders must prioritize and improve the implementation of policies that recognize applied and engaged scholarship. Policymakers should focus on tenure reform that strengthens faculty contributions rather than dismantling a system essential to Nebraskas future.

The Bottom Line

The public is right to demand that universities deliver value. But eliminating tenure wont make faculty more accountable. It will just make it harder for Nebraskas universities to do their job.

Rather than gutting tenure, Nebraska should strengthen it  by ensuring it rewards faculty for the teaching, research and service that make the biggest difference for students and the states future. Universities must follow through on policies that reward these contributions so faculty are not forced to choose between serving Nebraska and advancing in their careers.

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The best defense of tenure isnt just opposing bad policies. Its actively shaping a system that upholds academic integrity, strengthens student learning and expands Nebraskas ability to tackle its biggest challenges.

Deryl Hatch-Tocaimaza is a researcher of higher education administration and a faculty member at the University of NebraskaLincoln. The views expressed in this column are his own.
Roy Lipford had been looking forward to a visit with his brother Michael, a longtime West Sider, this spring.

The family needed some positivity, he said, after Roys daughter died unexpectedly in February. Hed retired that same month and had been excited to return to Chicago, where hed lived as a young adult and where Michael had spent most of his life.

Instead, Roy Lipford found himself in town last week to identify Michaels remains. Michael, 68, one of 11 siblings, was found dead in the basement of his partially burned North Lawndale home on March 7.

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At first, all Roy Lipford, 78, knew was that his brother had been found dead. Then he spoke to investigators who shared some grisly details. He sat hunched on a relatives sofa remembering the conversation and the barrage of phone calls from concerned friends that came next.

They said his hands were cut off, Roy said.

Michael Lipfords body was found with both arms and one leg severed and showed apparent attempts at further dismemberment, according to police. Authorities also found a saw, heavy-duty trash bags, shrink wrap and a cellphone near the corpse, according to police.

Roy Lipford and his daughter, TJ Lipford, had already identified his brothers body, only viewing his head and face. Although an autopsy by the Cook County medical examiners office determined that he died as a result of gunshot wounds, Michaels niece said investigators told the family that whoever dismembered his corpse appeared to be doing so over a few days. Police have questioned a person who Lipford had known previously, sources said.

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Roy and TJ said their faith has offered solace in a few brutal months for their family. I know there is a God, Lipford said. I believe our days are already spoken even before we come out.

But when he prays these days, Lipford said he has many questions for God. I ask him why Im going through this, whats the reason for this, he said.

Michael Lipford left no spouse or children behind but was close to his 10 siblings. He was soft-spoken, with a cat he called Grey and a fish tank offering him day-to-day company, his family said. In recent years, a hip replacement had limited his mobility, preventing him from making it to Tennessee for their mothers funeral last year and his nieces funeral last month.

Some relatives had worried about his health, but never thought someone would be violent toward him. They knew he kept money in the house  which had proved an issue years before during a raid on his apartment that later made Tribune headlines  and that worried them. But TJ Lipford said someone who wanted something from him could have just asked.

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You dont have to take anything from anybody in this family, she said. Ask them, theyre going to give it to you. We dont know what led to this.

Lipfords sister, Evelyn Moss, said he cooked well and put that to use when his family visited him.

Wed get up in the morning and hed say OK, I know you cant cook, so Im going to make you breakfast, she said.

He took her around the city and his neighborhood during those visits. Hed say, You have to be careful, Moss said. He was very protective of us.

Roy Lipford said hed sent their mother newspaper clippings about his 2015 lawsuit against the Cook County probation department and city police when the case appeared in the news nearly a decade ago. The suit alleged that authorities had conducted a warrantless search in his old West Side apartment in 2013.

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Chicago mans suit alleges officers illegally searched his home

Officers found several weapons and ammunition in his apartment and arrested Lipford because his firearm owners identification card had expired, the Tribune reported at the time. The lawsuit was settled in 2017 and Lipford received $30,000.

Moss said she last spoke to Lipford about the death of their niece and had promised to send him his birthday card a few months early. The card had a dog wearing sunglasses on the front and read, You know youre getting older. The two had a tradition of celebrating their birthdays together, a few days apart in late June.

The card, Moss said, is still on her dresser.

As of Tuesday, police had no one in custody in connection with Lipfords death and Harrison Area detectives were continuing their investigation.
BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, March 25 (Xinhua) -- A senior military commander of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah was killed in an Israeli drone strike in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, according to a Lebanese security source on Tuesday.

The source told Xinhua that "an Israeli drone fired an air-to-ground missile at a civilian vehicle ... in (the village of) Qa'qaiyat al-Jisr, killing one person and setting the car ablaze."

The body, transported by civil defense teams to a hospital in Nabatieh, was identified as a Hezbollah military commander named Hassan Kamal Halawi, the unnamed source said.

However, Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center said in a statement that the dead person was "a civilian, according to initial reports."

Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed that it launched a drone strike last night in Nabatieh and killed Halawi, whom it identified as chief of Hezbollah's anti-tank unit in southern Lebanon.

The military said in a statement that "Halawi, during the war, was responsible for numerous terror attacks against the State of Israel. He facilitated the movement of operatives and weapons into southern Lebanon," claiming that "in recent months, Halawi continued to engage in terrorist activity against Israeli civilians."

Since Nov. 27, 2024, a U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel has been in place, ending over a year of hostilities triggered by the war in the Gaza Strip.

Despite the agreement, which requires Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory, Israeli forces have maintained positions at five key locations along the border beyond the Feb. 18 deadline.

The Israeli military continues to launch intermittent strikes in Lebanon, under repeated claims that such attacks aim to eliminate "threats posed by Hezbollah." 
MADISON, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX)  As the Spring Election quickly approaches, the discussion of money used to back the candidates for Supreme Court is a hot topic. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, $73 million has been spent from groups outside of the state to influence the election. Notably, the Democratic backed candidate Susan Crawford has received support from billionaire philanthropist George Soros. While reports say Elon Musk has spent more than $14 million to boost Brad Schimels campaign.

Despite the amount of money being spent on this race, both candidates say they will remain impartial. Crawford says, The way I look at it is, any legitimate organization or any individual who wants to support my candidacy, I welcome that. They just need to know I will be fair and impartial. Im not going to make any promises.

Schimel says, Im not offering anything to anybody else. Theres no promise of how Im going to rule on a case or that Im going to favor this person or that person or disfavor another person.

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The Spring Election will take place on Tuesday, April 1st.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
In public, President Donald Trump promises that high tariffs will make Americans wealthier than ever.

"We're going to become so rich we're not going to know where to spend that money," he said earlier this month while discussing his tariff plans with reporters.

Behind the scenes, however, the White House is reportedly confronting a very different reality: one in which Trump's trade war leaves many Americans worse off, with farmers likely to be hit the hardest.

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And the White House seems to have a pretty good idea about where some taxpayer money is going to have to be spent.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told reporters last week that the White House has asked her to "have some programs in place that would potentially mitigate any economic catastrophes that could happen to some of our farmers" as a result of a trade war.

As The New York Times notes, it is unclear right now whether that means direct payments to farmers or some more roundabout effort. "We're working that out right now," is what Rollins said when asked.

The time to work that out might be running short. Trump has promised to ramp up his trade war with Mexico and Canada in early April, and the administration also plans to start slapping so-called "reciprocal tariffs" on imports from other countries on April 2. As the various trade wars escalate, farmers are likely to be on the front linesbecause American agricultural exports are an easy target for retaliatory tariffs from other countries. If that happens, American farm goods could be cut out of global markets and would likely incur heavy losses.

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That's exactly what happened during Trump's first term, when his trade war with China caused American farmers to lose a sizable chunk of one of their largest export markets. When farmers complained about it, the Trump administration provided a $28 billion bailout via a New Dealera program at the Department of Agriculture.

Some of that is already happening. In response to tariffs imposed by Trump in February, China slapped new tariffs on a wide range of American farm exports, including beef, chicken, corn, cotton, dairy, fruits, pork, soybeans, and various vegetables. Both Canada and Mexico have indicated that they plan to retaliate against American tariffs with new levies targeting American agricultural goods.

It's impossible to know how bad the losses for American farmers could be, but the potential is high. The U.S. exported $176 billion of agricultural goods in 2024, and the three largest destinations for those exports were Mexico, Canada, and China, according to the Farm Bureau.

That gravy train of federal subsidies to farmers is already rolling again, even before the majority of Trump's promised tariffs hit. The Department of Agriculture announced earlier this month that it will distribute $10 billion in "emergency" income subsidies funded by the spending bill Congress approved in December.

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That's likely to be "a drop in the bucket" of what taxpayers will eventually spend if a major trade war begins, warns Taxpayers for Common Sense. "If a new regime of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs goes into effect, the question isn't whether economic pain can be expected, but how much pain, for how long, and to what end?"

That's the nasty thing about trade wars. Not only do they harm manufacturers and consumers seeking to buy raw materials and finished goods from abroad, but they also harm domestic producers (like farmers) who lose access to foreign markets and therefore earn less money. Tariffs hurt Americans who want to eat avocados from Mexico, and Americans growing soybeans to sell there. There are a lot more losers than winnersand that's before taxpayers get put on the hook for bailouts.

There should be no taxpayer-funded bailouts for American farmers who get burned by Trump's trade wars. If the White House is concerned about the consequences that higher tariffs will have on American agriculture, there is an easy solution: Don't impose them.

The post Don't Bail Out Farmers Again appeared first on Reason.com.
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR)  Dry, windy weather is just one reason a new community near Chatfield State Park is being built around wildfire prevention.

The Sterling Ranch community sits about a half hour away from Denver in Douglas County.

View the latest Weather Alerts in Denver and across Colorado on FOX31

It was originally a cattle ranch, Sterling Ranch Founder Harold Smethills said. It was the Sterling family Ranch that started in the 1860s.

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Today, Harold and his wife Diane are developing a community thats three and a half miles long, two miles wide, with a focus on Western lifestyle and fire prevention.

Our family is third-generation Coloradans, Colorado has wildfires, Smethills said. The best way to prevent a fire wildfire isnt to fight. It is to prevent it in the first place.

Cattle are one part of fire prevention for the community.

We have about 150 head out here right now, and these cows will move around, Sterling Ranch Community Authority Board General Manager Gary Debus said. Theyve got several ways that they process the feed and the forage, including their hoof prints in the soil, that they catch little droplets of water, you know, instead of having a runoff.

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Next, more than three million gallons of water are stored in water tanks on the Sterling Ranch property.

Hot spring weather raises concerns about Colorados fire danger

So over here you see a tank, theres 1.2 million gallons in that tank and theres a bigger one twice that size, Smethills pointed out. So, if there were a fire, we can deliver at least a million gallons immediately to fight it.

Jessica Gottschalk, director of resident support for Sterling Ranch, told FOX31 that walking trails and paths have six-foot beauty bands designed to help prevent fire spread. She says they hold landscape classes for those who build in the community to educate residents on fire-preventative landscaping options.

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Its the plant material, its the fencing, Gottschalk said. We require concrete split rail-fencing on the perimeters of the houses so you dont have that match stick fire effect.

Sterling Ranch residents are also told to prepare, in part, by knowing what to take with them if they ever had to evacuate their homes. They call it the six Ps of evacuation:

People and pets

Prescriptions, vitamins and eyeglasses

Papers, phone numbers and important documents

Personal computers, hard drives and disks

Priceless items, pictures, keepsakes

Plastic (credit card, ATM card) and cash

All Colorado homeowners need to be fire-ready and fire-weather-aware.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Mar. 25DOUGLAS COUNTY  Douglas County is among many Wisconsin governmental entities being sued over property taken for unpaid taxes.

Every Wisconsin county, the state and the city of Milwaukee have been named as defendants in a lawsuit filed Feb. 17 in Waukesha County Circuit Court on behalf of residents who had their property taken for unpaid taxes but were denied proceeds of the sale that exceeded the taxes they owed between Jan. 1, 1989, and April 2, 2022.

"We were just following the law," said Mark Liebaert, Douglas County Board chairman.

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"The Wisconsin state legislature implemented a statutory scheme to cause its political subdivisions, namely, the county defendants, to systematically and repeatedly take property unconstitutionally without just compensation," the lawsuit claims. "The Wisconsin judiciary approved of, and gave color of law to, the state of Wisconsin's unconstitutional scheme."

Prior to April 2, 2022, the law generally authorized the county to retain the net proceeds from the sale of tax-delinquent property unless the property was used by the former owner as a homestead at any time in the preceding five years, according to a Wisconsin Legislative Council memo about 2021 Wisconsin Act 216, which changed the law.

If the property had recently been used as a homestead, the county was required to notify the former owner that they may be entitled to a share of the proceeds. Unless the former owner requested payment within 60 days of receiving the notice, the former owner forfeited all claims to the proceeds.

Act 216 entitled former owners of tax-delinquent properties, regardless of use, to receive the proceeds of the sale minus the taxes owed and the cost of satisfying liens against the property at the time of the sale. The act required the county to pay the liens.

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"Recognizing the illegality of these unconstitutional takings, in 2022, Wisconsin amended its statutes to acknowledge the rights of tax-foreclosed property owners to recover the surplus generated by tax foreclosure sales," the complaint states. "However, that legislative change was only made on a forward-looking basis."

Since the change in the law, Douglas County has kept a detailed log of all tax-foreclosed properties sold. But prior to 2022, the county didn't keep records of those, said County Clerk Kaci Lundgren.

In each of the eight cases cited  none of them naming Douglas County directly  the plaintiffs' properties were taken for unpaid taxes and were subsequently sold by the county where the property was located for more than the taxes owed. Once taxes were satisfied, the counties accused directly in the lawsuit pocketed between $20,000 and $417,000 from the sale of those properties, according to the complaint.

Attorneys from Zimmer & Rens LLC of Brookfield, Wisconsin, and Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips and Grossman PLLC, a class action specialist with offices throughout the United States, are representing the plaintiffs named in the suit and all similarly situated individuals. They cite violations of the excessive fines and takings clauses of the Wisconsin and U.S. constitutions.

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Liebaert worries the lawsuit could cost Douglas County millions unless the state steps up.

The state of Minnesota settled similar lawsuits last year for $109 million

after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled

in 2023 in the case of Geraldine Tyler, 94, of Minneapolis.

Tyler sued Hennepin County after the county sold her tax-forfeited condominium for $40,000 and kept the money. At the time, Tyler owed about $15,000 in unpaid property taxes, interest and fees.

The justices were unanimous in ruling that Hennepin County's retention of the excess value of Tyler's home above the taxes owed violated the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The court did not rule on Tyler's allegation that the county had also violated the excessive fines clause under the Eighth Amendment; however, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Ketanji Brown Jackson addressed the matter in a separate opinion.

"Economic penalties imposed to deter willful noncompliance with the law are fines by any other name," Gorsuch and Jackson wrote. "And the Constitution has something to say about them: They cannot be excessive."
DENVER (KDVR)  The Douglas County School District is recommending three elementary schools be consolidated into other schools beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.

The district in a press release Monday said the decision comes after nearly two years of planning and evaluation and was the result of extensive analysis to address declining enrollment in parts of Highlands Ranch and to ensure that all students have access to a comprehensive, well-rounded education with full staffing and resources.

Store opens at DIA with floor covered in $2K worth of pennies

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We were looking around looking for school ratings and saw that the ratings were fairly good, and we were in walking distance, and it was affordable for us, said Bradley Beckham, a parent at Saddle Ranch Elementary. That was a selling point when we moved here.

The districts board is scheduled to vote on the recommendations on April 22.

Its out of my control necessarily. I mean I can have my input, but my input may not get to far as far as making the decision. It seems as if the decision had already been made, said Beckham.

While change is never easy, DCSDs priority remains the same: ensuring that every child has access to an exceptional education and a very bright future, officials said in the press release.

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Heres how the three schools will be affected:

Saddle Ranch Elementary will consolidate into Eldorado Elementary.

Heritage Elementary will consolidate into Summit View Elementary.

Acres Green Elementary will consolidate into Fox Creek Elementary.

There are several other recommendations specifically for Highlands Ranch region schools:

Sixth grade moves to middle school beginning in the 2026-2027 school year (for Highlands Ranch elementary schools that feed into Cresthill, Mountain Ridge and Ranch View middle schools).

Some minor elementary school boundary adjustments will be made beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.

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The district said these adjustments ensure the newly consolidated schools remain efficient and sustainable for years to come.

When I got the email, it was a very big surprise, I think about I have a 3rd grader, said Natalie Lang, a parent at Heritage Elementary. And I think about he will be transiting to the other school for fifth grade to finding out he gets one year there and goes straight to middle school. Its like a part of their childhood that you as a mother have planned. They have been going here since kindergarten to now all of a sudden it is getting ripped apart. Its heartbreaking.

Though this recommendation to move sixth grade to middle school is for specific schools, part of the districts next strategic plan will include a timeline for a districtwide move of sixth grade to middle school.

Whats concerning to us is not so much that they are going to Summit View. Thats a big problem but its also the fact that 6th grade is now going to be considered middle school, said Charles Land, Heritage Elementary School parent. Thats a pretty drastic shift overnight. So, within the next three years, our youngest son will be in three different schools.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Dozens of bird eggs and chicks were rescued from nests in a single wind-damaged eucalyptus tree that was dangerously close to collapsing in a California park.

Now staff at the International Bird Rescues Los Angeles Wildlife Center have been working around the clock to care for the 47 eggs and 12 chicks, all double-crested Cormorants, in hopes that they will be able to be released back into the wild in a few months.

The tree at a park in Marina del Rey was flagged earlier this month after one of its trunks fell and crushed a trash bin enclosure, explained Nicole Mooradian, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches & Harbors. Its other trunk was showing signs of collapsing as well, threatening not only the birds but anyone on the nearby public walkway or in the parking lot next door.

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It wasnt a question of if this tree is going to fail, it was more of a when, she said Monday. The cracks were growing wider by the day. It was really bad.

For at least five hours on March 10, tree contractors meticulously removed each of the 20 nests and chopped off branches one at a time. Biologists on the ground put the eggs and hatchlings in egg cartons and boxes with heated blankets acting as temporary incubators.

Double-crested Cormorants are common in Southern California and tend to nest in large colonies that may crowd a single tree, explained Kylie Clatterbuck, wildlife center manager for the bird rescue. For about a month, Cormorant parents incubate the eggs and then give the chicks regurgitated food for several weeks.

Taking care of them can be very difficult because when they hatch they are essentially naked little balls of skin completely reliant on their parents, she said.

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At the rescue in San Pedro, the chicks must be fed every hour from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.. When staff interact with them, they wear a black suit and disguise their face, while using decoys and puppets to keep the birds from forming an attachment with them, which could make them too trusting of humans in the wild.

Rescue staff expect the birds to stay for at least three months and then once they can hunt on their own and fly, they plan to release them into the wild.

All of the chicks are healthy and happy, with some about 2 weeks old and already eating whole fish, said Clatterbuck.

Its really hard raising baby birds. We do our best; we do what we know; we treat what we know," she said. And we can only hope that they do a good job and they can survive.
Turkish authorities have detained 55 people on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his family during protests against the arrest of his key rival, state media reported on Tuesday.

The detained suspects are accused of having participated in "unauthorized demonstrations" late Monday in front of the office of suspended Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, state news agency Anadolu reported.

Footage of a group cursing Erdogan's late mother earlier circulated on social media. The videos could not be independently verified.

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Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya condemned the remarks against Erdogan and his late mother as "a vile attack" against "our moral values". Late Monday, Yerlikaya said more than 1,000 people have been arrested in connection with protests sparked by Imamoglu's detention on March 19.

Imamoglu, who is jailed over corruption charges and facing a separate probe over terror allegations, condemned the insults on social media platform X.

However, he again vowed to "fight back with all legitimate means" against what he called a "coup".

For sixth consecutive nights, thousands have taken to the streets across Turkey, defying a protest ban and demanding Imamoglu's release.

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Despite his imprisonment, Imamoglu's secular main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) named him as their presidential candidate on Sunday.

The government has responded to the protests with a harsh police crackdown, including in Istanbul and the capital Ankara, as Erdogan labelled the demonstrations as "street terror".

The unrest has shaken Turkish financial markets with the Turkish lira sliding further. The "turbulence" led to major losses on the stock exchange and foreign capital outflows, according to economist Mahfi Egilmez.
INDEPENDENCE, Mo.  Police in Independence are taking new steps to find a man who has been missing for more than six months.

On Tuesday morning, police were in the area of 40 Highway and Lees Summit Road. This location is just outside of Independence city limits, as you enter neighboring Kansas City.

Investigators were in the area searching for Andre Martinez II.

By the end of the day Tuesday, nearly 30 acres would have been searched in hopes of finding him.

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FOX4 aired his story in November.

Im just grateful people are still searching for him and trying to find answers, Andre Martinez sister, Ashley Lamison shared with FOX4 Tuesday. It took a lot of planning and coordinating and I am really grateful for the turnout today. Hoping to find something on my brother.

Lamison believes this location is important to the case. Investigators do, too.

Slim chance for northern lights in some states due to high speed stream from Sun

We still dont have a lot of information, but we know this area seems to be where he was last seen (and) last spoken with, his sister said. This has been a nightmare for me and family. We just need some closure. Hoping to find some information or hoping to find my brother.

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The Independence Police Department has been working his missing persons case since August 2024.

The Investigations Unit has been working this case since he went missing from late August from a motel up the street, Independence Police Departments Bryan Conley shared with FOX4. This case has been going on since August. The family is out here. The family would like an answer and some closure on this case.

With the search Tuesday, many were hoping for any information, evidence or resolution.

Andre Martinez II was last seen at a nearby hotel just up the way from the stretch of wooded property that was searched Tuesday. Martinez hasnt had contact with his family since late August 2024.

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Obviously, the hope on any missing persons case, is we find them alive and well, Conley said. Answers for the family. Leads to follow up on. More information.

Ashley Lamison is hoping to find her brother. Hes also a father.

We all are just trying to grieve and its just heartbreaking, Lamison said. We still dont really know exactly what happened to him.

On Tuesday, dozens of people searched several areas by foot.

Our Criminal Investigations Unit. Our Community Engagement Unit, which two of those guys are out on four-wheelers. Weve got the MCC Blue River Police Academy recruits out here and we have Missouri Search and Rescue canines out here all assisting in the search, I.P.D.s Officer Conley said.

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Investigators are still actively working this case. If you have any information, you are encouraged to report it to authorities.

Teen sentenced for bringing gun to Shawnee Mission South in December 2024

If anybody out there has information, contact us. Let us know, Conley said.

You can call the cases lead detective within IPD at (816) 325-7347.

Martinez family is offering a reward leading to his whereabouts.

Im grateful that he (Andre) has a detective that cares and is still orchestrating all of this to happen. Im just really grateful people are still taking the time to look for him and keep his name out there, Lamison said.

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You can also remain anonymous, if you want to leave a tip at the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-8477.

Around 5 p.m. Tuesday, FOX4 learned human remains were found within one of the searches conducted, though at this time, gender or identity of the deceased is unknown.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
PARMA, Ohio (WJW)  The Parma Police Department has identified the vehicle and driver involved in a hit-skip Friday night that left a mother and her 2-year-old son hospitalized in Parma.

Man pulls gun in Solon road rage incident: police

According to a Tuesday update from Parma Police, the driver has been identified as an 88-year-old Parma man who was driving a dark blue Toyota Corolla in the parking lot of the Marcs on Ridgewood Drive.

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The 32-year-old mother and her toddler son, who was riding in the front of a shopping cart, were struck as the mother stepped off the sidewalk into the parking lot. They were hospitalized with serious injuries but have since been released, police said.

The driver of the car did not stop following the collision. Police combed through surveillance video and asked for the publics help to track the driver and vehicle down.

The vehicle has now been secured for processing and evidence collection, police said.

The driver has not been taken into custody because of the ongoing nature of this investigation.

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26-year-old accused of killing 75-year-old at Canton Township bar

However, due to the mans family connection to a civilian employee of the Parma Police Department, the investigation has been turned over to the Parma Heights Police Department to prevent a conflict of interest, the press release said.

Parma Heights Police will now handle the investigation and pursue applicable criminal charges.

At this time our department is actively working to collect evidence, statements, surveillance footage and any other necessary items so that this case can be thoroughly and impartially investigated. At the conclusion of that investigation the facts of the case will be presented to a Cuyahoga County Grand Jury, a Tuesday afternoon release from the Parma Heights Police Department said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
A New Hampshire man has died and two people were seriously injured following a crash on Route 2 in New Hampshire, state police said Tuesday.

Claude Desilets, 65, of Gorham, died from his injuries following the crash late Monday afternoon, state police said Tuesday.

At 5:14 p.m. Monday, troopers responded to a report of a crash on Route 2 near the Maine border in Shelburne.

A preliminary investigation found that a 2018 Jeep Cherokee and a 2004 Honda Accord were involved in a head-on collision.

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Desilets, the driver of the Honda Accord, was treated at the scene but later died, state police said.

The unidentified driver and passenger of the Jeep Cherokee were taken by ambulance to Androscoggin Valley Hospital with serious injuries. Their conditions were not known Tuesday.

Both lanes of Route 2 were closed for approximately five hours while the scene was being cleared by emergency personnel.

Troopers were assisted at the scene by Gorham Fire and Rescue.

All aspects of the crash remain under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper Brandon Girardi at Brandon.M.Girardi@dos.nh.gov or 603-846-3333.

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Shelburne is a small town north of North Conway and close to the Maine border. The towns population was 353 at the 2020 census.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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BOAO, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 will be held from March 25 to 28 in Boao Town, Qionghai City, south China's Hainan Province.

Using AI technology, we invite you on a "surreal" digital journey of local architecture, villages, and cuisine, exploring the cultural customs and development achievements showcased there.





Around the BFA International Conference Center,

quaint and picturesque villages in Qionghai City,

such as Liuke, Nanqiang, and Shamei,

have emerged as sought-after tourist destinations.

The development of the cultural and tourism industry

injected new vitality into the rural revitalization of those villages

with idyllic landscapes and rich cultural heritage.





Enjoy the watercolor-like scenery with our lens and witness the development of the thriving villages.





Liuke Village

 Cai Family Residence in Liuke Village

Nestled along the lower reaches of the Wanquan River in Qionghai and near the venue for the BFA, Liuke Village is a renowned hometown of overseas Chinese. Its preserved ancient ferry ports, historic post roads, and ancestral buildings reflect the culture of the overseas Chinese community. Recent efforts, including ancient building restoration and riverside landscape improvement, have boosted local tourism and advanced all-round rural revitalization.

 Cai Family Residence in Liuke Village

 Cai Family Residence in Liuke Village

 Ancient ferry port in Liuke Village

 A view of Liuke Village

 A family inn of Liuke Village









Shamei Village

 The Shamei Impression scenic area

Backed by lush hills and facing the coast, Shamei Village is dotted with mangroves frequented by birds. The village has made efforts to preserve old houses and ancient trees while building tourist attractions, such as the riverside landscape and characteristic scenic spots.

 A family inn and a cafe in Shamei Village

 An aerial view of Shamei Village

 A family inn of Shamei Village

The Shamei Impression scenic area









Nanqiang Village

A guesthouse in Nanqiang Village

Nanqiang Village's architectural style echoes the history of local people's migration to Southeast Asia. The village integrates original rural charm with modern art, and develops agritourism to push forward all-round rural revitalization.

 An exchange center for rural revitalization in Nanqiang Village

 A view of Nanqiang Village

 An aerial view of Nanqiang Village









The video and GIFs are generated by AI.

Journalist: Zhang Liyun

Designers: Xie Ziyi, Du Xiaoyi
Don Wiley wears several hats in Sumter County. Hes a commissioner, an educator and  almost certainly  the countys best-known drone pilot.

Wileys day job has him working with real estate agents and homeowners to film the many properties that are bought and sold in the rapidly growing county.

However, Wiley has gotten an increasing amount of attention for his hobby: running a YouTube channel that offers 30-minute tours over The Villages construction projects, including a voiceover full of analysis and commentary as each project progresses.

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I live here in The Villages Theyve built a beautiful community, Wiley said. People want to know whats happening, whats coming and Im just trying to fill that void.

Wiley said hes the right man for the job. He has a background in construction, can read planning documents and is willing to dig through public records to get the latest information. He said he never reports updates that arent public.

That didnt stop The Villages attorney from sending him and other drone pilots a letter, ordering them to stop flying over the districts construction sites. Wiley said it also demanded he take down his YouTube videos.

According to Wiley, the letter cited state law that prohibits surveillance over private property. However, the section of the law exempts property that can be seen from a public space on the ground, which would presumably include the wide-open construction lots adjacent to the roads he launches from.

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He said the letter came days before The Villages newspaper launched a weekly column that reported construction updates.

My opinion is they want to control the flow of information, he said. They want to they want to keep the wow factor.

WFTV reached out to The Villages for comment, including clarification on its attorneys view of the privacy law, and didnt receive a response Tuesday.

As a drone instructor to other adults, Wiley said hes confident hes not breaking any statutes and is planning to consult with an attorney.

He vowed to keep publishing his YouTube videos.

I have no intentions of stopping my work, he said. Ive been editing all morning. Where this goes, thats really up to them to make the decision.









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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  The City Hall Treasurers Office in Dunkirk reopened on Monday, six days after it was ordered closed by the New York State Comptrollers Office.

Last week, Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz said at a common council meeting that an investigation into the office was underway. Dunkirk police said that the treasurers office was secured following a subpoena by a grand jury.

(This) was an action taken to preserve documents contained within that office, Wdowiasz said last week. This action was set in motion to the discovery of questionable accounting practices which were brought to light through new policies, procedures and enhanced oversight measures implemented by me to safeguard public funds.

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The investigation comes as Dunkirk deals with a financial crisis and a looming property tax hike. Property owners will soon face an 84% increase in property taxes.

Last week, the states comptrollers office said in a statement to WIVB News 4 that it cannot comment on a pending investigation.

Latest Local News

***

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.

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SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  UPDATE: Savannah Fire successfully capped the leak. Traffic has resumed. The residents that were evacuated are able to return.

Savannah Fire is currently on scene for mutual aid at the request of the Isle of Hope Fire Department. 500 block of Herb River Drive where there is a small leak near the valve of a 150 gallon chlorine tank. We are working under a Unified Command with the assistance of City workers. Four homes have been evacuated to establish a safe perimeter. There is no concern of the chlorine leaving the established hot zone and island residents are safe.

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The Dutch Island Homeowners Association urges residents to stay inside for one hour due to a reported chlorine leak in the well at Buccaneer Bend and Cove View (and possibly near 507 Herb River Dr.).

Access to and from the Island is restricted for at least one hour. Updates will be provided as more information is received.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
Mar. 24A fifth New Mexico law enforcement officer pleaded guilty Monday as the ongoing federal DWI bribery investigation appeared to include a new target, an Albuquerque police sergeant who is now on administrative leave.

The Albuquerque Police Department announced Sgt. Lucas Perez was placed on leave on Monday. The action came after police officials were notified by the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Mexico that Perez, a former DWI unit sergeant, was under scrutiny as part of the FBI's continuing investigation into a massive, near 30-year conspiracy in which law enforcement helped a local attorney get DWI cases dismissed.

Perez, who couldn't be reached Monday evening, has not been criminally charged.

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But federal prosecutors identified him as one of those under criminal investigation whose credibility could be challenged if asked to testify in court on other cases. So far, the Bernalillo County District Attorney has had to dismiss more than 260 DWI cases involving other such law enforcement officers linked to the federal case.

Meanwhile, former DWI officer Nelson Ortiz pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit interference of commerce by extortion under color of official right. Ortiz joined the APD in 2016, and moved to the APD DWI unit in 2018. He was among the first APD officers to have resigned from the agency once the FBI investigation came to light in January 2024.

The APD on Monday stated in a press release that 10 officers have left the agency, and three are on administrative leave as a result of the investigation.

To date, federal prosecutors have secured guilty pleas from seven defendants, including four former APD officers, a Bernalillo County Sheriff's deputy, and now-disbarred DWI defense attorney Thomas Clear III, and his office investigator Ricardo Mendez. None have been sentenced yet.

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Like other law enforcement officers who have admitted to participating in the scheme, Ortiz, in his plea agreement, stated he accepted cash payments, gift cards, meals and free legal services for his family in exchange for deliberately missing pretrial interviews and court hearings so Clear's clients would end up getting their DWI charges dismissed.

Testimony and evidence from an arresting officer is necessary for a DWI prosecution to proceed, and typically Metropolitan Court judges hearing the cases would grant Clear's subsequent motions to dismiss cases as a sanction against the prosecution.
Mar. 24GRAND FORKS  An East Grand Forks man waived his Monday, March 24, preliminary hearing, pleading not guilty to the murder of his father.

Vincent Chase Villarreal, 32, faces up to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole if convicted of Class AA felony murder.

Grand Forks law enforcement responded to a local hotel Dec. 5, 2020, after receiving a report of an unattended death.

On scene, they located 55-year-old Jeffrey Allen Shulzitski, Villarreal's father.

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An initial autopsy indicated that Shulzitski's manner of death was homicide and the cause of death was a gunshot wound, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in the case.

Witness statements and surveillance footage revealed that Villarreal arrived at the hotel in the early afternoon Dec. 4 to visit his father, and while they were both inside the hotel room, a firearm was discharged, according to the affidavit.

A witness alleged Villarreal was the shooter. Witness statements and surveillance footage revealed that Villarreal left the room after the shooting, the affidavit said.

Villarreal has been in custody on unrelated charges in the years since his father's death.

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At the time of his arrest in Crookston in late December 2020, Villarreal was on conditional release for a 2011 criminal sexual conduct conviction, according to court records.

He was sentenced in May 2022 for a drug possession charge that arose the day of his arrest. He received two additional convictions for assaults that occurred while he was in custody.

Villarreal was released from prison in Minnesota

and transported to the Grand Forks County Correctional Center in February, where he remains in custody on a

$750,000 bond.

His final dispositional conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. June 19.
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Less than a week apart, two dogs were found dead in East Hartford.

According to East Hartford Police, a dog that appeared to be a young Pitbull between four-to-10 weeks old was found dead in a garbage bag in a wooded area near Forbes and Cottage Street on Sunday morning.

2 dogs rescued from house fire on Alden Avenue in New Haven

Officers said the dog had what appeared to be a gunshot wound in its side, but it has not been confirmed yet.

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This is one of two recent incidents where East Hartford Animal Control said dogs were thrown away as if they were trash.

On March 18th, a golden retriever was found dead in a garbage can behind the abandoned Stop & Shop on Silver Lane.

The two locations are about three minutes apart, but police reported that there is no evidence that the two incidents are connected.

These deadly incidents are still under investigation.

Officer Marc Caruso, the Public Information Officer for the East Hartford Police Department told News 8 that a necropsy will be done on the golden retriever to determine the cause of death.

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He described these deadly incidents as horrifying.

Any time something like this happens we all know our animals are parts of our family and they are innocent and defenseless animals so when you see this type of pain or behavior inflicted on an animal its sad for everyone involved, especially pet owners, said Caruso.

While animal cruelty is a crime, Zilla Cannamela with Desmonds Army Animal Law Advocates said if an animal passes away there are proper steps to take including a burial in your backyard or you can reach out to your local dog pound to have your pet cremated.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
EATON, Ind.  What were described as unsanitary conditions in an Eaton home  reportedly infested by insects and with a large amount of animal feces inside  led to five arrests this week.

An Eaton police officer reported he was asked on Sunday afternoon to check on the well-being of a 3-year-old child, at a home in the 300 block of North Elm Street, and an occupant allowed him to enter the house.

The officer said he immediately saw another child, age 12, "sitting on a couch with several hundred bugs flying above him and on him."

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"There were bugs and animal feces all over the floor and furniture the children were sitting on," the officer wrote.

Police eventually found two other children  including the 3-year-old  in the house, along with five dogs, eight cats and two rabbits. Some of the animals were described as "emaciated (and) covered in feces" inside "filthy" cages.

More: Police: Muncie mother went drinking, left children, including a 9-day-old baby, home alone

Arrested on 18 preliminary charges  three counts of neglect of a dependent and 15 counts of cruelty to an animal  were Tommy Ray Capps, 76; Amy Marie Sneed, 50; and Michael Wayne Sneed, 63. They each were listed as living at the Eaton address.

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They continued to be held in the Delaware County Jail in Muncie on Tuesday under $17,500 bonds.

Police also arrested was a fourth occupant of the home, Tina Marie Crum, 31. She was preliminarily charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent and 13 counts of cruelty to an animal, and she was being held under a $12,500 bond.

Also arrested Sunday was Muncie resident Ashley Dawn Sneed, 32, who has asked Eaton police to determine whether her 3-year-old child was in the Elm Street house after being unable to contact him.

That child was also in the house, along with a third child, who is 5 years old.

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According to an affidavit, Ashley Sneed is the mother of two of the children and allowed them to be placed in an environment where "their health, safety and lives were put in danger."

She was preliminarily charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent and was being held under a $10,000 bond.

Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman's office will determine whether formal charges will be filed in the case.

Officials with the Indiana Department of Child Services were also involved in the investigation.

All but four of the animals in the house were removed. Four dogs were left at the scene "due to kennels being full at (Eaton's) holding facility," according to the affidavit.

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Douglas Walker is a news reporter for The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: 5 arrested in child neglect, animal cruelty investigation
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT)  An ECU student has gone viral on TikTok for her open letter to the school.

User @_faithboi_ posted a video on her TikTok account Monday, garnering over 600k likes, detailing why the school is allegedly looking to expel her. The now viral video is titled Facing expulsion at ECU over be@ting up a [grape]ist. In the video Faith Pellini goes on to explain that she was at an off-campus party and confronted a man allegedly known to sexually assault female students. She names seven women in her letter to the school that have allegedly been sexual assaulted by the male ECU student.

My voice will not be silenced by this school, even in the face of expulsion. says Pellini in her video.

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ECU Deputy Chief of Police Chris Sutton said that the matter is currently under review.

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(Bloomberg) -- A court in Ecuador narrowly confirmed the suspension of Vice President Veronica Abad beyond the end of her term, leaving President Daniel Noboa as the winner in their long-running dispute.

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In a 3-2 vote, the electoral disputes court upheld a first-instance decision to suspend Abad for two years, beyond her term that ends May 25, for engaging in gender-related violence as alleged by Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld. Abad has said the case had no merit.

Her de-facto removal means Noboa wont have to temporarily hand power to Abad during the electoral campaign that began March 23, said Mauricio Alarcon, head of think-tank FCD in Quito. Noboa may now again argue that he should instead transfer power to an acting vice president of his choice via the temporary absence of Abad, he added. Noboa and Abad have been estranged since the out-of-cycle election that swept them into office late 2023 for an 18-month term.

Noboa faces a tight runoff election vote April 13 after edging out his socialist challenger, Luisa Gonzalez, in the Feb. 9 first round by less than 20,000 votes.

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SANYA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The fusion of artificial intelligence (AI) and agriculture is transforming the future of food. Smart breeding, powered by AI, is unlocking potential to develop high-yield, climate-resilient "super crops" which could redefine global food security in an era of environmental uncertainty.

At the 2025 Seed Congress held from March 20 to 23 in the city of Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, smart breeding took center stage.

Over 40 exhibitors showcased cutting-edge technologies and flagship crop varieties, highlighting how AI-driven breeding is transitioning from theory to practice. Digital displays at the event illustrated the latest breakthroughs, from AI-powered genomic analysis to cloud-based farm monitoring systems.

Experts at the event emphasized that smart breeding is converting traditional methods into precision agriculture -- offering solutions to overcome seed resource bottlenecks, enhance self-reliance in the seed industry, and secure China a strategic position in the global seed market.

Li Jiayang, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), introduced the concept of "intelligent creation of intelligent varieties," underscoring the potential of integrating AI, biotechnology and information technology to develop crops that autonomously adapt to environmental challenges.

Qian Qian, another CAS academician, highlighted the complexity of crop traits. "Understanding the relationship between genes and traits requires computational power and advanced algorithms," he said. Unlike traditional small-scale breeding, smart breeding adopts an industrialized approach, pooling vast resources to integrate superior traits efficiently.

AI-driven breeding is already delivering results. For example, at China National Seed Group, researchers use a cloud-based system to remotely monitor fields, collecting real-time data on crop health and growth. This enables scientists to address issues promptly and optimize breeding processes.

One notable breakthrough is in the field of hybrid rice development. Traditionally, breeders tested thousands of combinations to find a single superior hybrid. Now, AI-powered genomic analysis predicts high-yield combinations before field trials begin.

"We have moved from experience-driven to data-driven breeding," said Li Huihui, deputy director of the National Nanfan Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Another milestone is the launch of "Fengdeng," a seed-focused large language model mainly developed by the Yazhou Bay National Laboratory in Sanya. This AI platform provides expert insights on breeding, cultivation and industry trends -- empowering farmers and researchers with actionable knowledge.

Despite such advancements, challenges remain. China's smart breeding sector still trails global seed giants in terms of data-sharing infrastructure and commercialization. Fragmented datasets limit AI's ability to predict and design superior crop varieties.

"Accelerating the development of high-yield, high-quality and climate-resilient 'super varieties' is crucial," Qian said. He called for interdisciplinary collaboration among breeding institutions, AI researchers and agribusinesses, to drive innovations in smart breeding. 
How do you say, I am going to break Social Security without actually saying I am going to break Social Security?

Donald Trump doesnt have to have to say a thing. A leaked memo says it all.

Starting March 31, the Social Security Administration will shut off its phones to newly disabled claimants and new retirees, people trying to update their bank information and certain families with children. They will have to use the internet or physically visit Social Security offices.

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The internal memo, first reported by the news site Popular Information, estimates this will increase in-office visits by as much as 85,000 people a day  on top of the current daily average of 119,000. If youve ever been past the Orange Avenue office in downtown Orlando on a hot summer morning and seen the line stretching nearly a block, you know how well thats going to work out.

And we may be the lucky ones. The same people embracing this idea are also rapidly shuttering Social Security offices, making office visits difficult if not impossible.

A Florida office, doomed

A Florida office in Melbourne Beach is expected to close next month. In the next three months, 25 others will close, in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Texas, New York, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Another 21 are expected to be closed. As for applying online, internet service is not an option in parts of the U.S.

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Even if an applicant somehow gets an office visit, the wait could become even more excruciatingly long: 7,000 Social Security workers are expected to be laid off.

Undercutting a system providing rent and grocery money to millions of Americans has real-world consequences.

Food lines growing

Growing numbers of seniors in Central Florida are already lining up at local food banks. Across the state, roughly one in seven Floridians aged 60 or older cant depend on regular meals, according to the National Foundation to End Senior Hunger.

Nobodys getting rich off Social Securitys average monthly payment of about $1,900.

Elon Musk has newly promised he will not torch Social Security. But as the memo illustrates, his surrogates can still strangle the system from within.

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Trump can stay on the sidelines and, if pressed, wrap himself in the stop-fraud flag.

Musk argues that much of $700 billion in annual fraud and spending waste is attributable to Social Security and entitlements. But his dire math appears based on an inflated version of sophisticated guessing.

First, a 2024 General Accounting Office report cited by Musk found between $230 billion and $530 billion in waste and fraud, not $700 billion. Second, the GAO study includes all government spending, including the Department of Defense, a perennial source of financial boondoggles.

Fraud is below 1%

Finally, epidemic spending distorted the frauds extent. The report numbers were a best guess, said an author.

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Social Securitys inspector general found less than 1% of total payouts between 2015 and 2022 were wasteful or fraudulent. But because the program is so large, that still translates to a staggering $72 billion.

Make no mistake: Fraud or waste is unacceptable. The inspector generals office had the background to help DOGE track it. Trump fired the inspector general instead.

Just as firing fraud-hunters does not fit with the political narrative of a serious search for wrongdoing, pulling the plug on phone calls doesnt fit the narrative of serious cost-cutting.

Just the opposite: The Social Security memo warns that the new phone policy will mean potential budget shortfalls. Costs for verifying identity are likely to climb. So are costly suits by applicants, especially the disabled

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This still does fit the narrative of an unfixable Social Security. Break it in such a way as to make everyone unhappy, couple that with continued misinformation about it going broke, and people will be primed for radical change.

That word again

Nothing is more radical than the Musk-endorsed idea of privatizing Social Security.

Right now, its deeply unpopular. That is why influential BlackRock CEO Larry Fink cautioned that no one should use the word privatization when discussing putting even part of the $2.7 trillion Social Security trust fund money into Wall Street.

The idea is great, Fink said  but he word privatization is toxic.

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Its toxic because people instinctively understand that privatization would make financiers rich and leave other Americans praying that a volatile marketplace will be merciful with their money.

Anyone who believes that financial returns are a given could look at what happened to 401(k)s in 2008, when Fink-endorsed mortgage securities crashed and burned, taking down the entire U.S. economy with them.

Americans deserve a Social Security system thats strengthened, not deliberately dismantled. If people are shut out of its phone system, their next call should be to Florida senators and members of Congress  who need to pick up the phone and listen.

The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board includes Executive Editor Roger Simmons, Opinion Editor Krys Fluker and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Executive Editor Gretchen Day-Bryant, Editorial Page Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Editorial Page Editor Dan Sweeney and editorial writers Pat Beall and Martin Dyckman. Send letters to insight@orlandosentinel.com.
Two groups are suing the Trump administration over its demands of and funding pause at Columbia University, which recently conceded to change its policies, causing uproar in the higher education community.

The American Federation of Teachers and American Association of University Professors (AAUP) filed the lawsuit Tuesday, calling the Trump administrations moves an unlawful and unprecedented effort to overpower a universitys academic autonomy and control the thought, association, scholarship, and expression of its faculty and students.

The saga began when the Trump administration paused $400 million of federal funding, claiming Columbias alleged inaction on antisemitism. The federal government then gave Columbia a laundry list of demands with which it needed to comply to even begin discussions of restoring the funding.

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Last week, Columbia agreed to all the demands, changing its policies on disciplinary proceedings and putting some departments on academic receivership.

The lawsuit alleges the administration is using coercive tactics and is in violation of statutory requirements.

Although Defendants purport to be enforcing Title VI, the anti-discrimination law covering institutions that receive federal funds, their disregard for the statutes requirements belie that claim, the lawsuit reads, adding the Trump administration did not give the university the required hearing or time to correct issues before taking away funding.

These restrictions exist precisely because Congress recognized that in a system where institutions depend on federal funds, letting federal agencies withhold funding cavalierly would give them dangerously broad power, it added.

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The Hill has reached out to the Department of Education for comment.

Even after Columbia conceded to all the Trump administrations demands, the Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism made clear it is not ready to restore funding yet.

The lawsuit comes the same day AAUP, along with the Middle East Studies Association and the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, also sued the Trump administration over its targeting of foreign students and faculty who have participated in the pro-Palestinian protests.

Updated at 12:05 p.m. EDT

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat.

Indiana leaders this week welcomed an order from President Donald Trump intended to close the U.S. Department of Education, saying it will give the state more control over education and greater flexibility to spend federal funds.

The long-expected step directs Secretary of Education 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 in order to save money and improve academic outcomes.

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Both Indiana Gov. Mike Braun and Secretary of Education Katie Jenner expressed support for the move, with Jenner writing in her weekly newsletter Friday that it would empower Hoosier communities to identify and respond to the unique needs of our students.

Hoosiers know what our students need to succeed better than bureaucrats in D.C., said Braun in a post on X.

But how the order and other presidential actions will ultimately affect students with disabilities, those learning English, and even college graduates paying back student loans remains to be seen, as advocates fear major disruptions in programs and services. Trump further announced Friday that the Small Business Administration would handle student loans, and that the Department of Health and Human Services would oversee students with disabilities.

Only an act of Congress could close the department completely. But experts say the order  combined with the layoffs and buyouts that have already affected critical areas of the department  could dismantle some key functions, leading to far-reaching consequences for students and teachers.

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Its a broad strokes order creating chaos and taking away resources so that the Department of Education will no longer be functional even if there is a department going forward, said Brooke Kandel, dean of Butler Universitys College of Education.

Future for K-12 students is uncertain

What happens next will vary in each state and depend on how Congress acts, Kandel said. The order is not likely to affect curriculum in states and schools, which was already largely a local decision.

One of the Education Departments key functions is distributing billions of dollars in education funding, especially the funding schools rely on to educate students who come from low-income backgrounds or those who receive special education services. Much early speculation has focused on how its funds would be allocated if the department were dissolved.

Indiana is one of 12 states to ask McMahon for maximum flexibility in receiving and spending federal funds. This could mean allowing states and districts to receive all their federal Title funds in block grants, said Jenner and 11 other state education officials in a January letter.

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Their other suggestions included implementing alternative spending approaches such as competitive or matching grants for allocating Title I funds  which support students from low-income backgrounds, among others.

They also asked McMahon to allow states to define how districts allocate funds at the school level, particularly when education goals are not being met.

By reducing federal constraints on funding streams, [state education agencies] can more effectively address their unique challenges, such as rural school support, achievement gaps, and workforce alignment, the joint letter said.

But since Title funding currently supports specific initiatives and student groups, redirecting it could mean the loss of programs or services in areas such as special education or English learner education, Kandel said.

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And the effects could compound. Cuts to the statistics arm of the department would mean the loss of national data sets.

Cuts to the Office for Civil Rights make the department less able to respond to families concerns about discrimination against students based on disability, race, or gender, she added. Under Trump, the focus of the OCR has shifted to focus on states, districts, and universities that it says are promoting DEI policies and are violating Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination, by allowing gender-neutral bathrooms and trans athletes to compete in womens sports.

You need people to investigate possibilities of discrimination, and if you dont have the staff you just cant follow through with those, Kandel said. We need to keep states and schools accountable to students and be consistent with how we apply laws to students.

In comments during the order signing, Trump said funds for special education and high-poverty schools would be preserved. Rewriting the way federal funds for education are allocated would also require an act of Congress.

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In a statement on potential cuts to education programs, the Indiana Department of Education said, We are not currently aware of any federal funding cuts that will impact programs administered by the Indiana Department of Education.

Education is a state and local responsibility. Governor Braun supports efforts to return control over education to its proper place. He is confident in Indianas ability to provide an excellent K-12 education for Hoosier students, the statement said.

Impact on college-going students

Coming off a year of persistent glitches and delayed aid notices, this years FAFSA  Federal Application for Free Student Aid  now faces questions from students and families about cuts and changes at the Education Department as well as about future loan repayment.

We want to make sure that people dont walk away from aid dollars or from going to college in general, said William Wozniak, INVestED vice president and CMO. INvestED provides free FAFSA help across the state both in-person and via phone.

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The biggest thing to know is the FAFSA is open and financial aid is out there, he said.

Wozniak stressed that despite the forms name, its not just for federal funds, but also for state and university-based scholarships and funds.

That includes state funds like 21st Century Scholars and Frank OBannon Grant. The FAFSA website also notes that direct loans and Pell Grants are still available.

And award letters from universities are going out, Wozniak said.

While the form is working, the piece with more uncertainty is student loan debt and the future of repayment plans given ongoing court cases, he said.

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So Wozniaks advice to students and families is to fill out the FAFSA, see whats available to them, and then make decisions about what aid to use.

Lets do everything we can on the front end to get all the financial aid we can to minimize debt, he said. Thats what we can 100% control.

What things look like in four years is impossible to predict, he said, but students have control over looking at strategies to graduate with the least amount of debt.

The deadline to fill out the FAFSA for state aid is April 15. Indiana students are required to fill out the form, however there are some exceptions and it is not a requirement to graduate.

The post Education Is a State and Local Responsibility, Indiana Leaders say After Trump Order appeared first on Capital B Gary.
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.  Tensions are high here at Liberty Middle school in Edwardsville, Illinois.

Several hundred teachers, students and concerned citizens have packed the building, all waiting to voice their concerns about plans to cut 27 teaching positions in District 7.

The board will be voting tonight, but frustration has already boiled over. Many attendees refused to move to the overflow area, saying the space is too small, and theyve been waiting for hours to hear answers.

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The meeting began at 7 p.m., with all board members present and emotions running high.

The district announced that 16 teachers were already dismissed this past Friday, and more cuts may be coming.

District superintendent Dr. Patrick Shelton told attendees the cuts are necessary due to financial stability concerns. He also noted that at least seven retiring teachers wont be replaced.

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However, teachers, parents and members of the Edwardsville Education Association are pushing back.

They say the districts $32 million fund balance should prevent layoffs and that they werent given the required 15-day notice for these cuts.

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Parents told FOX 2 that this is disrespectful, considering the district is voting to approve the purchase of a $1.5 million dollar warehouse project while voting to cut teachers due to financial stability.

Parents say that teachers are more important than buildings.

After two hours of deliberation, the board came to a decision, voting 4-3 in favor of cutting 16 teaching positions in District 7.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
The price of eggs is changing one of Miami Valleys long-standing Easter traditions.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

As reported on News Center 7 at 6, the egg hunt at Youngs Jersey Dairy has been a tradition for over 40 years.

However, this holiday will be different.

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Egg prices being a bit higher than normal, a little bit more hard to find eggs in the grocery store, John Young with Youngs Jersey Dairy said.

So, the business made the switch to plastic eggs  10,000 of them.

Young is planning to donate the money they saved.

Were donating the cost of the difference in plastic eggs and hardboiled eggs to two food banks, Second Harvest in Springfield and the Food Bank Dayton, he said.

The egg hunt will take place on April 20th, 2025 at 2:00pm.

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MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11)  One skincare store is helping with more than just your beauty routine.

The Ordinary, a skin care brand that touts its affordability, expanded its offerings to sell a dozen eggs for $3.37 over the weekend. The move comes as egg prices have hit a record high, with some stores selling a carton for as much as $10.

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The cost of eggs right now are at a record high and there are shortages all over the city, read a social media post from the company explaining their decision to sell eggs at their stores.

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The discounted eggs were sold at the stores located at 26 Prince St. in Nolita and 475 Fifth Avenue in Midtown.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

The Ordinary is one of the latest organizations working to provide low-cost eggs at a time when the ongoing bird flu outbreak has caused shortages and rising prices.

Previously, the Pennsylvania-based organization FarmerJawn, hosted two free egg giveaways across New York City.

While its not clear whether The Ordinary might sell the discounted eggs again, New Yorkers can check the companys social media sites for more information.

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.

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Del. Elliott Pritt, R-Fayette, a public school teacher, speaks in support of an elementary school student discipline bill in the House of Delegates on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 in Charleston, W.Va. (Perry Bennett | West Virginia Legislative Photography)

A bill that would bolster elementary school teachers ability to remove disruptive and violent students passed the West Virginia House of Delegates, nearing the finish line at Gov. Patrick Morriseys desk.

The measure is two years in the making and the top request of teachers across the state, who say worsening student behavior  particularly among the states youngest learners  has impeded their ability to teach.

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We have to look after and take care of all the other kids that are in the class whose education is being disrupted by the behavior of very few. Its about time we stood up, said Del. Elliott Pritt, R-Fayette, who is a public school teacher.

The Senate unanimously signed off on Senate Bill 199, and the House of Delegates passed the measure with a 94-3 vote.

The bill outlines how and why teachers in kindergarten through sixth grade classrooms can remove students who are violent, threatening or intimidating toward staff or peers, or students whose behavior is impeding on other students ability to learn. The House amended the bill to include pre-K classrooms that are on public school grounds.

Del. Joe Ellington, R-Mercer

Youre not only taking care of the student who may be disciplined, potentially disciplined  It also helps the other students in the classroom, and also just helps things run a lot smoother in class, more satisfaction from our teachers, staff and the students and parents, said House Education Chair Del. Joe Ellington, R-Mercer.

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The bill also mandates that school counselors and social workers work to determine any underlying cause of the childs behavior. Many educators have tied childrens dangerous behavior or outbursts to the states ongoing substance abuse crisis and high rate of kids in foster care.

A similar bill died on the final night of the legislative session last year.

Bill sponsor Sen. Amy Grady, R-Mason, said additional work in the last year has resulted in better legislation that will help the states vulnerable children. Opponents of the bill have worried that children would end up out of school with limited support and forced to attend virtual school.

Grady, who is a public school teacher, said that only 1% of students are violent.

Sen. Amy Grady, R-Mason

We want a bill thats going to work and that also helps our more vulnerable children, she said. We want to make sure that we have things in place that will help them, as well, prior to just removing them from the classroom  that its giving them some opportunities, possibly, to change the behavior. Because were talking about little kids, you know, and they need second chances.

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Three Democrats in the House voted against the measure, citing concerns about potentially unqualified counselors or social workers conducting an assessment to determine the underlying cause of a childs behavior.

There are some serious flaws in here, so I would have to vote no on this iteration of it, said Del. Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell.

Pritt said the bill was the result of a compromise and didnt go far enough to support teachers, but it was time for the Legislature to act.

Grady said that the bill will empower teachers, who regularly are beholden to their school administrator to step in and remove the child.

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We want to allow our teachers to be able to teach, while also trying to provide these students that are causing the disruptions with the help they also need, based on what the school can provide, she said.

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Six Democrats and five Republicans who want to be New Jersey's next governor filed petitions Monday to secure spots on the ballot in the June primaries. (Illustration by Alex Cochran for New Jersey Monitor)

Six Democrats and five Republicans who want to become New Jerseys next governor officially have met signature requirements to ensure their place on Junes primary ballots, although two surprises Monday shook up the Republican race.

Former Sen. Ed Durr dropped out, citing fundraising challenges, while Justin Barbera, a Burlington County contractor who made an unsuccessful bid for a House seat last year, filed enough signatures to join the race, according to nominating petitions that were due Monday.

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Barring any petition problems, Barbera will appear on the Republican primary ballot with state Sen. Jon Bramnick, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac, and former radio show host Bill Spadea. Ciattarelli came close to beating Gov. Phil Murphy in his 2021 reelection bid.

There were no surprises on the Democratic side, where six candidates who have long been on the campaign trail comfortably met signature requirements: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Mikie Sherrill, teachers union president Sean Spiller, and former state Sen. Steve Sweeney.

Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor)

Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University, noted that this will be the states first governors race without the county line, a controversial ballot design that a judge deemed likely unconstitutional last year. Rasmussen said the loss of the county line is good for voters.

This is the biggest field of top candidates we have seen, I would say, in 45 years, Rasmussen said. You will not often get the mayor of the two largest cities, two of the members of the congressional delegation, a nominee from the last time, and a radio talk show host all running in the same race. So voters get these really interesting choices.

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That has the potential to pump up voter turnout, he added.

These are really interesting candidates with really interesting agendas and backgrounds, and I hope it does draw more voters in, he said.

Murphy, a term-limited Democrat, signed a law last month hiking how many signatures candidates need to make the ballot.

Most of the 11 gubernatorial candidates far surpassed the new 2,500-signature threshold, which is more than twice the 1,000 signatures major-party candidates needed before the new law. Baraka logged the most among the Democratic candidates, with 10,806 signatures, while Ciattarelli led the GOP candidates, with 5,543 signatures.

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Kranjac just squeaked by, with 2,535 signatures, filings show.

He actually submitted 3,021 signatures by Mondays deadline, but 486 were rejected as defective, said Michael D. Byrne, his campaign manager.

But Byrne told the New Jersey Monitor Tuesday that he expects most or all of those 486 rejected signatures will ultimately be counted because they had curable defects, such as missing notarizations and petition circulators who were unaffiliated voters. Petition circulators must be affiliated with the same party named in the petition.

Campaign volunteers now are working to collect needed notarizations and register the unaffiliated circulators as Republican by Thursdays deadline to amend defective petitions, Byrne said.

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Rasmussen predicted that one of Kranjacs primary opponents would challenge his nominating petitions in an attempt to knock him off the ballot and narrow the competition. Friday afternoon is the deadline to file objections to nominating petitions.

On the Democratic side, those six candidates viewed (collecting signatures) as an opportunity to organize and get out there and rally support, Rasmussen said. It was a different story on the Republican side  its a smaller party, a smaller number of voters, and those candidates were much closer to the 2,500 requirement.

Rasmussen said President Donald Trump promises to motivate voters this year, especially among Republicans.

For rank-and-file Republican voters, Trump has been extremely energizing, he said. Were all sort of holding our breath and seeing whether or not the actions that hes taking to drown the federal government in the bathtub, which Republicans have talked about for many, many years, has made them more enthusiastic and draws them out more.

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Whether Trump will drive Democratic voters to the polls remains a toss-up, he added.

Where a candidate has not had a coherent, convincing answer on how to oppose these federal policies that Democratic voters do not agree with, I think it could dampen enthusiasm, he said. Where a candidate is offering a roadmap and a clear idea and a clear agenda and a clear sense of this is how we do this, I think voters will respond to it.

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CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  Elms College hosted a lecture Monday evening to highlight racism against the Asian community.

This lecture is part of the colleges annual Reverend Hugh C. Crean distinguished lecture in catholic thought, which is now in its 6th year.

Father Joseph Cheah a professor from the University of Saint Joseph was the featured speaker. In his lecture, he explored the catholic churchs understanding of racial justice through the lens of AAPL experiences. You dont have to be catholic to respect dignity you dont have to be catholic to understand what solidarity is about, he says. Working together and trying to come up with a solution to a common problem.

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Bishop Byrne of the Springfield diocese was also in attendance and according to the organization Stop AAPL Hate they report that anti-Asian threats continue to increase in the U.S. as of December 2024.

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WELLINGTON, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea reaffirmed strong partnership on Tuesday ahead of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in September.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape met in Wellington, reaffirming their nations' long-standing ties and signing a renewed statement of partnership.

The leaders discussed strengthening trade, security, and regional cooperation, with a focus on climate change and Pacific Islands Forum unity, according to a New Zealand government statement.

Luxon emphasized New Zealand's deep commitment to its Pacific partnerships, while Marape highlighted the partnership's strategic importance, particularly in agriculture and fisheries.

Luxon announced a 1 million NZ dollars (570,000 U.S. dollars) investment to support Papua New Guinea's public sector, funding initiatives such as disaster preparedness collaboration and expertise exchange in state-owned enterprise management. 
Elon Musk has attempted to explain why Trump administration officials embroiled in the Signal group chat controversy did not use a government-approved communication system.

White House National Security adviser Mike Waltz mistakenly invited The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to an encrypted chat including secret war plans just days before a wave of air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen earlier this month, it was revealed on Monday.

The 18 national security and cabinet officials in the Houthi PC small group chatincluding Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegsethhave been criticized for the security lapse from both sides of the political aisle.

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As Democrats call for heads to roll in the wake of Goldbergs damning report, Musk has rushed to excuse the behavior of embattled federal officials and said the systems used by the federal government are shockingly primitive.

Musk shared an X post by the author and cartoonist behind the Dilbert comics, Scott Adams, who wrote: If DOGE taught us anything, it's that all of our government systems are stone-age relics. My best guess is that every government official in both parties uses commercial apps for all but the most sensitive stuff. There is no real choice.

Elon Musk described the governments modes of communication as shockingly primitive (AFP via Getty Images)

Most government systems are shockingly primitive, the Department of Government Efficiency lead, who President Donald Trump charged with gutting departments and slashing bureaucracy, responded on Tuesday morning.

In another post by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday morning who claimed that Goldberg is known for his sensationalist spin and that no war plans were discussed, Musk replied with three American flag emojis.

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Both replies came less than 24 hours after Musk shared a spoof post by the conservative news satire website The Babylon Bee about Goldbergs report and took a swipe at the magazine he heads up.

Best place to hide a dead body is page 2 of The Atlantic magazine, because no one ever goes there, Musk tweeted, before the post was later shared by Trump on Truth Social.

Musk (left), photographed beside Trump (middle) and Vance in Pennslyvania in October, took a swipe at The Atlantic just hours after Goldbergs damning report was published on Monday (AP)

Goldberg wrote that Waltz invited him to connect on Signal on March 11. The journalist said he was added to the group two days later and no one appeared alarmedor even awareabout a mysterious interloper being in the chat.

Writing in the group, Vance appeared to disagree with Trump's wisdom on the strikes, noting: I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now.

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The vice president and defense secretary also shared their disdain for what Hegseth called European free-loading.

When probed by a reporter in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said he didnt know anything about the story.

Congressional Republicans and Democrats have called for action, including for an investigation to be launched into the breach. Some of the Trump administrations most staunch critics have even suggested that the security officials in the Signal group lose their jobs.
Community Notes on Elon Musks app X correcting the Pentagons claims about a deceitful journalist involved in the Yemen message leak have disappeared from an official Department of Defense post.

The Pentagons official Rapid Response X account, which says it is supporting the mission of @SecDef and fighting against fake news, shared a clip of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Fox News responding to allegations that he and other U.S. national security officials leaked highly sensitive plans about a Yemen military strike to The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg over a group chat.

Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist, the account posted Monday evening, sharing Hegseths quote.

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A Community Note, the function that allows X users to add context to posts that might be misleading, soon appeared underneath, calling the Pentagon out.

Misleading, it read. The Atlantic included screenshots from the Signal chat.

The note also said that The White House confirmed the issue and House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed it.

The official Department of Defense Rapid Response X account shared a clip of Pete Hegseths response to the Atlantic story. By Tuesday afternoon, the Community Note underneath had disappeared (@DODResponse/X)

But by Tuesday afternoon, the note was no longer attached to the tweet. The community note seems to have been taken down? But heres a screenshot, CNNs Pentagon correspondent Haley Britzky posted.

The Washington Posts military reporter, Alex Horton, accused X of purging the Community Notes from the post. X has purged community notes from this Pentagon account that posts about transparency and accountability, Horton said.

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Community Notes do not represent Xs viewpoint and cannot be edited or modified by our teams, X claims on its website.

Hortons post divided users. Some pointed out that the Community Notes function is crowd-sourced, and users can vote on whether they find it helpful or not.

CNNS Pentagon correspondent Haley Britzky shared a screenshot of the original Community Note that appeared under the DODs post after it was removed. Users pointed out that Community Notes can be down-voted if they are deemed unhelpful. (@halbritz/X)

People down voted it. Thats how it works, one X account user responded.

Others said that users can down vote a Community Note if it does not align with their politics, not necessarily because it is incorrect.

So if enough people don't want to hear the truth, they can remove the facts in Community Notes to feed the MAGA cognitive dissonance? one user asked. No wonder why Twitter has become MAGA propaganda central.

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Similar Community Notes were still visible on other posts at the time of writing, including one from Rep. Deborah Ross.

Hegseth spoke to reporters Monday after he stepped off a plane onto a landing strip at Pearl Harbor military base in Hawaii.

So...Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again, Hegseth said.

This is the guy that peddles in garbage. This is what he does. I would love to comment on the Houthi campaign because of the skill and courage of our troops. Ive monitored it very closely from the beginning.

The White House has confirmed the text thread was legitimate.
Last year, Elon Musk bought himself a president, now hes following through on his promise to turn his billions towards down-ballot races  beginning with Wisconsin.

After spending $290 million last election cycle to elect Donald Trump and Republicans, the Tesla billionaire and so-called Department of Government Efficiency chief has now poured millions into Wisconsins state Supreme Court race to help Republicans regain control and hold onto their gerrymandered congressional majority in Washington.

Last year, the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the states legislative maps, which were so heavily gerrymandered that it was virtually impossible for Democrats to ever gain control of the state legislature. The court ruled that many of the Republican-drawn non-contiguous district lines were unconstitutional, and the map was redrawn.

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Since 2023, liberals have held a 4-3 majority in the court, which has stood as a check to attempts by the Republican legislature to attack reproductive freedoms and voting rights, as well as its efforts to disenfranchise voters through gerrymandering.

The court has now become the primary battle ground for conservatives looking to wrench back control of the state. The race between Trump-endorsed Republican Judge Brad Schimel, and liberal Judge Susan Crawford is already shaping up to be the most expensive court race in the countrys history, and Musks political groups are helping make it happen.

As of Monday the billionaires outside groups have dumped $14 million into the race. Musks America PAC has spent $8.4 million, making it the largest outside spender in the race. Building Americas Future, a dark money group that Musk has previously funded and is run by his consultants, has spent an additional $6 million on the race.

Musk separately donated $2 million last week to the Republican Party of Wisconsin, which then funneled $1.2 million to Schimels campaign.

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Schimel and his conservative allies are significantly outspending Crawford and liberal groups, shelling out $41 million compared to $32 million from liberals so far, according to data compiled by the Brennan Center for Justice.

Quietly financing a campaign to the tune of millions is common practice among the American plutocracy, but Musk has also taken on a role as an unofficial campaign spokesperson for Schimel in recent days.

Musk recently hosted a conversation with Schimel on X, and explained why he cares so much about the judicial race. Its just worth making sure that people in Wisconsin understand this Supreme Court race has a big effect on the House of Representatives, and the House of Representatives is a razor-thin margin, Musk said, adding that the race has implications for Wisconsin, but for the whole country.

The worlds richest man asserted this is why youre seeing so much Democrat money just going crazy here  even though Republicans are substantially outspending Democrats thanks to spending by his own groups.

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Over the weekend, Musk revived his 2024 swing-state strategy of essentially bribing voters into supporting his chosen candidate  or at least forking over their contact information. PETITION IN OPPOSITION TO ACTIVIST JUDGES: Judges should interpret laws as written, not rewrite them to fit their personal or political agendas. Wisconsin registered voters receive $100 for signing the petition & $100 for each signer they refer, America PAC wrote last week on X.

Several of the top comments on the post were from users complaining that they had not yet been paid for their participation in similar petitions and giveaways relating to Novembers election.

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ANDERSON  An Elwood man has been arrested on two counts of domestic battery on a child, along with six counts of neglect of a dependent.

Kevin Wayne Shultz, 37, was arrested Monday by Alexandria police on the eight felony charges stemming from incidents reported by the Indiana Department of Child Services last November in Alexandria.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Alexandria Police Detective Jeremy Rasmussen, DCS received an anonymous report of children in unsafe conditions at a residence.

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The DCS report indicated trash was piled along the walls, the trash and rotten food was accessible to the children and there was a strong odor of a dead animal under the trailer.

The court document states the mother of the children was concerned that they would put trash and rotten food in their mouths.

The DCS report indicated there were five children between the ages of 2 and 7 living in the trailer.

During a DCS visit on Nov. 17 it was observed that one of the children had a bruise on their buttock, left forearm, and back and abrasions to the nose and lip, and that the doors to the bedrooms had the locks turned to the hallway.

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At a Kids Talk forensic interview, the mother said the child told her Shultz mashed him into the ground and hit him.

She said Shultz would care for the children while she was at work and when she returned home, she would find unchanged diapers and it appeared the children had nothing to eat or drink during the day, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Shultz said during an interview that he moved out of the Alexandria residence the day before the DCS visit and that the child had no bruises.

DCS made an unannounced visit on Nov. 21 and observed no lights in a bedroom where the children slept, feces on the wall and a mattress on the floor with no toys or items for the children.
At a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing held Tuesday morning, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe repeatedly denied any wrongdoing related to a Signal group chat where administration officials discussed sensitive military operations, a chat that accidentally included The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg.

Neither Gabbard's opening statement, delivered on behalf of Ratcliffe and FBI director Kash Patel, nor the initial remarks of chairman Tom Cotton, R-Ark., mentioned the emerging scandal. Republicans in general have been forgiving of the Trump administration over the chat, though a minority have joined Democrats in calling it an egregious breach of national security protocol.

When Democrats on the panel tried to question Gabbard on her role in the group chat, including whether or not she was the user named "TG" and if she used a private cell phone while participating in discussions, she tried her best to dodge.

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"Senator, I don't want to get into this," she said, to the exasperation of the committee's ranking member, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va.

Pressed further, Gabbard insisted that she couldn't talk about the issue because, she said, it was under internal review. Both she and Ratcliffe also claimed that none of the information on the Signal group chat, which included detailed plans for bombing targets in Yemen and how U.S. planes would deliver the payload, was classified. Ratcliffe furthermore explained that their use of the Signal app to discuss those operations was perfectly legal and appropriate.

"To be clear, I haven't participated in any Signal group messaging that relates to any classified information at all," Ratcliffe said.

Sen. Angus King, I-Me., expressed skepticism of such a claim. "It's hard for me to believe that targets and timing and weapons would not have been classified," he told Gabbard, who remained nonplussed.

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"This is an embarrassment," Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., said over Ratcliffe's objections. "We will get the full transcript of this chain and your testimony will be measured carefully against its content."

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., castigated the CIA director for not only missing Goldberg's presence, but also apparently being unaware that one of the chat's members, Trump's Middle East advisor Steve Witkoff, was in Moscow as officials volleyed ideas over how to bomb Houthi targets.

"This sloppiness, this incompetence, this disrespect for our intelligence agencies and the personnel who work for them is entirely unacceptable. It's an embarassement. You need to do better," Bennet said.

The officials did not confirm how Goldberg came to be part of the chat, though The Atlantic editor said in his article Monday that it was National Security Advisor Mike Waltz who was responsible. The White House has since issued statements asserting that Waltz had learned from his mistake and would continue in his role.

Patel, who was not reported to be a member of the group chat, told panel members that he was only briefed on the leak last night; he did not say if he had launched an investigation yet. Both Gabbard and Ratcliffe said that they would be open to audits of their communications.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little gives his annual State of the State address on Jan. 6, 2025, on the House floor at the Statehouse in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

Editors note: This story was updated at 8:28 p.m. Tuesday to include a statement from Rep. John Gannon explaining how his vote in support was a mistake.

Idaho voters will be asked whether the Idaho Constitution should be amended to declare English as the states official language.

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The Idaho Legislature widely approved House Joint Resolution 6, the resolution that proposes the constitutional amendment. The amendment would also specify that English will be used in all public proceedings, public documents, public instruction, and any other public acts of any public institution in the state of Idaho, except as required by federal law.

Idaho state Sen. Brian Lenney, R-Nampa, takes his seat on the Senate floor before legislative action begins on Jan. 7, 2025, at the State Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

This is a resolution that essentially says that language matters, said Sen. Brian Lenney, R-Nampa, who cosponsored the resolution. It speaks to who we are as a nation. It binds us together as a people. It ties us to our history, our heroes and our heritage.

The Idaho Senate passed the resolution on a 30-5 vote on Tuesday, about two weeks after the House passed it on a 59-8 vote. The resolution needed two-thirds support in each legislative chamber to pass.

All but two of the 15 Democrats serving in the Idaho Legislature opposed the resolution. Sen. James Ruchti, D-Pocatello, and Rep. John Gannon, D-Boise, voted for it.

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Ruchti told the Idaho Capital Sun he saw the resolution as just acknowledging what we already do.

The language of it was not restrictive of other languages being used in  the official government operations (in the) state of Idaho, he told the Sun in an interview. It was just acknowledging what I believe is already taking place, which is English is the primary language we use here. Its used in our communications, in government agencies, things like that.

Gannon told the Sun on Monday night his vote in support of the resolution was a mistake on his part.

The reference to public instruction causes me to oppose it because people who are unable to speak English have to be taught in their language until they are familiar with English, Gannon said in a text message. I got an unavoidable cell call during the vote and hit the green (button) instead of the red (button) and didnt realize it until after the one was closed and I saw the board. The House no longer allows a request to change the vote at that time.

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On March 1, President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring English as the United States official language, the Associated Press reported. Idaho is in the United States.

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Idahos constitutional amendment slated for 2026 general election

The proposed constitutional amendment is slated to be on Idahos November 2026 general election ballots. To pass, it would need a simple majority support from Idaho voters.

The proposed constitutional amendment will ask Idaho voters:

Shall Article X of the Constitution of the State of Idaho be amended by the addition of a new Section 8, to provide that the English language shall be the official language for the state of Idaho, and to further provide that, except as required by federal law, English shall be used in all public proceedings, public documents, public instruction, and any other public acts of any public institution in the state of Idaho? the resolution says.

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Pursuing the constitutional amendment is expected to cost as much as $300,000, according to the resolutions fiscal note. But if other amendments or ballot initiatives qualify for that election, the resolutions fiscal note says those costs will occur anyway.

Idaho Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, (right) responds to questions at an Idaho Democratic Caucus press conference on Jan. 6, 2025, at the Statehouse in Boise. Also pictured are House Minority Caucus Chairman Todd Achilles, D-Boise and Senate Minority Caucus Chairwoman Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

Idaho Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, said she thought putting the amendment on the ballot was a waste of taxpayer dollars. She also worried it could impact court reporting and interpretations of court services.

Its pretty clear that English is our official language, and now were going to spend $300,000 to put it on the ballot  when we are struggling to pay the bills, Wintrow said.

Idaho lawmakers who sponsored the resolution that proposes the amendment include House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star, Sen. Lenney, Rep. Dale Hawkins, R-Fernwood, and Rep. Kyle Harris, R-Lewiston.

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As part of the process of amending the Idaho Constitution, state legislators finalize arguments for and against the amendment to be distributed to voters through mailed pamphlets.

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  In light of the recent fatal shootings of two children, a 7-year-old and a 1-year-old, local law enforcement is increasing their gun lock initiative.

The Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office, and a pediatric doctor from Wesley Medical Center spoke to the media Monday. According to Wichita Police Chief Joseph Sullivan and the Uban League of Kansas, the locks may not be enough.

The heartbreaking truth is that these incidents are entirely preventable, Chief Sullivan said. Unfortunately, these situations ended in tragedy. The safety of our children starts with the choices we make as gun owners.

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The press conference was spurred not just by the two fatalities but by the four additional cases of severe gun injuries in children by March 2025. Law enforcements answer to the injuries is cable-style gun locks. They hope to cut down on accidental and intentional gun violence by reducing access to youths. But the locks are just a single step.

Certainly, this, this gesture alone is not going to be enough, Chief Sullivan said.

Cindy Miles, interim president and CEO of the Urban League of Kansas, agrees. She says the issue is much more complicated.

I think youth violence extends far more into just putting a lock on a gun, she said. I think we need to address issues in the family that lead to that. Whether its youth violence, whether its youth suicide, I think theres a lot more going on.

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She doesnt see this severely impacting the overall issue.

Often, I think even our adults that use guns related to crime arent going out and legally buying them. I think theyre often not getting them from their parents, I think theyre stealing them from some place, she said.

Miles agrees that the locks certainly dont hurt and can help prevent accidental deaths but argues other precautions need to be taken to significantly reduce gun violence.

Chief Sullivan plans to combine this lock initiative with education plans in the community and schools. The locks are available at any police station in Wichita.

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To learn more about the free gun lock program, click here.

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Mar. 25GRAND FORKS  High school students in Minnesota's Seventh Congressional District are invited to submit entries in the 2025 Congressional Art Competition, U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach has announced.

Entries must be submitted by 5 p.m. April 16.

The winning entries will be displayed in Fischbach's offices in Willmar, Moorhead and Washington, D.C., and the first-place entry will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol.

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The first-place work hung in the U.S. Capitol will be seen by members of Congress, their staff members, and thousands of visitors from throughout the world, Fischbach said. The art displayed in the Capitol represents the winning artwork from all participating districts around the country.

This long-standing, nonpartisan tradition is a wonderful opportunity for students from across the district to showcase their creativity and hard work, Fischbach said in the contest announcement.

Students can submit their artwork for the competition by sending a picture of their arts along with a student release form. All entries must be original in concept, design and execution, and may not violate any U.S. copyright laws.

The Seventh Congressional District covers the majority of western Minnesota. In this area, the district includes Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake and Roseau counties.

For more information, visit

fischbach.house.gov/art-competition

.

Since 1982, more than 650,000 high school students from across the nation have participated in the Congressional Art Competition.
(Bloomberg) -- Chinas ambassador warned the Canadian government against using it as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations with the US, but said its ready to pursue a bilateral free trade agreement if Canada removes barriers to Chinese investment.

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Wang Di, who became Beijings representative in Ottawa last year, said in an interview that China firmly respects Canadas sovereignty and territorial integrity. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said the northern nation should be the 51st state.

China is always willing to work together with the Canadian side, by following the principle of mutual respect, seeking common ground while reserving differences, Wang said through an interpreter on Tuesday. But China also opposes any country using China as a bargaining chip when it deals with other countries.

Canada began exploratory discussions on a free trade agreement with China  its second-largest trading partner  in 2017, but they didnt progress. Diplomatic relations between the two countries went cold in 2018 when Canadian authorities arrested Huawei Technologies Co. executive Meng Wanzhou on a US extradition warrant at Vancouvers main airport. China imprisoned two Canadians in apparent retaliation, and though the dispute was resolved in 2021, relations remain strained.

China has criticized a clause in the US-Mexico-Canada-Agreement signed during Trumps first term that requires members to notify each other if they enter into trade talks with a non-market economy. Recently, Canada has adopted a more hawkish view on investment and trade with China  announcing in August that it would essentially match the Biden administrations higher tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, aluminum and steel.

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Canadas tariffs prompted China to enact retaliatory measures against Canadian canola, pork and seafood this month, causing major economic impacts in western Canada.

Canada has also curbed Chinese investment in critical minerals projects, banned Huawei from fifth-generation wireless networks and ordered ByteDance Ltd., the parent of TikTok, to close its Canadian subsidiary.

Canadas trade actions against China havent inured it from US trade aggression. The Trump administration has already imposing 25% tariffs on a broad range of Canadian goods and threatening more in the coming days.

Wang said China and Canada have a good foundation for talks on a trade deal from the 2017 discussions. But of course, to reach such an agreement, both sides need to work in the same direction toward the same goal, he said, speaking inside the ornate Chinese embassy in Ottawa.

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At the same time, Canada is increasing its capacity to sell energy to China. The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion allows greater oil exports to Asia and the LNG Canada project in British Columbia is set to open soon, enabling liquefied natural gas shipments to China.

China is interested in buying more oil and gas from Canada as long as it can offer good quality at a good price, Wang said. Canadian energy CEOs have visited the embassy to tell him they hope there will be more energy cooperation between the two countries, he said.

But my answer to them is that you should not be working on me. You should be working on the Canadian government.

Groundless Accusations

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Talks on a free trade deal between Canada and China are unlikely as relations remain frosty. Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said last week that China had executed four dual Canadian-Chinese citizens over drug crimes.

Wang said Chinas actions were not driven by the individuals nationality. As long as you have committed a crime in China, you will be treated in an equal way by the Chinese law, he said.

He also dismissed claims by Canadian security officials this week that China, as well as other countries including India and Russia, may try to interfere in the federal election underway in Canada. These are completely unjustified, groundless accusations, Wang said.

Wangs mission in Canada has been to find win-wins for both countries, and hes seen progress  Joly and other officials from Global Affairs Canada have spoken with their Chinese counterparts multiple times, he pointed out.

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When I was having conversations with Canadian friends from all walks of life, all sectors here in Canada, I heard a strong voice that China and Canada should strengthen cooperation, he said. But unfortunately, at the same time, oftentimes we see some disrespect and smearing and attacking of Chinas core interests.

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PEKIN, Ill. (WMBD)  A Singaporean company specializing in manufacturing medical equipment will open their first American production facility in the city of Pekin, providing more than 100 jobs to the community.

City Council members unanimously approved the move during Mondays meeting. Epic Medical, which will do business in Illinois as Epic Pharma Solutions, will pay the city $500,000 for 66.5 acres in the Riverway Business Park north of Hanna Drive to build an indoor facility.

The company creates medical equipment for IVs such as stands, tubes, and bags. This has been identified as a need since Hurricane Helene destroyed an IV manufacturer in North Carolina.

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Pekins Economic Development Director Joshua Wray said the company decided to expand to the U.S. as its where they do nearly 50% of their business. They chose Illinois due to the economic development incentives provided by the state.

After a nationwide search, the company decided to set up shop in Pekin due to the shovel-ready site and the citys willingness to make the land deal happen rather quickly.

Mayor Mary Burress was enthusiastic about the move.

I want to thank the council for doing their homework and for listening to our staff. I want to thank Joshua Wray. Mr. Dossey (City Manager), you have formed an outstanding team around you, so thank you very much. This is extremely positive news for the city of Pekin, she said.

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Epic plans to begin construction this year and hopes to begin operations by the end of 2026.

They plan to build in two to three phases, and the facility will be indoors. It meets all zoning requirements and is expected to generate more than $300,000 annually in property tax revenue.

Other Approvals

City Council approved a site plan regarding the Tazewell County Justice Center annex on 1 Capitol Street that hopes to provide more space and modern amenities for court proceedings. The company in charge of construction is Austin Engineering.

An adult-use cannabis dispensary will be built on 2910 Court Street. The request came from VHEA, LLC. The business wont be open earlier than 6 a.m. and no later than 10 p.m. The city currently has one dispensary, called nuEra on 3249 Court Street.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- China will steadfastly expand its high-standard opening-up and keep improving its business environment, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said here Tuesday.

It is hoped that Boeing will seize the opportunity, deepen its cooperation with China's aviation industry, and provide more high-quality products and services to Chinese businesses and consumers, Wang said when meeting with Brendan Nelson, senior vice president of the Boeing Company and president of Boeing Global.

As the world's two largest economies, China and the United States should carry out mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation, which conforms to the fundamental interests of both sides, the minister said.

He expressed the hope that Boeing will play an active role in maintaining the stability and health of the global aviation industry ecosystem, and contribute to the development of China-U.S. economic and trade relations.

Noting that aviation is a highly globalized industry with deeply integrated production and supply chains, Nelson said Boeing will continue to honor its commitment to the Chinese market, expand its investment in China, and support the growth of China's air transportation sector.

The United States and China have complementary strengths and are interdependent. Mutually beneficial cooperation meets the expectations of businesses on both sides, he said.

Boeing is ready to continue playing a constructive role in the healthy, stable development of U.S.-China relations, he added. 
European Commission spokesperson Anita Hipper on March 24 reafirrmed the European Union's support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and decried Russia's sham "referendums" in illegally occupied regions.

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff on March 21 suggested that Ukrainians living in occupied territories may want to live under Russia, citing so-called "referendums." The remarks, which echoed Kremlin propaganda, garnered backlash from Ukraine and its allies.

The EU does not recognize Russia's "completely fraudulent" referendums held "at gunpoint" in illegally annexed Ukrainian regions, Hipper said.

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Hipper also condemned Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine and called for Moscow to demonstrate its willingness to end the war.

"We saw attacks over the weekend, including a strike in Kyiv where three people were killed, including a five-year-old child. So, this shows that Russia still has to demonstrate its true political will to end its illegal and unprovoked aggression," Hipper said.

Hipper's comments came as U.S. and Russian delegations held their latest round of negotiations on a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. Officials spoke for 12 hours in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, without Ukrainian or European participation.

A Ukrainian delegation met separately with a U.S. team in Riyadh on March 23.

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Ahead of the talks, Witkoff's comments sparked outrage and fears that the U.S. might lend legitimacy to Russia's ongoing occupation of sovereign Ukrainian territory. Russia now partially occupies four Ukrainian regions: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts.

In September 2022, Russia annexed the four regions, using sham referendums to justify the seizure of Ukrainian land.

A Kremlin official reportedly told the Moscow Times on March 24 that Russia aims to cement its control over the four Ukrainian oblasts during peace negotiations with the U.S.

Russia has also occupied Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea since 2014.

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When asked if Witkoff's comments indicate that Washington believes Russia has a legitimate claim to Ukrainian territories, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce gave an evasive answer.

"I'm not going to speculate ... there are a lot of diplomatic talks going on," she said.

Read also: What were the Minsk Agreements and why did they fail to bring peace in Ukraine?

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The textile sectors circular wheels have started turning, according to the European Apparel and Textile Confederation (Euratex), as a major step to implement the European Partnership for Textiles of the Future has been taken.

The European Commission and the European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles and Clothing (Textile ETP) will ink a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Once finalized sometime over the next few days, per the Brussels-based organization, the partnership driving the 27 member states circularity and innovation efforts will kick off in pursuit of reinforcing Europes strategic autonomy and global competitiveness.

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Innovation is the bridge between sustainability and competitiveness, Mario Jorge Machado, president of Euratex, said. The Commissions decision is a welcome contribution, but its only a starting point.

For context, the Partners for Textiles of the Future effort was established under the EUs key funding program, Horizon Europe, in alignment with the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. The idea, according to Euratex, is for the partnership to harness digital innovations and novel business models to strengthen Europes leadership in sustainable textiles, per the Belgian platform, by fostering research, innovation, and investment in environmentally friendly, resource-efficient and cost-competitive production practices.

The launch of this dedicated EU research and innovation funding program for the textile sector is a testament to the persistent work of Textile ETP over many years, building up a strong European community of industry, research and higher education stakeholders and developing a positive future vision for this industry built on technology adoption and material, process and business model innovation, Marina Crnoja-Cosic, president of Textile ETP, said. It is now up to us to demonstrate to the European Commission that their investment will generate a positive return through accelerated innovation in the sector and by a strong engagement and co-investment of industry, especially SMEs in the coming three years.

The EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, published in March 2022, prompted a proposal to adopt a mandatory textiles Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system. As it currently stands, this initiativethe European Partnership for Textiles of the Futurewill work to drive the industrys aforementioned green transition directive.

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The initiative will leverage digital innovations and new business models within the sector and enhance Europes strategic autonomy, per the ECs statement. At the same time, it will help to keep the industry competitive, resilient and sustainable in a rapidly changing global market.

That includes the ECs (and private partners) plan to invest up to roughly $39 million each (30 million pound) from 2025-2030 into the partnership, per the ECs statement. Euratexs statement alleged that the Commission (and private industry partners) would commit to investing up to about $77 million (60 million pound) from 2025-2030 in collaborative research and innovation projects. In any case, Textile ETP will co-lead this partnership, working with the EC as well as any (all?) European textile innovation stakeholders.

Today, we take another important step forward in our commitment to strengthen Europes industrial landscape, Stephane Sejourne, the ECs executive vice president for prosperity and industrial strategy, said in a statement. Our new partnership on the future of textiles brings together the Commission and industry to drive technological progress and sustainability across the sector. This initiative will accelerate the transition toward a stronger, more competitive and sustainable European textile industry.

Following the official signing of the MoU will see the initiatives first funding opportunities introduced in the Horizon Europe Work Program 2025. That will be published in spring, with submission deadlines anticipated to close in early fall for the first projects to start in mid-2026.

Additional resources should be made available under the new Multiannual Financial Framework, with a strong focus on Europes manufacturing baseincluding textilesand targeted support for clean technologies, skills, and infrastructure, Machado said of the EUs financial perspective. Only then can we build a resilient, competitive and sustainable industrial future.
Never underestimate Europes capacity to disappoint. Rearmament euphoria and the explosive catch-up rally in European industrial stocks over the last month have run ahead of hard fiscal facts.

Italy and Spain do not have credible plans to ramp up defence spending, and nor does France when you drill into the details.

The Club Med bloc and Belgium are already in an incipient compound interest trap of rising real borrowing costs (as is the UK).

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It is simply not possible for us to find another 20bn [17bn] or 30bn euros for weapons when we are already making tremendous efforts to cut our debt burden, and were fundamentally constrained in what we can do for the Italian people, said Italys finance minister, Giancarlo Giorgetti.

The military Keynesian boom is chiefly a German story. The 900bn coalition plan for extra defence and infrastructure spending over 10 years is large. It amounts to 90bn annually or 2pc of German GDP.

But keep it in perspective. The Draghi Report says the EU as a whole must raise investment by 800bn every year to pull the bloc out of technological decline, coupled with deregulation shock therapy. The more we see of Europes patchy and fractious rearmament, the less it looks like Chamberlains blitz in 1938 or Roosevelts in 1941.

Sven Jari Stehn from Goldman Sachs has added up the aggregate stimulus for the eurozone and concluded that it barely moves the needle over the mid-2020s. The net fiscal impulse will still be negative this year, and neutral next year.

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Growth will be just 0.9pc in 2025. He has cut his forecast to 1.3pc in 2026, and 1.5pc in 2027. There is a further catch: the spike in German Bund yields has forced up yields for others, further poisoning Club Med debt dynamics. This effect more than offsets the small tailwinds to growth, he said.

I can see why investors are spurning Wall Street and rotating out of American exceptionalism, and not just because the US economy is stalling, or because Donald Trumps tariffs will bring 1970s stagflation, or because he has destroyed so much American credibility in just eight short weeks.

It is above all because Trump is weakening the struts of US capitalism by playing fast and loose with the legal system, shaking down companies and threatening judges.

Sarah Bianchi, from Evercore ISI, says the market exodus will accelerate if he meddles with the judiciarys ability to enforce contracts  in my view he already is  or defies the Supreme Court.

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Bank of America data show that foreign funds cut their $16 trillion (12.4 trillion) holding of US equities very fast in March.

It is less obvious why traders are betting on a secular euro-boom instead. Europe is just as likely to deliver another of its habitual damp squibs. Are they assuming that Trump will not impose draconian tariffs on the EU, and will not escalate further when Brussels retaliates?

Surplus countries suffer most in a trade war. Europe has made itself asymmetrically vulnerable by relying for so long on Anglo-Saxon demand to drive its economy.

Frances Emmanuel Macron talks grandly of EU rearmament but lacks both the political capital and the fiscal firepower to put his economy on a war footing. France has a structural budget deficit of 5pc of GDP.

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The International Monetary Fund says public debt hit 112pc last year and is heading for 124pc by 2029 even before any rise in military spending.

He faces a parliament in thrall to the pacifist Front Populaire on the Left and Marine Le Pens Trumpian Rassemblement on the Right.

Macron aims to boost defence by around 0.8pc of GDP by 2030, but how will he pay for it on top of all his other nosebleed pledges  AI dominance, a fleet of nuclear reactors, etc.  while also pledging to ringfence the French social model?

The European Commissions 800bn ReArm Europe Plan slips through your fingers like fine sand  virtual money in the lapidary words of Italys Giorgia Meloni, who said it was mad to try to go it alone without the US.

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Most of the 800bn is a theoretical figure to come from member states. The hard core is a 150bn EU lending facility to beef up Europes arms industry but this has already run into trouble, starting with Hungarys veto.

The Spanish want to use the money for climate change, turning the mechanism into a slush fund like the Covid Recovery Fund, which ended up being used for every pet scheme except for Covid.

As always, Brussels, Paris and others have an ulterior motive in pushing for joint debt issuance. They seize on every chance to try to smuggle through fiscal union  or to get their hands on the credit card of the frugals, to be more prosaic.

The Dutch refuse any use of ReArm Europe for joint lending; the Germans are unlikely to be more sympathetic once Friedrich Merz takes charge. He must bend over backwards to show that last weeks changes to the constitutional debt-brake do not open the floodgates to fiscal ruin.

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Having ditched one taboo, the German centre-Right is even more reluctant to breach another, said Berenberg Bank. Eurobonds are stone dead.

The rearmament saga is exposing deep lines of cleavage within the EU, above all between those states still trying to keep the US on board, and Europeanists who see it as a chance  a blessing from Mars, to borrow from German historian Fritz Fischer  to break free and turn Europe into a muscular great power.

Germanys excellent Sparta plan calls for drastic spending on the sharp end of defence to block Vladimir Putin before he is tempted to attack again (next time Narva or the Suwalki Gap).

It wants a drone wall, along with weapons that can be delivered within months, or five years at the limit. Europe should work with what it has got and not waste time arguing about new instruments, or let the mission be hijacked by Brussels.

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But the worst is now happening. The talks are degenerating into a procurement carve-up, with each country hoping to use EU money to push its own weapons systems as a form of industrial and jobs policy.

An unpleasant mix of euro ideology and hard-nosed protectionism means that the UK is being excluded even though it is an integral part of Europes military ecosystem, and is defending the EUs frontline against Russia with troops and is rock solid behind Ukraine.

We have the surreal situation where South Korea and Japan can bid for contracts, up to a point, but British firms cannot because the UK does not have a formal defence pact with the EU, and such a pact is not possible unless London submits to other Commission demands, starting with fish.

It is doubly surreal because Berlin is angling for British nuclear protection, and talks are under way behind the scenes for a joint Anglo-French nuclear deterrent.

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The likely result of ReArm Europe is to weaken the emotional solidarity that binds the cross-Channel alliance, and to cure a generation of Labour leaders of their reflexive europhilia.

Please forgive my burst of optimism a few weeks ago. I now fear that the EUs incorrigible pathologies will reassert themselves, and that Europes half-baked rearmament will degenerate into a fiasco.

I fear too that Europe will abandon brave Ukraine to the wolves (plural).

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We have learnt several things from the bizarre leak of US war plans to a journalist accidentally included in a private messaging group. One is that senior members of the administration appear to have had no clue as to why American jets were involved in bombing targets in Yemen last week.

Another is that the antipathy towards Europe over the way many continental countries have spent too little on their own defence is real and deep-seated, bordering on loathing.

Leaving aside the cavalier manner of using a commercial messaging app to disseminate top secret information, this has proved to be a fascinating insight into thinking among Donald Trumps top team of advisers.

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It centres on a decision to bomb targets in Yemen, which many of the participants to the conversation struggled to rationalise. The obvious reason is to keep open the shipping lanes which Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have effectively closed, forcing traffic to go around the Cape.

But as J D Vance, the vice-president, pointed out this was of limited benefit to America since just three per cent of its trade went through the Suez Canal, compared with 40 per cent of Europes. In other words, the US was being asked yet again to do the heavy lifting for the Europeans, just as with Ukraine.

There is a real risk that the public doesnt understand this or why its necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message. I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now.

Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, adds: I fully share your loathing of European freeloading. Its PATHETIC. We are the only ones on the planet  who can do this. Nobody else even close. That is not entirely true. The RAF bombed Houthi military facilities last year using planes based in Cyprus in a joint action with the US.

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President Trump appears to have been convinced that this threat to global sea lanes should be dealt with even if America does not benefit, though he believes there should be payback. But why do other European countries not participate? Only the US and the UK seem to take it seriously enough to try to stop it with direct military action.

The recklessness, and probable illegality, behind the sharing of secret information does not disguise the fact that the frustration in Washington about European freeloading is well-founded.

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The Social Development Commission's board held an emergency meeting Monday to establish a plan to fight for its designation as a community action agency. But some commissioners weren't quite prepared for battle.

The board has 11 days to prepare for its hearing with the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families on April 4. Without SDC's community action agency title, the commission that oversees millions of federal tax dollars meant to assist low-income residents won't be eligible for the federal Community Services Block Grant.

The board was blindsided by the Department of Children and Families' letter Friday afternoon, said Jorge Franco, board chair and interim chief executive officer.

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Moments after a call between the department and commissioners, the department sent a stern letter declining funding SDC in 2025, Franco said. The letter outlined its frustration with SDC's inaccurate information regarding its financial health, and its noncompliance with state and federal requirements, according to the department.

"I, for one, have a great deal of frustration with DCF because I felt like they were playing hide the ball with SDC," Franco said at Monday's meeting.

The agency's attorney, William Sulton, said losing the grant won't be the end of SDC, which had a $30.5 million operating budget last year, but will have an effect on the commission that provides career services, child care and housing assistance.

Commissioners hadn't had a chance to review the letter in depth or as a board, said commissioner Walter Lanier, who joined in January.

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Although commissioners agreed on the importance of the anti-poverty agency that was founded in 1963, some weren't certain whether the state department's numerous accusations against SDC were false.

Both commissioners Pamela Fendt, who joined the board in February, and Lanier said they aren't caught up on many of the department's allegations in the letter.

"(The letter) has political implications, legal implications, fiduciary implications," Lanier said. "We've got to look at the facts to determine what's going on here."

SDC says it's transparent with state department

Franco says SDC worked "around the clock" and "all night" to meet the Department of Children and Families' demands. Originally they were told the funding application deadline would be between January and February, but subsequently the deadline moved to Dec. 23.

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The agency spent $9,000 digitizing more than 40,000 pages of documents to meet the department's abrupt deadline, Franco said.

Diane Robinson, SDC's executive director, agreed with Franco. She added she was in frequent communication with the department. SDC met weekly with the department, Franco said.

The Department of Children and Families' letter doesn't mention a Dec. 23 deadline.

Franco says the commissioners' calls with the department gave them the impression that they were in good standing.

Right around the start of the new year, the department told SDC their application for $2.1 million was to be approved in about two weeks, Franco said. The department, ultimately, didn't approve that grant.

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Franco says SDC gave the department full access to the agency's entire accounting system.

"They have everything," Franco said.

The agency is cooperating with the Department of Administration's forensic audit and working with Clifton Larson Allen to complete its audit, Franco said.

Vincent Bobot, the longest serving board member and president of SD Properties, says under Franco's and Robinson's leadership SDC has been transparent with state departments and the public.

"We're all for giving full access, complying with all audits, making sure everything is done efficiently in a professional manner," Bobot said.

Some board members have questions

On the other hand, some commissioners want more transparency.

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Fendt says she'd like the board to see what information SDC shared with the Department of Children and Families.

"One of the things that the letter stated was DCF lacked a clear understanding of SDC's financial picture, and I sort of share that feeling," Fendt said. "I'm not quite clear on SDC's financial picture."

Fendt, who is the president of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, added she's unsure of what information SDC provided the department regarding its number of employees. The department's letter says SDC reported it had 28 staff members but failed to show documentation to back that up.

Lanier added he needed to feel confident in what SDC shared with the state before asking people to show support at the upcoming public hearing.

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"I'm not ready to extend that call yet," Lanier said.

Robinson plans to share SDC's records that dispute the department's claims against the agency with commissioners in the days leading up to the hearing.

Share your thoughts at April hearing

All members of the community are welcome to attend the Department of Children and Families hearing to consider SDC's future as a community action agency. The hearing is at the Milwaukee State Office Building, 819 N. Sixth St., on April 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: SDC in Milwaukee says it's transparent with Wisconsin department
Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin appears in Jefferson Family Court with attorney Zach Buckler for a hearing at which a judge approved a protective order sought by Bevin's adoptive son, March 25, 2025. (Photo by Michael Clevenger, Courier Journal, via press pool)

LOUISVILLE  Jonah Bevin has secured a six-month protective order against his adopted father, former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin.

Jonah, 18, smiled as he left a fourth floor courtroom in downtown Louisville after a Tuesday hearing before Jefferson County Family Court Judge Angela Johnson, who approved an order agreed to by the parties.

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I got what I needed. I got the protection order, Jonah said. I felt like the judge  understood. I felt like shes more kind.

He also called out Matt Bevin for intimidating him in court last week.

That was pretty stressful, but I like the way it turned out. It turned out good today, he said.

In contrast with his Friday appearance before Johnson, when he represented himself and questioned Jonah, Matt Bevin had legal representation in court Tuesday and barely spoke.

Jonah Bevin listens during his protective order hearing seated beside counsel Melina Hettiaratchi, left, March 25, 2025. (Photo by Michael Clevenger, Courier Journal, via press pool)

The protective order, which all parties agreed to, says Matt Bevin cannot contact Jonah for six months. If there are no violations, the order will transition into a civil restraining order.

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Under this order, the protections afforded to any victim of domestic violence would be in full force and effect, Jonahs lawyer, John Helmers, said in court.

Then, if there are any violations, my client (will) be afforded the protections of a domestic violence victim, Helmers said.

While the former governor is subject to a protective order, Glenna Bevin, his ex-wife, negotiated a civil restraining order. Glenna Bevin, who attended court via Zoom Tuesday, said in a statement that this situation has been extremely difficult and painful for our entire family.

I am glad it is over and the case against me is dismissed, she said. I love my children and want what is best for all of them.

Jefferson Family Court Judge Angela J. Johnson presided over Tuesdays hearing. (Photo by Michael Clevenger, Courier Journal, via press pool.)

The extended order also directs the Bevins to provide Jonah, via his attorneys, information about his biological family.

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That should not be required for this young man to learn about who his family is, Judge Johnson said. And Ill leave that there. That should be done regardless.

Jonah has said he had been told that his biological mother is dead but that Matt Bevin recently contacted him with an offer to reunite him with his mother if he left immediately for Ethiopia.

The judge also clarified to Matt Bevin: While this is in effect, lets just say that this young man goes into McDonalds and you happen to interact with him. You have to leave, not him. You cant contact him by social media, by third party message, by message. You cannot contact him. You cant post on social media a message that is meant for him. You cannot have a gun while this order is in effect. Any violation of this will be considered a criminal offense.

Bevin ignored reporters who asked him questions as he left the courtroom.

Huge step

Jonah was adopted by the Bevins at age 5 from Ethiopia. He 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.

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Tuesdays order extends the temporary protective order he obtained on March 7 against Matt Bevin, saying he fears him and wants no contact with him.

Jonah Bevin smiles as he leaves the courtroom where he obtained a six-month protective order against his adoptive father, former Gov. Matt Bevin. Attorney and child advocate Dawn J. Post holds the door. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

Dawn J. Post, a New York lawyer and child advocate who is also representing Jonah, said after the hearing that the extension is a very important first step.

Jonah is an amazing, wonderful, intelligent young man. I am so glad that he had the opportunity to speak his truth, Post said.

She also said she expects other youth from the Jamaica facility to file cases in the future.

This is not the end of this journey, but it is a huge step for all the boys who were told repeatedly, no one will believe you, everyone will believe that youre liars, youre just liars and manipulators, Post said. And thats not true, and whether or not race plays a part in this or not, the fact is that Jonah finally was able to have his truth spoken and he was heard. And I really, really appreciate that fact.

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Jonah Bevin also expressed gratitude for the chance to share his story and be heard.

A lot of the kids get adopted by rich, white families, and they dont get to speak what they need to speak. People dont hear them out. People dont know whats going on, because it looks like to everybody that  Matt Bevin had everything figured out in his life. But he had nothing figured out, Jonah said. Theres an image they want people to see, and they dont want an actual image of whats actually going on in their homes. And today we brought it out. We brought out what he didnt want people to see.

Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin leaves the courtroom after a hearing on an emergency protective order issued against him and sought by his adoptive son, Jonah Bevin, March 25, 2025. (Photo by Michael Clevenger, Courier Journal, via press pool)

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High security was in place at a courtroom in northern Germany on Tuesday as the trial of a former member of a disbanded far-left terrorist organization began.

Daniela Klette is on trial at the Verden Regional Court on charges of attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms and aggravated robbery allegedly committed during more than 30 years on the run.

The 66-year-old was part of the Red Army Faction (RAF), a well-known German terrorist group that was founded in 1968 and remained active well into the 1990s.

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Due to security reasons, the trial is taking place in a secure room at the Higher Regional Court in Celle, near Hanover.

A dpa reporter on the scene saw police and judicial officers securing the building armed with machine pistols, with sniffer dogs also in operation.

Around 50 people gathered outside the court in support of Klette, carrying banners calling for "freedom for political prisoners."

Klette is accused of committing a number of crimes after going underground in the late 1980s along with accomplices Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg, who are still at large.

She was detained in Berlin in 2024 following a tip-off from a member of the public.

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The trio allegedly targeted cash-in-transit vans and supermarkets in northern and western Germany between 1999 and 2016 to finance their life on the run.

They reportedly stole more than 2.7 million ($2.9 million) in the process.

Klette is expected to submit a plea after prosecutors presented the indictment against her.

The proceedings only involve suspected offences committed after the RAF disbanded in 1998.

Klette has also been accused of involvement in three RAF attacks between 1990 and 1993, which could result in separate charges including attempted murder.

More than 30 people were killed in Germany in attacks by the RAF.

Armed police officers secure the Celle Higher Regional Court, where the trial against former RAF terrorist Daniela Klette will begin. The investigators accuse Klette of attempted murder, unauthorized possession of weapons as well as attempted and completed aggravated robbery. The case concerns 13 robberies of cash transporters and supermarkets in Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein. Sina Schuldt/dpa
Three former and current volunteer firefighters have filed a lawsuit against an ex-New Jersey police officer and fire official, accusing him of subjecting them to abuse under the guise of training exercises.

According to the 95-page complaint, obtained by NJ Advanced Media, Robert Sinnott would often carry out this abuse at the firehouse in Toms River, in full view of other members with Silverton Volunteer Fire Company #1. It allegedly included handcuffing and groping trainees during police reenactments and simulations, and it was not uncommon for the exercises to turn violent and sexually explicit.

Sinnott, who served as a police officer in Island Heights for more than 20 years before moving to Toms River, was also the assistant chief with Silverton Volunteer Fire Company #1. His accusers claimed he used his leadership roles to groom and subject them to ongoing harassment, adding that his background in law enforcement enabled him to avoid getting into any legal trouble. Whats more, any effort the plaintiffs made to report the abuse was met with retaliation and sometimes even efforts to conceal the allegations.

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For over two decades, Sinnott preyed upon young volunteer firefighters, with full knowledge  and inaction  by district leadership, the complaint states.

In addition to Sinnott, the lawsuit also names the Toms River and Silverton fire departments, as well as several local officials, accusing them of negligence, assault, civil rights violations, and a coordinated cover-up effort.

The firefighters who filed suit are seeking compensatory and punitive damages for what they called years of emotional trauma, professional setbacks, and psychological distress.
By Humeyra Pamuk and Maya Gebeily

WASHINGTON/BEIRUT (Reuters) - The United States has handed Syria a list of conditions that it wants Damascus to fulfill in exchange for partial sanctions relief, six people familiar with the matter told Reuters, including ensuring foreigners are not in senior governing roles.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Levant and Syria Natasha Franceschi gave the list of demands to Syrian foreign minister Asaad al-Shibani at an in-person meeting on the sidelines of a Syria donor conference in Brussels on March 18, according to two of the people - a U.S. official and a Syrian source familiar with the matter.

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Reuters was first to report both the list and the in-person meeting, the first high-level direct contact between Damascus and Washington since U.S. President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20, has been previously reported.

Reuters spoke to six sources for this story, including two U.S. officials, a Syrian source, a regional diplomat and two sources in Washington familiar with the matter. They all requested anonymity to discuss the high-level diplomacy.

Among the conditions placed by the United States are Syria's destruction of any remaining chemical weapons stores and cooperation on counter-terrorism, the two U.S. officials, the Syrian source and both sources in Washington said.

Another demand was making sure foreign fighters are not installed in senior roles in Syria's governing structure, the U.S. officials and one of the sources in Washington said.

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Syria has already appointed some foreign ex-rebels, including Uyghurs, a Jordanian and a Turk, to its defense ministry - a move that alarmed foreign governments.

Washington also asked Syria to appoint a liaison to assist U.S. efforts to find Austin Tice, the U.S. journalist who went missing in Syria over a decade ago, according to the two U.S. officials and both sources in Washington.

In return for fulfilling all the demands, Washington would provide some sanctions relief, all six sources said. One specific action would be a two-year extension of an existing exemption for transactions with Syrian governing institutions and possibly the issuance of another exemption.

The U.S. would also issue a statement supporting Syria's territorial integrity, the source said.

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Washington did not provide a specific timeline for the conditions to be fulfilled.

Syria's foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comments. A spokesperson for the State Department said the agency does not "discuss our private diplomatic conversations publicly." Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce last week said Washington was monitoring the actions of the interim rulers.

Syria is in desperate need of sanctions relief to kick start an economy collapsed by nearly 14 years of war, during which the United States, the U.K. and Europe placed tough sanctions on people, businesses and whole sectors of Syria's economy in a bid to squeeze now-ousted leader Bashar al-Assad.

Some of those sanctions have been temporarily suspended, with limited effect. The U.S. issued a six-month general license in January to ease the flow of humanitarian aid, but the move was not considered enough to allow Qatar to pay for public sector salaries through Syria's central bank.

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Syrian officials including Shibani and interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa have called for sanctions to be fully lifted, saying it is unjust to keep them in place following Assad's toppling by a lightning rebel offensive in December.

U.S. SYRIA POLICY IN PROGRESS

The delivery of the demands is the clearest signal yet of the Trump administration's policy on Syria.

U.S. statements have focused on support for minorities and condemnations of Islamist extremism but they have otherwise said little, leaving uncertainty over the future of sanctions and whether U.S. forces will remain deployed in the northeast.

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That is in part due to differing views in Washington on how to approach Syria. Some White House officials have been keen to take a more hardline stance, pointing to the new Syrian leadership's former ties to Al-Qaeda as reason to keep engagement to a minimum, according to diplomats and U.S. sources familiar with the policymaking process.

The State Department has sought a more nuanced approach to Syria, including possible areas of engagement, the sources added.

The differences led earlier this month to a heated deliberation between the White House and State Department on U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statement denouncing violence in western Syria, where hundreds of civilians from the Alawite minority - Assad's sect - were killed after an ambush on new security forces by armed loyalists to the former regime.

Rubio condemned "radical Islamist terrorists, including foreign jihadis" that carried out the violence, and called for Syria's interim authorities to hold perpetrators accountable.

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The White House sought a more harshly worded statement while the State Department pushed back to add more balance, sources familiar with the process said.

Reuters reported last month that Israel was lobbying the United States to keep Syria weak and decentralized.

The administration is still not fully subscribing to Israel's effort to discourage U.S. engagement with Syria's new rulers, sources said, but some of the Israeli concerns are gaining more traction with some U.S. officials.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Maya Gebeily; Additional reporting by Gram Slattery; Editing by Nick Zieminski)
BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- China urges the United States to immediately cease malicious cyber activities, especially the malicious cyber activities carried out through the global supply chain, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a regular press briefing when responding to a question on the report titled "Mobile Cyberattacks Conducted by US Intelligence Agencies" released on Tuesday by the China Cybersecurity Industry Alliance.

According to the report, the United States has conducted malicious cyber attacks and eavesdropping activities against global mobile smart terminals, supply chain, and operators.

Guo said, according to the report, the U.S. government has taken advantage of its monopoly in telecommunication technology and in the upstream of the industrial and supply chains, and carried out large-scale and long-term malicious cyber activities, which have been pervasive, targeting mobile phones and even the entire mobile industry ecosystem globally.

Guo said that the report revealed that the United States is the major country that carries out cyber attacks through the supply chain and mobile operators.

Over the years, the United States has blamed others on the security of the supply chain, applied double standards, and tried every means to hype up the so-called security issues in 5G supply chain. At the same time, with the cooperation of major U.S. Internet companies or equipment suppliers, it has installed backdoors in telecommunication equipment and products worldwide to serve its cyber attacks, he added.

"We believe this report will help the international community have a better understanding of what the United States has done in this field," said Guo.

The United States should give an explanation to the world in a responsible attitude, the spokesperson noted. 
An explosion occurred at a munitions warehouse at the Policske Strojirny plant in the Svitavy district of Czechia on March 25, the news portal iRozhlas reported.

The plant, located 150 kilometers (90 miles) east of Prague, is known for producing and storing large-caliber ammunition, repairing military equipment, and supplying spare parts, according to iRozhlas.

The likely cause of the incident was a technical malfunction in one of the production halls, the Czech police said.

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One person suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to the hospital. Emergency services evacuated people from the area, but authorities said there was no danger to residents. Several nearby roads have been closed as a precaution.

The Policske Strojirny facility, where the explosion took place, is part of the STV Invest holding company, which rents out sections of its premises.

In 2014, two ammunition explosions occurred in eastern Czechia, killing two people. Prague accused Russia's military intelligence (GRU) of orchestrating the sabotage to prevent arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Read also: Content of US-Russia talks in Riyadh will definitely not be published, Kremlin says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ambassador Susan Rice, former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and President Obama's former National Security Advisor joins Alicia Menendez in for Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House with reaction to the stunning news of a leaked group chat among senior Trump Administration officials that detailed war plans for a military operation in Yemen, and how unprecedented of a leak this is and what is the decision making process amongst these key figures.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  A crash involving a Mobile Police Department cruiser sent two people to the hospital over the weekend.

Mobile police arrest 2 women accused of stealing clothes from H&M

Mobile Police said their officer was responding to an emergency call on Saturday. Thats when a black sedan and the Mobile police cruiser collided.

An eyewitness gave his account of the crash that occurred on Dauphin Street near Gladys Avenue.

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I lost track of the police car for a moment and thought it was going to run into me, said Josh Ashley. I hope everybodys okay.

Josh Ashley told News 5 that he saw the whole thing.

I heard the siren, so I pulled over to get out of the way, said Ashley. The black car was behind me but was in the left lane. That officer went into oncoming lane, no traffic was coming he just went to go around the black car and the black car turned in front of him.

In a statement, MPD officials said the driver of the black sedan failed to yield the right of way.

Alabama law requires drivers to move over and/or reduce speed when approached by law enforcement or emergency response vehicles.

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The law also covers tow vehicles and even garbage trucks.

Jeff Haller with the Mobile Fire-Rescue told WKRG that accidents like this have happened before.

Think about this, when Mobile Fire Rescue is responding to things it could be a medical incident in which seconds count. , said Haller. We could be transporting one of your relatives to the hospital.

1 of 3 suspects in 2023 Heron Drive homicide pleads guilty: Mobile County District Attorney

When drivers dont yield to emergency vehicles it can result in hefty fines, suspension of driving privileges and even worse it could lead to accidents like this.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
An eyewitness to the arrest of Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal has detailed the moment she saw the Oscar winner zip-tied and blindfolded by police.

Raviv Rose spoke to The Hollywood Reporter from the West Bank, where Ballal, a co-director of the Academy Award-winning documentary No Other Land, as well as two other men, Khaled Mohammad Shanran and Nasser Shreteh, were attacked and arrested Monday night, according to Israeli director Yuval Abraham. Abraham said Ballal has injuries to his head and stomach, bleeding after being assaulted by a group of settlers in his home village of Susiya.

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On Tuesday, Abraham posted an update to say that Ballal had been released.

Rose, a Jewish American living in the region, tells THR she witnessed the aftermath of the attack. The 24-year-old is with an organization called the Center for Jewish Nonviolence and describes their work as protective presence work, a form of solidarity activism. Our role is to bear witness to the day-to-day human rights violations and violence that these communities are experiencing, to document and share their stories, Rose explains. We support by connecting people to lawyers and legal cases, doing fundraising and addressing basic needs.

Upon hearing word of the incident in Susiya, Rose and a group of fellow activists drove to the village where they, too, were attacked, says the activist. As we ran, settlers started beating us with sticks and clubs in the back  We were trying to draw the attention of the [Israeli] army to what was happening and they just completely refused to do anything. We ran into the vehicle, and that is when they started stoning the car as well. They stoned the car to the point of destruction.

Rose adds that the police treated the group like criminals. They demanded to see our passports, the registration of the vehicle, she says. The activists were told that if they wanted to file a complaint, to head to the police station in the morning.

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The group then went to Ballals house. As we approached, his family was praying, because the attack had been [during Ramadan fasting break] Iftar. Customarily, you sit down and you eat, and then when you finish your meal, you pray. So Im not even sure if they had eaten, but they were praying in the house, Rose recalls. A number of other relatives were outside. We learned that he had been attacked. There was a pool of his blood outside of his front door  We could see the three Palestinians  Hamdan Ballal, Khaled Mohammad Shanran and Nasser Shreteh  they were zip-tied and blindfolded and they were being put into an army vehicle.

She says: We talked to some relatives and pieced together the story that settlers had approached the houses and started throwing stones to destroy private property, a water tank and a car, maybe a couple cars. Hamdan sent his family inside to keep them safe, and then he tried to tell the settlers to leave. And thats when they attacked him. Photos and video footage of the incidents, as Rose described them, have been seen by THR. Ballals lawyer has been approached for comment.

But this is a much of a muchness in the Masafer Yatta area, says Rose, and is only drawing outcry because of Ballals recent Oscar win. This story is getting so much buzz because now Hamdan has an Oscar, but in a very real way, in Masafer Yatta, there have been four attacks on a similar scale since the Oscars alone. Every time we document, we try and get out the word out and file our police complaints, but we understand that nothing comes of this.

Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal and Yuval Abraham, directors of No Other Land.

The IDF offered a different version of events in its own statement on Monday, saying the violence started after several terrorists hurled rocks at Israeli citizens, damaging their vehicles. Both sides began throwing rocks at one another, and as IDF and Israeli police arrived at the conflict, several terrorists began hurling rocks at the security forces. Both parties agreed that three Palestinians were detained.

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No Other Land, directed by four filmmakers  two Israeli, two Palestinian  took home the prize for best documentary at the 97th annual Academy Awards on March 2. The film documents the forced displacement of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta, as well as a budding friendship between a Palestinian activist and Israeli journalist, between 2019 and 2023. Despite its Oscar win, No Other Land has yet to find a distributor in the U.S.

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Donald Trump has backed his national security adviser Mike Waltz, dismissing his accidental leaking of top secret war plans to a journalist as a glitch.

The presidents national security adviser faced calls to resign after he erroneously added the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic magazine to a Signal group chat for cabinet members to discuss an imminent strike on Houthi targets in Yemen.

Mr Trump stood by Mr Waltz on Tuesday saying: Michael Waltz has learnt a lesson, and hes a good man.

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He described the leak as the only glitch in two months, and it turned out not to be a serious one.

Mr Trump told NBC News Jeffrey Goldbergs presence in the chat had no impact at all on the military operation.

Asked how Mr Goldberg had been added to the top secret chat, Mr Trump said: It was one of Michaels people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there.

Mr Trumps defence of his cabinet pick comes after Politico reported several officials within the administration believe that Mr Waltz should be dismissed for his recklessness.

One person close to the White House said: Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f------ idiot.

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One senior Trump administration official said: Half of them [are] saying hes never going to survive or shouldnt survive.

They added: It was reckless not to check who was on the thread. It was reckless to be having that conversation on Signal. You cant have recklessness as the national security adviser.

Four top Trump officials also told Axios that they expected Mr Waltz to remain in his post.

A Trump adviser was quoted as saying: We dont care what the media says. We can easily handle what would kill any other administration. This will blow over.

A senior White House official said: Trump certainly wasnt pleased with this. But all this talk you see about Waltz not lasting is just way premature.

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The official added: Theres a Washington feeding frenzy. And we all know that you dont give the mob what it wants.

The group chat on Signal, which is an encrypted messaging app, contained precise information about weapons packages, individual targets and the scheduled timings for the March 15 strike on Yemen, in which more than 50 people died.

Smoke plumes rise above buildings following a bombardment on Yemens Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa on March 19 2025 - AFP

Mr Goldberg wrote: I had very strong doubts that this text group was real, because I could not believe that the national security leadership of the United States would communicate on Signal about imminent war plans.

I also could not believe that the national security adviser to the president would be so reckless as to include the editor in chief of The Atlantic in such discussions with senior US officials, up to and including the vice-president.

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Asked about Mr Goldbergs access to the group chat, Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, told reporters: Nobody was texting war plans, and thats all I have to say about that.

He accused Mr Goldberg of being a deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again.

But he appeared to be contradicted by the White House on Monday night when Brian Hughes, the spokesman for the national security council, confirmed that the group chat was real in a statement to the media. He said that the thread showed a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials.

Several of the officials told Politico that Mr Trumps reaction was hard to predict; the presidents anger could turn against JD Vance, who disagreed with the strike, or against Mr Hegseth, who shared the most classified parts of the operation. The information, had it leaked more broadly, could have been used to harm US military personnel, Mr Goldberg and former state department officials said.

No war plans were discussed

On Tuesday morning, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, wrote on X that Jeffrey Goldberg is well-known for his sensationalist spin.

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Ms Leavitt insisted that no war plans were discussed and no classified material was sent to the thread.

She added: The White House counsels office has provided guidance on a number of different platforms for president Trumps top officials to communicate as safely and efficiently as possible.



As the national security council stated, the White House is looking into how Goldbergs number was inadvertently added to the thread.



Thanks to the strong and decisive leadership of president Trump, and everyone in the group, the Houthi strikes were successful and effective. Terrorists were killed and thats what matters most to president Trump.

Mike Waltz and Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary

Mr Waltz, a neoconservative Republican who has taken a hawkish stance on China, Iran and Ukraine, was already reported to be in a perilous position within the Trump cabinet.

The New York Times reported earlier this month that people close to Mr Trump viewed Mr Waltz as a potential early casualty, even as he takes part in negotiations over bringing an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine.

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Three sources told the paper that Mr Trump was suspicious of Mr Waltzs previous firm backing for Ukraine, criticism of Vladimir Putin and earlier backing of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

However, Mr Waltz helped his case by describing Volodymyr Zelensky as like an ex-girlfriend that wants to argue, falling more in line with the style of Mr Trump who has been critical of the Ukrainian president.

The use of a private messaging app to discuss official government business has revived memories of the Hillary Clinton email scandal.

Before he became defence secretary, Mr Hegseth routinely criticised the former secretary of state for her use of a private email server.

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Ms Clinton on Monday reposted a link to The Atlantic article and wrote: You have got to be kidding me.

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A row of library books. Supporters of the Fairhope Public Library raised almost $40,000 to offset the funding that the Alabama Public Library Service has voted to withhold. (Getty)

A nonprofit says it has raised enough money for Fairhope Public Library to cover state funds that the Alabama Public Library Service Board cut off last week.

Read Freely Alabama, a grassroots free speech advocacy organization that has fought restrictions on library content, said it had collected almost $39,000 from about 550 donors through Tuesday morning. Read Freely is organizing the campaign with EveryLibrary, an Illinois-based organization that promotes library funding and fights restrictions.

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We were trying to figure out what was the amount that they were pausing, said Cheryl Corvo, a member of Read Freely Alabama and Fairhope resident. Then, we found out it was $42,000 that they were pausing, and how it would affect our library.

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The Fairhope Public Library said it will have access to funding without interference from the state or any outside groups.

We had a meeting with EveryLibrary, which is the group that has control of this particular fundraiser, and they take 10% and 90% of it comes to us, said Randal Wright, a board member of the Fairhope Public Library.

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The amount was not enough to severely debilitate the librarys operations, Corvo said. But it is enough to affect some very vital resources that the library provided. Corvo said the campaign should also make APLS aware of the magnitude of local support for the library.

Wright said that if the state continues to withhold money, the funds will go toward computers, books for the collection and paying for guest speakers.

If APLS releases the funding, the money can be returned to donors if they choose. Otherwise, the library may keep the money raised for other uses.

If the money is extra money, if we continue to be funded, then the money will go towards the federal government grants that we were supposed to get that were put on hold and we dont think we are going to get them, Wright said.

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It appears the largest donation was from a couple who offered $1,000.

According to its campaign website, fundraising began Thursday evening, several hours after APLS voted almost unanimously to withhold state aid after parents complained to the board that there were inappropriate books in the teen section of the Fairhope Public Library. Fairhope library officials said last week they had removed some books from the section, following an APLS-approved process, but determined that the remaining ones  which the parents complained about  were appropriate for their age level.

The APLS board also voted on Thursday to terminate former director Nancy Pack after Chair John Wahl, who also serves as chair of the Alabama Republican Party, announced that Pack submitted her resignation effective in September.

My commitment the whole time has been to work with the leadership of Fairhope, and get their state funding restored as soon as possible, Wahl said. APLS priority has always been supporting our libraries but also making sure they put common sense policies in place to protect our children from potentially inappropriate materials.

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Wahl said he wants parents around the state to feel they can alert APLS to material they consider inappropriate in a library.

Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan told members of the public during a city council meeting Monday that she had spoken with Wahl about the APLS decision.

The funding was not cut, it is only paused, Sullivan said at the meeting. When they met, the Fairhope Public Library was not on their agenda, but the (Clean Up Alabama Fairhope chapter) president spoke under public participation, a resident of Fairhope spoke, and brought to light some issues they felt the library was facing in how they categorized books.

Sullivan said that the library had already received two quarterly payments from APLS, but the third disbursement was halted until the matter regarding the situation with the library materials could be resolved.

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Sullivan said that some of the conflicts dealt with the definition of minors, which applies to anyone younger than 18 years old, including teens, which is the section of the library that generated much of the controversy.

She added she and Wahl promised to keep open lines of communication, and that APLS and the Fairhope Public Library board will work together to resolve the issue.

The two parties plan to meet Wednesday to discuss the changes to the APLS administrative code.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The Las Cruces Police Department is warning residents to beware of fake GoFundMe accounts that appear to be using the Young Park shooting in Las Cruces to scam residents.

Police say they have discovered several fake GoFundMe accounts that are currently circulating online after last Fridays shooting at Young Park in Las Cruces.

Dona Ana County district attorney says juvenile suspects in Las Cruces shooting can be charged as adults

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Those who wish to donate are encouraged to properly vet or evaluate the source before donating, police said.

Anyone with information on illegitimate crowdfunding platforms should report those accounts through the platforms reporting process.

The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico has established a legitimate fundraising initiative to help victims and their families. Information on the Las Cruces Crisis Action Fund can be found by clicking here.

As we have previously reported, four suspects are facing charges after a shooting at Young Park in Las Cruces that killed three people and injured 15 others.

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4 suspects arrested in park shooting in Las Cruces

The victims who died in Fridays shooting have been identified as Andrew Madrid, 16; Jason Gomez, 17; and Dominick Estrada, 19. Madrid and Gomez died at the scene.

The family of Jason Gomez has set up a GoFundMe. You can access that by clicking here.

A GoFundMe has also been set up for Andrew Madrid. Click here for more.

A spokesperson for GoFundMe said the company takes fraudulent accounts seriously.

Our hearts go out to those affected by the tragic shooting in Las Cruces. At GoFundMe, being a safe and trusted place to give and receive help is our top priority. GoFundMes dedicated Trust & Safety team is continuing to monitor the platform for fundraisers related to this tragedy and reviewing all to help ensure funds get to the intended recipients safely and quickly. Any fundraisers found to be in violation of our Terms of Service will be removed and refunded.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  At the Legislative Office Building Tuesday, a number of activists honored the 7th anniversary of an inmate who died in a Newtown Correctional Facility.

Theyre calling for justice for the 31-year-old by demanding the state unseal a video showing the moments before his death.

LAST YEAR: Activist gather at department of corrections in Wethersfield to protest 2018 death of an inmate

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JAllen Jones, who was 31 at the time, died at the Garner Correctional Institution on March 25, 2018 after being restrained by staff. His former fiancee and mother have since filed a wrongful death lawsuit.

The sentence that the judge gave was years, not a life sentence. Not a death sentence, said Barbara Fair with Stop Solitary CT.

We should know what happens inside of our systems because we put people in those systems and theyre in our care, State Sen. Gary Winfield (D) said.

The defendants named in the lawsuit include the former commissioner of the Department of Corrections and 12 other DOC employees and officers.

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2018: Officials investigate untimely death at Newtown correctional institution

According to the lawsuits statement of facts, Jones was handcuffed, restrained, helpless and the defendants used pepper spray on him.

The document goes on to say the defendants then attacked and beat jones while he was handcuffed, eventually breaking his neck and Jones died because of the attack after excruciating physical pain and mental anguish.

Activists at the event called for a video showing what happened to be released to the public. The video is currently sealed by the state.

The familys been wanting this and the states been fighting it, and we just want justice for JAllen, Fair said.

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We want to know when the government has custody of a person and the person ends up dead, that should be a huge area of inquiry across the public and for our lawmakers, said Dan Barrett, the legal director of the Connecticut American Civil Liberties Union.

The Connecticut Department of Corrections and the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General told News 8 it cannot comment on matters involving pending litigation.

Those at the event said the trial proceedings for the wrongful death lawsuit have been pushed to September.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The mother of a man killed in what police describe as a road rage incident said she wants the shooter to spend life in prison.

To hammer home the point, the family of Elvin Sejdinovic has digital billboards running in Downtown Las Vegas and in the southwest part of the valley asking for justice.

I need justice, I need justice, I need justice. I need this person to be locked for life in prison. Thats all I need, Velida Husic said.

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Husics son Sejdinovic was killed on Oct. 5, 2024, near Decatur Boulevard and Patrick Lane. She said they posted the billboards to spread public awareness.

the family of Elvin Sejdinovic has digital billboards running in downtown Las Vegas and in the southwest part of the valley asking for justice after he was killed in an apparent road rage shooting (KLAS) the family of Elvin Sejdinovic has digital billboards running in downtown Las Vegas and in the southwest part of the valley asking for justice after he was killed in an apparent road rage shooting (KLAS)

My son was only 22 years old, and someone took his life for nothing. Absolutely nothing, Husic said.

According to his family, Sejdinovich was on his way to work when he was killed.

He didnt go to buy drugs. He didnt go to do some crime or anything illegal. He was going to work, you know? To provide for himself, for his family, his father Alen Sejdinovic said.

Keyun Watts, 25, faces 17 charges related to the Oct. 5 fatal shooting, according to court records. Las Vegas Metro Police officers arrested Watts in November after they obtained photos and video placing Watts at the scene.

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According to court documents, Watts admitted to the police that he shot Sejdinovic because he felt threatened.

Dashcam video 8 News Now obtained from a taxi cab shows Watts in a blue Chevrolet Camaro and Sejdinovich in a white Nissan Versa. Both cars in the video appeared to get close to each other, and at one point, Watts fired eight rounds into Sejdinovichs car striking the 22-year-old twice in the chest, police said.

Photos 8 News Now obtained show Sejdinovics car riddled with bullet holes.

That day October 5th, he didnt kill only our son. He killed a whole family. Everybody. We have nightmares, Alen Sejdinovich said.

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After being shot, Sejdinovich crashed into a pole near Decatur and Patrick, which has been turned into a memorial.

Watts attorney Todd Leventhal said the incident was self-defense and Sejdinovic was using his vehicle as a weapon.

Does he have any weapons? How is this self-defense? He doesnt have nothing in his car, Velida Husic said, responding to the attorneys claim.

According to Metro police, Watts went to California and removed the stickers and wrap from the Camaro after the shooting. He reportedly drove back from California with the vehicle Nov. 3 and police arrested him the next day.

Responding to his clients California visit, Leventhal said people get scared and that does not make what they did wrong. In addition, Leventhal said he has video and statements from witnesses that will show Sejdinovich was the aggressor.

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Watts is scheduled to appear in court on April 15.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
The Chinese and German automotive industries have seen closer cooperation in the electrification era. "Audi has a clear electrification strategy for the Chinese market, and I'm really excited for our next steps this year," said CEO of Audi FAW NEV Co., Ltd.




Relatives of a pedestrian killed by an e-bike rider on a Brooklyn street said there should be stronger laws to regulate the motorized vehicles  and tougher penalties for reckless riders.

There needs to be more strict laws regarding this, said Elvira Ramirez Cruz, whose nephew Luis Cruz, 49, was mowed down by an e-bike on Friday as he walked home from his parked car in Greenpoint.

You know, people are just getting hurt constantly by these reckless drivers, and they should be held accountable, the aunt, 72, said in Spanish. There should be justice when things like this happen.

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Cruz aunt said this wasnt the first time someone on two wheels wreaked havoc in their lives.

My daughter also got hit by a cyclist, she said. And, you know, she was hospitalized.

Angel Salas, 34, the victims cousin, echoed the aunts outrage. Although the 26-year-old bike rider remained at the scene and cooperated with police, Salas said he should have been charged with a crime.

This guy is released, not charged, not nothing, Salas said of the cyclist. How can that be?

Cops said Cruz was crossing the middle of the block on Franklin St. near India St. around 7:40 p.m. when the e-bike rider rammed into him.

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Cruz, who worked in a food truck and a deli, was thrown to the ground and suffered a severe head injury, cops said. Horrified witnesses watched as medics put his still body into an awaiting ambulance.

EMS rushed Cruz to Bellevue Hospital, where he died a short time later. He lived in Brooklyn about a mile from where he was hit, police said.

He had just finished his shift at work, the aunt said. He had just parked his car, and I guess he was waiting by the side of the car when he got hit or struck.

The victims aunt said she practically raised Cruz after he came to the U.S. from Mexico, leaving his mother behind. He initially lived with his aunt until he got out on his own, she said.

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I pretty much assumed responsibility for him, she said. So I almost feel like I lost a son with what happened. He came here to better his life and to also help his mom back at home in Mexico, because he would work here  and of course, you know, send money back home,

But she said Cruz desperately needed a break.

He had mentioned that he wanted to change his life for the better, because he was just tired and exhausted from working, she said. He was tired. He wanted to find something, a job, something more substantial, where he just wouldnt feel so tired and exhausted.

Cruz cousin Omar Velez, 45, said Cruz also wanted more for his kids. The aunt and cousin said Cruz had five children between the ages of 14 and 27.

He was just a hard-working guy who just tried to live his life and not bother anybody, Velez said. He was just very quiet, very humble, not many vices and things like that. Hes just focused on his kids.
The family of a Milwaukee woman who was deported to Laos by the Trump administration earlier this month is raising funds to bring her back home to her five children.

Ma Yang, a 37-year-old Hmong-American, has been living in a government facility near the Laotian capital of Vientiane since arriving in the Southeast Asian country in the first week of March.

Yang claims to have never been to Laos or known anyone from the small landlocked Southeast Asian country, nestled between Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam and a world away geographically, culturally and linguistically from the United States midwest.

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Her longtime partner, Michael Bub, has launched a GoFundMe to bring Yang in what he described to be a "beloved mother, daughter, sister and fiancee back home where she belongs".

Yang was born in a refugee camp in Thailand but gained legal status as a permanent US resident until she pleaded guilty to cannabis-related charges and served 30 months in a federal prison. Having taken a plea deal mistakenly believing that her green card would not be at risk, she is now one of the "millions and millions" of people Donald Trump pledged to kick out of America during his re-election campaign.

Activists supporting Yang's family in Milwaukee said Yang was "shaken" by the deportation and the prospect of starting her life from scratch in a new country but was "doing OK for the most part".

The National Assembly of Laos in Vientiane (Alisha Rahaman Sarkar/The Independent)

Mr Bub in a post on the fundraising website said Milwaukee is the only home Yang has ever known after arriving in the US at eight months old. "She built her life in Milwaukee, working hard as a nail technician and receptionist while raising five children, ages 6 to 22," he wrote, adding that she recently welcomed her first grandchild.

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He added that Yang's 12 siblings were all born in the US after her parents fled the Vietnam war. "...the fact that she was born in a refugee camp made her a victim of 'stupid' birth circumstances".

Mr Bub added that the financial burden has been "overwhelming" and the family was raising money to cover her legal fees to "fight for her return home, her health care and medical expenses".

Yang has been living in Laos for the past weeks without any direct legal representation, The Independent has learned. According to immigration lawyer Jath Shao, even if is successful in overturning her deportation through the US legal system, she would most likely not be allowed back until at least the 2040s.

Yang told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the Trump administration had "sent me back to die." "How do I rent, or buy, or anything, with no papers?" Yang said. "I'm a nobody right now."

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It is not immediately clear why Laos accepted Yang's deportation despite her not being from the country.

The Laos national assembly is in the process of debating changes to the constitution to formally recognise the Lao diaspora, thereby strengthening ties with those who have acquired foreign citizenship after leaving the country during historical migrations. Though still at the draft stage, it could offer Yang a route to documentation in Laos at least.
BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KTVI)  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.

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Riley Strains family speaks after his body is found in Tennessee river

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.

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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.

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.

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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, Strains parents were reportedly informed around noon that he was missing, at which point they contacted Nashville police, prompting an extensive citywide search.

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.

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The widow of a Yakima man who died while in federal immigration custody has filed a lawsuit against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, seeking records related to his detention and death, according to a complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court.

The complaint, filed by the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) and Vanessa Osorio, seeks to compel ICE to release documents regarding the October 2024 death of Jose Manuel Sanchez Castro.

Sanchez, who had been arrested at his home in Eastern Washington, died five days after being booked into the Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC) in Tacoma, which is operated by the GEO Group, a private contractor.

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Attorneys say Sanchez suffered severe withdrawal symptoms while in custody and died in the facilitys medical housing unit on Oct. 27. Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

Now, Osorio  Sanchezs wife  and immigrant rights advocates are demanding answers from ICE and GEO, alleging the agencies may have failed to follow federal policy regarding detainee medical care.

The Freedom of Information Act exists for just such a purpose  to ensure an informed citizenry, promote official transparency, and provide a check against government impunity, the complaint reads.

On Jan. 21, NWIRP, Osorio, and the University of Washingtons Center for Human Rights filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking all records related to Sanchezs detention, medical treatment, and death.

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That includes documents on his intake and booking, medical evaluations, housing assignments, video footage, and autopsy and death records. The group also submitted proof of death and a waiver of privacy protections to support the request.

Under FOIA guidelines, ICE had 20 business days to respond to the records request and invoked a 10-day extension. As of March 5, the deadline had passed without a response, the lawsuit says.

According to the complaint, ICE policy requires screening detainees for withdrawal symptoms upon arrival, providing appropriate behavioral health evaluations, and applying treatment protocols from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

In addition, ICE is required to maintain records in accordance with federal archival standards and has specific policies for medical housing units and detainee healthcare.

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NWIRP sent a preservation letter in December to both ICE and GEO, instructing them to retain all records related to Sanchezs care and death.

The plaintiffs argue that ICEs failure to release the records not only violates federal law but also obstructs efforts to ensure detainees receive proper medical care.

They say the documents are necessary to determine whether GEO and ICE staff followed protocol  and whether further legal action is warranted.

When reached for comment, ICE sent KIRO 7 a statement that reads, ICE does not provide comments on litigation proceedings or outcomes.

The Northwest ICE Processing Center, formerly known as the Northwest Detention Center, is one of the largest immigration detention facilities on the West Coast.

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It has faced repeated scrutiny and lawsuits over conditions and medical care in recent years.

Osorio and NWIRP are seeking a court order requiring ICE to immediately produce the requested records, as well as legal fees and other relief.
Farmers in Albania were arrested after selling pesticide-contaminated fruit that had been rejected for export by Croatian authorities.

According to Euronews, inspectors in Croatia rejected a 21,593-kilogram (almost 50,000 pounds) shipment of mandarins from Albania after tests for the banned pesticide phosmet showed levels exceeding the legal limit.

Phosmet is an organophosphate pesticide that is considered "a particular risk to children" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to a Consumer Reports study of fruits and vegetables in the U.S. Some of the impacts include increased cancer risk, neurodevelopmental harm in children, and reproductive toxicity, per Earthjustice.

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Instead of destroying the shipment, as required by food safety rules, the farmers falsified documents and reintroduced the contaminated fruit into the market. The three individuals were charged with abuse of duty, violation of hazardous substance regulations, production and sale of harmful food products, and food fraud.

According to Euronews, the case has "sparked public outrage and raised concerns about food safety regulations in Albania."

The anger from the citizens of Albania is understandable. A recent study from China found that endocrine-disrupting chemicals from pesticides lead to gene damage and multigenerational adverse health effects. Pesticides also contaminate the soil and waterways, impacting ecosystems and wildlife, particularly pollinators like bees, which are frequently under threat.

And even with regulations in place, there are large quantities of pesticides in play and loopholes that allow their use despite evidence of their harmful side effects. The Center for Food Safety attempted to push for clarity from the EPA on some of its language surrounding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (commonly known as PFAS) and many others in 2023, first with a petition and then a lawsuit.

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The best solution is to reduce the use of pesticides as much as possible through sustainable farming practices, along with increased research into pesticides' impacts.

On an individual level, it's key to wash produce when brought home to remove pesticide residue. Natural ingredients like white vinegar and filtered water can kill germs and harmlessly go down your kitchen sink.

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.
Jason Myers-Benner wants answers. Most of the time, the Virginia farmer feels unsettled by the lack of communication and clarity surrounding the U.S. Department of Agricultures funding freeze. During the quieter moments hes spent staring at an empty inbox, awaiting word about his pending grant, hes felt disgusted by how the government has treated him and many of his peers.

Its a sort of powerlessness, that it doesnt feel like theres anything that I can do about it, said Myers-Benner. Like, can you count on these systems or not?

Myers-Benner owns a family-run 6-acre farm in Keezletown, Virginia. Last spring, the USDAs National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded him a little more than $18,000 to support the farms work breeding winter peas that could increase soils ability to trap carbon. The grant is through the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, or SARE, which has supported farmer-led research initiatives nationwide for decades. The money represented an opportunity to expand work he and his family have been bootstrapping for years, growing crops that help feed lower-income, rural communities like his while preserving the planet.

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Then, in late January, the Trump administration began freezing funds for programs across a broad swath of the government. Shortly after, his SARE representative at the University of Georgia fell silent. Thats when he started to worry: Without the grant, which reimburses expenses already incurred, he would need to line up part-time work to pay the bills. Theres just a deflated feeling of OK. We were just about getting this rolling, he said. And then  one change at the top has the potential to just completely wipe that out. And so well have to pick up and hard-scrabble our way through it.

Myers-Benner finally got an answer on Monday, though one riddled in ambiguity. You may continue your research or you are welcome to put your research on hold given the uncertainty of the situation, and once we learn more we can communicate that to you, he was told by email, which he shared with Grist. If this situation delays your research and outreach per your grant timeline we can offer a no-cost extension if you still have monies left in your budget. Feel free to reach out with any questions. If you decide to hold your project let us know so we can note that in your files. Thats about the best information we can provide at this time while we wait to receive further guidance from USDA.

The USDA administers SARE through four regional offices hosted in universities. Daramonifah Cooper, a spokesperson for Southern SARE at the University of Georgia, which oversees Myers-Benners grant, told Grist it is holding all calls for proposals until it hears from its federal funding source. When asked, Cooper could not clarify the funding status for grants already awarded.

Read Next

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Slim margins, climate disasters, and Trumps funding freeze: Life or death for many US farms

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Ayurella Horn-Muller & Naveena Sadasivam

Since late January, the USDA has frozen, rescinded, or canceled funding supporting everything from donations to food banks to climate-smart agricultural practices. The move aligns with the administrations goal of rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion mandates and climate benchmarks. These steps prompted the termination of thousands of federal employees before courts intervened, pressuring the USDA to reinstate many of them, albeit temporarily, and federal judges have repeatedly ordered the administration to release gridlocked funds. Such abrupt and sweeping moves by the agency, and wider administration, have thrown the world of publicly funded agricultural research into a tailspin.

A USDA employee, whom Grist granted anonymity to protect them from retaliation, said basically all of the agencys programs that fund agricultural research, including SARE grants, have been put on standstill due to the freeze. This person called the environment within the agency a shitshow and said, Its all really unknown right now. Even internally.

We know that, yeah, things have been paused. Some political appointee at some level is reviewing our calls for proposals, this person added. We know that DOGE is in the system, reviewing, doing searches of our databases, but we dont know, like  are they going to massively cut things right now? Things are on hold. But is the shoe gonna drop, and is lots of stuff getting canceled?

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Trump doesnt really care about farmers or delivering services or efficiency or cost-savings. This is all politics. And were caught in the middle of it.

At least 19 university labs have ceased agricultural research work because the Department of Government Efficiency dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development in February, a move one federal judge said may be unconstitutional. These decisions by the administration have impacted research programs nationwide.

Kansas State University shut down two labs that were developing drought-resilient varieties of wheat and sorghum crops and pest-resistant plants. Johns Hopkins, the largest university recipient of federal research funding, cut roughly 2,200 jobs. USDA staffing cuts forced a federal project in Maryland investigating unprecedented managed honeybee losses to ask others to carry on its work. Seed and crop research being conducted across the nations network of gene banks have also been hobbled by layoffs and grant application suspensions, and grape breeding programs and work on crops affected by wildfire smoke in California have reported disruptions. The administration then announced an abrupt withdrawal of millions in federal funds for multiple universities, triggering a new round of layoffs, lab closures, and project suspensions across the country.

The federal government provides roughly 64 percent of the countrys public agricultural research and development funding. With federal funding, especially research dollars, being on the chopping board for the current administration, the consequences of that, coupled with layoffs  means that at a time when we need innovation the most to deal with climate change, to make our food systems more resilient, that capacity is going to be lost, said soil scientist Omanjana Goswami of the nonprofit Union of Concerned Scientists.

activists holding sign that says unfreeze the federal funds now

There will likely be economic fallout, too. A study published March 11 finds that the compounding effects of climate change and lagging investment in research and development has U.S. agriculture facing its first productivity slowdown in decades.

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The researchers modeled the eroding effects of climate change on American agriculture and the decades-long stagnation of spending for publicly funded research and development, using the estimates to quantify the research investment necessary to avoid agricultural productivity declining through 2050. To offset an imminent climate-induced productivity slowdown, federal agricultural research spending, which includes expenditures from every USDA agency except the U.S. Forest Service, and state agricultural experiment stations and schools, must replicate the unprecedented boom in public spending that followed both world wars. The government currently allocates approximately $5 billion annually to ag research and development, a figure that grew less than 1 percent annually from 1970 to 2000 before leveling off. Adding at least $2.2 billion per year to that tally would offset the climate-induced slowdown, the paper found.

If the current investment trend doesnt change, the costly impacts of warming, including higher inputs, reduced yields, and supply chain shocks, will result in lower productivity, leading to more government bailouts and increased U.S. reliance on other countries for food, said Cornell University climate and agricultural economist Ariel Ortiz-Bobea. Without action, agricultural productivity is estimated to drop up to 12 percent with each passing year by 2050. This will cost the U.S. economy billions annually. American farms contributed roughly $222.3 billion to the economy in 2023 alone.

This is like a double whammy. Theyre both human-caused, inflicted wounds. One because were failing to invest in R&D, the other because were emitting so much that it is actually slowing down productivity itself. So its like its being compressed from both sides, said Ortiz-Bobea, who led the new study.

Experts worry that the Trump administration is heading in the wrong direction with its layoffs, funding freezes, and efforts to roll back scientific initiatives. House Republicans, for example, have been pushing to cut some $230 billion in agriculture spending over 10 years. Millions of dollars in reductions to the USDAs research, inspection, and natural resources arms were included in the funding stopgap bill Trump signed March 15.

A man leans over a project on a farm

Most of the foundational agricultural research that happens in the United States is through some kind of USDA funding mechanism. The USDA is made up of multiple agencies and offices with their own research pipelines that support universities, nonprofits, businesses, farmers, ranchers, and foresters, among others. SARE grants are one of the ways the wider agency has funneled money into agricultural research conducted on farms nationwide, awarding nearly $406 million across 8,791 initiatives from its inception.

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Jon Kasza runs an organic vegetable farm in New Yorks Hudson Valley and relies on SARE funds to conduct his agricultural research. He doesnt understand why the agency is still freezing that funding, given all of the administrations promises to put farmers first. I cant say enough about how fragile it all looks to me, said Kasza. Hes thinking about the excessively volatile bouts of rain that battered his fields in summer of 2023, followed by a smattering of dry periods last year that dried his soil so much he couldnt plant his cover crops on time in the fall. Thats where research grants like SARE, which he said allow farmers to bypass the typically sluggish timelines of conventional scientific trials to develop things like drought-resistant crop varieties, are critical.

In November, he submitted his first SARE grant proposal of nearly $30,000 to grow multiple varieties of rice on hillsides in raised beds with biodegradable plastic mulch to conserve water and expand where the crop can be produced. Earlier this year, he was notified by a regional representative that the grant had been approved. Were moving forward as if some of the funding is going to be there, but we know that thats uncertain, said Kasza, who called the messaging surrounding the freeze a rollercoaster of confusion. A local land conservation group has promised to step in to save about 20 percent of the project if federal funding falls through. Still, that is not nearly enough to complete the work, he said.

Its already hard enough just to have an agricultural business, but then to have climate change as a factor on top of that, and then have this administration whos wreaking havoc? he said. Cutting research, particularly our farmer-driven research, off at the knees, just seems like such a silly and short-sighted thing to do.

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Victor Rodriguez Velazquez, Centro de Periodismo Investigativo

On the Hawaiian island of Kauai, another SARE grant recipient has also been stuck in limbo. Rancher Don Heacock spent decades working as an aquatic biologist for the Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources before retiring and launching his nearly 40-acre farm in the late 1980s. Ever since, hes raised a herd of water buffalo, grown crops like taro, and cultivated ponds of tilapia. He does it all with local food systems, soil health, and water conservation at the forefront, maximizing crop diversity, maintaining living roots in the ground year-round, and integrating livestock farming.

Up until now, Heacock had heard nothing about his pending SARE grant, a $59,000 funding proposal submitted last year to expand his farms agrotourism education, buffalo raising, and soil conservation work. Then, suddenly, late last week, he was told the proposal was denied. He believes that rejection is linked to the federal funding freeze.

After reaching out to SARE representatives for all four regions and the national arm of the program, Grist has learned that the USDA-NIFA has frozen funding for all pending grant applications this fiscal year, which began in October. When asked, a national spokesperson confirmed those funds were still under review while regional representatives told Grist that all new calls for proposals have been paused as a result. None of the representatives specified a timeline for when those funds were disbursed nor whether already-awarded grant funding will be released.

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For farmers like Heacock, the stakes of the administration grounding agricultural research initiatives like his is far bigger than the work happening on one lone project or farm. Trump has got it all wrong. Climate is a real issue and its hitting us right in the face, he said. If we dont become sustainable real quick, were dead in the water.

This story was originally published by Grist with the headline Farmers are reeling from Trumps attacks on agricultural research on Mar 25, 2025.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Kansas State Fire Marshals Office (KSFM) is investigating a fatal fire at the Home on the Range Lodging Motel in Smith Center.

According to the Smith County Sheriffs Office, first responders were alerted to the motel fire shortly after 5 a.m. Tuesday. The motel is located at 740 U.S. Highway 36 on the northeast side of town.

The sheriffs office said that a person died after being pulled from the fire. No foul play is suspected. The victims identity hasnt been released.

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Two special agents from KSFM and a Sedgwick County canine assisted in the fire investigation.

Home on the Range Lodging Motel fire in Smith Center (Courtesy: Kansas State Fire Marshal)

KHP: Trooper rescues kidnapped 6-year-old girl

Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the departed, as well as other residents of the Motel who were affected by this tragedy, said Smith County Sheriff Travis Conaway in a news release.

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.

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Mike Sousek, general manager of the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District, addresses the Cass County Board prior to its vote Tuesday, March 25, 2025, to rescind approval of a recreational trail route across the county. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)

PLATTSMOUTH, Nebraska  The prospects are again uncertain for a long-sought recreation trail across rural Cass County.

On Tuesday, the Cass County Board voted 4-1 to withdraw its November approval of a route for the trail, a 10-mile segment that would achieve a long-held dream to connect Lincoln and Omaha via a hike and bike trail.

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The vote was an abrupt about-face for the board, which had voted 3-2 in November to OK a memorandum of understanding with the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District to build the trail from the end of the Wabash Trail south of Elmwood to the Lied Bridge that spans the Platte River near South Bend.

Since November, two members of the County Board changed, and both voted against the route that had been OKd by the previous board  Route D, which roughly follows a little-traveled, north-south gravel road along 334th Street.

Lawsuit filed

Complicating matters involving the construction of a connector trail across Cass County is that a lawsuit was filed recently against the County Board there.

Mark Meyer, a Cass County resident whose family has land on the proposed route, accused the Board of violating the Open Meetings and Interlocal Agreement Acts when they approved a route for the trail in November.

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The lawsuit, filed March 4, by J.L. Spray and Raymond Daugherty of the Mattson Ricketts Law Firm in Lincoln, asked that the November approval of the route and the agreement to work with the NRD be nullified.

The request and a response from the county are pending.

Board member Daniel Stohlmann of Louisville, a new board member elected in November, said commissioners werent give enough information about the precise route the trail would take  including which side of the road it would impact  and that commissioners needed that before giving a final OK.

I think its really important to evaluate all options, Stohlmann said after the vote. This trail is a permanent thing. Its really important to get it right the first time.

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Tuesdays vote was reminiscent of two decades ago, when a similar trail proposal, following a different route, was shot down over landowner complaints that a trail would devalue their property, provide a hazard for farm equipment and put an eyesore in the ditch before their homes.

Biking groups tout trail

Representatives of bicycle and trail groups from Bellevue, Omaha and Lincoln disputed that during public comments at the meeting, saying that existing vehicle traffic poses more of a safety risk and that projections indicate a completed trail would generate $2.5 million in economic activity for the county.

Already, theres a weekly nacho ride from Lincoln to Eagle, and a regular pie ride to Elmwood that draws dozens of bikers.

When asked the status of the estimated $15.5 million trail project, Mike Sousek, general manager of the Lower Platte South NRD, responded Ill have to figure that out myself.

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We will have to sit down with the county and reevaluate Route D and go from there, Sousek said.

In rejecting the once-approved route  agreed to after months of public meetings and discussion  the Cass County Board set its April 22 meeting for the NRD to return with more precise plans for the route.

While a big win for local landowners who dispute the benefits of a recreational trail, it was a crushing defeat for bike enthusiasts, who see completion of the connector as a major step in the state and national development of a trail network.

The state, in 2022, allocated $8.3 million toward completion of the trail link.

High banks line one stretch of 322nd Street through Cass County, which is envisioned as a possible route for a bike-hike link joining trails from Omaha and Lincoln. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)

Sousek said Tuesday that $400,000 had been spent on a consultants study of possible routes, and to conduct several public meetings to gather input. A $1.9 million contract was recently signed with JEO Consulting to design and engineer the trail, a limestone path that would be built in existing right-of-way in ditches parallel to existing county roads.

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Novembers agreement made clear that no private property would be used for the trail, and thus, the use of eminent domain was off limits. Route D was chosen in large part because it crossed the fewest residential driveways, nine, than the three other routes considered.

Sousek said the gap in financing the trail  between the $8.3 million allocated and the final cost, which he said he hoped to get down to $10 million or $12 million  would be covered by private donations from trail enthusiasts or, if the NRD Board deemed appropriate, property tax revenue. Trail advocates have said private donations would not be difficult to obtain.

Cass County is not contributing financially to the project, and the NRD has agreed to cover all costs of operation and maintenance. But because county road ditches are being used, the county has a big say on the route.

Some landowners object

Over and over at Tuesdays meeting, Sousek said that the NRD would work with landowners who dont want the trail crossing their driveways. Already, he said, hed worked around the objections of one family by rerouting the trail to the other side of the road.

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I hear the complaints  I understand your concerns, he told landowners attending the meeting, which overflowed the board meeting room. Im going to do everything in my power to address them.

An old bridge from the abandoned Rock Island Railroad line is on the north end of one possible route of a connection of hike-bike trails in Cass County. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)

We dont come in and act like a bulldozer, Sousek added. We have a history that shows that partnerships work.

Cass County Attorney Chris Perrone told county board members that they had a say in the final design of the trail, and if the trail caused any damage to county roads  by washing out a road or gravel  the county could seek legal action for the NRD to pay for it.

Perrone also told the board that the county could be liable for the costs already spent on the trail if it eventually doesnt get built. He added that the county could also be sued for not proceeding with the trail project, noting that one lawsuit has already been filed to block the completion of the trail.

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Stohlmann, who introduced the motion to rescind approval of the trail route, told the Examiner he wasnt against the trail in any location, but wanted to talk to the NRD about other options.

Alex DeGarmo, chairman of the Cass County Board and the lone no vote to rescind the route decision, said after the meeting that a lot of the objections to the trail had been voiced, and heard, over the past few months.

Hopefully, well find an amiable resolution, DeGarmo said.

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LNAZE, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Nyima, a former serf who was born in 1952, lives in Quxar Town of Lnaze County, Xigaze City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

"My mother, originally from Namling County, was sold as a serf to Lnaze County while being pregnant with me. I've never met my father. Born into adversity, I faced numerous hardships during my childhood," Nyima recounted.

In March 1959, people in Xizang launched the democratic reform that ended the region's feudal serfdom. The democratic reform freed a million serfs, including the 7-year-old Nyima, which empowered him to become the master of his destiny.

Following the democratic reform, Nyima and his mother were given 23 mu (about 1.53 hectares) of land, along with farm tools and a house, which brought new hope into their lives.

Now, Nyima's five children all have their own families and careers. Though a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Dingri County in the City of Xigaze on Jan. 7, 2025 made Nyima's house become uninhabitable and he has to reside in a makeshift house temporarily, he is not worried about the future life. "Thanks to the authorities' support, we've had a comfortable and warm winter with sufficient food. The government is now planning to build new houses for us. Our lives are only going to get better and better," Nyima said.

This photo taken on March 16, 2025 shows a portrait of Nyima in Quxar Town of Lnaze County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

Nyima (R) dances and sings with villagers at a ceremony marking the start of spring farming in Quxar Town of Lnaze County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

Nyima (R) attends a ceremony marking the start of spring farming in Quxar Town of Lnaze County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

Nyima (C) poses for a photo with his son Pasang Tsering (L) and his granddaughter Tsering Wangmo in front of his house in Quxar Town of Lnaze County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

Nyima, as an elder in the village, sings songs of blessings for a prosperous harvest at a ceremony marking the start of spring farming in Quxar Town of Lnaze County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

Nyima (1st R) dances and sings with villagers at a ceremony marking the start of spring farming in Quxar Town of Lnaze County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

Nyima (L), as an elder in the village, receives a toast at a ceremony marking the start of spring farming in Quxar Town of Lnaze County, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)




The National Park Service is investigating after a woman was found injured in Yosemite National Park and then died a day later at a Fresno County hospital.

The unidentified woman was found inside a facility in the park on Thursday and was in need of medical attention, according to Fresno County sheriff's spokesperson Tony Botti. She was taken to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, but died the following day.

Park rangers deemed her injuries and death suspicious, according to Botti.

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"We at the Sheriffs Office are assisting in the investigation to see if it is indeed suspicious," Botti said.

But, he added: "Nothing lends itself to that at this point."

Initially, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office said the FBI was leading the investigation, but later clarified that it was being conducted by the National Park Service. The National Park Service said the investigation is underway.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The FBI has launched a task force to investigate a spate of recent attacks targeting Tesla cars and dealerships, as the agency's director calls such acts domestic terrorism.

"The FBI has been investigating the increase in violent activity toward Tesla, and over the last few days, we have taken additional steps to crack down and coordinate our response," FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X on Monday. "This is domestic terrorism. Those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice."

"Justice is coming," Dan Bongino, the bureau's deputy director, wrote on X.

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Elon Musk, who owns Tesla and X and is overseeing the Trump administrations Department of Government Efficiency cost-cutting initiative, replied to Bongino with fire emojis.

Ben Williamson, the FBI's assistant director for public affairs, said the new task force would work with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to "crackdown" on violent Tesla attacks.

The news of the task forces formation came just hours after multiple incendiary devices were found at a Tesla showroom in Austin, Texas.

A Tesla dealership after police were called for a suspicious device on March 24 in Austin, Texas.

Austin police responded to a Tesla dealership around 8 a.m. on Monday and found suspicious devices. The forces bomb squad determined the devices "to be incendiary" before they were removed. No injuries or damage were reported and the FBI is leading the investigation.

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Teslas headquarters is in Austin.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday blamed the Tesla attacks on "radical liberals." "I stand ready to assist in any way to bring these perpetrators to justice," he wrote on X.

Several protests across the country in recent weeks have opposed Musks politics and actions with DOGE, which has faced scrutiny since January for reducing government costs and firing thousands of federal workers.

In addition to peaceful protests, there have been at least 80 reported cases of vandalism or arson of Tesla vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. At least 10 Tesla dealerships, charging stations and facilities have been hit by vandals, many of whom have lit cars on fire.

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Over the weekend, a man in Florida was arrested and charged with assault after he allegedly drove his car toward a crowd of people protesting outside a Tesla dealership and narrowly avoided them. No one was injured.

The suspect, Andrew Dutil, appeared to be a Trump supporter based on his social media posts.

A group called Tesla Takedown has been leading peaceful protests at the car dealerships. The group describes itself as opposing violence, vandalism and destruction of property.

"It is to do something to call attention to Musk to try to get him to leave his post in government," Joan Donovan, one of the original protest organizers, told NBC's Liz Kruetz on the group's cause.

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Tesla stock is down more than 40% from a high in December, according to CNBC.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has made a show of supporting Musk. Earlier this month, they appeared together at an event on the White House lawn, showing off Tesla vehicles to reporters. Trump said he purchased a Tesla Cybertruck for his granddaughter, Kai Trump.





This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The FBI is offering a large reward for any information that leads investigators to the location of a Boston man who went missing almost two decades ago.

In a press conference Tuesday, investigators said they are offering $10,000 for info that leads to Miguel Oliveras. The Boston native disappeared in 2006 while visiting a former girlfriend in Portland, Maine.

The familys been dealing with this for 18 years and theyve been relentless in their search for him, so I think its extremely important the significance of any information, how important it would be to help the family and obviously the investigation, said Chief Mark DuBois of the Portland Police Department.

Miguel had no ties to Maine and no other reason to be there. Miguel Oliveras mother told Boston 25 News in 2024 that she believes her son was set up for murder.

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As a mother, I feel it. Someone hurt him. Hes out there somewhere in Maine, she said.

New Englands Unsolved: The disappearance of Miguel Oliveras

18 years ago, Miguel Oliveras lived in Boston, but he was last seen in Portland, Maine where he was visiting his on-again, off-again girlfriend, who was dancing at a strip club called Platinum Plus. On the night of September 3, 2006, Miguel was asked to leave the club. The moment was recorded on the clubs surveillance camera, which is the last known image of him.

Once hes escorted out on closed-circuit TV. You see him kind of walk into the parking lot and then never seen again. Ever, Portland, Detective Lieutenant Nick Goodman told Boston 25s Bob Ward.

Gonzales believes Miguels former girlfriend lured him to Maine. Myrna says the girlfriend didnt just invite the reluctant Miguel to Portland, she paid for his Greyhound Bus ticket from Boston. After Miguel disappeared, Myrnas sister-in-law told Myrna she talked to the girlfriend.

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We have had movement in that direction of positive gains for us and thats what were hitting on now, so we reached out to the FBI to give us that little push that I think we need to hopefully take this to the finish line, said Lt. Goodman.

Investigators have had no luck talking to the former girlfriend or anyone who came in contact with Miguel in Maine.

Is it logical that hes deceased? Probably, but again its easy for us to say that because its not our child, said Lt. Goodman.

The FBI says a reward this big can really help solve a mystery like this, where the disappearance is suspicious.

It can provide an incentive if there are nefarious circumstances that occurred, theres less fear this far out and someone may be incentivized, this might provide the incentive to come forward, said Christopher Peavey, special agent in charge at FBI Maine.

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Police say the public can help by sharing that missing person poster on social media.

Huge Update! FBI now searching for Miguel Oliveras, Boston man missing in Portland, Maine. $10K Reward! Ive been covering this case since 2007 for NE Unsolved. He was last seen visiting Portland where former g/f was dancing at gentlemans club. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/FWa1mUGcGF  Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) March 25, 2025

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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A federal agency that funds libraries and museums is fighting to survive President Donald Trumps sweeping cuts to the U.S. government  reductions that also could jeopardize dozens of Maryland cultural programs, from an initiative in Baltimore that provides blind college students with Braille textbooks to a program in Towson aimed at combating disinformation about the Holocaust.

On Monday, the 22-member board of the Institute of Museum and Library Services sent a letter to acting Director Keith Sonderling that pushes back on attempts to slash the agency, and reiterates what it describes as a legal requirement to fund programs and support diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that Trumps administration has vowed to eliminate.

But a prominent taxpayers advocate said that not all programs funded by the institute are potentially good uses of taxpayer money.

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I know there are going to be people that support it because it sounds good, said David Williams, president of the Washington-based Taxpayers Protection Alliance. But that doesnt mean you shouldnt look at these programs critically and find out where the waste, fraud and abuse is.

Founded in 1996, the institute provides supplemental support for the nations museums and libraries  including in Maryland. A total of $6,126,844 in grants has been pledged to dozens of Free State libraries and museums for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30.

All such statutory obligations may not be discontinued or delayed under an Executive Order or other executive action, the boards letter states, noting that the institute is obligated to disburse funds to grantees, subject only to the availability of appropriations, not to executive discretion.

Trump signed an executive order March 14 instructing seven independent federal agencies to eliminate any functions other than those they are legally required to provide. Its part of his administrations effort to shrink the federal government and to stop what hes described as wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars. He campaigned on eliminating hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending.

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The agencies were ordered to submit a list of mandatory functions within a week.

Mondays letter includes in those mandatory functions all current-year and multi-year grants funded by Congress, as well as an obligation to continue providing support for the National Museum of African American History, the National Museum of the American Latino, and Native American library services.

Any failure to fulfill these legal obligations or to reduce staffing or program operations below the minimum required to meet statutory mandates would place the agency in noncompliance with Congressional intent, the letter states.

But even if it succeeds in retaining its existing functions and disbursing this years funds, the institutes long-term future could be imperiled. In September, institute officials will come before the Republican-controlled Congress seeking reauthorization of an agency that the Trump administration has sworn to shut down.

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It would be terrifying for libraries and museums nationwide and in Maryland to lose the level of network and support and resources and standards of excellence that IMLS represents, said Chanel Compton Johnson, executive director of Annapolis Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum. The impacts would be felt generationally.

Williams said some of the institutes choices have been questionable, however. He pointed to its authorization of $60,500 in 2009 to pay for new exhibits and video equipment for an Ohio museum dedicated to exploring the history of parachutes.

In the past, the IMLS has been a repository for earmarks and pork barrel projects, Williams said. If this institute is truly needed it has to be basically built up from scratch, with guard rails, and oversight for the spending.

In the past five years, Maryland organizations have received $31,706,395 in institute grants.

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The potential loss of millions of dollars in annual funding comes at an especially difficult time for Maryland, which is grappling with closing a projected $3 billion budget deficit. In addition, state officials have predicted that Maryland could lose as many as 28,000 federal jobs  and the tax revenue those jobs provide.

Although some of the $6.1 million pledged has already made it into the groups bank accounts, much of that money hasnt been received.

For example, the Port Discovery Childrens Museum has received half of the two-year, $200,470 grant it was awarded from the institute to work with parents, day care providers and other caregivers to show them how to use playtime to help kids learn.

The IMLS is famous across the country for providing money and resources for programs that help families thrive, said Carter Arnot Polakoff, Port Discoverys president and CEO. Two years ago, they gave us money to buy tables and equipment that allowed us to welcome children with special needs inside Port Discovery.

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A bit more than two-thirds of Marylands funds went to its libraries, through a combination of four leadership grants and a $3.3 grant to the Maryland State Library Agency, which uses the money to pay for specific programs at the states 193 libraries. The remaining $1.95 million in institute funds has been promised to 10 museums statewide.

Outside of the museum community, the IMLS may not be widely known, said Jeannie Howe, executive director of the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance, which represents 300 groups and artists in the Baltimore area. But the libraries and museums they fund serve people in local communities who depend upon both the access and factual integrity of each institution. They are centers of information, dialogue and resources that we just cant do without.

Here are some of the other Maryland programs that have been pledged institute funds this year:

The Walters Art Museum has been promised $249,961 to open its first permanent exhibit of Latin American art this spring. Museum officials said that galleries will open May 17 as scheduled, regardless of what happens to the institute grants.

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Towson University is among five colleges nationwide that have been granted a combined $249,831 to develop a community-based education program aimed at combatting disinformation about the Holocaust. The money will develop a catalog of books that were seized by the Nazis from synagogues and private individuals during World War II, and that were intended to be used to help develop antisemitic propaganda. The catalog will be used to create a community-based Holocaust information program.

The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum has been pledged $100,000 to repatriate the remains of 13 Black Marylanders. Many of these people were buried in unmarked graves dating back to the 1700s. The graves were later accidentally exhumed during construction projects.

Johnson said the project aims to identify the deceased men, women and children, trace any descendants, commission facial reconstructions of the dead, and coordinate reburial ceremonies.

Pioneers such as Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass lived lives that have been well-documented, Johnson said. But the beauty of museums is that we can amplify the stories of people who are less well-known. We can help keep their memories alive.

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The Enoch Pratt Free Library has been promised $30,000 to develop textbooks for 52 college students with limited vision or no vision. Any college student in Maryland who has a documented difficulty reading printed materials can apply for this program, which gets all of their class materials into machine-readable or Braille format, said Tamar Sarnoff, director of public libraries for the Maryland State Library.

The Worcester County Library was pledged $5,000 to operate a program supporting brain health in a county with an unusually large aging population. The program included the screening of a documentary, sessions in estate planning and an oral history project at five branches.

If you need to figure out how to stretch a dollar, Sarnoff said, just ask a librarian.

Polakoff said she isnt surprised that museum and library professionals interviewed for this article all expressed a determination to find a way to go forward with these programs even if they never receive a dollar of their promised federal grants.

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This isnt the first time that museums and libraries have had to fight for survival, she said.

We are nothing if not nimble. We are all so mission-based, and we all believe so whole-heartedly in what we are doing that we will not let any setback deter us. Its all about keeping our eyes on the prize.

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The Sikuliaq, a National Science Foundation research vessel operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks, is docked in its homeport of Seward on July 4, 2024. The National Science Foundation and UAF have a new four-year cooperative agreement made effective in December. The agreement calls for the National Science Foundation to provide $54 million for Sikuliaq operations over four years. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

The National Science Foundation has provided funding for the first year of activities in a four-year agreement concerning a research vessel operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

The funding will pay for this years operations of the Sikuliaq, the ice-capable research vessel operated by UAFs College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences and homeported in Seward, the university said on Monday.

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The National Science Foundation owns the vessel. The four-year cooperative agreement, signed in December, includes nearly $54 million in funding for Sikuliaq operations through 2028. This years share of that is about $11.4 million, according to the agreement.

Whether the remaining money will be released for the following three years of operations is yet to be determined.

NSF signed a four-year cooperative agreement with UAF to continue operating Sikuliaq, but only funds for the first year have been appropriated. The intent is to continue the partnership for four years, but NSF cant guarantee or obligate funding that hasnt been appropriated yet, Jeff Richardson, a spokesperson for the UAFs College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, said by email.

A federal law, the Antideficiency Act, bars obligation of funding not yet appropriated by Congress, Richardson added.

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The Sikuliaq, commissioned in 2014, is used for annual research cruises in the Gulf of Alaska and in the Arctic. This year, three Arctic cruises are planned, Richardson said. One will study Bering Strait ocean conditions that are causing erosion, flooding, permafrost thaw and other risks, with the goal of better understanding storms that affect Alaska coastal communities, he said. Other cruises will continue past years monitoring work in the Chukchi and Northern Bering seas, and the final cruise will be used to help study how landfast ice  a term of ice attached to the coastline or shallow sea floor  forms on the Arctic Alaska coastline, he said.

The Sikuliaq is the only ice-capable research vessel in the U.S. academic research fleet, according to the university. Its name comes from the Inupiaq word for young sea ice, and the Sikuliaq was designed to travel in and through the edge of the Arctic ice pack.

The ships operations support 39 permanent full-time employees and 25 to 30 temporary crew members, according to the university.

News about the National Science Foundations support for the Sikuliaq comes as the Trump administration has been slashing jobs and funding from numerous federal science programs. There have been deep cuts at the National Weather Service and other National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration divisions, resulting in interruptions to research functions like fish stock assessments and weather data collecting used for global forecasting.

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Among the operations identified as vulnerable earlier this month by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, are the research cruises conducted on two NOAA ships, the Oscar Dyson and the Fairweather. The Oscar Dyson, homeported in Kodiak, is used by NOAA to gather information needed for commercial fisheries management in waters off Alaska. The Fairweather, homeported in Ketchikan, is used for surveys mapping coastal waters, gathering ecosystem information and conducting other ocean research.

At least half of the crew members of both ships are probationary employees, with less than a years experience in their current positions. The Trump administrations Department of Government Efficiency project, or DOGE, has fired probationary employees en masse.

A spokesperson for NOAA was not available Monday to comment on the Oscar Dyson and the Fairweather.

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The findings were stark. In one investigation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development concluded that a Texas state agency had steered $1 billion in disaster mitigation money away from Houston and nearby communities of color after Hurricane Harvey inundated the region in 2017. In another investigation, HUD found that a homeowners association outside of Dallas had created rules to kick poor Black people out of their neighborhood.

The episodes amounted to egregious violations of civil rights laws, officials at the housing agency believed  enough to warrant litigation against the alleged culprits. That, at least, was the view during the presidency of Joe Biden. After the Trump administration took over, HUD quietly took steps that will likely kill both cases, according to three officials familiar with the matter.

Those steps were extremely unusual. Current and former HUD officials said they could not recall the housing agency ever pulling back cases of this magnitude in which the agency had found evidence of discrimination. That leaves the yearslong, high-profile investigations in a state of limbo, with no likely path for the government to advance them, current and former officials said. As a result, the alleged perpetrators of the discrimination could face no government penalties, and the alleged victims could receive no compensation.

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I just think thats a doggone shame, said Doris Brown, a Houston resident and a co-founder of a community group that, together with a housing nonprofit, filed the Harvey complaint. Brown saw 3 feet of water flood her home in a predominantly Black neighborhood that still shows damage from the storm. We mightve been able to get some more money to help the people that are still suffering, she said.

On Jan. 15, HUD referred the Houston case to the Department of Justice, a necessary step to a federal lawsuit after the housing agency finds evidence of discrimination. Less than a month later, on Feb. 13, the agency rescinded its referral without public explanation. HUD did the same with the Dallas case not long after.

The development has alarmed some about a rollback of civil rights enforcement at the agency under President Donald Trump and HUD Secretary Scott Turner, who is from Texas. The new administration is systematically dismantling the fair housing enforcement and education system, said Sara Pratt, a former HUD official and an attorney for complainants in both Texas cases. The message is: The federal government no longer takes housing discrimination seriously.

HUD spokesperson Kasey Lovett disagreed, saying there was precedent for the rescinded referrals, which were done to gather more facts and scrutinize the investigations. Were taking a fresh look at Biden Administration policies, regulations, and cases. These cases are no exception, Lovett said in a statement. HUD will uphold the Fair Housing Act and the Civil Rights Act as the department is strongly and wholeheartedly opposed to housing discrimination.

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The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment.

The Harvey case concerns a portion of a $4.3 billion grant that HUD gave to Texas after the hurricane inundated low-lying coastal areas, killing at least 89 people and causing more than $100 billion in damage. The money was meant to fund better drainage, flood control systems and other storm mitigation measures.

HUD sent the money to a state agency called the Texas General Land Office, which awarded the first $1 billion in funding to communities affected by Harvey through a grant competition. But the state agency excluded Houston and many of the most exposed coastal areas from eligibility for half of that money, according to HUDs investigation. And, for the other half, it created award criteria that benefited rural areas at the expense of more populous applicants like Houston.

The result: Of that initial $1 billion, Houston  where nearly half of all homes were damaged by the hurricane  received nothing. Neither did Harris County, where Houston is located, or other coastal areas with large minority populations. Instead, the Texas agency, according to HUD, awarded a disproportionate amount of the aid to more rural, white areas that had suffered less damage in the hurricane. After an outcry, GLO asked HUD a few days later to send $750 million to Harris County, but HUD found that allocation still fell far short of the countys mitigation needs. And none of that money went directly to Houston.

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HUD launched an investigation into the competition in 2021, ultimately finding that GLO had discriminated on the basis of race and national origin, thereby violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and possibly the Fair Housing Act as well.

GLO knowingly developed and operated a competition for the purpose of allocating funds to mitigate storm and flood risk that steered money away from urban Black and Hispanic communities that had the highest storm and flood risk into Whiter, more rural areas with less risk, the agency wrote. Despite awareness that its course of action would result in disparate harm for Black and Hispanic individuals, GLO still knowingly and disparately denied these communities critical mitigation funding.

GLO has consistently disputed the allegations. It contends that many people of color benefited from its allocations. The Texas agency has also argued that the evidence in the case was weak, citing the fact that, in 2023, the Justice Department returned the case to HUD. At the time, the DOJ said it wanted HUD to investigate further. The housing agency then spent more than a year digging deeper into the facts and assembling more evidence before making its short-lived referral in January.

Asked about the rescinded referral, GLO spokesperson Brittany Eck told ProPublica: Liberal political appointees and advocates spent years spinning false narratives without the facts to build a case. Four years of sensationalized, clickbait rhetoric without evidence is long enough.

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The other HUD case involved Providence Village, a largely white community north of Dallas of around 9,000 people. Purported concerns about crime and property values led the Providence Homeowners Association to adopt a rule in 2022 prohibiting property owners from renting to holders of Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, through which HUD subsidizes the housing costs of poor, elderly and disabled people. There were at least 157 households in Providence Village supported by vouchers, nearly all of them Black families. After the HOA action, some of them began leaving.

The rule attracted national attention, leading the Texas Legislature to prohibit HOAs from banning Section 8 tenants. Undeterred, the Providence HOA adopted amended rules in 2024 that placed restrictions on rental properties, which HUD found would have a similar effect as the previous ban.

Throughout the HOAs efforts, people peppered community social media groups with racist vitriol about voucher holders, describing them as wild animals, ghetto poverty crime ridden mentality people and lazy entitled leeching TR@SH. One person wrote that they might just leave in a coroners wagon.

The discord attracted a white nationalist group, which twice protested just outside Providence Village. The federal government views safe White communities as a problem, flyers distributed by the group read. The Section 8 Housing Voucher is a tool used to bring diversity to these neighborhoods.

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In January, HUD formally accused the HOA, its board president, a property management company and one of its property managers of violating the Fair Housing Act. The respondents have disputed the allegation. The HOA has argued its rules were meant to protect property values, support well-maintained homes and address crime concerns. The property management company, FirstService Residential Texas, said it was not responsible for the actions of the HOA.

The HOA and FirstService did not respond to requests for comment. The property manager declined to comment. Mitch Little, a lawyer for the HOA board president, said: HUD didnt pursue this case because theres nothing to pursue. The claims are baseless and unsubstantiated.

The Providence Village and Houston cases stretched on for years. All it took was two terse emails to undo them. HUDs Office of General Counsel withdrew the referral of the above-captioned case to the Department of Justice, HUD wrote to Pratt this month regarding one of the cases. We have no further information at this time. That was the entirety of the message; neither email explained the reasoning behind the decisions.

The cases may have fallen victim to a broader roll-back of civil rights enforcement at the Justice Department, where memos circulated in January ordering a freeze of civil rights cases and investigations.

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The development is the latest sign that the Trump administration may dramatically curtail HUDs housing discrimination work. The agency canceled 78 grants to local fair housing groups last month, sparking a lawsuit by some of them. HUD justified the cancellations by saying each grant no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities. (Pratts firm, Relman Colfax, is representing the plaintiffs in that suit.) And projections circulating within HUD last month indicated the agencys Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity could see its staff cut by 76% under the new administration.

If HUD does not pursue the cases, the complainants could file their own lawsuits. But they may not soon forget the governments about-face on the issue. If there is a major flood in Houston, which there almost certainly will be, and people die, and homes get destroyed, the people who made this decision are in large part responsible, said Ben Hirsch, a member of one of the groups that brought the Harvey complaint. People will die because of this.

Disclosure: Texas General Land Office has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

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A federal judge said after a hearing Monday that he will determine whether he has the authority to decide a case in which hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans are at risk of losing deportation protections in less than two weeks.

The Trump administration has revoked an extension of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans that was granted by former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Jan. 17, days before President Trump took office. The Trump administration has rolled back the extension, which would have lasted until October 2026. If the revocation remains in place, it would mean many of the 350,000 Venezuelans who benefit from the status would, as of April 2, lose their ability to work and would be deportable.

The lawsuit was filed in San Francisco by seven Venezuelan nationals who argue that the Trump administrations decision is not only unlawful but politically motivated and racially biased. Along with the National TPS Alliance, the Venezuelans are calling for the reinstatement of the 18-month TPS extension the Venezuelans at risk of losing their protections in April as well as an additional 257,000 who would lose theirs in September.

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U.S. District Judge Edward M. Chen, who is overseeing the case, is the same judge who, in October 2018, issued a preliminary injunction blocking the first Trump administrations attempt to end the TPS program for immigrants from El Salvador, Nicaragua, Haiti and Sudan. Nearly two years after his initial ruling, a federal appeals court overturned the injunction, though it remained in effect until February 2024, when the judge granted the Biden administrations motion to dismiss the case.

U.S. government attorneys argued Monday that Chen lacks jurisdiction to block the administrations revocation of TPS. The lawyers argued that Congress has granted the secretary of Homeland Security the authority to review TPS decisions. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made the decision to revoke the TPS extension.

Venezuela was first designated for TPS in March 2021, allowing over 350,000 individuals to apply for protections. The designation was expanded in 2023 to include an additional 257,000 Venezuelans. This move was widely celebrated in South Florida, home to one of the largest Venezuelan communities in the U.S..

All For Venezuela representative, Mayra Marchan wipes away tears during a press conference held by Venezuelan American Caucus and hosted at El Arepazo on Monday, February 3, 2025, in Doral, Fla.

During Mondays hearing, the government did not contest the evidence presented by the Venezuelans who sued regarding the negative economic and workforce impact if Venezuelan TPS holders are forced to leave the country.

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It seems to me that the record shows a likelihood of injury in the absence of relief, at least based on the current record, the judge said. While new evidence may emerge at trial, for now this element appears to be undisputed.

The judge asked Justice Department attorney Sarah L. Vuong what hardships the government would suffer if the decision to end TPS were postponed.

The harms to the government are that the secretary has looked at the issue, has made a determination related to the national interest, and the secretary has an interest in having her orders carried out, Vuong said, adding that Noem determined it is safe for the TPS holders to return to Venezuela.

Ahilan Arulanantham, an attorney with the UCLA Center for Immigration Law and Policy, argued that the administration has not taken the time to properly evaluate conditions in Venezuela to determine whether it is safe for its nationals to return, and added that during such a review some of the Venezuelans with TPS might have the time to obtain some other immigration status to remain in the U.S.

Venezuelans contribution

The lawsuit, filed by the Center for Immigration Law and Policy at UCLA School of Law, the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, argues that Venezuelan TPS recipients contribute approximately $3.5 billion annually to the U.S. economy and pay over $400 million in Social Security taxes.

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The attorneys also said that 76% of Venezuelan immigrants are employed, many in critical sectors such as transportation, construction, and natural resources, and that 48% of Venezuelan immigrants have attained at least a bachelors degree, positioning them as key contributors across various industries.

We are asking the court to stop the federal government from stripping TPS protections from 600,000 Venezuelans because the governments actions clearly violate the TPS statute and are motivated by racism, violating the Fifth Amendment, Arulanantham said in a statement. This administration cannot simply ignore the law when it doesnt like it.

Erik Crew, an attorney with the Haitian Bridge Alliance who is part of the legal team representing the group that filed the lawsuit, said they deserve to know that the humanitarian protection granted to them will not be stripped away in a matter of days.

Several lawsuits are currently pending in federal courts challenging the rollback of TPS for Venezuelans and Haitians. Other lawsuits are challenging the revocation of a Biden-ear humanitarian parole program for over half a million Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan migrants.

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An ongoing lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., is challenging last weeks deportation of Venezuelan men to a mega-prison in El Salvador. The administration has claimed a wartime authority to deport the men, claiming they are members of the feared Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, but the lawsuit says the men were never given an opportunity in court to show they were not gang members.

We are choosing to fight

One of the plaintiffs in the San Francisco case, Cecilia Gonzalez Herrera, 26, who fled the Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela and arrived in the U.S. eight years ago with her family, said in a press conference that she and other Venezuelans will not stand by as the protections are dismantled.

Cecilia Gonzalez Herrera, 26, is one of the seven Venezuelan plaintiffs suing the Trump administration after the revocation of TPS protection for Venezuela, impacting over 607,000 Venezuelans. She is the only plaintiff from Florida.

Gonzalez Herrera, who lives in Kissimmee, is a TPS holder, along with her family, and has sought political asylum. Currently studying Political Science and Latin American Studies at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Gonzalez Herrera said she feels a responsibility as a human-rights activist to fight for herself and her community.

This fight is about justice  about preserving a program that has saved lives and created opportunities for so many, she said. As Venezuelan TPS recipients, we refuse to be silent. We have already fled once, and now we are choosing to fight  not just for our families, but for the hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan TPS recipients who deserve to live without fear.
Federal workers who have been summoned back into their offices five days per week are being met with less-than-desirable conditions, from cramped workspaces to dirty bathrooms, as the Trump administration seeks to cut costs by reducing space and staff, according to reports.

Following orders from President Donald Trump, government employees are returning to their offices full-time  all while the administration seeks to axe some of its real estate portfolio to reduce government spending.

Multiple federal employees across various agencies and departments have told news outlets they are working elbow-to-elbow as staff consolidates into workspaces.

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Understaffed cleaning crews are reportedly struggling to keep up with the demand for tidy spaces, resulting in dirty bathrooms with no paper towels. Some staff have been asked to bring their own toilet paper or help out by taking their trash home, a federal employee told USA Today.

Federal workers who have kept their jobs are being forced to consolidate office space as they return to work leading to cramped quarters with dirty conditions (AFP via Getty Images)

At the NASA headquarters, employees returned to the office last month to cockroaches scuttling across the floor and bugs emerging from water faucets, Matt Biggs, the president of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers  the union that represents NASA workers told Reuters.

One Department of Agriculture employee working at its headquarters in D.C. told Reuters that staff are fighting for desk space and bathrooms have no paper towels.

At an IRS office in Tennessee, tax assessors are unable to discuss private tax matters with clients over the phone because theyre afraid of breaching privacy laws, an IRS manager told Reuters.

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Trumps mandate for federal workers to return to their office five days per week is part of his push to get rid of remote working policies, which he and other members of his administration have characterized as allowing people to slack off while getting paid by taxpayers.

Federal employees rally in support of their jobs outside of the Kluczynski Federal Building in Chicago (Getty Images)

More than half of government employees worked fully on-site, with approximately 80 percent of working hours spent in-person, a report from the Office of Management and Budget found. Only 10 percent of federal workers were fully remote.

Elon Musk, the brain behind the Department of Government Efficiency, had said forcing all federal employees back into the office full-time would lead to voluntary reductions in force.

The change-up has created more stressful work weeks for some who have adapted to working from home full-time. One Homeland Security employee told USA Today he spends two and half hours per day in his car commuting to and from work  cutting into time he could spend with his newborn child.

Its a huge morale killer, he told USA Today.
CHICAGO  The administration of President Donald Trump forged ahead this month with plans to shrink the federal governments national real estate footprint, canceling hundreds of office leases across the country and proposing to sell off many properties.

In the Chicago area, as of this week nearly 200,000 square feet of leased federal office space had been canceled, including space that houses the Midwest regional headquarters for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on West Jackson Boulevard.

A federal lease on a building in northwestern suburban Hoffman Estates that stores documents and artifacts from the administration of former President Barack Obama  essentially serving as Obamas Presidential Library  was also canceled.

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And many federally owned buildings in Chicago  including the John C. Kluczynski Federal Building and the 28-story Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building  on March 4 appeared on a GSA list of noncore properties for sale. The list was pulled the next day and has been undergoing revisions.

Federal workers in the Chicago region say they are on edge, worried that government offices will close permanently, harming their ability to provide needed services.

We are extremely concerned our region will be shut down and moved to Kansas, said Nicole Cantello, president of American Federation of Government Employees, Local 704, which represents Chicago-based employees of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Shutting down the EPAs Chicago office could mean losing those who monitor local toxic Superfund sites and inspect Indianas lakefront steel mills, or take samples from Chicago beaches all summer, helping ensure safety for swimmers.

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How is all that going to be accomplished from Kansas? Cantello said.

A federal pullback could also shake downtowns still-wobbly office market, but its unclear how the downsizing will unfold.

Cantello, an attorney who before becoming union president filed cases against polluters, worries the EPAs six-floor Chicago headquarters in the Metcalfe building could be sold or shuttered.

That would take about 1,000 workers out of downtown Chicago, she said. This is a huge office building, so where are they going to put us? It doesnt make any sense.

The General Services Administration, which runs the federal real estate portfolio, said its working with Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency to analyze all properties, and will soon decide how much space government agencies need.

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GSA is taking swift, common-sense action to solve the nations toughest problems of reducing the federal deficit and increasing government efficiency, according to a statement by GSA.

DOGE began canceling the leases for hundreds of federal offices and facilities in February. The national list grew this month to nearly 800 facilities, totaling more than 10 million square feet and cutting nearly $500 million from the federal budget, according to DOGE.

But Musks group scrubbed many lease cancellations from its website last week, including those for dozens of Internal Revenue Service offices nationwide, shrinking the overall list of cancellations to 657 and the amount of spending cuts to about $350 million. Its another sign of the uncertainty surrounding the efforts of DOGE, which has announced huge spending cuts from government contract terminations, but later admitted the cuts are much smaller. DOGE has also fired federal employees with sensitive positions, only to reverse these decisions, sometimes within days.

One of the leases removed from the list of cancellations last week was for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office on South LaSalle Street.

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Its unknown whether the federal offices in Chicago with still canceled leases will shut down entirely or seek other spaces. When asked if the SEC planned to find a new Chicago office, an agency spokesperson said they had no comment.

Its really going to depend on how different agencies respond to the administrations requirement for a new way of operating, said Marcy Owens Test, a federal government expert with CBRE, a commercial real estate firm. It may not be public yet, but there might be a plan.

The initial lease terms for many of the Chicago offices the federal government wants to vacate have already expired, GSA data show. That means the government can quickly exit without paying a penalty, Owens Test said.

The federal government leased about 173 million square feet of space in the U.S., including 2.5 million across Chicagos metro area, at the end of 2024, according to GSA data. It also owns 19 properties in the city, including the Kluczynski and Metcalfe buildings, and the West Loops Harold Washington Social Security Center. Most appeared on the canceled March 4 for-sale list.

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An updated GSA list published Monday said eight properties nationwide were set for accelerated disposition, including the 15-story William O. Lipinski Federal Building at 844 N. Rush St. on Chicagos Near North Side, home to the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board. The GSA began seeking a buyer for the property in 2023.

A GSA spokesperson said showing up on the list does not mean a building is immediately for sale, and the government could still sell the properties but allow agencies to continue leasing and occupying the space inside.

My understanding is that the real estate and lending communities would rather see a more dependable list than have a lot of uncertainty, said Alissa Adler, an office broker and senior vice president of Colliers, a commercial real estate firm.

More cuts to occupied space seem likely. The Trump administration fired thousands of probationary federal employees, mostly new hires and those recently promoted. And although a federal judge in Maryland reversed the move, ruling the nationwide firings illegal, the administration may return to the court with plans that meet legal requirements.

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They got notices that they were rehired, but immediately put on admin leave, Cantello said of the EPA employees initially dismissed.

And federal agencies were ordered to produce for the White House by this month new plans to slash workforce costs, which could involve other employees taking early retirement, hiring freezes, layoffs or office shutdowns.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of General Counsel announced this month it would shutter six of its 10 regional headquarters, including its Chicago location in the Kluczynski building, and consolidate operations into Philadelphia, Atlanta, Denver and Kansas City.

Federal workers say the Midwest region needs locally based staff who understand problems faced by most Rust Belt states, including lead poisoning, or to handle regional emergencies such as the 2023 toxic spill and train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

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We were there in East Palestine with boots on the ground within hours, said an employee of the EPA in Chicago, who requested their name be withheld for fear of retaliation. And if you drastically reduce the workforce, these sites will get less attention. There are a lot of dedicated people at the EPA who care about the mission, but Ive never seen morale this low, or people more shaken.

_____
Gulayisa Dihan (R) walks around the field with three boys after the 5,000-meter speed horse race during the Spring Tourism Series Activities in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 23, 2025. "Let's applaud the county's first-ever female rider!" The announcer cheered as 22-year-old Gulayisa Dihan crossed the finish line of the 5,000-meter speed horse race third in her group.

During the Spring Tourism Series Activities hosted by Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County this year, the female rider was greeted by applause from both tourists and locals.

Taxkorgan, located at the eastern foothills of the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is a land of sprawling pastures where horse racing is a cherished folk sport. It's now integrated into the county's cultural tourism industry, showcased as dynamic performances to energize rural development.

For Gulayisa, horse racing runs in her blood: her grandfather, father, and eldest brother are all celebrated riders in the region. " Nothing is impossible! I hope more local girls will join me in the future." Gulayisa says with bright determination. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Gulayisa Dihan (R) is learned from her cousin after the 5,000-meter speed horse race during the Spring Tourism Series Activities in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 23, 2025. "Let's applaud the county's first-ever female rider!" The announcer cheered as 22-year-old Gulayisa Dihan crossed the finish line of the 5,000-meter speed horse race third in her group.

During the Spring Tourism Series Activities hosted by Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County this year, the female rider was greeted by applause from both tourists and locals.

Taxkorgan, located at the eastern foothills of the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is a land of sprawling pastures where horse racing is a cherished folk sport. It's now integrated into the county's cultural tourism industry, showcased as dynamic performances to energize rural development.

For Gulayisa, horse racing runs in her blood: her grandfather, father, and eldest brother are all celebrated riders in the region. " Nothing is impossible! I hope more local girls will join me in the future." Gulayisa says with bright determination. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Gulayisa Dihan (L) competes in the 5,000-meter speed horse race during the Spring Tourism Series Activities in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 23, 2025. "Let's applaud the county's first-ever female rider!" The announcer cheered as 22-year-old Gulayisa Dihan crossed the finish line of the 5,000-meter speed horse race third in her group.

During the Spring Tourism Series Activities hosted by Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County this year, the female rider was greeted by applause from both tourists and locals.

Taxkorgan, located at the eastern foothills of the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is a land of sprawling pastures where horse racing is a cherished folk sport. It's now integrated into the county's cultural tourism industry, showcased as dynamic performances to energize rural development.

For Gulayisa, horse racing runs in her blood: her grandfather, father, and eldest brother are all celebrated riders in the region. " Nothing is impossible! I hope more local girls will join me in the future." Gulayisa says with bright determination. (Xinhua/Xu Hongyan)

Gulayisa Dihan takes a break after the 5,000-meter speed horse race during the Spring Tourism Series Activities in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 23, 2025. "Let's applaud the county's first-ever female rider!" The announcer cheered as 22-year-old Gulayisa Dihan crossed the finish line of the 5,000-meter speed horse race third in her group.

During the Spring Tourism Series Activities hosted by Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County this year, the female rider was greeted by applause from both tourists and locals.

Taxkorgan, located at the eastern foothills of the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is a land of sprawling pastures where horse racing is a cherished folk sport. It's now integrated into the county's cultural tourism industry, showcased as dynamic performances to energize rural development.

For Gulayisa, horse racing runs in her blood: her grandfather, father, and eldest brother are all celebrated riders in the region. " Nothing is impossible! I hope more local girls will join me in the future." Gulayisa says with bright determination. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Gulayisa Dihan (2nd L) competes in the 5,000-meter speed horse race during the Spring Tourism Series Activities in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 23, 2025. "Let's applaud the county's first-ever female rider!" The announcer cheered as 22-year-old Gulayisa Dihan crossed the finish line of the 5,000-meter speed horse race third in her group.

During the Spring Tourism Series Activities hosted by Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County this year, the female rider was greeted by applause from both tourists and locals.

Taxkorgan, located at the eastern foothills of the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is a land of sprawling pastures where horse racing is a cherished folk sport. It's now integrated into the county's cultural tourism industry, showcased as dynamic performances to energize rural development.

For Gulayisa, horse racing runs in her blood: her grandfather, father, and eldest brother are all celebrated riders in the region. " Nothing is impossible! I hope more local girls will join me in the future." Gulayisa says with bright determination. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Gulayisa Dihan trains her horse in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 21, 2025. "Let's applaud the county's first-ever female rider!" The announcer cheered as 22-year-old Gulayisa Dihan crossed the finish line of the 5,000-meter speed horse race third in her group.

During the Spring Tourism Series Activities hosted by Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County this year, the female rider was greeted by applause from both tourists and locals.

Taxkorgan, located at the eastern foothills of the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is a land of sprawling pastures where horse racing is a cherished folk sport. It's now integrated into the county's cultural tourism industry, showcased as dynamic performances to energize rural development.

For Gulayisa, horse racing runs in her blood: her grandfather, father, and eldest brother are all celebrated riders in the region. " Nothing is impossible! I hope more local girls will join me in the future." Gulayisa says with bright determination. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Gulayisa Dihan competes during the 5,000-meter speed horse race during the Spring Tourism Series Activities in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 23, 2025. "Let's applaud the county's first-ever female rider!" The announcer cheered as 22-year-old Gulayisa Dihan crossed the finish line of the 5,000-meter speed horse race third in her group.

During the Spring Tourism Series Activities hosted by Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County this year, the female rider was greeted by applause from both tourists and locals.

Taxkorgan, located at the eastern foothills of the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is a land of sprawling pastures where horse racing is a cherished folk sport. It's now integrated into the county's cultural tourism industry, showcased as dynamic performances to energize rural development.

For Gulayisa, horse racing runs in her blood: her grandfather, father, and eldest brother are all celebrated riders in the region. " Nothing is impossible! I hope more local girls will join me in the future." Gulayisa says with bright determination. (Xinhua/Xu Hongyan)

Gulayisa Dihan (L) talks with her mother at home in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 21, 2025. "Let's applaud the county's first-ever female rider!" The announcer cheered as 22-year-old Gulayisa Dihan crossed the finish line of the 5,000-meter speed horse race third in her group.

During the Spring Tourism Series Activities hosted by Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County this year, the female rider was greeted by applause from both tourists and locals.

Taxkorgan, located at the eastern foothills of the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is a land of sprawling pastures where horse racing is a cherished folk sport. It's now integrated into the county's cultural tourism industry, showcased as dynamic performances to energize rural development.

For Gulayisa, horse racing runs in her blood: her grandfather, father, and eldest brother are all celebrated riders in the region. " Nothing is impossible! I hope more local girls will join me in the future." Gulayisa says with bright determination. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Gulayisa Dihan combs her horse in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 21, 2025. "Let's applaud the county's first-ever female rider!" The announcer cheered as 22-year-old Gulayisa Dihan crossed the finish line of the 5,000-meter speed horse race third in her group.

During the Spring Tourism Series Activities hosted by Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County this year, the female rider was greeted by applause from both tourists and locals.

Taxkorgan, located at the eastern foothills of the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is a land of sprawling pastures where horse racing is a cherished folk sport. It's now integrated into the county's cultural tourism industry, showcased as dynamic performances to energize rural development.

For Gulayisa, horse racing runs in her blood: her grandfather, father, and eldest brother are all celebrated riders in the region. " Nothing is impossible! I hope more local girls will join me in the future." Gulayisa says with bright determination. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Gulayisa Dihan (R) and her brother take care of a horse at home in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 21, 2025. "Let's applaud the county's first-ever female rider!" The announcer cheered as 22-year-old Gulayisa Dihan crossed the finish line of the 5,000-meter speed horse race third in her group.

During the Spring Tourism Series Activities hosted by Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County this year, the female rider was greeted by applause from both tourists and locals.

Taxkorgan, located at the eastern foothills of the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is a land of sprawling pastures where horse racing is a cherished folk sport. It's now integrated into the county's cultural tourism industry, showcased as dynamic performances to energize rural development.

For Gulayisa, horse racing runs in her blood: her grandfather, father, and eldest brother are all celebrated riders in the region. " Nothing is impossible! I hope more local girls will join me in the future." Gulayisa says with bright determination. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Gulayisa Dihan participates in the opening ceremony of the Spring Tourism Series Activities in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 23, 2025. "Let's applaud the county's first-ever female rider!" The announcer cheered as 22-year-old Gulayisa Dihan crossed the finish line of the 5,000-meter speed horse race third in her group.

During the Spring Tourism Series Activities hosted by Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County this year, the female rider was greeted by applause from both tourists and locals.

Taxkorgan, located at the eastern foothills of the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is a land of sprawling pastures where horse racing is a cherished folk sport. It's now integrated into the county's cultural tourism industry, showcased as dynamic performances to energize rural development.

For Gulayisa, horse racing runs in her blood: her grandfather, father, and eldest brother are all celebrated riders in the region. " Nothing is impossible! I hope more local girls will join me in the future." Gulayisa says with bright determination. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Gulayisa Dihan warms up before the 5,000-meter speed horse race during the Spring Tourism Series Activities in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 23, 2025. "Let's applaud the county's first-ever female rider!" The announcer cheered as 22-year-old Gulayisa Dihan crossed the finish line of the 5,000-meter speed horse race third in her group.

During the Spring Tourism Series Activities hosted by Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County this year, the female rider was greeted by applause from both tourists and locals.

Taxkorgan, located at the eastern foothills of the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is a land of sprawling pastures where horse racing is a cherished folk sport. It's now integrated into the county's cultural tourism industry, showcased as dynamic performances to energize rural development.

For Gulayisa, horse racing runs in her blood: her grandfather, father, and eldest brother are all celebrated riders in the region. " Nothing is impossible! I hope more local girls will join me in the future." Gulayisa says with bright determination. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Gulayisa Dihan (R) and her father prepare before training her horse in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 21, 2025. "Let's applaud the county's first-ever female rider!" The announcer cheered as 22-year-old Gulayisa Dihan crossed the finish line of the 5,000-meter speed horse race third in her group.

During the Spring Tourism Series Activities hosted by Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County this year, the female rider was greeted by applause from both tourists and locals.

Taxkorgan, located at the eastern foothills of the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is a land of sprawling pastures where horse racing is a cherished folk sport. It's now integrated into the county's cultural tourism industry, showcased as dynamic performances to energize rural development.

For Gulayisa, horse racing runs in her blood: her grandfather, father, and eldest brother are all celebrated riders in the region. " Nothing is impossible! I hope more local girls will join me in the future." Gulayisa says with bright determination. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Gulayisa Dihan walks around the field after the 5,000-meter speed horse race during the Spring Tourism Series Activities in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 23, 2025. "Let's applaud the county's first-ever female rider!" The announcer cheered as 22-year-old Gulayisa Dihan crossed the finish line of the 5,000-meter speed horse race third in her group.

During the Spring Tourism Series Activities hosted by Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County this year, the female rider was greeted by applause from both tourists and locals.

Taxkorgan, located at the eastern foothills of the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is a land of sprawling pastures where horse racing is a cherished folk sport. It's now integrated into the county's cultural tourism industry, showcased as dynamic performances to energize rural development.

For Gulayisa, horse racing runs in her blood: her grandfather, father, and eldest brother are all celebrated riders in the region. " Nothing is impossible! I hope more local girls will join me in the future." Gulayisa says with bright determination. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Gulayisa Dihan (L) and her father welcome guests at home in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 21, 2025. "Let's applaud the county's first-ever female rider!" The announcer cheered as 22-year-old Gulayisa Dihan crossed the finish line of the 5,000-meter speed horse race third in her group.

During the Spring Tourism Series Activities hosted by Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County this year, the female rider was greeted by applause from both tourists and locals.

Taxkorgan, located at the eastern foothills of the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is a land of sprawling pastures where horse racing is a cherished folk sport. It's now integrated into the county's cultural tourism industry, showcased as dynamic performances to energize rural development.

For Gulayisa, horse racing runs in her blood: her grandfather, father, and eldest brother are all celebrated riders in the region. " Nothing is impossible! I hope more local girls will join me in the future." Gulayisa says with bright determination. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Gulayisa Dihan warms up before the 5,000-meter speed horse race during the Spring Tourism Series Activities in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 23, 2025. "Let's applaud the county's first-ever female rider!" The announcer cheered as 22-year-old Gulayisa Dihan crossed the finish line of the 5,000-meter speed horse race third in her group.

During the Spring Tourism Series Activities hosted by Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County this year, the female rider was greeted by applause from both tourists and locals.

Taxkorgan, located at the eastern foothills of the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is a land of sprawling pastures where horse racing is a cherished folk sport. It's now integrated into the county's cultural tourism industry, showcased as dynamic performances to energize rural development.

For Gulayisa, horse racing runs in her blood: her grandfather, father, and eldest brother are all celebrated riders in the region. " Nothing is impossible! I hope more local girls will join me in the future." Gulayisa says with bright determination. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  An indictment unsealed Tuesday in federal court charges a man and woman with gun crimes.

Alonzo Jackson, 31, faces one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition and two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

Tashia Fizer, no age given, faces a count of making a false statement to purchase a firearm.

Arraignment information is not yet available. The indictment was issued on March 18 but unsealed Tuesday.

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The indictment charges Jackson with having 9mm ammunition Nov. 7; having a 9mm pistol Nov. 24; and having a 9mm pistol and a .45-caliber pistol Feb. 5.

Jackson is not allowed to have a gun because of a 2011 conviction in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for aggravated robbery.

Fizer is accused of making a false statement Nov. 7 at a Boardman-Poland Road store to buy a gun for Jackson.

Jackson was arrested by Youngstown Nov. 24 at an East Midlothian Boulevard apartment after police investigated a report by a woman that Jackson had assaulted her. Reports said officers found a gun on Jackson when he was taken into custody.

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He is facing a March 31 trial date in common pleas court in that case on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is free on bond in that case.

Court records do not show if Jackson or Fizer are in federal custody.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Congressional investigations and White House threats are chilling Palestinian advocacy on Columbia Universitys campus, according to lawyers for student activists, who are calling on a federal judge to block their disciplinary records from getting into the hands of Republican lawmakers.

Attorneys for several students  including Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident threatened with his removal from the country for supporting campus protests  called on a federal judge in New York City on Tuesday to block the release of those records, fearing they would be used to intimidate, harass and surveil demonstrators in an attempt to suppress campus speech in support of Palestine and against Israels ongoing campaign in Gaza.

Student activists are demonized for protected speech, according to attorney Amy Greer, who is also representing Khalil in his case against his detention.

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They feel targeted, she told District Judge Arun Subramanian. They are frightened when they see their own identities targeted or vilified.

Last month, the Republican-led House Committee on Education and Workforce demanded that Columbia produce student disciplinary records surrounding campus demonstrations that followed Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023, and suggested that the school would lose federal funding if it didnt comply.

House Republicans and Donald Trumps administration are conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism and using a hammer to basically repress all speech critical of Israel while smearing student activists  many of whom are Jewish themselves  as pro-Hamas and anti-American, Greer said Tuesday.

Lawyers for pro-Palestine student activists speak to Judge Arun Subramanian in a hearing on March 25 over House Republicans demands for disciplinary records from Columbia University (REUTERS)

The hearing came as a separate federal judge in Manhattan blocked the Trump administration from deporting Yunseo Chung, another Columbia student and lawful permanent resident who was the victim of the governments shocking overreach, vilifying her political views and constitutionally protected right to protest, according to her attorneys

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Attorney Ramzi Kassem, who represents Chung and Khalil, told reporters outside the courthouse that a temporary restraining order that blocks the government from detaining and deporting Chung is fair and just.

The court did the sensible thing, he said. Until further order of the court, [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] will not be able to take further steps to detain her, and we will continue to fight as hard as we need to to vindicate her constitutional rights in court.

University professors and academic organizations from across the country also filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Massachusetts, alleging the Trump administration is violating the First Amendment through a climate of fear and repression on college campuses.

Out of fear that they might be arrested and deported for lawful expression and association, some noncitizen students and faculty have stopped attending public protests or resigned from campus groups that engage in political advocacy, according to the lawsuit.

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Others have declined opportunities to publish commentary and scholarship, stopped contributing to classroom discussions, or deleted past work from online databases and websites, attorneys wrote. Many now hesitate to address political issues on social media, or even in private texts. The [policy], in other words, is accomplishing its purpose: it is terrorizing students and faculty for their exercise of First Amendment rights in the past, intimidating them from exercising those rights now, and silencing political viewpoints that the government disfavor.

Greer echoed those arguments in Subramanians courtroom.

The actions at Columbia, coerced by Republican officials, have had a profound effect on student activists, she said.

Attorney Ramzi Kassem speaks to reporters outside Manhattan federal court March 25 after a judge granted a temporary restraining order that blocks the Trump administration from deporting Columbia student Yunseo Chung while her legal challenge plays out (REUTERS)

Shortly after the students lawsuit was filed earlier this month, Columbia announced that students involved with the occupation of a campus building last fall now face multi-year suspensions, temporary degree revocations, and expulsions.

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Columbia also appeared to cede to the Trump administrations demands for sweeping changes at the university under threat of losing $400 million in federal funds over its continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.

The administration cannot hold Columbia hostage for $400 million, Greer said.

Lawyers for Columbia argued that many of the actions announced in a statement following Trumps threats were the product of months and months of work.

Asked by the judge whether Columbia would have ever taken those actions without an implicit threat of losing federal funding, Miller called the scenario a hypothetical.

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I dont think its a hypothetical, Judge Subramanian replied.

Miller paused and consulted with another attorney.

The best way to put it is all actions announced were actions under review and development, he said.

The letter crystallized Columbias efforts and the timing for announcing them, according to Miller.

Lawyers for the committee denied that its February letter to Columbia presented any threat. The university has already delivered the committee a sizable amount of information that is under review, but it remains unclear what the committee plans to do with it.

All of that information has been anonymized, according to attorneys for Columbia and the committee.

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But students at Columbia are some of the most surveilled people in the country right now, Greer said.

Even if the information is anonymized, by placing the students in certain times and places, somebody is going to recognize that, said Greer, noting pressure from pro-Israel groups like Betar and Canary Mission that have launched social media campaigns targeting activists.

The congressional committees lawyer, Todd Tatelman, did not rule out the possibility that students records could at some point be handed over to an administrative agency for some kind of enforcement effort.

At this point, I cannot rule anything out, your honor, he said.

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Department of Justice lawyer Harry Graver argued that the actions at the center of the letters to the university have nothing to do with protected speech and are instead unlawful conduct.

This is about antisemitic harassment and violence, he said.
Bob Ferguson speaks at a press conference in February. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on Tuesday reversed a decision by former Gov. Jay Inslee to allow a man convicted of a triple murder more than four decades ago to be released from state prison.

Inslees decision drew backlash from victims families and Republicans.

Timothy Pauley is serving consecutive life sentences for a deadly armed robbery at a SeaTac tavern in 1980 that ended with the deaths of three employees  Loran Dowell, Robert Pierre and Linda Burford  and two other women being severely assaulted.

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Pauley was 21 at the time of the crime. He is now 66 and was set to be released from state prison Thursday.

Timothy Pauley, who was sentenced to life in prison in 1981 for a triple murder the prior year at a SeaTac tavern. (Photo courtesy of Department of Corrections)

In an order Tuesday, the governor acknowledged Pauley had worked to better himself while in prison the past four-plus decades. But he questioned whether Pauley had recently apologized for his crimes from a place of true remorse rather than self-interest in being paroled.

I am unconvinced that Mr. Pauley is truly rehabilitated and fit for release at this time, Ferguson continued.

The state Indeterminate Sentence Review Board approved Pauleys release in 2022, sending the question to Inslee.

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But after meeting with the victims families and Dave Reichert, who was one of the detectives on the case in 1980 before becoming King County sheriff, Inslee canceled parole for Pauley, despite his work to rehabilitate himself in custody.

Similar to Ferguson, Inslee argued Pauley, who is currently held at the Monroe Correctional Complex, hadnt shown remorse for his actions.

But in January, on his last day in office, Inslee reversed course, paving the way for Pauleys parole.

In the past week, the victims families, the state House Republican leader and the mayor of Bonney Lake, where Pauley could have lived after release, urged Ferguson to block Pauleys parole.

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Reps. Drew Stokesbary and Joshua Penner, whose shared district includes Bonney Lake, called on Ferguson to stay true to his campaign rhetoric of standing up for crime survivors.

If you stand by and allow Pauley to be freed after brutally murdering three people and irreparably damaging two others, those words will ring hollow  not just to his victims and their families, but to crime victims and families everywhere, they wrote in a letter to the governor on Monday. And you will be responsible for unleashing a fresh wave of devastating emotional trauma on the victims families.

Governor Ferguson, this is a defining moment for your administration, the lawmakers continued.

The victims families met with Ferguson on Monday.

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Stokesbary applauded the governors move and the work of the families who refused to let their loved ones be forgotten.

We commend the governor for his willingness to meet with them this week and carefully review the extensive record before reaching this conclusion, he said in a statement. Today, their voices mattered, and justice prevailed.

Pauleys attorney, Marla Zink, said in a statement that Ferguson did not meet with Pauley before making his decision, which she said was disappointing.

The experts in criminal justice, restorative justice, and psychology who have met with or gotten to know Tim Pauley over the years all disagree with the governors conclusion, Zink said. Tim also has a strong community of family and friends who proudly stand by him and know the true depth of his rehabilitation and remorse.

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Asked about his decision Tuesday, Ferguson said, I think my letter speaks for itself. He believed this was the only case of its kind his office was reviewing.

This story has been updated with comment from House Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary and from Pauleys attorney.

Pauley, Timothy - Cancellation of ISRB Order of Parole (signed)

A copy of Gov. Bob Fergusons March 25, 2025 order canceling parole for Timothy Pauley.
Video: Coverage of the 2024 Dayton Black Womens Film Festival.

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The Dayton Metro Library is hosting a workshop for Black women filmmakers later this year.

According to a press release, the library will host the workshop on Friday, May 16, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Bassani Theater at the main branch.

Spots are expected to fill quickly according to the library. Registration opens on April 1 and can be accessed through the librarys website.

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The workshop is a collaboration between the Dayton Metro Library and the Dayton Black Womens Film Festival.

Filmmakers Kaliah Ware, a filmmaker based in Cincinnati, and Selena Burks-Rentschler, a Wright State University Motion Pictures graduate, will lead the workshops activities.

Ware worked alongside Wright State University to establish a film school at Zwilabonzie High School in Durban, South Africa. She worked as the set production assistant for The Big Ugly.

Burks-Rentschlers documentary, Saving Jackie, premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.

All activities will be divided into three categories (directing, acting and writing), and registrants will engage in each discipline. Attendents will learn about each art forum and get feedback from Ware and Burks-Rentschler.

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Visit the librarys website or call their Ask Me Line, at 937-463-2665 with any questions.

If you need accessibility services like a sign language interpreter, assistive device or language translation, please call the Librarys Ask Me Line or fill out this forum ahead of 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.
A month ago, on Friday, Feb. 21, Technicolor began to alert employees that it was in dire financial trouble and could (and did) begin to shut down that Monday. The stunning collapse of the iconic century-old company sent shockwaves through the industry, affecting its brands and thousands of employees around the world, as well as their customers.

Paris-headquartered Technicolor had reorganized several times in recent years and when it closed it was the parent company of VFX giant MPC, commercial VFX studio The Mill, Mikros Animation and Technicolor Gaming. None were headquartered in the U.S. but all maintained either domestic studio operations or points of contact.

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Just like that, the place where we had poured the majority of our professional careers and passion  our creative home  was gone, says Robert Sethi, who was executive creative director at The Mills Los Angeles base. But he and additional members of The Mills U.S. leadership werent ready to give up on the team behind what was long considered among the top commercial VFX brands in the world. A group of them banded together and joined forces with Dream Machine FX, a group holding company for VFX brands, to launch a new venture dubbed ARC Creative. A month later, members of The Mills U.S. leadership team shared with Variety their personal stories and recollections of the 72-hour period from receiving notice of Technicolors downfall to launching ARC Creative amid a chaotic and emotional weekend. Technicolor was contacted for this story.

Members of the ARC Creative team share that after receiving word from Technicolor, that Friday afternoon they talked with David Li, chairman of Dream Machine FX, the venture behind VFX brands such as Important Looking Pirates, whose recent credits include Shogun. The meeting was hastily arranged by Niklas Jacobson, co-founder of ILP and a Dream Machine partner.

I go back 25 years with several key people at Dream Machine. Yafei Wu and Niklas Jacobson, the founders of ILP, and I started our careers together in Sweden in 2000, Sethi says. In the close-knit VFX community, other leaders at The Mill also had ties to individuals at Dream Machine including Li. The Mill was founded in 1990 in London and grew to become a globally-recognized VFX and creative leader for short-form work in areas including commercials, marketing and games. It was acquired by Technicolor in 2015.

The individuals say that they explained their situation to Li, and together they went to work to find a way forward, though amid increasing disarray.

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By the time we get off the call with David, news has already leaked that Technicolor is shutting down and that everyone had been fired. As you imagine the next 12 hours are absolute chaos, talking to the crew, getting frantic calls from clients, all while trying to figure out if this Dream Machine thing could even be possible, according to Anastasia von Rahl, managing director of The Mill L.A.

The Mills clients, it appears, didnt hear directly from Technicolor, but rather learned of its predicament through the press or industry colleagues. Von Rahl says that through that weekend, The Mill team also worked with clients to help them to retrieve their assets, including projects in production.

We called the crew who just got WARN notices and asked them to come in and help us prep and ship material back to clients so they could finish their productions, she remembers. A moment stands out vividly to me. Jacky Gilson, the head of production from EA, called and I immediately start running through the plan on how we had a team working all weekend to be able to hit their deadline and she stopped me mid-sentence to say, I called to see if you are OK.

Gavin Wellsman, who was executive creative director at The Mill New York, reveals that there were other challenges in trying to create a business amid the shutdown. Over the weekend, senior Technicolor executives  the same ones who had their hands on the wheel this entire time and some of whom had proclaimed just a few months prior in the last town hall that Technicolor had turned a corner  attempted to launch similar companies with private equity backing, which created even more confusion for the staff, he reveals.

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Wellsman was on a family vacation when he got the news. I was shocked and devastated. I was fully aware of Technicolors financial problems but I never thought for a second that The Mill would ever close its doors, he says, adding that he spent that Friday on the phone, calling staff and clients. Having spent my entire career at The Mill, my first thought was the staff and their families, from the runners to the MDs we were all being relieved of our duties and left without any severance so we knew we had to make a plan and act quickly. On those calls, he also learned of the potential opportunity with Dream Machine. I raced back home to Brooklyn to get to work.

Sethi says that by Saturday morning, he and von Rahl were back on the phone with Li, who laid out a possible path forward. The night before, we had worked tirelessly  drafting a business plan, exploring every angle, and trying to shape what this could become. Together with David we outlined exactly what needed to happen and the scale and number of people Dream Machine could responsibly bring on. We knew time wasnt on our side. With a crew this talented, people had to do what was best for their families and livelihoods.

Angela Lupo, who was The Mills New York managing director, relates that with Lis go-ahead, they began to share the plan with artists, communicating that we may have a path out of the fire and taking a temperature on who was in. I knew we had to move quickly to make as smooth of a transition as possible for the people coming along. We also needed to get ahead of all the misinformation out in the market. Von Rahl adds that the logistics of starting the venture over that weekend ranged from finding insurance  this was the end of the month so people were losing insurance at the end of the week  to setting up payroll and onboarding the team.

Over the years, The Mills work has been recognized with countless honors including Cannes Lions, Clios, and Visual Effects Society Awards, in addition to a VFX Oscar for its work on 2000s Gladiator. But now they needed a new brand. Sethi relates that they chose ARC Creative because it meant something to us, because not only were we trying to build a proverbial boat over a weekend, but this was a major pivot in the story for all of us. Creative being added was important because thats the through line of all the talent. Mill creative director Ilya Abulkhavov sketched company logos amid the naming discussions.

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The Mill leaders believe it was trust in a tight-knit team built during their careers that also helped to launch the effort amid the Technicolor closure. Trust had been gradually eroding for a long time and I think at this point with the sudden notice of closure, the trust was now gone completely with corporate management, suggests Wellsman. On the other hand, with the four of us [The Mill leaders in New York and L.A.], the staff had seen us push for change over the years. I never thought that I would be faced with a decision to start a company within 72 hours and would be making the biggest decision of my career. The message in my head that was on loop was the staff deserve better and even though I had also been left high and dry along with everyone else I felt like it was my duty to try and keep as many of the core team together as possible.

According to von Rahl, ARC Creative was able to hire roughly 100 people full-time while providing freelance work to an additional 50 artists  more than half of The Mills U.S. team  and plan to keep their bicoastal operations. They are currently working in temp space while looking for permanent locations in Los Angeles and New York. Lupo acknowledged PostWorks New York, which shared their space, allowing ARC to quickly start working with clients. Von Rahl reports that ARC Creative currently has 21 projects in house, thanks to relationships they had developed over the years, including with Electronic Arts and Amazon.

In prior Variety coverage, sources who were employed by Technicolor (both in the past and at the time of the closure, though not Mill employees) contended that mismanagement was the major cause of Technicolors collapse, though VFX pros also acknowledge that some poor decisions were likely exacerbated by an already challenging business model. The industry continues to suffer from low margins and is heavily impacted by tax credits that have post-production work moving from one part of the world to another in an endless quest for the best incentives. And like the rest of Hollywood, in recent years the impact of pandemic shutdowns and 2023s double strikes by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA further challenged the business.

At noon on Monday, Feb. 24, The Mill staff was walked out of their offices and the doors were closed. That day, thousands of employees from around the world at Technicolor-owned brands lost their jobs as the company began to close. (Since that day, Technicolor Games was acquired by global language translation and AI tech business Transperfect.)

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ARC Creative was then hurriedly announced. Von Rahl says community support gave her optimism, from our editorial friends offering to let us come into their space, production companies ringing to say they will support and send work, an agency partner offering to help write strategy, to Amazon calling and asking to be the first client.

We were overwhelmed with the outpouring and love and support from friends, clients and colleagues who could not believe that we rallied so quickly, Wellsman remembers. I think that most of the people that responded really needed something good to come out of this absolute disaster.

I had mixed emotions. I was still in shock, a little nervous but also extremely excited for the future.

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The annual Feed Utah Food Drive took place earlier this month and, following a trend from the last couple years, the food drive saw a significant increase in financial donations compared to last year.

But thats a good thing, because the demand and need for help for those in need is on the rise as well.

The food drive, conducted March 15 through the Utah Food Bank, included donations from all 29 counties in Utah.

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The great thing about a food drive like feed Utah is it gives everyone in the state an opportunity to participate in the fight against hunger, said Utah Food Bank President and CEO Ginnette Bott.

The Food Bank has not received totals for donations from all across the state yet, but Bott said that from the numbers she has seen so far there was a small increase in food donations from last year.

Bott said another trend of fewer physical food donations and more monetary donations continued again in 2025.

According to Bott, there was a huge increase in the number of financial donations this year, which she said is helpful because it allows the food bank to buy extra product if needed and pay for delivering the food.

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The need for food for those struggling from hunger is alarmingly high right now, Bott added.

There are areas of our state that are really seeing an increased number of people coming to the pantries, and the numbers are higher in some of the areas, even higher than they were in COVID and some other areas, theyre coming down. So, to say that its evened out, isnt really true, she added.

What is the Feed Utah Food Drive?

This year marked the fourth annual Feed Utah Food Drive. For 33 years, the food bank did an annual food drive in partnership with the Boy Scouts of America. But after that organization changed, the food bank had to change its approach.

What we try to reinforce is that Feed Utah is a concentrated effort on one day for all of us to come together for all of our 29 counties, Bott said.

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During the drive, thousands of volunteers across the state drove around neighborhoods to pick up bags of food people had left on their porch. Utahns could also drop off their donations at fixed locations.

Bott said the food drive serves multiple purposes, one being to spread awareness.

I always say education and awareness are two most powerful tools. People need to see us doing something, and we need to be educating them about the problem of hunger, and this kind of a food drive allows us to do that, Bott added.

Another benefit of the food drive is it adds more variety to the type of food available to those in need.

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She said the food drive requires months of planning, which includes coordinating drop-off points and trucks to deliver donated food as well as gathering volunteers.

The day goes quickly and its a successful day, but it certainly takes a lot of preparation to be ready for that day, Bott said.

What is the Utah Food Bank?

The Utah Food Bank is the states partner with Feeding America, which has over 200 food banks across the country. The food bank covers the entirety of Utah, serving people in all 29 counties and working with around 275 partner agencies.

So think of us as the wholesaler, Bott said. The food and the product comes to us, we distribute it to the pantry, the pantry then distributes it to the end user.

Bott added that it is all done free of charge,. The pantries dont pay for the food from the food bank and those who receive the food dont pay the pantries.
Two men who ran a fire alarm repair company admitted Tuesday they fleeced several New York City agencies with fake and inflated invoices for more than a decade.

Walter Stanzione, 66, served as the head of the Fire Alarm Electrical Corporation, and William Neogra, 65, worked as his second-in-command, according to court filings.

They ran their scheme from 2009 to 2020, when the company had contracts with the citys Department of Citywide Administrative Services, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Education and Department of Sanitation.

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On Tuesday, both men pleaded guilty in Brooklyn Federal Court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, admitting they filed false and inflated invoices. Based on the amount Stanzione is required to forfeit, the scheme netted at least $1.6 million.

The duo created shell companies, owned by Stanzione, so they could charge three to five times the purchase price for alarm parts, according to federal prosecutors.

They also used shell companies already created by other fraudsters, the feds said, including David Motovich  an Eric Adams and Bill de Blasio donor who was convicted at trial last year of running a $55 million illegal check-cashing operation

The fire alarm duos scheme included billing for part model types that dont exist, inflating installment payments and submitting fake invoices from third-party vendors. They also made their employees design websites and logos for the shell companies listed on their invoices, according to court filings.

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Stanzione likely faces around five to six and a half years behind bars based on federal sentencing guidelines, while Neogra could face up to three and a half years. Their sentencing dates have not yet been set.

For over a decade, the City of New York relied on the defendants to ensure that the fire safety systems in hundreds of city buildings were in safe, working order, U.S. Attorney John Durham said. The defendants abused this position of trust so that they could scheme and steal, defrauding New York City out of millions of dollars.
A fire at a Fargo, North Dakota Tesla charging station is being investigated as an act of arson, authorities say.

The Fargo Police Department said on Friday around 3:15 a.m., officers went to the charging station in a Scheels parking lot on the 1500 block of 45th Street South on a report of a fire.

Police found burned wood chips and a gas can near the scene. One of the charging stations was seen with smoke coming out of it, while a small fire was extinguished next to it. No injuries were reported.

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A power company was also called to the scene, where they found that the power had been cut to all of the chargers. Damage estimates have not yet been determined.

Authorities are still searching for a suspect as of Monday. An investigation remains ongoing.

While a motive and perpetrator is yet to be determined, it comes as the FBI issued an alert amid other reports of Teslas or dealerships being purposely set on fire or vandalized in protest of billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk's actions with the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The FBI says individuals have targeted Tesla vehicles and dealerships, committing acts of arson, vandalism and shooting at vehicles. The agency says since January, at least nine states have reported such crimes.

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Tesla has also seen a backlash from consumers, with Business Insider reporting U.S. registrations of Teslas fell by 11% in January, while in the European Union Tesla registrations have reportedly plunged by 49% year-on-year.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change.
U.S. President Donald Trump leaves after an event celebrating the Greek Independence Day at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 24, 2025. Trump on Monday said that he may "give a lot of countries breaks" on tariffs, as his April 2 deadline to impose "reciprocal tariffs" on U.S. trading partners draws closer. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

WASHINGTON, March 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said that he may "give a lot of countries breaks" on tariffs, as his April 2 deadline to impose "reciprocal tariffs" on U.S. trading partners draws closer.

"I may give a lot of countries breaks, but it's reciprocal," Trump told reporters at the White House Monday afternoon.

He noted that the European Union (EU) has agreed to lower car tariffs to 2.5 percent as part of a deal with the Trump administration.

"We'll be announcing some additional tariffs over the next few days, having to do with automobiles, cars, and having also to do a little bit with lumber down the road, lumber and chips," Trump continued.

"But for the most part, April 2 will be a big day, that will be reciprocal day, and we'll be bringing some of the money back that's been taken from us," Trump said.

Earlier in the day, Trump announced on social media that he'll impose 25-percent tariff on any nation that purchases oil and/or gas from Venezuela, accusing the Latin American country of sending "tens of thousands of" criminals to the United States.

When asked by a reporter whether the 25-percent tariff is "on top of existing tariffs," Trump said "yes."

With key U.S. economic indicators showing concerning trends, economists and investors warn that the risk of a "Trumpcession" has grown due to unpredictable trade and economic policies.

Earlier this month, Bruce Kasman, JPMorgan's chief global economist, expressed heightened concerns about the U.S. economy. He told reporters in Singapore that the investment bank now estimates a 40 percent chance of a U.S. recession this year. 

U.S. President Donald Trump attends an event celebrating the Greek Independence Day at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 24, 2025. Trump on Monday said that he may "give a lot of countries breaks" on tariffs, as his April 2 deadline to impose "reciprocal tariffs" on U.S. trading partners draws closer. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

U.S. President Donald Trump attends an event celebrating the Greek Independence Day at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 24, 2025. Trump on Monday said that he may "give a lot of countries breaks" on tariffs, as his April 2 deadline to impose "reciprocal tariffs" on U.S. trading partners draws closer. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

U.S. President Donald Trump attends an event celebrating the Greek Independence Day at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 24, 2025. Trump on Monday said that he may "give a lot of countries breaks" on tariffs, as his April 2 deadline to impose "reciprocal tariffs" on U.S. trading partners draws closer. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY)  Four people and a dog were displaced following a fire Monday to a home in the Indian River area of Chesapeake, according to Lt. Shaun Williams with the Chesapeake Fire Department.

There were no reports of injuries.

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Firefighters responded to reports of a structure fire on Ilkly Circle around 5:08 p.m., and when Chesapeake Engine 3 arrived at the scene six minutes later, crews reported smoke and flames visible from the rear of the home, Williams said.

Chesapeake and Virginia Beach fire crews were able to put out the fire quickly, Williams said.

Those displaced will receive help from the Red Cross.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
While testifying before the Senate, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard both say no classified information was discussed in the leaked group chat. Former CIA Director Leon Panetta joins Jose Diaz-Balart to react.
GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP)  Three Guilford Courthouse National Military Park employees who were fired last month have been reinstated.

The National Park Service reinstated 1,000 previously terminated probationary employees across the country, according to a National Parks Conservation Association news release.

The employees who were fired on Feb. 14 included:

rangers

law enforcement officers

firefighters

essential personnel

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Two court rulings temporarily blocked the Trump administrations terminations of many federal employees across multiple agencies and ordered them to be reinstated.

Probationary staff who opt for reinstatement will be able to fully return to work and will reportedly receive back pay.

The NPS released the following statement:

In compliance with court orders, the Department of the Interior is reinstating employees. All impacted employees will receive back pay, and the Department will ensure continued compensation as the White House pursues its appeals process. NPS Office of Public Affairs

The GCNMP is part of the NPA, which is a bureau of the Department of the Interior.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Firefighters battled an apartment fire in northwest Oklahoma City Tuesday morning.

According to the Oklahoma City Fire Department, crews responded to the apartment complex near Lyrewood Ln. and Wilshire Blvd. around 1 a.m.

LOCAL NEWS: Definitely a catastrophic event: Fire destroys high school gym, damages classrooms

Upon arrival, firefighters could see flames coming from the building. They immediately began fighting the flames.

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Heavy flames visible on scene. We had fire coming through the breezeway and two apartments fully involved. said Batt. Chief Randy Cornelius with OKCFD.

No injuries have been reported, but investigators are calling this fire suspicious.

No more information is 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)  Five people were arrested in Lafayette Parish on alleged firearm and drug charges.

The following individuals were arrested and sent to a Lafayette Parish jail, where they were booked on the listed charges:

Layton D. Smith, 19, of Alexandria, was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance schedule I (Marijuana).

Mikel E. Ferrell, 18, of Alexandria, was charged with one count of possession of controlled dangerous substance schedule I (Marijuana), one count of illegal possession of a firearm with a controlled dangerous substance, and one count of possession of a firearm in a firearm-free zone.

Kameron D. Stewart, 19, of Alexandria, was charged with one count of simple possession of marijuana, one count of illegal possession of a stolen firearm, and one count of possession of a firearm in a firearm-free zone. The firearm possessed by Stewart, a 9mm Glock pistol, was reported as stolen by the St John the Baptist Sheriffs Office.

Kaleab D. Stewart, 18, of Alexandria, was charged with one count of possession of a firearm in a firearm-free zone.

Reginald D. Price, 20, of Prairieville, was arrested on an active 15th Judicial District Court arrest warrant.

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On March 24, at approximately 4:31 p.m., officers with the Lafayette Police Department were dispatched to the 100 block of Lamar Street to investigate a report of suspicious circumstances.

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Lafayette officials said they received information that people were allegedly seen brandishing firearms in the area, which is in close proximity to the University of Louisiana at Lafayettes campus.

Officials said an investigation at the scene led to the discovery of firearms and marijuana in the possession of multiple individuals, including five THC cartridge dosage units, 46.3 grams of marijuana, a .40-caliber Glock pistol and two 9mm Glock pistols, with one being reported stolen.

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There is currently no information regarding bond for any of the people listed.

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.
Turn Around, Dont Drown. What to do when it floods in Austin, Central Texas

AUSTIN (KXAN)  Central Texas lies in a region that has a greater threat for flooding than any other in the country  earning it the nickname Flash Flood Alley.

The risk of flooding begins in the spring, as severe thunderstorms become more likely. Those storms can produce sizeable hail, damaging winds and even tornadoes, plus lots of rain that the ground isnt always able to absorb.

I got hit with a wall. Granger tornado victim takes rare step for protection

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Our soil is clay-rich. Clay soils hold water and nutrients tightly. Thus, they have higher water and nutrient holding capacity but lower drainage, resulting in slower water movement and potential waterlogging.

Though it may not seem that way given the past several months of relatively rain-free weather, this area is prone to very intense rainfall that also contributes to our areas major flooding.

Blanco River flood in San Marcos, May 27, 2015. Courtesy: Getty Images

To that end, the rain, at times, comes down in a hurry, or rain trains over an area. Think of a train track where trains pass over the same area time and time again. When showers and thunderstorms train over an area, were talking about water that moves over the same area. The more rain that falls, the higher the threat of flooding. Flooding is often linked to thunderstorm cells repeatedly moving over the same area.

Austins worst floods

One of the worst Austin floods happened in July 1869. History recorded the Colorado River cresting at 51 feet in the capital city. Putting this in proper perspective, the rivers normal flood stage is 12. A minor flood happens with the rivers stage reaches 23. At 25, moderate flooding occurs. A major flood is going on when the flood stage reaches 28. At 51, the flooding is massive resulting in the widespread damage the city suffered.

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Downstream of Austin, the crests were much higher, including 60.3 feet in Bastrop and 56.7 feet at La Grange. Damage was estimated at $3 million according to the Austin Water Center for Environmental Research.

What made this flood so remarkable was that it happened during what is traditionally one of the driest months of the year.

Most locals will point to the Memorial Day flood of 1981 as being another worst flood event. That was the day Shoal Creek overflowed, resulting in 13 deaths and nearly 20 families losing their homes. Many businesses were destroyed. Total damage in 1981 dollars totaled $36 million.

Another Memorial Day flood happened in 2015. This, too, affected Shoal Creek.

Shoal Creek in flood May 27, 2015. Courtesy: Getty Images

One of the businesses along it, the Shoal Creek Saloon, flooded. Owner Ray Canfield recalls that, in spite of the business establishment having a plan in place for the eventuality of a flood, as much as 50 to 55 inches of water accumulated on one side of the building. He says that several precautions were taken to mitigate the flooding. But water is a force.

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Still, after all of the flooding, the business was able to reopen in five days.

Following this flood event, Canfield and his business, along with the City of Austin, were honored with a Lone Star Emmy in the category of Public Service Announcement. Canfield said the PSA focused on business disaster preparedness.

The Birth of the FEWS

After the Memorial Day flood of 1981, the City of Austin needed a better way to deal with a forecast of heavy rain and the potential of flooding. The Memorial Day flood sent Shoal Creek out of its banks. Thirteen people lost their lives in that flood. A better method of early detection of flooding was needed.

The Flood Early Warning System, or FEWS, was born. This is an agency managed by the City of Austin Watershed Protection Department.

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Meteorologist Scott Prinsen is the Program Manager of FEWS. FEWS monitors the weather all year round, using weather models similar to those KXAN meteorologists use as well as hydrological models. Radar is one of their biggest images, they are consistently monitoring to see where the heavy rain is falling, the direction its headed, and whether or not the storms will decrease or increase in area and intensity.

Flood Safety Tips and more on Turn Around, Dont Drown

FEWS added cameras and gates at some of the locations that flood worse than others. This technology, according to Prinsen, has been added over the last several years as it has been determined where the most severe flood-prone areas are.

The worst of the flood-prone areas, he says, is along Spicewood Springs Road up near Loop 360 where heavy rain that causes flooding will empty into Bull Creek.

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The gates come down when a significant amount of water causes low-water crossings to be flooded. Real-time information is available to everyone who also wants to monitor where flooding could be taking place, or where the roads are closed, on ATXfloods.com.

Austins William Cannon Drive closed due to flooding on October 30, 2015. Courtesy: Getty Images

Its important to understand that flooding is the most serious weather hazard in Austin and Central Texas, according to the City of Austin Hazard Mitigation Plan.

More than half of the deaths due to flooding are caused by people walking into or driving around barriers and into a flooded roadway. It only takes a mere six inches of fast-moving floodwater to knock over an adult, and it only takes as little as 12 inches of running water to float most vehicles.

Because most flooding deaths are preventable, the slogan Turn Around, Dont Drown was created in 2004 by the National Weather Services Hector Guerrero.

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The birth and reason for Turn Around, Dont Drown

Finally, what should you do in the event of a flood?

Going a little further on that second tip, it is important to know that if you are forced to evacuate your domicile, you have your emergency papers. Were referring to papers like birth certificates, passports, drivers licenses and Social Security cards.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA)  Amid fears of federal cuts, the battle continues at the statehouse as Florida Democrats continue to push the GOP super majority to consider expanding Medicaid.

For years state lawmakers have gone back and forth over concerns about Medicaid expansion and financing, with past senate leaders knocking down efforts to expand.

Man arrested for damaging Tampa Bay state senators office: police

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Back in 2024, then Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples) shared in her opening remarks at the start of the legislative session that Medicaid expansion was not going to happen.

We know that access to healthcare is important at every phase of life. Insurance, even Medicaid, does not guarantee access. I want to be clear, I am not going to spend the next 60 days relitigating Medicaid expansion, Passidomo said. I understand the arguments both for and against. Weve had the debate several times over the last decade, Medicaid expansion is not going to happen in Florida.

One year later, Democrats are still demanding that conversation continues.

If youre cheering on cutting Medicaid, youre cheering on losing money to help Floridians, said Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost (D-Orlando).

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Democrats in D.C. and in the Sunshine State gathered at the capitol to warn Floridians of possible federal cuts to Medicaid, as well as call on fellow Republican lawmakers to consider expanding the program, citing its financial savings.

We are literally leaving money on the table. $14 billion of our tax dollars that we would bring home to Florida if we were to expanded Medicaid. $4 billion annually in federal funds that would reduce our tax burden as Floridians. Even after meeting our matching obligations, we would still leave $200 million extra on top of it, said Representative Dotie Joseph (D-North Miami).

Joseph is sponsoring HB 1507, which aims to expand Medicaid and provide health insurance to 800,000 to 1,000,000 Floridians.

News Channel 8 On Your Side followed up, asking Florida Democrats what their response is to Republicans who argue against expanding Medicaid, citing cost concerns and strains to the state budget.

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I would say thats fuzzy math, because Ive looked into it as well and this is a line theyve recited for many, many years, said House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa). But what we know is that there are programs that are in place in this state to try to cover folks who are in the gap. If we expand Medicaid, we would save resources by not having to pay for those programs and in effect draw more down in federal dollar then we would spend in tax dollars. 

Florida GOP leaders on capitol hill, however, say Democrats are spreading lies. Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (R-St. Petersburg) added that Republicans are not cutting Medicaid.

Were not cutting anything. Are we stopping fraud, waste, and abuse? Yes. But are we cutting programs? No, Luna said.

Struggling to navigate Floridas health care system, Clearwater resident Andrea Dumala shared her fears for Floridians who are stuck in the Medicaid coverage gap.

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Right now, we are enslaved by the disabilities that we have. I know that I am with a traumatic brain and spinal cord surgery from a car accident, Dumala said.

Shes backing House Bill 1373, which allows working disabled Floridians in the gap to buy in to Medicaid.

Passing this bill will give us a sense of normalcy that we dont typically have, Dumala said.

Republican state leaders are also considering a Medicaid Oversight Workgroup to look over policy decisions.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a news conference in the Idaho governors office to promote a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution for a balanced budget, standing between Idaho Gov. Brad Little (right) and Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke, on March 24, 2025. (Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visited Idaho on Monday to promote a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would require a federal balanced budget.

The amendment would be sought through a never-before used method of amending the U.S. Constitution: A convention of the states. DeSantis met privately with lawmakers in the Idaho Legislature early Monday.

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I am convinced that you are not going to have Congress all of a sudden change its behavior for the long term. I think the reason weve gotten into this with respect to fiscal is because there are certain incentives for the people that are in Washington to behave the way they do. And we need to change those incentives, DeSantis, a former Republican presidential candidate, told reporters in a news conference in the Idaho governors office, standing between Idaho Gov. Brad Little and Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke.

Critics say a constitutional convention could put the entire Constitution up for change. But supporters argue a convention is needed to rein in the rising federal deficit and an increasingly powerful federal government.

Asked about concerns the process would be uncontrollable, DeSantis told reporters he disagreed  pointing to state-level controls for a constitutional convention and ratification requirements.

I think the people that say somehow the whole thing would melt down, theyre basically saying that the founding fathers were wrong to give the people in the states an ability to restrain the federal Congress, the Florida governor said. And I dont think they were wrong to do that. I think they understood Congress could be the problem.

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And he said he doesnt even think a constitutional convention would happen. Once 33 states apply  before the 34-state application threshold would prompt the convention  DeSantis said itd push Congress to pass their own balanced budget amendment.

Little suggested the risk of not acting is high.

We dont even think its going to get to 34 votes. We think things are going to happen, Little told reporters. Theres all those sidebars, all those guardrails we put on those. But then whats the alternative? Do we want  our federal debt to go to $70 trillion and consume all of the capital and basically burden our children, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren. I think there is no other usable option, and our forefathers put it in the Constitution.

Earlier this month, the Idaho House rejected a proposal by Rep. Jordan Redman, R-Coeur dAlene, that wouldve called for Idaho to submit three separate applications to amend the U.S. Constitution through a convention of the states, including for a balanced budget amendment.

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Past attempts at getting the Idaho Legislature to call for a constitutional convention have failed. Last year, representatives of the Idaho Republican Party and the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance opposed an Idaho resolution to apply for a convention of the states.

DeSantis also plans to visit Montana on the same issue.

Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
A Florida man is in custody after deputies say he put another man through what can only be described as a nightmare.

Highlands County deputies released a video showing them chasing Joshua Torres through backyards in Sebring.

Deputies said Torres pulled a gun on a man who offered him a ride, hit him, forced him to strip to his underwear, pointed a gun at his head, and pulled the trigger twice.

Luckily, the gun never fired.

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Hours later, deputies spotted him and made the arrest.

Torres is now facing a long list of charges, including attempted second-degree murder, armed carjacking, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, false imprisonment and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
UNITED NATIONS, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Following the killing of hundreds of civilians, including UN staff, and the aid blockade, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has decided to reduce staff in the Gaza Strip, a UN spokesman said on Monday.

"The Secretary-General has taken the difficult decision to reduce the United Nations' footprint in Gaza, even as humanitarian needs soar and our concern over the protection of civilians intensifies," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Guterres, at a daily press briefing.

"The United Nations is not leaving Gaza," Dujarric said. "We remain committed to continuing to provide aid that civilians depend on for their survival and protection."

The spokesman said about 30 percent of the 100 international staff in Gaza, or about 30 people, were being withdrawn. Overall, there are about 13,000 UN personnel in Gaza, the bulk of them working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and most of them are national staff.

"Based on the information that is currently available, the strikes hitting a UN compound in Deir Al Balah on (Wednesday) were caused by an Israeli tank shell," he said.

The strikes claimed the life of a UN colleague from Bulgaria and left six others, from France, Moldova, North Macedonia, Palestine and the United Kingdom, with severe injuries, some of them life-altering, according to Dujarric.

The spokesman told reporters that the UN compound's location was well known to Israeli forces. The secretary-general strongly condemns these strikes and demands a full, thorough and independent investigation into this incident.

Dujarric stressed that all parties must always comply fully with international law. Civilians must be respected, and they must be protected. The denial of lifesaving aid must end. The hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally.

"All states must use their leverage to stop the conflict and ensure respect for international law, by applying diplomatic and economic pressure and combating impunity," the spokesman said. "The secretary-general renews his urgent call for the restoration of the ceasefire to bring an end to the anguish."

However, Israeli officials have indicated they intend to continue their military activities in Gaza.

The aid blockade began more than three weeks ago when Israel cut off the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. It is the longest such suspension of assistance since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas raid on Israel.

The UN emergency relief coordinator, Tom Fletcher, said he continues to receive horrific reports from Gaza of more health workers, ambulances and hospitals attacked as they try to save survivors.

Dujarric said several casualties were reported after the surgical department of Nasser Medical Complex was hit and caught fire on Sunday. In Rafah, in southern Gaza, ambulances were reportedly hit in Tal Al Sultan, resulting in several casualties.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the United Nations and humanitarian partners continue to face constraints in providing health services.

"Our partners called for the entry of additional emergency medical teams into Gaza to help health workers already on the ground who are exhausted and, of course, overwhelmed," OCHA said. 
WESLEY CHAPEL, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A Florida man was arrested in Union County over the weekend after being accused of fraudulently purchasing tires and reselling them online.

According to the Union County Sheriffs Office, 21-year-old Luca Ascherman-Slavin of Boca Raton, Florida, was a suspect who allegedly purchased new tires from a local automotive parts store using stolen credit card information. After the purchase, the suspect then began attempting to resell the tires via Facebook Marketplace to other unsuspecting victims.

Beloved retired Union County K9 Santos dies, leaving a legacy of service

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Deputies and detectives investigating these offenses were able to set up a meeting March 23 with Ascherman-Slavin to purchase the fraudulently obtained tires. The suspect was greeted in a Wesley Chapel parking lot by a host of UCSO employees, who took him into custody without incident.

Ascherman-Slavin was charged with numerous felony offenses, including:

Obtaining Property by False Pretenses,

Identity Theft, and

Financial Card Fraud.

He was taken to the Union County jail under a secured bond of $50,000. He has since been able to post bond and is no longer in custody.

Sheriff Eddie Cathey commends all the Patrol Division and Criminal Investigations Division personnel involved in identifying this suspect and making this arrest for sending a clear message to this suspect that his criminal acts will not be tolerated in Union County.

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Jolie McCullough reported for The Timess Local Investigations Fellowship, which helps address the decline in local journalism, from Eagle Pass, Texas, a community with few reporters.

EAGLE PASS  Fernando Padron was stuck in a South Texas jail cell. Accused of stealing credit cards that he used to buy diapers, a bike and other goods for his family, he had not been brought into court or spoken to a lawyer.

He did not hear anything about his case for nine months. Finally, in March 2023, prosecutors charged him with a misdemeanor, and he was released. But his ordeal had just begun.

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Over the next two years, he would be arrested repeatedly in connection with the theft. He was pressured into a seemingly improper plea deal in one court, only to be charged again in another. At one point, he was in jail for six months before officials involved in his case realized he was there.

Padron, 27, is a U.S. citizen with no prior convictions, and his offense was minor enough that elsewhere in Texas, he might not have been jailed at all. But he was in the dysfunctional Maverick County court system, where basic tenets of American justice often do not apply.

Officials here openly acknowledge that poor defendants accused of minor crimes are rarely provided lawyers. And people regularly spend months behind bars without charges filed against them, much longer than state law allows. Last year alone, at least a dozen people were held too long uncharged after arrests for minor nonviolent crimes, interviews and records reviewed by The New York Times show.

Some defendants seem to have been forgotten in jail. Two men were released after The Times asked about them, half a year after their sentences had been completed.

Fernando Padron, a 27-year-old father with no prior convictions, was booked into the Maverick County court system in Eagle Pass. Credit: Ilana Panich-Linsman for The New York Times

The county is not at the level that it should have been for years, conceded Maverick County Judge Ramsey English Cantu, who oversees misdemeanor court. He said he had been trying to revamp and rebuild the local justice system since he was elected in 2022.

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Its been a challenge for me, he added. But at the end of the day it is unjust.

Under the U.S. Constitution, people facing jail time are entitled to a lawyer  paid for by the government if they cannot afford their own  and a fair and efficient court process. But these protections are tenuous, especially in rural parts of America, studies have shown. In Texas, one of the states that spend the least on indigent defense, The Times found recent examples of people held beyond deadlines without charges or lawyers in six rural counties.

Maverick County stood out. It is in one of the states poorest regions, and many defendants cannot afford a lawyer; some spend months in jail because they cannot pay a bail bondsman $500 or less. Yet over the past two decades, state auditors have repeatedly noted the county was failing to adequately provide indigent counsel. In 2023, when more than 240 misdemeanor defendants requested representation, the county judge appointed lawyers in only a handful of cases, records show. Nonetheless, the state has imposed no consequences.

With no one to guide them, defendants enter a disjointed justice system where it can be perplexingly difficult to figure out why someone is in jail, if there even is a reason. Misdemeanor court files are almost always missing key documents. Felony court files are often not available until more than a year after a defendants arrest. The jail sometimes reported having no record of people despite recently holding them for months.

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Defense lawyers and constitutional law scholars, responding to The Timess reporting, called the countys practices atrocious, Kafkaesque and not a criminal system at all.

The lack of transparency and the lack of public defenders in this jurisdiction has allowed this completely inept system to persist, said Rachel Kincaid, an associate law professor at Baylor University in Waco and former federal prosecutor. Theres no pressure on them to do anything differently.

David Burckhardt with a county official after his hearing at the Maverick County Courthouse. Burckhardt was jailed for five months without charges. Credit: Ilana Panich-Linsman for The New York Times

In jailhouse interviews, some defendants said they had no idea what was happening in their cases.

They havent told me anything, Juan Sanchez, 21, said in Spanish in May, shivering on a jail stool without a shirt or pants in a knee-length suicide prevention vest. He had pleaded guilty in November 2023 to trespassing at the local mall in exchange for his release, but was not let out until June, shortly after The Times asked officials why he was still there.

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They really dont give you information here, said David Burckhardt, 36, who had been jailed for five months without charges after being arrested in August 2023 on accusations of vandalizing his neighbors car. You just got to do your time.

But it is what happened to Padron that best illustrates the repercussions of the countys lapses. Told details of his case, four veteran Texas defense lawyers said that in other counties they most likely could have secured a sentence of 30 days or fewer, with some chance he would get no jail time.

Padron has now spent 20 months in jail, missing his sons first two birthdays. His case is still not resolved.

I got out and I was doing things right, he said at the jail after his third arrest stemming from the theft. And then, all of a sudden, you have an arrest warrant. And I left my girlfriend and son by themselves.

The Free State of Maverick

About half of Maverick Countys residents live in the city of Eagle Pass, which is on the Mexican border, about 150 miles southwest of San Antonio. Most residents first language is Spanish, and people who live in the neighboring Mexican city, Piedras Negras, cross often to work, shop or visit relatives.

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The county has a history of scandals, including a federal investigation into bribery and contract-rigging a decade ago that sent four of five commissioners to prison. A veteran police officer said locals jokingly call it the Free State of Maverick because officials tend to do what they want and deal with the ramifications later.

The region is also at the forefront of Americas crackdown on immigration. Since 2021, Texas police officers have arrested thousands of migrants in Maverick County for trespassing, in an effort to deter crossings and boost deportations. After legal challenges, the state created a special criminal system to expedite the process by quickly charging migrants and assigning them lawyers.

The justice system for local residents shows far less urgency. It took on about 350 cases last year, a vast majority of them misdemeanors or felony drug possession. The police and the Sheriffs Department often take weeks or months to report an arrest to prosecutors. The prosecutors then take months to decide whether to go to court, for charges as simple as resisting arrest or trespassing. During this time, prosecutors are not told, and typically do not check, whether a defendant is in jail.

County Judge Ramsey English Cantu, center, was elected to oversee misdemeanor courts in Maverick County in 2022. Credit: Ilana Panich-Linsman for The New York Times

Neither law enforcement agency answered questions about the delays. Jaime Iracheta, the county attorney, said misdemeanors in Maverick County go through layers of vetting. Some other jurisdictions file such charges within days, if not hours.

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Although those leading the justice system are all Democrats  a relic of the partys historical strength with Hispanic voters  they are divided into rival factions. Iracheta, whose office prosecutes misdemeanors, endorsed English Cantu in his 2022 run for county judge. Sheriff Tom Schmerber, who has overseen the jail since 2013, is an ally of the judges predecessor, David Saucedo.

When Judge English Cantu ran against Saucedo, his second cousin, he called Saucedo a bully who gave his cronies big salaries not to do anything. Saucedo called his opponent self-serving and accused him of helping spread an almost comical rumor that he was a murderer.

In interviews, officials did not dispute that the county had not released some people on time, but blamed one another for the failures.

The unfortunate inability of communication between the Sheriffs Department and the prosecutors office, I think, is what has delayed this situation, English Cantu said.

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He added that misdemeanor court, where he presides about once a month, was held less often under Saucedo. Saucedo said his own predecessors held misdemeanor court even less frequently.

Iracheta said the Sheriffs Department was the problem. We have extreme issues over there, but I cant control who the people elect, he said.

The sheriff did not respond to interview requests, but the jails case manager, Daniella Ramos, criticized the magistrates who set bail. She said she sends them weekly jail rosters so they can order defendants to be released, but they go into the abyss.

Kina Mancha, the countys longest-tenured magistrate, countered that the jail had sometimes failed to follow orders to let people go. Theyre not doing their job, she said.

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Without public defenders, the county relies on local lawyers to represent poor defendants, paying a few hundred dollars per case. But in felony court, the few willing lawyers are often not appointed until defendants appear before a judge  typically months or years after their arrest.

In misdemeanor court, lawyers are rarely appointed at any time. Often, the only lawyer in the room is the prosecutor. Cantus primary job is serving as the countys chief executive, akin to a mayor. Like most Texas county judges, he does not have a law degree.

The First Arrest

Born in San Antonio, Padron has spent most of his life in Piedras Negras. He dropped out of school around age 12, when his mother was killed, and in recent years has regularly crossed the international bridge to look for day labor in Eagle Pass.

On the night of his arrest in June 2022, Padron needed diapers for his infant son, Fernandito, but had no money. He recalled telling his girlfriend: Im going to go to someone and see what I can do. Ill take any job right now.

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He entered the United States and saw a house where he thought he might offer to clean the yard or wash the truck. But it was dark outside, he said. When he noticed the truck door was unlocked, he snatched the wallet inside.

Later, he would describe the decision as rash, adding that he wished he could apologize and work to repay what he took. I got carried away, he said in Spanish.

Padron spoke with his lawyers office on the phone in November. Credit: Ilana Panich-Linsman for The New York Times

After buying diapers at a grocery store, Padron went to a Walmart and bought a bike, a hair straightener and a Frozen coloring book before the accounts were frozen. He was heading back toward the border at around 10 p.m. when the police, responding to a call from the credit cards owner, found him and chased him down. The police reported recovering goods worth a little more than $300.

They arrested him on several potential charges: the misdemeanors of fleeing the police and stealing the wallet, and multiple counts of using stolen credit cards, a low-level felony. A magistrate met with Padron, noted on a form that he wanted a court-appointed lawyer and set his bail at roughly $40,000. He probably could have paid $4,000 or less to a bail bondsman and been released, but Padron did not have that. He was sent to the county jail.

Texas law lays out what should have happened next. His form requesting a lawyer should have reached English Cantu within 24 hours and been ruled on within days. Prosecutors had 30 days to officially charge him with any misdemeanors and 90 days for felonies; after both deadlines, he should have been released.

None of that was done.

English Cantu said in an interview that he does not get the attorney request forms. This surprised several county magistrates, who said jail staff had promised a year ago to begin consistently forwarding them to the court.

Was that being done? I dont know, said Jeannie Smith, a magistrate of nearly 15 years. Is it being done now? I dont know.

Eagle Pass is the largest city in Maverick County, home to about half of the countys 58,000 residents. Credit: Ilana Panich-Linsman for The New York Times

Without a lawyer to follow up on his case, Padron stayed in jail for nine and a half months.

Misdemeanor prosecutors finally charged him in March 2023 with one crime, evading arrest. He was released and a month later reported to court, where he was offered a plea deal: a year of probation, along with a $600 fine, $270 in court costs and a monthly $40 fee.

Padron hesitated. He knew he could not pay, he said later, and he had already been jailed so long. Shouldnt he get credit for that? he recalled asking the prosecutor.

The prosecutor most likely should not have offered Padron a deal at all. State law bars Texas prosecutors from speaking in court to a defendant who has asked for a lawyer before a judge rules on the request. (Although prosecutors said they only talk to defendants who have waived their right to counsel, the law specifies those waivers are invalid if a request for a lawyer is outstanding.)

A defense lawyer could have pushed for Padron to get time served, a sentence equal to the months he had spent in jail, ending his case without probation. Or asked the court to waive fines and fees, given his inability to pay them. But Padron did not have a lawyer, and the prosecutor warned him the next offer could be worse. He took the deal.

"Its Almost Over"

Six months later, in November 2023, Padron was arrested for violating his probation as he crossed into Eagle Pass for work. He had not attended his monthly check-ins or paid his dues.

This time, he was in jail for six and a half months, apparently by mistake, before anything happened in his case.

I found out he was in custody because he called me from the jail, the probation officer told English Cantu in a May 2024 hearing.

The judge called the delay unacceptable. We need to move these individuals as quickly as possible, especially if they are inmates, he added.

Padron stood expressionless. The 10-minute back-and-forth was in English, which he does not understand.

The Maverick County jail in Eagle Pass, where Padron was held. Credit: Ilana Panich-Linsman for The New York Times

In Texas, misdemeanors like Padrons evading arrest charge have a maximum sentence of one year, and judges are required to credit defendants for time already served. Padron had been incarcerated for a total of 16 months. Still, the prosecutor asked for another 44 days in jail.

English Cantu switched to Spanish to ask Padron why he violated probation, and he responded that with a baby and little work, he could not afford the fees and was afraid to check in without them. The judge paused, and then sentenced him to 34 additional days. (The judge declined to comment on individual cases.)

The good news is its almost over, Padron said at the jail a couple of weeks later, desperate to reunite with his family. In July, he was released for what he thought would be the final time.

A month later, he was again stopped at the border and sent back to jail. More than two years after his initial arrest, he was now being charged in felony court for using the credit cards.

Delays on Delays

By then, the victim of Padrons crime had moved on.

Yaqueline Salinas had been furious in 2022 when she got an alert that her credit cards were being used at the nearby Walmart. She drove around until she saw Padron, whom she recognized from her neighbors security cameras, and flagged down the police.

But it took felony investigators a year to ask for her credit card statements, she said. The bank had refunded her money, so she never responded. I felt bad, honestly, Salinas later said in an interview in Spanish, remembering the Pampers that fell off the bike Padron was riding. Hes already missed so much time with the baby.

She assumed his case had been resolved long ago. He went back to jail? she asked a Times reporter. Oh my god.

Even without her records, felony prosecutors carried on. But it would be another year before Padron was indicted.

Last year, felony indictments in the county were brought, on average, nearly 14 months after a crime, more than twice the time it took for misdemeanor charges, a Times analysis shows. Felony prosecutors work for the district attorney and rarely coordinate with the county attorneys misdemeanor prosecutors, they said.

The Maverick County criminal justice system routinely failed to meet deadlines for filing charges for jailed defendants, officials acknowledged. Credit: Ilana Panich-Linsman for The New York Times

As a result, defendants like Padron sometimes plead guilty to a misdemeanor, thinking they will be freed, only to be rearrested  or never let go  because the police had also listed a potential charge for felony prosecutors to consider.

That is why Sanchez, the man held for trespassing at the local mall, was not released until seven months after his guilty plea: The jail was still holding him on an outstanding burglary allegation that prosecutors later said they were not pursuing.

Another man, 22, was arrested last April, accused of smashing his fathers car windows and running from the police. In September, he pleaded guilty to evading arrest, a misdemeanor, for time served. But the jail continued to hold him, waiting for the district attorney to charge him with vandalism. In February, when The Times asked the district attorney why the man was still there, he said his office had no record of the case. The man was released that day.

The Right to an Attorney

In interviews, English Cantu and Iracheta, the county attorney, were quick to point to improvements they had made.

Iracheta said he had sped up misdemeanor prosecutions in recent years by requiring the police to send him cases within 30 days. Still, in 2024, his office took half a year on average to file charges.

Filing within six months is reasonable, he said, noting that the statute of limitations for misdemeanors is two years. We are actively working to improve efficiency, he added.

Last fall, English Cantu accepted a state grant to hire a coordinator to help appoint lawyers; the coordinator started this month.

From July to December, the judge also assigned lawyers in 31 cases, according to audit reports, compared with none in the first half of the year. He denied one request. Still, almost all those appointments came after defendants appeared in court; scores of additional requests logged by magistrates earlier in the process had gotten no response, state reports through December show.

In felony court, Padrons case continued. He was finally given a lawyer, Luis De Los Santos, in August 2024.

De Los Santos was initially appointed to handle Padrons felony charges about five months after his first arrest, according to a court administrator. But Padron said he never heard from the lawyer, and nothing was ever recorded in his court file. Twenty-one months later, after Padron was indicted, De Los Santos was assigned to the case again. (He did not respond to questions about his first appointment.)

In October, after Padrons first felony court appearance, De Los Santos seemed unsurprised that his client had been in jail so long. Moments later, the judge, Maribel Flores, said that she does not usually know how long a defendant has been held until late in a case. But asked by a reporter about Padrons time in jail, she said that in such situations, usually well just do time served.

In November, the prosecution agreed for Padron to be released on bail without cost. But the charge hung over him.

I really dont want to get probation, because for any little thing theyre going to lock me up, he said the next morning. Im going on two and a half years for the same thing.

He reported to court again in December, when the prosecution offered Padron a plea deal: not time served, but five years of probation, which typically involves nearly $4,000 in fees.

De Los Santos told Flores that he considered the offer fairly reasonable. But Padron was hesitant, and the lawyer asked for more time to explain the deal to him. Flores put the case off again until January.

Padron missed that hearing. The next day, outside his home, he said he had overslept and found his bike missing when he awoke, leaving him no way to get to court on time. His son was about to turn 3, and Padron was despondent at the idea of being sent to jail again.

Across the border, a new warrant was written up for his arrest.

Ana Facio-Krajcer, Alexa Ura and Guadalupe Gonzalez contributed translation. Kirsten Noyes contributed research.

Jolie McCullough is a reporter focusing on criminal justice systems in rural Texas as part of the Local Investigations Fellowship at The New York Times. More about Jolie McCullough

Disclosure: Baylor University and New York Times 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.

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DES MOINES, Iowa  A former Ames nurse practitioner was sentenced to federal prison for sex trafficking multiple young victims.

Carl Dale Markley, 45, pled guilty to 15 counts of sex trafficking by fraud and coercion in November for sexually abusing and sex trafficking young victims for almost a decade.

Past Coverage: Carl Markley case

According to the United States Attorneys Office Southern District of Iowa, Markley admitted to coercing at least 14 victims into conducting commercial sex acts from 2004 to 2023. Markley told the victims that he had to perform sex acts on them or watch them engage in sex acts in order to be granted certifications, complete classwork, conduct research, and even for product development; however, it was a lie.

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DSM man receives 30-year prison sentence for shooting at deputies

Markley also had hidden cameras in his office to record the victims, the attorneys office said.

This case is a stark reminder that those who abuse positions of trust for personal gain will be held accountable, Ames Police Chief Geoff Huff said in a statement. We commend the bravery of the victims who came forward and the relentlessness of our officers and partner agencies in bringing this perpetrator to justice.

On Monday, Markley was sentenced to life in federal prison.

Iowa News:

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President Donald Trump nominated former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Huckabee is seen here at a Trump campaign event in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 29, 2024. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee fielded questions about his nomination as ambassador to Israel during a congressional hearing punctuated by protests Tuesday.

President Donald Trump nominated Huckabee for the role in November. The native Arkansan has no foreign policy experience, but has visited Israel several times.

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The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee also questioned Reed Rubinstein, State Department legal adviser nominee, and Kevin Cabrera, Panama ambassador nominee, but Huckabees remarks were the only ones interrupted multiple times by audience members who were removed after shouting about desecrating the Holy Land and misus[ing] Christianity to justify ethnic cleansing.

Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and tens of thousands of people have died in the conflict since Israel retaliated. A ceasefire negotiated in January was broken last week when Israeli strikes killed hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza.

Ranking committee member and New Hampshire Democrat Jeanne Shaheen said its important to get the parties back to the negotiating table. Noting Huckabees previous support for Israeli annexation of the West Bank and total Israeli control of Palestinian territory, Shaheen called the rhetoric highly incendiary across the Middle East and the entire Muslim world.

And so I hope that you will think about how to advance long-term peace and stability in the region, she said.

An evangelical Christian, Huckabee is a long-time supporter of Israel and has opposed a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. Huckabee told the committee Tuesday that he wasnt there to defend his views and repeatedly said that if confirmed, he would enforce Trumps policies.

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An ambassador doesnt create the policy, he carries the policy of his country and his president, he said.

Asked by Oregon Democrat Sen. Jeff Merkley if he supports Trumps plans to remove Palestinians from Gaza, Huckabee said the president has never called for forced displacement, but rather to ensure there is a safe and secure place for people to live during the process of cleaning out what is a disastrous mess.

Trump last month suggested the idea of the United States taking control of Gaza. When asked during a Fox News interview if Palestinians would have a right to return to the territory, Trump said no, they wouldnt, noting it would be years before the land would be habitable.

While it may not be possible today, Nevada Democrat Sen. Jacky Rosen said she firmly believes a two-state solution should be the ultimate goal and inform how the U.S. approaches the Israel-Palestine conflict. Rosen asked if Huckabee agreed and if not, requested an alternative approach.

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The question is not is there a need for people who are Palestinian to be able to live and have a future, the question is where and when, he said. Where will that be? Will it be on top of the Israeli Jewish state or will it be somewhere that is decided upon that would be completely different, only for those who wish to locate there?

Trumps goal is to see a real and lasting peace in the Middle East, according to Huckabee, who said he believes the president could achieve something of biblical proportion.

If confirmed, I want to be able to take the clarity of his voice and moral understanding of what should happen in the Middle East in dealing with terrorism and being able to be part of something historic, to stop that which has murdered and destroyed the lives and livelihoods, not only of soldiers, but of civilians, he said.

After visiting Israel for the first time in 1973, Huckabee began taking groups there in 1981. He told the committee hes led tens of thousands of people to the Bible lands over the course of approximately 100 trips.

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An ordained Southern Baptist pastor, Huckabee hosted a talk show on Trinity Broadcasting Network that ended in January. He also previously hosted shows on Fox News and was syndicated on Cumulus Media Networks.

Huckabee served as Arkansas governor from 1996 through 2006 before running for president in the 2008 and 2016 Republican primaries. He is the father of the current governor, Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

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VIENNA (Reuters) -Austria's top court on Tuesday sentenced former Austrian Finance Minister Karl-Heinz Grasser to four years in prison, dismissing his appeal against his 2020 conviction on corruption charges.

Austria's Supreme Court upheld allegations of corruption raised against Grasser but halved the original sentence of eight years handed down against the former political star. That verdict had not been legally binding pending appeal.

Despite the reduction, the sentence is one of the longest ever issued to a prominent political figure in Austria.

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In 2020, a lower court found Grasser guilty of fraud, accepting illicit gifts and falsifying evidence, in a scandal centring on the role he played during the sale of thousands of state-owned homes to private investors two decades ago.

Grasser has always denied the charges, which centred on him allegedly passing on information to bidders about the process.

He called the ruling a miscarriage of justice and vowed to appeal it at the European Court of Human Rights.

Grasser, 56, who was Austria's finance minister between 2000 and 2007, was once a darling of the political right in the country, and is married to an heiress of the Swarovski family.

(Reporting by Alexandra Schwarz, writing by Dave Graham, editing by Thomas Seythal)
Mar. 24MOUNT CARROLL  A former Carroll County sheriff's deputy has been charged with reckless homicide and destroying evidence in connection with the July death of 18-year-old Jackson Kradle of Mount Carroll.

Kradle's death was reported about 3:30 a.m. July 28, when the Carroll County dispatch center received a nonemergency call from an off-duty employee reporting a body in the road on Route 78, less than 1 mile north of Mount Carroll's city limits.

Former deputy Matthew Herpstreith, 44, was charged Monday, March 24, with reckless homicide, reckless conduct, obstructing justice  all felonies  and one misdemeanor count of attempted obstruction of justice and destruction of evidence. He was also charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

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Carroll County Sheriff Ryan Kloepping issued a news release Monday announcing the charges, which come as the result of an investigation by the Illinois State Police and a review by the Illinois State Appellate Prosecutor's Office.

Carroll County court records verify that Herpstreith has been charged and is scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. April 17.

"This case has weighed heavily on our community, our office, and, most importantly, on Mr. Kradle's family and loved ones," Kloepping said in the release. "From the moment this heartbreaking event occurred, our priority has been ensuring a thorough and impartial investigation. That is why, within hours of the incident, we requested the Illinois State Police to take over the investigation, ensuring an independent review."

Kloepping broke his silence about the case in a Nov. 7 social media post on the Carroll County Sheriff's Office Facebook page, using it to explain how his office handled the case after two sheriff's office employees who were publicly identified during an inquest as Herpstreith and Amy Hubble, a former 911 dispatcher  found Kradle's body and reported it via a nonemergency call to the sheriff's office.

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In that post, Kloepping confirmed that the two employees  who were placed on administrative leave and represented by the police union  had turned in their resignations three days after they discovered the body and just before the time they knew they were going to be interrogated.

"At that time, an off-duty deputy sheriff and off-duty dispatcher, who is also a paramedic, were on scene," Kloepping said of the events that unfolded after the discovery of the teen's body. "Dispatch personnel then dispatched the on-duty deputy sheriff as well as a local city officer, as that officer was closer to the reported location."

At 3:45 a.m., Illinois State Police said two troopers were responding to the scene. At 3:50 a.m., the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services unit was contacted to respond to the scene, Kloepping said.

"It is common practice for Crime Scene Services to respond to all unattended or suspicious deaths within Carroll County," he said. "Their staff has proper training, knowledge and equipment to handle these types of cases."

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The sheriff said that when the on-duty deputy arrived at the scene, they were told that the reporting party had been released from the scene.

"Our department command staff was also contacted to respond to the scene," Kloepping said. That team includes the sheriff, chief deputy and detective. The Carroll County coroner was contacted at 5:14 a.m. to respond to the scene. At that time, Crime Scene Services was still processing the scene, which is a lengthy process, to ensure the scene is properly documented and any possible evidence can be recovered, Kloepping said.

He said there was no identification on the body, and that staff members at the scene were not aware of the teen's identity. On-scene personnel suggested a possible identity, Kloepping said, adding that the sheriff's office followed up on the lead and determined it was inaccurate. At that time, the victim was removed from the scene by the coroner's office, and Crime Scene Services completed its duties.

Kloepping said he contacted the Mount Carroll fire chief, who responded to the scene to wash down the road. At that time, the road was opened to traffic. Sheriff's office staff members went to the funeral home to meet with the coroner. The main focus at that time was to determine who the victim was so proper notification could be made to the family, Kloepping said.

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Additional law enforcement resources responded from Rockford with equipment that could assist with identifying the victim. While at the funeral home, a call was received reporting a motor vehicle accident, Kloepping said. He said sheriff's office staff members responded to the incident to determine whether it had any possible connection to the Kradle investigation. It eventually was determined that the new incident was not related, Kloepping said.

"Shortly thereafter, our office was able to make a positive identification of Jackson," Kloepping said. "At that time,  personally went to the residence of his father and the residence of his mother and made notification. My staff did ask questions of others present to hopefully assist with the investigation. After departing the families' residences, our command staff met back at the initial scene on Illinois Route 78 to discuss how we would proceed with this investigation."

He said the next steps involved interviewing the two sheriff's office staff members who had reported the body's discovery.

"Due to the possible conflict of interest, I then made a call to the Illinois State Police and requested that their investigation unit handle this case," Kloepping said. "Within one hour, they had multiple investigators at our office. We provided them with the details of the case and asked for them to handle this incident throughout the remainder of the investigation."

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On July 29, the sheriff's office command staff met with the two employees. They were placed on administrative leave and given their notice of an internal investigation, Kloepping said, further explaining that as members of the Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council, they "are afforded certain rights" and were given a meeting time in 48 hours for interrogation.

"This procedure follows the guidelines by the Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council and allows them proper time to have representation if so desired," he said. "On July 31, just prior to the interrogation, both employees resigned from their positions with our agency."

In November, a forensic pathologist ruled that Kradle died from blunt force trauma as the result of a motor vehicle-pedestrian crash. A coroner's inquest was held, and on Jan. 14, Kradle's death was ruled a homicide caused by blunt trauma to the head from a motor vehicle-pedestrian crash.

"As a law enforcement agency, we strive to hold ourselves to the highest standards of accountability," Kloepping said when announcing the charges Monday. "This situation has deeply impacted the men and women of the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, but our focus has remained steadfast on seeking justice for the Kradle family.

"We understand the community's desire for more information throughout this process. However, it was critical to allow the independent investigation and subsequent legal proceedings to unfold without interference. Our office remains committed to openness and upholding the trust placed in us by the people we serve."
Former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra speaks at a press conference with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel in Lansing, Mich., on March 24, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Attorney General Dana Nessel warned Monday that Michigan consumers would be left without protections if the administration of President Donald Trump is successful in gutting the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Because court rulings in 1999 and 2007 significantly restricted the states ability to defend consumers from deception and price gouging under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, Nessel said Michigan residents are reliant on the federal investigators at the CFPB.

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Unfortunately, my office can now no longer rely upon this once dependable and powerful partner to protect Michigan consumers, Nessel said. Their decision to strangle the CFPB has a particularly pernicious impact for Michigan consumers, who dont have the same state-level consumer protections that their neighbor states do.

Nessel is one of nearly two dozen state attorneys general who filed amicus briefs last month asking a federal judge to block the Trump administration from defunding the CFPB after the administration told employees to stay at home and refrain from doing any work.

According to a report released by the Center for American Progress in 2023, the CFPB took action on more than 90,000 complaints from Michigan residents.

Former CFPB Director Rohit Chopra, who Trump fired in February, said at the press conference that the return on investment is a model of government efficiency.

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The agency, which is tasked with overseeing the financial services and products used by everyday Americans, was created after the 2008 collapse of the U.S. banking system.

Chopra warned that dismantling the agency could create the conditions for that to happen again, noting that states do not have as much power to come after big banks.

Defunding this law enforcement does nothing to protect citizens, and only creates the conditions for another financial crisis, Chopra said.

He said the agency is essential for coordinating among states and ensuring that any gains for consumers are felt nationwide.

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Federal law enforcement helps get money back for everybody, Chopra said. I dont know if its efficient for there to be 50 different lawsuits against those firms or 50 different investigations.

Michigan state Rep. Kelly Breen, D-Novi, speaks at a press conference with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra in Lansing, Mich., on March 24, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

But Chopra said the dismantling of the CFPB has introduced new energy in state governments to strengthen their own consumer protection laws. State Rep. Kelly Breen (D-Novi) said Democrats in the Michigan Legislature plan to reintroduce a package of bills to restore some powers to the attorney general under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, and a case before the Michigan Supreme Court seeks to overturn the previous rulings that limited the law.

Everyone is noticing that if federal law enforcement essentially rolls over and plays dead, the states are going to have to flex their muscles to make sure that their own neighborhoods, cities and towns are not harmed, Chopra said.

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CULLMAN, Ala. (WHNT)  The former vice president of a Cullman bank is facing embezzlement charges, federal court records show.

Kellie Johnson is charged with bank embezzlement. Court documents say Johnson embezzled approximately $2,376,325.07 between July 2013 and June 2023 from First Community Bank of Cullman while she was an employee there.

Former Decatur police officer Mac Marquette in court for immunity hearing

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According to court records, Johnson conducted unauthorized Automated Clearing House (ACH) transactions to pay personal expenses that cleared through First Community Bank of Cullmans account with the Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta, Georgia.

First Community Bank in Cullman confirmed to News 19 that Johnson was the banks vice president and they discovered the crime was taking place in 2023. She was removed from her position following that discovery.

The bank also said that it did not suffer any financial loss as a result of this embezzlement, and no customer accounts were accessed.

Johnson is set for arraignment on April 24 at 9:30 a.m. at the federal courthouse in Huntsville.

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DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT)  For the first time since Stephen Perkins was killed outside his home during a botched truck repossession, some of the details of what happened that night emerged in court.

Body camera video from two officers on the scene that night was part of an immunity hearing for former Decatur police officer Mac Marquette.

Marquette and his lawyers are arguing that he killed Perkins because Perkins was threatening a tow truck driver during a botched repossession effort outside his home in September 2023.

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Marquette was indicted on a murder charge in January 2024.

The hearing began Tuesday morning. Tow truck driver Caleb Combs, officers Christopher Mukaddam and Joey Williams and ALEA Special Agent Jamie King all testified.

Marquette did not testify at the hearing, but Tuesday afternoon an ALEA investigation interview with Marquette was played. During that interview, Marquette said Perkins pointed a gun at him that night, he saw the white of the guns flashlight and then he shot multiple rounds at Perkins.

Both sides said Tuesday afternoon they had called all of their witnesses, and closing arguments are expected on Wednesday morning. Morgan County Circuit Judge Charles Elliott said late Tuesday he did not expect to issue a ruling on Wednesday.

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The immunity hearing provides the defense an opportunity to try to persuade the judge that the use of deadly force was justified and that the murder charge should be dismissed.

The defense made its case by offering the points of view of the tow truck driver and two police officers on the scene that night with Marquette.

The officers testified that they met up with Combs after he said Perkins threatened him during a an attempt to repossess Perkins truck.

Combs testified he called his company dispatcher and then met up with officers, including Marquette, at the tow company lot. He declined to file a criminal warrant against Perkins but asked police to accompany him for the second repossession attempt.

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The officers eventually agreed to go to Perkinss house to in their own words  keep the peace. They also spoke about their actions that night, but later testimony found problems with their approach.

Prosecutors pressed both officers on why they were involved in the repossession efforts, and they maintained they did not help with the repossession because that is a civil matter. Instead, they said that they were there to make sure everyone stayed safe after the initial report included a gun being pointed at the tow truck driver.

Defense attorneys maintained that the officers were acting according to policy and standard protocol for those types of calls.

Agent King, who was the lead ALEA investigator on the case, testified that the officers waited near the side of the house, but he said that wasnt a trained position. King also said the officers should have presented themselves to Perkins based on the laws governing repossession.

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King said Perkins was the aggressor during his confrontation with Combs, pointing the weapon at him before pointing it at Marquette. King added that his investigation found that Marquette pointed his gun at Perkins first before any commands were given.

If the court finds that Marquette acted in self-defense, his murder case is over. If the judge rules against him, his murder trial is due to start on April 7. Marquette also has the right to appeal an unfavorable immunity hearing ruling before his trial starts.

Marquette is charged with killing 39-year-old Perkins in the early morning hours of September 29th following an incident surrounding a vehicle repossession. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) said Perkins pointed a weapon toward an officer, and the officer shot at him.

Perkins was taken to a nearby medical facility and died.

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Based on Decatur Police Department policy, Marquette was placed on administrative leave, and ALEA began to investigate the incident.

Marquettes personnel file obtained by News 19 shows he applied for a police officer position with the Decatur Police Department in late March 2020 and was given a conditional hiring offer on September 24, 2020. He was certified by the Police Officers Standards and Training Commission in April 2021.

The Morgan County District Attorney announced that a grand jury indicted Marquette in January 2024, after ALEA concluded its investigation into Perkins death. Marquette turned himself into the Morgan County Jail and was held on a $30,000 bond before bonding out.

News 19 Investigative Reporter Dallas Parker was at the courthouse all day on Tuesday, giving live updates. You can see her updates below.

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Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits the one-stop aircraft maintenance base of Hainan Free Trade Port in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, March 24, 2025. Ding made an inspection tour in Hainan Province from Monday to Tuesday. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

HAIKOU, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang has required solid efforts to promote the building of Hainan Free Trade Port and develop it into a gateway that leads China's opening up in the new era.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour in south China's Hainan Province on Monday and Tuesday.

Ding visited an information facility of social management, airport and harbor ports to learn about the work in preparation for the independent customs operation of the free trade port.

Ding said the independent customs operation will be launched this year, calling for efforts to ensure a smooth, orderly and successful operation.

He also learned about the implementation of duty-free shopping policies and the building of an international tourism consumption center. Hainan should develop new quality productive forces based on local conditions and accelerate the development of modern industrial system with its own features and advantages, he said.

Ding also urged greater efforts to develop the sector of commercial spaceflight and ensure quality education in rural areas. 

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, communicates with teachers while visiting Liandong Middle School in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, March 25, 2025. Ding made an inspection tour in Hainan Province from Monday to Tuesday. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
Former Acting U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon was given just 40 minutes to brief Department of Justice officials on the years-long corruption probe of Mayor Adams according to a newly unsealed draft letter that also revealed Deputy AG Todd Blanche may have been involved in sensitive conversations about dropping the case prior to his confirmation.

Sassoon, who resigned rather than follow the order to seek dismissal over concerns over concerns of an improper deal between Adams and the Trump administration, drafted the letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi in a last-minute effort to convince her to stop the DOJ from dropping the case.

I remain baffled by the urgent and superficial process by which this decision was reached, Sassoon wrote.

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Its unclear if the letter was ever sent to Bondi. The draft, along with other materials Adams lawyers and Trump Justice Department officials say prove Adams was unjustly prosecuted, was unsealed on Tuesday after the judge in the case ordered it.

Sassoon also raised the possibly that Todd Blanche, Trumps pick for deputy attorney general, had been involved in sensitive conversations prior to his confimation, a potential ethics issue, She wrote that she first learned from Bove that the department was leaning toward trying to drop the case a week after Trump took office on Jan. 27. The prosecutor wrote that she was concerned with how quickly Bove ordered the dismissal and told him she wanted to wait for Todd Blanches confirmation as deputy attorney general.

No need to wait, Bove said, as Blanche was on the same page.

During his Senate confirmation hearing for his role in February, Blanche testified that he didnt know any more about the case than the general public: I have the same information you have, he said.

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Todd Blanche was not involved in the Departments decision-making prior to his confirmation, a DOJ spokesperson said in a statement.

At the end of the meeting, according to Sassoons draft letter, then-acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove directed a member of her team to shred their notes, she said.

That allegation was denied by Bove.

The former Acting United States Attorney made a series of inaccurate claims in a submission to the Attorney General of the United States, and her misrepresentations in that letter are partly why we find ourselves where we do with respect to the Adams prosecution, Bove said in a statement. There were many people present in that meeting, and at no time did the [Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General] direct the shredding of any material.

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The case against Adams, filed in September 2024, accused Adams accepting luxury benefits, including first-class flights and opulent hotel stays worldwide from wealthy foreign businessmen and officials in or close to the authoritarian-leaning Turkish government looking to gain influence over him. He has pleaded not guilty.

Sassoon had previously revealed that at the Jan. 31 meeting, the mayors attorneys repeatedly urged what amounted to a quid pro quo, indicating that Adams would be in a position to assist with the Departments enforcement priorities only if the indictment were dismissed. The deal has come under widespread criticism over its provisions that Adams help the Trump White House carry out its hardline immigration efforts.

Trump DOJ officials have claimed that Adams case should be dropped in part because he was politically targeted, claiming that former U.S. Attorney Damian Williams rushed into indicting Adams to further his own political career.

Sassoon admitted that Williams, her predecessor in the role, took self-serving actions such as creating a personal website  but she said that dismissing the case because of those actions was extreme.

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There are myriad ways to address any arising prejudice or perception of weaponization well short of a dismissal-steps routinely taken in other cases with pretrial publicitybut I have never had a chance to raise them, Sassoon wrote.

DOJ lawyers had previously cited portions of texts between Southern District prosecutors in the case, claiming that those communications were proof the indictment was politically motivated.

The documents drop includes texts between prosecutors in the case debating on how to word the indictment.

All good here other than my kids gave me a stomach bug for the weekend, Hagan Scotten, a prosecutor in the case who also resigned over the DOJs motion to dismiss, wrote to an SDNY investigator in a friendly November text exchange where the investigator asks if he was considering becoming a judge.

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Got to convict Adams before I think about anything else. Hope all is well between you and yours, Scotten continued.

Manhattan Federal Judge Dale Ho ordered the full exchanges be released last week.

As Ive said from the beginning, this bogus case that needed gymnastics to find a crime  was based on political motive and ambition not facts or law, Spiro said in a statement. The more we learn about what was really going on behind the scenes, the clearer it is that Mayor Adams should have never been prosecuted in the first place.

This is a developing story; it will be updated.

With Chris Sommerfeldt
Daniela Klette, a former member of the disbanded far-left terrorist organization the Red Army Fraction (RAF), told a German court on Tuesday that her trial is being conducted with politics in mind.

"The trial is being conducted with a political calculation," she told the court in her first statement on the opening day of her proceeding.

In her statement, which lasted around 15 minutes, the 66-year-old backed her defence lawyers' previous request to have the trial dismissed. They had argued that Klette cannot get a fair trial in Germany and have filed a motion to dismiss the case.

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Klette described her political world-view and the manhunt for her alleged accomplices Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg as "incendiary."

Klette's lawyers said her membership in the RAF has not been proven. She has been charged with attempted murder and several robberies.

Klette referred to the dissolution of the RAF in 1998 as a

"de-escalation." She said the manhunt for her and her alleged two accomplices knew no boundaries and was more like a hunt for political enemies than a search for robbers.

Former RAF terrorist Daniela Klette stands in the courtroom at Celle Higher Regional Court. The investigators accuse Klette of attempted murder, unauthorized possession of weapons as well as attempted and completed aggravated robbery. The case concerns 13 robberies of cash transporters and supermarkets in Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein. Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters/Pool/dpa
A former anchor for One America News has settled a complaint with the far-right network that alleges she was subjected to a hostile work environment, discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination.

In her complaint, Jessamyn Dodd also claims that another co-worker falsely reported to the networks human resources director that Dodd was essentially a Neo-Nazi and Adolph Hitler supporter, an allegation she said was patently false and especially offensive considering her Jewish heritage.

Dodd, who worked as a weekend anchor for the Trump-boosting channel from August 2022 until she was fired in the fall of 2023, claimed in her suit that after she complained to the network about her colleagues discriminatory conduct and the hostility it created in the workplace, OAN eventually terminated her in retaliation rather than remedy the situation.

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The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, and Dodd declined to comment other than to say that the case had been resolved and she was satisfied.

Filed earlier this year in San Diego County Superior Court, near One America News headquarters, Dodd named OAN writer Katie Smith and Herring Network  the corporate parent of the channel  as defendants in the complaint.

One America News has settled with a former anchor who alleged that she was subjected to a hostile work environment, discrimination and wrongful termination. (One America News)

After becoming one of Defendants' most reliable anchors, DODD was subjected to workplace racism and discriminatory treatment by her coworker KATIE SMITH, including false accusations that DODD was a Neo-Nazi supporter  claims that were especially offensive given DODD's Jewish heritage, the complaint stated. When DODD complained about the hostile work environment, DEFENDANT HERRING NETWORKS, INC. failed to take any remedial action and instead terminated her employment in retaliation.

In addition to her allegations of workplace harassment and discrimination, Dodd also accused the network of wage theft and unlawful employment practices under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, claiming that the company failed to provide proper meal and rest periods and furnish compliant wage statements.

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DODD was regularly forced to work through breaks due to understaffing and a demanding schedule that required her to prepare and anchor multiple shows per day without adequate support staff, the complaint asserted. When DODD requested accommodations and complained about these violations, DEFENDANT HERRING NETWORKS, INC. responded dismissively and failed to take any corrective action.

Noting that she is a multi-racial woman of African American, Caucasian, and Jewish descent, Dodd said in her complaint that throughout her employment, she was subjected to a hostile work environment, including workplace racism and snide comments from Defendant Smith, a Caucasian woman who worked alongside Dodd.

At one point, according to the complaint, Dodd alleged that Smith told the networks human resources accounting and payroll director and other co-workers that Dodd was essentially a Neo-Nazi and Adolph Hitler supporter  claims that were patently false and especially offensive given PLAINTIFF's Jewish heritage

Claiming that the false statements severely damaged her professional and personal reputation by knowingly and maliciously disseminating and/or publishing false statements that disparaged her character, Dodd accused the network of brushing off her complaints about Smiths behavior.

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Instead, shortly after PLAINTIFF's complaints, DEFENDANT HERRING terminated her employment in retaliation, in explicit violation of California law and public policy, the complaint stated.

Prior to her termination, Dodd claimed she was continually overworked and the network refused to allow her to take proper rest breaks throughout her employment at OAN. She also said in the complaint that she was forced to take on additional roles due to the networks inability to retain staff.

The lack of breaks stemmed from DEFENDANT HERRING's continuous understaffing and high turnover rate, which forced PLAINTIFF to perform numerous tasks outside her job description without additional compensation, the complaint alleged. PLAINTIFF requested more coverage and accommodations on numerous occasions, such as co-hosts for her shows or longer break periods between shows, but these requests were never granted.

The suit continued: When PLAINTIFF addressed the lack of breaks and the resulting mental and physical fatigue, her supervisors and coworkers responded disparagingly, claiming she should not worry since no one even watches the news on weekends.

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Representatives for One America News and Smith did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

OAN, which now has an almost non-existent footprint on television after losing all its major cable carriers, is no stranger to settling lawsuits. Last year, the network settled the defamation case brought by voting software firm Smartmatic, which accused the hard-right channel of trumpeting baseless conspiracy theories that voting machines rigged the 2020 election against Donald Trump.

The network also reached a settlement in September 2023 with a former Dominion Voting Machines executive over false claims that he and Dominion had engaged in a massive election fraud scheme. Additionally, as part of a 2022 settlement agreement with two Georgia election workers caught up in vote-rigging conspiracy theories, OAN ran a segment acknowledging there was no widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown speaks to a supporter at a Democratic Party campaign event for Franklin County voters. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original article.)

In the wake of a bruising 2024 election, Democrats are looking to define their partys identity and former Ohio U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown is offering a familiar answer. With the launch of his Dignity of Work Institute, Brown is making the case for a politics focused on the cost of living for working class voters.

We see whats happened over the last 40 years, Brown said in a press conference Monday. Corporate profits have soared, executive compensation has exploded, and productivity keeps going up and up, but wages arent rising along with it, and the cost of living just keeps getting more expensive.

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In a nutshell, he added, people cant keep up no matter how hard they work.

In a survey of registered voters, the institute found exactly the sorts of concerns youd expect if you followed last years election  workers are feeling pinched by increasing costs and stagnant wages. The study found a strong majority of respondents have had to work more than one job at some point in their lives. A quarter of respondents have had to do so in the last two years.

Workers told researchers theyre ready for significant changes to the economy that would lower costs and increase wages. Nevertheless, they report optimism for their near-term futures.

Workers keep telling us the status quo isnt working for them and their families, but neither party  neither party  has an agenda to create the dramatic change that workers want and the dramatic change that workers are demanding, Brown said.

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There has been speculation that Brown might use the institute as a springboard for a future political campaign. But he insisted thats not the case.

This institute is not part of those plans, period, he said, adding, I dont know what Im going to do in the future.

The study

The research firm GQR contacted 1,000 registered voters over the phone last month for the survey and then supplemented that with additional sampling of Black, Hispanic and younger (18-29 years old) voters. They report a +/- 3.1 percentage point margin of error overall, with margins about twice as large among the oversampled groups.

Pollster Al Quinn called their findings one of the more startling projects in his career.

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It paints a picture, as the senator said, of Americans fighting to stay afloat in an economy thats much more brittle than the standard narrative suggests, he explained.

To boil it all down, he said, respondents throughout the survey are struggling with money going out the door faster than its coming in.

How are they dealing with it? he said. Theyre working more.

According to the survey, 6 in 10 have worked two jobs at some point, and 1 in 5 reported having to work at least three jobs at once. Although people are working hard, their financial outlook remains precarious.

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Over half  54% say I could not really afford a $1,000 hit, Quinn explained. That would produce a significant burden, to a massive burden on my household.

To make ends meet, he went on, people are relying on government assistance programs like Medicaid, unemployment, SNAP food benefits, and school lunch programs. Sixty percent of respondents reported using at least one program. When pollsters asked respondents what stands in the way of them getting ahead, 86% wanted to see significant changes to the economy.

People were saying, I need these costs to come down, I cant afford them, and I need more income coming in, Im just incredibly strapped, Quinn described.

At the same time, they found an abiding optimism among respondents. Pollsters asked them to rate their current situation on a zero-to-10 scale and then asked them where they expected to be in five years. Quinn said many believe things will get better. Theyll pick up another job, get training for a promotion, or even move to take a better gig.

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They are aspirational, he said, but the system is not whats giving them those aspirations. Its their own personal drive and their own personal wherewithal.

The institutes (and Browns) aspirations

To Brown, the study underscores a strain of working-class dissatisfaction with politics writ large.

I think that they think Democrats are the party of betrayal and Republicans are the party of rewarding the rich, Brown said. I want there to be, not a separate party, but I want the workers to feel like they have a home in both parties, both parties are addressing their concerns, and its pretty clear they arent.

As an example, he pointed to a court case in Texas challenging a Biden-era rule on how overtime gets calculated.

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One judge in one district struck down that rule on overtime, he explained. It means 4 million workers will not get overtime that would have, that had come from a Department of Labor rule, but Ive heard neither party fight back against that court case.

Its things like that that are happening far too often, he added, and this institute will speak out on those things.

But for all Browns efforts to downplay his own political future, its hard to miss the echoes of the former senators political brand, including Browns dignity of work slogan and the institutes mission that reads like a Brown stump speech. Even if he decides not to run for office again, Browns clearly still hoping to have an impact.

Its not a one-day story, its not a one-month Institute, he said. Were going to raise money  were starting. Were going to hire people  were starting. This is going to be a big deal, if done right, and were going to do it right nationally.

Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Nick Evans on X or on Bluesky.

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Mar. 24ST. PAUL  After the Minnesota Appellate Court decided to uphold her sentence, the former Pine Island teacher who was sentenced for sexually assaulting a student is asking the Minnesota Supreme Court to further review the decision.

Lindsey Rose Schneeberger, 26, was ordered on April 1, 2024, to serve eight years of a 12-year sentence in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child under age 14. She admitted to sexually assaulting and maintaining an inappropriate relationship with a student between March 1, 2023, and May 15, 2023.

Schneeberger appealed her sentence in June 2024, but the appellate court ultimately ruled to uphold her sentence.

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The appeals court decision claimed that Schneeberger's case is not the "rare" case that would require a reversal of her sentence. According to the appellate court's opinion filed on March 3, the Olmsted County District Court denied Schneeberger's request for a dispositional departure, or a lesser sentence. Minnesota law states that when there is an abuse of discretion, the appellate court can change the district court's sentencing order.

Schneeberger is now requesting that the Minnesota Supreme Court reviews whether "this was the rare case in which the district court abused its discretion in denying a departure," said court documents filed on March 21.

According to the criminal complaint, Schneeberger was charged in May 2023 after the Rochester Police Department and the Goodhue County Sheriff's Office conducted an investigation regarding a 14-year-old and her former teacher, Schneeberger. The 14-year-old began going to Schneeberger's residence in March 2023, the complaint said.

The complaint said that Schneeberger exchanged nude photos with the girl and alleged she sexually assaulted the girl in Schneeberger's residence.

Schneeberger, who was a Pine Island physical education teacher, was placed on leave on March 6, 2023, and resigned on March 16, 2023.
Former President Barack Obama on Tuesday weighed in on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, urging voters to cast their ballots for liberal candidate Susan Crawford.

"If you live in Wisconsin  or have friends or family who do  theres an important Supreme Court race happening right now," the Democrat wrote in a post on the social media platform X. "And theres only one candidate ready to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of Wisconsinites: Judge Susan Crawford."

He added: "Weve all seen how important judges are in protecting our rights, so vote early  dont wait until April 1st."

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Obama's post comes just days after Republican President Donald Trump urged voters to turn out for conservative Waukesha County Judge Schimel in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, marking two political titans weighing in on the highly nationalized race.

Former President Barack Obama shakes hands with people after delivering remarks while rallying for Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz on Sunday November 3, 2024 at the Baird Center in Milwaukee, Wis.

In a week, voters will go to the polls to choose either Crawford, a Dane County judge, or Schimel for a seat on the seven-member court.

If you live in Wisconsin  or have friends or family who do  theres an important Supreme Court race happening right now. And theres only one candidate ready to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of Wisconsinites: Judge Susan Crawford.



Weve all seen how important  Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 25, 2025

If Crawford prevails, liberals will retain their one-seat majority. If Schimel wins, conservatives will regain the control they lost in 2023.

In a statement, Crawford said she appreciated Obama weighing in.

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"Im grateful to President Obama for highlighting the importance of this race and encouraging Wisconsinites to get out and vote early," Crawford said. "There is so much at stake, and Im running for the Supreme Court to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Wisconsinites."

Schimel's spokesman in a statement said "liberal elites" see electing Crawford as a means to redraw district maps in favor of Democrats.

"Susan Crawford and her handlers will use the Supreme Court as a political weapon to deliver favors, retain power, and force a radical agenda on Wisconsin," spokesman Jacob Fischer said.

With the days before the election dwindling  and in-person absentee voting underway  national figures are increasingly urging voters to turn out.

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Schimel last week joined Donald Trump Jr. and Turning Point Action founder Charlie Kirk for an in-person rally in Oconomowoc. Over the weekend, Schimel appeared in a live, half-hour discussion on X with the platform's owner Elon Musk, a billionaire and close ally of the president.

Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Obama urges support for Susan Crawford for Wisconsin Supreme Court
Former Ravens and Michigan assistant Matt Weiss pleaded not guilty on Monday to 24 counts relating to cyber fraud.

Via Dan Wetzel of ESPN.com, Weiss was released on a $10,000 bond. He also was required to surrender his passport, and to allow officials to place software on his computer to monitor his Internet use.

Prosecutors allege that Weiss's misconduct dates back to 2015. He allegedly accessed the personal accounts of "thousands" of NCAA student-athletes. He allegedly targeted specific female athletes, accessing personal and intimate photos and videos.

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He allegedly exploited the Keffer Development Services system that keeps medical data for student-athletes at roughly 100 schools. He allegedly cracked Keffer's code for obtaining and guessing passwords.

Weiss faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on 14 different charges, along with another two years behind bars on 10 additional charges.

Weiss has worked for both of the Harbaugh brothers. The relationship began with Jim at Stanford, from 2007 through 2008. Weiss then worked for John and the Ravens, from 2009 through 2020. Weiss rejoined Jim, at Michigan from 2021 through 2022.
MIAMI  On Friday night, former Social Security head Martin OMalley faced some of the rage that Democratic and Republican members of Congress have been confronted with in recent weeks as the Trump administration ravages the federal government and threatens programs like Social Security. OMalley was there to detail not just what the Trump administration is going to harm the program, but how Americans can stop it.

The rage came in a gleaming, progressive Methodist church on the ninth floor of a high rise overlooking the Biscayne Bay as OMalley answered questions from a small audience of seniors who had gathered at one of a handful of events across Florida in recent days. It came from a 61-year-old Cuban-American retiree and Marine veteran named Enrique Tamayo.

I have to say that sitting here and listening to you speak is frustrating because we are at war, Tamayo said as OMalley listened and the room tensed up. Our country is being taken over. Our programs, our entitlements are being dismantled. What I feel is that were bringing a knife to a gunfight.

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OMalley, the former Democratic Maryland governor, had been telling attendees to call their congressional representatives to urge them to protect Social Security as Elon Musks so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) makes cuts to the agency that, OMalley says, are already 90 percent of the actions necessary to crater Social Security.

Tamayo felt it wasnt enough  his congressional representatives in South Florida, Republicans like Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar and Sen. Rick Scott, werent going to listen to people like him. They are part of the authoritarian takeover Tamayo believes the United States is under.

Do you think theyre going to stop with Social Security? This is authoritarian rule that were under and its going to get worse, Tamayo said, noting that Trumpworld figure Steve Bannon has been openly talking about a third Trump presidential term.

Tamayo suggested drastic action  a month of no consumption, he said. Shutting down the economy would cripple the Trump regime because the corporate governance that we have today is at the heart of this mess.

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After a few more comments and questions, OMalley took in the response to his suggestion that frustrated seniors share their concerns over threats to entitlements like Social Security and Medicaid with their elected representatives. What he heard in response at the Cornerstone United Methodist Church in Miami was that it wouldnt matter. The people were at their wits end.

Thats how  do I want to use this word? Yes, I do. Thats how fascists win, by making us feel like we cant do anything about it, OMalley said.

Since mid-March, OMalley has been bouncing between his native Baltimore and Florida to speak at events held by Save Social Security and Medicare Now, a Super PAC formed last year. On Friday, he started the day in Naples, then drove across Alligator Alley to the event in Miami. The next day, Orlando and Palm Coast, then Pensacola. The event with Tamayo in Miami was the smallest of the events so far with about 30 people  former Miami mayor Manny Diaz noted its not easy getting downtown at 4 p.m. on a Friday. In all, OMalley and organizers say, theyve had some 3,000 people, mostly seniors, show up at their events. The next day in Fort Lauderdale, hundreds filled every pew of a Methodist church.

I think this is the beginning of something, OMalley told Rolling Stone after the Fort Lauderdale event. There, he told attendees that this is a moment in our countrys history to not give up on the capacity of our neighbors to be engaged. So many of us are checking out because it can be anxiety-inducing, but now is the time to be at the table of democracy.

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ATTENDEES AT THE EVENTS have vacillated between distraught, bewildered, confused, and occasionally very, very angry.

Wheres Jared Moskowitz rep? one man screamed of the Democratic representative as OMalley thanked local pols who attended an event held Saturday at the Methodist Church of Christ in Fort Lauderdale.

The people at the events are worried about soaring wait times online and on over the phone, plus the prospect of their local Social Security office closing. Meanwhile, the agencys website has crashed and waits to speak to representatives have skyrocketed thanks to DOGEs cuts, according to the Washington Post. DOGE has slated 47 field offices in 24 states for closure and has said it will do away with the agencys 800 number in favor of online customer service.

Im techie, so I can figure stuff like that out, one woman, who didnt want to give her name, tells Rolling Stone. But I worry about people who arent so good with technology or who dont have Internet access.

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The woman and her husband noted that many of the offices DOGE wants to close are in rural areas with unreliable internet. Attendees worried that Social Security is effectively being shut down under the guise of rooting out the fraud, waste, and abuse that Musk and the Trump administration claim are infecting the system.

In addition to the wildly unfounded claims that Americans well over the age of 100 are receiving benefits, Musk and Trump have claimed that entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare are rife with fraud and improper payments. Musk recently claimed, without evidence, that theres up to $700 billion in fraud in entitlements each year. The White House has singled out a report from the former inspector general of Social Security showing that the agency made $72 billion in improper payments between 2015 and 2022, amounting to .85 percent of all payments.

The claims are key to the Trump administrations argument that it is carrying out a campaign promise to cut waste, fraud, and abuse. So far, DOGE and the White House have yet to report a single actual instance of fraud. Still, Attorney General Pam Bondi insisted at Mondays Cabinet meeting that those who commit fraud in relation to government services will be prosecuted.

Were coming after you, Bondi said, in part, claiming the Justice Department now has a task force looking at fraud claims in every major federal government agency.

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OMalley is quick to point out that there were already checks against fraud within the Social Security Administration (SSA)  checks that were some of the first cuts made by DOGE when it closed the Office of Analytics, Review and Oversight, the SSA office responsible for investigating fraud and improper payments.

OMalley, the former Baltimore mayor and Maryland governor who briefly ran for president in 2016 and served as Social Security commissioner for a year under President Joe Biden, has begun his talks at the events by describing how he got the job. Neera Tanden, Bidens staff secretary and a senior advisor, had called OMalley and described how wait times had gone up as the SSAs customer service operations had deteriorated. Sounds like a problem. Who do you have in mind to fix it? OMalley recalls asking Tanden. Well, we were thinking of you, she replied.

Thus began OMalleys crash course in Social Security, an agency with offices and thousands of employees in his native Baltimore. He remembers asking top staff there if they had pie charts so he could better visualize some of the endless numbers and stats being thrown his way. Pie charts are for simpletons, was the response, OMalley told the crowd in Fort Lauderdale before taking a pause. OK, do you have any pie charts to help explain all this? he recalled responding to the staffer as the crowd laughed.

OMalley points to a simple graph to explain the challenges his former agency faces. It shows the number of Social Security employees going down over a 50-year period as the number of beneficiaries  Baby Boomers like OMalley entering retirement  have skyrocketed. At events across Florida, OMalley has touted his work as Social Security Commissioner, noting that wait times on the agencys 800 number went down during his tenure, and how he limited clawback fees to prevent seniors from going broke if the agency made a mistake and overpaid them. The Trump administration has returned those clawback fees to 100 percent, meaning even an accidental overpayment that is no fault of a beneficiary will result in their entire check being withheld.

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From there, OMalley has gone on to explain everything that has happened in Trumps first two months in office, with acting commissioner Leland Dudek overseeing a reign of terror, as OMalley puts it. First, DOGE staffers like Musk deputy Steve Davis and a 22-year-old former Meta and Palantir intern named Akash Bobba demanded sweeping access to all of SSAs data systems, according to a deposition from a 30-year SSA veteran filed in a lawsuit brought against the agency by the AFL-CIO. When former commissioner Michele King  who OMalley says was a dedicated public servant who began her career decades before as a 22-year-old intern herself at the agency  refused to provide the data, Dudek undercut her, eventually admitting to his subordination in a since-deleted LinkedIn post.

I confess. I bullied agency executives, shared executive contact information, and circumvented the chain of command to connect DOGE with the people who get stuff done, Dudek wrote.

As punishment, King placed Dudek on administrative leave as Davis and DOGE continued demanding access to the data. Rather than hand it over, King resigned. The Trump administration then chose Dudek for the role of acting commissioner. On Tuesday, the Senate will hear from the administrations pick to lead the agency  Frank Bisignano, a former Fiserv executive known for cost-saving staff cuts at the company  at his confirmation hearing.

Dudek and DOGE have been on the warpath, closing the review and oversight office that examined fraud and improper payments, closing the Office of Transformation, which dealt with customer service, and shuttering the Office of Civil Rights, which heard workplace complaints of discrimination. Amid the carnage, Trump fired the agencys inspector general along with more than a dozen other inspectors general across the government.

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Also removed in the slow-rolling massacre were Eric Powers, the agencys head of customer service, and Claudia Postell, who oversaw the civil rights office  both dedicated public servants, OMalley says. Powers was unceremoniously fired for cause, according to OMalley, who relayed the stories of Powers firing and other agency cuts as told to him by insiders

Trump isnt pleased with customer service and you havent made it any better so youre fired  go get a cardboard box, OMalley says of Powers firing.

It was like the Wizard of Oz tearing apart the scarecrow, OMalley told the crowd in Fort Lauderdale as attendees sat in silent disbelief at the description of events. They made a spectacle of it for everyone to see  people standing in the parking lot with boxes on the hood of their cars crying and hugging each other.

With the agency being gutted from the inside out, DOGE offered buyouts to thousands of employees at or near retirement age. More than 2,000 have taken the offer. These guys are paying people  with your money  to leave, OMalley told the crowd. Thats the biggest waste of efficiency in the history of the Social Security Administration.

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Then came the lies, OMalley says. Looking at data that was, in part, organized by an antiquated coding system, DOGE staff thought they had discovered people well over the age of 100 receiving benefits. What they were actually looking at was a quirk in the system: For people whose date of birth wasnt known, the system  known as COBOL  defaulted to an internationally recognized date for statistical language. The date was in the year 1875, making it appear that Americans who were well over 100 years old were still receiving benefits.

Musk and Trump took this mistake and ran with it, talking about people who were 100, 150, and even 300 years old who were allegedly receiving Social Security benefits. None of it was true.

The DOGE kids were elated  they thought theyd found this high scandal, OMalley told the crowd in Fort Lauderdale. But didnt really know what they were looking at.

OMalley says he believed Musk would correct the record and admit DOGEs mistake, but when Trump mentioned the phenomenon of people at impossibly high ages receiving benefits, he knew it was part of a campaign to discredit Social Security amid efforts to cut services.

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I thought, Woah, what a huge gaffe, Musk probably didnt tell him it wasnt true. Now, I think they must have done their polling and know that enough people in their base will choose to believe that were sending money out to cadavers with checks falling out of their pockets.

ALL OF THIS HAS LEFT seniors and other Americans who rely on Social Security asking two questions: How bad will it get, and what can be done about it? The answer to the first question, according to OMalley, is total system collapse if nothing is done to stop DOGEs work inside the SSA. Part of that work was halted last week when a federal judge issued an order prohibiting DOGE from accessing the personal data of hundreds of millions of Americans.

To answer the second question, OMalley believes that his barnstorming tour and the message it sends to congressional Republicans might strike enough fear of losing in the midterms into the hearts of congressional Republicans to make them think twice about letting DOGEs work inside the SSA and other agencies continue unfettered.

I can see the look in your eyes  well never get Rick Scott to do anything, OMalley told Tamayo in Miami. But dont give up on him; dont give up on your legislators.

After the event, OMalley and Diaz found a nearby bar to grab drinks and unpack the event. Over a Corona and a shot of well tequila, OMalley told Diaz he has embraced the role of Social Security Commissioner-in-exile, something the former Miami mayor suggested is in line with what prominent Democrats should be doing in Washington: holding shadow cabinet meetings and regular press conferences explaining the threats posed by DOGE and the Trump administrations gutting of government.

That may help from a messaging perspective, but much more may be required. Tamayo wasnt alone in suggesting that true progress on defending Social Security and stopping the Trump administrations authoritarian dismantling of government might take something more forceful than calling members of Congress. A woman at the Fort Lauderdale event told OMalley that Americans should prepare for widespread protests and boycotts.

To stop them  France is where I think we need to be looking towards, she said. They do general strikes all the time whenever the government comes for their benefits.

OMalley didnt oppose the idea even as he insisted that pressure on Congress could bring an end to the DOGE madness. That, plus something as simple as talking to ones neighbors, friends, and family  even if theyre Trump supporters  to inform them about the threats to Social Security. OMalley told the crowd in Fort Lauderdale he had achieved a greater understanding of what drives Musk when the worlds richest man recently said that the fundamental weakness of Western Civilization is empathy.

He said Musk believes that the men and women attending the events in Florida, like all retirees, are an inefficiency to be eliminated  a position that OMalley argued is out of step with fundamental American values.

The greatness of our country is not measured by the power of our armies or by the vastness of our wealth, it is measured by the care and compassion we demonstrate for each other, OMalley said in Fort Lauderdale.

After the event, OMalley spent 30 minutes speaking with attendees before his bodyman gave him the three-minute warning. Then, it was into a rented Kia sedan and off to Palm Coast, three hours and 45 minutes away. With growing anger at Democratic Party leadership and progressive Americans looking for party leaders to push back against the Trump administration, its only natural to wonder whether OMalleys tour of Florida to save Social Security is the beginning of a long road that ends at the White House in 2029.

Were primed to think of things in terms of electoral self-preservation, he tells Rolling Stone. But Id rather not be having to do this. Id rather be running Social Security.

Even under Trump?

Hell no  for an administration that isnt trying to destroy it.

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Former Trump campaign manager Chris LaCivita sued The Daily Beast on Monday, accusing the digital outlet of defamation for its reporting on his compensation in the throes of the 2024 race.

The civil lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Virginia, turns on a story published in late 2024 titled: Trump In Cash Crisis-As Campaign Chiefs $22m Pay Revealed. LaCivita says the Beast created the false impression that Mr. LaCivita was personally profiting excessively from his work on the campaign and that he was prioritizing personal gain over the campaigns success, according to court documents obtained by TheWrap.

In a statement to the New York Times, which first reported the story, the Beast said: His lawsuit is meritless and a transparent attempt to intimidate The Beast and silence the independent press. The Beast will defend itself vigorously and looks forward to following the money to confirm where every penny flowed in LaCivitas L.L.C.

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The article was written by freelancer Michael Isikoff, who is not named as a defendant. It stated that LaCivita, a manager for Mr. Trumps reelection effort, was paid millions over two years from the campaign, which was repeated in several follow-up Daily Beast articles and a podcast.

LaCivitas lawyers argue that public Federal Election Commission records proved otherwise, and demanded a retraction in November. The Beast the corrected its article to change the amount from $22 million to $19 million and clarified that his consulting firm was paid, not him personally.

The Beast removed a podcast episode after LaCivitas lawyers demanded further retractions in January. But a letter from the Daily Beast to Mark Geragos, obtained by TheWrap, the outlet disputed his accounting, saying: our journalism is substantially true. The FEC records cited in the publications indisputably show $19.2 million was paid to Mr. LaCivitas consulting company, the LLC, over the course of two years from Trump super PACs, the Trump campaign, and the Republican National Committee. The LLC is located in Mr. LaCivitas home in Powhatan, Virginia, has no website, no other corporate officers, and no apparent employees.

The post Former Trump Campaign Manager Sues Daily Beast for Defamation Over Reporting on His Pay appeared first on TheWrap.
NAIROBI, March 25 (Xinhua) -- African leaders from eastern and southern Africa appointed five former presidents to an expanded panel of facilitators to advance the peace process in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) at a virtual summit on Monday evening.

The newly appointed peace facilitators include former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, former President of the Central African Republic Catherine Samba Panza, and former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde.

The summit, co-chaired by Kenyan President William Ruto and his Zimbabwean counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa, brought together leaders from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

In his remarks, Ruto said leaders from the two regional blocs are committed to addressing the escalating conflict that has caused loss of lives, displacement of thousands, and a devastating humanitarian crisis.

Ruto, also the chairman of the EAC, noted that the situation poses a great danger not just to the DRC but to the stability of the EAC and the SADC regions.

Ruto commended Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DRC President Felix Tshisekedi for their efforts to end the conflict, citing a face-to-face meeting last week in Doha, Qatar. "This is a clear demonstration on their part that they are equally committed to resolving the conflict in eastern DRC."

The summit also adopted the report on the outcomes of the joint EAC-SADC ministerial meeting held on March 17 in Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, the report of the joint meeting of chiefs of defense, and the roadmap outlining the implementation measures to achieve long-term peace and security in the eastern DRC. 
Former White House ethics lawyer Norm Eisen on Monday went after the Trump administration over recent deportations, under scrutiny for potential defiance of court orders.

Anderson, what have we come to as a country, if innocent people are being deported to a dark site in a foreign country without any due process whatsoever? Eisen told CNNs Anderson Cooper on his show, in a clip highlighted by Mediaite.

Eisen added that he had filed a brief on behalf of almost two dozen conservatives who said this is a violation of conservative ideas going back century, limiting government power.

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On Monday, a federal appeals court judge slammed the Trump administration, which was seeking to remove a block on its swift deportations under the Alien Enemies Act.

There were planeloads of people. There were no procedures in place to notify people. Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemies Act than has happened here, U.S. Circuit Judge Patricia Millett said during Mondays hearing.

President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act earlier this month, and swiftly deported over 200 migrants to El Salvador, who the administration claim are Venezuelan gang members.

Critics say the administration is blowing through constitutional due process protections.

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Trump and his administration have hammered U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, whose restraining order has prevented the administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans.

Im just doing what the VOTERS wanted me to do, Trump said on his Truth Social platform earlier this month. This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED!!!

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)  A U.S. Army spouse at Fort Eisenhower is awaiting sentencing after she plead guilty to the November 2023 stabbing murder of her infant son, an attorney announced Tuesday.

April Evalyn Short, 31, pled guilty to Murder in the Second Degree in the stabbing of her 11-month old son on Nov. 15, 2023, Attorney Tara M. Lyons said on March 25.

In the negotiated plea agreement, Short is subjected to a sentence of 20 years in prison along with substantial financial penalties and five years of supervised release following her prison term.

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The plea agreement in this disturbing case represents a difficult but appropriate resolution to this tragic and shocking homicide, said Acting U.S. Attorney Lyons.

In July 2024, Short had reportedly planned to use an insanity defense, after she previously entered a not guilty plea in May 2024.

Short remains in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall is expected to schedule a sentencing upon completion of a presentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services, according to the department.

April Short will now have 20 years to think about her heinous actions, said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. This plea cannot undo that tragedy and loss, but brings another measure of justice to those who knew and loved the child during his short life.

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TOWN OF OAKLAND  About a mile west of Enbridge Energys Cambridge Pump Station, dozens of residents from the Town of Oakland expressed ongoing concerns over the Line 6 oil spill during a meeting Monday night.

It was the second time representatives of Enbridge and staff members with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources met with town leaders and residents to provide updates on the oil spill and explain what comes next in the cleanup effort. Laura Payne, town chair and environmental engineer, requested the meeting on behalf of the community, which is demanding transparency from the Canadian oil transport company.

Late last year, Enbridges Line 6 oil pipeline spilled nearly 70,000 gallons of crude oil at the pumping station in Jefferson County. The 465-mile pipeline runs from Superior, Wisconsin, to a terminal near Griffith, Indiana.

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The Line 6 spill has raised concerns about when the public should be notified of a spill, as well as why the initial report was so wildly inaccurate. Those concerns persisted at Mondays town meeting.

Enbridge reported a two-gallon spill to the DNR on Nov. 11, and updated the spill estimate to 126 gallons three days later. When the DNR notified the public of the spill on Dec. 13, the estimate was revised again, this time to 69,300 gallons. The spill was caused by a faulty valve, with the age of the part, installed in the early 1970s, listed as a contributing factor.

Community members are demanding transparency from the company, highlighting the need for clearer answers and accountability in the cleanup process.

On March 24, 2025, staff members with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Caroline Rice, Isaac Ross and Trevor Nobile (not pictured), as well as representatives with Enbridge, Brad Dal Santo, John Schwartz and Shane Yokom, met with residents from the town of Oakland to discuss next steps in the remediation process to clean up the Line 6 oil spill. The spill, which occurred at the Cambridge Pumping Station, became public late last year and released nearly 70,000 gallons of crude oil.

Frequent and active communication from the start is key to success in situations like these, said Trevor Nobile, a field operations director with the DNR's Remediation and Redevelopment program.

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During the two-hour meeting, many residents expressed distrust about the amount of oil spilled, when it began and how much has been cleaned up. The aging infrastructure was another sticking point.

Longtime resident Todd Touton brought up a lot of concerns about the future health of both the community and environment.

Were talking about frightening things that could happen, Touton said.

The oil spill that occurred at the Cambridge Station is one of the most difficult kinds of releases to quantify because its underground, and isnt visible, said Shane Yokom, an environment supervisor at Enbridge.

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While Enbridge determined that oil from the leak occurred gradually over time, Yokom said it's unclear when the Line 6 leak began. He suggested, though, that at this point the volume of the spill will not change.

An oil spill can be seen December 16, 2024, at Enbridge's Cambridge Station in Town of Oakland in Jefferson County. The nearly 70,000 gallons spill was first reported to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on November 11 as a very small matter.

Enbridge has reported that 60% of the spill has been cleaned up. However, there has been considerable confusion regarding the extent of the cleanup and how the company determined this. Despite this, Enbridge representatives stand by that number, and Yokom said that cleanup figure is even conservative  that it's likely cleaned up more.

Cleanup, emergency response and continued remediation are likely to cost at least $1.3 million. Nobile couldn't specify a timeframe of when the spill will be cleaned and the case closed, but the DNR official said everything was on track.

Enbridges cleanup plan includes testing private wells, Lake Ripley

As a part of the remediation plan outlined on Monday night, Enbridge said it will monitor groundwater and surface water quarterly, and additional soil excavation will be done in April.

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Environmental scientists with the company are testing for organic compounds found in petroleum products  and a variety of other products, called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.

An oil spill is shown December 16, 2024, at Enbridge's Cambridge Station in the Town of Oakland in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. The nearly 70,000-gallon spill was first reported to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on November 11. But it was reported then as a two-gallon spill.

Surface water sampling will be done alongside the Lake Ripley Water Management District. Oil migrating to Lake Ripley, the closest major body of water to the spill site, was another key concern at the meeting.

The Jefferson County Health Department recommended expanding well water sampling to a half-mile radius after residents raised concerns at the first meeting. Previously, testing covered a quarter-mile radius, the state-required distance. Wells on 11 residential properties will be monitored.

Yokom said there has only been groundwater contamination at the spill site, and it has not migrated elsewhere.

Community residents seek answers, demand transparency

Since the Line 6 spill occurred more than four months ago, DNR staff have been meeting onsite with Enbridge representatives biweekly. So far, the environmental impacts have been contained to the spill site, Caroline Rice, a hydrogeologist with the DNR, told the Journal Sentinel. "And that's a really big positive."

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Every community member who spoke also expressed appreciation that the company made time to answer questions. Payne is grateful for the open lines of communication between state and local agencies as well as Enbridge. She is confident the contamination is contained, but her top priority is making sure the community is safe and feels heard.

"We need to look at this very closely and keep monitoring," Payne said. "I will be watching and making sure nothing happens."

More: How could Enbridge's oil spill in Jefferson County go from 2 to nearly 70,000 gallons?

More: Enbridge Line 6 oil spill raises alarm over Line 5 reroute risks, environmentalists warn

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Caitlin Looby is a Report for America corps member who writes about the environment and the Great Lakes. Reach her at clooby@gannett.com, follow her on X @caitlooby and learn more about how she approaches her reporting.

Please consider supporting journalism that informs our democracy with a tax-deductible gift to this reporting effort at jsonline.com/RFA or by check made out to The GroundTruth Project with subject line Report for America Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Campaign. Address: The GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services, 9450 SW Gemini Dr, PMB 46837, Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Jefferson County residents wary what Line 6 oil spill means for future
EL PASO  El Paso District Attorney James Montoya campaigned for the job saying he would pursue the death penalty against the 26-year-old gunman who killed 23 people in a local Walmart in 2019 and said he wanted to shoot as many Mexicans as possible.

But after the case had passed through the hands of four different prosecutors and dragged out nearly six years, on Tuesday Montoya said his office had consulted with victims families as well as surviving victims and decided to offer Patrick Crusius a plea bargain that didnt include the death penalty.

This was not a decision that was reached lightly or hastily, Montoya said at a news conference. He explained that pursuing the death penalty would prolong the case for several more years.

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The plea deal would allow a judge to sentence the gunman to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Montoya said he still believes the gunman  who was convicted and sent to prison by federal prosecutors as the state case dragged on  deserves the death penalty, but he didnt want to delay closure for the families.

I believe in the death penalty. I believe that this defendant deserves the death for what he did, he said.

Montoya said a plea and sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 21.

Montoya said most of the families told him they supported the decision because some are tired of all the court proceedings. But some families wanted Montoya to keep pushing for a death sentence, even if it took several more years.

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On Aug. 2, 2019, Crusius drove more than 600 miles from his home in Allen, north of Dallas, to El Paso and began shooting people in the parking lot of a Walmart that was busy with back-to-school shoppers. Then he entered the store and continued his rampage.

The victims were mostly Mexican-Americans and Mexican citizens from El Paso and Ciudad Juarez. One of the victims was a 66-year-old German man who moved to Mexico in the 1980s, married a woman from Juarez and settled there. The victims ranged in age from 15 to 90.

According to the indictment, the gunman uploaded a document to the internet explaining his motive: This attack is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas. They are the instigators, not me. I am simply defending my country from cultural and ethnic replacement brought on by the invasion.

Crusius faced both state and federal charges after the massacre.

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In July 2023, he was sentenced in federal court to 90 consecutive life sentences after federal prosecutors opted not to pursue a death sentence. At the time, El Paso District Attorney Bill Hicks, Montoyas predecessor, said he would seek the death penalty on the state charges.

Hicks had been appointed to the position after Yvonne Rosales resigned in 2022, a year after winning the job. Rosales faced removal from office over accusations of incompetence and misconduct related to the Walmart shooting prosecution, and state judges threw out nearly 1,000 unrelated cases because her office routinely missed legal deadlines to file charges.

I am disappointed that the Walmart shooter will not face a jury for his crimes, but the decision to move forward with a trial or to enter a plea agreement is completely within the discretion of the district attorney and it is totally DA Montoyas decision at this point, not mine, Hicks told El Paso Matters. I respect how difficult it must have been to make this decision.

The state and federal cases against the gunman were also delayed in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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During the sentencing hearing in the federal case, the gunmans lawyer said that his client struggled with mental health issues as a child. He was eventually diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, the lawyer said. His symptoms include trouble processing feelings and hearing voices in his head. And since childhood, the lawyer said the gunman has felt a presence that is not there.

Before and after the mass shooting in El Paso, some Texas politicians have described the growing number of migrants arriving at the Texas-Mexico border  many of them asylum-seekers fleeing violence and harsh poverty in Central and South America  as an invasion. The ethnic replacement the gunman wrote about comes from a debunked conspiracy theory that people of color and immigrants are looking to replace white Americans.

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.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Former Albuquerque Police Department officer Nelson Ortiz admitted to his role in the DWI scandal Monday, becoming the fifth former law enforcement member to do so. Ortiz pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by extortion under color of official right.

Albuquerque lawyer claims false statements implicated him in DWI scheme

Ortiz first joined APD in 2016 and served in APDs DWI Unit in 2018 before joining the Motors Unit in 2021. According to the plea agreement, Ortiz worked with paralegal Ricardo Rick Mendez and Defense Attorney Thomas Clear III to get DWI cases dismissed between April 2020 and January 2024.

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According to court documents, the officers who were a part of what the feds call a DWI enterprise would target DWI suspects they believed could pay expensive retainer fees, then funneled those people to Clear and his Mendez. The officers, including Ortiz, would conspire to miss court, ensuring the case could get dismissed.

In exchange, the officers were paid cash or received other gifts like free legal services, gift cards, hotel rooms, and tickets to sporting events. In Ortizs case, he specifically said he received cash payments of at least $500.

He also admitted to federal investigators that even after leaving the DWI unit, he continued to refer DWI suspects arrested by other APD officers to Mendez and Clear.

In addition to getting cases dismissed, Ortiz also said he received a referral fee for helping recruit officers to join the DWI Enterprise and set up meetings for recruits with Mendez and/or Clear. Ortiz told the feds Mendez would also use his name to help recruits feel comfortable participating because hed risen through APDs ranks to sergeant.

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After learning of his connection to the DWI Enterprise, APD placed Ortiz on paid administrative leave. He then resigned in March 2024, just days after investigators with Internal Affairs tried to schedule an interview with him about the scheme.

He was one of the first APD officers federal investigators named, and on Jan. 2, 2024, the U.S. Attorney requested he be added to the Bernalillo County District Attorneys Giglio list, meaning hes no longer a credible witness. As a result, the DA was forced to drop 17 of Ortizs pending cases.

Ortiz faces up to 20 years in prison. KRQE Investigative Reporter Ann Pierret caught up with his attorney after Monday mornings court hearing, and he declined to comment on the former officers confession.

At this time, Ortizs case stands out compared to the other plea agreements for former APD officers Honorio Alba Jr., Joshua Montano, Neill Elsman, and Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office Deputy Jeff Hammerel, who each faced multiple counts.

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Federal investigators said the DWI scheme dates back to 1995 and also involved other BCSO members and New Mexico State Police staff.

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Fox News political analyst Brit Hume expressed astonishment after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, his former colleague at the network, attempted to deflect a question about inadvertently leaking plans for airstrikes in Yemen.

Hegseth was one of more than a dozen Trump administration national security officials who were added to a group chat that mistakenly included The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who revealed the governments massive blunder in a story for the magazine.

Noting the shocking recklessness of the officials, Goldberg wrote that one message sent to the group by Hegseth contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing.

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Goldberg, who has the same initials as U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, was mistakenly added to the group by National Security Adviser Michael Waltz.

When asked about the story by a reporter, Hegseths initial response was to duck the burgeoning scandal and attack Goldberg.

Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist, he said in a response that was blasted out by the Defense Departments press team.

Nobody was texting war plans, Hegseth added. And thats all I have to say about that.

Hume, for one, couldnt believe the response, writing on X: Oh for Gods sake, the administration has already confirmed the authenticity of the message.

Oh for God's sake, the administration has already confirmed the authenticity of the message. https://t.co/AxQGqqyux3  Brit Hume (@brithume) March 24, 2025

Indeed, the National Security Council told Goldberg, in a statement, This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.

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Before Hegseth tried to skirt around the issue by attacking Goldberg, Hume called the incident a major leak that involved details of war plans during an appearance on Fox News Special Report.

Fortunately, it was leaked to an American citizen and, while he might be considered an enemy to the administration in some quarters, hes certainly not an enemy of the United States, Hume added.

Politico reported Monday evening that the fallout from the leak could hit Waltz, with White House officials telling the publication many in the administration think he may have to be forced out of his job for his extraordinary blunder in adding Goldberg to the group chat.
Fox News Jessica Tarlov on Monday slammed the Trump administration for being obviously incredibly reckless as she weighed in on Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, being inadvertently added to a group chat of officials discussing war strikes in Yemen.

I dont ever want to hear but her emails again, said Tarlov, referring to Republican outrage over former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clintons use of a private email server while secretary of state. (After much debate and multiple investigations, the State Department found no deliberate mishandling of classified information.)

Goldberg reported that Trump administration national security adviser Michael Waltz added him to an 18-person group chat, one that saw Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth text officials on precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing on the U.S. strikes on Yemen two hours before they occurred on March 15.

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Democrats were appalled by the news that top officials were discussing the strikes along with highly sensitive war plans over a third-party app. Clinton, in response to Goldbergs report, sharply replied,  You have got to be kidding me.

Hegseth briefly told reporters Monday that nobody was texting war plans.

Tarlov, as part of a discussion on The Five about the state of the Democratic Party, gave a shoutout to longtime Democratic strategist James Carville for urging the party to run out the clock and see what happens on President Donald Trumps watch.

She turned to the presidents tanking favorability ratings on his handling of the economy and cost of living, adding that Americans are seeing the administrations incompetence and recklessness on a scale unimaginable.

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Were only a couple months into this administration and when Carville says, Lets see what they do, you get stuff like this, she said of Goldbergs report.

It makes you happy, replied co-host Greg Gutfeld.

No, but it does confirm when people said, Folks were getting these jobs that didnt deserve them, that thats probably the case and Im sure , Tarlov said.

They make a mistake, and youre happy, Gutfeld shot back.

This is a mistake? Tarlov said.

Related...
Personalities on Fox News on Monday furiously attempted to spin the Trump administrations accidental addition of The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg to a group chat discussing an imminent war strike in Yemen.

Host Will Cain acknowledged the blunder was incredibly concerning but then pivoted to claim the bigger takeaway is that its a transparent insight into the thought process and dialog of our national leaders.

What you will see is dialog  in a very collaborative, open, honest, team-based attempt to come to the right decision, said Cain. After years of secrecy and incompetence, if you read the content of these messages, I think you will come away proud that these are the leaders making these decisions in America.

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Watch here:

Fox host Will Cain's take away from The Atlantic scoop is that Americans should be "proud" these are our leaders



"It is insight into the thought process and dialog of our nat'l leaders ... I think you will come away proud these are the leaders making these decisions in America" pic.twitter.com/uzJh9hbEeC  Lis Power (@LisPower1) March 24, 2025

Jesse Watters also downplayed the blunder, likening it to someones Aunt Mary being accidentally invited to a group chat and ending up knowing all your raunchy plans for your bachelor party.

Watters then tried to discredit Goldberg as not a good reporter and one of the biggest hoax artists around whod heard some things he probably shouldnt have but ultimately it was just a wee bit of a security breach.

Here is how Watters explains The Atlantic story to his viewers pic.twitter.com/UbBfcrFxPF  Acyn (@Acyn) March 25, 2025

Staunch Trump advocate Sean Hannity, with the caption Media Hysteria on screen, slammed criticism of the incident as just phony outrage and a smear against the Trump White House.

Hannity describes The Atlantic story as a smear that nobody will care about pic.twitter.com/seUGXaq7L3  Acyn (@Acyn) March 25, 2025

Anchor John Roberts, however, praised Goldbergs handling of the incident.

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I would think that there probably are worse people that you could text your secret plans to, Roberts argued. It appears that Goldberg has acted responsibly here in writing this article and while he outs a lot of the process of what happened he did not specifically publish the war plans.

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As the hosts of Fox News The Five were discussing the news Monday that Trump administration officials accidentally shared sensitive military plans with The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, the panel shows resident Democrat had a pithy reaction.

I dont ever want to hear but her emails again, Tarlov said, referring to the Hillary Clinton email server scandal. See the moment below:

Jessica: I dont want to hear but her emails ever again pic.twitter.com/EosRc4AnsG  Acyn (@Acyn) March 24, 2025

For those catching up, on Monday Goldberg detailed in a bombshell article how at the beginning of March he was accidentally added to a group chat, on the encrypted messaging app Signal, whose members included several high ranking Trump officials. Among them were Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance among others; Goldberg said he was added by National Security Advisor Michael Waltz.

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Apparently unaware Goldberg had been added, he said the group freely discussed what turned out to be plans for the March 15 bombing of Houthi rebels in Yemen. (Hegseth has since specifically denied that war plans were discussed.)

About this, Tarlov said it exemplifies this administrations incompetence and recklessness on a scale unimaginable, and noted that the group wasnt having this discussion in a SCIF  a Sensitive compartmented information facility where sensitive secrets are normally discussed  theyre doing it on an app that you and I, we all have on our phones.

And its obviously incredibly reckless. National security risks. I dont ever want to hear but her emails again, she added.

In case you forgot, this refers to but her emails, a meme inspired by the aforementioned scandal over Clintons use of a private email server when she was Secretary of State. To be clear, but her emails isnt a direct quote from any of Clintons critics, its actually a sarcastic reference to the matter by Clinton supporters angry about the role the scandal played in her 2016 election loss.

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Usually, the phrase but her emails is said in contrast to something Donald Trump did or said that is in their view far worse. Presumably, Tarlov, a longtime Democratic consultant, meant she never wanted to hear about the scandal itself again.

Immediately after her comment, Tarlov and The Five co-host Jesse Watters got into a brief argument after he dismissed the issue as they accidentally leaked something to the media.

When Tarlov pushed back on this, noting they didnt leak it. They invited him in, Watters responded by, wait for it, mentioning the Clinton email server scandal.

Watch that below:

Watters: Yeah, they accidentally leaked something to the media



Jessica: They didn't leak it. They invited him in.



Watters: At least they didnt have a server and acid wash it pic.twitter.com/VxGh8J5du2  Acyn (@Acyn) March 24, 2025

The post Fox News Jessica Tarlov Says She Never Wants to Hear But Her Emails Again After Trumps Atlantic War Plans Fiasco | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
MAPUTO, March 25 (Xinhua) -- A total of 22 people were killed in a road accident on Monday afternoon in the Cafumpe area of the Gondola District in Mozambique's central province of Manica, local media reported on Tuesday.

The accident involved a passenger car and a long-haul truck. Both vehicles were traveling in opposite directions.

Nineteen people died at the scene, and one victim succumbed to injuries at the Chimoio Provincial Hospital (HPC) hours later, bringing the death toll to 20.

Juvenal Chitovele, clinical director of the HPC, told Mozambique's state news agency AIM on Tuesday that two other victims who were in critical condition died overnight in the intensive care unit.

According to police in Manica, excessive speed and disregard for basic traffic rules were the main causes of the accident. 
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Tornado sirens across Franklin County are getting some upgrades.

Last year was a record tornado year in the Buckeye state, with a total of 74 tornados touching down in 2024. Now, Franklin County Emergency Management is making sure its prepared in case those numbers even come close this year.

A tornado siren at McCoy Park in South Columbus is decades old and on top of a rotting pole. On Monday, March 24 Columbus City Council approved money to replace it. Its all a part of Franklin County Emergency Managements efforts to upgrade obsolete siren technology.

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One measure of property tax relief works its way through Ohio Statehouse

Like any mechanical or electrical device, it does require constant maintenance, so some of our sirens are up to 30 years old or have been out of production for 30 years, Director of Franklin County Emergency Management & Homeland Security Jeff Young said.

There are almost 200 sirens across the county. Franklin County EMA is looking at upgrading many of them to a more advanced version where the sound comes out of all sides, instead of the alarm spinning.

Weve got a certain number of sirens that are really hitting the end of their service life, Young said. So were working with all of our jurisdictions to identify those sirens, allowing them to budget for them as well as us to plan replacing them on our terms.

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One siren being replaced at McCoy Park will cost $80,000. Not only will this make this spot safer, but it will increase the coverage area so a nearby, old siren can be removed.

This is part of a planned replacement for a siren thats come to the end of its service life, Young said. It also allows us to evaluate locations. Do we want to shift the location of a siren a little bit, which might provide more benefit as the communitys ever-changing, ever-developing, as people move slightly different and buildings change? You know, we always are kind of looking to say, you know, to decide if the siren system in its entirety is the best it can be today.

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Frat Brothers 'Abandoned' Drunk Student Who Was Later Found Dead In River: Lawsuit

The family of Riley Strain, a University of Missouri student who was found dead after he disappeared while drinking with his fraternity brothers in Nashville, Tennessee, last year, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the organization and some of its members.

The lawsuit, filed in Boone County, Missouri, on Friday and reviewed by HuffPost, named the Delta Chi fraternity and 32 of its members, accusing them of negligence by failing to have adequate safety precautions to protect Strain and ensure that the fraternity brothers did not drink too much the night he went missing.

Riley Strain, 22, was found dead in a river. Metropolitan Nashville Police Department

The family described Strain as an often-reserved young man that did not tend to go with the typical fraternity flow. They said he did not initially plan on attending the Delta Chi spring formal in Nashville but gave in after other members of the fraternity pressured him, according to the lawsuit.

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Strain boarded a charter bus with his fraternitybrothers headed on March 8 last year and was offered several alcoholic beverages while traveling, according to the lawsuit.

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 reads.

Within hours of arriving in Nashville, several of Strains fraternity brothers noticed he was acting strange and having difficulty speaking, walking, and interacting with those around him, according to the lawsuit. Despite this, Strain and his brothers continued to party, but by the time they reached the final bar of the night, Strain was virtually incoherent.

The lawsuit claims Strains fraternity brothers had two choices after being kicked out the final bar they had visited that night  they couldgo with Riley, make sure he was safe, and take care of him or continue to party. Strains fraternity brothers continued partying, and by 9:53 p.m, Strain disappeared without them noticing.

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Without help, [Strain] immediately began walking in the wrong direction and away from the hotel where the fraternity was staying and towards the Cumberland River, the lawsuit read. He began stumbling and falling while walking on flat surfaces. Rather than having the support of his brothers, Riley was abandoned and alone.

Detectives today continue to pursue tips & investigative leads concerning missing person Riley Strain, 22. Strain, wearing a 2-tone shirt, is seen in this video crossing 1st Ave N to Gay St (right to left), at 9:47 p.m. Fri. Have info about him? Plz  615-742-7463. pic.twitter.com/fE86dlqeOC  Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) March 12, 2024

Strains body was found facedown in the river on March 22. Medical examiners determined Strains cause of deathwas from accidental drowning and intoxication. His blood-alcohol level was 0.228, nearly three times the legal limit for driving, and he had delta-9, a THC compound, in his system.

The fraternitys national headquarters did not immediately respond to a request for comment from HuffPost.

Related...
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  Fred Armisen has been busy. Not only was he an integral part of NBCs Saturday Night Live multi-day 50th anniversary celebration, hes been on tour non-stop with his one-man show, Comedy for MusiciansBut Everyone Is Welcome too. Armisen will bring the show to Victory North in Savannah on April 2.

Fred Armisen performs at Victory North in Savannah April 2, 2025.

And hes excited to return to the Hostess City. I was there in I think it was 2017. And I really loved it. Armisen was enthralled with everything Savannah has to offer: the history, the architecture and the food. Part of the way I book my tours isIm like, where might be interesting to go? I dont even think about, like, markets or ratings. And I was like, Oh, Savannah, well, I want to go back thereso Im excited.

Armisens show highlights his humor and his musicianship. He tells funny stories and incorporates songs. When asked if he considers himself a comedian who makes music or a funny musician, he didnt hesitate to answer. I think Im more a comedian who makes music. I only say that because the way I have made most of my living is through comedy. There are real musicians who tour and bands who really spend time making albums and creating something. That is the way they prioritize it and spend time doing it. I mean, Ive always been a drummer at heart and I want to embrace that. Im a comedian and it just happens the tool that I use to make comedy is music.

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Armisen says the size of the venue can influence how a show goes on any given night. I grew up watching bands, I like seeing bands in little venues or theaters or arenas. Its all good. Im like, whatever it is, its going to be appropriate to the city and its appropriate to the people who want to see me.

Brian Goldman, talent buyer at Victory North says, As a longtime fan of Fred, especially since his days as Stuart in the Californians sketch on SNL, having him at Victory North is a dream come true. Beyond his comedy, his talent as a drummer and actor is immense. When the opportunity arose to bring him to Savannah, we jumped at it and were thrilled when he accepted our offer. The anticipation of announcing his show was almost unbearable! Since opening Victory North in 2019, Dr. Mohamed Eldibany envisioned it as a premier venue for top touring acts. He says, Freds performance here is a testament to our teams dedication over the past five years, making Victory North a destination that attracts and sells out talent of his caliber.

Whether you go for the comedy or the music, Armisen is confident youll come away entertained. I have a lot of musical equipment on stage. Ive got a drum kit, a couple of guitars, and I play music off of my iPad and I talk about music. Its like jokes about listening to music. How do we all hear music? Whats our experience? How is it for different generations? And then for musicians, what is it like to use this kind of guitar? Whats it like when you play this chord? Whats the reaction you get? Its not isolating in any way where you have to be a musician, but thats like the main theme. And as Ive been touring with this show, Ive discovered that people who arent musicians are into it just because music is a part of almost everybodys lifewe have that experience.

Fred Armisens Comedy for MusiciansBut Everyone Is Welcome is April 2 at Victory North in Savannah.

Stray observations from our conversation with Fred Armisen:

Q: Which of your SNL characters do you feel would be perfect for a movie?

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A: I feel like the Californians would have a world of people because its like so many levels. You know, its a soap opera. And then also its, you know, Southern California. I think theres a version where some of that you could find out more about.

Q: As a music fan, what was it like to perform with DEVO and The B-52s during the SNL50 Homecoming Concert?

A: A dream. I cant believe that there are two different bands who both were very influential on my life, where Devo is kind of how I learned how to play the drums. I saw Devo play at Radio City Music Hall, and thats where we played. Im blown away full circle and what a fun experience that really harkens back to the early days of SNLthat energy and that experimentation. Same thing with The B-52s. When I saw The B-52s on Saturday Night Live, it was a turning point for me.

Q: What was your favorite SNL sketch before you became a cast member?

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A: Sprockets, the Mike Myers sketch. There is a part of me that was like, I think they wrote that for me.

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Monday morning marked the official start of a long-awaited project, and 6-year-old Evan was dressed for the occasion in a tartan necktie.

The pit bull terrier mix has lived at the Frederick County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center on Rosemont Avenue for two years  longer than any other resident.

Evan demonstrated the dig command he has been working on with his trainer. He would shovel a bit of dirt with his front paws, sit for a treat, then repeat.

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The dog had the honor of breaking ground on an expansion that will increase shelter and office space at the Division of Animal Control facility by more than 60%, from 12,660 square feet to 20,620 square feet.

The expansion is expected to be completed in September 2026 and will cost $8.5 million, according to Division Director Dave Luckenbaugh.

The bulk of that money  including $7.7 million in general obligation bonds and $450,000 from Frederick Countys general fund  was included in the countys capital budget for fiscal year 2024. The bonds will have to be repaid.

The state of Maryland also awarded Frederick County $1.1 million in grant funding for the project, according to budget documents.

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The Division of Animal Control has not requested any additional funds for the project in fiscal year 2026, county spokesperson Vivian Laxton said in a phone interview on Monday.

Speaking at the groundbreaking event, Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater said that while the animal services team has done an incredible job within the current space, it is no longer large enough to support the operation.

As a growing community, we often think about the need for more teachers and first responders, but we dont often think about the growing demand for animals needing care, Fitzwater said.

Evidence of that growing demand can be seen throughout the current facility, which was originally constructed in 1978 and had its last additions in 1993.

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The shelter currently houses approximately 85 animals, Luckenbaugh said. During peak times of the year, upwards of 175 animals might be living there.

Several spaces in the facility have two or three purposes. One room serves as a storage area for donated pet food and linens; a records room with documents on bite incidents, surrenders and adoptions; and a space for education and training.

Animals recover from spay and neuter procedures in a room that is also used for pet grooming on days when no surgeries are scheduled.

Shelter staff and volunteers wash dishes, prepare food and dispose of animal waste all in one space.

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Other spaces in the current facility have been repurposed  a room built to house litters of puppies is now home to small animals like guinea pigs, which have been surrendered to the shelter more frequently in recent years.

Luckenbaugh said the expanded facility will have separate areas for dish washing, food preparation and waste disposal.

It will have a dedicated records room, surgery recovery rooms for both dogs and cats, and a room where kittens will be kept separately from the rest of the cat population.

The storage room for food and linens will open directly to the drop-off area for donations.

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There will be meet-and-greet areas where people can visit in a quiet space with animals they hope to adopt. Now, Luckenbaugh said, meet-and-greets for dogs usually take place outside.

A major focus of the expanded facility will be to improve the comfort of the animals living there, Luckenbaugh said.

Increasing the buffer between cat and dog areas, moving away from traditional confinement methods for animals and providing more access to natural light and other stimuli were all design considerations.

The expanded facility will feature dog kennels that back up to a fenced outdoor play area and home-like rooms where cats can roam freely and interact with one another.

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As animal sheltering evolves, its getting more into the animal well-being, trying to reduce stress and things like that, Luckenbaugh said.

He said the Division of Animal Control plans to continue operating out of the current facility, where everybody knows where we are, while construction is underway.

We will be here on site thoughout the process continuing to provide services to our community, Luckenbaugh said. So please dont forget about us when youre looking for that new dog or cat, or rabbit, guinea pig, parakeet  whatever youre looking for, we may have it.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Legal professionals in Albuquerque are gearing up to bring community members free legal assistance with the annual Law-La-Palooza fair. At the event, attendees can get free legal advice on a wide range of topics, like divorce, custody, child support, unemployment, landlord/tenant, creditor/debtor, and more from The Volunteer Attorney Program and the Second Judicial District Pro Bono Committee.

This years fair will be held on Friday, March 28, at the Dennis Chavez Community Center at 715 Kathryn Avenue. Family law consultations will be provided from 9 a.m. until noon, and civil law consultations will be available from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.

Applications open for Albuquerques Artists At Work initiative

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Bilingual attorneys and staff will be available, and help for all will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information on the event, or to request an American Sign Language interpreter, call 1-877-266-9861 or email legalclinics@nmlegalaid.org.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn (WKRN)  A bill filed by a Knoxville Democrat aims to return books to classroom libraries and to repeal a newer state law affecting them.

Knoxvilles Rep. Sam McKenzie (D) has filed HB 1051, also known as the Freedom to Read Act, which would repeal the states Age Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 while still ensuring books available in school libraries are appropriate for students.

Specifically, the bill requires materials in a library collection or school classroom to be suitable for the age and maturity levels of the students at the school; prohibits materials from being excluded because of the origin, background, or view of the creator or because of partisan, ideological, or religious disapproval of it; and requires each local school board and charter school to adopt a policy outlining how to review items in library collections.

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The review procedure must be uniform and allow the district to receive and review feedback from a student, a parent or guardian, or a school employee.

The bill would also remove the states Textbook and Instructional Materials Quality Commissions authority to issue guidance on schools reviewing library materials, assist districts in evaluating the materials for appropriateness or responding to feedback, complaints or challenges to materials in collections, establishing a timeline for appeals of decisions made by school districts, and making its own determination of any materials in school libraries if the district chooses not to review a title.

Since it was enacted in 2022, the Tennessee Age Appropriate Materials Act has been used to catalog all available titles in school libraries to determine whether or not they are appropriate for students.

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TBI raided law firm investigating 61-page complaint filed against MNPD: CRB

Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union have called the bill an act of censorship.

This misguided and overly broad ban on certain materials could result in the censoring of education materials on biology, history, literature, and health, the ACLU of Tennessee said in an informational flyer on a 2024 amendment to the Act.

That amendment to the Act revised the definition of a book deemed unsuitable for children in K-12 schools to include anything that in whole or in part contains nudity, or descriptions or depictions of sexual excitement, sexual conduct, excess violence, or sadomasochistic abuse.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Several school districts have used the law to ban more than 1,100 books across the state since the law was enacted, according to the Tennessee Association of School Librarians. Wilson County Schools banned more than 400 books in October of 2024, including a Dr. Seuss book titled Wacky Wednesday. Rutherford County Schools declared several titles sexually explicit in September in a bid to remove them from the school libraries.

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If passed, the law would take effect July 1. The bill was set to be discussed in the House K-12 Subcommittee, but was cut for time. The next meeting of the subcommittee is Wednesday, March 26, at 1:30 p.m.

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FAIRMONT, W.Va. (WBOY)  Students with Fairmont State Universitys (FSU) Honors Program who took a trip to London over spring break are still there following the electrical fire that caused a shutdown of Heathrow Airport last week. However, the group remains in good spirits and is set to return home this week.

Classes officially resumed at FSU on Monday, despite the fact that this group of students is still out of the country. When the group first found out about the disruption at Heathrow, Program Director Robin Payne said that their initial response was to reach out to university administration so that all professors on campus could be notified of the situation.

Across the board, weve received so much support. Many, many emails and texts and phone calls from faculty members telling students dont worry about due dates, said Payne. Theyre there to help make sure everyones caught up as soon as were home.

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Payne told 12 News she received official confirmation Monday that 13 members of the group will return home on Wednesday, with the remainder coming back to the Mountain State on Friday.

Payne added that FSU President Mike Davis, among other administrators, has been providing support throughout this situation, which has especially been a help since students are currently missing classes. She first learned the news in the early morning hours on the day they were supposed to leave from Sophomore Student Jayden Sharps.

To be perfectly honest when I got that call from Jayden in the middle of the night, this was the last thing that I thought was going to be the situation, said Payne. Ultimately, I was just really relieved when I found out all of the students were safe.

US Navys Strike Group lands at University High School hoping to light a spark in students

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Sharps told 12 News that he learned of the situation when he was sitting with the group at around 3-3:30 a.m. and received a notification on his phone about the situation from the New York Times.

I couldnt believe it, said Sharps. I didnt think that it would ever amount to the situation were in now, but once I learned of the complexities regarding the situation, I had a feeling it was not gonna be good.

Sharps was initially nervous about calling Payne to break the news, but he feels that its been handled well. He added that hes glad he let her know of the situation when he did because it couldve been more difficult to navigate when they woke up in the morning.

Ive had no concerns at all, Sharps told 12 News, regarding the delayed departure from London. I knew from the beginning we have a great group of faculty: at the honors level, at the university, at the top of the university level. [] Ive seen them navigate some very complex situations before and I knew this wouldnt be any different.

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Sharps traveled with the Honors Program to Berlin, Germany last year and he said he joined the Honors Program because he felt it was a good opportunity to add enrichment to his education and meet like-minded individuals. He is a triple major at FSU, studying national security intelligence, history, and political science.

Since being in London, Sharps said that the universitys administration has been very generous and giving regarding almost anything theyve asked for. From my perspective, its been amazing, he added. I enjoyed the first week and the second week has been just as great as well. Theyve taken a lot of the stress off our shoulders, especially for me [], we really appreciate it.

Payne told 12 News that one of the great things that the group has discovered about London during the extended trip is that there are plenty of museums and attractions that have free admission. So weve really been taking advantage of that, she stated. Its given us the opportunity to tour some of the things that we didnt get to tour during our originally planned week but because of the support weve received from the university administration, weve also been able to go on a couple of extra tours.

Payne said that the main goal for the time being is to focus on educational opportunities and activities thatll help keep peoples spirits up as they wait to go back home.

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On Monday afternoon, the FSU group got to tour with a local guide who they met last week during a Jack the Ripper tour. Payne said that the tour from Monday was about two hours long, and it was focused on the medieval streets of London.

Monday also marked Sharps 20th birthday, which he got to celebrate in London with his peers. Payne told 12 News that the group threw a birthday dinner for Sharps with cheesecake, his favorite dessert.

Of course this is a disruption none of us had anticipated and theres certainly things about it that have been very stressful, said Payne. But one of the things that weve all really been focusing on is what a wonderful group of students we have on board for this trip and its just been really heartwarming to see the ways that theyve supported each other, the ways that theyve just kind of rallied and continued to soldier oneven with some of the uncertainty.

Sharps stated that he and his peers have been trying to use this unexpected event as an opportunity to reflect on the things that theyre grateful for. Theres a lot of people who are facing a lot worse situations, he told 12 News. So I think when you think about it from that perspective and consider the things that you do have in life, it becomes a lot better when you think about it like that.

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Gerard Depardieu denied accusations of sexually assaulting a set dresser on a 2021 film shoot in a Paris court hearing on Tuesday but acknowledged for the first time that he had grabbed her by the hips.

The Oscar-nominated Cyrano de Bergerac and Green Card star is currently being tried on two separate charges of sexual assault related to events alleged to have taken place on the set of Jean Beckers The Green Shutters.

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At 76, I am passed the age of groping, he told the Paris court after listening to the testimony of a set director named simply as Amelie, one of two plaintiffs  alongside an assistant director  testifying in the trial.

Amelie recounted how she had found herself in the same space as Depardieu while dressing a scene in an apartment where the shoot was taking place.

She said he had gestured to her to come closer, as if he wanted to say something, and then when she approached him, closed his legs around her and grabbed her hips.

Thats when I understood that he had a lot of strength. I was destabilised. I felt held down. I had this big face in front of me, with very angry red eyes, saying to me: Come touch my big parasol, Im going to shove it up your pussy, she said, adding he had then kneaded her up to her breasts.

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Crew members who witnessed the incident suggested she lodge a complaint, but Amelie said she had hesitated before going down that route.

It was only after seeing a edition of France Televisions investigative show Complement dEnquete in 2023, probing historic accusations against the actor that she had decided to go to the police.

Depardieu denied his intentions had been sexual, telling the court that rather he had been trying to stop himself sliding on his seat  a cube he takes with him on set  while the act of pulling her close had been to avoid speaking too loudly.

Carine Durrieu-Diebolt, the lawyer for Amelie, rebutted Depardieus account, noting it was his third version of what took place, having originally denied even touching the plaintiff when he was first called in for questioning.

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The trial comes amid at least 20 public allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior against Depardieu, which have destroyed his reputation as one of Frances most celebrated actors.

Depardieu alluded to this in Tuesdays hearing, complaining how he had not worked for more than three years.

I think this affair had been completely instrumentalised by the media, he said, noting how the daughter of actress Fanny Ardant had been attacked for her mothers public support of him.

He also took aim at the feminist activists who have protested about his seeming impunity in the face of a growing list of sexual assault accusations against him.

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When I was in Marseille with those banners saying Depardieu rapist, the words about me on TV, his big, disgusting rapist fingers, those arent women, he told the court going on to cite a phrase from 18th Century woman of letters Madame de Stael.

They would do well to meditate on Madame de Stael: For women, fame is but the dazzling mourning of happiness, he said on her reflection that it is difficult for women to have both worldly success and happiness.

If found guilty, Depardieu could face a sentence of up to five years in jail and a 75,000-euro ($81,000) fine.

Originally scheduled to run March 24 and 25, the trial has been extended into tomorrow.

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LUANDA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- A total of 28,701 cases of tuberculosis have been recorded in Luanda, Angola's capital, in 2024, the local media outlet Angola Press Agency reported Monday.

A total of 1,040 deaths were also recorded during this period in Luanda, attributing many fatalities to late-stage diagnosis, with patients often seeking medical care in critical condition, Fernando Varela, the provincial health director of Luanda, was quoted as saying.

He said that Luanda has 50 health facilities treating tuberculosis, and due to the province's large population, authorities plan to increase that number by at least 20 percent.

"Many patients arrive in critical condition with severe lung damage and breathing difficulties," he said, adding that expanding healthcare services could improve public awareness and education on tuberculosis. 
(NewsNation)  While most of the focus of Tuesdays Senate Intelligence Committee hearing was on a reported leak of war plans on a group chat, another issue was the omission of climate change from an annual threat assessment.

Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, noted that he has been on the committee for 13 years, and until 2025, every single threat report has mentioned global climate change as a threat to national security.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard rejected the idea that it was intentionally omitted.

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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says she plans to eliminate FEMA

I cant speak to the decisions made previously, but this annual threat assessment has been focused very directly on the threats that we deem most critical to the United States and our national security, Gabbard said.

King pressed her on the ways climate change could be a risk to security. He cited mass migration, famine, dislocation and political violence resulting from climate change, something mentioned in the 2019 threat assessment during the first Trump administration.

Do you consider that a significant national security threat for the intelligence community? King asked.

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Gabbard repeated that she focused the threat assessment on the most extreme and critical threats to national security.

FBI launches task force investigation into wave of vandalism targeting Tesla

King pressed her on whether she specifically directed climate change to be excluded. President Donald Trump has directed efforts to combat climate change to be dismantled, and many federal websites that mention climate change have been removed to align with his priorities.

I dont recall giving that instruction, Gabbard replied.

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Amid the switch to summer-blend gasoline, gas prices in Wisconsin have surged above $3 for the first time this year.

As of March 25, the average price for a regular gallon of gas in Wisconsin was $3.05, nearly 10 cents more expensive than a week ago, according to AAA. Nationally, the average was $3.14 per gallon, and Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota were all seeing higher prices than Wisconsin.

Gas prices generally rise between 20 and 50 cents between Valentine's Day and Memorial Day, as refineries make their annual switch from a cheaper winter blend gasoline to a more expensive summer one, according Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. In Milwaukee, refineries began making that switch in late February, just before spring break travel ramped up gas demand, De Haan told the Journal Sentinel earlier this month.

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As the weather warms, gas prices will likely tick up a few more cents  and President Donald Trump's looming deadline for the latest round of tariffs could further hike prices in Wisconsin.

Here's what to expect with Wisconsin gas prices in the coming weeks and months.

Average gas prices in Wisconsin counties as of March 25, according to AAA.

Where in Wisconsin is gas most and least expensive?

As of March 25, the Wisconsin counties seeing the highest average gas prices were Barron, Bayfield and Saint Croix counties, per AAA. Prices in all of these areas were between $3.20 and $3.21, rounded to the nearest hundredth of the cent, for a regular gallon of gas.

Meanwhile, Juneau County was seeing the cheapest average price at $2.93 per gallon. Rock and Vernon counties were close behind, with averages of $2.96 and $2.97, respectively.

How might tariffs affect gas prices in Wisconsin?

In early March, the Trump administration paused its 10% tariff on Canadian energy imports until April 2  meaning regular seasonal shifts, not tariffs, are behind the current surge in gas prices.

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However, if and when these tariffs do resume, Wisconsinites will almost certainly feel the effects at the pump. The refineries that serve Wisconsin rely primarily on Canadian crude oil, so tariffs on Canada could eventually translate to a price hike between 5 and 15 cents a gallon in Wisconsin, De Haan estimated in March. Most people will probably see an average increase of 7 or 8 cents, he said.

This week, Trump announced a 25% tariff on imports from any country that purchases oil or gasoline from Venezuela. These tariffs are also set to kick in April 2, potentially creating further instability for gas prices.

Average gas prices in Wisconsin cities

Here are average prices for a regular tank of unleaded gas in Wisconsin cities as of March 25, from cheapest to most expensive, according to AAA:

Oshkosh: $2.98

Appleton: $3.00

Fond Du Lac: $3.00

Milwaukee-Waukesha: $3.02

Wausau: $3.04

Eau Claire: $3.03

Green Bay: $3.03

Kenosha County: $3.06

Madison: $3.06

Sheboygan: $3.06

Racine: $3.10

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Why did gas prices increase in Wisconsin, Milwaukee?
Credit: X/ @MOhadIsrael

Hundreds of Palestinians shouted anti-Hamas slogans at a rare protest in Gaza on Tuesday.

Hamas out and Hamas terrorists were chanted by the mostly male demonstrators in Beit Lahia as they called for an end to the war with Israel, witnesses said.

The crowd had gathered a week after the Israeli army resumed its intense bombing of the coastal territory, following nearly two months of a truce.

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On the social media network Telegram, at least one appeal to protest was circulating on Tuesday, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency reported.

CNN reported that another message on social media appeared to call for nine anti-Hamas demonstrations across Gaza on Wednesday, while clips obtained by the network showed crowds marching through the streets of Beit Lahia chanting We want an end to the war, it said.

Photos from northern Gaza showed people marching flanked by ruined buildings, destroyed by Israels bombing campaign launched in response to Hamass deadly October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Children carry signs in Arabic proclaiming: We refuse to die - AFP via Getty Images

Reports suggested that further protests had broken out in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, on Tuesday night. The Telegraph was not able to verify these reports.

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Protests against Hamas are rare in the Gaza strip. The terror group has cracked down violently on demonstrations in the past, with Amnesty International reporting in 2019 that people had been beaten and detained arbitrarily over protests against the cost of living.

It also said protesters had been subject to torture while in detention.

I dont know who organised the protest, Mohammed, a demonstrator who declined to give his last name for fear of reprisals, told the AFP.

I took part to send a message on behalf of the people: Enough with the war, he said, adding that he had seen members of the Hamas security forces in civilian clothing breaking up the protest.

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Majdi, another protester who did not wish to give his full name, said the people are tired.

If Hamas leaving power in Gaza is the solution, why doesnt Hamas give up power to protect the people? he asked.

Israel regularly calls for Gazans to mobilise against the Islamist movement that has been in power in the territory since 2007.

The Gaza Strip has been devastated by more than 17 months of war between Israel and Hamas.

The humanitarian situation again deteriorated after Israel blocked the passage of aid into the territory on March 2 in an attempt to force Hamas to release the remaining Israeli hostages.

Palestinians attend a rally calling for an end to the war, in Beit Lahia - Getty

Since Israel resumed its military operations in Gaza, at least 792 Palestinians have been killed, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

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The October 7 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to official figures.

The number of people killed by Israels retaliatory military offensive surpassed 50,000 for the first time on Sunday, according to the health ministry.

Israel says it has killed about 20,000 militants, without providing evidence.

The protests came as the Oscar-winning director of a documentary on the conflict was released from detention on Tuesday, a day after being injured and arrested during a raid by Israeli settlers on his village in the West Bank.

Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the award-winning No Other Land, said he had been assaulted by settlers after filming them attacking a neighbours house and then returning to make sure his own house was not attacked.

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The war in Gaza has sparked a surge of violence in the West Bank, with the Israeli military carrying out military operations that have killed hundreds of Palestinians and displaced tens of thousands.

There has been a rise in settler violence, as well as Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala.  As the Army looks for solutions for a Short-Range Air Defense system for lighter units, General Dynamics Land Systems is debuting an option using a Pandur 6x6 vehicle built originally for the Austrian army.

The Pandur vehicle comes from GDLS sister company  European Land Systems company Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeuge  and was developed in the 1980s. Yet, while it was developed over 40 years ago, its gone through several iterations and generational changes and updates of technologies and requirements changes, said Ray Moldovan, GDLS business development manager. The new version is called Pandur Evolution, or EVO for short.

GDLS already provides the Stryker combat vehicle for the Armys fielded Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense system, the Sgt. Stout. There is a counter-unmanned aircraft systems version of the Stryker, as well.

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While there are similarities to the Stryker, the Pandur EVO is highly mobile, highly survivable, scalable, and has ballistic protection, Moldovan told Defense News. It does have a smaller footprint, its lighter weight.

The Army is pursuing a number of M-SHORAD modernization efforts following the services rapid fielding of an interim solution.

Development of the M-SHORAD system took place in record time as the result of an urgent operational need identified in 2016 for the European theater. The Army received the requirement to build the system in February 2018. It took 19 months from the time the service generated the requirement to the delivery of prototypes for testing in the first quarter of 2020.

The M-SHORAD is a Stryker combat vehicle-based platform that includes a mission equipment package designed by Leonardo DRS and RTXs Stinger vehicle missile launcher. The first platoon to receive it deployed to Europe in 2021.

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The Army fielded its third Sgt. Stout battalion at Fort Cavazos, Texas. The first M-SHORAD battalion remains in Germany, and the second is based at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

US Armys short-range air defense efforts face review board

The service is working on a version of the capability with a laser weapon that is not yet a program of record but has been deployed to the U.S. Central Command theater. It is also working to replace the Stinger missile. Two teams are competing for that work.

The Army released a request for information to industry for a lighter SHORAD solution in the summer of 2024 and is expected to finalize a directed requirement this year. The RFI asks for solutions to provide air defense capability to protect dismounted maneuver forces in the near, mid and far terms.

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The request also notes there will be a focus on systems that can be transported by C-130 and are able to be airdropped or sling loaded. They should also be capable of defeating unmanned aircraft systems both small and large, as well as helicopters and fixed-wing close support aircraft.

While the Pandur has a weight rating of about 20 tons, it is roughly 10 tons lighter than the Sgt. Stout, Moldovan noted. The vehicle still has room for a vehicle commander, gunner, SHORAD operator and robotic systems operator in the troop compartment.

The Pandur SHORAD system uses the same Moog RIP turret that is on the Sgt. Stout. The same turret has been integrated on GDLS robotic combat vehicle called TRX.

General Dynamics unit puts short-range air defense on robotic vehicle

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GDLS will be taking the vehicle to the Armys MFIX, or the Maneuver Fires Integrated Experiment, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in July. The company responded to the Armys RFI with both the Pandur and 10-ton TRX options, according to Moldovan. TRX will also be present and operated in tandem at MFIX.

The Pandur was developed for the Austrian army, and Portugal, Belgium, Slovenia and the Czech Republic are also customers. While the vehicle is foreign, GDLS built Pandurs in Michigan in the mid-1990s, said Kendall Linson, company business development manager. The company could restart that line again if the Army settled on the option, he noted.

I think Pandur would align with a counter-UAS capability simply because of the weight of the vehicle and the utility and survivability of the vehicle, Linson said. A lot of counter-UAS, basically the solutions that theyre looking at dont provide that survivability that the Pandur would offer.
Missouri State Capitol building in Jefferson City (Getty Images).

March 25 is Equal Pay Day, marking how many days the median woman would need to work into 2025 to earn what the median man earned in 2024.

This day was designed to draw the publics attention to the discrepancy in pay between men and women in the United States. It has been recognized annually since 1996.

According to the most recent median income data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the national gender pay gap stood at approximately 84% in 2024. Said differently, for each dollar men earned, women earned $0.16 less.

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In Missouri, however, the pay gap was 80% for full-time, year-round work in 2024, meaning that women earn $0.20 less. The disparity grows to 73% if we include part-time and part-year workers in our analysis.

Missouri ranks 38th in the United States for the gender pay gap. Nationally, women must work approximately 58 more days than men. In Missouri, they must work 73 more days than men. In lifetime wages, Missouri women stand to lose nearly half a million dollars each in wages compared to Missouri men.

We have observed small, but important positive changes to the pay gap during the last 20 years, according to a recent Pew Research Center report. Some of this is attributable to gains in education  women outpace men in attending and graduating from college. Some, but not all, of the remaining pay gap can be explained by occupational segregation, a term used to describe a trend where one gender is over- or underrepresented in certain occupations, like education.

For example, if Missouri fulfills its promise to pay teachers more (but see here) after being near the bottom in state rankingsfor years, it will likely contribute to a reduction in the gender pay gap.

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Several factors contribute to the gender pay gap at the state level. Our own research suggests that some variation in the gender pay gap is associated with political factors. Perhaps most notably, we find that states with more women elected to state political offices are associated with smaller pay gaps. This finding is particularly relevant to Missouri, as it is one of 18 states that has never elected a woman governor.

In addition, Missouri currently ranks 36th with 57 women serving in the state legislature (32 Democrats and 23 Republicans). To reach gender parity, approximately 51% of the state legislature would need to identify as women. Currently, women hold only 29% of seats in the state legislature. This is the most balanced the institution has ever been, in terms of gender.

State policies in support of equal pay protections are another way to close the gender pay gap. Salary transparency laws, for example, may lead to greater information about salary levels, allowing women to negotiate for more equitable pay.

While pay transparency laws emerged relatively recently, initial research suggests that salary transparency may help raise salaries for all employees in order to match their competitors. Unfortunately, according to the American Association of University Womens report The Simple Truth about the Gender Wage Gap in the States, Missouris equal pay protections are relatively weak compared to other states.

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One of the biggest obstacles to remedying the gender pay gap seems to be agreeing that a problem exists at all. Recent counternarratives suggest that the gap exists in significant measure due to womens individual choices or that controlling for occupation and industry and for career interruptions eliminate the pay gap. A review of the comments section of a recent article in The Economist addressing the pay gap across countries suggests that this denialist approach to the pay gap is relatively common.

We recently conducted a study to better understand who is least likely to believe that a gender gap exists. We found that men, Republicans, conservatives and those with more negative views toward women are less likely to report that women earn less than men in their state. In general, knowledge of the pay gap appears unrelated to the actual difference between the earnings of men and women in the respondents state.

The gender pay gap persists in every state across the country despite efforts to explain away its existence. Efforts to deny the pay gap between men and women make it less likely that society will be able to implement policies that will close the gap.

We can disagree on how best to address the pay gap, but let us agree that it is a problem worth addressing this Equal Pay holiday.
Authorities have released bodycam footage from outside the home of actor Gene Hackman where he was found dead alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa.

The redacted footage shows deputies speaking with two workers who contacted law enforcement last month after they spotted someone lying on the floor inside the house, the Associated Press reported.

With no signs of forced entry, officers questioned whether a carbon monoxide leak could have been responsible for the deaths, but the idea was dismissed by the workers.

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A gas leak was later reported at Hackmans home, but not to the extent that it could have caused harm to anyone exposed.

After the bodies were discovered, authorities established that Hackman and Arakawa had died around a week apart, deepening the mystery behind their deaths.

Medical investigators ultimately determined the 95-year-old actor died of heart disease with Alzheimers playing a significant role, while Arakawa, 65, had died of a rare infectious diseasehantavirus pulmonary syndrome and was unaware of how ill she was.

Elsewhere in the bodycam video, the group discuss contacting Hackmans family and express concern about the media response to their deaths.

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Theyre never supposed to be out and so at that point I knew something was wrong, one worker says.

I told the officer, You know whose house this is? and he said, I do, its Gene Hackmans.

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa, attend the Mission Hills Celebrity Sports Invitational in 1991. / Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Ive got a way to get ahold of his kids, the worker said. Also, a friend of his has got hold of a lady whos in charge of the whole estate, and she says she just talked to Betsy a couple days ago. She wants you to call her.

Because of who they are, I want to keep this limited, replied the deputy. Once this gets out, you know how its gonna go  So we gotta figure out whats going on first. My concern is that its a carbon monoxide issue.

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One of the couples dogs was also found close to Arakawas body and is believed to have died of dehydration and starvation, according to a veterinary lab report obtained by the AP.

A man who identified himself as a dog walker said the couple were very fond of their pets, and Arakawa was reportedly an excellent dog owner, excellent caretaker to the dogs, according to her vet.

Only a portion of the bodycam footage was released by the Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office after Hackmans estate was granted a temporary restraining order by a New Mexico court to prevent the release of any video or footage from the scene in order to protect the familys privacy.
ATLANTA (WRBL)  Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is warning Georgians of a potential threat to their extremely sensitive data.

23andMe, a company that collects and analyzes consumers genetic information through direct-to-consumer testing, has filed for bankruptcy. In a bankruptcy proceeding, this sensitive data could be considered an asset and be sold or transferred to a third party.

The Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Division urges Georgians to review their privacy options and strongly consider deleting their accounts.

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To delete your genetic data from 23andMe:

Go to 23andMe.com and sign in to your account.

Click on your profile in the upper righthand corner of the site, then click Settings.

Scroll to the section at the very bottom of the page called 23andMe Data and click the oval button that says, View.

Check the boxes of any data you would like to download and click Request Download. This step is optional and can take up to 30 days. You can continue with the following steps while you wait.

Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the red button that says, Permanently Delete Data.

You will receive an email with the subject line 23andMe Delete Account Request. Open it, and click the button that says, Permanently Delete All Records. Your data will not be deleted unless you complete this step.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
Georgia lawmakers have significantly changed a bill that originally threatened to cut the pay of Gwinnett County School Board members, though the bills sponsor suggests the legislation could be revisited.

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House Bill 767 initially proposed reducing board members pay to $50 per meeting if they fired a superintendent without cause. The legislation followed Januarys dismissal of Calvin Watts, the second superintendent terminated in four years, with taxpayers facing approximately $1.3 million in combined buyout costs for Watts and former superintendent Alvin Wilbanks.

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The revised bill now removes all references to board member pay, focusing solely on ensuring board members can speak freely to the media.

State Rep. Dewey McClain (D-Lawrenceville) says he met with the board personally last week. He removed the pay-cut provision after also learning it would take immediate effect if passed.

This was going to be effective right now and that was not the intention of the delegation, nor was it the intention of me, McClain said.

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The Gwinnett County Board of Education is searching for a new superintendent. Superintendent Calvin Watts will step down April 1, when his termination takes effect.

McClain didnt rule out revisiting the original legislation in the future.

If we dont realize what we are expecting to have, this is a two-year process, and so all we have to do is just add back to it.

The bill drew mixed reactions from the community.

This bill is totally unnecessary. Its a distraction from the real education needs of our parents, said community activist Marlynn Tillman.

Board member Dr. Tarece Johnson-Morgan criticized the proposal in writing, calling it an attempt to scold and undermine Black women in leadership.

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School board supporters mobilized quickly against the legislation.

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We were seeing it across social media. We were seeing people calling into their legislators, said Allison Cundiff, Gwinnett County Association of Educators president.

Cundiff also raised concerns about the bills potential consequences: If you had a superintendent who embezzled funds or committed a crime, the district would have to continue enduring under that superintendent because the Board would be penalized for removing them early.

The media provision addresses a February incident when newly elected board member Steve Gasper was reprimanded by Board Chair Dr. Adrienne Simmons after speaking to Channel 2 Action News following Watts termination in January.

Simmons had informed Gasper that only the board chair was authorized to speak with the media.

Some education advocates believe legislators should redirect their focus.

We have a lot of students who are in poverty and who really need extra support to still get their education, Cundiff said.




PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  A Georgia congressman has followed through on his pledge to file an impeachment resolution against Rhode Islands top federal judge, following several rulings against the Trump administration.

Congressman Andrew Clyde, a Republican, announced last month that he planned to target U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. The judge, appointed by President Obama, has frustrated Elon Musk and other Trump allies by halting the administrations proposed federal funding freeze.

McConnell ruled in response to a lawsuit filed by a group of state attorneys general that includes Rhode Islands Peter Neronha, a Democrat. In a decision on March 6, the judge wrote that the Trump administration had put itself above Congress in violation of the Constitutions appropriations power. The administration is appealing.

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On Monday, Clyde released the bill text of his impeachment resolution, which accuses McConnell of abuse of power and conflicts of interest. He is one of a number of Trump allies in Congress who have floated the potential impeachment of federal judges as courts block a wide variety of administration policies.

It is well within President Trumps Article II authority to freeze and review federal funds in search of waste, fraud, and abuse, Clyde said in a statement. The American people overwhelmingly voted for President Trump in November, providing a clear mandate to make our federal government more efficient.

The drumbeat of criticism last week led U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts to take the rare step of releasing a public statement rebuking those who are calling for the removal of judges.

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.

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The Rhode Island Bar Association spoke out in support of McConnell last month, calling the criticism of him unwarranted.

Clydes resolution focuses heavily on remarks McConnell made in a recorded conversation with the Gordon School shortly after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, as well as his extensive donations to Democratic Party politicians in the years before his appointment to the bench.

In addition, Clyde echoed criticism that has circulated on social media over McConnells position as a longtime board member at Crossroads Rhode Island, the large homelessness services provider. Critics argued McConnell had a conflict because Crossroads receives government funding to help carry out its work. (Board members are unpaid.)

Judge McConnell, who stands to benefit from his own injunction, is attempting to unilaterally obstruct the presidents agenda and defy the will of the American people, Clyde said, in a reference to Crossroads. Judge McConnells actions are corrupt, dangerous, and worthy of impeachment.

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McConnell currently holds the honorary title of chair emeritus on the Crossroads board, as do prior chairs.

Judge McConnell stepped down from our board in early 2024, well before the current administration took office and these cases were decided, said Mike Raia, a spokesperson for Crossroads.

Clydes office said his original cosponsors of the impeachment resolution include fellow Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, as well as Congressmen Josh Brecheen, Eli Crane, Brandon Gill, Paul Gosar, Andy Harris, Cory Mills and Scott Perry.

Rhode Island Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo, both Democrats, dismissed the move by their GOP colleagues.

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Representative Clydes impeachment bill appears to be motivated by politics and not the Constitution, Magaziner said in a statement. Under our system of government, if a party to a district court believes the judges ruling is incorrect, the proper remedy is to appeal the ruling to a higher court, not to attempt to impeach the judge.

Judges should interpret the law without fear of reprisal or political retribution, Amo said in a statement. Those who disagree with a ruling should file an appeal, not sham resolutions with articles of impeachment. An independent judiciary is a cornerstone of our democratic system  I oppose any effort to drag federal judges into the hyperpartisan mud.

Michael Yelnosky, former dean of Roger Williams University School of Law, noted that judicial impeachments are exceedingly rare, with fewer than 20 judges impeached since the countrys founding. Democrats also have enough votes in the U.S. Senate to block impeachments even if GOP leaders were to secure the votes in the House.

Most of Representative Clydes allegations amount to a list of disagreements he has with Chief Judge McConnell about the judges political activities prior to taking the bench, about judicial philosophy, and about the chief judges rulings, Yelnosky said in an email. None of the allegations by Clyde reach the high crimes and misdemeanors standard for impeachment, he said.

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Yelnosky also described as wildly attenuated the suggestion that McConnell has a conflict in the funding freeze case because of his ties to the Crossroads board. Any serious complaint about the judges links to the organization could be easily handled on an appeal, he said.

Ted Nesi (tnesi@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter and 12 News politics/business editor. He co-hosts Newsmakers and writes Nesis Notes on Saturdays. Connect with him on Twitter, Bluesky and Facebook.

Tim White contributed to this report.

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Channel 2 Action News has learned theres a new push by Georgia Senate Republicans to restrict advance early voting to just one location per county.

Channel 2s Richard Elliot learned that Democrats got wind of the move early Tuesday morning.

Senate Republicans took a voting-related bill that passed the House, stripped it, and put it back together again to include some controversial portions.

Even some county elections directors arent happy about the move.

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House Bill 397 was once a simple bill that dealt with Saturday voting. But now Senate Republicans have tacked on a number of other provisions.

It would eliminate counties from setting up multiple early voting sites, instead requiring early voters to go to one centralized location.

Given that 71% of Georgia voters voted early, thats a concern for Paulding County elections director Deidra Holden.

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You know, thats disenfranchisement at its best because our voters depend on that. Not everybodys schedule allows them to vote on Election Day. Some want to vote by paper, Holden said.

Atlanta Democratic state Sen. Jason Esteves thinks the idea of limited advanced early voting to a single location leads only to long lines and frustrated voters.

For early voting, thats going to restrict the number of people who are going to participate in early voting which means more people will vote the day of the election, Esteves said.

Im looking forward to 397. I think its got some good components. I know weve worked hard on that one, Sylvania Republican state Sen. Max Burns said.

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Burns said he supports what hes seen of the bill so far, even the section on limited advance early voting.

But he admits, the bill is still a work in progress, and he wants to see the finished product.

At the end of the day, I need to look at the current version. Ive seen some earlier versions. I know that everyone is a little bit interested. We hope to get it out, hopefully this evening, Burns said.

The bill would also require poll workers at each precinct to hand-count every ballot, a rule the Republican-dominated state elections board tried to implement last year but couldnt because the courts intervened.

We expect a Senate committee hearing on this sometime on Wednesday.
KAMPALA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- More than 31,000 Congolese have fled conflicts in their home country since January and are now seeking refuge in neighboring Uganda, the UN Refugee Agency said on Tuesday.

Frank Walusimbi, spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Uganda, told Xinhua by telephone that the refugees are fleeing violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and entering Uganda through the border district of Kisoro.

"We have received them, mostly women and children. They continue to arrive because the fighting has not ended," Walusimbi said.

He urged humanitarian relief for them. "We are still keeping them at the transit centers due to a lack of logistical support to transport them to the resettlement centers," he said.

In a post on the X platform, Jason Hepps, deputy representative of UNHCR Uganda, said that thousands of Congolese people continue to arrive daily, overwhelming the Nyakabande Transit Center in southwestern Uganda near the DRC border.

"Women are telling heart-wrenching stories of violence, sexual violence, and other harrowing experiences from their journey," Hepps said.

He said that the Ugandan government has kept its borders open to refugees.

"We need to improve water, sanitation, and health services, all of which are overwhelmed by the 7,000 people currently at Nyakabande Transit Center, about five times its capacity," Hepps added.

According to UNHCR figures, Uganda hosts about 1.8 million refugees, primarily from the DRC, South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, Rwanda, and Ethiopia. 
If you havent voted in a while and still want to, you will need to check your mailboxes for a letter from the secretary of states office.

The Georgia Secretary of States office announced it would remove 455,000 people from the voting rolls because they havent voted in the past two federal elections.

State elections director Blake Evans insists theyre doing it according to state and federal laws, which require periodic maintenance of those rolls.

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We care about voter list integrity, and we are required by state and federal law to do these types of matters because these are outdated records and somebody moves and they dont always think about cancelling their registration, so their records are out of date, Evans said.

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But not everyone agrees with the method and with the huge number, said to be one of the highest numbers of total cancellations in state history.

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Fair Fight Actions Lauren Groh-Wargo condemned the purge, saying, removing nearly half a million voters from the rolls in one sweep is concerning. The right to vote shouldnt have an expiration date.

Atlanta Democratic state Sen. Jason Esteves acknowledges that some purges must be made from time to time, but he wants a closer look at this one.

Ill be taking a close look at the reasons why these folks are being purged to make sure that theyre valid and my colleagues will be doing the same thing, Esteves said.

Evans insists that voters in jeopardy of getting removed will first get a letter in the mail this summer warning them to contact their office or their county office.

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These people still have a chance to stay on the voter rolls. Well send one more mailer to them. Well give them 40 days to respond, Evans said.

Evans said if you are purged and want to vote, you can always simply re-register. But remember, check your voting status before election day.
A so-called "anti-squatters" bill will next go to the Senate Rules Committee, which determines which legislation will be heard in the chamber by April 4, the last day of this year's legislative session. Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder

This story was updated at 8:53 a.m. Tuesday, March 25.

The Georgia Senate Public Safety Committee Monday passed the anti-squatters act that establishes a process for requiring law enforcement officers to remove people accused of illegally staying at a residential property.

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Under House Bill 61, people who stay in residential properties, hotels or cars without the owners express permission are guilty of misdemeanor unlawful squatting. Any person violating the law would be subject to having law enforcement officers remove them from the property within 10 days of notification.

The bills advancement by a 7-2 committee vote comes on the heels of a coalition of housing rights advocates heading into a disappointing homestretch of the 2025 legislative session after seeing little progress on bipartisan bills aimed at protecting Georgians from higher rents, problematic landlords and increasing threats of eviction.

If passed, people convicted of unlawful squatting must also pay restitution based on fair market rent to the property owner.

The squatters bill will next go to the Senate Rules Committee, which determines which legislation will be heard in the chamber by April 4, the last day of this years legislative session.

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The bills supporters argue that it closes loopholes in the anti-squatting laws.

Housing rights advocates have argued that the bill infringes on the due process that should be afforded to people who have been living in extended stay hotels for long periods of time. They also contend that HB 61 would treat all squatters as criminals, regardless of whether they were the victim of a fraud and had been paying rent to a person who claimed to be the lawful owner.

Innkeepers are permitted to evict tenants and withhold belongings if they fall behind on payments or overstay their welcome under the anti-squatting law.

Marietta Republican Rep. Devan Seabaugh, the bills sponsor, said that extended stay hotels are still businesses rather than social safety nets for families who cannot afford traditional housing.

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They play an important role in our communities, and they often provide affordable, flexible lodging for individuals and families in transition, whether due to job changes housing shortages or emergencies, Seabaugh said. I think we can all agree on that, and we recognize and appreciate how helpful they are to people facing hard times, but at their core, these are private businesses, not public housing providers or charitable shelters.

Seabaugh said the bills requirement of the property owner providing police with an affidavit is not trying to target holdover tenants but instead people who are illegally occupying a property.

Testimony was offered during the legislative committee process about a family that had been paying daily for several months for a room at an extended stay hotel who had their possessions removed and left outside the hotel because the family missed an 11 a.m. checkout time payment. Other witnesses reported that thousands of long-term residents of these hotels would be harmed by the proposed legislation.

Stone Mountain Democratic Sen. Kim Jackson argued that there should be a distinction between squatters and tenants who have consistently paid their rent but may have fallen behind for a few days.



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A squatter is someone who intentionally goes into my house and sets up camp and says, its my place,' Jackson said. A person whos been staying in an extended hotel for a year straight and misses a day, theyre not a squatter, theyre a person whos late. To charge them with criminal trespass and to set them out and their kids out is an injustice.

Sen. Randy Robertson, a Cataula Republican, said the new anti-squatting measure could provide better regulation over the many extended stay hotels that he says are magnets for crime.

Robertson said that more effort can be put into engaging government agencies like the states Division of Family and Children Services to support families living in long term hotels who are at risk of becoming unhoused.

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The German ambassador to Israel on Tuesday said he was "worried" after a correspondent for a German newspaper was detained in the West Bank.

Steffen Seibert said reporter Christian Meier from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (faz) faced "unjustified detention" when "extremist settlers" harassed him in the Palestinian territory.

"It is not journalists who disturb the peace," added Seibert.

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Meier was held in the West Bank on Friday and only released after several hours in custody, faz said on Monday.

The correspondent had been investigating attacks on Palestinian shepherds with a group of Israeli human rights activists when the group was reportedly harassed by Israeli settlers.

Meier was allegedly forced to sign a document stating that he would not return to the West Bank for two weeks.

Press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders called the incident an "unacceptable and arbitrary encroachment on the freedom of the press."

In a statement to the faz, the German Foreign Office said it "condemns the completely unfounded and unlawful detention."
German conservative lawmaker Julia Klockner has been elected as president of the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament, on the first day of the new legislative session on Tuesday.

The 52-year-old received a stable majority of votes shortly after the new Bundestag convened in Berlin for its constituent meeting following elections last month.

The presidency of the Bundestag is the second-highest office of state in Germany, behind the federal presidency. In terms of protocol, the position outranks the chancellor.

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The role is traditionally filled by the largest parliamentary group, which in the new session is the centre-right CDU/CSU bloc - made up of Friedrich Merz's Christian Democrats and the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union.

As president, Klockner will open and close sittings, call items of business and grant lawmakers permission to speak.

Klockner, from the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate, is the fourth woman to hold the position.
Foreign powers including Russia and China are actively recruiting agents in the private sector to carry out sabotage in Germany, intelligence officials warned on Tuesday.

At an annual security conference in Berlin, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) - Germany's domestic intelligence agency - warned that authorities and businesses must be equipped to ward off acts of sabotage and espionage.

BfV Vice President Sinan Selen said Moscow and Beijing are increasingly commissioning private actors to achieve their goals, instead of relying on security forces, state media and diplomacy.

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Selen highlighted several examples of suspected sabotage in Europe in recent months, including an incident on a German warship, arson attacks in Lithuania and Poland, and a series of explosions of incendiary devices in packages.

Other hybrid attacks include a cyberattack on the Munich Security Conference in February by a pro-Russian hacker group.

The inspector general of the Bundeswehr - Germany's military - also called for action to repel Moscow.

General Carsten Breuer said the separation between internal and external security in Germany is a "gateway" for hybrid Russian attacks.

Looking further ahead, Breuer warned that Russia will be in a position to attack NATO territory in four to seven years.

Germany cannot bury its head in the sand while Russia steps up its production of tanks and ammunition, he argued.
BERLIN (AP)  Germany's new parliament on Tuesday elected as its speaker a conservative former minister, who called for civilized debate in what is likely to be a confrontational term after a far-right, anti-immigration party doubled in strength in last month's election.

The post of speaker  in protocol terms Germany's second-highest, behind the president and ahead of the chancellor  traditionally goes to the strongest group in parliament's lower house, or Bundestag. After the Feb. 23 election, that is the center-right Union bloc of the country's likely next leader, Friedrich Merz.

Merz's choice was Julia Klockner, 52, who was agriculture minister from 2018 to 2021 in then-Chancellor Angela Merkel's final government. Lawmakers elected her by 382 votes to 204, with 31 abstentions.

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Klockner promised lawmakers she would carry out her duties in a non-partisan, calm and undaunted way.

The atmosphere in the Bundestag has become considerably more heated since the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, first won seats in 2017. It finished second in last month's election, doubling its share of the vote to 20.8%, and now holds 152 of the 630 seats.

There is a very clear yardstick for me: decency, Klockner said.

We must conduct and endure controversial discourse ... according to clear rules, she added. I will take care that we deal with each other in a civilized way  and if we don't do that, learn to.

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According to parliamentary rules, other parties are each supposed to get a deputy speaker, but their candidates must win a majority of lawmakers. In its eight years in parliament, a majority has balked at every candidate AfD has proposed. On Tuesday, the Bundestag snubbed AfD lawmaker Gerold Otten, who failed to win more than 190 votes.

It's not clear when the Bundestag will be able to elect a new chancellor. Merz is still in talks to form a coalition with the center-left Social Democrats of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Scholz and his Cabinet received their dismissal certificates from President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday. But as is customary, Steinmeier tasked the government to stay in office on a caretaker basis until a new chancellor is in place.
The German Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, is scheduled to convene for its constituent session on Tuesday following the elections of February 23, with lawmakers set to elect a Bundestag president.

The session is to be opened by Gregor Gysi, the longest-serving member of parliament, who will preside over the meeting until a new Bundestag president is elected.

The conservative CDU/CSU parliamentary group of Friedrich Merz, Germany's presumptive next chancellor, nominated experienced politician Julia Klockner to be the next Bundestag president.

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Traditionally, the largest parliamentary group, which in the new parliament is the conservative alliance comprised of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union (CSU), fills this post.

The Bundestag president occupies the second-highest office of state after the federal president, so in protocol terms this is superior in rank to the chancellor and the president of the upper house, the Bundesrat.

The president opens and closes sittings, calls items of business and grants lawmakers permission to speak.

The outgoing Bundestag president is Social Democrat Barbel Bas.

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Klockner, 52, would be only the fourth woman to hold the post.

Once the Bundestag president is chosen, the focus will shift to the election of the president's deputies, with particular attention on whether the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) will secure a vice-presidency for the first time.

Since the AfD's entry into the Bundestag in 2017, its candidates have failed to garner enough votes from other parliamentary groups to secure the position.
Germany's Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, convened for a new legislative session in Berlin on Tuesday following elections last month.

The session was opened by Gregor Gysi, the longest-serving member of parliament, who will preside over the meeting until a new Bundestag president is elected.

The conservative CDU/CSU parliamentary group - made up of Friedrich Merz's Christian Democrats and the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union - has nominated experienced politician Julia Klockner to fill the post.

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The centre-right bloc won February's election with 28.5% of the vote, with Merz set to become the country's next chancellor after coalition negotiations with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) conclude.
Germany's Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, convened for a new legislative session on Tuesday.

Lawmakers gathered in Berlin, one month after parliamentary elections delivered a victory for Friedrich Merz's conservative CDU/CSU bloc - made up of the Christian Democrats and the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union.

The slimmed-down chamber has dropped from 733 to 630 seats after a parliamentary reform, and the members' political allegiances have also shifted, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) now holding almost a quarter of the seats.

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The CDU's Julia Klockner was elected as the Bundestag president, the second-highest office of state in Germany behind the federal presidency.

As president, Klockner will open and close sittings, call items of business and grant lawmakers permission to speak.

Klockner, from the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate, is the fourth woman to hold the position, which outranks the chancellor in terms of formal protocol.

In a speech following her election, Klockner warned that "liberal democracy cannot be taken for granted" and called for more respect in parliamentary debates.

"The way we deal with each other here and exchange arguments has an influence on social debates," she said.

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Lawmakers were set to elect Klockner's deputies later on Tuesday, with senior AfD politician Bernd Baumann complaining that his party's candidate was unlike to garner enough votes to secure the position.

"We could put up Jesus Christ and Mahatma Gandhi, they wouldn't get elected," said Baumann.

All German mainstream parties have ruled out working with the far-right party, a strategy referred to as a political "firewall."

Coalition talks continue

The opening of the new Bundestag comes as coalition talks between the CDU/CSU and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) continue.

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Together, the country's traditional political rivals hold a slim majority of seats in the new Bundestag, despite having garnered under 45% of the vote in February's election.

Merz, the presumptive next chancellor, has stated that he wants an administration to be in place by the Easter holidays in April, but negotiations are ongoing over a number of thorny issues, such as migration policy.

The next administration is likely to face steadfast opposition in the Bundestag from the AfD, which finished in second place with a record 20.8% of the nationwide vote.

The success of the AfD and the resurgence of The Left, both parties that the CDU/CSU bloc has promised not to work with, leaves the two parties with a so-called blocking minority in the chamber, giving them the power to thwart constitutional amendments.

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That prompted Merz and his prospective coalition partners to rush a historic package through the outgoing Bundestag last week, relying on support from the Greens to amend constitutional rules on government borrowing for defence and create an extraordinary 500 billion ($541 billion) fund for infrastructure and climate protection.

Scholz to be dismissed

The new Bundestag also marks a significant step for outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is set to be formally dismissed by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier later on Tuesday.

Under Article 69 of the Basic Law, Germany's constitution, the outgoing administration is formally dismissed after the new chamber is constituted.

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Steinmeier is set to hand over certificates of dismissal to the chancellor and his 14 ministers at around 5:30 pm (1630 GMT).

However, Scholz is set to remain in office in a caretaker capacity until the next government is formed.

The president's office said Steinmeier has already requested for Scholz's administration to continue its work until it can be replaced.

Members of parliament wait to cast their votes for the election of the Vice-President of the Bundestag at the 1st constituent session of the new Bundestag. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
Germany's Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, convened for a new legislative session on Tuesday.

Lawmakers gathered in Berlin, one month after parliamentary elections delivered a victory for Friedrich Merz's conservative CDU/CSU bloc - made up of the Christian Democrats and the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union.

The slimmed-down chamber has dropped from 733 to 630 seats after a parliamentary reform, and the members' political allegiances have also shifted, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) now holding almost a quarter of the seats.

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The CDU's Julia Klockner was elected as the Bundestag president, the second-highest office of state in Germany behind the federal presidency.

As president, Klockner will open and close sittings, call items of business and grant lawmakers permission to speak.

Klockner, from the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate, is the fourth woman to hold the position, which outranks the chancellor in terms of formal protocol.

In a speech following her election, Klockner warned that "liberal democracy cannot be taken for granted" and called for more respect in parliamentary debates.

"The way we deal with each other here and exchange arguments has an influence on social debates," she said.

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Lawmakers elected four deputies for Klockner, with the AfD left frustrated after its candidate failed to secure enough votes.

"We could put up Jesus Christ and Mahatma Gandhi, they wouldn't get elected," said senior AfD lawmaker Bernd Baumann.

All German mainstream parties have ruled out working with the far-right party, a strategy referred to as a political "firewall."

Coalition talks continue

The opening of the new Bundestag comes as coalition talks between the CDU/CSU and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) continue.

Together, the country's traditional political rivals hold a slim majority of seats in the new Bundestag, despite having garnered under 45% of the vote in February's election.

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Merz, the presumptive next chancellor, has stated that he wants an administration to be in place by the Easter holidays in April, but negotiations are ongoing over a number of thorny issues, such as migration policy.

In a sign of frustration, the CDU/CSU leader told broadcaster Phoenix that the SPD must recognize that its poor election result demonstrates the need for "reforms and changes."

"The SPD knows that it has to budge in many areas," argued Merz.

The next administration is likely to face steadfast opposition in the Bundestag from the AfD, which surged past the SPD to finish in second place with a record 20.8% of the nationwide vote.

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The success of the AfD and the resurgence of The Left, both parties that the CDU/CSU bloc has promised not to work with, leaves the two parties with a so-called blocking minority in the chamber, giving them the power to thwart constitutional amendments.

That prompted Merz and his prospective coalition partners to rush a historic package through the outgoing Bundestag last week, relying on support from the Greens to amend constitutional rules on government borrowing for defence and create an extraordinary 500 billion ($541 billion) fund for infrastructure and climate protection.

Scholz dismissed

The new Bundestag also marks a significant step for outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who was formally dismissed by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday.

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Under Article 69 of the Basic Law, Germany's constitution, the outgoing chancellor is formally dismissed after the new chamber is constituted.

However, Scholz and his 14 ministers are set to remain in office in a caretaker capacity until the next government is formed.

The president's office said Steinmeier has already requested for Scholz's administration to continue its work until it can be replaced.

Before handing over the certificates of dismissal, Steinmeier praised Scholz's government for its crisis management, recalling the coronavirus pandemic, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the Gaza war.

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"As the German government, you very often had to act very quickly and decisively," he said. "You had to venture into uncharted territory and seek new approaches."

Steinmeier thanked Scholz in particular for his response to the war in Ukraine, which he called an "immense feat." Scholz's government had managed to improve Germany's defence capabilities and had pulled out all the stops to ensure energy supplies during the first winter of the war, he said.

"This achievement by your federal government deserves respect," the president said.

Ushers carry ballots from the third round of voting for a potential Alternative for Germany (AfD) Bundestag Vice-President during the constituent session of the new German Bundestag. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa

Ushers carry ballots from the third round of voting for a potential Alternative for Germany (AfD) Bundestag Vice-President during the constituent session of the new German Bundestag. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Police have discovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition, including nearly a dozen assault rifles, during a series of operations in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province, provincial police spokesman Mullah Ezatullah Haqqani said Tuesday.

The weaponry, which includes 10 pieces of AK-47, 20 pieces of pistols, hundreds of projectiles, and other military types of equipment, have been discovered and collected from the provincial capital Lashkar Gah and some districts over the past three months, the official said, adding all the weaponry was handed over to the concerned body.

Police have also arrested 50 individuals on charges of involvement in criminal activities such as murder, robbery and theft, the official added, saying police won't allow anyone to keep or carry arms illegally.

As part of efforts to ensure lasting peace and security in war-torn Afghanistan, the Afghan interim government has vowed to collect arms and ammunition from anyone living outside the security apparatus in the country. 
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is to be officially dismissed by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday after a new session of the Bundestag - the country's lower house of parliament - convened in Berlin.

Scholz, whose Social Democratic Party (SPD) plunged to third place in elections last month, is set to remain in office in a caretaker capacity until the next government is formed.

The conservative CDU/CSU bloc - made up of Friedrich Merz's Christian Democrats and the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union - is currently negotiating with the SPD over the formation a coalition.

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Under Article 69 of the Basic Law, Germany's constitution, the outgoing administration is formally dismissed after the new Bundestag is constituted.

Steinmeier is set to hand over certificates of dismissal to the chancellor and his 14 ministers at around 5:30 pm (1630 GMT), hours after lawmakers gathered in Berlin to open the new legislative session.

The president's office said Steinmeier has already requested for Scholz's administration to continue in office until it can be replaced.

Merz, the presumptive next chancellor, is hoping to have an administration in place by the Easter holidays in April.
Girl, 13, found dead in Santa Cruz identified after three decades

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KRON)  A 13-year-old girl who was found dead along a river in south Santa Cruz County three decades ago was recently identified through DNA testing, investigators said.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Office partnered with a forensic DNA lab, Othram, to develop new leads in the cold case. As a result of this collaboration, we successfully identified the remains as those of 13-year-old Laura OMalley from Queens, New York, the sheriffs office wrote Tuesday.

OMalleys partial skeletal remains were found on March 22, 1995 along a river flowing next to Highway 129. Her estimated date of death was between 1977 and 1984.

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OMalley was reported missing in New York by her family in the summer of 1975. Her family never saw or heard from her again. Investigators said its still unknown how the teen girl traveled to California, nor what caused her death.

Laura OMalley (Photo via Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Office)

Othram and the Sheriffs Office utilized advanced genetic genealogy to identify potential family

members in recent years.

Marin County Jane Doe identified after six decades of mystery

We are deeply grateful for our partnership with Othram and the use of forensic advancements that have provided long-awaited answers to Lauras family. The circumstances surrounding her

death are still under investigation, the sheriffs office wrote.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Office staff who give rude nicknames to colleagues could have to pay thousands following a groundbreaking ruling.

Leo Foster, a senior in-house solicitor, has been fined 15,000 and ordered to pay 16,000 costs for referring to co-workers in his team as Jabba the Hutt, Pol Pot, The Idiot, Mad Paul and The Twittering Fool.

Mr Foster, who worked at multinational bank BNP Paribas in London, also branded a colleague Hu She, a solicitors disciplinary tribunal heard.

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She pronounced her name Who-ee, the hearing was told, but Foster was inspired by the Who he joke in Private Eye, the satirical magazine.

Foster admitted using inappropriate, unprofessional and rude nicknames on numerous occasions over the course of many months  including in emails.

He accepted that his colleagues did not consent to the use of the nicknames, but insisted that he never had any racist intention towards his co-worker with the Chinese name.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority took action after allegations against Mr Foster emerged in business newspaper City A.M.

Disgruntled with management changes

On other occasions, he described bosses at the bank as c---s and questioned whether one was autistic, the hearing heard.

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In an email, Mr Foster wrote: Who the f--- is this? while in another he said: Looks like a bunch of c---s.

The Law Society reported: Fosters lawyer told the SDT (Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal) he was extremely apologetic and had not intended to cause anyone offence or hurt.

It added: The misconduct had taken place during a stressful time and was a small fraction of the correspondence he sent.

The tribunal heard Foster had been disgruntled with management changes at the bank.

In its judgement, the SDT said: Mr Foster had found the changes to the working environment difficult, but he had failed to handle this with the standards expected of a solicitor of his experience and standing.

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The hearing was told that Foster had negotiated an exit from the bank, quietly retiring in 2022.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A GoFundMe was created to raise money for the family of the woman who was killed in a shooting outside of Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge.

On March 19, Patricia Jackson, 58, was shot in the 5000 block of Hennessy Boulevard. Jackson was reported to be an employee at the hospital.

As of 4:30 p.m., Monday, the fundraiser has raised over $4,300. The description identified Jackson as a loving, caring, strong woman who raised seven kids on her journey while she was here and 18 grandkids.

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The Baton Rouge Police Department arrested a suspect, Roland Domino, 60. Police said Domino shot Jackson multiple times after a verbal argument in the parking lot. Domino was arrested on charges of second-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon.

GoFundMe created for Baton Rouge man killed in New Orleans terrorist act on New Years Day

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.
An American avocet searches for food in the waters of the Great Salt Lake near Antelope Island on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

The federal government will unfreeze $50 million in funds that the Biden administration had originally awarded Utah in an effort to get more water to the Great Salt Lake.

Thats according to Great Salt Lake Commissioner Brian Steed, who said the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation lifted the Trump administrations pause on Thursday.

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The bureau announced the funding in the waning days of the Biden administration, marking the largest single investment in the Great Salt Lake from the federal government. The funding was then put on hold for much of the winter, part of Trumps review of federal programs and spending.

That $50 million will go a long way towards helping the lake be in a much better spot, Steed told reporters during a news conference on Tuesday.

The state still has some guardrails  about $10 million will go toward leasing, which allows the state to pay water rights holders in the Great Salt Lake basin to set aside some of their water for the lake. The remaining $40 million will go toward habitat projects around the lake.

The announcement comes as lake levels hover around 4,193 feet on the south arm, and 4,192 on the north arm (the two sections are divided by a causeway, with the north arm typically experiencing lower water levels and higher salinity).

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Thats about one foot lower for the south arm and two feet higher for the north arm compared to last year, when the Great Salt Lake Basin saw above-average snowpack levels. Its far better than the historically low water levels in 2022, where the lake bottomed out at 4,188.5 feet.

Now, with snowpack currently at about 113% of normal for the Great Salt Lake Basin, Steed said the outlook is looking good, calling it a remarkably average year given how dry the fall was.

We expect well have a pretty significant runoff into the Great Salt Lake, which gives us a lot of cause for hope, said Steed, pointing to a report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service that suggested lake levels could rise between 6 inches to 1.5 feet as the snow continues to melt.

Thats all good news for the lakes salinity levels, a vital metric for overall ecosystem health. As lake levels drop, salinity becomes more concentrated, which can impact brine shrimp and brine fly populations  those populations are essential food for the millions of migratory birds that stop by the Great Salt Lake on their journey.

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Current salinity levels were around 10.5% on Tuesday. Thats actually in a really healthy spot, Steed said.

For reference, when lake levels hit a historic low in 2022, salinity levels in the south arm hit 19%, nearing the tipping point of what brine flies can handle.

A slow year for the Great Salt Lake on capitol hill

Steeds remarks come on the heels of the 2025 Legislative General Session, where lawmakers passed more than 500 bills and funded a number of programs.

But unlike recent years, it was a slow year for the Great Salt Lake. After several sessions of prioritizing water and Great Salt Lake-related legislation, House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, said lawmakers should evaluate the success of these policies before further tweaking water law.

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Still, Steed said it was a relatively successful legislative session for the Great Salt Lake. That includes:

HB446, which was mostly a clean-up bill clarifying existing policies, including Great Salt Lake Commissioners authority to lease water for the lake

HB520, which officially moves Steeds office under the Utah Division of Natural Resources and pushes for more coordination between the Great Salt Lake Trust Council and the Great Salt Lake Commissioners Office.

A $1 million allocation for Steeds office to lease more water for the Great Salt Lake.

About $150,000 in annual funds for the Utah Department of Environmental Quality to monitor dust pollution from the lake.

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Democratic Congressional candidate Gay Valimont (photo from Gay Valimont's Twitter page)

This is not a great time for the Democratic Party brand, to put it mildly.

The partys favorability rankings are in the tank, according to recent surveys. An NBC News poll taken earlier this month found just 27% of registered voters view the party favorably, the lowest such ratings in that poll for the Dems since 1990. Another survey released by CNN similarly found just 29% of voters look at the Democrats in a positive light  the lowest such number recorded by the channel since 1992.

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And in Florida, where the Republican Party has been ascendent for years, two special congressional elections taking place in heavily Donald Trump-friendly red districts next week are expected to pad the GOPs narrow lead in the House of Representatives. Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, running in Congressional District 1, and state Sen. Randy Fine, running in Congressional District 6, both have received endorsements from the president.

Yet the two Democrats running against them on April 1  Gay Valimont in Congressional District 1 and Josh Weil in Congressional District 6  are dominating in campaign contributions over their more heavily favored GOP opponents.

In CD 1 in the far northwest of the state, encompassing Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and parts of Walton County, Valimont raised $6.3 million from Jan. 9 through March 12, compared to her Republican opponent, who raised $1.1 million.

In CD 6, which encompasses St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia, and Lake counties, Josh Weil, an Orlando schoolteacher, raised $9.3 million, according to Federal Election Commission records released last week. Fine raised less than $600,000 in that same period.

Ruby red districts

How red are these two districts?

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In November, Mike Waltz, now Trumps national security adviser, defeated Democrat James David Stockton by 33 percentage points in CD 6. Gaetz defeated Valimont in CD 1 in November by 32 percentage points in a contest in which some pundits said he underperformed because his margin of victory was six points lower than Trumps 38-percentage point victory there.

Both Democrats shrug off claims that they cant win, and have been leaning heavily into the collective anger that has emerged over the Trump administrations seemingly indiscriminate layoffs of tens of thousands of federal workers in the past two months, particularly in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

At a town hall meeting featuring former Marine Corps fighter pilot and veterans advocate Amy McGrath Thursday night in Pensacola, Valimont, a gun-control advocate and Pensacola Beach resident, was asked by a voter what the Democrats could do to fight back against the dizzying number of policy changes that Trump has enacted since Jan. 20.

Everybody is asking what the Democratic Party is doing, she said. The Democratic Party  does not have enough votes to matter. Unfortunately, we did not win the majority. Nobody has recourse except for us. We can end that right here. Im not making a stand against everybody, what Im doing is making a stand for you. Because I live here with you, you are my neighbors. I want to take care of you.

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Congressional 6 Democratic candidate Josh Weil (Photo from the Weil campaign)

Weil is a 40-year-old schoolteacher and single father of two boys who lives in Orlando (both major candidates in District 6 live outside the district  Fine in Melbourne Beach). He says that when he began his campaign, his finance director dismissed the possibility that they might be able to raise $4 million as crazy. Theyve since raised double that amount.

An outlet for frustrated Democrats?

Whats behind the large numbers? Analysts suggest at least in part its because this is the first opportunity for voters disturbed about what is happening in Washington to try to make a difference right now, without having to wait until November 2026.

I think its part of Democrats who just want to see some of their leaders being under pressure fight back against Trump, said J. Miles Coleman, associate editor at the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. You have a bunch of donors at the grassroots level where their thinking might be, Well, these arent the districts that would be friendliest to us, but this is whats open. This is whats available so, sign me up.

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Theres been plenty of advertising and pushing out  like, I get it on my own Instagram feed, which is Florida-centric, but I know that this is going out nationally where they simply talk about the margin in the House is this close and these two seats could make a difference, said Matthew Isbell, an election-data analyst who works with Democrats.

[National Democrats] are saying that, If we just flip these seats, we can flip the House, which is like, yes, true, but it always leaves out the fact that these are incredibly Republican districts  and the likelihood of flipping it is, like virtually non-existent.

Sen. Randy Fine talks to reporters at the Capitol on Jan. 28, 2025, during a special session on immigration. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix)

Democrats are motivated like never before, added Darryl Paulson, professor emeritus of government at the University of South Florida at St. Petersburg. Noting the huge fundraising leads that Valimont and Weil enjoy, he jokes, If money wins elections, then the Democrats are shoo-ins.

But voter enthusiasm and bundles of campaign cash are weapons that are not likely to be significant enough to expect a reversal of fortunes, Paulson added.

Focus on Musk

The Democrats reject that conventional wisdom. Weil says that on the campaign trail hes heard particularly strong criticism of Elon Musk, the billionaire brought in by Trump as the public face of the secretive Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is not an actual government department but nevertheless has sought to drastically reduce federal government spending and go after what its staffers see as waste.

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It doesnt matter what type of door were knocking on, people are unhappy because they didnt vote for that. No one voted for him, Weil said of Musk.

But even among people who voted for Donald Trump, they never thought that he would, that there would be cuts to the VA. No matter how they try to spin it, the veterans felt the cuts with in the first 48 hours. I remember, it was about a day or two after the initial cut of thousands of doctors and nurses, and we were speaking at a VFW hall in the district and just veteran after veteran was coming up to us and telling us that its just real. Their doctors appointments, their scheduled operations or procedures had all been pushed back four to six months.

They never believed that he would do these things when elected. And its not what they thought they were voting for, he said.

Valimont says shes hearing the same things in her district.

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Were talking about the 20,000 federal employees who live here, she told the Phoenix on Monday. Were talking about our VA already being at 140% capacity and now 83,000 jobs are being cut. People are already broke, and things about to get a lot worse in our district.

For his part, Patronis has said hes not surprised at the money coming for the Democrats.

Theyre going to spend money because theyve got no other race in the country to spend money on other than Congressional District 1 and Congressional District 6, he told the Pensacola News-Journal. So all of their resources are going (into this race) because theyre trying to use this as a referendum on President Trumps leadership.

Republicans regaining focus

Republican Party of Florida Chair Evan Power isnt showing much concern.

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It does not surprise me that Democrats are funneling lots of money through, under investigation, Act Blue potentially illegally. Just like in 2024, no matter the amount of fake energy the democrats attempt to create, Floridians are not buying what they are selling, he said in a text message.

(ActBlue is a Democratic Party online fundraising platform that is being investigated by a GOP-led committee in the U.S. House regarding allegations of illicit campaign activity).

Both Republicans are fighting back.

Photo taken from Jimmy Patronis Facebook page.

In a new ad that began airing this week, Patronis uses Valimonts verbal criticisms of Trump as reasons why the MAGA-friendly district shouldnt vote for her. Meanwhile, Fine and some political committees who support his candidacy have been pouring money into his campaign in just the past few days.

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Isbell says metrics hes looking at shed light on what 2026 might look like.

Youre going to see a very red electorate and its going to go Republican most surely. But if the Democrats over-perform  and especially if they over-perform because they had stronger turnout or it looks like they won a good chunk of independents  then you can say, Okay, thats great. That means a lot for other districts, he said.

Whether its the 7th District or the 13th District or the 27th, theres other seats that are much more competitive than either the 1st or 6th. I just think that some Democrats think that if they lose them, theyll just get discouraged and think, Oh, theres no hope. And I just think thats not what Im looking at. Im looking at 10 points, 15 points, even 20. These are very red seats, so anything thats not 30 points is pretty notable.

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Republican leaders have grown privately alarmed about the massive fundraising disparity their candidate, Randy Fine, faces in a special House election in a deep-red Florida district and have swooped in to help resuscitate his campaign at the eleventh hour.

House GOP leaders have in recent days been calling donors to plead for financial help in the race to fill the seat previously held by Mike Waltz, who is now President Donald Trump's national security adviser, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter. In addition, Fine, a state senator, has made personal pleas to Florida-based lobbyists and donors for a quick infusion of cash before the April 1 election, according to two sources familiar with those conversations.

While party leaders in Washington and Florida are ultimately confident that Fine will pull off a victory, Republicans say theyre frustrated that they need to intervene in a district that Trump won by 30 points last year.

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Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., who leads the House GOPs campaign arm, said Fine needs to do better on his fundraising. But Hudson was confident Republicans would hold on to the seat and said he didnt expect the National Republican Congressional Committee to spend in the race.

I would have preferred if our candidate had raised money at a faster rate and gotten on TV quicker, Hudson told reporters Monday. But hes doing what he needs to do. Hes on TV now. Were going to win the seat. Im not concerned at all.

Fines campaign didnt respond to a request for comment.

Fine has been significantly outraised by his Democratic opponent, teacher Josh Weil, who has raised a whopping $9.7 million to Fines $561,000, according to fundraising reports filed last week with the Federal Election Commission. Fine also just started airing his first TV ad last week as part of a joint ad buy with the Florida Republican Party, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact.

Democrat Josh Weil has significantly outraised Randy Fine in the race.

In recent days, Fine has contributed $600,000 of his own money to his campaign, and FEC filings show that he has received contributions from PACs tied to Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and GOP Reps. Byron Donalds, of Florida; Greg Murphy, of North Carolina; Jeff Crank, of Colorado; and Ben Cline, of Virginia.

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The White House is also "concerned" and has been hyper-focused on the race, according to a senior Republican source in close contact with the White House.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump, who first backed Fine ahead of the January primary, reiterated his endorsement on Truth Social last week. He also boosted Republican Jimmy Patronis, who is running in an April 1 special election in Florida's 1st District to replace GOP former Rep. Matt Gaetz, on Monday, encouraging his supporters to head to the polls.

Trumps political orbit has directly been guiding Fines campaign. Fines top consultant is Chris Grant, who worked for the pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc. during the 2024 election cycle, and his top pollster is Tony Fabrizio, who has long done work for Trump, including last year. Rapid Loop Consulting, a firm co-founded by White House deputy chief of staff James Blair, is advising a super PAC backing Fines campaign. Blair is no longer involved with the firm, which is run by his former business partner, Ryan Smith.

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Floridas 6th Congressional District seat has been vacant since Jan. 20, when Waltz resigned from Congress to become Trumps national security adviser, leaving House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., with a historically small majority.

Fine has a prickly reputation even among Florida Republicans. Many of those who have worked with him over the years arent surprised that he is at risk of underperforming in a solidly Republican area.

This race is proof that candidates matter, said a veteran Florida GOP operative, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly. Randy will win because the seat is so Republican and because so much money came in late, but this is a case of Team Trump dragging him over the finish line.

Another longtime Florida Republican said that for state-level Republicans there would be no tears shed for Fine if he snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, though the person acknowledged a victory is important because of Republicans slim House majority.

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Patronis, Florida's chief financial officer and the Republican running to replace Gaetz, was also significantly outraised by his Democratic opponent. Patronis pulled in $1.1 million, compared with gun control activist Gay Valimonts $6.4 million, in the most recent fundraising period.

But the 1st District race hasnt raised the same level of concerns, given Patronis stronger fundraising and the districts redder hue  Trump carried the seat by 37 points, according to election results data from NBC News Decision Desk.

Still, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said the fundraising gaps are a sign that the American people are not buying what the Republicans are selling.

These districts are so Republican there would ordinarily be no reason to believe that the races will be close, but what I can say almost guaranteed is that the Democratic candidate in both of these Florida special elections will significantly overperform, Jeffries told reporters.

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Republicans have scrambled to match Democrats spending on the Florida airwaves in recent days. Defend American Jobs, a super PAC tied to the cryptocurrency industry, and an outside group called Conservative Fighter PAC have launched ads in both races within the last week, according to AdImpact.

Both groups have touted Trumps endorsements of Fine and Patronis in ads.

I havent heard real concerns that either of them are going to lose, said a GOP strategist, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly about the races. But there are certainly concerns that theyre underperforming and whether its a harbinger of something this cycle.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Congressional Republicans are pressing forward with a sweeping legislative package that would expand tax cuts, reduce government spending, roll back federal regulations and bolster border security, all without Democratic support.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said the GOP-led effort is the largest, most consequential piece of legislation in decades and aims to reach the presidents desk by Memorial Day. The party plans to use reconciliation, a process that allows certain budget-related bills to pass the Senate with a simple majority, bypassing the need for Democratic votes.

We have no time to waste, Johnson said.

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House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) called the bill a top priority for former President Donald Trump, underscoring its significance for the Republican agenda.

Democrats, however, are pushing back, warning that the plan could lead to cuts in popular social programs.

Our fight ahead is how we protect Medicaid and Social Security, said Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.).

Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) denied that Social Security would be affected, saying, Social Security is not eligible for consideration under reconciliation.

Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) accused Republicans of misleading the public.

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Theyre lying about it, Gomez said. Thats going to devastate peoples districtsseniors, people with disabilities, across the board.

House and Senate Republicans are set to meet with the White House on Thursday to coordinate their efforts.

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JAKARTA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced on Tuesday that Indonesia has decided to join the New Development Bank (NDB) following a meeting with NDB President Dilma Vana Rousseff at the Presidential Palace.

Prabowo said the meeting between the two parties took place in a warm and productive atmosphere, noting that the discussion covered Indonesia's short-, medium-, and long-term development plans.

He said that one of the main topics in the discussion was the official invitation from the NDB to Indonesia to join as a member. Prabowo confirmed that Indonesia has decided to move forward with the NDB membership process following an evaluation by the country's Ministry of Finance.

"The Indonesian government has decided to join the New Development Bank and follow the procedures and requirements that have been given to us," said Prabowo. He hoped that Indonesia's membership in the NDB could encourage the acceleration of national development transformation.

Rousseff welcomed Indonesia's decision, describing the country as an important partner in the region and beyond. She noted that Indonesia's development priorities align with the NDB's focus areas, particularly in infrastructure, connectivity, and energy transition.

The NDB president affirmed that the bank respects the sovereignty and priorities of its members, and expressed confidence that Indonesia's participation would be well received. 
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Gov. Cox announced on Monday that he had signed 75 bills  and vetoed one  in the latest legislative review session.

After this recent batch of 75 bills, the governor has signed a total of 176 bills. He has 405 bills left to act on before this weeks Mar. 27 deadline. If a bill is not acted upon before that deadline, it becomes law without needing the governors signature.

Cox most recently signed bills into law ranging in topics from civic education to medical cannabis regulation and more. Cox also announced that he had vetoed a bill addressing tax rate amendments for education.

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Heres a breakdown of some of the major bills that were most recently addressed by the governor.

Cox vetoes tax rate amendments for education

On Monday, Cox announced that he vetoed Senate Bill 37, or Minimum Basic Tax Rates Amendments, which would have changed how property taxes would be used for education.

In a letter to Senate President J. Stuart Adams and House Speaker Mike Schultz, Cox explained the reasoning behind his veto of SB 37.

Moving restricted property tax funding into the general fund creates significant technical and legal questions, Coxs letter reads. For one, its not entirely clear whether these property tax dollars, once they land in the general fund, still carry the restrictions that have always protected them for education use.

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Utah State Auditor Tina Cannon sent a letter to Cox after reviewing SB 37, listing several concerns about the implications of the bill. Cox went on to say in his letter that the bill he vetoed sets up a complicated system where school districts have to track these dollars as both incoming and outgoing revenue.

The Utah Education Association, the states largest teachers union, issued a statement in support of Cox vetoing SB 37:

The Utah Education Association applauds Governor Spencer Coxs decision to veto SB 37. This bill would have redirected public education funds away from Utahs public schools and weakened local control. Utah must preserve education funds for their intended purpose: supporting the success of Utahs public school students. UEA statement on Cox vetoing SB 37

On the other hand, Senate President J. Stuart Adams said he disagreed with Coxs decision to veto the bill.

The bill does not cut education funding; rather, it stabilizes the funding system, ultimately providing better support for all of Utahs students, Adams said in a statement.

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He said lawmakers will be meeting to decide how to proceed, and that the Senate is looking forward to discussing the situation further with Cox and other stakeholders.

Cox signs civic education bills

Gov. Cox signed SB 334 and HB 381, which he called two of the most important bills of the 2025 legislative session.

HB 381, Civics Education Amendments, amends the graduation requirements for public high schools in Utah, making it so that students must meet specific social studies requirements and receive certain social studies related instruction.

READ: The most important bills of 2025: Cox signs two key civic education bills into law

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Of this bill, Cox said, Foundational civic education in our high schools will aid our students with a better understanding of our government institutions and their critical role in American society.

SB 334, Center for Civics Excellence at Utah State, establishes a Center for Civic Excellence at Utah State University, with Cox saying in a statement that the center will be tasked with building out a general education curriculum focused on viewpoint diversity, civil discourse and helping our students develop the analytical skills necessary to contribute in the public square.

HB 381 and SB 334 will go into effect on July 1 and May 7, respectively.

Cox signs cannabis, alcohol bills

On March 23, Cox announced that two bills related to cannabis and cannabinoids had been signed. One bill on alcohol amendments was also signed.

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The cannabis bills  HB 54, Cannabinoid Amendments, and HB 343, Cannabis Production Amendments  address medical cannabis regulation and medical cannabis production.

The alcohol bill  SB 328, Alcohol Amendments  adds provisions relating to banquet licensing for amphitheaters. The amendments define amphitheaters and under which circumstances alcohol would be licensed to be sold there.

Other bills most recently signed by Cox

The full list of bills signed announced by Cox on March 24 can be viewed below:

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Lindsay Aerts and Matthew Drachman contributed to this report.

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  During a news conference in Palm Bay on Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis promised that property tax relief will be on the 2026 ballot.

Were setting up to do property tax relief, which is really needed in Florida. You assess these values  first of all, until someone pays for your property, you dont really know how much its worth. If you pay $250,000 for a home 10 years ago now they come and tell you, Oh, its actually worth $800,000. Pay up in more taxes. Well, really? Who says that? Just because some other house may have sold it doesnt mean  and the market fluctuates, DeSantis said.

I think people have gotten pinched on this. Property tax is local, its not something that the state controls. We would need to put something on the ballot in 2026, but were gonna do that. Were gonna put something on the ballot to get people relief, he said.

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DeSantis also announced significant funding aimed at enhancing water quality and conservation efforts across the state.

He said $389 million in grants are aimed at improving water quality and supply in Florida.

These investments support our communities and support our larger Everglades restoration projects, DeSantis said.

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CHIPPEWA FALLS  Deanne Patten owns the Firehouse Friends childcare center in Stanley, where she is licensed to have up to 104 children. When she raised rates two summers ago, Patten said she had 21 children almost immediately drop out, because the families couldnt afford it anymore.

Patten told Gov. Tony Evers about the challenges facing rural childcare centers like her business during a sit-down conversation Monday in Chippewa Falls. Patten said she was scared and nervous about what could happen without permanent Child Care Counts state aid.

I appreciate his time and energy hes putting into the childcare field, and hopefully hell be able to make some changes, Patten said.

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The governors 2025-27 budget proposal would invest more than $500 million to lower child care costs, support the industry, invest in employer-sponsored child care, and make the successful Child Care Counts Program permanent, a press release from his office reads. The proposal makes meaningful investments in Wisconsins child care industry to help lower the cost of childcare for working families, ensure child care providers can recruit and retain dedicated workers, and make child care more accessible by filling available slots and preventing further child care closures, the statement reads.

Evers noted there are fewer childcare centers today than pre-pandemic.

The state has to step up and do something financially, Evers said. If we dont, the industry itself might dissipate. The thought of thousands of children not having access to childcare  (their parents) just wont go to work.

Evers, a Democrat, is optimistic that the Republican-controlled state Assembly and Senate will work on childcare funding with him this session.

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I feel good. Is it going to be easy? No, Evers said. If we dont, our economy will absolutely struggle. Its not just important for our kids; its important for our economy.

Jeff Pertl, secretary of the Department of Children and Families, joined Evers in the roundtable discussion with childcare center providers.

Its a difficult business to run, and its not going to make you rich, he said.

Pertl noted that parents with two children in childcare are likely spending 70% of their earnings between housing and childcare.

You need a system that supports work, Pertl said.

State Sen. Jeff Smith, D-town of Brunswick, said he has visited numerous struggling childcare centers, including one in Menomonie earlier in the day. He noted that workers are not babysitters.

No one has called their staff anything but educators, Smith said.
Mar. 24MITCHELL  Gov. Larry Rhoden paused for a moment Monday afternoon following lunch at The Depot in Mitchell.

As part of his Open for Opportunity Tour, he had earlier in the day taken a visit of Boyds Gunstocks, Trail King and High Plains Processing, the new soybean crush plant currently under construction along Highway south of Mitchell. Later he would be touring a local housing development.

As he spoke briefly with local officials following lunch, he took a moment to show off the 2024 Governor's Cup, for which South Dakota had been named the recipient for the second year in a row by Site Selection Magazine, the premiere publication for economic development in the nation.

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He said it was appropriate to bring the trophy along during his outing Monday in Mitchell.

"(South Dakota) won the 2024 Governor's Cup. It was a repeat from last year, and South Dakota was again number one in per-capita economic development. And we bring (the trophy) with us to Mitchell because Mitchell has certainly done their part in helping the state earn this award," Rhoden told the assembled leaders. "I mentioned it in a few interviews today, about how encouraging it is to come to Mitchell and to see the example they've set."

Rhoden had seen plenty of examples of the economic development upswing even before the local tours came to an end during his visit. He opened up his visit with tours of Trail King and followed that with Boyds Gunstocks, the latter of which played host to the signing of a handful of bills meant to support Second Amendment rights in the state.

Rhoden signed Senate Bill 100, which provides greater freedoms to exercise gun rights on college campuses; House Bill 1218, which protects the Second Amendment rights of employees, officers and volunteers of local governments; and House Bill 1222, which clarifies that if a parent comes on school property and has a gun on them, they can lawfully leave it in their car.

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In addition to the bills, Rhoden also signed a letter to United States Attorney General Pam Bondi and Kash Patel, acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, asking them to eliminate the seven-day waiting period to purchase a firearm or associated accessories, including silencers, over state lines.

Rhoden said the time was right to reexamine the seven-day waiting policy now that President Donald Trump was back in the White House.

"Once (Trump) was out of office the last four years, we've been on the defensive, just trying to hold things down and kind of hold your position," Rhoden said. "Now we have the opportunity once again to be on the offensive. There's no reason to have (the seven-day waiting period) on the books anymore with the Brady Act because they're already going through a background check. So why make our people wait seven days arbitrarily for no good reason?"

Rhoden also took a tour of Boyds Gunstocks, the largest aftermarket gunstock manufacturer in the world

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, where he saw many of the processes that go into crafting its product. It was a return visit to the business, where he recalled having stopped by about 15 years ago looking for a stock to buy, not realizing the outfit is more a manufacturer than a retailer.

He did eventually get a new stock from Boyds, and officials with the business told the Mitchell Republic they were excited to be able to share their space and process with the governor.

"Obviously we're in the Second Amendment space being in the firearm industry. Anything that goes pro-Second Amendment, we're always for," Rob Carstensen, a co-owner of Boyds Gunstocks, told the Mitchell Republic following the tour. "South Dakota in general is a pretty lenient state when it comes to that stuff, so it was nice that he could stop here and sign a couple bills."

The business, located just west of Mitchell, boasts about 70 employees engaged in a number of specialized and skilled positions. The number of employees can fluctuate, but Carstensen said when business is up there can be in excess of 100 employees hard at work on site.

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There was also plenty of work being done at the

High Plains Processing plant, the under-construction multi-seed crush facility under the management of South Dakota Soybean Processors, LLC.

The new facility has long been expected to have a major impact on the local economy, in part for its drawing employees to the area.

Officials with the plant estimated a workforce of about 77 people, with a potential for a handful more. Of the hiring, the workforce at High Plains is expected to be from a diverse background of locations, including places like the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and Missouri to local natives from communities like Alexandria returning home to take advantage of the new employment opportunity.

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Officials estimated that they were about 20% of the way through the hiring process, but for all intents and purposes, that work had gone well despite the low unemployment figures in the state.

"We really thought we were going to have to reach out a long way because we know labor's tight. But we've had a tremendous response from the community as far as the jobs that we've posted to date," said Tom Kersting, CEO of the South Dakota Soybean Processors and High Plains Processing. "A lot of the folks have been local."

Rhoden and local development leaders took a tour of the plant, which comes in at a cost of around $500 million. Kersting noted to the gathered group that the work continues to be on time and on budget. It is expected to open in October this year.

The employment impact is huge, but so is the value added to South Dakota soybeans as they make their way from the fields to plants like the one soon to be running outside Mitchell. The impact of the new plant will not only be felt in and around Mitchell, but all of South Dakota, he said.

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"35 million bushels of soybeans. That translates to 50 million gallons of oil and millions of tons of soybean meal. The economic development that represents for the state of South Dakota is huge," Rhoden said.

The day in Mitchell was a chance for the governor to celebrate both South Dakota's receiving of the Governor's Cup award as well as

Mitchell being named Community of the Year at the South Dakota Governor's Conference on Economic Development earlier this year.

Following lunch at The Depot, Rhoden took a moment to present Jordan Hanson, mayor of Mitchell, with a declaration naming Mitchell as the 2025 GOED Community of the Year.

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There was still more on the schedule for Monday.

The governor and his staff were scheduled early in the afternoon to visit a local housing development, another ongoing effort by local leaders to boost economic growth by providing potential future workforce members with an affordable place to live so they can work and contribute to the fabric of the community.

Rhoden said that economic development progress like that which has emerged in Mitchell is a key reason why the community is receiving kudos and getting attention as an economic development leader in the state. When it comes to innovative and focused efforts on maintaining and improving the local economy, Mitchell exudes an energy that keeps its economic development plans on track and moving ahead.

That's exciting, the governor said.

"I've been really impressed when I come to Mitchell and talk to people and hear the excitement in their voice about what they have going for them in Mitchell. So, yeah, it's a shot in the arm to come here," Rhoden said.
Video: What foods would be affected by a potential dye ban in West Virginia?

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY)  West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey signed House Bill 2354 into law on Monday, which bans the sale and manufacture of foods containing several commonly used food dyes and preservatives in West Virginia.

The bill will go into effect on Jan 1. 2028.

West Virginia ranks at the bottom of many public health metrics, which is why theres no better place to lead the Make America Healthy Again mission, Morrisey said in a press release Monday evening. By eliminating harmful chemicals from our food, were taking steps toward improving the health of our residents and protecting our children from significant long-term health and learning challenges. Thank you to the Legislature, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the entire Trump Administration for helping us launch this movement right here in West Virginia.

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The bill bans seven different food dyes and two other chemicals commonly used as food preservatives:

Blue No. 1

Blue No. 2

Green No. 3

Red No. 3

Red No. 40

Yellow No. 5

Yellow No. 6

butylated hydroxyanisole

Propylparaben

What foods would go away if West Virginia bans certain food dye?

Foods that will be impacted by the ban include Mountain Dew, Doritos, M&Ms, several varieties of Gatorade, Minute Maid Lemonade and many other foods and drinks found in stores. You can find a longer list of impacted foods here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday called a special election to fill the Senate seat left vacant by last week's resignation of Justin Eichorn, who is jailed in connection with an underage prostitution sting.

The Senate District 6 special election in Cass, Crow Wing and Itasca Counties will be held on Tuesday, April 29, according to the writ of special election.

A primary election for nomination of candidates, if necessary, will be held on Tuesday, April 15.

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Affidavits of candidacy and nominating petitions may be filed with the Secretary of State or the county auditors beginning Wednesday until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1.

Republican candidates who've so far entered the race include Jennifer Carnahan, the mayor of Nisswa; Josh Gazelka, a marketing executive and son of retired GOP Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka; Keri Heintzeman, a small business owner and wife of Rep. Josh Heintzeman; John Howe, a retired veterinarian; and Steve Cotariu, an Army veteran.

Democrats in the running include Emily LeClaire, who formerly campaigned in the district, and Nicole "Nicky" Hardy, a substitute teacher in the Pequot Lakes and Pine River school districts.

cursedthing, Flickr

Eichorn, a Republican from Grand Rapids, is facing state and federal charges after he allegedly attempted to solicit an undercover officer posing as a teenager.

The 40-year-old lawmaker was one of nine suspects arrested in the sting operation, according to Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges.
Indonesia's foray into nickel mining has hit a snag because of improving electric vehicle technology.

What's happening?

The move, backed by Chinese investors, pushed the country to the front of the line, but smelters are shutting down with a shortage of the metal and low demand, Bloomberg reported.

Three years ago, nickel prices peaked, but overproduction and cheaper EV battery chemistries have changed the equation. Indonesia produces over half of the world's nickel, but one of its top smelters is on the verge of closing up shop. PT Gunbuster Nickel Industry had to postpone paying its suppliers, according to Bloomberg.

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"While the policies did boost Indonesia's export earnings and created thousands of jobs, the surge in processing capacity has far outpaced demand for nickel," the outlet stated. "The country is now looking to curb its mine supply in an effort to support the market  a move with grave consequences for producers."

Why is this important?

Bloomberg said that the government, "eager to boost manufacturing," used cheap coal and Chinese technology to turn the natural resource into a high-value export. But it may have overdone it.

It's not just Indonesian companies that are falling off. Chinese industrial parks as well as an Australian group are in trouble, and Gunbuster parent Jiangsu Delong Nickel Industry Co. has collapsed.

The last hope may be the stainless steel industry, which uses nickel pig iron, though China is in a "prolonged property slump," per Bloomberg. One expert said the slump could stretch beyond another six months.

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"There are some bright spots for demand in the stainless steel market, but nickel batteries are losing market share in the electric vehicle market," Dan Smith, head of research at Amalgamated Metal Trading Ltd., told Bloomberg. "There is more pain to come for producers before the market rebalances."

What's being done about Indonesia's collapsing nickel industry?

The about-face offers an opportunity for the government to turn to clean energy and technologies. Nickel mining has polluted the ocean and led to erosion, flooding, and mudslides, the BBC reported in 2023, harming the Indigenous Bajau people as well as coral reefs and clams.

While electric vehicles are undoubtedly better than gas-powered cars for the health of the planet and that of humans, this shows that without significant regulations and oversight, even forward-looking projects based on sustainability can go wrong.

And no matter what EV batteries need going forward, the metals required will be mined in abundance, meaning companies must rely on solar, wind, and other renewable energy to power operations. It's also imperative that they work with governments and industry leaders to ensure environmentally safe practices and the well-being of people, wildlife, and plants.

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.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin said on Monday that he hoped to bolster Virginias rainy-day fund by $300 million in light of economic uncertainty surrounding the White Houses overhaul of federal jobs and its impact on the states workforce.

At a news conference, Youngkin announced he had more than 200 amendments to a bipartisan budget bill adopted last month by the Virginia General Assembly, including trimming state spending to add additional funds to Virginias coffers.

The $300 million would be on top of nearly $295 million already slated to be set aside over the biennium. Youngkin said the reserved revenue would give Virginia a cushion of $5 billion.

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It enables us to feel confident that if there is a bump in the road, we can deal with it, he said.

Youngkins announcement comes after a mix of roughly 1,000 Virginian federal workers and contractors have filed claims for unemployment since the end of January after President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk began cutting jobs and programs in Washington, state officials have said.

In addition to the budget amendment, Youngkins administration has created a job website and encouraged impacted workers to explore other opportunities in Virginia.

President Trump has been very, very clear, and he has not shied away from the fact that there could and may be economic disruption in the short term, Youngkin said. As he resets things in Washington, I agree with him that we will have long-term opportunity, and that is going to be good for Virginia.

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Before 2025, Virginia was home to roughly 315,000 federal workers, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government. In the past few years, the state has done well economically  its state budget had a multibillion-dollar surplus, and more people were moving to the state than moving away, officials have said.

But, as the Democratic-led legislature gaveled out of its session, some acknowledged they may need to revise the budget in light of the fiscal cuts. Lawmakers announced they would expand a previously established special session so that they could reconvene later this year.

Following Youngkins announcement, Democratic Virginia House Speaker Don Scott blasted the governor for not protecting residents.

We need a governor who will support Virginians, Scott said in a statement, not cave to Trump and Musk.

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Youngkin has until just before midnight on Monday to either sign, veto or seek amendments to all legislation sent to his desk after passing the statehouse earlier this year  including the budget bill, which amends the last year of the states two-year spending plan.

Lawmakers will then take up his revisions and vetos on April 2.

In his original budget presented in December, Youngkin proposed providing permanent relief by ending taxes on tips and cars for lower- and middle-income earners. The Virginia House of Delegates and Senate nixed his idea. Instead, they passed a budget that would give each taxpayer a $200 rebate.

On Monday, Youngkin said he would support the rebates, which had bipartisan support among lawmakers.

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In the budget bill, lawmakers also scrapped Youngkins proffer to cut off funds toward local entities that do not fully comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Further, Youngkin originally allotted money for a $50 million Opportunity Scholarship program, which would provide low-income families with vouchers to send their children to private schools. Lawmakers tossed out that idea, too.

In his amendments, Youngkin added versions of those provisions back into the budget bill.

I pared back my request: Lets take $25 million, and lets provide lower-income Virginia families an opportunity to pursue an alternative education path that might fit their family and their childrens best opportunities, he said of the scholarship program. Why not try it?

Youngkin also said he added an amendment authorizing the consideration of establishing Oak Hill, the home of former President James Monroe, as a state park. A bill to that effect failed in the legislature during the session.

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___

Olivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
NEW DELHI, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Indian security personnel killed at least three armed rebels called "Naxals" in the central state of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, confirmed the local police.

The encounter between the security personnel and the armed rebels took place along the borders of Bijapur and Dantewada districts of the state's Bastar region.

A large amount of arms and ammunition was recovered from the place of encounter. The exchange of fire began in the morning when a contingent of security personnel went to launch an anti-Naxals operation.

Last week, 26 rebels were gunned down after a major encounter along the Bijapur-Dantewada border. 
CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX)  Governor Tony Evers made a stop in Chippewa Falls to hear from community members and business leaders about making childcare accessible and affordable. He was joined by Secretary Jeff Pertl of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. After declaring 2025 the Year of the Kid during his State of the State Address, Evers is aiming to continue the Child Care Counts Program, which increases childcare providers benefits, wages, and recruitment efforts. That program is set to expire in June. Evers says it needs to continue to maintain a strong workforce in the industry, Its getting to a point someone said they raised their rates and 20 people walked out the door with their kids because they couldnt afford it anymore. We have to do something. We have the resources to do it.

The budget also calls for millions of dollars in after-school program support as well as filling childcare gaps in tribal areas.

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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT)  North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has proclaimed Mar. 25th as North Carolina Equal Pay Day to highlight continuous gender pay disparities and to encourage government, business, and nonprofit sectors to close the wage gap for all women.

Equal Pay Day marks the point in the year that women must work on average to make the same amount that their male counterparts earned during the previous year, but women in North Carolina and across the United States, continue to earn less than men performing the same work.

Closing the gender pay gap would make our families, our economy, and our state more prosperous, Governor Stein said. I am committed to making sure that every North Carolinian has an equal opportunity for success in our state.

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In 2022, The State of Working Women: The 2023 State of Working North Carolina says that women working full-time earned $2.04 less than the medium hourly wage for men.

Eliminating pay inequities would strengthen our economy and improve quality of life for North Carolinas women, children, and families. More than half the states population are women, and many women are the primary breadwinners for their families, North Carolina Department of Administration Secretary Gabriel J. Esparza said. We must continue to find and develop creative ways to ensure that North Carolinians receive equal pay for equal work. Your pay should be determined by your skill, your experience and your effort, not your gender.

Since 2019, state government agencies no longer use salary history in the hiring process because history can perpetuate unfairly lower pay for women doing the same work as men.

During the week of Mar. 24, 2025, Governor Stein hosted women leaders across the state at the Executive Mansion for the Womens History Month Reception. Stein signed the proclamation at this meeting to recognize March as Womens History Month.

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West Virginia ranks at the bottom of many public health metrics, which is why theres no better place to lead the Make America Healthy Again mission. By eliminating harmful chemicals from our food, were taking steps toward improving the health of our residents and protecting our children from significant long-term health and learning challenges.

Thank you to the Legislature, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the entire Trump Administration for helping us launch this movement right here in West Virginia.

Todays announcement represents a step toward a productive dialogue about how West Virginia and our country can eat healthier and address some of the vexing health care problems facing our citizens.

Through the implementation process, I look forward to advancing policies which improve our health care outcomes, maintain our jobs, and respect the FDAs and supply channels role in the process.
Ahead of his Monday night deadline to act on bills from the 2025 General Assembly session, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced his budget amendments at a press conference in Richmond Monday morning. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)

In the final year of his tenure, Gov. Glenn Youngkin carried out his duty to sign, veto and amend hundreds of bills handed to him by the Democratic-controlled legislature for the last time Monday, rejecting a proposal to raise the minimum wage incrementally to $15 per hour, a multiple-year attempt to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board and several voter registration and election measures.

Youngkin also signed into law a bill that classifies fusion as a clean energy source, one that expands maternal health care access and a bill banning the personal use of political campaign funds, the most significant campaign finance reform measure the state has passed in years.

The legislation that Ive signed into law and the budget amendments Ive put forward this year will go a long way to helping ensure Virginia remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family, Youngkin stated in a news release announcing his actions.

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And I have vetoed bills that I think will take the commonwealth backward by raising the cost of living, hurting our strong job growth, stifling innovation, undermining our All-American All-of-the-Above Power and Energy Plan or making our communities less safe, Youngkin added, relaying his thanks to legislators for their work during the General Assembly session.

With the action deadline Monday night at 11:59 p.m., much of Youngkins actions were still trickling onto Virginias Legislative Information System website well into Tuesday.

Though still digesting some of what hed seen by 11:30 a.m., Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, participated in a virtual press gathering to relay his thoughts.

Surovell said during his 16 years as a lawmaker, governors typically call legislative leaders to discuss amendments in the period between when session ends and their action deadline begins. This is done sometimes in lieu of some vetoes, Surovell said, and in other instances, representatives from the governors administration have been more actively engaged in the committee process during session.

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But when it comes to the Youngkin administration, Surovell claimed, the first time a member finds out they got a problem with the bill is usually when the veto drops, or when the amendment drops.

Its also part of why he thinks Youngkin has a higher veto count than other governors have had. The governor issued a record 201 bills from the 2024 General Assembly session, according to the Virginia Public Access Project,more legislation than any recent Governor of Virginia has in their full four-year term.

Here are some of the key bills the governor signed, vetoed and amended this year.

Approved bills

No more personal use of campaign funds

House Bill 2165 by Del. Josh Cole, D-Fredricksburg, and Senate Bill 1002 by Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, prohibits the personal use of campaign funds. Youngkins signature marks a victory for Boysko, who has been a key champion for campaign finance reform over the years.

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Though lawmakers have tried numerous times to address campaign finance reform, their efforts over the past decade have never borne fruit.

A subcommittee established to study the issue never held a meeting in 2022 and campaign finance bills to limit contribution amounts failed in 2023. This year a bill by Del. Mike Jones, D-RIchmond, would have directed a state research agency to study potential gaps in campaign finance enforcement, but it failed in the legislature. Jones plans to try again on that bill, meanwhile Coles and Boyskos successful bill represents a breakthrough in overall reform on the issue in Virginia.

Their bills cleared with overwhelming bipartisan support and Republican co-patrons on the House version.

Fusion officially classified as a clean energy source

Virginia is expanding its definition of clean energy to include fusion power under a bill approved by the General Assembly that Youngkin signed into law.

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HB 1779, sponsored by Del. Rip Sullivan, D-Fairfax, updates state law to classify fusion energy as a form of carbon-free or clean energy. The change means fusion will now be recognized alongside other non-carbon-emitting sources such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, tidal, geothermal, and nuclear power.

Under the legislation, clean energy refers to electricity generated from sources that do not emit carbon dioxide during production. The inclusion of fusion  a technology still in development for commercial use  signals Virginias intent to stay ahead of emerging energy innovations as the state transitions toward a lower-carbon grid.

Special health plan enrollment for pregnancy

HB 2083 by Del. Irene Shin, D-Fairfax, was among several signed or amended bills aimed at improving maternal health outcomes.

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Shins bill requires the Virginia Health Benefit Exchange to establish a special enrollment period for qualifying pregnant people.

A survey the state conducted last year showed long wait times for new enrollees paperwork to be processed. This contributed to delayed access to care for people to schedule their appointments.

Military tuition program update

The governor signed a proposal on Monday to address the rising costs of the Virginia Military Survivors & Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP). The state initiative provides college tuition waivers for spouses and children of permanently disabled military veterans or those killed in action.

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HB 1694, sponsored by Del. Alex Askew, D-Virginia Beach, will address the rising cost of the VMSDEP by directing the Virginia Department of Veterans Services and the State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV) to provide a detailed data report on the program to lawmakers.

The report will include the number of eligible survivors and dependents who qualify for tuition and mandatory fee waivers as well as an estimate of how many qualified beneficiaries who are currently enrolled at each public institution as of Nov. 1 during the fall semester.

According to SCHEV, the programs annual cost increased to $65 million in 2023 from $19 million in 2019.

Steeper penalties for unauthorized drone activity

The governor agreed to a proposal that stipulates a Class 4 felony charge for people who operate uncrewed aerial vehicles in areas to obtain video or photos without authorization.

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HB 1726, Del. Cia Price, D-Newport News, will also protect the property owner or operator of a contracted defense facility and its employees from criminal prosecution and civil liability should they need to act if an aircraft system enters the property, as long as their action doesnt result in injury to any person.

Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, who carried the companion bill in the Senate, and Price proposed new measures in response to national security concerns that arose when a Chinese national citizen was discovered illegally operating a drone over ship repair yards in Newport News on January 5, 2024, according to court records obtained by the Virginian-Pilot.

The Naval Station Norfolk is the worlds largest naval base.

Class 4 felony offenses carry a jail sentence of two to 10 years and $100,000 fine.

Privacy protection for retired law enforcement officers

The governor supported a proposal to protect retired and former law enforcement officers from having their names published publicly.

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HB 1874, carried by Del. Rozia Henson, D-Woodbridge, amends state law by adding retired or former law-enforcement officers to the definition of public official for the purposes of prohibiting their names and personal information from being published on the internet.

Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy, D-Prince William, carried a similar bill in the Senate.

In both versions of the bill, the retired or former law-enforcement officer must be in good standing with no pending investigations or disciplinary actions.

Retired and former officers can request a court to keep their information private, according to the legislation. The privacy measure will last for four years, provided that such officer was retired or ended their service within four years of filing a petition with a circuit court.

Job search help for formerly incarcerated people

Formerly incarcerated people can have a little extra help in landing a job after theyre released, now that Youngkin signed laws to give them that boost.

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HB 1759 by Del. Debra Gardner, D-Chesterfield, and Senate Bill 877 by Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, directs the Department of Corrections and Department of Workforce Development and Advancement to team up on job search assistance.

A pilot program already exists, and the proposals from Gardner and Ebbin would codify it into state law. While presenting the bill earlier this year, Gardner said that from September to December 2024, the pilot helped over 1,500 people  making them more likely to become self-sufficient, less likely to reoffend and less reliant on public financial assistance.

The bill is among a slate of proposals aimed at helping current and formerly incarcerated people this legislative session, others of which arent fully law yet as Youngkin is seeking amendments before he signs them.

Rejected bills

Plastic bag tax bagged

The governor rejected a proposal sponsored by Del. Marty Martinez, D-Loudoun, which would have amended the state law directing counties to allocate a percentage of the plastic bag tax collected to towns within the county that have imposed a sales tax.

Plastic bag taxes fail to achieve their intended goals and burden Virginians with higher prices at the grocery store, Youngkin said in a statement. Redirecting tax revenues to towns may further encourage governments to rely on these taxes, exacerbating the issue.

In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation that authorized any locality in Virginia to impose a tax of five cents per bag on disposable plastic bags provided to customers by convenience stores, drug stores, and grocery stores.

The local sales tax distribution formula would have determined the town appropriations.

Under current law, all revenues can be used for environmental cleanup, providing education programs designed to reduce environmental waste, mitigating pollution and litter, or providing reusable bags to recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) benefits.

Voter registration and elections proposals blocked

Youngkin vetoed a proposal that would have aligned Virginias primary elections for state and local offices with the presidential primary in election years, rejecting a proposal aimed at simplifying the voting calendar and increasing turnout.

HB 1794, sponsored by Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, passed both chambers with bipartisan support. The measure would have required that all primaries for offices to be filled in the November general election during presidential years take place on the same day as the presidential primary  typically in early March.

The bill also would have allowed candidates running in those years to begin collecting petition signatures before Jan. 1 and adjusted campaign finance reporting deadlines to accommodate the earlier schedule.

Supporters argued the measure would modernize and streamline Virginias election process. But Youngkin said the proposal would create unnecessary confusion and unequal treatment for candidates depending on the timing of their election cycle.

By creating different filing deadlines for candidates depending on whether their election falls in a presidential or nonpresidential year, this bill increases the risk of missed deadlines, ballot access issues, and campaign finance compliance errors, the governor said in his veto explanation.

Candidates with general elections during presidential years would have to collect petitions, file ballot access documents, and file campaign finance reports on a schedule different from candidates with general elections during non-presidential years.

The legislation was identical to Senate Bill 1119.

HB 2002, sponsored by Del. Amy Laufer, D-Albemarle, sought to ensure that, aside from a written request from the voter, local election officials could only cancel a voters registration based on information provided by the Virginia Department of Elections or another state agency approved by the State Board of Elections.

Supporters of the bill said it was aimed at preventing erroneous or premature removals from the voter rolls, and ensuring that only verified, official sources could be used to make such decisions. But Youngkin said the bill would create unnecessary limitations and impede registrars from doing their jobs effectively.

Virginias voter registration system is nationally recognized for its accuracy and security, Youngkin said in a statement explaining his veto. General registrars rely on a range of verified sources, including the Virginia Department of Elections and the Virginia Department of Health, while also using obituaries and family reports to confirm voter deaths. This bill eliminates those effective tools, making it harder to maintain accurate voter rolls and creating unnecessary bureaucratic barriers.

Youngkin further rejected a bill aimed at tightening how the Virginia Department of Elections processes voter registration data, arguing it would reduce the accuracy of voter rolls and weaken the role of local election officials.

HB 2276, introduced by Price, would have required that specific identification information be included in any list or record submitted to the Department of Elections for the purpose of maintaining the states voter registration list.

The measure also mandated that the department compare these records to the states list of registered voters and assign each potential match a confidence score. Only matches scoring at least 80 points would be forwarded to local general registrars for further action.

Prices proposal came on the heels of a federal lawsuit against Virginia, alleging that a state program aimed at removing people from the voter rolls, which Youngkin touted in an executive order in August, was implemented too close to the Nov. 5 elections and wrongfully included eligible voters.

Supporters of Prices legislation said it would help ensure more accurate and verified matches before voter registrations are canceled, aiming to avoid mistaken removals and promote transparency in list maintenance procedures.

Youngkin, however, said the proposal overlooked a more fundamental issue: the reliability of the underlying data itself. In his veto statement, he argued that raising the match threshold to 80 points would reduce the number of voter record matches sent to registrars, ultimately hindering the cancellation of outdated or invalid registrations.

Raising the matching threshold to 80 points reduces the number of list maintenance data matches provided to general registrars, limiting necessary cancellations and reducing voter roll accuracy, Youngkin said.

The governor also objected to the bills provision that would centralize all voter data matching within the Department of Elections, rather than allowing local registrars to investigate potential discrepancies. He warned that the change would diminish local control and oversight.

By centralizing all matching within ELECT, registrars lose the ability to research potential discrepancies, weakening local election oversight, he said.

Collective bargaining

SB 917 by Surrovell and HB 2764 by Del. Kathy Tran, D-Fairfax, would have expanded on a 2020 law that permits local government employees in Virginia to opt into collective bargaining if their localities allow it. While some jurisdictions  like Alexandria, Loudoun County and the city of Richmond  have adopted bargaining rights, public employees in areas without such ordinances remain without a seat at the table.

The proposals from Surovell and Tran were among other also-vetoed bills meant to help workers like raising the minimum wage and paid sick leave. Surovell said it was disappointing to see these vetoes.

I think theres been a lot of talk amongst conservatives lately about focusing on affordability, Surovell said. Thats exactly what we did this session, and the governor basically stuck (up) a finger.

A rental grace period

Under current Virginia law, landlords have a five day waiting period after rent is due before they can notify tenants they intend to evict them for not paying rent. SB 812 by Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach and HB 1719, also by Price, would have extended that grace period to 14 days.

The reasoning for the proposed extension, housing advocates have said, is that tenants who have fallen behind may be more likely to have had a payday by then and be more likely to make up their rental payment.

Several housing-related bills this session sparked a clash over local and state roles in housing policy. While this proposal cleared the legislature to make it to Youngkins desk, it did so because of Democrats majority in both chambers.

Addressing racial bias in appraisals

Last summer a Virginia Beach house sale gone awry made national news when it was revealed that a condos owner backed out of a sale when learning that her buyer was a Black woman. But racial bias also affects sellers in Virginia, a survey conducted in Richmond last year revealed.

According to the report, the average home appraises for around $436,000 in majority white neighborhoods, in juxtaposition to $256,000 where people of color are the majority of residents.

But some Black-owned homes have never had equitable assessments in the first place due to the nations history of racist housing policies. In the 1930s, appraisers lined Black-populated neighborhoods nationwide in red and deemed them hazardous areas for home loans. The effects can still be present today, the report shows, because each past appraisal became the basis for future appraisals.

Additionally, the report notes human bias as another factor for disparity in home appraisals. This is when appraisers overlook comparable homes with different racial demographics or allow personal prejudice to prevent them from making objective consideration of a homes attributes.

HB 1693 by Askew and SB 995 by Sen. Angela Williams Graves, D-Norfolk, would have required applicants for real estate appraisers to complete a minimum of two hours of education on fair housing and appraisal bias. It also would have subjected the course to be annually audited by the Fair Housing Board.

In his veto explanation, Youngkin deemed their bills unnecessary because a similar bill, with no required audits, had been enacted in 2022.

Employee protections

Youngkin rejected a proposal to hold employers accountable for failing to pay their employees.

HB 2561, carried by Del. Alfonso Lopez, D-Arlington, would have made employers liable if they failed to pay the minimum wage or overtime wages due to an employee.

While the legislation aims to enhance worker protections, Youngkin wrote in his veto statement that the proposal imposes excessive liabilities and compliance burdens that will negatively harm Virginias business climate.

Youngkin added that with Lopezs bill extending the timeframe for filing wage and misclassification claims, it would allow for collective lawsuits and remove key legal protections for businesses acting in good faith. Additionally, the governor wrote that the bill would move Virginia away from federal Fair Labor Standards Act guidelines, which he says would create regulatory hurdles for current and future businesses in the Commonwealth.

To maintain Virginias pro-business environment and continue attracting employers and investment, it is essential to reject policies that create legal uncertainty and impose excessive penalties, Youngkin wrote. This bill would make Virginia one of the most punitive states for wage violations, discouraging business growth and job creation.

Sales tax for school construction

A proposal that would have allowed all localities to impose a 1% sales tax for school construction also met its death at Youngkins veto pen.

Youngkin agreed there is a need to to support school construction, but said the proposed plan could result in an annual tax increase of nearly $1.5 billion for Virginians.

In response to that need, Youngkin proposed an additional $50 million for school construction grants and loans above the current biennial budget, bringing the total to $610 million, if adopted.

The governor said the commonwealth should pursue other tax proposals rather than authorizing all counties and cities to levy an additional local sales and use tax to fund public services.

The commonwealth should pursue a tax policy that unleashes economic development and prioritizes job and wage growth through innovative reforms, Youngkin said. These reforms must allow hardworking Virginians to keep more of their money, not less; any proposal that increases the cost of living and the cost of business is not a policy we should pursue.

The governor also excluded the proposal in his budget amendments published on Monday after reviewing the amendments passed by the General Assembly.

Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William, the patron of the bill, reacted to the veto on X, formerly Twitter, stating that Less than a week after Trump announced the dismantling of the Department of Education, which will be devastating for (Virginia) school funding, Governor Youngkin just vetoed SB 1307, blocking local communities from even having the choice to invest in school construction and renovation through a local referendum.  This governor is out of touch.

Amended bills

Automatic license plate readers

Youngkin has amended a bill governing the use of automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) systems, extending the data retention period from 21 to 30 days. The change gives law enforcement agencies more time to utilize collected data, while still requiring it to be deleted after that period.

HB 2724, sponsored by Del. Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, aims to regulate the use of automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) systems in Virginia. The legislation requires the Division of Purchases and Supply within the Department of General Services to approve any ALPR systems used in the state.

It also sets strict limits on how these systems can be deployed by law enforcement. Under the bill, ALPR technology can only be used for specific purposes: conducting criminal investigations where there is reasonable suspicion of a violation, investigating cases involving missing or endangered persons (including issuing alerts or addressing human trafficking), and receiving notifications about stolen vehicles, stolen license plates, or individuals with outstanding warrants.

The legislation further includes penalties for law enforcement agencies that violate these guidelines.

Data centers

Youngkin amended HB 1601, sponsored by Del. Josh Thomas, D-Prince William, tweaking how localities handle the approval process for new high-energy use facilities (HEUFs), or data centers.

Originally, the bill required applicants to submit a site assessment before rezoning or special use permits could be approved, examining the impact of the facilitys sound profile on nearby residential units and schools.

Youngkins amendment now makes this site assessment optional for localities, allowing them to decide whether to require it. Additionally, the amended bill allows localities to examine the potential effects of the facility on other environmental factors, including water resources, agricultural land, parks, historic sites and forests.

The bill also includes a provision that exempts expansions of existing facilities that do not exceed 100 megawatts from these site assessment requirements.

Youngkin added that the provisions of the bill will not go into effect unless reenacted by the 2026 General Assembly. The bill clarifies that it does not interfere with existing local zoning authority.

Mercury editor Samantha Willis contributed to this report.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
The War and Treaty are coming home.

The widely acclaimed, Grammy-nominated soul-country duo  the first Black pair to be nominated for the Country Music Associations Duo of the Year award  have won over fans of all races and ages with their bluesy, gospel-tinged take on Americana.

Married couple Michael and Tanya Trotter view Michigan as their launching point and are bursting with excitement for their return. They'll play a 7 p.m. concert on Saturday, March 29, at Detroit's St. Andrew's Hall.

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Listen, Detroit is the spot, and were just going to unleash for real, Michael said. People say that all the time, but Im serious. We have a very special show planned for Detroit because Detroit is special. Our very first sold-out show was in a little club in Ferndale called Otus Supply. We did live recordings there. The very first radio DJ to really invest in us is right there in Detroit at WDET. Her name is Ann Delisi. Through her, we were discovered by Mr. Don Was, whos a Detroit guy, and the rest is history. Our career doesnt jump off without Michigan investing in us.

The War and Treaty performs at NBC's Opry 100: A Live Celebration event at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

Both Michael and Tanya entered country music from R&B backgrounds, and their approach has garnered love from listeners whove never cared for the genre.

I think its because we are reminiscent of (Black) history, said Michael. I think its because nothing in country music reflects the history of our people, in terms we know. But if I can give you a different perspective, Ray Charles had one of the best country albums of all time (1962s Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music). How can you feel connected when all the songs talk about blonde hair, blue eyes, you know? Were singing about a wider experience.

Tanya, originally known as Tanya Blount, has been familiar to Black audiences for decades, due to her onscreen role in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit and her solo R&B album, Natural Thing, released the following year. She said the leap from R&B to country isnt quite as big as one might think.

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I think its the intention, she said. Whenever you approach music of any kind, just be intentional. I grew up loving all kinds of music. If you listen to my first album, I had house music on that record, pop songs, R&B with saxophones, and things like that. I was into house music; I was into Whitney Houston at the time. With The War and Treaty, it was intentionally taking all the things that we love and infusing them. Michael went to work on infusing these sounds and not making it sound weird  because, sometimes, you can put a dish together when youre cooking, and youre like, This is disgusting. And then, sometimes, you can put Caribbean flavors and add paprika and pineapple and all these different flavors, and its actually good.

I think thats what happened with the R&B and the country-gospel sound that we have now: Intentionally infusing these sounds together and making them work so that a person that might love gospel music doesnt necessarily have to go and listen to a gospel album. Or, a person that listens to country music may not have to go and listen to a full country album. They can listen to The War and Treaty and say, I feel the country tickles in here. I think its about being intentional.

Michael credited Tanya with crafting just the right sound for the duo.

To Tanyas credit, I want to tell you this, he said. The one thing she was emphatic about was us being who we are, vocally. Shes like, The vocals need to be the forefront. We need to saaaannnngg. Someone put up a post that said Tanya is indeed the greatest voice of this generation.

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The pair met in Laurel, Maryland, at a festival benefiting a less fortunate community. Tanya heard Michael, then a homeless war veteran trying to break through in the music industry, and soon played his music on her midday radio show. He eventually became her pianist, and sparks flew.

We fell in love  hard, Michael said. We were married within six months of meeting one another, and there was no looking back. It was like, This is the rest of my life, right here. Im good.

Ironically, Michael did not start out as a pianist and didnt even know how to play piano until his adult years. He taught himself to play, during a tour of Iraq, on a piano formerly owned by Saddam Hussein.

Of service and song

I am a once a soldier, always a soldier kind of guy, he explained. I served in the United States Army, and my experiences would shape me for this moment. The military is all about partnering up. We have a buddy system; its all about your plus-one. And I literally learned the importance of having a plus-one through my service in the military  serving my battle buddy, self-service, serving my country. Some of those experiences  would prepare me to partner up with my beautiful wife for the rest of my life. I needed a plus-one once the military was gone, and here it is.

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One of my captains identified me as a weak link and realized that I was going to get people killed. He read in my files that I love music. We had taken over one of Saddam Husseins palaces. It had a piano in it, and he took me down there and said, Hey, man, when you are boggled with fear, find your way home right here.

Michael, who was always skilled at hearing harmonies, would plunk away at the piano with one finger, one note at a time, teaching himself songs like Bill Withers Lean on Me and the theme song from 90s cartoon series Rugrats.

Anything that would get me closer to my childhood, he said, and a feeling that was going to get me over the hump. I wasnt as confident in my piano playing until 2010, when I met my wife; she loved my playing and insisted that I would always be her plus-one on the piano.

Tanya called Michael her inspiration.

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I really do, she said. Ive been doing this since I was eight years old. There are people that you meet in every sector of your life that you draw inspiration from, and there are people that solidify your inspiration  and he has solidified it. For the last 14, 15 years, (hes) the person that I look at as an example, whether its vocality, writing, producing, how you see music, how you hear music.

Michael can literally hear music in the sound of the air conditioner going, or the sound of a bus or the birds, or the wind; theres sound in everything. And I have to say that I have never encountered anyone who approaches music that way. Most people have to get into a room and feel a vibe and do all these different things, but when it comes to Michael, its every piece of your surroundings, and now that Im with him, Im always feeling it, Im always seeing it. It comes from a supernatural place.

More: Detroit concerts on sale this week: Black Keys, Babymetal, Jamey Johnson, more

On Michigan roots

Though neither of the Trotters are from Michigan, Michael credited the city of Albion, Michigan for the birth of The War and Treaty.

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Back in the day, they used to call Albion Little Detroit, he said. Albion has a rich history of hardworking, middle-class Americans who want to keep their town beautiful and want to thrive. We fit in there, we learned how to be family there, and we learned the true importance of community that doesnt really look like you, but feels like you. Jackson, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Marshall, Detroit  Michigan is our spot, so we always want to show out there.

Saturdays performance at St. Andrews will be recorded for a live album, he said.

We have a little community we started online called Hearts Town, he said, and were encouraging everybody in Hearts Town to bring their cameras, their recorders, their camera stands, and well have a little area just so people can record the show.

The duo said the evening will be all about positivity and good vibes.

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What we really want to do is restore peoples faith back in people, said Michael. Its really just letting people know that there are still good people out there. There are still people that believe in love and that believe in connection, and thats what The War and Treaty has always been about, reiterating that message to let them know theyre not alone.

General admission, standing-room-only tickets for The War and Treatys Saturday, March 29 performance are available at concerts.livenation.com for $39.75. For more information on the Trotters, visit thewarandtreaty.com. St. Andrew's is located at 431 E. Congress, Detroit.

Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: The War and Treaty, Grammy-nominated duo, returns to Detroit
CONWAY, Ark.  A Greenbrier man received a 10-year prison sentence for the charge of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.

The March 14 sentencing of 44-year-old Charles Aaron Wiley of Greenbrier came after he pleaded guilty to the charge stemming from a May 10, 2023 incident.

Possible human remains found in Pulaski County

Officials said in the 2023 event, Greenbrier Police Department officers arrived at a home on Mountain Drive in the city for a domestic disturbance complaint. Arriving officers found a woman outside the house, but Wiley had closed the garage door and gone to a bedroom, officials said.

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As officers moved toward the bedroom, Wiley fired a single shot through the door toward the officers and the woman. Nobody was injured and police were able to arrest Wiley.

US Marshals involved in shooting on Baseline Road in Little Rock

Officials said the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division led the investigation into the incident.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
The Greenland government on Tuesday denied a claim made by US President Donald Trump that a US group including Usha Vance, the wife the Vice President JD Vance, had been invited to visit the island.

The government of the autonomous Danish territory denied issuing either a private or an official invitation in a post on Facebook. It noted that it was a caretaker government awaiting the formation of a new coalition and called on all countries to respect this.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting on Monday, Trump said an invitation had been issued, without stipulating by whom. The visit, which is due to start on Thursday, was a gesture of friendliness, he said.

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According to the White House, Usha Vance is to travel to Greenland along with her son and others to visit historic sites and attend a traditional dog-sledding race. The aim is to gain greater knowledge of the territory's traditions and history.

Media reports said that US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz would be part of the group.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told broadcaster DR that the visit was not something that Greenland wanted or needed.

She said the territory and Denmark itself were under unacceptable pressure. "This is a pressure that we will withstand," Frederiksen told the national public broadcaster.

Trump has repeatedly called for US control of Greenland for reasons of national and international security. Trump's son, Donald Trump Junior, visited Nuuk, the island's capital in January, drawing media attention.
Greenland did not invite an American delegation to come visit this week, the self-ruling islands government said Monday, flatly denying a claim made by President Donald Trump.

Usha Vance, the wife of Vice President JD Vance, will land in the Danish territory on Thursday, alongside National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

The planned visit has been met with anger in Greenland, with outgoing Prime Minister Mute B. Egede calling it part of the U.S. very aggressive bid to seize the Arctic island.

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We are now at a level where this cannot in any way be characterized as a harmless visit from a politicians wife.  The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us, he said.

Trump told reporters Monday that Greenlandic officials requested Washington send a team to the island. People from Greenland are asking us to go there, he said.

But Greenlands government said that was false.

Just for the record, Naalakkersuisut, the government of Greenland, has not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official, the government said in a post on Facebook .

Pipaluk Lynge, a senior Greenlandic member of parliament who chairs the islands foreign and security policy committee, told POLITICO that Trumps claims that Greenland had invited the delegation were not true.

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She added that a protest was planned for Vances arrival in the town of Sisimiut, following two other demonstrations in recent weeks against Trumps stated desire to take control of Greenland.

We are protesting politically [as] the people of Greenland, she said.

Trump floated the prospect of the U.S. acquiring Greenland in his first term but has raised the stakes since reentering the White House, calling it an absolute necessity and refusing to rule out taking the worlds largest island using military force or economic coercion.

In January, the then-president-elect sent his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., to visit the island to build support for a U.S. takeover in a trip that was panned by local lawmakers as a staged political stunt.

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Trumps overtures have been met with fierce resistance in both Greenland  where all elected parties have rejected his annexation threats and polls show the vast majority of people oppose joining the U.S., instead favoring independence  as well as Denmark , which retains some authority over the islands affairs.

With its strategic spot in the Arctic and vast, largely untapped caches of mineral resources, including rare earths, Greenland occupies an increasingly important position in global politics.
We get it, Make Autocratic Grifters Ashamed would look a little too wordy on a hat.

Over the weekend, a man who lives in Sisimiut, Greenland, named Aannguaq Reimer-Johansen posted an image to Facebook of a red hat featuring the words, Make America Go Away. The simple statement is a clever play on President Donald Trumps infamous slogan, which has been adorned on red hats for years: Make America Great Again.

The image was clearly in response Trumps autocratic desire to annex the autonomous Danish territory and claim it for the U.S. one way or the other. And though leaders in Greenland and Denmark have said thats not happening, U.S. presence in the island will continue with a trip by second lady Usha Vance this week.

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Although Vance has downplayed her visit as an innocent trip to watch a dog sled race and celebrate the long history of mutual respect and cooperation between the United States and Greenland, people are more than a little skeptical of her motives.

Vances visit to Greenland will follow another one by national security adviser Mike Waltz and U.S. energy secretary Chris Wright that will occur earlier in the week.

In the caption of the Facebook post, Reimer-Johansen called Vances visit a charm offensive and urged fellow Greenlanders not to be swayed by her presence, according to a translation posted by a fellow Greenlander named Orla Joelsen on X, formerly Twitter.

If you smile at them or take a selfie with them, you are sending a message to the world that you love the USA and want to be part of it, Reimer-Johansen wrote, according to Joelsens translation on X. It is recommended not to show interest. We have already expressed our stance through a large demonstrationlets remain firm and stay united.

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Reimer-Johansens sentiments about Vances visit echo those of other Greenlanders.

Greenlands outgoing Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede recently spoke out about the visits, calling them highly aggressive, and took issue with Waltz waltzing around the Nordic region.

What is the national security adviser doing in Greenland? The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us, Egede said.

He added, His mere presence in Greenland will no doubt fuel American belief in Trumps mission  and the pressure will increase.

Over on X, plenty of users empathized with Greenlands plight and celebrated the Make America Go Away hat, with many asking where they could buy it.

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This is a red hat that I could see myself wearing, one X user said.

Love it. Good for Greenlanders, standing up to that bully! another X user wrote.

Should make a Canadian version with maple leaf on the side. , an X user suggested.

I hear this hat is becoming a Hot item throughout the World! an X user joked.

embarrassingly American, but id like to wear this inside america, an X user said.
NUUK, Greenland (AP)  Lisa Solrun Christiansen gets up at 4 a.m. most days and gets to work knitting thick wool sweaters coveted by buyers around the world for their warmth and colorful patterns celebrating Greenlands traditional Inuit culture.

Her morning routine includes a quick check of the news, but these days the ritual shatters her peace because of all the stories about U.S. President Donald Trumps designs on her homeland.

I get overwhelmed, Christiansen said earlier this month as she looked out to sea, where impossibly blue icebergs floated just offshore.

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The daughter of Inuit and Danish parents, Christiansen, 57, cherishes Greenland. It is a source of immense family pride that her father, an artist and teacher, designed the red-and-white Greenlandic flag.

On his deathbed he talked a lot about the flag, and he said that the flag is not his, its the peoples, she said. And theres one sentence I keep thinking about. He said, I hope the flag will unite the Greenlandic people.

Island of anxiety

Greenlanders are increasingly worried that their homeland, a self-governing region of Denmark, has become a pawn in the competition between the U.S., Russia and China as global warming opens up access to the Arctic. They fear Trumps aim to take control of Greenland, which holds rich mineral deposits and straddles strategic air and sea routes, may block their path toward independence.

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Those fears were heightened Sunday when second lady Usha Vance announced she would visit Greenland later this week to attend the national dogsled race. Separately, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright will visit a U.S. military base in northern Greenland.

The Trump administrations push got even heavier on Tuesday when U.S. Vice President JD Vance shared a video saying he would join his wife Friday at the military base in Greenland.

We're going to check out how things are going there," Vance said. "Speaking for President Trump, we want to reinvigorate the security of the people of Greenland because we think it's important to protecting the security of the entire world.

The announcements inflamed tensions sparked earlier this month when Trump reiterated his desire to annex Greenland just two days after Greenlanders elected a new parliament opposed to becoming part of the U.S. Trump even made a veiled reference to the possibility of military pressure, noting the U.S. bases in Greenland and musing that maybe youll see more and more soldiers go there.

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News of the visit drew an immediate backlash from local politicians, who described it as a display of U.S. power at a time they are trying to form a government.

"It must also be stated in bold that our integrity and democracy must be respected without any external interference,'' outgoing Prime Minister Mute Boroup Egede said.

Greenland, part of Denmark since 1721, has been moving toward independence for decades. Its a goal most Greenlanders support, though they differ on when and how that should happen. They dont want to trade Denmark for an American overlord.

The question is whether Greenland will be allowed to control its own destiny at a time of rising international tensions when Trump sees the island as key to U.S. national security.

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David vs. Goliath

While Greenland has limited leverage against the worlds greatest superpower, Trump made a strategic mistake by triggering a dispute with Greenland and Denmark rather than working with its NATO allies in Nuuk and Copenhagen, said Otto Svendsen, an Arctic expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Trumps actions, he says, have united Greenlanders and fostered a greater sense of national identity.

You have this feeling of pride and of self-determination in Greenland that the Greenlanders are not, you know, cowed by this pressure coming from Washington, Svendsen said. And theyre doing everything in their power to make their voices heard.

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Denmark recognized Greenlands right to independence at a time of its choosing under the 2009 Greenland Self-Government Act, which was approved by local voters and ratified by the Danish parliament. The right to self-determination is also enshrined in the United Nations charter, approved by the U.S. in 1945.

U.S. national security

But Trump is more focused on the economic and security needs of the U.S. than the rights of smaller nations. Since returning to office in January, he has pressured Ukraine into giving the U.S. access to valuable mineral resources, threatened to reclaim the Panama Canal and suggested that Canada should become the 51st state.

Now he has turned his attention to Greenland, a territory of 56,000 people, most from indigenous Inuit backgrounds.

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Greenland guards access to the Arctic at a time when melting sea ice has reignited competition for energy and mineral resources and attracted an increased Russian military presence. The Pituffik Space Base on the islands northwest coast supports missile warning and space surveillance operations for the U.S. and NATO.

Before Trumps re-election, Greenlanders hoped to leverage this unique position to help the country achieve independence. Now they fear it has made them vulnerable.

Cebastian Rosing, who works for a water taxi firm that offers tours around the Nuuk fjord, said hes frustrated that Trump is trying to take over just as Greenland has begun to assert its autonomy and celebrate its Inuit origins.

Its so weird to defend (the idea) that our country is our country because its always been our country, he said. Were just getting our culture back because of colonialism.

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Strategic importance

Its not that Greenlanders dont like the U.S. They have welcomed Americans for decades.

The U.S. effectively occupied Greenland during World War II, building a string of air and naval bases.

After the war, President Harry Trumans government offered to buy the island because of the extreme importance of Greenland to the defense of the United States. Denmark rejected the proposal but signed a long-term base agreement.

When Trump resurrected the proposal during his first term, it was quickly rejected by Denmark and dismissed as a headline-grabbing stunt. But now Trump is pursuing the idea with renewed energy.

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During a speech earlier this month he told a joint session of Congress that the U.S. needed to take control of Greenland to protect its national security. I think were going to get it, Trump said. One way or the other.

A model in the Marshall Islands?

Even so, Trump has his admirers in Greenland.

And there is no greater fan than Jrgen Boassen. When he spoke to The Associated Press, Boassen wore a T-shirt featuring a photo of Trump with his fist in the air and blood streaming down his face after an assassination attempt last year. Underneath was the slogan, American Badass.

Boassen works for an organization called American Daybreak, which was founded by former Trump official Thomas Dans and promotes closer ties between the U.S. and Greenland.

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The former bricklayer, who describes himself as 110% Inuit, has a litany of complaints about Denmark, most stemming from what he sees as mistreatment of local people during colonial rule. In particular, he cites Inuit women who say they were fitted with birth control devices without their permission during the 1970s.

Trump must act to secure Americas back door, Boassen says, because Denmark has failed to guarantee Greenlands security.

But even he wants Greenland to be independent, a U.S. ally but not the 51st state.

What he has in mind is something more like the free-association agreement the Marshall Islands negotiated with the U.S. when it became independent in 1986. That agreement recognizes the Pacific archipelago as a sovereign nation that conducts its own foreign policy but gives the U.S. control over defense and security.

Were in 2025, Boassen said. So I dont believe they can come here and take over.

Whatever happens, most Greenlanders agree that the island's fate should be up to them, not Trump.

We have to stand together, Christiansen said, her knitting needles clicking and clacking.

___

This story, supported by the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting, is part of an ongoing Associated Press series covering threats to democracy in Europe.

___

Associated Press writer Josh Boak in Washington contributed reporting.
MOSCOW, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Moscow supports resuming the Black Sea deal in a form that is "more acceptable to everyone," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

Lavrov made the remarks in a Russian television interview after Russian and U.S. representatives wrapped up their Monday's talks in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, where both sides sought arrangements for the safety of navigation in the Black Sea.

Moscow wants the grain and fertilizer markets to be predictable to ensure that no one tries to exclude Russia, Lavrov said, adding that Russia needs "clear guarantees" in resuming the deal.

Russia and Ukraine signed separately with Turkiye and the United Nations the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul in July 2022, which secured the export of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products from Black Sea ports.

As a parallel agreement, Russia and the UN signed a memorandum of understanding on the facilitation of Russian food and fertilizer exports.

On July 17, 2023, Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea deal, citing unfulfilled commitments to the Russian part. 
Last week, a jury in North Dakota found an environmentalist organization guilty of defamation in a yearslong battle with one of the largest pipeline companies in the United States. After a two-day deliberation, the jury awarded $667 million in damages to Texas-based pipeline company Energy Transfer and Dakota Access LLC after it sued Greenpeace for its role in the protests that occurred nearly a decade ago over the Dakota Access Pipeline.

The jury in Mandan, North Dakota, was given a laundry list of questions regarding Greenpeaces involvement in the protest  initially led by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe  including if the group was liable for defamation, trespassing, conspiracy, etc. The Native American tribe has long been outspoken against the pipeline, arguing that it would be a threat to their water supply and sacred lands.

In the lawsuit, Energy Transfer accused Greenpeace of harming the companys reputation, encouraging vandalism to its equipment and putting its employees in harms way. Its organizers trained protesters and even brought lockboxes they used to chain themselves to construction equipment. Protesters lobbed human feces and burning logs at security officers and vandalized construction equipment, per The Wall Street Journal.

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However, since the verdict, Greenpeace has cried innocence, saying its involvement in the protests was misrepresented, and pledged to appeal the decision.

What we saw over these three weeks was Energy Transfers blatant disregard for the voices of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. 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, Deepa Padmanabha, senior legal counsel for Greenpeace USA, told The Washington Post. 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.

Legal representation for Energy Transfer also commented on the issue of First Amendment rights. Trey Cox, lead lawyer for the defendants, argued that the actions made by Greenpeace were not lawful. Peaceful protest is an inherent American right, he said. However, violent and destructive protest is unlawful and unacceptable, per The New York Times.

Vicki Granado, a spokeswoman for Energy Transfer, added that 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.

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It is also a win for all law-abiding Americans who understand the difference between the right to free speech and breaking the law.

Will the lawsuit deter future protests?

The decision was less surprising in part because Greenpeace had initially and unsuccessfully tried to move the case due to fears of biased jurors living and being employed in the oil production region. The protests occurred between 2016 and 2017, involving monthlong encampments, and at times, protesters turned violent, creating a harsh environment for the people who lived in the area.

Since the decision, many news outlets have speculated on how it will influence future actions by protesters and past national movements, such as the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 and the Anti-Israel college protests following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, viewing them as comparable offenses in the name of activism.

James B. Meigs, Senior Fellow of the Manhattan Institute, said one similarity between these protests is that they all had hybrid protests, in which the majority of peaceful demonstrators are joined by a lesser amount of conditioned agitators who turn the events toward violence.

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Energy Transfers suit against Greenpeace represents the first major success in exposing and penalizing the putatively legitimate nonprofits that funnel money and material support to the lawbreakers embedding themselves in these hybrid protests, he wrote in City Journal. If the enormous verdict survives the inevitable appeals, it will be a major shot across the bows of progressive organizations that quietly foment political mayhem while maintaining plausible deniability.

The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board shared a similar sentiment, writing that Greenpeace got what it deserved:

If the verdict deters other self-righteous outfits from aiding violent protests, including those against Israel, so much the better, they wrote. The left-wing group says the lawsuit is retribution for exercising its First Amendment speech and protest rights. But theres no First Amendment right to defame or destroy.

Environmentalists interpreted the verdict differently.

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Beyond Fossil Fuels, a coalition of civil society organizations posted on social media that ordering GreenPeace to pay millions in damages was unacceptable and sets a dangerous precedent. #Fossilfuel corporations cannot and will not sue activists into submission.

Todays verdict ordering @greenpeaceusa @Greenpeace to pay $660 million to @EnergyTransfer is unacceptable and sets a dangerous precedent. #Fossilfuel corporations cannot and will not sue activists into submission. #ImWithGreenpeacehttps://t.co/aZIjLDWg19 pic.twitter.com/wRWMVPW1xK  Beyond Fossil Fuels (@Beyond_Fossils) March 20, 2025

Michael Gerrard, director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University, told The Washington Post that though the verdict was unlikely to deter political activists, it could prevent them from actively protesting against fossil fuel projects while theyre under construction.

It sends a chilling message to physical climate protests  anything that actually disrupts fossil fuel production, Gerrard said.
GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA)  A Greenville woman has been sentenced to spend 25 years in federal prison after an investigation revealed her role in trafficking a 15-year-old girl.

A press release from the United States Attorney District of South Carolina said True Heaven Heflin, 25, of Greenville, met the minor victim at a party over Christmas break in 2022. According to the release, Heflin took the victim to her residence and forced the teen to engage in sexual acts for money.

Heflin reportedly held the victim for over a week before they were able to escape.

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Heflins 300 month prison sentence will be followed by lifetime, court-ordered supervision. Heflin was also ordered to pay the victim $5,000 in restitution.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
GREER, S.C. (WSPA)- Greer Relief & Resources Agency invites the community to come together for the Neighborhood Breakfast.

The annual breakfast is happening on March 25 at Memorial United Methodist Church at 201 North Main Street in Greer.

Guests can enjoy breakfast while learning more about Greer Reliefs mission to fight poverty and equip individuals and families with the resources they need to thrive. Organizers said there will be table discussions, community connections and opportunities to get involved.

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Youll learn about the programs and services Greer Relief offers, including food assistance, financial aid and life skills programs.

Greer Relief also provides help for those under-resourced in the community who need food, help to pay bills, help to get taxes processed or get a job.

To volunteer, email Tom at this link.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
GRIFTON, N.C. (WNCT)  A man was arrested after law enforcement officers searched a home on Creek Shore Drive in Grifton.

Joel Dajuan Swindell, 31, of Grifton, was charged with:

Two counts trafficking heroin

Maintaining a dwelling/vehicle/place for controlled substance

Two counts possession of a firearm by a felon

Possession of stolen firearm

Possession of drug paraphernalia

Swindell was taken to the magistrates office where he was given a $750,000 secured bond where he remains in custody.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT.
CHICAGO (WGN)  Calling all bird lovers: Chicagos piping plovers are in need of some volunteer monitors.

In a recent social media post, the organization Chicago Piping Plovers put a call-out for volunteers to monitor this years resting and nesting season at Montrose Beach. The organization will provide those interested with the training theyll need. Volunteers just need to supply a pair of binoculars and a cell phone.

The volunteer monitors observe and protect parents, nests and chicks.

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Current available shifts are Tuesdays and Thursday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Those interested should send an email to piperwatch@chicagobirder.org.

The Piping Plover vanished from Chicago and Cook County in 1948. Nearly extinct from the region, the bird was declared federally endangered in the 1980s.

In 2019, a pair of Piping Plovers began nesting at Montrose Beach. Dubbed Monty and Rose, the pair returned in 2020 and in 2021. Both passed away in 2022. Their native-born son, Imani, mated with a captive-reared Plover, Searocket, and had four chicks. Three of them passed away within a couple of weeks.

How the story of two little birds captivated Chicago

Great Lakes Piping Plovers are an endangered species and are federally protected by the Endangered Species Act.

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Chicago Piping Plovers is a joint collaboration between the Chicago Bird Alliance, the Chicago Ornithological Society and the Illinois Ornithological Society.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Although Hawaii is often celebrated for its beautiful beaches and serene landscapes, our state is facing a growing challenge in the medical field.

In a new report, Hawaii was ranked 51st out of all 50 states and the District of Columbia. That means Hawaii is the worst state for physicians to practice, according to the study.

The state struggles with issues that directly affect healthcare quality that include low physician salaries, high malpractice payout amounts and a severe doctor shortage.

A tough financial environment for physicians

According to the rankings, Hawaii is one of the worst states for physician salaries, especially when adjusted for the cost of living.

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Additionally, Hawaii has some of the highest malpractice payout amounts per capita in the nation, which increases financial risk for doctors.

While malpractice insurance costs are high, they are not the absolute highest in the countrystates like New York and Illinois rank worse in that regard.

Furthermore, Hawaii faces a physician shortage, particularly in primary care and rural health. Although Hawaii is not the absolute worst state for physicians per capita, the shortage is significant and continues to grow.

Training the next generation of physicians: JABSOMs Role

Despite these challenges, the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) is working to address the physician shortage.

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JABSOM focuses on training local students who are committed to staying in Hawaii to care for its communities.

While 41% of JABSOMs Class of 2025 will complete their residencies in Hawaii, there has been a 10% increase from 2024.

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Additionally, JABSOM indicated that 66% of the Class of 2025 will enter primary care specialties such as Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Family Medicine, and OB-GYN. These are all fields in high demand across the islands.

Being able to stay home and train with the population that Im going to work with in the future was really important to me, said Awapuhi Lee, a JABSOM student who matched with a psychiatry residency program in Hawaii.

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This deep connection to the community is central to JABSOMs mission to train and retain local doctors.

Serving Hawaiis rural communities

One of the greatest challenges in Hawaiis healthcare system is access to medical care in rural areas, particularly on the neighbor islands.

Many JABSOM students, like Amanda Tsuhako, are committed to working in these underserved communities.

Six of us were sent [to Lanai] with the Rural Health Medicine Group, and working with the community and seeing how much they band together to overcome the limited access to healthcare really inspired me, said Tsuhako, who is pursuing a residency in family medicine.

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By focusing on primary care and rural health, JABSOM is not just training doctors. Its encouraging them to stay and serve the communities where they are needed most.

Hawaiis bright future: Can JABSOM lead the way?

While Hawaii currently ranks as the worst state for physicians, JABSOMs efforts show promise. The schools mission to train and retain local physicians is slowly improving the states medical landscape.

Many JABSOM students, such as Nathan Kim, who is entering an Orthopaedic Surgery residency, are determined to serve Hawaiis residents.

Being born and raised here, I went to undergrad here, medical school here, and now I get to do residency here. I know I want to serve the people of Hawaii, Kim said.

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Hawaiis healthcare future depends on investing, supporting and retaining locals who want to practice medicine.

Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8

If the state continues to invest in medical education and address systemic challenges, it may eventually transform from the worst state for doctors to a place where more medical professionals choose to live and work.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  After years of work, Gulf Coast State Colleges new natural sciences building is nearing completion. This building has been under construction since fall 2022 but has been in the works for over 10 years.

Were very happy with our state legislators who provided the final amounts of funding for us to construct this entire building. When youre getting peco funded from the state you have to wait until you have all of the money in. You cant start when youre partially funded. So it took a little while to get that. But were so appreciative of our legislators for helping us with this, Gulf Coast State College President Glen McDonald said.

With the budget set at $27.4 million, it is one of the costliest buildings and most technologically efficient on campus.

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FWC denied entry to conduct dolphin wellness check at Gulf World Marine Park

We have a little bit more than double the laboratory space, but we have a lot of technology going in this building. Our professors will be able to have cameras in their professor workstations so that all of our students will be able to see what theyre doing specifically instead of having to walk up to the front, McDonald said.

The new building is 43,500 ft, including 11 laboratories and 4 collaboration rooms.

It is a much better learning space from what weve had and what we had was built in 1957 originally has been upgraded a few times since then, but were getting all brand new equipment which is more modern, more technological, and more used to what people would use in the workspace are able for that, that our professors will do a better job of teaching and our students will do a better job of learning because of the assets that this building has now.

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Some of the upgraded equipment includes fume hoods and snorkel hoods.

Were in the organic chemistry lab. Behind me is a few months and its vented to the top of the building. And this is I think when I went here, we had one fume hood for all of the students in the class, and this one looks like it has six in here. So this allows you to be safe when youre doing chemical reactions. And they have to dispel the air outside.

The new natural sciences building is set to open at the start of the summer 2025 semester.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.
The gunman who killed 23 people in a racist attack targeting Hispanic shoppers at a Walmart near the U.S.-Mexico border in 2019 would avoid the death penalty under a plea offer announced Tuesday, abruptly ending years of efforts by prosecutors to see that he face execution by lethal injection.

El Paso County District Attorney James Montoya said during a news conference that his decision in the prosecution of Patrick Crusius, who drove across the state for one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history and posted a racist screed just before opening fire, was driven by a majority of victims' relatives who wanted the case behind them.

This is about allowing the families of the 23 victims who lost their lives on that horrific day  and the 22 wounded  to finally have resolution in our court system, Montoya said in a statement.

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Now, no one in this community will ever have to hear the perpetrators name ever again, he added. No more hearings. No more appeals. He will die in prison.

But Montoya also acknowledged at the news conference that not all families agreed with the reversal by his office, which under previous leadership had committed to taking the case to trial and seeking the death penalty.

Adria Gonzalez, a survivor who helped panicked shoppers toward exits, said she feels that not pursuing the death penalty is a slap in the face for all the victims.

Under the offer, Montoya said, Crusius would plead guilty to capital murder and receive life in prison with no possibility of parole. The plea hearing and sentencing is set for April 21, Montoya said, and families will be able to give victim impact statements.

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Mark Stevens, an attorney for Crusius, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

Crusius, 26, was already sentenced to 90 consecutive life sentences at the federal level after pleading guilty in 2023 to hate crime charges. Under the Biden administration, federal prosecutors also took the death penalty off the table.

Montoya said he supports the death penalty and believes Crusius deserves it. But he said he met with the families of the victims and while some were willing to wait as long as it took for a death sentence, there was an overriding desire to conclude the process.

Im just glad its over, said Elise Hoffmann-Taus, whose father, Alexander Hoffmann was among those killed. This is the outcome I wanted.

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Montoya, a Democrat who took office in January after defeating a Republican incumbent appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott, is the fourth district attorney to oversee the case.

His predecessor, Bill Hicks, said following the announcement that while he had been ready to take the case to trial and pursue the death penalty, he could not fault Montoyas reasoning behind the plea offer.

It is not the reasoning I would have followed, Hicks said. I know that it was very hard for him, and I respect that it was a very difficult decision.

Crusius, who is white, was 21 years old and had dropped out of community college when police say he drove more than 700 miles (1,100 kilometers) from his home near Dallas to El Paso.

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Moments after posting online his racist rant, which warned of a Hispanic invasion of the state, he opened fire with an AK-style rifle inside and outside the store.

Crusius was arrested shortly after the shooting and confessed to officers who stopped him at an intersection, police have said.

Prior to the attack, Crusius appears to have been consumed by the immigration debate, posting online in support of building the border wall and other messages praising the hard-line border policies of President Donald Trump, who was in his first term at the time. He went further in the screed right before the shootings, saying Hispanics were going to take over the government and economy.

In the federal case, prosecutors did not formally explain their decision not to seek the death penalty, but they did acknowledge that Crusius suffered from schizoaffective disorder, which can be marked by hallucinations, delusions and mood swings.

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Abbott, a Republican, said Tuesday after the announcement that he thought Crusius deserved to die: Any shooting like that is what capital punishment is for.

The people who were killed ranged in age from a 15-year-old high school athlete to several grandparents. They included immigrants, a retired city bus driver, teachers, tradesmen including a former iron worker, and several Mexican nationals who had crossed the U.S. border on routine shopping trips.

In 2023, Crusius agreed to pay more than $5 million to his victims. Court records showed that his attorneys and the Justice Department reached an agreement over the restitution amount, which was then approved by a U.S. district judge. There was no indication that he had significant assets.

Dean Reckard, whose mother, Margie Reckard, was also killed in the shooting, said Crusius deserves death but its time to put the matter to rest.

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Our loved ones will always be loved and remembered as decent people who were just living their lives and doing their best, he said. We need to do the same. Its what they would have wanted.

___

Associated Press writers Nadia Lathan in Austin, Texas, and Lisa Baumann in Bellingham, Washington, contributed.
As firefighters continued to battle three stubborn North Carolina wildfires in the same county, a breezy and dry forecast for the danger zones is threatening to spread the flames, officials said.

The three fires, including two that have overlapped, are in steep, rugged terrain in Polk County that is covered with downed trees and dry vegetation left over from Hurricane Helene that swept through the area in September, authorities said.

At least 11 homes had been destroyed by the blazes -- now being referred to collectively as the Black Cove Complex -- according to a statement from Polk County on Tuesday night. No injuries have been reported from any of the blazes.

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The fires have burned more than 6,000 acres of forest land about 40 miles southeast of Asheville, officials said.

PHOTO: Troutman Fire Department firefighter Sam Mills watches a backburn preventative fire set to stop the spread of the Deep Woods Fire, March 23, 2025, in Columbus, North Carolina. (Allison Joyce/Getty Images)

Two of the blazes, the Black Cove Fire and the Deep Woods Fires, both remain 0% contained, a Polk County official confirmed on Tuesday.

The Black Cove Fire, which started on March 19 about 2 miles northeast of the community of Saluda, had grown by more than 3,000 acres by Tuesday, officials said.

The fire has resulted in the destruction of seven homes, significant damage to one home, and the loss of seven outbuildings, according to a representative of Polk County.

PHOTO: Gusty winds are expected on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in North Carolina. (ABC News)

Officials also reported on Tuesday that the Deep Woods Fire, which also began on March 19 about 5 miles northwest of Columbus, had burned nearly 3,000 acres. "The fire is burning in timber on steep terrain and is currently 0% contained," fire officials said of the Deep Woods Fire.

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"Around 110 homes have been evacuated with one home being destroyed and three outbuildings being lost," according to a statement from Polk County on Tuesday night.

Mandatory evacuation orders issued for both fires were in effect as of early Tuesday.

PHOTO: Gusty winds are expected on Tuesday, March 25, in North Carolina. (ABC News)

The third fire in Polk County is the Fish Hook Fire, which started on March 20, near Lake Adger, about 5 miles northwest of Mill Springs, was 72% contained on Tuesday evening after burning about 200 acres, officials said.

This fire led to the destruction of three homes and one outbuilding, according to a Polk County statement on Tuesday night.

PHOTO: Gusty winds are expected on Thursday, March 27, 2025, in North Carolina. (ABC News)

A small amount of rain was recorded in Polk County on Monday, but it had little effect on the fires, officials said.

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Meteorologist Ashley Rehnberg of the National Weather Service office in Greer, South Carolina, told ABC News that rainfall totals in Polk County from Monday's cold front ranged from .03 inches to .08 inches.

MORE: Over 25 million remain under red flag warnings with heightened risk of wildfires

Fire danger for Polk County is expected to go up on Wednesday afternoon, with forecasts of wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph. Winds are expected to die down on Thursday.

Wildfires extended into neighboring South Carolina, where Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency on Saturday.

MORE: Tornado watch issued in 4 states, with damaging wind gusts and large hail warnings

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A wildfire in the Table Rock State Park on the South Carolina-North Carolina border started on Friday night and quickly spread to more than 1,000 acres by Monday, according to the Pickens County Sheriff's Office.

"Evacuations remain in effect at this time. No further evacuations are expected. Residents are advised to remain aware of the situation by monitoring local news and social media and be prepared tp evacuate if it should become necessary," according to a statement from the sheriff's office.

North Carolina residents remain under a statewide ban on outdoor burning.

ABC News' Kenton Gewecke contributed to this report.

At least 11 homes destroyed in North Carolina wildfires, officials say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Haitis capital is again in free fall. The attacks by armed gangs that in recent days have seized control of new neighborhoods is raising fears that metropolitan Port-au-Prince could fall at any moment.

In the past month, a record 60,000-plus people have been forced to flee their homes  many finding refuge in soiled makeshift camps with no latrines or potable water, and where rapes are a frequent occurrence. The new displacements have added to the more than 1 million people who had already fled their homes, according to United Nations figures.

Making matters worse, nine in 10 Haitians go all day without eating in what has been described as one of the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. The gangs have resumed kidnappings, while burning hospitals and destroying schools. The violence also continues to force a ban on U.S. commercial flights at the main international airport.

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Now, the Trump administration is weighing a travel ban that would restrict Haitians access to the United States even if they have a U.S. visa.

On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security will publish a notice canceling the work permits and immigration protections for more than a half million people, including 211,040 Haitians, paroled into the United States under a Biden-era humanitarian parole program.

Here are some key questions and answers about the unfolding crisis in Haiti.

How bad is the situation?

The cataclysmic situation in Haiti has been described as an open prison, where desperate Haitians are cut off from the world by air, land and sea. Internal displacement, the U.N. says, has surged, rising from 330,000 a year ago to over 1 million at present, as Haitians continue to flee gang violence, which led to more than 5,600 deaths last year. Meanwhile, over 100 government offices and other structures have been forced to shut their doors, relocate or have been destroyed. Only 27% of hospitals nationwide are functioning, the U.N. has said. Cholera, tuberculosis and other diseases are also on the rise as individuals are forced to flee.

How much of Haitis capital do gangs control?

Gangs control up to 90% of Port-au-Prince, including strategic neighborhoods and roads that make it difficult to get in and out of the capital. The last road out of the capital to access the countrys four regions in the south is now in the hands of gangs, who recently set fire to a police armored vehicle in the area. Several other roads that Haitians were able to use to get to the airport before gangs opened fire on three U.S. jetliners in November are now in gang territory.

What is not under gang control?

The gangs do not control the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, even though it remains closed to commercial and domestic traffic. They do not control the seaport, although their presence on roads leading into and out of the facility creates a constant fear that they could cut off the access to fuel. They do not control the main police headquarters nor the National Palace, even though the structure was destroyed in the 2010 earthquake. Its grounds remain heavily guarded; gangs have launched attacks around the area. Gangs also do not control the official residence of the prime minister or the offices of the nine-member Transitional Presidential Council.

What happens if gangs take control of key government offices?

Observers say a takeover of the governments headquarters would be a sure sign of the capitals fall. So too would a gang takeover of the airport. The airport grounds, however, also serve as the base of operations for the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission and any encroachment by gangs would surely be met by gunfire. The headquarters of the Haiti National Police are also nearby.

As Haitis capital comes under intense gang attacks, angry Haitians in Canape Vert armed themselves with machetes and took to the streets Wednesday, March 19, 2025 to protest the assaults and lack of response from the countrys authorities.

What about the international forces in Haiti?

With barely 1,000 personnel, the Kenyan-led forces are still not enough to help police fight gangs, and their future funding remains uncertain amid U.S. funding freezes and the lack of a clear Trump administration policy on Haiti. The administration earlier this year unfroze over $40 million in aid and has allowed the mission to Kenya-led continue to receive equipment that had been set aside by the Biden administration.

What are foreign embassies doing?

The U.S. has refused to say what constitutes a red line in Haiti to close down the embassy. A U.S. ambassador who does not serve in the region said that gangs attacking an airport and making it impossible for U.S. citizens to depart would be a major turning point for the U.S. embassy. Since 2021, the U.S. has repeatedly ordered the evacuation of non-essential staff in Haiti, and its consular services have been closed to visa appointments for the last several years. In recent months, U.S. embassy vehicles have been fired upon by gangs. France has temporarily closed its embassys doors due to its proximity to the violence and other embassies in Port-au-Prince are watching the situation to determine their next steps.

Are aid agencies able to work?

The violence has forced humanitarian aid groups in recent days to cancel in-person meetings and shelter in place. Before the current violent surge, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had already warned that the U.N. political office in Port-au-Prince was down to a skeleton team of 17 people. Most were working from home, he said in a reporter to the Security Council earlier this year.

What have the gangs targeted?

Everything. They control main roads in and out of the capital and frequently target strategic infrastructure such as electrical plants, fiber optic and fuel facilities. Last month, they even targeted the antenna controlling air traffic over Haitis airspace. Orphanages and religious orders are among those forced to flee in recent days. The capitals only critical care hospital, Bernard Mevs, was set on fire, and the largest public hospital is also not operating after gangs also set it ablaze. Over 1,000 schools remain closed, including over 40 that were destroyed by gangs in January, depriving approximately 200,000 children of education, the U.N.s leading child welfare agency has said. On Monday, gang members kidnapped a 12 year-old child in the community of Kenscoff and set fire to homes. In Delmas 19, they fired on a passenger van, instantly killing the driver, and injuring other passengers.

Why do gangs want control of certain neighborhoods?

Canape-Vert, Pacot, Turgeau and Debussy are among the oldest and wealthier residential neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince, and also the main source of water for the capital. Their strategic location on the upper south-east end of the capital with easy and direct access to the main arteries in and out of the capital would give gangs full control of Port-au-Prince and the ability to block the Canape-Vert leading to Petion-Ville and use it to launch attacks on the economic center of the metropolitan area.

How long can the Haitian government hold out?

This is unclear. The government has been using weaponized drones to strike at gangs strongholds. So far the controversial operation has yet to take out any key gang leaders, and has led to a regrouping by gangs, which have gone on the offensive.

Guterres, the U.N. secretary-general, said the erosion of state authority in Haiti is evident in the destruction of police infrastructure. Many are in gang-controlled areas or have been damaged by fire or demolished, he said. Meanwhile, of Haitis 21 prisons, 7 are non-functional, including the three largest, all located in the west department, due to extensive damage caused by gangs. The Port-au-Prince and Croix-des-Bouquets Courts of First Instance have also been rendered inoperable by gang attacks.
Democratic U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told supporters on Monday that it was important for Wisconsin voters to elect liberal state Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford so she and other justices can redraw congressional districts in a way that is more favorable to the party.

His comments will bolster Republicans' claim that Crawford has been courting donors with the promise of changing Wisconsins congressional maps so they don't lean Republican. Crawford has denied the charge.

More: All our reporting on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race between Susan Crawford, Brad Schimel

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Labeling Crawford a "strong Democratic candidate," Jeffries said the future of the state's congressional maps hang on the outcome of the April 1 election. While the race is legally nonpartisan, Democrats have lined up behind Crawford and Republicans behind conservative candidate Brad Schimel.

The winner of the high-stakes race will determine the ideological direction of the court. If Crawford wins, liberals will retain their one-seat majority. A Schimel victory would give conservatives the control they lost in 2023.

Why is that important?" Jeffries said in a live discussion on the social media platform X. "Because there are gerrymandered congressional lines right now in Wisconsin. Wisconsin is a 50-50 state, as I mentioned, but there are six Republicans and only two Democrats out of an eight-person (congressional) delegation because the lines are broken."

He added: As soon as possible, we need to be able to revisit that and have fair lines. The only way for that to be even a significant possibility is if you have an enlightened Supreme Court."

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In the talk, dubbed a "national update and call to action" with newly elected Democratic Party chairman Ken Martin, Jeffries emphasized repeatedly that the Democrats needed only three House seats to block Republican President Donald Trump's agenda.

Earlier this year, Crawford participated in a Zoom call in which the email invite was headlined "Chance to put two more House seats in play for 2026."

The email was an apparent reference to Wisconsins 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts, which are held by Republican Reps. Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden, respectively, and are the states only competitive House seats.

The January call with state Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wikler was organized by aides to billionaire Democratic donor Reid Hoffman, who has given more than $14.5 million to the state Democratic Party.

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Crawford has said she simply introduced herself and explained to the Democratic donors why she was running for the state Supreme Court. She said she did not discuss the issue of congressional redistricting.

But on Monday, Republican Party of Wisconsin executive director Andrew Iverson said Jeffries "just confirmed for Wisconsin voters that Susan Crawford would gerrymander maps to favor Democrats."

"A vote for Crawford is a vote to disenfranchise thousands of Wisconsin voters who elected Congressmen Steil and Van Orden," Iverson said.

FURTHER PROOF: Susan Crawford will gerrymander Wisconsin's maps for her Democrat allies.



Hakeem Jeffries' own words: pic.twitter.com/br6KwCBwGM  Team Schimel (@TeamSchimel) March 25, 2025

Last month, the state GOP filed a complaint against Crawford, accusing her of blatantly signaling how she would vote on issues that will come before the court."

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In a statement, Crawford's spokesman Derrick Honeyman said Crawford had never commented on congressional redistricting in public or private.

"On the Supreme Court, her pledge is to remain fair and impartial on any case that comes before her," he said. "This is just a desperate attempt by Schimel to distract from his own pandering to Elon Musk, who has kicked in $18 million and counting to buy Brad a seat."

Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com.

Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 313-6684 or dbice@jrn.com. Follow him on X at @DanielBice or on Facebook at fb.me/daniel.bice.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Hakeem Jeffries says Susan Crawford could give Democrats better maps
Hamdan Ballal, one of the four directors of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, was freed on Tuesday after reportedly being attacked and detained in the West Bank the day before.

The news of his attack was originally shared in a post on X yesterday (March 24) from one of his co-directors, Yuval Abraham, who had written that a group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal.

They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding, Abraham added. Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him. No sign of him since.

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Abraham updated his followers on X this morning, writing, After being handcuffed all night and beaten in a military base, Hamdan Ballal is now free and is about to go home to his family.

Abraham has since shared a video featuring a masked settler, whom he said was a part of the lynch mob that attacked Hamdans village, and who continued to attack American activists, breaking their car with stones.

Co-directed by Ballal, Abraham, Rachel Szor, and Basel Adra, No Other Land was filmed between 2019 and 2023, and follows Adra, a Palestinian activist, in the midst of his community of Masafer Yatta being destroyed by Israels occupation, per the films synopsis.

Meanwhile, Adra builds an unlikely alliance with an Israeli journalist [Abraham] who wants to join his fight. While the film won Best Documentary Feature Film at this years Oscars, the doc does not have a distributor in the U.S.

A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal, co director of our film no other land. They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding. Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him. No sign of him since.  Yuval Abraham   (@yuval_abraham) March 24, 2025

According to the Associated Press, the Center for Jewish Nonviolence  an activist group that brings Jewish activists from around the world to Israel/Palestine to join in Palestinian-led nonviolent civil resistance to occupation, apartheid, and displacement, per their website  said that dozens of Israeli settlers had attacked Susiya, a Palestinian village in the Masafer Yatta region, yesterday.

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They also said that while Ballal was in an ambulance being treated, he and another Palestinian man were taken by members of the Israeli military. The Israeli Defense Forces said in a statement to USA Today that they had responded to mutual rock hurling between Palestinians and Israelis.

IDF and Israeli Police forces arrived to disperse the confrontation, at this point, several terrorists began hurling rocks at the security forces, they stated.

Per USA Today, the IDF said that three Palestinians and one Israeli were detained, including Ballal.

Over an hour after Abrahams original March 24 post, Adra, another of the films co-directors, posted on X, Im standing with Karam, Hamdans 7 year old son, near the blood of Hamdans in his house, after settlers lynched him. Hamdan, co-director of our film No Other Land, is still missing after soldiers abducted him, injured and bleeding. This is how they erase Masafer Yatta.

According to Variety, a Change.org petition to free Ballal was created after he was detained, and has since received 5,190 signatures.
March 25 (UPI) -- Hamdan Ballal, a Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning film No Other Land and who was allegedly detained and beaten by Israeli soldiers, has reportedly been set free.

Ballal was seen being taken away with one other person Monday at his home in the West Bank village of Susya by his co-director Basel Adra after he called her in a panicked state, CNN reported.

On Tuesday, his lawyer said Ballal was in the process of being released after he was held overnight in Kiryat Arba'a, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank.

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According to the Israeli military, officials arrived to what it claimed was a "violent confrontation" between Israeli and Palestinian civilians throwing rocks at each other, and that "terrorists hurled rocks at Israeli citizens, damaging their vehicles."

Adra said the IDF would fire at any person trying to get close.

Film co-director Yuval Abraham, an Israeli native, said Ballal sustained head and abdomen injuries but reportedly did not witness the incident.

"'No Other Land' is a testimony to injustice and displacement, and we stand in solidarity with the film's directors, including Hamdan Ballal, in their fight to document the reality on the ground," the documentary festival CPH:DOX wrote in a statement, adding it was "deeply horrified and shocked" by the reports of what Ballal had been put through.

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The film documentes the struggle of Palestinians living in West Bank villages of Masafer Yatta and attempts by Israel and its settlers to erase Palestinian identity amid credible accusations of genocide and ethnic cleansing by Israeli authorities.

Meanwhile, three Palestinians and an Israeli citizens were taken for questioning after "several" people who were described as "terrorists" threw rocks at military forces, the IDF claimed.

Ballal is one of the film's four co-directors, alongside fellow Palestinian filmmaker and activist Basel Adra, Abraham and Israeli cinematographer and director Rachel Szor. The film was shot from 2019 to 2023.

His detainment sparked outrage from the American and global film community.

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A petition calling for his immediate release was signed by at least 3,700 people, including filmmakers Alex Gibney, Liz Garbus, Ezra Edelman, Christine Vachon and Maite Alberdi.

Actor Mark Ruffalo, in a social media post, called on "every filmmaker and Academy member" to "act together in protest."
Mar. 24A Hamilton man has been indicted by a Butler County grand jury on nearly a dozen sex-related crimes against children.

Roger Reed, 40, was indicted on two counts of rape, both first-degree felonies, two counts of sexual battery, both third-degree felonies, and five counts of gross sexual imposition, all fourth-degree felonies.

A cash or surety bond was set at $500,000.

According to the indictment, the alleged assaults occurred as early as December 2019 and as recently as December 2024, and four of the counts allegedly involved children younger than 13.

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Reed appeared before Butler County Common Pleas Judge Greg Howard on Monday morning without an attorney, telling the jurist he planned to retain an attorney. He said he had received a copy of the indictment and waived its reading in open court. The judge advised Reed of the potential maximum prison terms if he's found guilty of the alleged crimes.

"Mr. Reed, two of these charges, counts 2 and 3, just to let you know, do carry the potential of a life sentence in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction just because of the nature of the allegations," the judge said of the two rape counts.

Howard said Reed is to be back in court at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday for a plea or trial setting hearing, whether he was able to to retain an attorney. If he can't retain attorney by Wednesday's hearing, Howard said the court will then address the issue of legal representation.
A skier takes a run down a trail at Waterville Valley on Feb. 9, 2025. (Photo by Ethan DeWitt/New Hampshire Bulletin)

New Hampshires ski slopes and lakes are among its iconic natural attractions. They also face contamination from forever chemicals present in some recreational activities.

Some ski, boat, and board waxes contain PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a class of harmful, synthetic chemicals commonly used to make products stain- and water-resistant. PFAS are linked to a number of negative health effects like some cancers, high cholesterol, reproductive and fetal development issues, and more.

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House Bill 167, which is making its way to the full House Wednesday, would ban such waxes containing intentionally added PFAS from sale in the state. Research published in 2023 found that about two-thirds of surveyed skiers and snowboarders used waxes that contain PFAS. The waxes are designed to help protect the equipment and allow recreationists to glide more easily over snow and water.

The bill builds on legislation passed last year that will ban a host of PFAS-laden consumer products from sale in the state starting in 2027. If passed, this bill would tack the waxes onto a list of products prohibited from sale that includes cosmetics, food packaging and containers, feminine hygiene products, and more.

We did a lot of work on that, Rep. Carry Spier, a Nashua Democrat, said of the product ban when introducing the bill in the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee on behalf of its prime sponsor, and I think we understand what the problem is with PFAS.

That committee recommended unanimously, 15-0, that the House pass the bill. Lawmakers will consider the measure this week on the chambers consent calendar, meaning the committees recommendation will likely be approved without discussion among a host of other bills. Rep. Lilli Walsh, a Hampstead Republican, wrote in the committee report on the bill that it would help protect the states land and water from this source of contamination.

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PFAS contamination is a familiar problem in New Hampshire, one of a number of states to take recent action to limit the chemicals pathways into the environment through products. While research has found that virtually all Americans have PFAS in their blood, some have suffered from especially acute exposure, like those in communities surrounding the Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics plant in Merrimack and others near Pease Air Force Base on the Seacoast.

Lawmakers had considered including the waxes in the legislation passed last year, Spier said, but they decided to focus instead on products that end up in landfills. When products containing PFAS are thrown away, the chemicals can become part of the trash juice, or leachate, created at landfills when rain mixes with waste. That liquid must be treated, either on site or at a wastewater treatment facility. But the leachate may end up at a facility unequipped to treat PFAS, introducing the chemicals into the environment. Additionally, several landfills across the state have struggled recently to properly manage leachate, including hundreds of leachate-related violations at the Bethlehem landfill.

PFAS, which break down incredibly slowly in the environment, have been detected in some of the states water bodies  and at levels that warrant caution. The Department of Environmental Services has identified a type of PFAS  PFOS, or perfluorooctane sulfonic acid  in five water bodies in southern New Hampshire, according to a 2021 factsheet that issued guidance on water bodies with various contaminants. The state recommended that people limit their consumption of fish from these waters.

New Hampshire wont stand alone if it decides to prohibit the sale of waxes with PFAS. Vermont, Minnesota, and Colorado have taken similar steps to ban ski waxes with PFAS, and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, the global governing organization overseeing those sports, has outlawed the use of fluorinated ski waxes in its competitions.

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Spier, who said her husband races locally and nationally, said there are ample alternatives to the PFAS-laden products. And, she argued, its simple to add the products to the list of others the state will soon ban.

Rep. Wendy Thomas, a Merrimack Democrat leading the bill, said in an interview ahead of the legislative session that the waxes pose a particular threat of contamination by putting the PFAS directly into our lakes and our water systems, not even our landfills.

The best way to protect ourselves from PFAS exposure is to stop it at the source, Thomas said.
People protest various actions undertaken by the Trump administration and Elon Musk during a rally in front of the State House on March 14, 2025. (Photo by Dana Wormald/New Hampshire Bulletin)

Im confused about what Republican voters in New Hampshire want.

I mean, I know what they want right now. Lower (or nonexistent) taxes, the dismantling of public education, fewer (or zero) protections for LGBTQ people, the disappearance of migrants who lack the proper documentation, the elimination of environmental regulations, the continued dominance of fossil fuels, reductions to (or the end of) the social safety net, more power for parents to control what their kids learn at school, a version of the American story that redacts any mention of genocide or slavery, a male- and Christian-dominated system of womens reproductive health care, freedom from vaccination and other public health initiatives, and the overall elimination of the public sector as we know it.

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That much is clear. What I dont understand is what they want ultimately.

Once all of the so-called liberal or progressive policies and systems are eradicated, what kind of state and nation are we left with? The replies from the right are not tough to predict: Sounds like paradise to me. But thats just the politics of retribution talking, with all of its B.S. bravado and Make America Great Again inanity.

Is a society without community-based public education a better society? Republicans seem to think so, but I cant wrap my brain around what it is they are picturing instead. When education is privatized, which is the ultimate goal of school vouchers, how can the system create anything other than rich schools for rich kids and poor schools for poor kids, a predicament-by-design not unlike the one we find ourselves in now. So, vouchers cant be the solution. The answer to New Hampshires equity problem is fair taxation and distribution  a system of public education no longer reliant on collective wealth within town lines. Republicans like to scare voters away from this kind of unity by screaming socialism at every opportunity, but what they are proposing instead is increased inequality through privatization. How is that a better situation for anyone other than the already wealthy and powerful?

How is society stronger when our transgender or immigrant neighbors are afraid for their very lives because of policies instituted or protections repealed based on nothing more than apocryphal anecdotes and cultivated fear? How is our beautiful state an even better place to live because environmental regulations are eliminated and clean power and energy efficiency initiatives are blocked? Even if you buy the economic arguments of the need for fossil fuel-based energy policies, is the degradation of New Hampshires natural environment (and, you know, the continued destruction of the planet) worth it? And are we such big fans of free-market liberty that well accept the White Mountain National Forest being opened up to any and all kinds of corporate exploitation?

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Is all of that the goal?

And what do New Hampshire Republicans want for their children? Freedom from vaccines that are intended to make their very future more assured? Do they want their kids to believe that the American experiment was of divine creation, that there was no tragic abandonment of human principles at any point along the way to the 21st century? No colonization, no genocide, no slavery, no segregation, no lynchings, no red-lining. To what end do we create those gaps in our childrens knowledge? Is it the belief that there can be darkness or light, good or evil, but not both? That we are a nation built and maintained only by heroes, so different from the rest of us in our daily imperfection and inability to live up to our own standards of behavior? What is more human than wanting, needing to know  about what lies over the horizon, in the stars, at the bottom of the ocean, in the hearts of those who are so different from ourselves?

Is the point to stop the kids from yearning for knowledge and understanding about the complexities of how this moment came to be?

I know that not all New Hampshire Republicans want the same things. For some, its the pro-business, anti-tax piece of the platform that makes them register as Republicans. For others, its a desire for revenge against societal shifts that they dont like or that make them uncomfortable  for which they use the shorthand woke. But in this moment, made unique by the appetite and actions of Donald Trump and his administration, it is impossible for a New Hampshire Republican to pick and choose the way the party does or does not represent their desires.

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In the March 27 edition of The New York Review of Books, Neal Ascherson writes about a recent book by Richard J. Evans titled Hitlers People: The Faces of the Third Reich.

Heres Ascherson, under the headline Ordinary Germans: The late Erhard Eppler, a radical Christian who became the conscience of Social Democrats in postwar West Germany, used to invoke the Roman fasces as the image of twentieth-century fascism: a bundle of quite disparate rods (or policies) held together by the strap of the leader. When the strap is cut, the rods scatter, and people could claim that I agreed with Hitler about revising the Versailles Treaty or degenerate culture, but I always thought the persecution of the Jews a grave mistake. So I never believed in the whole fasces-bundle. So I was never truly a Nazi! To which Evanss book in effect retorts: During the Third Reich, you could not pick and choose between rods. You either accepted or rejected the bundle as a whole.

I bring up Aschersons description of the rods and the bundle not to compare regimes but rather to see what one political moment can tell us about another. To be a Republican in New Hampshire in 2025 is to be for all of the things I mentioned at the top of this essay. The social, cultural, political, and economic toll of that bundle is such that no one can claim liberty to choose from among the rods, now or later.

There was a time when a Republican could declare themselves a moderate or a fiscal conservative, but times have changed in a way that disallows that luxury. All that remains is historys clear choice: You either accept or reject the bundle as a whole.
In a letter to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, a city official in Hamtramck who oversees elections is accusing a councilman of voter fraud, alleging that cameras have "captured clear evidence of suspicious activities" involving absentee ballots.

Hamtramck City Clerk Rana Faraj is asking Nessel "to take action" in the attorney general's investigation into alleged voting irregularities in the city, saying in her March 12 letter that Councilman Mohammed Hassan "continues to act as though he's above the law, openly bragging that no one can touch him."

The claims of voting irregularities involve the 2023 elections, when three city council seats in Hamtramck were on the ballot.

Hamtramck City Hall, shown on August 25, 2021. City Clerk Rana Faraj is asking Attorney General Dana Nessel take action on alleged election fraud. Faraj says cameras recorded ballot fraud outside drop-off boxes at City Hall.

Wayne County Court records show an assistant attorney general under Nessel submitted a case last year against Hassan involving violations of election laws: two charges of absentee ballot tampering and two charges of impersonating another to vote at an election. The state attorney general's office also filed a case involving election law against another Hamtramck councilman, Muhtasin Sadman: a charge of impersonating another to vote at an election, and two charges of inducing unqualified voter to apply for absentee ballot.

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The court records show there was a recommendation for a warrant on Oct. 16 for Hassan and Oct. 17 for Sadman. The dates of the alleged incidents listed in the records were on Sept. 4, 2023, for Hassan, and July 1, 2023, for Sadman. Both were running for election that year and won council seats. The records also show election charges involving another Hamtramck man who's not an elected official.

It's unclear what the current status is of those cases. A spokeswoman for Nessel said no charges have been filed yet by their office.

[ STAY UP TO DATE:Sign up for our Daily Briefing newsletter today to get the Free Press in your inbox. ]

"The Department of Attorney General investigated the underlying facts and its special agents have submitted that warrant for a prosecutorial review but no decisions or charges have been filed," Kimberly Bush, director of Nessel's Office of Public Information and Education, told the Free Press in a statement.

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"Decisions" regarding charges "have yet to be made," Bush added. A spokesperson for Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, Maria Miller, said this case is being handled by the state since their office does not handle election cases.

Hassan, reelected in 2023, did not return emails and a voicemail seeking comment. Hassan, 57, was elected in 2009 and has been an outspoken member of council, becoming nationally known in 2023 for introducing the resolution that banned LGBTQ+ Pride and political flags from flying on city buildings and property. Nessel, the first LGBTQ+ person to serve as Michigan's attorney general, spoke at an LGBTQ+ protest in Hamtramck in 2023 after the resolution was passed, blasting the city council for passing the resolution. Hassan endorsed Kamala Harris for president, saying that Trump was too supportive of LGBTQ+ issues.

Sadman, elected in 2023 with the support of Hassan, said the allegations listed in the court records are "all fake."

"I haven't been charged," Sadman told the Free Press. There are some "allegations and ... investigating, but I don't know who's behind it."

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Sadman claims a former candidate or councilman, whom he didn't identify, made "a conspiracy to" give us a "bad reputation," adding that "I believe in the justice in this country and I believe that I will get real justice."

Faraj started by writing: "Im writing to formally express my frustration and deep concern about the ongoing election integrity issues here in Hamtramck, specifically involving a current City Council member who has repeatedly been accused of election fraud. Despite numerous reports and evidence, and forwarding this issue to the county, state, and even law enforcement, including Michigan State Police and the Attorney Generals Office, nothing significant has been done to hold this person accountable."

Faraj did not mention Hassan's name in the letter, but confirmed to the Free Press it was referencing Hassan.

"As City Clerk, its my responsibility to address issues that affect our community," Faraj told the Free Press in a statement. "The letter to the Attorney Generals office was sent in that capacity. I remain committed to transparency and serving Hamtramck with integrity."

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In her letter, Faraj expressed concern that Nessel has not taken action, alleging the state investigator assigned to the case has been removed.

"I have now received reports that the investigator assigned to this matter by the Attorney Generals Office has been removed from the investigation, not because he has failed to uncover evidence of criminal activity, but precisely because he has," Faraj said in the letter. "The members of this office and other city employees that gave interviews and cooperation are left to wonder whether it was all a waste of our small citys very scarce resources to offer such cooperation."

Danny Wimmer, a spokesperson for Nessel, said this week their office has not received a copy of Faraj's letter and did not comment further on her allegations.

Faraj said the 2022 ballot proposal approved by voters that enhances security led to cameras at City Hall that monitor activity outside absentee ballot drop boxes.

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"Those cameras have done exactly what they were intended to do: they've captured clear evidence of suspicious activities, like multiple instances of large batches of absentee ballots being dropped into boxes at once, strongly suggesting a single individual rather than multiple legitimate voters," she wrote. "These incidents were properly documented and turned over to the authorities. Yet, this council member continues to act as though he's above the law, openly bragging that no one can touch him."

Faraj said she's worried that voting irregularities may happen again this year. Three council seats are up for grabs and also the mayor's position. Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib, named by President Donald Trump to be ambassador to Kuwait, may step down if he's confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Ghalib did not return an email seeking comment for this article.

There have been some previous investigations and charges filed alleging voter fraud in Hamtramck over the past dozen years. In 2013, three men were charged by then-Attorney General Bill Schuette with several counts of improper possession or return of absentee ballots. At least one of them, a city council candidate, pleaded guilty the following year to one charge and was sentenced, court records show. In 2017, Michigan State Police stopped the father of a city council candidate and raided a business of the candidate on suspicion of voter fraud, but no charges were filed.

Hamtramck mayor: Donald Trump picks Amer Ghalib for ambassador to Kuwait

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The previous mayor of Hamtramck, Karen Majewski, whom Ghalib defeated in 2021, said she supports Faraj's letter, calling it a brave move. She suspects that politics is the reason why charges have not yet been filed.

"I really applaud the city clerk for taking this step, which is pretty unprecedented," Majewski said. "She uses the kind of strong language that folks around Hamtramck have been using for a long time in discussing this."

Majewksi called upon Nessel to act, saying "the evidence is out there. Folks in the city and folks in City Hall have been interviewed. ... Why has this not been acted upon? I have to think that there are political reasons for that. ... A lot of people in Hamtramck are waiting ... and more impatiently now that the city clerk has been brave enough to make this public statement."

Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com or X @nwarikoo

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Below is the full copy of the letter Hamtramck City Clerk Rana Faraj sent this month to Attorney General Dana Nessel:

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Hamtramck clerk sends letter to AG Dana Nessel alleging election fraud
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  Han Jong-Hee, a senior Samsung Electronics executive credited with elevating the company's television business, died Tuesday, the company said. He was 63.

Han, a co-chief executive who oversaw the companys consumer electronics and mobile devices businesses, died at a hospital after being treated for a heart attack, Samsung said.

Han joined Samsung in 1988 and spent most of his career in TV-related divisions, during which the company became the worlds leading TV manufacturer. He was appointed co-vice chairman and CEO in 2022.

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Samsung, one of the worlds largest technology companies, has dual strengths in components and finished consumer products. The company had separate CEOs for its two major business divisions, the other being computer chips, which are all under the broader leadership of third-generation corporate heir and chairman Lee Jae-yong.

Jun Young Hyun, the semiconductor chief executive, will now take over Hans duties as the companys sole CEO, Samsung said in a regulatory filing.
ADAMS COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  Pennsylvania State Police arrested two men who allegedly got into a verbal dispute with police after being caught attempting to hide evidence after a motorcycle crash.

State Police said troopers responded to 870 Pine Grove Road on March 23 for a single-vehicle crash involving a motorcycle. A motorcyclist allegedly struck a mailbox while driving. Upon arrival at the scene, police found a second man who had arrived to assist the driver in removing evidence from the scene.

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The driver of the motorcycle allegedly threatened to attack the responding troopers. Police said both men refused commands and had to be forcefully detained to stop them from fleeing. The men refused to share identification after being told they were under investigation.

The motorcyclist was found to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol but refused a blood draw.

Police identified the motorcyclist as Chandler Mealey, 31, of Hanover, Pennsylvania. Mealey was arrested and transported to Adams County Prison for charges of evidence tampering and obstruction of justice.

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Police identified the second arrestee as Gregory Jordan, 43, of Hanover. He was charged with evidence tampering, obstruction of justice, and public drunkenness and transported to Adams County Prison, per police.

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Reports that Trump administration officials inadvertently included The Atlantic editor-in-chief in a group chat discussing highly-sensitive war plans has provoked little consternation among Republicans, who are largely characterizing the leak of apparent classified information as a minor slip-up.

On Monday, The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg wrote that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz added him to a Signal group chat that included Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and other high-clearance personnel. In the chat, the participants discussed plans to strike Houthi targets in Yemen, part of the U.S.'s longstanding involvement in a bloody civil war that has caused hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths. Hegseth provided operational details of the strikes two hours before American bombers delivered the payload.

A mistake was made. It happens, Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told reporters, later reassuring them that its not keeping the American people up at night" and won't "lead to the apocalypse." Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., suggested that "you got to know who you're sending your text to" but also said that "it's a 24-hour news cycle... I've got a lot of confidence in Mike. This doesn't undermine my belief that he's a solid pick for the role."

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Politico had earlier reported that Waltz's position was in jeopardy, but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tried to tamp down the rumors, saying that Trump still has the utmost confidence in his national security team.

Meanwhile, Hegseth has suggested that the story is fake, despite the White House confirming it, calling Goldberg a deceitful and highly-discredited so-called journalist." His sentiment that the media was to blame was echoed by some Republicans on Capitol Hill, including Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who said that this is what the leftist media is reduced to ... now were griping about whos on a text message and whos not. I mean, come on.

A few Republicans, like Rep. Don Bacon, R-Ne., expressed something more than a shrug. I will guarantee you, 99.99% with confidence, Russia and China are monitoring those two phones, he told CNN's Manu Raju. "So I just think its a security violation, and theres no doubt that Russia and China saw this stuff within hours of the actual attacks on Yemen or the Houthis.

Senate Armed Services Committee chair Roger Wicker, R-Miss., proposed seeking briefings and holding hearings over the security lapse, which he called a "concern." But the party's response in general is a study in contrasts from Democrats and opinion columnists, who have called the leak an egregious blunder and part of a pattern that could put American national security at risk.

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There is not an officer alive whose career would survive a security breach like that, wrote New York Times columnist David French. Nothing destroys a leaders credibility with soldiers more thoroughly than hypocrisy or double standards  If [Hegseth] had any honor at all, he would resign.

The GOP response also contrasts with their enthusiastic support for the Pentagon's announcement just days before the group chat fiasco that they would hunt down employees who leaked information to the press, including reports that Elon Musk was attending war planning meetings.
This photo taken on March 24, 2025 shows the hotel where U.S. and Russian delegations begin a new round of talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

The absence of European representation at the talks has sparked concern among officials and analysts. From discussions on the Black Sea to broader peace efforts, some European observers warn that critical decisions are being made without European input.

BRUSSELS, March 24 (Xinhua) -- As U.S.-Ukraine and U.S.-Russia delegations held separate talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday and Monday, growing concerns are emerging in Europe over its marginalization in the peace negotiations.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov described Sunday's talks as "productive and focused," noting that "key points including energy" were addressed. Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation, emphasized that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's goal is "to secure a just and lasting peace" for Ukraine and Europe at large.

On Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow and Washington share a "desire and readiness" to pursue a peaceful settlement. He noted that the talks covered various technical issues, including a potential resumption of the Black Sea Initiative.

However, the absence of European representation at the talks has sparked concern among officials and analysts. From discussions on the Black Sea to broader peace efforts, some European observers warn that critical decisions are being made without European input.

A Financial Times newsletter on Monday reported that officials from Romania and Bulgaria, two Black Sea nations, privately voiced concern over significant shifts in the region's status quo, arguing such changes could impact their security without giving them a say.

This photo taken on March 23, 2025 shows a view of the Ritz-Carlton hotel, venue of the talks between U.S. and Ukrainian delegations, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

In an article published Monday, Salvador Sanchez Tapia, professor of conflict analysis and international security at Spain's University of Navarra, wrote: "Europe has been left out of negotiating efforts ... This disregard shows how little the continent matters to its North American partner."

He added that, lacking the capacity to support Ukraine as the United States once did, Europe may have little choice but to accept Washington's approach while still attempting to make its voice heard.

Former German diplomat Rudiger Ludeking echoed these concerns in an interview with German media, saying that since U.S. President Donald Trump's return to office, diplomatic engagement between Washington and Moscow, as well as with Kiev, has intensified, largely bypassing NATO, the European Union (EU), and major European powers. He warned that "the EU could be the loser" in these negotiations.

While some European voices express frustration, others view the talks as a potential step toward de-escalation.

Balazs Orban, political director of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, welcomed the truce discussions, saying that changing circumstances would eventually compel Europe and policymakers in Brussels to adopt a more pragmatic stance. He warned that if the EU maintains its current position, it risks falling behind and becoming increasingly sidelined in the peace process.

In an interview with local N1 Television on Monday, former Croatian Foreign Minister Miro Kovac expressed optimism over the White House's mention of a possible ceasefire by Easter, saying such a development would allow people to "stop dying because it no longer makes sense." 
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  As a part of Arvest Banks Million Meals initiative, the Harlem Globetrotters will make an appearance to raise awareness about food insecurity.

Tonight, Mar. 25, at 7 p.m., the Globetrotters will be performing at the Great Southern Bank Arena.

The Million Meals initiative seeks to raise awareness about insecurity in the community while also raising money to be donated to the banks food partners, including Ozarks Food Harvest.

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According to Feeding America, 16% of families in the Ozarks are food insecure, struggling to put enough food on their table to feed their households, said the Arvest Bank press release.

Tickets can be purchased here.

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ATLANTA (WRBL)  Days after being fired from the Harris County Chamber of Commerce, Rep. Vance Smith broke down in tears while giving an address to the Georgia House.

Smith spoke before the House of Representatives. He thanked everyone who reached out offering support to him over the last several days since losing his Chamber position. While doing so he read a bible verse and began to cry.

The clip can be seen below.

As Smith read Jerimiah 29:11, he began to cry. Smith, a Republican Congressman from Harris County, was soon joined by several Columbus Democrats at the lectern. Among them were House Minority Leader Rep. Carolyn Hugley and Rep. Teddy Reese.

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Smith claims he lost his position as President of the Harris County Chamber of Commerce because he voted against Governor Brian Kemps signature piece of litigation reform.

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COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  A Harris County High Senior is headed to the Georgia statewide STAR competition.

The STAR program, or Student Teacher Achievement Recognition, acknowledges outstanding high school seniors and the teachers who have been most instrumental in their academic development.

Harris County senior Tate Williams was recently selected as the Regional STAR Student and now advances to the state STAR Student event on Apr. 28 at the Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta.

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Tates enthusiasm for problem-solving and dedication to excellence make him a standout student, said Katie Sizemore, his AP Computer Science teacher and his chosen STAR Teacher. Its an honor to be part of his academic journey.

Those around Tate say he consistently excels academically, especially in the field of computer science.

His achievements include the Academic Award for Achievement in Computer Science, state and national placements in Academic Bowl, Technology Student Association, and CyberPatriot, recognition as a College Board Rural Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction, participation in the National Science Bowl, and membership in honor societies such as the National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society.

Harris County High School is proud to celebrate Tate, whose achievements reflect the schools commitment to fostering academic excellence and leadership, said HCHS Principal Lindie Snyder. His determination and passion for learning will undoubtedly lead to continued success in his future endeavors.

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Although Tate has not decided on a college, he plans to pursue a degree in computer science.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (FOX 44)  Owners of a College Station laundromat and pub which fell victim to a fire earlier this month are not looking to rebuild.

A statement posted on the Harvey Washbangers Facebook page says owners will not be able to rebuild after the fire, but they have been mended by the overwhelming love and support from the College Station community. The process of refunding all donations collected from the GoFundMe fundraiser is now underway.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. My family and I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and the incredible love from the community. Although we would love to bring back this College Station icon, the math just doesnt work. Please know that nothing can take away the decades of memories and relationships that we have built in that place. We love this community so much and although we have come to the end of the Washbangers chapter, we know there is much more in store both for our family and for this thriving community. Again, thank you  this has meant more to us than you could possibly know. Michael Lair, Owner

ORIGINAL STORY: Fire guts College Station laundromat and pub

(Courtesy: GoFundMe) (Courtesy: GoFundMe) (Courtesy: GoFundMe) (Courtesy: GoFundMe) (Courtesy: GoFundMe)

This comes after the College Station community was uniting to help rebuild the local landmark and the GoFundMe was created to collect donations.

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College Station Police originally reported the fire ignited on the morning of Monday, March 10. Northbound Texas Avenue was blocked off in the area as firefighters battled the blaze between Harvey Road and Holleman Drive.

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March 25 (UPI) -- Shipments of ready-to-hatch eggs have been seized three times this month at a port of entry in the Midwest, as agriculture officials work to slow the spread of avian influenza, or "bird flu."

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, agriculture specialists in Louisville, Ky., seized 39 hatching eggs between March 6 and Thursday. The eggs, which contained the live chicks of game birds, racing pigeons or other birds where there is a market, are considered live animals and are highly regulated at U.S. borders.

"Our nation's food supply is constantly at risk to diseases not known to occur in the United States," said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, director of field operations, Chicago Field Office.

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"These interceptions highlight the vigilance and dedication our CBP Agriculture Specialists demonstrate, daily," Sutton-Burke added. "They ensure the United States is safe from harmful diseases, which could affect our food supply."

Fresh or raw eggs have generated a lot of attention due to the food staple's skyrocketing cost, which producers have blamed on the latest outbreak of avian flu. Egg prices have doubled since January 2024, as egg producers claim accusations of price gouging are misguided and false.

While CBP has reported a 48% increase in raw or fresh eggs at northern and southern border ports into the United States compared to last year, the number of hatching eggs has also increased with an uptick reported as recently as last month at Kentucky's port of entry, which is located at Louisville International Airport.

The seized hatching egg shipments arrived March 6, March 16 and Wednesday with the first two shipments from Turkey heading to New York and Nevada. The latest shipment arrived from Romania and was headed for Costa Rica.

Last year, Louisville CBPAS seized 25 shipments of 519 hatching eggs from Turkey, Belgium, Romania and Singapore.
BEDFORD CO, Va. (WFXR)  Virginia State Police are investigating a head-on two-vehicle crash in Bedford County that killed a 65-year-old man from Moneta on March 24.

Around 7:10 p.m. on Monday, a 1995 Chevrolet 1500, driven by 65-year-old Chester Lee Bates of Moneta, was heading east on White House Road near Hollow Road when he crossed the centerline and hit a 2000 Lexus traveling head-on in the westbound lane.

Hampton man dies in single-vehicle crash in Botetourt County

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Mr. Bates was not wearing his seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The driver of the Lexus was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries received in the crash.

The Virginia State Police said the investigation is ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
Both Democrats and Republicans are calling for action after The Atlantics editor-in-chief was inadvertently added to a Signal group chat as Trump administration officials hashed out secret war plans for an impending U.S. strike in Yemen.

Jeffrey Goldbergs explosive report sparked outrage on both sides of the political aisle after he revealed that White House National Security adviser Mike Waltz appeared to have mistakenly invited him to an encrypted chat called the Houthi PC small group detailing the attack against the terrorist organizations, days before it occurred.

Some House Democrats are calling for the most severe repercussions against officials involved in the outrageous security breach.

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This is an outrageous national security breach, and heads should roll, Pennsylvania Representative Chris Deluzio, who sits on the Armed Services Committee, told Axios.

We need a full investigation and hearing into this on the House Armed Services Committee ASAP.

Former House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi called the leak the most horrifying incompetence that she has seen in 30 years of working with the intelligence community.

Former House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi called the leak horrifying incompetence in a message on X (AFP via Getty Images)

California Representative Sara Jacobs, a member of the Armed Services Committee, said that the government cant just chalk this up to a simple mistake, adding: People should be fired for this.

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Under fire Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer tweeted that these people are clearly not up for the job, after the leak became apparent.

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy tweeted about Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseths attempted denial: This is stunning. Don't let this become normal. They sent classified info to a journalist. It happened. The White House confirmed it. And here's the Secretary, viciously personally attacking the journalist and pretending it never happened. Trying to make us believe 2+2=7.

Meanwhile, Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib largely disregarded the leak in her messaging, noting: More heat for using a group chat than for the bombing itself.

Several House Republicans have also condemned those on the Signal group chat for divulging highly classified information through insecure channels.

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None of this should have been sent on non-secure systems. Russia and China are surely monitoring his unclassified phone, Nebraska Representative Don Bacon, another Armed Services Committee member, told the outlet.

New York Representative Mike Lawler called for safeguards to be implemented to ensure this never happens again.

Mike Lawler said that safeguards should be put in place to stop similar security breaches from happening again (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Wisconsin Representative Derrick Van Orden stated that if the breach was unintentional, there should be administrative accountability such as retraining, but should be held legally accountable if it was intentional.

Other former top Democrats have called on the president to take action against those involved in the security lapse.

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Leon Panetta, who served as both the secretary of defense and director of the CIA under Barack Obama, said: Somebody from The Atlantic got the most sensitive emails you can imagine at the federal level. That is a serious blunder. It has to be investigated. And somebody, frankly, needs to get fired.

Pete Buttigieg, who served as Transport Secretary during the Biden administration, wrote on X Monday that this is the highest level of f***up imaginable.

If theres no accountability for a screw-up like this, especially from a president who used to fire people every day on television for sport, what are we even doing here?, he told CNNs Kaitlan Collins Monday, referencing Trumps previous career as a reality TV star on The Apprentice.

Other MAGA Republicans and Trump allies, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Fox News host Sean Hannity have rushed to downplay the severity of the lapse.

Pete Hegseth (right), pictured next to Donald Trump in the Oval Office this week, revealed the war plans to the Signal group (AFP via Getty Images)

Along with Waltz and Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, were among others who appeared to be included in the Signal channel.

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Goldberg wrote that Waltz invited him to connect on Signal on March 11. The journalist, who uses the encrypted messaging platform under his initials JG, said he was added to the group two days later. No one appeared alarmedor even awareabout the mysterious interloper in the chat, he said.

Adding to the furor may be that officials seemingly failed to tip Trump off about Goldbergs report before being questioned on TV by reporters in the Oval Office on Monday afternoon.

Well, it couldnt have been very effective because the attack was very effective, the president said when probed about the group chat. I dont know anything about it; youre telling me about it for the first time.

Waltz, who Goldberg identified as being the official to send the Signal invite, does not need to be confirmed by the Senate. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that Trump continues to have confidence in the adviser.

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Hegseth looked agitated as he insisted to reporters that nobody was texting war plans before labeling Goldberg a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist.

Vance appeared to disagree with Trump's wisdom on the strikes, noting: I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now.
BOSTON (SHNS)  Gov. Maura Healey decried Trump administration border czar Tom Homans fixation on Massachusetts on Tuesday, a day after he disclosed that he visited the Bay State last week as federal law enforcement agents arrested 370 individuals here.

I dont know what the fixation is, to be quite honest. Were a very safe state, Healey told reporters in a State House hallway Tuesday afternoon when asked about her perspective on Homans visit. Were not a sanctuary state. Local, state and federal law enforcement continue to work with and partner with one another.

Homan, who previously vowed to come to Boston, has threatened to bring hell to the capital city, which he views as a sanctuary city where local officials do not cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

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The border czar, who was featured at the Mass. Republican Party convention in 2022, divulged in a tweet Monday that he traveled to Boston last week, as federal agents arrested 370 illegal aliens in region. Homan said the majority of those individuals were significant criminals, including six foreign fugitives.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said agents also targeted transnational criminal organizations, including the MS-13, Tren de Aragua, Trinitarios, and 18th Street gangs.

Governor Healy [sic] and Mayor Wu should be ashamed of supporting sanctuary policies, Homan tweeted.

The Department of Homeland Security, which retweeted a Fox News story Tuesday about the Boston arrests, said, The reckless policies of Sanctuary Cities, like Boston, make America less safe.

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At a March 5 congressional hearing focused on so-called sanctuary cities, Wu called Boston the safest major city in the country and defended the citys approach to immigrants. Bostons Trust Act limits local police from working ICE.

As Healey said Tuesday that Massachusetts isnt a sanctuary state, she argued that state and local police continue to cooperate with federal law enforcement, federal agencies.

As a former attorney general, I can assure you that Im doing everything I can to support the work of those in law enforcement to address issues of crime in communities, Healey continued. Ill also remind people that Massachusetts is among the safest states in the country, and Ill leave it at that.

The governor pointed out Massachusetts State Police members were recently honored at a Department of Justice ceremony with President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. Healey said MSP members were recognized in their work on the investigation and the takedown of the Trinitarios gang.

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So Im not quite sure I understand whats going on here, Healey added.

ICE said that many of last weeks arrests, which spanned March 18-23, came after local jurisdictions refused to honor immigration detainer requests to turn over the offenders and instead chose to release aliens from custody, forcing officers and agents to make at-large arrests in Massachusetts communities.

Republican Rep. Marc Lombardo praised federal enforcement operations on social media Tuesday while saying its time for a new Governor.

Thank you to #ICE and @EROBoston for removing dangerous #criminal #illegalaliens off the streets of #Massachusetts, Lombardo tweeted. @MassGovernor Healey and Beacon Hill democrats are directly responsible for enabling these crimes through their sanctuary state policies.

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Two cases of measles have been confirmed in Erie County and Monday night health officials shared advice for those who are at the most risk.

Two cases of have been confirmed in Erie County but health officials said the individuals acted quickly leading them to believe there is not a high risk for others.

Two cases of measles confirmed in Erie County

Erie County has confirmed two cases of measles in residents who health officials said traveled internationally.

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The Director of Public Health Erin Mrenak said work was done with the family to determine that symptoms of measles were present.

Me, Colleen and one of our epidemiologists went to the home and did some testing where we got sent to the lab and was confirmed that it was in fact measles based on the symptoms of the lab results, she said.

The Director of Community Health Services Colleen Wallace said a rash is a major symptom of measles but other symptoms can start prior to the onset of the rash, usually a high fever, a cough, or a runny nose.

Measles case confirmed in Ashtabula County, OH

The period being contagious is four days prior to the onset of rash and then four days after the onset of rash and then after that a person is considered to be not contagious anymore but while theyre contagious theyre very very contagious, Wallace said.

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The health department director said the individuals acted quickly and correctly in an effort to reduce risk to others.

The family did everything perfectly that we would have recommended that as soon as they know they had a potential exposure they isolated their family immediately so weve done what public health does behind the scenes which is to investigate we look for contacts potential exposures none of those things happened in this instance so were confident in saying we dont expect to see community spread from these two cases, Mrenak.

Wallace said vaccines are the best form of action for safety as the virus is vaccine-preventable.

Two cases of measles confirmed in Erie County

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Mrenak said those who are fully vaccinated have 97% less likely of a chance of contracting the illness.

The CDC recommends the first vaccine to be given between twelve and fifteen months of age the second between the ages of four and six for people who dont have documentation of their measles vaccine in the past theyre unsure or they know they havent been vaccinated there is a measles vaccine for every age group its not just for children, Wallace went on to say.

Mrenak reminded everyone to be up to date on their vaccines reiterating that measles is a highly contagious disease.

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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on March 25 that "nobody was texting war plans" in a Signal chat among top Trump administration officials.

"You're talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist (Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of the Atlantic) who's made a profession of peddling hoaxes," the defense secretary told Fox News.

The statement comes as Goldberg claimed on March 24 that he was mistakenly added to a private Signal chat where Trump administration officials discussed plans for strikes on Yemen.

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Despite Hegseth's denial, the leak was indirectly confirmed by National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes, who said the chat "appears to be authentic." The administration is investigating how an "inadvertent number" was added to the group, he added.

According to Goldberg, on March 11  four days before the U.S. military strike on Yemen  he received a Signal message from a user named "Michael Waltz," the namesake of U.S. President Donald Trump's national security adviser.

After accepting the request, he found himself in a chat named "Houthi PC small group" (PC referring to the Principals Committee, a U.S. national security decision-making body).

Waltz, a former Green Beret and Florida congressman, has been a vocal advocate for reducing U.S. military aid to Ukraine, arguing that European nations should bear more responsibility.

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His appointment as Trump's national security adviser has raised concerns about a shift in Washington's approach to Ukraine and NATO.

The chat reportedly included 18 accounts with names corresponding to top U.S. officials, including Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Trump adviser Steve Witkoff.

Gabbard is a former Democrat and Army National Guard veteran who has echoed Russian narratives on Ukraine. Hegseth is a Fox News personality and former Army officer who now serves as defense secretary despite lacking high-level military leadership experience.

Messages within the chat detailed the planning and discussion of the March 15 strike on Yemen, leading Goldberg to conclude that the group was real.

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Trump later denied knowledge of the incident. "I don't know anything about it. I'm not a big fan of the Atlantic. To me, it's a magazine that's going out of business. It's not much of a magazine. But I know nothing about it," he said at a briefing.

The incident has sparked comparisons to past security controversies, particularly Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while serving as secretary of state from 2009 to 2013.

The FBI investigated Clinton for handling classified information via private email, concluding in 2016 that she had been "extremely careless" but did not commit a prosecutable offense.

Some Democrats have highlighted what they see as hypocrisy, given Trump's past calls for severe punishment of Clinton over her email practices.

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"You know what Hillary Clinton didn't do? Post war plans on her email," said Congressman Jim Himes of Connecticut, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, Politico reported.

Clinton reacted on X with a brief post, saying, "You've got to be kidding me."

Legal experts interviewed by the Atlantic suggested Waltz's actions could constitute a violation of laws governing the handling of national defense information.

The Signal chat leak comes amid Trump's broader push to reshape U.S. foreign policy, as his administration grapples with wars in Ukraine and the Middle East while attempting to redefine America's global security commitments.

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Read also: Editorial: What Steve Witkoff doesnt get about Ukraine (and Russia)

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RIYADH, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The new round of talks between Russian and U.S. delegations concluded here on Monday after some 12 hours, according to Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

A joint statement following the talks will be published on Tuesday, RIA Novosti reported, citing a source familiar with the venue of the talks.

According to Riyadh-based Al Arabiya News, the U.S. delegation is led by Andrew Peek, a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior official from the State Department.

Russia is represented by Grigory Karasin, chair of the Federation Council's Foreign Affairs Committee and a former diplomat, along with Sergei Beseda, an advisor to the director of the Federal Security Service, Al Arabiya News said.

The talks, mainly focused on reaching a Black Sea ceasefire deal before securing a broader agreement, followed a meeting between the United States and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump held phone talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. 
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied he mishandled classified information and insisted nobody was texting war plans, a direct contradiction to the White House's response to a Signal chat between top Trump administration officials made public Monday by a journalist who was mistakenly added to the discussion.

Hegseth sought to discredit Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantics editor-in-chief, after his explosive story detailed how he was added to texts in a commercial app where Hegseth laid out the targets of airstrikes on Yemen-based Houthi fighters.

Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who's made a profession of peddling hoaxes, an uncharacteristically angry Hegseth said about Goldberg, a well-regarded Washington reporter and editor. This is a guy who peddles in garbage.



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The secretary  who spoke as he landed in Hawaii on the start of a weeklong trip to Asia  didnt deny the existence of the chat, which could have violated a federal law that deals with the handling of sensitive information. The group discussing the top-secret strikes included Vice President JD Vance, national security adviser Mike Waltz, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes appeared to contradict Hegseths comments on Monday night by confirming the existence of the group and offering no denials as to its content.

At this time, the message thread that was reported appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, he said.



The chat, set up by Waltz in the days prior to this months bombing campaign against the Iran-backed group, laid out the Trump administrations thinking on whether to bomb the Houthis, who have targeted commercial ships in the Red Sea.

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The information Hegseth shared with the group likely included classified information, raising the stakes of the situation. White House officials were questioning Waltzs future role in the administration on Monday night, according to a POLITICO report.

Defense officials were aghast at the revelations and Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell did not respond to requests for comment.

Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, said the story represents one of the most egregious failures of operational security and common sense I have ever seen.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is spiraling through yet another overseas trip eclipsed by a controversy largely of his own doing.

Hegseths first foreign trip to Brussels last month turned tense after he ruled out Ukraine joining NATO before the Trump administration had settled the debate. Now, as he lands in Asia, the Pentagon chief is in hot water again. This time, its for sharing war plans in a Signal chat  which accidentally included a journalist  about the militarys strikes against Yemens Houthi fighters.

The latest slip-up  a contrast to his camera-ready social media persona  threatens to overshadow Hegseths introduction to two key Indo-Pacific allies, Japan and the Philippines. The incidents also vindicate criticism from Democrats and some Republicans that the former Fox News host is unqualified for the role.

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You do not need to be a member of the military or intelligence community to know that this information is exactly what the enemy would want to know, said Mick Mulroy, a former deputy assistant Defense secretary under the first Trump administration. And it does clearly put our military members at risk.

Hegseth will spend his Asia trip attempting to shore up alliances in the Pacific that could be critical to countering China. Hell head to Guam, the epicenter of U.S. air defense in the Indo-Pacific, and then meet with the Japanese and Philippine presidents in both countries. But hell be dogged by questions about whether he mishandled classified information and violated the law, even if the White House denies that information shared in the chat was classified.

It is certainly an unhelpful distraction, said a former defense official with experience in the Indo-Pacific, who like others, was granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue. You would expect the secretarys first trip to the Indo-Pacific to be an opportunity for him to prioritize the region. Instead, hes going to be bogged down in explaining how this happened and what went wrong.

Hegseth already appears to have contradicted the administration. He told reporters on Monday night that nobody texted war plans, although a National Security Council spokesperson confirmed the existence of the group chat and did not deny the content of the messages between national security adviser Mike Waltz, Vice President JD Vance and other top-ranking officials.

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Allies dont have high expectations for him as is, said a second former defense official. This is par for the course.

The Pentagon insisted the story would not distract from Hegseths weeklong trip.

Secretary Hegseths official visit to the Indo-Pacific to strengthen our alliances and to advance President Trumps national security priorities has been  and will continue to be  a resounding success, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in an emailed statement. Sensationalist, legacy media narratives are not, and will never be, a distraction. We are laser-focused on our mission.

While Hegseth didnt mention the Indo-Pacific in chat messages published by The Atlantic, he did express a loathing of European free-loading off Americas military and called it PATHETIC.

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That has stirred anger across the Atlantic. One European diplomat called the texting situation outrageous and noted that NATO allies patrol the Red Sea with the U.S. Navy. The European Union is also conducting a naval mission in the contested waterway with 10 member countries.

The first former defense official said that allies such as Japan and the Philippines are unlikely to raise specifics of the group chat controversy, even privately. Neither country is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing alliance.

But the controversies that have engulfed Hegseths foreign trips as Defense secretary may have damaged trust among U.S. allies, who could now question how the administration views them behind closed doors in Washington.

It's all anyone wants to talk about, said a former Trump administration official, who has been involved in planning trips for senior leaders. How are you going to talk about the U.S. relationship with Indo-Pacific countries when theyre wondering if the [vice president] is talking shit about them in the group chat?

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And now, instead of focusing on Hegseths message to allies about China, people close to the White House are watching to see if the evolving crisis gets worse.

Its not clear yet whether the administration or Congress will take any action. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who was named by The Atlantic as a member of the chat group, denied taking part in discussions and told a Senate hearing on Tuesday that the National Security Council was investigating the incident. She insisted that no classified information had been shared.

At least four Senate Democrats  Mark Warner of Virginia, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, and Ron Wyden of Oregon  have called for Hegseth to resign following the Signal chat incident. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries went further, suggesting that Hegseth should be fired for misconduct.

Even John Cornyn (R-Texas) called the leaked group chat texts a huge screw up.

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And as Hegseth traveled through Asia, some within the ranks wanted to see the Defense secretary held responsible.

The orders and regulations about discussing classified material on unauthorized mediums are pretty clear, said a military official. The administration touted accountability as a key point of emphasis  let's see some people held accountable.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday seemingly denied being part of a Signal group chat in which potentially classified messages were shared with a journalist about a forthcoming military strike on Houthi targets in Yemeneven though the White House National Security Council said those messages appeared to be authentic.

Hegseth was questioned about the story, published by The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, after disembarking his plane in Hawaii, where he was scheduled to visit military bases.

A reporter first asked Hegseth, Can you share how your information about war plans against the Houthis in Yemen was shared with a journalist with The Atlantic? And were those details classified?

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In a statement that seemingly contradicted the White Houses own account of the matter, Hegseth instead followed the Donald Trump playbook, lashing out at Goldberg.

So, youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who has made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time againto include, I dont know, the hoaxes of Russia, Russia, Russia, or the fine people on both sides hoax, of the suckers and losers hoax, Hegseth said. This is a guy who peddles in garbage. This is what he does.

Among the grievances Hegseth rattled off was another story Goldberg reported, which claimed that Trump in 2018 disparaged U.S. military members who died during World War I as suckers and losers before a scheduled visit to a French battlefield sitea visit that was scrapped because Trump didnt want rain to mess up his hair.

Hegseths evasive answer prompted was a similar question about the sensitive messages: Why were those details shared on Signal, and how did you learn that a journalist was privy to the targets, the types of weapons used, and timing?

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Hegseths response was brief.

Ive heard I was characterizednobody was texting war plans, he insisted. And thats all I have to say about that.

Hegseth then walked away.

Earlier Monday, though, the National Security Council confirmed the group chat, which Goldberg eventually removed himself from, seemed to be authentic.

This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, council spokesman Brian Hughes told The Atlantic, adding: The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security.

Oh for God's sake, the administration has already confirmed the authenticity of the message. https://t.co/AxQGqqyux3  Brit Hume (@brithume) March 24, 2025

The NSCs confirmation was noted later by Fox News Chief Political Analyst Brit Hume, who seemed exasperated by his former colleagues reaction.

Oh for Gods sake, Hume wrote on X in response to Hegseths denial, the administration has already confirmed the authenticity of the message.
HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Hendersonville city officials are taking a look at ways to stay ahead of possible downfalls often experienced by growing cities, including possibly passing new laws on panhandling, shopping carts and vacant buildings.

We want to make sure that we stay in the top three or four of the safest cities in Tennessee, Hendersonville mayor Jamie Clary said.

Outside of vacant buildings, Clary said things like homeless camps are  as of publication  not huge concerns for their city. With more people moving to Hendersonville each year, though, the goal is to stay proactive.

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VIDEO: Police use stun gun on man in Sumner County, TN

We dont want to be a haven for homeless people. Im not saying that homeless people commit crimes, but where there are homeless encampments  [its] a crime magnet. And it might not be them committing the crime, but it invites crime, Clary said during a February meeting of Hendersonvilles Public Safety Committee.

Hendersonvilles Board of Mayor and Aldermen were originally slated to discuss topics like panhandling during a previous meeting, but theyve pushed back reading over the proposed ordinances so they can refine the wording, the city told News 2.

The BOMA will instead look at an ordinance Tuesday that would ensure property owners maintain their vacant buildings through registration, updated contact information and an annual fee.

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We have a couple property owners who dont live here and they own some pretty visible pieces of property in our commercial areas, Clary explained. Its really becoming an eyesore for a couple of those.

One local store owner believes if something doesnt change with their vacant storefronts, it could lead to an economic depression.

Really, it becomes more of a safety issue for the city Greg Yandell, who owns the Ace Hardware on W. Main, said. When you address that up front, you really are addressing a potential future problem  not a today problem.

Sumner County students build beds for peers in need

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Handling the concern over vacant buildings is about creating a positive economic impact, said Yandell.

When you have other residents moving to town or other businesses moving to town, when they see those vacant buildings, it sends the wrong message, said Yandell.

Clary said the main focus for Hendersonville in 2025 will continue to be traffic improvements, with trash concerns around the city likely becoming their focus next year.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Cristina Iglesias won a lawsuit that changed the course of treatment for herself and other transgender prisoners in federal custody. Now President Donald Trump has ordered an end to gender-affirming surgery for federal prisoners and the placement of trans women inmates in female federal facilities. Here, Iglesias, who was released in 2023, poses for a portrait at the ACLU offices in downtown Chicago. (Laura McDermott for KFF Health News)

In 2019, Cristina Iglesias filed a lawsuit that changed the course of treatment for herself and other transgender inmates in federal custody.

Iglesias, a trans woman who had been incarcerated for more than 25 years, was transferred from a mens prison to a womens one in 2021. And in 2022, she reached a landmark settlement with the Federal Bureau of Prisons to receive gender-affirming surgery, which the agency said it had never provided for anyone in its custody.

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By the time she got the surgery 10 months later, another federal inmate had also received a procedure to align their body with their gender identity. No other such surgeries for people in federal custody are publicly documented, although some people in state prisons have also received gender-affirming surgery, including at least five in Illinois and 20 in California within a U.S. prison population that tops 1.25 million people.

Still, those procedures loomed large in the 2024 presidential election. Political advertising for President Donald Trump and other Republicans included $215 million on anti-trans ads, according to media tracking firm AdImpact. One such ad declared that Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris supported taxpayer-funded sex changes for prisoners, and concluded, Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you. Some Democrats bemoaned the ads as having helped tip the election.

In the run-up to the Nov. 5 election, 55% of voters felt support for trans rights had gone too far, according to VoteCast, a survey by The Associated Press and partners including KFF, the health policy research, polling, and news organization that includes KFF Health News.

On Inauguration Day, Trump issued a flurry of executive orders that included a directive to bar federal spending on gender-affirming care in federal prisons and to ensure that males are not detained in federal womens facilities.

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Theyre not assessing the constitutional rights of people. Theyre making choices because this is a vulnerable community that they can rally people behind to hate.

 Michelle Garcia, deputy legal director, ACLU of Illinois

President Trump received an overwhelming mandate from the American people to restore commonsense principles and safeguard womens spaces  even prisons  from biological men, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly wrote in an email. Forcing taxpayers to pay for gender transition for prisoners is the exact sort of insanity that the American people rejected at the ballot box in November.

But for Iglesias, 50, Trumps order was a shocking reversal.

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It puts someones life in danger being in a mens prison as a trans woman, she said from Chicago, where shes lived since her release in 2023. Itd be like putting sheep in a hyenas den.

Iglesias said she faced emotional and physical abuse from her father for her desire to be female. When she was 12, she said, he put a gun in her mouth after finding her wearing her sisters clothes. Iglesias said she ran away from home, stole checks, cars, and jewelry, and ended up in jail. Lockup was not fun, Iglesias said, but it was the first place she got to be treated as a woman. So, she said, she wanted to stay. In 1994, she landed in federal prison after writing threatening letters to federal judges and prosecutors, according to court filings. In 2005, records show, she pleaded guilty to sending a letter to British officials that she falsely claimed contained anthrax. She told investigators she hoped to get extradited.

I was reading these things where they were allowing trans females to start living with females, Iglesias said.

She said her outlook changed after the death of her mother in 2010, which prompted her to get serious about having a life outside of prison, and about improving her life inside it.

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She began requesting hormone therapy in 2011 and was approved for it in 2015, according to court records. The 2019 lawsuit that led to her transfer to a womens prison and her surgery was initially handwritten and prepared with the help of only another inmate.

An excerpt of Iglesias 2019 lawsuit that was initially handwritten and prepared with the help of another inmate. Iglesias was transferred to a female facility in 2021 and ultimately won a settlement from the Federal Bureau of Prisons in 2022 to receive gender-affirming surgery. (Cristina Iglesias 2019 court filing)

The lawsuit was the foundation for everything that I am today, Iglesias said. For the first time in my life, instead of digging myself in these holes, I was digging myself out.

Along with her settlement, Iglesias received a commitment from the Federal Bureau of Prisons to create a timeline for considering other inmates requests for gender-affirming care, and to recognize permanent hair removal and gender-affirming surgery as medically necessary treatments for gender dysphoria  a medical condition in which the discrepancy between a persons gender identity and their sex assigned at birth causes significant distress.

In February, in response to Trumps executive order, the bureau issued new guidelines requiring prison staffers to refer to inmates legal name or pronouns corresponding to their biological sex, and ending clothing requests that do not align with an inmates biological sex. The guidelines end referrals for gender-affirming surgery but allow inmates already receiving treatment, such as hormone therapy, to continue.

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However, in a lawsuit filed March 7, a trans prisoner alleged the hormone therapy she had been receiving since 2016 was stopped on Jan. 26.

Spokespeople for the bureau did not respond to requests for comment.

The bureau spent $153,000 on hormone therapy in fiscal year 2022, its former director told Congress, 0.01% of its total spending on health care.

The new guidelines on trans inmates say that Trumps executive order does not supersede or change the obligation to comply with federal regulations. But the executive order calls for amending them to prevent trans women from being housed in womens prisons.

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It hurt my heart when I seen that because I do know other girls that are still in prison, said Iglesias, who spent more than 25 years in male facilities. Female prison is safe for a trans woman, and you can be who you are. Youre not penalized because youre feminine.

But requesting a transfer to a facility matching inmates gender identity had not been easy, and few prisoners had been moved before the order. A 2025 government court filing said that federal prisons house 2,198 trans prisoners out of over 155,000 inmates. Of those, the filing said, 22 are trans women housed in female facilities, and one is a trans man in a mens facility. Although courts have blocked attempts to move that small subset of trans prisoners after the order, a trans prisoner not included in those suits had been relocated, The Guardian news outlet reported.

Iglesias hoped her landmark 2022 settlement with the Federal Bureau of Prisons that enabled her to get gender-affirming surgery would set a precedent for other transgender inmates seeking care. Iglesias says she is speaking against President Donald Trumps rollback of transgender care for those still behind bars.(Laura McDermott for KFF Health News)

A Department of Justice report from 2014 estimated that trans inmates in state and federal prisons were 10 times as likely as other prisoners to report incidents of sexual victimization.

Iglesias said she experienced such violence firsthand. Included in her suit was a copy of a 2017 psychological report that said Iglesias reported being the victim of sexual misconduct or abuse in 1993, 2001, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017. Later filings included allegations of having been raped in 2019 and 2020, and a series of rapes, threats, and other abuse in 2021 before she was transferred to a female facility. Iglesias said she faced more abuse than she officially reported.

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Just because you commit a crime doesnt mean you deserve to have violence against you, said Michelle Garcia, deputy legal director of the ACLU of Illinois and one of the attorneys who ultimately represented Iglesias.

Federal law requires all inmates to be protected from abuse. A 1994 Supreme Court decision acknowledged trans inmates as particularly vulnerable to attack. Regulations from the Prison Rape Elimination Act, passed unanimously by Congress in 2003, contain specific provisions for trans inmates, including allowing them to shower separately from other inmates and requiring prison officials to consider their health and safety when deciding whether to house them in male or female facilities.

Courts also have ruled that deliberate indifference to an inmates serious medical needs violates the Eighth Amendments ban on cruel and unusual punishments. The quality of overall medical care for federal prisoners has come under scrutiny amid reports of inmates going without needed medical care and preventable deaths.

Iglesias successfully argued in court that gender-affirming surgery was necessary for her gender dysphoria. She was diagnosed with what was then called gender identity disorder soon after entering federal custody in 1994, according to court filings. Her diagnosis was updated to gender dysphoria in 2015.

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Iglesias court filings documented her having been assessed for the risk of suicide 33 times and placed on suicide watch 12 times, as well as an attempt at self-castration in 2009.

Defendants are aware of Iglesiass suffering, but have delayed her treatment without evaluating her medically, the judge in her case wrote.

Garcia called the Trump administrations targeting of care for trans inmates cruel, unnecessary, and illogical.

Theyre not assessing the constitutional rights of people, Garcia said. Theyre making choices because this is a vulnerable community that they can rally people behind to hate.

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This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.
It's not difficult to find wealthy lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Some members have amassed considerable levels of wealth from business ventures and investments.

And it's not a partisan affair: Democrats and Republicans both have several ultra-rich members.

When many Americans think of Capitol Hill, the image of well-heeled politicians often comes to mind.

Sure, you don't have to be a multimillionaire to win a congressional race, but having an abundance of wealth doesn't hurt. That's especially the case for candidates who can self-fund, which allows parties to divert critical dollars to nominees in competitive races.

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While every lawmaker isn't rich  even as some have leveraged their profiles to attain lucrative book deals  there are many members who have net worths of at least $1 million.

And then there are the lawmakers who are considerably wealthy, even by congressional standards.

Here's a look at some of the richest members of Congress:

Sen. Rick Scott of Florida

Scott, who easily won reelection to a second term in November 2024, was a cofounder of HCA Healthcare and Solantic. Graeme Sloan for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Scott  a former two-term Florida Republican governor who won a second term in the Senate in November 2024  was a cofounder of both the Columbia Hospital Corporation and Solantic.

The corporation merged with HCA in 1994, which created Columbia/HCA, a highly-recognizable operator of hospitals and health care facilities. (It's now known as HCA Healthcare).

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The senator has a reliably conservative voting record on Capitol Hill.

Business Insider estimates Scott's net worth to be at least $296.3 million. Quiver Quantitative, a firm that tracks lawmakers' stock trades and estimates their total net worths, estimates that Scott is worth roughly $550.7 million.

Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma

Hern cofounded a community bank in Oklahoma. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Hern, the current chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, has served in the lower chamber since November 2018.

The congressman, who was once a manager at McDonald's, would eventually own 18 franchise locations in the Tulsa metropolitan area. He was also the cofounder of Firstar Bank, a community banking institution.

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BI estimates that Hern is worth at least $64.7 million. Quiver Quantitative's live estimate pegs Hern at $109.4 million.

Rep. Darrell Issa of California

Issa has long been one of the wealthiest House members. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Issa has represented parts of the San Diego area for more than two decades, with stints in the House from 2001 to 2019 and from 2021 to the present.

An ex-chairman of the powerful Oversight Committee during much of former President Barack Obama's administration, BI estimates that Issa is worth at least roughly $309.4 million. Quiver's estimate is slightly lower at $234.7 million.

The GOP congressman amassed much of his fortune from vehicle anti-theft products.

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According to his disclosure, Issa has an investment account worth over $50 million. He also has a line of credit at UBS tied to the account, but nothing was borrowed from it in 2023.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California

Pelosi led the House Democratic Caucus for 20 years. John Lamparski/Getty Images

Pelosi, who has served in the House since 1987, rose through the ranks to become the first female speaker in US history in 2007.

When Democrats lost their House majority following the 2010 midterms, Pelosi stayed on as the party's leader in the lower chamber. She went on to reclaim the speaker's gavel in 2019, and Democrats retained control of the chamber until 2023.

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BI estimates that Pelosi is worth at least $50.9 million, while Quiver Quantitative places her at $285.05 million.

Pelosi has drawn criticism over the years for enacting stock transactions where she and her husband, Paul Pelosi, have made significant profits.

In 2021, Pelosi pushed back against pursuing a stock-trading ban for members when questioned by BI, but later said she'd consider such proposals. (A Democratic-backed bill never came up for a vote in the 117th Congress.)

Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia

Warner has been seen as a pro-business Democrat throughout his political career. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Warner, a former Virginia governor now in his third term in the Senate, was a cofounder of the Capital Cellular Corporation in the late 1980s and made his fortune through early investments in the cellular telephone business.

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BI estimates Warner's worth at least $131.1 million, while Quiver estimates his worth at roughly $245.4 million.

The Democratic lawmaker currently serves as the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee and also sits on the Banking, Budget, Finance, and Rules committees.

Rep. Dan Goldman of New York

Prior to Goldman's election to Congress, he served as an assistant US attorney for the Southern District of New York. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

In 2022, Goldman, an heir to the Levi Strauss & Co. fortune, catapulted to the top of a crowded Democratic Party primary to represent New York's 10th Congressional District. He went on to easily win the general election race that year.

Goldman ranks as one of the House's wealthiest members. BI estimates he is worth at least $158.1 million, while Quiver estimates that the Levi Strauss heir is roughly $183.6 million.

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The congressman previously served as an assistant US attorney for the Southern District of New York and was lead counsel in President Donald Trump's first impeachment trial.

Sen. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska

Ricketts and several members of his family are part owners of the Chicago Cubs. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Ricketts, an ex-Nebraska governor and current US senator, is the son of billionaire businessman and TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts.

Ricketts  also a part owner of the Chicago Cubs alongside several members of his family  is worth at least $79.4 million. Quiver estimates he is worth about $172.9 million.

Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington

Before coming to Congress, DelBene was an executive at Microsoft. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

DelBene has deep expertise in the world of tech, having served as an executive at Microsoft before jumping into politics and winning her first House race in 2012.

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The congresswoman, who currently chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, is worth at least $70.9 million. Quiver estimates she is worth roughly $126.3 million.

Sen. Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania

McCormick won a hotly-contested Senate race in November 2024. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

McCormick, the former chief executive of the hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, first sought the GOP nomination for US Senate in 2022  but narrowly fell short to celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz. (Oz went on to lose to Democrat John Fetterman.)

Two years later, McCormick won the Republican Senate nomination and a highly-competitive general election race against Democratic Sen. Bob Casey Jr., an institution in Pennsylvania politics.

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McCormick is now a freshman senator, and he's among the body's wealthiest members. According to BI's estimates, McCormick is worth at least $123 million.

A note about our methodology: Business Insider calculated lawmakers' net worth based on their most recent financial disclosures. Members of Congress only have to estimate broad ranges over their assets. BI's estimates are based on the combined value of the lowest range of these estimates minus any liabilities lawmakers might have. Lawmakers are not required to report the value of their residence.

Based on this conservative approach, BI's estimates will likely be significantly less than others, including Quiver Qualitative's. Unlike Quiver, BI did not calculate the live value of lawmakers' stock holdings. Quiver's live estimates are as of March 25, 2025.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Recent cuts across the federal government have raised questions about whether President Donald Trump's administration will aim to dismantle and privatize the National Weather Service, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Project 2025, a 922-page blueprint of policy proposals published during the presidential campaign and intended to guide the Trump administration should it win a second term contained language suggesting that NOAA "should be broken up and downsized" and that the NWS "should fully commercialize its forecasting operations."

Trump disavowed Project 2025 during his campaign, but Russell Vought, Trump's director of the Office of Management and Budget, was one of the architects of the plan.

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MORE: NOAA braces for mass layoffs, fueling concerns about lifesaving weather services

A move to privatize the NWS could put Americans in danger and might force them to pay for life-threatening weather and climate information, according to experts.

Critical information amid an extreme weather event -- such as storm surge levels and wind speeds during a hurricane or warnings for possible tornado activity -- may not be readily available to the public if NOAA and the NWS were no longer functioning as government entities, the experts said.

The "overreaching" goal of government should be providing basic health and safety information to protect human lives and property, Jan Null, a professor of meteorology at San Jose State University, told ABC News.

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"That's in the core mission statement of the National Weather Service -- to save lives and property," Null said.

Stevie Kara searches for personal items after her home was destroyed March 15, 2025 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. (Brad Vest/Getty Images)

The NWS provides basic, integral information with the aim to protect the public rather than make a profit, said ABC News Chief Meteorologist and Chief Climate Correspondent Ginger Zee.

Currently, with a $1.3 billion annual operating budget, the NWS costs each American about $4 per year.

MORE: How job cuts at NOAA could impact weather forecasting

In comparison, the United States spends more than $800 billion on its annual defense budget.

The weather service budget encompasses operations, facilities, research and "expensive yet essential" hardware -- such as a network of 159 weather radars and coast-to-coast surface observation sites, Zee said.

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"The return on investment is about 73 to 1," Null said.

PHOTO: Fire burns a residence during a wildfire outbreak in Stillwater, Okla., March 14, 2025. (Nick Oxford/Reuters)

The agency collects and analyzes more than 6.3 billion observations per day and releases about 1.5 million forecasts and 50,000 warnings per year.

"I don't see any way that the private industry could replicate that," Null said.

The weather app built into smartphones relies on NWS data, as do local schools, police, fire houses, city planners and emergency service directors, Zee said. The weather service also works closely with the U.S. military.

"It runs all weather, everywhere, because it's free," Zee said.

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MORE: Yes, NOAA adjusts its historical weather data: Here's why

The NWS has been tracking and warning about weather for 150 years. But this isn't the first time the federal government has floated the idea of privatizing the weather service.

In 1995, an act was introduced in Congress proposing to dismantle the entire Department of Commerce, which includes the National Weather Service.

Twenty years later, in 2005, a bill referred to as the National Weather Services Duties Act of 2005 aimed to prevent the National Weather Service from providing information to the public that the private sector could supply.

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Neither bill was passed.

"Time after time these proposals hit roadblocks because Congress realized how valuable the National Weather Service is," Zee said.

PHOTO: A boat washed ashore as storm surge affects Gulfport, Fla. as Hurricane Helene passed through, Sept. 26, 2024. (Thomas Simonetti/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

With the emergence of technological advances in meteorology came the birth of private weather companies, many of which are beginning to acquire their own satellites, according to reports.

But even AccuWeather, a private-sector forecasting media company, does not support a plan to fully privatize the NWS, according to a statement released last year, stating that a multi-sector approach to weather forecasting is the practice to save lives and property from weather and climate-related events.

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MORE: Trump nominates 'Sharpiegate' scientist to lead NOAA

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said during his confirmation hearing in January that while he wont dismantle the agency, he thinks the NWS can deliver the project more efficiently and less expensively.

When asked whether he agreed with proposals outlined in Project 2025 to privatize some of NOAAs operations, Lutnick responded, No.

NOAA is preparing to lay off more than 1,000 workers as part of the Trump administration's mandate for "reductions in force," multiple sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. In addition, officials are exploring the early termination of leases on a portion of the 620 facilities run by NOAA across the country, Democrats and former NOAA leadership officials said in a news conference last month.

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Moreover, the NWS recently announced that it would eliminate or reduce weather balloon launches in eight northern locations.

The cuts are fueling concerns that NOAA's ability to deliver lifesaving services, such as forecasting, will suffer as a result.

Here's what it would take to privatize the National Weather Service originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Decked in colorful decor, sparkly drag attire, formal suits and rainbow heart-shaped pins, hundreds of LGBTQ rights activists rallied at the Texas Capitol on Monday to protest hundreds of bills they decried as harmful to queer Texans  and to emphasize the importance of joy, authenticity and fight in this time.

Activists marched from South Congress Avenue to the Capitol's south steps holding signs promising "We will not be erased." A blue sign, decorating the podium at the south steps, boldly declared "Trans Texans are Beautiful," as LGBTQ, transgender and American flags bellowed in the breeze.

"When I say people, you say power," Brigitte Bandit, an LGBTQ activist and drag performer dressed in ruffly pink and purple chaps and a sparkly pink hat, called. "People!"

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"Power!" the group resounded.

The "All in for Equality Advocacy Day" at the Capitol united activists from Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin as well as from advocacy organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, the Human Rights Campaign, Lambada Legal, the Texas Freedom Network and Black Freedom Factory to meet with lawmakers and rally outside the pink dome to demand justice for LGBTQ Texans.

Equality Texas, the state's largest LGBTQ advocacy organization which led the advocacy day event, has identified 205 "anti-LGBTQ" bills proposed in Texas this year, including proposals to limit education of queer and diverse populations, prohibit teachers from recognizing a transgender student's chosen pronoun or from connecting students to LGBTQ affirming resources, make medical support for gender affirming care a criminal offense, and deny gender changes on identity documents.

"This is legislation that serves no purpose other than to attempt to confine us into boxes that just don't fit and deny us the right to live authentically," said Brad Prichett, interim CEO of Equality Texas.

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More: For 15 years, Austin's Cheer Up Charlies has been safe place to feel 'less like an other'

Activists at the rally warned of the injurious effect the proposed state bills could have on LGBTQ Texans, on top of President Donald Trump's executive orders directing the U.S. government to recognize only male and female sexes as well as eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in federal agencies.

Speakers at the event also peppered their remarks with messages of hope. Pritchett celebrated the rally as the largest LGBTQ advocacy day in Texas history and promised that no state action would stop anyone from being "anything other than our true authentic selves."

"Once upon a time we would say these attacks were unprecedented. That is not the case anymore," Pritchett said. "If we were going to break as a community, it would have happened by now. And guess what? It hasn't and it won't.

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"We are going to get louder. We are going to be more visible and even more fabulous."

More: Texas 'most extreme in anti-LGBTQ bills, advocates say. How supporters plan to fight back

Numerous state lawmakers spoke in support of queer advocacy and its ties to civil rights. Rep. Venton Jones, the vice chair of the Texas LGBTQ Caucus, an LGBTQ Texan and a Democratic lawmaker from Dallas, emphasized the importance of centering transgender people in today's fight for justice, as conservative lawmakers from the presidential administration to the Texas Legislature target their health care, rights and visibility.

"Remember that this movement has been on the backs of trans people, and right now, we have to show up for that community," Jones said. "This is a trans conversation. This is a queer conversation. This is a gender non-conforming conversation, and we as a community have to not be afraid to say that."

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More: 'In crisis mode': Rights groups petition UN to intervene for LGBTQ+ people in Texas

Morgan Davis, a volunteer with the Human Rights Campaign who made headlines in 2022 when he and several Texas Department of Family and Protective Services workers resigned in protest after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the agency to investigate parents of transgender kids. In his remarks Monday, Davis held up the Human Rights Campaign's equal sign logo, promising that the symbol meant there were 3 million people on LGBTQ Texans side.

"Not a president, not a senator, not an attorney general, will change the fact that my name is Morgan H Davis," said Davis, a transgender man. "You are the light, you are the ones that are going to win."

Shelley Skeen, the south-central regional director of Lambda Legal, said the organization has fought and won on numerous legal actions threatening LGBTQ Texans' rights and it is prepared to do so again.

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"Lambda Legal and the All-In for Equality Coalition will fight, and we will defeat the vast majority of the legislation that seeks to prohibit us from participating fully in society," Skeen said. "Lambda Legal fights for civil rights of everyone, because when you restrict the rights of anyone, you restrict the civil rights of everyone."

More: 'We are not going away': Queer joy persists at UT, St. Edward's after Texas DEI ban

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Legislature: LGBTQ Texans protest anti-trans bills at Capitol
When Ayaan Moledina heard last week that President Donald Trump was making good on his promise to cut the U.S. Department of Education, he grew particularly worried that the change could curtail students' access to civil rights.

Dismantling a federal department, there will be no federal oversight of institutions to guarantee the basic and fundamental rights of students, Moledina, a sophomore at St. Stephen's Episcopal School in Austin, said Monday.

Moledina is the federal policy director for Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, a student advocacy organization.

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Several lawmakers, students and educators spoke out Monday during a rally at the Texas Capitol against Trump's executive order, signed Thursday, that would begin shuttering the federal education agency.

Zeph Capo, president of the Texas American Federation for Teachers, speaks against President Trumps attempts to dismantle the Department of Education at the Capitol on Monday.

Its not yet clear how the order will be carried out as only an act of Congress can completely close a federal department, but Trump's directive instructs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to reduce the size of the agency, which has already seen large staffing reductions.

Trump has said federal funding that the department distributes to schools will be shifted to other agencies. Although not all of the departments duties have been divvied up, Trump clarified last week that the Small Business Administration would handle student loans and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would oversee special education.

The lack of clarity about how federal education money will flow to schools, however, could bolster already strained educator sentiments at a time when the state is recovering from high post-pandemic teacher turnover, said Zeph Capo, president of the Texas American Federation for Teachers.

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A great way to double down on the worst educator retention rates in the history of the state of Texas is to add another level of deep uncertainty to the people that are employed by these dollars, Capo said.

Shuttering the federal department could drain much needed funding from Texas students, said U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin.

U.S. Rep. Greg Casar speaks against President Trumps attempts to dismantle the Department of Education at the Capitol on Monday.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk are stealing from Americas children to pay for tax cuts for billionaires, Casar said.

State Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, called the dismantling of federal department the execution warrant for Texas schools.

Any diminishment or disruptions in funding could have catastrophic effects for public schools, many of which are facing budget shortfalls, said Wu, who is chairman of the Texas House Democratic Caucus.

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Our education system has already gone off the cliff, Wu said. Its hanging on by its fingernails.

When he signed the order to begin closing the 45-year-old federal department last week, Trump promised that returning more control to the states would be a boon for educational outcomes.

Eliza Hebert, 17, a senior a Westwood High School, speaks against President Trumps attempts to dismantle the Department of Education at the Capitol on Monday.

The federal government, however, doesnt develop academic curriculum or learning objectives, an authority that falls under states and local school districts. The U.S. Education Department manages key funding for special education, low-income, bilingual, migrant and at-risk programs for K-12 students.

Texas received $14.7 billion from the federal government in the 2022-23 school year, though this was more than typical largely because of infusions from COVID-19 relief dollars, according to records.

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Texas lawmakers have proposed packages this legislative session to increase public school funding, meanwhile also putting forth voucher measures to use public money to pay for students' private schooling.

The Texas House proposed a $7.6 billion omnibus package  House Bill 2  that would fund increases to special education, teacher salaries, trainings and per student base-level funding, among other things. The Texas Senate focused on teacher raises in Senate Bill 26, a $4.3 billion proposal that would raise educators salaries, based on experience, among other factors.

Both chambers have also proposed $1 billion school voucher programs that prioritize students with special education needs and those from low-income backgrounds. While "school choice" proponents hail voucher programs as a way for families to gain more educational options for their students, opponents say such legislation would take away much-needed money from public schools.

This story has been updated to because an earlier version included an inaccuracy. Ayaan Moledina is a sophomore at St. Stephen's Episcopal School.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas students, officials fear uncertainty from Education Dept. ending
SAN FRANCISCO, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Boeing is seeking to withdraw an agreement to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge related to two fatal 737 MAX crashes, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The company is reportedly seeking more lenient treatment from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

The crashes, which occurred in 2018 and 2019, claimed 346 lives. The DOJ accused Boeing of deliberately misleading regulators about the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, which had a critical flaw that contributed to both accidents.

In 2021, Boeing and the DOJ entered into a deferred prosecution agreement, allowing the company to avoid a criminal conviction if it complied with certain conditions for three years. However, just days before the agreement was set to expire, a newly delivered 737 MAX plane operated by Alaska Airlines suffered an inflight panel detachment, raising renewed concerns over Boeing's quality control and manufacturing practices.

In May 2024, the DOJ determined that Boeing had violated the terms of the agreement, leading to a plea deal reached in July. The proposed deal required Boeing to pay a fine of 244 million U.S. dollars, invest 455 million dollars in compliance and safety improvements, and accept the oversight of an independent monitor. However, in December 2024, U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor rejected the plea agreement.

Judge O'Connor has set an April 11 deadline for Boeing and the DOJ to provide an update on how they plan to proceed. The Wall Street Journal reported that Boeing is now preparing to withdraw its guilty plea agreement and aims to avoid the appointment of an independent monitor.

Families of the crash victims have criticized the plea deal, arguing that it is too lenient and gives Boeing too much influence in selecting the independent monitor. Mark Lindquist, an attorney representing some victims' families, said Boeing had already received favorable treatment under the 2021 agreement. "They violated that agreement. Now they want an even sweeter deal," he further said.

The court docket doesn't include any formal notice from Boeing or the DOJ to withdraw the agreement yet. 
Mar. 24WAPAKONETA  The Heritage Trails Park District commissioners will meet at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 3 at the Wapakoneta Chamber of Commerce, 30 E. Auglaize St., Wapakoneta.

The public is welcome to attend.

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"As New Hampshire families, businesses, and the state economy all have vested interests in the economic impacts of ECE, funding could be shared across these beneficiaries." (Getty Images)

New Hampshire faces a significant child care shortage, with economic impacts extending beyond families with young children. According to a recent New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute analysis that I conducted, each of the approximately 9,000 unavailable Granite State child care slots in 2023 may have cost the states economy between $22,416 and $35,004 in lost earnings to families, and reduced revenues among New Hampshires state and local governments as well as businesses.

Lost wages, business income, and tax revenue

Families may have lost as much as $177.9 million in wages in 2023 due to inadequate child care availability. While lost wages directly affect family budgets, they also impact local communities that would otherwise benefit from income spent at area businesses. New Hampshire businesses may have collectively lost as much as $55.5 million in 2023 due to reduced productivity and impacts from benefits paid when employees were not working. Business losses also include potential costs associated with recruiting, hiring, and training replacements when employees resign due to inadequate child care.

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Tax revenues are adversely affected when families and businesses experience financial losses. Residents pay taxes related to property, travel, leisure, dining out, and certain other sales. Granite Staters have an average tax rate of about 6.6% while effective business tax rates are approximately 4.4%. Using these estimates, New Hampshires state and local governments may have lost the equivalent of approximately $1,300 to $2,000 per unavailable child care slot.

Early child care and education (ECE) in the governors budget proposal

The governors state fiscal years 2026-2027 budget proposal allocates about $84.9 million across both years to New Hampshires Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration. This bureau administers the main funding mechanism for the New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship Program (NHCCSP), a state-federal partnership that provides child care assistance to families with low and moderate incomes. This allocation makes up about half of one percent of the governors proposed $16.01 billion state budget.

State investments in ECE

Addressing the ECE shortage is challenging due to limited resources. Private tuition is the primary way ECE providers raise revenue; however, they are limited in how much they can increase tuition rates before families can no longer afford child care. Many providers operate on thin, if any, profit margins, so there are few funds to reinvest into their businesses. Public support can help providers keep spots available for children and make investments for future expansions. State general funds could provide flexible support as these funds can be spent in any way the Legislature deems appropriate. The state distributed $15 million in General Funds to ECE providers under the current state budget to support the recruitment and retention of child care educators. This funding is not repeated in the governors budget proposal.

In 2024, New Hampshire passed legislation to allocate $2 million for a six-month program that provides child care assistance to certain ECE professionals who work at least 25 hours per week in licensed child care facilities. To be eligible, these professionals must work in facilities that accept NHCCSP and live in households that earn no more than 100 percent of the state median income, or $133,449 for a family of four. Thoughtful data collection can help determine the effectiveness of these programs for future consideration.

Help from businesses

Business partnerships may be an alternative to increased tuition costs for families. Child care development grant programs may be an opportunity for businesses to continually invest in a funding pool accessible to providers. Funds could be used for various expenses, including increasing teacher wages, hiring additional educators, and building or purchasing larger spaces to expand capacity.

Federal funding and ECE

Federal funding is another source of ECE support but comes with specific rules regulating how the funding can be spent. To access certain federal resources for ECE, New Hampshire must provide 50:50 fund matching based on the Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP). At least 70% of funding must be utilized for NHCCSP. The remaining funding must be divided between support to help ensure New Hampshire children have high-quality ECE, administrative expenses, and other nondirect services including IT systems costs.

Positive returns

As New Hampshire families, businesses, and the state economy all have vested interests in the economic impacts of ECE, funding could be shared across these beneficiaries. While more public funding would likely be required, investments to address the ECE shortage have positive returns for all Granite Staters. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, even among New Hampshire counties and municipalities, and thus, multifaceted approaches will need to be implemented while ensuring safe, enriching environments for the Granite States youngest residents.
Fire and coast guard teams in Humboldt County staged a laborious rescue operation Saturday after a hiker who strayed off California's Lost Coast Trail plummeted 100 feet down a rugged cliff and had to cling to a 60-foot bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The hiker was barely holding on with hiking poles for more than an hour, according to the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay.

The hiker and a companion had wandered off the remote 53-mile hiking path that follows the northern California coastline of redwoods and black sand beaches on the afternoon of March 22 when one of them fell 100 feet.

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Bleeding from injuries and with a dislocated shoulder, the hiker used poles to cling to an almost vertical cliff, dangling perilously over a beach of gravel, rocks and boulders.

The other hiker, who was not hurt, was stranded above.

Shelter Cove Fire Chief Nick Pape said the hikers ventured about 400 yards off the sign-posted Lost Coast Trail onto a much narrower deer or bear trail.

They were definitely in an off-trail area and a dangerous spot," Pape said. "It kind of looks like a hiking trail. However, it's not  and that trail leads to a very dangerous portion of the cliffs above the beach."'

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Initially, Pape said, the hiker at the top of the cliff was holding on to his friend by the hiking pole and couldn't hold him anymore.

"He slipped down and was very lucky to get caught, because it was a lot worse fall just below him," Pape added, noting that the bluff went from a steep landslide to a sheer, completely vertical cliff, with a 60-foot drop to boulders below. "He would have been seriously injured, if not killed."

Read more: The 5 most dangerous places to be rescued in California's wilderness

The rescue operation was launched just after 2:20 p.m. when the Shelter Cove Fire Department got a call that the hiker was stranded near Miller Flat in the King Range National Conservation Area

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Due to the treacherous terrain and the areas track record of challenging rescues , the duty officer immediately requested helicopter support from the U.S. Coast Guard Sector and deployed a rescue boat and jet ski with four rescue swimmers, the fire department said in a statement .

Once the jet ski team located the hikers stranded 75 to 100 feet above the beach on a near vertical cliff, Pape said they sent a rescue swimmer from the jet ski to the beach and found it was too dangerous to send the swimmer up to help them.

"At one point the hiker did try and shift, and they slid down another foot," Pape said. "That's where our rescue swimmers just started yelling at them to not move and wait for the helicopter."

The rescue operation was further challenged by weather conditions and limited fuel supplies.

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Both hoists required intense crew coordination due to the loose cliffside, dead trees, and limited power," U.S. Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay said. With no winds and limited power, the crew had to make quick decisions regarding fuel and patient delivery."

After 3:30 p.m., a coast guard helicopter rescue team arrived on scene.

Video footage posted by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay showed a helicopter flying along the steep coastline and, coordinating with rescuers on the ground, locating both hikers along the steep cliffside.

I think I can get in without too much rotor clearance issues, one member of the crew said.

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Roger, another said as a crew member, wearing a helmet and an orange and yellow jacket, held on to a cable and jumped out of the helicopter.

After the rescuer reached the injured and bleeding hiker, they waved back to the crew above.

Then they hoisted the hiker on board the helicopter, flew them to land for a medical assessment by an EMS team at Shelter Cove Airport, and then went back to the cliff to rescue the second hiker from a deer trail.

With deteriorating weather to the north and only 15 minutes of fuel remaining, the crew was forced to shut down at the airport in Shelter Cove, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement.

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A crew from Cal Fire drove for four hours along winding roads on Shelter Cove to provide the helicopter team with gasoline so they could return back to base, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

In total, the fire department said, six different agencies  including a mix of paid and volunteer crews  worked on the rescue, drawing on millions of dollars of training and specialized equipment.

Pape said his team has conducted between 40 and 50 rescues on the King Range section of the beach since he joined the department in 2011. In the last five years, they have seen a surge of 911 calls and rescues as more people have discovered the Lost Coast since the pandemic. The north portion of the Lost Coast trail has become particularly popular, he said, as it's a relatively flat trail with little elevation gain, unlike parts of the Pacific Crest Trail, and most of it is on the beach.

"However, you're exposed the entire length of this trail to the coastal conditions, so wind, rain, tides, animals, all that kind of stuff," he said. "You're definitely in a rural environment. That's what a lot of people like about the trail, but when it comes to rescues, there is a considerable time lag to get rescuers into that area."

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The spot where the hikers got into trouble, Pape said, was eight miles away from the boat ramp where rescuers launched their jet skis. There was no easy hiking for rescuers by land, he added, noting that during bad weather the helicopters can't get in to help and land rescues sometimes took as long as 16 hours.

Pape urged hikers to take time to prepare before hitting the Lost Coast Trail.

"This is one of the most beautiful hikes in California," he said. "We want people to come enjoy it, but be prepared. It is definitely not a beginner hike. You have to do your due diligence and study and prepare a route and have a backup plan."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Hillary Clinton gave a withering response to the revelation that top Trump officials had leaked national security secrets on a group chat.

You have got to be kidding me, she wrote alongside a side-eye emoji.

 You have got to be kidding me.https://t.co/IhhvFvw6DG pic.twitter.com/bnNG4dGSpI  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 24, 2025

On Monday, The Atlantic published a bombshell report revealing that Trump administration officialsincluding Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltzhad discussed highly confidential war plans in a group chat on the commercial messaging app Signal. Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg had inadvertently been added to the chat.

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For Clinton, whose 2016 campaign was dogged by relentless attacks over her use of a private email server while serving as secretary of state, the irony is rich.

Some of the same officials involved in Mondays fiasco were among those who, during the 2016 campaign, fueled a political firestorm over Clintons use of the private email server at the State Department, which the FBI ultimately deemed extremely careless but not criminal.

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton during the final presidential debate on October 19, 2016. FBI Director James Comey would reopen the investigation into Clinton's emails only days later. / Mark Ralston-Pool/Getty Images

Rubio blasted Clinton in a Fox News interview in 2015, saying, The exposure of sensitive information to foreign intelligence agencies by communicating in an insecure manner is incompetence, it is malpractice, its inexcusable.

Waltz, who was the one to invite Goldberg to the group chat, was still bringing up Clintons emails in 2023.

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Bidens sitting National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan sent Top Secret messages to Hillary Clintons private account. And what did DOJ do about it? Not a damn thing, he posted on X at the time.

Bidens sitting National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan sent Top Secret messages to Hillary Clintons private account.



And what did DOJ do about it? Not a damn thing. https://t.co/VJCx9Zritn.  Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) June 12, 2023

Trump has repeatedly called for Clinton to be jailed for her use of a private email, leading chants of lock her up! at rallies.

FBI Director James Comey opened an investigation into Clintons use of a private email 11 days before the election. Although the investigation reached the same conclusionthat Clinton had been careless but not acted criminallytwo days before voters went to the polls, Clinton maintained it was the determining factor in her loss.

By using the Signal appwhich is not approved for sharing classified informationto discuss highly sensitive plans about national security, the administration may have violated several laws, according to Goldberg.

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He said the chat should not have been used to discuss military activity given that officials have designed spaces called sensitive compartment information facilities (SCIF) to do so.

Hegseth, meanwhile, was apparently under the impression that security was airtight all along.

We are currently clean on OPSEC, he texted the chat, claiming the group was complying with operational security while Goldberg was still in the chat.
Former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton shared her surprise Monday about a report from The Atlantics editor in chief, who said he was swept up in a text message chain with top Trump administration officials on plans for an attack on Houthi rebels.

You have got to be kidding me, Clinton wrote on the social platform X, sharing the eyes emoji along with The Atlantic article.

Clintons use of a private server for classified emails while she was former President Obamas secretary of State was a major issue in the 2016 campaign. She was criticized by Trump and his supporters consistently on it.

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Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic, wrote Monday that he was invited to a group chat on Signal in which top officials debated and then discussed details of attacks in Yemen earlier this month.

Trump said he knew nothing on the report after Brian Hughes, the spokesperson for the National Security Council, confirmed the message chain was authentic.

Goldberg, in the article, claimed national security adviser Mike Waltz connected with him on Signal on March 11, and two days later he was invited to join a chat called the Houthi PC small group, whose other members were seemingly unaware of his presence.

The president and his team have said Monday that the attack on the Houthis was successful, in response to the report that included screenshots from the Signal group.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly sent the group details on weapons used, targets, and timing two hours ahead of the attacks that began March 15, and other top officials including Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe also wrote in it.

As President Trump said, the attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective. President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in an emailed statement.

In 2016, the FBI investigated Clintons emails, and then-Director James Comey found evidence that Clinton was extremely careless using a private server but that her actions were not enough to merit an indictment. She was named the Democratic Partys nominee later that month and then lost to Trump.

A total of 113 emails from Clintons email contained information that was classified at the time they were sent or received, Comey found, and another roughly 2,000 emails were classified later.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The Hillsboro Police Department has provided more details regarding the arrest of a man who barricaded himself inside a room at the Rodeway Inn on March 24 and kept police in a seven-hour standoff.

On March 23, the suspect, 47-year-old Christopher McRae, allegedly threatened a person with a sharp object at a restaurant where he previously worked in the Tanasbourne area. McRae fled the restaurant before officers arrived at the scene.

Just sucks: Columbia River Mental Health out of cash

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The next day, McRae returned to the restaurant and created another disturbance, Hillsboro police said. Officers later tracked down McRae at the Rodeway Inn near Highway 26 and Highway 217 in Washington County.

The suspect fled into his room and barricaded the door upon police arrival, HPD said. He refused to cooperate or surrender to arrest.

OLCC suspends sales license of Portland mini mart deemed as serious danger

Police obtained a search warrant, and with help from the Washington County Tactical Negotiations Team and the Crisis Negotiation Unit, McRae was arrested following a seven-hour standoff.

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McRae faces charges of unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, disorderly conduct and harassment.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  The Holocaust Rail exhibit at the Sioux City Railroad Museum will reopen in time for two significant milestones.

This April marks the 20th anniversary of the group Tolerance Week who brings in Holocaust Survivors to speak with Siouxland students each year to educate a new generation about humanitys cruelty as well as peoples capacity for kindness. It also marks the 80th anniversary of the Allies liberating several of the concentration camps and signaled the end of World War II.

The June 2024 floods ripped through the Railroad Museum. The disaster left upwards of 30 inches of water in parts of the exhibit. However, Board Chair Lou Ann Linblade said shes grateful that the Holocaust Rails only sustained the damage that it did.

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We were very fortunate that we were able to gather up and lift and raise all the contents in all the display cases, so we did not lose any artifacts, Lou Ann Linblade, chair of the Tolerance Alliance, said. We werent sure how high was high enough before the flood waters came. it was more than anyone expected it to be but thankfully, we were able to survive all of it.

Hawarden nonprofit created to help rebuild community after flooding

Volunteers for the Rail exhibit pointed out that Tolerance Week did more than the yearly events that feature films that share the stories of those who lived through the Holocaust. That prompted Tolerance week to change their name to The Tolerance Alliance.

Tolerance Week is scheduled for April 9 to 11. On Wednesday, April 9, the Sioux City Symphony will perform Rise: A Journey of Spiritual Resistance at the Orpheum. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  Holston Habitat for Humanity dedicated its 42nd new home built in Johnson City since 1985 on Tuesday.

The new Habitat home at 1411 E Millard Street was dedicated to Matthew and Elizabeth. The couple was given a home blessing and their new keys as community leaders delivered remarks.

TDOT to shift traffic pattern on I-26 in Unicoi County

The non-profit stated in a news release that Matthew and Elizabeth, the new owners, spent months of work along with volunteers building the home and taking homeowner education courses.

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Theres something truly powerful about watching a family cross the threshold into a home theyve helped build, Executive Director of Holston Habitat for Humanity Laura Kelly stated in the release. Matthew and Elizabeths journey is a reminder of whats possible when people come together with compassion, commitment, and purpose. Plus, anybody would be lucky to be neighbors with Matthew and Elizabeth. They are the very best of our community.

Photo: Holston Habitat for Humanity held a home dedication in Johnson City to celebrate the completion of a new home for a family. (WJHL) Photo: Holston Habitat for Humanity held a home dedication in Johnson City to celebrate the completion of a new home for a family. (WJHL) Photo: Holston Habitat for Humanity held a home dedication in Johnson City to celebrate the completion of a new home for a family. (WJHL)

The new home comes with an affordable mortgage, thanks to Holston Habitat. According to the non-profit, the help of community partners will keep the monthly housing cost at no more than 30% of Matthew and Elizabeths income.

Gratitude cant even begin to describe it, Matthew Price said. As weve said, this has been something that the Lord has been doing, so were just happy to be on board with His plan and be members of this community. Weve already met the neighbors and had an opportunity to see who we have around us and whose lives we can begin to impact.

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According to Holston Habitat, Matthew and Elizabeth completed more than 300 hours of sweat equity volunteer hours while helping build the home.

Its a surreal experience but one that weve enjoyed every step of the way, Matthew Price said. Getting to meet the volunteers, getting to meet all the site supervisors, share just fellowship with our community and everything thats been going on here.

The couple is the 366th family to partner with Holston Habitat. The E Millard Street home was also built as part of the organizations Women Build initiative, which utilizes and empowers women volunteers in the construction process.

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HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP)  A month-long investigation by Holyoke Police detectives has led to the arrest of 45-year-old Luis Rodriguez-Martinez in connection with multiple alleged sexual assaults of a child.

Rodriguez-Martinez was taken into custody on Friday, March 14, at approximately 3:45 p.m. at an apartment on Spring Street.

How this Holyoke small business was impacted by St. Patricks Parade

His arrest follows an extensive investigation led by Detective Melissa Rex, who obtained a Holyoke District Court arrest warrant for him earlier that day. Holyoke Detectives located Rodriguez-Martinez at 10 Spring Street and placed him under arrest without incident.

Luis Rodriguez-Martinez (Courtesy of Holyoke Police Department)

Rodriguez-Martinez was arraigned in Holyoke District Court, where his bail was set at $25,000. Due to the sensitive nature of the case, authorities have not released further details about the ongoing investigation.

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Rodriguez-Martinez faces multiple serious charges, including:

Dissemination of Obscene Matter to a Minor (2 counts)

Intimidation of a Witness (2 counts)

Threat to Commit a Crime (2 counts)

Aggravated Rape of a Child (4 counts)

Rape of a Child with Force (2 counts)

Indecent Assault & Battery on a Child Under 14

Engaging in Sexual Conduct with a Child Under 18 for a Fee

Attempt to Commit a Crime

Assault & Battery

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities urge anyone with additional information to contact the Holyoke Police Department.

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WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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MOSCOW, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Moscow is analyzing the outcomes of the concluded Russia-U.S. talks in Riyadh.

The talks were "technical," and their content would not be made public, Peskov said, adding that contacts between Russia and the United States would continue.

The spokesperson said there were currently no plans for a conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, but it could be organized quickly if necessary.

Negotiations between the Russian and U.S. delegations concluded in Riyadh on Monday after nearly 12 hours.

Last week, Trump held phone talks with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. 
DICKSON, Tenn. (WKRN)  A 20-year-old man has been indicted by a federal grand jury after more than 40 firearms were stolen from a pawn shop in Dickson last year.

The weapons were taken from Golden Eagle Pawn Shop on Highway 46 at around 12:30 a.m. on Dec. 5, 2024.

According to a press release, Manuel De Jesus Guirola-Amaya, 20, is a citizen of Honduras without legal status in the United States. He was indicted by a federal grand jury for possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, possession of a stolen firearm and stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee.

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Firearms stolen from Dickson pawn shop

Surveillance video provided by the pawn shop showed two stolen cars arrive at the shop, and one of them rammed the front door. Four people got out of the cars and went into the store and took weapons from several firearms displays. About two minutes after crashing into the store, the four people left in one of the stolen cars.

Later that same day, an officer stopped a car with an expired registration in La Vergne. The only occupant of the car was Guirola-Amaya. Inside the trunk of the car, officers discovered a backpack containing five pistols that had been stolen in the Golden Eagle Pawn burglary and still had the price tags attached, according to a release from the U.S. Attorneys Office, Middle District of Tennessee.

Officers also found another backpack in the backseat with two pistols, which were also reported stolen from Golden Eagle Pawn, one of which still had a price tag attached. The backpack also reportedly contained suspected marijuana and a set of digital scales.

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Agents later executed a federal search warrant at a residence tied to Guirola-Amaya. They discovered, among other things, a high-capacity magazine, ammunition and price tags consistent with the Golden Eagle Pawn price tags.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Agents also executed several search warrants on cell phones found on Guirola-Amaya or in the car the day of his arrest. The data extraction results from the phones provided further ties to the burglary including photographs and videos of firearms, location data, and search queries.

Guirola-Amaya entered the United States illegally in March 2022, and has no lawful status.

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If convicted, Guirola-Amaya faces a maximum of 15 years in federal prison on Count One, which charges possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, and 10 years each on the other two counts. Guirola-Amaya also faces a $250,000 fine on each count.

According to the DOJ, 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.

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COURTESY HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL Honolulu City Charter Commission members attended a swearing-in ceremony Monday, which was administered by City Clerk Glen Takahashi at Honolulu Hale.

1 /2 COURTESY HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL Honolulu City Charter Commission members attended a swearing-in ceremony Monday, which was administered by City Clerk Glen Takahashi at Honolulu Hale.

COURTESY HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL Many of the new Honolulu City Charter Commission members gathered with Mayor Rick Blangiardi, fourth from right, and Council Chair Tommy Waters, far left, after they were sworn in Monday.

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2 /2 COURTESY HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL Many of the new Honolulu City Charter Commission members gathered with Mayor Rick Blangiardi, fourth from right, and Council Chair Tommy Waters, far left, after they were sworn in Monday.

COURTESY HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL Honolulu City Charter Commission members attended a swearing-in ceremony Monday, which was administered by City Clerk Glen Takahashi at Honolulu Hale.

COURTESY HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL Many of the new Honolulu City Charter Commission members gathered with Mayor Rick Blangiardi, fourth from right, and Council Chair Tommy Waters, far left, after they were sworn in Monday.

After a decadelong absence, a 13-person panel charged with proposing ballot amendments to potentially change the City and County of Honolulus constitution officially convened Monday.

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In doing so, the newly sworn Honolulu City Charter Commission formally starts its term of service through the end of 2026.

The commissionerssix appointed by the mayor, six by the City Council and one appointed by the mayor and approved by the Councilare now expected to offer proposed amendments  for voter approval to the Revised City Charter of Honolulu.

The commissioners include :Jacob Akia senior public affairs manager with Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.Davin Aoyagia manager at San Francisco-based peer-to-peer car-sharing company Turo Inc.

Don 't miss out on what 's happening !

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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.Cedric Duartea communications specialist with the marketing firm The Kalaimoku Group.Gerald Trey  Gordnera data scientist and housing researcher at University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, or UHERO.Brandon Marc Higaan attorney and lecturer at the William S. Richardson School of Law.Diane Kawauchia retired lawyer formerly employed by the city Department of the Corporation Counsel.Jacce Mikulaneca director at The Queens Health Systems.Scott Powerpresident of Oahu Mortuary.Sandra Simmsa retired District and Circuit Court judge.Summer Sylvaan attorney and policy adviser for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.Dawn Szewczykcivil engineer at HDR Engineering Inc.April Woofterchief operating officer at the Fertility Institute of Hawaii.Sommerset Yamamotoa senior project manager at Kamehameha Schools.

The City Charter establishes the principles by which the city government operates.

The Charter also requires that every 10 years, the mayor and Council appoint a commission to review the Charter and submit proposed amendments to Oahu voters. If approved, those questions will be placed on the November 2026 general election ballot for voter consideration, the city said.

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The Charter Commissionwith a term that runs through December 2026has until August 2026 to offer those ballot amendments, the city said.

In 2016 a prior Charter Commission proposed 20 amendments for voter approvalmost of which passed during that Novembers general election.

Among them, voters favored the creation of an Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency.

Voters also approved of the creation of the city Department of Land Management responsible for the protection, development and management of city lands. That department, under Mayor Rick Blangi ardis administration and as stated in the mayors State of the City address on March 18, is now being eyed for a reorganization and is slated to be merged with the Mayors Office of Housing.

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Also in 2016, the prior Charter Commission requested voters consider a proposal to allow those holding elective city officesincluding the mayor and Council, which serve no more than two consecutive four-year termsbe allowed to serve three consecutive terms of four years each.

To that request, nearly 60 % of voters rejected the ideaversus 34 % in favorto allow the citys elected leaders to remain in office for up to 12 years.

On Monday the new commissioners took their respective oaths of office a few minutes before the groups meeting began. Once started, commissioner Szewczyk led the brief meeting as acting chair. Two membersAki and Duartewere absent.

Blangiardi offered welcoming remarks to the panel.

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Were really excited about the potential of the Charter Commission and the timeliness of it,  he said. Im glad that its happening on our watch, if you will.

But at Mondays meeting, too, Council Chair Tommy Waters suggested some Charter amendments that failed at the ballot box over a decade ago could, in some instances, return for further commission scrutiny.

You get to decide the roles and duties of the City Council, the mayor and every single department. You can decide what our job is,  he told commissioners.

Of course, you have to get approved by the voters, but for us, as elected officials, it takes four years just for us to learn how to do this job.

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By the time our term is up, we just got the job going, and Im sure the mayor and other elected officials will tell you that thats not enough time,  said Waters. So, something to consider : term limits.

He noted possible changes might be considered to the Honolulu Police Commission, tasked with hiring and firing the citys police chief.

You can also decide how our police chief is chosen,  Waters told the panel, or how the police chief is punished, even.

Youd be surprised to know that there is no mechanism for the police chief to be punished. The police chief decides for him or herself what that punishment should be, which has never been taken care of,  he added.

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Waters claimed the commission also could tackle how the city might generate more revenuepossibly by reorganizing existing city agencies or creating new ones.

The commission held no discussion on these or other matters. No one from the public spoke at the meeting. A future Charter Commission meeting is not yet scheduled.
To be stripped of an honour is a serious matter, a humiliation once reserved for the most egregious offences. Among those who have been dealt with in this way are Fred Goodwin, the Scottish bank boss involved in the financial crisis of 2008, and Anthony Blunt, the Soviet spy. Jimmy Savile and Cyril Smith MP would have lost their knighthoods had they been convicted of the sex offences posthumously alleged against them.

The revocation of honours is almost as old as the system itself but was once a rarity. It was also linked primarily to matters of criminality.

However, the past decade has seen an acceleration in the procedure with more and more attributed to bringing the honours system into disrepute not for what was done but for what was said. The latest individual so threatened is Charlie Mullins, the founder of Pimlico Plumbers, whose crime was to criticise Londons mayor Sir Sadiq Khan in what might be termed a robust manner. Mr Mullins is a donor to the Reform party.

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What he did not do was break any laws; so who decides that the honours system has been tarnished by his possession of an OBE? In the event he was given a warning, which suggests someone is policing what people think and say. Others have not been so lucky and have had their honours taken off them for what are opinions presumably not shared by those running the Honours Forfeiture Committee.

Who are they to decide what is and isnt an acceptable opinion? They should stick to those with a criminal conviction or facing allegations of professional misconduct and not spend their time hunting down people exercising their right to lawful free speech.

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As the one-year anniversary approaches of the shocking collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which tumbled into the Patapsco River in the early morning hours of March 26, 2024, after it was struck by the Dali cargo ship, Johns Hopkins has released separate studies on the disaster.

One concludes that other spans  including Marylands Chesapeake Bay Bridge  are at risk of a similar fate, and another finds that residents are skeptical of the timeline to rebuild and still feeling the effects of the bridges loss.

In results released Monday, researchers found that the risk is pretty substantial that another ship could crash into one of the nations other bridges, said Michael Shields, an associate professor of civil and systems engineering who led the study.

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Shields team scored various bridges on a range of factors, such as how many large ships pass beneath them, how frequently such vessels veer off course and how far apart its supporting piers are, he said.

The researchers determined that the Bay Bridge, for example, was the 12th most vulnerable bridge in the U.S., and could be expected to be struck by a ship once every 86 years. The relatively short span under which ships traverse the Bay Bridge, compared to bridges such as the Verrazzano-Narrows in New York or the Golden Gate in San Francisco, combined with it being heavily trafficked, contributes to its high score, Shields said.

The Bay Bridge sees a very large amount of huge ships, he said, and it sees a lot of them.

That is not to say the Bay Bridge will definitely be struck at some point within 86 years, Shields said, but that is the expectation from the available data points.

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Given the current traffic, I would expect to see a ship collide with the bridge within my lifetime, he said. Were not dealing in certainties here. It could happen tomorrow, it could happen 100 years from now. We expect it to have happen in 86 years.

Shields said the risk has grown for bridges, and continually changes given the level of sea traffic.

The risk has evolved over time, he said. When the Bay Bridge was built, ships were ten to 15 times smaller. In addition, there were far fewer ships, so the risk in the 1950s was smaller than it is today.

The most vulnerable bridge was found to be the Huey P. Long Bridge in Louisiana, with a collision expected once every 17 years.

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The study is part of a federally funded program to study disasters in their immediate aftermath, Shields said, what causes them, and what are the implications and long-term effects. Hopkins quickly organized a research team within a week of the bridge collapse to study it, he said.

The findings come on the heels of the National Transportation Safety Board faulting the state for failing to conduct a risk assessment of the Key Bridges vulnerability to being struck by a ship and collapsing.

That triggered a rebuke from Gov. Wes Moore and the Maryland Transportation Authority, saying the blame rested solely on the owner and operator of the Dali. The state is among multiple entities seeking damages from Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Pte. Ltd, the Singaporean owner and operator, respectively, of the ship.

Saying Maryland and other states had not assessed the risk to existing bridges, the federal agency recommended that they conduct reviews and if needed undertake protective measures to reduce the chance of collapse. It listed 68 bridges that should be assessed.

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Shields said he is optimistic that the research will wake up bridge owners to this risk and that we will see changes being made. Right now, there is no mandate that these bridges be assessed for risk.

Bridges can be bolstered by a more robust array of dolphins, protective structures around piers or requirements that vessels be guided by tugboats or by improving the safety of ships themselves, he said.

These measures are expensive, but that has to be weighed against the costs of losing a bridge, he said.

Meanwhile, survey data released today by Johns Hopkins found continuing impacts on the daily lives of area residents as a result of the loss of the Key Bridge, which took out a stretch of the southeast part of the Baltimore Beltway, or I-695, that encircles the city. The survey, of close to 1,500 Baltimore City and County residents, found the most impact on getting to work or school, or visiting family and friends, and, to a lesser extent, running errands or going to medical appointments.

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The questions were asked as part of the annual Baltimore Area Survey conducted by Hopkins 21st Century Cities Initiative.

The effect cut across all demographic groups, such as race, income and employment status, said Mac McComas, the senior program manager of the initiative.

It speaks to how important the Key Bridge was in the daily life of people in Baltimore, he said.

The survey found that residents generally have confidence in the governments ability to rebuild the bridge, but that they think it will take longer than what Maryland officials have estimated. The states timeline has construction ending by Fall 2028.

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Half of the respondents were told the government anticipated finishing the rebuild in just over four years; of those, about 73% said it would take longer. The other half were not given the states estimate of when construction would end, and of those, 65% said it would take longer than four years.

McComas said that skepticism reflects a sense among Americans that major government projects end up taking longer and costing more than expected, such as with the so-called Big Dig highway infrastructure project in Boston that was beset by cost overruns and delays. Add to that, he said, the uncertainty of the moment, given where the economy may be headed.

Its just the times, McComas said. Theres distrust in the government being able to deliver on big projects.

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Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on Monday railed against the Trump administrations seemingly inadvertent inclusion of a journalist on a group chat planning military strikes in Yemen.

Meeks called for the chairman of the committee, Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fl.) to immediately hold a hearing on the rank incompetence demonstrated by the top leadership in the Trump administration.

I am immediately calling on Chairman Mast to hold a hearing on what might be the most astonishing breach of our national security in recent history, where top leadership from DOD, State, Treasury, the CIA and even the VP himself used a commercial messaging app  Signal  to communicate U.S. war plans, all the while unaware that a journalist was included in the group chat, Meeks said in a statement posted to X.

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Republicans have regularly contrived security scandals to attack their political opponents with years of nakedly partisan hearings and investigations. This administration proves yet again that hypocrisy and cynical politics arent the only defining characteristics of todays GOP; rank incompetence is front and center, he continued.

Meeks statement came in response to a bombshell report in The Atlantic that the magazines editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was added to a group text chain alongside Trumps national security team, discussing the plans and execution of U.S. military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen and the Red Sea.

The U.S. strikes occurred on March 15, with the Trump administration saying it was responding to Houthi attacks on U.S. military and commercial ships, threatening global trade and security.

The White House confirmed the group chats authenticity. Goldberg reported National Security Advisor Mike Waltz added him to the Signal group. The group also included Vice President Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, among others, and included the dissemination of classified information.

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Goldberg said the text included Hegseth sharing detailed plans of strikes on Houthi targets, what U.S. weapons would be used and the sequencing of attacks. When the attacks were carried out, Waltz sent a three emoji response: A fist, an American flag, and fireball.

Some Republicans quickly came to Waltzs defense, with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) saying on Monday that Waltz and Hegseth should not be disciplined.

But the X account for the Democratic side of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) pointed out Waltzs statement in 2023 criticizing the former Biden administration for not initiating investigations into top Democratic officials sending top secret information to private emails.

Bidens sitting National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan sent Top Secret messages to Hillary Clintons private account, Waltz posted on soil media in June 2023. And what did DOJ do about it? Not a damn thing.

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The Democratic HFAC account reposted Waltzs statement with three emojis  a fist, an American flag, and a fireball.

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Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), a moderate Democrat and former Air Force officer, pressed for all government personnel to receive training on how to handle classified material, following a news report that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth inadvertently texted key details of U.S. war plans to a prominent journalist.

In a letter addressed to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and the top Democrat and Republican on the House Administration Committee, Houlahan said the recent reporting in The Atlantic makes clear the importance of the training.

Given the recent events involving executive branch officials spillage of national security information, it is imperative that all government personnel receive adequate training on the proper handling and management of classified material, Houlahan wrote in the letter, linking to The Atlantic story published Monday.

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The letter is following up on an earlier request for the same training, stressing the importance that members of Congress know how to handle sensitive informationin particular those serving on committees that handle classified material regularly.

Members of Congress are no exception. Members should be equipped with the knowledge and skills to handle classified information appropriately to effectively carry out their duties and safeguard our country. In particular, Members serving on committees that regularly manage classified information, she wrote.

Houlahan noted there have been incidents in the past, involving the unintentional or imprudent release of critical intelligenceduring open hearings, conferences, press interactions, or offhand comments, which, she said, demonstrate the critical need for such training.

Such lapses not only compromise national security but can also undermine our intelligence community and endanger the safety of our citizens both at home and abroad, she added.

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The letter comes after The Atlantics editor-in-chief gave a first-hand account of his experience getting looped into U.S. war plans, which included details of weapons used, targets, and timing hours ahead of the attacks.

Goldberg said he was included on a text chain on the encrypted messaging application Signal that also appeared to be used by such senior Trump administration officials as Vice President Vance, national security adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Hegseth.

Brian Hughes, the spokesman for the National Security Council, confirmed the message chain was authentic.

This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, wrote Hughes. The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security.

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House Democrats who spoke to TPM on Tuesday were stunned and floored by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) raising the possibility of Congress eliminating some federal courts as part of House Republicans ongoing interest in punishing judges who dare to rule against the Trump administration.

That is outrageous, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) told TPM in response to Johnsons remarks Tuesday. Johnson indicated during his weekly press conference on Tuesday that Republicans could choose to eliminate an entire district court if they dont like the decisions a judge makes.

The proper response to disagreement with a particular court ruling is not to abolish the court. Thats obviously a naked assault on judicial independence, Raskin continued.

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Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu (D-CA) also described the Speakers remarks as outrageous.

Lieu, also a member of the House Judiciary Committee, told TPM that the United States is a democracy because the judiciary is the branch of the government that tells us when a law has been violated.

For Republicans to want to get rid of judicial district courts, its just completely outrageous, he added. Its also not going to happen. Its just stupid fantasies that they have.

Raskin was a bit more wary of how far such talk could actually go in the 119th Congress.

I would not say that anything is impossible these days, the Maryland Democrat said, adding that he cant speak for whats going on in the House Republican conference. They seem to follow whatever Donald Trump is saying. So if Trump is talking about not just impeaching judges, but abolishing courts, then Im afraid a lot of my Republican colleagues will follow along like lemmings.

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On a technical level, Congress does have the power to change the size of the judiciary, Raskin added.

The Supreme Court exists as a constitutional matter, but the lower courts are created by Congress, so Congress can enlarge and shrink the judiciary, he said.

When asked about the consequences of such an action  if it were to happen  Lieu, matter of factly, said: We would instantly become an authoritarian country.

The bafflement from the House Judiciary Democrats comes after Johnson spoke candidly to reporters about House Republicans options for acting on Trumps judiciary grievances Tuesday. Several members of the House Republican conference have floated various actions they want to take to rein in federal judges who have angered Trump by blocking some of his administrations most lawless executive actions in recent weeks.

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We do have the authority over the federal courts, as you know. We can eliminate an entire district court. We have power of funding over the courts and all these other things, Johnson told reporters during a press conference. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and Congress is going to act.

Johnson later attempted to walk back his comments, saying that he was making a point about Congress broad authority over the creation, maintenance and the governance of the courts.

Im trying to illustrate we have a broad scope of authority over the courts, Johnson said, according to Punchbowl News.

At least one Senate Republican threw cold water on Johnsons suggestion Tuesday.

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My concern with doing that is that you create  unless you add in another district court somewhere else  youre going to create massive, massive backlogs, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) told reporters on Tuesday when asked about the Speakers remarks. My view is  Id like to get more Republican judges on the bench. I mean, if we take away seats, we cant do that.

The unprecedented suggestion from the Speaker comes as some of Trumps most extreme executive actions take hits from the courts. Most notably, the Trump administration is casting its ire toward U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who issued a temporary ruling blocking the Trump administration from deporting Venezuelan migrants under the Alien Enemies Act  an order that the administration appears to have defied.

Trump and his MAGA allies have been calling for federal judges, including Boasberg, to be impeached, but House and Senate GOP leadership is, so far, staying away from that option as they seemingly dont have the votes for it.

As an alternative, House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) indicated he is planning to speak with members of the House Appropriations Committee about the funding for the judicial branch.

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We got money, spending, the appropriations process to help try to address some of this, Jordan said, according to NBC News.

Jordan plans to hold a hearing early next week focused on what Republicans are claiming are abuses of judicial authority  a show hearing that may buy leadership time while it decides how to address Trumps calls for impeachment.
While House Republicans are unlikely to cobble together the votes to answer President Trumps call to impeach federal judges who block his administrations actions, they are poised to take action on a bill that could prove to have even more consequential and lasting effects on the federal judiciary.

GOP leaders will hold a floor vote next week on the No Rogue Rulings Act led by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), which would limit the power of district judges to impose nationwide injunctions  like the one from Judge James Boasberg that barred the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants.

Trump called for Boasbergs impeachment last week over that decision, while tech billionaire Elon Musk previously called for a wave of judicial impeachments against judges who blocked actions by the Department of Government Efficiency to dismantle parts of the federal government.

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Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) promptly introduced a resolution to impeach Boasberg, and a number of Republicans began preparing other impeachment articles against other judges.

Judicial impeachment efforts, however, are widely seen on Capitol Hill as futile endeavors. Skepticism from some Republicans about the prudence of impeachment means it would be a heavy lift to get the votes in the slim House majority to impeach. Even if articles of impeachment squeaked through the House, it would take support from at least 14 Senate Democrats to convict, and it is improbable that a single one would vote to do so.

Republican leaders are not ruling out impeachment, with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) telling reporters on Monday that everything is on the table.

Impeachment is an extraordinary measure. Were looking at all the alternatives that we have to address this problem. Activist judges are a serious threat to our system, Johnson said.

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But he and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) are pointing to other legislative tools to address the fury at the federal judiciary, including hearings in the Judiciary Committee to highlight the abuses.

This is not the way the system is supposed to work. So were going to have hearings to highlight the abuses. I suspect that we may wind up questioning some of these judges themselves, to have them defend their actions, Johnson said.

Republicans also had a legislative answer to impeachment calls teed up by the time Trump started calling for the judges removal: The No Rogue Rulings Act was marked up and advanced out of the House Judiciary Committee earlier this month.

The malfunction of a critical part of our judiciary should be a concern to us all, and thats why this bill is on a glide path to the floor, Issa, the bills lead sponsor, said in a statement. Its a Constitutional solution to a national problem and an idea whose time has come.

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House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) confirmed on the social platform X that the bill would come to the House floor next week.

Issas brief, 2-page bill would limit the power of the 677 District Court judges to issue injunctions that restrict those beyond the parties directly involved in a case, effectively blocking nationwide injunctions. The bill states: No United States district court shall issue any order providing for injunctive relief, except in the case of such an order that is applicable only to limit the actions of a party to the case before such district court with respect to the party seeking injunctive relief from such district court.

Its not unusual for plaintiffs in a case  from across the political spectrum  to attempt to file lawsuits in jurisdictions seen as friendly to their cause in an attempt for that ruling to apply elsewhere as well.

Nationwide injunctions have become more common in recent decades. A 2024 Harvard Law Review publication on the rise of injunctions  which qualified it likely underestimated the total number of injunctions issued  found that six injunctions were levied under former President Bush, 12 under former President Obama, 64 in Trumps first term and 14 during former President Bidens first three years in office.

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More than a dozen nationwide injunctions have been issued in the first months of Trumps second term.

Republicans and the Trump administration have argued that the nationwide injunctions are politically targeted against the president.

Democrats, though, say that the injunctions are a response to lawless actions by the Trump administration.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, said in a video after the markup in which the bill advanced that Republicans are now trying to dismantle the power of the courts, calling GOP gripes about the number of injunctions against Trump amusing.

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It proves just the opposite, that hes engaged in terribly lawless and irresponsible violations of peoples rights  whether thats trying to nullify the citizenship of millions of people by deleting the birthright citizenship clause or dismantling federally created, congressionally created agencies and departments, Raskin said.

We shouldnt completely rewrite the federal rules of civil procedure and appellant procedure in order to suit Donald Trump because he doesnt like the fact that hes losing every day in court, Raskin added.

Mychael Schnell contributed.

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BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. attempts to curb China are doomed to fail, said U.S. economist Jeffrey Sachs.

Sachs, an economics professor and director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, is critical of U.S. protectionist policies, particularly the widespread tariffs imposed in the first two months of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.

"Tariffs cannot solve the fiscal crisis. They cannot close the budget deficit," given that U.S. imports constitute only "around 12 percent of our gross domestic product," Sachs told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Far from revitalizing the economy, these measures "lower living standards for people that buy goods from abroad" and render the economy "less efficient." He predicts that such policies will persist, noting, "I would count on a protectionist American environment for many years to come."

This internal decline unfolds against the backdrop of a multipolar world, a reality Sachs sees as both inevitable and transformative.

Sachs has voiced deep skepticism about America's recent attempts to curb China's ascent through punitive measures like tariffs and trade restrictions. "Why is the United States breaking the system of trade that it was the main progenitor to promote? The obvious reason is China," he remarked.

However, he believes these efforts are doomed to fail, rejecting the notion that America must remain the world's sole leader, a mindset he deems "incredibly dangerous and wrong-headed."

Sachs contrasts America's disruptive decline with a vision of global cooperation rooted in historical lessons. He champions globalization as an enduring human reality: "Globalization, in my opinion, is a fact of human life." He also urges the rest of the world to resist following America's protectionist path.

While the United States retreats into disruption and protectionism, he believes groups like BRICS will play a constructive global role, fostering "a new potentially more stable, peaceful, realistic order." 
House Republicans stopped short of endorsing disciplinary action for national security adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after news broke that the pair, along with other top administration officials, discussed plans for the U.S. to attack the Houthis in Yemen on a group text chain that a journalist was mistakenly included on.

The support came as Democrats  and a handful of Republicans  sounded off on the report by The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg. Sen. Mark Warner (Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the duo should resign.

But even after raising concerns about the administrations conduct, Republicans would not publicly recommend consequences for Waltz or Hegseth  especially after President Trump told NBC News that Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man.

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Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.)  who said Tuesday classified information should not be sent on unsecured channels or to individuals without security clearances  responded no when asked if Waltz or Hegseth should be punished for their actions.

I think they obviously need to make sure safeguards are put in place to make sure that doesnt happen again, Lawler added. I think, obviously, the mission itself was very successful and the work they did on the whole [was] very good, but that type of situation, you just need to make sure it does not happen again.

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.)  who was adamant in his criticism Monday, calling the group chat embarrassing and wrong  would not back consequences for the pair, but said Hegseth needs to explain what happened.

The fact that classified information is put on an unclassified system, I think the secretary of Defense has to answer to that, Bacon said.

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Pressed on if they should face disciplinary action, the Nebraska Republican deferred to the White House.

But I think we should be critical, he added. It wasnt right.

Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.) similarly deferred to Trump on the proper course of action amid the fallout.

I have full faith that the president is going to review all their protocols, and, you know, certainly its a teachable moment and theyre going to be more careful going forward.  I certainly yield to the president on any sort of changes he is going to make to how the communications protocols are or how hes going to handle that, he said.

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Goldberg, the top editor of The Atlantic, shook Washington on Monday when he reported that he was added to a Signal group chat full of top-level national security officials who were discussing plans to attack the Houthis in Yemen.

Goldberg said he received a connection request from a user named Michael Waltz on March 11, was added to a group chat called Houthi PC small group  which Waltz appeared to have created  on March 13 and witnessed discussions about the attack plans over the next two days. Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe are believed to have been included in the group as well, based on the names of user accounts.

At 11:44 a.m. EDT on March 15, Hegseth sent the group operational details about the Yemen strikes, which Goldberg said he would not quote from because the information contained in them, if they had been read by an adversary of the United States, could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel, particularly in the broader Middle East, Central Commands area of responsibility.

The U.S. attacked the Houthis hours later. A spokesperson for the National Security Council has since said the group appears to be an authentic message chain, though White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has argued that no war plans or classified material were sent in the thread.

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Criticism and concerns regarding the incident broke out immediately Monday afternoon, with scores of Democrats and a handful of Republicans speaking out about the administrations conduct.

While some Republicans were tepid in their response  criticizing the administrations conduct while stopping short of endorsing punishment for the officials  other GOP lawmakers were more clear-cut in their defense, arguing the pair should remain in their posts despite the ongoing fallout from the text chain.

Let him work and see what else happens. The president chose him. The Senate confirmed him. Let him work, Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) said of Hegseth. If you have never made a mistake, then you can throw the first stone.

Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), similarly, said Waltz should not face consequences, calling him a top flight of a guy as I know and saying he has no concerns at all. The South Carolina Republican also expressed support for the Defense secretary, saying I believe Hegseth. He said it didnt happen, and if it did it was a mistake.

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Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), meanwhile, called Waltz a straight-up guy, and hes very honest, honorable, hes a patriot, but when asked if he should suffer any consequences, he responded I dont know. I dont know who did it. It was a mistake, and Im sure he wishes it didnt happen.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) repeated the White Houses assertions that there was no classified information or war plans discussed in the chat, saying the mistake was that a journalist was part of the chat group.

Obviously, that was a mistake and a serious one, Johnson said of a journalist inadvertently being added to the chat.

The Speaker also praised Waltz, who created the group.

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Mike Waltz is a colleague, a former colleague, and he was born for the job. He is highly qualified, Johnson said. The president said he has total confidence in him, and we do as well.

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NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  A program aiming to increase affordable housing is coming to the Land of Enchantment. Housing New Mexico has partnered with the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration to launch Rehab-2-Rental.

The board of directors for Housing New Mexico approved the Notice of Funding Availability for $656,000 at a February meeting. One major goal is to create higher-quality home options for tenants using housing-based vouchers, such as Section 8 and Linkages, as well as municipal and county rental assistance.

The program offers forgivable loans of up to $25,000 per unit to landlords either leasing or agreeing to lease their properties to housing voucher holders. Housing New Mexico says these loans will help with necessary improvements to the rental units.

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Albuquerque mayor files complaint against city council over AFR staffing ordinance

Whether its single-family homes or rental properties, New Mexico is in great need of affordable housing for its residents, Housing New Mexico Executive Director and CEO Isidoro Hernandez said in a news release on Tuesday. This program is a win-win in that it will help landlords with funding to bring rentals up to standards and will provide more opportunities for affordable housing in the state.

Housing partners are currently being invited to submit applications to become service providers. Those service providers will work with public housing authorities and other governmental agencies offering vouchers to submit house rehabilitation projects for private landlords. Eligible applicants should have experience and knowledge of housing assistance and property rehabilitation, including:

Non-profit organizations

For-profit organizations

Public housing authorities

Regional housing authorities

Tribal governments

Tribal housing agencies

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Applications are welcome to join a webinar on Wednesday, April 2 at 11 a.m. More information can be found online.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
HOUSTON COUNTY, Ala (WDHN)  Changes could be coming to the kind of trucks that are traveling on state roads, but not everyone is behind the proposed change, as it could cost taxpayers in the end.

At some point, you know the citizens are going to come looking at us and say hey, why are roads in such bad shape? Well, you know its because of things like this, said Brandon Shoupe, Houston County Commission Chairman.

Currently, the state limits single axles to 20,000 pounds, and tandem axles, with a 40-to-96 inch spacing, to 34,000 pounds. The proposed increase would raise tandem axle weight to 46,000 pounds, which are normally seen on log trucks.

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Those for the bill say it is crucial for loggers in the state to stay in business and could speed up lumber productivity, but county officials across the state are worried it could cause expensive damage to roads in the area and make them even tougher to travel on. This would also cause the county to have to ask taxpayers for more money to repair

We feel very strongly about this item. I mean this is essentially going to be a tax increase on the citizens, Shoupe told WDHN.

Officials say it could also offset progress made from the gas tax passed by the state in 2019, which was not a popular increase to residents, but it has made a difference in the amount of roadwork the county can do and afford

It is has done a tremendous amount of good and now we have an item on the agenda that may rollback a lot of that progress and I just think that is not a good way to conduct the state, said Shoupe.

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Congressional Republicans acknowledged that top officials in Donald Trumps administration badly fumbled by inadvertently sharing highly sensitive national security information with a reporter for The Atlantic Magazine on the messaging app Signal.

Sounds like a huge screwup. I mean, is there any other way to describe it? Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told reporters on Monday. I dont think you should use Signal for classified information.

Somebody fucked up, Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Montana) added bluntly, while Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) offered the Trump administration some basic messaging tips.

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You got to know who youre sending your text to, he told HuffPost.

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, said in a story published earlier on Monday that Trump national security adviser Michael Waltz accidentally added him to a emoji-filled group chat on Signal with other top Trump administration officials discussing U.S. military strikes in Yemen that took place last week.

In addition to Waltz, Goldberg said the conversation included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who shared detailed war plans, as well as Vice President JD Vance; Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence; and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

What I will say, in order to illustrate the shocking recklessness of this Signal conversation, is that the Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing, Goldberg wrote, disclosing he left the conversation at that point.

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The breathtaking story sent national security experts and Democratic lawmakers into a frenzy. Many said that Hegseth and Waltz, who added Goldberg to the chat, should resign or be fired, while others called on the Trump administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to launch an investigation.

It would be an episode of Veep if it wasnt so dangerous and just plain dumb. Really dumb and epically irresponsible. People need to lose their jobs over this. Preferably Hegseth. pic.twitter.com/8ncpsp3rjE  Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) March 24, 2025

In my 30 years of experience working with the Intelligence Community, I have never before seen such horrifying incompetence in the securing of our nations intelligence, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wrote in another social media post.

Some Republicans expressed similar concerns about the national security breach.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, called it an extremely troubling and serious matter.

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Obviously, there needs to be some accountability, added Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in an interview with HuffPost.

Even Republicans who defend nearly every Trump administration move struggled to come up with a fulsome response.

Do I wish it hadnt happened? Of course, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said. Do they wish it hadnt happened? Of course. But this is not keeping the American people up at night.

Obviously, a mistake was made, he added. But mistakes happen, and this is, trust me, this is not going to lead to the apocalypse, OK?

Hegseth, who worked as a Fox News host before being confirmed to lead the Pentagon, claimed that no war plans were shared in the Signal group chat. He accused Goldberg, a highly respected journalist, of being deceitful and discredited during a conversation with reporters in Hawaii.

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But National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes confirmed the messaging thread was real in an earlier statement on Monday.

This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, he wrote in the statement. The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security.
Huron County constituents gather for a town hall. While organizers said they sent multiple invitations to U.S. Rep. Bob Latta, the office of the Republican congressman reportedly never responded and did not show. (Photo by Marilou Johanek, Ohio Capital Journal.)

Extra chairs were added to accommodate the overflow crowd at a recent town hall meeting in Ohios 5th U.S. congressional district, a sprawling territory that includes all or part of 12 counties northwest of Cleveland to the Indiana border. A seat was reserved for U.S. Rep. Bob Latta at a table with a microphone and name placard, but the Bowling Green Republican was a no-show.

A local group of Huron County constituents from Firelands Indivisible organized the affair. Members said they reached out to Lattas office on multiple occasions with requests to attend the town hall while the lawmaker was back in the district on recess. Some even tried to hand-deliver an invitation to the congressmans Elyria post. They never heard back from him.

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Lattas chief of staff, Emily Benavides, informed me her boss would be in Seneca and Hancock counties all day and thus was unable to appear before a large audience of anxious constituents in neighboring Huron County.

She emailed a brief platitude about how the nine-term congressman appreciates the opportunity to continue meeting and speaking with constituents  including providing timely responses to their inquiries through calls, emails and letters  as he has done throughout his time in public service. Except, perhaps, when the heat is turned up in Lattas district and people clamor for a traditional town hall.

For example, it got pretty hot in the 5th before U.S. House Republicans, including Latta, voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act in 2017. Supporters of Obamacare were up in arms across the country over another GOP attempt to repeal the landmark law that extended medical coverage to over 20 million Americans.

Local citizens reached out to Lattas office on multiple occasion asking for a traditional town hall to talk health care but heard nothing back (a pattern?). The Republicans hometown newspaper headlined a story about the evasive congressmen: Latta missing in action as citizens demand town hall.

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The account quoted numerous residents upset that their congressman was hiding from them, ducking a real face-to-face town hall with your constituents,(many of whom benefited from the ACA) doing photo ops to give the impression you are listening to your constituents, or holding poorly publicized telephone town halls where calls can be screened so as not to include anything we actually are demanding accountability on.

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Fast forward to March 19, 2025. Another headline in another local newspaper noted Lattas empty chair at a Huron County town hall the previous night. But it also detailed something remarkable happening in Ohio and other states. Constituents came in droves to the Norwalk meeting anyway. Nearly 200 of them filed into a community center compelled by the daily firehose of crazy from Washington.

These people werent what Republicans called paid protestors in 2017 and today. The people who went to the event werent agitators or radical leftists  as GOP leaders in D.C. have claimed about constituents demanding to be heard. They were everyday citizens worried sick about a country unraveling fast. They were newly engaged voters who were paying attention and plenty alarmed.

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They sought reassurance from their representative in a scary time but had to settle for his MIA snub, instead. Undeterred, they scribbled questions on cards to a panel of experts that filled in for Latta. The specialists focused on local ramifications of the shambolic dismantling of the federal government without any measured planning or forethought.

A fifth-generation farmer who once led the Ohio Farmers Union feared what the random slashing of farm-to-school food programs and farming subsidies (already approved) would do to hard hit farming communities in the state bracing for another round of agricultural tariffs  after losing billions in Trumps 2018 trade war with China.

A former Navy pilot whos written extensively on civil-military affairs described the abiding sense of betrayal felt by veterans over sweeping cuts at the VA arbitrarily eliminating thousands of jobs, comprehensive health services and recently expanded benefits  which included zeroed-out spending for a fund meant to cover costs for illnesses linked to military burn pits and other chemical exposure.

A medical professional with 30 years in the nursing field warned about devastating consequences to the most vulnerable Ohioans (and especially rural hospitals) from the deep cuts to Medicaid and the ACAs Medicaid expansion that House Republicans, including Latta, put on the table when they passed their budget bill. That could force the largest Medicaid cuts in American history to pay for Trumps 4.6 trillion tax cut to the ultra-rich.

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An Oberlin college professor was stark about Trump invoking wartime powers to deport undocumented immigrants without due process: If he can use this (the Alien Enemies Act of 1798) to deport immigrants he doesnt like, he can then use this act to intern those Americans who say things he doesnt like.

The crowd was also terrified about their earned Social Security benefits being in the crosshairs of the presidents unelected billionaire bestie. More than 2.4 million Ohioans rely on the social safety net Elon Musk is taking aim at while pushing changes to make it harder for seniors to access benefits. Lattas constituents were desperate for answers, or at least a public reckoning, about the most serious threats many have ever faced in their lifetimes.

He gave them an empty chair.

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Kansas Highway Patrol said a 61-year-old Hutchinson woman was killed in a crash on Monday. The crash happened around 9:30 p.m. on 17th Avenue east of Faubion Street.

The KHP said a Dodge Dakota was heading west on 17th Avenue and crossed the center line for an unknown reason. Troopers say a Buick Envision was heading east and could not avoid the collision with the pickup.

Remains of missing Kansas teen likely found

The driver of the Buick, Helen Blevins, was killed in the crash. A 29-year-old passenger in her vehicle and the 37-year-old pickup driver were taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center with serious injuries.

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For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here.

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Mark Zuckerberg's Meta (formerly Facebook) has positioned itself as a global tech giant with a mission to connect the world. Facebook was created in 2004 in a college dorm at Harvard University and now is used by approximately three billion monthly active users. It is an amazing company that has done much to share updates on life for individuals for both professional and recreational purposes. The revolutionary idea filled a need in our ever-expanding desire to consumer information and share updates on life with friends and family.

However, one concern with the direction of the company's is rhetoric about China laced with hypocrisy. This is especially true as it relates to their lobbying and public relations campaign to ban one of its competitors while maintaining close ties with the Chinese government. From lobbying for a TikTok ban to facilitating content censorship of President Donald Trump, Meta's actions reveal a far more complex and concerning relationship with China than what Zuckerberg would have the world believe.

Zuckerbergs overtures to China date back to 2014, when Zuckerberg actively courted the Chinese government by assembling a team to create a version of Facebook that could operate within the strict confines of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) regulations. This effort, code-named "Project Aldrin," sought to enable Meta's services to gain access to the Chinese market while appeasing the government's demands for censorship.

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In his pursuit of China's market, Zuckerberg was willing to compromise Meta's core principles. In 2014, Meta even drafted a letter offering the Chinese consulate in San Francisco the ability to "take down terrorist sites that are potentially dangerous for China," showcasing the company's willingness to work with the CCP to stifle dissent both inside and outside of China. In return for access to China's market, Zuckerberg's Meta was willing to give up privacy protections and allow the Chinese government access to data on its users, including those based in Hong Kong.

Beyond Meta, Zuckerberg has his own personal relationship with China. In 2014, he wrote a blurb for Chinese President Xi Jinping's book The Governance of China. He even asked Xi to name his unborn child, a gesture that demonstrated his deep respect, or perhaps subjugation, to the Chinese leader.

In Metas transparency reports, the company admits to removing content at the request of the CCP. In 2017, Meta covertly launched social apps under a China-based company created by one of its employees, and even restricted the account of Guo Wengui, a Chinese billionaire and outspoken critic of the CCP, after receiving pressure from Chinese regulators. This selective censorship is not just about protecting Metas interests; it signals a broader willingness to compromise its values to gain favor with a repressive regime.

Metas hypocrisy becomes even more apparent when compared to its stance on TikTok. Zuckerberg has consistently lobbied for the banning of the Chinese-owned social media app, claiming that TikTok poses a national security threat and that it should be banned in the United States. This stance is curious, given that Meta itself has deep ties to China. While Zuckerberg rallies against TikTok for its alleged ties to the Chinese government, he fails to acknowledge that his company operates under similar conditions. Meta built its AI programs with access to data and talent from China, and it continues to work closely with Chinese nationals in senior leadership roles. If TikTok poses a threat to the U.S. based on its connection to China, then Meta should be scrutinized just as intensely for its own actions in the country.

Meta's hypocrisy extends beyond its dealings with the CCP. Zuckerberg has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to censor content in response to political pressures, most notably in his dealings with the U.S. government. Under pressure from the Biden administration, Meta took steps to restrict the spread of misinformation about COVID-19 and took down posts related to Hunter Biden's laptop. Zuckerberg's decision to ban President Donald Trump from Facebook raised questions about the extent to which the company is willing to censor political speech in the name of protecting its image or political interests.

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Zuckerberg's position on TikTok is part of a broader effort to secure Meta's dominance in the social media landscape. In a recent statement, Zuckerberg acknowledged that a potential ban of TikTok in the United States could benefit Meta, as TikTok is one of the company's main competitors. Zuckerberg has long sought to expand Meta's global reach, and the anti-China rhetoric seems more like a strategic move to weaken a competitor than a principled stance on censorship or national security.

If Meta is truly committed to its mission of connecting the world and promoting democratic values, it must be held accountable for its actions. The public deserves transparency, and Zuckerbergs hypocrisy must be confronted head-on.

Steve Sherman is an author, radio commentator, and former Iowa House candidate. His articles have appeared nationally in both print and online.
WASHINGTON, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Senior U.S. national security officials added a prominent journalist to a Signal group chat discussing a military strike on the Houthis in Yemen, making him aware of the airstrike plan two hours before the U.S. operation.

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, detailed what happened in an article on the magazine's website on Monday. He said that on March 11, he received a connection request on the Signal messaging app from a user named Michael Waltz, which is the name of the U.S. National Security Advisor. But at the time, it was unclear to Goldberg whether this was the official's actual account.

Two days later, Goldberg received a notification that he would be added to a group chat called "Houthi PC Small Group."

A message to the group, from "Michael Waltz," read as follows: "Team - establishing a principles [sic] group for coordination on Houthis, particularly for over the next 72 hours," Goldberg wrote.

The term "principals committee" generally refers to a group of the senior-most national security officials, including the secretaries of defense, state and the treasury, as well as the director of the CIA, he explained.

Goldberg said he had serious doubts about the authenticity of the group chat because he couldn't believe that the U.S. national security leadership would discuss imminent war plans on Signal.

He also couldn't believe that the president's National Security Advisor would be so reckless as to include the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic in such discussions with senior U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance.

However, as the conversation progressed, he began to sense a high degree of verisimilitude.

"What I will say, in order to illustrate the shocking recklessness of this Signal conversation, is that the Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing," Goldberg said, referring to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

After the actual airstrikes happened at the same time as previewed in the group chat, Goldberg reached out to several U.S. officials in the group chat to verify whether this was a genuine Signal thread, and to inquire about why he was added to the chat, among other related questions.

"This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain," Brian Hughes, the spokesman for the National Security Council, replied.

U.S. President Donald Trump was also asked about the incident by the media at the White House later Monday, and he said that he was unaware of it.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement, "President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz."

When asked by media about this, Hegseth said, "Nobody was texting war plans. And that's all I have to say about that." The defense secretary also lashed out at Goldberg, calling him "a deceitful and highly discredited so-called 'journalist' who's made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again."

The incident sparked grave concerns and harsh criticism.

"If true, this story represents one of the most egregious failures of operational security and common sense I have ever seen," Jack Reed, the Senate Armed Services Committee's top Democrat, said in a statement.

"Military operations need to be handled with utmost discretion, using approved, secure lines of communication, because American lives are on the line. The carelessness shown by President Trump's Cabinet is stunning and dangerous. I will be seeking answers from the administration immediately," said the Democratic senator.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described the incident as "amateur behavior" and called for "a full investigation into how this happened and the damage it created."

"This kind of security breach is how people get killed, how our enemies take advantage, how our national security falls into danger. These people are clearly not up for the job," he posted on social media platform X. 
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Alex Adams joins state officials and business leaders to announce the Idaho State Park Foster Family Passport at Lucky Peak State Park, as foster parents and families stand behind him. (Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun)

Updated editors note: This story was updated at 5 p.m. Tuesday with additional information. It was updated at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday with a statement from U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho.

President Donald Trump nominated Idahos new top health official to a role in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS.

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Alex Adams, who has been the Idaho Department of Health and Welfares Director since June 2024, is tapped to serve as the HHS assistant secretary for family support.

The U.S. Senate, which confirms presidential nominations, received the presidents nomination of Adams on Monday. It isnt immediately clear when his confirmation hearings are planned.

HHS is headed by U.S. health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who overcame concerns from senators about dozens of false or misleading vaccine safety statements in his Senate confirmation process, States Newsroom reported.

Adams previously served for years as Idaho Gov. Brad Littles budget chief and in other state government positions.

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In a written statement, Little thanked Trump for nominating Adams.

I am grateful to President Trump for his nomination of yet another Idahoan to a key post, and I am excited to see the positive changes to come at HHS with Alex in such an important leadership position, the governor wrote.

Adams is the third Idahoan appointed to key Trump administration positions, the Idaho governors office said in a news release.

Adams nomination was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance, which is chaired by U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho.

In a written statement on Wednesday, Crapo praised Adams for a deep commitment to Idahoans health as director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. And Crapo said he looked forward to swiftly considering his nomination in the committee.

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His leadership and dedication to expanding care in underserved areas reflects the commonsense, results-driven approach he will bring to HHS, Crapo wrote. Alexs additional experience as Governor Littles budget and regulatory director will also prove invaluable in right-sizing the scope of government in improving the health and wellbeing of all Americans.

Adams couldnt be reached for comment. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare declined to comment on Adams nomination, directing questions to the federal HHS agency. HHS couldnt be reached for comment.

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Adams heads Idahos largest state agency, which runs Medicaid and other aid programs. He announced foster care as top priority.

Soon after he took over the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Adams announced foster care as a top priority.

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He also served as interim Idaho Public Charter School Commission director, executive director of the Idaho Board of Pharmacy and formerly worked in the pharmacy industry.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little gives a press conference after delivering his annual State of the State address on Jan. 6, 2025, in the Lincoln Auditorium in the Idaho Capitol. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

Little also praised Adams work in Idaho, saying he brings a highly strategic and visionary approach to achieving my priorities for Idaho.

As my longtime budget director, he helped us champion record red tape reductions, historic tax relief, and huge wins for Idaho public education and workforce training, Little wrote. In under one year at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, he completely transformed and improved Idahos child welfare system to better serve our states most vulnerable children and the generous foster families who care for them.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is Idahos largest state government agency, with a more than $5 billion budget that is mostly federally funded.

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The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare runs social programs like Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Women and Infant Children program. The health department also provides public health services, regulates long-term care facilities, runs the states mental health hospitals, provides child welfare and provides services for people with developmental disabilities.

Adams holds a masters degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University, along with a bachelors degree and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Toledo in Ohio.

Adams directed the Idaho Board of Pharmacy starting in 2015, the Idaho Press reported. Adams previously served as vice president of pharmacy programs at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, a trade association in Arlington, Virginia, that represents over 40,000 pharmacies in the U.S, according to a news release last year from the governors office.

When then-Idaho governor-elect Little named Adams budget chief in 2018, Little said Adams oversaw a nearly 40% reduction in the Idaho Board of Pharmacys regulations that boosted jobs and expanded pharmacy services in underserved areas, the Associated Press reported.

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Idaho state Sen. C. Scott Grow, R-Eagle, (left) shakes the hand of state Rep. Josh Tanner, R-Eagle, (right) during the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee meeting on Jan. 7, 2025, at the State Capitol Building in Boise. Also pictured is Rep. Brandon Mitchell, R-Moscow (center). (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

The Idaho Legislatures budget committee is attempting to cut $2 million in ongoing general fund money from both Boise State University and the University of Idaho.

A divided Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, or JFAC, on Tuesday took up the fiscal year 2026 budget enhancements for the states colleges and universities. JFAC sets every budget for every state agency and department.

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The higher education budget was one of the final large budgets JFAC has set during the 2025 legislative session as legislators seek to wind down the session.

Idaho state Rep. Elaine Price, R-Coeur dAlene Press, takes her seat in the Legislatures Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Jan. 7, 2025, at the Idaho Statehouse in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

Rep. Elaine Price, R-Coeur dAlene, led the effort to reduce the funding for Boise State University and University of Idaho. Price, who has an accounting associate degree from North Idaho College, and JFAC did not make corresponding reductions to Idaho State University or any of the states other colleges.

When asked for an explanation of the cuts, Rep. Josh Tanner, R-Eagle, said he was concerned the two universities were incorporating elements of diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, into programs despite the state prohibiting colleges and universities from using state money for such programs.

Ive had a real tough time with universities, Tanner, a graduate of Boise State, said. The more I dig in, the more frustrated I actually get. The more I actually look into  whether you look into the DEI aspects, critical race theory, the actual professors and some of the classes that are actually being taught  it saddens me to see the direction that our universities have taken.

Some Republican legislators push back on cuts to Idaho universities

Rep. James Petzke, R-Meridian, a Boise State and Harvard Extension School grad, and Sen. Codi Galloway, R-Boise, who attended Brigham Young University for undergrad and Northwest Nazarene University for her graduate degree, attempted to push back against the $2 million cuts and the suggestion universities were using state money on DEI programs.

Idaho state Rep. James Petzke, R-Meridian, listens to proceedings during the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee meeting on Jan. 7, 2025, at the State Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

If this is related to DEI, I guess Im a little bit confused, because theres been language in the universitys budget the last couple of years that has specifically prohibited the universities from using any state appropriated funds on anything DEI related, Petzke said. So this reduction would not impact any DEI programs that were at the universities, which to my knowledge, have all been eliminated thanks to the State Boards actions.

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Galloway was even more outspoken. Galloway said she had concerns about the use of DEI programs several years ago. But Galloway said college and university officials and the State Board of Education have made changes to restrict and eliminate DEI programs.

I would argue now, today, that there has been a course change, theres been a correction, and its not over, and theres more to be done, Galloway said. But if we continue to punish and be punitive to our universities, we lose our negotiating power. We cannot ask people to make change, watch them make change and then continue to punish them. That is not how it works in negotiations. That is not how it works in the real business world.

Galloway warned that continuing to punish universities after they make changes could backfire.

Idaho state Sen. Codi Galloway, R-Boise, talks with colleagues during the second day of the legislative session during the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee meeting on Jan. 7, 2025, at the State Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

The money here is not very important, Galloway continued. $2 million, when you take the balance out, the money is small. A message we send is big. If we ask our agencies to make changes, they make significant changes and we refuse to change course with them, then our power of the purse is no longer relevant. They have no reason to listen to us or to make accommodations, because it doesnt matter.

How the votes broke down in the Idaho Legislatures budget committee

Galloway pushed unsuccessfully to pass the higher education budget without cutting funding from Boise State and the University of Idaho, but it failed on votes of 5-5 among Senate JFAC members and 5-5 among House members.

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Prices motion to cut $2 million in funding from both universities also produced a 5-5 vote among the Senate JFAC members, but House JFAC members voted 8-2 to support it, yielding a 13-7 vote among all of JFAC.

Without formal published rules in place, JFAC co-chairs Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, and Sen. Scott Grow, R-Eagle, have different interpretations of JFACs voting procedures, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported.

In adherence to the Senate interpretation of JFAC voting procedures that Grow supports, Grow sent the colleges and universities budget with the funding cuts to the Idaho Senate on Tuesday because that is the legislative chamber where it failed to achieve a majority vote. It will be up to Senate Republican leaders to decide what to do with the budget.

The higher education budget provides funding for more than just Boise State University and University of Idaho.

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The higher education budget provides funding for all of Idahos public universities and community colleges. Compared to the current fiscal year 2025 budget, the fiscal year 2026 higher education budget JFAC set Tuesday includes an increase of $3.2 million in total funding, and a 5.6% increase from the current budget.

The higher education budget will be sent next to the Idaho Senate for consideration. In order for the budget to take effect, it must pass the Idaho Senate and Idaho House of Representatives with a simple majority of votes in each legislative chamber and not be vetoed by Gov. Brad Little.

JFAC is scheduled to reconvene at 8 a.m. on Wednesday to resume setting budgets.

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Idaho Gov. Brad Little gives his annual State of the State address on Jan. 6, 2025, on the House floor at the Statehouse in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

A bill to allow the death penalty for adults who sexually abuse children age 12 and younger in Idaho is headed to Idaho Gov. Brad Little for final consideration.

House Bill 380, cosponsored by Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa and House Assistant Majority Leader Josh Tanner, R-Eagle, would allow the death penalty in a new criminal charge the bill creates: Aggravated lewd conduct with children age 12 and younger.

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The bill also would add mandatory minimum prison sentences for cases of aggravated lewd conduct with minors  which would only apply to abuse of children age 16 and below  that dont meet the bills proposed criteria for death penalty eligibility.

The Idaho Legislature widely passed the bill this year. The Idaho Senate passed the bill Monday on a 30-5 vote, with opposition from three Senate Democrats and two Senate Republicans. Last week, the Idaho House unanimously passed the bill, with 63 votes in favor and seven lawmakers absent.

When the bill is transmitted to Gov. Brad Little, he has five days, excluding Sundays, to decide on it. He has three options: sign it into law, allow it to become law without his signature, or veto it.

If passed into law, the bill would take effect July 1.

Bill would send a message, Sen. Doug Ricks says

Skaug has told lawmakers Idaho has some of the nations most lenient child rape laws.

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Unlike most states, Idaho currently lacks mandatory minimum sentences for these horrific crimes  meaning judges have the discretion to place the worst offenders on probation, bill cosponsor Sen. Doug Ricks, R-Rexburg, told the Senate on Monday. This legislation ensures that those who commit the most severe offenses against children face significant consequences, sending a clear message that Idaho will not tolerate the sexual abuse of minors, especially our children.

Idaho law only allows the death penalty in first-degree murder cases with aggravating circumstances.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little recently signed a bill into law that will make the Gem State the only state to use firing squads as its main execution method. Skaug also cosponsored that bill.

Idaho Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, voted against the death penalty for child sex abuse bill. She said harming a child should carry significant penalties, but she said the bill represents a significant policy shift for Idaho.

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Unfortunately, I only heard from four sources regarding this bill. And that feels very uncomfortable, when I think we need a vigorous and long debate and discussion, Wintrow said.

U.S. Supreme Court already struck down death penalties for child rape. Idaho lawmakers expect a legal challenge.

The U.S. Supreme Court in 2008 blocked death penalties for child rape in Kennedy v. Louisiana.

Florida passed a child rape death penalty law two years ago. Last year, Tennessee passed a child rape death penalty law.

Bracing for a legal challenge to the bill, Skaug told lawmakers he expects the U.S. Supreme Court would rule differently.

You can say, Well, thats unconstitutional, Bruce. Why would you bring that? Well, it was  according to a 5-4 decision in 2008. I dont think that would be the case today, Skaug, an attorney, told lawmakers in a House committee hearing. Thats my professional opinion. Thats the opinion of many other attorneys.

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Skaug has said the death penalty would be rarely sought under his bill. Nine people are on death row in Idaho, according to the Idaho Department of Correction.

Defense attorney suggests many cases would be death penalty eligible

Public testimony has been largely supportive of the bill.

But in a Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee hearing on the bill on Wednesday, David Martinez of the Idaho Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers testified against the bill, arguing the bill doesnt focus on the worst of the worst, could potentially expose victims of decades of reliving trauma, and fails to account for Idahos shortage of qualified death penalty defense attorneys.

The bill outlines more than a dozen aggravating factors under which prosecutors can seek the death penalty. Only three are required to seek the death penalty, which would only be available in cases of aggravated lewd conduct against minors age 12 and younger.

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But in almost every lewd conduct case Martinez has handled or supervised, he said at least three of those factors are already present.

Using force or coercion is one of the aggravating factors outlined in the bill. But thats inherently present in every lewd conduct case because minors cant consent to the conduct, Martinez said.

What this bill actually does is subsume the underlying crime, because potentially all (lewd and lascivious cases) will fall under this new statute, and none under the old, Martinez testified in committee.

Holly Rebholtz, representing the Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association, said she disagreed, saying the new aggravated lewd conduct crime wouldnt be charged very often.

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I dont think these crimes are going to come into play very often. But when they do, they are the most serious crimes we see. And again, the prosecutors believe that the most serious crimes against children deserve a serious punishment, Rebholtz testified.

Skaug told the committee that Idaho public defenders were not able to immediately estimate the bills costs. But in a worst case scenario, Skaug said, there could be two cases each year at a cost of as much as a million dollars per case.

Senate Republican opposed bill, saying We are starting to equate revenge with justice

Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Moscow, a combat veteran and retired police officer, voted against the bill on the Senate floor. He was also one of few Republicans to vote against a bill to make the firing squad the main death penalty method in Idaho.

I see society starting to go down a dangerous road here. Not just with this bill, but in general  where we are starting to equate revenge with justice. And thats a slippery slope, Foreman said in a committee hearing last week on the child sex abuse death penalty bill.

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Senate Majority Leader Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian, argued on the Senate floor that the bill isnt about retribution.

When I look at the types of circumstances that would lead to these charges  and I think about the irreparable and irreversible damage done to a child who then has to live with the consequences of these actions upon them for the rest of their lives  I think this is about accountability and about how we value life, she said.

This is Skaugs second attempt at child sex abuse death penalty bill

This years child sex abuse death penalty bill is Skaug and Tanners second attempt at such a bill. Last year, another bill they brought widely passed the House but never received a Senate committee hearing.

Skaug and Tanners new bill this year  cosponsored by eight other Idaho lawmakers  would establish the new crime, and mandatory minimums criminal sentences. For instance, the bills proposed mandatory minimum sentence for aggravated lewd conduct with minors under age 16 would carry at least 25 years in prison.

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Under the bill, lewd conduct with a minor would include but is not limited to genital-genital contact, oral-genital contact, anal-genital contact, oral-anal contact, manual-anal contact, or manual-genital contact when such acts are meant to arouse, appeal to or gratify lust or passions or sexual desires.

This story was originally produced by the Idaho Capital Sun which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network, including the Daily Montanan, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
Insert LinkIllinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat who is one of the strongest voices against Donald Trump, stood up for LGBTQ+ and particularly transgender people in a fiery speech Saturday at the Human Rights Campaigns Los Angeles dinner.

The Trump administration and his Republican lackeys in Congress are looking to reverse every single victory this community has won over the last 50 years, Pritzker said in the speech at the Fairmont Century Plaza. And right now its drag queens reading books and transgender people serving in the military. Tomorrow, its your marriage license and your job they want to take. Bending to the whims of a bully will not end his cruelty. It will only embolden him. The response to authoritarianism isnt acquiescence. Bullies respond to one thing, and one thing only, a punch in the face.

And in the midst of this existential fight, this battle that seems to consume everything, well, lets not take the soul-sucking path of sacrificing the most persecuted for that which we deem to be most popular, Pritzker went on. I know that there are transgender children right now looking out at this world and wondering if anyone is going to stand up for them and for their simple right to exist. Well, I am. We are. We will.

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This comes at a time when even some Democrats, such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom, are backing away from support for trans people.

Watch Illinois Governor JB Pritzker Reject the Politics of Trans Abandonment

Video of Gov. Pritzker's speech www.readtpa.com





Pritzker also offered some history of the LGBTQ+ rights movement, starting with the Society for Human Rights in Chicago in the 1920s  a group that was quickly quashed  and going on to the Mattachine Society, founded by Harry Hay in California in the 1950s. Harry said that he was first told about the Chicago group as a warning that the idea was too dangerous and nobody should try to pull anything off like that ever again, the governor said. How lucky the world is that Harry didnt listen.

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When we say history repeats itself, its not because the villains and battles dont evolve with the ages. They do, he continued. But the fight itself remains elemental. Its always men who would be king, blaming the suffering of the masses on those who look different or sound different or live differently. And since the dawn of time, the triumph of good over evil has relied on those who believe in empathy and kindness, summoning the steel spine needed to defend those values that by their nature leave us vulnerable to attack. This community knows that. You have lived and breathed this fight for generations. Our hope, our hope lies in this room.

Since his first run for governor in 2018, Pritzker has been an adversary of Trump. I said at the beginning of every stump speech, everything we care about is under siege by a racist, misogynist, homophobic, xenophobic Donald Trump, Pritzker said. He ended every speech by asking if his listeners were ready for the fight, and he called on the LGBTQ+ community to keep up the fight now.

Take to the streets, protest, show up at town halls, he said. Jam the phone lines in Congress, (202) 224-3121, and afford not a moment of peace to any elected representatives who are aiding and abetting [Elon] Musk and Trumps illegal power grab.

What we do and dont do matters, he added. It matters right now more than it ever has before. When my future grandkids look back on this moment, I want them to know that my voice was one of the loudest in the room, screaming for justice and fighting against tyranny.
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA)  The Red Cross has helped nearly 30 people in Central Illinois after six different fires damaged or destroyed their homes last week.

After fires broke out in Champaign, Paxton, Danville, Paris, Peoria and Kilbourne, the Red Cross provided emergency assistance. This included food, toiletries, and health and mental health services.

Champaign FD investigating fully involved car fire

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Our hearts go out to our neighbors who were impacted by these fires, Kellie OConnell, CEO of Illinois Red Cross, said. Because these disasters can happen anytime, anywhere, please help stay safe by testing your smoke alarms each month and practicing your home fire escape plan until everyone in your household can escape in two minutes or less.

Now, the Red Cross is hoping that Central Illinois residents will give back for Red Cross Giving Day on March 26. The Red Cross said that there are several ways community members can give back, and also help their neighbors in need:

Donate  The Red Cross said you can help those impacted by disasters by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster relief here, or by calling 800-733-2767.

Volunteer  You can sign up for opportunities with your local chapter here.

Prepare  Protect your family from extreme weather in advance. Visit this website for tips to create your own disaster preparedness action plan.

For home fire safety resources and tips, visit the Red Cross website. So far this year, local Red Cross volunteers have helped hundreds of people affected by home fires in Central Illinois communities, according to the organization.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Tahmina Watson's law firm helps founders and businesses apply for employment visas.

She says President Donald Trump's immigration executive orders are making her clients fearful.

Watson says businesses are worried about raids, and clients have faced unexpected consulate issues.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation in early March with 49-year-old Tahmina Watson, a business immigration lawyer in Seattle. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I've enjoyed working in immigration law because I can impact people's lives and do challenging and interesting work.

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I opened the doors to my law firm, Watson Immigration Law, in 2009.

We help foreign-born entrepreneurs find the best visa pathways for starting their companies in the US and provide immigration assistance to companies that are trying to expand into the US.

Many companies we work with are looking for top-notch talent, so they often hire people graduating from Ph.D. or master's programs on student visas who will require a visa sponsorship. We help people in various industries  including health and tech, since Seattle is a tech-savvy area  apply for various visas, including H-1Bs, O-1s, and EB-1s.

Since the Trump administration has come to power, new immigration directives are creating fear and resulting in increased scrutiny for my clients.

I'm seeing fear among clients about Trump's executive orders

The executive orders that have come down one after another have caused a lot of fear among the clients I work with.

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Let's take the birthright citizenship one as an example. We're seeing suggestions that no one except green card holders and US citizens would be able to have children who receive citizenship at birth. This leaves the potential children of a lot of the visa holders we work with out of the equation.

Often, those with H-1B visas  a temporary employment visa  live in the States while they're trying to get a green card, so they continue to extend their visa.

Life doesn't stop while you're waiting for a green card; there is at least security for their kids if they had children during this period.

It's difficult to predict whether this executive order will be implemented. Judges have blocked the order. Birthright citizenship is guaranteed under the US Constitution, so there would likely have to be a constitutional amendment.

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I'm seeing people looking into alternative ways to get a green card, and some people are looking to leave the country. There's a lot of interest in Canada because of the time zone and also the proximity, which is useful for business operations. In 2023, Canada launched a program to attract US H-1B holders, and the application threshold was met within 48 hours. I think we'll see more interest in the coming months and weeks.

People are afraid of raids

Businesses, particularly those in the hospitality industry, are nervous about raids, during which immigration officers check if businesses have undocumented workers. While they've verified employee work authorization documents, they can't be certain if these documents are authentic.

Raids have already happened in multiple states, and businesses have been asking how they can prepare. We've guided our clients so they have their paperwork ready for audits.

I'm concerned about how businesses will be impacted

The Trump administration made an executive order to enhance vetting at consulates, and I think this is partly why some of my clients have experienced issues at consulates. We recently had an L-1A approved for a client. When they arrived at the consulate in Brazil, the embassy initially refused it and asked for a lot of documentation before approving it.

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That same day, we heard of an unexpected refusal of one of our clients in India for a visa for religious workers because the consular officer questioned the nature of their work.

While increased scrutiny at consulates can occur, the timing and severity of these cases indicate a possible influence from recent Department of State directives. This development makes me concerned about future visa approvals across the board.

We recently received a denial for an EB-1 visa for a well-qualified startup founder. Months ago, I think filing for him wouldn't have raised any questions at all. We're trying to figure out what to do, but it's having knock-on effects on his team already.

These are things we've never heard of before. It's almost like they're throwing spaghetti on the wall at every single aspect of immigration. For the moment, everything is sticking because the litigation that has followed will take time to unfold. In the meantime, the damage is being done to people.

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I'm concerned about the potential impact of these changes on the American consumer. If businesses have work visas denied, their services will be strained.

I've lost hope that we'll see positive changes for highly skilled workers

Many changes to immigration policies are still in process, and we're yet to see how they'll unfold fully.

During President Donald Trump's first term, my team saw heightened scrutiny of H-1B and O-1 visas; I think more is coming.

My line of work is stressful. Livelihoods and an ecosystem of businesses are affected. If one person goes, there's a domino effect. I'm trying to make sure I take care of myself this time around.

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I actually felt some optimism before the inauguration. H-1Bs were receiving positive attention following statements from Elon Musk and other leaders, and during his campaign, Trump also said graduates should get green cards.

I thought that maybe we'd see some positive effects for high-skilled, legal immigration.

But so far, we're not seeing that, and I've lost hope that we'll see good changes.

The White House didn't respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at ccheong@businessinsider.com or Signal at charissacheong.95. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

Read the original article on Business Insider
UTICA, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  The Mexican citizen accused of assaulting police officers in the Ithaca area has admitted to illegally crossing the border into the United States after previous deportations.

NewsChannel 9 was the only news organization in the federal courtroom as 25-year-old Jesus Romero-Hernadez plead guilty to the single felony count of illegal reentry.

In January, Romero-Hernadezs lengthy criminal history helped make him one target of President Donald Trumps increased immigration enforcement.

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Before being accused of the federal immigration charge, Romero-Hernandez has been accused of at least nine misdemeanors, two felonies, and multiple arrest warrants

Among the charges were at least three different arrests related to family violence, along with battery and assault in Georgia in 2020.

Then, at an unknown time, he moved to Tompkins County, including living at the homeless encampment in Ithaca nicknamed The Jungle.

While in Tompkins County, Romero-Hernandez was arrested at least three times. In March of 2022, federal prosecutors say he destroyed the inside of a hotel room in Lansing. In September of 2023, he was accused of putting a police officer in a chokehold. Then, in November of 2023, he admitted to biting the finger of a correction officer with his jaw locking down before punching the officer.

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It was the most recent assault of an officer that had Romero-Hernandez serving a sentence that expired in January, when the Tompkins County Sheriff allowed him to leave jail. The federal government has since accused the sheriff of refusing to honor a federal warrant.

After he was out free, ICE then arrested Romero-Hernandez.

Romero-Hernandez will be sentenced later this year at a hearing currently scheduled for July. His guilty admission risks up to two years in prison and the high likelihood hell be deported to Mexico 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 WSYR.
Video: Our 2021 report on how tuberculosis numbers dropped in New Mexico from 2006 to 2019.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Every year, World Tuberculosis Day is observed on March 24. This marks the date a doctor first discovered exactly which bacteria was causing the disease, thereby paving the way toward diagnosis and treatment.

Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterial infection that commonly impacts the lungs, although it can also affect other areas including the spine, brain, or kidneys. The disease can be spread through coughing, sneezing, and talking.

History of Tuberculosis in New Mexico

In the late nineteenth century, some tuberculosis patients sought treatment in the form of the dry air, and plentiful sunshine found here in New Mexico. KRQE News 13 spoke with Richard Melzer, author of Sanatoriums of New Mexico and former University of New Mexico history professor, to find out more.

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According to Melzer, there are a few different reasons people fled to New Mexico to try and find a cure. He confirmed one motivator was the good, clear air at a high altitude, although the other driving factors are a bit more complex.

For some patients, it may have come down to money. While plenty of places in the southwest offer dry air and sunny skies, cities like Colorado Springs or Phoenix were a bit steeper than New Mexico. As for Albuquerque specifically, it became an easy enough city to access with the addition of the train coming from Santa Fe.

A lot of [patients] came, and taxis would be waiting at the [train] depot, said Melzer. The taxi would be ready to bring them to a hospital, and they would have died enroute.

Patients were often treated at sanitoriums specifically designated for those with tuberculosis. Albuquerque opened up quite a few of these, such as St. Josephs. The influx of tuberculosis patients may not have been completely unexpected for New Mexico. Melzer says people have always come to the state in hopes the air would help clear up various respiratory illnesses, although none of those cases impacted the state quite as much as TB.

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Its important to remember and appreciate where this all came from, said Melzer. The origins of our health history, and what all was made.

Beyond the clear air and the affordability, Melzer partly attributes the large amount of New Mexico tuberculosis patients to marketing. According to Melzer, New Mexico was promoted as a wellness country, with local commerce chambers even launching campaigns to further solidify that notion. Melzer says this had a significant impact for businesses.

In terms of clothes, pajamas, robes, slippers said Melzer. Every year they had different fashion, if they were wealthy enough. Then of course drug stores, real estate agents, funeral homes, taxis, books

At the height of its outbreak, patients were known as lungers, and Central Avenue was even known as lungers alley due to the large amount of sanitoriums nearby.

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When asked about the importance of this history, Melzer had this to say.

If we didnt have that vaccine developed to deal with TB after 1940, it would still be the deadliest disease, said Melzer. It was the number one killer, and we would still be facing that if we hadnt come up with a vaccine, and if people hadnt taken the vaccine.

According to the CDC, there were 41 tuberculosis cases in New Mexico in 2024. Nationally, there were 10,347 cases that 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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
WASHINGTON, March 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday stood by his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, after The Atlantic's editor-in-chief was accidentally added to Signal group chat where high-level national security officials were discussing military plans in Yemen.

"Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he's a good man," Trump said Tuesday in a phone interview with NBC News.

When asked what he was told about how Goldberg came to be added to the Signal chat, Trump said, "It was one of Michael's people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there."

Trump also said Goldberg's presence in the chat had "no impact at all" on the military operation against Houthi forces in Yemen.

Trump's remarks came one day after Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, said in an article on Monday that senior U.S. national security officials recently added him to a Signal group chat discussing a military strike on Houthi forces in Yemen. He said he became aware of the airstrike plan about two hours before the U.S. operation.

"I have never seen a breach quite like this," said Goldberg in the article.

When asked by media about this, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday that "Nobody was texting war plans. And that's all I have to say about that." The defense secretary also lashed out at Goldberg, calling him "a deceitful and highly discredited so-called 'journalist' who's made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again."

The incident has sparked grave concerns and harsh criticism.

"If true, this story represents one of the most egregious failures of operational security and common sense I have ever seen," Jack Reed, the Senate Armed Services Committee's top Democrat, said in a statement.

"Military operations need to be handled with utmost discretion, using approved, secure lines of communication, because American lives are on the line. The carelessness shown by President Trump's Cabinet is stunning and dangerous. I will be seeking answers from the administration immediately," said the Democratic senator.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described the incident as "amateur behavior" and called for "a full investigation into how this happened and the damage it created."

"This kind of security breach is how people get killed. How our enemies take advantage. How our national security falls into danger. These people are clearly not up for the job," he posted on X. 
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Devices that were deemed incendiary by police were found at a Tesla showroom in Austin, Texas, on Monday morning, the citys police department said.

Austin police said officers responded to a call about suspicious devices at the showroom around 8 a.m. and the bomb squad was called out to investigate.

The devices were determined to be incendiary and were taken by police without incident, the Austin Police Department said. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) also responded to the scene, an agency spokesperson told Nexstars KXAN.

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Protesters gather outside Austin Tesla showroom for second week in a row

There have been numerous instances of vandalism aimed at Tesla showrooms and cars throughout the nation in the past few weeks, ranging from cars being defaced to cars or even Tesla chargers set on fire. In one instance, the Associated Press reported an Oregon man was arrested after he was accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at a store in Salem. It prompted the Justice Department last week to investigate, with Attorney General Pam Bondi saying, The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism.

Devices that were deemed incendiary by Austin Police were found at the northwest Austin Tesla showroom on March 24, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez) Devices that were deemed incendiary by Austin Police were found at the northwest Austin Tesla showroom on March 24, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez) Devices that were deemed incendiary by Austin Police were found at the northwest Austin Tesla showroom on March 24, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)

About a hundred protesters gathered each of the last two weekends outside the Austin showroom to voice their displeasure with Tesla CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump. Those protests were not violent and didnt result in any arrests.

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A spokesperson for the FBI confirmed it was investigating this incident, along with others recently reported. The FBI recommended the public read the PSA released Friday on those incidents and how the public can exercise vigilance and to look out for suspicious activity in areas occupied by Tesla dealerships or Tesla-related entities.

City Council Member Krista Laine, who represents this area of Austin, told KXAN she is discussing the incident with APD Chief Lisa Davis.

I am incredibly thankful to our APD officers for their prompt response to this incident and quick resolution ensuring that no one was hurt. I strongly condemn any action that puts the people of Austin in danger. No matter the motivation, violence of any kind is unacceptable. I am deeply relieved that no one was hurt during this incident and am in discussion with APD Chief Lisa Davis about how to ensure our residents protection in the case of future violent escalations, Laine said.

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The Trump administration is once again seeking the Supreme Courts help.

This weeks urgent plea for high court relief comes in a specific case, but it takes aim at all the losses dealt by judges across the country.

This preliminary injunction also contributes to an untenable trend, acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris wrote in an application Monday, seeking an immediate halt to a California judges order to reinstate thousands of federal employees who were fired last month.

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In the two months since Inauguration Day, district courts have issued more than 40 injunctions or TROs against the Executive Branch, Harris went on, referring to temporary restraining orders. Calling the status quo unsustainable, the former Clarence Thomas clerk wrote that judges are emboldened by the lack of prompt appellate review and that only this Court can end the interbranch power grab.

This Court should stop the ongoing assault on the constitutional structure before further damage is wrought, Harris wrote.

The dramatic filing comes to a court that hasnt been overly eager to help the administration with legal fights so far in President Donald Trumps second term.

Earlier this month, the justices split 5-4 in rejecting the governments bid to avoid paying nearly $2 billion in foreign aid funds for already completed work. When Harris went to the justices two weeks ago with applications to narrow nationwide injunctions in Trumps attempt to curb birthright citizenship, they didnt make the opposing parties responses due until April 4. The relatively luxurious deadline suggests the court doesnt feel much urgency to step in.

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To be sure, its early in Trumps second term, and these opening litigation battles are just some of the likely many to come in the weeks, months and years ahead. But this latest filing portrays a serious concern from the government about how things are going. Well see in this case and others if a majority of the court wants to change the status quo.

Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for expert analysis on the top legal stories of the week, including updates from the Supreme Court and developments in the Trump administrations legal cases.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
When it rains, it pours in Texas. The storm that began to affect the Lone Star State on Wednesday will finish up on Friday, with still some risk of flooding.

As heavy rain continued to pour down across southeastern Texas, fire officials from the city of Alamo in Hidalgo County confirmed at least 50 water rescues on Thursday.

The drenching showers and thunderstorms first erupted along the Rio Grande Valley from southern New Mexico to the Gulf Coast Wednesday. From there, the main storm moved slowly along to the northeast, along the western Gulf Coast.

AccuWeather.com

While the storm and its heavy rain have pushed away from interior South Texas, it will continue to bring heavy rain to coastal and northeastern areas of the state as it moves into the south-central region of the U.S. as it moves along. The storm is in a perfect position to tap rich Gulf moisture and wring it out in the form of drenching downpours and locally gusty thunderstorms.

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Some of the thunderstorms that erupt into Friday over southern and eastern Texas can be severe with strong wind gusts, large hail and a few tornadoes, but the longer-term impacts from this evolving storm system will be from heavy rainfall.

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Which areas will get the most rain?

Enough rain will pour down in coastal and even central parts of Texas and later Louisiana to lead to flash flooding in rural and urban areas. Some of the rivers in the region will experience quick rises as well. However, because the heaviest rain has been focused relatively close to the coast, most rivers will stay within their banks. The problems will stem from small streams, along normally dry washes and in urban areas that drain poorly.

Motorists should be prepared for dangerous conditions in low-water crossings in rural areas, ponding on highways, and even flooding that may occur on some city streets.

AccuWeather.com

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The cities of Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi and Victoria, Texas, will be thoroughly drenched from the storm, while areas farther north and west in Dallas, and Lafayette and Shreveport, Louisiana, will also receive a good soaking. South Texas was swamped with heavy rain during the storm's early stages.

South Padre Island, Texas, picked up 7.25 inches in 8 hours as of Thursday morning. Heavy thunderstorms Thursday night triggered a flash flood emergency for Harlingen, Texas. As of early Friday morning, the city recorded 14.08 inches since Wednesday night.

AccuWeather.com

Along a portion of the central Texas coast to I-35, 4-8 inches of rain are forecast to fall with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 21 inches. While this amount of rainfall is on par with a tropical storm, it is not a tropical system as it lacks surface features and structure.

Storm to ease drought in many areas

Rainfall deficits in Victoria, for example, have fluctuated from 40-65% of the historical average during last fall and into this winter. However, since Feb. 1, prior to the current storm, rainfall has been less than 25% of the historical average. Since March 1, that has dropped to a mere 6%.

AccuWeather.com

The limited rain over many months and very little rain in recent weeks have significantly increased drought conditions. In some areas south and west of Houston, extreme to exceptional drought conditions exist. So where any rain falls in these areas, it will be extremely beneficial.

Next stop for the storm

The same storm system will slowly move into the Mississippi Valley by the weekend, where it may initially inhibit severe weather farther to the north and west. However, that may only briefly delay a potential severe weather outbreak later this weekend to early next week in the Central and Eastern states.

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Rachel Reeves is viewed as incompetent by the public, a poll has found, laying bare just how much people have lost faith in Labours ability to manage the economy.

More in Common said incompetent was the most common word or phrase used to describe the Chancellor when asked, with many also describing her as useless, out of touch and out of her depth.

The survey of 2,000 adults, conducted on the eve of the Spring Statement, found Britons are deeply anxious about the economy, with little faith in the Governments ability to improve things, the polling found.

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More in Common said Ms Reeves was now less trusted than Jeremy Hunt, her Tory predecessor or Mel Stride, the current shadow chancellor, to manage the economy.

It comes days after separate polling by Survation found Ms Reeves was the least popular member of the Cabinet, with a net favourability rating of -11.

The Chancellors popularity has plummeted after announcing a record tax raid in the autumn Budget, which alienated business, before slashing benefit spending in a blow to many supporters on the Left.

Critics have said Ms Reevess overly tight fiscal rules and the narrow headroom she left herself in the Budget have forced her into making deep cuts to public services.

Reeves struggling with public perception

Most families believe Labour hid plans for massive tax rises from the public, More in Common found, suggesting scepticism over her claims of a 22bn black hole left by the Tories.

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More in Common said: For many Britons, Labours first economic misstep took place before they even entered government. Fifty-three per cent of Britons think that Labour werent up front about their economic plans in order to get elected, and that they always knew they werent going to keep their promises.

The polling company said Ms Reeves was struggling with public perception. While people also described her as good and determined, many words used to describe the Chancellor were pejorative, including terms such as horrible, useless and dishonest.

The polling has been published amid a row over the Chancellors decision to accept free tickets to a Sabrina Carpenter concert.

The survey showed Britain remained gripped in a doom loop, with four in 10 Britons believing the economy was already in recession and 61pc pessimistic about what Ms Reeves will reveal on Wednesday.

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The Chancellor is expected to admit that the 9.9bn buffer she set aside in October has been more than wiped out, with more cuts to spending and the welfare bill expected in an attempt to rebuild the buffer.

The polling signals a sharp turnaround in attitudes since the election. Labour was trusted to manage the economy ahead of last years vote according to polling at the time. The share of Britons who expect Labour to improve their lives has fallen from 54pc before the election to 29pc today.

More in Common said: Only 13pc of Britons think that Labours economic policies are in line with what they promised while in opposition.

While Britons overwhelmingly agree that Labours policies have shifted since the election, only a third believe that this change is due to changing global circumstances or the Conservatives misrepresenting the state of public finances. Most believe this shift was planned.

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.
GROTON, Conn. (WTWO/WAWV)  After six months at sea, Indianas namesake ship, the USS Indiana, will return to its homeport in Groton, Connecticut, on Thursday, March 27.

The USS Indiana is a Virginia-class fast-attack submarine that was commissioned in September of 2018 and is the third U.S. warship named after the state of Indiana.

The submarine is commanded by Cmdr. Kyle McVay and during its six months at sea the crew executed the chief of naval operations maritime strategy in supporting national security interests and maritime security operations, according to a press release from the Navy Office of Community Outreach.

180929-N-SU448-0062 PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. (Sept. 29, 2018) The First Navy Jack is raised during the commissioning ceremony of the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Indiana (SSN 789). Indiana is the U.S. Navys 16th Virginia-class fast-attack submarine and the third ship named for the state of Indiana. (U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Leah Stiles/Released)

Fast-attack submarines are designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare, according to the Navy Office of Community Outreach.

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As a state, Indiana beat Midwestern peers including Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio, and the Indy regions population growth rate topped Louisville, Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland. (Getty Images)

Lets start with the good news: the Indy region and the state of Indiana each saw their strongest net migration growth in nearly two decades last year, adding 26,600 and 44,100 residents, respectively.

As a state, Indiana beat Midwestern peers including Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio, and the Indy regions growth rate topped Louisville, Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland. This affirms Indianas efforts to attract and retain talent through a favorable economic climate and investment in quality-of-life amenities.

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The less promising news is that Indiana ranks in the middle of the pack nationally  31st of 50 states  and our largest current growth driver, international migration, is projected to decline over the next few decades. With birth rates also declining across the country, Indianas population growth is projected to slow dramatically, adding just 9,575 net new residents and 5,243 workers per year on average over the next 25 to 35 years.

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In todays economy, these numbers matter. Population growth directly fuels workforce expansion, which is critical to business success. As of December, 164,000 jobs remained unfilled in Indiana. This means there are more open jobs today than the states total projected workforce growth over the next 35 years. Without more people, we simply cant meet the growth needs of current Indiana businesses, or continue to attract new business investment..

We cant accept these numbers as our sealed fate. If our region and state want to continue to lead the Midwest and compete nationally, we must make smart, focused talent investments today to bend the curve for tomorrow.

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Indiana is already well positioned for long-term success, with strong quality of life, low taxes and cost-of-living, and a Midwest location less susceptible to climate change and natural disasters than the Sunbelt  home to many of the nations fastest-growing states.

Now is the time to build on these strengths, accelerate our momentum, and firmly establish Indiana as a force to be reckoned with in the competition for talent. Focusing our efforts in two critical areas will be key to long-term success: investing in homegrown Hoosiers and retaining a larger share of Indiana college graduates.

The path forward

First, we must grow the supply of Indiana students who earn credentials beyond a high school diploma. Our economy increasingly demands such credentials, yet our postsecondary participation rate has been declining for the last decade, mirroring a national trend and leaving 60,000 Hoosier students on the economic sidelines each and every year.

We must continue to encourage and incentivize college enrollment and completion, while also providing alternative pathways to promising jobs, such as the emerging Indiana Career Apprenticeship Pathway for high school students. Indiana is an early leader in this space, and by accelerating these efforts, we can elevate the skills and readiness of our workforce, which will attract more business investment, high-quality jobs, and people to our state.

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Second, we have an extraordinary opportunity to keep more students who attend college in Indiana in our state after they graduate. Nearly 25,000 new students move to Indiana each fall to attend our world-class universities, making our state a top importer of college-going talent. Yet 34,000 graduates leave Indiana each year, ranking us among the top exporters of college graduates, as well.

We must do more to capitalize on our states 430,000 college students and 130,000 annual graduates. We can do this by exposing students to thriving Indiana communities, continuing to invest in quality-of-place amenities that attract young talent, and better fostering employer-student connections. By improving graduate retention even modestly, we can build momentum as an emerging talent destination.

Lets take a moment to celebrate our growth in 2024 and then get back to work to elevate our performance even further. Our states economic future and the well-being of all Hoosiers depend on it.

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The member of the Lake County Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals who inspired a PTABOA member Indiana residency bill left the board earlier this year, officials said.

Samantha Steele, who is also a Cook County Board of Review commissioner, wasnt reappointed to her seat and left the board in early January, said Lake County Assessor and PTABOA secretary LaTonya Spearman. The Board of Commissioners appointed Warren Reeder, a local real estate agent, she said.

Steele had served on the Lake County PTABOA since 2020, Spearman said. Steele declined to comment on her leaving the PTABOA board.

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Commissioner Mike Repay, D-3rd, said Steele was the Board of Commissioners appointment to the PTABOA. Steele didnt want to be reappointed to the board, Repay said, but he didnt believe Senate Bill 187 had an impact on her decision.

In her Cook County Board of Review biography, Steele states she is a level three assessor and appraiser with more than 15 years of experience in property valuations.

Meanwhile, Senate Bill 187, which changes PTABOA members residency, passed out of the House Local Government Committee Tuesday in a 8-0 vote without committee discussion or public testimony. Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point, the House sponsor of the bill, said in committee that Lake County would be impacted by the bill because a member, Steele, lived in Illinois and served as an elected official there while serving on the Lake County PTABOA.

Senate Bill 187, authored by State Sen. Dan Dernulc, states the term of anyone serving on a county PTABOA who isnt an Indiana resident will expire July 1. The fiscal body, which is the council in Lake County, would then be required to appoint a new member to finish out the members term.

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The bill maintains Indianas current PTABOA law that states a member has to be at least 18 years old and be knowledgeable in the valuation of property. The bill also maintains that a majority of the members must have the certification of a level two or level three assessor-appraiser.

This is an important piece of legislation that directly affects my district, Dernulc said in a statement when the bill passed out of the Senate Feb. 4.

Dernulc, R-Highland, said he drafted the bill after learning Steele was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence in Chicago late last year.

Members of an Indiana PTABOA should be Indiana residents to ensure we have equal and fair property tax assessments for those who have chosen to call themselves Hoosiers. I look forward to seeing how this will change how people look at these boards and who serves on them, Dernulc said.

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The bill was amended in the Senate Local Government Committee to include language proposed by State Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, to ensure that the PTABOA member lives in Indiana throughout their four-year term.

Lake County Councilman Ted Bilski, D-Hobart, previously said conceptually the PTABOA bill makes sense, and he supports it. The members of the board should live in the community they are serving, he said.

But Bilski said he hopes the bill doesnt make it more difficult to find PTABOA members because its not always easy to find level two or level three assessor-appraisers.

(The bill) makes sense. I have no issues with it. I hope it doesnt impede our ability to fill the board, Bilski said.

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Lake County Council President Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, previously said she told Dernulc she supports the bill. Cid said the county uses a state website to find level two and level three assessors, so it would be easy to find qualified people who live in the county or state that could serve on the PTABOA.

I believe there are plenty of qualified people here, not just in Lake County but in Indiana, that could serve, Cid said.

akukulka@post-trib.com
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT)  Indiana 8th District Representative Mark Messmer speaks out following a protest on Saturday outside of his office in downtown Evansville.

As previously reported, hundreds were gathered in frustration over Messmers refusal to hold a Town Hall and not engaging with constituents. Concerned citizens gathered on Third Street demanding accountability.

Organizers say their main concern is accountability. They claim Messmer isnt listening. and that many people in the 8th District feel like theyre being ignored.

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On Monday afternoon, Rep. Mark Messmer made the following statement in response to the protest:

The Evansville weekend protest reflects how blessed we are to live in the United States of America. And while I disagree with many of their positions, I fully respect and embrace their right to freely protest. I am in Washington, D.C. today, so I was not in the Evansville office to receive the letters the protesters dropped off, but my staff was happy to collect them. Rep. Mark Messmer

Several protesters returned on Monday to deliver the letters to Rep. Messmers 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 Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
A truck outside of the Indiana Statehouse promotes legalized marijuana as a potential revenue source. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Tuesday discussion around a Bureau of Motor Vehicle (BMV) bill descended into impassioned debate over marijuana advertising, which Republican lawmakers said should be restricted.

In contention was House Bill 1390, authored by Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie. The underlying legislation originally just dealt with BMV agency matters, like insurance verification, specialty license plates and registration stickers.

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But among multiple changes adopted by the Senate transportation committee on Tuesday  including a significant amendment addressing predatory towing  was a ban on outdoor marijuana advertising, notably on highway billboards.

Specifically, the amended bill language seeks to prohibit outdoor advertisements for products containing marijuana or a variety of other controlled substances, including heroin, LSD and ecstasy.

Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie, sits in the House, on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Pressel  whose district extends to Indianas northern border  described billboards all over the place that say, Come to my store and buy this, referencing dispensaries in Michigan, where recreational marijuana is legal.

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And we have trucks, mobile billboards, that drive around and sit in front of our parks. Thats unacceptable, and it sends a mixed message to the consumer that this product is legal in Indiana, which it is not, Pressel said, who unsuccessfully attempted to add the provision to a separate House bill earlier in the session.

I think thats an unfair message, he continued, and I believe that we should get in front of this to say that if its an illegal substance, listed on our illegal substance list in the state of Indiana, you should not be able to advertise for that.

Multiple advertisers pushed back.

Ron Breymier, executive director of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Indiana, cited First Amendment issues. He argued that policymakers can dictate the size and placement of billboards, but not the actual advertisement itself.

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Phones and internet searches, Breymier said, are a greater threat than billboards.

Rather than a ban, he recommended a requirement for advertisers to include disclaimers on the billboards so citizens know that its not legal to possess or consume marijuana or other substances in Indiana.

Jason Graham, vice president of Lamar Advertising, the states largest billboard operator, wasnt opposed to regulation, but took issue with a ban thats directly targeted towards just one media.

If we feel this strongly  I dont think it should be just billboards, he said.

Pressel and other lawmakers said theyd be open to expanding the prohibition to other forms of advertising, too.

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The Trial Balance is CFO.coms weekly preview of stories, stats and events to help you prepare.

Part 1  23andMe bankruptcy filing riles major privacy concerns

23andMe, which had a $1.75 billion valuation in 2017, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 23. Anne Wojcicki, who co-founded the company in 2006, announced her immediate departure but will remain on the board. Joe Selsavage, who has served as CFO of 23andMe since September 2022, has been named interim CEO.

The executive shakeup follows the board's rejection of Wojcickis acquisition offer to purchase all outstanding shares for $0.41 each. Selsavage joined the company in 2021 after Lemonaid, a telehealth provider where he served as CFO, was acquired by 23andMe for $400 million. He is now tasked with leading the company through a court-approved sale process within 45 days.

The New England Journal of Medicine recently raised concerns about the sale of 23andMes genetic dataset to the highest bidder. The company has collected more than 15 million genetic samples, which are expected to be among the most valuable assets included in the bankruptcy proceedings.

Researchers from the journal also noted the legal framework protecting this type of data is weak. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act do not prohibit the sale of genetic data.

The U.S. also lacks a comprehensive federal privacy law comparable to the EU's General Data Protection Regulation. Some states, including California and Illinois, have their own privacy laws, but enforcement is limited.

Although the company told users privacy and security were a priority, user data was compromised during a cybersecurity breach in 2023. While users are being advised to remove their personal data from 23andMe, researchers from the NEJM caution that these efforts may have little impact.

Despite providing customers with some choices about the use of their data, 23andMes privacy statement reserves the companys right to transfer customers personal information in the event of a sale of the company or bankruptcy, researchers wrote. Customers cant fully protect their data from being accessed, sold or transferred as part of that transaction.

Part 2  This week

Heres a list of important market events slated for the week ahead.
(Photo by Getty Images)

One year after a Sioux City insurance agent pleaded guilty to a charge of insurance fraud, the State of Iowa has revoked his license.

According to the Iowa Insurance Division, Dallas L. Schwarz of Sioux City was first licensed as an insurance agent in March 2023, working for Washington National Insurance Company until he was fired in August 2023.

State records indicate one of Washington Nationals customers was an elderly couple from Corning, Randall and Delores Ramsey. The Ramseys had purchased an accidental injury policy that included a clause that specified all premium payments would be refunded if no claims were made during the policy period.

Dallas Schwarz of Sioux City. (Photo courtesy of Taylor County)

The contract called for Washington National to refund the premiums by depositing the money into a Benefit Now checking account, providing the Ramseys with a checkbook so they could write checks from the account until all of the returned funds were depleted.

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When the Ramseys policy expired in July 2023 with no claims made, they were entitled to collect $13,256. Schwarz allegedly went to the couples home and gave them a check from their Benefit Now account indicating they would be collecting only $7,500.

The state alleges Schwarz then drove to a bank in Lenox, where he attempted to cash a $5,756 check, made payable to himself, from the Benefit Now account. The check allegedly bore the forged signature of Randall Ramsey.

Bank officials, who were suspicious of Schwarzs behavior, contacted the Ramseys and learned no such check had been written to Schwarz. A compliance analyst with Washington National then interviewed Schwarz, who allegedly admitted he had written the check himself, explaining that he suffered from multiple personality disorder and had blacked out during the time he wrote and attempted to cash the check.

In October 2023, Schwarz was charged with felony insurance fraud, felony forgery, fraudulent sales practices and theft.

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In April 2024, he pleaded guilty to one count of insurance fraud, and the remaining charges were dismissed. At sentencing, he was awarded a deferred judgment that will result in the conviction being expunged from public court records should he successfully complete three years of supervised probation.

State records indicate the Iowa Insurance Divisions decision to revoke Schwarzs license will have little practical effect since Schwarz voluntarily surrendered his license in July 2023.
President Donald Trumps spy chiefs struggled to justify their leaked Signal group chat to senators on Tuesday, at times appearing uncertain of what to disclose and changing their answers under repeated questioning.

The incident  in which top Trump officials discussed plans to bomb Houthi rebels in Yemen in an unsecured group chat that accidentally included a journalist  overtook an annual Senate hearing focused on worldwide threats to the U.S. and global stability.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard were the focus of sharp questioning by the panels Democrats on their handling of sensitive conversations and whether the discussion contained any classified information.



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The administrations chaotic strategy to try to contain the fallout was on full display as Gabbard and Ratcliffe took different approaches when questioned by lawmakers. The back-and-forth showed that while Trump and his Cabinet want to downplay the security issues around the group chat, theyre having trouble finding a solid argument for their case.

Senate Intelligence Committee ranking member Mark Warner (D-Va.) summed up the general impression among Democrats as he closed out the hearing. What you're saying didnt make sense, he said.

On Tuesday, the White House dismissed the uproar caused by the revelations published in The Atlantic, dismissing it as a coordinated effort by Democrats and the media to distract from the administrations strikes on the Houthis that were intended to make Americas enemies pay and keep Americans safe.

Gabbard, a former member of Congress, chose evasion. She refused to say outright that she participated in the chat, but also didnt deny her involvement.

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Im not going to get into the specifics, Gabbard said when asked if she was in the chat. Later in the hearing though, when pressed about whether anything sensitive was sent through the Signal chat, Gabbard testified that there were no classified or intelligence equities that were included in that chat at any time.

She stuck to what sounded like a rehearsed talking point, repeatedly saying that the matter was under review by the National Security Council. She declined to answer questions as to whether she used her personal or private phone for the discussion.

Ratcliffe was more combative, at times talking over senators as he sought to defend his actions. He confirmed his participation in the chat, but argued that didnt represent a breach of security protocol.

The director of the countrys premier foreign intelligence agency said Signal is used by the CIA for permissible work use, testifying that the app was loaded on to my computer at the CIA within days of his confirmation to the role.

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Ratcliffe said this was something the Biden administration used as well, though experts said this week that Signal is not an app typically allowed on government-issued devices. A former intelligence and security official, granted anonymity to discuss sensitive government communications, said in an interview that while Signal is increasingly used by federal agencies, it is only for unclassified conversations.

Both Ratcliffe and Gabbard firmly stated throughout the hearing that they did not communicate anything that was classified in the Signal chat.

Pressed about the name of an intelligence officer Ratcliffe included in the chat, something that is usually kept under close wraps by the agency, the CIA Director said that the official in question was not operating under cover and routinely coordinates discussions between the CIA and the White House.

The answers were carefully given and seemed to swerve around allegations of misconduct, while both officials also tried to clear their names.

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Its a muddled narrative that has emerged across the administration, with multiple officials even dismissing the text that The Atlantic published or described in detail. Speaking to reporters on Monday evening, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth slammed The Atlantic report, asserting that nobody was texting war plans.

During the hearing, Hegseth quickly became the focus of questions on who was responsible for declassifying information  with the intelligence chiefs seemingly pushing the blame to him for allegedly discussing information in the Signal chat on specific times, places and targets of the attack on the Houthis in Yemen.

Generally speaking, officials who first classified a piece of information as the original classification authorities have the authority to declassify it where deemed necessary.

This would potentially make Hegseth the one responsible for some of the most sensitive information included in the chat, such as operational details about the planned strikes on the Houthis, including targeting information.

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Ratcliffe testified that strike packages or targeting information or things that related to DOD  the secretary of Defense is the original classification authority for determining whether something is classified or not.

Its unclear if Hegseth ever declassified any of the information posted in the Signal chat, and when pressed by Reed on this point, Ratcliffe indicated that he wasnt sure.

FBI Director Kash Patel said little about the Signal chat, which he was not included in, but he also avoided addressing it. When pressed by two Democratic senators on whether the FBI would investigate the incident, Patel stated only that he was briefed on the matter on Monday night and did not have an update to share.

Republicans in the hearing largely didnt participate in the grilling, but they didnt help Gabbard or Ratcliffe either. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) noted that there were some unanswered questions remaining for him on the situation, while Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said he planned to bring up the incident during the classified portion of the hearing.

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Democrats reminded the officials that there were receipts  and they planned to get them. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) warned Gabbard and Ratcliffe that we will get the full transcript of this chain, and your testimony will be measured carefully against its content.

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), in one of the most heated moments of the hearing, raised his voice at the witnesses: You need to do better.

The same intelligence chiefs will have a chance to potentially hone their message and get on the same page on Wednesday, when they face the House Intelligence Committee during its parallel version of the worldwide threats hearing.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Trump administration's top intelligence officials stressed to Congress the threat they said was posed by international criminal gangs, drug cartels and human smuggling, testifying in a hearing Tuesday that unfolded against the backdrop of a security breach involving the mistaken leak of attack plans to a journalist.

The annual hearing on worldwide threats before the Senate Intelligence Committee offered a glimpse of the new administrations reorienting of priorities at a time when President Donald Trump has opened a new line of communication with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and as his administration has focused national security attention closer to home to counter violent crime that officials link to cross-border drug trafficking.

Criminal groups drive much of the unrest and lawlessness in the Western Hemisphere," said Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence. Atop a long list of national security challenges, she cited the need to combat cartels that she said were engaging in a wide array of illicit activity, from narcotics trafficking to money laundering to smuggling of illegal immigrants and human trafficking.

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Different parties prioritized different issues

The hearing occurred as officials across multiple presidential administrations have described an increasingly complicated blizzard of threats.

In the committee room, it unfolded in split-screen fashion: Republican senators hewed to the pre-scheduled topic by drilling down on China and the fentanyl scourge, while Democrat after Democrat offered sharp criticism over a security breach they called reckless and dangerous.

If this information had gotten out, American lives could have been lost, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the intelligence committee said of the exposed Signal messages. Added Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon: I am of the view that there ought to be resignations. An embarrassment, said Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, who shouted down CIA Director John Ratcliffe as he demanded answers.

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Gabbard and other officials did note the U.S. government's longstanding national security concerns, including the threat she said was posed by countries including Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.

China, for one, has heavily invested in stealth aircraft, hypersonic weapons and nuclear arms and is looking to outcompete the U.S. when it comes to artificial intelligence, while Russia remains a formidable competitor and still maintains a large nuclear arsenal.

The hearing arrived against the backdrop of a starkly different approach toward Russia following years of Biden administration sanctions over its war against Ukraine.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed during a lengthy call with Trump to an immediate pause in strikes against energy infrastructure in what the White House described as the first step in a movement to peace.

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Terrorism, too, featured prominently in the hearing.

The direction for the FBI is to track down any individuals with any terrorist ties whatsoever, whether it be ISIS or another foreign terrorist organization, said FBI Director Kash Patel. And now to include the new designations of the cartels, down south and elsewhere."

But the elevation of international drug trafficking as a top-tier threat was a notable turnabout in focus given that the U.S. government over the past four years has been more likely to place a premium on concerns over sophisticated Chinese espionage plots, ransomware attacks that have crippled hospitals and international and domestic terrorism plots.

The hearing unfolded in the midst of an eruption over text messaging

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Tuesday's hearing took taking place one day after news broke that several top national security officials in the Republican administration, including Ratcliffe, Gabbard and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, texted attack plans for military strikes in Yemen to a group chat in a secure messaging app that included the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic.

The text chain contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Iran-backed Houthi-rebels in Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing, journalist Jeffrey Goldberg reported. The strikes began two hours after Goldberg received the details.

Horrified by the leak of what is historically strictly guarded information, the top Democrat on the House intelligence committee, Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, said he will be demanding answers in a separate hearing Wednesday with his panel.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) In his first community forum, Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ed Martin spoke to a crowd in Southeast D.C. Tuesday.

Martin attended the monthly meeting for the Anacostia Coordinating Council, where he drilled home his commitment to the local community.

We dont appreciate it: DC Tesla owner speaks after car is vandalized twice

Were going to have the resources, were going to have the people, were going to listen in a way that will make DC safer, he said. We wont be able to do it perfectly, but we will not be able to do it well if we do not do it together.

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The crowd was often tense, eager and fighting to ask questions.

D.C. Shadow Senator Ankit Jain grilled Martin about decisions to fire or demote staff reportedly connected with the prosecution of January 6 cases.

One of the reasons you need to hire more people is because you fired eight percent of your staff, Jain said.

Senate Democrats file complaint against DC US attorney Ed Martin

Martin responded by stating that its normal that staffing changes are made when a new administration takes over.

He also defended his decisions.

Youve got toddlers getting killed by stray bullets and were going to debate where highly paid attorneys are working? emphasized Martin.

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A member of the Anacostia Coordinating Council also asked Martin about his stance on prosecuting juveniles as adults.

16, 17, 18-year-olds are committing adult crimes, and they need to be held accountable as adults, explained Martin. Were going to be a little bit harder on that. Were going to charge more.

During the meeting, Martin also clarified a controversial social media post where he referred to himself and other US Attorneys as President Trumps lawyers.

I do work for President Trump. I was appointed by President Trump in the sense that I work in the federal government, he said.

Actions speak louder than words. Im just glad the community came out to ask questions, said community activist Ron Moten.

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Moten, with Dont Mute DC, said the meeting went better than he expected but hell be looking for balance from Martin moving forward.

We have to have love and order. It has to be a balance and when you cross that line, we go back to same situation we had of mass incarceration and it destroyed my community, Moten described.

Cora Masters Barry, wife of the late Mayor Marion Barry, was hoping to find more common ground.

The common ground I dont think weve met it yet, but it exists. Nobody wants crime, nobody wants violence, she said. Its a tough community but I think its good he came. It showed a little courage but whats more important, did he listen? Whats he going to do with it?

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In his first meeting with faculty leadership since being named interim president of the University of Texas at Austin, Jim Davis said hed share their concerns and good work with state lawmakers considering legislation to increase oversight on universities curricula and hiring  but stopped short of saying hed challenge efforts to limit facultys influence on campuses.

You will always hear me say on any topic that I do not want to cause harm to this university, Davis said. I always want to help it, protect it, preserve it and grow it. And so where that balance is, I need to figure that out.

Davis was named interim president of the UT Systems flagship last month at a critical time for higher education in Texas and nationwide. At the state level, faculty senates have become the latest target.

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These bodies are made up of professors from each college and make recommendations on academic policies, curriculum design and faculty hiring and evaluation. They can also be an outlet for faculty to express disapproval with university leadership.

Several bills have been filed this legislative session that would require half of a faculty senates members to be appointed by university administrators rather than elected by faculty. They would also prohibit faculty senates from conducting investigations or taking any action on personnel or curricula, shifting those responsibilities to the governing boards that oversee universities. Governing boards have always had the ultimate responsibility and authority over those matters but usually delegated them.

[Texas faculty testify against bills to screen universities curriculum for ideological bias]

UT-Austin faculty on Monday asked Davis if he was comfortable publicly expressing his opinions on legislative proposals or if he had been encouraged to keep quiet.

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Im not bothered about saying what I say in public, Davis said. People that know me in this room  and many of you do  know that I am not always the person that follows all the rules. At the same time, what I want to do is make sure I do my very dead-level best to put this university in the best position to succeed.

He said maintaining UTs excellent teaching, research and student experience is his first priority.

And so I want to start by letting you know how grateful I am to the faculty, that the faculty is the essence of teaching excellence and research excellence, he said. We have not forgotten that.

Davis also acknowledged that the universitys finances are uncertain.

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UT-Austin, like other universities across the country, stands to lose millions of dollars if the federal government follows through with a plan to slash spending on research overhead. State lawmakers also continue to threaten to yank public universities funding over the perception that they are not complying with the states ban on diversity, equity and inclusion offices and programs and that they are too left-leaning.

Davis said UT-Austin has dealt with these kinds of threats at least twice in its history and that he thinks the university can overcome them by telling its story better.

Every different viewpoint matters here. We need to be able to sustain those kinds of things for the protection of education and, frankly, the protection of democracy, he said.

State lawmakers are also considering banning DEI in coursework and research and requiring universities to use the states broad definition of what constitutes antisemitism in student disciplinary proceedings, which critics say will stifle free speech.

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A few hours before Davis met with faculty, his predecessor, Jay Hartzell, was more candid about some of those proposals during an interview with Evan Smith, a UT professor and founder of The Texas Tribune, at the LBJ School of Public Affairs.

[Texas bill would increase oversight of universities hiring, curriculum and compliance]

When asked about Senate Bill 37, which would prohibit college courses from endorsing specific public policies, ideologies or legislation, Hartzell pointed out that UT-Austin has taught Marxism for a long time and thats a good thing. Some lawmakers have expressed concern that classes with gender, race and identity in the title are being used to fulfill core curriculum requirements.

Even if you are on the other side of that argument, say, capitalism, it's good to know how the other side is seeing the world. And so I think I feel way differently about what is offered than I do what's required, Hartzell said.

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Hartzell also said another provision of the bill, which would allow regents to have the final say on every university hire in a leadership position, sounded like an administrative nightmare.

Hartzell compared universities to law firms in which presidents are managing partners and the faculty are partners in this effort and theres a reason they have the say they have. Hartzell faced strong faculty pushback firsthand last spring when he called in state police to help wrangle pro-Palestinian protesters.

Hartzell was a dean before he was named UT-Austin president in 2020 while Davis was chief operating officer.

As president, Hartzell said he had to think about the short- and long-term effects of taking a stand against the Legislature. The long-term effects of protesting the DEI ban last legislative session, he said, ultimately outweighed the short-term ones. He oversaw the layoff of dozens of employees and the closure of the schools multicultural center.

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If we hadnt laid anybody off and let these perceived inefficiencies continue forever, I thought wed be pounded in the next session, Hartzell said.

The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.

Disclosure: University of Texas at Austin and University of Texas at Austin - LBJ School of Public Affairs 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.
Since plunging during the COVID-19 pandemic, international student enrollment in the U.S. has been rebounding  a relief to American universities that count on their tuition payments. Two months into the new Trump administration, educators fear that could soon change.

Unnerved by efforts to deport students over political views, students from other countries already in the U.S. have felt new pressure to watch what they say.

A Ph.D. student at the University of Rochester from South Asia said it feels too risky to speak about LGBTQ+ causes she once openly championed or even be seen near a political demonstration. With reports of travel bans circulating, she likely won't fly home for the summer out of fear she would not be allowed back into the U.S.

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Youre here for an education so youve got to keep moving forward on that end, said the student, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being targeted by authorities. But also its very hard to, say, OK, Im at work. Ive got to zone out. I cant be thinking about the news.

Educators worry its a balancing act that will turn off foreign students. As the U.S. government takes a harder line on immigration, cuts federal research funding and begins policing campus activism, students are left to wonder if theyll be able to get visas, travel freely, pursue research or even express an opinion.

It has a chilling effect, said Clay Harmon, executive director of AIRC, a membership organization focused on recruiting and enrolling international students. Even if theres no direct consequence or direct limitation right now, all of this cumulatively produces an impression that the U.S. is not welcoming, its not open or that you may be in some kind of danger or jeopardy if you do come to the U.S.

During a recent trip to India, the biggest sender of students to the U.S., the consensus among recruiting agencies was that far fewer of that countrys students are interested in American colleges than in recent years, Harmon said.

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Some students are waiting to see how policy changes will play out, while others already have deferred admission offers for fall 2025, he said. Student social networks are active, and news about immigration-related developments in America  like a Republican proposal to prevent Chinese students from studying in the U.S.  spreads quickly.

Students in Canada, China, India and elsewhere have been seeking answers and advice on Reddit and other social media sites, wondering whether to move forward with U.S. plans, or choose a college in the United Kingdom, Germany or elsewhere in Europe.

International students are coveted as an antidote to declining domestic enrollment and source of full-price tuition payments. In the 2023-2024 academic year, 1.1 million international students at U.S. colleges and universities contributed an all-time high $43.8 billion to the nations economy and supported more than 378,000 jobs, according to data released by NAFSA, an agency that promotes international education.

International graduate students also play a large role in advancing research, said Fanta Aw, who heads NAFSA.

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Aw said universities must work to remind prospective students that detentions like those of a pro-Palestinian activist Columbia University and, more recently, a scholar at Georgetown University, still are not the norm, despite the attention they receive.

We have international students at lots of universities, she said, and news coverage has focused on consequences for international students at just a couple of colleges. So we have to also put into perspective the fact that the vast majority of students are in universities where were not hearing anything.

The messaging from colleges and universities on the changing political climate has varied. Some, including Northeastern University in Boston, have responded to Trumps directives with webpages to keep current and prospective students informed.

Our global community will continue to be a welcoming place for admitted students from all corners of the world, spokeswoman Renata Nyul said via email.

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Others have gone further. Bunker Hill Community College in Boston has suspended its one- to two-week study abroad programs, citing concerns about potential travel restrictions. Administrators at Columbias Graduate School of Journalism have warned students who are not U.S. citizens about their vulnerability to arrest or deportation.

Brown University has advised international students and staff, including visa holders and permanent residents, to postpone travel after a Brown professor was deported to Lebanon despite having a U.S. visa. Homeland Security officials later said she openly admitted to supporting a Hezbollah leader and attending his funeral.

___

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.




The internet isnt having it.

 (@)

x.com

After U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth mocked a federal judge who temporarily blocked the Trump administrations ban on transgender military service, the blowback was swift and blistering. In a Saturday afternoon post on X (formerly Twitter ), Hegseth referred to U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes as Commander Reyes and suggested she report to military bases to train elite troops in an attempt to belittle her authority following her ruling against the Pentagon.

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The post has been viewed more than 7 million times  and ignited a firestorm of condemnation.

"Since Judge Reyes is now a top military planner, she/they can report to Fort Benning at 0600 to instruct our Army Rangers on how to execute High Value Target Raidsafter that, Commander Reyes can dispatch to Fort Bragg to train our Green Berets on counterinsurgency warfare, he wrote.

What may have seemed like a throwaway post to score political points has become a liability. Reyes herself cited Hegseths statements in open court recently, noting that his repeated public references to banning transgender individuals  rather than those with gender dysphoria  undercut the administrations claim that the ban is based on deployability and medical standards. The policys impact is the same, she said from the bench. This is still a ban on transgender service members.

The public wasnt fooled either. Hegseths post was immediately met with biting criticism from veterans, legal scholars, LGBTQ+ advocates, and everyday users who accused him of dishonoring his oath and undermining the rule of law. Many noted the irony of his mocking tone, given his refusal to testify in court or provide evidence supporting the policy. Others called attention to his past as a Fox News personality and questioned his qualifications for the post.

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Importantly, Hegseths outburst is not an isolated incident. It follows a broader pattern by the Trump administration to delegitimize the judiciary when rulings dont go its way. Earlier this month, Trump called for the impeachment of a judge overseeing a separate case  prompting an extraordinary rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts, who reminded the nation that political disagreement is no basis for removing judges.

Taken together, the administrations strategy  attack, discredit, distract  is playing out in full view. But this time, the tactic may have backfired

The timing of his outburst is interesting because just Friday, the Justice Department asked Reyes to reinstitute a stay she had lifted on her injunction against the order. After a last-minute hearing, she reluctantly agreed to temporarily reinstate her stay, allowing GLAD Law and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, representing the plaintiffs, to respond to the DOJ request in writing.

Her Tuesday ruling called the policy soaked in animus and dripping with pretext. She also accused the Justice Department of trying to gaslight the court and failing to present any data to justify the ban.

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What follows is a gallery of searing responses  a public drag of a defense secretary who helped unravel his own case, one post at a time.

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"Now would be a good time to shut up and follow the judges orders tough guy."

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"At least Judge Reyes doesn't share confidential information or release classified intelligence in a group chat. Crack open that bottle of gin you are going to need it"

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"You just helped the case you monumental jackass."

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x.com

"What qualification do you have for the position of Secretary Of Defence? Reading from a cue card, while swigging from a bottle of Jack Daniels?"

 (@)

x.com

"Didnt you have a chance to submit a declaration to enlighten the court and you decided not to? Didnt the judge even ask you to provide testimony? Wonder why that would be other than to avoid perjury."

 (@)

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"Hard to imagine anything less American than denigrating judges every time you get a ruling you dont like."

 (@)

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"Mr Secretary @PeteHegseth you took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Publicly attacking a judge would seem to be at odds with that oath. At best, it sets a poor example for your Subordinates."

 (@)

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x.com

"You're potentially trying to discharge over 15k active service members who are voluntarily serving us all honorably. Thousands of veterans served who were likely forced to hide who they were while millions more fought & died beside them so that one day no one would have to hide."

 (@)

x.com

"The lush who used to be on morning cable has thoughts on what judges should do to properly interpret law."

 (@)

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"Never miss an opportunity to project weakness."

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"This is very fashy sounding, Herr Hegseth."

 (@)

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x.com

"Since "Secretary" Hegseth is shooting his mouth off between gin and tonics, it's worth noting his is also unqualified to do everything he listed and only got the job because a senile billionaire liked him on TV."

 (@)

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"This morons arent even consistent in their complaints- by this logic, Trump & the other 14 Presidents who never served in the military are/were also unqualified to give military orders."

 (@)

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"I don't think a judge needs to know much about military tactics to be able to rule that firing people for their gender identity is fucking cruel, unjust, and illegal."

 (@)

x.com

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"Defence secretary directly attacking & mocking the authority of a judge who challenges the administration."

 (@)

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"The Secretary of Defense here attacking a judge. When will America see theyve voted in and are facilitating autocracy and dictatorship."

 (@)

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"Oh nothing, just the US Secretary of Defense posting a pissy little tweet to intimidate a judge who ruled to protect the civil rights of US citizens."

 (@)

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"For the record, top military planners don't instruct Army Rangers on how to execute raids on HVT...but he wouldn't know that because he's never been one."

 (@)

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x.com

"Ha ha ha ha ha! This man lands a job at Fox News and somehow he's a 'Top Military Planner'? Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Wait! Is that the Vodka talking??"

 (@)

x.com

"The TV host faking it as a competent administrator seems to think you respond to a court ruling you disagree with by tweeting. You don't. Just appeal."

 (@)

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"Well she's more qualified to run the military than you are, Weekend Fill-In"

 (@)

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"Pete is so much worse than the soldiers he is trying to discharge."

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x.com

"Maybe she can order you to go to substance abuse classes. Its not like youre even remotely qualified for the position."

 (@)

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"Pro tip: if you follow the rules and obey the law you will have far fewer problems with judges."

 (@)

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"What a dumb thing to say. You're seriously running your personal Twitter account while Secretary of Defense? Do you have no one in your life to offer wise counsel? Or are you just drunk again?"

 (@)

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""Secretary of Defense" Hegseth could probably learn a thing or two from Judge Reyes on secure communications."

 (@)

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"This is the same dumb, drunk, smart ass, condescending Pete Hegseth who just got caught with his pants around his ankles texting classified war plans."

 (@)

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"Please stop drunk texting war plans."

 (@)

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"Unlike you, she knows what she's doing."

 (@)

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"Youre not a top military planner either, Pete."

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"This was the dumbest possible response to the Judge Ive seen yet. Embarassing that you are @SecDef - Shameful to the position you hold."

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"They dont take orders from you man."

 (@)

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"Wow you bully a woman. That's on point."

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"You have the anger control of a toddler."

 (@)

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"Sorry, couldn't hear over the cringey stupid."
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Investigators have concluded natural gas build-up is to blame for an explosion at a home in Greece last November. But the exact cause is undetermined. 

In the early morning hours of November 11, 2024, a house on Stone Road exploded, launching the homeowner outside the home. He was able to go back in and save the remaining occupants. All three occupants were sent to the hospital. All of them survived but with varying injuries.

According to a fire incident report from the Monroe County Fire Bureau, the front plate of the homes natural gas meter was not in place. It said the screw holes for the plate were empty and did not contain any bolts. An undamaged cordless drill was also found.

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Investigators were able to confirm that natural gas filled the open areas of the home. The report said the flow of gas could have been caused by the natural gas meter  if the front plate had fallen off.

The report also says that RG&E tested for leaks and deficiencies and could not find any other issues.

Investigators said the three residents did not admit to removing the bolts from the gas meter, and it is not believed to be malicious. However, they were unable to rule out that human involvement led to the explosion.

Due to unknown circumstances, the cause of the fire is still undetermined.

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DES MOINES, Iowa  On Monday, outside of the Iowa State Capitol building, the Iowa Barber Coalition held a press conference urging lawmakers to support House File 711.

Iowa Senate amends, approves Governor Reynolds school cellphone restriction bill

The bill passed out of the Iowa House last week with bipartisan support. The proposal would allow those wanting to get into barbering to gain experience while working in a barber shop. The way Iowa code is currently set up, those looking to get into the industry have to get a license through a cosmetology school.

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The bill is an alternative to the traditional route. Licensed shop owners would be able to hire workers and provide supervised training. Licensed barbers would need to take a two hour educational class to be eligible to train and supervise people coming to work in their business.

April 4 is the second funnel deadline for Iowa lawmakers, so in just a couple of weeks the group will know the fate of the legislation they are pushing for.

Iowa News:

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A greater prairie chicken during its courtship at the Kellerton lek. (Photo by Lowell Washburn/DNR)

For more than a decade, Iowans have gathered at the Kellerton Grasslands Bird Conservation Area at sunrise to watch the unique courtship dance of the prairie chicken, whose population in Iowa has been closely monitored for decades.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced Tuesday that Prairie Chicken Day, typically held the first week in April, was canceled due to the birds decline in population that has resulted in only sporadic sightings at the typically popular site.

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The greater prairie chicken was once Iowas most prominent game bird, and according to DNR might be the first game in the state to have a bag limit. Hunting of the bird officially ended in 1915 due to concerns of its declining population.

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The number of prairie chickens continued to dip as agriculture and other development diminished grasslands in the state, which the prairie chicken needs to nest and brood.

According to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, less than 0.01% of Iowas landscape that was historically prairie remains.

Stephanie Shepherd, a wildlife diversity biologist with DNR, said the prairie chicken is very picky about its habitat and needs huge areas of grass with very few trees to thrive.

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We see a lot about how much of the loss of habitat has already happened, and it has, but we are still also losing grassland, Shepherd said.

In the 1950s, Iowa recorded the last nesting prairie chickens in the state and it wasnt until the 1980s and 1990s that attempts were made to reintroduce the bird.

Shepherd said because the prairie chicken has such high standards for its prairie, it acts as an umbrella species for other grassland critters. She said the conservation efforts in southern Iowa by DNR, The Nature Conservancy, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and other groups have created one of the most wonderful grassland landscapes and home to other prairie birds like short-eared owls, upland sandpipers and harriers.

Its sad that its not necessarily looking like its going to support a sustainable prairie chicken population, but it is supporting lots of other wildlife, and is still an incredible place to visit, Shepherd said.

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Shepherd said the birds are incredibly unique from a conservationist standpoint, but also for their courtship dance, and the associated noises.

Male prairie chickens have orange air sacs on the sides of their necks which they will inflate and boom during mating. The birds begin their courtship dance and booming at dawn in the communal areas called leks during the spring.

The observation deck at the Kellerton site looked out at a lek, which made it perfect for the festival. Shepherd said this year, only two males have been observed at the lek, which bodes poorly for a prairie chicken day, but not necessarily for the birds themselves.

That doesnt necessarily mean that the population has crashed and is gone, Shepherd said. They do sometimes decide that they dont like one lek and move to another one for a couple years and shift around.

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This is also why the department is expanding its search for the greater prairie chicken beyond the leks it already monitors.

Weve been doing surveys all along, and the numbers keep steadily going down, but the missing piece is: Are there leks that we just dont know about? Shepherd said.

The department estimates there are 40-70 prairie chickens in Iowa, primarily in Adair, Madison, Adams, Union, Clarke, Taylor, Ringgold, Decatur and Wayne counties, though the territory also stretches into northern Missouri.

Iowans who have prairie chickens on their property, or find them in the state, are encouraged to report their findings through an online form to the department.

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The department is also deploying several automated recording units that can detect the prairie chickens unique call, which could help identify additional leks.

You can never say never with wildlife, it will always surprise you, Shepherd said. So who knows there could be, like, 17 leks out there that we have no idea about.

This article has been updated to include the length of the Prairie Chicken Day tradition.

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By Bhanvi Satija and Christy Santhosh

(Reuters) - Illumina said on Tuesday activist investor Keith Meister would join the gene-sequencing maker's board and former U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb would take over as the company's chairman later this week.

Illumina has been caught in the middle of a tariff war between the U.S. and China that has compelled it to cut its annual forecast and implement a cost-savings plan.

China, which accounts for 7% of Illumina's sales, has banned imports of the company's genetic sequencers in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods.

The company's shares have declined about 40% this year, with investors also concerned about Illumina's product sales taking a hit due to U.S. research funding cuts and looming competition from Roche's gene-sequencing device.

Morningstar analyst Julie Utterback said Meister's hedge fund Corvex Management sees more potential in Illumina than the market.

"We suspect Meister will lobby for value-creating activities like cost controls to boost margins or share repurchases at these low levels," Utterback said.

Once activist investor Carl Icahn's right-hand man, Meister worked as principal executive officer at Icahn Capital before creating Corvex in 2010.

Meister previously said his rivals' work had led him to buy stake in companies such as Illumina, where stocks are due for big gains. His fund Corvex first disclosed ownership in Illumina after Icahn's proxy fight was resolved.

Corvex currently owns about 1.7 million shares, or 1.07% of Illumina, according to a regulatory filing.

Icahn, who ran a proxy fight at Illumina in 2023, won a board seat and soon after saw a new CEO arrive.

Gottlieb will replace current chairman and Icahn's nominee, Hologic CEO Stephen MacMillan, who is retiring after a two-year stint. He served as the FDA's commissioner from 2017 to 2019 and has been part of Illumina's board since 2020.

(Reporting by Bhanvi Satija and Christy Santhosh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar and Shounak Dasgupta)
A voter submits a ballot for the 2024 general election on the first day of early voting, Oct. 16, 2024, at the Polk County Election Office in Des Moines. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

The Iowa House passed two bills making changes to state election laws Tuesday, including a measure introduced by Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate on noncitizen voting.

House File 954, approved by the House 65-31, contains multiple changes to state election law, including a prohibition on ranked choice voting and increasing the requirement for candidates of a party to receive at least 10% of the general election vote to gain political party status. It also has language introduced by Pate ahead of the 2025 legislative session to allow the Secretary of States office to contract with federal and state agencies, as well as private entities, for verification and maintenance of the states voter rolls.

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The issue gained prominence in the 2024 general election when Pate issued guidance to county auditors weeks before the Nov. 5, 2024 election to challenge the ballots of 2,176 voters identified by the state office as potential noncitizens. These individuals had self-identified to the Iowa Department of Transportation or another government entity as non-citizens within the past 12 years, but later went on to register to vote or participate in state elections.

Pate said the guidance was necessary because the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services under former President Joe Biden had refused to share access to the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database for the state to confirm the citizenship status of these individuals.

A federal judge had allowed Pates guidance to stand in the lead-up to the 2024 election as there were some individuals confirmed to not have U.S. citizenship on the Secretary of States list. However, organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union and League of United Latin American Citizens had argued the guidance limited the voting rights of naturalized U.S. citizens who appeared on the list.

In a news release earlier in March, Pate said 277 of the 2,176 individuals on the list have been confirmed to not hold U.S. citizenship, and that 35 noncitizens cast ballots that were counted in the 2024 general election. The Secretary of State said the legislation allowing his office to work with other government and private entities on voter registration verification will ensure that a similar situation will not happen in the future.

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Rep. Austin Harris, R-Moulton, claimed that some organizations had attempted to dismiss the Secretary of States focus on these noncitizens registered to vote illegally as saying that these voters are such a small number, who really cares  but that these numbers could have a major impact on Iowa elections.

In the last few general elections, between legislative and congressional races, weve had four elections that were separated by 35 votes or fewer, Harris said. Weve had several more that were decided by 277 votes or fewer. Just one illegal vote is an attack on all of our votes. To me, it threatens what it means to be an American. And as American, we have a right to self-determination through our elections, and when we turn to blind eye, and we let people who have not earned the right to vote to do that that threatens all of our abilities to self-determination.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday requiring heightened proof of citizenship to participate in U.S. elections.

The Senate State Government Committee approved Pates proposal as a standalone bill through Senate File 550, but the legislation has not been brought to the floor. Senators also approved Senate File 459, a measure banning ranked choice voting, in a 34-13 vote earlier in March.

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House Democrats largely spoke against the measure for its language banning ranked choice voting. Rep. Austin Baeth, D-Des Moines, introduced an amendment to allow local governments to conduct elections using ranked choice voting. The amendment failed.

Under ranked choice voting, a voter does not choose a single candidate. Instead, voters order candidates appearing on a ballot from their first to last choice. If one candidate wins the majority of first-choice votes, they win the election. If there is not a clear winner, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated, and voters who designated that candidate as their first choice have their votes redistributed to their second-choice candidate. This process continues until one candidate wins the majority of votes.

Baeth said while this election method, also known as instant runoff voting, is new, early data has shown it is a way of mitigating the horrible, hyperpartisan polarization of our politics through the two-party system.

Iowans are sick of hyperpartisan politics, theyre sick of having to choose between blue and red, Baeth said. They like to have a little bit more choice, because none of us here perfectly adhere to one particular party, and neither do Iowans. They want to be able to have a choice in who represents them, and ranked choice voting might give them that opportunity. Lets be in favor of local control. Lets give cities and counties the opportunity to decide for themselves whether they want to give ranked choice voting a try.

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Rep. Aime Wichtendahl, D-Hiawatha, said while no Iowa municipality currently uses ranked choice voting, the measure could help save local governments money in conducting elections. She pointed to the city of Cedar Rapids as an example of a city that requires regular runoff mayoral elections.

Hypothetically, if the city employed ranked choice voting, it would allow them to select the mayor in one round of voting, saving them from the cost of having that runoff election, Wichtendahl said.  I believe that if we want local governments to save money on elections, and there, by extension, save money on property taxes, we should let local governments maintain the option of ranked choice voting.

Harris said ranked choice voting could cause a delay in election results, lead to an increase in local election costs through updating voting systems and would require a heavy lift in informing public about how the new voting system would work. He also added that none of my constituents have asked for the implementation of a ranked choice voting system.

Changes to Iowas election recount system passed

House lawmakers also passed a measure dealing with election recounts, House File 928, in a 66-31 vote Tuesday. The bill sets a threshold of a 1% difference in votes  or 50 votes, whichever is less  to request a recount for state legislative and local races, and a 0.15% margin for statewide and federal races.

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Candidates would be required to request a recount by the end of the day following the election canvass  the second Wednesday after the election  moving it up from the current deadline of Friday following the canvass deadline. The bill also requires that legislative, statewide and federal races all request a recount through the Secretary of States office, requiring the state office to distribute notice to county auditors instead of having this task performed by the campaign.

This makes it easier for campaigns and for the Secretary of State to track where recounts are happening, Harris said. This also fixes the problem of allowing losing campaigns to pick and choose where to recount votes.

Changes are also proposed to election recount boards, which currently consist of a person designated by each candidate and one other individual agreed upon by both candidates. Election boards, under the bill, would be made up of the county commissioner of elections  the county auditor  county election staff, and people hired during the election to tally ballots. The bill was amended to require tallying staff on the recount board include an equal number of people from each political party. The measure would also allow each candidate to choose up to five people to observe the recount in each county, with the candidate being allowed to replace an observer at any time.

Rep. Adam Zabner, D-Iowa City, said though he agreed Iowas election recount system needed reform, he disagreed with the provision changing the makeup of recount boards. He brought up hypothetical situations where an incumbent county auditor is in charge of conducting the recount over their own election, or where an elected county auditor  who has a party affiliation  is in charge of overseeing a highly contested election that could determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives, as reasons where the proposed recount system could create mistrust in Iowas elections.

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For that reason, I prefer our current system, which allows each candidate to select one person and a third neutral party, to ensure that all decisions made are fair and the result of deliberation between both candidates, Zabner said.

Harris contested these concerns, saying county auditors were already given the responsibility and trust to oversee elections in Iowas current system.

We allow them to conduct the initial election to begin with  why would we not trust them to conduct the recount of the election that they just conducted? Harris asked.
The Iowa House passed a bill Monday expanding required training for local officials on open meetings and records laws and raising penalties for violations. (Photo by Getty Images)

The Iowa House passed legislation Monday to increase training for local officials on open meetings and information laws and raising penalties for violations.

Its the second year the House has moved on this issue  a similar measure passed in 2024 and made it to the governors desk, but was ultimately vetoed after an amendment was attached at the last minute that public records advocates said was counterproductive.

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House File 706 is largely the same bill, but it does not contain the change to the definition of a meeting by a government body that Gov. Kim Reynolds cited as an issue in her veto of the 2024 measure. However, it does make many of the same changes to penalties for violations. The bill sets fines for open meetings law violations between $500 and $2,500. Under current law, fines are between $100 and $500. The fine for knowing violation of these laws would be $5,000 to $12,500, up from range in current law of $1,000-$2,500.

A court would also be required to remove a member of a government body from office if the member engaged in a prior violation of open meetings laws regardless of if damages were assessed against the person during their term  a current prerequisite in Iowa law.

Newly elected and appointed public officials would be required to complete a training on open records laws under the legislation, with the Iowa Public Information Board providing or approving at least one course at no cost.

Rep. Gary Mohr, R-Bettendorf, said he introduced the legislation for the same reason he introduced the bill last year  to address specific violations of these laws in Davenport. Since a six-story apartment building collapsed in 2023 resulting in three deaths and one amputation, the Davenport city government has not released city building inspection reports before the collapse, Mohr said.

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Did city inspections indicate a potential collapse? We dont know, Mohr said. Should the building have been vacated as unsafe for occupancy? We dont know. Was the building owner notified of changes that needed to be made to the structure We dont know. We dont know, because in nearly two years, the city inspection reports and other information about the building collapse have been withheld from public view. We do know that Davenport residents who filed freedom of information requests have not only been denied access to these public records, but they themselves have been sued by the city.

The city of Davenport and former city attorney Tom Warner also face a lawsuit filed in January 2024 alleging violations of open meeting laws. The lawsuit alleges Warner and the city had reached settlements with three city employees without the city councils approval before the body ratified the settlement agreements following a closed session.

In April 2024, a judge allowed the Iowa Freedom of Information Council to intervene in a case where the city of Davenport filed a civil action against a city resident who had made an Open Records Law request to gain access to a letter sent by the former city administrator, Corri Spiegel, to city lawyers.

Mohr called for support of the measure, saying lawmakers should stand with Davenport residents seeking to hold our public officials accountable so this never happens again.

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To the people of Davenport and the Iowa Quad-Cities: We in this room hear your disgust and frustration, he said. And today, I hope the Iowa House Representatives stands united with you to get answers, to hold public officials accountable and to increase information and transparency.

Rep. Daniel Gosa, D-Davenport, thanked Mohr and other state lawmakers for their work on this measure, saying it was an urgent issue to him as a Davenport resident and as the former Davenport school board president.

We need to hold our mayor and city council accountable, Gosa said. They do have some things to answer for, and weve been dealing with this for a long time.

The legislation moves to the Iowa Senate for further consideration.
DES MOINES, Iowa  Iowa Senate lawmakers debated the governors proposal that would restrict personal electronic device use during instructional time in classrooms.

The bill passed the floor by a vote of 49 to 0. The bill sponsor, State Senator Lynn Evans (R) moved to substitute the Iowa Senate version for the Iowa House version just passed last week. That version was amended to include a specific date for the state department of education to develop a model policy for school districts to follow.

I believe that this is actually good legislation because we are encouraging school boards to take up a matter that we all know could be a problem, but it doesnt take away local control, said State Senator Lynn Evans, (R) District 3 from Aurelia.

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Des Moines latest city to permanently move night of trick-or-treating

A democratic state senator proposed an amendment to add private schools to be included in the language of requiring a phone restriction. The bill as written would require school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools and innovation zone schools to have a policy relating to electronic device use. That language does not fully include all private schools in the state.

Since we are sending an awful lot of state money to private schools, hundreds of millions of taxpayers dollars every year, one of the fastest growing parts of our state budget, the legislature should have a say, said State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott (D) District 14 from Waukee.

That amendment was voted down by the Senate Republican majority. One senator from the majority party read off comments that a high school student in the state shared at a subcommittee for the bill back at the beginning of the session.

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Its clear the reality they are residing in isnt good, suicide rates and depression rates have skyrocketed and the ability to socialize for this generation has diminished. Overall, it is better for the majority of students to have a ban on cell phones, said State Senator Kara Warme (R) District 26 from Ames.

The bill now goes back over to the Iowa House where the body will consider the amendment filed in the Iowa Senate. Barring any further changes in the chamber, the bill would be cleared to send to Governor Reynolds to sign into law if passed.

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Gov. Kim Reynolds' proposal to ban cellphones in K-12 classrooms is a step closer to awaiting her signature and becoming law after the Iowa Senate unanimously passed it Monday.

Starting in the 2025-26 school year, Iowa school boards would have to adopt policies limiting cellphones during classroom instructional time. The bill, House File 782, sets a floor that schools must follow but allows them to set stricter rules.

The Senate passed it with 49 votes and amended it to clarify that the Iowa Department of Education director has until May 1 to distribute a model policy to school districts, which must enact their own policies by July 1.

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This sends the bill back to the House, which voted 88-9 last week to pass the measure, before it can go to the governor's desk.

More: House passes Kim Reynolds' classroom cellphone ban, bill aimed at improving math scores

Several Iowa schools have already adopted student cellphone bans with varying rules, including Hoover High School in Des Moines and the Ankeny, Dallas Center-Grimes and Iowa City school districts.

Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, chair of the Senate Education Committee, said the bill gives a "good nudge" to districts that have not yet regulated classroom cellphone use as distractions become more prevalent and disruptive to students' mental health.

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"I believe that this is actually good legislation because we're encouraging school boards to take up a matter that we all know could be a problem, but it doesn't take away local control," Evans said. "It allows them to develop this policy in a manner that best fits their school district and addresses needs in their community."

What must schools' cellphone policies address?

School districts' policies must identify methods for parents and guardians to communicate with students during school hours, school-sponsored events and emergencies. They also must outline protocols schools will use to securely store students' devices and specify discipline students would face for violating the rules.

Policies also will include a petition process that parents can use to argue their student needs access to a cellphone during the school day for "a legitimate reason related to the student's physical or mental health." The bill makes exceptions for students with disabilities.

"I think there's more that we can continue to do in this space, but I applaud this bill creating a floor and a minimum policy for our students," said Sen. Kara Warme, R-Ames.

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Lawmakers struck language included in an earlier version of the bill that would have required schools to teach students in sixth through eighth grades about the effects of social media.

Although Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, supported the bill, he questioned the effectiveness of the policy and said it was more of a "restriction" than a prohibition.

He pointed to language where the bill says school districts must adopt policies that "restrict" students' cellphone use of devices in the classroom.

"This bill is going to make some people feel good, I suppose, but it really won't do very much as far as changing the facts on the ground," Quirmbach said.

Private, charter schools are not required to set policies limiting students' cellphone use

Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, filed an amendment that would have made the bill apply to both public and private schools. It failed in a 16-33 vote, with Sen. Charlie McClintock, R-Alburnett, joining Democrats in voting for the amendment.

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Trone Garriott said the Legislature should have a say in whether nonpublic schools set cellphone policies because, through Iowa's education savings accounts, the state annually funnels millions of taxpayer dollars toward students' private school expenses.

"If this electronic and social media policy is good for kids, it is good for kids whether they are in public schools or private schools, charter schools, whatever kinds of schools our state tax dollars are funding in some way," Trone Garriott said.

The Senate amended the bill so it would not require charter schools to adopt policies restricting cellphone use.

But Evans said he is convinced that charter and private schools, if they haven't already, will put policies in place limiting classroom cellphone use. The legislation does not bar them from setting such policies.

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Marissa Payne covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. Reach her by email at mjpayne@registermedia.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @marissajpayne.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Senate passes governor's bill banning classroom cellphone use
The Iowa Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would bar local governments, boards and departments from having DEI offices, officers and policies. (Photo by Kathie Obradovich/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Iowa lawmakers differed Tuesday on definitions and merits of diversity, equity and inclusion while debating legislation to restrict local governments DEI efforts.

The Iowa Senate passed Senate File 507 with a vote of 34-15 and sent it to the House for consideration.

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If signed into law, the bill would bar county and city governments, offices and boards from opening or keeping DEI offices as defined in the bill unless required by law. Local government bodies would also be prohibited from having an employee or third party perform the duties of a DEI office and from requiring or soliciting anyone to submit a DEI statement.

Included in the bills definition of diversity, equity and inclusion are hiring practices that arent colorblind and sex-neutral, or that provide deferential treatment or special benefits to someone based on race and other demographics. The bill also defines as DEI programs or activities promoting deferential treatment or topics disclosed in the legislation like implicit bias, transgender ideology and antiracism, among others.

Iowa taxpayers deserve for us to use the best hiring practices and to hire the very best people, floor manager Sen. Cherielynn Westrich said. Why would we not just hire the very best person, regardless of their particular characteristics?

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Similar legislation, amended to include community and private colleges, passed out of the Iowa House on March 18. House File 856 would bar state entities from spending any money, allocated or received through other methods, on DEI offices, positions and programming, with exceptions.

One exception listed in the Senate bill is for programming to teach deescalation techniques and prevention of bias, which Westrich said was requested by law enforcement to maintain their current training programs.

Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said during debate it seems like law enforcement has realized that diversity is important in their job duties of keeping their communities safe. Ensuring police have the understanding of their communities languages, cultural practices, history and more is necessary enough to put into this bill, he said, but the legislation would prohibit another important aspect of serving communities  recruiting from a diverse applicant pool in order to have the best force possible.

I want to choose the most qualified police officers, the most qualified candidates, Quirmbach said. But when you deal with issues like this, diversity is one of the elements of merit. We hear this from the other side of the aisle all the time, Oh, well, were all about merit. Well, diversity and merit are not antithetical.

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This applies to other areas of public work as well, Quirmbach said, from firefighters to 911 operators to housing coordinators. Limiting applicant pools by barring departments from recruiting from diverse areas stops cities and counties from having the most qualified people in the job, he said.

Other Democratic lawmakers agreed with Quirmbach, voicing concerns about how the legislation could affect human rights commissions, cultural and ethnic recognition and celebrations and emphasizing that DEI is necessary in the worlds of business, academics and government.

Westrich pointed out during debate the Senate has a female president and the Republican caucus as an Indian chief of staff and many diverse people as members, elected or appointed without the need for DEI training or policies.

Westrich said the words making up DEI in the context of local government have only served to apply unequal standards and set preferential outcomes for people based on their race, sex, gender identity and other demographics.

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The DEI movement is not about a sincere desire to make local government more diverse, more fair, more inclusive, Westrich said. Equal rights based on merit, talent, skill and qualifications is what we should have in our local government.

When asked by Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, about examples of local governing bodies breaking current Iowa law and discriminating against people in their hiring practices, Westrich said she has no specific examples but she knows that with DEI practices going on across the state, it has been happening.

Most pieces of legislation introduced to the Senate usually come with at least one example of a negative consequence of whatever it is the body is trying to change, Wahls said, adding it was unfortunate Westrich had none.

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LONDON (AP)  The Isle of Man is set to become the first part of the British Isles to legalize assisted dying as the debate over a similar bill continues in the U.K. parliament.

The island's legislature approved the final version Tuesday of the Assisted Dying Bill, sending it to King Charles III for the formality of approval that will make it law.

The island home to 84,000 residents between northern England and Ireland is a possession of the British crown that is self-governing but reliant on the U.K. for defense and foreign affairs.

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The bill would allow terminally ill adults to end their lives if they are expected to have less than a year to live. Candidates would have to have lived on the island for five years. Doctors have to opt-in to provide the service.

Dr. Alex Allinson, the member of the House of Keys who introduced the bill in 2022, said he hopes the bill will become law later this year and that it can be in place by 2027.

It has been a long process, but it was something that, when I went into politics, I was committed to try to advance," Allinson said. "People have been trying on the Isle of Man for the last 20 years to provide dignity and autonomy for those who are facing an imminent death.

Opponents of the bill said they were concerned that disabled, elderly, ill and depressed people could be pressured to end their lives so they're not a burden on others.

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Allinson said the bill was carefully written to put protections in place and still faces more debate over how the law is implemented.

James Mildred from the Christian Action Research and Education, which opposed the bill, called the passage a deeply sad step.

British lawmakers are debating a bill to help terminally ill adults end their lives in England and Wales after giving it initial approval in November.

Scottish lawmakers are expected to vote an assisted dying bill in coming weeks.
By Steven Scheer

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel's parliament gave final approval to the long delayed 2025 state budget on Tuesday, in a turbulent session that showed how lawmakers and the country remain divided over the fate of hostages still held in Gaza and the wider political landscape.

Parliament, known as the Knesset, passed the budget by a 66-52 margin. Failure to approve the budget by March 31 would have triggered snap elections.

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"This is a budget of war, and with God's help it will be a budget of victory," Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said moments before voting on the budget began.

The budget "addresses all the needs of the war  both on the front lines and the home front  until victory," he added.

The debate took place in a stormy sitting of the Knesset, where families of some of the hostages protested from behind a screen in a public gallery, holding up posters and photos of their loved ones. Opposition lawmakers held up signs in the main chamber with "59", the number of hostages still in Gaza since the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

About 24 of the hostages are believed to be still alive.

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Following the budget's approval opposition lawmakers shouted "shame", and opposition leader Yair Lapid called the legislation the "greatest robbery in the history of the state".

"You are stealing the money and the future of Israels middle class  the productive public that works, pays taxes, and serves in the army," he said in parliament, addressing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition.

Ahead of the vote, security forces dragged away protesters who lay across the road leading to parliament to demonstrate over the hostages as well as recent moves to dismiss Israel's domestic intelligence agency chief and the attorney general.

"There is freedom of expression in the State of Israel, but no one is free to forcibly block the democratic process in the Knesset," said Amir Ohana, the Knesset's speaker.

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RETURN TO WAR

Israel's military resumed its campaign against Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza last week, shattering a two-month ceasefire. On Tuesday, the army told residents in all northern border towns in Gaza to evacuate, saying Palestinian rockets had been fired at Israel from the area.

The return to fighting has led to mass protests in Israel demanding a return to negotiations to bring back the remaining hostages and bodies.

Smotrich had hoped the budget would be approved by the end of 2024, but political infighting among coalition partners delayed the final vote.

The total budget will be 756 billion shekels ($206.5 billion), or 619 billion excluding debt servicing - a 21% rise in spending over 2024. The defence budget alone will be a record 110 billion shekels, while the deficit is set at 4.9% of gross domestic product.

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The budget, which features a series of tax hikes aimed at preventing the deficit from becoming unsustainable while Israel finances its military conflict. In 2024, the deficit was 6.8% and led to credit rating downgrades.

Israel spent $31 billion on its military conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon in 2024, and the government vowed to sharply boost defence spending going forward.

Some $150 million will go to strengthen Israel's public diplomacy efforts, which Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said is a "is a crucial and life-saving issue, just like weapons on the battlefield".

($1 = 3.6611 shekels)

(Reporting by Steven Scheer; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Aidan Lewis)
This story was originally published on HR Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily HR Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Financial software company Intuit allegedly used AI-backed hiring assessment software provided by third-party vendor HireVue that discriminated against deaf and non-White individuals, the ACLU of Colorado asserted in a March 19 complaint to the Colorado Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The tool at issue, an AI-backed video interview platform, performs worse when evaluating non-White and deaf or hard of hearing speakers, according to the complaint. A deaf and Indigenous Intuit customer service employee was required to use the platform when she applied for a promotion, the complaint claimed.

The employee allegedly requested human-generated captioning as an accommodation so she could access interview instructions and questions. Intuit allegedly denied the request and after the interview, rejected her for the promotion due to her communication style, according to the complaint. The ACLU alleged that Intuits and HireVues actions violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act.

Dive Insight:

In an email statement to HR Dive, HireVue CEO Jeremy Friedman said the complaint is entirely without merit and is based on an inaccurate assumption about the technology used in the interview. Intuit did not use a HireVue AI-based assessment.

Friedman added that, although HireVues AI was not used in this instance, our industrial-organizational psychologists and data scientists are continuously engaged in research, including sensitive and important work around race, ability, and other protected statuses.

A spokesperson for Intuit told HR Dive in an email that, The allegations in the complaint are entirely without merit. We provide reasonable accommodations to all candidates.

HR managers are familiar with advantages AI-backed hiring tools can provide, including automating tasks like candidate screening and predicting a candidates success, Stradley Ronon partner Melanie Ronen noted in an October 2024 op-ed to HR Dive.

But HR professionals should also be aware of, and work to prevent, algorithmic bias  systematic and repeatable errors in AI-assisted processes that can lead to unintentional discrimination, Ronen stressed.

The AI-automated video interview system allegedly used in the Intuit case relies on automated speech recognition systems that may fail to accurately recognize and assess the speech of deaf applicants or the English dialects of Indigenous applicants, the ACLU said.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - An Israeli attack killed six people in southern Syria on Tuesday, Syria's foreign ministry said, after the Israeli military said its troops had clashed with militants who had opened fire on them.

The violence in the border area marks increased friction between Israel and Syria, where a new Islamist-led leadership has been installed after rebels ousted former leader Bashar al-Assad from power in December.

Israel says it will not tolerate an Islamist militant presence in southern Syria and has sent its troops into Syria's border zone. Syria's leadership has said it does not intend to open a front against Israel.

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The Israeli military said militants in southern Syria opened fire toward Israeli troops, without specifying whether the Israeli troops were within Syrian territory when they were targeted.

It said its troops returned fire and that an Israeli warplane struck the militants. It gave no details on casualties but said "hits were identified".

Syria's foreign ministry said six people had been killed in the attack on Koya, a town in the southern province of Daraa, adding that the toll was expected to rise due to serious injuries sustained from the attack.

It has called for an international investigation into the Israeli attacks on its territory, describing them as a "blatant violation of its sovereignty".

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Earlier, Israel said it had attacked two military bases, Tadmur and T4, in Homs province in central Syria.

Israel spent years carrying out airstrikes on Syria during Assad's rule, targeting Iran-linked military installations and weapons transfers from Tehran intended for the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

That arms route was cut when Assad was toppled but Israel has continued to carry out strikes on Syrian military bases.

The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned on Tuesday that Israel's strikes into Syria "risk further escalation".

Speaking at a joint press conference with Israel's foreign minister Gideon Saar, Kallas said the pair had discussed Israel's actions.

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"And we (the EU) feel that these things are unnecessary, because Syria is right now not attacking Israel," Kallas said.

The foreign ministry also urged Syrian people to reject any attempts to displace them or "enforce any new realities on the ground".

The statement comes as Israel courts the Syrian minority groups of Druze, who are mostly in the southern province of Suwayda.

The Druze, an Arab minority who practise a religion originally derived from Islam, live in an area straddling Lebanon, Syria, Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, connected across the borders by a web of kinship ties.

(Reporting by Maya Gebeily, Enas Alashray and Yomna Ehab in Cairo, Jana Choukeir in Dubai, Menna Alaa El-Din and Nayera Abdallah; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Alison Williams)
KOAYIAH, Syria (AP)  An Israeli strike Tuesday in southwestern Syria killed at least six people as Israeli troops occupying the area clashed with local residents, Syria's Foreign Ministry and a war monitor reported.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said troops fired back at gunmen who attacked them, before launching a drone attack.

The Syrian ministry said the six killed were civilians.

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Syrian state-run news agency SANA said that several people were wounded, including a woman. The report said Israeli tanks in the southwestern village of Koayiah also fired several rounds. Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at seven.

We also call on the Syrian people to hold on to their land and reject any attempts at displacement or the imposition of a new reality by force, stressing that these attacks will not deter Syrians from defending their rights and their land, the Foreign Ministry's statement read, accusing Israel of flagrant violation of national sovereignty and international laws.

The observatory and a town resident told The Associated Press that clashes had erupted between Israeli troops and residents after Israeli forces tried to enter the village and were confronted by armed civilians. Residents of the village fled the shelling and took refuge in neighboring villages and olive groves.

Israel seized a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone inside Syria after Islamist insurgents toppled President Bashar Assad and seized power in December, with Israeli officials saying they will thwart any threats. Israeli officials have also said that they will not allow the new Syrian military south of Damascus, claiming that they aim to protect the Druze, a minority sect present in both Syria and Israel.

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Syrias new authorities and U.N. officials have said Israel is violating the 1974 agreement that set up the buffer zone along the border and called for its withdrawal.

Elsewhere, the spokesperson of an investigative committee tasked with probing days of clashes and revenge attacks in Syria's coastal region that killed hundreds of civilians said they had listened to almost 100 testimonies and received dozens of written and recorded civilian and military statements.

There are areas where the events took place that are dangerous, and some witnesses and residents are afraid to communicate with the committee, Yasser al-Farhan said at a news conference. He declined to elaborate on the committee's findings so far.

The clashes erupted after pro-Assad loyalists attacked a security patrol in the coastal city of Lattakia, leading to revenge killings that broadly targeted Assad's minority Alawite community.

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The two-day violence was a major setback in Damascus' efforts to improve its image and convince Europe and the United States to lift economic sanctions after over a decade of conflict.

SANA also said Tuesday that two internet cables were cut in an act of sabotage, cutting online access across much of the country for 12 hours.



Chehayeb reported from Beirut.
What does J.D. Vance have against Europe?

A lot, apparently. Theres a clear through-line in the vice presidents contempt for Europefrom many of our individual allies to multinational organizations like the EU and NATO. That much was clear from his comments in the recent group text thread among senior administration officials that Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was (incredibly) included on.

On the thread, Cabinet and other top-level officials discussed plans to launch military attacks on the Iran-backed Houthi paramilitary group in Yemen, which had been disrupting commercial and military routes in the Red Sea. Vance expressed his disagreement that the strikes (which began on March 15) would benefit America instead of Europe.

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3 percent of US trade runs through the suez. 40 percent of European trade does. There is a real risk that the public doesnt understand this or why its necessary, Vance messaged the chat group. After Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House National Security Adviser Michael Waltz made the case for having America use its power to clear the shipping lanes, Vance appeared to relent, but not without a kiss off: if you think we should do it lets go. I just hate bailing Europe out again. (Hegseth responded to Vance to assure him I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. Its PATHETIC.)

In just a few leaked texts, we have a sharper understanding of just how Vance views Europe: an ungrateful and parasitic beneficiary of American largesse. Its an outlook hes revealed fairly consistently throughout his relatively brief political career, but rarely in such unguarded terms and in ways that put him at odds with President Donald Trump. And as an obvious frontrunner for the Republican nomination for president in 2028, Vance has a chance to continue reorienting American foreign policy toward an almost antagonistic relationship with Europe.

Criticism of Europe, particularly from the American right, is hardly a new phenomenon. There are countless areas where American interests are at odds with some of our largest European alliestheir overreliance on Russian oil, for instance, or their opposition to American withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. And there are legitimate debates to be had about some of the Trump-Vance bugaboos involving Europe, such as the need for other NATO member countries to spend more on national defense or limiting expansion of membership to NATO or the EU.

But needling our European allies has been one of Vances signature moves during his vice presidency, and he does so in ways that seem designed more to win plaudits from his base of support at home rather than achieve diplomatic ends in Europe.

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His address at the Munich Security Conference in February upbraided leaders in Europe for their lack of commitment to free speech. He name-checked numerous laws across several European countries limiting speech they deemed hateful or offensive to certain people or groups. He reiterated the administrations belief that Europe needs to step up and contribute more for its own security. And he criticized Romania for canceling its presidential election in December over concerns that Russian-backed propaganda was improperly skewing the outcome.

But if your democracy can be destroyed with a few hundred thousand dollars of digital advertising from a foreign country, then it wasnt very strong to begin with, Vance said.

Earlier in February, Vance justified Trumps declared interest in acquiring Greenland by dismissing Denmark as a poor steward of the North Atlantic island and a bad friend to America for not doing enough to restrict its sea lanes to foes like the Chinese. Denmark, which controls Greenland, its not doing its job and its not being a good ally, Vance told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo. If that means we need to take more territorial interest in Greenland, that is what President Trump is going to do because he doesnt care about what the Europeans scream at us.

And most famously, Vance was the instigator at the February 28 White House meeting with Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky in which the Ukrainian president sharply questioned the use of diplomacy to bring Russias Vladimir Putin to heel.

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You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict, Vance lectured Zelensky. Do you think that its respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country? Vance later berated Zelensky with a condescending question for a leader trying to save his country from annihilation: Have you said thank you once?

There are plenty of examples from before Vance became vice president that demonstrate his glib disdain for Europe and questioning Americas interest in defending its allies. Its part of what drew powerful allies like Tucker Carlson to back Vance in last years veepstakes. It also animates the next generation of foreign policy-minded Republicans, who see the liberal democratic establishment in Europe as a crumbling, godless society of elites. Helpfully for him, this scorn Vance has for Europe often aligns with Trumps own zero-sum calculus on international relations.

But as the group text chat revealed, thats not always the case, especially when Vances worldview comes into conflict with Trumps desire to send a message to the Houthis through tough, limited action. In the end, clearing the shipping lanes and striking a blow to the Iranian backers of the Houthis appears to have outweighed their instinct to stick it to the Europeans. As the rest of the principals discussed how to proceed on Trumps plan to attack the Houthis, Vance warned: I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now.

As far as his second term goes, Trumps message on Europe has largely been shaped by Vance and his worldview: from Hegseths own speech in Europe last month telling NATO allies that the administration will no longer tolerate an imbalanced relationship which encourages dependency to the threats to tariff European imports. And despite this notable daylight between the president and the vice president over Yemen that mistakenly spilled out into the open, its likely to stay that way.

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Warning: The contents in this story might be disturbing to some readers.

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  A man pled guilty to stabbing his paralyzed father to death in Jackson.

Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens announced that Kristopher BoClair was sentenced to 25 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC). He pled guilty to second-degree murder in the stabbing death of his father, Kenneth BoClair.

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Firefighter injured while responding to Jackson apartment fire

The incident occurred on November 30, 2022, in the 300 block of Riser Street after receiving a call from the defendants mother. She reported that her son confessed to killing his father.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found Kenneth BoClair, 58, who was paralyzed and bedridden, lying in bed with knives lodged in his neck and eye. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Kristopher BoClair (Courtesy: Hinds Co. Detention Center)

Kristopher BoClair turned himself in at the Byram Police Department.

He entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 40 years, with 15 years suspended. He will serve 25 years in the custody of MDOC, followed by three years of post-release supervision.

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The LJD Jewish Family & Community Services Frisch Family Holocaust Memorial Gallery is presenting Histories in Hand, a new exhibit exploring the deep connection between personal objects and the stories they carry. The exhibit features belongings passed down from Holocaust survivors to their families, illustrating how everyday items can hold extraordinary significance as symbols of endurance and hope.

Jacksonvilles Morning News is spotlighting the exhibit during a visit to the Frisch Family Holocaust Memorial Gallery.

LISTEN: Allison Galloway-Gonzalez, Curator of the Frisch Family Holocaust Memorial Gallery

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The exhibit also highlights a universal truth: objects often hold deep emotional value, especially for those who have survived tragedy. JFCS sees this firsthand in the foster care system, where children form similar attachments to meaningful possessions. A jacket or stuffed animal can provide comfort and familiarity, acting as an anchor to identity and stability.

LISTEN: Helen Meatte, a contributor to the Histories in Hand exhibit, details the back story on a locket she shares in the exhibit.

Objects carry stories that bridge generations. JFCS invites the community to reflect on these narratives, explore the meaningful objects in their own lives and consider how history can inspire greater compassion and understanding.

LISTEN: Louis Post, a contributor to the current exhibit Histories in Hand, details the significance of some family artifacts - candlesticks, a wine cup, and a spice box - that belonged to his fathers parents.

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Additional details are listed below. For more information, visit JacksonvilleHolocaustMemorial.com.

LISTEN: Melissa Williams, Holocaust Educator for The LJD Jewish Family & Community Services, joins JMN to discus the Histories in Hand exhibit, and other events and services available through the JFCS.

Gallery Hours: Monday  Friday, 8:30 a.m.  5 p.m.

Where: Frisch Family Holocaust Memorial Gallery

8540 Baycenter Road | Jacksonville, FL 32256
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT)  The Jacksonville Police Department hosted Coffee With the Chief Monday, Mar. 24, 2025.

The event highlighted the importance on connecting with the people of the City of Jacksonville. For members of the JPD, connection with the community is a big key.

Engagement with our community is our bread and butter, Jacksonville Police Chief Jarad Phelps said. We want positive engagements as much as we can, because the negative ones are the ones where we have to enforce the law and we can do that in a respectful way. These positive interactions make sure we have a tight-knit community so that we are involved with whats going on and they feel comfortable calling when there is an issue.

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JPD hosted the event at the Manatial De Esperanza Church where many members of the community speak Spanish. Officer Yalmar Guzman helped translate for Chief Phelps and other officers.

Chief Phelps said having conversations with people face to face can help show the community how theyre there for them.

The personal interaction is key to everything, Chief Phelps said. Sitting behind a keyboard and spouting off thoughts is one thing, its peoples right to do so. But, the personal interaction you get with somebody and having that conversation is how our world works.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Danish filmmaker Janus Metz (Borg vs McEnroe, Armadillo), most recently attached to Season 2 of Star Wars series Andor, has his mind and heart fully-immersed these days not in a galaxy far, far away, but in real-life stories of human beings, risking their lives in the Mediterranean, in hope of a better life in Europe.

With his observational doc Rescue, selected for CPH:DOXs co-production and co-financing showcase CPH:Forum in Copenhagen, the director has teamed up with Sine Plambech, a renowned anthropologist, filmmaker and migrant researcher who initiated the project. After a series of landmark documentaries on marriage and sex work between Thailand and Denmark including the Zurich Golden Eye winner Heartbound (2018), the duo is currently documenting the human tragedy and political game playing out in the Mediterranean, from the viewpoint of the search and rescue vessel Geo Barents, operated by the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (Medecins sans Frontieres).

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Thanks to unprecedented access to the MSF vessel for a full year, the filmmakers have been following at close range a group of rescuers  mostly women  as they save migrants and refugees, while navigating the opposition from armed militias, coast guards and the EU agenda of financing North African countries to stop migration at the source.

The story is told from the points of view of MSF head of rescuers Claire, one of the rescuers Nesma, and Yemen-born refugee Hani. Metz and Plambech are following Hanis fate, as he gets separated from his wife and children  kidnapped in front of him by a Libyan militia  and tries to reunite with them.

Sine Plambech

Speaking exclusively to Variety ahead of their pitch at CPH:Forum on March 26, Metz, Plambech and producer Andreas Ml Dalsgaard of Elk Film (The Lost Leonardo, As the Tide Comes In) spoke about the extraordinary humanitarian work of MSF rescuers, todays EU migration policy that tends to fuel criminal activities around the Mediterranean and abuse of human rights, but also of the emotional toll of saving distressed human beings out at sea.

As a migration researcher, I have followed many heartfelt stories over the years, but the situation around the Mediterranean is unique in its urgency, says Plambech, who has been on two rescue missions aboard the Geo Barents since April 2024. Witnessing people being rescued, the intimate human connection with them, is something I have never experienced before and I will never forget that feeling.

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I cried a lot, admits Metz, who himself has attended one rescue mission. When youre on the boat, you meet those people face to face. Its likeIm me, youre you and Im saving your life. Thats all I can do. I dont know what your destiny will be, if you will be sent back or not, but theres an immense feeling of gratitude and respect at that very moment. Its hugely emotional. Then next to you are rescuers who also do their best to hold their emotions, but act like firemen or paramedics. They have to cope.

Dalsgaards company gave the crew access to debriefing sessions and psychological support to help them navigate those difficult emotions. Witnessing first-hand those tragic situations of migrants at sea is traumatizing. You cant walk away untouched, Dalsgaard says.

Describing the MSF rescue operations aboard the Geo Barents, Plambech says the vessel, which can fit up to 600 people, has a team of around 24 rescuers and doctors, on top of crew members. They have been at sea for eight years and rescued around 12,000 people, witnessing all kinds of tragedies, but also magic moments, like babies being born.

Janus Metz

However, the MSFs humanitarian mission at sea is almost untenable due to todays political context, say the filmmakers, who continue to document the situation as it evolves.

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Its been a very dramatic year, as the political situation in Europe, especially in Italy, has obstructed their work, explains Dalsgaard, referring to the implementation by Giorgia Melonis government of the Piantedosi Decree in 2023, which has forced the Geo Barents to do one rescue mission at a time, forcing it to navigate to and back from distant ports instead of assisting people in distress. The vessel has experienced various detention orders and fines for rescuing more than one boat at a time. Its been very very difficult. At the same time, with EU migration funding to Libya or Tunisia, weve seen criminality developing, with militias taking migrants hostage to make money. Some of them are forced to do the journeys across the Mediterranean multiple times and are being held hostage multiple times. All this complex dynamic plays out in the film, says Dalsgaard.

Summarizing the filmmakers vision, the producer says: The goal of our film is to showcase and reveal from a human perspective how this criminal system plays out and its effects on people, the rescuers who are the witnesses, and the migrants, obviously the victims.

Were documenting the consequences of the EU migration politics, adds Metz. We dont come up with a million-dollar answer to a million-dollar question, but we say: we must do better than this. It is corrupting our souls, as were literally creating a killing zone for migrants from North African territories in the Mediterranean.

Quizzed about their next steps with their shooting schedule, Plambech and Metz say they will most probably do one more rescue mission in the spring, expand the portrait of Hani and his family, and further document the migration issue from a Libyan perspective, with support from local journalists, to have a full overview of the increasing constraints on humanitarian operations in the Mediterranean.

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Dalsgaard says he expects the film to move into production following the CPH:Forum pitch.

The film is being produced by Dalsgaard with Sofie Husum Johannesen, in co-production with Italys Fluid Produzioni, with backing from the Danish Film Institutes development support, the Danish Art Foundation, Politiken Foundation and Creative Media. Broadcasters on board so far include DR, VPRO, SVT and NRK.

We have space for one more co-producer and are negotiating with sales agents, Dalsgaard says.

Rescue is among 30 international documentaries in late development or production selected for Copenhagens CPH:Forum running March 24 to 27.

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By Shivam Patel

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Japan has said that it backed close security cooperation with South Korea and India in the Indo-Pacific, days after the Philippines' military chief said a U.S.-backed security group wanted both nations to join to counter China in the region.

Japan's Ministry of Defense said in a statement to Reuters on Monday that it supported building a multi-layered network of alliances in general, and but declined to say whether it has given its consent or made any specific considerations on the expansion of the Squad group.

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The Squad is an informal multilateral grouping made up of Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States, focused on defence cooperation, intelligence sharing, and joint military exercises and operations.

"It is important to build networks among allies and like-minded countries organically and in a multi-layered manner, as well as to expand such networks and strengthen deterrence, as Japan faces the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II," Japan's Ministry of Defense said.

It added that the ministry "believes that close cooperation among regional partners, including Australia, the Philippines, as well as the Republic of Korea and India is extremely important from the perspective of realizing a 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific', while the Japan-U.S. Alliance remains at its core."

General Romeo S. Brawner, military chief of the Philippines, said at a security forum in New Delhi last week that Squad nations were trying to include India and South Korea in the grouping to counter China. His remarks followed a series of escalating confrontations between Manila and Beijing over the past couple of years in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.

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India's defence ministry and South Korea's embassy in India did not respond to a request for comment.

Christopher Elms, the spokesperson of the U.S. Embassy in India, told Reuters last week that, "The United States will continue to work with all of our partners to continue to advance a more secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region".

Australia's defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Shivam Patel in New Delhi; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
TOKYO (AP)  The Unification Church in Japan was ordered dissolved by a court Tuesday after a government request spurred by the investigation into the 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The South Korea-based church said it was considering an immediate appeal of the Tokyo District Courts revocation of its legal status, which would take away its tax-exempt privilege and require liquidation of its assets.

The order followed a request by Japans Education Ministry in 2023 to dissolve the influential South Korea-based sect, citing manipulative fundraising and recruitment tactics that sowed fear among followers and harmed their families.

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In the ruling, the court said the churchs problems were extensive and continuous, and a dissolution order is necessary because it is not likely it could voluntarily reform, according to NHK television.

We believe our claims were accepted, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters, adding the government will continue efforts to support victims of the church.

The Japanese branch of the church had criticized the request as a serious threat to religious freedom and the human rights of its followers.

The church called the court order regrettable and unjust and said in a statement the court's decision was based on a wrong legal interpretation and absolutely unacceptable."

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Tomihiro Tanaka, president of the church's Japanese branch, accused the government of fabricating damages." The church is not a malicious group that should be dissoloved, he told a news conference on Tuesday.

The investigation into Abe's assassination revealed links over decades between the church and Japans governing Liberal Democratic Party. The church obtained legal status as a religious organization in Japan in the 1960s during an anti-communist movement supported by Abes grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi.

The man accused of killing Abe resented the church and blamed it for his family's financial troubles.

The church, which officially calls itself the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, is the first religious group subject to a revocation order based on violations of Japans civil code. Two earlier case involved criminal charges  the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult, which carried out a sarin nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway system, and Myokakuji group, whose executives were convicted of fraud.

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To seek the church's dissolution, the Education Ministry had submitted 5,000 documents and pieces of evidence to the court, based on interviews with more than 170 people.

The church tried to steer its followers decision-making, using manipulative tactics, making them buy expensive goods and donate beyond their financial ability and causing fear and harm to them and their families, seriously deviating from the law on religious groups, officials and experts say.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs said the settlements reached in or outside court exceeded 20 billion yen ($132 million) and involved more than 1,500 people.

Lawyers representing those seeking damages from the church welcomed the court decision as a major first step toward redress.

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We must pursue our effort to achieve redress and to prevent future problems, head lawyer Susumu Murakoshi told reporters, demanding the church accept the dissolution order and offer an apology and compensation to all victims.

The church was founded in Seoul in 1954 by the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the self-proclaimed messiah who preached new interpretations of the Bible and conservative, family-oriented value systems.

Nicknamed the Moonies, after its founder, the church developed relations with conservative world leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as his predecessors Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

The church faced accusations in the 1970s and 1980s of using devious recruitment tactics and brainwashing adherents into turning over huge portions of their salaries to Moon. In Japan, the group has faced lawsuits for offering spiritual merchandise that allegedly caused members to buy expensive art and jewelry or sell their real estate to raise donations for the church.

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The church has acknowledged excessive donations but says the problem has lessened since the group stepped up compliance in 2009.

Experts say Japanese followers are asked to pay for sins committed by their ancestors during Japans 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, and that the majority of the churchs worldwide funding comes from Japan.
WASHINGTON  Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) insists she wasnt mocking Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) for using a wheelchair when she called him Governor Hot Wheels in a speech over the weekend.

I wasnt thinking about the governors condition  I was thinking about the planes, trains, and automobiles he used to transfer migrants into communities led by Black mayors, deliberately stoking tension and fear among the most vulnerable, Crockett dubiously wrote Tuesday on social media.

Republicans have slammed Crockett for her comment, with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton calling her despicable, and Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) saying he would introduce a censure resolution.

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In a speech at the Human Rights Campaign dinner in California on Saturday, Crockett said, Yall know we got Governor Hot Wheels down there. And the only thing hot about him is that he is a hot ass mess, honey.

Crockett claimed the phrase hot ass mess indicated she wasnt talking about Abbotts wheelchair, which hes used since being struck by a falling tree when out for a run in 1984, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

At no point did I mention or allude to his condition. So, Im even more appalled that the very people who unequivocally support Trump  a man known for racially insensitive nicknames and mocking those with disabilities  are now outraged, Crockett said Tuesday.

Crockett has emerged as one of Democrats top insult comics, frequently going viral and occasionally going a little bit vile. Last year, after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) remarked on Crocketts fake eyelashes, during a contentious House Oversight Committee hearing, Crockett responded in kind after committee Republicans let Greenes dig slide.

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If someone on this committee then starts talking about somebodys bleach blonde bad-built butch body, that would not be engaging in personalities, correct? Crockett asked the committee chair, in reference to Greene.

At the beginning of her speech on Saturday, Crockett joked that she was liable to get in trouble for making rude statements.

You all know that I always have remarks and then something else happens, Crockett said. Yall just pray for me because who knows what Im going to end up saying.
WASHINGTON  U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, disparagingly called Gov. Greg Abbott Hot Wheels to mock his use of a wheelchair Saturday, prompting fierce backlash from Republicans.

Jasmine Crockett is despicable, Attorney General Ken Paxton said on social media.

Shameful, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn posted.

Jasmine Crockett is the perfect spokesperson for todays Democrats  out of touch and completely unhinged, said Mike Marinella, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee. When youve got no message and no agenda, all thats left is hate."

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U.S. Rep. Randy Weber, R-Friendswood, plans to file a motion to censure Crockett on Wednesday, according to a draft of the motion obtained by the Tribune.

Crockett made the remark during a dinner in Los Angeles hosted by the Human Rights Campaign, a pro-LGBTQ rights organization. Addressing the crowd, she quipped: Yall know we got Gov. Hot Wheels down there. Come on now. And the only thing hot about him is that he is a hot ass mess, honey.

Abbott has used a wheelchair for over 40 years. He was struck by a falling tree in 1984 while jogging, crushing multiple vertebrae. He was 26 at the time.

Crockett is not the first to land in hot water after mocking Abbotts disability. Then-Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt apologized in 2019 after she said Abbott hates trees because one fell on him. Eckhardt is now a state senator. Two staffers of Empower Texans, a right-wing advocacy group, drew condemnation from their fellow Texas Republicans in 2020 after audio surfaced of them cursing out the governor and deriding his disability.

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Addressing the comments, Abbott said on Tuesday night that Democrats have no vision, no policy. They have nothing to sell but hate.

The bottom line is that Republican states like Texas are leading the way, and with comments like this by Democrats, we will just leave them in the dust in future elections, Abbott said to Fox News' Sean Hannity.

In a social media post, Crockett asserted she was mocking Abbotts policies, not disability.

I wasnt thinking about the governors conditionI was thinking about the planes, trains, and automobiles he used to transfer migrants into communities led by Black mayors, deliberately stoking tension and fear among the most vulnerable, Crockett wrote. Literally, the next line I said was that he was a Hot A** Mess, referencing his terrible policies. At no point did I mention or allude to his condition. So, Im even more appalled that the very people who unequivocally support Trumpa man known for racially insensitive nicknames and mocking those with disabilitiesare now outraged.

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Crockett is known for her withering criticisms of Republicans, emerging as a high-profile messenger for Democrats as they go on the offense against President Donald Trump. She has gone viral for her clashes with Republicans during committee hearings.

She drew particular attention when she shot back at U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, for mocking her appearance. The Georgia Republican said during a committee hearing last year that Crocketts fake eyelashes are messing up what youre reading.

Crockett shot back in a now viral moment where she asked about the propriety of using the phrase a bleach blonde bad built butch body, a remark aimed at Greene. The line has since appeared on merchandise, and Crocketts campaign applied to trademark the line last year.

Disclosure: Human Rights Campaign has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

We cant wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 1315 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more.

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Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett is facing sharp criticism from Republicans after she mocked Governor Greg Abbott over his wheelchair use.

Crockett has often been praised by progressives for her confrontational stance against conservatives and the Trump administration.

Speaking at the Human Rights Campaign 2025 dinner in Los Angeles this weekend, she said, We in these hot a** Texas streets, honey.

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Yall know we got Governor Hot Wheels down there. Come on now! And the only thing hot about him is that he is a hot a** mess, honey! the Texas Democrat lawmaker added.

Abbott was paralyzed below the waist at the age of 26 when an oak tree fell on him during a jog in 1984.

The speech was highlighted by Mediaite.

Crockett quickly faced criticism for her comments, mostly from conservatives, with CNN pundit Scott Jennings referring to her as the unquestioned leader of the Democratic Party.

Th[e] Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, has used a wheelchair since 1984 when he was tragically paralyzed in an accident, he wrote on X. Today, the unquestioned leader of the Democratic Party, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, mocks him with the insult Governor Hot Wheels.

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Jennings was calling for civility and mindful language by quote-tweeting an account called End Wokeness.

A writer for the conservative National Review, Dan McLaughlin, claimed on social media that Crockett is what the Democratic base wants, but she's the opposite of what the party needs.

Conservative activist Scott Presler wrote on X: I dont use this word often, but Jasmine Crockett truly is wicked. To call Greg Abbott Governor Hot Wheels is cruel, contemptible, and speaks to your lack of character.

U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett made the comments during an appearance onstage at the Human Rights Campaign's 2025 Los Angeles Dinner over the weekend. (Getty Images for Human Rights Ca)

A tree fell on Abbott when he was 26 years old  paralyzing him from the waist down, he added. His loving wife stayed by his side and they have a lovely adopted daughter. If Jasmine Crockett represents the Democrat party, I want nothing to do with Democrats. Despicable.

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Riley Gaines, a conservative podcaster and anti-trans activist, added: Democrats, please keep giving Jasmine Crockett the microphone. We'll never lose an election again.

The National Republican Congressional Committee also slammed Crockett, writing, Recent polling shows Crazy Crockett as one of the leaders of the Democrat Party. This is who they are.

Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn called Crocketts comments disgraceful.

Can you imagine if a Republican said something like this? It would be on front page of NYT and all over CNN, he claimed.

Congressman Randy Weber, who like Crockett and Abbott represents Texas, told Fox News Digital that he also plans to introduce a move to censure Crockett.

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The story of our great governor of Texas is one of unwavering resilience and perseverance. Meanwhile, the actions of Jasmine Crockett  stooping to vile levels of discrimination and despicable political attacks  are nothing short of reprehensible," Weber told the outlet.

He went on to call her behavior a "disgrace to everything Texas and the United States stand for."

Democratic strategist Mike Nellis, meanwhile, said, I dont care for Jasmine Crocketts comment about Governor Abbott, but Republicans can spare me the crocodile tears when this clown is their king, and added an image of President Donald Trump mocking a disabled reporter.

The incident he was referring to saw Trump mock a New York Times reporter with a congenital joint condition during a rally in 2015. Trump's supporters were insistent that Trump's flailing was just an unrelated comedic motion and not a direct reference to reporter Serge Kovaleskis condition.

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"Now the poor guy, you gotta see this guy," Trump said, referencing the reporter, right before launching into his impression.

A Democratic strategist reminded Republicans that President Donald Trump once mocked a New York Times reporters disability. (BBC/Screengrab)

On Sunday, Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared on Fox News and warned Crockett should "tread carefully" with her words after voicing her support for the Tesla Takedown protest.

"On March 29, it's my birthday, and all I want to see happen on my birthday is for Elon to be taken down," Crockett said.

Conservatives, including Bondi, have interpreted "taken down" to mean an act of violence against Musk as opposed to a lowering of his wealth or stature.

Crockett insisted she was referencing Musk's wealth.

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"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," she said.

She also fired back at Bondi during an appearance on MSNBC, telling the Attorney General that she does not advocate for violence, and that she should turn her gaze to her own boss, the president.

So Pam Bondi, if you have an issue with terrorism, maybe you should talk to your boss about locking back up those guys that he let out that participated in January 6, Crockett said.
Jeffrey Goldberg has a track record of infuriating American politicians - Mike Morgan

Top US officials could not have picked a worse journalist to accidentally disclose secret military war plans to.

Jeffrey Goldberg, the highly-respected  and at times controversial  editor of the The Atlantic magazine has always been a staunch critic of Donald Trump, his foreign policy and his Maga acolytes.

How the 59-year-old was added to a top-secret unsecured group chat plotting US air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen is still unclear.

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He is certainly no friend of the White House.

Last summer, Mr Trump branded him a horrible, radical-Left lunatic and a few months ago he called him a sleazebag after he broke a series of unflattering stories about the US president.

In response to Mr Goldbergs report of the security breach, Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, called him a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist a guy who peddles garbage.

It was the latest in a slew of insults the US president and his allies have levelled at the accomplished journalist, who has a track record of infuriating American politicians.

Mr Goldberg grew up in New York to Jewish parents, which he described as very Left-wing, before going onto work for an array of the most prestigious US media brands.

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He has a deep knowledge of foreign policy issues, particularly the Middle East and has never shied away from criticising Americas activities in the region.

He has written for The Washington Post, The New York Times Magazine and The New Yorker, where he worked as a correspondent in the Middle East and then Washington and picked up some of journalisms highest awards for his foreign reporting.

He has often found himself in hot water with his highly critical views on Israel.

In his teens, he became a dual Israeli citizen, served briefly in its military and later worked for the Jerusalem Post. But he revealed in 2023 he had given up his citizenship.

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In an interview with the Washingtonian, he said it was because he was patriotically American. If Israel goes much further down the road I think its on and becomes more of a theocratic, totalitarian-style state, he asked, how could the liberal-minded American Jew support that?

He joined The Atlantic in 2007, and became editor-in-chief in 2016.

This was when he led the magazines only third presidential endorsement in its 160-year history for Hillary Clinton.

Goldberg interviews Hillary Clinton in 2018 after endorsing her presidential election bid in 2016 - Paul Morigi/Getty Images

It described Mr Trump as the most ostentatiously unqualified major-party candidate in the 227-year history of the American presidency.

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In 2020, Mr Goldberg broke the story that Mr Trump had called US soldiers who died in wars losers and suckers, which prompted widespread condemnation and aggressive pushback from the White House.

Mr Trump himself tweeted: The Atlantic... is dying, like most magazines, so they make up a fake story in order to gain some relevance. Story already refuted.

Although the story was confirmed, CNN reported that Mr Goldberg was temporarily moved out of his home over threats to his safety.

But he has refused to stay quiet about his disdain for Mr Trump and his politics.

A threat to the existence of America

At the end of 2023, his magazine ran an entire issue dedicated to what a second Trump term would look like so that Trumps authoritarianism would be clear to every reader, Mr Goldberg said.

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I believe that a second Trump term poses a threat to the existence of America as we know it, he told CNN at the time.

In October last year, he wrote a deeply critical article of what he called Mr Trumps obsession with dictators and growing disdain for the military.

It prompted a direct response from the Republican, who called The Atlantic a failing magazine run by a guy named Goldberg.

Mr Goldbergs latest expose of the reckless activities of Mr Trumps inner-circle allowing him to be privy to highly-classified information has landed him right back in the presidents firing line.

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.
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Its happened to the best of us. We mistakenly send a text about a colleague we are mad at to that very colleague. We accidentally include our mom on the sibling text chain about our mom. Today on Radio Atlantic, a much higher-stakes texting error: The Atlantics editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, received a connection request on Signal from a Michael Waltz, which is the name of President Donald Trumps national security adviser. Two days later, he was added to a group text with top administration officials created for the purpose of coordinating high-level national-security conversations about the Houthis in Yemen. On March 15, Goldberg sat in his car in a grocery-store parking lot waiting to see if the strike would actually happen. The bombs fell. The text thread had to be real.

We talk with Goldberg about this absurd chain of events, and with Shane Harris, who covers national security for The Atlantic, about what it means that defense officials were discussing detailed war plans on a text chain.

The following is a transcript of the episode:

Hanna Rosin: On March 15, the U.S. began a bombing campaign against Houthi groups in Yemen. A couple of hours before that, our editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, sat in his car in a supermarket parking lot, waiting to see if and when the attack would start. How he knew about this military campaign is a very weird story. Not long ago, Jeff was added to a text chain of very important people in the administration. Presumably, he was added to it by accident.

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I know, it happens to the best of usbut there was the editor of The Atlantic monitoring the back-and-forth between Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President J. D. Vance, and others, wondering: Could this possibly be real? In fact, Brian Hughes, the spokesman for the National Security Council, later confirmed that it was indeed all real. Im Hanna Rosin. This is Radio Atlantic, and today, we have on the show editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg and staff writer Shane Harris, who covers national security, to explain what happened and what it might mean.

Jeff, welcome to the show.

Jeffrey Goldberg: Hey, Hanna.

Rosin: Hi, Shane.

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Shane Harris: Hi.

Rosin: Jeff, on Tuesday, March 11, you get a Signal message from a user identified as Michael Waltz, which is also the name of President Trumps national security adviser. Where are you when you get this message, and what are you thinking?

Goldberg: Weirdly and randomly, I was in Salzburg, Austria, and what Im thinking is not much, because in my line of work, that wouldnt be the craziest thing to happen.

Rosin: Like, it could be him; it could be someone pretending to be him. Youre not that fussed.

Goldberg: Well, I am always cautious about people reaching out across social media or messaging apps.

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I dont assume that theyre the person that the name suggests, but I would have to say that I was glad, also, and I was hoping that it was the actual Michael Waltz, because Id like to be in regular contact with Michael Waltz for all the obvious journalistic reasons.

Rosin: Right. So youre like, Oh, maybe he has a scoop for me.

Goldberg: Yeah.

Rosin: Okay, so then what happens next? Youre going about your life, going about your business, and 

Goldberg: And then I get added to a group, a Signal groupyou know, a text-messaging chat groupcalled Houthi PC small group. PC I know from covering White House issues, you know: Principals Committee, basically the top leaders of Cabinet departments generally associated with national-security issues, and then a message from Mike Waltz talking about how hes putting together this PC small group to talk about the Houthis, because somethings gonna be happening over the next 72 hours. Thats when I sort of thinkI mean, honestly, the first thing I thought was: Im really being spoofed. Like, somebody isthis is a hoax. This is a state or nonstate actor, probably nonstate actor, looking to entrap, embarrass, whatever word you wanna use, a journalist.

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Rosin: Right. So youre on alert. Like, its a little bit interesting, but also 

Goldberg: Hanna, as you know, Im always on alert.

Rosin: Yeah, okay, okay, okay.

Goldberg: Hanna, what am I gonna tell you?

Rosin: All right, so then, so maybe its a spoof, maybe its not. How does it start to get more real?

Goldberg: Well, it gets real in the sense that if somebodys doing a spoof, its a very, very accurate spoof. What happens is, a number of Cabinet-level officials start reporting into this chain, giving the names of their deputies or contact people over the weekend, when, clearly, somethings gonna happen in Yemen. Uh, in retrospect, clearly somethings gonna happen in Yemen. And that was that for that day; it was the next day that they start engaging in a policy discussion really in earnest. And its, you know, explicated in the story that I wrote. But, um, thats when Im sort of thinking to myself, If this is a simulation or this is a fake, someones going to a huge, huge length to make it seem real, because everybody in the chat sounds like the person who theyre quote-unquote playing. So I dont say Im 5050; Im still 60, 70, you know, 7030 this is a fakery, because, for the simple reason that this is nutsI mean, obviously why, why would I be involved in this?

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Rosin: I wouldnt even know what to think, because yeah, like, we include people on text chains who we shouldnt. Like, the mistake seems as implausible as the realitylike, every version seems implausible.

Goldberg: We all make the mistake. This is why this is so relatable. Yeah. We all  Im thinking of Shane, and Im writing to Hanna about Shanean assignment, or how great Shane is. And I type in Shane into the recipient, because thats the name thats on my mind.

I dont know what was going on in Mike Waltzs mind, who he was thinking ofwere trying to figure that out, still trying to figure that out. But in any case, I was added to this group, and its a misdirected email or text chain that I shouldnt have been on. But the larger pointand obviously Shane can speak to thisthe larger point is that: Why is this conversation happening out in the open? Now, I know Signal is end-to-end encrypted, but its a commercial texting service that anyone, not just people with security clearances in the federal government, can join.

So, so, and thats the essential danger, and thats, if you want to think about it, an original sin. The original sin is communicating very sensitive information in a channel where you can mistakenly bring inI mean, forget the editor of The Atlantic. You could have brought in a Houthi, for all you know. You could bring in somebody who is actively sympathetic to the Houthis and sharing real-time information with you. Thats somewhat appalling.

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Rosin: So, Shane, Im gonna ask you about that in a second, but I need one more part of the story before we move on to that. Give me an example ofyou said it sounded like them. Like, if it was a simulation, it was an amazing simulation. Can you give us an example?

Goldberg: Sure: Pete Hegseth writing an all-caps about how he finds the Europeans pathetic. J. D. Vance sounding like a kind of quasi-isolationist, talking about: Why would we do this sort of thing? Europe doesntEurope should take care of this problem; its not our problem. Trade conversations. The most interesting one, and the one that I thought, Whoa, that really does sound like the guy: At the end of this chain, Stephen Miller, or I should say S M, a person identified as S M, comes in and basically shuts the conversation down and said, I heard the president. He was clear to me; he wants to do this. It was basicallyand obviously this is really interestingits a conversation with not only the secretaries of state, treasury, and defense, but the vice president of the United States, and here comes Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff, ostensibly just deputy chief of staff, coming in and saying, Uh, everybody, uh, the president spoke. I heard it. Yall need to just stop doing what youre doing. And then everybody kind of gets in line and, like: All right, well I guess were attacking Yemen.

Rosin: Its so crazy that youre just watching this conversation unfold.

Goldberg: Look, the White House has confirmed that this is an authentic chain, but were still trying to figure out some aspects of it. I still dont know the identities of one or two people, because they had their initials. So when we talk about them, Im assuming that S M is Stephen Miller, but Im not guaranteeing that to you.

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Thats a good example of one person. On the other hand, obviously, the one called Hegseth is Hegseth.

Rosin: So you heard Vance disagree with the president, which almost never happens publicly. Thats interesting.

Goldberg: I mean, to be fair to all vice presidents and presidents, it never happens in any administration, where a vice president is gonna go out and, I mean, of course he didnt go out here. He thought he wasactually, its really, its interesting, because Vance is saying in the conversation: I dont think the president understands the ramifications of what hes doing. Hes saying that to people who work for the president. Its kind of a bold move, to say: Trump doesnt understand whats going on. And now if Im just sort ofthis is just speculationbut if Im Stephen Miller, and Im reading that, and Im the enforcer, Im like: Okay, thanks, J. D. Thatll be enough of that.

Rosin: Right, right, right, right, right. So some of the things are, like, overheard across the bathroom stallyou dont hear them in public. Other things are, like, exactly as you expect.

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Goldberg: Right, right, right. Other things are exactly as I expect. I mean, even later in the story, when, after the first successful strike on the Houthis in Yemen

Rosin: And thats when you know this was real.

Goldberg: Well, then I know its real, because I was told beforehand that it was gonna happen, in my phone, and then two hours later it happens.

Thats pretty good proof that, you know, if somebody is spoofing this, then its not some media-gadfly organization. Its a foreign intelligence service that had knowledge of the U.S. strikesseems implausible. But then the part that really struck me as very Trump administration was the sharing of all these emojis: flag emojis, muscle emojis, fire emojis.

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Rosin: Prayer emoji.

Goldberg: Prayer emoji, which, you know, and its like, by the way, I mean, it wastalk about relatable. Its like every workplaceI mean, this is what I actually thought when Im seeing this come over the phone, is Wow, every workplace is the same. Its like, Big victory! We got the new, you know, the Dunder Mifflin contract, and, you know, muscle emoji, and its like, here was, you know, We took out some Houthis! Good, good, good work, everybody. So thats when I thought, Wow, these guys arethese could be these guys. Because if I were trying to spoof them, I wouldnt do something so implausible as to start inserting juvenile emojis into a national-security conversation.

Rosin: Unless you were so good.

Goldberg: Yeah, no, if I had outfoxed myself, you know. I wouldnt have done that if I were doing a simulation.

Rosin: One more question about your reality: As all this is happening and youre starting to realize this might be real, are you talking to people about it? Are you in your own reality about it? Are you, like, where are you?

Goldberg: Well, Im talking to certain colleagues, including and especially Shane, whos sitting next to me. Shane, whos been covering the intelligence community for a long while. And, you know, Im talking to him from the beginning about this, cause I do need some reverb, some reaction to it, cause its never, Ive never seen this kind of thing or heard of something like this happening.

But when I first showed him just the initial forayyou know, the were having a groupShane was like, No, no. Somebodys trying tothis is an operation. I dont know who it is, I dont know why theyre doing it, but this is an op. This is a disinformation operation, because these guys dont do that.

Rosin: Okay, Shane: These guys dont do that. Why was that your first thought? What dont they do?

Harris: I mean, what they do is talk about who were gonna bomb and why should we bomb them. They dont do it on Signal. And, I mean, in the initial presentation of this that Jeff gave to me, I thought: Well, this, this sounds crazy. Why would they be that reckless? Why would the national security adviser set up a group, call it, you know, PC Houthi group, and then start adding these people?

And it was actually kind of baffling, too, because, again, if this was a hoax, somebody was going to really great lengths to do itwhich could happen.

Goldberg: I mean, you know, sophisticated operations do happen in the intelligence world.

Harris: Then the question was, of course: Why? To what end? So where is this going? And then as it went on, I think it became, like, as Jeff said, increasingly clear that the needle was moving quickly towards authentic. But my initial reaction as to why it was probably not real was: I couldnt imagine senior national-security officials deciding that it was a good idea to discuss something of this sensitivity where, lets be clear, pilots are in the air, they could be shot down, people could be killed, people are going to be killed on the groundthings are happening very fast. Why would you not do that in the Situation Room or in a secure facility? Many of these Cabinet officials, by the way, have facilities like that in their house. They can go have those conversations.

Goldberg: Most of the relevant ones, the heads of intelligence agencies, the, obviously, defense secretary and the like, they have plenty of ways to communicate with each other within a minute or two of needing to.

Rosin: Even though Signals encrypted?

Harris: Yeah. So the problem is this. Theres a couple problems. One, its encrypted, but its never been approved by the government for sharing classified or whats called national-defense information. Now, to be clear, we talked to former security officials, former U.S. officials, who said, Yeah, we did use Signal in the government. We might use it to transmit sort of, um, certainly unclassified, not sensitive information. We might talk around something or, like, notify someone that youre leaving a particular country. But this level of specificityactual planning for an ongoing operation, the sharing of intelligence and information about strikesthat is clearly not what Signals intended for.

Its very convenient, and it is relatively safe. I mean, I know, like, some officials whove traveled overseas in conflict zones who use it because theyre not near a U.S. embassy, lets say, but its not meant for this kind of detailed planning which occurs as, you know, Mr. Waltz said, at the principals-committee levelthat is done in the Situation Room, or thats done at their various, you know, buildings where these people work.

Rosin: Just so Im clear, what level of detail crosses the line? I know you dont wanna say what they actually said about the campaign, but what kinds of details when you saw them were like: That would never happen.

Harris: So details like the number of aircraft that are involved, the kinds of munitions that are being dropped, specific times

Rosin: That was on the chain?

Harris: Specific targets on the ground, um, you know, intelligence-related matters relating to the strike and to the targets, names of individualsof U.S. officialswho should not have been put in an unclassified chain because of their status as intelligence officers. You know, you can kind of, like, you cantheres probably six or seven different kinds of information that are arguably implicated under the rules and the law for how youre supposed to handle this stuff.

Goldberg: By the way, a lot of it is just common sense. I mean, you read something, and you could tell the difference between strategic information and tactical information. We should deal with the Houthisfine, right? We should dealwe should do X, Y, and Z, because the Houthis are a threat to commerce and American national-security interests.

This is what were gonna do to the Houthis in two hours is not information that the public should have. I mean, even as a reporter I say that, and, like, Im fascinated. I want to know how theyre making decisions, why theyre making decisions. I wanna know after action why things happened, why they went right, why they went wrong, and so on.

But I dont wantand Ive been doing this for a while, as has ShaneI dont want information before a kinetic action, before a strike of some sort that has to do with the practical aspects of that strike, information that if it got into the wrong hands could actually endanger the lives of Americans.

I mean, the north star for me and Shane and most normal people, normal reporters, is: Look, we dont want to endanger the lives of American personnel in the field. And thats why this wasthats why the Saturday texting, the Saturday chain, was very, very different than the Friday: because it got very practical.

Rosin: When was the bombing campaign?

Goldberg: Saturday the 15th. The first bombs exploded in Yemen around 1:45 p.m. eastern time. I found out at 11:44 eastern time that it was happening.

Rosin: Got it. So just so I understand, its like, theyre revealing specificity of plans which are about to take place, which could put lives in danger, yes?

Goldberg: Okay, like, so heres the thing that crossed my mind all throughout this, which is: Imagine if it werent me in that chain. But imagine if it were somebodyI mean, this sounds implausible, but its also implausible to include me in the chainimagine it was somebody who was a Houthi.

Harris: Or an Iranian diplomat.

Goldberg: Or an Iranian diplomat, or a diplomat from another country who was a side deal with the Iranians. They literally wouldve known when things were going to happen.

Rosin: But I have to say: A journalist is no less dangerous. Cause you could have published those plans. So youre not the best choice either.

Goldberg: Um, well, I, Im theyes.

Rosin: Of journalists, youre an excellent choice.

Harris: I mean, a less scrupulous one

Rosin: But a less scrupulous journalist.

Goldberg: No, no, I mean, and Im sure there are journalists who disagree with my view, who take a kind of, I would call it nihilistic view, which is, like: Information is information; we should just put it all out there.

Rosin: Right.

Goldberg: And damn the torpedoes. Im notthats not my thing.

Harris: Theres another reason why this was so dangerous that doesnt have, doesnt involve mistakenly adding a journalist to the thread. And that is that while SignalI mean, you said its end-to-end encrypted; its very good and secure that way. Thats true. But the device that its on, right, is your phone. And while the iOS system is pretty good, nation-statesand here Im talking about China in particular, which, remember, is behind a recent, you know, penetration of the telecom networks called Salt Typhoonthe phone in the pocket of every one of those national-security officials must be presumed to be a No. 1 target for a foreign intelligence service.

Rosin: Mm-hmm.

Harris: And there are kinds of malware that they could get implanted on that phone. There could be very expensive, very sophisticated stuff that could allow them to read the messages on the phone as theyre being typed. Thats why a system like Signal, even though its good end-to-end encryption, is not approved for sharing classified information. Cause its on your phone, which can be hacked.

Rosin: Right. So its obviously sloppy, reckless. Does it violate any laws?

Harris: So there are a couple that it might. Conceivably, it could violate the Espionage Act, which, despite the name, its not just about spying; its about the handling of whats called national-defense information. So if this is considered national-defense information, there are provisions of that law governing how you transmit it, whos allowed to have itP.S. Someone like Jeff, who doesnt have a security clearance? Not allowed to have it. So now these officials made this known to someone who wasnt clearedinadvertently, so that could be, you know, a mitigating piece of information. Theres also a provision of the Espionage Act that governs whats called gross negligence in the handling or, more precisely, the mishandling of classified information. This was the provision that the Justice Department looked at when deciding whether to charge Hillary Clinton for using a private email server, and ultimately they did not, and this provision of the law has only, to my knowledge, been successfully used once to prosecute someone. Because its ambiguouswhat do you mean by gross negligence? Was it grossly negligent to put it on Signal? Was it grossly negligent to add Jeff ? The commonsense reaction to that might be yes. So thats possible that that could, you know, implicate maybe Mike Waltz or Pete Hegseth, even under the law. And then theres also the Presidential Records Act and the Federal Records Act.

And in this case, I think these text messages are both federal records and presidential records, because theyre coming out of the White House in some cases. And the law says

Goldberg: Literally, one of the participants is the elected vice president of the United States.

Harris: And another is the White House national security adviser. And we quoted an expert in the story, an expert on these laws, who said: Look, you know, if its a presidential record, you have to maintain it. And what that means is, in this case, a backup of these messages would need to be sent to some kind of government official account. If they were doing that, then theyre complying. But there are also DOD regulations about not putting classified information on an unclassified system, as clearly happened here as well.

So youve got a couple of laws, maybe two or three laws, provisions of those laws and regulations, that this activity would seem to violate.

Rosin: Well, Jeff, congratulations. Youre now part of the official Trump recordgovernment official record. Okay, theories. I know you dont know why this happened. Is there some possibility they wanted you to know? Have you run that through your head?

Goldberg: Oh, yeah. I ran all the possibilities through my head. You know, the funny thing is, when theyre having their policy conversationpolicy disagreementsI was struck by the sophistication of the arguments. Some were, you know, sort of knee-jerk, anti-Europe kind of invective that one expects, but they were having a serious conversation about what to do about a challenging problema problem, by the way, they were left with by the Biden administration, which did not handle that situation well or adequately.

So they were, this is something they inherited, and theyre trying to work their way through it. As they were doing that, I was thinking to myself, Oh, maybe they want me to see this. So I write a story about how clever they are in dealing with the Houthis. And I thought, Thats very kind of a circular way of getting somebody to write something about

Harris: Like, Waltz could just call you. He has your number.

Goldberg: They could just call me and say, Id like to do an interview with you about our Yemen policy, and Id be like, Great, lets do it. So I couldnt, I cantyou know, Occams razor explains a lot of the world, and the explanation here is that it was heading into the weekend; they were out and about; things were happening in the Middle East that they had to stay in touch with; they have these amazing devices in their pockets, like we all do, where they can communicate with the world; they put together a group; they put it together sloppily; and they did it on something that they shouldnt have done but for convenience; and, uh, thats it. Thats what happened.

Rosin: So given that that can happen to the best of us and does happen to all of us all the time, is there

Goldberg: Youre always, youre always planning the bombings of countries on your phone with your podcast team.

Rosin: I mean, like, adding the wrong person to a text chain. So given that that happens to the best of us, can you draw any particular conclusions about the Trump administration? Like, does it reveal anything to you about them thats specific, as opposed to just, you know, theyre sloppy like the rest of us?

Harris: I think theres that aspect too, which, I mean, there is a little bit of a Who among us?, right? Weve all done thisI mean, not about planning a warbut we know what this is like and how embarrassing and unintentional it can actually be. But what I do think this shows is a level of recklessness. Theres just no world in which a reasonable person serving these positions would think its okay to discuss this kind of active operation, I think, in this way. Now, there may be people who would challenge me on that, and there may be people who would say, Listen, its not as bad as it looks; they werent getting into totally the operational weedseven though I think they actually were. You could make excuses for that, but just as a judgment matter, this was a bad one. It was a bad call, I think, to use Signal in this way. Its not approved for this way. And you can see why it was such a bad call, because a horrible accident like this, from their perspective, can happen. But what I also think it reveals, tooand this is important to the policy debateis there is not agreement in the administration over whether theyre doing the right thing with this action. There is widespread agreement, it seems, that they should make the Europeans try to pay for this military action, cause its mostly European goods that are moving through this part of the world. But when the vice president comes out and says, I disagree, and I dont think that the president understands the implications for this and how it will affect his foreign policythats quite striking.

And you see in the messages how theyre referring back to previous meetings that they had where it seemed to some people in the room like this issue was settled. But apparently it wasnt. And they go on this kind of extended debate about: Well, should we wait a month? And then Stephen Miller, as Jeff said, comes in and says, No, the president said were doing this.

And so you see that theres not clarity around the presidents decision making around the policy, and that is justto be a fly on the wall for that is extraordinary. Thats very revealing about the policy process in this White House.

Rosin: You mean for such an important decision that there are last-minute disagreements that havent been buttoned up, that havent been hashed out, that havent gone through proper channels or, you know, like, thoughtfully resolved?

Goldberg: I think they wereI mean, apart from the fact that they were doing it on an insecure channel in the presence of the editor in chief of The Atlantic magazineapart from those two technical issues, they were having a reasonable conversation that you would expect them to have.

And like I said, I was a little bit heartened that, Ohthey actually debate among themselves. They talk about this; they work through these things. They seem to beas Shane pointed out, this is obviously the residue from other meetings that were taking place live and in person, where theyre still working out issues.

What I foundmaybe just on a personal level or a, you know, a citizen leveldisconcerting was when S M, who we assume is Stephen Miller or presume is Stephen Miller, when he comes in and says, Nah, I didnt hear that. I heard the president say, Were doing it. Thank you very much. Call it a day. And then everybody

Harris: And no one disagrees.

Goldberg: And then everybody, including the secretary of defense, goes: Agree.

But I have to say, and I want to be very clear here, when I understood that this was real, I did remove myself from the group and began the process of writing this so that I could make the public aware, our reading public aware, that this government had, um, lets just say poor digital hygiene. So its a very serious thing and I would rather not be engaged in that kind of text chain.

Rosin: Well, Jeff, Shane, thank you for joining us today.

Harris and Goldberg: Thank you.

Rosin: This episode of Radio Atlantic was produced by Kevin Townsend and edited by Claudine Ebeid. It was engineered by Rob Smierciak. Claudine Ebeid is the executive producer of Atlantic Audio, and Andrea Valdez is our managing editor. Listeners, if you like what you hear on Radio Atlantic, remember, you can support our work and the work of all Atlantic journalists when you subscribe to The Atlantic at TheAtlantic.com/podsub. Thats TheAtlantic.com/podsub. Im Hanna Rosinthank you for listening.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
Editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, released excerpts of the conversation among national security officials on the messaging app Signal after he was accidentally added to the group chat  exercising a right to publish that has sparked controversy among Trump administration officials.

In a shocking article published Monday, Goldberg revealed that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz has inadvertently added him to the group chat on Signal, an encrypted but commercially available app, along with top national security officials, to discuss a U.S. military operation against Houthi militants in Yemen.

While Goldberg withheld some details, including the name of a current CIA operative and the names of the U.S. militarys targets, he did include the names of those involved in the group chat and their process to prepare for the attack. His piece also included screenshots of specific exchanges. He did not release the information until after the attack on the Houthis earlier this month.

Signal is an end-to-end encrypted app but it is also commercially available (AP)

While many blame the Trump administration officials for accidentally including a journalist in the group chat, some have pointed fingers at Goldberg for publishing information, believing it violates national security protocol. The issue is murky because Donald Trump himself and other officials have insisted that no classified information was discussed in the group chat.

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Nevertheless, Mercedes Schlapp, a conservative communication specialist who worked in the first Trump administration, called Goldberg incredibly irresponsible and anti-American for publishing the texts of the national security team.

The right thing to do would have been to notify the NSA adviser that a text was sent in error. The reporter put our national security at risk, she wrote.

Republican Representative Darrell Issa told Fox News correspondent Chad Pergram: What The Atlantic did by making public something that they believed could have been national security sensitive is the kind of irresponsible activity of the press.

While there is no hard-and-fast rule for newsrooms when handling classified information, they are awarded some legal protections when choosing to do so.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz accidentally added Jeffrey Goldberg to a group chat on Signal, unknowingly giving him sensitive information about a U.S, military operation (REUTERS)

Journalists are generally protected if they legally obtain documents that contain accurate information and are considered newsworthy. They are also protected from civil lawsuits if they are given documents that were illegally obtained by a third party.

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Additionally, under the precedent set by the U.S. Supreme Court in New York Times v. United States (1971), known as the Pentagon Papers case, the government cannot censor a newspaper unless it proves the publication would cause grave and irreparable danger.

The details about the U.S. military operation in The Atlantic article are vague, and were published more than a week after the attacks occurred.

Goldberg said he excluded information that he believed could be used to harm the U.S. military or intelligence personnel.
American & Efird's (A&E) expansion is intended to address the escalating demand for thread solutions within Bangladesh and throughout South Asia.

Situated in proximity to the seaport and financial hub of Southern Bangladesh, this new manufacturing hub is set to enhance A&E's existing Gazipur operations.

The expansion is strategically positioned to amplify production capabilities, elevate service standards and compress delivery timelines.

This will ensure the supply of its thread products to a global clientele with increased efficiency, added the company.

American & Efird opened the facility in the presence of industry stakeholders, clients, suppliers, partners, and government dignitaries.

Attendees were given an exclusive glimpse into the facility's technologies and were briefed on its potential to revolutionise production capabilities.

A&E's parent company Elevate Textiles chief executive officer and member of board of directors Jeffrey P. Pritchett said: We are excited to open this new manufacturing facility, which enhances our ability to support customers globally while maintaining A&Es high standards of excellence. This expansion reflects our long-term vision for growth and our commitment to providing innovative thread solutions.

The Chattogram plant features contemporary manufacturing technology and adaptable processes tailored for evolving market demands.

The new facility's key features

Advanced production lines for both spun and filament threads

Specialised research and development resources aimed at fostering innovation and customer-centric solutions

Environmentally conscious operations featuring green technologies to minimise ecological footprints

The creation of over 350 local jobs that will contribute significantly to the area's economic prosperity.

A&E president Chris Alt said: Investing in this facility is a crucial step in strengthening our manufacturing base, enhancing product availability, and improving service to the Chattogram market. As demand for our thread and specialty yarn products continue to grow, this facility will play a pivotal role in meeting customer needs faster, more efficiently, and with greater precision.

A&E will use the facility to further refine their advanced thread solutions, perfect production methodologies, and advance sustainability measures.

A&E South Asia managing director Angelo Leanage said: Our mission has always been to deliver high-quality products and services that meet the evolving needs of our customers. With this new facility, we are not only expanding our footprint and capabilities to continue doing so but also bringing jobs, economic growth, and social development to the region.
President Donald Trumps national security team couldnt have picked a journalist whos more accomplishedor more hated by the presidentto accidentally add to an unsecured group chat about its Middle East war plans.

On Monday, The Atlantic editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, penned an explosive story about how he was added to a group chat on Signal, a popular commercial messaging app, called Houthi PC Small Group that he initially assumed was fake.

The other 18 members included National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, all discussing military strikes on the Houthis, an Iran-backed terrorist group wreaking havoc on shipping traffic in the Suez Canal.

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Goldberg, 59, had no idea why he was added and thought the messages, which included detailed information about targets and weapons, were part of a disinformation campaignuntil they aligned perfectly with a March 15 strike that killed 53 people.

Of all the journalists to accidentally include in a classified discussion of U.S. military operations, theres something almost Shakespearean about the fact that it was Goldberg, who has both deep foreign policy experience and a long history of clashing with Trump.

His resume reads as a whos who of prestigious American media brands, with bylines in the The Washington Post, New York magazine, and The New York Times Magazine, which featured his reporting from Africa and the Middle East.

In 2000, he became a staff writer for The New Yorker, where he won some of journalisms highest honors for his foreign reporting. In 2007, he joined The Atlantic as a national correspondent and was named editor-in-chief in October 2016.

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That, of course, is when Donald J. Trump entered the scene.

A week before the Atlantic editor-in-chief announcement, Goldberg was responsible for the magazines third presidential endorsement in its 160-year history, The New York Times reported. The endorsement was for Hillary Clinton. It described Trump as the most ostentatiously unqualified major-party candidate in the 227-year history of the American presidency.

In 2020, Goldberg broke the story that Trump had called Americans who died in war suckers and losers and asked to keep wounded veterans out of military parades. Afterward, he had to temporarily move out of his house over threats to his safety, CNN reported. (Trumps team denies the suckers and losers story, which his former chief of staff, John Kelly, later confirmed on the record.)

Jeffrey Goldberg was added an unsecured group chat whose members included Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (right). / Reuters

And after Trump refused to concede that Joe Biden had won the 2020 election, leading to the deadly Capitol riots and criminal charges against Trump, Goldbergs criticisms intensified.

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I refuse to participate in the normalization of Donald Trump, he told CNN in December 2023. I believe that a second Trump term poses a threat to the existence of America as we know it.

The interview coincided with the launch of a special issue of The Atlantic titled If Trump Wins which carried a warning from Goldberg: America survived the first Trump term, though not without sustaining serious damage. A second term, if there is one, will be much worse.

The two dozen articles described how Trump planned to punish his enemies, abandon NATO, rip apart immigrant families, and abandon scientific research if re-elected.

Vice President JD Vance campaigns in July with President Donald Trump, who called Jeffrey Goldberg a

In October 2024, Goldberg broke another story about Trump complaining about the price tag for the funeral of a murdered soldier, whom he allegedly dismissed as a f---ing Mexican.

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Trump has responded to Goldbergs reporting by calling him a horrible, radical-left lunatic at a rally last summer and saying he was a sleazebag during an October campaign event.

On Monday, he reacted to news of the Houthi group chat by saying, Im not a big fan of The Atlantic. To me its a magazine thats going out of business. I think its not much of a magazine, but I know nothing about it.

All of which begs the question of how Jeffrey Goldberg of all people was accidentally added to the group.

Does he have the same name as a high-level military official or analyst? Is there another Jeffrey Goldberg who is a producer for Fox News? Was his addition to the group proof that the Freudian death drive is real?

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This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes told Fox News. The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials.

Hegseth himself insisted the whole story was fake, as he landed in Hawaii before a trip to Asia. Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes, the Pentagon chief said. This is a guy who peddles in garbage.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is calling for Congress to investigate top Trump administration officials in the wake of a bombshell revelation that The Atlantics top editor was included in a group chat discussion detailing the Pentagons plans to strike Yemen.

Jeffries said the details of the breach, outlined by The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg on Monday, reveal a reckless administration  one stocked with an unqualified Cabinet  that poses a threat to national security in the name of defending it.

Congress, he said, has a role in getting to the bottom of the incident.

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There should absolutely be a congressional investigation so that we can understand what happened, why did it happen, and how do we prevent this type of national security breach from ever happening again, Jeffries told reporters Monday in the Capitol, shortly after The Atlantic piece was published.

This is reckless, irresponsible and dangerous.

Jeffries did not mention any of the top officials involved in the breach. But he went after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth without naming him, characterizing the secretary as the most unqualified person ever to lead the Pentagon in American history. And he accused President Trump of prioritizing loyalty over experience and talent.

We were promised that Donald Trump was going to hire the very best. Its all phony, Jeffries charged.

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This whole Trump administration is filled with lackeys and incompetent cronies.

The Atlantics bombshell report featured allegations that Goldberg, the magazines editor-in-chief, had received an invitation to join a group chat on Signal from someone identifying themselves as Mike Waltz, Trumps national security adviser. Signal is an encrypted app, but its not a platform typically used by top government officials to discuss topics as sensitive as military plans, and Goldberg said he was initially skeptical of the legitimacy of the messages.

As the discussion evolved, however, he said it became more clear that he was, indeed, a part of a highly confidential discussion about the Pentagons plans for missile strikes against Houthi forces in Yemen. The chat also appeared to feature Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Hegseth, who sent the group details  including weapons systems and targets  for impending strikes on Yemen on March 15.

The National Security Council (NSC) verified the authenticity of the chat on Monday afternoon and said it was looking into the incident.

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We are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, said NSC spokesperson Brian Hughes. The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to our servicemembers or our national security.

Democrats arent convinced, and a number of lawmakers in both chambers  including those sitting on the Armed Services and Intelligence committees  wasted little time on Monday accusing the administration of gross negligence and calling for Congress to investigate.

Only one word for this: FUBAR, Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), an Army veteran, posted on the social platform X. If House Republicans wont hold a hearing on how this happened IMMEDIATELY, Ill do it my damn self.

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), an Air Force veteran, urged congressional leaders to step up mandatory trainings on the handling of classified information across the federal government.

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And Rep. Jim Himes (Conn.), senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, suggested the officials in question had broken the law. He intends to make the breach a leading topic at the panels worldwide threats briefing with top administration officials on Wednesday.

If true, these actions are a brazen violation of laws and regulations that exist to protect national security, including the safety of Americans serving in harms way, Himes said in a statement.

These individuals know the calamitous risks of transmitting classified information across unclassified systems, and they also know that if a lower ranking official under their command did what is described here, they would likely lose their clearance and be subject to criminal investigation.

Jeffries added another layer of criticism to the mounting pile, bashing the administration for gutting efforts to promote diversity across federal agencies. The women and minorities Trump has targeted, he charged, are much more qualified than the top officials  most of them white men  the president has installed.

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Youve put these people in charge? In a very dangerous world? And then you want to attack communities of color? Attack women? And attack others who are actually very qualified? Jeffries said.

These people are incredibly unqualified, irresponsible, and theyre jeopardizing Americas national security.

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SAN FRANCISCO  The wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom blasted Silicon Valley leaders Monday for cozying up to Donald Trump, calling them a tech oligarchy and accusing them of using unchecked power to avoid accountability for kids safety on social media.

First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom issued her criticism as she called for action to fight social media addiction at the Common Sense Summit in downtown San Francisco, run by the eponymous advocacy group.

"There's a tech oligarchy running our country right now that is unchecked, where there's no accountability and transparency, Siebel Newsom said during a panel discussion with Pinterest CEO Bill Ready.

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The fact that we recognize that, that we're actually outing it, in a way, that gives me hope because that means that something can change because we know something's wrong."

Her latest remarks come as Democrats nationally  including husband Gavin Newsom  have started embracing the term oligarchy to refer to President Trumps efforts to slash federal programs in close collaboration with tech leaders like Elon Musk.

The Trump administration is packed with billionaires enriching themselves and advocating for tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, Gov. Newsom wrote in an Instagram post earlier this month promoting his recent podcast with Trump ally Steve Bannon. Isnt this the same oligarchy that Steve Bannon has railed against?"

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, both progressive firebrands, have drawn crowds of thousands for impassioned speeches railing against billionaires as part of a nationwide Fighting Oligarchy tour.

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Even centrist, tech-friendly Democrats like Silicon Valley Rep. Ro Khanna are embracing billionaire-bashing. Khanna, who once suggested Democrats should work with Musks Department of Government Efficiency, embarked on a Benefits over Billionaires tour across California this past weekend to rip Republicans for Musks actions.

Theyve directed these tech billionaires to dismantle government, instead of directing tech leaders to be investing in communities that dont have economic opportunity, Khanna said of Trump and Vice President JD Vance in an interview with POLITICO over the weekend. Thats a failure of leadership.

Trump and Musk, meanwhile, have continued to defend the DOGE efforts, arguing the approach is necessary to combat government waste and fraud.

The heated rhetoric also comes as California lawmakers again pursue ambitious proposals that would slap tobacco-style warning labels on social media and crack down on chatbots, among others aimed at kids safety.

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Its like oligarchy in Russia, Common Sense Media Founder and CEO Jim Steyer told POLITICO, accusing tech executives of genuflecting to Trump. That will hopefully redound to the benefit of those of us trying to regulate the tech industry because I think it's unseemly.

Steyer said he believed Gov. Newsom philosophically agrees with Common Senses bid for more kids online safety protections against social media and chatbots. Both the governor and his wife championed restricting phones in schools last year, and Siebel Newsom bashed the tech industry at a conference last year for prioritizing capitalist interests over kids health.

The question, Steyer said, is how the governor will respond to intense lobbying from tech companies.

Will he stand up to the tech industry on some of these big votes? he asked. I'm hopeful and optimistic that Gavin and his wife, and that the leaders of both Assembly and the Senate will come through. That's all I can say.

Melanie Mason contributed to this report.
TRENTON, N.J. (PIX11)  A split can be a good thing.

Thats what New Jersey legislative Democrats hope as they look to create a standalone Veterans Affairs Department.

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This legislation validates the importance of making sure our veterans are taken care of the right way, said Jay Boxwell of NJ VFW.

Lawmakers introduced legislation Monday that would split apart the current State Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, known as DMAVA, which also covers active duty and National Guard members in the State.

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It provides veterans with an ongoing visible and institutionalized voice at the highest level of government and forces a lens -the veterans point of view- that currently competes with military and National Guard affairs, said Senator Joseph Vitale (D-NJ 19th District).

The move to separate the two departments would not be unprecedented. More than half of States in the nation have already done it.

Were not reinventing the wheel here, said Vitale. Were taking the services already provided, moving it to a new department, giving it new leadership, making a cabinet-level position so that it gets front-and-center attention.

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Charles Andy Jackson is the department commander for the New Jersey American Legion. He says the creation of the new department could help streamline how information gets out to active duty and retired veterans.

Its just about the speed of the information getting out, thats the biggest part, said Jackson.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted weaknesses in New Jerseys veterans homes. A new, separate department, advocates say, will be better devoted to their needs.

They were all to the point of lockdown where we couldnt contact any of our veterans that were there and it was a lot of times they were passing away  you never got to say goodbye, never got to speak to them, said Jackson. It was devastating for our families, obviously.

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Republican Assemblyman Brian Bergen, an Army combat veteran, expressed his support for the move but hopes leaders will put veterans first.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

Put the right people in charge, said Bergen. Make sure theyre laser-focused on helping veterans, and make sure that if they do create this separate entity that the leader of this -whoever the commissioner is, however, theyre structuring it- has the direct ear of the Governor and can advocate exclusively and specifically for veterans needs.

Lawmakers hope to have it on the floor for a vote before the legislature breaks for the summer.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Jersey Mikes annual Month of Giving culminates with the Day of Giving on Wednesday, March 26. During the month of giving, Jersey Mikes gives customers the option to round their purchase up to the nearest dollar or make a small donation.

Story continues below

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During the Day of Giving, all Jersey Mikes in the Albuquerque metro area will donate all proceeds from the day to Make-a-Wish-New Mexico. Last year, Jersey Mikes raised over $92,000 for Make-A-Wish-New Mexico. A special trophy has been made for the store that raises the most funds each year. To donate directly to Make-A-Wish New Mexico, click here.

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Jimmy Kimmel shredded Trump administration officials involved in the Signal leak after inadvertently giving a journalist a front-row seat as they hashed out secret war plans for an impending U.S. strike in Yemen.

Hours after reports surfaced on Monday, the Jimmy Kimmel Live host recounted events of how White House National Security adviser Mike Waltz appeared to have mistakenly invited The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to an encrypted chat days before the wave of air strikes on Houthi targets earlier this month.

[Goldberg] thought somebody was trying to fool him, he thought it was disinformation, Kimmel said. Turned out it was just a bunch of fools because the strike happened exactly as described in the text.

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In other words, our national security is being guarded by a bunch of doofs you wouldnt trust to throw your cousin a surprise party, he added.

Goldberg wrote that he was invited to connect on Signal by Walz on March 11. The journalist, who uses the encrypted messaging platform under his initials JG, said he was added to a group called the Houthi PC small group two days later.

Jimmy Kimmel teased the 'bunch of doofs' who appeared to leak U.S. war plans to an Atlatanitc journalist (Jimmy Kimmel Live/ABC/YouTube)

Kimmel questioned why no one managed to spot Goldbergs name or asked who the mysterious interloper in the group was.

No one thought to ask, Who is JG? What are these initials?, he continued. They could have been leaking secrets to Jeff Goldblum for all they know.

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The late-night host teased what would happen if a similar security breach occurred during the Biden administration.

If Joe Bidens top-level military team accidentally texted these plans to a journalist, Laura Ingrahams e******* would be so rock strong it would break through the wall like the Kool-Aid man, he said of the Fox News host.

Waltz, a former Green Beret and Florida representative, used the common encrypted messaging app to form the group chat with colleagues on the National Security Councils Principals Committee.

Signal is not an official communications channel available to top government officials.

Pete Hegseth (left) and JD Vance were among top ranking officials in believed to be in the Houthi PC small group Signal chat (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Along with Waltz, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, are among officials in the chat who had previously condemned former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server while in office.

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National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Steve Witkoff, Trumps Middle East and Ukraine negotiator, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller were among others who appeared to be included in the Signal channel.

No one managed to spot Goldberg in the group, even when he left the chat  which would have notified members.

Vance appeared to disagree with Trump's wisdom on the strikes, noting: I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now.

Alongside leaking details of U.S. war plans, the vice president and defense secretary also shared their disdain for what Hegseth called European free-loading.

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When probed by a reporter in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said he didnt know anything about the story.

Just hours after reports surfaced, Clinton took to X to write: You have got to be kidding me.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT)  Scammers have taken advantage of the retailer JOANN Fabrics going out of business.

The scam will look like an online ad on social media for a JOANN going-out-of-business sale. If you click on the link provided, it takes you to a website almost identical to the real JOANN website with the companys logo and images.

The products will be listed as 80-90% off and will be familiar to those who regularly shop at JOANN.

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However, this is not the real JOANN website and its a way for scammers to steal your personal or financial information.

The Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker has received various reports of these fake sales.

One person said, We saw an ad for Joann Fabrics bankruptcy going-out-of-business sale, which led to a website (joann-us.com) advertising 80-90% off of various things. We selected a dozen items in a shopping cart and then noticed an additional promotional discount added. At that point, we noticed the website name was not Joanns real website, compared the two online, and shut down the fake website without providing any information.

Here are some of the ways to avoid scams like these:

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Always confirm the websites URL. JOANNs official website is joann.com.

Go directly to the official website instead of clicking on ad links.

Be cautious of deals that sound too good to be true.

Use your credit card for online purchases instead of your debit card.

Use gift cards.

Be careful what kind of information is asked from you.

For more information on how to avoid scams like these, read BBBs tips on how to avoid bogus going out of business sale scams and smart online shopping.

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Job applications from federal workers targeted by DOGE cuts surged by 50% between January and February, according to an analysis from the job site Indeed, which found that highly educated workers are especially likely to be targeted. The data is an early indication of the scale of impact federal layoffs have had in the private job market and will have going forward in 2025

The Trump administrations slash-and-burn approach to government cuts is reverberating in the job market, with applications from targeted workers surging 50% from January to February, according to new data from job site Indeed.

Applications to jobs from federal workers in agencies targeted by DOGE  which includes departments like the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Agriculture, or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau were 75% higher in February than their baseline level in 2022, the research showed. The DOGE threat appears most acute for highly educated workers: some 68% of feds actively looking for a new job on Indeed last month had at least a bachelors degree, compared to just over a third of all federal workers.

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That suggests the DOGE cuts are disproportionately targeting workers with advanced degrees who are looking to cover their bases by securing new employment before being pushed out. (Indeeds data cant yet distinguish between workers searching for jobs preemptively or after they were fired.)

Its a massive shift, Cory Stahle, an economist at the Indeed Hiring Lab, told Fortune.

While its common for the federal workforce to churn a little bit as presidential administrations change, this level of turnover is unprecedented. There hasnt been this type of an increase in search intensity in any other presidential administration shift for which we have data, Stahle said. Seeing that large spike was really astounding.

Searches for specialized job titles that are common in federal employment, such as policy analyst, contract specialist, or compliance also surged, with policy analyst searches among federal workers up tenfold from a year ago. Employee relations searches were up by a factor of 13, while horticulture increased by a factor of 27probably an indicator of displaced USDA workers looking for specialized jobs, Indeed posited.

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The Indeed data is one of the earliest numerical indicators of the shift that federal worker cuts are having on the job market. The February employment report showed federal jobs dropping by 10,000 from January, but the figure is backward-looking, and doesnt include any worker who lost their job after the middle of the month. Unemployment claims, too, have remained steady nationally, although they have surged in the District of Columbia, rising to their highest level since 2021 in the week of March 8.

These early indicators offer some clue as to the size of the potential influx of new workers into a so-far largely stable, but also gradually weakening, national job market, Indeed wrote.

The profile of workers seeking employment is a cause for concern since the overall white-collar job market has cooled dramatically since last year.

The influx of educated workers into the market is coming at a time when job postings for those workers have pulled back, Stahle said. You have this friction of educated people looking for work at a time when there are fewer opportunities for their experiences.

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As Fortune has previously reported, many displaced workers, particularly those who specialize in hard sciences, could have trouble finding equivalent work in the private sector, and may end up taking work for which they are overqualified.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
MITCHELL, S.D. (KELO)  State and local officials are pulling together to help families impacted by last weeks closure at a meat processing facility.

Its been a week since more than 200 workers lost their jobs at Cimpls Meats.

Officials are organizing a job and resource fair for families impacted. Its happening from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the National Field Archery Association Headquarters in Yankton. The Department of Labor and Regulation will talk about applying for reemployment benefits and offer training opportunities. Translation services are available.

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Rhoden says Mitchell is example in development

Gov. Larry Rhoden continued his Open for Opportunity tour in Mitchell on Monday. Rhoden said job fairs like this align with his vision to promote the state.

We just got through touring the new soybean processing facility, and a huge number of jobs are affiliated with that, Rhoden said. Every project like that is another piece of the puzzle in securing the economic future of South Dakota.

Of course, that doesnt mean there arent challenges with the large number of layoffs. However, officials said the city of Yankton does have hundreds of current job openings.

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Its unfortunate to have Cimpls Meats moving out of South Dakota, but on the other hand, we have a pretty good situation. South Dakota has set records, all time records for our nations lowest unemployment, Rhoden said.

According to the Department of Labor and Regulation, Yankton has an unemployment rate of 1.8%.

Thats combined with 19,000 available jobs in South Dakota including, I think, 600 in the Yankton area, Rhoden said. That translates into a lot of opportunity for people that are losing their employment. The state is there to help facilitate them finding those new jobs.

KELOLAND News spoke with Yankton Mayor Mason Schramm last week. Schramm said if a now former-Cimpls employee wishes to continue working in the Yankton area, there would be a place for them.

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Weve been a community of resilience and hard-working people, Schramm said last 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 KELOLAND.com.
Former national security adviser John Bolton went after multiple Trump administration officials on Monday for reportedly using the messaging app Signal to conduct government business.

I couldnt imagine anybody would use Signal, Bolton told CNNs Kasie Hunt on The Arena. You know, some of the guests have commented that Signals highly encrypted. Ill just say this, if you think Signal is equivalent to U.S. government secure telecommunications, think again.

The Atlantics editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, said in a new report that he had been given access to a group chat on Signal featuring top Trump administration officials including Vice President Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in which they talked about recent attacks targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen.

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Goldberg said he had doubts originally that the Signal group was real because he did not think the national-security leadership of the United States would communicate on Signal about imminent war plans.

How can you conduct official government business over a nonofficial channel? Bolton said on The Arena. Maybe theres some in extremis situation, when youre  youre on Samoa or something, and there arent any official channels. But  they were, they were in Washington, probably in their offices.

Multiple Democrats went after Hegseth after Goldbergs access to the group chat was revealed.

There is no world in which this information should have been shared in non-secure channels, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), a Marine veteran, said online. Hegseth is in so far over his head that he is a danger to this country and our men and women in uniform.

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Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) alleged that every government official in the chat committed a crime that would commonly include jail time.

The State Department directed The Hill to a Monday press briefing from State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.

We will not comment on the Secretarys deliberative conversations  you should contact the White House, Bruce said during the briefing when asked about the chat.

The Hill has reached out to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbards office, the White House, the State Department, the CIA, Signal and the National Security Council for comment.

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The Hill was pointed towards the National Security Council for comment by the Department of Defense.

Updated at 10:13 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.
President Donald Trumps ex-national security adviser John Bolton on Monday said he was shocked and without words over news that a journalist was invited to a group chat where Trump officials discussed highly sensitive government matters.

Bolton, in an interview with CNNs Kasie Hunt, was later asked whether someone could be fired over The Atlantics bombshell report on the war plans text thread.

Listen, Donald Trumps not going to fire anybody unless he thinks this redounds to his personal detriment, Bolton explained. And well see what happens.

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Bolton, a frequent Trump critic since the president pushed him out of his first administration, said he couldnt imagine anybody would discuss matters of national security  like the then-upcoming strikes in Yemen  in the messaging app Signal.

His reaction comes after Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, detailed the group chat, which Goldberg said current national security adviser Michael Waltz inadvertently invited him to join.

Bolton slammed CNN guests who argued that Signal is highly encrypted.

Ill just say this, if you think Signal is equivalent to U.S. government secure telecommunications, think again, stressed Bolton.

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He later continued, But I just cant, to this moment, get over the idea that during the days that group was going on, not one of the participants said, We shouldnt be doing this on Signal.

Bolton noted that hes certainly not aware of any similar uses of such apps in Trumps first term, adding that if officials couldnt attend a discussion in the Situation Room on national security matters, they would join via a secure government line.

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Russia has claimed that a joint statement following consultations between the Russian and American delegations in Riyadh was not adopted because of Ukraine's stance.

Source: Vladimir Chizhov, First Deputy Chairman of the Defence and Security Committee of the Federation Council [the upper chamber of the Russian parliament], on Kremlin-aligned Russian TV channel Rossiya 24, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Chizhov described the meeting in Riyadh as a link in the chain of Russo-American communications, which began with a telephone conversation between Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.

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"They [the delegations in Riyadh] sat for 12 hours and seemingly agreed upon a joint statement, which, however, was not adopted because of Ukraine's position, which is also very typical and symptomatic," he claimed.

Background:

Earlier, Grigory Karasin, Chairman of the Federation Council's Committee on International Affairs, commented on the meeting between the two delegations in Saudi Arabia on 24 March, stating that the conversation was challenging but ultimately beneficial for both Moscow and Washington.

According to Russian propaganda media outlets, the Moscow-Washington meeting lasted 12 hours with breaks. Reports indicated that a joint statement would be issued later.

The Kremlin stated that the primary focus of the discussions with the US delegation in Saudi Arabia was the resumption of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, from which Russia withdrew in 2023.

On Tuesday 25 March, the Ukrainian and American teams once again met in Saudi Arabia to discuss a potential truce between Kyiv and Moscow.

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A U.S. district judge blocked Kari Lake and the Trump administration from terminating Radio Free Europe/Radio Libertys federal funding on Tuesday, granting the news organization a temporary win in its fight against the administrations efforts to close its doors.

In a court filing, Judge Royce C. Lamberth granted RFE/RLs request for a temporary restraining order against Lake, who oversees the U.S. Agency for Global Media, asserting that terminating the organizations federal grant would violate the congressionally mandated flow of funding to the news outlet.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is funded by Congress with the mission to promote the free flow of news and democracy globally. Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty were initially created to deliver news across the Iron Curtain during the Cold War.

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According to Lamberth, the news organization has, for decades, operated as one of the organizations that Congress has statutorily designated to carry out this policy, and the leadership of USAGM cannot, with one sentence of reasoning offering virtually no explanation, force RFE/RL to shut down  even if the President has told them to do so.

The judge also stated that terminating the grant would cause irreparable harm in shuttering RFE/RLs operations.

President Donald Trump earlier this month called for the elimination of funding for non-statutory elements of several government entities, including USAGM, prompting the agency to terminate federal grants funding multiple news outlets including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Voice of America and Radio Free Asia.

RFE/RL filed a suit last week against USAGM, Lake and another agency official, Victor Morales, seeking to block its grant termination on the grounds that funding its operations constitutes a statutory function of USAGM. The suit also alleged that the agency is breaching federal law by attempting to cut RFE/RLs funding, as the organization is funded by Congress through the International Broadcasting Act of 1973.

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The news organization had also requested that USAGM disburse the nearly $7.5 million in funding that Congress had appropriated for its operations through the first two weeks of March. According to Lamberths order, USAGM notified the court that it would disburse the funds shortly before the scheduled hearing on the complaint Monday, rendering the request moot.

RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus welcomed Lamberts thoughtful and airtight ruling to prevent USAGM from ignoring the will of Congress, saying in a statement that the organization looks forward to further advancing our case that its unconstitutional to deny us the funds that Congress has appropriated to RFE/RL for the rest of the fiscal year.

Beyond the immediate legal implications of the ruling, Capus said the judges order sends a strong message to our journalists around the world: Their mission as designed by Congress is a worthy and valuable one and should continue. For 75 years, RFE/RL has been closely aligned with American national security interests by fighting censorship and propaganda in many of the worlds most repressive societies.
Gov. Tina Kotek answers questions from reporters during a press conference on Jan. 16, 2025. (Photo by Ron Cooper/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

A Marion County judge has stalled a controversial order by Gov. Tina Kotek that requires use of union labor in many state construction projects.

In a hearing Monday morning, Circuit Court Judge Thomas M. Hart issued an injunction, barring Koteks administration from moving forward with a policy that critics say would benefit Koteks allies in labor at taxpayers expense. The policy wont proceed unless Kotek ultimately prevails in the case, or her administration convinces the Oregon Supreme Court to overturn the order.

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The judges ruling reinforces what our local contractors have been saying since the order was issued last December, said Mike Salsgiver, CEO of the Associated General Contractors, Oregon-Columbia Chapter, which challenged Koteks order in court. The governor lacks the authority to unilaterally alter Oregons system of competitive bidding and open and fair competition.

The dispute between Kotek and a coalition of Oregon construction firms stems from an order the governor issued shortly before Christmas. It said state agencies are required to use tools known as project labor agreements in many state construction projects where onsite labor costs make up at least 15% of the costs.

PLAs, as they are known, are contracts between a project owner  like the state  and one or more labor unions that will be providing workers. They typically lay out the working conditions for the entire project, including provisions on hourly pay and benefits.

Theres often a guarantee in the agreements that there will be no strikes by unions or lockouts by employers. Some deals require a target number of apprentices or contracts with minority-owned businesses  a feature Kotek has argued will ensure the state is supporting disadvantaged communities.

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Opponents of PLAs argue they reduce competition by discouraging bids from construction firms that dont typically use union labor. They point to studies that have found PLAs lead to higher costs.

Supporters say PLAs offer certainty to projects and that the use of union labor ensures a quality product. They offer their own studies suggesting that PLAs do not increase costs and that they can help projects come in earlier with minimal labor strife.

After being caught off guard by Koteks order, Associated General Contractors and some of its member firms sued in February. They argued that Koteks order is an unconstitutional power grab, and that the governor either needed to win legislative approval or go through a robust rulemaking process before making such a sweeping policy change.

The state denied that, saying Koteks order is within her authority as governor, and that the contractors didnt have standing to sue.

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The two parties argued their cases before Hart on Monday morning. The judge granted the construction firms request for an injunction from the bench.

Our members appreciate Judge Harts ruling and his common-sense review of the facts, Laurie Kendall, president of the Associated Builders and Contractors, Pacific Northwest Chapter, said in a statement. The ruling protects the rights of all contractors  union and non-union  to compete.

The Oregon Department of Justice, which is representing Kotek, declined comment.

The injunction wont have any immediate impact on state projects. While Koteks order took effect when she signed it in December, it allowed agencies to claim an exemption through March 31.

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Kotek told OPB on Monday that no state projects were moving forward with a PLA because of her order, and said a number of agencies had requested she issue an exemption to the rule for their projects. Kotek made that comment before news of the injunction had become widespread, and did not appear to know about Harts order. Still, the governor said any potential injunction could slow things down.

That affects construction windows, it affects all kinds of things, she said.

This article was originally published by Oregon Public Broadcasting.
A federal judge in New York will hear arguments Tuesday over whether to extend an order that prevents Columbia University from the sharing student disciplinary records of a number of pro-Palestinian activists with a House of Representatives committee.

The request for an injunction was filed by a group of Columbia students and graduates, including Mahmoud Khalil, the pro-Palestinian activist detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement who is separately fighting his detention by the Trump administration.

PHOTO: Student Workers of Columbia union members protest Columbia University's recent policy changes and call for protection of international students, restoration of funding, and academic freedom at Columbia University in New York City, March 24, 2025. (Dana Edwards/Reuters)

Khalil and the others said the Republican-controlled committee's request for their records violates the First Amendment and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and made Columbia "feel pressure to cooperate with the government in its efforts to chill and punish protected speech."

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Judge Aruba Subramanian has temporarily blocked Columbia from disclosing the student records and will hear arguments Tuesday afternoon over whether to permanently block sharing of the records or allow the school to cooperate with the committee.

MORE: Columbia student sues Trump after official says her permanent legal status in the US is revoked

The government arrested Khalil on March 8 after invoking a rarely used provision of immigration law that they said allows the secretary of state to revoke the legal status of people whose presence in the country could have "adverse foreign policy consequences." He continues to be held in Louisiana awaiting further court proceedings.

Last week, Columbia University ceded to Trump administration demands after President Donald Trump threatened to withhold $400 million in federal funds. The school agreed to ban masks on campus, one of the Trump administration's key demands, as well as stricter controls over its Middle East Studies department, which will now be overseen by a new senior vice provost who "will conduct a thorough review of the portfolio of programs in regional areas across the University, starting immediately with the Middle East." The university also agreed to hire 36 new police officers empowered to make arrests of student protesters on campus.

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The Trump administration canceled $400 million worth of grants and contracts to Columbia University, accusing the university of "continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students." The administration sent a letter to Columbia interim President Katrina Armstrong on March 13, listing nine demands the university needed to comply with by last Thursday "as a precondition for formal negotiations" regarding federal funding.

PHOTO: Activists hold a demonstration in lower Manhattan against the arrest by ICE of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University, on March 20, 2025 in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Columbia's response was closely watched by other schools that became flashpoints for pro-Palestinian protests last year. The university has come under intense scrutiny for its handling of pro-Palestinian protests, which led to arrests, property damage and backlash.

Former Columbia President Minouche Shafik resigned last August, months after the protests. She was the third Ivy League president to step down within a few months.

Harvard President Claudine Gay and University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill previously announced their resignations following congressional testimony on the handling of antisemitism on campus.

Judge to decide if Columbia University can share student disciplinary records with Congress originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Just one week before her retrial is set to start, a judge denied a motion filed by Karen Reads lawyers to dismiss the case entirely on the basis of extraordinary government misconduct.

In a lengthy decision released on Tuesday, Judge Beverly Cannone wrote, Such a drastic sanction is justified only in response to the most egregious and truly harmful conduct...because the claimed violations here do not rise to a level that would justify the most draconian sanction of dismissal, and because the defendants constitutional rights can be fully protected in the coming trial, her motion to dismiss is denied.

Court video: Final Karen Read hearing before 2nd murder trial starts next week

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The denial paves the way for jury selection to get underway on April 1.

In a separate filing on Tuesday, Reads lawyers requested that Michael Easter be allowed to testify in the retrial. Easter is a retired and decorated agent with the FBI, and the defense wants him to testify about standard investigative practices and procedures by law enforcement, according to the court filing.

Judge Cannone has not yet ruled on that motion.

The decision and motion can be read in full here:

Judge denies motion by Karen Reads lawyers to dismiss case a week away from her retrial by Boston 25 Desk on Scribd

Read is charged with second-degree murder, leaving the scene of a crash, and manslaughter for allegedly causing the death of her Boston Police officer boyfriend, John OKeefe, on January 29, 2022.

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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.

Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone declared a mistrial in July 2024 after finding jurors couldnt reach a unanimous verdict on all three charges. Earlier this month, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts denied Reads bid to dismiss her charges of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a deadly crash for double jeopardy reasons.

Reads attorneys had argued that their clients double jeopardy protections were violated because several jurors who came forward after the mistrial indicated that Read was found not guilty of the two charges in question. Cannone later rejected a motion to dismiss the charges, prompting the SJC appeal.

RELATED:

Karen Read tells her story in exclusive one-on-one interview: Watch the extended cut

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A judge has granted and denied charges brought against Sean Diddy Combs in a $30 million lawsuit from former producer Rodney Lil Rod Jones alleging sexual assault.

Jones initially filed his suit against Combs in New York in Feb. 2024, stating that Combs made unwanted sexual advances and forced him to hire sex workers and engage in relations with them. Jones named Combs as well as a RICO enterprise consisting of his son Justin; his chief of staff, Kristina Khorram; Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grainge; former Motown Records CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam; and numerous record labels and Jane and John Does. He then refiled several amended complaints in the months that followed.

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But in an order filed earlier today and reviewed by Variety, Judge J. Paul Oetken granted and denied parts of Combs Aug. 2024 motion to dismiss the case. The order also reprimanded Jones attorney Tyrone Blackburn and described his conduct regarding the motion as unsettling.

The judge dismissed the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) charge against Combs and Khorram in the case, failing to find a viable argument in Jones opposition brief and that it should not be necessary to root around a 402-paragraph complaint to contrive novel arguments on Joness behalf. He also dismissed negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims; breach of contract claims; and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) claim against Combs Global. The TVPA claims against Combs and Khorram were granted, and the judge declined to dismiss sexual assault and liability claims.

The motion also issued a stern warning to Blackburn, stating that his filings are replete with inaccurate statements of law, conclusory accusations, and inappropriate ad hominem attacks on opposing counsel. The judge referenced Blackburns opposition brief and the complaint as full of irrelevant insults, misstatements, and exaggerations, stating that any further misconduct may lead to sanctions or referral for discipline.

In a statement provided to Variety, Blackburn commented: A win is a win. Play time is over. Now, it is time for discovery.

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Jones filed the suit in Feb. 2024 after producing six songs on Combs Grammy-nominated The Love Album: Off the Grid that released in Sept. 2023. He claims that Combs acquired, used and distributed ecstasy, cocaine and other illicit drugs; displayed illegal firearms; and laced alcoholic beverages provided to minors and sex workers at his various homes, among other allegations.

After Jones filed two amended complaints, Combs filed his own motion to dismiss in Aug. 2024. Jones Second Amended Complaint is his third attempt to dress up a run of the mill commercial disagreement as a salacious RICO conspiracy, read the motion. Running to nearly 100 pages, it includes countless tall tales, shameless celebrity namedrops, and irrelevant images. Yet, despite all its hyperbole and lurid theatrics, the SAC fails to state a single viable claim against any of the Combs Defendants.

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A federal judge on Tuesday halted the detention and potential deportation of a Columbia University junior who was arrested outside the hours-long takeover of a Barnard College library earlier this month.

Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald issued a temporary restraining order, directing immigration authorities not to detain Yunseo Chung or transfer her out of New York pending further order of this Court, according to Manhattan court filings. She set a hearing on the matter for the morning of May 20.

Chung, 21, is a green-card holder originally from South Korea who has been in the United States since she was a child. Earlier this week, she sued the Trump administration after being told there was an administrative warrant for her arrest related to her involvement in pro-Palestinian protest activity on the uptown Manhattan campus.

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Chung had been protesting Israels military campaign in Gaza since 2023, but did not assume a high-profile role in the demonstrations, her attorneys said. On March 5, she was one of several protesters arrested at Barnard, a womens college affiliated with Columbia, for not cooperating with police during a bomb threat. Columbia suspended her on an interim basis.

Days later, Chung was told by the Trump administration that her lawful permanent resident status had been revoked, according to court documents. Agents visited her residence hall on March 13 and also showed up at her parents house. The students lawyers are keeping mum on her whereabouts.

The warrant for Chungs arrest comes after the detention of Columbia pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, whose threatened deportation has sparked condemnation and protests over free speech. The Trump administration also revoked the visa of another Columbia student, Ranjani Srinivasan, who has since fled the United States. Her dorm room was reportedly entered the same night as Chungs.

In statements late Tuesday, both Chung and her lawyer were elated by the temporary restraining order.

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After the constant dread in the back of my mind over the past few weeks, this decision feels like a million pounds off of my chest. I feel like I could fly, Chung said. Her lawyer, Ramzi Kassem, added: The courts temporary restraining order is both sensible and fair, to preserve the status quo as we litigate the serious constitutional issues at stake not just for Yunseo, but for our society as a whole.

Separately, Columbias Knight First Amendment Institute on Tuesday represented faculty groups in filing a lawsuit to block the Trump administration from undertaking large-scale detentions and deportations of international students participating in pro-Palestinian protests.

Yunseo Chung has engaged in concerning conduct, including when she was arrested by NYPD during a pro-Hamas protest at Barnard College, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement Monday. She is being sought for removal proceedings under the immigration laws.

With News Wire Services
MENOMONIE  The federal judge overseeing the lawsuit against author Neil Gaiman has had previous interactions with the defendant, and notified the attorneys for both sides in case either wants him to step aside.

Judge James Peterson entered the notification to say he had worked for a law firm that represented Todd McFarlane in a prior suit by Gaiman. That case dates to 1993, when McFarlane contracted Gaiman to write an issue of Spawn, McFarlanes character. He worked with several guest authors, including luminaries of the genre like Alan Moore, Frank Miller and Gaiman to help raise the comics profile.

Gaiman created several new characters for his issue. They were used in later issues as well. Gaiman filed the suit claiming he and McFarlane co-owned the characters since he had created them, albeit within McFarlanes comic. A judge agreed with Gaiman.

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A second suit later saw Gaiman file after McFarlane created replacement characters Gaiman said were derivative of his work. A judge again sided with Gaiman.

Petersons notice said he did not make a formal appearance, and I had only minor involvement in the case. To the best of my recollection, I may have reviewed some briefs written by others and I attended part of the trial.

Peterson said he does not believe that involvement warrants recusal, but wanted to ensure anyone who disagreed can voice an objection before I have to make substantive decisions in this case. He set a deadline of March 28 for a motion for recusal for the parties who have appeared, and April 4 for those who have not.

The latter option appears to be a reference to Gaimans estranged wife, Amanda Palmer. Palmer is named in the suit brought by Scarlett Pavlovich, as having introduced her to Gaiman as a sitter for the couples son despite her knowledge of prior predatory behavior by Gaiman.

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Palmer has not yet formally responded to the suit.

Attorneys for Gaiman have asked the court to dismiss the suit, noting that all the allegations involve behavior in New Zealand and that both Gaiman and Pavlovich were New Zealand residents at the time. They contend the case should be handled under New Zealand law, not in Wisconsin.

Pavlovichs attorneys have asked for additional time to respond to that motion, saying they need additional time to consult with experts on the question of New Zealand law versus the United States.

Magistrate Judge Anita Marie Boor granted the request, though reluctantly. She wrote the court was skeptical that the plaintiffs argument met the standard for moving deadlines only for good cause. Referring to New Zealands laws should not be entirely unexpected given the allegations in the complaint.

The new deadline is April 11 for Pavlovich and April 30 for the defense reply.
BlackRock (BLK) CEO Larry Fink orchestrated the Panama Canal port takeover that made President Trump happy, but the cost may be an angry Xi Jinping.

The Wall Street Journal reported this week that the Chinese leader is not happy with a $22.8 billion deal giving a BlackRock-led investment coalition control of two key ports on either end of the vital shipping lane currently owned by Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison.

CK Hutchison, which is controlled by the family of 96-year-old Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing, didnt seek preapproval from Chinese government leadership, according to the Wall Street Journal.

What's more, Chinese leaders hoped to use the ports as a bargaining chip with the Trump administration as part of larger talks between the two countries, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, right, meets with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink in Beijing on Dec. 5. (Yin Bogu/Xinhua via Getty Images)  Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images

Other signs of displeasure emerged in articles and commentary published in pro-Beijing newspaper Ta Kung Pao, arguing that Chinese ships would now face restrictions in the canal and accusing CK Hutchison of "prioritizing profit over everything, disregarding national interests and national righteousness."

The deal deserves "serious attention," Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, added earlier this week, without directly criticizing CK Hutchison.

'Taking it back'

The rumblings from Beijing add a new layer of complications to what appeared to be a big win for BlackRock's Fink, who himself reached out to the White House after Trump alleged Chinese interference in the canal and said he wanted to "take it back."

Fink argued to the White House that there would be no need to forcibly take the ports if BlackRock were to arrange a purchase on its own.

Trump referenced the deal during his address to Congress earlier this month while still reiterating that "my administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal" and "taking it back."

It's not immediately clear what steps Hong Kong or Beijing could take to block the transaction, which isn't yet final and still requires consent from various regulators. The companies hope to sign a definitive agreement by April 2.

President Trump, right, talks with China's President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in 2017. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)  ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese authorities are examining the deal closely. Bloomberg said the review includes any signs of security breaches or antitrust violations, while the Wall Street Journal said officials have been told to see what Beijing can do to hinder the deal.

BlackRock's stock price would likely "see a little hit" if the pact falls through, according to CFRA analyst Cathy Seifert, but the bigger threat would be to the credibility of BlackRock's newly bolstered infrastructure group.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56)  A federal judge has recommended a Kentucky man should not get a new trial.

Patrick Baker, 46, was convicted of reckless homicide in Donald Mills death in state court in 2017 and sentenced to 19 years in prison, but former Gov. Matt Bevin pardoned him, releasing him and erasing the conviction.

How extensive are Kentuckys pardon powers?

Federal prosecutors charged him after he was released in 2019.

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The Associated Press reported Bakers family had political connections to Bevin, including hosting a fundraiser for the one-term governor.

A federal jury convicted Baker on a charge of murder committed during a drug trafficking crime, and he was sentenced in 2022 to 42 years in prison.

According to the Associated Press, federal prosecutors prosecuted Baker the second time under the dual sovereignty doctrine, allowing state and federal officials to prosecute the same defendant for the same actions without infringing on double jeopardy protections.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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Bakers attorneys argued his federal conviction and sentence should be set aside and he should get a new trial, because his attorneys in the 2021 federal trial didnt do an effective job.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew A. Stinnett rejected the arguments in a decision released Thursday, saying he did not provide enough evidence to justify setting aside his conviction.

U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom will receive Stinnetts recommendation and decide on whether to adopt it and deny Baker a new trial or not.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Korean American Columbia University student, who is a legal permanent U.S. resident and has participated in pro-Palestinian protests, cannot be detained by federal immigration officials for now as she fights the administration of President Donald Trump over attempts to deport her, a judge ruled on Tuesday.

Yunseo Chung, 21, has lived in the U.S. since she was seven, and sued the Trump administration on Monday to prevent her deportation. Her legal team was informed this month that her lawful permanent resident status was being revoked, according to court records in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

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Trump has pledged to deport foreign pro-Palestinian protesters and accused them of supporting Hamas militants, of posing hurdles for U.S. foreign policy and of being antisemitic.

Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the administration wrongly conflates their criticism of Israel and support for Palestinian rights with antisemitism and support for Hamas. Human rights advocates condemn the government's moves.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security alleged Chung engaged in concerning conduct, including when she was previously arrested by police during a protest at Barnard College that DHS termed "pro-Hamas."

Chung has not yet been arrested by federal officials. Immigration agents made multiple visits to her residences looking for her.

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U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald on Tuesday issued a temporary restraining order against the government that prevents Chung from being detained, court records showed.

Actions against Chung form part of a pattern of government efforts against pro-Palestinian voices critical of Israel's military assault on Gaza, her lawsuit said.

Columbia protester Mahmoud Khalil, who was arrested this month and is legally challenging his detention, is also a lawful permanent resident. Trump, without evidence, accused Khalil of supporting Hamas, which Khalil denies.

Badar Khan Suri, an Indian studying at Georgetown University, was detained last week. A federal judge barred Suri's deportation.

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U.S. officials have asked Cornell University student Momodou Taal to turn himself in, his attorneys say, adding his visa was being revoked.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Daniel Trotta; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Two teenagers accused of murdering a retired police officer as part of a deadly crime spree will go to trial in November.

A Clark County District Court judge scheduled a jury trial for Jesus Ayala, 19; and Jzamir Keys, 18, during a court appearance Tuesday morning.

Both teens are charged with intentionally mowing down two bicyclists, including retired California police chief Andy Probst, 64, who died, and other crimes on Aug. 14, 2023.

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Las Vegas police arrest second suspect in hit-and-run death of retired police chief

Video is a key piece of evidence in the case as two bicyclists, including Probst, appear to have been intentionally hit in separate locations in the northwest valley. The other bicyclist survived.

Clark County District Court Judge Christy Craig found Ayala competent to stand trial on Feb. 28 after an evaluation at a mental health facility.

Both teens were in custody Tuesday morning. Keys asked Clark County District Court Judge Jacqueline Bluth if he could receive discovery for his case, meaning material like evidence and reports.

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Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney John Giordani told Bluth that Probsts widow wants to be present for the trial.

Bluth set a status check for June 17.

Ayala is also charged in a separate attempted murder case. A jury trial is scheduled for Sept. 23.

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A federal judge on Tuesday appeared skeptical that the Trump administration had solid evidence to support its decision to stop issuing passports with a non-binary X sex marker.

Youve got to give me something, or else Ill assume theres nothing, Massachusetts federal Judge Julia Kobick reportedly said in court in a hearing for a lawsuit challenging the policy, according to Bloomberg Law.

The administration has argued that the president has wide latitude over passport policy. They also say that the challengers can still travel abroad, but that the government is not responsible for Plaintiffs choice to change their sex designation for state documents but not their passport.

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The judge appeared skeptical of this too, reportedly telling administration lawyers on Tuesday, Thats a very sweeping argument.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which helped bring the lawsuit, argued that the reason for the passport policy is inexplicable to anything other than animus.

Last month, the group helped a collection of transgender, intersex, and nonbinary people sue the administration over the passport policy, which came after Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating that the government recognize only two immutable sexes, male and female, on government documents.

They allege that the inability to update the sex marker on their passports has put them at risk during foreign travel, caused invasive questioning at airports, and prevented one plaintiff from traveling abroad to receive gender-affirming medical care.

Transgender, nobinary, and intersex people like Ash Lazarus Orr are suing administration over passport policy, arguing it violates their rights and puts them in danger (AP)

The suit claims the Trump administration has violated equal protection, travel, privacy, and speech rights, as well as the Administrative Procedure Act.

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This is preventing me from having an accurate identification and the freedom to move about the country as well as internationally, Ash Lazarus Orr, one of the plaintiffs, told The Associated Press. This has really, truly impeded on my life and my freedom as well ... The government is questioning who I am as a trans person.

As The Independent has reported, critics of the administration argue that the passport policy doesnt fall in line with present-day medical understandings of sex and gender.

Intersex people, for instance, are born with a combination of anatomical, genetic, or hormonal characteristics that do not fall into the binary categories of male or female. Mainstream medical groups like the American Medical Association recognize gender as a spectrum.

The sex and gender executive order is ideology, Carl Charles, a senior attorney at the advocacy group Lambda Legal, previously told The Independent. Its ideology is, Lets ignore science. Lets ignore the experts. Lets ignore peoples lived experiences.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Theres pushback Monday on a bill that would move juvenile hearings into the Youth Justice and Education Center where juveniles are detained.

Republican State Senator Brent Taylor who authored the bill said that the move will save taxpayers money from having to transport detainees downtown for hearings.

However, Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon said it would create problems.

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Not far from the Memphis Airport, theres a new detention facility for young offenders in Shelby County.

Inside that detention facility is a courtroom and unfortunately, that courtroom is as closed as a Chick-fil-A on Sunday, Taylor said.  So, what my bill will do will require the juvenile judge to come to the juvenile detention facility and have those hearings at the detention facility.

But, Judge Tarik Sugarmon said hearings are happening in the courtroom.

Mississippi governor poised to sign income tax elimination; Hernando ready for impact

According to him, since April of 2024, more than 3,100 cases have been heard at the Youth Justice and Education Center.

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Judge Sugarmon said the courtroom at the facility was only designed to handle certain types of cases.

It was not designed for delinquency cases, Sugarmon said. It was not designed for transfer hearings. It was not designed for any purpose other than to handle detention cases.

Problems started back in the Spring of 2024 after an inspection of the juvenile court building at 616 Adams led to the discovery of mold and asbestos.

Its one hurdle we face after another, Sugarmon said.

Judge Sugarmon said 616 Adams can handle 110 docket cases a week in comparison to 32 at the detention facility.

He added that he is working out the deal with Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris when it comes to transporting young people the 14 miles to the courtrooms closer to downtown.

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Juvenile charged with reckless homicide in TN shooting

Were looking to get back into 616, what are we doing about that? The mayor and I of the county are working on an MOU that will alleviate the Sheriffs maintenance of this facility sometime this fall, Sugarmon said. We are close to coming up with an MOU and at that point, Shelby County Corrections will take over the management of this building.

He said taxpayers money isnt being wasted but cases need to be held in an expedited manner.

These youth cost money to detain here but it also is a harm to these kids. Its harder to rehabilitate a child the longer they stay detained. The statistics and research shows that, Sugarmon said. But we dont need an impediment to our ability to handle these cases in an expedited manner, not only for the youth that are detained here but also for the victims who deserve to have some closure to their cases.

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Senator Taylors bill only applies to Shelby County.

Its expected to be heard again by lawmakers this week.

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This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED!!!

With a Truth Social post last week, President Donald Trump added his voice to the growing chorus of Republicans and GOP-aligned pundits calling to impeach federal judges for issuing rulings blocking or pausing Trump administration policies. Members of the House of Representatives have already introduced several impeachment resolutions, and judges themselves have certainly noticed the heightened political and rhetorical attacks on the judiciary. A sitting president publicly calling for the impeachment of a judge who has ruled against him is unprecedented.

Unprecedented, but not unexpected. Considering Trump spent much of his first term complaining about so-called judges and much of Bidens term complaining about Trump-hating judges, it should come as no surprise that he and his allies have again gone after judges who rule against him as his second term begins.

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Still, we are entering unusual and dangerous territory. Criticism of the courts is nothing new, of coursejust look at Trumps immediate predecessorbut serious threats of impeachment are extremely uncommon. Acting on that threat can undermine judicial independence and the rule of law, of course, but even the threat itself can intimidate judges into doing what politicians want.

Of course, these attacks on federal judges from Trump and his allies are not happening in a vacuum. Trump has made a number of bold moves through unilateral executive action in the first few months of his second term, while lawmakers in Congress have been mostly content to sit on the sidelines. The legal authority underpinning much of that presidential activity has not always been clear, with many of Trumps actions relying on untested theories, aggressive interpretations of the law, and in some cases the reversal of existing Supreme Court precedents.

As a result of both its own aggressive actions and the dynamic of polarized politics, Trumps first administration faced an extraordinary number of lawsuits resulting in nationwide injunctionsjudicial orders prohibiting a policy from being implementedand that trend has continued thus far in his second term. It is true that incoming presidential administrations often face well-organized litigation campaigns by state governments held by the opposite party and affiliated interest groups, and that those litigants can often rack up some quick victories in carefully chosen district courts before the lawsuits get bogged down in appeals.

Federal district judges have grown more inclined in recent years to issue broad rulings purporting to halt administration efforts to advance its policies not only in a particular case but across the country. Parties alleging that the executive is taking some action against them in violation of the law can ask the court to stayor enjointhat action, first temporarily as the issue is argued and perhaps permanently if the judge decides against the administration. So-called nationwide or universal injunctions go beyond the individual party in a particular case and order the administration not to do anything similar in any other case. Such sweeping injunctions have been quite controversial, and the Trump administration is pressing the appellate courts not only to agree with the executive about the merits of their policy actions but also to rein in the trial courts on the expansive remedies that they are offering plaintiffs, sometimes at very early stages of proceedings before the facts and legal issues have even been seriously vetted.

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But the data indicate that the White House bears plenty of responsibility for the record number of injunctions it has faced. In his second term, the Trump administration has lost as often before Republican-appointed judges as it has before Democratic-appointed judges. In its early days, the administration is getting outlawyered and the courts are proving to be quite skeptical of the lawfulness of some of its most high-profile actions.

Federal judges hold their office during good behavior, which is understood to be lifetime tenureunless they commit impeachable offenses. Congress has the power to impeach, convict, and remove them for committing acts of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors, a necessary check to address not only criminal behavior but also abuse of power in the judiciary. Lawmakers have exercised this power only 15 times in U.S. history, however, most recently in 2009 and 2010: One judge was charged with sexual assault, the other with accepting a bribe.

Identifying abuses of the public trust and condemning them when the officer is driven by corrupt motives is fairly straightforward. The judge who abuses his power to line his own pocket or the diplomat who abuses his power to advance the interests of a foreign adversary are unlikely to find a sympathetic hearing on the floor of the Congress if they attempt to offer justification for their actions. More difficult is the case of the officer who exercises power in a way that some find abusive but that others do not, who acts on motives that are public-spirited but who pursues goals that much of the public would reject. A judge who thinks an alien needs more due process before being deported than the administration does might be wrong on the law, but is not acting to advance his or her personal interests.

When there is reasonable disagreement about whether a given action is in fact an abuse of the judicial power, lawmakers should be reluctant to deploy the impeachment power. Ordinary politics consists of debates over constitutional meaning, efforts to advance favored understandings, and attempts to better effectuate them in political practice. Constitutional disagreements are hashed out through elections, judicial appointments, and litigation. Part of our normal political give-and-take is the recognition that others who hold deeply disagreeable constitutional, political, and policy views might nonetheless win elections and gain offices.

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Indeed, impeachments in general should be a last resort to addressing abuses of power. While there are certainly occasions when nothing short of impeachment and removal will be adequate to remedy the problem posed by a misbehaving officer, we have more routine tools for addressing constitutional abuses. In the case of lower court judges, the first and most routine tool for addressing rulings that seem to be incorrect is to appeal that ruling to a higher court. If a judge has truly acted in a manner that is beyond the pale, then correction by an appellate court can be easily achieved. Only if a judge seems to make it a practice of engaging in such behavior should the blunt tool of impeachment become necessary. The administration seems to have little patience this time around for normal governing procedures, but litigation requires some patience as cases are argued, decided, and appealed.

Threatening the impeachment of judges when litigation is still in process and the legality of the executive actions in question is open to debate is less about correcting an abuse of power and more about eliminating checks and balances on executive actions. The long-term damage to judicial independence and the constitutional system from such a premature impeachment of judges would be immense.

Read more at The Dispatch

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March 24 (UPI) -- A state jury in Georgia directed Bayer, the parent company of Monsanto, to pay more than $2.1 billion in damages to a man who claimed its weed killer Roundup caused his cancer.

On Friday in Cobb County, a suburb of Atlanta, jurors awarded $65 million in compensatory damages and $2 billion in punitive damages to John Barnes. The trial lasted three weeks in Marietta.

Barnes was represented by law firms Arnold & Itkin LLP and Kline & Specter PC. Their largest award in a Monsanto case was $2.25 billion for a man in Philadelphia in January 2024 that a judge reduced to $400 million.

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So far about 170,000 Roundup claims have been filed, according to Sokolove Law, which has represents plaintiffs. There have been 23 Roundup trials in court so far, with more than $6 billion awarded to victims and the settling of around 100,000 claims for approximately $11 billion.

In 2020, Barnes, who says he used the company's weedkiller in his yard for several years, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He claims glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, caused his cancer and Monsanto didn't warn him of the product's dangers.

"We disagree with the jury's verdict, as it conflicts with the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence and the consensus of regulatory bodies and their scientific assessments worldwide," the company said in a statement. "We believe that we have strong arguments on appeal to get this verdict overturned and the excessive and unconstitutional damage awards eliminated or reduced. The court previously granted the majority of the company's motion for a directed verdict finding that the plaintiff had failed to prove most of their causes of action in this case.

Germany-based Bayer acquired Monsanto in 2018 for $63 billion. Three years later the company said it would set $16 billion to settle cases and later added billions to that.

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Since the lawsuits, Bayer said it replaced glyphosate-based products in the U.S. residential market with new formulations using alternative ingredients. Also the company said it would explore changes to Roundup labeling.

"We continue to stand fully behind the safety of Roundup products -- critical tools that farmers rely on to produce affordable food and feed the world," the company said in a statement Friday.

The agrochemical company said it is considering its appeal options, noting it has secured favorable outcomes in 17 of the last 25 trials.

"The company is currently evaluating the cases which would present the best opportunity for review and will file a petition for certiorari in 2025, and if granted, the Supreme Court would decide the case during its 2025-2026 session," according to the news release.

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In 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said there as "insufficient evidence to conclude that glyphosate plays a role in any human diseases." The EPA has been studying glyphosate since 2009.

In 2017, company emails in federal court in San Francisco, showed Monsanto executives discussed ghostwriting research papers on Roundup. Two papers on Roundup were eventually published, one in 2000 and one in 2013.
VANCOUVER, Wash. (KOIN)  Officials with the Columbia River Mental Health Services furloughed some employees and told thousands of patients theyre pausing several key services across Clark County over a lack of money.

Leaders of CRMHS told their employees by email they dont have enough money to continue operating. However, the facilities  for the moment  are temporarily closed.

The cause of this circumstance is an evolving shortfall of monthly cash flow against clinic expenses, coupled to inability to access equity in the organizations real estate holdings in the timeline necessary to meet current obligations, Chief Medical Officer Kevin Fischer wrote in the email, obtained by KOIN 6 News. (The painful irony is that the agency has the resources  but just cant convert building equity to cash quickly enough in the current environment)

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Fischer also told staff the pause could have a major impact on local hospitals and that recovering addicts could relapse without their treatment.

In a notice posted on their website, they told their clients in Vancouver, Hazel Dell and Battle Ground there is an immediate pause of our Adult Outpatient, Child Outpatient, Health Homes, Psychiatry, GAP Medicine and Case Management programs.

OLCC suspends sales license of Portland mini mart deemed as serious danger

At the NorthStar Clinic in Vancouver, many patients go for methadone treatment as they work to recover from substance abuse.

Stephen Jones, who told KOIN 6 News hes been sober off-and-on for the last 10 months, said this is really terrible news for him.

Stephen Jones is a recovering addict using the NorthStar facility of the Columbia River Mental Health Services in Vancouver, March 24, 2025 (KOIN)

It just sucks because, you know, without the medication, you know, were going to have to go buy something else from somewhere else, Jones said. And I dont really want to do that. Im trying to, you know, my life is just getting back together and stuff. So Im not trying to, like, go do illicit drugs.

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CRMHS has a list of resources on their site for clients who still need critical care. But they also told their outpatient clients they have two options moving forward:

Wait for Care: We will notify you as soon as we have a clear timeline for reopening.

Coordinate Care Immediately: If you feel you need therapy, psychiatric services, or case management sooner, we are happy to assist you in coordinating care with other providers to ensure there is no gap in your treatment.

The CRMHS board met late Monday and it appears the NorthStar site will stay open for now.

KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story.

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Claiming vast executive powers and "the mandate of the electorate," the Justice Department on Monday night informed a federal judge that it was invoking the state secrets privilege and refusing to answer a judge's orders for more information on several deportation flights of alleged Venezuelan gang members.

Attorney General Pam Bondi and other high-ranking Justice Department officials filed a "Notice Invoking State Secrets Privilege" claiming that it "would pose reasonable danger to national security and foreign affairs" to comply with U.S. District Judge James Boasberg's fact-finding inquiries to determine if the U.S. government violated his order to turn those deportation flights around.

The notice is an escalation of the Trump administration's battle with Boasberg, who has been the target of calls for impeachment from President Donald Trump and his allies, and also the White House's attempts to claim an unchallengeable and unreviewable amount of power over the federal government.

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The Justice Department filing began by chiding Boasberg for failing to give Trump the "high respect" he was owed as the chief executive before asserting that it was engaging in a military campaign that Boasberg had neither the authority nor experience to question.

"This is a case about the President's plenary authority, derived from Article II and the mandate of the electorate, and reinforced by longstanding statute, to remove from the homeland designated terrorists participating in a state-sponsored invasion of, and predatory incursion into, the United States," the filing stated. "The Court has all of the facts it needs to address the compliance issues before it. Further intrusions on the Executive Branch would present dangerous and wholly unwarranted separation-of-powers harms with respect to diplomatic and national security concerns that the Court lacks competence to address."

The state secrets privilege, a common law doctrine that the Supreme Court first recognized in a 1953 case over military secrets, allows the government to move to exclude evidence from court cases on the grounds that disclosure would harm national security or foreign policy interests.

In the case at issue, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued the U.S. government on behalf of five Venezuelans who were detained by immigration authorities. Despite verbal and written orders from Boasberg to halt deportation proceedings against the plaintiffs, they were placed on one of several flights to a hellish megaprison in El Salvador.

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The Trump administration justified the extraordinary and unprecedented deportation flights by issuing a March 15 proclamation designating Tren de Aragua (TdA), a violent Venezuelan gang, as a "Foreign Terrorist Organization." The proclamation also said suspected TdA members were subject to removal from the country via the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which allows the detention and removal of migrants when there is a declared war or "invasion or predatory incursion" by a foreign government.

Although the Trump administration insists the deportation flights are subject to heightened secrecy, there was a large amount of information about them publicly available in real-time, and the White House used footage of detainees for its own trollish propaganda.

Boasberg has repeatedly ordered the Justice Department to produce detailed information on those flights to determine if officials knowingly defied his orders. The Trump administration has offered various explanations for why it did not complythat it didn't consider Boasberg's verbal order valid, and that Boasberg didn't have jurisdiction once the flights crossed into international space, for instance.

As Boasberg's fact-finding orders have proceeded toward considering contempt, the Justice Department's responses have grown more obstinate, culminating in Monday night's invocation of the state secrets privilege.

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"No more information is needed to resolve any legal issue in this case," the filing said. "Whether the planes carried one TdA terrorist or a thousand or whether the planes made one stop or ten simply has no bearing on any relevant legal issue. The need for additional information here is not merely 'dubious,' or 'trivial,' it is non-existent. The Executive Branch violated no valid order through its actions, and the Court has all it needs to evaluate compliance. Accordingly, the Court's factual inquiry should end."

To sum up, the Trump administration is claiming that it can declare a war by executive order and send immigrants to a labor camp in another country, all without meaningful judicial review of the facts. As Ilya Somin recently wrote at The Volokh Conspiracy, the Trump administration's policy violates the Due Process Clause of the Constitution and is "obviously unjust."

"Imprisoning people without any due process whatsoever is a cruel and evil practice usually used only by authoritarian states," Somin wrote. "And if the Trump administration gets away with it here, there is an obvious danger it will expand the practice."

The Trump administration's attempt to invoke the state secrets privilege raises another, tertiary danger: that we won't even be able to know if they're expanding the practice.

The post Justice Department Invokes State Secrets Privilege Over Deportation Flights appeared first on Reason.com.
Kansas veterans gather for publication of the Kansas Legislature's audit examine accounting by state and veterans' service organizations working to help veterans with health care, education programs. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  Members of the Kansas Legislatures bipartisan auditing committee expressed concern Monday that two major veterans service organizations receiving millions of dollars in state grants took significantly different approaches to complying with matching-fund mandates.

Auditors told the joint House-Senate audit committee the Kansas Office of Veterans Service or KOVS should precisely define what activities and costs were allowable as matching support for grants received by the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars organizations in Kansas. The organizations should be required to submit sufficiently detailed reports on matching funding to allow state officials to precisely verify expenditures, the audit said.

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While KOVS is responsible for making sure service organizations met program requirements, it has provided little guidance on what qualifies as matching support, said auditor Matt Fahrenbruch. This has left the service organizations to interpret the rules very differently.

Lax KOVS oversight in other areas may have caused misunderstandings between KOVS and service organizations and their supporters, the audit said.

The audit focused on financial reports from 2022 to 2024 related to the Veterans Claims Assistance Program, which was designed to aid veterans with benefit claims, including those tied to disability payments, health care, education and pensions. The audit related to VCAP was requested nearly a year ago by Republican Sen. Virgil Peck of Havana.

Legislators concluded the audit briefing Monday by suggesting the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars should work with the state veterans service office to produce written guidelines for securing reimbursement for work assisting military veterans with claims.

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Sens. Mike Thompson and Caryn Tyson, both Republicans, indicated the Legislature would consider taking up a reform bill next session if accounting practices werent clarified.

I appreciate your services. We all know that you guys do a lot, Tyson said. But the report is the question here.

Herbert Schwartzkopf, who represents the Kansas VFW, told legislators and auditors the organization had been frugal with VCAP grants and complied with expenditure requirements outlined by the state. He said the audit report was a waste of taxpayer dollars.

Kansas VFW feels like the organization and its members are being branded as liars as all of our words have fallen either on deaf ears or they truly feel we are lying, he said. The opinion of Kansas VFW is that the legislative post audit of the VCAP grant is not worth the paper it is written on and is, at its best, a work of fiction.

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Officials with the states Office of Veterans Services defended its oversight of the grant program and committed itself to creating a more standard approach to accounting for use of state grant dollars.

In-kind expenditures

Fahrenbruch told lawmakers the two congressionally chartered veterans organizations in Kansas had taken different approaches in terms of what was claimed as in-kind expenditures tied to securing state grants that may or may not comply with state law.

The states VCAP initiative has provided grants to reimburse costs claimed by the service organizations that included salaries and wages, operating and capital outlay expenditures for training and equipment as well as the work of veterans service representatives and support staff. Both organizations have operated their own VCAP offices in the states three Veterans Administration hospitals.

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In Kansas, the VFW and American Legion must meet annual matching support requirements equal to a percentage of the VCAP funds the organizations received. In 2022 and 2023, the matching support percentage was set at 33%. In 2025, it was 25%.

Statute does not define what support is beyond stating that it should be a combination of monetary and non-monetary support, the audit said.

The Legislature appropriated $2.55 million to VCAP from 2022 to 2024. The American Legion received $1.2 million during that period, while the VFW received $1.14 million. At least 85% of that funding was dedicated to salaries and benefits for VFW and American Legion personnel.

During this three-year period, the American Legion reported matching percentages ranging from 28% to 34%. However, in 2024, half of the reported matching support was for the estimated rental value of VCAP office space in VA hospitals that was provided by the VA for free.

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The issue of the American Legion and VFW claiming the estimated value of this free rental space as matching support has been the subject of debate and could be in violation of state law, auditors said.

KOVS officials said they consulted with the state attorney generals office in 2023 about this practice.

In an email exchange between KOVS and the AGs office provided to us, AG officials advised KOVS that the practice was ethically ambiguous, but not technically prohibited due to broad legal interpretations of what in-kind support can be, Fahrenbruch said.

The AGs guidance

William Turner, executive director of the Kansas Office of Veterans Services, said auditors mischaracterized the conclusion offered by Attorney General Kris Kobachs office. Turner said the attorney generals office concluded the practice of counting free office space or other non-monetary support as part of the funding match was appropriate, at least to some measure and that ethical views on the matter are up to the individual.

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Auditors also said they were unable to confirm with documentation that all claimed matching support was directly related to VCAP because certain reported expenditures were based on estimates.

Overall, the audit said, we couldnt determine with certainty whether the American Legion met their matching obligations in the years we looked at.

In terms of the Kansas VFW, the organization reported nearly $2 million in matching support from 2022 to 2024. About three-fourths of the support was in the form of direct costs and in-kind volunteer work for veterans. The list, however, included funeral services, meals and other community activities that appeared contrary to state law, the audit said.

More than half of our sample of VFW matching support was not related to the VCAP program, and we couldnt verify the rest, the audit said.

Auditors reported VFW operated with the understanding that any veterans service activity could be reported as matching support regardless of its connection to VCAP. Fahrenbruch said auditors requested copies of VFW documents supporting this assertion, but none was provided.
Australian miner Bryah Resources has withdrawn from a partnership agreement with Australian Vanadium formed to recover nickel, copper and cobalt from the tails stream of the Australian Vanadium project in Gabanintha, Australia.

Australian Vanadium secured a government grant of up to A$49m to advance the project in May 2023.

Bryah Resources was not entitled to the funding but had a liability of A$100,000, which has now been cleared.

The company holds rights to all minerals except chromium, cobalt, iron ore, lithium, manganese, tantalum, titanium, uranium and vanadium over an 80km project at Gabanintha, 40km south of Meekatharra, Western Australia (WA). Australian Vanadium retains full rights to these excluded minerals.

Bryah Resources retains mineral rights for nickel, copper and gold at the project, which it is planning to sell due to growing interest in critical minerals.

The company said in a statement: Given the interest in critical minerals and in-bound enquiries to Bryah, Bryah sees an opportunity to rationalise its asset base and dispose of the mineral rights and is actively marketing the sale.

By monetising these mineral rights as soon as possible, it will free up funds to focus on other assets in the company. The tailings from the AVL project post mining relating to the mineral rights of Bryah could be processed later and treated independently.

In addition to base metals, Bryah Resources is also reviewing gold prospectivity in the Australian Vanadium project area.

High-grade gold mineralisation has been identified within the mining lease, with significant gold intercepts from previous drilling.

This includes a 10m intercept at 27.5 gram per tonne (g/t) of gold, highlighting the potential for significant gold mineralisation in cross-cutting fault zones.

The indicated mineral resources portion of 16.1 million tonnes (mt) falls within the existing pit designs for Australian Vanadium's proposed 25-year vanadium project.

This resource is expected to be processed through Australian Vanadium's 1.6mt per annum crushing, milling and beneficiation plant, which forms part of the 30.9mt high-grade vanadium resource included in the pits.

In January 2025, the Australian Vanadium project, an integrated mining and processing development, received major project status from the WA Government for green energy.

"Bryah Resources exits government-funded partnership with Australian Vanadium" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




KANSAS CITY, Mo.  In an effort to strengthen its workforce, Kansas City is holding an information and resource fair on Tuesday, April 1, for affected federal employees.

The event is from 3 to 6 p.m. at Bartle Hall, and parking is free.

The City of Kansas City said it recognizes the invaluable experience public service employees bring to their roles. Whether in the federal government or other parts of the public sector, the city praises the skills, insight, and dedication of public service workers.

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Northland man facing charges in 2022 death of teen from fentanyl overdose

According to a news release, the city is proud to recruit this talent and provide opportunities across a range of departments.

Candidates will have the chance to speak with representatives from different departments to discuss how their skills translate to municipal roles, learn more about municipal government, and look at available positions.

The city said applications from former federal employees will receive expedited review.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Police in Kansas City, Kansas are seeking the publics help in locating a father missing since Friday.

Brandon Anfinson, 39, went missing from his home in the 1300 block of S. 35th Street between 5 and 9 a.m., according to Nancy Chartrand, spokesperson for the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department.

Anfinson is 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs around 160 pounds. He has brow hair, blue eyes and several tattoos. On his left forearm he has a tattoo of a baby girl with the words Gods Gift and another baby girl with two doves. His right forearm has a tattoo of a baby boy with a clock and the words Gods Gift, according to Chartrand.

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Anfinson may be wearing a long-sleeved, black thermal shirt with the logo A1, according to Chartrand. His family is concerned for his well-being since he left behind important items including vital prescription medications.

Anyone who believes they have seen Anfinson on or since Friday, or has any information regarding his disappearance are asked to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at KCcrimestoppers.com.
The Karen Read case returned to court Tuesday for one final hearing before the start of her second murder trial next week.

Read, 45, of Mansfield, is accused of hitting John 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.

The prosecution and defense argued whether third-party culprit evidence should be allowed after Reads lawyers claimed Brian Albert, Brian Higgins, and Colin Albert each had the motive, intent, and opportunity to commit the crime that resulted in OKeefes death.

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On Tuesday afternoon, Judge Beverly Cannone denied Reads lawyers request to dismiss her case, saying in part, Such a drastic sanction is justified only in response to the most egregious and truly harmful conduct.

Judge denies motion by Karen Reads lawyers to dismiss case a week before her retrial

Watch Tuesdays hearing in its entirety:

WATCH LIVE: Karen Read back in court for what could be final pre-retrial hearing. WATCH LIVE: Karen Read is back in court for what could be the final pre-retrial hearing before jury selection begins next week. Posted by Boston 25 News on Tuesday, March 25, 2025

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Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone is expected to entertain a motion from the prosecution that seeks access to all of the texts and emails Read shared with one her attorneys, David Yannetti, in the five days following OKeefes death.

Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan claims Read waived her attorney-client privilege when she gave media interviews about her conservations with Yannetti.

Brennan is also seeking records related to Investigation Discoverys documentary series A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read, which debuted last week on HBO.

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Multiple judges have rejected Reads efforts to get her retrial delayed.

Reads attorneys had asked for the delay to allow them time to appeal a federal judges ruling that denied a request to have jurors from the first trial questioned about their verdicts her three charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death.

Defense lawyers hope to show that jurors unanimously found Read not guilty of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a crash. They have also argued that Reads double jeopardy interests havent been taken into consideration.

Dedham, MA - April 12: Karen Read at her pre-trial hearing at Norfolk Superior Court. (Photo by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Karen Read watches attorney Robert Alessi make a point during her trial at Norfolk Superior Court at Dedham, Mass., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)

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Judge approves joint motion to delay start of Karen Reads 2nd murder trial

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Dedham, MA - July 1: Karen Read looks toward the jurors, as they are greeted by Judge Beverly J. Cannone (not pictured) in Norfolk Superior Court. (Photo by Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

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All stand as the jury files out to the courtroom, to start their fifth day of deliberations in the murder trial for Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Monday, July 1, 2024. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

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Karen Read jurors tell judge theyve been unable to reach unanimous verdict

Day 3 of jury deliberations finishes without verdict in Karen Read trial

Karen Read awaits the juries verdict in her murder case at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday June 26, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP)

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Defense attorneys in Karen Read murder trial argue with judge over jury verdict slip

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Some witnesses are in the courtroom on Tuesday include Brian Albert, Colin Albert, and Jennifer McCabe.

Karen Read

Karen Read, center right, is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Karen Read is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Karen Read

Karen Read smiles after listening to her attorney Alan Jackson during her trial at Norfolk County Superior Court, Friday, May 17, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)

Karen Read

Karen Read

Karen Read sits with her legal team team in court Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool)

Karen Read sits with her legal team team in court, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool)

Last week, a Norfolk Superior Court Associate Justice said data on two cellphones belonging to Aidan Kearney, the Worcester-based blogger known as Turtleboy, will be allowed into evidence in the case.

Prosecutors say texts between Kearney and Read will show Reads consciousness of guilt.

Reads first trial ended with a hung jury in July 2024. Jury selection in her second trial is slated to begin on April 1.

RELATED:

Karen Read tells her story in exclusive one-on-one interview: Watch the extended cut

Karen Reads lawyers among notable names on prosecutions witness list for 2nd trial

Karen Read retrial: Michael Proctor among 91 names on defense teams list of witnesses

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Before she returns to the courtroom next month, a new documentary series is giving Karen Read the opportunity to tell the American public her side of what happened the night her boyfriend, Boston police officer John OKeefe, died in January 2022.

Doing this film is my testimony, Read says in A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read, the first episode of which aired on Investigation Discovery on March 17. I know the events of that morning, I know what I said and I didnt say, and I havent been able to say it. Its incredibly frustrating. I want to say what happened exactly as it happened.

Read is accused of intentionally backing over OKeefe with her car after a night of drinking. She was charged with second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter and leaving the scene of a collision that caused injury and death. If convicted, she faces a possible sentence of life in prison, with an additional maximum of 20 years for manslaughter and up to 10 years for leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

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The three-part series, which is now available to stream on Max, was filmed over the course of 11 weeks in Boston during Reads high-profile first trial, which ended in a mistrial in July 2024.

The new series is already making waves ahead of her second trial. On Tuesday, March 25, Read appeared in court for a pretrial hearing, where prosecutor Hank Brennan requested records related to the documentary series, including all unedited video and audio recordings.

Never heard of the case? Read a breakdown from Yahoo News: What to know about the Karen Read murder trial

Director Terry Dunn Meurer told Yahoo News that she and her crew were embedded with Read and her legal team throughout the first trial, even staying at the same hotel as them in Boston.

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I have never had this unprecedented access that a defendant and defense team would give to a crew to just be with them the whole time, Meurer said.

Meurer insisted that Read and her legal team were not involved in the production of the series, noting that they will see the final product for the first time when it airs this week. Though some of OKeefes friends are featured in the series, his parents and last remaining siblings were not interviewed, nor was anyone from the prosecution team.

The series, instead, features extensive interviews with Read and her attorneys, giving them the chance to lay out their case  outside the courtroom  that Read was the victim of a coverup by the Boston Police Department.

I took one look at one of the autopsy photos of John OKeefe, and I saw his arm, and I said, Are you kidding me? He was hit by a car? Reads attorney, Alan Jackson, says in one interview, challenging the photo used in evidence that Read ran over OKeefe. Something doesnt sound right about that. None of the evidence fits.

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Jackson, who previously represented actor Kevin Spacey, and other members of Reads high profile legal team, argue that something happened inside the house where Read is accused of running over OKeefe, which belongs to another member of the Boston Police Department, and that Read is being framed.

The series also examines how the case, which drew national attention during the televised trial, sowed division in the suburban Boston community where Read and OKeefe lived.

Much of the courtroom and police camera footage shown in the series will be familiar to those who followed the case closely. What is new, however, are the interviews with Read, who did not testify in her first trial.

I just want to go away and be alone, I dont want any more court clothes or any more experts, Read says at the beginning of the final episode. I just want to be done.

Are you an educator? What do you think about Trump's efforts to dismantle the Department of Education?

Yahoo News is asking teachers, administrators and other school staff around the country for their reactions to President Trumps order and how closing the Department of Education would affect their schools and students. Let us know what you think in our form, here.
Kauai firefighters made two separate hike rescues about an hour apart on Sunday afternoon, according to the Kauai Fire Department.

Shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday, KFD received a report of a woman that had been struck on the head by a falling rock on the Makaleha Falls Trail in Kapaa while hiking, and had become unconscious.

KFD launched the Rescue 3 team aboard the Air 1 helicopter and found the injured hiker at the base of the falls. The hiker was unconscious, KFD said, with labored breathing and heavy bleeding from an apparent head wound.

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She was airlifted to a landing zone, where care was transferred to American Medical Response. Paramedics continued advanced medical treatment on the patient as they took her to Wilcox Medical Center.

Shortly after 3 :10 p.m., KFD received another 911 call for an injured hiker on the Kalalau Trail.

The hiker, a visitor from Utah, was reported to have suffered a leg injury near mile marker 1.5.

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The same team arrived on scene and found the injured hiker near the landing zone. Two firefighters carried the patient to the helicopter for transport to Princeville Airport, where care was later transferred to AMR.

Kauai first responders also conducted rescues on March 10 and 15 when hikers got stranded on the Kalalau Trail washed out by recent rains, as well as on the Makaleha Trail when hikers got stranded after waters rose rapidly in a river.

We urge everyone planning to hike on our island to exercise caution when crossing rivers, always carry essential safety gear, including flashlights and emergency devices, and remain aware of changing weather conditions,  said Kauai Fire Department Chief Michael Gibson in a news release at the time. Heavy rainfall and flooding can occur rapidly and significantly impact the integrity of the islands trails. Rescue operations under these conditions are complex and add a layer of danger for outdoor enthusiasts and our first responders.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Kansas City, Kansas police are asking for the publics help in locating a man who was last seen on Friday, March 21.

Fake 911 calls made before thousands stolen from KCK bank in January: affidavit

Police are searching for Brandon Anfinson, 39, of Kansas City, Kansas after police say he disappeared from his home near S. 35th Street and Powell Avenue in the Argentine neighborhood.

Anfinson is described as standing 511 and weighs around 160 pounds. He has brown hair, blue eyes and multiple tattoos, according to police.

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Family members believe Anfinson may be wearing a long-sleeved, black thermal shirt with an A1 logo on the front.

Police said Anfinson has two tattoos on his left forearm of two baby girls, one with the words Gods Gift, and the other with two doves. Another tattoo on his left forearm has a baby boy and clock with the words Gods Gift also written alongside it.

Man stole $2M in Ponzi scheme from OP investor, others across US

Family and police say they are concerned about Anfinsons safety after he left behind personal items and important medication.

Anyone with any information on Brandons whereabouts are asked to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at KCcrimestoppers.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
If you are planning on driving in Yellowstone National Park when most of its roads open in April, you could drive by one of the latest thermal steam vents in the famed hotspot. The new hydrothermal feature is about one mile north of the Norris Geyser Basin within a region called the Roadside Springs thermal area.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Roadside Springs thermal area is a collection of distinct areas of altered rock and hydrothermal features. The new steam vent is at the foot of a rhyolite lava flow almost 10 feet above the marshland below and is part of an area of warm, hydrothermally altered ground roughly 200 feet long.

It was initially spotted by park scientists during last summers busy tourist and seismic season in the park. July saw a hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin and a similar explosion was recorded in Norris Geyser Basin for the first time.

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While driving south from Mammoth Hot Springs towards Norris Geyser Basin early on August 5 last summer, a park scientist noticed a billowing steam column through the trees and across a marshy expanse, scientists from the USGSs Yellowstone Volcano Observatory wrote in a recent blog post. The eagle-eyed scientist notified the park geology team to verify if this was indeed new activity.

Geologists then trudged through the marsh to get a closer look at the balmy 171 degrees Fahrenheit hydrothermal feature. By a thin layer of gray silica clay, they could tell that this steam vent is rather young.

Looking southeast at the hydrothermal feature that formed in August 2024 just north of Nymph Lake. Steam is emanating from a vent that is partially full of water to create the frying pan feature nestled in the newly formed vent. A thin grey layer of silica mud covers the vent area. CREDIT: Photo by Jefferson Hungerford, Yellowstone National Park, August 2024.

The feature itself is new. That there would be a new feature is, you know, mundane, park scientist Mark Polland told the Associated Press. The noteworthy part  was just that it was so noticeable. But the sort of overall idea that there would be a new feature that formed is pretty normal.

The team believes that it is the latest formation in a hotspot located only a short distance away that bubbled up over 20 years ago. A similar type of hydrothermal activity was observed on the other side of this same lava flow on March 10, 2003. The activity there has continued over the years, but is less energetic than when it first formed.

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This new steam vent remained active into the fall of 2024 and the strong steam plume was particularly visible during chilly mornings.

An aerial view looking to the west at the Roadside Springs hydrothermal area and Nymph Lake showing the locations of thermal features that formed in 2003 and 2024. The yellow line marks the Mammoth-Norris highway. CREDIT: Figure by Jefferson Hungerford, Yellowstone National Park.

But as fall began to turn into winter, the steam plume gradually disappeared. The feature remains active, but there is some water in the vent, decreasing the amount of steam that is released, the USGS said. Whether or not the strong plume returns in the summer of 2025 remains to be seen.

Yellowstone National Park geologists have mapped more than 100 major hydrothermal areas in and estimate that there are over 10,000 additional hydrothermal features within its boundaries.
This story was originally published on C-Store Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Buc-ees, the supersized Texas-based c-store retailer, has filed a lawsuit against a dog park and coffee shop, according to documents filed on March 19 with U.S. District Court in the Western District of Missouri, Southern Division.

The suit alleges that Barc-ees, which offers a space for dogs to run around, a Western-themed childrens play area and a cafe with food and beverages, is violating Buc-ees trademark since it has a similar name and logo, which shows a cartoon dog driving a car inside a circle.

Buc-ees has rigorously defended its trademark over the past couple years, having also filed suit against Mexican look-alike Buk-iis in 2023 and Missouri liquor store chain Duckees in 2024.

Dive Insight:

Companies frequently file trademark lawsuits if they believe another companys name or logo is diluting theirs or sowing confusion among consumers. Barc-ees operates in Missouri  a state where Buc-ees opened its first store in 2023, in Springfield.

Buc-ees is seeking an injunction against Barc-ees continuing to use its name and logo, as well as destruction of all infringing items and financial awards including damages and attorney fees.

Fellow c-store company 7-Eleven has also been keeping an eye on its IP, suing law office Seven Eleven Law Group late in 2023 for using a similar name and green-and-white color scheme. That lawsuit was dismissed in April of 2024 after the two companies agreed to an out-of-court settlement. 7-Eleven also has a trademark suit ongoing against Evergreen Convenience Store for its 7 Heaven Food Mart logo on a green awning, which it says uses a similar font to 7-Eleven and is similar to its Oh thank heaven trademark.

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National security leaders use of Signal to discuss plans for airstrikes in Yemen made for a contentious hearing Tuesday, as Senate Intelligence Democrats excoriated Trump administration officials for their carelessness, and chat participants denied discussing classified information.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe both denied sharing any classified material through the chat, to which The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg had been inadvertently added.

It was an unusual twist for the Senate Intelligence Committees annual worldwide threats hearing, which is designed to review the wide range of threats facing the United States.

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While Republicans stuck to traditional topics, Democrats grilled the leaders over the group chat and questioned how any war plans wouldnt be considered classified material.

At one point Ratcliffe said no, he did not agree with Sen. Jon Ossoffs (D-Ga.) characterization of the matter as a huge mistake, prompting outrage from Democrats.

The unwillingness of the individuals on this panel who were on the chat to even apologize or acknowledging what a colossal screwup this is speaks volumes, said Sen. Mark Warner (Va.), the top Democrat on the panel.

Warner, in a post on the social platform X as the hearing began, called on national security adviser Mike Waltz, who added Goldberg to the group chat, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who shared war plans with the group, to resign over the apparent security breach.

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The Trump administration has been vocal about its general plans to prosecute those who leak classified information, but President Trump has stood by Waltz and Hegseth so far.

Here are four takeaways from the hearing.

Officials contend chat did not include classified information

During the several days Goldberg observed the chat, he saw top Trump administration officials discuss sensitive plans about targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen, including precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing as well as the name of a CIA officer.

Despite the nature of the conversations, both Gabbard and Ratcliffe repeatedly asserted the Signal group chat did not contain classified information.

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Senator, Ill reiterate that there was no classified material that was shared, Gabbard said during a heated exchange with Warner.

Ratcliffe said the same in another line of questioning.

I havent participated in any Signal group messaging that relates to any classified information at all, he said.

Still, later in the hearing, Ratcliffe said discussions ahead of a decision to carry out military action would need to be done through systems for discussing classified information.

Predecisional strike deliberation should be conducted through classified channels, the CIA director said.

Multiple Democrats on the panel expressed disbelief that such discussions wouldnt include classified information and called for the two to share the contents of the messages.

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So if there was no classified material, share it with the committee. You cant have it both ways, Warner said, accusing Gabbard of bobbing and weaving and trying to filibuster your answer.

Warner also noted Gabbard recently posted on social media about the administrations plans to prosecute those who leak national security information.

Gabbard responded that theres a difference between inadvertent release versus careless and sloppy, malicious leaks of classified information.

The Espionage Act, however, can be used to prosecute both intentional and unintentional sharing or retention of national defense information  a category that does not require such information to be classified.

Democrats hammer Trump officials

Warner set the tone for Democrats from the start of the hearing, criticizing the Trump officials for everything from the carelessness of including a journalist to flouting security protocols by using Signal to discuss a high-stakes operation, to the risks posed to service members had the details been intercepted by a foreign government.

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Theres plenty of declassified information that shows that our adversaries, China and Russia, are trying to break into encrypted systems, Warner said, accusing the Trump administration of careless, incompetent behavior, particularly towards classified information, that  is not a one-off or a first-time error.

If this was the case of a military officer or an intelligence officer and they had this kind of behavior, they would be fired, he added.

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) called it disrespectful to rank-and-file intelligence officers.

This sloppiness, this incompetence, this disrespect for our intelligence agencies and the personnel who work for them is entirely unacceptable. Its an embarrassment. Do better. You need to do better, he said.

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Ossoff also criticized Gabbard and Ratcliffe while expressing dissatisfaction with some of their answers, implying there will be consequences if they were being dishonest.

This is utterly unprofessional. Theres been no apology, there has been no recognition of the gravity of this error. And by the way, we will get the full transcript of this chain, and your testimony will be measured carefully against its content, he said.

Gabbard, Ratcliffe dodge questions

The leaders rebuffed several questions posed to them by lawmakers.

At the start of the hearing, Gabbard declined to say whether she was the TG referenced in screenshots of the group chat posted in The Atlantic story, though Ratcliff acknowledged he participated.

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Later in the hearing, Gabbard also said she was overseas during the time the group chat discussions were underway, but declined to say whether she participated using her personal phone.

I wont speak to this because its under review by the National Security Council. Once that review is complete, Im sure well share the results with the committee, she said.

Well, Its a very simple question: Were you on a private phone or an officially issued phone? What could be under review? Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) said, nodding to efforts of foreign adversaries to obtain information from officials phones, including targeting personal cellphones.

Both Gabbard and Ratcliffe also at various turns sidestepped questions about classification procedures, noting the role of the Department of Defense (DOD) in classifying any war plans.

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The secretary of Defense is the original classification authority for DOD and deciding what would be classified information, Ratcliffe said.

At another point, when Gabbard said she would defer to the Defense Department, she was chastised by Sen. Angus King (I-Maine).

Youre the head of the intelligence community. Youre supposed to know about classifications, he said.

Ratcliffe also defended his use of the app, even though the CIA has warned staff about the vulnerabilities of encrypted messaging platforms such as Signal.

When I was confirmed as CIA director, Signal was loaded onto my computer at the CIA, as it is for most CIA officers. One of the things that I was briefed on very early, senator, was by the CIA records management folks about the use of Signal as a permissible work use, Ratcliffe said.

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While intelligence officials use Signal to discuss some matters, they are instructed to use secure high side systems when discussing classified information.

A split screen

While nearly every Democrat asked questions about the Signal chat, Republicans largely sidestepped the issue, and none asked questions about it on the record.

The first question from Committee Chair Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) was about the risks posed by migrants, asking leaders to provide details of the horrific offenses theyve committed against the American people.

Others asked questions about other major powers such as Iran, China and Russia, while several focused on the fentanyl trade as well as foreign surveillance programs.

Just two Republican lawmakers said they had additional questions about the Signal chat episode, but wished to discuss it in the classified session held after the open hearing.

With regard to the issue surrounding Signal, Im going to address it, but Im going to address it in the closed session so that we can get more in-depth into that issue, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said.

Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) used the strongest language, referencing unanswered questions.

Ill be asking some follow-up questions, clarifications about this Signal episode in a closed setting, and try and work with all of you to bring clarity to that situation. It appears to me theres some unanswered questions. Itll take some time, I think, to get there in a more dispassionate setting, he said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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BALTIMORE  Maryland lawmakers are pushing several proposals to address the large percentage of children missing significant amounts of school each year.

One bill with 19 sponsors  led by Democratic Del. Stephanie Smith of Baltimore City  would establish a task force to study the issue. The bill has passed the House and has been referred to a Senate committee. Its among several other bills addressing chronic absenteeism, which is defined as missing at least 10% of enrolled school days or 18 days of an entire school year.

Absenteeism skyrocketed in Maryland during the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching as high as 58% in Baltimore City, then declining most recently to 49%.

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Chronic absenteeism is briefly addressed in Gov. Wes Moores much-debated Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act, which proposes to alter the states landmark education reform legislation, the Blueprint for Marylands Future. The House has passed a version of the bill, while a Senate committee recently passed a different version. The bill would include improving student attendance and chronic absenteeism under its definition of wraparound services.

The Moore-Miller administration is well aware that this is a multifaceted problem and no single solution will address this overnight, said Moores press secretary, Carter Elliott, in an email. He added, Governor Moore will continue to work with the general assembly, local leaders, and community advocates to increase attendance and graduation rates by utilizing multi-tiered systems of support to address the reasons that students do not come to school, improve school climate, and address instructional needs.

Another bill that has advanced to the opposite chamber would require the Maryland Judiciary to provide a report on Truancy Reduction Pilot Programs. The first of these was established by the General Assembly in Wicomico County in 2004. The program, now known as the Truancy Reduction Court Program, involves assigning a court-appointed case manager to determine why a student isnt attending school and help connect them to services.

We really havent done a deep dive and analysis into the success of these programs since 2008 and a lot has changed, the biggest of which is COVID, said the bills sponsor, Democratic Del. Mark Edelson of Baltimore City.

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The bill also would require the judiciary to recommend whether a similar program should be implemented in Baltimore City.

Democratic Del. Deni Taveras of Prince Georges County hopes that Smiths bill will include a proposal of hers that died in the House. The proposal would have required each local board of education to investigate the root causes of chronic absenteeism and expulsion. The investigation would include a survey of a students domestic situation, family vacations, history of alcohol or drug addiction, mental health, physical health, and school environment.

I was very concerned with the rise of drug addiction among students, Taveras said. And I felt that if a third of our students were chronically absent, the rise of the opportunities for them to engage in inappropriate consumption of drugs would increase, especially drugs laced with opioids to deliberately addict them.

Taveras added that she believes Marylands high absenteeism rates are unacceptable.

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Weve got to correct for that, she said. Weve got to give these kids a fighting chance.

Other bills sponsored by Republicans have not advanced. Republican Del. April Miller of Frederick County sponsored two bills: one to shift schools to later start times and one to require school systems to provide virtual options.

I think with both of them, there is some reluctance to mandate things at a statewide level right now, Miller said, noting that the cost of the states Blueprint legislation has been placing demands on local jurisdictions.

Miller added that she hopes local school systems will implement her proposals on their own.

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Itll almost be more like pilot programs, and then hopefully other school systems will follow along and do it without a state mandate, she said.

Edelson said while shifting to later school start times sounds like a reasonable idea, hed rather focus on fixing the bus system, specifically in Baltimore, where many students rely on them to get to school.

I feel like it can just be a slippery slope where you keep pushing class time later and later, instead of fixing the underlying issue, Edelson said.

Miller said school policy has to be in the best interest of kids.

If you have to get on the bus at 6 in the morning, thats really early for some kids, she said.

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Republican Del. April Rose, who represents Carroll and Frederick counties, withdrew a bill she had sponsored that would have required school funding to be based on quarterly, rather than annual, enrollment counts. She didnt respond when asked why the bill was withdrawn.

Another bill that originated in the Senate would establish Restorative Practices Schools. The bill addresses student absenteeism and truancy, conduct that leads to disciplinary actions, teacher turnover, mental health and school climate.

The bill is sponsored by Democratic Sens. Benjamin Brooks of Baltimore County and Alonzo Washington of Prince Georges County. It has been referred to a House committee after passing the Senate. A similar bill, sponsored by Baltimore County Democratic Del. Cheryl Pasteur, is in a Senate committee after passing the House.

A bill proposed by Democratic Sen. Mary Washington of Baltimore City, chair of the education subcommittee, would provide more specificity about how funding for community-based initiatives can be used, including truancy and absenteeism intervention programs.

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WOODHAVEN, Queens (PIX11)  A man accused of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl in Queens last Wednesday allegedly told her Sit down, shut up or I will kill you, according to the Queens District Attorneys Office.

Prosecutors said John Garrison, 53, was accused of following the child home on 87th Road in Woodhaven around 3 p.m. The girl, who realized she was being followed, then screamed, according to the DAs office.

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Garrison allegedly threatened to harm the girl and grabbed her chest, prosecutors said. The girl shoved off her attacker, who fled the scene, according to the DAs office.

He was accused of exposing himself in Richmond Hill just a day later, prosecutors said. Garrison allegedly flailed his arms and legs to avoid being handcuffed, according to the DAs office.

He was charged with sexual abuse, forcible touching, resisting arrest, endangering the welfare of a child and public lewdness. Garrison is facing up to seven years in prison if convicted.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Southern resident orcas from the L Pod made a rare appearance near Depoe Bay on March 24.

The sighting coincided with Oregons Whale Watch Week, hosted each year by Oregon State Parks. During Whale Watch Week, Oregon State Parks assigns volunteers to various whale watching posts along the Oregon coast to help sightseers spot and learn about the migrating and resident gray whales.

Kotek: Feds holding up disaster money despite court orders

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Its not often that theyre spotted here  most of the orca sightings on the Oregon coast are the transient or Biggs orcas that eat marine mammals, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said. The southern residents exclusively feed on fish and are endangered with only 74 individuals left across three pods (J, K and L).

Southern resident orcas seen near Depoe Bay, Ore. on March 24, 2025. (Photos courtesy of ODFW)

Hillsboro Police release name of man arrested in seven-hour standoff

According to the Orca Conservancy, the L Pods range extends from B.C. to Northern California. Historically, the pod of roughly 35 whales is known to hunt salmon on the west side of San Juan Island during the spring and summer months. However, recent salmon declines have caused the pod to spend less time in the Salish Sea.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Community members say they are glad no one was hurt after a building partially collapsed in the Oregon District on Monday.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

As reported on News Center 7 at 11:00, the partial collapse occurred at 464 E 5th Street, near Jackson Street, before 4 p.m.

>>PHOTOS: Section of building crumbles in Oregon District

The building is a relatively well-known photo spot, as the Dayton Inspires mural is just a few steps away from the damage. It also houses a hat shop called BRIM.

TRENDING STORIES:

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Dayton Fire Department crews blocked off the area and set up a beam to support the structure.

Jackson Street will remain closed until the damage is repaired.

Thank God for the firefighters and the public servants, Peter McLinden said.

McLinden works near the Oregon District and knows how popular the building is. He said hes glad no one was taking a photo here when the bricks fell onto the sidewalk.

Kind of scary, but we got to know that Daytons an older city, he said.

Dayton Fire Department District Chief Nick Judge said the cause is still under investigation.

At this time, were not sure if its weather related because it is very windy, or if it was just age related and it just happened to come down today, Judge said.

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The second and third floors of this building are empty.

This is the second building in Dayton to have structural problems in just over a week.

As previously reported on News Center 7, high winds caused the facade of a high-rise building on North Main Street, near Stratacache Tower, to collapse on March 15.

News Center 7 asked the Dayton Fire Department about building inspections in the city.

If we see, you know, an obvious structural issue, well refer that to the building department. But our job, necessarily, when were doing inspections, is not to inspect the actual integrity of the building, Judge said.

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The Montgomery County Auditor website indicates that the building on 5th Street was built in 1910, making it 115 years old.

News Center 7 spoke with the owner of the building off-camera.

He said he plans to make repairs, but inspectors have to look at the building first, and that could take a few weeks.

We will continue to follow this story.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

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A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

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A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

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A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

A section of an Oregon District building came crumbling down on Monday. Dayton Fire is on the scene working to determine the structure's viability.

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LONDON (Reuters) -King Charles and his wife Queen Camilla's state visit to the Vatican has been postponed because of medical advice that suggested Pope Francis would benefit from an extended period of rest, Buckingham Palace said on Tuesday.

The British royals were due to travel out to the Vatican on April 7 and meet Pope Francis the following day, for what the palace had said would be a historic visit.

Days after the plans were first announced last month Francis, 88, was admitted to hospital with a severe respiratory infection and he was only finally discharged on Sunday, after the most serious health crisis of his 12-year papacy.

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A royal source said last week Charles and Camilla were hoping and praying that the pope's health would improve enough to allow the trip to go ahead, but it has now been called off by mutual agreement.

"Their majesties send the pope their best wishes for his convalescence and look forward to visiting him in the Holy See, once he has recovered," the palace statement said.

The royal couple's subsequent state visit to Italy is set to continue but the programme might now be subject to changes.

Francis was admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14 for a bout of bronchitis that developed into double pneumonia, an especially serious condition for him, as he had pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed.

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The head of the pope's medical team said he came close to death at one point during his hospitalisation.

Charles, 76, also has his workload carefully managed as he recovers from cancer.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Catarina Demony, Alexandra Hudson)
LONDON (AP)  King Charles III's scheduled audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican has been postponed by mutual agreement after medical advice suggested the pontiff would be better off with more rest.

Buckingham Palace made the announcement in a statement Tuesday. The tentative audience was among details of the British monarchs visit to the Vatican and Italy last week by the palace. State visits are always planned in close consultation with the Vaticans secretariat of state.

"Their Majesties send The Pope their best wishes for his convalescence and look forward to visiting him in The Holy See, once he has recovered,'' the palace said in a statement.

Francis, 88, had been hospitalized since Feb. 14 before being released on Sunday.
Cait Conley, Army Veteran and Former Director of Counterterrorism for the National Security Council, Amanda Carpenter, Writer and Editor for Protect Democracy and Tyler Prager, New York Times White House Correspondent join Alicia Menendez in for Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House to discuss the continued fallout from the stunning leak involving a reporter being added to a group chat with the highest ranking national security officials in the Trump Administration detailing war plans involvin
Voters in Pennsylvania are heading to the polls Tuesday to fill one vacant state House seat that will likely hand Democrats back their majority, as well as a vacant state Senate seat.

The elections are taking place in House District 35, to replace former state Rep. Matt Gergely (D) following his death in January, and in Senate District 36, to replace former state Sen. Ryan Aument (R), who stepped down from his seat in December to become the state director for Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick (R).

The state House race is the more consequential one.

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Pennsylvania Democrats maintained their narrow 102-101 seat majority in the state House following the November elections, but Gergelys death made it a 101-101 split. The district is located in Allegheny County in the western part of the state, to the southeast of Pittsburgh.

Democrat Dan Goughnour, who is a member of a local school board and a police officer, is favored to win the race over Republican Chuck Davis, the president of the White Oak Borough Council and a volunteer firefighter.

Gergely won a special election for the seat in 2023 with 75 percent of the vote and ran unopposed for reelection last year, The Associated Press reported. Former Vice President Kamala Harris won the district with about 58 percent of the vote in November.

For the state Senate seat, Republican Josh Parsons, a Lancaster County commissioner, is the favorite over Democratic East Petersburg Mayor James Malone. The district leans conservative, with President Trump taking 57 percent of the vote and McCormick winning 56 percent in November, the AP reported.

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Aument was unopposed during his last election in 2022.

The GOP currently enjoys a 27-22 majority in the state Senate, with the one vacancy. Democrats have needed to defend their narrow state House majority in a few special elections since winning a majority for the first time in a decade in 2022.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
US food and beverage company Chobani is investing $500m to expand its plant in the city of Twin Falls in Idaho.

The company, known for its Greek-style yogurt, said the Twin Falls facility expansion would strengthen Idahos dairy industry by adding over 500,000 sq ft of space and boosting production capacity by 50%.

Described by Chobani as the largest natural food production facility in the country, the Twin Falls site manufactures Chobani yogurt, oat milk and coffee creamers.

While Chobani has not provided a timeline for completion, the City of Twin Falls government, in a separate announcement, said construction will begin immediately, with operations expected to start in early 2026.

A Chobani spokesperson confirmed to Just Drinks the 160 jobs created through the investment will be full-time roles. Once the project is completed, the site will employ over 1,300 full- and part-time staff, the spokesperson added.

The facility will supply products to customers in the US and Mexico.

Chobani operates two production facilities in the US, one in Twin Falls and the other in South Edmeston in New York.

The company also owns a production facility in Muskegon in Michigan, which is dedicated to producing its La Colombe coffee products.

Chobani acquired La Colombe in 2023 for $900m.

When asked about Chobani's annual net sales and net income, the spokesperson added: "As a private company, we do not disclose this information."

"Chobani to invest $500m in Twin Falls plant expansion " was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand.




As the White House comes under fire for allegedly using Signal to discuss sensitive foreign policy plans, the encrypted messaging platform has now come into the spotlight.

Although the government has officially discouraged federal employees from using the app for official business, it has become a crucial tool for many businesses, tech enthusiasts and the public for sharing messages securely.

Signal was launched in 2014 for iOS devices by a non-profit group, Open Whisper Systems, which offered users free encrypted calls and, one year later, encrypted instant messaging. Encryption disguises data and information so that only those who send and receive the messages can read them.

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An Android version of the app launched in 2015. Both versions are free to download in the app stores.

PHOTO: A mobile device displays the Signal company logo while a laptop displays the webpage of the messaging app, on March 25, 2025. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

"Signal is designed to never collect or store any sensitive information. Signal messages and calls cannot be accessed by us or other third parties because they are always end-to-end encrypted, private, and secure," the company said on its website.

MORE: Leading Democrats react to Trump administration inadvertently sharing highly sensitive war plans

Representatives from Signal Technology Foundation, the parent non-profit that operates the app, didn't immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.

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The app registers users through their phone numbers, similar to WhatsApp and iMessage, and provides several options, including disappearing messaging and protection from screenshotting messages. Signal has touted that it does not give user data to corporations and other entities.

Signal group chats, like the one at the center of the Trump administration scandal, are controlled by users designated as administrators. The administrators have the power to invite, reject and block users at will.

Encryption keys for Signal messages are stored on the user's devices and not on its servers, the company said.

Stuart Madnick, a professor at MIT's Sloan School of Management and the founding director of Cybersecurity at MIT Sloan, told ABC News that while end-to-end encryption on apps like Signal are secure, there are still ways that messages can be compromised through analog and digital tactics.

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If a device is physically stolen along with unlock codes, there is nothing stopping an alleged thief from opening the Signal app and reading messages, he said. Additionally, malware and other spying software can gain access to messages, according to Mardnick.

"It's the on and off ramps that keep us susceptible," he said.

Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg said in his piece and told ABC News that he was invited to the Signal chat by someone claiming to be National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and at first thought it was a hoax until he relaized it was a legitmate group chat with chief Trump officials.

"I watched this Yemen operation go from beginning to apparent end, and that was enough for me to learn that there's something wrong in the system here that would allow this information to come so dangerously close to the open, to the wild," Goldberg told ABC News.

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Madnick said the situation described by Goldberg also showed another vulnerability by using public end-to-end encryption messaging: slip-ups by a user who sent messages to the wrong person.

Signal grew in popularity among smartphone users and have been promoted by various figures in the tech community, including Edward Snowden.

PHOTO: A mobile device displays the Signal company logo while a laptop displays the webpage of the messaging app, on March 25, 2025. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Despite its growth, U.S. government officials have been wary of members using the app for official business.

The Pentagon's internal watchdog criticized a former official's use of the Signal app in 2021, calling it a breach of the department's "records retention policies" and an unauthorized means of communicating sensitive information.

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The report, which focused on Brett Goldstein, a former director of the Defense Digital Service, found that Goldstein violated department policies by using Signal "to discuss official DoD information" and encouraging subordinates to communicate with him on the encrypted messaging app.

"Signal is not approved by the DoD as an authorized electronic messaging and voice-calling application," the report asserted, adding that "the use of Signal to discuss official DoD information does not comply with Freedom of Information Act requirements and DoD's records retention policies."

Goldstein had already announced his plans to depart government service by the time the report was published. According to the report, Goldstein lobbied the department's legal office to allow him to use the app.

"We recommend that the Secretary of Defense take appropriate action regarding Mr. Goldstein's use of the unauthorized electronic messaging and voice-calling application," the report concluded.

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During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday, Democratic Sen. Mark Warner grilled CIA Director John Ratcliffe about his participation in the Signal chat. Ratcliffe said he was in the chat, but claimed many in the agency are approved to use Signal.

"One of the first things that happened when I was confirmed as CIA director was Signal was loaded onto my computer at the CIA as it is for most CIA officers. One of the things that I was briefed on very early senator, was by the CIA records management folks about the use of Signal as a permissible work use. That is a practice that preceded the current administration to the Biden administration," Ratcliffe testified under oath.

Ratcliffe, and the other intelligence officials who testified, did not provide more details about the government's use of the app or approvals to use it.

MORE: The Atlantic editor details moment he realized he was included in Yemen group chat

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Madnick said typically, the government has its own secure communications for sending information but that usually involves specialized devices that are installed in government offices.

"There are a lot of things that the government does to make their conversations more secure but that comes at an inconvenience," he said.

As of 2024, the app has 70 million users worldwide compared to the 12 million who used it in 2020, according to the app tracking site Business of Apps.

In 2023, the non-profit, which is funded through donations and a $50 million investment in 2017 from WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton, said in a blog post it required $50 million a year to operate in 2025.

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"Our goal is to move as close as possible to becoming fully supported by small donors, relying on a large number of modest contributions from people who care about Signal. We believe this is the safest form of funding in terms of sustainability: ensuring that we remain accountable to the people who use Signal, avoiding any single point of funding failure, and rejecting the widespread practice of monetizing surveillance," the company said.

ABC News' Luke Barr, Cherise Halsall and Nathan Luna contributed to this report

What to know about Signal, which the Pentagon previously discouraged workers from using originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford has focused attention on Elon Musk  not just because of the millions of dollars he is pouring into backing her opponent, Brad Schimel, but because of the lawsuit his company, Tesla Inc., has filed in Wisconsin.

Crawford's campaign has argued that the billionaire's support for Schimel, the conservative in the race, is an attempt to "buy" support from the Supreme Court hopeful as Musk's lawsuit is potentially headed for the high court.

Schimel's campaign spokesman in a statement said Crawford "is the activist in this race" and "hypocritical," given the money from wealthy campaign donors such as George Soros that has been flowing to her campaign.

Tesla has a gallery and service center at 1011 W. Silver Spring Drive in Milwaukee, Wis. , Tuesday, Feb.11, 2025. Consumers can take a look at the vehicles available, learn more about Tesla and arrange service, but can't buy a Tesla. Wisconsinites each year buy 3,000 to 4,000 of its electric vehicles. None of those sales happen in Wisconsin. Wisconsinites who want to buy a Cybertruck or Model Y have to go to another state, frequently Illinois or Minnesota, because Wisconsins factory store law bars vehicle manufacturers like Tesla and Ford from owning vehicle dealerships with few exemptions.

So what's this lawsuit about? Here's what you should know about the case and how it figures into this race:

What is the conflict between Tesla and the State of Wisconsin?

Tesla wants to open dealerships in Madison, Milwaukee, Grand Chute and Glendale. Its efforts to seek state approval date back a year.

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To do so, however, the company would need an exemption from the state's "factory store law" that prohibits manufacturers like Tesla from directly selling their vehicles to consumers unless a manufacturer can show there is no independent dealer qualified and available to do so on its behalf.

Tesla argued that because it doesn't franchise with independent dealers, none are available that meet the company's dealership standards. And, Tesla says, franchise dealers wouldn't make a profit selling its new vehicles.

The state's car and truck dealerships have opposed Tesla's push for the exemption, arguing state law bars the company from owning or controlling its dealerships but not from selling vehicles in the state.

The Department of Administration's Division of Hearings and Appeals has denied Tesla's requests for an exemption.

When did Tesla file its lawsuit against the state?

Tesla filed the civil case in January in Outagamie County Circuit Court, where Grand Chute is located.

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Listed as respondents are the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the state Department of Administration's Division of Hearings and Appeals.

Where does Tesla's lawsuit against Wisconsin currently stand?

The case is still at the circuit court level, though it will be moving counties.

On Monday, Outagamie County Circuit Court Judge Mitchell Metropulos ruled the case needed to be heard in another county, offering Tesla the choice to move it to Dane County or Milwaukee County because the electric vehicle manufacturer currently operates showrooms in both counties.

Tesla chose Milwaukee County.

What is the relationship between Brad Schimel and Elon Musk?

Musk has been a vocal and financial supporter of Schimel, as the Waukesha County judge has campaigned for the state Supreme Court.

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Musk, a close ally of President Donald Trump, has thrown more than $18 million into the race. Trump also endorsed Schimel on Friday.

On Saturday, Musk and Schimel appeared in a live discussion on Musk's social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to urge Wisconsinites to turn out at the polls on April 1. Sen. Ron Johnson, who was also part of the conversation, said if Schimel wins it will be because of Musk's support.

Schimel has said he doesn't coordinate with or control Musk but that he welcomes his help in the effort to turn out low-propensity voters.

Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tesla's Wisconsin lawsuit, Elon Musk and Brad Schimel, explained
In March 2025, a number of social media posts claimed a video of the first Black female American officer to die in combat had been removed from the U.S. Army's web platforms as part of President Donald Trump's anti-diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

An Instagram post claimed a video of 2nd Lt. Emily Perez was removed:

She became a 2nd Lieutenant, was the first Black female cadet Brigade Command Sgt. Major of West Point, and was a member of the West Point "Class of 9/11": the class that entered the U.S. Military Academy immediately after the attacks of September 11, 2001. She became [the] first Black Female officer in U.S. military history to die in combat and the first female graduate of West Point to die in Iraq." The video documenting why she chose to serve in the Army and in combat has been deleted by the Army.





A March 7, 2025, news report on Business Insider claimed the Army erased videos of Perez from its platforms, as well as a May 2023 article mentioning Perez.

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While some military databases deleted or had inaccessible materials about Perez, the Army website still had a number of articles about her. In addition, footage about Perez on the Air Force website was not loading correctly. We reached out to various branches of the military who said they were complying with Trump's anti-DEI executive order and flagging certain content but would not specify what content.

In late February 2025, a Defense Department memorandum called on commanders of various units and senior Pentagon leadership to enforce Trump's orders:

By March 5, 2025, Components must take all practicable steps, consistent with records management requirements, to remove all DoD news and feature articles, photos, and videos that promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). All articles, photos, and videos removed from DoD websites and social media platforms must be archived and retained in accordance with applicable records management policies.

As of this writing, the Army website has this caption visible on the top bar: "Archived historical content from culturally-focused Army websites is under review for compliance with Executive and OSD policy. Content will be reposted after the review. Other historical resources include The Center for Military History."

Searches for "Emily" and "Perez" on the Army site returned a September 2020 article (archived) about the officer still available on the site as of this writing, with the headline "Emily's Way: Gold Star Mother shares daughter's inspiring story." We also found a 2018 article (archived) with the headline "Event highlights African Americans in times of war."

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However, an article (archived) headlined "Through Struggle and Strife, Women of West Point Carve out a Military Legacy" was no longer available. Another article (archived) with the headline "Women of the Long Gray Line: More than 5,000 women have graduated from the U.S. Military Academy since 1980" also was unavailable. The original articles are archived here and here. The May 2023 article states:

Nevertheless, women have overcome the odds. Women have been battled tested. Women like USMA 2005 graduate Emily Perez made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq when an improvised explosive device decimated the Humvee she rode in.

Army spokesman Christopher Surridge told Snopes over email the Army was complying with the executive order and temporarily unpublishing certain webpages:

The stories of our service members hold an honored place in the treasured tapestry of Army history, and we are pleased to republish articles highlighting the impactful contributions and enduring legacies of our Soldiers, units and their sacrifices. In accordance with recent policy changes and renewed digital content guidance, the Army temporarily unpublished webpages dedicated to cultural observance months. We are tirelessly working through content featured on these webpages, and historical articles will soon be republished to better align with current guidance. As this is an ongoing process requiring a manual content review, article restoration might take some time. There are many stories available across Army websites that were not impacted by the archival of heritage or observance webpages, as we remain committed to sharing the legacies of our Soldiers, units and their sacrifices.

In a follow-up email, he added:

The sacrifice and enduring legacy of 2LT Emily Perez holds an honored place in the treasured tapestry of Army history. In accordance with recent policy changes, we moved quickly to comply with the Digital Content Refresh, and some featured content or microsites may have been temporarily archived and will soon be republished online. There are many stories available across Army websites, as we remain committed to sharing the legacies of our Soldiers, units and their sacrifices.

Surridge directed us to the existing webpages about Perez, including her biographical page on the website of the National Museum of the U.S. Army.

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In a video posted by the DOD, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the military was working to remove all DEI materials and would restore some items after review:

Over the past few weeks, we've taken action to identify and archive DEI content from our websites and social media platforms. [] Without question, this task was an arduous but incredibly important undertaking. [] When content is either mistakenly removed or if it's maliciously removed, we continue to work quickly to restore it.

Through Google search, we found the thumbnail of a video featuring U.S. service members praising Perez on the Air Force website.

(Screenshot via Google search)

However, the video would not load on that page. The original video, however, was available on Wikimedia Commons with the caption: "Video honoring the life and death of 2nd Lt. Emily Perez, the first African American cadet Brigade Command Sgt. Major of West Point, who died in the line of duty."

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In response to our queries about this video, the Army spokesperson directed us to the Air Force, who directed us back to the Army. Neither organization addressed whether the video was removed because of the executive order.

Sources:

"Defense Department Reassesses Archived Content." Department of Defense, 21 Mar. 2025, https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4130360/defense-department-reassesses-archived-content/. Accessed 25 March 2025.

"Emily's Way: Gold Star Mother Shares Daughter's Inspiring Story." Www.Army.Mil, 21 Sept. 2020, https://www.army.mil/article/239215/emilys_way_gold_star_mother_shares_daughters_inspiring_story. Accessed 25 March 2025.

"Event Highlights African Americans in Times of War." Www.Army.Mil, 1 March 2018, https://www.army.mil/article/201323/event_highlights_african_americans_in_times_of_war. Accessed 25 March 2025.

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Frias, Lauren. "These Are the US Military's Diversity Photos Trump Doesn't Want You to See." Business Insider, https://www.businessinsider.com/us-military-online-diversity-content-trump-dei-crackdown-2025-3. Accessed 25 March 2025.

National Museum of the United States Army. https://www.thenmusa.org/biographies/emily-j-t-perez/. Accessed 25 March 2025.

Parnell, Sean. "Digital Content Refresh." Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, 26 Feb. 2025, https://media.defense.gov/2025/Feb/27/2003652943/-1/-1/1/DIGITAL-CONTENT-REFRESH.PDF. Accessed 25 March 2025.


KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen said Monday that a multiyear effort to disrupt the flow of drugs from the Detroit area to East Tennessee is helping save lives.

The 313 Initiative was announced in December of 2022 as a partnership between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to fight the proliferation of dangerous drugs like fentanyl along the I-75 corridor.

TBI, Attorney General discuss Knoxville area motorcycle gang drug ring

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Allens office released new information about the impacts of the 313 Initiative on Monday:

453 initiative-related arrests

$794,057 seized

251 guns seized

145.91 pounds of methamphetamine

83.97 pounds of fentanyl/heroin

7.5 pounds of cocaine/crack

Thousands of MDMA/ prescription pill dosage units

Allen told 6 News that methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine are the three drugs most often identified in local overdose deaths over the last two years.

The District Attorney General credited those efforts and harsher penalties for drug dealers for helping decrease overdose deaths in Knox County from 485 deaths in 2023 to 301 deaths in 2024. She added that the Fifth Judicial District, which covers Blount County, saw a 57 percent decrease in reported overdose deaths from 2023 to 2024.

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Knox County seeing impact of fentanyl despite 2024 decline in drug-related deaths

When you remove that amount of drugs, when you remove those guns, when you remove the actual drug dealers from the streets by charging them and locking them up, we are of course going to see downstream less and less overdose deaths. Which is really the goal of this initiative, she said. So the significant decrease we saw from 2023 to 2024, I think, can be directly attributed to the 313 Initiative along with a community that worked very well together as a far as drug treatment.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
One of the anchor department stores at the Boise Towne Square mall plans to close by the end of the month.

Kohls announced it would shutter the location at 400 N. Milwaukee St. and dozens of other underperforming stores nationwide in January in a bid to stave off bankruptcy. The Boise stores last day of business will be Saturday, according to its website.

All remaining inventory is now 90% off, a store employee told the Idaho Statesman on Monday. Everything thats left, which isnt much, is shelved by the upstairs entrance. The downstairs entrance is closed.

The ground-floor entrance to Kohls inside Boise Towne Square is closed, with signs directing people to the second-floor entrance during the mall anchor stores final few days in business.

Until it closes, the store is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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As we continue to build on our long-term growth strategy, it is important that we also take difficult but necessary actions to support the health and future of our business for our customers and our teams, CEO Tom Kingsbury said in a prior news release.

The department store chain has been grappling with a continued downturn in sales. It has over 1,150 locations.

Kohls has two other stores in the Treasure Valley, at 3275 N. Eagle Road in Meridian and at 16566 N. Marketplace Blvd. in Nampa, according to its store locator. Those stores remain open.

Stores in Twin Falls, Coeur dAlene and Ammon near Idaho Falls remain open too.

Signs in February 2025 face shoppers at an inside-the-mall entrance to Kohls in the Boise Towne Square.

So sad! This local doughnut shop closed in Eagle. Now theres one left  in Boise

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A major national bank cuts back in Boise, closing branches and laying off workers

Chain closes another restaurant in un-educated Boise. Yo, Idaho, heard of a burrito?

Albertsons CEO to step down after Kroger merger fails. What he says about grocers future
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP)  A Cabinet minister from Kosovos Turkish minority was charged Tuesday with physical assault, in what could become another setback to the ruling partys efforts to form a governing coalition following last months election.

The Prizren prosecutors office, located 86 kilometers (53 miles) west of the capital, Pristina, has accused Fikrim Damka, minister of regional development, of attacking two individuals from a rival Turkish minority party on election day.

The alleged assault stemmed from the publication of some information and news on social media platforms critical of Damka and his party, according to the prosecutors office.

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Damka, leader of the Turkish Democratic Party, was detained and placed under house arrest. He denies any wrongdoing. If convicted, he could face up to one year in prison.

Kosovo held a parliament election Feb. 9 which saw Prime Minister Albin Kurtis Self-Determination Movement Party, or Vetevendosje!, win 48 seats in the 120-seat parliament, falling short of a majority.

While campaigning, he vowed not to ally himself with the other two major parties, making the support of non-Serb minority parties  which hold 10 seats  crucial.

With two seats in the new parliament Damkas party could be an important ally.

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The Central Election Commission, Kosovo's electoral body, has yet to announce the final results, due to ongoing appeals from political parties. Once the results are finalized, the country's president will ask Kurti to form a new Cabinet, as mandated by the constitution.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a decade after the 1998-1999 war between Serbia and ethnic Albanian separatists that pushed Serbian forces out following a 78-day NATO air campaign. Serbia doesnt recognize Kosovos independence.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency for 10 counties scrambling for federal aid after devastating floods last week. But she dropped a bombshell on Monday:

We are, at present, looking at up to $450 million in federal funds that continue to be inaccessible despite court orders.

Of that $450 million, Koteks office said $129 million in FEMA funding is now out of reach because of pending orders from the Trump Administration.

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Oregon flood victims asked to complete damage assessment survey

States typically get reimbursed after covering initial costs, like after wildfire season. It can take time. Lawmakers approved $218 million in emergency funding in December while waiting for reimbursement.

FEMA also helps reduce disaster risks.

In Clackamas County  which is already under a state of emergency, officials are waiting to see if theyll continue receiving hazard mitigation assistance.

Kotek  and many others  are waiting to see how this plays out. Oregons US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are demanding answers from FEMA about staff layoffs and grant freezes, which they said could hurt disaster recovery efforts.

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Disastrous storm pushed Oregon dam to its limits

KOIN 6 News asked the Oregon Department of Emergency Management which counties and projects would be most impacted by the freeze, but at this time they have not replied.

Many families, including Kristy Williams of Drain in Douglas County, lost everything in the floods.

Flooding in Drain, Ore. on March 16, 2025. (Photos by North Douglas County Fire)

Within an hour, the water went from my ankles to my knees, and it happened so fast. I didnt have time to get any of our belongings out, Williams said.

But she doesnt sound hopeful about any help anytime soon.

We kind of feel like we arent getting anywhere and getting anything in the moment.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Twin Cities radio station 92 KQRS has gone temporarily host-less as it prepares for an apparent revamp that will launch on April 3.

As of Monday morning, those tuning in to KQRS found the station's customary classic rock hits but no DJs, with promos telling listeners: "Come back April 3 to find out whats next for 92 KQRS."

Social media posts on the station's pages said the same: "Come back Thursday, April 3rd at 6am to hear what weve been cooking up here at Minnesotas 92 KQRS!"

No other details have been provided as of Tuesday. Bring Me The News has reached out to owner Cumulus Media for comment.

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Cumulus has already made changes at its Twin Cities stations in the past month, resulting in the departures of Brian Zepp, co-host of Steve Gorman & The KQ Morning Show at KQRS, and Andrew Wappel from the 93X Half-Assed Morning Show.

The current weekday lineup on KQRS is Steve Gorman from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., Chris Nelson from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lisa Miller from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Shannon Knight from 7 p.m. to midnight.
Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have pointed out that the Russian authorities are likely not interested in meaningful talks to end the war in Ukraine and prefer bilateral talks about relations with the United States.

Source: ISW

Quote from ISW: "The Kremlin is recirculating existing narratives aimed at undermining support for Ukraine amid the negotiations in Riyadh and likely remains uninterested in conducting meaningful negotiations to end the war."

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Details: Analysts noted that Kremlin officials are likely trying to take advantage of the current lack of available details regarding the US-Ukraine and US-Russia talks in Riyadh on 23 and 24 March.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused Ukraine of being "well-bred Nazis" who lack independence, as part of the Kremlin's efforts to justify its call for "denazification"  essentially regime change and the installation of a pro-Russian government in Kyiv  as a condition for ending the war in Ukraine.

Lavrov also repeated claims that European nations are trying to prolong the war, possibly to create a divide between Europe and the United States.

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused Ukraine of breaching a proposed moratorium on energy strikes, even though the details of the agreement are still being discussed in Riyadh and have not been finalised.

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Peskov, along with Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, tried to manage domestic expectations for the ongoing talks, saying that there is no need to expect any major breakthroughs and that much work remains on technical matters.

Quote from ISW: "These statements continue to signal to the domestic Russian audience that Russians should not expect a meaningful peace in Ukraine in the near term and support Kremlin condition-setting for a protracted war effort."

Details: Recent comments from Russian diplomats and academics suggest that the Kremlin is likely focusing on prioritising bilateral talks with the United States over discussions aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. It seems the Kremlin intends to set this expectation within Russian society.

To quote the ISW's Key Takeaways on 24 March:

US and Russian delegations met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 24 March following US-Ukrainian talks on 23 March about the details of temporary ceasefires on long-range strikes and in the Black Sea.

Ukrainian forces recently advanced in Demidovka along the international border in northwestern Belgorod Oblast amid ongoing Ukrainian attacks in the area.

The Kremlin is recirculating existing narratives aimed at undermining support for Ukraine amid the negotiations in Riyadh and likely remains uninterested in conducting meaningful negotiations to end the war.

Russia continues to persecute religious minorities, especially Evangelical Christian communities in occupied Kherson Oblast as part of a wider campaign in occupied Ukraine aimed at destroying independent Ukrainian national and religious identities.

Ukrainian forces recently advanced in Belgorod Oblast and near Toretsk and Pokrovsk, and Russian forces recently advanced near Siversk, Toretsk, Pokrovsk and Velyka Novosilka.

Russian forces are reportedly failing to adequately provision first person view (FPV) drone units amid ongoing efforts to centralise Russian drone operations under the Russian Ministry of Defence.

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The U.S. and Russia have agreed on a list of Russian and Ukrainian energy facilities that cannot be attacked during a partial ceasefire, the Kremlin said on March 25.

The statement came after two-day talks in Saudi Arabia, during which Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. agreed to implement a ceasefire in the Black Sea and a ban on strikes against energy infrastructure.

According to the Kremlin, the list includes oil refineries, as well as oil and gas pipelines and storage facilities, including pumping stations.

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The list also includes power production and transmission facilities, including power plants, substations, and transformers. Among power plants, the Kremlin specifically named nuclear power stations and hydroelectric dams.

Kyiv has yet to comment on this statement.

According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Kyiv has handed over a list of energy infrastructure that Moscow should not strike during the partial ceasefire. He did not specify the facilities on the list.

Russian forces have regularly targeted Ukraine's civilian energy infrastructure since 2022, intensifying their aerial campaign in recent months with nightly drone and missile attacks.

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Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries deep behind the front lines are intended to undermine Moscow's capacity to wage its all-out war.

Moscow also claimed that the ban on strikes against energy facilities began on March 18 and would be valid for 30 days. The timeline can be extended by mutual agreement, the statement read.

Ukraine believes that the partial ceasefire for the Black Sea and energy infrastructure strikes should take effect on March 25, Zelensky said.

Despite the agreement on a ban on energy infrastructure strikes between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, a week ago, Russia has continued its regular campaign of aerial attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

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Read also: Russia, Ukraine agree to partial ceasefire in Black Sea, US to help restore Russias access to markets

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Russian military hackers have targeted the messaging app at the centre of the White House group chat fiasco, raising further fears about the security of US secret communications.

Researchers at Google found cyber attackers linked to the Kremlins military intelligence agency had sought to gain access to Signal accounts in Ukraine and were likely to use the techniques on other targets to snoop on conversations.

On Monday it emerged that members of Donald Trumps cabinet including JD Vance, the vice president, Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, and Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, had used Signal to discuss secret US military plans.

JD Vance and other members of Donald Trumps cabinet used Signal to discuss secret US military plans - Mark Schiefelbein/AP

It emerged after Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor of The Atlantic, was inadvertently added to a Signal group chat in which they discussed plans to bomb Yemen and disclosed classified material.

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Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy who is leading negotiations on a potential ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, was in Moscow at the time of the discussions, and was part of the chat.

Researchers at Google Threat Intelligence Group said in February that APT44, a hacking group that has been linked by the UK and US to Russias military intelligence agency the GRU, had been seeking to gain access to Signal messages.

APT44, also known as Sandworm, is seen as one of Russias most dangerous cyber units. They have been linked to attacks on South Koreas Winter Olympics, interference in US and French elections and the Swiss laboratory investigating the poisoning of Sergei Skripal.

Tricked victims with QR code

The attacks involved exploiting a linked devices feature that allows users to see their Signal messages on PCs or iPads as well as their phone.

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By tricking victims into scanning a QR code associated with the hackers device, the attacker would be able to snoop on a persons messages, including group chats. The QR codes masqueraded as real Signal features, such as group chat invites or legitimate requests to link devices.

The attack did not involve breaking Signals end-to-end encryption or require access to their phone.

There is no indication that the attack might have been deployed on US officials or that the hackers would have access to the group chat used by Mr Trumps cabinet officials.

However, the findings raise questions about the appropriateness of using the app to discuss sensitive government business, given Russian intelligence services appear to be developing techniques to compromise it.

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The Google researchers said the attack was widely being used to target Ukrainian military secrets, but that it was likely to extend elsewhere.

We anticipate the tactics and methods used to target Signal will grow in prevalence in the near-term and proliferate to additional threat actors and regions outside the Ukrainian theatre of war, Dan Black, a Google cyber espionage researcher, said.

The app is a valuable target for state-backed hackers, in part because its encryption is widely trusted and thus it is seen as a secure way to discuss sensitive matters.

Signals popularity among common targets of surveillance and espionage activity  such as military personnel, politicians, journalists, activists, and other at-risk communities  has positioned the secure messaging application as a high-value target for adversaries seeking to intercept sensitive information that could fulfil a range of different intelligence requirements, Mr Black wrote.

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Similar techniques have been used to target WhatsApp and Telegram. Signal improved security around the linked devices feature due to Googles research, introducing warnings when adding new devices, and checking after a few hours to confirm that they wanted to share messages with the new device.

The update took place before the US group chat discussing Yemen, which took place in mid March.

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Homeland security secretary Kristi Noem said in a cabinet meeting Monday she was going to eliminate FEMA, the governments disaster relief agency.

Noem, 53, did not provide any other specifics about her shock announcementjust that she would seek to kill the agency tasked with responding to natural disasters and emergencies.

The announcement came and went quickly in Mondays meeting, with there being no other discussion about FEMAs future.

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FEMA is part of the Department of Homeland Security, placing the agency in Noems purview. She said last month that she would get rid of FEMA the way it exists today, but did not take her aspirations as far as she did in Mondays meeting. She and Donald Trump have suggested thatin FEMAs placeeach state should dictate its own disaster response.

Kristi Noem stands while being acknowledged by Donald Trump during the signing ceremony for the Laken Riley Act in January. / Getty Images

FEMA has been under fire in Trumps second administration partially for its bloated budgetat least, in the eyes of Trump and Elon Muskand for supposedly providing aid to undocumented immigrants in disaster sites.

Officials in the Trump Administration wrote in an internal memo last month that they were reviewing all disaster relief programs that may indirectly or incidentally aid illegal aliens, Politico reported Friday.

FEMA was slapped with a hiring freeze last week and a review into its practices is set to commence next month.

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Outright dismantling FEMA, as Trump has suggested since retaking the White House, cannot be done without an act of Congress. Republicans control the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, providing a clear path for Trump to flex his political muscle and have the agency scrappedbut many of his party-mates, including some from disaster-prone states, do not appear so thrilled with the idea.

Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican from hurricane-magnet Louisiana, told reporters last week that FEMA cant go away.

Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican and Donald Trump ally, has said he opposes FEMA being disbanded. / Jon Cherry / REUTERS

I think the first job of the federal government is to protect people and property, he added.

That is exactly what FEMA was founded to do in 1979 during the presidency of Jimmy Carter. Since then, it has been at the forefront of recovery efforts for some of the nations biggest tragedieslike the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and, more recently, the devastating wildfires in Southern California and flooding in southern Appalachia.
Tuesdays Top Stories

Tuesdays Five Facts

[1] Albuquerque police sergeant placed on leave in connection to DWI Unit scandal  An Albuquerque police sergeant is on leave, while a former APD officer is pleading guilty for his role in the public corruption scheme. Monday, the department placed Sergeant Lucas Perez on leave after the U.S. Attorneys Office told them his cases may be in jeopardy because of the ongoing federal investigation. Former officer Nelson Ortiz pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge after admitting to working with former attorney Thomas Clear III to get DWI cases dismissed in exchange for cash or gifts. Ortiz left the DWI unit in 2021, but admitted to continuing the scheme until he was caught in 2024.

[2] Bernalillo County DA speaks out on failed juvenile crime bills in the legislature  Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman is one of the biggest advocates calling for tougher penalties against some juveniles. Bregman expressed his frustration after the legislation he pushed was either voted down in the Senate or never made it out of committee. Bregman says his push to increase punishment for juvenile offenders is even more pressing after recent incidents. The governor has signaled that she could call another special session on crime.

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[3] Dry, warmer, & less breezy weather around New Mexico  Even warmer air is in store with mostly light winds this afternoon as temperatures will reach the 70s and 80s for most with high 50s to the 60s in the northern mountains. Temperatures will reach close to the low 90s in parts of southeast New Mexico. Mostly light winds with warm afternoons will remain through the later parts of next week.

[4] APD cracks down on reckless driving in downtown Albuquerque  Albuquerque police are cracking down on reckless driving that pops up on the weekends downtown. During APDs latest operation, officers are seen trying to catch a motorcyclist who they say was driving recklessly. Officers say motorcycle fled from police, but air support spotted him crawling underneath the porch of a northeast home. Officers on the ground moved in and made the arrest. Officers issued 564 citations over the weekend, including six DWI arrests and three felony arrests.

[5] New Mexico State University students artwork on display in Las Cruces  Two art students at NMSU are sharing their art with the Las Cruces community through local bus stops. Its part of Art Stop 2025 which is an initiative bringing student and local art to the public. NMSU says the two seniors, Yalet Yanar and Citali Delgado, were chosen for their unique and powerful pieces. Yanars Take a Walk reflects her personal journey throughout the city. Delgados Second Sight is a tribute to the intuition of women.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Ryanair's proposals to set the stage for the resumption of commercial flights in Ukraine after the skies reopen have been met with "radio silence" for two years, the airline's CEO, Michael O'Leary, said on March 25.

The restart of flights is vital for rebuilding Ukraine's economy, a process that cannot start unless "somebody gives the airports a kick up the backside," O'Leary said in a video address to a Kyiv conference organized by the analytical center "We Build Ukraine" and attended by the Kyiv Independent.

Ukraine closed its skies for commercial flights at the outbreak of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Discussions have been ongoing about the possible reopening of some airports in major cities like Kyiv or Lviv later this year as the U.S. pushes for a ceasefire.

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O'Leary said that in July 2023, Ryanair submitted a proposal to the airports in the western city of Lviv and Boryspil near Kyiv that would see the company "deliver 5 million passengers to Ukraine within the first year of the skies reopening over Ukraine and grow that from 5 to 10 million passengers within five years."

"But disappointingly, we haven't heard back from them for over two years," the CEO said.

"I am somewhat at a loss to understand why the airports are not getting ready for the resumption of flights and why the airports are not doing the agreement with Ryanair."

Without a cost agreement with the airports, the airline would be able to deliver only about 1-1.5 million passengers instead of 5 million in the first year after the war, while the number of Kyiv routes would drop from 50 to 20, O'Leary said.

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O'Leary added that meetings with the airports' management are expected later this week in Warsaw. He named the cost agreement with the airports and the safety of civilian travel as key conditions for Ryanair to resume flights in Ukraine.

Lvivs Danylo Halytskyi International Airport's general director said earlier this month that flights could restart as early as April or May, according to an optimistic scenario under government consideration.

Director Tetiana Romanovska said that Lviv Airport is in talks with Wizz Air, Air Baltic, Turkish Airlines, SkyUp, Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, and LOT on the possible resumption of flights.

The Ukrainian government claimed it is "95%" ready to reopen its skies but said discussions about resuming flights without sufficient air defenses would be "impractical" as long as the war is ongoing.

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Read also: Kyiv coffee shop drops Trump name amid growing discontent with US president

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The Palisades and Eaton fires ravaged over 37,800 acres, demolished thousands of structures, and claimed lives. Crews from across California and beyond worked tirelessly to contain the flames and help displaced residents.



Los Angeles County Department of Public Health launched the L.A. Fire Health Study to investigate the long-term impacts of the wildfires. The study focuses on two main goals: examining present pollutantstheir levels and changes over timeand determining if the fires correlate with health concerns among nearby populations.

Related: Updated Cal Fire Hazard Maps Reveal High-Risk Zones in L.A. County

Shortly after the fires began, Dr. Kari Nadeau, chair of the Department of Environmental Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, collected blood samples from 20 Northern California firefighters who assisted with the Palisades and Eaton fires.



Nadeau's initial testing revealed that these firefighters, who primarily fought burning trees rather than homes or vehicles, had lead levels five times higher and mercury levels three times higher than a control group. Long-term lead exposure can cause significant health problems, including lung issues, heightened Alzheimer's risk, and increased cancer risk.



While doctors note that most L.A. residents didn't inhale the same concentration of toxins and ash as frontline firefighters, Nadeau's team plans to continue monitoring the initially tested firefighters, other first responders, and L.A. residents who were exposed to the fires.



"This was an environmental and health disaster that will unfold over decades," Nadeau said.

Related: Woman Suspected of Murdering Cal Fire Captain Captured in Mexico After Month-Long Manhunt

Nadeau and other specialists recommend residents avoid smoke to prevent inhaling particles from debris. When outside, wearing an N-95 mask offers protection.



"By bringing together experts from across multiple institutions and disciplines, we can rigorously examine the health effects from the wildfires' toxic particles and gases that have spread hundreds of miles beyond the fire zones and provide the communities with this information in real time," said Nadeau.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman is allowing county prosecutors to seek the death penalty again, reversing a ban put in place by his predecessor and making good on a campaign promise.

The county prosecutorial office said Monday the death penalty will be pursued only in exceedingly rare cases and the most egregious."

I remain unwaveringly committed to the comprehensive and thorough evaluation of every special circumstance murder case prosecuted in Los Angeles County, Hochman said in a statement.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a moratorium on the death penalty in 2019, and the last prisoner executed in the state was in 2006. The governor's term ends in January 2027 and he isn't eligible for reelection.

Under the new policy in LA, defense attorneys will be given opportunities to share information about defendants when the death penalty is under consideration, and survivors left behind by murder victims will also be able to share their views.

Hochman said regardless of what the governor does, as long as the death penalty was allowed under California law, the district attorney has to do his job and put the death penalty on the table for consideration.

He pointed to two examples of extreme cases where the death penalty could be an option, both in different states: the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting.

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Under California law, the death penalty can only be sought if someone is charged with murder with special circumstances, which can include killings where there are multiple victims or if the victim is a law enforcement officer.

Removing the death penalty was one of the first changes implemented by former DA George Gascon when he took office in 2020. In a special directive, he called it inextricably intertwined with racism and said executions did not deter crime. He also said his office would conduct a thorough review of all condemned inmates from LA County with the goal of lifting their death penalty sentences.

Gascon was ousted by Hochman last year, reflecting growing discontent in the state with progressive district attorneys and criminal justice policy changes.

During his campaign, Hochman vowed to bring back the death penalty option for extreme cases.

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Jess Farris, senior policy counsel at the ACLU of Southern California, said the punishment is part of failed and cruel policy relics LA has already left behind."

The issues that have driven L.A. voters to repeatedly reject the death penalty still ring true: the incompetent attorneys often defending death penalty cases in L.A. County, its legacy of discriminatory and arbitrary use, its proven failure to deter capital crimes, its tragic fallibility, and its endorsement of brutality and murder as solutions to complex problems," Farris said.

California currently has 592 condemned inmates, with 206 of them from LA County. A majority have been transferred from the former death row at San Quentin State Prison to be housed with the general population at other maximum security prisons.

___

This story has been updated to correct that the last prisoner executed in California was in 2006, not 2016.
Ministers have approved the 10bn Lower Thames Crossing development despite the projects ballooning cost.

Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, has given the green light to the first new Thames crossing east of London in six decades, which is expected to ease congestion on the Dartford Crossing.

Plans for the 14.3-mile road crossing between Kent and Essex have been plagued with delays and spiralling budgets. The total cost of the project has surged from estimates of between 5.3bn and 6.8bn when it was first agreed in 2017 to around 9bn today.

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More than 1.2bn was spent on the project before it even received planning sign off, because of the costs of numerous public consultations, technical surveys and bureaucracy. The schemes planning application alone cost 300m, more than the total build costs for the worlds longest tunnel in Norway.

Sam Richards, the chief executive of pro-development campaign group Britain Remade, said the decision was long overdue but would still be at risk of further delays that could drive up build costs even higher.

Mr Richards said: It should never have taken so long for such a vital project to be approved. But even this is not the end of the saga  Nimbys and eco-zealots now have the chance to take the project to court to try to overturn the ministers decision, further delaying the scheme and adding more costs.

National Highways has said that even legal challenges that fail can add 120m to the cost of building major road schemes.

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Mr Richards said: If we want our economy growing, we need to fix our dysfunctional planning system and speed up building in Britain.

The project will still be subject to a judicial review process and the Government will need to establish how the works will be funded. Ministers hope to attract private financing to the project to lessen the burden on the taxpayer.

The Lower Thames Crossings ballooning costs had led to speculation that it could be scrapped as Rachel Reeves seeks to find billions in savings to balance public finances. Comparisons had been drawn to HS2, key parts of which were scrapped by Rishi Sunak, then prime minister, after the budget spiralled.

However, the Thames project has been saved as the Chancellor scrambles to find good news to highlight in the Spring Statement.

The River Thames at the location of the proposed crossing between Kent and Sussex - Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire

Sir John Armitt, chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission, said: Improving connectivity is vital to the Governments mission of sustainable, long-term economic growth.

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Given the scale of investment needed in the countrys strategic infrastructure over coming decades, I hope this is the first of many future strategic planning decisions which are crucial to transform the transport, energy and water networks on which the country relies.

Construction on the crossing is expected to start in late 2026 and should complete by 2032.

The road, which is being developed by National Highways, an arms-length government body, will connect the existing network from the A2/M2 to the M25 with two 70mph speed limit tunnels, one running southbound and one northbound, that will go underneath the River Thames.

The project is desperately needed to ease surging congestion on other Thames crossing routes. The Dartford Crossing, which is currently the most eastern Thames crossing, was designed for 135,000 daily crossings but now handles up to 180,000 vehicles per day.

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Almost all journeys during peak hours experience significant delays, which has a major impact on freight travelling to and from Channel Ports.

Lower Thames Crossing is expected to nearly double road capacity across the Thames east of London, diverting 13m vehicles a year away from the Dartford Crossing.

The Dartford Crossing is currently the most eastern Thames crossing - Carl Court/Getty Images Europe

A government source said: The Lower Thames Crossing will be a key strategic route for drivers, freight, and logistics  improving connectivity between the South and the Midlands, linking up our ports and unlocking regional economic growth.

This demonstrates this Governments commitment to delivering the vital infrastructure the country needs to succeed, and to be on the side of the builders, not the blockers.

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Jim Dickson, the Labour MP for Dartford, said: For far too long governments have dodged making a decision on the Lower Thames Crossing leaving Dartford residents to endure endless gridlock.

This decision will unlock economic growth across the country and finally deliver a solution to the traffic chaos faced by my constituents on a daily basis.

However, James McMurdock, the Reform MP for South Thurrock and Basildon, said building the tunnel would involve paying a high price for the UK to receive relatively little reward.

He said: The number of corridors for major projects like this to be built on are extremely limited and this project is a missed opportunity to properly resolve the road capacity issues.

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By the Governments own numbers, even after this project has been completed, the [Dartford Crossing] QE2 Bridge will still be 20,000 vehicles per day over max capacity.

At the very least, after 14 years of planning and 800m in costs you would expect the brief of managing road capacity to have been met.

National Highways has previously insisted that traffic levels on the bridge will drop by around 20pc when the Lower Thames Crossing is opened.

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The Government has announced that it will spend 2 billion to build up to 18,000 social and affordable homes  but who will get them? Its part of their plan to build 1.5 million new homes over the course of this Parliament. Many responses to this were sceptical however. It has been suggested that these homes will be used to house asylum seekers.

That is because the Governments Office for Value for Money has concluded that the expensive migrant hotels, which Labour promised to shut down, will need to stay open for several years to come. However, they write in their report, the 1.5 million new homes will help to reduce that.

On the face of it, that might seem sensible. After the election, the Chancellor claimed that 4.6 billion of overspending on migrant hotels was part of a supposed 22 billion black hole. It costs 145 per night to keep an asylum seeker in a hotel, which is partly to blame for spending per asylum seeker soaring from 17,000 in 2020 to 41,000 now.

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In contrast, putting them into dispersal accommodation, like houses and flats, costs 14 a night.

However, there were 8,000 more asylum seekers living in hotels at the end of last year than there were at the time of the General Election last July. That has been driven by more asylum seekers appealing their rejected claims, with the initial grant rate for asylum dropping from 75 per cent in 2022 to 47 per cent last year. There has also been an increase in small boat crossings, with more than 5,000 crossing the Channel already this year, a 24 per cent higher rate at this point in the year than last year.

So long as the flow of asylum seekers continues, the migrant hotels will have to stay open. Labours plan to smash the gangs doesnt seem to be working, leaving the Government scrambling for new ideas, like return hubs in the Balkans. The Italians have already tried this and failed, and, with human rights laws, it seems unlikely it would work for the UK either.

Those who do successfully get asylum often find themselves homeless, with 20,000 in this position by last November. At that point, councils are often required to house them in some of their limited stock of social housing or temporary accommodation.

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That means that demand for these new social houses could be overwhelmed just by the number of asylum seekers already here, let alone the mounting numbers coming. In that case, many Nimbys might be justified in opposing new developments, if they will end up primarily benefiting asylum seekers rather than the British people who find themselves unable to get on the property ladder.

There are already calls for the Government to bring in migrant workers to build these homes which, combined with the number of those on skilled worker visas increasingly claiming asylum, creates the absurd possibility of immigrants claiming asylum and ending up living in the very homes they got a visa to build in the first place.

The asylum system is broken. The Government might want to listen to bolder voices in their own party, like Jonathan Brash MP, who has called for them to disapply the ECHR and deport foreign criminals. Only when they can secure our borders and stop the flow of new asylum seekers will it make sense to build more homes. In the meantime, British people will find themselves paying their taxes to build social housing they may never occupy.

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The Dallas Stars scored twice in a 58-second span in the second period and Lakeville, Minn., native Jake Oettinger pitched a 33-save shutout as the Minnesota Wild fell 3-0 in Dallas on Monday night. The loss snapped Minnesota's three-game winning streak.

After a scoreless first period, the Stars (45-21-4) broke the tie when Wyatt Johnson scored on the power play 15 minutes, 1 second into the second period. Just 58 seconds later, Matt Duchene scored again to make it a two-goal Dallas advantage.

The Wild (40-26-5) had some Grade-A scoring chances in the third period, including on the power play midway through the frame, but Oettinger turned away each shot.

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger makes a glove save on a shot by the Minnesota Wild during the first period at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on March 24, 2025.Jerome Miron / Imagn Images

Filip Gustavsson, who was named the NHL's First Star of the Week on Monday, had another strong showing in net for Minnesota, making 26 saves on 28 shots. But the Wild came across a brick wall in Oettinger, and just couldn't get anything past him.

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Mason Marchment's empty-netter with 44 seconds remaining iced it for Dallas.

The Wild outshot the Stars 33-29.

Former Wild standout Mikael Grandlund assisted on Duchene's second-period goal and finished with as a plus-one in 18:22 of ice time. Matt Dumba logged 14:09.

The Wild return to action Tuesday night when they host the Las Vegas Golden Knights for a 7 p.m. puck drop at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.
LANCASTER, Ohio (WCMH)  Multiple law enforcement agencies conducted a raid on a Lancaster spa parlor as part of an investigation into alleged illegal sexual and financial conduct.

According to the South-Central Ohio Major Crimes Unit, units from multiple police departments, including Columbus, Lancaster, Pickerington, and Logan, along with the Fairfield and Pickaway county sheriffs departments, executed two search warrants, with a focus on the On-Time Spa business located on Hubbard Drive in Lancaster.

Former Michigan coach accused of accessing medical data, photos of over 3,300 athletes

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The spa was raided on March 19 and is under investigation led by Major Crimes Unit and Lancaster police. According to the release, the spa is reportedly serving as a front for illicit commercial sex operations and labor exploitation, using vulnerable workers. A home in Pickerington was also part of the issued search warrant.

The investigation is ongoing, and it has not been specified what was uncovered as part of the raid, but the search results are expected to be presented to prosecuting attorneys for a review of criminal charges.

South-Central Ohio Major Crimes Unit asks that anyone who witnesses suspicious activity is encouraged to call 740-653-5224.

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By Bhanvi Satija, Anusha Shah and Surbhi Misra

(Reuters) -23andMe on Sunday filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. after struggling with weak demand for its ancestry testing kits and a 2023 data breach that damaged its reputation.

The company's shares fell 50% to 88 cents in Monday trading after co-founder Anne Wojcicki, who made multiple failed takeover bids, resigned as CEO. 23andMe did not say whether there are other interested bidders. It will continue to operate during the sale process, having secured $35 million in financing over the weekend.

Officials, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, had questioned what would happen to the genetic data collected by 23andMe, though the company's privacy policies say that the data could be sold to other firms. The company said the bankruptcy process will not affect how it stores, manages or protects customer data.

23andMe garnered lots of attention from investors when it was first taken public via a special-purpose acquisition vehicle (SPAC) run by billionaire Richard Branson at a $3.5 billion valuation in 2021. Its market value peaked later that year at nearly $6 billion due to booming interest in DNA testing kits but demand has waned since, hurting 23andMe and its Blackstone-owned rival AncestryDNA.

Sales of the consumer kits frequently picked up during the holiday season, but 23andMe has struggled to retain customers mainly because people would use the kits once and see little reason to order another one. Bernstein analysts have said that the market for ancestry testing kits might be close to tapped out.

In 2023, hackers exposed the personal data of nearly 7 million 23andMe customers over a five-month period, dealing a major blow to the company's reputation and compounding its growth problems. The breach raised alarm among customers concerned about their privacy and how DNA-testing firms handle their data.

23andMe eventually agreed late last year to a $30 million settlement in a lawsuit related to the breach.

The San Francisco-based firm has also laid off 200 employees and stopped the development of all therapies as part of what will be a major overhaul.

Wojcicki has been pushing for a buyout since last April, but has been rebuffed by 23andMe's board. She reportedly used her contacts, including ex-husband and Google co-founder Sergey Brin, to help drive initial investments. She will be replaced by Chief Financial Officer Joe Selsavage on an interim basis.

Wojcicki said, in a post on X on Monday, that she intends to make another bid, without giving details. Her last offer of 41 cents per share valued 23andMe at about $11 million.
Billionaire Bergen County native David Duffield is not shy about donating large sums of money he has accrued over his lengthy entrepreneurial career.

Duffield, who grew up in Ho-Ho-Kus and attended Ridgewood High School, made his latest charitable endeavor earlier this month when he gave $100 million to his alma mater, Cornell University. The donation, the largest in the history of the school's engineering program, will significantly expand Duffield Hall, which was named in his honor two decades ago.

Duffield, 84, made his fortune as the founder of six business software companies, including PeopleSoft and Workday. His net worth of $13.8 billion as of Monday places him among the 200 richest people in the world, according to Forbes.

Entrepreneur David Duffield has donated $10 million to the Ho-Ho-Kus school district for construction of a new gym.

And Duffield has no problem sharing his massive wealth, especially with personal organizations and causes that have helped shape his life. Here are some of the other major financial contributions he has made throughout his career.

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1994: The Duffield Family Foundation is created with the goal of "revolutionizing the status and well-being of companion animals," according to the foundation website. The organization, renamed Maddie's Fund in 1999, after the family's late miniature schnauzer, has invested nearly $300 million in development of the animal care industry.

2004: Duffield Hall, the engineering building at Cornell University, is completed after more than three years of work. The facility is named after Duffield in recognition of the "major funding" he provided for its construction.

2016: The Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation (DCDF) is founded to focus on support for military veterans and companion animals. The foundation is based in Nevada, where the Duffields now live.

2021: The DCDF gives a $635,000 alumni gift to Ridgewood High School STEAM programs, the largest in the district's history. The donation allows the high school to expand, upgrade and modernize its facilities for future students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

2022: Duffield donates $10 million to Ho-Ho-Kus schools, again the most in district history, for construction of a new gym and wellness center. The facility was unveiled to students in September.

2026: The DCDF's signature project, Liberty Dogs, is expected to open a state-of-the-art, 27-acre facility in Nevada. The initiative provides trained service dogs to veterans with disabilities to help them live independently.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: David Duffield, NJ billionaire, makes large donations. See the list
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The four suspects who were arrested in connection to the Young Park shooting in Las Cruces had a previous criminal history and at least one of the suspects tried to sell handguns through social media prior to the shooting, Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story said in a press conference on Tuesday, March 25.

Story gave new details on the Young Park shooting on Tuesday afternoon.

Miguel Paredes/ KTSM 9 News

Story said that Tomas Rivas, 20, the adult suspect who was arrested and charged in connection to the shooting, has been previously involved in shoplifting and possession of a controlled substance.

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Three publicly unnnamned junvenile suspects  two 17-year-old boys and one 15-year-old boy  have also been charged in the case.

Rivas has also been the suspect in batteries, domestic batteries, and aggravated assaults, Story said.

He was also previously charged with smuggling by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Story said. Rivas had a court hearing in El Paso regarding the alleged smuggling incident on the day of the shooting.

The juveniles that are being charged in connection to the shooting have been suspects or previously charged in aggravated burglaries, vandalism, sexual assault, possession of controlled substances, public fights, robbery, and several aggravated assaults, Story said.

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Story says the evidence from this shooting confirms that at least one of the juveniles was attempting to sell guns through social media just prior to the incident.

All five firearms that were used in the shooting were recovered and at least three of the weapons are reported stolen, Story said.

Nathan Rivas, who has been identified through court documents obtained by KTSM, and older brother Tomas Rivas arrived at an apartment at the 1800 block of Rentfrow Avenue an hour after the shooting that Friday where they allegedly both tried to get rid of evidence including firearms.

Nathan Rivas has not been publicly named as one of the three juvenile suspects arrested by police, and police has not released the juveniles names.

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Story says all four suspects were located and charged within 38 hours of the shooting.

Just after 10 p.m. last Friday, March 21, the Las Cruces Police Department began receiving calls for gunshot victims at Young Park.

Story said there was an unauthorized car meetup at the park and the suspects were together prior to the shooting.

While a large crowd was watching the exhibition driving, a dispute developed towards the southwest portion of the parking lot, Story said.

Story said the dispute was between two groups of people whove had personal issues in the past. The argument then escalated and multiple people began firing handguns.

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Story confirmed that all four suspects were a part of the same group.

Some of the intended targets were struck, along with several uninvolved bystanders, Story said.

Story says this type of behavior can be seen as gang-related activity. However, Story says they currently do not have a direct connection to a gang.

During the press conference, body camera footage was also shown regarding the scene that night.

Body camera footage showed several officers providing first aid to the victims.

Story says that other people could potentially be charged and they are still investigating the incident.

Witnesses who were present at the shooting are asked to contact detectives at (575) 526-0795.

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Story says the type of atmosphere that exists at most car meets is dangerous, which includes the display of guns.

This has been a problem for police departments across the country and theyre very difficult to deal with because of the number of people and some of the behaviors that happen when you have that many people together doing the things theyre doing, Story said.

Story says around 15 police officers responded to a car meet in May 2023, due to the type of atmosphere car meets can bring.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
*Warning, some content in the video may be disturbing

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KRQE)  The Las Cruces Police Department held a news conference Tuesday to provide an update on the mass shooting that happened at Young Park on March 21. Police released bodycam footage from first responders and 911 calls received during the incident.

Las Cruces community members mourn after deadly shooting at Young Park

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Three people were killed and 15 others were injured in what police in southern New Mexico are calling a mass shooting. Officials say two groups, with a history of problems with each other, showed up at an unsanctioned car show. Police say around 10:00 p.m., they began receiving calls about gunshot victims at the park. LCPD said a fight broke out between the two groups, which led to multiple people firing shots.

Three people were killed and another 15 were injured. Las Cruces Police identified the victims ages as 16, 1,7 and 19. Some intended targets were struck, along with innocent bystanders, according to Las Cruces police. Police said they confiscated five guns. Three were confirmed to be stolen. They collected 59 shell casings at the scene. This is not a traditional active shooter event where the motive or the motivation is to kill or injure as many people as you can, as quickly as you can. Unfortunately, the results were the same, said Chief Jeremy Story, Las Cruces Police Department.

Tomas Rivas, 20, two 17-year-old males, and a 15-year-old male were arrested in connection to the shooting. All four suspects are charged with murder.

Rivas was charged in a pending smuggling case in Texas. He was supposed to have a hearing on the day of the shooting. The three juveniles have been suspects or charged with burglary, sexual assault, and aggravated assault. Evidence showed they were also trying to sell guns on social meida.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
ATLANTA (WJBF)  State House lawmakers in Georgia are reviewing Senate Bill 82, which cleared the senate chamber.

The Local Charter School Authorization and Support Act would give local school districts power to fund charter schools instead of charter schools relying solely on state funding.

Georgia has around 100 charter schools so far.

New data released by the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia shows more than 21,000 students are on the charter school wait lists. A recent poll by the Georgia Charter Schools Association says seven out of 10 Georgia voters had favorable views of charter schools in the state.

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Advocacy groups and charter schools are pushing lawmakers to cut the red tape and get more funds to keep charter schools from shutting down.

I am here because we have such incredible demand for seats in our schools. We currently have 4000 for our wait list on our two existing campuses. We are seeking to open more seats and open more campuses but theres a lot of legislative problems standing in the way, said Janet Tomko, Director of outreach and government affairs, Liberty Classical.

State lawmakers have until Friday, April 4th, to approve this bill and any other legislation as the 40-day legislative session comes to close.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
EWA BEACH, Hawaii (KHON2)  Several lawmakers said they were disturbed with the behaviors seen during Saturday nights bike brawl in Ewa Beach.

One lawmaker wants to ensure Honolulu police go after the person in charge of the bike event.

HPD searching for man who allegedly tried to murder wife

Honolulu Police said on March 24 that officers have spoken to The Bike Factorys Kapolei and Honolulu stores following a night of chaos in Ewa Beach Saturday, where one teen was arrested and another man was taken to the hospital in serious condition.

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Im not happy with what happened in my beautiful community, said Sen. Kurt Fevella. I will tell you right now, Im not going to just sit down and let this happen and then not have a reaction.

Fevella said he received numerous calls following the chaotic bike rideout event and said he was outraged when he had heard the Bike Factory owner blamed police for what unfolded.

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I think that he needs to be accountable for what had happened, but he wants to blame HPD, and they were serving and protecting my community, Fevella added.

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KHON2 spoke with the owner of Bike Factory on March 23 who told us he hosts monthly rideout events across the island and its meant to be beneficial for the community and they cannot control who attends the event. The owner was out of the country this weekend.

So, Im writing a letter to Steve Alm, our prosecuting attorney, to the Chief of Police, the major from the district eight, to find out what is the legal ramifications for an organized business that organized something where people got hurt, property damage, all of these things, and see what kind of legal action that we as legislators, lawmakers, at city council, can come together so that this will never happen again, because this is not a joke, Fevella added.

HPD enforces e-bike regulations, Kailua riders cited

The state Transportation Committee chairs said they were disappointed when they saw the videos over the weekend.

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I was disappointed because these are young children that will one day become adults and this is the way that they are addressing law enforcement? Nobody should ever be talked to or threatened like that in that shape, former or manner, and so I want to thank our first responders for upholding all the pieces of laws that were being violated, said Rep. Darius Kila, House Transportation Committee Chair.

He said they will be pushing for clearer e-bikes laws, including HB 958, which prohibits 16-year-olds and younger from riding Class 3 e-bikes which can essentially go as fast as motorcycles. It would also put the burden of responsibility on the purchaser and seller of e-bikes to know the rules of the roadway, and will lay the foundation for future e-bike laws.

7yo girl dies after e-bike crash in Ewa Beach

I know very full well that these 13-year-olds are not able to get a vehicle or this bike thats that expensive without help from a parent, Kila added. My plea is, our parents have to know where their kids are at. Do they not have any shame for the way that they interacted with our law enforcement? I get it, we can always disagree, but that was like the most egregious form of civil disobedience that Ive seen in a long time.

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He called HB 958 overarching omnibus regulation to stop what happened this weekend from ever happening again, and if it does happen, they will face their consequences set forth by law enforcement.

Of course, not all e-bike riders are bad riders, just like anybody who drives a car or just walks are all bad people. Its how we do it, said Sen. Chris Lee, Senate Transportation Committee chair.

When people do things like this and blatantly try to break the law and cause problems, you know, it makes everybody look bad, and it does reinforce the very point that there ought to be some really basic safety regulations that keep people safe on streets, Lee added.

He says another measure would require Class 3 e-bikes to be treated like riding a motorcycle requiring a license, insurance and abide by the basic rules of the road.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
House Economic Matters Chair C.T. Wilson said changes made to his 2023 Child Victims Act will prevent the state from going bankrupt and provide a measure of justice for victims abused in state facilities. But the changes still have a long way to go. (File photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)

Facing the potential of multibillion-dollar payouts, lawmakers will consider legislation this week that would limit the states liability under the 2023 Child Victims Act.

But advocates, legal experts and, not unexpectedly, attorneys for one group of nearly 5,000 plaintiffs who claim to have been sexually abused at the hands of state workers, say the proposed fix goes too far, and is likely unconstitutional.

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Even Del. C.T. Wilson (D-Charles), the author of both the original bill and the new proposal to rein in the states liability, said Monday night that the proposed fix will likely be heavily rewritten. But something needs to be done, he said.

When it passed, the Child Victims Act was heralded as a way for survivors of institutional sexual abuse to seek justice. But it inadvertently threw open the doors to potentially budget-crushing payouts that would be difficult for the state to absorb in a year when it is flush with cash.

This is not one of those years.

Wilsons proposed remedy could help limit that liability. But the bill must pass through two chambers in less than two weeks and land on the governors desk.

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And then, face a court challenge.

Without a doubt it will be litigated, Wilson said Monday night.

Wilson, who is also chair of the House Economic Matters Committee, admits that the 2023 law unleashed unintended consequences he could not foresee.

When you go through this, you always think youre alone, said Wilson, who has publicly discussed a childhood that included physical and sexual abuse. Never in my wildest dreams did I think there were this many people  enough to bankrupt the state.

Just how much money should taxpayers pay to honestly not make a difference, to not change anything that happened? Wilson said. My goal was, if they told their story, then it gets out. We used to call the bill The Hidden Predator Act. That was my goal, to just face your abuser, to get a chance to expose this person for what they did. I was shocked beyond belief that theres this many people.

The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing Wednesday on House Bill 1378, Wilsons bill that attempts to temper some of the unintended consequences of the 2023 law. But that proposal is already drawing concerns.

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D. Todd Mathews, an attorney with Bailey & Glasser, said in a March 24 letter to the Judiciary Committee that Wilson fought for over 10 years to enact a just law that is a good and moral redress of immoral and heinous actions. The current proposed amendments are clearly unconstitutional and designed simply to buy time for an unconstitutional law to proceed through the appellate courts to arrive right back at square one.

Bailey & Glasser, a law firm based in Washington D.C., is one of nearly two dozen firms representing roughly 5,000 plaintiffs. The coalition of firms has been in active negotiations with the Maryland Attorney Generals office since 2023.

There is already a system developed to address these claims in a very reasonable manner, far below what has been reported, which allows the Survivors to find closure, Mathews letter said. The proposed resolution has safeguards in place that protects the state and ensures the survivors are compensated accordingly.

The 2023 law lifted limitations on filing lawsuits against institutions involved in hiding sexual abuse allegations and protecting abusers. It capped liability at $890,000 per occurrence, but also raised the liability limit on claims against private institutions for noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering, to $1.5 million.

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At the time, much of the focus was on the Roman Catholic Church, but the law also opened state and local governments to more lawsuits.

I could have never comprehended 4,500 claimants, and its an open door with another 1,500 in the hopper, Wilson said, who again asked how much are taxpayers going to be on the hook for this?

How much of our DDA (Developmental Disabilities Administration) budget do we need to cut? How much of our Medicaid or waivers do we need to give back because were paying this off? Wilson asked. If my argument was that no amount of money is going to undo what happened, why would I expose the state to so much because of the wrongful actions of a few?

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Red flags went up in January about the enormous liability facing the state. Legislative analysts at the time said there were 3,500 cases against the state alleging sexual abuse, some dating back as far as the 1960s.

No potential settlement was mentioned during that briefing, but the math was not hard: If each plaintiff made one claim of sexual abuse, at up to $890,000 each, the potential liability would be more than $3.1 billion. That is an amount roughly equal to the structural budget deficit lawmakers were already facing in the coming budget year.

A source familiar with the plaintiffs cases said the estimate is wrong for two reasons.

The $3.1 billion estimate is substantially lower than the potential liability to the state based on claimants with multiple abuse allegations who might be able to collect on each individual occurrence, the source said.

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And it is higher than the amount sought by attorneys representing the alleged victims. The source spoke on background because of ongoing negotiations with the state, and declined to provide specific dollar amounts on the record citing those ongoing discussions.

Kristen Gibbons Feden, an attorney with Philadelphia-based Anapol Weiss, said Monday that plaintiffs attorneys understand that the state has concerns about the liability and, most importantly, the recovery. We hear that, were not ignoring it.

Anapol Weiss is among the coalition of law firms that have been negotiating with the Office of the Attorney General since 2023.

As introduced, HB 1378 would set new limits on claims against the state.

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But a draft set of amendments provided by Wilson strips the original bill, including its provision requiring cases to be filed by the end of the year.

The early version of the amendments also includes a requirement that claims be handled by a state-appointed arbitrator, who would be selected by a state workgroup. Neither the workgroup nor the arbitration system would be subject to the states open meetings or records acts, according to a draft provided by Wilson. The draft allows for an appeal before a judge but only for areas of dispute. The appeal can only be on record from the arbitration case. No jury would be involved.

Mathews, in his letter, said such a system as envisioned by the early draft would hurt victims.

The Child Victims Act opened the courthouse doors and provided survivors of childhood sexual abuse a right to a jury trial for claims arising from their abuse, Mathews wrote. Mandatory arbitration would unconstitutionally strip that vested right away from survivors. Forced arbitration of sexual assault claims is, simply put, bad policy.

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Feden said the proposed changes so far dont strike a balance at all. They tip the scales really entirely in the states favor. And it really, what it does is it forces survivors into a system that would limit their rights, that would restrict their access to justice and really would protect the very institutions that fail them in the first place.

Feden said she and other attorneys have been negotiating in good faith. The attempt to change the law now will only hurt survivors of sexual abuse, many of whom are Black and brown, she said.

Its a system of delay, she said. If this gets caught up in the courts, whats going to happen? Its going to deny these survivors justice even longer. What the AGs office is doing here is trying to stall, stall, stall.

The proposed changes so far increase the potential for a courtroom battle.

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We are attorneys. Thats what we do all day. We fight, fight, fight, said Feden. But she said, as someone who has been representing survivors for close to two decades, that the state is stalling.

They know that the longer a survivor has to wait for justice, the likelihood that they may wait it out could be reduced, she said. So its not about the fight. Were prepared. Were ready. But when you delay justice to individuals, lets be real  look at the suicide rate, look at the trauma.

Kathleen Hoke, a University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law professor, said in an email that the amendments to the bill shown to her by a reporter attempt to create a system similar to one in New Hampshire. But they raise a number of legal questions, she said.

I think there are concerns about legislation retroactively depriving a court of jurisdiction in a case and depriving a plaintiff of that avenue for relief; I think there are also concerns about retroactively limiting a plaintiffs recovery, Hoke said in an email. These concerns are particularly acute as to claims for which a complaint has already been filed.

Hoke said she hoped lawmakers asked the Office of the Attorney General about the constitutionality of the bill/amendmentsbecause that is whose opinion matters a lot here.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

A spokesperson for Attorney General Anthony Brown did not respond to a request for an interview.

Lisae Jordan, executive director and counsel at Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, said the potential for secrecy is concerning.

Given the subject matter, it is especially important that the state is as transparent and open about all of its decision making, Jordan said in an interview.

Wilson, in an interview, called the amendment language a misdraft and said he intended to offer a proposal that required a claim go through the arbitration process. Following that, plaintiffs could seek a jury trial, he said.

The last thing Im going to do to these victims is let them know they have no right to a jury trial in Maryland, Wilson said.

Wilsons early amendments also attempt to limit the potential number of claims.

First, it would lower the financial liability cap from $890,000 to $400,000 per occurrence.

Feden called that a silencing tactic. Damages in civil cases are not simply financial awards  theyre a legal recognition of harm, accountability and deterrence.

Language in the 2023 law included references to occurrences, which quickly became a subject of debate: how to count multiple incidents of abuse of a person.

Wilsons amendments would eliminate that vagary by limiting the payout to a single claimant to $400,000.

It was never about an amount of money, Wilson said.
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Lawmakers in Hartford are debating a bill that would expand an umbrella of legal protections to include providers of gender affirming care.

Similar protections already exist for abortion providers  lawmakers put those in place to ward off legal actions emanating from other states targeting interstate travel by those seeking abortions.

Connecticut lawmakers prepare for all scenarios if Department of Education funding is cut

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The expansion under consideration in this years legislative session would cover telehealth providers and all forms gender affirming care, which are defined in the legislation as all medical care related to the treatment of gender dysphoria as set forth in the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and gender incongruence, as defined in the most recent revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems.'

Access to trans health care for me and many others has proven vital for our ability to exist and be happy, Madison Iorfino, a proponent of the bill, said.

Legislators heard testimony from advocates on both sides of the issue, including individuals who describe themselves as detransitioners.

I was only on testosterone for three years, Elle Palmer, an opponent of the bill who said she took testosterone at the recommendation of a medical professional when she was a minor, said. This effect is permanent.

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State Rep. Craig Fishbein, the top Republican representative on the legislatures Judiciary Committee, echoed that sentiment while also objecting to the portion of the bill that extends protections to telehealth providers  meaning individuals outside of Connecticut could be affected by the bill.

We have to tread very carefully here on the statistics and what we look to actually shield through this legislation, Fishbein said.

State Sen. Gary Winfield, the Democratic co-chair of the Judiciary Committee, acknowledged the experiences of individuals like Palmer, but argued that she represents a minority within the community of those who have identified as transgender.

We should be considering the experiences of people who have been through these things, Winfield said. What I have seen is that is not a large part of the population.

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The legislation will be voted on by the Judiciary Committee soon and could face a vote by the full legislature in the coming months.

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State Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, attends a special session of the state House at the Oklahoma Capitol on Oct. 3, 2023. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  The Oklahoma House on Tuesday rejected an attempt to lock the clock and remain permanently on standard time.

House Bill 1223, by Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, proposed ending the tradition of moving clocks forward an hour to comply with a federal law that requires states to switch to daylight saving time the second Sunday in March unless they specifically exempt themselves.

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West said his constituents want to lock the clock, but right now Congress gives states two options  change their clocks twice a year or lock the clock on standard time, which means residents would have more hours of light in the morning.

He said students are leaving for school in the dark because the sun doesnt rise until after 8 a.m.

But Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, said Oklahomans made it clear last year that they want more daylight at the end of the day, not at the beginning.

They want to lock the clocks, but they do not want to lock the clocks and it get dark at 4 oclock in the afternoon, he said.

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Fetgatter said he walked to school in ice and snow and with wet hair that had icicles hanging from it.

After the measure failed 40-54, West publicly congratulated his colleagues.

Congratulations on that vote because you just guaranteed that well continue to change our clocks twice a year, he said.

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ENGIE Brasil Energia has signed an agreement to acquire two hydropower plants in northern Brazil from EDP for 2.9bn reais ($512.1m), which includes 2.3bn reais in equity value and 671,000 reais in net debt.

The 393MW Santo Antonio do Jari hydropower plant in the states of Amapa and Para, and the 219MW Cachoeira Caldeirao hydropower plant in the state of Amapa will join ENGIE's extensive generator park and add 612MW of installed capacity.

ENGIE's total capacity will now reach 11.3GW across 115 plants, including 11 hydroelectric and 104 from complementary sources such as biomass, small hydropower plants, wind and solar.

ENGIE Brasil Energia CEO Eduardo Sattamini stated: We remain committed to the sustainable and responsible growth of our portfolio. The acquisition of these two assets is fully aligned with our strategic focus on strengthening our position in the electricity sector, increasing the weight of hydropower plants in our generator park and extending the average term of concessions with fully contracted long-term capacity in the regulated market environment.

The Santo Antonio do Jari plant, situated between Laranjal do Jari and Almeirim, has an average 211MW of commercial capacity. Operational since 2014, its concession runs until October 2045.

The Cachoeira Caldeirao plant, on the Araguari River, has an average commercial capacity of 123MW. It began commercial operations in 2016 and has a concession lasting until August 2048.

ENGIE Brasil Energia chief financial and investor relations officer Eduardo Takamori stated: The business will create shareholder value by allowing the company to allocate capital to assets that are already operational and have secured long-term revenue flows, with a good balance between risks and returns, and where we will also be able to apply all our recognised expertise in operating hydropower plants.

The completion of the transaction is contingent upon approvals from the Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Economica, Brazil's federal antitrust authority and the National Electric Energy Agency, along with other customary precedent conditions outlined in the agreement.

EDP South America CEO Joao Marques da Cruz stated: We are pleased to conclude the sale of the Jari and Cachoeira hydroelectric plants. We had already announced EDPs willingness to negotiate these two assets that have helped the Brazilian electricity system become increasingly renewable, safe and solid.

This agreement, in addition to being another achievement by our team, is in line with the companys strategy of balancing its exposure to hydroelectric generation in Brazil and adding value to our shareholders.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Two new laws signed by Governor Cox are changing how adoption works within the Beehive State.

H.B. 129, Adoption Records Access Amendments, and H.B. 141, Adoption Modifications, were among the 75 bills that Cox signed Monday afternoon. These bills change important rules around adoption records and preplacement evaluations.

Among its provisions, H.B. 129 will allow adult adoptees to access the records of their adoption when they reach the age of 18, as long as there isnt a court order sealing the records. The law will allow the adoptee to inspect:

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The report of adoption;

The original birth certificate;

The findings of fact for the adoption, and

The final decree of adoption.

The adoptee will be allowed to view these records without a court order. The only exception to this is if a pre-existing parent (meaning the birth parent of the adult adoptee) files a petition with the court to seal the record. This must be done before the adoptee reaches the age of 18 and can be done in 10-year increments.

LEARN MORE: Gov. Cox signs 75 bills, vetoes 1 in latest review session

These petitions can only be accepted by the courts if a pre-existing parent can show by sworn affidavit that the adoptees access to the documents mentioned would place the pre-existing parent in reasonable fear of harm from an individual. This must be done every 10 years in order to keep the record sealed.

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Barring changes that might occur if S.B. 119  which discusses domestic relations  is signed into law, these changes would take effect on Nov. 1, 2025.

In addition to records access, preplacement evaluations are also seeing some changes. H.B. 141 makes exceptions to who is required for what are also called home studies. These new exceptions include:

Individuals previously married to the pre-existing parent (and has lived with the child for at least 180 days), or

A home where the child has lived for at least one year.

Including these two laws, Cox has signed a total of 176 bills into law and vetoed one bill. This leaves 405 bills for the governor to act on before the Mar. 27 deadline.

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President Donald Trump is facing a political firestorm thanks to a decision by some of his top national security officials to engage in some friendly text messaging about an impending military operation in Yemen.

Having that conversation on the commercial app Signal may have been a bad idea on its own, but accidentally including Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg made it far worse  not just politically, but potentially legally.

Many of the Trump Cabinet officials involved  including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio  were among those who called Hillary Clinton reckless for using a private email account and server while she was secretary of State. Democrats, including Clinton , were eager to claim hypocrisy.

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has insisted that no war plans were discussed in the messages. But will there be any legal consequences for the Trump officials unorthodox use of Signal or for the disclosures to Goldberg?

Heres what to know about the laws that may or may not have been broken  and the possible fallout.

1

Did the Signal chat violate the Espionage Act, and will anyone be prosecuted?

Theres certainly an argument that using Signal for these kinds of chats was so careless that it violated the Espionage Act  but when it comes to someone actually being prosecuted, I wouldnt hold your breath.

It is true that the Espionage Act makes it a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison to handle national security secrets with such gross negligence that it allows them to fall into the hands of an unauthorized person. In theory, that should be worrisome for those texting war plans to a journalist.

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Trump administration officials insisted Tuesday that the contents of the chats were unclassified, although Goldberg says that claim is hard to square with the kind of information he saw about targets, weapons and timing of planned U.S. strikes.

Technically, one can violate the Espionage Act even by disclosing unclassified information if that information pertains to the national defense and is closely held. But such cases are rare.

Because the wording of the Espionage Act is exceedingly broad, and expansive readings arguably intrude on the First Amendment, prosecutors dont often prosecute unintentional disclosures, although those incidents can threaten careers .

Goldberg has also said the chats included the name of an undercover CIA officer, which he withheld. Another federal law, the Intelligence Identities Protection Act , makes it a crime to disclose the identity of a covert agent but only if one does so intentionally.

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CIA Director John Ratcliffe said Tuesday that the CIA officer is one of his aides and shes not undercover. He called his use of her name in the chats completely appropriate.

The other big reason Trump officials can likely breathe easier is it would require the Justice Department to prosecute them  and with the White House downplaying the incident, it seems unlikely Attorney General Pam Bondi is going to take action. FBI Director Kash Patel told senators Tuesday he had no update for them when asked if the FBI was investigating.

2

Is it legal for officials to use Signal for official communications?

Its not automatically illegal, but it can easily run afoul of the main laws governing recordkeeping: the Presidential Records Act and the Federal Records Act, which set rules dictating which records must be preserved and for how long.

The frequently used disappearing messages feature on Signal could pose a particular problem. A screenshot Goldberg published shows this particular chat was set to automatically delete messages after four weeks.

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A law President Barack Obama signed in 2014 requires that federal employees who use personal accounts to discuss official business to copy those messages to an official account within 20 days so they can be preserved. That means the officials involved in these discussions on Signal still have time to comply since these messages came about 10 days ago.

Of course, what appears to have been the casual use of Signal by high-level Trump administration officials inside and outside the White House raises questions about earlier chats they may have had about official business and whether they were dutifully transferring all or any of those messages to official channels as the law requires.

3

Which agencies would look into this, and do they have any conflicts of interest?

Federal agencies are typically required to report to the Justice Department unauthorized disclosures to the media of classified information, typically using this 11-part questionnaire . Of course, if the Trump administration insists the information shared in the Signal wasnt classified, then there would be no need to report it.

Allegations that federal agencies are failing to preserve or maintain their records as required by law are fielded by the National Archives and Records Administration, which helpfully catalogs such complaints . One complication: Rubios role as a reported participant in the Signal chats about the strikes on the Houthis. While Rubios most prominent title is as secretary of State, hes also moonlighting as acting head of the National Archives, installed after Trump fired the Senate-confirmed Biden appointee to that post.

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A National Archives spokesperson did not respond Tuesday to questions about whether the agency is looking into officials use of Signal and whether Rubio plans to recuse himself from any such inquiry.

4

Is this the same thing that Hillary Clinton did?

There are a lot of parallels between the Trump officials use of Signal and Clintons use of a private email account and server for her official communications during her time as secretary of State. Both seem to underscore how cumbersome and inconvenient U.S. government systems are for officials traveling overseas or for those who need to discuss sensitive information at off hours. (Top officials often have a phonebooth-like sensitive compartmented information facility at their homes for these situations.)

We dont know all the details of the sensitivity of the information exchanged in either case. Clinton and her aides occasionally sent or received emails about drone strikes in Pakistan. Many of the discussions deemed classified, but not marked as such at the time, were about press reports on local residents blaming the U.S. for damage.

In theory, the Signal chats should be more secure than an ordinary email account because of the apps end-to-end encryption. However, the National Security Agency warned just last month that Signal can be compromised. Snooping programs installed on someones device could likely capture Signal chats. And, of course, adding an unintended person to the chat would compromise it no matter how secure the technology.

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Some critics say the failure to prosecute high-level officials for their cavalier handling of national security secrets makes it harder to get tough sentences for rank-and-file employees accused of similar breaches. Defense attorneys arguing for leniency for their clients often note the lack of accountability for senior officials who were not prosecuted , charged only with a misdemeanor or pardoned for their conduct .

5

Do Jeffrey Goldberg and The Atlantic face any legal exposure?

Legal experts say Goldberg and his magazine are unlikely to face legal consequences over the episode, primarily because he was a passive recipient of the war plans. First Amendment advocates believe the Trump administration would like to charge a journalist with an Espionage Act violation  but this isnt a case where it's really feasible to do so.

In fact, some argue Trumps Justice Department already did deploy the law against a journalist during his first term when it obtained an indictment of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange . Last year, he pleaded guilty to a single felony count and was allowed to return to his home country of Australia.

But indicting a mainstream American journalist would send a much stronger signal and be far more controversial than going after Assange. In barely two months in office, the Trump administration has already publicly announced a series of leak investigations, including probes into disclosures about immigration enforcement operations and of internal communications within the U.S. Attorneys office in Washington. So far, though, the Espionage Act has remained sheathed this time around.
A wife being used as a human shield by her husband was shot in the forehead by a police officer in her southeast Pasco home, alleges a lawsuit filed against the city of Pasco.

A bullet ripped open Maria Vargas-Gomezs skull, leaving her brain exposed, and more than two years later she remains unable to care for herself, according to the lawsuit filed in Eastern Washington District U.S. Court. Her younger two children are in foster care.

On Dec. 7, 2022, Maria Vargas-Gomez, a mother of four, called police because her husband, Jose Jara-Delacruz, was assaulting her, according to a court document.

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Four Pasco police officers responded at a mobile home in southeast Pasco ill-prepared and ill-trained, without a tactical plan or thought of de-escalation, according to the lawsuit.

They did not attempt to talk with Vargas-Gomez or her husband, Jose Jara-Delacruz, to learn whether either had a gun, whether Vargas-Gomez was safe or to otherwise calm the situation, according to the lawsuit.

Initial police reports show the officers could hear screaming inside the house.

The first three to arrive first banged on the door and yelled, Open the door or were gonna bust it down, according to the lawsuit.

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Then Officer Ana Ramos, who is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, arrived, and positioned herself at the front of the other officers at the door that led into a laundry room.

Members of the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab crime scene unit gather and document evidence in the December 2022 shooting of Maria Vargas-Gomez at the Lakeview Manufactured Home Community in Pasco.

Domestic violence victim shot

Within 30 seconds, Jara-Delacruz unlocked the door and officers opened it to see him using his left arm to hold his wife by the neck to keep her between him and the door and holding a .40 caliber gun in his right hand.

The lawsuit alleges that his wife was being held in a hostage posture and her body blocked any possible shot by police.

At the same time she was struggling to pry the pistol from her husband, and she had both hands on it as the barrel pointed toward the ceiling, said the lawsuit.

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One of the officers started to close the door as Ramos unholstered her .45-caliber pistol and fired into the room twice, according to the lawsuit. None of the other officers fired shots.

The lawsuit says that based on police video, the defendants believe the first bullet hit Vargas-Gomez.

A Washington State Patrol report said that she was likely struck by one of the two shots fired by a responding Pasco police officer.

Maria Vargas-Gomez lies bleeding on the floor of her laundry room after police responded to a domestic violence incident at a Pasco mobile home.

The force of one of the bullets knocked Vargas-Gomez backward into her husband and both fell to the floor on their backs, according to the lawsuit.

Then Jara-Delacruz fired shots into the laundry room wall, before officers arrested him, as his wife lay bleeding on the floor, according to the lawsuit.

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Two of Vargas-Gomezs daughters, then ages 13 and 17, saw the shooting.

The lawsuit says that in the aftermath, a detective said, Well, shes still alive, but the front of her head is gone. She cant speak ... maybe ever again. Shes in a vegetative state. Maybe for the rest of her life.

Members of the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab crime scene unit gather and document evidence in December 2022 at the scene of an officer-involved shooting at the Lakeview Manufactured Home Community in Pasco.

Gunshot victim remains impaired

Vargas-Gomez has undergone numerous surgeries since then.

They started with an emergency surgery to remove splintered portions of her skull and relieve pressure from swelling. Six weeks later surgeons installed synthetic skull pieces.

But her wound became infected, leading to bacterial and fungal growth in her spinal fluid, and portions of her skull had to be removed again.

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She was diagnosed with permanent neurological deficits and placed under a guardianship in King County after she was unable to recall basic information about her family and needed assistance with tasks of everyday living, including eating and washing.

Eleven months after the shooting surgeons were able to restore complete coverage of her skull and she was able to undergo physical therapy to relearn to walk and speak, according to the lawsuit.

However, she will never fully recover and remains unable to care for herself or her children, the lawsuit says.

Jara-Delacruz, 51, is being held in the Benton County jail on two attempted murder charges, one involving his wife and the other, Officer Ramos. His trial is scheduled for April 30.

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According to a Washington state psychologists report he suffers from an alcohol and amphetamine use disorder. He was drinking before the incident but could not remember if he had used illegal drugs, according to the report.

At the time he had been drinking about 18 beers a day or tequila when was working to hide his alcohol use, according to the report.

Jose Jara-Delacruz made his first appearance in Franklin County Superior Court via a video link in December 2022.

Lawsuit criticizes Pasco response

The lawsuit claims that the four officers who responded to the incident did not use de-escalation techniques because they lacked training.

It says neither they nor emergency dispatchers used an open phone line into the house to obtain information about Vargas-Gomezs situation or determine if children was present.

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Although it was clear from the 911 call that the household spoke Spanish, none of the officers attempted to talk to either the husband or wife in Spanish, the lawsuit said.

Pasco police officers arrived at a domestic violence scene at the Lakeview Manufactured Home Community in southeast Pasco and yelled, Open the door or were gonna bust it down, according to a lawsuit.

When the door to the the house was not initially opened, officers did not ask to see Vargas-Gomez or to otherwise verify her safety, according to the lawsuit.

Instead, the officers actions increased the risk to her, the lawsuit claims.

Had officers been trained in proper domestic-violence response, they would have assessed the danger, de-escalated the situation and otherwise reduced the risk to Maria, the lawsuit said.

It claims negligence in what it said was shooting blindly towards a domestic violence victim, striking her in the head, when protecting that individual is the primary ostensible purpose of the officers presence on scene.

The lawsuit filed on behalf of Vargas-Gomez and her four children asks for compensation for general and special damages, punitive damages and costs of the lawsuit, filed by the Connelly Law Offices in Tacoma. It also asks that all non-exempt public records requested by the plaintiffs be released.
A team of lawyers representing the families of 30 Venezuelans sent by the United States to a mega prison in El Salvador asked the Salvadoran Supreme Court of Justice on Monday to evaluate the legality of their detention.

One of the attorneys, Jaime Ortega, said they were hired by the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to file an appeal before the Constitutional Chamber of the Salvadoran Supreme Court, which would also apply to the rest of the 238 Venezuelans deported on the orders of US President Donald Trump.

We are asking the court to review their legal status and issue a ruling. If their detention is illegal, it should immediately order their release, Ortega told reporters.

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CNN has requested more information from the Venezuelan government.

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said last week that the US sent 238 alleged members of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization, though he didnt identify them or provide evidence for that claim. El Salvador agreed to take them in and lock them up at its Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot), considered the largest prison in Latin America. US authorities have acknowledged that not all deportees had criminal records.

The Trump administration said 137 of those migrants were deported under the Alien Enemies Act. Use of the act, previously used only in wartime, under these circumstances is currently under judicial scrutiny in the US.

The lawyers in El Salvador said that if this is an immigration matter, they hope the Salvadoran Supreme Court will order that the Venezuelans be sent back to their countries.

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The judges have no set deadline to resolve the appeal.

Juan Pappier, Americas Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch, cautioned that it was unrealistic to expect the court to go against the Bukele administration.

I understand (the families) desperation and I think they should use whatever avenue they can find available, Pappier said.

Sadly, the Supreme Court in El Salvador doesnt have any independence. It was completely co-opted by the Bukele administration. So, I think its sadly unrealistic to believe that they will do anything that the Bukele administration wouldnt agree with, he told CNN.

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Pappier argued that these types of deportations violate UN principles that forbid countries from transferring individuals to a place where they can risk facing torture and other grave human rights violations.

The National Commission on Human Rights and Freedom of Expression, a Salvadoran government agency, said families of Venezuelan deportees held in Cecot could petition the Salvadoran government for their release.

The agency told CNN that as of Monday morning, it had received seven requests to review the detentions.

We will process each case and carry out the corresponding verifications, presidential commissioner Andres Guzman said.

CNNs Ivonne Valdes and Hira Humayun contributed to this report.

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LE MARS, Iowa (KCAU)  The Le Mars Art Center is inviting Siouxlanders out for A Night in New York on May 2.

Thats the theme for this years edition of the arts centers annual fundraising gala. The event will feature a silent and live auction, a performance from jazz musician Champian Fulton, and more.

Holocaust Rails prepares for reopening after June floods

The gala will take place at The Garage at 800 in Le Mars from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, May 2. Anyone interested can purchase tickets online by clicking here.

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Draven Haefs and Mike Wells with the Le Mars Arts Center stopped by the KCAU 9 studio on Monday to discuss this event in further detail. You can watch that full interview 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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
Top Congressional Democrats are expressing outrage after members of President Donald Trump's administration inadvertently added Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, to an unsecured message thread discussing highly sensitive war plans on Monday.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who apparently added Goldberg to the Signal chat, was joined on the thread by those identified by Goldberg as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio -- among others.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer responded forcefully on the chamber floor on Monday, calling upon Leader John Thune and Senate Republicans to work with Democrats in calling a "full investigation" into why officials had coordinated military operations over Signal, rather than using taxpayer-funded secure communications channels.

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"Mr. President, this is one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence I have read about in a very, very long time," Schumer said.

PHOTO: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth leaves the House chamber after U.S. President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

"What we have here are senior U.S. leaders, including the Vice President and Secretary of Defense, having classified discussions of military action over an unsecure app," Schumer continued. "It's bad enough that a private citizen was added to this chain, but it's far worse that sensitive military information was exchanged on an unauthorized application, especially when that sensitive military information was so so important."

"This kind of carelessness is how people get killed. It's how our enemies can take advantage of us. It's how our national security falls into danger," he added.

The Democratic leader said that the investigation he's called for should look into how this "debacle" happened, the damage it created, and how they could avoid it in the future.

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"Every single Senator-- Republican and Democrat and Independent, must demand accountability. If a government employee shared sensitive military plans like this, they'd be investigated and face very harsh consequences," Schumer said.

He also suggested that his Republican colleagues should be as "outraged" by this incident as they were over the email controversy involving former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the days before the 2016 election, which she lost to Trump.

"If you were up in arms over unsecure emails years ago, you should certainly be outraged by this amateurish behavior," Schumer said.

Schumer ended his brief remarks by claiming that Democrats has anticipated an event like this one when they opposed Hegseth's nomination.

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"When Pete Hegseth came before the Senate as a nominee, Democrats warned that something like this might happen. These people are clearly not up for the job. we warned confirming them was dangerous, that they behaved recklessly. Unfortunately, we were right. Now, we must have accountability in both parties. The Senate should investigate how this blunder was even possible," Schumer said.

Clinton also reacted. "You have got to be kidding me," she posted on X on Monday.

MORE: Messages with Yemen war plans inadvertently shared with reporter appears 'authentic': Official

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also advocated for a congressional investigation and directly called out Hegseth.

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"There should absolutely be a congressional investigation so that we can understand what happened. Why did it happen, and how do we prevent this type of national security breach from ever happening again," Jeffries said at a press conference on Monday.

Jeffries, who got fired up when asked about the incident, called the situation "reckless, irresponsible and dangerous" and suggested that those involved were "jeopardizing America's national security" -- before sharply criticizing Hegseth.

"This whole Trump administration is filled with lackeys and incompetent cronies. I'm not talking about any particular individual, though," he said. "I will note that the secretary of Defense who was on that chain has got to be the most unqualified person ever to lead the Pentagon in American history. Think about that."

Speaker Mike Johnson downplayed the flurry of national security concerns on Monday afternoon.

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"Look, I'm not going to characterize what happened. I think the administration has acknowledged it was a mistake, and they'll tighten up and make sure it doesn't happen again. I don't know what else you can say about," he told reporters at the Capitol, following a White House event where he appeared alongside Trump and the governor of Louisiana.

Johnson added that he doesnt believe Waltz or Hegseth should be disciplined for the incident.

MORE: Trump administration live updates: Trump portrait in Colorado Capitol to be removed

In addition to his on-camera remarks, Jeffries released a statement on the national security breach, calling it "completely outrageous."

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"It is yet another unprecedented example that our nation is increasingly more dangerous because of the elevation of reckless and mediocre individuals, including the Secretary of Defense," Jeffries said.

He reiterated his call for a Congressional investigation into the matter -- even though Democrats have little power to do so since they are in the minority.

"If House Republicans are truly serious about keeping America safe, and not simply being sycophants and enablers, they must join Democrats in a swift, serious and substantive investigation into this unacceptable and irresponsible national security breach," he concluded.

PHOTO: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks to reporters at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Oahu, Hawaii, March 24, 2025. (Pool)

Speaking to reporters in Honolulu on Monday, during a layover for a trip to Asia, Hegseth disputed Goldberg's description of the chat, saying "nobody was texting war plans."

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Trump said he "doesn't know anything about it" when first asked about the reports on Monday afternoon. The Pentagon referred questions to the National Security Council and the White House.

When asked by ABC News on Monday, the White House said that the Signal chat "appears to be authentic." Additionally, White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes shared with ABC News the statement he provided to The Atlantic confirming the veracity of a Signal group chat.

Both the top Republican and top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee said Monday that they expect to receive classified briefings aimed at addressing the incident.

ABC News' Fritz Farrow, Jay O'Brien, Lauren Peller and T. Michelle Murphy contributed to this report.

Leading Democrats react to Trump administration inadvertently sharing highly sensitive war plans originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A shocking string of leaked messages from Trump administration officials has brought their dislike for Europe to the forefront. In a conversation that had little to do with Europe directly, some officials bashed the region's freeloading behavior.

The messages were exchanged on a Signal group chat, which appeared to include Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, regarding a strike against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

American outlet The Atlantics editor Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to the chat on Mar. 13, bearing witness to plans for military action against Houthi targets that took place two days later, according to his recounting of the messages published Monday.

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Of the many things discussed, one was how much more significant the threat of Houthi rebels was to Europe since they jeopardized access to the vital Suez Canal. Europe relies heavily on the canal for trade with Asia, as about 15% of global maritime trade passes through it.

Early in the conversation, an account believed to be Vances highlights that pursuing the strike would benefit Europe more than the U.S.

He said in a message: 3 percent of US trade runs through the suez. 40 percent of European trade does. There is a real risk that the public doesnt understand this or why its necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message.

Vance apparently said he wasnt sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now."

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That was followed by further discussions among the group about raising concerns with Trump and considering alternate scenarios for the strike.

Ultimately, Vance addressed Hegseth on the chat saying: if you think we should do it lets go. I just hate bailing Europe out again.

Hegseth, a former Army National Guard officer who now heads U.S. defense, replied, "VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It's PATHETIC."

Stephen Miller, a Trump confidant, appears to have stepped in at this point to ensure the U.S. wins something in the process.

As I heard it, the president was clear: green light, but we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return. We also need to figure out how to enforce such a requirement. EG, if Europe doesnt remunerate, then what? If the US successfully restores freedom of navigation at great cost there needs to be some further economic gain extracted in return, he said in a message.

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The leaked conversation, which the National Security Council told media outlets appears to be authentic, is a rare, high-profile look into the thinking of top American politicians on foreign policy matters. A slew of politicians, both Republican and Democrat, found the security breach alarming.

Trump had taken a tough stance against Europe even before he was reelected. He vowed to make the region with nice European little countries pay the price of its trade surplus with the U.S. if he became president. Earlier this month, when he threatened a harsh 200% tariff on European alcohol in an ongoing trade tiff, he criticized the EU as hostile and abusive for supposedly taking advantage of the U.S. every chance it got.

Some of his cabinet members have made similar remarks. Vance lambasted Europe at the Munich Security Conference last month for dismissing peoples will and limiting media freedom.

Kaja Kallas, an EU foreign policy official, said that Vance was unnecessarily trying to pick a fight.

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The National Security Council is investigating how a stray numberGoldberg'sgot added to the chat. Irrespective of what emerges, the damage has arguably been done and its clear that the U.S. is thinking of each foreign policy effort transactionally.

Representatives at Trumps office at the White House didnt immediately return Fortunes request for comment.

"Nobody was texting war plans, and thats all I have to say about that," Hegseth told reporters in Hawaii on Monday, accusing Goldberg of peddling hoaxes.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Excerpts from a secret group chat between members of US President Donald Trump's administration, seen by editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine Jeffrey Goldberg, have shown the disdain for Europe held by some high-ranking US officials.

According to Goldberg, who made the excerpts of the chat public on Monday after ending up in the chat by mistake, an account identified as US Vice President JD Vance wrote: "I just hate bailing Europe out again."

Another user, said to be US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, replied: "VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It's PATHETIC."

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Goldberg said he was accidentally added to a chat group on the encrypted messaging app Signal, which was used by high-ranking officials from the Trump administration to discuss sensitive military plans regarding an attack on the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen.

The United States said the aim of the attacks on the Houthi militia was to secure shipping lanes. However, the user who is said to be Vance initially expressed concern about the strikes, saying only 3% of US trade goes through the Suez Canal while 40% of European trade follows this route.

He said there was a risk the US public would therefore not understand why the US was intervening.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The newly crowned Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2025, Sabrina Calma, and Miss Hawaii USA 2025 Issha Rose Mata, joined Brittni Friedlander on Wake Up 2Day and Take 2 to talk about the most exciting parts from this weeks competition and what they are looking forward to accomplishing during their year of reign.

Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2024 is.

Issha Rose Mata, representing Hilo, was crowned Miss Hawaii USA 2025 on March 22, 2025, at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu.

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Sabrina Calma of Lahaina was crowned Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2025 the day before at the Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra.

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Both ladies are hoping to be hands-on in serving their local communities this year with Sabrina serving through Kaiaulu Initiatives in Lahaina and organizations such as Women Speaking Out.

Issha hopes to volunteer with local organizations and publish her first book that is curated from poems she has written throughout the years.

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To follow their journey online visit them online at Home | Miss Hawaii USA and follow them on Instagram (@misshiteenusa and @misshiusa) respectively.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD)  United Faculty of ISU could go on strike as soon as April 4 after the union filed an intent to strike Monday.

Keith Pluymers, an associate history professor and bargaining team member for the union, wrote in a statement to WMBD that even though progress was made, some items the United Faculty of ISU asked for were not given.

We made significant movement on multiple fronts today because we want to get to an agreement, Pluymers wrote. We were pleased to see some movement from the ISU administration, but ultimately they did not produce a proposal that addresses our members and our students needs.

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ISU faculty union votes to authorize strike for fair pay

He continued by saying, In particular, we continue to be frustrated about the continued absence of anything to address our students needs for improved mental health support. The administration has left us no choice but to file our notice of intent to strike.

Pluymers said the union will use every part of the 10-day notice to avert any disruption to student learning and hope the admin will come with the same commitment.

This story will be updated.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Aditya Kalra and Aditi Shah

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has ordered Samsung and its executives in the country to pay $601 million in back taxes and penalties for dodging tariffs on import of key telecoms equipment, a government order showed, for one of the biggest such demands in recent years.

The demand represents a substantial chunk of last year's net profit of $955 million for Samsung in India, where it is one of the largest players in the consumer electronics and smartphones market. It can be challenged in a tax tribunal or the courts.

The company, which also imports telecoms equipment through its network division, received a warning in 2023 for misclassifying imports to evade tariffs of 10% or 20% on a critical transmission component used in mobile towers.

It imported and sold these items to billionaire Mukesh Ambani's telecom giant, Reliance Jio.

Samsung pushed India's tax authority to drop the scrutiny, saying the component did not attract tariffs and officials had known its classification practice for years.

But customs authorities disagreed in a confidential January 8 order that is not public but was reviewed by Reuters.

Samsung "violated" Indian laws and "knowingly and intentionally presented false documents before the customs authority for clearance", Sonal Bajaj, a commissioner of customs, said in the order.

Investigators found that Samsung "transgressed all business ethics and industry practices or standards in order to achieve their sole motive of maximising their profit by defrauding the government exchequer," Bajaj added.

Samsung was ordered to pay 44.6 billion rupees ($520 million), consisting of unpaid taxes and a penalty of 100%.

Seven India executives face fines of $81 million, among them the network division's vice president, Sung Beam Hong, Chief Financial Officer Dong Won Chu and Sheetal Jain, a general manager for finance, as well as Nikhil Aggarwal, Samsung's general manager for indirect taxes, the order showed.

"The issue involves the interpretation of classification of goods by customs," Samsung said in a statement, adding that it complied with Indian laws. "We are assessing legal options to ensure our rights are fully protected."

India's customs authority and the finance ministry did not respond to Reuters' queries. Reliance also did not respond.

The incident comes as India toughens oversight of foreign companies and their imports.

Volkswagen and New Delhi are locked in a legal battle in which the automaker is challenging a record demand of $1.4 billion in import back taxes on grounds of misclassifying car parts.
If your classy grandma grew up in L.A., chances are she loved Bullocks Wilshire. The grande dame of Los Angeles retail was an art deco beacon on the boulevard from 1929 until 1993. Now, you can see what all the fuss was about with "A Taste of Bullocks Wilshire," an evening of dining and history in the store's former Tea Room.

The Bullocks Wilshire Tea Room in the 1980sPhoto courtesy Santa Monica Press

Southwestern School of Law restored the luxury department store as a beautiful school campus and won the Los Angeles Conservancy preservation award in 1997. It was the greatest shopping experience in Los Angeles, says Mary Alice Wollam, who wrote the Conservancys tour of the landmark. You could go and have your hair done and go to the tanning salon. In the 1930s, Irene, the great designer for MGM, had a salon there where an everyday dress cost $400. It was absolutely elegant and inspirational to be surrounded by that kind of architecture. Their clientele had money but it was also diverse.

Bullocks Wilshire opened in 1929Photo by Julius Shulman  J. Paul Getty Trust. Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles (2004.R.10)

The grand salons, stunning fragrance hall, and famed tea room have served as study halls and a cafeteria for law students for three decades and are strictly off-limits to outsiders save for the rare occasions when the Parkinson and Parkinson-designed beauty is open for tours. An annual day in the restored 1929 interior of the tea room is a hot ticket, often selling out to members and alumni before being made available to the public.

Related: Michelin Adds Seven L.A. Restaurants to its California Guide

Enter George Geary. The school is hosting a talk, book signing, and light repast in that famed tea room on April 23 with the chef, TV host, food historian, and author of L.A.s Legendary Restaurants and L.A.'s Landmark Restaurants. The books place the department store dining room in the company of Ciro's, Chasens, and other long-gone L.A. favorites.

Detail from 1937 Bullocks Tea Room menuPhoto from Los Angeles Public Library menu collection

Geary, who was the former pastry chef for the Walt Disney Company and judged 28 seasons of culinary contests for the Los Angeles County Fair, will be presenting the original Bullocks Wilshire Cantonese Chicken Salad served in little bamboo boats and drinks from the famed dining room including their famous cherry vanilla punch. The special menu also includes appetizers, an authentic Brown Derby Cobb salad, and the famed dessert Strawberries Romanoff from Romanoffs in Beverly Hills. The school is also setting up a display of vintage tableware from the restaurant from their private collection.

Bullocks Wilshire Tea RoomPhoto courtesy Santa Monica Press

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I lived around the corner in college, Geary says. Bullocks was expensive, but you got treated differently. You felt rich when you went even if you werent. Gearys talk is being held in two original rooms: the Salle Moderne and Directoire salon, where Jean Harlow was famously photographed by George Hurrell in 1933. Guests will be escorted directly to the salons without touring the main building. Geary suggests admiring the architecture over the shoulder of the guards on your way to the elevator. Just try to look classy while you're doing it.

A Taste of Bullocks Wilshire, April 23, 2025 at 7pm
The Legion of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) has launched the production of fibre optic drones, developed in cooperation with FPV operators, engineers and partners from DIU Legion Support.

Source: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine

Quote: "We bring together the best people to solve the most difficult problems."

Details: The DIU Legion has started producing fibre optic drones, an important step in developing technologies for complex military tasks.

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The new drones were created through the joint efforts of FPV operators, engineers and partners from the DIU Legion Support, which allows for the most efficient use of advanced technologies to perform tasks at the front.

For reference: Fibre optics for drones is used to transmit data over long distances at high speeds and without signal loss.

This ensures a stable connection between drones and operators, essential for precise operations in challenging environments.

Thanks to fibre optics, drones can transmit real-time video and photo information and provide precise guidance, which is critical for military missions.

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Read also: They set targets deep inside Russia on fire: the untold story of the 14th Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Regiment

Background: On 17 March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's staff, the main focus of which was Ukrainian drones.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Raymond Wilson

Special to ICT

There exists confusion regarding the year and reservation where Luther Standing Bear was born (either in 1863 or 1868) on the Rosebud Reservation or the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, and whether he was a Lakota Brule or Oglala. He identified himself as an Oglala, born at Pine Ridge. Originally named Plenty Kill, Standing Bear became a well-known author, activist and movie actor.

Like other Native males, he was trained in traditional ways to be a hunter and warrior.

Studio portrait of Standing Bear (left), a Sioux chief, with his son, Luther Standing Bear. (National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution)

In 1879, his father, Standing Bear, sent him to Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania as a member of the first class of Native students. At Carlisle, he and other Native students were forbidden to speak their languages, had their hair cut, had to wear uncomfortable non-Native attire, and were given a new name. He chose Luther and became Luther Standing Bear.



Standing Bear was a model student at Carlisle and returned to the Rosebud Reservation after spending five years at the school, where he learned to become a tinsmith, a not particularly useful occupation on the reservation. Fortunately, Carlisle Superintendent Richard Henry Pratt secured him a government position as a teachers assistant on the reservation, with a salary of $300 a year, and Standing Bear received high praise from other Bureau of Indian Affairs employees. In 1891, Standing Bear became superintendent of a day school on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Other jobs he held included an agency clerk, operator of a small store, an assistant minister, and ranch owner.



In 1902, he became a member of Buffalo Bills Wild West Show and travelled to England with the troupe. Standing Bear was among the Sioux performers who were seriously injured in a terrible train accident near Melrose Park, Illinois, on April 7,1904. He sustained two broken and three bruised ribs, a broken left arm, left leg, collar bone, and nose, cuts above both eyes, a severe gash on the back of his head, and dislocation of both hips.



After the accident, Standing Bear sold his land allotment on Pine Ridge, moved to Sioux City, Iowa, and later to Walthill, Nebraska, working at a variety of jobs such as a store clerk and rodeo performer. Ultimately in 1912, he moved to California, where he delivered lectures and became a Hollywood movie actor. Standing Bear appeared in dozens of films and worked with such famous actors as Douglas Fairbanks, Tom Mix, and William S. Hart. Along with other Native actors, Standing Bear worked to ensure Natives were portrayed more accurately in films.



Standing Bear wrote four books: My People the Sioux (1928), My Indian Boyhood (1931), Land of the Spotted Eagle (1933), and Stories of the Sioux (1934). In his books, he wrote of his upbringing, traditional customs and beliefs, and inclusion into the dominant society. He also offered criticism of federal Indian policies that he blamed for deplorable reservation conditions.



Luther Standing Bear deserves more recognition as an activist who fought to ensure Native people were allowed to embrace their traditional identities and be treated as equal members of the dominant society. He believed Native and non-Native teachers in Indian schools should be bilingual, Native American history should be part of the curriculum in all schools, and Natives should have more leadership roles on reservations and hold more BIA positions.



Luther Standing Bear died on Feb. 20, 1939, after contracting the flu during the production of the film Union Pacific, starring Joel McCrea and Barbara Stanwyck. Native actors in the film spoke Lakota and were not as stereotyped as in previous films.



Sources: Carlisle Indian School Digital Research Center; My People the Sioux (1928); My Indian Boyhood (1931); Land of the Spotted Eagle (1933); Stories of the Sioux (1934); and Luther Standing Bear Films.

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President Donald Trump has launched an all-out attack on democracy taken directly from the authoritarian playbook used by dictators like Hungarys Viktor Orban, Russias Vladimir Putin and Chinas Xi Jinping.

First you take over military and intelligence operations by purging career officers and substituting lackeys who are personally loyal to you.

Next, subdue the courts by ignoring rulings you disagree with and intimidate legislators with threats of violence and billionaire-funded primary challengers.

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Then attack independent news sources by filing costly lawsuits, threatening broadcast licenses and blocking access to news conferences and interviews. Finally, go after the universities by stripping funding from those that refuse to suppress dissent. Then use federal law enforcement to go after protest leaders on campus.

Trump is destroying agencies established to protect us like the Environmental Protection Agency and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in favor of giving his oligarch friends (13 of his Cabinet members are billionaires) and corporations freedom to make yet more money.

And now, Trump and Elon Musk are attempting to dismantle the Department of Education. Pennsylvania schools receive $1.6 billion per year from the department. Without these funds, property taxes will have to increase to make up the difference. Pennsylvanians are already struggling with high prices, and now Trump and Musk are making it worse.

Trump is doing all of this with breathtaking speed and ruthlessness. We must do everything we can to sound the alarm before its too late.

Is this the kind of country you want to live in?

John J. Csaszar

Ruscombmanor Township
In almost 10 years of yammering, Make America great again, President Donald Trump has yet to delineate what that great America would entail. Heres my take:

 News and information presented via radio, television, blogs, print/digital newspapers/magazines, social media, public gatherings, signage and any reproducible manner must have the Trump stamp of approval. Purveyors of unapproved information will be fined or detained.

 The Constitution will cease to exist as of a date in the near future.

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 The right to vote and hold US citizenship will be determined annually by the Trump party.

 Any person disseminating information derogatory toward Trump will be removed from the public setting and detained without recourse to counsel, bail or appeal to any court.

 Nonprofit entities with 501(C)(3) tax-exempt status will cease to exist unless they pay a tax equal to 25% of all incoming monies each calendar year.

 Federal monies will not support any form of insurance, public education, disaster remediation or transportation services.

 The Trump political party is the only recognized party permitted to be on any election ballot for any U.S. territory worldwide.

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 All land and water defined as being U.S.-controlled shall be open to extraction of any and all materials, resources and fossil fuels.

 The idea that a climate crisis exists is forbidden to be disseminated in any manner.

 People unable to provide for their sustenance by any reasonable means will have to undertake government service as payment.

Once dictator Trump starts deploying secret police, its all over.

Gary Coller

Spring Township
The News

Democrats still reeling from a divisive shutdown fight will need to find a strategy quickly to confront an even more consequential battle over the US debt ceiling.

While Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer took the brunt of his partys ire for his handling of government funding, his bind stemmed from top Democrats lack of a cohesive response once House Republicans passed their own plan to avert a shutdown.

Now that House Speaker Mike Johnson proved he can squeeze through tough legislation along party lines, the challenge for Democrats looks different.

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If the GOP cant get the votes to lift the debt limit on its own  and Republican senators and aides are skeptical they can, given resistance from fiscal hardliners  theyll need Democratic votes. Democrats have two basic options: Engage with Republicans on a bipartisan agreement that could include Democratic priorities like disaster relief, or dig in and say its the other partys problem.

Democrats are discussing now how to avoid stumbling into another internal split this summer when the US exhausts its borrowing limit, according to interviews with a dozen party lawmakers. After the shutdown fiasco, and given their voters clamor for more pushback against the Trump White House, they do not want to be caught flat-footed this time.

We will need a strategy, and we need to be unified, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told Semafor. We have leverage. And we should use it.

The shutdown battle exposed Democrats deep strategic divisions, and theyre entering the debt fight with lots of disparate ideas. As Schumer starts preliminary talks with his leadership team, his caucus is cleaving between those who want to use the US checkbook as leverage and those who dont.

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A great deal depends on whether the experience of the last two weeks is going to lead us to a more bipartisan effort in the future. Thats the threshold question, said Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., of the debt ceiling. If the answer is yes, we can talk about it.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who criticized most Democrats for flirting with a shutdown this month, said that when it comes to the debt, I refuse to take a hostage like that.

I cant support defaulting on our debt. Its just like shutting the government down. The impact will be catastrophic, Fetterman told Semafor on Tuesday. Fetterman then spotted Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and added: He might disagree with me on that.

Sanders declined to comment for this story. Still, many Democrats question why they should help Trumps party raise the debt ceiling when Republicans are planning trillions of dollars in tax cuts that will increase the deficit.

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Why should we do that? asked Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. I want to know what the Republicans are offering. They seem to think they can run this government with no help from the Democrats. Lets watch them do it.



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The government funding battle demonstrated Trumps singlehanded ability to muscle legislation through the House despite Johnsons small majority. That includes the budget that the Senate could take up as soon as next month, which sets up a $4 trillion debt ceiling increase.

Many in the party are hopeful the scars from the shutdown fight will mean a more cohesive position on the debt ceiling.

Theres an internalization [that] weve got to be less risk-averse. And I think Schumer gets that. And I think there will be more thinking well in advance about what to do on the debt ceiling, said Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt.

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Senate Republicans discussed whether to follow the House and try to raise the debt ceiling along party lines at their weekly lunch Tuesday but reached no decision, according to multiple members. Majority Leader John Thune privately touted a GOP-only tax bill as the easiest path forward on the debt ceiling.

Still, several sources warned Semafor that the $4 trillion level under discussion might not last through the midterms; if Republicans strike a deal with Democrats, they could suspend the debt ceiling through the next election, removing a political headache.

While its still possible to cajole enough conservatives to get a debt bill passed without Democrats, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said Republicans will be reluctant to try that: All of these things are done better if theyre done in a bipartisan way.

House Democrats arent so sure. Republicans pushed their partys government funding bill through the chamber with the support of just one Democrat. And recent deaths of former Democratic Reps. Raul Grijalva of Arizona and Sylvester Turner of Texas gave Johnson more room to maneuver.

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Theyre feeling emboldened, one House Democrat said of the GOP. I dont see them coming to us for anything  Theyre going to do what they can by themselves.

But if Republicans do come asking for help, Democrats want real concessions.

If we have other things in the bill, obviously, well look at it, Rep. Juan Vargas, D-Calif., told Semafor.

As of right now, he added hes a hell no.

The Bipartisan Policy Center expects the Treasury Department to stop being able to pay its bills sometime between mid-July and early October  later in the year than many had expected, said Elizabeth Pancotti, a former adviser to Sanders and now the managing director of policy and advocacy at progressive nonprofit Groundwork Collaborative.

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The longer runway gives members more time to negotiate. It also means more time for Democrats to stew over Trumps use of executive power.

They seem to get more pissed every day, Pancotti said. Obviously, default is bad; avoiding default is good  but there does come a breaking point.

Burgess and Eleanors View

Democrats pride themselves on being responsible and not playing games with the debt ceiling. But this months painful shutdown fight has made them rethink their tactics, and the debt ceiling is undeniably a possible leverage point for Schumer and his caucus.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, while he doesnt have the filibuster at his disposal, may also find his partys votes are needed. Back in 2017, Schumer and then-House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi were able to negotiate with Trump directly.

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Coordination will be critical. If Schumer and Jeffries cant agree on a path forward, ideally before Republicans approach their members with a plan, Democrats risk becoming further enmeshed in the infighting that ensued when Schumer broke from much of his party on government funding.

Room for Disagreement

One prominent progressive is in favor of avoiding any gamesmanship over the debt ceiling. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., wants to go back to Sen. Mitch McConnells old plan. The gist: The limit rises automatically, and Congress gets a fast-tracked disapproval vote that likely fails.

What was good when Obama was in office seemed to work pretty well. Lets do it again, Merkley told Semafor.

Notable
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Local elections are a little more than a week away, but starting Tuesday, residents on the Missouri side of the Kansas City metro can begin casting their ballots for the 2025 school and special election.

On Tuesday, March 25, voters can stop at one of three different locations to cast their ballots for school and city-wide ballot measures and elect (or re-elect) members of the Kansas City, Hickman Mills, Raytown and Lees Summit school districts.

Your Local Election Headquarters: Candidates, races and results on FOX4

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So, if you cant make it to the polls on April 8, heres a list of places where you can vote in KCMO:

Kansas City Election Board at The Shops on Blue Parkway

Address: 4407 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

March 25 to April 4 8 a.m.  6 p.m.

April 5 8 a.m.  Noon

April 7 8 a.m.  5 p.m.



United Believers Community Church

Address: 5600 E. 112th Terr.

March 25 to April 4 10 a.m.  6 p.m.

April 5 8 a.m.  Noon



Mount Christian Worship Center

Address: 1800 E. 79th St. (Corner of 79th & Paseo)

March 25 to April 4 10 a.m.  6 p.m.

April 5 8 a.m.  Noon



KCPS board candidates react to Education Department shutdown

According to KCEB, only ballot-marking devices will be available during absentee voting.

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To see a sample ballot for the 2025 school and special election, 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
For the third time in its history, Tampa Bays six-mile linchpin gained a new span for drivers to cross.

This version of the Howard Frankland Bridge is sturdier against storms, four lanes wider, higher and, at $865 million, more expensive than its predecessors.

But today, as southbound traffic shifts to the new span, many of the fundamentals of crossing the bay wont change. Drivers still only have access to four southbound lanes. The other four lanes on the new span are slated to become tolled express lanes, two in each direction, and those wont open for another year.

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Those driving northbound will use the same bridge span they always have until the summer, when traffic shifts to the middle span.

Also missing from todays new bridge is improved cross-bay transit. Theres room for light rail, but no plan among local governments to implement it. The express lanes can help buses bypass traffic  but not for another year.

So will Interstate 275 remain a congested mess as travelers exit the bridge? Or will they notice a difference? Well be providing live updates as the Howard Frankland opens to vehicles.

5:30 p.m.: Welch says new span will help relieve congestion

The opening of the Howard Frankland Bridge expansion is an incredible accomplishment, and I thank our partners at the Florida Department of Transportation for their work on this project, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said in a statement. With these critical enhancements, the Howard Frankland has greater capacity to relieve traffic congestion and meet the transportation needs of the Tampa Bay region.

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Around 5:30 p.m., traffic was gridlocked along most of I-275 from Interstate 4 to Tampas Westshore District in both directions. The northbound Howard Frankland was also backed up.

But southbound traffic eased just before the new bridge span as drivers exited off the Westshore interchange.

 Shauna Muckle

12:30 p.m.: Castor says new bridge makes traveling to Tampa a little easier

In a statement, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor called the new Howard Frankland span a symbol of our tremendous growth, our ability to come together to solve problems, and our commitment to improving our quality of life.

For those traveling in between Tampa and St. Petersburg, a new bridge makes their journey a little easier, Castor said.

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She also said shes encouraged by new features on the bridge: a pedestrian and bike path set to open next year and room for light rail, should local governments decide to fund it.

Strong infrastructure and transportation options matter, and they are worth investing in, she said. Thats what Ill be reminded of as soon as I make my first trip across.

 Shauna Muckle

12 p.m.: Traffic slows on northbound bridge

A lane closure on the northbound Howard Frankland Bridge appears to have slowed traffic to a crawl.

Northbound commutes havent changed yet  drivers will continue to use the same bridge span until the summer when theyre moved over to the former southbound span, which will switch directions.

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While the Howard Frankland isnt always a major source of congestion, the new bridge will eventually give drivers another option when crashes and road work occur. Four express lanes, two in each direction, are scheduled to open next year, allowing emergency vehicles, buses and those willing to pay a chance to bypass standstill traffic.

Across from the traffic jam, cars breezed by on the new southbound bridge late this morning, even while express lanes remained closed.

 Shauna Muckle

10 a.m.: Commuters begin to wonder about Westshore interchange

As morning commuter traffic settled after 9 a.m., two slowdowns in Tampa remained: the section of I-275 approaching the Westshore interchange from the north, and the downtown interchange between I-275 and I-4 sometimes dubbed malfunction junction.

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The traffic scene on Tuesday morning appears to confirm what commuters have long said: the Howard Frankland isnt causing congestion. Other interchanges between major roadways are.

Construction is underway on widening the downtown interchange. But it hasnt ramped up yet for the single exit that takes drivers to the Veterans Expressway, State Road 60 and the airport.

One X user said he wished Floridas transportation department had widened the Howard Frankland and Westshore interchange simultaneously. Widening that slice of roadway is expected to take years. Its funded for construction through at least 2028, according to the transportation department.

 Shauna Muckle

8 a.m.: Smooth sailing and normal traffic

As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, traffic was flowing smoothly across the new southbound lanes of the Howard Frankland Bridge. Traffic patterns seemed routine for this hour, ahead of the workday. There were no accidents to report, according to local agencies.

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 Justine Griffin

6:30 a.m.: All lanes open to local commuters

Just in time for the morning work commute, all lanes of the new span of the Howard Frankland bridge appeared to be open to drivers by 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. Florida Department of Transportation officials opened the new bridge to southbound drivers one lane at a time overnight from Monday night into Tuesday morning.

Local traffic cameras showed drivers using all lanes on the new bridge.

 Justine Griffin

5:30 a.m.: Tampa Bays first drivers cross the new span Tuesday morning

Despite some modest chances of rain overnight on Monday, Florida Department of Transportation workers were able to clear the way and open the new lanes of the Howard Frankland Bridge in time for early commuters Tuesday morning. Local traffic cameras showed cars traveling southbound from Tampa toward St. Petersburg on the new stretch of roadway.

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Crews planned to open the new bridge span one lane at a time. As of 5:30 a.m., southbound drivers were traveling in just one opened lane.

 Justine Griffin

5 a.m.: Reporters took their first drives across the new span Monday

Just one day earlier, the new stretch of the southbound Howard Frankland Bridge sat silent, ready to take on the thousands of drivers who cross it each day.

Its concrete face was pristine, free from the tire marks and signs of wear that comes from decades of commuters. When officials allowed members of the news media to drive across before it opened to the public, the ride was smooth and quiet on my tires. The calm waters of Tampa Bay shimmered below, providing a sneak peek into what the views will be like from the pedestrian and bike lane, which is separated from traffic by a barrier wall. That feature is scheduled to open next year.

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On Tuesday, the stillness will come to an end when, weather permitting, the bridge will open to four lanes of traffic and it will begin its long life as a crucial tether connecting the two halves of the Tampa Bay region. Its expected to last for a century.

 Emily L. Mahoney

Read more transit news from the Tampa Bay Times:
LONDON & REYKJAVIK, Iceland, March 25, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fluidstack, the AI Cloud Platform, today announced it is deploying and managing Exascale clusters across Iceland and Europe in collaboration with Borealis Data Center, Dell Technologies and NVIDIA. The clusters will allow Fluidstack to further deliver a wider array of service options and meet the strong demand for its service offerings from customers around the world.

"Our mission has always been to support the most exceptional AI labs, researchers and enterprises on the planet," said Cesar Maklary, co-founder and president of Fluidstack. "In collaboration with Borealis, Dell and NVIDIA, we can rapidly deploy high-density GPU supercomputers for both European and global customers, all while using 100% renewable energy."

Sustainable Growth with Borealis

Borealis Data Center, a leader in green data center infrastructure, will provide Fluidstack with facilities powered by 100% renewable energy. Located in Iceland and operating across the Nordics, Borealis facilities benefit from a cold climate and renewable hydro and geothermal power.

"This partnership highlights a shared commitment to enabling next-generation AI while minimizing its environmental impact," said Bjorn Brynjulfsson, CEO of Borealis.

Working with Dell Technologies for Advanced AI Workloads

Fluidstack will leverage Dell PowerEdge XE9680 servers, optimized for AI workloads with NVIDIA HGX H200. Combined with NVIDIAs Quantum-2 InfiniBand networking Dell servers offer best-in-class performance and reliability for AI workloads.

"Were looking forward to working with Fluidstack, Borealis and NVIDIA to deploy advanced, sustainable AI infrastructure across Europe," said Arun Narayanan, senior vice president, Compute and Networking, Dell Technologies. "Dell PowerEdge XE9680 servers combined with NVIDIAs GPUs and networking are purpose-built to efficiently support rapidly growing AI workloads, helping customers achieve unprecedented efficiency and scalability while lowering cost and energy usage."

Building the Backbone for Europes AI Innovation

With Europes AI data center market projected to reach $29.8 billion by 2026, Fluidstack is positioned at the forefront of enabling breakthrough AI research and innovation across the continent.

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Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez have called the United States home since 1989. Their three daughters, now grown, were all born and raised in California.

The couple led Bible studies at their Southern California church and volunteered at food pantries during the Covid-19 pandemic.

For nearly four decades, they have built a life here  raising three daughters, giving back to their community, and recently welcoming their first grandchild, their daughter Stephanie Gonzalez wrote on a GoFundMe page for the family. Now, they are being treated as criminals.

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Last month, the parents checked in at an immigration court in Santa Ana, just like they have been doing since 2000, Stephanie wrote in an email to CNN.

But this check-in ended with a much different outcome.

The couple was arrested and handcuffed during their February 21 appointment and put in federal custody, where they spent three weeks before being deported to Colombia.

They did expect that they would need to depart and were planning to do so, but not in the way that it happened, said Monica Crooms, an Orange County-based immigration attorney who started working with the couple in 2018.

We didnt expect that they would be apprehended and held in custody. And again, its not really unique to them anymore. Its happening across the country, Crooms told CNN, pointing to recent immigration policy changes in the US two months into the current administration.

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The Gonzalezes spent many years searching for a viable path to citizenship, paid their taxes and never had any trouble with the law, according to Crooms and their daughters.

Ideally, the couple would have been given time to get their affairs in order and say goodbye to their daughters and grandchild, according to Crooms. But that didnt happen.

We had to go and pick up their car from the parking lot and didnt get to say goodbye, Stephanie said.

No legal basis to stay in the US

Gladys and Nelson came to the United States without authorization in 1989, according to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement statement dated March 14. They had no visas when they arrived, Crooms said, but were granted permission to apply for asylum. The couple was fleeing crime in their native Colombia, according to Crooms and their daughter Stephanie.

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In 2000, the immigration court found no legal reason that would allow Gladys and Nelson to stay in the United States and they were issued a voluntary departure order, which gives people a certain amount of time to leave the country at their own expense to avoid a deportation order, according to ICE.

They were looking for a way to legalize their status in in the way that was available to them at the time in the 90s, Crooms said. Unfortunately, they fell victim to predatory immigration practices that were pretty flagrant.

The Gonzalezes did not plan to leave the United States after the order was issued, according to Crooms, who said the couples attorney at the time misled them that the order could be appealed and possibly lead to eventual legalization.

After seeing other attorneys, they quickly learned that they were in a very precarious situation with respect to their immigration status, Crooms added. The couple has spent thousands of dollars on legal counsel over the years, and some of those they hired turned out not to be immigration attorneys at all, Crooms said.

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Gladys, 55, and Nelson, 59, exhausted all legal options to remain in the U.S. between March 2000 and August 2021, including reviews by the Board of Immigration Appeals in 2001 and 2018, Citizenship and Immigration Services in 2010, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in 2021, ICE said in a statement.

For two decades, the couple remained under an order of supervision, Crooms added. Through the Department of Homeland Security, the program allows those with removal orders to remain in the United States and check in at least once a year while they prepare to leave the country.

The couples deportation officer had not pushed for them to depart until 2018, leveling with them that it was time to leave the country if their status couldnt be legalized, Crooms said.

From left: Gladys Gonzalez, Jessica Marshall, Nelson Gonzalez, Gabriela Gonzalez, Stephanie Gonzalez and Jon Marshall. - Courtesy Stephanie Gonzalez

Fleeing the murder capital of the world

When the Gonzalezes fled Colombias capital city, they feared for their lives.

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At the time my parents left Bogota, the city and country was known as the murder capital of the world, Stephanie wrote. They fled the rampant drug violence that they were forced to live in.

After Nelson filed for asylum, the couple became victims of egregious immigration fraud by their initial attorney, their daughter told CNN.

Their initial attorney wasnt even an attorney, and took their money and then their office shut down for a criminal investigation, Stephanie said.

Immigration law was rampant with fraud during the late 80s and early 90s, and my parents next couple attorneys were disbarred. Getting citizenship is difficult, and my parents only had one opportunity to refile paperwork that the initial attorney filed incorrectly.

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For the past 25 years, my parents were in the court system and appealing for another opportunity due to ineffective counsel, Stephanie said. This Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal dismissed the Petition for Review in 2022.

The issue is the immigration system, not my parents

Under US immigration law, those living illegally in the country can take legal steps to avoid removal, according to ICE. However, once they have exhausted all due process and appeals, the aliens remain subject to a final order of removal from an immigration judge and ICE must carry out that order, the agency said.

But the couples daughter and attorney stress the Gonzalezes were treated unfairly during the removal process.

My parents loved this country, sacrificed all of their money to try to gain citizenship, but were failed by the system, Stephanie told CNN. They shouldve, at worst, been given the dignity to settle their affairs and fly themselves back to a country they havent lived in since the 1980s, and not thrown into a detention center that is just another name for a jail, without any knowledge of when theyd be released.

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Gladys and Nelson were separated and put in ICE custody for about three weeks, at detention facilities in California, Arizona and Louisiana, according to Crooms. Their deportation was delayed partially because of a government error, she said.

The Department of Homeland Security lost their passports, Crooms said. The Colombian government had to provide DHS with travel documents that would allow the couple to be removed, she added.

Deportation is a growing threat

The couples daughters are still holding out hope their parents will be able to return to the United States one day, Stephanie said. Right now, the family is focused on helping Gladys and Nelson acclimate to life in Colombia.

Weve been able to raise $65,000 to help my parents rebuild their new life in Colombia but also to pay for the best attorneys so that one day they can come back, she added.

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The couple cant come back to the United States for at least 10 years because of a 1996 law that says anyone who has been in the country illegally for a year or more, and does not follow an order of voluntary departure, is subject to a bar, Crooms said.

I think they will be able to come back. I just  I dont foresee that being within the next 10 years, Crooms said. And if there is a serious change to the immigration law, then theres no telling.

Crooms had accompanied the couple to their immigration check-ins every year since 2018, but this year, they didnt ask her to join them. Had they called her, Crooms said, she would have advised them to prepare for departure and get their affairs in order, given the current immigration climate.

I dont know why they didnt call me. I think they just really felt like everything has been fine in the past, Crooms said, adding, anyone who is on an order of supervision, who has to check in, should anticipate that this is a real possibility for them  that they may be apprehended and removed.

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Both illegal immigrants and permanent residents should also exercise extreme caution when traveling, Crooms said.

The Trump administrations crackdown on immigration violations will continue to impact people such as Gladys and Nelson, Crooms and Stephanie told CNN, along with minority US citizens and immigrants living legally in the United States.

The amount of people being detained and put into these places is absolutely heartbreaking and I hope this administration would realize the detrimental affect this will have on so many American families, Stephanie said.

CNNs Alberto Moya and Norma Galeana contributed to this report.

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The most important part of the Signal snafu remains the fact that the secretary of defense posted sensitive information about a forthcoming strike in a Signal chat organized by the national security adviser that inadvertently included The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg.

The hunt for accountability, to the extent it occurs, will rightly focus on the security breach and whether laws were violated.

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But theres a lot more to this story and some interesting lessons to be learned from the dynamics of the national security team President Donald Trump has built for his second term.

Here some key points to consider from the 18-person group chat.

JD Vance loathes Europe

We already knew that Vice President JD Vance does not hold Europe in high regard after he lectured European officials about democracy and free speech during this years Munich Security Conference.

That disdain entered the Houthi PC small group when Vance opposed striking the Houthis in Yemen because, in his view, it would benefit Europe more than the US.

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More European than American trade travels through the Suez Canal, Vance argued, and he said he worried Americans wouldnt understand why the US was striking in Yemen. Its a valid concern for a White House that promised America first foreign policy.

Vance opposed the strike. He wasnt sure Trump understood the situation

I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now, Vance said, according to the posts.

Take your pick of European policies Vance might be referring to.

Trump is in the midst of threatening steep tariffs on European goods, misidentifying the European value-added tax structure as a tax on Americans. The strikes, on the other hand, were meant to open up shipping routes relied on by Europeans (and multinational corporations such as Tesla).

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Trump has criticized European countries for not spending enough on their own defense and promised to stop subsidizing their security.

I just hate bailing Europe out again, Vance said in the chat.

Vance also mentioned a possible spike in oil prices at a time when Trump has promised to bring oil prices down.

Instead of immediate strikes, Vance suggested waiting a month to give time to explain to Americans why they were necessary.

Who tells Trump about concerns?

We know that Trump was involved in discussions about the strikes because he is quoted as saying they would be most valuable to send a message.

We dont know if he heard about Vances opposition.

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In one extremely telling post, Hegseth said he understood the concerns and would support Vance raising them with Trump.

I fully share your loathing of European free-loading, Hegseth said later. Its PATHETIC. But then he argued the US should carry out the strikes because it was the only country on our side of the ledger that could make them happen.

Theres some interesting phrasing in a statement Vances spokesman gave to Goldberg.

The Vice Presidents first priority is always making sure that the Presidents advisers are adequately briefing him on the substance of their internal deliberations, he said.

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Does that mean Vance expected someone else to raise the concerns?

Vances team wants you to know he does not disagree with Trump

Vice President Vance unequivocally supports this administrations foreign policy, his spokesman told Goldberg. The President and the Vice President have had subsequent conversations about this matter and are in complete agreement.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller attends a press briefing at the White House on February 20, in Washington, DC. - Win McNamee/Getty Images

Stephen Miller spoke for Trump and ended debate

This story should put to rest any doubts about how important a voice Stephen Miller is in the White House. Presuming he is the SM in the group chat, he essentially ended the conversation the day before the strike by channeling Trump.

As I heard it, the president was clear: green light, but we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return.

Trumps administration expects the US to be compensated

Perhaps the most intriguing mystery is what the US expected in return for these strikes and how or whether that demand was transmitted to Europe and Egypt.

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Heres what Miller said:

We also need to figure out how to enforce such a requirement. EG, if Europe doesnt remunerate, then what? If the US successfully restores freedom of navigation at great cost there needs to be some further economic gain extracted in return.

Did the Europeans and Egyptians know these strikes were coming or were they expected to remunerate after the fact? What is the going rate for drone strikes against Houthi rebels shutting down shipping lanes?

It was Hegseth who may have posted the most sensitive information

The error in organizing the chat was national security adviser Mike Waltzs, but the larger violation may have been by Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

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Waltz referred to emailing details to the groups High side accounts, which means their email system for sensitive data, suggesting he realized some information should not be placed on Signal.

Goldberg did not reprint all of the messages sent by Ratcliffe and Hegseth, but he wrote that one in particular from Hegseth was shockingly reckless because it included operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing.

Both Hegseth and Ratcliffe have since said they did not post classified material.

Smoke rises from a location reportedly struck by US airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on March 15. - Osamah Abdulrahman/AP

A strike that killed Houthis wasnt about the Houthis

Hegseth is quoted as pushing for the strikes against the Houthis, which killed 53 people, according to the Yemeni health ministry. But the deadly strike was not about the Houthis, Hegseth said.

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I see it as two things: 1) Restoring Freedom of Navigation, a core national interest; and 2) Reestablish deterrence, which Biden cratered, he said. At another point, Hegseth argued the messaging around the strike needed to focus on Joe Biden and blaming the former president for failure to more forcefully address the issue.

Top government officials love emoji too

Before the strike, at least two officials used a prayer emoji, according to Goldberg.

After the strike, as the Cabinet officials congratulated each other, they used the same emojis anyone else might use in a text message.

Steve Witkoff, Trumps emissary to Ukraine and Middle East peace talks, posted five emoji: two hands praying, a flexed bicep and two American flags.

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Waltz posted a fist, an American flag and fire.

  

Moments of DC hypocrisy

Hegseth, who appears to have posted the strike plan to Signal, twice refers to the importance of operations security, or OPSEC.

We are currently clean on OPSEC, he sends to the chat that included a journalist.

And, of course, for those who remember the email server scandal that hurt Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign, there is now a role reversal as Democrats call for accountability while many Republicans are doing the opposite.

It should also be pointed out that the Trump administration is currently arguing in federal court that it does not have to share information about deported suspected gang members with a federal judge because to do so would jeopardize state secrets.

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AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Every Tuesday in March were introducing you to a remarkable woman from here in the Valley.

For Lori Stone, it all comes back to family, her own children and grandchildren, the family she made through her military service, and her volunteer family.

Stones military journey started in 1965. She enlisted after graduating from Austintown Fitch.

That was my dream, and back then, you might not have known but women were only 2% of the force enlisted, Stone said.

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She completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base and was stationed in the Philipines during the Vietnam War before returning to Texas and then back to Ohio. She retired in 2006 after 33 years of service.

Back when I started in 65, they never dreamed a woman would go above E-7. So retiring as a chief as an E-9, I kind of went in at 2% and I left at 2% because they had control on how many could be E-9s at that time in the Air Force.

A year after retiring, she was looking for more to do.

I happened to run into a friend of mine and she goes, Why not check into volunteering at the VA?'

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It started with a few days a week at the Youngstown VA Clinic, and then became even more involved when she became the volunteer liaison in 2013.

You know what the key thing is about the volunteers, theyre not doing it for money, but from the heart, she said.

At the VA, she started a fundraising campaign to get a new van to transport veterans.

She helped expand the Youngstown VAs food pantry.

The food pantry working like it is, it seems like that has helped so many more people than anticipated, she said.

She has received several awards, including the 2018 Veteran of the Year by the United Veterans Council of Youngstown. In 2019, she was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.

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When they put my name in, I said OK, sure. I never dreamed I was going to get it, Stone said.

With all her honors, Stones greatest accomplishment is her family.

I wouldnt be anyplace without Denise and Tammy, my two daughters, and my mother. Those three ladies believed in me, Stone said.

She volunteers every day with her other family.

Its the friendship, the other volunteers, the staff, I miss them, theyre part of the family, Stone said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Married couples celebrating milestone anniversaries are invited to a special mass this spring.

Bishop David Bonnar will celebrate the Wedding Anniversary Mass on May 18. Couples marking 25, 40, 50 years or more can renew their vows at mass and receive a certificate.

The service will be held at 2 p.m. at Saint Columba Cathedral. Couples planning to attend need to register at their parish by April 25.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Local food pantry honors longtime executive director

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A local food pantry is honoring its former executive director in a big way.

The Greene County Fish Pantry will soon take on the namesake of Gail Matson, who served as the pantrys executive director for 12 years.

According to reporting from the Xenia Daily Gazette, the pantrys board members held a retirement party for Matson last Tuesday. It was then that the board unveiled a new sign for the cooling and storage facilitys outdoor area, which now displays The Matson Barn, for all to see.

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Board members and Matsons staff offered congratulatory remarks.

No organization will thrive without strong leadership  Gail, you have been that leader, said board member Jean Ali.

She spoke to members of our club and filled us in on the needs of the food bank. She ended up adopting us. We all thought she had a lot of spunk and wasnt afraid to meet with a bunch of bikers, said Harry Burden, a member of the U.S. Veterans Motorcycle Club (Ohio State Chapter).

The group has since raised $13,000 for the pantry.

Matson says that she plans to take the next few weeks away to travel. She said that shes willing to return to the pantry to help write grants.

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BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  Members of the local Greek American community marked Greek Independence Day today with a flag raising outside of Binghamton City Hall.

More than a dozen people from Binghamtons Panhellenic Council joined Mayor Kraham who issued a proclamation recognizing the day.

Tuesday marks the 204th anniversary of what Greeks consider to be the start of their revolution for independence from Turkey. It finally achieved independence in 1830.

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Peter Stefos is Vice President of a Greek fraternal organization called AHEPA. Stefos says the countrys Greek Orthodox faith is closely intertwined with its fight for freedom.

To the Greeks, justice meant fighting against oppression under Ottoman rule. It meant fighting for the future of their people and their country. And most importantly, their faith. For with both inspiration and struggle, faith, freedom and justice, the Greeks showed to be victorious, said Stefos.

Many of those in attendance are also organizers and volunteers for the annual Grecian Festival held each year at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Vestal. This years festival will take place from May 29 through June 1.

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ANDERSON  Madison County health officials expressed shock and sadness after Dr. William VanNess, the county's health officer, died suddenly on Monday.

Stephenie Mellinger, administrator for the Madison County Health Department, said the news came as a shock and noted that VanNess had been in fair health.

The 80-year-old VanNess had recently recovered from a cold and on March 21 had a heart valve replaced, Mellinger said.

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The county will have to select a new health officer, which will take time, Mellinger said. A decision would be made in consultation with the county commissioners and the board of health.

VanNess was a significant figure in Madison County and in the state's health care infrastructure. Before he became county health officer in January 2024, VanNess served as president of Community Hospital Anderson from 1998 to 2012.

He was chosen in 2012 by then-Gov. Mike Pence to lead the Indiana Department of Health, which he did until his resignation in 2013.

Despite his short tenure, VanNess left a lasting impression on state health officials.

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"Hes a good man," Mellinger recalled Pam Pontonis, state epidemiologist for the Indiana Department of Health, telling her after a recent meeting.

VanNess' medical career started in Summitville where he practiced medicine with his father.

In 1973, he joined the medical staff at Community Hospital Anderson, where he would cross paths with Beth Tharp, currently the senior vice president and president of hospital services for Community Hospital Network.

Tharp remembered VanNess as a man of courage who challenged the status quo among physicians.

"He pushed for the medical staff and the hospital to work toward providing the best possible care that we could for the community and really focusing on that," she said. "It was not, 'What does this job mean for me or how is it impacting me?'"

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He also encouraged the hospital to be innovative in its use of technology. Tharp said the hospital started performing robot-assisted surgeries, among other things.

Tharp remembered VanNess as someone who cared about the well-being of his employees. He often went out of his way to show them he cared, she said.

"The hospital staff had an idea that we were going to wash our employees' cars," Tharpe recalled. "We started at five in the morning and didn't stop for hours. It was important because he wanted to make sure the employees knew they were important enough that we would spend time cleaning their cars."
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  Trumbull County Job and Family Services is planning to bring its employees back to work in the office full-time.

Read next: Owner of Warren apartment complex has history of problems at other properties

Director John Gargano says between Job and Family Services and Child Support, there are about 50 to 70 employees working on a hybrid-remote schedule.

Gargano says there have been some scheduling changes since the start of the pandemic five years ago. It initially went to remote work and later moved to a hybrid schedule.

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Commissioners asked Gargano to give employees two weeks notice before returning to the office full time.

To give them some opportunity to get readjusted to it and so theyll have approximately two weeks before they all come back into the facility, Gargano said.

Commissioners approved an agenda item on the matter Wednesday. It instructs Gargano to have employees at JFS and the Trumbull County Child Support Enforcement Agency return to the office beginning Monday, April 14.

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EAST AURORA, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Java Village man has been honored with North Americas highest award for civilian heroism after risking his life to save a 5-year-old girl from a burning barn.

On April 17 of last year, Charles Sergel was driving when he noticed smoke billowing from a workshop on Olean Road in the Town of Aurora.

I said, somethings wrong. So we went up the road a little bit more and I said, I have to go back. Something told me I have to go back, Sergel said.

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Upon arriving at the scene, he saw a young lady frantically yelling and screaming. When he asked if anyone was inside, she said, My 5-year-old sisters trapped inside.

Inside, Anna Barone was trapped. Without hesitation, Sergel rushed in, battling smoke and flames as he called out for Anna. He described the smoke as thick, extending from the ceiling to his knees, making it nearly impossible to see even a foot in front of him.

For some reason I went in, and we all know that reason is, Jesus made me go in. I just closed my eyes and I listened and I could hear like a whimpering sound like children do when they get really hurt, he said.

When Sergel found Anna, she was sitting in a water-filled sink with flames above her head and burns on her shoulders.

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Im here to tell you that Anna said she spoke to Jesus, and Jesus told her to flip that garbage can upside down, get in that washbasin and turn the water on. Five years old  I wouldnt know how to do that at 53 years old, Sergel said.

Sergel grabbed Anna and carried her to safety. Since then, Anna has made a full recovery.

This act of bravery led East Aurora Chief of Police Patrick Welch to nominate Sergel for the prestigious Carnegie Hero Medal. The esteemed award recognizes those who exemplify selflessness and bravery by risking their lives to save others.

On Monday, Sergel was announced as one of 16 people in the U.S. to receive this honor, and he also received a reward of more than $5,000.

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While we may not recommend running into a burning building without protective gear, I think people act on instinct. And I think Mr. Sergel has young children. He knew there was a young child in this burning building. I think his heart, his faith, his determination led him to decide that he was going to do what he could to try to save this little girl, said Welch.

Sergel humbly acknowledged the recognition.

It feels amazing, but its all about the firefighters, he said. What I did in one night, they do every day, and theyre the real heroes.

Latest Local News

Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

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PANAMA CITY BEACH  A unified front has emerged in the face of public outrage over conditions at Gulf World Marine Park.

A sign advertising Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach on Oct. 21, 2024.

Officials and locals have moved swiftly after a video showcasing green water and algae in the dolphin pools surfaced last week. Local outlets, including the News Herald, have been quick to pick up the story.

The city of Panama City Beach sent out a press release Monday afternoon saying it is working with local, state and federal officials to address issues at the park. Bay County government, U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, state Sen. Jay Trumbull and state Rep. Griff Griffitts Jr. joined the city for a roundtable discussion.

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Gulf World Marine Park representatives were invited to attend but reportedly declined. The park has not replied to the News Herald's request for comment.

The reported dangers to worker, visitor, and animal safety at Gulf World must be addressed without delay," Panama City Beach Mayor Stuart Tettemer said. "City, county, state, and federal representatives are urgently working together to demand Gulf World comply with all investigations and applicable regulations. We continue to invite Gulf World to collaborate with us."

The park has denied access to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers who tried to inspect the conditions of the dolphin enclosures, the state agency said, and reportedly denied access to local health department authorities.

The park is subject to multiple laws, and officials discussed the need for water quality testing, animal welfare inspections, and building safety inspections, according to the press release.

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Griffitts, Trumbull and Dunn all made comments in the release alluding to the need to investigate and resolve what is happening at the facility, and promised future action.

We cannot let bureaucratic gaps prevent action when public safety and animal welfare are at stake, said Dunn. My team and I stand ready to ensure federal officials, including NOAA, are prepared to respond to the unacceptable conditions at Gulf World and begin an investigation into the situation without delay.

The outcry attracted attention from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who addressed the issue in a post on X in response to social media personality All Things Emerald Coast.

Ive directed my office to work with law enforcement and conduct an investigation.



We will not tolerate any animal cruelty. https://t.co/dIr79jQgxf  Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) March 25, 2025

"Ive directed my office to work with law enforcement and conduct an investigation," said Uthmeier. "We will not tolerate any animal cruelty."

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The News Herald obtained an email from PCB Councilman Ethan Register, who also sits on the Bay County Tourist Development Council.

In the email he tells Bay County resident Michael Steinkirchner that the TDC is in the process of pulling all marketing, promotional and advertising materials related to Gulf World Marine Park.

"Thank you for your email and for bringing these serious concerns to our attention," Register tells Steinkirchner. "We share your sadness and concern regarding the recent issues at Gulf World Marine Park, and we fully understand the impact this has on our community's reputation."

Steinkirchner told the News Herald that he works with short-term rental owners, some of whom are now removing the park from their recommended list of attractions. He added that the page for Gulf World Marine Park has been removed from the Visit PCB website.

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There's a protest planned in front of the park on March 29 at 10 a.m., and Bay County resident Sylvia Jones, who previously talked to the News Herald, says that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) could potentially have members joining the protest. Her petition to have the dolphins relocated had almost 4,000 signatures on Tuesday morning.

"All relevant city departments are actively engaged in reviewing the issues at Gulf World Marine Park," said a spokesperson for the city of Panama City Beach. "The city is working with numerous state and federal agencies on this matter and cannot comment further at this time."

The pushback follows the death of a fourth dolphin at the park, Jett. His official cause of death was acute head trauma, which an eyewitness said happened when he miscalculated a jump during a show and hit the shallow end of a pool.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Major fallout at Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach, Florida
By Nelson Banya and Aaditya GovindRao

(Reuters) -Australia's Gold Road Resources said on Monday it had rejected Gold Fields' $2.1 billion buyout bid because it believed the offer materially undervalued the company and was "highly opportunistic".

Gold Fields' CEO Mike Fraser told Reuters he was still confident that Gold Road's shareholders would back the deal.

With its offer, the South African miner aims to consolidate ownership over the low-cost, long-life Gruyere gold mine in Western Australia, which it operates under a joint venture with Gold Road.

"The offer attributes no value at all to the potential underground expansion of the Gruyere mine," Gold Road said in a statement.

Gold Road said it had tabled an alternative offer to buy Gold Fields out of Guyere, but its proposal was rejected by the Johannesburg-based miner.

In a statement on Monday, Gold Fields said it was "disappointed that the Gold Road board has not constructively engaged on key elements of the proposal".

Fraser told Reuters in an interview that there was "a different view on value from the (Gold Road) management point of view than what the market sees, which is represented by the share price".

"We do think that the shareholders will like this transaction," adding that he expects "more transparent conversations with their shareholders and our shareholders around the merits of this transaction".

Engagements with some common shareholders in both Gold Fields and Gold Road had shown "strong signals" of support for the deal, Fraser added.

He said Northern Star Resources' imminent $3.3 billion buyout of De Grey Mining, which counts Gold Road as its top shareholder, was one of the key catalysts for Gold Fields' bid.

Under its proposal, Gold Fields said it intended to vote in favour of the Northern Star transaction.

Gold miners are undergoing a wave of consolidation this year as companies seek to grow their reserves at a time of sky high bullion prices.

Ramelius Resources agreed to take over Spartan Resources for A$2.4 billion last week. In October, Gold Fields bought Osisko Mining for C$1.93 billion ($1.35 billion), making it the full owner of the Windfall project in Canada.

($1 = 1.5929 Australian dollars)

($1 = 1.4337 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Aaditya Govind Rao in Bengaluru and Nelson Banya in Harare; Editing by Eileen Soreng, Mrigank Dhaniwala and Susan Fenton)
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB)  More concerns arise from the community regarding the treatment of marine life at Gulf World. State officials are getting involved after FWC captive wildlife investigators attempted to conduct an inspection of the facility.

On Saturday, the FWC surveyed Gulf World but when they attempted to conduct a wellness check on the enclosed dolphins they were denied entry by park personnel. This was due to the dolphin area falling under federal government jurisdiction.

State representative Griff Griffitts took to Facebook to address the situation. Griffitts says in the last week he received numerous calls and emails regarding the controversy.

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Today, he met with state, county, and Panama City Beach officials to address these concerns.

And that they are all working together to get all of the necessary authorities involved.

FWC denied entry to conduct dolphin wellness check at Gulf World Marine Park

County Commissioner Peace, Clair Pease visited Gulf World over the weekend and was actually took some very good pictures and videos, which I consider to be very credible. There was significant algae growth on the water. It doesnt look like what I remember going to Gulf World as a child and as a young parent taking my kids there on, you know, field trips and things like that. It it clearly needs some attention, Griffitts said.

Due to the multiple laws that regulate Gulf World, officials have discussed the need for water quality testing, animal welfare inspections, and building safety inspections which must be managed across multiple local, state, and federal agencies.

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Griffitts says the community can expect frequent updates and that several different parties will be working to get the problem rectified quickly. He maintains that the welfare of the dolphins and other animals will be a priority.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.
QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11)  Queens locals will honor local heroes Cazim and Louie Suljovic, who were stabbed while intervening in a robbery in 2022.

Louie Suljovic, owner of Louies Pizza on Baxter Avenue, and his father stepped in when a woman was being robbed outside their shop, police said in 2022. In the process, they were both stabbed, police said.

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He and his father are among the very best New York has to offer, the NYPD said at the time.

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On Tuesday, the Korean American Family Service Center will honor the men by handing out pizzas from Louies Pizza and custom hats.

This act of solidarity celebrates their heroism and uplifts the spirit of community resilience, the group said.

At the time of the attack, locals donated over $762,000 to help the men with medical bills. Organizers described the men as community staples.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

Louies stayed open throughout the pandemic, providing much-needed energy and sustenance to the heroic workers of nearby Elmhurst hospital, not to mention delivering countless meals to those of us sheltering at home, organizers wrote on GoFundMe. We knew the owners were heroes, but the bravery and heroism they showed last night was truly off the charts.

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Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
LOCKHART, Texas (KXAN)  A former daycare staff worker in Lockhart is set to be sentenced by a Caldwell County judge this week. This comes after the daycares director received five years probation. In 2022, the Childrens Center of Lockhart was at the center of a sexual assault investigation involving a 3-year-old.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Lockhart daycare investigated for alleged sexual assault on 3 year old

Amber and Karston Chatelain said they found out their 3-year-old daughter was assaulted at the center. They said a Texas Department of Family Protective Services investigator notified them about the investigation.

In the past five years, the Childrens Center of Lockhart had 69 deficiencies reported by the HHSC.

Law enforcement arrested four people, including a 13-year-old male for aggravated sexual assault of a child. Three adults were also arrested.

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Daycare director Connie Mendoza was charged with tampering with a witness, obstruction and failure to make a child abuse report with intent to conceal. Daycare staff worker Cristine Amaya was charged with failure to make a child abuse report with intent to conceal.

Daycare owner Rafael Santa Maria was charged with tampering a witness.

The Caldwell County District Attorney said Santa Maria was not indicted due to insufficient evidence. Mendoza was sentenced to five years deferred adjudication.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 4 arrested in connection with sexual assault investigation at Lockhart daycare

Amaya pleaded guilty and chose to have the judge determine punishment on March 27.

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The Childrens Center of Lockhart lost its license in 2023. A different child care facility now stands in its place.

But the Chatelains said the pain of what happened years ago still lives on for them.

Three years later, youre still having to go to court, or get therapy. So its not just it happens and then its over with. Amber Chatelain, mother

They said they want to take this negative experience and advocate for positive change across all child care facilities. Its why they started the Texas Childcare Safety Coalition.

Were trying to introduce a bill, or even amend the ones that are there, Amber said. Were just kind of really needing someone to help us write it.

Amber said they want to focus on things like requiring mandatory video monitoring systems for parents at all child care facilities.

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Along with pushing for statewide change, Karston said they also want to create a safe space for families who have been in a similar situation.

Just to have a safe place to come and talk, because its a very, its a very lonely feeling, Karston said. Because a lot of people dont talk about it, that have been through it.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
The Lockland police officer who fatally shot a man on Interstate 75 in Evendale last week was not wearing a body camera, as the department has yet to equip all its officers with body-worn cameras, officials said.

While the village council passed an ordinance authorizing Lockland police to use body cameras, only four such cameras are in service and the officer who shot 48-year-old Samuel Mumyarutete was not wearing one, a statement posted to the village's website reads.

Officials said only four officers have been wearing the cameras in the field to test them, but the village has "prioritized funding and training to ensure the full deployment of cameras across the department in the near future."

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An Ohio Department of Transportation spokesperson said at least part of the shooting was captured on a nearby traffic camera at I-75 and Glendale Milford Road. However, officials have yet to release that footage.

The shooting came after West Chester Township police began a pursuit at the intersection of Princeton Glendale Road and Provident Drive on March 19 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.

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Officials said the vehicle being pursued was found crashed near Glendale Milford Road and Evendale Drive, though its occupants were not found there.

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.

Samuel Mumyarutete.

As Mumyarutete continued to disobey commands, the officer opened fire and struck him in the chest, police said. It remains unclear exactly what prompted the officer to discharge their weapon.

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Mumyarutete was a refugee fleeing a civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, his family said in a statement last week. They added he was not fluent in English and relied on a translation app on his cellphone.

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.

The Ohio Bureau of Investigation was called to handle the shooting inquiry, as commonly happens after police shootings in the state.

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Lockland officials said the officer has been placed on administrative leave while BCI completes its investigation, and the police department will also conduct an internal investigation.

"We acknowledge the deep impact this has on the family of Mr. Mumyarutete, our ocers, and the broader community  especially our growing immigrant community," the village's statement reads. "While we remain in contact with the Mumyarutete family, the BCI Investigation will review all of the events leading up to the shooting during their investigation."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Lockland officer not equipped with body camera in fatal shooting
Ticks that can spread diseases that afflict people, including Lyme disease, continue to proliferate in Connecticut, the latest findings from a multiyear tick surveillance program show.

On Monday, the New Haven-based Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Stations Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases released results of the programs analysis of more than 4,000 ticks collected during the spring, summer and fall of 2024 in 40 locations across the states eight counties.

The ticks were tested for organisms that cause five human diseases, including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Lyme disease, hard tick relapsing fever and Powassan virus.

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The vast majority of the ticks collected were blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, which can spread Lyme disease, followed by longhorned ticks, American dog ticks and lone star ticks.

Two of the species  longhorned ticks and lone star ticks  were identified in Fairfield, Middlesex, New Haven and New London counties. When the surveillance program was launched in 2019, the two species were only detected in Fairfield and New London counties.

New London County reported the highest average adult blacklegged tick density of 83 ticks per acre as well as the highest density of blacklegged tick nymphs of 25 ticks per acre.

Statewide, 54% of adult female blacklegged ticks and 23% of nymphs were found to be infected with Lyme disease. In New London County, the prevalence of infection was 60% of adults and 25% of nymphs.

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New London Countys sampling sites are located at Bluff Point State Park in Groton; Hopeville Pond State Park in Jewett City; Franklin Swamp in North Franklin; Lord Cove, a tidal marsh in Lyme; and on Connecticut College property in Quaker Hill.

The spread of lone star and longhorned ticks in Connecticut, along with increasing blacklegged tick populations, highlights the importance of continued tick surveillance, said Megan Linske, a vector ecologist specializing in tick-host-habitat dynamics at CAES. Residents should take routine precautions and check for ticks after being outdoors.

To minimize exposure to tick bites and reduce the risk of tickborne diseases, CAES recommends people:

 Stay on established trails and avoid bushy or wooded areas.

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 Conduct routine tick checks after outdoor activities.

 Wear long sleeves, pants, and light-colored, tightly woven clothing.

 Tuck pant legs into socks when hiking in tick habitats.

 Wear clothing treated with permethrin, a medication and insecticide, to repel and kill ticks.

b.hallenbeck@theday.com
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ)  A Representative introduced a bill that aims to dismantle the gay/transgender panic defense in the Commonwealth.

The bill, authored by Rep. Mary Daley, argued that it is long overdue for Pennsylvania to defend the rights and dignity of the LGBTQ+ community. Currently in the Commonwealth, if someone commits a crime against the community they can legally claim that the victims sexual orientation or gender identity contributed to their actions.

In 2023, a bill was introduced that aimed to do the same as Daleys legislation, explicitly prohibiting the use of the LGBTQ+ panic defense strategy. The bill was initially passed out of the House Judiciary Committee in October 2023, however, failed when the session ended.

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According to the FBI, in 2023, there were 11,862 hate crimes committed in the United States which was noted to be a two percent increase from 2022. Of those crimes, 18.4% were motivated by the sexual orientation of the victim and 4.1% were motivated by the gender of the victim, according to Daleys legislation.

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Currently, Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia have all passed legislation banning the LGBTQ+ panic defense.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.
The Social Security Administration website crashed four times in 10 days this month because the servers were overloaded, blocking millions of retirees and disabled Americans from logging in to their online accounts. In the field, office managers have resorted to answering phones in place of receptionists because so many employees have been pushed out. Amid all this, the agency no longer has a system to monitor customer experience because that office was eliminated as part of the cost-cutting efforts led by Elon Musk.

And the phones keep ringing. And ringing.

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The federal agency that delivers $1.5 trillion a year in earned benefits to 73 million retired workers, their survivors, and poor and disabled Americans is engulfed in crisis - further undermining the already struggling organizations ability to provide reliable and quick service to vulnerable customers, according to internal documents and more than two dozen current and former agency employees and officials, customers and others who interact with Social Security.

Financial services executive Frank Bisignano is scheduled to face lawmakers Tuesday at a Senate confirmation hearing as President Donald Trumps nominee to become the permanent commissioner. For now, the agency is run by a caretaker leader in his sixth week on the job who has raced to push out more than 12 percent of the staff of 57,000. He has conceded that the agencys phone service sucks and acknowledged that Musks U.S. DOGE Service is really in charge, pushing a single-minded mission to find benefits fraud despite vast evidence that the problem is overstated.

The turmoil is leaving many retirees, disabled claimants, and legal immigrants needing Social Security cards with less access or shut out of the system altogether, according to those familiar with the problems.

Whats going on is the destruction of the agency from the inside out, and its accelerating, Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) said in an interview. I have people approaching me all the time in their 70s and 80s, and theyre beside themselves. They dont know whats coming.

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Kings home state has the countrys oldest population. What theyre doing now is unconscionable, he said.

Leland Dudek, who became acting commissioner after he fed data to Musks team behind his bosses backs, has issued a series of rapid-fire policy changes that have created chaos for front-line staff. Under pressure from the secretive Musk team, Dudek has pushed out dozens of officials with years of expertise in running Social Securitys complex benefit and information technology systems. Others have left in disgust.

The moves have upended an agency that, despite the popularity of its programs, has been underfunded for years, faces potential insolvency in a decade and has been led by four commissioners in five months - just one of them Senate-confirmed. The latest controversy came last week when Dudek threatened to shut down operations in response to a federal judges ruling against DOGE that he claimed would leave no one in the agency with access to beneficiaries personal information.

Alarmed lawmakers are straining to answer questions back home from angry constituents. Calls have flooded into congressional offices. AARP announced Monday that more than 2,000 people a week have called the retiree organization since early February - double the usual number - with concerns about whether benefits they paid for during their working careers will continue. Social Security is the primary source of income for about 40 percent of older Americans.

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Trump has said repeatedly that the administration wont touch Social Security, a promise that aides say applies to benefit levels that can be adjusted only by Congress. But in just six weeks, the cuts to staffing and offices have already taken a toll on access to benefits, officials and advocates say.

- - -

Creating a fire

With aging technology systems and a $15 billion budget that has stayed relatively flat over a decade, Social Security was already struggling to serve the public amid an explosion of retiring baby boomers. The staff that reviews claims for two disability programs was on life support following massive pandemic turnover - and still takes 233 days on average to review an initial claim.

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But current and former officials, advocates and others who interact with the agency - many of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution - said Social Security has been damaged even further by the rapid cuts and chaos of Trumps first two months in office. Many current and former officials fear that the push is part of a long-sought effort by conservatives to privatize all or part of the agency.

Theyre creating a fire to require them to come and put it out, said one high-ranking official who took early retirement this month.

Dudek, who was elevated from a mid-level data analyst in the anti-fraud office, hurried to cut costs when he took over in mid-February, canceling research contracts, offering early-retirement incentives and buyouts across the agency, and consolidating programs and regional offices. Entire offices, including those handling civil rights and modernization, were driven out. The 10 regional offices that oversee field operations were slashed to four.

I do not want to destroy the agency, he said in an interview Monday. The president wants it to succeed by cutting out the red tape to improve service while improving security.

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Musks Department of Government Efficiency team began poring through Social Securitys massive trove of private data on millions of Americans, working in a fourth-floor conference room at the Woodlawn, Maryland, headquarters, with blackout curtains on the windows and an armed security guard posted outside.

At first, the DOGE team was obsessed by false claims that millions of deceased people were receiving benefits. Then came new mandates designed to address alleged fraud: Direct-deposit transactions and identity authentication, operations that affect almost everyone receiving benefits, will no longer be able to be done by phone. Customers with computers will go through the process online; those without will wait in line at their local field office. A change announced internally last week will require legal immigrants with authorization to work in the United States and newly naturalized citizens to apply for or update their Social Security cards in person, eliminating a long-standing practice that sent the cards automatically through the mail.

We realize this is a significant change and there will be a significant impact to customers, Doris Diaz, deputy commissioner of operations, told the field staff Monday during a briefing on the changes, a recording of which was obtained by The Washington Post. She said the agency was working on a process for homeless and homebound customers who cannot use computers or come into an office - and acknowledged that service levels will decline.

In the weeks before that briefing, phone calls to Social Security surged - with questions from anxious customers wondering whether their benefits had been or would be cut and desperate to get an in-person field office appointment. That is, if they could get through to a live person.

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Depending on the time of day, a recorded message tells callers their wait on hold will last more than 120 minutes or 180 minutes. Some callers report being on hold for four or five hours. A callback function was available only three out of 12 times a Post reporter called the toll-free line last week, presumably because the queue that day was so long that the call would not be returned by close of business.

The recording that 66-year-old Kathy Martinez heard when she called the toll-free number two weeks ago from the San Francisco Bay Area said her hold time would be more than three hours - she was calling to ask what her retirement benefits would come to if she filed for them now or waited until she turned 70. She hung up and tried again last week at 7 a.m. Pacific time. The wait was more than 120 minutes, but she was offered a callback option, and in two hours she spoke with a phenomenally kind person who called me, she said.

Martinez said she wants to wait to file for benefits to maximize her check. But Im kind of thinking, I wonder if I should take it now. When I apply, I will do it over the phone. But will there still be a phone system?

- - -

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Not acceptable

Aging, inefficient phone systems have dogged Social Security for years. A modernization contract with Verizon begun under the first Trump administration suffered multiple delays, system crashes and other problems. As commissioner in the last year of the Biden administration, former Maryland governor Martin OMalley moved the project to a new contractor, Amazon Web Services, and data shows that the average wait time for the toll-free line was down to 50 minutes, half of todays average. But OMalley ran out of time to switch the new system to field office phones, he said.

Now a perfect storm has overtaken the system. Turnover thats normally higher than 10 percent has worsened at the 24 call centers across the country. Some employees took early retirement and buyout offers - a number that Dudek said was not huge but that current and former officials estimate could be significant.

Shonda Johnson, a vice president at the American Federation of Government Employees Council 220 who represents 5,000 call center staffers, said low pay (starting salary is $32,000 a year), anger at a return-to-office mandate after years of telework, rapid policy changes, and frustration with how the Trump administration is treating federal employees have hurt morale to the point that people arent giving their all to the job.

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When youre facing threats yourself, it kind of prevents you from being totally there for the public youre servicing, she said.

Asked about worsening phone service, Dudek told reporters in a call last week that a 24 percent answer rate is not acceptable.

I want people who want to get to a person to get to a person, he said, adding that all options are on the table to improve phone service, including outsourcing some call center work.

The new limits on phone transactions take effect at the end of the month, but field offices have been deluged for weeks, even as DOGE is targeting an unspecified number of field and hearing offices for closure over the next three years.

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In one office in central Indiana, the phone lines are jammed by 9 a.m. with hundreds of retirees, further taxing a staff of less than a dozen that is responsible for nearly 70,000 claimants across the state, according to one employee. That worker, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said the questions have become predictable: What is the U.S. DOGE Service doing to Social Security? Will the office close? Will my benefits continue?

The employees, with no training yet on the impending changes, have few answers. I hope were going to be here, the employee tells caller after caller. But I cant guarantee anything.

Complicated benefits cases are falling by the wayside, the employee said. Online claims, which are completed by field staff, are piling up.

There is just no time to breathe or get anything else done, she said. We used to be efficient.

Another employee in a regional office said the staff was told at a recent briefing that field offices across the country are seeing exponential growth in foot traffic. The elderly are not only calling but showing up at buildings to ask about the DOGE-led changes.

In one Philadelphia office, the federal governments return-to-office edict has left 1,200 staffers competing for about 300 parking spots, according to an employee. Staffers wake up as early as 4:30 a.m. to try to snag a space, and some are buying backup spots for $200 a month nearby. As morale has cratered, some employees have stopped wearing business clothes and now come to work in jeans and a T-shirt because, as they tell colleagues, they no longer take pride in their work, the employee said.

- - -

Off the charts

Scammers are already taking advantage of the chaotic moment, according to internal emails obtained by The Post. Last week, employees in several offices were warned that seniors were reporting receiving emails from accounts pretending to be linked to Social Security. The messages asked recipients to verify their identity to keep receiving benefits.

Sounds like scammers are jumping on this press release to trick the elderly, one Social Security staffer wrote to colleagues Thursday, referring to the agencys announcement of the in-person verification program.

In Baltimore, an employee who works on critical payment systems said nearly a quarter of his team is already gone or will soon be out the door as a result of resignations and retirements. Talented software developers and analysts were quick to secure high-paying jobs in the private sector, he said - and the reduction in highly skilled staff is already having consequences.

His office is supposed to complete several software updates and modernization processes required by law within the next few weeks and months, he said. But with the departures, it seems increasingly likely that it will miss those deadlines.

His team is also called on to fix complicated technology glitches that stop payments. But many of the experts who make those fixes are exiting.

That has to get cleaned up on a case-by-case basis, and the experts in how to do that are leaving, the Baltimore employee said. We will have cases that get stuck, and theyre not going to be able to get fixed. People could be out of benefits for months.

Meanwhile, a DOGE-imposed spending freeze has left many field offices without paper, pens and phone headsets - at the exact moment phone calls are spiking, the employee in Indiana said.

The freeze drove all federal credit cards to a $1 limit, and purchasers for the agency were reduced to about a dozen people for 1,300 offices, said one employee in the Northeast.

These purchasers must get a green light from higher-ups for anything other than 12 specific preapproved transactions, according to emails obtained by The Post. The list includes shipping costs, phone bills, Legionella testing and services to support fire safety and emergency response. It does not include basic office supplies.

The field office in Portland, Oregon, is so slammed that the claims staff has told advocates to send questions or information by fax because they cant get to the phones, according to Chase Stowell, case management supervisor for Assist, a nonprofit that helps disabled people apply for benefits. Many of them are homeless.

The attrition rates in Portland are off the charts, Stowell said. They just dont pick up the phone. They were already short-staffed. Theyve told us they just dont trust that theres a reliable system to get ahold of them by voicemail.

The service issues keep bubbling up to members of Congress. Hundreds of Maryland residents turned out for a town hall meeting last week hosted by Baltimore County Council member Pat Young about a mile from Social Security headquarters.

Asked by one retiree in the audience to provide a little bit of hope that his Social Security benefits would not be cut, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Maryland) conceded, The truth of the matter is that we dont know what they intend.

- - -

Jeff Stein contributed to this report.

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Ann Regan, former editor-in-chief at the Minnesota Historical Society Press, is the winner of the 2025 Kay Sexton Award for her significant contributions to and leadership in Minnesotas literary community.

The award is presented annually to an individual or organization in recognition of longstanding dedication and outstanding work in fostering books, reading and literary activity in Minnesota and is part of the 2025 Minnesota Book Awards, presented this year by sponsor Education Minnesota. Regans award was announced Tuesday by Friends of the St. Paul Public Library.

Regan grew up in Billings, Mont., and graduated from the University of Montana with a double major in history and Russian. While working as a summer volunteer for the Montana Historical Society, she was mentored by Vivian Paladin, editor of the societys quarterly journal. That work led her to a temporary position as a research assistant at the Minnesota Historical Society Press, where she remained for 45 years in various positions, retiring as the editor-in-chief in 2024.

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During her time with MNHS Press, Regan acquired approximately 350 books and was directly involved with the editing of close to 300 of those. She says Evelyn Fairbanks Days of Rondo was the book that made (her) an editor and taught her about the collaborative relationship that was possible between author and editor.

The authors she has worked with praised her intellectual engagement, literary integrity, flexibility and willingness to learn from them about areas outside her expertise. Native American writer Diane Wilson (author of Spirit Car) says, Ann and I worked through challenging cultural questions in ways that left us both with a deeper understanding of the others perspective.

Regan has been an advocate for Minnesotas diverse voices by standing behind anthologies that highlight historically underrepresented communities and working to improve the relationship between MNHS Press and Native writers. Says Anton Treuer, Her leadership in this effort transformed our understanding of Minnesota and Native American History.

One of the most well-known of these anthologies is A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota, edited by Sun Yung Shin and published in 2016, just before the police killing of Philando Castile. It instantly became a discussion piece in book clubs and library groups around the state. The book has continued to spark essential conversations, according to Nina Archabal, director emerita, Minnesota Historical Society, in the years since its publication.

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In addition to her work alongside Minnesotas authors, Regan has shared her expertise with the literary community in Minnesota, not only through editing projects but through writing and public service. Her prose has been published in journals and anthologies as well as in the book Irish in Minnesota. She has served on boards and committees for the Minnesota Book Publishers Roundtable, the Western History Association, the Council of the Northern Great Plains History Conference, Friends of the St. Paul

Public Library and other organizations. She has regularly given presentations about editing and publishing at Augsburg University, the University of Minnesota and St. Catherine University, and has taught classes at the Loft Literary Center.

The Kay Sexton Award panel praised the way Regan has worked with writers and her willingness to take a chance on an idea and help an author or editor it into a book. The panel said Regan has exemplified sheer dedication and devotion to literature she is everything this award stands for.

Regan lives on St. Pauls West Side with her husband, Minnesota Book Award-winning historian Bruce White. She will be honored at the 37th annual Minnesota Book Awards ceremony on April 22 at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul. Awards will also be presented to winners in 10 book categories. The preface begins at 6 p.m., followed by the Awards Ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $27 and can be purchased at thefriends.org/mnba. The event will also be livestreamed. Registration for the free livestream is also thefriends.org/mnba.

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LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) Longview ISD seeks educators to join the transformation at Bailey Elementary School, offering a $10,000 stipend.

Bailey Elementary is at a pivotal moment, and we are looking for passionate educators who want to make a meaningful impact, Principal at Bailey Elementary Dr. Derrick Estes said.

New hires who are recognized, exemplary or master educators can earn up to $32,000 in incentive pay. This pay is based on student growth and student evaluation scores through the Teachers Incentive Allotment. The stipend will be paid in two parts: half in December and half in May.

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First ever East Texas Gamer Con coming to Longview this week

Longview ISD is also hosting a career fair, which will take place at Hudson PEP Elementary on March 29. The fair will last from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will offer on-the-spot interviews for a variety of positions. Bailey Elementary, Special Education (SPED) and Bilingual teachers will be the primary focus of the interviews. Childcare will also be provided for the attendees.

With competitive pay, career advancement opportunities and professional development, we are committed to providing the tools teachers need to succeed and, most importantly, to ensure student success, Estes said.

Anyone interested in applying can visit the career page on their website.

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Many Americans are feeling anxious about having enough money to live comfortably in retirement. But are some people completely unprepared? And can the federal government lend a helping hand?

A survey of U.S. voters from asset management firm BlackRock found that one-third of respondents haven't saved anything for retirement. Even more alarming, half of those surveyed said they fear running out of money more than death itself, and more than half reported worrying about their finances daily.

The bottom line? Many survey respondents (28%) feel working Americans lack the necessary tools and resources to save adequately for retirement, while the vast majority (80%) agreed the Trump administration and Congress need to focus on legislation to help people plan and save for their golden years. According to BlackRock, the benchmark for a secure retirement is now believed to be upwards of $2 million.

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So, how can America confront these retirement challenges?

One surprising suggestion to confront this retirement crisis comes from BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, who says that Americans should reconsider the traditional retirement age of 65.

No one should have to work longer than they want to, but I do think its a bit crazy that our anchor for the right retirement age  65 years old  originates from the time of the Ottoman Empire, Fink wrote in his 2024 annual letter to investors.

Choosing to delay retirement may be controversial, however, there are obvious advantages to waiting  not just to maximize Social Security benefits, but also to extend years of salaried income, at least for those able to keep working.

As for government plans to help Americans save more for retirement, well have to wait and see. In the meantime, here are steps you can take yourself to enhance your retirement readiness.

Max out your contributions

Open both a 401(k) and an IRA and plan to max out contributions in each, if financially feasible. Compounding gains from maxed-out accounts can significantly boost your savings. If you're over 50, take advantage of catch-up contributions.

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
A Los Angeles hospital is asking for the publics help in identifying a patient who has been hospitalized since Sunday.

The man is currently receiving treatment at Los Angeles General Medical Center in Boyle Heights after he was found on Wall Street in downtown L.A.

The unidentified man is believed to be about 30 years old. He is 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighs 178 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes, officials said.

Los Angeles General Medical Center is seeking the identity of this patient who has been receiving care since March 23, 2025. (Los Angeles County Department of Health Services)

Due to patient confidentiality laws, the mans condition was not disclosed. Photos shared by the L.A. County Department of Health Services appeared to show the man unconscious with a ventilator.

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Anyone with information about his identity is asked to contact clinical social worker Cesar Robles at 323-409-6884. The hospitals Social Work Department can also be reached at 323-409-5253.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Los Angeles officials moved Tuesday to take control of hundreds of millions of dollars in homelessness spending, citing two scathing audits that found the government agency currently responsible for that money has spent it recklessly and without transparency.

An audit this month found poor record-keeping prevented the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, or LAHSA, from tracking spending and verifying whether paid-for services were provided. The authority also paid invoices late, lacked an adequate system to monitor contracts and could not provide documentation to account for $5 million in cash advances sent to five service providers, according to a report in November.

On Tuesday the LA City Council unanimously approved a motion asking staff to produce a report on how Los Angeles could effectively sidestep the authority and directly contract with homeless service providers.

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The agency, which is jointly funded by the city and county, was formed in 1993 as a result of a lawsuit settlement addressing limited access to public funds. It coordinates and manages money that goes toward shelter, food programs and a wide range of services for unhoused residents. It has an annual budget of approximately $875 million.

The homelessness crisis is visible in downtown Los Angeles, where hundreds of people live in makeshift shanties that line entire blocks in the notorious neighborhood known as Skid Row. Tents regularly pop up on the pavement outside City Hall. Encampments are increasingly found in suburban areas under freeway overpasses. A 2024 survey found that more than 75,000 people were homeless on any given night across LA County.

California accounts for nearly a third of the homeless population in the United States.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who has made tackling homelessness a major priority, did not immediately comment on Tuesday's vote. Va Lecia Adams Kellum, a Bass ally, has been CEO of LAHSA since 2023, including for more than a year during the timeframe reviewed by auditors.

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City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who introduced the measure, said the city should have cut ties with the agency years ago.

It's now been verified by two audits that they cannot produce an account for the work that they are funded to do. And that, to me, is an egregious breach of taxpayer trust, Rodriguez told The Associated Press on Monday.

Rodriguez also wants to create a city department accountable to the council and the mayor, that would develop and manage programs for unhoused residents.

The authority did not address the criticisms in a statement after the vote, but noted the county's unsheltered homeless population has declined over the past two years.

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"To keep this momentum going, all partners in this effort must remain committed to the alignment and to continuing the improvement being made, the statement said.

Meanwhile the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will vote April 1 on a proposal that would shift nearly $350 million in annual taxpayer funds that go to LAHSA to create a new county department on homelessness.

With recent audits underscoring the urgent need for reform and stronger accountability, now is the time to implement long overdue change, Supervisor Lindsay Horvath said in a statement.

Under the motion before supervisors, the authority would continue to get support from the county for a limited number of programs and services required by the federal government, including the annual homeless count.

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This month LAHSA released preliminary results from January's annual tally of unhoused residents that anticipated a 5% to 10% decrease in unsheltered homelessness in the region, which would continue a decline first seen last year.

When I first came to LAHSA, I publicly stated that we wanted to reduce unsheltered homelessness within three years, Adams Kellum said in a statement accompanying the early numbers. Weve done it in two.

The final results of the 2025 count are expected to be released in May or June. The agency said the preliminary figures indicate LA County is moving in the right direction toward solving homelessness.
Ukraine last week announced the latest advance in the ongoing drone race with Russia, saying its new variant had the longest range of any in its arsenal and had successfully completed testing.

"Our drone with a 3,000-kilometer range has passed testing," President Volodymyr Zelensky said during his evening address on March 17.

"I am grateful to the developers and manufacturers. We are developing a line of long-range weapons that will help guarantee the security of our state," he added.

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And that was it  there were no further details on the type of drone, its name, the size of its warhead, or when it would go into mass production.

The drone

Federico Borsari, a fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), told the Kyiv Independent that it's likely the new drone has a fixed-wing structure and a turbojet engine.

"Similar to a very cheap cruise missile," he added.

If Borsari is correct, this would make it a longer-range version of Ukraine's Palianytsia missile drone, which was revealed last year and is thought to have a range of between 500 and 700 kilometers.

A screenshot from the video announcing Ukraine's new Palianytsia missile-drone. (United 24/X)

But a range of 3,000 kilometers opens up a vast expanse of Russia with multiple targets.

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"That would create a lot of problems for Russia," Borsari said.

The possible targets

Fabian Hoffmann, a defense expert and doctoral research fellow at the University of Oslo, told the Kyiv Independent that the longer range will allow Ukraine to significantly expand its current drone campaign, and he expects the type of targets will remain the same.

"More critical infrastructure, oil refineries, oil processing facilities," he said, adding: "The other thing that immediately comes to mind is production facilities for various types of equipment on the Russian side that probably was outside of the target radius of previous drone systems."

To date, Olenya military air base in Russia's Murmansk Oblast was the farthest Russian facility hit by a drone. The air base is located some 1,800 kilometers (1,118 miles) north of the Ukrainian border.

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While it's not known what type of drone was used in the attack, the minimal damage caused and the fact it has not been repeated since suggest it was a drone armed only with a small warhead operating at the very limits of its capabilities.

But the airbase is well within the range of Ukraine's new drone, as is the Severomorsk-1 naval air base just to the north, home to Russia's 216 Independent Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron and the 830th Independent Shipborne Anti-Submarine Helicopter Regiment.

A map of potential targets for Ukraine's new 3,000km drone. (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent)

Kyiv's ever-intensifying campaign against Russia's energy and military infrastructure to disrupt Moscow's war effort will likely be bolstered, with several oil facilities within the 3,000-kilometer range.

These include the Strezhevsk and Nizhnevartovsk oil refineries, both located some 2,600 kilometers inside Russia.

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Ukraine may also choose to target Russian factories that contribute to Moscow's war effort.

Within range is the JSC Serov Mechanical Plant in Sverdlovsk Oblast, which produces casings for 152 mm caliber projectiles and oil drilling and production equipment for several major Russian oil companies.

The factory has been sanctioned by the U.S. and the EU.

Read also: We asked Ukrainian soldiers if theyd fight Russia with their bare hands

The damage

"The big question, of course, is how large is the warhead with all the drone systems? Because that will, in the end, really determine the damage that it can do," Hoffman said.

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The larger the warhead, the heavier the drone, and the more limited its range, so Ukraine may have had to make trade-offs to enable the 3,000-kilometer range.

But Hoffman said that even with a small 20-kilogram warhead, the drone would still be effective against unprotected targets such as oil refineries where much of the vital machinery and flammable materials are stored out in the open rather than underground or protected by hardened shelters.

"Oil and gas infrastructure is very susceptible even to small warheads," he said.

"But if you want to have a bit more flexibility in terms of what you can target, I think we should at least hope for somewhere around 100 kilograms, but I wouldn't be too optimistic about that."

The defense

Ukraine does have one significant advantage in the ongoing drone war  Russia's inadequate air defenses.

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"Russia has one of the most comprehensive air defense networks in the world, and yet even they face several challenges in countering Ukrainian drones," Mattias Eken, a defense and security expert at RAND Europe, told the Kyiv Independent.

Footage that purports to show the fire caused by a drone attack against Engels, Saratov Oblast, Russia, overnight on Jan. 14, 2025. (Astra/Telegram)

"The vast expanse of Russian territory and the distributed nature of military and energy infrastructure make it difficult to provide comprehensive air defense coverage with existing Russian assets."

Ukraine already repeatedly strikes targets critical to Russia's oil industry and defense capabilities  military air bases like Engels and refineries such that in Tuapse have been hit multiple times, demonstrating Russian air defenses are already stretched thin.

"Russia will need to prioritize which areas and assets to defend, given the vast Russian geography, potentially leaving some vulnerabilities in its infrastructure," Eken said.

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Read also: As Ukraine, Russia agree to ceasefire at sea, Moscows battered Black Sea Fleet is set to get a reprieve

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
DISCLAIMER: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  The Shreveport Police Department arrested a man for the alleged sexual assault of a child.

Louisiana man wanted for alleged rape of minor

(Source: Shreveport Police Department)

According to a press release, Shreveport Police Sex Crimes investigators responded to Willis Knighton South to meet with a complainant and her juvenile son on March 22. The juvenile disclosed to his mother that he had been the victim of a sexual assault.

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The SPD says detectives were able to identify the location where the assault occurred. Officers located and arrested Marcus Howard at the home on one count of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

The SPD says the investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact them at 318-673-7300 or Crime Stoppers at 318-673-7373.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

UPDATE: Wednesday, March 26, Shreveport Police Sex Crimes Detectives have arrested Boyd.

CADDO/BOSSIER PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  The Shreveport Police Department is seeking the publics assistance in their search for 43-year-old Derrick L. Boyd, a convicted sex offender.

Louisiana man arrested for alleged sexual assault of child

(Source: Shreveport Police Department)

We do know of at least two offences in which he has been found guilty. One of which is in California, and one of which is in Bossier Parish, in which he has had inappropriate behaviors with juveniles, so we want to ensure everything we can to get him in custody quickly, says Shreveport Police Departments Corporal Chris Bordelon.

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Shreveport Police Sex Crimes Detectives launched an investigation into a reported second-degree rape on March 19. The 14-year-old juvenile victim reported being assaulted by her mothers boyfriend, who detectives identified as Derrick L. Boyd.

La. lawmakers approve surgical castration option for those guilty of sex crimes against kids

Shreveport Police say they want him in custody quickly, as Boyd is a Tier-3 sex offender, meaning he is very likely to re-offend.

Individuals who commit crimes against children dont usually get caught the first time they do it, and they tend to do it more than once, says Corporal Bordelon.

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Authorities say a warrant was submitted on March 21 to the Caddo Parish District Attorneys Office, charging Boyd with one count of Second-Degree Rape and one count of Sexual Battery. Detectives urge the public, especially children, to understand what is not appropriate.

Shreveport police searching for unregistered sex offenders

We want to make sure that individuals are aware that there is a sex offender registry and it is publicly releasable. Its available to everyone online, emphasizes Corporal Bordelon.

Police say the more victims that come forward, the more time a sex offender may spend in jail because each charge can add more time.

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The SPD says Boyd could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
Editors note: Details of the story may be disturbing to some readers.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56)  A Louisville man has been accused of raping a woman he hired to clean his house on March 21.

According to an arrest citation, Richard Conkin, 73, responded to a womans ad on the NextDoor app where she sought babysitting or home cleaning jobs.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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Around 1:30 p.m., while she was cleaning an upstairs bedroom, Conkin allegedly came into the room, pushed her down on the bed, and held her down by her wrists, according to the police. As she struggled, Conkin was said to have told her not to scream or it would be worse.

The citation noted that he offered to pay her an extra $20 if she said nothing.

Read more of the latest Kentucky news

The police said the womans wrists were bruised, and she had cuts to her knuckles, which she claimed happened during her struggle.

Court records show that Conkin was arrested that same evening and charged with first-degree rape. He was booked into the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections and is being held on a $250,000 cash bond. Conkin is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. on March 31.

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Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko began his seventh term in power on March 25 after declaring himself the winner of the January elections broadly seen as neither fair nor free.

In his inauguration address at the Independence Palace in Minsk, Lukashenko said that Belarus "has its own standards for holding elections, which can become an international benchmark."

The Belarusian Election Commission claimed that Lukashenko "won" 86.82% of the vote on Jan. 26, followed by regime-approved and little-known candidates like Sergey Syrankov with 3.21% or Oleg Gaidukevich with 2.02%.

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In power since 1994, Lukashenko's dictatorial rule has been marked by a harsh crackdown on political opposition, free media, and civil society.

In his speech, the dictator claimed that Belarus ensures everyone's opportunity to express their opinion but "will not allow freedom of speech to be used as a club to destroy our own country."

A day before the inauguration, 10 Belarusian human rights groups denounced the January presidential elections and Lukashenko's continued hold on power.

The latest vote was "held in a deep human rights crisis, in an atmosphere of total fear caused by repressions against civil society, independent media, the opposition, and all dissenters," the statement read.

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In 2020, Lukashenko also declared himself the winner despite independent pollsters saying that his opponent, independent candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, won the most votes. The election fraud sparked mass protests, which were followed by a violent crackdown and mass arrests.

Lukashenko has been a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, allowing Moscow's forces to use Belarus as a launching ground for the invasion of Kyiv and missile attacks in 2022.

Read also: Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko signs security treaty, pulling Belarus further into Russias orbit

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
STRUTHERS, Ohio (WKBN)  A special lunch event Tuesday brought dozens of disabled children and adults together with hundreds of area veterans.

Directors with the Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities hosted their 11th Veterans of the Valley luncheon in conjunction with DD Awareness Month.

Organizers say the event allows their clients the chance to interact with some of those who served the valley and their country in uniform.

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We wanted to come up with an event where we give back to the community, and because we get a lot of recognition, there are billboards, theres TV ads, all those types of things, Bill Whitacre with the Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities said. We thought what could we do to support people in our Valley that have meant so much to us.

As part of Tuesdays event, proclamations were given to four area veterans including Victor Berarducci  who is 101 years old  and Arthur Newell  whos 99  as well as Frank Marr and Grace Abernathy.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Gerard Depardieu, the French actor, told a Paris court he was no subway groper as he denied sexually assaulting two women during a film shoot.

I dont see why I would go around groping a woman, her buttocks, her breasts. Im not somebody who rubs himself against others on the Metro, he said in his first statement at his trial in Paris on Tuesday.

He added: I dont see why I would enjoy groping a woman on a film set. Im not a subway groper.

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Depardieu, who has starred in more than 200 films and television series, has been accused of improper behaviour by around 20 women, but this is the first case to come to trial.

The 76-year-old said he was not like that in response to the accusations and added: There are vices that are alien to me.

I deny all of it, he told the court. I did not commit harassment or sexual assault.

Frances cinema industry was relatively slow in reacting to the MeToo movement but a growing number of allegations have reached the countrys courts in recent months.

A set dresser identified only as Amelie has alleged sexual assault and sexual insults against Gerard Depardieu - CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Depardieu, the highest-profile figure to face such accusations, told the Paris Criminal Court that the feminist movement risked becoming a reign of terror.

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I havent worked in three years. Every time I have sung, Ive had 20 crazy women with placards. I defend freedom of speech, I also defend femininity, but I dont have time for hysteria, he told the court.

The trial relates to charges of sexual assault during the filming in 2021 of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters), directed by Jean Becker.

Actor behaved like wild animal

Anouk Grinberg, a high-profile actor who also starred in the film, has backed the two plaintiffs  a set dresser, 54, identified only as Amelie, and a 34-year-old assistant director known only as Sarah.

Both women allege sexual violence and sexist insults.

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Asked for his version of events during the shoot, Depardieu told the court: It was a Friday, it was hot, it was humid. I weigh 150 kilos [331 pounds] and I was in a bad mood.

He said that after a heated discussion with Amelie about choices on set, he grabbed her by the hips but only so I wouldnt slip due to his weight.

When asked whether he wished to say sorry, he said: I apologise for having overstepped the mark in terms of civilisation. I didnt want to hurt or shock this woman brutally with words about her profession.

Testifying after Depardieu, Amelie said that the actor had behaved like a wild animal and wasnt at all the same man that you see here today.

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She reiterated her account, first reported in February last year, that Depardieu had boasted he could give women an orgasm without touching them and that he brutally grabbed her.

The actor pinned her by closing his legs around her before groping her waist and her stomach, continuing up to her breasts, she added, saying it was like a sexual airport frisk.

Hes got something to say to me, he grabs me, touches me, kneads me while hes holding me, he says to me with crazy eyes, its in flashes, Ive got this big face in front of me with red eyes, very angry, very excited, come and touch my big parasol, Im going to stick it in your pussy, she told the court.

He terrified me and found it amusing.

The trial, initially scheduled for October 2024, had been postponed because of Depardieus ill health - BENOIT PEYRUCQ

Asked why she had not come forward immediately, Amelie said: I didnt want to talk about it, I felt humiliated. I was having a great run professionally and I knew that if I filed a police report, it would be the end of the film.

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She also said she hadnt immediately realised that such groping constituted sexual assault and decided to press for charges after viewing extracts of The Fall of the Ogre, a 2013 documentary.

The programme showed the actor on a 2018 trip to North Korea repeatedly making explicit sexual comments in front of a female interpreter and appearing to sexualise a small girl riding a horse.

I said to myself this has gone far enough, she added.

Depardieu denied physical assault and challenged the claim that his remarks were insulting.

What do you mean by salacious? You mean saying pussy? But I say pussy all the time, even addressing myself, I think its funny, he said.

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The trial, initially scheduled for October 2024, had been postponed due to the actors ill health.

Depardieu has undergone a quadruple heart bypass operation and suffers from diabetes, prompting the court to allow him to take breaks every three hours for 15 minutes.

The trial continues.

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French President Emmanuel Macron will host President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace on March 26 to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine ahead of the "coalition of the willing" summit, Le Monde reported on March 25, citing an official statement.

The Paris summit on March 27 will bring together Germany, Poland, the U.K., and other coalition members who have pledged to support Ukraine's post-war security.

The initiative was first introduced by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a March 2 summit in London, where European and other leaders discussed support for Kyiv.

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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 entered an "operational phase."

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Feb. 24 that Russian President Vladimir Putin would allow European peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of a settlement, though Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov publicly rejected the idea.

During his meeting with Zelensky, Macron is also expected to reaffirm France's commitment to increasing military and financial aid for Ukraine, according to Le Monde.

On March 13, France's National Assembly passed a resolution calling for enhanced support for Kyiv and the seizure of frozen Russian assets.

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Read also: Content of US-Russia talks in Riyadh will definitely not be published, Kremlin says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC) has submitted its positions on the proposed tax reform to the Minister of Finance, Makis Keravnos, including a set of 14 new suggestions aimed at refining the tax system.

The suggestions were made within the context of a recent consultation based on the University of Cyprus Economics Research Centre's recommendations.

ICPAC has proposed measures such as tax loss carry forward, qualifying refundable tax credits, intellectual property nexus regime, and incentives for foreign investment funds.

These suggestions are part of ICPAC's response to the government's tax package, which the institute recognises as limiting the tax burden on taxpayers and businesses, while consolidating the tax base.

However, ICPAC has highlighted areas of concern, calling for a simplification of the tax system, reduction of bureaucracy, and a more predictable tax framework.

ICPAC underlined: We also expected to see proposals that will reduce the ever-increasing in recent years administrative compliance costs for small and medium-sized enterprises, which undoubtedly constitute the backbone of the Cypriot economy.

The institute supports the abolition of deemed dividend distribution and a 5% withholding tax on actual dividends for Cyprus tax residents who are also domiciled in Cyprus.

ICPAC further stated: Our basic position is to enhance the value and credibility of Cyprus as a business destination of choice and quality, by continuously upgrading the product and services offered, as well as by simplifying, strengthening and effectively implementing the country's internal infrastructure, processes and operations (beyond taxation), thus offering value-added services at a competitive cost.

The institute has requested additional information on several points, including the imposition of a higher withholding tax rate on concealed dividend distributions and anti-abuse measures for close-structured companies.

ICPAC has also expressed reservations about lifting the corporate veil and adjusting salaries to market rates, citing the need for legal clarity and proportionality.

On the Non-Dom regime, ICPAC agrees with the principle but seeks further details, particularly on the extension after 17 years and the calculation of the annual fee.

Additionally, while supporting recommendations for the green transition and digital transformation, ICPAC emphasises the need for more targeted measures.

"ICPAC submits 14 new suggestions for Cyprus tax system " was originally created and published by The Accountant, a GlobalData owned brand.
Pete Hegseth has now been the secretary of defense for exactly two months, and by any fair measure, the wildly unqualified and scandal-plagued former Fox News personality has struggled in his powerful position. Hegseth, for example, ordered U.S. Cyber Command to halt offensive cyber operations and information operations against Russia. And made indefensible hires. And derailed the Defense Departments efforts to take the climate crisis seriously.

Hes also needlessly fired several key officials, including the top lawyers for the Army, Navy and Air Force. And targeted Pentagon-run schools. And shuttered the Office of Net Assessment, the Pentagons internal think tank for the last half-century that focused on long-term security threats.

But just when it seemed things couldnt get much worse for the amateur Cabinet secretary, Hegseth confronted fresh allegations as part of the scandal that some are calling Signalgate. As The New York Times summarized:

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disclosed war plans in an encrypted group chat that included a journalist two hours before U.S. troops launched attacks against the Houthi militia in Yemen, the White House said on Monday, confirming an account in the magazine The Atlantic. ... It was an extraordinary breach of American national security intelligence.

By now, the basic elements of the controversy are probably familiar. Top members of Donald Trumps national security team chatted in a Signal group over the classified details of a military strike in Yemen, and they accidentally included Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantics editor in chief.

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The final paragraph of Goldbergs piece read, All along, members of the Signal group were aware of the need for secrecy and operations security. In his text detailing aspects of the forthcoming attack on Houthi targets, Hegseth wrote to the group  which, at the time, included me  We are currently clean on OPSEC.

OPSEC referred to operations security. In other words, the defense secretary was certain that he and his colleagues  while chatting on a free platform that has never been approved for chats about national security and classified intelligence  had locked everything down, and created a secure channel of communications.

Of course, we now know that Team Trump was most certainly not clean on OPSEC, Hegseths embarrassing boast notwithstanding.

Hours after the public learned of this devastating White House debacle, the beleaguered Pentagon chief tried something unexpected: As NBC News reported, Hegseth denied what the Trump administration had already confirmed.

Asked how information about war plans was shared with a journalist and whether the information was classified, Hegseth went after Goldberg, calling him a so-called journalist. Asked why military details were shared on Signal and how he found out a journalist was on the chain, Hegseth said: Ive heard I was characterized. Nobody was texting war plans, and thats all I have to say about that.

The White House had already acknowledged  publicly and on the record  that administration officials really did discuss highly sensitive military plans using an unclassified chat application. Hegseth tried to peddle a clumsy denial anyway.

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Its possible that the defense secretary will try to parse the meaning of the phrase war plans, but lets note for context that Goldberg reported the messages specifically included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing.

Indeed, after being shown Hegseths comments to reporters, The Atlantic editor said plainly that the Pentagon chiefs claim was a lie.

Complicating matters further, Hegseth, with his carelessness, also fell short of the very standards he espoused when going after Hillary Clinton over her email server protocols.

In a normal and healthy political environment, the question wouldnt be whether Hegseth needed to resign; it would be when hed exit the Pentagon. The latest column from the New York Times David French called on the defense secretary to do exactly that, writing, I dont know how Pete Hegseth can look service members in the eye. Hes just blown his credibility as a military leader.

If recent history is any guide, the president wont care, though given the circumstances, Trumps indifference should be impossible to defend.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
As members of Congress returned from a break, Democrats had certain messaging goals for the day. By lunchtime, the partys plan had to be thrown out the window in order to address an unexpected White Houses latest national security scandal.

The basic elements of the controversy are probably familiar. Top members of Donald Trumps national security team chatted in a Signal group over the classified details of a military strike in Yemen, and they accidentally included Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantics editor in chief.

Those hoping to see Democrats take the controversy seriously didnt have to wait long. The Washington Post reported:

Congressional Democrats on Monday called for investigations over the leak of highly sensitive military plans involving top Cabinet officials and the editor in chief of The Atlantic. ... While the White House admitted that officials had made a mistake in adding Goldberg to the chat, Democrats in Congress argued that the acknowledgment isnt enough and that the error must be investigated.

The leak of sensitive national security information by the Trump administration on a non-classified system is completely outrageous and shocks the conscience, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement. It is yet another unprecedented example that our nation is increasingly more dangerous because of the elevation of reckless and mediocre individuals, including the Secretary of Defense.

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The New York Democrat added, If House Republicans are truly serious about keeping America safe, and not simply being sycophants and enablers, they must join Democrats in a swift, serious and substantive investigation into this unacceptable and irresponsible national security breach.

Around the same time, on the other side of Capitol Hill, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer delivered floor remarks in which the New York Democrat said, This debacle requires a full investigation into how this happened, the damage it created, and how we can avoid it in the future. If our nations military secrets are being peddled around over unsecure text chains, we need to know at once and we need to put a stop to it immediately. Every single Senator  Republican and Democrat and Independent  must demand accountability.

Schumer added, This kind of carelessness is how people get killed. It is how our enemies take advantage of us. It is how our national security falls into danger.

Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, said the scandal represents one of the most egregious failures of operational security and common sense I have ever seen. Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia added via Bluesky, Heads must roll. This is one of the dumbest security breaches in history, and it suggests a larger pattern of potentially criminal behavior that puts Americans at risk.

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There are 260 Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill, and its impractical to think that I can quote all of them in this blog post. Suffice it to say, most of them had exceedingly critical reactions to the blockbuster reporting.

The next question, of course, is what theyll do next.

Because Democrats are in the minority, they cant call committee hearings or send subpoenas to the Trump administration. That said, members can launch investigations  several Democrats have already indicated their examinations are already underway  and issue reports.

They can also ask good questions during congressional hearings, including a Senate hearing thats poised to begin with testimony from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

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Finally, they can at least try to organize unofficial hearings. Only one word for this: FUBAR, Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan of New York, an Army veteran who sits on the Armed Services Committee, wrote online. If House Republicans wont hold a hearing on how this happened IMMEDIATELY, Ill do it my damn self.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Top officials in the Trump administration discussed a military operation in a group chat on a commercially available messaging platform with a random member of the media added to the chat without anyone bothering to look at who else was in the chat. Senator Mark Warner, top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, shares his reaction to the news with Rachel Maddow.
The question wasnt whether Louis DeJoy would step down, but rather, when. As NBC News reported, the public now has its answer.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said in a statement that he will retire today as the Postal Services top official. After nearly five years as Americas 75th Postmaster General, and after informing the Governors in February of my intention to retire, I have today informed the Postal Service Board of Governors that today will be my last day in this role, DeJoy said.

His deputy, Douglas Tulino, will serve as interim postmaster general until the board of governors names a permanent successor.

Revisiting our earlier coverage, DeJoys political career has been anything but normal. Around this time eight years ago, for example, he was a part of a scandal-plagued Republican National Committee finance team. Three years later, Donald Trump elevated the GOP donor to the leadership position atop the U.S. Postal Service.

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DeJoy became controversial for a great many reasons, and many Democrats made little effort to hide their desire to see him go. What was less well known, however, was the president who chose him for the job apparently wasnt a fan, either: Trump reportedly resented the postmaster general for not doing more to curtail postal balloting during the 2020 election cycle.

Shortly before the presidents second inaugural, The Washington Post reported that Trumps team was vetting candidates to succeed the incumbent postmaster general, despite DeJoy not having announced any plan to step down and the fact that only the USPS board can oust a postmaster general.

Evidently, he got the message.

Among the many reasons these developments are notable are the White Houses plans for the future of the USPS  some of which are undeniably radical.

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Theres been speculation for months, for example, that Trump might consider trying to privatize the USPS, and the Republican hasnt made much effort to deny that possibility. Asked specifically during his transition period whether he supports a privatization scheme, Trump said its not the worst idea Ive ever heard, adding, Its an idea that a lot of people have talked about for a long time; were looking at it.

More recently, as The New York Times reported, the president said he was considering merging the independent agency with the Commerce Department, which would apparently mean putting the USPS in the hands of Secretary Howard Lutnick  yes, that Howard Lutnick.

For now, however, the White House has not made its plans clear. Watch this space.

This post updates our related earlier coverage.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
As things stand, a relatively small group of House Republicans are pushing a series of impeachment resolutions targeting four sitting federal judges  and counting. Elon Musk hasnt just touted the campaign against the jurists, he has also rewarded impeachment advocates with campaign contributions.

Last week, the whole far-right operation got a significant boost from President Donald Trump, who publicly called for the impeachment of a judge who ruled in a key case in a way the White House didnt like.

On Capitol Hill, however, GOP leaders dont seem overly eager to launch impeachment crusades against judges whove done nothing wrong, and who would never be removed by a two-thirds majority in the Senate.

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So, whats a partisan congressional leader to do? The answer, evidently, is to consider some radical alternatives to impeachment. Punchbowl News Jake Sherman, an MSNBC contributor, spoke with House Speaker Mike Johnson, and the Louisiana Republican shared one possible approach:

We do have authority over the federal courts. As you know, we can, we can eliminate an entire district court. ... We have power, funding over the courts and all these other things. But desperate times call for desperate measures and Congress is going to act so stay tuned for that.

Sherman noted soon after that the House speaker clarified that he didnt mean this as a direct threat. Im trying to illustrate we have a broad scope of authority over the courts, Johnson added.

And as part of this broad scope of congressional authority over the courts, whats on the table? Quite a bit, actually. Over the course of the last week or so, Republican lawmakers have opened the door to a series of possible alternatives to judicial impeachments. GOP officials are considering:

Legislation to bar district court judges from issuing nationwide injunctions.

Blocking funding for district courts that issued rulings that Trump doesnt like.

Holding House and Senate hearings to focus attention on judges whove issued rulings that Trump doesnt like.

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It was against this backdrop that the House speaker brought up his belief that Congress could eliminate an entire district court.

For what its worth, most of these approaches would struggle to clear Capitol Hill: Even if they were to pass the House, theyd face Democratic filibusters and fail in the Senate.

The exception, however, is the possible effort to defund courts that bother the GOP majorities  because that might be added to a reconciliation package that would not be subject to a 60-vote majority in the upper chamber. Watch this space.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Hours after the so-called Signalgate scandal broke, as the political world came to terms with the White Houses national security debacle, Politico published a report that raised a few eyebrows. The stunning revelation that top administration officials accidentally included a reporter in a group chat discussing war plans triggered furious discussion inside the White House that national security adviser Mike Waltz may need to be forced out, the article read.

Politico even quoted a source close to the White House who was rather blunt in assessing the controversial national security adviser: Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f---ing idiot.

The broader question quickly came into focus: Would Donald Trump, whos had some trouble with his national security advisers, agree to show Waltz the door? At least for now, as NBC News reported, the former congressman has the presidents backing.

President Donald Trump stood by his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, after The Atlantics editor-in-chief was accidentally added to a private, high-level chat on the messaging app Signal where military plans were being discussed. Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man, Trump said Tuesday in a phone interview with NBC News.

Implicit in the comments, of course, was a rare acknowledgement of wrongdoing: The president didnt say, Waltz did nothing wrong; the whole scandal is an elaborate hoax cooked up by the fake news media, which is why Ive decided to sue The Atlantic. Rather, the Republican said his beleaguered White House national security adviser has learned a lesson.

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Implicit in the comments was a concession of sorts  Waltz did something wrong  which didnt do any favors to those who responded to the bombshell reporting by pretending the revelations were meaningless.

Of course, the president wasnt the only voice in his party addressing the burgeoning controversy. A great many Republicans weighed in, though the GOP didnt exactly speak with one voice.

Some Republicans peddled tiresome and lazy hackery: Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri appeared on Fox News and said the leftist media has been reduced to griping about whos on a text message.

Some Republicans were indifferent to the revelations: After Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was caught in a lie, Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas said he was prepared to take the Pentagon chief at his word, adding: We gotta move on.

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Some Republicans generally acknowledged the controversy: Sounds like a huge screwup. I mean, is there any other way to describe it? Sen. John Cornyn of Texas told reporters. I dont think you should use Signal for classified information. Sen. Tim Sheehy of Montana added, Somebody f---ed up.

Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia, who serves on the House Intelligence Committee, told Punchbowl the breach shouldnt have happened.

Some Republicans relied on a memorable passive-voice phrase: Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters, Its definitely a concern, and it appears that mistakes were made.

Some Republican voices in media scrambled to pretend the scandal was unimportant: Fox News Sean Hannity complained about independent news organizations covering the controversy, while his colleague Jesse Waters suggested that unrelated Democratic incidents were worse.

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The Republican who always expresses concern expressed concern: Sen. Susan Collins of Maine described the scandal as extremely troubling and serious.

As for what, if anything, GOP officials are actually prepared to do in the wake of the revelations, Rep. Brian Mast of Florida, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, rejected the need for a congressional investigation and said he expects Team Trump to investigate itself. The White House should take care of it, Mast said.

Wicker, however, told The New York Times, There are always two sides to the story, but its a concern. Definitely well be looking into it.

Watch this space.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Todays edition of quick hits.

* A Reagan-appointed judge: The US Agency for Global Media is barred from forcing Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to shutter its operations, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. The leadership of USAGM cannot, with one sentence of reasoning offering virtually no explanation, force the nonprofit to shut down even if the President has told them to do so, Judge Royce C. Lamberth of the US District Court for the District of Columbia said in a Tuesday order granting Radio Free Europes request for a temporary restraining order.

* Difficult diplomacy: The White House said Tuesday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a ceasefire in the Black Sea and to implement a ban on attacks on energy facilities by the two neighbors, an apparent breakthrough after American negotiators held separate talks with both countries. If implemented, the agreements could mark a major step toward a wider deal to end the three-year-long war, which began when Russia launched a largescale invasion of its smaller neighbor.

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* At the CDC: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is pulling back $11.4 billion in funds allocated in response to the pandemic to state and community health departments, nongovernment organizations and international recipients, the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed Tuesday.

* In related news: President Donald Trump has selected Susan Monarez as his new nominee to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Monarez, a scientist whose previous work looked at using artificial intelligence to improve health, has already been serving as acting director.

* The latest from The Conference Board: A measure of consumers short-term expectations has fallen to its lowest level in 12 years, ticking a figure that has historically signaled recessions ahead.

* Another step backward: The Trump administration is shuttering HHS long Covid office as part of its reorganization, according to an internal email seen by POLITICO. The email was sent Monday by Ian Simon, the head of the Office of Long Covid Research and Practice. It said the closing is part of the Department of Health and Human Services reorganization.

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* Up until nine weeks ago, advice like this was wholly unnecessary: The U.N. has advised all of its employees who work at its New York headquarters, as well as their family members, to carry U.N. identification cards and a copy of their passport page that contains their visa, because they are at risk of being stopped by immigration officials, according to a copy of an email seen by The New York Times.

See you tomorrow.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
A contested aldermanic race in the heart of downtown Madison got a boost in attention after the incumbent's ad featuring a panda suit went viral on social media over the weekend.

The fictional panda voter gives an endorsement for Ald. Mike Verveer, who has served on Madison's Common Council since 1995. His district includes neighborhoods near the state Capitol square and Regent Street, areas saturated with college students.

The panda talks about Verveer's efforts to build affordable housing, create public parks and bring Amtrak service to Madison. The panda's face even illuminates when he flicks a lighter, saying Verveer has fought to decriminalize marijuana.

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The ad, called "Pandamonium," was an idea among Verveer's campaign team to counter the flood of outside money and negative ads in the state Supreme Court race with some lighthearted humor.

"If we had a traditional ad, this wouldn't be noticed. It wouldn't be a good investment," Verveer told the Journal Sentinel. Humor would "discourage people from hitting that omnipresent 'skip' button and maybe watch for the full 30 seconds."

Madison Ald. Mike Verveer released a campaign video featuring a voter in a panda suit discussing his record on housing, marijuana and transportation. Verveer faces an opponent, Eli Tsarovsky, on April 1, 2025.

Where did they get a panda suit? A friend in Madison happened to have it in her closet, Verveer said. Two University of Wisconsin-Madison undergraduates played the part, switching out of the uncomfortable suit during a long day of filming in snowy, cold weather.

Meta's ad library indicates the ad has been seen up to 7,000 times, mostly by voters between ages 18 and 34, since it started running Thursday.

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Verveer faces an opponent in the April 1 race  Eli Tsarovsky, a UW-Madison graduate student and community organizer. In an interview with the Journal Sentinel, Tsarovsky said he respects Verveer and his record but argued voters are looking for new leadership.

'Absurdist' content can break through the political noise

Verveer's campaign ad has made the rounds on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. It was initially tweeted by Andrew Arenge, director of operations at the University of Pennsylvania's Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies.

"I'm kind of obsessed with a local politician in Wisconsin using a guy dressed in a panda costume to provide a testimonial in this political ad," Arenge wrote.

I'm kind of obsessed with a local politician in Wisconsin using a guy dressed in a panda costume to provide a testimonial in this political ad.



This ad just went live on Meta + Google yesterday (targeted only at one zip code in Madison, WI). pic.twitter.com/GY7Vt7fLUC  Andrew Arenge (@MrArenge) March 22, 2025

Organizer Memes, a popular X account that posts political memes and trains left-leaning groups how to use memes, picked up on Verveer's ad. In a reply and retweet, the account said "game recognize game" and "I approve this message lol."

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Gen Z voters have long used memes to engage with or comment on politics. Last summer, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris became the subject of online memes about coconut trees and Charli XCX's "Brat" album.

More: Inside 'Hotties for Harris,' the Gen Z-led DNC afterparty

More: These influencers are helping the Republican National Convention reach the youth vote

UW-Madison political science professor Barry Burden said hyperlocal campaigns typically don't make video ads because they're expensive. But editing software has become easier to use, and videos can be produced even with minimal campaign funds.

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"An ad that has some rough edges and lack of polish might actually attract more attention than others because it stands out from the slick videos produced for higher-level offices. A quirky video can get circulation on social media that is basically free," Burden told the Journal Sentinel by email.

Organizer Memes agrees. Half the battle is getting noticed, the anonymous account told the Journal Sentinel in a direct message. If candidates reach the less political parts of the internet, they hit voters at the margins.

"The low-budget, authentic, (kind of) absurdist vibe works well online. Stunts can be really hit or miss depending on how genuine, funny or cringe they are," Organizer Memes said. "Meme politics is effective when it breaks through the noise."

Organizer Memes' profile photo is, coincidentally, also a panda  they needed to stay anonymous when asked to speak in-person at the North Carolina Young Democrats Convention.

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"I randomly had a panda head I stole from an ex-friend's little sister's bat mitzvah. The internet is truly random," they said.

Ad reflects candidates' efforts to appeal to young voters

The ad's quirkiness reflects a broader theme of the race  Verveer's efforts to reach young voters as he faces a progressive challenger in Tsarovsky.

"A longtime incumbent in downtown Madison is being challenged by a younger opponent who has connections to the UW-Madison student body," Burden said. "An irreverent ad is one way for Verveer to tout his work on the city council while also trying to demonstrate that he is in touch with youth culture."

In 2023, Verveer faced another progressive opponent and UW-Madison student, Maxwell Laubenstein. Verveer won by a seven-point margin, but that only represents about 300 votes. It was the first time he faced an opponent since 1999.

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Tsarovsky said voters he's met while door-knocking see the panda ad as unserious and doesn't meet concerns students face, like the rising cost of living and uncertainty during the second Trump administration.

Verveer noted he's done more serious, traditional communications like mailers and campaign literature. His district also includes many seniors, who are more likely to check what's in their mailbox. Digitial advertising, a first for Verveer, was a way of "reaching a cross section of all voters."

One of the biggest issues affecting young voters in the district is affordable housing. Tsarovsky disagreed with Verveer's 2023 vote against zoning changes to a vacant parking lot downtown that would have increased the height of potential apartment developments.

Verveer explained he voted no because he sponsored an earlier ordinance that allowed developers to exceed the city's height limit to preserve views of the Capitol  in exchange for guaranteeing affordable apartment units, a provision the 2023 proposal didn't include.

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"I didn't think we should sell out and concede at such an early stage," he said.

Tsarovsky, who has a background in public health, has also focused his campaign on issues like PFAS contamination in Lake Monona, pedestrian safety and homelessness.

"I respect my opponent and his work. I just think, after 30 years, it's time for new leadership and a serious approach to better connect with the concerns of the people downtown," he said.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Madison alder Mike Verveer's panda suit campaign ad is going viral
Allies and adversaries of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. alike were elated when an X post on Monday claimed the Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary planned to ban pharmaceutical ads from television.

But Kennedy made no such announcement, and no such plans exist.

BREAKING: Robert F. Kennedy Jr has announced plans to ban pharmaceutical advertisements on television, wrote an X account named Unusual Whales early Monday. Unusual Whales is a service that provides data on unusual stock trading activity.

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Politicians and media personalities circulated the news, most of whom praised Kennedy for acting on his long-stated desire to bar such ads from the airwaves.

Great idea, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) wrote on X. Oh huge, conspiracy theorist Naomi Wolf chimed in. What about podcasts? MAGA podcaster Tim Pool mused.

The praise wasnt limited to MAGA types. Pharmaceutical Ads Banned on TV, Could Fuel Station Group M&A, media analyst Rich Greenfield wrote alongside a flame emoji.

I think most of us in public health would support this, Dr. Ashish Jha, former President Joe Bidens COVID-19 response coordinator, wrote, though he noted that court challenges have impeded such efforts in the past.

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Unusual Whales did not provide a source for its claim, which was also circulated on an eponymous subreddit with 223,000 members. A follow-up post pulled text from a December New York Times story that indicated Kennedy had sought to ban the ads.

The departments press office said the news was false.

The social chatter you are hearing that HHS banned pharmaceutical advertising is not accurate, HHS told the Daily Beast.

The incident shows how easily misinformation can spread on X despite its use of community notesa feature that allows users to add context to a post. The Unusual Whales post did not get flagged by users with a community note.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long sought to ban phamaceutical ads from TV. / Jim Watson/AFP via Getty

Kennedy has indeed expressed the desire to ban pharmaceutical ads from television. Only two countries, the U.S. and New Zealand, permit the ads to run unrestricteda fact Kennedy mentions frequently.

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But efforts to ban the advertisements have often been met with legal challenges. Courts have long found that commercial advertisements represented protected speech under the First Amendment. In 2011, the Supreme Court struck down a Vermont law that regulated pharmaceutical ads.

The pharmaceutical industry has grown to nearly $40 billion in advertising this year, according to an AdWeek report this month, up from $12.2 billion in 2015.

Kennedy has found others sympathetic to his views within the Trump administration. Elon Musk expressed support for Kennedys proposed ban on pharma ads in an X post in November, declaring no advertising for pharma. Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr has also said he would help enforce a ban.
MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington, Maine. (Photo courtesy of MaineHealth)

An obstetrics and gynecology doctor left Franklin Hospital in Farmington for a job out of state that offered higher pay. A hospitalist, an ear, nose and throat doctor and two orthopedists also recently declined offers at Waldo Hospital in Belfast all citing low pay.

These are just some examples of the hiring challenges rural hospitals are facing, which brought Katie Fullam Harris, chief government affairs officer with MaineHealth, before the Legislatures Labor Committee Tuesday to ask that its members support a change to the states equal pay law.

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So the gist of it is youd like to pay people more money but youre afraid youre going to be in violation of Maine wage laws? asked Sen. Dick Bradstreet (R-Kennebec).

Answering in the affirmative, Harris said MaineHealth wants the flexibility to offer a candidate who could fill a specialist position higher base pay to move to Norway, for example, or some other rural corner of the state where the organization has had trouble recruiting.

Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook) introduced LD 898 as a vehicle to address hiring challenges at rural hospitals, while staying true to the intention of the states equal pay law, which is in part to close the gender pay gap. Specifically, the proposal would amend the law to allow pay differentials based on geographic location and credentials.

Under current law, MaineHealth has to pay an oncologist in Portland the same it pays an oncologist in Farmington. This bill would allow for a scenario in which the organization could offer a higher base salary to the Farmington physician because its much harder to convince people to work there than in southern Maine, Harris explained.

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The Maine Department of Labor had planned to oppose the bill, said legislative liaison Dillon Murray, who instead asked for more time to consider after learning more about the intention behind the change. In general, Murray said the department wants to be cautious with any changes made to the states equal pay law.

Committee members asked Harris if the healthcare organization could use bonuses or other forms of compensation such as housing or transportation stipends to make offers in rural areas more attractive.

But those arent the barriers keeping specialists from rural hospitals, she said. Rather, we have been told over and over again that the reason that were being turned down for these positions is because we cannot offer compensation that is adequate.

The committee also asked a series of questions about the potential of this bill leading current employees to seek raises. However, Harris said the intention is rather to target specialist positions, which are limited.

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Harris said this would also address situations where a candidate has more credentials or experience compared to others in that position and wants to be compensated as such but cant under current law.

For example, Harris said a family medicine physician who had additional training in palliative care declined an offer because MaineHealth couldnt offer higher compensation for that training beyond what other family medicine physicians in the organization are paid.

The Maine State Chamber of Commerce also voiced its support for the bill at the hearing Tuesday.

Proposals to change minimum wage

The labor committee also held public hearings for two bills looking to adjust aspects of the states minimum wage law.

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A 2016 citizens referendum required the state minimum wage be adjusted every year based on the cost of living index. However, LD 206, introduced by Sen. Jeff Timberlake (R-Androscoggin) along with several Republican co-sponsors, would do away with those annual adjustments and set the minimum wage to its current rate of $14.65.

Alternately, legislation from Rep. Valli Geiger (D-Rockland) would replace the minimum hourly wage with a county-based living wage.

Starting in 2026, LD 853 would divide the states counties into three regions and replace the statewide minimum hourly wage with a wage based on the cost of living in those regions using data from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Living Wage Calculator.

The committee also heard arguments for and against LD 941, which would require employers to disclose wage salary ranges in job postings.

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EastGroup Properties (NYSE:EGP) is a self-administered equity real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and operation of industrial properties in major Sunbelt markets throughout the U.S. with an emphasis in the states of Texas, Florida, California, Arizona and North Carolina.

If You Bought EastGroup Properties Stock 10 Years Ago

The company's stock traded at approximately $61.13 per share 10 years ago. If you had invested $10,000, you could have bought roughly 164 shares. Currently, shares trade at $179.27, meaning your investment's value could have grown to $29,326 from stock price appreciation alone. However, EastGroup Properties also paid dividends during these 10 years.

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EastGroup Properties' dividend yield is currently 3.12%. Over the last 10 years, it has paid about $34.83 in dividends per share, which means you could have made $5,698 from dividends alone.

Summing up $29,326 and $5,698, we end up with the final value of your investment, which is $35,024. This is how much you could have made if you had invested $10,000 in EastGroup Properties stock 10 years ago. This means a total return of 250.24%. In comparison, S&P 500 total return for the same period is 222.31%.

Trending: This Startup Is On The Brink Of A Huge Disruption To The $654 Billion Industry  Invest In It Before It Fulfills 800 Pre-Orders

What Could The Next 10 Years Bring?

EastGroup Properties has a consensus rating of "Outperform" and a price target of $188.7 based on the ratings of 20 analysts. The price target implies more than 5% potential upside from the current stock price.

On Feb. 6, the company announced its Q4 2024 earnings, posting FFO of $2.15, in line with expectations, and revenues of $163.767 million, missing the consensus estimate of $166.314 million, as reported by Benzinga.

Our consistent, positive performance continues as evidenced by FFO per share excluding gain on involuntary conversion and business interruption claims rising 5.9% for the quarter and 7.9% for the year. The industrial market remains resilient as supported by our Companys record amount of square footage leased last quarter. Further, the operating landscape is improving with a materially shrinking industrial supply pipeline, while customer demand is showing early signs of recovery," CEO Marshall Loeb said.
Brussels Airport is advising passengers that it will be closed to departing flights due to a strike.

The strike will occur on Monday, March 31, 2025.

Airlines have published advisories to help travelers re-book and find alternative options.

Travelers will need to pack their patience if flying to a popular European airport.



Brussels Airport recently announced it would be closed to departing flights on Monday, March 31, 2025 due to a planned strike from several labor organizations including security staff.



As departing passenger flights are cancelled, cancellations are also possible on arriving flights, Brussels Airport stated in an advisory on its website. We advise all passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline or on our website or the app.



The strike could have impacts throughout Europe and global travel, as multiple international carriers fly to and from the Brussels Airport, including Air Canada, Austrian, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, easyJet, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Icelandair, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Vueling.



Brussels Airlines advised travelers that it has not yet canceled any flights, but is providing free rebooking options and refunds as a precautionary step to alleviate any potential travel congestion.



Several American airlines have also been publishing travel alerts. For example, United Airlines recently published an advisory for travelers to Brussels between March 30, 2025 and March 31, 2025 that they can reschedule their trip without a change fee. The airline is also allowing passengers to fly into either Amsterdam (AMS) or Paris (CDG) without a difference in fare.



Alternative airports that travelers could consider flying into include Frankfurt and Cologne in Germany, or Zurich, Switzerland. Several European rail providers provide nonstop train travel between Amsterdam and Brussels, and the journey takes approximately two hours and seven minutes.



More than 1.5 million passengers traveled through Brussels Airport in January 2025, which was an 8.2 percent increase from the same time period in 2024.



Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
President Donald Trump announces a proposed shift of Education Department programs to the Small Business Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services during a press availability in the Oval Office on March 21, 2025. (Source: White House livestream)

Democrats may be flocking to town hall meetings throughout the state registering their disapproval of President Donald Trumps performance in his second term, but a majority of Floridians approve of what is doing, according to a poll released Tuesday.

The Mason-Dixon public opinion survey of 625 Floridians conducted earlier this month shows that 52% of the public approves of Trumps job performance, with 44% disapproving and 4% unsure. Trump defeated Democrat Kamala Harris in Florida by 13 percentage points last November.

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Gov. Ron DeSantis also remains popular with most Florida voters. The survey shows that 53% of Floridians approve of the governors performance, while 42% disapprove. Another 5% remain unsure.

The poll asked Republican voters to provide some initial thoughts on next years gubernatorial primary.

It shows that Southwest Florida U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, the only declared candidate for governor who already has the backing of Trump, has a 48% approval rate, with only 6% disapproving. But nearly half of all voters surveyed  46%  said they had no opinion of him.

First Lady Casey DeSantis, who is flirting with a potential candidacy challenging Donalds, has a higher favorable rating with 53% approval versus 9% disapproval. More than a third of Republican voters  38%  said they had no opinion of her.

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The poll of 625 voters (broken down by 42% Republican, 34% Democrats, and 24% independents) was taken between March 11 and March 15, and has a margin of error of +/- 4%. Those proportions reflect the states partisanship breakdown.

The separate question regarding Donalds and Mrs. DeSantis was asked to 264 registered GOP voters, with a margin of error of +/- 6%.

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You probably have a general understanding of the human brain: a network of nerve cells connected by synapses. Complex or abstract ideas emerge as a result of the firing of many of these nerve cells, or neurons. This means that a concept or memory or idea is the result of a distributed pattern of neural activity. In contrast to computer memory, which always follows the same pattern of 1s and 0s, it's more like networks in our brain weave a new tapestry every time we think about something. This understanding is common to most of us lay people who know a little about neurology and the brain, or who are interested in AI and the attempts to replicate human intelligence.

Unfortunately, you may be badly out of date. As it turns out, in human brains, we also have a specialized type of cell called a concept neuron, which does what was long thought to be impossible: each of these cells encodes entire concepts, so that that single neuron fires whenever youre exposed to a stimulus relating to that concept, or even when you think about it without an external stimulus. This would be like having a single neuron that fires when you see a photograph of your grandmother, hear her voice, read her name or perhaps even smell her familiar perfume. This single neuron thus has semantic invariance for the concept of your grandmother. This means that it fires whenever your grandmother is the topic of thought, regardless of the context or medium or the sense that stimulates your thought of her.

Dr. Florian Mormann, a physician and researcher who heads a working group on cognitive and clinical neurophysiology at the University of Bonn, told Salon in a video interview that textbooks of neuroscience that still exist today often mention the grandmother neuron as an example of something you would never find in a brain. Because clearly, it would be so much more efficient to simply have a network of eight neurons if it can do the same job as 70 different neurons. So it seemed a no-brainer for everyone that there shouldnt be grandmother neurons in any brain.

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And yet, the no-brainer is seemingly wrong about the brain. As it turns out, grandmother neurons, or concept cells as theyre now known (or Jennifer Aniston neurons as they were called for a bit, as well see) have been right there in our brains all along. And some scientists have known they are there, gradually learning more about them and their implications, over the past 20 years. Its not a conspiracy: the news just hasnt really trickled out to the rest of us. Thats partly because most scientists who physically get right inside skulls to study the brains inside them do so with the brains of non-human animals, so most brain research we hear about still doesnt involve these neurons, which it seems exist exclusively in the human brain.

Dr. Rodrigo Quian Quiroga, the director of the Centre for Systems Neuroscience at the University of Leicester, discovered concept cells twenty years ago. In research published in January, a team led by Quian Quiroga showed for the first time the way they respond to a given concept regardless of the context. This is in contrast to everything that is known about how memories are encoded in non-human animals, and it suggests that this might be a key adaptation behind human intelligence.

Its not ethical to carry out invasive procedures on human brains. For this reason, we dont often conduct single neuron recordings, a type of research that requires access right inside the skull, on humans.

So in the past 50 years [single neuron recordings have] been done on a huge scale in especially rodents and also in monkeys, plus a few other mammals. But its mainly those two species, Mormann, who, like Quian Quiroga, is one of very few researchers to conduct single neuron studies on humans, told Salon.

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And of course, the multi-million dollar industry of rodent research does not exist because were all so fascinated by what the rodent brain can do. Not at all. It is because we believe it could serve as a valid model of the human brain for human episodic memory, Mormann added.

Instead, neuroscience has relied on the data gathered from doing such procedures on mouse and primate models. The assumption that underlies this is that a mouse or monkey brain serves as an adequate, if simplified, proxy for the human. And indeed, thats been good enough to fuel decades of brain science.

Single neuron recordings in humans

Single neuron recordings are otherwise only done in rodent or primate models because brain surgery is never without risks, and those are not risks we usually ask humans to take without extremely good reason. A diagnostic procedure to ensure the surgeons dont resect the wrong hippocampus when considering surgery for patients with epilepsy is something most of us would consider an extremely good reason.

So Mormanns team, and a small number of other research groups, study the firing of individual neurons by inserting fine microwires inside the hollow tube of the depth electrodes that have to be implanted anyway in order to diagnose the location of a patient's seizures in hopes of curing their epilepsy.

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Two decades ago, shortly after single neuron recordings started to be used by scientists to take advantage of this rare opportunity to engage in ethical neurological research in human beings, Dr. Rodrigo Quian Quiroga, who now heads up the Neural Mechanisms of Perception and Memory Research Group at the Hospital del Mar Research Institute in Barcelona, showed that individual neurons could be extremely selective, with a single neuron firing predictably in response to images of a single animal, individual or place.

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Twenty years ago  I was doing experiments with a patient, and then I showed many pictures of Jennifer Aniston, and I found a neuron that responded only to her and to nothing else, Quian Quiroga told Salon in a video interview. "And as I found this one, I found many others later on, and basically it was very clear that in an area called the hippocampus that is known to be critical for memory, we have neurons that represent, in this case, specific people, or in general, specific concepts. It can be a person, it can be an object, it can be a place  whatever is relevant to the person or to the patient."

In that first work, described in 2005, UCLA neurosurgeon Itzhak Fried, Quian Quiroga, then his mentee, and other colleagues showed that a subset of neurons in the hippocampal formation, and more generally, in an area of the brain called the medial temporal lobe (MTL) that includes the hippocampus, fire in response to the subjects being shown pictures of a particular person under strikingly different conditions: at different ages, poses or contexts. A given neuron would even fire in response to reading the persons name. Confusion is possible: for example, a Jennifer Aniston neuron might fire if you show the subject a picture of Lisa Kudrow, who played Phoebe on "Friends" alongside Anistons Rachel.

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Nobody expected that this neuron type could exist but we show very clearly that they do exist, Quian Quiroga said. They dubbed these brain cells Jennifer Aniston neurons.

Whatever you call them, these neurons have not yet been found in rats, nor in monkeys, nor in any other mammal or organism  only in humans, despite Quian Quiroga challenging anyone, anywhere to find another creature with concept cells. But in the last two decades, no one has found them in anyone but humans, where they are reliably easy to find by testing neurons at random in the MTL.

A brief history of concept cells

Quian Quirogas team and others, like Mormanns, conducted further studies that gradually revealed different properties of concept neurons in the MTL, primarily in the hippocampus, and how they behave in different conditions. Semantic concept neurons have also been found in different parts of the MTL, such as the amygdala and the entorhinal cortex. Recently, Mormann and his team identified smell-specific concept cells in the piriform cortex, which they dubbed olfactory concept cells. In fact, of 1,856 neurons tested in the piriform cortex in that study, 66 responded to both images and odors, meaning that they had semantic invariance with respect to the concept of the odor in question, firing in response to an image associated with the smell as well as the smell itself.

Concepts encoded by concept neurons can be an animal, an article of clothing, a place, or a person. The concept can be evoked, and the associated neuron made to fire, by a direct stimulus such as seeing the person or hearing their voice; or without a stimulus, by imagery, free recall, or comparisons that reference the concept.

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We show explicitly that [concept cells are] involved in forming and storing memories, Quian Quiroga explained. We had a series of experiments [where] we showed that these neurons are involved in the forming of memories, and they can do this very quickly. I mean, in just one shot, they can change the way they respond, and with this, they are encoding new experiences.

He further argued that concept cells were fundamental components, or building blocks, of declarative memory. Its not surprising, he felt, that we have neurons responding to concepts in an area of the brain associated with memory  after all, we do tend to remember concepts and forget details. The human way of remembering is very abstract. Most of us dont remember precisely what a person looks like, what they are wearing, or the words they say in a conversation; rather, we focus more on the basic ideas.

As the authors (including Mormann) of a 2020 study of how single neurons in the MTL are able to code abstract meaning write, Although semantic abstraction is efficient and may facilitate generalization of knowledge to novel situations, it comes at the cost of a loss of detail and may be central to the generation of false memories.

Still, that cost may well be the price of human intelligence.

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I started arguing, Quian Quiroga recalled, that this is a trait of human intelligence, and  one of the key aspects that distinguishes us from other animals: the fact that we just dont focus on details, but were able to extract what is the important information and focus on that. And this is the way we store our memories, and this is the way we think so we are not bombarded with details.

For humans, unlike our fellow animals, we just want the key point, the essential abstraction. That, Quian Quiroga maintains, is the way we remember, and the way we think. And thats what he shows with the new study, published in Cell Reports. The research team recorded the activity of individual neurons while patients learned and then recalled two stories that described different situations but featured the same character or place. Nearly all of the neurons that fired initially did so without regard to the context, such that, as the authors explain, taking all neurons together it is possible to decode the person/place being depicted in each story, but not the particular story.

The brain cells that fire during learning and memory are firing in response to the concept of that character and will fire in any context in which that concept features. Quian Quiroga believes that the development of language involved adaptation of neurons, common to all mammals, to this specialized purpose. Still, we don't know exactly when this arose, but perhaps it evolved gradually, Quian Quiroga theorized.

"I think in the last 100,000 years, the moment that [Homo] sapiens started uttering words and attributing meaning to things in terms of words, Quian Quiroga said. "Then the sapiens started thinking in terms of words instead of pictures. I think that created the big phase transition of intelligence, the fact that we started thinking in terms of words. I think this created concept cells, because once you attribute the word into something then you get completely rid of the details. And thats exactly what concept cells do."

A new frontier in neuroscience

The striking thing that also since 2005 has gone largely ignored [by] rodent electrophysiologists is that this degree of semantic invariance, plus also context independence, is something we observe only in the human. Theres no other species in the animal kingdom where this has been convincingly reported, and even in humans, we only find them in the medial temporal lobe and not any other brain region, Mormann explained. To me, [its] one of the most seminal discoveries of the last 50 years, at least, but has been largely ignored. And the reason why its been largely ignored is, in my opinion, because this type of electrophysiological research traditionally cannot be done in humans, for obvious ethical constraints.

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But as we've seen, there is one very particular circumstance in which its necessary to carry out such invasive procedures. Patients with seizures as a result of epilepsy may require exploratory surgery  invasive seizure diagnostics, its called  to determine if they would be good candidates for a neurosurgical resection where the seizure-generating area of the brain would be removed, taking away the condition and any neurological or cognitive deficits associated with it.

Our job is to make sure that we found the seizure-generating area so that we can then provide the patient with three pieces of information. One, their chances of becoming permanently seizure-free if we resect that area of the brain, which reflects how certain we are that weve identified the epileptic focus. Two is what price theyve got to pay, because there is often some residual function that might be gone once we remove [the epileptic tissue]. And the third one is the complication risk, Mormann explained to Salon with evident care. The history of lobotomy is such that no one would want to be associated with reckless brain surgery.

For a small proportion of this group of epilepsy patients, less than 10%, recording seizures using scalp EEG is enough to provide the necessary information. But in cases where they cannot reach a conclusion on those risks and benefits non-invasively, his team offers the patients diagnostic surgery in which they implant electrodes and use them to record seizures exactly where they are happening. The implants may be in for a week or more.

The area that is being implanted the most [or used to be] is the medial temporal lobe, simply because its very well-shielded from the outside on both sides, and also because that is the region thats mandatory for episodic memory formation, Mormann said.

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Henry Molaison  known for decades only as H.M.  became one of the most famous patients in neuroscience after losing his ability to form memories entirely in 1953. That incident, so unfortunate for him and so interesting for our understanding of memory, occurred due to a bilateral resection to control epileptic seizures that had blighted his life since the age of 10, possibly resulting from a minor bicycle accident. To say he had a bilateral resection means that the surgeons removed these structures on both hemispheres of the brain. The surgery was successful at curing the epilepsy, but left him with the inability to form new memories. (Interestingly, attempts to replicate the effects of Molaisons surgery on memory in monkeys were unsuccessful at first, revealing that humans and monkeys use different parts of the brain for learning certain tasks.)

So its safer to resect just one hemisphere. But if you choose the wrong one to remove, the patient will still have seizures, and now may have impaired memory as well.

That is why  it has become customary to be careful not to resect the wrong hippocampus, because simply, theres no second attempt, Mormann explained.

So, Mormann believes, the research in humans has been largely ignored. In his view, semantic concept cells in humans are thought of as a fancy version of place cells at best. Place cells are cells found, so far, only in rodents, that fire at certain spots as a mouse or rat moves through a linear track, indicating a cell specific to certain locations. (As Mormanns own recent research has affirmed, humans do also have location-specific neurons that play similarly specialized roles in spatial awareness.)

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I think theres a paradigm shift involved in all this, said Quian Quiroga. While colleagues have been teaching his work to undergraduates for years now, there might be some inertia not to take this paradigm shift because  we assume that the human brain is kind of like an extrapolated version of the workings of the animal brain."

He added that neuroscientists, have described certain principles in animal models, "assume that these principles will also apply to humans, although maybe with a bit of a higher complexity. And I think what were showing is that  we shouldnt take this for granted.

Not that this invalidates the use of animal models in neurology. But it means that, rather than expecting a rats brain or a monkeys brain to tell us all about how things work in humans, the differences between their brains and ours may be whats really of interest. In fact, Quian Quiroga is busy with experiments aimed at quantifying the differences between the way humans process information in the hippocampus or in the memory system in general compared to whats been described over the last fifty years of memory research using other animal models.

This paper we just published is the first that I expect to be a series of studies because this is just showing the tip of the iceberg, Quian Quiroga said.

What concept cells could mean for AI

Of course, all those years of focus on mouse and monkey brains as models for how we think have also informed our work in artificial intelligence. Might this explain why, impressive though it is, we have not yet replicated the way humans really think? It wasn't until 2020, after fifteen years of experimental evidence supporting the existence of concept cells, that three researchers writing in Scientific Reports set out a theoretical justification for the possibility of such structures existing, and in fact for the likelihood of the existence of such cells in the hippocampus. "Three fundamental conditions, fulfilled by the human brain, ensure high cognitive functionality of single cells," the authors write.

Till now though, it was the very different, prevailing understanding of the brain that has guided our development of artificial brains: that the coordinated action of countless neurons  a neural network  is what allows for the representation of abstract concepts. Although of course we do use a distributed neural network for many aspects of our cognition, now it seems that representing entire concepts using specific cells with semantic invariance might be a key difference between human intelligence and that of other animals.

Perhaps also of interest to those hoping to build artificial brains, what Quian Quirogas work suggests is a possible explanation for how it is that anatomically, the brain of a human and that of a chimpanzee is not all that different. The humans is bigger, but not so much as to explain the very considerable difference in intelligence.

So my point is not that the human brain is different, Quian Quiroga said. Its that the human brain must be working differently. It is just the fact that in the chimpanzee brain, you will have a visual stimulus going all the way from visual processing areas into your memory system. So you form memories based on pictures, based on images. In the human brain, the visual system comes to a point, and then you extract a meaning from it, and its only the meaning and not the stimulus itself that goes into the memory system

Our anatomy has barely changed from our common ancestor with chimpanzees. But language, it seems, has drastically changed how we use it.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz hasn't been cowed by the embarrassing revelation that he added the editor of The Atlantic to a group chat in which top Trump administration officials shared imminent American war plans.

The confidant of President Donald Trump's dander was all the way up when reporters asked him about his role in the leak on Tuesday. Rather than showing an ounce of contrition, Waltz took the opportunity to accuse editor Jeffrey Goldberg of being a liar, calling the controversy around his own lack of care with sensitive information another "hoax" from hostile media.

"Theres a lot of journalists in this city who have made big names for themselves, making up lies about this president, whether its the Russia hoax or making up lies about Gold Star families," Waltz said.

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Goldberg reported that Waltz added him to a group chat on the messaging app Signal earlier this month. In that chat, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance and other administration officials discussed an upcoming airstrike in Yemen. Waltz fully side-stepped his responsibility in adding Goldberg to the group.

"Ive never met [him], dont know [him], never communicated with [him], and we are and we are looking into and reviewing how the heck he got into this room," Waltz said.

The denial from Waltz is the second to come out of the group that allegedly took part in the leaked conversation. On Monday, Hegseth told reporters that "nobody was texting war plans" and accused Goldberg of peddling "garbage."

Waltz's refutation gives a glimpse of what appears to be a larger Trump administration strategy around the leaks. It seems the officials involved in the scandal want to deny it ever happened in the hopes that the news cycle will move on before they face any consequences for their lax security.

"This journalist...wants the world talking about more hoaxes and this kind of nonsense rather than the freedom that [President Trump is] enabling," he said.
Mar. 24A grand jury indicted an Indianapolis man in the deadly shooting of a 52-year-old woman in a Miamisburg basement earlier this month.

Dametrius A. Turner, 32, is facing three counts of felonious assault, two counts of murder and one count each of grand theft, tampering with evidence and aggravated possession of drugs in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.

He is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday.

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Turner is accused of shooting and killing Leslie Renee Ross.

On March 12, Miamisburg police responded to a house in the 700 block of Golden Arrow Court around 9:27 p.m. after a 911 caller reported a shooting.

"The guy shot his girlfriend in my basement, and he's got a gun," the caller said, according to Montgomery County Regional Dispatch records.

The caller said the man, later identified as Turner, wanted his help. The caller left the house with his dog before reporting the shooting.

When police arrived at the Golden Arrow Court house they found Ross in a puddle of blood in the lounge area in the basement.

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An investigation determined Turner used Ross's gun to shoot her five times, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office.

Police identified Turner as a suspect using surveillance camera footage and witness statements. The police department posted on social media asking for the public's help locating him.

Officers arrested Turner following a 13-hour manhunt.

A couple walking near South Elm Street and West Blossom Hill Road in West Carrollton saw Turner and called police.

"They saw the post on social media, saw that it was him and called us for help," Miamisburg police Chief Mike Brem said. "We can't thank them enough for being willing to communicate that to us."

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Turner reportedly had suspected methamphetamine on him at the time of his arrest.

Neither Turner nor Ross were residents at the Miamisburg house, but Turner had been staying there, according to police.

Brem said the pair knew each other for a brief period, but didn't share how or when they met.

Turner is being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1.5 million bond.
A Mount Penn man faces several charges after Central Berks Regional police said he threw an explosive device in the street just ahead of a marked patrol vehicle.

Joseph R. Crochunis Jr., 37, of the 2600 block of Perkiomen Avenue was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail after arraignment Saturday before District Judge Priscilla Campos in Reading Central Court.

He faces charges of weapons of mass destruction, propulsion of missiles onto a roadway, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct.

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According to court records:

Officer Nicholas Phillips was driving west on Perkiomen Avenue near 26th Street about 11:30 p.m. Friday after receiving a complaint about fireworks in that area of the borough.

Shortly after turning left onto 26th he observed a lit object being thrown toward the front of his patrol unit. The object came within about 10 feet of the vehicle, and when it hit the ground made a very loud explosion.

Phillips stopped abruptly, fearing the projectile would hit or go under his vehicle.

The officer thought the explosion sounded like a gunshot. He spotted three males on a rear porch that was illuminated by his headlights.

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One of the males went into the home. He made contact with a man, later identified as Crochunis, who remained on the porch.

Crochunis became argumentative, stating he did not know what the officer was talking about, that he did nothing wrong and was on his own property.

As the officer continued his investigation, Crochunis reportedly said, Fine it was me, I did it.

With that, he and the other males went inside the house.

Phillips collected the fragments of the explosive from the street and secured them as evidence.

After clearing the call, Phillips and Sgt. Wayne Levey went to a nearby parking lot to confer. They observed aerial fireworks launched from the backyard of the same residence where they encountered Crochunis moments earlier.

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They went to investigate. Levey saw Crochunis kneeling behind a fence on the property next to several spent fireworks casings.

Crochunis again became argumentative. He was detained until Phillips completed his investigation, then released to return to his residence under an order to stop setting off fireworks.

Phillips contacted the Reading Police Bomb Squad. A technician confirmed the debris was from an M-device explosive, a cardboard tube that typically contains 10 grams of flash powder.

M-100s, along with M-80s and cherry bombs, are classified as display-grade fireworks, which are illegal for consumers to possess or use in Pennsylvania.

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Crochunis is no stranger to law enforcement in Berks County, according to online court records.

In 2007, he served 56 days to 23 months in the county jail after pleading guilty to propulsion of missiles in Muhlenberg Township. He was also given five years probation.

In 2022, he was given a 30-month to five-year sentence after pleading guilty to drug trafficking in Ruscombmanor Township.

The same year, he was sentenced to six to 12 months for fleeing police and driving under a suspended license in Lower Heidelberg Township in 2021.
A man who told police he shot and killed his wife with Alzheimers Disease is now changing his story, telling a judge that his wife shot herself.

Channel 9 Gaston County Reporter Ken Lemon was in court as Rickey Holdsclaw took the stand and made a stunning reversal of his original story.

On Monday, prosecutors played an interview between Holdsclaw and police in 2021, after Holdsclaws wife was shot and killed in their Gaston County home. In that interview, Holdsclaw explained that his wife, Judy Helms, didnt want to be in a nursing home and so he shot her instead.

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On Tuesday, Holdsclaw said he was in the bathroom when he heard a gunshot.

Holdsclaw, 75, cried during much of his testimony, then he calmly explained that his wife knew he kept a gun hanging on a holster in their bedroom closer.

The safety is off, if you need it, all you have to do is pull the trigger. She knew that, Holdsclaw testified in court on Tuesday.

He said when he went to the bathroom on the morning of March 4, 2021, he heard a pop. Then he went to the bedroom to ask his wife, who had been living with Alzheimers, if she heard it.

I could see the gun, Holdsclaw said while crying.

He said his wifes memory lapses were so intense that she became uncontrollable, got the gun, got into bed, and shot herself.

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Holdsclaw told the judge he didnt want her to be known as someone who took her own life, so he told a 911 dispatcher he shot her and confessed during a police interview.

I made up the quickest and best story I could when I talked to detectives, Holdsclaw testified.

He told the judge his health was already failing.

Hell, Im going to die anyway, I might as well take the blame. No one will ever know. I was the only one there, Holdsclaw said.

He said after spending weeks in jail on the initial murder charge, a life-saving surgery, and two days in a coma, he woke up feeling the best hes felt in a long time. He said that changed his perspective.

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And your honor, I knew right then and there I wanted to be a free man again, and I wanted to live, Holdsclaw said. But I also knew I made my own coffin and I went in too deep over my head.

So he decided to speak out publicly on the stand despite previous concerns for his wifes image.

Nobody would hold her responsible for having Alzheimers and shooting herself, Holdsclaw said.

He said he later decided no one would blame his wife for how she died. His decision to speak publicly came after prosecutors decided to seek a charge of voluntary manslaughter instead of murder.

The trial is on recess so the judge could speak with attorneys in the case. If convicted, Holdsclaw faces a minimum of three years in prison.

(VIDEO: Unborn baby killed in shooting at Gaston County hotel, police say)
Mar. 25A 20-year-old man indicted Friday is accused of soliciting sex from a 10-year-old Warren County girl.

Tavon Michael Simonds, of Forest Park in suburban Cincinnati, is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in Warren County Common Pleas Court on 20 charges: one count of endangering children, five counts of importuning, 12 counts of illegal use of a minor in a nudity-oriented material or performance and two misdemeanor counts of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.

Simonds is accused of soliciting a child younger than 13 to engage in sexual activity between Feb. 26, 2024, and Aug. 20, 2024, in Hamilton Twp., according to a grand jury report released Monday.

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He reportedly sent the girl inappropriate messages, including a photo of his genitalia. The girl told police she sent him more than 20 photos of her breasts after she was pressured, according to an affidavit filed in Warren County Municipal Court.

Simonds is held in the Warren County Jail on a $50,000 cash-only bond set in the lower court, which also ordered him to have no contact with his accuser or any minor child should he post bail, court records show.
Mar. 24A 20-year-old man indicted Friday is accused of soliciting sex from a Warren County child younger than 13.

Tavon Michael Simonds, of Forest Park in suburban Cincinnati, is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in Warren County Common Pleas Court on 20 charges: one count of endangering children, five counts of importuning, 12 counts of illegal use of a minor in a nudity-oriented material or performance and two misdemeanor counts of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.

Simonds is accused of soliciting a child younger than 13 to engage in sexual activity between Feb. 26, 2024, and Aug. 20, 2024, in Hamilton Twp., according to a grand jury report released Monday.

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He also reportedly possessed explicit images of a child and shared inappropriate material to a child younger than 13, the report stated.

He is held in the Warren County Jail on a $50,000 cash-only bond set in Warren County Municipal Court, which also ordered him to have no contact with his accuser or any minor child should he post bail, court records show.
This story was originally published on ESG Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily ESG Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

JPMorgan Chase announced changes to its internal practices on diversity, equity and inclusion and its external memberships in climate-related organizations last week, ESG Dive confirmed Monday.

The financial institution said in a Friday internal memo, seen by ESG Dive, that it would rebrand its DEI practices DOI, with o standing for opportunity. Additionally, a spokesperson for the bank said in an emailed statement that JPMorgan Asset Management had left the United Nations-backed Net-Zero Asset Managers initiative last week as well. NZAM previously paused its operations, pending a review of its programs, after BlackRock left the group in January.

Both changes were first reported by Reuters Friday and follow broader financial industry trends for the year, as banks have broadly backed away from the term DEI and industry climate groups and alliances.

Dive Insight:

Fridays internal memo from JPMorgan Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Piepszak said the company has made changes to its DEI programs and the language [JPMorgan uses] to describe them, including swapping the equity for opportunity and renaming the division to Diversity, Opportunity & Inclusion.

The e always meant equal opportunity to [JPMorgan], not equal outcomes, and we believe this more accurately reflects our ongoing approach to reach the most customers and clients to grow our business, create an inclusive workplace for our employees and increase access to opportunities, Piepszaks memo said.

The bank said it had streamlined some of the diversity programs that were previously managed by the DEI office, integrating some into the human resources or corporate responsibility parts of the business.

The changes come as the Trump administration has increasingly put a focus on corporate DEI programs, including an executive order for his agencies to target private sector initiatives. This has added to the wave of companies who rolled back programs last year, and the pressure has pushed U.S. banks to alter the way they talk about DEI in securities filings.

Among them, JPMorgan said in its most recent annual filing that it has been and expects that it will continue to be criticized by activists, politicians and other members of the public about stances it has taken on public policy matters such as diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The firm also re-branded a table with employee breakdowns that was titled Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in last years filing to Workplace Composition."
The man police say is responsible for a 2022 cold case in Gwinnett County was arrested after being investigated for another crime in New York.

The New York Police Department contacted Gwinnett County police in December and told them that a man they were investigating may have been involved in an unsolved murder from September 2022.

They say Delano Hill, 20, shared details about the crime that had not been made public.

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Jones deeply spiritual family told Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson that theyve already forgiven Hill, and had done so shortly after Jones death before they even knew who did it.

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Hill was arrested last week at his home in Suwanee and booked into the Gwinnett County Jail. Hes being held without bond on charges of aggravated assault, felony murder and malice murder.

On Sept. 5, 2022, police found 44-year-old Matthew Jones stabbed to death in the front yard of a home on Ridge Oak Drive.

Surveillance video showed someone walking toward and then away from the homicide scene before Jones death.

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Even though they say theyve forgiven Hill, they say they still want answers.

We have no idea who could have done this or why, what the motive would be, were at a loss, Jones sister Kim Bauman said.

Police say theyre glad to move one step closer to finding justice for Jones.

When were able to make an arrest on a cold case and bring some closure to the family, its a definitely a win, Cpl. Juan Madiedo with Gwinnett County police said.

New York police did not comment on what he was being investigated for in their jurisdiction.

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A Florida man was arrested and accused of attempting to drive his car into a crowd of people peacefully protesting Tesla CEO Elon Musk outside a showroom for the electric vehicles in Palm Beach over the weekend.

Andrew Dutil, 44, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill after deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office say he drove his black Nissan SUV toward a group of protesters on Saturday, according to an affidavit obtained by HuffPost.

An attorney representing Dutil did not immediately respond to a HuffPost request for comment. Court records show he pleaded not guilty.

A homemade sign is held up at a protest outside a Tesla dealership. BENJAMIN CREMEL via Getty Images

Mark Offerman, who organized the protest on behalf of the Democratic Progressive Caucus Palm Beach County told The Palm Beach Post that Dutil drove into a crowd of senior citizens.

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Everybody was able to move out, but two older women were really almost clipped. We immediately called the cops, Offerman said.

One protester told deputies she was standing on the curb when Dutil drove by the demonstration and began yelling at them, according to the affidavit. She said Dutil drove up onto the curb in his Nissan and approached her.

She stated she was in fear for her life and believed that she was going to get struck by the vehicle, deputies wrote in the affidavit. She also stated that if she didnt move out of the way she believed she would have been run over.

Another protester who alleged she was almost struck by Dutil told the deputy she also feared for her life.

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Multiple videos of the incident cited in the affidavit corroborated the protesters accounts of the incident, showing Dutil driving on the curb in front of the dealership and almost striking multiple people, before exiting his car.

Offerman told WPTV that Dutil jumped out of the car and proceeded to throw his hands in the air and say: Dont touch the car, I just lost my electronics, I cant steer, before entering the showroom.

An employee inside the Tesla showroom told deputies Dutil walked in and stated that he stands with Tesla and walked out, according to the affidavit.

Deputies arrived at the scene shortly after the incident and observed Dutil parked outside the Tesla Center, surrounded by multiple people. He was taken into custody without incident.

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Dutils arrest comes amid a nationwide series of protests against Musk, known as the Tesla Takedown. The movement is in response to Musk overseeing President Donald Trumps so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which has caused chaos among federal agencies and employees in its efforts to slash federal spending.

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COURTESY HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT Gerhardt Konig of Maui has been arrested.

COURTESY HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT Gerhardt Konig of Maui has been arrested.

UPDATE : 6 :45 p.m.

Honolulu police arrested Gerhardt Konig near Pali Highway after a brief foot pursuit. HPD said charges are pending.

UPDATE : 4 :27 p.m.

Honolulu police and CrimeStoppers Honolulu are still searching for suspect Gerhardt Konig of Maui for allegedly attempting to murder of his wife at the Pali Lookout this morning.

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According to HPD, the woman is currently in critical condition.

Konigs LinkedIn profile describes him as an anesthesia doctor.

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The 46-year-old Konig is described as five-feet-nine-inches tall and 160 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. He was last seen near Pali Lookout at about 10 :30 a.m. wearing a light, gray shirt and blue shorts, and carrying a black bag.

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Anyone with information should call 911 or contact at 808-955-8300.

3 :24 p.m.

A woman, 36, was taken to the emergency room in serious condition after suffering multiple facial and head injuries at Pali Lookout, according to Honolulu Emergency Medical Services. She reported to EMS she was assaulted with closed fists and an object.

EARLIER COVERAGE Honolulu police are currently searching for a Maui man wanted for an alleged murder attempt this morning at the Pali Lookout.

Police are searching for suspect Gerhardt Konig of Maui, alleging that he was on Oahu with his wife this morning when he struck her in the head with a rock and attempted to push her off the hiking trail.

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Police said she was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

Konig is described as 46 years old, five-feet-nine-inches tall and 160 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. He was last seen near Pali Lookout at about 10 :30 a.m. wearing a light, gray shirt and blue shorts, and carrying a black bag.

Anyone with information should call 911 or contact at 808-955-8300.

State officials, meanwhile, say that the Pali Lookout, or Nuuanu Pali State Wayside, has been closed indefinitely today due to police activity in the area.

The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources asks the public to avoid the area until further notice.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A man accused of pointing a gun at a Loveland fast food restaurant employee before firing a shot in the parking lot and fleeing the scene was arrested Monday morning.

The Loveland Police Department announced Tuesday that it arrested 23-year-old Cesar Abdel Alvidrez of Berthoud in connection to a shooting incident that happened Monday around 1 a.m. at Taco Bell, located at 1330 N. Lincoln Avenue.

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Police said Alvidrez is accused of pointing a firearm at someone after a dispute in the drive-through escalated. Police did not specify who he allegedly pointed the gun at.

Police said he then discharged his firearm in the parking lot and drove away from the scene.

Police said Alvidrez was arrested at his residence without incident and booked into the Larimer County Jail on charges of menacing, a class five felony, and reckless endangerment, a class two misdemeanor.

The department asked anyone with information about the incident to call the Loveland Police Department Tip Line at 970-962-2032 or Larimer County Crime Stoppers at 970-221-6868.

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A man was arrested after a domestic incident in East Allegheny where hes accused of attacking the mother of his 5-month-old child and then later taking off in her car with their baby inside.

Pittsburgh Public Safety officials say police were called to a gas station parking lot in the 300 block of Cedar Avenue around 6:15 p.m.

A woman told arriving officers that she had been in an altercation with Sterling Smith Sr., the father of her child. She told police she had been choked to the point that she could not breathe.

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Police said after the altercation, Smith returned to their apartment and took the womans car with their baby inside.

According to a criminal complaint, the victim told police that Smith was making threats about their child, saying he was going to kill the baby, strangle the baby and throw the baby off of a bridge.

Police were able to get a hold of Smith on FaceTime. He showed himself driving at speeds of almost 100 mph while the baby was still inside, the complaint said.

Police tracked Smith to a home in Duquesne, where he was arrested. The baby was found uninjured and has been reunited with their mom.

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Smith is facing several charges including reckless driving, strangulation, endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault and terroristic threats. Hes being held at the Allegheny County Jail.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A Blytheville, Arkansas man was arrested after his 92-year-old mom was found living in what police are calling deplorable conditions with nearly 40 cats.

Paul Taylor, 61, was charged Monday with felony Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent Person and Cruelty to Animals.

Blytheville Police said they issued a search warrant for the 300 block of South Franklin and found the 92-year-old woman living in the home with 38 cats. One cat was found dead inside the home.

Cat rescue (Blytheville PD)

Investigators said Taylor also lived in the residence and was his mothers caretaker.

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The sheriffs department said the Blytheville Animal Control, Blytheville Fire Department, Blytheville Code Enforcement, Gosnell Animal Control, Cattyshack Cat Rescue, Mended Paws Rescue, Dr. Catos Veterinarian Office CARES Clarksdale, Good Shepherd Humane Society of Eureka Springs, Cabot Animal Services and the Bissell Pet Foundation also assisted with the removal of the cats.

Several groups assisted with the cat rescue. Courtesy: Blytheville Police Department

Its unclear where the cats were taken or the condition of the animals seized.

Taylor is scheduled to appear in Blytheville District Court on Tuesday.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 51-year-old man is facing a charge of driving while intoxicated after he was found unconscious behind the wheel early Monday morning, March 24, Horizon City Police said.

Horizon Police said they arrested Roberto Ortiz, 51. He was taken to El Paso County Jail on a charge of driving while intoxicated third time or more and booked with a bond of $50,000.

At about 2:35 a.m. Monday, officers from the Horizon City Police Department responded to a report of a driver asleep behind the wheel at 500 Darrington.

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Officers found the vehicle and suspect, who was later identified as Ortiz.

During the investigation, police said Ortiz showed signs of intoxication and was subsequently arrested.

Horizon City Assistant Chief Jose Kluge said: Our Police Department have increased their enforcement efforts during the St Patricks Day and Spring Break session. Driving while intoxicated is a serious offense which places our community in danger. Please ensure you use a ride share or make other arrangements for transportation if you are away from home and plan on drinking.

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BEAVER DAM, Wis. (WFRV)  Authorities in Wisconsin say one man was seriously hurt and eventually arrested for Operating While Intoxicated after he was ejected from his vehicle following a crash at high speeds.

According to a release from the Dodge County Sheriffs Office, deputies responded at 3:03 a.m. on Saturday to reports of a single-vehicle rollover crash on State Highway 33 in the town of Beaver Dam.

Officials say a 2008 Mazda CX-9 was heading eastbound on State Highway 33 at speeds up to 109mph before it failed to negotiate a curve and over-corrected leading to the vehicle losing control and entering the ditch.

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Suspect arrested after fleeing and threatening Green Bay police with a knife

The Mazda reportedly vaulted and flipped multiple times ejecting the driver who was said to not be wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

The driver, 47-year-old Francisco Manago from Horicon, was taken to Marshfield Medical Center and then flown to UW Hospital with serious injuries. From there he was arrested for his first OWI offense.

At this time no other information is available and an investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
UPDATE 04-29-2025: In an update from the New York State Attorney General Office of Special Investigation (OSI), they have announced that they are conducting an investigation into the death of Matthew Brown, who died on March 25, after a March 24 incident with members of the New York State Police (NYSP) in Oneida County.

OSI has released body-worn camera footage from the troopers who were equipped with them during the incident. The body Camera footage can be seen on the New York State Attorney Generals website.

BARNEVLED, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  New York State Police are investigating the death of a man in police custody that happened on Monday, March 24, in the Town of Barneveld in Oneida County.

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State troopers were called to a man who was behaving erratically at a home on Sand Ridge Road in Barneveld around 11:30 p.m. on Monday.

When the troopers tried to engage with the man, identified as 30-year-old Matthew Brown, he lunged for a troopers firearm, NYSP said.

Brown was restrained and arrested by the troopers, and emergency medical personnel were called for an evaluation.

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While waiting, Brown became unresponsive, according to NYSP.

Despite life-saving efforts from the troopers, an Oneida County sheriffs deputy, and EMS personnel, Brown was pronounced dead.

The New York State Attorney Generals Office has also been notified, as it is required to investigate all deaths involving a police officer in New York State.

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Nordic construction company NCC has secured a contract from Karlskoga Municipality for the construction of a new swimming centre in Sweden.

The project, valued at approximately Skr440m ($43.3m), is a turnkey contract in partnering form and is set to begin immediately, with completion targeted for the first quarter (Q1) of 2028.

The planning for the swim centre has been underway since early 2023, with NCC collaborating closely with the municipality, local partners, and the company's in-house specialists.

This joint effort has led to the development of a sustainability programme aimed at addressing climate risks, promoting circularity, and optimising operational performance through life cycle cost analyses.

A key aspect of the project is the child impact assessment, which will ensure the swim centre caters to children's needs and adapts to cultural differences.

The aim is to attract new target groups and establish a safe and inclusive environment.

The centre, spanning approximately 10,000m, will feature a 25m pool with ten lanes, a multifunction pool with an adjustable floor, a diving pool with springboards of varying heights, a children's pool, and a relaxation area complete with a sauna and a gym.

The contract will be registered under the NCC Building Sweden business area in Q1 2025.

Karlskoga Municipal executive board chair Tony Ring said: This is a major investment for Karlskoga. A new, state-of-the-art and sustainable swim centre will create better opportunities for sports, recreation and community, benefitting both residents and associations for many years to come.

NCC Building Sweden head Niklas Sparw added: We are pleased to develop and build the new swim centre in Karlskoga. By combining knowledge from our central team of swim centre experts with the local project team, we can work together with Karlskoga Municipality to realise the objectives of this project.

NCC's recent ventures also include a contract awarded by the Swedish Fortifications Agency to develop the Villingsberg training ground and firing range.

Last month, NCC signed a partnering agreement with LKAB for a new sorting plant in Gallivare, Sweden.

"NCC secures contract to construct new swim centre in Karlskoga, Sweden" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand.




HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  A man who pleaded guilty in January to harassing his Black neighbors by burning a cross that faced their home is now prohibited from maintaining a nuisance anywhere in South Carolina after an Horry County judges ruling on Monday.

The November 2023 cross-burning occurred at a property on Corbett Drive, where Worden Butler lived with his girlfriend, Alexis Hartnett. A temporary one-year injunction issued last March declared the property a nuisance and closed it.

It reopened in late October, but a judge barred Hartnett and Butler from being on the property.

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Butler pleaded guilty in January to second-degree harassment stemming from the cross-burning and was sentenced to time served. Harnett also faces charges in the incident, which also led FBI agents to search the home as part of a civil-rights investigation.

The case sparked calls both state and nationwide for a hate crimes law. South Carolina is one of two states without one. The couple who faced the abuse, Monica and Shawn Williams, lauded the city of Conway after it adopted a local hate crimes ordinance in September.

* * *

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.

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COVENTRY TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW)  A man has been convicted for the murder of another man in Summit County in 2021, prosecutors announced on Monday.

According to Summit County prosecutors, 44-year-old Jeffery Peasley was found guilty of killing 49-year-old Robert Zornes, Jr. inside a friends house in Coventry Township.

The shooting occurred after Peasley arrived at the Coventry Township home in October 2021, court records said. Zornes was already staying there with a friend.

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I-Team: Explosive complaint filed by parents of fallen Cleveland police officer

Investigators said Peasley and Zornes got into an argument that turned violent. Peasley shot Zornes with a shotgun before stealing the victims motorcycle and leaving the scene.

Zornes died from his injuries.

Officers with the Niles Police Department responded to a motorcycle crash two days after the shooting. Investigators learned that the motorcycle was stolen and Peasley was arrested.

Witness testimony, DNA evidence, surveillance videos and the Defendants own admissions connected him to the crime, Summit County prosecutors said in a press release.

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Foul play death: Akron boy Jadako Taylor, 12, forced into icy bath as punishment, police say

Peasley was found guilty of multiple charges, including two counts of murder, one count of felonious assault, one count of having weapons under disability, one count of grand theft of a motor vehicle and two counts of disrupting public services.

Retaliation is never a justifiable solution to any conflict, Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich said in the release. Although no verdict can bring Bobby back, I hope this decision provides some closure to his family.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  James Allen Carter, 62, was extradited to Michigan and arraigned Friday on multiple charges stemming from accusations that he sexually assaulted a minor and accosted her and another victim for immoral purposes in 2008.

According to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and court records, he was initially charged in Hillsdale County in August 2011.

Carter formerly resided in Prescott, located in Ogemaw County, but most recently resided in Georgia. He was extradited to Hillsdale County last week by the U.S. Marshals Service as a part of Operation Survivor Justice, a collaboration between the U.S. Marshals Service, the Michigan Department of Attorney General, and prosecutors across the country.

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The program is intended to track down and extradite those with outstanding sexual assault warrants at a lower cost compared to private extradition servicesfunded by $1 million from the state.

Operation Survivor Justice has proven that those who flee criminal allegations cannot evade accountability by crossing state lines, says Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Carter is charged with one count of first-degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, a potential life sentence, and two counts of Accosting a Child for Immoral Purposes, a four-year felony.

His cash bond was set at $100,00. He is scheduled to appear in the 2B District Court in Hillsdale County for a probable cause conference on April 2. at 10:30 a.m.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
An 82-year-old man in Seattle woke up feeling very much alive until he and his wife opened a letter from his bank stating he was deceased.

Ned Johnson was mistakenly declared dead, which led to the cancellation of his Social Security benefits. It took him two months to prove the mistake, including numerous phone calls, letters to government officials and enduring a four-hour wait at his local Social Security office, he said.

And he told ABC News the problem is continuing to follow him.

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"I've since learned that I'm on the Death Master File that apparently is going to chase me for the rest of my life," Johnson told ABC News. "It means that when Social Security declared me as deceased, there's a file that's kept ... that I'm listed on and, apparently, it doesn't go away. So we're struggling with a few issues now that are starting to crop up since we started this whole thing."

PHOTO: Ned Johnson sits with his wife Pam as they talk with ABC News about fighting for return of benefits after being declared dead. (ABC News)

MORE: Trump SSA pick not seeking to privatize Social Security, will meet people 'where they want to be met'

The trouble began when Johnson's wife, Pam Johnson, received a letter from Bank of America in February expressing condolences for her husband's alleged death in November.

"First, I thought it was a scam because it was just a little letter, and they also attached a couple of documents for me to fill out to send back to Bank of America's estate division," she told ABC News. "So I verified that it was the estate division and the phone number was correct. And then the second letter we got right after that was showing that debit to our checking account."

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The situation finally began to be sorted out after Johnson visited his local Social Security Administration office. Ned Johnson said he thought his troubles were over, but he added, "This thing follows you follows you like a bad smell."

He started receiving his Social Security checks once again, but he's now facing another problem -- the checks are coming but they've started to deduct some.

Pam Johnson said she and her husband are very lucky to be financially stable to make do with several missed checks. But others won't be so lucky.

MORE: Fired, reinstated Education Department employees speak out as agency is dismantled

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"I think the more important story is the people who do rely on it ... the majority of people, a lot of them on Social Security, particularly at our age that really don't have the wherewithal to navigate the system," she said. "So for some people, it just would be impossible."

The Johnsons' ordeal comes as the Trump administration and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency have targeted purported fraud in the Social Security system, including checks allegedly sent to deceased people.

Among changes Social Security recently announced intended to combat waste and fraud, recipients will soon have to verify their bank details in person or online, instead of over the phone.

"My advice would be, watch your bank account and be prepared to -- if you get tagged with one of these issues -- it's going to take some time," Ned Johnson said. "And you just have to be patient and persistent if you expect to get anywhere."

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ABC News reached out to the Social Security Administration for comment on the Johnsons' situation, but the agency said privacy laws precluded it from discussing specific cases.

The agency pointed to a March 16 press release stating that 3 million deaths are reported to the agency every year and that less than one-third of 1% are erroneously reported.

Man falsely declared dead by Social Security still dealing with fallout, he says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A man was fatally shot by San Diego police during a SWAT standoff in a neighborhood near Scripps Ranch Tuesday.

Around 12:09 p.m., authorities received a report of a male pointing a handgun at construction workers in the 11600 block of Angelique Street, Lt. Patrick Fox with the San Diego County Sheriffs Office said in a news release

SkyFOX/KUSI in the Sky was overhead shortly after. From overhead, a man, now identified as a 59-year-old, could be seen on the sidewalk of the cul-de-sac holding what appeared to be some sort of firearm. The man then appeared to fall to the ground, across from where officers had been staging.

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Police arrest suspect in yet another baseball bat assault in Oceanside

Officials at the scene told FOX 5/KUSI the man died after two SWAT officers shot him.

During a press conference around 4 p.m., Lt. Patrick Fox with the San Diego County Sheriffs Office said the suspect was armed with a semi-automatic pistol gun and knife.

The suspect, who lived in the area, initially pointed the gun at a pest control worker, who then barricaded himself in his truck to avoid injury, according to authorities. That worker has been confirmed safe.

When police arrived on scene, they noticed the suspect was holding what appeared to be a semi-automatic pistol in his hand, according to law enforcement.

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As the SWAT team attempted to evacuate the pest worker, the suspect, who had not been following commands from police to drop his firearm, pointed his firearm in the direction of officers when two SWAT snipers fired their rifles, authorities said. The suspect was shot in his upper body and died due to his injuries.

No officers were hurt during the standoff.

One officer involved in the shooting has been with the San Diego Police Department for around 17 years, is assigned to patrol at the Central Division and is a SWAT sniper. The other officer involved in the shooting has been with SDPD for around 10 years, is assigned to patrol at the Mid City Division and is a SWAT sniper.

Nearby residents were evacuated during the standoff.

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Also while speaking during the press conference, Fox said he was feeling lightheaded and passed out as surrounding media members and law enforcement assisted with his fall.

An ambulance came to the scene and Fox was checked out as precautionary measures, according to investigators.

The shooting is the second notable incident in the area in the last 10 years. Back in 2015, local sportscaster Kyle Kraska was shot multiple times in the neighborhood by an aggrieved house painter who he had contracted for a job that ultimately fell through.

The San Diego County Sheriffs Office Homicide Unit is investigating the officer-involved shooting.

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Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 858-285-6330/after hours at 858-868-3200. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

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Mar. 24A jury on Monday found a man guilty in a 2024 shooting death during a dispute on the dance floor of a social club.

Theodore Toney, 46, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of 40-year-old Kenneth Ellis inside the Navajo Elks Lodge on April 6.

The 2nd Judicial District Court jury reached its verdict shortly after 2 p.m. on Monday after roughly five hours of deliberation.

The first-degree murder conviction requires Toney to serve a minimum of 30 years in prison before he is eligible for parole. District Judge Lucy Solimon said she will hold the sentencing hearing within 60 days.

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The fatal shooting was captured on surveillance video from the Navajo Elks Lodge, located near Expo New Mexico. At the time, the club was filled with attendees who were at the club for a birthday party.

However, no eyewitnesses testified during last week's trial, despite an estimated 30  40 people being inside the club during the shooting.

Toney's attorney, Jonathan Schildgen, told jurors that the lack of eyewitnesses was a sign Toney did not fire the shot that killed Ellis, though Assistant District Attorney Jolanna Macias argued that witnesses were likely reluctant to testify in fear of retribution.

Prosecutors said the killing was likely retaliation after Ellis testified in the murder trial of Oshay Toney, who was accused of killing Ellis' uncle. Oshay Toney was the son of Theodore Toney.

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The night of the shooting, Albuquerque police officers responded to a call around 1 a.m. and found Ellis fatally shot by a single 9mm to the back of his head on the floor of the Elk's Lodge.

Video footage captured Toney near Ellis before the shooting happened, and later recorded Toney leaving the club moments after the shooting.

"This murder was so incredibly egregious," 2nd Judicial District Attorney Sam Bregman wrote to the Journal. "The victim in this case was shot to death in a room full of people. We hope the jury's verdict brings justice to the family of Kenneth Ellis and the entire community."
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 31-year-old man was killed over the weekend when he rolled his vehicle and was ejected in an early-morning crash in far East El Paso, El Paso Police said.

The crash happened just after 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 23 along Loop 375 North at Montana.

News 1 dead in rollover crash in far East El Paso

Police said the driver, identified as Christopher Adrian Martinez, lost control of his car and spun off the main highway.

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He struck a fence pole, flipped his vehicle and was ejected, police said. He was not wearing a seat belt, police added.

Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene.

Alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the crash, police said.

This is the 15th traffic fatality in the City limits so far this year compared to 13 at the same time last year.

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A metro Atlanta man admitted to use a trap to steal thousands of dollars in checks from a mail collection box. Prosecutors said it was part of a scheme to sell the stolen checks online.

Keyon Ponder from Fayetteville pleaded guilty to bank fraud in federal court on Monday. He faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine.

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The United States Postal Inspection Service started investigating mail thefts at a Macon post office on May 29, 2024. Inspectors found a piece of cardboard inside a blue box, which blocked the mail from falling down into the blue box. The trap allowed whoever set it to then put his or her hand inside and grab the mail.

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Two days later, a USPS employee spotted a Black Tesla pull up multiple times to the blue box. The employee said the driver didnt place anything into the blue box.

Inspectors saw the same Tesla return that afternoon and saw the driver stick his hand into the box and pulled items out.

The Monroe County Sheriffs Office later pulled over the driver, identified as Ponder. Inside the Tesla, they found 52 pieces of stolen mail, two cell phones and a cardboard box and tape that matched the trap.

When they took him to the jail, Ponder was spotted on jail security cameras pulling something out of his pants. It turned out to be an envelope with another batch of stolen checks.

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In total, prosecutors said Ponder had 59 checks that totaled $96,000.

Prosecutors said that Ponder and several others stole the checks to sell them on Telegram messaging app. Ponders phones contained more than 500 photos of stolen checks listed for sale.

His sentencing will be scheduled for a later date.

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Northern Trust Asset Management (NTAM), a division of Northern Trust, has appointed Tim Brown as the new head of UK sales.

Brown, based in London, will spearhead the sales strategy and enhance NTAM's UK presence.

Leading a regional sales team, Brown will foster collaboration within Northern Trust, working closely with the asset servicing sales team to integrate the firms expertise and resources.

In his new role, Brown will collaborate with Michelle Inskip, NTAM's head of consultant relations for EMEA, who joined in August 2024 to strengthen ties with UK institutional clients.

He reports to Rutger Maenen, NTAM's head of sales for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Brown previously worked at Dimensional Fund Advisors as the head of institutional and EMEA consultant relations group.

He has over 25 years of industry experience, having held positions at Credit Suisse and UBP.

NTAM head of global institutional client group Lyenda Delp said: We are pleased to welcome Tim to NTAMs sales team. His appointment complements recent hires across our broader international business in the fixed income, quant and stewardship teams, as we continue our commitment to growing our regional capabilities and services.

Northern Trust president for Europe, Middle East and Africa Clive Bellows said: Tims experience and track record further increases and complements the depth of expertise and talent we deploy across our regional franchise.

Across our range of asset management, asset servicing and wealth management solutions, we continue to grow our collective capabilities to help our clients achieve their strategic objectives as their trusted adviser and partner.

This appointment follows NTAM's recent expansion of its global quant strategies team, hiring 13 investment personnel in Amsterdam.

As of 31 December 2024, NTAM had total assets under custody/administration of $16.79tn, a 9% increase year-on-year.

Assets under management reached $1.61tn, marking a 12% rise from December 2023.

"Northern Trust Asset Management appoints new head of sales in UK " was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.




[Watch in the player above: How does road rage impact your driving?]

SOLON, Ohio (WJW)  Solon police have charged a man for allegedly pulling a gun on another driver in what the man himself described as a road rage incident.

It happened before 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 20, according to a police report. A 48-year-old woman told police a man had threatened her with a gun near the intersection of SOM Center and Aurora roads.

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Cleveland men accused of selling weapons to undercover agents posing as Mexican cartel members

The woman said she was pulling out of the parking lot of the nearby CVS, when she was almost hit by another vehicle, whose driver was on a cell phone.

She said she honked at him and he got out of the vehicle and aimed the gun at her, according to the report. He threatened to shoot her before she drove away, she told police.

She gave a description of the vehicle. Officers located and stopped the vehicle on SOM Center Road near U.S. Route 422. They ordered the man out of the vehicle and detained him.

They found a loaded, semi-automatic handgun inside the vehicle. The man was arrested and transported to the jail for questioning.

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26-year-old accused of killing 75-year-old at Canton Township bar

The man, identified as Edward E. Kirk III, 21, of Garfield Heights, told officers the woman had honked at him in traffic because he was on his cell phone. He said that he was in fear that he was in a road rage situation, so he grabbed his gun, reads the report.

He was charged with a first-degree misdemeanor count of aggravated menacing, to which he pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Tuesday, March 24, in Bedford Municipal Court, records show.

A criminal protection order was filed.

Kirk is due back in court on April 14, court records show.

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His vehicle was towed.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A city man who pleaded guilty Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to shooting at a house in December was sentenced to five to six years in prison.

Virgilio Rios, 35, received the sentence from Judge R. Scott Krichbaum after pleading guilty to a charge of improper discharge of a firearm at or into a habitation, a second-degree felony, and a firearm specification.

The sentence was recommended by the attorneys in the case and adopted by Judge Krichbaum.

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The charges stem from a Dec. 21 call to police about 4:35 a.m. to a South Side home in the Brownlee Woods area for gunfire. No one was injured.

Assistant Prosecutor Steve Maszczak told Judge Krichbaum that Rios had argued with a friend at a nearby bar, and several hours later, fired shots at the home.

The victim did not realize shots were fired at his house until he returned home about 4:30 a.m., Maszczak said. Police found 14 casings from a 9mm weapon in the street. Reports said there were also several bullet holes in the home.

Maszczak said police were able to arrest Rios because of video footage at the bar and in the neighborhood where the shots were fired.

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Rios was taken into custody in January.

Defense attorney Tony Meranto said his client meant to scare the victim and not harm him, but Judge Krichbaum said it was a stroke of luck no one was home and no one got hurt.

Somebody who shoots up someone elses house is a menace, Judge Krichbaum said. Its as cowardly a thing as anyone can do.

Rios apologized.

Things escalated more than should have, Rios said. It was a very bad decision.

Rios will receive credit for 57 days he has served in the county jail awaiting the outcome of his case.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man who was released from prison in 2022 will now serve 25 years after shooting and killing two men at a 7-Eleven store in Milwaukie.

Frank Efrin Nifon, 26, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree manslaughter following the deaths of Jamahl Nash and Stanafurd Blacknall on Oct. 12, 2022.

No absolute certainty Martin Family car found in Cascade Locks

Authorities said Nifon met Nash and Blacknall at the convenience store on SE Lake Road, where surveillance footage showed Nashs vehicle enter the parking lot at 1:31 a.m. The same car was also seen rushing out of the parking lot at 1:33 a.m. as Nifon and Kaythan Tenry  another man facing trial  both fired 17 shots.

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Both Nash and Blacknall were found shot to death in the car that had crashed into a fire hydrant near SE 122nd Avenue and Highway 212.

Portland Diamond Project swings for fence in Salem

The shooting is believed to be related to a drug deal, officials said. Cameras from a nearby apartment complex, Lake Crest Apartments, caught muzzle flashes from the shooting and photos of the men as they walked back to an apartment in the complex.

Nifton also pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a weapon for another case and received an additional five years in prison. He had been on post-prison supervision at the time of the shooting in 2022.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  An argument in a gas station parking lot in East Nashville reportedly led to a man being stabbed multiple times Monday night.

According to court documents, around 7:30 p.m., officers on patrol in the area of 500 Main Street saw 60-year-old Darryl Lee Crook and another man arguing in the parking lot.

As the officers drove into the parking lot, they saw that the altercation had turned physical. Reports said they approached the men and separated them before the victim stated, he stabbed me. He had several bleeding wounds near his ribcage.

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Nashville police arrest suspect in Nolensville Pike shooting

While handcuffing Crook and searching him, officers reportedly discovered a knife inside his pants pocket. He was arrested and placed into a patrol vehicle.

According to authorities, officers aided the victim until paramedics arrived. He was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries.

Investigators said video surveillance footage from the parking lot showed Crook approaching the victim with a knife in hand and stabbing the victim three times until he was stopped by law enforcement.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

During an interview, Crook reportedly told detectives he was upset about a preexisting feud he had with the victim and he wanted to give him a poke.

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Crook was charged with attempted criminal homicide and booked into Metro jail on a $150,000 bond.

 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.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  A 40-year-old man is facing multiple charges and remains in jail after allegedly trying to sexually assault a woman in Myrtle Beach, according to a police report.

Myrtle Beach police arrested Joseph Bradley Moxey, 40, after the March 13 incident on N. Kings Highway. The report said a patrol officer found the victim on a sidewalk with injuries to her face and mouth after hearing an active disturbance and responding.

Moxey was nearby and highly intoxicated and resisted officers efforts to take him into custody, the report said. Officers determined during their investigation that he had tried to sexually assault the woman.

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He is charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct, three counts of possession of a controlled substance, public disorderly and resisting arrest, according to J. Reuben Long Detention Center online records. He is being held without bond.

The drug charges were the result of three types of steroids  dianabol methandrostenolone, testosterone cypionate and trenbolene enanthate  that were found in a backpack after Moxey was taken to the Myrtle Beach Jail, the report said. None of the containers were marked with prescription labels.

* * *

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.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
OCONEE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  A man wanted in Georgia was arrested Saturday following a traffic stop in Oconee County.

The Oconee County Sheriffs Office said 42-year-old Harold Fanklin Curry Jr., of Toccoa, Georgia, was booked into the detention center following a traffic stop near the Foxwood Hills Community.

Deputies said a stop was initiated in the area of Blackjack Road and Mount Pleasant Road when a driver in a Buick Lucerne was observed committing a traffic violation. The driver was identified as Curry.

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While searching the vehicle, authorities located drugs inside the car and Curry was placed under arrest. The sheriffs office charged the suspect with possession of methamphetamine.

Further into the investigation, deputies learned that the suspect was a fugitive from Stephens County for allegedly making terroristic threats. Curry was held on a temporary custody order until deputies could charge the individual with fugitive from justice.

Curry was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center on a $10,000 bond.

On Monday morning, he was transferred to the Stephens County Sheriffs Office.

The incident remains under investigation by the OCSO.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
MANHATTAN (KSNT)  People may soon be able to openly carry alcoholic beverages in downtown Manhattan.

Manhattan city leaders plan to discuss a common consumption ordinance at a city commission meeting on Tuesday, March 25. If approved, it would create a drinking zone, allowing patrons to grab drinks from participating businesses and walk around in the nearby area.

Map: which Kansas counties have the most excessive drinkers?

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City leaders started thinking about adopting the ordinance back in September last year. A co-owner of Manhattan Brewing Company, Jake Voegeli, said his brewery would benefit from the change.

I think it could have a big economic impact, Voegeli said. We could do more events outside. More events like closing off the streets and it makes it a lot easier for us to do really awesome, cool events downtown. 

This ordinance is similar to those that Topeka and Emporia have enacted. Governor Laura Kelly signed off on a state law in 2023 allowing for common consumption zones to be established in Kansas.

Wamego OZ Museum reopens after significant renovation work

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For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A 26-year-old man on trial for the murder of a police officer and injury to five others on the market square of the German city of Mannheim in May last year on Tuesday admitted guilt and expressed remorse.

The Afghan man, identified under privacy law as Sulaiman A, said the war in the Gaza Strip had changed his life and was the motive for his attack on a rally called by the anti-Islam activist group Pax Europa (BPE). He is charged with murder and attempted murder.

Five rally participants and police officer Rouven Laur, 29, were injured in the May 31 attack. Laur died in hospital two days later. Another officer disabled the attacker with a gunshot.

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The accused said he had spoken about killing unbelievers in Telegram chats with a cleric and collected information on the Islamic State terrorist group.

"I will say how I came to commit this terrible crime," Sulaiman A told the court, describing how he aimed to kill BPE leader Michael Sturzenberger. Sturzenberger was one of the people injured.

"My life changed with the start of this Gaza war," he said, revealing that he had viewed Telegram channels showing dead men, women and children. "I cried every day," he said.

The trial began in February and is scheduled to run until the end of October.
By Giulio Piovaccari

MILAN (Reuters) -Chinese and Italian shareholders in Pirelli are at odds over the group's governance, two sources said, with the Chinese investor potentially a hurdle for the Italian tyremaker's plans to do more business in the United States.

China's state-owned Sinochem is the largest investor in Pirelli with a 37% stake in Pirelli, at a time when China is the U.S.' top military and cyber threat, according to a report by U.S. intelligence agencies published on Tuesday.

Washington is cracking down on Chinese technology in the automotive industry, banning key software and hardware from Chinese-controlled companies in connected vehicles on U.S. roads.

While software prohibitions take effect in the 2027 model year and those on hardware in 2029, vehicles expected to be sold in those years are being developed now.

Some of the tyres Pirelli produces are fitted with a technology capable of collecting data during motion and transferring the information in real time to the vehicle. Any setback for Pirelli's technology in the U.S. could also have repercussions on its wider global sales.

The Italian tyremaker makes around 25% of its revenues in the North American market, which it mostly serves through output from its plants in Mexico, South America and Europe.

The group also runs a smaller plant in the U.S. state of Georgia. Presenting full-year results last month, Executive Vice-Chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera said Pirelli could consider expanding its U.S. output to limit the impact of possible tariffs.

But new investments in the U.S. could face an obstacle in the link between Pirelli and its Chinese shareholder.

STAKE REDUCTION?

Discussions are ongoing between Pirelli and Sinochem on how to further reduce the Chinese conglomerate's influence on the tyremaker, the sources said, after the Italian government intervened in 2023 to curb the Chinese group's powers and shield the autonomy of Pirelli management.

This could include convincing Sinochem to progressively divest from Pirelli, while alternative options could entail Rome removing Sinochem's voting rights in Pirelli, one of the sources said.

Rome last year also supported European Union tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles.

Pirelli declined to comment on the reports, while representatives of Sinochem were not immediately available.

Pirelli's second largest investor is Camfim, the vehicle of businessman Tronchetti Provera, who has led Pirelli since 1992.

Following governance limitations decided by the Italian government, Pirelli had launched an internal process to formally assess the level of control exercised by Sinochem.
At a 2017 hearing on Capitol Hill, then-Sen. Marco Rubio described a dark, fantastical vision of life in America.

Imagine if the United States had an executive branch that basically took over the Supreme Court and put political cronies on it, Rubio said. (Imagine it) canceled all funding and all function of the Congress, both House and Senate.

Rubio was speaking about the situation in Venezuela. In that country, a strongman, Nicolas Maduro, had effectively dissolved the Legislature and canceled elections. Rubio denounced the move to authoritarianism.

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Eight years later, Rubio is Trumps secretary of state at a pivotal moment. The president is remaking Americas global reputation with sweeping moves at home and abroad. His administration appears to be defying a federal court order on deportations. Its promised to deport legal residents who disagree with Americas foreign policy aims. Rubio is not only cheering on Trumps moves, hes an active participant.

The United States is by no means Venezuela under Maduro. But critics say some of Trumps actions are reminiscent of other countries' slides into autocracy.

Rubios detractors say he has evolved from a self-proclaimed defender of the rule of law to an opportunistic Trump apologist.

But supporters say Rubios always been motivated by his conviction in America. Right now, Trump is the defender of that vision.

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He was America first before that was cool, said U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean, one of Rubios top lieutenants in the Florida House in the 2000s. Thats always been true with Marco.

A Rubio political spokesperson redirected questions to a U.S. Department of State spokesperson, who did not respond to requests for comment.

Rubio over more than a decade earned a reputation as a serious foreign policy thinker in Washington. He was a key adviser to the first Trump administrations foreign policy in Latin America and was unanimously confirmed in January as secretary of state by his Senate colleagues.

Some Senate Democrats say they regret that vote. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, said when he voted to confirm Rubio, he assumed the Floridian would push back on some of Trumps impulses.

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I thought ... when Donald Trump would come to him and say, Help me move America closer to Russia ... Marco Rubio would stand up to him, Murphy said on CNN in this month. Rubio has not."

Rubio was in the Oval Office for an explosive meeting in February between Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At that meeting, Trump accused Zelenskyy of not being grateful enough for American aid in the fight against Russia.

Since then, Rubio has found himself constantly embroiled in Trumps controversies.

Earlier this month, when District Judge James Boasberg ordered the Trump administration to stop the removal of more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador, Rubio appeared to make fun of the order. He reposted a message written on X by Nayib Bukele, El Salvadors president.

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Oopsie Too late," Bukele wrote, followed by the crying laughing emoji.

On Thursday, at an event at New College of Florida, Trumps top immigration official said the administration would not let judges stop future deportations.

When the Trump administration moved earlier this month to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent legal resident who was a vocal participant in protests critical of Israel at Columbia University, Rubio defended the move  promising more like it.

When you apply to enter the United States and you get a visa, you are a guest, Rubio said on CBS' Face the Nation. If you tell us when you apply for a visa, Im coming to the U.S. to participate in pro-Hamas events,' that runs counter to the foreign policy interest of the United States.

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Khalil, a Palestinian who is married to a U.S. citizen, is not alleged to have materially aided Hamas, which the U.S. considers a terrorist group. But while a student at Columbia University, he participated in rallies critical of Israel, with whom Hamas is at war in Gaza.

They did what they did to him because of his speech, and thats unconstitutional, said Tracey Maclin, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

Days after his arrest, the Trump administration accused Khalil of withholding information on his application to become a legal permanent resident. Khalils lawyers said the new allegations are a weak attempt to sidestep the First Amendment issues with the arrest.

And when the Trump administration moved to unilaterally end programs funded by Congress, Rubio was there to pick up the slack. In February, Trump announced he was dissolving the U.S. Agency for International Development  an organization Rubio had previously praised. Trump put the agencys diminished portfolio under Rubio.

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Trumps comments about some of these moves have done little to lower the temperature for those worried about the growing power of the presidency.

He who saves his Country does not violate any Law, he posted to X in February.

When the federal judge ordered his administrations deportation flights halted, Trump called for his impeachment, earning a rare rebuke from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

Some legal scholars say Trumps efforts to consolidate power over Congress and the courts constitute a crisis in the American political system. But Maclin said in his view, the country has not reached the point of crisis.

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Constitutional crisis is a term that gets bandied about far more often than it should, Maclin said.

But much remains uncertain, said Stanley Fish, the presidential scholar in residence at New College of Florida.

American government depends on peoples willingness to adhere to the judgment of institutions like courts, Fish said.

Once that trust and willingness disappears, we are in very uncharted and perhaps dangerous territory, Fish said.
Away from the grueling land battles and devastating airstrikes, the Ukraine war has from its outset had a naval element. Soon after the February 2022 invasion, Russia imposed a de facto naval blockade on Ukraine, only to see its fleet stunningly defeated during a contest for control of the Black Sea.

But that war on the waves looks like it could be ending.

Under the terms of a deal announced on March 25, 2025, by the U.S. and agreed upon in Saudi Arabia, both sides of the conflict committed to ensuring safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea, according to a White House statement.

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The naval aspect of the Ukraine war has gotten less attention than events on land and in the skies. But it is, I believe, a vital aspect with potentially far-reaching consequences.

Not only have Russias Black Sea losses constrained Moscows ability to project power across the globe through naval means, it has also resulted in Russias growing cooperation with China, where Moscow is emerging as a junior party to Beijing on the high seas.

Battle over the Black Sea

The tradition of geopolitical theory has tended to paint an oversimplification of global politics. Theories harkening back to the late 19th century categorized countries as either land powers or maritime powers.

Thinkers such as the British geopolitician Sir Halford Mackinder or the U.S. theorist Alfred Thayer Mahan characterized maritime powers as countries that possessed traits of democratic liberalism and free trade. In contrast, land powers were often portrayed as despotic and militaristic.

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While such generalizations have historically been used to demonize enemies, there is still a contrived tendency to divide the world into land and sea powers. An accompanying view that naval and army warfare is somewhat separate has continued.

And this division gives us a false impression of Russias progress in the war with Ukraine. While Moscow has certainly seen some successes on land and in the air, that should not draw attention away from Russias stunning defeat in the Black Sea that has seen Russia have to retreat from the Ukrainian shoreline and keep its ships far away from the battlefront.

As I describe in my recent book, Near and Far Waters: The Geopolitics of Seapower, maritime countries have two concerns: They must attempt to control the parts of the sea relatively close to their coastlines, or their near waters; meanwhile, those with the ability and desire to do so try to project power and influence into far waters across oceans, which are the near waters of other countries.

The Black Sea is a tightly enclosed and relatively small sea comprising the near waters of the countries that surround it: Turkey to the south, Bulgaria and Romania to the west, Georgia to the east, and Ukraine and Russia to the north.

Control of the Black Seas near waters has been contested throughout the centuries and has played a role in the current Russian-Ukraine war.

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Russias seizure of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 allowed it to control the naval port of Sevastopol. What were near waters of Ukraine became de facto near waters for Russia.

Controlling these near waters allowed Russia to disrupt Ukraines trade, especially the export of grain to African far waters.

But Russias actions were thwarted through the collaboration of Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey to allow passage of cargo ships through their near waters, then through the Bosporus into the Mediterranean Sea.

Ukraines use of these other countries near waters allowed it to export between 5.2 million and 5.8 million tons of grain per month in the first quarter of 2024. To be sure, this was a decline from Ukraines exports of about 6.5 million tons per month prior to the war, which then dropped to just 2 million tons in the summer of 2023 because of Russian attacks and threats. Prior to the announcement of the ceasefire, the Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture had forecasted a decline in Ukrainian grain exports for 2025.

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But efforts to constrain Russias control of Ukraines near waters in the Black Sea, and Russias unwillingness to face the consequences of attacking ships in NATO countries near waters, meant Ukraine was still able to access far waters for economic gain and keep the Ukrainian economy afloat.

For Putin, that sinking feeling

Alongside being thwarted in its ability to disrupt Ukrainian exports, Russia has also come under direct naval attack from Ukraine. Since February 2022, using unmanned attack drones, Ukraine has successfully sunk or damaged Russian ships and whittled away at Russias Black sea fleet, sinking about 15 of its prewar fleet of about 36 warships and damaging many others.

Russia has been forced to limit its use of Sevastopol and station its ships in the eastern part of the Black Sea. It cannot effectively function in the near waters it gained through the seizure of Crimea.

Russias naval setbacks against Ukraine are only the latest in its historical difficulties in projecting sea power and its resulting tendency to mainly focus on the defense of near waters.

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In 1905, Russia was shocked by a dramatic naval loss to Japan. Yet even in cases where it was not outright defeated, Russian sea power has been continually constrained historically. In World War I, Russia cooperated with the British Royal Navy to limit German merchant activity in the Baltic Sea and Turkish trade and military reach in the Black Sea.

In World War II, Russia relied on material support from the Allies and was largely blockaded within its Baltic Sea and Black Sea ports. Many ships were brought close to home or stripped of their guns as artillery or offshore support for the territorial struggle with Germany.

During the Cold War, meanwhile, though the Soviet Union built fast-moving missile boats and some aircraft carriers, its reach into far waters relied on submarines. The main purpose of the Soviet Mediterranean fleet was to prevent NATO penetration into the Black Sea.

And now, Russia has lost control of the Black Sea. It cannot operate in these once secure near waters. These losses reduce its ability to project naval power from the Black Sea and into the Mediterranean Sea.

Ceding captaincy to China

Faced with a glaring loss in its backyard and put in a weak position in its near waters, Russia as a result can project power to far waters only through cooperation with a China that is itself investing heavily in a far-water naval capacity.

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Joint naval exercises in the South China Sea in July 2024 are evidence of this cooperation. Wang Guangzheng of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navys Southern Theater said of the drill that the China-Russia joint patrol has promoted the deepening and practical cooperation between the two in multiple directions and fields. And looking forward, he claimed the exercise effectively enhanced the ability to the two sides to jointly respond to maritime security threats.

Warships of the Chinese and Russian navies take part in a joint naval exercise in the East China Sea. Li Yun/Xinhua via Getty Images

This cooperation makes sense in purely military terms for Russia, a mutually beneficial project of sea power projection. But it is largely to Chinas benefit.

Russia can help Chinas defense of its northern near waters and secure access to far waters through the Arctic Ocean  an increasingly important arena as global climate change reduces the hindrance posed by sea ice. But Russia remains very much the junior partner.

Moscows strategic interests will be supported only if they match Chinese interests. More to the point, sea power is about power projection for economic gain. China will likely use Russia to help protect its ongoing economic reach into African, Pacific, European and South American far waters. But it is unlikely to jeopardize these interests for Russian goals.

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To be sure, Russia has far-water economic interests, especially in the Sahel and sub-Saharan Africa. And securing Russian interests in Africa complements Chinas growing naval presence in the Indian Ocean to secure its own, and greater, global economic interests. But cooperation will still be at Chinas behest.

For much of the Ukraine war, Russia has been bottled up in its Black Sea near waters, with the only avenue for projecting its naval power coming through access to Africa and Indian Ocean far waters  and only then as a junior partner with China, which dictates the terms and conditions.

A maritime deal with Ukraine now, even if it holds, will not compensate for Russias ongoing inability to project power across the oceans on its own.

Editors note: This is an updated version of an article originally published by The Conversation U.S. on Oct. 3, 2024.

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This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Colin Flint, Utah State University

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Colin Flint 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.
Mark Cuban told BI that key parts of the creative process are human instinct and decision-making.

AI is a particularly efficient time-saver and will allow the "best" to become "better," he said.

Cuban recently said on the "YMH" podcast that real people still need to be involved in making art.

For Mark Cuban, parts of storytelling are intrinsically human.

"AI can propose a million things in a second, but then somebody's got to go through and decide what they're going to put their money into," Cuban said on an episode of the "YMH" podcast.

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Creatives frequently express concerns that companies will use AI to cut human beings out of the production process in an effort to cut costs. Actors are already having to field jobs that involve feeding into the very AI that could one day be used to replicate their skills.

The Writers Guild of America, along with the actors' union SAG-AFTRA, brought Hollywood to a screeching halt in 2023 when they issued a joint strike, in part to firm up protections for their members against the "existential threat" of artificial intelligence.

Despite concerns, Cuban believes that AI alone is not enough to churn out viable work.

"AI is not going to, you know, hit your bank account and produce a movie for you, produce a podcast or whatever," Cuban said on the podcast.

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In an email follow-up conversation on the topic with Business Insider, Cuban said that, for all its prowess, AI shouldn't have the final word in the creative process.

"I think AI is just one more creative tool," Cuban told BI. "It's like a writing or creative partner, but not a decision-maker."

Cuban believes the success of a creative product often hinges on gut instinct, which can't be replicated by a machine.

"There is a reason why some people have hit after hit, regardless of whether it's music, books, poetry, movies, TV," Cuban wrote. "They have a feel for what the audience wants at that point in time."

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If companies do use AI to try and short-cut their way to blockbuster hits, it won't be unlike their attempts to reverse-engineer success via metrics, Cuban wrote. He expects the former to fail, just as the latter did.

"I've seen companies that use analytics to determine what a studio or label should release, fail time after time," Cuban wrote. "That's the same as using AI to replace everyone. It may be a novelty. But it won't work."

The right way to view AI is as an incredibly efficient time-saver, Cuban added, not a blanket substitute for human talent.

"It's part of the natural progression from drawing to CGI and now text to video, with new tools coming to take it even further," Cuban told BI. "But the one underlying skill any creative needs is to be able to create for their audience. AI can't replace that feel."

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Veteran creatives who are able to harness the power of AI to improve their own output, according to Cuban, will continue to see major dividends. He expects it to make the "best even better"  affording them the ability to more "quickly storyboard" and "create tests," among other things.

"I understand why there is fear. I understand the annoyance of AI," Cuban wrote. "People have spent decades learning the latest and greatest tech and now they will have to learn so much more. And with the rapid change. Stay up with it. But like all technologies before it, it will be worth it."

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Palestinian film director Hamdan Ballal, who won an Oscar for his work on No Other Land, was recently attacked at his home by Israeli settlers and detained by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The attack on Ballal sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many users condemning the vile action. Now, Avengers star Mark Ruffalo, who has expressed support for Palestine multiple times in the past, has responded to the news of the attack and shared his reaction.

Here is what Mark Ruffalo said about the attack on Hamdan Ballal.

What did Mark Ruffalo say about the Hamdan Ballal attack?

IndieWire recently uploaded an Instagram post where they briefly touched on the settler attack against Hamdan Ballal. They also directed users to the link on their bio page. There is a comment by Mark Ruffalos Instagram profile under the post, expressing his views on the incident.

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Every film maker and academy member should be acting together in protest. No matter where you stand on this issue this is an attack on our beloved art from of film making, the comment read.

Mark Ruffalo then mentioned Hamdan Ballals status as a political prisoner and called the violent attack he suffered an international incident and a violation of human rights.

Ruffalo then called out the lawless settlers and IDF for their behavior. He further mentioned how the killing of journalists and the abduction of filmmakers was not an accident but a design for the eradication of a people and their culture. He then concluded by calling for Ballals freedom.

Ruffalo also shared the IndieWire post on his Instagram stories.

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As of this writing, Yuval Abraham, who co-directed No Other Land, revealed via X (Twitter) that Ballal was now freed. Abraham also mentioned that Ballal was ready to go home to his family after being handcuffed all night and beaten in a military base.

No Other Land, co-directed by Abraham and Ballal, along with Basel Adra and Rachel Szor, chronicles the destruction of the occupied West Banks Masafer Yatta. The film highlights the devastating impact of Israeli soldiers on the region. The documentary film also explores the alliance between Basel, a Palestinian activist, and Yuval, an Israeli journalist.

The post Mark Ruffalo Reacts to Hamdan Ballal Attack  Report appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Following a months-long investigation, the Maryland Office of Attorney General (OAG) announced Monday that an officer will not be charged after a deadly shooting in Silver Spring last year.

The shooting took place in Montgomery County in May of 2024. Minutes before midnight, officers with the Montgomery County Department of Police responded to the Hampton Point apartments in the 3300 block of Hampton Point Drive for a domestic incident.

The caller told dispatchers that his brother, Bishop Jones-Daniel, and mother were inside the apartment, and his brother had a gun. While on the call, dispatchers heard two loud bangs, and the caller said they were gunshots.

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Charles County detectives seek information on serial sex offender cold case

When officers arrived, they set up a perimeter around the apartment building. For nearly two hours, authorities tried to get Jones-Daniel to leave the apartment but were not successful.

When police entered the apartment, they found Jones-Daniel in the bedroom holding a gun.

According to the OAGs report, officers commanded Jones-Daniel to drop the gun several times, but he refused. Thats when the officer fired 13 rounds, hitting Jones-Daniel nine times.

He was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

FBI launches Tesla vandalism task force

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An autopsy revealed that Jones-Daniel had drugs in his system, and his death was ruled a homicide.

However, the attorneys office said there was insufficient evidence to prove that the Montgomery County police officer violated the aforementioned status. The report noted that Jones-Daniel was the aggressor and the officers use of force was necessary and proportional.

Subsequently, the OAG determined that the officer did not commit a crime under the Maryland law.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced Tuesday that a man was charged with murder in connection to a deadly shooting that happened last year.

Police said 42-year-old Derek Turrentine of Bryans Road, Maryland, was charged with the first-degree murder (premeditated) of 44-year-old James Price.

DC health officials investigating measles exposure on Amtrak, urgent care

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On the morning of Sept. 15, 2024, officers responded to the 400 block of 50th St. NE for a reported shooting.

There, police found Price lying in an alley with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

As detectives continued their investigation, authorities located and arrested Turrentine.

He was taken into custody on an arrest warrant.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A Maryland man was found guilty by a jury Monday for the 2023 strangling of a woman in Southeast D.C., according to the United States Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia (USADC).

The USADC said Desmond Fletcher, 37, of Capitol Heights, Md., was found guilty of felony strangulation and two counts of misdemeanor assault charges.

Man sentenced to 7 years in prison for robbery at Busboys and Poets in DC

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According to the USADC, on Sept. 4, 2023, Fletcher entered the home of a woman with whom he was in a romantic relationship and confronted her. The womans child was also at home at the time of the incident.

The USADC said Fletcher followed the woman from room to room as he strangled and assaulted her. The woman blacked out and urinated as a result.

Police searching for suspect after deadly shooting in Southeast DC

The woman ultimately ran to a neighbor, asking her to call 911.

The USADC referenced a study conducted in San Diego on intimate partner violence, stating,

Many victims suffer internal injuries, including permanent brain damage. Signs and symptoms do exist and can be documented even without visible injury Most abusers do not strangle to kill. They strangle to show they can kill. Victims often suffer major long-term emotional and physical impacts. Surviving victims are much more likely to die later if their abuser has strangled them.

Fletcher is set for sentencing in June.

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A range of national and local education groups, including the union representing Maryland state employees, sued the U.S. Department of Education on Monday as President Donald Trumps administration seeks to dismantle the agency.

Filed Monday in U.S. District Court for Maryland, the lawsuit seeks for a judge to halt the Trump administrations plan to gut the department. The plaintiffs include AFSCME Council 3 as well as the Baltimore-based NAACP, the National Education Association, the Prince Georges County Educators Association and two parents with students enrolled in Montgomery County Public Schools.

Trump, who has derided the federal Education Department as wasteful and stated that he desires to shut down the agency entirely, ordered last Thursday for the department to be dismantled as much as legally possible. Eliminating it entirely would most likely require an act of Congress, though last weeks executive order directs the departments secretary, Linda McMahon, to take all necessary steps to facilitate its closure to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law. The department had already initiated a sweeping reduction in force, it said earlier in March, calling the mass layoffs a part of the agencys final mission.

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The plaintiffs alleged in their Monday filing that the Trump administrations actions prevent the department from carrying out functions that are required by law, from compiling education data to supporting students with disabilities and enforcing civil rights laws. It alleges that the department also violated the Constitution by unilaterally canceling $1.5 billion in federal contracts and grants.

AFSCME Council 3 President Patrick Moran, whose union represents 300 public school employees and thousands of workers in Marylands higher education system, said in a statement that the Trump administrations illegal moves would be devastating to our states public schools. He said that the executive branch dismantling the department bypasses Congress, which established the department in 1979, and that federal education funds support union members on a day-to-day basis.

Without this funding, we lose essential school workers  and our most vulnerable students will pay the price.

Another group of education groups, unions and school districts filed a similar lawsuit Monday in a federal court in Massachusetts. Both lawsuits seek for a federal judge to declare Trumps executive order unlawful and legally bar the Education Department from continuing to dismantle the department.

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Maryland, where Trumps Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, had success in appointing new federal judges, has become a popular venue for lawsuits against the Trump administration. The states federal courts have blocked the Trump administration from actions on issues ranging from birthright citizenship to contracts supporting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

Have a news tip? Contact Dan Belson at dbelson@baltsun.com, on X as @DanBelson_ or on Signal as @danbels.62.
By Stefanno Sulaiman and Stanley Widianto

JAKARTA (Reuters) - New sovereign fund Danantara Indonesia unveiled on Monday what it called a "dream team" to chart its strategy, including ex-presidents as well as advisory roles for hedge fund manager Ray Dalio, economist Jeffrey Sachs and former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Danantara, launched last month, is Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's main vehicle to achieve his 8% economic growth target by 2029 by managing all shares of state-owned enterprises and reinvesting the dividends in commercial projects.

The fund is slated to eventually manage more than $900 billion worth of assets and has been described by officials as Indonesia's version of Singapore's Temasek.

Former Indonesian Presidents Joko Widodo and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono were named members of the fund's steering committee, while Dalio, founder of the world's largest hedge fund Bridgewater, will assume the advisory role alongside Thaksin, a billionaire who spent 15 years in self-exile avoiding jail for abuse of power and is the father of Thailand's current premier Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Reuters could not immediately contact Widodo and Yudhoyono for comment, while Bridgewater and Thaksin's representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Media reports said former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is also set to become an advisor to Danantara. When asked whether Blair will join, Danantara CEO Rosan Roeslani would only say that the fund will announce more names later.

Sachs in an email told Reuters he had been appointed Prabowo's special adviser.

"And in this capacity (I) will serve on the advisory board of Danantara," he said. "My work is entirely voluntary, to support Indonesias sustainable development, and is without any compensation."

These advisers will offer guidance on managing the impact of global risks from intensified financial volatility and geopolitical factors, Danantara's Chief Investment Officer Pandu Sjahrir said at the appointment ceremony.

'POSITIVE SIGNAL'

In its first wave of investment worth $20 billion, Danantara will target projects in natural resources processing, artificial intelligence development, and energy and food security.

The establishment of Danantara and concerns about the state's substantive role in the economy were among the causes of a market selloff last week in Southeast Asia's biggest economy, according to some analysts, when the main stock index fell as much as 7%, triggering a trading halt.
Dozens of masked protesters swarmed Columbia Universitys campus less than 72 hours after school officials enacted restrictions curbing face coverings to comply with a Trump administration order aimed at combatting antisemitism in higher ed.

The fresh round of demonstrations led a Jewish Columbia student to question whether the new rules went far enough.

A few dozen masked protesters took to Columbias Morningside Heights campus Monday in direct defiance of new restrictions on face coverings enacted by the school. Obtained by the NY Post

Theyre protesting the mask ban. Theyre defying what they perceive is a mask ban. There is no mask ban, Eden Yadegar, 21, a senior Middle East studies major told The Post.

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Its frightening to see what has happened over the last 18 months. Im concerned about the future of higher education. Its really disturbing what has been happening, the desecration of our community, she said.

The protesters, organized by the Graduate Student Union and the Palestine Solidarity Coalition, put out a cattle call on social media Monday, proclaiming it Mask-Up Monday  provocatively thumbing their noses at the universitys newly announced restrictions and urging students, faculty and staff to skip work or class for the day.

Columbia, in collaboration with the White House, is attempting to repress its students fighting for Palestinian liberation just as Israel has broken the ceasefire and re-escalated its genocide of Palestine, a flyer making the rounds online read in part.

The Trump administration called for a total ban on masks at campus protests as part of a sweeping list of university reforms in a March 3 letter penned by a joint task force composed of the Department of Education, the General Services Administration and Health and Human Services.

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The Ivy League school was given a month to comply or risk losing around $400 million in federal funding.

Student activist groups encouraged defiance of the new policies. X / @Columbia_psc

On Friday, Columbia announced it would cooperate with the order, instituting numerous policy changes in direct accordance with the task forces demands. Among the changes, the university banned all face coverings on campus worn for the purpose of concealing ones identity in the commission of violations of university policies or state, municipal or federal laws.

The university also said it would now require anyone on campus wearing a mask to promptly identify themselves when asked by a public safety officer, or be subject to discipline, being escorted off campus and detention for trespass where appropriate.

Yadegar, a former member of Students Supporting Israel, said shes cautiously optimistic that the reforms will improve conditions on campus  as long as the school actually enforces them.

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Every time I get my hopes up, we take three steps backward, she said.

The Morningside Heights campus has become a hotbed of antisemitic sloganeering and demonstrations since Israel declared war on Hamas following the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attacks, including most infamously a violent takeover of Hamilton Hall last spring where rioters draped a giant banner calling for intifada.

In a statement to The Post, the university reiterated its new policies regarding masks on campus  pledging any violations will be met with consequences  while reaffirming its commitment to adhering to the terms of the budding agreement with the Trump administration.

The issue of masks on campus has been continually raised at Columbia University in recent months, culminating with the school finally agreeing to crack down last week.

Columbia is fully committed to the steps we announced last week to continue to combat antisemitism and all forms of discrimination and harassment, the statement read.

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The Trump administration joint task force issued a statement ahead of Mondays protests saying it was encouraged by the Universitys initial steps.

Columbia is demonstrating appropriate cooperation with the Trump Administrations requirements, and we look forward to a lasting resolution, said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.

I have been in communication with Columbia University Interim President Katrina Armstrong over the last few weeks and appreciate her leadership and commitment to advance truly meaningful reforms on campus.
Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner read an apology letter to his fellow councilors and the community at the start of Monday nights meeting amid allegations of him paying for commercial sex acts in a high-end brothel case.

Youve all heard the news concerning my personal legal matters, Toner said. First, Im ashamed to have my name associated with this case  I would like to apologize to my fellow councilors, my supporters, and the community for taking up the time of the council and the public discourse on this matter.

Toner, a former schoolteacher and former president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association who is serving his second term as city councilor in Cambridge, was among the list of 11 names revealed in court on Friday who were alleged customers at brothels in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

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Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner got in touch with brothel phone 432 times, police report says

Despite his name appearing on the list, Toner is asking the community not to jump to conclusions.

All Americans, included elected officials, are entitled to the right to due process, but some have already judged and convicted me, he said. As this is an ongoing legal matter, I will not contest the statements circulating in the community regarding this case in this forum. Because it is now before the court, I have been advised to not to make any comment on details related to this matter.

Toner said he is grateful for having the support of his family and friends, as well as voters who believed he should continue his service on the city council.

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I respect the institution of the Cambridge City Council, I have been an effective councilor who has carried out my official duties during my time in office to the best of my abilities, he concluded. I am here because I have a duty to fulfill my obligations to the voters who elected me to represent their views on the many issues before the city council.

The city council meeting did not include anything on the agenda regarding Toners status as a councilor. However, one public commenter did try bringing up the allegations, but was quickly cut off.

The meeting remains ongoing as of the publication of this article.

Hearings for prominent clients accused of paying for sex at Mass. brothels to start Friday

The high-end brothel network Toner is accused of buying from alleged ran a prostitution ring extending from Watertown, Cambridge, down to Virginia, where buyers paid up to $600 per hour for a wide array of advertised sex acts.

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Two weeks ago, the names of a dozen accused sex buyers, from communities including Winchester, Lincoln, Concord, Newton, and Waltham, were made public.

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.

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 last week to four years in prison followed by one year of supervised release.

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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.

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BOSTON (WWLP)  The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women held their biannual State House Advocacy Day to promote their legislative priorities and bring women advocates across the state together to create change.

These priorities are split into groups, including bills promoting healthcare, childcare and caregiving, government access and transparency, and a few technical bills dealing with the commissions organization and funding.

Reminders from local experts ahead of tax deadline

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While speakers at the event did promote state priorities, they soon turned to concern about the policy objectives of the federal administration. The attorney general emphasized the necessity of coming together, like groups of women have had to advocate for their rights for centuries, to oppose what she sees as harmful federal actions.

When it feels like youre on the brink of letting that happen, or that to get into your heart, your mind, your spirit, your soul, for me it means pray a little bit harder, but most importantly, evaluate that history in the process, said Attorney General Andrea Campbell.

The Chairwoman of the Commission, a Navy veteran, got into specifics, admonishing the Trump administration for removing photos of women and people of color veterans online.

We have served and fought for this country and were being disrespected by our commander in chief, said Commission Chairwoman Mary-Dith Tuitt. We cant support that.

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Tuitt said the best way to combat these federal decisions is to come together on the local level, such as calling your state legislators to urge them to support commission priorities.

The commissions priorities will be eligible to pass into law until the end of the legislative session in late 2026.

Local News Headlines

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BOSTON (WWLP)  A man from Harwich was sentenced to prison after co-workers reported seeing media files in the process of downloading on his cell phone, with names that were consistent with child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

According to the Department of Justice, 37-year-old Jonathan Fleischmann was arrested in May 2023 when his co-workers in Brewster reported him to law enforcement. In March 2023, Fleischmanns cellphone was observed downloading suspected child pornography media files while his phone was left open and charging on a counter at their workplace.

Mass. babysitter charged with manslaughter after child dies in car

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During the investigation, police revealed approximately 255 image files and 55 video files that contained suspected child pornography were identified.

In custody since May 2023 for this case, Fleischmann was sentenced for a different case on May 2024 to 12 years in state prison in connection with a home invasion in Yarmouth. In 2020, he invaded a home in Yarmouth by forcibly taking a 16-year-old girl at gunpoint into her house as she arrived home from school. The investigation revealed that he had accessed a dark web hidden service on his cellphone dedicated to the trafficking of child pornography.

Before the Yarmouth incident, Fleishmann was registered as a level 3 sex offender for indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 in 2006 and open and gross lewdness in 2017.

On Monday, Fleischmann pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, which will run concurrently with the state sentencing, to be followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,500.

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Despite his prior predatory behavior and the fact that he was already facing serious charges in state court  charges that involved ambushing and attempting to kidnap a young girl at gunpoint outside her home  this defendant continued to demonstrate a complete disregard for the safety and well-being of children by downloading hundreds of atrocious CSAM from the dark web. Each image and video he viewed or shared re-victimized the real, vulnerable children depicted in them. These crimes do not exist in a vacuum; they cause significant harm to the children and families affected, said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. Todays sentence reflects the seriousness with which we treat these crimes and our commitment to protecting children from individuals like Mr. Fleischmann, who refuse to learn or take steps toward remediating their vile tendencies.

Over and over, Fleischman committed deeply disturbing sex crimes aimed at children. For years, he has been a threat to the community but after todays sentence, he will be off the streets for a decade, said Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. Child sexual abuse material immortalizes the abuse of a child and those who download, trade, and possess CSAM are perpetuating the trauma those children experienced. We are committed to protecting kids and seeking justice for those victimized through child exploitation.

Local News Headlines

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Giant sea spiders, octopuses, ice fish, corals, and spongessome likely to be hundreds of years oldwere discovered in a newly exposed stretch of the ocean after a colossal iceberg, roughly 19 miles long, broke away from the Antarctic ice sheet on January 13.

The event revealed a seabed that had been hidden from sunlight for decades, offering researchers aboard the vessel Falkor (too) a rare opportunity to explore uncharted deep-sea ecosystems.

Led by Patricia Esquete, a researcher at the University of Aveiro in Portugal, the expedition team had modest expectations.

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Its the kind of event that when it happens, you leave whatever youre doing, Esquete said.

Given the thick ice cover, scientists doubted that much life could thrive in such an extreme environment.

However, the seabed under the A-84 iceberg was teeming with biodiversity. The researchers estimate they may identify dozens of new species from the expedition.

We were really surprised and amazed by the diverse and rich ecosystems we found down there, Esquete said.

The discovery, which was announced on Thursday, is crucial for understanding how deep-sea life may change on a warming planet, researchers said.

What scientists discovered

Explorers discovered dozens of creatures, including crustaceans, snails, worms, and fish, under and around a massive Antarctic ice shelf.

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Over the course of nearly a month, researchers used a remotely operated vehicle to capture photos, record video, and collect specimens from some of Antarcticas deepest waters.

The team also surveyed parts of the remote Bellingshausen Sea, beyond the ice sheet. Among the species that may be new to science are crustaceans, sea snails, worms, and fish.

Confirming the discovery of new species will require months of detailed lab analysis, the researchers said.

Most of the work starts now, Esquete said.

Since the beginning of an expedition off the coast of Chile last year, scientists from the Schmidt Ocean have identified more than 70 new species, including squat lobsters and marine snails, which were previously unknown to humankind.

Unraveling the mystery

Scientists have been working to unravel the mystery of how life thrives beneath thick Antarctic ice.

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In most oceans, photosynthetic organisms supply nutrients by drifting down to sustain seafloor creatures. However, beneath the dark Antarctic ice, no such process occurs. Instead, researchers believe ocean currents, glacial meltwater, or another unknown factor may be providing the nourishment needed to sustain deep-sea life.

This is all very much an area of active scientific research now because of this discovery, Jyotika Virmani, head of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, a nonprofit that facilitated the research, said.

The George VI Ice Shelf, from which the iceberg broke, has experienced significant melting in recent years, including a record-high surface melt in 20192020.

Unlike most ice shelves that extend over the open ocean, George VI is wedged between the Antarctic Peninsula and Alexander Island, making it more stable despite extensive melting.

Scientists believe past melt events have been driven by wind patterns bringing warm air to the surface and excessive cloud cover trapping heat.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  Family and friends are mourning the passing of Maureen P. Neal, the wife of U.S. Representative Richard E. Neal. She was 74 years old.

Mrs. Neal passed away on March 19 at Baystate Medical Center, with her family by her side. She leaves her husband, and four children, Rory, Brendan, Maura Fitzpatrick, and Sean, as well as ten grandchildren, two sisters, and two brothers.

Congressman Richard Neal reacts to Trumps order to dismantle Department of Education

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She was born and raised in Holyoke, graduating from Holyoke High School and the University of Massachusetts. She first worked in the Hampden County District Attorneys office and then became a teacher at St. Josephs Grammar School and Our Lady of Hope Grammar School. Later in her professional career, she worked for the State Auditors office and the Springfield Parks Department.

Visitation will be held on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Pierre-Phaneuf Springfield Chapels located on 7 Chapin Terrace in Springfield. The funeral is Friday with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield and burial immediately following at Saint Michaels Cemetery on 1601 State Street in Springfield.

Memorial donations may be made to Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01104, or to the Sisters of Saint Joseph, 577 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104.

Mrs. Neals full obituary and to leave her family condolence messages can be found on the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Springfield Chapels website.



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Under Gov. Dan McKee's proposal, Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti Jr., shown entering the House chamber for McKee's State of the State on Jan. 14, 2025, would receive a 2% pay raise, bringing his base salary to $192,000 a year. (Photo by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

Gov. Dan McKees pitch to raise salaries for 11 state cabinet members is not getting the typical stamp of approval by state lawmakers.

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi in an interview with Tara Granahan on WPRO on Monday expressed reservations with McKees proposed pay hikes, noting the projected $250 million budget deficit for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

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We simply dont have that money, Shekarchi, a Warwick Democrat, told Granahan.

Of McKees pay raises, Shekarchi said, Its a different message than what I am saying to every single advocacy group that comes to see me that wants funding.

Shekarchi also revealed he was not given any advanced notice of the governors proposed pay bumps prior to reading about them in the Providence Journal. The Journal first reported on the annual salary increases last Friday, based on a public hearing notice filed by the Rhode Island Department of Administration.

A public hearing on the pay increases for 11 cabinet heads will take place at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the William E. Powers Department of Administration building, with an option for remote participation.

Made with Flourish

Its not uncommon for some or all state cabinet directors to get an annual pay bump; state law allows for a vetting of department leaders each year in March. Proposed pay raises automatically take effect within 30 days of being referred to the Rhode Island General Assembly unless both chambers of the legislature reject them.

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Last years raises were adopted without pushback from lawmakers. The 2024 pay hikes included a 42% raise for the vacant state health director post, which was subsequently filled by Dr. Jerry Larkin.

This year, McKee has proposed 5% raises for nine cabinet heads. Another two positions heading the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and Department of Public Safety would see raises of 2% and 0.5%, respectively.

Karen Greco, a spokesperson for the Rhode Island Department of Administration, said in an email Tuesday that the adjustments aim to bring salaries in line with neighboring states.

Compensation consideration is based on several factors, most notably wage comparisons for similar roles from Maine to Maryland, with particular attention paid to salaries in neighboring Massachusetts and Connecticut, to ensure Rhode Island attracts and retains top talent in a very competitive market, Greco said of the combined $82,000 in increases.

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Nine of the 11 cabinet positions slated to see increases in their base salary levels  which does not account for overtime or other compensation and benefits  also received pay bumps in 2024. All of the cabinet heads set to receive a second year of consecutive salary raises are men, except for Ashley Deckert, director of the Department of Children, Youth and Families.

Also in line for a salary increase: Rhode Island Department of Public Transportation Director Peter Alviti Jr., who remains under close public scrutiny over his departments handling of the Washington Bridge closure and rebuild. Alvitis 2% raise, if approved, would bring his base salary to $192,000 a year. Alviti was appointed by then-Gov. Gina Raimondo in 2015; and is the longest-serving state cabinet member.

DOA Director Jonathan Womer, who also got a raise last year, would see the largest dollar increase this year, from $185,590 to $194,880, under McKees proposal, equal to 5%. Col. Darnell Weaver, Rhode Island State Police superintendent and director of the public safety department, would have the highest base pay of the 11 department heads proposed to receive increases; however, his $196,000 salary reflects only a 0.5% bump over the prior year.

Other cabinet positions slated to receive raises for a second consecutive year include director of the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals; director of the Department of Corrections; director of the Department of Environmental Management; director of the Department of Labor and Training; and the director of the Department of Revenue.

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Two of the 11 cabinet positions up for raises this year did not receive them last year, both of which are held by women. Department of Business Regulation Director Elizabeth Dwyer and Department of Human Services Director Kimberly Merolla-Brito were both appointed to their positions by McKee in 2023.

Strong reaction

Shekarchi told Granahan Monday that lawmakers are already hearing from constituents who are reacting very strongly to the proposed salary increases this year. He did not specify whether certain positions were subject to more public scrutiny.

Rep. Enrique Sanchez, a Providence Democrat, blasted the proposed increases as ridiculous in a post on X on Monday night.

Governor McKee is out of his mind if he thinks raising the salaries of Director Alviti and other cabinet members is a good idea, Sanchez wrote.

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Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz, a North Smithfield Republican, also criticized the proposed pay raises in a statement Tuesday.

As average hard-working Rhode Islanders face staggering energy prices and historic highs for housing costs, the Governors proposal is tone deaf and irresponsible, de la Cruz said.

She renewed calls for state inspector general, a long-held priority of Republican lawmakers, to increase accountability and affordability before rewarding highly paid political appointees.

House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale declined to comment.

In 2022, McKee walked back his initial salary increases, spreading out pay bumps over two years amid pushback from the legislature. In 2013, former Gov. Lincoln Chafee in 2013 withdrew his proposed 6% raises for cabinet heads due to concern from legislative leaders of both parties, according to news reports.

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Despite opposition, McKee plans to stay the course on this years salary proposals, Laura Hart, a spokesperson for the governors office, said on an email Tuesday. Hart described the raises as modest, noting that many cabinet members had not received raises in years when McKee became governor.

Their salaries had fallen below the standard for their roles, Hart said. To rectify this situation, the state had to implement considerable raises over a three-year period. Moving forward, providing small, incremental increases over time will help Rhode Island maintain competitive salaries without causing a significant impact on any one budget year.

Shekarchi and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio in a joint statement Tuesday said they plan to discuss the proposed pay bumps with the governor this week and monitor the public hearing. They have not yet come out with plans to veto the pay increases. De la Cruz said she would support a legislative resolution to reject the pay raises, if submitted to the General Assembly.

Theres no record of lawmakers exercising their powers to reject pay raises through formal legislative action, according to Larry Berman, a spokesperson for Shekarchi. State law requires both chambers act concurrently to take formal action to reject the proposed raises within 30 days.

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Updated to include responses from Karen Greco on behalf of the Rhode Island Department of Administration, Laura Hart from Gov. Dan McKees office, and Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz.

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(WJET/WFXP) The deadline to get a REAL ID is approaching fast and the Shapiro Administration is hosting events to help residents get theirs with another scheduled to happen in Meadville.

PennDOT announced their next round of REAL ID events Monday with one taking place at the Meadville Driver License Center on Monday, March 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Work starts to realign Route 77, Route 8 intersection in Crawford Co.

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During these events, staff members focus solely on getting REAL IDs processed with attendees required to bring proof of identity, Social Security number, two proofs of current PA address, and proof of all legal name changes if applicable.

Starting May 7, REAL ID, or another form of federally accepted ID like passports will be needed to do things like board domestic commercial flights, enter military bases or enter some federal facilities.

PennDOT is committed to making it as convenient as possible for Pennsylvanians to obtain a REAL ID if they want one, said PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Driver and Vehicle Services Kara Templeton. Because were seeing an increase in demand, we decided to offer our REAL ID Days as a way to ensure we are meeting the needs of the public and providing them with the best possible customer service.

New sidewalk, pedestrian bridge going up along Waterford St. in Edinboro

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Getting a REAL ID also comes with a one-time fee of $30, plus the applicable renewal fee, the current renewal fee is $39.50 for a four-year non-commercial drivers license and $42.50 for a photo ID.

PennDOT also said anyone who got their first drivers license, learners permit or photo ID card after Sep. 1, 2003 may have their REAL ID documents online already. They can apply for REAL ID pre-verification online here and order their REAL ID 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 WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Chicken ziti broccoli casserole, vegetables and hot cinnamon apples made up a meal delivered Monday morning to 87-year-old Patricia Capuano in Providence.

But it wasnt just any meal. It was the 21 millionth delivered by Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island, which has been serving the states senior citizens since 1969.

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, whos long been an advocate of Meals on Wheels, helped deliver the meal and chatted at length with Capuano. She spoke to Reed about her life growing up in Narragansett and about her husband, who worked as a piano tuner.

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Reed said that while the meal delivery service is important for homebound seniors, its those one-on-one connections that really make the program special.

We have seniors who, in many cases, are alone all day until that person shows up with the Meals on Wheels, Reed said. And theyre great volunteers because theyll talk, theyll chat, and its not just, Here. Im going. Its, Here, how are you? Whats going on today?'

Seeing Senator Reed and Patricia together today was just a great reminder of how important those touch points are that we have with our clients on a daily basis to check in, make sure theyre doing well, make sure they seem OK, they have what they need and just have that quick chat, Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island President Christina Pitney added.

Visit Meals on Wheels website to apply to receive meals, or to volunteer or donate.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The measles is now in Middle Tennessee, making it one of 18 states with confirmed cases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the national measles outbreak has grown to include over 300 cases and two deaths. Texas currently leads the nation in measles cases, with forty patients hospitalized.

Tennessee is no where close to what Texas is experiencing but it shows you how tenuous it is to maintain health against measles, said Dr. Buddy Creech, Professor of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. We think that you only have to have five or ten percent [people] in your community to be unvaccinated for measles to find a foothold and to run rampant.

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Tennessee reports first 2025 measles case. Heres what you should know

Not much is known about the confirmed case here other than the person is from Middle Tennessee and theyre recovering at home.

If another case pops up, the Tennessee Health Department and CDC have a plan for how school districts should respond.

The highly contagious virus has symptoms of a high fever, cough, runny nose and red or watery eyes, followed by a rash on the chest, face or legs.

By the time the rash shows, the virus may have already spread to others.

Children and adults are contagious from about four days before their rash starts until about four days after their rash starts  thats an entire week. Creech explained. So you can imagine that is very difficult to then track down who might be exposed if they are under vaccinated.

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During the 2023-24 school year, Davidson County reported 91.3% of kindergartners were vaccinated. Meanwhile, Clarksville-Montgomery County had a 92% immunization rate.

If a case is suspected in the classroom, the student or staff member will wear a face mask and be placed in a private room.

Measles prevention: How the two-dose regimen works

Then, they will be escorted out of the school via a less-used hallway and that room will be disinfected after a two-hour holding period, in which the windows should be left open with the door closed for at least two hours.

We want to make sure that we are cleaning things carefully, Creech said. Measles is one of the most contagious viruses that we have and it can live in the environment for at least a few hours after a case walks into a room. So we are going to be teaching our schools and our nurses how to clean those rooms effectively while also protecting ourselves.

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During a suspected case, the school would also be required to review immunization records of all students and send out letters to parents and guardians.

It might make sense for [students] to not come to school if they have any respiratory infections or any rash symptoms of course, Creech told News 2.

If a student already has or received an immunization within 72 hours of exposure, they can remain in school. Otherwise, they must stay home for about 21 days if exposed.

Any patients with measles would be required to stay home for four days after their rash appeared.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

According to Dr. Creech, this virus is unlike any other childhood virus. He said one out of every five kids who get measles will have to be hospitalized.

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So whats the take home message? Creech asked. Get vaccinated if you arent, get your children vaccinated because thats the most sure fire way to protect against this potentially fatal virus.

News 2 reached out to Middle Tennessees largest school districts, many of them saying they will follow the health departments guidance.

Metro Nashville Public Schools said in a statement:

We work closely with the Metro Nashville Public Health Department on a range of public health efforts, including our nursing program, contact tracing, vaccinations, and responses to public health concerns. The best response to a potential health issue is a preventative one. Under state law, students enrolled in K12 schools in Tennessee are required to receive the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine unless they qualify for a medical or religious exemption. Measles is a preventable illness, and vaccination remains the most effective protection. Families can get those vaccinations through their provider or the MPHD vaccine clinics. If there were a confirmed measles case connected to a school, we would coordinate with the Health Department on an appropriate response. This would include supporting contact tracing efforts to ensure that families and staff are notified and can monitor for symptoms, pursue testing, and receive treatment if needed. Metro Nashville Public Schools

The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System said in part:

A student who contracts measles is required to be excluded from school for at least four days after the beginning of the rash and after receiving a medical release. If a case is confirmed at a school, the school nurse will send a Communicable Disease Notification for measles, or numerous other communicable diseases, to parents/guardians of students who may have been exposed. Additionally, per policy, CMCSS reports any cases of measles to the Montgomery County Health Department. Clarksville-Montgomery Schools

Wilson, Williamson, and Rutherford County school districts all told News 2 they would follow the health departments instruction.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Japans leading automaker Toyota Motor Corporation plans to build its first research and development (R&D) centre in India to help drive up sales in the worlds third-largest vehicle market, according to unconfirmed reports citing people close to the company.

The automakers local manufacturing subsidiary, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, plans to build the new R&D facility in Bengaluru, close to the companys vehicle assembly plant in Bidadi. It is understood that the new facility will become operational in 2026, employing an initial 200 people before being scaled up to 1,000 engineers later on. It will be Toyotas third R&D centre in the Asia-Pacific region outside Japan, after China and Thailand.

India is becoming an increasingly significant export base for Toyota. The automaker reported a 35% increase in vehicle sales in the country to 300,212 units last year, while production increased by 18% to 388,582 units. Among its best-selling models are the Innova Hycross, Urban Cruiser Hyryder and Hilux pickup truck.

"Toyota to build R&D centre in India" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




Immerse yourself in the incredible saga of Sergeant First Class Eugene Ashley, Jr., a beacon of valor and heroism in the annals of the U.S. Army. His remarkable actions during the Vietnam War earned him the esteemed Medal of Honor.

A soldiers journey

Eugene Ashley, Jr., a native of Wilmington, North Carolina, was born on October 12, 1930. He had a destined path as a service member. Growing up in the vibrant streets of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, he responded to the call of duty like many others before him. In 1950, when the U.S. got involved in the Korean War and started enlisting troops, Ashley joined the army. Before he turned 21, he was deployed to the Korean peninsula. Bravely serving his country, he returned to New York by 1953.

But his journey as a service member was far from over. In fact, Ashley continued his service and achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class. He joined Company C, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. As America entered the war in Vietnam, Ashley once again deployed to Asia and actively participated in the actions that led to him receiving a Medal of Honor. Unfortunately, it was in this endeavor that he lost his life.

Medal of Honor Citation:

Sfc. Ashley distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Detachment A-101, Company C. Sfc. Ashley was the senior Special Forces Advisor of a hastily organized assault force whose mission was to rescue entrapped U.S. Special Forces advisers at Camp Lang Vei. During the initial attack on the Special Forces camp by North Vietnamese Army forces, Sfc. Ashley supported the camp with high-explosive and illumination mortar rounds. When communications were lost with the main camp, he assumed the additional responsibility of directing air strikes and artillery support. Sfc. Ashley organized and equipped a small assault force composed of local friendly personnel. During the ensuing battle, Sfc. Ashley led a total of five vigorous assaults against the enemy, continuously exposing himself to a voluminous hail of enemy grenades, machine gun and automatic-weapons fire.

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Throughout these assaults, he was plagued by numerous boobytrapped satchel charges in all bunkers on his avenue of approach. During his fifth and final assault, he adjusted air strikes nearly on top of his assault element, forcing the enemy to withdraw and resulting in friendly control of the summit of the hill. While exposing himself to intense enemy fire, he was seriously wounded by machine-gun fire but continued his mission without regard for his personal safety. After the fifth assault he lost consciousness and was carried from the summit by his comrades only to suffer a fatal wound when an enemy artillery round landed in the area. Sfc. Ashley displayed extraordinary heroism in risking his life in an attempt to save the lives of his entrapped comrades and commanding officer. His total disregard for his personal safety while exposed to enemy observation and automatic-weapons fire was an inspiration to all men committed to the assault. The resolute valor with which he led five gallant charges placed critical diversionary pressure on the attacking enemy and his valiant efforts carved a channel in the overpowering enemy forces and weapons positions through which the survivors of Camp Lang Vei eventually escaped to freedom. Sfc. Ashleys bravery at the cost of his life was in the highest traditions of the military service, and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Honor and remembrance

On December 2, 1969, Vice President Spiro Agnew paid tribute to Sergeant First Class Ashley in a solemn ceremony at the White House, presenting his posthumous Medal of Honor to his grieving family. Ashleys bravery also earned him the Purple Heart, further honoring his heroism in Vietnam.

Today, Ashley rests in peace at the Rockfish Memorial Park Cemetery in Fayetteville, North Carolina. His name lives on, a symbol of the bravery and dedication of a true American hero.

How to support the Medal of Honor mission

Learn more about the Congressional Medal of Honor Society at cmohs.org or find them on Instagram |Facebook

Participate in Medal of Honor Day on March 25 by sharing a recipients story

Support veteran hiring and transition programs in your workplace

Teach younger generations about the values of courage, sacrifice, and service

Medal of Honor Month isnt just about recognizing history. Its about keeping the mission alive for the future. Observe Medal of Honor March on We Are The Mighty here.
Supporters of medical cannabis helped two measures reach the 2024 general election ballot, Initiatives 437 and 438. Some spoke during a public hearing at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on Oct. 25, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  The legislative committee mulling how to help implement Nebraskas voter-led medical cannabis laws awaits an amendment before lawmakers vote on whether to advance the bill.

Legislative Bill 677, from State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, seeks to help carry out the overwhelming voter approval to legalize and regulate medical cannabis in the state last fall. His bill would create a regulatory structure for licensing and detail how patients or caregivers could become registered to obtain up to 5 ounces of physician-recommended cannabis at one time.

State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, center. March 10, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, chair of the Legislatures General Affairs Committee, said last week that he and seven other committee members were awaiting a final amendment that could help the currently deadlocked committee decide whether to advance the bill.

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The people have spoken, and we need to put in place the best possible regulatory structure, Holdcroft told the Nebraska Examiner.

Hansen has said one key change in his amendment would be tracking medical cannabis through the states prescription drug monitoring program, similar to the process for opioids. At least nine states use a local prescription drug monitoring program to carry out local medicinal cannabis laws.

The Blair senator has also voiced support for defining a qualifying medical condition for which a health care practitioner may recommend the drug and requiring that a physician be required to be appointed to one of the two at-large spots on the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission charged with regulating and implementing the laws.

The new commission automatically includes the three commissioners of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission. Under current law, the governor has the option to appoint two more members.

The people have spoken

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers and U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., have urged the Legislature to take no action on the laws. Hilgers office has threatened legal action if the new commission licenses new businesses later this year or in the future.

State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha. Jan. 8, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

However, every member of the General Affairs Committee in talking with the Examiner said some legislation could be helpful in upholding the will of the people.

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Holdcroft, as chair, has already designated LB 677 as one of his committees two 2025 priority bills, increasing the chances the bill would be debated by the full Legislature, if it moves forward.

The final amendment could be key to LB 677s prospects this year as Holdcroft and State Sens. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, Dan Quick of Grand Island and Victor Rountree of Bellevue have already voiced support for advancing the bill. The bill needs at least five votes to advance to the floor.

Cavanaugh, the committee vice chair, as well as Quick and Rountree, said the will of the people is clear about legalized medicinal cannabis.

I think that we should disturb that as little as possible while giving structure to it, Cavanaugh said.

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Rountree echoed that the people are wise, while Quick noted medical cannabis could be the right alternative for some people compared to opioid prescriptions.

Committee member caution

The other half of the committee still has some concerns, State Sens. Bob Andersen of north-central Sarpy County, Stan Clouse of Kearney, Barry DeKay of Niobrara and Jared Storm of David City. Storm brought a competing cannabis-related bill to the committee this year that would limit the forms of legal medical cannabis with a much smaller legal amount.

State Sen. Barry DeKay of Niobrara talks with State Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha. July 26, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Much of the caution centers on a desire to prevent a legal path in the future toward recreational marijuana. Some senators also have said they are concerned because the substance remains listed as a Schedule I drug by the federal government. Federal agencies have taken steps toward reclassification, and President Donald Trump has also voiced support for legalized cannabis.

Thirty-eight other states legalized medicinal cannabis before Nebraska.

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We need to maintain the will of the people, but we need to do it in a responsible way, Andersen said last week.

Clouse and DeKay said they would like to limit or eliminate smoking as an acceptable form of taking or ingesting medical cannabis. Public smoking is already prohibited under the states Clean Indoor Air Act passed in 2008, similar to cigarettes and vapes.

DeKay said his preference would be limiting medicinal cannabis to pills, oils or ointments.

I will support medical marijuana but it may not be totally in agreement with what everybody wants to on the committee, DeKay said.

Under the voter-approved laws, medical cannabis is legal in all forms with a written physicians recommendation. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services had not issued any guidance on the laws as of earlier this month.

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Clouse and Storm have said a physician should serve on the commission, and Clouse said the fifth spot should be reserved for a law enforcement representative.

I think there is a need and use for medicinal cannabis and marijuana, Clouse said. I think we need to regulate it so that the people that need it are getting it but it doesnt turn into something that eventually evolves into recreational use.

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, the group that spearheaded the ballot initiative, has focused its attention on Andersen, Clouse and DeKay to find one more vote to get LB 677 to the floor.

Gov. Jim Pillen has not weighed in on Hansens bill but in December, when signing the measures into law, joined Hilgers in stating that serious issues remained about the validity and legality of the laws.

Genie out of the bottle

Storm in January brought LB 483 to limit permissible cannabis forms to pills and liquid tinctures, but hes since said he is open to oils, creams, ointments, suppositories or nebulizers. Hes pointed to the medical program in Iowa that prohibits smoking cannabis in any form.

State Sen.-elect Jared Storm of David City, left, listens to State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston at a legislative retreat in Kearney on Dec. 13, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

A freshman senator from David City, Storm said at his bills hearing that he has sympathy for those suffering but is focused on getting the regulations right.

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I think that we slow walk it and we get this right, because if we get it wrong, you let the genie out of the bottle, youre not getting it back in, Storm said earlier this month, suggesting delaying action to 2026. So we slow walk this, do whats right, truly help people the best we possibly can.

Hilgers said last week at a news conference that the Feb. 28 amendment from Hansen risked rewriting the voter-approved process and creating an entire infrastructure and licensing scheme to set the stage for recreational marijuana.

It is not the will of the people to take an opening on medicinal marijuana, rip up the regulatory structure passed by the people, and pass something that appears to have been drafted entirely by, or mostly, by out-of-state interests who want to exploit the Nebraska market for their own particular profit, he said.

Hilgers encouraged anyone interested in the issue, which he described as most Nebraskans, to read Hansens latest amendment and walk away with any other impression other than this is set up for a recreational marijuana industry.

Attorney General Mike Hilgers speaks during a news conference in Lincoln. May 13, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Hilgers office opposed LB 677 and threatened legal action against the Medical Cannabis Commission if it licenses businesses. Hilgers said his office would have more to say in the coming days and weeks on the proposals.

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Hansen has repeatedly pushed back on criticisms that his bill could lead to recreational marijuana use, telling the committee that is a conversation for the future while his bill seeks to address and avoid the potential Wild West if no bills are passed this year.

Holdcroft the past two years voted against recreational marijuana on the Judiciary Committee, but, medicinally, the people have spoken, he said. Like Hansen, Holdcroft too has pushed back on the Attorney Generals Office, which would have a dedicated assistant attorney general under LB 677 to assist the commission.

What Im hearing here  is the attorney general wants us to keep this law stupid, where he can find some loopholes in it and make it illegal, Holdcroft told a representative of the AGs Office at LB 677s hearing. The Legislature just isnt that kind of body.

Wait and see

Tight deadlines present another set of wrinkles in setting up the new medical cannabis laws.

State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair. July 26, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Under the voter-approved law, the Medical Cannabis Commission has until July 1 to establish criteria to accept or deny applications for registered establishments. Registrations must begin by Oct. 1.

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Hobert Rupe, executive director of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, who under Hansens bill could serve the same role on the Medical Cannabis Commission, told the General Affairs Committee and Appropriations Committee last week that his team has no budget for the medical cannabis work.

As youre aware, the public passed the initiatives, Rupe told the Appropriations Committee on Thursday. Well, what they did was they created an agency without any budget or any staff.

Rupe said those funds could come either through the next two-year state budget or an accompanying appropriation through Hansens bill, if passed. Without a budget, the commissioners cant have a public hearing without paying for or creating a public hearing notice.

The Examiner asked State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, chair of the Appropriations Committee, on Thursday, before Rupes budget hearing, what the committee would do with the new commission. Clements said it was the first he had heard of the new commission and its budget.

State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, right, talks with Speaker John Arch of La Vista. July 26, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Rupe told Clements committee that getting a cannabis bill out of committee could help him and his commissioners hang our hat on it taking effect and plan ahead, given the timeline.

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I hope that whatever comes out of the Legislature  might extend those deadlines a little bit, Rupe said. Even so, even if thats extended, thats not a lot of time to do a stand-up agency, even if they are sharing resources with us.

The latest amendment to Hansens bill would delay the initial rulemaking to Oct. 1 and set a first round of applications between Oct. 13 and Dec. 15. Those applications would need to be approved or denied by March 16, 2026.

Of the budget, Clements told Rupe of Hansens pending bill: I guess well have to wait and see what comes out there then.

Hansens bill, because it would amend legal language from a ballot measure, would require at least 33 votes to take effect, regardless of any filibuster, under the Nebraska Constitution.

Timeline of pending legal challenges

John Kuehn v. Secretary of State Bob Evnen and ballot sponsors Anna Wishart, Crista Eggers and Adam Morfeld (alleging fraud and that ballot measures should not have been put on the ballot)

John Kuehn v. Gov. Jim Pillen; Secretary of State Bob Evnen; ballot sponsors Anna Wishart, Crista Eggers and Adam Morfeld; Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services CEO Steve Corsi; State Treasurer Tom Briese; Nebraska Tax Commissioner Jim Kamm; and three commissioners on the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission Bruce Bailey, Harry Hoch, Jr. and Kim Lowe (alleging medical cannabis laws are unconstitutionally preempted by the federal government)

Dec. 10: Lawsuit filed to stop the implementation of the ballot measures.

Dec. 11: Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong declines to block measures from taking effect.

Dec. 12: Pillen signs ballot measures into law to legalize and regulate medical cannabis.

Jan. 10: Kuehn amends lawsuit to include Corsi, Briese, Kamm, Bailey, Hoch and Lowe.

Feb. 14: Pillen, Evnen, Corsi, Briese and Kamm (the state defendants) file to dismiss the case.

Feb. 17: Ballot sponsors file to dismiss the case.

Late March: Any remaining motions to dismiss or briefs in support of motions to dismiss are due.

Late April: Kuehn deadline to reply to motions to dismiss.

Mid-May: Any reply briefs to Kuehn are due.

May 20: Judge Strong will host an in-person hearing at 10 a.m. on the motions to dismiss.

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Protesters on the University of Illinois Chicago campus raise concerns over funding cuts for medical research on Feb. 19, 2025. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The National Institutes of Health is the largest federal funder of medical research in the U.S. NIH funds drive research and innovation, leading to better understanding and treatment of diseases and improved health outcomes.

The NIH provided more than US$35 billion in grants to over 2,500 universities and other institutions in 2023 to support biomedical research. Thus, it came as a shock to these institutions when the NIH, based on a new Trump administration policy, announced on Feb. 7, 2025, that it intends to cut the funding used to support the grantee institutions by $5.5 billion annually.

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On March 5, a U.S. district judge in Boston issued a nationwide injunction blocking the administration from implementing the proposed cuts to NIH funding, arguing that the planned cuts were unlawful. However, the White House will almost certainly appeal.

We are a husband-and-wife team of immunologists who have been funded by the NIH for several decades. We believe our research has led to a better understanding of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. In addition, one of us (Prakash Nagarkatti) served as vice president for research at the University of South Carolina for over a decade, managing all NIH grants awarded to the university.

While we believe such cuts will be detrimental to the entire country, they will disproportionately hurt states that traditionally have received very low levels of NIH funding, the majority of which are red states that supported Trumps election to a second term. This is because such states lack resources to develop advanced research infrastructure necessary to compete nationally for NIH funding.

Several Republican senators have vocally opposed the funding cuts, including Susan Collins of Maine, who said they would be devastating, stopping vital biomedical research and leading to the loss of jobs.

Support for cancer, Alzheimers research

NIH funding is crucial for advancing biomedical research, improving public health and fostering innovation. It has a broad impact on different facets of society.

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The agency funds biomedical research leading to the development of vaccines or new drugs to prevent and treat infectious diseases and clinical disorders. The NIH played a crucial role in funding research on pandemics and global health crises caused by HIV/AIDS and COVID-19.

In addition, the NIH supports advanced research in focused areas such as cancer, through the establishment of designated centers that offer cancer prevention, diagnosis, clinical trials and advanced treatment. Each year, approximately 400,000 patients receive cancer diagnoses and treatment at such centers.

Similarly, the NIH supports research in other focused areas, such as Alzheimers disease, through the establishment of specialized research centers.

The NIH also supports Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer opportunities. These programs stimulate technological innovation by funding small businesses to commercialize new research ideas.

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Moreover, the agency provides funding to train the next generation of biomedical scientists, clinicians and public health professionals. Thus, the NIH awards create jobs at universities, biotechnology companies and related industries. Together, such NIH programs promote local and national economies.

In 2024, NIH funding generated an estimated US$92 billion in economic activity. Every $100 million in NIH funding generates 76 patents, which creates $598 million in further research and development, as reported by NIH.

Therefore, any cuts to the agencys budget will have far-reaching and significant consequences on health outcomes and the economy.

Caps on indirect costs

When the NIH awards grants, it is divided into two separate categories: the direct costs, which include expenses that are necessary to pursue the proposed work and that are provided to the scientists, and the indirect costs. These cover expenses such as maintenance of lab space, utilities, grant management, federal regulatory compliance, security and other miscellaneous needs. These funds are provided directly to the institution.

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Indirect costs are negotiated between the institution and the federal agency and expressed as a percentage of the direct costs. Because each institution has unique operational expenses, the indirect cost rates vary from 30% to 70%.

The new policy rolled out by the NIH capped the indirect costs for all institutions at a fixed rate of 15%. In 2023, NIH spent $35 billion to support research at various institutions, of which $9 billion was used to cover indirect costs. Thus, NIH estimates it could save $4 billion by capping indirect costs at 15%.

How red states get hurt the most

There is a significant geographic disparity in NIH funding that most people are unaware of. There are 27 states in the U.S. that receive 94% of NIH funding, while the other 23 states receive only 6%. Moreover, the NIH funding received by the 23 states has remained relatively unchanged for the past 20 years.

There are many reasons why the latter states are less competitive. These include: lack of large medical centers, hospitals and research-intensive universities; thin and more rural populations; less robust economies; and lack of cutting-edge research infrastructure driven by less investment by the states in research and development.

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It is for these reasons that Congress in 1993 authorized the NIH to start a new program called the Institutional Development Award, or IDeA, to support the 23 states plus Puerto Rico that have traditionally received low levels of NIH funding. Such states are commonly called IDeA states and contain predominantly rural and medically underserved communities.

These awards, which constitute less than 1% of the total NIH budget, are expected to help these states grow their research infrastructure and make them more competitive nationally.

The IDeA states are: Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming, plus Puerto Rico. All the states but Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island and Vermont voted for Trump in the 2024 election.

Indirect costs pay for cutting-edge technologies

Indirect costs, in addition to supporting the management of specific grants, are also helpful in promoting the institutions research infrastructure.

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The indirect costs help purchase and upgrade state-of-the-art research equipment and technologies. They help institutions develop high-performance computing facilities that are critical for research missions and provide access to journals and books through the library facilities. These costs also renovate old labs and help create new cutting-edge facilities such as germ-free facilities for microbiome research.

Thus, the indirect costs are critical for IDeA states that have limited resources such as state support for pursuing research.

According to the Higher Education Research and Development Survey, in 2023, non-IDeA states like California invested $548 million and New York over $303 million in R&D. In contrast, IDeA states Kentucky and West Virginia invested $49 million and $15 million, respectively, in R&D.

Such data clearly demonstrates how challenging it would be for IDeA states to face cuts in NIH funding and advance research infrastructure.

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In our view, it is critical that all states have access to NIH research funding to enable the states to solve the unique challenges they face, such as environmental issues and population health disparities.

For example, biomedical scientists and clinicians trained by NIH grants are addressing locally relevant issues such as coal workers pneumoconiosis, commonly known as black lung disease, which occurs when coal dust is inhaled. This is an occupational hazard linked to the coal industry in West Virginia and Kentucky.

Similarly, Hawaii, with its tropical climate, has mosquitoes that can carry dengue virus, so dengue infection can pose a unique health and economic problem for this state when compared with the others in the U.S.

Training the biomedical workforce and physicians in IDeA states also helps with retaining health providers in the state to further address these local challenges and prevents brain-drain to other non-IDeA states.

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IDeA states heavily rely on NIH funds to pursue and advance their research capabilities and address local and general health challenges. For such states, already struggling to receive NIH funding, reducing indirect costs would further exacerbate their disadvantages, increasing the risk of falling behind in medical research, patient care and regional economic growth.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill was once allegedly kidnapped and held for ransom by members of the Rolling 60s gang at the behest of suspected gang leader Eugene Big U Henley.

These claims were made by social media personality Luce Cannon, a reputed Rolling 60s member, during an interview with DJ Akademiks.

Basically, Meek Mill was talking real reckless on Twitter and stuff like that so we caught him at the club where he was performing in and then we grabbed cuz, Luce Cannon said of the alleged incident.

Eugene "Big U" Henley

When Akademiks questioned why Meek Mills security did not intervene, Luce Cannon explained that many bodyguards in Los Angeles have stronger ties to local gangs than to their celebrity clients.

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The security is L.A. niggas. Were from Rolling 60s. Youre getting $500 a day just to make sure hes good, but ni**a, you gonna lose your life. Is that $500 that important? Its not that important.

Describing the moment Meek Mill was confronted, Luce Cannon detailed how the rapper was forcibly accosted with no resistance.

Musician Robert Meek Mill Williams speaks before New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signs an executive order for a new clemency program that will pardon thousands of people as Newark and the nation celebrates Juneteenth on June 19, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey. The clemency program will assist those whove been convicted of a crime that is no longer illegal or have been victims of domestic abuse. The program could have thousands of criminal records wiped clean.

Cuz didnt even get to that part, the gang member said of Meeks planned performance. As soon as he walked in, all the security that was with him, they spinned around, I grabbed cuz like, Bro, whats up? Get on the phone with Ross, Neighborhood Crip. So he got on the phone with Ross [and] I took the phone from Ross.

Luce Cannon further claimed that Meek Mills release hinged on a financial transaction rather than any pre-existing debt. We needed that bag or cuz wasnt gonna leave. No, he didnt owe no money, we took the money.

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According to Luce Cannon, Rick Ross ultimately paid $50,000 to secure Meek Mills freedom. When asked whether Luce Cannon was by himself while confronting meet, the L.A. rep clarified that he was accompanied by several dozen cohorts.

Rapper Rick Ross speaks onstage during day 3 of SiriusXM at Super Bowl LIV on January 31, 2020 in Miami, Florida.

It was probably about 50 of us, Luce Cannon said of the crew present during the incident. Luce Cannon emphasized that the ransom was paid in cash and was confident that neither Meek nor Ross would challenge his recollection of the alleged incident.

He also claimed that this incident played a role in Meek Mill and late rap star Nipsey Hussles later camaraderie while further souring Nipseys relationship with Big U.

Thats why Meek and Nipsey became cool after that situation because they started using the same PR. Meek got smart and started hitting Nipsey up and thats why the Big U feud kept going with Nipsey.

Nipsey Hussle And Big U

Luce Cannon alleged that Big U maintained control over events and interactions at major Hollywood gatherings, stating, They kept beefing because Big U looking at it like Ni**a, BET Awards coming up, The Oscars.'

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He further claimed that if the ransom had not been paid, Meek Mill would have faced dire consequences, including possibly being murdered.

In addition, Luce Cannon also claimed that Gillie Da Kid was another victim of Henley and the Rolling 60s, as he was said to have been stripped and robbed alongside his late son during an alleged encounter.

Gillie Da Kid speaks onstage during the Live: Podcast with Million Dollaz Worth Of Game panel at House Of BET on June 25, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

Man, you better ask Gillie, Luce Cannon said of the Million Dollaz Worth of Game cohost. Gillie got stripped down by the homies because of the ni**a Big U. He got his son stripped down and he stripped down Gillie.

Luce Cannon also mocked Gillie for maintaining a friendly demeanor with Big U on social media despite past altercations. Meek Mill nor Rick Ross has publicly responded to Luce Cannons claims.

(L-R) Meek Mill and Rick Ross visit SiriusXM Studios on September 28, 2023 in New York City.

Last week, Henley surrendered and was arrested after a federal indictment was handed down accusing him of running a criminal enterprise that participated in various illegal activities, including murder, extortion, and racketeering.

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See Luce Cannons interview with DJ Akademiks below.

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Memphis woman makes history scuba diving on all 7 continents

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  March is womens history month and we want to honor some of the most remarkable women in the Mid-South, including a Memphis dive master who is setting records under the water.

Corhonda Dawson spent her 51st birthday 200 feet below the surface diving in the worlds deepest pool. Its scary for some, but its how this Memphis occupational therapist and mom recharges.

Im at Dive Dubai. Im super, super excited, she said. There are no voices saying hey, I need this, or I need that. Give me this, give me that. All youre doing is flying nice and slow, listening to your heart rate, keenly aware of your breaths.

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Remarkable Women: Olive Branch woman turns 110

Dawson has been scuba diving for more than a decade, her underwater explorations taking her around the globe. In fact, the National Association of Black Scuba Divers says Dawson is the first African-American woman to dive on all 7 continents.

She did it in five months and 22 days.

For me, I just wanted to represent African-American females in a new narrative for us to be seen as adventurers because oftentimes there are other people that are in that same space, said Dawson.

It took a divorce for Dawson to discover her adventurous side. She also became an avid snowboarder, and her two daughters went along for the ride.

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Just getting the girls out there in the ocean and on the mountain. Its just those incremental successes where they said, you know, I can do this and did it, said Dawson.

 See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South.

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Growing up, Dawson never had access to an ocean, just a Memphis pool.

It all began all the way back as a lifeguard at the fairground pool, she said.

She wants to set more records and show others what they can accomplish.

Being the first African-American female, all those things are tools to change minds because thats, at the end of the day, what its about anyway. Im trying to change someones mind because just because youve been under-exposed, doesnt mean you cant do it, Dawson said.

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This week, Dawson travels to Antarctica to begin another 7 continent dive. This time, it will be documented by the adventure travel group Aurora Expeditions.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The latest drugs for Alzheimer's disease may add years of independence to the lives of patients, but possibly only for some. A new analysis of clinical data suggests female brains may not respond to some of these novel medications as well as male brains.

In an 18-month-long phase 3 clinical trial, the intravenous drug lecanemab slowed cognitive decline by as much as 27 percent compared to a placebo.

The findings were promising enough that the FDA approved the drug as an Alzheimer's treatment in 2023. But the difference in drug effect between the sexes was no less than 31 percent.

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The trial's sample size was not large enough to compare male and female subgroups directly, but the sizable gap in preliminary results is a red flag to some scientists.

To find out more, researchers in Canada and Italy ran 10,000 simulated trials based on data from the phase 3 clinical trial, called CLARITY AD.

The results showed the difference between sexes only occurred randomly in 12 out of 10,000 simulations. What's more, known differences in brain aging between males and females could only account for a fraction of the observed 31 percent gap in drug effect.

The authors of the study, led by neuroscientist Daniel Andrews from McGill University in Canada, cannot conclude that lecanemab is clinically ineffective in females, but their results suggest the drug "has either no or limited effectiveness in females."

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Further research is needed to confirm if that really is the case, but given that two-thirds of Alzheimer's patients are female, these results temper some of the recent enthusiasm around lecanemab.

Each overlaid histogram represents 10,000 simulations. The mean value for each distribution is indicated by a color-coded dashed line. (Andrews et al., Alzheimer's & Dementia , 2025)

The CLARITY AD trial provided its subgroup data in a forest plot, which is a visual representation only.

In that plot, males taking lecanemab showed a 43 percent mean slowing of cognitive decline, which is statistically significant. Females, meanwhile, had a non-significant 12 percent mean slowing on the drug.

The results prompted criticism from some neuroscientists, because the subgroups cannot be directly compared with any statistical strength.

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"Until relatively recently, recruitment for clinical trials did not give due consideration to the possible impact of sex on outcomes and reports often did not stratify findings by sex," explained neuroscientist Marina Lynch from Ireland's Trinity College in a review of Alzheimer's drugs from 2024.

"Current knowledge strongly supports the view that trials should make assessing sex-related difference in responses a priority "

Andrews and his colleagues agree. They argue future work should "examine possible links between a drug's action mechanism and sex differences in amyloid clearing and clinical efficacy."

Lecanemab targets amyloid protein plaques in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer's disease. But scientists are still trying to figure out how exactly the medicine works at slowing cognitive decline.

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For more than three decades, amyloid plaques have been a leading culprit in the cause of dementia, and yet recent studies suggest these markers may not always be an early trigger of the disease. Even when the plaques are removed, there can still be cognitive decline.

Perhaps that is why drug treatments that target these plaques have mostly proved unsuccessful in human patients.

Lecanemab is one of a few medicines that actually works. But maybe that depends on the patient and their subtype of Alzheimer's disease.

Recent evidence, for instance, has shown that up to a third of patients with a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's have no amyloid plaques in their brain in postmortem biopsies.

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To add even more complexity to the matter, there is a chance that sex hormones and sex chromosomes may also play a crucial role in how these amyloid plaques form and are cleared from the brain.

This means "certain types of amyloid-targeting drugs might function differently in females and males," explain the authors of the recent review. "Research into possible mechanisms could be accelerated by drug developers sharing recent AD trial data."

The risk of Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive ailments differs significantly between the sexes, and yet in 2019, only 5 percent of published neuroscience or psychiatry studies examined the influence of sex.

Recently, an international team of psychiatrists, psychologists, and neuroscientists warned that the extreme male bias in brain aging research has "grave consequences" for wellbeing and places a "disproportionate burden" on female health.

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The longer we ignore these potential sex differences, the longer it will take us to understand why female brains age differently and what we can do about it.

The study was published in Alzheimer's & Dementia.

Related News
Salesmen at a Long Island, New York, Mercedes dealership routinely offered discounts on vehicles to select female customers in exchange for sex, a former employee alleges.

In a federal discrimination lawsuit filed Monday and obtained by The Independent, Talita Paulino, who was hired last year at Mercedes-Benz of Massapequa as a sales consultant, claims another employee, a product concierge, shared videos of buyers providing sexual favors for discounts in the dealerships cars.

Give them a good discount, and theyll do anything, the salesman allegedly said, according to Paulinos complaint, which adds that she heard him say he had lost count of how many women had agreed to such trades.

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On another occasion, Paulino, 29, says she watched her boss shove his hand down a female clients pants and fondle her buttocks while offering her a special deal, after which the two of them drove away in his personal car.

The alleged behavior extended to staffers like Paulino, who contends the boss withheld crucial information from saleswomen unless they let him touch them in a sexual manner.

When Paulino brought up the situation to a female colleague, her complaint says the woman responded, You just have to ignore it and let them be men.

Everybody should work at a place where they are respected and treated with dignity, attorney Joshua Paul Frank, who is representing Paulino, told The Independent. This obviously goes far beyond that.

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In an email, Ana Shields, the lawyer representing Mercedes-Benz of Massapequa, said, The Dealership strongly denies the allegations as they are baseless and without merit. Additionally, after investigating the matter, the Dealership has no knowledge of the alleged discounts in exchange for sexual favors and vehemently denies that this occurred. We have found no evidence to support the Plaintiffs claims and intend to defend this matter vigorously. Since this matter is in active litigation, we will not be commenting further.

Messages sent to co-defendant Automotive Management Services, Inc. (AMSI), which oversees the dealership, went unanswered. AMSI is owned by reclusive West Palm Beach billionaire Terry Taylor , the largest private owner of auto dealerships in the nation. He also did not reply to emails seeking comment.

The alleged harassment took place at Mercedes-Benz of Massapequa, in the New York suburbs (Google Maps)

Paulino began working at Mercedes-Benz of Massapequa on April 26, 2024, and almost immediately found herself being objectified by higher-ups, according to her complaint. During her second week on the job, it says the sales manager took Paulino for a ride in a new GLE 350 to demonstrate to her the models features. But when the sales manager pulled into the parking lot of a 7-11 and said, I can tell you like me, Paulino told him she was in a committed relationship, the complaint goes on.

Oh come on, you wouldnt cheat? the complaint says he replied, to which Paulino said, Absolutely not. Lets head back.

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As time went by, Paulino saw the sales manager strok[ing] and caress[ing] female employees in an inappropriate way, and making sexual and perverted remarks to them, the complaint continues. However, when Paulino rebuffed the sales managers advances, her rejections visibly angered him, according to the complaint. Those women who played along were given more opportunities to make sales, and Paulino soon felt obligated to give in to the managers demand for hugs, in order to earn a living.

[W]hen she permitted [the sales manager] to hug her, his attitude drastically changed for the better, which enabled her to work under calmer conditions and increase her sales production, the complaint contends. Unfortunately, [the sales manager] did not long remain satisfied with hugs and began demanding that [Paulino] scratch his back.

In one instance, the sales manager refused to provide Paulino with a sales quote for a potential customer unless she scratched his back, which she did, reluctantly, the complaint states.

From then on, each time Paulino needed a sales quote, he insisted she scratch his back, the complaint says. When she refused, it claims his hostile and unhelpful conduct returned.

Talita Paulino claims she had to acquiesce to her boss's sexual demands in order to get the same sales opportunities as her male co-workers (AFP via Getty Images)

Soon, Paulino became aware that the sales manager and a product concierge-turned-sales assistant routinely provide[d] select female customers with discounts in exchange for sexual favors, according to the complaint.

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One unsettling episode occurred while Paulino was in the dealership cafeteria with a group of male coworkers, the complaint states. The product concierge walked in and made a joke about management having discovered a condom inside one of the dealerships cars, after which he began recounting some of his sexual experiences that he had had with customers inside of the dealerships cars during working hours, according to the complaint.

Management knows those condoms werent mine, the product concierge allegedly said. Because they know I dont use condoms.

He then proceeded to take out his phone and show videos of customers with whom he had sex inside of dealership vehicles, reiterating his practice of trading sex for discounts, the complaint states.

The sales manager, as well, made no secret of his interest in young women who showed up to buy cars, pointing to one and commenting to Paulino, Oh my god, I would destroy that little body, according to the complaint. She also allegedly heard him proposition female customers, more than once, saying, Have you been with an older guy before?

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Broadly speaking, the dealerships male-dominated management team generally belittle[s] the subordinate female staff, only giving them the same opportunities as male staff if they succumbed to their sexually inappropriate demands, the complaint states.

In October 2024, some seven months after Paulino started at Mercedes-Benz of Massapequa, she determined that it would be unreasonable to continue working under such detrimental conditions, and resigned  a constructive discharge, in legal terms.

In fact, when she emailed her forced resignation to management, telling them she could no longer abide the constant sexual harassment, she did not receive any reply, the complaint concludes.

Paulino is demanding economic and punitive damages, including lost sales opportunities, back pay, front pay, and loss of benefits, along with compensatory damages for emotional distress, mental anguish, and pain and suffering, as well as attorneys fees.
The Trump administration is under scrutiny after The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg said he was inadvertently added to a Signal group chat that included top national security officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in which the officials discussed plans for a U.S. attack on Houthis in Yemen.

Goldberg revealed the mishap in a piece for the magazine on Monday and told ABC News that he was apparently added to the chat by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.

Goldberg provided two screenshots in the magazine piece and did not provide details or quotes, only a description of the operational part of the Signal message chain.

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Both the Trump administration and top officials involved have repeatedly denied that war plans or classified information were discussed, as Goldberg reported.

Below is a timeline spanning from the creation of the group chat to what has happened since.

March 11

In an interview with "ABC News Live" Monday evening, Goldberg told Linsey Davis he received a message request on the Signal app from White House national security adviser Mike Waltz, or someone "who's purporting to be Mike Waltz" on March 11.

He said the invitation was "not an unusual thing in Washington."

"I'm a journalist, I've met him in the past, so I accept it," he told ABC News.

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Goldberg said he accepted the request, with nothing occurring until several days later, when he was added to a "group of seemingly very high national security officials of the United States" including Vice President JD Vance, with Waltz apparently creating this chat.

PHOTO: National Security Advisor Mike Waltz speaks with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as President Donald Trump meets with French President Emmanuel Macron in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Feb. 24, 2025. (Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images)

"Mike Waltz puts this group together and says it's a planning group for essentially upcoming action in Yemen," Goldberg said.

Goldberg told ABC News he initially thought it was a hoax since it would be "completely absurd to me that the national security leadership of the United States would be meeting on a messaging app to discuss forthcoming military action, and that then they would also invite the editor of The Atlantic magazine to that conversation."

March 14

Goldberg told ABC News a "long conversation" occurred between the group chat members on March 14, discussing "whether or not they should or shouldn't take action in Yemen."

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The messages went back and forth with "a lot of resentment directed at European allies of the United States, which obviously enhanced the credibility of this chain," Goldberg said.

MORE: Messages with Yemen war plans inadvertently shared with reporter appears 'authentic': Official

He told ABC News at this point the members of the chat sounded like people he knew within the administration, but still was not sure whether or not it was a hoax.

March 15

Goldberg told ABC News he continued to track the incoming messages from the group chat, to see "who was trying to entrap me or trick me." Then on March 15, he said it became "overwhelmingly clear" it was a legitimate group chat, he told ABC News.

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At 11:44 a.m., he said he received a text in the chain from someone claiming to be Hegseth, or "somebody identified as Pete," providing what Goldberg characterized as a war plan. The message included a "sequencing of events related to an upcoming attack on Yemen" and promised results by 1:45 p.m. Eastern time.

MORE: The Atlantic editor details moment he realized he was included in Yemen group chat

Goldberg told ABC News he was in his car and waiting with his phone to "see if this was a real thing."

"Sure enough, around 1:50 [p.m.] Eastern time, I see that Yemen is under attack," he said.

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When the attacks seemed to be "going well," Goldberg told ABC News that members of the chat began sending congratulatory messages along with fist, fire and American flag emojis.

"That was the day I realized this is possibly unbelievably the leaders of the United States discussing this on my messaging app," Goldberg told ABC News. "My reaction was, I think I've discovered a massive security breach in the United States national security system."

PHOTO: This image taken from video provided by the U.S. Navy shows an aircraft launching from the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea before airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Mar. 15, 2025. (AP)

Goldberg told ABC News he removed himself from the group chat once the operation was completed.

"I watched this Yemen operation go from beginning to apparent end, and that was enough for me to learn that there's something wrong in the system here that would allow this information to come so dangerously close to the open wild," Goldberg said.

March 16

Waltz appeared on ABC's "This Week" the day after the strikes on Yemen and said the U.S. airstrikes "took out" multiple leaders of the Iranian-backed Houthis, which he said differed from the Biden administration's launches against the group.

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"These were not kind of pinprick, back and forth  what ultimately proved to be feckless attacks," Waltz said. "This was an overwhelming response that actually targeted Houthi leaders and took them out. And the difference here is, one, going after the Houthi leadership, and two, holding Iran responsible."

March 24

Goldberg published a story in The Atlantic revealing the mishap, in a piece titled "The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans."

Shortly after the story's publication on Monday afternoon, White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes shared with ABC News the statement he provided to The Atlantic confirming the authenticity of the Signal group chat.

"At this time, the message thread that was reported appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain. The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to our servicemembers or our national security," Hughes said in a statement.

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Speaking to reporters Monday, Hegseth denied he sent war plans in the chat.

PHOTO: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks to media upon arriving at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu, Mar. 24, 2025. (Petty Officer 1st Class John Bel/U.S. Indo-Pacific Command)

"I've heard how it was characterized. Nobody was texting war plans, and that's all I have to say about that," Hegseth told reporters in Honolulu while on a layover on his trip to Asia.

Hegseth called Goldberg a "deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist who's made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again."

"This is the guy that pedals in garbage. This is what he does," Hegseth said about Goldberg.

During an event at the White House on Monday, President Donald Trump was asked about Goldberg's article. "I don't know anything about it. I'm not a big fan of The Atlantic," he said.

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Top Democrats including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries voiced outrage at the administration after this mishap.

"It is yet another unprecedented example that our nation is increasingly more dangerous because of the elevation of reckless and mediocre individuals, including the Secretary of Defense," Jeffries said in a statement on Monday.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who faced scrutiny over her alleged use of a private email server while at the State Department, shared her reaction to the Signal group chat on X: "You have got to be kidding me."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also criticized this apparent breach of military intelligence, urging Senate Republicans to work with Democrats in a "full investigation" to look into how this incident occurred.

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"If you were up in arms over unsecure emails years ago, you should certainly be outraged by this amateurish behavior," Schumer said on the Senate floor, referencing the scandal over Clinton's emails.

March 25

On Tuesday morning, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Goldberg is "well-known for his sensationalist spin" and emphasized that "no 'war plans' were discussed."

"As the National Security Council stated, the White House is looking into how Goldberg's number was inadvertently added to the thread. Thanks to the strong and decisive leadership of President Trump, and everyone in the group, the Houthi strikes were successful and effective. Terrorists were killed and that's what matters most to President Trump," Leavitt shared on X.

Trump told NBC News he remains confident in Waltz even after the use of an unsecured group chat.

"Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he's a good man," Trump told NBC correspondent Garrett Haake.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe were grilled by Democratic Sen. Mark Warner on Tuesday regarding the mishap. Both officials said while testifying before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence there was no classified information on the chain.

PHOTO: Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director, John Ratcliffe prepare to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on 'Worldwide Threats,' on Capitol Hill in Washington, Mar. 25, 2025. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Ratcliffe said he believed the "national security adviser intended this to be as it should have been, a mechanism for coordinating between senior level officials, but not a substitute for using high side or classified communications for anything that would be classified."

Speaker Mike Johnson continued to downplay the mishap but admitted the breach was a "serious" mistake on Tuesday.

"Look, they have acknowledged that there is an error, and they are correcting it. And I would've asked the same thing of the Biden administration," Johnson said during a news conference Tuesday morning.

During a White House meeting with ambassadors on Tuesday afternoon, Trump said this incident is "just something that can happen" and that there was "no classified information" in the group chat.

He added that Signal is "not a perfect technology."

"Sometimes somebody can get onto those things," Trump said. "That's one of the prices you pay when you're not sitting in the Situation Room with no phones on, which is always the best, frankly."

Waltz said the White House's tech and legal teams are looking into the mishap.

"No one in your national security team would ever put anyone in danger," Waltz said.

He also claimed to have never met Goldberg.

"We are looking into him, reviewing how the heck he got into this room," Waltz said.

A spokesperson for The Atlantic released a statement on Tuesday night following the comments from Trump and his aides.

"Attempts to disparage and discredit The Atlantic, our editor and our reporting follow an obvious playbook by elected officials and other in power who are hostile to journalists and the First Amendment rights of all Americans," the magazine said.

The statement went on to say that "any responsible national security expert would consider the information contained in this Signal chat to be of the greatest sensitivity, and would agree that this information should never be shared on non-government messaging apps."

March 26

Schumer and other top Senate Democrats on national security committees wrote a letter to Trump seeking more information about the mishap, requesting a "complete and unredacted" transcript of the Signal group chat for the appropriate committees to review in a secure setting.

"We write to you with extreme alarm about the astonishingly poor judgment shown by your Cabinet and national security advisors," the Senators wrote, according to a copy of the letter obtained by ABC News. "You have long advocated for accountability and transparency in the government, particularly as it relates to the handling of classified information, national security and the safety of American servicemembers. As such, it is imperative that you address this breach with the seriousness and diligence that it demands."

The Atlantic on Wednesday published a new article detailing purported information about recent American strikes in Yemen it says was accidentally shared in the Signal group chat.

The article suggested that Hegseth updated members of the "Houthi PC small group" Signal chat on "favorable" weather conditions ahead of planned airstrikes on Houthi leaders and other targets in Yemen.

MORE: 'F-18s LAUNCH': Atlantic publishes purported Yemen strike details from Signal chat

The article said Hegseth also notified the group of a planned timeline for flights of F-18 strike aircraft, MQ-9 Reaper drones and Tomahawk cruise missiles that were launched for the mission.

Shortly after the article was published, Leavitt said in a post on X "these were NOT 'war plans.'"

"This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin," the White House press secretary said.

PHOTO: Signal app on a smartphone is seen on a mobile device screen, Mar. 25, 2025, in Chicago. (Kiichiro Sato/AP)

Waltz said Wednesday morning that the chat didn't include war plans or specific details about the strike.

"No locations. No sources & methods. NO WAR PLANS. Foreign partners had already been notified that strikes were imminent. BOTTOM LINE: President Trump is protecting America and our interests," Waltz posted on X.

Also on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg was assigned to a federal lawsuit against five Cabinet members over the administration's use of Signal. Boasberg is also handling the case against the Trump administration over its deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act.

The lawsuit  which names Hegseth, Gabbard, Ratcliffe, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the National Archives as defendants  asked a federal judge to declare the use of Signal unlawful and order the cabinet members to preserve the records immediately.

ABC News' Peter Charalambous, Fritz Farrow, Anne Flaherty, Luis Martinez, Isabella Murray, Allison Pecorin, Lauren Peller, Olivia Rubin, Michelle Stoddart, Selina Wang and Kelsey Walsh contributed to this report.

Messages with Yemen war plans inadvertently shared with reporter: A timeline of the Signal mishap originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Metro Nashville Police Department said officers are investigating a shooting that left one man injured Monday evening.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

Metro Dispatch said authorities received a shooting call from the 350 block of Bridgeway Circle at about 5:51 p.m. Monday. A spokesperson for the MNPD said officers with the South precinct and with the D-detail responded to a shooting in the 230 block of Bridgeway Circle.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The spokesperson added the victim got into a verbal altercation with two other men when one of the suspects fired a handgun at him and fled. The victim sustained a gunshot wound to his left arm and was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment of his non life-threatening injuries.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Mar. 24New Mexico food bank leaders warn that Congress could make substantial cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding at a time when they expect the need for food assistance to rise.

On Friday morning, cars were lined up across the street from Roadrunner Food Bank's Albuquerque office and warehouse to pick up food. But far more food is provided to New Mexicans through SNAP benefits than through food banks. For every one meal that food banks and food pantries provide, SNAP provides nine, said Katy Anderson, Roadrunner Food Bank's vice president of strategy. There are 487,113 people in New Mexico receiving SNAP benefits. New Mexico had the highest rate of SNAP participation nationally in 2022, with 24% of residents enrolled, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report.

"The groups that are going to suffer the most will be seniors and children," Anderson said during a press conference hosted by Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., at Roadrunner Food Bank Friday. Representatives from The Food Depot, Meals on Wheels New Mexico and Agri-Cultura Cooperative Network also shared their concerns about the potential cuts.

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The House and Senate have adopted conflicting budget resolutions. Trump threw his support behind the House version, which will likely require significant cuts to Medicaid and SNAP to extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts. Republican House leaders released a statement Monday pushing the Senate to take up the House's budget resolution.

"The House is determined to send the president one big, beautiful bill that secures our border, keeps taxes low for our families and job creators, grows our economy, restores American energy dominance, brings back peace through strength, and makes government more efficient and more accountable to the American people," said the statement from House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., and Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain, R-Mich.

The House budget resolution orders the House Agriculture Committee to cut $230 billion in spending from fiscal years 2025 through 2034. SNAP makes up $1 trillion of the $1.3 trillion in spending that the committee oversees, making it a likely target for cuts. The House bill would cut more than 20% of the SNAP program, according to nonprofit research organization, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The cuts could come from cutting SNAP benefits, restricting eligibility or both.

The Senate budget resolution directs a narrower cut to the Senate Agriculture Committee of $1 billion over the same time frame.

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Meals on Wheels is keeping a close eye on the potential cuts to SNAP and Medicaid, said Renee Ruybal, chief advancement officer for Meals on Wheels New Mexico. Funding cuts could force the nonprofit to make some tough decisions, like reinstating a waitlist.

"Many of our seniors rely on SNAP for groceries and for essential services, including meal delivery. Medicaid is also an important part of how we plan to grow and serve more people in the future. So if these programs face more cuts, more New Mexicans will turn to us for help, but at a time when we have fewer resources to meet that growing need," Ruybal said.

Democratic politicians have been rallying opposition to the budget resolution. In New Mexico, Sen. Ben Ray Lujan and Stansbury both drew attention to potential SNAP cuts last week.

"They're going to cut Medicaid for millions of Americans, they're going to cut food assistance for millions of Americans, they're going to cut tax breaks for single parents, and they're going to cut life-saving programs that help millions of Americans survive so that they can give tax breaks to millionaires," Stansbury said. "Now what I want to emphasize is that even though this is their evil plan, we can stop them."

Stansbury said Republicans want to get the budget package to the president's desk in May or June.
Multinational CEOs flock to China for business opportunities

Xinhua) 08:03, March 25, 2025

This photo taken on March 23, 2025 shows the Symposium on Macro Policies and Economic Growth of the China Development Forum 2025 in Beijing, capital of China. The China Development Forum 2025 is scheduled from March 23 to 24. The theme of this year's forum is "Unleashing Development Momentum for Stable Growth of Global Economy." (Xinhua/Li Xin)

BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Heads of some 80 multinationals including Siemens, Apple, Samsung and Pfizer have flocked to China to seek new cooperation opportunities with the world's second-largest economy.

The transnational corporate chiefs were present at the China Development Forum 2025 in Beijing, scheduled from March 23 to 24. The annual event, hosted by the Development Research Center of China's State Council, has become an important platform of dialogue for the Chinese government, global businesses, academia, and international organizations.

China will continue to welcome enterprises from around the world with open arms, further expand market access, actively address the concerns of businesses, and facilitate the deeper integration of foreign-funded enterprises into the Chinese market, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the forum.

Prior to the forum, 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, the largest single investment in Beijing's biopharmaceutical sector in recent years.

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 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.

In 2024, BMW delivered over 100,000 battery electric vehicles to customers in China for the first time, making China its strongest single market for electric vehicles.

The company is committed to expanding its investment in China and accelerating the localization of production as well as research and development, said Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management of BMW AG, in a meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao.

Zipse also noted that there are only losers and no winners in a tariff war. The company firmly opposes the EU imposing additional tariffs on Chinese EVs and hopes that both the EU and China can properly resolve their differences, he said.

At a symposium of the forum, Zipse said he was impressed by the AI Plus initiative in China's government work report this year, and that BMW is working with Chinese sci-tech leaders to apply generative AI and large language model technologies into its vehicles.

Miguel Lopez, CEO of Thyssenkrupp AG, an industrial conglomerate, said China is not only one of the largest markets, but also the country with the most comprehensive industrial chain and supply chain in the world, as well as a good logistics system.

Thyssenkrupp will continue to strengthen supply chain management in China and establish good relationships with local suppliers, which will not only reduce its costs and improves its resilience, but also improves its performance on global markets, Lopez said.

Lim Boon Heng, chairman of Singapore's Temasek Holdings, said he truly feels during his visit the growing innovation and vitality of the Chinese market and the improved business environment.

Noting China has become one of Temasek's most important investment destinations, he said Temasek is full of confidence in the long-term prospects of the Chinese economy and will continue to deepen its presence in the Chinese market.

For Otis, the elevator industry leader has benefited from China's rapid urbanization over the past few decades.

Judy Marks, CEO of Otis Worldwide Corporation, said the country still offers great opportunities in the future, and compared with decades ago, China is no longer just a production base and sales market, but also a research and development base for elevators.

"I think most of the world will not only want to partner with China but also strengthen economic relations with China," said Jeffrey Sachs, an economics professor at Columbia University.

Official data has shown that China remains a top destination for transnational investment. Some 60,000 foreign-invested companies were established in China in 2024 alone, a 9.9 percent year-on-year increase. The return rate of FDI in China has remained at approximately 9 percent over the past five years, ranking among the highest around the world.

This year's government work report notes that China will encourage foreign investors to increase their reinvestment in the country, and it will ensure equal treatment for foreign-funded enterprises in fields such as production factor access, license applications, standards setting and government procurement.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's security minister said on Tuesday there was no evidence that a so-called "ranch of horror" strewn with human remains was an "extermination camp" but rather it was a cartel training site where those who resisted recruitment were killed.

The discovery earlier this month of the site, littered with bone fragments, ashes, alleged makeshift crematoriums, along with hundreds of shoes and backpacks shocked Mexico, a country numbed by nearly two decades of bloody cartel violence.

"It's a completely different thing for killings or torture to be carried out on a property than for it to have been an extermination camp," Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch said on Tuesday morning, speaking at the president's daily morning press conference.

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"An extermination camp is a place where hundreds and thousands of people are systematically murdered, I think we all understand that," he added.

"At the moment, I repeat, we have no evidence ... that it had been an extermination camp, but rather a training site."

Earlier this month, an activist search group for missing people found the ranch in Teuchitlan, a rural area about 40 miles (64 km) outside Jalisco's capital, Guadalajara.

At the time they said it appeared to have been used as an "extermination camp."

While the discovery of mass graves is not uncommon, the possibility the site was used for systematic killing has caused a deep sense of horror in the country, where more than 124,000 people have disappeared and few are ever found.

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Mexico's top prosecutor has said state authorities bungled the initial investigation after discovering the ranch last September. It was then left abandoned and unsupervised until the activist search group found it earlier this month.

Federal investigators have now taken over the case.

Mexican authorities said they have arrested a suspect, who goes by the alias of "Commandante Lastra," whom officials accuse of leading recruitment at the ranch for the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Many would-be recruits were lured to the ranch under false pretenses, authorities have said, via social media ads for false job opportunities. But once at the ranch, those who refused to be trained and recruited into the ranks of the cartel, or those who tried to escape the site, were tortured or killed, Garcia said on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Laura Gottesdiener; Editing by Sandra Maler)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  New Mexico State Police are getting ready to host its Women in Law Enforcement Summit. The event will be April 24-26 at Santa Ana Casino and Hotel.

Story continues below

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The goal of the event is to empower, connect and inspire women. The first day of the event is specifically for law enforcement professionals, with the remaining days open to the public. There will be speakers and a team of panelists on site giving people resources, support and a chance to network and connect with each other. Attendees will be able to participate in a raffle, with a chance to win a variety of prices. The final day is family day and NMSP specialty teams will be showcasing their special equipment. To register to attend and 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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Paul and Christy Akeo, a couple from Spring Arbor, Michigan, are currently being held in a maximum-security Mexican prison, their family said.

Lindsey Hull, Christys daughter, said her mother and stepfather were arrested on March 4 at an airport in Cancun and have been held without bond for 21 days. Speaking with Nexstars WLNS, she alleged that the couple was being held because they had challenged charges made on their American Express credit card by The Palace Company, owners of Palace Resorts.

The Akeos are pictured in a photo shared by Christy Akeos daughter Lindsey Hull. (Lindsey Hull)

The Akeos are pictured in a photo shared by Christy Akeos daughter Lindsey Hull. (Lindsey Hull)

When the Akeos arrived in Mexico earlier this month, they went through customs, where Hull said a notice was placed on their passports, leading to their arrest.

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Local Mexican outlets reported that the Akeos have been charged with defrauding a Cancun hotel chain out of more than $100,000, alleging they signed a contract in Nov. 2021 to purchase a membership with the hotel, giving a credit card for the hotel to charge the monthly payments to.

According to Riviera Maya News, a Cancun-based newspaper, it is alleged that Paul fraudulently canceled 13 transactions totaling $116,587 (equivalent at the time to more than 2.4 million pesos) and Christy allegedly shared messages on a Facebook page describing how they committed fraud against the hotel.

Hull has dismissed these claims as false and defamatory, writing on social media that American Express sided with the Akeos regarding the incident.

Thats why its so important to share our story and spread our truth, wrote Hull in a text message to WLNS. Truth will prevail.

Paul Akeo. (Lindsey Hull)

The Akeos. (Lindsey Hull)

The couples family said they have reached out to the American embassy in Mexico and other federal and state agencies asking for help, but said the Akeos are still being held as of Monday night.

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Hull said she and her brother have hired both American and Mexican attorneys. She also said the resort is demanding $250,000 and the signing of a nondisclosure agreement that does not guarantee her parents release.

Hull said this incident has caused her family a large amount of stress.

Trying to comprehend whats happening, trying to figure out how to get into some sort of communication with our parents. I mean, through the 21 days, we havent talked to my stepdad Paul not one time, said Hull. My mom usually gets a phone call a day. Its not for very long at all. Its basically a phone call she gets until somebody in the background will tell her to get off the phone, and then she has to hang up.

U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett says he has spoken to the family, and his office has reached out to the State Department and the White House to get Paul and Christy released.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Nearly a dozen Republican lawmakers in Michigan are petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to declare several voter-approved election laws unconstitutional.

The legislators argue that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson violated their constitutional rights by enforcing laws passed through ballot proposals in 2018 and 2022. The measures include automatic voter registration, no-reason absentee voting and the creation of an independent commission to redraw legislative and congressional district boundaries.

Major construction project resumes on Mackinac Bridge

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The lawmakers claim these laws violate the U.S. Constitutions Elections Clause, which states: The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof.

This case is about whether the peoples representatives can speak on their behalf in response to blatant violations of the U.S. Constitution by state officials, said William Wagner, co-counsel on the petition.

The petitioning legislators include state Sens. Jonathan Lindsey and Jim Runestad and Reps. Steve Carra, James DeSana, Joseph Fox, Neil Friske, Matt Maddock, Brad Paquette, Angela Rigas, Joshua Schriver and Rachelle Smit, all Republicans. Named as defendants are Whitmer, Benson and Jonathan Brater, director of the Michigan Bureau of Elections.

Trump takes aim at national library agency: What that could mean for Michigan libraries

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Benson criticized the lawsuit, stating, Michigan voters have a right to enact laws that reflect their values, and politicians have a duty to stand by the will of the voters. The idea that the time, place and manner of federal elections law-making is beyond the right of voters to self-determine is anti-democratic, and already multiple courts have reaffirmed this under law.

A federal district court dismissed the lawmakers initial lawsuit in 2023, citing a lack of standing. Now, they are appealing to the nations highest 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 WOODTV.com.
The Michigan Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Heres a look at March 24, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Daily 3 numbers from March 24 drawing

Midday: 1-9-4

Evening: 1-8-6

Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 4 numbers from March 24 drawing

Midday: 2-1-9-3

Evening: 7-1-4-4

Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from March 24 drawing

14-20-30-31-39, Lucky Ball: 01

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Poker Lotto numbers from March 24 drawing

QH-4C-8D-7H-3S

Check Poker Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from March 24 drawing

06-14-20-31-38

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09-20-26-28-34

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily Keno numbers from March 24 drawing

01-03-10-11-13-18-19-20-29-30-37-38-40-44-47-51-52-55-62-66-72-80

Check Daily Keno payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Heres how to claim your lottery prize

All Michigan Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes up to $99,999.99, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Michigan Lotterys Regional Offices.

To claim by mail, complete a ticket receipt form, sign your winning ticket, and send it along with original copies of your government-issued photo ID and Social Security card to the address below. Ensure the names on your ID and Social Security card match exactly. Claims should be mailed to:

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Michigan Lottery

Attn: Claim Center

101 E. Hillsdale

P.O. Box 30023

Lansing, MI 48909

For prizes over $100,000, winners must claim their prize in person at the Michigan Lottery Headquarters in Lansing located at 101 E. Hillsdale in downtown Lansing. Each winner must present original versions of a valid government-issued photo ID (typically a drivers license or state ID) and a Social Security card, ensuring that the names on both documents match exactly. To schedule an appointment, please call the Lottery Player Relations office at 844-887-6836, option 2.

If you prefer to claim in person at one of the Michigan Lottery Regional Offices for prizes under $100,000, appointments are required. Until further notice, please call 1-844-917-6325 to schedule an appointment. Regional office locations are as follows:

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Lansing: 101 E. Hillsdale St. Lansing; Phone: 844-917-6325

Livonia: 33231 Plymouth Road, Livonia; Phone: 844-917-6325

Sterling Heights: 34700 Dequindre Road, Sterling Heights; Phone: 844-917-6325

Detroit: Cadillac Place, 3060 W. Grand Blvd., Suite L-600, Detroit; Phone: 844-917-6325

Grand Rapids: 3391-B Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids; Phone: 844-917-6325

Saginaw: Jerome T. Hart State Office Building, 411 E. Genesee Ave., Saginaw; Phone: 844-917-6325

For additional information, downloadable forms, and instructions, visit the Michigan Lottery's prize claim page.

When are Michigan Lottery drawings held?

Daily 3 & Daily 4: Midday at 12:59 p.m., Evening at 7:29 p.m.

Fantasy 5: 7:29 p.m. daily

Poker Lotto: 7:29 p.m. daily

Lotto 47: 7:29 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday

Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily

Daily Keno: 7:29 p.m. daily

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Michigan editor. You can send feedback using this form.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Lottery Daily 3, Daily 4 results for March 24, 2025
Mike Huckabee defended President Trumps Middle East policies including the plan to turn Gaza into a U.S.-run luxe real estate development in a contentious Senate confirmation hearing for his nomination as ambassador to Israel.

While giving strong backing to Trump and his Gaza redevelopment plan, Huckabee sought to distance himself from his own previous stance that Israel should annex the occupied West Bank, a position that is controversial among Israelis themselves.

I am not here to articulate or defend my own views or policies, Huckabee said in his opening statement. If confirmed, it will be my responsibility to carry out the presidents priorities, not mine.

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On Gaza, Huckabee claimed Trumps plan would not include forced displacement of the 2 million Palestinians in the coastal enclave unless it is for their safety, and said Palestinians could be incentivized to leave their homeland voluntarily.

The Palestinians themselves and Americas Arab allies have flatly rejected the Trump plan, and the president himself hasnt mentioned it recently.

Trump has vowed to swiftly end the now 17-month war in Gaza and bring home the hostages held by Hamas.

But after a brief ceasefire, Israel resumed its attacks last week with a surprise wave of deadly airstrikes. U.S. and Arab mediators are now struggling to get a ceasefire deal back on track and win freedom for more of the captives, including one American.

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Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor and one-time Republican presidential hopeful, also cast doubt on the widely held goal of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which would require creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.

A two-state solution, everyone living together, sitting around the campfire, toasting marshmallows and singing kumbaya, (will not happen) if one of the sides doesnt believe the other one has a right to exist, Huckabee said, apparently suggesting the Palestinians dont want peace.

Huckabee repeatedly used evangelical Christian language at the hearing to explain his strong support for Israel and its right-wing government.

We ultimately are people of the book, Huckabee said. We believe the Bible, and therefore that connection is not geopolitical, it is also spiritual, he said.

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Even before his hearing, some liberal Democrats made no secret of their opposition to Huckabees nomination.

Huckabees positions  are the words of a provocateur whose views are far outside international consensus and contrary to the core bipartisan principles of American diplomacy, Manhattan Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-New York) said.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Mike Huckabee, President Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. ambassador to Israel, attempted to distance himself Tuesday from his past controversial statements about the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people, pledging on Capitol Hill to carry out the president's priorities, not mine.

I am not here to articulate or defend my own views or policies, but to present myself as one who will respect and represent the President whose overwhelming election by the people will hopefully give me the honor of serving as ambassador to the State of Israel, Huckabee said in his opening statement.

Trump nominated Huckabee, a well-known evangelical Christian and vehement supporter of Israel, to take on the critical post in Jerusalem days after he won reelection on a campaign promise to end the now 17-month war in Gaza. But after a brief ceasefire, U.S. and Arab mediators are now struggling to get a ceasefire deal back on track after Israeli forces resumed the war last week with a surprise wave of deadly airstrikes.

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While Republican senators applauded Huckabee's staunch support for America's closest ally, Israel, Democrats questioned his past rhetoric about Palestinians deemed extreme by even some pro-Israel groups and contradicting longstanding U.S. policy in the region.

The former Arkansas governor acknowledged his past support for Israels right to annex the West Bank and incorporate its Palestinian population into Israel but said it would not be his prerogative to carry out that policy.

If confirmed, it will be my responsibility to carry out the presidents priorities, not mine, Huckabee said in response to Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley's questions.

Huckabee, a one-time presidential hopeful, has also repeatedly backed referring to the West Bank by its biblical name of Judea and Samaria, a term that right-wing Israeli politicians and activists have thus far fruitlessly pushed the U.S. to accept. He did not give a clear answer to whether he still stands by that when pushed by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.

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Most notably, Huckabee has long been opposed to the idea of a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinian people. In an interview last year, he went even further, saying that he doesn't even believe in referring to the Arab descendants of people who lived in British-controlled Palestine as Palestinians.

As the situation in Gaza has deteriorated with the recent collapse of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release deal, Israeli officials have begun to talk more seriously about reoccupation of the territory, something to which President Joe Biden's administration had been adamantly opposed.

Trump has made his proposals about a potential U.S. takeover of Gaza, which have attracted attention as well as strong criticism from Arab nations and others. When asked about Trump's plan, Huckabee denied that the president ever said he would force displacement" of Palestinians from Gaza unless it is for their safety and says Palestinians could be incentivized to leave.

Even before his hearing started, Democrats and some pro-Israel groups voiced their opposition to his nomination, saying that his views on the conflict are extreme and counter to Americans' interests.

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Huckabees positions are not the words of a thoughtful diplomat  they are the words of a provocateur whose views are far outside international consensus and contrary to the core bipartisan principles of American diplomacy, Rep. Jerry Nadler, a senior Jewish Democrat, said in a statement Monday. In one of the most volatile and violent areas in the world today, there is no need for more extremism, and certainly not from the historic ambassadors post and behind the powerful seal of the United States.

Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of the pro-Israel group J Street, which has previously criticized the Biden and Trump administrations' handling of the war, echoed that sentiment, saying that Huckabee's views would undermine American interests and the administrations own stated commitment to pursuit of long-term regional peace and security.

He added, Mr. Huckabees embrace of annexation, extremist settlers and fanatical Christian Zionism stands in stark contrast to the Jewish, democratic values held by the overwhelming majority of our community  and in stark contrast to Israels founding values of justice, equality and peace.

Trump's pick for ambassador to Panama also testified

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Another nominee who testified before the committee on Tuesday is Kevin Cabrera, Trumps pick to be ambassador to Panama, a country that has bristled at the Republican presidents repeated calls for the U.S. to retake control of the Panama Canal for national security reasons due to potential threats from China. The status of the canal was one of the top items on Secretary of State Marco Rubios agenda when he visited Panama City on his first trip as America's top diplomat in February.

One of the key aspects of our cooperation is ensuring the security of the Panama Canal, a critical international waterway that facilitates global trade and economic growth, Cabrera said in his opening remarks.

He also praised decisions by the Panamanian government to withdraw from Chinas Belt and Road Initiative and to review contracts with a China-based company that is running ports at both ends of the canal. The company has preliminarily agreed to sell its interests in the subsidiaries that run the ports, but the deal is not yet complete.

Cabrera also faced repeated calls from Democrats to commit to upholding Panamas sovereignty and advising the president to do the same, but Cabrera responded that he would defer to Trump, who has said all the options are on the table when it comes to asserting U.S. control over the Panama Canal.

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He added that diplomacy is included in those options.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said she appreciated a focus on diplomacy, but said she was still worried by the threats of sending military force or coercing Panama to relinquish control over the canal.

Cabrera responded, President Trump is our commander and chief and I stand behind him and his policies.

___

Amiri reported from New York.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is addressing the latest scandal from President Donald Trumps administration, which saw top brass use a third-party messaging app to coordinate sensitive military strikes in Yemen  with a journalist added to the group chat.

Johnson was asked Monday whether he was concerned about classified war plans going public and said the administration is addressing what happened before arguing the messages showed nothing but professionalism.

What you did see though, I think, was top-level officials doing their job, doing it well and executing on a plan with precision, Johnson told reporters. That mission was a success. No one was jeopardized because of it. Were grateful for that.

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He continued, But they will certainly, Im sure, make sure that that doesnt happen [again].

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, reported Monday he was inadvertently added to a group chat that included national security adviser Michael Waltz, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance.

Ex-Deputy White House Cabinet Secretary Dan Koh reacted bluntly on X, formerly Twitter.

This wasnt a group chat of besties deciding what Sweetgreen to order, he wrote Monday. American lives were on the line  and they knew it. The message this sends to our military from our most senior officials in all of government is unfathomable.

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Goldberg shared excerpted screenshots from the encrypted Signal chat group, which was called Houthi PC small group and had members discussing information about targets and weapons the U.S. would be deploying against the Yemeni group of rebels.

Hegseth has since denied the messages were war plans, despite the National Security Council confirming in a statement Monday that they were authentic, deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. Democrats have since shared dire concern.

Speaker Johnson: What you did see, though, I think was top level officials doing their their job, doing it well and executing on a on a plan with precision pic.twitter.com/e4H0YqFMh3  Acyn (@Acyn) March 25, 2025

There is no world in which this information should have been shared in non-secure channels, wrote Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) on X. Hegseth is in so far over his head that he is a danger to this country and our men and women in uniform.

Goldberg wrote Monday that he was added to the group chat on March 11, and that things got truly bizarre on March 15  when Hegseth shared precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing of U.S. strikes in Yemen that occurred hours later.

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Johnson and his seemingly blase reaction have since been torched on social media.

This was a monumental moment of cowardice and dereliction of duty, @SpeakerJohnson. Congress should be investigating what happened, NOT excusing it.



As long as Republicans have control of Congress, we have only two branches of government - Trump and the judiciary. And we all  Rose Thorn (@FedUpFed2025) March 25, 2025

God dude this place is worse than fucking China. They're not allowed to take responsibility for anything. Nothing they do is bad, ever. The media has to adore them, or it's fake and illegal.



This party belongs in prison before it's too late. They're a threat  Elite E Man (@Eman856) March 25, 2025

It was sloppy. The only thing worse would have been if they used Facebook to communicate. We are the laughing stock of the world. I doubt our allies will send us intelligence anymore.  Denison Barb (@DenisonBarbs) March 25, 2025

This is propaganda. @SpeakerJohnson is counting on people either being brainwashed or braindead  The Take Politics (@TheTakePolitics) March 25, 2025

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What an insane cope from Temu Moses.



Astonishing that hell try to spin this epic failure as a win.  Art Candee  (@ArtCandee) March 25, 2025

Related...
President Donald Trump said he is confident in his national security adviser, Mike Waltz -- a day after a report detailed how he inadvertently added a journalist to a Signal group chat discussing Yemen war plans.

Trump told NBC News on Tuesday that Waltz "has learned a lesson and is a good man."

MORE: Messages with Yemen war plans inadvertently shared with reporter appears 'authentic': Official

PHOTO: National Security Advisor Mike Waltz looks on as he sits next to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, while President Donald Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Mar. 13, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

The president brushed off concerns about the group chat on the messaging app, which reportedly included operational details about war plans in Yemen -- and mistakenly included The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, according to a report from Goldberg published Monday.

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Trump told NBC News that Goldberg's presence in the chat had "no impact at all" and called the whole ordeal "the only glitch" his administration has faced since Inauguration Day.

MORE: The Atlantic editor details moment he realized he was included in Yemen group chat

Goldberg said he received a Signal invitation from Waltz, who was a member of the group chat. Goldberg said the group chat also appeared to include Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, among others.

White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes told ABC News on Monday that the group chat "appears to be authentic."

PHOTO: National Security Advisor Michael Waltz participates in an interview on Feb. 21, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images, FILE)

Trump tapped Waltz, a former Florida congressman, to be his national security adviser in November, calling him "a nationally recognized leader in national security" and an "expert on the threats posed by China, Russia, Iran, and global terrorism."

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Waltz is a China hawk and was the first Green Beret elected to Congress. During the presidential campaign, Waltz proved to be a key surrogate for Trump, criticizing the Biden-Harris foreign policy record.

Elected to the House in 2018, Waltz sat on the Intelligence, Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees. He also serves on the House China Task Force with 13 other Republicans.

Before running for elected office, Waltz served in various national security policy roles in the George W. Bush administration in the Pentagon and White House. He retired as a colonel after serving 27 years in the Army and the National Guard.

ABC News' Rachel Scott, Benjamin Siegel, Katherine Faulders and John Santucci contributed to this report.

Who is Mike Waltz, the national security adviser who added journalist to Signal group chat? originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Thomas Fuller / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images





Key Takeaways

Trump Media & Technology Group is partnering with Crypto.com to offer exchange-traded funds to investors.

The ETFs are expected to be made up of cryptocurrencies and securities with a "Made in America" focus.

The plan is set to launch later this year.







Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT) surged 9% Tuesday, a day after President Donald Trump's social media firm teamed with cryptocurrency trading platform Crypto.com to offer exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

The operator of the Truth Social site, the Truth+ streaming platform, and Truth.Fi financial technology brand announced that the products would be launched later this year through Truth.Fi.

'Made in America' Focus

The agreement calls for the ETFs to be made available through Crypto.com's broker dealer Foris Capital US LLC, and "are expected to comprise digital assets as well as securities with a Made in America focus spanning diverse industries such as energy." Trump Media said the offerings are to include "a unique ETF basket of cryptocurrencies incorporating Bitcoin, Cronos, and other crypto assets."

Trump Media CEO Devin Nunes explained that the aim is "to create inventive funds incorporating firms that concentrate on rapid growth, technological innovation, and strengthening the U.S. economy."

Even with today's gains, Trump Media & Technology Group shares have lost a third of their value this year.



TradingView

Read the original article on Investopedia
The grandparents of a toddler who died in the French Alps have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Philippe and Anne Vedovini, both 59, were arrested on Tuesday along with two of their adult children.

All four are facing charges of intentional homicide and concealing a corpse, according to a statement from Aix-en-Provence prosecutors.

Marie and Colomban Soleil, the boys parents, are not believed to be the two adult children arrested.

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Police searched the grandparents home on Tuesday morning and removed a van from the premises, according to French media.

Marie and Colomban Soleil are not believed to have been arrested - MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP

The death of Emile Soleil, the two-and-a-half year old boy who went missing on July 8 2023 in the alpine village of Le Haut-Vernet, has remained unexplained despite the discovery of his skull and teeth by a walker just over a mile from the settlement nine months after his disappearance.

Prosecutors at the time said the cause of Emiles death could have been a fall, manslaughter or murder. Police later found more bones and items of the boys clothing but thought these could have been moved there by a wild animal.

Emile had just arrived at the summer home of his maternal grandparents when he disappeared. The parents had left him with the grandparents and eight of the mothers nine brothers and sisters who were staying with their children in the Catholic familys country home.

Fifteen minutes of inattention

When he vanished, the toddler was officially in the care of his grandfather, a physiotherapist-osteopath, who later admitted to fifteen minutes of inattention as he was loading his car with metal stakes to build a fence for his horses.

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Two neighbours last saw him walking alone on a street in Le Vernet, 1,200m (4,000ft) up in the French Alps.

Francois Balique, Le Vernets mayor, told French media at the time that the remains were found on a path between the church and chapel in the village  just over 100 yards from his home.

But Mr Balique said the hamlet in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence had been thoroughly searched by gendarmes after Emiles disappearance, suggesting that the bones could have been moved back to Vernet.

A source close to the investigation told French media that detectives were convinced a human was involved in his disappearance.

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They said: Theres virtually no doubt now that there was a perpetrator. Did he deliberately harm the child or did he do it unintentionally? Its impossible to say at the moment. But that there may have been human intervention is now highly probable.

Some media had focused on the boys grandfather, who had been questioned in the 1990s over alleged violence and sexual assault at a private Roman Catholic school where he worked.

Philippe Vedovini at Emiles funeral - KGC Photo Agency LLP

Mr Vedovini was an assisted witness in the inquiry  one step short of being charged.

In an interview with the police in April 2018, he reportedly admitted to administering somewhat harsh physical discipline. However, Mr Vedovini denied any wrongdoing and was not charged with any offence following the child abuse investigation.

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Tuesdays arrests were the result of fact-finding over recent months, the prosecutor told reporters, adding that forensic police were examining several spots in the area.

A funeral mass for the toddler was held in February of this year in the presence of several hundreds of mourners.

Within hours of the ceremony, the grandparents published a statement saying the period of silence must yield to the period of truth, adding: We need to understand, we need to know.

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HOOLULU (KHON2)  A 45-year-old inmate from the Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC), who had been missing since Friday morning, March 21, is back in custody.

Honolulu police searching for Aiea robbery suspects

Jason S. Takaki was apprehended by state sheriffs deputies around 7:50 p.m. Monday in the Kaimuki area.

Takaki had been granted a job-seeking pass on but failed to return by the required 2 p.m. deadline.

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Authorities, including sheriffs deputies and the Honolulu Police Department, were notified of his absence.

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Serving time for unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, forgery, and theft, Takaki was participating in the work furlough program, which allows inmates to work outside the facility while maintaining a low-risk classification.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

However, by not returning as expected, Takaki now faces a potential second-degree escape charge, a Class C felony that could result in up to five years in prison if convicted.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
(NewsNation)  A missing Rhode Island woman has been found alive in the back of a car after four days of searching, according to local police.

The Cranston Police Department said Linda DaLomba, who is autistic and nonverbal, was reported missing on March 19 by her caretaker, Roberta Gerard.

Originally, Gerard told police DaLomba disappeared from a Burlington Coat Factory that afternoon. According to investigators, surveillance footage suggested Gerard was lying.

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Gerard then admitted that she had fabricated the story and told police DaLomba disappeared from her vehicle while Gerard was inside his home heating up food.

Child missing, 3 others dead after boat capsizes in Florida waters

A Cranston resident found DaLomba on Sunday inside the rear hatch of his SUV, which had been parked for several weeks, according to police. The car was a short distance from a nail salon Gerard visited prior to reporting DaLomba missing on March 19, investigators said.

It is unclear how she accessed the vehicle at this point in time, but authorities said a preliminary check found she had been in the vehicle for an extended period.

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Gerard faces multiple charges, including abuse, neglect or exploitation of an adult with severe impairment, as well as obstruction of an officer.

We are grateful for the support from the community, especially from the caregiver network, who assisted in our efforts and kept Ms. DaLomba in their thoughts and prayers, said Col. Michael Winquist, Cranston police chief.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
Editors Note: This missing person has been found.

NORTH CANTON, Ohio (WJW)  The Regional Emergency Dispatch Center has issued a statewide missing adult alert for 58-year-old Vicki Linn Bell.

According to the alert, Bell has been missing since Friday when she refused help outside a Red Roof Inn in North Canton.

Lake County community mourning 10th grader killed in crash

Bell walked away and refused assistance from local law enforcement when help was provided, a release said.

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According to law enforcement, Bell suffers from mental illness. She also might have a knife with her and could become violent.

Bell is described as being 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing about 130 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes.

Armed robbery leads to police chase in Cleveland

Bell was last seen having unkept hair and broken teeth and wearing unclean clothes, the release said.

Anyone who sees Bell is asked to call 911.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.  The Independent Cattlemen of Missouri made it clear Tuesday why they are independent: special interests have clouded the meat industry and made it more difficult for Missourians to know where they are getting their beef and pork from.

A handful of ranchers joined State Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, at a news conference in the Capitol to announce a bipartisan push to get meat products to have labels on them featuring country of origin.

It urges the federal government to reinstate country of origin labeling, Moon said of his resolution and a similar one from State Sen. Tracy McCreery, D-St. Louis County. The reason for this is we have come to realize that people are concerned about where their food comes from.

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Moon said all meat used to have such labels before a change was made in 2015.

We do have country of origin labeling for all fruits and vegetables and chicken, but not for pork and beef, he said. So why is that?

Jury awards $48.1M in malpractice case against Mercy Hospital

Moon and McCreerys resolutions provide context for that question.

In 2008, the United States Congress overwhelmingly passed mandatory country of origin labeling for muscle cuts and ground meat sold at retail, requiring meat produced from imported livestock or imported boxed meat to bear a different label from meat produced from United States born, raised, and slaughtered livestock, the resolution reads.

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Then in 2015, a reversal of sorts.

The United States Congress repealed the country-of-origin labeling law for beef and pork, reducing the competitive advantage of products born, raised, and slaughtered in the United States, the resolutions read. The primary trigger for this: world trade.

We would like to see (country of labeling law) reinstated, Freddie Keaton, president of the Independent Cattlemen of Missouri, said. We think that it is imperative that our consumers have the right to choose and know where their food comes from.

While not directly criticizing his in-state colleagues, Keaton pointed to deep pocketed groups like the Missouri Cattlemens Association as part of the reason why there hasnt been a reversal on the controversial 2015 provision.

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We come together because we differ on some key issues with the Missouri Cattlemens (Association), Keaton said. We feel they dont represent us, or the independent producers of the state.

Keaton said at this point its not about politics, but rather saving the meat producing industry in the United States. He points to a steep decline in cattle ranchers over the last four decades, a decrease by what he says is more than 50 percent.

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So, in 40 years time, we have lost half of our cattle ranchers in this country, right? Keaton said. Whos been representing us and whos been dictating policy for the last 40 years?

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If we want something to change and we want to go in a new direction, were going to have to start listening to some new voices.

Keaton pointed to the meat packing lobby as one of the main roadblocks to reinstating country of origin labeling. And while these resolutions cant change law, he hopes it will at least get the attention of those who can change it.

That it would get Senator Hawley and Senator Schmidt to wake up and say, Hey, the Missouri people want this, Keaton said. Were gonna help you to move forward and were going to do whats right for the American people.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
State Rep. Phil Amato, a Republican from Arnold, originally filed legislation that would have required that the state maintain a central registry of each expectant mother who is at risk for seeking an abortion of her unborn child" (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).

The revamp of widely-criticized legislation that sought to create a registry of pregnant girls and women at risk of abortion raised bipartisan concerns of government overreach during a House committee hearing Tuesday morning.

The initial bill, filed by state Rep. Phil Amato, a Republican from Arnold, would have required that the state maintain a central registry of each expectant mother who is at risk for seeking an abortion of her unborn child.

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Amato has said this registry would have been voluntary, though it was unclear who would have collected that information.

His initial bill was highlighted in a smattering of national and international headlines raising concerns about data privacy in one of the most anti-abortion states in the country. Dozens of people filed testimony in opposition.

The bill was set aside, and Amato filed a new version.

The verbiage was a little clumsy, Amato admitted Tuesday before his colleagues on the House Committee on Children and Families as he presented his new legislation.

Amato said he first approached an adoption attorney about drafting this bill after he learned how costly and difficult adoption can be. He said he hoped the legislation would help more easily get resources to expectant parents, make adoption easier and use modern technology to match pregnant individuals with potential adoptive parents.

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He previously referred to the idea on several occasions as eHarmony for babies.

This new bill would still create a Division of Maternal and Child Resources within the Department of Social Services that would be designed to help anyone who doesnt want to keep their baby connect with families hoping to adopt.

Amato removed all references to a registry, but the bill still refers to people at risk of abortion.

The system shall coordinate community resources and provide assistance or services to expectant mothers identified to be at risk for seeking abortion services, the bill reads. And to prevent abortion through the adoption of children by fit and proper persons seeking to adopt.

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While some concerns about the at risk language were again raised, most of Tuesdays debate centered around hesitations from both Democrats and Republicans about how much government control this would create in the adoption space  and at what price.

The fiscal note cites a potential cost of more than $40 million in state revenue for the program in 2026. Much of this goes to staff salaries, including the cost of five legal counsel who would help with referral processes from school districts, non-profits, homeless shelters and faith-based organizations that could refer up to 3,700 expectant mothers a year.

Sam Lee, a longtime anti-abortion lobbyist, raised concerns that the legislation would require agencies that fall within the Alternatives to Abortion program, like maternity homes and pregnancy resources centers, to start looking at eyeballing these women and seeing if theyre candidates to place their child for adoption.

I dont think thats something we want to have the government doing, he said.

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The fiscal note goes on to estimate that there were 3,653 abortions in 2021 and 3,012 abortions in 2022 in Missouri. However, data previously provided to The Independent by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services show that data refers to the numbers of Missourians who received abortions anywhere in the country during those years.

In 2021, only 150 abortions were performed in the state, according to the health department. In 2022, the year the procedure became illegal, it dropped to 88.

State Rep. Jamie Gragg, an Ozark Republican, said his main concern was the creation of a department that would put the government in direct competition with the private sector since adoption agencies already exist.

The most dangerous words ever spoken are Hello, Im from the government. Im here to help, said Gragg.   I appreciate the intent, but I would like to see how we can make the existing things work cheaper, instead of the government basically coming and taking over and really screwing it up.

The committee took no action on the legislation Tuesday.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) The Missouri River Boat Clubs annual Dry Dock Party fundraiser is right around the corner, and it will honor a former board member and Fleet Captain.

The annual fundraiser will be taking place on Saturday from 1 p.m. until DOXX Warehouse Bar closes at 2 a.m.

Candidate townhall for North Sioux Citys new governing body

The event will include music from the likes of Dale Blue and Above the Covers. Hawardens Central Catering will be providing a variety of food buffet style from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. as well. Those who arrive between 1 and 5 p.m. also have a chance to get an admission ticket granting no limit on canned beers and seltzers. Non-alcoholic options are also available.

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Weve served generations over the years and made countless friends and memories, Missouri River Boat Club volunteer Jim Sievert said. Despite the recent floods that has devastated so many in Siouxland the last few years, we are going strong and have built a new clubhouse that is beautiful and open to the public year-round. We are ever grateful for our generous volunteers, sponsors, supporters, local bank, and builders to help us reopen our new clubhouse which opened to the public in October 2023. Its a big enhancement and we would love to serve you.

This years event will also pay tribute to Dennis Butler, a long-time Woodbury County employee and a former MRBC board member and Fleet Captain. Butler was honored by Woodbury County late last year when the county chose to name the old Woodbury County Board of Supervisors room to the Dennis D. Butler Meeting Room.

Tickets for the event can be purchased in person at the Bent Prop Bar at the boat club or at DOXX, or by contacting any member of the boat clubs board.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
JASPER COUNTY, Mo.  The April election is now just two weeks away, marking new options for Missouri voters.

No excuse voting opened today, allowing residents to cast a ballot without giving a reason.

The past few weeks have allowed absentee voting only with an excuse, like someone was going to be out of town on election day, or had a medical issue.

Officials say a few ballots have been cast to date, but the numbers are much lower than last fall.

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Considering this time prior to the November election we had about 14,000 absentee votes cast  we have about 120 right now. So as of right now we have a pretty low turnout. Were expecting probably a 12-percent turnout, said Charlie Davis, Jasper Co. clerk.

Missouris April 8 ballot features a mix of city council and school board races, along with fire district, bond, and tax questions.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
Xi Jinping is capitalising on the instability that Donald Trumps trade war has triggered in US equity markets - Andy Wong/AP

Steve Brice had just returned from meeting prospective investors in Jakarta, Surabaya and Manila when he saw what Donald Trump would later describe as a wake-up call for US companies.

Standard Chartereds chief investment officer and his team raced to send a note to clients urging them not to take lightly the reports about a company which would help turbo-charge the fortunes of Chinas stock markets.

DeepSeek, a little-known China-based technology business, had unveiled its latest AI chatbot, which it claimed could rival market leader ChatGPT  developed on a shoestring $6m (4.6m) budget.

People were a little bit sceptical. Was this real? Brice recalls from his office in Singapore.

You had the wow  everybody thought China was so far behind.

Brice says the impact of that moment is probably greater than people anticipated and thats why the stock market is reacting accordingly.

The Hang Seng hit its highest level since February 2022 last week and has surged more than 18pc so far this year amid excitement about Chinas AI potential and a change in attitudes towards its beleaguered stock markets.

Hong Kongs benchmark index is up 33pc over the last six months, ranking it as the best performer among major global stock indexes.

The emergence of DeepSeek was the latest catalyst for investors who are increasingly viewing Hong Kong and Chinas beaten-down markets as a potential source of opportunity amid Trumps erratic tariff policies.

The US has historically been very reliable on making good on its commitments and obviously in the new world it is becoming more challenging, says Brice.

We dont know where we will end up but I think that some assumptions ... are now so obviously in doubt. People are going to have to think about how they set domestic policy to be more resilient to changes in US policymaking.

Trump has wasted no time in imposing an additional 20pc tariffs on Chinese goods, but has also irked allies with his 25pc levies on steel and aluminium imports and threats of reciprocal tariffs from April 2.

All of the talk about tariffs is just leading to greater uncertainty, says Robert Secker, a portfolio specialist covering Asian and Chinese stock markets at T Rowe Price.

China is benefiting to a degree from simply a spike in uncertainty causing investors to look outside the US market for the first time in a long time. It is the same case as in Europe.

Xi Jinping has raced to grasp the opportunity offered by the increased uncertainty.

Last month Alibaba founder Jack Ma, one of Chinas most famous and wealthy entrepreneurs, appeared at a meeting alongside Xi nearly five years since withdrawing from public life after he criticised Beijings financial sector.
welch  Helping flooded communities reduce the chances for future devastation through new flood mitigation efforts is one of FEMAs goals, according to the federal agencys acting director.

Acting FEMA Director Cameron Hamilton visited McDowell County March 21 with U.S. Senator Jim Justice, R-W.Va., to see damage from the Feb. 15 flood firsthand and talk to county and municipal officials about what local recovery efforts need.

On March 20, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said that President Donald Trump had approved his request for Public Assistance in Mercer, McDowell, Monroe and seven other Southern West Virginia counties impacted by the Feb. 15 flood.

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Morrisey said the Public Assistance declaration provides supplemental grants to state and local governments and certain private non-profits to cover their costs for debris removal, emergency protective measures and infrastructure restoration.

FEMA has a competitive grant program called Flood Mitigation Assistance, according to agency officials. This program offers funding to state, territory and local governments. Since the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 was signed into law, funds are used for projects that reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings insured by the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA chooses recipients based on the applicants ranking of the project, eligibility, and cost-effectiveness of the project.

There is a program specifically in the FEMA grant system, Hamilton told an audience at the Welch Armory. There are various different programs were looking to partner with the community to ensure that we rebuild and we rebuild back in a way that makes sense that could mitigate future risks.

Hamilton said he had spoken with Sheriff James Boomer Muncy about possible flood mitigation remedies near the county 911 center which is next door to the sheriffs department in Welch. FEMA will be looking at other ways to reduce future flood hazards.

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What we encourage you all to do is speak with your local counterparts, speak with public officials so they can categorize and document and grab as many of those requests as possible and theyll route those up to our public assistance programs and that will be routed up to FEMA, Hamilton said. We will then receive those applications and look at areas where we can ensure if there is a chance to recover and also mitigate future risks, those are certainly areas we are certainly very interested in partnering with to ensure we can address them.

William Swain of Elbert Road, part of Gary in McDowell County, recently visited the Bluefield Daily Telegraph and said that he has seen the results of flood mitigation.

In 2013, a coal mining operation had cut down trees above the end of Elbert Road.

And when it would rain, the rain would come down the back where they had cut down those trees down the mountain to the road, down another mountain onto the railroad track, over the railroad track, down the street onto a coal boom, United States Steel broken-up sidewalk, Swain said. And this is at Elbert Road, 1303.

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Swain said that the flood waters reached his property and was up over his ankles. Later he went to the McDowell County Commission and later the town of Gary, but was told there nothing they could do, so he decided to go to Charleston and speak with the state Department of Transportation. There he spoke with Paul Mattox, who was then the states transportation secretary.

I said Okay, Im going to call Charleston.

Swain said the chief engineer at that time, Jimmy Wriston, who later become transportation secretary, and a District 10 engineer looked at the problem on Elgood Road.

Work on flood mitigation at Elgood Road started in September 2013 and was finished before Christmas that same year. The old U.S. Steel sidewalk which had been in place since the 1950s was removed.

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Swain said the Feb. 15 flood tested the changes that were made back in 2013.

If it wasnt for Paul Mattox, this flood we had in 2025 would have washed everybody out of Elbert Road, he said.

Contact Greg Jordan at

gjordan@bdtonline.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A 13-year-old student has been charged after she called 911 to report an alleged shooting at her school, officials said.

The Metro Nashville Police Department said a 13-year-old KIPP Academy student called 911 on Friday, March 21 to report a shooting that had occurred in the hallway.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

After an investigation, school security reportedly identified the room where the call was made.

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During an interview with school administrators, the teen allegedly admitted that she called 911 on a dare. The call prompted a large law enforcement response, according to the MNPD.

| READ MORE | Latest headlines from Nashville and Davidson County

Threats against schools and institutions are taken very seriously by the MNPD. Those responsible, once identified, will be prosecuted, wrote the police department.

The 13-year-old was charged with making a false report. No other information was released.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Previous coverage: Officials discuss the childs abuse in February, weeks before he succumbed to his injuries.

TAVARES, Fla. (WFLA)  The death of a 10-year-old boy from gruesome abuse at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend has led to additional, upgraded charges for the abusers, according to the Office of the State Attorney.

On Feb. 23, Xavier Williams was rushed to Advent Health Waterman in Tavares, covered in bruises, burn marks and other injuries consistent with abuse. The child was brought to the hospital by his mother, Kimberley Mills and her boyfriend, Andre Walker.

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Police responded to Advent Health and arrested Mills for aggravated child abuse. Walker later turned himself in, after initially leaving the hospital.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Florida 10-year-old dies weeks after gruesome abuse from mom, man: police

On Feb. 28, the police department announced additional charges for Mills including two counts of aggravated child abuse, two counts of child neglect, two counts of accessory to aggravated child abuse and tampering with evidence. Walker also received charges of two counts of aggravated child abuse, two counts of accessory to aggravated child abuse and tampering with evidence.

The child remained in critical condition for several weeks until the Tavares Police Department announced his death on March 21.

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It is clear to our agency that this child underwent gruesome abuse. He is covered head to toe in various-sized bruises that are in various stages of healing, Tavares Police Detective Courtney Sullivan said back in February.

The 5th Judicial Circuit State Attorneys Office, covering Lake County, announced Tuesday the upgraded charges. Mills and Walker are now charged with one count of principal to murder in the second degree and two counts of principal to aggravated child abuse.

A copy of the filing provided to WFLA.com read in part:

Kimberley Leonie Mills and Andrew Dwayne Walker on or about February 23, 2025, did unlawfully, by an act imminently dangerous to another, and envincing a depraved mind, regardless of human life kill and murder [redacted], a human being, by striking him with hands, feet and/or various objects, in violation of Florida Statute 782.04(2).

Kimberly Mills, Andre Walker Courtesy: Tavares Police Department

Suspected cause of death for former Yankees players son in Costa Rica revealed

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Williams 9-year-old brother also suffered abuse from Mills and Walker. A search of the couples home revealed 10-pound weights, duct tape, copper wire, and a ladder, which were used to inflict harm on the two children.

(TAVARES POLICE DEPARTMENT) (TAVARES POLICE DEPARTMENT) (TAVARES POLICE DEPARTMENT) (TAVARES POLICE DEPARTMENT) (TAVARES POLICE DEPARTMENT)

On Tuesday, Tavares police released information about a candlelight vigil for Williams being held on Saturday, March 29. The celebration of life will take place at 7 p.m. at Wooton Park in downtown Tavares.

Xaviers family warmly invites everyone in our community to join them in this moment of remembrance and gratitude for your overwhelming support during this time, officials wrote in a Facebook post. Let us come together to show our love, compassion, and solidarity as we celebrate Xaviers life and the joy he brought to those around him.

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Those attending are asked to wear the color blue, the childs favorite color, as a gesture of unity of love. Officials recommend bringing your own candle to light, in the case the event candles run out.

The Tavares Police Charity is accepting donations to support the family. 100% of the funds raised will go to the family directly.

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School should be one of the places a parent can feel that their children are safe. But one Milwaukee mothers faith in her kids school has been shattered after a disturbing video of her 5-year-old son being forced to vape in a public school bathroom has been circulating through the school community. Now shes desperately seeking answers as to why he was placed in harms way.

The shocking video shows a boy, a student at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning, being forced to vape in the schools bathroom by what appears to be an older student. The childs mother, who has asked to remain anonymous, told Milwaukees NBC affiliate TMJ4 that she was angry when she saw the video, adding that her son, who has special needs, should have never been left alone in the bathroom.

I feel like he shouldve had someone with him at all times, she said.

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The Milwaukee Public School System says they are investigating the case and doing what they can to ensure something like this never happens again.

MPS takes student health and safety very seriously. We were concerned by what we saw in this video when it was reported to us earlier this week. We are taking all appropriate steps to ensure this incident is addressed according to our policies and procedures for everyone involved. We are also actively reviewing this incident to see what lessons can be learned to prevent it from happening again, a spokesperson from the school district said in a statement.

But the childs mother, who says shes been trying for the past week to get answers from the school and the district, says she no longer feels safe leaving her kids in the care of

When I let my kids walk in that door, aint no telling whats gonna happen to them. They not safe. I dont have no type of peace of mind when they at school, she told TMJ4.

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MONAHANS, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- UPDATE: The Monahans Police Department said a missing teen has been found safe.

The Monahans Police Department has asked for help from the community to find a missing teen.

Isabella Cobos, pictured below, was last seen in the 1000 block of S Franklin. If you know where she is, please call the department at 432-943-3254 and reference case number 25-0166.

While MPD did not specify if Cobos is considered a runaway, we are reminding the public that harboring a runaway is a crime in Texas and is punishable by a fine of up to $4,000 and or one year in jail.

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What is harboring a runaway child?

Harboring a runaway child occurs when someone shelters a minor without the consent of their legal guardian

The minor may have escaped from a detention facility, probation officer, or peace officer

The minor may be voluntarily absent from home without their parent or guardians consent

Parents and guardians can press charges against anyone who harbors their child without permission.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  There is hope for monarch butterflies after the population nearly doubled in 2025, according to a news release from Commissioner Sid Millers office.

Miller said a survey that was released from the Wildlife Fund-Telmex Telcel Foundation Alliances (WWF) and the National Commission of Protected Natural Area in Mexico (CONANP) revealed the population wintering in central Mexicos forests occupied 4.42 acres, up from 2.22 acres the previous winters.

US wildlife officials plan to label monarch butterflies as threatened species

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This comes after U.S. wildlife officials announced they planned to label monarch butterflies as a threatened species in December 2024, according to The Associated Press. The proposed listing from wildlife officials would generally prohibit anyone from killing or transporting the butterfly.

Around the same time last year, Miller called that proposal in an official statement an example of federal government overreach which cripples agriculture and rural development.

This designation would slap widespread restrictions on anything that might disturb monarch habitat, making it nearly impossible to build or expand in rural areas, Miller said in his December statement.

Monarch Butterfly Fall Migration Patterns. (Base map source: USGS National Atlas)

Miller similarly echoed that proposal last year after submitting his own letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service after the agency extended the opportunity for public comments that advocate for sensible policies regarding monarch butterfly conservation.

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Millers office said the survey for the monarch butterflies is a key indicator of the species population health.

Scientists attribute this years increase primarily to improved weather conditions along the butterflies migration route through the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Conservation efforts, including habitat restoration and land management practices, have also helped protect the butterflies breeding and overwintering grounds, the release said.

According to Millers office, monarch butterflies are vital to the U.S. ecosystems, as well as agriculture, as 80% of food production relies on pollinators.

This is proof we can protect monarchs and vital pollinators for agriculture without strangling farmers and ranchers with red tape, Miller said. Mexico just showed us firsthand the impact of addressing the core of the issue, which was forest degradation in the overwintering sites in Mexico. In response, Texas and the United States will continue to promote balanced, science-based conservation strategies that respect property rights while ensuring the survival of this iconic species.

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The company behind Roundup weedkiller herbicide was ordered to pay more than $2 billion in a mans cancer lawsuit.

According to his attorneys, John Barnes developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma after using Monsantos Roundup for two decades.

The case resulted in a $2.065 billion verdict, Barness lawyers said. The Associated Press reported that Bayer, the parent company for Monsanto, was ordered to pay $65 million to compensate Barnes and an additional $2 billion in punitive damages by a Georgia jury. Monsanto is appealing the ruling.

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Thousands of cases have alleged that Roundup causes cancer. Monsanto has maintained that it does not.

We believe that we have strong arguments on appeal to get this verdict overturned and the excessive and unconstitutional damage awards eliminated or reduced, said a statement from the company.

The Company remains committed to trying cases, having secured favorable outcomes in 17 of the last 25 trials. Our track record demonstrates that we win when plaintiffs attorneys and their experts are not allowed to misrepresent the worldwide regulatory and scientific assessments that continue to support the products safety. Damages in cases that have reached final judgments have been reduced 90% overall compared with the original jury awards, it added.

Under the last Trump administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found no risks to human health from key Roundup ingredient glyphosate. However, a court in 2022 ordered the EPA to review its finding that glyphosate does not pose an unreasonable cancer risk.

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MIAMI, Fla. (WFLA) A suspected drug smuggler was taken into custody after the U.S. Coast Guard Station Fort Lauderdale law enforcement station boat crew seized 550 pounds of cocaine near Port Everglades.

On Saturday, the law enforcement crew took custody of the 36-foot boat, Bella Vita, and found the 550 pounds of cocaine that is worth an estimated $6.3 million, USCG said.

(USCG) (USCG)

Protecting our maritime border from illicit drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations remains one of our highest priorities, said Lt. Daniel Sunday, Coast Guard Sector Miamis deputy enforcement chief. The Coast Guard and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners remain vigilant in our shared efforts to keep our maritime borders safe by preventing illicit narcotics from reaching our communities.

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The cocaine was found in nine suitcases on the boat.

The man was transferred to Coast Guard Investigative Service agents once he was ashore to face federal prosecution, USCG said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
By Lisa Baertlein and David Lawder

LOS ANGELES/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's plan to revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industry is likely to backfire because it relies on proposed fees on China-linked vessels that will hurt domestic ship operators, seaports, exporters and jobs, industry executives said at U.S. Trade Representative hearings on Monday.

At issue are proposed, stacking fees on China-built vessels that could top $3 million per U.S. port call. The Trump administration says the fees would curb China's growing commercial and military dominance on the high seas and promote domestically built vessels. U.S. steelworker unions, U.S. steel producers and Democratic lawmakers support the effort, saying it will boost domestic industry.

But the idea has sent a shockwave through the domestic maritime industry because it threatens the survival of the same shipping companies and customers that would drive demand for orders from the U.S. shipyards Trump wants to rebuild.

"National interest will not be served if the effort to boost American shipbuilding unintentionally destroys American-owned carriers," Edward Gonzalez, CEO of Florida-based Seaboard Marine, the largest U.S.-owned international ocean cargo carrier, testified on Monday.

Like many U.S. operators, Seaboard relies on vessels made in China. It has 16 China-built ships in its fleet of 24 vessels, according to maritime data provider Alphaliner.

U.S. vessel operators said the fees on Chinese-linked vessels also would push more U.S. cargo to foreign-owned ocean shipping companies that have resources to better weather the change.

According to the USTR, China's share of the shipbuilding market grew from less than 5% in 1999 to more than 50% in 2023.

U.S. shipyards turn out fewer than 10 ships annually while China's produce 1,000, speakers said.

Meanwhile, industry executives said shipbuilders in Japan and Korea would struggle to meet demand in the years it would take U.S. shipyards to build up capacity.

Replacing existing China-built vessels is not like flipping a light switch, said Kathy Metcalf, CEO of the Chamber of Shipping of America. "Penalizing China and the U.S. marine transportation system is not an acceptable result."

U.S. vessel operators underpin key American industries like manufacturing, mining, and agriculture by transporting goods to and from inland waterways, across the Great Lakes and up and down the country's coasts.

Agriculture exporters already are having trouble booking ships beyond May due to uncertainty around the USTR plan, and coal industry representatives have said the fees are making it harder to get their supplies onto the global market.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A growing number of homeowners are asking where their money went after One Stop Kitchens & Bath abruptly closed its three locations.

Dozens of customers say they paid tens of thousands of dollars and received nothing at all.

HOA, Polk County mother at odds over safety concerns at school bus stop

The Pinellas County Consumer Protection office says it has 24 complaints, and the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office says it is investigating.

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Angie DAngelo and her husband are helping their daughter build her dream home in South Tampa.

But now, construction in the kitchen is at a standstill, ready for cabinets that werent made as promised, after the family forked over $31,000 as a deposit in January.

We were meant to be cabinetry, and as you can see theres nothing here and we should be moving forward with cabinetry because it all stops once the cabinets cant get here, DAngelo said. Theres no countertop, theres no flooring, theres a lot of things that stop.

The companys website lists showrooms in St. Petersburg, Oldsmar and Tampa.

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On the door of the Oldsmar showroom is a letter explaining the closure was forced upon us unexpectedly due to severe financial pressures beyond our control.

The last line of the letter says, This notice marks our final communication regarding the closure.

One customer received an email saying the company is insolvent and placing some blame on the cabinet manufacture, MasterBrand.

The email said any deposits were submitted to MasterBrand for production.

However, Consumer Investigator Shannon Behnken reached Farand Pawlak, a spokesman at MasterBrand, who said that for Stirling and many others, no money was received because MasterBrand had already placed the company on a credit hold for failing to meet financial obligations.

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They are responsible for their own financial difficulties, and any claim otherwise would be inaccurate and misleading, Pawlak said.

Public records list the owners as Robert and Meriam Vaniglia. We were unable to reach them by phone, and a text message was not answered.

In addition to the sheriffs office investigation, the Pinellas County Consumer Protection office said it has more than a dozen complaints and asks impacted consumers to call their office, even if they dont live in Pinellas County.

Consumers can also reach out to the Florida Attorney Generals Office and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Mar. 24The lone adult thus far charged in Friday night's Las Cruces shooting faced prior charges in Texas for human smuggling.

Texas court records show that the El Paso County District Attorney's Office charged Tomas Rivas, 20, with four counts of smuggling of persons and evading arrest in January 2024. He was also arrested in 2021, when he was 17, and charged with transporting an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States.

Those past and pending charges are being used in court records as evidence that Rivas is dangerous and that no conditions of release can protect the community, as the 3rd Judicial District Attorney's Office seeks to hold him in jail.

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For years, teens in the El Paso-Sunland Park area have been recruited into smuggling operations, a phenomenon that persists across the U.S. Mexico Borderland and has resulted in deaths after high-speed chases through the desert or El Paso streets. Border Patrol has been working with El Paso high schools, and even middle schools, to get ahead of the problem for more than a decade. Court records suggest that Rivas may have been involved in such an operation.

Rivas is one of four people  including two 17-year-old boys and one 15-year-old boy  charged in Friday night's shooting at Young Park that resulted in three people dead and 15 injured. The three unidentified teenagers have each been charged with three counts of open murder in the first degree, as has Rivas.

Rivas was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center just before 3 a.m. Sunday. Jail records show he was arrested at a residence on Las Cruces' north side. The other unidentified teenagers were booked into the juvenile section of the jail.

Third Judicial District Attorney Fernando Macias told the Journal he intends to charge all four defendants as adults.

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"The first thing that we're going to address, hopefully very quickly, is keeping them in custody," Macias said. "That's going to be kind of the first step."

Macias said anyone over 15 can be charged as an adult.

Police said Rivas was one of at least four people who began firing guns into a crowd during an unsanctioned car show at the Las Cruces park, killing Dominick Estrada, 19, Andrew "AJ" Madrid, 16, and Jason Gomez, 17.

A statement of probable cause, filed in the Dona Ana Magistrate Court, did not provide insight into what might have motivated the shooting. However, a witness told police two groups pulled out guns and started shooting at each other.

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Rivas and one of the other teens tried to stash four guns in a nearby dumpster, according to court documents. However, the statement noted that police ultimately found those guns, which were all semi-automatic pistols, including a 9mm pistol, a .40 caliber and a .45 caliber.

Police also said in the statement that one of the teens rang the doorbell of a nearby apartment complex. The tenant said the teen looked panicked, so he let him inside. Later, the tenant said he discovered another gun in his apartment that belonged to the teen, police said.

Prosecutors have filed an expedited motion for pretrial detention to keep Rivas in jail. In it, they note that he's been living in Las Cruces for "a significant period of time" and works as a carhop at a local Sonic. The motion also states that Rivas "has a history of criminal activity which appears to be gang-related."

Rivas was scheduled for a first appearance Monday as Macias and the 3rd Judicial District Attorney's office filed their motion requesting Rivas remain in jail. The Journal contacted Rivas' attorney, Thomas Clark, who said he anticipated the detention hearing would occur later this week.

Clark also said that attorneys had been assigned to the defendants.
Teachers in Williamsburg County School District receive Excellence in Teaching Awards from the state Department of Education in May 2024. (Provided/SC Department of Education)

COLUMBIA  Teachers in dozens of public schools across South Carolina are newly eligible for bonuses if their students show enough academic progress.

The state Department of Education recently announced choosing 37 schools from among 118 that applied to participate in its pilot program. They will cumulatively receive $5 million.

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The size of teachers potential bonus is unclear. Amounts will vary depending on how many teachers earn them and how well their students perform.

The department hopes the program becomes a statewide model for rewarding excellent teachers and keeping them in the classroom.

This initiative is about more than just pay  its about rewarding the educators who are moving the needle on student growth in the foundational skills of reading and math, state Superintendent Ellen Weaver said in a news release. When we recognize and support the very best teaching, we set a new horizon for whats possible for students in every corner of our state.

The latest experiment may accomplish through bonuses what legislators and state superintendents of both parties have attempted unsuccessfully for two decades: paying teachers statewide based on their effectiveness in the classroom.

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Teachers in South Carolina are paid by their academic degree and years of experience, called the salary schedule.

Teacher advocacy groups have long argued its impossible to fairly construct a pay-for-performance model recognizing that every class is different, and some students enter their classrooms years behind. In 2019, a proposal simply to study the issue was met with immediate backlash from teachers, resulting in the idea being scuttled. It hasnt been considered since.

Weaver first called for a statewide, voluntary incentive program in 2023. The Legislature provided $5 million for a pilot this school year.

The state budget plan approved by the House earlier this month would fund another $5 million for the coming school year. The bonuses would be in addition to the Houses $1,500 boost in state-paid minimums for teachers. A final spending plan is still months away.

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Weaver sees the number of applications as showing widespread support. In selecting which schools to include in the program, the agency gave priority to high-poverty schools with the highest teacher turnover, according to the education department.

Participating schools could choose different ways for determining teachers bouses. All involve measuring how much progress their students make in meeting grade-level expectations for math and reading.

Roughly half of the 37 schools opted to use results on state-standardized math and reading tests taken by third- through eighth-grade students in the spring. Other schools created their own model for determining academic growth, which include scores on end-of-course tests taken by high schoolers.

Eleven schools chose to participate in the Excellence in Teaching Awards program, which has been rewarding teachers in high-poverty schools with private donations since 2021. That model involves comparing students scores on district-level tests they take at the beginning and end of the school year.

The awards began with the four Meeting Street Schools, an innovative approach to neighborhood schools launched in Charleston by philanthropist Ben Navarro to prove all students can succeed. His donor-funded awards were formalized and expanded in 2021 to high-poverty public schools throughout Charleston County.

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Last school year, the state Department of Education used federal aid to bring the bonuses to schools in Allendale and Williamsburg counties, which have been managed by the state agency since 2017 and 2018, respectively. Those schools will still participate, but as part of the state-paid pilot.

Beemok Education, which manages the various education initiatives of Ben and Kelly Navarro, will oversee the bonus programs for schools in the state pilot that chose to use its model.

The bonuses help both teachers and students, said Josh Bell, president of Beemok Education. In the 28 schools in the program since 2021, student test scores have improved and teachers have said they are more likely to stay in the classroom, he said.

We deeply believe that teachers who work really hard and get these outcomes ought to be compensated for them, Bell said.

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Last school year, rewarded teachers in Charleston County received, on average, a $5,000 bonus, while the largest single bonus was $31,000, according to Beemok Education.

Sherry East, president of the South Carolina Education Association, reiterated teachers concerns that paying teachers for students performance puts too much focus on a few tests rather than students overall improvement.

Do I think there needs to be a way of recognizing high-performing teachers? Absolutely, East said. Do I think it should be based on test scores? Absolutely not.

An alternative to the test-based bonuses could be to offer incentives for teachers in hard-to-hire positions, said Patrick Kelly with the Palmetto State Teachers Association. Hawaii did something similar by offering $10,000 bonuses to special education teachers beginning in 2019, which helped the state put teachers in commonly hard-to-fill roles, he said.

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If education officials want to continue doing performance-based bonuses, Kelly suggested the state instead encourage districts to look at teachers end-of-year evaluation, which grades their teaching abilities as a whole instead of simply how well their students perform on tests.

If youre going to do (a bonus) on the basis of student performance, it cannot be done on test scores alone, Kelly said.

SC Daily Gazette Editor Seanna Adcox contributed to this report.
EAU CLAIREAs mentioned in Mondays paper, seven candidates are running for five at-large positions on the Eau Claire City Council. The election will take place on April 1 and early voting is happening now.

The candidates include incumbent Larry Mboga, incumbent Charlie Johnson, incumbent Joshua Miller, Philip Swanhorst, Nate Otto, Ethan Reed, and Mary Catherine Partlow. City residents can vote for up to five candidates.

This article focuses on candidates Johnson, Miller, and Otto. Mondays paper featured Mboga, Swanhorst, Partlow, and Reed.

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Q. How does your background inform your perspective and give you a unique angle as to how you will approach your term on the City Council?

Johnson: Having served on the Eau Claire City Council for the past three years, I bring valuable experience and a strong network of relationships with community and business leaders. My time on the Council has taught me how to navigate complex issues, build consensus, and stay focused on practical solutions.

My background in leadership and problem-solving has been shaped by a range of experiences, from serving as student body president in college to managing the demands of work, school, and public service today.

Miller: A unique angle I bring to City Council is a scientific background. My work as a technician and quality control analyst has given me skills to examine topics in detail while considering the importance of the matters as a whole. These skills transfer to my legislative position on City Council in that I need to have solid reasoning for every decision I make on behalf of the residents and people who work in Eau Claire and, as in my occupation in quality control, I must be fully accountable for the end results of my votes.

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Otto: I am a school teacher with a masters degree in public policy.

This, combined with my service on the Eau Claire County Board, has shaped my perspective. I believe public policy is a science, and that policy changes yield measurable outcomes. For example, changing the speed limit on a street might alter the frequency of car accidents.

As an elected official, intuition matters, but I will not vote to commit city resources to a project that does not have some quantifiable benefit.

Q. What is your approach to listening to new needs and concerns the public might bring up to you during your term? What influences you the most: your values, public opinion, or something else?

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Johnson: As an elected official, I believe its essential to remain open and accessible to the community. Throughout my time on the City Council, Ive prioritized listening. I know that our residents needs and concerns evolve, and its my responsibility to stay engaged and responsive, even when the conversations are complex or challenging. I welcome new perspectives because they help shape more effective and inclusive policies.

My decision-making is guided by my values and the voices of the people I represent. Its this intersection, where community voices meet principled decision-making that leads to the best outcomes for Eau Claire.

Miller: I must always be prepared for new concerns that can arise unexpectedly. A good approach is to be proactive in addressing looming concerns before they grow into real problems. Most important is to listen to public concerns that I might not personally share and remember that everyone has their own unique lived experience and issues that matter to them. I need to listen to everyones perspective and honor those opinions and views as I try to make the best decision based on everyones input.

Regarding what influences me the most, I follow personal values. Public opinion is also important, although hard decisions can often be unpopular. My main influence is the ethical decision-making principle of trying to do the most good or the least harm. I try to look at the options available and come to the choice that minimizes negative effects.

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Otto: For all that people may disagree on issues, our end-goals are mostly the same: to live in a free, safe and prosperous community. Everybody living in Eau Claire wants the best for Eau Claire. I assume everybody in the room has positive intentions. This is how I approach public hearings.

As for what information I trust, I am a data nerd who loves diving into public health, economic, crime and demographic information. But these can only be so useful because I have biases and information gaps. For each issue, there will be somebody more informed than myself. This is why listening to community members is key. A public leader is first and foremost a listener.

Q. What do you see as the citys top needs today and what would be your approach to supporting, improving, or helping solve todays problems?

Johnson: One of the most pressing needs in Eau Claire today is the development of additional housing to meet the demands of our growing population. My approach is to support policies and partnerships that encourage smart, sustainable housing development. That includes finalizing our zoning overhaul, streamlining permitting processes, and working collaboratively with developers, neighborhood groups, and community organizations to ensure projects are well-designed and supported by the community. By taking a proactive, balanced approach, we can make meaningful progress toward housing accessibility and affordability while continuing to grow Eau Claire in a way that reflects our values.

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Miller: My concerns are city finance, affordable housing, and homelessness.

Due to the state laws on how city funding, each year begins with a structural deficit. The city will be looking at partnerships with state and regional entities as well as state laws and rules related to revenue to map out a path to fiscal stability. The good quality of life that the city helps foster is what makes Eau Claire a great place to live.

Changes to zoning ordinances to be passed this year will allow more housing units to be built that meet the demands of our current population. One- and two-person households are more common than they were when most of our housing stock was built. Providing more lower-occupancy units on smaller lots will help make new housing developments more affordable and meet the market needs.

The Community Resource Center, to which the city allocated ARPA funds, will soon be opening to help meet the needs of our unhoused residents and connect them to resources. Im also expecting good work to come from the Eau Claire community via the Eau Claire Homelessness Coalition and the new street ambassador program.

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Otto: Eau Claire, like other cities in Wisconsin, needs more support from the state legislature. Our options for collecting revenue are extremely limited and a major revenue source comes from new construction. The problem is, land for construction is often more desirable on the city outskirts. This can force Eau Claire leadership to choose between two lesser evils: urban sprawl or revenue loss.

I would approach this problem by building Eau Claires status in Madison. We are the 7th largest city in Wisconsin, and unlike many of the larger Wisconsin cities, we continue to grow. The Chippewa Valley can be a stronger, more unified voice, too. Lets remind our neighboring communities that Eau Claires success is Altoonas success. It is Chippewa Falls success. It is Lake Hallies success.

Additional video interviews of all of the candidates are available on the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce website.
An Ohio town known as a hub for the burgeoning data center industry may soon have one or more new natural gas-fired power plants to support the area's need for energy. City officials in New Albany said they have been notified about plans for multiple natural gas power projects. The facilities would be located in Licking County, in the New Albany International Business Park. Three of the projects have been publicly identified, including the PowerConneX New Albany Energy Center, along with the Socrates North and South Power Generation Facility Projects. EdgeConneX, based in Herndon, Virginia, said the proposed PowerConneX New Albany Energy Center facility would have as much as 120 MW of generation capacity. EdgeConneX said the facility would serve as the primary source of electricity for a colocated data center. A public information meeting about the project is scheduled for March 26. The company said it expects construction will begin later this year, with commercial operation in 2026.

Ease Pressure on Infrastructure

EdgeConneX said the project, which would add to the data center sector's footprint in the Columbus, Ohio, metro area, would mean local utility AEP would not be responsible for infrastructure to serve the complex. Local officials have said they expect other corporate entities could consider supporting similar natural gas-fired power projects in the future. AEP Ohio officials have been working with state officials to determine a rate structure for energy use from the data center industry. EdgeConneX officials have said the company has developed more than 80 data centers in more than 50 markets across more than 20 countries. The proposed New Albany site would be its first in Ohio, though it has developed at least 28 data centers for customers in North America.

Want to learn more about how power demand from data centers is impacting the power generation sector? Register to attend POWER's Data Center POWER eXchange event in Denver, Colorado, on Oct. 28. The summit is associated with POWER's Experience POWER event in Denver scheduled Oct. 28-31.

The central Ohio region is home to at least 105 data centers, according to government data. The Socrates' projects are two separate gas-fired power plants, each with 200 MW of generation capacity, being developed by Williams. Alan Armstrong, the company's chief executive, in an interview last year with CNBC noted that construction of more natural gas-fired power plants would be needed to keep up with growing demand for electricity from artificial intelligence and data centers. "A tremendous amount of demand has been building up," Armstrong said. "We're seeing people contacting us directly, wanting to get natural gas off of our big systems to fuel new power generation in what they call behind the meter. So rather than going through the utilities, they're actually wanting to install their own power generation and not have to deal with the long queues that exist in a lot of places right now to get connected to the grid." The Socrates' power stations have a target in-service date in the second half of 2026. Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY)  The owner of the Morgantown-based construction company A&M Homes, LLC has admitted to harboring illegal aliens and tax fraud, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of West Virginia announced Monday.

Court documents and statements made in court say that Hetzon Marroquin Reyes, 40, also known as Hector, hired and harbored illegal aliens to work for his company. Officials said Reyes created fake drivers licenses and immigration forms to give West Virginia Division of Labor inspectors. They added that Reyes used other peoples social security numbers for tax purposes, including numbers belonging to people who were dead.

4 upcoming DUI checkpoints scheduled in north central West Virginia

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Reyes faces up to 10 years in prison for the harboring charge and up to three years for the tax interference charge.

The Department of Homeland Security, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, and the Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas prosecuted on behalf of the government.

The release said that Reyes arrest comes as a part of Operation Take Back America, which is described as 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.

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Mar. 24MORGANTOWN  It looks as if a functional piece of the area's industrial past is about to change hands.

The organization that's worked to keep it running and available to the public for nearly 45 years will be no more.

One of the items scheduled to be up for discussion when Morgantown City Council meets Tuesday evening is the acceptance of the Easton Roller Mill property from the Monongalia County Historical Society.

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According to the memorandum of agreement included in the agenda packet, the MHS intends to dissolve and seeks the continuation of its mission by distribution of its assets to the city.

"The Morgantown History Museum was approached by the board members of the Monongalia Historical Society with the opportunity to potentially take over ownership and operation of the Easton Roller Mill. The board of the mill and membership has been declining for a number of years, and they were interested in the museum taking over, " Morgantown Director of Arts and Cultural Development Vincent Kitch said.

Kitch said the mill will be operated as an extension of the Morgantown History Museum and will be open seasonally and for special events.

In addition to the mill property and various pieces of equipment, the historical society has approximately $27, 000 in an account that will be among the assets conveyed.

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Former Monongalia County Commissioner Ed Hawkins is the most recent listed president of the Monongalia Historical Society.

Hawkins said the group's activities were becoming less frequent as the members got older. COVID eventually brought them to a stop.

"It's just not an operating entity anymore, and that's sad to say. It was very strong for a number of years, but old age caught up with almost all of us. Recruiting younger people to value history is difficult, " Hawkins said. "I don't like to think of the society not existing. I don't like to think of us not being able to meet anymore. It is sad, but the folks the city has with the Morgantown [History ] Museum are really capable people. I have high hopes it'll continue to be a valued piece of our local history."

The construction of what is now the Easton Roller Mill was completed by Philadelphia carpenter Henry Mack in 1867. Mack had been hired by Henry Koontz, who purchased some 600 acres a few miles east of Morgantown, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, about five years earlier.

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The property passed through a number of hands over the years, until Estella Ley Pickenpaugh willed the mill to the Monongalia Historical Society around 1980.

For years to follow, MHS held annual Mill Day celebrations that would include the operation and tours of the mill, mountain music and, later, a pancake breakfast.

The mill property, located on Easton Mill Road, was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1976 Additional information about the Easton Roller Mill and the Monongalia Historical Society is available at monongaliahistoricalsoceity.org.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed a bill into law that will ban food containing some artificial food dyes from being sold in West Virginia starting on Jan. 1, 2028. (Leann Ray | West Virginia Watch)

Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed a bill Monday that will ban a list of artificial food dyes from being included in food items sold in grocery stores or in school lunches.

Republican lawmakers behind the measure have said the synthetic red, blue, green and yellow dyes are unnecessary and harmful. Theyve linked them to behavioral issues in children.

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West Virginia ranks at the bottom of many public health metrics, which is why theres no better place to lead the Make America Healthy Again mission, Morrisey said. By eliminating harmful chemicals from our food, were taking steps toward improving the health of our residents and protecting our children from significant long-term health and learning challenges.

Several states are considering similar legislation, and West Virginia is the first state to pass a sweeping synthetic food dye ban.

House Bill 2354 bans the use of seven artificial dyes  Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2 and Green No. 3  in school meals beginning Aug 1.

The dyes would be prohibited along with the preservatives butylated hydroxyanisole and propylparaben, in drugs and food items for sale in the state beginning Jan. 1, 2028.



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This extended deadline allows companies ample time to adjust, protecting consumers from price increases, a news release from the governors office said.

The states food and beverage industry pushed back on the measure, warning that it would lead to increased grocery prices and empty shelves. Alternative ingredients dont exist to scale, they said.

Del. Evan Worrell

Del. Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, maintained that the food industry was using scare tactics to fight the bill.

While there are many steps to take to improve our health outcomes, this bill starts by not allowing manufacturers to choose poison for profit in our food supply, he said. I applaud the governor for signing the food dye bill into law. The governor believes in the [Make America Healthy Again] movement as I do and we are taking steps to improve the quality of health in West Virginia.

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U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has told food executives that removing artificial food dyes is an urgent priority.

Thank you to the Legislature, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the entire Trump Administration for helping us launch this movement right here in West Virginia, Morrisey said.

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The U.S.-Russia consultations in Riyadh were not followed by a joint statement because of Ukraine's position, Vladimir Chizhov, deputy chairman of Russia's Federation Council Security Committee, claimed on March 25, Interfax reported.

The U.S.-Russia talks concluded on March 24 after 12 hours, followed by a separate but shorter round of U.S.-Ukraine talks in Riyadh on March 25.

"They (U.S. and Russian delegates) sat for 12 hours and seemed to agree on a joint statement, which, however, was not adopted because of Ukraine's position. This is also very typical and symptomatic," Chizhov claimed, as reported by Interfax.

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The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims, and Ukraine's Presidential Office has not responded to a request for comment. The U.S. and Ukraine have not publicly commented on the outcomes of the latest rounds of talks this week.

Chizhov described the Riyadh meeting as part of a broader chain of U.S.-Russian contacts initiated by the phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov previously said that the content of the U.S.-Russia negotiations would not be disclosed.

Peskov also confirmed that the Black Sea Initiative was a key point of the discussion. A similar arrangement previously existed under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a 2022 deal brokered by the U.N. and Turkey that allowed Ukraine to export agricultural products via the Black Sea despite the ongoing war.

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Moscow withdrew from the deal in July 2023, leading to repeated Russian attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure.

The negotiations come amid concerns that Russia is deliberately stalling peace efforts to strengthen its position. The Kremlin claimed it had ordered a 30-day halt to strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure following the Trump-Putin call, but Kyiv later accused Russia of continuing attacks against civilian targets.

The U.S. and Ukraine initially supported a broader 30-day ceasefire that would include halting ground operations, but Russia rejected the proposal unless it included conditions undermining Ukraine's defense capabilities, such as a suspension of foreign military support.

Read also: Russia backs resuming Black Sea Initiative in more acceptable form, Lavrov says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Tullow Oil has entered a binding agreement to sell its Gabon assets to Gabon Oil Company for $300m (232.34m) net of tax.

The transaction is expected to close by mid-2025 and is part of Tullow's plan to reduce debt and streamline operations.

The sale includes Tullow's entire Gabonese portfolio, which comprises approximately 10,000 barrels of oil per day of 2025 production guidance and around 36 million barrels of 2P (proven) reserves.

The effective date for the transaction was set for 1 January 2025, with the sale and purchase agreement (SPA) targeted for the second quarter (Q2) of 2025.

Tullow anticipates that the transaction will reduce its net debt to $1.15bn on a pro forma basis as of the effective date.

The completion of the transaction is subject to necessary approvals from government ministries, the CEMAC Competition Commission and compliance with Gabonese dividend processing requirements.

Tullow chief financial officer and interim CEO Richard Miller said: This value accretive transaction with Gabon Oil Company (GOC) aligns with our strategic priorities to materially accelerate deleveraging and is an important step as we progress our refinancing plans this year. Together with GOC, we are focused on finalising the full suite of documentation and driving the transaction to swift completion.

Our strengthened balance sheet, repayment of our 2025 senior notes and imminent return to drilling at Jubilee, combined with production optimisation activities in the first quarter of 2025, demonstrates our continued delivery against our business objectives and positions the company strongly for the year ahead.

In addition to the asset sale, Tullow Oil recently received a favourable ruling from an International Chamber of Commerce Tribunal.

The ruling determined that the Branch Profit Remittance Tax (BPRT) does not apply to Tullow's operations in Ghana, relieving the company of a $320m tax assessment by the Ghana Revenue Authority.

The tribunal's decision confirms that Tullow's operations including the Jubilee and TEN fields offshore Ghana are not subject to the BPRT tax regime outlined in the Petroleum Agreements.

"Tullow Oil to sell Gabon assets for $300m" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




A photo of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posing in front of a painting depicting a burning Kremlin published by Time magazine provoked anger in Moscow on Tuesday.

"This probably best shows the level of intellectual development and the internal state of those who pose for photos like this," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of the photo published by the US magazine on Monday, according to the TASS state news agency.

Time described its report as an exclusive on the endgame in Ukraine.

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The 2022 painting entitled "Dream" by Georgian artist Sandro Antadze is said to be Zelensky's favourite symbol of victory in the war launched by Russia more than three years ago.

The painting, which hangs in a room behind the president's office according to Time, was also on display during Zelensky's New Year address on December 31, 2023. In the address he said that those bringing hell to Ukraine would one day see it from their own window.

In the article, Time reports that a picture of a Russian ship sinking in the Black Sea in 2022 hangs over Zelensky's bed.

Another painting shows Ukrainian troops in combat on Russian soil.

Referring to the paintings, Zelensky tells the magazine: "Each one's about victory ... That's where I live."
On Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis said he was returning $878.1 million in federal money back to the federal government  but more than half of that is coming from a program for refugee social services.

Moreover, the $557.7 million DeSantis is returning is simply the amount authorized by the federal government for Florida to spend on the Refugee Resettlement Program. The program aids the transition of refugees fleeing war and oppressive regimes across the globe into U.S. society, offering an array of services, including English language courses and help getting medical care.

The refugee program is entirely funded by the federal government but administered by the states. President Donald Trump shut down the program by executive order shortly after taking office, but a federal court judge overturned that move in February.

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Three years ago, DeSantis' administration was asking for more money for the program. In 2022 it asked a legislative panel for $270 million for the refugee program, including $33.4 million to address a backlog of 51,000 refugees waiting on health assessments and immunizations.

"Without additional budget authority, clients would not receive services within their eight-month eligibility period. Further, clients with undiagnosed communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections, would not be diagnosed and treated, and could put the health of all Floridians at risk from the spread of communicable diseases," the budget request stated.

In making his announcement Friday, DeSantis didnt mention the refugee program funds or the $320.4 million in federal funds for the Florida Department of Transportation for a Carbon Reduction program pushed under Trumps predecessor in the Oval Office, Joe Biden.

DeSantis only posted the first paragraph of a letter to the U.S. Treasury Department, noting the total $878.1 million being returned, on the social media site X.

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For years, Florida has been trying to return federal funds to the federal government due to the ideological strings attached by the Biden Administration  but they couldn't even figure out how to accept it, DeSantis stated in his X post.

Today, I met with (Elon Musk) and the DOGE team, and we got this done in the same day. Other states should follow Florida in supporting DOGE's efforts!

For years, Florida has been trying to return federal funds to the federal government due to the ideological strings attached by the Biden Administrationbut they couldn't even figure out how to accept it. Today, I met with @elonmusk and the DOGE team, and we got this done in the pic.twitter.com/uWyloPAhBU  Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 21, 2025

DOGE stands for Department of Government Efficiency, set up by Trump upon taking office to root out fraud and abuse in federal spending.

Musk, the tech titan who owns Tesla, SpaceX and X, formerly known as Twitter, is the de facto head of that effort, but Trumps administration has claimed in court that Amy Gleason is its acting administrator. DeSantis met with Musk earlier on Friday.

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A request for comment was pending with a DeSantis spokesman as of late Monday.

The rest of the letter  made public by Forrest Saunders, Capital Bureau reporter for Scripps television in Florida  provides more information on the FDOT and refugee funding.

For the FDOT funding, less than $50 million had been received by the agency and is being returned to the federal government, DeSantis letter states.

The remaining $271 million is simply budget authority the federal government had approved for Florida but hadnt yet given to the Sunshine State. DeSantis administration had already decided to reject those funds in December 2023, but hadnt been able to get the federal government to accept that decision.

Gov. Ron DeSantis gives his State of the State Address on opening day of the Florida legislative session, Tuesday,March 4, 2025.

Of the $320,386,861 in Carbon Reduction funding, $49,249,017 will be returned today via wire transfer. An additional $271,137,844 in allocated authority, not yet reimbursed to the state, should be withheld from future disbursement to the state and is hereby returned to the federal government, the letter says. The state is formally requesting a confirmation by USDOT of this action.

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The letter makes the same request for confirmation of the rejected budget authority for the $557.7 million for the refugee program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Rejecting the federal money is a turn from DeSantis previous position on the topic.

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, DeSantis predecessor as Florida governor, called on him and other governors to return federal funds for states as part of the COVID-19 relief funds in 2021.

But DeSantis rejected that suggestion, saying it doesnt make sense to return the federal largesse because Democratically-controlled states would simply take it and spend the funds, not saving federal taxpayers any money.

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Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Of money Gov. DeSantis returned to feds, most was for refugees
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Governor Cox has signed two key civic education bills that he is calling the most important bills of the 2025 legislative session.

H.B. 381 Civic Education Amendments and S.B. 334 Center for Civic Excellence at Utah State University are bills that are set to change how civics are taught within the state, as well as assess the effectiveness of the Beehive States current programs.

Since our founding, our civic responsibilities have been a fundamental part of education, Cox said in a statement. However, in recent decades we have strayed from these basic education requirements. Foundational civic education in our high schools will aid our students with a better understanding of our government institutions and their critical role in American society.

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Beginning in 2026, H.B. 381 will add a 3.5 credit social studies requirement to Utahs high school curriculum, requiring one of those credits to be fulfilled by an American Constitutional Government and Citizenship requirement.

The bill will also add a 0.5 credit requirement to be fulfilled by either participating in a course of policy analysis, governmental systems, civic engagement, or junior ROTC.

The bill will also require readings of primary source documents, including:

The Mayflower Compact

The Declaration of Independence

The Iroquois Constitution

The United States Constitution

George Washingtons Farewell Address

Selected passages from the Federalist and Antifederalist Papers

The Articles of Confederation

Speeches of Frederick Douglass

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Speeches of Abraham Lincoln

The Seneca Falls Declaration

The Letter from Birmingham Jail

The Utah Constitution; and

Other essential documents from American constitutional history

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The new requirements also expand fundamental ideas of the U.S. Constitution, including natural rights, classical republicanism, federalism, and other foundational ideas in the American Government.

S.B. 334 establishes The Center for Civic Excellence as a pilot program at Utah State University to oversee civic education at the university.

Im thrilled Utah State University is taking the lead to pilot a redesign of general education through the new Center for Civics Excellence, Cox continued in his statement. This center will be tasked with building out a general education curriculum focused on viewpoint diversity, civil discourse and helping our students develop the analytical skills necessary to contribute in the public square. This curriculum will be a model for all our public institutions in Utah and nationally.

The center will engage with students through the schools general education. The bill outlines the mission of the center saying it will, ensur[e], through engagement with foundational primary texts representing the best of what has been thought and said, that all graduates, regardless of the graduates major, engage with the big questions, great debates, and enduring ideas that continue to shape societys self-understanding, the American experience, and the modern world.

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The centers code calls for students to engage with primary texts predominantly from Western civilization which include intellectual contributions of ancient Israel, ancient Greece, Rome, and the rise of Christianity, medieval Europe, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and post-Enlightenment.

The bill describes broad principles and values for the curriculum, USUs site reads. But these principlesfree expression, viewpoint diversity, exposure to opposing points of view, engagement with great debates, enduring ideas, and seminal textshave always been central values of classically liberal education.

According to USU, the program will start in the fall semester of 2026. The program will report its findings by July 1, 2029, to see how these changes impact general education, and apply further if the findings are sound.

These bills were signed along with 73 other bills Monday afternoon. To date, the Governor has signed 176 bills, and vetoed one, which leaves 405 bills remaining for Cox to act on by the mandated deadline of Mar. 27.

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Support for victims and survivors of domestic violence is available 24/7: 1-800-897-LINK (5465). If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or in an emergency, please call 911 immediately.

RIVERDALE, Utah (ABC4)  The mother of the two children that were the center of an AMBER Alert on Monday evening was reportedly found with a puncture wound in her neck after her house was set on fire.

This is according to new court documents following the arrest of the childrens father, Ricardo Trujillo Rojel, 29, on first-degree felony charges of aggravated murder and aggravated arson.

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Police responded to the structure fire near 5100 South and 1000 West shortly before 3 p.m. on March 24. Upon arriving, officers found the victim with severe burns and a puncture wound to her neck. Investigators ruled her cause of death a homicide and found the fire had been started using an accelerant.

Cows struck after wandering onto I-15 in Utah County

Witnesses say Rojel, the victim and their children were set to move out of the home that day. One neighbor allegedly heard a woman scream sometime before officers arrived for the structure fire.

Shortly after, when Rojel and the two children could not be found, the AMBER Alert was issued. Rojels truck was later found a quarter-mile up from Hobble Creek Canyon and witnesses reported seeing an adult male walking away from the truck with two children.

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Local police agencies located Rojel, who allegedly resisted arrest and assaulted an officer. He was eventually safely taken into custody and booked into the Weber County Jail.

[Rojel] was the last person known to be with the victim on this date, court documents read. [He] turned off his phone and left his vehicle with his two young children to an area that was over an hour away from home when he was supposed to be moving to Roy with the victim.

Police said Rojel was uncooperative with law enforcement and would not speak. Rojel allegedly has a history with the victim involving domestic violence, including an arrest in January for multiple domestic violence charges.

Rojel has been ordered to be held without bail, pending a pretrial hearing.

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The two children were safely recovered and taken into custody by the Department of Child and Family Services at the Utah County Sheriffs Office.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Sen. Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, apologized for the appearance of impropriety, but maintains he did no wrongdoing in signing a contract with a friend in a way that avoided state procurement protocol. The Senate moved to expel him, and later to censure him, but both motions ultimately failed. The GOP had called on him to resign, but Ellsworth did not do so. (Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan)

A majority of Montana Senators on Monday voted to expel Sen. Jason Ellsworth, the Hamilton Republican who has been under ethical and criminal investigations related to a contract he procured late last year, but the motion failed to reach the two-thirds majority required to punish or expel a lawmaker.

The result disappointed the majority of Republicans who sought to expel Ellsworth and left the body in limbo about how to proceed after substitute motions for a censure failed along the same margins  27-23 for expulsion, and 23-27 for censure.

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We are here under the Constitution. Its our duty. We are here to judge this, said Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, who urged the body to vote for expulsion. To me, this is the most important decision I have ever made in my entire legislative career. End of discussion. It far exceeds any other bill that we are going to address here this session.

Four Democrats joined in the vote to expel, including Sen. Emma Kerr-Carpenter, D-Billings. Kerr-Carpenter said Ellsworth, by virtue of his position of power, very nearly stole tens of thousands of dollars from Montana taxpayers.

The move to expel Ellsworth has been building since the first weeks of the session when the news that Ellsworth had negotiated a $170,000 contract with a business partner and close friend was first reported. Mondays vote took place after the Senate Ethics committee released a report of factual findings about the contract. A Legislative Audit investigation also found Ellsworth had abused his power and state resources.

Ellsworth, who voted against expulsion but for his own censure, declined to comment on the motions or on a recent call by the state Republican Party for his resignation. Ellsworth has been working from home, citing health issues, and did not say whether he would return to the Senate in person.

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In a speech on the floor, Ellsworth apologized for the appearance of impropriety and said he would accept punishment from the Senate, but he denied wrongdoing.

Let me be very clear, I did not violate any of our Senate rules or state laws or state regulations or procedures, Ellsworth said. I did not attempt to use my position for personal or private gain, and I received no personal or private gain.

I regret that I brought the appearance of impropriety into this body, and it may have undermined the public trust.

During the course of 90 minutes on Monday afternoon, the Senate voted three times, twice on a motion to expel Ellsworth  brought by Sen. Forest Mandeville, who led the Senate Ethics Committee, and by majority leader Tom McGillvray  and once on a substitute motion to censure Ellsworth  removing his committee assignments and stripping his floor privileges until April 12.

Ethics Committee Chairperson Forrest Mandeville, R-Columbus, made a motion to expel Ellsworth from the Senate. Mandeville oversaw the committee that conducted the investigation into alleged ethics improprieties of Ellsworth. A separate criminal investigation also is underway at the Department of Justice. (Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan)

While Mandeville used the ethics report as the basis for his motion, he expanded the scope to include additional information related to Ellsworths contract including the Legislative Auditors findings of waste and abuse.

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This motion is broader than just that piece that the Ethics Committee looked at. The ethics report is one piece of many that establishes good cause, to expel Ellsworth, Mandeville said. Anything and everything showing good cause is open for debate on this motion.

The other senators who urged their colleagues toward expulsion added on a litany of other considerations from Ellsworths past, stretching back years.

Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, who refused to refer to Ellsworth as a senator, said he didnt believe anything the person in Seat 31 said.

Hes one of the best salesmen Ive ever met in my life, Hertz said. He could sell us just about anything.

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Hertz called the floor debate a historic moment and laid out a timeline of events to illustrate a consistent lack of ethics and integrity in the treatment of others and the public.

Hertz cited a Federal Trade Commission investigation that fined Ellsworth $600,000 for failure to disclose facts about his magazine subscription companies payment and cancellation policies; two times Ellsworth was pulled over for speeding and used connections to the Attorney General and governor, trying to evade consequences; and other instances, including once when the Montana Democrat Party called for his resignation.

I noted nine abuses by an elected official. There are many more I could have identified. That is more than enough for good cause for expulsion, Hertz said.  History does repeat itself, as we have seen with Jason Ellsworth. We should have done something to this senator sessions ago. Thats our fault.

The two sides of the debate quickly became clear with each laying out its own narrative of Ellsworths actions.

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Senate rules allow for punishment up to expulsion, but Sen. Chris Pope, D-Bozeman, instead asking the body to consider a lesser punishment he felt more fitting for Ellsworths behavior  censure.

Pope, who served on the ethics committee, said the role of that group was to investigate relatively narrow ethical issues of conflict of interest, and that the Senate should just consider the facts before them.

A concurrent criminal investigation by the Department of Justice has not yielded any conclusions about Ellsworths actions, and Pope, Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, and others urged their colleagues to have a laser-sharp focus on the contents of the ethics report.

Pope said a loss of privileges for Ellsworth, and a censure, would be an apt consequence.

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Censure is an indelible black mark forever on an elected officials record, he said. It is not a reprimand. Censure is forever.

Sen. Emma Kerr-Carpenter, D-Billings, was among four Democrats who voted for the expulsion of Sen. Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton. Kerr-Carpenter said Ellsworth, by virtue of his position of power, very nearly stole tens of thousands of dollars from Montana taxpayers. (Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan)

But Democrat Kerr-Carpenter said it was a simple matter of holding a person in power accountable for their actions.

Ellsworth held a position of great power, and with that power comes very high expectations, expectations of a commitment to uphold not just the bare minimum of the letter of our ethics rules, but a higher responsibility, Kerr-Carpenter said. A responsibility to use his power, not for his own gain, not for the personal benefit of his closest friends, but for that of his constituents and for all Montanans.

She said she was teaching her young son its important to make amends for wrongdoing, and Ellsworth fell short.

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The senator in Seat 31 has only just now  as his back is against the wall  tried to make amends, Kerr-Carpenter said. The senator in Seat 31 has failed in his responsibility to this body and to Montanans and to himself, and I think it is the right thing to draw a clear line that says beyond this, we will not go.

The vote on the motion to expel was 27-23, with four Democrats  Sens. Kerr-Carpenter, Dave Fern, of Whitefish, Derek Harvey, of Butte, and Denise Hayman, of Bozeman  joining with a majority of Republicans. Ellsworth and eight Republicans  who have formed a working coalition with Democrats this session  opposed expulsion.

Most Democrats push censure

Sen. Josh Kassmier, R-Fort Benton, said the desire to expel Ellsworth was politically motivated and made the substitute motion to censure Ellsworth, which would remove him from the powerful Senate Finance and Claims Committee and the Executive Review Committee which he leads, and prevent him from serving on any interim committees. The censure would have also stripped Ellsworths floor privileges until April 12.

Last Friday, the Senate removed other responsibilities from Ellsworth related to his role on the Executive Review committee, which carries approvals for gubernatorial appointments to the Senate floor.

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Kassmier said Ellsworth is a flawed person who made a lot of mistakes, but while he did not approve of Ellsworths actions, he said that proper punishment is essential.

If were going to kick out a member for failing to disclose conflicts, we probably need to kick out a lot of people in here, Kassmier said. Expulsion is not an appropriate remedy for failure to disclose a conflict of interest The proper punishment is a censure.

Bozeman Democrat Cora Neumann agreed expulsion should be reserved for extreme cases, but said that the body was in agreement that some form of punishment needed to occur.

I dont think any of us are disagreeing on the need for this body to act with integrity, she said. And in fact, over the last few weeks and since this issue started to rise to the surface here in this body, Ive heard many more separately to disclose conflicts of interest.

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Neumann said the Senate should look at reviewing its own rules to make consequences in future instances more clear, and minority leader Flowers said he was bringing an interim study bill that would look at making the ethics process more straightforward.

Senator Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, speaks during the Wednesday, February 12, 2025 session of the Montana Senate.

The motion for censure failed along the same blocs, with 23 supporting censure and 27 opposing it.

A final vote on expulsion saw the same result as the first.

Fern, one of the Democrats who voted for expulsion, said the Senate wasnt going to come to any decisions that afternoon.

I do think we will eventually get to a censure. I dont believe this body is ready to do that yet, Fern said, adding that they would need to take the time to craft an appropriate compromise

Perhaps we just dont have the votes to do expulsion. Quite frankly, thats my preference. With all due consideration to great testimony Ive heard for and against, Im comfortable with that, Fern continued. We can expel and send the shame to wherever the good senator goes to. But for a while, the shame will stay right here in this body.

Soon I will be over it. I will provide forgiveness, and we will all move on, hopefully with a fair and equitable censure.

Senate President Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, said that he would be willing to listen to potential censure language crafted by Flowers and the senators in favor of that option. But he remained steadfast in the motion for expulsion, saying there were bipartisan voices saying Ellsworths conduct was expulsion level, and theres a big sentiment of not moving on from that.

But that sentiment will have to overcome the coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans who favor the lesser punishment.

I ask that we reserve expulsion, the greatest punishment that this body can deliver  and it has not delivered for decades, generations  and we reserve that for more exceptional, egregious and harmful conflict against our government and the people of Montana, Pope said.

The Montana Republican Party, which called for Ellsworth to resign on Sunday, released a statement through a spokesperson saying the party wants all members to be accountable and not above the law  even in our own party. The Democrat party has shown today that they care more about political power than they do the interests of all Montanans.

Reporters Keila Szpaller and Jordan Hansen contributed to this reporting.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  A motorcyclist who fell into a cavernous sinkhole that opened on a Seoul street was found dead after an overnight search, officials in South Koreas capital said Tuesday.

The roughly 20-meter-wide, 20-meter-deep sinkhole appeared at an intersection in the Myeongil-dong neighborhood in eastern Seoul on Monday afternoon, swallowing the motorcyclist and injuring a woman whose van was passing over the site, according to safety and emergency offices.

The motorcyclist, who was in his 30s, was found before noon on Tuesday, emergency officer Kim Chang Seob told a televised briefing. Kim said the man was found wearing a helmet and motorcycle boots, and that rescue workers found his Japanese-made motorcycle and mobile phone before reaching his body. Kim said rescuers used excavators, shovels and other equipment to find him.

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Kim said the injured woman didnt fall into the sinkhole and she sustained minor injuries.

The cause of the sinkhole was under investigation.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the site on Monday night and asked authorities to find why the sinkhole happened and prevent recurrences of similar incidents.
Mar. 24LIMA  A two-vehicle crash resulted in a motorcycle driver with serious leg injuries after one driver failed to yield to oncoming traffic.

At approximately 8:01 p.m. Friday, March 14, Kenneth Owsley, 61, was traveling eastbound on Allentown Road near Taco Bell in Lima.

Geordan Thatcher, 26, was in the turning lane going westbound on Allentown Road making a left turn into Taco Bell parking lot.

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Thatcher failed to yield to the oncoming motorcycle of Owsley, causing the vehicles to collide.

Owsley suffered multiple fractures and broken bones in his left leg and was transported to Mercy Health-St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima, according to the crash report.

Thatcher was cited for a failure to yield. Both vehicles sustained functional damage, according to the crash report.

Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351

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(Bloomberg) -- Mozambiques most prominent opposition leader, whos orchestrated months of demonstrations that have battered the countrys economy, said he agreed with the president to end post-election violence thats left hundreds of people dead.

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Venancio Mondlane, who officially came second to the ruling partys Daniel Chapo in Octobers presidential election, said the two reached a deal-in-principle at a meeting in Maputo, the capital, on Sunday.

We agreed to end violence immediately  violence against my supporters, violence inflicted upon police officers, members of the ruling party Frelimo, or any other individuals who do not share our ideas, Mondlane said of the meeting in a livestream late Monday. We agreed 100% on that.

The informal truce marks the most important step in restoring social and political stability in the gas-rich southeast African nation, after months of unprecedented protests against the election that extended the ruling partys five-decade rule. The unrest has unsettled investors and squeezed the governments already tight finances, as the economy shrank in the final quarter of 2024.

While Chapo met other party leaders earlier this month and reached an initial agreement with them over a path to peace, Mondlanes exclusion from those discussions raised doubts over its impact. Hes by far the most popular opposition figure, and the driving force behind the protests.

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The significance of Mr. Chapos meeting with Mr. Mondlane cannot be overstated, Louw Nel, an analyst at Oxford Economics, said in a note to clients Monday. Images of a smiling Mr. Mondlane shaking a smiling Mr. Chapos hand on Sunday were particularly striking.

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The UAE has rapidly emerged as a key player in the global business arena, a nexus where digital innovation meets bold economic transformation. Its thriving e-commerce industry makes the country a standout, significantly shaping the Middle Eastern and global digital landscape.

The UAE's unique positioning isnt just a result of its favourable tax policies or strategic location at the crossroads of East and West. What truly sets the UAE apart is its relentless focus on modernisation, a visionary approach to economic diversification, and its drive to tackle emerging challenges proactively. From its booming tech sector to its well-developed infrastructure and payments ecosystem, the UAE has positioned itself as a promising ground for international e-commerce businesses. However, navigating this dynamic market successfully requires an astute understanding of its specific nuances.

This article explores the UAE's emergence as a digital economy leader and provides insights into how e-commerce businesses can unlock its full potential.

UAEs digital metamorphosis

The UAE has redefined its identity by moving beyond an oil-reliant economy to one driven by innovation and sustainable growth. Pivotal initiatives such as Abu Dhabis Vision 2030 and Dubais Plan 2021 have spearheaded this transformation, encouraging heavy investment in forward-thinking sectors like technology, renewable energy, and finance.

Supporting this evolution is its highly connected population. With nearly 99% of its residents actively online and 96% using smartphones, the UAE has cultivated one of the most digitally integrated societies globally. For e-commerce businesses, this translates into a tech-savvy audience ready to engage with digital platforms and innovative online solutions.

Its transformational growth has further solidified the UAE's place as a groundbreaker, setting benchmarks for emerging digital economies.

Why e-commerce is surging in the UAE

Few sectors exemplify the UAE's transformation as well as e-commerce. Over the last five years, its growth has been staggering, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20%. By 2029, e-commerce revenues are expected to surpass $10.78bna testament to the immense opportunities available.

Several factors are driving this growth:
BOSTON (WPRI)  The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) is slowly nursing a severely emaciated horse, who was surrendered by her owner earlier this month, back to health.

The 2-year-old Percheron Filly, named Astrid, was surrendered by her owner on March 7 after she was found lying down in a Franklin County field.

MSPCAs Kaycie McCarthy said it appeared that Astrid had been down in the field for several days.

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It was clear even before we got her back on her feet that something was wrong, McCarthy said.

RELATED: MSPCA trying to save lives of 2 surrendered kittens

The MSPCA immediately brought Astrid to the Hospital for Large Animals at Tufts Universitys Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

McCarthy said Astrid had sores on her body, which is something that often happens when horses are down for a prolonged period of time.

Astrid is also being treated for pneumonia and parasites, according to McCarthy, and has spent quite some time at the hospital.

Shes been so weak that the Tufts team is using straps to help her get up when shes done resting, because she doesnt quite have the strength to do it herself, McCarthy said. We believe shell be strong enough to move to Nevins Farm this week, but itll be months before shes ready to start looking for a new home.

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McCarthy said Astrid will be put on a refeeding plan until she reaches a healthy weight, which will likely take several months.

SEE ALSO: Chihuahuas fighting for survival after Springfield house fire

Young animals are resilient, McCarthy said. Were hoping to get her into a new home as soon as her body is healed enough.

We dont know much about her personality yet, as were still getting to know each other, but were confident that shell make a great addition to the right home whenever shes able to find it, she continued.

MSPCA law enforcement officers are still investigating the circumstances that led to Astrid being found in this condition.

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Anyone interested in making a donation toward Astrids care can do so online.

Astrids wearing pants to cover her legs, which had wounds and sores. (Courtesy: MSPCA-Angell) Astrid was also treated for parasites and pneumonia. (Courtesy: MSPCA-Angell) Astrid at Tufts with Kaycie McCarthy. (Courtesy: MSPCA-Angell) Kaycie McCarthy and Astrid at Tufts hospital where Astrid needed IVs and wore pants to cover her sores. (Courtesy: MSPCA-Angell)

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MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN)  Mt. Juliet authorities seized multiple firearms in separate traffic stops Monday.

One of the stops reportedly involved a vehicle that had been traveling 90 miles per hour in a zone with a speed limit of 70 miles per hour along Interstate 40 East Monday afternoon. Mt. Juliet police said the 16-year-old driver, from Lebanon, was in possession of two Glock handguns with extended magazines.

Franklin police searching for suspect in shooting on West Main Street

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Police added one of the handguns had been reported stolen out of Wayne County on December 24, 2024.

(Courtesy: Mt. Juliet Police Department)

In a separate Monday afternoon incident, another vehicle was spotted heading down Mt. Juliet road toward Interstate 40 West. Over the course of the stop, Mt. Juliet officers discovered a convicted felon from Nashville was unlawfully in possession of multiple firearms.

The 33-year-old man was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.

(Courtesy: Mt. Juliet Police Department)

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

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In addition to the firearms, though, the man was also found in possession of drugs. As such, he also faces charges of possession of a Schedule VI drug for resale and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Amid a wave of contentious town hall events across the country, Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin took a different approach Monday night, holding his town hall over the phone and allowing six handpicked callers to ask questions.

The town hall lasted one hour from 6 to 7 p.m. on Monday.

The chosen callers expressed support for both Mullin and President Trump when they spoke.

I want to say thank you for the job youre doing and to President Trump, one caller said.

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We voted for you and appreciate the warriors that have some common sense, another caller said.

Meanwhile, on Mullins Facebook livestream of the event, many people posted comments expressing their disagreements and disappointment over not being chosen to speak.

One caller encouraged Mullin to support prosecuting anyone found to have committed so-called fraud or abuse that may be uncovered by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency.

Mullin did not go as far as to support prosecutions, but said he would like Congress to have more control over agency spending going forward.

Really it was more waste and abuse than it was fraud, Mullin said. We dont control the purse strings anymore in Congress.

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Another caller asked Mullin about federal judges who have ruled against Trump, urging Mullin to help stop them from getting in the way of Trump.

In his response, Mullin described them as activist judges and said he supports limiting the power of lower courts by sending more issues directly to the U.S. Supreme Court.

GOP lawmakers booed at town halls defend hosting events despite advice from leaders

A veteran on the call asked if VA benefits could be at risk of being cut under DOGE.

Mullin assured the caller no benefits were at risk, but also said the federal agencies in charge of ensuring people receive their benefits need to be massively cut.

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Were not cutting benefits to anybody, Mullin said. Not anybody on Social Security, not anybody on Medicare, Medicaid, not anybody on VA benefits. Now, are we looking at making cuts because theyre bloated? Yes. Are we looking at shrinking the workforce in some of these places? Absolutely.

Another caller asked Mullin if funding for schools will be impacted now that Trump has begun dismantling the U.S. Department of Education.

Mullin assured the caller schools will not lose out on any federal funding.

I dont think youre gonna see any disruption in flow to our schools, Mullin said. The funding you shouldnt see any disruption in the funding.

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Mullin was also asked how he expects Trumps tariffs to work.

He said he supports them as whats fair and expects them to take effect on April 2.

The town hall lasted about an hour and frequently veered off topic, with Mullin engaging in casual banter with callers about their personal lives for multiple minutes at a time.

Mullin streamed the call live on his Facebook page, where it remains available to watch.

He said he plans to hold another telephone town hall in a few months.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Firefighters across Rome and Floyd County are battling multiple fires on Tuesday afternoon, emergency management officials say.

Officials with the Rome-Floyd Fire Department say that because there were multiple points of origin, they believe the fires may have been intentionally set.

The first fire was reported at Chulio Road and Mathis Road, which firefighters said were spreading to the woods.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Shortly after, another fire was reported at Chulio Road and Norton Road. The battalion chief on the scene said he found several fires along Norton Road.

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A dozen units from the local fire department and Georgia Forestry responded and have since been able to contain the fire.

There were no injuries reported and no buildings were ever in danger.

Investigators are asking anyone who may have seen something suspicious to call them at 706-236-4510.

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Over the weekend, a wildfire along Georgia Highway 156 in Floyd County forced the evacuation of more than two dozen homes.

All of a sudden, I was in the backyard and then I heard a lot of popping and crackling, and then when I looked up, it was fire and blazes and fire trucks everywhere and it got kind of ugly, neighbor Eric Clemmons told Channel 2s Bryan Mims.

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Hours after the fire broke out, crews were able to contain the Sunday fire.

Spokespeople in several north Georgia counties, including Floyd County, have warned residents that weather conditions are not favorable for outdoor burning.

Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brian Monahan says north Georgia has seen an elevated fire danger for the last few weeks of dried wood on the ground and moderate drought throughout parts of the area.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Multnomah County Homeless Services has announced its new leader that will take over as the department continues to address its financial woes.

On Tuesday, County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson revealed that the departments current Deputy Director Anna Plumb will serve as interim director starting on June 16. She will succeed Dan Field, who took on the role as permanent director in April 2023.

Just sucks: Columbia River Mental Health out of cash

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The exit is due to his long-planned retirement following a more than 40-year-career in the health care and public service industry, according to Multnomah County. He previously worked as a Kaiser Permanente executive, staffer for former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber when he was president of the senate, and chief of staff for former Portland Mayor Vera Katz during her tenure as house speaker.

Throughout his two years with Homeless Services, the county has accredited Field with addressing underspending and repairing the departments relationships with city leaders and other partners. Officials also noted that the department  which was recently named form the Joint Office of Homeless Services  rehoused record numbers of individuals and launched its homelessness data dashboard in this time.

Dan took on a role of critical importance to our community at a pivotal time and has led with determination, accountability, honesty and compassion, Chair Vega Pederson said in a statement. I am grateful for his leadership in delivering on his goals and moving the work so far forward.

For the remainder of his tenure, he is expected to help lead Homeless Services in its budget negotiations for fiscal year 2026. So far this year, the department has been under fire due to its projected $104 million deficit.

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Vega Pederson attributed the shortfall to a decline in federal funding and Supportive Housing Services last month.

Kotek: Feds holding up disaster money despite court orders

Homeless Services Incoming Interim Director Plum was hired to her current role in August 2023, after 10 years of working for the county as an evaluation and research analyst, human services director and more.

The county reported that Plumb previously worked with homeless service producers throughout Portland and the Minneapolis area as well.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
A Canadian Muslim woman was targeted at a public library in what police called an unprovoked weekend attack by a woman who tried to remove and set the woman's hijab on fire.

Durham Regional Police officers responded to an assault call around noon Saturday at the Ajax Public Library in Ontario, about 50 miles east of Toronto.

The Ajax Public Library in Ontario.

"Officers spoke with the victim who advised she was in the library studying when she was approached by an unknown female," police said in a news release Sunday. "The female began yelling profanities at the victim and throwing objects at her head."

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Police did not clarify what the attacker yelled at the victim.

Police said the attacker also tried to remove the victim's hijab and poured "an unknown liquid on it" before she grabbed a lighter and tried to set the hijab on fire.

The victim screamed for help, and the library's security intervened, police said.

"The suspect fled the library but was located by officers a few hours later and taken into custody without incident," police said.

Kaley-Ann Freier, 25, was arrested and charged with two counts of assault with a weapon and three counts of failure to comply with a probation order, police said, adding that "she was held for a bail hearing."

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It is not clear whether Freier has an attorney.

The investigation continues, police said, adding that investigators are required to consult with the Crown Attorneys office to determine whether the evidence meets the legal threshold for hate to be considered a factor.

Durham Regional Police did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Crown Attorneys Office deferred to the Attorney General of Ontario's Office, which said "it would be inappropriate to comment on a specific investigation.

Police ask anyone with information about the incident to get in touch with the West Division Criminal Investigation Bureau.

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A statement from the victim was read at a news conference Monday by members of Canada's Muslim community and local Ajax officials, according to CTV.

"I never imagined that a visit to my favorite, quiet corner of the library would turn into one of the most terrifying moments of my life, the statement read. "I was simply going to study, as I had many times before, when I noticed a woman murmuring and cursing."

According to the statement, the woman tried to ignore it before the attacker began throwing objects, and she considered speaking to the librarian, but the "situation escalated" before she could.

I cant stop thinking, What if the lighter had worked? What if my hijab had caught on fire?" the statement read. The victim also said in her statement that she has daughters who wear the hijab and that fears that something similar could happen to them.

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Canada is the leading country among G7 nations when it comes to Islamphobia-related deaths in the past seven years, said Omar Khamissa, the National Council of Canadian Muslims' chief operating officer, who spoke at the news conference Monday.

"What happened on Saturday could've easily increased that number," Khamissa said. "Canadians need to know this, they need to know this especially right now as we're in an election cycle."

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement on X that what happened Saturday "is not an isolated incident."

"Islamophobia is real, it is dangerous, and it must stop," he wrote.

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New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh called the attack "horrifying."

"This hate-motivated attack is a reminder that divisive rhetoric is a stain on our country and not part of our Canadian values," he wrote on X.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  The city of Myrtle Beach is honoring veterans and active-duty military members throughout the summer, and the deadline to order a military banner is almost here.

This special opportunity will feature 100 veterans or active-duty military members on a banners that will be hung up throughout the city.

Meredith Denari, director of communications and creative services with Myrtle Beach, said the military banners will be hung along Harrelson Boulevard and Ocean Boulevard from May to August.

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Were happy to be able to offer it, Denari said. Its something that other cities have done, and were excited to bring it to Myrtle Beach.

Denari said the Military Appreciation Committee works in partnership with the city and meets once a month. This year, they wanted to do something special to honor veterans and active-duty military members.

Their branch of service, their grade, when they left the military, of course their name, and the conflict of area served will be on the banner, she explained.

Denari said because this is their first year, they only have a total of 100 banners to showcase and spots are filling up fast.

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Military Appreciation Days kicks off with our JROTC meet, she furthered. We have the military appreciation game at Pelicans Stadium, we have the parade, the picnic. So, its an entire month dedicated to our military.

She added that each banner is 30 by 60 inches and costs $100. According to Denari, participating in the banner initiative will allow the city to show their appreciation for military members far longer than one month.

The city is actually eating most of the cost, she explained. Besides the banner, you bought the different brackets that it takes to connect the banner to the light poles, and we had to get some heavy-duty ones because these banners will be facing the weather elements.

Denari said when applying, people should be sure to send in a non-blurry picture of their veteran or active-duty military member.

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She added that when the banners are taken down at the end of summer, the families will get to keep them.

Im excited to see families walking Ocean Boulevard to try and find their veteran, or Harrelson Boulevard to try and find which banner theyre on.

If you or someone you know might be interested in purchasing a banner, click here. For the application, click the I Want To, Learn About, Military Appreciation Days tab, then go to Honor Veterans and Active-Duty Military Members.

* * *

Jackie LiBrizzi is a multimedia journalist at News13. Jackie is originally from Hamilton, New Jersey, and was raised in Piedmont, South Carolina. Jackie joined the News13 team in June 2023 after she graduated as a student-athlete from the University of South Carolina in May 2023. Follow Jackie on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and read more of her work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
The Columbus branch of the NAACP has started a petition calling for an investigation into whether Columbus Council members violated the Georgia Open Meetings Act, and organizers promised in a news conference Monday to vote councilors out of office.

This news conference came a day before Councilor John Anker of District 9, who was appointed to the council in a controversial 6-3 vote, was set to attend his first meeting as a citywide councilor.

Members of the NAACP represented at the news conference want investigators to determine whether a quorum of the council broke state law by communicating about potential replacements for former Councilor Judy Thomas, who resigned March 11 due to medical reasons.

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If a quorum of councilors privately met to discuss city business, whether in-person, by text or email, then they broke state law, says a March 19 news release from the NAACP.

This move by the NAACP comes after former Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson mentioned a potential Open Meetings Act violation during her March 14 news conference, defending city manager Isaiah Hugley and questioning the councils process to appoint Thomas successor.

At the core of our concerns is the trust of the people  a trust that we must build an open communication on transparency., Melvin Tanner Jr., president of the Columbus NAACP, said during Mondays news conference. Today, we stand here to demand accountability and to ensure that those who represent us are doing so with honesty and integrity.

They recently presented Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson with a letter urging him to request the Georgia Attorney General conduct an investigation, Tanner said.

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Henderson is looking into whether there is any material evidence suggesting Columbus Councilors violated state law, he told the Ledger-Enquirer on Friday.

Anytime a citizen requests for the city to look into something, they will do it, Henderson said. If any evidence is found in his probe, he said, then it will be forwarded to the attorney general.

During the same meeting in which Thomas resigned, the council voted 6-3 to appoint Anker as her replacement. Anker lost the 2022 mayoral election to Henderson and the 2024 District 10 citywide council election to Travis Chambers.

The motion was approved despite Henderson warning against voting so quickly and with no other candidates publicly being considered.

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Anker was rejected by voters, appointed and sworn in under the cover of darkness, Ed DuBose, national NAACP board member and the Georgia state administrator, said during the news conference.

You cannot subvert the will of the voters, DuBose said. When you do that, you are operating like wolves in sheep clothing.

Ed DuBose, national NAACP board member and the Georgia state administrator, speaks during a Monday afternoon news conference on the steps of the Citizens Service Center in Columbus, Georgia, related to the appointment and swearing in of John Anker as a Columbus Councilor. 03/24/2025

The race for the District 10 citywide seat was very close (53.51%-46.49% in a runoff), Councilor Glenn Davis of District 2 told the Ledger-Enquirer in a March 18 email.

As a Councilor, Im proud to say a tremendous amount of citizens cast their votes in favor of two candidates that, in reality, either one couldve won, Davis said. One side was happy their candidate won, and the second best candidate now gets the opportunity to represent the other half of the electoral vote.

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This decision to appoint Anker lacked transparency, says the NAACPs news release.

We are shown one thing, and we are told another, the Rev. Johnny Flakes III of Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church said during the news conference.

The group plans to organize and vote out councilors, DuBose said. Councilors are supposed to represent the people who put them in power and not their own interests, said Lucas Melton of the NAACP Political Action Committee.

We have folks who came with Black Lives Matter, he said, and they left with MAGA, and we dont understand why.

Lucas Melton, a member of the NAACPs Political Action Committee, speaks during a Monday afternoon news conference on the steps of the Citizens Service Center in Columbus, Georgia, related to the appointment and swearing in of John Anker as a Columbus Councilor. 03/24/2025

Anker, who is white, has been outspoken in his criticism of Hugley, who is Black. This is a strategy that has been used to oust Black people from leadership positions across the country, Flakes said in a March 12 news conference.

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We do have recourse, Melton said. In 2026, we will be voting our interest, and we will remove people from office who do not listen to their people. That being said, its a no for Anker. Bye-bye Byron. Time to go, Toyia.

Councilors Byron Hickey of District 1 and Toyia Tucker of District 4 are the Black councilors who voted to appoint Anker.

Hickey of District 1 made the motion to appoint Anker, and Councilor Charmaine Crabb of District 5 seconded it. Hickey, Crabb, Davis, Tucker, Joanne Cogle of District 7 and Walker Garrett of District 8 voted yes. Chambers, Bruce Huff of District 3 and Mayor Pro Tem Gary Allen of District 6 voted no.

Columbus Council was set to convene again at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Prior to the meeting, there were 27 residents scheduled to speak during the public agenda portion of the meeting. Topics range from concerns about transparency, support for Hugley and dissatisfaction in Ankers appointment.

If you disagree with what is going on in our city, among our city councils, then we ask that you will come and make your voice, your presence known. Flakes said.
Three years after Robertson County Sheriffs Deputy Savanna Puckett was found shot to death inside her burning home, a new law that seeks to track repeat domestic violence offenders is making its way through the Tennessee legislature and it's been named in her honor.

Tennessee State Representative Sabi Doc Kumar of Robertson County introduced House Bill 1200, known as Savanna's Law, to strengthen domestic violence protections statewide.

More: TBI: Robertson Co. deputy found shot, dead inside burning home; man arrested

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More: Family mourns slain Middle Tennessee deputy: 'A brilliant light in our dark world'

If passed, the law would create a registry at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for people convicted of a second and subsequent domestic violence offense and make offender information, such as names, dates of birth, conviction dates, counties of conviction and current photographs, publicly available online, the Tennessee House Republican Caucus recently announced.

Sensitive information like addresses and Social Security numbers would not be shown.

"Savanna's Law provides a critical step toward protecting future victims and holding repeat domestic violence offenders accountable, Kumar said in prepared statements. The registry will give communities the tools they need to stay informed and safe."

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More: What we know about the death of Robertson County deputy Savanna Puckett

More: Affidavit: Empty lighter fluid bottles found in home of slain Robertson County deputy

Puckett, 22, died on Jan. 23, 2022.

Authorities learned of her death after she failed to show up for work. Another deputy went to check on her around 5 p.m. and found her home on the 5100 block of Highway 41 engulfed in flames.

Once on scene, a firefighter found her body on the bedroom floor of her Springfield home under a blanket. The four-year department veteran died from multiple gunshots to most of her body.

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More: Audio: Days before her death, Robertson deputy said ex showed up to house uninvited

More: Autopsy reveals new details in brutal slaying of Robertson County deputy Savanna Puckett

According to a nine-page autopsy report authored by Assistant Medical Examiner David Zimmerman, Puckett was shot eight times; once in the head, right arm, right breast, left breast, left forearm and left hand and three times in the back.

Her death was ruled a homicide.

Robertson County Sheriff's Office Deputy Savanna Puckett was found shot and dead inside her burning home Sunday, officials said. She was 22.

James Jackson Conn, an ex-boyfriend of Puckett's, was arrested in connection with her death after an hours-long standoff that stemmed from the execution of a search warrant at his Odom Court home in Smyrna.

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Conn was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated arson. He pleaded guilty to first-degree premeditated murder and is serving a life sentence.

More: Tennessee to seek death penalty for man accused of killing Robertson County deputy

Throughout the course of their investigation into Puckett's death, authorities discovered Conn had prior offenses for domestic assault, officials said at the time.

Should Savanna's law become state law, court clerks would be required to send certified copies of any offender convictions that meet the criteria for the new registry to the bureau within seven days.

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The bill outlines a $150 registration fee partially retained by the court clerk and TBI. Clerks would retain $50 for administrative costs, while TBI would retain the remaining $100 to maintain the registry.

If passed, the law would not take effect until Jan. 1, 2026.

Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee 'Savanna's Law' honors slain deputy, seeks new offender list
(Bloomberg) -- Namibias freshly sworn-in president informed her first cabinet meeting that shed have zero tolerance for bureaucratic delay to policy reforms.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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There will be no business as usual, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said Tuesday. Decisions taken must be implemented without any delay, she told her colleagues, according to a text of her opening remarks.

Sworn into office on March 21, Nandi-Ndaitwah stressed the need to boost employment, small businesses and private-sector investment to deliver better living standards, while signaling a crackdown on corruption.

Your conduct must be ethical and beyond reproach. You must be exemplary and hard-working servants of the Namibian people, she cautioned.

Namibia, one of the worlds top uranium producers, is positioning itself as a hub for green hydrogen and critical minerals. It also expects to begin the production of offshore oil and gas discoveries as early as 2029.

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Her government aims to invest 85 billion Namibian dollars ($4.7 billion) in infrastructure, manufacturing and renewable energy to create jobs and boost prosperity.

With that in mind, it plans an oil and gas law to ensure ownership by Namibians of a sizable and fair share of the resources, while calling for a feasibility study for an oil refinery.

The president, the first woman to lead the sparsely-populated southwest African nation, repeated her call to transform the mining sector to spur local processing and employment.

We are too few to be poor, she said, urging officials to act with urgency in delivering on the governments economic and social commitments.

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(Updates with details for oil and gas law in paragraph seven.)

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Unused sick leave could be your secret weapon for an easier transition into retirement.

Depending on your employers rules, it might boost your pension, bolster your wallet or ease you into part-time work. Around 77% of workers have access to paid sick leave, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Paid vacations are available to 79% of workers, while 81% have access to paid holidays.

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If you are lucky enough to have paid sick leave, you may be able to accumulate it depending on your employers policies. For example, some companies  especially in the public sector  allow you to bank your sick leave rather than following a use it or lose it policy each year.

If that's the case, when you eventually leave your job, you may be for a payout for your unused sick leave or receive credit for it when your pension is calculated.

For some workers, taking a payout or increasing a pension benefit makes good sense. For others, using accumulated sick leave to ease the transition into retirement may be more appealing. If youve banked a substantial balance, you might consider asking your boss if you can use some of it each week to shift into part-time work.

This approach allows you to gradually wind down your workload, tie up loose ends and ease into retirement while adjusting to a slower pace of life. However, not all employers allow this, and it may not be the best option for everyone. Here's what you need to know.

How to maximize sick leave and transition into retirement

As a general rule, sick leave is meant to be used when youre sick. Unless your company offers a blanket Paid Time Off (PTO) policy  allowing you to use your time off for any reason  you typically cant use sick leave for vacation or retirement planning. Doing so would be considered a misuse of benefits.

If youre working toward a specific number of service years to qualify for a pension, unpaid sick leave generally cannot be counted as extra service time. For example, if you need 30 years of service to qualify for full retirement but have 29.5 years and six months of unused sick leave, that leave won't count toward your required service time.
Despite a disastrous test launch that stranded two astronauts on board the International Space Station and caused it immense public embarrassment, Boeing hasn't given up on its Starliner spacecraft just yet.

As SpaceNews reports, NASA commercial crew program manager Steve Stich revealed last week that the agency is expecting another test flight with the craft. Whether a crew will be on board this time around remains unclear.

"What wed like to do is that one flight and then get into a crew rotation flight," he said. "So, the next flight up would really test all the changes were making to the vehicle, and then the next fight beyond that, we really need to get Boeing into a crew rotation. So, thats the strategy."

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Starliner was developed under the same commercial crew program as SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule, which has completed a dozen successful crewed trips to the ISS over the last six years.

Boeing and NASA are hoping to address some of the technical issues that led to NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore having to watch the capsule return uncrewed last summer. Instead, the pair returned onboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft earlier this month  a nine-month delay.

"The thing that we need to solidify and go test is the prop system in the service module," Stich said. "We need to make sure we can eliminate the helium leaks, eliminate the service module thruster issues that we had on docking."

Even if the Starliner were to be launched without a crew, Stich said that the agency still wanted to have "all the systems in place that we could fly a crew with."

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It's a surprising development, given how much of a disaster Starliner has been for Boeing and NASA alike. The aerospace giant has lost over $2 billion on the project since it began. Roughly a month after the capsule returned empty-handed last year, rumors started swirling that Boeing was looking to sell off its space business entire.

Boeing and NASA have remained strikingly tight-lipped since Starliner's return. But according to Stich, Boeing isn't ready to throw in the towel.

"Boeing, all the way up to their new CEO, Kelly [Ortberg], has been committed to Starliner," he said last week, as quoted by SpaceNews. "I see a commitment from Boeing to continue the program."

For now, NASA is buying itself some time until it has to decide what to do with Boeing's Starliner. The next scheduled crew rotation mission to the space station will be handled by SpaceX in July. It's still possible the agency may opt for Boeing's spacecraft for the mission after that.

But considering last year's performance, NASA and Boeing will have to tread carefully.

More on Starliner: You Will Never Guess What the Stranded Astronauts Got Paid for Their Trouble
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Metro Nashville police arrested a man wanted for the February shooting of a man holding his two 7-month-old daughters outside a Nolensville Pike restaurant.

ORIGINAL STORY: MNPD searching for suspect in Nolensville Pike shooting

A week after releasing new surveillance images in connection with the case, the MNPD announced officers arrested 36-year-old Wykevion Fortney of La Vergne late Monday. Police said information from Crime Stoppers helped authorities identify the man.

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The shooting happened just before 8 p.m. on Feb. 8. The MNPD said a 45-year-old father was walking toward a restaurant when someone struck him with a vehicle in a parking lot. A verbal altercation ensued and the suspect pulled out a gun and shot the man in the hip.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

Fortney faces multiple charges, including attempted murder, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and felony gun possession.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LONG ISLAND, N.Y. (PIX11)  Nassau Democrats have accused County Executive Bruce Blakeman of withholding critical first responder funding for their districts  and have refused to approve his $400 million plan for the county.

Lawmakers abstained from voting at the Nassau County Legislature on Monday in the stand-off, which goes back to the beginning of 2025. Democrats are demanding Blakeman sign an agreement that would guarantee their districts a share of money for their police, fire and public safety needs.

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They argued Blakeman has denied their districts essential public funding for the last two years while showering only his fellow Republican-lead districts with the cash instead. Democrats pointed out that 31 Republican-lead towns received funding while their hamlets were left without money to pay for essential fire and police needs, like bulletproof vests and bunker gear.

Blakeman decried what he called quid pro quo, but Democrats said not voting is the only way to ensure the county executive will equally share money across the county. Democrats said theyre willing to keep negotiating and are hoping another vote can be scheduled next month.

Republicans would need just one Democrat to vote with them to release the more than $400 million in funding.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
WASHINGTON  Is National Security Advisor Mike Waltz under fire?

After Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared detailed secret plans for a U.S. strike on Iran-backed militants in Yemen with a group chat of top Trump administration officials that accidentally included a magazine editor, it was reported that Waltz was the person who accidentally added the reporter.

The inadvertent disclosure, by officials using the publicly available encrypted Signal messaging app, raises alarming questions about the potential mishandling of national security information, which federal law dictates should only be shared through the government's own approved secure platforms, former intelligence officials told USA TODAY.

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In an article published in The Atlantic on Monday afternoon, Jeffrey Goldberg, the magazine's editor-in-chief, revealed he was accidentally added to the Signal chat titled Houthi PC small group this month by Waltz. The group chat focused on an impending military action against Houthis operating in Yemen.

The Houthis had been attacking shipping in the Red Sea, Suez Canal and Gulf of Aden, Trump said, in explaining why he ordered the U.S. military to "launch decisive and powerful" strikes. The U.S. military response took place March 15 while Trump was in Palm Beach for the weekend.

The group included users whose names matched Trump's top officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Brian McCormack, a member of the National Security Council. No one realized that Goldberg, whose username appeared as "JG," had been added, Goldberg wrote.

Trump retained confidence in the officials who were on the chat, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

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"As President Trump said, the attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective," Leavitt told reporters. "President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz."

Here are 5 things to know about Mike Waltz

Mike Waltz is a Florida native, born in Palm Beach County

Mike Waltz, 51, was born in Boynton Beach and is a Florida native. He grew up in the Jacksonville area.

He attended Stanton College Preparatory School and the Virginia Military Institute. He's been married since 2021 and has three children.

Mike Waltz is a decorated Green Beret

Mike Waltz was commissioned as an Army officer, became a Green Beret and was deployed several times to combat zones in the Middle East and Afghanistan. He served 27 years in the Army and National Guard. He was awarded four Bronze Stars, two for valor.

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Waltz led search missions in Afghanistan for Pvt. Bowe Bergdahl, who had deserted his post. Waltz criticized the Obama administration for treating Bergdahls release from the Taliban as a cause for celebration.

Mike Waltz was a three-term Congressman from the Palm Coast area

Mike Waltz represented a Palm Coast area congressional district for three terms and was elected to a fourth term before being named national security advisor.

Waltz's district was previously held by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Waltz had been a member of the House Armed Services Committee and served in civilian roles at the Pentagon.

Mike Waltz was a critic of the Defense Department's diversity programs

He was an outspoken critic of the Defense Departments diversity programs.

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While in Congress, Waltz demanded more defense spending from NATO allies and questioned the United States blank check for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

On the Armed Services Committee, Waltz blasted Pentagon personnel policies under the Biden administration that he termed woke, a term used derisively by some conservatives to describe programs that promote a progressive agenda.

In an early 2023 interview after Republicans took control of the House, Waltz pointed to complaints hed received from the family of a West Point Cadet about a course titled, Understanding your whiteness and white rage.

Waltz termed the course incredibly divisive and said that it had no place in the Army. West Point, in a statement, denied having taught such a course.

Mike Waltz was considered a staunch China hawk

Along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a former Florida senator, Mike Waltz was considered a staunch China hawk.

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When Waltz was being considered as national security advisor, Neil Thomas, a fellow for Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis said that considering Rubio and Waltz is a "strong sign that Trump's foreign policy priority will focus on China above all else." Though there will be a near-term focus on finding a resolution to the wars overseas, "over the next four years, China  by far and away  will be the major focus," he said.

Before being named national security advisor, Waltz, in November 2024, Waltz co-wrote in The Economist that the U.S. should "urgently" bring the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East to an end so the U.S. can "finally focus strategy attention where it should be: countering the greater the threat from the Chinese Communist Party."

Palm Beach Post Political Editor Antonio Fins and USA Today contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Is National Security Advisor Mike Waltz under fire after chat fiasco?
Just days after the U.S. Air Force announced that Boeing will build its next crewed stealth combat jet, now designated the F-47, the Navy looks set to confirm the choice of its own carrier-based sixth-generation fighter. The Navys new combat jet is often referred to as the F/A-XX and is planned to enter service in the 2030s. So far, the program has been even more secretive than the Air Force equivalent, although, as we have explored in the past, the jet will be central not only to the Navys future tactical aviation plans, but also to the future of the service more generally.

According to a report today from Reuters, the Navy will announce the contract award for the F/A-XX engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase this week, based on information the agency has received from unnamed people familiar with the decision. Such an announcement would come a month after Adm. James W. Kilby took up his post as the new Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). The Reuters story in question is written by the agencys Mike Stone, who last week disclosed the imminent announcement of the Air Forces decision on its sixth-generation fighter.

A Boeing concept artwork for the F/A-XX next-generation carrier fighter. Boeing

The EMD contract should be worth single-digit billions of dollars in the short term, according to the report, with the F/A-XX program as a whole worth potentially hundreds of billions over the decades it is expected to run.

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Originally, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman were all in the running to develop the F/A-XX. However, Lockheed Martin was reportedly ejected from the competition earlier this month, since its proposal did not satisfy the services criteria, according to Breaking Defense, whose story cited an unnamed source with knowledge of the program. We have not been able to confirm this fact at this time, but if true, the companys future fighter opportunities would be limited beyond the F-35, although that platform will be in service for many decades to come.

Todays report states that, as well as detailed proposals, all three of the original candidates also submitted prototypes for evaluation. If thats correct, it would be the first confirmation that demonstrator aircraft of any kind have been built and tested for F/A-XX.

In fact, it would be surprising if demonstrators hadnt been built for F/A-XX.

By now, we know that at least two demonstrators were built ahead of Boeings selection for the F-47, and perhaps even three, based on unconfirmed earlier reports.

An official rendering of the Boeing F-47 selected for the U.S. Air Forces NGAD program. U.S. Air Force

In the past, TWZ speculated that F/A-XX demonstrators likely did exist, with other evidence including the significant spending plans for the program between Fiscal Years 2024 and 2028  more than $9 billion.

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One very interesting aspect of the Reuters report is the suggestion that Lockheed Martins proposal was rejected for reasons that included the need for a more advanced radar system and improved carrier landing capabilities. Once again, these details have not been confirmed.

Like the Air Force, the Navy is working on its sixth-generation fighter as part of a program named Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD). The Navy is involved in direct cooperation with the Air Forces program and both initiatives put crewed fighters at the center of a broader system of systems that will also include advanced Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones. Details of the specific crossover between the two programs remain fairly scarce, however.

A rendering of a notional sixth-generation crewed stealth combat jet for the Navy flying alongside an advanced drone. Boeing

The Navy wants to start fielding the F/A-XX in the 2030s  a similar timeline to the F-47  and it will use it, alongside complementary drones to replace its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet multirole fighters as well as its EA-18G Growler electronic attack jet. Eventually, the F/A-XX should be a central part of a new-look carrier air wing that could feature as much as two-thirds uncrewed aircraft.

As for how the F/A-XX might look, we have very little to go on at this stage, but more may be revealed in the course of this week.

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In the past, the previous CNO, Adm. Lisa Franchetti, quoted in an article by Air & Space Forces Magazine, said that the F/A-XX will have advanced sensors, advanced lethality, advanced range [and be] able to integrate with manned and unmanned capabilities together.

In particular  and in parallel with the Air Forces NGAD  the kinds of capabilities that the F/A-XX will offer will likely be closely tailored to the demands of a future conflict with China.

The ability to integrate with drones is one area where the F/A-XX will likely benefit from the Air Forces NGAD effort. Here, the two services sharing some technology and even control capabilities for CCA drones would appear to make much sense.

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

As for flying missions at long ranges, this is something that is very much driven by concerns around future contingencies in the Indo-Pacific theater.

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Here, U.S. and allied aircraft would face increasingly advanced and much farther-reaching air defenses, as well as the vast distances involved in such a theater in any context. While the Air Force has apparently spent some time weighing up the centrality of long-range capabilities for its NGAD fighter, it seems the Navy has remained committed to extended endurance. As TWZ has discussed in the past:

Allowing for the carrier air wing to be able to reach relevant target sets and at a significant frequency while keeping the carrier itself at a safe distance from anti-ship and other anti-access capabilities is a glaring issue for the U.S. Navy. Dramatically increasing the unrefueled combat radius of at least some of its fighters, which would be paired with CCAs with similar endurance, would go a long way to solving this problem.

Of the two contenders now vying for the F/A-XX EMD contract, Boeing has just emerged victorious for the Air Forces NGAD fighter  now known as F-47. This is a major boon for the company, which has seen significant recent setbacks in both its commercial and defense businesses.

Winning the Air Forces NGAD fighter competition might have been Boeings last chance to survive as a fighter-builder. The company announced back in 2023 that it was going to close down 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, which could include the F-47 and F/A-XX.

A U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 105, launches off the flight deck of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) in the Red Sea, in April 2024. U.S. Navy 240420-N-HE057-1374 RED SEA (April 20, 2024) An F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to the Gunslingers of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 105, launches off the flight deck during flight operations aboard the Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) in the Red Sea, April 20. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East region. (Official U.S. Navy photo)

TWZ asked Boeing about whether there exists any relationship between its F-47 design and the proposal submitted for the F/A-XX competition, but the company said it had no information to share.

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If Boeing were to secure the F/A-XX deal as well, it could offer economies of scale and make it easier to share technologies between the aircraft. Potentially, Northrop Grumman could still have a role to play, as a key subcontractor in the F/A-XX aircraft itself, but also in some of the many supporting and ancillary systems.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Northrop Grumman may have dropped out of the Air Forces NGAD fighter competition in part to focus on the F/A-XX. Northrop Grumman is well established when it comes to developing cutting-edge stealth platforms, such as the B-2 and B-21 stealth bombers. However, the company has not built a crewed combat jet for the Navy since the Cold War-era F-14 Tomcat, which was a Grumman design, emerging years before Northrops 1994 acquisition of that firm. Should Northrop Grumman lose the F/A-XX competition, its hopes of becoming a fighter manufacturer again are likely over for good.

A U.S. Navy Grumman F-14A Tomcat of Fighter Squadron 33 launches off a carrier deck back in 1987. U.S. Navy A U.S. Navy Grumman F-14A Tomcat of Fighter Squadron 33 (VF-33) Starfighters launched off the deck back in 1987. U.S. Navy

It appears that we will find out the Navys decision very soon. Whatever the choice, it will be a highly significant event. We will then know exactly which manufacturers are responsible for developing sixth-generation fighters for the Air Force and the Navy. We may also get a better idea of the possible crossover between the two aircraft.

At the very least, some welcome light will be shed on what has, until now, been a program even more secretive than the Air Forces equivalent.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
The North Carolina Legislative Building in Raleigh. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)

North Carolina Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday advocated for bills proposing comprehensive paid family leave and minimum wage increases during back-to-back press conferences at the Legislative Building in Raleigh. They framed the proposals as urgent measures to ease the financial strain on workers needing time off for family and medical needs and those struggling with the cost of living.

Paid time off

In the first event, Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch of Wake County joined nonprofit advocates in renewing a longstanding appeal for paid leave legislation that would give North Carolina workers greater access to paid time off. Batch opened the press conference by highlighting the stark reality facing North Carolina workers: 79% of the states workforce  approximately 4 million people have no paid leave through their jobs. She shared a heart-wrenching story of a mother forced to leave her premature child in the hospital to continue working, returning to the neonatal intensive care unit after hours and spending each night there before going home.

Sen. Sydney Batch (D-Wake) (Photo: ncleg.net)

In a society that is so well-resourced, it is outrageous that we dont provide paid leave for individuals and that is something that absolutely needs to change, said Batch, a sponsor of the NC Paid Family Leave Insurance Act (Senate Bill 480).

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About 20% of U.S. workers do not have access to paid sick leave, and 73% lack paid family leave, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The U.S. is among a small number of countries worldwide that do not require employers to offer paid sick leave or paid maternity leave.

In North Carolina, while some workers have access to unpaid leave due to the Family and Medical Leave Act, many are ineligible, and many more cannot afford to take time off without pay. Senate Bill 480 would allow workers up to 12 weeks of paid time off for major life events, such as caring for newborns or tending to sick relatives.

The proposal modeled loosely on Social Security, would be funded through small weekly contributions from employers and employees. This approach aims to make paid leave accessible to everyone, including small business owners, self-employed workers, and part-time employees.

Rep. Laura Budd (D-Mecklenburg) (photo: ncleg.gov)

Rep. Laura Budd (D-Mecklenburg), a small business owner and mother, explained how the current system disadvantages small and medium businesses competing for talent against larger corporations that can offer comprehensive benefits. This bill helps level the playing field, Budd said.

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For almost two decades, legislation to allow North Carolina workers to earn paid sick time has been introduced but has not received a committee hearing in the Republican-controlled legislature. Advocates say this lack of action leaves many working North Carolinians without paid time off to recover from illness, care for sick loved ones, or access preventive health care.

If youve heard it once, youve heard it a hundred times, Batch said. There are so many families who are struggling with regards with just being able to make ends meet. Most of them are living paycheckto-paycheck and they dont have the ability to take any leave.

Raising the states minimum wages

Later in the morning, another group of Democratic lawmakers held a second press conference to unveil twin bills aimed at raising the states hourly and tipped minimum wages, which have not changed since 2009. The proposed Economic Security Act (House Bill 339, Senate Bill 326) would raise North Carolinas minimum wage to $22 per hour. It would also phase out the lower minimums that employers can pay restaurant workers and others who regularly get tips  $2.13 per hour. A separate measure, the Fair Minimum Wage Act (House Bill 353), proposes a more gradual increase, lifting the states minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2030.

Sen. Natalie Murdock (D-Chatham, Durham) (Photo: ncleg.gov)

The people of North Carolina work hard and put their all into everything that they do, said Sen. Natalie Murdock (D-Chatham, Durham), a sponsor of the Senate wage bill. They deserve to be paid every single dime that they are worth. They are worth more than what they are getting today.

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The proposal also includes provisions for paid sick days, workplace safety protections, and reinstating the Earned Income Tax Credit. More than half of Americans are just one paycheck away from homelessness, said Murdock. That is unacceptable. We can and we must do better for our state.

Both efforts face steep odds in the Republican-controlled legislature, where similar proposals have stalled for years.

But advocates stressed broader economic stakes: The NC Justice Center estimates a $15 minimum wage could inject $4.5 million into the economy, while paid leave backers argue it would reduce turnover and boost productivity.

The Democratic lawmakers promoted the bills Tuesday as part of a lobbying day for worker advocates.

Full time minimum wage workers earn $15,000 yearly. Thats a death sentence, said Rep. Marcia Morey (D-Durham), noting the state ranks last nationally for worker conditions.
Photo: Getty Images

Two identical bills introduced this week in the North Carolina House and Senate would update the language on work requirements that is part of the 2023 law expanding Medicaid in North Carolina.

Rep. Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth), a primary sponsor of House Bill 491, said it is intended as a signal to Republicans in Washington that North Carolina is okay with work requirements, and written in the hope it will ward off federal budget cuts that would threaten the existence of Medicaid expansion in the state.

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The states 2023 expansion law includes a trigger that will end Medicaid expansion if the federal government alters the funding formula and decides to cut how much it pays. The federal government now covers 90% of the cost for people covered under Medicaid expansion.

Rep. Donny Lambeth (Photo: ncleg.gov)

I thought that if we were proactive on the work requirement and silent on the formula change, my hope is the feds will not mess with the formula, Lambeth said. Changing the formula would be a disaster, he said. It puts the whole program at risk.

About 640, 000 North Carolinians have enrolled in expanded Medicaid since its launch in December 2023. They are adults younger than 65 without dependent children who make less than 138% of the federal poverty level.

Work requirements and reducing the federal contribution to states for people covered under expansion were among the options for Medicaid cuts included in a recent U.S. House budget committee document.

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North Carolinas expansion law already requires the state Department of Health and Human Services to ask the federal government for permission to impose work requirements on Medicaid expansion beneficiaries if there is an indication that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would approve. The new bills add that DHHS must implement work requirements that receive the federal governments okay.

In President Donald Trumps first term, CMS approved states plans for Medicaid work requirements. Some of those plans were later invalidated by federal courts. President Joe Bidens administration rescinded permission granted to other states.

With Trump back in charge, Republicans at the state level see another chance to have Medicaid work requirements approved.

Arkansas imposed a Medicaid work requirement for less than a year in 2018 before a judge ended it. About 18,000 people lost their health insurance in Arkansas, according to a study, and the work requirement did not lead to increased employment.

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Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is again seeking permission for a work requirement, the Arkansas Advocate reported. Governors in South Carolina and Ohio are also seeking permission for Medicaid work requirements.

Lambeth is a longtime supporter of work requirements as a qualification for adults health insurance coverage. Bills he sponsored that were precursors to the Medicaid expansion law included work requirements for participants.

About 80% of people who gained insurance coverage under expansion are already working, Lambeth said Tuesday.

The bills stop short of requiring DHHS to apply for permission to impose work requirements.

Rather than wasting time seeking something that wont be approved, it would be good to see whether courts allow work requirements as part of Medicaid expansion in other states, Lambeth said.
A group of former NASA astronauts has signed a letter of support for Jared Isaacman, saying, We believe that Jared Isaacman is uniquely qualified to lead NASA at this critical juncture. As an entrepreneur, pilot, and having commanded two groundbreaking space missions, he brings credibility and capability to make a difference now.

The billionaire philanthropist and private astronaut is President Donald Trumps choice to lead the NASA program.

Nearly 30 former astronauts are urging the Senate Commerce Committee to hold Isaacmans confirmation as soon as practical.

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The letter explains, It is critical that NASA maintains its position as the preeminent space development organization. Our nation is at a turning point where we face international competition from China, we have the opportunity to promote international cooperation with our partner nations, and we are witnessing radical change in the commercial sector. The stakes in selecting the next NASA Administrator could not be higher.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Williams-Sonoma (WSM) announced the companys inclusion in the prestigious S&P 500, a benchmark of the largest and most influential publicly traded companies in the United States. The addition of Williams-Sonoma, to the S&P 500 affirms the strength of the companys operating model, commitment to innovation, and established leadership within the home furnishings industry and retail sector. The companys growth and strong profitability has been driven by its omni-channel strategy, dynamic brand portfolio, differentiated product offering and dedication to customer service. Being included in the S&P 500 is a significant milestone that acknowledges the power of our brand portfolio and growth strategies, said Laura Alber, President and CEO of Williams-Sonoma, We remain committed to driving innovation, delivering exceptional products and experiences to our customers, and creating long-term value for our stakeholders. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. joins the index following a period of strong financial performance throughout the companys portfolio of brands which include Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, West Elm, Rejuvenation, Mark & Graham and GreenRow.

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A refugee resettlement program for migrants fleeing their countries amid fears of persecution and death. Food distribution programs that provide community members with hot meals. Counseling to help Tennesseans navigate the Affordable Care Acts health insurance marketplace.

All three programs have two things in common. Theyre facilitated by Nashville-based nonprofits, and theyve already been severely impacted  and could even be eliminated entirely  as a result of federal funding freezes by the Trump administration.

Nashville Mayor Freddie OConnell recently flagged a dire risk of lost government funding for not only those but hundreds more local nonprofits. OConnell told reporters in late February that 396 Davidson County nonprofits are at risk of losing $1.5 billion in federal funds.

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Those numbers come from an Urban Institute study assessing the financial risk to nonprofits across the nation if they were to lose their government grants. The study uses data from IRS forms nonprofits filed in 2021 that include how much revenue a nonprofit receives in state and federal government grants.

While those numbers may be dated, the stakes for nonprofits are no less pronounced today. Hal Cato, the CEO of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, said plenty of nonprofits were already struggling before whats now become a common thread of excruciating uncertainty.

You could liquidate the assets of every major foundation in the city, and it would not plug that hole, Cato said of the $1.5 billion gap from the Urban Institute study. Philanthropy was never meant to be a substitute for the federal government taking care of its most vulnerable citizens, and Im just worried if the fed abandons that responsibility and foundations literally dont have the capacity to step in, what is going to happen to our society?

The Tennessean spoke with several local nonprofits about what they stand to lose, just over 60 days into President Donald Trump's second term.

Volunteers Kristine Etter and Judy Meskell, right, of Holy Family Catholic Church in Brentwood, help feed the homeless at the Loaves and Fishes food distribution center Monday, March 24, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. Catholic Charities of Nashville is one of several nonprofits hurt by federal funding cuts.

Refugee resettlement stuck in limbo

On his first day, Trump signed an executive order realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program. The order abruptly suspended federal funding for resettlement services and halted new entries into the country for at least 90 days, and its already hit Nashville agencies who support refugee families hard.

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Catholic Charities is included in that group. About 2,300 refugees were designated for resettlement in Tennessee during the current federal fiscal year that began in October, and Catholic Charities was already supporting nearly 400 of them before the executive order.

Rick Musacchio, a spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Nashville, said the nonprofit has lost about $500,000 worth of funds, between funding it's already expended and not been reimbursed for and ongoing expenses for new Middle Tennessee refugees.

Weve been able to raise about $260,000 of that from donors, but that kind of a blow just greatly diminishes assistance to people who truly need assistance  people who were promised support as part of the resettlement process, Musacchio said.

Thats not the only way Catholic Charities has been affected. Musacchio said theres also been a significant number of staff layoffs. And recent sweeping cuts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture resulted in the closure of programs funding fresh food for schools and food banks, the latter of which Catholic Charities partners with for its food distribution services.

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Musacchio said Catholic Charities is still evaluating whether federal cuts will affect even more services, from its job training program to the broader range of supports offered at its family resource centers throughout Middle Tennessee.

The reality is that the funding instability and the funding loss, ultimately, stands to impact nearly all of the 26,000 people we typically serve over the course of a year, in one way or another, Musacchio said.

Catholic Charities of Nashville Hunger Relief Lead Specialist Ryan Taylor talks with a man at the Loaves and Fishes food distribution center Monday, March 24, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. Catholic Charities of Nashville is one of several nonprofits hurt by federal funding cuts.

Loss of health care navigation service could be based on incorrect data

About 85% of funding for the Nashville-based Family & Childrens Service comes from federal dollars, according to President and CEO Michael McSurdy. On top of offering counseling and crisis services, one of the nonprofits flagship programs is its health care access service, which allows Tennesseans to seek advice about health care options available on the Affordable Care Act marketplace or through Medicaid regardless of their income.

That navigator program is another victim of federal cuts. In February, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a nearly 90% cut to program funding, from $98 million to $10 million. McSurdy said that leaves his agency staring down a loss of around 40 employees spread across the state in August.

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The program was also cut during the last Trump administration, but much more gradually. This time, the cuts have been almost immediate  and McSurdy argues that they could be based on erroneous data.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released data on navigator funding and health plan enrollment, and it appears the data for Family & Childrens Service was copied from the agency listed before it on the spreadsheet. McSurdy said the nonprofit actually enrolled about 3,700 more consumers in a marketplace health plan and nearly 30,000 more people in Medicaid than the spreadsheet states.

We dont know what theyre going to do with that, McSurdy said. We believe in that work. We see that program as connecting people to health care, which means theyre more able to be engaged in their communities and their jobs as parents  theres a lot of reasons why that remains important.

Where do Nashville's nonprofits go from here?

Cato, with the Community Foundation, said hes been hearing from nonprofits hoping to connect with donors or access emergency funding on a weekly basis. The nonprofit sector was already suffering from a morale and burnout issue before this year, Cato said, and the federal cuts have been just another boot on the neck.

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Cato said he anticipates the issue getting even worse before it gets better, as stock market conditions will likely mean foundations end up with even less to distribute over the next several years.

But at the same time, Cato said, this could present an opportunity for local nonprofits to forge stronger, better collaborations moving forward.

If you were to take the nonprofit sector out of Nashville, Nashville goes from being a community to just a city, Cato said. I think theres a realization that the sector is really important to quality of life and being a good place to live.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: DOGE, Trump admin cuts threaten 396 Nashville orgs, federal funds
President Donald Trump escalated his attacks on lawyers and judges in his ninth week in office.

Though Trump has long criticized judges, he's now calling for impeaching ones who rule against him as well as sanctioning lawyers who work on cases he dislikes.

Heres a mostly complete look at what else the Trump administration has done over the last seven days:

 Directed the attorney general and homeland security secretary to sanction firms who file lawsuits the administration dislikes.

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 Called for the impeachment of a judge who ordered a temporary halt to the use of a 1798 law for deportations.

 Signed an executive order seeking to dismantle the Department of Education while flanked by children sitting at school desks.

 Was rebuked by the chief justice of the Supreme Court in a rare statement that said impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreeing with a judge's decision.

 Accidentally added a journalist to a group chat of top officials on Signal discussing war plans in Yemen.

 Used police and security to enter the U.S. Institute of Peace as part of a DOGE effort to take control of the nonprofit and gut it.

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 Fired the two Democratic commissioners on the Federal Trade Commission in what appears to be a violation of a 1935 Supreme Court decision.

 Ended Secret Service protection for former President Joe Biden's two adult children, Hunter and Ashley.

 Appointed retired Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, to an oversight board for West Point.

 Began planning tariffs on trillions of dollars in imports, according to a Washington Post article citing unnamed sources.

 Removed a ban on "segregated facilities" in federal contracts that dates back to 1965.

 Announced that Boeing had won a contract for a new fighter jet to be named the F-47, after Trump.

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 Announced a new requirement that Americans applying for Social Security verify their identity online or in person.

 Threatened to shut down Social Security systems over a judge's order barring DOGE access, then backed down.

 Released tens of thousands of pages of government documents on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

 Included the Social Security numbers of hundreds of living people in the JFK documents released.

 Planned to send second lady Usha Vance and a national security adviser to Greenland, whose prime minister called the visit "aggressive."

 Attempted to recruit corporate sponsors for the 147-year-old Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn.

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 Said in an interview with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick that only "fraudsters" would complain about a missing Social Security check.

 Said, in another interview with Lutnick, that people should "buy Tesla" and that "it'll never be this cheap again."

 Suggested that Tesla vandals should be labeled as terrorists and sent to prison in El Salvador.

 Demanded that the governor of Colorado take down a painting of Trump that he said was poorly done.

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A neighborhood in Bangor, Maine, is on high alert after an increase in coyote sightings.

What's happening?

Residents of Fairmount are concerned for their pets amid increasing sightings of coyotes, reported WCSH.

The TV station in August documented the disappearance of 16 cats. Bangor Animal Control was investigating, but the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said it does not attribute the pet losses to wildlife.

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Residents have spotted coyotes in the area, with homeowner Anne Foster noting tracks in her yard. Her cat, Frankie Blue Eyes, is also missing.

"I'm mourning her terribly," she told News Center Maine. "I still mourn her loss."

Why are coyote sightings important?

Coyotes and other wildlife are seemingly increasingly engaging with humans because of habitat destruction and the changing climate. This leads to scary situations  including when a coyote chased a young girl in a Portland, Oregon, backyard  even if animal attacks on humans are rare.

What's more, many residents in Maine have proposed problematic solutions for combating coyotes in the area. Foster, for example, proposed to "relocate the whole pack." This would be damaging to the entire local ecosystem, as coyotes play a key role in the food chain.

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Since wolves and mountain lions were killed off in the state, coyotes have taken their place, according to the MDIFW. They keep in check populations of small mammals, snowshoe hares, turkeys, and deer.

Another homeowner, Nancy Jacobson, is happy to coexist with the coyotes and other fauna.

"I both like to see an increase in wildlife and am aware of the dangers," Jacobson told News Center Maine.

What's being done about coyotes in Maine?

Pets should be supervised if they're outdoors and otherwise kept indoors, Bangor Animal Control officer Trisha Bruen told News Center Maine.

MDIFW communications director Mark Latti said that people should remove anything that attracts coyotes to their properties, including pet food and garbage. The former should not be outside, and the latter can be stored in a garage or other enclosed space.

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Like with all wildlife, it's best to keep your distance if you see a coyote. If your encounter is a close one, wave your arms and make plenty of noise while retreating slowly. And keep pets on a leash.

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Net zero could make flying something for the privileged, the boss of Qantas has warned.

Vanessa Hudson, the chief executive of the Australian flag carrier, said the higher costs associated with clean fuel were likely to push up air fares and could put them out of reach of the masses.

Her warning came as the boss of Airbus said net zero would add a green premium to plane tickets and reverse the decades-long trend of flying getting cheaper over time.

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Guillaume Faury said that the price of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is regarded as key to slashing aviation carbons footprint, may never match that of traditional kerosene.

He said: Is it going to be as cheap as jet fuel? I dont think so. I think there will be a price to pay for decarbonised fuels.

The public will feel the squeeze through a green premium as airlines are compelled to use an ever-increasing proportion of SAF over the coming decades, he added.

Britain has issued a mandate for carriers to use at least 10pc SAF by 2030, one of the most stringent requirements in the world. The EU target by the same year is 6pc.

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Mr Faury said: Increasing the percentage of SAF will raise pricing. What we have seen with pricing going down very significantly is not necessarily what we will see from the future.

Airlines may be able to absorb some of the costs of SAF, with relatively modest increases in ticket prices following sharp fluctuations in the price of oil.

Airbus chief Guillaume Faury says net zero will add a green premium to plane tickets - Matthieu Rondel/Bloomberg

However, Ms Hudson warned that flying could become something so expensive that its something for the privileged if costs were passed on in full, adding: I dont want to see that.

She said Qantas is opposed to mandates that would force airlines to hike fares and said such a move would be counterproductive, weighing on global connectivity and hence economic growth.

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While price rises may be necessary, theres a big difference between five times and 1.5 times, she said, pointing to the uncertainty around fuel costs. Qantas has a joint venture with Airbus on SAF production.

SAF currently costs three to five times as much as kerosene but is seen as the only realistic route to achieving the aviation industrys target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The high price and low production volumes mean the fuel last year made up less than 1pc of industry-wide fuel consumption.

However, governments around the world are betting on a sharp increase in production and usage of the fuel to meet net zero goals. SAF, which is most commonly derived from used cooking oil sourced from Asia, can reduce the so-called life-cycle CO2 emissions by around 80pc compared with traditional jet fuel.

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Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, has said that a switch to SAF underpins Labours backing for airport expansion, including her support for a third runway at Heathrow.

The Government has announced plans for a price guarantee mechanism to help boost SAF production and encourage development of a specialist large-scale refinery in the UK. However, experts have raised doubts about the whether production can be scaled up quickly enough to meet the roadmap set out by the Government.

Mr Faury admitted that the aviation industry may struggle to deliver on its goal of reaching net zero by 2050, saying: Maybe its going to take a bit more time.

He delivered the warning as Airbus unveiled a blueprint for a new generation of narrow-body planes capable of running off 100pc SAF. Current plans for the aircraft, to be introduced some time after 2035, feature composite wings that are much longer and narrower than existing models. The supersized wings create more lift, reduce drag and lower fuel burn. However, their length means the wings will need to fold in order to use existing airport gates.

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Airbus also confirmed that it had shelved studies for a jet engine-powered plane that would burn hydrogen instead of kerosene.

Separately on Tuesday, Qantas confirmed it planned to start running direct flights from Sydney to New York and London by 2027. The ultra-long haul flights will last up to 19 hours and will rely on a new generation of Airbus plane, the A350-1000, to be delivered at the end of next year.

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In vitro fertilization process. (Photo by Antonio Marquez lanza/Getty Images)

Nineteen months ago, I held my son Hudson for the first time. His tiny fingers wrapped around mine, and in that moment, a year of heartbreak, loss, and longing faded into the background. Hudson was here and he was ours.

For families like mine, assisted reproduction is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Yet many face overwhelming financial and legal barriers just to have a chance at parenthood. Thats why I am relieved and grateful that Nevada is stepping up to protect families like mine with new legislation ensuring access to assisted reproduction. This bill does more than just safeguard our reproductive rightsit protects the very existence of children like Hudson and ensures that hopeful parents wont be denied the chance to have a family of their own.

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Assisted reproduction is under attack across the country, and Nevada is taking the right stand to protect families like mine. SB217 from Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro isnt just about policyits about real people, real children, and real futures. I support this bill because without access to fertility care, my son Hudson wouldnt be here. This bill ensures that no government entity can impose unnecessary burdens on accessing fertility treatments, fertility drugs, or other reproductive services. It guarantees that doctors can provide the care they are trained for without fear of legal retaliation. It prevents insurance companies from imposing arbitrary barriers to fertility treatments. And, perhaps most importantly, it affirms that a fertilized egg outside the womb is not a person under Nevada lawpreventing dangerous legal interpretations that could disrupt access to care.

When my husband and I first began trying to conceive, we were filled with hope. We tried for a year, because they make you wait a full year before even referring you to a fertility specialistits right there in the paperwork. Doctor visits, fertility tests, and failed attempts left us emotionally and financially drained.

The next step was medical intervention. I started Clomid pills, my husband had Clomid shots, and we underwent countless tests for unexplained infertility. Before moving to intrauterine insemination (IUI) or IVF, my doctor suggested trying acupuncture as a less invasive option. We took that route first, but much of the process felt dictated by cost rather than medical necessity. If you could afford to go straight to egg retrieval, you did. If that was out of reach, IUI was the next best option. If even that was financially impossible, you were told to try medications and come back. The illusion of choice was frustratingI still have all the paperwork outlining those financial hurdles.

We did what we could, hoping for the best, and whether it was the acupuncture, the medication, or just luck, Hudson finally made his way into our lives.

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None of it was covered by insurance. As a type-1 diabetic, my pre-existing condition precluded my insurance from covering my procedures and testing, making an already difficult journey even more challenging. We spent $4,000 just for testing, medication, and imaging alone, before even considering more advanced treatments like IUI or IVF. Every test, every medication, every acupuncture session came out of our own pockets. We spent thousands of dollars, all while knowing that if those treatments didnt work, the financial burden of IUI or IVF would only grow. And yet, despite the pain, the cost, and the uncertainty, we had hope, because medical science gave us an opportunity that nature denied us.

But now, that hope is under attack across the country. From lawmakers trying to limit access to fertility treatments to court rulings threatening the very definition of embryos, our right to build our families through assisted reproduction is in jeopardy. We saw this happen in Alabama, where a recent court ruling classified frozen embryos as children, prompting some fertility clinics to pause operations out of fear of legal repercussions. Such policies dont just impact hypothetical scenarios; they hurt real familiesfamilies like mine.

Thats why Nevadas new protections for assisted reproduction are so critical. This bill ensures that no government entity can impose unnecessary burdens on accessing fertility treatments, fertility drugs, or other reproductive services. It guarantees that doctors can provide the care they are trained for without fear of legal retaliation. It prevents insurance companies from imposing arbitrary barriers to fertility treatments. And, perhaps most importantly, it affirms that a fertilized egg outside the womb is not a person under Nevada lawpreventing dangerous legal interpretations that could disrupt access to care.

For parents like me, this legislation is not about politicsit is about our children. It is about ensuring that people facing infertility or medical conditions that threaten their reproductive future still have a path to parenthood. It is about guaranteeing that no one has to hear the words Im sorry, but the treatment you need is no longer available.

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Hudson is a joyful, thriving toddler who loves his TonieBox, puzzles, and snuggling up for bedtime stories. He is the reason I fight to protect access to assisted reproductionbecause every child like Hudson deserves the chance to exist. Every parent who longs for a baby should have access to the medical care that makes that dream possible.

Nevada is leading the way in protecting fertility care. Other states should follow its example. Because no family should have to wonder if their childs existence is up for debate.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Republican Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo wants tougher penalties for DUI drivers, including charging impaired drivers who kill another person with second-degree murder, he told 8 News Now on Monday.

Nevadas DUI with death law carries a possible sentence of 2-20 years. However, a bipartisan 1995 Nevada law requires judges to give a sentencing range for most felonies with the minimum sentence  the time a person is eligible for parole  equal to 40% of the maximum. That means the maximum time a DUI driver who killed another person could serve without the possibility of parole is eight years.

Nevada prosecutors have tried to charge DUI drivers, who kill a person and who speed and who drive with no care for another persons life, with murder, but the Nevada Supreme Court ruled the DUI with death law was more appropriate.

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That 2020 ruling said prosecutors attempts to charge a speeding intoxicated driver who killed a man with murder was not legal. In their order, the justices wrote: Although malice may be inferred from the facts of this case, which would support a charge of second-degree murder, the Legislature has preempted such a charge for cases of non-intentional vehicular homicide.

Do things need to change? 8 News Now Investigator David Charns asked Lombardo.

They do, Lombardo said. Theres a request to elevate, fatal accident, DUI, with implied intent. In other words, you knew you were drunk, you made a decision to get into a car. And as a result of your actions, there was a death that occurred.

Lombardo acknowledged the high courts ruling but said adding it to state statute would allow prosecutors to move forward with second-degree charges. The change carries a minimum 10-year prison sentence.

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The proposal is just one of the ways Lombardo said Nevada needs to get tougher on DUI drivers, especially repeat offenders. Lombardo, the former Clark County sheriff and head of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and others, including his successor, LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill, believe the initial penalties for DUI in Nevada are too lenient.

Body camera video the 8 News Now Investigators obtained shows Sgt. Michael Abbate pulling his cruiser in front of a Jeep with an impaired driver sleeping inside. The hands on the right are Trooper Alberto Felix showing Abbate how close to come before boxing the driver in. (KLAS)

Mondays interview comes after the 8 News Now Investigators reviewed the case involving the deaths of two state troopers. Jemarcus Williams, 47, drove impaired on Nov. 30, 2023, colliding with Sgt. Michael Abbate and Trooper Alberto Felix on an Interstate 15 offramp near Downtown Las Vegas. The two policemen were standing on the side of the road investigating the second DUI driver when Williams hit them.

Williams received the maximum sentence as part of a plea deal: 16-40 years in prison.

A persons first DUI in Nevada is a misdemeanor. The crime becomes a felony after a persons third DUI within seven years. Tougher penalties, including potential prison time, do not begin unless a person joins that three-plus club.

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Current Nevada law requires a person to serve 2-180 days in jail for their first DUI offense within seven years, but that requirement can be served with community service or treatment. A persons second DUI carries jail time of 10-180 days, with the minimum possibly served on house arrest. In the end, judges have discretion about sentencing and often sentence a person to a suspended jail sentence if they do not fix their behavior.

Both misdemeanor offenses carry the potential for fines and license revocation.

Someone drinks and drives once or twice; they should go to jail for how long? Charns asked Lombardo.

I dont know what that is  that would be up to the Legislature to decide, the Lombardo said. There are people that have done the theories and the actual change of mindset that goes along with that. But it needs to be higher. Itll be harsher.

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Last legislative session, Lombardo worked with lawmakers to pass a 25% pay raise for troopers and for the first year since 2017, more troopers are coming into Nevada State Police than leaving or retiring.

FILE  Then-Nevada Gov.-elect Joe Lombardo speaks with supporters at Rancho High School in Las Vegas, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP, File)

But on some nights, just three, four, maybe five state police troopers are patrolling the entire Las Vegas valley, an area home to 2.3 million people and hundreds of thousands of tourists at once, leading to concerns about safety amid the departments ongoing staffing shortage.

The state budget calls for 392 trooper positions, but as of last month, 174 positions needed to be filled, leading to a nearly 45% vacancy rate.

Starting in July, the amount of money state police employees have to put into their state retirement accounts will erase those gains from two years ago, the Nevada Police Union warned.

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Amid a state staffing reclassification, there likely will not be any raises this year, the governor said Monday.

This is not as simple as increasing pay, Lombardo said, You got to change your recruiting policies and make sure you get more aggressive, and you have to look at your qualifications needed, to get them into the to work. But you also have to change the attitude of leadership and the communities in support of those individuals. You have to convince people to want to be part of the profession.

You dont think theres going to be pay increases in session? Charns asked.

Probably not across the board for the entire state, Lombardo said. I always use this analogy, You cant catch all the fish in the sea, but you got to make sure youre working hard to catch or at least catch some of them. And I believe, the state police are doing a magnanimous job and doing what they can within their ability.

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Lombardos proposal to amend the law to allow prosecutors to charge impaired drivers who cause death with second-degree murder was part of a larger crime bill, which had yet to be introduced as of Monday.

While Monday marked the deadline for the governor to introduce his bills this legislative session, he will receive a waiver because the Legislative Counsel Bureau was not finished reviewing them, a spokesperson said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Republican Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo introduced legislation Monday aimed at building affordable housing across the state, he told 8 News Now.

The proposal marks the governors first legislative proposal this legislative session.

The Nevada Housing Access and Attainability Act would create a housing fund to assist in the development of $1 billion in affordable housing, the governor said. About $250 million would go toward rental and downpayment assistance through grants, loans and rebates.

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We are by no means in a situation where we have to restrict growth versus expand upon growth, Lombardo said. And for us to be successful as a community and an economy, we have to expand.

The proposal would also expand affordable housing eligibility for Nevada households making up to 150% of the area median income, the governors office said.

A major part of the proposed law would remove restrictions for builders looking to create affordable housing on government-owned land. Auctions to buy the land often lead to affordable housing builders getting priced out, Lombardo said.

It becomes cost prohibitive for affordable housing, Lombardo said about that process. If youre going to build custom homes or high-end retail, yeah, it makes sense, but when were addressing the affordable, attainable housing issues, its got to be able to pencil out to get builders in the space, Lombardo said, adding his staff worked on the proposal with Nevadas federal delegation and the White House.

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The proposal was not entered into the legislative record on Monday afternoon and did not yet have a bill number.

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HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  News13s Adrianna Lawrence on Monday spoke exclusively with the family of Chris Skinner, a man who drowned in 2021, days after the Horry County Coroners Office said it was given new evidence related to his death.

News13 also learned in a conversation with Skinners sister Tamra McDermott that the situation has ties to Myrtle Beach pastor John-Paul Miller, whos been in the national spotlight since his wife Micas suicide last April.

The coroners office at the time ruled 40-year-old Skinners death accidental. The family never questioned what investigators found. But recent events over the past year have led not only his family but outsiders to press authorities to take another look at the incident.

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When the police were doing their investigations on the scene, they were told certain things. And now there has been some acknowledgment that some of those things are inaccurate, McDermott said. And they realize theres some falsehood to some of the statements.

Skinner was an Army veteran who was paralyzed from the neck down after a car wreck when he was 20 years old. Soon after that, he became a motivational speaker and author.

On the morning of Sept. 6, 2021, police reports say Skinner went to a community pool in the Market Common area to meet someone for a game of chess.

While strapped in his wheelchair, surveillance video shows he fell into the pool and was there for about 40 minutes before first responders pulled him out. A police report goes on say the video shows him trying to raise his head up.

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Chriss wife Suzie tried to produce a do not resuscitate order, but the form wasnt filled out, so he was taken to a local hospital and later pronounced dead, police said in their statement.

Dashcam video obtained by News13 shows who Chriss family says is John-Paul Miller and Mica with Suzie at the scene. According to recent court testimony, Suzie said she first met John-Paul in 2019 and is now his girlfriend.

John-Paul Miller is also being investigated by the FBI.

McDermott said Chris attended John-Pauls former Solid Rock Church  and didnt have positive feelings toward him.

About four to five months prior to his passing, he did talk a lot about the pastor at that church. He did stop going to church there. He would talk openly to me, close friends of his and others about  why he was distancing himself from the church.

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Its not clear why Skinner had developed such feelings toward Solid Rock and its leader, but a 2024 affidavit filed by Millers ex-wife Alison Williams said he began a sexual relationship with another woman whose husband later drowned.

The womans husband confronted John-Paul two weeks before he died, her affidavit continues. Chriss funeral was held at Solid Rock.

After Mica died, McDermott said many people started to question the circumstances around Chriss death.

That caused frequent speculation all over media, social media, and that caused people to put a lot of phone calls into the Myrtle Beach police, the coroner, on a regular, recurring basis, McDermott said.

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McDermott said many of those inquiries centered around inconsistent information. Police reports obtained by News13 says Chriss wheelchair was seen moving toward the water and falling in.

Photo courtesy of Tamra McDermott

But a coroners report concluded that he got too close to the pools edge, causing him to slip and fall in  further stating an autopsy wasnt done, statements werent taken and nothing was filed under witnesses or from the death scene.

If the coroner has made a decision to reopen the investigation and, of course, her released statement, I believe that there is means to say that it was going to be potentially something other than an accident, McDermott said.

News13 has reached out to the coroners office to ask why a few items were not filed, and whether thats typical for accidental drowning cases.

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* * *

Adrianna Lawrence is a multimedia journalist at News13. Adrianna is originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and joined the News13 team in June 2023 after graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in May 2023. Keep up with Adrianna on Instagram, Facebook, and X, formerly Twitter. You can also read more of her work, here.

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

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(This story has been updated with new information.)

New Hampshire Republicans walked back their proposal to defund the New Hampshire State Library at a House panel Tuesday after receiving many concerned emails from the public.

On Monday, a House Finance Committee voted to eliminate the states art division and seemed poised to defund the state library.

Rep. Joseph Sweeney, R-Salem, introduced the proposals, citing budgetary concerns.

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This is a budget in which we really need to identify what we need to fund as a state and to make reductions in the, what I would call the optional or the wants of the state, Sweeney said at a meeting of the House Finance Division 1 Committee. Two of those that I've identified would be under the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the Division of Arts and the State Library.

But on Tuesday, Sweeney backed away from the plan to eliminate the library.

I do not want to move forward with the full cut of the State Library. Nor do I think we would like to, he said, calling for a more surgical approach. The lawmakers are now asking the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to cut its own budget by hundreds of thousands of dollars instead.

Sweeney warned, however, he suspects many programs associated with the State Library, like the interlibrary loans, are at risk anyways because of the removal of federal funding.

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The plan to eliminate the New Hampshire Council on the Arts is still in effect, but faces many more legislative steps before becoming official.

The New Hampshire State House, Feb. 6, 2025

Why defund the arts and make cuts state library in NH?

The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts provides funding for arts programs across the state. Created in 1965, the council describes itself as a state agency enhancing the quality of life in New Hampshire by stimulating economic growth through the arts, investing in the creativity of students, and making the arts accessible to underserved populations.

Built in 1895, the New Hampshire State Library is the oldest library in the country. It houses archival materials and provides access to library and informational resources for New Hampshire residents across the state.

Cutting both would save the state about $6.2 million in the fiscal year 2026 and 2027, according to the proposal. To Sweeney, its one of those cuts that we just sort of have to make in order to balance the budget.

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On Monday, Sweeney said that records stored at the library could be transferred to the Secretary of State. He also proposed that the library building be used as office space for the legislative branch.

Should the state be funding the arts and library?

Arts and library funding has often been under attack by the current federal administration: just recently, President Donald Trump ordered the shuttering of a small government agency that funds libraries and museums across the country.

Sweeney said Monday there is no constitutional need to fund the arts or the state library.

This is a haircut we can make that doesn't impact doesn't have negative externalities when we're talking about the health and well-being of the state, he said.

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But some lawmakers on both sides pushed back.

Rep. Gerald Griffin, R-Mont Vernon, said he could not support eliminating the state library on Monday.

I was pulling old documents in there that you just can't get anywhere else, Griffin said. It's part of our history, and I think at least the building itself and the function that is served have to be preserved.

Democrats argued against the proposals Monday too, saying that arts are a driver of business and getting rid of the council could have a negative economic impact.

Rep. Rosemarie Rung, D-Merrimack, said that the budget issue is self-inflicted by Republicans voting against other things that couldve increased state revenues, such as the dividends and interest tax.

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"I think it's absolutely abhorrent that we're discussing zeroing out, firing people at the state level in these departments that are focused on the State Library and arts, Rung said. I think it's really going to be a wakeup call to Granite Staters when they realize they're living in a state where their representatives aren't even supporting these types of programs.

After the panel decided Tuesday not to completely eliminate the state library, Rep. Karen Ebel, D-New London, thanked the people who wrote emails to the committee.

"It was heartening to me to see the enthusiastic support that our libraries have, and our state library in particular has," Ebel said, adding that they also heard from people about the art council cuts. "I also think that it points to the somewhat desperate situation that we're in as far as the budget is concerned."

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH Republicans propose defunding arts, walk back eliminating library
Leaders from eight municipalities along the Canadian border in the Western New York area will convene to discuss their deep concern over the impact of tariffs imposed in recent months.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz announced Monday that he will join leaders from seven municipalities bordering lakes Erie and Ontario as part of whats being called the Niagara 8.

Included in the group with Erie County will be representatives from Niagara County and the cities of Buffalo and Niagara Falls on the U.S. side and the Regional Municipality of Niagara, Ontario, the City of Niagara Falls, Ontario; the Town of Fort Erie and the Town of Niagara-On-The Lake, Ontario in Canada.

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The groups purpose and mission were outlined in a letter signed by representatives of each municipality that acknowledges a collective need to better position the two sides as they navigate big economic changes that have happened since U.S. President Donald Trump took office and imposed substantial tariffs on Canadian goods. In response, Canadian officials have upped tariffs on U.S. goods.

Poloncarz noted that $2.5 billion worth of goods, based on U.S. dollars, cross the border each day, with $6 billion in lumber and wood products for the U.S. homebuilding industry coming from Canada in 2024. He also said in a release from his office that 70% of all Canadian imports to the U.S. are used to manufacture other U.S.-made products.

The numbers suggest both sides have a mutual stake in ensuring conditions remain favorable to continued trade and commerce.

Western New York and Southern Ontario have a rich, interconnected history and we remain committed partners and neighbors, regardless of the climate in Washington or Ottawa, Poloncarz said.

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Niagara Falls, Ont., Mayor Jim Diodati first spoke of reconvening the Niagara 10 last month. The group of elected officials from both sides of the border met for years to discuss issues of common interest but had not done so since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Diodati indicated that leaders from both countries have shared interests when it comes to creating a welcoming environment for tourists.

We have a great opportunity with the exchange rate right now, he said. We could have a huge uptick in American visitation. We dont want them to not feel welcome anymore than we dont want to feel welcome when we visit our family and friends when we go to the U.S.

Niagara Falls, Ont., Councilor Mona Patel noted that Americans represent about 25% of the visitors in Ontario and 50% of the spending contribution and that any drop in visitation will impact the local economy.

We welcome Americans in our city, she said. We are pro-Canadians, but we are not anti-Americans either.
Wilson Partners, a UK-based provider of accounting, tax, and corporate finance services, has acquired Rutland-based Max Accountants.

This acquisition further expands the firm's presence in London, Cambridge, and the South of England.

The deal, Wilson Partners first of 2025 and its eighth overall, will boost the firms revenue to 32m ($41m) and increase its workforce to nearly 300 employees.

Additionally, the deal will double the size of its team focused on early-stage and high-growth technology and life sciences businesses.

Max Accountants directors Sarah Royle and Martin Hickman said: Were thrilled to be joining forces with Wilson Partners.

With our niche in the start-up and high-growth space, we had a lot of interest from potential partners. However, Wilson Partners ambition, SME focus, and people-first culture set them apart  we cant wait to see what we can achieve together.

Since securing investment in 2021, Wilson Partners has pursued a growth strategy, partnering with eight firms and growing revenues sevenfold.

Currently, the firm operates offices in Cambridge, Maidenhead, Plymouth, Reading, Rutland, Sevenoaks, Woking, and also South Africa.

Wilson Partners managing director Allan Wilson said: This is a very exciting deal for us. With an established presence in Cambridge and a growing team supporting start-ups and high-growth tech firms, bringing the Max Accountants team on board strengthens our ability to provide expert support to these hugely important and dynamic businesses that are shaping the UK economy.

"Wilson Partners acquires Max Accountants" was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand.




The Falls Water Board is preparing to return to turning off the water of Niagara Falls property owners who are behind on their bills.

Water Board Executive Director and General Counsel Sean Costello told board members at their Monday night meeting that service termination actions are expected to resume in the second quarter of this year, which begins April 1.

A state moratorium on water shutoffs, prompted by the Covid pandemic, is set to expire on Monday. The Falls Water Board, like others across New York, has seen its delinquencies skyrocket since the moratorium was instituted in 2019.

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Our delinquent accounts have gone from $1.2 million in 2019 to $3.5 million in 2024, Costello told the water board members.

But with the state moratorium ending, Costello said water board staff determined that service terminations should resume as a way to begin collecting on that mountain of debt.

Water bills are currently sent out quarterly, with the most recent mailed on March 1. Costello said past-due notices would probably go out by mid-April.

If payments are not received after the past due notices are mailed, water board employees will place door hanger notices on a property giving the owner 48 hours to settle their bill.

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After that, the water service would be terminated.

Realistically, we probably wouldnt be shutting off service before sometime in May, Costello said in outlining the debt collection plans.

Board members raised no objections to the debt collection plan.
A North Jersey man pleaded guilty in connection with a 100 mph car crash that killed a 70-year-old woman, authorities announced Monday.

Alexander Eiden, of Essex Fells, copped to one count of vehicular manslaughter in the death of Christine Perrella on Jan. 9, 2023, in Roseland, according to NJ.com.

Cops said Eiden was driving 103 mph in a 50 mph zone when he slammed into another vehicle, which was being driven by Perrella. No passengers were in either vehicle.

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Perrella, 70, was rushed to a local hospital but pronounced dead. Eiden, 23 at the time of the crash, was initially charged with aggravated manslaughter and vehicular homicide. Additionally, he was issued traffic citations for reckless driving.

If convicted on the aggravated manslaughter charge, Eiden could have faced 10-30 years in prison under New Jersey law. But the charge he pleaded guilty to, vehicular manslaughter, only carries a maximum sentence of 5-10 years.

The Essex County Prosecutors office did not say any sentencing guidelines were included in Eidens plea deal, according to NJ.com. His sentencing hearing was scheduled for May 19.

Perrella was remembered in her obituary as a loving grandmother, a loyal and caring person who most especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.
A Northern Kentucky man has admitted to manufacturing devices that transform a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic one and disposing of the 3D printers used to make them.

Armando Ismael Soto Melendez, 37, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court in Covington to an illegal weapons possession charge. As part of his plea deal, prosecutors are expected to drop three other charges he's facing.

Soto Melendez worked with another man, Juan Velazquez-Rodriguez, to make the devices, commonly known as Glock switches, to convert Glock pistols and other firearms into automatic weapons, according to his plea agreement.

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Soto Melendez used a 3D printer to make the devices at his Park Hills home and Velazquez-Rodriguez sold them, prosecutors said. The investigation into the pair began after Velazquez-Rodriguez was arrested early last year by the Boone County Sheriff's Office for meth trafficking and possession of a Glock switch.

'Why I told you to clean the apartment'

An informant told investigators that Velazquez-Rodriguez tried to sell them a machine gun conversion device and when deputies Velazquez-Rodriguez's residence, they found one of the devices in a dresser drawer, prosecutors said.

While searching Velazquez-Rodriguez's social media accounts and cellphone, investigators also found messages about 3D printing firearm parts, according to prosecutors. They also found messages of him advertising devices for Glocks and assault-style rifles for sale for as much as $250.

While in jail in May 2024, Velazquez-Rodriguez used another inmate's email account to message Soto Melendez and instruct him to "remove and dispose of the 3D printer and everything related to 3D printing," prosecutors said in court filings.

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After Soto Melendez removed the 3D printer from his apartment, Velazquez-Rodriguez wrote a follow-up message saying, "Someone hit me with the switch and found the broken one, that's why I told you to clean the apartment."

The Glock switches or chips, quickly attached to a handgun, converting the firearm from shooting one bullet per trigger squeeze to having the capability of firing until the trigger is released.

Investigators searched Soto Melendez's home and storage locker in July 2024 and recovered rifles, handguns, a computer and "firearm silencers," according to the plea agreement.

Prosecutors said Soto Melendez is not legally allowed to own firearms due to a previous assault conviction in Kenton County.

While investigators didn't uncover any Glock switches among Soto Melendez's belongings, prosecutors said, deputies analyzed the computer and found printer drivers for a 3D printer and printing template files for Glock switches and silencers.

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In court on Tuesday, Soto Melendez admitted the computer was used to make machine gun conversion devices. He's facing a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

He's expected to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge David Bunning on July 11. Velazquez-Rodriguez pleaded guilty in January to illegal possession of a machine gun and is set to be sentenced on April 17.

What is a Glock switch?

A Glock switch is a small device installed on the back of a Glock handgun. Instead of firing one round per trigger pull, the device allows the gun to continue firing at a high rate as long as the trigger is pressed.

Federal and local law enforcement have warned of the growing prevalence of such devices in Greater Cincinnati.

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The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says Glock switches make shootings more deadly because more bullets can hit the victim and it makes weapons harder to control, meaning bullets can be sprayed around, striking innocent bystanders.

Federal agents previously uncovered the sale of such devices  manufactured locally using 3D printers  to gangs in Cincinnati believed responsible for shootings, including a group dubbed the "Button Boys," whose name stems from a slang term for the selector switch on a machine gun conversion device.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Northern Kentucky men used 3D printer to make, sell Glock switches
A senior woman being assisted to walk using a walker by caregiver at park. (Stock photo by Thianchai Sitthikongsak via Getty Images)

The New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department will host three community forums throughout the state over the next three months to hear about experiences with Alzheimers disease and other dementia-related illnesses and connect people with available services.

The free forums, jointly produced by the aging department and the Alzheimers Association, will be held in Silver City, Clayton and Tucumcari.

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No one should have to face Alzheimers alone, Emily Kaltenbach, secretary of the Aging and Long-Term Services Department, said in a statement. Whether they are caregiving for a loved one or facing a diagnosis themselves, we hope that we can start to break the silence around Alzheimers, promote early detection, and ensure that everyone has the resources they need.

Schedule:

Silver City

March 26, 3 to 5 p.m.

Silver City Public Library, 515 W. College Avenue

Clayton

April 16, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Clayton Civic Center, 124 N. Front Street

Tucumcari

May 8, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tucumcari Convention Center, 1500 U.S. Route 66

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RSVP to the forums by calling 505-404-9857.

According to an ALTSD news release, organizers encourage attendees to share their stories of living with dementia, caring for someone with dementia, voice concern and ask about available services.

Joey Long, aging department spokesperson, told Source NM an Alzheimers Associations representative will be on hand at all three forums, as well as staff from the departments Consumer and Elder Rights Division, who will provide information about Medicare and Medicaid options, home-delivered meals, prescription drug assistance, caregiver assistance and legal service options. Kaltenbach will attend the Silver City and Clayton forums, while Deputy Secretary Antoinette Vigil will attend the Tucumcari event.

During the recently completed legislative session, lawmakers passed several bills that will impact seniors in the state, including House Bill 131, which would tighten background checks for potential caregivers; and House Memorial 53, which requests more research be done on Alzheimers disease, clinical trials and early detection, and asks the Aging and Long-Term Services Department and the Department of Health to work together in disseminating information to New Mexicans. Both passed and HB131 awaits a signature from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The mystery surrounding what happened to the Martin Family continues after deputies revealed they could not match car parts pulled from the depths of the Columbia River to the familys station wagon with absolute certainty.

After removing parts of a 1954 Ford station wagon on March 7, officials said they could not find the vehicle identification number because only a portion of the car had been retrieved. Officials also said theyre suspending any further recovery efforts.

Overnight break-ins at two local weed dispensaries spark investigation

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Investigators were unable to locate a vehicle identification number (VIN), however, which in 1954 was just starting to be common practice, though not always placed in a consistent location on the vehicle, officials said. For those reasons, investigators cannot say with absolute certainty that it is the vehicle.

The sudden disappearance of the Martin Family in 1958 remains one of the most baffling cold cases in Oregon history.

Earlier in March, the Hood River County Sheriffs Office announced they had received information from a local diver who claimed to have found the long-lost vehicle in the Columbia River.

After matching a partial plate, officials said they were 99% sure this was the Martins car, which was found upside down 50 feet beneath the water with debris on top of it.

KOIN Previous Coverage: Martin Family 1958 disappearance

But when officials attempted to retrieve the car, they said only a part of it had come out of the river. They did retrieve the engine, but were unable to spot a VIN to make the official match.

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They said that that thing is crumbling, Hood River Sheriff Matt English said. This is something that we kind of anticipated could be a reality. Its been in there for 66 years. And so, you know, its really rusty and really falling apart and so I think theyll do more of a debrief with the professionals. But it sounded like whatever is left there is full of rocks and buried [] They cant even tell if the whole body is there, frankly, of the car.

A giant crane pulled up an engine from what is likely the Martin Family car missing since 1958 in Cascade Locks, March 7, 2025 (KOIN) Investigators continue the search for what is believed to be the Martin family car on Mar. 7, 2025. (KOIN) The emblem from a Ford, likely from the missing Martin Family car from 1958, was found in Cascade Locks, March 7, 2025 (Archer Mayo) A partial license plate, likely from the missing Martin Family car from 1958, was found in Cascade Locks, March 7, 2025 (Archer Mayo) Car parts, including the engine, likely connected to the Martin Family car missing since 1958 was taken to a Hood River County crime lab, March 7, 2025 (KOIN) A barge arrives to pull what investigators believe to be the Martin family car out of the Columbia River, Mar. 6, 2025. (KOIN) Pieces of a station wagon believed to be tied to the Martin Family disappearance in 1958 being pulled from the Columbia River on Friday, March 7, 2025. (Credit: KOIN) Coverage of the search for the Martin Family in the Columbia River near Cascade Locks from the Oregon Journal. (Oregon Journal) Coverage of the search for the Martin Family features pictures of Barbara, Virginia and Susan Martin in the Oregon Journal. (Oregon Journal) Aerial photo of Cascade Locks, Ore. taken in 1958. According to the official report, the Ken Martin accidentally backed the family car into the river here on the afternoon of Dec. 7, 1958. (KOIN Archives) Detective Walter Graven was the only investigator following leads and connecting the dots in the disappearance of the Martin family. (Courtesy: Graven family) A gas station receipt from a Chevron station in Cascade Locks shows Ken Martin purchased five gallons of gas on the afternoon the family vanished. (KOIN Archives) A report from the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office detailing the discovery of a girls body near Bonneville Dam. The body is later identified as Virginia Martin. (Graven family)

The car parts that were pulled from the water had the following characteristics that matched the description of the Martin family car: It was a 1954 Ford 4-door station wagon painted cream with red trim and matching serial numbers to records from the Ford Motor Company at the time.

Given what was found and the location in which it was found, HRCSO investigators have every reason to believe that what was recovered belonged to the Martin family vehicle, officials said.

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Oregon Congresswoman Bynum introduces bill to study inflation, tariffs

However, without a matching VIN, they cannot call it a certain match, and the sheriffs office said it will not re-attempt to pull out what remains of the vehicle under the water.

Due to the difficulties associated with retrieving the chassis, and the corroded condition that it was in, HRCSO does not feel that expending further time or resources on the retrieval of the remainder of the vehicle would be prudent, nor would it be guaranteed of success, officials said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
ST. LOUIS  No-excuse in-person absentee voting begins Tuesday across the St. Louis region, allowing voters to cast their ballots early without needing a qualifying reason.

This change comes ahead of the April 8 election, which features several closely watched races, including the mayoral contest in St. Louis and Proposition B in St. Louis County.

Until now, voters needed a specific reason to vote absentee before Election Day. However, starting Tuesday and continuing through April 7, voters can participate in early voting without providing an excuse.

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Jefferson County man charged in child sex crimes, more victims possible

The mayoral race in St. Louis is drawing significant attention, with incumbent Tishaura Jones facing challenger Cara Spencer, a current alderwoman. Additionally, Proposition B in St. Louis County is on the ballot, a measure that would allow the county council to fire department heads with five affirmative votes.

Voters can take advantage of early voting at multiple locations throughout St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and other areas.

With the introduction of no-excuse absentee voting, election authorities anticipate a significant increase in early voter turnout as residents take advantage of the opportunity to ensure their voices are heard before Election Day.

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All facts from this article were gathered by KTVI journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KTVI staff.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Hamdan Ballal, one of the Palestinian co-directors of Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, has been freed after being detained and beaten, according to the documentarys Israeli co-director Yuval Abraham.

After being handcuffed all night and beaten in a military base, Hamdan Ballal is now free and is about to go home to his family.  Yuval Abraham   (@yuval_abraham) March 25, 2025

Fellow No Other Land director Basel Adra has posted an image of Ballal in hospital receiving treatment.

Abraham claimed in a post to X today that their co-director was handcuffed all night and beaten in a military base. In an earlier post the director said he spoke to Ballals lawyer Leah Tsemel who conveyed the report of him being beaten by authorities.

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In a separate differing account, the Israel military said three Palestinians had been detained on suspicion of hurling rocks at it forces and one Israeli civilian involved in a violent confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians.

A spokesperson for the Center for Jewish Nonviolence (CJNV), bringing Jewish activists from around the world to Israel-Palestine to support Palestinian-led nonviolent civil resistance to occupation, refuted the IDF statement.

The Israeli army has a long history of making false claims in order to implicate Palestinians and absolve Israeli settlers and soldiers of wrongdoing. This is yet another example, CJNV Development and Communications Director Chase Carter told Deadline.

He recounted that Israeli settlers had attacked just as Palestinian residents of Hamdans home village of Susiya were sitting down for the Iftar feast ending a day of fasting for Ramadan.

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The community was gathering to celebrate with one another. No matter when it is, Palestinians know that even picking up a stone could mean being killed or arrested for years or their whole life. The army watched and did nothing to stop the settler attack and in fact actively stopped anyone from coming to the aid of Hamdan and others who were under attack and were pleading for their lives. We have video of the attack and have provided clear documentation and statements, he said.

International outcry

Ballals release followed growing concerns about his well-being and whereabouts after Abraham first reported the attack. His detention sparked outcry from the international and U.S. film community. Filmmakers Alex Gibney, Liz Garbus, Ezra Edelman, Christine Vachon and Maite Alberdi were among some 3,700 signatories of a petition calling for Ballals immediate release and safety. In a social post, Hollywood star Mark Ruffalo called on every filmmaker and Academy member to act together in protest.

Documentary festival CPH:DOX  which is currently underway in the Danish capital of Copenhagen  also put out a statement saying it was deeply horrified and shocked by the reports of what had happened to Ballal.



No Other Land is a testimony to injustice and displacement, and we stand in solidarity with the films directors, including Hamdan Ballal, in their fight to document the reality on the ground, it said.

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Channel 4, which is currently streaming the film in the UK following a broadcast premiere on its main channel on March 4, also said it was deeply disturbed by Ballals detention, describing him as a remarkably brave filmmaker.

Overnight the International Documentary Association also demanded Ballals immediate release and justification for his detention.

Ballal is one of four co-directors on No Other Land, alongside fellow Palestinian filmmaker and activist Basel Adra, Abraham and Israeli cinematographer, editor and director Rachel Szor.

Shot between 2019 and 2023, No Other Land captures the struggle of people living in the West Bank Palestinian villages of Masafer Yatta in the face of attempts by Israeli authorities and settlers to erase their homes and history from the map.

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Israeli settlers have continued to attack the area since the films Oscar win on March 2.

The work world-premiered in 2024 at the Berlinale, where it won the Audience Award and Berlinale Documentary Award, with Abraham sparking controversy after he criticized a situation of apartheid in Israel and called for a ceasefire in Gaza in his acceptance speech.

Since its premiere, No Other Land has won 68 film festival and annual prizes, topped by the Academy Award for Best Documentary in March and also including the BAFTA Award, European Film Award, IDA Awards and Gotham Independent Film Awards.

The film landed in the eye of a fresh storm this month when Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner proposed terminating a lease agreement with indie cinema O Cinema due its screening of the film, saying the pic failed a to present a fair and balanced view. He was forced to stand down by local opposition to the move.

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More than 600 people including several Oscar winners signed an open letter to the city decrying the theaters potential shutdown as an attack on freedom of expression, the right of artists to tell their stories, and a violation of the First Amendment.

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No Other Land co-director Hamdan Ballal is now free after being detained in West Bank, according to his fellow director Yuval Abraham.

After being handcuffed all night and beaten in a military base, Hamdan Ballal is now free and is about to go home to his family, Abraham wrote on X early Tuesday morning.

Last night, several assailants threw stones at Israeli civilians, damaging their vehicles near Sussiya in the Judea Brigade sector. A violent confrontation then broke out at the scene, involving mutual rock-throwing between Palestinians and Israelis, an IDF spokesperson said in a statement. Upon the arrival of IDF and police forces to disperse the confrontation, a number of assailants began throwing stones at security personnel.

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In response, the forces arrested three Palestinians suspected of hurling stones at the security forces, as well as one Israeli civilian involved in the altercation, the statement continued. The detainees were taken for further questioning by Israeli police. An Israeli civilian injured in the incident was evacuated for medical treatment. Contrary to claims, no Palestinian inside an ambulance was arrested.

On Monday, witnesses recalled on social media that a stone-throwing fight broke out between Israeli settlers and Palestinians after an Israeli shepherd was attacked by Palestinians, Hebrew-language daily newspaper Israel Hayom reported.

After the assault, Hamdan was handcuffed and blindfolded all night in an army base while two soldiers beat him up on the floor, his lawyer Leah Tsemel said after speaking with him just now, Abraham shared earlier on Tuesday. Hes still held in the Kiryat Arba police station.

The latest update comes a day after he first announced Ballals detainment. A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal, co director of our film no other land. They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding. Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him. No sign of him since.

After being handcuffed all night and beaten in a military base, Hamdan Ballal is now free and is about to go home to his family.  Yuval Abraham   (@yuval_abraham) March 25, 2025

Abraham later clarified his initial statement, adding, Note: Hamdan was assaulted and beaten up, not murdered. My use of lynched was a mistranslation from Hebrew (English isnt my first language). Hes injured and being held at a police station in a settlement. They did not let his lawyer speak to him yet so we dont know more.

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No Other Land from Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Ballal and Abraham won Best Documentary Feature Film at the 2025 Oscars. It chronicles the displacement of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta by Israeli military and settlers after a court ruling declared the area a closed military zone.

The movie was also recently in the news after a Miami Beach mayor, who is Jewish, tried to get O Cinema screenings of the doc pulled and the theater in question evicted. He has since dropped those plans.

The post No Other Land Co-Director Hamdan Ballal Freed After Being Detained in West Bank appeared first on TheWrap.
The post No Other Land Co-Director Hamdan Ballal Released by Israeli Authorities After Attack by West Bank Settlers appeared first on Consequence.

Hamdan Ballal, a co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, has been released from custody at a police station in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba, reports the Associated Press.

According to APs journalists on the ground, Ballal was released on Tuesday afternoon with a bruised face and bloodied clothing. Lea Tsemel, the attorney representing Ballal and two other Palestinians, said they were accused of throwing stones at a young settler. They deny the allegations.

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Palestinian residents told the Associated Press that two dozen settlers attacked their village of Susiya in the West Bank on Monday evening, as they were breaking fast during Ramadan. The residents further allege that soldiers who arrived on the scene pointed guns at Palestinians as settlers kept hurling stones.

On Monday, the Israeli military confirmed it had taken custody of three Palestinians suspected of throwing stones at their forces and one Israeli civilian involved in a violent confrontation.

The Associated Press also spoke to Hamdan Ballals wife, Lamia, who said she witnessed part of the incident unfold outside of her window. Lamia recalled seeing three uniformed men beating her husband with their rifle butts and another person in civilian clothing who appeared to be filming the attack.

Of course, after the Oscar, they have come to attack us more, she said. I felt afraid.

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In a tweet posted on Monday, Ballals collaborator Yuval Abraham wrote that a group of settlers just lynched Ballal. He continued, They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding. Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him.

He later posted an update saying, [Ballal is] injured and being held at a police station in a settlement. They did not let his lawyer speak to him yet so we dont know more.

Born in Palestine, Ballal co-directed No Other Land as part of a collective of four Palestinian-Israeli activist-filmmakers, including Abraham. The film documents the systematic demolition of Palestinian homes in the West Bank between 2019 and 2023, primarily told from co-director Basel Adras perspective.

At the Academy Awards earlier this month, No Other Land won Best Documentary Feature.

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No Other Land Co-Director Hamdan Ballal Released by Israeli Authorities After Attack by West Bank Settlers

Eddie Fu

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No Other Land director Hamdan Ballal released after attack by Israeli settlers, Yuval Abraham says

Hamdan Ballal, the Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, has been freed after being attacked and detained by Israeli settlers, his co-director Yuval Abraham said on X on Tuesday. "Hamdan Ballal is free and is about to go home to his family," he wrote. In a post on Monday, Abraham said Ballal was attacked by Israeli settlers near his home in the West Bank and was taken by soldiers from an ambulance. Jihad Nawajaa, head of the Susiya local council, told Reuters that a group of settlers attacked the Susiya village during a gathering for Iftar, the end of the daily Ramadan fast, on Monday. Ballal, who was injured, was one of three men who were arrested. Ballal's wife Lamia Balall said Monday, "The settlers attacked him and started beating him, and then they arrested him, we do not know anything about him." Members of the film community called for Ballal's release after the news broke Monday.

Adolescence tops Netflix, U.K. ratings

Adolescence was the most-watched show on Netflix for the second week, amassing 42 million viewers from March 17-23. Its grand total of 66.3 million since its March 13 debut makes it the most-watched Netflix limited series over a two-week period. Across the pond, the four-episode series has made history in the U.K., becoming the first streaming series to hit No. 1 in the weekly TV ratings. The Netflix hit, which premiered on March 13, earned 6.45 million viewers for its first episode between March 10 and March 16, according to Barb. The figure is the biggest for a streaming show, surpassing the 6.3 million accrued by Netflix's Fool Me Once. Adolescence's second episode debuted at No. 2 with 5.94 million, while the third attracted 5.14 million (fifth place) and the fourth drew 4.65 million (ninth place).

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Watch the new trailer for Drop

A second trailer for Drop has, uh, dropped. Directed by Christopher Landon, the Blumhouse thriller, which premiered at SXSW, stars Meghann Fahy as Violet, a single mother, who's on a date with Henry (Brandon Sklenar) when she starts to receive threatening messages on her phone. The caller tells her to follow instructions, including killing Henry, or her sister and son will be killed. Drop hits theaters April 11.

Kiss of the Spider Woman acquired, set for awards season release

Bill Condon's Kiss of the Spider Woman, starring Jennifer Lopez, has been acquired by Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate, and LD Entertainment, Deadline reports. The musical, which premiered at Sundance, will have a wide fall theatrical release for awards season. An adaptation of the 1976 novel and set in 1981 Argentina, the film is based on the stage musical of the same name and follows Luis Molina (Tonatiuh), who gets imprisoned because he's gay. Molina shares a cell with Valentin (Diego Luna), an Marxist. Lopez plays Ingrid Luna, a classic screen actress and star of musicals whom Molina sees in his fantasies as he tries to escape his current reality. "All of us who made this film believe it needs to be experienced in a theatre, so were grateful and excited to be partnering with the very talented folks at Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate Studios, and LD Entertainment to make that happen," said Condon. "On a personal note, this feels like a homecoming  Lionsgate picked up Gods and Monsters out of Sundance in 1998, and Ive worked with them and Roadside on three other films since then."

Kathy Bates, Cristin Milioti, and more among Gracie Awards winners

Kathy Bates, Crisitin Milioti, Keke Palmer, Mayim Bialik, Margo Martindale are among the winners at the 50th Annual Gracie Awards. Other recipients include Norah ODonnell, True Detective: Night Country showrunner Issa Lopez, Jimmy Kimmel Live! head writer and executive producer Molly McNearney, St. Denis Medical, English Teacher's Stephanie Koenig, Descendants: The Rise of Red, Dune: Prophecy, Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words, Legacy Talk with Lena Waithe. The Gracies, which is celebrating five decades of amplifying womens voices, stories, and achievements in media, will celebrate the honorees at the Gracie Awards Gala on May 20. See the full list of winners here.

The White Lotus hits series high viewership with incest episode

"Denials," the sixth episode of Season 3 of The White Lotus, hit a series high with 4.2 million viewers on Sunday. The figure is the total of viewers who watched on HBO and on Max. The episode, which featured an incest sex scene with brothers Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) and Lochlan (Sam Nivola), eclipsed the previous high of 4.1 million set by the Season 2 finale in December 2022. Season 3 debuted last month to 2.4 million. There are two episodes remaining in the season. According to Warner Bros. Discovery, Season 3 is currently outpacing Season 2 by more than 5 million viewers at the same juncture in the season.

Jessica Chastain and Adam Driver's The Dealer gets series order at Apple TV+

Apple TV+ has handed a straight-to-series order for The Dealer starring Jessica Chastain and Adam Driver, Deadline reports. Produced by Media Res, written by Lucas Hnath, and to be directed by Sam Gold, The Dealer is described as a "biting exploration of power, class, seduction and culture set inside the glittering world of the high-end art market, told through the eyes of an aspiring super gallerist, played by Jessica Chastain, and the tangled relationship with her most gifted and unnerving artist, played by Adam Driver." Chastain and Driver will also serve as executive producers alongside Sarah Lunnie, who produced A Doll's House, Part 2 with Hnath and Gold, Michael Ellenberg, Lindsey Springer, Kelly Carmichael, and Alan Poul.

Roy Wood Jr. to host Peabody Awards

Roy Wood Jr. will host the 85th Peabody Awards. "No higher honor than to be in the room as we celebrate some of our generation's best storytellers and reflect upon the ways in which we can all contribute to bettering the times we are in," the comedian said in a statement. "I am also there because there is a free dinner. at least I'm assuming there is dinner..there better some damn food, thats all I know." Wood's first time hosting. The ceremony will take place June 1 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Nominees will be announced on April 15 and April 17, and winners will be revealed on May 1.

Kenny Chesney, June Carter Cash among Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

Kenny Chesney, June Carter Cash, and producer Tony Brown will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this year. The announcement was made Tuesday during a news conference hosted by Vince Gill. "I had a big dream, and Im still pushing that dream as far as I can I just wanted to spread as much love and positive energy as I could, Chesney said at the podium. "Standing up here, I know its not a dream, its real, but its so surreal." Carter Cash's daughter Carlene said, "My mom was a force of nature. Anything thats good about me is because of that woman. My mama was the shit, yall." Brown, who will be inducted in the non-performer category, said, "Ive always wanted to be in the Hall of Fame. I never ever, imagined I would be... This is better than money. This is about making an impact. When it comes down to it, thats why we all get into this business, to make an impact. This means more than anything could ever mean to me."

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WuXi AppTec (Shanghai, China) has sold off two US/UK businesses in February and March, it revealed in its annual results on 18 March 2025.

The Chinese contract research, development, and manufacturing organisation (CRDMO) announced in its latest filings that it had completed two divestments first announced at the end of 2024. On 7 March, it completed the sale of the US and UK operations of its WuXi ATU cell therapy business to US investor Altaris. WuXi AppTec stated that the rationale for the divestiture is to ensure that clients and patients with a pressing need for the WuXi ATU cell therapy services can continue to receive time-critical and life-saving treatments without interruption. Altaris will rename the cell therapy CDMO and base its headquarters in the US. It has five facilities in the US and UK.

Last month, WuXi AppTec completed the sale of its US medical device testing operations to the CRO NAMSA (Northwood, US), it also revealed in its March filing. The transaction will enable WuXi to focus more on its core CRDMO business, the company said.

The divestitures are taking place against a backdrop of increased tensions and tariffs between China and the US. The Biosecure Act, which failed to pass in the US before the end of last year but could be revived in 2025, would cut off federal funding to pharma companies that outsource to WuXi AppTec and and other Chinese biotechnology companies of concern: WuXi Biologics, BGI Genomics, Complete Genomics, and MGI. A version of the bill claims WuXi Apptec presents a national security threat to the United States through its alleged links to the Chinese governments military-civil fusion strategy that merges public and private industries to enable the military modernisation of the army.

A spokesperson told Pharmaceutical Technology: WuXi AppTec operates in a highly regulated industry and fully complies with the strict reporting, oversight and/or inspection requirements of our customers and multiple federal agencies. We have a strong and proven track record of compliance and successful audits, and have never been determined by any federal agency to pose a national security risk to the United States, or any of the countries in which we operate.

In a third-quarter (Q3) 2024 earnings call in October, WuXi AppTec stated that its ATU cell and gene subsidiary had already been impacted by the prospect of the act, as there were insufficient new business wins due to the proposed US legislation.

Nevertheless, the impact of geopolitics on WuXi AppTec in 2024 was very limited, co-CEO Minzhang Chen claimed at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in January 2025.
Hamdan Ballal, one of the two Palestinian filmmakers who co-directed the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," is free. He was released Tuesday from Israeli custody, less than a day after Israeli military and police detained him and three other people following a brutal attack Monday by settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Ballal was released from an Israeli police station in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba. He had bruises on his face and blood on his clothes. Upon his release, the filmmaker told the Associated Press that he was in custody at an army base and forced to sleep under an air conditioner.

I was blindfolded for 24 hours, he told AP. All the night, I was freezing. It was a room, I couldnt see anything ... I heard the voice of soldiers laughing about me.

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Read more: 'No Other Land' filmmaker Hamdan Ballal detained by Israeli forces after he was allegedly attacked by settlers

Ballal was detained Monday evening after a group of masked settlers descended on the Palestinian village Susiya in the Masafer Yatta area and beat him in his head and stomach, his Israeli co-director and journalist Yuval Abraham and activist group Center for Jewish Nonviolence alleged. Abraham said in a tweet shared Monday that "soldiers invaded the ambulance [Ballal] called, and took him." Activist Basel Adra, another Palestinian co-director of "No Other Land," also tweeted about Ballal's detainment Monday, sharing a photo of a person with their hands behind their back being escorted into a vehicle bearing the Israeli flag. "Hamdan...is still missing after soldiers abducted him, injured and bleeding," Adra said.

Palestinian residents said the settlers, some wearing masks, some carrying guns and some in military uniforms, attacked as residents were breaking for their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, AP reported.

The filmmaker's wife Lamia Ballal recounted her husband's detainment and the attack to AP. She said she heard Ballal being beaten outside their home and heard him screaming, "I'm dying." Lamia Ballal said her husband was beaten by three men in uniform using the butts of their rifles. She told AP the attention surrounding "No Other Land's" Oscar win earlier this month led settlers to "attack us more."

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The Center for Jewish Nonviolence on Monday posted dashcam footage on Bluesky of someone shoving three people and punching one member of the group. The video later shows another person  whose face is covered by a mask  joined by several others, picking up an object from the ground and hurling it at the vehicle, destroying the windshield. Video recorded and shared by Anna Lippman, a delegate for the activist group, shows an alternate angle of the confrontation. Lippman also tweeted photos of a vehicle with shards of glass in the passenger seats.

Read more: In harrowing 'No Other Land,' journalists unite to chronicle a community under siege

Lippman told The Times via social media messages Monday that more than a dozen settlers attacked Susiya and destroyed property. She also said that Israeli soldiers took Ballal from the ambulance where he was receiving care, and detained two other Palestinian men.

In a Monday statement, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces shared its account of the "violent confrontation." The spokesperson said the dispute broke out after several people it described as terrorists allegedly hurled rocks at Israeli citizens and damaged their vehicles. The incident involved mutual rock-hurling between Palestinians and Israelis at the scene, the statement said.

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IDF said its members and Israel police responded to disperse the confrontation, and that the people it described as terrorists started hurling rocks their way. The spokesperson said Israeli military and police forces also detained an Israeli person allegedly involved in the confrontation and took all four detainees for further questioning. The IDF spokesperson also denied allegations it detained someone from inside an ambulance. The Times learned Monday afternoon that Israeli forces had detained Ballal on suspicion of hurling rocks at IDF and police.

The IDF spokesperson, in a statement shared with The Times Wednesday morning, denied the "baseless" allegations that the detainees were beaten at a military detention facility and said forces "facilitated medical treatment" for the people it detained. The statement said detainees remained handcuffed "in accordance with operational protocol," but it did not address Ballal's claim that he was forced to sleep under an air conditioner. Israeli forces questioned three detainees "on suspicion of rock hurling, property damage, and endangering regional security," according to the statement. They were released from Israeli custody "under conditions that include a ban on contact with other individuals involved in the incident and personal bail."

The spokesperson added that an Israeli civilian was allegedly injured in Monday's confrontation and required medical attention. "The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are expected," the statement said.

The attorney representing Ballal and the two other Palestinian men who were detained did not immediately respond to The Times on Wednesday.

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Read more: The co-directors of 'No Other Land' on Trump's Gaza plan, the Oscars and the fight ahead

On Tuesday, Adra tweeted photos of Ballal receiving medical care. He wrote that his co-director "was beaten by soldiers and settlers all over his body." He repeated claims that Israeli soldiers left Ballal "blindfolded and handcuffed" for the entirety of his time in custody. The photos show Ballal lying on a medical exam table with two medical personnel around him, one wrapping a blood pressure monitor around the director's left arm. Dark stains that look like blood dot the sleeves and the front of Ballal's striped shirt.

Just weeks ago, Ballal joined his "No Other Land" co-directors Adra, Abraham and Israeli filmmaker Rachel Szor in accepting the documentary feature prize at the 97th Academy Awards. The film, which recently became the subject of controversy in Miami Beach earlier this month, documents Israel's demolition of Palestinian villages in Masafer Yatta and displacement of its communities in favor of Israeli military training grounds.

Despite a lack of commitment from U.S. distributors, various theaters across the country are screening "No Other Land," including the Laemmle Theatres' Santa Monica and Glendale locations and the Lumiere Theater in Beverly Hills. The American Documentary and Animation Film Festival in Palm Springs will host a screening of the film Friday at the Palm Springs Cultural Center.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," Hamdan Ballal, has been released after being detained by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, a fellow filmmaker announced on Tuesday.

"After being handcuffed all night and beaten in a military base, Hamdan Ballal is now free and is about to go home to his family," Yuval Abraham, an Israeli, and one of Ballal's co-directors on the film, wrote on X.

The Times of Israel newspaper reported that Ballal and two other detainees were released on bail and taken to a Palestinian hospital for treatment.

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The seriously injured filmmaker spent the night on the floor of a military base, it said.

Abraham said Ballal had been held in handcuffs, blindfolded and beaten by two soldiers, citing Ballal's lawyer, Lea Tsemel.

The information could not initially be independently verified. Tsemel and the Israeli police did not respond to a request for comment. The Israeli military referred questions to the police.

According to eyewitnesses, Ballal was attacked by radical Israeli settlers in the West Bank on Monday. They said Israeli soldiers then took him out of an ambulance and detained him.

The Israeli military said in a statement that "several terrorists hurled rocks at Israeli citizens, damaging their vehicles near Susya [in the West Bank]. Following this a violent confrontation broke out, involving mutual rock-hurling between Palestinians and Israelis at the scene."

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It said three Palestinian suspects, as well as an Israeli civilian, had been detained, but denied that a Palestinian had been removed from an ambulance.

"No Other Land," directed by Ballas, Abraham, Rachel Szor and Basel Adra, is about the demolition of Palestinian villages in the West Bank.

The Israeli-Palestinian documentary won the Oscar for best documentary earlier this month. It also received the Panorama Audience Award and the Berlinale Documentary Film Award.

The Berlinale organizers described the reports about Ballal as "very disturbing." In a post on Instagram, they said the safety of filmmakers is of great concern to the Berlinale community.

The film, which has been widely shown in Europe, has yet to obtain a US distributor.

Palestinian shepherds atand at the village of Susya. One of the co-directors of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," Hamdan Ballal, who lives in the village of Susya, attacked by Israeli settlers and arrested last night and has been freed today. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
Ballal holds his Oscar for Best Documentary Feature for No Other Land in March - Credit: ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images

Following his attack by Israeli settlers and subsequent arrest by Israeli authorities, Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal  the co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land  has been freed.

After being handcuffed all night and beaten in a military base, Hamdan Ballal is now free and is about to go home to his family, Ballals co-director Yuval Abraham wrote on X. It was Abrahams posts that helped circulate the news of Ballals attack, which occurred just outside his West Bank village home.

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Abraham first reported on Monday, March 24 that Ballal was lynched, but then issued a correction: Note: Hamdan was assaulted and beaten up, not murdered, he said. My use of lynched was a mistranslation from Hebrew (English isnt my first language). Hes injured and being held at a police station in a settlement. They did not let his lawyer speak to him yet so we dont know more.

The Center for Jewish Nonviolence (CJNV), an activist group with members who were on the scene, told Rolling Stone in a statement that dozens of settlers attacked the Palestinian village of Susiya in the Masafer Yatta area of the southern West Bank, which occurred on Monday around 6 p.m. local time. The masked assailants  who were reportedly carrying weapons that included knives, batons, and at least one assault rifle  allegedly attacked two homes, destroyed water tanks, and stole security cameras.

Ballals attack and arrest made international news, and resulted in several filmmakers signing a petition calling for his release. As of this writing, it has nearly 7,000 signatures.

Reports that Mr. Ballal was forcibly removed by the Israeli army from an ambulance following a brutal attack by settlers, and subsequently detained without clear information regarding his whereabouts, deeply alarm us, reads the petition, which was signed by Alex Gibney, Liz Garbus, Roger Ross Williams, and others. Such treatment of an internationally acclaimed filmmaker gravely undermines artistic freedom, human rights, and freedom of speech  core values vital to democratic societies.

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Commenting on IndieWires Instagram post, actor Mark Ruffalo wrote, Every filmmaker and academy member should be acting together in protest. No matter where you stand on this issue this is an attack on our beloved art from of filmmaking. Hamden Ballal is a political prisoner, and this is an international incident and violation of human rights. Many of us are not surprised by this behavior from the lawless settlers and the IDF at this point. Kill journalists and abducting filmmakers is not an accident but a design for the eradication of a people and their culture. Free Ballal!

Filmed by both Palestinian and Israeli activists, No Other Land was co-directed by Ballal, Abraham, Basel Adra, and Rachel Szor. Prior to winning the Oscar for Best Documentary, Adra and Abraham spoke to Rolling Stone about the situation in the West Bank and whether or not the nomination has helped. So far, it has not, Adra said. Thats the sad part. The movie is doing very well outside, in festivals, among audiences, and having a focus from media. But the situation on the ground is going very badly.

Added Abraham: We are going to continue to document, because that is what we do. I dont know how effective it is and I can still hope it will have some effect eventually. But right now, as Basel said, its very hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

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We all know that old adage: when caught sending plans for American military operations through a platform you got off the app store, deny deny deny.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revived the era of alternative facts on Monday, outright refusing to admit that he had leaked plans for U.S. airstrikes on Yemen in a group chat that accidentally included the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic.

Jeffrey Goldberg shared the wild story of the extreme breach in national security on Monday, along with screenshots of the conversations on the encrypted messaging app Signal. In addition to Hegseth, the group chat included Trump administration officials ranging from Secretary of State Marco Rubio up to Vice President JD Vance. When asked about the slip, Hegseth accused Goldberg of "peddling hoaxes."

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"Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again," he said. "This is a guy that peddles in garbage. This is what he does."

When pressed on the story, Hegseth flatly denied that any information was shared outside of official channels.

"Ive heard how it was characterized. Nobody was texting war plans. And thats all I have to say about that," he said.

Reporter: Can you share how your information about war plans was shared with a journalist?



Hegseth: So you are talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who has made a profession of peddling hoaxes pic.twitter.com/JXegFXbdpP  Acyn (@Acyn) March 24, 2025

On MSNBC's "Inside with Jen Psaki," Goldberg pushed back on Hegseth's denial. He called Hegseth's messages "a minute-by-minute accounting" of the attack as it happened.

Goldberg indicates Hegseth lied when he denied texting war plans pic.twitter.com/8IyGEEqhVy  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 25, 2025

The defense secretary's outright "nuh-uh" was slightly more composed than the response from President Donald Trump. When asked about the bombshell report, Trump said the reporter was "telling [him] about it for the first time" before attacking the magazine.

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"I dont know anything about it. Im not a big fan of The Atlantic," he said. "To me, its a magazine thats going out of business. I think its not much of a magazine, but I know nothing about it."

Shortly after that press conference, Trump shared a screenshot of an Elon Musk post on social media. In the post, Musk was repeating a joke shared by the satirical conservative outlet The Babylon Bee.

"Best place to hide a dead body is page 2 of The Atlantic magazine because no one ever goes there," Musk said.

At least a few people inside the Beltway have read the story, as Politico reports that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz might be on the outs for his role in cobbling together the group chat. Anonymous White House officials said that Trump would base Waltz's future in his administration on the "coverage of the embarrassing episode."
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has traveled the country and has made herself the face of the Trump Administrations war on illegal immigration. Monday she was at the southern border with Mexico talking with the media.

Since being sworn in as Secretary of Homeland Security, Noem has been on ICE raids in New York, ridden horses along the southern border, attended the Super Bowl and flown in planes. Monday, Noem was at the border of Mexico inspecting a section where the U.S. is continuing to build a wall.

As you can see we mean business, said Noem pointing at the wall. We are building wall, we are securing our borders and we are not going to let this illegal activity continue.

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Noem says much of her efforts are targeting the cartels, which she says are more sophisticated than people think.

When people think of the cartels of the past, they just think of street violence, they are using apps, drones, technology and partnering with other enemies of the united states to conduct human trafficking, drug smuggling but also money laundering. They are more sophisticated and they are getting more and more violent, said Noem.

After her time at the border in Arizona, Noem flew to Washington DC to attended todays cabinet meeting with the president.

Its great, said Trump looking at Noem. If you might Madam Secretary say a little bit about whats happening and how well weve done at the border.

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So this last week I was in Arizona, California, Alaska and Florida, said Noem. And CBP, literally has almost 100% operational control the border which means that our country is secure and that we know whos coming into this country and that they love our country and they want to help keep it great into the future.

It is clear South Dakotas once-governor is staying busy serving as the 8th Secretary of Homeland Security. Noem has a wide range of responsibility, from counterterrorism and cybersecurity to enforcement of our immigration laws.

Over 100 postal workers protest in Sioux Falls

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
NOLENSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Nobody likes waiting in line, especially when it comes to lines at driver service centers. However, one town in Williamson County is relieving some of the headache, through a self-service kiosk.

You may have seen one of the kiosks around town, theyre not new to Tennessee but it is new to Nolensville. City leaders say its a very efficient concept.

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When you walk up to a kiosk, within 15 to 20 minutes, you can renew your drivers license, replace your license, change the address on your license, pay reinstatement fees, and advance to a graduated drivers license.

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One of Nolensvilles town commissioners Russell Gill, said he noticed a lot of surrounding towns had these kiosks. Gill pushed for Nolensville to get one and he said they put one at the recreation center about three weeks ago.

Gill said not a lot of people know about it yet, so theyre trying to get the word out. He added, that additions to the town like this kiosk may seem small, but they make peoples lives a lot easier.

Were trying to make government services readily available to citizens at the least amount of cost, as well as the most convenient manner possible. Thats why were doing it. Were focusing on time, peoples time. Time is precious, Gill said.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

For a full list of self-serve driver service kiosks in Tennessee, click here.

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A recent University of Utah study found that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is not adequately measuring air pollution impacting non-white populations.

The study found that EPA air quality monitors are disproportionately located in predominantly white neighborhoods, according to university researchers.

It went on to conclude that the federal agencys network consistently failed to capture air quality in communities of color across six major pollutants, particularly lead and sulfur dioxide, followed by ozone and carbon monoxide. As a result, air pollution data may misrepresent pollution concentrations, leaving marginalized groups at risk, it emphasized.

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Its the question behind the question. Researchers, policymakers, we all use air quality data, but whose air is it measuring? said Brenna Kelly, doctoral student at the University of Utah and lead author of the study. Even though this data is of really high quality, that doesnt mean that its high quality for everyone.

If there was a disparity for just one type of monitor, it could conceivably be accidental or just poor design, added co-author Simon Brewer, associate professor of geography. The fact that its a consistent pattern across all pollutants suggests that the decision-making process needs to be looked at carefully  these monitors are not being distributed equitably.

The national study included nearly 3.3 million people and found that monitoring disparities exist for all criteria pollutants, particularly sulfur dioxide and lead, followed by ozone and carbon monoxide. Disparities were consistent across most racial and ethnic groups but were generally largest for those of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander race and American Indian or Alaska Native race.

Sampling bias could potentially lead to incorrect conclusions about the safety of air quality, the study said. Monitors measure a single point in space, meant to be a representative sample of a larger body of air.

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Monitors that were active between March 2019 and March 2024 were included in the analysis, as well as census block groups for all U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

Researchers added that despite the robust body of literature describing inequities in air pollution exposure, inequity in air quality monitoring has not been a major research focus.

Monitoring Utah air

In Utah, the state Division of Air Quality does not monitor concentrations of pollutants on tribal lands because those data collection activities fall under the authority of the EPA, said Bryce Bird, division director.

Utahs Air Quality Monitoring Network currently operates monitors at 25 locations statewide. Two of the monitoring sites have been established to fulfill legislation requirements which directed the Department of Environmental Quality to establish and maintain monitoring facilities to measure the environmental impact from the Inland Port development project. Those locations are the Lake Park site and at the new prison north of I-80 off 7200 West.

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So, under the EPA requirements we are obligated to place the monitors based on the populations that are expected to see the highest levels of air pollution. And so we do air quality modeling to determine where those would be, and then we select sites that are representative, again, of the highest expected level of concentration that represents that population. Our current monitoring network is placed based on that, Bird said.

Monitoring locations are designed to capture pollution exposure levels for a population of 50,000 people, he added.

They arent located targeting specific ethnicity, but theyre targeting those areas where, because of the industry or the proximity to roadways, they would be expected to have the highest levels of air pollution.

The states network includes monitoring at Hawthorne Elementary in Salt Lake City, at DEQs agency headquarters on North Temple near I-215, Rose Park and West Valley City. It also captures data in Woods Cross in Bountiful and monitors air pollution in the area of Copper View Elementary in Midvale.

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The areas that we are required to monitor are based on those federal requirements, and we do place them in the areas where we try to capture, again, where people are being impacted by air pollution, Bird said.

The states network also includes sites in Vernal, Roosevelt, Price, Erda in Tooele County and Smithfield in Cache County.

Utahs pollution regulators have been participating in the EPA-funded Urban Air Toxics Monitoring Program since 1999.

A report by the division said the sampling sites are strategically located. Some sites are selected to measure particulate matter concentrations in highly populated areas while others are selected to determine the extent of ozone transport from the Wasatch Front to the Uinta Basin.

Why it matters

Air pollution impacts the lungs and is linked to increased risk of heart attack or stroke, mental acuity in older populations, the very young and means more trips to the emergency room.

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Utah has been battling air pollution on a number of fronts, including efforts to bring down fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, ozone, methane emissions and regional haze. Air pollution information for specific locations can be found at the divisions website.

Kelly, the lead author of the study, said the study did not look at any specific locality but rather it probed national trends.

Utah is not unlike other places that are rural, Kelly said. We just simply dont understand air quality as well because these monitors arent located near these people. And I mean, even in urban areas, the further you are from a monitor, the less certain you can be about your air quality.
Sam Wallace, Brandi Tucker and Em Schluter pose against a wall mural outside DelSesto Middle School in Providence. Wallace, left, a librarian, and Schluter, right, an ESL teacher, both work at the school but were recently issued nonrenewal notices, which would prevent them from returning to teach in Providence next year. Tucker, also one of the 17 educators issued a nonrenewal this year in the Providence public school system, works at nearby Webster Avenue Elementary School. The educators are appealing their nonrenewals. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Brandi Tucker teaches fifth graders on the third floor at Webster Avenue Elementary School in Providence. Sam Wallace works as a librarian at DelSesto Middle School. In the same building, Em Schluter is an ESL teacher.

All three educators are nonbinary. All three belong to a progressive caucus within the Providence Teachers Union that is not always level with the party line. And all three are afraid that they will no longer be teachers in Providence at the end of this school year.

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I am currently ranked highly effective with about a 380 score out of 400, Tucker said of their teacher evaluation numbers during a public comment portion of a March 19 Providence School Board meeting. How am I not qualified to be a teacher in my district, in my school? It makes no sense. Either its because Im nonbinary, or my principal does not like me and my job and the union.

Tucker, Wallace and Schluter are among a total of 17 educators who received nonrenewal notices this year  in other words, pink slips. Together, the 17 represent less than 4% of the districts 465 probationary teachers.

I have fourth graders and third graders and second graders and kindergarteners that, when they see me in the halls, they run up and ask if they can give me a hug, and they say, I cant wait to be on the third floor. I cant wait to be in your class, Tucker said in a recent interview. So Im really scared of not getting those kids in my class.

The nonrenewal process is governed by state law and requires school districts to issue nonrenewals by March 1 each year. In Providence, nonrenewals typically number around 20 annually, according to the Providence Public School Department (PPSD). Only teachers who have not completed their probationary periods, which expire after the successful completion of three annual contracts within a period of five years, are subject to the renewal process. Three years is considered a standard probationary period for teachers unions.

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The performance-based standard is meant to give the district greater control over who gets tenure, which is more legally challenging to reverse in the event a district wants to get rid of a teacher. Nonrenewals are given to newer, untenured teachers, and the renewal process is a key lever that districts have to retain or exit talent, according to a PPSD presentation given before the Providence School Board on March 19.

Tucker said all but one of the nonrenewed educators plan to appeal. Hearings had not yet been scheduled as of Monday. In the meantime, the three nonbinary teachers have publicly rallied for Providence Superintendent Javier Montanez and his boss, state education commissioner Angelica Infante-Green, to reverse the nonrenewals.

The Providence School Board passed a resolution at the March 19 meeting asking the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) to rescind the 17 nonrenewals and investigate the overall process more deeply. The board also voted to schedule an executive session on another night in which they personally review and explore the nonrenewals with the 17 teachers themselves, though it would not impact the official appeal process.

The resolution led by board member Night Jean Muhingabo passed with eight affirmative votes. Board vice president Anjel Newmann was absent. Board member Melissa Hughes abstained, citing a desire to understand the resolutions mechanics better.

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Tucker, Wallace and Schluter all testified at the meeting. The board also heard from its legal counsel, Charles Ruggerio, before voting on the resolution.

Obviously theres political connotations associated with it, and it might be something that, you know, potentially, I can see scenarios in which it would potentially be utilized against the district, Ruggerio said. He added he would be more comfortable with a discussion in executive session.

Members of the Providence School Board and Superintendent Javier Montanez listen as Charles Ruggerio, the districts legal counsel, explains intricacies of the renewal process at a board meeting on March 19, 2025, at the Providence Career and Technical Academy. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Whos in control here?

Once scheduled, appeal hearings will take place before a Rhode Island Department of Education officer. RIDE took control of PPSD in 2019 after a long history of poor educational outcomes and sometimes dilapidated school buildings. The takeover was empowered by a statute known as the Crowley Act.

The recent nonrenewals were recommended by the Superintendent to the Commissioner who approved them. The Commissioner has the authority under the Crowley Act, said Victor Morente, a department spokesperson, in an email Monday. The teachers who received the nonrenewal notices were also advised that they could pursue an appeal with RIDE in accordance with [Rhode Island General Law].

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But for Schluter, Wallace and Tucker, the process has felt confusing and opaque  so too has the general separation of powers in Providence, the teachers said. They cited administrative turnover as one point of confusion in the nonrenewal process, as a buildings principal might not always be the one evaluating teacher performance for nonrenewal purposes. A change in principal left Schluter with little time to establish rapport with the new leader, they said. And Wallace expressed concern about being evaluated by people with no training as librarians.

I know for myself its been very unclear. Who do we go to, who can help us, who is the person that ultimately has the power? Wallace said.

Its the most disorganized and dysfunctional [system] Ive ever worked in, said Tucker, who previously spent a decade living and four years teaching near Santa Cruz, California,

During the takeover, RIDE has made capital and curricular changes in some individual schools, including DelSesto, which recently underwent what RIDE calls the redesign process and is now geared toward a STEM curriculum. But even the redesign process has invited pushback, like last spring when PPSD closed 360 High School rather than redesign it, instead merging it with a separate school housed in the same building.

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Similar to the 360 closing last year, the teacher nonrenewals may be this years flashpoint that illuminates the splintered forms of power in the Providence school system. On Feb. 26, the Providence School Board met to elect its president  the inauguration of a new regime after the school board adopted a half-elected, half-appointed model at the start of this year. Half of the school board won elected seats in Novembers general election, while the other half was appointed by Providence Mayor Brett Smiley.

The school boards typical meeting place on Westminster Street was cramped during the Feb. 26 meeting: Reporter Steve Ahlquist noted around 200 people in attendance, spread across the boards meeting room and an overflow space in the basement. The masses had come not to see the boards president elected, but to support the nonrenewed teachers, offering about two hours of supportive testimony.

Under the takeover, however, the school board is a largely advisory body and cannot undo the nonrenewals. The takeover was extended last year, up through 2027, although Infante-Green has stated recently that local control could return as early as next year. Thats not as soon as Mayor Smiley or the Providence City Council would like  the city is now on the hook for $15 million in court-mandated funds to correct multiyear deficits in the districts budget, with a citywide tax increase looming near on the horizon as an emergency measure.

Tucker, Wallace and Schluter are members of the Providence Caucus of Rank and File Educators (CORE), an organizing unit within the Providence Teachers Union that has been particularly focused on racial justice and the betterment of schools not just for teachers but students and families as well.

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Asked over Zoom if that perspective puts them in conflict with other union members, Tucker laughed. Some union members see CORE as a divisive force, they said, who is a union co-delegate at Webster. They cited an example of filing a grievance last year involving locks on the schools doors. In its initial hearing, Tucker said the district denied the grievance as school safety was not technically a union concern. When filed for a second year, the grievance was successful, and the lock issue fixed, Tucker said.

We want to fight for a contract that doesnt just include us, Tucker added. We want to fight for a contract for common good that includes our students and families.

I feel like some of our like organizing has been What power do each of these people have? Wallace said.

Is it real, concrete power? Is it influential power?Providence is a different placePeople will name drop first names and be like, Oh, its Zacks decision. Its Bills decision. Youre like, Who are these people? So its a very small town kind of vibe made out on such a big stage.

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District leadership has been clear with the School Board that Providence Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate,Jay G. Wegimont, a PPSD spokesperson, said via email Monday night. The District values and supports the diversity of its students and staff.

Wegimont emphasized the renewal process as a thorough one that involves multiple reviews by school leaders, Human Resources, and legal staff before a recommendation is made to the Superintendent.

As noted previously, the 17 non-renewals represent a small fraction of PPSDs 465 probationary teachers  less than 3.75%, meaning 96.25% of our teachers were renewed, Wegimont continued. This number is consistent with prior years. While these non-renewal recommendations are not easy, we do believe that they are made by building leaders in the best interest of students and with the aim of improving teacher quality.

Herman James, PPSDs chief talent officer, and Zack Scott, the districts deputy superintendent of operations, are seen during a five-minute recess at the March 19, 2025, meeting of the Providence School Board, waiting for their presentation on the teacher renewal process to appear on screen. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Lawmakers back nonbinary educators

The CORE caucus wants a return to local control as soon as possible, Wallace said. And outspoken organizing often comes with the territory for out professionals.

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For those of us who are maybe the only out people in their building, the only out people at their grade level, it takes a certain level of, like, gumption, I guess, Wallace said. You are, in some cases, more likely to be that person thats going to say something in a meeting.

The educators have a few allies in their corner.

In light of the current federal administrations antipathy and antagonism toward both LGBTQ+ protections and labor organizing, seeing queer and transgender union organizers pulled out of their classrooms and delivered notices with seemingly little explanation is sure to raise alarm, Providence City Council President Rachel Miller wrote in a Feb. 20 letter to Montanez and Infante-Green.

More support came from state Rep. David Morales, a Providence Democrat, when he implored the school board to act at a Feb. 26 meeting. I urge you to work with the bureaucrats within central office and start working towards reversing these letters of nonrenewal, Morales said then.

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At the March 19 meeting, Providence School Board Secretary Michele Fontes held up a folio packed with written comments before the vote on the resolution to ask to rescind the nonrenewals.

My understanding, this resolution was written based off of hours of testimony. This is the second month, and I have a folder full of letters and support, Fontes said. The board, at least, is not saying the district is intentionally firing nonbinary, LGBTQ teachers, but were saying this process doesnt feel like it was equitable, or at least we dont understand the process.

We want to fight for a contract that doesnt just include us. We want to fight for a contract for common good that includes our students and families.

 Brandi Tucker, fifth grade teacher at Webster Avenue Elementary in Providence

Zack Scott, the districts deputy superintendent of operations, handed PPSD counsel Ruggerio a laptop with a copy of the resolution. As Ruggerio looked it over, Board President Tyrelle Stephens offered that the resolution doesnt really accuse anybody but is rather calling for a more transparent, robust, conversation among the school board.

Ruggerio finished reading the resolution and replied that only two parts gave him pause: a line that the current batch of nonrenewals raises concerns about PPSDs ability to uphold its commitment to equity and inclusion and the action item urging the education department to rescind the nonrenewals.

Those items, he said, could potentially be used against the school board or district should litigation ever occur.

Hughes, the lone board member who abstained from voting, acknowledged that there was strong community outcry for more information about the nonrenewals process, and that she too was interested to learn more. That knowledge arrived in the meetings final act: A presentation by two PPSD employees: Herman James, the districts chief talent officer, and Scott.

The ability to dismiss teachers once receiving tenure is incredibly challenging, and so it is something that we are excited to offer teachers that we want to retain with the district, but its also something that we hold a very high bar for, Scott explained.

The nonrenewal process is not technically meant to remove unqualified teachers, but to vacate a job post for a yet-unidentified, more qualified teacher, according to PPSD.

If we are not comfortable granting a teacher tenure or keeping a teacher with the district long term, if you ask any principal, they would rather go out and try to search for someone new than commit to someone for the next 20 or 30 years that theyre not comfortable with, Scott said.

This is really your most flexible opportunity to scrutinize who youre going to give a constitutionally protected property interest to, added Ruggerio, the boards attorney.

As for Wallace, they said it feels like the school board, along with the City Council, seems to have a broader vision for the district.

But in terms of the district itself, and then the mayor, and then RIDE, like, what is their vision? Because I dont know what their vision is, Wallace added. Mine is: Not only do I want these kids to be successful in life, butI want them to be able to enjoy life, to be able to pick their own path, to think clearly.

If their appeals fail, the three CORE teachers wont be around to cultivate that growth.

Im teaching siblings of kids I had, Schluter said. This is very much my community, and the thought of not being able to stay here keep doing that is just so heartbreaking and upsetting.

Tucker was thinking of buying a house. Would that make sense without a job in Providence? Maybe theyll move back to California and renew their teaching license there. Or maybe theyll try to find a job in an urban district in Massachusetts.

With everything going on in our country, the three of us being nonbinary, and I have a trans daughter, were really not safe, Tucker said. Yeah, theres a lot of fear. But I love my students, and my families.

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New Yorkers vote early before Novembers presidential election. New York states highest court struck down New York Citys statute that would have allowed noncitizens to vote in local elections. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

New York states highest court struck down a New York City statute that would have allowed 800,000 noncitizens to vote in mayoral, city council and school board elections.

This month, six of the seven judges on the New York State Court of Appeals upheld an earlier ruling that found the citys statute unconstitutional, siding with the New York Republican State Committee, the Republican National Committee and others. The statute, which passed the City Council in 2021 and would have gone into effect the following year, was never implemented after it was immediately challenged in court.

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[I]t is facially clear that only citizens may vote in elections within the State of New York, wrote Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson for the majority.

Proponents of allowing legal permanent residents and those in the United States on work authorization to vote solely in local elections argue that it helps integrate immigrants into American society, allowing them to vote on issues dear to them, such as their childrens education or taxes.

Taking that away is a grave injustice, said Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, one of the groups that appealed a lower courts ruling.

New York City needs more democracy, not less, Awawdeh said in a statement. Expanding voting rights strengthens our communities, and improves our school, housing, and public services.

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New York City was one of about 20 cities and towns in California, Maryland and Vermont  along with the District of Columbia  that allow noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Those laws make it clear that the vote would only be extended for local elections, noting that only U.S. citizens may vote in statewide and federal elections.

In November, 60% of voters in Santa Ana, California, rejected a ballot measure that would have allowed noncitizens to vote in local elections.

Last month, a Vermont Superior Court judge dismissed a conservative groups lawsuit challenging Burlingtons statute allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections, including those for school board.

As Stateline has reported, very few noncitizens have actually participated in these local elections, many either afraid that voting would alert federal immigration officials or unaware that the statutes even existed.

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Those challenging the New York City statute argued that not only did the statute language violate the state constitution, but that it also would dilute the voice of the citys 5 million registered voters.

The issue of noncitizens participating in American elections has become a focus of Republican efforts to add more restrictions to the voting process. The GOP-led Congress has made enacting the proposed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act a major priority. The legislation, known as the SAVE Act, would require voters to show a birth certificate, passport or some proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.

But passing the SAVE Act could disenfranchise U.S. citizens, some voting rights advocates say.

Critics of the measure point out that more than 21 million American citizens lack access to such documents. They also note that women who have changed their names after marriage are also at risk of being disenfranchised. Finally, they point out that it is already illegal under federal law for noncitizens to vote.

Stateline reporter Matt Vasilogambros can be reached at mvasilogambros@stateline.org
By Bhanvi Satija and Siddhi Mahatole

(Reuters) -New York Attorney General Letitia James on Tuesday urged 23andMe customers to secure their data in light of rising privacy concerns after the DNA testing firm filed for bankruptcy amid declining demand for its services.

Uncertainty surrounding the company's future and worries about potential data management by a new owner drove users to delete their accounts as a privacy safeguard, with many sharing detailed instructions on social media.

Shares of 23andMe, which filed for bankruptcy on Sunday, closed 11% lower at 65 cents. The stock declined 59% on Monday.

"Our website experienced some issues and delays due to increased traffic yesterday. As of today (Tuesday), those issues have been resolved. If anyone has any issues in regards to accessing their account or deleting their data, they can go to our customer care site for support," a 23andMe spokesperson said.

The company's saliva-based tests provide information on a user's ancestry and whether they might be at genetic risk for certain diseases.

23andMe has made at least 30 deals with companies including British drugmaker GSK, allowing them to access its database. Most of its agreements remain undisclosed.

"Genetic data isn't just a bit of personal information  it is a blueprint of your entire biological profile. When a company goes under, this personal data is an asset to be sold with potentially far-reaching consequences," NordVPN cybersecurity expert Adrianus Warmenhoven said.

With more than 15 million customers, 23andMe's genetic database was a "digital goldmine", Warmenhoven said.

The company has said the bankruptcy process will not affect how it stores, manages or protects customer data.

If 23andMe changes ownership, its data will remain protected under its current privacy policy "unless and until you are presented with materially new terms, with appropriate advanced notice to review those material changes as required by law", the company's website said.

The law is not clear on whether a new buyer would need to give consumers a chance to opt out, according to I. Glenn Cohen, director of Harvard Law School's Petrie-Flom Center.

"I assume that users will be filing lawsuits against the company to seek protection of all such data... outcomes of such suits (are) not yet clear," said Robert Klitzman, director of the Masters of Bioethics program at Columbia University School of Professional Studies.

It was reported last year that 23andMe would pay $30 million and provide three years of security monitoring to settle a lawsuit accusing it of failing to protect the privacy of 6.9 million customers whose personal information was exposed in a 2023 data breach.
The Clean Growth Coalition, a nonprofit committed to growing access to clean energy technologies, has made a $200 million investment in GreenieRE, a reinsurance company designed to remove financing obstacles for decarbonization infrastructure.

CGC's investment aims to reduce costs and accelerate the transition to renewable energy technologies, such as solar and wind power, per Reinsurance News. Over the next 10 years, GreenieRE is projected to unlock over $30 billion in private capital for projects that expand access to cheap, nonpolluting energy.

Reinsurance News explained that one major setback in deploying large-scale energy projects is a lack of affordable, complete coverage. Green banks and community lenders often have trouble securing insurance products that accurately evaluate risks, which is essential to attracting private sector capital.

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Uncertainty in assessing risks results in expensive and limited insurance options, slowing progress on the switch to clean energy. But the investment in GreenieRE, which is based in Vermont, will address these issues and speed up the transition.

One major area of focus for GreenieRE is low-income communities that don't have much access to clean energy insurance, preventing the rollout of these technologies in underserved areas. Reinsurance News reported that at least 50% of the company's insured value will go toward these communities, which will help reduce pollution and improve their quality of life. CGC's investment is expected to accelerate the deployment of cheap, clean power nationwide.

With clean energy experiencing massive growth, investors have a great opportunity to cash in on the transition and back sustainability-focused businesses. Environmental, social, and governance funds are solid investments for the future because they consider companies with strong environmental practices.

GreenieRE's projects will have massive positive economic and environmental impacts. Direct projects are expected to generate over $5 billion and unlock $30 billion throughout the broader investment system. Along with these developments, the investment will provide job opportunities and reduce energy costs nationwide.

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The initiatives will also prevent the release of up to 2.5 million tons of carbon pollution  the equivalent of the yearly energy consumption of over 300,000 homes.

CGC CEO Richard Kauffman said: "This partnership represents a crucial first step in removing barriers that restrict private capital and keep clean energy technologies costly for both developers and consumers. GreenieRE will play a key role in mobilising private sector support to empower state and local green banks, along with other lenders, to finance critical community clean energy projects that would otherwise struggle to secure private sector capital."

Jeff McAulay, CEO of GreenieRE, added: "We are grateful for CGC's leadership in creating the next generation of green financing institutions. With GreenieRE we follow a legacy of government-sponsored institutions to responsibly de-risk a major growing asset class using best practices from the private sector insurers."

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In the excellent Apple TV drama Constellation, an astronaut returns from months in space to find her life looks nearly identical to the one she left behind. But something feels weirdly askew. Wasnt her car blue, rather than red? Well, thats how I feel about post-pandemic Britain. At first glance, things look much the same. And yet everything is off-kilter.

Five years on from the imposition of lockdown, we cant talk about a return to normal when a great chunk of employees have never returned to the office in any meaningful sense since March 2020. A new survey of 12,000 workers across 44 countries found those from the UK spend just two days a week in the office on average  fewer than any other country surveyed, bar the Philippines.

This has had a catastrophic effect on our social and urban structures. Its not just the fact that workplaces are no longer close-knit communities that helped to cement our sense of identity, but the wider blow to the infrastructure that served workers and enabled money and, crucially, purpose to flow through our economy. Just think of the impact on the commercial rental sector, public transport, sandwich bars, shops and the pubs where workers socialised after hours.

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I work freelance for a once-large media company. This perfectly illustrates the conundrum. When I first met the founders in 2018 they had a big office in Holborn, with around 100 telesales employees at desks, and had also rented a couple of smaller workspaces in central London. After the pandemic and the rude pausing of the wheels of commerce they ended up with one small office in East London, where their four different ventures hot-officed.

One day it might be a marketing hub, another it was a magazine publisher. The telesales operatives have gone, replaced by an overseas service. This feels to me like a small parable of how our cities have had the vitality scooped out of them.

But its the social aspect I mourn most. Three years ago, I took on a university leaver to help on the magazine I edit. I soon felt it was like keeping a polar bear in a tiny concrete cage. He was only required in the office three days a week and, when there, he worked alongside a handful of middle-aged people with kids. In no way was he receiving the apprenticeship (most of us learn best by example) and intense social life I enjoyed when I crash-landed into the media in 1991. And his chance of meeting his future spouse, as I did in 1993 in the GQ office, was rather less than being struck by an asteroid.

So, why do we allow this abdominal state of affairs to continue? Why doesnt our government set an example by properly tackling the thousands of civil servants who have never returned to working full-time?

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My hunch is we lack the willpower to remedy it because our governing class is mostly Generation Xers like me, who have already reaped the benefits of a functioning workplace. Now, after three decades commuting, many are happy to slob around in joggers, enjoying the properties we were the last generation to afford. A similar phenomenon was observed during lockdown, when the laptop classes were often living their best lives, with little care of what was inflicted on poorer families in cramped urban flats.

The social contract feels broken in many ways, but this is surely one of the worst. Weve sanctioned reduced opportunities and isolation for workers (just a PC for company) and then we wonder why there is an epidemic of poor mental health.

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IZARD COUNTY, Ark.  A Franklin man said once an EF-3 tornado touched down it not only took his roof but also carried him and his wife with it.

On March 14, Mark Welch and his wife Peggy were having a peaceful night at home when they heard a strange noise.

I thought it was hail. I looked at my wife and I said, Listen, is that hail? and then as soon as I said that I heard my back wall breaking Welch said.

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National Weather Service confirms at least 15 tornadoes in Arkansas during weekend storms

Suddenly the walls around the couple collapsed and the roof above them was gone. Welch said he tried to process what was taking place, but he and his wifes body were somewhere else, moving at the will of a powerful EF-3 tornado.

I was flying like you would if you came out of an airplane with one of those suits on. I was trying to grab anything I could get ahold of it picked me up one more time and I felt myself spinning I got slammed again Welch said.

He said after he was finally able to catch his breath, he began looking for his wife who thankfully was only a few feet away.

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I bent down and put her on my neck and went and started coming to this window Welch said.

Mark and Peggy got back in the house feeling confused and hopeless until someone came to their rescue.

My neighbor came for me from down the road, it took him two hours to cut from the pavement to here, Welch said.

Longstanding Malvern dairy barn destroyed by EF-2 tornado

Mark and Peggy were both rushed to hospital. Mark broke three ribs, and his lungs collapsed. Peggy was in the ICU for her backbones and is now trying to complete physical therapy in a nursing home.

While they both still have their lives, their house is a total loss. He said they plan to rebuild soon but for now, they are only focused on healing and are asking for prayers from the community.

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A GoFundMe was also created to support the couple.

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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT)  North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson recommended to the citizens of North Carolina that they delete any information they may have with 23andMe, Tuesday.

This comes after it was reported that the company was filling for bankruptcy, implying that genetic data could be at risk. North Carolina has been investigating the company for around a year ever since news of 23andMes data breach in October 2023 broke. The states investigation focuses on how the company may not have stored customers information as safely as they could have.

Your genetic data is your most personal, confidential data, and you should be able to protect who has access to it. As 23andMes bankruptcy proceedings play out, its possible that North Carolinians private genetic and other health data could be sold to other companies. You have the power to delete your data now  please act quickly. said Attorney General Jackson. My office is watching 23andMe closely to see how they navigate these next steps and what actions the court takes to protect North Carolinians data. Were going to do everything in our power to protect peoples private information.

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To delete your information log into your account, click on settings, scroll down to 23andMe data and click view, select delete data and continue with any instructions shown. To destroy your test sample or revoke permission for data research, click here.

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NORTH CAROLINA (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  New legislation in Raleigh aims to reduce pollution and improve access to affordable housing by changing rules around parking throughout North Carolina.

House Bill 369 would do away with minimum parking requirements, typically set by municipalities. The original goal of the measure was to reduce runoff into public lakes and rivers.

Theyre non-pervious surfaces, so the water just runs off, and so then it accumulates and it takes away with it everything that was on the parking lot, whether its dirt or oils, said State Rep Mark Bordy, who represents Anson and Union counties.

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Parking minimums require a certain number of spaces for different types of developments.

We asked ourselves the question do businesses really need these big parking lots and if they dont need it, then can they use it for other development, added Brody.

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The minimums date back to the mid-20th century when leaders across the US saw a need to accommodate a boom in car ownership. The problem is that as cities built up, most minimums in the Tar Heel state were never adjusted.

It was one of those things that people said Well surely theres some logic and math behind it, turns out there isnt any, said Ryan Carter with Catawba Riverkeeper, a nonprofit backing the effort.

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Carter argued the legislation could also help bring down rents in urban areas since developers would not have to meet expensive minimums.

While the bill was just filed, with sponsors from both sides of the aisle, supporters are optimistic it will have the legs to pass both chambers at the General Assembly.

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Clean energy advocates in North Carolina remain bullish about a Duke Energy initiative to help its poorest customers pay their bills and access weatherization programs, even though participation in its first year fell short of predictions.

A side deal Duke struck in 2023 to lessen the blow of its rate hikes, the Customer Assistance Program offers a monthly bill credit of up to $42 for households under a certain income threshold. For example, a family of four making less than roughly $50,000 a year would be eligible.

Totaling to about $500 a year, the benefit is very significant, said Carol Hardison, the CEO of Crisis Assistance Ministry in Charlotte. That could prevent someone from having to come here, she said of her group, which helps families in danger of disconnection or eviction. The credit could seem small to a middle-class person, she said, but thats half of somebodys rent.

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Beginning early 2024, Duke automatically provided the credit to any customers whod benefited in the prior year from one of two buckets of federal aid: the Crisis Intervention Program, designed to prevent or reverse life-threatening emergencies like utility shutoffs, or the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, which offers one-time payments to ratepayers with overdue heating bills.

North Carolinas Department of Health and Human Services administers the two funds and has a data-sharing agreement with Duke, which then automatically enrolls customers in its assistance program  a process designed to minimize overhead expenses such as vetting ratepayers for eligibility.

The data-sharing agreement has impressed advocates in other states, said Claire Williamson, energy policy advocate with the North Carolina Justice Center.

They have to deal with a much higher administrative cost, she said, because each place is trying to pay people to check pay stubs and get them enrolled.

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When Duke and a host of advocates crafted the Customer Assistance Program, they expected it could reach roughly 124,000 households, the number that benefited from the federal funds in the wake of the pandemic.

But far fewer customers accessed that aid in 2024, when the post-COVID burst of recovery money had subsided. While the company has not made public the total number of beneficiaries for the year, filings with regulators and interviews with advocates suggest it was about 55,000.

The predicted 124,000 was ambitious from the outset, Williamson said. Still, she stressed the need has not lessened.

Indeed, in a report Duke submitted to regulators in 2022, the company estimated 16% of its North Carolina customers, nearly half a million households, were arrears struggling  meaning they were significantly behind on bills.

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The utility also found that its poorest customers and those who struggled to pay their monthly bills tended to use more kilowatt-hours per square foot than wealthier households.

A correlation may exist between higher usage and bills and inefficient housing, heating, and cooling systems, Duke hypothesized in its report.

Thats why the Customer Assistance Program was also designed to automatically refer eligible customers to weatherization programs. A Duke spokesperson said the utility did do that, but she declined to provide numbers.

Over the next two years of the three-year pilot program, the challenge for advocates and Duke is multifold. One item on the list: expanding help beyond those who are receiving federal crisis assistance.

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We cannot underscore enough the impact and benefits [the Customer Assistance Program] has produced for the Duke Energy customers enrolled, the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association wrote to regulators last fall. However, due to significant under-enrollment  using the current process, the association and others advising Duke will renew and increase their efforts to recommend alternative enrollment methodologies.

For instance, Hardison noted that the Crisis Assistance Ministry administers a separate Duke assistance program, the Share the Light Fund, which is fueled by ratepayer and shareholder donations. She suggested her group and other administrators of that fund could also screen participants for the $42 bill credit scheme.

You have trusted this agency directly with your dollars, Hardison said. What if that agency could also be the entity that puts an application in for the [Customer Assistance Program]?

More work may also be needed to track the programs impact on weatherization and energy efficiency.

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Nick Wharton is president and CEO of the Charlotte Area Fund. An anti-poverty community action agency, his group deploys money for yet another Duke program, the Helping Home Fund, which finances critical repairs to qualify homes for weatherization assistance. At least this year, he and his colleagues havent seen an increase in applications to the repair fund.

Theres definitely not a direct relationship between the two, Wharton said.

Finally, theres the current political climate, proving that past progress toward clean energy and climate justice is not necessarily prologue.

In 2023, a powerful group of paper mills, pipe foundries, and other industries nearly killed the Customer Assistance Program, in part because they objected to paying a flat monthly fee of $1.70 to help finance it.

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Because its reaching fewer households than expected, the initiative will only cost commercial and industrial ratepayers 33 cents each month or less in 2025. But even that doesnt mean the program is safe from attack.

Im under no guise that this is inevitable, Williamson said.


Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Newton announced his resignation from the North Carolina Senate, effective Wednesday evening, creating a leadership vacancy as the Senate enters a busy legislative period

Newton, 64, is stepping down to pursue an opportunity outside of state government, according to a statement from Senate Republicans.

His specific plans have not been disclosed, according to the Associated Press.

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It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve the people of Cabarrus County for nearly a decade, Newton said in his statement.

Senate leader Phil Berger praised Newton as a valued voice and leader who provided a calm presence and wise counsel to many legislators during his time in Raleigh.

ALSO READ: NC Senate passes bill requiring cellphone ban in schools

Newtons departure means that Republicans in the 34th Senate District will select someone to fill his seat through the end of 2026. Additionally, Senate Republicans will need to convene to choose a new majority leader.

As majority leader, Newton played a significant role in enacting laws that extended conservative tax policies, removed the three-day grace period for mail-in absentee ballots, and set greenhouse gas reduction mandates on electric power plants operated by Duke Energy.

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Newton, a former Duke Energy state president, joined the Senate in 2017 and was elected by his GOP colleagues to the majority leadership post after the 2022 elections.

The Senates bill-filing deadline was Tuesday, and the Senate aims to approve a two-year state government budget proposal next month.

Newtons resignation marks a significant change in the North Carolina Senates leadership as the legislative body prepares for an intense work period.

The selection of his successor will be crucial in shaping the Senates future direction.

VIDEO: NC Senate passes bill requiring cellphone ban in schools
(WGHP)  North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green spoke on Monday about the recently signed executive order by President Donald Trump to dismantle the Department of Education.



Green said he hasnt received any assurance from any congressman, senator or any other elected officials that federal funding for school programs wont be taken away due to Trumps executive order.

He says the order states a goal of returning public education to the states. Green says he doesnt know what that action will look like.

It also goes on to say that theyll continue the services that Americans rely on. Hopefully, that means well continue to get the resources to all states including North Carolina, Green said. Particularly the most vulnerable students and our most impactful programs. For example, exceptional children. Certainly, those students that are economically disadvantaged. I have not received any level of assurance that those dollars will continue.

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Green said that if they lose federal funding, hell be calling on the North Carolina General Assembly to make up for the funds that schools could potentially lose.

We do not have what turns out to be $1.5 billion. If those dollars went away federally, we dont have those dollars to make up in our state budget  Well need our general assembly if that money goes away to make up for additional resources, Green said.

Green says hell continue to host listening sessions to hear from concerned community members throughout North Carolina from now until mid-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 FOX8 WGHP.
North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Jerod Tufte listens to an argument from North Dakota Solicitor General Philip Axt during oral arguments in front of the North Dakota Supreme Court on March 25, 2025. (Tanner Ecker/Bismarck Tribune)

The state of North Dakota on Tuesday asked the North Dakota Supreme Court to overturn a district courts ruling that struck down a 2023 abortion ban, arguing that the state constitution does not give women the right to seek elective abortions.

Nothing in our history suggests our constitution has ever been understood to guarantee abortions unrelated to the mothers life or health, North Dakota Solicitor General Philip Axt said in oral arguments before the court.

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Daniel Narum appeared on the bench in place of Justice Douglas Bahr, who recused from the case.

The ban, signed into law by then-Gov. Doug Burgum in April 2023, outlawed abortion in all cases except rape or incest in the first six weeks of pregnancy, or when the pregnancy poses a serious physical health threat. Psychological conditions did not count as serious health risks under the law.

A group of reproductive health care doctors and an abortion clinic filed suit over the ban in 2023, arguing it violates individual rights and presents a due process concern to doctors by not making it clear when an abortion may be performed for health reasons.

South Central Judicial District Court Judge Bruce Romanick struck down the ban in September 2024, declaring it unconstitutionally vague and an infringement on medical freedom.

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Romanick further found that pregnant women in North Dakota have a fundamental right to choose abortion before viability exists.

Romanicks decision established broader abortion protections than previously recognized by the North Dakota Supreme Court in 2023, when it struck down a previous abortion law and ruled that North Dakota women have a right to obtain abortions for health reasons.

The state of North Dakota quickly appealed Romanicks decision, asking the high court to rule that Romanick had overstepped and that the law is not unconstitutionally vague.

North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley watches oral arguments March 25, 2025, inside the North Dakota Supreme Court. (Tanner Ecker/Bismarck Tribune)

Axt argued Tuesday that the justices have previously found that the state has an interest in preserving unborn life, so the Legislature may pass laws that restrict fundamental rights in service of this interest. He said the 2023 law is narrowly tailored to this end.

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Axt also said it would be atypical for the Supreme Court to strike down an entire statute on the basis of vagueness. He said that the court should at least keep the law in effect in situations where its application is clear-cut. If a patient is seeking an abortion but does not have any medical problems, for example, they would obviously not qualify for the health exemption, Axt reasoned.

If the court has concerns about whether an abortion would be legal in specific circumstances not addressed in the ban, it could issue an order carving out additional exemptions, he said.

Some justices expressed reservations about Axts proposal, questioning whether he was asking them to legislate from the bench.

Isnt it just as much of an infringement of the Legislatures authority to strike down the law as it is to add an exception to it? Justice Jerod Tufte asked.

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Axt said that it would be less of an infringement for the court to invalidate part of the law than to declare the whole statute void.

Im not understanding how its infringing on the legislative process for us to describe what the constitutions bounds are, and whether a particular statute falls within those bounds, Justice Daniel Crothers said to Axt.

Representing the plaintiffs, attorney Meetra Mehdizadeh asked the high court to uphold Romanicks decision. She argued that the North Dakota Legislature passed the 2023 law knowing it would raise constitutional questions.

Legislators passed the amended abortion ban to, in the words of one legislator who disagreed with this Courts decision, send a message to the North Dakota Supreme Court, Mehdizadeh said, referencing remarks reportedly made by House Majority Leader Mike Lefor in 2023.

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She said laws that affect fundamental rights require a high degree of specificity so that citizens understand how to follow them. The abortion ban doesnt meet this standard, Mehdizadeh said.

Center for Reproductive Rights Senior Staff Attorney Meetra Mehdizadah gives her argument in front of the North Dakota Supreme Court on March 25, 2025. (Tanner Ecker/Bismarck Tribune)

She added that evidence filed in the case shows that there is not a consensus among doctors about when the health care exemption should apply.

Doctors shouldnt have to face felony charges and risk jail time just to learn what the law allows them to do, she said. Its the Legislatures job to tell them what the law allows them to do.



Axt said that in order to convict a doctor for providing an illegal abortion under the 2023 law, a prosecutor would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that no doctor in good judgment would have also performed the procedure.

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Either doctors are capable of understanding the standard or theyre not, he said.

The attorneys also briefly discussed the laws exemption for sex crimes.

Mehdizadeh said the provision unreasonably requires doctors to make legal conclusions about whether their patient has been a victim of rape or incest.

Axt countered that a doctor wouldnt need to prove with a legal certainty that the crime occurred in order to provide an abortion under the provision.

So the patient simply claims they are pregnant as the result of one of the qualifying offenses  is that sufficient for a doctor to rely on the patients fair assertion? Tufte asked him.

Axt said its not uncommon for doctors to take their patients words at face value when deciding whether to provide a treatment.

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I think if there would be a basis for a doctor to give credence to their statement and why they need treatment, then it would be a reasonable basis, he said.

In a January majority opinion authored by Crothers, justices expressed skepticism about many of the states arguments defending the law. Justice Lisa Fair McEvers and Narum joined Crothers in the majority opinion. Chief Justice Jon Jensen and Tufte dissented.

North Dakota sets a high bar for declaring laws unconstitutional, requiring the vote of four of five Supreme Court justices. The Supreme Court did not indicate when it planned to issue a ruling.

The North Dakota Legislature is considering passing a law that, among other things, would require any doctor who can perform an abortion to watch a state-funded video explaining the abortion law, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead reported. The bill sets aside $50,000 for the video, which would have to go to the North Dakota attorney general for final approval.

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House Bill 1511 was passed by the House in February and will soon go to the Senate floor for a vote. Opponents of the bill have expressed doubts that doctors would find the video useful and said it would pose an additional administrative hurdle to them providing care.

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The North Sea could meet almost half of Britains oil and gas needs for the next 25 years if Ed Miliband scrapped his ban on new drilling, a report has claimed.

Forecasts from Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), a trade body, have said that a reversal of the Energy Secretarys policy could unlock at least an extra 3bn barrels of oil from UK waters.

Crucially, this would boost overall North Sea supplies to 7bn, meaning they account for nearly half of the 15bn barrels of oil and gas needed to power the UK between now and 2050.

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David Whitehouse, chief executive at OEUK, said Mr Millibands ban on new drilling was putting Britain at the mercy of foreign importers, including those in the US.

He said: Energy security is national security. In an increasingly volatile world the widening gap between the energy we produce and what we import matters.

We are on a journey to net zero but we will need oil and gas for decades to come. It makes sense for the UK to produce as much as it can itself.

As well as drawing supplies from the North Sea, the UK also relies on vast imports from both Norway and the United States.

This has sparked concerns given the erratic policies of Donald Trump, who has called on the UK and Europe to buy more oil and gas from the US to avoid tariffs.

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It also comes just months after Mr Miliband officially announced his ban on all new drilling in the North Sea, which forms part of his bid to help Britain hit net zero by 2050.

He has sought to justify his policy by claiming that oil and gas are largely to blame for higher energy bills.

He told The Guardian last week: The worst impact on living standards we have seen for generations was as a result of our exposure to fossil fuels and fossil-fuel markets controlled by petrostates and dictators when Russia invaded Ukraine.

However, Robin Allan of Brindex, which represents smaller oil and gas across Britain, said: LNG imported from the US and Qatar doesnt provide UK jobs or taxes or cut carbon emissions.

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Locking the UK into reliance on imported gas from around the world makes no sense when we have the gas on our doorstep.

Following OEUKs latest report, a spokesman for Mr Milibands Energy Department said: Oil and gas production will continue to play an important role for decades to come, with the majority of future production in the North Sea expected to come from producing fields or fields already being developed on existing licences.

New licences awarded in the last decade have made only a marginal difference to overall oil and gas production.

Tessa Khan, executive director of environmental NGO Uplift, added: The oil and gas industry is peddling a fantasy. The North Sea is an ageing basin with declining reserves that are now very expensive to extract. This is a matter of geology.

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Most of what is left in the North Sea is oil not gas, 80pc of which the UK exports. The UK has burned most of its gas, a fact that new licencing wont change.

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While airline miles and hotel points are smart for travelers, many business owners prefer cash-back rewards for their flexibility. The American Express Blue Business Cash Card offers 2% cash back on the first $50,000 you spend each year, then 1% on all other eligible purchases after that.

This straightforward rewards program allows business owners to focus on growing their business instead of tracking bonus categories. Learn more about the Amex Blue Business Cash Card, including how to earn and redeem rewards and which benefits it provides.

Learn more The American Express Blue Business Cash Card Rates & fees, terms apply Annual fee $0

Welcome offer Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your card in your first 3 months

Introductory Purchases APR 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening

Ongoing Purchases APR 17.49%  27.49% Variable Rewards rate 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year 1% cash back on all eligible purchases after spending $50,000 per calendar year (cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement)



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Free employee cards

Add up to 99 employee cards to your account for no extra charge. You can set individual spending limits and alerts to track employee spending. Employee purchases can also earn cash-back rewards.

Rental car protection

Rental cars receive protection against theft or damage when you use the Blue Business Cash Card to pay for the entire bill. This protection is secondary, which means that it supplements the coverage provided by your personal auto insurance.

Extended warranty

Eligible purchases receive up to one additional year of coverage on top of the manufacturers warranty. This benefit applies to eligible purchases in the U.S. on products that have warranties of five years or less.

Purchase protection

Your purchases are covered against theft or accidental loss for the first 90 days after you buy them. Each covered purchase can file a claim for up to $1,000, with an annual maximum of $50,000.

Rewards rate

2% cash back on the first $50,000 spent annually on eligible purchases

1% cash back on all eligible purchases after spending $50,000 per calendar year

How to earn rewards

The Blue Business Cash Card offers numerous ways to earn cash-back rewards on your business expenses, including earning the welcome bonus and using your card to make business purchases.

You can also earn rewards through employee cards. Business owners can add employee cards to their accounts at no extra charge. Adding cards provides an opportunity to earn cash-back rewards on employee purchases, which count toward the $50,000 annual spending cap for the 2% cash back. When your business total spending reaches the cap, all other eligible purchases earn 1% cash back.

American Express also provides special offers for cardholders to save money (typically through receiving a statement credit) on certain purchases. The offers are typically personalized based on your card type, spending patterns, and customer profile. In order to use them, you must manually activate them online or through the Amex mobile app, then make an eligible purchase at a participating retailer.

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Unlike many other rewards programs, you dont need to do anything to redeem your cash-back rewards with the Blue Business Cash. The rewards you earn are automatically applied as a statement credit to your account. With this automatic redemption, your rewards will never expire and there is no minimum redemption amount.

Who is the Blue Business Cash Card best for?

The American Express Blue Business Cash Card is best for business owners who want to earn straightforward cash back on everyday purchases. This card is ideal for people who dont want to track bonus categories. Instead, this card allows you to put your rewards on autopilot.

With an annual spending cap of $50,000 for the 2% cash back, this card is a good choice for businesses that average less than $4,000 monthly on credit cards. If you exceed the annual spending cap, the 1% cash-back rate is less than what some other cards may offer.

Blue Business Cash Card pros and cons

Pros

Flat rate of 2% cash back (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%)

No annual fee for business owner or employee cards

Intro APR offer on purchases

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No bonus categories on common business expenses

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Foreign transaction fee of 2.7%

Where can you use the Amex Blue Business Cash Card?

The Blue Business Cash Card can be used everywhere that accepts American Express. Amex cards are accepted at 99% of U.S. businesses that accept credit cards. However, acceptance varies widely in foreign countries.

This card charges a foreign transaction fee of 2.7% on all purchases outside the U.S. To avoid these hidden charges, you should bring a different business credit card that doesnt charge foreign transaction fees when traveling abroad.

How to make a Blue Business Cash Card payment

Make payments online or through the Amex mobile app

Call (800) 472-9297 to make a payment by phone

Mail payment to:

American Express

P.O. Box 96001

Los Angeles, CA, 900968000

Blue Business Cash Card customer service info

Customer service is available 24/7

Phone number: (800) 492-3344 or the number on the back of your card

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Alternative cards to consider

The Amex Blue Business Cash Card offers many appealing benefits and a simplified cash-back rewards program. However, its benefits are limited and bonus cash back is capped annually (2% on the first $50,000, then 1%). Business owners who prefer flexible rewards, uncapped rewards, or bonus categories to maximize spending should consider other business credit cards.

Learn more The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express Rates & fees, terms apply Annual fee $0

Welcome offer 15,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $3,000 in first 3 months

Introductory Purchases APR 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening

Ongoing Purchases APR 17.49% - 27.49% Variable Rewards rate 2x points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners (applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1x after that). Terms and limitations apply.

Why we like it: The Amex Blue Business Plus offers earning power similar to the Blue Business Cash, but it earns points rather than cash back. This gives you more flexible redemption options, including using your rewards for travel.

Read our full Amex Blue Business Plus Credit Card review

Learn more Capital One Spark Cash Plus Annual fee $150

Welcome offer Earn $2,000 cash back after spending $30,000 within the first 3 months, plus get an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500,000 spent during the first year Rewards rate 5% unlimited cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site 2% unlimited cash back on all other purchases (no limits or category restrictions)

Benefits Get your $150 annual fee refunded every year after spending at least $150,000 Your spending limit is flexible and adjusts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history You'll never be charged interest since your balance is due in full every month



Why we like it: The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is an excellent choice for business owners with high spending needs. It has a $150 annual fee, but its rewards rate has no limits or category restrictions, giving you plenty of opportunity to earn loads of cash back.

Read our full Capital One Spark Cash Plus review

Learn more Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card Annual fee $0

Welcome offer Earn $750 bonus cash back after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months

Introductory Purchases APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 Months

Ongoing Purchases APR 17.49% - 23.49% Variable Rewards rate 1.5% unlimited cash back on every business purchase

Why we like it: Business owners looking for a rewards card with no annual fee should consider the Ink Business Unlimited. This card earns flexible points that can be redeemed for cash back, travel, gift cards, and more. You can also combine your points with other eligible Chase cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points.

Read our full Chase Ink Business Unlimited review

This article was edited by Ben Walker (CEPF, CFEI).

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the banks website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
NEW LONDON, Wis. (WFRV)  Local leaders held a forum in New London last week to allow community members to talk about their experiences with Medicaid.

A man named Brad said that Medicaid is the only reason hes able to stay independent and work and without it, he would have to be in a nursing home. Another woman who spoke said her son has a disability and Medicaid allows him to get access to the programs he needs.

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides health coverage for low-income individuals and people with disabilities. About 1.2 million Wisconsinites utilize the program (comes out to one in five Wisconsinites).

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I think its important to talk about our experiences and recognize in our community how much this impacts people around us and how our life is structured, said Tim Faust who is the healthcare coordinator for Citizen Action Wisconsin.

Faust and other local leaders hosted the event. Faust said that a few years ago he was also on Medicaid and said without it covering his medical bills he wouldnt have had the money to pay rent on his apartment.

Police in Wisconsin clear driveway of snow following welfare check

Faust and others at the forum said theyre concerned that Congress could cut Medicaid and worry about the real-world implications if this does happen.

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This is about the freedom to live safely in our own bodies, that isnt a partisan issue we all have bodies they all fail at some point in time, Faust said at the forum.

Despite their efforts to trim the federal budget, Congressional Republicans insist that Medicaid wouldnt be on the chopping block.

Quiet and back closer to normal today

The president of the United States made it very clear were not going to cut benefits for Medicare, Medicaid, and social security, said House Speaker Mike Johnson. We got to preserve the programs we just got to make it work 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A Northland man is facing multiple criminal charges after investigators said he was connected to the death of a teenage boy who died from a fentanyl overdose in March 2022.

According to court records, 27-year-old Brandon James Loudermilk is facing one count of first-degree drug trafficking and one count of child endangerment, resulting in death, after law enforcement said he sold fentanyl-laced pills to 16-year-old Ethan Everley.

Body found in Miami County pond believed to be Jordan Yust

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It was reported that just over two years ago, on Thursday, March 24, 2022, emergency responders and crews with the Gladstone Fire Department were called to a home for an unresponsive 16-year-old male.

Upon arrival, rescue units began working on the teen, later identified as Everley, in an attempt to save his life before he was taken to North Kansas City Hospital and transferred to Childrens Mercy Hospital. However, he died after being in a coma for five days.

According to investigators, following the incident, Everleys father, Brandon, was interviewed by police.

He reported picking up his son from work at about 12:30 a.m. on March 24, 2022, and then taking him back home.

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About an hour later, at 1:30 a.m., Brandon said he heard Everley in the kitchen. Then, at 10 a.m. that same morning, he reportedly returned to work.

Court records said Everley returned home at 3:40 p.m., and 20 minutes later, his dad went into his room to wake him up for work again. However, he said he found his son unresponsive and gargling on the bed with vomit in his mouth. Emergency response crews were then called to the scene.

During the investigation, officers asked Brandon for permission to go through Everleys phone. While conducting the search, court records said text and Facebook messages between the 16-year-old and Loudermilk were found.

Throughout the conversation, Everley mentioned a party and plans to use a substance called Yerks- M30 pills laced with fentanyl.

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Fake 911 calls made before thousands stolen from KCK bank in January: affidavit

The messages also revealed that at about 1:50 a.m. on March 24, about 20 minutes after the teens dad reported hearing him in the kitchen, Everley ordered more pills from Loudermilk, in addition to marijuana.

At 1:55 a.m., Loudermilk allegedly told the teen, I love [the pills] too just be careful with em they will f*** you round and dont get addicted you can hella easy on em trust me it sucks and Good thing us I would never let that happen lil bro.

Everley then sent his final message to Loudermilk one minute later and said, I feel you bro and I be flipping most of em I just tried em, imam prolly chill on em here soon and They just be helping me calm down and s***.

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At 3:40 p.m. that day, the teens father found him unresponsive in his room, and five days later, he was pronounced dead.

According to court records, throughout the investigation, Everleys friend, who was also a juvenile, was interviewed. They said they had gone to a party with the 16-year-old between midnight and 2 a.m. on March 23, 2022  the day before he was taken to the hospital.

The friend said that at one point in the evening, Everley had gone outside and returned with pills. According to the friend, it was believed that Everley had gone outside to get the pills from Loudermilk.

When Everley came back inside, court records said he snorted the substance and became sedated with his eyes rolled back in his head. About 24 hours later, he was found by his father.

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Autopsy reports showed that Everley died from probable acute combined drug intoxication.

Workers mysterious death at KCMO hotel leaves family searching for answers

Court records also said that two M30 pills were found in Everleys room and tested. The results came back positive for acetaminophen and fentanyl, according to investigators.

Now, after over three years, Everleys family is getting some closure.

I think its a fair charge, said Brandon, Everleys father. I dont think he intended to murder someone, but he was definitely irresponsible.

But even though Loudermilk is facing these charges, Brandon said it doesnt change the fact that his son is gone.

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He took the responsibility away from his parents  me and Ethans mom, that wed invested 16 years in to be responsible for him, he continued. Within a few short minutes for a small monetary transaction, he took that responsibility away from us. Just to have him answer for that is justice to me, I believe.

Loudermilk is now being held in a Clay County jail on a $500,000 bond.

On March 24, the court entered a not-guilty plea on Loudermilks behalf. His next court appearance is on April 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Two people are facing multiple charges after officials said they tried to meet a teenager for sexual purposes.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

On March 12, the Rome-Floyd Metro Task Force notified Murray County deputies about two Chatsworth residents who were allegedly trying to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex.

They were identified as Johnathan Eastridge and Jessica Thomas.

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Authorities learned about an undercover chat operation. Murray County deputies caught Eastridge as he arrived at a scheduled meetup between himself and who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.

Deputies took Eastridge into custody and later arrested Thomas at her home on Deep Woods Drive due to her alleged involvement in the case.

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Officials said when they searched the home, they found multiple devices containing child porn and items related to the sexual abuse of children.

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The pair was charged with criminal attempt to commit child molestation, sexual exploitation of minors, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug-related objects.

The collaboration of these agencies led to the arrest of the individuals listed who may have had the opportunity to prey on more children in their community or others, Floyd County police said.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Senate Bill 1, a sweeping higher education bill, has made headlines for its bans on diversity, equity and inclusion, but thats not all the bill entails.

SB 1 would dramatically change portions of Ohios higher education law. Expected to be sent to the Gov. Mike DeWines desk this week, the bill would ban DEI training, scholarships and offices. It also cautions professors when speaking about controversial topics to ensure they are not promoting a particular belief or conclusion. See previous coverage of the bill in the video player above.

Mental health service to minors without parental consent banned under Ohio bill

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The bill has been hotly contested, passing the House and Senate despite overwhelming opposition testimony from students, faculty and other Ohioans. Its updated version is expected to be voted on again in the Senate this Wednesday.

Those against the bill say it will limit free speech, and those in favor say it will promote intellectual diversity on campus. Labor organizations have also drawn attention to provisions banning faculty strikes and limiting collective bargaining rights for professors. However, the bill contains more than the concerns making headlines.

1. Requires students to study capitalism

Ohios public universities will be required to develop American civic literacy courses under SB 1. As part of these three-credit-hour courses, students would study the American economy and capitalism, and complete required reading.

Enola Gay pilots local family stunned by DEI purge

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The course lists seven required readings, six of which are staples of U.S. history like the Constitution or the Gettysburg Address. The seventh requirement involves required readings of Adam Smiths writing, including The Wealth of Nations. Smith, a Scottish political economist, is considered the first theorist of capitalism.

2. Limits interactions with China

Under SB 1, public universities are prohibited from creating or renewing partnerships with academic or research institutions located in China unless there are significant safeguards. Universities are also barred from accepting any gifts, donations or contributions from any organizations connected with the Peoples Republic of China.

These politicians here in Ohio say theyre anti-China, but actually China and what its policies are toward academic freedom are actually quite similar to what were building here in Ohio, Ohio State University English professor Pranav Jani said.

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The bill does allow Chinese students to pay for tuition when attending school, and Chinese alumni are still permitted to offer donations. Christopher McKnight Nichols, a history professor at Ohio State with expertise in foreign policy and national security, said the provisions in SB 1 single out China and are likely to deter students and staff from coming to state universities. He also said American allies, rather than China, are more likely to hack or usurp American intellectual property.

3. Requires syllabi to be publicly available within three clicks

SB 1 requires all undergraduate courses to make their syllabi publicly available online for at least two years. Each syllabus must also be accessible from the main page of an institutions website by no more than three links.

The syllabi are required to include topics of coverage, readings and details about the professors teaching each course. Ohio State English Professor Jill Galvan said because these syllabi are required to include professors contact information, she is worried about doxing and harassment.

According to the American Association of University Professors, putting syllabi on a public website can lead to conflicting copyright claims and increase criticism or harassment toward professors. Texas has had a similar law on the books since 2009, saying it would allow students to get a better idea of what a course would entail, so the move would not be unique to Ohio.

4. Mandates student evaluations of professors biases

Under SB 1, faculty would be evaluated in part by student questionnaires. These surveys would be set by the state-appointed Chancellor of Higher Education and would have to include this question: Does the faculty member create a classroom atmosphere free of political, racial, gender and religious bias?

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Area school district defends LGBTQ+ policies in court

What its going to produce is, in the classroom, an intense chilling and self censorship, because people are going to be afraid to teach what they know, and theyre going to be afraid to teach full histories, Galvan said.

At least 12 of Ohios 13 traditional public universities already implement end-of-course evaluations where students can share their opinions on faculty. Some of these evaluations, like those at Miami and Ohio State, are already codified in the Ohio Administrative Code. However, this new system would create a more formal, uniform process.

5. Eliminates undergraduate degrees with few graduates

SB 1 requires state universities to eliminate any undergraduate degree that awards fewer than five degrees over any three-year period. These programs could be granted a waiver by the state if they are found to still be useful despite low graduation numbers. However, waived majors may not be eligible for state funding under the bill.

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Jani said he believes SB 1 will drive down enrollment in majors and minors related to controversial topics because of how they might be construed in the current political climate. SB 1 defines controversial topics as topics of political controversy, including climate policies, marriage or elections.

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Coupled with this provision of SB 1, this could eventually lead to the elimination of various controversial majors. However, its more likely this will eliminate niche degrees such as uncommonly studied foreign languages or less common scientific specializations. Nichols said this provision may be unnecessary, pointing out that low-enrolling courses are typically canceled, with their professors scheduled elsewhere.

6. Limits Ohio State student trustees powers

SB 1 eliminates portions of Ohio law that allowed student members of the OSU Board of Trustees to have voting rights. The board has one undergraduate student and one graduate student, both of whom serve two-year terms and currently have voting rights.

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This would change Ohio States Board of Trustees to be more similar to the 12 other state universities, all of which have nonvoting student members. Under current law, Ohio States student trustees could be granted voting powers if the rest of the board allows them to.

SB 1 also requires changes to boards of trustees, including new required training and establishes shorter term limits. The trainings will cover members duties, relevant state laws, institutional planning and advancement guidance, and national and state issues in higher education. It also reduces terms from nine years to six and bans reappointment within four years of a trustees six-year term.

7. Devotes resources to exploring three-year degrees

The bill requires the Department of Higher Education to conduct a study about implementing three-year bachelors degree programs. The study will investigate the feasibility of three-year degrees across multiple majors and requirements and will not factor in programs that allow high schoolers to get college credit.

How dismantling the Department of Education will affect Ohio schools

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As part of this provision, all public universities will be required to submit statements explaining how every undergraduate major they offer could be completed within three academic years. Institutions like Ohio University and Ohio State already offer three-year programs, although most hinge on students completing college credit-eligible courses in high school. SB 1 says advanced placement credits can be factored into these required university statements.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
UPDATE (10:19 p.m.): Fairhope Public Library supporters said a vocal minority shouldnt control what books are available.

However, the Alabama Public Library Service has paused funding due to a complaint about inappropriate books in the teen section.

The librarys supporters packed Monday nights Fairhope City Council meeting wearing yellow stickers.

I would like to see our library be able to continue to operate our librarians continue to do what they love, which is connecting readers with books without threats and harassment, without worrying if their funding is going to be cut and how, Elizabeth Williams said.

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The funding has been paused until the APLS conducts an investigation.

There is only a pause in funds from the state, Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan said. Again, that was only equivalent [to] maybe about $21,000, but it would be about $40,000 annually from the state, regarding two installments of that payment.

Many people spoke at Mondays city council meeting, but nobody in attendance spoke against the library.

It is unclear when the APLS investigation will be complete.

PREVIOUS REPORTING:

FAIRHOPE, Ala. (WKRG)  The Fairhope Public Library is a place where people come eager to learn, but now its also at the center of a heated debate.

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This should not be a political issue, Elizabeth Williams with Read Freely Alabama said.

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The Alabama Public Library Service voted Thursday to suspend the librarys state funding of over $40,000 annually.

We did not know this was coming and it was not on the APLS agenda, Fairhope Public Library Board Member Randal Wright said. We had no idea that this was going to happen.

Fairhope Library Board members told News 5 they received a letter in February from the APLS assuring them the library complied with new state policies that include the removal of books from the childrens section deemed explicit and inappropriate for minors.

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With that assurance, we thought we were fine, so it did come as a shock, Williams said. Some of these books that are being challenged. They are important because they are cautionary tales that can help our young people understand some of the very real dangers that do unfortunately exist in our world.

Library board members said they have not heard from the APLS since the decision to pause the funding was made.

In the meantime, local and national organizations have created a fundraiser in support of the library. As of Monday evening, they have raised more than $34,000 over the past few days to help offset the cut funding.

The people of Fairhope have shown that they support their library, Williams said. They support intellectual freedom, and they will not allow these outside groups to come in and tell them what they and their families can and cannot read.

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People against cuts to the Fairhope Public Library and those who support the cuts are expected to speak at the Fairhope City Council meeting on Monday evening.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Israeli forces separately killed two Palestinian journalists in Gaza within hours of each other on Monday, including an Al Jazeera correspondent who had prewritten his final words to be released after his death.

The Israeli military first killed Palestine Today correspondent Mohammed Mansour in Khan Younis, along with his wife and son, in an airstrike. All three were in their house in southern Gaza when the strike hit, according to Al Jazeera.

Many of Gazas surviving journalists shared posts on social media mourning Mansour, including Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent Hossam Shabat. Less than an hour after reporting on Mansours death, Shabat himself was killed in northern Gaza.

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Hossam was not just a brother or a passing journalist, but a pure soul walking the earth, an influential journalist and a symbol of northern Gaza, said Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif, who posted several graphic clipson X showing the immediate aftermath of the attack on his 24-year-old friend and colleague. Shabats dead body can be seen on the ground by his car near Beit Lahiya.

Anticipating his death as a prominent Palestinian journalist, Shabat had composed final words to be published posthumously by his colleagues. He begins by saying he has likely been targeted and killed by Israeli forces if the public is reading his message.

This is Hossams team, and we are sharing his final message :



If youre reading this, it means I have been killedmost likely targetedby the Israeli occupation forces. When this all began, I was only 21 years olda college student with dreams like anyone else. For past 18 pic.twitter.com/80aNO6wtfO    (@HossamShabat) March 24, 2025

When this all began, I was only 21 years old  a college student with dreams like anyone else, he wrote. For the past 18 months, I have dedicated every moment of my life to my people. I documented the horrors in northern Gaza minute by minute, determined to show the world the truth they tried to bury. I slept on pavements, in schools, in tents  anywhere I could. Each day was a battle for survival. I endured hunger for months, yet I never left my peoples side.

Shabat was also a contributor to Drop Site News, a U.S.-based media outlet that has joined the calls condemning the attack and accusing Israel of targeting him. The well-known journalist never stopped trying to show the reality in Gaza, even when Israel put him and five other Al Jazeera colleagues on what Drop Sites co-founder described as a kill list in October. At the time, Shabat said he felt like he was hunted and accused Israel of fabricating a dossier to frame him for terrorism.

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His writing was lyrical and arresting. I struggled to translate and edit his pieces  to do them justice, to convey his emotive use of Arabic into something relatable in English, his editor Sharif Abdel Kouddous said in publishing Shabats last article through tears for Drop Site.

In the typical editorial see-saw back and forth of finalizing a piece, I would often return to him with clarifications and questions, asking him for additional details and direct quotes, Kouddous continued. He was always quick to respond despite his extraordinary circumstances.

Family and friends mourn over the bodies of Palestine Today journalist Mohammad Mansour (L) and Al Jazeera journalist Hossam Shabat (R), both of whom were killed by Israeli forces on March 24, 2025 in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian territories. Abood Abosalma/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

The Israeli military has a history of trying to paint Palestinian journalists as terrorists  particularly those who work for Qatar-based Al Jazeera, one of the few media networks able to broadcast from inside Gaza. On Monday, though Israeli strikes killed the two Palestinian journalists, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department blamed Hamas for their deaths.

By God, I fulfilled my duty as a journalist. I risked everything to report the truth, and now, I am finally at rest  something I havent known in the past 18 months, Shabat said in his posthumous message. I did all this because I believe in the Palestinian cause. I believe this land is ours, and it has been the highest honor of my life to die defending it and serving its people.

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Israel has killed more than 206 journalists in Gaza since October 2023, according to the Gaza Media Office and the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate  the deadliest incident for journalists in modern history. In response to Mansour and Shabats deaths, PJS demanded the international community end its disgraceful complicity to move beyond mere condemnation and take actionable steps to hold Israel accountable.

The attacks come as Israel continues to relentlessly bomb Gaza after breaking a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. In recent days, the Israeli strikes have killed hundreds of Palestinians. With Gazas journalists trying to do their job while surviving what human rights groups and the international community say is a genocide, Shabat had a special posthumous message for his colleagues.

I ask you now: do not stop speaking about Gaza. Do not let the world look away, he said. Keep fighting, keep telling our stories  until Palestine is free.
AUSTIN (Nexstar)  Stefanie Roe has spent a lot of time at the Texas Capitol.

In 2023, she pushed for legislation named for her son, Tucker, who died from fentanyl poisoning. He was 19 years old. In June 2023, Roe sat beside Gov. Greg Abbott as he signed Tuckers Law, which requires Texas school districts to educate students in grades 6-12 about the drug.

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But passing the law was just part of the fight to honor her son and save lives. Roe said there has been confusion over how to teach the topic.

Its an unfunded mandate from the state, Roe said, adding that without funding, schools could struggle to meet the requirements of Tuckers Law.

Thats frustrating. A law without any guidance is a disaster. It created a disaster for schools, Roe said.

Tucker was Roes only son. After his death, she founded the nonprofit Texas Against Fentanyl, also known as TXAF. Its a 501(c)(3) founded to increase awareness, support and legislation surrounding the drug. Many of those involved in the nonprofit have their own stories of loss, and a mission to prevent others from dying from fentanyl poisoning.

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We understand the crisis for what it is, Roe said.

A key part of the TXAF mission is education. Through The Tucker Project, TXAF developed Street Smart, an interdisciplinary curriculum to help teach about the dangers of fentanyl. Roe worked with the state of Georgia to implement the curriculum in their schools. Shes working on a pilot program to get it into Texas classrooms.

Roe is hoping lawmakers will provide funding to roll out the curriculum. But shes also pushing for change on the national level.

I will not stop until the nation has Tuckers Law and education is required at schools across the United States, Roe said. We have a lot of work to do. I dont think Ill ever stop. Ill probably be marching at the Capitol for the rest of my life.

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Roe said she does it in Tuckers memory. She believes he would be proud of her work.

I know that hes smiling and saying go get em, mama,' Roe said, smiling, as she stood on the steps of the State Capitol.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
While the White House celebrates a ceasefire in the Black Sea after a 12-hour meeting in Riyadh, in Ukraine, the enthusiasm is muted.



The agreement is missing crucial securities that Ukraine urgently needs, including protecting its ports from Russian attacks as well as opening up the blockaded Mykolaiv port. The deal negotiated by the U.S. and Russia leans more in Moscows favor, experts told the Kyiv Independent.



Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow agreed to a ceasefire on March 25 to eliminate the use of force and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes. In return, the U.S. will help restore Russias fertilizer and agricultural exports to the world market, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.



This is definitely not what Ukraine needs, said Serhiy Vovk, director of the Center for Transportation Strategies, a consultancy in Kyiv.



What we urgently need now is the protection of our port infrastructure from missiles and drones, but there is not a single word about this in the White House statement.



Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia has damaged or destroyed 385 port infrastructure facilities, destabilizing Ukraines port operations. Ports in Odesa Oblast, Ukraines last operating seaport region, suffered attacks on average every three days from January to February 2025.



Russia has also blocked the crucial Mykolaiv port since 2022, one of the largest seaports in the country, adding logistical costs to agricultural producers. Farmers across the country can only export goods from three Ukrainian seaports: Pivdennyi, Chornomorsk, and Odesa.



There are conflicting statements about when the ceasefire will start. President Volodymyr Zelensky said it is in effect from today, while the Kremlin says it will begin when sanctions on Russian food producers and exporters are lifted.

Read also: A lot of problems for Russia  How Ukraines new 3,000km drone could boost Kyivs war effort

After Russia pulled out of the UN and Turkey-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative in July 2023, Ukraines military carved out its own trade route through the sea. It has been a lifeline for Ukraines economy by allowing cargo vessels to sail safely by hugging the coastlines of Bulgaria and Romania while guided by the Ukrainian Navy.



Sea drone attacks that sank Russian ships pushed Russias fleet eastward and away from the Crimean ports, adding an extra safety cushion.



Ukraines Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said Russia would violate the new agreement if it moves its warships westwards again. It will be regarded as a threat to Ukraines national security, he added.



If the Russian navy returns to Sevastopol, to Crimea, we will have many risks regarding, for example, our joint anti-mine initiative where we try to demine our sea routes in partnership with Bulgaria, Turkey, and Romania, said Vovk.



The U.S. and Russia underwent the negotiations without its European allies at the table, despite concerns from Black Sea countries Romania and Bulgaria that the Russian fleet could dominate the Black Sea again.



Those countries should also be included in talks for their safety, said Vovk. Russian attacks on vessels have hit close to NATO member Romania, even damaging a Romanian ship in July 2023.

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I am concerned that this deal may be shifting from a local solution aimed at saving Ukrainian exports into a broader geopolitical game that does not include Ukraines allies at the negotiating table, said Andrii Pidhainyi, a partner and co-head of Transport and Infrastructure Practice at Arzinger, a Ukrainian law firm.

The aftermath of Russian strikes against the Danube River ports. Aug. 16, 2023. (Southern Operational Command)

The Good News

Since embarking on its own maritime corridor, Ukraine has been able to export non-food related products, crucially iron ore, which has kept its battered metallurgy industry afloat. Only agricultural products were allowed under the initial Grain Initiative.



The upside, for now, is that Ukraine will not have to return to the previous terms of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and will be able to continue to export metal and mining products.



Without access to sea exports, Ukraines metallurgy sector lost out to competitors on the global market, which in turn hit Ukraines economy and caused shortages in countries reliant on imports, the National Association of Extractive Industry of Ukraine told the Kyiv Independent.



Ukraines own corridor boosted exports by nearly 60% compared to the grain deal, reaching 92 million metric tons last year, according to the Center for Transport Industries. This included 33.7 million tons of iron ore, an 89.9% increase from 2023, according to the GMK Center, a metallurgy consulting company.



The current corridor is much smoother and faster than under the old grain deal, said Bogdan Kostetskyi, an operating partner at consulting service Barva Invest. Sea freight and insurance rates for bulk cargos are close to that of the neighboring Romanian port, Constanta, he noted.

An inspection group of the Maritime Guard of the State Border Service of Ukraine prepare to disembark to board a cargo ship for inspection for prohibited items and substances before entering a port in the northwestern part of the Black Sea. 18 Dec. 2023. (Anatolii Stepanov / AFP via Getty Images)

While he sees little visible benefits for Ukraine, Kostetskyi said it's good that the new deal does not mention the return of Russian inspections of vessels in the Bosphorus. While on paper, Russian inspectors were searching for weapons, they deliberately drew out the process, causing long delays in the Bosphorus Strait, Ukraines Infrastructure Ministry previously claimed.



By October 2022, more than 100 ships were stuck waiting in the Bosphorus at one time, as only five to seven vessels were inspected per day instead of the minimum required 16-18. The holdups cost Ukrainian farmers $10-15 per metric ton in vessel demurrage, Kostetskyi said.



When Russia controlled the Ukrainian exports in 2023, they sabotaged it. We are not interested (in returning to that), said Serhii Fursa, deputy managing director at investment firm Dragon Capital.

Read also: How the next generation of Ukrainian drone pilots are being trained at UAV schools

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NEW YORK  Andrew Cuomo privately expressed regret to a receptive audience about elements of rent reforms he approved as governor, two people familiar with his remarks told POLITICO.

Cuomo, the frontrunner in the race to unseat Mayor Eric Adams, last week shared his belated concerns about the 2019 tenant-friendly laws during a closed-door meeting of the executive committee of the Real Estate Board of New York. He suggested he should have sought, during negotiations with the state Legislature, to curtail the laws he believes excessively limited allowed rent increases tied to apartment building repairs.

In a statement, his campaign spokesperson Rich Azzopardi substantiated Cuomos hindsight-is-2020 message to the REBNY board.

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While well-intentioned, the 2019 bill had unintended consequences in some places  specifically changes involving MCI and IAI repairs, Azzopardi said, referring to state-administered programs that regulate how much owners can raise rents after making improvements. Theres been widespread acknowledgment of these issues, which subsequently were the subject of legislative tweaks.

The rent law overhaul, and Cuomos role in it, has remained a source of discontent for some well-heeled real estate executives who have the means to bolster a super PAC backing Cuomo's candidacy.

Cuomos comments come as he works to amass support for his mayoral bid from business leaders, who are increasingly abandoning Adams with the mayors reelection prospects in doubt. The former governor is a moderate Democrat who occasionally aligned with the left flank of the party, particularly during the post-2018 progressive heyday. In addition to the rent regulations, he also signed into law controversial criminal justice reforms. Hes now running as a centrist promising to restore order to the city.

We appreciate the Governor meeting with us and outlining his vision for New York Citys future," REBNY President Jim Whelan said in a statement about the meeting.

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The real estate lobby staunchly opposed the states systemic overhaul, which eliminated or severely restricted landlord-friendly provisions approved decades earlier. The laws caught the industry off guard and signaled a dramatic reduction of its longstanding dominance in Albany, following Democrats retaking of the state Senate during the blue wave of 2018.

REBNY had long funded Senate Republicans, counting on them to block any unfavorable rent changes.

In 2019, the governor  a political strongman when he wanted to be  left the reforms up to the state Legislature, saying shortly before the Senate and Assembly reached a deal on changes that he would sign whatever they passed.

It was widely expected that Albany lawmakers would reform the rent-regulation system after the Democrats victory, but how far they went  particularly around building and apartment improvements  shocked industry insiders.

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During last weeks REBNY meeting, the Democratic ex-governor specifically cited the laws effect on building investments, people familiar with the conversation said.

Landlords have argued the 2019 laws hindered investment in rent-regulated buildings designed to keep them in decent condition.

Their calls prompted some rollbacks in the wide-ranging Albany housing deal last year. The changes  slammed by tenant activists  allowed higher rent increases tied to apartment improvements, but landlord advocates say they did not go far enough.
Traveling for business can be a drag as you move from city to city to meet clients, generate leads, and visit vendors. But adding a little luxury to the process can improve your travel experience and help you feel refreshed during long travel days. The Business Platinum Card from American Express offers numerous travel benefits, including travel and dining credits, airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and more.

Learn more about this premium business travel card to decide if it suits your business needs.

Learn more The Business Platinum Card from American Express Rates & fees, terms apply Annual fee $695

Welcome offer Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $20,000 in the first 3 months

Ongoing Purchases APR 18.49% - 29.24% Variable Rewards rate 5x Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com 1.5x points on eligible purchases at U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers; electronic goods retailers; software and cloud system providers; shipping providers; and on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else (on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year) 1x points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases

Benefits New! Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card and an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same Card per calendar year. New! Enroll and get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year on the Business Platinum Card. Unlock over $2,000 in statement credits with business and travel benefits annually on the Business Platinum Card (after meeting qualifying spend thresholds; terms apply)



Additional benefits

Beyond earning and redeeming Membership Rewards points, the Amex Business Platinum Card includes numerous perks to add extra value to cardholders. Here is a sample of the benefits you'll receive.

Annual credits

Enjoy over $2,000 in statement credits on select purchases (when you meet qualifying spending thresholds), including travel, dining, technology, recruiting, and more:

Enroll and get up to $150 back on U.S. purchases with Dell Technologies, plus another $1,000 statement credit after spending $5,000 or more on Dell purchases per calendar year

Up to $360 in annual statement credits (up to $90 quarterly; enrollment required) on purchases with Indeed

Up to $250 in annual statement credits after you spend $600 or more on purchases directly with Adobe (enrollment required)

Up to $120 in annual statement credits ($10 per month) for purchases with U.S. wireless telephone service providers (enrollment required)

Up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees with one qualifying airline of your choice

Up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year on CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal)

Fee credit for Global Entry (every four years) or TSA PreCheck (every 4.5 years)

Hotel benefits and status

Link your card to receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status for as long as your card is open. Hilton for Business members can also get up $200 back per calendar year ($50 each quarter) for eligible Hilton purchases. (Enrollment required.)

Additionally, when you book rooms in the Fine Hotels & Resorts collection through Amex Travel, you can receive benefits like room upgrades when available, $100 toward eligible charges, late checkout, and more.

Related: The best hotel credit cards

Airport lounge access

Receive complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges that participate in the American Express Global Lounge Collection. Eligible lounges include Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass Lounges (enrollment required), Escape Lounges, and more. Cardholders also receive access to the Delta Sky Club when flying Delta.

Travel protections

When booking travel with your Amex Business Platinum, you'll receive automatic travel protections at no extra charge. These protections include trip delay insurance, trip cancellation or interruption insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, baggage insurance, and more.

Read more: How credit card travel insurance works

Purchase protections

Using your card to make regular purchases also provides protection on eligible items. Purchase protection covers new purchases that are stolen, accidentally damaged, or lost within 90 days from the purchase date. Extended warranty coverage provides up to one additional year to U.S. manufacturer warranties of five years or less. Cell phone protection reimburses you for repair or replacement costs up to $800 twice every 12 months (after a $50 deductible).

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Rewards rate

5x points on flights, prepaid hotels, short-term rentals, and prepaid flight + hotel packages on AmexTravel.com

1.5x points on select business categories (U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers, U.S. electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers, and U.S. shipping providers) and on purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million per card account per calendar year)

1x points on all other spending

Purchases you make that are eligible for multiple bonus categories will only receive the highest eligible bonus rewards.

How to earn rewards

Amex Business Platinum cardholders have several ways to earn Membership Rewards points on purchases, limited-time offers, and successful referrals.

Welcome offer

As a new cardholder, you can earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $20,000 during the first three months. Thats equal to business spending of about $6,667 per month or more. The welcome offer is in addition to the points youll earn on each transaction.

Book through Amex Travel

When booking flights or prepaid hotels through Amex Travel, you'll earn 5x points per dollar. This allows business owners to maximize points on travel purchases booked through Amexs travel portal. Theres no annual limit to the 5x rewards you can earn on these travel purchases.

Related: Amex points vs. Chase points  Who has the better rewards program?

Bonus business categories

Select business purchases and large transactions are eligible to earn 1.5x points for every dollar spent. Eligible business categories include:

U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers

U.S. electronic goods retailers

Software and cloud system providers

U.S. shipping providers

Because these bonus categories are designated solely for U.S. spending, this isn't the best card for you if your business buys the majority of supplies and materials abroad.

Additionally, all purchases of $5,000 or more qualify for these bonus points, regardless of the type of retailer. If you make a lot of bulk purchases for your business or office space, this could be a great way to rack up extra points. Bonus points are available on up to $2 million of spending each year.

Everyday spending

You'll earn 1x points on everyday spending that does not earn bonus points.

If you want the perks of the Platinum Business Card but spend outside of bonus categories, consider pairing the Amex Business Platinum with the Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express to earn 2x points on everyday purchases (up to $50,000 per year, then 1x) that don't qualify for a bonus category.

Amex Offers

Amex Offers are limited-time promotions with select retailers and in specific categories that you must manually activate to use. Offers are based on your customer profile, card type, spending patterns, and other factors. The offers typically provide a statement credit, bonus points based on the purchase amount, or a flat number of points for making a qualifying purchase.

Employee cards

When you add employee cards to your account, you'll earn points based on their spending. These points add to your rewards balance to accelerate your ability to make a redemption. You can set individual spending limits for each card to limit their ability to make purchases. Be aware that some employee cards charge annual fees, so make sure the benefits outweigh the cost.

Amex Refer A Friend

American Express allows cardholders to earn additional points by referring friends and family through a custom link. When your referral uses your link and is approved, you'll earn bonus points (up to an annual maximum) based on which card they are approved for. Unlike points earned from purchases, Amex will issue a Form 1099 for your taxes based on the value of these points.

How to redeem rewards

American Express offers numerous ways to redeem rewards. However, not all of them offer the same value to cardholders. If you have a Business Platinum Card, these options have the highest redemption value:

Flights booked through Amex Travel . When booking a flight through Amex Travel, you'll get 1 cent per point in value. But when you pay with points using the Business Platinum Card, youll get even more of a boost  a 35% airline bonus when you use points to book Business and First Class tickets on any airline, and the same 35% bonus for any ticket on your selected qualifying airline.

Fine Hotels & Resorts reservations . Amex Business Platinum Cards offer exclusive benefits at select properties. Additionally, you can redeem points for 1 cent per point in value instead of using cash.

Airline and hotel transfer partners . Transferring points to an Amex partner loyalty program can unlock significantly higher value for flights and hotels, depending on how the points are used.

Select gift cards. Redeeming points for gift cards from select retailers also provides 1 cent per point in value. However, numerous retailers offer a lower redemption value.

Read more: Should you use credit card points for shopping or travel?

Who is the Business Platinum Card best for?

The American Express Business Platinum Card is an ideal rewards card for business owners who want luxury travel benefits. Frequent business travelers can earn 5x points when booking flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel. The card also includes complimentary airport lounge access, Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors Gold elite status, and several other travel benefits.

While it has a high annual fee, business owners who utilize all of the cards annual credits will come out ahead. However, if your business spending isnt already focused in the categories that can help you earn annual credits (both travel purchases and business spending), you may be better served by a different business credit card.

Related: Are travel credit cards worth it?

Amex Business Platinum Card pros and cons

Pros

Earn up to 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex

Flexible Membership Rewards points have numerous redemption options

Valuable annual credits across a range of spending categories

Complimentary airport lounge access and other travel benefits

Cons

$695 annual fee (see rates and fees), plus additional costs for employee cards

No 0% intro APR offer

Some redemption options have a value under 1 cent per point

Credits only help offset annual fee if you use them regularly

Where can you use the Amex Business Platinum Card?

The Business Platinum Card from American Express can be used to make purchases at any retailer that accepts Amex cards. In the U.S., 99% of all retailers that accept credit cards take Amex cards. However, when traveling internationally, you may find that Amex cards are not as widely accepted.

When making purchases outside the U.S., the Amex Business Platinum does not charge foreign transaction fees. This benefit waives currency conversion charges of up to 3%, which some banks charge.

How to make a Business Platinum Card payment

Make payment online through the Amex mobile app

Set up recurring payments

Call (800) 472-9297 to make a payment by phone

Mail payment to:

American Express

P.O. Box 96001

Los Angeles, CA, 900968000

Business Platinum Card customer service info

Customer service is available 24/7

Phone number: (800) 492-3344

Business Platinum Card login page

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Alternative cards to consider

The Amex Business Platinum Card is an excellent travel card for business owners who have a lot of expenses and can save money from annual credits. For businesses looking to earn rewards for a lower price tag, these alternatives offer significant value.

Learn more American Express Business Gold Card Rates & fees, terms apply Annual fee $375

Welcome offer Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $15,000 on purchases within the first 3 months

Introductory Purchases APR 0% on purchases for 6 months from the date of account opening

Ongoing Purchases APR 18.49% - 29.24% Variable Rewards rate Earn 4x Membership Rewards points on the top two eligible categories (out of 6 total categories) where your business spends the most each month. Although your top 2 categories may change each month, you will earn 4x points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year, then 1x after that (only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap; terms apply). 3x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com 1x points on all other purchases

Benefits Earn up to $20 in monthly statement credits (up to $240 annually) for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores The Business Gold Card comes in three metal designs  Gold, Rose Gold, and White Gold Your spending limit is flexible and adjusts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history



Why we like it: The American Express Business Gold Card rewards business owners with 4x points on the top two eligible spending categories each month (among six possible categories). Youll get the 4x bonus points on the first $150,000 you spend each year, then 1x points. Plus, get 3x points on flights and prepaid hotels when booking through Amex Travel and 1x on all other purchases.

The Amex Business Gold Card also earns Membership Rewards points, so you have the same flexible redemption options, including transferring to airline and hotel partners. Annual statement credits, including up to $240 for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores (up to $20 per month; enrollment required) and a Walmart+ monthly membership credit (subject to auto-renewal) can help offset the cards $375 annual fee (see rates and fees).

Read our full review of the American Express Business Gold Card.

Learn more Capital One Venture X Business Annual fee $395

Welcome offer Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening

Purchase APR Not applicable Rewards rate 2x miles on every purchase 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One's travel booking site 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site

Benefits Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date and receive an annual $300 credit to use on Capital One's travel booking site Up to a $120 statement credit on TSA PreCheck or Global Entry Unlimited complimentary access to Capital One Lounges and a network of 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges worldwide after enrollment



Why we like it: Business owners who value flexible points and airport lounge access should also consider the Capital One Venture X Business card. It earns an unlimited 2x miles on everyday purchases, plus 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One's travel booking site and 10x miles on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One's travel booking site.

Cardholders also get airport lounge access, travel protections, benefits when you book Premier Collection hotel stays, free employee and virtual cards, and Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credits once every four years. The card has a $395 annual fee, which can be easy for business travelers to offset when factoring in the $300 annual travel credit for Capital One's travel booking site and 10,000 annual bonus miles starting after your first anniversary.

Learn more Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card Annual fee $0

Welcome offer Earn $750 bonus cash back after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months

Introductory Purchases APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 Months

Ongoing Purchases APR 17.49% - 23.49% Variable Rewards rate 1.5% unlimited cash back on every business purchase Benefits $0 annual fee Generous intro APR on purchases You won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information



Why we like it: The Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card is an all-purpose business rewards credit card that earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. It is an ideal choice for business owners who want to earn rewards without paying an annual fee. The card also comes with an intro 0% APR on new purchases, which can help give you extra time to pay off business purchases. Over time, you can even pair it with other Chase credit cards to unlock additional redemption options.

Read our full review of the Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card.

This article was edited by Kendall Little.

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the banks website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
(Bloomberg) -- The United Nations nuclear watchdog said its latest talks with a senior Iranian official failed to yield a breakthrough in its years-long atomic probe, underscoring the urgent need for a diplomatic solution to a tense standoff between the Islamic Republic and the US.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said Tuesday he may be returning soon to Tehran to continue talks with Iranian representatives. We are at a very important juncture, he told Bloomberg television in an interview.

We know there has been an outreach from President Trump sending a letter to the spiritual leader of Iran, Grossi said. It is clear that we need to have some form of understanding that would completely preclude the possibility of Iran getting a nuclear weapon.

US President Donald Trumps letter to Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gave the Persian-Gulf nation a two-month deadline to strike a new nuclear agreement or face potential military action. Last week, Iran announced it was weighing its response to the letter and warned the US faces harsh blows if it carries out an act of aggression.

Tehran dispatched Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi to visit IAEA headquarters earlier this month where he met with Chinese and Russian diplomats. The three countries emphasized that relevant parties should be committed to addressing the root cause of the current situation and abandoning sanction, pressure, or threat of force, their joint statement said.

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The US abandoned in May 2018 an international accord which restricted Irans nuclear work in exchange for sanctions relief. The Islamic Republic subsequently began raising its output of uranium enriched to just below the level needed for weapons.

With more countries worldwide openly discussing their perceived need for a nuclear deterrent, Grossi said it is incumbent on leaders to exercise circumspection and restraint before weakening non-proliferation norms.

IAEA monitors are preparing a special report detailing Iranian infractions in recent years. The country has yet to provide technically credible explanations over the presence of uranium particles detected at undeclared locations.

We are not where we would like to be, Grossi said. Now these things come together: on the one hand these unresolved questions from the past; then at the same time the possibility of having some viable agreement for the future.

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(Adds IAEAs call for restraint in the seventh paragraph)

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2025 Bloomberg L.P.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  A New York family is suing a funeral home after it mistakenly shipped the wrong body to another country instead of their loved one, according to a complaint.

The family of Elder Emilio Garcia Umul, represented by the Rizzuto Law Firm, filed the lawsuit against RG Ortiz Inc. in the New York State Supreme Court in Queens on Tuesday.

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This is beyond a simple mistakeits an unconscionable breach of trust, said Phil Rizzuto, attorney for the Garcia and Maldonado families. It is incomprehensible how such a careless error could occur, leaving two grieving families shattered.

Mistaken Bodies

Two separate families were using RG Ortiz Funeral Home, Inc., after the passing of their loved ones.

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The Maldonado family had retained the funeral home to ship the body of their 96-year-old mother to Ecuador. Another family (Garcia) also retained the funeral homes services to send their 39-year-old loved one to Ecuador. Instead, the funeral home somehow swapped the bodies, according to court documents.

The funeral home mistakenly shipped 96-year-old Carmen Maldonado to Guatemala instead of where Garcias body should have been sent. The Maldonado family discovered this error on TikTok. After seeing the video, the family contacted the funeral home, which acknowledged the mistake, according to the complaint.

Garcias body was left forgotten, a source said.

The Maldonado family filed a lawsuit in Oct. 2024. Both families seek unspecified damages.

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The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection has also filed a complaint against RG Ortiz, accusing them of failing to prepare bodies, misplacing remains, and other lapses that exacerbated the pain of grieving families.

PIX11 News attempted to contact RG Ortiz Funeral Home multiple times; an employee told us that the owner was out for the day.

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.
Mayor Adams has quietly expanded the portfolio of Kaz Daughtry, his controversial public safety deputy, granting him the power to help run the law enforcement units of a slew of civilian New York City agencies, including the departments of Sanitation and Parks.

The deputy mayor for public safety, a position Adams reintroduced to the municipal bureaucracy upon taking office in 2022, was previously tasked with just supervising the departments of Correction, Fire and Probation, as well as some smaller agencies and offices focused on criminal justice.

But in an executive order issued Monday, Adams wrote that the public safety deputy is now also to maintain liaison with and review the activities of the law enforcement units of 10 civilian agencies, including the departments of Parks, Sanitation, Health, Homeless Services, Environmental Protection and Citywide Administrative Services.

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The other four municipal agencies whose law enforcement units the public safety deputy will now also help oversee are the Administration for Childrens Services, the Human Resources Administration, the Taxi and Limousine Commission and H + H, the citys public hospital system, Adams order states.

The 10 agencies, including their law enforcement units, previously reported to other deputy mayors.

It wasnt immediately clear if Daughtry has any particular plans for the new law enforcement units under his purview.

Adams spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak said Tuesday that giving Daughtry input on the units ensures we have a cohesive approach to public safety. She also suggested the 10 agencies law enforcement arms have always directly coordinated with the deputy mayor for public safety, but didnt provide any previous orders or memos spelling out such a chain-of-command.

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Adams new order also instructs Jacques Jiha, his budget director, to report directly to him instead of Randy Mastro, a Giuliani administration alum recently picked to become Adams new first deputy mayor. Politico first reported the hierarchy shuffle related to Jiha.

The order gives Daughtry, an ex-NYPD official and close ally of Adams who has been at the center of a number of controversies, a much broader set of duties than both his predecessors, Chauncey Parker and Philip Banks, had on paper.

Officers assigned to the law enforcement units of the 10 agencies in question generally dont wield firearms, but are equipped with non-lethal weapons like batons. They also have the power to conduct certain arrests and issue summonses for offenses on the premises managed by their agencies. For instance, the Department of Homeless Services police force patrols city shelters.

The expansion of Daughtrys portfolio comes after he has faced scrutiny over his tenure at the NYPD.

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As the NYPDs deputy commissioner of operations, he helped run the departments Community Response Team, whose members have faced intense criticism over misconduct accusations. Daughtry has over the course of his own police career racked up dozens of misconduct complaints and is facing an active Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit over allegations that he body-slammed a protester in 2023.

More recently, the Department of Investigation found Daughtry and other NYPD brass violated city policies and acted in an irresponsible and unprofessional way by using their department social media accounts to attack lawmakers, journalists and others. Last week, the Daily News reported Daughtry, who lives on Long Island, was granted a waiver to circumvent the New York City residency requirement that comes with a deputy mayor post.

Daughtry was tapped for the public safety role this month after Parker and three other deputy mayors resigned over concerns about Adams ability to govern the city amid the Trump Justice Departments effort to dismiss his corruption indictment with some unusual conditions attached, including a request for assistance with immigration enforcement. Adams has denied a quid pro quo with Trump and pleaded not guilty to his criminal charges.

Though his duties were formally more limited than Daughtrys, Banks, an ex-NYPD chief close with Adams, was known to as deputy mayor for public safety exact significant influence over the operations of the Police Department. Banks resigned in October after being ensnared in a federal corruption investigation.
NEW YORK  Mayor Eric Adams has quietly expanded the portfolio of Kaz Daughtry, his controversial public safety deputy, granting him the power to help run the law enforcement units of a slew of civilian New York City agencies, including the departments of Sanitation and Parks.

The deputy mayor for public safety, a position Adams reintroduced to the municipal bureaucracy upon taking office in 2022, was previously tasked with just supervising the departments of Correction, Fire and Probation, as well as some smaller agencies and offices focused on criminal justice.

But in an executive order issued Monday, Adams wrote that the public safety deputy is now also to maintain liaison with and review the activities of the law enforcement units of 10 civilian agencies, including the departments of Parks, Sanitation, Health, Homeless Services, Environmental Protection and Citywide Administrative Services.

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The other four municipal agencies whose law enforcement units the public safety deputy will now also help oversee are the Administration for Childrens Services, the Human Resources Administration, the Taxi and Limousine Commission and H + H, the citys public hospital system, Adams order states.

The 10 agencies, including their law enforcement units, previously reported to other deputy mayors.

Spokespeople for Adams didnt immediately comment Tuesday on what prompted the reorganization or whether Daughtrys expanded duties come with any specific goals.

Adams new order also instructs Jacques Jiha, his budget director, to report directly to him instead of Randy Mastro, a Giuliani administration alum recently picked to become Adams new first deputy mayor. The chain-of-command shuffle related to Jiha was first reported by Politico.

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The order gives Daughtry, an ex-NYPD official and close ally of Adams who has been at the center of a number of controversies, a much broader set of duties than both his predecessors, Chauncey Parker and Philip Banks, had on paper.

Officers assigned to the law enforcement units of the 10 agencies in question generally dont wield firearms, but are equipped with non-lethal weapons like batons. They also have the power to conduct certain arrests and issue summonses for offenses on the premises managed by their agencies. For instance, the Department of Homeless Services police force patrols city shelters.

The expansion of Daughtrys portfolio comes after he has faced scrutiny over his tenure at the NYPD.

As the NYPDs deputy commissioner of operations, he helped run the departments Community Response Team, whose members have faced intense criticism over misconduct accusations. Daughtry has over the course of his own police career racked up dozens of misconduct complaints and is facing an active Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit over allegations that he body-slammed a protester in 2023.

Advertisement Advertisement

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More recently, the Department of Investigation found Daughtry and other NYPD brass violated city policies and acted in an irresponsible and unprofessional way by using their department social media accounts to attack lawmakers, journalists and others. Last week, the Daily News reported Daughtry, who lives on Long Island, was granted a waiver to circumvent the New York City residency requirement that comes with a deputy mayor post.

Daughtry was tapped for the public safety role this month after Parker and three other deputy mayors resigned over concerns about Adams ability to govern the city amid the Donald Trump Justice Departments effort to dismiss his corruption indictment with some unusual conditions attached, including a request for assistance with immigration enforcement. Adams has denied a quid pro quo with Trump and pleaded not guilty to his criminal charges.

Though his duties were formally more limited than Daughtrys, Banks, an ex-NYPD chief close with Adams, was known to as deputy mayor for public safety exact significant influence over the operations of the Police Department. Banks resigned in October after being ensnared in a federal corruption investigation.

_____
Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was seemingly dumbfounded after the Trump administration accidentally texted a reporter its war plans.

On Monday, The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg revealed how he was inadvertently added to a group chat on Signal (a messaging app that touts higher security), which seemed to include top members of the Cabinet: Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and others.

To his surprise, Goldberg began receiving text messages about the United States bombing operation against Houthi targets in Yemenlearning of the attacks hours before they actually occurred. The strike was carried out last week, killing 53 people.

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Panetta, who served as defense secretary under President Barack Obama, said that there was no question that the chat was legitimate, and referred to the incident as a serious blunder.

It has to be investigated, and somebody, frankly, needs to get fired, Panetta told CNN Monday afternoon. Somebody put that name on a list, and whoever that was deserves to be fired.

He claimed that during his tenure, the conversation would have been had in-person at the White House, and that the mishap could have jeopardized lives. An account under the name Michael Waltz, which also happens to be the name for Donald Trumps national security advisor, added Goldberg.

Trump officials confirmed the legitimacy of the text logs, defending their chats without omitting that adding Goldberg was a mistake.

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We are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, the White House National Security Council spokesperson said. The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials.

The president claimed that he had just heard the news from a reporter Monday afternoon, and didnt know anything about it.

Im not a big fan of The Atlantic," Trump said. To me, its a magazine thats going out of business.

X users showed a range of emotions after news broke on the massive leak, from disbelief to anger. Both War Plans and Hegseth shot up in trending terms searched on the app.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A deal that was too good to be true cost a prospective renter in San Diegos Ocean Beach thousands of dollars.

I got fooled. Its easy to get fooled, said victim Alexzandria Moya.

Alexzandria Moya said after posting on the Nextdoor app about needing a place to live, she was contacted by a woman offering a small one-and-a-half-bedroom house in Ocean Beach. That price is well below the average cost of rent for that area, which is about $2,500 a month, according to the Zumper rental market.

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It was going for I think she said $1,300, but I let her know my situation, that I needed a place kind of as soon as possible and I dont have as much money, so she lowered it down to $1,000, added Moya.

Man caught on video breaking into Airbnb rental home with family inside

Moya said she set up a time to tour the property and a woman replied saying her niece can give a tour of the property.

I met the niece. She was 21, I do believe she is the scammer, said Moya.

After touring the property two more times, Moya was ready to move forward.

and then sent me like a lease. I read it, it seemed legit, so I said, okay, lets go through with this, and thats when I brought her the money, said Moya.

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Ghost preparers and spear phishing: Heres the tax scams to avoid

According to Moya, the woman was pressuring her to commit  saying other people also wanted the place, and that Moya needed to make an immediate cash payment if she wanted to get the home.

So I gave her $2,500 in total. $1,500 of it in cash, and then $1,000 through Zelle because that was my only way to get it to her right then and there.

Moya said the move-in date kept getting pushed back and was told the property wasnt ready  eventually she was told she could not move in at all and would be reimbursed. But the money never came.

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I tried calling and it was a Google number said Moya. That went straight to voicemail and was not returned.

We called the number and were also sent to voicemail.

I was hurt. I cried about it, said Moya.

Moya said she filed a police report, but fears she will never get her money back.

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan told us rental scams are very common.

We know from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) that in the last two years, its gone up by 45 percent, said Summer Stephan, San Diego County District Attorney.

She said scammers often use tactics like claiming they are out of town, cant show the property, have many other people interested, and need immediate payment.

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Stephan recommends looking at public records to confirm who owns the property and to pay using a credit card so there is a record of the transaction, and you can stop payment.

These are really under reported. People often get scammed, and theyre embarrassed and they move on and they dont report it. Its really important to report it, said Stephan.

Though it wasnt the case in Moyas situation, Stephan says scammers often take legitimate listings and copy them onto their own page with their own contact information and a lower price. She says simply doing a reverse image search could find the original listing.

That should be a red flag. Why are there two listings for the same home? Which one is the legitimate owner? Obviously, the one with the normal price and not the lower price, said Stephan.

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If its too good to be true then its not true, said Stephan.

A lesson Moya learned the hard way.

Your own place for $1,000, its too good to be true, said Moya.

We reached out to the San Diego Police Department about Alexzandria Moyas case and they told us 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 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
The Oconee County Sheriffs Office is investigating the deaths of two people after what they said was a domestic incident.

According to the sheriffs office, deputies conducted a welfare check on Mars Hill Road on Monday after receiving a call from a concerned family member.

When deputies arrived at the home, they found a man named Mitchell Oldham entering the home through the front door.

A deputy then tried to speak to him and found Douglas Oldham dead near the front of the house.

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Due to the unknown nature of the situation, the deputy called for backup to help secure the scene. Once the scene was secure, attempts were made to call any occupants out of the residence, the sheriffs office said. When these efforts were unsuccessful, the Athens-Clarke County Strategic Response Team (SRT) was called in to assist. They deployed a drone inside the residence and located Mitchell Oldham, who died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

After securing the home, the scenes control was turned back over to the sheriffs office for crime scene processing.

Now, the sheriffs office is working to learn exactly what happened at the house on Mars Hill Road.

Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones affected by this tragic incident. We ask the community to keep them in their thoughts during this difficult time, Oconee County Sheriff James A. Hale, Jr. said in a statement.

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Mar. 24The City of Odessa received its March sales tax check in the amount of, $6,212,470.60. This amount includes the Economic Development sales tax of one quarter cent.

According to a City of Odessa news release, the City of Odessa will receive $4,969,976.48 and the Odessa Development Corporation will receive $1,242,494.12.

The City saw an increase in sales tax revenue with March's sales tax revenue total of $4,969,976.48 which reflects a $813,235.77 or a 19.56% increase as compared to March 2024.

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The year-to-date total sales tax revenue for fiscal year 2024-25 is up 29.25%, or $7,040,450.19 as compared to budgeted amount expected at this point in the fiscal year.

In addition, the 2024-25 year-to-date amount is above the previous fiscal year-to-date amount by $2,864,178.23, or 10.14%.

The City has budgeted $57,000,000.00 in net sales tax revenues for this current fiscal year.

Sales tax revenue is generated by sales tax revenue from two months prior to collection, i.e., March's collection is based on January sales.
Diminished value is the difference in a vehicles worth before an accident versus after repairs are completed. A diminished value claim is a request to an insurer to receive compensation for that value loss.

After an accident, you may focus on getting your car repaired as quickly as possible. But the importance of your car's change in value will become evident when it's time to sell. After all, if youre a potential buyer comparing two identical cars available for the same price, would you pick the one thats been wrecked or the one thats accident-free?

Your car's diminished value is an outcome of the accident, not unlike property damage and bodily injury. Depending on where you live and who caused the accident, you may have the option to file a diminished value claim to regain some of the value your vehicle lost following the accident.

Learn more: What to do after a car accident: Your step-by-step guide

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How to file a diminished value claim

Diminished value claims are most often handled by the at-fault insurance provider. An approved diminished value claim pays you cash as compensation for your car's reduced market value.

Follow these five steps to file a diminished value claim:

Contact the at-fault drivers insurance. First, youll work with the at-fault insurance company to repair your vehicle after the accident. This involves filing a car insurance claim promptly, complying with all requests from the insurance companys adjuster, and meeting any deadlines for documentation and information. Research your cars value before the accident. Kelley Blue Book (KBB), NADA, and Edmunds are popular car-value resources. Collect at least two private-party value estimates for your vehicle, assuming the accident didnt happen. Calculate the diminished value with the 17c formula. As well explain more below, the 17c formula is a standard, accepted formula for calculating a vehicles value loss after an accident. You can also optionally get an appraisal. An appraisal will be useful if the insurer does not agree with your diminished value calculations. Contact the at-fault insurer and ask to file a third-party claim. A third-party claim is filed by someone who is not insured by that carrier. Present your information and negotiate. Your claim amount is the change in your cars value pre-accident versus post-accident. Submit all information you have gathered to support that amount. This should include your calculations and valuations or appraisals. The insurer will review and respond.

Learn more: What is the actual cash value of my car? Heres what to know.

When to file a diminished value claim

If youre unsure whether you should file a diminished value claim, you will be better positioned for a successful outcome when all of the following are true:

Your vehicle was less than 10 years old, with reasonable mileage, and in good condition prior to the accident. You did not sign a liability release that applies to the accident. Your vehicle suffered major damage in the accident. The insurance company did not declare your car a total loss.

Also, states set statutes of limitations on filing diminished value claims. They are commonly between two and six years from the accident date.

Yahoo Personal Finance

How to calculate diminished value with the 17c formula

The 17c formula quantifies value loss by applying two multipliers to 10% of your cars pre-accident value. The first multiplier accounts for the damage level, and the second adjusts for the number of miles on your vehicle.

Step 1: Calculate 10% of your cars value. The 17c formula begins by finding 10% of your cars value. Simply multiply 0.1 by the cars market value (found at KBB or NADA). This is the maximum value loss insurers will consider in diminished value claims. If your car is worth $35,000, 10% is $3,500.

Step 2: Adjust with the damage multiplier. Use the table below to select a damage multiplier value. These only consider structural damage, not mechanical or cosmetic damage.

Multiplier Damage Level 1.00 Severe structural damage 0.75 Major damage to structure and panels 0.50 Moderate damage to structure and panels 0.25 Minor damage to structure and panels 0.00 No structural damage or replaced

If your $35,000 car sustained major damage in the accident, you would apply the 0.75 multiplier to $3,500. The result is $2,625.

Step 3: Adjust with a mileage multiplier. Next, you will adjust for the vehicles mileage. The table below lists the mileage multipliers.

Multiplier Mileage Range 1.00 0-19,999 miles 0.80 20,000-39,999 miles 0.60 40,000-59,000 miles 0.40 60,000-79,999 miles 0.20 80,000-99,999 miles 0.00 100,000 miles or more

Continuing with the $35,000 car example, lets assume the vehicle has 50,000 miles. You would multiply 0.60 by $2,625, which is the value after applying the damage multiplier. The result is a max diminished value claim of $1,575.

Diminished value calculator

The National Association of Diminished Value Appraisers (NADVA) provides a free online diminished value calculator. You can use this as a resource in addition to your own 17c calculations and appraisals you collect. To use the calculator, you provide:

Your contact information, including name, phone number, email, and state of residence

Your vehicle information, including the year, make, model, and body type

The cars pre-accident value  the calculator links to KBB.com in case you dont have that value yet.

Information about the accident and cost of repairs

According to NADVA, the calculator was created by certified vehicle appraisals with experience in diminished value claims.

Negotiating a diminished value claim

The insurance company may not agree with your claim amount. This can happen when:

You and the insurer disagree on the damage level.

The insurer does not use the 17c formula. Some insurers may rely on other methods to determine diminished value. These include market comparisons and professional appraisals.

If the insurer does not agree with your diminished value assessment, your claims adjuster may make a counteroffer or ask you to produce more inspections and evaluations. You can fulfill the requests and attempt to secure a higher offer yourself or hire a lawyer to negotiate for you.

Negotiating on your own

To secure a higher diminished value claim, comply with all information requests from the insurer, stay focused on value, and supply as much documentation as you can.

Comply with information requests. The insurer may ask you to supply more photos, calculations, valuations, etc. Although it may be tedious, fulfill these requests. Stay focused on value. In your conversations with the claims adjuster, keep the conversation focused on how your cars value has changed. It might be tempting to talk about the work youve missed or injuries youve sustained from the accident, but those claims are separate issues. Document your position with third-party reports. You may need to collect multiple appraisals to convince the insurer that your number is fair.

If your repair-based or inherent diminished value claim is disputed or you cannot come to an agreement on the settlement amount, most states allow you to request mediation or arbitration through a third party. If working with an attorney, you can also opt to take the case to trial.

Pros and cons of hiring a lawyer

Depending on the complexity of your case, you may choose to hire a lawyer to help navigate negotiations around the diminished value of your vehicle and your settlement.

Personal injury attorneys are well-versed in negotiating with insurance companies to get the best possible settlement. If youre already working with an attorney for a personal injury or property damage claim, they may also be able to help with your diminished value claim.

Be aware that many car accident attorneys charge a fee on contingency (meaning, if you win, you pay the fee) thats equal to one-third of your recovered damages. Even if they are willing to charge a flat rate for their services, you may not recover enough extra (on top of whatever the carrier is already offering) to warrant the attorneys fee.

Types of diminished value

There are two primary types of diminished value to understand: inherent and repair-based.

Inherent diminished value is the drop in the perceived value of a vehicle simply because of its involvement in an accident, compared to a non-wrecked version of the same car. Accidents are reported on your vehicles Carfax history, so theyre almost guaranteed to reduce the cars market value.

Repair-based diminished value occurs when your vehicle cannot be perfectly repaired and restored to its original condition following an accident. This may be due to available parts or even the repair shops choice to use after-market parts to repair the vehicle. Even without a change in functionality, these lower-quality repairs or parts will depress your vehicles market value.

Wrecking your car is inconvenient and costly, even if youre not at fault. Once your car has been repaired, you may be surprised to learn that you're not made whole because your vehicle is now worth less. Filing a claim for the diminished value of your car is one way to get compensation from an at-fault partys insurance policy so you're limiting your losses for an accident you didnt cause.

Diminished value claims FAQs

Can I file a diminished value claim if the other driver has no insurance?

If the at-fault driver is uninsured, you may be able to file a diminished value claim through your uninsured motorist coverage. Note that this option is not available in every state.

Can I file a diminished value claim if I caused the accident?

Most providers exclude diminished value reimbursement for at-fault parties. So if you were responsible for a wreck, you are unlikely to get a diminished value settlement even though your vehicle may be worth less after repairs.

Should I hire a lawyer to help with my diminished value claim?

Lawyers are skilled at negotiations, but they also charge fees. You must assess whether the lawyer can raise the insurers offer enough to cover the extra fees. Note that some lawyers will only accept diminished value claims if they are also representing you in a personal injury case resulting from the same accident.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  In Norfolk, Old Dominion University (ODU) is set to host a public forum to discuss a proposed tuition and fee increase.

Set to begin in the fall, the proposed increase ranges between 0 to 6.99% and affects both in-state and out-of-state undergraduate students. It is meant to reflect the universitys accessibility and affordability commitment with the additional revenue being used for programs such as: STEM-H degree production investment, faculty services, facility operations, technological infrastructure and strategic initiatives, a release states.

Before making a final decision, the ODU Board of Visitors is holding a public forum on April 10.

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In accordance to Section 23.1-307 of the Code of Virginia and Board Policy 1106, Public Comment on Undergraduate Tuition and Mandatory Fee Increases, the forum provides a chance for the university to present their proposed reasoning, while also being able to hear from the public. Following the presentation, Board of Visitors Members will be answering the audiences questions and concerns.

In order to comment, a request must be made beforehand. Requests are on a first-come, first-serve basis and must be made by April 9 at 10 a.m.

To make a request, email ODUs Director of Board Relations and Executive Operations, Mary Jo Karlis, at mkarlis@odu.edu.

The forum is set to be held in the universitys Board Room of the Broderick Dining Commons from 2-3:30 p.m.

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For more information regarding the forum and proposal, click here.

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ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Work has officially begun on the site of south Abilenes new Chick-fil-a location.

Crews have been working to increase the footprint of the new location, which will be on Southwest Drive across from Walmart. Utilities are also currently being installed on-site.

South Abilenes Chick-Fil-a, which is currently located off S Clack Street, will be moving to this location once its complete with hopes of alleviating traffic flow issues in the area.



City Manager Robert Hanna says this area is, increasingly a traffic concern for a number of folks in Abilene. I think even Chick-fil-a.

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By moving into this location for a projected 40 year lease, Chick-fil-a will give the City $125,000 for the first five years, $137,500 for years 6-10, $151,250 for years 11-15, growing up to $223,000 a year in rent by the end of the 40 year lease, which has an initial term of 15 years with 5 renewal terms of 5 years, according to City of Abilene officials.

All of this money, amounting to around $7 million across the 40 years, will be used to fund capital projects within the Parks and Recreation Department.

Hanna calls this, a creative way to provide funding for Abilenes park system thats not tax revenue.

Its currently unknown when Chick-fil-as relocation will be complete.

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GUN BARREL CITY, Texas (KETK)  The Henderson County Sheriffs Office has apprehended a man wanted in connection to a Monday fatal shooting.

Wood County woman sentenced to 30 years after repeatedly striking woman with metal pole

Photo of John Clague, courtesy of the Henderson County Sheriffs Office.

The sheriffs office said the shooting happened near Bonita Point which is just outside of Gun Barrel City in Henderson County.

Officials identified the suspect as John Clague. The sheriffs office said Clagues sister was found dead.

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Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said Clague was in a travel trailer on a property in the Harbor Point subdivision.

The sheriffs offices tactical team responded to the property to try and contact Clague who allegedly tried to run from the trailer but was apprehended by a K9 unit.

Hillhouse said that EMS was checking out Clague for injuries before being transported to the Henderson County Jail.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company (OG&E) is gearing up to support local tree planting and seedling giveaway events assisting tornado-impacted communities starting in Choctaw for Arbor Week.

According to OG&E officials, Arbor Week is a tree planting drive set to begin in Choctaw on March 27. OG&E employees and volunteers will be hands-on planting trees and distributing free seedlings to help restore the areas tree canopy following the recent tornado damage.

Angel Fund OKC set to host low-cost vaccine clinic March 29

Event Details:

Location: Choctaw Creek Park, 2001 Harper St., Choctaw, OK 73020

Date: Thursday, March 27

Time: 9:00 a.m.  12:00 p.m.

Choctaw residents can expect distribution of free seedling trees from 9:00 a.m.  12:00 p.m. *while supplies last

OG&E volunteers will planting trees in Choctaw Creek Park from 10:30 a.m.  12:00 p.m.

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OG&E says, its partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation is an initiative that will donate and plant 670 trees across its service area, including Coyle, Drumright, Langston, Poteau, Shady Point, Sulphur, and Wellston.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Photo by Getty Images.

The Ohio Attorney Generals Office does not plan to fight a court ruling overturning the six-week abortion ban, but he wants an appellate court to roll back rulings that overturned other parts of the same law.

In a brief submitted to the First District Court of Appeals, Ohios solicitor general, T. Elliot Gaiser, reiterated that the appeal before the court didnt have anything to do with attempting to roll back a Hamilton County judges ruling that a ban on abortions at six weeks gestation, included in 2019s Senate Bill 23, was unconstitutional.

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The state has long conceded the obvious: The states Heartbeat Ban  which banned abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected  was overridden by the new Abortion Amendment, Gaiser wrote, referring to the 2023 constitutional amendment passed by 57% of Ohio voters to enshrine reproductive rights including abortion into the state document. Thus, the state is not defending that Heartbeat Ban. Nor is the state even trying, in this appeal, to defend the merits of any of the ancillary abortion regulations that were amended or enacted in the same bill as the Heartbeat Ban.

Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Christian Jenkins cited the constitutional amendment as part of his October 2024 ruling, saying the Ohio Constitution now protects the right to pre-viability abortion, and to give meaning to the voice of Ohios voters, the Amendment must be given full effect, and laws such as those enacted by (Senate Bill) 23 must be enjoined.

The state is appealing decisions it says came alongside the six-week abortion ban ruling, that were made by the judge without a request from the groups suing to see the abortion ban struck down.

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The solicitor general claimed the trial court decision broke all the rules, and the plaintiffs in the case filed a vague, unclear motion for judgment.

Gaiser said the trial court should have asked whether the provisions of the law could stand alone without the six-week abortion ban attached to them.

Many provisions here plainly can, as they were law for years before S.B. 23 was enacted, the brief stated.

Those provisions included what Gaiser called a Check and Tell provision, a requirement that doctors check for fetal cardiac activity and offer to allow the pregnant individual to hear it.

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The main reason supporters called the law the Heartbeat Act was because they claimed a fetal heartbeat was present at six weeks of pregnancy. Scientist say fetal cardiac activity at that stage isnt a fully formed heart, but instead indicates cardiac tissue development.

Some of the provisions brought up in the brief have been temporarily paused by a different court case, one in Franklin County in August 2024. In that case, a judge in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas pumped the brakes on a 24-hour waiting period required before an abortion and the provision requiring doctors to check fetal activity.

Judge David C. Young cited the constitutional amendment as reason to stop enforcement of the requirements in that case for now.

Gaiser said the Hamilton County court that took up the S.B. 23 case relied on the analysis from the Franklin County case in issuing its decision, even though plaintiffs did not even identify the challenged statutes in the initial lawsuit and did not offer any substantive challenge to them.

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Provisions such as definition sections, Ohio Department of Health reporting requirements, and others can all work on their own without a Heartbeat Ban, according to the brief.

True, some (of the other provisions) might not seem to achieve much  such as the express protection of contraception  but they also do not harm Plaintiffs by staying in place, and even if they merely state the General Assemblys intent as to contraception and the like, that is no small thing, Gaiser wrote. One critical representative function of any legislature is to codify the moral judgments of the community, including moral approval  here, of contraceptives.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Ohio lawmakers are pushing for the state to contribute millions toward safety products in schools, such as panic alert buttons and artificial intelligence gun detection software.

House Bill 106, named Alyssas Law, would create a pilot program allowing public and chartered private schools to apply for grants to purchase panic alert systems. The program would contribute $25 million overall from the states general revenue fund, which is primarily funded through taxes.

Columbus ranks among worlds happiest cities

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The bill, introduced in February by Reps. Angela King (R-Celina) and Melanie Miller (R-Ashland), is named after Alyssa Alhadeff, who was a victim of the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

By creating access to this life-saving technology, we can give both educators and students the security and peace of mind to feel safe while theyre at school, King said in a news release.

The Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) would be in charge of developing an application process for schools and a method to determine grant amounts. The bill states funds should be equally distributed between schools in urban, suburban and rural areas, as well as schools with different socioeconomic statuses and enrollment sizes.

To be eligible for a grant, a school could not already have a security system in place. Additionally, the safety device would have to be developed in the United States and capable of immediately contacting local law enforcement. The bill used the examples of wearable panic alert buttons and AI firearm detection programs.

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One measure of property tax relief works its way through Ohio Statehouse

To receive a grant, schools would also have to ensure the appropriate staff receives training on the safety device. The bill states the ODPS would begin distributing the funds on Jan. 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The ODPS would be required to submit a report detailing the pilot program to the governor and legislature no later than Dec. 1, 2027. The report would include data such as program applications, rewarded grants and the types of device purchased.

Alhadeffs family founded the nonprofit Make Our Schools Safe in the wake of their daughters death. The organization pushes for school safety legislation in a variety of states, specifically Alyssas Law.

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Seven states have passed their own version of Alyssas Law, which all look different from Ohios current bill. The foundation of Alyssas Law requires all public schools to be equipped with a wearable or stationary silent panic alarm, which can be pressed to notify law enforcement of an emergency. Six states versions of the law require a panic alarm system in schools, while ones version states schools must consider the use of such devices.

Revived Big Lots stores to reopen this spring; HomeBuys to acquire central Ohio shop

In the last General Assembly, an Ohio senator introduced a bill also called Alyssas Law that would have required public school staff to wear panic alarm buttons. The bill had one hearing and did not pass by the end of the session.

HB 106 varies from Ohios previous bill named Alyssas Law and other states versions of the statute since it would not require schools to implement panic alarms.

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The legislation was assigned to the finance committee where it awaits its first hearing. It has one Democrat and four Republican cosponsors.

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A fugitive was arrested for the 29th time after crashing in a pursuit with Ohio police officers, according to a social media post from the Alliance Police Department.

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William Woolf, 41, had multiple warrants from the Canton Police Department, Carroll County and Stark County.

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Officers started chasing Woolf around 7 p.m. on March 22. At times, the chase reached speeds of 105 mph and went through four counties.

The department said Woolf has 19 open drivers license suspensions and has been arrested 28 times before.

Two of those prior arrests were from pursuits with Alliance police officers.

Woolf reportedly threw multiple objects at police cruisers in an attempt to make them crash during the chase.

He eventually hit a road sign and crashed in a field, according to the department.

Officers arrested Woolf on fleeing, vandalism, felonious assault, possession of methamphetamine and several other charges.

He is being held at the Stark County Jail.

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Mar. 25The federal immigration case of Jose Antonio Alvarenga, who was arrested March 3 in New Lebanon, has torn a local family apart and left Alvarenga's wife April pleading for his release.

The case  simple in some ways and very complex in others  is just one of thousands of immigration proceedings underway after President Donald Trump vowed to crack down on illegal immigration. Some of those cases involve noncitizens who committed crimes after they got here. April Alvarenga is desperate to show that Antonio's case is very different.

April (West) Alvarenga, 36, says she grew up in New Lebanon and lives there today. She has been together with Antonio Alvarenga, 44, for several years, living in Dayton, Fairborn and now back in New Lebanon.

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Legal documents from Montgomery County show the couple were married this past New Year's Eve. But April says for years, Antonio has treated her four kids, age 11-19, as his own  getting them ready for school, letting them pick out something special at the store, celebrating birthdays and doing all the things a good father does.

April acknowledges Antonio came to the United States illegally in 2015 but says there was a strong reason for that, which she said could lead to an asylum claim. It's related to the unique situation that helped put him in the feds' spotlight last month, leading FBI and immigration agents to flood April and Antonio's Perry Street home on March 3 to arrest him.

"I may never ever get the chance to talk to him again if he goes to El Salvador. How am I supposed to explain that to my kids?" April said. "Their hopes are still up that he's going to come home to them. I don't want to have to explain to them that he's gone and we're never going to see or hear from him again."

A local Homeland Security Investigations agent learned Feb. 26 that Antonio Alvarenga was living in New Lebanon with April and her kids, despite an August 2012 deportation. A key note came along with it  Antonio was the subject of an Interpol "Red Notice" indicating that he is a fugitive from El Salvador connected to a 2001 homicide, according to a federal agent's affidavit. Interpol is the International Criminal Police Organization.

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Trump's immigration czar Tom Homan said this year that the administration would begin deporting undocumented immigrants, starting with people who were threats to public safety and national security.

Here's the twist: April says Antonio was arrested for that crime in El Salvador in 2012, and that a court proceeding cleared him. She showed the Dayton Daily News the large Spanish-language court file, along with notarized translations of El Salvadoran court records, calling his arrest a case of mistaken identity, because the person actually wanted for the crime shared Alvarenga's name.

The court document translations that April presented say Antonio Alvarenga's physical characteristics didn't match the person wanted for the homicide, and that in 2012 he was ruled "free to go, without prejudice."

But the Interpol website never took down the "Red Notice."

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Asked about the issue Monday, Interpol officials said from their headquarters in France that, "It is the member country requesting the Red Notice which is responsible for providing updates on any case."

An Interpol spokesperson did say there is a process via which anyone who believes a Red Notice is in error can request correction or deletion of the information. Notified of that information Monday, April Alvarenga said she would follow that procedure.

Interpol officials may also seek clarification on the case from El Salvadoran officials.

The Dayton Daily News also asked ICE and Homeland Security officials whether they were aware of the questions about the Interpol notice.

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An ICE spokesperson said they could only refer the questions to El Salvadoran authorities. ICE would not give a specific agency in El Salvador that they deal with, and the Dayton Daily News has not yet been able to reach the appropriate legal representatives for this case in that country.

Asked whether a change in the Interpol information would affect ICE's handling of Alvarenga's case, ICE officials said all aliens in violation of U.S. immigration law may be subject to removal from the country, and that Alvarenga is currently being prosecuted for illegal reentry after deportation.

Alvarenga's family has not argued that he entered the country legally, but said he left El Salvador post-2012 in part because of continuing persecution because he had exactly the same name as the man wanted in the homicide case.

After Alvarenga was arrested, U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Gentry ruled that detention was warranted pending trial.

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As of Monday, Antonio Alvarenga remained in the Butler County jail on a "Hold for Fed" charge description, according to the jail roster. The federal agent's affidavit said Alvarenga violated Title 8, Section 1326(a) of U.S. Code regarding illegal aliens found in the U.S. after deportation.

April didn't deny that Antonio was here illegally. She said he came back to the U.S. in part because of so much negative publicity in El Salvador since a fugitive for homicide shared his first, middle and last names.

She said he also came for the same reason so many others come to the United States  to try to make a better life for themselves. And like so many others, she said he did so without spending the money and waiting the years it can take to see if U.S. immigration officials will say yes.

Now April Alvarenga and her close friend Heather Gruber are trying to stop Antonio's deportation  talking to public defenders and other immigration attorneys, contacting Interpol and others to try to clear up the "Red Notice" issue, raising money for attorneys ... and just trying to hold it together.

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It's been three weeks since federal agents surrounded their home on Perry Street, handcuffed April and stuck her in a vehicle, refusing to tell her what was going on, while they grabbed Antonio.

April has been able to talk to Antonio on the phone in recent days and to visit him in the Butler County Jail. She said the frequently changing details of the legal proceeding make it hard to know what will happen from day to day. The court docket shows no action since March 7. April believes Antonio may have to serve six weeks before ICE will get more directly involved.

April says on their calls, Antonio frequently cries and keeps telling her he's sorry and that he loves her. But Gruber said he says something else too  "don't give up on this case."

April Alvarenga says the irony of Antonio being detained and charged with illegal immigration is that he's the reason she, an American citizen all her life, became a better person.

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She admitted that some of her New Lebanon neighbors disliked her when she was younger and in wild, dramatic relationships. She said they like her more now, and that they love Antonio, who brought her stability  "the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Amid societal concerns about immigrants' drain on American society, April says she and her children had been on food stamps, but were able to get off that program because Antonio, a roofer, made enough money to support them.

April is a state-tested nursing assistant (STNA), but is unable to work currently because she had a seizure while on the job. She said she's now back on assistance as she cares for her children, two of whom have special needs.

Asked why Antonio deserves to stay in the United States given that appears to have violated immigration law to get here, April didn't hesitate. She said he was fleeing persecution, pursuing a better life, couldn't afford the money and years of time to attempt legal immigration channels, and proved once he got here that he would work hard, raise a family and contribute to society.

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Others who take a harder line on immigration law will certainly disagree. And the Alvarengas' court case may be an uphill battle  illegally reentering the United States is a federal crime punishable by up to two years in prison.

April Alvarenga is not giving up.

"This is my man. When I found him, and I saw how my kids took to him, nothing else mattered," she said. "... They could offer me a million dollars, or anything in the world. But all I would ask for is for them to let him come back to me and my kids."
LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56)  The Department of Justice (DOJ) has reached a plea agreement in a Madison County child pornography investigation.

According to the DOJ, 61-year-old Jeffrey Headley of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced to 22 years in prison on Monday, March 24.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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A plea agreement states that Headley produced and distributed child sexual abuse of a victim that was in his care, custody, and control. These images were posted on a Russian-based image-sharing website in May 2013 and distributed worldwide.

Headley was sentenced to 22 years in prison and must serve 85% of his sentence, per the DOJ, and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for life.

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An SR-22, also known as a certificate of financial responsibility, proves you meet your states minimum car insurance requirements. You may need to file an SR-22 with your state if youre convicted of certain motor vehicle offenses.

Read on to learn what SR-22 forms are, when you need one, how they impact your insurance rates, and more.

Learn more: What to do after a car accident: Your step-by-step guide

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What is an SR-22?

An SR-22 is a form filed by auto insurance carriers with the state. It confirms that you have car insurance and the coverage meets your states minimum requirements.

Insurers do not file SR-22 forms automatically, nor does everyone need one. Your state will notify you of an SR-22 requirement  usually after an accident or moving violation. You must contact your insurer and request the filing. Or, if you dont have insurance, you must buy coverage from a provider thats willing to send in the SR-22 on your behalf.

Do I need an SR-22?

States set the rules for when SR-22 is required. Therefore, these rules can vary based on where you live or where you were involved in a moving violation or accident. Typically, the SR-22 requirement follows a serious incident or multiple driving infractions. Examples include:

Driving with a suspended license or revoked license

Driving without insurance

Driving under the influence (DUI) or while intoxicated (DWI)

Several at-fault accidents

Several speeding tickets in a short time frame

Multiple reckless driving offenses

Failure to pay court-ordered child support

If you go to court for any of these situations, the judge will inform you when an SR-22 is required. Alternatively, your states motor vehicles department may also provide that information. Often, youll need an SR-22 certificate on file to reinstate your drivers license.

You may also need an SR-22 if you're awarded a hardship license. A hardship license restricts your driving to certain locations only, such as work or school. The restriction usually follows a license suspension, but some states provide hardship licenses to unlicensed minors who must drive for school, work, or caregiving.

How does an SR-22 differ from an FR-44?

Florida and Virginia require an FR-44 filing after serious infractions, such as DUI or DWI convictions. Like the SR-22, the FR-44 serves as proof you have auto insurance. Unlike the SR-22, the FR-44 certifies you have higher insurance limits than the state minimum.

Learn more: What is the difference between DUI and DWI?

For example, the minimum car insurance limits in Florida are $10,000 in personal injury protection and $10,000 per person in property damage liability. If you are subject to an FR-44 requirement in Florida, you will need liability limits of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $50,000 for property damage.

Learn more: Florida car insurance: Why experts recommend more than just minimum coverage

How does an SR-22 affect car insurance rates?

A mandated SR-22 filing can impact your car insurance in a few ways, almost always making it more expensive.

Learn more: How much does car insurance increase after an accident?

Maintaining your coverage

If your current insurer allows you to maintain your coverage, your premiums will probably go up because youll likely be classified as a high-risk driver. The amount of the increase will vary depending on where you live, what you did to prompt the SR-22 requirement, and your previous driving record.

A state-by-state analysis from SR22 Insurance Quotes concludes that insurance premiums can rise between 31% and 375%.

Canceled coverage

Theres also a possibility your insurance company will cancel your coverage. In that case, youd need to find a new insurer, and your choice of providers may be limited. Chances are, your new insurance company will also charge higher rates due to your past offenses behind the wheel.

It can be difficult to avoid high insurance rates with an SR-22, though you can take positive steps to reduce your rates in the future. Avoiding additional offenses and policy lapses as much as possible will help. Ensure your coverage meets the minimum liability insurance requirement in your state and have proof of insurance on hand at all times.

Learn more: Car insurance discounts: 17 ways to save

How long do I need an SR-22?

SR-22s are typically required for three years, though time frames can range between one and five years, depending on your state. If you have questions about how long an SR-22 is required, contact your states motor vehicles department for more information.

Your history of traffic offenses can also impact the duration of your SR-22. For instance, in Ohio, drivers are required to maintain an SR-22 for three years if its their first offense and five years for a second offense.

During the time frame in which your SR-22 is required, youll need to maintain adequate car insurance coverage. If your policy is canceled or lapses, your insurance company will notify your state, and youll likely get hit with a license suspension, which could impact the duration of your SR-22.

Expert tip: Once youve met your states requirements for maintaining an SR-22, youll need to contact your insurance company to have the designation removed. This step is essential because the SR-22 doesnt automatically drop off after a set period.

SR-22 insurance

While it may be referred to as SR-22 insurance, an SR-22 isnt an actual auto insurance policy; its simply a certificate your insurer must file if you commit certain driving offenses. Drivers who need an SR-22 on file will likely see their insurance rates rise, but its the past infractions and not the form itself that increases insurance costs.

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How to obtain and maintain an SR-22

Heres how to obtain and maintain your SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility:

Learn about your states SR-22 requirements, including time frames and insurance minimums. If your insurance company offers SR-22s, call them to file one. If they dont offer them, you need to find another insurance provider. Contact your states motor vehicles department for a list of possible insurers. Submit any necessary documentation, including personal and insurance information and information about your driving offenses. Pay an SR-22 filing fee. These fees vary by state but are generally around $25. Comply with your state requirements, including maintaining continuous car insurance coverage for the duration of your SR-22 filing. Most states require a minimum amount of liability coverage, including bodily injury and property damage, to maintain driving privileges.

Learn more: How to switch car insurance companies

What if I need an SR-22 in a different state?

You may have to file an SR-22 in a different state if you committed a driving offense while away from home. The SR-22 must be filed by an insurer licensed in the state thats requiring the form.

Start by contacting your current insurance carrier. If your company is licensed in the state where the accident occurred, it can handle your request. If not, the carrier may be able to refer you to a provider who can file for you.

Likewise, if you move to a new state, you may be required to maintain the SR-22 in your former state of residence for a set period.

SR-22 FAQs

What is SR-22 insurance?

SR-22 is not insurance, though it is described that way. An SR-22 is a form states require after serious driving infractions. The filing certifies that the driver has car insurance meeting the states minimum requirements. When someone uses the term SR-22 insurance, it refers to a car insurance policy in place while an SR-22 filing is in effect.

What does an SR-22 cost?

Insurers charge a filing fee to submit an SR-22 on your behalf. The fee varies by state, but they are usually small  $25 is common. The larger cost will be an increase in insurance premiums related to the driving infraction or accident that prompted the SR-22 requirement. These increases also vary by state and can be influenced by your prior driving record. Expect your premiums to rise by 30% or more.

How do I get my SR-22 removed?

Once your SR-22 filing requirement expires, you can contact your insurer to cancel the filing.

What is an FR-44?

An FR-44 is a form required by Florida and Virginia following serious accidents and driving violations. The form confirms you have auto insurance with higher liability limits than state minimums.

How long is an SR-22 valid?

An SR-22 is valid until the filing is canceled. If you stop paying your insurance premium and your auto insurance lapses, you could lose your license. After an SR-22 is filed, the insurer is legally required to let the state know if you no longer have coverage. Youll have to keep the insurance and the filing in place for a number of years, typically three, but this varies by state.

What is a non-owner SR-22?

A non-owner SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility for drivers with non-owner insurance coverage. This is auto liability insurance for drivers who dont own a car.

This article was edited by Tim Manni.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  An Ohio man who was wanted in connection with a Toledo teens death was shot Tuesday morning by a SWAT officer in the Victorian Village neighborhood in north Columbus, according to police.

The shooting happened in the area of Dennison Avenue and West 2nd Avenue.

Lt. Brian Steel, president of the local police officers union, said the suspect was wanted in connection with the homicide of a 13-year-old out of Toledo, and called it one of the most horrific cases I ever heard.

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Steel said the 13-year-old was murdered, raped, and had her hands cut off.

This is an absolute animal that came into our town, Steel said.

Police said they had been watching Jones for at least two days.

The 13-year-old, identified by police as Keimani Latigue, was reported missing on March 18. Her body was found in an abandoned house on Monday. Her father, Darnell Jones, was initially charged with abduction, but has since been charged with murder.

You murder somebody, do not come to this town, Steel said.

Police: Dead dogs found at home of Madison County trainer

Jones, 33, had a gun and was shot by SWAT officers, police said. The officer involved in the shooting reportedly fired multiple times at Jones, though it is unclear if Jones returned fire.

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Five shots can be heard in surveillance video obtained by NBC4.

Jones was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive after a lengthy surgery. He is in what was described as stable condition. Police said that a car that may be connected to the case was towed from the scene.

You pull a gun at officers, as weve said many times, this is the outcome you could expect, Steel said.

People who live in the area said they were shocked to see this happen.

I dont usually typically hear gunfire down here, Don Russell said. So, you know, I moved down here about a little over a year ago, and this is the first, probably, big incident.

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No officers were injured and there is no threat to the public, according to Sgt. James Fuqua.

When I heard about this case  this was an individual wanted for homicide out of Toledo  I called my union counterpart in Toledo. I said, Hey, good news. We have your guy,' Steel said.

Jones, who is charged with murder, felonious assault and abduction out of Lucas County, was the last person to see the teen before she went missing, according to a criminal complaint. He reportedly gave inconsistent statements about his activity with the victim, and their whereabouts.

Police continue to investigate why Jones was in the area and what connections he has to Columbus.

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I would like to extend gratitude to the officers of the Toledo and Columbus Police Departments for their hard work and dedication in getting justice for Keimani, Toledo Police Chief Michael Troendle said in a statement.

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Mar. 24ADA  Ohio Northern University entered into a settlement agreement with a former professor who sued the school and top university officials for reportedly firing him in retaliation for his political views.

The agreement, signed by Ohio Northern President Melissa Baumann and former law professor Scott Gerber on March 19, brings an end to years of litigation between the parties two weeks before the case was set to be heard by a jury in Hardin County.

Ohio Northern agreed to reinstate Gerber to his former position and faculty rank, in exchange for Gerber's agreement to retire immediately upon reinstatement, according to the settlement agreement filed in Hardin County Common Pleas Court.

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Ohio Northern acknowledged through the agreement that Gerber "provided outstanding teaching, scholarship and service during his years on the Ohio Northern University faculty."

The university also acknowledged Gerber "at no time was ever a public safety risk to any member of the ONU community nor acted with moral turpitude," resolving a defamation claim Gerber raised in his lawsuit.

"Ohio Northern University is pleased to have reached a resolution to this personnel issue," university spokesman David Kielmeyer said in a statement Monday. "The compromise reached through this legal settlement brings this matter to a close."

Attorney Steve Forbes said, "Dr. Gerber is pleased that Ohio Northern recognized that he is an outstanding professor and that they rescinded his termination and reinstated him."

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The settlement calls for Ohio Northern to dismiss with prejudice a lawsuit against Gerber in U.S. District Court, with court costs paid by the university.

In return, Gerber agreed to discontinue any complaints or lawsuits against Ohio Northern and cease publication of his planned memoir "Cancelled."

All parties agreed not to publicly discuss settlement terms beyond those listed in public court documents. The settlement bars all parties from disparaging one another in public or private as well.

Gerber filed his lawsuit in Hardin County Common Pleas Court to reverse his termination from the Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law, where worked as a tenured professor until the school fired him in 2023.

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The lawsuit alleges Ohio Northern terminated Gerber in retaliation for his raising concerns about diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and what he believed to be illegal hiring practices favoring minorities and women at the law school.

Ohio Northern officials denied these allegations in court filings, which describe an alleged pattern of bullying, harassment and intimidation of colleagues preceding Gerber's termination.

The university filed its own lawsuit in U.S. District Court in January alleging Gerber was using litigation to seek political and personal revenge for past grievances.

Ohio Northern attorneys then sought to dismiss the Hardin County case weeks later, but Hardin County Common Pleas Court Judge Jonathan Hein denied the motion.

The settlement agreement averts a jury trial slated to begin April 7 in Hardin County.

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President Donald Trump signed an executive order March 14, 2025, imposing dramatic cuts on seven federal agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services. (Catherine McQueen/Getty Images)

Public libraries in Ohio have taken on many identities over the last 25 years, from literature distributors and internet hubs, to social services researchers and providers of basic needs like free food. But funding has stagnated, failing to match growing demands.

The Toledo Lucas County Public Library works to cultivate reading skills and technology access. But along with those services, the system works with partners to distribute meals to children in the community. It also hosts a small business and non-profit team, a program that has provided training, education, research services, technology and physical space, equating to more than $3.1 million in value to entrepreneurs and businesses, according to Jason Kucsma, executive director and fiscal officer for the library system.

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Folks tend to think of their libraries as where they grew up and had their story times, Kucsma told the Capital Journal. But were part of the public infrastructure.

Libraries are also jumping in as potential funding cuts and actual job cuts to agencies like the IRS and the Social Security Administration leave Ohioans with questions and a lack of answers.

When it comes to federal agencies, thats probably something were going to see more of, said Michelle Francis, executive director of the Ohio Library Council.

Ohio libraries are in the thick of it with tax season going strong, as they partner with organizations like the AARP to help people finish their filings.

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We cant keep up with the demand for tax services, Kucsma said. Once we open that up, those slots fill up pretty quickly.

In one year, Ohio public libraries saw visits from enough people to fill Ohio Stadium 434 times, according to council data.

However, over the last 25 years, the funding from the state hasnt always matched the influx of roles libraries have included in their portfolio.

State funding

The Public Library Fund, which is the states funding source for all public libraries dropped by $27 million last year, putting the funding at the same level it was 25 years ago.

When youre funding libraries at the same level you were 25 years ago, but yet the demand, the expectation is growing, somethings gotta give, Francis said.

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The local libraries have significant support from their communities in the form of property tax levies, but there are still 48 library systems of the 251 in the state that rely solely on state funding for their main revenue, according to Francis.

We see our relationship with the state as one where when we receive funding from the Public Library Fund, it goes straight to those services on the local level, she said.

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The state also provided $4.5 million to the State Library of Ohio in the last budget, money which supports the research areas of the library, including conservation of things like the official photograph of the Ohio House from 1890, documents about the state dating back to 1876 and even a celebration of the 35th birthday of the United States.

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The SLO gets some funding from libraries with which the it collaborates, but the biggest chunk, $5.4 million, comes from the federal Institute for Museum and Library Services.

Weve been here for 200 years, we have to plan like were going to be here for 200 more years, Knapp said.

Without help from both the federal and state sides, the library is going to have trouble, particularly with its current facility.

In asking for a one-time increase in the 2026 operating budget of $525,000, Mandy Knapp, who heads the state library, told the Ohio House Workforce and Higher Education Committee their current facility is no longer suitable with the work needed to remediate HVAC issues threatening the preservation of one-of-a-kind and rare materials that include medieval manuscripts and writings from state political leaders.

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Due to the condition of our facility, we are unable to correctly preserve and care for these materials, Knapp told the committee in February.

Federal funding

Along with the battle for state funding, the state library is facing potential cuts on a federal level after an executive order from President Donald Trump listed the Institute of Museum and Library Services as part of a group of governmental entities to be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, and ordered to reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law, according to the executive order, which was released March 14.

Among the other entities listed for elimination with the library-services agency were the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Minority Business Development Agency, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution, and the United States Agency for Global Media and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

The museum and library services institute provides funding to libraries and museums nationwide, including the State Library of Ohio. The library was praised by Francis and Kucsma as an entity that provides statewide benefits from those federal funds, including resource-sharing, summer learning programs, reading programs for the blind and deaf, and the Ohio Digital Library, which helps local libraries big and small provide audiobooks and e-books.

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These resources are not large amounts of money, but they go to help support projects and programs that the people of Ohio benefit from every day, Francis said.

As of Friday afternoon, the State Library of Ohio hadnt heard whether or not its funding would be cut, specifically the Grants to States Program, which is where the state library receives most of its funding.

Source: State Library of Ohio

The $5.4 million from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services is a drop in the bucket among the trillions of dollars the U.S. Congress handles, as Knapp looks at it.

Its like finding $20 in your wallet that you didnt know was there, thats what it is to Congress, she said.

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But for the State Library and the local libraries who work with it, that money is the difference between needed partnerships  digital services, consortiums for smaller libraries, the conservation of historic materials including parts of the states founding history  and being reduced to one singular role as a research library without the ability to help fellow libraries.

It would totally and utterly devastate the State Library of Ohio, Knapp said.

As it happens, the Toledo Lucas County Public Library was one of the recipients of the National Medal for Museum and Library Services, given out by the Institute of Museum and Library Services to institutions that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities.

Part of that contribution includes opening its meeting rooms to local governments and elected officials. At Toledos libraries, 27% of their meeting space usage in the last year was government-related, according to Kucsma, something the library encourages as a way to meaningfully engage with people.

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As we see peoples trust in general institutions erode, especially in the last 10 years, that hasnt happened with peoples trust in libraries, Kucsma said. I think its only grown.

Gov. Mike DeWines executive budget proposal had an increase to the Public Library Fund from 1.7% to 1.75%. But Francis said we still have a long way to go with the budget, and they plan to push even harder to show the importance of public libraries.

Im optimistic that (legislators) see the value, Francis said.

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A new report ranked Ohios highways 10th in the nation for cost-effectiveness and condition.

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News Center 7 spoke to residents who couldnt believe highways, like I-75, is part of one of the nations best highway systems.

Sasha Johnson drives from Dayton to West Chester every week for work.

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She said the highway is usually in good condition when shes on her commute but was surprised to learn Ohios highways are Top 10.

I didnt realize that. I would have thought it would be like 20th or something, Johnson said.

Reason Foundations Annual Highway Report ranked Ohio based on cost-effectiveness and condition.

Drivers said the construction projects on highways are keeping conditions good.

Theyre doing some work on them so theyre getting better. City streetways are a little bumpy, potholes here and there. But highways are pretty fine, Brandon West said.

David Dilley is from Dayton and sees the report as a sign of improvement statewide.

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Ive traveled all over the country. I mean, LA freeways are crazy. Washinton D.C. is crazy ... Ohio they dont seem to be as well maintained as other states, Dilley said.

The report states that Ohio drivers spend about 12 hours a year stuck in traffic.

Ohio ranked 14 out of 50 for traffic congestion.

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US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he would sign an executive order imposing 25% tariffs on countries that purchase Venezuelan oil and gas, effective from 2 April. He referred to this date as Liberation Day in America, as his long-threatened reciprocal tariffs are also set to take effect. The move is widely viewed as a political manoeuvre designed to put pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as well as China, the largest importer of Venezuelan crude.

Oil prices surged following the announcement, with WTI futures at NYMEX climbing 1.22% to $69.11 per barrel, while Brent futures at ICE rose 1.16% to $73 per barrel on Monday. Both benchmarks hit their highest levels since 3 March, recording gains of 11% and 6.7%, respectively, despite a slight pullback during Tuesdays Asian session.

Trump referred to the new oil duties as a secondary tariff, aimed at tackling illegal migration from Venezuela. Venezuela has purposefully and deceitfully sent to the United States, undercover, tens of thousands of high-level and other criminals, many of whom are murderers and people of a very violent nature, he claimed.

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Any country that purchases oil and/or gas from Venezuela will be forced to pay a tariff of 25% to the United States on any trade they do with our country, he added. According to Reuters, the largest buyer of Venezuelan oil is China, followed by the US, India, Spain, Italy, and Cuba.

The tariff will also include countries that purchase Venezuela's oil through third parties, effective on 2 April on top of existing tariffs. The new tariff will expire one year after the country last purchased Venezuelas oil, according to Trump.

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To mitigate the impact on US importers, the nations Treasury Department extended Chevrons licence to produce oil in Venezuela until 27 May. Chevron, a major US oil producer, operates five onshore and offshore projects in Venezuela. Ahead of Chevrons licence expiration, Venezuelan oil and gas exports have reached their highest levels since November. Previously, the US Treasury had urged Chevron to wind down operations in Venezuela by 3 April.

Oil prices rebound amid rising Middle East tensions

Crude prices have sharply rebounded from multi-year lows since early March, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Last week, oil prices surged after US military strikes targeted Yemens Houthi group in the Red Sea, raising concerns over potential tighter sanctions on Iranian oil exports. Israels renewed military actions in Gaza further fuelled fears of a widening Middle East conflict. Additional sanctions on Iran and Venezuela could significantly impact global oil supply, as both countries exports have risen since 2022. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), Iran holds 24% of the Middle Easts oil reserves and 12% of global reserves. Its oil exports have grown since 2022, following Russias invasion of Ukraine, with current output reaching 1.5 million barrels per day, or 1.4% of global production.

Meanwhile, the peace talks aiming to end the war in Ukraine still face roadblocks as Russia criticised the West for failing to lift sanctions on Russias exports of farm products. The lengthy negotiation process diminished expectations that the US would lift sanctions on Russias oil, which previously placed pressure on oil prices.

Chinas stimulus measures fuel oils upside momentum

Chinas pro-growth policy and positive economic data also improved the oil demand outlook in the country. The worlds largest oil importer proposed the introduction of further stimulus measures in the wake of Trumps tariffs, adding to the oil markets rebounding momentum. Beijing announced a special plan to boost domestic consumption last week, including measures to increase wages and support consumer spending. Meanwhile, Chinas retail sales rose 4% in the first two months of this year, accelerating from a 3.7% increase in December. That was the fastest pickup since October last year.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  A citizen-led review process will move forward even after Oklahoma City Police say a former sergeant tied to a viral use of force case that injured an elderly man resigned.

News 4 was the first to report last week that Joseph Gibson resigned from the Oklahoma City Police Department per a department spokesperson and Fraternal Order of Police President Mark Nelson.

OKCPD officer who slammed Lich Vu to the ground has resigned, police say

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On October 27, 2024, 71-year-old Lich Vu and then-Oklahoma City Police Sgt. Joseph Gibson got into a verbal argument after Vu attempted to explain why he didnt believe he deserved a ticket for allegedly making an improper U-turn. Vu is seen tapping Gibsons vest with the back of his hand after telling him to shut up. Gibson is seen grabbing Vus arm before Vu is slammed to the ground.

Vu suffered a C1 fracture, an orbital fracture, and a brain bleed as a result of the incident. He also had to have surgery and his attorney, Devon Jacob, says hes still in poor health.

It just leaves a bad taste in everybodys mouth, said Jacob. Because essentially it appears that he was permitted to resign in lieu of termination.

The department placed Gibson on administrative leave pending the outcome of internal criminal and administrative investigations that would determine potential charges or disciplinary actions.

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Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond declined to pursue charges that Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna filed against Gibson for aggravated assault, saying Gibson acted within the scope of his training.

Jacob is planning on filing a civil rights lawsuit on Vus behalf by the end of April. Jacob said the lawsuit will name multiple defendants outside of Gibson, but has not indicated if the City of Oklahoma City will be named.

In January, News 4 employees attended a city council meeting where City Manager Craig Freeman outlined how the investigative process would play out. Freeman said the departments Office of Professional Standards would conduct its own investigation and decide whether or not to make recommendations of discipline to Chief of Police Ron Bacy. Freeman said the incident would also be reviewed by the Public Safety Community Advisory Board.

Exclusive: New video shows aftermath of former OKC officer slamming Lich Vu

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While News 4 has not been able to obtain the results of the investigation, non-criminal forms of discipline for Gibson within the department are out the window due to his resignation. However, the Public Safety Community Advisory Board also leaves a chance for comments, suggestions and recommendations pertaining to the incident to still come up in the future.

This board reviews closed cases, said Andrea Grayson, Implementation Manager for the OKC Public Safety Partnership.

News 4 requested interviews with Oklahoma City Chief of Police Ron Bacy and Craig Freeman last week to get clarification on a number of questions, including whether or not the case is closed.

There needs to be more transparency, said Jacob.

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News 4 is also seeking clarity on why police only shared six minutes of nearly 35 minutes of body worn camera and surveillance footage from the October incident. Lastly, News 4 is questioning whether training changes are needed since the police departments own experts noted in a December affidavit that the amount of force Gibson used was not reasonable.

News 4 employees asked Grayson directly on Monday if the advisory board, made up of eight citizens from each of the citys wards and one citizen appointed by mayor David Holt, would still get to review the case.

The case eventually will be reviewed, said Grayson.

Grayson couldnt say when the review will take place, and encouraged citizen engagement.

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We encourage residents to attend the open portion of the meetings that occur once a month, said Grayson. That agenda is posted and it is public through the city clerks office.

News 4 asked Grayson what she would say to citizens that feel like theyve been left in the dark.

It is important to remember that this board is comprised of residents of Oklahoma City, just like you and me, said Grayson. That these residents do have the best interests of their friends and neighbors that reside in Oklahoma City, and they complete a really tough job of reviewing closed cases and making recommendations as they need to the Oklahoma City Police Department.

Grayson said the OKC Public Safety Partnership is also hosting a Ward 6 info session March 26 at Capitol Hill library from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. She says its an opportunity for residents to learn more about the board, its complaint investigative process, how to file formal complaints and here about the work the board does. Grayson said the biggest public misconception she hears is that the board investigates cases. Grayson says the board only reviews closed cases.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  High winds caused major damage across the state last week, including at the Oklahoma City Pow Wow Club. A lot of their damage was done to the roof surrounding the dance arena.

Its a place that many have called home for years and it happened just a few months before their 75th annual Pow Wow this summer.

This site was given to my grandparents back when we first bought this land in 57. And my grandpa, my grandfather, built this structure, said Joe Poe, the Chairman of the OKC Pow Wow Club.

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The roof was built in 2018 and the high winds ripped off about half of it.

Now, members are having to pick up the pieces.

They had a clean-up day this weekend, but said theres still a lot more to do before they host the Pow Wow in July.

Definitely a catastrophic event: Fire destroys high school gym, damages classrooms

The roofs on those things are like little air foils on wings. So when the wind came through, it just lifted it up and pulled it out of the ground, said Poe.

Joe Poe said they need about $7,000 to fix the wood poles on which the roof was resting on. They believe they can salvage the roof panels.

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Now, theyre reaching out to their members and the public who enjoy the Pow Wows to volunteer their time or donate.

Thats where the funds are going to be. Anything left over from that will go into our pow wow that were putting on in July, said Poe.

If youd like to get involved, here is a link to their GoFundMe page and their Facebook page with a contact number for the club.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Oklahoma lawmakers have a deadline this week to have bills heard on each floor.

So far, several key pieces of legislation on both the House and Senate have yet to be heard including a bill by Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Enid that would ban teenagers from having social media without permission from a parent.

Another bill by Senator Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, would ban more than 20 food dyes from foods.

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Legislation has until Thursday to be heard or it will not move forward to the opposite floor.

On Monday, a bill passed through the Senate that would require state jails and detention centers to go through at least one inspection a year.

Senate Bill 595, authored by Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, comes on the heals of jail sites in the metro failing inspections in recent months, including Oklahoma and Cleveland Counties. The reports found unclean conditions and many health concerns.

Sen. Weaver, a long-time member of law enforcement, said the bill was a request from the Oklahoma Sheriffs Association and the Department of Health.

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Bill aimed at tackling Oklahomas childcare crisis moves forward

Were a huge state, 77 counties, said Weaver. What this will do, put a blueprint for success, I think, to be able to show whats demanded of the counties and they can go forth and do that.

He also said the bill was an effort to prevent further problems within the states struggling jail system.



I think theres a good chance this will do that. You know, so many of our sheriffs and our detention facilities are doing such a great job. But its a high-risk situation, said Weaver.

The bill passed through the Senate with unanimous support but not without some pushback from lawmakers.

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I think the standards youre outlining seem strong, said Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City.

The bill will now advance to the House for consideration.

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State Superintendent Ryan Walters and other Republican leaders asked President Donald Trump's administration to grant the state more control over its federal education funds. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  Oklahoma state leaders have urged President Donald Trumps administration to bypass typical funding methods at the U.S. Department of Education and place federal dollars for schools directly in the states hands.

Republican leaders of the Oklahoma House and Senate endorsed state Superintendent Ryan Walters request submitted Tuesday to the Trump administration, which aims to close the federal Department of Education.

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Providing state-controlled block grants is a method conservatives have supported, including in Project 2025, as a method to limit influence from Washington, D.C., over school policy and empower states to decide how to spend federal education funds.

The U.S. Department of Education pours hundreds of millions of dollars into Oklahoma schools to support a variety of programs, including those benefiting impoverished students, special education and English language learners, among many others. A majority of funds for Oklahoma public schools come from state and local sources.

In a letter to the Trump administration, Walters pledged that support for special education will continue. He didnt specifically name any other federal programs for continued funding.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education said it would organize schools into types based on need to direct funding decisions if the federal government gives education dollars in block grants. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice)

If the Trump administration agrees to dole out block grants, the Oklahoma State Department of Education would categorize schools into types based on need to direct funding and would offer a diverse marketplace of solutions, according to the letter.

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The marketplace could include financial aid for families sending their children to private schools, the letter states, and would support schools offering classical education, which emphasizes the study of liberal arts and classic literature.

Oklahoma officials said the federal governments current funding system comes with too many administrative burdens and bureaucratic layers. The U.S. Department of Education uses these mechanisms to ensure states and schools comply with federal regulations, including civil rights laws.

However, states and local school districts broadly control what is taught in the classroom. In Oklahoma, the state Department of Education and the Legislature set academic standards for the topics schools must teach at every grade level and in each class subject, and districts decide their own lesson plans for how to teach the mandatory topics.

Walters often criticized former President Joe Bidens administration for leveraging federal funds to enforce policies that Republicans labeled radical  like non-discrimination protections for transgender students and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

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President Trumps vision for education is simple: empower parents, get politics out of the classroom and put students first, Walters said in a statement. Today, Oklahoma is raising our hand and saying we will be the first to take the reins of education for our students.

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, and Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, supported the request for block grants. Both said they wish to see Oklahomans, rather than federal officials, have greater control of the states education system.

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, supported a request to have the U.S. Department of Education deliver school funds in the form of state-controlled block grants. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

We will continue our work on improving student outcomes and reducing the teacher shortage, which is best done by Oklahomans to the benefit of all Oklahoma students, Hilbert said in a statement.

The heads of the Senate Education Committee, Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, and the House Education Oversight Committee, Rep. Dell Kerbs, R-Shawnee, also supported the measure.

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Trump issued an executive order last week, instructing his education secretary to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the U.S. Department of Education while ensuring services are uninterrupted.

Shutting down the federal agency would take an act of Congress, who created the department in 1979. Congressional Republicans are working to codify Trumps order.

Democratic leaders in Oklahoma opposed the agencys closure.

House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, said eliminating federal oversight of education would give more power and less accountability to Walters, whose tenure in office has been a frequent source of controversy.

House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, said closing the U.S. Department of Education would give Oklahomas state superintendent more power and less accountability. (Photo by Carmen Forman/Oklahoma Voice)

This may be a win for him, but not for Oklahoma students, teachers or families, Munson said in a statement last week.

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Senate Democrats said they doubt closing the U.S. Department of Education would improve academic outcomes for Oklahoma students.

We have seen nothing so far that gives me confidence this change will be well-planned or avoid negatively impacting student learning, Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said. Swift policy shifts at the state level have already had a negative impact on the classroom. Educators are left scrambling to understand whats happening while simultaneously trying to support students and prepare for the upcoming school year. This is truly alarming.

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Oklahoma Education Waiver 3.25.25
Rep. Emily Gise, R-Oklahoma City, is the author of a bill that could make "Baby Olivia," a controversial anti-abortion video, part of the curriculum for Oklahoma students. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  A controversial anti-abortion video could become part of the curriculum for Oklahoma students in November after legislation cleared the state House Monday.

House Bill 1603 from Rep. Emily Gise, R-Oklahoma City, outlines requirements and standards for a video teaching human biology related to pregnancy and human development inside of a womb. The bill requires parents to opt-in their students to the curriculum, but makes viewing it a graduation requirement for Oklahoma high school students unless they are not opted-in.

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While the legislation does not explicitly name the Baby Olivia video and the bill author rebuked any direct relation, the video fits the outlined requirements. In several other states, similar legislation with nearly identical language directly named Baby Olivia.

The controversial video is produced by Live Action, an anti-abortion organization, and narrates the development of a fetus inside a womb from conception until birth. The group said the videos accuracy was reviewed by several doctors, but all are associated with anti-abortion or Christian organizations, according to reporting from Stateline.

A screenshot of the Baby Olivia video, produced by Live Action. (Screenshot)

Oklahomas video must be a high-definition ultrasound video, at least three minutes in duration, showing the development of the fetus in a biological woman and a high-quality, computer-generated rendering or animation showing the process of fetal development, highlighting significant markers in cell growth and organ development until birth.

These are the same requirements listed in more explicit Baby Olivia legislation around the country.

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Oklahoma schools are currently not required to teach sex education, but do have to provide HIV/AIDS prevention instruction and health education. Gise said her legislation gives parents a say in what their children learn when it comes to health education as they have to opt their students in.

Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, said the Baby Olivia video was deemed inaccurate by many other states and asked Gise to provide a list of acceptable videos that meet her standards, which was not provided.

Provenzano said this appeared to be model legislation being pushed by Live Action, but Gise said she is not familiar with the group pushing the Baby Olivia video and said she highly doubts there is an exact replica of her bill as she worked tirelessly on it.

She said other states have similar requirements which is indicative of a growing trend in this compassionate and conservative movement.

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Gise said there are plenty of science-based and medically sound videos available for free online and that her bill does not mandate a specific video but rather a set of standards. Local school districts would be tasked with choosing what video to include in curriculum, with the State Board of Education available for guidance on selecting scientifically accurate options.

While Gise said seeing the development of a fetus in the womb will create a culture that understands and values the sanctity of life and lead to more informed decisions and less teen pregnancies in Oklahoma, critics of the bill did not appear to be satisfied with this reasoning.

Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Oklahoma City, said the bills language was broad and could potentially open the door to teachers choosing to teach sex education, which he said fits under the language of human biology related to pregnancy.

Gise disagreed and said her bill is narrowly focused on human growth and development.

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States with similar legislation in various stages of the legislative process include Iowa, Arkansas, Nebraska, Tennessee, North Dakota and Florida.

The bill passed through the Oklahoma House 75-18 Monday, with two Republicans joining Democratic representatives in voting against it.

A Senate version of the bill was not heard in committee this year.

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University of Wisconsin-Madison protesters sit around tents on May 1 as police work to dismantle their Pro-Palestine encampment on Library Mall. Nationwide college protests criticizing Israel spurred legislation against antisemitism. (Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

OKLAHOMA CITY  Oklahoma public schools and universities would be held accountable to an international definition of antisemitism under a bill the state Senate approved despite bipartisan concerns of limiting free speech.

Senate Bill 942 from Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, passed on Tuesday by a vote of 31-15 with support from a majority of Republicans. Democrats and members of the chambers most conservative caucus opposed it.

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The legislation implements a definition of antisemitism from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. The definition considers antisemitism as a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews and also includes rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism that are directed toward individuals or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

SB 991, also from Thompson, adopts this language as the state of Oklahomas definition of antisemitism. Thompsons bills now head to the state House for consideration.

Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, wrote two bills adopting a definition of antisemitism from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)

Both bills consider the antisemitism definition to be non-legally binding, but schools and colleges still could face significant consequences for alleged violations, including a federal investigation and threats of decreased funding.

SB 942 requires schools and colleges to treat antisemitic harassment or discrimination in an identical manner to discrimination motivated by race, and it forbids unequal treatment based on race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, religion or marital status.

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Both the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the State Regents for Higher Education would have to designate a Title VI coordinator to investigate reports of antisemitism at a public school or college, referencing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The agencies wouldnt have to hire an extra employee for the role, Thompson said.

If a Title VI coordinator finds a school or college has failed to address an antisemitism complaint, the state must report it to the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education.

This could spur a law enforcement investigation, and the state Legislature could change the school or universitys funding, Thompson said.

The Jewish federations of greater Oklahoma City and Tulsa endorsed both bills and said multiple national groups, like the Anti-Defamation League, also are supportive.

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Without these bills, Jewish Oklahomans remain vulnerable, the Tulsa and Oklahoma City federations wrote in an endorsement. We cannot afford ambiguity when it comes to hate.

If the legislation becomes law, public schools and universities would be encouraged, but not required, to incorporate antisemitism awareness training for all students and employees and to teach a Jewish American heritage curriculum.

A demonstrator at an encampment at Columbia University in New York City on April 29 waves the Palestinian flag. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images) (This image cannot be republished without a Getty subscription.)

The bills follow pro-Palestine protests that emerged nationwide, particularly on college campuses. College students across the country have called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and for their universities to cut financial ties with Israel.

President Donald Trumps administration threatened colleges with repercussions over the protests and canceled $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University, where a Gaza Solidarity Encampment made national news. Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill adopting the same antisemitism definition included in the Oklahoma legislation.

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Oklahoma Senate members in the far-right-wing Freedom Caucus said they oppose the college campus protests but were concerned the definition is overbroad.

Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, questioned whether Oklahomans could make political statements criticizing Israel if the bills become law.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance considers manifestations targeting Israel and statements that the state of Israel is a racist endeavor to be examples of antisemitism. The organization doesnt consider criticism of Israel to be antisemitic if it is similar to that leveled against any other country, according to its website.

Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, voted against a bill requiring reporting of antisemitism complaints in schools and colleges. He said the bills definition of antisemitism is too broad. (Photo by Carmen Forman/Oklahoma Voice)

Deevers, a pastor, and other GOP senators also voiced concerns that biblical accounts of Jewish involvement in Jesus crucifixion would be labeled antisemitic. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance includes claims of Jews killing Jesus as an example of classic antisemitism.

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Thompson said the context in which the statements are made would be crucial in determining whether there was antisemitic intent. She said an investigation by a Title VI coordinator or law enforcement would help determine that.

Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said the legislation prioritizes one group while it tramples on the potential free speech rights of many.

Deevers said a lot more people would be on board with the legislation if the definition were narrower. He offered an alternative definition of hostility towards or discrimination against Jewish people based on their ethnicity, religion or cultural identity.

I support the efforts to discourage ethnic hatred, including antisemitism in Oklahoma, Deevers said while debating against SB 942. Our universities need to ensure that support for terrorist organizations like Hamas has no place on our college campuses, but the definition provided in this bill does not solve that problem. It simply creates other problems.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission announced Friday that they suspended the off-premises sales license of the Stop N Go Mini Mart near Dawson Park in Portland.

The licensee must not exercise any license privileges at the licensed premises as continued operation represents a serious danger to public health and safety, OLCC said.

No absolute certainty Martin Family car found in Cascade Locks

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According to the organization, five violations occurred over the last year that involved unlawful activities. Due to the nature of the violations, OLCC says they are proposing to permanently cancel the stores license.

The mini mart was open for business Tuesday with one major change: The owner could operate the store. He just can not sell alcohol, said John Brady with OLCC. Given the severity of those allegations we felt that that justified not just the emergency suspension but also a cancellation of the license.

Earlier this month, the stores owner, 43-year-old Donald Sharma, was indicted on drug trafficking charges. He was, however, released from jail following his arrest on March 3 after posting $20,000 of his $200,000 bail.

Sharma said, Someone must have been snitching, during his arrest, according to a police detectives account on a probable cause document.

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This past weekend, Portland police arrested 26 people on 100 criminal charges in the Dawson Park area, just weeks after another major bust at the Stop-N-Go mini mart.

President of the NAACP Portland Chapter James Posey said the community had been raising concerns about the shop, which is suspected of being a key hub for the open air drug market in the area.

Weve known that this store has been a problem. We should have taken care of this business before now, Posey said. We have to be more intentional about how we structure this community, so everybody can benefit from the economic capacity of this town Otherwise, well probably be back here again with another situation.

Crystal Hamilton, who used to work at the hospital across the street, said shes been in the store.

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A lot of us from the hospital go in there, obviously, to get something on our lunch. And we could tell something faulty is going on, she said. And its just the fact that they have so many people surrounding the store, you know, obviously theres something going on or they wouldnt be there.

OLCC says the licensee has the right to a hearing to dispute the proposed license cancellation by April 21.

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(Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)

New Mexico health officials reported one additional measles case in Lea County, bringing the total outbreak to 43 cases in the state.

All reported infections are in the states southeastern corner, with 41 cases in Lea County and two in Eddy County.

Cases in New Mexico are split between children and adults, with eight infections in very young children, 11 in children aged 5 to 17-years old and 23 infections in adults.

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Just because were seeing this small increase in cases, does not mean we see this as any sort of downward trend, New Mexico Department of Health Communications Director Robert Nott told Source NM. We are still offering vaccination clinics and are encouraging people to go to their public health offices for vaccination information and vaccines at no cost.

NMDOH warned last week that a Texas traveler with measles exposed people to the virus in a gas station, restaurant, church and hotel in Guadalupe and Valencia counties in early March.

Measles symptoms can take anywhere from one to three weeks to develop.

Nott said there has been no update regarding any measles cases in Guadalupe and Valencia counties since NMDOH issued the health advisory.

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Measles, one of the most contagious diseases in the world, is a respiratory virus spread by contact with droplets in the air, which can linger for hours. People can spread the virus several days before symptoms such as fever, spotty red rash, cough, runny nose or red eyes appear. About one in five cases is serious enough to warrant hospitalization, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Complications from measles include brain swelling, blindness, pneumonia and death.

The most effective prevention against the measles is two doses of the measles, mumps rubella vaccine, according to health officials.

In Texas, health officials on Tuesday reported another 18 cases, totaling 327 infections since the outbreak began in late January, mostly impacting unvaccinated children. The deaths of a 6-year old Texas child, and a Lea County adult, both unvaccinated, earlier this year are the first measles deaths in the U.S. in 10 years.

Just over 13,000 New Mexicans received a vaccine between Feb. 1 and March 21, which is more than double the vaccine rate in the same time last year, Nott said.

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NMDOH directs any questions about measles tests, symptoms or vaccines to the Helpline at 1-833-796-8773. The helpline is staffed by nurses who can answer questions in English or Spanish.

Vaccine records can be found at the Vax View website or by calling the NMDOH immunization program at 1-833-882-6454, available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Heres an updated list of vaccine clinics hosted by the New Mexico Department of Health:
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Property tax reform and relief is something Ohio lawmakers say they want to get done and now, after years of inaction, one measure has taken a step forward.

House Bill 28 is a reintroduction of a bill from the last general assembly that never saw a floor vote, but this general assembly, three months in, and it is on its way to the Ohio Senate.

The legislation would eliminate replacement levies.

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We have a lot more work to do in this body, Ohio House Assistant Minority Leader Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) said. And that bill takes us in the wrong direction.

If we want to enact real property tax reform, we need to fix the system that got us into the point that were in today, Rep. Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township), one of HB 28s sponsors, said.

Heres what to know about levies: there are three different types you might see when you go to the polls. One always results in an increase, one never does, and one is variable.

A renewal levy reinstates an already existing levy.

A renewal with an increase, reinstates an already existing one with an increase.

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A replacement recalculates property taxes owed based on the latest valuation of ones home, oftentimes resulting in an increase.

I think [House Bill 28] brings transparency for the voters when they go to the ballot box to make informed decisions, Hall said. Replacement levies are very confusing. This doesnt take away the ability for renewal. This doesnt take away the ability for people to have a renewal with an increase. It just takes away one of their tools that we feel like is very misleading when presenting to voters.

Hall said voters often dont know that type of levy will cause an increase and said that overall, this will simply empower voters with more information with two clear levies.

In the states November 2023 election, replacement levies passed at an 89% rate across the state, and renewal with increase levies passed at an 86% rate.

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Democratic leaders said eliminating replacement levies does not help bring Ohioans direct relief, and it stands to hurt local governments.

It would take away opportunities for our local governments to be able to have options when theyre putting levies on the ballot, Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio (D-Gahanna) said. It is maybe a tiny little piece of what weve been talking about with property tax relief, but it does it at the expense of flexibility for our local governments who are already struggling.

What services might be at risk? Jarrells said he worries that fire and police departments, mental health services and other locally funded services might feel the brunt of a removal of replacement levies if the bill goes all the way through.

We should be really having honest conversation around property taxes, Jerrells said. How do we actually support our cities without necessarily taking tools away?

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While this bill has gotten through the Ohio House, there are at least 15 others aiming to bring Ohioans property tax relief that are being worked on in committee. But how is it going to get done?

When youre trying to solve a big problem with lots of parts to it, I think its best to pass the things that are easiest first and that are clearest, Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said. I think its a good start, but there is much more to do.

We need comprehensive property tax reform instead of just taking a buzzsaw to every little thing, Rep. Dan Troy (D-Willowick) said. We can do better.

Right now, several of the bills focus on relief for elderly Ohioans, but lawmakers said that is not where they want to stop, just where they want to start.

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I do think that property tax reform is needed for all levels of age, but I do have a soft heart and focusing primarily on our people, on a fixed income, Hall said. Our system right now is taxing some of these people out of their own homes.

House Bill 28 must now be considered by the Ohio Senate before a vote to pass sends it to the governors desk.

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TEXARKANA, Texas (KTAL/KMSS)  NBC 6 is honoring Remarkable Women of the ArkLaTex during Womens History Month. In addition to introducing you to this years finalists, were also taking a look at past winners, like the 2023 winner Katina Levingston.

Shes a wife, mother, business owner, woman of faith, and cancer survivor.

In 2016, she underwent surgery and chemotherapy treatments, fighting with a smile on her face as she continued to run her medical coding business, showing up for her childrens activities and investing in her marriage.

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Where are they now? Remarkable Woman 2022 Jenny Williams

Telling everybody else I was fine to keep everybody else good because I dont want nobody to ever worry about me or to have pity on me, Katina shared.

Two years into her cancer battle, Katina decided to help others through theirs by creating the Tough Kookie Foundation. The foundation provides support, encouragement, resources, education, and advocacy for breast and childhood cancer survivors in the Texarkana area.

I thought she was spreading herself a little thin, Joe Levingston explained. Then one night we were praying, and she told God, and I said, Thats it. Its over now.

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Levingston said in 2022, they raised nearly $170,000, with all of the proceeds helping cancer patients and their families. Tough Kookie provides a wide range of assistance, from paying for mammograms and ultrasounds to providing financial support, meals, and pampering.

I just want people to feel good about themselves, Levingston said. Because going through cancer, you dont feel good about yourself.

Meet the 2025 Remarkable Women nominees

This remarkable woman said she is simply carrying on the tremendous legacy left by her grandmother, who taught her important life lessons during summers on their family farm.

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My grandmother was a giver, Levingston recalled. She gave everything, and I really wish she was here to see me doing the things that she sowed into me.

The remarkable woman from Texarkana has advice for others who want to live their best life.

Love on you. Love on your family. Laugh a lot. Travel a lot and just be the best you  you can be.

Since becoming Remarkable Woman of the ArkLaTex in 2023, Katina has founded two other organizations: The Twin City Multicultural Council and The Women of Texarkana Tea Party, where ladies meet on the first Saturday of each month to give back to a local non-profit.

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Katina has received several awards, including the 2024 Texarkana NAACP Trailblazer Award, the 2025 Chamber Choice Award from the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce, and the 2024-25 Sustainer of the Year for the Junior League of Texarkana.

Her goal is to make a difference every day by helping others. Katina says her motto is, Dont talk about it. Be about it.

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CLAYTON, Mo.  The Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has called Webster University its home since 1976, but announced on Monday it plans to build a new home in Clayton.

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, or OTSL, said it is under contract for the purchase of 6.67 acres of land located at 8300 Maryland Avenue currently owned by Caleres headquarters.

As we celebrate our 50th anniversary this year, we are excited by an unprecedented opportunity to build a new home, said OTSLs General Director Andrew Jorgensen in a news release. We are still early in this process, but we look forward to being in dialogue with our Opera Theatre community, Clayton residents and businesses, and other stakeholders as we pursue necessary redevelopment steps over the next several months.

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Jury awards $48.1M in malpractice case against Mercy Hospital

According to the press release, steps still remain before OTSL can close on the purchase of the site where Caleress corporate offices currently stand.

The transaction is still in its early stages, and OTSL will assess the possibility of the project that includes fundraising, design work, and cost estimations.

OTSL said in the final step the theater will be working with the city of Clayton to review and approve the design of the new performing arts center.

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The job of federal district court judge is a prestigious lifetime appointment. But even in normal times, it is a lonely job, because judges rulings are theirs and theirs alone.

These are not normal times. Look at District Judge James Boasberg, an Obama appointee who is the chief judge of the federal district court in D.C. He presides over a lawsuit challenging the mass deportation of Venezuelan nationals in U.S. custody to El Salvador. The Trump administration, claiming that the Venezuelans are gang members, issued a proclamation deporting them pursuant to the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

In response to an emergency lawsuit on behalf of the deportees, Judge Boasberg ordered the government to delay the deportation flights until he could rule whether the deportations were authorized by the act, which has been invoked just three times in American history and only in wartime.

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Instead, the Trump administration set up a constitutional showdown by flying the Venezuelans to El Salvador in apparent defiance of Boasbergs order. Trump called the judge a radical left lunatic and demanded his impeachment, while MAGA allies attacked his family.

In a rare rebuke, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts pointed out that it has been recognized for centuries that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose. Trump again suggested impeachment, in keeping with his style of head-butting until his opponent backs down and Trump owns him.

Things are not going that way. Instead, Trump, the bully in the bully pulpit, is in a federal judges wheelhouse, where obedience to court orders and accountability for violating them is a core principle.

Boasberg called the use of the Alien Enemies Act incredibly troublesome and suggested that the Trump administration rushed to get the deportees out of the country to evade judicial review. He has relentlessly pressed the government attorneys to explain whether the deportation flights took off after he issued his order: I will get to the bottom of whether they violated my order  who ordered this and what the consequences will be.

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Boasberg is especially isolated because the ordinarily robust restraints of checks and balances in a three-branch government are failing now that the Republican-controlled Congress has all but left the field. Trump has also intimidated Big Law firms such as Paul Weiss, who might have mounted vigorous lobbying campaigns to defend the rule of law.

Consider another isolated federal district judge: Frank Johnson, an Eisenhower appointee in Alabama during the Civil Rights Era. Johnson desegregated the states schools and ordered authorities to allow the 1965 Civil Rights march from Selma to Montgomery. He endured death threats, social ostracism and for 15 years needed round-the-clock protection by U.S. Marshals  but never backed down.

For an avatar, look to Hollywoods Will Kane, the marshal of the town of Hadleyville, played by Gary Cooper in the great western High Noon. The murderer whom Kane once jailed has been pardoned and is on his way to kill him, arriving on the noon train where his gang waits at the station. While the frightened townspeople hide, Kanes Quaker wife Amy (Grace Kelly) pleads with her husband, Dont try to be a hero. He replies, Im not trying to be a hero. Kane, with unexpected help from Amy, kills the murderer and his gang.

As the townspeople emerge from their homes, Kane looks at them contemptuously, throws down his badge and leaves town with Amy.

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Boasberg isnt trying to be a hero. Hes only doing a tough job. And we shouldnt be hiding in our homes.

Gregory J. Wallance was a federal prosecutor in the Carter and Reagan administrations and a member of the ABSCAM prosecution team, which convicted a U.S. senator and six representatives of bribery. He is the author of Into Siberia: George Kennans Epic Journey Through the Brutal, Frozen Heart of Russia.

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The Grinch, Shrek, and now Elphaba  the Wicked Witch of the West. Infiltrating pop culture, these greenified social outcasts invite us to reconsider what it means to belong. Many characters with a green hue have existed in childhood shows and memories for decades, offering lessons in empathy for those who are different from us.

Consider the Grinch, agonizing over what to wear to the Whoville Christmas Party while masking deep-seated anxiety about socializing with those who once rejected him. Or Bruce Banner, the Hulk, whose green skin manifests his rage and pain, transforming him into a destructive force that mirrors the internal battles many of us face. These common tales with ostracized beings encourage us to hold hands and dance metaphorically with what we do not understand.

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It is for everyones benefit when students bear witness to tales of resilience in the face of ignorance. Students need to understand what it means to be green.

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I teach Frankenstein, a novel about a creature abandoned and misunderstood. Over time, popular culture has leaned into greenifying the monster, a color choice that raises an interesting question: Does the green hue signify his villainy, marking him as an unnatural horror? Or does it symbolize his status as an outcast, someone more misunderstood than monstrous? Who is the real monster: the creature, a grotesque replica of man, or the creator who neglects his own Adam, ashamed of what he has made?

My high school students discuss the complexity of true villainy and examine the ripple effects of both empathy and neglect. Through this lens, the creature exists as a symbolic other in society upon his rejection, his green skin becoming a visual cue for alienation. My students begin to consider the ripple effect of compassion  or lack thereof.

I want my students to remember these tales and see the green as an opportunity  not to vilify those who are different, but to understand them. The state standards for my Arkansas high schoolers require us to examine characterization, the impact of setting on a characters development, and the thematic lessons found in these struggles. These are common ELA standards across most states, and they naturally lend themselves to discussions about character flaws and the ability to overcome adversity regardless of ones background or setbacks.

I relish this task, often prompting students to reflect on their own trials  times they have felt misunderstood or out of place  so they can connect more deeply with the characters turmoil and triumphs. Every day in my classroom, I must remember this too: Uniqueness is to be cherished. A world filled with people who look, think, and live differently is not just a good world, its a better one, despite all attempts to stifle the humanity hidden beneath.

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A 25-Year Study Reveals How Empathy is Passed from Generation to Generation

The misunderstood characters in history and literature, green or otherwise, are often the change-makers, pushing forward social progress and widening the acceptable use instructions for being human. My teachers praised the Susan B. Anthonys, the Rosa Parks, the Elie Wiesels for existing in spaces of different and pushing against the status quo.

These figures werent just rebels; they were visionaries whose very existence challenged the world to be better. While their skin doesnt shine emerald in the sun, their differences make them stand out in their respective stories, forcing society to confront its own limitations, expanding our collective capacity for empathy.

As a child, I loved stories like Charlottes Web, The Lorax, and Matilda, where characters overcome bleak societal adversity, their victories rooted not in brute strength but in the quiet, persistent force of understanding: Wilbur is spared because of Ferns unwavering belief that his life has value. Matilda, dismissed as insignificant, finds empowerment through the kindness and intellect of a good teacher. These narratives teach that empathy isnt just a virtueits a catalyst for transformation.

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When my students read about Dr. Frankensteins creature or discuss real-world figures who were cast aside, they begin to see how otherness isnt a curse but often a call to change the world  and empathy begins to bloom. Through these tales of the other, students learn how to embrace their differences.

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Klibanoff: Books Can Teach Empathy and Connect Past, Present & Future. Thats Why Were Helping Teachers Fill Their Classroom Libraries

Just as the Wicked Witch has a story worth hearing, teachers and students cannot shy away from narratives of otherness out of fear. Moving toward understanding the green in others helps dismantle the walls of misunderstanding and build a future rooted in compassion, not the harsh divisions that too often define our landscape. It is important now, more than ever, to work hard to see the goodness in others despite our differences. After all, what is truly wicked about being green?
On Monday, 94 Ukrainian civilians  23 of them children  learned the hard way how Russian President Vladimir Putin views the ceasefire negotiations in Saudi Arabia between Washington and Moscow. The 94 were injured during a Russian attack that hit a childrens hospital in Sumy.

Putin is using the negotiations with the Trump administration as a license to kill not only Ukrainian soldiers but also innocent men, women and children, whom he intentionally targets in civilian population centers.

During the attack, 30 other residential high-rises were hit as well as 15 private residences, and an unspecified number of warehouses, offices, and medical facilities. Sumy, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, is about to become ground zero for Putins plans to invade the Sumy Oblast.

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Putin is primarily using the negotiations in Riyadh to expand his war against Ukraine by other means, including dictating future conditions advantageous to Moscow on the battlefield and as distractions to draw attention away from his build-up of Russian forces for a possible multi-front summer offensive.

Zelensky believes Putin is intent on launching simultaneous efforts to conquer the Sumy, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. And to get from here to there, Putin is playing rope-a-dope with Team Trump in Saudi Arabia.

President Trumps envoy, Steve Witkoff, is obliging. In a bizarre interview with Tucker Carlson, Witkoff parroted Putins maximalist talking points one after the other.

Witkoff claimed Ukrainian forces are surrounded in Kursk. They are not. He then claimed, referring to the partial energy infrastructure ceasefire, that he believes, we have moved Russia in ways that no one thought was possible. They have not  at least not in any way that is good for Ukraine or for NATO.

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Of course, Putin agreed to it. Ukraine has been conducting a series of deep strikes into Russia that are decimating Putins oil and energy infrastructure and putting his armies in Kursk and the Donbas at risk of grinding to a halt for lack of fuel. So foolishly, Witkoff helped Russia at the expense of Ukraine. Even more foolishly, Witkoff does not realize Putin has played him for a fool in doing so.

Russia gets a reprieve, and Ukraine is denied one of its most effective deep-fight battle tools to blunt Putins ability to finance his war. Not content with pilfering one concession from Witkoff, Team Putin appears close to doing the same in the Black Sea.

Late Monday, according to Reuters, a Russian source told them that the talks had concluded late on Monday and a draft joint statement had been sent to Moscow and Washington for approval, with the parties aiming to release it on Tuesday. Once again, Team Trump is on the verge of negotiating away a Ukrainian strength.

Despite having no substantial navy, Ukraine has been able to sink or damage nearly one-third of Russias Black Sea fleet. Essentially, as Basil Germond noted, Putin at the hands of Ukraine has lost control of the Black Sea. Now, Team Trump, with Witkoff at the helm, is on the verge of giving it back to Moscow. This would be madness.

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Far worse, however, is Witkoff falling for Putins false narrative that NATO expansionism caused the war. Witkoff blindly concedes the point and even more egregiously concedes that Ukraine cannot be a member of NATO.

Witkoff isnt negotiating with Team Putin. He is capitulating to them, right down to letting Putin control all of the peace negotiation narratives.

During his interview with Carlson, Witkoff thoughtlessly bought into Putins position that Russia is entitled to all of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts despite not fully controlling any of them. Witkoff even aped Putins points that they are Russian speaking, and that Moscows referendums were proof that the overwhelming majority  indicated that they want to be under Russian rule.

Never mind that these were sham referendums, or that many Ukrainians residing there had already fled ahead of the Russian invaders. Team Zelensky, understandably, is irate. Witkoff is hardly acting as an honest broker. To the contrary, at times Witkoff appears to be negotiating on the Kremlins behalf.

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And for what? Many Americans, Europeans and Ukrainians would like to know.

Lost on Team Trump  and lost in particular to Witkoff  is that they keep handing Putin a license to kill Ukrainians. Instead of moving Russia closer to a comprehensive ceasefire, Team Trump is, wittingly or not, setting conditions for Putin and his generals to expand his war in Ukraine. He is not interested in a piece of Ukraine. He wants all of it.

It does not help either that Witkoff is star-struck. Telling Carlson that he liked Putin after meeting him is Twilight Zone territory. How do you like a man who is intentionally targeting and killing Ukrainian civilians?

As documented by the upcoming Faith Under Siege documentary, more than 22,000 Ukrainian children have been injured, killed or kidnapped by Russians. More than 600 churches have been shelled, looted, or destroyed. And more than 47 Ukrainian priests, pastors, and other faither leaders have been killed during Putins special military operation.

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How does Witkoff like a man  Putin  who on average is firing 93 ballistic missiles and Iranian drones at Ukrainian cities every day? Why is Team Trump continuing to give the Russian war machine a carte blanche license to kill innocent Ukrainian civilians?

Putins victims have names. Including those of the Bazylevych family. The family of five was reduced to one when Eugenia, 43, Yaryna, 21, Daria, 18, and Emilia, 7, were killed in a Russian missile and drone strike in Lviv. Only their father, Yaroslav Bazylevych, survived this heinous war crime.

It is not enough just to get Putin to the negotiating table. Team Trump must demand that Russia enter into an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, and in doing so put an end to his license to kill and plans to widen the war this summer.

That means empowering Ukraine to take the fight to Putin and getting back on board with shutting down Russias shadow fleets, so as to drag him kicking and screaming to a real negotiating table. If not, then more families like the Bazylevych family will keep dying and true peace in Ukraine will be fleeting.

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Mark Toth writes on national security and foreign policy. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan E. Sweet served 30 years as an Army intelligence officer.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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President Donald Trump has said multiple times that he has no plans to cut Social Security. That suggests he understands the old political axiom that Social Security is the third rail in American politics. Touch it and get torched.

But we see something different in his administrations actions. The marauding DOGE brigade has taken an ax to the bedrock program with staff cuts, leadership changes and office closures, and it has recently announced a new policy that would reduce the opportunities for people to conduct Social Security business over the phone. Even Republicans who have supported Trump have expressed concern about the downsizing efforts and the caustic rhetoric that could undermine public trust in the nations largest federal program and hurt their senior and disabled constituents who rely on Social Security.

Theres a long list of reasons we cant fully trust this administrations stewardship over the Social Security Administration, but lets start with the following six signs.

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The top reason is obvious. The administration needs to make big cuts to fulfill Elon Musks promise to trim 20% from the federal budget of $6.8 trillion and extend tax cuts for wealthy people. Its impossible to make good on that promise without raiding programs that have heretofore been politically untouchable. Musks chainsaw approach  including shuttering offices and slashing federal staffing  is not gonna get to that 20% mark. The Social Security Administration paid $120 billion in benefits to more than 67 million people in 2024, providing benefits to elderly people, disabled people and dependents.

Reason No. 2: Musk and other DOGE leaders dont understand how Social Security works. SSA employees have reported that the new DOGE-approved leadership team has shown little interest in learning about the inner workings of the massive and massively complicated agency, and Musk has wrongly disparaged it as a Ponzi scheme.

That rhetoric leads to the third reason on this list. This administration seems to care little about the American public or the governments public servants. You see that in the way it has gutted federal departments and fired hundreds of people with little empathy for their plight. You see that in the closure of field offices and the scaling back of help lines with seemingly no regard for how elderly or disabled recipients or beneficiaries will get help. And you certainly saw it in the cavalier comments from billionaire Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who said his mother-in-law wouldnt complain if the Social Security Administration failed to send her check.

Shed think something got messed up, and shell get it next month, Lutnick said on the All-In Podcast. Pushing the false narrative that fraud is rampant among those receiving Social Security payments, Lutnick went on to say that the easiest way to find the fraudster is to stop payments and listen.

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Whoever screams, he said, are the people whore stealing. I think its safe to say that very few people, regardless of their political affiliations, would be quiet if their Social Security payments didnt arrive.

Clocking in at No. 4: Its laser focus on eradicating DEI notwithstanding, the Trump administration either doesnt understand or doesnt care about our countrys changing demographics. While Trump has appointed more women to his Cabinet than any other Republican president, his Cabinet doesnt mirror the demographics of the country in terms of race, veterans status or ethnicity  but especially not in terms of income and wealth.

Public Citizen reports that President Joe Bidens Cabinet was collectively worth $118 million; in January, the members of Trumps Cabinet were collectively worth more than $460 billion. The average salary in the U.S. is $66,621 according to the SSAs national wage index.

The DOGE teams buzz saw approach to Social Security and Medicaid and Medicare is where the administrations disinterest in demographics is particularly glaring. By the end of this year, almost 12,000 people in the U.S. will be turning 65 daily as all those Baby Boomers stampede into retirement. Social Security staffing was already at a 50-year low, and the administration plans to further cut 7,000 workers, or almost 12% of the staff.

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A fifth reason Social Security is likely to continue to go through the DOGE wringer is its vast trove of sensitive information. Data holds value  especially in the world of technology, where software and apps are constantly scooping up personal information. The Social Security Administration touches almost every working American in some way, and SSA employees have traditionally taken strict steps to protect all that data. Access is limited even within the administrations various departments, and SSA employees annually take an oath to protect that information. Even inadvertently disclosing data could result in a five-year prison sentence and a $5,000 fine for every violation, Laura Haltzel, former associate commissioner at the SSA, said on the podcast You Earned This.

Theres no evidence that DOGE marauders who swept into the Social Security Administration allegedly looking for waste, abuse and fraud signed a similar oath or that they consider Americans data sacred.

The magnitude of the data that is being shared through DOGE is so much bigger than probably most people even realize, Haltzel said.

Finally, the Trump administration conflates need with weakness and associates wealth with strength. Musk seems to view the program as excessive largesse and not money people have earned. Yes, earned with FICA payroll tax deductions that have been taken out of their paychecks every week with the full expectation that they would get some assistance in their elderly years. (FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contribution Act  and those deductions earn future credits for Social Security benefits.)

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Social Security is a social contract that has worked in this country for 90 years, and while the billionaire class has no need to pay attention to the FICA deduction in paychecks, voters in both red and blue America will indeed notice if their Social Security payments dont appear. They will complain. It will be loud. And it will be justified.

To say it is a lifeline is not an understatement. According to a 2017 report from the Social Security Administration, roughly half of the aged population live in households that receive at least 50 percent of total family income from Social Security and about one-quarter of the aged live in households that receive at least 90 percent of family income from Social Security.

If Trump breaks his promise to protect Social Security, thats devastatingly bad news for America. Social Security is an anti-poverty program, and ending it or even severely curtailing it would have catastrophic effects.

Social Security is called a third rail for a reason. And if Trump and his billionaire aids touch it theyll give Democrats the issue they need to wage a righteous fight on behalf of all Americans.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
SEOULThe spectacle of several hundred thousand right-wing demonstrators flashing U.S. and South Korean flags near the main avenue from the American embassy here hides an inconvenient truth about U.S. policy toward North Korea.

The demonstrators are supporters of Yoon Suk-yeol, the conservative president who triggered a major political crisis by briefly declaring martial law in December. Yoons fans, like Trumps MAGA supporters, view their political hero as being unfairly persecuted by the justice system and the victim of a rigged electionmany even display Stop the Steal signs at protests and wear ball caps emblazoned with the words Make Korea Great Again.

To them, its unthinkable that Trump would betray South Korea the way hes betraying Ukraine.

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He wont give up on South Korea, said Yun Sang-hyun, a conservative member of the Souths National Assembly, at an event in central Seoul this month memorializing the massacre of 10,000 Koreans by the Japanese on March 1, 1919. The U.S. has 28,500 troops in South Korea. It is vital for the U.S.

Sure. But in his first term, Trump threatened to pull American troops out of South Korea while demanding $5 billion from the South for keeping most of them on Americas largest overseas military base, Camp Humphreys, 40 miles south of Seoul, and nearby Osan, home of the Seventh Air Force, which is key to defense against the North.

Protesters, holding placards along with South Korean and American flags, gather to show support for the impeached-President Yoon Suk Yeol, following a failed attempt by the authorities to arrest Yoon on a warrant, in Seoul, South Korea, near the presidential residence, on 4 January, 2025. / Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images

Trump is now also saying he would like to speak to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un again after failing to get the despot to give up Pyongyangs nuclear program over three meetings during his first term. Since they last met almost six years ago, Kim has vastly strengthened his alliance with Putin and sent thousands of his troops to fight and die in the war against Ukraine, along with shipments of millions of artillery shells and other armaments.

He can show up with Kim Jong Un, and we need to be able to have these conversations with the Russians, said Richard Grenell, Trumps new ambassador for special missions, at a confab of the Conservative Political Action Committee near Washington. I dont think that talking means youre weak. I actually think talking is a tactic to get to a goal.

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For Kim Jong Un, the goal would be much the same harsh result for which the Russians, and North Koreans, are fighting in Ukraine: Defeat of the Ukraine army and the downfall of President Volodymyr Zelenskys regime in Kyiv.

In any new talks with Trump, Kim would also likely demand replacing the armistice that ended the Korean War in July 1953 with a peace treaty calling for the withdrawal of U.S. forces. The U.S. would have to give up its alliance with South Korea, exposing the South to North Korean attacks with tactical nukes.

Its a very big asset for everybody that I do get along with him, Trump said of Kim at the White House last month.

In South Korea, conservatives also cannot believe that Trump wont support them in their demands for Yoons return to full power as president. A constitutional court is to decide soon on whether to approve Yoons impeachment; he also faces a charge of insurrection that could result in life in prison or even deaththough thats hardly likely since a district court freed him from jail while on trial.

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The constitutional court on Monday overturned the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was filling in as acting president until the assembly impeached him too. Han, having stoutly denied abetting Yoons martial law declaration, is back at his desk as acting president while tension mounts for a ruling on Yoon.

Far from being ready to rise to the Souths defense, Trumps betrayal of Ukraine indicates he might be more open to the plans of South Koreas leftist Democratic Partyor Minjuwhose members are eager for talks with the North and a deal that would leave the South, like Ukraine, forsaken by the Americans.

In an effort to win support from Trump, leftists in the South have even nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

A supporter of detained and impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol wears a cap copying the campaign slogan of Donald Trump at a rally at the entrance of the Seoul Detention Center in Seoul on January 16, 2025. / YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP via Getty Images

Evidence for this route to Trumps heart lies in the handwritten notes of an influential member of Koreas national assembly, Park Sun-won, of a meeting in which he told Joseph Yunthe acting U.S. ambassador to Seoulthat he had nominated Trump for the prize.

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The notes report on a wide-ranging conversation in which Yun, who served from 2016 to 2018 as American point man on North Korea, discussed the North Korean issue in the Ukraine framework. They were joined by a leftist academic, Moon Jung-in, who advised South Korean leftist presidents on how to achieve reconciliation with the North.

The U.S. embassy in Seoul did not respond to requests for comment on Yuns luncheon meeting with Park and Moon.

Together, Park and Moon are at the forefront of pressure for a deal with Kim, with whom Trump said he fell in love at their first summit in Singapore in June 2018. Parks notes on his meeting with Yun convey the understanding, in Korean, that we dont have to argue and we dont have to make any controversial issue.

On American policy, Park wrote, again in Korean, We are in the course of efforts to do something.

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Specifically, Parks note said they had talked about the Trump initiative of using Russian and Chinese leverage over North Korea with an emphasis on getting away from multilateralism.

Rather than coordinating with NATO, Yun explains the new approach, said the note in a foretaste of Trumps repudiation of NATO and trust in Putin in dealing on Ukraine.
UPDATE (March 25, 2025, 5:15 p.m. ET): Vice President JD Vance announced on Tuesday that he will also be traveling to Greenland, joining his wife, Usha, and touring the American military base there alongside other members of the Trump administration.

Second lady Usha Vance will travel to Greenland on Thursday, the White House announced, as part of a diplomatic trip to the massive frozen island. By going to a country that President Donald Trump has said he wants to buy or forcibly take, Vances visit will put her in the middle of one of the Trump administrations least diplomatic acts of diplomacy, making it even harder to deny Trumps blatant bullying.

Vance, who has kept a low profile since her husband, JD Vance, was sworn in as vice president, will be joined by one of the couples two sons. She said in an Instagram video that shes especially looking forward to attending the countrys national dogsled race. Im also coming to celebrate the long history of mutual respect and cooperation between our two nations, she added, and to express hope that our relationship will only grow stronger in the coming years.

Her mild words do little to paper over the current tensions between the U.S. and Greenland. Trump has been clear that he hopes to acquire the island from Denmark, reportedly at least in part because of how huge it appears on the most common map projection. Hes also hinted that it should be acquired for vague national security reasons or to obtain the minerals under its permafrost. Neither Greenland nor Denmark has been particularly enthusiastic about by Trumps remarks, even less so after Trump hinted that, if it were not put up for sale, he could take Greenland by force or economic leverage.

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Before Vances trip commences, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and national security adviser Mike Waltz (the one who reportedly invited The Atlantics editor-in-chief into a Signal group where top secret military plans were shared) will also visit Greenland this week. According to The New York Times, Wright and Waltz will tour Pituffik Space Base, Americas northernmost military outpost.

It feels ridiculously unnecessary for Vance to be dragged into this mess as the soft power side of whats clearly a good cop-bad cop routine. But, then again, the vice presidency has long been regarded as one of the least consequential roles in Washington. By the transitive property alone, the role of the vice presidents spouse must be up there as far as gigs go. Second ladies (or, as of recently, gentlemen) havent accumulated the same sort of cache as cultural icons that first ladies have, but that still doesnt help explain the odd choice of Vances first solo destination.

Politicians in Greenland are ripping apart Vances rationale for traveling to Greenland. The country recently held parliamentary elections in which two parties that want independence from Denmark took the top spots. Neither party holds enough seats to claim a majority, and talks to form a new government are ongoing.

Notably, the smaller party has had warm words for the Trump administration, but theres been little support from the larger public regarding Trumps overtures. Jens-Frederik Nielsen, head of the larger party in the potential coalition, told the Times, The fact that the Americans are well aware we are in the middle of negotiations once again shows a lack of respect for the Greenlandic people.

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Outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede called Vances visit a highly aggressive attempt to influence the new government and said that it can in no way be characterized as a harmless visit from a politicians wife. Egede said, What is the security adviser doing in Greenland? The only purpose is to show a demonstration of power to us, and the signal is not to be misunderstood.

Who knows? Maybe Vance really did want to visit Greenland to watch a dog race with her kid. Maybe she got recruited to go simply as a boost to Waltz and Wrights trip. Whichever it is, Vance is no rube. Shes highly accomplished and sophisticated; that is, shes smart enough to know that her trip signals support for Trumps ambitions toward Greenland. She could have declined to go if she didnt want to send that message.

No offense to the Greenlandic people, but I cant imagine that Greenland was at the top of Vances list of places she wanted to travel as second lady. Greenland knows why shes there, and her trip likely wont do anything to foster the mutual respect and cooperation she touts in her video.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
America has made its fair share of mistakes in its international relations in the post-World War II erabut never has an administration made a choice as bold as the Trump administrations decision to make omnishambolic, head-up-our-butts dangerous and pernicious clusterf---ery the centerpiece of its foreign policy agenda.

The most recent example of this commitment to disastrous policies from incompetent leaders engaged in defective processes is, of course, the revelations included in The Atlantics blockbuster story detailing how the magazines editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was somehow added to a group text thread in which the administrations leadership were sharing top-secret war plans. In an even more shocking twist, the White House actually acknowledged that what he wrote was true.

The result is pandemonium in the national security community, not just in D.C. but in capitals around the world. According to Politico, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, once seen as the strongest member of Trumps natsec team, could lose his job over this incident. (Waltz, according to Goldberg, was the person who invited him to join the chat.)

The Daily Beast

The stupidity and recklessness that had to be behind coordinating highest-level policy on a platform like Signal (which is not approved for sensitive or classified government communications) and, apparently, on personal cellphones, reaches world record levels.

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It is easy to make fun of, but is, of course, no laughing matter. As one former high-ranking top military official said to me: Hire clowns, expect a circus. And frankly, Ive never seen a screwup on this level before. In normal times, they all should go.

This incident is appalling in its own rightbut it hardly is the administrations biggest foreign policy blunder. Rather, it is emblematic of a dangerous pattern. Indeed, if doing damage to Americas national security interests is not the primary goal of the Trump team (and Im not sure its not), it is certainly a clear consequence of many of their actions.

In just the past two months, we have seen them systematically undermine virtually every major U.S. foreign policy goal stretching back decades. We have launched trade wars and threatened the stability of an international trading system of which we were the primary architect and champion. We have gone further, threatening to invade and illegally annex the territory of allies like Canada and Denmark and of friends like Panama. We have turned our back on another friend, Ukraine, in its courageous fight to defend itself from Russian aggression.

The Daily Beast

Top administration officials have parroted Russian propagandaas in Trump negotiator Steve Witkoffs recent televised statement that the people of eastern Ukraine had expressed a desire to be part of Russia. The president himself has set the tone for such outrageous lies by suggesting Ukraine was at fault for Russias invasion, and with his public humiliation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a disastrous Oval Office meeting.

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Indeed, perhaps the most egregious foreign policy disaster among all those that have taken place under Trumps malignant, myopic leadership is that the United States has abandoned the North Atlantic alliance it helped createalong with it, the championing of democracy and the rule of lawand, instead, has thrown in with Russia and new axis powers who seek to promote ethno-nationalist, anti-democratic despotism.

In addition, the Trump administration has made a series of decisions to weaken our defenses against our rivalsby shutting down key programs across the government and, essentially, Americas entire foreign aid apparatus, a rollback that will not only lead to the death of millions worldwide but one that will produce hostility against the U.S.

The Daily Beast

The result of these moves is the most shocking international relations turnabout in our history. (And lets not get into the dangers associated with firing the people in charge of assuring the security of our weapons of mass destruction, or those who play a critical role in defending us against both epidemics and biowarfare.)

Which is to say that screwing up by inviting a reporter into a not-so-privateand certainly not securechat, on which national secrets were shared, is very bad. And the story has already sent shockwaves among our very closest allies, with whom we have shared intelligence for decades.

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That shared intelligence is an absolutely critical foundation for our national security. And make no mistake about it, members of the Five Eyes intel-sharing community the U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealandwere already looking askance at continued cooperation with the U.S.

Im sure our friends are already holding back intel, one intel community veteran who has spent most of his career overseas said to me. This is only going to result in further damage and promote greater distrust.

Will our allies publicly announce they are reducing this cooperation? Thats not how this world usually works. But the practitioners are specialists in the art of the leak, and my contact said he would not be surprised if they choose to make their fears and anger known.

President Donald Trump speaks alongside U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in the Oval Office of the White House on March 21, 2025 in Washington, D.C. / Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images

Personally, I hope they do. Even in light of Trump and his teams attempts to downplay the gravity of this debacle, it will be harder for the public to ignore if the costs of this reckless incompetence if they could see a little more clearly the damage being done.

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Unfortunately, what we will not be able to fully appreciate is how long it will take the U.S., once hailed as the leader of the free world, to recover the trust it has so egregiously squandered during just the past two months.

Perspective remains critically important, yes, but we must not get too caught up in the story of the day. Rather, lets be clear: This egregious national security breach, involving virtually every senior natsec official in the Trump administration, is deeply shocking and profoundly stupid. But it is probably only the twentysomething-worst foreign policy move theyve made so far.
On Apr. 1, Wisconsin voters will elect a new state Supreme Court justice. Normally, such news would be met with a yawn, but not this year  the campaign has already made national news and drawn the attention of people from around the country

The Wisconsin election could be one of American historys most important judicial elections, and one of the most expensive. And, as has been the trend in recent decades in America, this one has turned nasty, full of what one spokesman termed disgusting insults.

Despite its less than judicious tone, the contest between conservative candidate Judge Brad Schimel and liberal Judge Susan Crawford offers voters a chance to signal their commitment to free and fair elections and the rule of law. The contest also will give an early indication of how voters in a crucial swing state, carried by a razor-thin margin last November, feel about what the president and the leader of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency are doing in Washington, D.C.

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Donald Trump and Elon Musk know how important the contest is  which is why they are publicly throwing their considerable political weight behind Schimel.

Schimel has made clear, on his end, that a vote for him is a vote for President Trump. The New York Times reports that the judge even dressed up as him for Halloween.

Schimel aligned closely with the Trump agenda during his tenure as attorney general, leading an attack on the Affordable Care Act and supporting efforts to restrict ballot access. He took extreme positions on abortion, including by defending a law aimed at restricting access to abortion in Wisconsin by requiring doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. Earlier in the campaign for the high court seat, he said it would be a sham if the state supreme court found a right to abortion in the state constitution.

Schimel tells supporters he would be part of a support network for the president, complaining, in Trumpian terms, that radical leftists are pulling out all the stops to derail the presidents agenda.

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They filed over 70 lawsuits against him since he took the oath of office barely a month ago, Schimel says, over 70 lawsuits to try to stop almost every single thing hes doing because they dont want him to get a win.  The only way were going to stop that is if the courts stop it.

Showing a rather injudicious temperament, Schimel has denounced federal judges who have issued orders blocking some of the presidents executive orders. He accuses them of weaponizing the courts and carrying out lawfare in their frenzied quest to stop Trump.

And when he is not railing against those courts, Schimel has turned his fire on justices currently serving on the court he hopes to join. He brands the liberals on the court the most dangerous body in state government and accuses them of not being impartial in cases involving Republicans or conservative interests.

Meanwhile, Schimel has used his campaign to defend the people convicted of crimes in the events of Jan. 6, 2021.

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With that record, it is not surprising that Schimels campaign has received a boatload of money from Musk-funded political action committees. Those funds have fueled a blizzard of pro-Schimel television ads and extensive canvassing operations for him. His allegiance to the president has drawn the support of Donald Trump Jr. and MAGA activist Charlie Kirk, who did an event in the Badger State to help Schimel.

Wisconsin voters should not be taken in by Schimel, who backpedaled when pressed about his ties to President Trump in a debate on Mar. 12. As a report in The Hill noted, he insisted that he wouldnt be a yes man for the president. Schimel promised to enforce the law and apply the law the way the Legislature has written it.

Sound familiar? That is what the hard-right, pro-Trump trio of justices on the Supreme Court  Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas  all said before they were confirmed.

Should Schimel win, he will tilt the balance on the Wisconsin court to the right, and will give it a majority that can approve political gerrymanders to help Republicans keep control of Congress.

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If that were not enough to capture the stakes in the upcoming election, recall that in 2020 the Wisconsin Supreme Court came within one vote of throwing out thousands of ballots from Democratic areas of the state and overturning election results there.

But the stakes in the Apr. 1 election are more than political. While the fate of the republic will not be determined by what happens in the Wisconsin Supreme Court contest, what voters do there will either further embolden the MAGA troops in Washington, D.C., or send a signal that enough is enough. The decision they make will send a message to the entire nation.

No pressure, Wisconsin.

Austin Sarat is the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science at Amherst College.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Orange County leaders will spend the next month reviewing jail policies after a contentious vote to ratify the jails new agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Commissioners voted 5-2 to support the agreement, which allows jail deputies to execute warrants and book people who have deportation orders put on them.

Mayor Jerry Demings said the sheriffs office estimates 20,000 residents will have such orders attached to their names in the coming weeks, up from the current 10,000.

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Although dozens of people turned out to beg commissioners to keep ICE agents away, the county had no choice. State law demanded the county ratify the agreement by April 1, or the commissioners risked the countys funding and their jobs.

We do not have options to not enforce the law, Demings said.

However, the two no votesNicole Wilson and Kelly Semradalong with Mayra Uribeextracted several promises from Demings and staff.

The county will work to up its data collection efforts to track ICE arrests and ensure the information the county receives from the agency is accurate. The jail will also be working to improve its website and other communication methods to ensure families will be able to easily find out if a loved one was booked on a federal hold.

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Finally, Demings said the county would re-examine the contract it had with ICE, which reimburses the jail for detainees. Currently, ICE pays the jail $88 per detainee per day. Commissioners said that left taxpayers on the hook for approximately $53.

Staff will spend the next month examining what changes could be made and bring recommendations back to commissioners on April 22.









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A U.S. Department of Education employee leaves the building with their belongings on March 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump was set to sign an executive order later in the day calling on Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure" of the agency. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on March 20, 2025, that calls for closing the U.S. Department of Education.

The president needs congressional approval to shutter the department. The order, however, 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.

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The executive order reflects many recommendations from the Heritage Foundations Project 2025, a conservative political initiative to revamp the federal government. But its worth noting that the foundations attempt to abolish the Education Department goes back more than 40 years.

The think tank first called for limiting the federal role in education in 1981. Thats when it issued its first Mandate for Leadership, a book offering conservative policy recommendations.

As a sociology professor focused on diversity and social inequality, Ive followed the Heritage Foundations efforts to eliminate the Department of Education since 1981. Although the idea didnt garner enough support 44 years ago, the current political climate makes conditions more favorable.

Mandate 1981

In its 1981 mandate, the Heritage Foundation struck now-familiar themes.

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Its education policy recommendations included closing the Department of Education and reducing its controls over American education.

Additionally, the think tank called on lawmakers to repeal the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which provides federal funding for disadvantaged students in K-12, so that the departments influence on state and local education policy and practice through discretionary grant authority would disappear.

And the Heritage Foundation called for ending federal support for programs it claimed were designed to turn elementary- and secondary-school classrooms into vehicles for liberal-left social and political change 

Education experts disputed these proposed reforms just a few years later.

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Four educational task forces, composed mainly of educators, corporate executives and politicians, published reports on education in 1983. All four reports were critical of the more liberal education policies of the 1960s and 1970s  such as an emphasis on student feelings about race, for example, rather than a focus on basic skills.

But they all saw the need for a strong federal role in education.

The four reports blamed the U.S. educational system for losing ground to Japan and Western Europe. And all called for more required courses rather than the curriculum smorgasbord that had become the norm in many public schools. They all wanted longer school days, longer school years and better-trained teachers.

Nevertheless, President Ronald Reagan tried unsuccessfully to abolish the Department of Education in 1983.

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Project 2025

Jumping ahead more than 40 years, Project 2025 reflects many of the main themes the Heritage Foundation addressed in the 1981 mandate. The first line of Project 2025s chapter on education states: Federal education policy should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated.

The charges of leftist indoctrination have expanded. Now, conservative advocates are calling to eliminate anything that has to do with diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI.

Other executive orders that Trump has signed reflect these attitudes.

For example, they call for defending women from gender ideology extremism and eliminating radical DEI policies.

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According to Project 2025, school choice  which gives students the freedom to choose schools that best fit their needs  should be promoted through tuition tax credits and vouchers that provide students with public funds to attend private school. And federal education programs should either be dismantled or moved to other federal departments.

Current political climate

In the 1980s, the Heritage Foundation was seen as part of the New Right, a coalition that opposed issues such as abortion, homosexuality and affirmative action. The GOPs alliance with conservative evangelical Christians, mobilized by advocacy groups such as Jerry Falwells Moral Majority, was picking up steam, but it was still seen as marginal.

By 2025, things have moved significantly to the right.

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Conservative Republicans in Congress view the Heritage Foundation as an important voice in educational politics.

The far right is emboldened by Trump after his Cabinet appointments and pardons of Jan. 6 rioters.

And Christian Nationalism  the belief that the United States is defined by Christianity  has grown.

Trumps executive order does not abolish the Education Department. He needs congressional approval to do that.

But he has already weakened it. His administration recently canceled nearly $900 million in contracts at the Institute of Education Sciences, the independent research arm of the Education Department.

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Despite public reluctance to eliminate the department  in February, 63% of U.S. residents said they opposed its elimination  it looks like Heritage Foundation influence could cause significant damage, with the additional firing of staff members and the reduced distribution of funds.

McMahon sent a directive to department employees in early March calling the dismantling of their agency a final mission.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Fred L. Pincus is an emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A bill making its way through the Oregon Legislature would allow guests at hotels and other vacation rentals to sue if they are filmed or photographed in private.

Current state law allows photos and videos to be taken without explicit consent so long as those in the images are not nude.

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Senate Bill 470, if passed, would expand the rights of guests to not be filmed or photographed inside the privacy of their hotel or vacation rental, such as an Airbnb.

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Senator Anthony Broadman (D-Bend) carried the bill on the Senate floor and said it was a response to real-life experiences of guests being videorecorded when they expected privacy.

Oregon parolee convicted of rape, murder transferred due to public attention

Nothing in the bill prohibits a hotel or short-term host from recording common areas such as lobbies, stairwells, or exterior exits, Broadman said. It would not be appropriate to position or direct cameras inside the private space someone rents, like a hotel room or a vacation condo.

The bill received unanimous support in the Oregon Senate and will next be considered by the Oregon House of Representatives.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  An Oregon man who was released on parole in Clatsop County  decades after being convicted of rape and murder in the same community  has since been relocated to another county, authorities confirm.

As first reported by The Astorian, George Nulph was transferred out of his transitional housing facility shortly after his parole began there last month. The facility requested his transfer on Feb. 24 due to concerns related to public attention surrounding his offense, according to Clatsop County Sheriffs Office Community Corrections Director Kristen Hanthorn.

Multnomah County Homeless Services director to retire as department addresses financial woes

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Due to confidentiality laws and privacy considerations, we are unable to disclose further details about Mr. Nulphs current location, Hanthorn said in an email. However, please know that all placement decisions are made with careful attention to public safety and the individuals rehabilitation needs.

Nulph was convicted of kidnapping and murdering Cannon Beach woman Frances Christians  the mother of two children  in 1976. The Oregon Department of Corrections released him from prison on a temporary leave in 1986, but he was incarcerated again the following year after he sexually assaulted an 18-year-old Portland woman as he held her at gunpoint.

Last month, Christians granddaughter told KOIN 6 that officials decision to release the now-73-year-old man to the same county where he committed his original crimes was mind-boggling. Clatsop County District Attorney Ron Brown also said he adamantly opposed his release.

During an Oregon Parole Board hearing in January 2017, the woman who escaped after Nulph assaulted her in the 80s expressed that he shouldnt be released because he is a danger to the community. At this hearing, and at another in October 2024, he argued that he wasnt the same person he was when he was arrested.

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Oregon Sen. Wyden calls for resignations over reckless Signal group chat

Nulph contended he would be a productive and positive influence in the community if he were to be released. The board proposed a rehabilitation center in Jackson County, but the request was later denied.

According to Community Corrections Director Hanthorn, Clatsop County is continuing to work with the new facility to support long-term placement.

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Promoting fear of wolves undermines conservation by promoting policies favoring lethal control over coexistence, a conservationist says. (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)

Oregon Senate Bill 777, introduced in the 2025 Regular Session, proposes changes to the states wolf depredation compensation and financial assistance grant program.

The bill seeks to base compensation for confirmed and probable injuries to livestock with a cap of up to $25,000 per animal  up to five times the market value of cow calves or yearlings, goats or sheep and three times the value of other cows.

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Oregons Wolf Depredation Compensation and Financial Assistance Grant Program was first established in 2011 following the passage of House Bill 3560.

According to the 2022 USDA Livestock Census, there are approximately 1.4 million cattle and sheep in the state. ODFW conducted 72 depredation investigations in 2024 and found 104 confirmed and probable kills. Assuming that all probable kills were indeed wolves, that comes out to .00007% of the cattle and sheep population in the state.

Sound insignificant? Thats because it is.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists under pressure by ranchers to make favorable determinations at current compensation rates. Increasing payouts by seven times will most certainly amplify that pressure.

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Promoting fear of wolves undermines conservation efforts by fostering negative perceptions that lead to policies favoring lethal control over coexistence.

When wolves are unfairly portrayed as dangerous threats to livestock, game populations, or human safety, public resistance to their presence increases, making it harder to implement science-based conservation strategies.

This fear-driven mindset influences political decisions, weakens legal protections, and discourages ranchers and landowners from adopting non-lethal conflict prevention methods.

Additionally, fear-based rhetoric and legislation can fuel illegal killings, disrupt pack structures and sometimes increase livestock predation as destabilized wolf populations struggle to hunt effectively. Its a lose-lose proposition.

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On the public lands  where wild nature should reign supreme  when wolves naturally prey on livestock grazing in their territory, it often results in government-sanctioned lethal removal, even though the livestock are displacing wolves other prey through their presence.

Domestic livestock compete with native herbivores for forage, disrupting natural food chains and altering habitat conditions that species like elk, deer, and small mammals rely on.

If you are a public lands hunter, domestic livestock should be your number one concern when it comes to habitat and ungulate health.

Compensation programs do not encourage responsible management of native wildlife, ecosystems, and livestock. By prioritizing native ecosystems over commercial livestock operations, public lands should serve as vital refuges for wolves, reducing conflicts, preserving biodiversity, and allowing predator-prey dynamics to function naturally without human intervention.

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Public lands ranchers should not be compensated with public dollars for their losses. Like any viable enterprise, it should just be the cost of doing business.

Correction: After this commentary was written but before it was published, the Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire Committee amended Senate Bill 777 to allow payments of up to five times the fair market value of some cows, goats and sheep, lower than the initial proposal of seven times their value. The $25,000 cap per animal remains.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Congresswoman Maxine Dexter (OR-03) is leading a call among Democrats demanding the Trump administration to end efforts to detain migrants in inhumane conditions at Guantanamo Bay.

In a letter sent Monday to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Todd Lyons, Dexter slammed the administration for human rights abuses at the detention facility and called for immediate steps to ensure the safety and fundamental rights of migrants.

While the detention facility has been used to hold migrants detained while trying to reach the U.S. by sea, efforts have been expanded to include migrants swept up amid Trumps immigration crackdown at the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump previously said migrants with criminal records would be detained at the facility. However, some civil rights attorneys argue many detainees dont have criminal records, as reported the The Associated Press.

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Portland Diamond Project swings for fence in Salem

Guantanamo Bay has no place in our immigration system. This facility is known for its unrelenting human rights abuses and its use to house immigrants is fundamentally wrong, said Dexter. I will not stand by while this administration targets and abuses our immigrant community for political gain. I will continue to lead Democrats in demanding not just transparencybut real action.

Citing New York Times reporting from 2024, the letter said refugees detained at the Guantanamo Migrant Operations Center are routinely denied their legal rights and are subjected to dilapidated, mold and rat-infested facilities exposed to raw sewage and no access to potable water.

The letter also points to reporting by NPR that recently detained immigrants claim they experienced severe mistreatment, such as physical abuse from guards and withholding food.

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Overnight break-ins at two local weed dispensaries spark investigation

Among their demands, the Democratic coalition is asking the Trump administration to immediately stop transfers of immigrants to Guantanamo Bay and is requesting a report on past or future transfers to the facility, along with access to counsel for past, present or prospective detainees, and a list of expenditures related to the Guantanamo Bay transfers.

More than 20 advocacy organizations endorsed the letter, including the International Refugee Assistance Project, which is calling on the administration to end the use of Guantanamo Bay altogether.

The recent detention of immigrants apprehended in the United States and transferred there violate the law. Conditions at Guantanamo today  including the use of restraint chairs and effectively holding individuals incommunicado  are egregious, as they were in 2022 when IRAP represented a family there, and as they have been in every chapter of this facilitys notorious history. The questions raised in this Congressional letter are critical  as is the larger pursuit of oversight and accountability, said IRAP President Sharif Aly.

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KOIN Morning Digest

The National Partnership for New Americans argues the transfers violate the Fourteenth Amendment rights to life, liberty and property.

The indefinite detention of individuals, expedited removal proceedings, and the disappearance of immigrants to Guantanamo Bay are some of the many stories that have showcased how current policies are unlawfully denying individuals access to counsel and due process. In light of the stark violations of the federal government, Congress has the responsibility to uphold the Fourteenth Amendment, which prohibits the states from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law, and take actions to protect the rule of law. We are grateful to Rep. Dexters office for leading the charge in holding the administration accountable to our foundational values, our obligations, pushing for transparency, and ensuring that immigrants are treated with fairness and dignity, said Nicole Melaku, Executive Director of National Partnership for New Americans.

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The letter was joined by nearly 30 lawmakers, including, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Rep. Val Hoyle (OR-04), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) and Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17.)

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) is calling for an investigation and resignations after reporting found national security officials used the Signal messaging app to share potentially classified war plans in a group chat that mistakenly included a journalist.

The incident was reported by Atlantic Editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg on Monday, who was added to a Signal group chat with top national security officials sharing plans about an airstrike against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

According to Goldberg, the group chat included national security leaders such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, with messages describing precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing.

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What is Signal, the chat app used by US officials to share attack plans?

Amid concerns that the potentially classified information was shared on devices that might not have been cleared for sharing the information, and mistakenly adding a journalist into the discussion, Sen. Wyden called for Hegseth and Waltz to step down during the annual Worldwide Threats hearing held by the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday.

During the hearing, committee members had the opportunity to question national security leaders  including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and FBI Director Kash Patel.

Obviously, my colleagues and I feel very strongly about the war planning meeting over unclassified phones. Obviously reckless, obviously dangerous both the mishandling of classified information and the deliberate destruction of federal records  potential crimes that ought to be investigated immediately, Wyden said during the hearing.

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I want to make clear that I am of the view that there ought to be resignations starting with the National Security Advisor and the Secretary of Defense, Wyden said.

Kotek: Feds holding up disaster money despite court orders

While being questioned by Wyden, Gabbard and Ratcliffe claimed they were not part of any group chats on Signal or similar messaging apps, that shared classified information  prompting Wyden to call for an audit to verify their claims.

During the hearing, Wyden was joined by Committee Vice Chairman Mike Warner (D-VA), who shared security concerns over the group chat, stating, classified information should never be discussed over an unclassified system. Its also just mind boggling to me that all of these senior folks that were on this line and nobody even bothered to check. Security hygiene 101: who are all the names? Who are they? Well, it apparently included journalists.

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Warner added that if this were a case involving a rank-and-file military officer, they would have been fired.

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Eye on Northwest Politics

While Gabbard declined to discuss the group chat during the hearing  citing an investigation by the National Security Council  Ratcliffe said Signal use is permitted as long as discussions are formally recorded.

One of the first things that happened when I was confirmed as CIA director, was Signal was downloaded on my computer at the CIA, as it is for most CIA officers. One of the things I was briefed on very early, senator, was by the CIA directors management folks about the use of Signal as a permissible work use  it is. That is a practice that preceded the current administration to the Biden administration, Ratcliffe claimed while questioned by Vice Chairman Warner.

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The committee hearing comes after Secretary Hegseth defended the administration on Monday saying, nobody was texting war plans.

Just sucks: Columbia River Mental Health out of cash

The defense secretary also sought to discredit Goldbergs reporting, claiming, Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again.

While Sen. Wyden is calling for an investigation into the incident, it is not clear if the Senate Intelligence Committee will investigate. KOIN 6 News has reached out to Committee Chair Tom Cotton (R-AR). This story will be updated if we receive a response.

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A spokesperson for Sen. Wyden told KOIN 6 News Senator Wyden will be asking one or more independent federal watchdogs to launch an independent investigation of this appalling security breach.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Twenty-six Oregon firefighters were sent by the Oregon Department of Forestry to help battle the wildfires in North Carolina.

According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, most of the 26 firefighters as well as two agency representatives, arrived in North Carolina and are currently helping the Black Cove fire.

In 2024, officials said that North Carolina sent almost an entire incident management team to assist in Oregon and this is Oregons chance to return the favor.

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Hillsboro Police release name of man arrested in seven-hour standoff

Being able to have an additional incident management team made it so we did not have to make the hard choice of prioritizing one fire over another, said Blake Ellis, Fire Operations Manager. At the time, we had two fires in need of an IMT and only one ODF team available. We were able to fill both incidents needs due to the extra support from our North Carolina partners.

Oregon is part of several mutual assistance agreements within the U.S. and with some Northwest Canadian territories, which ODF said helps to create a larger, faster, comprehensive fire management system.

These agreements help bolster the complete and coordinated fire protection system and create a cache of reciprocal resources for all of us to call on when needed, Michael Curran, ODFs Fire Protection Division Chief, said.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is asking for the publics help catching the person or people responsible for poaching two juvenile blacktail deer in Clatsop County.

On March 17, Fish and Wildlife troopers were called to the North Fork Wolf Creek Recreational Shooting Lanes in the Tillamook State Forest, 35 miles east of Seaside. At the scene, troopers found two deer, which they suspect were killed by poachers.

WARNING: The next slide contains a photo of one of the two deer pocked in Clatsop County in March. (Oregon State Police)

Killer whale pod makes rare appearance in Depoe Bay during Whale Watch Week

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Anyone who was at the shooting range near this time frame and saw anything or has any information that could assist with this investigation, please contact OSP Senior Trooper Greg Schuerger or Senior Trooper Dave Herman through the Turn in Poachers hotline, OSP said.

In January, Oregon State Police also announced that investigators are looking for a suspect or suspects responsible for the poaching of a wolf in Union County. Poaching tips can be sent to TIP@osp.oregon.gov or by calling (1-800) 452-7888.

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(NewsNation)  Organizations have been struggling to get aid into Gaza since Israel launched a wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip last Tuesday, breaking a ceasefire agreement negotiated in January and killing more than 400 people.

One organization, Project HOPE, had to temporarily suspend operations at all six of its primary and maternal health clinics because of the escalating violence.

As of Sunday morning, Project HOPE has been able to resume operations at two primary health clinics, Executive Vice President Chris Skopec said. He said the organization is now reviewing whether it can open up the others every day.

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Oscar-winning Palestinian director attacked by Israeli settlers, detained by army

Information Skopec said Project HOPE is looking at when making this decision includes what is accessible, what roads can be safely traveled on and what neighborhoods are safe from rocket fire.

However, Skopec said there is really no safe space in Gaza right now.

There is no secure location in a war context like this, he said Were seeing people displaced from their homes once, twice, multiple times, as they try to continuously find a safe place to reside and live, and thats what our staff are dealing with on a daily basis.

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Some staff members at Project HOPE have found themselves in red zones and evacuated on foot with whatever they can carry, Skopec said, sometimes with as little as 30 minutes notice and without being allowed to use vehicles or carts.

When the two clinics reopened, Project HOPE saw hundreds of patients in each of them, which Skopec said is two to three times more than what they saw during the ceasefire period.

Water trucking has also been suspended. Skopec said they are eager to resume it. The organization had been trucking thousands of liters of water to a number of different locations across the Gaza Strip over the last year.

Hisham Mhanna, a spokesperson in Gaza for the International Committee of the Red Cross, told The Guardian that reports of casualties are received every hour, but first responders cannot reach the sites of the attacks because it is too dangerous, or in some cases, theres not enough fuel for ambulances.

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There is a lot of anxiety about what will happen, especially parents for their children. It is non-stop: evacuation orders, explosions, the hospitals are filled with casualties, we are now seeing food scarcity, Mhanna said, according to The Guardian.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said its office in Rafah was damaged by an explosive projectile. No staff were injured, but the committee says this has a direct impact on the ICRCs ability to operate.

Yesterday, contact was lost with emergency medical technicians from the Palestine Red Crescent Society, and their whereabouts remain unknown, the International Committee of the Red Cross said. Last week, humanitarian workers in Gaza were killed and injured.

After an Israeli tank strike hit one of its compounds last week, killing a staff from Bulgaria and wounding five others, the United Nations Secretary-General spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the UN will temporarily remove about a third of its approximately 100 international staffers working in Gaza.

Israel accused of blocking aid into Gaza

Mediators Egypt and Qatar accused Israel of violating humanitarian law by using starvation as a weapon earlier this month.

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Israel has denied the accusations. It says it has allowed in enough aid and blamed shortages on what it called the U.N.s inability to distribute it. It also accused Hamas of siphoning off aid, according to The Associated Press.

On Friday, Sam Rose from the United Nations Palestinian relief agency, UNRWA, told reporters in Geneva that the situation in Gaza is gravely concerning with massive reductions in the distribution of aid supplies.

This is the longest period since the start of conflict in October 2023 that no supplies whatsoever have entered Gaza, Rose said.

Six of the 25 bakeries that the World Food Program was supporting had to close down because of a shortage of cooking gas.

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At a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on March 18, Tom Fletcher, the UNs UnderSecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said modest gains made during the ceasefire are being destroyed.

Overnight, our worst fears materialized, Fletcher said.

During the meeting, Brett Jonathan Miller, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Israel, said, the return to fighting is a necessity, citing the countrys commitment to bringing home its hostages and defeating Hamas, according to a UN press release.

The ceasefire brought a sense of stability and security, Skopec said. Project HOPE was able to do initial assessments of the health services available and was even able to plan for extending them up North during the ceasefire, he said.

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Now, though, Skopec says, Its reminiscent of the earliest stages of the war, when the level of attacks were extremely high but also very unpredictable in terms of what was safe, what was safeguarded, where and how we could operate.

Illnesses surge in Gaza

Circumstances have dramatically worsened the situation for Gazas civilian population, especially since Project HOPEs ability to provide people assistance is incredibly compromised, Skopec said.

Skopec said theres been a spike in gastrointestinal diseases and skin conditions directly related to a lack of clean drinking water, a rise in respiratory conditions because of crowded living conditions, as well as a huge number of children with various stages of malnutrition.

Two surgeons at Project HOPE working at Al-Aqsa Hospital are still working around the clock, Skopec said. While normally, the organization has had at least four doctors on rotation there supporting the hospital staff, Skopec said they have not been able to get additional surgeons in since March 2.

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Theyre doing upwards of a dozen surgeries a day, Skopec said. Theyre having to be to make really impossible triage decisions as to who gets surgery, who gets anesthesia, who gets the post-operative care.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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EXCLUSIVE: Through a popular uprising and a long and hideous civil war, Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime tottered at times, but held on, propped up by allies Russia and Iran. But filmmaker Feras Fayyad, who endured torture in Assads prisons, never gave up the certainty that one day the dictator would be ousted.

I believed in that, he tells Deadline. The world has been through so many times of rising dictatorship and genocide, but in general there was an end to them, all of them. Theres no way that they will go on like this [indefinitely].

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The fateful day for Assad came in early December, when rebel forces entered Damascus, and the dictator hightailed it to Moscow and the embrace of his patrons at the Kremlin. He left without so much as a goodbye to his supporters.

Filmmaker Feras Fayyad

This was the most important [truth] for the people that was supporting him and standing behind him to understand  that this coward will leave them alone, Fayyad observes. And he left them alone, naked, without any power He was lying and lying and lying to the last moment, the last second, lying to them [that he wouldnt flee] and they deeply believed in his lies Of course, for a lot of them it was like a shock, an earthquake under their feet and they have to process this faster than any normal human can do.

Former Syrian intelligence officer Anwar Raslan (R) in court in Koblenz, Germany, on January 13, 2022

The collapse of the Assad regime abruptly threw open the doors to prisons where thousands of perceived enemies of his rule had been detained, tortured or disappeared. Fayyad was arrested by government agents in 2011 and tossed into one of those communal cells, accused of espionage and of other anti-government activities. There, a Syrian army colonel named Anwar Raslan subjected Fayyad to unspeakable violence, sexually assaulting him with a wooden baton.

At that moment, I feel my mind is spilled inside its like a kind of coma feeling, he says. Theres a group of people on top of me laughing and mocking and threatening me.

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In 2014, Raslan was arrested in Germany and accused of 4,000 counts of torture, and 58 counts of murder, rape, and serious sexual assault. German authorities prosecuted him under the concept of universal jurisdiction for crimes against humanity, and they sought Fayyads testimony in their case. In 2020, the filmmaker thus came face to face in court with his torturer.

There is something strange about the meaning of justice in that moment, to stand in front of a person who is involved in your torture and tortured so many other people. He destroys something that cant be fixed in a way, Fayyad recalls. He was staring at me and tried to affect me with his way of looking at me. All other witnesses, actually, he tried to affect psychologically in that way.

Raslans tactic didnt work. He was convicted in 2022 and sentenced to life in prison.

The only victim of serious sexual assault was my testimony, Fayyad notes. And the prosecutor said my testimony was one of the main reasons to lead to the [guilty] verdict.

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Fayyad has earned two Academy Awards for his documentaries on Syria. He is at work on two more films now including one that he describes as the third film from my trilogy about Syria, which started with Last Men in Aleppo and The Cave. That third documentary, which he began shooting in 2018, focuses on a pair of married lawyers who worked inside Syria, struggling to establish a semblance of the rule of law under Assads dictatorial rule.

Filmmaker Feras Fayyad behind the camera

I capture all these developments from Covid to the earthquake [of February 2023], how it impacted their work, how their work impacts the society, what they can do for their society in this way, how these two lawyers as a family work and function together, he explains. One of her main missions was trying to get death certificates for women whose husbands have been disappeared  because the Syrian regime system is built on disappearing the men and all inheritance rights of the woman is connected to that disappearance. If she doesnt get the death certificate, she cannot travel, she cannot bring her child with her if she travels, she cannot get aid. Shes not considered anything without that certificate in the end. And thats how the regime controlled society  by disappearing men, women [left behind] also stayed controlled, society completely controlled.

Shes challenging the whole legal system, Fayyad says of his co-protagonist. And her husband, whos a lawyer, tries also to investigate the torture system, the system that disappeared those men, trying to figure out how we can document [whether] theyre dead or alive. In this way, their work supports each other [The story arc] gives us a view since 2018 into Syria and beyond, until now.

The second film Fayyad is working on will be intensely personal  exploring what he went through as a prisoner of the Assad regime. Of his fellow political prisoners he says, Some of them they killed under torture, some of them went out completely destroyed. I was one of them.

Storyboard for Feras Fayyad documentary

The film will partly use animation to illustrate his experience and what he describes as an uplifting element to the story  how therapy helped him heal emotionally. Like 80 percent of it is animation and 20 percent is real footage, he tells Deadline.

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The fall of Assad has opened up the possibility of bringing a camera to document the very place where he suffered terrible abuse.

I need to go and film myself inside this torture facility, in my cell, film those documents [investigative files on him], he says. Already, I filmed a couple of documents without being there, but soon Ill continue collecting more evidence and more files.

Storyboard for Feras Fayyad documentary

He adds that for him, the film must be more a cinematic journey because I dont want to put my movie in a journalistic perspective, keep it more like observational in a way so people can go with me on a journey. It shouldnt be just about me. Its more representation for a society, for coming of age, for the change and the history and how you can grow up under the silence kingdom how we can speak up, how we can also use the silence as a way of language to communicate and use it against the Syrian regime.

Filmmaker Feras Fayyad with his daughter in Berlin

Fayyad is raising his daughter in Berlin, where he now lives. I havent been in Syria since the overthrow and I was thinking many times to travel, he comments. I wanted to travel but I wanted to hold on because I need some time to process In the end, Im an artist and filmmaker and Im not a politician and Im not a human rights activist leading an NGO who has to be there and leave everything and go there. I would prefer to settle down this emotion and collect myself and then go.

Fighters with the new Syrian government stand around a fire on March 7, 2025 in the Tartus region of Syria

The new Syrian government faces enormous challenges unifying the country.

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Security forces of Syrias new rulers have engaged in heavy fighting with fighters loyal to deposed President Bashar al-Assad in a coastal area of the country, the BBC reported earlier in March. It is the worst violence in Syria since rebels toppled Assad in December and installed an Islamist transitional government.

The filmmaker expresses deep concern about the Islamist government that is now in charge of Syria. Yet, he joins many Syrians both inside and outside the country who harbor a sense of hope after Assads ouster.

It is a kind of spring breeze, he says. It is really like you were in a middle of deep winter, difficult winter with the snow and rain, harsh rain, harsh snow that you cannot see because the size of the disaster, the natural disaster thats made by the weather and then suddenly all of that as that season of spring coming and touch your face, touch your hair, move it around you and you feel like the flowers start to [bloom] and you start to see things around, you realize things in this way.

Fayyad adds, Of course, not everything is flowers, but you can see that you can build on the spring, a summer in a way, hopefully not harsh summer. Hopefully, you can make this spring last for long. And this is what I can call it  spring.

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The co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, Hamdan Ballal, has reportedly been attacked and arrested by Israeli soldiers, according to fellow co-director Yuval Abrahams post on X (formerly Twitter). Activist Josh Kimelman, who witnessed the incident, told The Associated Press, We dont know where Hamdan is because he was taken away in a blindfold.

Hamdan Ballal reportedly assaulted and arrested by Israeli military

Palestinian Oscar-winning director Hamdan Ballal has been attacked, Yuval Abraham revealed on X. Ballals co-director for the documentary posted a detailed description of the attack. He shared, A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal, co-director of our film No Other Land. They beat him, and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding. Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him. No sign of him since.

A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal, co director of our film no other land. They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding. Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him. No sign of him since.  Yuval Abraham   (@yuval_abraham) March 24, 2025

Additionally, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged detaining three Palestinians and an Israeli. The authorities claimed the detained individuals participated in rock hurling at security forces. (Via BBC News)

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The Associated Press further noted that five Jewish American activists witnessed Hamdan Ballals attack. As per the witnesses, a group of about 15 armed settlers surrounded Ballal in Susya in the Masafer Yatta area south of Hebron. As per attorney Lea Tsemel, Ballal was one of the three Palestinians that Israeli soldiers detained.

Basel Adra, another co-director on No Other Land, witnessed the detention and described approximately two dozen settlers entering the villagesome masked and armed. According to Adra, soldiers pointed weapons at Palestinians during the incident. We came back from the Oscars and every day since there is an attack on us, Adra stated. This might be their revenge on us for making the movie. It feels like a punishment.

Multiple media outlets reference footage from the Center for Jewish Nonviolence showing a masked settler shoving and swinging his fist at two activists in a nighttime confrontation. The video captures the activists retreating to their vehicle amid the sound of rocks striking it. The activists shout, Get in, get in. (via Al Jazeera)

The film No Other Land is the directorial debut from the Palestinian-Israeli collective of Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor, and follows Adra as he documents his hometowns destruction. The documentary won the Best Documentary Feature Film award at the 2025 Academy Awards.

The post Oscar-Winning Director Hamdan Ballal Attacked & Arrested  Report appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Three weeks ago, Hamdan Ballal stood on the stage at the Oscars, golden statue in hand, winner of the award for best documentary as the co-director of "No Other Land." It was an inspiring moment of unity and coexistence.

On Tuesday, bloodied and bruised, he spoke to ABC News on the phone from a hospital bed in Hebron in the West Bank.

"I'm afraid," Ballal said. "Really, I'm afraid. I feel, when they attack me, I will lose my life."

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Ballal said he was severely beaten at the hands of Jewish settlers at his home on Monday, just outside the village of Susiya.

PHOTO: Hamdan Ballal, Palestinian co-director of Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land,' is detained by the Israeli military near his home in the West Bank, on March 25, 2025. (Raviv Rose/AP)

Settlers had come into the village throwing stones and harassing residents, including his neighbor, something Ballal says had been happening with increasing frequency since his Oscar win earlier this month.

He started filming before rushing home to his family, trying to block settlers from coming into his house. That's when the attack began, he said, with several men attacking his head and body, including hitting him with guns.

"It was a hard, hard attack," Ballal said. "You know, I feel I will die, because this attack was so hard, I bleed from everywhere. I'm crying from deeply in my heart. I feel pain everywhere in my body. So, they continue attacking me like 15-20 minutes."

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Oscar-winning Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal freed by Israel, friend says

He said that, in addition to a plainclothes settler, there were two men present he described as "soldiers with guns," although he could not say for sure who they were or which Israeli authority they might have represented.

The Israel Defense Forces and Israel Police have denied being involved in any beating.

Israeli authorities said that Ballal was detained along with several others on suspicion of throwing stones, damaging property and compromising the security of the area. A Jewish settler was arrested, as well.

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The Palestinians -- including Ballal -- were questioned, held overnight and ultimately released "on conditions that include not contacting other people involved and self-bail," according to a police statement.

Police say the investigation is continuing, but Ballal strongly denies he did anything wrong.

"I didn't throw stones, I didn't do any problems with the settlers," Ballal said. "The settlers came attacking me and beating me. That's it."

Ballal's Oscar-winning documentary focused on a community's attempts to resist forced expulsion of Palestinians from a southern area of the West Bank by the Israeli government.

PHOTO: Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal of the Oscar-winning documentary film 'No Other Land' was attacked and detained in the occupied West Bank according to witnesses on March 24, 2025. (Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

The number of Israeli settlers has dramatically increased in the West Bank in recent decades.

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Palestinians, human rights groups and the United Nations have accused them of playing an unofficial role in the attempted displacement of Palestinians through the West Bank, with extremists carrying out violent attacks designed to intimidate, instill fear and ultimately force people out of a place they have called home for generations.

"The settler violence has worsened considerably since the war," said Sari Bashi, a program director at Human Rights Watch. "The people whom the army doesn't directly displace are left to fend for themselves among violent settlers who scare them off their land."

Critics say the right-wing coalition of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has, at best, turned a blind eye to the violence and, at worst, outright encouraged it, with the ultimate goal, according to prominent settler activists and some far-right members of the government, of annexing the West Bank entirely.

The government has denied responsibility for settler violence and has primarily blamed Palestinians for the continued unrest, though sometimes it blames settlers as well. Netanyahu's government, which refers to the West Bank by its biblical names of Judea and Samaria, argues that the area is replete with terrorist activity that targets Israelis both in West Bank settlements and inside Israel. The government argues its actions in the West Bank are necessary to keep Israelis safe.

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Activists often say that the Israeli Police and the IDF, who have security control over most of the West Bank, fail to protect them from settler attacks or adequately prosecute cases of settler violence. The IDF intervenes when scuffles between settlers and activists escalate, but prosecuting settler violence is rare. From 2005 to 2024, only 3% of more than 1,000 investigations ended in convictions, according to the nongovernmental organization Yesh Din.

The settlers often cite a deep religious imperative for their actions. Others view attacks as vengeance for deadly Palestinian terror attacks. Many routinely deny responsibility for the West Bank acts of violence that have risen in recent years but have gone on for decades.

Ballal was released from the hospital on Tuesday. ABC News asked why he chose to speak publicly if he is afraid for his life.

"I've been afraid like this since I was born, until now," Ballal said. "So, I have to speak. Yes, I'm afraid, but I live this situation all my life. So I hope, I hope, because I speak with [ABC News], it can change something."

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ABC News' Guy Davies, Mike Pappano and Morgan Winsor contributed to this report.

Oscar-winning director Hamdan Ballal speaks to ABC News from hospital: 'It was a hard, hard attack' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Israeli settlers beat one of the Palestinian co-directors of the Oscar-winning documentary film No Other Land in the occupied West Bank before he was detained by the Israeli military, according to witnesses.

The film-maker Hamdan Ballal was one of three Palestinians detained in the village of Susiya on Monday, according to lawyer Leah Tsemmel.

Police told her they are being held at a military base for medical treatment and she said she has not been able to speak to them.

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Basel Adra, another co-director, witnessed the detention and said around two dozen settlers  some masked, some carrying guns, some in Israeli uniform  attacked the village. Soldiers who arrived pointed their guns at the Palestinians, while settlers continued throwing stones.

We came back from the Oscars and every day since there is an attack on us, Adra told The Associated Press.

This might be their revenge on us for making the movie. It feels like a punishment.

Hamdan Ballal and Rachel Szor, co-directors of No Other Land, at the Oscars earlier this month - Getty Images

The Israeli military claims it detained three Palestinians suspected of hurling rocks at forces and one Israeli civilian involved in a violent confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians.

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The military said it had transferred them to Israeli police for questioning and had evacuated an Israeli citizen from the area to receive medical treatment.

No Other Land, which won the Oscar this year for best documentary, chronicles the struggle by residents of the Masafer Yatta area to stop the Israeli military from demolishing their villages.

Ballal and Adra, both from Masafar Yatta, made the joint Palestinian-Israeli production with Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.

Ballalwashandcuffedandblindfolded - AP

The film has won a string of international awards, starting at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2024. It has also drawn ire in Israel and abroad, as when Miami Beach proposed ending the lease of a movie theatre that screened the documentary.

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Adra said that settlers entered the village on Monday evening shortly after residents broke the daily fast for Ramadan.

A settler  who according to Adra frequently attacks the village  walked over to Ballals home with the military, and soldiers shot in the air. Ballals wife heard her husband being beaten outside and he screamed Im dying, according to Adra.

Adra then saw the soldiers lead Ballal, handcuffed and blindfolded, from his home into a military vehicle. He said he saw Ballals blood was still splattered on the ground outside his own front door.

Some of the details of Adras account were backed up by another eyewitness, according to AP.

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A group of 10-20 masked settlers with stones and sticks also assaulted activists with the Centre for Jewish Nonviolence, smashing their car windows and slashing tyres to make them flee the area, one of the activists at the scene, Josh Kimelman, said.

Video provided by the Centre for Jewish Nonviolence showed a masked settler shoving and swinging his fists at two activists in a dusty field at night. The activists rush back to their car as rocks can be heard thudding against the vehicle.

Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. The Palestinians want all three for their future state and view settlement growth as a major obstacle to a two-state solution.

Israel has built well over 100 settlements, home to over 500,000 settlers who have Israeli citizenship. The three million Palestinians in the West Bank live under Israeli military rule, with the Western-backed Palestinian Authority administering population centres.

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The Israeli military designated Masafer Yatta in the southern West Bank as a live-fire training zone in the 1980s and ordered residents, mostly Arab Bedouin, to be expelled.

Around 1,000 residents have largely remained in place, but soldiers regularly move in to demolish homes, tents, water tanks and olive orchards  and Palestinians fear outright expulsion could come at any time.

During the war in Gaza, Israel has killed hundreds of Palestinians in the West Bank during wide-scale military operations, and there has also been a rise in settler attacks on Palestinians. There has been a surge in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

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A Palestinian filmmaker who was part of a team that won an Oscar for No Other Land, a documentary depicting life under Israeli occupation, was beaten by West Bank settlers and then arrested by Israeli forces, his co-director said Monday.

Director Yuval Abraham said on X that co-director Hamdan Ballal was beaten by a group of settlers and had sustained injuries to his head and stomach in the Palestinian village of Susiya, Masafer Yatta. He added that Ballal was able to call an ambulance but that Israeli soldiers took him from it.

A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces said, Contrary to claims, no Palestinian who was inside an ambulance was arrested Monday.

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The IDF spokesperson said violent clashes between Israelis and Palestinians erupted near Susiya in the Yehuda Brigade. The clashes developed after, the IDF said, several terrorists threw stones at Israeli civilians and damaged their vehicles.

When IDF and police forces arrived at the scene to disperse the clashes, several terrorists began throwing stones at the security forces, the spokesperson said in a statement, which NBC News translated from Hebrew. In response, the forces arrested three Palestinians suspected of throwing stones at the force and an Israeli citizen who was involved in the violent clashes. The detainees were taken to the Israel Police for further questioning. An Israeli citizen who was injured in the incident was taken for medical treatment.

The spokesperson did not say whether Ballal is in custody.

Reached by NBC News, Abraham said he is unaware of Ballals status or whereabouts. He described Monday as a terrifying night. He was not there at the time of the attack, but he said he spoke with activists and local Palestinian eyewitnesses.

Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal, Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham accept the documentary feature film award for "No Other Land" at the Oscars in Hollywood, Calif., on March 2.

Violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers and forces has soared since the start of the war in Gaza. Masafer Yatta, a collection of hamlets in the southern part of the West Bank that is the subject of No Other Land, has been a focus of Israeli demolitions since the 1980s, after the Israeli military declared the area a restricted military zone.

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Anna Lippman, an activist with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, an organization that promotes Palestinian-led nonviolent civil resistance, said she was among the group of international activists who were attacked by over a dozen Israeli settlers.

Videos and photos Lippman shared with NBC News that she said she took appear to show several masked people chasing her and other activists into their car, shattering its windows. A man wearing a mask appears to shove Lippman and swings his fists at her.

Lippman said in a message that Ballal, who does not appear in the video she captured, was hurt earlier Monday and is still in custody and we are unsure where.

Five Jewish activists, including Lippman, were in the West Bank participating in a three-month long coresistance project, the Center for Jewish Nonviolence said in a news release. The group went to the village of Susiya after it responded to calls to come and support residents who were under attack.

Abraham, Szor, Ballal and Adra at the Oscars on March 2.

A two-month ceasefire between Israel and Hamas collapsed last week when Israel resumed its bombing campaign in Gaza. Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 700 people, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in the enclave run by the militant group.

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Israel and the Trump administration have blamed Hamas for the resumption of hostilities, citing the militant groups refusal to meet Israels demand to release more hostages taken in the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, in return for the resumption of talks.

But that was not part of the original three-phase ceasefire agreement, which went into effect Jan. 19. The first phase of that deal ended March 1. Phase two never began.

Abraham and Ballal were at the Oscars this month, when they accepted the award for best documentary feature onstage alongside filmmakers Rachel Szor and Basel Adra.

No Other Land, one of the best-reviewed documentary features of last year, did not secure theatrical distribution in the United States  a fact that the filmmakers attributed to political sensitivities around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The documentary screened at independent cinemas in selected cities; digital screeners were made available for academy voters and some members of the media.

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A spokesperson for Cinetic Media, which handles media inquiries for No Other Land, told NBC News that the company is aware of Abrahams post on X about Ballalis, but did not have any other information to share Monday afternoon.

In their acceptance speech, Abraham and Adra pleaded for an end to the conflict.

We made this film, Palestinian and Israelis, because together our voices are stronger, Abraham said. We see each other. The atrocious destruction of Gaza and its people must end. The Israeli hostages brutally taken in the crime of Oct. 7 must be freed.

In his statement to NBC News on Monday, Abraham also issued a call for viewers of the documentary to take action.

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Hamdan, who was beaten up, came up with the idea to make No Other Land, he said. So that this brutal reality ends. It is now up to the millions who have seen our film to take action to change it.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Israeli settlers have been accused of attacking Hamdan Ballal, one of the Palestinian co-directors of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, in the occupied West Bank.

According to his fellow directors and other witnesses he was beaten before being arrested by the Israeli military on Monday.

Ballal, along with two other Palestinians, was detained in the village of Susiya, according to lawyer Lea Tsemel, who is representing the group. Police told her the detainees were being held at a military base for medical treatment, but she hadnt been able to get in touch with them by Tuesday morning and had no further information on their whereabouts.

Hamdan Ballal, Palestinian co-director of Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, is detained by the Israeli military from his home in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. - Raviv Rose/AP

Basel Adra, another co-director of the documentary, was present at the scene. He explained that a group of about 20 settlers  some masked, some armed, and others in Israeli uniforms  attacked the village. When soldiers arrived, they aimed their guns at the Palestinians while the settlers continued throwing stones.

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We came back from the Oscars and every day since there is an attack on us, Adra said. This might be their revenge on us for making the movie. It feels like a punishment.

The Israeli military later stated it had detained three Palestinians, accusing them of throwing rocks at forces, along with one Israeli civilian involved in a violent confrontation  a claim witnesses interviewed by the Associated Press disputed. The military said the detainees were transferred to Israeli police for questioning, and an Israeli citizen was evacuated for medical treatment.

Salem Adra shows a photo on his mobile phone depicting his brother, Palestinian activist Basel Adra, and Hamdan Ballal. - Leo Correa/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.

No Other Land, which won the Oscar for Best Documentary earlier this year, tells the story of Palestinian residents in the Masafer Yatta area fighting to prevent the Israeli military from demolishing their villages. Ballal and Adra, both from Masafer Yatta, made the film with Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.

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The film has been met with both critical acclaim and backlash. It won a slew of awards starting at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2024 but has faced strong opposition in Israel and beyond, including controversy in Miami Beach, where there were proposals to end the lease of a movie theatre that showed the documentary.

Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal, and Yuval Abraham after winning the Oscar for best documentary feature film. - Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Adra described how the attack began shortly after villagers broke their fast for Ramadan. A settler, known to frequently harass the village, arrived at Ballals house with the military, and soldiers fired into the air. Ballals wife then heard her husband being beaten outside and screaming, Im dying. The director was later handcuffed, blindfolded, and led to a military vehicle, leaving blood on the ground outside his home.

An anonymous eyewitness corroborated much of Adras account, confirming the violent nature of the attack.

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In addition to the assault on Ballal, 10-20 masked settlers with sticks and stones also targeted activists from the Centre for Jewish Nonviolence, smashing car windows and slashing tires to force them to flee. Activist Josh Kimelman described the attack to the Associated Press, with video footage from the Centre for Jewish Nonviolence showing a masked settler pushing and throwing fists at two activists in a dusty field at night. The activists quickly ran back to their car, with rocks heard striking the vehicle.

Salem Adra, brother of activist Basel Adra, talks with a local Palestinian shepherd as they stand near an Israeli settlers' outpost at the West Bank village of Tuwani, - Leo Correa/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.

The West Bank, captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War, is home to over 500,000 settlers living in more than 100 settlements, while around 3 million Palestinians live under Israeli military rule.

In the 1980s, the Israeli military designated Masafer Yatta in the southern West Bank as a live-fire training zone and ordered the expulsion of its residents, mostly Arab Bedouin. While around 1,000 people have largely stayed, soldiers frequently demolish homes, tents, water tanks, and olive orchards, with Palestinians fearing that full expulsion could happen at any moment.

During the war in Gaza, Israel has killed hundreds of Palestinians in the West Bank through large-scale military operations, while settler attacks on Palestinians have also increased. There has also been a rise in attacks by Palestinians against Israelis.
With bruises on his face and blood on his clothes, Hamdan Ballal was released from an Israeli police station in Kiryat Arba, the West Bank settlement, today. He and two other Palestinians were attacked and detained yesterday and then taken to a nearby hospital.

I was blindfolded for 24 hours", Ballal said. All the night I was freezing. It was a room, I couldnt see anything... I heard the voice of soldiers laughing about me.

The Palestinian director said he was held in an army base and forced to sleep under a freezing air conditioner.

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Ballal, won Best Documentary Feature Film at the Oscars last month for No Other Land. Co-directed with fellow Palestinian director Basel Adra and Israeli director Yuval Abraham, the film shows the destruction of a Palestinian community in the Israeli-occupied West Bank between 2019-2023.

The films events take place prior to the current Israel-Gaza hostilities that began with the 7 October 2023 Hamas terror attack.

Yesterday, Ballal and the two other Palestinians were detained in the village of Susiya in Masafer Yatta, according to lawyer Lea Tsemel, who is representing the group.

Hamdan Ballal, Palestinian co-director of Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, is detained by the Israeli military from his home in the Israeli-occupied West Bank - Raviv Rose/AP

Tsemel said they received only minimal care for their injuries from the attack and that she had no access to them for several hours after their arrest. She had earlier said they were accused of throwing stones at a young settler, allegations they deny.

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Basel Adra, another director of No Other Land, was present at the scene. He explained that a group of about 20 settlers  some masked, some armed, and others in Israeli uniforms  attacked the village. When soldiers arrived, they aimed their guns at the Palestinians while the settlers continued throwing stones.

We came back from the Oscars and every day since there is an attack on us, Adra said. This might be their revenge on us for making the movie. It feels like a punishment.

Palestinian residents say around two dozen settlers  some masked, some carrying guns and some in military uniforms  attacked Susiya on Monday evening as residents were breaking their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Soldiers who arrived pointed their guns at the Palestinians, while settlers continued throwing stones, they said.

Basel Adra, Palestinian co-director of the Oscar winner documentary "No Other Land", looks at a damaged car after a settler's attack in the village of Susiya in Masafer Yatta - AP Photo

The Israeli military later stated it had detained three Palestinians, accusing them of throwing rocks at forces, along with one Israeli civilian involved in a violent confrontation  a claim witnesses interviewed by the Associated Press disputed.

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Lamia Ballal, the director's wife, said she heard her husband being beaten outside their home as she huddled inside with their three children. She heard him screaming, I'm dying! and calling for an ambulance. When she looked out the window, she saw three men in uniform beating Ballal with the butts of their rifles and another person in civilian clothes who appeared to be filming the violence.

Of course, after the Oscar, they have come to attack us more, Lamia said. I felt afraid.

Today, a small bloodstain could be seen outside their home, and the cars windshield and windows were shattered. Neighbours pointed to a nearby water tank with a hole in the side that they said had been punched by the settlers.

Ballal said he was attacked by a well-known settler who had threatened him in the past. The settler can be seen with other masked men in a widely circulated video from August in which they threaten Ballal.

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This is my land, I was given it by God, the settler says in the video, in which he also uses profanity and tries to get Ballal to fight him. Next time it wont be nice, the settler says.

Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal, and Yuval Abraham after winning the Oscar for best documentary feature film. - AP Photo

Ballals detainment is an apposite reminder of the themes of No Other Land, which follows the forced displacement of director Adras community from their homes in the West Bank by Israel.

The West Bank, captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War, is home to over 500,000 settlers living in more than 100 settlements, while around 3 million Palestinians live under Israeli military rule.

In the 1980s, the Israeli military designated Masafer Yatta in the southern West Bank as a live-fire training zone and ordered the expulsion of its residents, mostly Arab Bedouin. While around 1,000 people have largely stayed, soldiers frequently demolish homes, tents, water tanks, and olive orchards, with Palestinians fearing that full expulsion could happen at any moment.

During the war in Gaza, Israel has killed hundreds of Palestinians in the West Bank through large-scale military operations, while settler attacks on Palestinians have also increased. There has also been a rise in attacks by Palestinians against Israelis.
By Yosri Al-Jamal, Mussa Qawasma and Ali Sawafta

SUSIYA, West Bank (Reuters) -The Oscar-winning director of a documentary on the Israel-Palestinian conflict was released from detention on Tuesday, a day after being injured and arrested during a raid by Israeli settlers on his village in the occupied West Bank.

Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the award-winning "No Other Land", said he had been assaulted by settlers after filming them attacking a neighbour's house and then returning to make sure his own house was not attacked.

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"I was just waiting outside, if any settlers or any army were attacking my home," he told Reuters after being released from police custody.

He said he had been pushed to the ground, while soldiers yelled at him to stand up and pointed their guns at him. "It's crazy, you can imagine your family, your kids inside the home and you need to protect them," he said.

Shortly before the incident, in which he ended up being arrested by Israeli security forces, a group of settlers attacked a gathering for Iftar, the end of the daily Ramadan fast, at Susiya village near Hebron.

"Dozens of settlers attacked the gathering at Iftar," Jihad Nawajaa, head of the Susiya local council, told Reuters by phone. "The young men came out to prevent them, and there were about eight injuries on our side."

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Israeli police arrested three men, including Ballal, who was injured during the standoff.

"This is not the first time that the settlers attacked our gathering, but in the recent period the attacks have increased," Nawajaa said, adding that the settlers had stolen around 10 sheep from the village during the attack.

Monday's incident was the latest in which Israeli settlers have been accused of raiding Palestinian or Bedouin villages and encampments in the West Bank, sometimes to steal livestock. Palestinians and activists who monitor such attacks say the police and army typically stand by without intervening.

Lamia Ballal, the filmmaker's wife, said settlers had gathered around the family house and her husband had gone outside to prevent them from breaking in.

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"The settlers attacked him and started beating him, and then they arrested him," she told Reuters.

Anna Lippman, an American-Canadian from a group called the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, said her group had been attacked by settlers after arriving in the village around 15 minutes after the violence began.

'TARGETED'

The Israeli military said police and soldiers intervened after Palestinians threw rocks at the vehicles of Israeli citizens and later at Israeli security forces.

"In response, the forces apprehended three Palestinians suspected of hurling rocks at them, as well as an Israeli civilian involved in the violent confrontation," it said in a statement.

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It denied reports that at least one of the Palestinians was arrested in an ambulance.

Asked for an update on Ballal's condition and status on Tuesday, the Israeli police sent the statement first issued by the army the previous night.

"No Other Land," a film about Israeli displacement of a Palestinian community, co-directed by Palestinian and Israeli directors, won the Oscar for best documentary at this year's Academy Awards.

Ballal said one of the settlers who took part in the assault was well known to him.

"This is not the first time," he said. He has attacked my home many times and also has grazed his cows in the garden of my house."

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Basel Adra, one of the film's other co-directors, said he believed the settlers had taken the army to the family house as revenge for the film's depiction of the Masafer Yatta area near where Monday's incident occurred.

"Because he carries his camera and documents what is going on, I think he is targeted and he was avenged this way at night," he said.

European countries and the previous U.S. administration of President Joe Biden have imposed sanctions on violent Israeli settlers, but under President Donald Trump, the White House has removed them.

(Reporting by Ali Sawafta from Ramallah; writing by James Mackenzie; Editing by Sharon Singleton, Aidan Lewis and Bill Berkrot)
COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE)  More than 100 cars lined up at the Cocke County Fairgrounds Tuesday morning to receive food donations. Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee held a mobile food pantry with 32,000 pounds of food, enough to distribute to around 600 families.

It will help immensely. Im a disabled vet and he cant work and we struggle, said another.

High egg prices strain food banks while increasing publics need for assistance

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Its really going to help us out a lot. We are real low income people, one recipient said.

Cars lined up to receive food at the mobile pantry (Courtesy of Grassy Fork VFD). Cars lined up to receive food at the mobile pantry (Courtesy of Grassy Fork VFD). Cars lined up to receive food at the mobile pantry (Courtesy of Grassy Fork VFD). Cars lined up to receive food at the mobile pantry (Courtesy of Grassy Fork VFD). Cars lined up to receive food at the mobile pantry (Courtesy of Grassy Fork VFD).

Many of the families receiving food were personally impacted by the floods. Several told 6 News they were stuck in their homes for days without water.

Karen Franklin and Tim Height said in addition to the storm, the rising prices of some products has added to their financial struggle.

East TN woman makes plea to keep ex-husband who attacked family behind bars

Expenses have been going up so bad, and I saw they had eggs, so thats a big expense right there. Expenses are going up tremendously and its just been one heck of a ride, they said.

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Second Harvest plans to hold their mobile food pantry in Cocke County on the fourth Tuesday of every month going forward.

As long as we have the funding to do so, we will be here indefinitely or until the community no longer has a need, said Rachael Ellis, the chief operating officer at Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee.

Second Harvest expects a full recovery to take five years. The food bank is ready to adapt to changing needs in the community.

Knoxville bakery feeling the strain of rising egg prices

Currently, there are some people who still dont have their permanent homes, Ellis said. So if that means we need to adjust what our food products are that help them if they dont have access to a kitchen, or if they dont have access to a refrigerator or freezer for some of the products that were providing.

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In the meantime, the community is grateful for the help.

Its just amazing, everybody pulling together just to help, Franklin said.

God blesses us and he has just done a marvelous job taking care of all of us, another resident added.

 See more top stories on WATE.com

The next mobile food pantry in Cocke County will be on Tuesday, April 22.

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No more room for doubt now. Its over. The United States has ceased to be the leader of the Western alliance. That is the clearest and most significant message that emerges from this exchange of puerile texts  which a White House official has described as a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials in the administration. If describing the European nations as a bunch of pathetic free loaders is what they do when they are being thoughtful and deep, what do they say when they are being shallow and irresponsible?

Getting this glimpse into what is (or should have been) the private thinking of the Trump White House is the most remarkable gift of Providence. By some bizarre accident, a journalist unconnected to the administration received top secret information on military planning, which in itself must constitute an illegal security breach, and gave us an unforgettable view into the American governments attitude to its role in the world. Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of the Atlantic magazine, and the surprise beneficiary, was scrupulous enough to keep the sensitive military details from public exposure  for which he received no gratitude whatever from the White House.

Indeed, he was met with the administrations stock response when its own actions result in public humiliation: he was pilloried in the most vicious terms by the Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, as a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again.

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What on earth is this supposed to mean? That this whole incident is some sort of malicious lie invented by Mr Goldberg? When the White House has already admitted that his account is absolutely true?

Trump himself, of course, has denied any knowledge of the whole farrago. He is never in the room at the time when any of this stuff happens. His initial remarks were simply an iteration of the usual White House response to any embarrassment: he knew nothing about it but suggested that the Atlantic is not much of a magazine. What is that supposed to mean? And if Mr Goldberg and his publication are so low in esteem, what was he doing on Mike Waltzs contacts list?

There are demands now for both Mr Waltz, who has been described by a White House official as a fing idiot, and Mr Hegseth to resign, which  given the seriousness of the security breach - should be the minimum required of them. But what must we conclude about JD Vance, who joined in the sneering at what are supposed to be his countrys chief allies with such gusto? And what about the future of our security operations? Do we continue to supply highly sensitive intelligence to a White House which holds us in contempt and might just accidentally broadcast critical information to random contacts?

And the biggest question of all: whose side is America on now? The pathetic Western countries with which it supposedly shares a democratic tradition or its new friend, Vladimir Putin, with whom it could comfortably carve up the world?

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WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  Those in the city of Warren are considering what to do next after a fire at a local apartment complex displaced residents  with residents reporting that it is just one of a handful of problems at the complex throughout the years.

Read next: Boardman couple scammed out of $32,000 in fraudulent checks

Tenants who WKBN spoke with said the Stonegate Place Apartments on Robert Avenue NW has been riddled with problems, including trespassers who have defaced the common areas with graffiti, leaking pipes, mold and thefts from their units.

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They say they have seen little response from the landlord, and WKBN found that the propertys owner has a history of problems at other properties  including in New York, where the States Attorney General filed a lawsuit that forced the sale of the companys four properties, and closer to home in Canton, Ohio, where the companys building now sits boarded up and vacant.

Fire displaces residents of Stonegate Place Apartments

warren apartment fire stonegate Place apartments Courtesy: City of Warren Courtesy: City of Warren Courtesy: City of Warren Courtesy: City of Warren Courtesy: City of Warren Courtesy: City of Warren Courtesy: City of Warren Courtesy: City of Warren Courtesy: City of Warren Courtesy: City of Warren Courtesy: City of Warren Courtesy: City of Warren Courtesy: City of Warren

Emily Teed had been living at Stonegate Place for five years when her building caught fire on January 22.

Teed had opened the door to her bathroom when she saw smoke in her apartment. She managed to get out and said it was lucky because the fire alarms at the complex didnt go off until her fiance called 911.

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Flames were shooting through the roof of apartment building H  one of a few buildings at the site  when firefighters arrived.

No one was injured, but several pets died and Teed said she lost everything.

She and her four kids are now staying with a family member until they find a more permanent place to live, but she said she will not return to Stonegate.

My kids were frightened, and they told me, Mommy, I dont wanna go back,' she said.

The city has since condemned Building H and the neighboring Building G, which remain boarded up due to fire damage. A meeting is set for later this month to determine the future of those buildings.

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The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but city Fire Chief Ken Nussle previously told WKBN that they determined that it started between two walls on the third floor. Firefighters had been to the same building earlier that week for a water leak, and the city health district and building department issued warnings advising management to fix the leak, as well as correct smoke alarms and GFI outlets in the entire complex.

Prior to that, the last inspection report from the citys fire department in 2023 only noted issues with some smoke alarms that needed to be replaced in the mechanical and boiler rooms and the lack of illuminated exit signs in the building.

Read next: Mercy Health says some patients could soon be out of network

Teed said conditions at the apartment complex deteriorated over the years. She said she, as well as her neighbors, had issues with repairs being made in a timely manner.

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Anyone could walk into the building, she said, and a report from the citys police department noted issues with squatters who trespassed into the building.

According to a dispatch report from January 8, police were called to the H building of Stonegate, where a man had been found sleeping in a vacant unit. He had been kicked out and was later found in the hallway.

Teed said there were also issues with graffiti in the building, showing WKBN photos and video of the damage.

Thats mainly why our building looked the way it did, because people were doing all sorts of drugs and come into our buildings and wrecking our hallways and writing profanity, and it was just a lot, she said.

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She considered moving, but she was in a year lease and said building management would not move her to another unit.

I think they should have done a better job or kept an eye on their tenants we told them all about the profanity, and nothing was done.

Debbie Croff said her daughter has lived at the apartment complex since 2018, and she has noticed many issues during her visits to see her daughter.

She attended a tenants meeting organized by City Councilman Todd Johnson and Community Legal Aid on Jan. 30 because she was concerned about the situation there and the lack of response in getting problems there fixed. She pointed to crime in the area, a change in landlords and no upkeep at the property.

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Me personally, if she could afford to go somewhere else, I wish she would get up out those apartments, but right now, this is where she lives, she said.

Councilman Todd Johnson said tenants first came to him a little over three years ago, reporting issues with mold, leaking pipes and abandoned apartment units that were left in disrepair. He began having meetings with tenants two years ago to find solutions but was met with multiple challenges.

Well, number one, the management is unresponsive from the corporate level, and theres been a steady flow and turnover of on-site property management and on-site maintenance companies, and so you never know who youre talking to, who youre calling. The numbers have been changing, and personnel and names have changed, he said. And honestly, the individuals who are tasked with handling it, they get on site and realize what a mess it is, and often theyre as frustrated as the residents are because theyre given so little to work with in the way of resource.

The city has taken some steps to increase enforcement  including adding two more inspectors to keep track of rental properties  but Johnson said there is only so much that the city can do right now.

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Because of the way the system is set up, its mostly civil, and the fines are quite minimal, almost to the point where just about any owner of any size would just ignore it. It stays in this cycle of court proceedings like any other litigation, and they kind of dont have to pay it, quite frankly, and its not very substantial anyway, he said.

He said city leaders are now working on some additional legislation to hold problem landlords accountable but acknowledged that they dont want to do anything that would hurt the local landlord who is trying to do the right thing.

Were working toward some sort of trigger laws, if you would, that if certain complaints are made and unresolved, then it triggers more frequent inspections and more frequent fines and addressing of those inspections, which we kind of called charging against that for our health department and or our building code department so that we can put a heavier hand on them, he said.

He said while Stonegate is in disrepair, he knows there are other properties in the city that are in similar, if not worse, situations.

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Unfortunately, smaller cities that have been economically devastated become targeting grounds for these out-of-state property management companies to come in, buy up cheap properties with a lot of low-income subsidized residents, and basically neglect them while they collect all sorts of income, not just from those residents, youre talking about property portfolios, youre talking about depreciation, youre talking about using these properties as loans for other things, and they can sort of basically profit until its done, you know, until were left holding the bag with these residents, he said. Even if you dont go through all these legal things, they have already made their money, and all we did was probably cut off their ability to make more. So I hate to say it, but for low-income residents in this area, its not a great time to be looking for suitable living, especially in our larger apartment complexes, because it is very tough, especially those that are privately owned.

Courtesy: City of Warren Courtesy: Emily Teed Courtesy: Emily Teed Courtesy: City of Warren Courtesy: Emily Teed Courtesy: Emily Teed Courtesy: City of Warren Courtesy: City of Warren Courtesy: City of Warren Courtesy: City of Warren Courtesy: City of Warren Stonegate apartments building damage Stonegate Apartments Warren

Green National forced to sell properties in New York

Stonegate is owned by WG Stonegate Place, LLC, which was registered in Delaware in 2019. Paperwork filed with the Ohio Secretary of State lists Troy Green as the point of contact for the company.

Letters sent to Green from the City of Warren also list Green National, a property management company owned by Green that has a history of court action in other areas.

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New Yorks Attorney General Letitia James secured a court order in July 2023 against Green and his company for failing to address significant code violations at his properties in Syracuse. The order banned Green from owning, operating or managing affordable housing properties in New York and required his company to pay $298,100 in penalties.

Green National eventually sold its four properties to an investment group.

In February 2022, James had reached an agreement with Green National to correct code violations  which included broken elevators, missing smoke alarms and plumbing leaks  but James sued the company in October 2022 for failing to comply with parts of that agreement.

Along with several open code cases, James lawsuit also cited lax security, pointing to the murder of 93-year-old Connie Tuori, a resident at the Skyline Apartments, one of Green Nationals properties. Tuori was killed in 2021 by Victoria Afet, an intruder who followed her into her apartment, stabbed her and stuffed items down her throat, according to WSYR, WKBNs sister station in New York.

Afet, who later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison, had reportedly stayed in Tuoris apartment with the body hidden in a bedroom until police were called to check on Tuori three weeks later.

Before her death, Afet had also been arrested for the assault on another Skyline resident, area news reports state.

In a press conference following the murder, then-Syracuse Police Chief Kenton Buckner said he was frustrated by the management of the property  citing a drain on his police resources with frequent calls to the property.

James lawsuit also detailed several open code violations at three of the companys other properties in New York.

The lawsuit referenced various emails  often contentious  between Sean Frey, Green Nationals executive vice president of management at the time, and employees with the citys Code Enforcement Department.

Frey contended in his emails and affidavit that the company had been continuously working on fixing its code violations but said some of the hang-up was on the citys failure to close open cases that had been rectified. He added that other issues were delayed by contractors or when waiting for parts needed to make repairs.

Holding us hostage to an Unfit status is preventing us from collecting any rents. This now seems deliberate on the citys part, Frey wrote to Ryan Shiel, who worked in the citys Code Enforcement division.

In his response, Shiel referenced a lack of an available employee to accompany one of the citys inspectors during a review of one of the apartment buildings  saying they were unable to get into many of the units to determine if the issues had been fixed.

You are well aware that an employee should be present with us, with keys, and prior notice should be given to tenants as well. Do not blame The City because you failed to do your job, again, Shiel wrote.

In an email to the company on Dec. 27, 2022, Shiel wrote that they had been called to one of the companys complexes due to large plumbing leaks, causing water to leak on electrical wires and fixtures. He referenced first responders being called to the complex to deal with the issue.

The SFD [Syracuse Fire Department] and SPD [Syracuse Police Department] risk their life for all of us, every day, but they continually have to spend their time at your apartment complexes. There werent any HVAC or plumbing companies on site when SFD arrived. Plumbing and HVAC companies have 24-hour emergency repair services, so theres no excuses, especially when issues started last week, he wrote.

Though the company argued in its suit that it was prevented from fixing some issues due to vendor and staffing issues from the COVID-19 pandemic, the judge ruled in favor of the Attorney Generals Office. The judge cited several open code violations and others that had been fixed after the deadlines in the earlier agreement that had been reached.

In his decision and judgment barring Green from owning or managing any rental properties in the state, Judge Gregory Gilbert wrote that: The Court is convinced that Troy Green either does not care about his responsibilities to his tenants, his Assurance or Court Orders or that he is simply incapable of properly managing his affordable housing properties wherever situate.

The repeated failure to timely address such a large number of City Code complaints calls for civil and criminal contempt findings. The pattern of neglect previously shown by Greenland [also doing business as Green National] has not only continued but, in many respects, only grown worse. Tenants must not be subjected to living without hot water or heat or to otherwise required to live in filth and squalor, he wrote.

Canton apartment complex goes into receivership

Courtesy: City of Canton Courtesy: City of Canton Courtesy: City of Canton Courtesy: City of Canton Courtesy: City of Canton

J.R. Rinaldi, chief of staff for the City of Cantons Building Department, said if city officials are having an issue with a rental property that isnt being maintained, its important that they take immediate and consistent action.

Rinaldi said he is also familiar with Green National. The company managed Victory Square Apartments on Lippert Road in Canton  a building that is now vacant and boarded up after the city took action to get it placed into receivership.

He said it was late 2023 when the citys code enforcement officers were called in to look at the conditions inside the building.

Upon their inspections, and as they would come back and report, we started to find the horrifying conditions that existed inside the building, Rinaldi said.

Rinaldi, who shared pictures with WKBN, said they were not aware of how conditions deteriorated inside because they could not get into the units without permission. Once inspections began, they set up a table outside the apartment complex and began taking complaints from the tenants.

Rinaldi said in some cases, human waste was running down from the apartment units above to those below.

Rinaldi said often, tenants are reluctant to speak out, and he thinks that is why conditions can deteriorate at some low-income housing complexes.

You gotta kind of get into the psyche of, a lot of these folks dont have a lot of anything, and theyre afraid to stir up the bushes, so to say, because, you know, lets face it, theyve lived in places where landlords have preyed on them and stuff like that. So we find that theyre very apprehensive to stand out, he said. But in this case, there were so many people that needed help, I think a lot of that went to the wayside.

Initially, the building passed an inspection by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), but once the city communicated its findings with HUD, HUD readjusted its report to a failing one, Rinaldi said.

He said getting HUD to pull its subsidy funding to the landlord is what led to change.

My advice to any other city that has this, use the mechanisms you have in place, whether its code enforcement, your building code, your legal department  That has really served us well, as once we got HUD involved, we had people from Chicago, Detroit, we had a gentleman from Cleveland. Once we got all of those folks involved, then this became a real situation for them, and thats when we really saw movement, he said.

Councilman Johnson said he is reluctant to take the same approach because that would likely displace the residents

If we continue down a path where we have to make more drastic moves, where that subsidy can be transferred if there were new ownership or some sort of arrangement, that we dont punish the tenants for something that is not their fault, he said.

While Victory Square Apartments in Canton is now vacant, and there are court proceedings underway regarding the receivership, Rinaldi said their goal is to save the housing units. His hope is that they will be fixed up, as there is a shortage of low-income housing units in the area  as well as across the state.

Locally, Debbie Croff, the mother of one of Stonegates tenants, said she hopes city leaders will do more to help the tenants and keep landlords accountable.

I would like to see an ongoing meeting. I would like to see some, even getting out of the walls and out here, being consistent, walking and protesting, and just even in the apartment complex to get the work done that needs to be done for the tenants out there because its not safe for kids. Its not a good environment for people to live in, she said.

She said it will take more than meetings to force a change, however.

Stop trying to put on a show, but youre not really doing nothing. Youre going home every day to a warm home, she said. These people gotta live in this type of stuff. Lets really get your hands into it and help these people.

WKBN made multiple attempts to reach a representative of Green National by phone, email and certified mail but was unable to reach anyone.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Mehmet Oz is a step closer to being confirmed as the next head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, after the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday advanced his nomination.

The vote was 14-13 along party lines.

Democrats slammed Oz for not committing to stop potential GOP cuts to Medicaid, as well as his previous support for Medicare Advantage plans and privatizing Medicare.

Dr. Ozs plans to privatize Medicare would deliver worse care to 66 million Americans and waste billions of taxpayer dollars  all while giving giant insurance companies a fat paycheck. Donald Trump and Elon Musk are already gutting Social Security. The Trump administration does not care about Americas seniors, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said in a statement following the vote.

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But Republicans backed the nominee as someone able to make what they see as necessary reforms.

There is no doubt that Dr. Oz will work tirelessly to deliver much needed change at CMS, Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) said on Tuesday ahead of the vote. He will focus on modernizing federal healthcare programs, work to fix our broken clinician payment system and will partner with Congress to achieve pharmaceutical benefit manager reform.

During his confirmation hearing, the heart-surgeon-turned-celebrity-physician used the flair of a seasoned television host to avoid being pinned down on specifics on how he would run the $1.7 trillion agency.

Oz dodged many specific questions and instead spoke in generalities about how he wants to make Americans healthier and improve the efficiency of the health system.

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Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said Ozs refusal to answer direct questions was a problem.

During his confirmation hearing, Dr. Oz was given the chance to assure the American people that he would not be a rubber stamp for Republicans plans to gut Medicaid and hike ACA premiums. At every turn, he failed the test. When I asked him a yes or no question about whether he would protect Medicaid, he dodged and weaved and refused to answer, Wyden said Tuesday.

This lack of responsiveness to Congress should be unacceptable to every member of this Committee. But the Republican majority once again seems eager to disregard their own congressional oversight responsibility when Trump is calling the shots.

Oz has faced questions from Democrats and ethics experts about his potential conflicts of interest, including significant investments in and deep ties to health companies that receive payments from CMS. He has pledged to divest hundreds of millions of dollars worth of stock in health companies if he is confirmed, including UnitedHealth Group

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Ahead of the hearing, Democrats also noted how little experience Oz has in the federal government, or knowledge about the intricacies of health policy.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
March 24 (UPI) -- A pair of lawsuits have been filed by educators, school districts and unions asking the courts to prevent the Trump administration from dismantling the Department of Education on the grounds that only Congress can do that.

The Department of Education was created in 1979 to ensure equal access to education. President Donald Trump repeatedly criticized the department during his re-election campaign for pushing alleged "left-wing indoctrination" in schools, despite its main function being the distribution of federal funding.

Earlier this month, Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced that nearly 50% of the department's 4,133 federal workers were being fired en masse.

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Last week, Trump signed an executive order to close the department and move its responsibilities to the states.

The first lawsuit filed against the executive order on Monday was brought by Democracy Forward in Massachusetts on behalf of a local school district and several teachers and professors unions.

The second lawsuit was filed in Maryland shortly afterward by the National Education Association on behalf of the NAACP and others.

Both lawsuits argue that since the department was created by Congress, it is Congress, and not the president, that has the power to dismantle it.

"Because the Department of Education was created by Congress -- and mandated by Congress to operate various programs for the benefit of America's students, parents and schools -- it cannot be eliminated by the President or the Secretary of Education," the Massachusetts lawsuit argues.

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In response to the lawsuits, Education Department spokeswoman Madi Biedermann said in a statement that the Trump administration has promised to work with Congress to close the department.

"Instead of focusing on the facts and offering helpful solutions to improve student outcomes, the union is once again misleading the American public to keep their stranglehold on the American education bureaucracy," she said, referring to the American Federation of Teachers union, a plaintiff in the first case.

In the Maryland case, the plaintiffs argue that the steps taken by the Trump administration since the Jan. 20 inauguration "constitute a de facto dismantling" of the department by "executive fiat."

They warn that shuttering the department puts millions of vulnerable students, including those from low-income families and English-language learners as well as homeless and rural students, at risk, along with more than 400,000 educator jobs.

"Education is power. By firing half of the workforce at the Department of Education, Trump is not only seeking to dismantle an agency -- he is deliberately destroying the pathway many Americans have to a better life," Derrick Johnson, president and chief executive officer of the NAACP, said.
Activists from Baloch Yakjehti Committee and civil society hold portraits of Mahrang Baloch, one of Pakistans most prominent human rights advocates, during a protest demanding her release, in Karachi on Mar. 24, 2025. Credit - Asif HassanAFP/Getty Images

Pakistan has again arrested Mahrang Baloch, a prominent champion of human rights for the countrys ethnic Baloch minority, and barred her lawyer from visiting her in jail.

She was looking weak and stressed, her sister Nadia Baloch told TIME on Monday after being allowed a few minutes with the activist in Quettas Hudda District Prison, where she has been held since Saturday. Mahrang Balochs lawyer was not allowed in; nor was the food her family had brought. Our greatest fear is that she will be given contaminated foodor worse, something harmful, Nadia Baloch said.

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The circumstances of Mahrang Balochs arrest illustrate both the complexities and the risks of her work for the Balochis. The ethnic group, whose population is often put at between 10 and 15 million, resides on arid lands divided by the borders of Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. Like the Kurds, whose historic homeland was arrayed among several Middle Eastern states when nation states were being drawn, many Balochis want more autonomy, if not a state of their ownand some have taken up arms. Pakistans Balochistan province has seen decades of conflict between the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and a heavily militarized state. The latest clash, on March 11, appeared to mark a dramatic new level in its guerrilla and terror operations when a BLA force hijacked a train, resulting in scores of deaths.

Pakistans response to the insurgency has been a decades-long dirty war that has left thousands of Balochi citizens missing and presumed dead. Mahrang Baloch founded the Baloch Yekjehti [Solidarity] Committee to advocate for a political future grounded in recognition of human rights, including ascertaining the fates of the disappeared. The state has not engaged, however.

After the hijacking of the Jaffar Express, state security forces ramped up pressure on Balochi human rights advocates, detaining several Solidarity activists in Quetta, the Balochistan provincial capital. On Friday, state forces opened fire on protesters who had assembled to demand their release, killing three. Mahrang Baloch was arrested the next day at a sit-in where protesters had assembled with the bodies of the victims.

She is quite strong. She will not give up on this, said Imran Baloch, her attorney, who like many Balochis uses Baloch as a surname but is no relation. The lawyer said the state clearly feels threatened by Mahrangs increasing prominence, noting that it escalated against her in October after she was included in the TIME100 Next list of the worlds emerging leaders. Mahrang learned that she had been placed on a no-fly list and her passport had been suspended only when she was turned away from her flight to New York to attend a TIME event. Her lawyer said she also felt pressurized by the state after she was nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.

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There is a complex web of violence and human-rights violations in Balochistan that creates a very challenging environment for human-rights defenders, particularly women human-rights defenders, working on issues of enforced disappearance, Sarah de Roure, the global head of protection at the advocacy group Front Line Defenders, told TIME in October, after Mahrang was detained at the Karachi airport.

She is being targeted as a woman, she is being targeted as a Baloch woman, because of the work that shes doing, which is publicly speaking on the issue of enforced disappearanceinitially around her own family, and then as part of a broader movement.

Following her latest arrest, prominent human rights advocates, including Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai and the U.N. Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Defenders, called for her release.

Nadia Baloch, the sister, said family members were turned away the three previous days they went to the jail. So today we said that we will be on hunger strike if you will not allow us to meet her. Then they just allowed me to visit her for few minutes, she said. She did not know the reason that she was arrested. I must say that is illegal, that they have not allowed her lawyer to meet her. They have isolated her in a room separate from the other prisoners.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Hamdan Ballal, a Palestinian filmmaker behind the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, has been released by Israeli forces after being assaulted by settlers in the West Bank and detained by soldiers on Monday, his lawyer said.

Ballal was attacked by a group of Israeli settlers who invaded the Palestinian village of Susiya, the lawyer, Lea Tsemel, told NBC News. According to his co-director, Yuval Abraham, who reported the attack on X, Ballal sustained injuries to his head and stomach.

Ballal and two other Palestinians who were detained with him were released Tuesday afternoon from police custody, according to Tsemel. They were not charged with any crimes, Tsemel said.

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Journalists with The Associated Press reported seeing bruises on Ballals face and blood on his clothes as he was released. Ballal and the two other Palestinians who were detained were transported to a nearby hospital, the AP reported.

Hamdan Ballal (left) and Rachel Szor (right) hold their Oscars for "No Other Land" on March 2 in Hollywood.

Five activists from the Center for Jewish Nonviolence who were at the scene told The Guardian that dozens of masked settlers  some of whom were armed  entered Susiya after nightfall, accompanied by Israeli soldiers. They threw stones at Ballals house, chased him to his home, beat him, and then handed him to the military, the activists said. They threw stones at Ballals house, chased him to his home, beat him and then handed him to the military, the activists said.

Ballals wife told reporters that she was inside their house with their three children at the time of the alleged attack. She said she heard her husband screaming, Im dying! and that she witnessed three men in uniform beating him with the butts of their rifles.

The CJNV activists, who are Jewish American, said Israeli police officers who arrived at the scene in a car refused to get out of the vehicle and intervene and instead began interrogating the activists.

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Ballal was handcuffed and blindfolded, bleeding from the head, and he was moved to a military vehicle, The Guardian reported.

A spokesperson with the Israeli Defense Forces told NBC News there were violent clashes between Israelis and Palestinians near Susiya that erupted after several terrorists threw stones at Israeli civilians and damaged their vehicles.

The spokesperson said Israeli soldiers and police had stones thrown at them when they arrived at the scene, adding:

In response, the forces arrested three Palestinians suspected of throwing stones at the force and an Israeli citizen who was involved in the violent clashes. The detainees were taken to the Israel Police for further questioning. An Israeli citizen who was injured in the incident was taken for medical treatment.

Ballal and the other two Palestinians denied throwing stones, Tsemel told NBC News.

There has been an uptick in Israeli settler violence in the West Bank since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack in Israel. Activists have said Israeli forces have been documented allowing and even participating in the violence against Palestinian residents.

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Tsemel told NBC News that it was a ritual for Israeli settlers, some with criminal pasts, to harass Palestinian villagers and then call the police and the army on them, often resulting in beatings and detention. Especially now that I am sure that he is a target because of the film, Tsemel said of Ballal.

No Other Land chronicles the Israeli forces yearslong destruction of Masafer Yatta and other nearby Palestinian villages. Directed by a Palestinian-Israeli collective, the documentary won an Academy Award earlier this year; its creators took the stage together and spoke plainly about the brutality of the Israeli occupation.

Basel Adra, a Masafer Yatta resident who starred in and co-directed the film, has similarly suggested that the global reception to their acclaimed work has made them an even bigger target.

We came back from the Oscars and every day since there is an attack on us, Adra told The Guardian. This might be their revenge on us for making the movie. It feels like a punishment.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) to apologize Monday after accusing the congresswoman of promoting violence against Elon Musk and Tesla. (Watch the video below.)

Bondis demand came a day after she warned Crockett to tread very carefully. Crockett has been encouraging peaceful protest against Musk and his electric car company as the multibillionaire carries out Trumps goal of gutting the federal government and its workforce. Demonstrations have sprung up nationwide, and so have acts of vandalism.

On Monday, Fox News Host Sean Hannity avoided context when he mentioned Crocketts remark that she wanted Musk taken down.

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Crocket made the comment last week while promoting a peaceful protest movement called Tesla Takedown. She made it clear she was endorsing nonviolent demonstration, and instructed participants to adhere to local laws. She again emphasized her plea for nonviolent action on Sunday, but reminded Bondi that President Donald Trump supported violent protest by pardoning extreme Jan. 6 rioters.

Bondi noted that Crockett said she did not mean physical harm, but that didnt stop the attorney general from continuing to label her comments as an incitement to violence.

Words have consequences, Bondi said. And what happened after she said that about Elon Musk  shes a Texan  and in her own home state after she said that, this morning three explosive devices were found in Austin, Texas, she told Hannity, referring to incendiary devices found at a Tesla dealership there. So she needs to unequivocally denounce the violence. She must apologize immediately not only to all Texans, but to our country, to the American shareholders of Tesla because she is promoting violence.

Bondi also attempted to pull in recent remarks Crockett made about Democrat Colin Allred, who lost to Republican Ted Cruz for senator in Texas.

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Allred had started to punch harder at Cruz toward the end of the campaign, and Crockett commented that Cruz, needs to be knocked over the head, like hard, right? Some conservatives falsely jumped on the remark as a literal call to violence.

AG Pam Bondi to Rep. Jasmine Crockett: "Your words have consequences, and what happened after she said that about Elon Musk... in her own home state... 3 explosive devices were found in Austin, Texas. She needs to unequivocally denounce the violence."pic.twitter.com/FarREhU2vT  Thomas Sowell Quotes (@ThomasSowell) March 25, 2025

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A 26-year-old man who was arrested for assaulting and strangling a woman now faces dozens of charges in an expanding sex trafficking investigation.

Jesse Lee St. Marie Blankenship was arrested for the domestic violence on March 4 after he tried to run from deputies, the Washington County Sheriffs Office said. That led investigators to uncover the sex trafficking and other violent acts he allegedly committed.

A grand jury in Washington County handed down a 21-count indictment on March 17, then a Multnomah County grand jury added 9 more charges just three days later.

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Overnight break-ins at two local weed dispensaries spark investigation

Blankenship, who also had a felony warrant for parole violation, faces a total of 32 charges.

He is being held without bail in Washington County on these charges:

Five counts of coercion

Two counts each of compelling and promoting prostitution, menacing, supplying contraband

Six total counts of assault

Single counts of harassment, reckless endangerment, causing a person to ingest a controlled substance and witness tampering

In Multnomah County, Blankenship faces:

Three counts of assault

Two counts of harassment

Single counts each of strangulation, coercion, menacing and theft

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Officials said the investigation continues. They believe more charges are likely and also believe there are more victims.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Washington County Sheriffs Office. The case number is 50-25-3033.

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Ukraine believes that the partial ceasefire for the Black Sea and energy infrastructure strikes should take effect on March 25, President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists.

Zelensky's position is at odds with Russia's March 25 statement that the Black Sea ceasefire would take effect only after Western sanctions on Russian food producers and exporters are lifted.

The statement came after two-day talks in Saudi Arabia, during which Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. agreed to implement a ceasefire in the Black Sea and a ban on strikes against energy infrastructure.

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Zelensky said that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov had asked the U.S. when the partial ceasefire deal could come into effect.

"We believe that, after Washington makes two official statements... the ceasefire in the sea and the energy ceasefire must come into effect, in (the Americans') opinion," Zelensky said. "Undoubtedly this depends on orders given by the presidents to their military forces."

Washington has also vowed to help restore Russias access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.

Zelensky views this move as a form of sanctions relief for Russia. He stated that Ukraine is unaware of the details, as the matter was discussed during U.S.-Russia talks.

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"We didn't want it to be in the general document because this is a weakening of positions and sanctions," the president added.

He also said that Ukraine can turn to the U.S. in case the ceasefire is violated by Russia.

According to Zelensky, Kyiv has handed over a list of energy facilities that Moscow should not strike during the ceasefire.

The Kremlin claimed that the ban on energy strikes had been in effect since March 18 and would be valid for 30 days with the possibility of extension.

Despite the agreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin a week ago, Russia has continued its regular campaign of aerial attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

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Zelensky also noted that the U.S. delegation had been discussing occupied territories with Russian counterparts.

"(What) we are concerned (about is) that the U.S. has influence over Russia, not the other way around. For us, that is the most important thing. President Trump has enough power, tools, sanctions, etc. to influence the Russians, Putin to end this war. We are concerned about the issue when they discuss something about us without us."

He acknowledged that any discussions regarding occupied Ukrainian territories are "painful ones."

"I have been talking about this from the very beginning. I believe there will be two most difficult issues with the Russians: achieving a complete ceasefire and resolving the issue of territories, because the Russians do not want to end this war."

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Read also: Editorial: What Steve Witkoff doesnt get about Ukraine (and Russia)

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Pasco County unveiled a new policy Tuesday designed to give parents more control over the books their children can access in public libraries.

Beginning Wednesday, parents will be able to get a childrens library card for youngsters ages 15 and under. The card, which is optional, will restrict its holders to borrowing materials from the juvenile collection and items marked as school-required.

It will not include access to electronic material, young adult or adult books.

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Parents still may allow their children to have full access to the entire library collection when they register their children for a card.

The change comes amid the countys ongoing discussion over the type of books available in libraries. Commissioners, who were presented the library card policy as information only, did not address the issues Tuesday.

Last fall, the library system removed more than 100 titles from its shelves after Commissioner Seth Weightman suggested that some disturbing content was too easily accessible to children. He mentioned Calvin, a picture book about a transgender child, saying one patron had complained about it.

Commissioners discussed at that time the possibility of permanently pulling the books, several of which appear on the Florida Department of Educations list of challenged titles, along with others that contain certain topics. Many of those related to LGBTQ+ characters and issues.

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At the advice of legal counsel, they asked the library staff and advisory board to recommend steps to address the situation.

The staff updated its rules requiring children to have parent or guardian supervision while in the libraries. It also recommended the childrens library card, which mirrors the process used in Hillsborough County.

Rather than permanently removing books, the staff began an audit of materials in the childrens sections to determine whether some titles would be better placed where adults can get them but they arent readily available to all children. That way, the books would remain in the library with more controls for parents.

County spokesperson Sarah Andeara said that review is ongoing. In the meantime, all the books removed in the fall remain off the shelves.

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Some residents have noted several books they have requested were rejected for purchase by the library. Among them are Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas, a transgender author; Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White, which includes several LBGTQ+ teen characters; and Flopping in a Winter Wonderland by Jason June, described by its publisher as an " LGBTQ+ young adult rom-com."

Andeara said the system has temporarily paused purchasing new titles in these genres until the library can complete the book audit and relocation.

During public comment Tuesday, resident Valerie Chilton of Port Richey urged commissioners to consider doing away with what she called disturbing materials, saying other counties have done so. If the commissions lawyers have recommended otherwise, Chilton said, perhaps the commission should hire new lawyers.

Lets save our innocents, she said.
A passerby discovered a rare Viking-era iron bracelet in a wetland on the Swedish island of Oland.

The open-ended bracelet style is rare in large part because of the use of iron.

Officials plan to undergo a deeper search of the area to see if the find was a one-off or if there is a hoard stashed nearby.

In a new discovery announced by the County Administrative Board of Kalmar County in Sweden on a translated Facebook post, someone who officials are calling an attentive person discovered what first appeared to be an unremarkable, rusted-out bracelet. Instead, the find turned out to be a rare example of an iron arm brace from the Viking era.

Karl-Oskar Erlandsson (an archaeologist from Kalmar) said that from the over 1,000 Viking-era bracelets in the countrys State Historical Museum, only three of the ancient objects are made of iron. This is in part because iron is a highly corrosive material, and experts believe that the oxygen-poor environment of the wetland helped preserve the bracelet better than others like it. That preservation also allowed for the fine craftsmanship of the piece to shine through after 1,000 years.

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The newly found armband is beautifully ornate with rows of points and has animal heads at the ends, the statement read, regarding the C-shaped bracelet and the raised dots on the exterior. Similar findings have been made on Gotland, but this particular variant we have not yet found an exact equivalent to.

Oland was once a key trading post for Sweden, especially during the Viking age. The countrys second-largest island sits off the southeast coast of the mainland, surrounded by the Baltic Sea. It was at one time known for the Borgholm Castle, and is also home to Solliden Palacea royal family summer retreat.

Officials have plans to search for more information about the origins of the bracelet, hoping they can find a marking from a workshop or blacksmith once they preserve the armband. Maybe theres even more rare treasure to find, although the fact that the bracelet was discovered in a wetland makes it less likely that it came from a lost settlement or gravesite, the statement read.

Still, once the weather allows, officials plan to scour the area with metal detectors to see if they can discover more lost Viking-age treasure.

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NEW YORK (PIX11)  E-bikes have become an increasingly popular mode of transportation in New York City, offering a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to cars.

However, their rapid rise has also brought pressing safety concerns to neighborhoods like Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Residents are now grappling with how to balance the benefits of e-bikes with the challenges they pose to pedestrian safety.

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The recent death of Luis Cruz, a 49-year-old man struck by an e-bike while crossing Franklin Street near India Street in Greenpoint, has reignited debates about e-bike safety. The accident occurred last Friday evening, leaving Cruz with fatal head injuries. The e-bike rider remained at the scene, and no charges have been filed as the investigation continues.

This tragic event underscores growing concerns among residents about reckless e-bike usage. Alisa Etschork, a Greenpoint resident, expressed frustration over the lack of helmet use and proper regulation among riders. The people who ride e-bikes tend to not have helmets, which makes me think theyre not normal bike riders, she said.

While pedestrian fatalities involving e-bikes remain relatively rare  totaling six between 2021 and 2024  there were 923 pedestrian injuries involving all types of bikes during this period.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

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In response to incidents like Cruzs death, city officials are considering new legislation to improve accountability for e-bike riders. A proposed bill known as Priscillas Law would require all e-bikes and e-scooters to be registered and display license plates. Advocates argue that such measures would help curb reckless behavior and ensure safer streets for all road users.

Nate Cosby, an e-bike rider and Greenpoint resident, supports better regulation. I cannot go successfully 20 mph for a long amount of time on my own, but my bike allows me to do that, so I have to be extra cautious, he explained.

To address safety concerns, the Department of Transportation (DOT) launched its Get Smart Before You Start campaign last year. The initiative educates riders on safe e-bike operation, including proper acceleration, braking techniques, and speed control. Additionally, the DOT has issued guidelines for riders:

Stay off sidewalks

Wear helmets

Yield to pedestrians

Watch for turning vehicles

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
(WHTM)  A man was able to allegedly make $100,000 worth of purchases at Lowes stores across Pennsylvania by using stolen credit cards, the Attorney General said.

Alex Rulan, 33, of Allentown, allegedly bought items such as air conditioners, flooring, and vacuums with the stolen bank cards, Attorney General Dave Sunday said Monday.

This defendant systematically targeted consumers and stores across the Commonwealth to steal high-dollar goods, Attorney General Sunday said in a statement. The diligent work of our Organized Retail Crime Unit has stopped another criminal enterprise from inflicting further harm on hard-working Pennsylvanians.

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The fraudulent use was reported to investigators earlier this year.

In over a dozen counties, Rulan stole about $96,000 worth of goods from 23 stores from June to December 2023, Sunday said. Sometimes, Rulan even provided fake identification to buy the items, Sunday said.

Rulan faces charges of corrupt organizations, organized retail theft, criminal conspiracy, identity theft, and related offenses. He is currently at Montgomery County Jail.

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Sunday said the investigation is ongoing.

Senior Deputy Attorney General Philip M. McCarthy is prosecuting the case.

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(WHTM) The Pennsylvania state capitols north office building has been completely remodeled as part of an effort to get employees to spend more time in the office.

The remodel aimed to appeal to the modern worker with lots of light, color, and hopefully a lot of collaboration. There are a few assigned desks, but they are mostly first come, first served for the Department of General Services employees.

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This Week in Pennsylvania

The change could also mean Pennsylvania saves millions of dollars a year, as it is part of a broader plan to move workers out of leased space into spaces the state already owns.

Deputy Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of General Services, Catherine Califano, said, And this whole row down here was all cubes. So, people didnt necessarily even know who was on site the same day. And in a hybrid work schedule, that problem just magnifies why people dont want to come in the office today with the glass and the couches, people get to interact. And were finding that people actually want to work in this space. And then when they come in, they meet up and connect and they go out to lunch. So I think its a good thing for the employee experience to have more interaction.

Department of General Services (DGS) Secretary Reggie McNeil was joined by Office of Administration (OA) Secretary Neil Weaver to open a newly redesigned, flexible office space for staff in the North Office Building as part of the Shapiro-Davis Administrations Space Optimization Utilization Project (SOUP). Department of General Services (DGS) Secretary Reggie McNeil was joined by Office of Administration (OA) Secretary Neil Weaver to open a newly redesigned, flexible office space for staff in the North Office Building as part of the Shapiro-Davis Administrations Space Optimization Utilization Project (SOUP). Department of General Services (DGS) Secretary Reggie McNeil was joined by Office of Administration (OA) Secretary Neil Weaver to open a newly redesigned, flexible office space for staff in the North Office Building as part of the Shapiro-Davis Administrations Space Optimization Utilization Project (SOUP). Department of General Services (DGS) Secretary Reggie McNeil was joined by Office of Administration (OA) Secretary Neil Weaver to open a newly redesigned, flexible office space for staff in the North Office Building as part of the Shapiro-Davis Administrations Space Optimization Utilization Project (SOUP). Department of General Services (DGS) Secretary Reggie McNeil was joined by Office of Administration (OA) Secretary Neil Weaver to open a newly redesigned, flexible office space for staff in the North Office Building as part of the Shapiro-Davis Administrations Space Optimization Utilization Project (SOUP). Department of General Services (DGS) Secretary Reggie McNeil was joined by Office of Administration (OA) Secretary Neil Weaver to open a newly redesigned, flexible office space for staff in the North Office Building as part of the Shapiro-Davis Administrations Space Optimization Utilization Project (SOUP). Department of General Services (DGS) Secretary Reggie McNeil was joined by Office of Administration (OA) Secretary Neil Weaver to open a newly redesigned, flexible office space for staff in the North Office Building as part of the Shapiro-Davis Administrations Space Optimization Utilization Project (SOUP).

Drab cubicles are a thing of the past, and maybe these changes will encourage employees to leave their homes and enter their offices.

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According to the Shapiro administration, the project repurposed space to meet the needs of todays employees:

Minimized construction activity by introducing pods for confidential conversations while keeping the space open for natural light.

Digitized documents and removed 70 file cabinets to make better use of existing space.

Centralized the kitchen to one area for the entire floor rather than multiple break areas.

Coordinated onsite schedules to allow for shared offices and offices to also serve as conference room spaces.

Leveraged hoteling spaces in Harrisburg and in other parts of the state, to accommodate work requirements.

Utilized recycled furniture from state surplus.

The renovation also added work space for more employees and was completed on time and under budget.

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(NewsNation)  A Boston teenager was arrested after passing a note with a bomb threat alongside a Starburst candy in a Boston Urban Outfitters store on Sunday.

According to NBC Boston, Lucas Lembeck, 19, was arrested after allegedly giving the note to a stranger as part of a prank that he since admitted was dumb.

Lembeck, a native of Wayne, Pennsylvania, was released following a court hearing on personal recognizance ahead of a court hearing on Apr. 14.

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Royal Air Force engineers shamed by judge over theft of Paddington Bear statue

The note reportedly said, I have a bomb dont say a (expletive) word.

In a statement to NBC Boston, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden bemoaned the alleged decision-making of Lembeck.

Its difficult to fathom how in this day and age anyone would consider it a prank to hand a note to a perfect stranger in the middle of a major city indicating they were holding a bomb, Hayden said.

As this case indicates, such a reckless action causes fear and comes with consequences,

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG)  Some Florida lawmakers want to close a loophole that allows people to make artificial intelligence generated nude images without consequences.

Current law allows for punishment only for those who distribute those images.

3 critically injured in crash on Interstate 10 in Escambia County: FHP

Florida House Bill 757 would make it illegal to create an AI generated explicit photo of a real person without their consent.

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Pensacola Police Public Information Officer Mike Wood said this bill could eliminate what he called a huge loophole.

People that have images out there on the internet of them, its caused very bad problems in the past especially with teenagers even to the point of suicide in some cases, Wood said. So hopefully this will take care of that problem; it was a huge loophole, and it needs to be filled.

In November 2024, Pensacola police charged a 17-year-old girl with a felony after she allegedly sent out AI generated nude photos.

However, the 18-year-old boy who created the images was not charged because police said creating the images was legal.

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If the law passes, then its not only illegal to make them but distribute them as well, which is exactly the way it should be, Wood said.

According to the bills text, anyone who willfully generates any altered sexual depiction of an identifiable person, without the consent of the identifiable person, could face a third-degree felony charge if passed.

1 of 3 suspects in 2023 Heron Drive homicide pleads guilty: Mobile County District Attorney

If approved, the law would take effect Oct. 1.

Anyone found guilty of this third-degree felony could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

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Just days after senior Trump administration officials  including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth  included a journalist in a Signal group chat discussing secret military plans, the Pentagon issued a warning that Russian hackers had cracked the app.

According to the Pentagon advisory, officials should stop using the app, even for sending unclassified information, citing a "vulnerability."

"A vulnerability has been identified in the Signal messenger application," the advisory, which was sent out on March 18, said, according to NPR.

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The advisory states that "Russian professional hacking groups are employing the 'linked devices' feature to spy on encrypted conversations." It goes on to note that Google has also identified Russian hackers who are targeting "Signal Messenger to spy on persons of interest."

Signal's benefit vs other messaging apps is that it is encrypted, and, in theory, should protect its users' messages from being intercepted by unwanted viewers.

The Pentagon sent an advisory to officials that the encrypted messaging app, Signal, has been targeted by Russian hackers just days after the Trump administration included an Atlantic journalist in its plans to bomb Houthi sites. (AP)

A spokesperson for Signal told the Pentagon that its security has not been broken, but warned that users falling victim to basic phishing attacks could still put their message privacy at risk.

"Once we learned that Signal users were being targeted, and how they were being targeted, we introduced additional safeguards and in-app warnings to help protect people from falling victim to phishing attacks. This work was completed months ago," Signal spokesman Jun Harada told the Pentagon.

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The Pentagon memo included a note that "third-party messaging apps (e.g. Signal) are permitted by policy for unclassified accountability/recall exercises but are not approved to process or store non-public unclassified information."

Hegseth and other Trump administration officials used the app while planning the bombing of Houthi sites earlier in March. Even if Signal's security is top-notch, it doesn't stop people included in the group chat who shouldn't be there from viewing the information  people like the Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg.

In a wild story published earlier this week, Goldberg explained how he was included in the sensitive group chat and watched in real time as the Houthi bombing was planned.

Hegseth denied the incident happened and called Goldberg's character into question, but the Pentagon confirmed its veracity.

U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth denied that he and other Trump administration officials leaked plans to bomb Houthi sites to Atlantic journalist Jeffrey Goldberg. The Pentagon has since confirmed the leak (Getty Images)

Goldberg told CNN that Hegseth was lying, and said he has not published what he saw because he considered it "too confidential" and "too technical" to be made public, fearing that doing so would put US servicemembers at risk.

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Despite the unprecedented breach, Donald Trump insisted that no classified information had been shared in the group chat, and downplayed the incident before revealing that "a lot of the military" uses the app, which is known to be targeted by Russian hackers.

Its just something that can happen. You can even prepare for it, and it can happen. Trump said. "It's used by a lot of the military, and I think, successfully. But sometimes somebody can get onto those things. That's one of the prices you pay when you're not sitting in the Situation Room with no phones on, which is always the best, frankly."

The president said his administration will "look into it."
At the end of last week, Dr. Colleen Kelley said she was getting texts about every 10 minutes from colleagues whose HIV-related research grants were being terminated by the federal government.

This is just pure chaos and insanity, said Kelley, chair of the HIV Medicine Association. The National Institutes of Health canceled two grants last week for HIV projects she was working on, as well as funding for a large HIV clinical trial network she was involved with.

Its just a massive, massive bloodbath, Kelley said.

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The NIH has eliminated funding for dozens of HIV-related research grants, according to a US Department of Health and Human Services database that was updated last week, halting studies and threatening patient care across the country. Several researchers said the cuts put a stop to hopes of ending HIV in the US and around the world.

The termination of numerous federal grants for HIV prevention and treatment is a cause for alarm, Dr. Perry Halkitis, dean and Hunterdon Professor of Public Health & Health Equity at Rutgers University, wrote in an email to CNN. The NIH canceled funds for a Rutgers project examining stigma and aging among HIV-positive and -negative men who have sex with men.

HIV remains a significant public health challenge throughout the nation, particularly for sexual and gender minority individuals and people of color, Halkitis wrote. As a public health dean, HIV researcher for over two decades, and proud gay man, I am deeply concerned about the impacts these grant eliminations will have on our ability to end AIDS.

The NIH told CNN that the elimination of these grants was in accordance with the Presidential Memo Radical Transparency About Wasteful Spending. The executive order says that the government spends too much money on programs, contracts, and grants that do not promote the interests of the American people and directs all agency heads to let the public know the details of every terminated program, cancelled contract, terminated grant, or any other discontinued obligation of Federal funds.

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Since 1981, HIV has led to the deaths of more than 700,000 people in the US. More than 1.2 million Americans now live with HIV, according to federal statistics. About 13% of people who have HIV dont know they have it  one driver of the virus continuing spread.

Ending AIDS in the United States by 2030 was one of President Donald Trumps stated priorities in his 2019 State of the Union speech, but the second Trump administration has hinted that it will make major cuts to HIV-related projects.

Experts worry the Trump administration will slash CDCs HIV office and its budget. For the 2023 fiscal year, that was nearly $1.3 billion to prevent and control HIV, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis and infectious disease. Most of that funding goes to outside organizations such as state and local health departments and community-based organizations and about a quarter goes to the CDC for labs, outbreak responses and other costs.

The rolled back research funding come on top of cuts to USAID and funding that supports work and research managing the HIV epidemic overseas.

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The United Nations warned on Monday that there would be a surge in AIDS deaths and new infections without US funding.

[We] will see it come back, and we see people dying the way we saw them in the 90s and in 2000s, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said, predicting a tenfold increase from the 600,000 AIDS-related deaths recorded globally in 2023.

HIV research hit by DEI cuts

HIV research spending accounts for a fraction of the US budget for HIV. In 2022, $2.7 billion  or 7% of the domestic HIV budget  was dedicated to domestic research across multiple agencies, according to KFF.

The grant termination emails explain that the HIV researchers work was no longer consistent with the priorities of the administration, Kelley said.

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The emails received by Dr. Aniruddha Hazra and other colleagues studying HIV come in two different flavors, he said: one that was more for those grants that were exploring diversity, equity, inclusion in medicine, and then another that was again looking at LGBTQ populations, as well, said Hazra, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Chicago and director of the STI Services for Chicago Center of HIV Elimination.

Government departments have eliminated diversity language from websites and ended diversity, equity and inclusion programs after Trump signed executive orders that directed them to do so. Other executive orders have called for the recognition of only two sexes and ending inclusive language and programs that support transgender people.

Hazra, who said he has had grants canceled recently by the NIH and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said his research focuses on HIV treatment and prevention among marginalized populations.

All of this sort of falls along the crosshairs of the current administration, Hazra said.

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Without funding, HIV may no longer be included in broader projects, either.

The NIH told Dr. Lisa Bowleg, a professor of applied social psychology in George Washington Universitys Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, that her funding was canceled for a project that sought to examine the dynamics of intersectional discrimination and social structural factors to understand Black mens risk for mental health and substance abuse issues. The work also touched on HIV.

As for the HIV piece, it is disturbing that more than four decades into the HIV epidemic, Black gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (and also Black heterosexual women, by the way) continue to have disproportionately higher HIV incidence and prevalence compared with white and other racial/ethnic groups in the U.S., Bowleg wrote in an email. Terminating the research does not result in a termination of the problem; it simply exacerbates it.

HIV is preventable, but Black and Latino men have a disproportionately high risk of catching the virus. A 2016 analysis by the CDC said that an estimated half of Black gay men and a quarter of Latino gay men would be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime. There are gaps in understanding as to why these communities are specifically affected, and Bowlegs research was among the projects with funding cancelled that were trying to fill those gaps.

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Bowleg said she heard on Monday from three other colleagues who lost their NIH grants to study health equity topics.

Its been devastating, she said.

Whats lost with the end of my and so many other health equity-focused grants is the opportunity to even try to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S., and of course globally, Bowleg wrote. If we in the U.S. were grappling with grim HIV statistics for Black men just 8 or 9 years ago, I shudder to imagine whats coming down the pike. The termination of research and the programs and interventions that the research was meant to inform, will only make the HIV epidemic (and so many other health conditions) exponentially and senselessly worse.

Heavy competition for less funding

For researchers and their work, the immediate future is uncertain and the long-term future feels bleak.

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Dr. Michelle Birkett, a psychologist and associate professor in the Department of Medical Social Sciences at Northwestern University, said the NIH canceled grant funding for a project that looks at disparities in HIV. She had just finished hiring people for the work and was about to start data collection when her school informed her that the funding had been eliminated. The NIH never contacted her directly, Birkett said.

Birkett said she is looking for other funding, but the competition will be stiff.

A lot of my colleagues received terminations in the last few days, she said. I just worry about the viability of this work going forward.

Hazra, at the University of Chicago, said the cancellation of his grants makes it difficult to plan how to move forward with the work.

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I think a lot of us are awaiting guidance from our own institutions as to what this means for both investigators but also for our staff, he said.

Some institutions may provide bridge funding for some of the investigators, he said, but that is not sustainable.

Whats particularly frustrating, Hazra said, is that he and many other researchers feel that the country is close to ending the HIV epidemic.

Its confusing to see us come this far and then start to slide back on decades of progress, but thats exactly whats going to happen, Hazra said.

The researchers said that cutting off funding will also hurt patients.

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People will die based on these decisions that have been coming through these past few weeks, and I dont say that to be dramatic. I say that being a realist, that this will lead to a loss of American life, and I dont know if the greater public fully understands that, at least not yet, Hazra said. This feels like a genocide in the making, and its not overstating it.

The American Academy of HIV Medicine also says that deep cuts to HIV research grants mean we would be witnessing innumerable lives lost and destroyed without access to lifesaving discoveries that are a direct result of ongoing HIV innovation and research efforts, Bruce J. Packett, II, the groups executive director, wrote in an email.

For years, HIV had been steadily decreasing, Packett wrote, large due to the success of appropriately funded research.

These massive cuts to HIV research effectively turn back the clock on our domestic response to the HIV epidemic and broader sexual health, with a rise in new cases of HIV and other STIs very likely in both the short term and over time, Packett said.

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Permanent residents in the U.S. have faced detention and deportation, while even tourists have been turned away under the new immigration regime taking shape under the Trump administration.

The White House has been accused of targeting activists with opposing views, especially on the Israel-Hamas war, and rushing to deport people before they can fully access legal counsel.

When asked last month about the administrations record of controversial and mistaken deportations, which has included deporting people protected by court rulings, President Trump brushed off any criticisms.

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Let me tell you that nothing will ever be perfect in this world, he told The Atlantic.

Here are some of the most notable cases.

A popular left-wing Twitch streamer questioned about his Trump views at a Chicago airport

Piker claims he was targeted for scrutiny because of his views on Trump and Gaza (AP)

On May 11, Hasan Piker, the most popular progressive online video streamer, was stopped for additional questioning as he traveled through a Chicago airport. There, Piker, a U.S. citizen who has nearly 3 million followers on Twitch, said agents subjected him to lengthy questioning about his views on Trump and the war in Gaza.

The reason for why theyre doing that is I think to try to create an environment of fear, to try to get people like myself, or at least others that would be in my shoes that don't have that same level of security, to shut the f*** up, Piker, an outspoken critic of the Israeli war effort, later said on a stream.

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection told The Independent that Piker was stopped for routine additional inspection, and said, Claims that his political belief triggered the inspection are baseless.

Civil rights groups criticized the questioning.

No U.S. citizen should be detained by law enforcement, at the border or anywhere, because of their protected speech, Ari Cohn, of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression free speech watchdog group, wrote on X.

Australian wife locked up and kicked out on way to visit her husband in U.S. Army

Couple says Australian woman has completed trips in past without incident (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Also this month, Nicolle Sourokos of Sydney, Australia, had alarming issues of her own at a U.S. airport.

She and her mother had arrived at the airport in Honolulu, Hawaii, on their way to visit Sourokoss husband, a U.S. Army lieutenant stationed in Oahu. Sourokos, 25, had made the visit three times already since she married her husband Matt last December, so she wasnt expecting any issues, she said.

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Soon, however, security agents allegedly began yelling at her and the pair were selected for additional screening. Officers then allegedly searched their bags and phones while questioning Sourokos about whether her tattoos were gang-related and allegedly subjecting her to a cavity search.

Sourokos said she was held in detention overnight, then sent out of the country with her mother.

Its not only myself, its my mother and my husband that also had to endure that pain, my husband being a current serving member, to serve his country and to be treated in that way I find very disgusting, she told Hawaii News Now.

Potential deportation looms for mixed-status Ohio family

Family argues deportation would amount to cruel and unusual punishment of U.S. citizen children (AFP via Getty Images)

Last week, a pregnant Mexican mother in Ohio sued the Trump administration, arguing a likely deportation order would separate her from her U.S. citizen child, a 9-year-old who receives special needs care for autism, and amount to illegal treatment of her unborn child.

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Carmen G. Guerrero Sandoval, who was reportedly denied asylum five years ago, was recently ordered to present herself to Immigration and Customs Enforcement in June, raising fears she would join the many arrested at routine check-ins.

Under Ohio law, unborn children are legally considered people, and people in the state can sue if the government interferes with their family relations against the best interest of the child. The lawsuit argues that removing Sandoval would violate her sons due process rights and amount to unconstitutional cruel punishment, as well as differential treatment of the child based on his ethnicity. It also raises the question about what rights Sandovals unborn child, due in October, has in the situation.

This week, a federal judge denied a request to temporarily pause the immigration appearance request, and Sandoval has appealed before an immigration panel.

A pregnant Guatemalan asylum-seeker separated from her newborn

Pregnant Guatemalan migrant had been wandering in desert alone for two days when she was apprehended (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

In late April, immigration agents apprehended a pregnant Guatemalan migrant, identified by her attorney only by her first name, Erika, who had been wandering alone for two days in the Arizona desert.

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Erika was taken to a hospital where she gave birth on April 30, as federal authorities waited outside. The new mother was then immediately separated from her child and put into immigration detention, where she was fast-tracked for removal. Her attorney told The Independent he scrambled to reach the woman and ensure the child, a U.S. citizen, was protected, but said he was denied entry to the hospital and had calls to officials ignored.

Soon, calls began to flood the Tucson Medical Center and federal offices, a development attorney, Luis Campos, thinks was pivotal to securing Erika a temporary reprieve.

In the end, it was a grassroots effort that turned the tide, he told The Independent.

Erika has since been discharged and is living in Tennessee as she prepares to appear before an immigration judge, where she will likely seek asylum.

A two-year-old U.S. citizen deported after no meaningful process

Others are raising alarms about deportations that have already taken place.

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Last month, a two-year-old U.S. citizen was deported alongside her mother, a Honduran citizen, after the family was arrested at an immigration check-in in New Orleans.

Federal officials say the mother requested her children be deported alongside her, but a Trump-appointed federal judge, Terry Doughty, wrote with concern that the government just deported a U.S. citizen with no meaningful process.

The government contends that this is all OK because the mother wishes that the child be deported with her, he wrote. But the court doesnt know that.

The childs father is seeking to return the girl to the U.S.

U.S.-born citizen detained despite evidence

On April 17, Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a 20-year-old citizen of the U.S., was held in a Florida jail at the request of federal immigration authorities, despite his mother presenting his birth certificate and Social Security information to a judge.

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Lopez-Gomez was taken to Leon County Jail after a traffic stop, accused of being undocumented.

Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez was released from jail after being detained by ICE. He is a U.S.-born citizen, but was still arrested during a traffic stop. (Thomas Kennedy/X)

The charge was dropped, but the Leon County judge said that she did not have jurisdiction to release him after Immigration and Customs Enforcement requested that he remain in detention, according to court records. He was released hours later, though it is not clear what led to the change.

Tufts University doctoral student who co-authored op-ed supporting Palestine detained

Activists have also been targeted, though the Trump administration has suffered repeat setbacks in court.

Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University doctoral student, was detained by ICE on March 25 near her home in Massachusetts.

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Surveillance footage captured plainclothes federal agents approaching Ozturk, 30, from the street outside her off-campus apartment before putting her in handcuffs, even though there were no criminal charges against her.

Ozturk is a PhD student in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the university and is legally in the United States on a non-immigrant F-1 visa.

On May 9, Ozturk was released from detention, and she continues to challenge her immigration proceedings and the constitutionality of what her attorneys argue is a retaliatory arrest.

A judge wrote in releasing Ozturk that the government had no evidence justifying putting the scholar in detention, beyond an op-ed she wrote that was critical of Israel.

Mahmoud Khalil, former Columbia student and pro-Palestinian activist, detained

Mahmoud Khalil, a former graduate student at Columbia University, was detained by federal agents on March 8  despite being a lawful permanent resident  due to his involvement in last years protests and encampments in support of Palestine.

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His wife, a U.S. citizen who was eight months pregnant at the time, said that he was seized by agents in front of her at their university-owned apartment.

Federal officials said they collected evidence that Khalil, 30, was actively, but not materially, supporting Hamas  a designated terrorist organization.

A DHS spokesperson said that Khalil was detained "in support of President Trump's executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism."

People demonstrate outside Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse in New York, on the day of a hearing on the detention of Mahmoud Khalil (REUTERS)

Officials concede that Khalil has not committed any crimes but are relying on a rarely used Cold War-era statute to justify his deportation. It gives Secretary of State Marco Rubio the power to deport those who pose potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.

Last week, Khalil briefly met his newborn son, but he remains in immigration detention. He is challenging his arrest and deportations in court, arguing they are retaliatory and will put him at risk of assassination, kidnapping, [and] torture.

Georgetown University professor detained at home in Virginia

Georgetown University postdoctoral scholar and Professor Badar Khan Suri, originally from India, was detained on March 17 at his home in Arlington, Virginia. Masked agents said his J-1 visa had been revoked.

A spokesperson for DHS accused Suri of "spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media" as well as having close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas.

Suri is in the country on a J-1 visa  issued for people who take part in approved programs of teaching, studying, training and research.

By May 15, Suri was released from detention, and he continues to challenge his detention as a violation of the First Amendment.

Justice delayed is justice denied," Suri told reporters after his release from a detention facility near Dallas.

Unnamed French scientist detained because of texts

A French researcher, whose name has not been made public, was reportedly stopped from entering the U.S. earlier in March because of text messages criticizing the Trump administrations academic research policies.

The scientist was on his way to a conference close to Houston at the time, according to Le Monde.

A spokesperson for DHS denied the text messages were responsible for blocking the researcher, saying instead that the man was found to have confidential data from a U.S. lab. He did not elaborate.

The French minister of higher education and research, Philippe Baptiste, said in a statement that "freedom of opinion, free research, and academic freedom are values that we will continue to proudly uphold. I will defend the right of all French researchers to be faithful to them while respecting the law.

Baptiste took to X to say that he had asked for an emergency meeting with other European ministers to establish a plan to defend academic freedom.

"Europe must rise to the occasion to protect research and welcome the talents who can contribute to its success," he said.

Milwaukee mother deported to a country she has never been to

Ma Yang, a 37-year-old Hmong American, was detained and then deported in March to Laos, a country she had never been to, nor a country where she speaks the language.

Yang was stripped of her green card by the Trump administration in February, some two-plus years after being released from federal prison, where she served 30 months on marijuana-related charges.

Although she was born in Thailand, Yang had been living in the U.S. since she was a baby and was a legal resident with a green card.

Ma Yang was deported in February to Laos, a country she has never set foot in (Facebook)

ICE told Yang to report to the agencys Milwaukee facility. When she showed up, agents detained Yang, sent her to Indiana, then Chicago, and finally she was shipped off to Laos. She says she doesnt know anyone in the Southeast Asian country and cant speak the language.

In a previous interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Yang said her attorney in the case never told her deportation was a possibility.

Defense attorney Matt Ricci, who represented Ma Yang in the 2020 marijuana case, disputed this, saying his files and notes showed otherwise. He said he told Yang at the time that deportation could happen, but that he didnt think it would happen.

Welsh tourist detained after problem with visa

Rebecca Burke, 28, a Welsh artist, was detained on February 26 after she set off on the trip of a lifetime across North America, according to a GoFundMe page. She was reunited with her family in March after spending 19 days in a processing center after being denied entry at the border between the U.S. and Canada.

Rebecca Burke was detained on February 26 at the U.S.-Canada border (Instagram/r.e.burke)

Burke had been residing with host families, with whom she helped out with chores in exchange for her stay. As she attempted to enter Canada, authorities informed her she needed a work visa, and she was told that she had to go back to the U.S.

"She was refused re-entry and classified as an 'illegal alien,'" her father wrote. "Despite being a tourist with no criminal record, she was handcuffed and taken to a detention facility in Tacoma, Washington."

Her father complained she had been led onto the plane in chains like Hannibal Lecter.

With reporting from Rhian Lubin, Kelly Rissman, Ariana Baio, Alex Woodward, Justin Rohrlich and Joe Sommerlad
Dr. Olena Yazvuk, director of Horenko Outpatient Clinic in Ukraine, says her hospital's shift to solar energy has been a huge benefit. (Photo by Delaney Nolan)

HOSTOMEL, Ukraine  Dr. Olena Yuzvak understands the damage of war like few others.

In February 2022, Yuzvak, her husband Oleh, and their son Dima knew that Russian forces had arrived by the sound of explosions.

The full invasion started, recalled Yuzvak, speaking from a quiet, sunlit room in one of her medical clinics. The artillery and mines and helicopters started to destroy everything, and there was no electricity.

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The quiet village in the suburbs of Kyiv was suddenly the front line. Yuzvak, the physician-manager of four health clinics, began treating shrapnel wounds and concussions, making home visits with a commandeered ambulance amid constant gunfire, then treating people from home when that got too risky, relying on a neighbors generator for power.

But we didnt have medicine, like insulin, she recalled, partly a result of blackouts.

A month into the invasion, Yuzvak heard screaming from her front yard. She rushed out to find Dima, 25, pleading with Russian soldiers whod shot her husband twice in the leg. The family was bundled off, bags put over their heads. After two days of interrogation, Olena was freed. Oleh was returned after a month. But Dima is still being held in Russia.

Still, shes continued her work.

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Yuzvak walks outside and points to the clinics roof, where solar panels gleam under a dusting of snow. Rebuilt after missile damage, her Hostomel clinic now runs completely on solar from May to October. That kind of reliability, she says, is critical, and has made the facility a pillar for the area, even during wartime blackouts.

People can come anytime, when there is no electricity or heating, and they can have a tea, warm up, watch TV because we always have electricity, Yuzvak said.

Shed like to continue the shift to renewable energy sources, as it allows the clinics to be more independent  and thereby more secure. For the rest of the year, they supplement with electricity from the grid, which has been widely damaged by Russian attacks.

Ukraine is hedging its energy security, in part, on Louisiana. In December, as part of a gambit to replace Russia as the gas hub for Europe, Ukraine received its first shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States. Exported from a Venture Global terminal in Plaquemines Parish, itll be held in Ukraines gas storage tanks  the largest in Europe  before being piped around the region.

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The Trump administration has framed LNG as a win, part of an energy dominance plan that will provide security for Europe amid sanctions on Russian gas. Since the invasion, the European Union has banned imports of Russian coal and nearly all Russian oil and pipeline gas.

But some energy and national security experts in the U.S. and Ukraine suggest that embracing LNG will primarily benefit the industry, pose security concerns for Ukraine, raise U.S. energy prices and threaten the health of the Gulf of Mexico.

A Ukrainian flag flies over a memorial to the over 400 people killed in the suburbs around Kyiv. (Photo by Delaney Nolan)

Ukraine turns to Louisiana for LNG

Ukraines largest private energy company, DTEK, has agreed to buy LNG from Venture Global through the end of 2026. Earlier this month, Trump administration officials visited the companys Plaquemines export terminal and stood alongside Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel as they announced plans to make it the largest one in the country.

The rapid LNG buildout on the Gulf Coast accelerated after Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as European countries panicked over gas shortages and scrambled to increase imports of U.S. gas. Though the much-feared shortages never materialized, the war still wound up being a boon to the industry.

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American LNG has created a lot of security of supply, both for Ukraine and Europe in general, said James OBrien, head of LNG at DTrading, the international trading arm of DTEK.

OBrien added that much depends on what happens at the wars end, but most likely there will be more increased reliance on American [LNG] and maybe some other sources. But the really fast ramp-up of U.S. LNG production over the last eight, nine years has been quite amazing.

The bulk of that ramp-up has come from Louisiana, now the biggest LNG exporter in the country. Thats helped make Venture Global a darling of the Trump administration. When his Energy and Interior secretaries visited the Plaquemines terminal last week, they gave speeches praising the company.

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OBrien likewise said an end to the war could be amazing potential for American companies in Ukraine. If Trump wants to balance trade deficits, LNG is a quick, easy win for him as Ukraine is like a new market ready to be opened up, and it could be one of the biggest economic success stories of our time.

But DTEK picked a beleaguered partner when it signed with Venture Global in June 2024. The company is embroiled in lawsuits with multiple clients, including BP and Shell, over unfulfilled contracts. Two environmental organizations also recently filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue over Clean Air Act violations at a Cameron Parish terminal.

Last month, the CEO of TotalEnergies, a French petroleum corporation, declined to take LNG from the Plaquemines terminal, citing a lack of trust.

I dont want to deal with these guys, Patrick Pouyanne told Reuters.

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That turmoil has contributed to a class action lawsuit brewing against Venture Global by its own investors.

And amid it all, Venture Global share prices have cratered, losing about 50% of their value since going public in January.

A member of the medical staff at Horenko Outpatient Clinic stands between USAID supplies and a refrigerator stocked with vaccines. Before shifting to renewable energy, the clinics perishable supplies were vulnerable to power blackouts. (Photo by Delaney Nolan)

LNG in Louisiana communities

Louisiana shrimpers and fishers have, for years, protested and litigated against Venture Global, which has five LNG projects planned in the state. They argue its terminals damage fishing grounds, destroying their livelihoods. Nearby residents complain of the pollution and erosion the Plaquemines terminal causes, while the company receives billions in state tax breaks. Locals have reported an increase in already-high levels of illnesses among adults and children, including cancer and unexplained rashes.

Regardless, on Wednesday, Trumps Department of Energy authorized exports from Venture Globals CP2 terminal in Cameron Parish, which has contracted 10% of its supply to Ukraine.

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DTEK says Venture Global has been a reliable partner. When asked about adverse impacts to Louisiana, OBrien said they fall under Venture Globals purview.

Theyre the ones responsible for that. This is something they should be looking after, he said.

But Henry McAnespy, a retired fisherman and Lake Hermitage resident, warns the Plaquemines terminal near his home does not seem to be responsibly run.

Weve been concerned about the flaring  a lot of black smoke and a kind of reddish fire at times, McAnespy said.

He said the plant flares every day, all day  even though Venture Global told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in its environmental impact statement that flaring at that terminal may occur up to forty times a year. Venture Global does not anticipate any other flaring/venting during normal operating conditions. He added that he hears constant alarms from the plant, which sound for hours, sometimes waking him up at night.

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The pattern of excessive flaring McAnespy reports witnessing mirrors the near-daily flaring documented in the pending lawsuit against Venture Globals Cameron Parish terminal.

An electrician wires a panel to shift the power source for the Horenko Outpatient Clinic to electricity from solar panels stored in batteries. (Photo courtesy of Greenpeace)

Fossil fuels are always going to be vulnerable

So far, American LNG has not succeeded in displacing Russian LNG, which isnt sanctioned like piped gas. Russian LNG supplies to Europe have actually increased since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

LNG imports can also present national security risks according to Mike Wallin, CEO of the American Security Project, a nonpartisan think tank.

Generally speaking, fossil fuels are always going to be vulnerable, Wallin told the Louisiana Illuminator.

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Because fossil fuels are sold on the global marketplace, conflicts, wars or economic shifts in any one region can cause price shocks or supply shortages. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also suggested Trumps proposal to mine rare earth minerals in his country would allow Ukraine to build LNG import terminals, but these facilities on the Black Sea would be vulnerable to Russian attacks, Wallin said.

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Renewable energy, on the other hand, tends to be more secure, because its much more centralized, because its in your own country. Youre not depending on outside resources, he said.

Wallin added that as Russias been attacking infrastructure, the Ukrainian energy industries have been looking into and building renewables for resiliency.

Its easier to stand up a windmill, or solar panels wired up to some houses, than it is to build an entire gas-burning power plant, he said.

Some Ukrainians echo that viewpoint.

Fossil fuel companies and their political allies in the United States have capitalized on the horrific war we are experiencing in Ukraine to justify LNG exports, said Svitlana Romanko, founder of Razom We Stand, an organization calling for a permanent embargo on Russian fossil fuels.

Fossil fuels are fueling global energy insecurity and autocrats expansion. In Ukraine, we dont want more LNG. We need decentralized renewable energy sources, Romanko said.

DTEK itself states that Russia has used energy as a geopolitical weapon and by creating a strong, decentralized and low-carbon energy system, Ukraine can limit its exposure to Russian aggression.

The nation has faced constant attacks on its conventional power plants, and Russia currently occupies Zaporizhzhia, home to the largest nuclear power plant in the world.

Things like microgrids can help in the resilience of their energy network, Wallin said. And I think theyve been forced to learn this rather quickly.

A solar panel is installed atop a hospital building in Horenko, Ukraine, in 2023. (Photo courtesy of Greenpeace)

Renewables could make Ukraine a green powerhouse

Three years of Russian attacks have already spurred a buildout of renewable-powered microgrids for critical infrastructure in Ukraine, such as schools, water utilities  and Yuzvaks clinic.

We are 100% independent, said Yuzvak, pointing to the glinting solar panels on the roof of the rebuilt clinic in Hostomel.

Fences in this neighborhood are still riddled by bullet holes. The shell of a bombed house looms behind the nearby Mushchyn clinic. But both are solid and gleaming and  with the help of Greenpeace and EcoAction, a Ukrainian renewables advocacy organization  boast solar panels, battery packs and heat pumps. Even amid a blackout, theyll no longer need to find fuel for generators, which was difficult and expensive.

EcoAction has established 15 other sites in Ukraine with renewable microgrids. The challenge is scaling up.

DTEK recently announced plans to quadruple the size of its wind farm near the Black Sea. Its the single largest private investment in Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in 2022. At that size, it would produce enough electricity for 900,000 Ukrainian homes.

The shift to renewables helps shield Yuzvaks clinic from another source of instability: the Trump administration.

Even as donated Tesla batteries help power the clinic, much of the Ukrainian health system relies on funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Since Elon Musk dismantled the agency, Yuzvak and her colleagues, whose salaries came from Ukraines USAID-reliant Ministry of Health, have struggled.

We dont even have enough to pay the employees salary, she explained. The hospital has had to lower its budget and change what they charge patients as a result.



But being energy independent helps ease some of the clinics financial pressure. It has reduced its heating costs by 80%, according to EcoAction.

Wed like to have a solar plant, Yuzvak said. We have projects, but we dont have the finances. She and other health care providers planned to construct a fifth hospital with solar panels, but the project was dependent on USAID funding. Now its future is uncertain, like so much else in Yuzvaks life.

Dr. Olena Yuzvak stands before a monument to those killed in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Her son is currently being held as a prisoner in Russia. (Photo by Delaney Nolan)

Yuzak said she sometimes gets information about her son from freed POWs. She knows where Dima is, and that he is in poor health. But she didnt disclose the prison where hes being held, because then theyll transfer him to another one, and during this transportation, they get beaten and tortured again, she said, her voice strained.

Meanwhile, any goodwill created by the donated Tesla batteries has evaporated.

We didnt even need these toys that Musk and USAID are bringing us. We had enough electricity before, Yuzvak said.

The mood is changing in the speech of the politicians, she added. But after what we went through, what we survived  nothing can make us silent.

This reporting was supported by the International Womens Media Foundations Women on the Ground: Reporting from Ukraines Unseen Frontlines Initiative in partnership with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.
(FOX40.COM)  A 37-year-old person was arrested over the weekend, after deputies found suspicious checks in the suspects car, according to the Sutter County Sheriffs Office.

Video Above: Bank scams are on the rise, senators are searching for solutions

The sheriffs office said they stopped a suspicious car in the area of Blackburn Talley in Yuba City.

Deputies found the suspect had various blank business checks and multiple payroll checks filled out with the suspect as the payee.

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Sutter Health Park undergoes major league transformation for Athletics

SCSO said it unclear if the checks were valid or used.

The sheriffs office also found the suspect in possession of a laptop, a computer monitor, an external hard drive, a 4-in-1 card reader and a printer.

Deputies arrested the suspect on charges of forgery and making/possessing fictitious checks.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 pedestrian was fatally struck by a train in Abington overnight, just days after an off-duty police officer was hit and killed.

Abington Police Chief John Bonney confirmed that the incident happened at West and Pine streets. Transit Police Department Superintendent Richard Sullivan later confirmed a death as a result of the collision.

While the name of the victim hasnt been released, Sullivan said in a statement, We express our most heartfelt condolences to the decedents family and loved ones.

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Crews at the scene were spotted testing the railroad crossing system on Tuesday morning to check its functionality.

Earlier this month, a beloved Randolph police sergeant was struck and killed by a commuter rail train at the Birch Street railroad, less than a mile away from this latest incident.

That preliminary investigation found no mechanical faults on the train.

The MBTA also confirmed the trains lights and bells were activated and engaged with its horn sounding when Sergeant Scott Sherman was hit and killed.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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What does it mean to be compassionate to people who are engaged in destructive or self-destructive behavior?

A recent article in The New Yorker describes the work of University of Maryland law professor Leigh Goodmark, who teaches her students that we need to decriminalize domestic violence. The instructor of a class called Gender, Prison, and Trauma, Goodmark began her career representing battered women, convinced that she could protect them through policing, protective orders, prosecution and prison, the article says. Now she argues that the legal system does not make abused women safer. Instead it makes their problems worse.

The evidence for this depends on what you mean by their problems. It is true that the arrest and prosecution of domestic abusers is not a fix for all of the problems that their victims have. Its very hard to enforce protective orders even if a victim is willing to call police when its necessary. Many women have children with these men and if they dont remain in prison permanently, the men will want contact with their children at some point. Often one or both of them are affected by substance abuse, and that complicates their relationship.

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But Goodmark and a number of her colleagues are worried about the ways that arrests for domestic violence contribute to high incarceration rates, particularly for Black men. Progressive prosecutors, the article notes, are trying to square two ideals: protecting women from violence and fighting mass incarceration. Does compassion for these men require that we keep law enforcement out of this equation? A book called The Feminist War on Crime argues that womens liberation has been a significant factor in mass incarceration. The idea seems to be that we (or really Black women) owe it to Black men to stop arresting them for domestic abuse.

Of course, if there are interventions that work to prevent violence before it happens or before it recurs  screening for risk factors, counseling and so on  we should adopt those interventions. It may be true, as Goodmark suggests, that men with stable jobs are less likely to abuse, although that doesnt necessarily mean that giving an abuser a job will get him to stop. Indeed, one might reasonably assume that men who have bad tempers and are violent are more likely to abuse a partner and less likely to hold down a job. Either way, the idea that we are going to remake society, and women who are victims of domestic violence should just wait for that to happen, is offensive.

We should acknowledge that decriminalizing behavior generally just means looking the other way. Thats what it has meant in the context of drugs and even school truancy. If we are not going to get law enforcement involved in some way, there is no mechanism for ending the behavior and no lever for change. This has not always been the case. Society used to have a lot more unwritten rules that people were forced to follow lest they be excluded. But in a society where we cannot agree on even the most basic values, it is hard to see how this will work. And usually the same people who want to decriminalize also want to destigmatize delinquent behavior, too. So its not like using social pressure is even an option for them anyway.

Last year, Mass General Brigham decided that it would no longer require its medical professionals to report substance-exposed infants to child protective services. And entire states, including Connecticut and New Mexico, have done the same thing. In an effort to reduce racial disparities in child welfare, the answer has been to offer these women some information about voluntary services but not involve child welfare agencies. The result in many cases has been that we send women home with infants and addiction problems, and the children often come back to our attention later in dangerous situations, even the victims of drug exposure themselves or unsafe sleep deaths while their parents were intoxicated.

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New research suggests that many mothers struggling with addiction are not getting the help they need. A study in JAMA Health Forum by Ezra Goldstein and Sarah Font found that in Pennsylvania, the presence of maternal substance use disorder within the child welfare system population was 62%. The authors compared the likelihood of receiving treatment among mothers who received some kind of formal intervention from a child welfare agency with those who did not. Whether that meant the children were taken into foster care or the family was receiving in-home services while the children remained at home, the authors concluded that formal child welfare services can facilitate substance use treatment for caregivers. Those who received a child welfare response were significantly more likely to get inpatient treatment or outpatient treatment and to be in treatment 12 months after the referral.

As advocates want to get child welfare and law enforcement out of the lives of families, they might want to figure out what other mechanisms will get abusive boyfriends or abusive and neglectful parents to act in a way that will make their victims safer. Compassion dictates that we must think about the abusers in these situations. Domestic violence and child maltreatment are long-term relational problems. Locking up people and throwing away the key, or separating children from parents, are extreme solutions that are necessitated in only a small number of cases. That doesnt mean that we cant use law enforcement or child protective services to get people on the right track, to incentivize them to get help. These agencies are the beginning of the solution, not the end of it.
Lockheed Martin, which has 14,000 employees in Colorado, is developing software to connect sensors on planes, satellites, ships and other vehicles around the world.
British households are increasingly pessimistic about the state of the economy in a blow to Rachel Reeves as she gears up for her Spring Statement.

More than half of the public now believe the economy is worsening and just one in 10 believe growth is improving, according to KPMG. Some 58pc of people surveyed said the economy was going in the wrong direction, up from 43pc before Christmas.

Households are now cutting back spending and saving more as a result in a move that will further damage growth prospects. Respondents said they were eating out less, spending less on clothing and ordering fewer takeaways.

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Linda Ellett, of KPMG UK, said: Some may be taking this action as they prepare for higher costs, such as a new mortgage deal or the higher cost of travel. But other cautious consumers are certainly preparing for the potential impact on them from what they believe to be a worsening economy.

This weeks Spring Statement needs to give people the confidence in the longer-term UK economic outlook.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) separately warned that business confidence had been undermined by the Chancellors 25bn National Insurance tax raid and called on Ms Reeves to reassure companies that they will not be targeted again.

The increase in the tax paid by employers on their workers wages comes into force in April.

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Shevaun Haviland, the industry groups director general, said: Businesses are feeling battered and bruised by the heavy cost pressures looming within days.

From next week, firms face an unpalatable menu of higher National Insurance (NI) and minimum wage bills, coupled with the impact of further US tariffs. There will be little escape for businesses, with our research showing 82pc of firms will be impacted by just the NI rise.

The BCC called on Ms Reeves to announce a tax roadmap to give businesses clarity on any future rises and give a clearer idea of when costs will be lowered.

Ms Haviland added: The Government must do all it can to minimise costs and complexity for business from the proposed employment rights legislation.

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It comes as Ms Reeves prepares to deliver what will be a difficult Spring Statement on Wednesday at which the Office for Budget Responsibility is expected to slash growth forecasts for the year.

The Treasury said it was boosting the economy with more construction, announcing 2bn of grant funding to help build 18,000 social and affordable homes.

Construction is expected to start in 2027 with the properties completed before the end of this parliament, contributing to the Governments goal of building 1.5m homes in five years.

Ms Reeves said: We are fixing the housing crisis in this country with the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

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Todays announcement will help drive growth through our Plan for Change by delivering up to 18,000 new homes, as well as jobs and opportunities, getting more money into working peoples pockets.

An HM Treasury spokesman said: We are a pro-business Government and have already achieved a great deal in a short period of time.

This includes protecting the smallest businesses from the employer National Insurance rise and late payments, and capping corporation tax.

We delivered a once-in-a-parliament Budget to wipe the slate clean and without our action, business rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure would have ended completely in April this year.

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We are now focused on creating opportunities for businesses to compete and access the finance they need to scale, export and break into new markets.

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.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is calling out President Donald Trump and his cabinet after an epic fuckup accidentally gave a journalist access to a group chat detailing a planned airstrike in Yemen.

It is getting clearer by the day that the people in charge of the American government cannot keep the American people safe, Buttigieg said in a video posted on social media.

And he said the scandal also exposes the bullshit behind Trumps attacks on diversity initiatives.

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Trump and his allies claim those programs lead to unqualified people getting jobs they dont deserve.

You should be hired and promoted based on skill and competence, not race or gender, Trump said during his address to Congress earlier this month.

But now Trump and his cabinet are being questioned over their own competence after national security adviser Michael Waltz reportedly added Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, by accident to a group chat that also included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

Goldberg watched as the group discussed war plans in Yemen and other extremely sensitive matters.

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To see this administration claiming that it cares about competence and merit and then be responsible for an epic fuckup like this demonstrates that these are not serious people, Buttigieg said.

Buttigieg, who was an intelligence officer for seven years in the U.S. Navy, said classified information is supposed to be discussed in certain hardened facilities and via classified systems.

But thats not what reportedly happened in this case, and he said the consequences could be devastating.

I know Americans who lost their lives because of intelligence failures, said Buttigieg.

He added:

This kind of intelligence failure calls the question on whether there is any place for merit or competence in this administration at all. Because if there are not highly serious consequences for this level of screwup, then it will make clear that all of the bluster about merit that you hear about from this White House is just bullshit. We deserve so much better than this.

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Buttigieg added on social media: From an operational security perspective, this is the highest level of fuckup imaginable. These people cannot keep America safe.

He also discussed the issue on CNN on Monday night:
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is blasting the Trump administration over what he called the highest level of fuckup imaginable, following news that top officials mistakenly shared U.S. war plans in an unsecured group chat that included a journalist .

Buttigieg, the first out LGBTQ + person to be confirmed to a Cabinet-level position by the U.S. Senate, posted a blunt statement on Instagram Monday after The Atlantic revealed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and others used a Signal group chat to coordinate strikes on the Houthi group in Yemen  and accidentally added The Atlantics editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. Signal is an encrypted messaging app used by journalists and government officials, but rarely for high-level officials to communicate with each other about classified information.

Todays news of an astonishing security failure at the White House, from an operational security perspective, is the highest level of fuckup imaginable, Buttigieg wrote. These people cannot keep America safe.

The breach, which the White House has now confirmed to The New York Times, exposed sensitive operational details about U.S. strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen  including targeting information, weapons to be used, and the exact timing of the attack. Goldberg said he watched the chat unfold in real time, then sat in his car as the strikes occurred precisely when the chat said they would.

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Buttigieg, a former Navy intelligence officer, followed up on Bluesky, posting, Ill be on CNN at 9 p.m. ET with Kaitlan Collins to discuss todays news of the astonishing security failure at the White House.

The Signal thread included Hegseth, Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and others. In it, Vance questioned the political optics of the operation and said he was reluctant to bail Europe out again. Hegseth replied, I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. Its PATHETIC.

The group discussed messaging strategies, anticipated oil price spikes, and the administrations desire to extract economic gain from allies in exchange for restored security.

Critics from both sides of the aisle expressed alarm. U.S. Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island , the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called it one of the most egregious failures of operational security and common sense I have ever seen.

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Experts have warned that sending such sensitive material over a commercial app  even if encrypted c ould violate the Espionage Act and federal records laws. The administrations justification that it was a simple mistake doesnt change the stakes: This was an active military operation, and American lives were at risk.

For Americans who lived through years of right-wing outrage over Hillary Clintons private email server, the hypocrisy wasnt lost. Trump made Clintons emails a rallying cry in 2016. On Monday, Clinton reposted the Atlantic report with one sentence: You have got to be kidding me.

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When asked about the report Monday, President Donald Trump claimed he had no knowledge of it. I dont know anything about it, he told reporters.

Buttigiegs response sparked an outpouring of public support online. His rare public use of profanity resonated with followers who are exhausted by political double standards and mounting institutional failures.

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You know its bad when Pete drops the f-bomb, one commenter wrote on social media. Another added, When Mr. Pete uses 'fuckup' in a sentence, you should probably be paying attention.

While some predicted conservative backlash, others focused on the long-term consequences. Fox News is going to run eight stories about Pete using profanity before they criticize the Trump administration for this failure, one user commented.

Buttigieg recently announced that he would not seek the Michigan governor's seat or an open U.S. Senate seat from the state, leading observers to wonder if he is setting himself up for another presidential run in 2028.

Many praised the clarity of his message and called for Buttigieg to take a bigger role on the national stage. Pete for President 2028 anyone? one asked. This is the energy we need, another wrote. Can you imagine all the fuckups we dont know about?

As one follower put it: Its real and human  two things so many of us want to see in our leaders.
Secretary of Defense and former Fox News journalist Pete Hegseth has responded to The Atlantics bombshell Monday report detailing how its editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to a high level group chat with senior officials in President Donald Trumps administration.

Asked about the story during an official visit to Hawaii, Hegseth called Goldberg a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who has made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again.

Goldbergs article detailed his discovery that he had been inadvertently added to a group chat on the messaging app Signal by national security advisor Michael Waltz. Vice President J.D. Vance, defense secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and homeland security advisor Stephen Miller were among the administration officials included in the group.

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According to Goldberg, he was eventually made privy to discussions of an upcoming military strike operation in Yemen targeting Houthi rebels. That operation was carried out on March 15, and the editor included screenshots of the post-strike congratulations that poured into the Signal thread. Goldberg subsequently left the thread and later confirmed with the Trump administration that it was an authentic record of events.

Goldbergs story represents an extraordinary breach in national security, and he emphasizes the unprecedented nature of the incident-as well as its wider implications-in his account. The Signal app was not approved by the government for sharing classified information, he writes.

In his first public remarks on the story, Hegseth-who departed Fox News last year after being selected to join Trumps cabinet-denied that war plans were being shared on Signal, but declined to provide further details. I would love to comment on the Houthi campaign because of the skill and courage of our troops, he said.

The defense secretary also suggested that Goldberg has a history of reporting on hoaxes, referring specifically to the Russia investigation during Trumps first term. The Atlantic editor made a series of media appearances yesterday, including a stop at MSNBCs Inside with Jen Psaki, where he directly responded to Hegseths comments.

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[Hegseth] can say it wasnt a war plan, but it was a minute-by-minute accounting of what was about to happen, Goldberg said. The whole thing is just very flummoxing to me the secretary of defense, all due respect, in that presentation seems like a person who is unserious and is trying to deflect from the fact that he participated in a conversation that he probably shouldnt have participated in.

As CNN media analyst Brian Stelter noted in his most recent Reliable Sources newsletter, Hegseths former colleagues at Fox News have had a mixed range of responses to The Atlantics story. On this mornings edition of Fox & Friends, for example, Steve Doocy criticized officials for revealing top secret information, while guest host Kayleigh McEnany echoed Hegseths criticism of Goldberg, calling him not a credible reporter.

Meanwhile, FNC journalists Jennifer Griffin and Will Cain shared their thoughts on X, formerly Twitter, yesterday with Griffin calling the story shocking. For his part, Cain admitted to having concerns about the use of Signal for top-level national security discussions, but also took care to praise the officials for being thoughtful, collaborative and honest in their deliberations.
The shock news that multiple senior Trump officials exchanged war plans in a civilian messaging app with a reporter has led to growing calls for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz to resign or be fired for whats being called the highest level of f**kup imaginable.

In an op-ed Monday night, the National Reviews executive editor called for President Donald Trump to set an example and hold someone accountable for actions that if not criminal were in the very least extraordinarily foolish and unbecoming of their offices.

The fact that these conversations happened outside of official government communications channels at all is a scandal in itself. Its a total breach of protocol and operational security (despite the fact that Hegseth made sure to brag in the chat that we are currently clean on OPSEC), wrote Mark Antonio Wright. OPSEC stands for operational security.

Pete Hegseth, right, is seen with Michael Waltz, left, on Jan. 14 in Washington. The pair allegedly discussed plans to bomb Houthi rebels in Yemenin a group chat that inadvertently included a journalist. SAUL LOEB via Getty Images

In my view, the most egregious behavior was Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths. (The stupidest was National Security Adviser Mike Waltzs adding of Goldberg to the conversation in the first place), he said of Atlantic magazine editor Jeffrey Goldberg, who wrote Monday of inadvertently witnessing the U.S.s plans to bomb Houthi rebels in Yemenon the app Signal.

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Wright further stressed that the Trump administration has lost all credibility in criticizing the past, present, and future mishandling of sensitive American national-security information, including Hillary Clintons past use of a private email server while serving as secretary of state.

New York Times columnist David French also called on Hegseth to resign in an op-ed Monday night that stressed that such incompetence and carelessness with security information is what gets people killed.

Waltz and Hegseth, seen on Feb. 24, are facing calls to resign or be fired following the scandal. via Associated Press

Hes just blown his credibility as a military leader, wrote French.

There is not an officer alive whose career would survive a security breach like that. It would normally result in instant consequences (relief from command, for example) followed by a comprehensive investigation and, potentially, criminal charges, wrote French, who noted his own experience as a former Army lawyer who has investigated numerous allegations of classified information spillages.

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What example has Hegseth set? That hes careless, and when youre careless in the military, people can die. If he had any honor at all, he would resign, he wrote.

Hegseth has dismissed the severity of such a security breach and instead attacked Goldbergs credibility, telling reporters Monday: Nobody was texting war plans.

The National Security Council has confirmed that text thread reported by Goldberg was authentic, however. Some of the other Trump officials that Goldberg reported were included in the chat also confirmed before Congress Tuesday that they were part of the Signal discussion.

Several Democrats have also called for the Hegseths and Waltzs resignation, with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg calling it the highest level of f**kup imaginable and DNC Chair Ken Martin stating, Hegseth should resign, and if he doesnt resign, he should be fired.

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Pete Hegseth never should have been tapped for this job. Its too important, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) also wrote of the former Fox News pundit.

Trump on Tuesday expressed a different view of the matter, telling NBC News that the leak was a glitch and that Waltz, who allegedly added Goldberg to the group chat, has learned a lesson and hes a good man.

Though Republicans have also largely downplayed the scandal, behind the scenes, theres reportedly talk of ousting Waltz.

Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a fucking idiot, a source only identified as close to the White House told Politico.

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Half of them saying hes never going to survive or shouldnt survive, another senior administration official was quoted as saying of Waltz.

Related...
After The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally included on an encrypted Signal group chat about a military operation in Yemen, Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth said that the situation was not as it appeared to be, slamming the editor as deceitful and discredited.

Nobody was texting war plans, he told the press line when he landed in Hawaii on Monday.

He also called Goldberg a deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again.

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Watch the clip via CNN in the video below:

NEW



Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth just landed in Hawaii and was asked about the Yemen Signal group chat.



His response was to attack The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg, whom Trump has long despised.



He refers to Goldberg as a deceitful and highly discredited, so-called pic.twitter.com/Cw1qrLX7Fh  Yashar Ali  (@yashar) March 24, 2025

In his Monday story, The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans, Goldberg wrote, I have never seen a breach quite like this.

He admitted that it is not uncommon for national-security officials to communicate on Signal, but noted that those kind of communications are usually restricted to planning and logistics, not for detailed and highly confidential discussions of a pending military action.

The messages were sent to Goldberg in the days leading up to the U.S. launching air and naval strikes against the Houthis in Yemen on March 15.

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There were 18 people included in the group chat, including Goldberg, who says he was accidentally added by Michael Waltz, President Trumps national security advisor.

He also wrote, And, of course, Ive never heard of an instance in which a journalist has been invited to such a discussion.

Former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, whose use of a private mail server derailed her campaign in 2016, couldnt help reacting with disbelief late Monday. Youve got to be kidding me, she tweeted on Monday.

On Fox News, Jessica Tarlov, the only left-leaning journalist on The Five, said, I never want to hear but her emails ever again.

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Also on Fox News, anchor John Roberts said there were probably worse people who might have accidentally been copied on the discussion, adding, But it appears Goldberg has acted responsibly here in writing this article.

The post Pete Hegseth Slams Atlantic Editor Jeffrey Goldberg as Deceitful Over War Plans Group Chat Scandal | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
A public watchdog group sued Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and a slew of other Trump administration officials Tuesday after a journalist revealed he was inadvertently added to a text chain discussing U.S. war plans.

The lawsuit, brought by the watchdog group American Oversight and first reported by HuffPost, requests that a federal judge formally declare that Hegseth and other officials on the chat violated their duty to uphold laws around the preservation of official communications. Those laws are outlined in the Federal Records Act and, according to lawyers for American Oversight, if agency heads refuse to recover or protect their communications, the national archivist should ask the attorney general to step in.

On Monday, The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg reported that national security adviser Michael Waltz inadvertently added him to a Signal group chat with more than a dozen Trump administration officials and aides including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, homeland security adviser Stephen Miller and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. CIA Director John Ratcliffe told members of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that he was also in the Signal chat. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard would not admit whether she was a participant, though Goldberg reported she was; instead, she said the matter was still under review.

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As American Oversight lawyers pointed out in their lawsuit Tuesday, Rubio is also the acting archivist of the United States and, as such, is aware of the violations that allegedly occurred.

He is also responsible for initiating an investigation through the Attorney General for the recovery of records or other redress, the lawsuit said.

Goldbergs article only shared a portion of the messages he received over two days. Most of the texts were procedural and policy talk, he wrote, but that changed on March 15.

The longtime journalist said Hegseth began to post war plans and discussed targets, weapons and other tactics, like attack sequencing, for a U.S. strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen.

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The specific details of the strike plans on March 15 were excluded from Goldbergs report because he felt that the information contained in them, if they had been read by an adversary of the United States, could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel, particularly in the broader Middle East.

Hegseth has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and denied that war plans or classified information was shared with the reporter. However, the text chain, according to Goldberg, appears to undercut the defense secretarys claim: At one point before the attack in Yemen, Hegseth proclaimed to Goldberg and other members in the chat that they were currently clean on OPSEC, shorthand for operational security.

On Monday, the National Security Council said the message thread appears to be authentic.

American Oversight executive director Chioma Chukwu said the Atlantic report was deeply troubling on several levels.

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For one, it was reported that Waltz set up a feature to automatically delete some of the texts in the group chat. They were reportedly set to vanish after one week and, in some instances, four weeks.

The auto-delete feature is a commonly used function on Signal, but it is not a default; a user must turn it on. The app is end-to-end encrypted, which offers slightly more protection than a typical texting app. Signal does not automatically archive conversations, either.

Government workers are allowed to use the app to communicate, but they are not supposed to use it to discuss classified or secret information.

The Federal Records Act also specifically imposes a duty on agency heads to make and preserve records containing adequate and proper documentation of the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, and essential transactions of the agency, the lawsuit notes.

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That means whether conversations on Signal were classified or not, there must be a records management system in place. And one that retains those records for up to two years, as the National Archives and Records Administration requires.

What the Trump administration did was simply dangerous, reckless and irresponsible and frankly, a direct threat to our national security because we know, as has been reported, that increasingly state-backed hackers are trying to find their ways into Signal chats, Chukwu said. With foreign state actors who can remotely compromise Trump administration officials phones, then every so-called secure Signal message could be an open book to our adversaries.

Just a week ago, the Pentagon issued a warning to all Defense Department employees about Signal, saying that a vulnerability had been identified in the app.

NPR reported that the Pentagon memo warned that Russian professional hacking groups are employing the linked devices features to spy on encrypted conversations. In that same alert issued on March 18, the Pentagon highlighted that while third-party messaging apps like Signal are permitted by policy for unclassified accountability/recall exercises, they are not approved to process or store non-public unclassified information.

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that the White House is investigating how Goldberg was added to the thread.

The FBI and Justice Department declined to comment on Tuesday.

Chukwu said the public must continue to demand answers and transparency from the administration.

People shouldnt feel this is an exercise in futility. The administration would be much further along on its destructive path if it werent for the public protesting  and demanding accountability from their elected officials. They must continue to do that. Otherwise this information will be lost from the American people, she said.

Related...
Phil English defends Rep. Mike Kelly's accessibility

With the growing political divisions in America, it is natural that public controversies and partisan tactics have found their way to our area. People have a right to be heard and to protest, less to modify the facts. Here's my take:

Congressman Mike Kelly is being criticized by opponents who claim that he is having town meetings with constituents virtually rather than in person. This ignores that Mr. Kelly has been tied up in Washington most of the last three months working on economic issues (his job), has many meetings scheduled with local organizations, and has been freely meeting with constituents from all walks of life in his local office. I believe tele-townhalls are a reasonable option for congressional representatives to communicate with their constituents under many circumstances, but people can join one and decide.

Roughly 300 people gathered at Perry Square in downtown Erie on March 8, 2025, to protest Rep. Mike Kelly's lack of in-person town halls in Erie County.

In 14 years in Congress, I hosted more public town meetings than any local representative before or since, and I was the last to do so systematically. I had them during the Iraq War, the Clinton Impeachment, two recessions, and Medicare and Social Security debates. I generally found them helpful and respectful. On occasions when organized groups sought to disrupt them, the big losers were always the citizens who came to learn not yell.

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My successor largely curtailed regular open public town meetings, in favor of meetings in her office. A legitimate question for Kelly critics: Have you actually tried to meet with him? Do you want input or a spectacle?

More: Rep. Mike Kelly hasn't held an in-person town hall in Erie in years. Citizens seek answers

I was sorry that Mike Kelly (on advice of law enforcement) felt obliged to cancel his annual appearance in our St. Patrick's Day parade to avoid disrupting this community gem. I am also sorry that so many meetings nationally have been disrupted for representatives of both parties. Certainly people have a right to express their views, preferably in a way that preserves the rights of their neighbors.

I believe Mr. Kelly deserves credit for being accessible throughout his large district for over a decade, more than most incumbents.

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Phil English, Erie

Our faith demands better treatment of immigrants

I believe we are witnessing despotic, intentional cruelty, and the wanton disregard of democratic norms and laws regarding immigrants in this country  which was built on immigration. Vowing to deport criminals, Trump and his ilk are using tactics designed to hide details of arrests and detentions. They do not want us to know how many they have deported, or the actual legal status or criminal charges, or even how many others are indiscriminately and innocently swept up. They are targeting schools, health care facilities and churches, which previously were sacrosanct from raids.

Yes, immigration is a complex issue, so Congress and our own U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th Dist., need to step up with fair and common-sense legislation and adequate funding. Our shared Catholic faith commands us to recognize the inherent dignity of every human being. But we are not hearing that from our bishops and parish priests either. Where is their unequivocal vocal support for the USCCB Statement on Immigration and the "Know Your Rights" resources from CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network), or for our local orders of women religious who recently protested outside the Erie federal courthouse, or for our locally successful refugee resettlement programs (USCRI, Multicultural Resource Center, and Catholic Charities), which are on the frontlines of fostering and protecting these vulnerable immigrants?

Erie is supposed to be a "Welcoming City." It is high time that Catholics and people of faith speak up and demonstrate what it truly means to be "pro-life."

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Mary Nelson, OFS, Erie

Canceling vital academic research won't prevent antisemitism

It has come to my attention that National Institutes of Health have canceled graduate research grants. The justification given is that the host institutions (for example, Columbia University) have failed to prevent antisemitism on campus.

As an American Jewish person, I object to the administration cancelling vital medical research and a host of other programs based on accusations of ineffective prevention of discrimination or harassment of one specific religious or ethnic group.

In my opinion and from my experience, rather than reducing antisemitism this will increase it  not by student protesters but by other people in society.

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Do not take repressive and regressive actions such as this in my name as a Jewish person.

Stop defunding colleges, research, the arts, schools, and more based on false concepts of antisemitism. Stop demonizing diversity, equity and inclusion. Stop removing the history of our national diversity from public-facing government programs and facilities.

In America most of us descended from or are immigrants. Diversity is our strength.

Freda Tepfer, Erie

Mike Kelly must stand up to Trump, defend Ukraine and democracy

I had the good fortune to grow up in Mercer, then Erie, and finally Crawford County in the 1950s and 1960s  a period when those three counties made up the 24th Congressional District.

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The northwest Pennsylvania of my early years had no shortage of moral leaders  individuals like the intellectually inquisitive Rev. Charles Schweikert at Messiah Lutheran Church in Wesleyville; C.J. "Gus" Dusckas, the Buffalo Road funeral director who helped many Erie and Wesleyville residents cope with financial and other troubles; and Julian Ross, a professor at Allegheny College who captivated students with his combination of wisdom and modesty.

Those were, in many ways, good times. Today the nation is in bad times. President Trump and Vice President Vance reject the very idea that the U.S. should continue to be leader of the free world. It seems they would rather make friendly with dictators then with embattled democrats. Northwest Pennsylvania's congressional district, now stretched south to Butler County, is represented by Mike Kelly, who accepted Donald Trump's "Big Lie"  the idea that Trump won the 2020 election. (In fact, Joseph Biden beat Trump by 7 million votes  in percentage terms, 51.3 to 46.8.)

It was infuriating recently to watch Trump and Vice President Vance  in the White House, of all places  try to browbeat Ukraine's heroic president Volodymyr Zelensky and make him swallow a demeaning and dangerous deal with Russia's thug of a president, Vladimir Putin. The world knows, from years of calamitous experience, that Putin is a dictator who kills his critics (sometimes by poison, sometimes by prison), squelches calls for freedom, and makes promises he will not uphold.

Through three years of defending their country against Russia's invasion, Zelensky and the Ukrainians have refused to give up, despite the deaths of thousands of soldiers and civilians and despite terrible damage inflicted on Ukraine's cities and towns. Ukrainians know they are fighting for independence and self-determination  in a democratic system that puts Russia and other authoritarian states to shame.

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Yale University history professor Timothy Snyder, author of "On Tyranny," recently warned that Trump and Vance  in pushing for appeasement of Russia and acceptance of its land grab  are risking the kind of disaster that Britain's Neville Chamberlain and other shortsighted leaders brought upon Europe in 1938 when they failed to say no to Hitler's land grab in Czechoslovakia. Snyder maintains that if the West allows Russia to consolidate its gains in Ukraine, it will probably be only a matter of time before Putin launches further attacks in Europe. The result? Possibly World War III.

In my view, the Trump-Vance administration has displayed a stunning lack of morality and farsightedness. What Congress and the American people need to do now is force Trump to retreat from his reprehensible collaboration with Putin.

More: Ukrainians are defending freedom, fighting oppression - just as America once did | Opinion

Congress and the people who must demand that United States NOT stab Ukraine in the back. Trump being what he is, I think he ultimately has to be pushed into resigning. I believe he is morally bankrupt  a threat to the well-being of Americans and of the world. The task, for the people of northwestern Pennsylvania, is make Mike Kelly admit that he's been wrong, and that the longer Trump remains in the White House, the worse our country's situation will be. The future of democracy at home and abroad is in jeopardy.

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Philip Langdon, New Haven, Connecticut, author of numerous books, including "Within Walking Distance: Creating Livable Communities for All"

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Kelly, Trump, deportations, protests - readers weigh in | Letters
Every Saturday, the call comes in at 10:30 a.m., on the dot.

Vinnie Chacon knows thats when her 64-year-old brother James Hunter will telephone her from Colorados Territorial Correctional Facility in Canon City. Hunter has been incarcerated for more than 21 years, ever since his 2003 conviction and sentence of 168 years in prison for a heinous attack and rape he continues to claim he did not do.

Chacon said she believes her brothers claims of innocence because she knows the type of person he is and because she saw him about an hour before the 1 a.m. April 23, 2002, attack and rape. She says he was so inebriated he was in no condition to break into a trailer and terrorize a woman and her 5-year-old daughter for over four hours, as prosecutors successfully convinced a jury he did.

She said that before his incarceration, her brother gave homeless people jobs, bought flowers to cheer up depressed people he met in bars and let the downtrodden sleep at his trailer, where he and his wife lived.

He was a very sincere person, Chacon said. Always trying to help somebody out.

Ive stayed by my brothers side throughout this whole thing, just trying to keep him positive, and hoping something would happen, she said.

Now, something has happened, giving a boost to the push by Chacon and defense lawyers to exonerate her brother. They are pinning their hopes on the recent announcement from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation of the discovery of anomalies in the work of state crime lab scientist Yvonne Missy Woods, which state officials in a prepared statement said put all her work in question.

Did she tamper with evidence? Did she contaminate evidence potentially? No one knows, said Phillip Danielson, a professor in DNA science at the University of Denver and a nationally recognized court expert who has administered over $13.5 million in research grants and funding, including for the National Institute of Justice.

This is why this was always a nightmare scenario for a lab director, said Danielson, who hasnt worked on the Hunter case, but is fielding calls from defense lawyers seeking to challenge past prosecutions that relied on Woods work. Okay, we found some indication that she was doing things that were incorrect. How far does that extend? What did she do that we dont know? Or that we may never know?

In the case of Hunter, defense lawyers say Woods  whose testimony was the only physical evidence during the trial linking Hunter to the scene of the crime  played a critical role in convicting an innocent man. Hunters lawyers point to discrepancies in crime scene hair analysis by Woods, including her microscopic analysis that misidentified two pubic hairs taken from the victim as matching Hunters pubic hairs when DNA testing later determined those hairs really were the victims.

Those lawyers say the true culprit likely is a man convicted in 2016 in Missouri of what the defense calls nearly identical crimes to the one in Colorado.

Members of Hunters family, including his daughter, sister and others, have been battling for years to overturn Hunters conviction.

Hes talked to me a few times about ending his life, said his sister Chacon. Hes talked about doing time for a crime he didnt commit. Im like, You cant give up yet. You cant give up.

Prosecutors, though, continue to stand by the conviction. They say they remain convinced that on that April night in 2002 Hunter broke into his next-door neighbors trailer around 1 a.m. while masked, savagely punched his neighbor in the face, forced her and her 5-year-old to drink alcohol and then proceeded to rape the woman for nearly four hours while slashing at her breasts and then molesting her child.

The savagery, which included sexually assaulting the woman with a ketchup bottle, left the woman and the child so traumatized that they never lived in their trailer again.

An internal CBI investigation, still not released to the public, found that Woods deviated from standard protocols throughout her 29-year career with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, which ended in November when she retired after officials placed her on administrative leave. The internal affairs investigation found that Woods during her tenure tampered with DNA results and omitted material facts in official criminal justice records.

Hunters conviction is one of potentially thousands now up in the air that relied on Woods work.

CBI officials say they are reviewing all of Woods crime lab work while the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation is conducting a criminal investigation into Woods on Colorados behalf to avoid conflict of interests.

Still, Colorado officials havent said much about what exactly is under review. And they have withheld from the public the 94-page internal affairs investigative report into Woods done by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, much to the consternation of the defense bar and even some prosecutors who have so far unsuccessfully pushed to make the report public.

Anomalies identified in Woods work prompted the Colorado Bureau of Investigation in January to ask state legislators for an additional $7.5 million for the review and retesting of an estimated 3,000 DNA samples by an independent third-party laboratory and to pay for post-conviction reviews and potential retrying of cases.

What CBI has detected could be the tip of the iceberg, said Danielson, the DU professor, who added that Woods once had a reputation for being the go-to person to get the more challenging cases solved. Danielson said in cases in which he testified against Woods, he found Woods didnt stick to the science as much as I would have, and that he found her to be a bit prosecution friendly.

In federal court filings, lawyers representing the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Jefferson County prosecutors and Lakewood police have resisted Hunters efforts to allow new DNA analysis of evidence collected from the crime scene, including the rape kit. Theyve also objected to Hunters efforts to have crime scene fingerprints submitted to the national Automated Fingerprint Identification System for comparison against convicted sex offenders.

Lawyers representing the CBI, Lakewood police and prosecutors contend Hunter should instead seek relief in Colorados court system, where his appeals already have been rejected.

Hunters lawyers and his family members say they believe the crime scene fingerprints and DNA will likely identify the true culprit as Kenneth Dale Smith, 44, who they say was in the same Lakewood trailer park where the crime occurred on the date of the crime. Smith pleaded guilty in 2016 in a Missouri courtroom to a host of sexual misconduct offenses, including statutory rape, sodomy and child molestation, and was sentenced to 118 years in a Missouri prison.

For now, Hunters requests for DNA testing and for further investigation of crime scene fingerprints are pending before U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Domenico.

Woods has declined comment. Woods lawyer, Ryan Brackley, said, She has long maintained that shes never created or falsely reported any inculpatory DNA matches or exclusions, nor has she testified falsely in any hearing or trial resulting in a false conviction or unjust imprisonment.

Solely based on the sworn statement of Woods, then-Jefferson County District Court Presiding Judge Roy Olson back in 2002 approved an arrest warrant for Hunter. Police had identified Hunter as a prime suspect because the victim while under hypnosis told police something in the voice of her attacker sounded a little like her next-door neighbor, but that there also was something about the voice that didnt sound like him.

Hunter also came under scrutiny because in 1985 police had arrested Hunter, when he was 25, for attempting to break into a bank examiners home in Portland, Ore. The Portland woman said she saw a masked man peering into her kitchen window after she finished a shower and left the bathroom in a robe. She said she believed the man fled after her homes alarm system was tripped, either by her or by him. Police apprehended Hunter near the home, and he eventually was sentenced to probation for four years for a burglary conviction.

Hunters sister says the crime in Oregon didnt involve a sexual offense and instead was just a desperate man seeking money who never actually broke into what he thought was an unoccupied residence. She said her brother went on to turn his life around, becoming a successful long-haul trucker who moved furniture for families.

His initial arrest for the rape in Colorado hinged on Woods sworn statement that her microscopic analysis found two pubic hairs recovered from the rape victim matched pubic hairs Hunter, then 43, had allowed police to collect from him. But her analysis turned out to be flawed, and Judge Olson freed Hunter from jail after a lab in Pennsylvania determined the DNA from the pubic hairs actually matched the DNA of the victim, not Hunters. Woods testified the Pennsylvania lab finding came as a blow to my ego.

Undeterred, Woods and prosecutors would two months later take the case to a grand jury, citing new evidence. They secured an indictment against Hunter and eventual conviction on burglary and sexual assault charges. The heart of the prosecution case hinged on Woods testimony that additional DNA analysis by her showed a hair collected by police from the victims bed contained a mixture of the victims DNA and Hunters DNA, and a hair police found on the couch in the victims living room matched Hunters DNA.

Thomas Henry, a lawyer who has unsuccessfully pushed to overturn Hunters conviction after meeting him in prison several years ago, said there are problems with the chain of custody related to the hair samples. He said he believes the two hairs Woods testified had DNA linking Hunter to the crime scene actually came from samples Hunter allowed police to take from him.

Even Lakewood police were confused as to why two crime scene hair packets were returned from the CBI crime lab, when there originally was only one crime scene hair packet, according to an evidence log obtained during discovery. Henry added that Woods testimony shows she would have to have analyzed more crime scene hairs than police originally logged into evidence, something the defense lawyer contends would be impossible.

When I went to grade school, two and two is four, Henry said. If they tell you theres eight, and there ends up being 10, somebodys not adding right. Well, the hair counts dont match, and the Colorado courts say its just a paperwork error. What do you mean its a paperwork error?

Further, Henry said the palm print and partial fingerprints police found at the front door of the victims trailer that a police lab technician said likely came from the intruder dont match Hunters palm or fingerprints.

Fingerprints police found inside the victims trailer also dont match Hunters, and none of those fingerprints were ever compared to the doorframe prints, the defense lawyer added. None of the crime scene fingerprints were submitted to the Automated Fingerprint Identification System despite the prosecution in court filings stating that had been done, Henry said.

Former Jefferson County Assistant District Attorney Steven Jensen prosecuted the case. In an interview, he said he remains convinced Hunters conviction is solid and said he never intentionally made a misrepresentation in court filings about whether the fingerprints were submitted for comparison against the national database. Sometimes you have to rely upon information that you were provided by other people, he said.

Jensen and defense lawyer Henry are old legal foes. They squared off when Henry, a former federal prosecutor, successfully convinced Jefferson County District Judge Dennis Hall to throw out the murder conviction of Michael Mapps for the 2005 killing of 82-year-old Charles Repenning in his Lakewood home. Jensen also prosecuted that case.

Henry convinced Judge Hall in 2011 that the original defense lawyer in that case had tampered with evidence, which interfered with Mapps ability to show an alternate suspect, who had confessed to his girlfriend, was the true mastermind of that crime. Mapps died of complications from hepatitis C in prison in 2013, while Halls ruling was under appeal. Mapps never got his new trial.

Henry, the defense lawyer, who now is battling multiple myeloma cancer, has handed off the challenge of Hunters rape conviction to another defense lawyer, Kenneth Mark Burton. Henry said he remains haunted by the death of Mapps and hopes another defendant he believes is innocent wont also die while awaiting freedom from prison.

The likely culprit of the rape is Kenneth Dale Smith, now serving time in a Missouri prison, Henry said. A bottle was also used in the sexual assault in Missouri, and the victims breasts in that case also were slashed with a knife, the defense lawyer said.

Hunter once was married to Smiths mother. Multiple family members said Hunter took Smith under his wing after Smiths mother died. Smith in an interview denied to The Gazette having any connection to the rape in Colorado and said he believes he was working at an Applebees restaurant in Missouri when the rape occurred.

Hes just trying to pawn it off on somebody else, Smith said of Hunter. And hes got a lot of people convinced.

Those who are convinced include Smiths own aunt, Denise Cox, who raised Smith while Smiths mother was serving time in prison. She said Smith always had a volatile, explosive temper, while Hunter wasnt the type to violently harm anyone. She recalled when Smith was just 5 years old, Smith once took her toddler sons face in a fit of anger and continually mashed it against a chain link fence until her sons face was left bloody and raw.

I feel bad for my nephew, Cox said. I love Kenny, but he needs to own up to what he did. He needs to pay for it.

Hunters daughter, Shay Hunter, now 48, and living in the state of Washington, said Smith is lying when he denies being in Colorado at the time of the rape. She said she recalls talking to Smith on a day near the date of the rape at her fathers trailer. She said she distinctly recalls making fun of Smith because he was wearing a single white glove like Michael Jackson.

The Gazette identified another potential suspect that defense lawyers now say police never considered. The rape victim told police her assailant repeatedly referred to her as Gloria even though that wasnt her name and pressed her on why she was protecting and hiding Carl, a man the assailant repeatedly told her she knew owed him money, police records show.

About two months after the rape and attack, Carl Ruble and his wife, Dawn, who lived in the trailer park, filed for a restraining order against Donald Hotchkiss. They claimed in their restraining order request, which was granted, that Hotchkiss, who also lived in the trailer park, hit Dawn in the face and continually stalked them and threatened them, standing at their fence, screaming at the top of his vocal chords.

Hotchkiss would go on to amass until his death in 2022 more than 50 criminal charges, ranging from trespassing, public indecency for exposing his genitals, to assaults and burglaries. He often was in and out of mental health facilities, records show. He was homeless at the time of his death.

Carl Ruble testified during Hunters trial that he briefly attended a raucous barbeque at Hunter's trailer the night of the rape. But Ruble was never questioned while on the witness stand about his issues with Hotchkiss or about the rape victims statement that her assailant said she was protecting a Carl. Defense lawyers say they never knew about Hotchkiss and further say none of the police evidence theyve reviewed mentioned Hotchkiss at all.

Hunters sister, Chacon, said about an hour before police say the rape attack began, she drove by her brothers trailer on the way to her own trailer in the same trailer park. She said she saw the front door to her brothers trailer open and the lights on. Testimony during the trial showed her brother had thrown a barbeque party that night, with a box of liquor a family he was moving had left him because they couldnt take the liquor overseas.

She said she found Hunter inside the trailer, stumbling and inebriated, along with Hunters brother in-law, who was sleeping in the living room. Another man was sleeping in the front yard, a homeless guy her brother employed in the trucking business. She said her brother was worried about the mess in the trailer because his wife was returning the next day from Missouri, where his wife had relatives.

I told him, Well come back over and clean the house tomorrow. Dont worry about it, she recalled.

Chacon said she trundled her brother off to his bed, where she found him that next morning passed out. Police records show that morning when Hunter was told of the rape, he went out and bought a flowering plant for the victim, put the names of himself and his family on a card, and then spent time consoling the victim for about an hour.

Unfortunately, they just focused on him, Chacon said of police and prosecutors. Eventually, you know, theyre just out to get somebody for it.

She said after the rape, her brother expressed concern for her safety, installing surveillance cameras on her trailer and refusing to let her even get her mail on her own.

She wonders why prosecutors, police and the CBI continue to resist efforts to submit the crime scene evidence for new DNA testing and still wont submit the fingerprints from the crime scene to a national database of convicted criminals fingerprints.

How difficult is it to hand over the evidence and let it be redone? she asked. But theyve been shot down left or right every time. Theres something wrong there. If theyve got nothing to hide, then just hand it over.
A Phoenix yoga instructor who was reported missing while going on a blind date in February was found dead.

Marcus Freiberger, a 45-year-old Prescott transplant, was last seen at a parking garage near Second Avenue and Van Buren Street on Feb. 21 while traveling to a date with someone he had never met.

Friends and family reported his disappearance quickly after realizing he left his dog alone in his apartment.

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Phoenix police said officers received the report that Freiberger was missing on March 14, and he was entered into the state and national database as a missing person. Police said they found no leads or evidence that he had left town or fell victim to any particular crime.

On March 19, police found his body at a rock quarry near 15th Avenue and Broadway Road after responding to a call. The Maricopa County Medical Examiners Office was able to identify the body as Freiberger's.

"It is with a heavy heart that I share the tragic news that Marcus is no longer with us," said Tina Hall, Freiberger's sister, in a Facebook post. "We thank all of you for the love and support you have given Marcus and our family."

At the time of his disappearance, he was driving a white 2021 GMC Sierra pickup with an Arizona license plate. It is not yet known if the vehicle has been recovered.

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Freiberger was an instructor at Melrose Yoga in Phoenix.

His father, Rodger Freiberger, said they have been working with police to find out what happened to their son.

"We just want to know what happened. Marcus was a great kid. He was truly loved by a lot of people. The amount of shares on Facebook on his missing person's report. If you go and read the comments, it's amazing how many people knew Marcus," Rodger Freiberger said. "I don't know if he had any issues going on, not sure what led to the disappearance. It's very strange. Hopefully they'll investigate and come up with something."

As of March 25, Freibergers case was being treated as a death investigation with the cause of death still to be determined by the Medical Examiner's Office.

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Detectives are asking the public for help regarding the circumstances of Freibergers disappearance and death. Witnesses are encouraged to call CrimeStop at 602-262-6151 or Silent Witness if they wish to remain anonymous at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish.

(This story has been updated to add more information.)

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Missing Phoenix yoga instructor found dead after going on blind date
ARCHDALE, N.C. (WGHP)  Across western North Carolina, wildfires are raging as all 100 North Carolina counties remain under a burn ban.

Crews from East Side Fire Department in Randolph County shared a video of their efforts to put out the flames in Polk County over the weekend.

Polk County and Henderson County leaders are calling for everyone living in the affected areas to evacuate their homes.

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Nearly 3,000 acres burned with no containment recorded by the forestry service. Now, its all hands on deck to help put out those fires.

Its really hard work  They need all the help they can get, Guil-Rand Fire Department Assistant Chief of Operations Chris White said.

The GRFD got a notice from the Office of State Fire Marshal on Monday asking for more manpower and resources to help fight the fires in western North Carolina.

The GRFD said they quickly responded. They sent a lieutenant and a firefighter up the very next day to Polk County along with a truck with tools to help fight the fire.

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White said the Black Cove fire is burning on extremely steep land, which makes it hard to contain.

The low humidity is contributing and the  high winds also  The terrain  makes it difficult to take care of, White said.

Another fire department from the Triad also went to help. A team from the East Side Fire Department was deployed over the weekend, working a 25-hour shift.

Fire Chief Eric Hoffman said the destruction left behind by Hurricane Helene last year is making firefighting even harder.

The forest floor is littered with downed trees and heavy debris, which, coupled with the steep terrain, makes navigating the woods and firefighting extremely difficult. It also provides a seemingly unending amount of fuel for the fire to burn hot and fast. We saw this firsthand, Hoffman said. We ask that you keep the firefighters and residents of Polk County in your prayers. They have had a tough several months with Hurricane Helene and now the wildfires. What we observed while there are tough and resilient people who are doing their best to support each other and make the most out of a bad situation. Hopefully, some significant rains will come to the area to help douse the fires and lower the danger to lives and property.

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GRFD firefighters are committed to staying in Polk County through March 31. They may have to send additional crews if conditions dont improve.

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)  A pilot and his two young daughters survived on the wing of a plane for about 12 hours after it crashed and was partially submerged in an icy Alaska lake, then were rescued after being spotted by a good Samaritan.

Terry Godes said he saw a Facebook post Sunday night calling for people to help search for the missing plane, which did not have a locator beacon. On Monday morning about a dozen pilots including Godes headed out to scour the rugged terrain. Godes headed toward Tustumena Lake near the toe of a glacier and spotted what he thought was wreckage.

It kind of broke my heart to see that, but as I got closer down and lower, I could see that there's three people on top of the wing, he told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

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After saying a prayer, he continued to approach and saw a miracle.

They were alive and responsive and moving around, Godes said, adding that they waved at him.

The missing Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser, piloted by a man with two juvenile immediate family members aboard, was on a sightseeing tour from Soldotna to Skilak Lake on the Kenai Peninsula. It was not immediately clear how old the juveniles were.

In a social media post early Monday, John Morris implored people to help search for his son and granddaughters, saying they were late returning from a Sunday afternoon flight.

There are friends ready to search at daylight. But this is my plea for any and all help to locate my family, he wrote.

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The three were rescued on the eastern edge of Tustumena Lake on Monday by the Alaska Army National Guard after Godes alerted other searching pilots that he had found it. Another pilot, Dale Eicher, heard Godes' radio call and related it to troopers since he was closer to Skilak Lake and figured he had better cell reception. He was also able to provide the plane's coordinates to authorities.

I wasnt sure if we would find them, especially because there was a cloud layer over quite a bit of the mountains, so they could have very easily been in those clouds that we couldnt get to, Eicher said. But finding the family alive within an hour of starting the search was very good news.

The three were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, Alaska State Troopers said.

Godes said many miracles were at play, from the plane not sinking, to the survivors being able to stay atop the wing, to them surviving nighttime temperatures dipping into the 20s (subzero Celsius).

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They spent a long, cold, dark, wet night out on top of a wing of an airplane that they werent planning on, Godes said.

Alaska has few roads, leaving many communities to rely on small airplanes to get around.

Last month 10 people died when a small commuter plane that was overweight by half a ton crashed onto sea ice in the Norton Sound, near Nome on the states western coast.

And five years ago, a midair collision near the Soldotna airport claimed seven lives including that of a state lawmaker.

For this week's rescue, the National Guard dispatched a helicopter from its base in Anchorage.

The initial plan of using a hoist to pluck them from the wing proved too dangerous, as the the smallest girl was being buffeted and blown around by the wind created by the helicopter, said Lt. Col. Brendon Holbrook, commander of the 207th Aviation Regiment. So instead the aircraft hovered to the side and pulled them on board.

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Personnel reported that the girls were surprisingly dry but the man had been in the water at some point, Holbrook said: We don't know to what extent, but he was hypothermic.

Holbrook said he was told they had basic clothing one would wear on small planes without very good heating systems, but nothing sufficient to keep warm outside in wintry temperatures with cold winds blowing on the lake.

It was literally the best possible scenario and outcome, Holbrook said. "Ultimately the crew of that airplane were lucky, because from what my guys told me, that plane was in the ice with the tail refrozen, and if that tail hadnt refrozen, it would have sunk.

The 60,000-acre (24,200-hectare) Tustumena Lake, the largest freshwater body on the Kenai Peninsula, is about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southwest of Anchorage, with nearby mountains and a glacier.

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It has been described by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as notorious for its sudden, dangerous winds, with conditions that can cause havoc for both boats and planes.

The terrain helps turn the winds around, and occasionally they get a little squirrelly, said Michael Kutz, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Anchorage.

Godes agreed that the area is always windy and the water can be whipped up into waves.

Then just the way its placed right there at the heel of that, or at the toe of that glacier where youve got mountains on both sides, you know, just a few miles to the west, youve got Cook Inlet running back and forth with huge temperature and tidal swings every day, he said. Its just a recipe for chaos and for turbulence.

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There was no indication yet why the plane crashed.

Mark Ward, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Boards Alaska division, said the pilot had not yet reported the accident, nor had the agency been able to contact him. Efforts were to be made again Wednesday to speak to him.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  Students from around the region will explore the history and founding ideals of the United States April 3 at the second Democracy Bowl hosted by the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

Mark Conlon, UPJ professor and event organizer, said America 250  the 250th anniversary of the nation  is this years theme for the event that will further educate and expose students to the democratic process.

Im so excited to see the students, he said. The best thing was to see the students excited last year. You could see them grasp the civic and American history knowledge and celebrate their understanding of those concepts.

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Roughly 100 students from eight districts in Bedford, Cambria, Somerset and Indiana counties are expected to attend, along with representatives from Fair Districts Pennsylvania; the Bill of Rights Institute; Classrooms Without Borders; the Pennsylvania Council of Social Studies; the Pennsylvania Bar Association; and the Rotary Club.

Students will participate in civics trivia competitions in a sixth- through eighth-grade category and a ninth- through 12th-grade category; display America 250-themed civics projects; explore a vendor section; and take campus tours.

Additionally, guests will hear opening remarks from Conlon; UPJ professor and Vice President of Academic Affairs Raymond Wrabley; and Pitt-Johnstown President Jem Spectar.

This years keynote speaker is Drew Crompton, a public finance attorney with Harrisburg firm McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC. Conlon said Crompton, who served the state Senate for decades and was a Commonwealth Court judge, is an active speaker whom he expects will be engaging for the students to hear from.

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The purpose of the bowl is to better engage local youths with the democratic process by providing them an interactive and well-resourced environment to learn in, Conlon said.

Democracy only continues when the citizenry is active and knowledgeable, he said. Its all hands on deck to help maintain our democratic institutions and to make sure our citizenry and our leaders are making rational decisions in keeping this experiment going.

Thats why its important to organize this type of event, the professor said, because if students are exposed to these ideas and information, the hope is they are motivated to spread that throughout their communities.

Greater Johnstown High School civics teacher Christian Wrabley described the bowl as a powerful display of democracy in action and proof that the next generation is paying attention and ready to lead.

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The Democracy Bowl is everything civics education should be, he said. Its engaging, challenging and deeply connected to real-world impact.

Wrabley helped organize the student summit and plans to bring dozens of students to campus for the day  four middle school teams of three, four high school teams of three and about 12 others for the civics fair.

People often say young people are apathetic and disengaged, he said. Events like the Democracy Bowl provide an opportunity to prove otherwise.

UPJ, Greater Johnstown School District, the Bill of Rights Institute and The Tribune-Democrat sponsor the bowl, which is organized through the university's American Civic Education and Literacy Initiative.
Cell phone video taken by a neighbor on February 6th shows flames shooting from the roof of a house on Bajo Street in Arlington that sits just off of Becks Run Road. Investigators say Jon Berts, the property owner, intentionally set the fire.

Firefighters and police were called to the house around 10 p.m. Crews said that when they first walked in, they immediately smelled an odor of gasoline. A K9 arson dog led investigators to collect five samples from the scene that all tested positive for ignitable liquids.

Police later obtained surveillance footage from a car wash across the street. They say around the time of the fire, the video shows Berts in and out of the house, then getting into his car. He was also seen at the GetGo gas station on East Carson Street filling up a red gas can. Surveillance video shows him returning to the house followed by flashes of light coming through the third-floor windows.

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Neighbors told us theyre glad police figured out who set the fire.

Theres only a couple of houses here, but to put us at risk, in danger, you know, our houses are old, they could have went up like that. I have a 9-year-old autistic son. That would have been terrible, said Kary Kalinowski. I didnt know if anyone was in the house because it never appeared that anyone moved in.

Damage to the property was estimated to be around $100,000.

Berts faces multiple charges, including arson and insurance fraud.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  A Pittsford father and son are accused of creating fake identities to secure more than 30 credit cards and make tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent payments.

Prosecutors said a complaint dating as far back as January 2015 noted JP Morgan Chase, Discover Financial Services, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, Bank of America, Barclays Bank, US Bank, Capital One, and American Express identifying fraudulent credit activity in Rochester.

This activity consisted of a high number of newly issued credit cards that were charged to their maximum limit. Almost all of the cards had no valid payments applied to the accounts. An investigation later revealed that several of the credit cards were connected.

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According to prosecutors, the credit cards were applied for using an actual social security number but a fake name and date of birth.

Some of the cards were used to pay property taxes to the City of Rochester and RG&E bills for properties in Rochester, including Lucky Beverage on Norton Street, Chili Express on Chili Avenue, and EZ Food Market on Plymouth Avenue.

Prosecutors said 32 different fraudulent credit cards were used to make periodic online property tax payments for three properties between 2016 and 2022 that totaled around $163,000.

Investigators eventually learned that Lucky Beverage and Chili Express are owned by Mirza Khan, 46, and Easy Food Market is owned by Khans father, Talib Hussain, 74.

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Seneca Falls man arrested for series of car break-ins, thefts

Both Khan and Hussain were arrested and charged with Bank Fraud, Wire Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Bank and Wire Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a one-million-dollar fine.

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NEW YORK (PIX11)  Welcome to PIX on Politics Daily with Dan Mannarino, where we break down the days political news, headlines and issues that matter most to you and have an in-depth conversation.

Join us daily on PIX11+ streaming at 12:30 p.m. as we invite the newsmakers, lawmakers and players shaping policy that impacts local communities.

On Tuesday, Dan was joined by J.C. Polanco, a professor at the University of Mount Saint Vincent, to discuss the current state of the New York City mayoral election.

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Watch the video player for the full interview.

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Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin is calling on conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel to take down a new campaign advertisement targeting transgender children.

Attorneys representing the reproductive rights group sent the Schimel campaign a cease-and-desist letter Friday over the new ad, which accuses Planned Parenthood of providing "puberty-blocking drugs to children without parents' consent."

"Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin does not provide puberty blockers to minors with or without parental consent," the group said in a statement. "The claim made and cited in the ad is demonstrably false and intentionally misleading."

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More: All our reporting on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race between Susan Crawford, Brad Schimel

The group called on Schimel to stop "distributing or sharing the ad through any means."

"The false and misleading information in the ad harms both the health care provider and its patients," Planned Parenthood said.

In a statement to the Journal Sentinel, Schimel spokesman Jacob Fischer accused Planned Parenthood of "desperately trying to deprive voters of information days before an election."

The ad is the latest attempt by conservatives to emphasize transgender issues in the final days of the high-stakes campaign between Schimel, a Waukesha County judge, and liberal Dane County Judge Susan Crawford. The April 1 election will decide whether liberals or conservatives control the state's highest court.

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Republicans made transgender issues a line of attack in last fall's election that returned Donald Trump to the presidency, under a strategy to paint Democrats as "extreme."

More: Republicans take up votes on transgender youth bills. What will Democrats do in wake of 2024 election?

The Crawford campaign responded with its own ad, claiming, "Brad Schimel is lying about Susan Crawford's views on protecting kids."

The race has shattered previous spending records. An election watchdog estimates that the two campaigns and the third-party groups will spend $100 million on the election. The Crawford campaign announced Monday that it has raised more than $24 million as of the beginning of last week, a national record for a judicial race. Updated totals have put her fund-raising to more than $26 million.

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More: Here are the groups behind the heavy spending in Wisconsin's Supreme Court race

Last week, a new unregistered political group flooded cell phones across the state with text messages targeting transgender children. The texts said they were paid for by "Win Wisconsin, Win the Future."

And Kate Mikkelsen, the parent of a transgender child in the Milwaukee area, said the ads are fear-mongering.

"It's not radical to protect the rights of marginalized people who don't fit one narrow view of how to live one's life. It's American," she said. "Those rights are inalienable, remember?"

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Mikkelsen urged people to learn how laws "can either help or hurt transgender people."

"Wisconsin is full of good people. I hope they can see through the scary, fear-mongering political ad tactics and love this community the way our family does and all families deserve," she said.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Planned Parenthood calls on Brad Schimel to end transgender youth ad
Colorado's second-highest court agreed earlier this month that a former vaccine distribution contractor for the state failed to show Denver7 should be liable for defamation through its series of stories about the company's problems.
For Democrats, reaching male voters became a political necessity after last falls election, when young men swung significantly toward President Donald Trump.

But for some  like Maryland Gov. Wes Moore  its also a personal goal. The first-term governor, who has spoken about his own struggles as a teenager, recently announced plans to direct his entire administration to find ways to help struggling boys and men.

The well-being of our young men and boys has not been a societal priority, Moore said in an interview. I want Maryland to be the one that is aggressive and unapologetic about being able to address it and being able to fix it.

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Moores not the only Democrat vowing to help boys and men.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced plans to "uplift" boys and men in his State of the State address last month.

In her State of the State address, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer shared plans to help boost young mens enrollment in higher education and skills training. And Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced what he called a DEI initiative, which folks on both sides of the aisle may appreciate, to get more men into teaching.

The announcements come at a critical time. Researchers have argued that the widening gender gap reflects a crisis that, if not addressed, could push men toward extremism. And Democratic pollsters fret that if liberal politicians, in particular, do not address these issues, the party is at risk of losing more men to the GOP.

When Trump talks about fixing the economy and being strong, they hear someone who gets it, said John Della Volpe, director of polling at Harvard Kennedy Schools Institute of Politics, and an adviser to Joe Bidens 2020 presidential campaign. That doesnt mean they trust him. But it does mean hes speaking to their reality in a way most Democrats arent.

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On the campaign trail, Kamala Harris often spoke about issues of importance to women, emphasizing reproductive rights, for instance, and paid family leave policies. But soul-searching over her loss has prompted Democrats to reach out more aggressively to men, by engaging more with sports, for instance, and looking for ways to make the party seem less uncool to young voters.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer hopes to boost men's enrollment in higher education and skills training.

Shauna Daly, a Democratic strategist and co-founder of the Young Men Research Project, said candidates need to do more than show young men that they can hang. Where the Democratic Party has really fallen short with this cohort is that they dont feel like Democrats are fighting for them, she said.

They need policies like those the governors have proposed, Daly said, that address men's tangible problems.

In every state, women earn more college degrees than men. Boys are more likely to be disciplined in class, and less likely to graduate high school on time than girls. Men die by suicide at higher rates than women and are more likely to rely on illicit drugs and alcohol. And while women increasingly participate in the workforce at higher rates, men have steadily dropped out of the labor market.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont launched a plan to help more men enter the teaching profession and serve as mentors.

The governors speeches touched on many of these issues, and earned cautious applause from masculinity researchers, who said they reflected a promising shift.

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I think its part of a growing recognition among Democrats that neglecting the problems of boys and men is neither good policy nor good politics, said Richard Reeves, founder of the American Institute for Boys and Men, who has informally advised Moores staff. If Democrats werent thinking about male voters, and especially young male voters, then it would be a pretty serious dereliction of duty, looking at the polls.

In the past, Democrats might have been wary of targeting programs toward boys and men for fear of excluding girls. Whitmer seemed aware of this dynamic in her speech, when she followed her announcement about young men with a shoutout to women and a vow not to abandon her commitment to equal opportunity and dignity for everyone.

A handful of other states, including some run by Republican governors, have already launched initiatives targeting men in recent years. Utah established a task force that aims to help men and boys lead flourishing lives, and North Dakota created the position of a mens health coordinator to study and raise awareness of disparities affecting men.

Moore said he was partly inspired by his own experience growing up in the Bronx after his father passed. He has described how troubles in his youth  including a brush with the police for vandalism, skipping school and getting poor grades  led his mother to send him away to military school, which he credits with helping him straighten up.

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It is very personal for me, because I was one of those young men and boys that were trying to reach, he said. And I felt like so many of the conversations that were being had about me were not being had with me.

Moore will hold a cabinet meeting in April to discuss plans for the state agencies, but he has some initial goals: to encourage more men in his state to pursue jobs in education and health care, help boys within the juvenile justice system, and make sure he solicits input from boys and men on how the initiatives are designed.

For Della Volpe, from the Harvard Kennedy School, the governors announcements are encouraging. The truth is, young men are speaking, he said. Theyve been telling us they want respect, opportunity, and strength. If Democrats dont listen  and act  theyll keep losing ground. But this moment offers hope.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)  New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, Chief Karl Jacobson, and command staff will hold a press conference at New Haven Police Department headquarters at noon Wednesday to provide information on an arrest made in the homicide of 43-year-old Heriberto Cotto.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Issac Cintron, 32, of New Haven. Cintron is currently being held in Pennsylvania on unrelated charges while awaiting extradition back to Connecticut.

Police identify man killed in New Haven shooting

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The case was assigned to Detective John Truhart, of the Major Crimes Unit. He was able to secure an arrest warrant for Issac Cintron (DOB 4/28/1992), of New Haven. Cintron is currently being held in Pennsylvania on unrelated charges while awaiting extradition back to Connecticut.

On the evening of Dec. 24, 2024, New Haven police found Cotto, of New Haven, was found unresponsive with evident gunshot wounds in the vicinity of Edgewood Avenue and Beers Street. He was transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Heriberto Cotto. Heriberto Cotto. Heriberto Cotto. Heriberto Cotto. Heriberto Cotto. Heriberto Cotto. Heriberto Cottos beloved car. Heriberto Cotto. Heriberto Cotto.

Officers collected ballistic evidence on the street and in Cottos car. Detectives determined he arrived in the area just before the incident and was involved in an altercation with another person before being shot.

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New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson said that he believes the suspect went to Pennsylvania and committed another act after leaving New Haven that night.

He is facing charges of murder, criminal possession of a firearm, criminal possession of a pistol and carrying a pistol without a permit.

Yarisbeth Cotto, Herbiertos sister, said that her brother was killed not just on Christmas Eve, but also on her birthday.

I lost my brother, my mother lost a son, and my niece lost her father, Yarisbeth said.

Cintron is being held on a $3 million bond.

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ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Katonka Friar, 51, the suspect in the murder of Natasha Cleary and her two sons in 2011, has been arrested and charged with murder. Another man, Taurean Thomas, 38, has also been charged in the crime.

On April 17th, 2011, Cleary, 30, and her two sons, Marquwon Owens, 12, and Katarion Friar, 2, were found dead in a house fire on Canterbury Lane.

Investigators later determined the trio had been shot, and the house was later set on fire.

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Firefighters arrived at the home, at 2708 Canterbury Lane, at 4:30 a.m. and found bones within the rubble of the southeast bedroom, authorities said.

The day of the fire, Friar, Natashas ex-husband and father of her 2-year-old son, arrived at the home and was arrested on an outstanding warrant for stalking.

Katonka Friar. Photo: Winnebago County Jail

Authorities said Cleary had filed for an order of protection against Friar in 2008 after she discovered he was having a child with another woman.

In March 2011, Cleary filed a petition against Friar for failure to pay child support, with a hearing date of April 21st, 2011.

However, while Friar was held in the county jail, another man, captured in a surveillance photo at a local ATM, tried to use Clearys debit card at a bank in the 3100 block of N. Rockton, just a few blocks away from Clearys home.

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Friar was released from custody.

Police said a DNA sample obtained from Thomas in September 2024 led investigators to identify him as the person who had used Clearys ATM card.

Taurean Thomas. Photo: Winnebago County Jail

In January 2025, detectives went to the federal correction center in Marion, Illinois, to speak with Thomas, who was held on a prior conviction of sexual exploitation of a child. There, Winnebago County States Attorney J. Hanley said Thomas admitted to being at Clearys home on the night of the murder.

Thomas told investigators that he gave Friar a .22 caliber revolver and ran out of the house after hearing four to five gunshots.

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Hanley said additional DNA testing on the bullets used in the murder linked Thomas to the crime.

Friar faces six counts of First Degree Murder, Home Invasion, Aggravated Arson, Residential Burglary, and Concealment of a Homicidal Death, from the 2011 case, according to court records.

Thomas now faces additional charges of First Degree Murder, Home Invasion, Arson, Residential Burlary, and Concealment of a Homicidal Death.

If you are a survivor of domestic or sexual violence, visit our Stateline Strong page for resources.

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Los Angeles police are seeking additional victims of a knife-wielding serial rapist accused of attacking at least nine people across Los Angeles County over the past two decades, with the latest incident reported last month on Figueroa Street.

The suspect, Andre Cobbs, is also allegedly behind at least four robberies.

Cobbs, 40, was arrested after the Feb. 19 assault of a sex worker near the intersection of South Figueroa and West 80th streets, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said at Tuesday's Police Commission meeting. Cobbs let the victim into his car, where he sexually assaulted her, the chief said.

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The woman managed to escape as Cobbs drove away, McDonnell said.

"Despite the trauma, the victim managed to take a photo of both the suspect and his vehicle," he said.

Read more: A trans sex worker called 911 to report being kidnapped. LAPD officers shot and killed her

Based on that information, officers from the LAPD's 77th Street Division arrested Cobbs and presented the case to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office for charging, but were told that further investigation was warranted, McDonnell said.

After uploading Cobbs' DNA into CODIS  the FBI's nationwide Combined DNA Index System  the LAPD chief said, investigators linked him to other sexual assaults and robberies that spanned the past two decades.

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An arrest warrant was issued for Cobbs on March 18, and he was booked into the 77th Street Police Station jail on the same day, where jail records show he remains in custody in lieu of $1.7-million bond. His initial court appearance is scheduled for April 1, the records show.

McDonnell said the assaults were spread across the county, with five occurring within L.A. city limits and others in places including Long Beach and Corona.

Read more: Secret recordings reveal LAPD cops spewing racist and sexist comments, complaint alleges

Police said that Cobbs often used a knife and that at least some of those targeted were sex workers picked up in known prostitution hot spots. McDonnell said detectives were continuing to investigate the case and were trying to identify any additional possible victims.

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In 2009, court records show that a man by thename of Andre Cobbs was charged with robbing and assaulting a sex worker in Lynwood as she walked to her car.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI)  The Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) is investigating after a 10-year-old autistic boy was caught riding an ATV along the highway earlier this month.

Rhode Island State Police troopers rushed to I-95 North in Cranston the evening of March 10 after receiving several 911 calls from drivers who reported seeing the child, who was riding the ATV slowly down the highway, according to an incident report obtained by 12 News.

Troopers eventually spotted the young boy driving in the far right lane with traffic crawling slowly behind him.

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The troopers were able to successfully get the boy to pull over into the breakdown lane, according to the incident report.

It became quickly apparent to the troopers that the boy was autistic and nonverbal, the incident report noted, since he was rocking his body and did not respond to their questions.

The troopers made sure the boy wasnt injured before placing him into the cruiser and trying to identify him. 12 News was there as the troopers moved the ATV off the highway and began searching it for identification.

The boy was then brought to Hasbro Childrens Hospital, where the troopers learned that he had been reported missing by his father in West Warwick earlier that evening. His father later explained to the troopers that his son regularly rides his ATV around the block, the incident report continued.

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The young boy went outside to ride his ATV around 6 p.m., his father told the troopers. It wasnt until he couldnt hear the ATV anymore that the man began searching for his son, according to the incident report. He reported him missing after being unable to find him.

The troopers attempted to ask the boy why he left his neighborhood upon learning that he communicated via his personal iPad, but the incident report stated he was unable to answer them.

The incident report added that the boy got onto I-95 North via Route 37 East, but how he got to the highway remains unclear.

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LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  Beer cans were found all across the road at the scene of a deadly Lebanon County crash two years ago, and a driver is now facing charges, according to court documents.

The charges filed by Lebanon County Regional police show Armando Rodriguez-Vega, 54, of Lebanon, was charged with homicide by vehicle while DUI from the crash along Colebrook Road in North Cornwall Township on Oct. 9, 2023.

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Beota Rhoade, 79, of Palmyra, passed away from her injuries at the hospital, according to the charges. Rodriguez-Vega was also taken to the hospital for treatment.

Coors Light beer cans were scattered all across the roadway, and a shredded box with several cans of beer was found in the trunk of Rodriguez-Vegas car, a 2021 Ford Mustang GT, after police arrived just after 2:30 p.m., according to the charges.

Rodriguez-Vegas medical records showed police he had a BAC of .07%, police said in the charges. In Pennsylvania, the legal limit for a drivers BAC is .08%.

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Police said in the court docs that a thorough crash investigation revealed that Rodriguez-Vega was travelling North when he came across a curve and went into the opposite lane, hitting Rhoades vehicle. Marks and fluid were found in the lane Rhoade was traveling in, meaning that her vehicle was hit, police said.

It was noted in the charging documents that there was a sign warning motorists of the curve in the roadway that Rodriguez-Vega would have seen.

In addition to homicide by vehicle while DUI, Rodriguez-Vega faces charges of homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, DUI and other charges.

He was placed in Lebanon County Prison Friday, unable to post his bail set at $100,000. He awaits a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 3.

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**Related Video Above: Goddards Law was updated to include all dogs and cats in October

OSSINING, N.Y. (WJW)  One lost pups bite was reportedly worse than its bark, according to a now-viral police post out of New York state.

On Sunday, the Ossining Police Department reported theyd taken in a lost dog they dubbed Bitey McBiterton after it was found wandering in the area.

Want to talk to your pet? Device helps animals communicate with owners

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Due to the dogs friendly disposition, they took to Facebook to implore the dogs owner to come down to the station.

If you recognize this super friendly pup, tell their owners to come get them, like now. Thanks, police wrote, also noting they didnt know if the dog was male or female and werent keen on checking.

The post garnered many comments from folks from all over the country.

Photo courtesy Ossining Police Department Facebook

Do I live in New York? No. Do I know where Ossining is? Absolutely not. Am I following this page now because of this post? Definitely, one commenter wrote.

I wonder if he bites, another person wrote, in attempt at humor.

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Later that day, police updated the post explaining the dog was no longer lost.

Greater Cleveland Food Bank faces uncertainty surrounding food deliveries from government

Bitey has been returned to his owners, police said. Return to your regular scheduled sunny, but cold Sunday. Lets go Spring, get it together.

It was not clear if any officers were actually bitten by Bitey, but no injuries were reported.

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LONDON, Ohio (WCMH)  The Madison County Sheriffs Office is investigating a potential animal cruelty case after several dogs were allegedly found deceased on a property in Madison County.

Madison County Sheriffs Lt. Bryan White with the Madison County Sheriffs Office confirmed there was an investigation underway after deputies discovered the disturbing scene during a search of the home on March 14.

Court documents from a related case show that law enforcement officers were tipped off to potentially dangerous conditions at the home. The occupant of the home is a known dog trainer; the trainer is not being named since criminal charges have not been filed at this time.

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Those court documents show that the Madison County Sheriffs Office showed up to the residence on March 14 for a potential probation violation related to late restitution payments by the occupant. That court order stems from a felony conviction of the dog trainer for theft by deception.

That indictment and conviction was a result of a charge of taking two dogs that the trainer was responsible for.

Court documents show after deputies arrived to the home on March 14, they asked the man if there were any dead dogs on the property. According to the court documents, he responded by saying, I already told you, no. The man consented to a search, after which deputies found one deceased dog in a pile of rubble. That led deputies to asking permission for further search, which was granted. Court documents show they found eight additional deceased dogs on the property.

White could not confirm the number of deceased animals found or if there were any other animals on the property since the case is still under investigation.

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The court document records what deputies report from the search which said, He (the trainer) knows the names of every single one,.

Andre Smith is a well-known dog breeder from California. He has nearly half a million followers on his YouTube channel and breeds dogs for celebrities, athletes, and people all across the world. He breeds a very specific and expensive dog, called an XL American Bully.

Smith sent two dogs, including a puppy named Gaja, to the central Ohio dog trainer more than three years ago. The two dogs were for a client in Ohio who he said paid $10,000 each for the dogs to be trained. But Smith said the issues with the training began almost immediately.

He received the $20,000, Smith said. I had the two dogs shipped over there to him. Right. So now he has custody of the two dogs, and he ghosts us. He goes dark. He doesnt communicate with us anymore. He wont answer our calls anymore. We dont know where the dogs are. We dont know if theyre being fed. We definitely dont know if theyre being trained.

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Smith had received a recommendation to use this dog trainer after hearing from two other breeders who said the trainer was trustworthy.

They said they had worked with him previously, that he was very sound in his training, and, you know, he was a man of integrity, which he couldnt be further from the truth, he said.

Smith reached out to those contacts after he didnt hear from the trainer for weeks. He said he got a call from the trainer who said he was sick. Smith shrugged it off, but then didnt hear from the man again for months after he was told he would receive weekly updates about the dogs. Then he got another call from the trainer.

He calls me again, Smith said. Same thing. Hey, man, you know, my mom died. My dad died, I had Covid, my dog had Covid. I dont know, whatever. Just a bunch of excuses that just didnt seem real or relevant.

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Months went by without seeing the dogs or any progress from the training. Smiths client decided to pursue legal action.

He was indicted on two felony charges of theft by deception, and he had to pay back in restitution to my client, $49,566, Smith said.

That case led to the current situation, with deputies knocking on the door of the Foster-Redman Road home for a probation violation. That visit was partially due to tips that there may be something wrong with the animals at the home.

Im getting a bunch of DMs on my Instagram, a bunch of messages on my Facebook, bunch of emails saying, hey, you need to find out. Theres dead dogs on this property. So Im like, Hey, contact local authorities,; Smith said.

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To further the violations, authorities accused the dog trainer of falsifying records to allow him to travel to Texas to train dogs with Border Patrol. Court documents show authorities contacted Border Patrol and no such arrangements were made.

Smiths two dogs havent been seen since he sent them to Madison County more than three years ago.

We dont know what happened to the dogs, no idea, he said. More than likely, theyre either deceased or sold. I hate to say that, but I mean, realistically, theyre not here anymore.

What he said was they were sold on Craigslist, and he has no access to the people that he sold them to. I think they were either sold or killed, Smith added.

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The dog trainer was taken into custody on March 14 for a probation violation. He has been in custody ever since. White said investigators will meet with the Madison County Prosecutor this week to discuss evidence and potential charges for animal cruelty.

Meanwhile, Smith hopes this means the trainer is done working with animals.

I mean, this guys a monster, he said. This guy has no regard for life. I dont even know if he has regard for human life. He definitely has no regard for life. These animals are suffering on his behalf. Somebody has to stop this guy. Hes locked up. Dont let him out. Dont let them have access to your animals. And please let the public be aware that theres a monster that wants to get ahold of your dogs.

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Law enforcement officers have detained two people who, on the orders of Russia's secret services, tried to set fire to the office of a member of Kyiv City Council by throwing a bottle of Molotov cocktail into the room.

Source: Police of Kyiv Oblast

Quote from Kyiv police: "The accomplices acted on the order of a representative of the enemy secret services, who promised them a generous payment. The perpetrators broke a window and threw a bottle of Molotov cocktail into the room."

Detention of Russian agents

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Photo: Police of Kyiv Oblast

Details: Law enforcement officials said the suspects were detained on the same day and evidence confirming their involvement in the crime was seized. However, they did not receive the promised reward from the Russians.

Investigators served the detainees with a notice of suspicion of attempted intentional destruction or damage to property by arson. The court imposed on them a pre-trial restraint in the form of detention. They face up to 10 years in prison for this offence.

Detention of Russian agents

Photo: Police of Kyiv Oblast

Background:

Russia's sabotage activities to recruit Ukrainian citizens through Telegram channels are one of the main ways to destabilise the situation in Ukraine: law enforcement officers had detained 179 arsonists as of November 2024.

In February, three residents of Chernivtsi Oblast were sentenced to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property for sabotage and arson on the railway.

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Colorado's second-highest court on Thursday determined the $5.7 million a trial judge awarded a subcontractor for its work on the Regional Transportation District's commuter rail expansion is invalid because the company initially sought more than two times that amount without any basis for doing so.
BROCKTON, Mass. (WPRI)  The search is on for the man who investigators believe shot and killed two teenagers in Brockton Saturday night.

Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz announced Monday afternoon that an arrest warrant has been issued for 22-year-old Davinci Leonard, whos been accused of killing 15-year-old Tymari Albertson and 18-year-old Cevannah Alvarez.

Two young people lost their lives, Cruz said. Our hearts go out to their families. This is a senseless loss of life.

Davinci Leonard (Courtesy: Plymouth County District Attorneys Office)

Cruz said the deadly shooting appears to have stemmed from a fight between Leonard and Albertson that started in the parking lot near the Chipotle and Starbucks.

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Officers rushed to Westgate Mall after a 911 caller alerted them to the shooting. Cruz said the officers found Albertson and Alvarez on the ground suffering from gunshot wounds.

Albertson was pronounced dead at Good Samaritan Hospital, according to Cruz, while Alvarez succumbed to her injuries after being flown to Massachusetts General Hospital.

Cruz said detectives identified Leonard as the suspect after canvassing the parking lot, reviewing surveillance footage and conducting dozens of interviews. He was last seen leaving the Westgate Mall parking lot after the shooting.

He grabbed some clothes and has not been seen since, Cruz said.

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Leonard is being charged with two counts of murder, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, possession of ammunition without a license and carrying a loaded firearm without a license.

Cruz said the firearm used in the shooting has not been recovered, meaning Leonard should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone who knows of Leonards whereabouts is urged not to approach him and to instead contact the Massachusetts State Police Fusion Center at 1-800-KAPTURE.

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LINCOLN, R.I. (WPRI)  Police have arrested a Massachusetts man accused of robbing an elderly woman at Ballys Twin River Casino over the weekend.

Christopher Pagan (Courtesy: Lincoln Police Department)

Christopher Pagan, 31, of Lowell, was taken into custody Sunday morning and charged with first-degree robbery.

Police said Pagan stood behind the woman for several minutes before forcefully ripping a winning voucher and cash out of her hand.

Pagan then left the casino and took off running into a nearby neighborhood. He was apprehended within minutes by the officers who went out looking for him, according to police.

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Investigators were able to identify Pagan using surveillance footage from inside the casino.

Court records indicate that Pagan faced a judge Monday and was ordered held without bail. He was also ordered not to contact the victim.

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COURTESY HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT Police are searching for Gerhardt Konig of Maui.

COURTESY HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT Police are searching for Gerhardt Konig of Maui.

UPDATE : 4 :27 p.m.

Honolulu police and CrimeStoppers Honolulu are still searching for suspect Gerhardt Konig of Maui for allegedly attempting to murder of his wife at the Pali Lookout this morning.

According to HPD, the woman is currently in critical condition.

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Konigs LinkedIn profile describes him as an anesthesia doctor.

The 46-year-old Konig is described as five-feet-nine-inches tall and 160 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. He was last seen near Pali Lookout at about 10 :30 a.m. wearing a light, gray shirt and blue shorts, and carrying a black bag.

Anyone with information should call 911 or contact at 808-955-8300.

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A woman, 36, was taken to the emergency room in serious condition after suffering multiple facial and head injuries at Pali Lookout, according to Honolulu Emergency Medical Services. She reported to EMS she was assaulted with closed fists and an object.

EARLIER COVERAGE Honolulu police are currently searching for a Maui man wanted for an alleged murder attempt this morning at the Pali Lookout.

Police are searching for suspect Gerhardt Konig of Maui, alleging that he was on Oahu with his wife this morning when he struck her in the head with a rock and attempted to push her off the hiking trail.

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Police said she was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

Konig is described as 46 years old, five-feet-nine-inches tall and 160 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. He was last seen near Pali Lookout at about 10 :30 a.m. wearing a light, gray shirt and blue shorts, and carrying a black bag.

Anyone with information should call 911 or contact at 808-955-8300.

State officials, meanwhile, say that the Pali Lookout, or Nuuanu Pali State Wayside, has been closed indefinitely today due to police activity in the area.

The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources asks the public to avoid the area until further notice.

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WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI)  Police are investigating after a trailer was stolen from a West Warwick churchs parking lot last week.

The West Warwick Police Department announced in a social media post that a 2006 Shadow Master trailer was taken from the Christian Hills Community Churchs parking lot last Thursday.

The trailer was taken sometime in the early morning. Police said someone backed a Dodge Ram pickup truck up toward the trailer without activating its lights.

(Courtesy: West Warwick Police Department)

The suspect then hopped out of the truck and quickly attached the trailer to it before leaving the parking lot and driving down Tiogue Avenue.

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The trailer contained a number of the churchs belongings, according to police.

Anyone with information regarding the stolen trailer is asked to contact the West Warwick Police Department Detective Division by calling (401) 827-9044.

This is not the first time the Christian Hills Community Church has been targeted. Police arrested a 14-year-old boy last November after he smashed the windows out of the churchs school bus and pried open two sheds out back.

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North Carolinians gathered in early March at the State Capitol to voice their disapproval of the Trump administration's dismantling of federal departments and the indiscriminate termination of government workers. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)

A new poll by Elon University finds that North Carolinians do not support the major cutbacks at 14 federal agencies targeted by the Trump administration and led by Elon Musks so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Rather respondents voiced support for only minor reductions or no changes at all.

For the U.S. Department of Education, one third (33%) of those surveyed said they favored increased funding, compared with 25% who favor elimination or major reductions at the department. Asked about the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 35% of those polled said they would support more funding for the agency compared with only 10% who favor major reductions.

Source: Elon University Poll

The poll of 800 North Carolinians also found little support for major reductions or the elimination of NOAA (National Weather Service), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Defense Department, Department of Justice, Centers for Disease Control, Department of the Interior, National Institutes of Health and the FBI.

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Though polls have found for decades that the public is skeptical about the overall federal bureaucracy, we are not finding unified support for budget cuts when it comes to specific parts of the bureaucracy, said Elon University poll director Jason Husser in a release. For functions like Veteran Affairs, we are finding a large majority of people in the key swing state of North Carolina wanting to see funding maintained or increased. Society is experiencing the disconnect between a desire to see less federal spending in the abstract and the reality that many of the agencies and departments are engaged in work that is broadly popular.

While Republicans generally viewed these cuts more favorably than Democrats, 44% of those questioned in the latest Elon University Poll believe the reduction in federal spending and federal employees and the elimination of research grants will have a very or somewhat negative impact in North Carolina. That compares with 34% who expect the loss of federal resources to have a positive impact.

Proposed funding cuts by the Trump administration would in fact have a significant financial impact on North Carolinas universities and research centers.

Society is experiencing the disconnect between a desire to see less federal spending in the abstract and the reality that many of the agencies and departments are engaged in work that is broadly popular.

 Elon University Poll director Jason Husser

The poll also offers some insight into whether North Carolinians believe the motives claimed by Musk and the DOGE team for their actions.

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More than half (51%) expressed a general distrust that Musk is working in the best interests of the public in promoting government efficiency. Forty percent voiced support for Musks DOGE team.

Attorney General Jeff Jackson (Photo: NCDOJ)

On a separate question, one-half (50%) of North Carolinians said they supported Attorney General Jeff Jacksons decision to join attorneys general from 18 other states in filing a lawsuit to stop DOGE from accessing U.S. Treasury Department records that contain personal information on millions of Americans.

In February, Jackson joined lawsuits against the federal government over the potential exposure of North Carolinians personal information to Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency.

The court recognized this federal overreach for what it is  a violation of federal law and a threat to peoples privacy and security, said Jackson in winning a temporary restraining order.

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Republicans in the North Carolina General Assembly have been working this session to further block Jackson from challenging President Donald Trumps executive orders.

On Monday, a federal judge blocked Musks team from accessing data at the Education Department, the Treasury Department and at the Office of Personnel Management.

Read more from the latest Elon University poll.
Over 80% of Ukrainians believe that Ukraine should continue to fight, even if the US stops all support.

Source: a poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on 12-25 March

Quote: "A clear majority of Ukrainians  82%  believe that Ukraine should continue to fight under any circumstances. Only 8% of respondents indicated that they would be more inclined to accept capitulation.

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In all regions, an absolute majority - from 78% in the east to 83% in the west - believe that despite everything, Ukraine should continue to resist and not surrender."

Details: In early March 2025, the United States suspended military aid to Kyiv. Although it has since resumed, sociologists still asked what Ukraine should do if US support were to be cut off permanently: "We wanted to know whether Ukrainians in general are ready to continue the struggle with limited support (from Europe alone) or whether they would rather be inclined to accept all of Russia's demands (i.e., in fact, to capitulate)."

For reference: The study was conducted by KIIS from 12 to 22 March 2025. On its own initiative, the institute included a question about public perception of a proposal to temporarily cease hostilities with Russia. The survey was carried out via telephone interviews using a random sample of mobile phone numbers.

A total of 1,326 respondents aged 18 and older, residing in government-controlled regions of Ukraine at the time of the survey, were interviewed.

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Formally, under normal circumstances, the statistical error of such a sample (with a probability of 0.95 and taking into account the design effect of 1.3) did not exceed 3.5% for indicators close to 50%, 3.1% for indicators close to 25%, 2.1% for indicators close to 10%, and 1.6% for indicators close to 5%. In wartime, a certain systematic deviation is added in addition to the above formal error.

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A poll has revealed that 77% of Ukrainians are positive about the proposal for a 30-day temporary ceasefire, while 79% consider the conditions set by Russia for ending hostilities to be completely unacceptable.

Source: a poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on 12-25 March

Details: Sociologists explained that respondents were presented with six interpretations of the 30-day ceasefire proposal: three generally positive for Ukraine and three generally negative. Each respondent was asked to select one.

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Quote: "The absolute majority of Ukrainians  77%  have a positive interpretation of this proposal. Most often, respondents (47% out of 77%) said that this is a way to show that Russia does not want peace or that Russia is violating the agreements. In addition, 12% talk about a way to unblock military aid. The remaining 18% call it primarily a step towards ending the war on terms acceptable to Ukraine. That is, the perception of the proposal is positive, but few believe that it is a real start to the path to peace on acceptable terms."

Details: Only 17% of respondents chose one of the three negative options: 8% consider it a mistake that will weaken Ukraine, 7% see it as a desperate move by the government due to difficulties at the front, and 2% believe it is a step towards Ukraines capitulation.

Following the phone call between US President Donald Trump and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, pollsters also asked Ukrainians how they viewed the conditions Putin announced for a ceasefire. These included halting mobilisation in Ukraine, stopping Western arms supplies, and ending the provision of intelligence to Kyiv.

Quote: "For the absolute majority of Ukrainians  79%  Russian demands for a ceasefire are categorically unacceptable. Ready to accept them  16% (of which 14% find it a difficult option)."

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Details: Sociologists highlighted that overwhelming majorities across all Ukrainian regions reject Putins demands  80-81% in western, central and southern parts of Ukraine and 64% in the east.

A total of 62% of respondents said they would categorically not support a temporary ceasefire if it did not include any security guarantees.

Quote: "If Ukraine receives at least some security guarantees, more than half of Ukrainians will (albeit reluctantly) support a ceasefire. At the same time, the difference between different guarantee options (in terms of support from the Ukrainian public) is quite insignificant."

More details: Specifically, 60% of respondents support the option of deploying Western peacekeepers to enforce the ceasefire, while 34% are categorically opposed.

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If NATO membership is offered as a security guarantee, 58% would support a ceasefire, while 32% would be firmly against it.

If Ukraine's defence forces receive greater support (more air defences, aircraft, etc.), 56% would support a ceasefire, while 35% would be categorically opposed.

For reference: The survey was conducted from 12 to 22 March using telephone interviews based on a random sample of mobile numbers. A total of 1,326 people aged 18 and older were interviewed across all Ukrainian government-controlled regions. Residents of temporarily occupied territories were not included (although internally displaced persons from those areas were), and Ukrainians who left the country after 24 February 2022 were also excluded.

Formally, under normal circumstances, the statistical error of such a sample (with a probability of 0.95 and taking into account the design effect of 1.3) did not exceed 3.5% for indicators close to 50%, 3.1% for indicators close to 25%, 2.1% for indicators close to 10%, and 1.6% for indicators close to 5%.

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In wartime, a certain systematic deviation is added in addition to the above formal error. However, sociologists believe the results still offer a reliable reflection of public sentiment.

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UPDATE: Democrat Peter Smith Jr. won the council seat with 1,126 votes or 65.5%.



DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)  Voters in Dorchester County headed to the polls Tuesday to decide who fills a vacant seat on the county council.

Democrat Peter Smith Jr. and Republican George Bailey are seeking the open District 1 seat, which covers the upper part of the county.

The winner will serve the remaining two years of Republican Harriet Holmans term. Holman resigned from the council last year after being elected to the South Carolina House.

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Polls to open Tuesday for special elections in North Charleston and Mount Pleasant

Smith Jr. is the owner of Saxmore Farms and the co-founder of the P. Saxmore Foundation, a nonprofit that provides access to fresh fruit and vegetables in the Dorchester area and sponsors an annual school supply drive and back-to-school celebration. He is involved in the South Carolina Black Farmers organization and the Rural Coalition, which advocates for federal agricultural policy on Capitol Hill, including the robust Farm Bill.

Bailey served on the Dorchester County Council for more than a decade after a nearly 20-year stint in the South Carolina House. His platform priorities include lowering taxes, repairing and paving roads, and bringing an urgent care facility to the St. George area, according to his campaign website.

Registered voters must bring a valid photo ID to their polling location to cast a ballot.

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Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
Pope Francis was in such a critical condition as he battled pneumonia in both lungs that his doctors considered letting him die, the head of his medical team has revealed.

The Pope was conscious throughout his five-week hospitalisation in Rome and was fully aware that he could die, said Dr Sergio Alfieri.

The worst moment of the 88-year-old pontiffs ordeal came on February 28, when his condition worsened dramatically and he struggled to breathe.

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Doctors were faced with making a decision to let him die in peace or use all the resources at their disposal to try to keep him alive.

We had to choose if we would stop there and let him go, or go forward and push it with all the drugs and therapies possible, running the very high risk of damaging his other organs, Dr Alfieri told Corriere della Sera, an Italian newspaper, on Tuesday. In the end, we took this path.

For days, we risked causing damage to his kidneys and bone marrow, but we went ahead, and his body responded to the drugs and his lung infection lessened. For the first time, I saw tears in the eyes of the people around him, said the doctor, from Gemelli Hospital in Rome. We were all aware that the situation had worsened and there was the risk that he might not make it.

Pope Francis came close to death while suffering from pneumonia - Vatican Handout/Shutterstock

Asked whether the Pope knew that he might die during the 38 days he spent in hospital, Dr Alfieri replied: Yes, because he was always conscious... even when his condition worsened. That evening was dreadful. He knew, as we did, that he might not have lasted the night. We saw a man who was suffering.

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Another critical episode happened when the Pope inhaled his own vomit.

While he was eating the Pope regurgitated some food and inhaled it. It was the second really critical moment because in cases like that you risk sudden death. It was awful, we really thought he wouldnt make it, the doctor said.

The Pope insisted throughout his ordeal that his medical team divulge the full extent of his condition  hence the unusually frank, detailed briefings that the Vatican gave to journalists every evening.

Respiratory crises

Pope Francis was admitted to the hospital suffering from bronchitis on February 14, but within days it had developed into double pneumonia.

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He suffered four respiratory crises in which he struggled to breath, raising fears around the world that his death was imminent.

Two of the breathing crises were potentially critical, putting the Pope in danger of his life, doctors said.

But the Pope eventually pulled through and was released from hospital on Sunday.

Crowds gathered around the hospital to show their support for the pontiff - Christopher Furlong/Getty

He returned to his suite of rooms in the Casa Santa Marta, a residence for visiting clerics within the walls of the Vatican.

Doctors say he will need to convalesce for at least two months.

Plan B for Easter

It is not clear how many public engagements he will be able to participate in as the Catholic Church approaches the busy Easter period.

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Easter Holy Week starts with Palm Sunday on April 13 and culminates with Easter Sunday on April 20. If he is not well enough, his duties will be delegated to senior cardinals in what one Italian newspaper dubbed Plan B for Easter.

Doctors have told him that he must avoid contact with large groups of people because of the danger of catching a new infection. The Vatican has not yet said whether he will be well enough to meet King Charles and Queen Camilla during their state visit to the Vatican and Italy early next month. But, Pietro Parolin, the Vaticans secretary of state, offered some hope that the encounter will take place.

I hope that he will at least be able to greet them, he said.

The Pope retained his dry sense of humour throughout his time in hospital, medics said. As soon as he began to feel better, he demanded to leave his room and be wheeled around the other wards of the hospital in a wheelchair.

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He also arranged a gesture of thanks for the medical team who saved his life. He gave some money to one of his assistants and offered pizza to all those who had helped him in those days, said Dr Alfieri. Then one morning he said: Im still alive  when can I go home?

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A federal court case alleging free speech violations against School District 49 will go to trial after a motion for summary judgment was denied.

The motion involving the 2023 lawsuit, filed by current D-49 board member Deb Schmidt and Ohio resident Kelly Kohls, requested that Magistrate Judge Maritza Dominguez Braswell reach a verdict without going to trial. Dominguez Braswell denied the motion on March 12 because certain parameters to limit speech and expression during a board of education meeting are allowed.

During a board meeting Feb. 22, 2023, Schmidt and Kohls each held up signs calling for board members Rick Van Wieren, Lori Thompson and John Graham to resign. Both were told by Graham that they violated decorum and would be asked to leave if they didnt put down their signs.

When they refused to do so after multiple requests, the meeting was halted. Security escorted them out of the building.

Schmidt would later that year get elected to D-49s board of education.

The Gazette previously reported that the plaintiffs filed the lawsuit after suffering injury and damages in having their core political speech stifled and censored and being deprived of their constitutional rights protected by the First and 14th amendments.

Dominguez Braswell concluded that board of education meetings qualify as limited public forums and, despite being open to the public, they are created for specific groups with an intended purpose and that restrictions can be applied to conduct beyond this purpose.

Unlike a public library, the purpose of District 49s meetings is to discuss and conduct the specific business of District 49, she wrote in the court order. Attendees are not allowed to engage with the meetings in any matter and on any topic they see fit. Instead, they must limit their comment time and adhere to relevant topics.

One distinction for these types of forums is that the body of government can put reasonable limits on content if they are reasonable and neutral in their viewpoint.

The neutral viewpoint was another point of contention by the plaintiffs, who argued that they were singled out because of the personal stances they took with their signs messaging. Schmidt and Kohls contended the board enforced its no sign policy against them solely because of their political viewpoint, and that others who previously held signs with a different viewpoint did not have to put down their signs.

D-49 Superintendent Peter Hilts disagreed in his deposition, saying that they had similarly enforced the policy at a previous meeting when community members held their own signs calling for the resignation of board member Ivy Liu. A recording of a November 2022 board meeting showed Graham asking members of the public to put down their distracting signs.

[I]t was our practice that written signs were disallowed and every time, which is only two instances, every time that a written sign was put up, the board president consistently said put that down, Hilts said. The difference is in these two cases in November, they immediately put them down, and in February they denied, or declined, to put them down.

Given the dispute over the plaintiffs claims, Judge Dominguez Braswell determined that it precluded the motion for summary judgment. Trial and pretrial hearing dates will be scheduled at a later date.

In an email to The Gazette, Schmidt stood by the motion and their First Amendment rights were violated .

Nonetheless, as the judge ruled there are factual issues for which trial is necessary, we look forward to presenting this case to a jury, she said.
The head of the U.S. Postal Service, Louis DeJoy, resigned Monday after nearly five years in the position and following recent protests by postal workers concerned about the direction of the agency.

DeJoy had said last month he planned to step down but hadnt set a date.

Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino will take on the role until the Postal Service Board of Governors names a permanent replacement.

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I believe strongly that the organization is well positioned and capable of carrying forward and fully implementing the many strategies and initiatives that comprise our transformation and modernization, and I have been working closely with the Deputy Postmaster General to prepare for this transition, DeJoy said in a statement.

He added that much work remains that is necessary to sustain our positive trajectory.

RELATED: Postal workers protest proposed changes to USPS

The National Association of Letter Carriers president, Brian L. Renfroe, said in a statement Monday that the union stands ready to work with whomever the board selects as the next postmaster general.

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The future of the Postal Service is on the line, and choosing someone with innovative ideas and appreciation for our Constitutionally mandated service is essential, Renfroe said.

Earlier this month, DeJoy said he planned to cut 10,000 workers and billions of dollars from the USPS budget and hed do that working with Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, according to a letter sent to members of Congress.

USPS workers, including mail carriers, have gathered over the past week to protest the cuts and the plan they say will dismantle the service.

Critics of the plan fear negative effects of the cuts will be felt across the country. Democratic U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly, of Virginia, has said in response that turning over the service to DOGE would result in it being undermined and privatized.

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DeJoys tenure was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, surges in mail-in election ballots and efforts to stem losses through cost and service cuts.

He became postmaster general in the summer of 2020 during President Donald Trumps first term. He was a Republican donor who owned a logistics business and was the first person to hold the position in nearly two decades who was not a career postal employee.

In February, Trump said he may put USPS under the control of the Commerce Department in what would be an executive branch takeover. Trump at the time called the move a way to stop losses at the $78 billion-a-year agency, which has struggled to balance the books with the decline of first-class mail.

USPS currently employs about 640,000 workers who make deliveries from inner cities to rural areas and far-flung islands.

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Investigators have found that a passenger plane fire in South Korea was likely caused by a power bank failure. The Air Busan flight was engulfed in flames at Gimhae International Airport in January, causing injuries to three passengers. Its thought the combustion was likely the result of the insulation inside a portable battery perishing and burning its way through the overhead cabin lockers  although the final report is yet to be released.

The findings come as airlines tighten their rules around portable batteries. Several major Asian operators now have much stricter guidelines regarding power banks in luggage, including those in Thailand, Taiwan and South Korea. Heres everything you need to know.

Credit: Viral Press via Reuters Connect

Can I take a portable battery into the hold and the cabin?

As a rule, most airlines do not allow passengers to put portable batteries, or power banks, into their hold luggage. The International Civil Aviation Organization, which coordinates global aviation regulation, has banned lithium-ion batteries from the cargo holds of passenger planes since 2016, although there are slight variations between airlines.

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British Airways, for example, outlines in their guidance that all battery-powered devices are forbidden in checked baggage. In carry-on luggage, they should be packed to prevent accidental activation, while damaged batteries are banned entirely.

Ryanair and Jet2 have similar advice, with the latter stating: Each customer is permitted to travel with a maximum of 20 spare/loose lithium batteries (including power banks) in their cabin baggage, providing each battery is individually protected to prevent short circuit.

Some Asian airlines have even stricter rules. As of March 1, all passengers on South Korean airlines must keep their portable chargers within arms reach. That means they are banned not only from hold luggage, but from the overhead bins, too  they essentially need to be on your person at all times. In a statement, a representative from the countrys transport ministry said this should ease anxiety about the risk of battery fires.

Thai Airways, the countrys flag carrier, has introduced a similar measure. China Airlines, meanwhile, has announced a ban on using or charging power banks on their planes. Singapore Airlines, and its subsidiary Scoot, follow the same guidelines.

What happens if you have a lithium battery in checked luggage?

Power banks have been banned from checked luggage for years due to safety concerns - E+

Lithium-ion batteries have been used for decades to power handheld devices like phones and laptops, and are commonly used in portable power banks. Those in portable batteries, e-cigarettes and e-scooters are generally less regulated than those in smartphones, and so the risk involved is higher.

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Power banks have, as a result, been banned from checked luggage for years due to safety concerns. The Air Busan incident might be an example of what experts warn about: batteries can produce extreme heat, and fire, if the devices short-circuit or are damaged. Exposure to water or other elements can also cause them to burn or explode  something that is particularly dangerous when unobserved in the hold.

If batteries begin emitting smoke, or set on fire, during a flight, cabin crew members are typically trained to douse the item in water or place them in thermal containment bags. Occasionally, if the combustion is harder to contain, planes will make an emergency landing.

What about my mobile phone battery?

Mobile phone batteries can also sometimes be perceived as a danger in the cabin, too. Last week, an AirFrance plane was forced to return to Paris mid-flight after a passenger dropped their phone into an air vent. Staff were concerned the impact could have damaged its battery, thus making it a fire risk.

Can I take a vape or other electrical items into a plane cabin?

As with portable batteries, some vapes and e-cigarettes contain lithium-ion batteries, and so should always be in your carry-on luggage  not in the hold. They should be completely turned off (rather than just in sleep mode), and spare batteries should be individually wrapped.

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Additional e-liquids will be treated in the same way as other liquids in cabin bags, which is airport-dependent. Often, this means placing it in a clear plastic bag, and ensuring it doesnt exceed 100 millilitres.

As some vapes and e-cigarettes contain lithium-ion batteries, they should always be put in carry-on luggage, not in the hold - iStockphoto

It is worth noting that vaping, like smoking, is banned during flights (and will likely be subject to the same rules as smoking within airports, too).

Other battery-powered items, like wheelchairs or mobility aids, may be allowed in the hold or the plane cabin. Often this means the airline needs to be contacted in advance for approval. Which part of the aircraft they are allowed in is dependent on the type of battery.

If your luggage has an in-built battery, or is a Smart Bag, it is worth checking airline regulations before flying  these might not be allowed in the hold, either. There are some exceptions, however, depending on the size of the battery and its ability to be fully switched off. On British Airways flights, for example, Smart Bags are not accepted onto flights if any fitted lithium battery/power bank for recharging devices cannot be detached by the customer.

What other items are banned from the hold and the cabin on planes?

The Civil Aviation Authoritys list of restricted items is extensive, and includes firearms, lighter fluids, fireworks, chemicals and more. Some items, like party poppers, are banned entirely, while others, like non-infectious animal specimens, are allowed in some circumstances.

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For full details about restricted items, see the Civil Aviation Authority website here, or check with your airline.

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On Sunday afternoon former New York Yankees star Brett Gardner and his wife, Jessica, announced the death of their 14-year-old son, Miller.

"With heavy hearts we are saddened to announce the passing of our youngest son, Miller. He was 14 years old and has left us far too soon after falling ill along with several other family members while on vacation," a statement from the family through the Yankees said. "We have so many questions and so few answers at this point, but we do know that he passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Friday, March 21st. Miller was a beloved son and brother and we cannot yet comprehend our life without his infectious smile."

Millers body was found Friday in a hotel room in Manuel Antonio, a popular resort area on the countrys Pacific Coast, said Costa Rican Judicial Investigative Agency official Juan Pablo Alvarado Garcia to NBC News.

New York Yankee Brett Gardner, his wife Jessica and son attend the CCandy Children's Clothing Line Launch at MLB Fan Cave on August 8, 2013 in New York City. JP Yim/Getty Images

An initial cause of death was not known when the family first revealed Gardner's passing. However, Garcia revealed Gardner appears to have died by asphyxiation after possibly having gotten sick from eating something during the family vacation in Costa Rica. The results are preliminary, pending a toxicology report and autopsy.

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The family received a heartfelt message from the Yankees, whom Gardner played for fourteen seasons from 2008-21.

Our hearts are heavy, and the Yankees family is filled with grief after learning of the passing of Miller Gardner, the team said in a statement. Words feel insignificant and insufficient in trying to describe such an unimaginable loss. It wasnt just Brett who literally grew up in this organization for more than 17 yearsso did his wife, Jessica, and their two boys, Hunter and Miller.

We grieve with Brett, Jessica, Hunter, and their community of family and friends in mourning the loss of Miller, who had a spark in his eyes, an outgoing and feisty personality, and a warm and loving nature, the statement continued. Our love for the Gardner family is unconditional and absolute, and we will offer our enduring support while understanding their desire for privacy at this time. May Miller rest in peace.

Related: Donna Kelce Heartbroken for Son Jason After Family Loss
Mar. 24A settlement agreement in a lawsuit filed by the state against Flathead County for rejecting the opening of prerelease center in Evergreen will be considered by a county board.

The state Department of Corrections filed a lawsuit in Flathead County District Court last year after the Flathead County Board of Adjustment in October denied a conditional use permit for the center proposed for the Greenwood Village Inn & Suites hotel.

The Board of Adjustment is set to hold a public hearing on the agreement March 25 and then vote on the document April 1. Both meetings are at 6 p.m. in the second floor conference room of the South Campus Building, 40 11th St. W., Kalispell.

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The Department of Corrections has sought to turn the former hotel on East Oregon Street into a 90-bed prerelease facility. The Montana Legislature previously set aside $7.1 million in funding for a prerelease center in Kalispell.

The settlement agreement submitted to the county by Charity Yonker, attorney for the Department of Corrections, seeks to update the findings of the original decision to say that the 3-acre site is suitable for the center, parking and traffic plans would meet standards, and the property has adequate availability of public services.

The Board of Adjustments rejected the center following board discussions claiming that law enforcement services are inadequate to serve the center, that the center would have a negative impact on the neighborhood and that the site could not accommodate the associated traffic.

In addition, the department in the agreement proposes to impose two conditions of approval on the permit. One would stipulate that vehicles associated with the center use the northwest road that runs along the edge of the neighborhood adjacent to the site.

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The other would require the state to execute a memorandum of understanding with Flathead County that would provide a minimum of 10 calendar days notification to the county prior to the placement of an offender at the prerelease center. A draft memo says that a state liaison would notify a county liaison allowing for the county to provide comments or concerns. However, the state would still retain the decision of whether an offender would be placed at the center.

The county commissioners previously supported the center in a vote required under state law.

Residents living near the hotel expressed concerns about the center while business owners said the center would provide an opportunity to hire individuals residing there.

Three Flathead County District Court judges and the county jail commander supported the center during public hearings. But Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino expressed concern that the center would mean increased work for his office.

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The state alleges in its lawsuit that the Board of Adjustment denial last year was an abuse of its discretion, and it acted beyond its legal authority when it "resorted to speculation lacking in facts and foundation" as part of the decision.

There are 10 prerelease centers in the state. However, there are none serving Northwest Montana, and the Department of Corrections says the area needs a facility based on the region's population and number of offenders from the Flathead area in centers around the state.

Prerelease centers are designed to assist offenders with their transition from a secure facility back into the community and provide an alternative to incarceration. While in the prerelease center, residents live at the facility but travel out into the community according to an approved schedule for work, education, treatment and counseling, and community service.

Deputy Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or hdesch@dailyinterlake.com.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump on Tuesday pardoned a former business partner of Hunter Biden who was convicted of participating in a conspiracy to defraud a Native American tribe.

Devon Archer later became a key figure in the congressional inquiry into the Biden family businesses, telling lawmakers behind closed doors that the younger Biden sold the illusion of access to his father.

Before signing the pardon, Trump said Archer was treated very unfairly. White House staff secretary Will Scharf said the tone and tenor of the prosecution changed after Archer began to cooperate with congressional investigators in the Biden family inquiry.

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Archer was convicted in 2018 in a scheme to defraud the tribe that involved the sale of bonds. His conviction was overturned later that year before the court of appeals in New York reinstated it in 2020. He was sentenced in 2022 to a year in prison.

Archer has denied any wrongdoing and called himself a victim of financial fraud. In a Fox News appearance on Monday, Archer said of the potential pardon: I didnt think Id need this because I never did anything.

Archer testified before the Republican-led House Oversight Committee in 2023 as GOP lawmakers tried to make the case for impeachment proceedings against President Biden. Archer told the committee that President Biden was never directly involved in their financial dealings, though Hunter would often put his father on speakerphone to impress clients and business associates.

Archer's testimony portrayed the presidents son as capitalizing on his fathers name, but not necessarily promising or delivering any influence that would rise to a questionable level or approach wrongdoing. At one point, Archer was asked point blank: Are you aware of any wrongdoing by Vice President Biden?

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He responded, No, Im not aware of any.

Hunter Biden was convicted last year in two separate cases of federal gun and tax charges. President Biden pardoned his son shortly before he left office, reversing his past promises not to use the extraordinary powers of the presidency for the benefit of his family.
Just a few short months ago, The Duke of Sussex visited southern Africa to participate in an event at Sentebales Mamohato Childrens Centre in Maseru, Lesothoa nonprofit for people in Lesotho and Botswana living in poverty and those suffering from HIV and Aids. The royal set up the organizationwhose name means forget-me-not, a nod to his late mother Princess Dianas favorite floweralong with the country's Prince Seeiso back in 2006.

But now Prince Harry has revealed that both he and his co-founder have stepped down as patrons of Sentebale after trustees quit over a dispute with the new chair, The Times reports.

Brian Otieno /Getty Images

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Per the news outlet, the royal and Prince Seeiso released a joint statement saying: Nearly 20 years ago, we founded Sentebale in honour of our mothers. Sentebale means forget-me-not in Sesotho, the local language of Lesotho, and its what weve always promised for the young people weve served through this charity.

Today is no different. With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as patrons of the organisation until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who have had to do the same. It is devastating that the relationship between the charitys trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation.

While the details of the decision are still unclear, per the news outlet, there has been fighting within the organization due to the choice of the chair of the board of trustees and a decision to focus fundraising largely in Africa. Per the report, recent internal tumult has led the organization to be the subject of a Charity Commission investigation. Judging from the statement, the unanimous resignation of the co-founders and trustees appears to be the only path forwardand one that protects the charitys efforts in the long run, but most importantly, the communities it serves.

Prince Harry is involved in multiple charitable endeavors including the Invictus Games and Archewell, which he launched stateside with Meghan Markle after the pair left their roles as senior members of the royal family in 2020. That said, Sentebale has always been especially significant and meaningful to the prince, not only for the work, but for its ties to his late mother Princess Diana. Per the Times, the decision to vacate was not a choice willingly made.

Camera Catches Striking Photo of Prince Harry Sitting Next to Campfire in Africa
The South Dakota Supreme Court hears oral arguments on Feb. 14, 2024, at the Capitol in Pierre. From left are Justices Patricia DeVaney and Janine Kern, Chief Justice Steven Jensen, and Justices Mark Salter and Scott Myren. (David Bordewyk/South Dakota NewsMedia Association)

If the state wants to build a prison on land zoned for agriculture, it should get the countys permission first.

Or it shouldnt.

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A 45-minute session of oral arguments Tuesday at Black Hills State University in Spearfish laid the groundwork for the South Dakota Supreme Court to decide, for the first time, whether the state should bow to local zoning officials under certain circumstances. The justices will rule at a later date.

The high courts call on the matter has implications for a Lincoln County prison project thats proven controversial  and is now paused, thanks to its lukewarm reception during the 2025 legislative session.

But there are wider implications for the state as a whole.

If the justices rule in favor of the proposed prisons neighbors and force the state to seek permission to build, the state argues, locals could brow-beat planning boards into saying no to nearly any building project thats necessary for the general public but unpopular with its neighbors.

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State officials, Assistant Attorney General Grant Flynn argued, would not be able to perform their essential governmental functions if they had to follow county ordinances.

Prison opponents: State cant act unilaterally

The case is an appeal from a group called Neighbors Opposed to Prison Expansion, or NOPE. Lincoln County Judge Jennifer Mammenga ruled against the group late last year, saying the state is immune from lawsuits over county zoning.

NOPE sued in 2023, shortly after the state Department of Corrections (DOC) announced its intent to build a 1,500-bed prison on a farm site 14 miles south of Sioux Falls.

The neighbors argued that such a massive project would fundamentally alter the character of land Lincoln County had envisioned as agricultural in its long-term zoning plan.

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If the state wants to build something industrial in an area zoned for farming, they argued, it ought to ask for a conditional use permit, like anyone else.

A.J. Swanson, the lawyer for a group of prison opponents, told the justices theres no solid reason to strip a county of its right to plan its land use.

The high court has never waded directly into the question of state vs. county supremacy in zoning matters. Theres another complication in this case, Justice Mark Salter pointed out. Lincoln County didnt sue the state over the DOCs failure to seek its approval. The neighbors did. The county eventually filed a friend of the court brief that sided with the neighbors, but its not leading the charge.

Salter asked Swanson if theres a place in state law or a Supreme Court decision to suggest that neighbors can file a private lawsuit to enforce public zoning laws.

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Im not aware of a prior case in South Dakota that would have involved a comparable set of circumstances, Swanson replied. I have found that, generally speaking, county boards are pretty vigilant about enforcing their comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances. And I think in this case, Lincoln County was the clear exception.

State: Neighbors cant ask for a hearing on behalf of county

Flynn told the justices that the neighbors do not qualify for the kind of legal remedy theyre after. In her ruling, Judge Mammenga referred to the general rule of sovereign immunity, which essentially shields the state from most legal actions that might stem from the carrying out of its public responsibilities.

Housing prisoners is part of a states essential functions, Flynn said.

Justices Salter and Patricia DeVaney both pointed out, however, that the neighbors didnt ask Judge Mammenga to stop the prison. They only asked for a hearing before the county.

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I understand your response to the merits of that, but can they seek that? DeVaney said.

Flynn didnt disagree with the justices characterization of the case. But he said theres no state law or case law that gives private citizens a right to be heard in a situation where the state is acting to carry out an essential function.

Moreover, Flynn said, the motivations of the opponents are clear. The neighbors, he said, simply do not want this prison in their backyard, and theyre attempting to use the county zoning laws to prevent that from happening.

NOPE group: State wants to trample due process

Swanson seized upon the due process issue in his rebuttal.

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For decades, Swanson said, the state has been a good neighbor in the rural section of Lincoln County. The state obtained the property a few years before the county adopted an ordinance requiring landowners to ask for a conditional use permit to build something that doesnt fit.

Until its transfer to the DOC, the ground had been leased for farming by the states School and Public Lands Office, with profits from the operation used to help fund education.

The decision to bring the catastrophic change of a large prison to the neighborhood, Swanson said, shouldnt be made with the stroke of a pen by the DOC secretary.

That these due process interests mean nothing to the state, quite frankly, is startling, Swanson said. I cant believe they can so easily trample those interests. I find that incomprehensible.

Prison sites uncertain future

The arguments over the prison site came one week before the first meeting of a task force dubbed Project Prison Reset by Gov. Larry Rhoden. The governor had hoped to convince lawmakers to approve the final round of funding for prison construction during the 2025 legislative session, but was unable to convince enough of them to sign off on the $825 million project.

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As envisioned by the states executive branch, the prison would largely replace the oldest portions of the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, which was built in 1881.

In 2024, lawmakers allocated $62 million to plan for a new mens prison at the Lincoln County site. All but $7.9 million of that money has been spent to design and prepare for a 1,500-bed prison there.

The task force group, set to meet April 2 in Sioux Falls, is supposed to address the concerns that brought about the demise of that hoped-for facility: cost, size, necessity and location.

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Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday urged lawmakers to honor the will of the voters, notably by immediately implementing a measure approved last November that directs the state to provide benefits to the families of officers killed in the line of duty.
This story first appeared in How We Care, a weekly newsletter by Spotlight PA featuring original reporting and perspectives on how we care for one another at all stages of life. Sign up for free here.

Jack & Jill Nursery in York recently opened an infant room, and Leisa Harmis 4-month-old son Kane was one of the first babies to enroll.

Having Kane cared for by trusted Jack & Jill staff means that Harmis and her husband have the energy for their second shift of parenting their four kids after they leave work.

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Were both not coming home on empty, she said.

Before Kane could attend Jack & Jill, the early childhood center first had to purchase cribs and toys, and install new carpet so that babies learning to crawl would be on a clean floor. Director Ruth Leonard said she was able to make these up-front investments through a $50,000 innovation grant from Every Child Has Opportunities, or ECHO.

With funding from foundations, a health system, and the local United Way, ECHO aims to double the number of children from low-income families in York County who are enrolled in high-quality early childhood education by 2027.

Its doing so through grants for renovations, tech, and more; a paid apprentice program for teacher aides; and forgivable loans targeted at new providers. Its budget is approximately $3.2 million per year, according to a 2024 report.

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That number is small compared to what the federal and Pennsylvania governments spend to support child care. York County receives more than $45 million annually for Head Start, Pre-K Counts, and other programs.

But stakeholders say investments like ECHOs can help address the dual crises of high child care costs and a lack of providers. In its first year, the initiative said that child care providers who received support from ECHO added 854 new openings in York County.

Recent legislative efforts out of Harrisburg have addressed only part of the problem through a series of tax credits that seek to make child care tuition more affordable for families.

Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiros proposed 2025-26 budget includes $55 million for early childhood teacher retention and recruitment grants, which he says would boost wages for workers at centers that provide subsidized care for low-income kids by roughly $1,000 per year.

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ECHOs funding runs out at the end of 2026, and theres no guarantee additional money is coming. Rather than seeing philanthropic dollars as a long-term solution, ECHOs supporters want policymakers to view it as a pilot that can be replicated in other parts of the state with public dollars.

Hopefully, the federal government, the state government will recognize [ECHO] as, OK, this works, said Michael Hady, president and CEO of the Powder Mill Foundation, one of the initiatives biggest donors.

The nonprofit Community Connections for Children, which co-leads ECHO with the York County Economic Alliance, says about $300,000 of the initiatives annual budget goes toward operating expenses. In 2024, $1.9 million in grants were awarded, but ECHO didnt distribute all the funds it had budgeted. It aims to issue at least $3.5 million in 2025.

The 2024 tally includes grants to Jack & Jill and 27 other facilities. The money paid for things like replacing a wooden fence that was giving kids splinters and purchasing pre-K literacy materials.

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ECHO also paid for the tuition of 19 teacher aides who earned their Child Development Associate credential through a program at Harrisburg Area Community College. And it awarded $440,000 in forgivable loans to 15 new child care providers.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services also offers grants targeted at bolstering the child care workforce and helping providers with startup costs. These are effective programs, but theres not enough money to serve everyone, said Jen DeBell, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children.

While ECHOs leaders are proud of their work, they say more child care slots are needed. The economic alliance said that even before the COVID-19 pandemic there was a shortage of child care centers, and that since 2020, more than 20% of York Countys providers have closed. As a result, parents are struggling to find quality early childhood education.

Leonard sees this firsthand. While Jack & Jill just opened to infants in February, there are already seven babies on its waitlist, she said. The center could double its capacity from four babies to eight if it recruits a second teacher.

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You want to hire people who really have a heart to work with children, Leonard said. And sometimes thats hard to come by if were being honest.

Hady told Spotlight PA that the shortage of child care providers in York County is both a social concern and an economic problem for the community.

Businesses were trying to hire employees, but oftentimes they had issues, particularly with families who needed daycare or child care, Hady said.

A 2024 report from the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry found these workforce challenges extend beyond York County: 81% of employers surveyed said they had moderate or significant recruitment and retention issues regarding child care.

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For some Pennsylvanians, it makes more financial sense to be a stay-at-home parent, as child care fees often exceed $10,000 a year per kid. But even families that can afford these sky-high costs struggle to find quality care due to the overall lack of providers.

Part of ECHOs success stems from it seeking input from child care providers, DeBell said. She told Spotlight PA that ECHO is super unique because its a philanthropic response to systemic supply-side issues that tax credits wont solve.

For example, in addition to paying for tuition, ECHO grants provide a monthly $200 stipend to teacher aides pursuing their child development certification. Mentor teachers get stipends of $150. The grant also reimburses $10 per hour toward an aides salary.

In addition to ECHO, a separate program called the York County Early Childhood Educator Awards distributes annual stipends. The private-public initiative is administered by Community Connections for Children, which told Spotlight PA that in 2024 it awarded over $674,000 to 404 staff at 67 programs.

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Increased pay for child care workers is critical to improving overall quality, said Jessica Brown, a University of South Carolina economist who studies the child care market.

Child care is highly labor-intensive, so the percentage that employers like Jack & Jill must budget for staff salaries is greater than those of big box stores, gas stations, and other businesses that target entry-level workers. As a result, said Brown, child care centers are more limited in how much they can pay employees, putting them at a disadvantage when it comes to recruitment.

So we end up with a market where, on average, the care is what parents can afford, but its not as high-quality as society would maybe want, said Brown, pointing to federal data from 2022 showing that two in three child care workers earn less than $15 an hour.

Low wages also harm retention, which can negatively affect children, noted a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. The authors found that raising wages for the lowest-paid early childhood teachers is the most straightforward response to decrease turnover.

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On the flip side, quality child care has downstream benefits. Research shows kids who attend child care are more likely to graduate from college and less likely to be involved with the criminal justice system.

When ECHOs funding runs out next year, Hady said Powder Mill may contribute additional money, but hes also hoping York Countys business community will step in. However, he argued that the onus of fully addressing the child care crisis, and ensuring all kids have access to early childhood education, rests with lawmakers.

In the meantime, Leonard at Jack & Jill wants to hire more staff who can take advantage of the ECHO grants. Shes accepting applications for a second infant room teacher and feels hopeful.

BEFORE YOU GO If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.

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By Alexander Tanas

CHISINAU (Reuters) - Police in ex-Soviet Moldova detained the leader of the country's pro-Russian Gagauz ethnic minority at Chisinau's international airport late on Tuesday, following the unexplained disappearance of two other wanted pro-Russian lawmakers.

Eugenia Gutul, the leader, or bashkan, of Gagauzia, was being held for 72 hours in the capital, said Angela Starinschi, an official with Moldova's Anti-Corruption Centre.

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"The action is being taken within the context of a criminal case," Starinschi told reporters.

Gagauzia, a 140,000-strong region in the south of Moldova, is dominated by ethnic Turks who favour close ties with Russia, adhere to Orthodox Christianity and have had uneasy relations with central authorities since Moldovan independence in 1991.

Moldova, which over the past 150 years has been variously part of the Russian empire, "greater Romania" and the Soviet Union, is now led by President Maia Sandu, who is committed to joining the European Union by 2030.

Sandu denounces Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine and accuses the Kremlin of trying to unseat her.

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Gutul, a fierce critic of the government, was elected bashkan in 2023 with backing from fugitive business magnate Ilan Shor, who was sentenced in 2023 to 15 years in prison in connection with the disappearance of $1 billion from Moldovan banks. She has met Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin while visiting Moscow.

Gutul, whose election as bashkan has never been recognised by Sandu, is due to be sentenced soon on charges of corruption and financing a political bloc led by Shor from exile in Russia.

Her detention follows the unexplained disappearance last week of pro-Russian parliamentarian Alexandr Nesterovschi on the day he was sentenced to 12 years in prison on similar corruption charges.

A second lawmaker, Irina Lozovan, awaiting a verdict on similar charges, has also disappeared.

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Both were associates of Shor, who hopes to use his "Victory" bloc to win election of pro-Russian lawmakers in a parliamentary poll later this year.

Shor is accused by Moldovan authorities of funnelling large sums of money into the country to influence elections.

(Reporting by Alexander Tanas, writing by Ron Popeski; Editing by Nia Williams)
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  Probationary employees for the National Center for Agriculture Utilization Research have returned to work  for now.

All the probationary employees at the center, known locally at the Ag Lab, were offered and accepted their return to work notices. Most have been back in the building since Monday, said Ethan Roberts, the head of the local chapter of the union that represents the workers.

Terminated Peoria Ag Lab employees could return to work following a ruling

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There is one last hurdle before their jobs are safe (from this danger, anyway). The administration is attempting to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court and on the emergency docket for immediate decisions, he said.

The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether they will hear the case in which the employees could be put back on leave or terminated, or dismiss it and let the lower courts ruling stand.

Earlier this month, a federal judge in California ordered the White House to rehire thousands of probationary workers from six different agencies, one of those being the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Trump administration then asked the nations highest court to rescind that order. Its the latest bid that President Donald Trumps administration has made to the high court regarding lawsuits and injunctions against his executive orders which fired thousands of workers.

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A decision from the Supreme Court could come within a month or so.

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Creighton University nursing students. (Courtesy of Creighton University)

OMAHA  As thrilled as they are about a $114 million pediatric mental health care facility rising in Omaha, local health care officials expect challenges, including assembling the necessary workforce during the current nursing shortage.

Helping to address such demand is a new partnership between Childrens Nebraska and the Creighton University College of Nursing, which is designed to bring additional skilled pediatric nurses to the Childrens campus.

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Buoyed by the Omaha-based Ryan Foundation, 40 full-tuition scholarships will be available in Creightons Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program. In exchange for the free schooling, recipients, who already must have a bachelors degree, will commit to two years of work at Childrens Nebraska.

Jessica Clark, dean of Creighton University College of Nursing. (Courtesy of Creighton Universitiy)

Jessica Clark, dean of Creightons College of Nursing, said shes talked to many professionals interested in pursuing nursing as a different career choice but who are deterred by cost, especially if mired in student debt. She says tuition and fees for the program run about $55,000. The new scholarship is designed to help break down the financial barrier.

Clark said the 12-month accelerated program  now in its 50th year  typically draws older students and professionals with more life experience.

They make phenomenal workers when they hit the workforce, she said.

Call to nursing

Marcie Peterson, vice president and associate chief nursing officer at Childrens, said she expects the initiative to produce nurses who really have a calling to nursing.

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What we find is they bring a lot of value to the workforce because of those experiences they already have and they know what they want, Peterson said. She said they provide a lot more bang for our buck.

The scholarship idea emerged as various factors collided, Clark said, including the planned 2026 opening of the Behavioral Health & Wellness Center at the Childrens Omaha headquarters site. Of that facilitys total price tag, $16 million comes from federal American Rescue Plan Act funding earmarked by the Nebraska Legislature.

Meanwhile, a study by state health care entities showed Nebraska on pace to be short nearly 5,500 nurses this year. In the backdrop, Clark said, conversations with nurse wannabes working in other professions explained that the top barrier to a nursing career was financial.

Clark said she met with representatives at Childrens, who talked to the Ryan Foundation. They hoped for 10 scholarships  and received funding for 40.

Marcie Peterson, DNP, RN, CCRN, CNML, vice president, associate chief nursing officer at Childrens Nebraska. (Courtesy of Childrens Nebraska)

Peterson and Clark expect that nurses who go through the program will stay at Childrens beyond the promised two-year commitment. Peterson said Childrens has a track record of high nurse retention rates.

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She said that Childrens provides an environment to expand ones career. Her own ascent is an example. Peterson started as a receptionist at Childrens right out of high school, 26 years ago. She entered nursing school and said in an interview this week that along the way to her current position she was helped by mentors and colleagues to reach her goals.

The scholarship program, beginning this fall and supporting five cohorts, will help students as they develop pediatric skills and prepare to serve in one of 89 pediatric subspecialties across multiple Childrens Nebraska facilities.

We are building a workforce that is prepared to meet the evolving needs of children and families across our region, said Pam Johnson-Carlson, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Childrens. This partnership ensures that highly skilled pediatric nurses will be ready to deliver exceptional care in both acute and specialized settings for years to come.

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The rainbow flag of the gay pride movement and the flag of the United States (Getty Images)

Members of the LGBTQ community unsuccessfully urged members of a Senate committee on Tuesday to reject a proposal that would ban local governments and public colleges and universities from displaying a flag that represents a political viewpoint.

Including ones that represent a racial, sexual orientation and gender, or politically ideology viewpoint.

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The measure (SB 100) is sponsored by Republicans Randy Fine from Brevard County and Jonathan Martin from Lee County.

If someone wants to walk in here draped in a flag of any political group, so be it, its their First Amendment right. If you want to hang it your yard, so be it. But a teacher should not be hanging a political flag in their classroom, having a government take a position on political views, Fine told the Senate Community Affairs Committee.

That is the idea. You shouldnt be hanging them on flagpoles. Government should be in the governing business. Politics should be left to the politicians.

LGBTQ advocates said the measure is aimed at local governments that display the Pride flag in June during Pride Month, and argued there is no compelling reason to pass such mandates on to local governments.

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The flag ban bill is unnecessary, unclear, unconstitutional, and dangerous, said Jon Harris Mauer, public policy director with Equality Florida. This bill is unnecessary. It does not help Floridians struggling with insurance and housing affordability. Instead it is a made-up solution to a cultural war for political purposes. But it will have real harms.

Its wrong because LGBTQ+ is not political and this bill sends a message that our diversity shouldnt be celebrated and people identifying as LGBTQ+ should be ashamed of who they are and hurts the fight against bullying, said Tallahassee resident Colton Taylor. I believe we should embrace each other lovingly, have compassion, see each others humanity, protect the LGBTQ+ community, and recognize that diversity is our strength.

Special rights

John Labriola with the Christian Family Coalition of Florida supported the bill.

The bill does not mention LGBTQ flags but it does say that you cant have political flags, which that flag would be, he said. After he was challenged on that assertion by South Florida Democratic Sen. Shevrin Jones that the Pride and/or Black Lives Matter flags were political, he fired back.

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The LGBT flag promotes a specific viewpoint that there should be special rights for LGBT people which isnt going  Labriola began.

Special rights or equal rights? Jones interjected.

No, special rights. We believe in equal rights. We dont believe in special rights, Labriola said.

Perhaps most controversially, the bill would allow active or retired members of the armed forces or National Guard to take reasonable efforts to stop someone from desecration, destruction, or removal of the United States flag.

I dont want a retired military person to want or feel that they would have to enforce this bill, said Naples Republican Kathleen Passidomo. I do not want to see a 90-year-old veteran getting into an altercation with someone twice his size.

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Although she supported it on Tuesday, Passidomo, chair of the Rules Committee, said that unless constitutional problems are resolved for the measure, I dont see it going forward.

Party-line vote

Fine argued that the citizens who spoke out about how their First Amendment rights would be violated if the measure passed wouldnt feel the same way if some of those local governments were flying Make America Great Again flags.

The bill passed along party lines.

With Fine leaving the Senate today to campaign for a congressional seat next week, Lee County Republican Sen. Jonathan Martin will carry the bill the rest of the way this session. It has one more committee stop before making it to the floor.

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The measures House companion (HB 75) is being sponsored by Republicans Berny Jacques from Pinellas County and David Borrero from Miami-Dade County. It has yet to be heard in any committee so far.

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Mar. 25A day after the idea formally surfaced, a working group of House budget writers decided against eliminating the state library.

Instead, the House Finance Committee Division 1 voted to direct the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Commissioner Sarah Stewart to cut her overall budget by $300,000 a year.

The state library is part of Stewart's budget.

The panel did recommend eliminating the New Hampshire Council on the Arts, which provides nearly $2 million a year in state-federal grants for local venues. The council is also a division of Stewart's department.

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As for the library, House Majority Floor Leader Joseph Sweeney, R-Salem, withdrew his proposal to close it after confirming that House budget writers had received a large volume of email and other messages from local officials opposed to the move.

Eliminating the state library would save $7.6 million over the next two years; the state providing about 60% of that cost and the rest coming from federal grants.

Sweeney said he made the suggestion after President Donald Trump, through an executive order, moved to eliminate the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, which provides $1.5 million a year to New Hampshire institutions, including the SEE Science Center in Manchester and others.

"If these federal cuts go through, down the road we are going to have to confront how we continue to provide these services," Sweeney said.

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Rep. Rosemarie Rung, D-Merrimack, praised the outpouring of support the members received to keep library services intact.

"Our state library is a treasured resource," Rung said.

Rep. Dan McGuire, R-Epsom, had identified some budget savings through doing away with the position of state librarian, which is appointed by the governor.

Last August, then-Gov. Chris Sununu withdrew his pick for the new state librarian, Assistant Librarian Mindy Atwood, after a majority on the Republican-led Executive Council rejected her because she had spoken out against local decisions to ban books.

Atwood has been serving as the acting state librarian since Michael York of Goffstown retired last fall.

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McGuire said Atwood could "keep the title," but the state should save money by eliminating the top position.

Rep. Karen Ebel, D-New London, said eliminating the post would reveal a lack of support for the work of the library.

"I have to oppose this action. We have to have a state librarian," Ebel said. "I know we are at the end of the wire here but I can't support this."

Rep. Peter Leishman, D-Peterborough, said he'd view the cut as punitive.

"Our real goal is to find general fund dollars (to cut). If we punish them we should have them decide what poison they choose to take," said Leishman.

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McGuire said he took exception to Leishman's characterization.

"We are making budget decisions and it's up to us to decide how to structure state government," McGuire said.

McGuire's move to eliminate the state librarian failed, 5-4, with Rep. Gerald Griffin, R-Mont Vernon, joining the Democrats on the working group to oppose it.

That's when McGuire brought forward the agency budget cut of $300,000, which the panel endorsed, 5-4.

klandrigan@unionleader.com
The Republican-controlled N.C. General Assembly is pushing a bill that would allow Duke Energy to charge N.C. customers for power plants that havent yet been built and allow the utility giant to avoid the state's approaching carbon emission-reduction goals.

The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 261, has prompted fierce pushback from environmentalists, clean energy advocates and many Democrats. They all claim the bill would move North Carolina in the wrong direction when it comes to cleaning up its air and battling climate change, would saddle customers with unneeded expenses, and tie the state more than ever to a future electrical grid that relies on old fossil fuel power sources rather than cleaner, cheaper and safer renewable alternatives.

But advocates say the move would save Tar Heel State consumers from ever-increasing electrical bills  partly fueled by the need to meet clean energy mandates  and allow the construction of a more reliable and cheaper power infrastructure.

What does SB 261 call for?

The bill, dubbed the "Energy Security and Affordability Act," would eliminate the 2030 deadline for Duke to reduce carbon emissions 70% from 2005 levels. The utility giant would still have to meet carbon neutrality by 2050.

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While Duke has said it wants to add lots more solar and wind, and potentially more exotic renewables like hydrogen and small nuclear reactors, to its future grid, it also wants to replace some of its old coal-fired polluting power plants with new natural gas plants that can operate even when its dark or the wind isn't blowing.

The legislation also would allow Duke to ask the N.C. Utilities Commission to start charging customers for power-generating facilities even before they are built.

Georgia and South Carolina already allow their large utilities to do that. But in both cases, customers are paying for new nuclear plants whose price tags vastly blew through original estimates  and in South Carolina's case never came close to completion and left customers saddled with a $9 billion loss.

TWEAKING THE CARBON PLAN: More natural gas, offshore wind, and higher customer bills in Duke's revised energy plan

Duke Energy has proposed building new, smaller nuclear plants along with keeping its larger nuclear plants, like the Brunswick Plant, in operation longer to help meet carbon-reduction goals, including net-zero emissions by 2050.

Who is promoting the bill?

State Sen. Paul Newton, R-Cabarrus, is a former president of Duke's N.C. operations and helped write the bill and advocate for it. Another primary sponsor is state Sen. Phil Berger, R-Guilford, the GOP leader of the Senate.

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The bill passed the Senate with all Republicans and three Democrats supporting it.

Duke also supports the proposal.

As North Carolina continues to experience unprecedented growth, were focused on making substantial investments in our critical infrastructure to ensure reliability and keep costs as low and predictable as possible for our customers," the company said in a statement. "We are supportive of policies that enable us to meet the states growing energy needs, including those that advance efficient and always-on baseload generation resources.

Critics of the state's push to decarbonize its energy network note that customer bills are rising now in part because of efforts to "green" the grid, costs that would likely keep rising quickly if Duke was forced to keep adding more renewables to meet carbon-reduction goals.

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Some officials also have noted that recent changes coming out of Washington under the Trump administration have made renewable energy projects more expensive and politically less palatable.

WINDY FUTURE? Trump's decision to pause offshore wind farms creates stormy waters for NC projects

What do clean energy advocates say?

Environmentalists and others say the proposed bill would do little to clean up North Carolina's air. It would also tie the state's customers to expensive and polluting power-generation systems for decades to come that would do little to help in the fight against climate change when cleaner and cheaper options, like wind and solar, are proven and financially less volatile alternatives than relying on gas.

Allowing rates to be raised to cover power plants that aren't even built yet also would remove a layer of oversight through the utilities commission that protects customers from wasteful and unnecessary bill increases.

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"At a time of rising energy costs, this bill is a bad deal for ratepayers," said Will Scott, Southeast climate and clean energy director for Environmental Defense Fund, in a statement. "Our recent analysis showed that North Carolina does not need any more baseload gas power plants, yet this bill fast-tracks those plants costs on to North Carolinians power bills. Lets stick to our goals to reduce harmful power plant pollution and minimize customer exposure to volatile gas prices.

Opponents of the bill also note that the 2021 bipartisan legislation that set the carbon-reduction goals was hashed out between GOP legislators, Duke and then-Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, over months of delicate negotiations and called for sacrifices on both sides. This proposed bill has had little input from anyone but Republicans and is being fast-tracked through the General Assembly with little public debate.

POWER GAMES: NC faces challenge of creating a clean, reliable and affordable energy future

What does the governor say?

Gov. Josh Stein, who was N.C. attorney general when the original carbon bill was passed, has criticized the proposed bill as a step backward for the state's economy and the environment.

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This bill would raise utility bills on ratepayers and threaten progress weve made on building a clean energy economy, a sector that employs over 100,000 North Carolinians," said Morgan Hopkins, spokesperson for the Democratic governor. "We should be looking for solutions that create jobs and lower costs for hardworking North Carolinians, not increasing their financial burden.

The proposed bill is now under consideration by the N.C. House.

Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at GMcGrath@Gannett.com or @GarethMcGrathSN on X/Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from the Green South Foundation and the Prentice Foundation. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Proposed bill would see NC retreat from climate goals, allow new rates
Proposed Nevada bill aims to expand IVF access

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A new bill in the Nevada Legislature focuses on modern family planning, specifically expanding IVF access to Nevada families.

SB 217 was introduced to the Health and Human Services committee on Thursday. The bill pushes for Nevada families to have greater access to IVF and was modeled after the Colorado Building Families Act.

The treatments provide hope and opportunity for those struggling with infertility, for same-sex couples who are seeking biological parenthood, individuals with medical conditions that could affect their fertility, said Democratic State Senator Nicole Cannizzaro, who is one of the bills primary sponsors.

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Majority Leader Cannizzaro had with her the founder of Nevada Fertility Advocates, Amanda Klein, who understands the subject matter all too well.

My husband and I struggled with infertility for five years. I did have to do IVF, I had several miscarriages, Klein told 8 News Now. Ultimately, we had to hire a surrogate to have our daughter, but shes incredible, and shes the reason I do this work today.

Klein has been working with Senator Cannizzaro on this bill for the past year. SB217 includes coverage for treatments like IVF, as well as fertility preservation for those who have diagnoses like cancer.

We were hit with the reality that one in six Nevadans face and that is that infertility is a disease, Klein continued. The American Medical Association has recognized infertility as a disease- just like cancer, just like diabetes, just like heart disease for several decades- and it should be recognized by insurance companies as well.

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However, the legislation isnt without pushback. Some disagree with the bill because of parts of the language.

SB 217 clearly states that fertilized eggs and embryos before implantation are not legally considered persons, said Melissa Clement, with the Nevada Right to Life, who spoke on the floor in opposition. This is neither scientific nor medical.

Additionally, there are some opponents concerned about the price tag.

The infertility coverage mandates apply to large employers, which means that the cost for employers and employees will increase due to the cost of these treatments, expressed Shelly Capurro with the Nevada Association Of Health Plans.

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However, Klein responded to some of the opposition, saying that family building is a bipartisan issue.

We understand, especially me, being a lifelong Nevadan that there are cost implications to a bill like this, Klein said. But it is incredibly important for us to work from both sides of the aisle- Republican and Democrat- to get this bill to a place where we can all agree to it.

The bill is set to head to the finance committee.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Prosecutors in New Mexico say the evidence that police have collected in connection with a weekend shooting at a park that left three people dead and 15 others injured is strong.

That includes the accounts of multiple witnesses who identified two of the shooters by name, as well as police officers witnessing the same two defendants allegedly dumping firearms at an apartment complex after the shooting, according to new court records.

At least four people have been arrested on suspicion of murder: Tomas Rivas, 20, and three teenagers. The Associated Press typically does not name defendants younger than 18.

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Rivas, who is charged with three counts of open murder, made a brief court appearance Monday via video from a jail. Prosecutors on Monday also filed a motion to keep Rivas in custody as he awaits trial, and a judge said that a hearing on his custody status is expected in the coming days. Las Cruces police, meanwhile, plan to hold a news conference Tuesday.

Authorities said Friday night's shooting happened at Young Park, where an altercation between two groups broke out after an unauthorized car show had drawn about 200 people. In their motion, prosecutors described it as one of the most horrific incidents to occur in Las Cruces.

One of the witnesses told police that they saw Rivas shoot one of the victims multiple times, striking the victim in the body and head, according to prosecutors.

Rivas and a 17-year-old male were arrested Saturday, authorities said. Two other male teens, 15 and 17, were taken into custody Sunday, but details about what led to their arrests weren't immediately released.

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The Associated Press left an emailed message Monday with Rivas public defender seeking comment. The state public defenders office confirmed Monday it is also representing the three other defendants but did not provide further comment on the allegations.

After the shooting, officers followed Rivas and a codefendant to an apartment where the codefendant was seen tossing a bag into a dumpster, according to Rivas' arrest report. Police quickly took them into custody and found four firearms dumped at the apartment complex that matched handgun casings found at the park, the report said.

Between 50 and 60 handgun casings were scattered across a wide swath of the park, authorities have said.

Andrew Madrid, 16, and Jason Gomez, 18, died at the scene. Dominick Estrada, 19, died later at a hospital, authorities said. The wounded ranged in age from 16 to 36 and were treated at the park or taken to hospitals.

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The Las Cruces school district said in a statement on Monday that one of the victims was a local high school student.

We are deeply saddened at this news and offer our condolences to all the families impacted by this senseless tragedy, said Superintendent Ignacio Ruiz. The events that unfolded over the weekend are difficult to understand, especially for our young people.

At the time of the shooting, Rivas was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a pending case in El Paso County, Texas, according to prosecutors. They said Rivas is facing charges there of evading arrest and smuggling of persons.

Las Cruces sits on the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert along the Rio Grande in southern New Mexico, about 40 miles (70 kilometers) from the U.S.-Mexico border.
OPELIKA, Ala. (WRBL)  Two-year-old Ivy Baker didnt die quickly, prosecutors told jurors Tuesday. She sufferedher small body battered by what they described as torture, enduring broken bones, a fractured skull, and fatal brain injuries. And when she struggled to breathe the night before her death, the man accused of killing her allegedly refused to seek help, fearing too many questions.

The murder trial of Jamario Mitchell, 32, began this week in Lee County Justice Center. Mitchell is charged with murder in the 2021 death of Ivy Baker, his girlfriends two-year-old daughter. Prosecutors allege by the time first responders arrived at the Cherry Circle home on the morning of November 12; Ivy had been dead for hoursher body showing extensive signs of abuse, including a skull fracture, broken ribs, broken collarbone, and deep bruising.

Ivys mother, Chasity Baker, is also charged with murder and will be tried separately.

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Jurors listened to the 911 call Baker made in the morning, I need the police or an ambulance right here. My baby, she is not responding.

Investigators say the evidence will show Mitchell and Baker were the only adults with Ivy in the hours leading up to her death; prosecutors say Mitchell was alone at times with the toddler as the mother ran errands. A forensic examiner is expected to testify her injuries were consistent with prolonged abuse, describing multiple contusions to her scalp, broken collarbone, rib, deep back bruising, and a fatal acute subdural hematoma.

The prosecution also revealed a neighbor had urged Baker and Mitchell to seek medical help the night before when Ivy appeared to be struggling to breathe. Instead, Mitchell allegedly refused, telling them, No hospital, theyre gonna ask questions. I cant do that. Instead, Mitchell allegedly suggested using a nasal aspirator and Vicks VapoRub.

Mitchells defense attorney countered in opening statements, arguing there was no direct evidence tying his client to the fatal injuries.

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Lets be clear from the start: There is no evidence Mr. Mitchell ever harmed this child at any point in time. Nobody is going to take the stand and testify they saw Mr. Mitchell strike, hit, or harm this child in any way.

The defense cautioned jurors against assuming Mitchells guilt simply because he was present.

After opening statements, first responders and investigators described the disturbing scene they encountered. Medics testified Ivys body was cold and stiff, indicating she had been dead for several hours before 911 was called. The lead investigator told jurors both Baker and Mitchell behaved strangely, with Mitchell immediately trying to establish an alibi.

Prosecutors say in the days leading up to her death, Ivys babysitter and aunt noticed the typically cheerful child becoming increasingly whiny and withdrawn. The aunt even attempted to take Ivy home, but Mitchell allegedly refused.

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As testimony resumes, it remains unclear whether Baker will testify for the prosecution or the defense if she even testifies. Prosecutors are expected to present forensic and medical evidence detailing the extent of Ivys injuries while the defense continues to argue a lack of direct proof against Mitchell.

WRBL will continue to follow up on this case as the trial unfolds.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade met with White House staff earlier this month to make the case for Colorado Springs' strategic value to t
DENVER (KDVR)  One of the worlds largest genetic testing companies, 23andME, just filed for bankruptcy over the weekend. Now millions of DNA samples and private information could end up in the hands of another company.

Genetic testing companies allow customers to send in a saliva sample and learn about ancestry as well as potential health issues.

Douglas County School District recommends 3 elementary schools be consolidated

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I think there are benefits here and there but I think if someones collecting a lot of your DNA and storing that data its like who else has access, said one Denver resident.

The 23andMe genetic testing company enjoyed success after being founded in 2006 but ran into trouble after a 2023 data breach, layoffs and internal management issues. 23andMes data bank has genetic information belonging to more than 15 million customers.

Metropolitan State University cyber security expert Dr. Steve Beaty told FOX31 that DNA is one of the worlds most valuable commodities.

Lets say an insurance company buys all of the DNA data from 23andMe, now I can profile you, said Beaty.

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Beaty said users should consider that DNA samples provide information about other family members as well.

Half my DNA is from my dad, half my DNA is from my mom, and now all of the sudden they have half their DNA, he said.

Decades later, Colorado nurse who served in Vietnam continues helping those in need

After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy 23andMe provided a statement on March 23 saying, any buyer will be required to comply with applicable law with respect to treatment of customer data.



The statement also says, The company intends to continue operating its business in the ordinary course throughout the sale process. There are no changes to the way the company stores, manages, or protects customer data.



So far, Californias Attorney General is warning users to delete their genetic information right away. To delete your account and prevent future use of your DNA samples for research visit the 23andME website, log in, go to settings and click on 23andMe data. Instructions can be found on the companys website.



As of 9 p.m. Sunday, FOX31 found the 23andME website was not operational featuring a message that said the site was temporarily down for an update, but the mobile website was still accessible. 23andMe states that when customers delete their data, limited information is maintained including your decision to delete your DNA from the system.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
As genetic testing giant 23andMe files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, millions of customers face an urgent privacy question: What happens to my DNA data now?



The company's financial collapse could eventually lead to the sale of its assets to pay creditorspotentially including the genetic information of over 15 million people who have provided saliva samples over the years.



For L.A. residents concerned about their genetic privacy, California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued a timely reminder that state laws provide strong protections. Both the Genetic Information Privacy Act and the California Consumer Protection Act give consumers the right to delete their data and have their biological samples destroyed.



Here's your step-by-step guide to protecting your genetic information:

Delete Your Genetic Data:

Log into your 23andMe account on their website Go to "Settings" in your profile Scroll to "23andMe Data" at the bottom of the page Click "View" next to "23andMe Data" Download your data first if you want a personal copy Scroll to "Delete Data" and click "Permanently Delete Data" Confirm your request via the email link 23andMe sends you

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Destroy Your Physical Sample: If you previously allowed 23andMe to store your saliva sample, you can revoke this permission from the "Preferences" section of your account settings page.



Withdraw Research Consent: If you gave permission for your genetic data to be used in research, you can withdraw consent through the "Research and Product Consents" section in your account settings.



The company's 2024 financial troubles, which led to a significant market value decline, have raised serious concerns about long-term data security. For customers who provided DNA samples with the promise of learning about their ancestry or health predispositions, this bankruptcy serves as a wake-up call about the potential risks of sharing genetic information with private companies.



Taking these steps now ensures your most personal datathe genetic code that makes you who you aredoesn't end up in unexpected hands as 23andMe navigates its uncertain future.

Get the latest news delivered to your inbox daily! Sign up for Los Angeles Magazines The Daily Brief below or click here.
By Alexander Villegas

VALPARAISO, Chile (Reuters) - Police tear gassed and hurled water from cannons at protesters in front of Chile's national Congress in Valparaiso on Tuesday after a Senate commission delayed a vote on a controversial fishing law that seeks to redistribute quotas between artisanal and industrial fishers.

At least one police officer was injured and several people were detained after protesters knocked down a gate surrounding the building, attempting to enter Congress before being repelled by tear gas, water cannons and baton-wielding police in riot gear.

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Reuters footage showed huge armored police vehicles spraying barrels of water at protesters carrying the Chilean flag.

Earlier in the day, a few thousand fishermen gathered at docks in Valparaiso to march to Congress to protest the law that they say favors a few industrial fishing companies. They carried banners that read "The Sea is Not For Sale," in Spanish.

Hugo Poblete, a union leader for fishers in Quintero in central Chile, was one of the hundreds of fishermen gathered outside the building watching the Senate finance commission debate the new law on a large screen.

"The point being debated now is the fractioning, or percentages that each sector (artisanal and industrial) gets from different species," Poblete said, adding that artisanal fishers had gotten a beneficial percentage when the law passed the lower house, including 70% for hake and 90% for cuttlefish, the two most important species for local small fishers.

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Those percentages have been reduced as the bill made its way through the Senate, which artisanal fishers and unions view as favoring large industrial fishing companies, prompting them to protest. On Tuesday afternoon, the Senate commission agreed to postpone the vote and continue debate.

Police and protesters clashed soon after the decision, and police quickly tried to disperse protesters with tear gas and water cannons, prompting a group of protesters to fight back before riot police deployed in full force began detaining several protesters in the streets around Congress.

Chile's Sonapesca, the organization that encompasses the country's largest industrial fishing companies, did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

While debate continues tomorrow, the law can face further delays and legislative hurdles before it becomes law. Artisanal fishers say they'll continue to fight for what they say are equitable fishing rights as they feel their way of life is dying out.

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"It's not just the fishers, it's all the people related to the sea," said Susana Olea, 55, who has worked as an artisanal fisher since she was a child and works helping fishers prepare bait in the southern fishing town of Lebu.

"It's the buyers, the boat loaders, one boat might have four or five crew, but 10 or 15 bait workers and how many others?" Olea said.

"Three years ago, at this time in Lebu we were preparing bait, now we're not working because there's no Brama fish."

Olea says artisanal fishers have seen the areas where they can fish reduced and would like to see cuttlefish declared 100% for artisanal fishers to help revive the industry.

(Reporting by Alexander Villegas; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Pro-Palestinian protesters made multiple interruptions to Tuesdays confirmation hearing for President Donald Trumps pick to serve as ambassador to Israel.

During former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabees comments, protesters railed against Israels actions in its war against Hamas in Gaza.

Huckabee misuses Christianity to justify ethnic cleansing!, one protester yelled while being escorted out of the hearing room. Free Palestine! Free Palestine!

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Well, the good news is theyre not members of my family, which might be the case protesting me sometimes, Huckabee responded.

Huckabees hearing focused on ending Israels war against Hamas and freeing the remaining hostages. Last week, the Israeli military quit the U.S.-negotiated ceasefire and resumed its airstrikes in Gaza.

The president has made it very clear that his goal is to see a real and lasting peace in the entire Middle East, Huckabee said.

Democrats in Congress argue President Trump is waging a new war here at home against those who protest against Israel.

Trump and his administration are going after anyone who objects to his agenda, said U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.).

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A group of progressive lawmakers is calling for the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University graduate and green card holder who federal immigration agents arrested earlier this month.

Lets be clear: Mahmouds rights are our rights, said U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).

The Trump administration accuses Khalil of being a Hamas sympathizer and said his deportation is valid because he did not disclose connections to two organizations in his application to become a permanent U.S. resident.

Khalils attorneys call that a weak argument.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
As President Trump and Elon Musk continue their plan to dramatically reshape the federal government, a growing protest movement is emerging to try to stop them.

Over the past few days, thousands of people have gathered to hear Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York castigate the current administration.

We will not allow America to become an oligarchy, Sanders told a crowd of 34,000 in Denver. This nation was built by working people, and we are not going to let a handful of billionaires run the government.

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At five stops in three states  Arizona, Colorado and Nevada  Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez drew crowds that exceeded expectations.

The rallies by the two high-profile politicians have proven to be the biggest demonstrations of the first months of Trumps second term, but numerous others have been popping up nationwide. On March 7, a Stand Up for Science rally drew thousands of people to Washington, D.C., and other cities to demand a restoration of federal scientific funding cut by the Trump administration.

Yet compared with the Womens March of 2017, which drew millions of citizens to the streets the weekend after Trumps first-term inauguration to protest what many saw as the newly elected presidents pattern of sexist rhetoric, the second-term protests have, so far, been much smaller.

#TeslaTakedown

Protesters at a downtown Manhattan Tesla dealership decry Elon Musk's powerful role in the Trump administration, March 22. (Andrea Renault/Star Max)

To hear Musk tell it, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the advisory group Trump has tasked him to lead, is playing a crucial role in addressing what Republicans see as out-of-control spending.

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The country is going bankrupt, Musk said last week in an interview with Fox News in reference to the growing national debt. If we dont do something about it, the ship of America is going to sink.

But in response to Musks efforts to slash the federal workforce and pare back popular social programs, so-called Tesla Takedown protests have entered their fifth week at Tesla dealerships across the country. On Saturday, hundreds gathered at Tesla dealerships in Arizona, New Jersey, New York, California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Texas, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Washington, Colorado and multiple other states.

Organizers are planning a global day of action at Tesla dealerships on March 29.

Elon Musk is destroying our democracy, and he's using the fortune he built at Tesla to do it. We are taking action at Tesla to stop Musk's illegal coup, reads the text on ActionNetwork.org, a website that says it empowers individuals and groups to organize for progressive causes.

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The protests against Musks actions as the head of DOGE have sometimes turned violent. Over the weekend, the FBI issued an alert warning that acts of vandalism, including gunfire, have occurred at Tesla dealerships in at least nine states. The FBI warned citizens to exercise vigilance and to look out for suspicious activity on or around dealership locations. On Monday, the agency announced it was creating a task force to investigate recent attacks on the company.

"The FBI has been investigating the increase in violent activity toward Tesla, and over the last few days, we have taken additional steps to crack down and coordinate our response," FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X. "This is domestic terrorism. Those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice."

Tesla Takedown organizers, however, have distanced themselves from any acts of vandalism.

Tesla Takedown is a peaceful protest movement. We oppose violence, vandalism and destruction of property. This protest is a lawful exercise of our First Amendment right to peaceful assembly, Action Network said on its website.

Hands Off!

Another test of the strength of the protest movement against Trump will come on April 5, when a coalition of liberal groups is planning nationwide demonstrations, including one at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

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Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them. Theyre taking everything they can get their hands on, and daring the world to stop them, Indivisible, the organization running the so-called Hands Off! protests, said in a social media post.

Will the demonstrations draw enough people to have an impact on Trumps agenda? Not according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Anyone who thinks protests, lawsuits, and lawfare will deter President Trump must have been sleeping under a rock for the past several years," Leavitt told USA Today last week in a statement. "President Trump will not be deterred from delivering on the promises he made to make our federal government more efficient and more accountable to the hardworking American taxpayers across the country who overwhelmingly reelected him.

Are you an educator? What do you think about Trump's efforts to dismantle the Department of Education?

Yahoo News is asking teachers, administrators and other school staff around the country for their reactions to President Trumps order and how closing the Department of Education would affect their schools and students. Let us know what you think in our form, here.
The Israeli parliament on Tuesday passed the 2025 national budget, thereby securing the survival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing religious government.

The final vote was 66 in favour with 52 against in what the Jerusalem Post described as "marking a significant achievement for the coalition government."

The budget had to be passed by the end of the month, or parliament would have been dissolved automatically and elections called.

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According to the Knesset, the budget totals almost 756 billion shekels ($210 billion), with defence making up around 110 billion shekels.

Speaking during the final reading, opposition leader Yair Lapid described the budget as the "greatest theft in the country's history" and said it came at the expense of the Israeli middle class.

The vote followed a 15-hour debate, which was accompanied by demonstrations by hundreds of anti-government protesters outside the parliamentary buildings in Jerusalem.

The ynet news website reported violent clashes between the protesters and the security forces, and police reported detaining six people.

According to a report in the Times of Israel, demonstrators accused police of using excessive force. Further anti-government protests were planned throughout the day.
A car enters the North Garage at Providence Place on Tuesday, March 24, 2025. (Photo by Michael Salerno)

Nearly $100,000 worth of repairs and improvements coming soon to the Providence Place mall and parking garage offer little solace to those trapped in the garage for hours during repairs on Saturday, March 8.

But this time, the work will be scheduled to avoid high-traffic hours, according to contractor proposals submitted in Providence County Superior Court.

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Judge Brian Stern signed off March 3 on a series of proposed contracts with various consultants brought on to address structural and security concerns at the mall and adjacent parking garage. Safety and security, along with wear-and-tear of the 25-year-old shopping center and parking garage, were top priorities of the West Warwick attorneys named court-appointed receivers for the mall last fall.

Mark Russo and John Dorsey took over mall operations in October amid allegations by creditors that the malls former owner, Brookfield Properties, defaulted on a 2011 loan backed by nearly all of the malls 1.3-million-square-foot footprint. The court-appointed receivership, the state equivalent of bankruptcy, allows Russo and Dorsey, along with a new mall management company from Texas, to oversee daily operations and long-term improvements to the mall. They can also advertise the mall to potential new buyers.

Since December, when they were confirmed as permanent receivers, Russo and Dorsey have engaged with a flurry of consultants to recommend improvements to the property, including for the pair of eight-floor parking garages, which together offer space for 4,000 cars. They also rolled out a new code of conduct which prevents minors from visiting the mall unaccompanied by adults after 5 p.m.

With Sterns blessing, work is already underway, including a $56,000 contract, with a $3,000 additional fee, to assess and provide recommendations on structural repairs to the garages. The proposal from Indianapolis-based engineering firm American StructurePoint Inc. expressly states the company will endeavor to perform this work when the structure is least occupied  presumably avoiding the hourslong March 8 traffic jam.

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Providence Police received more than 50 calls between 4 and 8 p.m. on March 8, when drivers were stuck inside the mall garage, Lindsay Lague, a department spokesperson, said in an email.

Dorsey did not respond to inquiries for comment Tuesday about complaints received from the temporary traffic jam earlier in the month, but told other news outlets that various garage upgrades, including a traffic attendant, were planned.

New digital and cashless kiosks to pay for parking have already been installed.

Receivers also said in a statement on Monday that they plan to sign a new contract for parking security services later this year. LAZParking is now the parking security contractor.

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Details on the term and the amount of the existing contract with LAZParking were not immediately available.

Other upgrades on the horizon include the $21,600 contract with Coventry-based Shoreside Construction Services to build doors on the mall-side of the skybridge, intended to maintain control to public access, according to court filings. Another $9,000 job  with an optional $4,800 for additional work  calls for Warwick-based Jensen Hughes to review the fire safety of adding doors to the parking garage stairwells.

The receivers have also engaged Liability Consultants Inc. of Hudson, Massachusetts, to assess mall security, including technology, staffing and protocol, with a $350 hourly cost plus a $3,500 retainer, according to court documents.

The work is being paid for using a $500,000 loan approved as part of the court receivership.

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These extra safety measures and improvements reflect our dedication to creating a secure and welcoming environment for everyone who visits and works at the mall, Dorsey said in a statement. We are committed to transparency and will continue to engage with our patrons, tenants, and the community as we implement these enhancements. Our goal is to restore and instill confidence in Providence Place as a safe and vibrant destination.

The announcement regarding safety and structural repairs coincided with a new mall code of conduct effective Monday. Among the 14-list set of rules is a new requirement that children under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult when visiting after 5 p.m. The policy applies to the common shopping areas; individual stores, restaurants and retailers may have different rules.

The conduct code also expressly states as a standalone item that PROVIDENCE PLACE IS FOR SHOPPING while a separate rule bans congregating groups of four or more people or using the garage or stairs for anything other than ingress/egress.

Mall security officers will be enforcing the new rules, partnering with Providence Place on trespassing issues, Dorsey and Russo said in a statement.

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Information on the current list of mall tenants was redacted from public court filings. Details about the amount of money owed to individual creditors was also not publicly available. At the time of the receivership petition in October, creditors alleged Brookfield owed $259 million in principal and interest on the $305 million loan.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  The countrys first state-sanctioned overdose prevention center has prevented roughly two dozen overdoses in its first two months of operation, according to program leaders.

The center, operated by Project Weber/RENEW, quietly opened its doors on Willard Ave in Providence on Jan. 15.

In July 2021, Gov. Dan McKee signed legislation allowing for a harm reduction center pilot program. A ribbon cutting was held last December as construction was wrapping up.

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In the months since, overdose prevention program director Dennis Bailer told Target 12 that hundreds of people have walked through the door.

Weve had over 420 people come here since mid-January. 135 of those are unique individuals, so theyve come back multiple times, Bailer said. Weve connected over 50 people to health services.

Bailer said so far, staff have also prevented roughly two dozen overdoses from occurring.

If those 22 interventions hadnt happened here, those overdoses would have happened who knows where, and we dont know what the outcomes would have been, Bailer said.

The space has a so-called chill-out room for people who want a quiet space, two smoking rooms, and seven injection booths. The booths have built-in mirrors, so users can better see what theyre doing, but also so for staff to observe.

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They can see if it appears as though they are having some challenges, or they could go at the onset of overdose, we can spot it right away, Bailer said.

The center has faced opposition from some who say the site could encourage the use of illegal drugs, and that the states opioid settlement money  which fund the facility  should instead be used on rehabilitation and recovery efforts.

Bailer, who is in recovery, said using in an environment like this is better than the alternative.

We tend to use alone in dark places, Bailer said. We have people who come in with pre-obtained substances that they were going to use someplace anyway, whether it be behind a dumpster on Broad Street or in some abandoned building or some encampment.

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Data from the Office of the State Medical Examiner shows accidental overdoses, while on the decline in recent years, are still killing hundreds of Rhode Islanders each year.

A total of 436 accidental overdose deaths were reported in 2022, followed by 404 in 2023. Last year, 308 died from an overdose (data from July to December 2024 are still considered provisional).

The Governors Overdose Task Force set a 2030 goal to reduce fatal overdoses by 30%, returning fatal overdose rates to below 2019 levels, when there were 308 deaths.

In addition to providing a space thats safe, Bailer said staff offer a welcoming environment.

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We engage with them and we try to take the shame and the feelings of the lack of self-worth, Bailer said. We add some dignity to their lives when theyre doing something that otherwise criminalized and stigmatized and judged.

Bailer said people can engage with recovery services if theyre ready and at their own pace. The drop-in center downstairs offers a variety of services that people may need.

We provide case management, HIV and hepatitis C testing, Bailer said. We have showers and laundry. We feed people, give them clothing.

People can also be connected with a behavioral health professional, or things they may otherwise not have had an opportunity to engage with, like holistic services like acupuncture, gong baths, or art therapy.

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Yes, theyve used, but theyre alive, theyre engaged, and they have an opportunity to connect to many other resources, Bailer said.

Brown University researchers have also been measuring the sites impact.

In addition to the states overdose data, researchers are looking at things like police and EMS calls, evidence of drug paraphernalia in local neighborhoods, to see what kind of effect the center has made since opening.

A spokesperson for Providence police and fire told Target 12 that as of March 20, there had been no police or fire dispatches to the facility.

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.

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Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app.

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Correction: A previous version of this story indicated that Pennsylvania State Police are searching for the person allegedly involved in this crime when he has actually been placed in custody. This information has since been corrected.

WYSOX, Pa. (WETM)  A Wysox man has been arrested in connection to a burglary that took place back in February.

Troy Pelton, 18, was arrested on the charges of burglary, criminal trespass and theft, as stated in a release from the Pennsylvania State Police.

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Police say that Pelton was charged with the crime after he allegedly broke into a home located in Jackson Mobile Home Park in Wysox on Feb. 24, 2025. Police say that an arrest warrant had been issued for Pelton regarding the incident at the time.

Court documents state that Pelton is being held on $25,000 bail as he awaits a preliminary hearing for the charges.

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The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration confirmed on Monday that it regards Colorado as ground zero for some of the most violent criminals in America and the command center of a transnational gang that originated in the prisons of Venezuela.

We are learning that the command and control for TdA in the entire United States of America is right here in Colorado, Derek Maltz, the acting director of the DEA, said in a Denver7 report.

Maltz was referring to Tren de Aragua, a gang that started in Tocoron Penitentiary Center in Aragua, a state in north-central Venezuela. TdA has expanded the footprint of its criminal enterprises into at least eight Latin American countries, including Brazil, Colombia and Chile.

Its unclear when TdA was first discovered in the U.S., but it is believed that gang members embedded themselves with immigrants fleeing the political and economic collapse in Venezuela. Nearly eight million Venezuelans have already fled their country under President Nicolas Maduros regime, with more than 500,000 estimated to be living in the U.S.

On Monday, a spokesperson for the anti-narcotics agency confirmed Maltzs remarks to Denver7.

They are accurate, said Steffan Tubbs, who speaks for the DEAs Rocky Mountain Field Division.

When asked to back up the claims, Tubbs said the agency will not issue any other statements at this time.

This is not the first time that authorities identified Colorado  more specifically the metro Denver area  as a base of operations for the TdA, the Venezuelan gang that infiltrated and took over at least two apartment complexes in Aurora.

Internal political communications, obtained by The Denver Gazette last year, cited federal intelligence reports as saying the Venezuelan gang eyed Denver as its headquarters in the U.S.

Intelligence from ICE is that TdA has decided to make Denver their headquarters in the U.S. and will be violent toward anyone who encroaches on their territory, one bulletin by the Aurora Police Department from October 2023 said.

At the time, the Denver Police Department said it was aware of a tip regarding the possibility of TdA members operating in the metro Denver area and the gang establishing its headquarters in the metropolis.

The Denver Police Department said it uncovered no evidence that Denver is headquarters to TdA. Denver police said there were individuals who may be affiliated with TdA in the city.

It is uncertain how many TdA gang members are now living in the U.S.

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According to an internal Oct. 5, 2023 Aurora police bulletin, the FBI reported that there are 400 members of TdA in various cities in New York and are suspected to be involved in drug trafficking, homicide, kidnapping, and prostitution.

Since December 2022, roughly 43,000 immigrants have arrived in Colorados most populous city after illegally crossing the southern border. The bulk of the immigrants are from South and Central America. The majority are from Venezuela.

Initially, local officials believed the draw was because of the Mile High Citys proximity to El Paso, Texas, which is roughly 600 miles south of Denver. Texas officials, however, pointed to Denvers promise of free shelter and onward travel to newly arriving immigrants.

Invoking the Aliens Enemies Act, the Trump administration this month ordered the arrest of TdA members, declaring that the gang is perpetrating, attempting, and threatening an invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States.

The order is on hold. A federal judge has barred the administration from deportations under the 18th century law.

Todd Chamberlain, chief of the Aurora Police Department, recently told The Denver Gazette that he quickly noticed when he joined the local force that there was a lack of understanding about what it was dealing with  and that exacerbated the problem.

At the beginning, Auroras reluctance to identifying the issue as a TdA challenge was misplaced, and the city spent more time pushing back from the problem then addressing it, because of the lack of understanding about what they were confronted with, the chief said. Now, the police are in the process of repairing trust with the community, he said.

There was a lot of the community who were frustrated, I think they felt abandoned, and in a sense, Ill be honest with you, I think they were, he said.

The issue also came quick because of complete mismanagement of the illegal immigration crisis into the Denver metro area, according to the police official.

TdA is a gang notorious for victimizing Venezuelans with the understanding that immigrants would be less likely to report crimes against them to the police, Chamberlain said. They werent randomly picking at people, they were picking at people they knew were weak, he said. They also knew that there was a high propensity that those individuals would not report to police based on their status and their belief of what law enforcement was in their own country of origin.

Maltz, the DEA official, visited the DEAs Rocky Mountain Division March 13, when he told Denver7 that he learned more about TdA from the agents in Colorado than anywhere else.

I was on national news talking about TdA when they started emerging in New York City, when they were ripping pocketbooks off the necks of elderly women, and they were dragging people on mopeds down the blocks. And I didnt know anything about TdA, he told Denver7. Were the DEA, and were going to continue to go after the worst drug traffickers and narco terrorists and terrorists. Now, were going to continue to clean up the communities.

Reporters Nico Brambila, Kyla Pearce and Sage Kelley contributed to this report.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Federal funding cuts threaten to impact public broadcasting nationwide, including Baton Rouges WRKF, a non-commercial public FM radio station that has served the community for more than 40 years.

General Manager Paul Maassen said WRKF receives approximately 8% of its budgetaround $150,000 annuallyfrom the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). This money is primarily allocated to local programming.

It enables us to hire people. It enables us to buy equipment, Maassen said.

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According to Maassens March 17 letter to listeners, WRKFs funding primarily comes from donations and local business support. However, CPB funding remains critical for the stations ability to provide trusted local and national journalism, cultural programs, and vital emergency alert messaging to South Louisiana.

Funding threats

Several developments have heightened concerns over the future of public broadcasting:

They can go exist on their own if they want to, but I do want to defund them, Kennedy said.

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Maassen emphasized that most of WRKFs programming is locally produced, not directly tied to NPRs national content. However, he noted that eliminating CPB funding would significantly harm local programming, which he described as the most expensive thing we produce.

Were constantly adjusting how we operate and what we do, he said.

Trump turns up the heat on public broadcasters

Is NPR really biased?

While some lawmakers claim NPR promotes a particular agenda, media bias charts from Ad Fontes Media and AllSides offer a more nuanced perspective:

Ad Fontes Medias Bias Chart rates NPRs website in the Middle category of bias, with its content considered Reliable, Analysis/Fact Reporting.

AllSides Media Bias Company scores NPRs Opinion section as Lean Left but maintains that NPRs news coverage remains mostly unbiased.

Funding continuity

Some news earlier this month could be a sigh of relief for public broadcasting in the short term. Congress recently approved a Continuing Resolution that provides $535 million in CPB funding for 2027, according to CPB CEO Patricia Harrison. In a press release, Harrison said the funding will allow CPB to continue to prioritize educational content and resources for families, provide essential local reporting and public safety information, and pursue technology advancements that enhance public medias connection with audiences across multiple platforms.

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Maassen said he hopes the funding approval indicates continued federal support for public broadcasting, allowing WRKF to provide quality radio for the next four decades.

CPB funding is one of those vital tools that helps us be able to do that, he said.

Read Maassens letter, emailed to listeners on March 17, below:

Dear [Listener],

Many listeners have asked how recent efforts to cut federal funding for public radio might affect WRKF.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) distributes most of this funding and helps stations like ours with operations, programming, and infrastructure. While WRKF relies primarily on support from listeners and local businesses, CPB funding8% of our budgetprovides essential backing for the free, trusted local and national journalism, cultural programs, and vital emergency alert messaging that serve South Louisiana.

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In recent weeks, several key developments have put federal support for public radio in question:

Sen. John Kennedy proposed a bill to eliminate public radio and TV funding.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr launched an investigation into NPR and PBS underwriting.

The Department of Defense revoked NPRs Pentagon press office access.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called for a congressional hearing on NPR and PBS funding.

These challenges highlight the importance of a strong strong public radio system sustained by both federal and local funding. Your support is essential. Public radio has never been more vitalor more vulnerable.

Well continue to keep you informed as this situation unfolds. You can learn more about legislative efforts and policy developments that could impact NPR, PBS, and local stations like WRKF at Protect My Public Media.

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If you have any questions, please get in touch with me at paul@wrkf.org or (225) 926-3050, extension 122.

Thank you for being part of the WRKF community.

Sincerely,

Paul Maassen

General Manager, WRKF Public Radio

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SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  San Francisco Recreation and Parks said more spray-painted messages were discovered Sunday morning at the site of the former Upper Great Highway  now being revitalized into an oceanfront public park.

Why was San Francisco City Hall lit red last week?

Officials said the graffiti messages included language opposing the site of the soon-to-be opened park, including gentriffy (sic) and Your (sic) bringing trouble. Officials said the San Franciso Police Department and park rangers responded to the incident. Rangers are increasing their patrols in the area.

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In November, San Franciscans voted to ban cars for a two-mile radius of the Great Highway and transform it into a public park.

On March 15, one day after the highway was permanently closed to car traffic between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard, a mural by local artist Emily Fromm at the Judah Street bathroom location was heavy vandalized.

Friends of Ocean Beach Park said the mural by Emily Fromm  located at the Judah bathroom on the Great Highway  was targeted by vandals on March 14. (Photo courtesy of Friends of Ocean Beach Park)

Its painful to see something meant to uplift the community and celebrate our history be treated with disrespect, the muralist said in a news release following the incident.

Friends of Ocean Beach Park said the recent act of vandalism was removed by Sunday evening thanks to its volunteers and Rec and Parks painters.

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Destructive behavior by a few wont get in the way of our work to make the coast enjoyable and accessible by all, said Friends of Ocean Beach Park President Lucas Lux.

There are countless constructive ways to engage in conversations about our citys future, but spray-painting public spaces isnt one of them, added San Francisco Recreation and Parks General Manager Phil Ginsburg. Were focused on creating something beautiful for everyone, and that work will continue.

Friends of Ocean Beach Park said despite the incidents, approximately 4,000 people still head to the area each weekend.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Nearly a dozen puppies were found dead in a bookbag on Youngstowns North Side.

Read next: Owner of Warren apartment complex has history of problems at other properties

It started when a person walking along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near downtown Youngstown spotted a backpack sitting in the grass across from the old BJ Alan Fireworks property Monday afternoon.

And when they looked in, they discovered that it was full of deceased puppies, and they called the police, Jane MacMurchy with Animal Charity of Ohio said.

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Officers quickly called for Humane Agents with Animal Charity of Ohio, who tell First News there were 11 dogs inside the bag.

The puppoes were very young, maybe around 10 days old, MacMurchy said.

Agents said the mixed-breed puppies were so young, their ears had not fully developed yet. At this point, they cant say how the animals died or how long they might have been sitting there before they were found

Agents do believe the backpack is fairly unique with patches across the outside. Theyre hoping someone will recognize it and who it might belong to. Theyre calling the incident one of the worst theyve encountered.

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When theyre passed like that, and theres nothing we can do, its pretty disturbing, MacMurchy said. Its also heartbreaking and traumatizing for our team.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Animal Charity at 330-788-1064 or acohumanedepartment@gmail.com.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin gave U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff a portrait of President Trump to deliver to the U.S. president as a gift, the Kremlin confirmed on Monday.

Putin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Putin gave the painting to Witkoff when he was in Moscow earlier this month, when asked by a journalist about reports of the painting. Peskov declined to comment further.

Witkoff  who has visited Russia twice as the U.S. seeks to negotiate an end to the war with Ukraine  first mentioned the portrait last week in a podcast interview with former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson.

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In the second visit that I had, it got personal, Witkoff told Carlson in the interview. The president, President Putin, had commissioned a beautiful portrait of President Trump from the leading Russian artist and actually gave it to me and asked me to take it home to President Trump, which I brought home and delivered to him.

It was such a gracious moment, Witkoff added.

Witkoff also said in the interview that Putin prayed for Trump after the U.S. president was targeted in an assassination attempt last year on the campaign trail.

When the president was shot, he [Putin] went to his local church and met with his priest and prayed for the president, Witkoff said, adding, He was praying for his friend.

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The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.

The Associated Press contributed.

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Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for Russian ruler Vladimir Putin, has said there are no plans to share the content of the Russia-US talks held the day before in Riyadh, as they were of a technical nature.

Source: Russian Interfax news agency

Quote from Dmitry Peskov: "We are talking about technical discussions. These are negotiations with immersion in details, so the content of these negotiations will not be published. This should not be expected."

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Details: Peskov also said that reports on the talks have already been transmitted to the capitals and are being analysed.

Background:

Earlier on Tuesday 25 March, CBS News, citing its own sources, reported that the United States and Russia would make a joint statement following the talks in Saudi Arabia at 10:00 am.

The Russian and US delegations concluded their talks held on 24 March in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, where they focused on ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine. According to Russian propagandists, the meeting between Russia and the USA lasted 12 hours with breaks.

Earlier, the Kremlin revealed that the focus of discussions with the US delegation in Saudi Arabia is the renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, from which Russia withdrew in 2023.

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QUAPAW, Okla.  A key part of our nations history is on display in Northeast Oklahoma.

Students at Quapaw High School, today, got to learn more about the Oklahoma City bombing.

They did so thanks to whats called the Journey of Hope, a traveling exhibit commemorating what happened 30 years ago next month.

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The project was launched last year, and is part of a partnership with the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum and the National Park Service.

Its making stops in all 77 Oklahoma counties, including here at Quapaw High School.

You know, none of these children were alive when this happened, and it keeps the memory of  not only my mom  but the other 167 victims alive. And, truly to educate them that violence is never the answer. And you can overcome evil with good, said Kyle Genzer, mother killed in OKC bombing.

Students were also part of a tree-planting ceremony in front of the school.

Its an American elm.

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Its seeds came from the Survivor Tree, which withstood the blast of the bomb outside of Murrah Federal Building.

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A premier Los Angeles restaurant is facing intense online backlash after one of its owners appeared to voice his and his wife's support for Elon Musk in an article in the New York Times.

Walter Manzke, who owns Republique with his wife, Margarita Manzke, was quoted in the article about the Tesla cafe that Musk plans to open on Santa Monica Boulevard saying the idea for a restaurant that offers a diner, Tesla charging stations and a movie theater "sounds exciting."

He also noted his wife is a fan of Musk.

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"She told me the other day that she wants to buy a Tesla, so I can tell you what side shes on," Manzke said.

The comments in the article, which published Friday, polarized Republique patrons who have strong opinions about Musk, the world's richest man, who leads President Trump's advisory team that he calls the Department of Government Efficiency.

The day the article came out, the restaurant posted on Instagram denying the statement implied political support for Musk.

"At Republique, we believe in focusing on what we do bestcreating exceptional food and a welcoming experience for all our guests," they wrote. "In response to a recent New York Times article, we want to clarify that the quote about possibly buying a Tesla was simply about exploring electric vehicle options, not a political statement. We value innovation and sustainability, and we respect all viewpoints. Republique does not take political stances; we are here to create a space for everyone, no matter their background or beliefs."

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The post was taken down shortly after.

Republique is a mainstay of the Los Angeles dining scene, a French bistro routinely topping "best of" lists. The restaurant has routinely ranked in the top 10 in the Los Angeles Times' "101 Best Restaurants" list since it opened in Hancock Park in 2014.

Walter Manzke did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Margarita Manzke declined to comment when reached by The Times.

Musk began planning the Tesla cafe in 2022, when his company first submitted documents to the city of Los Angeles for a diner that would operate 24 hours a day in Hollywood.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  Crews are hard at work as the Table Rock State Park wildfire continued to burn on Tuesday.

The wildfire has burned more than 2,293 acres. So far, 0% of the fire has been contained.

The Table Rock fire burned to the south and west on Tuesday, expanding in the opposite direction it moved on Monday.

Officials said the fires has completely burned through the southern slopes of Rocky Mountain and Buzzard Mountain, reaching Brushy Knob.

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Black Hawk helicopters from the South Carolina National Guard dropped water and retardant on the fire throughout the day.

The South Carolina Forestry Commission said around 100 crew members have been helping fight the fire.

Were trying to create whats called a fire break where the fire will not pass me on that line so thats essentially what theyre doing, said Madeline Stewart with the SC Forestry Commission.

The fire began on Friday, while Pickens County deputies were searching for Stephanie Womacks, a hiker who was last seen on March 3. Pickens County Sheriff Tommy Blankenship said the fire was started by the negligent act of a group of teenage hikers, and has cut short efforts to locate Womacks.

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The sheriff added that there will be an increased amount of deputies on Highway 11 to help traffic keep moving. Deputies encouraged people to avoid unnecessary traffic on between West Gate Road and New Hope Road on the highway.

If you must travel this corridor, please keep traffic moving so that it does not become necessary to set up detour routes to ensure the safety of citizens and first responders, the sheriffs office said.

All park trails, the White Oaks Campground, Lake Oolenoy, Lake Pinnacle and day use visitation are closed at this time.

Officials with the SC Forestry Commission said high winds, low humidity and debris left over from Hurricane Helene have aided the fires growth.

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Its very steep terrain. There is a lot of what we call downed timber, blown debris, that has fallen because of Hurricane Helene. That just makes the conditions that much more difficult, SC Forestry Commission Information Officer, Brad Bramlett told 7NEWS.

Greenville County Emergency Management said it is the first time in almost a decade that Greenville and Pickens counties have combines all their resources to fight a fire of this size.

Wildfires force closures of three state parks in South Carolina

Table Rock Fire

Acreage

1,156

Containment

0%

Driving through that fire line and seeing what they had to sail through and then what the dozer had to push to the side, I mean its pretty indescribable, Stewart continued. It was just so much and I cant even imagine how much even a single tree weighs that they have to push to the side, but it is just so many its wild.

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Rain that passed through the area Monday slowed down fire activity, but only by a bit.

Neither the Table Rock Fire nor the nearby Persimmon Ridge Fire grew significantly Monday, according to the SC Forestry Commission.

Fortunately, crews were able to construct fire lines in the area.

Were gonna keep working again, Stewart said. Crews are still gonna work throughout the day today. Airdrops will continue tomorrow. Ill be trying to do as much as we can to put the fire out.

Officials have asked residents living close by Table Rock State Park to evacuate the area, but said residents are not in immediate danger.

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, has approved federal funds to help with costs incurred by the Table Rock fire and Persimmon Ridge fire.

Pickens County deputies asked that community members stop dropping off donations at this time.

Thank you for your generous support of our first responders, the sheriffs office said. We ask that you continue to pray for these men and women out on the front lines.

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SAYBROOK  There were at least 447 people registered to get care at the annual Remote Area Medical clinic over the weekend at Lakeside Junior High School.

Ashtabula County Commissioner J.P. Ducro said the figure is tentative, and the county will have more accurate numbers later this week.

Its not going to change by a big number, he said.

RAM, a non-profit that hosts free pop-up clinics across the country, has been coming to Ashtabula County for several years.

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The clinic provides free medical, dental and vision services on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The clinic relies on volunteers, who are recruited both locally and from across the country.

Ducro said around 400 volunteers signed up for all three days.

Alongside the clinics operation Saturday and Sunday, it had to be set up Friday.

Some volunteers may not have worked every day of the clinic, Ducro said.

Ducro was thankful for the RAM clinics donors, who provided in-kind services like food and lodging for volunteers.

Theres too many to mention, he said.

Ducro mentioned Ryan Cochran, from Union Industrial Contractors, brought an air compressor after short notice early Sunday morning, allowing the dental clinic to continue operating that day.

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Were incredibly grateful for him, he said.

Ducro said he was grateful for Ashtabula Area City Schools Facility Manager Terry Strong and other district staff for helping the clinic operate.

During the clinic, Ducro toured with officials from other communities, including administration at Pymatuning Valley Local School District.

We know how much of a healthcare desert it is down there, he said.

There are no RAM clinics planned in the future in the southern part of the county yet, he said.

Its just a really big undertaking, he said.

Ducro said there could be more done to improve transport of southern county residents to the annual clinic.

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Leaders from Cleveland and Erie, Pennsylvania also toured the clinic, Ducro said. These cities either had clinics recently or were having clinics in the near future.

Clinics in those cities can also provide county residents other healthcare opportunities, Ducro said.

Theyre fairly close to us, he said.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman, confirmed on Tuesday that he was in a group chat about the militarys plan to bomb Yemen that mistakenly included a journalist, but denied that the situation was a huge mistake.

Ratcliffe told the Senate Intelligence Committee that the use of the encrypted messaging platform Signal, where the chat took place, is permissible for work.

The hearing, which had been previously scheduled, came one day after The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg revealed that he was accidentally added to a Signal group chat with top U.S. officials that included internal deliberations about bombing Houthi targets  an Iran-backed rebel group.

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Goldberg wrote that he was unsure that the texts  from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance and others  were real until bombs fell on Yemen on March 15.

As a result, in Washington and around the country, critics and national security experts asked if the texts showed that the administration officials had violated record-keeping laws and put U.S. military members in danger by messaging possible classified information in the Signal group chat.

If this information had gotten out, American lives could have been lost, said committee vice chair Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, at the hearing.

Signal is an end-to-end encrypted messaging app that is known for its security. However, the application is not a government application and runs the risk of being hacked.

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Ratcliffe told the hearing that he did not share any classified information in the group chat and that he has not participated in a group chat that included classified material. "To be clear, I havent participated in any Signal group messaging that relates to any classified information," Ratcliffe said.

In defending the category of the material that was shared, Ratcliffe seemed to be focusing on the actions of Hegseth, the Pentagon chief. The Secretary of Defense is the original classification authority," Ratcliffe said, "and my understanding is that um his comments are that any information that he shared was not classified.

While Goldberg wrote that the messages in the group chat included information on targets, weapons and attack sequencing, Ratcliffe repeated that in his view, his texts in the chat followed proper procedure.

My communications, to be clear, in a Signal message group were entirely permissible and lawful and did not include classified information, Ratcliffe said.

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In response to Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, asking if he would submit to an audit to examine if he was in any group chats that shared confidential information, Ratcliffe said that he would comply with any followup that the National Security Council would deem appropriate.

Ratcliffe claimed that soon after he became the CIA Director, Signal was downloaded on his computer at the agency and he was briefed on how to use Signal for work. He said the CIAs use of the app preceded the Trump administration and was used during the Biden administration.

Signal can be used to coordinate and communicate, Ratcliffe said, as long as any decisions made on the messaging platform are recorded through formal channels. The CIA Director said his team followed this requirement.

Messages sent in the group chat, according to The Atlantic, were scheduled to disappear after one or four weeks.

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When asked by Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia, This was a huge mistake, correct? Ratcliffe replied No.

We cant wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 1315 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more.

Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025.

TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
The Colorado House on Monday passed legislation to prohibit the purchase and sale of semiautomatic weapons with detachable magazines  unless an individual undergoes hunter education training.

As introduced, Senate Bill 003 would have prohibited the purchase and sale of the weapons. Following significant amendments in the Senate, the bill now includes exemptions for individuals who receive hunter education training courses certified by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Republicans criticized the bill, saying it infringes upon law-abiding citizens' Second Amendment rights and creates financial barriers to exercising those rights. They also argued that shifting the responsibilities for the training course to CPW is irrelevant to the agency's scope.

Following about 12 hours of debate on Friday, lawmakers returned Monday morning for to vote on the measure.

Rep. Stephanie Luck, R-Penrose, requested to move the bill back to second reading so members could hold a more robust debate on the actual policy itself, rather than on certain fiscal aspects.

"I'm asking this body to allow us to go back," she said. "This is genuinely a life or death issue, and we should take the time to really weigh what is being considered  not just in committees, but here in this room. To weigh it and to look at the impacts."

Her motion failed.

The bill has "morphed into something completely different" what was introduced, said Rep. Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud.

He said the current iteration of the bill is "probably worse than anything," as it creates an "elite club" of gun owners who can afford to take the training course.

"Everyone at the table needs to get involved," said Armagost. "I think the people behind this  I'm not talking about the bill sponsors, I'm talking about outside this building  there's no partisanship."

Armagost's constituents widely oppose the measure, he said, and their opinions should have the same weight as residents of urban areas like Denver.

Rep. Ken DeGraaf, R-Colorado Springs, sought to move the bill into a joint special committee, an extremely rare procedure in which designated members from both parties in the House and Senate would meet with bill sponsors to discuss particular concerns.

"We need to explore all of these things before we put more bad legislation into the works," he said. "I think we need to talk about what the overall implication is on the counties and municipalities."

Under the bill, county sheriffs would be responsible for running background checks and issuing firearms safety course eligibility cards.

Rep. Jarvis Caldwell, R-Colorado Springs, referenced the bill's 35 amendments and at least six different iterations of its fiscal note.

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The bill is so "significantly different" from what was introduced that it would benefit everyone to take the time to discuss those specific changes.

Democrats defended the measure.

The bill would not take away anyone's guns, argued Rep. Sean Camacho, D-Denver. It would only require those who wish to purchase a semiautomatic weapon with a detachable magazine to take a safety training course, he said.

Semiautomatic weapons like AR-15-style rifles have been used in several of Colorado's worst mass shootings, he also said, pointing to the shootings at an Aurora movie theater in 2012, at a King Soopers in Boulder in 2021, and at a gay club in Colorado Springs.

"The children, the families, and my neighbors all deserve to feel safe at school, at work, or in our neighborhoods," he said. "No parent in east Denver, or Colorado at large for that matter, should have to send their child to school with a pit in their stomach wondering, 'Is today gonna be the worst day of my life?'

"No teacher should have to focus on mapping out an escape plan instead of a lesson plan, and no child should have to practice hiding under their desk, terrified that an active shooter with a weapon of war will walk through their classroom door," he said.

Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Thornton, rejected opponents' argument that the bill imposes unnecessary barriers on hunters from practicing their sport or exercising their rights.

Willford said she asked her husband, a hunter, if he needs semiautomatic weapons with detachable magazines to hunt big game, such as elk.

"His response was 'no way'," she said. "He said hunting big game responsibly means killing an animal with one shot, because anything else is cruel and it's unethical."

While she acknowledged that some of her colleagues' constituents may want them to vote against the measure, her constituents have made it clear they want her to do the opposite, she said.

"This bill isn't about taking away anyone's traditions and punishing responsible gun owners, it is about drawing a line between recreation and devastation," she said. "It is about saying the right to bear arms does not come with the right to shatter lives in seconds."

Opponents have warned that the measure will face a slew of lawsuits should it pass. Meanwhile, Rep. Cecelia Espenoza, D-Denver, said legal challenges to similar and sometimes even stricter gun control measures have failed almost unanimously.

The Supreme Court has recognized that the right to bear arms is "not absolute" and can be subject to "reasonable regulations," she said.

The bill passed on a 36-28 vote, with all Republicans and seven Democrats voting in opposition. It will now go back to the Senate to review the House amendments. The bill originally passed through the Senate on a 19-15 vote, with all Republicans and three Democrats  Sens. Nick Hinrichsen of Pueblo and Tony Exum and Marc Snyder of Colorado Springs  voting against it.
Midwestern Coca-Cola fans should check their recent purchases. The beverage behemoth recently issued a recall on over 10,000 12-ounce cans of Coca-Cola Original Taste due to potential plastic contamination. The affected cans, which were sold in Wisconsin and Illinois, were bottled at Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling in Milwaukee and feature the date code SEP2925MDA and UPCs 0 49000-02890 4 (for 12-packs) and 0 49000-00634 6 (for single cans).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified it as a class II recall on Monday, March 24, after the brand originally initiated the recall on March 6. According to the FDA, class II recalls are reserved for situations with potential for "temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences" or the "remote" possibility of more serious health complications. While foreign objects aren't typically deadly, they could cause problems like choking or internal bleeding. If you were injured by a foreign object in your food, you might have grounds to sue  especially if the object was unexpected, like a piece of plastic in your Coke.

Read more: 14 Cheap But Delicious Beers You'll Wish You Tried Sooner

What Should You Do If You're Affected By The Coca-Cola Recall?

Boxes of Coca-Cola at a store. - Kevin Carter/Getty Images

Coca-Cola hasn't issued a press release on the matter, but the FDA website notes that the brand issued the recall voluntarily. Since there's no press release, there's no word as to whether or not customers will be compensated. However, companies generally request that customers return the recalled product to the store for a refund. Alternatively, you can dispose of the recalled items in a safe spot (where others won't find and consume them).

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Realistically, the scope is pretty small: The recall only affects 864 12-packs of the soda. However, food recalls have surged in recent years. While the uptick in recalls is partially thanks to updates in pathogen-detection technology (a large part of how food recalls are discovered), new tech doesn't explain foreign object recalls  like Coke's plastic recall or Target's recent recall on canned green beans. Those may be the result of laxer COVID-era policies.

If you find a foreign object in your food, report it to the government. Meat and poultry complaints go to the US Department of Agriculture; everything else goes to the FDA. If you're concerned about future food recalls, you can sign up for email updates. Stay safe, and always follow instructions for recalled food.

For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more!

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An ex-U.S. Attorney who worked during former President Joe Bidens administration was found dead Saturday at her home in northern Virginia.

Jessica Aber was found unresponsive at her residence in Alexandria, police said in a social media post. She was 43.

Abers death was not considered suspicious, sources told ABC News. The former prosecutor had been battling a longstanding medical issue that was likely the reason for her death, a family friend told the outlet.

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Her cause of death has not been confirmed by authorities. Virginias chief medical examiner will conduct her autopsy, Alexandria police said.

From 2021 to 2025, Aber served as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, one of the most influential districts across the country. She resigned in January 2025 ahead of President Trumps inauguration.

Virginias eastern district includes the states population centers around Washington, D.C., and Hampton Roads. In total, more than 80% of the states population lives in the district. Abers staff included an estimated 300 prosecutors in offices throughout the region.

Multiple high-profile trials have occurred in the district, including an antitrust case against Google and the conviction of al-Qaeda member Zacarias Moussaoui in connection with the 9/11 attacks.

U.S. Attorneys are political appointees who almost always change in new presidential administrations. The position is currently held by Erik Siebert.

_____
A 17-year-old Milwaukee boy accused of accidentally shooting the mother to his child in January is now facing a homicide charge.

Jveon Clark was already facing a January felony firearm possession charge in the shooting of Zaniyah Booker, but earlier in March prosecutors filed an additional second-degree reckless homicide charge against him. The amended charging document details Clark turned himself into police in early February and how he described the shooting.

Prosecutors write in the new document that Clark showed officers how the shooting took place while using a prop gun. Clark told police his finger was on the trigger when he was attempting to take the gun apart and it fired at that time, striking Booker, who was 17.

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Clark told police it was an accident and the two were not arguing at the time, according to the criminal complaint. He told authorities the two were in a relationship for about two and a half years and he would "never do anything to intentionally hurt her."

After he shot her, Clark told police he kissed Booker and told her he loved her, before leaving the home, according to the criminal complaint.

The new charge comes about two months after initial charges were filed against Clark. The previous charge outlined how Clark spoke with Booker's sister, her aunt and uncle on the phone following the shooting and told them what happened.

At the time, a spokesperson for the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office said the prosecutors were still investigating the case.

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Family members described Booker as a "beautiful soul" who loved being a mother to the two's child. She looked forward to graduating high school to focus on being a mother.

"That was her baby, that was her life," her aunt said. "She was an awesome mother to that baby."

Clark pleaded not guilty at a preliminary hearing on March 19. His next court appearance is on April 16 for a scheduling conference.

David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Reckless homicide charge filed in accidental shooting of teen mother
DENVER (KDVR)  On Monday, an article was published that caused concern for many legislators over how the Trump Administration is handling classified material, and several Colorado legislators said the matter is putting Americans at risk.

Its all because of an article from The Atlantic which describes how the publications editor-in-chief was included in a text thread of top U.S. officials planning to bomb Houthi targets in Yemen. The chat was made in a messaging app called Signal, which is encrypted, instead of using government-secured communications channels.

Colorado House passes bill regulating semiautomatic firearms, banning bump stocks

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What a major national security (expletive)-up, Rep. Jason Crow wrote on X. Why is the Trump administration discussing top secret war plans over group chats? Americans deserve answers.

Crow is a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and a Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations, and also served as an Army Ranger. He called it a culture of carelessness with classified info.

I cant believe we have to say thisbut Elon Musk shouldnt have access to secure Treasury payment systems and Trump shouldnt be planning Middle East wars via Signal chat, Crow said on a post that included him speaking to CNN on Monday.

This is a pattern of incidents, Crow told CNN. Whether its one of Elon Musks employees plugging in a personal computer to a SIPRNet-secured system, whether its providing Elon Musk with classified or secure Treasury Department system, whether its the potential transfer of personnel information from the CIA in an unclassified format to the White House, this stuff happens on the regular within the Trump Administration, which points to me to a culture of carelessness or even recklessness that is putting people at risk.

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Sen. John Hickenlooper called it dangerous and reckless in a post on X.

These irresponsible actions put our service members and national security at risk, he asserted.

Top Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, advocated for a full investigation into the chat and potential use of Signal for other matters of military intelligence and national security. He called the chat one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence Ive read about in a very, very long time.

President Trumps portrait at Colorado Capitol to be taken down

Meanwhile, Speaker Mike Johnson told The Hill Monday that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth should of course not be disciplined for participating in the chat.

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The administration, as I understand, I just was with the president in the Oval Office, just now, the administration is addressing what happened, Johnson told The Hill when asked if he was concerned about the report. Apparently an inadvertent phone number made it onto that thread. Theyre gonna track that down and make sure that doesnt happen again.

Sen. Michael Bennet did not make public remarks, but reposted a screenshot of a post on X from U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, stating Any unauthorized release of classified information is a violation of the law and will be treated as such.

Rep. Joe Neguse, assistant Democratic leader in the U.S. House, called it Total incompetence, yet again.

And putting our national security at great risk, he wrote on X.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
(FOX40.COM) A little after midnight, firefighters with the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department responded to the 8000 Block of Eagle Peak Way for reports of a residential structure fire.

Video Above: Workplace Fire Safety Tips

(IMAGE: SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN FIRE DEPARTMENT)

Upon arrival, crews found the garage on fire and were able to make quick containment, stopping the fire from spreading into the main house.

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Family members were able to get out safely and no injuries were reported, officials said.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

The Red Cross will be assisting the family.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  March is Red Cross month, and to celebrate this month, the American Red Cross Serving Texas Big Country chapter is hosting the 11th annual Red Cross Giving Day on March 26.

Imagine losing everything in a fire or a storm and having nowhere to run. For many families, the Red Cross is that lifeline, and on this giving day, theyre asking for your support.

Wichita Falls City Council set to appoint new city manager: Who are the candidates?

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Red Cross Giving Day aims to rally 30,000 supporters to aid those affected by disasters, big and small.

Your donation can provide relief and care for something as small but impactful as $5 for a blanket to wrap around a person`s shoulders, $11 for a nutritious meal, snack and drink or $24 for comfort kits, each with supplies like a toothbrush, comb and shampoo.

90% Of the Red Cross workforce are volunteers. The vital work of the American Red Cross is made possible by people like you who contribute their time to support families impacted by disasters, assist veterans and help strengthen communities in need.

Donors are an integral part of this organizations work. According to the Red Cross, it responds to a disaster every 8 minutes.

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In 2024, we responded to 29 disasters right here in Wichita County. Most of those being home fires. Also, our chapter is comprised of 38 counties, and we responded to over 228 disasters during that time frame, Executive Director of TBCC of American Red Cross, Kara Nickens, said.

The Red Cross also offers lifesaving classes, such as first aid, CPR and swimming. Visit their website to join any classes, donate, or volunteer.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The Red Sea crisis took a bizarre turn Monday in a U.S. national security blunder that occurred more than 6,000 miles away from the conflict-ridden waterway.

The Trump administration accidentally leaked plans to strike the Yemen-based Houthis to a journalist mere hours before the series of airstrikes occurred on March 15.

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Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, revealed the news in a 3,500-word report Monday. Goldberg had apparently accidentally been invited to a group chat on the encrypted messaging platform Signal by U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz.

Alongside Waltz, prominent members of President Donald Trumps cabinet were in the chat including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, among others.

According to Goldberg, Hegseth posted operational details of the forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying and attack sequencingall while Goldberg remained in the group chat.

After Goldberg left the chat, National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes confirmed to him that the contents of the chat were factual.

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Early Tuesday, President Trump defended Waltz, saying he has learned a lesson, and hes a good man.

Multiple Democratic lawmakers grilled both Gabbard and Central Intelligence Agency director John Ratcliffe on the chat during a Senate Intelligence Committee meeting held Tuesday. Both downplayed the mishap by saying the information revealed had not been classifieda claim several Democrats pushed back against.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the group chat was Vances admitted opposition to bailing Europe out again when discussing the plans to strike Houthi targets, despite acknowledging Trumps desire to send a message.

I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now, Vance said the day before the airstrikes, in a rare departure from Trumps positions.

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Waltz, minutes later, said it will have to be the United States that reopens these shipping lanes.

Hegseth agreed with both parties, calling European free-loadingPATHETIC, but referred to the reopening of shipping lanes as a POTUS directive.

As the drama in Washington unfolds, the Red Sea returned to a state of uncertainty after the Houthis promised to resume attacks on Israeli ships throughout the region due to a blockade of aid to Gaza. Then the situation escalated further with Israel breaking its two-month ceasefire with Hamas shortly after.

With the renewed hostility in the region, major carriers have made it known that they will not resume passage through the Red Sea until there is guaranteed safety for all ships involved.

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Ocean carriers have instead continued to divert ships away from the Red Sea in favor of the Cape of Good Hope, and have maintained the longer transit times that buoyed freight rates in 2024 and helped the firms generate outlandish profits.

Due to the continued diversions, transit times from southeast Asia to the U.S. East Coast increased by 47 percent from the first Houthi attack in November 2023 to February 2025, according to data from Project44. The southeast Asia to Europe route had a 33 percent longer time, while China-to-Europe transit times have risen by 25 percent.

As of the last week of February, Red Sea transit volumes are still down 71 percent, according to Clarksons Research. That figure accounts for categories like tankers and dry bulk vessels that havent always conducted mass diversions, meaning container shippings transit volumes have a steeper decline.

The Suez Canal, and by proxy, Egypt, has taken plenty of financial hits due to the lack of traffic.

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Earlier this month, Egypts president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said the monthly losses of the Suez Canal revenues totaled around $800 million due to the situation.

Sisi said in December the disruption cost Egypt around $7 billion in less revenue from the Suez Canal in 2024.

In February, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) stressed a return to stability during the ceasefire, before Israels attacks in Gaza broke the pact.

Despite the worsening conditions, the authority appears to be pitching to shipping companies that it is safer to return, highlighting in a Tuesday statement the current challenges remain temporary.

Citing data from global trade intelligence platform Kpler MarineTraffic, 166 vessels adjusted their routes to transit through the Suez Canal instead of using the Cape of Good Hope route since the start of February. Half of the E.U.s fuel shipments in March have transited through the Suez Canal during the ceasefire period, the authority said.
ELKINS, W.Va. (WBOY)  Reduction in Force or RIF hearings began Monday in the Randolph County school system as administrators and the board work to balance the projected $2.9 million deficit in its budget.

According to agendas published on the Board of Educations website, Monday nights hearing focused on the proposed termination of the county transportation coordinator and eight teachers at Elkins Middle School and Elkins High School.

Before the hearings began Monday night, Randolph County Superintendent Shawn Dilly affirmed to the board and those in attendance that the proposed reductions come under threat of a potential state intervention.

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He said that if the school district continues to operate under a deficit, the West Virginia Board of Education could open up a Special Circumstance Review on the district which could lead to the state taking it over. This would be similar to the situations seen in Upshur County in 2023 and Mingo County earlier this month.

I want to be absolutely clear. These decisions are not a reflection of the merit, dedication or impact of the individuals affected. We are fortunate to have talented and committed staff who work tirelessly for the students of this county. Their contributions are valued and appreciated and I understand these reductions will be difficult. However, this process is not about whether a person or program is deserving. It is about the financial reality we must confront, Dilly said.

Dilly said that the proposed reductions would result in an estimated $2.1 million in savings toward the $2.9 million deficit projected for the next fiscal year. He later added that unfunded mandates passed by the West Virginia Legislature could result in the deficit growing to as much as $3.4 million.

US Navys Strike Group lands at University High School hoping to light a spark in students

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A second night of hearings is scheduled for Tuesday, where the board will consider the termination of four school counselors and six teachers at various schools throughout the county. The total number of proposed job cuts has not been finalized, but early estimates suggest about 32 positions.

The proposed cuts came up after the Board of Education opted to not close Harman and Pickens schools earlier this year. The hearings took place at Elkins High School and are scheduled to continue through Thursday when the board will vote on all of the positions.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
A suspicious death south of Colorado Springs is being investigated as a homicide, according to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.

At about 5:45 a.m. Monday, a man was found in the passenger seat of a vehicle parked on the wrong side of the street in the area of Crawford Avenue and Withington Drive in unincorporated Security-Widefield, according to deputies.

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office pronounced the man dead on scene at about 6 a.m.

Deputies currently don't know if there was a driver involved, if a potential driver ran away, or if the man was alone in the vehicle when he died.

Law enforcement said the El Paso County Coroner's Office will release the name of the man after his next of kin has been notified.

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Deputies asked the public to avoid the area of Crawford Avenue from Fleming Street to Withington Drive for several hours while detectives investigate the area.

Police confirmed Monday afternoon that they are considering the situation to be an isolated incident.

Anyone with information can call 719-390-5555.

Return to gazette.com for updates.
Would-be reformers are firing back against Mayor Brandon Johnsons administration, arguing ethics changes targeting the citys Law Department can move forward.

City Inspector General Deborah Witzburg first proposed the changes last month in an effort to bolster her offices investigative independence. The mayor-controlled Law Department has long hindered investigations that may result in embarrassment or political consequences to City leaders, she told aldermen in a scathing letter at the time.

A Johnson ally quickly stalled the reform package when it was introduced in the City Council. The mayors corporation counsel, Mary Richardson-Lowry, also blasted it as a fundamental misunderstanding of the law.

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But a legal opinion the Better Government Association announced Tuesday determined Richardson-Lowry is wrong to argue such changes would be prohibited by state and city law.

The answer is no, there are no such prohibitions of which I am aware or have been able to identify, attorney Matt Topic of law firm Loevy & Loevy wrote in the nonbinding opinion the BGA obtained from the firm.

Richardson-Lowry defended her position that Witzburgs proposals would be illegal Tuesday afternoon in a statement. The proposal would amount to a significant departure from all previous Inspectors General, she wrote.

These practices all derive from and are necessitated by the Corporation Counsels fiduciary duty and charter, as set forth in the municipal code and Illinois state statue, to protect and promote the legal interests of the City, its employees, and its officials, she said.

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Witzburgs 14-page letter to aldermen that sparked the debate said the Law Department under Johnson and other mayors selectively impeded investigations by withholding records, slow-walking compliance with inspector generals office subpoenas and demanding top mayoral lawyers be allowed to attend confidential investigative interviews.

She asked aldermen to change city law to eliminate the Law Departments discretion over inspector general subpoena enforcement, block city attorneys from sitting in on investigative interviews and prevent the department from asserting attorney-client privilege to avoid sharing records.

After Ald. Matt Martin, 47th, proposed an ordinance last month aligned with Witzburgs recommendations, Richardson-Lowry argued the reforms would dismantle guardrails. She told reporters the ordinance was legally deficient on its face and added Witzburg had not asked her for a legal opinion.

There has been no such request, but we will be issuing a full-throated legal opinion on the issues that she surfaced, Richardson-Lowry said. And we will share it with the aldercore, who should be privy to why the thing that shes proposing fails on its face.

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Witzburg told the Tribune she did ask Richardson-Lowry for a legal opinion, but received legal analysis that she felt did not clearly respond to the proposed ordinance.

The Law Department shared that same analysis with the Tribune Tuesday. It argued the practices in question are long standing for City Hall. City attorneys cited municipal code  which Witzburg hopes to change  as well as court rulings and state law to argue the proposed reform would be illegal.

The changes are unneeded and the Law Department has not impeded investigations, the analysis said. Any effect on investigations has been caused by Witzburgs own unjustified reactions, such as the unnecessary cancellation of investigative interviews that city lawyers planned to attend, it continued.

The Inspector General simply fails to grapple with the fact that there are important and legitimate reasons for each of these legal practices, the analysis said.

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The Law Department accused Witzburg of advancing a ruse to justify reform and called her allegations of impropriety baseless and irresponsible. Far from genuine ethics reform, the proposal is really a calculated endeavor to expand the Inspector Generals authority beyond its prescribed limits, the analysis said.

The inspector general praised the BGA-commissioned legal opinion as helpful and clarifying. She said she believes Johnsons opposition to the ordinance is a policy position. The mayors administration may not prefer the changes she proposed, but that does not make them illegal, she argued.

There are no legal barriers to these changes, Witzburg said. Theres a choice here for the city to make between the status quo and a better, more accountable government.

The proposed changes held up in the City Councils Rules Committee would bring Chicago more in line with other major cities, BGA Vice President Bryan Zarou said. There is absolutely no legal impediment blocking the ordinance, he added.

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If they are trying to make a political argument, then we are fine with it, Zarou said. But if they are making a legal argument, it is not legally sound, unless they come up with something we havent seen yet.

Martin said he met with the Law Department earlier this month to start fleshing out concerns about the ordinance and will continue the discussions. He plans to move forward with a revised version of the ordinance, he said.

I feel confident that we will be able to move forward with an ordinance that addresses any remaining legal concerns that the Law Department has, Martin said. I think that the Law Department shared their concerns, some of which they characterized as legal and some of which they characterized as policy.

The ongoing Law Department tiff is far from Johnsons first tense run-in with ethics reform groups and the inspector general. He pushed back against efforts to restrict lobbyist donations to mayoral candidates last year.

Johnson has also harshly criticized calls for more transparent handling of gifts since a late January report by Witzburg said the mayor improperly blocked public access to City Halls gift room and failed to properly log gift information.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The StoryPoint Troy senior living facility will host a public gala themed around old Hollywood.

The Golden Age Gala will run Tuesday, March 25, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The event, inspired by the vintage-Hollywood glamor of the 20s-50s, will feature live jazz and a gold star walkway.

Residents of StoryPoint Troy have participated in waltz lessons, watched vintage movie screenings and made star-themed craft projects. The results from their Old Hollywood-style photoshoot will be displayed at the gala.

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Local library to hold series on aging

The event will also feature an open house tour of the facility.

To RSVP to attend, call StoryPoint Troy at (937) 440-3600.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
HAMBURG, N.Y. (WIVB)  News 4 celebrates Womens History Month by recognizing remarkable women in Western New York. This weeks remarkable woman has helped countless families through her WNY Foster Closet, a store that offers free items to foster families.

Cheryl Flick started the closet about 15 years ago inside a church. Its since grown to a large space inside the McKinley Mall.

We are at about 3,000 sq ft., Flick said. People come in all the time to shop not knowing we cant have them, because we dont sell anything.

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They dont sell anything because everything there is free for foster families.

We help any child whos been removed from their home through the court system and placed in either foster care, kinship or a 1017 situation, which means they were placed with family or someone that the child is familiar with.

Families can come in up to four times a year to get all the clothing they need for their foster children during the changing seasons, along with bedding, hygiene products and much more. Flick knows the struggle those families go through as a foster parent herself.

When we accepted our first two kids in foster care into our home, they came with bags and bags of garbage, Flick said. They were both school-aged and everything they bought was really old: ripped, stained, didnt fit them. It was not something we would feel comfortable sending them to school in, let alone them be comfortable wearing.

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Cheryl and her husband, Dan, along with their three children at the time, started fostering in 2012.

We wanted a larger family, but it just wasnt in the cards, she said.

Over the past decade, they have welcomed a total of 15 children into their home  for a weekend, or forever, Flick said.

Their forever children came during the pandemic. The Flick family found out two of their foster children at the time, Nevaeh and her younger brother Tyler, would need a permanent home.

I dropped to the floor crying, said Isabella Flick, Cheryls daughter whos now 20. It was the best news weve ever received.

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The Flick family would grow to seven. Nevaeh was adopted on her 4th birthday, and a year later, Tyler was adopted one month before his 4th birthday.

Your heart just explodes seeing the connection that all of them have, Cheryl said. Our two daughters have an amazing connection. They are the best of friends. Our oldest whos 24 takes the youngest fishing all the time  hell come and pick him up and take him fishing.

They are probably the best thing that has ever happened to our family, Isabella said. They are just so perfect in every single way, and I just love having a little sister and little brother.

The entire family now helps with the WNY Foster Closet, which is jam-packed with items donated by the community.

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(We have) tops, bottoms, dresses, footwear, hygiene products, new blankets, some bedding, new stuffed animals and more, Cheryl said.

There is clothing and other items for all ages: babies through teenagers.

We put a call out on our Facebook page and the community absolutely responds in a huge way, Flick said.

Cheryl posts live videos on the organizations Facebook page whenever they have updates, or when they need donations. She can also be seen in videos opening dozens of packages sent to them after making that call for items.

Each family that comes in can get two pairs of shoes. If its wintertime, they also get a pair of boots.

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We want to give a shout out to New Car Dealers of WNY Charitable Foundation, Cheryl said in a Facebook live video from March 4. We received our third grant, three years in a row from them. The first year we got $4,000, second year we got $6,000, (and) this year we got $8,000 to buy sneakers throughout the next year.

Before the school year starts, families who sign up can get a new backpack, water bottle, school supplies and brand new sneakers.

At Christmastime, we do a huge Christmas drive and everybody who signs up comes in, without kids, and chooses five gifts per child, Cheryl said. (They get) stocking stuffers, a game so that they can spend time together throughout the holidays, and then we always get all sorts of extra things in.

In a Facebook Live video from December, she said, We have had people crying while theyre shopping, crying while theyre leaving (and) hugging all the volunteers. (Theyre) just so thankful for being able to provide a Christmas. If you dont think your one gift has made a difference, your one gift has made a difference this year. Never doubt the power of a gift.

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The items that arent taken for under the tree goes into a Birthday Room at the WNY Foster Closet. On a childs birthday, they can go into the room and take two gifts.

And for everything shes done for foster families, Cheryl was recently honored with a massive gift of her own.

I got a call one day  I was actually volunteering at the Closet  and my mom called and said, Sit down, and I was like, Im really busy,' she laughed.

Her mom called to tell her Cheryl had won a brand new car from Hyundais annual Salute to Heroes contest.

I was speechless for a little bit, and for several days, she said. It took some time to sink in, that out of all these amazing people that were nominated, Hyundai chose me, out of everyone to be the recipient of the Hyundai Kona.

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A viewer who saw News 4s coverage of that story nominated Flick for this Remarkable Women campaign.

So whats next?

Cheryl said shes so grateful for all the donors over the years, but she hopes someone reading this story can help her find a more permanent space for the Closet in the future.

We are on our third location at this point and the fate of the McKinley Mall is unknown, she said. We do a few fundraisers a year, but were looking for a big donor to step up and help possibly fund a building so that we know were secure to continue to help families in the long run.

To contact WNY Foster Closet, click here.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Republican lawmakers from Iowa applaud landowners whom they have worked with in opposition to a proposed carbon sequestration pipeline. From left, Rep. Eddie Andrews, Sen. Dennis Guth, Sen. Cherielynn Westrich, Rep. Charley Thomson. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Republican lawmaker Rep. Charley Thomson of Iowa, at a press conference Monday, called on Summit Carbon Solutions to withdraw its already-approved permit application to build a carbon sequestration pipeline through Iowa.

The Republican Legislative Intervenors for Justice, consisting of more than 40 Iowa lawmakers, gathered for a press conference about their continued fight against what the group alleges are unconstitutional attacks on Iowa property rights.

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The group formed in June 2023 and has sued the Iowa Utilities Commission for its decision to grant a permit to the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline, which would span more than 1,000 miles in Iowa to transport liquid carbon dioxide from ethanol plants to underground storage in North Dakota.

The IUC approved Summits permit in June, on the condition that the company secure permits in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.

Officials in North Dakota and Minnesota approved the pipeline routes through their states, but Summit requested a pause in proceedings for its application in South Dakota, following the recent passage of a law that blocks the company from condemning agricultural land for the project.

Im calling today for Summit to withdraw their petition from the IUC, Thomson said at the press conference. Now that weve seen what South Dakota has done with their view on eminent domain, theres no basis under the current IUC order to proceed.

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A spokesperson for the commission said in a statement to Iowa Capital Dispatch, that the South Dakota law did not affect the validity of the permit already granted for the project.

Thomson said the IUCs initial decision to grant the permit did not comply with Iowa law, nor the constitution.

Iowans have a tradition of very clean government  this is not clean government, Thomson said.

A spokesperson for Summit Carbon Solutions said the IUC reviewed the project thoroughly after years of public input, regulatory review, and strong support from farmers, landowners, ethanol producers, and business leaders across the state.

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We respect the role of elected officials in the policymaking process and remain focused on delivering a project that supports Iowa agriculture, ethanol, and national energy dominance, the spokesperson said, asked about Thomsons request.

Thomson also pointed to a proposed rule from Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, or PHMSA, on CO2 pipelines, which he said confirmed that its not the same risk to have a carbon dioxide pipeline running through your land as it is for natural gas.

Its far riskier, Thomson said.

Rep. Cindy Golding said she fears the South Dakota law, and Summits request for a stay on the proceedings in the state, will lead Iowans to think the project is done.

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This has not gone away, Golding said. Its still hanging over your head.

This session representatives put forward a number of bills pertaining to eminent domain and CO2 pipeline regulations. Rep. Steven Holt said the bills might be combined into one or two bills to fit the time constraints of the session.

Last week, Democratic Senator Tony Bisignano introduced an amendment to the resolution on Senate rules that would have allowed a majority to force a Senate floor vote on a bill. Bisignano noted the Senates history of not debating pipeline related bills in his arguments for the amendment, which was defeated 30-18.

Sen. Dennis Guth, said he voted against the amendment in favor of a commitment he made with Sen. Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny, to advance some of the eminent domain bills through the Senate.

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I apologize to those that are disappointed, because I think if I had to do over again, I would have changed my vote, Guth said at the press conference.

Sen. Lynn Evans from Aurelia said hes not sure the effort from the Democrats was a genuine effort to fight for property rights, and noted that no one from the other side of the aisle was in the room.

If they want to join us in this fight, this is an official invitation, that they can join us and stand shoulder to shoulder with us, Evans said.

Sen. Cherielynn Westrich and the rest of the group applauded the pipeline fighters who show up at the Iowa Capitol every Tuesday to voice their opposition to the pipeline. We see you, we hear you, and were fighting for you, Westrich said.

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Kathy Carter, a landowner and regular pipeline opponent at the Capitol said landowners are exhausted.

You tell us to continue to pursue with the senators, which we have been continually doing, Carter said. Im not sure what else we can do, but were not going to give up.

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.
Iowa Republican lawmakers applaud landowners they worked with in opposition to a proposed carbon sequestration pipeline. From left are Rep. Eddie Andrews, Sen. Dennis Guth, Sen. Cherielynn Westrich and Rep. Charley Thomson. (Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Iowa Republican lawmaker Rep. Charley Thomson, at a press conference Monday, called on Summit Carbon Solutions to withdraw its already-approved permit application to build a carbon sequestration pipeline through the state.

The Republican Legislative Intervenors for Justice, consisting of more than 40 Iowa lawmakers, gathered for a press conference about their continued fight against what the group alleges are unconstitutional attacks on Iowa property rights.

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The group formed in June 2023 and has sued the Iowa Utilities Commission for its decision to grant a permit to the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline, which would span more than 1,000 miles in Iowa to transport liquid carbon dioxide from ethanol plants to underground storage in North Dakota.

The IUC approved Summits permit in June, on the condition that the company secure permits in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.

SD pipeline news

Officials in North Dakota and Minnesota approved the pipeline routes through their states, but Summit requested a pause in proceedings for its application in South Dakota, following the recent passage of a law that blocks the company from condemning agricultural land for the project.

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Im calling today for Summit to withdraw their petition from the IUC, Thomson, of Charles City, said at the press conference. Now that weve seen what South Dakota has done with their view on eminent domain, theres no basis under the current IUC order to proceed.

A spokesperson for the commission said in a statement to Iowa Capital Dispatch, that the South Dakota law did not affect the validity of the permit already granted for the project.

Thomson said the IUCs initial decision to grant the permit did not comply with Iowa law, nor the constitution.

Iowans have a tradition of very clean government  this is not clean government, Thomson said.

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A spokesperson for Summit Carbon Solutions said the IUC reviewed the project thoroughly after years of public input, regulatory review, and strong support from farmers, landowners, ethanol producers, and business leaders across the state.

We respect the role of elected officials in the policymaking process and remain focused on delivering a project that supports Iowa agriculture, ethanol, and national energy dominance, the spokesperson said, asked about Thomsons request.

Thomson also pointed to a proposed rule from Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, or PHMSA, on CO2 pipelines, which he said confirmed that its not the same risk to have a carbon dioxide pipeline running through your land as it is for natural gas.

Its far riskier, Thomson said.

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Rep. Cindy Golding said she fears the South Dakota law, and Summits request for a stay on the proceedings in the state, will lead Iowans to think the project is done.

This has not gone away, Golding said. Its still hanging over your head.

This session representatives put forward a number of bills pertaining to eminent domain and CO2 pipeline regulations. Rep. Steven Holt said the bills might be combined into one or two bills to fit the time constraints of the session.

Last week, Democratic Senator Tony Bisignano introduced an amendment to the resolution on Senate rules that would have allowed a majority to force a Senate floor vote on a bill. Bisignano noted the Senates history of not debating pipeline related bills in his arguments for the amendment, which was defeated 30-18.

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Sen. Dennis Guth, said he voted against the amendment in favor of a commitment he made with Sen. Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny, to advance some of the eminent domain bills through the Senate.

I apologize to those that are disappointed, because I think if I had to do over again, I would have changed my vote, Guth said at the press conference.

Sen. Lynn Evans from Aurelia said hes not sure the effort from the Democrats was a genuine effort to fight for property rights, and noted that no one from the other side of the aisle was in the room.

If they want to join us in this fight, this is an official invitation, that they can join us and stand shoulder to shoulder with us, Evans said.

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Sen. Cherielynn Westrich and the rest of the group applauded the pipeline fighters who show up at the Iowa Capitol every Tuesday to voice their opposition to the pipeline. We see you, we hear you, and were fighting for you, Westrich said.

Kathy Carter, a landowner and regular pipeline opponent at the Capitol said landowners are exhausted.

You tell us to continue to pursue with the senators, which we have been continually doing, Carter said. Im not sure what else we can do, but were not going to give up.

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.
(Getty Images illustration)

Arkansas economy would lose thousands of jobs and hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue and federal funds if cuts to Medicaid and nutrition programs win congressional approval and the presidents signature, according to a Commonwealth Fund report released Tuesday.

The states gross domestic product would also shrink by almost $1 billion, the report from the health-care oriented foundation predicts.

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The U.S. House of Representatives approved a budget resolution in February that would clear the way for Congress to increase the federal deficit by as much as $4.5 trillion in order to pay for tax cuts, which benefit wealthy Americans more often than those with lower incomes. The resolution tasks House committees, including the one that oversees Medicaid, with finding $880 billion in spending cuts over the next decade.

If the spending cuts come to fruition and are spread out over 10 years, a cumulative $72.4 billion in Medicaid funding and $22.1 billion in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding would be gone in 2026, according to the Commonwealth Fund report. Arkansas would lose $763.2 million in Medicaid funding and $129.7 million in SNAP funding.

Nearly a third of Arkansans  875,153  were enrolled in Medicaid as of March 1, and 235,927 Arkansans received SNAP benefits as of last week, said Gavin Lesnick, communications chief at the state Department of Human Services.

Nationwide, approximately 80 million people receive health care through Medicaid and approximately 42 million benefit from SNAP. Both are jointly funded by states and the federal government, so cuts on the federal end would put more responsibility on states to fund these programs, said Laura Kellams, the Northwest Arkansas director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families (AACF).

Our concern is that these types of proposals would end up taking the food off the table of hungry Arkansans and cutting the health care of Arkansans because the state wouldnt be able to afford to pick up that difference, Kellams said, citing declines in state revenue resulting from income tax cuts the Arkansas government has enacted over the past decade, most recently in June 2024.

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Potential Medicaid and SNAP cuts would decrease Arkansas gross domestic product, or the value of its goods and services produced in a year, by $999.8 million in 2026, the Commonwealth report states. Arkansas GDP increased by 6.9%, the highest increase nationwide, in the third quarter of 2024, according to the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Arkansas economic output would drop by $1.66 billion from the Medicaid cuts and $119.4 million from the SNAP cuts, and the state would lose a cumulative $156.6 million in federal tax revenue and $67.9 million in state tax revenue, according to the report.

The Commonwealth Fund also projects Arkansas would lose roughly 109,000 jobs as a result of the proposed cuts. About 600 of those jobs would pertain to SNAP, with about half in food-related sectors such as agriculture, retail grocery and food processing, and the other half in other business sectors as an economic ripple effect.

An estimated 5,600 of the remaining 103,000 lost jobs would be in the health care sector serving Medicaid patients at hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and other facilities. The other 4,700 lost jobs would be a ripple effect in other industries, according to the report.

Medicaid and its beneficiaries

Congressional Democrats reported earlier this month that 25 million people nationwide could lose Medicaid coverage under the likely cuts to the program. This includes more than 250,000 Arkansans, including 100,000 rural residents and 110,000 children, the report states.

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Arkansas was among the 10 states with the most children in rural areas relying on Medicaid for health insurance in 2023, and was one of only six with more than half of its rural children on Medicaid, according to a January report from Georgetown University.

Medicaid spending cuts could financially strain health care providers in rural areas to the point they could stop serving Medicaid recipients or shut down completely, according to both the Georgetown report and Tuesdays Commonwealth Fund report.

This means rural Arkansas could see the majority of the 103,000 projected Medicaid-related job losses, Kellams said.

Additionally, low-income peoples need for health care services would increase because they would develop more health problems if SNAP cuts reduce their access to food, Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance CEO Sylvia Blain said.

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If youve got cuts to your health care, youre having to spend more of your income, whatever that may be, on health care, and then you are also cutting into your food budget, she said. Youre having to make harder decisions even if there were no cuts to SNAP, so the combination of those two things [is] kind of a one-two punch.

Another likely overlap in the impacts of the proposed cuts would be in the proportion of elderly and disabled Americans who benefit from both SNAP and Medicaid or Medicare, Blain said. More than 45% of Arkansas households receiving SNAP include elderly and disabled beneficiaries, according to the Centers on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan research institute.

More broadly, Arkansas is one of nine states that would likely end their Medicaid expansion programs if federal funding decreases, according to KFF Health News. Arkansas became the first southern state to expand Medicaid in 2013.

In January, Sanders unveiled a waiver request to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requesting the implementation of a work requirement for able-bodied, working-age recipients of the states Medicaid expansion program.

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Arkansas implemented a work requirement for all Medicaid recipients in 2018, but it was struck down by a federal judge after 18,000 people lost coverage. Work requirements have become increasingly popular among Republican leaders in several states; AACF has repeatedly denounced such proposals.

SNAP and food insecurity

Only 69% of eligible Arkansans were enrolled in SNAP in 2020, the third-lowest participation rate of any state that year, according to USDA data.

AACF released a report in January calling for Arkansas to remove barriers to SNAP enrollment, including a lengthy application process and low ceilings on participants income and assets.

Regardless of whether more Arkansans are able to enroll in SNAP, fewer federal funds would result in fewer participants in the program, which could lead families to become more reliant on soup kitchens and food pantries, Blain said.

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If we reduce the amount of food that people are able to get through SNAP [and] they have to visit food pantries more often, thats going to put even more pressure on an already very strained charitable food network that was intended to be an emergency source of food rather than someones regular source of food, Blain said.

Arkansas has the highest prevalence of food insecurity in the nation, at nearly 19% in 2023, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report released in September 2024. The report defines food insecurity as being unable, at some time during the year, to provide adequate food for one or more household members because of a lack of resources.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has made feeding children a policy priority. She opted Arkansas into a federal summer nutrition assistance program for students in 2024, and the program will continue this year. Sanders also signed a law in February making school breakfasts free for all public school students in Arkansas.

The free school breakfast program will be funded by state general revenue, private grants and taxes from Arkansas billion-dollar medical marijuana industry, as well as some federal funds.

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Support for both cutting income tax revenue and expanding federally-funded nutrition programs eventually becomes contradictory, Blain said.

Wed have to raise taxes in one way or another in order for the state to step in and cover some of these costs, if federal funding is cut, Blain said.

Kellams and Blain both said they support Sanders proposal to eliminate the states 0.125% grocery sales tax. Sanders has said the Grocery Tax Relief Act will make it easier for Arkansans to afford groceries. Local sales tax on groceries would not be affected.

Eliminating the grocery tax would cost the state $4.4 million in revenue, according to a fiscal impact analysis of Senate Bill 377 by the state Department of Finance and Administration.

The Legislature has yet to consider SB 377 since its introduction March 5, but Sanders still wants the bill to reach her desk by the end of the session next month, her spokesperson Sam Dubke said Monday.

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Sanders also supports prohibiting SNAP recipients from buying highly processed foods. Senate Bill 217 also awaits legislative consideration and would require DHS to seek federal permission to make candy and soft drinks forbidden purchases with SNAP benefits.

Arkansas officials who have been working to reduce food insecurity should urge federal officials not to support the proposed cuts in the U.S. House budget resolution, Kellams said.

We would hope that they would use their influence with our members of Congress to let them know that this is going backwards from what were actually moving towards, which is trying to make sure that we have no children hungry in Arkansas, she said.

Congressional budget resolutions are non-binding, so its impossible to make any kind of accurate projections about future binding decisions about federal spending, Dubke said.

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The Governor has been clear that America is $36 trillion in debt, and President Trump and Congressional Republicans are right to look for ways to cut wasteful spending while investing in needed priorities, Dubke said.

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WASHINGTON  The United States could default on its loans sometime between July and October if Congress doesnt pass legislation to raise the debt limit, according to the most recent projections by the Bipartisan Policy Center released on Monday.

Although the center did not specify a day, known as the X-date, the projection gives lawmakers an early warning before risking missed payments on the countrys loans. The projection comes as lawmakers must decide how to move forward on raising the debt ceiling, whether its through Republicans massive budget reconciliation package or as a standalone bill.

The House passed a budget resolution in February paving the way for a trillion-dollar tax reconciliation package to advance President Donald Trumps agenda. Included in that bill was a $4 trillion increase of the debt ceiling, a key element needed to secure support from hardliners in the conservative House Freedom Caucus.

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However, that resolution has since hit snags in the Senate over disagreements on how to approach tax cut extensions, delaying its passage in the upper chamber. That could put the country on track to default on its loans for the first time in recent history if the reconciliation package isnt approved before the X-date.

The Bipartisan Policy Centers report is one of several predictions for when the country may default on its loans. The Congressional Budget Office is expected to release its projection later this week, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has told reporters hell release his calculations in May.

What is the debt ceiling and what does it mean to default on loans?

The debt limit is the total amount of money the federal government is authorized to borrow in order to pay off existing obligations, tax refunds, interest on the national debt, and other payments, according to the Treasury Department.

When the Treasury reaches the debt ceiling, lawmakers must pass legislation to raise or suspend the limit to avoid a default. If the country defaulted  in other words, failed to make those minimum payments  it could cause severe consequences for the national and global economies.

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Once the debt limit is reached, the Treasury secretary can implement extraordinary measures as a safety cushion to allow for normal operations without risking default. How long those temporary measures will last depends on the current rate of revenue and spending, making it hard to predict an exact date for when money will run out, which is why its referred to as the X-date.

Congress most recently suspended the debt ceiling in the summer of 2023 when lawmakers passed the Fiscal Responsibility Act, punting the deadline until Jan. 1, 2025. The Treasury Department later announced on Jan. 21 it would begin utilizing extraordinary measures to avoid default until the ceiling could be raised.

Congress has consistently acted on raising the debt limit ahead of projected defaults. Since 1960, lawmakers have passed 78 pieces of legislation to permanently raise, temporarily extend, or revise the definition of the debt limit, according to the House Budget Committee.

Forty-nine of those instances occurred under a Republican president and 29 under a Democratic president.

What are the options to raise the debt limit this time around?

House Republican leaders are plowing ahead with plans to raise the debt limit through Trumps reconciliation bill, which will rely on only GOP votes to pass the House and Senate.

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Republicans included a provision to raise the debt ceiling in the House package as a way to strip Democrats of the chance to use the impending deadline as leverage to attach some of their own policies.

However, if Republicans choose to go the reconciliation route to raise the debt ceiling, they must get the package through both chambers of Congress and on Trumps desk before the projected X-date  which will be a heavy lift.

The budget resolution narrowly passed the House in a dramatic vote last month. And Senate leaders have still not taken up the legislation after some Republicans posed certain changes.

For example, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has openly suggested making the tax cuts permanent rather than just extending them over the next decade. If that change is made, the resolution would need to be passed again by the House  which was no easy feat the first time around.

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House GOP leaders have pressured the Senate to take up the resolution as-is, arguing there is no time to waste to advance Trumps policies.

We took the first step to accomplish that by passing a budget resolution weeks ago, and we look forward to the Senate joining us in this commitment to ensure we enact President Trumps full agenda as quickly as possible, the top four House Republican leaders said in a joint statement on Monday. The American people gave us a mandate and we must act on it. We encourage our Senate colleagues to take up the House budget resolution when they return to Washington.

Congress could explore standalone bill if reconciliation is delayed

If Republicans cant get their reconciliation bill through in time, they would need to address the debt limit through a standalone bill, which could require Democratic support.

About a dozen GOP senators and another 49 House Republicans have never voted for a law to raise the debt ceiling, according to data collected and analyzed by the Congressional Research Service.

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Because Republicans hold slim majorities in the House and Senate, GOP leaders would need to rely on Democrats if those holdouts remain opposed to increasing the debt limit  giving the minority party some leverage in negotiations.

Its not clear if Democratic leaders will work with Republicans on a backup plan to raise the debt limit if the GOPs reconciliation package hits a wall. Its also unclear if Democrats would want to help the Trump administration avoid a default as they accuse the president of driving up the debt.

The economic agenda for Trump and Republicans is about running up the debt and inflicting pain on working families to make billionaires like Elon Musk even wealthier, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said in a statement. Democrats should not make their job any easier by helping them raise the debt ceiling.
SARANAC LAKE  A vote on North Country Rep. Elise Stefaniks appointment as President Donald Trumps United Nations ambassador has reportedly been set for April 2.

After a long wait, as national politicians maneuvered for power, this Senate vote has the potential to send Stefanik to the global stage and kick off a special election in NY-21 to replace her.

Her confirmation vote isnt on an official calendar yet, but the news outlet Axios reported earlier this week that two sources familiar with the situation told them the date is April 2.

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Stefanik is the last Trump Cabinet nominee to get a confirmation vote, despite being the first nominee announced after his win in November. Thats because her place in Congress has been important to the Republican Party as the GOP holds a slim 218-213 majority in the House.

The confirmation vote is scheduled for the day after two special elections in Florida to replace Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz. Both districts are heavily Republican, but Democrats have been fundraising a lot in these elections, too. The GOP has a slightly larger majority now than at the start of the month, after the deaths of two Democratic representatives at ages 70 and 77.

After Stefanik submits her resignation, election law dictates that Gov. Kathy Hochul will have 10 days to issue a proclamation calling for a special election. Then, the election must be held within 70 to 80 days of the proclamation. Major party nominations must be made within 10 days of Hochul announcing the election. Independent candidates would have 12 days to collect signatures to be nominated.

Last month, Albany Democrats discussed a bill which could delay the special election until either June or November, leaving NY-21 without a representative in Congress for months. Theyve since backed off that plan. News outlet Semafor reported last week that people familiar with (Hochuls) thinking say she still plans to slow-walk the election  but it was unclear how.

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In any case, NY-21 will be without a representative for around three months between Stefaniks resignation and the special election.

The vote on Stefaniks appointment is not expected to be controversial. Some Democratic senators, like John Fetterman, have voiced support for her appointment. Other Democrats oppose her taking on the role, particularly because of her belief that Israel has a biblical right to the West Bank in Gaza. But while the Democratic party has a small rift over support of Israel in its war in Gaza, Republicans appear unified behind Trumps selection of Stefanik.

To read more about Stefaniks plans as ambassador, go to tinyurl.com/mw284389 and tinyurl.com/uxx3wy25.

If confirmed, Stefanik would need to resign her position in Congress before acting as ambassador, meaning it would likely come soon after a confirmation.

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The race

The list of candidates from all parties lining up to seek a run for her seat has continued to grow and grow in the four months since Stefaniks nomination.

A special election is not run like a normal election. Instead of primaries  where members of each party vote on who will represent their party on the ballot  the candidates are selected by the 15 county party chairs in the district. Essentially, its a primary with only 15 voters.

In February, the 15 Democratic Party chairs unanimously chose Lisbon-based dairy farmer Blake Gendebien as their candidate, deciding to not wait for the election to become official before making their decision. This has given Gendebien a bit of extra time to campaign and raise funds. To read more about Gendebien, go to tinyurl.com/yuu62re9.

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The Republicans have not selected a candidate yet, choosing to keep their promise to wait until the election is officially called fore before selecting who will run. They have an incredibly long list of candidate hopefuls, several of whom have been campaigning on their own for months now.

The GOP chairs say theyre talking with a shortlist of candidates now.

As the anticipation and tension between candidates has built in recent weeks, a handful of them have each declared themselves to be frontrunners. There is no official polling right now, since there is no primary, but candidates have been conducting internal polls.

The Enterprise was not able to reach Warren County Republican Chair Tim McNulty, who is heading up the GOPs process, by press deadline Friday to answer how many people are on the shortlist, how many applied in total and when their chair vote might be.

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Double-duty

When Stefaniks nomination was announced, most officials assumed it would be confirmed relatively soon. But House Majority Speaker Mike Johnson has slow-walked the vote to keep her in the House as long as possible.

In the past few months, Stefaniks been lossely filling both roles  voting in Congress, attending Cabinet meetings and sitting with the Cabinet at Trumps presentation to joint session of Congress.

In late February, she was an important vote on a budget resolution which sets up the agenda for federal spending in the future. This resolution was narrowly approved 217-215, with one Republican voting against it and one Democrat absent. It includes large-scale cuts to federal spending, and to taxes.

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The resolution sets the administration up to extend its 2017 tax cuts, authorizing $4.5 trillion in cuts over the next decade, which would reduce taxes for a majority of Americans, with wealthy taxpayers reaping a large portion of the benefit.

The resolution includes cutting Energy and Commerce Committee spending by $880 billion, which will potentially result in significant Medicaid cuts. It also includes an additional $300 billion border and military spending  which currently total more than $1 trillion, or almost 15% of the total budget. The resolution calls for an additional $4 trillion to be added to the U.S. debt limit.

In January, Stefanik gathered bipartisan votes from the 22-member Senate Foreign Relations Committee to advance her nomination out of committee and into a vote by the full Senate.

To read more about how committee members voted, go to tinyurl.com/y3j7h8ju.

With the House having a narrow Republican majority after the last election, this special election race could also attract national attention for its importance for both parties.
A parked school bus. (Getty Images)

I have something important to say, but dont really know who to talk to.

This email message from Kendra, my usually light-hearted, life-of-the-party high school student, was unusual. She showed me her phone, the reason why she was so upset. On it was an AI-generated racist political text. Kendra, who is African American, told me she knew of at least four other students at our school who received the same message.

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Even if they were generated by AI, how were they only sent to African-American students? Who would do this? Why Kendra? Why any of our students?

The gravity of the text and its impact on Kendra brought tears to my eyes. I met with each student who received the message and reported the situation to school leaders. Even though this was a text sent out to people across the country, an email was sent home to our schools families letting them know, and the school diversity club, a group I advise, held an emergency meeting.

I cried because I was angry I could not protect my students. Kendra told me it wasnt the first time she has experienced racism and she knew it wouldnt be the last. While I realized I would never truly understand what it is like to be in her shoes because I am a white teacher in a predominantly white high school in York County, she knew from then on how much I cared.

Research shows that students need to see themselves reflected in their teachers, and all students benefit from being taught by teachers of color. Yet in Pennsylvania, where 38.1% of students are African American, only 6.6% of teachers identify as African American. The number of students of color in my South Central Pennsylvania district continues to grow exponentially; there is only one teacher of color in the South Western School District in Hanover that serves almost 5,000 students.

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In all likelihood, students in my diversity club will never have a teacher that looks like them in 12 years of school. If schools are to fully support students like Kendra, the commonwealth must prioritize ways to infuse the teaching profession with more diversity.

To start, Pennsylvania could fully fund student teacher stipends, reducing the cost of becoming a teacher so that the educator pipeline is larger and more diverse. In the 2023-24 budget, Governor Shapiro began the difficult work of funding student teacher stipends by investing $10 million, but the funds were quickly depleted. In 2024-25, he increased funding to $20 million. More than 4,000 student teaching candidates applied for the stipend, with only 2,000 able to receive it before the money disappeared; just one was from my district. Its estimated that funding will need to increase to $50 million, but the governor has only proposed $40 million in his current budget.

Pennsylvania also could provide needed funding for Grow Your Own Programs in order to recruit high school students, traditional teacher candidates, and people who already have bachelors degrees to become teachers in their own communities. On top of a lack of diversity in the profession, 97% of counties in the commonwealth have a teacher supply of low or worse. In my own well-funded district, while there are opportunities for aspiring elementary educators, there is no Grow Your Own Program available to students interested in secondary education.

Lastly, our state could invest in TEACH.org, an organization founded by the U.S. Department of Education, collaborating with state education agencies to develop and deploy statewide initiatives to create a diverse, sustainable teacher talent pipeline. To provide a single resource for potential candidates, the 2023 school code requires the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to create a public job posting database to centralize information but the agency has yet to launch it.

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My district, for example, typically gets four or fewer applicants for high school science positions, barely enough to find a qualified candidate, let alone someone who reflects the changing demographics of our community.

Kendras animated personality has since returned, and the diversity club has moved forward since the hateful texts. Her older brother, also in the club, shared that he will be attending a local college to become an English teacher. I can only hope he might consider coming back to his home district to teach.

Pennsylvania has an obligation to expand and diversify the teacher pipeline in order to do better for students like Kendra.

Our future depends on it.

Lacey Anderson (Submitted)

Lacey Anderson is a social studies educator at South Western High School in Hanover, York County. She is a 2024-2025 Teach Plus Pennsylvania Policy Fellow.
Members of Reproductive Freedom for All Nevada stand in the Assembly Chambers during the 2025 Legislative Session. (Photo courtesy of Reproductive Freedom for All Nevada)

Democrats in the Nevada State Legislature two years ago sponsored the Right to Reproductive Health Care Act, a broad bill that covered myriad reproductive health services, including pregnancy care, contraception and sterilization, and treatments for miscarriage and infertility.

Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo vetoed the bill.

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For this years session, Democrats are taking a piecemeal approach, sponsoring bills focused on specific areas of reproductive health care rather than one omnibus bill that could again be vetoed.

Democratic Assemblymember Selena Torres-Fossett is sponsoring legislation she has dubbed the Right to Contraception Act. The bill, Assembly Bill 176, was introduced with language covering a much broader swath of reproductive health services, including abortion, but Torres-Fossett told the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee last week those provisions will be amended out so the bill focuses exclusively on protecting access to contraceptives.

Torres-Fossett said the revamped language attempts to address concerns raised by Lombardo in his veto message of the broader 2023 bill. Those changes include removing references to educational agencies to make it clear there is no intent to have school nurses providing birth control to students.

Melissa Clement, president of Nevada Right to Life, which opposes abortion rights, testified in opposition to AB176 during its hearing last week, but Clement described their opposition as very very very soft given Torres-Fossetts promise to narrow it to only contraception.

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We look forward to seeing the language of the amendment, she said before suggesting the group may support an amended version.

Senate Bill 217, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro and the rest of the Senate Democratic Caucus, establishes the right to assisted reproduction treatment, which includes in vitro fertilization (IVF) but also intrauterine insemination and the donation of eggs and embryos.

The bill, among other things, requires many private and public insurance companies to cover some assisted reproduction treatment.

This is health care, Cannizzaro told lawmakers last weekend during a hearing for the bill in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Assisted reproductive technology is health care. IVF is healthcare. To say that some people deserve to have access and some people do not deserve to have access  is to deny access to so many people.

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Eighty-five percent of Americans are supportive of IVF, Amanda Klein, founder of Nevada Fertility Advocates, told lawmakers, but there remains a stigma that leads to people not talking about infertility.

Its too painful, its too personal, and its too raw, said Klein. But we need to speak up. We need employers to understand how hard it is to go back to work the day after having a miscarriage. We need our family and friends to be aware of what we are going through and to be sensitive to our plight. And most importantly, we need our lawmakers to understand how big of an issue this truly is.

Cannizzaro cited research showing that nearly 10 million women aged 15 through 49 experience impaired fertility, and among married women in this age group, 8.5% or 2.4 million are considered infertile.

According to the National Infertility Association, 22 other states mandate some form of IVF coverage.

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Cannizzaro told the committee she is working with health insurance companies on the coverage requirements mandated by her bill. The companies are worried about potential costs.

Anti-abortion rights advocates also opposed the bill, primarily because one section specifies that a fertilized egg or human embryo that exists before implantation in a human uterus is not a person for legal purposes.

Cannizzaro defended that inclusion, saying it safeguards against issues that have arisen elsewhere  namely Alabama  where strict definitions of personhood had the effect of shutting down infertility clinics.

Protecting providers

The Nevada State Legislature is also considering two bills intended to strengthen protections for providers of reproductive health care.

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Assembly Bill 411, sponsored by Democratic Assemblymember Sandra Jauregui, would allow prescriptions for drugs used for medical abortions and miscarriage management to list the name of the prescribing health care practice, rather than the name of the specific individual providing the prescription.

Providers of mifepristone, misoprostol and their generics have been targeted by groups pushing for abortion restrictions. States with strict abortion restrictions have attempted to prosecute providers in states where abortion is legally accessible. Eighteen states, including Nevada, have already enacted shield laws that attempt to protect abortion providers from prosecution in other states.

AB411 is a necessary step to ensure that health care providers can offer essential services without fear, Jauregui told members of the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee last week during a hearing for the bill.

An estimated 63% of abortions performed each year in the United States are medical abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

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Jauregui told the Assembly HHS committee she is working with national pharmaceutical groups on a possible amendment to make sure the bills language doesnt have unintended effects for patients, particularly ones coming from out of state.

Assembly Bill 235, sponsored by Democratic Assemblymember Erica Roth, would allow employees and volunteers of reproductive health care facilities, as well as their spouses, domestic partners or minor children, to request a court order that keeps their personal information confidential on otherwise public records within the offices of county recorder, county assessor, county clerk, city clerk, Secretary of State, or Department of Motor Vehicles.

The bill would also extend those protections to providers of gender-affirming care.

Nevada already allows certain groups of people to request these types of court orders, including government employees, judges and politicians.

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Reports of stalking and threats of harm or death directed toward abortion providers have skyrocketed since the overturning of Roe v Wade in 2022, Roth told members of the Assembly Government Affairs Committee last week.

President Donald Trump days after taking office for his second term pardoned anti-abortion activists  an act that sends a message that this hostility toward patients and providers is tolerated, said Toby Frescholtz, a Reno-based medical doctor specializing in obstetrics and gynecology.

In Nevada, reproductive health providers and Planned Parenthood staff have received countless threatening phone calls, had anti-abortion literature physically dropped at their homes, and experienced threatening incidents within their health centers, according to Planned Parenthood Votes Nevada Executive Director Lindsey Harmon.

Harmon said Nevada Right to Life in an email encouraged supporters to call in the location of people collecting signatures for last years abortion rights ballot measure. The signature gatherers were subsequently stopped by police with false reports of breaking into cars and robbery, she added.

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AB235 will not solve all of these issues, Harmon continued, but it will at least protect providers in their homes where they should feel most safe.

Democrats control both houses of the Nevada State Legislature, meaning bills pushing anything seen as an abortion restriction are highly unlikely to ever receive a hearing. But that hasnt stopped Republicans from introducing at least one bill related to abortion providers.

Assembly Bill 260, sponsored by 11 Republicans, would require abortion providers to compile and give to their clients a list of post-abortion counseling and support services in their area. It specifies that both secular and faith-based perspectives be represented on the list.

Abortion on the ballot

In 2024, Nevadans approved Question 6 and signaled their support for establishing abortion as a fundamental right in the state constitution. The measure passed with 64% of voters in support. Question 6 will appear before voters again on the 2026 general election ballot. If approved, the amendment will go into effect.

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Question 6 protects abortion until fetal viability, which by definition would be determined by the patients health care practitioner. Abortions beyond that point would also be legal if needed to protect the pregnant persons life or health.

Abortions in Nevada are currently legal up to 24 weeks after the start of the pregnancy and after 24 weeks if a physician believes the pregnant persons life or health is at risk. Those protections were put in place via a citizen-driven referendum passed by voters in 1990.

Putting abortion rights directly into the state constitution doubles down on the protections on statute, Lindsey Harmon, who is also the Nevada for Reproductive Freedom President, has said. It makes it twice as hard to repeal or amend the referendum.

In a hearing for the Right to Contraception Act, Harmon reminded lawmakers that Nevada for Reproductive Freedom originally sought a proposal to enshrine reproductive rights more broadly into the state constitution, but they narrowed their ballot measure to abortion rights when facing legal delays.

That is the impetus of a lot of this work that were doing, Harmon testified. We had to narrow that constitutional amendment, so were here now doing some of this work legislatively.
State Rep. Betsy Fogle of Springfield, ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee, was defeated Monday in an attempt to shift $50 million into the state public school foundation formula. Fogle is shown at a Feb. 13 news conference (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).

The House Budget Committee squeezed $139 million in general revenue out of the Missouri state budget for road, port and other earmarked projects Monday night, but Republicans thwarted an effort by Democrats to shift $50 million into public schools.

During a stop-and-go work session that stretched late into the night, the committee approved a $47.9 billion budget for state operations in the coming fiscal year. The committee reduced Gov. Mike Kehoes budget by $2.1 billion overall and about $750 million in general revenue.

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The mark-up session boosted the total for general revenue earmarks by $20 million and the package going to the full House will have 96 earmarked items tracked by The Independent costing $166.2 million total added since Kehoe proposed his budget in January.

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Some of the biggest general revenue earmarks  $15 million for a new state park in McDonald County and $12 million for a climbing lane on Interstate 44  are in the southwest Missouri district of House Budget Committee Chairman Dirk Deaton. The new state park will also require $4 million of state parks tax funds.

Among the largest earmarks added Monday are $5 million for ramps and an outer road on U.S. Highway 60 in Sikeston and $4 million for the Marion County Port Authority.

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While Democrats succeeded in adding a handful of earmarks, they were shot down on almost every proposal to increase or shift funding for state programs.

Two major spending proposals  one Kehoe endorsed in January and another he did not  were backed by Democrats on the committee but could not win support from Republicans.

Kehoe wants the state to spend an extra $107 million in federal funds on child care to revise how payments are calculated to one based on enrollment and change when checks arrive. Meanwhile, he does not want to spend $300 million in state general revenue to fully fund the public school foundation formula.

Our providers have been through quite a lot this past year, to some extent from what theyve had to deal with with the state, state Rep. Stephanie Hein, a Democrat from Springfield, said as she sought to restore part of the child care funding. This would help provide them stability within their budgeting process for the upcoming year.

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Republicans questioned whether the federal funding used this year will be available in the future.

Theres no ongoing federal money for this, said committee vice chairman Bishop Davidson, a Republican from Republic.

Because of a rule requiring cuts in general revenue from one line to spend it in another, Democrats did not attempt to shift the full $300 million into the school foundation formula. Instead, they tried to delete another of Kehoes major initiatives, $50 million for a tax credit program supporting private school tuition scholarships.

When I look through some of the schools that receive taxpayer dollars now through the form of the tax credit program, there are schools that are getting dollars, that wouldnt have educated, some of us in this room and I think its really important that we are spending our money in the right places and fully funding the foundation formula, said state Rep. Betsy Fogle of Springfield, ranking Democrat on the committee.

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Republicans said the credits are available for students who want to switch public schools as well as attend private schools.

One thing we lack is parental engagement, Davidson said. Another thing we lack are any sort of competitive forces and we get to have both of those things when it comes to the (Empowerment Scholarship Accounts) program.

The foundation formula distributes state aid on a per-pupil basis, with factors that give more money for students with disabilities or who are from low-income households. It cost $3.7 billion in the current year and the amount needed to fully fund it is determined by applying the calculation to what is called the state adequacy target.

To fully fund the formula for the coming year, the adequacy target would be $7,145 per student. To keep the cost down, Kehoe and the House Budget Committee are funding a target of $6,760 per student.

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Kehoe wants the formula to be revised. One Republican said he wants no more money for the formula until it is changed.

We need to fix it or get rid of it, said GOP state Rep. Don Mayhew of Crocker.

The Democratic proposal that drew the most support from Republicans would have increased the amount paid for home-delivered meals for the elderly and disabled from $6.21 per meal to $7.14 per meal at a cost of $2.1 million, including $787,120 of general revenue.

This is a warranted increase, said state Rep. John Voss, a Republican from Cape Girardeau. Many of the counties surrounding my district are very, very poor. In fact, I think we have many of the top 10 poorest counties. That is a lot of food insecurity and anything that we can do to support our seniors here, I would sure be supportive of.

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The full House will debate the budget next week. Democrats and Republicans will each have three hours to present their amendments and arguments.

At the end of Mondays meeting, Deaton asked members whether six hours was too much. Some Republicans said it was.

I dont see that too much of the floor debate has changed my mind, said state Rep. Mitch Boggs of LaRussell. This is where the main meat and potatoes is done.

Democrats objected to any change, saying it was the only time for most House members to have a say on spending.

It doesnt mean we have to burn all of it, said Democratic state Rep. Del Taylor of St. Louis.

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Mayhew agreed and at the end, Deaton did not recommend any change.

This, folks, is really our only constitutional duty, and providing the opportunity for members who were elected to be here to make comments on that, Mayhew said. Im okay with our standing normal procedure, and I dont think its unfair or overly burdensome for us, especially when were talking about upwards of $52 billion of the taxpayers money.

This article was updated at 3 p.m. March 25 to correct the cost of the new state park in McDonald County and the total for earmarks.

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Republicans are struggling to defend the Signal group chat set up by Trump administration officials to discuss airstrikes against targets in Yemen. The chat, as the entire world now knows, mistakenly included the editor in chief of The Atlantic after a personal invite from Trumps national security adviser, Mike Waltz.

The chat may have violated the law and certainly went against Department of Defense regulations, including a warning one week ago about security vulnerabilities within the Signal app that were being targeted by Russian hacking groups. But that hasnt stopped leading Republicans in Congress from trying to put a positive spin on the colossal mistake.

Senator Ted Cruz said that the substance of the groups discussion should have Americans feeling very encouraged.

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What the entire text thread is about is President Trump directed his national security team to take out the terrorists and open up the shipping lanes. Thats terrific, Cruz told journalists on Tuesday.

Senator Josh Hawley also tried to put a positive spin on the fiasco. Its the presidents advisers discussing among themselves options they might recommend to the president, Hawley told Fox Newss Laura Ingraham, and nobody can deny the success of what the president is doing here.



And this is what the leftist media is reduced to. They cant argue with the policies, which the American people support. They cant argue with this new demonstration of American strength that is keeping Americans safe at home and abroad, and so now were griping about whos on a text message and whos not. I mean, come on, Hawley added.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson tried to push the same message.

What you did see, though, I think, was top-level officials doing their job, doing it well and executing on a plan with precision, Johnson said Monday night. That mission was a success. No one was jeopardized because of it. Were grateful for that.

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Representative Dan Crenshaw told Fox Business that its a mistake and we gotta move on.

If Secretary Hegseth says there was no classified information, Ill take him at his word, Crenshaw said to Maria Bartiromo Tuesday morning.

None of these Republicans addressed the fact that government officials were having a serious national security discussion on a private messaging app that could easily be used to evade mandated record keeping. This could be one of many chat groups where government business is being discussed, but only happened to see the light of day due to a journalist being added by accident. Will anyone involved be held accountable?


House Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister, R-Greenville, (at the podium) outlines the GOP income tax plan on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, surrounded by House and Senate Republicans. (Photo by Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

COLUMBIA  An income tax plan touted by state GOP leaders Tuesday as making South Carolina more competitive will cut taxes for many while requiring others to pay more.

The proposal released with much fanfare in the Statehouse lobby would collapse all tax brackets to a single, flat 3.99% starting Jan. 1 for tax year 2026  meaning taxpayers may not realize it until they file their taxes in spring 2027.

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That would seem to be a huge cut from this years top tax rate of 6.2%, and thats the goal.

Republicans have long complained the states top marginal rate makes South Carolina appear as the highest-taxed state in the Southeast, even while the effective rate  what tax filers actually pay  was among the lowest.

A 2022 law that has already reduced revenue by $1 billion has so far reduced that top tax bracket  what previous GOP leaders likened to a sticker price on a car thats negotiated down  from 7% to 6.2%. But that number is still the regions highest.

The plan announced Tuesday appears to be a far deeper cut. Yet, it reduces revenue flowing into state coffers far less. Under the phased-in 2022 law, the biggest cut came in the first year, when it eliminated more than $700 million for a half-point reduction.

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Under the new plan, the state can get to 3.99% in one fell swoop by shaving $200 million from tax collections, said House Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister.

State House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, talks about the GOP plan to reduce income taxes at a news conference Tuesday, May 25, 2025, in the Statehouse lobby. (Photo by Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

Regionally, only Florida and Tenneessee would have a lower income tax rate  and thats because theirs is zero. Their tax structure doesnt include a state income tax. Both neighboring Georgia and North Carolina already have a flat tax rate, at 5.39% and 4.25% respectively, according to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation.

That makes us not only more competitive, but also more attractive to new businesses and more affordable for families to call South Carolina home, Bannister, R-Greenville, told reporters.

The plan does that by adjusting the tax structure, which will broaden the number of filers who pay.

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Currently, South Carolina is among just five states basing tax collections on federal taxable income, meaning the state taxes only whats left after home mortgage interest, property taxes and various other deductions and personal exemptions are subtracted. Essentially, South Carolinians start their state tax forms with less income to tax, compared to what theyd file if they lived across the state border.

The plan untethers South Carolina from the federal tax code and switches to taxing adjusted gross income as most states do. That makes South Carolinas taxes truly comparable to its neighbors.

How many taxpayers will pay more versus less is not yet known. The states fiscal experts are working on projections that likely wont be ready until next week.

Republicans call it flat and fair.

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Everybody has to pay something  a little something, at least  to be a part of this great state of South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster said.

Gov. Henry McMaster and House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, grin about a proposed tax cut plan announced Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in the Statehouse lobby. (Photo by Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

As of calendar year 2023, 44% of tax filers paid zero in state income taxes, while 10% of filers accounted for 65% of the total income taxes paid, according to the last analysis by the state Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office.

That was largely unchanged from before the 2022 law, which helps explain why it received unanimous approval in the Legislature. Rather than cutting taxes mainly for top earners, as the bills filers initially proposed, the compromise spread tax breaks to lower income levels  which received high praise from Democrat lawmakers as helping the working man.

In its first year, the law dropped South Carolinians average effective tax rate from 3.4% to 2.7%. With the annual income tax reductions since, the effective rate has likely further shrunk, though by how much is unknown. An updated number may be released with Fiscal Affairs analysis of the GOP plan.

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The changes wont simply shift to lower-income filers. The plan provides a new personal exemption meant to help them, offering a full tax break for single filers drawing just $6,000 and providing relief for people making up to $40,000.

The bill does not change any of the states existing tax benefits or deductions, including those benefiting military families, senior citizens and parents of young children, Bannister said.

Its also designed to start putting more money in South Carolinians paychecks starting in 2026, by requiring the state Department of Revenue to adjust employers withholding tables to reflect the new tax structure.

That means employers will withhold less in taxes, resulting in higher take-home pay. But it should also result in smaller refunds at spring tax time, Bannister said.

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Democrats are withholding judgment on the new plan until they see the details.

Rep. Roger Kirby, the Houses assistant minority leader, said hes not opposed to a tax cut, but legislators need to be sure they dont hurt low-income residents and government services in the process.

Those were always the unanswered questions on various study committees over the years looking at reducing taxes, said the Lake City Democrat.

Moving to a single tax rate could reduce the sticker shock for people looking to move to South Carolina and businesses wanting to start shop here, since the top tax rate made it appear so much higher than surrounding states, Kirby said.

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Hopefully, itll be something good everybody can support, and itll be good for economic development, he said.

The state Chamber of Commerce, which has pushed for a tax overhaul for years, wasted no time in applauding the proposal.

South Carolinas incredible economic growth has been achieved despite a clear competitive disadvantage  an archaic and confusing individual income tax rate that discourages investment and stymies talent attraction, said the chambers CEO, Mike Brenan. This historic tax cut proposal would fix that  immediately vaulting South Carolina ahead of other states that have recently cut tax rates and creating a more competitive economy that will attract even more jobs with even higher wages.

But wait, theres more

The proposal would continue reducing taxes until the flat rate gets to 2.49%.

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Getting there all at once would cost a whopping $2.7 billion, Bannister said.

Instead, the plan calls for reducing revenues by $200 million for every year tax revenue projections rise by 5%.

That might take half a dozen years of annual reductions, as the population and industry investments continue to grow. The proposal sets no time frame, Bannister said.

Four years, five years, six years from now, if thats how long it takes us to get to that 2.49 number  it will just be different, because our economy would be different and the budget would be different, Bannister said.

McMaster called on legislators to get the bill to his desk this year.

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About 50 Republicans joined GOP leaders from both chambers at Tuesdays announcement, signaling widespread support.

The bill will mostly likely get finalized with the state budget package for the fiscal year starting July 1.

Well make time, Senate Finance Chairman Harvey Peeler, R-Gaffney, told reporters.

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A bombshell report that top national security officials for President Donald Trump discussed war plans in a private group chat that accidentally included the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic has elicited fierce criticism from Democrats and media commentators who have framed it as a scandal for which heads should rollbut its largely been dismissed by a number of Republicans.

In a story published on Monday, journalist Jeffrey Goldberg revealed that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz added him last month to a group chat on Signal, an encrypted messaging app, that also included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Vice President J.D. Vance, and other top national security and White House officials. In the chat, the officials deliberated over an attack on the Houthis in Yemen and Hegseth sent operational details of strikes two hours before bombs dropped.

Hegseth has suggested the story is fake, calling Goldberg a deceitful and highly-discredited so-called journalist. But National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes confirmed to Goldberg that the messages appears to be authentic and the administration is reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.

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When asked about the report on Monday, Trump said I dont know anything about it. Im not a big fan of the Atlantic. While Politico reported that some in the administration are furious with Waltz and deliberating whether he should resign or be forced out, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that Trump still has the utmost confidence in his national security team. The Atlantic report comes days after the Department of Defense announced an investigation into leaks of sensitive information.

Read More: In Congress, Calls for Full Signal Chat Transcript Grow Louder

The revelation of the leaked group chat set off a flurry of criticism from Democrats, including calls for consequences.

DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement that Hegseth should resign or be fired: Hegsethand everyone else involvedput on a stunning display of recklessness and disregard for our national security, Martin said. This is one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence I have read about in a very, very long time, said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in a floor speech. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called it the highest level of f--kup imaginable in a post on X. Wait. Pete Hegseth hasnt resigned yet? posted California Rep. Eric Swalwell. Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth posted that Hegseth should be fired immediately. In a statement posted on Threads, Illinois Rep. Jonathan Jackson also called for Hegseths resignation, adding that the incident is evidence of the Trump Administration prioritizing ideological attacks over competence and accountability.

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New York Times columnist David French, a former Army lawyer and self-described evangelical conservative who is a frequent critic of Trump, wrote: There is not an officer alive whose career would survive a security breach like that. French suggested that the breach, if committed by another officer, could even be investigated as potentially criminal and that Nothing destroys a leaders credibility with soldiers more thoroughly than hypocrisy or double standards.  If [Hegseth] had any honor at all, he would resign.

But some Republicans in Congress, which is meant to act as a check on and exercise oversight of the executive branch, have largely downplayed the incident, offering mild criticism if any.

A mistake was made. It happens, Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy told reporters, adding that its not keeping the American people up at night.  Trust me, this is not going to lead to the apocalypse. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley said on Fox News: This is what the leftist media is reduced to ... now were griping about whos on a text message and whos not. I mean, come on. North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said, You got to know who youre sending your text to, but he also told reporters its a 24-hour news cycle.  Ive got a lot of confidence in Mike [Waltz]. This doesnt undermine my belief that hes a solid pick for the role. Florida Sen. Rick Scott expressed similarly tepid concerns: Clearly, theyve got to, you know, make sure that theyre careful how they do this, he told reporters when asked about the group chat.

West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said the incident warranted some kind of internal investigation to make corrections, but Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville said a congressional investigation wasnt needed: You cant put just blame on just one person, other than the fact that the person in charge, that the Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, hell get it corrected. And you know, thats just part of transition and growing, Tuberville told CNN.

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Florida Rep. Brian Mast, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, seemed to echo Tubervilles sentiment, telling reporters that the issue wasnt a systemic thing and didnt require a special investigation.

South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds added that he expected Democrats to raise the incident during an intelligence hearing on Tuesday, and that some of my Republican colleagues may raise it just as an issue to be very concerned about. Gabbard and Ratcliffe are among those who were already due to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday.

Read More: Top Trump Officials Defend Signal Chat in Testimony to Congress

House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters it was an issue of systems and process, not personnel, suggesting that disciplinary action against anyone involved in the chat would be the wrong move. The administration is addressing what happened, Johnson said. Apparently an inadvertent phone number made it onto that thread. Theyre gonna track that down and make sure that doesnt happen again.  Clearly, I think the administration has acknowledged it was a mistake and theyll tighten up and make sure it doesnt happen again.

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Still, the breach seems to have shaken up many others in the party.

Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon spelled out the national security implications of the gaffe, telling reporters, everybody makes mistakes, texting somebody, weve all done it. But you dont put classified information on unclassified devices like Signal. And theres no doubt, Im an intelligence guy, Russia and China are monitoring both their phones, right. So putting out classified information like that endangers our forces, and I cant believe that they were knowingly putting that kind of classified information on unclassified systems, its just wrong. Texas Sen. John Cornyn said it sounds like a huge screw up. I mean is there any other way to describe it? I dont think you should use Signal for classified information. And New York Rep. Mike Lawler posted on X: Classified information should not be transmitted on unsecured channelsand certainly not to those without security clearances, including reporters. Period.

Were just finding out about it. But obviously, weve got to run it to ground and figure out what went on there. Well have a plan, said Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters the committee will be looking into this. Its definitely a concern, and it appears that mistakes were made, Wicker added, but he said that whether someone should be held accountable depended on the results of an investigation.

Meanwhile, Maine Sen. Susan Collins reportedly called the incident an extremely troubling and serious matter; Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski told a HuffPost reporter, there needs to be some accountability; and Montana Sen. Tim Sheehy put it most bluntly: Well, somebody f--ked up.

Chad de Guzman contributed reporting.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Vice President J.D. Vance, and other high-ranking figures in Donald Trumps administration recently used an unsecured Signal group chat to discuss plans to bomb Houthi militants in Yemen. The group chat somehow included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, who wrote about the experience on Monday.

The administrations stunning carelessness with this kind of highly sensitive information would have, in normal times, led to resignations. These are not normal times, though, and the White House and its allies in Congress and throughout conservative media are once again digging in to defend something that is plainly indefensible.

Here are some of the absurd excuses that have been offered since Goldberg published the story on Monday.

I do not know of what you speak

Trump was asked about the breach on Monday, and pleaded ignorance. I dont know anything about it, he said. Im not a big fan of The Atlantic. To me, its a magazine thats going out of business. I think its not much of a magazine, but I know nothing about it.

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Trump certainly heard about it later, though, and multiple outlets reported that the White House discussed whether to make Waltz the fall guy and force his resignation. The president said on Tuesday that this wont be happening. Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man, he told Garrett Haake of NBC News.

War plans were not discussed

Hegseth was near-apoplectic when asked about the breach in Hawaii. I hear how its been characterized, he said to conclude a lengthy rant on the issue before turning to face the camera. Nobody was texting war plans.

The White House is also denying war plans were discussed, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt writing on Tuesday: 1. No war plans were discussed. 2. No classified material was sent to the thread.

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It really strains credulity, however, to claim that the targets of an upcoming military airstrike were not classified, just as it is really splitting hairs to claim the strikes do not constitute war as if to argue that the subject matter of the chat wasnt that serious. The United States military conducting airstrikes in the Middle East is pretty damn serious, and Trumps own National Security Council acknowledged that the chat Goldbergs described was authentic.

One influential conservative who isnt splitting hairs about the terminology of what was discussed is Fox News host Jesse Watters. TRUMP TEAM TEXTS WAR PLANS TO THE WRONG PERSON, read a chyron on his show Monday night.

Yes, it was bad, but its not a big deal

but dont let that chyron fool you. Watters essentially brushed off the breach, with another chyron reading: WEVE ALL TEXTED THE WRONG PERSON BEFORE.

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Did you ever try to start a group text and youre adding people and you accidentally add the wrong person, and all of a sudden your Aunt Mary knows all your raunchy plans for the bachelor party  well that kind of happened today with the Trump administration, Watters said.

It could have been a wee bit of a security breach, Watters continued before bringing up Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden. Im sure it wont happen again.

Trump took a similar tack on Tuesday, telling NBC News that Goldbergs presence in the chat had no impact at all, calling the breach the only glitch in two months, and it turned out not to be a serious one.

So did House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). I think the White House has acknowledged its a mistake, he told reporters on Tuesday, adding that he believes that it will tighten up and make sure it doesnt happen again.

Its not a big deal, and its good, actually

Its the presidents advisers discussing among themselves options they may recommend to the president, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) told Laura Ingraham on Fox News, and nobody can deny the success of what the president is doing here. This is what the leftist media is reduced to  now were griping about whos on a text message and whos not. I mean, come on.

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Fox News host Will Cain acknowledged that it was concerning that the information was shared with a journalist, but that the bigger takeaway is that the breach is a transparent insight into the collaborative, open, honest, team-based attempt to come to the right decision.

If you read the content of these messages, I think youll come away proud that these are the leaders making these decisions in America, Cain added.

Jim Hoft of the conservative outlet Gateway Pundit also praised those involved in the breach. The chat itself, as recounted by Goldberg, is a masterclass in leadership, he wrote. Vance raised legit concerns about timing and messaging  proving hes a thinker, not a yes-man  while Hegseth laid out the stakes: restoring freedom of navigation and reestablishing deterrence that Biden let crumble.

Hoft went on to describe Goldbergs concern over his inclusion in the national security discussion as pearl clutching.

The journalist is a fraud

Watters called Goldberg one of the biggest hoax artists around. So did Hegseth earlier on Monday. Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist, who has made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again, to include the hoaxes of Russia, Russia, Russia, or the fine people on both sides hoax, or the suckers and losers hoax, Hegseth said. This is a guy who peddles in garbage. Its what he does. Leavitt, the White House press secretary, also jabbed Goldberg, leading off her statement on Tuesday by noting that he is well-known for his sensationalist spin.

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Goldbergs reporting has at times been inconvenient for Trump and his allies, but theres no evidence it is fraudulent. Regardless, the Trump administration has already acknowledged that the group chat was real.

This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, Brian Hughes, the spokesman for the National Security Council, said in a statement. The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security.

The mission may have been carried out successfully, but that doesnt mean it isnt incredibly concerning that the people Trump put in charge of the United States military and the nations security are behaving this recklessly with sensitive information.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) stressed this concern to CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who were both on the group chat, during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday. Theres plenty of declassified information that our adversaries China and Russia are trying to break into encrypted systems like Signal, he said. I can say this: If this was the case with a military officer or an intelligence officer and they had this kind of behavior, they would be fired.

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Human activity is the main cause of wildfires, so we often blame discarded cigarettes, campfires, and downed power lines for devastating blazes.

However, new research suggests that invasive plants have played a significant role in California's worsening wildfire crisis.

What's happening?

Wired reported that eucalyptus trees and non-native grasses are changing California's fire dynamics.

In the 1700s and 1800s, European settlers brought these plants to California for landscaping and agricultural purposes. These introduced plants outcompeted native species and regrew stronger each year.

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However, the non-native grasses worsen fires more than California's native plants. They are less resistant to burning and fill in gaps that would otherwise naturally form between native plants, creating "fuel continuity." These gaps used to provide natural firebreaks.

"People underestimate the destructiveness of grasses," Carla D'Antonio, a UC Santa Barbara plant community researcher, told Wired.

D'Antonio continued, "But if the sparks and embers fly into a bunch of introduced grasses, then  boom  everything around you just goes up like gasoline. It spreads so fast, and it's so continuous. It's like throwing tissue paper onto a fire."

Meanwhile, eucalyptus trees have flammable, oily leaves and bark that easily fall off and blow away, potentially carrying fire embers that can spread and feed the blazes.

Why are non-native species important?

Like all invasive species, California's non-native plants impact local biodiversity and wildlife habitats.

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However, this new research shows an additional risk associated with having non-native plants in our communities, especially on homeowners' properties adjacent to flammable structures.

Unfortunately, this issue is not unique to California. Eucalyptus trees and non-native grasses are also helping massive wildfires spread in places like Portugal and Chile.

Finding ways to control these species would be critical to preventing extensive wildfire damage, especially now that fires are worse and more common with rising global temperatures.

What's being done about non-native species and fire risks?

Fortunately, government representatives and innovative companies are working to stop the spread of invasive plants worldwide.

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For example, Goats on the Go is a company that brings goat herds to businesses and landowners to eat away their invasive plants without toxic chemicals. BurnBot machines, sheep grazing, and native species replanting programs have also been successful in protecting against worsened fires.

Wherever you live, you can take local action by participating in volunteer vegetation management programs to remove invasive species and help native plants thrive.

And if you live near non-native plants, you can also make your home more resilient with fireproofing upgrades and fire-resistant landscaping. If you decide to pursue this route, you'll probably save money on your yard, too.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
A trio of US researchers claim to have successfully tested predictions that it's possible to harvest clean energy from the natural rhythms and processes of our planet, generating electricity as Earth rotates through its own magnetic field.

Though the voltage they produced was tiny, the possibility could give rise to a new way to generate electricity from our planet's dynamics, alongside tidal, solar, wind, and geothermal power production.

In 2016, Princeton astrophysicist Christopher Chyba and JPL planetary scientist Kevin Hand challenged their own proof that such a feat ought to be impossible. The researchers have now uncovered empirical evidence that their proof-breaking idea may actually work, as long as the shape and properties of the conducting material in their method are set to very specific requirements.

The researchers used a custom-designed cylinder to harvest electricity. (Chyba et al., Physical Review Research, 2025)

"This small demonstration system generates a continuous DC voltage and current of the (low) predicted magnitude," the researchers write in their recent paper.

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In the early 20th century, American physicist Samuel Barnett resolved a nagging question over the non-rotation of a magnetic field with respect to its moving electromagnet.

While the proposed difference in velocity between the field and its magnet ought to allow for a voltage to form, proofs such as the one Chyba and Hand spelled out in their 2016 paper showed it wasn't possible. The reason was simple; any electrons pushed by Earth's magnetic field would quickly rearrange themselves and cancel out any difference in charge.

There were some assumptions at work, however, which together with Spectral Sensor Solutions scientist Thomas Chyba, the scientists set out to challenge with a rather specific set of circumstances.

To test them, the team used a 29.9-centimeter (almost one foot) long hollow cylinder made from manganese-zinc ferrite; a material chosen to encourage magnetic diffusion, where magnetic fields are less tightly constrained.

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The cylinder was placed in a pitch black, windowless laboratory to minimize photoelectric interference, and angled in such a way as to make it perpendicular to both Earth's rotation and magnetic field.

After all was measured and accounted for, a voltage of 18 microvolts remained. This small potential disappeared when different cylinders were used, or the same cylinder was set at a different angle, suggesting it was being generated by Earth's rotation.

"The device appeared to violate the conclusion that any conductor at rest with respect to Earth's surface cannot generate power from its magnetic field," says Christopher Chyba.

The researchers observed the same response from the material in a second location, this time in a residential building rather than a laboratory.

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It's exciting and promising research, but we shouldn't get carried away at this early stage  and indeed the researchers themselves are being cautious. We're talking about a very small amount of electricity here, generated with a very specific experimental setup.

"Both papers [2016 and 2025] talk about how it might be scaled up, but none of that has been demonstrated, and it might well prove not to be possible," says Christopher Chyba.

"And in any case, the first thing that needs to happen is that some independent group needs to reproduce  or rebut  our results, with a system closely similar to our own."

The research has been published in Physical Review Research.

Related News
Red colobus monkeys are back in action.

Foreign oil pollution nearly made these primates, indigenous to the marshy Niger Delta region, go extinct. Oil spills were frequent, pushing former fishing communities to turn to logging for income, cutting down the monkeys' habitats.

According to Mongabay, there were only 200 left in 2021. However, Mongabay's newly released footage proves that their numbers are on the rise.

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The SW/Niger Delta Forest Project, a Nigeria-based environmental organization, set up a conservation area to help the monkeys thrive. At the time of writing, its efforts had pushed the red colobus monkey population up to approximately 400.

Rachel Ashegbofe Ikemeh, SWNDF's founder, told Mongabay, "We snatched it out of extinction in the nick of time."

Camera traps are key to this success story. Installed throughout the designated conservation area, they help researchers and activists study the monkeys' behavior.

Without them, SWNDF would have no way of measuring the monkeys' health or population, information that is crucial to maintaining biodiversity.

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Red colobus monkeys aren't the only primates that benefit from conservation. Humans do too. According to National Geographic, conservation can be defined as seeking "sustainable use of nature by humans, for activities such as hunting, logging or mining."

When biodiversity is maintained, these resources remain abundant. However, pollution disrupts biodiversity and warms the planet, putting these resources at risk.

Thankfully, organizations are working hard to conserve endangered flora and fauna.

Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

For example, Penn State researchers in the U.S. found a potentially species-saving genetic variation in ash trees. In India, decades of conservation efforts helped pygmy hogs make a historic comeback.

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Russell Mittermeier, chair of the Primate Specialist Group, praised SWDNF's efforts, saying, "It is indeed miraculous that this species has survived up until now." Hopefully, the miracle continues.

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.
New research published in The Journal of Wildlife Management reveals how human activity is disrupting southern sea otters along the California coast.

According to a report shared by Phys.org, the study found frequent disturbances from stimuli, including kayaks, are forcing sea otters to burn more energy.

What's happening?

Sea otters have high metabolic rates. They need uninterrupted rest to conserve their energy. Frequent disruptions can affect their health and survival.

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Heather Barrett, a researcher at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, warned that social media is fueling public desire for close wildlife encounters. This increased interest puts sea otters at greater risk.

"People are getting too close, and this comes with a cost to wildlife," Barrett said. She cautioned that frequent human interference could have long-term consequences.

Why is protecting sea otters important?

Sea otters are more than adorable marine mammals. As a keystone species, they help maintain a balanced and healthy coastal ecosystem. Human activities unsettle their rest and threaten the balance of ocean biodiversity.

Issues about marine life also affect people and local businesses. In La Jolla, California, growing public interest in sea lions caused a popular tourist spot to close down in an effort to protect marine life. If the same thing happens with otters, stricter regulations will follow. While these rules protect wildlife, they will have an impact on local businesses that rely on responsible ecotourism.

What's being done about protecting sea otters?

Wildlife groups are working to teach people the value of keeping a safe distance from sea otters.

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The Respect the Nap campaign by Sea Otter Savvy urges photographers and tourists to avoid disturbing otters while they rest. When boats stay at least 29 meters away, sea otters are much less likely to be disturbed.

People can also make a huge difference in protecting otters. Choosing ethical wildlife tours instead of following viral social media trends can help keep these animals safe. Conservation efforts, including protecting seals and advocating for animal safety, show that even small changes in human behavior can make big impacts on marine life.

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.
BEAVERCREEK, Ohio (WDTN)  Local and state officials are cleaning up after a diesel leak was reported at a Beavercreek gas station.

The Shell station on N. Fairfield Road and Dayton-Xenia Road closed in December, after a resident noticed a sheen in a local creek. On Dec. 19, the State Fire Marshals Office and Ohio EPA launched a three-month investigation into the leak.

Investigation underway after diesel fuel leaked at Beavercreek gas station

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It was determined that the diesel fuel leak came from the gas stations underground storage tanks, spilling 700 gallons. Now authorities are working to see just how much damage this fuel leak caused to the nearby environment.

When 2 NEWS asked nearby businesses, most were surprised  they had no idea this was happening in their own backyard.

I was actually going there during lunch to get a Coke, and was going to turn into it when I saw the barricade that they had up, said Michelle Belton, Acute Hearing employee. And I was like, oh man, you know, because thats so convenient to just run over there and get something.

Residents are worried this leak could do more than just interrupt daily routines  in the past few days, many have taken to social media to express their concerns about water contamination.

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In a statement from the City of Beavercreek, they say the risk to domestic wells is considered extremely low, due to the sites location and the estimated amount of diesel fuel that was leaked.

The city says there have been no reports of contamination to drinking water, and no reports of suspected contamination at all.

Despite the lack of reported contamination, Beavercreek says officials are taking several actions to mitigate the impact and keep contamination from happening at all.

As precautionary measures, all on-site diesel fuel tanks have been emptied and removed and all gasoline storage tanks have been emptied. While investigating, the Ohio EPA also temporarily installed booms to filter water in the area, with filters being replaced as necessary.

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The investigation is ongoing, and the gas station and convenience store will remain closed until investigation is finished.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
TUNKHANNOCK, WYOMING COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  On Monday, Action Together NEPA hosted a rally with dozens showing up to participate.

The budget resolution that narrowly passed in the House of Representatives in February calls for the Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880,000,000,000 in spending over 10 years.

Many are afraid those cuts will hit programs like Medicaid and they want local congress members to know they are worried.

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I deal with a lot of health issues which if he gets his way, first of all, I would never get out of medical debt. Ive survived cancer three times. Id be gone, Tunkhannock resident Ruth Gorski.

Gorski says shes a recipient of Medicaid and Medicare.

Shes one of many who showed up to voice their concerns Congress could target programs like Medicaid.

I dont know what people would do without social security, and Medicare, and Medicaid, said Marilyn Stark from Tunkhannock.

Bresnahan, Meuser respond to claims of federal benefit cuts

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget is a non-partisan, non-profit organization with members consisting of former Republican and Democratic lawmakers.

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According to the committee, the recent resolution does not cut Medicaid but adds future goals could be hard to meet without some Medicaid reductions.

Attendees and organizers at Mondays rally called on their Representative Dan Meuser to host a town hall to address their fears.

Weve been calling and leaving messages but hes not, hes not doing the job for us. So thats a big problem we have, Pat Bernet from Tunkhannock said.

Its past time for him to show up for his own constituents, Action Together NEPA Communications Director Jessica Brittain stated.

We reached out to Representative Dan Meuser, as well as some other republican congress members who represent people in NEPA, about the budget resolution.

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Representative Meuser issued the following statement:

As weve seen with similar protests across the country, these demonstrations are often orchestrated by outside groups with the sole purpose of creating chaos and spreading misleading claims. One of their latest falsehoods is that we are cutting Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, which is simply not trueno matter how many times they say it, it doesnt make it factual.

We remain focused on serving the hardworking people of our district by addressing real concerns, rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in government, and advancing policies that strengthen our economy. Republican Representative of Pennsylvanias Ninth District Dan Meuser

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NEW YORK  The top Manhattan federal prosecutor who resigned over the Justice Departments orders to drop the criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams drafted a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi opposing the dismissal and asking to discuss the case with her directly.

Its not clear if Danielle Sassoon ever sent the undated letter, which was disclosed in court filings on Tuesday. But the draft shows that Sassoon, who was at the time the interim U.S. attorney for Manhattan, considered appealing directly to the Justice Departments top official as she tried to safeguard the Adams case in the face of what Sassoon saw as political interference.

The letter appears to have been written in early February, and in a separate letter on Feb. 12 announcing her resignation, Sassoon said she and Bondi hadnt met or discussed the five-count corruption case against the Democratic mayor.

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Sasson didnt respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. Her opposition to dismissing the Adams case has been well documented, but the draft letter to Bondi reveals new details about the behind-the-scenes discussions as career prosecutors in Manhattan tried to preserve a corruption case they had spent years building. Top officials at DOJ have argued that the case should be dismissed because it has hindered Adams ability to help President Donald Trumps agenda.

The Justice Departments request to dismiss the case remains pending before a federal judge.

In Sassoons draft letter, she wrote that she first learned that the department was leaning toward trying to abandon the case on Jan. 27  seven days after Trump took office  during a discussion with Emil Bove, then the acting deputy attorney general.

At that point, Sassoon wrote, she expressed concern about making a decision to drop the case before the Senate had confirmed Trumps permanent pick to be deputy attorney general, Todd Blanche. But Bove, Sassoon wrote, told her that Blanche was on the same page, and there was no need to wait.

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Justice Department officials do not typically discuss sensitive details about pending cases with nominees before they are confirmed. Such discussions could raise ethical problems or weaken the presumption of confidentiality that typically covers internal legal deliberations.

Blanche was subsequently confirmed in early March.

A Justice Department spokesperson said: Todd Blanche was not involved in the Departments decision-making prior to his confirmation.

Sassoon made clear in her draft letter that Bove had not been receptive to Sassoons concerns about the Adams dismissal effort. So Sassoon contemplated bringing her concerns directly to Bondi.

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I have not been given any opportunity to raise my concerns with you and the restricted discussions with Mr. Bove to date are no substitute, Sassoon wrote.

In a meeting, Sassoon continued, Bove allotted prosecutors from the Manhattan U.S. attorneys office 40 minutes to address the chronology of the Adams investigation and another 40 minutes to listen to Adams attorneys discuss the impact of the case on his ability to govern and assist in the Administrations immigration efforts.

That simply does not suffice, Sassoon wrote.

And Sassoon criticized what she would later describe as part of a quid pro quo: Adams advocacy should be called out for what it is: an improper effort to withhold immigration assistance in exchange for a dismissal of his case.

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She also mentioned a Jan. 16 op-ed by the former U.S. attorney who brought the case, Damian Williams. In the piece, Williams criticized aspects of New York City and state government, and Adams lawyers had seized on it to argue that it was evidence of Williams political motivations in bringing the case.

Sassoon made clear she disapproved of Williams commentary, but she said it was not a basis to dismiss the case.

While I was personally disappointed in my predecessors self-serving actions after his departure, including the creation of a personal website, there are myriad ways to address any arising prejudice or perception of weaponization well short of a dismissal, Sassoon wrote.

Williams declined to comment.

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On Feb. 10, Bove ordered Sassoon to drop the case. He told her he wasnt questioning the strength of the evidence or the legal theories underpinning the case, but that the Trump administration believed the prosecution was interfering with the mayors ability to enforce Trumps immigration policies.

Rather than follow the order, Sassoon quit in protest, penning an eight-page letter rejecting Boves arguments and accusing him of improperly agreeing to abandon the case in exchange for the mayors support for Trump policies. Boves order also subsequently triggered the resignation of a wave of other prosecutors in New York and Washington.
Only a year after Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature loosened Floridas child labor restrictions amid a tight job market, lawmakers now are advancing a measure that would remove all work limits on 16- and 17-year-olds.

While these kids could work unlimited hours and days without breaks during the school year, the legislation (SB 918) would even allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work without restrictions if they either graduated high school or are home- or virtual-school students.

It also removes prohibitions on kids working on school days earlier than 6:30 a.m. or later than 11 p.m. This is a parental rights issue, Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, told the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee on Tuesday.

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Collins dismissed critics who likened his bill as a return to an earlier epoch of child labor exploitation: Frankly, were not talking The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. Were talking about them working at Publix and Piggly Wiggly.

Still, others warned that exploitation of young workers is certain to follow if lawmakers ditch even the relaxed standards approved last year, which allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to work more than 30 hours during school weeks, with parental permission.

Critics had warned of slippery slope

We warned this was just the beginning, that this was a slippery slope, and here we are again, said Jackson Oberlink, with Florida For All, a justice advocacy organization. Were facing another attempt to strip away basic safeguards for Floridas children, all to appease corporate interests looking for cheap labor.

Collins portrayed expanding work opportunities for teens as a chance for them to not only help their families but also build character that will serve them in future academics, work and life experience.

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DeSantis, though, may have fueled criticism of the legislation last week during a roundtable in Sarasota with President Trumps border czar, Tom Homan.

DeSantis acknowledged that efforts the state and White House are engaged in to remove undocumented immigrants may have reduced the workforce for lower-wage jobs. But the governor pointed to young workers as potential replacements.

What else at Capitol? Florida's GOP-led Legislature aims to limit the power of city, county governments

Last year's first step... Gov. Ron DeSantis signs bill to allow Florida teens to work more hours a week

Why do we say we need to import foreigners, even import them illegally, when you know, teenagers used to work at these resorts. College students should be able to do this stuff, he said.

DeSantis sees youth as replacement workers

DeSantis said the state requiring larger employers to verify workers immigration status has reduced available labor.

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Yes, we had people that left because of those rules, but youve also been able to hire other people. And whats wrong with expecting our young people to be working part-time now? I mean, thats how it used to be when I was growing up, DeSantis said.

Collins bill, however, may face tough odds.

A similar House bill (HB 1225) hasnt moved. And while Collins proposal cleared the Senate committee on a 5-4 vote, at least two of his fellow Republican supporters said they remained uneasy about the approach. Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, a former state GOP chair, voted against the legislation.

I think this sends a bad message, Gruters said. I think we should allow kids to work the hours theyre allowed now with the (parent) waiver system, and thats it.

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Collins bill is like what Florida lawmakers began working with last year, until the compromise measure involving limited hours and parental permission emerged and was eventually approved.

Who's behind it? Conservative donors

It reflects a nationwide push by the Foundation for Government Accountability, a Naples-based conservative research and lobbying organization financed by a constellation of right-wing groups.

The Ed Uihlein Family Foundation, led by the billionaire founder of a Wisconsin-based shipping company, is a big donor to FGA and supports the child labor bill along with anti-union and deregulation efforts across the country.

Dick Uihlein, who leads the foundation named for his father, was a big donor to DeSantis, particularly during his failed presidential campaign.

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The Florida Policy Institute, which opposes the legislation, said there are more than 80,000 16- and 17-year-olds already employed in Florida, with most juggling work and school.

FPI said that lifting the current limits will force teen-agers to accept hours their bosses schedule them, even if it puts their academics at risk. Citing the most recent U.S. Labor Department statistics, FPI reported that in 2023, there were 209 child labor violations in Florida, the second highest level in 15 years.

John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@gannett.com, or on X at @JKennedyReport.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida teens would have work limits lifted under new legislation
SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO)  A bill changing how groups gather signatures for ballot measures has been vetoed by Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden Tuesday.

State Supreme Court hears NOPE case Tuesday

In a news release, Rhoden announced he signed 20 election-related bills while also vetoing one, House Bill 1169.

HB1169 requires ballot measure petitions to receive at least 5% of signatures from each of the 35 senate districts based on the last gubernatorial election turnout. Last week, KELOLAND News highlighted two voter advocacy groups that said HB1169 would make South Dakota home to the most extreme geographic petition signature requirements in the country.

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Under current laws, to get an initiated measure on the ballot, a petition needs signatures equal to 10% of the vote cast in the last gubernatorial election for the entire state.

We would go from having no geographic distribution requirement to the worst in the country, Matthew Schweich, with the Voter Defense Association of South Dakota, said last week.

Just one state senate district, if they dont like an initiative, could choose not to sign it and block it, even if the entirety of South Dakota wanted an opportunity to vote on that constitutional amendment, Schweich noted.

This bill has a worthy goal: placing safeguards on the process to add constitutional amendments to the ballot in South Dakota, however, I am concerned that this bill will not withstand scrutiny in the courts, Rhoden said in his letter issuing the veto. This bill attempts to change the South Dakota Constitution in statute, and I believe that approach to be misguided.

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03-25-2025_HB-1169-VETO-LetterDownload

There was another issue with HB1169, on how to enforce the 5% per Senate district. Currently, the South Dakota Secretary of State office doesnt report election results from the 35 districts, only by county and precinct. Because they dont release that information, people wont know how many signatures they need to collect to reach 5%.

Rhoden signs other election bills

Minnehaha County Auditor: New territory with new election laws

Rhoden has signed 177 bills and issued two vetoes this legislative session. Heres the list of the 20 election-related bills signed into law:

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The family of University of Missouri student Riley Strain has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against his fraternity, Delta Chi, after he drowned during a trip last year to Nashville. Strain, 22, drowned in the Cumberland River with a blood alcohol level of .228 -- more than twice the legal limit. File Photo courtesy of Nashville Police

March 24 (UPI) -- The family of University of Missouri student Riley Strain has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against his fraternity after he drowned during a trip last year to Nashville.

The lawsuit, which was filed Friday in Boone County and seeks unspecified damages, accuses Delta Chi, the property owner of the fraternity house, two members of the Board of Chapter Advisers and 30 members of the fraternity of negligence in Strain's death.

Strain's body was found in the Cumberland River on March 22, 2024, two weeks after he was kicked-out of Luke's 32 Bridge bar, where he had been drinking with his Delta Chi fraternity brothers, who were in Nashville to attend a formal.

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According to the complaint, the annual spring formal involved "prolific consumption of alcohol" with much of it above 15% alcohol by volume, which is banned at Delta Chi fraternity events.

Medical examiners said Strain, 22, died "as a result of drowning and ethanol intoxication." His blood alcohol level was three times the legal driving limit in Tennessee. The report said cannabis compound Delta-9 THC was also found in his system.

"Rather than having the support of his brothers, Riley was abandoned and alone," the lawsuit states, "instilling a code into its fraternity members that encouraged or taught fraternity 'brothers' to abandon one another instead of helping one another."

"The fraternity brothers did not even think to call Riley's parents, they simply got ready for bed and went to sleep," the suit claims, adding that there was no call made to 911 until police were notified the following day that Strain was missing.

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While reports show Strain was not over-served alcohol at any bars in Nashville, the lawsuit claims Delta Chi members planned a formal that was fueled by alcohol. The lawsuit also alleges that the fraternity pressured Strain to attend the formal and encouraged him to consume alcohol throughout the day.

After Strain appeared intoxicated and was kicked out of the bar, the lawsuit alleges his fraternity brothers did not stay with him or help him get back to the hotel. Surveillance video from that night shows Strain stumbling outside as he wandered around Nashville.

"The investigation found that he had become separated from his friends and was noticeably impaired as he walked onto Gay Street adjacent to the Cumberland River," the Nashville Police Department said in a statement during last year's investigation.

The lawsuit alleges the fraternity members were negligent, careless or reckless. It claims Delta Chi's Board of Chapter Advisers were negligent by failing to provide supervision and transportation at the formal.

While Delta Chi has not commented on the lawsuit, the fraternity did release a statement last year, saying it was "deeply saddened by the tragic passing of our esteemed fraternity brother."
Democrats are seeing signs of growing energy on the grassroots level, raising questions about the possibility of a Tea Party-style movement from the partys progressive flank.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) drew tens of thousands on stops for their Fighting Oligarchy Tour over the weekend, illustrating what progressives say is their messages resonance among voters.

Meanwhile, progressive lawmakers are signaling the need for a revamp in leadership and messaging.

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The American people are fed up with the old guard, there needs to be a renewal, Khanna, who has been holding packed town halls in GOP-controlled House districts in California, told CNNs Dana Bash on Sunday. You know, in Silicon Valley, when a company isnt doing well, you dont keep the same team.

The growing grassroots energy carries echoes of the Tea Party movement, a conservative movement that began in 2007 and became part of the mainstream political discourse in 2010, when Republicans rode a populist wave to capture 63 seats in the House during the midterms under then-President Obama.

Bash on Sunday asked Khanna directly about whether he saw a similar phenomenon happening among the Democratic grassoots now. While the congressman acknowledged the growing frustration with the base, he disputed the idea that there was a Tea Party-style movement forming.

Is it going to be a Tea Party? No, because the Tea Party wanted to basically destroy the government, tear down the governmentMany Democrats, theres anger, but theres also aspiration, Khanna said. We want to build things, like Medicare for All, like a living wage and a lot of other policies. So youre going to see a new generation come in with a compelling economic message.

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The question comes as many House Democrats have been on the receiving end of complaints from constituents over their partys response to the Trump administration, fueling speculation of a backlash to the partys incumbents in 2026.

That frustration reached a fever pitch earlier this month after Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted to advance a House Republican-crafted funding bill. While Schumer argued the move was better than allowing for a government shutdown, it drew immediate backlash from many in his party who argued he was simply caving to the GOP.

Schumer has said he isnt going anywhere, though the controversy has spurred speculation that he could draw a primary challenger in 2028  including from Ocasio-Cortez.

Meanwhile, other Democratic incuments are staring down primary opponents. On Monday, progressive media personality Kat Abughazaleh announced she was challenging longtime Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) in Illinoiss 9th Congressional District.

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Donald Trump and Elon Musk are dismantling our country piece by piece and so many Democrats seem content to just sit back and let them, Abughazaleh said in her launch video. While current Democratic leadership might be fine cowering to Trump, Im not.

Progressives say the battle bewing within the Democratic Party is less about ideology and more about how to take on Trump.

The divide in the Democratic Party is not between left and moderate, said Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. Its between those who are fighting with backbone and those who are perceived not to be meeting the moment.

I think that means anybody could be subject to a primary back home if they arent perceived as equipped or willing to meet this moment with backbone, he added.

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Indeed, many voters have expressed their anger at Democratic lawmakers over what they see as a meek response to Republicans.

They fight dirtier and were not willing to get in the mud with them. Maybe its time we start getting a little bit dirtier with our messaging, one attendee at a Scottsdale, Ariz. town hall told Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.).

The dynamic has also played out publicly among Democrats. Last week, Ocasio-Cortez took to X to praise former Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Pa.) for criticizing his former primary opponent Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) over his vote in favor of the government funding bill.

I was wrong about you and Im sorry. Where do I submit my Conor Lamb apology form, Ocasio-Cortez said, referring to supporting Fetterman, who was viewed as the progressive in the 2022 primary.

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House Democrats have also been on the receiving end of criticism. Last week, Maryland Rep. Glenn Ivey (D) was accused of being too calm at a raucous town hall, while one attendee at a town hall held by California Rep.Gil Cisneros (D) told him she wished he would be angry.

The town halls came as Democrats were seeking to use the forums to go on the offense against House Republicans through holding town halls in their districts. And the effort from Democrats has made headway, with the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), and the Association of State Democratic Committees (ASDC) targeting a number of House Republicans with town halls, including Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.), Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) and Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.).

Progressives have also gotten in on the action. Khanna held town halls in GOP districts represented by California Reps. Young Kim (R), David Valadao (R), and Ken Calvert (R) over the weekend. Ocasio-Cortez rallied in Evanss district on Friday.

Theres no question that much of the anger is directed at the Trump administration over cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency, as well as potential cuts in Congress to Medicaid. Republicans adamantly deny that they plan on cutting Medicaid.

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However, progressives point out that a number of these rallies are happening because of what they call the Democratic leadership vacuum in Washington.

The reason why a lot of these rallies are happening is because of a lack of clear leadership and direction from those that are in charge on the Democratic side, Im talking specifically [in] House and Senate, said Paco Fabian, director of campaigns at the Sanders founded group Our Revolution.

Still, Fabian noted that it is still too early to tell whether we will see widespread primary challenges as a result of the grassroots energy.

Will that translate into more progressives running for Congress or for any elected office? It remains to be seen, he said.

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Green said the rallies, particularly those held by Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez, can be viewed as an effort to mobilize voters to stand up to the administration.

What I see AOC and Bernie doing is not a messaging exercise but an organizing exercise. They are getting people comfortable with getting out of their houses and rallying together, Green said.

And anybody whos in those stadiums or looking around seeing 15,000 other people are thinking when the time is right, I wont be alone.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
CHICAGO (AP)  The Republican National Committee on Tuesday launched a massive effort to probe voter registration lists nationwide amid a broader strategy to seize on voter rolls to question the integrity of elections.

RNC sent public records requests asking for documents related to voter roll list maintenance to the top election officials in 48 states and the District of Columbia, asserting that the public should know how states are removing ineligible people from voter rolls, including dead people and non-citizens.

The move came the same day President Donald Trump took sweeping executive action seeking major changes to U.S. elections, including requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. It also coincides with common misinformation narratives about non-citizens and dead people voting, cases of which are exceedingly rare and are largely caught and prosecuted when it does occur.

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Voters have a right to know that their states are properly maintaining voter rolls and quickly acting to clean voter registration lists by removing ineligible voters, RNC chairman Michael Whatley said in a statement.

The National Voter Registration Act already requires states to take steps to maintain accurate and current voter registration lists.

Since the 2020 election, conservative activists have seized on false claims of widespread fraud as justification for scrutinizing the work of election officials to maintain voter lists. County election officials have reported being inundated with public record requests that consume workers' time, often as they are trying to prepare for elections.

In 2024, six in 10 local election officials responding to a survey conducted by The Elections & Voting Information Center at Portland State University agreed with the statement that unduly burdensome requests significantly impede my ability to perform my duties.

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There have been attempts to challenge large numbers of individual voters based on flawed analysis. States have numerous ways to identify voters who have died or moved, including scanning death and court records to ensure the list of eligible voters and their addresses are as accurate and up to date as possible.

Twenty-four states also are part of a bipartisan, multi-state effort to help them maintain accurate voter lists. It used to be a larger group, but nine GOP-led states left the Electronic Registration Information Center, known as ERIC, two years ago as conservatives raised questions about its funding and purpose.

Over the last two years, ERIC has provided members with 1,040 reports identifying 8.2 million voter records that were likely out of date, according to research presented at a meeting earlier this year of chief election officials. The data included voters who had died, moved within a state or to another state and duplicate registrations.
DENVER (KDVR)  The victim of a road rage incident is speaking out about the ordeal involving shots fired directly into her car while her kids rode inside with her.

The suspect is still on the loose and the victim is hoping someone can help identify them to police. Out of concern for her safety, weve kept the victim anonymous.

6 injured in fiery multi-car crash involving police cruiser that closed Alameda, Buckley

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The shooting happened back on March 1, just before midnight on I-76 near the Pecos Street exit. The victim said a car, she believes a blue Volkswagen hatchback, was driving aggressively next to her.

The person kept coming next to me and then, you know like, in front of me, next to me, behind me. So I punched my gas to get away from the person, said the victim.

When she tried to get into the left lane, she said the person cut her off and she saw them swerve and nearly crash.

All of the sudden, I heard a bunch of bangs hitting my truck and I thought it was rocks being thrown at my truck because I had never heard gunshots before, said the victim.

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She said she heard five shots and three of them struck the car. One in the bumper, one near the gas tank and the other straight through the drivers door.

My body went numb and I pulled off to the side of the highway, she said.

Avid Colorado climber remembered as passionate adventurer, wonderful human

Three kids were in the car with her, including her daughter in the passenger seat.

I, like, looked up and then I just see my mom and she was just gushing, said the victims daughter.

It got me in my leg over here, in my thigh, and it shattered my femur, said the victim.

Her hip was also broken. The last thing she remembers was being pulled from the car after her daughter called 911. Almost a month later, she still is on crutches with more surgeries to come.

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Its going to take quite some time. Its affecting me in a lot of ways, she says.

Getting back in a car, she said, is a struggle every day.

I cant even get in a vehicle and feel safe. Its just scary, said the victim. I dont want to make nobody mad, I dont want to make the wrong turn, I dont want to cut someone off, I dont want to turn too late. Its just scary to me.

Police: Teen shot by Aurora officer after not complying with orders

And while she has a long road to recovery ahead, shes thankful her kids made it out untouched.

Glad it was me and not them, she said.

The Adams County Sheriffs Office said the investigation into this incident remains ongoing, with little information to go off of and no security cameras in the area. The victim believes there was a witness in another nearby car, and the sheriffs office is asking anyone with information to give them a call.

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A group of suspects armed with a gun and a knife reportedly committed a robbery and an attempted robbery near the University of Minnesota campus late Monday, according to authorities.

The latest incidents in Dinkytown prompted another public safety alert regarding crime in the area.

The University of Minnesota Department of Public Safety issued the first alert around 3:30 a.m. Sunday after multiple armed robberies were reported to police within 30 minutes.

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In a new alert around 11:15 p.m. Monday, police said someone was robbed around 10:26 p.m. at 1209 7th Street Southeast and an additional attempted robbery happened near 9th Avenue and 8th Street Southeast.

Credit: Tony Webster via Flickr

The suspect descriptions reported Saturday and Monday are similar.

On Saturday, police said the suspects are described as four males wearing black hoodies or sweatshirts and black masks, with one armed.

On Monday, the suspects were described as three to four males wearing black sweatshirts with the hoods up and black masks.

In Monday's incidents, one suspect was reportedly armed with a gun and one suspect was armed with a knife.

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Police described the suspect vehicle tied to Monday's incidents as a gray BMW SUV without license plates.

Anyone who spots this vehicle or individuals matching the suspect description in the Dinkytown area is asked to call 911 immediately.

According to the alerts, Saturday's incidents "involved campus community members" but Monday's incidents did not.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame musician Nancy Wilson says its more embarrassing today to be an American than it was during the Vietnam War, citing President Donald Trump as the primary reason, and believes these are particularly difficult times for women.

In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last week, the Heart member noted that their 1975 song Crazy on You was a reaction to the U.S. war on Vietnam and former President Richard Nixon  and said current events are far more troubling.

We were kind of embarrassed at that time to call ourselves American because of the dirty politics of the Vietnam War, she told the outlet in an interview published last Tuesday. To be as subtle as possible, its more embarrassing now.

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The song, on regular rotation on classic rock radio stations, remains prescient.

Every time I think about it, I wanna cry, read the lyrics. With bombs and the Devil, and the kids keep coming/ No way to breathe easy, no time to be young/ But I tell myself that Im doing all right/ Theres nothin left to do tonight/ But go crazy on you.

Wilson co-wrote the song with her sister, fellow Heart member Ann Wilson, while living in a small cottage in Point Roberts, Washington, on the U.S.-Canada border. Tens of thousands of Americans who were drafted into the military during the Vietnam War fled to Canada at the time.

The Grammy winner also discussed Hearts Barracuda and said the 1977 hit is even more relevant in the salacious billionaire culture of today, which she said is infested with Trumps grab-them-by-the-pussy mentality that was caught on tape in 2005 and released in 2016.

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I think for women in the culture the pendulum will come back again, and therell be another renaissance in the arts to push back against the oppression of the cranky old rich white guys, Wilson told the outlet. I hope I am alive to see that next revolution.

Wilson has spoken out against Trump since the early days of his first administration. Richard Shotwell/Invision/Associated Press

Trump, who implemented a discriminatory travel ban and espoused nationalist ideals during his first term, is now dismantling various federal agencies through his so-called Department of Government Efficiency under the stated aim of cutting wasteful public spending.

Wilson, who told The Hill in 2018 that anybody but Trump could use Barracuda in their political campaign, argued at the time that he is part of the same political swamp he claims to be draining.

Now 71 years old, Wilson is still touring. Hearts current Royal Flush Tour is headed to Tennessee and West Virginia this week.

Related...
Republican political operative Roger Stone, generally a fierce defender of President Trump, said high-level administration officials were wrong to use a private app to communicate sensitive military plans, during an interview with NewsNations Chris Cuomo on Monday.

Secure conversations shouldnt be had over any app that is available, Stone said. I dont think there are any secure at all.

The Atlantic reported Monday that Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently included on a group chat, using the encrypted messaging app Signal, in which top officials discussed plans for the then-imminent March 15 surprise military air strikes against Houthi militants in Yemen.

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The group included Vice President Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, national security adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

Goldbergs report on Monday sent shockwaves across the political landscape, with some Republicans expressing alarm, or at least asking for answers. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said he was nearly certain that Russia and China would have seen the chats as well.

Americans, unfortunately, should assume that everything that you look at, everything you write, everything you say, can ultimately be accessed, said Stone, a long-time confidant of President Trump. In retrospect, they probably should use a more secure chain.

Hegseth reportedly sent the group explicit details in the exchange, which Goldberg said he initially suspected could be misinformation or a hoax until bombs started dropping as discussed.

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The plan included precise information about weapons packages, targets and timing, Goldberg wrote in an article.

Waltz, who added Goldberg to the chain, and Hegseth have faced calls from Democrats for their resignation over the snafu, but GOP leaders have mostly stood by them.

Apparently an inadvertent phone number made it onto that thread. Theyre going to track that down and make sure that doesnt happen again, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters Monday.

Clearly, I think the administration has acknowledged it was a mistake, and theyll tighten up and make sure it doesnt happen again.

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on the social platform X on Tuesday that Trump continues to have confidence in his national security team.

Hegseth has denied sharing war plans or classified information on the thread. He blasted Goldberg as a deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again.

However, National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes confirmed to Goldberg that the group chat appeared to be authentic, and said officials were investigating how he had been included in it.

Goldberg hit back at Hegseths claims during an interview with CNNs Kaitlan Collins on Monday.

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Thats a lie. He was texting war plans, the long-time foreign affairs correspondent said. He was texting attack plans. When targets were going to be targeted; how they were going to be targeted; who was at the targets; when the next sequence of attacks was happening.

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(NewsNation)  Political operative Roger Stone called out the handling of sensitive national security communications, saying all digital conversations should be presumed potentially insecure.

During a Monday interview on NewsNations CUOMO, Stone commented on recent reports of a classified communication thread involving a journalist, advising that secure conversations shouldnt be had over any app that is available.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters Monday that nobody was texting war plans following news breaking that Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, accidentally gained access to a group chat featuring Trump administration officials talking about plans for an attack against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

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Initially suspected of AI disinformation, the National Security Council later confirmed the messages were real.

Roger Stone: AI fakes will make our politics worse

Stone expressed alarm about artificial intelligences potential to manipulate political discourse. He described AI-generated audio as uncanny and warned that the technology could only make our politics worse by creating seamlessly believable false narratives.

Voters [are] already uncertain what to believe given the huge amount of information coming to them via the internet as well as cable TV, Stone said about the growing challenge of distinguishing between authentic and fabricated media.

Crucial JFK information still unreleased: Author James H. Johnston

Roger Stone: False narrative that Lee Harvey Oswald shot JFK

Regarding recently released documents about former President John F. Kennedys assassination, Stone argued that key information remains deliberately withheld.

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He criticized the current document release as cherry-picked, saying that crucial evidence contradicts the official narrative of Lee Harvey Oswald as the sole shooter.

Stone pointed to specific inconsistencies, including a paraffin test he claims shows Oswald had no gunpowder residue and testimonies from Parkland Hospital doctors suggesting multiple shooting angles.

He said that important documents, including conversations between CIA Director John McCone and President Lyndon Johnson, remain unavailable.

There are still documents at the National Security Council, NSA, FBI, CIA, and Department of Defense that were not included, Stone said.

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NewsNation partner The Hill contributed to this report.

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ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A Rogers man was arrested in Missouri on March 24 and is accused of shooting his mother with a crossbow.

Joseph Alexander Courtesy: Barry County, Missouri Sheriffs Office

According to a press release, Joseph Michael Alexander, 29 is facing charges of attempted capital murder, aggravated residential burglary, interference with first-degree emergency communications and third-degree domestic battery.

Bentonville police say officers responded to a disturbance around 8:08 a.m. at the 2400 block of NW Linebarger Lane.

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Officers believe Alexander broke into his parents home and fired a crossbow twice striking his mother in the head both times.

Police say Alexander fled the scene before police arrived. The mother was taken to a local emergency room with life-threatening injuries.

Alexanders car was found in Barry County, Missouri by the Stone County, Missouri Sheriffs Office.

Alexander was taken into custody following a pursuit. He is being held in the Barry County Jail and will be extradited to Benton County.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the Bentonville Police Department.

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Then-Rep. Michael Waltz introduces Pete Hegseth during Hegseth's Defense secretary confirmation hearings in January. Waltz and Hegseth featured prominently in a text chain on military operations that were accidentally shared with a journalist in mid-March. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Condemning it as a reckless handling of highly sensitive information and an inexcusable failure that has weakened our national security and put American lives at risk, Nevada Democratic U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was among those Monday calling for hearings and accountability following a bizarre report about military plans being leaked by high-ranking Trump administration officials.

A group chat that included Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, national security adviser Michael Waltz and several other Trump administration cabinet members and officials was formed earlier this month to discuss military action against Houthi forces based in Yemen, whose attacks have been disrupting shipping in the area.

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The group chat, on the Signal app, somehow also included The Atlantics editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, as Goldberg explained in a story published in the Atlantic Monday.

Goldberg, also the regular host of Washington Week on PBS, suspected the text chain wasnt authentic, but perhaps some sort of disinformation campaign designed to mislead the press and/or others.

But if it was a hoax, the quality of mimicry and the level of foreign-policy insight were impressive, Goldberg wrote.

One of the texts attributed to Hegseth indicated the first attacks would be in Yemen at 1:45 p.m. eastern time on March 15.

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If this Signal chat was real, I reasoned, Houthi targets would soon be bombed, Goldberg wrote. At about 1:55, I checked X and searched Yemen. Explosions were then being heard across Sanaa, the capital city.

Goldberg subsequently sought and received confirmation from a National Security Council spokesperson that the group chat to which somehow he had been added appears to be an authentic message chain.

The NSC is reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, the spokesman told Goldberg.

Using an unclassified communications platform to discuss classified military operations and being careless enough to add someone without the proper clearance is a dangerous level of incompetence, Rosen said in her statement Monday.

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Congress needs to immediately hold hearings to get answers about how such a thing can happen, and we must hold those involved in this major national security breach accountable, Rosen said.

Rosen was one of several members of Congress, of both parties, expressing a mix of outrage and disbelief at the security breach.

Nevada Democratic Rep. Dina Titus on social media also blasted the leak, saying Stupid is as stupid does, and asking What other non-government officials have been included on similar group chats?

And Nevada Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Matso on social media described the security breach as an act of unacceptable incompetence that could have had catastrophic consequences.

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Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, however, brushed off the blunder Monday, telling The Hill that Waltz, who evidently was the person who added Goldberg to the text chain, should not be disciplined.

Apparently an inadvertent phone number made it onto that thread. Theyre gonna track that down and make sure that doesnt happen again, Johnson said.

Meanwhile, It is worth noting, Goldberg wrote in his story, that Donald Trump, as a candidate for president (and as president), repeatedly and vociferously demanded that Hillary Clinton be imprisoned for using a private email server for official business when she was secretary of state.
(FOX40.COM)  The Roseville City School District alongside construction company Balfour Betty announced the groundbreaking celebration for the construction of the districts new school, Winding Creek Elementary.

Video Above: Local student joins Thirst Project

According to the district, the school will feature two stories to accommodate 650 students from TK through 6th grade.

Winding Creek Elementary will span 71,130 square feet on a new 7.6-acre site, said the district.

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California kindergarten immunization rates remain high, CDPH says

Roseville City School District said their goal is to provide students, faculty and staff with flexible and specialty learning spaces, a library, a multi-purpose building for indoor play, support spaces for administration, on-site sidewalks, playgrounds, landscaping and more.

Construction begins on Tuesday, March 25.

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Mar. 24MORGANTOWN  The city of Morgantown is working with the West Virginia Division of Highways to address the rough road conditions in the city's downtown.

Starting Tuesday, city crews will begin patching Spruce and High streets.

Travel lanes will be closed intermittently as work advances between 5:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Traffic delays are expected. Patching should be completed by the end of the week.

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As the major arteries through downtown are state routes, the work is a combination of state and local assets.

According to Morgantown Communications Director Brad Riffee, the DOH has agreed to supply asphalt, tack material, a truck and a driver. The city will provide traffic control, any necessary equipment and labor.
A new meeting between Ukrainian and US delegations on a potential ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow is ongoing in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday 25 March.

Source: multiple media outlets, including AFP, citing a source in the Ukrainian delegation, as reported by European Pravda

Details: A member of the Ukrainian delegation stated that Ukrainian and US officials were holding another round of talks in Riyadh on 25 March. They noted that work with the US side was still ongoing.

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Update at 12:12: Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, citing sources familiar with the process, reported that the US and Ukrainian delegations had completed their second meeting in Saudi Arabia, the day after the meeting between the US and Russia.

Background:

On 24 March, media outlets, citing their sources, had reported that the US and Ukrainian delegations would hold another round of talks following the conclusion of a US-Russia meeting in Saudi Arabia.

That same day, the Russian and US delegations wrapped up negotiations in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, which focused on ending Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The Kremlin had said that the core topic of discussions with the US delegation in Saudi Arabia was the potential renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which Russia exited in 2023.

Prior to this, on 23 March, US and Ukrainian delegations had also held talks in Riyadh.

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Ruby Franke is now officially divorced from her husband, Kevin Franke, after a judge approved terms to which the couple agreed.

The couple was married in 2000 and had six children  highlighted in Ruby Franke's YouTube channel "8 Passengers" which had 2 million subscribers at its height. However, she gained even more notoriety when she was arrested along with Jodi Hildebrandt, her business partner, for the abuse of her youngest children.

Kevin Franke filed for divorce three months after their son climbed out of a window at Hildebrandt's home in Ivins, Washington County, and ran to a neighbor's home asking for food and water. Those neighbors immediately called the police after seeing the boy's condition.

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Washington County Attorney Eric Clarke said at Ruby Franke's sentencing that the two youngest Franke children were kept in a "concentration camp-like setting" for months, had extensive injuries and had suffered from emotional abuse.

The divorce decree, as is standard in Utah, said the divorce was due to "irreconcilable differences."

Kevin Franke's attorney submitted his stipulation to the court on March 3, and 4th District Judge Roger Griffin signed a divorce decree for the couple last Thursday.

Based on a previous order from the 4th District Juvenile Court, Kevin Franke was given full custody of the four children who are still minors. Ruby Franke is ordered not to have contact with the children.

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Ruby Franke is still serving four sentences of one to 15 years in the Utah State Prison for four convictions of aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony. She will serve at least four years since the sentences are running consecutively. She admitted to physically torturing her son, forcing him to do physical tasks and holding his head underwater. She also admitted to forcing both her son and daughter to stand in direct sunlight for long periods and denying them adequate water and food.

Kevin Franke agreed to consider any child support payments owed to him by Ruby Franke already paid. The courts typically require child support in cases of full custody.

The couple agreed their Springville home would be transferred to Kevin Franke, along with a 2.8-acre property in Scofield, Carbon County.

Under the divorce agreement, Ruby Franke will keep about $85,000 she withdrew from financial accounts when she stopped living with her husband, but any other financial accounts outside of an investment account under Ruby Franke's name will be given entirely to Kevin Franke.

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Neither party asked for alimony from the other, agreeing they each have the resources to care for their needs.

The divorce agreement said Ruby Franke intends to keep the last name of Franke rather than change her name to her maiden name.

Both Franke and Hildebrandt admitted to four charges of aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony, under plea deals that dismissed an additional two charges. Both are ordered to between four and 60 years in prison after being sentenced in Utah's 5th District court in early 2024.

At her sentencing, Franke thanked the police for saving her children, saying she gained her freedom when she was put in handcuffs.

I was so disoriented that I believed dark was light and right was wrong. I would do anything in this world for you, she said regarding the children at the time. My willingness to sacrifice all for you was masterfully manipulated into something very ugly.
AUSTIN (Nexstar)  The Texas House Public Health Committee met Monday morning to discuss a bill that aims to make sure rural Texans have access to hospital and health care services.

House Bill 18, known as The Rural Health Stabilization and Innovation Act, provides a comprehensive plan for ensuring that rural Texans receive adequate medical care. The committee heard from the bills author, Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston, as well as numerous stakeholders.

Members, there are Texans who do not currently have access to hospitals and health care services that the majority of us take for granted, VanDeaver said. We have the opportunity this session to change that.

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VanDeaver said nine of the 13 members of the Public Health Committee come from urban areas with a total of 202 hospitals. The four representatives from rural areas make up 28 counties with only 30 hospitals in the entire area, nine of which have no hospitals at all. The lack of resources in these areas is what moved VanDeaver to file HB 18.

Freddy Olivarez, CEO of the Medical Arts Hospital in Lamesa, told the committee that his rural hospital struggled to make payroll in September 2024. He said an existing grant program played a large role in allowing the hospital to maintain operations.

We were facing looking at being the next Texas hospital closed, so that was this grant funding that Chairman VanDeaverits amazing for us, Olivarez said. This is whats kept us open right now.

Llano County is fighting to save rural healthcare

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The bills strategic initiatives include:

The creation of a new State Office of Rural Hospital Finance. The office will create a strategy to ensure that hospitals have the necessary resources to support their patients, create a financial vulnerability index and provide technical assistance to these areas if necessary.

The establishment the Texas Rural Hospital Officers Academy. The Academy will offer at least 100 hours of coursework annually related to technical training on matters that impact the financial stability of rural hospitals.

The construction a grant program for rural hospitals composed of four grants: The Financial Stabilization Grant: to support the financial stability of hospitals at a moderate or high risk of instability based on their vulnerability index. Emergency Hardship Grant: for hospitals that have experienced a man-made or natural disaster or unforeseen circumstances that might result in facility closures or failure to meet payroll. Innovation Grant: to improve rural facilities and services for pregnant women or women who have recently given birth, individuals under the age of 20, older adults or individuals who are uninsured. Rural Hospital Support Grant: to improve the financial stability and support the long term viability of rural hospitals.

Additions to the Health and Safety Code for the new Rural Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program to use telehealth services to identify and assess pediatric patients seeking mental and behavioral health needs.

The bill defines a rural community of having a population of 68,750 or less, making 156 Texas counties eligible for these services.

Representatives questioned stakeholders on whether the bills current language is expansive enough to address all issues affecting rural hospitals.

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What is the problem? I think its a good bill trying to address it, but Im worried its not gonna go far enough, Rep. John Bucy, D-Austin, asked Victoria Grady, who testified as a resource witness from the Health and Human Services Commission.

I think one of the things thats really important to note about rural communities is they dont want us in their business, and they would like to solve their own problems. And so part of the challenge is having those facilities feel comfortable and confident that they can access resources early on when theyre having trouble, Grady said. She added, As much as were glad to give emergency hardship grants, we really dont want them coming to us at that point.

Rural providers, advocates create plan for Texas Legislature to rescue maternity care system

Grady also discussed a variety of issues that affect rural hospitals such as outdated infrastructure, inability to obtain viable equipment, uncompensated care, and complexity when submitting for reimbursement on supplemental payments.

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The bill was left pending as discussions with stakeholders continue.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 139 Shahed loitering munitions, various types of decoy drones and an Iskander-M ballistic missile on the night of 24-25 March. The Ukrainian Air Force has reported that 112 drones failed to reach their target.

Source: Ukraine's Air Force

Quote: "The enemy launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile from Crimea and 139 Shahed-type loitering munitions and various types of decoy drones from the Russian cities of Millerovo, Kursk and Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Chauda [in temporarily occupied] Crimea on the night of 24-25 March 2025 (from 18:00 on 24 March).

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As of 09:00, 78 Shahed loitering munitions (and other types of drones) are confirmed to have been shot down in the south, north and centre of the country.

A further 34 enemy decoy drones disappeared from radar (without causing adverse effects)."

Details: Reports indicate that the bombardment has affected Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Cherkasy and Odesa oblasts.

The Russian aerial attack has been repelled by aircraft, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units and mobile fire groups from Ukraine's Air Force and the defence forces.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on March 25 that Moscow supports the resumption of the Black Sea Initiative in a form "more acceptable to everybody," state-owned news agency TASS reported.

Lavrov confirmed that the issue was the focus of the 12-hour Russian-U.S. talks in Riyadh on March 24.

The so-called Black Sea Grain Initiative was first brokered by the U.N. and Turkey in 2022 to allow Ukraine to ship out its grain despite Russia's ongoing invasion.

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The deal broke down a year later after Russia withdrew from the deal, claiming that its demands, namely pertaining to its fertilizer industry, had not been addressed.

Lavrov reiterated that Russia needs "the grain market, the fertilizer market to be predictable" to ensure its position there.

Despite the initial deal breaking down in 2023, Ukraine has managed to unilaterally reopen the Black Sea corridor, in large part thanks to a sustained drone and missile campaign against the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

A potential U.S.-Russia deal sparked concerns among some countries in the Black Sea region that the agreement would be favorable to Moscow, allowing it to expand its Navy's operational area.

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"Considering the sad experience with agreements with Kyiv only, only an order from Washington to (Ukraine's President Volodymyr) Zelensky and his team can provide guarantees," the Russian diplomacy chief said.

The Kremlin refused to provide details on the March 24 talks, describing them as "technical." The negotiations were followed by a brief meeting between the U.S. and Ukrainian delegations in Riyadh a day later.

Ukraine's team previously met the U.S. delegates in the Saudi capital also on March 23 to discuss technical aspects of the proposed ceasefire in Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump has sought to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine as a step toward a broader peace deal. Though Washington and Kyiv initially agreed on a full 30-day truce, Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected this proposal in a phone call with Trump on March 18, agreeing only to a temporary pause on attacks against energy facilities.

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Kyiv supported a mutual halt on energy strikes but later accused Russia of continuing attacks against Ukraine's civilian targets.

Read also: Editorial: What Steve Witkoff doesnt get about Ukraine (and Russia)

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine's General Staff has reported that the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has struck a cluster of Russian military personnel in Kursk Oblast, killing and wounding about 30 soldiers.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram

Quote: "The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine successfully struck the area in Kondratovka in Kursk Oblast where enemy personnel were concentrated. The target was completely destroyed and up to 30 occupiers were killed or wounded."

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Details: The General Staff noted that the destruction of this element of Russian military infrastructure reduces the Russians' ability to conduct combat operations in Sumy and Kursk oblasts.

"The pilots from the Air Force and the rest of the defence forces will continue to strike the enemy to weaken its military potential," the General Staff concluded.

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Russian forces have resumed their attacks in the Pokrovsk sector in Donetsk Oblast, Mykola Koval, the spokesperson of Ukraine's National Guard's Chervona Kalyna brigade, said on March 25.

The embattled town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast is among the most hotly contested areas of the front. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi previously claimed that 7,000 Russian soldiers were killed near Pokrovsk in January alone.

In recent weeks, the situation near Pokrovsk has been somewhat stabilized, with the Ukrainian military saying that Russian troops were bogged down near the city.

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"Recently, they (Russian soldiers) have become more active. We have successfully repelled the assaults, we are holding the line, but the enemy is trying to break through our defense line and reach our positions and gain a foothold in some positions daily," Koval told Kyiv24 Channel.

According to the spokesperson, the Russian military attacks Ukrainian positions "as at the beginning of the active phase" in the Pokrovsk sector, involving more first-person-view (FPV) drones and artillery, as well as infantry.

"And it's very difficult to deter the enemy with such an influx," he added.

Earlier this month, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia is attempting renewed offensives in various parts of the front line, including in Kharkiv, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

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In recent weeks, Kyiv has also reportedly lost much of the territory captured during the operation in Russia's Kursk Oblast.

Read also: Russia, Ukraine agree to eliminate use of force in Black Sea, US to help restore Russias access to markets

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Russia has put forward a number of demands to agree to a ceasefire in the Black Sea, which was a topic of a meeting between representatives of the Russian Federation, the United States and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia on 23-25 March.

Source: the Kremlin in a statement following the meetings with the US delegation, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Moscow confirmed an earlier statement by the White House that the parties had agreed to "ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea".

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The statement also noted that the United States will "help restore Russia's access to the world market for agricultural and fertiliser exports".

The Kremlin, however, stated that these clauses would take effect only after several sanctions are lifted, specifically:

from Rosselkhozbank and other banks involved in the export of food and fertilisers;

from companies producing and exporting food and fertilisers, as well as companies insuring the relevant cargoes;

from Russian-flagged vessels transporting food and fertilisers and the servicing of such ships in ports;

on the supply of agricultural machinery and other goods used in the production of food and fertilisers to Russia.

However, this note was not included in the White House statement following the meetings.

Previously: Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov noted that further technical consultations are required to put these agreements into action.

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Editors note: This article has been updated to more accurately describe the exclusion of Russian banks from the SWIFT system.

Russia said Monday that it expects the U.S. to ease certain sanctions as part of an agreement for a limited ceasefire with Ukraine, lifting restrictions on certain banking sectors which are a major piece of international penalties on Moscow over its full-scale invasion launched in Feb. 2022.

The sanctions lifting is part of an agreement for Russia and Ukraine to halt military attacks in the Black Sea, the office of Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a statement on Tuesday. The statement came following a round of U.S.-brokered shuttle diplomacy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from Sunday to Tuesday.

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Putins office said the ceasefire in the Black Sea would only come into force after sanctions relief.

The Russian presidents office said the U.S. will help restore access for Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports to the world market, reduce the cost of marine insurance, and expand access to ports and payment systems to conduct such transactions.

To achieve this, Putins office said it expected the U.S. to lift sanctions on Russias Rosselkhozbank, or Russian Agriculture Bank, and other financial organizations involved in ensuring operations on international trade in food products (including fish products) and fertilizers.

Part of sanctions relief includes connecting these financial institutions back to SWIFT, the international messaging system to process global transactions. Headquartered in Belgium, the SWIFT system operates under European Union law.

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Under the Biden administration, select Russian banks were expelled from the Swift network by the EU in consultation with the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada in the first year of Russias full-scale invasion against Ukraine.

The German Government on Wednesday said it was not aware of any planned changes to EU sanctions against Russia

Russia, in its readout of the meeting with U.S. officials, said the U.S. will need to lift restrictions on trade finance transactions and on companies producing and exporting food, including fish products, and fertilizers. Sanctions relief must also be applied to insurance companies with cargoes of food, fish products and fertilizers, it said.

The White House, in its readout of the meeting, did not detail that it would lift sanctions but said the U.S. will help restore Russias access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.

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The White House published a similar readout of its talks with Ukraine, with Kyiv also agreeing to the limited ceasefire in the Black Sea.

A timeline on implementation was not included in any statements.

Updated on March 26 at 8:49 a.m. EDT

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Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that Moscow "does not consider it possible" to transfer control of the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to Ukraine or any other country.

Source: Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Quote: "The reintegration of the plant into Russias nuclear industry is an established fact and the international community has no choice but to recognise it. Transferring control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to Ukraine or any other country is impossible."

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Details: The Russians, who disregard international law, now attempt to invoke it  citing their recognition of the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast as Russian territory and insisting that joint operation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant with any other state is impossible.

Background:

The administration of US President Donald Trump is pushing for new conditions to secure US access to critical minerals and energy assets in Ukraine, increasing its economic demands on Kyiv as it progresses with a peace deal with Russia.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright claimed that the US could take over the management of a nuclear power plant in Ukraine "with very little problem" if a political decision is made.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that he had not discussed the ownership of Zaporizhzhia NPP with Washington, stressing that it would not operate without Ukraine's oversight.

The Russians occupied the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on 4 March 2022, and since then, they have periodically attacked the facility, posing a threat of a nuclear disaster. They also stationed their personnel there.

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Russia is pushing to gain full control over four occupied Ukrainian oblastsDonetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Khersonduring negotiations with the United States in Saudi Arabia, the Moscow Times reported, citing sources familiar with the Kremlins strategy.

Although Russian forces do not fully control any of these regions, the Kremlin demands them in their administrative borders, as defined in the Russian Constitution following their illegal annexation.

A Kremlin-linked official told the Moscow Times that Russia's President Vladimir Putin cannot afford to lose these territories politically, and Russia intends to solidify its grip on them at any cost.

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"The Constitution has no mechanism for regions to leave Russia. We need all of Zaporizhzhia and all of Kherson," the official reportedly said.

The Kyiv Independent can't immediately verify these claims.

Read also: Editorial: What Steve Witkoff doesnt get about Ukraine (and Russia)

Another Russian government source suggested that Moscow hopes Washington might pressure Kyiv to withdraw entirely from the occupied regions.

"Either Trump convinces them to leave, or we are told to enter prolonged negotiations while simultaneously using military force to secure control. That would be the worst scenario for us since river crossings are always costly operations," the source added.

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As an alternative, Russia may attempt to seize additional Ukrainian territory, such as parts of Dnipropetrovsk or Sumy oblasts, and then offer an exchange for Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, another Russian official speculated. "We hope to find a way that avoids storming Kherson or forcing a crossing of the Dnipro River. That would mean thousands of casualties for us," he admitted.

As of late 2024, Russian forces controlled about 98.5% of Luhansk Oblast and 60% of the Donetsk region.

Despite these challenges, Russian diplomats believe that a potential Trump administration may be indifferent to the exact borders of a future settlement.

"From what I understand, Trump wants a modern, well-armed, pro-Western Ukraine," a Russian diplomat told the outlet. "He cannot just hand over Ukraine entirely. But where exactly the border is drawnthat may not matter much to him."

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Read also: Who is Sergey Beseda, Russian spy handler leading talks with US?

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U.S. intelligence agencies sounded the alarm on Ukraine's dwindling battlefield prospects against Russia in an annual report released Tuesday.

The 2025 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community  released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in conjunction with top officials' testimony at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing  warns that Moscow has "seized the upper hand" in the war over the past year and "is on a path to accrue greater leverage" to force favorable terms in its negotiations with Ukraine and the West.

Intelligence agencies see continued Russian military resilience despite heavy battlefield losses  replenishing personnel and ratcheting up its industrial capacity.

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"Even though Russian President [Vladimir] Putin will be unable to achieve the total victory he envisioned when initiating the large-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia retains momentum as a grinding war of attrition plays to Russias military advantages," the report states. "This grinding war of attrition will lead to a gradual but steady erosion of Kyivs position on the battlefield, regardless of any U.S. or allied attempts to impose new and greater costs on Moscow."

The analysis comes as President Donald Trump presses for a pact to end the war after he campaigned on negotiating a settlement between Russia and Ukraine within the first 24 hours of his presidency. U.S.-Ukraine ties, however, are the most turbulent theyve been since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Trumps push also has Ukraines advocates in the U.S. and Europe concerned that a potential deal may be on terms that are too favorable to Russia.

However, the assessment casts doubt on Russia or Ukraine's desire for a deal. Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are "interested in continuing discussions" to end the war, the report concludes, but both leaders "probably still see the risks of a longer war as less than those of an unsatisfying settlement."

"Regardless of how and when the war in Ukraine ends, Russias current geopolitical, economic, military, and domestic political trends underscore its resilience and enduring potential threat to U.S. power, presence, and global interests," the intelligence report argues.

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The intelligence community report also prominently addresses threats posed by drug cartels, listing them first, in addition to terrorist groups and other transnational criminal groups.

Senate Intelligence Chair Tom Cotton said its the first time the report highlights illicit drug groups before other major threats. The move reflects the Trump administration's focus on border security and cracking down on undocumented immigration.

In her opening remarks at the Senate worldwide threats hearing, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said non-state criminal groups and terrorists are "what most immediately and directly threatens the United States and the well-being of the American people."

The report points to fentanyl and other illicit drugs trafficked by transnational criminal organizations but also noted that some groups "are conducting other illegal activities that challenge U.S. security, such as human trafficking, cyber operations, money laundering, and inciting violence."

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Beijing represents "the most comprehensive and robust military threat" to the U.S., the report adds in its assessment.

Intelligence agencies argue China will likely ratchet up coercive actions against Taiwan, and the report predicts "steady but uneven" progress by China in developing the military capabilities needed to invade the self-governing island and deter a U.S. intervention.

The report points to continued military advances by Beijing, including the development of long-range missiles, the expansion of its navy and the modernization of ground forces. China, the intelligence agencies assess, remains intent on expanding and overhauling its nuclear arsenal.

Beijing also likely has developed a multifaceted, national-level strategy to supplant the U.S. as the worlds leader in artificial intelligence by 2030.

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The intelligence community also maintained its assessment that Iran isn't currently building a nuclear weapon, but notes that "pressure has probably built on [Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei] to do so."

"In the past year, there has been an erosion of a decades-long taboo on discussing nuclear weapons in public that has emboldened nuclear weapons advocates within Irans decision-making apparatus," the report states.

Iran will use its missile capabilities and nuclear program to buttress its influence in the Middle East and continue to aid militant groups to counter Israel and the U.S. But the report also notes that the fall of the Assad regime in Syria and the military degradation of the militant group Hezbollah "have led leaders in Tehran to raise fundamental questions regarding Irans approach."
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff recently claimed that the majority of people in Ukraine's Russian-occupied territories had participated in referendums and "indicated that they want to be under Russian rule."

Witkoff's claim is false in many ways.

Witkoff referred to the Russian sham vote on the annexation of Ukraine's Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts held in September 2022.

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The so-called "referendums" contradicted both Ukrainian and Russian law and were recognized only by two countries  Russia and North Korea, both of which have little knowledge of free elections.

The hastily organized "referendums" were held at gunpoint in the Russian-controlled parts of the regions, with widespread voter intimidation and soldiers going door to door with ballot boxes.

No freedom of speech was allowed, with those holding pro-Ukrainian views being either killed or persecuted. No independent observers were present.

"The most obvious interpretation (of Witkoff's statement) is that he is absolutely incompetent," Russian political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin told the Kyiv Independent.

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"This just shows the superficiality of Mr. Witkoff's approach and the fact that he did not take sufficient responsibility in preparing for his mission. He could have studied the issue more thoroughly."

Read also: Editorial: What Steve Witkoff doesnt get about Ukraine (and Russia)

Why were 'referendums' held?

Russia occupied parts of eastern Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in 2014 and seized more territory in the two regions, as well as large parts of southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, following the full-scale invasion in 2022.

Following the start of a Ukrainian counteroffensive, Russia hastily organized "annexation referendums" on Sept. 23-27, 2022.

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Russia claimed that 99% of the voters supported joining Russia in Donetsk Oblast, 98% in Luhansk Oblast, 87% in Kherson Oblast, and 93% in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

A banner in Kherson, Ukraine, in support of the so-called referendum for Russia's annexation of Kherson Oblast during the Russian occupation on Nov. 14, 2022. (Celestino Arce / NurPhoto via Getty Images)

People cast their votes in a 'referendum' at a hospital in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on Sept. 23, 2022. (Stringer / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The figures resemble those typically reported by dictatorships, where no genuine voting takes place.

The referendums were illegal under international and Ukrainian law.

They even violated Russian law, which requires a four-month preparation period for referendums. Instead, the votes in the occupied territories were hastily organized within just a few days.

Why were 'referendums' fake?

The sham referendums were held in a conflict zone amid ongoing battles when the safety of voters could not be ensured.

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No freedom of speech or freedom of assembly existed during the fake votes, as pro-Ukrainian residents were being persecuted, jailed, tortured, and killed.

There was also no procedure that could guarantee the safety and confidentiality of voting or prevent voting fraud.

Much of the voting was held outside polling stations.

"You have to answer verbally, and the soldier marks the answer on the sheet and keeps it."

There were numerous reports of armed soldiers going door-to-door to collect votes  a procedure that can be interpreted as voter intimidation.

"You have to answer verbally, and the soldier marks the answer on the sheet and keeps it," one woman in the town of Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, told the BBC.

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In Kherson, Russian guardsmen stood with a ballot box in the middle of the city to collect people's votes, BBC reported.

Another irregularity is that Russia claimed to have annexed the whole territory of the four regions despite not having full control of any of them. Residents from large parts of the annexed territories were under Ukrainian control and could not participate in the sham vote.

A person with a gun stands in front of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Russian-occupied Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine on Sept. 11, 2022. (Stringer / AFP via Getty Images)

At the time, Russian troops occupied most of Kherson and Luhansk oblasts. However, Russia did not control the regional capital of Zaporizhzhia, and only about 60% of Donetsk Oblast was occupied.

No independent observers or international organizations were present to monitor the fake referendums. Only observers from a handful of Russia-friendly countries and unofficial observers representing fringe pro-Kremlin groups in the West arrived to oversee the sham vote.

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The fake referendums were not recognized by international organizations and most countries, even those who call Russia an ally. The only country that recognized the illegal annexation is North Korea, the world's most oppressive state that never had free and fair elections.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the fake vote.

"The charter is clear. Any annexation of a state's territory by another state resulting from the threat or use of force is a violation of the principles of the UN Charter and international law," he said. "The so-called 'referendums' cannot be called a genuine expression of the popular will."

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) also called the sham votes illegal under both international and Ukrainian law.

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Less than two months after the so-called vote, the Ukrainian army liberated the city of Kherson, with thousands of city residents taking to the streets in celebration.

Since then, Russia has been attacking Kherson daily, killing civilians in the city they claim is theirs.

Read also: What were the Minsk Agreements and why did they fail to bring peace in Ukraine?

How does Russia use fake voting to legitimize its rule?

This is not Russia's first experience with fake voting in the territories it occupies.

Similar procedural irregularities and massive evidence of fraud were reported during the fake referendums on Crimea's annexation and on the independence of Russia's proxies in the occupied parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in 2014.

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There is also evidence of large-scale vote rigging in Russia's 2024 presidential election in the occupied territories.

Roman Udot, an expert at Russian election watchdog Golos, said in March 2024 that Russian election results in Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts are round figures that do not fit normal distribution.

According to the theory of probability, the chance that these round figures are real results is one out of 400 million in Luhansk Oblast and one out of 4 million in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Udot said.

Residents cast their votes in 'referendum' in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on Sept. 23, 2022. (Stringer / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The results most likely have nothing to do with actual voting and were obtained by multiplying the number of ballots by arbitrary percentages that the Kremlin ordered, according to Udot.

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Sources in the occupied territories told the Kyiv Independent that Russian troops forced voters en masse to vote in the 2024 Russian presidential election. Specifically, according to the sources, they caught locals in the streets and forced them to vote outside polling stations.

Meanwhile, the alleged number of voters that the Russian authorities reported in Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts exceeds the regions' population.

According to the IStories investigative journalism project, the regions' population amounts to around 3 million people, including 2.5 million adults. Around half of the occupied areas' pre-war population had fled.

Yet, 4.5 million voters were registered in the regions, according to the Russian Central Election Commission.

Read also: Inside the new drone schools teaching the next generation of Ukrainian UAV pilots

Does Russia have any genuine elections or referendums?

Witkoff also appeared to be unaware of the fact that Russia is an authoritarian dictatorship, not an electoral democracy.

Russia hasn't held a democratic, free, and fair election since the 1990s.

The Kremlin's monopoly on television and print publications ensures that the opposition has no access to the media, and independent media are not allowed to operate in Russia.

Opposition candidates are not allowed to run in elections and are sometimes jailed and killed.

In 2020, investigative journalists published evidence that Putin's Federal Security Service had organized an assassination attempt on opposition leader Alexei Navalny, which he barely survived.

Following Navalny's return, he was imprisoned on trumped-up charges and died in prison on Feb. 16, 2024  not long before the country's presidential election. Independent observers argue that Putin likely either ordered Navalny's murder or indirectly killed him through harsh prison conditions.

A screen shows jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny during a hearing on an appeal against his 19-year sentence on extremism charges in Moscow, Russia, on Sept. 26, 2023. (Tatyana Makeyeva / AFP via Getty Images)

Navalny's murder was the latest in a series of murders of opposition politicians. Boris Nemtsov, a famous opposition activist, was murdered in front of the Kremlin in 2015.

Evidence of voting fraud in Russian elections and referendums is also rampant.

The 2024 presidential election was the most rigged in Russia's modern history, according to evidence published by election experts, observers, and media.

Estimates of vote rigging range from at least 22 million votes to about 31.6 million votes, without taking into account online voting and the election at gunpoint in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, according to a mathematical analysis of the election by Russian election expert Sergei Shpilkin and Novaya Gazeta Europe.

A general view of Russia's Central Electoral Commission headquarters in Moscow, Russia, on March 17, 2024. Putin wins the Russian presidential election with 87.97% of the vote, first official results show. (Sefa Karacan / Anadolu via Getty Images)

If these results are included, voting fraud could have amounted to up to around 40 million votes, or 46% of the electoral base.

Apart from regions where votes are rigged, there are also regions where election results are determined randomly without any regard to actual voting, Oreshkin told the Kyiv Independent.

"There are so-called electoral sultanates  that is, places where, in the European sense of the word, elections have no meaning at all because whatever the boss says, that's what the result will be," he said.

"Around 15 to 20 regions have become electoral sultanates  places like Chechnya, Dagestan, Tatarstan, Bashkortostan."

Read also: Why Trumps Ukraine plan will fail to drive a wedge between Russia, China

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MOSCOW (Reuters) - Talks between Russia and the United States were challenging but useful and the United Nations and other countries will be involved in additional discussions, a member of the Russian delegation told the TASS news agency.

"Everything was discussed - there was an intense, challenging dialogue, but it was very useful for us and for the Americans," Russian Senator Grigory Karasin was quoted as saying. "Many problems were discussed."

Karasin, a former diplomat, said that talks would continue and that the United Nations and other - unidentified countries - would be involved in them.

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"We will continue to do this, involving the international community, first of all, the United Nations and individual countries," he said.

"In general, the impression was of a constructive dialogue, which is needed and necessary. The Americans are also interested in this," Karasin said.

A Russian source told Reuters that a draft joint statement had been sent to Moscow and Washington for approval, with the parties aiming to release it on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
The White House said Tuesday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a ceasefire in the Black Sea and to implement a ban on attacks on energy facilities by the two neighbors, an apparent breakthrough after American negotiators held separate talks with both countries.

If implemented, the agreements could mark a major step toward a wider deal to end the three-year-long war, which began when Russia launched a largescale invasion of its smaller neighbor.

Negotiators had agreed both countries would ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea, the White House said in two separate statements.

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Both statements also said that Russia and Ukraine would stop striking each other's energy facilities.

The announcement came after American officials met separately with Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh.

Russian navy vessels sail near the Black Sea port of Sevastopol, Crimea, on Feb. 16, 2022, less than two weeks before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

While the statements were similarly worded, one about the talks with the Kremlin said the United States would help to restore Russias access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.

In the second statement, the White House said the U.S. and Ukraine had agreed that America remains committed to helping achieve the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.

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Neither statement mentioned security guarantees for Ukraine or efforts to regain land seized by Russia, which currently holds around 20% of Ukraine's territory.

Both Russian and Ukrainian officials appeared skeptical that the other side would keep their end of the bargain.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Reuters in a televised interview that the Kremlin could not trust Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and it would only sign a Black Sea deal if Washington issued an order to him to respect it.

We will need clear guarantees. And given the sad experience of agreements with just Kyiv, the guarantees can only be the result of an order from Washington to Zelenskyy and his team to do one thing and not the other, he added.

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As seen with previous rounds of negotiations, there were indications that the White House and Kremlin did not share the same understanding of the details. A Kremlin readout suggested that a firm agreement has not yet been reached. It said that the Black Sea truce will go into force after a series of sanctions are lifted.

Zelenskyy also told a news conference that he had questions about how all this will be implemented, adding that there was no faith in the Russians here, but I believe that we will be constructive.

His country was still counting the casualties from an attack a day earlier in the city of Sumy  on a dense residential area, a childrens hospital and a school  with authorities reporting 101 people injured, including 23 children.

Russia fired 139 more Iran-designed Shahed drones into the country overnight, Ukrainian officials said. They added that while 78 were shot down, others caused damage in the regions of Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Cherkasy and Odessa.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The U.S., Russia and Ukraine have agreed to "eliminate the use of force" and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea following two-day talks in Saudi Arabia, the White House announced on March 25.

Washington also vowed to help restore Russias access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said that Kyiv would consider it a violation of the deal if Russia moved its warships outside of the eastern part of the Black Sea. This will be regarded as threat to Ukraine's national security, he added.

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"In this case Ukraine will have the full right to exercise right to self-defense," Umerov said.

The U.S. also said it had agreed with Russia and Ukraine to develop measures to ban strikes on energy facilities in both countries.

Separately, Washington and Kyiv agreed that the U.S. would help to achieve the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of Ukrainian children who have been deported by Russia.

Kyiv aims to conduct an all-for-all prisoner exchange, but so far, such a step has been obstructed by Russia, Ukrainian officials said.

Delegates from Moscow and Washington held a 12-hour meeting in Riyadh on March 24 to discuss the possibilities of a ceasefire in Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. The talks reportedly focused largely on a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea.

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Ukrainian officials have been briefed on the outcomes of the U.S.-Russia talks before their publication, an undisclosed source told CBS News.

U.S. President Donald Trump also previously revealed that the Riyadh talks concerned demarcation lines and ownership of a Ukrainian power plant. President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he had discussed the status of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in his phone call with Trump last week.

The U.S. delegation was led by Andrew Peek, a senior director at the U.S. National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior State Department official, an undisclosed source told Reuters.

The Russian delegation included Grigory Karasin, chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, and Sergey Beseda, an advisor to Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Alexander Bortnikov.

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The talks were the latest step in Trump's attempt to secure a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected Washington's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire during a call with Trump on March 18, but offered to immediately impose a partial ceasefire on energy sector attacks.

Despite the agreement, Russia continued its regular campaign of aerial attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

A U.S. team also met with a Ukrainian delegation in Riyadh on March 23, the day before the Russia talks. Ukraine's team reportedly remained in Saudi Arabia for a subsequent meeting with the U.S. delegates.

Read also: Editorial: What Steve Witkoff doesnt get about Ukraine (and Russia)

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The U.S., Russia, and Ukraine have agreed to implement a complete ban on strikes targeting energy infrastructure in Ukraine and Russia, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced on March 25.

"All parties agreed to implement the presidential agreement on a complete ban on strikes on the energy infrastructure of Ukraine and Russia," Umerov wrote on Facebook.

Following talks with Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Saudi Arabia, the U.S. committed to enforcing the ban, according to a White House statement. Washington also agreed with Kyiv and Moscow to "develop measures" to implement the agreement.

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In addition, the three sides have agreed to "eliminate the use of force" and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea, the White House said.

The U.S. also pledged to facilitate Russia's access to global markets for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and improve access to ports and payment systems for these transactions.

The announcements follow 12 hours of U.S.-Russia negotiations on March 24 and a subsequent round of U.S.-Ukraine talks on March 25, after an initial meeting on March 23.

According to an undisclosed source cited by CBS News, Ukrainian officials were briefed on the outcomes of the U.S.-Russia talks before their public release.

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The U.S. delegation was led by Andrew Peek, a senior director at the U.S. National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior State Department official, Reuters reported.

The Russian delegation included Grigory Karasin, chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, and Sergey Beseda, an advisor to Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Alexander Bortnikov.

The talks were the latest step in U.S. President Donald Trump's effort to broker a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow.

The U.S. and Ukraine initially backed a broader 30-day ceasefire during talks in Jeddah on March 11, which included halting ground operations.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected Washington's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire during a call with Trump on March 18, demanding conditions that would weaken Ukraine's defense, such as suspending foreign military aid.

While Putin agreed to an immediate, partial ceasefire on energy infrastructure attacks, Russia continued its regular aerial assaults on Ukrainian cities and critical facilities.

Read also: Russia, Ukraine agree to eliminate use of force in Black Sea, US to help restore Russias access to markets

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(Bloomberg) -- Russias oil exports rose to a five-month high while US-initiated talks aimed at achieving a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict drag on.

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Crude flows from all Russian ports in the four weeks to March 23 edged up to 3.45 million barrels a day, the highest since the period to Oct. 20. The increase came despite a slump in weekly flows, driven by fewer shipments from the Baltic and Black Sea.

Crude exports have been boosted by a new short-haul customer in the Mediterranean  post-Assad Syria. A first cargo of Russian crude, carried on a tanker sanctioned by the US, arrived at the Syrian port of Baniyas late last week. Three more vessels, all blacklisted by Washington, appear to be on their way.

US hopes of achieving a broad ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine are unlikely to be realized any time soon. Discussions between American and Russian teams in the Saudi Arabia capital Riyadh on Monday focused on safety of navigation in the Black Sea, but the Kremlin said it wont disclose details of the 12 hours of negotiations. President Donald Trumps assertion that he would end the war in day has run up against a Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, whose forces are making gains on the battlefield.

Delivery Difficulties and Covert Transfers

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Earlier difficulties in discharging some Russian cargoes continue to ease.

Three tankers hauling crude from Murmansk are signaling destinations in India. While the ships themselves havent been sanctioned by the US, they have been blacklisted by the UK and the European Union, and the cargoes spent part of their journey on US-sanctioned shuttle tankers and passed through a sanctioned floating storage unit. It remains to be seen whether the cargoes will be accepted at Indias ports, where they are due to arrive toward the end of the month.

In the Pacific, cargoes of crude from the two Sakhalin projects continue to be transferred from sanctioned shuttles onto other ships in Nakhodka Bay for onward delivery to China.

At least three cargo switches took place last week. A combination of the vessels disappearing from digital tracking systems and heavy cloud cover obscuring satellite imagery has made it impossible to immediately identify the receiving vessels. A fourth cargo transfer took place off Hong Kong.

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About 2.1 million barrels of Russias Pacific crude remains on tankers that have been idle for at least seven days; thats half the amount seen last week and down from 9 million barrels a month ago.

Crude Shipments

A total of 28 tankers loaded 21.2 million barrels of Russian crude in the week to March 23, vessel-tracking data and port-agent reports show. The volume was down sharply from a revised 24.88 million barrels on 33 ships the previous week.

Crude flows in the seven days to March 23 stood at about 3.03 million barrels a day, a week-on-week decline of about 530,000 barrels a day.

The drop was driven by lower shipments of Russian Urals crude from the Baltic and Black Sea ports.

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Despite the slump, the less volatile four-week average flows edged higher to about 3.45 million barrels a day, compared with a revised 3.42 million in the period to March 16. On this measure, shipments hit their highest level since October.

Two cargoes of Kazakhstans KEBCO crude were loaded during the week from Novorossiysk.

Export Value

The gross value of Moscows exports fell by about $190 million, or 13%, to $1.27 billion in the week to March 23, with the lower flows more than offsetting a gain in weekly average prices.

Export values of Russian Urals crude from the Baltic cargoes rose by about $0.70 a barrel, while those loading in the Black Sea were up by about $1.10 a barrel. The price of key Pacific grade ESPO rose by about $1.30. Delivered prices in India were up by about $0.70, all according to numbers from Argus Media.

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On a four-week average basis, income was virtually unchanged in the period to March 23 at about $1.45 billion a week. Using this measure, an increase in flows almost exactly offset lower prices.

Flows by Destination

Observed shipments to Russias Asian customers, including those showing no final destination, were little changed at 3.17 million barrels a day in the four weeks to March 23, keeping them near their highest in 10 months.

The figures include about 600,000 barrels a day on ships from western ports showing their destination as Port Said or the Suez Canal and another 50,000 barrels a day on vessels yet to show a destination.

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Russia has added a second short-haul destination for crude from its western ports, with the first cargo arriving at the Syrian port of Baniyas last week; attempts to reach the manager of the ship by email were unsuccessful. Three more are on their way, according to signals from the ships soon after leaving the Arctic port of Murmansk and shipping information seen by Bloomberg.

Exports to Syria averaged 100,000 barrels a day in the four weeks to March 23.

Flows to Turkey in the same period averaged about 160,000 barrels a day, unchanged from the period to March 16. Turkeys is diversifying its crude supplies after its largest refiner moved to restrict purchases of Russian barrels in the wake of sweeping US sanctions.

NOTES

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This story forms part of a weekly series tracking shipments of crude from Russian export terminals and the gross value of those flows. The next update will be on Tuesday, April 1.

All figures exclude cargoes identified as Kazakhstans KEBCO grade. Those are shipments made by KazTransoil JSC that transit Russia for export through Novorossiysk and Ust-Luga and are not subject to European Union sanctions or a price cap. The Kazakh barrels are blended with crude of Russian origin to create a uniform export stream. Since Russias invasion of Ukraine, Kazakhstan has rebranded its cargoes to distinguish them from those shipped by Russian companies.

Bloomberg classifies ship-to-ship transfers as clandestine if automated position signals appear to be switched off or falsified  a tactic known as spoofing  to hide the two vessels involved coming together to make the cargo switch.

Vessel-tracking data are cross-checked against port agent reports as well as flows and ship movements reported by other information providers including Kpler and Vortexa Ltd.

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If you are reading this story on the Bloomberg terminal, click for a link to a PDF file of four-week average flows from Russia to key destinations.

--With assistance from Sherry Su.

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Widespread protests have erupted across Turkeys largest cities, including Istanbul, as hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets after the main challenger to the countrys president was arrested and charged with corruption.

The detention of Istanbuls mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is seen as the main political rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has sparked the largest wave of street demonstrations Turkey has seen in more than a decade.

For more than a week, protests have continued to escalate as people show support for Mr Imamoglu, with largely peaceful demonstrations across Turkey in support of the mayor.

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However, there has been some violence, with police responding by using water cannons, tear gas and pepper spray, as well as firing plastic pellets at protestors in cities such as Istanbul, the capital Ankara and Izmir. Meanwhile, some demonstrators have been hurling stones, fireworks and other missiles at the riot police.

Here is what to know about the current situation in Turkey and the latest travel advice.

What is happening in Turkey and where are the protests taking place?

Protests began on Wednesday after Istanbuls mayor was detained on suspicion of corruption, days after he received the Republican Peoples Partys nomination to run for president in the 2028 elections. Mr Imamoglu has denied accusations laid against him.

Mr Imamoglus imprisonment has been widely regarded as a political move, an attempt to remove a major challenger to Mr Erdogan from the next presidential race. However, government officials strongly reject the accusations and insist that Turkeys courts operate independently.

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Mr Imamoglus detention comes after years of legal and political battles, that have ignited protests in the past in support of the mayor.

Officers use pepper spray in Istanbul (AP)

This time around, over 1,100 people have so far been detained, while interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said more than 100 police officers had been injured.

The Disk-Basin-Is media workers union said at least eight reporters and photojournalists were detained in what it called an attack on press freedoms and the peoples right to learn the truth. It called for their immediate release.

Many of those protesting Mr Imamoglus arrest are students from different universities, who gathered in front of Istanbul University on Wednesday, broke through a police barricade and moved towards Sarachane.

What is the Foreign Office travel advice?

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has warned travellers about demonstrations and protests currently taking place in Istanbul and other cities across Turkey.

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Demonstrations may become violent. The police response has included the use of tear gas and water cannons, the Foreign Office wrote.

Protesters clash with Turkish riot police in Ankara (AFP via Getty Images)

You should: monitor local media, plan ahead to avoid disruption, avoid crowds and demonstrations.

Avoid all demonstrations and leave the area if one develops. Local transport routes may be disrupted, it adds.

Separately, the Foreign Office also advises against all travel to within 10km of the border with Syria due to fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism.

Can I cancel my holiday or flight and get a refund?

As the Foreign Office has not warned against non-essential travel due to the protests, there will be no special circumstances in place to be able to cancel a trip for a full refund.

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The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so its best to contact them if youre looking to postpone.

Simon Calder, travel correspondent for The Independent, said: If the Foreign Office imposes a warning against travel, it requires tour operators  Tui, Jet2, easyJet Holidays, etc  immediately to bring back holidaymakers. That is why a 'no-go' decision is very rarely made.

There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim travel insurance due to safety concerns unless the Foreign Office advice changes.

In terms of travel insurance, some policies include natural disaster cover for an event that prevents you from reaching your holiday destination. Check your insurance policies and speak to your insurer to see where you stand.

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast
MILAN  Saildrone, a U.S. manufacturer of unmanned surface vessels, has integrated new protective equipment onto its drone boats operating in the Middle East to safeguard them against widespread jamming of communication systems in the region.

The company said it had successfully deployed its Saildrone Voyager, a 33-foot USV, in Jordan, with new hardware and software algorithms, allowing it to operate in GPS-denied environments.

Due to regional events, GPS jamming and spoofing have hindered unmanned operating systems in the area  following intensive testing by our engineers to create a resilient positioning system, Saildrone now has the ability to autonomously operate in spoofed maritime environments, a company statement reads.

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The U.S. Navys Task Force 59 has used Saildrone USVs for several years as part of experiments with unmanned systems and artificial intelligence carried out across the U.S. Fifth Fleet area of operations, which include the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea.

Key challenges identified in these waters include piracy as well as smuggling of weapons and drugs.

A more recent threat to regional maritime security has been GPS interference, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which tracks intrusion reports in these areas.

The agency has received further corroborating reports from vessels experiencing jamming in the Strait of Hormuz, with disruptions lasting several hours, affecting navigation systems and requiring vessels to rely on backup methods, it said in a March 10 statement.

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The upgrades made to the Saildrone USV exploit different forms of localization to allow the systems to operate without relying exclusively on satellite signals.

The boat carried out missions in contested environments during the International Maritime Exercise (IMX) 2025, the largest maritime exercise in the Middle East, last month.

Satellite positioning and connectivity can no longer be relied upon in potential future conflicts, Richard Jenkins, founder and chief executive officer at Saildrone, said in a statement.

In recent years, there has been increased pressure for U.S. forces to train without relying on GSP for positioning, navigation and timing information (PNT).
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB)  A one-of-a-kind fundraiser that supports a Bay County organization and community is returning for another year to Panama City this weekend.

At this years Salty Dog Day, organizers will be raising money for Operation Spay Bay and the historic St. Andrews Waterfront Partnership.

Operation Spay Bay works to protect local animals from kill shelters while also trying to reduce the pet population here in and around Bay County.

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The Historic St. Andrews Waterfront Partnership, on the other hand, works to maintain and preserve the beauty of the St. Andrews community.

Florida officials investigate Gulf World Marine Park operations

Just like in years past, Salty Dog Day organizers say they have added more fun attractions for all who come out to enjoy.

Every year we try to add a couple of new things to keep it exciting, said Salty Dog Day Chair Alice Dewall. This year, the newest part is bringing it up and down Back Avenue. We havent done that in a couple of years, so were just really excited to see everybody and see how many people come out and see us on Saturday.

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St. Andrews residents and visitors alike will get the chance to enjoy a wide variety of vendors, participate in activities, and most importantly, elect St. Andrews new four-legged mayor.

This years Salty Dog Day will be held on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Oaks by the Bay Park.

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The News

Samsung Electronics co-CEO died of a heart attack, amplifying the uncertainty facing the consumer tech giant as it navigates a potential trade war and slumping sales.

Han Jong-hee, 63, had been in charge of Samsungs consumer electronics and mobile devices teams, and was a member of the board. His co-CEO will now take full charge of the company.

Samsung is already mired in challenges: It is trailing rivals such as fellow South Korean firm SK Hynix when it comes to semiconductor manufacturing, and is losing ground to Apple in the smartphone market, resulting in Samsung being one of techs worst-performing stocks last year, according to Reuters.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Dont have an app for that? Well, if you are in a San Diego grocery store, you dont need one anymore, as the San Diego City Council has passed a first-in-the-nation policy to ban digital-only coupons.

The council on Monday unanimously passed the Grocery Pricing Transparency Ordinance, a first-of-its-kind policy that seeks to give all San Diegans the same access to grocery store coupons.

Now, grocers in the city who offer digital deals are required to also have paper coupons available in-store and accessible to all customers. This allows all San Diegans to utilize the same deals, whether or not they have access to smartphones or the internet.

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San Diego is now the first city in the country to implement a policy like this.

San Diego mulls first-of-its-kind law on digital coupons at grocery stores

The ordinance was brought forward by Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera and Councilmember Marni Von Wilpert.

San Diegans are doing everything they can to stretch their dollars, but corporate grocery chains are turning basic shopping into a rigged game, said Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera. This ordinance is a common sense step to fight back against corporate tricks and stand up for working people and families who are being squeezed at the checkout line.

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The city council unanimously passed the ordinance on Monday after it initially unanimously passed through the select committee during its first meeting in late February.

Many senior citizens are living on fixed incomes and are feeling the financial strain of the increasing cost of living, said Councilmember von Wilpert. This ordinance will ensure that all consumers, especially our seniors, have the opportunity to benefit from the same grocery savings opportunities.

AARP California also issued a statement after the passage of the ordinance, saying, AARP California supports the grocery coupon ordinance as a vital step in promoting the financial security of older adults and vulnerable populations. Older adults on fixed incomes are struggling amid rising costs, and the digital divide limits those without internet access or the ability to navigate digital coupons. This proposed ordinance can help ensure savings through paper coupons or shelf-tag discounts. By removing barriers, it can help older adults, people with disabilities, and others to afford their essential groceries. AARP California urges the City Council to pass this ordinance to help make San Diego more affordable and livable for older adults and vulnerable communities.

However, some grocers say the ordinance is too vague, and could cause more harm than good the way its written and structured now.

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Wed have to have a paper copy in the store. There are thousands and thousands of different types of coupons and discounts that people receive digitally and we would physically not be able to go and prepare those all in store just for anybody to grab at anytime, said Tim James with the California Grocers Association.

James said the idea would backfire, leading to less opportunities and discounts for those who do not participate in loyalty programs and use digital coupons now.

But supporters say theres no more time, they argue that San Diegans need a financial break and this ordinance is a step in the right direction.

Juliette Vara and Danielle Dawson contributed to this report

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The San Diego Unified School District Board of Education is set to consider a three-item housing package Tuesday night that district leaders say is unlike any other in the state.

We have before us momentous decisions and momentous opportunities, said Cody Petterson, San Diego Unified school board president.

First is a commitment to provide affordable housing opportunities for 10% of the staff over the next decade. The next item involves moving forward with seeking proposals to develop five different district sites into housing.

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Neighborhood schools should have neighborhood teachers. A society that prices teachers out of the communities in which they teach has lost its way, said Petterson.

San Diego Unified adds more transitional kindergarten classrooms for next year

The sites include the current district headquarters in University Heights, the Revere Center in Linda Vista, Ballard Center in Old Town, the Instructional Media Center in Serra Mesa, and a Commercial Street property in Logan Heights.

If approved, the district would work with developers to create roughly 1,500 affordable units they believe will make a difference in the lives of local educators.

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It is difficult for us to even focus our attention on the needs of the students when our own basic needs are not being met, said Issel Martinez, San Diego Unified paraeducator.

The district has already completed the Livia complex in Scripps Ranch and has approved a contract for the old Central Elementary site.

The final item being voted on would establish a regional housing finance authority with the San Diego Community College district.

Tuesday nights meeting starts at 5 p.m. at district headquarters. If these items are passed, the district says there will be many opportunities for community workshops and input before these developments are finalized.

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Fifteen Vermont high school students will meet with Sen. Bernie Sanders this Saturday for a roundtable discussion that will cap the senators annual State of the Union essay contest.

Sanders has held the contest every year since 2010. This year, 475 students from 25 Vermont high schools submitted essays on everything from climate change and to the cost of college.

Nine Vermont educators served as volunteer judges and selected 12 finalists and three overall winners:

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Justason Lahue, junior at Burr and Burton Academy  Social media and adolescent mental health

Ari Glasser, junior at Essex High School, Junior  Influence of billionaires on American politics

Ely White, senior at Leland and Gray Union Middle High School  Political polarization

If You Go:

What: State of the Union Essay Contest Roundtable

When: Saturday, March 29, 2 p.m.

Where: Vermont State House, House Chamber

As he does every year, Sanders entered the finalists essays into the Congressional Record, the official archive of the U.S. Congress.

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A Santa Fe man faces a homicide charge in connection with a crash in late January on Airport Road that killed 77-year-old Robert Mo Morehead.

Santa Fe police on Friday filed a felony charge of homicide by vehicle against Edgar Madrigal-Lopez, 24, who officers allege was driving about 90 mph when he struck Moreheads vehicle.

An arrest warrant was issued Friday against Madrigal-Lopez, but an online inmate database for the Santa Fe County jail did not indicate he had been booked as of Monday evening.

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Santa Fe police did not answer calls and emails Monday seeking information on the warrant.

The criminal charge comes after an almost two-month investigation by police following the crash, which occurred at about noon Jan. 24.

Morehead, driving an Audi Quattro, was making a left turn onto Airport Road headed east from Calle Po Ae Pi when Madrigal-Lopez struck his car driving a Ford F-150 pickup westbound on Airport, according to police reports.

Morehead was pronounced dead at an area hospital within an hour, according to reports, and Madrigal-Lopez was taken to a hospital for treatment of nonlife-threatening injuries.

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Initial crash reports indicated Madrigal-Lopez told police at the scene he had been driving about 45 to 50 mph when he crashed into Morehead. But after reconstructing the crash using surveillance video and crash data from both vehicles, investigators determined he was driving about 90 mph. The posted speed limit on Airport Road where the crash occurred is 40 mph.

Two witnesses at the scene of the crash told police Madrigal-Lopez was driving at a high rate of speed.

A Santa Fe police crash investigator who reconstructed the crash concluded in an arrest warrant affidavit the crash would not [have] happened, and Robert would not have suffered fatal injuries if Madrigal-Lopez had been traveling 40 mph at the time.

The investigator wrote if Madrigal-Lopez had been driving at the speed limit at the time, Morehead would have been given 2.37 seconds more to make the turn and clear the roadway.

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Officers collected and reviewed surveillance footage from a nearby Allsups gas station, Castros Alterations and El Paisano to piece together the minutes leading up to the crash, according to the affidavit. The footage showed Madrigal-Lopez accelerating quickly from a stoplight at Calle Atajo and passing a white box truck at a minimum speed of about 58 mph through the intersection at Zepol Road, police wrote. When Morehead pulled out to make a left turn, he could be seen in the video for a very brief amount of time accelerating and turning the wheels before the pickup truck quickly comes into frame and crashes into him, the affidavit says.

The crash investigator determined Madrigal-Lopezs pickup truck was still traveling at a minimum speed of about 50 mph after separating from Moreheads vehicle after the impact.

Morehead was a former journalist and retired advertising professional who had in recent years moved to Santa Fe from Texas with his wife. He was a devoted member of the Rotary Club of Santa Fe, according to other members, and he was a member of the local grassroots group Stop Aggressive Driving, which has advocated for tougher enforcement of speeding, traffic and noise violations in the city.

Mayor Alan Webber recognized Moreheads death as the City Council voted in February to approve a steeper penalty  $500  for violating the citys noise ordinance, targeting noisy mufflers on Santa Fe streets.

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The fatal crash is one of several in recent years that have ignited concerns over street racing and aggressive driving in Santa Fe, particularly on Cerrillos Road and Airport Road, two of the citys main thoroughfares.

In the days after the charge was filed against Madrigal-Lopez, a pedestrian was struck and killed on Cerrillos Road in a hit-and-run crash, the most recent fatal crash in the city.
CANTON, N.Y. (WWTI)  A 50-year-old Saranac Lake man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for drug possession in St. Lawrence County.

St. Lawrence County District Attorney Gary Pasquas office announced that Ryan Morgan was give a sentence of 16 years for cocaine possession.

Morgan was convicted by a St. Lawrence County jury in January of this year for criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

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The district attorneys office said that Morgan was arrested by New York State Police on November 1, 2023 for possession of eight ounces of cocaine.

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Sauce Walka hit the streets of Memphis days after being wounded in a shooting that left his artist, rapper Sayso P, dead.

On Monday (March 24), Sauce visited the Trap Shak, one of Sayso Ps favorite hometown food establishments, and met with its owner, fulfilling a promise he made to the late TSF artist prior to his death.

Kenneth Baker, the owner of the Trap Shak, commemorated the occasion with a post on social media, expressing his appreciation for Sauce Walka keeping his word.

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TRUE STORY MY BRO SAID HE WAS GO MAKE SURE I GET TO MEET SAUCE WALKA N HE FA SHO DID DAT, the caption of the post read.

Sauce Walka

Baker also vowed to keep Sayso Ps legacy and music alive while continuing to mourn the rappers passing.

He continued, FA SHO U SUPPOSED TO BE HERE MY DAWG DIS SH*T WAS SO UNEXPECTED I APPRECIATE CHA FA LIFE MY DAWG WE GO KEEP DOING WHAT U WANTED US TO DO GOOD NI**A GONE TO [soon text emoji].

In the posts accompanying video, Sauce Walka can be seen standing on crutches as he acknowledges Sayso P while simultaneously giving the Trap Shak a rave review.

Im out here in Memphis man, you know what Im saying, the only way is with my ni**a PK, you know what Im saying, this sh*t dont stop, the Houston native began.

Sauce Walka attends Keyglock Playboy birthday celebration at Cle Houston on August 05, 2023 in Houston, Texas.

You gotta keep drippin sauce in peace my brother Sayso P splash that mafia R.I.P. my brother. My ni**a wanted me to make sure I get some food for PK before I leave. You know what Im talking about, exquisite taste. Midtown and downtown is where its going down.

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[Sayso P] was talking to me for months and putting me on FaceTime with you, brother, he said to the owner. So, I had to do that in the name of my brotherI love yall, man.

Sauce Walka further paid tribute to Sayso P, reaffirming his loyalty and dedication to keep his legacy alive even in his afterlife. Sauce in peace, my brother Sayso P, he said.

Bi**h, I got you, bro, you told me to come. Anywhere you told me to go, I gotta go to. And I love you, ni**a. Were going to make sure we keep your motherf**king name alive, ni**a.

See footage of Sauce Walkas visit to the Trap Shak below.

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S.C. Treasurer Curtis Loftis asks for help from his staff on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, during a Senate Finance subcommittee meeting concerning $1.8 billion that had been discovered in an account, which turned out not to be real. (File photo by Travis Bell/Statehouse Carolina/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

COLUMBIA  South Carolina senators are recommending Treasurer Curtis Loftis be removed from office, saying he willfully neglected his duties for his role in a $1.8 billion accounting error that went unreported for nearly a decade.

A panel of senators investigating the error, which only exists on paper and does not involve actual money, made the recommendation during a committee hearing Tuesday.

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Sen. Larry Grooms, who lead the investigation, outlined the final report of the mess that has led to a federal securities investigation and the resignation of the two other state financial officials involved.

Grooms has repeatedly called for Loftis resignation. But the Bonneau Beach Republican and his bipartisan committee has stopped short of calling for forcible removal  until now.

As an elected official, Loftis cant simply be fired. But legislators could force him out of office, likely through a process known as removal on address. This obscure constitutional procedure has a lower bar than impeachment and applies when an official commits willful neglect of duty rather than a serious crime.

The governor must remove an executive officer from office if two-thirds of both chambers of the Legislature vote to remove him.

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Loftis responded with a statement saying he rejects the call for removal.

South Carolinas financial threat isnt from mismanagement or missing money, the statement read. The real danger comes from a relentless, politically motivated attack on my office  one that risks undermining our states financial reputation, increasing taxpayer costs, and stripping voters of their right to elect a Treasurer who works for the people, not special interests.

First elected to the post in 2010, Loftis has already said he wont seek a fifth term in 2026.

Loftis maintains he did nothing wrong. He has instead pointed fingers at other financial officers and even the senators looking into the matter, suggesting potential damage to South Carolinas borrowing power came from the public investigation.

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Instead of focusing on real solutions, theyve turned this into a headline-grabbing spectacle, calling for resignations and manufacturing a crisis where none exists, Loftis continued.

Witch hunt

Drama over the debacle has played out over multiple legislative sessions and months of hearings that saw heated exchanges between Loftis and the lawmakers. At one point, the treasurer told a House budget committee the investigation amounted to a political witch hunt.

Loftis office put out its own 58-page document claiming documents provided to the Senate committee were modified to place the blame solely on the treasurer. That document accused members of the Senate panel and acting Comptroller General Brian Gaines of providing false information intended to malign him.

The forensic accountants hired by the state would later refute those claims and reiterate that the treasurer, former comptroller and former auditor all shared a part.

Origins of the error

The genesis of the bad accounting was a changeover from the states legacy accounting system to a new one. In the process, a series of electronic ledger entries made it appear the state had $1.8 billion sitting untouched in a fund with no record of where it was supposed to go. The states financial officials never alerted the General Assembly to the issue.

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But the entries were made in error, and all but $200 million of the money was never real, according to a forensic accounting firm hired by the state for $3 million.

The billions in paper errors never affected the state budget, since legislators rely on a different office for the numbers they use to craft the states spending plans. But the state could face penalties ranging from a hit to its sterling credit rating to hefty fines, depending on how severely the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission views the matter.

The problem came to light in the fallout from a larger, $3.5 billion error discovered in 2022 by a deputy in the comptroller generals office included in annual reports given to Wall Street investors. That ultimately led to the 2023 resignation of Republican Richard Eckstrom, who had been the comptroller general for 20 years.

State Auditor George Kennedy tendered his resignation in January. But Loftis has remained defiant against calls for his own resignation.

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Its not going to happen, he told the Senate investigative panel last month. Its my job. I swore an oath.

The investigation

Over several hearings legislators have grilled Loftis about contradictory testimony he gave under oath  that the funds had been invested and earned interest  which later proved to be false when it was determined the funds never existed.

Senators faulted Loftis for threatening to publish the states sensitive financial information online, putting the state at risk to cybercriminals. It took frantic calls from State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel and Gov. Henry McMaster, who had just come out of knee surgery, to stop him, Grooms has said.

Loftis has since contended he was following orders from senators and it was all a misunderstanding.

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The matter culminated in a 659-page report, with exhibits, published by the Senate panel Tuesday.

The neglect, the senators argue in the report, came when financial officials, including Loftis, failed to report the accounting issue to the General Assembly despite knowing about it since at least 2017, a duty of the treasurer they say is required under state law.

That final report also contained a new allegation: that the treasurer is currently in violation of federal law.

The U.S. Treasury put Loftis office on notice last week that it needed to pay back unspent federal housing assistance funds for low-income families, as well as any interest earned on those funds. Loftis has reportedly refused for more than five months to move the money to the correct account so the state Housing Authority can rebate it.

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Grooms said they do not know why the treasurer has withheld the funds.

The committee is expected to repeat its presentation before the full Senate. To begin removal proceedings, senators will need to draft an official resolution and set a hearing date, at which Loftis would present his defense.

McMaster indicated last week that he does not support Loftis removal from office.

The Senate committees removal recommendation joins earlier legislation filed by a House Democrat asking the House to start its own impeachment proceedings for dereliction of duty and the breach of the public trust.

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Potentially gubernatorial candidate Josh Kimbrell shakes the hand of Mike Ward, an Irmo resident, on Monday, March 24, 2025. (Photo by Shaun Chornobroff/SC Daily Gazette)

COLUMBIA  A Spartanburg County state senator potentially running for governor cast himself to GOP primary voters as a young, staunchly socially conservative candidate.

Sen. Josh Kimbrell of Boiling Springs told more than 60 people Monday night at a Richland County GOP meeting hell likely enter the 2026 race to replace term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster.

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However, he said, Im not formally saying it tonight.

The 40-year-old senator, who easily won a second term in November, is the third potential candidate in as many months to speak to the Republican faithful in the states capital.

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace of the coastal 1st District spoke at the local partys meeting in January, followed last month by state Sen. Sean Bennett of Summerville.

Beyond a brief bid by former state Treasurer Thomas Ravenel  which he ended four days after announcing  no one has officially entered the governors race.

However, other Republicans highly likely to jump in are Attorney General Alan Wilson and Lt. Gov. Pam Evette. U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman of the Fifth District is reportedly also weighing a bid.

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Kimbrell noted the unofficial race has already gotten a little nasty.

I dont love it when it becomes a personal attack, he said.

Mace has made a habit of taking swipes at both Wilson and Evette  but especially Wilson. A Winthrop Poll released earlier this month indicates why: The attorney general had the highest name recognition, behind only Mace, in a potential six-way field.

Mace has yet to mention Kimbrell, who respondents recognized the least among possible contenders. (The Winthrop Polls questionnaire did not include Bennett.)

When asked if he was referring to Mace, Kimbrell said his comment wasnt toward anyone in particular.

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The Spartanburg County lawmaker rose to prominence as host of the conservative Christian talk show Common Cents on an Upstate radio station.

In the Senate, hes led the charge on culture war issues, including fighting for the six-week abortion ban, sponsoring legislation opposed by advocates of LGBTQ South Carolinians, and banning books with sexual content from childrens sections in public libraries, which librarians opposed as censorship. (That proposal, which initially failed, became part of the state budget last year.)

Kimbrells no stranger to a crowded primary.

The former chairman of the Spartanburg County GOP made his first attempt at elected office in a 13-way GOP race in 2018 to replace Rep. Trey Gowdy, who wasnt seeking re-election to the Fourth District. Kimbrell placed fourth in the race ultimately won by then-state Sen. William Timmons of Greenville.

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Two years later, Kimbrell ousted state Sen. Glenn Reese, a Democrat who managed to hang on to the seat for three decades as the Upstate district became ruby red. In November, Kimbrell easily defeated a Democrat challenger.

Unlike in 2018, now he has a track record to run on, Kimbrell said.

Its one thing to run for office, having never held office, saying Im going to do this. Im going to do this. Im going to do that. Its another thing running for office having done something, he told reporters afterwards.

Among the achievements Kimbrell touted was as lead sponsor of the question put on November ballots that asked voters whether a single word should change in the South Carolina constitution to specify that only citizens can vote.

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His fellow GOP senators touted it as a way to ensure no future court ruling in South Carolina allowed noncitizens to vote in local elections, even as they acknowledged no school board or town council in the Palmetto State was trying to do so. The referendum passed with 86% of the vote, though the Legislature has yet to ratify the change.

Kimbrell argued the subtle wording change from every to only a citizen will further protect the ballot from noncitizens.

Were not only not a sanctuary state, but we cant even let these folks vote in a school board election, which is a good thing, he told the Richland County GOP.

Kimbrell fielded a pair of questions surrounding education.

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When asked by a teacher in Richland 2 School District in suburban Columbia how he plans to help public education, Kimbrell said hes supported raising teacher salaries as well as providing parents more educational choices with state aid for private tuition.

Noting his own two children are in public schools, Kimbrell said South Carolinas K-12 schools need to be smarter in how they spend money. He characterized administrative jobs at his local high school as fluff positions.

We literally had teachers pay for pencils out of their pocket, he said, while calling the multiple, higher-paid assistant principals unnecessary.

As Kimbrell spoke, somebody from the crowd yelled we need DOGE, a reference to the Department of Government Efficiency spearheaded by Elon Musk that seeks to slash federal spending.

Kimbrell, one of the sponsors of a Senate resolution to create a South Carolina version of the initiative, let out a chuckle as he said, I dont disagree.
Rep. Brenda Shields. a St. Joseph Republican, speaks during debate in the Missouri House during the 2021 legislative session. On Monday, the House gave initial approval to her school safety bill (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).

School safety legislation that requires school districts create a policy governing cell phone use by students won initial approval Monday afternoon in the Missouri House.

The bills sponsor, Republican state Rep. Brenda Shields of St. Joseph, called the bill a comprehensive approach to school safety.

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It includes provisions to equip schools with bleeding-control kits, require intruder-response training and develop emergency response plans. Public schools would be required to use bullet-proof window film and anti-intruder locks in new construction by 2029.

School safety is much more than hardening the exterior of a building but having a safe environment for learning, Shields said during House debate. We know that teaching and learning does not occur if a student doesnt feel safe.

State Rep. Ed Lewis, a Republican from Moberly, added an amendment that would encourage schools to bar cell-phone use. Schools would be able to craft the policy to their preferences. But at a minimum, those policies must ban cell phones during instructional time.

State Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, a Democrat from Columbia, was one of three representatives to file a bill on cell phones in schools. She said safety threats can come from within the walls of the school.

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This is going to help our students be able to focus on instruction and not let things get in the way that have to do with dangerous situations in our school, she said. When we talk about cyber bullying and sexting, all of that really has an impact on the school itself and can lead to dangerous physical alterations as well.

Others worried that restricting cell phones would hinder security.

State Rep. Justin Sparks, a Republican from Wildwood, said access to cell phones can help students report school shootings quickly.

We have had students actually contact the police and be on the phone with them during the event, providing invaluable intelligence as to where the shots are occurring, where the bad guy is, Sparks said.

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Another sponsor of a cell-phone bill, Republican state Rep. Jamie Gragg of Ozark, said schools can decide whether phones can be in students possession or not, so long as the devices arent a distraction.

This is not the legislature making the rule. This is strictly the actual districts making those rules, he said.

Another amendment added to the bill would require schools to create a cardiac response plan.

Three amendments were filed but not discussed. State Rep. David Tyson Smith, a Columbia Democrat, said in an inquiry with another Democrat that he wanted to offer an amendment to ban the sale of semi-automatic firearms to teenagers, but he was not called upon during Mondays debate.

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I filed an amendment, and they will not call on me because they dont want to have the conversation. Lets have the conversation about this, Smith said.

State Rep. Bill Owen, a Republican from Springfield, said to leave the rhetoric out of it.

Accidents happen in shop classes. Accidents happen everywhere in that building where (bleeding-control kits) would be necessary. It doesnt take a gun to do so, he said. Im going to say that the legislation isnt about guns. Its about taking care of the safety of our children.

The bill needs to be approved one more time in the House before it heads to the Senate.
Councils are spending 62m a year ferrying pupils to state schools in taxi journeys as short as half a mile, a Telegraph investigation has found.

One local authority paid 53,000 last year on taxis for one child  2,000 more than boarding fees at St Pauls School, one of Britains best performing private schools.

And more than a dozen authorities paid thousands of pounds to taxi children  who do not have special educational needs  to schools less than a mile from their homes. The most extreme example was one student who was provided with a chauffeur for their 600-metre daily journey.

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MPs and campaigners said the figures were beyond comprehension, and warned the ballooning bill will only get worse as thousands of private school children are forced into the state sector as a result of Labours VAT raid.

Councils are required by law to offer free transport to school-age children if their nearest suitable school is more than three miles away (two miles if they are under the age of eight), or they are not able to walk there safely.

In urban areas, this usually takes the form of a travel card to use public transport for free or a school bus service. However, councils are increasingly reliant on expensive taxis to fulfil the service.

The data  compiled from Freedom of Information requests sent by The Telegraph to local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales  show councils spent 61.9m in the last complete financial year on taxis for 19,584 children.

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But, only 118 of the 207 local authorities asked provided data  so the real figure is likely to be even bigger

The figures do not account for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (Send). When factoring in Send children, the bill is expected to be upwards of 1.5bn.

The Telegraphs analysis shows Hampshire County Council spent the most on taxis for children without Send  splashing out 7.8m last year on taxis for 774 children.

It means the authority paid 10,169 on average per child to bring them to and from school across the county. A spokesman for the council said just 8pc of children without Send travelled via taxi to school  despite the fact it was a significantly rural county.

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One in five children enjoyed a dedicated service whereby their taxi didnt pick up any other children on their route to school.

North Yorkshire Council provided taxis for 1,134 children last year, however, spent slightly less at 5.5m with more children sharing taxis than in Hampshire. North Yorkshire council did not respond to requests for comment by The Telegraph.

In Buckinghamshire, the council spent 4.1m on taxis for state school children  the equivalent of the annual tax contribution of more than 2,000 residents living in Band D properties.

The authority also revealed it paid for a child to be driven 0.39 miles each day to school  a journey similar to driving across the length of London Bridge and back.

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A Buckinghamshire council spokesman told The Telegraph it works hard to control costs wherever possible.

Hertfordshire County Council similarly paid for a taxi journey that was less than half a mile, as did Surrey County Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

A Surrey County Council spokesman said every application for travel assistance is rigorously evaluated, with careful consideration given to the eligibility of the applicant and to the mode of transport provided.

A Hertfordshire County Council spokesman said it was reviewing its school transport contracts and expected the number of taxis required to drop significantly in the new financial year.

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A further 11 councils paid for taxi rides that were under a mile, journeys that would take three minutes assuming the car was travelling at 20mph.

In 43 councils, the most expensive individual contract for one taxi route exceeded 18,043, equivalent to the average day fees at a private school. In Leeds, the city council spent 53,040 annually on a taxi for one child. The authority was contacted for comment.

Joanna Marchong, of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: Hard-pressed Britons will be shocked by the eye-watering sums councils are spending on school taxi services.

Providing transport for those in real need is one thing, but shelling out tens of thousands for trips of less than a mile and for those that are not in need is an absurd use of public money.

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Shadow education minister, Neil OBrien, warned taxpayers would be forced to spend even more on taxis as a result of Labours VAT raid which the Treasury estimates will force 35,000 children into the state sector.

It comes after The Telegraph revealed 22 councils are forecast to have no vacancies for pupils next September in at least one year group.

In Surrey, which spent 5.3m last year on taxis for 1,581 children across the county, there are expected to be no spaces in Year 9, 10 or 11.

Using the Governments calculations, around 2,400 children in Surrey currently educated in the independent sector will need spaces in state schools as a result of the 20pc levy on school fees.

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Mr OBrien said: Once again, we can see clearly that Labours education tax will have disastrous results.

With more and more pupils being forced out of the independent sector, and into a state sector that simply does not have the capacity to absorb them, councils will be forced to fit ballooning bills to transport kids to suitable schools  and putting further pressure on local finances.

This ill advised and ideologically driven policy will leave parents, teachers and pupils paying the price.

Maxwell Marlow, director of public affairs at the Adam Smith Institute, added: The vast expenditure on taxis to transport displaced young people to state schools is indicative of the poor planning and foresight behind the education tax imposed by the Government.

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It is taxpayers who will have to foot the bill for this transport to both state school children who have missed out on a place, and former private school pupils who were forced out of their schools.

The effects of Labours tax raid is already being felt in Lincolnshire where the council is spending 8,199 a year to send a 13-year-old schoolgirl to her nearest available state school, 25 miles away, after her parents could no longer afford her school fees.

Her mother Sarah Lambert, 59, told The Telegraph: It was only after a friend told me about free school transport that I decided to apply. I have never applied for anything from the state but I thought I am going to fight this. I was so angry. This wasnt my fault. It was Bridget Phillipsons fault.

However, Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, said the blame for overspending on taxis lay at the feet of both Labour and the Tories.

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He said: The level of overspending, mismanagement and waste across our councils is beyond comprehension. Im sure hard working taxpayers would be shocked if they found out the true scale of waste that goes on in their local council.

The Treasury was approached for comment.

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Astronomers suggest there's a giant "star grinder" lurking at the center of the Milky Way, churning up potentially tens of thousands of star systems that are unfortunate enough to get too close.

As detailed in a new paper to be published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics and first spotted by Universe Today, astronomers in the Czech Republic and Germany suggest that B-type stars, which are only a few times the mass of the Sun, as well as much heavier O-type stars, are being blended up with tens of thousands of smaller black holes near Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy.

According to the theory, only the smaller and older B-type stars can survive this ordeal, with the much more massive O-type stars succumbing to their early demise less than five million years into their lifespan  and turning into more small black holes in the maelstrom instead.

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The research could force us to reconsider what we know about the violent events happening at the center of our galaxy  a brutal cycle of life and death, right at the core of the Milky Way.

The research could also explain an observation that has puzzled astronomers for years. Within less than a tenth of a light-year from Sagittarius*, O-type stars are nowhere to be found. B-type stars, however, are the predominant type so close to the giant black hole, many of which have been observed to be ejected from the center at extremely fast speeds.

"The smaller B-stars can survive much longer, in fact for some 50 million years," said lead author and Charles University, Czechia, astronomy PhD Jaroslav Haas in a statement. "This explains why the heavy O-type stars are missing at distances smaller than about one-tenth of a light year from SgrA*, with only B-stars surviving there."

"These results give us an entirely new understanding of the immediate surroundings of the central super-massive black hole," explained coauthor and Charles University astrophysicist Pavel Kroupa.

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Haas and his colleagues found that the density of black holes actually increases as you move away from the galactic center, before dropping again at a certain distance.

Such a density profile is a "result of the complicated dynamical processes near the central super-massive black hole and our results will allow us to perform new computer simulations to better understand these," explained coauthor and head of the Charles University Astronomical Institute Ladislav Subr.

The researchers are now excited to better understand the "violent pack of thousands of black holes at the center of our Galaxy that is continuously destroying the stars down there," according to coauthor and Charles University astronomer Myank Singhal.

More on Sagittarius A*: Scientists Capture Amazing Image of Black Hole at Center of Our Galaxy
You may have read about something known as Floridas free kill law  a bizarre law that exists only in Florida.

It basically says that, even if you can prove that a health care providers negligent actions killed an adult member of your family, you cant sue for pain and suffering  unless the dead family member has a spouse or minor children.

In other words, the lives of single Floridians, including widows and widowers and those over 25 who havent yet married, are worth less here. The law essentially channels George Orwells satirical declaration that all animals are equal  but some are more equal than others.

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If you know nothing else about this law, it should be a bright, red flag that Florida is the only state with this special protection for negligent practitioners.

Well, after decades of criticism, theres momentum to change that. A repeal bill has already cleared several committees this legislative session with broad bipartisan support.

But first, its worth understanding how Florida ended up with a law like this is the first place  namely because Florida lawmakers have systematically stripped you of your rights to sue companies that do you wrong.

Floridas free kill law limits who can sue for medical malpractice. Will it end in 2025?

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Youve seen it before. Most recently, GOP lawmakers teamed up with insurance lobbyists to make it harder for you to sue your insurance company  even when your company tries to stiff you out of benefits to which youre clearly entitled.

The rationale for stripping you of your right to go after bad actors is usually the same: Businesses shouldnt be bothered with frivolous lawsuits. They drive up everyones costs.

But these laws strip everyones access to the courts, not just frivolous filers. And the arguments about savings for consumers are usually a bunch of trickle-down fiction. On the heels of Floridas so-called insurance reform, rates shot up for nine consecutive quarters. And free kill critics say Florida never saw the benefits that health care lobbyists promised in exchange for shielding negligent doctors and hospitals from lawsuits.

You got conned. Home insurance costs still rising in Florida | Commentary

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South Florida Republican Rep. Hillary Cassel lit into a health-care lobbyist last week when he made another round of dubious claims, suggesting that repealing this law would simply enrich estranged family members looking for a cash grab. Cassel said the representative for the Florida Chamber of Commerce-created Florida Justice Reform Institute didnt have an ounce of data to support that, calling the claims scare tactics.

Floridas business lobby does more than just try to scare lawmakers, though. It also threatens them.

In 2021, the Florida Chamber of Commerce warned that any lawmaker who voted in favor of repealing the free kill law that year would have their vote negatively double-weighted in the chambers annual How They Voted report card, according to a Tampa TV station. (The report card lets business lobbyists know which politicians will follow their orders and are consequently worthy of endorsements and campaign checks.)

The Chamber wields this double-counting strategy when it knows its on the wrong side of public opinion and needs to exert extra pressure. It used a similar tactic last year when pressuring lawmakers to make it illegal for Florida counties to pass laws that would guarantee outdoor workers the right to things like shade and water on blistering hot days  a law I dubbed The most shameful law Florida passed this year.

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Floridians outraged by shameful anti-worker heat law. Heres how it happened | Commentary

Historically, the heavy-handed lobbying tactics have been effective with both parties. Democrats, after all, controlled Florida when the free kill provision was enacted in 1990. But this year, both parties seem poised to push back, probably because the horror stories are piling up: A father who died after being given a toxic dose of medication. Or a son whose routine hospital visit ended in death.

This years measure that would repeal Floridas free kill provision, HB 6017, has passed committees with votes along the lines of 20-1. Its local sponsors include Democrat Johanna Lopez with co-sponsorship from Republican Susan Plasencia and Democrat Anna Eskamani.

Lawmakers were moved by stories theyve heard from people like Mary Jo Cain Reis, who says her father died of medical negligence. These bad doctors and medical personnel cannot continue to keep killing people and be able to move on, said Reis, who put up billboards in Central Florida that called for reform. There needs to be accountability.

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Theoretically, the state has other accountability measures for medical negligence. Families can still sue for economic damages. But complaints to the state are often ignored or slow-rolled. A 2018 investigation by the South Florida Sun Sentinel found Floridas system was slow to punish doctors and quick to let them settle charges without accepting responsibility.

Certainly some doctors make earnest mistakes. Some are unfairly sued. But Floridas free kill law doesnt address that. It just says that a health care provider could negligently kill your 75-year-old mother without being sued for pain and suffering  as long as your mom isnt still married. And what kind of sense does that make?

Not much, even according to one physician and former GOP legislator who urged lawmakers to repeal Floridas free kill law this year. As Florida Politics reported, Dr. Joel Rudman told lawmakers to ignore the scare tactics. Doctors arent going to leave Florida because of this bill  no good doctor, Rudman said. If a bad doctor wants to leave, bye.

smaxwell@orlandosentinel.com
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  The state Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear the case of neighbors against the State of South Dakota: a dispute over the planned location of a new mens prison in Lincoln County.

Following the late 2023 announcement that a rural tract of the county between Harrisburg and Canton was planned to be the future home of a new mens prison, neighbors filed a lawsuit against the state. A judge dismissed the lawsuit, but the neighbors filed an appeal. Now, the case will go before the states highest court.

Local zoning regulations are central to the case because the proposed site is located in an agricultural district. Legal documents say opponents of the proposed site dont want the land used for that purpose without having initiated either the conditional use or re-zoning process provided for under the Countys Ordinance. However, the state contends that since they are acting under their duty to perform the essential governmental function of building a prison, they are not bound by local zoning rules.

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Exactly where a new mens prison might be located is presently an open question. After a legislative effort to appropriate money to build one in Lincoln County failed in February, South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden announced a refocused effort. A select group of lawmakers and officials will once again examine the need for a new prison in addition to such a facilitys size and location. When KELOLAND News asked the governor if the site between Harrisburg and Canton remained the administrations preference, Rhoden said anything is possible.

The state Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case Tuesday morning; viewers and readers will be able to listen in on keloland.com.

SFPD seeking information in death investigation

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Sean Diddy Combs in 2023 - Credit: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

A federal judge has dismissed the civil racketeering and breach of contract claims filed against Sean Diddy Combs by his former music producer Rodney Lil Rod Jones. Still, much of Jones sprawling lawsuit survived the dismissal motion brought by Combs, his company, and his chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, meaning the case will now move ahead in a slimmed-down form.

In a 31-page opinion issued Monday, U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken said Jones fell short of showing a required injury to his business or property caused by a violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). The judge said Jones alleged non-payment for his services on Combs Love Album didnt count because it lacked a causal connection with any purported racketeering activity. The judges ruling dismissed the racketeering claims against Combs, his company, Combs Global, and Khorram.

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[Combs] alleged refusal to honor the contract with Jones is not itself a RICO predicate act, even if the contract breach resulted from Joness refusal to participate in Combss alleged racketeering scheme, the judge wrote. In sum, whether or not Jones has adequately alleged the existence of a RICO enterprise, he has not tied the activities of that enterprise to defendants breach of contract, or any other business or property harm incurred by Jones.

The judge dismissed Jones breach of contract claim because, according to New York law, any contract that cannot be performed within one year is unenforceable unless it is in writing, he wrote in his ruling. He likewise dismissed Jones three claims of emotional distress as being deficient in terms of the law.

But in his lopsided decision, the judge said the claims of sex trafficking against Combs and Khorram could proceed. He also upheld sexual assault and premises liability claims against Combs. (The trafficking claim was dismissed as to Combs Global.)

Jones lawyer, Tyrone Blackburn, declared a victory Monday when reached by Rolling Stone. A win is a win. The case is still alive. Diddy and [Khorram] better prepare for deposition, Blackburn said. (Reps for Combs and Khorram did not immediately respond to a request for comment.)

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Combs has denied any wrongdoing in statements through his lawyers. No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it wont change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex-trafficked anyone  man or woman, adult or minor, the lawyers recently told Rolling Stone.

In a previous statement sent to Rolling Stone, Khorram issued a blanket denial, writing, For months, horrific accusations have been made about me in various lawsuits regarding my former boss. These false allegations of my involvement are causing irreparable and incalculable damage to my reputation and the emotional well-being of myself and my family. I have never condoned or aided and abetted the sexual assault of anyone. Nor have I ever drugged anyone.

In his ruling, Judge Oetken said Jones lawsuit met the necessary requirements in terms of claiming violations of state and sex trafficking laws when he described Combs groping his genitals and forcing him to solicit sex workers and perform sex acts to the pleasure of Mr. Combs.

On numerous occasions, Combs allegedly recruited or enticed Jones to solicit and perform sex acts with commercial sex workers, as well as transported Jones across state and international borders in order to do so, the judge wrote. Combs allegedly secured Joness compliance with his requests both by promising economic benefits that never materialized, and by threatening Jones with physical restraint and harm.

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Combs, 55, is currently charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, he faces 15 years to life in prison. His trial is set for May 5.

Combs has been sued by dozens of plaintiffs alleging sexual misconduct. The flood of civil claims started with the bombshell rape and sex-trafficking lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend Casandra Cassie Ventura in November 2023. A handful of other accusers, including Jones, filed lawsuits over the next three months. A subsequent criminal investigation led to Combs indictment last September.

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A search of a Bristol home on Tuesday allegedly turned up narcotics, more than $2,000 and a stolen firearm, netting one arrest, police said.

The search was carried out at a home on Lexington Street by the Bristol Police Departments Narcotics Enforcement Team and Crime Suppression Unit, according to Lt. Eric Hanson.

Hanson said investigators found narcotics and materials commonly used in drug sales, $2,292 and a stolen gun. Police arrested 49-year-old Tawan Anderson of Bristol. He faces charges of stealing a firearm, possession with intent to sell and use of drug paraphernalia.

Hanson said Anderson is expected to go before a judge in New Britain Superior Court on April 8.
Action News Jax went out on the St. Johns River on Tuesday to get a firsthand look at the search efforts for one last missing boater, a young girl whose boat capsized late Friday.

Family friends and co-workers of the victims have identified them as Cristian Marin, his children, Juan Camilo Marin and Victoria Marin, and Nubia Romero, Cristians mother.

All of them, except for little Victoria, have been located.

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Reporter Madison Foglio saw many different agencies there today, all likely using sonar technology to find the child. But as one captain told Foglio, as the days stretch on, the search becomes harder.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed with Action News Jax that it and the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office have dive teams out in the water in addition to boats using sonar technology.

So this allows us to look off the both sides of the boat, you know, a predetermined depth, but you have to do it at relatively slow speeds, Captain Tyler Barrus said. If its a fast speed, its not going to catch the signal fast enough.

Read: Community mourns as vigils honor victims of tragic boating accident, search continues for missing child

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Barrus is the lead instructor with the Freedom Boat Club Northeast Florida and the owner of Saint Augustine Boat School. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 4 years and 6 years with the New York State Marine Patrol. He said the main issue the dive teams are facing now is the currents.

Down here, you have massive currents, Barrus said. The St. Johns river, the current is unbelievable, up through the city you can have an 8-10 mph current.

Baruss tells Action News Jax that even if your boat is allowed to have a certain number of people onboard, you always want to have fewer than the maximum permitted to prevent it from capsizing.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Officials are also sounding the alarm on boating safety.

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Probably 80 to 90% of people are not wearing a life jacket, Baruss said. Its the reality.

A news release from the U.S. Coast Guard said of the boat that capsized Friday, No one aboard the vessel was reportedly wearing lifejackets.

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Baruss said that while most people are not required to wear life vests on a boat, there is one thing that has to be available at all times.

If somebody falls in the water, the number one thing thats got to happen, youve got to get flotation into that water. And thats why throughout the whole country, whats called a type four PFD, personal flotation device has to be whats called immediately available, Baruss said. If somebody goes in. I want to get that in the water immediately. First and foremost, its a flotation aid. Secondly, its a marker in the water.

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Its important to note that in the state of Florida, children aged 6 years old or under are required to wear a life vest at all times.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  An investigation into official misconduct at the Monroe County Jail has resulted in another deputy facing charges.

Dominic Denaro was accused of alerting incarcerated individuals before cell searches. The Monroe County Sheriffs Office said this compromised the safety and security of incarcerated individuals and jail staff.

Denaro was hired in January 2024 but resigned after the investigation began. He has been charged with official misconduct and second-degree obstruction of governmental administration. He was arraigned and released.

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MCSO announced the investigation on December 20, 2024, which led to three deputies being suspended. Dominic Kujawa, who has been employed with MCSO since May 2023, allegedly enabled an incarcerated individual to fight another and failed to intervene.

Kujawa was charged with second-degree assault and official misconduct. MCSO says he remains suspended, but they are moving to terminate him.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
Sen. Mary Beth Carozza (R-Lower Shore) summarizes proposed amendments to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future during Monday's hearing of the Education, Energy and the Environment Committee. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters)

The clock may be ticking on a plan to reform Marylands sweeping education reform plan, but the Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee will not be rushed.

The so-called Triple E committee held a nearly two-hour work session Monday when it entertained a series of amendments on policy portions of the Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act, those dealing with various state and local school system initiatives and teacher programs.

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Sen. Brian Feldman (D-Montgomery), chair of the committee, said the goal is to possibly vote on the Senate version of the bill Tuesday, but the committee must first weigh several amendments that were presented Monday.

The deliberation comes after the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee on Friday voted on the financial elements of the bill in a meeting that lasted about a half hour.

Amendments put forward Monday include a 17-page proposal offered by Sen. Karen Lewis Young (D-Frederick), a member of the Budget and Taxation Committee, whose amendment mirrored a Blueprint bill she sponsored earlier this year. That bill was heard by Triple E but was not voted on as a standalone measure. Part of it comes from a proposal released in December by the Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland.

Another amendment offered Monday would include 3- and 4-year-old prekindergarten students who are diagnosed with a disability or who are from a home in which English is not the primary spoken language among Tier 1 students, who receive core instruction.

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Another would clarify that an assistant principal or principal would not count as a teacher for purposes of the career ladder in the Blueprint.

Sen. Mary Beth Carozza (R-Lower Shore), who serves on the committee, submitted another proposal, similar to Lewis Youngs, to reduce pay bumps that teachers would receive for earning National Board Certifications, which have to be renewed every five years.

The Blueprint law would give a teacher $8,000 for the first certification, another $7,000 for the second certification and $6,000 for a third. The amendment proposed Monday would cut those amounts to $4,000 for the first and second certifications and $3,000 on the third.

Carozza offered two additional amendments: To allow school systems to request a waiver of the rule that requires all teachers start with a $60,000 salary as of July 1, 2026; and to establish a stakeholder work group to conduct a two-part assessment on Blueprint funding modifications and to analyze overall public school funding on items such as special education, transportation and employee benefits.

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My concern from the start was we need to pull in the local school superintendents, the boards of education, the counties. Because in the end, they have to implement this, Carozza said after the committee meeting. We cant pass all these costs on to the counties and the local school systems.

The Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Education Act was proposed by Gov. Wes Moore to delay or reduce some of the expansions of school programs that were scheduled in the Blueprint, the states 10-year, multibillion-dollar reform plan that is now in its third year.

The Moore changes were made in the face of the states projected $3 billion budget deficit for fiscal 2026, and the ongoing complaints from some local school boards that they needed more flexibility in how and how quickly the plan is implemented.

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The House on March 11 adopted a version of the plan that rejected many of the governors changes and hewed more closely to the original Blueprint plan, particularly its proposed delay in collaborative time  giving teachers more time out of the classroom  and community schools, which are located in low-income neighborhoods.

The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee on Friday agreed with some of the House version and some of the proposals laid out by the governor, insisting on community school funding but allowing for a delay in the start of collaborative time.

Whatever the Senate passes, Feldman said it will likely have to go to a conference committee with House members, who has passed a slightly different version of the bill. All of that would have to be accomplished with less than two weeks left in the legislative session, which is scheduled to end on April 7.
The family of a woman who died of strangulation during an overnight visit with her husband at a California prison is questioning why a man convicted of murdering four people was allowed to have family visits.

Stephanie Diane Dowells, 62, who also went by the name Stephanie Brinson, was killed in November, making her the second person in a year to die at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione during a family visit, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The other victim, Tania Thomas, 47, was also strangled during a family visit, Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe said in an interview Monday. The man she was visiting has been charged with murder in connection with her killing, Riebe said.

Stephanie Dowells.

Dowells, a hairdresser, was killed while visiting her husband, David Brinson, 54, who was convicted in the 1990s of murdering four men during a robbery, and sentenced to four consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole.

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After Brinson called prison officials at 2:04 a.m. on Nov. 13 to tell them his wife had passed out, officers immediately began life-saving measures and called 911, a spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said. But Dowells was pronounced dead a short time later.

Dowells killing remains under investigation by prison officials and the district attorneys office, the spokesperson said. Riebe said charges are pending prison and autopsy reports.

The Amador County Sheriffs Office confirmed she had been strangled and her death was a homicide.

Dowells son, Armand Torres, 28, and his wife, Nataly Jimenez, said that in the days after Dowells death, Brinsons account of events kept changing, including the exact time and location where he found Dowells unconscious.

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He would say, you know, she passed out on the floor, or she was passed out on the bed, Jimenez said in an interview.

Dowells lived in Inglewood, California, with Torres, Jimenez and their 3-year-old son, who called Brinson Grandpa.

Torres, Jimenez, their son and Dowells were all very close, and the couple allowed the boy to accompany Dowells on family visits to Mule Creek Prison twice in the last couple of years.

If I could trust him with my kid, Im thinking, its a green light, Torres said of Brinson, who is not his father. You know, like, everythings fine.

He said his mother told him his son had enjoyed the visits, which was enough assurance for him to trust Brinson around his son.

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Torres said he sometimes worried about his mom being with someone who was incarcerated, but he tried to be supportive. He said he was unaware that Brinson had been convicted of murdering four people.

We really love our mom, and we just wanted her to be happy, you know, and she usually came back happy, he said. They talked on the phone every day, everything seemed good. Im all for second chances.

If she was happy, I was happy, he said.

Torres would sometimes overhear his mother and Brinson arguing on the phone, he said, but he didnt think much of it because couples sometimes quarrel, especially when one partner is incarcerated.

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Stephanie was always a forgiving person, and she always tried to see the better in people, Jimenez said. Despite their background or anything, she would always try to see the good in them. Thats what she did with her husband.

Torres said his mother and Brinson met before he was born in 1996, and he didnt meet Brinson until about 2016.

Thomas, the other victim, was found unconscious on July 1, 2024, in a family visiting unit, where she was spending time with her domestic partner, Anthony Curry, officials said.

Curry, 48, is serving a life sentence for attempted second-degree murder with an enhancement of intentionally discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury.

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He was also sentenced to 13 years in prison for carjacking with an enhancement of using a firearm, a Department of Corrections spokesperson said.

Curry has been charged with murder in connection with Thomas death, but has not been arraigned, Riebe said.

Stephanie Dowells.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation website says some incarcerated people are eligible for family visits, which occur in private, apartment-like facilities on prison grounds and last from 30 to 40 hours.

The visits are intended to support positive family connections and successful rehabilitation, the website says. Death row inmates and people convicted of sex offenses are excluded, as is anyone under disciplinary restrictions, the website says.

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The family visits are a privilege, and incarcerated persons must apply and meet strict eligibility criteria to be approved, a department spokesperson said. Only those who demonstrate sustained good behavior and meet specific program requirements are considered.

An online prison operations manual says inmates in family-visiting quarters have to present themselves for a count a minimum of four times in a 24-hour period.

Torres said that no matter the level of supervision, he believes it should be higher, especially for prisoners with violent histories.

I want them to take some accountability for this, the prison, Torres said. Because whats stopping the next person from killing their wife or son or anybody?

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
(NewsNation)  President Donald Trump on Monday announced that Venezuela will face a secondary tariff come April 2, alleging that the nation purposefully sent criminals to the U.S., which earned it the levy.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said the U.S. would impose a 25% tariff on any country that buys oil or gas from Venezuela.

Other reciprocal tariffs are set to begin that same day, including levies against Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Canada, India, China, the European Union and more.

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Does Canada really have tariffs above 200% on US dairy products?

What is a secondary tariff?

Though not a technical term, a secondary tariff, per Trumps post, is essentially a monetary sanction on countries that trade with a country the U.S. is at odds with. This time, its Venezuela.

Any nation that buys oil or gas from Venezuela will face a 25% tariff on any Trade they do with our country, he said. Presumably, that 25% would compound with existing tariffs enacted by Trump on any affected countries.

By enacting these tariffs, Trump aims to punish not only Venezuela but its trade allies  hence, the secondary designation.

Who will Trumps secondary tariff affect?

The majority of Venezuelas oil exports go to China. In 2023, it bought 68% of Venezuelas exported oil, according to a 2024 analysis from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

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The U.S. already has large levies against China: 20% blanket tariffs, compounded by 10-25% tariffs enacted by Trump during his first term.

Trump administration to end legal status of 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela

That same dataset points to Spain, Russia, Singapore and Vietnam as other top customers of Venezuelan oil.

Why did Trump announce a secondary tariff on Venezuela?

Trump said the tariff is a result of the South American country purposefully and deceitfully sent to the United States, undercover, tens of thousands of high level, and other, criminals, many of whom are murderers and people of a very violent nature.

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Trump has pushed for the deportation of Venezuelans he claims are part of the Tren de Aragua gang.

Appeals court will hear arguments on Trumps deportation flights

Within two weeks, the U.S. has flown hundreds of migrants to Venezuela under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, kicking off a legal battle with federal judge James E. Boasberg, whose order to stop the first round of flights wasnt carried out.

Trump also accused Venezuela of being hostile to Americas repatriation efforts. Hours earlier, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro agreed to resume accepting flights from the U.S.

Maduro paused the flights earlier in March after the Treasury Department took away Chevrons license to export Venezuelan oil.

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The discovery of wooden staffs and clay trays near the sarcophagus of King Tut might be the oldest known evidence of a ritual known as the Awakening of Osiris.

As its name suggests, this ritual is based on the death and resurrection of Osiris, the ancient Egyptian god of the underworld.

It is also possible that the staffs and vessels were used for a different ritual, in which torch-bearers guided the pharaoh to the afterlife.

In 1922, when Howard Carter ventured to the Valley of the Kings and broke the seal of a tomb that had been buried in the sands of Egypt for over 2,300 years, he was taken aback by the gilded splendor that had managed to elude tomb robbers for so long. He also opened a literal door to more mysteries than he could have ever imagined.

Tutankhamunmore commonly known today as King Tutascended the throne at nine years old, ruled until his death (the cause of which is still being debated) at eighteen, and was the last pharaoh of the New Kingdoms illustrious 18th dynasty. Decades later, the wealth of grave goods that were supposed to accompany him to the afterlife continue to reveal his secrets. While the crudely shaped clay trays and wooden staffs found among his trove of riches may not be made of gold, Egyptologist Nicholas Brown of Yale University now thinks they are possible evidence of a ritual that may have started with the Boy King.

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Originally, these clay troughs were believed to be stands for the emblems found nearby and in close association to them, Brown said in a study recently published in The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology . However, closer examination of the religious and archaeological context of the artifacts enables another interpretation of their function.

After the death of his father Akhenatenthought by many to be a heretic because of his abandonment of the Egyptian pantheon for the worship of the sun disk, or AtenTutankhamun and his advisers worked to restore traditional Egyptian religion as fast as possible. The pharaoh even changed his name (he was actually born Tutankhaten). With the religious shift came an opportunity to create new rituals and revive ones that were already ancient at the time.

The trays and staffs are thought to have been used for a funerary rite known as the Awakening of Osiris. Ancient Egyptians believed that Osiris was once a living king whose jealous brother Set murdered him, dismembered him, and scattered the parts of his body throughout Egypt. With the help of Sets wife Nepthys, Osiriss wife Isis reassembled her husbands body and breathed life into it long enough for them to conceive their son, Horus. Osiris was then mummified by the jackal-headed god Anubis and went to rule the underworld. The resurrected king of the dead was thought to give life to everything from below, especially through the yearly flooding of the Nile.

Later artwork in other tombs reveals that the ritual inspired by this myth involves commanding the dead to wake with staffs behind their heads. However, the staffs at the head of Tutankhamens mummyalong with trays that are thought to have held libations to once again imbue him with lifeare thought to be the oldest evidence of the Awakening of Osiris being performed. The staffs and trays were also placed on reed mats because the ground was seen as impure. Mud from the Nile was apparently used to make the vessels, which may have held water from the river, whose fertility is symbolized by Osiris.

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There might be an alternative explanation, however. Brown acknowledges fellow Egyptologist Jacobus van Dijks theory that the ritual carried out could have been the spell of the four torches from the infamous Book of the Dead . During this ritual, four guides (each bearing a torch) stand by the sarcophagus to accompany the pharaoh through the treacherous journey to the afterlife until he reached Osiris and the Hall of Final Judgement. They would then extinguish those torches in clay trays filled with milk from a white cowpossibly symbolizing the goddess Hathor, who is often seen in the form of a cow.

Which ritual these artifacts were actually used for remains unknown. Both would have been a part of the pharaohs resurrection into a deity in the afterlife, so long as he passed the test of weighing his heart and wasnt thrown to the jaws of a ravenous beast. He could kick back and luxuriate in eternal life after that.

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Lawmakers and experts are sounding the alarm after revelations that Cabinet members were using Signal to discuss war plans, saying the encrypted messaging app is still vulnerable to hacking.

The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg published a first-hand account on Monday detailing how he was mistakenly added to a Signal group chat where high-ranking Trump officials were discussing plans to conduct military strikes in Yemen. The Signal conversation included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing, Goldberg said, describing the use of the open-source app to map out military strikes as shocking recklessness.

I guess Signal is a few steps above leaving a copy of your war plan at the Chinese Embassy  but its far below the standards required for discussing any elements of a war plan, said Mark Montgomery, senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.



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The app has become increasingly popular in recent months in Washington, following the discovery of a massive Chinese government-linked breach of U.S. telecommunications networks that allowed hackers to steal a trove of Americans cell phone records and spy on the conversations of senior U.S. political figures, including Trump and Vice President JD Vance. U.S. officials have since recommended that Americans use encrypted messaging platforms like Signal to better protect against hackers.

The apps security is viewed as fairly strong due to its robust privacy features and minimal data collection, as well as default end-to-end encryption of all messages and voice calls. The app also includes a function that deletes all messages from a conversation within a set time frame, adding an additional layer of data protection. But experts agree that it shouldnt be used by government officials as an alternative to communicating through more secure, sanctioned government communications  which Signal is not.

Its so unbelievable, a former White House official, granted anonymity to discuss The Atlantics report candidly, said Monday. These guys all have traveling security details to set up secure comms for them, wherever they are.

The former White House official pointed out that members of Trumps Cabinet  including the vice president, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, among others  were likely using personal devices, since in most cases, Signal cannot be downloaded onto official federal devices. This alone creates a host of cybersecurity issues.



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Their personal phones are all hackable, and it's highly likely that foreign intelligence services are sitting on their phones watching them type the shit out, the former White House official warned.

Jacob Williams, a former hacker at the NSA and vice president of research and development at cybersecurity consulting firm Hunter Strategy, said Signal is not accredited for classified data.

One of the biggest risks of using Signal, according to Williams, is where the data can be stored.

"People can link Signal messaging to a desktop application," he said. "This means that Signal data is being delivered to potentially multiple desktop and laptop computers where it isn't being stored in a phone's secure enclave. That data is then at risk from commodity malware on the system."

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Signal users also aren't able to tell which contacts have accounts linked to their desktop, so the risk can't be adequately evaluated, Williams added.

Signal did not respond to a request for comment. In the apps Terms of Service, it states that users are responsible for keeping your device and your Signal account safe and secure.

Top Democrats on the Hill were quick to bash the use of a Signal group chat to discuss sensitive military activities, particularly without properly vetting who was added to the group.

It should go without saying that administration officials should not be using Signal for discussing intelligence matters reserved for the situation room  not to mention doing so incompetently by including members of the public, said House Homeland Security ranking member Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), who has oversight of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

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House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) called on Chair Brian Mast (R-Fla.) to hold a hearing on what Meeks described as the most astonishing breach of our national security in recent history.

Both the Senate and House Intelligence panels are scheduled this week to hold hearings on the 2025 Annual Worldwide Threats Assessment  a report on the biggest emerging threats globally released by the director of national security annually  with Gabbard and other top administration intelligence officials set to feature as witnesses.

House Intelligence Committee ranking member Jim Himes (D-Conn.) said in a statement Monday that he was horrified by the Trump administrations discussion of strategic military planning on Signal and plans to ask the witnesses about the use of the app to plan the attack in Yemen.

These individuals know the calamitous risks of transmitting classified information across unclassified systems, and they also know that if a lower ranking official under their command did what is described here, they would likely lose their clearance and be subject to criminal investigation, Himes said.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who until January served as the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, will not be on the panel of witnesses this week but participated in the Signal chat.

A former intelligence and security official, granted anonymity to discuss the handling of likely classified information, noted that the situation could have been averted if the U.S. government had a chat service certified to handle classified information.

In the absence of a solution and given the fast pace of national security affairs, people will resort to balancing their perception of the risk with the operational pressures of the day, the former intelligence and security official said.

Regardless of the security of the app itself, communicating the military plans of the U.S. government in a non-classified space opens a massive security gap.

Forget Signal, just do it over a dating app, you might as well, that would be just as secure as what youre doing, the former White House official said.
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration has nominated an ex-naval officer and staunch advocate for rebuilding the countrys maritime capabilities to be administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration, according to Senate documents filed on Monday.

Maritime Administration nominee Brent Sadler. Credit: Heritage Foundation

Brent Sadler, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning Heritage Foundation, has been chosen to head the agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation responsible for maintaining the health of Americas waterborne transportation system  which includes port and vessel operations, shipbuilding, and commercial mariner recruitment.

As a Senior Research Fellow, Brents focus is on maritime security and the technologies shaping our future maritime forces, especially the Navy, according to his Heritage Foundation bio.

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In a report written for The Heritage Foundation last year, Sadler lamented the deterioration of the U.S. maritime sector, calling it anemic and unable to respond to crises without a boost in investment.

Today, no U.S. port ranks in the top 25 for cargo handling: China holds eight of those spots. Asia  led by China  also has the most vibrant maritime sector with the most commercial shipping entrants.

The point is not that our ports do not meet todays need in general; the point is that a lack of competitiveness has not generated the vibrancy either to modernize or to attract and recruit new mariners and the shipyard workers that we need.

In addition to limited U.S. port infrastructure, his report cited six other vulnerabilities in the U.S. Maritime system:

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Reliance on foreign shipping.

Security threats from Chinese-made shipyard cranes.

Chinas Logink logistics management platform.

Navigational GPS spoofing.

Fuel tampering and contamination.

Mariner and shipyard worker shortages.

Sadlers nomination comes as the Trump administrations plan to target Chinese shipping to regain maritime leverage is getting sharp pushback from ports, freight carriers and shipper interests.

Related articles:

Click for more FreightWaves articles by John Gallagher.

The post Security specialist nominated to lead US maritime agency appeared first on FreightWaves.
Two brothers from Arizona pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud for their roles in defrauding the federal government out of more than $100 million in COVID-19 relief funds.

Eric and Anthony Karnezis of Sedona entered guilty pleas in two separate but related cases on March 20 in the U.S. District Court for Oregon.

The scheme occurred in both 2021 and 2022 and involved the brothers submitting hundreds of fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan applications, which were based on false payroll information and tax documents, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon.

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Plea agreements signed by the brothers require them to pay back tens of millions of dollars in restitution and forfeit any criminally derived proceeds and property, according to the federal prosecutor's office.

The brothers each face up to 20 years in prison. Their sentencing was scheduled for June.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sedona brothers scammed government out of over $100M in COVID funds
Nearly 30 years after Tejano legend Selena Quintanilla-Perez's death, her killer, Yolanda Saldivar, is being considered for parole.

Saldivar, 64, is serving a life sentence for the March 1995 murder. According to Texas Department of Criminal Justice records, she will be eligible for parole on March 30 and is currently undergoing the parole review process.

In a tragedy that shattered Mexican-Americans, Texans, and fans of Tejano music, Saldivar, then 34, fatally shot the star  simply known as Selena to her fans  at a Days Inn Hotel in Corpus Christi on March 31, 1995.

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Selena was shot in the upper right back and, after failed life-saving attempts, was pronounced dead from hypovolemic shock at Corpus Christi Memorial Hospital.

For more than two decades, rumors circulated that her father, Abraham Quintanilla, had refused the transfusion due to his affiliation with the Jehovah's Witness religion. However, he told Corpus Christi station 3 News in 2021 that this claim was false.

"Selena was given blood by the doctor. When she arrived at the hospital at the emergency room after she was shot," Quintanilla told the news organization, adding that he had also retrieved all transcripts of Saldivar's trial and "the doctor testified that when Selena came in, when they brought her in, she was dead already. She had bled to death, but he knew who she was and as a last resort he gave her blood to see if something would happen."

At the time, Selena was 23 years old, just weeks shy of her 24th birthday on April 16. She had recently discovered that Saldivar, who had been president of her fan club and managed her clothing boutiques, was embezzling money.

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More: 'Selena y Los Dinos' at SXSW reveals Tejano pop icon's family, fame and cultural impact

Will Selena's killer get parole?

Saldivar will be eligible for parole for the first time this year. If granted, she would be released to serve the remainder of her sentence in the community under supervision.

If she is denied parole, her next review date will be set for one to five years from the decision date, a spokesperson for the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles told the Corpus Christi Times-Caller in an unsigned email. The parole panel would determine the specific number of years.

More: Selena Quintanilla's killer to share never-before-revealed details in new docuseries

Who is Selena Quintanilla?

Born and raised in Texas, Selena was a beloved Tejano musician who was named Female Vocalist of the Year at the 1986 Tejano Music Awards, a title she earned 11 times in total, including several posthumously. She ranks second only to Elida Reyna, who claimed the title 13 times between 2000 and 2019.

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In 1994, Selena won the Grammy for Best Mexican-American Album. Songs like "Como La Flor," "I Could Fall In Love," and her signature hit, "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom," endeared her music to both Spanish and English-speaking audiences, stamping her success as a crossover star.

In 2001, Selena was posthumously honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2010, at the 30th Anniversary Tejano Music Awards, she was named Female Vocalist of the 1980s and Female Vocalist of the 1990s.

Selena Quintanilla Perez performs at the 14th annual Tejano Music Awards on March 14, 1994.

With her success in pop culture and her philanthropic efforts in the community, Selena has become a significant inspiration for young girls and women, championing confidence and empowerment. From Halloween costumes to Selena-themed trivia and parties, her legacy continues to influence new generations, keeping her spirit alive.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Will Yolanda Saldivar get out of jail? Selena's killer up for parole
The exterior of the Pennsylvania state Capitol. (Photo by Amanda Mustard for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star).

When government officials do the publics business using apps that automatically erase their messages, transparency and accountability take a hit, open records advocates told Pennsylvania lawmakers Monday.

They called on members of the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee to consider legislation to address the use of platforms like Signal and SnapChat, to ensure they cant be used as an end run around the states public access laws.

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Pennsylvanias Sunshine Law requires the deliberation of public business to take place in public with ample notice. Even a simple majority of a school board or borough council discussing business triggers the laws requirements.

Since its debut in 2008, state courts have interpreted the Right-to-Know Law, which provides access to public records, to accommodate evolution in the way public officials use technology. Emails and other messages, even on officials personal accounts and devices, can be public records under the law.

The courts have said it doesnt matter where youre conducting agency business, Liz Wagenseller, executive director of the Office of Open Records. It could be a Facebook message. It could be a LinkedIn message. It could be a YouTube video. If youre conducting agency business, it may be subject to the Right-to-Know Law.

But the first consideration when the Office of Open Records hears an appeal by a member of the public is whether the record theyre seeking exists.

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The Right-to-Know Law is silent on whether or not a record should exist. There are no penalties or admonishments if theres a record that was inappropriately deleted before the right to know request was made, Wagenseller said, noting that officials could face penalties if they act in bad faith to conceal a record.

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And while the state Historical Commission publishes guidelines on how long municipalities, counties and other government agencies should preserve records, theyre not always closely followed, Frank Mazza, director of government relations for the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, said. The manuals are hundreds of pages long, he said.

If youre a public official, as you probably all well know, you have a million other things rolling through your mind and understanding what your responsibilities are on page 92 of the record retention policy related to county airports isnt always at the front of mind, Mazza said. He added that his group provides training and encourages officials to seek advice when in doubt.

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Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, said journalists have increasingly encountered situations where officials used apps such as Signal  known as ephemeral messaging in legal circles  to make decisions.

Thats obviously a violation of the law, but just as importantly, it erodes the public trust, Melewsky said.

In written testimony to the court, Melewsky cited cases in Bucks County and Pittsburgh where public officials used Signal. Claims that they violated the Sunshine Act and Right-to-Know Law followed.

Oftentimes the best evidence of whether the law was violated or complied with is going to be the actual record, and if its gone, theres no way to prove what happened, she said.

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Committee Chairman Jarett Coleman (R-Lehigh) noted the Broad + Liberty reported earlier this month that an attorney for the Shapiro administration said in court that emails from a cabinet secretary who resigned amid scandal had been deleted before retention policies said they could be.

Pennsylvania isnt alone in grappling with the conflict between ephemeral messaging and public access. In Missouri, a court found in 2022 former Gov. Eric Greitens and his staff had not violated the law by using a self-destructing messaging app prior to his administration adopting a policy to ban the use of such apps.

Joshua Bonn, a Harrisburg lawyer specializing in government transparency, said Pennsylvania laws afford public officials some discretion on whether messages can be deleted or need to be preserved. He used the example of a township manager texting about an issue on a road as a transitory message that an employee may determine doesnt need to be preserved.

The history is that there have, time and time again, been reports of public officials who have deleted messages that are later determined to be public records, Bonn said. If you want to preserve public records, there needs to be some sort of direction from the legislature regarding how much time electronic messages need to be retained.

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Sen. Vincent Hughes (R-Philadelphia) said the issue seems to be present across all levels of government.

How do we, how do we manage all this? he asked This is a lot.

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Melewsky suggested the panel could look to other states for guidance on how to tackle the issue.

Coleman said the committee would consider whether the Sunshine and Right-to-Know laws need to be clarified or broadened to ensure they apply consistently across all levels of government, whether more training is needed for public officials and whether the existing investigative and enforcement provisions of the law are sufficient.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Social Security Administration faced questions Tuesday at his confirmation hearing about efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency to close field offices and cut back on phone service at the beleaguered agency.

Frank Bisignano, a self-professed DOGE person, was called to account for recent upheaval at the Social Security Administration, which provides benefits to roughly 72.5 million people, including retirees and children. The agency has taken center stage in the debate over the usefulness of DOGE cuts to taxpayer services and their effect on Social Security, the social welfare program long regarded as the third rail of national politics  touch it and you get shocked.

During the 2 1/2-hour hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts illustrated a scenario of a person with limited internet access and mobility issues being turned away from an understaffed Social Security office hours away from home. She ended with a question for Bisignano: Isnt that a benefit cut?

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Bisignano responded, I have no intent to have anything like that happen under my watch.

Bisignano, a Wall Street veteran and one-time defender of corporate policies to protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination, has served as chairman of Fiserv, a payments and financial services tech firm since 2020. He told CNBC in February that he is fundamentally a DOGE person but the objective isnt to touch benefits.

The hearing follows a series of announcements of mass federal worker layoffs, cuts to programs, office closures and a planned cut to nationwide Social Security phone services.

Asked during the hearing whether Social Security should be privatized, Bisignano responded: Ive never heard a word of it, and Ive never thought about it.

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Republicans were largely in favor of Bisignano's nomination. If confirmed, you will be responsible for leading an agency with a critical mission, and numerous operational and customer service challenges, said Senate Finance Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho. Based on your background, I am confident you are up to the task.

The chaos at the Social Security Administration began shortly after acting commissioner Michelle King stepped down in February, a move that came after DOGE, run by Trump adviser Elon Musk, sought access to Social Security recipient information.

Later that month, the agency announced plans to cut 7,000 people from the agency payroll through layoffs, employee reassignments and an offer of voluntary separation agreements, as part of an intensified effort to shrink the size of the federal workforce through DOGE.

Most recently, the agency's acting commissioner, DOGE supporter Leland Dudek, announced a plan to require in-person identity checks for millions of new and existing recipients while simultaneously closing government offices. That sparked a furor among lawmakers, advocacy groups and program recipients who are worried that the government is placing unnecessary barriers in front of an already vulnerable population.

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Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, said Tuesday's hearing showed that Frank Bisignano is not the cure to the DOGE-manufactured chaos at the Social Security Administration. In fact, he is part of it and, if confirmed, would make it even worse.

The upheaval has made its way to the courts. A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked DOGE from Social Security systems that hold personal data on millions of Americans, calling the group's work there a fishing expedition. The order also requires the team to delete any personally identifiable data in its possession.

The Social Security program faces a looming bankruptcy date if it is not addressed by Congress. The May 2024 trustees report states that Social Securitys trust funds will be unable to pay full benefits beginning in 2035. Then, Social Security would only be able to pay 83% of benefits, absent changes.

Democratic Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota declined at the hearing to ask Bisignano any questions.

This is a travesty," she said. "This is a wholesale effort to dismantle Social Security from the inside out.
The Colorado House of Representatives is seen on Aug. 27, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)

The Colorado House of Representatives passed a bill Monday that would require people to receive safety training before buying most semiautomatic firearms with detachable magazines.

Senate Bill 25-3 passed on a 36-28 vote. Democratic Reps. Regina English, Shiela Lieder, Bob Marshall, Matthew Martinez, Tisha Mauro, Katie Stewart and Amy Paschal joined Republicans in voting against it.

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The bill passed the Senate in February. Lawmakers will need to reconcile the differences between the versions of the bill passed in each chamber  their options are the Senate likely signing off on the changes made in the House or through a conference committee  before it gets to Democratic Gov. Jared Polis desk.

The United States is a leader in gun violence, not because of (the mental health) issue, but because we refuse to nationally  and until today, statewide  have some sort of meaningful regulation when it comes to semiautomatic, military-style firearms, Democratic Rep. Andrew Boesenecker of Fort Collins, said.

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Boesenecker ran the bill with Democratic Rep. Meg Froelich of Englewood in the House. It was sponsored by Democratic Sens. Tom Sullivan of Centennial and Julie Gonzales of Denver in the Senate.

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It is one of the most consequential gun-related policies passed in Colorado in years. A comprehensive ban on semiautomatic firearms passed the House for the first time in history last year but died in the Senate.

Lawmakers spent all day Friday and most of Monday debating SB-3, with Republicans dominating most of the conversation by offering dozens of amendments on the bill to water it down or exclude specific parts of the state and certain populations. Republicans largely opposed the bill on grounds, according to them, that it infringes on the Second Amendment.

I cannot, and will not, cast a vote in favor of a bill that targets the constitutional rights of the law-abiding citizens of my district, while doing nothing to address the criminals who misuse their freedoms to hurt the innocent, said Rep. Jarvis Caldwell, a Colorado Springs Republican.

A handful of amendments did pass, however, including one from Republican Rep. Ryan Armagost of Berthoud that requires an annual transparency report on the costs of the bills implementation. Another amendment moved the bills enactment date from September 2025 to August 2026.

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Ive heard that this bill is simply about a safety course. This is not about a safety course  this is about an unattainable goal.

 Rep. Ryan Armagost

The bill concerns semiautomatic rifles or semiautomatic shotguns with detachable magazines and gas-operated semiautomatic handguns with detachable magazines, definitions that encompass a large share of the firearms market. A person would need to apply for an eligibility card with their local sheriff, take a safety course and pass a test to become eligible to buy one of those guns.

A person who does not take that safety course could still buy a semiautomatic gun if it has a fixed magazine.

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The bill does not prohibit or limit possession. It also exempts about 40 rifles commonly used for hunting.

Polis appeased

The bill in its original form did not include the safety course pathway and would have outright banned the sale and manufacture of semiautomatic firearms with detachable magazines. Supporters framed that policy as a way to enforce the states existing high-capacity magazine ban, arguing that it is still too easy for a person to buy a magazine with more than 15 rounds of ammunition. Requiring a fixed magazine, they said, forces a shooter to pause and reload their gun and would slow down potential mass shooters.

Democrats amended the bill in the Senate to appease Polis, who has raised concerns over broad firearm bans.

Republicans argued that it could take years for a person to obtain the certification necessary to buy the guns covered in the bill. They pointed to current months-long wait times to get a hunter safety certification from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Someone with that certification would need to take an additional four hours of training under the bill, versus 12 hours without it.

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A new safety course requirement could create arduous backlogs and a financial barrier, opponents said.

Ive heard that this bill is simply about a safety course. This is not about a safety course  this is about an unattainable goal, an unattainable carrot at the end of a stick for you to just simply get permission from our state to purchase a firearm. Its about making the purchase of a firearm unattainable for law-abiding citizens, Armagost said.

As of Monday, there were spots available in four of the 17 standard in-person courses that CPW offers until the end of April, in Delta, Colorado Springs, Lamar and Trinidad. There was less availability for in-person courses that complement online-instruction.

The courses that would be created under the bill would be through instructors approved by local sheriffs.

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A recent nonpartisan fiscal analysis of the bill assumes that about 50,000 Coloradans a year would apply for eligibility to buy the types of guns in the bill.

Editors note: This story was updated at 7 p.m., March 26, 2025, to clarify the methods in general by which the chambers could reconcile differences in a bill.

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Sen. Joni Ernst has a ten-year record of identifying waste, fraud, and abuse in government projects and came into office with the tagline "Make Em Squeal." With a record like this, it was no surprise that she was tapped to lead the Senate Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus. Also unsurprisingly, DOGE has angered many on the left who have not stopped squealing about its work and have now decided to launch an old-fashioned smear campaign against this mother, Iowan leader, and Army veteran.

Ernsts war on waste has been effective across the federal government - forcing federal bureaucrats back to the office, selling off underutilized and vacant federal office space, auditing the IRS, and exposing tax evaders at the agency.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Ernst has worked diligently to ensure the Pentagon discloses the costs of its projects that are funded by the federal government and championed efforts to end redundant and bogus spending.

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The senator has been calling for the timely completion of a financial audit of the Department of Defense for years, in order to ensure accountability and transparency while also identifying savings for the taxpayer.

In 2019, she recognized the Pentagon for wasteful government spending, citing its purchase of 25 coffee cups with a price tag of $1,220 each and its award of an almost $4 million grant to determine whether junk food is more distracting than healthy food.

Sen. Ernst is a sexual assault survivor who came to the U.S. Senate as the first female combat veteran. She has been a leader in pushing the military to reform its handling of sexual assault cases. Working in a bipartisan way, she introduced the Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act that would professionalize how the military prosecutes serious crimes by moving the decision to prosecute from the chain of command to independent, trained, professional military prosecutors.

The senator has no problem standing up to her brothers and sisters in the military and demanding better. To think a strong leader such as this might be unduly influenced in matters of the military is insulting. Its insulting to women and its insulting to anyone wearing the uniform.

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Sen. Ernst distributes monthly "Squeal Awards" to those who act piggish by wasting taxpayer dollars. Perhaps she should create a special round of Squeal Awards in response to this left-wing smear campaign:

The first award goes to Pro-Publica, the donor-funded news organization that considers itself an "independent, nonprofit newsroom," which published the piece trying to discredit the senator. It is no surprise that Pro-Publica skews left; its funded by George Soros and cranks out hit piece after hit piece on conservative Supreme Court justices, Republican members of Congress, and other leaders on the right. A sloppy innuendo-filled "article" about a strong Republican woman leader working to support President Trumps DOGE mission is no surprise.

The second award goes to Virginia Canter, an "ethics expert," who served as associate counsel to President Clinton at the White House, where she provided advice on ethics. Just ask Monica Lewinsky how that turned out. Canter currently works for the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and, not surprisingly, this organization sued the DOGE Service last month. It seems a bit too cozy that someone affiliated with CREW is the only named source and is extensively quoted throughout the hit piece.

The third and final award goes to anyone who reads the defamatory article and doesnt consider it flimsy nonsense. Sen. Ernst should show the same resolve and soldier spirit she has shown throughout her career and continue pressing on with her hard work despite those seeking to slander her.

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Dont stop making em squeal, Senator.

Andrea G. Bottner is vice president of external relations for Independent Women and former acting director of the Office on Violence Against Women at the U.S. Department of Justice.
Mar. 24WILKES-BARRE  U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pittsburgh, this week met with constituents and local leaders in Northeast Pennsylvania and also in Lancaster County to learn about vital businesses and organizations in these regions.

In Lackawanna County, McCormick met with business and community leaders at a roundtable discussion in Moosic.

Also attending the roundtable were U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-Dallas Township; U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas; PA Auditor General Tim DeFoor; and Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak, among others.

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"The increased popularity of Northeast Pennsylvania and the Poconos is bringing a lot of attention here in terms of new investment, job creation, and economic opportunities," McCormick said. "I'm excited to see what the future holds for Northeast PA, and I'm eager to continue working with leaders in this region to foster growth and opportunity for Pennsylvanians."

Camp Freedom meeting  Scranton

McCormick then met with Matt Guedes, executive director for Camp Freedom, to discuss the organization's work to support veterans and first responders in Northeast Pennsylvania.

Camp Freedom is a nonprofit that provides outdoor recreation activities for disabled veterans, first responders and Gold Star Families to foster camaraderie, healing and hope.

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Camp Freedom is headquartered in Carbondale.

"As a combat veteran and former paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, I admire and applaud Camp Freedom's mission to cultivate a healthy, supportive, and healing environment for veterans and first responders," McCormick said. "Those who have put their lives on the line to protect this country, its citizens, and its freedoms deserve the support they need to lead healthy, productive lives after their service. I am grateful for the work that organizations like Camp Freedom do to support our nation's heroes by ensuring they have access to the healing benefits of Pennsylvania's great outdoors."

Lt. Gov. Davis highlights state program

Lt. Governor Austin Davis this week joined Center for Victims and other local victim service providers to highlight the importance of supporting victims and survivors of crime and to encourage support for the Shapiro-Davis Administration's proposed $9 million investment in the Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP) in the 2025-26 state budget.

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"No crime victim should have to worry about how they'll afford medical bills. No family should have to struggle with funeral expenses for a loved one lost to violence," said Davis, chair of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). "And no sexual assault survivor should have to worry about covering the costs of counseling to overcome their trauma. The Victims Compensation Assistance Program is a critical financial lifeline for people who have been impacted by violence and crime that will help heal families, lessen burdens and save lives."

VCAP serves as a critical financial lifeline for people who have experienced crime victimization. Each year, the program receives an average of 12,000 claims for eligible expenses including medical and counseling expenses, loss of earnings, loss of support, stolen cash, relocation, funeral costs and crime scene cleanup.

Over the past five years, PCCD has paid more than 67,000 VCAP claims totaling $67 million in eligible expenses for citizens across all 67 Pennsylvania counties.

PA celebrates national award

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The Shapiro Admiration this week announced the Pennsylvania Silver Jackets Team has been awarded the 2024 national "Team of the Year" for its collaborative partnerships in tackling Pennsylvania's top natural hazard  flooding.

The state Silver Jackets Team of the Year award recognizes an outstanding team that exemplifies effective flood risk management within the context of shared responsibility and that demonstrates significant accomplishments in the preceding year.

The team award is chosen through a peer voting process of Silver Jackets teams from all 50 states, Washington D.C., and four territories having the opportunity to cast votes.

Pennsylvania won the award previously in 2013.

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"We are proud of the efforts of our partners to help reduce flood risk across the Commonwealth each and every day," said Randy Padfield, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) director. "This award is a testament to the dedication of our partners who have worked on collaborative projects to make our communities more resilient from the devastating impacts of flooding."

The Pennsylvania Silver Jackets team is made up of over 20 partners including: municipal, county, state, and federal government; river basin commissions; academia and professional associations; and non-profit organizations. The team is tasked with facilitating collaborative solutions to reduce risks for Pennsylvania's flood risk priorities. Though collaboration and shared knowledge, the Pennsylvania Silver Jackets enhance preparedness, mitigation and response and recovery efforts.

"Managing floodwaters and flood risk is a shared responsibility, and the Silver Jackets bring together knowledge and expertise among all of the partners to help Pennsylvania communities," said Jessica Shirley, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) acting secretary.

Living organ donor bill OK'd

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The state House Finance Committee this week approved legislation that would allow living organ donors to claim an income tax deduction of up to $12,000 for unreimbursed expenses associated with their donation, according to the bill's prime sponsor, state Rep. Jim Haddock.

"We must do all we can to help make the living organ donation process easier for all involved. Currently, businesses can receive a tax credit for providing paid leave to employees for the purpose of organ donation, but there is no tax benefit available to individuals who donate organs," said Haddock, D-Pittston Township. "Unfortunately, while an organ recipient's health insurance covers the donor's direct medical costs, donors can rack up bills in the thousands of dollars for related expenses.

"Providing financial support to donors will remove an obstacle to the living donation process. This is one way that state government can help those in need of a transplant as well as support the heroes among us who selflessly choose to give the gift of life."

House Bill 422 would allow someone who is a living organ donor or whose dependent is a living organ donor to claim a state personal income tax deduction equal to the amount of unreimbursed expenses, up to $12,000, during the year in which the organ transplantation occurs.

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Eligible unreimbursed expenses would include travel expenses, lodging expenses, lost wages if an employer does not provide paid sick leave to organ donors and medical expenses not covered by insurance.

The deduction would be available to those who donate all or part of any of the following: liver, pancreas, kidney, lung, intestine or bone marrow.

It could only be claimed once during a taxpayer's lifetime.

Haddock said 16 people in the United States die each day while waiting for a life-saving organ donation. More than 8,000 Pennsylvanians and their families are on the organ donation waiting list. Living organ donors are key to closing that gap, Haddock said, as at least 40% of kidneys for transplant worldwide come from living donors.

The bill moves to the full state House of Representatives for consideration.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) confirmed Tuesday that the committee plans to investigate The Atlantics reports of a Signal group chat where a journalist was apparently inadvertently added to a discussion regarding war plans with top Trump administration officials.

Were going to look into this and see what the facts are, but its definitely a concern. And you can be sure the committee, House and Senate, will be looking into this, Wicker told CNN during a Tuesday morning interview.

And it appears that mistakes were made, no question, he added.

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The editor in chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, released a detailed article chronicling the communication between Vice President Vance, director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, national security adviser Mike Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and several others regarding U.S. strikes on the Houthis in Yemen on the encrypted Signal app.

Goldberg said he believes he was mistakenly added to the chat but stayed on the text chain for days. He learned of the timing of the planned strikes and additional details ahead of the strike.

Wickers response to the report vastly differed from statements released by White House officials, including President Trump who denied it was a security breach but rather a glitch.

Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man, Trump told NBCs Garrett Haake in a phone interview.

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He added that it was the only glitch in two months, and it turned out not to be a serious one.

The White House on Monday also said the president has confidence in Waltz when questioned on the matter.

As President Trump said, the attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective. President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Leavitt told The Hill in an emailed statement.

Earlier in the day, Hegseth slammed The Atlantic and denied claims that Goldberg was made aware of war plans.

Nobody was texting war plans, and thats all I have to say about that, Hegseth said while preparing to travel to Guam for official business.

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He also referred to Goldberg as a deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again.

Gabbard and CIA director John Ratcliffe, who was also in the group chat, both faced an intense probe by the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, which was scheduled before the bombshell reports release, as lawmakers grilled the officials.

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An overflow crowd jammed into a Senate committee room in the Capitol on March 18, 2025, when the "Freedom of Conscience in the Workplace Act" was first slated to be heard (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix)

A hotly contested proposal that would prohibit the use of preferred pronouns in state and local government workplaces, and limit gender identity training for state and local government employees, won approval in its first committee stop on Tuesday.

Labeled the Freedom of Conscience in the Workplace Act (SB 440), the measure, sponsored by Ocala Republican Stan McClain, says that an employee in a public workplace may not be required to refer to another person using that persons preferred pronouns if such pronouns dont correspond to that persons sex at birth.

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It says that a public employee or contractor similarly cannot require his or her employer to use their preferred pronouns under the same circumstances. Additionally, job applications in public workplaces may only ask an applicant whether they are male or female and may not provide a nonbinary option.

No government employer could punish an applicant, employee, or contractor because of their religious, moral, conscience-based, or biology based beliefs, including if they oppose same-sex marriage or disagree with gender ideology, whether at or away from the worksite.

The measure would not affect the private sector, insisted Sen. McClain.

Dozens of speakers signed up to denounce the proposal, which compelled committee chair Sen. Randy Fine to limit public comments to just 30 seconds.

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We need to oppose the bill to avoid the continued suppression of our speech viewpoint and self-determination here in Florida, said Monica Davis, with the group Florida Rising. The bill would promote workplace discrimination by supporting the outdated ideas that the use of transgender person-affirming pronouns are disconnected from reality.

Speaking as someone who doesnt support the Venezuelan government, nor the Cuban government, its really appalling to see that the Cuban government and the Venezuelan government show more respect for gender identity than here in the Florida Legislature, said Vanessa Garcia, who said she was born in Venezuela. And these are countries that are oppressive and restrictive so this is not the land of the free.

Claudia Thomas, elected late last year as the Central Florida city of Sanfords first openly LGBTQ member of the City Commission, said she would love to get back to her citys problems with water, housing, and other matters instead of wasting her time talking about pronouns.

Your bill is misnamed: It should be the Freedom from Conscience Act, she declared.

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The measure would also make it illegal for any local government to require any training, instruction, or other activity on sexual orientation.

Terrorist rag

The audience reacted derisively after Sen. Fine cracked, Enjoy your terrorist rag, after a speaker wearing a keffiyeh over his shoulder left the dais. As members of the audience jeered him, Fine was defiant, saying, Im the chairman, I can say what i want. If you dont like it, you can leave.

As the audience continued to make noise, Fine  who said earlier on Tuesday that this would be his last day in the Legislature as he seeks a congressional seat next week  warned that he would clear the room if he heard one more outburst.

I dont have to have any of you sit here. One more. One more. Ill clear the room. Well debate, and well vote.

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The meeting resumed without any more outbursts.

Hostile work environment

The only legislator to speak about the bill was Orange County Democrat Kristen Arrington, who said she didnt understand the need for the legislation.

The bill really does promote government employers and contractors to harass transgender individuals by allowing them to intentionally misgender them by using disrespectful pronouns and having no consequences, she said. And this is a license to discriminate, free from accountability. It seems thats an attempt to create a hostile work environment for LGBTQ people, particularly transgender Floridians.

The bill defines gender identity as a fully internal and subjective sense of self, disconnected from biological reality and sex, and existing on an infinite continuum that does not provide a meaningful basis for identification and cannot be recognized as a replacement for sex.

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Were not going to allow state employees to be coerced by their employers or subcontractors going forward, declared Sen. McClain in making his closing pitch to the Senate Committee on Government Oversight and Accountability, which ultimately passed it on a party-line vote. It has two more committee stops before making the floor.

A companion bill filed in the House (HB 1495) by Seminole Republican Rachel Plakon has yet to be heard in committee.

This story has been edited to indicate that it was Sen. McClain who said that the bill does not affect the private sector.
A group of Senate Democrats asked President Trump on Monday to disclose the administrations efforts to keep TikTok online and called for the White House to actively work with Congress to avoid another ban of the popular video-sharing app.

In a letter sent Monday, Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) urged Trump to pursue extending an April 5 deadline that would keep TikTok available if not deal is reached by that time.

We have previously introduced legislation  the Extend the TikTok Deadline Act  that would extend the TikTok deadline to October 16, 2025, but Senate Republicans blocked passage of our bill, the lawmakers wrote. If you need additional time to complete a deal, we urge you to direct Senate Republicans to pass our legislation and provide the companies with legal certainty to keep TikTok online and in the app stores over the next few months.

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The lawmakers expressed concern with Trumps executive order in January, which gave TikToks China-based company ByteDance an additional 75 days past the Jan. 19 deadline to divest from the video-sharing app amid national security concerns.

The law banning TikTok initially went into effect on Jan. 19  the day before Trump was sworn into his second term  causing the platform to go dark for a few hours. The platform was swiftly brought back online after Trump pledged to issue an executive order once back in office to give the company an extension.

While noting they oppose a TikTok ban, Markey, Van Hollen and Booker said Trumps executive order in January was unlawful and disregarded the language of the law that passed Congress last year and set the divestiture requirements and timeline.

It is unacceptable and unworkable for your Administration to continue ignoring the requirements in the law, as you did in January by extending the divestment deadline to April 5, the letter stated. With that April deadline approaching, TikToks creators deserve a real solution  not more legal uncertainty.

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The language in the TikTok ban  formally known as the Protecting Americans Data

from Foreign Adversaries Act  necessitates additional work with Congress to ensure that

TikTok remains online in the United States, the lawmakers continued.

After Trump signed the executive order and the Justice Department confirmed it would not enforce the original law banning the app, Oracle continued its cloud services with TikTok and Apple and Google reinstated the app on their stores.

Given the statute of limitations on the law is five years, the lawmakers suggested a future administration could reverse the decision.

Although your unlawful executive order has maintained TikTok during the 75-day

period, this strategy could become increasingly ineffective over time, the lawmakers said. To the extent that you continue trying to delay the divestment deadline through executive orders, any further extensions of the TikTok deadline will require Oracle, Apple, Google, and other companies to continue risking ruinous legal liability, a difficult decision to justify in perpetuity.

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The letter comes less than two weeks before the April 5 deadline. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said earlier this month the president would like to hammer out a deal on TikToks future ownership under the current deadline, stating the president doesnt like to ask for extensions.

Still, Lutnick said there was no guarantee that Trump would broker a deal by April 5.

Earlier this month, Trump said he will probably extend the deadline if a deal isnt reached in time and that there is a lot of interest in TikTok.

Numerous buyers have expressed interest in purchasing the U.S. arm of TikTok. The list includes bids from YouTube star MrBeast and a joint proposal from former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and Shark Tank star and investor Kevin OLeary.

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Some outlets reported this month that Oracle is also a leading contender to help run TikTok.

In the Monday letter, the lawmakers said they were concerned a deal with Oracle would not satisfy the divestiture requirements.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.

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Democrats on the Senate intelligence panel hammered Trump administration officials on Tuesday about their participation in a group chat on Signal that discussed war plans  and broadened their attacks to call it a disturbing pattern of sloppy security under President Donald Trump.

I think this is one more example of sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior, particularly towards classified information," Senate Intelligence Committee ranking member Mark Warner (D-Va.) said at the annual worldwide threats hearing. The Signal fiasco is not a one-off."

Five of the nations spy chiefs, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, were testifying before members of the Senate Intelligence Committee on major threats to the United States and global stability, including potential risks from China and Iran.

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But Tuesdays hearing came just one day after The Atlantic published a bombshell report, which revealed that the publications Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was added to a Signal chat with top Trump administration officials discussing plans to strike Yemen.



Gabbard said that the use of the Signal chat was currently under review. Ratcliffe confirmed his participation in the chat but sought to defend the use of the encrypted messaging map to discuss war plans stating that he was under the impression it was permissible for work use.

The Atlantic reported that Ratcliffe shared highly sensitive information in the conversation, including the name of an active intelligence officer, whose identities are usually kept closely under wraps.

Ratcliffe said that the official in question was not operating under cover and routinely coordinates discussions between the CIA and the White House.

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Ratcliffe stressed that no classified information was shared in the channels (Hegseth told reporters Monday that nobody was texting war plans.).

In one of the most heated exchanges of the hearing, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) slammed Ratcliffe for his participation in that chat, Its an embarrassment, he said. You need to do better.

Bennet noted that the presidents Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, was in the chat group while on a trip to Moscow. The Russian intelligence services are highly aggressive when it comes to eavesdropping on U.S. government officials.

Warner challenged Gabbard to share copies of the messages with the committee and accused her of bobbing and weaving and attempting to filibuster her answer.

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Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), chair of the Senate intelligence panel, was silent on the matter in his remarks, beyond praising the strike itself.

These outlaws have suffered terrible losses over the last two weeks thanks to decisive action from President Trump and our brave troops, Cotton said of the attack on Yemen. I commend the president, Mike Waltz, Pete Hegseth, and his entire national security team for these actions.



Cotton also used the hearing to call out the intelligence community writ large. He said in opening remarks that U.S. intelligence agencies are inadequate when it comes to providing the president and Congress with the information they need to protect the country.

Cotton railed against what he described a bureaucratic bloat, drift and social engineering in the intelligence communities distracting from their mission of gathering information on threats to the nation.

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After years of drift the intelligence community must return to its core mission, he said.

FBI Director Kash Patel, head of the National Security Agency, Gen. Timothy Haugh, and the leader of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey A. Kruse, also appeared before lawmakers in Tuesdays hearing  and tried to keep to the purported topic, threats to the United States and global stability.

Gabbard opened her remarks highlighting the threat posed by non-state criminal groups including drug cartels. For the first time, the intelligence communitys annual threat assessment, which was released on Tuesday, has listed cartels as posing a threat to the United States, Cotton noted in his opening statement.

Gabbard also identified China as the United States most capable strategic competitor.

The ongoing war in Ukraine was only mentioned in passing in Gabbards remarks, as it relates to pushing Russia closer to other authoritarian regimes including China, Iran and North Korea.
Judge Lori Bolton Fleming testifies March 24, 2025, before the Senate Judiciary Committee on why she should be a Kansas Court of Appeals judge. The committee unanimously recommended her. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  A Republican-dominated Kansas Senate committee on Monday advanced a district judge nominee from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly for the Kansas Court of Appeals.

Judge Lori Bolton Fleming now awaits a vote of the full Senate for confirmation.

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Kelly appointed Bolton Fleming to replace the retired Judge Henry Green Jr., who is the longest-serving judge on the Kansas Court of Appeals.

Kelly selected Bolton Fleming from three nominees put forward by the Court of Appeals nominating commission.

Bolton Fleming has been the chief judge for the 11th Judicial District  which includes Cherokee, Crawford and Labette counties in southeast Kansas near the Kansas and Oklahoma borders  since 2021. She has served as a judge there since 2012, when she was appointed by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.

In 2023, the Kansas Supreme Court appointed Bolton Fleming to the Rural Justice Initiative, which focuses on fulfilling legal needs in less populated parts of the state. Her focus in that role has been growing the number of attorneys in those communities.

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Our appellate courts are best served by having people serve from all parts of the state, Bolton Fleming said during testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.

After spending her entire legal career in southeast Kansas, Bolton Fleming would be one of few rural voices on the Kansas Court of Appeals. The majority of the justices come from Wichita, Topeka or Kansas City.

Ranking Minority Member Democrat Sen. Ethan Corson of Prairie Village noted that there hasnt been a judge on the Kansas Court of Appeals from the 11th district since 1978.

I do think its important just for our citizens that we have geographic diversity on the court of appeals, Corson said.

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Bolton Fleming has been invited to sit with the Kansas Court of Appeals as well as the Kansas Supreme Court to help make decisions on cases, according to Kellys press release. She also has delivered 38 opinions on cases as an assigned appellate judge.

Sen. Craig Bowser, a Republican from Holton, asked Bolton Fleming during Mondays hearing how he should respond when other senators ask why they should vote for her.

So, Ive actually done the work that I would be doing as a court of appeals judge, and Ive actually done it while working full time as a district court judge, Bolton Fleming said. One of the times that I handled a court of appeals docket, I was actually handling a high-level felony jury trial. I would handle the trial during the day and I would write at night. I think it speaks to my work ethic as well.

Courts dont make law

When senators on the judiciary committee asked Bolton Flemings opinion on certain cases, she always answered the same: Courts dont make law.

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Sen. Kellie Warren, a Republican from Leawood, referenced an executive order from President Donald Trump ordering the federal government to recognize only two biological sexes. The legal fate of that order  one of several attacks on the rights of LGBTQ people in the U.S. since Trump took office in January  is playing out in the courts.

Im thinking Kansans might want to hear from you, and directly, what your thoughts on how you would answer the question, What is a woman?  Warren said.

Again, courts dont make law, Bolton Fleming said. So if the executive branch or legislative branch has created a law or administrative order, its not really before the court to answer that. We leave that to the people, through the elected representatives. Thats certainly not an issue thats come up in front of me.

When Sen. Jeff Klemp, a Republican from Lansing, asked if Bolton Fleming has ideas on how the judicial system should change, she acknowledged the Kansas Legislatures recent approval of a constitutional amendment that would make seats on the state Supreme Court elected positions. But she reiterated that as a judge, she would not weigh in on the matter.

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The idea is that the government belongs to the people, the people through their elected representatives  all of you  have decided to propose a method to the public, and they will vote, and that is a very democratic process, Bolton Fleming said.

Before going to law school, Bolton Fleming was an English teacher at Fort Scott High School. Bolton Fleming says she was inspired to attend law school by some of her students, who lived in foster care homes.



As I got to know them and hear their stories, it occurred to me that their stories may have had a different ending with someone in their corner, Bolton Fleming said.
House Republicans want the Senate to adopt their budget blueprint and get the ball rolling on enacting President Donald Trumps agenda. Senate Republicans have other ideas.

GOP senators made clear Tuesday they intend to revamp the House-approved framework for the sweeping domestic policy bill  most crucially, by putting their own stamp on the amount of spending reductions congressional committees would need to achieve to finance the package of tax cuts, border security enhancements and energy provisions.

Its the latest sign that House and Senate Republicans are nowhere near resolving the major differences between their competing plans, allowing them to move forward on a filibuster-skirting reconciliation bill, which party leaders in both chambers want to pass in the coming months.

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Both the House and Senate are eyeing the week of April 7 to finish work on the budget resolution  a necessary first step for the reconciliation process  before leaving for a two-week Easter recess.

They said they needed time to do one big, beautiful bill, Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham told reporters, referring to House Republicans. They had a chance; the product is woefully inadequate.

The differences between two chambers are numerous. Senate Republicans want to make expiring 2017 tax cuts permanent, while the House GOP blueprint does not, to name one key sticking point.

Top GOP leaders huddled at the White House Tuesday afternoon to start trying to narrow the gaps, and they appeared to make progress on one major front: Both Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune said they were moving toward including a debt limit increase in the package  something the Senate had been resisting.

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I think thats clearly a preferable outcome, Thune said, adding that he needed to determine whether or not the Senate can get on board with that idea. Johnson called it everybodys preferred outcome at this point.

But another major source of tension remains: the $880 billion savings target that the House has identified for its Energy and Commerce Committee. Finding the necessary spending cuts would require the panel to make significant cuts to Medicaid, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office predicts. Johnson told reporters after the White House meeting that the two chambers are making progress toward an agreement on overall spending cuts.

Yet the House GOP budget has Republicans across Capitol Hill increasingly uneasy, and senators are clamoring to either adjust the Energy and Commerce number to protect the popular safety-net insurance program or get other guarantees from leadership that the resulting bill wont cut benefits.

Im not going to vote for something that would lead to Medicaid cuts, said Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who added that he would not vote for a budget resolution that includes the $880 billion target unless theres some guarantee were not going to cut benefits.

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Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) added that he did not expect there to be a mirror image between the Senates reconciliation instructions and the Houses, saying the Senate would likely establish minimum numbers for spending cuts and hopefully overachieve with larger cuts.

Thune, in an interview, indicated that the Senate wouldnt need to change the spending cuts goal the House budget resolution provided to Energy and Commerce, noting that's an instruction for a House committee. Instead, echoing Tillis, he suggested that the Senates cost-savings instructions for its own panels wont be one-for-one matches to their House counterparts. Senate Republicans also havent yet landed on a spending cut total that unifies them.

At the same time, Senate Republicans are facing skepticism from conservatives in their ranks who are raising public concerns that the House budget doesnt go far enough on cuts. Some in that group have questioned why the House put such a large percentage of its cuts under Energy and Commerce, forcing the party into a Medicaid fight.

House leaders, meanwhile, are working to protect their framework from a total Senate overhaul. Johnson led fellow leaders and key committee chairs Monday in urging the other chamber to act on the House product, calling it our opportunity to deliver what will be one of the most consequential pieces of legislation in the history of our nation.

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House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) said during a Washington Post event Tuesday the $880 billion savings goal for his committee is realistic.

He made the case that Republicans could reduce the federal share of payment for states that have chosen to expand Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act and not result in decreased benefits while also cracking down on eligibility verification.

Were going to spend more on Medicaid, Guthrie said. The question is the growth.

But reducing the federal governments cost share for Medicaid expansion enrollees is sparking pushback among both House and Senate Republicans. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told reporters recently he had floated this very idea, but there were roughly 20 House Republicans and at least four or five Senate Republicans opposed.

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Tillis said lawmakers needed to be careful on making any changes to the federal governments payment responsibilities, calling it a backdoor way of affecting beneficiaries. Reducing the federal governments share could prompt states to reduce benefits or raise taxes or other revenues to fill the hole in their budgets.

Senate Republicans, he added, have only discussed adding new work requirements for Medicaid recipients as part of the reconciliation bill, which would not get lawmakers anywhere close to $880 billion in cuts.

The president made it very clear when we met two weeks ago to not touch a single beneficiary, said Tillis.

Asked about potential changes to social programs, Thune told reporters Tuesday his members would be focused on rooting out waste, fraud and abuse.

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In an interview Tuesday, Guthrie said he had not been a part of any discussions about changing his committees savings goal and that there were other ways to find spending cuts.

Republicans on Energy and Commerce could, for instance, repeal climate policies enacted under former President Joe Biden. Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio), the panels Energy subcommittee chair, said that policies expanding commercial access to wireless technology spectrum could also create more savings than originally expected.

There are other sticking points Republicans in both chambers need to settle, including whether to score their reconciliation bill using an accounting tactic that will make the extension of the 2017 Trump tax cuts look like it costs nothing. Fiscal hawks don't like that current policy baseline approach and consider it a gimmick. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) reiterated his concerns during the Senate GOP lunch on Tuesday, according to one attendee who was granted anonymity to describe private discussions.

The House budget also does not include instructions for Senate committees, meaning the Senate will have to make at least some changes to accommodate their own chambers panels.

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Graham said the Senates objective is to take the budget resolution he shepherded through his committee and across the floor last month, allow Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo of Idaho to do some stuff, taxes, that the president wants, and make a real shot at spending cuts here.

Meredith Lee Hill, Robert King and James Bikales contributed to this report.
Rep. Wlnsvey Campos, D-Aloha, participates in a committee meeting in December 2022. (Photo by Connor Radnovich/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Calling it a moral imperative, the Oregon Senate voted Monday to ban landlords from asking about or disclosing tenants immigration status.

Senate Bill 599 barring discrimination against immigrant tenants is a top priority for the Legislatures 18-member BIPOC caucus and now heads to the state House for approval. It comes as Oregon strives to strengthen state laws protecting immigrants against a backdrop of threats from President Donald Trumps administration, and as the state grapples with a housing crisis that has led to nearly 23,000 homeless Oregonians and many more struggling to afford rent or mortgage payments.

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State law already prohibits housing discrimination based on national origin or race, and the bills supporters say it closes a gap by also prohibiting discrimination based on immigration status.

Sen. Wlnsvey Campos, D-Aloha and the bills chief sponsor, described it on the Senate floor Monday as a way to create a more just and inclusive Oregon while protecting vulnerable residents.

Hardworking individuals in our communities who contribute immensely to Oregons economy have too often faced the sting of discrimination and exclusion, Campos said. They are our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends. There are people who deserve the security and safety that a home represents.

Republican Sens. Dick Anderson of Lincoln City, Mike McLane of Powell Butte, Todd Nash of Enterprise and Suzanne Weber of Tillamook joined 17 Democrats to pass the bill with no debate. It now heads to the Oregon House, where its also expected to pass.

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State Rep. Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham and the BIPOC caucuss co-chair, laid out his personal support for the bill during a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this month. Ruizs parents immigrated from Mexico in the 1980s and spent decades as farmworkers picking fruit in east Multnomah County.

Growing up, I saw firsthand the barriers that stood in their way  the fear of not having a safe place to call home, the anxiety of not knowing if someone would turn us away because of where we came from or the language we spoke, Ruiz said. That constant fear follows families like mine, not just for weeks or months, but for years, shaping the way we move through the world. No child should have to carry that weight.

The bill would allow tenants to supply landlords with identification like a drivers license or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number instead of a Social Security number or birth certificate. Landlords would still be allowed to ask about immigration status if required by a federal government program for affordable housing.

Portland passed a similar city ordinance in 2019, and at least four other states  Washington, California, Illinois and New York  have similar laws on their books.

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Cameron Herrington, representing the Oregon Housing Alliance, told lawmakers that while working on the Portland ordinance he gathered accounts from multiple tenants whose landlords threatened to call immigration enforcement in retaliation for tenants requests for accommodations or repairs. Sybill Hebb, director of legislative advocacy of the Oregon Law Center, said her organization has similar accounts from some of its clients.

We have had anecdotal experiences where weve been working with clients who have expressed concern or fear about the idea, Hebb said. Mothers, fathers afraid of calling to request a repair to a stove or a bathroom fixture because of the fear of what might happen as a result. And in that situation, we couldnt offer the specific, explicit protection that we would like to be able to do in helping them feel like they could, in fact, assert their rights as tenants.

Lawmakers received twice as many comments supporting the bill as those opposing it. Opponent John Masterman, a Republican who narrowly lost two Clackamas County state House races in 2022 and 2024, said in written testimony that immigration status matters to landlords who want to make sure tenants follow rules.

Someone in Oregon that has not entered the country in the proper, legal way, has already broken the law once, Masterman wrote. Respect for the rules has already been compromised. Its not a stretch to be concerned about future issues with following the rules.

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Oregon was the first state in the nation to pass a sanctuary law prohibiting state and local law enforcement from helping federal officials to enforce immigration law nearly four decades ago, and the state has strengthened that law several times over the years.

In general, state and local agencies dont gather, store or share information about Oregonians immigration status, citizenship or country of origin. Theyre not allowed to share records or grant access to non-public spaces to federal immigration authorities without a court order signed by a judge.

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Sen. Brian Helton, R-Fayette, speaks on the Senate floor Monday, March 24, 2025, about a bill that would overturn anti-discrimination ordinances passed by city councils in West Virginia. (Will Price | West Virginia Legislative Photography)

Anti-discrimination ordinances would be overturned in dozens of West Virginia cities, according to a bill passed Monday by the Senate.

During a fiery debate over the measure, multiple Republicans spoke out against their party members, saying it was anti-local control and not up to Senators to override lawful city council members decisions.

Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke

This is dumb, Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke, who represents several cities with anti-discrimination protections. In West Virginia we like to say, All are welcome. Im not sure this helps with that message.

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Twenty cities and communities  including Bethany, Fayetteville, Harpers Ferry, Morgantown and Wheeling  have passed anti-discrimination measures that offer additional protections to LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans and more.

The measure, Senate Bill 579 would prohibit municipalities participating in the home rule program from establishing nondiscrimination ordinances that include protected classes in addition to what is designated in state statute.

Theres a thing called the Human Rights Act of West Virginia, and its in place to prevent discrimination against people who are part of special protected classes, said bill sponsor Sen. Brian Helton, R-Fayette. Those protections extend to employment, housing and more, he said.

Uniformity of law is critical to ensure all West Virginians are equally protected. A patchwork of varying local ordinances creates uncertainty for individuals and businesses, he said.

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Helton also said that local ordinances offering protections to transgender individuals contradict executive orders from President Donald Trump and Gov. Patrick Morrisey saying that the government will recognize only two sexes, female and male.

The states Home Rule code, enacted in 2007, allows eligible cities to adopt ordinances separate from state law or rules as long as they dont conflict with the U.S. Constitution, the state constitution and a few other guardrails.

In Morgantown, there are ordinances banning LGBTQ+ discrimination and the use of conversion therapy. City council members also passed a Crown Act in 2021, banning natural hair-based discrimination. This Senate bill, if signed into law, would strike down all three local ordinances.

Im very disappointed in the Legislature for saying that is not a value for West Virginia, said Danielle Trumble, a member of Morgantown City Council for four years. Home Rule was put in place because of small government. The changes they are making do not support this.

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A coalition of local leaders from all 20 communities signed a letter opposing the bill.

Local governance is a cornerstone of our democracy, allowing communities to make decisions that reflect their values and priorities, the letter reads. Each of our cities and towns adopted fairness laws through thoughtful deliberation, often with bipartisan support, to foster inclusive and welcoming environments for residents, businesses and visitors alike. Overturning these protections would disregard the will of our constituents and undermine the ability of local governments to respond to the needs of their communities.

Sen. Joey Garcia, D-Marion

Sen. Joey Garcia, D-Marion, echoed similar concerns on the Senate floor during bill debate. Fairmont adopted an anti-discrimination ordinance in 2022.

Local control is only good, apparently, when it is what this body agrees with, and thats completely against the idea of democracy on a local level, he said.

Sen. Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha

Sen. Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha, represents Charleston and South Charleston, both of which have passed anti-discrimination ordinances. He voted against the measure.

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The easiest vote I will ever make in the Senate is to allow the voters to decide, he said. The local voters have voted for their local city councils to make those decisions for themselves.

Bill sponsor says cities shouldnt ban conversion therapy

Helton raised concerns about city ordinances that ban medical professionals use of conversion therapy on children who may be questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The city ordinances banning the practice infringe on parents rights who may seek conversion therapy for their child, he said.

Conversion therapy is a scientifically discredited practice of using therapy to convert LGBTQ+ people to heterosexuality or traditional gender expectations. Its often based on religious ideologies. Twenty-one states, including Kentucky, have banned its use.

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It essentially tries to hypnotize a child to say theyre straight, said Takubo, who is a doctor.

Conversion therapy is pretty damn close to child abuse, said Sen. Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, who cited positions from medical professionals, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, against the practice.

Scott Fuller, R-Wayne

Sen. Scott Fuller, R-Wayne, spoke in support of the bill, saying children should know there are two biological sexes.

What we stand for, number one, is parental rights  We are Republicans, we run by common sense, he said.

Fairness West Virginia, an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, called the measure an attack on local decision making and on the  basic dignity of LGBTQ+ West Virginians.

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West Virginia is our home. We deserve the right to live and work here without fear of discrimination. Our leaders should be working to expand protections for all residents, not take them away, said Andrew Schneider, executive director of Fairness West Virginia.

The bill passed the Senate 24-8, with six Republicans joining the Senates two Democratic members to oppose the measure.

I dont always agree with the actions of the city of Morgantown. But at the same time, I respect their ability to take those actions, said Sen. Mike Oliverio, R-Monongalia, who voted against the bill.

Trumble said Morgantowns anti-discrimination ordinance has been a useful tool in the city in fostering a welcoming environment. Its one of the few parts of the state where population is increasing, she noted.

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The majority of people in Morgantown Ive spoken to, regardless of political affiliation, are proud that our community is welcoming to everyone, Trumble said.

Weld emphasized there wasnt a current state problem that this legislation sought to address.

Of all the problems, foster kids, [child protective services], workforce, educational outcomes, PEIA, Hope Scholarship and the financial burden it may create within our budget  and this is where were at today, he said.

The bill now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.

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(NewsNation)  Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee and officials from the Pentagon met in private Tuesday to discuss how the military is responding to drone activity.

Last year, an increase in drone sightings across the northeast drew public attention and prompted concern among local law enforcement and members of Congress.

The meeting lasted about an hour, and senators were tight-lipped about what was discussed. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., downplayed concerns, agreeing with the governments previous assessment that the drones were personal and local drones.

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Top Trump officials face calls to resign amid Signal chat fallout

Were going to run into that when you sell them over the counter, he said. You hate to put regulations on all that, but eventually thats going to happen when you have more access to the bigger drones, the drones that go farther. They can be very dangerous, used as a weapon. But its all about catching up with technology.

Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker, R-Miss., did not downplay the drone sightings, making a bombshell claim last week to CBS News saying the Pentagon and national security adviser were still mystified by the sightings.

NORAD Northcom Chief Gen. Gregory Guillot previously addressed the threat from drones.

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The primary threat I see for them, in the way theyve been operating, is detection and perhaps surveillance of sensitive capabilities on our installations, he said. There were 350 detections reported last year on military installations, and that was 350 over a total of 100 different installations of all types and levels of security.

FBI launches task force investigation into wave of vandalism targeting Tesla

That is contrary to what the White House said back in January, when it said that drones were authorized by the FAA. When NewsNation reached out to the FAA, the agency directed questions back to the White House.

Two sheriffs in New Jersey, where many drones were sighted, said they have stopped seeing the drones. They remain upset about the lack of information theyve been given.

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Sheriff Sean Golden of Monmouth County, New Jersey, criticized the secrecy.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says she plans to eliminate FEMA

I think, in this day and age, particularly in a post-9/11 era, in an area of threats and risk assessments, when we have an agency withholding information like that and not telling their own federal partners that were involved in this and not telling state and county officials what was happening is really disturbing to me, he said. Something needed to be done, and Im going to continue to push Congress for reform.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Defense Attorney Fernando Freyre, left, talks with Raul Gomez-Garcia in court in 2006 during day two of the Raul Gomez-Garcia trial in Denver District Court.
Anthony Muro outside the Hines VA Hospital in Illinois. Muro was one of the thousands of probationary federal employees fired by the Trump administration. Mustafa Hussain for HuffPost

NORTHLAKE, Ill.  Anthony Muro settled into a stool at the American Legion hall and ordered a High Life, placing a pair of drink chips in front of him. The bar was quiet enough this Friday afternoon to hear the news playing on the TV overhead: President Donald Trumps massive cuts to government agencies were prompting a wave of lawsuits, including here in Illinois.

Muro had plenty of thoughts on all that, but he wasnt looking to get into an argument at the bar on bingo night.

Ill tell people what happened, but I wont get into a long discussion about it, the 51-year-old Marine veteran explained. Especially if people have been drinking.

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Muro was fired last month from his job at the Hines VA Hospital a few miles away, part of Trumps sweeping and chaotic effort, led by the billionaire Elon Musk, to slash government payroll and services. He worked as a partner in the hospitals wellness program, helping other vets figure out how to lead healthier lives after the military. Even three weeks after his layoff, he had a way of slipping between present and past tense when he talked about a job he hoped to retire from.

I loved it, Muro said. You never know what challenges the day could bring.

In February the Trump administration terminated some 25,000 probationary federal employees like Muro, most of whom had less than a year or two of tenure. On Wednesday, the Department of Veterans Affairs notified Muro he would be placed on paid administrative leave due to a judges order finding that the firings were unlawful. But he is not to report to work in the meantime, and the Trump administration continues to fight in court to end his career. (Muro spoke to HuffPost after his firing but before he was reinstated on leave.)

Muro embodies the twofold price veterans stand to pay in Trumps cost-cutting project: He is one less worker walking the halls of a VA hospital, and one less vet with a stable job. The federal government is a disproportionate employer of men and women who served their country, particularly when it comes to the VA. Nearly 30% of the agencys roughly 450,000 employees are veterans.

Trumps willingness to inflict cuts on a sympathetic, conservative-leaning voting bloc has surprised plenty of his own voters  including, yes, Muro himself.

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Muro had hoped to see entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis win the GOP nomination, but he still preferred Trump over Democratic nominee Kamala Harris because of primarily one issue: the border. The border was a big thing, he said. I totally believe in security. He now has deep misgivings about his vote because of Trumps slapdash cuts to the government.

He heard the candidates bluster about the deep state but didnt imagine hed chip away at an agency that provides health care to some 9 million veterans. Nearly two-thirds of veterans voted for Trump, according to exitpolls.

Everybody can admit that we need to look at efficiency. Its been a problem for decades, Muro said. [But] when youre dealing with veterans, you have to be more intentional with your actions. You have to be more surgical.  Its almost like hes trying to tear the VA down.

Muro was one of nearly 1,700 probationary workers fired at the VA nationwide  a small share of the agencys 40,000 probationary workers overall. But much deeper cuts may loom. A leaked agency memo proposed eliminating tens of thousands of additional workers, returning the VA to its staffing level of six years ago, when far fewer veterans were eligible for care.

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The Trump administration has tried to reassure veterans that VA services wont deteriorate. VA Secretary Doug Collins, a former GOP congressman, has insisted no mission critical positions were eliminated, though Muro would beg to differ. He believes his own job made a difference for veterans, and hes certain the upheaval and hit to morale wrought by the administrations firings will dog the agency for years.

You walk down the hall and you could see it. You can hear people whisper about it, Muro said. And now you get these people that are scared, that are worried, and theyre thinking about all this other stuff, and theyre trying to care for the veterans. You cant tell me that its not having an impact on veteran health care.

Criticizing Trump is not a popular activity at the Legion hall, where Muro serves as the posts commander. But he still found some understanding at the bar from a friend who was helping run the fish fry that night. When she realized he was talking about the VA cuts, she asked if hed had any job interviews.

It isnt right, she said of the VA firings. They shouldnt be cutting things that help veterans.

My Whole Team Was In Tears

Muro came to the VA after working at Walmart for 13 years, mostly as an overnight manager responsible for keeping the store stocked. The Walmart job paid well but was hard on his body. He suffers from a foot condition that rolls his forefeet inward, and there were days he was so run down he rode a motorized shopping cart to his car at the end of his shift.

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He enrolled in a VA program called Compensated Work Therapy, which helps veterans develop new work skills and build their resumes while getting paid. Having served in the Marine Corps from 1992 to 1999, including in Somalia, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, Muro liked the idea of working in veteran care.

He cleaned fitness equipment at the hospital until landing a position last summer in the VAs relatively new Whole Health program. There he interviewed vets about their health goals, like eating better, sleeping more or reducing stress, and tried to steer them to the right resources. The program looks to promote patient-centered care, or, as Muro put it, move beyond heres your shots, heres your pills, do your bloodwork and see you in six months.

Muro came to the VA after more than a decade at Walmart, hoping to start a career in veteran care. Mustafa Hussain for HuffPost

One of the big barriers is pain, Muro said. I can identify with that. I have a walker, because every step I take is pain. Its like having a Lego in your shoe and youre walking. A lot of these guys are in a lot worse shape than me, but  I know.

Like a lot of other fired feds with short tenures, Muro was relatively new to the government and didnt make a great deal of money. His annual VA salary was just under $50,000, a significant cut from his managerial position at Walmart, where he brought home close to $80,000 after bonus, he said. But the VA job was enough to cover his bills and the mortgage on his condo, and it felt more meaningful than moving pallets around at Walmart.

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One of his final chores at work before getting fired was responding to Musks ultimatum that he explain what he accomplished the previous week in an email, Muro said. He wrote up a list detailing his meetings with veterans, sent it off, and received a termination notice later the same day. As with other fired probationary employees, Muro says his notice cited performance as the reason for his layoff, though he says he never received a negative work review.

My supervisor, she was in tears, Muro said. My whole team was in tears. I was the only person who wasnt crying.

HuffPost readers: Do you work at the VA? You can contact our reporter over Signal at davejamieson.99, or email him here.

Probationary workers may have weaker job protections than permanent employees, but there are still rules around terminating them. Federal unions  and, so far, two federal judges  believe what the administration carried out was an unlawful mass firing.

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Thanks to their reinstatement to administrative leave following court orders, employees like Muro will now be paid without working and receive back pay dating to their terminations  an ironic outcome for Musks so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which purportedly aims to cut wasteful spending. Asked whether the laid-off employees would be put back to work soon, a VA spokesperson said only that the department is complying with the court order and declined to comment further due to litigation.

In a court filing last week, the Trump administration argued that re-onboarding these workers would be burdensome to them and the government, since it would require filling out human resources paperwork, obtaining new security badges, [and] re-enrolling in benefits programs and payroll, among other tasks. The administration asked the Supreme Court on Monday to block a judges order requiring agencies to rehire some 16,000 workers.

Even if the courts find the probationary firings were illegal, Muro and others could still get caught in their agencies looming reduction in force plans. A February outline from the VAs chief of staff called for dropping the agencys headcount to back below 400,000. The VA is expected to submit an official downsizing plan to the White House for review.

Muro said he wishes the administration would spend more time looking at waste in the way agencies operate, as opposed to eliminating workers.

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I dont disagree with him wanting to look at efficiency, but the way hes acting on that  its very counterproductive, its very destructive, he said. Every leadership instinct in me says this is wrong.

The Care Wont Be Adequate

The VA is a sprawling department with plenty of financial mismanagement and waste in its past. But the administrations blunt cuts to the government so far  largely spearheaded, it seems, by DOGE operatives with little or no government experience  havent inspired much confidence the White House will take a surgical approach to streamlining the VA or other agencies.

Several current VA employees who asked to speak anonymously said they were concerned about the message the Trump administration is sending to talented doctors and nurses who might consider working there. Even if such positions are exempted from cuts, they noted, frontline providers might expect a leaner administrative and support staff, and a mandate to do more with less.

The VA is already so shortstaffed with direct providers, said a VA social worker, who asked to speak anonymously for fear of retaliation. Then there are schedulers, administrative folks, and people like me  what will the impact be from the removal of less essential people? Does that mean the quality of care is going to go down?

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Plenty of veterans who rely on the VA have the same fears. Logan Bland, a 32-year-old former Marine now in a wheelchair, said he sometimes waits several hours for a transport to his home, which is an hour away from the Hines hospital. After his military service Bland was paralyzed from the chest down in an altercation with some bouncers at a bar. He now relies on Hines spinal cord injury clinic.

Hearing about any kind of cuts makes me think the care wont be adequate, he said recently as he waited for a ride outside Hines.

Sean Lane, a 56-year-old Air Force veteran who used to work at Hines as a housekeeper, said he felt terrible for the workers who stand to lose their jobs. He lives in an affordable housing unit for veterans adjacent to the hospital.

It sucks. I cant understand it, Lane said of the cuts. You have a lot of uneasy people right now wondering if theyre going to have jobs.

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Muro considers himself lucky compared to other probationary workers who may have lost their careers. He is not married and has no children, so he doesnt worry about other mouths to feed.

But after his layoff he applied for unemployment benefits and food stamps, and received a card for the local food pantry  the same place hed been spreading the word to veterans about VA programs.

On a recent afternoon, Muro swung by Hines and caught up with the co-worker who trained him in the Whole Health program. As he sat in the hospital lobby afterward, he said he planned to apply for a job with the local veterans assistance commission. If he cant win permanent reinstatement at the VA, hed like to find a way to continue working in veteran care.

And even if the VA doesnt employ him, he said he hopes can volunteer there.

With morale and everything else, theyre going to need all the help they can get, he said.
BROOKFIELD, Ohio (WKBN)  A settlement is pending in a federal lawsuit of a Brookfield woman who claimed her rights were violated when she was hurt during her arrest.

Read next: Trump officials texted war plans to a group chat in a secure app that included a journalist

In the lawsuit, Jennifer Miller claimed that her Fourth and 14th Amendment Constitutional rights were violated by unreasonable seizures and excessive force after she was brought to the Brookfield Police Department for an OVI arrest. The incident happened after Miller was pulled over on Nov. 8, 2023. Miller filed a complaint against the officer the next day.

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Miller says she was shoved to the ground in a martial arts style throw, knocking her unconscious. She has been seeking $1 million in damages.

An internal investigation conducted by former Police Chief Dan Faustino exonerated the Brookfield Township officer of wrongdoing.

According to court documents, during a March 6 mediation, the parties reached an agreement and settled all matters in the dispute.

Documents state that the parties will finalize and execute a settlement agreement and will submit an entry dismissing all claims with prejudice within 45 days of March 6. The specifics of the settlement are unknown.

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Nadine Grimley and Molly Burke 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.
Mar. 25---- Area fire departments, including

and Willmar, are teaming up with the American Red Cross and Kandiyohi County Emergency Management to distribute and install free smoke alarms to residents of those seven communities.

Willmar Fire Chief Frank Hanson told the West Central Tribune in a phone interview that anyone in those cities can request up to three smoke alarms per household.

"We can only replace battery-operated fire alarms," he said, stressing they won't be able to replace hardwired, electric alarms.

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"This is our third time doing this in about the last eight years," he said.

The event is in coordination with a national campaign done by the American Red Cross.

"They partner with local fire departments and give out free smoke alarms to people that need them, don't have them or need to be replaced," Hanson said.

The Willmar Fire Department recommends replacing smoke alarms that are 8 to 10 years old. Smoke alarms typically have a manufacturer's date on the back. Hanson also recommended that batteries should be changed about twice a year.

"When you change your clock, change your battery," he said, referencing daylight saving time changes.

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According to the Minnesota Fire Marshal's Office, working smoke alarms reduce the risk of an individual dying in a residential fire by 50%.

Hanson said that it isn't uncommon when investigating a residential fire that they find the batteries are taken out because the alarm is annoying, or that the alarm was old and didn't work. Sometimes they even find that a smoke alarm was missing.

"Working smoke alarms give people the early detection warning to get out of their house or business because there is a fire or some sort of smoke problem," he said.

Hanson stressed that smoke can be just as deadly or deadlier than the fire itself and for that reason it's important to "have as early a warning system as possible."

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Installation of the free smoke alarms will occur from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 5. Hanson said teams of three made up of firefighters  along with Willmar Area Community Emergency Response Team members and Red Cross volunteers  will be helping with installation. The alarms being installed will have 10-year-life lithium batteries built in.

"There's no need to change them, which is nice," Hanson said. "When they start beeping, that just means the alarm needs to be replaced and that will happen in that eight- to 10-year mark," he said.

Alarms for the hard of hearing, also known as bed shaker alarms, are also available upon request.

Those interested in receiving free smoke alarms should put in a request by Thursday, April 3, to the Kandiyohi County Emergency Management Office at 320-235-5133 or email the office at

with the request.
Federal judges have been blunt in their rulings from the bench as the Trump administration has been hit with numerous lawsuits challenging its policies, layoffs and firings and other orders.

While many of the cases are still working their way through the system, several federal judges have been swift in issuing temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions, questioning the legality and constitutionality of President Donald Trump's actions.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump departs for the weekend from the White House in Washington, Mar. 21, 2025. (Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

MORE: Threats to federal judges increasing, US Marshals Service warns

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The president and his allies, including billionaire Elon Musk, whose Department of Government Efficiency has been at the center of some of the suits, have dismissed many of the orders in interviews and on social media. Musk has called for the impeachment of multiple judges, and Trump has also called for the impeachment of Judge James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Boasberg has called on the administration to stop deporting Venezuelans as part of Trump's executive order that invoked the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime authority used to deport noncitizens with little to no due process, as a lawsuit plays out.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued the Justice Department on behalf of five Venezuelans contending the deportees were not criminals. The judge argued that the accused deportees could face real harm and granted the TRO.

Several of the judges have faced increased harassment and threats, according to the U.S. Marshals Service and sources with knowledge of the situation.

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Here are some of the major rulings issued by judges against the administration.

March 21

Boasberg said during a court hearing over the AEA deportations of Venezuelan migrants to an El Salvadorian prison that the administration's use of the law was "incredibly troublesome and problematic."

"I agree it's 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," Boasberg said.

The judge noted that the Trump administration's arguments about the extent of the president's power are "awfully frightening" and a "long way from" the intent of the law.

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The Trump administration argued that members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and the gang's national security risk warranted the use of the 18th century act.

Boasberg vowed to hold the Trump administration accountable, if necessary, if it violated his court order from March 15.

"The government's not being terribly cooperative at this point, but I will get to the bottom of whether they violated my word and who ordered this and what's the consequence," he said.

PHOTO: Elon Musk listens as President Donald Trump meets with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Oval Office of the White House, Feb. 13, 2025, in Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP)

Boasberg also grilled Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign over his compliance with the court order to turn back the flights already in the air and questioned how the deportation flights were put together.

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"Why is this proclamation essentially signed in the dark on Friday night, early Saturday morning, when people [were] rushed on the plane?" Boasberg asked. "To me, the only reason to do that is if you know the problem and you want to get them out of the country before a suit is filed."

"I don't have knowledge of those operational details," Ensign said.

Boasberg also raised concerns that the rapid nature of the deportations prevented the men from being able to challenge the allegations that they belonged to Tren de Aragua.

"[What] they're simply saying is don't remove me, particularly to a country that's going to torture me," Boasberg said.

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An attorney for the ACLU argued that those targeted by the AEA should be able to contest whether they fall within the act.

"Otherwise, anybody could be taken off the street and removed," said Lee Gelernt, the attorney for the ACLU. "This is a very dangerous road we're going down."

MORE: 'Incredibly troublesome': Judge grills DOJ over alleged gang member deportations

As Ensign appeared to undermine arguments made earlier in the week about the timing of the order and struggled to answer Boasberg's questions, the judge suggested the Department of Justice might be risking its reputation and credibility.

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"I often tell my clerks before they go out into the world to practice law, the most valuable treasure they possess is their reputation and their credibility," Boasberg said. "I just ask you make sure your team [understands] that lesson."

Boasberg decided on March 24 that the men who were deported were entitled to due process in court.

"Federal courts are equipped to adjudicate that question when individuals threatened with detention and removal challenge their designation as such. Because the named Plaintiffs dispute that they are members of Tren de Aragua, they may not be deported until a court has been able to decide the merits of their challenge," he wrote.

Later that evening, the Trump administration invoked the "state secrets privilege" in a court filing to attempt to stop the federal judge from learning more information about the flights.

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"Removal flight plans-including locations from which flights depart, the planes utilized, the paths they travel, where they land, and how long they take to accomplish any of those things--reflect critical means and methods of law enforcement operations," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in the filing.

March 20

U.S. District Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander slammed DOGE in a 137-page ruling that blocked the group's unlimited access to Social Security information.

"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," she wrote.

"The government has not even attempted to explain why a more tailored, measured, titrated approach is not suitable to the task," Hollander added. "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."

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The White House has not commented on the case as of March 25.

PHOTO: Demonstrators rally on the National Mall during the NowDC protest, in Washington, Mar. 14, 2025. (Graeme Sloan/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

MORE: 'Hitting a fly with a sledgehammer': Judge blocks DOGE from accessing sensitive Social Security records

March 18

In a 79-page decision, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes blocked the Trump administration from enacting the policy that would have banned transgender soldiers from serving in the military.

Reyes said the policy continued an unfortunate history of the armed services excluding marginalized people from the "privilege of serving."

PHOTO: In this Oct. 14, 2020, file photo, the main entrance of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York is shown in Brooklyn, New York. (Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images, FILE)

"The President has the power -- indeed the obligation -- to ensure military readiness. At times, however, leaders have used concern for military readiness to deny marginalized persons the privilege of serving," Reyes wrote.

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"[Fill in the blank] is not fully capable and will hinder combat effectiveness; [fill in the blank] will disrupt unit cohesion and so diminish military effectiveness; allowing [fill in the blank] to serve will undermine training, make it impossible to recruit successfully, and disrupt military order," she added.

"First minorities, then women in combat, then gays filled in that blank. Today, however, our military is stronger and our Nation is safer for the millions of such blanks (and all other persons) who serve," she said.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has slammed the judge on X and vowed to appeal.

Lawyers for the administration argued in court papers that the court "has broadly construed the scope of the DoD Policy to encompass all trans-identifying servicemembers or applicants" and claimed the Department of Defense's new guidance "underscores Defendants' consistent position that the DoD Policy is concerned with the military readiness, deployability, and costs associated with a medical condition -- one that every prior Administration has, to some degree, kept out of the military."

March 13

U.S. District Judge William Alsup scolded a DOJ attorney during a hearing for a lawsuit against the mass firing of federal workers.

Alsup slammed the attorney for refusing to make acting Office of Personnel Management Director Charles Ezell available for cross-examination and withdrawing his sworn declaration, which Alsup called a "sham."

PHOTO: The Blind Justice statue is shown outside the Albert V. Bryan Federal Courthouse, in Alexandria, Virginia. (AP)

"The government, I believe, has tried to frustrate the judge's ability to get at the truth of what happened here and then set forth sham declarations," Alsup said. "That's not the way it works in the U.S. District Court."

"You will not bring the people in here to be cross-examined. You're afraid to do so because you know cross-examination would reveal the truth. This is the U.S. District Court," Alsup said. "I tend to doubt that you're telling me the truth."

Alsup bashed the government for submitting a declaration from Ezell he believed to be false but then withdrawing it and making Ezell unavailable for testimony.

MORE: Judge orders thousands of federal workers reinstated; slams 'sham' government declaration

"You withdrew his declaration rather than do that. Come on, that's a sham. It upsets me," Alsup said. "I want you to know that I've been practicing or serving in this court for over 50 years and I know how that we get at the truth, and you're not helping me get to add to the truth. You're giving me press releases, sham documents."

Alsup later ruled that thousands of federal workers needed to be rehired.

The judge determined the Trump administration attempted to circumvent the procedures in place for issuing reductions in force by asserting that the employees were terminated for performance reasons without providing evidence.

"I just want to say it is a sad day when our government would fire some good employee and say it was based on performance when they know good and well that's a lie," he said. "That should not have been done in our country. It was a sham in order to try to avoid statutory requirements."

If the Trump administration wants to reduce the size of the federal government, it needs to follow the process established in federal law, he said.

"The words that I give you today should not be taken as some kind of wild and crazy judge in San Francisco has said that the administration cannot engage in a reduction in force," he said.

His ruling is being appealed by the administration, which asked the Supreme Court on March 24 for an emergency stay.

Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris argued in her filing that the labor unions and nonprofit groups that challenged the mass firings lack standing, saying they have "hijacked the employment relationship between the federal government and its workforce."

"This Court should not allow a single district court to erase Congress's handiwork and seize control over reviewing federal personnel decisions -- much less do so by vastly exceeding the limits on the scope of its equitable authority and ordering reinstatements en masse," she wrote.

Jan. 23

Just days into Trump's second presidency, U.S. District Judge John Coughenour issued a temporary restraining order blocking Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship and expressed shock in the order from the president.

"I have been on the bench for over four decades," said Coughenour, who was nominated to the bench by President Ronald Reagan in 1981. "I can't remember another case where the question presented is as clear as it is here. This is a blatantly unconstitutional order."

MORE: Judge temporarily blocks Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship, calling it 'blatantly unconstitutional'

"I have difficulty understanding how a member of the bar can state unequivocally that this is a constitutional order. It boggles my mind," the judge told the DOJ's attorney during the hearing. "Where were the lawyers when this decision was being made?"

The Trump administration has appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court.

Harris, the acting solicitor general, argued in a filing to the Supreme Court that the nationwide injunctions "transgress constitutional limits on courts' powers" and "compromise the Executive Branch's ability to carry out its functions."

"This Court should declare that enough is enough before district courts' burgeoning reliance on universal injunctions becomes further entrenched," she wrote.

ABC News' Emily Chang and Laura Romero contributed to this report.

Several federal judges have slammed the Trump administration. Here's what they have said in court originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A Shafter man who was arrested in February while trying to leave the country admitted to having sex with a teen girl and making a recording of the act on his cellphone, according to court documents.

Guillermo Delgado-Lopez, 37, told police the sex was consensual despite it being against the law for an adult to have sexual relations with a minor no matter the circumstances and the teens statement to police saying she told him no and was traumatized by the incident, say the reports filed by Shafter police.

He said he attempted to flee to Mexico because he was scared, the reports say.

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BPD: Man found dead in Kern riverbed with apparent gunshot wound

Delgado-Lopez faces multiple felonies  including charges related to sex acts with a minor and possession of child pornography  and is being held on $750,000 bail. A preliminary hearing in the case was postponed Tuesday to May 22.

The victims mother called police on Feb. 16 and both she and her daughter  who was 13 when the alleged act occurred  provided statements, the reports say.

Investigators pinged Delgado-Lopezs cellphone and on Feb. 17 learned it was in the Los Angeles area. As they traveled to L.A., investigators saw the device was traveling to the San Ysidro area and the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the documents.

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Delgado-Lopez was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers until police arrived and took him into custody. They seized property including his cellphone.

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With the horse racing industry sinking in Minnesota and purses declining at Canterbury Park, one state lawmaker is proposing a new, taxpayer-funded program that would pay Minnesota thoroughbred owners for race participation.

Speaking at the House Agriculture Committee hearing this week, Rep. Brad Tabke (DFL-Shakopee) said his bill would help keep an important industry strong in Minnesota.

"As everyone knows, racing has been struggling in Minnesota for a variety of reasons," Tabke said.

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Tabke's proposal seeks $7 million for a two-year pilot program that would support $750 payments to Minnesota-based thoroughbred owners each time their horse starts a race at a Minnesota racetrack.

The payments would be doled out per-horse, per-race no matter how the horse performs.

Canterbury Park

"Canterbury Park is a major economic driver, job-producer in our community and is really important to the fabric of who we are in Shakopee," Tabke said, noting the horse racing industry also supports agriculture, veterinarians and other goods and services.

The average thoroughbred consumers about 25 pounds of feed per day, one testifier added.

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Shakopee resident and racehorse owner Justin Revak told lawmakers Canterbury Park has an "extremely loyal" group of horse owners and trainers. However, declining purses are a growing concern.

"That loyalty only goes so far before you can't make an honest business out of it and continue racing here," Revak said.

Advocates of the proposal say some of the money would be directed towards education and mental health programs for stable workers.

The Minnesota Reformer, which first reported on the proposed legislation, notes Minnesota's horse racing industry had been propped up by a marketing agreement with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community for over a decade.

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That agreement recently expired.

The Reformer notes that among those who gave testimony in favor of the bill was Justin Revak, who is a thoroughbred owner but also a vice president of clinical quality at UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Optum.

Horse racing industry group Light Up Racing says that race horses in the U.S. earn an average of $30,000 a year as a starter, but that the costs of training the horse is more than double that.
(KRON)  A United Airlines flight was diverted to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) last Saturday because the pilot did not have his passport onboard, the airline said in an email to KRON4. United Flight 198 departed from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Saturday at 1:45 p.m. and was bound for Shanghai, China.

The plane took a detour and landed at SFO around 5:06 p.m., according to United Airlines flight tracker. United arranged for a new crew, including the pilot, to bring the 257 passengers to China. There were 13 crew members onboard.

Tonys Pizza, other San Francisco staples to open new locations at SFO

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United Flight 198 landed in Shanghai on Monday at 12:48 a.m. local time. To make up for the inconvenience, United said customers were given meal vouchers and compensation.

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A Pierce County resident who works as a lab technician for the University of Washington and has lived in the United States for decades is detained at the federal immigration detention center in Tacoma.

Lewelyn Dixon, 64 of Edgewood, is a green card holder, an attorney representing her, Benjamin Osorio said Monday. A green card allows her to live and work permanently in the U.S. But after Dixon traveled to the Philippines with family and returned to Washington on Feb. 28, relatives said she was detained at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Osorio said Dixon was detained because of a nonviolent criminal conviction from 2001.

Dixon immigrated to Hawaii from the Philippines at age 14 and moved to Washington in the 1990s, according to family members. Shes now in deportation proceedings, and her next court date is in July. Dixon isnt eligible for bond to fight her immigration case from out of custody, according to Osorio, and in the meantime, he said Dixon is at risk of losing her job and her pension.

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements online detainee locator system shows Dixon is in custody at the Northwest ICE Processing Center, a privately-run detention facility that holds people who are suspected of being in the country illegally or are awaiting deportation.

A spokesperson for ICE declined to comment Monday on Dixons detention.

Dixons detainment initially confused her niece, Melania Madriaga, who said she wasnt aware of Dixons prior conviction for bank embezzlement. She said shed seen news stories related to President Donald Trumps attempts to crack down on immigration enforcement but said shed thought the focus of that was on undocumented immigrants and criminals who were a threat to their communities.

Is my aunt a threat? Madriaga, 59, said. She cant even hurt a fly. And weve got to prove that shes not a threat? Thats crazy. Its like shes being retried again.

Lewelyn Dixon, 64, of Edgewood, is shown in a July 2024 photo. Dixon, a University of Washington lab technician and a green card holder, is detained at the Northwest ICE Processing Center due to a prior criminal conviction. She was detained Feb. 28 after returning to the United States from a trip to the Philippines .

Osorio advised that every green card holder who has even a minor offense on their record should speak to an immigration attorney before traveling and should apply to become a naturalized U.S. citizen if they are eligible.

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The attorney explained that Dixons type of prior conviction is considered a crime involving moral turpitude, and a single offense of that type could make a green card holder inadmissible to the country.

Osorio said he hadnt seen similar ICE detainments prior to Trumps second term in office. Madriaga said Dixon traveled out of the country twice last year without issue.

Dixon is the only one in her family who isnt a U.S. citizen, according to Madriaga. She said thats because Dixon had promised Madriagas grandfather that she would keep her citizenship in the Philippines.

Their family has a house in the Philippines, and Madriaga said her grandfather wanted someone to go back and check on it. She said dual citizenship wasnt allowed in the country until the early 2000s.

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Madriaga said she hopes her aunts case raises awareness to the fact that even documented immigrants are a target for immigration enforcement. She also said shed like to see changes to the immigration-court system to either expedite proceedings for documented immigrants such as Dixon so people dont lose their jobs or expand bond eligibility so noncitizens dont have to be detained while awaiting court hearings.

Some people might have accrued enough time off at their jobs to stay employed while they are detained, Madriaga said.

But if they dont have that much, and its going to be leave with no pay, the clock starts, Madriaga said. So theres nothing protecting them.

The University of Washington confirmed in an email Monday that Dixon has been employed at UW Medicine since 2015. A spokesperson said she did not have further information.

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Madriaga said what her aunt did to be convicted of a crime was bad, and she paid the price for it. She also said Dixon didnt commit more crimes afterward and has since made something out of herself.

According to court records, Dixon pleaded guilty to bank embezzlement in 2000 in U.S. District Court. The previous year shed been working as a vault teller and operations supervisor at the White Center Financial Center when she took $6,460 from the vault over several months.

In 2001 she was sentenced to 30 days in a halfway house and ordered to pay back what shed taken as restitution, plus a $100 mandatory assessment. According to a July 2019 court filing, that money was later paid back.

Madriaga said Dixon worked hard in the years after her conviction to build a career where she could actually make a difference. She said before the coronavirus pandemic, Dixon processed drug tests, but during the pandemic and afterward she processed COVID-19 tests among other work.

She actually did something to be positive in the community, and actually excel on it and continue on it, Madriaga said. And that needs to be looked at.
TAPACHULA, Mexico (AP)  Ana Esquivel no longer feels like her heart stops every time she sees a police officer.

Weve been told that they wont harass or mistreat us here, but back home, if a male name is spotted on your ID, you could spend the night detained, said the 50-year-old transgender woman. She fled Cuba fearing for her safety and arrived in Mexico earlier this year.

Esquivel settled in the southern city of Tapachula, hoping to dodge the Trumps administration crackdown on migration and reach the United States. But unlike many who were turned back after Customs and Border Protection abruptly canceled appointments for people to legally enter the United States, returning home is not an option for LGBTQ+ migrants.

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The LGBT population doesnt necessarily leave their countries for the same reasons as others, said Mariana de la Cruz, operations director at Casa Frida, a shelter that supports LGBTQ+ migrants and lost 60% of its funds after President Donald Trump ordered the suspension of foreign assistance programs in January.

They leave due to discrimination and violence based on their gender identity, de la Cruz said. Beyond economic reasons or the American Dream, they leave because they need to survive.

The flux of migrants at the Southern Mexican border with Guatemala dipped after Trump announced plans to restrict refugees and asylum seekers, contending he wants to stop illegal entry and border crime. The Mexican Commission for Refugee Aid in Tapachula has not updated its public data since December 2024, but the transformation is clear.

Hundreds of migrants no longer flood a public square, waiting for a response to their refugee applications. And though lines still form around the commissions headquarters, locals say the crowds are smaller.

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At a nearby Catholic shelter, administrator Herber Bermudez said they have hosted up to 1,700 migrants at a time, but it's closer to 300 with the shutdown of CBP One, the U.S. border app that facilitated legal entry into the country.

The change was substantial, Bermudez said. By Jan. 20, we had around 1,200 people, but as the app stopped working, people started heading back to their countries.

In contrast, help requests addressed to Casa Frida have not dropped.

"All of the people we support were victims of violence," said Sebastian Rodriguez, who works at the shelter. "They cant go back."

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In Tapachula since 2022, Casa Frida staff review on average 80 applications per month, assessing the most at-risk. According to Rodriguez, nonbinary and transgender migrants are frequently vulnerable to attacks.

The shelter doesn't have enough resources to help everyone, but they bring on about 70 new people monthly and can support up to 200 LGBTQ+ at any given time.

Several migrants recently told The Associated Press they were kidnapped by cartel members as they set foot in Mexico and had to give up their possessions to be released.

LGBTQ+ people face more violence, Rodriguez said. Transgender women often dress as men to avoid mockery and being spotted by criminals. If they are spared and reach a shelter, staff assign them to male dorms. If they leave and try to rent a room elsewhere, landlords seem unhospitable or demand unthinkable fees.

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Thats why programs like ours are needed, Rodriguez said.

According to the shelter, about 40% of its population was affected by the end of CBP One app and the mass cancellation of appointments.

Some people feel discouraged and hopeless, Rodriguez said. But many have applied for asylum in Mexico.

Among its services, Casa Frida can provide a roof and meals for up to 12 people for three months. The organization's other programs can help several more migrants by providing legal guidance on remaining in Mexico, advice on finding temporary jobs with inclusive environments, psychological counseling and tips for renting apartments under fair conditions.

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Most people just think of us as a shelter, but providing refuge is only the core of what we do, Rodriguez said. Our goal is to reintegrate violence victims into society.

The shelter operates in three locations: Mexico City, where it was founded in 2020 and mostly supports locals; Tapachula, which mainly receives migrants from Cuba, Honduras, Venezuela, El Salvador, Peru and Haiti; and Monterrey, where those at grave risk are transferred to be safe at an undisclosed address.

Manuel Jimenez, 21, was welcomed at the Mexico City station in February. He arrived from a state near the capital when harassment by family members became unbearable.

Jimenez initially hoped to reach the U.S. and he traveled north in November 2024. All went well until border patrol officers detained him in Arizona and he was deported. But it was dangerous for him to stay in his hometown.

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Someone told me about this shelter because I wanted to find a place where I could feel at peace, said Jimenez, who identifies as bisexual. Back home, there were people who wanted to hurt me, verbally and physically.

Now living at Casa Frida, he started working at a nearby restaurant and hopes to save money that will enable him to find a home of his own.

Back in Tapachula, Esquivel applied for Mexican refugee status. Around 85% of Casa Fridas migrants get a positive response, so she's optimistic. Maybe one day, she hopes, she could go back to school, land a job and relocate.

I want to stay here and become part of this country, Esquivel said. I want to do it the right way and Im grateful to Casa Frida for helping me get there.

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She learned about the shelter from another trans woman who also fled Cuba after feeling threatened by police.

I was nearly arrested, said Rachel Perez, 51. In Cuba, we are discriminated and persecuted. We leave in search for a better life.

Human rights organizations have denounced continuing intolerance in the Caribbean nation, which does have sexual orientation protections.

According to Esquivel, she was accused of prostitution  which is not illegal under Cuban law  for repeatedly walking alone at night. Police warned her a few times, but she kept going out until she was detained and transferred to a male prison.

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I was raped there, said Esquivel, who remained imprisoned for a year. I was only 21 and the inmates abused me. Within time, I learned how to defend myself, but those were very difficult times I wont forget.

Staff at Casa Frida constantly updates their protocols to help migrants like Esquivel. But keeping operations running has proved challenging due to the U.S. aid cuts. According to De la Cruz, worrisome notifications popped by Jan. 24, and a few weeks later, 60% of their budget was gone.

Weve been looking everywhere to find new sustainability alternatives, she said. We are part of a network focused on LGBT mobility in Latin America and the Caribbean  13 organizations in 10 countries  and at least 50% of them took a hit.

Funding campaigns and ongoing meetings with European and local leaders might bring a solution, but concerns havent ceased and the team could significantly diminish its operations.

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Nothing is written in stone and we dont know what could happen next, De la Cruz said.

____

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and longtime local talk-radio host. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @SengCenter.
BRADENTON, Fla. (WFLA)  The Manatee County Sheriffs Office announced the arrest of a prominent drug dealer in a news conference on Tuesday, calling the operation the largest fentanyl bust in Manatee County history.

Undercover detectives began looking into potential fentanyl sales at an address on 6th Street West in Bradenton last November. They identified Maurice Baxter, 23, as one of the dealers, according to MCSO.

Cruise passengers issued warning while passing through pirate hot spot

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Detectives connected Baxter to a drug trafficking operation that was already under investigation. Using funds from the Florida Department of Law Enforcements State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication program, detectives purchased fentanyl and later obtained warrants to search the residence and arrest Baxter.

Tron Williams and Maurice Baxter (Manatee County Sheriffs Office)

The warrant was executed on March 13, but Baxter was nowhere to be found. He remains at large, while the homes occupant, Tron Williams, 40, was arrested.

In Williams bedroom, deputies found the following items, according to MCSO:

12.3 kilograms of fentanyl (including liquid pharmaceutical-grade citrate)

1 kilogram of cocaine

1 kilogram of MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly)

273 grams of methamphetamine

822 grams of marijuana

29.4 grams of Adderall

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This is the most significant fentanyl seizure in Manatee County history, and our community and neighboring counties are safer because of it, Sheriff Rick Wells said.

(Manatee County Sheriffs Office) (Manatee County Sheriffs Office) (Manatee County Sheriffs Office) (Manatee County Sheriffs Office)

Deputies also seized firearms, including an FN Five-seven handgun, nicknamed the cop killer because its ammunition can penetrate certain types of soft body armor, MCSO said, adding that over 1,000 rounds of ammunition were recovered.

Williams was charged with trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking in cocaine, and trafficking in MDMA. He was being held in the Manatee County Jail without bond on Tuesday.

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Anyone with information on Baxters whereabouts is asked to contact the Manatee County Sheriffs Office at (941) 747-3011. To remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward, contact Manatee County Crime Stoppers at (866) 634-TIPS or visit ManateeCrimeStoppers.com.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown on Monday announced his first major project since leaving Capitol Hill.

Brown announced the Dignity of Work Institute, which he called a nonpartisan, nonprofit group with a focus on jobs and the economy.

He said both Republicans and Democrats have ignored workers for years  addressing issues like low wages, overtime and home ownership. Brown said hes hopeful this organization and the research it provides will make the issue a higher priority in Washington.

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One measure of property tax relief works its way through Ohio Statehouse

Presidents of both parties keep saying the economy is great, Brown said. Trump said it in his first term, Biden said it, Trump is saying it again. But you ask workers, the economy is not  it hasnt been for a long time  serving workers.

In making the announcement, the institute released research that showed 60% of Americans have worked more than one job at the same time, and about 20% have worked three jobs or more at once.

The key takeaways from the study were:

Working multiple jobs is now a way of life for many

Workers are so strapped that their definition of essential is the bare minimum

Many feel like the economy is stacked against them

Americans want big changes to the economy that produce higher incomes and lower costs

Americans everywhere are struggling, but some groups are hurting more acutely

Most think their life will improve

People believe they can succeed but the economy is failing them

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American workers built this country and are working harder than ever, but have less and less to show for it  theyre producing more than ever, but their wages have barely budged and the cost of living keeps getting worse, Brown said in the news release. Working people have not given up on the American dream, but they know theyre working in a rigged system.

Family of WWII veteran who fought alongside Navajo Code Talkers responds to DEI scrub from Pentagon

Brown declined to discuss any possible run for political office next year.

The long-serving Democrat has been linked to both the race for Ohio governor and the U.S. Senate in 2026.

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WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  The Heart Gallery of Northwest Texas is shining a bright light on Texas children in foster care who are still searching for a place to call home.

The First Lady of Texas, Cecilia Abbott, spoke Monday night, March 24, during the launch of the gallery.

This moment as we gather together  this could be a turning point toward a brighter future for another Texas child, Cecilia Abbott said.

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At the gallery, there were photos on display looking to bring attention to the many Texas foster children awaiting a permanent home.

A photographer for the Heart Gallery and a former foster child, Zoe McQueen, shared what it means to pass along her personal and touching story in front and behind the camera.

Now Im being able to see the ones that are being photographed and giving them tips. Basically, just like full circle. It comes full circle. Its like I had this blessing and now I get to give it to the next person, and I get to give the blessing to the next person, Zoe McQueen said.

The blue hearts found on the photos that could be spotted throughout the room last night signified children placed in their permanent homes.

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The Trump administration is mounting a high-level attempt to arrest and deport a Columbia University student from South Korea with a green card for what her attorneys describe as minor involvement in campus pro-Palestine protests  the latest in the White Houses rapidly escalating deportation campaign targeting non-citizen students for alleged antisemitism.

A lawsuit, filed Monday in New York federal court, calls the operation against Yunseo Chung, 21, an example of shocking overreach and an unprecedented and unjustifiable assault on free speech rights. The suit seeks to pause any attempts to arrest or deport Chung until the legal action plays out. She is not currently in immigration custody, The New York Times reports.

Attorneys said Chung, who has lived in the U.S. since she was 7 years old, was a casual participant in the campus pro-Palestine protests that occurred at Columbia throughout 2023 and 2024, taking no leadership or public-facing roles, and facing no confirmed violations of school disciplinary policies.

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Nonetheless, according to the lawsuit, Department of Homeland Security agents showed up at Chungs parents house on March 9 and said they were looking for the student, an English and gender studies major.

That same day, Chung allegedly got a text from an individual seeking to speak to her on the phone, whom her attorneys later determined was an agent of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Later that night, the suit claims, her attorney got a call from Perry Carbone, the assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, who went on to claim the following day that the students visa had been revoked by the Secretary of State after Chung was deemed a threat to U.S. foreign policy interests. An attorney informed the official that Chung was not in the U.S. on a visa, but rather had permanent resident status, to which he allegedly replied that that had been revoked, too.

Columbia has been a center of protest activity against the Israel-Hamas war, as well as the Trump administrations subsequent arrests of non-citizen student activists who participated in these demonstrations (REUTERS)

The exchange mirrored, nearly word-for-word, one that another Columbia activist, Mahmoud Khalil, claimed took place when ICE agents detained him on similar accusations earlier this month.

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On March 13, according to the suit, federal law enforcement agents searched two residences on Columbias campus, including Chungs dorm. The warrant used in the searches cited a federal law meant to prosecute entities who are illegally harboring non-citizens.

The warrant accords with recent comments from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who said this month, in a speech about cracking down on campus antisemitism, that the Justice Department is investigating whether Columbia could be found guilty of harboring immigrants without legal status in the U.S.

Chungs attorneys claim theres little basis for the claim that the student is a threat to national interests.

In May of last year, the school initiated a disciplinary process against the student for allegedly putting up flyers featuring the universitys Board of Trustees with the words, Wanted for Complicity in Genocide, though it later found Chung hadnt violated any school policies. (Human rights groups have accused the Israeli war in Gaza of being a genocidal attack, a charge which Israel and its ally the U.S. deny.)

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On March 5, Chung was briefly arrested outside a campus building at a protest. Her attorneys say that amid the confusion of a crowded demonstration, she inadvertently was unable to follow police directions, and was given a desk appearance ticket for obstructing government administration. The arrest prompted an interim suspension from Columbia against the student.

The protest generated media attention, and online antisemitism watchdog groups published Chungs name in the days just before the removal process against her was initiated. Monitoring groups have claimed credit for feeding the Trump administration names of activists whove later been slated for deportation.

The Independent has contacted the White House, the U.S. Attorneys Office for New York, and the State Department for comment.

Yunseo Chung has engaged in concerning conduct, including when she was arrested by NYPD during a pro-Hamas protest at Barnard College, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told The Independent via email. She is being sought for removal proceedings under the immigration laws. Chung will have an opportunity to present her case before an immigration judge.

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Columbia declined to comment, citing obligations under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

Shortly after being sent questions about the suit, the State Department sent The Independent a transcript of a Monday press briefing with Tammy Bruce, a department spokesperson.

A visa and a green card are not birthrights, Bruce said, when asked whether visa-seekers should be wary about coming to the U.S. if they planned to engage in disruptive protests. These are privileges...Every sovereign nation in the world has an interest in controlling who comes in, knowing whos coming into their country, what their intentions are.

The administration has targeted multiple non-citizen student activists for removal over their role in Palestine activism, including Khalil, as well Georgetown scholar Badar Khan Suri and Cornell PhD Momodou Taal, who alleges immigration officials tried to arrest him in the midst of his lawsuit against the Trump administrations executive orders on immigration and antisemitism. (The government maintains Taals visa was revoked over his past record on campus before the lawsuit began, and has accused Khalil of failing to disclose past diplomatic and humanitarian work on his immigration forms.)

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The Trump administration has put particular pressure on Columbia, using a threat to withhold $400 million in federal funding as leverage to push the school to adopt a series of sweeping reforms, including hiring more police, reorganizing its Middle East-focused departments, banning face masks, and adopting a stance of institutional neutrality.

The administration has maintained that its merely using its influence to force federally-supported universities to uphold their civil rights obligations to protect Jewish students from antisemitism, while critics allege that the White House is using the aegis of stopping antisemitism to silence pro-Palestinian activism protected under the First Amendment
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Shreveport police say the suspect in a shooting that injured a man at a local automotive business was arrested.

The incident took place on Monday, March 24, around 2:55 p.m. According to the police, two men were visiting Discount Lube in the 1800 block of Nelson when the shooting occurred. Authorities reported that a dispute ensued before an employee shot one of the customers twice. The victim reportedly became irate with the employee before being shot.

Police identified Sami Rahman, 25, as the shooter in the incident and arrested him after he returned to the scene. He was booked into Shreveport City Jail for second-degree aggravated battery.

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The victim was taken to the Shreveport Central Fire Station by his friend and then transported to Ochsners Medical Center with potentially life-threatening injuries.

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HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV)  By 2025, $7 million people over the age of 65 will be living with Alzheimers disease and that number could double by 2050.

Those same statistics show 42% of Americans over 55 are eventually going to develop Dementia.

Issues with the mind are what the experts at Memory Matters in the Lowcountry deal with every day.

We serve over 5,000 people annually teaching about brain health and wellness, offering best IT programs to the community free memory screenings, said Development Outreach Manager for Memory Matters Stacy Floyd. We support groups. We do a lot to help educate the community, but also to provide that, you know, hands on guidance and resources for families who are experiencing, you know, caring for a level with Alzheimers.

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Program Director Michelle Frink said, We have programs designated for those with early memory loss or mild cognitive impairment. And then we also have our Social Day program that provides respite for a caregiver and also giving our participants time to socialize and interact, which is really good for those that have dementia.

Memory Matters does just that with a variety of programs to help stimulate their minds.

Theres movement, theres mind, theres a little bit everything we do here, Floyd said. You incorporate music therapy, cultural events. We do celebration. They do a lot of trivia. We have entertainers that come in and volunteer their time to play music thats so important and special to them.

Frink said, This is a failure free zone for them to be themselves, to engage and have a good time. So, coming here is their place. They dont feel, you know, threatened or overwhelmed. They know that theyre coming here to have a good time, and we know that its good for them.

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Floyd said, We always say that earlier is a better or early intervention is best. Thats why we always promote coming in and doing a baseline memory screening just to see. And its free, so theres no reason not to do it. But we always say early intervention is key. I think the holistic approach is where you can come to Memory Matters, and you can learn about brain health and wellness. You can get your free memory screening that then may introduce you to the other things that are offered the programs and services, a comprehensive dementia care that maybe you dont need right then, but that you need to be aware of for your aging parents or for your family or for yourself.

A 501-C-3, Memory Matters gets no federal funding and relies on some money coming in from participants to keep the programs running, but more is always needed.

A lot of our families and participants that are in the program, you know, receive assistance to be able to come in. Without that money, they would not be able to participate. So, we rely on events like the shop hop and the gala and the 5K and, you know, local grants and private donors to help us be able to provide those services.

Thats where the Gala co-chairs Julie Martin and Kathryn Mademann came in. They wanted to create another event where folks could participate and raise money for the charity.

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Memory Matters operates on Hilton Head but they reach people in Bluffton. I thought Lets bridge the two communities. And so, what we did, we reached out to the retailers, and it was a quick yes, said Mademann.

Martin added, I have friends, but specifically Rob, my significant other, both his parents had Alzheimers and they both were in assisted living memory care facilities here on the island. And I saw what its like to tend to that, tend to the people you love and deal with it. And it just it gripped my heart. And its an organization that I have passion for because they touch everybody in their community. Alzheimers eventually will probably affect all of us in one way, shape or form.

Mademanns reason for wanting to help was even more personal.

My mother had dementia, said Mademann. You hear about Alzheimers; you hear about dementia. But the one thing you dont realize is how it impacts ones life. I took care of her for six years before she passed away a year ago. Its a sad disease to have, but it really tells us about the importance of mental health or brain health, which is I think is equally as important as getting your blood pressure taken these days. Theres something so important. This is what memory matters is also educating. But for me, you know, you just watch your mother whos been caring for you and you care for her. And it just it just gets very sad. And they you know, they go through all these different emotions without them having control of any of them.

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Thats where the Shop Hop comes in.

The shop hop itself, its just a variety of businesses and its really an opportunity for people to sort of go and spend their money, which they would anyways, Martin said. But it is local boutiques. They are located from Sea Pines, Shelter, Cove, Wexford and over here on Main Street for Hilton Head. Come join us, do a little shopping therapy, go to lunch with your girlfriends and 10% of the sales will go to Memory Matters and making a difference.

Hilton Head Island Shop Hop is Thursday, March 27 from 1-6 p.m. at a variety of stores on the Island. Bluffton will then take part April 10 from 1-6 p.m.

In both cases 10% of the sales that day will go directly to Memory Matters.

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If you cant shop those days, the agency will also be holding their Annual Gala May 22. Tickets are now on sale for that event as well.

Click here for more information.

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FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP)  When she got pregnant at 16, Fatou Esther Jusu was terrified that it would derail her future.

Abortion is illegal in Sierra Leone. Fearing judgment from her family, she took friends advice and bought misoprostol, a drug whose uses include abortion, from a local pharmacy. It didn't work. Desperate, she tried again and miscarried.

I went to the toilet and the baby came out, she said. She fainted and was taken to a hospital, where she pleaded with doctors not to tell her parents.

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Now 21, Jusu considers herself lucky. One friend died after taking an expired version of the medication.

With those experiences in mind, the nursing student is mobilizing others in support of a bill that would decriminalize abortion in the West African country.

Even though I made a mistake, this mistake is saving other people, Jusu said.

Sierra Leone could become the second country in West Africa to decriminalize abortion, which health workers say would significantly improve the safety of pregnant women, decrease the number of preventable deaths and bring an end to the current colonial-era law.

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Tens of thousands of women and girls attempt to self-terminate their pregnancies every year in Sierra Leone, where abortion is illegal in all circumstances.

Supporters of the bill say unsafe abortions account for around 10% of maternal deaths. Healthcare workers are known to perform terminating procedures when the situation is incompatible with life of the woman, usually in the case of incomplete abortions. Because abortion is illegal, they cite other reasons for the termination.

Sierra Leones President Julius Maada Bio pointedly introduced the Safe Motherhood Bill after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, stripping away women's constitutional protections for abortion.

At a time when sexual and reproductive health rights for women are either being overturned or threatened, we are proud that Sierra Leone can once again lead with progressive reforms, Bio said.

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If approved, the bill would have been West Africa's most progressive legislation on abortion, allowing the procedure for up to 14 weeks.

But Sierra Leone since then has been torn apart by debate. Following opposition from religious leaders, the bill has been amended and now limits abortion to cases of life-threatening risk, fatal fetal abnormalities, rape or incest.

The government says it expects a vote in parliament in the coming weeks. It is not clear whether it will be approved.

They go to any length

An estimated 90,000 abortions are performed annually in Sierra Leone, a country of more than 8 million people, according to research by the African Population and Health Research Center. About 10% of the country's maternal deaths  affecting 717 of every 100,000 births  are due to unsafe abortions, the center said.

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Health workers say the true number is likely much higher.

Due to cost and stigma, many women and girls resort to unsafe methods like expired medication, laundry detergent, hangers or sharp instruments.

On a recent morning at a clinic run by the MSI Sierra Leone nonprofit, dozens of women and girls waited nervously for consultations with nurse Hawanatu Samura.

MSI offers post-abortion care, including terminations in cases of incomplete miscarriage, often when people have tried and failed abortions themselves. The nonprofit is the largest individual service provider of family planning services in the country.

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If patients want an abortion, they go to any length, Samura said. She often sees damage caused by unsterilized instruments, leading to severe hemorrhages, especially in underage girls.

Over 20% of girls between 15 and 19 in Sierra Leone get pregnant, according to the U.N. Population Fund, one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the world.

Samura said a 13-year-old  already mother to a 10-month-old  recently arrived with severe pain after secretly taking unidentified pills to try to abort her pregnancy.

In Sierra Leone, people are afraid of the stigma  so they would prefer to die silently, she said. The patient did not understand her body, Samura said, and her dead fetus resulted in dangerous septicemia.

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The clinic has at least one such case a month, the nurse said.

A debate over tradition and values

Many women and girls who have had abortions fear speaking out, and the push for the bill in Sierra Leone has been led by womens rights groups and medical professionals.

If you arent listening to your doctors, then who are you listening to? said lawyer and advocate Nicky Spencer-Coker. She has fought for reproductive rights alongside a coalition of womens rights organisations since 2015.

At the time, parliament unanimously passed a first version of a bill allowing abortions for up to 12 weeks. But then-President Ernest Bai Koroma blocked the bill amid pressure from anti-abortion and religious groups.

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Some Muslim and Christian leaders have denounced the current bill as ungodly and hellish. Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles, head of the country's Inter-Religious Council, said it contradicts citizens' religious values and sensibilities.

Sierra Leone's current president has faced opposition from his own party members, including lawmaker Rebecca Yei Kamara.

In our communities, children dont get pregnant  they talk to them, they teach them how to grow up into womanhood, she said, and accused supporters of the bill of exaggerating the country's abortion statistics.

Government officials have called the bill a necessary response to the reality of high numbers of deaths among pregnant women.

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The number of girls that die every year  thats the demonstration of peoples will, Chernor Bah, the information minister, told The Associated Press.

Officials also say the bill is needed to strengthen gender reforms in Sierra Leone, which include last years ban on child marriage.

The bill also would allow wider access to family planning and reproductive health services. Activists fear those will be lost if the bill fails.

Allegations of foreign interference

Both sides in the debate have accused each other of being sponsored by foreign governments.

Some conservative U.S. media have framed the bill in Sierra Leone as a Biden-backed push for abortion rights in Africa.

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The U.S. embassy in Freetown denied involvement in the bill.

Sierra Leone's Inter-Religious Council has cited the recent changes on abortion access in the U.S. as reference points in their position papers opposing the bill.

Meanwhile, the reality for some pregnant women and girls remains harrowing.

Many healthcare practitioners told the AP they want the bill to pass so they can save lives without fear.

Samura the nurse recalled a mother who had traveled for hours in agony to the capital after drinking a concoction given to her by a traditional healer. Samura accompanied the patient to a hospital to seek treatment for a distended abdomen, severe septicemia and anemia.

The mother of six died in the waiting room.

Right there on the couch . everybody was crying, Samura said. Anytime I think of her, I wish the bill had been long passed.

___

For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse

___

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Pranksters have caused chaos across the West Country by swapping signs between several villages that are more than 60 miles apart.

Several signs have reappeared in different locations across Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset over recent days.

One sign from Camerton, in Somerset, appeared in the town of Bradford-on-Avon, in Wiltshire.

The sign for Bradford-on-Avon then reappeared 70 miles away on the peninsula of Portland, in Dorset, on March 24.

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In Somerset, a sign for Waterlip was removed and taken to nearby Midsomer Norton.

Bradford-on-Avon town council and Bath and North East Somerset council worked together to recover the sign, but soon afterwards another one from Dorsets Jurassic Coast appeared in Bradford-on-Avon.

Bradford-on-Avon town council said it believed the incident was a prank.

A road sign for Bradford-on-Avon vanished and reappeared 70 miles away in Dorset - Bradford-on-Avon town council

Manda Rigby, a Bath and North East Somerset councillor, said: This was definitely not a sign put up by Bath and North East Somerset council. We are as baffled as the town council.

In a statement, Parvis Khansari, Wiltshire councils corporate director, said correcting the sign swapping was an unnecessary use of both time and money that could be better spent on providing a service to the public.

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He added: There have been several similar recent instances where a sign has been swapped for a sign plate from outside of the county.

A spokesman for Somerset council said the authority believed the incidents, which have been reported to police, constituted criminal damage.

In September 2023, road signs in Caithness, Scotland, were removed and replaced by pranksters, with a locl councillor condemning it as confusing for tourists and a criminal offence.

In Glasgow last month, a prankster dressed as a race marshal sent 30 trail race runners on a 1.5 mile detour by hiding park signs.

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(Bloomberg) -- The messaging app Signal that Trump administration officials used to discuss an attack on Yemens Houthi rebels was created by a one-time anarchist to help activists, journalists and others communicate beyond the prying eyes of government intelligence agencies  not to plan government military operations.

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Launched by American cryptographer Moxie Marlinspike in 2014, Signal relies on strong end-to-end encryption to ensure users privacy and does not save information about the messages it handles. Those features have boosted its popularity among those seeking to evade government or corporate surveillance and cemented Signals reputation as the most secure chat app on the market.

Government officials are known to use Signal, too, for communicating among themselves and sometimes to send reporters an occasional news tip. But even with its enhanced security, the app remains off-limits for US officials to exchange sensitive or classified information.

Those restrictions failed to stop top officials in President Donald Trumps administration from using the app to discuss plans for a military strike in Yemen. On Monday, the Atlantic reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz earlier this month participated in a Signal group to discuss the Houthi attack. The group was uncovered when one of the officials mistakenly added Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to it.

Revelations of the breach and the use of an unauthorized platform to exchange sensitive information sent shock waves through Washington, with security experts cautioning that Signal wasnt an appropriate platform for discussing highly sensitive government information.

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This was a significant operational security failure and should be reviewed closely, said Mark Montgomery, a retired rear admiral and senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Signal is not a secure platform for classified government information.

At a hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, senators from both parties berated Central Intelligence Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard over the episode.

Ratcliffe and Gabbard, who were participants in the Signal chat, defended their role and denied that the information they discussed was classified. But in his article published Monday, Goldberg said that Hegseth texted the group the attack plan that included precise information about weapons packages, targets and timing.

The panels top Democrat, Senator Mark Warner, expressed exasperation over the incident. Its just mind-boggling to me that all these senior folks were on this line and nobody bothered to check, security hygiene 101, who are all the names, who are they?

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Trump said on Tuesday that his administration was investigating the addition of a journalist to the text group. But he said he didnt think the disclosures warranted a criminal investigation or a directive banning the use of the encrypted messaging app.

I dont know anything about Signal, he said. I wasnt involved in this, but I just heard about it, and I hear its used by a lot of groups  its used by the media, a lot. Its used by a lot of the military. And I think successfully, but sometimes somebody can get onto those things.

Mobile devices infected with spyware can allow hackers to read messages, even on Signal, according to James Lewis, senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. One of the secrets of espionage, Lewis added, is that people tend to be lazy and take shortcuts. Thats how you get them, he said.

People will tell you that Signal is safe to use, but if you are in the White House or DoD, you have better options, Lewis said.

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National security and intelligence officials are required to use secured, government-issued devices for communications involving classified information. Typically, those discussions involve only individuals with proper security clearances and take place in a sensitive compartmented information facility, or SCIF, which blocks any outside electronic or cellular interference to additionally monitor and control access.

The US government uses its own standalone systems for sharing sensitive information, especially involving potential military operations or other covert actions. Those platforms include SIPRNET, a network for sharing secrets between the State Department and the Defense Department.

If this was the case of a military officer or an intelligence officer and they had this kind of behavior, they would be fired, Warner said.

At the Defense Department, rules specifically bar sensitive information from social messaging platforms. Guidance released by the Pentagon in October 2023 stressed that those apps were NOT authorized to access, transmit, process non-public Defense Department information. This includes but is not limited to messaging, gaming, and social media apps. (i.e., iMessage, WhatsApp, Signal).

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The uproar has shined a light on Signal, a long time bastion for government dissidents and investigative journalists. The app, with fewer than 100 million active users, is a relatively small player in the messaging industry when compared to the likes of WhatsApp and its two billion users.

A representative for Signal didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Marlinspike, who stepped down as Signals chief executive officer in 2022, also didnt respond to an email seeking comment.

Part of Signals appeal is that it is run by a nonprofit, relying in part on contributions from users, and it has cast itself as an alternative to other messaging apps that collect data on users for advertising and profit. WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton invested $50 million in 2018 to create the nonprofit corporation Signal Technology Foundation along with Marlinspike. Other backers include Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, who has said he would give $1 million a year to keep the service running.

In a post Monday on X, Marlinspike quipped, There are so many great reasons to be on Signal. Now including the opportunity for the vice president of the United States to randomly add you to a group chat for coordination of sensitive military operations. Dont sleep on this opportunity.

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Trump on Tuesday sought to defend the officials involved and said the mishap was the only glitch in two months. He also expressed support for Waltz, who had apparently included Goldberg in the Signal chat, according to the Atlantic. Gabbard said the White House National Security Council was reviewing all aspects of the episode.

Republican Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, a Trump ally, called the blunder an embarrassment. He said he uses Signal for sensitive communications but not classified information.

I dont know if a head will roll or has to roll yet, but this has got to be the last time something this big and dumb happens, Cramer told reporters.

--With assistance from Steven T. Dennis and Natalia Drozdiak.

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(Updates with comments from President Trump starting in 10th paragraph.)

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WASHINGTON (AP)  The revelation that President Donald Trump's most senior national security officials posted the specifics of a military attack to a chat group that included a journalist hours before the attack took place in Yemen has raised many questions.

Among them are whether federal laws were violated, whether classified information was exposed on the commercial messaging app, and whether anyone will face consequences for the leaks.

Here's what we know so far, and what we don't know.

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___

KNOWN: Signal is a publicly available app that provides encrypted communications, but it can be hacked. It is not approved for carrying classified information. On March 14, one day before the strikes, the Defense Department cautioned personnel about the vulnerability of Signal, specifically that Russia was attempting to hack the app, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak to the press and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

One known vulnerability is that a malicious actor, if they have access to a person's phone, can link their own device to the user's Signal  and essentially monitor messages remotely in real time.

NOT KNOWN: How frequently the administration and the Defense Department use Signal for sensitive government communications, and whether those on the chat were using unauthorized personal devices to transmit or receive those messages. The department put out an instruction in 2023 restricting what information could be posted on unauthorized and unclassified systems.

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At a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing Tuesday, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard would not say whether she was accessing the information on her personal phone or government-issued phone, citing an ongoing investigation by the National Security Council.

___

KNOWN: The government has a requirement under the Presidential Records Act to archive all of those planning discussions.

NOT KNOWN: Whether anyone in the group archived the messages as required by law to a government server. The images of the text chain posted by The Atlantic show that the messages were set to disappear in one week.

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___

KNOWN: The chat group included 18 members, including Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. The group, called Houthi PC Small Group, likely for Houthi principals committee  was comprised of Trumps senior-most advisers on national security, including Gabbard, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The National Security Council said the text chain appears to be authentic.

NOT KNOWN: How Goldberg got added. Waltz said he built the message chain and didn't know how Goldberg ended up on the chat. He called it a mistake and said he took full responsibility.

___

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KNOWN: Just hours before the attack on the Houthis in Yemen began, Hegseth shared details on the timing, targets, weapons and sequence of strikes that would take place.

NOT KNOWN: Whether the information was classified. Gabbard, Ratcliffe and the White House have all said it was not classified, and Hegseth said the same in a post on X. Democrats said that strains credulity considering it contained detailed plans for an upcoming attack on Yemens Houthis. Gabbard said the decision on whether the Signal chain should be classified lay with Hegseth.

___

KNOWN: Hegseth has adamantly denied that war plans were texted on Signal, something that current and former U.S. officials called semantics. War plans carry a specific meaning. They often refer to the numbered and highly classified planning documents  sometimes thousands of pages long  that would inform U.S. decisions in case of a major conflict, such as if the United States is called to defend Taiwan.

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But the information Hegseth did post  specific attack details selecting human and weapons storage targets  was a subset of those plans and was likely informed by the same classified intelligence. Posting those details to an unclassified app risked tipping off adversaries of the pending attack and could have put U.S. service members at risk, multiple U.S. officials said.

Sharing that information on a commercial app like Signal in advance of a strike would be a violation of everything that were about, said former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who served under President Barack Obama.

NOT KNOWN: If anyone outside the messaging group got access to the Signal texts.

___

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KNOWN: Hegseth is cracking down on unauthorized leaks of information inside the Defense Department, and his chief of staff issued a memo on March 21 saying the Pentagon would use polygraph tests to determine the sources of recent leaks, and prosecute those found to have disclosed unauthorized information.

NOT KNOWN: Whether Hegseth will take responsibility for the unauthorized release of national defense information to a journalist regarding the attack plans on the Houthis. Trump on Wednesday bristled at a suggestion that Hegseth should step down: He's doing a great job. He had nothing to do with it.

___

KNOWN: The revelation of the group chat has troubled some military families, who are required to protect information about the whereabouts and assignments of spouses and loved ones. It also has exasperated some veterans.

NOT KNOWN: How the sharing of the attack plans on Signal may have affected the U.S. service members carrying out the airstrikes in the Middle East.
Colorado's legislative leaders will remove President Donald Trump's official portrait hanging on the third floor of the Presidential gallery at the state Capitol after the president complained that it was "distorted" and the "worst."

The portrait will be taken down after the building closes on Monday night and before it opens Tuesday, with the assistance of History Colorado staff, according to a Monday afternoon email from Legislative Council staff director Natalie Castle.

"We have asked History Colorado to store the portrait for us until further notice," Castle wrote to lawmakers in the notice.

It's not coming back to the Presidential Gallery, according to Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, who asked the Executive Committee of the Legislative Council on Sunday to remove and replace it.

Writing on Truth Social Sunday afternoon, Trump blasted the portrait as unflattering.

"Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, but the one in Colorado, in the State Capitol, put up by the Governor, along with all other Presidents, was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before," Trump wrote. "The artist also did President Obama, and he looks wonderful, but the one on me is truly the worst."

The president continued: "She must have lost her talent as she got older. In any event, I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one, but many people from Colorado have called and written to complain. In fact, they are actually angry about it! I am speaking on their behalf to the Radical Left Governor, Jared Polis, who is extremely weak on Crime, in particular with respect to Tren de Aragua, which practically took over Aurora (Dont worry, we saved it!), to take it down. Jared should be ashamed of himself!"

The governor has no authority over the Presidential Gallery and wasn't in office when the portrait was first commissioned in late 2018.

Taxpayers did not pay for the portrait. It was paid for by a crowdfunding campaign initiated by then-Senate President Kevin Grantham, R-Canon City. The campaign raised more than $10,000. The portrait was hung on Colorado Day, Aug. 1, 2019, more than five years ago.

The Executive Committee of the Legislative Council, a six-member group of the top leaders from both parties in the House and Senate, holds the authority over the Presidential Gallery.

The decision to remove the portrait appears to have been made outside the public eye on Sunday. The executive committee did not meet publicly to discuss the matter, and sources said there are no emails about it. None of the committee's recent meetings, the most recent on March 18, included any discussion of the portrait.

All six legislative leaders signed off on the request to remove the portrait.

Lundeen called it a "coincidence" that they discussed, via phone, the need to replace the portrait on Sunday.

He noted that the portrait of President Grover Cleveland, who served as both the 22nd and 24th president, was done during Cleveland's second term to better reflect how he appeared then, and that Trump should be accorded the same courtesy with a more current image.

"It makes sense to stay consistent," Lundeen said. "Who we're honoring with a portrait should have some say" in what represents them.

Lundeen said that, based on a change in policy after the last Trump portrait, the taxpayers will pay for the next one. The picture of former President Joe Biden was the first to be taxpayer-funded.

Who will do the portrait?

Lundeen said that's likely to be a decision between the executive committee and the Capital Building Advisory Committee, which has the authority to recognize that an image is consistent with other portraits. The advisory committee is a 12-member body with two lawmakers. The rest of the members include the Secretary of the Senate, the Chief Clerk of the House, former lawmakers, and other interested parties.

Its current chair is former state Sen. Lois Court, D-Denver.

"It doesn't surprise me that there's going to be a change made," Court told Colorado Politics.

As to who pays for it, given that it's a replacement portrait, Court said that's a discussion to be had.

"We have discussed that presidential portraits, regardless of who it is, should be a taxpayer-funded effort," Court said.

There's been no discussion of whether a new one would be taxpayer-funded if someone is dissatisfied with the portrait.

"We haven't experienced this kind of situation before, so we'll have to look at what comes next," Court said.
One day after the revelation of a shocking security breach from top Trump administration officials, the White House is digging in and hoping it can convince Americans to dismiss the unprecedented lapse as media-driven partisan squabbling even as Democrats are calling for resignations.

On Monday, The Atlantic reported that White House national security adviser Mike Waltz had inadvertently invited the magazines editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, into a Signal group chat bearing the name of Houthi PC small group on March 11, just days before Trump ordered airstrikes on the Iran-backed, Yemen-based militants  the first major military action of his second term.

The account detailed so-called war plans and the fact a journalist was let into the conversation raised alarms.

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On Capitol Hill, Democrats slammed what they saw as rank negligence from Trumps handpicked team, describing them as either unqualified or incompetent in their conduct as documented by Goldberg in a blockbuster story that dominated news broadcasts Monday evening and most of the day on Tuesday.

I think its clear that Secretary Hegseth is not ready for prime time, but he has the capacity to undermine the security of the United States, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a member on the Armed Services Committee, told The Independent.

President Donald Trump is standing by his national security adviser after he inadvertently added a reporter to a Signal chat in which top officials planned airstrikes on Houthi rebels (AFP via Getty Images)

In the Signal chat he created, Waltz told colleagues  including  Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, plus Trumps Middle East and Ukraine negotiator, Steve Witkoff, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller  that the group was being set up as a principles [sic] group for coordination on Houthis, particularly for over the next 72 hours.

According to the magazines top editor, thats exactly what it was used for, giving him a close look at how the Trump administrations top national security brass discussed the plans for the first major military action of the 47th presidents new term.

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National Security Council Spokesman Brian Hughes later confirmed the authenticity of the messages Goldberg had received, making it clear that what the veteran journalist had witnessed was a shocking breach of protocol that led to highly sensitive national defense information discussed on an application that has never been cleared for use in discussing classified matters.

Members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence got a chance to press two participants on the Signal chat  Gabbard and Ratcliffe  about their conduct during the panels annual Worldwide Threats hearing.

Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, somewhat puzzlingly refused to say where shed been included in the chat group under questioning from Virginia senator Mark Warner, the committees vice-chair. But Ratcliffe, who served as Director of National Intelligence during Trumps first term after defending him on the House Intelligence Committee during the first of the then-45th presidents two impeachments, freely admitted to having participated.

While Goldbergs account of the group chat in question included descriptions of intelligence and military matters so sensitive that he declined to spell them out in publication, Gabbard denied that any sensitive material had been discussed, telling the committee there were no classified or intelligence equities in the Signal group.

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Democrats on the panel were not impressed with either officials explanations.

I thought they were inconsistent, preposterous, difficult to believe as true, and in particular, the refusal to admit that this was a colossal mistake is mind blowing, Sen Jon Ossoff of Georgia told The Independent.

During the hearing Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, the vice chairman of the committee, called for their resignation.

The thing about the Intelligence Committee is that its always been bipartisan, Warner told The Independent, adding that the Intelligence Committee held Trump accountable during his first administration and I cannot believe that my Republican colleagues don't want to see this text chain as well.

Members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence got a chance to press two participants on the Signal chat  Gabbard and Ratcliffe  about their conduct during the panels annual Worldwide Threats hearing (EPA)

But the main question will be whether Republicans, who control both the House and the Senate, will use their oversight authority to investigate what would have been considered a staggering national security breach in any previous administration.

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One GOP member of the upper chamber, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, told The Independent he would like to see a probe happen.

I think that anytime you have something of this nature, some sort of a formal review, probably makes sense because what you don't want to do is repeat it, said Tillis, who only recently voted to confirm Gabbard and Hegseth despite expressing concerns about their lack of experience and qualifications. It doesn't look like, in this particular case, any damage was done, but it was clearly something that couldve compromised the mission.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker said that he and ranking Democrat Jack Reed will move forward on a bipartisan strategy.

I think we'll want to get an accurate transcript to make sure that there aren't any discrepancies between what was actually texted and what was reported in the story, he told The Independent.

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But at the White House, Trump and his team pushed back aggressively against the idea that anything had been done wrong by any of his top aides.

In a phone interview with NBC News Tuesday morning, Trump claimed that Waltz was a good man who had learned his lesson as a result of the bombshell reporting from The Atlantic.

He said the blunder had been committed by one of Michaels people whod added Goldberg to the group chat and called the error "the only glitch in two months that had turned out not to be a serious one."

Hours later during a media availability alongside a group of U.S. ambassadors-designate, Trump again defended Waltz as a very good man who would continue to do a good job in his role.

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He then pivoted to again denigrating The Atlantic and Goldberg, calling him a sleazebag and his publication a failed magazine.

Trump conceded that his administration would be looking into the use of Signal but he appeared to admit that everyone else in his orbit seems to be using it and suggested that the application may be OK to use because no one found out about the Houthi airstrikes in advance (EPA)

Trump conceded that his administration would be looking into the use of Signal but he appeared to admit that everyone else in his orbit seems to be using it and suggested that the application may be OK to use because no one found out about the Houthi airstrikes in advance  other than Goldberg, who did not report on them while observing the planning process.

Are people able to break into conversations? And if that's true, we're going to have to find some other form of device, and I think that's something that we may have to do but some people like Signal very much, he said.

Waltz said the White House has technical experts and our legal team looking into the top officials use of Signal because the administration is going to keep everything as secure as possible and, like Trump, pivoted to denigrating the press by accusing journalists of wanting to talk about everything else, except for the hostages you're getting out of the Middle East, Iran on its back foot, sea lanes getting reopened [and] peace in Europe.

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The national security advisors belligerent response echoed the official line taken by Trumps team in the hours after the Senate hearing.

A press release put out by the White House communications team accused Democrats and their media allies of having seemingly forgotten that President Donald J. Trump and his National Security team successfully killed terrorists who have targeted U.S. troops and disrupted the most consequential shipping routes in the world and called reporting on the burgeoning national security scandal a coordinated effort to distract from the successful actions taken by President Trump and his administration to make Americas enemies pay and keep Americans safe.

Trumps communications director, Steven Cheung, went further in demanding that the massive blunder be immediately forgotten by describing it in a series of posts on X as a hoax  a term frequently used by the president and his allies to describe facts, circumstances and reporting that reflect badly on him and his administration.

He called The Atlantic reporting  a story that was verified by the National Security Council as accurate  nothing more than a section of the NatSec establishment community running the same, tired gameplay from years past.

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From the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax of the first term to the fake documents case of the last four years at every turn anti-Trump forces have tried to weaponize innocuous actions and turn them into faux outrage that Fake News outlets can use to peddle misinformation, he wrote.

Cheung later added: "Russia, Russia, Russia" hoax led to a witch hunt. Documents hoax led to a witch hunt. Signal hoax outrage... a witch hunt.
The revelation that top Trump Administration officials used an encrypted messaging app to discuss sensitive military operations set off an escalating battle in the Capitol on Tuesday, as lawmakers suggested significant national security protocols may have been breached and pushed for further investigation.

Lawmakers from both parties are now calling for the full exchange to be released after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe testified on Tuesday that no classified information was shared in the Signal group chat, which had mistakenly included a journalist.

The Signal chat, which reportedly included Vice President J.D. Vance, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, has raised concerns that the Trump Administration is not taking the security of sensitive national security deliberations seriously enough. The chat came to public attention after The Atlantics editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, revealed on Monday that he had been accidentally included in the discussion. In his article, Goldberg quoted discussions in the chat about an active military operation, but omitted information he described as relating to weapons packages, strike timing, and target details for an active military operationthe March 15 U.S. air assault on Yemens Houthi militants.

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Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, tells TIME that Goldberg should release the messages in their entirety in light of what Trump officials testified to at Tuesdays hearing. Yes, especially since they said theres nothing classified, which is absurd on its face, because you have disputes between senior policy leaders about a potential military attack, Warner says. The CIA would give an arm and a leg to get that on China and Russia Trump officials are saying Theres no problem here. Well, lets see.

The White House has downplayed the controversy, with President Trump himself claiming there was no classified information shared on the Signal chain.

Republican lawmakers have largely aligned with the Administrations stance, viewing the concerns as politically motivated attacks. Still, some Republicans expressed unease after Tuesdays hearing, and said they hoped to see more information. Well, I think we need to find out what the facts are, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, tells TIME. The Intel committee will look and see if it meets the definition of classified information. Pressed on whether resignations should be expected if the messages did meet the definition of classified information, he hedged: I dont know. Well find out.

Read More: As Democrats Call for Resignations, Republicans React More Tepidly to Leaked Trump Officials War Plans Group Chat

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Others were even more reluctant to discuss anyone involved in the chat facing any consequences. Sen. Tom Cotton, Republican of Arkansas and chair of the Senate Intelligence panel, refused to comment when asked by TIME if National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should be fired if classified material was sent over the unsecured platforma possible violation of federal law. Sen. James Lankford, Republican of Oklahoma who is on the Intelligence Committee, outright rejected the idea of calling for resignations even if the messages contained classified information. No, I would say, first off, way ahead of knowing what was actually there, Lankford told TIME on Tuesday. Second, this is an internal conversation among the White House team, and many of those folks are people that work directly for the President at his pleasure. So they don't work for me. They work for the President.

Lankford also dismissed calls for Goldberg to publish the full text of the messages, saying, No, I think that he should use his best judgment on that. Asked whether releasing the messages would help with fact-finding, he responded, I have no idea, honestly, because internal conversations are internal conversations.

During Tuesdays hearing, Gabbard and Ratcliffe repeatedly insisted that the group chat did not contain classified information. But under scrutiny from Democratic Senators, their answers became increasingly nuanced. While Gabbard initially deflected about her participation in the chain, she later said that no information under the direct purview of the intelligence community was discussed. Ratcliffe also attempted to shift responsibility, arguing that it was up to the Department of Defense to determine classification standards and that Signal is a permissible work-use application for the CIA.

Read More: Top Trump Officials Defend Signal Chat in Testimony to Congress

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Signal is often recommended for use by privacy advocates because of its encrypted messaging, but it is generally not considered secure enough for national security issues. Goldberg reported that some of the messages in the Signal group were set to disappear after one week, and some after four.

Democrats found the responses from Trump officials unsatisfactory. Sen. Angus King, independent of Maine, pressed Gabbard on what would have happened if details about military targets and strike sequencing had been made public the morning before the attack in Yemen took place. She declined to answer directly, saying she would defer to the National Security Council and the Pentagon on whether targeting information should have been classified. Youre the head of the intelligence community, King said. Youre supposed to know about classifications.

The broader political implications of the controversy are also coming into focus. For years, Republicans have fiercely criticized past administrations for alleged mishandling of classified materials. I would imagine if you looked at what those Senators had to say about Hillary's emails, youd see a pretty striking contrast, Sen. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, told TIME, referring to the years of unrelenting attacks from Republicans over former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons use of a private server while in the Obama Administration.

Despite these calls for accountability, Republican leaders have shown little appetite for aggressive oversight. Not one Republican Senator on the Intelligence Committee asked Gabbard or Ratcliffe about the chat scandal during Tuesdays open hearing. Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker, a Republican of Mississippi, confirmed to CNN that his committee would look into the matter but provided little details.

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If we can't unite around national security, if we can't unite about this kind of careless behavior Warner told TIME, I think there will be concerns [from Republicans] but theyve got to be moved from private concerns to public concerns.

Goldberg remains at the center of the storm, as Warner and other Democrats call on him to release more of the conversation he was inadvertently let in on. Doing so could provide clarity on whether the chat was the reckless breach of national security protocols critics argue it was. At the Senate hearing on Tuesday, FBI Director Kash Patel refused to say that Goldberg would not be held legally liable if he decided to publish the full messages. I'm not going to prejudge the situation, and that legal call is ultimately for the Department of Justice, he said.

Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com.
By James Pearson

LONDON (Reuters) -The president of Signal defended the messaging app's security on Wednesday after top Trump administration officials mistakenly included a journalist in an encrypted chatroom they used to discuss looming U.S. military action against Yemen's Houthis.

Signal's Meredith Whittaker did not directly address the blunder, which Democratic lawmakers have said was a breach of U.S. national security. But she described the app as the "gold standard in private comms" in a post on X, which outlined Signal's security advantages over Meta's WhatsApp messaging app.

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"Were open source, nonprofit, and we develop and apply (end-to-end encryption) and privacy-preserving tech across our system to protect metadata and message contents," she said.

Signal has been growing in popularity in Europe and the United States as an alternative to WhatsApp because it collects very little data about its users.

According to data from Sensor Tower, a market intelligence firm, U.S. downloads of Signal in the first three months of 2025 were up 16% compared to the prior quarter, and 25% compared to the same period in 2024.

In a February interview with De Telegraaf, a Dutch newspaper, Whittaker said Signal was a safer alternative because WhatsApp collects metadata which can be used to see who messages whom, and how often.

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"When compelled, like all companies that collect the data to begin with, they turn this important, revealing data over," Whittaker said in her post on X.

In a statement, a WhatsApp spokesperson said it relies on metadata to prevent spam and "keep the service safe from abuse".

"We do not keep logs of who everyone is messaging or calling and do not track the personal messages people are sending one another for ads," the statement said.

(Reporting by James Pearson; additional reporting by Katie Paul in New York; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance and other top officials shared detailed secret plans for a U.S. strike on Iran-backed militants in Yemen in a group chat that accidentally included a magazine editor.

The inadvertent leak raises questions about the potential mishandling of national security information and the use of the publicly available encrypted Signal messaging app by government officials.

While the information revealed in The Atlantic story was an inadvertent leak, Signal is widely considered one of the most secure ways to send messages for general public use. The apps encryptions mean that third parties cannot intercept messages and calls, protecting it from hacks.

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Oklahomans may recognize the app as it was at the center of discussion in 2023 when it was revealed some departments of the state government used the app to communicate. The app allows conversations, data and records to be quickly deleted, which critics said could hamper efforts to obtain public records.

Heres what to know about Signal and it's use by government officials in the US and Oklahoma:

What is Signal?

Signal is a messaging app with end-to-end encryption, meaning third parties cannot intercept messages and calls made through the app. While the app prevents hackers from accessing messages, a 2023 NDSS Symposium study found that hackers can determine a Signal users location.

While the app is respected for public and personal use, it is not approved by government officials to send confidential and classified information.

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The app launched in July 2014 and has amassed 70 million active users in 2024, most of whom switched from WhatsApp.

Is Signal safe?

The app boasts that it is very safe for public users. The website says the app is designed to never collect or store any sensitive information. They do this by their encryption tactics in place; it is not an optional part of the app.

A woman holds a smartphone displaying the Signal messaging app logo, which is also seen near her, in this illustration taken January 13, 2021.

Who owns Signal?

Signal is owned by the Signal Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The organization has a board of five individuals, with co-founder Moxie Marlinspike as a member emeritus after leaving in 2022. Co-founder Brian Acton remains a board member. Acton was a co-founder of WhatsApp and worked over 25 years at tech companies like Apple, Yahoo and Adobe.

Do Oklahoma officials use Signal?

In 2023, staff in two departments of the Oklahoma state government told The Oklahoman they'd used the app.

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At the time, it was noted that Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt does not use the app to communicate governmental business, but that other state employees may have it for personal use. In 2025, this appears to still be the case.

The Governor does not use Signal. Our staff does not use it for any work-related purposes. I cant speak for individual use, Abegail Cave, a spokesperson for Stitts office, said in a statement on Tuesday morning.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: What is Signal? What to know about message app, Oklahoma usage
Signal is viewed as one of the most secure messaging apps available to the public, but both experts and lawmakers are sharing their concerns about its use by top Trump administration officials.

Several cabinet secretaries, CIA director John Ratcliffe, and the national security advisor Mike Waltz were discussing their plans to strike Yemen in a group chat on the app and accidentally added a journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic, to the conversation. Goldberg revealed in a first-hand account on Monday that precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing was included in the chat.

The Atlantics editor-in-chief said the use of the app displayed shocking recklessness.

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Miguel Fornes, a cybersecurity expert at the cybersecurity company Surfshark, argued that the incident is a wake-up call for any organisation handling sensitive information.

Protocols of handling critical information exist to prevent such breaches, Fornes said in a statement shared with The Independent. Most companies and government agencies have reliable security policies designed to manage sensitive documents and ensure secure communication among involved parties.

Typically, only approved devices within an authorized network are permitted to perform actions such as viewing documents, joining a chat, or, in this case, even being invited to a chat, he added. All information across a company must be disclosed following principles of least privilege and need to know. This restricts permissions, minimizes access, and limits the exposure of sensitive information to only those who absolutely require it.

Fornes argued that Signal offers encrypted messaging, but it does not provide the same level of security as government telecommunications systems.

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If a journalist is accidentally added to such a private chat, imagine how spies or malicious actors can bypass this to exploit the vulnerability, potentially accessing sensitive information and compromising national security, said Fornes. This incident exemplifies a full-fledged case of a data leak of top-secret information.

Signal recently increased in popularity in Washington, following the revelation of a large-scale breach connected to the Chinese government of telecommunications networks (REUTERS)

Security and privacy expert Mikko Hypponen told The Independent in an email that Signal is considered to be the most secure of the consumer chat applications. The main developer is highly trusted, and the software source code is open and available for review. I use Signal every day myself. People use it just like any other chat apps, for the same purposes.

While Signal is designed for security, it is not meant to be used for sharing classified information among government officials. It's not supposed to be used for war planning, he added. Governments have built secure facilities and devices for that purpose. For example, somebody could steal an unlocked iPhone from you, and read everything posted on the Signal chat on that device. Government-grade spyware like PEGASUS can be used to gain access to key people's phones, and read everything on them. They broke the rules, as simple as that.

Mark Montgomery, the senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, agreed, telling Politico, I guess Signal is a few steps above leaving a copy of your war plan at the Chinese Embassy  but its far below the standards required for discussing any elements of a war plan.

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Signal has increased in popularity in Washington following the revelation of a large-scale breach connected to the Chinese government of U.S. telecommunications networks, allowing hackers to get hold of American cell phone records and to spy on the conversations of top politicians, such as President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

U.S. officials have said that Americans should use apps like Signal as an extra layer of security. The app has significant privacy features and collects minimal amounts of data, in addition to having default settings of encrypting all messages and calls. The app also deletes all messages from a conversation within a certain time frame. However, experts say that it shouldnt be used by government officials instead of internal government systems.

A former White House official told Politico that the use of Signal to discuss war plans was unbelievable.

These guys all have traveling security details to set up secure comms for them, wherever they are, the official added, noting that those taking part in the group chat were likely using their personal devices, as most often, Signal cannot be downloaded to government devices.

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Their personal phones are all hackable, and its highly likely that foreign intelligence services are sitting on their phones watching them type the s*** out, the former White House official told Politico.

Forget Signal, just do it over a dating app, you might as well, that would be just as secure as what youre doing, they added.

Former National Security Agency official Jacob Williams noted when speaking to Politico that Signal can be linked to a desktop application, meaning that the apps data is being delivered to potentially multiple desktop and laptop computers, where it isnt being stored in a phones secure enclave. That data is then at risk from commodity malware on the system.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabba and CIA Director John Ratcliffe faces several questions about the leak on Tuesday. (Getty Images)

During a hearing on Tuesday with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who were both reportedly part of the group chat outlined by Goldberg, Virginia Democratic Senator Mark Warner said, "If this was the case of a military officer or an intelligence officer and they had this kind of behavior, they would be fired."

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This is one more example of the kind of sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior, particularly toward classified information, added Warner.

Oregon Democratic Senator Ron Wyden argued: Im of the view that there ought to be resignations, starting with the national security advisor and the secretary of defense.

Ratcliffe attempted to place the blame on the Biden administration during the hearing, saying that it was permissible to use Signal in a work environment and that such a practice preceded the Trump administration.

It is permissible to use to communicate and coordinate for work purposes, providedthat any decisions that are made are also recorded through formal channels, said Ratcliffe.

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Gabbard, meanwhile, claimed that there was no classified material that was shared in that Signal chat, despite reporting by Goldberg that the chat included war plans and the name of an active CIA agent.

The Independent has contacted Signal for comment.
Signal's founder, Moxie Marlinspike, poked fun at the military group-chat leak in a post on X.

He used the incident as an opportunity to ironically promote the platform.

US officials, however, have expressed alarm over the security breach.

A major security leak involving the secure messaging platform Signal sparked widespread alarm throughout the country  but the platform's founder didn't appear very concerned.

In a post on X on Monday afternoon, Moxie Marlinspike, whose real name is Matthew Rosenfeld, poked fun at the group message leak and used it to ironically promote the "many great reasons to be on Signal."

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"Now including the opportunity for the vice president of the United States of America to randomly add you to a group chat for coordination of sensitive military operations," the founder of the platform and its former CEO wrote in the post.

There are so many great reasons to be on Signal.



Now including the opportunity for the vice president of the United States of America to randomly add you to a group chat for coordination of sensitive military operations.



Dont sleep on this opportunity  Moxie Marlinspike (@moxie) March 24, 2025

Marlinspike was referring to Monday's news that The Atlantic's editor in chief was accidentally added to a Signal group chat called "Houthi PC small group."

"PC" referred to the principal committee, and the chat was primarily made up of senior US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard , and Secretary of State Marco Rubio .

The chat's participants were discussing forthcoming strikes on Yemen's Houthi rebels , Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic's editor in chief, revealed in an article.

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Marlinspike's reaction is in sharp contrast to that of that of Democratic and Republican officials, many of whom expressed alarm at the security leak.

Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas told reporters the incident "sounds like a huge screwup" and that "somebody dropped the ball." Republican Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho said Tuesday there will be an investigation into the incident, The Hill reported.

Marlinspike wasn't the only social media user to poke fun at the snafu. However, comments on his post were mixed, with some blaming the officials who made the mistake and others saying that the platform should improve its security.

On Tuesday, Signal wrote in an X post that there has been "misinfo flying around that might drive people away from Signal and private communications."

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Signal cited a Tuesday report from NPR in its post. In its report, NPR said it obtained a Pentagon email from March 18, warning employees about a potential Signal vulnerability.

"The memo used the term 'vulnerability' in relation to Signalbut it had nothing to do with Signal's core tech. It was warning against phishing scams targeting Signal users," Signal wrote on X.

Right now there are a lot of new eyes on Signal, and not all of them are familiar with secure messaging and its nuances. Which means theres misinfo flying around that might drive people away from Signal and private communications.



One piece of misinfo we need to address is the  Signal (@signalapp) March 25, 2025

"Phishing isn't new, and it's not a flaw in our encryption or any of Signal's underlying technology. Phishing attacks are a constant threat for popular apps and websites," the company continued.

Signal is a nonprofit, open-sourced, end-to-end encrypted messaging platform that has emerged as one of the most popular messaging apps over the last few years. Only recipients can see messages, so it's commonly used by journalists, government officials, and tech giants.

Signal and Marlinspike did not respond to requests for comment from BI.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A significant force of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers looks to be currently wending its way to the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia. Satellite imagery shows at least three C-17 cargo planes and 10 aerial refueling tankers forward-deployed in the last 48 hours to the highly strategic British territory, which has been used as a staging point for U.S. strikes in the Middle East on multiple occasions in the past. The build-up comes amid a new surge in U.S. strikes targeting the Houthis and growing warnings to Iran from the Trump administration over support for the Yemeni militants and Tehrans nuclear ambitions.

The crews of two B-2 bombers, callsigns Pitch 11 and Pitch 14, could be heard communicating with air traffic controllers in Australia earlier today in publicly available audio. The crew of Pitch 11 confirms the presence of a third bomber, as well. The trio of bombers appears to have refueled in flight over Australia while heading westward.

PITCH11 flt (B-2 Stealth) & PITCH14 wkg BRISBANE CENTRE westbound over Northern Australia this morning after refueling with BUZZ31 flt & BUZZ34 flt (KC-135)  



Audio via @liveatc and tracking via @flightradar24pic.twitter.com/05FT0PmXR5  Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) March 25, 2025

A fourth B-2, callsign Pitch 13, landed at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii yesterday after declaring an emergency in flight. Video subsequently emerged showing that aircraft being met on the ground by a crash truck, but the nature of the emergency remains unknown.

Reverse Ops on YT posted a video of PITCH13 landing in Honolulu with Airport fire rescue following them. https://t.co/WdWpmgXEu8 pic.twitter.com/BnexWjVZuK  Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) March 25, 2025

Additional air traffic control recordings indicate that additional B-2s, using the callsign Abba, departed Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri earlier today also bound for Diego Garcia. The Air Forces entire force of 20 B-2 bombers is based at Whiteman.

Correction I believe its a flight of x2.

Requested the Block FL270-FL280 For Cross.  Andy (@Andyyyyrrrr) March 25, 2025

Several U.S. Air Force KC-135R Aerial-Refueling Tankers departed earlier from RAAF Base Amberley in Eastern Australia and are now circling over Queensland, likely either currently or preparing to refuel the pair of B-2 Spirit Long-Range Strategic Stealth Bombers from Whiteman pic.twitter.com/RbjVVFh14c  OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 25, 2025

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A B-2 Spirit bomber arrived at Hickam Air Force Base, Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) told TWZ today in response to questions about the in-flight emergency and recent B-2 movements in the Indo-Pacific region more broadly.

U.S. Strategic Command, its components, and subordinate units routinely conduct global operations in coordination with other combatant commands, services, and participating U.S. government agencies to deter, detect and, if necessary, defeat strategic attacks against the United States and its allies, AFGSC added. To preserve operational security, we do not discuss details about exercises or operations.

A satellite image taken in 2020 offering a general look at the airfield on Diego Garcia. Google Earth

Major movements of C-17s and tankers to the Indian Ocean island, as well as to Hickam in Hawaii and Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, look to have started last week, according to online flight tracking data and information from the international Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS).

All of these flights are carrying a RCH0## call signs in sequential order from RCH011-RCH033. Mission coding appears to be linked as well.



This is far too many tankers to be supporting SecDef's trip that begins on Monday, however the timing is curious.



Maybe SecDef will have  TheIntelFrog (@TheIntelFrog) March 23, 2025

Significant movement of C-17s into Diego Garcia over the last 2 days:

3/23

AE4F14 as RCH258

AE1238 as RCH851

3/24

AE146C as RCH837

AE0805 as RCH287

AE1177 as RCH894

3/25

AE146B as RCH891

AE4D66 as RCH839



ACARS suggests that these flights are linked on the same mission.



4/ pic.twitter.com/v8VJ66Z4LM  TheIntelFrog (@TheIntelFrog) March 25, 2025

Lot of C-17s Cargo planes flowing into Diego Garcia in the last days. (Transponders switched off after leaving Al Udeid)



Something is cooking https://t.co/gAqUgTLKJz pic.twitter.com/c1uIDLWmxe  MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) March 25, 2025

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Separately, Politico reported last week that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had extended the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Trumans current Middle Eastern deployment and directed another carrier strike group, led by the USS Carl Vinson, to join it in the region. Online flight tracking data and air traffic control recordings have pointed to a recent deployment of Air Force F-35A Joint Strike Fighters to the Middle East, as well.

The GOLD Refuelers group has confirmed that they are towing a pair of F-35 fighters (at least 4 from Hill Air Base) over Sicily and heading towards Israel.



After confirming with air traffic control, they disappeared from radar.



Further deployments to the Middle East continue. pic.twitter.com/FU5DltGFHF  Alex Kennedy (@AlexkennedyIran) March 21, 2025

Overall, what has been observed so far with regard to Diego Garcia represents a force package that is significantly larger than what has typically been associated with routine Bomber Task Force deployments globally, as well as exercises, in recent years.

A deployment of just four B-2s, representing 20 percent of the Air Forces total fleet of the stealth bombers, to Australia in 2022 was seen as sending a significant signal to China and other potential adversaries, as well as to Americas allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific region. Two years earlier, six B-52s went to Diego Garcia in another show of force in the wake of the U.S. military killing Qasem Soleimani, then head of the Quds Force external operations arm of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in neighboring Iraq.

The Indian Ocean island was notably used as a primary launchpad for bomber strikes in the opening phases of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2001 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in that country in 2003. Bombers continued to fly combat missions from the Indian Ocean base for some time afterward.

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It is very important to note here that Diego Garcia, unlike bases in the Middle East or aircraft carriers operating in the region, is largely out of the reach of the missiles and drones available now to either the Houthis or Iran. Irans current longest-range ballistic missiles are generally assessed to have maximum ranges around 1,242 miles (2,000 kilometers). At its shortest, the distance between the Indian Ocean island and Iran is some 2,358 miles (3,795 kilometers).

Diego Garcias general location relative to various potential hotspots only adds to its strategic significance. The islands lagoon is also used to host a U.S. Military Sealift Command Prepositioning Ship Squadron full of military vehicles, ammunition, and other materiel for rapid deployment in the event of any of a host of contingencies.

A B-2 lands at Diego Garcia during a past deployment in 2016. USAF

Staging more than four B-2s at Diego Garcia now would be at least another major show of force aimed squarely at the Middle East. The bombers present a unique mix of capabilities, particularly their ability to penetrate past dense enemy air defenses to carry out bunker buster strikes employing 30,000-pound class GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs. MOP, which only the B-2 is currently certified to employ operationally, itself offers a unique conventional option for striking deeply buried and fortified targets, of which there are many in Iran.

B-2 bombers were also used just last October for strikes against the Houthis in Yemen, which also sent a clear message to the groups benefactors in Tehran, as TWZ highlighted at the time. The Houthis have been waging a campaign against commercial shipping in and around the Red Sea, as well as targeting foreign military forces in the region and launching attacks on Israel, for more than a year now. This has been ostensibly in retaliation for Israeli operations in Gaza following the brazen Hamas terrorist attacks on Oct. 7, 2023.

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The Biden Administration sat back as a band of pirates  with precision-guided, Iran-provided weaponry  exacted a toll system in one of the most important shipping lanes in the world, President Donald Trumps White House declared in a statement just today. The Trump Administrations actions to hold the Houthis accountable has been a massive success  and nothing can distract from that unrelenting action to keep Americans safe.

This follows widespread outcry over The Atlantics now confirmed disclosure that its editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was apparently inadvertently included in a group chat on Signal, an encrypted messaging app, in which top members of the Trump administration discussed imminent strikes on the Houthis earlier this month.

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, Trump had also written in a post on his Truth Social social media network back on March 17. Theyre [Iran] dictating every move, giving them the weapons, supplying them with money and highly sophisticated Military equipment, and even, so-called, Intelligence. 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!

Breaking | Trump threatens Iran: "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!" pic.twitter.com/EUt9KnhuG6  Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) March 17, 2025

Freedom of navigation is basic; its a core national interest, Hegseth said on March 15. The minute the Houthis say, Well stop shooting at your ships [and] well stop shooting at your drones, this campaign will end but, until then, it will be unrelenting.

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The message is clear to Iran, Hegseth added at that time. Your support of the Houthis needs to end immediately. We will hold you accountable as the sponsor of this proxy, and I echo [the presidents] statement [that] we will not be nice about it.

Irans support for the Houthis is substantial and indisputable, but experts disagree on the extent to which Tehran can directly dictate the groups activities. The U.S. government also assesses that Yemeni militants have, with Irans help, been able to establish a significant capacity to produce ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as long-range kamikaze drones domestically, as you can read more about here.

We do think that they do a lot of production in-house, a senior U.S. defense official told TWZ during a media engagement on the sidelines of the Air & Space Forces Associations 2025 Air Warfare Symposium earlier this month. Our assessment right now is that theres likely some key components and other things that come from Iran or other places, but a lot of the actual production is in Yemen.

Houthi short-range ballistic missiles on parade. MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP via Getty Images

Since taking office in January, Trump has also said he is pursuing a new deal with Iran over its nuclear ambitions, as well as its long missile programs, despite withdrawing from a previous agreement with Tehran in his first administration. Axois reported last week that a letter the President recently sent to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei via the United Arab Emirates included a two-month deadline for coming to a new arrangement, which could come up as soon as the first week of May. The new Trump administration has otherwise implied threats of potential military action if Iran doesnt agree to give up its ability to produce nuclear weapons, as well.

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We dont need to solve everything militarily, Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, told Fox News this weekend. Our signal to Iran is lets sit down and see if we can, through dialogue, through diplomacy, get to the right place. If we can, we are prepared to do that. And if we cant, the alternative is not a great alternative.

Iran has to give up its program in a way that the entire world can see, Mike Waltz, Trumps National Security Advisor, said during a separate interview on CBS News Face the Nation this weekend. It is time for Iran to walk away completely from its desire to have a nuclear weapon, and they will not and cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapons program. That is its weaponization and its strategic missiles program.

The Wall Street Journal reported in December that Trumps transition team was already reviewing options for possible strikes and other actions targeting Irans nuclear program. In its latest unclassified global threat assessment report released today, the U.S. Intelligence Community reiterates its long-standing view that Iran does not have an active nuclear weapons program, but warns pressure is growing on Supreme Leader Khamenei to change course.

All this being said, there are no clear indications as yet that the Trump administration is actively considering imminent direct action against Iran. Even with the regime in Tehran and its regional proxies at their weakest points in decades after various actions by the Israeli government in the past year or so, there is the potential for serious blowback from any U.S. strikes on Iranian targets.

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In the meantime, what is at least a major show of force that looks set to include a significant portion of the Air Forces B-2 fleet, along with various supporting assets, is taking shape on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

Update: 3/26/2025 

Satellite imagery from Planet Labs now confirms that at least three B-2s have arrived at Diego Garcia. Also visible in the image in question, which was taken earlier today, are seven KC-135 tankers, a C-17 cargo plane, and what may be a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. Whether or not more of the bombers are parked inside shelters is unknown. This also provides another data point in the ongoing debate about whether or not the U.S. military should be investing in more aircraft shelters, hardened and not, at key air bases, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, something TWZ has been covering closely.

Diego Garcia, March 25 2025. 3 (or possibly 7) B-2 Bombers & 9 KC-135. Hardened shelters are essential for the security of US MIL assets. Strategic power display can work to deter enemies, but we must have adequate shelters, especially hardened shelters at Diego, Kadena, pic.twitter.com/TccJxVXq2r  IPWC (@IndoPacWatch) March 26, 2025

Two new Notice to Air Mission (NOTAM) warning notices are also in place for Diego Garcia, one reflecting the reserving of certain parking spots (which is currently scheduled to be in effect until May 1) and another temporarily closing a number of taxiways (which is presently set to be in place through April 27). The closure of the taxiways may be linked to the large number of aircraft now parked on the main apron.

Aircraft in the past have been parked infront of these taxiways, so this closure could indicate that the aircraft have been moved up to these spots. The short timeline also could indicate a movement of these aircraft within the next 42 hours. pic.twitter.com/P5X9VZipw6  TieDye Intel (@TieDyeIntel) March 26, 2025

Earlier today, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino posted an old video of a B-2 bomber in flight on his personal account on X (but also shared it through his official account on the social media network) with no clear context. Whether or not this is related in any way to the current flow of airpower to Diego Garcia is unknown.

B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber  pic.twitter.com/cw5SRsNSAQ  Dan Scavino Jr.   (@DanScavino) March 26, 2025

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)The Louisiana State Police canceled a Silver Alert regarding a missing elderly man.

Louisiana State Police confirmed the man is home and safe.

Anyone with information about any missing person should contact the Shreveport Police Department at 318-673-7300 or Caddo Parish Crime Stoppers at 318-673-7373.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
Jon Brady has been named news director of Sinclair-owned Washington, D.C. ABC affiliate WJLA-7News and WJLA-24/7 News.

This is a move from within Sinclair for Brady, who was the news director of its West Palm Beach station, WPEC. He officially starts on Monday, April 21.

"We are excited to have Jon lead our talented news team with his extensive broadcasting expertise to help grow our broadcasting, social and digital platforms. He will be an excellent asset to our newsroom to deliver high-quality, informative, and engaging news for our viewers and followers," said WJLA 7News vice president and general manager, Todd Bernstein.

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Brady has decades of broadcast managing experience in multiple markets including Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle and Miami. He began his broadcast career at Fox News Service and WTTG in D.C.

"I went to school in D.C. and started my news career here. WJLA is one of the great news operations in one of the best news towns in the world. I can't wait to get back, roll up my sleeves and get to work alongside this brilliant and dedicated team to hold our elected and appointed leaders accountable, solve problems and get answers to the questions that mean something to the people and families in the communities we serve across the DMV," Brady said.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Members of Sioux Citys city council heard from the public on Monday about the proposed property tax levy for next fiscal year.

City documents indicate that the total proposed property tax levy would be more than $62 million. The tax rate is projected to be more than $17, with an increase of more than 20 percent over the fiscal year.

Siouxland school unsure what comes next if Department of Education shuts down

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Our taxes are out of control, they are a top 10 tax levy in the country, concerned citizen Paul Koskovich said. I mean, I saw it. Top 10 cities and were like number six. Thats insane. I just dont know why we continue to raise the taxes. Why are we not looking to lean up our government here, trim the fat?

Council members said they hear and understand the frustration from citizens about the proposed property tax levy.

I know I as a council member share your frustration, especially with the increase and the fact that we had to pass this along. Because lets be clear at the elimination of the backfill, which you referenced, as well as Senate file 718. If it werent for those two bills that passed through the legislature our tax asking would have actually went down this year, said Alex Watters, Sioux City City Council member.

City council members say this is the highest the tax levy may go up, but they anticipate the levy to be lower than whats been predicted.

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A public hearing on the budget is set for April 14 at 4 p.m. in the council chambers at Sioux City City Hall.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Siouxland Freedom Park volunteers will host a free dinner Saturday in honor of National Vietnam War Veterans Day. This marks the eighth year the organization has hosted the event.

The dinner will take place March 29 at the Scottish Rite of Sioux City, located at 801 Douglas Street. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with dinner served at 6:00. The meal will be catered by Hy-Vee.

Hawarden nonprofit created to help rebuild community after flooding

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The event aims to recognize and celebrate Vietnam War veterans, as well as all veterans and active servicemembers. However, organizers say it is open to all community members who wish to share in an evening of gratitude and remembrance.

Non-military attendees are encouraged to make a free will donation to support the Freedom Parks mission of honoring and supporting local veterans.

National Vietnam War Veterans Day is observed each year on March 29, in honor of the nine million Americans who served during the Vietnam War era. It was officially designated as a national observance in 2017 by President Donald Trump. The date marks the anniversary of the final withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Vietnam in 1973.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
BRONSON, Iowa (KCAU)  Last Thursday, President Trump signed an executive action to start the process of closing down the Department of Education. The move has one school asking: what comes after that?

You know, we had heard rumors that President Trump was going to do something like this, Lawton-Bronson Community School District superintendent Chad Shook said. Ive yet to see any type of concrete plan as to how this is going to happen.

Holocaust Rails prepares for reopening after June floods

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One of the main purposes of the Department of Education is to fund and distribute money for schools. Shook says hes a little nervous about the whole ordeal.

I do wonder who will distribute the funds, he said. Right now, there are a number of standards that we need to meet because of the [Elementary and Secondary Education Act], and I dont know how that will be governed. Does it just go away? Is the state of Iowa still going to have to submit a plan? What will the minimum standards be for student achievement?

According to Shook, the federal funding his district receives makes up roughly one percent of their general fund, but they use that funding for a crucial resource.

It does pay for our Title I reading teacher. That is the biggest impact on our budget should that funding go away, he said. For our struggling reading students, its huge. I mean, that is the catalyst that gets them back to reading on grade level.

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The Trump administration has discussed little of its plans regarding the Department of Education, but has suggested that states should take over administering education policy and that other parts of the federal government could absorb agency responsibilities. However, nothing is set in stone.

29th Street to be closed until Fall 2025 for reconstruction

Shutting down of the Department of Education is kind of a wait and see, Shook said. Did I see it coming? No. Am I super comfortable with the idea? No. But I do think that its my job to wait and see how it is going to affect us and see what the final plan is before I start passing huge judgment.

While the executive action was signed, actually closing down the department would require 60 yes votes from the U.S. Senate.

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U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a former intelligence officer and acting assistant Defense Department secretary, roundly criticized top Trump administration officials for sharing classified military information on a publicly available messaging service, saying it could have been seen by America's enemies and resulted in U.S. fatalities.

"I've worked at the White House for both Democrat and Republican Presidents and I've never seen this kind of mishandling of classified info," Slotkin, a Democrat, wrote Monday night on social media platform X. It came in response to The Atlantic magazine's report that its editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently included in a group chat on encrypted messaging app Signal that included National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and saw Hegseth share operational information prior to a U.S. attack on the Houthis in Yemen on March 15.

More: Trump officials used Signal to discuss attacks. What is the app, how does it work

I've worked at the White House for both Democrat and Republican Presidents and I've never seen this kind of mishandling of classified info. It's sloppy at best and puts the military involved in these sensitive operations at risk.



Let me explain why. https://t.co/NFTVbIINO7  Sen. Elissa Slotkin (@SenatorSlotkin) March 25, 2025

"It's sloppy at best and puts the military involved in these sensitive operations at risk," continued Slotkin, who noted in a string of posts that Signal is not set up to protect American secrets and the U.S. maintains a separate computer network on which it shares such confidential information. "This is all classified information," Slotkin wrote. "Even the fact that they were considering this strike is classified. And for good reason: the time and method of an attack, if intercepted by our enemies, could have gotten American troops killed."

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Live updates: Trump defends Mike Waltz after group text leak as Democrats demand answers

"If these were regular soldiers or a civilian CIA officer like I was, they would be reprimanded, likely fired, prosecuted and possibly jailed," said Slotkin, a first-term senator who earlier this month was tapped to give the Democratic response to Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress.

On Tuesday afternoon, Slotkin resumed with a string of social media posts on X describing what would happen to an "ordinary" person who shared classified information on an unsecure medium, describing how he or she would no longer be allowed to work, be placed on leave and potentially face fines of up to $250,000 and imprisonment for a decade. "I understand that the folks at the White House are the senior-most officials. But they should, as leaders, set an example with their accountability. No one should be able to put US forces at risk without it," she wrote.

Her response came as several Michigan Democrats in Congress lambasted the Trump administration for what appeared to be a serious breach of security protocols from many of the same Republicans who sharply criticized former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ahead of the 2016 election, which she lost to President Donald Trump, for using an unsecure private email server. Trump even suggested at the time she should be jailed.

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In a call with NBC News on Tuesday, Trump defended Waltz, who mistakenly included Goldberg on the group chat; on Monday, when asked whether Hegseth should be disciplined for sharing the attack plans on an unsecure channel, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, of Louisiana, said, "No, of course not."

[STAY UP TO DATE: Sign up for our Daily Briefing newsletter today to get the Free Press in your inbox.]

Hegseth has denied he texted military plans even though White House officials have already acknowledged that the The Atlantic report of using a Signal group chat to share the plans appeared to be authentic. On Tuesday, top members of Trump's intelligence team, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, told the Senate Intelligence Committee that no classified data was shared, though they refused to discuss what was transmitted. In several media interviews, including that on CNN, Goldberg said Hegseth revealed precise operational plans ahead of the Yemen attack.

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told CNN's Manu Raju that his committee would look into the report.

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Meanwhile, Democrats from some key congressional committees also demanded answers as to whether the use of the app may have compromised secure data for the military or U.S. allies.

While Republican members of Michigan's congressional delegation did not appear to post any immediate reactions to the report on social media, Democratic members other than Slotkin also let loose on the Trump administration for what appeared to be a violation of security protocols.

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., who, like Slotkin, serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee as well as the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said the report represents "a flagrant failure and a huge breach of national security." He added, "Carelessness of this level is simply unacceptable."

Peters, Slotkin and a dozen other Senate Democrats also penned a letter to Trump on Tuesday demanding to know what disciplinary action would be taken against those involved in the Signal chat, whether any other missions may have been compromised and what "remedial training" will be provided to a group that includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others on the chat regarding the handling of sensitive military information in the future.

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U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, on Monday evening said on X that the Trump administrations "incompetence is a threat to our national security and puts Americans in danger." Also posting on the social media platform, U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, called it "shameful," adding that, "American lives and American integrity are on the line" and calling for an investigation. U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Detroit, said that the administration's "incompetence knows no bounds."

More heat for using a group chat than for the bombing itself. https://t.co/aH2R5vXiag  Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) March 24, 2025

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, also D-Detroit, who has been a sharp critic of both the Trump administration and the bombings in Yemen, took a somewhat different tack, posting on Monday night on X, that it seemed to her the Republican administration was taking "More heat for using a group chat than for the bombing itself."

Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who lives in Traverse City, also responded to the report, posting Monday on X, that, "From an operational security perspective, this is the highest level of (screwup) imaginable. These people cannot keep America safe." Buttigieg used a profane term in place of the term mentioned above.

Contact Todd Spangler: tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@tsspangler.

Additional information has been added to this report.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Slotkin blasts Trump officials over apparent war plans leak
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  Firefighters responded to a small brush fire on Sharps Ridge in Knoxville.

The fire broke out around 5 p.m. in a wooded area near Broadcast Way to the east of the I-640/I-275 interchange. A Knoxville Fire Department spokesperson estimated it to be roughly 10 acres. According to the Tennessee Division of Forestrys live wildfire map, the blaze was 100% contained as of 10:03 p.m.

Over 100 cars line up for new mobile food pantry as flood recovery continues in Cocke County

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The Tennessee Division of Forestry personnel will continue firefighting efforts throughout the evening and early morning hours. A KFD update released just before 9:30 p.m. stated that active fire will remain visible and there is no need to call 911 to report fires in the area.

This is a developing story. Download the WATE 6 News app or sign up for our email alerts for updates.

READ: More top stories on WATE.com

The blaze is not impacting Sharps Ridge Veterans Memorial Park, which is located to the west of the interstate interchange.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
So-called "sneaker waves" are a threat along the coast of the Northwest this week, and while they aren't talked about as often as rip currents, past history shows they can be just as much of an unsuspecting danger for beachgoers.

Big Picture: Sneaker Waves 101

Sneaker waves can occur at any beach, but the cold waters and rugged coastline along the West Coast make them especially concerning in that region.

In a nutshell, they are waves that surge up a beach farther than most on a given day. The best way to think about this: There can be 10 to 20 minutes of smaller waves, but then a larger sneaker wave arrives and surges up the beach, according to the National Weather Service.

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That's where the term sneaker wave comes from, since they can sneak up on unsuspecting beachgoers, sometimes surging up to 150 feet onto a dry beach.

Example of rough surf along the Oregon coast.

Deeper Dive: This Week's Threat And The Cause

Locations from coastal Oregon and Washington to Northern California, as far south as the Bay Area and Monterey Bay, are facing a threat of sneaker waves into at least Wednesday, according to National Weather Service forecasters. The Portland, Oregon, NWS office says the danger in their area of northwest Oregon and southwest Washington might last through the rest of this week.

The culprit for this sneaker wave threat is what's called a long-period swell arriving at beaches on the Northwest coast, which is generated by large, sprawling storms in the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes, the beaches where sneaker waves are a threat might be enjoying pleasant weather since the storms responsible for generating the swells can be a large distance away from the West Coast.

Why The Threat Matters: Serious Injury Or Death Can Result

Since 2012, there have been two dozen deaths blamed on sneaker waves along the West Coast, according to a NOAA database. The most recent fatality suspected to be from a sneaker wave happened on Jan. 15 in Depoe Bay, Oregon.

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The waves can knock people down and sweep them into the cold Pacific Ocean waters with little advance notice. The cold, rough waters can cause hypothermia and even drowning.

Sneaker waves can also cause logs on the beach to roll and knock people down or even pin them.

Before heading to the beach, you should always find out if sneaker waves and/or rip currents are a threat. The NWS warns to avoid steep beaches and avoid climbing jetties, rocks and outcroppings.

You should also never turn your back on the ocean and stay far from the water if sneaker waves are a threat. That's because, as mentioned earlier, the waves can run up to 150 feet up a dry beach.

Chris Dolce has been a senior digital meteorologist with weather.com for nearly 15 years after beginning his career with The Weather Channel in the early 2000s.
Judge Natalie Bokota sentenced an emotional Adrianne Hancock to four years probation Tuesday for fleeing after she hit a man in a Hammond Strack & Van Til parking lot.

There was no evidence you did it on purpose, the judge said.

But he died, Hancock responded.

Deputy Prosecutor Lindsey Lanham said in court that in her discussions with victim Justin Fanslaus family that they forgave her and didnt want prison time, partially because it would hurt the grandson, now 6, Hancock was raising.

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Justin Fanslau, 51, of Bloomingdale, Illinois, was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center and died nine days later on Nov. 23, 2020, from blunt force injuries to his head and neck, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner.

Hancock, 56, of Hammond, pleaded guilty in October to leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death or catastrophic injury, a Level 4 felony. She faced up to four years in the Lake County Community Corrections program.

Hammond Police responded about 5 p.m. Nov. 14, 2020, to the grocery store, 115 Sibley Street, in north Hammond. The crash was caught on video. Hancock hit Fanslau as she was driving toward the exit. She got out, looked at him, then took off.

A witness tried to follow Hancock, but couldnt keep up safely when she sped off. Investigators traced her through the vehicle, her sisters, and her debit card that she just used to buy groceries.

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When police first interviewed her, she claimed she didnt remember the crash.

None of Fanslaus relatives were able to attend Tuesdays hearing.

Tessie Jackson, Hancocks daughter, asked for leniency, saying her mother never meant for anything like this to happen.

Lanham asked for a split sentence, with two years each in Lake County Community Corrections and probation.

Fanslau would have died if she had stayed. Leaving was the bad decision, she said. Her criminal history was before 2001.

As she noted Fanslaus son, who made the call to take him off life support forgave her, Hancock started to briefly wail.

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Did the family want jail time, Bokota asked. No, they felt it was a hardship on her family, Lanham replied.

Defense lawyer Lonnie Randolph II said it was very unfortunate and sad. Hancock was a law-abiding person. She was someone who just panicked, he said.

I dont know if theres a plan B for (the boy), he said.

Randolph thanked Fanslaus family, noting their mercy was still relatively rare.

Hancock told the court she thought about what happened constantly.

If it had been her son, I would want somebody to stay there and hold his hand, she said.

This family has forgiven you, Bokota told her. Your challenge going forward is to forgive yourself.

mcolias@post-trib.com
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD)  A South Carolina Senate subcommittee on Tuesday recommended that Treasurer Curtis Loftis be removed from office for his involvement in a $1.8 billion accounting error and his actions throughout the subsequent investigation.

The 49-page report states that Loftis willfully neglected his statutory and fiduciary duties as treasurer.

The goal of the subcommittees investigation was to ensure the security of the financial future of the state, but our states financial future is insecure with the current treasurer in office, Sen. Larry Grooms (R-Berkeley) said, reading from the report. Permitting Treasurer Loftis to continue in his position will cause possibly irreparable harm to the State Treasurers Office.

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The recommendation comes after a forensic audit of the states finances found much of the $1.8 billion never existed.

The Alix Partners report released in January outlined that $1.6 billion was the result of accounting errors during a bank conversion process, and the remaining $200 million was cash that belonged to the General Fund.

The report claimed the former Comptroller General, State Auditor, and Treasurer knew about the accounting error before it was reported to the General Assembly. State Auditor George Kennedy resigned shortly after the audit was released.

The error came to light after Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom resigned in March 2023 over a different accounting mistake, and his replacement reported the mystery account.

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The revelation set off a flurry of hearings in which lawmakers grilled Loftis and other agency leaders about how it happened. It also opened up the state to scrutiny by the federal Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several lawmakers called for Loftis to resign, suggesting his testimony last year that the money was real, had been invested and generated some $200 million in interest was misleading.

He repeatedly testified that $1.8 billion was real money that was invested and earned interest, and never amended or appended those statements when offered the opportunity to do so, the Senate report states. Incongruously, he also testified that he had no idea a $1.8 billion balance existed in his books, and when presented with the experts forensic accounting report, he posted on social media that he knew all along there was no real money.

Senators further wrote that while Loftis repeatedly attempted to shift blame away from his office, it bears a significantly higher share of responsibility for the errors that were the origin of the $1.8 billion conversion issue than other agencies.

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Attorney general advises South Carolinians to delete 23andMe accounts

Loftis rejected calls for his removal in a March 25 statement shortly after the report was released, calling the panels claims politically motivated grandstanding.

The voters elected me in four statewide elections, and I answer to them, not the entrenched politicians in the State Senate, Loftis said. Todays report isnt about accountability  its a power grab.

He said he would welcome a review of the books by the Inspector General to dispel what he claims are inaccurate and misleading assertions in the subcommittees findings.

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South Carolinas financial threat isnt from mismanagement or missing money, Loftis said. The real danger comes from a relentless, politically motivated attack on my officeone that risks undermining our states financial reputation, increasing taxpayer costs, and stripping voters of their right to elect a Treasurer who works for the people, not special interests.

To be clear, there was no mysterious bank account, no missing money, no stolen money, and no taxpayer funds were lost. At no point did this accounting error affect the Treasurers actual bank balances. South Carolinians can rest assured that their money is safe and secure, his statement continued.

The Senate report also recommended that structural changes be made related to financial offices and their executive officers, including making the state treasurer, the comptroller general, and the state auditor appointed positions.

Currently, South Carolinas auditor is chosen by the States Fiscal Accounting Authority, a five-member group that includes the governor, state treasurer, comptroller general, Senate Finance Committee chairman, and House Ways and Means Committee chairman.

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Rep. Brandon Newton (R-Lancaster) said this creates a conflict of interest and introduced a bill that would allow the governor to appoint an individual to the role.

This should be given to South Carolinians when this change is made, a lot more confidence that the person who supposed to be looking out for them and their interest over top of these two offices is actually independent and not working for them, Newton previously said.

The bill passed unanimously in the House, and an amended version is headed to the Senate floor after senators voted to advance it out of the Finance Committee.

The state treasurer and comptroller general are elected positions in South Carolina.

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The Associated Press contributed.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea will launch a special probe into violations of the free trade pact with the United States regarding country of origin markings, the Korea Customs Service (KCS) said on Tuesday, ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs.

South Korea is among 20 countries worldwide, and one of only three in the Asia-Pacific region, that has a free trade agreement with the United States. Under this pact, nearly all tariffs are eliminated for goods traded between the two countries.

The KCS said it would investigate products exported to the U.S. for violations in marking the country of origin.

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Authorities will take firm action against companies knowingly disguising foreign goods as South Korean products to protect domestic companies and the authenticity of South Korean exports, the KCS said.

"We are taking preemptive action to protect domestic companies as there are concerns from earlier experience during the first Trump presidency that U.S. verifications might become stricter after imposing higher tariffs," a KCS spokesperson said.

Products at high risk of false markings, such as those subject to U.S. anti-dumping tariffs or closely watched by U.S. customs authorities, will be scrutinised, the KCS added.

The Trump administration said it would prepare reciprocal tariffs against its major trading partners by April 2, after imposing steep tariffs on imports from China as well as those from Canada and Mexico that do not comply with their free trade pact.

(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  South Sudan is teetering on the edge of renewed civil war, the top U.N. official in the worlds youngest nation warned on Monday, lamenting the governments sudden postponement of the latest peace effort.

Calling the situation unfolding in the country dire, Nicholas Haysom said international efforts to broker a peaceful solution can only succeed if President Salva Kiir and his rival-turned-vice president, Riek Machar, are willing to engage and put the interests of their people ahead of their own.

There were high hopes when oil-rich South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after a long conflict. But the country slid into a civil war in December 2013 largely based on ethnic divisions when forces loyal to Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, battled those loyal to Machar, an ethnic Nuer.

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More than 400,000 people were killed in the war, which ended with a 2018 peace agreement that brought Kiir and Machar together in a government of national unity. Under the agreement, elections were supposed to be held in February 2023, but they were postponed until December 2024  and again until 2026.

The latest tensions stem from fighting in the countrys north between government troops and a rebel militia, known as the White Army, which is widely believed to be allied with Machar.

Earlier this month, a South Sudanese general was among several people killed when a United Nations helicopter on a mission to evacuate government troops from the town of Nasir, the scene of the fighting in Upper Nile state, came under fire. Days earlier on March 4, the White Army overran the military garrison in Nasir and government troops responded by surrounding Machars home in the capital, Juba, and arresting several of his key allies.

Haysom said tensions and violence were escalating particularly as we grow closer to elections and as political competition increases, sharpens between the principal players.

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He said Kiir and Machar dont trust each other enough to display the leadership needed to implement the 2018 peace deal and move to a future that would see a stable and democratic South Sudan.

Rampant misinformation, disinformation and hate speech is also ratcheting up tensions and driving ethnic divisions, and fear, Haysom said.

Given this grim situation, he said, we are left with no other conclusion but to assess that South Sudan is teetering on the edge of a relapse into civil war.

Haysom, who heads the nearly 18,000-member U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, warned that a relapse into open war would lead to the same horrors that ravaged the country, especially in 2013 and 2016.

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He said the U.N. takes the threat of the ethnic transformation of the conflict very seriously.

To try to prevent a new civil war, the U.N. special envoy said the peacekeeping mission is engaging in intense shuttle diplomacy with international and regional partners, including the African Union.

Haysom said the collective message of the regional and international community is for Kiir and Machar to meet to resolve their differences, return to the 2018 peace deal, adhere to the ceasefire, release detained officials and resolve tensions through dialogue rather than military confrontation.

___

This story has corrected the war toll to 400,000, not 40,000.
NAIROBI (Reuters) -South Sudan's First Vice President Riek Machar has accused Uganda of violating a United Nations arms embargo by entering the country with armoured and air force units, and conducting airstrikes there.

In a letter addressed to the U.N., African Union and the IGAD regional bloc, Machar said Uganda's military intervention in South Sudan had violated a 2018 peace deal, which ended a brutal five-year civil war.

Uganda said it had deployed troops in South Sudan earlier this month at the request of the government there, following a breakdown in the turbulent relationship between Machar and President Salva Kiir.

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In early March security forces rounded up several of Machar's most senior allies, following clashes in South Sudan's northeast between the military and the White Army militia, a force the government accuses Machar of supporting.

Machar's SPLM-IO party denies any ongoing links with the White Army, which mostly comprises armed ethnic Nuer who fought alongside Machar against Kiir's largely Dinka forces during the 2013-2018 conflict.

The U.N. has warned a rise in hate speech could plunge the country back to war along ethnic lines.

Uganda fears a full-blown conflagration in its oil-producing northern neighbour could send waves of refugees across the border and potentially create instability.

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"The Ugandan forces are currently taking part in airstrikes against civilians," Machar said in the March 23 letter, urging pressure on Uganda to withdraw its troops.

A spokesperson for Machar's office verified the authenticity of the letter seen by Reuters.

Uganda and South Sudan's military spokespeople did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the potential violation of the arms embargo, which has been in place since July 2018.

South Sudan's army attacked SPLM-IO forces stationed at a camp near the capital Juba on Monday night, the party's military spokesperson Lam Paul Gabriel said on X. Major General Lul Ruai Koang, the government military spokesperson, said he would issue a statement once he had gathered all the relevant information.

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Machar's spokesperson Pal Mai Deng said on Tuesday that intelligence officers in Lakes State had arrested four SPLM-IO officials and shut down their office in the state's capital Rumbek.

South Sudan's information minister Michael Makuei and intelligence service spokesperson John Kumuri did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the arrests.

Last week Uganda's parliament retrospectively approved the deployment in South Sudan, first announced on March 11.

In a series of since-deleted posts published on X in the early hours of Sunday, Uganda's military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba said: "I'm tired of killing Nuer," referring to Machar's ethnic group.

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"Tell your leader Riek Machar to come and kneel down before 'our' President H.E Salva Kiir," wrote Kainerugaba, who has a history of making inflammatory statements that have previously sparked diplomatic tensions in the region.

(Reporting by Nairobi Newsroom; Additional reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by Ammu Kannampilly, Alex Richardson and Ros Russell)
An on-duty police officer in Huntington Beach was involved in a traffic collision that sent around a half dozen people to the hospital, making it the departments second injury-involved collision in less than a month, according to multiple media reports.

The multi-injury collision unfolded at the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Williams Drive, police spokesperson Jessica Cuchilla told the O.C. Register, Details about the crash are limited, though Cuchilla added that the California Highway Patrol is investigating the officer-involved crash.

In photos of the crash posted to by The Register, heavy damage can be seen to the front-end passenger side of a dark-colored Kia sedan, with the outlet reporting that the officers patrol cruiser also sustained damage to its front end.

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It is currently unclear if the officer was in the process of responding to a call and whether the lights and sirens on the patrol cruiser were on at the time of the crash.

Six people were taken to the hospital by ambulance, City News Service reported, though the conditions of those injured were not immediately available, nor is it known if the officer was among those taken to the hospital.

Bank robber turned crime novelist in custody after allegedly robbing more banks

This is the second collision involving injuries for the Huntington Beach Police Department in less than a month.

In late February, an officer struck a man riding an electric scooter near Beach Boulevard and Heil Avenue. The man was knocked off the scooter and struck by a second vehicle.

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The scooter rider was rushed to the hospital in unknown condition, The Register reported.

CHP investigators told the outlet that the driver of the second vehicle stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators, while the officer involved in the crash remained on regular duty.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  Outer space is taking over the Texas Capitol on March 25. Space Day Texas recognizes the states special role and impact on human space exploration.

Composite photo of a total lunar eclipse seen from the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on March 14, 2025. (KXAN Viewer Photo)

Beginning at 9 a.m., NASA and a variety of aerospace companies hosted events at the State Capitol. Exhibits were found on the The Great Walk, Southwest Lawn, and in the Reverse Rotunda.

Live space suit demos occurred in the Reverse Rotunda within the Capitol Extension.

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Were building the space suit that will return humans to the moon. So the next NASA astronauts will wear this suit. The first woman on the moon will wear this suit. First Person of Color will wear this suit. So were very proud to be the space suit provider for NASA, said Matt Ondler with Axiom Space.

On the Southwest Lawn, members from the International Space Station Program and Artemis programs attended.

According to Norman Garza Jr., executive director of the Texas Space Commission, over twenty exhibits are featured at the capital.

There are some really incredible companies that have their demos and assets located throughout the capital, two in particular, Firefly and Intuitive Machines, both Texas companies that recently had robots land on the moon. Those lunar landers are going to do some incredible innovation for the rest of us, mere humans and mortals that will never leave this planet, Garza said.

The reflection of the reverse rotunda in the visor of a new space suit. (Todd Bailey/ KXAN) Space Day Texas at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on March 25, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) Space Day Texas at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on March 25, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) Space Day Texas at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on March 25, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) Space Day Texas at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on March 25, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) Space Day Texas at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on March 25, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) Space Day Texas at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on March 25, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey) Space Day Texas at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on March 25, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bailey)

According to NASA, proclamations celebrating 25 years aboard the International Space Station were held at 10 a.m.

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Stranded astronauts return home, but face recovery from extended space stay

At noon, the crew of Artemis II held public remarks on the south steps. This crew will be the first manned flight to enter orbit of the moon since the 1970s. That mission is scheduled for 2026.

The best part about today is seeing all of the folks that, on their own, planned to visit the Texas capitol, but didnt know that it was going to be Space Day. So them to be able to see these demos and a space suit and astronauts and all kinds of cool demonstrations that are around the state Capitol lawn is what Im anxious to see, whether theyre school children or elderly folks that get really excited about watching what the next huge step for mankind is when it comes to outer space, Garza said.

Events wrap at 4 p.m. on March 25. The event is free and open to the public.

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By Nacho Doce and Charlie Devereux

AMIL, Spain (Reuters) - The wildfires that used to burn each summer in the woods above the Spanish village of Barro have diminished to almost none since Lucia Perez started grazing wild horses there.

"There used to be fires every year but since 2019 when we started coming here we've had one small fire in the first year and nothing since," said Perez, 37, explaining how by clearing the undergrowth between the trees the horses help stop fires igniting and spreading.

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Fire prevention is one of several roles wild horses play in preserving the northwestern region of Galicia's delicate ecosystems, scientists say. But Europe's largest herd of wild horses has dwindled to less than half the 22,000 that roamed its mountains, forests and heathlands in the 1970s.

On the Serra da Groba heath 80 km (50 miles) southwest of Barro, a herd of wild horses feasts on the yellow flowers of gorse, "selectively clearing" a plant that is especially combustible, said Laura Lagos, a researcher at the University of A Coruna.

This allows other plants such as purple-flowering heather and white asphodels to thrive, she said. It also helps preserve the heather around peat bogs, abundant in sphagnum mosses, one of the most effective ecosystems for capturing carbon.

A 2021 study by the University of A Coruna, in which Lagos took part, found that grazing heathlands by wild horses was best for preventing wildfires while promoting plant biodiversity and capturing carbon, when compared to other potential uses of the land such as planting long-term pine forests, short-term Eucalyptus forests or grazing by domestic animals.

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"Studies show that where wild horses graze the heath's biodiversity increases," Lagos said. "They are a fundamental part of the ecosystem. They benefit both the flora and the fauna associated with these open spaces."

Grazing by sheep and cows can also prevent fires, but the horses have particular physiological characteristics that allow them to thrive in Galicia's terrain, including moustaches that appear designed to protect their lips from the prickly gorse.

"They seem specially adapted to eat gorse and are hardy - a cow can't live year round on the heath," Lagos said.

NEOLITHIC ROCK CARVINGS

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Drier, hotter weather due to climate change is increasing the frequency of wildfires in Galicia. The region lost 96,900 hectares through fires between 2001 and 2023, according to Global Forest Watch.

This has coincided with the proliferation in Galicia of the Eucalyptus tree, a pyrophyte species that depends on fires to help it release and spread seeds. Eucalyptus trees also reduce pasture for the horses as only ferns grow under them.

Brought from Australia to Galicia by a missionary in the 19th century, they have spread thanks to demand for their wood from local pulp mills and now account for 28% of all trees in Galicia, according to a local government study.

In September, the village of San Colmede was spared from a fire that ripped through 270 hectares of Eucalyptus and scrub in the surrounding hills thanks to grazing by animals and by the native oaks, sweet chestnuts and birches that grow near the village and burn more slowly, acting as a shield, said firefighter Cesar Leiros.

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"We saw the village surrounded by fire but thanks to native trees, the clearing we do, and the clearing our animals do, the village was saved," Leiros said.

Rock carvings depicting wild horses being hunted by men are evidence of their existence in Galicia dating back to the Neolithic period.

In time, humans and horses developed a relationship. Known as "besteiros" in the Galician dialect, people would look out for the health of the free-roaming horses in exchange for occasionally domesticating one or selling it for meat.

They would round up the horses once a year in events known as the "rapa das bestas" or "shearing of the beasts" to be deloused, vaccinated, and have their manes cut to make it harder for wolves to catch them.

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These evolved into festivals, with the most famous in Sabucedo drawing thousands of tourists who come to see the horses wrestled to the ground to be treated.

'ECOLOGICAL JEWEL'

Perez, who works in a school, runs a smaller rapa with her stonemason husband Niko Souto, 41, in the village of Amil. They don't make a profit, she said. The proceeds help pay for fencing to stop the horses wandering onto roads or farmland.

Costs, including vet fees, insurance, fencing, microchipping and GPS equipment for tracking, are multiplying, Souto said.

The horses are classified as livestock and Javier Alvarez-Blazquez, a retired lawyer who owns ten horses in the Serra da Groba, wants new legislation that recognises their unique circumstances.

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The Galician regional government should help besteiros cover some of the costs of looking after them, he said. The sale of a foal can generate 60 euros ($65.08) but it doesn't compensate for expenses - excluding insurance and erecting fencing - of about 100 euros a year per horse, he said.

Increasing the number of horses could even save the government money, said Melina Barrio, an economist at the University of Alcala. She estimates that each horse carries out clearing to prevent fires that would cost between 8,000 and 10,000 euros per year if humans did it.

Galicia's regional government acknowledged the role wild horses play in preventing forest fires and preserving ecosystems, but said that the current legislation was adequate for their conservation because the horses can generate an income by being sold or through tourism from the rapa festivals.

"Although these animals are bred in the wild, in reality they have an owner and there is an economic benefit," the government said in an emailed statement.

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"In this sense, it is logical to consider horses as livestock, in accordance with European and Spanish legislation on the matter, and therefore they are not exempt from complying with obligations relating to health, animal welfare or herd control," it said.

Besteiros receive some help on costs, such as with the implanting of microchips for identification, the government added.

Carlos Souto, Niko's father, said the horses were descending from the hills more frequently in search of pasture as Eucalyptus plantations spread, meaning they needed more minding.

From visiting his horses once a week he is now going every morning, while Niko and Lucia go in the evening after work.

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Niko said the horses were becoming used to their presence and their behaviour was changing - they were becoming less wild.

Alvarez-Blazquez said without the besteiros, the horses would die out, killed by cars or local farmers angry at the horses transgressing onto their crops and tree plantations.

"We are guardians doing it as a hobby. Our only aim is to preserve this animal that we believe is an ecological jewel," he said.

($1 = 0.9220 euros)

(Reporting by Nacho Doce and Charlie Devereux; Editing by Janet Lawrence and Sharon Singleton)
Somerset City Council members have expressed concern over the past few meetings over drivers running red lights. For its most recent meeting, the council had Somerset Police Chief Josh Wesley drop by to explain some of the issues surrounding the ticketing of traffic violations.

Traffic light violations are very difficult for us to enforce, Wesley told the council, saying that for a police officer to charge someone for traffic offenses, an officer has to actually see the violation.

In the case of running a red light, the officer has to see the vehicle actually cross the white stop bar  meaning they have entered into the intersection proper  and he or she has to see the red light itself.

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Without those two abilities, it is difficult for an officer to testify in court for that offense.

To build off of that, if (an officer is) going to be close enough to observe that  you (the driver) are probably not going to run the red light if youre aware that were there, he pointed out.

Wesley said that the department has put together a few ideas on how to address the problem of drivers running red lights, and one was was to put an officer in an unmarked vehicle as a spotter, and have that person watch for potential violations. That officer would then radio to another officer in a cruiser, who would then make the stop.

That proved to be very productive, Wesley said. I think they issued around 20 tickets in a single day. So were going to try to do that periodically.

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That method does, however, tie up more officers than normal, and places a burden on the departments manpower, he said.

While not brought up Monday night, councilors have in previous meetings asked about whether it would be feasible to place traffic cameras at some of the citys busier intersections.

Wesley told the Commonwealth Journal there were a few concerns when it came to that technology, beginning with the cost of installing those cameras.

Wesley also added, In some states its kind of controversial. Youll get into situations where the only way it can ticket somebody is through a license plate, and so you have somebody driving a company vehicle, or somebody thats borrowing somebody elses car, and then the ticket goes to the registered owner. It works in some areas, but its certainly not a fix-all, and it adds some complexity.

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Wesley did tell the council that the department had looked at other options, such as talking with officials from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet about fixing problem areas, such as the intersection of Ky. 914 and Oak Hill Road, which resulted in the state making changes to that intersection to improve traffic flow and visibility.

Wesley also gave the council the departments numbers when it comes to traffic collisions. I dont know that its good news, but our collision data has pretty much stayed flat for the last three years. Our average is around 1,100 wrecks a year, which sounds like a whole lot, but around 60% of that is private parking lots, he said.

For the month of February, Wesley said that 26 patrol officers gave out 514 traffic tickets or warnings, which averaged out to around 20 per officer.

Mix that in with 2,639 calls for service, and I feel like theyre putting forth quite a bit of effort towards traffic enforcement, Wesley said. Unfortunately, visibility is huge, especially when it come to stopping people from running red lights.

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Wesley also said that the Transportation Cabinet offers a state-wide grant that law enforcement agencies can apply for that will reimburse departments for overtime of officers that help with targeted traffic enforcement.

Wesley told the Commonwealth Journal: Basically, they compensate whatever an officers overtime rate is to specifically work on traffic enforcement. They typically want us to target impaired drivers, seatbelt violations, speeding, (or) any kind of a moving violation.  It varies from year to year how much money we get. Its a pool of money that we are able to use and get reimbursed for officers that want to come out and work that.

Wesley said that it is usually used when an officer comes in on a day off, during a high-traffic portion of a day, and work anywhere from two to four hours.

He said that SPD doesnt typically set up things like check points, like the Kentucky State Police does from time to time, but that the grant funding could be used in that way.

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In other business at Mondays City Council meeting, the council approved a resolution that gives Mayor Alan Keck and the City of Somerset the authority to apply for a grant from the Office of Homeland Security.

Wesley explained that the resolution is required before a department like his is allowed to apply for such a grant.

In the past we have qualified for it, and it has funded body armor, but this time it's for ammunition and firearm equipment, Wesley said. It is a match grant. If we qualify and we get approved for the grant, it would allow us to buy ammunition at half the price.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Monday dismissed any potential disciplinary action for national security adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after news broke that the pair and other Trump administration officials discussed plans for an attack against Houthi rebels in Yemen on a text chain that mistakenly included the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic.

Asked by The Hill if Waltz, who apparently added The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg to the group chat on Signal, and Hegseth, who according to Goldberg shared the sensitive details ahead of the offensive, should be disciplined, Johnson responded no, no of course not.

The administration, as I understand, I just was with the president in the Oval Office, just now, the administration is addressing what happened, Johnson said when asked if he was concerned about the report. Apparently an inadvertent phone number made it onto that thread. Theyre gonna track that down and make sure that doesnt happen again.

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Pressed on whether it was irresponsible of top-level national security officials to talk on a text chain and not in a facility designed to safeguard sensitive information, Johnson responded: Im not gonna characterize what happened.

Clearly, I think the administration has acknowledged it was a mistake and theyll tighten up and make sure it doesnt happen again, he added.

The White House has sounded a similar note when it comes to their confidence in Waltz and Hegseth, saying the president still has faith in the pairs ability to carry out their roles.

As President Trump said, the attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective. President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, press secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Hill in an emailed statement.

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Goldberg published a story Monday afternoon detailing his experience being added to a group chat on Signal, an encrypted messaging service, full of high-level national security officials that discussed the administrations plans to attack the Houthis in Yemen.

Goldberg said he received a connection request from a user named Michael Waltz on March 11, was added to a group chat called Houthi PC small group on March 13  which Waltz appeared to have created  and witnessed discussions about the attack plans over the next two days. Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe are believed to have been included in the group as well, based on the names of user accounts.

At 11:44 a.m. on March 15, Hegseth sent the group operational details about the Yemen strikes, which Goldberg said he would not quote from because the information contained in them, if they had been read by an adversary of the United States, could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel, particularly in the broader Middle East, Central Commands area of responsibility.

The strikes took place just hours later.

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Brian Hughes, the spokesperson for the National Security Council, said the text chain appeared to be authentic.

This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, Hughes wrote. The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security.

Monday afternoon, Trump said he was not aware of the report in The Atlantic.

I dont know anything about it. Im not a big fan of The Atlantic; to me its a magazine that is going out of business, Trump said. I know nothing about it. Youre saying that they had what?

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Pressed by a reporter on the fact that the officials were using Signal to discuss sensitive information, Trump asked what the information pertained to, prompting the reporter to respond the Houthis.

You mean the attack on the Houthis? Trump added. Well, it couldnt have been very effective, because the attack was very effective, I can tell you that. I dont know anything about it. Youre telling me about it for the first time.

Johnson sounded a similar note, pointing to the success of the attack and telling reporters in the Capitol that the discussion in the Signal group reflected the administration officials doing their job.

What you did see, though, I think, was top-level officials doing their job, doing it well and executing on a plan with precision, Johnson said. That mission was a success, no one was jeopardized because of it, were grateful for that, but they will certainly, Im sure, make sure that doesnt happen again.

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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Paul and Christy Akeo, a couple from Spring Arbor in Jackson County, are currently being held in a maximum-security Mexican prison, their family tells 6 News.

Lindsey Hull, Christys daughter, says her mother and stepfather were arrested on March 4 at an airport in Cancun and have been held without bond for 21 days. She tells 6 News the couple challenged charges made on their American Express credit card by The Palace Company, owners of Palace Resorts.

When the Akeos arrived in Mexico earlier this month, they went through customs, where Hull says a notice was placed on their passports, leading to their arrest.

The Akeos. (Lindsey Hull)

The Akeos. (Lindsey Hull)

Local Mexican reports say that the Akeos have been charged with defrauding a Cancun hotel chain out of more than $100,000, alleging they signed a contract in Nov. 2021 to purchase a membership with the hotel, giving a credit card for the hotel to charge the monthly payments to.

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According to Riviera Maya News, a Cancun-based newspaper, it is alleged that Paul fraudulently canceled 13 transactions totaling $116,587 (equivalent at the time to more than 2.4 million pesos) and Christy allegedly shared messages on a Facebook page describing how they committed fraud against the hotel.

Hull has dismissed these claims as false and defamatory, writing on social media that American Express sided with the Akeos regarding the incident.

She tells 6 News that because the local outlets do not mention the name of the resortPalace Resortsthey were written off of false information.

Paul Akeo. (Lindsey Hull)

The Akeos. (Lindsey Hull)

Thats why its so important to share our story and spread our truth, wrote Hull in a text message to 6 News. Truth will prevail.

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The couples family says they have reached out to the American embassy in Mexico and other federal and state agencies asking for helpbut they are still being held as of Monday night.

Hull says she and her brother have hired both American and Mexican attorneys. She also says the resort is demanding $250,000 and signing a nondisclosure agreement that does not guarantee her parents release.

Hull says this incident has caused her family a large amount of stress.

Trying to comprehend whats happening, trying to figure out how to get into some sort of communication with our parents. I mean, through the 21 days, we havent talked to my stepdad Paul not one time, says Hull. My mom usually gets a phone call a day. Its not for very long at all. Its basically a phone call she gets until somebody in the background will tell her to get off the phone, and then she has to hang up.

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U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) says he has spoken to the family, and his office has reached out to the State Department and the White House to get Paul and Christy released.

Today, I was made aware of the situation involving two of my constituents, Paul and Christy Akeo, who were arrested by Mexican police. I have spoken to their family and assured them that my team and I took immediate action and are doing everything we can to help. I have been in  Congressman Tom Barrett (@RepTomBarrett) March 24, 2025

This is a developing story. 6 News will keep you updated on-air and online.

UPDATE: Concern grows over Spring Arbor parents imprisoned in Mexico

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St. Augustine City Commission voted Monday night to change dates of the Nights of Lights. The festival will begin this year on Saturday, Nov. 15, one week earlier than the typical start on the week before Thanksgiving.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The festival will conclude on Jan. 11, two weeks earlier than the usual ending date. The changes follow complaints that the festival has grown so large that it created traffic issues.

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While some residents complained about being trapped in their homes during the festival, some businesses in the area see the Nights of Lights as their prime source of traffic and revenue.

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CREVE COEUR, Mo.  Community, resilience and a call to action came into focus tonight as the Jewish Federation of St. Louis unveiled findings from their first community study in the past decade.

City officials, local leaders and residents gathered to hear the results that were developed with Brandeis University.

When were developing questions, were thinking about where are you located? What do you need? What motivates you to get involved? What motivates your philanthropy? asked Dalia Oppenheimer, vice chair of Community Impact and co-chair.

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The findings were a mix of triumph and concern.

Sixty-eight percent of Jewish adults attended Jewish events last year, and 77% feel a deep connection with friends. But antisemitism weighs heavily as 79% are alarmed by the global rise, while 47% feel it hits close to home.

When we see here in our community the amount of incidents that people are experiencing, its eye-opening, Oppenheimer said.

We asked a lot of questions about a lot of different topics. Not surprisingly, because of October 7, the last year, what happened, this is a really big issue, added John Greenberg, another study co-chair.

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For some, the impact is deeply personal, with recent antisemitic incidents in the area.

Forty-one percent have encountered antisemitism, and 63% of those affected avoid certain activities.

Yet, hope stands strong throughout the community as 80% of respondents feel safe and welcome in St. Louis. The overall mood of the meeting was upbeat and positive, with more stats to celebrate than not.

St. Louis is generally not a big problem for antisemitism compared to other cities, but were taking notice of that and doing some extra planning around that, John Greenberg said.

The federation is dedicated to turning data into determination and community into action.

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President & CEO of St. Louis Jewish Federation, Danny Cohn, just moved from Birmingham, Alabama.

This data unveiling is one of his first agenda items, as hes only in his first week on the job in the city.

It is an amazing opportunity to bring this data that will shape the next 20, 30 years of our Jewish community, its vibrancy, its offerings. And see how the Jewish community can come together and work harder towards shared goals and achievements, Cohn said.

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FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  UPDATE: The train has moved, clearing the way for traffic to flow.

FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Fort Smith police respond to a stalled train blocking traffic on Highway 45 on March 25.

train traffic

Police say officers in the area are diverting traffic at Geren Road and Planters Road.

Drivers are advised to avoid the area if possible until the scene is cleared.

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Ira Hayes, alongside five other Marines, raised the U.S. flag on the island of Iwo Jima at the summit of Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945. Photo by Joe Rosenthal | Associated Press/public domain

Content about two prominent Arizona Native American veterans that was removed from the U.S. Department of Defenses website during a purge of information that didnt focus on the accomplishments of white men remains missing.

The purge came in response to President Donald Trumps executive order banning diversity, equity, and inclusion in the federal government.

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Stories and details about U.S. Marine Ira Hayes, who is Pima/Akimel Oodham from the Gila River Indian Community, alongside U.S. Army Specialist Lori Ann Piestewa, who is Hopi, remains absent from the Defense Departments website.

As of Tuesday, a keyword search for Ira Hayes still brings up zero results, and only one article appears for Lori Ann Piestewa.

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U.S. Reps. Greg Stanton and Yassamin Ansari sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth, urging the reinstatement of content featuring Hayes and Piestewa.

Efforts by the DOD to recognize any veterans selfless service to our nation have nothing to do with any type of DEI Initiative, the Phoenix Democrats wrote.

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Stanton and Ansari wrote in the letter that, due to the sovereign status of tribal nations and their members, Indigenous people are correctly viewed as political entities, not racial groups. They cited U.S. Supreme Court precedent and long-standing legal doctrine.

Other mistakenly removed references to Native American veterans and service members have been restored, but information on these two pivotal figures is still missing, they wrote.

The DOD also deleted websites about the Navajo Code Talkers who were instrumental to Americas victory in the Pacific Theater in World War II.

Hayes, alongside five other Marines, raised the U.S. flag on the island of Iwo Jima at the summit of Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945. He was part of the 5th Marine Division and fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima until the island was secured on March 26, 1945.

Lori Piestewa at Fort Bliss, Texas, prepares for combat in Iraq Feb. 18, 2003. U.S. Army photo

The photograph of the flag raising during the Battle of Iwo Jima is one of the most iconic images of World War II, taken months into the battle by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal.

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The history of Ira Hayes and his bravery during this pivotal battle and at the flag raising is a point of pride and inspiration for the Gila River Indian Communityas it should be for all citizens of the United States, Stanton and Ansari wrote.

Piestewa served with the 507th Maintenance Company during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In March 2003, at 23 years old, she became the first service woman killed in action in Iraq and the first Native American woman to die in foreign combat in the service of the United States.

Stanton and Ansari note in their letter how former Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano renamed a mountain in the Phoenix area and State Route 51 in Piestewas honor a month after she died in combat. They also highlighted how, as the mayor of Phoenix, Stanton advocated for renaming several streets in the city to honor her sacrifice.

We must never forget the sacrifices made by Native American veterans and service members throughout our nations history, they stated.

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Indigenous people across the United States serve in the armed forces at five times the national average, according to the National Indian Council on Aging, and have served with distinction in every major conflict for over 200 years.

It is with this history in mind, with our great pride in these incredible Arizonans, that we request the immediate and full reinstatement of all information pertaining to Pfc. Ira Hayes and Army Specialist Lori Piestewa to the DOD website, the letter states.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  The Hawaii State Commission on Fatherhood is searching for fathers across the islands who are known for spreading aloha in their communities. The commission will be awarding fathers, businesses and nonprofit organizations dedicated to strengthening families and communities on the islands.

The commission has three awards this year, which can be applied for online. The awards include:

Waikiki hit-and-run leaves juvenile hospitalized

Aloha Father of the Year Award

This award is made to celebrate outstanding fathers and father figures from across the islands who have prioritized their ohana while simultaneously balancing careers and community involvement. The award defines a father as any male caregiver who exemplify dedication and love for their families. Nominations are open and the commission encourages community members to recognize fathers who inspire and make a difference.

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The application for Aloha Father of the Year can be found here.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

Parent-Friendly Business of the Year Award

The Commission on Fatherhood is looking to recognize business that prioritize the well-being of employees and their families, fostering a supportive working environment. Eligible businesses must meet the following criteria:

Be in good standing and reputable in the islands

Have leadership and policies emphasizing positive, healthy role models

Make significant contributions to the community or the state

Commit to strengthening families through support initiatives or educational programs

Serve as ambassadors of aloha, someone who fosters inclusivity and equity for all

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Applications for the Parent-Friendly Business of the Year award can be found here.

Miss Hawaii USA 2025 goes to Miss Hilo USA 2025

Sponsorship Award

Nonprofits based in Hawaii can earn up to $1,500 from the commission, particularly nonprofits that provide programs or services related to fathers. Organizations may apply for funds to support Fathers Day events, fatherhood programs or other community projects and the funds must be used for non-payroll expenses related to the event.

To be eligible for the Sponsorship Award, nonprofits must meet the following criteria:

Must be registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating in the state of Hawaii

Events sponsored must be conducted in the state

Funds must be used by Oct. 30, 2025 with preference given to events occurring prior to June 30.

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The application for the Sponsorship Award can be found here.

Applications for all three awards can be submitted via email to fatherhoodcommission.hi@gmail.com or by mail to the following address:

Hawaii State Commission on Fatherhood Chair

P.O. Box 339, Honolulu, HI 96809

For mailed applications, follow-up at the above email or by calling (808) 550-0080 to confirm receipt.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Gov. Laura Kelly and top Republican and Democratic members of the Kansas Legislature agreed to pay $4,000 to a Kansan who worked as a confidential informant in a prison corruption inquiry, but allegedly wasn't well-protected when his confidentiality was broken by corrections officers. The State Finance Council also agreed to sell surplus property in Hutchinson near the fairgrounds. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Legislature's YouTube channel)

TOPEKA  A prison inmate who worked as a confidential informant during a 2015 corruption investigation at Lansing Correctional Facility settled a federal lawsuit with the state of Kansas after a staff member revealed his secret cooperation.

Justin Jade Collins was outed the first time during an LCF employees civil service appeal despite the Kansas Department of Corrections assurances his anonymity would be maintained. Collins alleged in his suit that he provided information leading to administrative action against several staff and inmates at Lansing who interacted with organized criminal groups who posed a security threat to the prison.

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Collins filed the lawsuit in 2017 due to threats against his well-being by inmates that included the Gangster Disciples, Bloods, Crips and others. He sued KDOC officials in U.S. District Court for alleged violation of the Eighth Amendment right to humane conditions of confinement.

The issue temporarily became moot when Collins was transferred to a Missouri facility and released from incarceration in 2020. Upon returning to prison in 2022, court documents indicated he was given the choice of being held at state facilities in Ellsworth or Larned. Within days of arriving at Larned, he allegedly was targeted by gangs. In 2023, a Larned corrections officer allegedly yelled down a hallway to other inmates that Collins was a confidential informant/snitch.

KDOCs records indicated Collins was transferred in May 2023 to an out-of-state placement  which is what he originally sought in federal court in 2017.

The State Finance Council, which includes Gov. Laura Kelly, Senate President Ty Masterson, House Speaker Dan Hawkins and other legislative leaders, met in an executive session to discuss a settlement of the lawsuit recommended by Attorney General Kris Kobach.

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The council members voted, without comment during the public portion of the meeting, to pay $4,000 to Collins to end the case.

Collins, 39, has served prison time for forgery, assault, theft, aggravated battery and drug trafficking. KDOC records show he was held in state prison as early as 2007.

Meanwhile, members of the council also agreed to sell two residential properties in Hutchinson located near the Kansas State Fairgrounds. The homes had been purchased under a plan to create a parking lot for use by fair customers. The cost of real estate made a parking lot expansion unworkable.

Paul Fernkopf, of the Kansas Department of Administration, said the houses appraised at about $85,000 each were deemed surplus property and sold for a total of $137,000.

The auctioneer, Department of Administration and the State Fair agreed that we received the best value we could, Fernkopf said.
An unsubstantiated conspiracy theory that claims the US government is controlling the weather, or its citizens, by spraying dangerous chemtrails from airplanes has now made its way into several state legislatures where it could manifest into real-life laws.

Its an example of how unproven and off-the-wall theories are bubbling into mainstream discourse under the Trump administration, many of which sow distrust in the government. This effort in particular could prevent actual scientists and engineers from slowing the breakneck pace of global warming, which is inflicting a devastating toll on Americans in the form of extreme weather.

Floridas legislature is moving along a bill that would ban geoengineering and weather modification in the state, and an Alabama legislative committee discussed a similar bill last week. Last year, Tennessee lawmakers banned the release of airborne chemicals, which critics called nonsense.

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Though debunked many times over the years, chemtrail believers say the white condensation lines left behind by airplanes in the sky are filled with toxic chemicals. But the theory has re-manifested itself in a resurgence over controversy around scientists efforts for weather modification and geoengineering.

And those who believe in the conspiracy now have a platform from the head of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

In an X post Sunday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed that as states moved to ban geoengineering our climate by dousing our citizens, our waterways and landscapes with toxins. This is a movement every MAHA needs to support. HHS will do its part. MAHA refers to Kennedys Make America Healthy Again movement.

RFK Jr is not new here in pointing out this conspiracy, but he is the highest-level government official, sadly, who has fallen into this particular trap, climate economist Gernot Wagner told CNN.

Where did this conspiracy theory come from?

The most enticing conspiracy theories often have a dash of truth in them, even if that truth is completely unrelated to the conspiracy being contrived.

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That is certainly the case with the chemtrails conspiracy theory, which is based on the premise that aircraft condensation trails, or contrails, contain chemicals for weather modification, controlling citizens brains or even biological warfare. Contrails, on the other hand, are essentially clouds created by planes; they are mostly water vapor and small amounts of other trace gases that form in the wakes of high-altitude airplanes.

Jet contrails are viewed in the sky as the first significant rainfall is about to move into the Central Coast on March 27, 2022, in Solvang, California. - George Rose/Getty Images

Purporters of the conspiracy theory question the inconsistent nature of condensation trails, like why only some planes produce them or why they arent always there. The truth is it takes a specific combination of humidity and temperature for condensation to form in aircraft exhaust, and those conditions are especially prevalent on clear, cool days when the sky is often cloud-free.

Still, weather modification is a real thing. Cloud-seeding to help rain develop in dry areas is one of the most common examples (though it is still only used in very small scales sparingly around the globe  and the effectiveness of it is debated).

These bills also target geoengineering, a field still in its infancy in which scientists are theorizing ways to counteract the fast-paced warming effects of fossil fuel pollution.

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The most well-known of these ideas, called solar geoengineering, involves spraying particles high in the stratosphere, many miles above where planes fly, in an attempt to block out a small percent of the suns warming power.

How chemtrails went from conspiracy to legislation

Even before Kennedys new position, conspiracies about geoengineering and chemtrails ran rampant online. A 2017 study by Dustin Tingley and Wagner, the climate economist, found 60% of geoengineering discourse on social media over the past decade was conspiratorial.

But the chemtrail conspiracy theory was around long before social media, likely originating in the mid-1990s, possibly earlier. And when extreme weather happens, discourse on those conspiracy theories tend to spike, Wagner told CNN.

We see those weather extremes more and more due to climate change, and I can see how that now gets then connected to this chemtrails conspiracy, especially if people at the highest level of government are suddenly tweeting about this as well, Wagner said.

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A bill limiting geoengineering was first introduced in Rhode Island in 2014, though it ultimately died. The Tennessee bill banning airborne chemicals passed in early 2024.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which devastated parts of the United States in September and October, brought a resurgence.

Some people, notably Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene  a Georgia Republican  believed the federal government used non-existent weather manipulation technology to create the hurricane and push it toward certain regions of the country.

The remnants of a home are seen in Lake Lure, North Carolina, after the passage of Hurricane Helene. - Allison Joyce/AFP/Getty Images

Greene posted on X in October, Yes they can control the weather. Its ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it cant be done, seemingly referencing the US government. She posted maps of the hurricane damage path compared to Republican and Democrat election results maps.

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The discourse prompted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to release a fact check titled, Debunking weather modification claims: No one creates or steers hurricanes; the technology does not exist.

More state legislation followed the hurricanes.

Florida state Sen. Ileana Garcia in late 2024 filed a bill that would criminalize unauthorized geoengineering or weather modification with fines up to $100,000 per violation.

Garcia said in March at an Appropriations Committee meeting on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government the bill would allow Florida residents to report suspected geoengineering activity. In her social media posts on X, she tags Kennedy whenever posting about geoengineering or weather modification.

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Many of us senators receive concerns and complaints on a regular basis regarding these condensation trails, a.k.a. chemtrails, Garcia said when asked at the March meeting if there were any reports of illegal geoengineering activity. To many, theres a lot of skepticism with regards to this.  What I wanted to do with this is try to look through a way to separate fact from fiction.

Garcia did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNN.

Alabamas bill was introduced in February and, like Floridas, would ban weather modification activities. It is currently in committee.

The bills sponsor, Rep. Mack Butler, said over email the legislation came from constituents concerned about weather modification.

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After doing some research I learned that some form of weather modification has been taking place for around 80 years, he wrote.

CNNs Donie OSullivan contributed to this report.

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Mar. 25LEWISTON  A body found in Garcelon Bog in January has been identified as a Lewiston man who was reported missing more than five years ago, according to state authorities.

The man was identified as Michael Roberts, 68, using DNA analysis at the State Police Crime Laboratory, according to a Tuesday statement from the Maine State Police. Roberts was reported missing in November 2019 after apparently wandering off from a Bartlett Street residence.

His body was found by a Lewiston resident Jan. 25 in Garcelon Bog at the end of Russell Street, which is about a mile from the bog, and contacted authorities, the state police said at the time.

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The remains were transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta for examination and identification. State Police in January said the remains had been in the bog for an extended period of time and that there was no danger to the public.

State Police Major Crimes South assisted with the recovery and identification of the remains. The statement Tuesday said authorities are not considering the death suspicious.

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HIGH POINT  Because it was a tour of Allen Jay Preparatory Academy, there had to be moments on Monday when State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green stopped and chatted with students and educators.

But because it also was Greens birthday, there had to be time for cake.

Green, a former superintendent of Guilford County Schools, devoted part of his 58th birthday to taking part in one of his Listening and Learning sessions at the school in south High Point. Green has been conducting tour stops at public schools across the state.

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Im seeing whats taking place in our schools and the good things that are happening, Green told The High Point Enterprise while walking from classroom to classroom.

Green observed a mathematics class where students were learning about fractions. Then he stepped into a science class where students took part in a lesson on kinetic energy. And in an English class, the students used a high-energy approach to learning the language by playing drums.

Green, who was joined by High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson, also spoke with school administrators and teachers about whats being achieved at Allen Jay.

At the end of the tour Green was ushered toward a darkened conference room and, as the lights were turned on, an assembled crowd already in the room shouted, Happy birthday. A visibly surprised Green thanked the crowd for the gesture.

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As state superintendent, Green guides a department with a budget of $11 billion supporting 2,500 schools that have 1.4 million students.

Green, who was elected in November and started his first term in January, is the first Black state superintendent.

Green served as GCS superintendent from 2008-16. Prior to that he was deputy superintendent, chief operating officer and general counsel of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

After leaving GCS, Green became executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation based in Winston-Salem. He retired from that job in 2023 to run for state superintendent.
A state trooper rescued a kidnapped 6-year-old girl during a traffic stop last month.

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A Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) trooper stopped an SUV for a traffic violation

The trooper discovered that a passenger had a warrant for his arrest for kidnapping a 6-year-old girl a month earlier.

Two men were arrested and the girl was found, KHP said on social media.

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The incident happened in February, according to CBS affiliate KCTV in Kansas City, Missouri.

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Two men were in their 60s. KHP said the driver had a reported criminal history including homicide and numerous violations.

The girl was removed from the car and initially gave a fake name and birthday. The trooper got her to reveal her real name and learned that she was kidnapped. She had been on the run with the suspect for over a month, KHP said on Facebook.

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The two suspects were taken into custody.

The girl was not hurt.

KHP said on social media that they will not release the location of the incident to protect the girls identity.

Photo contributed by Kansas Highway Patrol (via Facebook)

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Mar. 25Health insurance companies are under increasing scrutiny for allegedly using artificial intelligence bots and algorithms to swiftly deny patients routine or lifesaving care  without a human actually reviewing their claims.

The high-profile killing late last year of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has focused even more attention on so-called prior authorization, the process by which patients and doctors must ask health insurers to approve medical procedures or drugs before proceeding. There had been protests and outrage over the company's practices for months before Thompson's death, and UnitedHealthcare has been accused in a class-action lawsuit of using AI to wrongfully deny claims.

As more patients and doctors voice their frustrations, states are responding with legislation designed to regulate prior authorization and claims reviews. So far this year, lawmakers in more than a dozen states are considering measures that would, for example, limit the use of AI in reviewing claims; exclude certain prescription medications from prior authorization rules; ensure that emergency mental health care is not delayed for more than 48 hours; and require that insurers' review boards include licensed physicians, dentists or pharmacists with clinical experience.

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Insurers have long required doctors to obtain their approval before they'll pay for certain drugs, treatments and procedures. They argue it is necessary to rein in health care costs and limit unnecessary services. But many doctors and patients say the practice has gotten out of hand, causing delays and denials of care that are harming and even killing people.

In a survey last year by the American Medical Association, 93% of doctors said that insurers' prior authorization practices delayed "necessary care" for their patients. Twenty-nine percent said such delays had led to a "serious adverse event," such as hospitalization, permanent injury or death.

In 2023, insurers selling plans on the marketplaces created under the Affordable Care Act denied a combined average of 20% of all claims. Of the 73 million in-network claims they denied, only 1% were appealed, according to KFF, a health policy research group.

The federal role

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Under the Biden administration, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice took a firmer hand against health care corporations alleged to be engaging in behavior resulting in limited and more expensive care for patients. The administration also approved rules requiring that beginning in 2026, Medicare and Medicaid plans create a streamlined electronic process for reviewing claims, making decisions more quickly and providing specific reasons for denying care.

But it's difficult to hold insurers accountable, according to Timothy McBride, a health policy analyst and co-director of a program at the Institute for Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis.

"Each part of the health care industry  hospitals, pharmaceuticals, insurers  they all have a lot of concentrated power," McBride said in a phone interview. "And unless somebody actually takes it on directly, it's going to stay that way. I think the Biden administration tried to take it on, but didn't make a lot of progress."

It's unclear whether the Trump administration and Congress will reverse course. During his confirmation hearing on March 14, Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, defended the use of artificial intelligence in reviewing claims.

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"AI can be used for good or for evil, and it to a large extent depends on who's using it and for what purpose," Oz told members of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. "I think AI could play a vital role in accelerating preauthorization."

In the past, Trump has supported measures to help patients, such as increasing hospital price transparency and lowering prescription drug prices, McBride noted. But "Republicans and conservatives generally are anti-regulation," he said. "My gut feeling would be that they back off on the Biden push on this."

States have limited power to act on their own. They have authority only over state-regulated health plans, which include Medicaid, plans for state workers and policies residents purchase from the ACA marketplaces. About 90 million people are covered that way. State laws do not apply to the 156 million workers, retirees and dependents who get their coverage through employer-sponsored health plans, which are regulated through a federal law known as ERISA.

Furthermore, health insurance companies are large and have deep pockets, allowing them to easily absorb state fines.

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But Kaye Pestaina, the director of the program on patient and consumer protection at KFF, said states have an important role to play.

"Much of the focus around prior authorization at the federal level has kind of originated from state protections, so I imagine there will be continual activity by state legislatures to come at the problem," Pestaina told Stateline.

What states are doing

Pestaina said states are trying a number of solutions. For example, states such as Arizona, Michigan and Pennsylvania have given their insurance regulators more authority to directly access claims denial information, in order to overturn decisions or potentially enforce state rules. And these efforts have largely had bipartisan support.

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There is a role for some oversight to make sure that things are covered. But right now, I think the system is out of balance.  North Carolina Republican state Rep. Timothy Reeder

In Pennsylvania, Republican state Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill pushed through bipartisan legislation in 2022 to streamline prior authorization practices for state-regulated health plans after hearing numerous complaints from patients and doctors.

The legislation created an Independent External Review organization that allows Pennsylvanians to submit an online form to request a review if their insurer denies a service or treatment. If the review organization decides the service should be covered, the insurer must do so. Before then, patients could turn only to a federal review process, which may have been more challenging to navigate and taken more time.

"Our reforms created clear rules, clear timelines for the prior authorization process, and it removed ambiguity or uncertainty from the system that at times, insurers could exploit and providers could be confused over," Phillips-Hill told Stateline. "Prior to that reform, if you had a denial from your insurer, you had very little recourse."

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The program began in January 2024, and in its first year the Pennsylvania Insurance Department overturned half of 517 denials, which amounted to claims from 259 people.

Jonathan Greer, president and CEO of the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania, said his trade group worked with lawmakers to come to an agreement on how to change the prior authorization process in a way that worked for insurers and patient advocates. Greer says he thinks Pennsylvania could be a model for other states.

"Prior authorization, I think unfairly, has been characterized as a reason to say 'no' by insurers," Greer said. "The purpose of prior authorization is to make sure that you know the care that you get is consistent with the care that you need."

In North Carolina, Republican state Rep. Timothy Reeder is hopeful that his prior authorization bill will make it across the finish line this year. Reeder's bill would set tight deadlines on insurers' claim decisions and require companies to have licensed practitioners on their claim review boards. Insurers would also have to publicize a list of services they require authorization for.

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"I'm not saying that we need to get rid of it completely," Reeder told Stateline. "There is a role for some oversight to make sure that things are covered. But right now, I think the system is out of balance."

But some state laws have proven to be less effective than advertised.

In 2021, Texas enacted a first-of-its-kind law creating a "gold card" standard, under which physicians whose care recommendations are approved by insurers at least 90% of the time are exempt from the prior authorization process. But as of the end of 2023, only 3% of Texas physicians had earned gold card status, according to the Texas Medical Association.

That's why the group is pushing legislation that would require insurers to report which preauthorization exemptions they granted and denied and how many claims went to independent review. Dr. Zeke Silva of the Texas Medical Association's legislative council said it would be "in the same spirit" as what Pennsylvania has done.

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"Our focus with the [Texas Medical Association] is our physicians being able to provide the best care possible. And we want that to be free of burden," Silva told Stateline. "We want to minimize third parties coming in and inappropriately denying care that our physicians and our patients think is in their best interest."

Stateline reporter Shalina Chatlani can be reached at [email protected].

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Nearly two dozen state attorneys general are asking a Rhode Island judge to enforce an injunction against the Trump administration, warning states will otherwise need to wind down some emergency operations, including relief for Hawaii wildfire victims.

The attorneys general issued the warning in court documents filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Providence, where they are suing the Trump administration over its attempt to freeze some funding authorized by Congress.

The prosecutors said court intervention is needed immediately to address an impasse over millions of dollars in Federal Emergency Management Agency grants, which prosecutors said were previously approved but havent been accessible since as early as Feb. 7.

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Plaintiff states will need to wind down important programmatic emergency services, including disaster relief to people and communities affected by the Maui wildfires, in short order if funding is not immediately unfrozen, wrote the prosecutors. The 2023 wildfires killed more than 100 people, destroyed thousands of buildings and displaced entire communities.

The ongoing lawsuit was filed shortly after President Donald Trump took office in January. At the time, his administration issued a memo ordering a freeze on all funding that didnt align with the presidents priorities.

The Trump administration quickly rescinded the memo, but the court determined the freeze nonetheless continued and the states have argued key funding has remained frozen ever since.

In January, Rhode Island U.S. Chief Judge John McConnell sided with the states and issued a temporary restraining order. McConnell extended the block earlier this month by issuing a preliminary injunction order, which allows the underlying case to move forward.

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Trump administration attorneys have argued the states lawsuit is too broad and vague, and that McConnells orders encroach on the authority of the executive branch. On March 14, Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth filed an update on FEMA funding, saying the agency is in compliance with the preliminary injunction order.

Roth said the issues about FEMA funding that had previously been raised by the states were related to the agencys manual review process, which requires reviewing grant projects, activities and source documents before releasing funds for reimbursements.

This manual review process does not violate the courts order for multiple reasons, Roth wrote.

The attorneys general disagree, saying Tuesday that at least some of the FEMA funds that have been awarded to at least 19 of the plaintiff states remain frozen.

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In Rhode Island, Assistant Attorney General Sarah Rice said state officials hadnt been able to access 10 separate FEMA grants provided to the state in 2022 and 2023 for programs related to cybersecurity, emergency operations, homeland security and nonprofit security.

Rice said the state received an email from FEMA on March 19 announcing it was instituting additional reviews on all grant payments and obligations to ensure allowability, in accordance with a federal rules related to making payments to states.

In its email, FEMA also asserted that it may deny a request for reimbursement [i]f an adequate response is not received, to its informational demands, in which case the state may need to submit a new reimbursement request; this will re-start the 30-day timeline,' Rice added.

In other states, Oregon officials said they were waiting on nearly $130 million, granted mostly for local and tribal governments. Colorado officials said they were waiting on more than $33 million for 14 grant programs, including flood prevention.

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The top concern of the attorneys general, however, was the ongoing emergency response to the victims of the wildfires in Maui, where they said the lack of access to funding is poised to disrupt programs.

Hawaii officials said they were struggling to receive FEMA reimbursements quickly enough to keep operations afloat, and the lag was preventing them from maintaining more than three business days worth of cash on hand.

If the state doesnt receive reimbursement by next Monday, Hawaii officials said in court documents they would be forced to discontinue creating disaster recovery plans for households and help survivors navigate their recovery and work with the myriad of resources available to meet their needs.

The state currently provides services to more than 4,000 wildfire victims, according to the lawsuit, but that work will cease as of April 4 if funds are not released.

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The Trump administration must respond to the latest court filing by Thursday, according to court documents.

Beyond the courtroom, the funding-freeze lawsuit has also been politicized. Trumps allies, including billionaire Elon Musk, have accused McConnell  an Obama appointee  of being politically motivated.

On Monday, Georgia Congressman Andrew Clyde, a Republican, filed an impeachment resolution targeting McConnell, accusing Rhode Islands top federal judge of abuse of power and conflicts of interest.

It is well within President Trumps Article II authority to freeze and review federal funds in search of waste, fraud, and abuse, Clyde said in a statement. The American people overwhelmingly voted for President Trump in November, providing a clear mandate to make our federal government more efficient.

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Rhode Island Congressmen Gabe Amo and Seth Magaziner, both Democrats, rebuked Clydes actions, describing them as motivated by politics and ignorant to the law.

Judges should interpret the law without fear of reprisal or political retribution, Amo said in a statement. Those who disagree with a ruling should file an appeal, not sham resolutions with articles of impeachment. An independent judiciary is a cornerstone of our democratic system  I oppose any effort to drag federal judges into the hyperpartisan mud.

Eli Sherman (esherman@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and on Facebook.

Ted Nesi and Tim White contributed to this report.

Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
STATESBORO, Ga. (WSAV)  A Statesboro man has been arrested and charged by the GBI for sexual exploitation of children, a press release said.

According to a GBI spokesperson, they began investigating 46-year-old Elias John Gregory after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding the possible online possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material.

The investigation led to Gregorys arrest, a GBI spokesperson said. He was booked into the Bulloch County Jail.

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Anyone with information about other cases of child exploitation is asked to contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit at 404-270-8870 or report via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline at Cybertipline.org.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
The state Conservative Committee has narrowed its selection of a candidate in the upcoming 21st Congressional District special election to three candidates, all Republicans, with state Sen. Dan Stec (R-Queensbury) being the party preference, Conservative party spokesman William OReilly said Sunday.

PARTY PREFERENCE

The Conservative Party Executive Committee will be meeting with Stec, Assemblyman Chris Tague (R-Schoharie), and Liz Joy, a conservative speaker and writer from Glenville, in the coming days.

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The Party could get behind any one of those three candidates, but Senator Stec remains the Party preference, OReilly said. The Conservative Party has informed GOP leaders that it hopes to work with them to advance one of these three. Discussions are ongoing.

The special election will be held to fill the congressional seat that will be vacant when U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik resigns to become U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

VOTE NEARING

A U.S. Senate confirmation vote is expected to be held around April 2, according to multiple national news reports.

Unlike a regular election, there is no primary in a special election.

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Party chairs in the 15 counties in the 21st Congressional District select the nominee.

All three of the Conservative Partys acceptable candidates are also seeking the Republican nomination, and were on a list of 11 finalists Republican leaders announced earlier this month.

State election law allows candidates to run on multiple party lines and combine the votes received on all lines in the tabulation.

Conservative party leaders have said they hope to run the same candidate as the Republican party.

The Democratic candidate is Blake Gendebien, a farmer from Lisbon, in St. Lawrence County.

The Gendebien campaign announced March 19 that it has raised more than $2 million since mid-December.
Charter Steel, Wisconsin's largest industrial energy consumer, has taken a groundbreaking step toward sustainability by launching Wisconsin's largest behind-the-meter solar installation.

This massive solar project marks a significant shift toward renewable energy in the industrial sector.

This 19.5-megawatt project is expected to generate approximately 30,000 megawatt-hours of electricity annually, supplying over 20% of the plant's yearly energy consumption.

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The initiative is an example of a company aiming to reduce its carbon footprint and stabilize energy costs. It was developed in collaboration with SunVest Solar.

The steel industry is one of the most energy-intensive sectors, historically dependent on fossil fuels for production, so any improvement can make a big difference.

By investing in solar energy, Charter is also setting an example of how heavy industries can transition to cleaner, more sustainable operations. This project will help to reduce the company's carbon dioxide pollution and flatten electricity costs, shielding the business from market price fluctuations.

Beyond cost savings, the environmental benefits are substantial. Solar power generates electricity without producing greenhouse gases, meaning this installation will significantly reduce air pollution and help combat increasing global temperatures.

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This solar initiative is also a win for the local community and the broader economy. By harnessing renewable energy, Charter is contributing to a cleaner power grid while also introducing new job opportunities in the renewable energy sector.

Other companies are taking similar steps. Estuary Power, for example, has secured $340 million in funding to bring solar energy to Las Vegas.

"We are thrilled to have completed this significant milestone in Wisconsin's renewable energy landscape," said Bram Walters, CEO of SunVest Solar. "This project builds on our deep history in Wisconsin.  It's a testament to how solar energy can empower businesses to take control of their energy future."

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Mar. 24Stevens County sheriff deputies shot and killed a man while attempting to carry out a felony arrest warrant Sunday in the 3300 block of state Route 25 south of Northport, Washington.

According to a sheriff's office news release, the subject of the arrest warrant exited the residence with a firearm on his hip and refused orders to surrender. The sheriff's crisis negotiator was called in, but the man fled the residence on foot after deputies attempted to de-escalate. Deputies followed him, continued to give commands, then deployed a nonlethal pepper ball.

The man then pulled his firearm, and "lethal force was utilized to stop the threat," the news release said. Deputies immediately rendered medical aid, and the man was transported to the Colville hospital where he died a short time later.

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Washington State Patrol's Criminal Investigation Division will lead an investigation.

James Hanlon's reporting for The Spokesman-Review is funded in part by Report for America and by members of the Spokane community. 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.
Several of the nations major disability rights groups expressed disappointment with Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) after she apparently mocked Texas Governor Greg Abbotts use of a wheelchair in a speech Saturday.

But some still see Crockett as an ally, and are willing to extend her a second chance.

Governor Abbott sometimes has policies that are harmful to people with disabilities, and that's terrible, said Josie Byzek, senior communications and digital experience director at the United Spinal Association. Representative Crockett has a history of protecting the programs and rights of people with disabilities, and that's wonderful. At the same time, the stigma is real.

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Disability rights advocates who spoke to POLITICO on Tuesday framed Crocketts remark as a damning reflection of the current political climate  as well as a warning sign for the Democratic Party.

If the Democrats want to be as inclusive as they claim they do and ensure that people with disabilities are actually recognized as being welcome under their political umbrella, then you have to be thoughtful about your words, said Emily Ladau, a disability rights advocate and author. And when Crockett made that joke, she was really punching down, and she knew that she would get a laugh.

Crocketts quip  which she made at a speech over the weekend  circulated widely on social media Tuesday. It drew sharp criticism from Republicans, and Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) said he would file a censure resolution.

Yall know we got Governor Hot Wheels down there. Come on now, Crockett said at a Human Rights Campaign dinner in Los Angeles Saturday. And the only thing hot about him is that he is a hot ass mess, honey.

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Abbott was paralyzed after a tree fell on him while on a run over 40 years ago.

Crockett initially told reporters Tuesday her statement "speaks for itself." But she later said on X that she was not thinking about the governors wheelchair use when making the remark on Saturday, but about the planes, trains, and automobiles he used to transfer migrants into communities led by Black mayors, deliberately stoking tension and fear among the most vulnerable.

In an email to POLITICO, Crockett's chief of staff, Kimberly McClain, said that Crockett "in no way, meant any harm toward the Governor OR meant to take lightly any medical conditions that he may have," adding that she would "continue to advocate for the needs of our disabled neighbors."

The governors team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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When public figures use language that mocks a persons disability, they fuel the stigma that already keeps people with disabilities out of public office, workplaces, and other spaces where decisions are made, Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc of the United States, said in a statement. We can debate policies without using language that demeans an entire community.

Some of the advocates who spoke to POLITICO argued that Crocketts comments belied a stronger record of support for people with disabilities.

Right now we're in really tenuous times where you don't want to make a foe out of someone who was otherwise a friend like Crockett clearly is, Ladau said. But we cannot hold one side to account and not the other.

Chase Bearden, executive director of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, said the reaction to Crocketts statement is a reminder for both sides of the political spectrum to stop using someones disability as the basis of an insult.

A person's disability doesn't affect their ability to do their job, whether they're a governor, a reporter, or an air traffic controller, Bearden said in a statement. Lawmakers of all stripes should spend their energy crafting and implementing policy that serves all Americans, not mudslinging.
PARIS, Ky. (FOX 56)  Dismissal was delayed at Bourbon County Middle and High School on Tuesday afternoon when the school went on lockdown.

According to Superintendent Dr. Larry Begley, Bourbon County Middle School was dismissed on March 25 when a high school student alerted administrators she overheard someone talking about having a gun in their backpack.

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Students who were already outside returned to the school, and the high school was placed on a brief lockdown.

Through the quick work of law enforcement, authorities determined that a student had brought a tattoo gun to school, and there was no immediate threat to students or staff.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
Residents have been advised to stay home to avoid panic and stock up on groceries if Mount Fuji erupts and covers Tokyo in ash, according to guidelines released by a government expert panel.

Evacuation is recommended only if ash accumulates beyond 30cm, especially near wooden buildings at risk of collapse, the governments new guidelines say.

Experts created the guidelines based on the governments request to study the impact of a Mount Fuji eruption on Tokyo and prepare countermeasures. These are the first detailed guidelines for residents, and the government will share them with ministries and prefectures for disaster relief.

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The study estimates that a major eruption of Mount Fuji could release up to 490 million cubic metres of ash  about 10 times more debris than the 2011 earthquake and tsunami produced.

The expert panel categorised ashfall into four stages, from Stage 1  under three cm  to Stage 4  over 30cm. While the first three stages likely wont harm outdoor workers immediately, prolonged exposure could affect their throat and eyes.

Residents are advised to stay home, avoid unnecessary outings, and wear goggles and masks if going out. Those with respiratory issues should be extra cautious, the expert panel recommends. Driving is also discouraged due to reduced visibility in such a scenario. Residents are usually advised to keep a weeks worth of emergency supplies for earthquakes, but the panel suggests stocking up more since a Mount Fuji eruption could last longer. The last eruption in 1707 lasted two weeks. In a Stage 4 ashfall, power, water, and phone services might be disrupted.

File. A person takes pictures of Mount Fuji from across the street of a convenience store in the town of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi prefecture on 21 May 2024 (AFP via Getty Images)

Although experts say Mount Fuji shows no signs of an imminent eruption, authorities are monitoring it closely because its considered a dormant volcano, not extinct. Professor Takeshi Sagiya from Nagoya University told the South China Morning Post that volcanic ash could lead to many unexpected problems. He explained that volcanic ash is made of tiny fragments of melted rock, resembling fine glass powder.

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It is even more dangerous for aircraft in flight because it will stop engines if it is sucked in, he said.

Experts have recommended the government find places to store ash to help with relief efforts temporarily. They suggest using the ash in construction, placing it in landfills, or discarding it in the ocean if necessary. They also stressed the need to educate residents about the impact of an eruption and train more volcano disaster relief experts.

Professor Emeritus Fujii Toshitsugu from the University of Tokyo, who leads the panel, was quoted as saying by NHK Japan that Japan hasnt faced a widespread ashfall from an eruption in the past 100 years. He told the outlet that he believes its time for the country to start preparing for such a disaster.
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  A structure fire is under investigation in Wichita Falls Tuesday morning.

At 11:26 p.m. Monday, March 24, the Wichita Falls Fire Department were dispatched to a structure fire on the 700 block of Denver Street.

WFFD saw heavy fire coming from the north side of the building.

Officials thought there was a homeless person in the structure but when they managed to put the fire out, firefighters went inside and saw no one in the building.

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Officials have not determined what caused the fire at this time.

This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for updates as more information becomes available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com.
March 25 (UPI) -- Financial aid advisers on college campuses across the United States are sharing in the confusion of student loan borrowers as the Trump administration tries to reshape education.

Borrowers are blocked from accessing income-driven repayment options while awaiting the Court of Appeals' final ruling on the Saving on a Valuable Education Plan introduced by the Biden administration. President Donald Trump formally ordered the end of the Department of Education and for student loans to be moved to the Small Business Administration.

Current and soon-to-be borrowers, financial aid advisers and advocacy organizations are unsure about what comes next.

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"A lot of what we're hearing is what everyone is hearing," Megan Walter, senior policy analyst with the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, told UPI. "'What is actually happening? Can they actually do this? What does it mean for student loans and Pell grants?' These are questions we don't have answers for."

Student loan borrowers hold nearly $1.8 trillion in federal and private student loan debt in the United States.

President Donald Trump speaks to school students after signing an executive order to begin the process of dismantling the Department of Education at the White House in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

Repayment plan applications down

A federal court in Missouri has issued an injunction blocking the U.S. Department of Education from administering the SAVE Plan and parts of other Income Driven Repayment plans.

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The SAVE Plan is not the only plan that has been disrupted. Income-Based Repayment, Income Contingent Repayment, Pay As You Earn and Revised Pay As You Earn plans are also suspended.

The SAVE Plan was the most inexpensive repayment plan offered by Federal Student Aid. Borrowers under this plan have been in forbearance since August due to the litigation against it.

On Jan. 15, days before Trump was sworn into office, the Department of Education published an update on the SAVE Plan, noting that borrowers will remain in 0% interest forbearance until the fall of 2025.

The Department of Education has updated its guidance to say that payments will not resume until December at the earliest.

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For borrowers working toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness, time spent in forbearance does not count toward loan forgiveness.

"There were already 8 million people enrolled in SAVE," Aissa Canchola Banez, policy director of the Student Borrower Protection Center, told UPI. "We also know there are 40 million-plus borrowers that have student loan debt. Many are already struggling with rising costs across the board. We knew we had a backlog of around 1 million applications before the Trump administration removed the online application."

"We are hearing from borrowers every day who are terrified of the fact they could potentially see payments spike or just cannot afford to keep up with their payments," she continued.

The American Federation of Teachers labor union filed a lawsuit against the Department of Education last week for blocking access to income-driven repayment applications. The lawsuit argues that this puts borrowers at risk of defaulting on their loans and denies public service workers from working toward student loan forgiveness.

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The Trump administration has not given notice of when applications will be available online again. It has also not offered guidance about what will happen to borrowers who are enrolled in the SAVE Plan.

Plans of action

As borrowers wait for new developments on income-driven repayment plans, such as the return of online applications, Banez suggests taking steps to ensure repayment progress is protected.

"The advice we have been giving to borrowers is to protect yourself," she said. "Do this by going into the [Federal Student Aid] web portal. Download payment history. Take screenshots of IDR forgiveness. Save that information into your records and have that handy for if there are any major changes made that could result in any of that information being lost."

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Borrowers are also advised to contact their loan servicer to better understand what relief or assistance may be available to them.

One lesser-known option, according to Banez, is casework assistance offered by members of Congress. Borrowers can contact their representatives and senators demanding casework assistance if they are experiencing issues with federal student loans or loan servicers. This includes difficulty contacting loan servicers, errors with credit reporting, lost paperwork or loan information and problems filing applications.

"Take advantage of this tool, reach out to your members of Congress and request casework assistance," she said. "Demand that they help."

Borrowers may be able to get on hardship forbearance or a deferment if they are struggling to pay their loans at the time.

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Betsy Mayotte, president of the Institute of Student Loan Advisors, told UPI there is unlikely to be a repayment plan as inexpensive as the SAVE Plan for most borrowers.

"They're going to have to try to budget for the next lowest repayment plan. It's probably Pay As You Earn of what's called the new IDR," she said.

Education Department impact on student loans

The potential ending of the Department of Education and shift of student loans to the Small Business Administration are not simple propositions.

The Department of Education is a congressionally approved cabinet-level agency. Congressional action is required to abolish it. Partisan talk about dismantling the department has carried on for decades but this has not gained momentum with a majority of lawmakers historically.

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"If they change where the loans are serviced, and that is a big if, all that means is a different agency is overseeing the program," Mayotte said. "That doesn't change the terms and conditions of the loan."

Mayotte explained that most of the day-to-day operations related to managing student loans is done by vendors or student loan servicers, not the Department of Education directly.

"If the loans move, I don't expect there will be a big change in the day-to-day for student loan borrowers. I don't even expect there will be a database change," she siad.

If changes in which department oversees student loans somehow invalidated the estimated $1.8 trillion in student debt, those changes would not be made, Mayotte added.

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"I expect that if that legal theory has any legs at all they're not going to move the loans," she said. "Or Congress will change the law."

As for shifting the responsibility of student loans to the Small Business Administration, Walter expects it to be challenging.

"The SBA is not set up to manage $1.8 to $2 trillion in federal student loans," Walter said. "Moving FSA to the Small Business Administration would be such a dramatic restructuring that it would come with a host of logistical and legal implications. It would require not only transferring the administration of aid over but oversight. There's no way it doesn't cause disruptions to students receiving their aid."

Budget reconciliation

House Republicans have a goal to cut trillions in federal spending through the process of budget reconciliation. They plan to cut about $300 billion from education spending.

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How the SAVE Plan ultimately ends will have major implications on how Congress cuts funding from other education services, Mayotte said.

"We know SAVE is done. What we don't know is who is going to bury the body: the court or Congress" she said. "If it's Congress, that means Congress 'saved' $130 billion. If the court kills it, Congress has to find another $130 billion. Then I worry about other services."

Paul Peterson, director of Harvard University's Program on Education Policy and Governance, told UPI there is much uncertainty over how Congress will move forward and how the judicial branch will react to the Trump administration's actions on education.

The courts limited the Biden administration's plans for student loan forgiveness and debt relief with the Supreme Court affirming those limitations. Notably, President Joe Biden's attempt to grant broad student loan forgiveness was through executive order.

"There's a lot of variation of opinion among the conservative side of the Supreme Court," Peterson said. "The Supreme Court recently decided that if it's a major issue, the executive branch cannot change policy. It has to be done by statutory enactment if it's a major policy issue. That placed important limits on the Biden administration."

"'They said you don't have the power to do this. This belongs to Congress,'" Peterson continued. "If the Supreme Court said that in the case of the Biden administration, are they going to turn around and rule differently in the case of the Trump administration?"
BOROUGH PARK, Brooklyn (PIX11)  Amid the fog of international travel, a group of Jewish students studying in Jerusalem was handed a backpackone that none of them recognized as their own.

Fortunately for the rightful owner, these students believe in doing good deeds, or mitzvahs, as part of their daily lives.

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After returning home for the Jewish holidays, a Brooklyn exchange studentwho prefers to remain anonymousnever expected a lost bag, and the attention that followed, to land in his lap at Newark Airport.

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A cab driver had mistakenly handed over the backpack while unloading the students luggage.

The yellow cab comes back, opens the window, says, Someone left this, hands it over to me, and drives away, the student, 20, recalled.

Before he could tell the driver it wasnt his, the cab had already sped off, and was stunned when he opened the bag in an attempt to find its rightful owner.

First, I saw a laptop, he said. Then I started opening other areas and seeing jewelry.

I was shocked, he added. It looked like expensive stuff.

Inside the bag, he found a custom diamond-encrusted pendant, Rolex watches, loose diamonds, other jewelry, and cashwith an estimated value over $100,000.

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He immediately told his mother, who advised him to call Shmira, a Brooklyn public safety group. Shmira volunteers took the backpack and began investigating. This is what we do, said Levi Leifer, Director of the Shmira chapter. This is our mission, our 24/7.

The group eventually found a phone number linking them to the bags owner, who told PIX11 he works in New York Citys Diamond District. But would not provide any additional information.

Was he a distributor? A wholesaler? A customer? Im sure, with time, well get more clarity on the story itself, Leifer said.

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After confirming ownership, Shmira invited the ecstatic man to their Borough Park office. While hes talking, we see fear, assuming the bag is empty, Leifer said. But when he opened it, he couldnt believe it. You had to see his eyes.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

He was very, very excitedlooked very happy.

Blown away by the students honesty, the owner offered a reward, which they declined.

A lost bag of diamonds, returned by a groupa cut above the rest.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BOROUGH PARK, Brooklyn (WPIX)  Amid the fog of international travel, a group of Jewish students studying in Jerusalem was handed a backpack  that none recognized as their own.

Fortunately for the rightful owner, these students believe in doing good deeds, or mitzvahs, as part of their daily lives.

After returning home for the Jewish holidays, a Brooklyn, New York, exchange student  who prefers to remain anonymous  never expected a lost bag, and the attention that followed, to land in his lap at Newark Airport.

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Eggs under $4 sold by skincare store The Ordinary in NYC

A cab driver had mistakenly handed over the backpack while unloading the students luggage.

The yellow cab comes back, opens the window, says, Someone left this, hands it over to me, and drives away, the student, 20, recalled.

Before he could tell the driver it wasnt his, the cab had already sped off. The student was stunned when he opened the bag in an attempt to find its rightful owner.

First, I saw a laptop, he said. Then I started opening other areas and seeing jewelry.

I was shocked, he added. It looked like expensive stuff.

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Inside the bag, he found a custom diamond-encrusted pendant, Rolex watches, loose diamonds, other jewelry, and cash  with an estimated value over $100,000.

He immediately told his mother, who advised him to call Shmira, a Brooklyn public safety group. Shmira volunteers took the backpack and began investigating. This is what we do, said Levi Leifer, director of the Shmira chapter. This is our mission, our 24/7.

Fortunately for the rightful owner, these students believe in doing good deeds, or mitzvahs, as part of their daily lives. (Credit: Shmira Public Safety)

The group eventually found a phone number linking them to the bags owner, who told Nexstars WPIX that he works in New York Citys Diamond District but would not provide any additional information.

Was he a distributor? A wholesaler? A customer? Im sure, with time, well get more clarity on the story itself, Leifer said.

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Kidnapped 6-year-old girl discovered during traffic stop: Kansas troopers

After confirming ownership, Shmira invited the ecstatic man to their Borough Park office. While hes talking, we see fear, assuming the bag is empty, Leifer said. But when he opened it, he couldnt believe it. You had to see his eyes.

He was very, very excited, looked very happy.

Blown away by the students honesty, the owner offered a reward, which they declined.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
JOPLIN, Mo.  The next generation of scientists share their research at Missouri Southern today.

Students showcased their individual and team projects at the 36th Annual Regional Science Fair in the Billingsly Student Center.

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Judges evaluated each project based on scientific content, creativity, and presentation skills.

Students also had the chance to submit a formal research paper and deliver a 12-minute talk explaining their findings to an audience.

Projects covered a range of disciplines, from biology, math and physics, to social science and psychology.

Thomas Jefferson eighth grader Cae Woods experiment was about the effect of pH values on teeth.

She soaked eggs in different types of water for two weeks to simulate enamel decay.

Ive always loved experimenting. Now this is my first chance to get to actually share it with other people and to share the things that Im interested in with other people that might find it the same way interesting, said Cae Wood, Thomas Jefferson 8th grader.

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When they present their project here in the science fair, they not only learn about science content, they also learn about like how to be creative, how to present science to the public, communication skills, they learn communication skills, said Dr. Rabindra Bajracharya, MSSU associate professor of physics.

Awards were presented at 4 this afternoon.

Grand prize winners will have a chance to take their research to the next level.

5th to 8th grade junior division winners can apply to the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge.

High school students who win the senior division are eligible to attend the International Science and Engineering Fair in Columbus, Ohio from May 10 to 16, competing against more than 2,000 young scientists from around the world.

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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Where you stand on the name of the Gulf of water south of Louisiana is not nearly as important as where the shrimp on your plate came from.

A recent report revealed that 58% of restaurants sampled in Shreveport were found to advertise or imply they serve Gulf wild-caught shrimp falsely. Rapid ID Genetic Highly-Accurate Test (RIGHTTest) revealed that farm-raised imported shrimp are being passed along to unknowing consumers as authentic Gulf shrimp. Samples taken between March 8-10, 2025, showed that the Shreveport sample contained the highest inauthenticity rate in Louisiana.

SeaD Consulting has conducted the ongoing study, which found that in February 2025, the lowest rate of foreign farm-raised fraud was in New Orleans, with 13%, Baton Rouge, with 30%, and Lafayette, with 33% of the shrimp being Gulf imposters.

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Back to Shreveport, out of 24 restaurants sampled, 17 were serving imported shrimp, and 14 of those were not labeled correctly, excluding the country of origin on the menu or denoting in signage that the shrimp was not from the nearest shrimp-filled waterway.

What was shocking to me, said SEAD COO Erin Williams, is that six of the 24 restaurants were blatantly being deceptive by labeling dishes as Gulf shrimp (not just implying it through decor, location, and imagery), and served the SEAD investigation team imported shrimp instead. This fraudulent practice not only misleads consumers but undermines Louisianas shrimping industry.

Shreveport is not as close to the Gulf as Louisianas southernmost city, but thats not an excuse for passing off imported shrimp as if they were sourced from closer waterways. However, choosing the often cheaper shrimp option instead of Gulf shrimp impacts Louisiana fishermen who are already fighting against environmental challenges, as well as those who earn their keep sourcing seafood.

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This is a blow to the culture of Louisiana, where authenticity in food is paramount, said Rodney Olander, Chairman of the Louisiana Shrimp Task Force. When consumers are misled, it hurts local shrimpers and damages the reputation of our beloved seafood industry. We have the support of Southern Louisiana, but clearly not the entire state.

So if you want to eat Gulf shrimp that hasnt traveled, been frozen, or processed to get to your plate, the following local restaurants serve authentic Gulf shrimp.

Chuck Wagon Crawfish, Copelands of New Orleans (E. Bert Kouns Industrial Loop), The Crabby Crawfish, Dragos Seafood Restaurant, Flying Burger and Seafood, The Noble Savage, and Oyster Bar & Grille.

In the Louisiana study, the restaurants found to be serving imported shrimp without proper menu labeling on signage were released to the Louisiana Department of Health for review and enforcement.

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The Louisiana Shrimp Task Force studies and monitors the shrimp industry and makes recommendations to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

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President Donald Trump was shocked to learn at a press conference Monday that messages between some of his administrations top officials and aides were leaked when an editor for The Atlantic was mistakenly included in a private Signal group chat.

The stunned commander-in-chief at one point told reporters gathered in the White Houses Roosevelt Room: Youre telling me about it for the first time.

During the press conference, Trump was asked what his reaction was to The Atlantic article published Monday, which revealed that his top officials accidentally shared plans to bomb Yemen with Jeffrey Goldberg, the magazines editor-in-chief.

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The president seemed blissfully unaware of either the article or the security breach.

I dont know anything about it. Im not a big fan of The Atlantic. To me its a magazine thats going out of business. I think its not much of a magazine but I know nothing about it, Trump said. Youre saying that they had what?

His confusion didnt seem to end there. After the reporter specified that the messages were sent through the messaging app Signal, Trump cut him off: Having to do with what? What were they talking about?

In his article, Goldberg described how he was mistakenly added into a Signal group chat with the likes of Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth , where top Trump administration officials revealed plans for a Houthi-targeted military strike in Yemen on March 14.

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He also attached screenshot evidence of the chat.

The spokesman for the National Security Council, Brian Hughes, confirmed the legitimacy of the group chat, informing Goldberg that it appeared to be an authentic message chain.

A spokesperson for Vance also addressed the messages, telling Goldberg that Vice President Vance unequivocally supports this administrations foreign policy.

The only person seemingly kept in the dark throughout this whole ordeal was the president himself.

Well it couldnt have been very effective because the attack was very effective, I can tell you that, he said at the press conference, wrapping up his thoughts on the matter. I dont know anything about it.
When Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was asked Monday about his role in one of the most embarrassing political screwups in U.S. history, he looked directly into the cameras and went after the real culprit: Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor of The Atlantic, who wasaccidentally, we assumeincluded in an encrypted group chat earlier this month about plans to bomb Houthi rebels in Yemen. This is the guy that peddles in garbage, Hegseth said, seething. This is what he does. He rattled off a series of scandals from the first Trump administration that heand his bosssee as media hoaxes, from Russia, Russia, Russia to the fine people on both sides at Charlottesville to the allegation that Trump disparaged fallen soldiers as suckers and losers.

Never mind that the Trump administration had already acknowledged that Goldbergs reporting on the Signal app chat was accurate, or that Hegseth ultimately bore responsibility for including a journalist in a discussion of top-secret war plans. In the MAGA-verse, the real culprit is always something or someone else. Whether that strategy will save Hegseths hide here is unclear. He has to know that, in most administrations, his screwup would be a fireable offense. But this is clearly not a normal administration. Hegseth is there not because he actually has the skills and experience to be the defense secretary but because the former Fox News host knows to look handsomely into the camera, flagrantly lie, and enthusiastically flatter and defend Dear Leader.

Signalgate, as the Beltway media is calling it, has all the hallmarks of a screwup from President Trumps first term; its reminiscent of when, in May 2017, he reportedly shared classified information with Russias foreign minister. The big difference this time around is that it wasnt Trump himself who screwed upunless you count the fact that he hired these bozos in the first place. But that bring us to one of two reasons why Trumps second term has thus far been worse than the first. Last time around, he staffed his administration with Republican stalwarts who mostly had the requisite experience, but now hes surrounded by lackeys and shills, all of whom have been picked for their loyalty (and, in many cases, have repeatedly expressed that loyalty in the right-wing media). And unlike last time, when Trump seemed entirely unprepared to win the presidency, the political right has been preparing for his return to power for four years. The result is chaos and destruction.

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The group chat story reads like a modern reimagining of Dr. Strangelove. The participants are planning a bombing campaign against Houthi rebels, who are aligned with Iran; attacking them risks escalating a relatively contained conflict into a regional war. However, that wasnt the primary concern of those on the chat, which apparently included Vice President JD Vance, national security adviser Michael Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, top White House adviser Stephen Miller, director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, among others.

The strikes were intended to secure the Suez Canal, which has been routinely disrupted by Houthi rebels for yearsbut that would benefit Americas ostensible European allies. I think we are making a mistake, Vance wrote, reflecting an administration that despises those longtime allies, seeing them instead as freeloaders who rely on the U.S. 3 percent of US trade runs through the [Suez]. 40 percent of European trade does. There is a real risk that the public doesnt understand this or why its necessary. Later, Vance got to the point: I just hate bailing Europe out again. (Turns out, this administration might love missile strikes even more.)

The text thread is a window into the administrations approach to policy issues, but it mostly makes clear that these are stupid, reckless people pursuing stupid, reckless policies. Its not so different from the approach weve seen from Elon Musks DOGE, where a strike force of coders with no government experience storm government buildings and start whipping sledgehammers around. Much of the devastation is intended, and potentially permanent. Entire agencies are no more. But in many cases, the recklessness of the cuts has resulted in the apparently unintended disruption of vital services, causing DOGE to scramble to fix its mistakelike bringing back the air traffic control staffers who were fired, or reinstating a USAID contract to provide lifesaving nutrition to starving children.

On the one hand, there is a master plan and that master plan involves the wholesale gutting of the federal government. On the other, in many cases what you see is exactly what happens when you hire loud, stupid, incompetent people for reasons that have nothing to do with professional ability.

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To be fair, foreign policy and war planning are difficult and complicated, and things often go awry even when competent people are in charge. Look no further than the Americas disastrous pullout from Afghanistan, which happened after years of preparation and nonetheless was a failure so spectacular it may have ultimately led to Trumps reelection. (At the very least, it marked the start of a polling slide for Joe Biden that he never recovered from.) Striking Houthi rebels in Yemen is a much simpler operation. But the way that this administration handles everything makes failure and disaster more likely. What if the next accidentally leaked chat messages are about direct strikes on Iran?

Which brings us back to Hegseth talking to reporters. He has a simple playbook: Act like Trump. The administrations failures, like the presidents, are never actually their fault. They are the fault of Democrats, liberals, college students, journalistsreally anyone who fits the bill. (The bill, specifically, is whatever Fox News will put on a chyron to excuse the administrations failures.) Hegseth is good at this because he was reasonably good at being on television. He got his current job for this reason. The problem with being good on television, however, is that it is perhaps the least transferable skill in existence. It certainly hasnt made Hegseth a remotely competent secretary of defense, just as Trumps years on The Apprentice didnt make him a remotely competent president. But this isnt really a problem for them, is it? Theyre doing just fine. Its merely a problem for the United Statesboth its ability to function internally and its standing in the world. And thats not something these narcissistic nitwits are particularly concerned about.
CAIRO (AP)  Sudan aid groups say 54 killed in an airstrike blamed on the miliary in Darfur; the army denies targeting civilians.
CAIRO (AP)  Aid groups in Sudan said on Tuesday at least 54 people were killed in a military airstrike on a local market in the countrys western region.

The strike on Monday on the village of Tora caused a huge fire, according to Adam Rejal, a spokesman for the General Coordination, a local group helping displaced people in Darfur.

Brig. Gen. Nabil Abdullah, a spokesman for the Sudanese military, said civilians had not been targeted, adding the allegations were incorrect" and "are raised whenever our forces exercise their constitutional and legal right to deal with hostile targets.

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The strike tore apart a large part of the weekly market in Tora, which is located 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of el-Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur province.

Support Darfur Victims, a local group that provides support to victims of the Darfur conflict, shared graphic video footage appearing to show burnt structures and charred bodies on the ground.

More than half of the dead were women, according to a list of casualties provided by Rejal. At least 23 people were wounded and seven were missing, the list showed.

Rejal said that the strike was a crime against humanity and a clear violation of all international and humanitarian laws and conventions.

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The city of el-Fasher is held by the Sudanese military despite near-daily strikes by the powerful rival paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF.

U.N. humanitarian chief Volker Turk expressed shock at the reported killings at the Tora market, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, said Mondays horrific attack is yet another stark reminder of the growing disregard for human life and international humanitarian law during this conflict."

According to the U.N.s humanitarian colleagues, Dujarric said, there are disturbing reports that some of the injured are dying due to lack of access to timely medical care in El Fasher where most health facilities have shut down because of the ongoing siege.

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Monday's strike was the latest deadly attack in a war that started in April 2023 when simmering tensions between the military and the RSF exploded into open warfare across the country.

The war wrecked the capital, and other urban cities across the country. It 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 fighting has been marked by atrocities including mass rape and ethnically motivated killings that amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, especially in the western region of Darfur, according to the United Nations and international rights groups.

The military has made steady field advances in recent months against the RSF in Khartoum and elsewhere in the country. In March, It regained control of most of the strategic and government buildings in the capital, including the Republican Palace  the seat of the pre-war government.
A series of advances by the Sudanese military has led some observers to posit that the African nations yearslong civil war could be at a crucial turning point.

Even if it were to end tomorrow, the bloody conflict would have left the Sudanese people scarred by violence that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions of people. But the recent victories by the military do not spell the end of its adversary, a rebel paramilitary group that still holds large areas in Sudan.

The Conversation turned to Christopher Tounsel, a historian of modern Sudan at the University of Washington, to explain what the war has cost and where it could turn now.

Can you give a summary of the civil war to date?

On April 15, 2023, fighting broke out in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF  led by de facto head of state Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan  and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, led by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known colloquially as Hemedti. The RSF emerged out of the feared Janjaweed militia that had terrorized the Darfur region of Sudan.

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While the SAF and RSF previously worked together to forcibly remove longtime President Omar al-Bashir from power in 2019, they later split amid a power struggle that turned deadly.

The major point of contention was the disputed timeline for RSF integration into the national military, with the RSF preferring a 10-year process to the SAFs preferred two-year plan.

By early April 2023, the government deployed SAF troops along the streets of the capital, Khartoum, while RSF forces took up locations throughout the country. Matters came to a head when explosions and gunfire rocked Khartoum on April 15 of that year. The two forces have been in conflict ever since.

The human toll of the civil war has been staggering. As of February 2025, estimates of those killed from the conflict and its related causes, including lack of sufficient medical facilities and hunger, have ranged from 20,000 to 150,000  a wide gulf that, according to Humanitarian Research Lab executive director Nathaniel Raymond, is partially due to the fact that the dead or displaced are still being counted.

The conflict has displaced more than 14 million people, a number that demographically makes the Sudan situation the worlds worst displacement crisis. Nearly half of Sudans population is acutely food insecure, according to the U.N.s World Food Programme. Another 638,000 face catastrophic levels of hunger  the worlds highest number.

How have recent developments changed the war?

The SAF has recently scored a slew of victories. At time of writing, the Sudanese military controls much of the countrys southeastern border with Ethiopia, the Red Sea coast  and, with it, Sudans strategically important Port Sudan  and parts of the countrys metropolitan center located at the confluence of the Blue and White Nile rivers.

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Further, the SAF has reclaimed much of the White Nile and Gezira provinces and broken an RSF siege of North Kordofans provincial capital of el-Obeid. In perhaps the most important development, the army in late March recaptured the RSFs last major stronghold in Khartoum, the Presidential Palace.

A fighter loyal to the Sudanese army patrols a market area in Khartoum on March 24, 2025. AFP via Getty Images

Each of these actions indicates that the SAF is taking an increasingly proactive approach in the war. Such positive momentum could not only serve to reassure the Sudanese populace that the SAF is the countrys strongest force but also signal to foreign powers that it is, and will continue to be, the countrys legitimate authority moving forward.

And yet, there are other indications that the RSF is in no rush to concede defeat. Despite the SAFs advances, the RSF has strengthened its control over nearly all of Darfur, Sudans massive western region that shares a lengthy border with neighboring Chad.

It is here that the RSF has been accused of committing genocide against non-Arab communities, and only the besieged capital of North Darfur, El Fasher, stands in the way of total RSF hegemony in the region. The RSF also controls territory to the south, along Sudans borders with the Central African Republic and South Sudan.

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The fact that the SAF and RSF are entrenched in their respective regional strongholds casts doubt on the significance of the militarys recent victories.

Could Sudan be heading to partition?

As a historian who spent years writing about South Sudanese separatism, I find it somewhat unfathomable to imagine that Sudan would further splinter into different countries. Given the current state of affairs, however, partition is not outside the realm of possibility. In February, during a summit in Kenya, the RSF and its allies officially commenced plans to create a rival government.

The African Unions 55 member states are said to be split on the issue of Sudanese partition and the question of whether any entity linked with the RSF should be accepted. In January, during the waning days of U.S. President Joe Bidens presidency, Washington determined that the RSF and its allies had committed genocide and sanctioned Hemedti, the RSF leader, prohibiting him and his family from traveling to the U.S. and freezing any American assets he may hold.

Any attempt to entertain partition could be read as an acknowledgment of the legitimacy of the RSF and would also create a dangerous precedent for other leaders who have been accused of human rights violations.

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In addition to the RSFs perceived lack of moral legitimacy, there is also the recent precedent of South Sudans secession. South Sudan, since seceding from Sudan in 2011, has experienced enormous difficulties. Roughly 2 years into independence, the nation erupted into a civil war waged largely along ethnic lines. Since the conclusion of that war in 2018, the worlds youngest nation continues to struggle with intergroup violence, food insecurity and sanctions resulting from human rights violations.

Simply put, recent Sudanese history has shown that partition is not a risk-free solution to civil war.

How has shifting geopolitics affected the conflict?

It is important to understand that the conflicts ripples extend far beyond Sudans borders. Similarly, the actions of countries such as the U.S., Russia and China have an impact on the war.

Sudanese people line up to collect a charity iftar fast-breaking meal in Omdourman on March 19, 2025. Ebrahim Hamid/AFP via Getty Images

President Donald Trumps executive order freezing contributions from the U.S. governments development organization, USAID, has shuttered approximately 80% of the emergency food kitchens established to help those impacted by the conflict. An estimated 2 million people have been affected by this development.

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Russian financial and military contributions have been credited with helping the SAF achieve its gains in recent months. Russia has long desired a Red Sea naval base near Port Sudan, and the expulsion of Russias fleet from Syria following the fall of President Bashar Assad increased the importance of such a base.

And then there is China. A major importer of Sudanese crude oil, China engaged in conversations to renegotiate oil cooperation agreements with Sudan in October 2024 with the hopes of increasing oil production amid the war. An end to the war  and, with it, protecting the flow of oil through pipelines vulnerable to attack  would benefit both members of this bilateral relationship.

As the war enters its third year, the outlook remains frustratingly difficult to discern.

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: Christopher Tounsel, University of Washington

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Christopher Tounsel has previously received funding from the Council of American Overseas Research Centers.
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - An airstrike by the Sudanese Armed Forces on Monday night hit a crowded market in North Darfur, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries, activists reported on Tuesday.

Photos and videos posted on social media showed dozens of burned corpses, and smoke still rising from the ground. The footage was verified by the Centre for Information Resilience, a London-based non-profit group, which located the site to the village of Tora about 40 km (25 miles) north of al-Fasher.

The location and date of the incident matched satellite imagery that showed a new burn scar on the eastern side of the village, the group said, adding it was one of the highest reported casualty numbers they had documented in Darfur since October 2024.

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The Sudanese army did not immediately respond to a Reuters request to comment.

Lists of the dead and wounded provided by the Coordinating Committee for Refugees and Displaced People, an advocacy group in Darfur, included 84 people, at least 26 listed as dead. Reuters could not independently verify the lists.

The attack on a densely populated civilian area was a violation of international humanitarian law and a war crime, said Emergency Lawyers, a group monitoring the conflict's impact on civilians. It called for an independent investigation to hold those responsible accountable through international justice mechanisms.

Tora is controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which are engaged in a power struggle with the Sudanese army.

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The conflict has contributed to what the United Nations describes as the world's largest and most devastating humanitarian crisis that is only getting worse as aid deliveries are arbitrarily delayed.

Approximately half of Sudan's population of 50 million faces acute hunger, predominantly in areas controlled or threatened by the RSF, with over 12.5 million people displaced due to the ongoing violence.

The RSF said the death toll in Tora surpassed 400, with hundreds more injured. Reuters was not able to independently verify these figures.

Both the Sudanese army and RSF have accused each other of targeting civilian areas, resulting in rising casualties as the RSF attempts to establish a parallel government in western Sudan while losing ground in the capital, Khartoum, which threatens to further divide the country, which split from South Sudan in 2011.

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The Emergency Lawyers group had accused the RSF of shelling a mosque during a night prayer in the East Nile locality on Saturday, killing five civilians and injuring dozens more.

Meanwhile in al-Fasher, Relief International, the only organization providing support in Zamzam Camp, where over half a million people displaced by conflict are sheltering, said the situation is dire, and worsening by the day.

According to the support organisation, the number of children aged six months to five years who were admitted to its clinics with severe or moderate acute malnutrition increased by 58%, reaching 2,223 in February, while the number of pregnant and breastfeeding women admitted with moderate acute malnutrition increased by 85% in the same period, reaching 488.

(Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz in Khartoum and Reade Levinson in London; Writing by Mohamed Ezz; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
By Nafisa Eltahir and Khalid Abdelaziz

(Reuters) - A Sudanese paramilitary force locked in a war with the army has placed new constraints on aid deliveries to territories where it is seeking to cement its control, including areas where famine is spreading, humanitarian workers say.

The move comes as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces seek to form a parallel government in the west of the country, while it is rapidly losing ground in the capital, Khartoum - developments that could further divide the country, which split from South Sudan in 2011.

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It also puts hundreds of thousands of people in the western region of Darfur at greater risk of starvation - many of them displaced in previous rounds of conflict.

Relief workers have previously accused fighters from the RSF of looting aid during more than two years of war still raging in Sudan. They also accuse the army of denying or hindering access to RSF-held areas, worsening hunger and disease.

A dozen aid workers, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said since late last year the RSF has begun demanding higher fees and oversight of operational processes like recruitment of local staff and security, mirroring practices used by army-aligned authorities and further choking off access. The moves by the RSF, which aid groups are trying to push back against, have not been previously reported.

The war, which erupted out of a power struggle between the army and the RSF, has caused what the United Nations calls the world's largest and most devastating humanitarian crisis.

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About half of Sudan's population of 50 million suffers from acute hunger, mostly in territory held or under threat from the RSF. More than 12.5 million people have been displaced.

Aid agencies have failed to provide adequate relief and freezes on USAID funding are expected to add to the challenge.

In December, the Sudan Agency for Relief and Humanitarian Operations (SARHO), which administers aid for the RSF, issued directives, copies of which were seen by Reuters, demanding that humanitarian organisations register via a "cooperation agreement" and set up independent country operations in RSF territory.

Though SARHO agreed last month to suspend the directives until April, aid groups say the restrictions continue.

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The tightening of bureaucratic controls is driven partly by the RSF's quest for international legitimacy, but also offers a way to raise funds for a faction facing military setbacks while still controlling swathes of the country including almost all of Darfur, the aid workers said.

Over the course of the war momentum on the battlefield has swung back and forth as both sides draw on local and foreign support, with little sign of a decisive breakthrough.

In recent days, however, the army has swiftly retaken ground in the capital that the RSF occupied at the start of the war, including Khartoum's presidential palace, advances documented by a Reuters journalist.

'IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE'

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Aid workers say failure to register with SARHO results in arbitrary delays and rejection of travel permits, but that compliance could lead to expulsion by the army and the Port Sudan-based government that is aligned with it.

This presented aid organisations with an "impossible choice," MSF Secretary General Christopher Lockyear told the U.N. Security Council earlier this month. "Either way, lifesaving assistance hangs in the balance."

Data compiled by the Sudan INGO forum, which represents non-governmental organisations, the proportion of groups facing delays getting travel permits into RSF territory doubled to 60% in January, from 20-30% last year. That dipped only slightly to 55% in February after SARHO temporarily suspended its directives.

"Engagement with SARHO is becoming increasingly challenging," the U.N. Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in an operational update this month.

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In February the U.N.'s top official in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, said SARHO's demands risked "corruption and aid diversion".

Both warring parties deny impeding aid.

In an interview with Reuters, SARHO head Abdelrahman Ismail said the agency was exercising its legal rights and duties.

"International humanitarian law gives us the right to organise this work via flexible, straightforward procedures, and in fact dozens of local organisations and a limited number of international organisations signed on," he said.

Authorities in the army-backed administration in Port Sudan were pressuring international organisations not to deal with SARHO, he added.

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'HUNGRY AND SCARED'

Aid workers say the restrictions have had the biggest impact in the famine-stricken areas around the city of al-Fashir, the army's besieged final holdout in Darfur, as well as in nearby Tawila, where tens of thousands have sought refuge.

A global hunger monitor has confirmed famine in three camps for displaced people close to al-Fashir - Zamzam, Abu Shouk, and al-Salam. The RSF has also shelled the camps in recent weeks as it seeks to push the army and its allies out.

"The situation in Zamzam camp is very difficult, we are hungry and scared," said a 37-year-old resident of the camp, Haroun Adam. "We aren't receiving any form of aid, and people are eating leaves because there's no food."

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Aid workers said that in addition to seeking oversight, the RSF was increasing fees for various aid operations including hiring local staff and transport of supplies.

The more engagement there was between the RSF and aid agencies, "the more foothold they have to ask for fees," said one aid worker.

Ismail said accusations of interference and exorbitant fees were falsehoods promoted by the army-backed government, and that SARHO was facilitating access.

Impediments to aid are not new in Sudan, where the government sought to manipulate relief operations for decades, said Kholood Khair, a Sudan analyst and director of Confluence Advisory.

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According to aid workers, the RSF, which claims to represent Sudan's historically marginalised peripheries, is following the same playbook.

The approach was a "harbinger for what an RSF government will look like", said Khair.

(Additional reporting by El Tayeb Siddig; Writing by Nafisa Eltahir; Editing by Aidan Lewis)
SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  A 5-year-old girl was let out at the wrong bus stop about two-and-a-half miles away from her Suffolk home recently, and the scary situation is leading the girls mother to warn others.

Shamika, who only wants to go by her first name for this story, said the bus driver should have known better. On March 12, the bus driver, she said, dropped her child off in the Hollywood neighborhood as she was at work and her husband was late getting to the bus stop due to traffic on his way home.

I was on the phone with my husband, she said. He was telling me what was going on. I was on my way home from work. I got a random number that came across my phone.

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That random number turned out to be the mother of her daughters friend. The daughter had gotten off the bus with that friend and was at their house.

And it was just a scary situation, she said. It was just frightening because anything could have happened.

She said the bus driver knew her normal bus stop and is not sure why he let her off at this one without one of her parents being there.

Suffolk Public Schools told 10 On Your Side that protocol when a parent or authorized adult is not at a bus stop is to keep the child onboard, run the rest of the route and return to that bus stop later or take the child back to school. Administration would then call the parents or guardian. Shamika called the school system that night and got a call back the next day.

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And she told me they rolled the cameras back to see exactly what happened and that he was sitting in the office with her at that time, she said. And she just apologized and said it would never happen again. And she said, Well, maybe it was an inconvenience for him to take her back to the school or drive back around. That should not have been said.

She wants other parents to be on guard.

I just want to make other parents aware basically, she said. I dont know if its happened to anybody else. And just for them to make sure our kids are getting home safe. No room for error. Im sorry.

Experts say its also a lesson for parents to have that conversation with your child about when it is, and is not OK, to get off the bus.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio (WJW)  After a body was recovered from the Cuyahoga River on Monday evening, the Summit County Medical Examiner ruled the death a suicide.

According to the City of Akron Fire Department, a technical rescue operations team and other emergency crews responded around 7:45 p.m. after Cuyahoga Falls Park Rangers asked for assistance with a recovery.

Lake County community mourning 10th grader killed in crash

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Investigators said the body was found on the north side of the Cuyahoga River beneath the High Level Bridge that connects N. Main Street in Akron to Cuyahoga Falls.

Fire officials said the Summit County Medical Examiner also arrived on the scene.

A Tuesday release from the Summit County Medical Examiner said the victim died from blunt force trauma.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Del. Danny Marshall is recovering from a single-lung transplant at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina.

Marshall, 73, underwent the procedure March 15 due to a string of illnesses last year that worsened a condition, pulmonary fibrosis, that he has had for years, according to a March 16 post on a CaringBridge page set up by his daughter, Jessica Marshall Younginer.

His office also confirmed the transplant in a Friday evening news release.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease that causes scarring of the lung tissue, causing it to become thick and stiff. The condition makes it difficult to breathe and absorb oxygen into the bloodstream, according to the American Lung Association.

The Danville Republican, who has represented the 49th district in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2002, announced last month that he was stepping down to resolve a health issue he has had for 10 years.

His father, Webster Marshall, had died of the disease at 70.

Since then, Dad has been going to Duke to be monitored on his own condition since it is hereditary, Younginer posted.

Marshall had been doing well until last year when he endured bouts of pneumonia, blood clots in his lungs and COVID, she posted.

These conditions made his pulmonary fibrosis progress rapidly, she wrote. At this point, Dad informed Duke of the situation and Duke suggested five days of intense testing to see if he was a candidate for a lung transplant.

After the tests that took place in June, physicians at Duke told Marshall and his family he was a perfect candidate, Younginer wrote.

Younginer, who created the CaringBridge page for her father, would not comment for this story but referred the Register & Bee to the page.

Coincidentally, Marshall was entered onto the National Donor List Dec. 17, the same day the Caesars Virginia casino hotel resort  which Marshall was instrumental in bringing to Danville  held its grand opening celebration.

Marshall attended the event that day.

He was not going to miss this event which he worked tirelessly on for years and seeing it come to fruition brought him immense joy, Younginer wrote.

Marshall and his wife lived in Durham, due to Dukes rules, to wait on the call informing them of a matching donor, Younginer wrote.

At 4:30 a.m. on March 15, they received the call.

We had heard this a few times before and been [through] a few dry runs, so our hopes werent that high, she wrote. Thank goodness this time was different. By 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon, Dad was in ICU with a brand new lung!!!

We are so thankful to the donor, the donors family, the amazing surgeons and transplant team at Duke, Younginer posted. They have been beyond amazing and have eased our worries and concerns as much as possible.

Just 15 hours after the procedure, Marshall walked a lap around the unit, looking good and was talking with no issues, she said.

Its simply amazing and a true gift from God, Younginer wrote.

Marshall will be in the hospital for at least two weeks, she posted, asking that messages be sent through the CaringBridge page at caringbridge.org.

Thank you and please keep us, the donors family and Duke transplant team in your prayers, she posted. They are greatly appreciated.

On March 19, Marshall was moved from ICU to a hospital room at Duke.

We would appreciate donations to the Danville Life Saving Crew instead of gifts, she wrote.

The most recent update on the page Friday included a post stating that Marshall was recovering well but was unable to receive visitors other than immediate family.

State Sen. Tammy Mulchi, R-9th district, expressed excitement at the success of Marshalls procedure.

I am beyond thrilled that Del. Marshall was able to receive the much-awaited lung transplant, she said. I am in constant prayer that he will have a speedy and full recovery.

She praised the role he has played for her in providing guidance.

Del. Marshall has been a mentor to me and such a help whenever I have a question, Mulchi said. His leadership in the House of Delegates and his representation of those he serves has gone above and beyond.

Marshall has made an impression on Mulchi similar to that of her predecessor, Frank Ruff, who died in October of cancer at 75.

He reminds me so much of the dedication and service of former Sen. Frank Ruff, she said. Losing both of them in the legislature with Del. Marshalls upcoming retirement will be a huge loss for Virginia. The main thing right now is just that he concentrates on getting well so he can get back to his family and friends.

The 49th House of Delegates district includes Danville and parts of Pittsylvania and Halifax counties.

A primary election will be held June 17 to select candidates from both parties to run for the seat held by Marshall.

Two Democrats, Danville City Councilman Gary Miller and Jasmine Lipscomb, have announced their intentions to run for the 49th District seat.

City Councilman Madison Whittle and Vanessa Scearce, development director for the Boys & Girls Club of the Danville Area, are seeking the Republican nomination.
(Bloomberg) -- The US Justice Department is fast-tracking fights over President Donald Trumps efforts to push the bounds of executive power, teeing up key issues for the US Supreme Court in the coming weeks or even days.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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On Monday, the Trump administration asked the justices to intervene to allow federal agencies to resume mass firings of probationary employees after a San Francisco judge ordered about 16,000 reinstated. Later in the day, an appeals court heard arguments in a Washington case Trump officials have vowed to take to the high court over the use of wartime powers to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members.

Two legal fights over Trumps actions are now pending before the justices. At least a half dozen more are in a pipeline of requests to the high court that the Justice Department has pending before appellate courts to reinstate policies halted by lower courts, Bloomberg News found.

The Supreme Court will get involved, Attorney General Pam Bondi said on Fox News Sunday, referring to the court standoff over Trumps use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport suspected gang members.

Challenges to Trumps policies on federal spending cuts, firing independent agency heads and immigration are moving rapidly through the US legal system. The fast-tracked cases only involve requests for temporary halts  or stays  of lower court orders and not rulings on the underlying arguments. However, these stay fights can signal how courts are likely to rule on the merits in the future.

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A few of the new administrations battles already reached the Supreme Court on an emergency basis. The court declined to let the president oust the head of a federal whistleblower agency, although a Washington appeals court eventually allowed the firing. The justices also dealt a blow to Trumps foreign-aid freeze, reinstating a lower-court order requiring disbursement of as much as $2 billion owed to contractors.

Here are other issues poised for Supreme Court intervention in the near future or already before the justices:

Fired Workers

In the California case filed Monday, Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris asked the justices to pause a judges injunction ordering workers back on the job at six agencies, alleging it violated separation of powers principles on the flimsiest of grounds and the hastiest of timelines.

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The Justice Department not only wants the justices to pause the judges injunction, it also wants an immediate order allowing the government to keep the reinstated workers on paid administrative leave instead of restoring them to full-duty status in the meantime. The Supreme Court hasnt set a schedule yet.

Meanwhile, the government is fighting a Maryland judges order reinstating an even larger pool of fired probationary employees across 18 agencies; probationary workers have been in their current roles for one or two years, depending on the position. The 4th Circuit recently refused to halt a 14-day temporary restraining order since the district court is expected to rule soon on a longer-term injunction. The Justice Department hasnt said if it will take that case to the Supreme Court in the interim.

Birthright Citizenship

The other fight before the justices at the moment involves the Trump administrations request to partially enforce his executive order restricting automatic birthright citizenship, after several courts temporarily halted the policy nationwide while the case goes forward. Trump is vying to topple what has been the widespread understanding that the Constitutions 14th Amendment confers citizenship on virtually everyone born on US soil. The final court briefs on that issue are due next month.

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Teacher Training

Another dispute ripe to reach the high court is over the administrations attempt to terminate more than 100 teacher training and recruitment grants because the programs violated Trumps policies against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, among other reasons. A Boston federal judge ordered the move stopped for 14 days, and last week a 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals panel denied the Justice Departments request to pause the stay.

The Justice Department had said it was prepared to ask the Supreme Court to intervene if there was any delay in the appeal, but it hasnt yet filed since the 1st Circuit entered its order. Earlier this month, the administration succeeded in persuading a 4th Circuit panel to pause a lower court injunction halting funding cuts under Trumps anti-DEI policy. But two of those judges suggested there could be more targeted constitutional challenges to how US agencies carry out Trumps directive.

Funding Freeze

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The administrations push to dramatically scale back federal spending has sparked numerous lawsuits. The government has a stay request pending before the 1st Circuit related to a since-rescinded Office of Management and Budget memo that froze trillions of dollars in federal grants, loans and assistance. A Rhode Island federal judge imposed a long-term injunction, citing the catastrophic consequences.

Resettling Refugees

The Justice Department wants the 9th Circuit to halt a Seattle judges order forcing the administration to resume allowing in refugees and paying organizations that help those new arrivals find homes, jobs and other services. In a role reversal, the administration separately is fighting a request by the US Council of Catholic Bishops in the DC Circuit to revive funding for refugee resettlement after a Washington judge denied the bishops request for an injunction.

DOGE Activity

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The Justice Department has asked the DC Circuit to immediately halt a judges order that would let Democratic state officials demand documents and information about the power Tesla Inc. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has been exercising across the US government. The ruling marked the first time the US DOGE Service  the official entity Trump created within the White House  and Musk directly were ordered to produce records.

The Justice Department called the order a grievous violation of the US Constitutions separation of powers principles. Briefing on that request is set to finish by Tuesday.

In the 4th Circuit, the government wants to pause a Maryland judges order limiting DOGEs decision-making at the US Agency for International Development. The district judge concluded Musk and DOGE-affiliated staff were acting beyond what the Constitution allowed and said the administration couldnt get around his order by giving DOGE employees new positions within the agency.

Agency Firings

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The Justice Department already has signaled plans to ask the Supreme Court to reverse decades-old precedent that limits the presidents power to remove independent agency heads. A pair of cases argued before the DC Circuit on March 18 offer a vehicle for that. A three-judge panel is weighing the governments request to pause lower-court rulings reinstating officials that Trump fired from the National Labor Relations Board and the Merit Systems Protection Board. Its unclear when the court will rule.

In the meantime, more legal challenges could come soon in response to Trumps removal of the two Democratic members of the Federal Trade Commission  the same agency that was the subject of the 1935 Supreme Court precedent at issue, known as Humphreys Executor.

--With assistance from Greg Stohr.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Good morning!

Next week, the Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments in the case of Catholic Charities v. Wisconsin, and its decision could have major repercussions for unemployment benefits across the country.

While all states tax employers in order to fund unemployment benefits for workers, exemptions are made for a narrow number of religious organizations. Last year, the Wisconsin state supreme court decided that these exemptions do not apply to organizations like Catholic Charities which employs people outside of the church and focuses on more secular contributions to society, like helping people without housing.

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But the case is now going to the high court, and if the justices decide in favor of Catholic Charities, any entity connected to a church could choose to opt out of offering workers unemployment benefits. That would affect employees at major institutions like religious-affiliated hospitals or universities, says Victor Forberger, a labor and employment attorney as well as a member of the Wisconsin Employment Lawyers Association, who co-authored an amicus brief on the case.

They are making the claim that religious discrimination is occurring because these entities dont currently have access to this special privilege that other religious ones do, says Forberger.

He expects the court to decide in favor of Catholic Charities, but the impact on other organizations depends on how far the justices go. The ruling has the potential to create a powerful motivation for organizations, even public companies, to attach themselves to religious missions in order to avoid paying unemployment benefits for their workers, according to Forberger.

If it could save a company thousands of dollars per employee, we're now talking about sizable amounts of money, he says. That's creating an incentive to exempt whole parts of industrial economic sectors.

Brit Morse

brit.morse@fortune.com

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
March 24 (UPI) -- The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal request in a landmark climate case brought by nearly two dozen young people almost a decade ago.

The high-court justices denied the request for certiorari filed in Juliana vs. U.S., a case filed by 21 American youth in September of 2015 asking the courts to prevent the United States from permitting, authorizing and subsidizing fossil fuels on the grounds that knowingly worsening climate change is a violation of the plaintiffs' fundamental rights to life, liberty and property.

The case made its way to the Supreme Court as an appeals court in 2020 ruled against the youth, stating the relief the plaintiffs seek "is beyond our constitutional power" and their "impressive case for redress must be presented to the political branches of the government."

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"The U.S. Supreme Court's cert denial brings this long saga to a conclusion," acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division said in a statement.

"Through ENRD's work, the Justice Department is enforcing our nation's environmental laws and safeguarding America's air, water and natural resources. Cases like Juliana distract from those enforcement efforts."

Though now dead, the impact of Juliana vs. United States continues to be felt as it sparked a youth-led environmental movement to demand governmental change to prevent the worst effects of the impending crisis while facing staunch government opposition.

It has inspired dozens of similar youth-led lawsuits across the globe and in the United States, securing climate victories at local levels, including in Montana and Hawaii.

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"Ultimately, we didn't get the decision we wanted today, but we've had many wins along the way," Miko Vergun, a plaintiff in the case, said in a statement.

"For almost 10 years, we've stood up for the rights of present and future generations, demanding a world where we can not only survive but thrive. We've faced extreme resistance by the federal government, yet we've never wavered in our resolve."

"We've shown the world that young people will not be ignored, and I'm incredibly proud of the impact Juliana vs. United States has made."
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On Monday, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in Louisiana v. Callais, an important battle over Black voters electoral power under Louisianas congressional map. In the lower courts, seven judges from across the ideological spectrum concluded that Louisianas map needed to include two majority-Black districts to remedy a prior violation of the Voting Rights Act. But during Mondays arguments, a number of conservative justices indicated that the inclusion of those two districts may now make the map unconstitutional. And, even more troublingly, the conservative supermajoritys questions made clear that Louisianas remedial map may not be the only thing in danger: The Voting Rights Act itself may also be on the line.

Although Black residents account for a third of Louisianas population, the state had originally passed a congressional map in 2022 that had one majority-Black district out of six. Press Robinson and other Black voters sued, arguing that the map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits states from diluting the voting strength of Black voters. In June 2022, a district judge held that the 2022 map likely violated Section 2.

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The case then went through some complex procedural machinations, including a Supreme Court order that allowed the dilutive map to be used in the 2022 congressional elections. Eventually, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit directed Louisiana to either pass a map that remedied the Section 2 violation or proceed to trial so that a lawful map could be put in place before the 2024 election. The Louisiana Legislature opted to enact its own map, known as S.B. 8. Importantly, while S.B. 8 includes two majority-Black districts as required by the VRA, it also accomplished the Legislatures political priorities: protecting the seats of certain incumbent U.S. representatives, including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.

In 2024, however, a group of self-described non-African Americans challenged S.B. 8, arguing that it was a racial gerrymander in violation of the Constitution. Under Supreme Court precedent, the 14th Amendments equal protection clause prohibits race from being the predominant factor in state legislatures redistricting decisions. The challengers to S.B. 8 argued that by creating a second Black majority district to comply with the VRA, race prevailed over the Louisiana Legislatures decision to make that district. After a truncated trial, a divided three-judge district court struck down S.B. 8, essentially holding that because the Legislature was committed to remedying the Section 2 violation, race predominated. Louisiana and the Black voters from the original 2022 litigation appealed to the Supreme Court.

At its core, this case is about the discretion that states need to draw maps that comply with the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution and satisfy the states other legitimate redistricting goals, including the states political aims. As my colleagues and I discussed in a brief we filed in the case, the Supreme Court has held that states must have breathing room when drawing these maps. So if a state has good reasons to believe that it must draw majority-Black districts, federal courts must uphold those legislative judgments unless they conclude that the states considered race more than was necessary to remedy the VRA violation.

As Justice Elena Kagan explained at oral argument, a federal court order instructing Louisiana to draw a second majority-Black congressional district is surely a good reason to do so. And here, that order was subsequently affirmed by six different judges on the notoriously conservative 5th Circuit. After appealing the district court decision and losing (twice), the state opted to pass its own remedial map rather than continue litigating a case in which it was doomed to fail and risk having a federal court-drawn map imposed on its citizens. Then, as Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson detailed, the Legislatures choice of S.B. 8 over other possible maps was based on strictly politics: to protect incumbents. That should be the end of this case. The high court has, after all, blessed overtly political considerations in redistricting.

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Unsurprisingly, however, the courts conservative justices appeared skeptical that S.B. 8 was lawful and that a second majority-Black district was necessary in the first place. The Roberts court has long been hostile to voting rights, and this case appears to be no exception.

Throughout Mondays arguments, Chief Justice John Roberts found fault with Louisianas second majority-Black district, calling it a snake, as if its shape demonstrated its unconstitutionality. He pressed Stuart Naifehcounsel from the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, which represented the Black votersto explain why the district runs from one side of the state angling up to the other, picking up Black populations as it goes along. As Naifeh explained, the Black communities encompassed by the district were not grouped at random but rather shared histories of discrimination and common interests; a mere glance at the map does not reveal the history behind the geographic location of these populations. Justice Neil Gorsuch, for his part, opined that under the 14th Amendment, race should play no role in our laws, including in redistricting. But this view is not the law; it flies in the face of decades of Supreme Court cases, including Allen v. Milligan, which was decided less than two years ago. As Jackson rightfully pointed out, no Supreme Court precedent has ever held that states may not use race to comply with the VRA. To hold otherwise would cast serious constitutional doubt upon all maps enacted to comply with the act.

Other justices trained their focus on Section 2 itself. Troublingly, Justice Brett Kavanaugh reiterated his position from his Milligan concurrence that race-conscious remedies like the VRA cannot extend indefinitely into the future. He noted that Louisiana is making this exact argument in separate litigation about the states legislative redistricting maps that is currently pending in the 5th Circuit. (My colleagues and I also filed an amicus brief in that case refuting this claim.) While Kavanaugh recognized that the plaintiffs here may have forfeited that argument, his insistence on bringing up this point in a case when its not even at issue is deeply concerning. And as Naifeh explained, this argument makes particularly little sense in the context of Section 2 litigation, given that the test for vote dilution expressly includes consideration of current circumstances.

Finally, and perhaps most concerningly, several justices questioned whether Louisiana should have complied with the 2022 district court order at all. Most prominently, Justice Samuel Alito stated that the district court case was wrongly decided, and he suggested that the state did not have good reason to consent to an order that, in his view, was wrong. These justices willingness to dismiss a states compliance with a federal court order so long as the state thinks its incorrect is alarming. Indeed, as the chief justice said just last week, if a party disagrees with a court decision, they should appeal it. Louisiana already did that and lost. As Jackson put it, it doesnt matter whether the district court order was correct; all that matters is that it exists. There is no valid reason for a state to disobey a court order.

All in all, at Mondays oral argument, the courts conservative majority displayed its disdain for the VRA and highlighted several ways in which it could make litigating Section 2 cases more difficult for voters of color. Roberts and Kavanaugh rejected an attack on the VRA two years ago in Milligan, but it appears they may now be looking for another way to hobble its power. Black Louisianians have been fighting for three years for a fair map under which they can elect the candidates of their choice. If the Supreme Court rules against them, it could upend decades of precedent, making it infinitely harder for states to comply with the VRA and radically undermining the acts ability to protect our multiracial democracy.
Utah, in a joint effort with the state of Oklahoma, argued before the Supreme Court against the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday morning.

The issue of exclusive jurisdiction is at stake. The EPA was granted its request to move the lawsuits against it to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, partly due to the national impact. The states disagreed  just because the EPA published a single Federal Register notice to multiple states does not justify moving the cases to D.C. Both Utah and Oklahoma want the cases returned to their shared 10th Circuit.

Case background

Nearly a decade ago, the EPA augmented its national air quality standards and asked states to submit a state implementation plan showcasing how each would execute the new guidelines, with a goal of ultimately decreasing air pollution across state borders. Of the submitted plans, Utah and Oklahoma, along with 19 other states, were denied.

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In early 2023, the two states then challenged the EPAs decisions in their regional circuit court. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and then-Attorney General Sean Reyes represented Utahs case. Oklahomas case was represented by its Attorney General Gentner Drummond and the states Department of Environmental Quality.

The EPA countered the states petitions by attempting to move the hearings to the D.C. Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals, reasoning that its air quality standards were submitted federally across all states rather than on a state-by-state level and that the EPA used a unified method when analyzing the proposed plans for every state.

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, Colorado, agreed with the EPA and granted its motion to move to the D.C. Circuit. It also combined Utah and Oklahomas separate petitions into one. But in May 2024, Oklahoma and Utah took the issue to the Supreme Court in a Petition for Writ of Certiorari, requesting a review of the lower court decision.

In the request, the states said they had substantial reasons for not implementing any new emissions reductions in their proposed plans, asserting that their own contributions to air-quality problems in downwind States were not significant because other countries and States also contributed pollution to the same downwind States.

Oral arguments before the Supreme Court

However, the more prominent issue discussed before the Supreme Court on Tuesday regarded jurisdictional boundaries.

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During oral arguments, the states argued that regional jurisdiction is vital in their case because the EPAs air quality standards were implemented state by state, not nationally.

Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch pushed back on the defenses argument given the good neighbor obligation and the EPAs National Ambient Air Quality Standards that includes the 1% threshold: If a states pollution contributes at least 1% to the NAAQS for a pollutant like ozone, its considered alarming.

Were talking here about clean air obligations of states and the downwind impact of any state on others. Its good neighbor obligations, as the statute calls it, he said. If anything is nationwide impact, its got to be air pollution because it travels.

It crosses the country in ways that dont respect our jurisdictional boundaries between circuits.

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One reason the EPA rejected Oklahomas plan was over alleged air pollution traveling into Texas, which went against the EPAs good neighbor provision of the Clean Air Act.

Clean Air Act section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) requires each state in its State Implementation Plan (SIP) to prohibit emissions that will significantly contribute to nonattainment of a NAAQS, or interfere with maintenance of a NAAQS, in a downwind state. The Act requires EPA to backstop state actions by promulgating Federal Implementation Plans (FIPs) in the event that a state fails to submit or EPA disapproves good neighbor SIP, per the EPA.

The defense argued that because the EPA disapproved of the state implementation plans separately, a uniform nationwide response was not given, and, therefore, the case should not be centralized in the D.C. Circuit Court for judicial review, even if other states in separate districts (like Texas and Oklahoma) were affected.

Utah Attorney General Derek Brown posted on social media outside the U.S. Supreme Court House ahead of the hearing Tuesday alongside Utahs Solicitor General Stanford E. Purser, who was on the defense team. Brown criticized the Clean Air Act, claiming it has shut down energy production in Utah.

Why Utah is at the Supreme Court today. pic.twitter.com/DqHUyaGBEe  Utah Attorney General (@UtahAG) March 25, 2025

The Clean Air Act was intended to protect our air, not shut down our economy, Brown said in a statement to the Deseret News. Unfortunately, the Biden administration EPA decided to pursue policy that ignores local concerns and does little to nothing to clean air here or in Colorado. Todays oral arguments were an important part of the process by which Utah defends its right to make its own policies. I am pleased with the case we argued today. Utahs case should be heard close to home, in the Tenth Circuit.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court turned back an appeal Monday from casino mogul Steve Wynn, who had challenged a landmark libel ruling as part of a lawsuit against The Associated Press.

The court declined to hear the case in a brief order without comment, as is typical. Wynn had sued over a story about reports to police of sexual misconduct allegations dating back to the 1970s.

His attorneys had asked the high court to reconsider the 1964 ruling known as New York Times v. Sullivan. It found that public figures in defamation suits must show that a statement is not only false, but was published knowing or with reckless disregard to it being untrue, a standard referred to as actual malice.

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Wynn, a billionaire developer of a luxury casino empire, has consistently denied sexual misconduct allegations first reported in January 2018 by The Wall Street Journal.

He resigned as CEO of Wynn Resorts after the reports became public, agreeing with Nevada gambling regulators to pay a $10 million fine with no admission of wrongdoing.

Wynn filed his defamation lawsuit in April 2018 against the AP and one of its reporters over a story that cited police documents. His attorneys argued the story failed to fully describe elements of one allegation that would have cast doubt on the account. A judge in a civil case against the accuser later found the claim to be without merit.

The Nevada Supreme Court upheld a ruling tossing out Wynn's lawsuit against the AP, finding the news organization had published an article in a good-faith effort to inform their readers regarding an issue of clear public interest."

Nevada Supreme Court Justice Ron Parraguirre cited the actual malice standard and found that Wynn, a public figure, hadn't shown convincing evidence that cleared it.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested two suspects in two separate instances thanks to video from a nearby surveillance camera.

MPD said that on Friday, officers responded to a reported shooting in the Unit block of S St. NE around 6:15 p.m.

Two arrested for allegedly stealing wallet, phone from man in Northwest DC

When officers arrived, they found evidence of a shooting and a handgun, but no victims.

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Police said that a nearby surveillance camera showed video of the suspect leaving a home, taking out a gun and firing his weapon.

MPD officers took the suspect into custody and found a gun.

19-year-old DeAdrian Davis of Southeast is facing charges of endangerment with a firearm and carrying a pistol without a license.

We dont appreciate it: DC Tesla owner speaks after car is vandalized twice

While reviewing the surveillance video, MPD officers also saw a woman getting assaulted by a second suspect before the gunfire.

Officers identified 26-year-old Juan Anthony Yates of Northeast as the suspect and charged him with simple assault.

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Mar. 24BYRON, Minn.  Following a series of financial struggles over the last year, residents say the most important area of expertise for the next superintendent of Byron Public Schools to have is budgeting.

The district recently released the results of a community survey, showing what qualities residents would like to see in the candidates for the job. Byron Public Schools' current superintendent, Mike Neubeck, announced his resignation on Dec. 6.

The Byron School Board is set to meet on Monday, March 24, to review the timeline and interview process for the superintendent candidates.

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There were 237 respondents to the survey. Although the school district is even larger, the city of Byron has a population of 6,800. Of those who responded to the survey, 71.3% were parents or guardians, and 20.68% were staff members of the district. There weren't any students who took part.

The survey showed the breakdown of how each demographic prioritized various aspects of the district's next leader. For each self-identified group  which included parents and guardians, staff members, community members, and business owners  "budget and finance" ranked as the top area of expertise they would like the superintendent to have.

The three largest demographic groups to respond, which included parents and guardians, staff members, and community members, prioritized the same top three areas of expertise  all in the same order. After budget and finance, they listed collaborative leadership and strategic planning.

There were six total areas of expertise that respondents could prioritize.

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After the top three selections, parents and guardians listed "curriculum development/evaluation" as their next top area of expertise they'd prefer.

The staff member and community member categories listed identical priorities. After their top three choices, they listed public relations, contract administration and negotiations, and finally personnel management.

In a similar question, respondents were asked to name the top "specialized skills" they'd like a superintendent to have. All demographic groups listed their top priority as someone who "acts with honesty and in an ethical manner with the school board, staff and community."

For the second-highest priority in specialized skills, parents, staff and community members all listed "experience in school finance."

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Parents, staff, and community members also all listed "honest and ethical" as the top personal characteristics they'd like the next superintendent to have. Parents and staff listed being an "effective communicator" as the second highest personal characteristic they'd like to see. Community members listed their second-highest preferred personal characteristic as being a "problem solver."

There was only one respondent listed in the "business owner" category.

The school district has been having conversations about how to navigate its financial situation for months. In November, the district held a referendum that, if approved, would have provided an additional $1.9 million a year. The referendum failed, with 58.05% of voters rejecting the request. District leaders have since indicated that the district will have to host another referendum.

The situation was complicated by having multiple finance directors in a relatively short time. Neubeck said in October that the district's administration "discovered that some financial records were either incomplete, incorrectly processed, or, in some cases, not processed at all."

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Later in December, Interim Finance Director Julie Cink said that "one major error" had caused the district's expenses to be overestimated by $800,000.

On Feb. 25, the Byron School Board approved $1.6 million worth of budget reductions for the year ahead.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  A man was arrested in connection with a Pittsfield break-in after allegedly stealing a surveillance camera and sending footage of the crime and his identity directly to law enforcement.

Springfield Police conduct park and walk sweep in this neighborhood

The Pittsfield Police Department said that officers saw a Facebook post on Tuesday made by a resident regarding their home being broken into on upper North Street. The department soon received a call from the resident and arrived at the residence to investigate.

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The suspect reportedly broke a door to enter the home. Pittsfield Police said that they were able to view video surveillance of the break-in, in which a man was observed stealing objects, including the surveillance camera.

The suspect allegedly brought the stolen objects back to his home, and while doing so he accidentally activated the camera, showing a clear picture of his face in the video footage. From there, Pittsfield officers were then able to identify the suspect.

Police located and arrested the suspect at his home, and he was charged with breaking and entering night time, vandalism, and larceny from a building.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Tony Brown, 42, pleaded not guilty to murder in the second Tuesday morning.

Seated behind him in Rochester City Court was a group of about 10 of Browns family and friends.

Across the courtroom sat roughly 50 loved ones of Ali Saleh, 30, who police say Brown shot and killed Sunday evening.

Brown was arrested hours later not far from the store with investigators saying they found a handgun and other evidence.

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Khaled Shaibi, an uncle of Salehs wife, told News 8 the group remains in shock.

Its a big loss for the family, his family and the community as well, Shaibi said.

Saleh had taken over Sanaa Food Market at the corner of Clifford Ave and Miller Street from his father, Shaibi said, and was sitting behind the counter when Brown entered and shot him four times.

Just killing (him like he was a) little animal, Shaibi said. Even with an animal, you can have a little mercy on an animal. This is taking somebodys life, you terminated somebodys life. And all these people love him.

Shaibi agreed with police that the shooting appeared to be retaliation for a fight inside the store days prior  a fight that Shaibi said did not even involve Salah.

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According to family, Saleh had a 3-year-old daughter, who he and his wife gave birth to after eight years of trying.

Arrest in Rochester corner store shooting as victim remembered as friend to all

My niece was just shocked when they told her what happened to him, Shaibi said. And he was the only son to his father.

Salehs father ran the store for decades before moving to South Yemen, where Saleh was born.

Brown, meanwhile, did not have a criminal history, according to the Monroe County District Attorneys Office.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for March 28, but the case will likely head to a grand jury before then.

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ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  A homicide investigation is underway after a Florida woman was found dead in a hotel room on Monday morning.

St. Lucie County deputies were called to a Best Western in Port St. Lucie around 11 a.m. Monday after a cleaning crew found a woman, identified as 58-year-old Toni-Lynn Marie Trabb, laying in the room unresponsive.

About 10 minutes later, St. Lucie Fire Rescue pronounced Trabb deceased.

Photo of Toni-Lynn Trabb (St. Lucie County Sheriffs Office)

Due to the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death, the 19th Judicial Circuit Medical Examiners Office was contacted, the sheriffs office said.

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Investigators ruled Trabbs death a homicide later that afternoon.

Mom, boyfriend now facing murder charge after 10-year-old dies from gruesome abuse: SAO

We will not tolerate violence in our community, said Sheriff Richard R. Del Toro Jr. This tragic loss is a heartbreaking reminder of the senseless violence that devastates families. We are fully committed to bringing those responsible to justice and ensuring the victims family receives the support and closure they deserve. Our law enforcement team will relentlessly pursue every lead and hold those responsible accountable for this heinous act.

Investigators revealed Monday that a man used Trabbs credit card to pay for the hotel room. The sheriffs office said it identified the man as Carlos Tito Caban, 51 and named him a suspect in the case.

Photo of suspect, Carlos Tito Caban (St. Lucie County Sheriffs Office)

Investigators said Caban met Trabb a few months ago and they were dating on and off.

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According to the sheriffs office, Caban spent time in prison for sexual battery. He was released in 2023.

At 11 a.m. Tuesday, the sheriffs office said detectives were notified by authorities in Tifton, Georgia, that Caban was found driving the victims vehicle.

Detectives with the St. Lucie County Sheriffs Office are enroute to Georgia to speak with investigators and Caban.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  More information has been released on the Little Rock shooting involving the U.S. Marshals Service.

According to a release, the U.S. Marshals Eastern Arkansas Fugitive Task Force attempted to arrest Willie Joe Larry-Purdiman after an incident on Baseline Road Monday afternoon. Arkansas State Police troopers said he was wanted for failure to appear.

US Marshals involved in shooting on Baseline Road in Little Rock

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ASP officials said the USMS tracked Purdiman to the Walmart on Baseline Road.

The release said Purdiman exited the vehicle and ran away from the scene while authorities attempted to surround it. The suspect then ran towards a gas station while firing multiple shots at officers, the release said.

State troopers said an officers vehicle struck a fuel pump during a pursuit, causing an explosion.

Officials said Purdiman was killed by task force members after he refused to drop his weapon.

The release said one task force member was injured during the pursuit but was later released from the hospital. No civilians were harmed in the shooting.

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The Arkansas State Police is investigating the incident.

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A gun was found in the bushes at the Westgate Mall in Brockton in an area where two teenagers were fatally shot over the weekend and the suspected shooter, who remains at large, may have changed his appearance, Boston 25 News has learned.

Homicide detectives and Brockton police have sought and obtained an arrest warrant for 22-year-old Davinci Leonard, who was added to the Massachusetts State Police Commonwealth Fusion Centers Most Wanted List, Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz announced during a Monday afternoon news conference.

Leonard is wanted on charges of two counts of murder, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, possessing ammunition without an FID card, and carrying a loaded firearm without a license. Investigators say he may be armed and dangerous.

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A Boston 25 News source said Leonard may have possibly cut his hair since fleeing the scene of the shooting on Saturday night.

Turn yourself in, turn yourself in immediately. Let the process begin, Cruz urged Leonard. Two families are destroyed right now. We dont need anybody elses family to get hurt.

Investigators were questioning witnesses outside a Starbucks Monday night, where a Boston 25 News source confirmed a gun was found in the bushes nearby.

Police are now looking into whether that was the gun used to shoot and kill 18-year-old Cevannah Alvarez and 15-year-old Tymari Albertson in a parking lot Saturday night.

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Officers responding to a report of a shooting outside the Chipotle restaurant at the bustling Westgate Mall just after 7 p.m. Saturday found a 15-year-old boy and an 18-year-old woman suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, Cruz said.

The boy, who Cruz identified as Albertson, was pronounced dead at Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton. The young woman, Alvarez, was flown to Massachusetts General Hospital, where she died from her injuries.

Cruz noted that the victims were not related.

Authorities described Leonard as 5 feet, 9 inches tall, about 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

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He grabbed some clothes and has not been seen since, Cruz said of Leonard. He is currently the only suspect in this shooting.

Many people were at the grand opening of the Urban Air Adventure Park when a fight broke out between Leonard and Albertson, resulting in the shooting, according to Cruz.

The event that Saturday night was a tragedy, Cruz exclaimed. This is a senseless loss of life.

One of the teens was a student at Brockton High School.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of a Champion High School student following an incident of violence in our community yesterday, Brockton Public Schools said in a statement on Sunday. We are working to support their family however we can and will be making resources available to students and staff grieving this loss.

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Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan said grief counselors were made available for students.

As Mayor of the city of Brockton, I extend my deepest condolences to the families, friends, and classmates of the two victims. This tragedy is an active police investigation, Sullivan said in a statement Sunday night. The Brockton Public Schools, led by Superintendent Dr. Priya Tahiliani, will offer grief counseling services to students and staff impacted by this tragic event. This type of senseless violence will not be tolerated in our city.

Anyone who sees Leonard or has information about his whereabouts is urged to contact the Massachusetts State Police Fusion Center at 1-800-Kapture.

An investigation into the double shooting remains active and ongoing.

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KILLINGLY, Conn. (WWLP)  Two men were arrested on Saturday following a motor vehicle crash in Connecticut after law enforcement discovered that the car had been stolen out of Worcester.

Connecticut State Police said that at approximately 3:38 p.m. on Saturday, troopers received a report regarding a motor vehicle accident on the I-395 northbound Exit 37 off-ramp. The 911 caller said that three occupants exited the vehicle and ran into the woods following the crash.

Mass. babysitter charged with manslaughter after child dies in car

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When troopers arrived in the area, they located the vehicle about 20 yards off the roadway down an embankment. They found through investigation that the car had struck a metal beam guardrail, hitting a directional sign in the shoulder and eventually going down into the embankment.

Further investigation revealed that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Worcester. Members of Killingly Police searched the area and found two suspects matching the description that 911 callers provided.

Falco and Murphy of the Killingly K-9 Unit were successful in apprehending both men. The third reported suspect was not found, but investigators later identified the individual as a juvenile.

Connecticut State Police said that troopers arrested 18-year-old Cedric Tolson of Worcester and 18-year-old Jenay Busanet of Killingly, Conn. Both sustained dog bites as a result of the arrest, but reportedly declined medical attention.

Courtesy of Connecticut State Police. Courtesy of Connecticut State Police. Courtesy of Connecticut State Police. Courtesy of Connecticut State Police.

Cedric Tolson and Jenay Busanet were each charged with:

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Interfering with an Officer

Larceny of a Motor Vehicle

Evading the scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident

Both suspects were issued a $20,000 bond. Tolson was released after posting bond awaiting a court date of April 8. Busanet was held on bond awaiting a court date of March 24.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  Taiwan on Tuesday deported a Chinese woman back to her country after she posted praise online for Beijings ambitions to conquer the self-governing island democracy by force.

China, which considers the island a wayward province that split from it amid civil war in 1949, has been vastly expanding its navy and missile force with an eye to bringing Taiwan quickly to heel or blockading the high-tech island, with potentially dire effects on the global economy.

Liu Zhenya, a full-time influencer who posts under Yaya in Taiwan, was charged with violating rules governing Chinese living in Taiwan who are considered a threat to the national or social stability," according to the Interior Ministry.

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At a news conference called minutes before her flight to China, Liu repeated her denials of the charges, saying she was leaving out of respect for Taiwanese law, based on her lawyers advice.

Its not because I did anything wrong, she said.

The move by the strongly pro-independence administration of Taiwan's President William Lai Ching-te seemingly reflects a harder line against those who maintain Taiwanese passports or permanent residency while also cheering Chinas plans to bring the island under its control.

Lai has in recent weeks repeatedly warned of China using spies and propaganda, especially internet influencers, as well as military intimidation.

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Earlier in the day, Liu protested outside Taiwan government offices, while trying to speak to an immigration officer. She was unsuccessful. About 50 people protested her presence while chanting: Have a good trip home, and Get yourself back to China. Police were present but no violence broke out.

The vast majority of Taiwanese reject Chinas demands and favor the current state of de-facto independence, despite Chinas threats.

Liu, who is married to a Taiwanese man and has three children, appeared to board the plane alone. The couple haven't revealed their future plans. Under the regulations, she will have to wait five years to reapply for a Taiwan residency permit.

At least two other Chinese women with Taiwanese husbands are currently under investigation as the island moves to reinstate military trials and crack down on the recruitment of serving members of the Taiwan's military as spies.

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Taiwan has also been boosting its defenses with high-tech weapon systems from the U.S. and locally developed munitions, submarines and warplanes.

Such a conflict could draw in the U.S., which is required under American law to respond to Chinese actions against the island. The two foes are divided by the 180-kilometer (110-mile)-wide Taiwan Strait.

Around 400,000 Chinese women have moved to the island of 23 million, according to the Interior Ministry, making up the bulk of foreign wives who also include Filipinas, Indonesians and Vietnamese.
Isabella Volmert

Associated Press

The #MeToo movement hit critical mass in 2017, toppling politicians and public figures across the country. Allegations of harassment and misconduct  some from many years prior  emerged. Many state legislatures responded by adopting or enhancing policies against sexual misconduct.

In the years since, women's representation in U.S. statehouses has reached an all-time high.

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As more women fill seats and hold leadership positions, lawmakers and others are divided about whether anything has changed. But allegations continue to surface  at the state level and beyond.

The Associated Press tallied allegations against state lawmakers across the country, examined the sexual harassment policies of legislative chambers in all 50 states, and talked to lawmakers, lobbyists and staff.

Here are key takeaways from the investigation:

144 state lawmakers accused since #MeToo

Since 2017, The Associated Press has cataloged at least 147 state lawmakers across 44 states who have been accused of sexual harassment or misconduct. Most allegations were reported during the first two years of #MeToo, but more have surfaced every year since.

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The total includes allegations of incidents both in state government and outside of it.

In 2024 alone, the AP tallied at least 14 state lawmakers from 12 states who were accused  about twice as many as the previous year.

In total, over a third of accused lawmakers resigned or were expelled from office. Roughly another third faced repercussions like losing party or committee positions. A dozen top state executive officials, including governors and attorneys general, faced similar allegations during that time and most resigned.

According to the National Womens Defense League, which advocates for sexual harassment policies in statehouses and keeps its own count, Republicans and Democrats are nearly equally accused and 94 percent of those overall are men.

Transparency still lacking despite updated policies and training

An AP survey, conducted from last November through January, found nearly half of all legislative chambers had updated their sexual harassment policies over the past five years. However, many policies are difficult for the general public to locate.

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Near the beginning of #MeToo, an AP survey found about a third of legislative chambers didnt require lawmakers to take sexual harassment training.

Almost all state legislatures now offer it, though its not always mandatory and content, format and frequency vary. Only about one-third of legislative chambers conduct training annually, according to APs survey.

The Arkansas Senate is the only legislative chamber without a specific sexual harassment policy. Officials in the Oklahoma Senate, the Mississippi Senate and both chambers of the West Virginia Legislature did not provide their sexual harassment policies to the AP.

Less of a boys club'  but with caveats

Lawmakers and others are divided about whether anything has changed.

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Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, who filed a sexual harassment complaint against a fellow lawmaker in 2020, said any improvements have less to do with policy changes or work groups, and more to do with just the fact that we have significantly more women in charge.

Others still see sexism.

Sometimes it feels like we should just smile more and not be disruptive and not challenge anyone. That hasnt gone away, said Georgia state Rep. Shea Roberts, who resigned as Democratic Caucus treasurer to protest a fellow lawmaker who was accused last year of sexually harassing a staffer.

Women's representation is still lower than 50 percent in most places

Advocates and lawmakers say the statehouse environment can still be hostile enough to keep many women from running for office.

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When men run for office, its about whether they can do the job, said Erin Maye Quade, a Minnesota senator. When women run for office, its about a lot more than that.

Men still make up two-thirds of all state lawmakers in the U.S., and some say #MeToo gave them space to join the discussion and to acknowledge more work is needed.

Republican state Rep. Mark Schreiber of Kansas said attitudes have evolved over the years  from a boys will be boys ethos to acknowledging the harassment, while still blaming women. In more recent years, he said, men realized, Were blaming the wrong people.
For the first time, The United Way of Gaston County hosted the organization's Spirit of North Carolina Awards Ceremony to recognize community service and relief efforts from organizations in the Western North Carolina Region.

At the ceremony held at the Gastonia Conference Center Wednesday, March 19, six local organizations and one Gaston resident received awards for their contributions to United Way Gaston.

The Gaston Literacy Council won an intentional inclusion award at the Spirit of North Carolina Awards Ceremony in Gastonia Wednesday, March 19.

Recipients included:

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Gaston County Schools, nominated for raising more than $130,000 in donations for United Way Gaston County. To incentivize students to donate, Robinson Elementary School Principal William Winston even offered to go up onto the roof of the school if its fundraising goal was met, according to United Way spokesmen at the ceremony.

Rochling Industrial, nominated for donating more than $60,000 in 2024 after running a fundraising campaign that highlighted real stories about how the United Way had offered aid to its employees at different times of need in their lives.

Standard Distributors Incorporated, which strives for 100% employee participation in community service endeavors, donates financially, and sends volunteers to events when possible, according to the spokesmen.

John Forgan was nominated for a community ambassador award for long-time work with the United Way of Gaston County and for more recently organizing a fundraiser at First Horizon Bank. Forgan was formerly a board member at United Way Gaston and spearheaded the creation of Jingle Bell Gents, an event that has raised more than $100,000 in total since it began over three years ago.

John Forgan won a community ambassador award at the Spirit of North Carolina Awards Ceremony in Gastonia Wednesday, March 19.

The Gaston Literacy Council, nominated for its work in the community teaching English as a second language and its Reading Soul Mates program which is a preventative program that offers extra support to children who need help improving their reading and literacy skills.

GSM Services, nominated for its employee presence on the United Way Gaston board and for raising more than $1,000 for Alzheimer's research at last year's Alzheimer's walk.

City Church, nominated for inviting non-profit leaders to Sunday service throughout the year to encourage its congregation to get involved or donate to local causes.

United Way Gaston President Andrea Stephens said 26 organizations from the western region of North Carolina were recognized.

Brittany Pruitt Fletcher, the president and CEO of the United Way of North Carolina, who spoke at the event, said that during award ceremonies, the audience hears a lot of numbers associated with the work nominees are awarded for.

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"All of those numbers, there are people behind those numbers," she said.

Gaston County Schools won a Campaign of Impact award at the Spirit of North Carolina Awards Ceremony in Gastonia Wednesday, March 19.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Seven recognized for service by the United Way in Gaston County
DOVER, Fla. (BLOOM)  Hundreds of high school students from across 17 Florida counties will roll up their sleeves and step into the world of road crews, bucket trucks and drones at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds on Wednesday, March 26.

The Tampa Bay Construction Career Days event, hosted by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida (ACEC Florida), offers students a rare, hands-on look at the wide range of careers in the transportation industry.

From asphalt paving to aerial drone piloting, the event introduces teens to the many trades and professions that help build and maintain the states rapidly growing infrastructure.

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This is an exciting, hands-on opportunity for students to have fun and operate equipment used daily in designing, building and maintaining Floridas roads and bridges, said Allen Douglas, executive director of ACEC Florida.

Students will rotate through interactive Learning Labs, Career Center Labs, and more than a dozen equipment stations where they can try out the tools of the trade. Activities include operating machinery, flying drones, and even getting a lift in a bucket truck.

The event serves FDOT Districts 1 and 7  a region that spans more than 15,000 square miles and is home to 5.5 million people. Every day, Floridians in these districts travel over 75 million miles on local highways, making the need for skilled workers more urgent than ever.

Organizers hope the experience will inspire students to consider high-demand jobs in construction, engineering, and infrastructure development  fields critical to Floridas continued growth.

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For more information, visit www.acecfl.org.

Event Details:

What: Tampa Bay Construction Career Days

Who: Participating Tampa Bay high school students

When: Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Where: Hillsborough County Fairgrounds, 215 Sydney Washer Rd., Dover, FL 33527

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
The University of South Floridas search for its next president has barely started, but murmurs of who might succeed Rhea Law have already circulated.

On the front page of last Fridays La Gaceta, Tampa Bays trilingual newspaper, publisher Patrick Mantiegas As We Heard It column listed one possibility: state Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa.

Asked about the rumor on Tuesday, Collins denied that he was formally in the running.

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I havent heard anything about that, he told a Tampa Bay Times reporter. Ive seen it, but Im here focused on what were doing.

But asked further if he would be interested, he didnt rule it out.

I think anytime somethings there, you have to look at it, but thats true in anything, he said.

USF has yet to hold its first presidential search committee meeting, and the process will include listening sessions with stakeholders and creating a position profile to advertise the opening.

Collins, a former Green Beret and Purple Heart recipient deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, was elected to the state Senate in 2022. Bills hes sponsored include one to allow eligible owners to carry concealed weapons without a permit, one requiring communist history education in schools and one banning non-governor-approved flags at government buildings, which some have interpreted to include pride flags at universities. Collins also sponsored the bill that removed several references to the phrase climate change from state law.

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This year hes also sponsored several bills, including one to create public transparency about the activities of agents of adversarial nations and foreign terrorist organizations in the state.

That bill states that any state university or college student, faculty or employee that violates defined rules, including participating in political activities intended to influence policy toward these organizations or nations, will be permanently expelled or dismissed from their roles. Non-U.S. citizens would be turned over to the U.S. Department of Justice for removal.

The universitys first search committee meeting is Thursday.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

Divya Kumar covers higher education for the Tampa Bay Times in partnership with Open Campus.
Tattoos. Pro-Hamas flyers. Deleted photos.

These are just a few of the pieces of evidence that the Trump administration has cited in its legal efforts to detain and deport migrants from the United States in high-profile actions the past few weeks.

The evidence has been cited in efforts to send over 200 Venezuelan men to prison in El Salvador for alleged gang membership, to detain a pro-Palestinian activist and green card holder without charging him with any crime, and to deport a doctor with a visa to Lebanon.

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People in immigration court already face a lower standard of due process in proceedings, but the Trump administrations moves reflect a stark deterioration of migrant civil liberties even further, immigration attorneys said.

In this instance under the Trump administration, what were seeing is yes, allegations using flimsy evidence paired with no meaningful opportunity to refute that evidence in any kind of proceeding before any kind of decision-maker, said Nayna Gupta, policy director of the American Immigration Council, a pro-immigration non-profit group. Thats really what makes this different.

The administrations quick pace of detention and deportation has similarly disoriented attorneys.

Every day were hit with a different decision, and we just dont know how to make sense of it, Veronica Cardenas, the former assistant chief counsel for the Department of Homeland Security, told CNN last week. Us immigration lawyers are really experiencing the lack of due process circumventing immigration courts, and so its been a very difficult time.

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The Trump administration has pushed back against critics who raised concerns about immigrants legal rights.

Due process? What was Laken Rileys due process? border czar Tom Homan said on ABCs This Week, referring to the nursing student who was killed by an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela. What were all these young women that were killed and raped by members of (Tren de Aragua)  what was their due process?

Heres a closer look at some of the evidence being cited in the cases and what attorneys and family members of the migrants have said about its relevance.

A closer look at the tattoo evidence

The Trump administration deported over 230 Venezuelans earlier this month, sending them to prison in El Salvador for alleged gang membership. But some have said they were wrongly suspected due to their tattoos.

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The Texas Department of Public Safety last year identified an assortment of tattoos connected to Tren de Aragua, many relatively common: stars on the shoulder, royal crowns, firearms, trains, dice, roses, tigers and jaguars. A photo collage of the tattoos even includes a Nike Jumpman logo and Michael Jordans number 23 jersey number as an identifier of gang membership.

Jose Daniel Simancas Rodriguez, who spent 15 days in detention at Guantanamo Bay before being deported back to Venezuela, told CNN that US authorities had suspected him because of his tattoos and because he was from the gangs original stomping grounds in Maracay. He denies being in the gang.

A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union against the Trump administration related to its deportation efforts tells the story of J.G.G., a non-citizen from Venezuela and tattoo artist who has requested asylum. J.G.G. has several tattoos on his leg, and that ink that made him the target of deportation efforts, according to the suit.

The ACLU said that J.G.G. has two tattoos  a rose and skull on his leg as well as an eye with a clock in it  and neither are associated with Tren de Aragua.

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During an interview with ICE, he was detained because the officer erroneously suspected that J.G.G. was a Tren de Aragua member on account of his tattoos, the suit states.

Lindsay Toczylowski, the co-founder and president of the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, is representing a Venezuelan asylum seeker who they say was abruptly removed to El Salvador.

He came here seeking protection, seeking asylum, and because of his tattoos  which are the type of tattoos you would see on any person hanging out in a coffee shop in (Los Angeles)  because of those tattoos, hes in a labor prison in El Salvador known for human rights abuse, Toczylowski said.

Trump admin defends deportations

The deportations stem from President Donald Trumps invocation of the Alien Enemies Act, an obscure 18th century law that has only been invoked three times in US history, all during major military conflicts.

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Detentions and deportations that occur under the measure do not go through the immigration court system, which provides immigrants the chance to seek relief and make their case to stay in the country.

The US recently designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization, and officials have claimed the country is under invasion by the gang to invoke the Alien Enemies Act. CNN previously reported that more than half of the 261 migrants expelled to El Salvador were done under the Alien Enemies Act.

The administration has not publicly identified those removed to El Salvador, or presented evidence that the deported Venezuelans belong to Tren de Aragua. CNN has not been able to confirm whether any of the deported migrants identified in this story have any affiliation to the gang.

We are not going to reveal operational details about a counter terrorism operation, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said last week. She added that ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents had great evidence.

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They were 100% confident in the individuals that were sent home on these flights and in the presidents executive authority to do that, Leavitt said.

The administration has argued in court the migrants sent to El Salvador were carefully vetted through investigative techniques and a review of information to ensure they were members of Tren de Aragua, according to a court declaration submitted last week from an agency official.

Robert Cerna, acting field office director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, argued that the agency did not simply rely on social media posts, photographs of the alien displaying gang-related hand gestures, or tattoos alone.

ICE also looked at previous criminal convictions, testimonies and interviews with known Tren de Aragua members, according to the filing.

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Members of TdA pose an extraordinary threat to the American public. TdA members are involved in illicit activity to invoke fear and supremacy in neighborhoods and with the general population, the filing states.

The flyers and misrepresentation evidence

Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian activist, was arrested by immigration officers nearly three weeks ago outside of his apartment on the campus of Columbia University. A legal permanent US resident and green card holder, he played a central role in protests against the Israel-Hamas war on the Ivy League campus last year.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered Khalils detention, relying on an obscure section of US law which gives him wide authority to revoke a persons immigration status if their activities in the United States would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences to the country.

Leavitt, the White House press secretary, accused Khalil of organizing protests that distributed pro-Hamas propaganda, flyers with the logo of Hamas, a claim his attorneys have denied. During the briefing, she said she had a copy of the flyer but did not present it.

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Khalil has not been charged with any crime since he has been detained.

Khalil described himself as a political prisoner in a letter dictated to his attorneys from inside the ICE detention facility. 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, Khalil said.

In a court filing Sunday, the Trump administration said that his deportation is justified because Khalil did not reveal his previous work at the Syria office of the British Embassy in Beirut or his membership in United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in his application to become a permanent US resident.

Khalil sought to procure an immigration benefit by fraud of willful misrepresentation of a material fact, the US government wrote.

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Khalil was an unpaid intern with UNRWA in 2023, but was never on staff, spokesperson Juliette Touma told CNN.

His defense attorneys argue the new justification to deport him is weak and doesnt cure the obvious taint of retaliation.

Its a recognition that the initial charges are unsustainable, attorney Baher Azmy told CNN. So, theyre going with a theory that they must think is more legally defensible.

The deleted photos

Dr. Rasha Alawieh, 34, was deported last week from Boston to her native Lebanon after federal agents found photos of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Irans supreme leader on her cell phone, a court filing by the Trump administration said.

It was not immediately clear why federal officers were examining her phone.

In explaining why these multiple photos were deleted by her one to two days before she arrived at Logan Airport, Dr. Alawieh stated that she did not want to give authorities the perception that she supports Hezbollah and the Ayatollah politically or militarily, the court filing reads, per CNN affiliate WCVB.

Alawieh, who attended Nasrallahs funeral in Lebanon, described him as a highly regarded religious leader and told them she follows his religious and spiritual techniques but not his politics, a source familiar with the case told CNN.

Alawieh openly admitted to this to CBP officers, as well as her support of Nasrallah, a spokesperson for the DHS said in a statement. Alawieh also acknowledged to immigration officers Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, a source familiar with the case told CNN.

Alawiehs attorney, Stephanie Marzouk, who told the court all Alawiehs other attorneys had withdrawn from the case, spoke briefly to reporters last week outside a federal courthouse in Boston.

Our client is in Lebanon, and were not going to stop fighting to get her back in the US to see her patients, and were also going to make sure that the government follows the rule of law, she said.

The groundwork to deport these people did not just begin with Trump. DHS has a long history of using flimsy or unsubstantiated allegations to deport people in the immigration system, said Gupta, the American Immigration Council policy director.

This is the most egregious final step in what has been many years of devolving due process in the immigration system, she said.

CNNs Michael Williams, Priscilla Alvarez, Michael Rios, Norma Galeana, Ivonne Valdes, Gloria Pazmino, Sabrina Souza, Alejandra Jaramillo and Andy Rose contributed to this report.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) seized files from a law firm investigating a whistleblower complaint against the Metro Nashville Police Department, the Community Review Board has announced in a letter.

In 2024, Butler Snow was tasked with leading an investigation into a 61-page whistleblower complaint filed by a former Nashville lieutenant.

MAY 2024 | Complaint: Police leadership worked with lawmakers on bill to strip Community Oversight Boards power

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In the complaint, former Lt. Garet Davidson alleges police leadership secretly worked with state lawmakers to get rid of the Community Oversight Board, which was created by Nashville voters to oversee and investigate police conduct.

During the Community Review Boards (CRB) Monday meeting, Attorney Frank Brazil said he recently learned that the Butler Snow law firm was raided by the TBI in November 2024.

Months earlier, in September 2024, TBI agents raided Davidsons home.

The CRB said the raid at the law firm raises serious questions about the status of the investigation and the rationale behind the states intervention.

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RELATED: One-on-one with former lieutenant who filed 61-page complaint against MNPD

Brazil said he believes the board deserves some type of statement about the raid, calling on Nashville leaders to respond.

To my knowledge, no statements have been given about this and thats exactly what were asking for, some kind of guidance because it does appear that the investigation has been comprised to at least some extent, said Brazil. The TBI used a Robertson County judge to execute a warrant of Garet Davidson, and wed like to know more so we invite our leaders to provide a comment.

Meanwhile, other members on the review board expressed frustration that they were just learning about the raid at the law firmmonths after it occurred.

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I would like to know how we got to March 24, 2025, without any indication that the law firm that was hired by our local administration was raided by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and we not know about it, CRB Chairperson Alisha Haddock said. Its totally beyond me. I cant even think of a scenario where the legal department for the Metropolitan Government would not inform a department that was involved or named in these allegations, the 61-page complaint, I cant even think of a scenario why the Metro legal department wouldnt contact the Community Review Board.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

In the letter, the CRB called for Nashville Mayor Freddie OConnell to provide a public update on the investigation itself as well as the TBI raid. News 2 reached out to the mayors office for comment. A spokesperson said the mayors office had no comment about the investigation and shared a letter that OConnell and Wallace Dietz Metro Legal Law Directoraddressed to the CRB, which read in part:

Neither the Mayor nor I have any role in the Butler Snow investigation, other than the selection of Mr. Stanton to conduct the investigation. Mr. Stantons investigation is an outside, independent matter and any involvement by the Mayor or other Metro officials would be inappropriate. We have full confidence that the Butler Snow team can handle the investigation and any dealings with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Wallace Dietz

On Tuesday, the TBI told News 2 that anything pertaining to that case is a matter of public record and would need to come from the court clerk.

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A previous News 2 report states the CRB was told the attorneys handling the investigation did not specify how long it would take, but they were assured that the case would be handled fairly and impartially.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Multiple teachers are set to be laid off at Holland Central School District after the school board voted to do so at a meeting on Monday night.

Its unclear exactly how many layoffs there will be, but the cuts are expected to impact physical education, special education and music. The school resource officer is also on the list of projected cuts. There will also be cuts to several programs within the district.

The decisions were made due to rising costs within the district, board members said, while the districts income stayed the same. Slight modifications were made to the original plan, including putting one of three music positions back into the district.

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Several area school districts have made cuts to their teaching staff in the past year, including Buffalo Public Schools, West Seneca Central School District and Hamburg Central School District.

Now, the board will vote on a budget during a special board meeting on April 7. If the budget is approved, it will go out to the town for a vote in May.

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Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.

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CLEVELAND (WJW)  The FOX 8 I-Team has uncovered an explosive complaint filed by the family of Cleveland police officer Jamieson Ritter, who was killed in the line of duty.

Ritters parents believe the Cleveland Police Department put him in unnecessary danger the night he was shot and killed.

The parents have filed a bold complaint with the Office of Professional Standards.

Foul play death: Akron boy Jadako Taylor, 12, forced into icy bath as punishment, police say

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Last year, on the morning of July 4, patrol officers tried to arrest a man considered armed and dangerous. Police said Delawnte Hardy shot Ritter.

The lack of proactive measures led to unnecessary risks  culminating in the murder of Officer Ritter including failure to utilize CPD SWAT, Cuyahoga County SWAT, and the United States Marshals Office tactical resources, reads the complaint.

  Actions under [Police Chief Dorothy] Todd have created circumstances in which officers are afraid to use force, even when required and necessary to protect themselves or the public out of fear of adverse consequences.

Karen and Jon Ritter first filed a complaint with the Cleveland Office of Professional Standards in January. They cited how they were notified of their sons death. They described getting a cold phone call in the middle of the night.

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A few weeks later, a new complaint was written by the head of the OPS as an extension of the original complaint. That additional complaint was then signed by the officers parents.

We are told the complaint is under investigation.

The recent tragic murder of Officer Ritter underscores the poor decision-making and inadequate support systems for officers, raising serious concerns about Chief Todds leadership responsibility, resulting dereliction of duty, repeated violations of General Police Orders and the legal mandates of the Ohio Revised Code, the familys complaint also states. Before high-risk deployments, operational planning was insufficient, contributing to perilous situations for officers. Discussions before the incident indicate that Chief Todd and her leadership failed to provide a non-hostile work environment, proper training for specialized assignments, and access to essential resources.

The I-Team has revealed that during the deadly encounter, six officers had guns out. They did not shoot the suspect. Yet, officers said the suspect kept firing shots, even as an officer held his wrist to the ground.

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The new complaint attacks Cleveland police training and equipment, and it alleges a hostile work environment, calling it administrative misconduct.

We contacted the office of Police Chief Dorothy Todd, and we received the following statement:

The Division of Police is also still grieving the loss of Officer Jamieson Ritter and we empathize with the Ritter family. What happened that day was the result of a violent criminals actions with a gun and was an absolute tragedy. They have opted to exercise their right to an administrative review of the incident, which will proceed in the same manner as others do.

The pain and grief of the Ritter family is unfathomable to anyone who has not lost a loved one in the line of duty and is something I will not minimize by commenting on this specific complaint. The Division of Police policies and training were written with the approval of the Department of Justice under the Federal Consent Decree. Schedules of patrol officers are governed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, said Todd.

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Greater Cleveland Food Bank faces uncertainty surrounding food deliveries from government

Hardy has been found incompetent to stand trial. He was sent to a mental health clinic for treatment. Prosecutors are hoping he will be restored to competency.

Court records show a hearing will be held in the next few days for court approval of medical treatment and administration of medication. An exact date has not yet been set.

Hardy faces charges for the deadly shooting, but the new complaint suggests the officers own department also failed him.

Officer Ritters parents, Karen and Jon Ritter, sent the following statement to the I-Team in response to the police chiefs comments on their complaints:

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We filed specific complaints with OPS for violations of the General Police Orders. The DOJ and Consent Degree are not even relevant in this complaint and as a matter of fact, they were put in place to ensure they were followed. We look forward to OPS investigating these violations to make sure they are followed properly in the future.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A 16-year-old Shawnee Mission South High School student was sentenced Tuesday to a Juvenile Correctional Facility after he brought a gun to school back in December 2024.

The Johnson County District Attorneys Office reported that the teen will serve 12 months at the correctional facility after pleading guilty last month to one count of firearm possession by a felon.

According to court records, he previously pled guilty to unrelated felony charges, including burglary of a motor vehicle.

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Previous reporting said that on the afternoon of Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, students and staff at Shawnee Mission South High School were placed on lockdown after a firearm was found inside the school.

Northland man facing charges in 2022 death of teen from fentanyl overdose

The Overland Park Police Department said a student had reported the gun to an administrator, which subsequently led to the teens arrest.

The following day, the then-15-year-old was charged with one count of firearm possession by a felon, one count of juvenile in possession of a firearm, and one count of interference with a law enforcement officer.

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However, on Tuesday, the teen was sentenced for only one of the three charges: firearm possession by a felon.

According to the DAs office, the case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Melanie Lux.

Per FOX4 News policy, we will not be naming the convicted teen as they were tried in juvenile court.

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Covington police say a pair of teenage siblings who they say were taken on Monday night have been found safe.

Officers say the teenagers are being cared for.

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Police say the siblings, 15 and 13, were with their grandmother when a family member who doesnt have custody took them at 11:45 p.m.

Investigators did not comment on what led up to the teenagers disappearance or identify the person they were believed to be with.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  Two teenage brothers were sentenced Monday to 20 years each in prison for their roles in a drive-by shooting that killed a 5-year-old Albuquerque girl in 2023, part of a spike in violence at the time that prompted the governor to declare a public health emergency.

Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham suspended the right to carry guns at public parks and playgrounds in New Mexicos largest metro area as part of her declaration but ultimately ended the order a year later.

The state, however, continues to struggle with cases of violence at the hands of juvenile suspects in Albuquerque and elsewhere, with recent shootings and arrests in a deadly hit-and-run leaving communities shaken.

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Prosecutors in Bernalillo County announced the sentences for the two brothers and a 16-year sentence for one of the other defendants in social media posts. Two other defendants received lesser sentences. All five had reached plea agreements with prosecutors.

In statements made in the court, the brothers apologized for the pain they had caused, Albuquerque television station KOB-TV reported.

The teens ranged in age from 15 to 19 when the shooting happened just before 6 a.m. on Aug. 13, 2023.

According to police, Galilea Samaniego was asleep along with her two sisters in a mobile home when the teens entered their community in two stolen vehicles and opened fire.

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Another teenage boy living in the trailer home was their target, investigators said. They said the teen had a feud since middle school with one of the suspects and the dispute had escalated.

Police said several gunshots were fired from at least one of the vehicles toward the trailer. The girl was struck in the head and later died at a hospital.
Liliet Heredero has been named vice president of news & content for Telemundo 51 Miami (WSCV), part of NBCUniversal's Telemundo Station Group.

She has been the director of multi platform content & streaming for Telemundo 51 and NBC6 South Florida (WTVJ) since 2022.

Heredero takes over for Helga Silva, who is retiring after 14 years as Telemundo 51's vp of news and a 50-plus year career in media.

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"Liliet is an experienced and passionate news leader who has successfully guided the growth of our streaming and digital media platforms, and made considerable contributions to Telemundo 51's service to our South Florida audiences and communities," said Jorge Carballo, president and general manager of Telemundo 51 and NBC 6. "We're excited for her to continue to build on the tremendous success Helga achieved during her remarkable tenure as our newsroom leader for the last 14 years. I want to congratulate Liliet on her promotion and wish Helga the best on her well-deserved next chapter."

Before working at Telemundo 51, Heredero spent more than 13 years with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), most recently as senior editor and Miami Bureau Chief for BBC Mundo for more than eight years where she oversaw a team of journalists and correspondents covering the U.S. and Latin America for the BBC's 24/7 Spanish-language digital service, as well as BBC World News and BBC World Service.

Before joining the BBC in 2009, where she also held a variety of production, editorial, journalist positions, Heredero spent time as a press officer for London's Royal Academy of Arts. She began her career with Cuban National Television as an anchor and host for more than two years after earning a journalism degree from the University of Havana's School of Communications, where she graduated with honors.
LOWER MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11)  Residents of two large buildings in Upper Manhattan protested against a man who the city calls one of the worst landlords in New York.

The protest took place outside the housing court minutes before residents testified at a hearing over whether or not they could take over their buildings from the landlord, whos been jailed in relation to the many violations at his properties.

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Outside of court, in Lower Manhattan on Monday, residents and activists chanted, Housing is a human right! Fight, fight, fight! They put those words into action inside a housing court courtroom on Monday afternoon, with residents like Olga Camil taking the stand.

So many violations, she said about conditions at 705 and 709 West 170th Street, in Washington Heights, where she lives. Last week, [when] I throw the garbage outside, Camil continued, it looked like five [to] seven rats. I make a lot of noise, she said, describing how she tried to make the rodents scatter. I open the can, and am scared the rats [would be] jumping on me, and bite me.

The rats, they never take care of, the 20-year tenant of the rent-controlled buildings added.

She was on the docket to give that description to a judge, whos considering a petition by tenants of the two buildings to take it over themselves.

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Camils daughter, Bianca Lama, also lives in the two adjacent buildings. She said that because conditions have been so bad, its clear to her that tenants like her need to be able to take over their building from their landlord.

They never fix the boiler, they never maintain it, said Lama, and they put our lives in danger most of the time, she said, describing a boiler emergency in her building. It was like the third time in less than a year that it exploded.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

The landlord, Daniel Ohebshalom, was arrested twice last year, and served time behind bars at Rikers on charges of harassment, offering a false instrument, and child endangerment related to bad conditions in his building, according to prosecutors.

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Ohebshaloms attorney, Vladimir Mironenko, did not respond to requests by PIX11 News for comment. He has, however, said in court filings that his client has fixed some of the violations at his properties at 705 and 709 West 170th Street.

However, tenants of the rent-controlled buildings said that repairs are few and far between.

Thats why theyre calling for measures to allow them to become owners of their two buildings. The citys got a program in place that would enable that, but a judge has to hear the case. Thats happening this month. Monday was another in a series of hearings in housing court. The next one is on Thursday.

A date for a judgment in the case has not yet been determined.

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Following the deadly shooting at Antioch High School, a bill seeking to make public deceased school shooters juvenile records passed the Tennessee House with bipartisan support on Monday.

State law currently requires juvenile law enforcement and court records to remain confidential to protect the future of youth offenders.

The legislation will unseal juvenile records of court proceedings, mental health issues, and interactions with the Department of Childrens Services if a minor commits a school shooting and subsequently dies. A homicide conviction would not be required to make the records public.

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House Bill 1038 passed the House on Monday afternoon with bipartisan support in 88 to 4 vote. Reps. Gabby Salinas, D-Memphis, Vincent Dixie, D-Nashville, Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, and Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, voted against the bill. Reps. Shaundelle Brooks, D-Nashville, and Justin Jones, D-Nashville voted present.

Rep. William Lamberth, R- Portland speaks in the House chamber during the third day of special session at the Tennessee State Capitol building in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.

House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, pushed for the legislation in response to the Antioch shooting, during which a 17-year-old opened fire in the schools cafeteria, killing 16-year-old student Josselin Corea Escalante, and injuring another student.

There is a very disturbed and evil young man that went into a high school in Davidson County and shot and killed a sweet young lady who was there just to learn, Lamberth said. I believe that if a juvenile goes into a school and commits a homicide, upon their death, everybody in this state ought to know what their history is.

Two months before the shooting, the shooter allegedly threatened another student with a box cutter, and his case was set to go to Davidson County Juvenile Court, WKRN first reported. The other students family ultimately decided not to press charges.

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Lamberth said his amendment is an effort to better equip policymakers to prevent similar attacks in the future.

That child never should have had a gun. That child never should have had a gun in school. That child never should have been in that school based on their history, Lamberth said. Once this is public, everyone will know exactly what that history was, and we all can have a conversation on how to make sure that this never happens again.

Carlos Corea, holds a photo of his niece, Josselin Corea Escalante, during a Rally for Antioch at Tennessee State Capitol building in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. Coreas niece was killed during a school shooting at Antioch High School last week that inspired the rally.

Originally, the bill  backed by the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts  simply required juvenile court records statewide to be managed by one central system.

That version has already passed the Senate, and does not include the provision requiring school shooter records to be made public.

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The bill will now go back to the Senate, where members can either concur with the House version, or the bill would go to conference committee to hash out the differences between the two chambers.

Rep. G.A. Hardaway, D-Memphis, questioned whether the deceased juvenile would not have to be convicted of a crime before their records were made public.

The person is dead because they committed a deadly crime inside the school, said Rep. Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville. There's a shooting, they kill someone and they're dead. Therefore the records that relate to the decedent  the criminal  is going to be a public record so we know what happened and why.

Lamberth had also proposed a similar amendment on another bill, which was placed behind the state budget.

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Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com.

Want to share your thoughts with the legislators that represent you? Find your state Senator and Representative and their contact information on the Tennessee General Assembly website here.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN House passes bill to make juvenile records public in some cases
Auto dealers and the Canadian public deserve answers for Teslas flurry of rebate claims during the final three days of Canadas Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles program, according to Huw Williams, director of public affairs for the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA).

The U.S. EV maker filed 8,669 rebate claims worth $43.2 million Jan. 10-12, according to data from Transport Canada. The legion of claims helped empty government coffers of incentive funding and left 226 franchised dealers on the hook for at least 2,295 unpaid government rebates, worth up to $5,000 apiece, Williams said, before some automakers stepped in to lend assistance.

Chaotic end to Canadas EV rebate program leaves buyers, dealers in limbo

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We dont know the mechanics. We dont know if theres malfeasance. We dont know if somebody was tipped off. We dont know if its gaming the system. But we do know that theres nothing normal about that amount of claims over that short a period of time.

Tesla did not respond to request for comment.

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The automakers weekend filing frenzy, first reported by the Toronto Star, kicked off Jan. 10, when Transport Canada warned stakeholders that the iZEV program was running low on funding and likely to conclude sooner than its expected March 31 end point.

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The government warning set off what amounted to a run on the program. While corporately owned Tesla stores were the primary actors, they werent alone. Nearly 500 dealerships submitted thousands of claims and pre-approvals to the iZEV portal Jan. 11 and 12, according to Transport Canada.

As funding ran dry Jan. 12, the government department shut down the submission portal. It informed dealers a day later that the programs funding pool had been fully exhausted and no further claims would be accepted.

Tesla accounted for 88.7 per cent of the 9,782 claims made in the final three days of the program, with all other brands registering 1,113 claims, according to government data. Thats a stark difference from the breakdown of iZEV claims throughout 2024. While Tesla led the way among brands for the year, it recorded only about 20 per cent of total claims.

How Canadas iZEV claims process worked

Transport Canada gave dealers relatively wide latitude when submitting claims, though advised dealers to begin the claims process and receive a pre-approval from the department before the delivery of the vehicle and providing an incentive.

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CADA CEO Tim Reuss told Automotive News Canada in January that dealers did not typically submit claims in real time, but filed them in batches every week or so,

Some dealers established firm processes for filing claims  when a vehicle built abroad arrived at the Port of Vancouver, for instance. Others waited until after delivery, or after a handful of claims built up, putting them in a precarious position in January when iZEV funds ran out.

To provide consumers the rebate, dealers applied the incentive directly on the vehicles bill of sale. Transport Canada then typically reimbursed the dealer within 20 business days of the purchase being validated.

Notably, the claims submitted by Tesla and other dealerships Jan. 10-12 do not necessarily reflect sales or deliveries in that timeframe. The claims captured by Transport Canadas data, reported monthly, reflect the date the claim enters the governments system. They may be paid or be in processing.

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Tesla also has a history of clustering its claims, though not previously on the level reached in the iZEV programs final days.

During Ottawas previous two fiscal years, the automaker made several large sets of claims in short spans of time, topping 1,000 claims in three-day stretches in several instances. In one particularly busy period in August of 2023, Tesla made 5,653 rebate claims over five days.

iZEV reimbursements for dealers CADAs focus

Transport Canada would not directly address whether it is investigating Teslas large volume of claims in the lead up to the iZEV programs end.

But that doesnt mean the rebates have been paid. Spokesperson Sau Sau Liu said the department continues to assess the large batch of claims submitted by dealerships after the announcement of the programs pause.

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CADAs Williams said while Teslas staggering number of claims need answers, ensuring dealers are reimbursed for incentives provided to consumers is the organizations primary focus. Several dealers are out hundreds of thousands of dollars, he added, putting local jobs on the line.

In the past two months, Transport Canada has softened its stance on reimbursing dealers who sold rebated vehicles to consumers but did not file the paperwork in time.

In February, the department told Automotive News Canada that dealers who had not begun the claims process would not be eligible to receive the incentive. By mid-March, Liu said Transport Canada is examining all possible options for dealerships who did not submit their eligibility application before the deadline.

Williams said Transport Canada should be looking to iZEV contingency funding, cash from Ottawas undersubscribed Incentives for Medium- and Heavy-Duty ZEVs program or returning to Parliament to appropriate more funds to ensure dealers are paid.
CALAMUS, Wis. (WFRV)  A Texas man and a Wisconsin woman were arrested in late February after authorities say they attempted to smuggle methamphetamine into Wisconsin.

According to the Dodge County Sheriffs Office, a Waupun Police officer assigned to the Dodge County Drug Task Force alerted fellow officers on Feb. 27 about a vehicle returning to Wisconsin from Texas.

Man arrested for OWI after high-speed crash on Wisconsin highway

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Task force members located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 151 near Gunn Road in the town of Calamus. A search of the vehicle and its occupants allegedly uncovered methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.

The driver, 50-year-old Audra Arnold of Waupun, was arrested and faces charges of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and THC, both as a party to a crime.

The passenger, 44-year-old Manuel Gonzalez of Texas, was also arrested and faces charges of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and THC, as well as possession of drug paraphernalia.

Court records show Arnold is scheduled for a review hearing Wednesday, with a preliminary hearing set for April 3. Her cash bond was set at $5,000.

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Man arrested for OWI after high-speed crash on Wisconsin highway

Gonzalez is set for a scheduling conference on April 22, with a cash bond set at $50,000.

No additional details were provided.

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AUSTIN, Texas (TEXAS TRIBUNE)  With unanimous Republican support, the Texas Senate appears poised to pass a priority bill requiring Texans to prove their citizenship before they could vote in state, local, and presidential elections.

Senate Bill 16, which would apply to new registrants as well as existing registered voters who did not provide proof of citizenship when they registered. That would include voters who registered through a voter registration drive or by mail, rather than while obtaining a Texas drivers license or state ID through the Department of Public Safety.

Smith County firefighter rescues cat trapped in storm drain

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Voters who dont provide proof of citizenship would be placed on a separate voter roll and could cast ballots only in U.S. House and Senate races. Voters on that list wouldnt be allowed to vote for president under the bill, which experts say could invite a legal challenge.

The bill would create a new barrier to voting for some of Texas more than 18 million registered voters, and could diminish the rights of eligible voters who are not able to provide documents proving their U.S. citizenship.

It would subject election officials to potential criminal penalties, making it a felony punishable by jail time to knowingly register an applicant without first verifying that they are citizens. .

It would also require election officials to provide the state attorney generals office a list of voters who have not provided proof of citizenship, and calls for the attorney general to prosecute any offenses if local officials do not.

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The bill is part of an accelerating campaign by Republicans in Texas and nationwide to draw attention to the potential threat of noncitizen voting, which is already illegal and which rarely occurs in any significant numbers. Republicans control the Texas Legislature. All 20 GOP senators signed on as authors to SB 16. Similar bills have been filed in the House.

Last summer, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a press release boasting that the state had removed more than potential 6,500 noncitizens from its voter rolls. In October, an investigation by Votebeat, ProPublica and the Texas Tribune found that Abbotts numbers were inflated and in some cases, wrong.

Bill modeled on Arizonas system of split voter rolls

Most states currently do not require proof of citizenship for voters, but anyone registering to vote must attest under penalty of perjury that they are a citizen. A noncitizen who tries to vote faces severe penalties, including felony charges and loss of residency status. Voter registrars in counties across the country have processes in place to check that only eligible citizens make it onto the voter rolls.

LOCAL AMBER ALERT issued for 15-year-old reported missing in Dallas

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Arizona is the only state with a long history of enforcing a proof-of-citizenship requirement. Other states have passed similar requirements, but their provisions vary, and some arent enforced pending the outcome of legal challenges. Republican lawmakers in other states, including Michigan, are considering amending their state constitutions to require documented proof of citizenship to register to vote.

In Texas, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in January added citizenship-proof legislation to his list of priorities for the Senate this session.

SB 16 is co-authored by Sen. Bryan Hughes, a Republican from Central Texas who championed Texas sweeping 2021 voting bill. It would replicate the split voter registration system used in Arizona, where people who do not show proof of citizenship to register to vote are placed on a federal only voter list and allowed to vote only in federal elections.

The Texas bill would exclude the federal-only voters from presidential elections, specifically saying voters choices would be counted only in races for U.S. senator or representative. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in February ruled unconstitutional a similar provision in an Arizona law, a decision state lawmakers there said they would appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Arizonas law requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote was passed in 2004. It also prompted lengthy legal fights that continue even now. The federal only list emerged after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that under federal law, Arizona must allow residents who do not provide such proof to cast ballots in federal elections.

This system has disproportionately affected voters from historically marginalized groups in Arizona.

Arizona had 34,933 federal-only voters, who made up less than 1% of the roughly 4.4 million active voters eligible for the November 2024 election. A Votebeat analysis found that the list includes disproportionately high numbers of voters who live on Native land, on college campuses, and at the states main campus for homeless people. Such voters also were generally younger than the overall voting-age population in the state, and were less likely to vote this past November than voters who had provided proof of citizenship, the analysis found.

Arizona officials discovered last summer that for decades, the state mistakenly labeled some voters as having provided proof of U.S. citizenship, when in fact they had never been asked to do so.

What are the accepted forms of citizenship proof?

The Texas legislative proposal is the latest of at least five bills requiring documented proof of citizenship that were filed in December. This one, however, is backed by 20 influential Republican senators, including some members of the State Affairs Committee, which reviews legislation and decides whether it moves forward in the Senate. The committee has in recent years voted to approve laws that would tighten voting access. This bill would require Texans registering to vote to provide  along with their paper application  documented proof of citizenship, in person or by mail, to their county voter registrar or to the Texas Department of Public Safety, which issues drivers licenses.

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The proposal says the following documents would be accepted as documented proof of citizenship: a U.S. passport; a passport card; a certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a U.S. state or territory; United States citizenship papers; identification issued by the U.S. agency responsible for citizenship and immigration; and for citizens born outside the U.S., a consular report of birth abroad. The list does not include tribal documents, which Arizona does accept.

As for Texans who are already registered to vote, the bill directs the Texas Secretary of States Office to by the end of the year, send all counties data of voters who had not provided proof of citizenship prior to September 2025. It directs election officials to document every effort made to check for such proof. If election officials arent able to find information about whether a voter is a U.S. citizen, the bill requires that they notify the person that they are qualified to vote only a federal limited ballot unless theyre able to provide proof.

The bill means that everyone, whether youre registered now or whether you want to register, has to comply with the proof-of-citizenship requirement, said Daniel Griffith, senior director of policy at Secure Democracy Foundation. So if you havent already, you have to provide this information, and you have to make sure that DPS or [a voter registrar] has noted that you have this information.

A voter who has previously provided proof or has been verified as a U.S. citizen is not required to provide proof when submitting an update, change, or correction to the voter registrar, the bill says.

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The provision could affect voters who registered prior to the 2002 Help America Vote Act, which created voter identification procedures, and the 2005 Real ID Act, which requires people obtaining a state-issued ID or drivers license to provide proof of citizenship or proof of lawful presence in the U.S.

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AUSTIN (KXAN) A series of bills discussed by Texas senators on Tuesday would make it easier for disruptive students to be removed from the classroom, expelled to juvenile detention centers for alternative school or even charged with misdemeanors.

But whats considered disruptive would be at the discretion of teachers and districts and would put more protections in place for educators.

It comes as assaults on teachers and school related threats have risen in recent years. According to data from the Texas Education Agency (TEA), school districts collectively reported 2,654 district employees being assaulted by a student in the 2023-2024 school year  an 18% increase from the year before.

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Lubbock Sen. Charles Perry presented a series of student discipline bills he authored during the Senate Education Committee K-12 hearing on Tuesday:

Senate Bill 1871: Relates to discipline management, including the offense of exhibiting, using, or threatening to exhibit or use a firearm or weapon in or on school property or on a school bus and access to telehealth mental health services in public schools.

Senate Bill 1872: Relates to the expulsion of a public school student for engaging in conduct that constitutes certain offenses.

Senate Bill 1873: Relates to students enrolled in public schools subject to in-school or out-of-school suspension.

Senate Bill 1874: Relating to immunity from certain disciplinary proceedings against a professional employee of a school district for certain actions concerning public school discipline and law and order.

Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, brought forth a related legislation, Senate Bill 1924. That bill would return the state to the pre-2013 status quo when students could receive Class C misdemeanors for school offenses. It requires criminal referral for harm or imminent harm to a teacher.

In a tense back and forth, Dallas Sen. Royce West questioned Creighton on proposing new legislation with an old state policy.

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Lets make certain we dont make the mistakes of the pastSurely, as the chair of public education, that is not what you want, West said. There were instances where kids were being arrested in front of their classmates.

Creighton backed his bill.

Mistakes the legislature has made in the past, making these changes that have put our teachers in serious risk and in harms way, Creighton said.

District superintendents testified during the hearing, asking for consideration to give more control on a local level.

Local ISDs need to have flexibility to make disciplinary decisions, Grandview Independent School District Superintendent Kirby Basham said.

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Some argued the bills talked about on Tuesday go too far.

It removes those proportionality requirements, the severity requirements, so that a teacher can just remove the kids for just being disruptive, Crystal Tran, Legal Fellow on the education justice team with with Texas Appleseed said. What does that mean? We dont know.

West also raised concerns about fairness when it comes to students being removed from class due to disciplinary issues.

How do we have as much equal application as possible around the state in utilizing these terms and definitions? West asked. [We could] have some parents complaining that the teacher wrongfully put the child out of the classroom. Whats that parents recourse in that situation?

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Research from the National Library of Medicine shows there are racial disparities when it comes to school discipline.

The discipline gap is the disproportionate and differential use of exclusionary action against Black and other racially marginalized children in schools (Gregory et al., 2010; Thomas & Stevenson, 2009). A U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (2014) study of national school discipline data shows that Black students are significantly more likely to be suspended or expelled than White students, based on their representation in the school population (U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, 2014). National Library of Medicine

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MAULDIN, S.C. (WSPA)  Air Force veteran Walter Shuler is proof that you can achieve anything you put your mind to.



I joined the Air Force because I knew my mom couldnt afford to send me to college, Shuler told 7NEWS. And I didnt want to be in the neighborhood where I knew that some of that was bad, bad news.



The decision of which branch Shuler would decide came easy.



Id always seen aircraft and I wanted to see what it was all about, Shuler said. And so after my testing, I scored higher in aircraft maintenance than anything else. But it was what I wanted.



They offered Shuler a position as Crew Chief.

The top grade is nine. Ive never received anything less than a nine the whole time Ive been in the service, said Shuler.



That success was achieved by making sure each fighter jet was ready for takeoff.



Preventive maintenance is the best thing to keep your aircraft flying, Shuler explained. And so if I knew that this system needed to be re-evaluated, I would get them out and say, Look, can you run what we call ops check?'



Each time Shuler said he signed his name on the dotted line, confident in his service.



This is your jet, this is your responsibility, Shuler shared. And I did my responsibility. I kept my aircraft flying.



Shuler deployed several times overseas.



A lot of people think that because Im in the Air Force I wasnt in in the act of war. But we are, Shuler said. And the reason why we are is because our jets can fly to the point and drop our bombs and shoot our missiles and come back.



Shulers duties took him to other countries too, like Germany, Turkey, and Korea.



My job was to serve the public of my country. And I did the best that I could, the best that I could all the time that I was in there, said Shuler.



After a 20-year career, Shuler retired as a Master Sergeant, E7.

I got hired working with kids with disabilities and special needs, Shuler said. And they changed the name to Thrive Upstate now.



Thats where Shuler would work another 27 years.

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Hed also be selected to serve as a Deacon at his church which Shuler continues to do today.



Now fully retired, Shuler said hes focused on enjoying the quiet with his wife and kids and many grands.



Were a big family. We all everybody likes to come here because we got more room here and then everybodys more relaxed being here, Shuler said. We enjoy ourselves when we get together.



Its an opportunity to reflect after a lifetime of service.



I really enjoyed it. It gave me a purpose in life, he shared. It gave me strength and gave me to learn how to be passionate to other folks.



Walter Shuler, Thank You for Your Service.



To nominate a veteran like Walter Shuler to be featured in our Thank You for Your Service series, 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 WSPA 7NEWS.
If you think car prices are bad, consider how much it costs to replace the presidential limo.

The Secret Service posted on X it met with General Motors executives to discuss building a new presidential limousine.

While a GM spokesman said the company would not comment on current or future government contracts, in September, the Homeland Security Department and Secret Service awarded GM a $14.8 million contract for development of the next-generation presidential limousine.

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Here's what we know.

Secret Service meets with GM to discuss armored SUVs

Countering evolving threats require us to constantly explore new innovations and improvements to our armored fleet of protective vehicles. Director Sean Curran met with GM executives to discuss advancements that could benefit the next generation of armored SUVs. pic.twitter.com/3RuuXWDCbe  U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) March 21, 2025

"Countering evolving threats require us to constantly explore new innovations and improvements to our armored fleet of protective vehicles. Director Sean Curran met with GM executives to discuss advancements that could benefit the next generation of armored SUVs," the Secret Service posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

A Secret Service spokesman confirmed for the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, on March 21 it had contracted with GM to produce a new presidential limousine, though it declined to discuss how the vehicle might differ from the current one or offer other details about Curran's discussions with GM.

"The U.S. Secret Service is always exploring emerging technology to enhance our protective operations," said Nate Herring, lead public affairs specialist for the Secret Service. "Director Currans visit to the General Motors Tech Center in Warren (Michigan) was to discuss new advancements that could benefit the next generation of armored SUVs. The U.S. Secret Service employs a variety of vehicle platforms.

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"Due to operational security, we are unable to discuss the means and methods used for our protective operations," he added.

GM gets $14.8 million contract to develop next generation presidential limo

In September, the Homeland Security Department and Secret Service awarded GM a $14.8 million contract for development of a next-generation presidential limousine.

The contract could be worth up to $40.8 million through 2029.

Current presidential limo is 2018 custom-built Cadillac

The last vehicle constructed for presidents debuted one year into Trump's first administration.

The Secret Service said the 2018 custom-built Cadillac, modeled after the Cadillac CT6, entered the presidential fleet and shuttled Trump around New York to United Nations General Assembly meetings. The limo also has a twin used for motorcades.

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The 22,000-pound, armored Cadillac is built on a heavy-duty truck chassis, powered by a diesel engine and has armor 8 inches thick.

'Basically a tank': Jay Leno explores 'The Beast'

In 2024, Jay Leno, in an exclusive episode of "Jay Leno's Garage," talked about the presidential limo with Secret Service agents Jay Nasworthy and Steve Abel, who shared insights and stories about the most-secure vehicle in the world. Not all of the car's secrets were revealed but info shared included:

The presidential limo is probably the safest vehicle in the world.

Tires have run-flat capabilities.

The Secret Service "takes at least two" of the vehicles wherever the president goes in the world, transporting them on either a C17 or C5.

Each presidential limo has "probably an 8-year shelf life."

Prior presidential limos are destroyed after a new one is built.

Everyone involved in building and designing the presidential limo needs to have top-secret clearance.

As technology advances, "we try to incorporate the latest and greatest of everything."

The limo has "robust capabilities."

The windows do not go down.

The rear seats where the president rides has heating, cooling and massage functions.

Secret Service calls the limo a parade limousine.

"It's a car and it drives like a car." But, agents said, it can be difficult to see out of it and it has several blind spots. "It needs space."

Wood surrounding the presidential seal inside the limo is from a chestnut tree planted by George Washington. The first American president planted 13 trees, one for each colony, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, between his sister's and mother's homes so they would have shade walking between their homes. The last tree, representing Georgia, died in 2004 and has been used in the presidential limo.

Presidents and Cadillacs have been together for almost a century

"In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson rode in a Series 53 1916 Cadillac limousine during a parade in Boston to celebrate the end of World War I," GM said.

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"Two Cadillac convertibles  dubbed the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth  served Presidents Roosevelt, Truman, and Eisenhower. First used in 1938, the 21.5-foot, 7,660-pound vehicles were equipped with a full ammunition arsenal, two-way radios, and heavy-duty generators."

Cadillacs also were used by Presidents Ronald Reagan (a Fleetwood) and Bill Clinton (a Fleetwood Brougham.)

"A re-engineered version of the Beast, code-named Cadillac One, and featuring design cues from the Cadillac DTS, debuted in 2009 to transport President Obama."

Since the early 1980s, the presidential limo has been a Cadillac.

Trump family has history with Cadillacs

President Trump said in a September 2024 speech in Michigan that his father, Fred Trump, liked Cadillacs.

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I learned so much from him, and he loved Cadillac, GM said on its website.

"His biggest luxury in life was to get a brand new, dark blue Cadillac every two years. And he would. He would get that car, and he would say, 'look at this car.' He didn't know about a Rolls Royce. All he liked was Cadillac, and I love it. I think it's a great car.

My father liked Cadillacs and that's good enough for me, President Trump said.

Why is the presidential limo called 'The Beast?'

Presidential limousines are nicknamed The Beast, a term first used in 2001, in reference to the limo used by President George W. Bush.

"Unlike its predecessors, this one was custom-built, designed and engineered by a research and development team at General Motors. GM designed the vehicle to the exacting standards of the U.S. Secret Service, while maintaining signature design cues from the Cadillac DeVille," GM said.

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GM has described the president's limo as "a custom-built, highly secure fortress on wheels that proudly wears the Cadillac crest."

President Roosevelt was first president to ride in armored vehicle. It was Al Capone's

"In December 1941, Franklin Roosevelt became the first president to use an armored vehicle," according to the Secret Service.

 Miami Beach lot where Al Capone's house stood (and where he died) on market for $23.9 million

"Originally belonging to infamous gangster Al Capone, the car was seized by the Treasury Department in 1932 on an income-tax evasion charge.

"The car's armor actually was comprised of only bulletproof glass; the body of the car was still vulnerable. The vehicle was used until limousines in the presidential fleet  such as the 1939 Lincoln Sunshine Special  were armor-plated in the early part of 1942."

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Contributors: Jackie Charniga, Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press

This story was updated to add new information.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Presidential limo, the Beast: Secret Service, GM talk new Trump car
Thousands gathered in Buenos Aires on Monday to mark the 49th anniversary of the 1976 military coup that ushered in a brutal dictatorship in the country. It comes as the Argentine government ordered the declassification of all existing documentation regarding the actions of the armed forces during the dictatorship.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  Thousands of anti-abortion supporters are rallying in the capitol city to protest on Tuesday afternoon.

The event was organized for Illinois Right to Life. Other groups like the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod Central Illinois District and the Catholic Diocese of Springfield also organized events for the day.

Diocese officials said they expected nearly 3,000 supporters at the march, many of whom are Catholic school students.

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Illinois homeschool bill passes; hundreds gather at State Capitol in protest

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The day started with a mass at UISs before a rally and march near the capitol.

Speakers included former gubernatorial candidate Jeanne Ives, legislators like Adam Niemerg, an OBGYN and bio-ethics professor. Illinois Right to Life President Mary Kate Zander said the purpose of the rally and march is to celebrate the beauty and the sanctity of human life at all stages.

This article has been updated to describe the organizers of 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 WCIA.com.
JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  Moss Point police arrested three men after investigators said a man died while trying to break up a fight.

The incident occurred on Lilly Circle in Moss Point on Saturday, March 22. Police said a group of females began fighting at the location.

SUV crashes into Mississippi house, owner forced to cover damages

According to investigators, a large crowd gathered, and the victim, 23-year-old Demond Tayveion Ross, was beaten by several people as he tried to break up the fight. Police said Ross was also struck by a vehicle when another assault victim was trying to flee the scene.

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Police arrested Roy Reeves, Jr., 26; Rubbey Reeves, 45; and Joseph Carson, 35. The three suspects were charged with aggravated assault, but the charges could be upgraded pending autopsy results for Ross.

Roy Reeves, Jr. (Courtesy: Jackson Co. Jail) Rubbey Reeves (Courtesy: Jackson Co. Jail) Joseph Carson (Courtesy: Jackson Co. Jail)

Police said more arrests are expected in the case. Anyone with information can contact the Moss Point Police Department at 228-475-1711 or Mississippi Crime Stoppers at 1-877-787-5898.

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A poll has found that 74% of Ukrainians believe Ukraine can win the war against Russia. Meanwhile, 30% of respondents consider victory to mean the complete expulsion of Russian forces from all Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and Donbas. The share of those confident in victory has declined by 9% since September 2024 and by 17.5% since August 2022.

Source: a poll conducted by the Razumkov Centre, a Ukrainian think tank, between 28 February and 6 March

Quote: "74% of respondents believe in Ukraine's victory in the war (56% of residents of the south, 67% of residents of the east, 79% of residents of the centre and 81.5% of residents of the west), 16% do not think so (11% in the west, 14% in the centre, 23% in the east and 24% in the south)."

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Details: Regarding what constitutes victory, 30% of those who believe in Ukraines success consider only the complete expulsion of Russian forces and the restoration of borders as of January 2014 to be a true victory.

For 17%, victory means the complete devastation of the Russian Armed Forces and the incitement of an uprising or the collapse of Russia.

A further 22% would consider victory to be the restoration of the status quo as of 23 February 2022, while 11% would see it as the expulsion of Russian troops from all Ukrainian territory except occupied Crimea.

For 10%, the end of the war would be considered a victory, even if Russian forces remain in the territories seized after 24 February 2022.

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The survey was conducted from 28 February to 6 March, with 2,018 respondents aged 18 and older interviewed face-to-face across all government-controlled regions of Ukraine. The theoretical margin of error does not exceed 2.3%. However, sociologists caution that additional systematic deviations may be present due to the impact of Russian aggression, particularly the forced displacement of millions of citizens.

Background: In September 2024, 83% of Ukrainians believed in Ukraine's victory, with 38% considering it to be the withdrawal of Russian troops from all Ukrainian territory and the restoration of the country's borders as of January 2014.

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The post Ticketmaster May Have Broken UK Law with Oasis Ticket Pricing, Says UK Regulator appeared first on Consequence.

Following a public on-sale for Oasis 2025 reunion tour as chaotic as Taylor Swifts The Eras Tour, the UKs Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation into Ticketmasters handling of the process. Now, the CMA has released its initial findings and suggested that the ticketing platform may have breached consumer protection law.

In a press release, the UK competition regulator said Ticketmaster may have misled consumers with its sale of platinum tickets at nearly 2.5 times the price of equivalent tickets. According to the investigation, the ticketing giant didnt sufficiently disclose that the platinum tickets did not offer additional benefits compared to standard offerings.

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Were concerned that Oasis fans didnt get the information they needed or may have been misled into buying tickets they thought were better than they were, said the CMAs interim senior director of consumer protection, Hayley Fletcher.

The CMA added that Ticketmaster failed to notify customers that there were two categories of tickets offered, with the cheaper seats being sold before the more expensive tickets. As a result, many fans waited in an online queue without understanding what they would be paying and then having to decide whether to pay a higher price than they expected.

In its findings, the CMA further expressed concern that consumers were not given clear and timely information about how the pricing of standing tickets would work, particularly where many customers had to wait in lengthy queues to see what tickets were available.

Its worth noting, however, that the CMA has concluded Ticketmaster did not use real-time dynamic pricing for the Oasis sale, but rather released lower-priced tickets first and then sold the remaining tickets at far higher prices.

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The CMA is now consulting with Ticketmaster to ensure fans receive the right information, at the right time.

Ticketmaster said in a statement, We strive to provide the best ticketing platform through a simple, transparent and consumer-friendly experience. We welcome the CMAs input in helping make the industry even better for fans.

Platinum tickets are not a new hot-button topic for Ticketmaster. In 2023, The Cure opted out of both platinum tickets and dynamic pricing on their North American tour. Neil Young recently announced he was following in the groups footsteps by eliminating platinum tickets from upcoming concert tours.

Earlier this month, Oasis revealed Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is producing a documentary film around their Oasis Live 25 tour. The reunion trek kicks off in Cardiff, Wales, on July 4th, with additional stops in the UK and Ireland before heading over to North America on August 24th.

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Oasis 2025 Tour Dates:

07/04  Cardiff, UK @ Principality Stadium

07/05  Cardiff, UK @ Principality Stadium

07/11  Manchester, UK @ Heaton Park

07/12  Manchester, UK @ Heaton Park

07/16  Manchester, UK @ Heaton Park

07/19  Manchester, UK @ Heaton Park

07/20  Manchester, UK @ Heaton Park

07/25  London, UK @ Wembley Stadium

07/26  London, UK @ Wembley Stadium

07/30  London, UK @ Wembley Stadium

08/02  London, UK @ Wembley Stadium

08/03  London, UK @ Wembley Stadium

08/08  Edinburgh, UK @ Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

08/09  Edinburgh, UK @ Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

08/12  Edinburgh, UK @ Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

08/16  Dublin, IE @ Croke Park

08/17  Dublin, IE @ Croke Park

08/24  Toronto, ON @ Rogers Stadium

08/25  Toronto, ON @ Rogers Stadium

08/28  Chicago, IL @ Soldier Field

08/31  E. Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium

09/01  E. Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium

09/06  Los Angeles, CA @ Rose Bowl

09/07  Los Angeles, CA @ Rose Bowl

09/12  Mexico City, MX @ Estadio GNP Seguros

09/13  Mexico City, MX @ Estadio GNP Seguros

09/27  London, UK @ Wembley Stadium

09/28  London, UK @ Wembley Stadium

10/21  Seoul, SK @ Goyang Stadium

10/25  Tokyo, JP @ Tokyo Dome

10/26  Tokyo, JP @ Tokyo Dome

10/31  Melbourne, AU @ Marvel Stadium

11/01  Melbourne, AU @ Marvel Stadium

11/04  Melbourne, AU @ Marvel Stadium

11/07  Sydney, AU @ Accor Stadium

11/08  Sydney, AU @ Accor Stadium

11/15  Buenos Aires, AR @ Estadio River Plate

11/16  Buenos Aires, AR @ Estadio River Plate

11/19  Santiago, CL @ Estadio Nacional

11/22  Sao Paulo, BR @ Estadio Morumbis

11/23  Sao Paulo, BR @ Estadio Morumbis

Ticketmaster May Have Broken UK Law with Oasis Ticket Pricing, Says UK Regulator

Eddie Fu

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If we want to strengthen the social work profession and retain skilled practitioners, we must ensure students begin their careers with dignity, stability and financial fairness, write the members of Payment for Placements BSU. (Getty Images)

Imagine dedicating 20 hours per week to supporting families in crisis, assisting survivors of domestic violence, or helping individuals navigate mental health challenges, all without pay. Now, imagine being required to pay tuition for the academic credits tied to this unpaid work.

For both undergraduate and graduate social work students, these concepts are not imaginary, they are reality.

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Social work is built on justice, dignity and service, yet social work students face financial, physical and emotional hardship before they enter the workforce. Unpaid internships push students into debt, force them to juggle multiple jobs, and demand personal sacrifices. All to enter a profession already struggling with burnout and workforce shortages.

If we want to strengthen the social work profession and retain skilled practitioners in Idaho, we must ensure students begin their careers with dignity, stability and financial fairness.

March is Social Work Month, a time to recognize the critical role social workers play in our communities. This years theme, Compassion + Action, is a call to do more than just appreciate social workers. Its a demand to support them in tangible ways.

In Idaho, the need for social workers has never been greater. Social workers address mental health crises, substance use disorders, child welfare and foster care cases, and housing instability, all of which have reached critical levels across the state.

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Without social work interns, many agencies would struggle to operate at full capacity, limiting services to those who need them most.

Action is needed to support the next generation of social workers. Social work students provide direct services such as case management, crisis intervention and advocacy. They support students in crisis, connect families to essential resources, and even work with policymakers to improve social policies.

However, these students are expected to do this vital work for free all while balancing coursework, living expenses and tuition costs. This is unsustainable, and unethical, and drives potential social workers out of the field before they even graduate.

Adding insult to injury, social work students must pay tuition, often up to $3,000 per year for the internship credits required to graduate. This is on top of transportation costs, child care and other basic living expenses, making unpaid placements especially burdensome for low-income and marginalized students.

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Many have no choice but to take on additional debt, while others are forced to cut back on coursework or drop out altogether.

While students in fields like business and engineering often receive paid internships or stipends, social work students are left to fend for themselves despite providing essential services to their communities. Idahos social work shortages will only grow if we continue to discourage students from pursuing this vital career path.

Progress toward paying social work interns is already happening. The National Association of Social Workers and the Council on Social Work Education have called for reforms to social work internships. Some universities and states have already piloted paid internship models.

This proves that change is possible, but only if institutions and agencies prioritize paid placements. Universities must work with agencies to secure funding for student stipends and social service agencies should advocate for budget allocations that support paid student placements.

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A profession built on social justice and advocacy must practice what it preaches. Paying social work students for their essential contributions is not just fair, it is necessary for sustaining practitioners and helping Idahos communities thrive.

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Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky in his presidential office on March 21, 2025. Credit - Sasha Maslov for TIME

President Volodymyr Zelensky has not talked much about his meeting at the White House since it ended in acrimony on Feb. 28. He never expected to find himself arguing with Donald Trump on television that day, and he knew the dangers of making the situation worse by discussing it openly afterward. But on March 21, about three weeks after the drama in the Oval Office, he agreed to talk about it in an interview with TIME.

At the front of his mind going into that meeting, he says, was the peace process President Trump had initiated. He wanted to ensure that Trump understood what terms Ukraine could accept and what it would find too humiliating after more than three years of all-out war with Russia. He also wanted to make Trump understand that Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted to negotiate in good faith. But, well, the conversation went in another direction, he told TIME in his office in Kyiv.

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The full story of the Oval Office meeting, what led up to it, and how Zelensky sees the endgame in this war, appears on the cover of the latest issue of the magazine.

What follows is a partial transcript of the conversation, in which Zelensky spoke his native Ukrainian. It has been translated, condensed and edited for clarity by TIME.

Thank you, Mr. President, for making time to speak with me today. It was a rough night in Kyiv. The Russian drone strikes kept me up half the night, along with all the air-raid alerts and anti-aircraft fire. Do these things still keep you from sleeping? Or are you already accustomed to them?

Its hard to get used to war. Safety, comfort, freedom in lifewar takes all of that away. We were riding in the train when we heard these alerts. So yes, the war doesnt let anyone sleep.

The main target yesterday was Odesa, where the drone strikes were particularly intense. What does it say about the peace process that such attacks have continued practically every night?

[The Russians] dont want to end the war in its current state. For [Vladimir Putin], in my view, the point is to put pressure on us, on everyone. He needs to raise the temperature, to raise the stakes, to raise the pressure before talks begin in any form.

Recently the U.S. decided to suspend military aid to Ukraine, including the sharing of intelligence. How did that affect the armed forces, especially those in the region of Kursk?

Any suspension or pause in support certainly does not do anything good for us on the battlefield, and for our defense. Dont get me wrong. The state of morale always depends on whether your partners are standing beside you. But I wouldnt say that the freeze influenced the operation in Kursk.

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Thank God the pause was not long enough to have a fundamental impact. Online someone wrote that they might turn off Starlink. I dont know whether thats true. But that would be very sensitive, in my view. And of course that pushed us to seek alternatives. We are working on that. I dont want to talk about it openly, but we are doing it.

What do you think was the reason for the halt in U.S. support?

I think Russia managed to influence some members of the White House team through information. Their signal to the Americans was that the Ukrainians do not want to end the war, and something should be done to force them. Of course, that was disinformation. Its not true. The Russians dont want [to end the war], and we see that now, as weve always seen it. But this situation arose, most likely, due to a lack of dialogue [between the U.S. and Ukraine.]

Second, I think the Americans wanted to demonstrate to the Russians that they are in the middle. They are not with us. In general, I dont think the American team was hiding the fact that they want to be mediators rather than standing with one of the sides. We told them, Well, okay, if youre not on our side, then at least stay in the middle. So if the Russians dont accept the full ceasefire that you proposed, we want to see additional sanctions. They dont need to be in place for long, just like the pause in our case wasnt. But you need to demonstrate that. We are really expecting the American side to take these steps.

So far the opposite seems to be happening. The U.S. has pulled out of the international organization that was investigating Russian war crimes. It also stopped the project with Yale University to track Ukrainian children that were abducted into Russia. How do you interpret these steps?

Again, I think they want to show that they are in the middle, and that means they can get behind Ukraines suggestions, or they can get behind those of Russia. They are demonstrating that. As for what consequences or results will come out of this, unfortunately we cant foresee that today.

During the Oval Office meeting on Feb. 28, you tried to make the case that the U.S. is your ally, not just a mediator. You even presented a set of photos of Ukrainian prisoners of war that you showed to President Trump. Why did you decide to do that?

First of all I wanted to show not only the consequences of war, but also the most important things, with which I would begin the plan to end the war. Its not about some political steps, no. Its about people. [For the Russians] people are like garbage. Thats a fact. And thats what I wanted to demonstrate. Apart from that, I know that in any negotiations there will always be questions of NATO, territory, and things like that. But we never get around to the question of people I always say, just give me a few minutes to tell you about my priority: the people, the prisoners. But its always very hard to get around to that. So thats why I started with it.

It seems you were also trying to reach Trump on the level of human values, empathy. Do you find that works with him?

I think hes a human being. He has family, loved ones, children. He has to feel the things that every person feels. We talked to him about the [abducted] children that we want to bring home. And were having a lot of trouble doing that.

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In my view its only a question of certain leaders who can simply pressure Putin to return the children. Trump is one of them. Theres no other way. Not as a trade, because we dont live in some other century. Its not like buying them out of slavery. Its difficult even to raise this question: how do you make trades with children? For whom? For what? Slowly we are getting them back, but overall its difficult. What I wanted to show were my values. But, well, then the conversation went in another direction.

When did you start to feel that the conversation in the Oval Office had gone wrong? What went through your mind?

Before the journalists arrived, we had a normal conversation. I told him I wanted to talk about this, that and the third  about prisoners of war, about the first steps to ending the war. We have a plan, and we talk about this plan with the Europeans. But its a first draft: Without [Trump] we dont see a plan to end the war. It would be a guarantee of security, but without America. I wanted to have a serious, specific conversation with him. With the journalists we were meant to have only some of the main topics, say, and a couple of questions, if someone wanted that. And then we were meant to keep going. We had a lot of things to talk about. It was supposed to be one on one. But we didnt quite get to the end.

Do you have any regrets from that meeting?

I think this situation is not in the service of our alliance.

I was in Kyiv when this meeting happened, and the people I spoke to had a lot of respect for the way you acted. Your approval ratings also spiked afterward. Why is that? What did Ukrainians see in that meeting that others may not have?

Why did the Ukrainians defend themselves at the start of this war? It was because of dignity. We have the right to that. We are normal people. We do not consider ourselves some kind of superpower. But we dont want to be treated in an undignified way. I think such things always united Ukrainians. There are small things, unfortunately, that divide us. I think thats our negative side. But there are positive things about this nation. Our people are very emotional, and when it comes to our sense of dignity, freedom, democracy, our people rise up and unite.

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Its not a question of how things may have sounded. Its a question of the Ukrainians wanting to see the United States as an ally, which, in my view, the United States always was for us and continues to be. But in that moment there was the sense of not being allies, or not taking the position of an ally. And thats a question of Ukrainian dignity. In that conversation, I was defending the dignity of Ukraine.

Outside Ukraine, people often fail to understand how sensitive you are to the views of Ukrainians. Can you explain what role that factor plays for you in the peace process? For example, does it limit what you could agree to in a peace agreement, if the Ukrainian people do not support it?

First of all, I dont think that I would agree to something like that. I dont have an approach different to that of my people. I represent the people. I feel that and I understand that. I am a citizen of Ukraine. In this situation, I think what has already been done is already a big historical compromise. Lifting Putins political isolationthats a big compromise. Imagine releasing Hitler from his political isolation. It would probably be impossible.

We are talking about a ceasefire, and we understand who were dealing with. Its like the story when a terrorist takes over a bank, and people understand that they cant tell him straight away: Come out of there! Release all the people, leave the money behind. Professionals understand how you have to start a conversation like that. Its about compromising for the sake of people. And here its the same. Its for the sake of people, the people who are at the front. And for the sake of all people when all is said and done.

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Everyone says, OK, were going to talk about a ceasefire with no preconditions. Thats a big compromise, but [Putin] does not go for that. Thats the problem. We want to use the language of diplomacy with him, but he never learned this language. He speaks a different language. Not because he is unfamiliar with diplomacy. He understands it as an instrument. But he is against dialogue. He is not a man of dialogue. He is a man of ultimatums.

It strikes me that, in the peace process so far, as the U.S. has pursued it under Trump, the carrots are reserved for Russia, while the Ukrainians get the stick. Is that how you have felt?

[Laughs] Well, look, if the carrot is poisoned, then thank God. Maybe thats the sneakiness of this diplomacy I think that if the American administration would take stronger steps, then Putin would have a better reaction. The Russians would respond more quickly. I think that, as soon as Trump returned to the presidency, the pace of his reactions was very quick and unexpected. His rhetoric, his statements. I think at that moment the Russians got really scared. When he started talking about sanctions, about his other steps. His moves are very unexpected for them. And for them anything unexpected is worrying.

In the long game, the Russians are fairly strong. They have an authoritarian system. Under authoritarianism everything is bureaucratic. It might move slowly, but it moves. But swift actions are another story. Thats why I feel we do not have enough strong, swift actions.

As part of the peace process Trump initiated, it seems all we see from the Russians right now are demands from Putin and members of this team, the same we heard at the start of the war: de-militarization of Ukraine, de-Nazification, for NATO to retreat from Europe. Why is that?

The Russians are negotiating, setting the bar at the maximum level, so that they have some room later to retreat. As we know from history, from books, [Putin] has no interest in ending the war at all. The war will become a liability to him when his economy faces the maximum losses. Right now he still has time. But it probably depends on the strength of sanctions. I think the Americans can cut the time he has using strong sanctions. From the analysis Ive seen, Putins economy will be in trouble in 2026 or 27. We dont know what reserves he has. But the dates are pretty clear. So I would really count on strong steps, sanctions and various military steps.

So far we have seen other steps from the Trump administration. For example, on the third anniversary of the Russian invasion, the U.S. voted with Russia and North Korea in the United Nations. What did you think when you saw that?

They are showing that they are in the middle. But I think that plays to the benefit of the Russians.

Have you tried expressing that to Trump? How does he react to such arguments?

Thanks to the media, to journalists, I present these arguments. When we talk with President Trump, it looks a little different, because we talk about the realities that we can create right now. For example, we talk about ways to reach a ceasefire. And there I explained to him that the Russians [have not surrounded Ukrainian troops] in Kursk. Im very glad that the institutions worked, and that the CIA showed there is no encirclement in the Kursk region. They officially showed that information. [The encirclement] could have happened if we had told the troops to go deeper, beyond the limits that had been prepared. We would never have said that. So that was unverified information. But the Russians said, Look, tomorrow were going to destroy them! For what? So that Trump would tell Putin to stop. So the Russians understand what to say to the Americans.

And the reaction was clear. Trump published a statement on social media, saying that he is trying to save thousands of surrounded Ukrainian soldiers.

Yes, because he was told a falsehood.

Lets talk about possible scenarios for how the war will end. In a recent interview I had with Petr Pavel, the president of the Czech Republic, who visited you here in Kyiv yesterday, he told me to consider several scenarios as precedents. For example, the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states, which went on for decades. Or the 38th parallel on the Korean Peninsula. When you imagine the conflict line after a future peace agreement, does it look like any of these historical examples? How do you see it?

You can see for yourself that all of these dividing lines are different in every case. In Berlin, for example, there was a line in the form of a wall, and you know how that ended. The reasons are always different. What seems important to me in these lines is that they are not permanent. In cases where they last a long time, there is conflict everywhere. There is war or frozen conflict that leads to military actions of various kinds. Its always been that way.

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So I told President Trump: Do we want many Berlins? I said that, when we divide people, there will be no peace in those cities, and sooner or later they will all return to the side that was right all along. From the point of view of international law, we are in the right, and everything will return to Ukraine. Its a matter of time, and a question of how many people will need to go through hell. Thats the price.

You said recently that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are your countrys best security guarantee. What is your assessment of how long they can hold out without the help of your partners, the Americans, the Europeans?

It depends on our ability to rotate the troops. If there is a ceasefire, some kind of pause, how long can the army hold out? As long as necessary. But they need rest, rotation, reserves, salaries. Thats a real problem, I think, because the army was always smaller than it is now. And when the army is three times bigger than it was, then it needs to be financed. The budget of Ukraine will not be enough. There need to be separate programs. Europe needs to finance it. Ideally Europe and America. But in the present circumstances I would rely more on Europe. They truly believe, and its true, that our army is part of the security of all of Europe. Thats a fact. Our people will not run away if another war kicks off. Whereas Europe, in general, is not ready to act like that.

What do you expect to happen if Russia violates the ceasefire again and again?

We dont even have one yet. But ever since 2014, they constantly broke the peace. Heres the way I see it. They are going to violate it all the time. That is why the window of opportunity is very short between the point when we have a ceasefire, and the point at which we reach a deal to end the war. It has to be a very short period. One month, two, three, and thats it. After that it will be a question of morale within the military. We have 800,000 at arms.

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Its not just about the finances. If we dont have an agreement to end the war, it becomes a frozen conflict. And we cant just keep living in a state of war. We need to open the borders. We need to liberalize many things. And we can do that if we sign an agreement. If the period between the ceasefire and the agreement is not long, then we may only see a few violations here and there. That would not be a total collapse. But if the process drags on, it will all fall apart many times over. And we dont know how that will end.

If we do see an agreement, the post-war period will be extremely hard. There will be a demographic crisis, the problem of reconstruction, infrastructure, the needs of veterans, and many other problems besides. How do you see yourself in this period? In what role? And have you been tempted to reach this point, to sign the agreement, and then walk away from your position as president?

The most important thing for me is to find an agreement that will unify the nation rather than dividing it. That has to be an agreement on a just peace. Most likely we will have the kinds of challenges you just mentioned. But its very important for this agreement to unify the nation. Then the nation will be able to solve the next question, which is the question of how to rebuild in a fair way. I think we will see a surge in morale. The need to rebuild will not be a problem, but the opposite. We will know that we have saved the country, saved our independence, and now we can build it all back. And that will be a really big source of positivity. We will have found the social contract on where things stand and how the war ended. Then, when it comes to the demographic question, if we have this positive moment to motivate us, then people will return.

If the days after the war will not be grey but bright, then we will see ourselves rising. There will be investment, among other things. Then it will not matter where I will be. Honestly. I think that when the people feel that updraft, then the people are more important than any role that politicians play. Because the people are the ones who can bring us back to life. In those circumstances, leadership is more like management, rather than in the difficult times, when the nation needs a leader. But if the next phase will be a forced peace, a humiliating one, if Ukraine, God forbid, will be left on her own, and if our partners, for whatever reason, will not be partners to us, then Ukraine will fall into a depression. She will have fought for everyone and ended up alone.

But again, how do you see yourself in that dark scenario? When you imagine that, how do you see your role?

I dont believe it will be like that. It would be a betrayal on the part of our partners. And I think the chances of that happening are practically zero. Because then we would need to admit the loss of NATO, the EU, Europe, above all America and all of its current leaders. All leaders are different, but they have their own ambitions. They see their role in history. Many of them are no longer young. They want to enter history as leaders who had success. Thats why I dont believe in these apocalyptic scenarios. Honestly I dont.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A Memphis Democrat wants those buying birth control to be able to receive one years supply in the state of Tennessee.

Sen. Raumesh Akbari has proposed SB 589, which would require all health plans, as defined in state law, to provide contraceptive coverage in 12-month refills of the drug at one time for someone insured.

According to present law, health plans that provide prescription coverage for birth control must allow for 12-month supplies unless the patient requests a smaller amount; however, present law does not require a health benefit plan to cover contraceptives provided by a doctor or at a pharmacy that does not participate in that specific plan.

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Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom

Akbaris bill would change the definition of health benefit plan to include a hospital, surgical, or medical expense policy; health, hospital or medical service corporation contract; a policy or agreement entered into by a health insurer, or a health maintenance organization contract offered by an employer; other plan administered by the state; or a certificate issued under those policies, contracts or plans.

The bill would also prohibit any health plan that provides hormonal contraceptive coverage from imposing utilization controls or other forms of medical management that limit the supply of contraceptives to anything less than a 12-month supply.

Additionally, the bill revises the definition of contraceptive to remove the requirement that the contraceptive be one that is legally marketed by the FDA.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

According to the fiscal note on the bill, estimates on how much the bill could cost up to $1.4 million starting in Fiscal Year 2026.

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The effective date on the bill would be Jan. 1, 2026.

Lawmakers were set to discuss the bill in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee on Tuesday, March 25.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
(Bloomberg) -- A Tokyo court ordered the dissolution of a religious group whose fundraising methods and ties with ruling party politicians came under scrutiny following the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe more than two years ago.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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A spokesperson for the Unification Church, now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, confirmed that the court had ordered them to disband Tuesday.

The Tokyo district courts decision strips the group of its tax-free status as a religious corporation, but doesnt prevent it from operating in Japan, which has been a major base of its support for decades. The church has the right to appeal the ruling.

We have to say that this ruling was based on an incorrect interpretation of the law and is totally unacceptable to this organization, a statement on the churchs website said.

Known for its mass weddings and members informally called Moonies, the group came under the spotlight after Abes killer told police he was motivated by the former premiers links to the church, which he blamed for bankrupting his family by taking excessive donations from his mother.

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The incident prompted the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to launch an internal investigation that found almost half of its lawmakers had connections with the church. The party has since struggled to restore its image and it lost its majority in an election last October.

Read: Japan Asks Court to Dissolve Church Cited in Abe Shooting

The Ministry of Education and Culture filed a request seeking the disbanding of the church in October 2023, claiming that the organization had limited the free will of its followers to coerce them into donating money. The group has a list of court rulings against it for its fundraising methods.

Our claims were accepted, Japans Minister of Education Toshiko Abe said in a statement.

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Tuesdays dissolution order was the third in Japan since World War II. Aum Shinrikyo, the death cult that carried out a lethal poison gas attack on the Tokyo subway thirty years ago, was stripped of its status as a religious legal entity in 1995.

The former Unification Church, based in South Korea, has fought back, saying it has made structural changes and the legal conditions necessary for a religious organization to be dissolved do not apply.

--With assistance from Takashi Hirokawa and Yuko Takeo.

(Updates with comments from the church and the minister of education)

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(WSPA)  Do you love travel but hate the headaches that can come with it? From tools that save you time to tricks that save you money, we have expert advice on the Top 7 travel hacks.

Jacque and Bill Foster in Greenville have taken their four children to far-off places like the grasslands of Africa, the castle tops of Scotland and the scenic coast of Croatia. Along the way, Mrs. Foster has become a bit of a travel guru, collecting priceless tips that help to make any vacation go smoothly.

#7: Be a social media sleuth

Country-specific Facebook pages can really help you connect with locals in that country. For example, when we were traveling to Costa Rica I found a local travel planner who works out of Costa Rica, Foster said.

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She added while youre at it, check out popular travel profiles like Travel With Kids and Girls Love Travel which are great resources for key advice before your next trip.

#6: Find the fun

On a long layover in Paris, Foster booked this scooter scavenger hunt after finding it on one of her three favorite sites:

They help you plan brag-worthy activities and are budget-friendly.

#5: Know your passport rules

Ahead of her Caribbean trip, Justine Jenkins learned some useful tips for anyone getting a passport.

The standout rule is you must have a black pen. And if theres one mistake on the application you have to do it over, she warned.

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She also recommends you book an appointment well in advance on the USPS site. If you cant, some like the Greenville Post Office on West Washington Street take morning walk-ins, but be sure to print out the application ahead of time, since they may not have hard copies.

#4: Dont check a bag

The stress of lost luggage can ruin a vacation and the Aviation Data Specialists at SITA found 7 in 1,000 bags get lost. Thats 100,000 a day!

Foster said she only uses carryons, even for their three-week trip to Croatia and two-week journey to Africa.

The less you pack the less you will be stressed on a trip. I have never gotten on a trip and thought, I wish I had brought more stuff, Foster said.

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Speaking of packing, in the weeks leading up to travel, its helpful to keep a packing list on your phone where you can add things as they pop into your head. Then double-check that list before you leave so you will never forget your charger or toothbrush.

#3: Use a travel agent

Having a knowledgeable planner can take the load off, plus theyre free.

They can usually save you a lot of money because they know where to go within your budget and they get paid by the places that book, Foster said.

#2. Get TSA Precheck

Youll usually save time in line with TSA PreCheck, and wont have to take off your shoes or unload liquids and devices for 5 years. Plus, the GM of Clear at GSP, Ed Schottmiller, said you might not even be stuck with the nearly $78 cost.

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There are 65 credit cards that offer a statement reimbursement or statement credit for TSA precheck, Schottmiller said.

Check to see if your card is on the list.

#1: Be a savvy saver

Foster books airport parking ahead of time to save, uses credit card points for flights and often packs food to avoid eating out.

And when booking accommodations she loves this tip.

When you find an Airbnb or a VRBO that you like, you drop the photo into Google Image (press the Google image icon in the search engine bar, then drag and drop) and it might come up on another site, and then youre saving all those fees with Airbnb or VRBO, Foster said.

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And that shores up money, for more memories in the making.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee demanded the resignations of senior Trump administration officials who used a Signal thread to discuss a bombing campaign in Yemen and included a journalist in the chat.

During a hearing Tuesday, committee vice chair Mark Warner grilled intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard and slammed national security adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after they failed to conduct security hygiene 101 without realizing The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was included in the text chain.

Putting aside for a moment that classified information should never be discussed over an unclassified system, its also just mind boggling to me that all these senior folks were on this line and nobody bothered to even check, Warner said. Security hygiene 101  who are all the names? Who are they?

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During the hearing, Warner posted on X that incompetence is not an option.

Pete Hegseth should resign. Mike Waltz should resign, he wrote.

CIA director John Ratcliffe, right, testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing with Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel on March 25, one day after revelations that a journalist was erroneously added to a Signal thread with administration officials organizing a bombing campaign in Yemen (Getty Images)

The committee heard testimony from Gabbard as well as CIA director John Ratcliffe, both of whom appeared on the Signal thread.

In his opening remarks, Warner stressed to administration officials that intelligence suggests China and Russia are trying to break into encrypted messaging apps such as Signal.

If this was the case of a military officer or an intelligence officer and they had this kind of behavior, they would be fired, he added. This is one more example of the kind of sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior, particularly towards classified information, that this is not a one-off or a first-time error.

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On Monday, The Atlantic published Goldbergs explosive report detailing his inadvertent front-row seat to planning efforts from Donald Trumps administration for a bombing campaign targeting Houthis in Yemen earlier this month.

Waltz started a group chat on Signal with Vice President JD Vance, several Cabinet secretaries and other top White House officials, and appeared to accidentally add Goldberg, according to his report.

Earlier this month, Trump announced on social media that he ordered the U.S. military to launch decisive and powerful actions against the Yemeni group, which has blocked key shipping lanes and attacked Israeli vessels and other commercial ships in the Red Sea following Israels devastating military campaign in Gaza.

Goldberg revealed that Hegseth texted the group with a plan of action two hours before the bombs fell on March 15.

Democratic Senator Mark Warner, seated next to Republican Senator Tom Cotton, addresses top Trump administration officials during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing (Getty Images)

During Tuesdays hearing, Gabbard told Warner that the Signal thread didnt share any classified information but refused to share its contents, or even admit that she was on the chain.

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If its not classified, share the texts now, Warner told Gabbard. Share it with the committee. You cant have it both ways. These are important jobs. This is our national security.

Ratcliffe also testified that he did not know how Goldberg was added to the thread.

Don't insult the intelligence of the American people, Democratic Senator Michael Bennet told him. Youre the CIA director! Why didn't you call out that he was present on the thread?

Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff asked Ratcliffe whether he agreed this was a huge mistake.

No, Ratcliffe replied.

After some cross talk, in which Ratcliffe called the scandal an inadvertent mistake, Ossoff called the ordeal an embarrassment.

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This is utterly unprofessional. Theres been no apology. There has been no recognition of the gravity of this error, he added. We will get the full transcript of this chain and your testimony will be measured carefully against its content.

Speaking to NBC News on Tuesday, the president defended Waltz as a good man who learned a lesson.

Goldbergs presence had no impact at all and the attacks were perfectly successful, Trump said.

Hegseth, meanwhile, has contradicted the White Houses admission of the authenticity of the leak and has sought to discredit The Atlantic and Goldberg instead.

Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes, Hegseth told reporters Monday. This is a guy who peddles in garbage.
The fourth-ranking House Democrat called for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to resign Tuesday for sending sensitive military action plans over an unauthorized group chat that included a prominent Washington, D.C., journalist.

Rep. Ted Lieu (Calif.), the vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus and an Air Force veteran, said Hegseths messages  which detailed the Pentagons plans to strike Houthi rebels in Yemen earlier this month  were reckless and put the lives of U.S. troops at risk.

Had that information gotten to the Houthis, American pilots could have been shot down, [and] Navy sailors could have been targeted, Lieu said during a press briefing in the Capitol. His reckless actions endangered lives of American troops, endangered our national security and makes it so that our allies dont want to share sensitive classified information with us anymore.

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Lieus remarks came shortly after another top congressional Democrat, Sen. Mark Warner (Va.), the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, called for the resignations of two top Trump officials who participated in the group chat: Hegseth and Mike Waltz, the White House national security adviser.

The uproar was sparked Monday when Jeffrey Goldberg, the top editor of The Atlantic, published an explosive story revealing he had been invited to join a Signal group chat featuring many of the highest ranking officials in the Trump administration, including Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Hegseth and Waltz.

On March 15, the discussion focused on the Pentagons plans to launch missile strikes against the Houthis, an Iran-backed group thats terrorized cargo vessels in the Red Sea. Hegseth, according to Goldberg, laid out the details of those strikes, including the timing, sequencing, targets and weapons systems to be used. Several hours later, those strikes commenced as promised, Goldberg said.

Hegseth has denied that narrative, saying nobody was texting war plans while accusing Goldberg of concocting the allegations.

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Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again, Hegseth said Monday.

Hegseths denial, however, has been undermined by the White House National Security Council, which verified the authenticity of the group chat and said its looking into the story.

Lieu was quick to note the conflicting messages from the administration, accusing Hegseth of lying to the public.

The White House confirmed that these Signal chats were authentic. Instead of apologizing to the American people, Hegseth lied to the American people, Lieu said.

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Republican leaders in the Capitol, who had launched years-long investigations into the private email server used by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, dont appear ready to apply the same standard to the Trump administration.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said the White House is addressing the episode, and no disciplinary actions should be taken against Hegseth or Waltz.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) blamed the leftist media for focusing on process instead of Trumps policies, which he said are popular.

They cant argue with this new demonstration of American strength that is keeping Americans safe at home and abroad, so now were griping about whos on a text message and whos not, Hawley told Fox News on Monday. I mean, come on.

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Still, a small group of Republicans have criticized the actions of Hegseth and the other officials on the chat. Some have pointed out that Signal, a commercial messaging app, is not approved by the federal government for sending sensitive information.

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), another Air Force veteran, said its a certainty that Russia and China intercepted the chat messages around the time the strikes occurred.

Its a security violation, and theres no doubt that Russia and China saw this stuff within hours of the actual attacks, Bacon told CNN on Monday.

Lieu piled on, accusing Hegseth and other Trump officials of neglecting their chief responsibility: safeguarding the country they serve.

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It shows how not serious these national security professionals take our national security, he continued. Hegseth needs to resign, and everyone on that text chain needs to go take some courses on how to deal with national security classified 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 The Hill.
Sen. Mark Warner (Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, criticized the Trump administration for using a Signal group to discuss plans for carrying out bombing in Yemen, calling on officials to resign and saying others would have been fired for the same actions.

Warner said national security adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not conduct hygiene 101 in failing to realize there was a journalist on the group chat after The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was added.

Theres plenty of declassified information that shows that our adversaries, China and Russia, are trying to break into encrypted systems, Warner said of the messaging app ] Signal during his opening remarks of the Senate panels annual worldwide threats hearing.

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If this was the case of a military officer or an intelligence officer and they had this kind of behavior, they would be fired, he added.

This is one more example of the kind of sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior, particularly towards classified information, that this is not a one-off or a first-time error.

Warner noted that classified information should never be discussed over an unclassified system.

On the social platform X as he began his opening remarks, Warner called on the two Trump officials to resign.

When the stakes are this high, incompetence is not an option. Pete Hegseth should resign. Mike Waltz should resign, he wrote.

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Goldberg disclosed Monday that he was added to a Signal group chat with several high-ranking Trump national security officials, saying the group shared detailed plans about the military action in Yemen earlier this month as well as information about timing and weapons systems.

Everybody on this committee gets briefed on security protocols. Theyre told you dont make calls outside of SCIFs, Warner said, referencing the secure facilities used to discuss classified information.

No, the Signal fiasco is not a one-off. It is unfortunately a pattern were seeing too often repeated, he said, adding the erosion of trust among the intelligence workforce and allies across the globe cant be put back in the bottle overnight.

Make no mistake: These actions make America less safe, he added.

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Updated at 10:48 a.m. EDT

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Several of President Donald Trumps top national security officials, at times with assistance from a top Senate Republican, shifted responsibility to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for sending potentially classified information that appeared in a group chat about US military strikes in Yemen that a journalist was included in.

Under sharp questioning from outraged Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard repeatedly denied that the chat contained classified information.

There were no classified or intelligence equities that were included in that chat group at any time, Gabbard testified under oath. Ratcliffe was similarly adamant in his denials at various points during Tuesdays hearing.

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But when pressed on whether the sensitive operational details for the forthcoming strikes against Iran-backed militants that Hegseth reportedly sent to the thread were classified, both top intelligence officials deferred to the defense secretary.

With respect to the assertions and the allegations that there was strike packages or targeting information or things that relate to DOD, as I pointed out, the Secretary of Defense is the original classification authority for determining whether something is classified or not, and as Ive understood from media reports, the Secretary of Defense has said the information was not classified, Ratcliffe told lawmakers.

Asked if such information should be classified, Gabbard told the committee, I defer to the Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council on that question.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe prepare to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on March 25, 2025. - Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

It was a subtle arms-lengthening of one of Trumps most controversial  and least experienced  cabinet members. Most of the group thread reported on Monday by The Atlantic included general foreign policy discussion about the wisdom of the March strikes  certainly sensitive deliberations amongst top officials that the US government would normally want to keep private, but likely not classified.

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But Hegseths texts, which reportedly included operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing, have drawn the most attention.

Multiple current and former defense officials have said that any discussion of the timing, targets or weapons systems to be used in an attack is always classified  because of the potential risk to US service members lives if those plans are revealed prematurely.

Signal, the encrypted messaging platform that the officials were using, is a commercial app that is not approved for classified information.

At one point during Tuesdays hearing, Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, chairman of the Intelligence Committee, interjected from the dais to suggest that Gabbard and Ratcliffe were drawing a distinction in between military intelligence information that is classified under the defense secretarys authority and information that is collected and controlled by the civilian intelligence community, like the CIA.

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They testified  correct me if Im wrong  theres no intelligence community classified information, Cotton said.

Thats correct, Ratcliffe and Gabbard both said. I can again confirm that with respect to the communications that were related as to me, there was no classified information, Ratcliffe added.

From the dais, at least one Democrat objected, pointing out that Ratcliffe and Gabbard had both testified that there was no classified information at all contained in the text exchange.

Hegseth denied on Monday evening that war plans were discussed over text, despite the Trump administrations earlier acknowledgement that the messages appeared authentic.

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Nobody was texting war plans and thats all I have to say about that, Hegseth told reporters when asked why those details were inadvertently shared with The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg, after landing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. The defense secretary also took jabs at the journalist, who he described as deceitful and highly discredited.

Trump told reporters on Tuesday that there was no classified information, as I understand it shared on the Signal chain but declined to say who told him the information was not classified.

Gabbard initially refused, on Tuesday, to answer directly if she was a participant on the thread, citing an ongoing National Security Council review, but later answered direct questions based on her recollections of the chat.

Ratcliffe and Gabbard both said they did not recall any discussion of operational planning, although Gabbard later acknowledged a discussion around targets in general. In messages the NSC later confirmed as authentic, The Atlantic reported that Hegseth sent precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing.

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In the end, the dispute may hinge on the interpretation of Hegseths classification authority as the defense secretary. Hegseth has the authority to declassify such information, but Ratcliffe said Tuesday he was not aware if he had.

Neither Gabbard nor Ratcliffe directly criticized Hegseth or made any explicit statement to suggest they blamed him for the roiling controversy that has now engulfed the presidents cabinet.

Ratcliffe, in particular, sought to walk a fine line by emphasizing that Signal is approved for use on US government computers  including by the CIA  without taking responsibility for Hegseths messages.

But at one point, he acknowledged that hypothetically, pre-decisional strike deliberation should be conducted through classified channels.

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Gabbard, meanwhile, routinely claimed not to recall the details of what was discussed in the thread.

However, some Republicans in Congress are pointing the finger squarely at Hegseth.

I think the most accountable, or the most guilty person is the secretary of defense because he put in all the highly classified information, Republican Rep. Don Bacon, a member of the House Armed Services Committee and former Air Force Brigadier General, told CNN.

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNNs Annie Grayer, Michael Williams and Donald Judd contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Two of the Trump Administrations top intelligence officials defended the use of a group chat for high-level military planning during a contentious Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday, as Democrats questioned the national security implications of discussing sensitive war plans on a commercial messaging app.

The hearing, which had been previously scheduled, came a day after a bombshell report by The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg revealed that the Vice President, Secretary of Defense, National Security Adviser, and other top officials had used the unsecured platform to coordinate U.S. military strikes in Yemen, and had mistakenly included a journalist in the conversation. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, both of whom appeared to have been participants in the Signal group chat according to The Atlantics report, were hammered by Senate Democrats, who decried the episode as reckless. While Gabbard declined to confirm her involvement in the chat, she and Ratcliffe ultimately insisted that no classified information was shared.

Read More: As Democrats Call for Resignations, Republicans React More Tepidly to Leaked Trump Officials War Plans Group Chat

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Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the committees ranking Democrat, pressed Gabbard and Ratcliffe on how the incident occurred and why senior officials felt comfortable using an unsecured platform to discuss U.S. military action in Yemen. If this were a military officer or intelligence officer, they would be fired, Warner said, condemning what he described as sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior by the Administration.

Gabbard, who repeatedly dodged questions on whether she was the user identified as TG in the chat, eventually asserted that the discussion was permissible under internal protocols. There was no classified material that was shared, she said, echoing a similar defense offered by the White House. In his article, Goldberg wrote that the chat contained information about weapons packages, strike timing, and target details for an active military operationthe March 15 U.S. air assault on Yemens Houthi militants.

Ratcliffe maintained that Signal is a permissible work-use application for the CIA and that it was loaded onto his computer shortly after he was confirmed as the agencys director. "It is permissible to use to communicate and coordinate for work purposes, provided, Senator, that any decisions that are made are also recorded through formal channels. So those were procedures that were implemented," Ratcliffe said, claiming that any formal decisions were recorded through official government channels.

Gabbard and Ratcliffe agreed to comply with an audit of their communications in response to questioning from Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat of Oregon, who pressed them on their claim that they did not participate in classified discussions on Signal. "To be clear, I haven't participated in any Signal group messaging that relates to any classified information at all," Ratcliffe said. "Senator, I have the same answer," Gabbard said. "I have not participated in any Signal group chat, or any other chat on another app that contained any classified information."

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The Signal group, convened by National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President J.D. Vance, and other senior officials, along with Goldberg, who was mistakenly included in the thread.

This sloppiness, this incompetence, this disrespect for our intelligence agencies and the personnel who work for him is entirely unacceptable, Sen. Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat, said to Ratcliffe. It's an embarrassment. You need to do better.

Republicans on the committee largely sidestepped the controversy during the hearing, which was intended to focus on worldwide threats. None of them asked about the chat scandal, instead focusing their questions on cartels, illegal immigration, and China.

The White House has sought to downplay the incident, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisting on social media that no war plans were shared. In an NBC interview Tuesday morning, President Donald Trump dismissed concerns about Waltz or the larger scandal, calling it his Administrations only glitch in two months and expressing continued confidence in his national security team. Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man, Trump said.

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Hegseth, for his part, pushed back on the original article, telling reporters Monday that nobody was texting war plans. In an interview with CNN, Goldberg refuted that claim. Thats a lie, he said. He was texting war plans, he was texting attack plans.

Goldberg chose to withhold operational details and the name of a CIA official he says was mentioned in the chat in order to protect the safety of intelligence officials and military personnelbut he could be motivated to release more from the messages now that Trump Administration officials are both insisting no classified information was shared, and refuting his reporting that the conversation did not involve war plans. Asked if Goldberg could be held legally liable if he decided to publish the messages, FBI Director Kash Patel, who was sitting beside Gabbard and Ratcliffe, refused to answer: I'm not going to prejudge the situation, and that legal call is ultimately for the Department of Justice, he said.

Read More: In Congress, Calls for Full Signal Chat Transcript Grow Louder

The controversy underscores broader concerns about security protocols in the Trump Administration. Former officials and intelligence experts have warned that using any unclassified messaging service to coordinate military operations represents a major breach of standard protocol, even if its a platform like Signal that is encrypted. Those concerns came to a head during the hearing when Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Georgia Democrat, pressed Ratcliffe on the severity of the mistake. This was a huge mistake, no? Ossoff asked. No, Ratcliffe replied. The exchange quickly grew heated as Ossoff and Ratcliffe talked over each other. Ratcliffe later conceded that adding a journalist to the chat was an inadvertent mistake, which did not appear to satisfy Ossoff. There has been no recognition of the gravity of this error, he said.

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Some Democrats have called for resignations in the wake of the reporting. Warner, the intelligence committees vice chair, has said both Waltz and Hegseth should step down.

"Putting aside for a moment that classified information should never be discussed over an unclassified system, it's also just mind-boggling to me that all these senior folks were on this line, and nobody bothered to even check," Warner said, referring to Goldberg having been included in the discussion. "Security hygiene 101: Who are all the names?"

Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican and a former Air Force Brigadier General, stopped short of calling for resignations, but made clear late Monday that he believed the officials on the group chat acted recklessly.

I will guarantee you, 99.99% with confidence, Russia and China are monitoring those two phones, he told CNN. So I just think its a security violation, and theres no doubt that Russia and China saw this stuff within hours of the actual attacks on Yemen or the Houthis.

Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com.
(NewsNation)  Top officials from the Trump administration faced criticism  and calls to resign  after a journalist gained access to a group chat featuring plans for an attack against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Mike Waltz should step down.

When the stakes are this high, incompetence is not an option, Warner said on social media before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on global threats Tuesday.

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New Social Security requirements call for in-person checks

In his opening remarks during Tuesdays hearing, Warner said Hegseth and Waltz did not conduct hygiene 101.

Not realizing that Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of the Atlantic, had gained access to the chat was sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior, Warner said.

If this was the case of a military officer or an intelligence officer and they had this kind of behavior, they would be fired, Warner said.

Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff asked Ratcliffe during the hearing: This was a huge mistake, correct? to which Ratcliffe answered No.

This is an embarrassment, Ossoff said. This is utterly unprofessional, theres been no apology, there has been no recognition of the gravity of this error.

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At the hearing, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard would not say if she was part of the chat, which was hosted on the messaging app Signal, but maintained that no classified information was discussed. The incident is under review by the National Security Council, Gabbard said.

What is Signal, the chat app used by US officials to share attack plans?

CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who said he was included in the chat, said the use of Signal is permissible.

Asked by Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., about whether the chat included a conversation about weapons packages or timings, Ratcliffe answered, Not that Im aware of.

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You need to do better. You need to do better, Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., said, addressing Ratcliffe.

Lawmakers want to look into Signal chat

Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Tuesday theres going to be an investigation into the officials who carried out the discussions over Signal, NewsNation partner The Hill wrote.

Risch said he spoke to Secretary of State Marco Rubio at length, according to The Hill.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, said they are getting to the bottom of what that whole text chain entailed.

I think obviously, people are asking questions and they deserve answers, but I think that the United States right now is the recognized world leader, Thune told reporters.

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Appeals court judges push DOJ on deportation flights

In an article he wrote for the Atlantic, Goldberg said the plans discussed over Signal included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing.

On The Bulwark podcast, Goldberg said right now he is not planning on publishing more of the texts, but might do so in the future.

Just because theyre irresponsible with material doesnt mean that Im going to be irresponsible with this material, he said.

Trump continues to have confidence in Waltz

Taking questions from the press after an ambassadors meeting at The White House, Waltz said hes never met or communicated with Goldberg, and officials are looking into how he got added into the chat. Ratcliffe, he said, was using a government phone during the Signal discussion.

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Regarding the attacks on the Houthis, we had a very successful evening on Sunday, Waltz said.

I dont think (Waltz) needs to apologize. I think he is doing his best, Trump said to reporters Tuesday afternoon, adding that he doesnt want the national security adviser to be hurt by this. He called The Atlantic a failing magazine.

He refused to answer a question about why the White House is saying the information on the signal chat was not classified.

Next question, Trump told reporters.

Earlier in the day, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X that the president continues to have confidence in his national security team, including Mike Waltz.

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Hegseth maintained Monday that nobody was texting war plans and called Goldberg a deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again, The Hill reported. White House director of communications Steven Cheung said on X that the Atlantic story is nothing more than a section of the NatSec establishment community running the same, tired gameplay from years past.

NewsNation partner The Hill contributed to this report.

This story is developing. Refresh 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 NewsNation.
Multiple Trump administration officials who allegedly held classified discussions on an open messaging platform have in the past condemned the mishandling of classified records by others, including former President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

National security adviser Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have called for "consequences" for individuals who improperly shared classified materials, regardless of their intention. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth lambasted Biden for "flippantly" mishandling classified documents and suggested that if he had behaved similarly, he would have expected to be "court-martialed."

The condemnatory language these senior administration officials have used about prior breaches of protocol in handling sensitive materials adds a layer of irony to what experts are calling an unconscionable misuse of classified information.

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MORE: Messages with Yemen war plans inadvertently shared with reporter appears 'authentic': Official

John Cohen, a former national security official in both Republican and Democratic administrations, said, "from a security perspective, there is no scenario that justifies this type of information being discussed over a non-government controlled communication platform."

PHOTO: National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth talk as President Donald Trump meets French President Emmanuel Macron in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Feb. 24, 2025. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)

"Communicating sensitive, operational information in this manner increases the likelihood of inappropriate disclosure which places military personnel at risk," said Cohen, who is also an ABC News contributor. "There will also be questions about whether doing so violated statutes governing the safeguarding and retention of government information."

More recently, many of these senior administration officials had much to say about the yearlong investigation into Biden's handling of classified materials. The investigation did not result in any charges.

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In January 2023, Hegseth, than a "Fox & Friends Weekend" co-host, appeared on Fox News and called Biden's actions "nefarious, sloppy and dumb."

"If the top man in the job was handling classified documents this flippantly for that long, why was that the case? Was it really that he didn't know? When you take something out of the SCIF [Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility] if you're a senator, you know exactly what you're doing. You had to sneak it out," he said. The report included photos of boxes, including one damaged one that contained classified materials, including documents about Afghanistan that was found in the garage of Biden's home in Delaware "near a collapsed dog crate, a dog bed, a Zappos box, an empty bucket, a broken lamp wrapped with duct tape, potting soil, and synthetic firewood."

In January 2023, Rubio, also appeared on Fox News, where he said, "Any time documents have been removed from their proper setting -- it's a problem, I don't care who did it."

During her tenure as secretary of state, Clinton drew controversy by using a private email server for official public communications rather than using official State Department email accounts maintained on federal servers. The way many officials reacted has come back to haunt them.

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MORE: What top Trump officials have said about mishandling classified information

In 2016, Hegseth told Fox News, "If it was anyone other than Hillary Clinton, they would be in jail right now... because the assumption is in the intelligence community, if you are using unclassified means, there is likelihood that foreign governments are targeting those accounts."

Reacting to a Politico article on Clinton, Waltz, who apparently added Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, to the Signal chat, criticized the Department of Justice for its handling of the situation.

"Biden's sitting National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan sent Top Secret messages to Hillary Clinton's private account. And what did DOJ do about it? Not a damn thing," Waltz said.

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In January 2016, Rubio also appeared on Fox News, demanding that Clinton to be held accountable.

"Nobody is above the law  people are going to be accountable if they broke the laws of this country," he said.

MORE: Trump administration live updates

In August 2022 Stephen Miller, now Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy who was also in the Signal chat group, also posted his thoughts on X reacting to the Clinton email scandal.

"One point that doesn't get made enough about Hillary's unsecure server illegally used to conduct state business (obviously created to hide the Clintons' corrupt pay-for-play): foreign adversaries could easily hack classified ops & intel in real time from other sides of the globe," he said.

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Only two weeks ago, director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced a crackdown on leaks within the intelligence community.

"Any unauthorized release of classified information is a violation of the law and will be treated as such," she said in a press release.

What top Trump officials have said about mishandling classified information originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
(Bloomberg) -- The USs top two intelligence officials defended their participation in a Signal messaging chat in which attack plans for strikes against Houthi rebels were shared, and denied that the information they discussed was classified.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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My communications, to be clear, in a Signal message group were entirely permissible and lawful and did not include classified information, Central Intelligence Director John Ratcliffe told lawmakers on Tuesday.

Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard were among the Trump team members who were included in a non-governmental messaging chat in which The Atlantics top editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently included.

The revelations, published on Monday, dominated a previously planned hearing in the Senate on Tuesday to discuss an annual report on global threats.

There was no classified material that was shared in that Signal chat, Gabbard said.

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Ratcliffe said he was briefed when assuming his post that Signal was permissible to use to communicate and coordinate for work purposes, provided the information was also recorded through formal channels. He said one of the first things that happened after he was confirmed was that Signal was loaded onto his computer.

My staff implemented those processes, followed those processes, he said.

Gabbard echoed Ratcliffes comments, saying I have not participated in any Signal group chat or any other chat on another app that contained classified information.

In his article published Monday, Goldberg said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth texted the group the attack plan that included precise information about weapons packages, targets and timing.

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When pressed by Senator Martin Heinrich, a Democrat from New Mexico, about whether the discussions included details of weapons packages, targets or timing of the attacks, Ratcliffe said, not that Im aware of.

Same answer and defer to the Department of Defense on that question, Gabbard said.

Senator Angus King, an independent from Maine, echoed other colleagues demands to publish the text stream if the information was not classified.

Its hard for me to believe that targets and timing and weapons would not have been classified, King said.

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New U.S. federal policies will make it harder for company shareholders to hold leadership accountable, according to Reuters.

What's happening?

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will now be reviewing company requests to ignore shareholder resolutions on a case-by-case basis to ensure that they focus "on a significant policy issue that has a sufficient nexus to a particular company." Previously, the SEC would allow resolutions to be raised to a vote based on broad social issues they represent, such as the environment.

The change is borne of a stance that shareholders shouldn't have a right to micromanage a company, or "by probing too deeply into matters of a complex nature upon which shareholders, as a group, would not be in a position to make an informed judgment," according to a precedent set in 1998.

Why are shareholder resolutions important?

SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw has openly criticized the change for its operational disruption.

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"Such proposals include topics relating to poison pills, compensation, emerging issues such as AI, political and lobbying expenditures, and environmental or other issues that shareholders have identified as materially impacting the firm's financial value," she said. "As anyone familiar with the shareholder proposal process knows, excluding a proposal from the proxy statement all but guarantees it will never make it to a shareholder vote."

The SEC's shift makes it harder for shareholders to raise environmental concerns with companies and hold them accountable to material change.

"By choosing this path, we forsake all consistency, and perhaps even the legitimacy, of the independent, historically staff-governed process to the detriment of all parties," said Crenshaw.

The new wording "gives companies enormous latitude to claim that a proposal micromanages if the proposal asks the company for specifics," said Shareholder Rights Group Director Sanford Lewis, per Reuters.

What's being done about activist shareholding?

Many groups continue to use shareholder resolutions as a way of pushing for corporate change, though major polluters like ExxonMobil have tried to actively squash such efforts. Many other shareholders push for dirty practices for the sake of increased returns. This was the case when BP reversed course on renewables investment.

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Progressive investment is still possible, even with the SEC scaling back corporate accountability. Take a look at our guide on how to invest in a clean economy to get started.

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 editor in chief of The Atlantic was mistakenly added to a group chat with security officials.

Jeffrey Goldberg said he was privy to the Trump administration's planned strikes on Yemen.

The apparent breach has drawn alarm and criticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers.

In an explosive new report, the journalist Jeffrey Goldberg says he was mistakenly added to a group chat on the messaging platform Signal in which top US leaders discussed sensitive military operations, including the Trump administration's strikes on Yemen's Houthi rebels.

The story  which details what appears to be a massive security breach at the highest levels of the government  sent shock waves through Washington on Monday.

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for a full investigation into the incident.

"Amateur behavior. This kind of security breach is how people get killed. How our enemies take advantage. How our national security falls into danger," he wrote on X on Monday.

President Donald Trump told reporters he hadn't heard about the incident.

"I don't know anything about it," he said on Monday.

'Sounds like a huge screwup'

In the story, Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, said Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were all in the Signal group.

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The group chat was called "Houthi PC small group," with "PC" standing for "principals committee," Goldberg wrote. The National Security Council confirmed to Business Insider that the group chat was authentic and the addition of what spokesman Brian Hughes called "an inadvertent number" is under review.

"The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials," Hughes said. "The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security."

Hegseth disputed Goldberg's report.

"Nobody was texting war plans, and that's all I have to say about that," he told reporters.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson said the Trump administration was addressing the incident.

"Apparently, an inadvertent phone number made it onto that thread. They are going to track that down and make sure that doesn't happen again," Johnson said.

"What you did see, though, I think, was top-level officials doing their job, doing it well, and executing on a plan with precision," Johnson added. "That mission was a success; no one was jeopardized because of it, we're grateful for that. But they will certainly, I'm sure, make sure that won't happen again."

Other top Republicans, including Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, expressed alarm at the incident.

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"Sounds like a huge screwup," Cornyn told reporters, adding that "somebody dropped the ball" and he hoped the administration would investigate it further. He sits on the intelligence committee.

Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told The Hill the panel is "very concerned" and intends to investigate.

The strikes on Yemen's Houthi rebels discussed in the chat were carried out on March 16.

Democratic lawmakers slam Trump administration

The leaked war plans drew swift condemnation from Democratic leaders.

On Monday night, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote on X that his party "will grill several national security officials under oath this week."

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"The arrogance and incompetence of the Trump administration is stunning," Jeffries wrote.

Democratic Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, a ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement on Monday that the leak "represents one of the most egregious failures of operational security and common sense I have ever seen."

"Classified war plans don't belong in the group chat. The carelessness of Pres. Trump's national security team is stunning & dangerous. I'm seeking answers & accountability," Reed wrote on X Monday.

The events described in Goldberg's reporting present serious implications for operational security in the Trump administration and potentially the Pentagon. Signal, an encrypted messaging app, is not an approved government platform for disseminating intelligence or classified information.

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"President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team," Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said in a statement to Business Insider.

William Martin, the communications director for JD Vance, said Trump and the vice president were in "complete agreement." Goldberg reported that in the group chat, Vance wrote that the strike the group was discussing was "inconsistent" with Trump's stance on Europe.

"The vice president's first priority is always making sure that the president's advisers are adequately briefing him on the substance of their internal deliberations," Martin said in a statement to BI.

Representatives for the Defense Department and Signal did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Topeka city councilman talks running for mayor

TOPEKA (KSNT)  Topeka City Councilman Spencer Duncan joined the 27 News morning newscast to discuss his decision to run for mayor.

During the interview, Duncan, a Topeka native, spoke about why he is running, being a voice for people, three things he would like to see change in if elected and more.

When Duncan was asked what the most important topic of his campaign was, he started with housing.

Housing is crucial in this community, Duncan stated. Its a catalyst of a lot of other issues that we have. So, if we can get a handle on the housing crisis and the affordability issues, we can actually address a lot of other problems that we are dealing with.

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27 News also asked Duncan about what his platform is.

My platform really is listen to the people, and focus on what their priorities are, Duncan said. My slogan is, Your Priorities First, and that really is based on my belief that you have to listen to the people and focus on what they are asking you to do.

If you want to hear more about what Duncan has to say regarding the plan/early stages of his campaign, you can watch the interview above.

Kansas still waiting for $33.6m to plug abandoned oil and gas wells

27 News also reached out to the other known candidate, Chad Fay, and we are working to get him scheduled on the morning show for the week of March 31. We want to ensure each candidate has equal time to share their progress and ideas regarding their campaign. We will provide an update to this story once we get a finalized date for the interview with Fay.

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For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.





Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Topics addressed by the General Assembly spanned the gamut on Monday, including lab-grown meat, immigration, natural gas and more. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

From immigration to lab-grown meat and natural gas to sheriff commissary funds, Indiana lawmakers tackled a bevy of topics on Monday.

Also on the Senates calendar were confidentiality additions to a health care transparency proposal that sparked bipartisan objections.

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House Bill 1666 would require health care entities  like hospitals, insurers, pharmacy benefit managers and others  to report ownership information to state agencies; would create a board to approve mergers and acquisitions; and lets Indianas attorney general investigate a health care entitys market concentration.

But, there were a few issues that we overlooked, Sen. Tyler Johnson told his colleagues from the Senate floor Monday. Johnson, R-Leo, is the Senate sponsor.

Our goal is really not to out every business and corporation in the health care industry, he said. We actually put some individual practitioners at risk  think like scalping or takeovers and those kinds of things  by exposing some of that information.

His amendment, accepted by voice vote, says that submitted ownership information is confidential and not subject to public records access laws.

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I dont want to compile a list of those individuals. That was the original statement in the bill, and I dont think that was the intent, Johnson explained.

Two Indianapolis senators  Democrat Sen. Fady Qaddoura and Republican Sen. Mike Young questioned the need for a carveout specific to the health care industrys owners.

The measure already saw plenty of edits in the House, including several amendments easing the reporting process for eligible providers and exempting providers that are wholly owned by practitioners rather than corporations.

Immigration, lab-grown meat topics encounter some opposition

Several senators shared concerns about how law enforcement would interact with Hoosiers under a bill requiring sheriffs to notify federal authorities about suspected undocumented immigrants.

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Senate sponsor Sen. Aaron Freeman maintained that House Bill 1393 would only apply for someone arrested on an unrelated misdemeanor or felony, not to someone who was stopped for a driving infraction, for example.

Heres the way this works: the police officer takes someone in their car into custody (and) they transport them to the local county jail, said Freeman, R-Indianapolis. Theres going to be a discussion between the police officer and the jailer  (but) theres no identification. We dont have a social security number. We dont know who this person is.

Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, responds to a fellow committee member on March 11, 2025. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

The jail is going to alert (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) or whatever immigration officers there are.

A previous version of the bill would have left notification duties to arresting officers, which Freeman amended out along with language specifying that suspicion alone wasnt cause to detain someone.

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As the bill originally came to our committee a week ago, I might agree  that it could have allowed law enforcement to be out randomly picking people up who have not committed some criminal offense, said Freeman. I dont want our law enforcement out there bullying people  thats a bridge too far for me and something I couldnt support.

Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, shared the story of his Puerto Rican grandfather, who moved to northern Indiana to work in the steel mills. A citizen and decades-long East Chicago resident, Pol said his grandfather spoke English with a heavy accent and used more of his native Spanish as he aged.

In his 80s, driving with expired insurance, his grandfather  who joined the U.S. Army at 18  was in an accident.

Police officers couldnt identify him; hes only speaking in Spanish. They didnt understand what was going on. And had they been forced to, they could have arrested him on a misdemeanor, said Pol.  I could have had to have dealt with an ICE referral for somebody who has been a United States citizen. Somebody who has worked his entire life to provide for his family. Somebody who served this country.

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And the officers would have been required to do so.

Current law, Pol said, wouldnt require officers to notify ICE about someone like his grandfather. He said some notifications are already occurring in Indianas jails, making this bill unnecessary.

Two Republicans joined with eight Democrats to vote against the bill, which moved on a 37-10 vote.

A bill to ban the sale of lab-grown meat until the completion of a state study also split the party caucuses.

Theres going to be a one-year moratorium in Indiana while we have our Department of Health, Board of Animal Health and Department of (Agriculture) do a study and report back to the Legislative Council at the end of December so we can determine where to go forward with this, said Sen. Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg.

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Leising noted that at least two other states, Florida and Alabama, have banned manufacturing and selling the product while another, Mississippi, appeared to be close behind.

One Democrat, Indianapolis Sen. Greg Taylor, joined with five Republicans to oppose House Bill 1425, which also contains labeling requirements for lab-grown meat products. Both bills return to the House, which will vote to accept or reject the Senate amendments.

Natural gas and commissary funds in the House

A Senate proposal that would define natural gas and propane as clean or green energy in Indiana code encountered little opposition in the House on Monday, with 73 members advancing Senate Bill 178 over 20 opposing votes. It heads to Gov. Mike Brauns desk.

The designation allows natural gas operators to qualify for certain federal and state incentives.

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Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, opposed the measure from the floor, saying that natural gas should instead be recognized as a transition tool for moving from fuels like coal to renewables like solar and wind.

The great thing about renewable energy is theres no fuel costs. You dont get charged by mother nature for whats going to fuel that energy, said Pierce. Whereas (with natural gas and propane), youre going to have a fuel charge.

Rep. Matt Pierce speaks against a nuclear power bill on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Pierce said that cost got passed along to energy consumers.

If we were truly in a clean energy economy, we wouldnt have to worry about the ups and downs of fuel costs, Pierce said.  I think this is just another way of delaying the inevitable and putting more expensive costs on our residents.

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But not all of Pierces colleagues agreed.

Freshman Rep. Alex Burton, D-Evansville, pointed to expensive utility bills in his southwestern district, saying that some community members had moved to neighboring states in pursuit of a lower cost of living.

This new policy change may lead to our communities in Southwest Indiana accessing grants and subsidies that ultimately reduce our monthly energy bills, Burton said in a release. While some may question this policy, this piece of legislation is the first this session to offer a clear path to relief for overburdened Hoosiers. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the legislature, the Braun Administration, and the federal government to address unreasonable consumer utility costs.

The House chamber also unanimously accepted Senate amendments to a House bill regarding sheriff commissary funds, sending it to Braun for his signature.

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House BIll 1208 increases fund oversight, requires quarterly reporting and tightens training requirements.

Though she didnt speak on the floor, Rep. Wendy Dant Chesser, D-Jeffersonville, praised the legislation in a release and tied it to the actions of disgraced former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel, who is serving a prison sentence after pleading guilty to over a dozen felony charges, including the misuse of public funds.

It was the actions of Jamey Noel that made me such a staunch supporter of this legislation, Dant Chesser said in a release. We cant turn back the clock to prevent hundreds of thousands being stolen from the Clark County community. Clark County experienced a real-life tabloid scandal thats not going away. But we can improve our laws to protect ourselves in the future.

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Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY), a U.S. Army veteran and member of the House Armed Services Committee, joins Chris Jansing with his reaction to Trump administration officials inadvertently sharing a group text about plans to launch airstrikes in Yemen with the editor of Atlantic magazine.
JASPER COUNTY, Iowa  Tractors lined Highway 14 to honor a longtime Jasper County farmer who died in early March.

Charles Chuck Wayne Osborn died on March 16 at the age of 90. According to his obituary, he was born on February 8, 1935 in Marshalltown, where his family lived until they eventually moved to what became their family farm just north of Newton in 1940.

Chuck was drafted into the US Army and stationed in Germany where he served as a water treatment specialist from 1957 to 1959. When he returned home, he and his late wife, Rachael Rollstin, got married.

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Ankeny officials to share ideas for city revitalization

According to his obituary, he had a love for building things; including making toys that ranged from farm equipment to Jeeps. He also made jewelry out of silver and loved restoring old tractors.

On Monday, the community came together to honor Chuck by lining up tractors along Highway 14 into Baxter, the same route the procession took to the cemetery where Chuck was laid to rest.

He was 90 years old and very highly respected in the neighborhood, all of the surroundings, and when you have a tractor show out like it has, theres a lot of respect for the family and so forth of Chuck and Rachael, said Richard Hageborn, a Jasper County farmer who knew Chuck.

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Chuck is survived by his three children, multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and siblings.

Iowa News:

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CLEVELAND (WJW)  The Ohio Department of Transportation warned drivers about a closure along I-90 eastbound in Cleveland that could affect commute times.

According to ODOT, the exit ramp from I-90 to E. 55th St. will be closed for approximately 60 days for reconstruction. The closure took effect on Monday.

Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter adoption fees slashed as they take in displaced Kentucky flooding dogs

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The closure is connected to a project thats providing a full depth reconstruction of I-490. Reconstruction of the interchange ramps at I-71, I-77, W. 7th St., and Broadway Ave are also included in the project. Upgrades include drainage, lighting and signage improvements, according to ODOT.

If you regularly use the E. 55th exit ramp, a posted detour will take you on I-90 east to Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. to I-90 west to E. 55th St, ODOT wrote in a post on X.

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Drivers headed to the McCall and Stanley areas can expect to see a new addition to the Banks Lowman Road this summer that could affect travel times.

Starting Tuesday, the Idaho Transportation Department will begin construction on an interim traffic signal at the well-used intersection of Idaho 55 and Banks Lowman Road in Banks to provide safe turning opportunities, the agency said in a news release.

The signal was identified as the best solution following a preliminary study and public feedback to reduce the long lines of drivers who stretch down Banks Lowman Road  especially on weekends  attempting to turn left onto the highway, according to the transportation department.

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On some busy weekends, flaggers were used, backing up traffic significantly on 55.

It will save turning drivers time, and the intersection will no longer require flaggers to safely operate during peak traffic in the summer, the Monday release said.

This weeks construction will build the foundation for the traffic signal, followed by installing utilities at the intersection. Crews will need to install signal poles and signal heads, along with guardrails, and then a portion of the road will need to be paved, the release said. The project is expected to be completed by summer.

ITD said it will manage traffic during the construction of the traffic signal, which will include lane closures and flaggers during some phases of the project. Travelers headed north are encouraged to check 511 Idaho and plan for delays. All closures will be posted.

ITD is also working on a long-term intersection-widening solution, the agency said. It will be a years-long process that will review bridge widening, hillside setback earthwork and turn lanes to meet the growing regional and river area traffic mobility demands, according to ITD.
OREGON, Ill. (WTVO)  Two women face a slew of charges in Ogle County after police seized methamphetamine, Ecstasy, cocaine, and psilocybin during a traffic stop in Oregon on Sunday.

According to the Oregon Police Department, officers pulled a vehicle over for minor traffic violations in the 1200 block of Washington Street. During a search of the vehicle, police found 49 grams of methamphetamine, 7 pills of MDMA (Ecstasy), 7 grams of cocaine, and 70 grams of psilocybin in the vehicle.

Brittini Frye, of Clinton, Iowa, and Jessica Deboer, of Rock Falls, Illinois, were arrested and face charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Psilocybin, Possession with Intent to Deliver Psilocybin and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

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Frye was processed and released with a Notice to Appear at a future court date. Deboer was booked into the Ogle County Jail.

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Should people be penalised for supposedly harming an institutions reputation? How, exactly, is that harm to be measured? Does it only count if it brings an institution into disrepute in the eyes of right-thinking people?

Two people this week have run afoul of this standard. One is Charlie Mullins, the founder of Pimlico Plumbers, who got away with a warning. The other, Ben Woods, who ran the wine counter at the Henley branch of Waitrose, was not so lucky. He was fired yesterday after working there for 25 years.

The difficulty with applying this rule is that, because its so subjective  what counts as harm?  the investigators political bias inevitably intrudes, with the threshold of what constitutes gross misconduct rising or falling according to whether the social media posts in question  and it nearly always is social media posts  express robust Right-wing or robust Left-wing views.

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If you doubt this, ask yourself whether Charlie Mullins would have received a letter from the honours forfeiture committee informing him it was minded to rescind his OBE if he had criticised Boris Johnson rather than Sadiq Khan. Would Ben Woods have lost his job if, instead of posting supposedly offensive memes about Muslims, he had done so about Christians?

At the Free Speech Union, the organisation I founded five years ago, weve fought over 3,500 cases  people whove found themselves in trouble for exercising their right to lawful free speech. Not all of them have been placed under investigation  or fired  for dissenting from radical progressive orthodoxy. Weve defended a handful of people for their outspoken defence of the Palestinian cause since October 7. But its not an exaggeration to say that 95 per cent of them have got into trouble for saying something coded as Right-wing, including feminists who believe in the biological reality of sex, who make up about 40 per cent of our case load.

In the metropolitan echo chambers where these investigations into reputational harm take place  with KCs often being pressed into service  the same double standards apply as they do in our criminal justice system. Post something criticising the Rwanda policy or Big Oil or Nigel Farage, and youll suffer no penalty, however many people complain.

Criticise illegal immigration or net zero or Jess Phillips, and youre for the high jump, even if just one person complains. Indeed, one complaint from a woke activist is often all it takes. See, the equity, diversity and inclusion officer will say. What this person said has lowered our reputation in the eyes of this complainant. We have no choice but to launch a six-month investigation.

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In one recent FSU case, a man lost his job at Severn Trent water company after describing Hamas as violent and disgusting. Had he said the same about the IDF, I believe he may still have his job.

This punishment of people with unfashionable opinions is particularly egregious when it comes to the honours system, since honours flow from the monarch who is supposed to stand above partisan politics. The investigation of Charlie Mullins sends a message to all the other MBEs, OBEs, CBEs, Sirs, and Dames out there  express an unequivocally Right-wing view on social media and your honour may be taken away. In the birthplace of parliamentary democracy, a nation that prides itself on inventing free speech, this is not how it should be. If anyone has brought the honours system into disrepute it is not Charlie Mullins. It is the forfeiture committee.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A trial date of May 5 has been set in the case of a man charged with murder in a shooting in Oildale that allegedly occurred over a motorcycle.

Court records show the trial date was scheduled during a hearing Monday in the case against Luis Villachana, 45. Hes charged with first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder and other crimes in the shooting that killed Ruth Ann Cummings.

Sheriffs deputies search for missing Lamont man

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Co-defendant Dallas Bradshaw pleaded no contest to a burglary charge earlier this year. Her sentencing is scheduled in late May.

Investigators say Bradshaw and Villachana showed up Aug. 29 at a home on Olympic Drive where Villachana questioned residents about a motorcycle he said belonged to him. He threatened residents and fired shots that killed Cummings as she pulled up in an SUV, witnesses said in court filings.

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Oneida Community Health Center in Hobart, Wisconsin. | Photo by Jason Kerzinski for Wisconsin Examiner

As Congress mulls potentially massive cuts to federal Medicaid funding, health centers that serve Native American communities, such as the Oneida Community Health Center near Green Bay, Wisconsin, are bracing for catastrophe.

Thats because more than 40% of the about 15,000 patients the center serves are enrolled in Medicaid. Cuts to the program would be detrimental to those patients and the facility, said Debra Danforth, the director of the Oneida Comprehensive Health Division and a citizen of the Oneida Nation.

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It would be a tremendous hit, she said.

A sign for the Oneida Community Health Center in Hobart, Wisconsin. | Photo by Jason Kerzinski for Wisconsin Examiner

The facility provides a range of services to most of the Oneida Nations 17,000 people, including ambulatory care, internal medicine, family practice, and obstetrics. The tribe is one of two in Wisconsin that have an open-door policy, Danforth said, which means that the facility is open to members of any federally recognized tribe.

But Danforth and many other tribal health officials say Medicaid cuts would cause service reductions at health facilities that serve Native Americans.

Indian Country has a unique relationship to Medicaid, because the program helps tribes cover chronic funding shortfalls from the Indian Health Service, the federal agency responsible for providing health care to Native Americans.

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Medicaid has accounted for about two-thirds of third-party revenue for tribal health providers, creating financial stability and helping facilities pay operational costs. More than a million Native Americans enrolled in Medicaid or the closely related Childrens Health Insurance Program also rely on the insurance to pay for care outside of tribal health facilities without going into significant medical debt. Tribal leaders are calling on Congress to exempt tribes from cuts and are preparing to fight to preserve their access.

Medicaid is one of the ways in which the federal government meets its trust and treaty obligations to provide health care to us, said Liz Malerba, director of policy and legislative affairs for the United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund, a nonprofit policy advocacy organization for 33 tribes spanning from Texas to Maine. Malerba is a citizen of the Mohegan Tribe.

So we view any disruption or cut to Medicaid as an abrogation of that responsibility, she said.

Tribes face an arduous task in providing care to a population that experiences severe health disparities, a high incidence of chronic illness, and, at least in western states, a life expectancy of 64 years  the lowest of any demographic group in the U.S. Yet, in recent years, some tribes have expanded access to care for their communities by adding health services and providers, enabled in part by Medicaid reimbursements.

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During the last two fiscal years, five urban Indian organizations in Montana saw funding growth of nearly $3 million, said Lisa James, director of development for the Montana Consortium for Urban Indian Health, during a webinar in February organized by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families and the National Council of Urban Indian Health.

The increased revenue was instrumental, James said, allowing clinics in the state to add services that previously had not been available unless referred out for, including behavioral health services. Clinics were also able to expand operating hours and staffing.

Montanas five urban Indian clinics, in Missoula, Helena, Butte, Great Falls, and Billings, serve 30,000 people, including some who are not Native American or enrolled in a tribe. The clinics provide a wide range of services, including primary care, dental care, disease prevention, health education, and substance use prevention.

James said Medicaid cuts would require Montanas urban Indian health organizations to cut services and limit their ability to address health disparities.

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American Indian and Alaska Native people under age 65 are more likely to be uninsured than white people under 65, but 30% rely on Medicaid compared with 15% of their white counterparts, according to KFF data for 2017 to 2021. More than 40% of American Indian and Alaska Native children are enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, which provides health insurance to kids whose families are not eligible for Medicaid. KFF is a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.

A Georgetown Center for Children and Families report from January found the share of residents enrolled in Medicaid was higher in counties with a significant Native American presence. The proportion on Medicaid in small-town or rural counties that are mostly within tribal statistical areas, tribal subdivisions, reservations, and other Native-designated lands was 28.7%, compared with 22.7% in other small-town or rural counties. About 50% of children in those Native areas were enrolled in Medicaid.

The federal government has already exempted tribes from some of Trumps executive orders. In late February, Department of Health and Human Services acting general counsel Sean Keveney clarified that tribal health programs would not be affected by an executive order that diversity, equity, and inclusion government programs be terminated, but that the Indian Health Service is expected to discontinue diversity and inclusion hiring efforts established under an Obama-era rule.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also rescinded the layoffs of more than 900 IHS employees in February just hours after theyd received termination notices. During Kennedys Senate confirmation hearings, he said he would appoint a Native American as an assistant HHS secretary. The National Indian Health Board, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that advocates for tribes, in December endorsed elevating the director of the Indian Health Service to assistant secretary of HHS.

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Jessica Schubel, a senior health care official in Joe Bidens White House, said exemptions wont be enough.

Just because Native Americans are exempt doesnt mean that they wont feel the impact of cuts that are made throughout the rest of the program, she said.

State leaders are also calling for federal Medicaid spending to be spared because cuts to the program would shift costs onto their budgets. Without sustained federal funding, which can cover more than 70% of costs, state lawmakers face decisions such as whether to change eligibility requirements to slim Medicaid rolls, which could cause some Native Americans to lose their health coverage.

Tribal leaders noted that state governments do not have the same responsibility to them as the federal government, yet they face large variations in how they interact with Medicaid depending on their state programs.

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President Donald Trump has made seemingly conflicting statements about Medicaid cuts, saying in an interview on Fox News in February that Medicaid and Medicare wouldnt be touched. In a social media post the same week, Trump expressed strong support for a House budget resolution that would likely require Medicaid cuts.

The budget proposal, which the House approved in late February, requires lawmakers to cut spending to offset tax breaks. The House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which oversees spending on Medicaid and Medicare, is instructed to slash $880 billion over the next decade. The possibility of cuts to the program that, together with CHIP, provides insurance to 79 million people has drawn opposition from national and state organizations.

The federal government reimburses IHS and tribal health facilities 100% of billed costs for American Indian and Alaska Native patients, shielding state budgets from the costs.

Because Medicaid is already a stopgap fix for Native American health programs, tribal leaders said it wont be a matter of replacing the money but operating with less.

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When youre talking about somewhere between 30% to 60% of a facilitys budget is made up by Medicaid dollars, thats a very difficult hole to try and backfill, said Winn Davis, congressional relations director for the National Indian Health Board.

Congress isnt required to consult tribes during the budget process, Davis added. Only after changes are made by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and state agencies are tribes able to engage with them on implementation.

The amount the federal government spends funding the Native American health system is a much smaller portion of its budget than Medicaid. The IHS projected billing Medicaid about $1.3 billion this fiscal year, which represents less than half of 1% of overall federal spending on Medicaid.

We are saving more lives, Malerba said of the additional services Medicaid covers in tribal health care. It brings us closer to a level of 21st century care that we should all have access to but dont always.

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This article was published with the support of the Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS) Health Journalism Fellowship, assisted by grants from The Commonwealth Fund.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Tribal citizens and supporters gather at McGulpin Point, Mackinaw City | Laina G. Stebbins

Six Michigan-based tribes have withdrawn from federal discussions over the proposed Line 5 oil pipeline tunnel, calling it unacceptable that a permit for the controversial project is expected to be issued soon in accordance with an executive order by President Donald Trump declaring a national energy emergency.

The withdrawal, which is not expected to affect the process to produce an environmental impact statement, was outlined in a letter sent to the United States Army Corps of Engineers on Friday by the Bay Mills Indian Community, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi, and Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, which had been engaging with the Corps review of the Line 5 tunnel project as cooperating agencies under the National Environmental Policy Act.

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The project, as proposed by pipeline owner Enbridge, would relocate a four-mile section running through the Straits of Mackinac, which connects Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, into a concrete-lined tunnel beneath the lakebed in hopes of containing any potential spills.

Line 5 stretches from northwestern Wisconsin, through Michigan and then terminates in Sarnia, Ontario, transporting up to 540,000 barrels per day of crude oil and natural gas liquids.

Enbridge seeks approval to construct a massive fossil fuel infrastructure project in the Straits of Mackinac, a place that is sacred to Tribal Nations and protected by treaty, stated the letter. The Corps has informed Cooperating Agencies, without their cooperation and over protestations from Tribal Nations, that the permit will likely be issued soon pursuant to the Executive Order, Declaring a National Energy Emergency. This is unacceptable.

Line 5 carries more than 22 million gallons of light crude oil and light synthetic crude through the Straits daily, with opponents warning a spill would be catastrophic.

Whitney Gravelle speaks at Enbridge eviction celebration, Conkling Park, Mackinaw City | Laina G. Stebbins

Bay Mills Indian Community President Whitney Gravelle said the tribes had taken part in the process, provided relevant case law, submitted evidence, and trusted that their voices and treaty rights would be respected.

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Yet, once again, the federal government has cast us aside and failed us, she said. Instead of protecting our waters, lands, and sacred sites, the government is forcing this dangerous project forward, ignoring the harm it will bring to the Tribal Nations and the people of Michigan. We will not stand by while our sovereignty is disregarded for the sake of foreign profits. Michigans leaders must act now to defend our shared waters before its too late.

Enbridge, based in Canada,has consistently maintained that both the pipeline and tunnel project are safe.Company spokesperson Ryan Duffy told Michigan Advance they value the relationships with the communities and community members in areas where they have assets.

As we continue to move closer to construction on the Great Lakes Tunnel Project, we remain committed to including Tribes and Tribal citizens in this incredibly important and consequential project and welcome constructive dialogue and engagement, Duffy said. Line 5 is critical energy infrastructure. Enbridge submitted its permit applications in April 2020 for the Great Lakes Tunnel, a project designed to make a safe pipeline safer while also ensuring the continued safe, secure, and affordable delivery of essential energy to the Great Lakes region.

After receiving over 17,000 public comments on the tunnel project during the Biden administration, the Corps was in the process of preparing a draft Environmental Impact Statement on the project when then-Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Jaime Pinkham issued a memo Jan. 7, directing the agency to assess the risk of oil spills on whether to approve the tunnel project, and to consider other alternatives in its review.

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But less than two weeks later, Trump issued an executive order on his first day in office ordering agencies to identify and use all relevant lawful emergency and other authorities available to them to expedite the completion of all authorized and appropriated infrastructure, energy, environmental, and natural resources projects.

It appears the U.S. Army Corps plans to short-circuit the environmental and historic properties review by announcing they intend to use the guise of an American energy emergency to fast-track the legally required public comment and Tribal consultation processes, greenlighting a Canadian corporations project that will desecrate a sacred place and threaten Great Lakes residents drinking water, said Senior Staff Attorney David L. Gover with the Native American Rights Fund, which represents the Tribes.

This map shows the proposed tunnel and the existing dual pipelines crossing the Straits of Mackinac. | Screenshot from the MPSC Line 5 Issue Brief

Carrie Fox, a public affairs specialist with the Corps, told the Advance that they are still reviewing the Tribes letter.

We look forward to continued Tribal consultation on treaty rights and on impacts to historic properties. The Detroit District will consider comments from Tribes, state and federal agencies, and the public, as we prepare the environmental impact statement and make a permit decision, said Fox.

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In order to move forward with the project, Enbridge needs permits from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, the Michigan Public Service Commission, or the MPSC, and the Army Corps of Engineers.

The MPSC approved Enbridges tunnel permit on Dec. 1, 2023, a decision that was recently upheld by the Michigan Court of Appeals. Meanwhile, attorneys for the administration of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer argued last week in federal court to dismiss legal challenges by Enbridge after she ordered the state to revoke Enbridges Line 5 operating permit, saying the company had repeatedly violated its 1953 easement and poses a safety risk to the Straits.

Resuscitating an old pipeline that carries most of its oil and gas back to Canada wont do a thing for the US energy supply, said Earthjustice Managing Attorney Debbie Chizewer, who is representing the Bay Mills tribe. But it might lead to the next big oil disaster. Only this time, it will happen in the middle of the largest freshwater drinking supply in North America. We cant allow that to happen.

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Its Space Day at the Capitol, and TribCast is going intergalactic. Matthew and Eleanor are joined by Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business, to talk about Texas long history with space exploration, what the aeronautics industry wants from the Legislature and whether Elon Musks outsized role in the federal government will impact his space enterprise. Matthew also defends his opposition to using Houston, we have a problem, in Tribune stories, and the gang contemplates how quickly wed get on a commercial spaceflight to Mars.

Watch the video above. Or you can subscribe to the TribCast on on iTunes, Spotify, or RSS.

This weeks episode is sponsored by Texas State Technical College.

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Disclosure: Texas Association of Business has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

We cant wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 1315 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more.

Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025.

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Hundreds of troops will start conducting surveillance across the southern border, putting them for the first time on the front lines of President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown.

The previously unreported plans call for service members to station their armored infantry vehicles near the border in the coming days and use night vision surveillance capabilities to monitor open spaces, according to three defense officials with knowledge of the planning. The troops will also be authorized to conduct foot patrols.

The deployment of sophisticated eight-wheeled Stryker vehicles will mark a new phase in the Trump administrations effort to use the military to detain migrants. The 9,000 active-duty troops already dispatched to Texas and Arizona have primarily carried out logistics and back-end work. The new plans will turn service members into more active participants.

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The troops, from the 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, will also help transport border patrol to areas where theyre needed. The service members are prohibited by law from detaining civilians or carrying out law enforcement duties, although they can defend themselves if attacked.

The authority to transport [Customs and Border Protection] personnel during patrols means law enforcement personnel will be on-hand or nearby to conduct any necessary law enforcement activity. Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of the U.S. Northern Command, which oversees the effort, said Tuesday in a statement.

The troops along the border will be armed and have the right to defend themselves, Army Maj. Jared Stefanitold local reporters in Texas last week.

Putting active-duty troops in the field with powerful surveillance equipment could make it easier for the Pentagon to build out a so-called buffer zone to monitor cross-border traffic and hold migrants.

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The buffer zone idea is one of several options the Pentagon is considering that is drawing fire for its potentially wide-ranging interpretation of federal law. The administration would create the zone on swaths of federally owned land in New Mexico that is controlled by the Interior Department.

The Washington Post first reported on the buffer zone proposal.

Trump could always invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807, which would give troops the power to detain civilians. But designating a buffer zone across a swath of the border would give the Pentagon a workaround since it would allow troops to capture migrants under the justification that they are trespassing on military property.

Some legal experts believe the courts will disagree.

This is not a valid exercise under the military purpose doctrine, said Joseph Nunn, a lawyer at the Brennan Center for Justice and an expert on the domestic use of the military. "This is instead an attempt to exploit that doctrine to allow the military to participate in law enforcement under circumstances that have not been authorized by Congress.
In the last couple of weeks, President Donald Trump's rapid-fire executive orders have led legal experts to say his actions either have caused or are edging toward a "constitutional crisis."

Frankly, I dont know what that term means anymore, given the confusion over whether we are in it or about to be in it.

So, over the weekend, I opened up my pocket U.S. Constitution and read it to try to find some clarity.

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I also reflected upon the many essays written by former Tennessee Attorney General Paul Summers, who wrote in the USA TODAY Network Tennessee publications for two years about each article and amendment in the U.S. Constitution. He always reminded readers that studying the USA's founding documents is "time well spent."

My conclusion is this: What were seeing is a gross overreach of the executive branch of government that must be reversed and contained.

Yes, Article II grants the president tremendous amounts of power, but Article II, Section 1 (8) says: "Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:  "I do solemnly swear (of affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

The president is a public servant, not a king. His powers are limited by design.

The three branches of government are co-equal

The Trump administration has faced 135 lawsuits as of March 23 due to its actions from firing federal employees to seeking to abolish the U.S. Department of Education.

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The reason that so many entities, including Metro Nashville Government and nonprofits, are suing the federal government is because they believe that Trump has overstepped his authority, for example, by halting federal grants Congress already authorized.

Article I of the U.S. Constitution created Congress, but the GOP majority in the Senate and House seem to have very little interest in reining in the president because he happens to be a Republican.

Meanwhile, the courts, created in Article III, are pushing back, but they are moving way too slowly for the speed of executive orders.

Opinion: Tumultuous tariffs, federal layoffs leave TN readers uneasy about the economy

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The three branches of government  legislative, executive and judicial  are co-equal and meant to check and balance each other.

President has no role in amending the Constitution

On Feb. 13, 99.7 Super Talk conservative talk show radio host Matt Murphy invited me on his radio show to discuss presidential adviser Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency and an unscientific survey The Tennessean published that showed a majority of our readers think DOGE wields too much power.

Murphy insisted that the Constitution's Article II endows President Trump with the authority to do what he is doing. I disagreed on the air and I continue to disagree.

For example, Trump signed an executive order eliminating birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. whose parents are not legally in the country. The problem is the clause is in the Constitution.

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14th Amendment, Section 1: "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. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

In addition, the Supreme Court effectively ruled in the 19th century decision United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898) that "all persons" means "all persons."

Trump has no authority to amend the U.S. Constitution.

In fact, Article V grants the power of proposing constitutional amendments only to the Congress or to state legislatures. The president is not mentioned once in that article.

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So I found strange that Tennessees current Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti's office has filed an amicus brief to defend Trumps executive order action on birthright citizenship.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti speaks during a news conference on April 30, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.

Courts are empowered by the Constitution to resolve cases and controversies, not to issue sweeping policy proclamations or manage the executive branch, Skrmetti said in a March 21 news release. 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," Skrmetti added.

The Supreme Court may buy this argument, but I still think the problem is executive overreach, not judicial overreach. Just to reiterate what I wrote earlier, the president has no role whatsoever in the constitutional amendment process.

Bush v. Gore presidential election offers us lessons

In 2000, legal experts were calling a "constitutional crisis" the impasse between George W. Bush and Al Gore Jr. for the presidency that year. While Gore, the vice president at the time, initially conceded on Election Night, he took it back when results showed Florida's vote count was too close to call.

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What ensued were weeks of drama, tension and growing polarization.

However, friction is a natural part of democracy. Democracy can sometimes be messy, but the judiciary eventually resolved the issue when the U.S. Supreme Court stopped the vote count in Florida.

Gore conceded the race, but theoretically, he could have continued his fight and we might have seen a version of the Jan. 6, 2021, riots 20 years earlier.

The difference though was that Gore responsibly believed in limited government, the power of institutions and the integrity of the people's vote. Its a view not shared by the current occupant of the White House.

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Take the time to re-read the U.S. Constitution to see that the presidency is the creation of a compact that is about sustaining limited government and freedom for its citizens.

Elected leaders should never pretend that the president has more power than he is granted by the U.S. Constitution.

For the sake of our republic, presidential overreach  and abuse  must be checked.

David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He is an editorial board member of The Tennessean. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or find him on X at @davidplazas or BlueSky at davidplazas.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Trump's executive overreach is abuse of constitutional power | Opinion
President Trump told NBC News Garrett Haake that he stands by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz after a military leak via group chat with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance. Also, NBC News Ryan Nobles, former CIA Director John Brennan and former Assistant FBI Director for Counterintelligence Frank Figliuzzi join Ali Vitali to break it all down.
The "Houthi PC Small Group" group chat included Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense (left), Marco Rubio, the secretary of state (middle), and Vice President JD Vance (right)  and, accidentally, a journalist, according to a new explosive report in The Atlantic. Getty Images/HuffPost

In an explosive new report detailed in The Atlantic, the magazines editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently invited to join a Signal group chat by President Donald Trumps national security adviser Michael Waltz in mid-March. In it, he was privy to top-secret imminent war plans.

Few, if any, of us will ever be privy to such a monumental mistake, but weve all been added to the wrong group chat  and sometimes the results can be equally disastrous for your personal life.

We talked to privacy experts to help you make sure nothing even remotely this explosive can happen to you  because youre definitely susceptible.

First, a little background on how this all started.

In total, the group chat titled Houthi PC small group had 18 members including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance.

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As JG on Signal, Goldberg had a front-row seat to watching Trumps top intelligence officers sharing prayer emojis after Hegseth shared upcoming planned strikes against the Houthi militia in Yemen, including targets and weapons used. Goldberg even got a two-hour heads-up on the U.S. attack before it actually happened, which helped him confirm that the group chat was legitimate and not misinformation.

Despite Hegseth denying that the chat was real, the National Security Council has confirmed that the chat appears to be authentic and is investigating how Goldberg got included.

Trump downplayed the severity of this extraordinary leak of classified information and told NBC News that Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man. But what Trump calls a learning moment is what Jennifer King, a privacy and data policy Fellow at the Stanford University Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence calls one of those really simple dumb mistakes.

Your group chats security is only as strong as the trust you have in your group participants.

King does not blame the Signal app for this human error. The Trump administration officials were using a tool that they shouldnt have been using for what they were doing, she said, noting that this conversation should have been done using secure government equipment. For better or for worse, Signal is not there to make sure that you didnt make a mistake in who you added to that list.

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Obviously, very few of us will make a mistake of this magnitude, but its also a startling reminder that what you share on a private group chat is not guaranteed to stay private  even on a secure app like Signal.

Signals end-to-end encryption is intended to keep messages secure from outside threats like from law enforcement or hackers who could be trying to read what is being said.

But in this case, the privacy was compromised from people within the group chat. Its a harsh reminder: Your group chats security is only as strong as the trust you have in your group participants. Signal, for example, does not notify the other person when you take a screenshot of a disappearing message, which makes it easy for someone like Goldberg to keep track of what was being said.

It only took one person and then nobody else noticed, because theyre all just assuming that somebody else has made sure that this is all the right people, King said.

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As Thorin Klosowski, a security and privacy activist for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, previously told HuffPost, Signal can also be compromised if an outsider gets ahold of your physical phone, too. If someone had physical access to a phone, they would be able to obviously see whatever conversations are happening on it. If its unlocked, people can screenshot. You can record calls, Klosowski said as examples.

If you want to avoid the Trump officials mistakes, double-check the identity of people in a large group chat filled with people you might not know well. King recommended following the skepticism Goldberg demonstrated in his article: Goldberg did not immediately assume everyone was who they said they were and sought to verify their identity based on if they communicated like how they did in past conversations.

In other words, before you share sensitive information, review everyone who has been invited to join your chat. If you see the initials of someone you cannot immediately recall knowing  like JG in this instance  ask them to share their identity. You could also ask the person who added the new guest to confirm if they added the right person.

Deleting messages will not guarantee your conversation is private, either, as the Trump administration learned. Signal lets users choose to automatically delete messages from all chat participants apps within seconds or days.

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According to the Atlantic report, Waltz set some of the texts in the Signal group to disappear, or delete, after one week, but that is more than enough time for an intrepid journalist to document what was being said.

Sharing sensitive information in a channel you should not is a blunder that is not limited to national intelligence officers. Employees are caught doing this all the time, too.

In 2023, U.S. federal regulators fined 11 banks $549 million for allowing employees to discuss company business using unauthorized means of communication like WhatsApp, iMessage and Signal during the COVID pandemic when many bank employees were working from home. The Wall Street firms were fined because they are required to preserve all official communications by their employees, and when employees use apps like Signal, it makes it easier for businesses to hide potential wrongdoing.

Ultimately, your privacy is only as secure as your weakest link, and in this case, Waltz was the group chats weak link who invited a journalist to join top-secret military plans.

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But every member of this war chat is actually the bigger weak link for agreeing to discuss highly classified military information on an unclassified, commercial app like Signal.

And Waltz, Hegseth and the rest of the Houthi PC small group learned this the hard way. Ill be sending laughing-while-crying emojis their way.

Related...
The Trump administration accidentally added the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic to a Signal group chat that shared classified war plans. The app is defined by the Defense Department as an "unmanaged platform" and is not approved for sharing classified information.

Senior officials in the Trump administration are under fire after inadvertently sharing secret war plans with a reporter via a Signal group chat.

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, said he was added to a group chat that included U.S. vice president JD Vance, defense secretary Pete Hegseth, national security advisor Mike Waltz, and director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

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Goldberg said he was added to the group, which was named "Houthi PC small group" and included one "active intelligence officer," by Waltz on March 13. To his surprise, the members then went on to share details of Houthi targets, weapons packages, and timing of an upcoming attack.

The report has raised questions about the Trump administration's use of Signal, which has previously been classified by the Defense Department as an "unmanaged" messaging app and is not approved for official use.

In a 2023 memo, the Defense Department defined unmanaged apps, which also included platforms like WhatsApp and Apple iMessage, as those "NOT authorized to access, transmit, or process non-public DoD information."

Instead, the U.S. government requires officials to use approved classified communication systems, such as a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF), to discuss secret data.

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In his report, Goldberg also said that some of the messages in the group chat utilized Signal's "disappearing messages" function, with some set to delete after one week and others after four weeks.

This has prompted concerns about potential violations of public records law by the U.S. officials.

One former government security leader, who asked for anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, told Fortune that all of the officials involved in the Signal group would have been required to preserve their communications under record laws.

The person added that none of the officials involved in the group chat had the authority to decide which of their communications did and didn't apply to public record laws.

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Jason R. Baron, a professor at the University of Maryland and the former director of litigation at the National Archives and Records Administration, told The Atlantic: Under the records laws applicable to the White House and federal agencies, all government employees are prohibited from using electronic-messaging applications such as Signal for official business unless those messages are promptly forwarded or copied to an official government account."

The officials' use of Signal has been criticized by other former officials, including former national security adviser under President Trumps first administration, John Bolton.

I couldnt imagine anybody would use Signal, Bolton told CNN. Ill just say this: If you think Signal is equivalent to U.S. government secure telecommunications, think again.

How secure is Signal?

Signal is an encrypted messaging app popular with journalists, activists, whistleblowers, tech workers, and anyone else who wants to securely communicate information. Recently, it has also become increasingly popular with federal workers.

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Many government workers have taken to the encrypted messaging app to discuss concerns over their job security as Elon Musk's DOGE team attempts to slash government headcount with rounds of mass layoffs.

The former government security worker told Fortune that the use of Signal had become increasingly commonplace with government workers during the new Trump administration.

It's seen as more secure because it is end-to-end encrypted and open-source, which allows security experts to audit it for vulnerabilities.

Unlike other messaging apps, Signal doesnt store data like message logs, contacts, or locations on its servers. Users can also set some of the messages to disappear after certain lengths of time.

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While Signal is allowed for personal conversations between government workers, is not approved for official government use. There are concerns that the app could be vulnerable to state-sponsored hackers or other security risks.

For example, a recent report from Mandianta cybersecurity firm owned by Googleuncovered an operation by Russian-linked spies who attempted to compromise the Signal accounts of Ukrainian military personnel by masquerading as familiar contacts.

Backlash from Democrats

The report has sparked an outcry from Democrats, who have widely condemned the officials for using an unauthorized platform for official communications. Waltz is also facing growing pressure to step down.

Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called it "one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence I have read about in a very, very long time," while former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said: From an operational security perspective, this is the highest level of fup imaginable."

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Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, called the group chat a "shocking breach" in a post on X.

"If senior advisors to President Trump in fact used non-secure, non-government systems to discuss and convey detailed war plans, its a shocking breach of the standards for sharing classified information that could have put American service members at risk. There needs to be an oversight hearing and accountability for these actions," he wrote.

Representatives for the Defense Department did not comment, while the Trump Administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fortune. However, Brian Hughes, the spokesman for the National Security Council confirmed the authenticity of the Signal group to The Atlantic.

This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, Hughes told the outlet. The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security.

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Donald Trump has also come to Waltz's defense, calling it his only glitch in two months, and it turned out not to be a serious one.

The U.S. president told NBC News on Tuesday: Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man."

Waltz has lashed out at The Atlantic over the report and denied that he messaged highly sensitive "war plans" to Goldberg.

"You're talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called 'journalist' who's made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again," he said after landing in Hawaii Monday.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics teams latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.

Happy Monday! We hope your brackets are intact after this weekend. (If you picked the favorites, youre probably in good shape.)

In todays edition, we dive into the fallout over a journalist appearing to have been accidentally added to a group chat among Trump administration officials about U.S. plans to strike Houthis in Yemen. Plus, with the shutdown fight behind them, Sahil Kapur lays out the key hurdles Republicans in Congress must now clear to pass a massive bill to enact the presidents policy agenda.

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 Adam Wollner

The Trump administration is reviewing how its national security team sent war plans to a magazine editor

The White House said it was reviewing how the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine could have accidentally been added to a group text where people who appeared to be members of President Donald Trumps administration discussed plans to launch airstrikes against Houthi militants in Yemen, Kelly ODonnell and Daniel Arkin report.

At this time, the message thread that was reported appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, the National Security Council said in a statement to NBC News.

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The statement came in response to an article published Monday by The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg, a veteran national security and foreign affairs journalist. Goldberg reported he had been added to a group chat called Houthi PC small group on March 13 via Signal, an encrypted messaging service widely believed to be more secure than other commercial texting applications.

Goldberg reported that he went on to receive a series of messages on Signal that appeared to come from Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and other prominent officials in the Trump administration.

Goldberg reported that he exited the Signal group after he personally concluded it was almost certainly real.

How Trump responded: Trump claimed he had no knowledge of the matter, telling a reporter in the Oval Office: Youre telling me about it for the first time.

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How Democrats are responding: Democrats were quick to sharply criticize the Trump administration.

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said: Every single one of the government officials on this text chain have now committed a crime  even if accidentally  that would normally involve a jail sentence.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called for a full investigation into how this happened, the damage it created, and how we can avoid it in the future. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., blasted the episode as amateur hour.

And Hillary Clinton, who drew intense criticism from Republicans for her use of a private email server, tweeted a screenshot of The Atlantic article with a simple message:  You have got to be kidding me.

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How Republicans are responding: Republicans have so far been more muted in their response. At least one GOP member of Congress chided Trumps national security team.

Classified information should not be transmitted on unsecured channels  and certainly not to those without security clearances, including reporters. Period, said Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y. Safeguards must be put in place to ensure this never happens again.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said the administration is addressing the situation and has acknowledged it was a mistake, adding that he expects the White House to tighten up and make sure it doesnt happen again.

Read more 

What else to know from the Trump presidency today

4 hurdles facing Republicans as they shift focus to a bill to pass Trump's agenda

By Sahil Kapur

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Congress is back after weeklong recess with Republicans planning to shift focus to a party-line bill to pass President Donald Trumps multitrillion-dollar agenda after having dispensed with a separate government funding deadline.

Speaker Mike Johnson has set a target of passing the legislation through the House in April before the Easter recess, which leaves Republicans in the House with three weeks  and a lot of work. And then the bill would go to the Senate, which has a different idea of how to proceed.

Here are four hurdles they face.

Medicaid cuts: A recent analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that its mathematically impossible for House Republicans to meet their own budget targets without cutting Medicare or Medicaid.

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Pursuing hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicaid cuts would put swing-district Republicans in a politically precarious position. But abandoning those cuts would anger hard-line conservatives who voted for the budget blueprint to begin the process because they were promised steep spending reductions.

A $4.6 trillion asterisk? Extending Trumps expiring 2017 tax cuts would cost $4.6 trillion over a decade, according to the CBO. And thats before tackling Trumps other pursuits, like ending taxes on tips and overtime pay.

To get around the problem, Republicans are considering a far-reaching accounting change to hide the deficit impact, known as current policy baseline, instead of current law baseline, which would treat the cost of making Trumps tax cuts permanent as $0. Democrats are preparing to fight that with the parliamentarian, the in-house referee overseeing the reconciliation process.

House-Senate divide: The two chambers adopted conflicting budget resolutions before Trump sided with the House version. On Monday, House GOP leaders called on the Senate to adopt the House measure. But Republican senators are waiting to see whether the House can deliver on the actual bill. Despite the paper-thin House majority, senators are in no mood to let the House dictate the outcome.

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Debt limit: The exact date by which Congress will need to act to raise the debt ceiling this year is still unknown. House lawmakers budget plan called for a $4 trillion increase in the debt ceiling, but they need to pass the reconciliation bill to make it official. That means theyll have to send the legislation to Trumps desk before the deadline or risk economic calamity.

Read more from Sahil 





 Today's other top stories

 Latest from Gaza: Israel is ramping up the risk of all out war in Gaza as it escalates a renewed bombing campaign . Read more 

 Musk murmurs: Some Trump officials are questioning whether Elon Musk should continue to participate in media interviews after his comments about Social Security conflicted with Trumps pledge not to cut the program. Read more 

 ICYMI: Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, told Meet the Press that politicians are not being honest when they say they will not touch Social Security. Read more 

 Oh Canada: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called for a snap election on April 28 amid ongoing clashes with Trump. Read more 

 In the courts: The Supreme Court tackled a case in which civil rights groups are in a tentative alliance with Republican officials in defending a Louisiana congressional map that includes two majority Black districts for the first time in decades. Read more 

 In the courts, cont.: The Supreme Court declined to intervene in a case involving a Texas death row inmate, who argued his conviction should be tossed out due to faulty DNA evidence. Read more 

 In the courts, cont.: And the Supreme Court turned away a bid by top Republican donor and former casino magnate Steve Wynn to undermine legal protections for news companies facing defamation suits. Read more 

Thats all From the Politics Desk for now. Todays newsletter was compiled by Adam Wollner and Bridget Bowman.

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If you have feedback  likes or dislikes  email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com

And if youre a fan, please share with everyone and anyone. They can sign up here.





This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The US intelligence communitys annual threat assessment led with the threat from drug cartels for apparently the first time in the reports nearly 20-year history, according to Senate Intelligence Chairman Tom Cotton and a CNN review of previous assessments, highlighting a top agenda item for President Donald Trump.

The assessment also omitted any reference to the national security implications of climate change, a sharp reversal from previous intelligence assessments, including those under Trumps first administration.

Drug cartels in Mexico and other parts of the Western Hemisphere endanger the health and safety of millions of Americans and contribute to regional instability, the intelligence assessment says. Fentanyl and other potent synthetic opioids caused more than 52,000 deaths in the US in the 12 months ending in October 2024, according to the assessment. Thats actually a 33% decrease from the year prior and may be attributed to the increased availability of the overdose-countering medicine naloxone, the document says.

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The decline in drug deaths doesnt appear to have made the cartels less potent.

Mexico-based [transnational criminal organizations] are ramping up lethal attacks in Mexico against rivals and Mexican security forces using IEDs, including landmines, mortars, and grenades, the intelligence assessment says.

In the first weeks of Trumps return to the White House, the US military significantly increased its surveillance of Mexican drug cartels, with sophisticated spy planes flying at least 18 missions over the southwestern US and in international airspace around the Baja peninsula, CNN previously reported.

While the cartels tend to smuggle the drug over the border, most of the fentanyl that enters the US comes from ingredients made in China, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

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CIA Director John Ratcliffe testified that the Chinese government has been limited and intermittent in its effort to curb the domestic production of fentanyl precursors.

One reason for that, Ratcliffe said, is there are more than 600 PRC-related companies that produce those precursor chemicals in an industry that generates $1.5 trillion, he told lawmakers, using an acronym for the Chinese government.

Chinas role in the fentanyl supply chain has emerged as one of the most sensitive issues in US-China relations. Chinese officials have accused the US of smearing and scapegoating Beijing by blaming it for the US opioid epidemic. The Trump administration has cited the flow of fentanyl precursors as justification for a tariff increase on goods from China.

Climate change not mentioned

In the first Trump administration, multiple annual threat assessments from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence highlighted threats and impacts from climate change. But ODNIs report released Tuesday didnt contain the phrase climate change.

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The Pentagon does not do climate change crap, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said this month in responding to a CNN report, citing defense officials and security experts, that slashing climate programs could put US troops and military operations at risk.

Under questioning from Sen. Angus King, a Maine independent who caucuses with the Democrats, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard avoided using the phrase climate change.

Obviously, were aware of occurrences within the environment and how they may impact operations, but were focused on the direct threats to Americans safety, well-being and security, Gabbard said.

Asked by King if she told ODNI personnel to avoid climate change, Gabbard said she didnt recall giving that instruction.

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Dr. Ravi Chaudhary, former assistant secretary of the Air Force for energy, installations and environment, previously told CNN that climate programs are not just important to giving the US military an edge on adversaries like China, but they also help keep service members and their families safe.

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The Trump administration invoked the state secrets privilege late Monday in its court battle over its use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants, again refusing to provide more details about the flights to a judge.

The invocation deems details about the flights a state secret  seeking to limit information to U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who has vowed to get to the bottom of whether the Trump administration violated his order to turn around or halt the flights.

The Court has all of the facts it needs to address the compliance issues before it. Further intrusions on the Executive Branch would present dangerous and wholly unwarranted separation-of-powers harms with respect to diplomatic and national security concerns that the Court lacks competence to address, the Department of Justice (DOJ) wrote in its filing.

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It adds that invoking the privilege will stop Boasberg from colliding with the executive.

Boasberg has called for a review of flight information in his chambers  something the Trump administration wrote Boasberg should drop in the wake of its invocation, citing the utter lack of need for the information the Court seeks.

In its filing, the Trump administration again asserted that it complied with Boasbergs written order filed at 7:27 p.m. EDT on March 15.

But Boasberg gave an oral order that day at approximately 6:45 p.m. that any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned to the United States.

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Both oral and written orders are binding.

Boasberg on Tuesday set a deadline for plaintiffs to respond to DOJs state secrets claim by March 31.

The Trump administration continues to sidestep questions over whether it compiled with the oral order, saying only that it complied with the written one.

In any event, the government has already confirmed that two flights carrying aliens being removed under the AEA departed U.S. airspace before the Courts minute order of 7:25 PM EDT, the DOJ wrote Monday, using an abbreviation for Alien Enemies Act.

The American Civil Liberties Union has questioned whether the government complied with the order, noting flight information shared with it by the Justice Department indicated flights left at 5:26 p.m. and 5:45 p.m., suggesting they could have been turned around, as directed.

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The group argues the Trump administration would have been able to comply with the order up until the moment the more than 200 Venezuelans were turned over to authorities in El Salvador, where they remain imprisoned.

The Trump administration has repeatedly rebuffed Boasbergs requests for information, with a DOJ attorney in court at one point telling the judge that he was not authorized to give details about the flights.

The Trump administration has appealed an earlier order from Boasberg temporarily blocking the use of the Alien Enemies Act, appearing before the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday.

The act allows for the deportation of migrants from an enemy nation, and Trump invoked the wartime power to remove any Venezuelan the administration deems to be a member of the Tren de Aragua gang.

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During the appeal hearing, the Trump administration was taken to task for deporting the Venezuelans without giving them the opportunity to contest gang membership.

There were planeloads of people. There were no procedures in place to notify people. Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemies Act than has happened here, U.S. Circuit Judge Patricia Millett said.

Yall could have put me up on Saturday and thrown me on a plane, thinking Im a member of Tren de Aragua and giving me no chance to protest it and say somehow its a violation of presidential war powers, the judge said. For me to say, Excuse me, no, Im not, Id like a hearing.

Updated at 11:31 a.m. EDT

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An autonomous delivery robot, which utilizes artificial intelligence, operates on a sidewalk in West Hollywood, Calif., in 2024. Several states are pursuing legislation on the safe use of AI. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

This story originally appeared in Stateline.

Even as the Trump administration lowers some artificial intelligence guardrails in hopes of boosting innovation, states continue to establish policies for the safe use of AI.

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During his first week in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order revoking some Biden-era programs promoting the safe use of artificial intelligence.

A Biden administration order had directed more than 50 federal entities to implement guidance on AI safety and security. Some agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, were tasked with studying the effects of AI bias and how the technology could affect civil rights.

Besides rescinding that policy, Trumps order also calls for the development of an AI Action Plan, which will outline policies to enhance Americas position as an AI powerhouse and prevent unnecessarily burdensome requirements.

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But states are still pursuing legislation that aims to keep residents safe. The measures range from requiring companies to implement consumer protections to outlawing fake photos and videos to regulating the use of AI in health care decisions.

States will need to take a bigger role in regulating artificial intelligence, said Serena Oduro, a senior policy analyst at Data & Society. The nonprofit research institute studies the social implications of data-centric technologies, including AI.

If we continue with the road that Trump is on, I think states will have to step up because theyre going to need to protect their constituents, Oduro said. Whats unfortunate is people are already scared.

In 2024, 31 states adopted resolutions or enacted legislation regarding artificial intelligence, according to a database from the National Conference of State Legislatures, a nonpartisan public officials association. This year, nearly every state has introduced AI legislation.

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Colorado last year became the first state to implement sweeping AI regulations. Virginia this year became the second state to pass comprehensive AI anti-discrimination legislation, which would make companies responsible for protecting consumers from bias in areas such as hiring, housing and health care. If signed by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, the new law would go into effect in July 2026.

The legislation also would require companies developing and using high-risk AI systems, such as those used for employment decisions or financial services, to conduct risk assessments and document their intended uses.

Many states are hoping to curb the rise of deepfakes  digitally altered photos and videos  on the internet.

Lawmakers in some states, including Montana and South Dakota, are aiming to deter people from using political deepfakes during elections. Other bills would establish civil and criminal penalties for sharing sexually explicit deepfake images without the subjects consent, such as in Hawaii and New Mexico.

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Lawmakers in a number of states, including Arkansas, California, Maryland and more, also introduced legislation that would regulate the use of artificial intelligence in health care and insurance decisions.

The Utah legislature, for instance, passed a bill last week that would provide protections for mental health patients interacting with chatbots that use AI. The measure is currently awaiting action from Republican Gov. Spencer Cox.



If we continue with the road that Trump is on, I think states will have to step up because they're going to need to protect their constituents.

 Serena Oduro, a senior policy analyst at Data & Society

California Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, a Democrat, is helping lead the states efforts to create a framework for AI regulation.

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Following her successful legislation from last year that now defines artificial intelligence within the states code, Bauer-Kahan is currently working on six bills related to AI. They would require generative AI developers to publicly document materials used to train their systems, crack down on deepfake pornography services, regulate the deployment of automated decision systems and more.

She told Stateline that more people are aware of AI now that its widely available to the public. Generative AI tools, such as OpenAIs free chatbot, ChatGPT, allow anyone to analyze data, create weekly meal plans, organize grocery lists and more in a matter of seconds.

I actually think one of the things generative AI has done is brought AI into public consciousness in a really powerful way, and its leading legislators to want to learn about it and understand it, she said.

In Washington, Republican state Rep. Michael Keaton said he filed legislation to help small businesses that want to invest in AI innovation.

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After retiring from active duty in the Air Force, Keaton later began working for the service as a contractor. Collaborating with engineers, Keaton said he learned that its important to strike a balance between tasks for humans and tasks that can be automated  and how this balance can be used in the publics interest.

Earlier this month, the Washington state House approved Keatons bill, which would create a grant program for small businesses that use artificial intelligence for projects that have statewide impact, such as for wildfire tracking, cybersecurity or health care advancements. The bill now sits in a Senate committee.

While the bill promotes innovation, it also requires applicants to commit to ethical uses of AI and analyze the risks that could come with their product.

Were driving for innovation and were trying to get the monies appropriated to be able to take advantage of that innovation, Keaton said, but we want to do it in a smart way.

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With the emerging patchwork of AI legislation across the states, it could be challenging for AI developers to keep up, said Paul Lekas, the senior vice president and head of global public policy and government affairs at the Software & Information Industry Association, a trade association representing the digital content industry.

Not only are states creating their own definitions of artificial intelligence but theyre also outlining different rules for different actors, such as AI developers, distributors or consumers, he added.

I think the industry is struggling to figure out how to comply with all of these laws were they to pass, Lekas said.

Stateline reporter Madyson Fitzgerald can be reached at mfitzgerald@stateline.org.

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Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org.

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Libby Lindsay spent 21 years working underground as a miner for Bethlehem Steel in West Virginia. She saw many safety improvements over the years, and always felt grateful that she could call the local Mine Safety and Health Administration office whenever she wondered whether a rule was being followed. She joined the safety committees launched by the local chapter of the United Mine Workers, which collaborated with the agency to watchdog coal companies. She understood the price that had been paid for the regulations it enforced. Every law was written in blood, she said. Its there because somebody was injured or killed.

Still, she and others who work the nations mines worry President Donald Trump is about to limit the agencys local reach. As his administration targets federal buildings for closure and sale, 35 of its offices are on the list. Fifteen are in Appalachian coalfields, with seven in eastern Kentucky alone and the others concentrated in southern West Virginia and southeastern Pennsylvania. Of the remaining 20 offices, many are in the West, in remote corners of Wyoming, Nevada, and Colorado. Miners advocates worry these closures could reduce the capacity of an agency thats vastly improved mining safety over the past 50 years or so and could play a vital role as the Trump administration promotes fossil fuels like coal, and as decarbonization efforts increase the need for lithium and other metals.

Since its inception in 1977, the agency has operated under the auspices of the Department of Labor to reduce the risks of what has always been one of the worlds most dangerous jobs. Before Congress created the agency, known as MSHA, hundreds of miners died each year, in explosions, tunnel collapses, and equipment malfunctions. (The number was far higher through the 1940s, often reaching into the thousands.) Last year, 31 people died in mining accidents, according to the agencys data. Even after accounting for coals steady decline, that tally, while still tragic, reflects major strides in safety.

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Coal mining is a tough business. Its a very competitive business. Theres always a temptation to compete on safety, to cut corners on safety, to make that your competitive advantage as a mine operator, Christopher Mark, a government mine safety specialist who has spent decades making the job safer, told Grist. And its our job to make sure that nobody can do that.

Trumps pick to lead MSHA, Wayne Palmer, who is awaiting confirmation, previously was vice president of the Essential Minerals Association, a trade association representing extraction companies. The Department of Labor declined to comment on the proposed lease terminations. A representative of the U.S. General Services Administration, which manages federal offices, told Grist that any locations being considered for closure have been made aware of that, and some lease terminations may be rescinded or not issued at all.

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A coal miner wearing coveralls sits on a piece of mining equipment while eating his lunch.

A new federal rule aims to protect miners from black lung disease

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Katie Myers

Many of the countrys remaining underground coal mines  the most dangerous kind  are located in Appalachia. MSHA has historically placed its field offices in mining communities. Although the number of coal mines has declined by more than half since 2008, tens of thousands of miners still work the coalfields. Many of them still venture underground.

The dwindling number of fatalities comes even as the MSHA has been plagued by continued staffing and funding shortfalls, with the federal Office of the Inspector General repeatedly admonishing the agency for falling below its own annual inspection targets. It also has recommended more frequent sampling to ensure mine operators protect workers from toxic coal and silica dust. After decades of work, federal regulators finally tightened silica exposure rules, but miners and their advocates worry too little staffing and too few inspections could hamper enforcement.

There are going to be fewer inspections, which means that operators that are not following the rules are going to get away with not following the rules for longer than they would have, said Chelsea Barnes, the director of government affairs and strategy at the environmental justice nonprofit Appalachian Voices. The organization has worked with union members and advocates for those with black lung disease to lobby for stricter silica dust exposure limits.

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Last month, the United Mine Workers of America denounced the proposed office closures. As demand for coal continues to decline, it worries that companies could pinch pennies to maximize profits  or avoid bankruptcy. Companies are completely dependent upon the price of coal, said Phil Smith, executive assistant to union president Cecil Roberts. [If] its bad enough, they think, Well, we can cut a corner here. We can pick a penny there.'

The Biden administration made an effort to staff the agency. In the waning days of Bidens term, Chris Williamson, who led the agency at the time, told Grist he was very proud of rebuilding our team because you cant go out and enforce the silica standard or enforce other things if you dont have the people in place to do it. The union worries that the Trump administration, which has pursued sweeping layoffs throughout the government, will target MSHA, where many of the Biden hires remain probationary employees. Despite the previous administrations attempts to bolster the agency, it still missed inspections due to understaffing.

Anyone who isnt terminated will have to relocate to larger offices if Trump shutters local outposts, placing them further from the mines they keep tabs on. In addition to inspecting underground mines at least quarterly and surface mines biannually, inspectors make more frequent checks of operations where toxic gases are present. They also respond to complaints. Work now done by people in the offices throughout eastern Kentucky likely would be consolidated in Lexington, Kentucky, or Wise County, Virginia, which are 200 miles apart.

Field offices have been consolidated before, and mining experts acknowledged there may be a time and a place for such things, but its highly unusual to close so many without due process. In early March, the House Committee on Education and Workforce submitted a letter to Vince Micone, the acting secretary of labor, requesting documents and information on the closures and expressing concern that as many as 90 mine inspection job offers may have been rescinded. Their letter specifically referred to the agencys history of understaffing that led to catastrophes like the Upper Big Branch mine explosion that killed 29 people in 2010, the nations worst mining accident in four decades.

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One of the lessons of the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster, according to MSHAs own internal investigation, is that staffing disruptions at the managerial level resulted in MSHAs inspectors failing to adequately address smaller-scale methane explosions in the months leading up the massive explosion that killed 29 miners 15 years ago this April, read the letter, which was signed by Democratic representatives Bobby Scott of Virginia and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.

The impact of potential cuts stretches far beyond coal, into the mines that will extract the lithium and other metals needed for clean energy and other industries. As of last year, the nation employed almost 256,000 metal and nonmetal miners who pull copper, zinc, and other things from the earth. Its an agency that matters, regardless of how were producing our energy, said Chelsea Barnes of Appalachian Voices.

After spending so much time in the mines, Lindsay is concerned by the direction the Trump administration is heading, even as lawmakers in states like West Virginia and Kentucky have in recent years attempted to roll back regulations. Thats going to be the future of MSHA, she said. Theyre going to be in name only. Miners are going to die. And nobody but their families are going to care.

This story was originally published by Grist with the headline Trump administration moves to shutter mine safety offices in coal country on Mar 25, 2025.
The U.S. is preparing to impose tariffs on 15 countries, including Russia, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on March 23.

The White House under U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has repeatedly denounced what it has described as unfair economic relationships with key trading partners, including the EU and Canada. Trump has also previously threatened to impose heavy tariffs and sanctions on Russia as leverage to reach a peace deal.

The tariffs planned for April 2 are not as drastic as initially proposed, but still signal a departure from decades of free trade, the WSJ reported.

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The U.S. could enact the tariffs promptly on April 2 by invoking Trump's emergency economic powers, people familiar with the matter said.

Trump has touted the date tariffs are imposed as "Liberation Day," freeing the U.S. from imbalanced trade.

Those expected to be impacted by tariffs include Russia, Australia, Canada, the EU, and China, among many other expected targets.

The U.S. is expected to impose tariffs of 15% on about 15 countries that were labeled as the "dirty 15" by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on March 18.

U.S. and Russian trade is at an all-time low due to sanctions imposed by the U.S. and other Western allies due to Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. The Trump administration has been expanding diplomacy with Moscow, however, and has said it is open to exploring a trade partnership.

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Trump has also previously said he could use tariffs and sanctions to pressure Russia in peace negotiations.

"Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely 'pounding' Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large-scale banking sanctions, sanctions, and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire and final settlement agreement on peace is reached," Trump said on March 7.

Read also: Editorial: What Steve Witkoff doesnt get about Ukraine (and Russia)

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Donald Trumps administration is refusing to answer any questions from a federal judge about deportation flights to El Salvadors notorious prison under the presidents use of the Alien Enemies Act.

Judge James Boasberg had ordered government attorneys to answer a series of questions  including when those planes left the United States and entered El Salvador  to determine whether administration officials intentionally defied his court orders, which were delivered in court and in filings hours before the planes landed March 15.

For more than a week, the judge has pushed the administration for answers and extended deadlines for a response.

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But in a late-night filing Monday, Trump administration officials and government lawyers said no further information will be provided in response to the judges questions based on the state secrets privilege, a rarely invoked claim that effectively allows the executive branch to block evidence in court over national security concerns.

The court has all of the facts it needs to address the compliance issues before it, officials wrote. Further intrusions on the executive branch would present dangerous and wholly unwarranted separation-of-powers harms with respect to diplomatic and national security concerns that the court lacks competence to address.

The move escalates a volatile conflict between Trump and the judiciary in a case that legal experts are warning is teetering the country towards a constitutional crisis.

Pam Bondi, right, and Marco Rubio, left, joined Trump administration officials and government attorneys to claim that information about deportation flights to El Salvador is protected under a state secrets privilege (Getty Images)

The filing  with sworn statements from Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem  claims the president has sweeping authority to remove designated terrorists participating in a state-sponsored invasion of, and predatory incursion into, the United States.

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Under Trumps use of the centuries-old Alien Enemies Act, all Venezuelan citizens 14 years of age or older who are members of [Tren de Aragua], 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 administration officials admit that many immigrants on those flights have no criminal record whatsoever. ICE official Robert Cerna argued in court filings that a lack of specific information about each individual actually highlights the risk they pose and demonstrates that they are terrorists with regard to whom we lack a complete profile.

Attorneys and family members for detained immigrants have also argued their clients and relatives have nothing to do with Tren de Aragua and were wrongly detained over tattoos that ICE agents falsely determined were gang-related. Several Venezuelans deported to El Salvador have upcoming court hearings for their asylum claims, attorneys said.

Trumps border czar Tom Homan has defended the administrations removal of dozens of Venezuelan immigrants who were deported to El Salvador despite sworn statements from lawyers and family members denying they had any relationship with Tren de Aragua (AP)

When pressed about the administrations assertion that the immigrants on those flights are Tren de Aragua members, Trumps border czar Tom Homan told reporters Tuesday that hundreds and hundreds of hours were spent on investigations, whether it's looking at criminal history, whether immigration history, we're looking at undercover videos, whether it's talking to informants, whether it's talking to other members of the gang who gave sworn statements.

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Theres a lot of ways that this was done. A lot of the time we spent on this. Again, I got assurances from the highest levels of ICE that this was done right, Homan said.

He said he had assurance that everybody on those planes was a Venezuelan member of Tren de Aragua.

The administrations filing followed a two-hour appeals court hearing over Trumps challenge to Judge Boasbergs order that temporarily prevents any other deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act.

During the hearing, appellate Judge Patricia Millett noted German citizens arrested under the Alien Enemies Act during the Second World War had an opportunity to challenge their detention  due process that immigrants on the El Salvador flights were denied.

Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemies Act, she said.
ELLABELL, Ga. (WSAV)  The Hyundai Metaplant in Bryan County will eventually be using steel made on American soil at a plant owned by its parent company.

On Monday, President Donald Trump announced the companys $21 billion investment. This will include Hyundai building a $5 billion steel plant in Louisiana.

The $5.8 billion facility will be the car manufacturers first steel-making facility in the U.S. President Trump said that it will create more than 1,400 jobs and will produce more than 2.7 million metric tons of steel per year.

Pool via AP

President Trump said that the Alabama and Georgia plants will soon produce more than one million American-made cars every year.

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Executive Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group Chung Eui-sun said that the Ellabell plant created more than 8,500 American jobs. He also invited President Trump to visit one of the manufacturing facilities.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump said his administration was investigating the addition of a journalist to a text group of top officials discussing plans for military strikes in Yemen, but expressed support for national security adviser Michael Waltz.

Most Read from Bloomberg

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Yet even as Trump announced the inquiry on Tuesday, he suggested procedures might not change in the aftermath of the incident.

We look at everything, Trump said, adding that his team would examine if people are able to break into a system.

I always say you have to learn from every experience, he added.

But, Trump said, he did not believe that the disclosures demanded a criminal investigation  or even necessarily a directive banning the use of Signal, the encrypted messaging chat app used by the officials, despite concerns over security and record-retention laws.

The presidents comments fit with a broader effort by the administration to downplay the stunning breach, which created a firestorm in Washington over the Trump teams handling of sensitive information.

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I dont know anything about Signal, Trump said. I wasnt involved in this, but I just heard about it, and I hear its used by a lot of groups  its used by the media, a lot. Its used by a lot of the military. And I think successfully, but sometimes somebody can get onto those things.

We made a mistake

Waltz, who has come under intense scrutiny for his role in the disclosure, said that security experts and legal officials were reviewing the incident.

A staffer wasnt responsible. And look, I take full responsibility, Waltz said in a Fox News interview with conservative host Laura Ingraham, adding he created the group chat and my job is to make sure everythings coordinated.

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Waltz said he had spoken earlier in the day with Elon Musk, the Tesla Inc. CEO and billionaire Trump adviser, adding weve got the best technical minds looking at how this happened.

We made a mistake. Were moving forward, Waltz said.

The Atlantics Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg recounted the incident in a story published Monday. The text group, which also included Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and others, discussed details of plans for an attack on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Goldberg did not publish the actual plans in the article but wrote that Hegseth at one point shared operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including targeting information and weapons specifications. The Trump team shared the plans on the encrypted messaging app Signal, which has a reputation for tight security but has not been authorized by the US government as a platform to disseminate classified information.

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Waltz in the Fox News interview struggled to explain how Goldberg was added to the group chat and said he didnt know the journalist. He repeated the claim that no classified material was included in the chat, though when asked said he would object to the magazine releasing the rest of the information it had.

I dont want it all out there, because these were conversations back and forth that you should be able to have confidentially, Waltz said.

Signal usage

At a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe described the use of Signal as permissible for intelligence officials. He and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, both of whom were on the text chain, defended their participation and reiterated that no classified information was shared.

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Gabbard said the National Security Council was reviewing all aspects of how this came to be, how the journalist was inadvertently added to the group chat and what occurred across the board.

Trump was asked directly why that material wouldnt be considered classified, and moved on without answering. But at a different point, Trump declined to commit to releasing the contents of the chain, saying he would ask the military about that, because, you know, maybe you wouldnt want that.

The president asserted that he took Goldbergs decision to ultimately depart the group chat as evidence that the editor found it very boring.

At the same time, Trump acknowledged officials had basically figured out how Goldberg was added to the chat, suggesting an internal investigation had already yielded an explanation. In an interview earlier Tuesday with NBC News, Trump suggested that one of Waltzs aides was responsible.

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It was one of Michaels people on the phone, Trump said. A staffer had his number on there.

And at times Trump seemed to acknowledge the need for heightened security around sensitive information, saying that receiving briefings in the White House Situation Room with no phones on is always the best, frankly.

Just last week I was in the Situation Room with something very important, and we had a couple of people hooked up by line and I said, cancel the line. Sorry, fellas, Trump said.

Democrats at the previously scheduled Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on global security threats where Ratcliffe and Gabbard spoke were unconvinced, calling the incident a massive national security breach. Some vowed to get the full text exchange.

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If this was the case of a military officer or an intelligence officer and they had this kind of behavior, they would be fired, said Senator Mark Warner, the panels top Democrat. This is one more example of the kind of sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior, particularly towards classified information. This is not a one-off or a first-time error.

Leavitt earlier Tuesday said that the White House Counsels Office has provided guidance on a number of different platforms for President Trumps top officials to communicate as safely and efficiently as possible.

Goldberg said in a CNN interview Monday night that the group was texting attack plans. When targets were going to be targeted, how they were going to be targeted, who was at the targets. When the next sequence of attacks were happening.

They were plans for the attack, and they were texted before the attack, Goldberg said.

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--With assistance from Natalia Drozdiak.

(Updates with Waltz comments starting in ninth paragraph.)

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2025 Bloomberg L.P.
U.S. President Donald Trump gives a speech on tax reform at the Heritage Foundation's President's Club Meeting at a hotel in Washington, DC, on Oct. 17, 2017. Credit - Mandel NganGetty Images

Despite distancing himself from Project 2025 on the campaign trail, President Donald Trumps early actions have taken plenty of inspiration from the conservative policy playbook created by think tank the Heritage Foundation.

A Time analysis conducted in January found that nearly two-thirds of the executive actions Trump issued during his first days in office mirrored, either in full or in part, proposals in the 900-page document. This includes withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement. Since then, Trump has continued to draw from Project 2025 when it comes to his cuts to the governments climate effortsfrom targeting national monuments and the weather service, to culling scientists from the Environmental Projection Agency.

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The deregulatory push mirrors the Heritage Foundations long history of opposing climate action. The think tank has also had a close relationship to the administration over the years. According to CNN, several former Trump staffers helped shape Project 2025. And during Trumps first term, both the president and members of Congress cited a Heritage study on the economic costs of climate action that was found to be strongly influenced by the subjective assumptions made by study authors, according to a review by the World Resources Institute. (The report concluded that participation in the Paris Agreement would result in an aggregate GDP loss of over $2.5 trillion by 2035. That's compared to a 2024 estimate by the Climate Policy Initiative that puts the global cost of inaction at $1,266 trillion.)

Read more: 1 in 5 People Say Climate Change Has Had a Big Impact on Their Daily Lives

Here are the major ways that the Trump Administration is enacting the Project 2025 goals for targeting environmental regulations and climate action in the United States.

Withdrawing from International Climate Agreements

Project 2025 called for the U.S. to withdraw from the Paris Accords, the landmark climate initiative aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. On his first day in office,Trump did just that, issuing an executive order to initiate the process. The playbook has also proposed that the U.S. withdraw entirely from the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCC), an intergovernmental body which facilitates negotiations on climate change. Trump has said that the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. would submit formal written notification of this, though it has yet to happen.

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Project 2025 also opposed U.S. participation in climate reparations funds, arguing that any fund administered by a non-U.S. organization provides no assurance that U.S. interests will be protected. Following through on this, in early March the United States withdrew from the board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, created to help developing countries respond to the impacts of climate change.

Targeting the National Weather Service

Project 2025 calls for the dismantling of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which houses the National Weather Service, the National Ocean Service, the Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and other agencies the group deemed a colossal operation that has become one of the main drivers of the climate change alarm industry.

Read more: The True Cost of Trumps Cuts to NOAA and NASA

The document called for NOAA to be broken up and downsized, which the Trump Administration is in the process of doing. In February, the Trump Administration attempted to fire hundreds of NOAA employees. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order against the move in March, but though the employees were reinstated by the Department of Commerce, the staffers were placed on administrative leave pending further litigation.

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The decision is already taking a toll. In mid-March, NOAA said it would reduce weather balloon launcheswhich provide key data for weather forecastingin several locations due to staffing shortages.

Reviewing National Monument Designations

The Antiquities Act of 1906 authorizes the president to protect federal lands that are of historic or scientific importance. Under the Biden Administration, the government used this act to establish, expand, or restore eight national monuments totaling more than 3.7 million acres. The Heritage Foundation nodded to this in Project 2025 by calling for the review of those monument designations, saying that President Biden abused his authority in protecting those lands. A recent study from the Center for American Progress and Conservation Science Partners, however, found that the establishment of those monuments played a significant role in reducing the nature gap and providing access to nature deprived communities. The Heritage Foundation also called for a repeal of the Antiquities Act.

Read more: Here Are All of Trumps Major Moves to Dismantle Climate Action

Trump targeted the Antiquities Act during his first term, directing the Secretary of the Interior to review national monuments that had been designated in the past two decades. Two national monuments in Utah were downsized as a result, though the Biden Administration restored its original boundaries. The Trump Administration has not yet issued any orders on the Antiquities Act, however the Washington Post has reported that the White House has plans to eliminate two national monuments in California established by the Biden Administration.

Reshaping the U.S. Global Change Research Program

Project 2025 calls for an Executive Order to reshape the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), a federal effort to study the impact of human and natural forces on the environment. The organization is responsible for the National Climate Assessment, which researches the impact of climate change in the United States. It also puts together the National Nature Assessment, which looks at the state of U.S. lands, waters, and wildlife. In the weeks after Trump took office, three science reports relating to climate changetwo of which are mandated by Congresswere removed from the USGCRP website, according to Politico.

Reviewing FEMAs Effectiveness

The Project 2025 blueprint calls for reforms to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the organization responsible for responding to natural disasters in the U.S. Among the proposals include privatizing the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and shifting the majority of preparedness and response costs to states and cities. Trump has echoed this goal; on Jan. 24th, the president announced a council to assess FEMA and its effectiveness.

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The privatization of the NFIP would place the burden of responding to floodsand covering the costs incurred by these disasterson cities, especially as flood insurance is not covered by standard insurance policies. As climate change worsens, floods are becoming more devastating. The number of flood-prone areas around the country is expected to grow by nearly half by the end of this century.

Extracting Natural Resources in Alaska

The conservative blueprint refers to Alaska as a special case that deserves immediate action and calls for previously protected lands to be opened up for drilling and mineral extraction.

The plan also calls for the end of wildlife and water resource protections and the approval of logging and infrastructure projects in the Tongass National Forest.

Alaska has untapped potential for increased oil production, which is important not just to the revitalization of the nations energy sector but is vital to the Alaskan economy, the document says.

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Trump has signed an executive order implementing this, and the U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum recently announced that the department would be taking steps to open up more acreage for oil and gas leasing and lift restrictions on building a pipeline and mining road in the state.

Culling EPA Staff

In a chapter focused on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Project 2025 said that the EPAs staff and activities, far exceeded its congressional mandates and purpose.

Read more: What Legal Experts Say About Trumps Sweeping EPA Deregulation

The document also calls for reform of the Endangered Species Act. It calls for the delistment of the Grizzly Bear and Gray Wolf as endangered animals and wants an end its use to seize private property, prevent economic development, and interfere with the rights of states over their wildlife populations. It also plans to abolish the Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, an agency that provides scientific research to support the conservation of public lands and their resources.

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In March, Trump announced planned cuts to the agency, including the elimination of the Office of Research and Development, which would impact over 1,000 employees, including scientists. Also in March, the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries said it will consider legislation put forward to amend the Endangered Species Act. It will also consider a separate bill to remove the Gray Wolf from the endangered species list.

Write to Simmone Shah at simmone.shah@time.com.
President Donald Trump is not too upset with White House officials accidentally sharing war plans with The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, apparently.

The president on Tuesday morning said national security advisor Michael Waltz who inadvertently added Goldberg to a Signal group chat in which several Trump officials discussed striking the Houthis  had learned a lesson.

President Trump told NBC News reporter Garrett Haake he believed Goldbergs presence in the group chat had no impact at all, before adding it was his administrations only glitch in two months, and it turned out not to be a serious one. The odds of Waltz losing his job on Polymarket and Kalshi, two betting platforms, dropped from about 30-35% on Monday evening to around 15% on Tuesday morning following President Trumps remarks.

In a brief interview, @POTUS tells me he still has confidence in @MikeWaltz47  after @TheAtlantic Signal story yesterday: "Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he's a good man."  Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) March 25, 2025

His comments came a day after Goldberg reported he was accidentally included in a group chat with Trump officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, where they discussed imminent war plans earlier this month.

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The inadvertent messages were sent to Goldberg via Signal, the encrypted messaging app, in the days leading up to the U.S. launching air and naval strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. The strikes were made in an effort to open international shipping lanes in the Red Sea that the Houthis have disrupted for months with their own attacks, The New York Times reported on March 15, the day the strikes took place.

The messages show the back-and-forth discussion between Trump Administration officials over whether the U.S. should strike the Houthis now or wait until April or later. There were 18 people included in the group chat, including Goldberg, who was accidentally added by Waltz.

On Tuesday morning while appearing on MSNBCs Morning Joe, Goldberg said he found it notable that Vice President Vance articulated a view that the president didnt understand the consequences or stakes of striking the Houthis.

I just think its noteworthy, just from a journalistic perspective, that the Vice President is being so blunt about that, Goldberg said on Morning Joe.

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In the group chat messages, Vance initially expressed reservations about the plan, saying, I think we are making a mistake. He said there is a real risk that the public doesnt understand this or why a strike is necessary.

I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now. Theres a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices, Vance added. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc.

Hegseth said he understood the vice presidents concerns and supported him raising them with President Trump.

I think messaging is going to be tough no matter what  nobody knows who the Houthis are  which is why we would need to stay focused on: 1) Biden failed & 2) Iran funded, Hegseth said.

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Later, after more discussion among the group, Vance said he supported the move. If you think we should do it lets go, he relented. I just hate bailing Europe out again.

Goldberg noted the Trump Administration feels the U.S. Navy carries an unnecessarily heavy burden policing the seas for our European allies and other countries.

Hegseth similarly told Vance, I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. Its PATHETIC.

Goldberg then on Tuesday told the Morning Joe crew that he was surprised by his accidental inclusion on the group chat.

From an encryption standpoint, you lose your government secrecy if you mistakenly invite the editor of The Atlantic into the chat, obviously, Goldberg said. But, you know, Signal  we all use Signal, for good reason. But nevertheless, it is not supposed to be used by government officials to talk about national security. It is technically considered an unclassified platform.

You can read Goldbergs full story by clicking here.

The post Trump Brushes Off Atlantic Security Breach, Says Michael Waltz Learned a Lesson appeared first on TheWrap.
The number of applicants applying to law schools in the United States has increased dramatically in 2025 compared to last year and some experts believe an easier entrance exam, the soft economy and what they describe as a "Trump bump" are factors fueling the spike.

According to the Law School Admission Council, the number of applicants for law school has jumped more than 20% from 2024.

What's behind the spike?

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"I don't think anyone actually knows definitively because I think there's probably multiple factors at play," Anna Ivey, a college and law school admissions consultant, told ABC News.

PHOTO: The number of people applying to law school is up 20.5% in 2025 over last year, according to the Law School Admission Council. (Jim Sugar/Getty Images)

Ivey said the last time there was such a large increase in the number of law school applicants was during President Donald Trump's first term in the White House.

"We called that the 'Trump bump.' There were a lot of people who thought it was a good time to flock to law school. Anecdotally, I can say there were certainly some portion of law school applicants who were motivated because of what they were perceiving happening in the administration," Ivey said. "I suspect we're having another 'Trump bump.' Now that he's back in office, I would not be surprised if that's happening at scale."

Ivey said the mass layoffs at federal government agencies may have prompted many of the fired workers to go to law school.

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"This administration is perhaps contributing more than the previous Trump administration because of all of those mass layoffs in the greater D.C. area -- all those mass layoffs of very capable civil servants," Ivey said.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that applicants to the nation's nearly 200 law schools are up 20.5% compared with last year. The newspaper reported that Georgetown University Law Center received 14,000 applications to fill 650 spots, while the University of Michigan Law School received the most applications in its 166-year history.

MORE: Why another top-ranked law school joins Yale, Harvard in withdrawing from rankings

Ann Levine, a law school admissions consultant who worked for 25 years as a law school admissions director, said she believes the boost in applicants is related more to what the climate is on college campuses than a "Trump bump."

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"What I'm seeing in my work with students is more related to the insecurities they feel on campus and also just the state of the world in terms of what their prospects are financially with jobs," Levine told ABC News. "I think that getting a traditional job with benefits and a good salary has kind of fallen away. These are kids who have grown up with the gig economy, these are kids who were in high school and college during COVID, mostly high school. So their formative years have been very insecure."

Both Levine and Ivey said changes to the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) over the past five years are also a factor in the increase in applications.

MORE: Harvard says tuition will be free for families making $200K or less

Ivey said the elimination of the LSAT logic games section helped increase scores. But Levine said the biggest changes in the LSAT were increasing the number of times a would-be legal scholar can take the test from three to five times in an admissions cycle.

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"That has a ripple effect for everyone applying to law school, and that has a ripple effect for not just the top schools but for the whole food chain and for the whole ecosystem of law schools," Ivey said.

Levine said another significant change in the LSAT is allowing people to take the test digitally instead of in person. She also noted that the LSAT allows far more accommodations for students with disabilities.

"You have a huge number of people getting more time to do the LSAT," Levine said. "This used to be a very time-constrained test. And now you have more and more people getting double time, extended time, time and a half, more breaks. There are all kinds of things you can ask for that help them improve their scores."

But the increase in applicants is making it harder for students to get accepted to law school, Ivey said.

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"It's not a great time to be an applicant, unfortunately," she said.

'Trump bump,' iffy economy cited for huge law school application spike: Experts originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A painting of Donald Trump hanging among the other presidential portraits at the Colorado State Capitol is being taken down - much to the presidents delight - after he claimed it was purposefully distorted, according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press.

In a recent post on his Truth Social platform, Trump shared a photo of the portrait, saying it's "truly the worst" and blaming it on Colorados "Radical Left Governor, Jared Polis."

I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one, Trump wrote in the post, and further said the governor should be ashamed of himself!". In two follow-up posts, the 78-year-old uploaded images of himself, likely aiming to present photos he felt were more flattering.

A post made by Donald Trump on Truth Social. - Credit: Truth Social

The Colorado GOP had raised over $10,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to commission the artwork, which was painted by British artist Sarah Boardman and revealed during Trumps first term in 2019.

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In interviews from the time of its unveiling with The Denver Post, Boardman said it was important that her depictions of both Obama and Trump looked apolitical.

There will always be dissent, so pleasing one group will always inflame another. I consider a neutrally thoughtful, and non-confrontational, portrait allows everyone to reach their own conclusions in their own time, Boardman told the Colorado Times Recorder in 2019.

Portraits of President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama hang in the Capitol Rotunda in Denver on Monday, 24 March 2025. - Credit: AP Photo

After Trumps online outburst, his portrait became an unlikely tourist attraction. Visitors flocked to the Capitol, snapping photos before the announcement that it would be taken down.

Aaron Howe, a visitor from Wyoming and a Trump supporter, stood in front of the painting, glancing down at photos of the former president on his phone, then back up at the portrait.

Honestly he looks a little chubby," Howe admitted. But better than I could do.
President Donald Trump continued to throw his unequivocal support behind Mike Waltz on Tuesday, saying the embattled national security adviser didnt need to apologize for inadvertently adding a reporter to an encrypted chat of top administration officials discussing war plans.

The president  in his first lengthy comments on the leak since The Atlantic published a bombshell Monday report about how its editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, had been added to the Signal chat  called criticism against Waltz unfair and bashed Goldberg and his magazine for being bad for the country.

He's a very good man and he will continue to do a good job, Trump said of Waltz, whose future in the administration has been called into question during a meeting with the president's ambassador nominees at the White House.



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Waltz, in his first chance to defend himself, promised hed never met, don't know, never communicated with the editor, whom the MAGA movement has long villainized for what they consider unfair liberal attacks. There are a lot of journalists in this city who have made big names for themselves making up lies about this president, he said.

Waltz said technical experts and legal teams are looking at the leak.

Of course were going to keep everything as secure as possible, he said. No one on your national security team would ever put anyone in danger.

Trump brushed aside questions about if someone would be fired for the mistake. Weve pretty much looked into it, he said, It's pretty simple, to be honest, it's just something that can happen.

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And asked repeatedly if he would change policies to bar national security officials from using Signal  an app experts, including Elon Musk, have said could pose security concerns  Trump said he would certainly look into it, but added that none of the information shared in the chat was classified.

I don't know anything about Signal, Trump said, but later added that it was the best technology for the moment."

Still, Trump said he would have to ask the military if The Atlantic could make public information Goldberg said he was withholding in the interest of national security.

Trump has long been critical of the left-leaning magazine and Goldberg, whom he called a "sleezebag." He found it very boring and he left early, Trump joked of the editors decision to leave the group chat after he had confirmed it was legitimate.
An oil painting of President Donald Trump he called "distorted" is being removed from the Colorado state capitol building.

On Sunday, Trump took to the social media site he owns, Truth Social, to complain about it.

"Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, but the one in Colorado, in the State Capitol, put up by the Governor, along with all other Presidents, was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before," he said. I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one.

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The Executive Committee of the Colorado Legislative Council decided Monday to remove the painting and store it until further notice.

However, he aimed his ire at Colorado Democrat Gov. Jared Polis, whom he called "extremely weak on Crime, in particular with respect to Tren de Aragua, which practically took over Aurora (Dont worry, we saved it!)." Trump said, without evidence, that "many people" were angry about the portrait and that "Jared should be ashamed of himself!"

Problem: Polis had nothing to do with it.

Who commissioned the Trump portrait in Colorado?

Republicans.

The Colorado state Capitol boasts a gallery of portraits of all the United States presidents funded by private donations collected by the grassroots organization Colorado Citizens for Culture, according to Time. The group attempted to raise $10,000 to commission a Trump portrait during his first term but received no donations at all.

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In July 2018, a member of ProgressNow Colorado snuck in a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin on an easel in front of the empty wall where Trump's portrait would go. The stunt made national headlines and galvanized local Republicans, who raised the money in under three days from about 200 donors through a GoFundMe started by then-State Senate President Kevin Grantham.

The resulting painting was unveiled in August 2019 in a nonpartisan event featuring prominent Colorado Republicans, Time said.

Senate Minority Leader  and Republican  Paul Lundeen said he requested for Trumps portrait to be taken down and replaced by one that depicts his contemporary likeness.

Who is Sarah A. Boardman?

English native Sarah A. Boardman, a Colorado Springs resident and award-winning artist, was commissioned to paint the official portraits of former President Barack Obama and Trump after winning a nationwide call for artists. She submitted a variety of photographs to the Capitol Building Advisory Committee for approval.

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When the portrait was unveiled, she told CPR News that she chose to depict Trump as "thoughtful, non-confrontational, not angry, not happy, not tweeting.

In five, 10, 15, 20 years, he will be another president on the wall who is only historical background and he needs to look neutral.

Did Colorado Gov. Jared Polis have anything to do with the Trump portrait in Colorado?

No. Polis became governor in 2019, after the GoFundMe had already been started.

A spokesperson for the governors office told 9News in Denver Sunday that Polis was surprised to learn the President of the United States is an aficionado of our Colorado State Capitol and its artwork.

"We appreciate the President and everyones interest in our capitol building and are always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience.

Trump portrait from Putin

Which may have been the problem. Trump's official portrait in the White House is stern, glaring, unlike his first-term portrait where he was smiling. He has also hung an image of his mug shot outside the local Office, taken when he was arrested on election racketeering charges.

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Images of himself from supporters that he shares on social media or sold as NFTs and digital trading cards depict him as heroic, angelic, powerful. Boardman's portrait, which has hung in place for six years, depicts him as a man.

Trump was also reportedly touched by a portrait of himself commissioned by Putin after Trump survived an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump Colorado portrait ordered taken down after his complaint
Mere months ago, the Conservative Party in Canada looked headed towards a landslide victory. Its leader, Pierre Poilievre, was ascendant and drawing rave reviews from much of the American conservative movement  both from the foreign policy establishment and the more Trump-aligned new right.

But since Donald Trump ascended to office, the electoral fortunes of Poilievre and his conservative party have soured in a hurry. Trumps decision to levy tariffs on Canada, his bellicose rhetoric and his insistence that the second largest country in the world by land mass would become the United States 51st state have torpedoed Poilievre, whose previous praise of Trump came back to haunt him. With the Liberal Party wielding a surge in Canadian nationalism against their main opponents, what was once a lead of about 25 points in the polls in December has shrunk to less than zero, with Liberals now projected to win an outright majority in parliament.

This weekend, newly minted Liberal Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney  who took over from Justin Trudeau earlier this month  officially called the election for April 28.

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Some conservatives in the United States who once looked forward to an ideological ally north of the border are disheartened by the shift in the winds  and Trumps hand in it.

It is hard to defend what the president has done on Canada. A lot of his other domestic and foreign policy initiatives, you can make the case, but this is pretty hard to make the case, Colin Dueck, a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a professor at George Mason University, said. Thats frustrating. And obviously, its backfired in the sense that he has unintentionally been the single biggest factor in the comeback of this left of center party in Canada.

Yet while Poilievre has drawn comparisons to Trump in the past, his ideological brand is aligned more directly with the traditional conservative establishment that Trump has jettisoned. For that reason, the Conservative Partys seeming collapse isnt generating widespread handwringing on the Trump-dominated American right.

Curt Mills, the executive director of The American Conservative and a leading intellectual figure in the ascendant new right, compared Poilievre to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. [Theyre both] fix it, brusque, technocratic young figures who seem to have gotten extremely unlucky.

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And he notes that in his circles, theres not a lot of concern over the Canadian conservatives plight. I dont think anybody cares, Mills said. I think the kind of people who are very enthusiastic about Trump in the U.S., generally speaking, are not that correlated with those who are that enthusiastic about Poilievre. Theres a sense that Poilievre is from an older type of North American conservative mold.

Even if Poilievre isnt a darling of the new right, American conservatives almost uniformly detest Justin Trudeau and his Liberal Party. Trump himself delighted in needling Trudeau early in his second term, calling the former prime minister governor, an intentionally demeaning nod to his own aspirations to make Canada the 51st state. As Trudeaus replacement at the top of the Liberal Party ticket gains momentum as a result of Trumps provocations, the U.S. president insists that hes not bothered.

I think its easier to deal, actually, with a liberal and maybe theyre going to win, but I dont really care, Trump told Laura Ingraham of Fox News last week.

If Trump does recognize hes become a drag on Poilievre and indeed cares about the outcome, it would behoove him to say exactly that  that he prefers dealing with a Liberal prime minister. Call it the 4D chess theory of Trumps comments. But Mills and Dueck agree that the more likely scenario is that Trump is telling the truth  that after over a decade of harping against Trudeau, Trump has mostly abandoned the fight against Trudeaus party.

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They also agree that the collapse of Poilievres support spells trouble for any kind of international, connected conservative movement.

This shows the limits of what has sometimes been called the nationalist internationale. If the goal of the government is to pursue U.S. interests as it sees fit, then even if theres sympathies with approaches in other countries, if its the U.S. [vs.] Canada, its going to be the U.S., says Mills.

Dueck takes an even harder line. If you say you value nationalism among free peoples, then you've got to have some respect for other countries nationalism too, he said. If you tell the Canadians, we're going to take you over, thats about as direct an insult as you can imagine to Canadian sovereignty.

Poilievre isnt finished yet. His electoral prospects could turn positive just as rapidly as they turned negative (Mills compared Carneys momentum to Kamala Harris brat summer). But hell have to overcome a U.S. president whos intent on escalating his saber-rattling towards Canada  no matter what it does to the international conservative project or what American conservatives writ large think of the strategy.
March 24 (UPI) -- Editor's note: Previous editions of this article misstated when the Greek Revolution began. It has now been corrected to 1821.

President Donald Trump celebrated Greek Independence Day at the White House on Monday with a proclamation declaring 204 years of "glorious Greek sovereignty and freedom."

Greek Independence Day, which will be celebrated Tuesday in Greece, Cyprus and Greek diaspora centers, is recognized every March 25 with a public holiday, parades and other events.

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"Today, Mr. President, you bestow extraordinary honor upon the Greek American people with the annual Greek Independence Day celebration here at the White House," His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America told a crowded East Room on Monday.

"Thank you for continuing this wonderful tradition that recognizes the Greek roots of democracy. We are here to celebrate the world's first democracy, Greece," he added. "But we are also here to celebrate the world's greatest democracy, the United States of America."

President Donald Trump celebrates Greek Independence Day with Archbishop Elpidophoros in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday. Trump signed a proclamation declaring March 25 Greek Independence Day as he honored "proud, hard-working Greek American patriots." Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

The Archbishop gifted Trump with a cross to help him "bring peace to the world and make America invincible."

"It is my great honor to present you with this holy cross. This cross is the very symbol that led the great Roman emperor Constantine to victory," he added, before handing the religious symbol to the president.

Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America presents President Donald Trump with a holy cross during a Greek Independence Day celebration in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI

"I appreciate that magnificent cross. It will be with me always," Trump replied, before welcoming "hundreds of proud, hard-working Greek American patriots" to the White House.

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"I will sign the proclamation to officially recognize tomorrow, March 25th, as Greek Independence Day celebrating 204 years of glorious Greek sovereignty and freedom," Trump said. "Having His Eminence, the Archbishop, is very special. And I've been doing this from the very beginning. We missed four years, unfortunately, bad things happened."

President Donald Trump holds the holy cross presented to him by Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America during a Greek Independence Day celebration in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday. President Trump thanked the Archbishop and said, I appreciate that magnificent cross. It will be with me always. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI

Trump then thanked each Greek member of his administration.

"I also want to thank Greeks for Trump, those are the ones I really like," the president said to loud cheers.

President Donald Trump speaks alongside Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America during a Greek Independence Day celebration in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI

On March 25, 1821, Greek patriots fought to reclaim their country from the foreign Ottoman Empire. President James Monroe said at the time that the whole civilized world was invested in a victory for the Greek people.

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"President Monroe understood that Americans were bound by history and culture to the birthplace of democracy and the cradle of western civilization from the pages of our Constitution to the architecture of this capital city of ours to the very words of the English language, the legacy of the Greeks is all around us," Trump said Monday.

President Donald Trump signs a proclamation recognizing March 25th as Greek Independence Day during a Greek Independence Day celebration in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday, to honor "204 years of glorious Greek sovereignty and freedom." Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI

"But perhaps the greatest gift we have inherited from that amazing culture is our incredible Greek American community that is now more than 3 million strong."

During the ceremony, Trump also honored Alex Skarlatos, who is a former Oregon Army National Guard soldier and current member of the Oregon House of Representatives. Skarlatos helped stop the Thalys train attack near Paris in 2015, when he and two of his comrades took down an armed terrorist.

Kimberly Guilfoyle, President Trump's nominee to be the U.S. ambassador to Greece, honors "our rich history and enduring bond," alongside President Donald Trump during a Greek Independence Day event in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI

And Trump honored Kimberly Guilfoyle, who he has nominated as the next U.S. ambassador to Greece.

"Today we celebrate and cherish our rich history and our enduring bond, the United States and Greece and the founding of the Hellenic Republic," she said.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday brushed off criticism of his administration's handling of a top secret military conversation and defended his national security adviser who reportedly included a journalist on a chat about striking the Iran-backed Houthi militia.

Critics in Congress and the national security community have condemned the incident in which The Atlantic magazine's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was included in a chat with high-ranking US officials on the commercial messaging app Signal.

Trump rejected the accusations against his team and defended his National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who Goldberg said invited him into the chat - probably by mistake.

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Trump said the accusations against Waltz were unfair: "He is a very good man and he will continue to do a good job."

Waltz tried to dismiss the serious misstep.

"There's a lot of journalists in this city who have made big names for themselves making up lies about this president," Waltz said, adding that he does not know Goldberg.

"This one in particular I've never met, don't know, never communicated with," Waltz said.

An investigation is currently under way and "we are looking into and reviewing how the heck he got into this room."

Trump argued that there was no classified information exchanged in the group at all, which counters what Goldberg reported both in The Atlantic and in television interviews.

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Goldberg said he was able to read live plans about upcoming US military action against the Houthis in Yemen in the chat, which involved several ministers and senior members of the government. On March 15 he said he was waiting in a supermarket parking lot to see if the bombs, coordinated on the chat, would actually fall.

And they did.

The use of Signal by high-ranking members of the government for exchanging sensitive information is causing outrage. The fact that details about an imminent military strike were discussed there - and that a journalist was inadvertently included in the group - is causing bewilderment, with Democrats calling for personal consequences.

Trump defended the use of Signal, which he said was an app "that a lot of people use."

Leaked chat reveals disgust for Europeans

Excerpts from the secret group chat show a disdain for Europe held by some high-ranking US officials.

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Goldberg said an account identified as US Vice President JD Vance wrote: "I just hate bailing Europe out again."

Another user said to be US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, replied: "VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It's PATHETIC."

The United States said the aim of the attacks on the Houthi militia was to secure shipping lanes. However, the user who is said to be Vance initially expressed concern about the strikes, saying only 3% of US trade goes through the Suez Canal while 40% of European trade follows this route.

He said there was a risk the US public would therefore not understand why the US was intervening.

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When asked at a press event later, Trump said he shared the view that Europe was freeloading off of the US.

Later Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia who is vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed his indignation at the tone of voice used towards European partners in the chat.

White House tries to change the narrative

The White House had already endeavoured to reinterpret the incident. In an email, there was talk of a "coordinated attempt" to distract from the success of the Trump government. Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt explained that the decisive factor was that the Houthis were killed.

The Houthis said at least 53 people were killed in the airstrikes in mid-March, including several children.
A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPMs Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version.

My Offer Is This: Nothing

The Trump administration took the extraordinary step of invoking the state secrets privilege rather than answer a federal judges questions about whether it violated his order blocking deportations under the Alien Enemies Act.

The Executive Branch hereby notifies the Court that no further information will be provided in response to the Courts March 18, 2025 Minute Order based on the state secrets privilege, the administration asserted in a bumptious filing over the names of top DOJ officials.

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Although it is a weak and probably not viable privilege claim, the state secrets invocation escalates President Trumps series of attacks on the judicial branch and its independent sources of power under the Constitution. It did so with unusually sharp language that showcased a sneering contempt for the judiciary in refusing to even provide the allegedly privileged information to a judge for his review.

The Court has all of the facts it needs the administration argued as it objected to [f]urther intrusions on the Executive Branch. It asserted that it would no longer entertain further demands for details that have no place in this matter. It contended that the court owes President Trump high respect  but to this point has not given it to him. The administration repeatedly stated that there is no need for the requested disclosures without engaging in actual argument.

Judge Boasberg, a former FISA court judge with deep experience in national security law, had already expressed skepticism in open court about the applicability of the state secrets privilege in this case. But the Trump DOJ forged ahead with a distinctly derisive tone:

The information sought by the Court is irrelevant to plaintiffs claims and to the Executive Branchs compliance with the Courts operative order. The Court has already devoted more time to these inquiries than it did to evidence and argument on the issue of whether a class should be certified.

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At issue is whether the Trump administration complied with Boasbergs order to stop deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, including flights of Venezuelan nationals alleged to be members of the Tren de Aragua gang from Texas to a prison in El Salvador. For more than a week, the Justice Department has dodged Boasbergs demands for more information on the timing of the flights as he seeks to determine whether his order was violated.

The need for additional information here is not merely dubious, or trivial, it is non-existent. The Executive Branch violated no valid order through its actions, and the Court has all it needs to evaluate compliance. Accordingly, the Courts factual inquiry should end, the Justice Department concluded.

The invocation of the state secrets privilege came at the end of a long day in the case that began with Boasberg issuing an opinion detailing the legal basis for his temporary restraining order barring the Alien Enemies Act deportations and included feisty oral arguments on the TRO before the DC Circuit Court of Appeals.

Must Read

The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg: The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans

Houthi PC Small Group Makes Headlines

Politico: Amateur hour: Washington aghast at Trump administrations war plan group chat

WSJ: Top Trump Officials Debated War Plans on Unclassified Chat Shared With Journalist

WaPo: Trump officials shared war planning in unclassified chat with journalist

The Guardian: White House inadvertently texted top-secret Yemen war plans to journalist

NYT: Hegseth Disclosed Secret War Plans in a Group Chat

A Denial For The Ages

New Backstory On Student Deportations?

The WaPo has a new story out suggesting a possible precursor to the Trump administrations targeting of pro-Palestinian international students at American universities. Back in February when the Trump Education Department launched its antisemitism investigations at universities, it told the attorneys working on the cases to also collect the names and nationalities of students who might have harassed Jewish students or faculty, the newspaper reports.

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Meanwhile, a Columbia University student and a Cornell University student are trying to evade being detained while they each sue the Trump administration to block their possible deportations, claiming theyre being retaliated against for participating in pro-Palestinian protests.

The Retribution: Hill Republicans Take Trumps Cue

While Senate Republicans are blacklisting the lobbying clients of the law firms targeted by the President Trumps executive orders, House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan is considering punishing the judicial branch by cutting its funding.

No Law But Trump

Mr. Trumps tactics against Big Law and other legal institutions seem clearly aimed at demonstrating there is no law but whatever deal the president is personally willing to strike, indeed no law but Trump. Such a vision cannot be reconciled with the idea of individual rights nor with the idea that ordered rules, not raw power, constrain the behavior of the people and their governors alike.Deborah Pearlstein, visiting professor of law and public affairs at Princeton and the director of its Program in Law and Public Policy

The Imperative Of Solidarity

Each time Trump succeeds in subordinating his target, his power ricochets far beyond the particular organization in question, affecting the risk-taking calculus of those who fear they might be added to his list. Acting in isolation, it is hard for a single news outlet, firm, or university to withstand an attack backed by the power of the state. Collectively, though, their extraordinary human, political, and financial resources are a force to be reckoned with. Trump currently seems to understand this better than they do.Rebecca Hamilton, an executive editor of Just Security and professor of law at American University Washington College of Law

The Destruction: Social Security

WaPo: Long waits, waves of calls, web crashes: Social Security is breaking down

Axios: Social Security rushing service cuts at White House request, sources say

The NYT has this unbelievable anecdote:

In another instance, the Social Security Administration briefly ended a contract that had allowed parents of newborn babies in Maine to sign their children up for a Social Security number at the hospital, instead requiring them to do so in person at an office. Mr. Dudek said he had ordered the move after watching Janet Mills, Maines Democratic governor, clash with Mr. Trump at the White House. He quickly reversed that decision, as well as another to end electronic death reporting in the state. I was ticked at the governor of Maine for not being real cordial to the president, Mr. Dudek said in the interview. I screwed up. Ill admit I screwed up.

The Corruption

Personnel : President Trump announced hes making Alina Habba, who was sanctioned and reprimanded while representing him personally, the acting U.S. attorney in New Jersey. She will replace John Giordano, who had been in the role for a mere three weeks and is being nominated for ambassador to Namibia.

Favors : Boeing wants the Trump DOJ to let it out of its Biden-era agreement to plead guilty plea in the 737 MAX case, the WSJ reports. The deal with the Biden DOJ was sabotaged in December by U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor of Texas who balked at a DEI provision in the agreement that applied to the court appointment of an outside monitor. In short: A notorious right-wing judge blocked a plea deal over DEI late in Bidens term, which kicked the can down the road until a much-more malleable Trump DOJ was in office and now Boeing is trying to back out of its agreement to plead guilty.

Leverage: The Trump administration is using its anti-DEI executive order as a sword to go after federal contractors who previously submitted government-required anti-discrimination plans. Whats unusual is that the office will look for evidence of unlawful practices in the plans that contractors had been required to submit before Trump took office to demonstrate they didnt discriminate in their hiring and promotions, the WSJ reports.

Good Read

NYT: In His Second Term, Trump Fuels a Machinery of Misinformation



Do you like Morning Memo? Let us know!
The Senate on Monday voted to confirm John Phelan, a private investment firm founder and a major Trump campaign donor, as the next Navy secretary.

The Florida businessman, who has no prior military experience, was confirmed in a 62-30 vote in the full Senate.

While Phelan did not draw outright opposition during his Feb. 27 nomination hearing, some lawmakers expressed unease at his lack of prior military service or management of any civilian sector of the Pentagon.

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But Phelan argued that his background made him an ideal candidate to fix the issues that have plagued the Navy such as failed audits, workforce management issues, cost overruns and delays in shipbuilding.

He is the founder and chair of Rugger Management LLC, a private investment firm based in Florida, and also was the managing partner of MSD Capital, a private equity firm.

Phelan, also a prominent art collector, donated nearly $1 million to Trumps fundraising committee, and nearly a million to other Republican campaign committees, according to public filings. He also held a glitzy fundraiser for Trump at his $38 million Aspen home, charging $25,000-$500,000 per couple, according to The Guardian.

During his confirmation hearing, Phelan promised his outside business experience would help a Navy that desperately needed to be reformed.

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The U.S. Navy is at crossroads, with extended deployments, inadequate maintenance, huge cost overruns, delayed shipbuilding, failed audits, subpar housing, and, sadly, record-high suicide rates, he told he told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

These are systemic failures that have gone unaddressed for far too long. Frankly, this is unacceptable.

He also said that he respects and appreciates stability and tradition, but when it suffocates adaptability, innovation, collaboration and trust, it erodes an organizations ability to win.

That line of thinking did not seem to completely win over committee ranking member Jack Reed (D-R.I.), who told Phelan that while he clearly has experience managing large companies, you do not have any significant experience with the U.S. Navy or the military at large.

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You will have to quickly learn a great deal about a complex organization, including its hundreds of thousands of sailors and Marines, while the service faces growing international threats and internal challenges, Reed said.

Phelan replied that he understands that some may question why a businessman who did not wear the uniform should lead the Navy and he respected that concern.

The Navy and the Marine Corps already possess extraordinary operational expertise within their ranks. My role is to utilize that expertise and strengthen it to step outside the status quo and take decisive action with a results-oriented approach, he said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump on Tuesday downplayed the texting of sensitive plans for a military strike against Yemen's Houthis this month to a group chat that included a journalist, saying it was the only glitch in two months of his administration as Democratic lawmakers heaped criticism on the administration for handling highly sensitive information carelessly.

Trump told NBC News that the lapse turned out not to be a serious one," and expressed his continued support for national security adviser Mike Waltz.

Waltz, according to an article posted online Monday by The Atlantic, appeared to have mistakenly added the magazine's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, to a chat that included 18 senior administration officials discussing planning for the strike.

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Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man," Trump said. He also appeared to point blame on an unnamed Waltz aide for Goldberg being added to the chain. It was one of Michaels people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there."

But the use of messaging app Signal to discuss a sensitive operation has opened the administration to blistering criticism from Democratic lawmakers who expressed outrage at the White House's and senior administration officials' insistence that no classified information was shared. Senior administration officials have struggled to explain why the publicly available app was used to discuss such a delicate matter.

Waltz makes his first public comments

Waltz said Tuesday he was not sure how Goldberg ended up on the chat.

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"This one in particular, Ive never met, dont know, never communicated with, Waltz said.

Later Tuesday, Waltz said in an appearance on Fox News Channel's The Ingraham Angle that he built the message chain and that White House technical experts were trying to figure out how Goldberg's contact may have been sucked in.

We made a mistake. Were moving forward," said Waltz, who added that he took full responsibility for the episode.

Trump, for his part, continued to attack The Atlantic and Goldberg and sent mixed messages on whether the administration would change how it goes about sharing sensitive information going forward.

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We wont be using it very much in the future, Trump said of Signal. "Thats one of the prices you pay when youre not sitting in the Situation Room with no phones on, which is always the best, frankly."

Trump added, If it was up to me everybody would be sitting in a room together. The room would have solid lead walls and a lead ceiling and lead floor.

One official reported to be on the Signal chain, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, acknowledged during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday that she was traveling overseas during the exchange. She wouldn't say whether she was using her personal or government-issued phone because the matter is under review by the White House National Security Council.

One Democrat calls the mistake an embarrassment

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Both Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who also was a participant in the Signal exchange and also testified at Tuesday's intelligence hearing, faced blistering criticism from lawmakers.

"Director Ratcliffe, this was a huge mistake, correct? Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Georgia Democrat, asked.

After a brief pause, Ratcliffe shook his head. No, he said.

Ratcliffe attempted to interject as Ossoff asked a follow-up question, leading the two men to speak over each other.

This is an embarrassment, Ossoff said, silencing Ratcliffe. This is utterly unprofessional. Theres been no apology. There has been no recognition of the gravity of this error.

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In the run-up to his 2016 election victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton, Trump urged criminal prosecution of the former secretary of state for communicating about classified information with her aides on a private email server she set up. The matter was investigated, but the FBI ultimately recommended against charges. None were brought.

Clinton was among Democrats this week to criticize Trump administration officials' use of Signal.

You have got to be kidding me, Clinton said in an X post that spotlighted The Atlantic article and included an eyes emoji.

Trump also faced charges for mishandling classified information at his Mar-a-Lago resort following his first White House term. Those charges were later dismissed.

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Administration says Democrats shouldn't be outraged

But on Tuesday, top administration officials were insistent the Democratic outrage was misplaced.

Ratcliffe and Gabbard told lawmakers that no classified information was included in the texts about U.S. attack plans in the message chain.

But The Atlantic reported that the messages included precise information about weapons packages, targets and timing, but did not publish those details.

Pressed on whether such information should be classified, Gabbard hedged. I defer to the secretary of defense, the National Security Council, on that question, she said.

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Ratcliffe in one exchange with lawmakers said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held the authority on determining whether the information in the message chain was classified.

Hegseth has dodged questions about whether the information he put in a Signal chat was classified. On Tuesday while in Hawaii, he repeated almost word for word his short statement from the day before that nobodys texting war plans, and thats all I have to say about that.

Democrats pushed back, saying the leaked military plans show a sloppy disregard for security, but Ratcliffe insisted no rules were violated.

My communications to be clear in the Signal message group were entirely permissible and lawful and did not include classified information, Ratcliffe told lawmakers in the hearing that was supposed to be focused on global security threats.

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Facing heated questions from Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, Gabbard said theres a difference between inadvertent releases of information and intentional leaks. There was no classified material that was shared, Gabbard said.

Warner, though, said the lapse in security could have cost lives.

If this information had gotten out, American lives could have been lost. If the Houthis had this information they could reposition their defensive systems, Warner said.

Waltz in his appearance on Fox said that while all the information in the exchange was unclassified he'd prefer it remain out of the public eye. I certainly want our deliberations to stay confidential, he said.

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Calls for an investigation

In response to questions from Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, Gabbard and Ratcliffe said they would participate in an audit looking into administration officials' use of Signal. Wyden said it must be investigated.

Im of the view that there ought to be resignations, Wyden said.

FBI Director Kash Patel, appearing with Ratcliffe and Gabbard at the hearing, said he was only recently briefed on the Signal chat matter and doesnt have an update on whether the FBI has opened an investigation into it. Warner asked for an update by the end of the day.

The White House in a statement Tuesday called the uproar a coordinated effort to distract from the successful actions taken by President Trump and his administration to make Americas enemies pay and keep Americans safe.

Examining the security of Signal

Signal is an app that can be used for direct messaging and group chats as well as phone and video calls. It uses end-to-end encryption for its messaging and calling services that prevents any third party from viewing conversation content or listening in on calls.

In other words, messages and calls sent on Signal are scrambled; only the sender and recipient at each end will have the key to decipher them.

Signals encryption protocol is open source, meaning that its freely available for anyone to inspect, use or modify. The encryption protocol is also used by another popular chat service, social media company Metas WhatsApp platform.

Government officials have used Signal for organizational correspondence, such as scheduling sensitive meetings.

Sen. Angus King, a Maine Independent, said he was flummoxed by Ratcliffe and Gabbard's assertion that no classified information was included in the chat.

Its hard for me to believe that targets and timing and weapons would not have been classified, he said.

___

AP writer Kelvin Chan in London and Darlene Superville contributed reporting.
This article was originally published in Chalkbeat.

President Donald Trump has declared English the official language of the United States.

But his administration has fired nearly every Education Department staffer who ensured states and schools properly spent the hundreds of millions of dollars earmarked to help over 5 million students learning English.

It appears that just one staffer remains from the Office of English Language Acquisition, or OELA, after the Trump administration announced last week it would cut the Education Department staff in half.

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Your organizational unit is being abolished along with all positions within the unit  including yours, an official with the departments human resources team told the laid-off OELA staffers in a March 12 email.

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Two days later, an administration official told state officials that the departments Office of Elementary and Secondary Education would take over the OELA.

Advocates for English learners and outgoing Education Department staffers worry the deep cuts to OELA will have serious effects on students, families, and school staff. Without a dedicated office to keep an eye on spending, they fear federal dollars wont reach the English learners theyre intended to serve, and that the quality of teacher training will suffer.

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There wont be any more staff to provide guardrails on the federal funding, said one laid-off OELA staffer who spoke with Chalkbeat on the condition of anonymity because they fear retaliation from the Trump administration. Ultimately, it will affect the quality of education that English learners get across the nation.

Among those expressing concerns is an official who led the OELA  and helped maintain it as a standalone office  during Trumps first term.

Related

As Trump Moves to Shutter Education Dept., GOP Clamors for Funding Flexibility

Adding to the uncertainty is Trumps executive order that he said will close the Education Department. The president said Thursday before he signed the order that the federal government will preserve high-profile programs at the department, but did not mention its office for English learners.

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OELA staff have played a key role in monitoring how states and schools spend $890 million in federal Title III funds, which are allocated based on the number of newly arrived immigrant children and students learning English. When states and schools have questions about whether they can use their money on a certain after-school program or a new family liaison role, OELA staff track down the answers.

The office supports dozens of universities, nonprofits, and others who train bilingual education teachers. It oversees a grant program that helps Native American and Alaska Native children learn English alongside indigenous languages.

And the staff maintain the National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition, a hub for data, research, and best practices that many schools rely on. Some resources, like a recently released dual language playbook, take over a year to produce.

OELA had 15 staffers in January, according to a staff list posted on the Education Departments website. The team already had more work than it could handle before the mass layoffs, said Montserrat Garibay, who led OELA during the Biden administration and left her role as the assistant deputy secretary shortly before Trump took office.

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They were overworked, Garibay said. It was almost impossible to keep up.

Hayley Sanon, the acting assistant secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, told state education officials in a March 14 letter that her office would manage Title III funds for English learners, as it did prior to December 2023.

She also said formula funding under the nations main federal education law, which includes money for English learners, will continue to flow normally, and program functions will not be disrupted.

The Department is committed to fulfilling its statutory obligation to prepare English learners attain (sic) English proficiency and develop high levels of academic achievement in English, wrote Sanon, who is also the principal deputy assistant secretary at the department.

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In response to questions from Chalkbeat, Madi Biedermann, the Education Departments deputy assistant secretary for communications, reiterated that Title III and OELA would now fall under the elementary and secondary education office. But Biedermann did not respond to questions about why or how many OELA staff are left.

Students learning English have often been denied help

In addition to decimating the English language acquisition office, the Trump administration has eliminated nearly 200 civil rights attorneys who would make sure school districts meet their legal obligations to support English learners.

Some see the elimination of staff who oversee Title III as a precursor to bundling up that money in block grants that states could spend with fewer restrictions. Several Republican governors have championed that idea, but advocates for immigrant children worry that could divert resources away from kids learning English.

Theres plenty of districts and states who would do the right thing, said David Holbrook, the executive director of the National Association of English Learner Program Administrators, which represents state and district staff. But the reason we have laws, and the reason we see all the regulations, and the reason we have watchdog agencies is because some would not.

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In 1974, the Supreme Court ruled in Lau v. Nichols that the San Francisco Unified district violated the 1964 Civil Rights Act by failing to provide supplemental English language classes to students of Chinese heritage who did not speak English. The ruling led to significant changes in federal law and regulations, and spurred nationwide efforts to help English learners.

Several school districts, including Chicago, Denver, and San Francisco, entered into court-ordered settlements, known as consent decrees, to better serve English learners. But progress has been slow and uneven, and many English learners are still denied the services they should receive.

Three decades after those court orders, Chicago schools still did not have enough teachers or materials in native languages for English learners. In Denver, nearly 1 in 3 students failed to improve their English skills after two years in the district, test results showed.

Concerns about such issues arent confined to students English language skills and academic proficiency. Some advocates for English learners worry that Trumps executive order declaring English as the official language of the United States could lead schools to put less effort into translating documents and conversations for immigrant families.

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Then theres the backdrop of how the president is enforcing immigration policy and who gets to remain in the country legally.

Trump is seeking to deport millions of immigrants who do not have legal status in the country, and he cleared the way for immigration arrests to happen at schools. Hes taken away the temporary status that protected hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans and Haitians from deportation. And Trump has pledged to strip birthright citizenship from children born to undocumented parents on U.S. soil.

Office helped train teachers and supported immigrant families

A dozen OELA staffers got notices that they would be placed on administrative leave as of Friday and terminated in June, according to the union that represents Education Department staffers who are not supervisors.

Two staffers listed in the January directory whose names did not appear on the union layoffs list had phone numbers that no longer worked. Another staffer had an email autoreply saying she was on extended leave.

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I looked at that list and I looked at all of the names on it and I realized: Oh thats our entire office, the laid-off OELA staffer said.

That seems to leave only the deputy assistant secretary, Beatriz Ceja, who was still responding to emails from organizations that work with English learners as of last week. Ceja did not respond to an email message or a voicemail from Chalkbeat seeking comment.

The Education Department layoffs are being challenged or questioned on multiple fronts. Twenty-one state attorneys general filed a lawsuit on March 13 challenging the staff cuts, and several members of Congress are probing them. Sheria Smith, a civil rights attorney who was among the laid-off Education Department staffers and president of the union that represents a dozen fired OELA staffers, said she did not think the layoffs complied with the law.

The first Trump administration tried to fold OELA into the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education back in 2018, but the plan ultimately did not come to fruition.

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Jose Viana, who led OELA during the first Trump administration, told Chalkbeat in a written message that he is concerned about the cuts to OELA and engaged in diplomacy efforts with the new Trump administration.

My focus right now is on providing guidance regarding the decisions that have been made, outlining the legal requirements, and working toward solutions that best support multilingual learners, he wrote.

Oversight of Title III returned to OELA just over a year ago during the Biden administration. The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education oversaw Title III funds for 15 years before that.

Garibay led that transition and added four staffers to the team that handled Title III. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona saw the previous staffing level of two as unacceptable, Garibay said.

We put systems in place so we could have better communication, Garibay said. Every time I would go to a state, they were just so grateful to have technical assistance.

There can be benefits to the elementary and secondary education office overseeing Title III, because it can make federal program monitoring more consistent and cut down on some duplicative tasks, Holbrook said. But he also highlighted fears that existing staff wont have the capacity to take on OELAs workload.

One of the key roles OELA plays is in supporting universities, nonprofits, and others who train teachers who work with English learners.

Belinda Gimbert, an associate professor in education administration at The Ohio State University, has experienced that firsthand.

Gimbert is the project director for HELPERs, a program that helps pre-service teachers and paraprofessionals get their bilingual education teaching license and that trains existing teachers to work with English learners in small groups.

It also provides support for immigrant families, such as family-school connectors who translate over video chat  a key strategy for engaging Somali parents in central Ohio who speak Maay Maay, which is primarily an oral language. The program received a $3 million, five-year grant from OELA.

When Gimbert had a technical or financial question, she could shoot an email to OELA and they were quick to respond. If she didnt understand a legal requirement, OELA staff would translate it into plain English and explain what it meant for her program.

Several times, OELA helped Gimbert quickly add a partner so she could serve more Texas schools without going over her original budget. That helped meet the sudden demand for adults to provide English language acquisition services when a wave of immigrant children moved to an area or military families relocated near a base.

Weve always had a person to lean on to be able to administer this grant, Gimbert said. Everybody is really concerned about making sure that we are in compliance.

Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.
Dr. Susan Monarez, the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was nominated for the permanent role, replacing David Weldon, whose nomination was withdrawn because of senators' opposition.

March 24 (UPI) -- President Trump on Monday selected Dr. Susan Monarez, the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for the permanent role, replacing David Weldon, whose nomination was withdrawn because of senators' opposition.

Monarez has worked in federal government since 2006.

Until her appointment to the Trump administration on Jan. 23, she was deputy director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health in the Department of Health and Human Services.

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Previously she worked in the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the U.S. National Security Council and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"Dr. Monarez brings decades of experience championing Innovation, Transparency, and strong Public Health Systems," Trump posted on Truth Social. "As an incredible mother and dedicated public servant, Dr. Monarez understands the importance of protecting our children, our communities, and our future. Americans have lost confidence in the CDC due to political bias and disastrous mismanagement."

She has a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin and post-doctoral training in immunology at Stanford University School of Medicine.

Previous CDC directors for decades have been medical doctors.

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Monarez will serve under Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is HHS secretary.

"Dr. Monarez will work closely with our GREAT Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert Kennedy Jr.,"Trump posted. "Together, they will prioritize Accountability, High Standards, and Disease Prevention to finally address the Chronic Disease Epidemic and, MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN!"

As interim director, her agency delayed a meeting of outside vaccine advisers and plans to research whether vaccines cause autism. In addition, there has been a rise in measles cases nationwide, mainly in unvaccinated children.

She will be the first person to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate in the role. Previous directors didn't need to be approved by the Senate, but a law was passed in 2022 requiring confirmation.

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Awaiting confirmation are nominated for the National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Weldon, the previous nominee and an internal medicine doctor, was -- just like Kennedy -- an outspoken critic of vaccines.

He was a member of the U.S. House from 1995 through 2009, and he was scheduled to appear before a Senate committee in March.

In announcing the withdrawal of the nomination, Weldon continued to allege that the pharmaceutical industry and the CDC had been working against his confirmation.

On Sunday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suggested his state's surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, should be named to the post. Ladapo, who also is a professor at the University of Florida, has run the Florida Department of Health since 2021, including during the pandemic when he opposed CDC recommendations on vaccines.

"Ladapo would be a change agent as CDC director," DeSantis posted on X. "Dr. Joe Ladapo is all of those things and has the courage and determination to do what's right when it's not easy. Lapado as CDC Director means that MAHA is not just an empty slogan."
Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's special envoy and lead negotiator tasked with ending the war in Ukraine, has attracted criticism in Europe and Ukraine after an interview where he appeared to back a number of well-known Kremlin talking points on the conflict.

The comments, in which Witkoff seemed to accept the results of sham referenda Russia has previously held in Ukraine to justify its seizure of land there -- including Crimea, will likely feed fears among European allies that the Trump administration is leaning too far toward the Kremlin's vision.

In the interview for "The Tucker Carlson Show," posted online on Friday, Witkoff talked about his efforts to negotiate with President Vladimir Putin, speaking warmly of the Russian leader. Witkoff said he believed the heart of the conflict was Russia's desire to control four regions of Ukraine it partially occupied and has claimed annexed since 2022: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

PHOTO: President-elect Donald Trump listens as Steve Witkoff speaks during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Jan. 7, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. (Evan Vucci/AP, FILE)

Dozens injured, including children, in strike on Ukraine as US-Russia talks resumed, officials say

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Talking about Putin's claims to the regions in eastern and southern Ukraine, Witkoff suggested Russia had a right to them because they were majority Russian-speaking and repeated a false Kremlin claim that fair referenda there showed residents wanted to be absorbed by Russia.

"They are Russian-speaking, and there have been referendums where the overwhelming majority of the people have indicated that they want to be under Russian rule," Witkoff told Carlson.

However, Witkoff did not acknowledge that the supposed referenda held in those territories -- whether in 2014 in the case of Crimea or 2022 in the other regions -- were widely dismissed by Western powers, human rights organizations and international bodies as fraudulent and illegitimate.

Russia conducted referenda in the areas it occupied in Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions in the fall of 2022, several months after seizing them with its full-scale invasion launched in February that year. Putin used the referenda to justify Russia's subsequent annexation of the regions. Russia also held a similar referendum in Crimea in 2014 following its occupation of the Ukrainian peninsula.

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The referenda were staged after Russia's invasion had already forced hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians to flee, and while Russian security forces were abducting and torturing anyone expressing opposition to its takeover. In some areas, Russian soldiers were filmed accompanying vote collectors as they went from house to house.

PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with the governor of Krasnodar region Veniamin Kondratyev during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Mar. 24, 2025. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Sputnik via AP)

No legitimate independent international observers monitored the referenda and they were widely dismissed as shams, including by the United States. The United Nations General Assembly rejected the referenda as illegal and violating the U.N. Charter.

In September 2022, then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. "does not, and will never, recognize any of the Kremlin's claims to sovereignty over parts of Ukraine that it's seized by force and now purports to incorporate into Russia."

Witkoff made the remarks on the Russian referenda a day before a new round of talks between the U.S. and Russia in Saudi Arabia aimed at trying to make progress toward ending the war. His portrayal of the referenda as legitimate triggered some fierce criticism in Europe.

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"Witkoff's repeating of Kremlin lies about 'russian-speakers' [sic] wanting to 'join Russia' is truly chilling," Lithuania's former foreign minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, wrote on X. "Hearing Americans talk like this should be an electric shock for Europe, not a wakeup call."

Some Ukrainian members of parliament also condemned Witkoff's comments.

Oleksandr Merezhko, head of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that the statements were "shocking."

Ukraine, Russia exchange deadly drone attacks amid ceasefire maneuvering

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"I don't understand what this is about -- ignorance, naivety, unprofessionalism?" said Merezhko, who suggested Witkoff should be removed from his negotiating role. "Because we are talking about a representative of the president, who should professionally understand this issue and know some basic things. And he doesn't know this. He is relaying Russian propaganda."

In the interview with Carlson, Witkoff appeared to struggle to remember the names of the Ukrainian regions. "Donbas, Crimea. You know the names," he told the conservative media personality, who prompted him to say "Lugansk" -- the Russian transliteration for Luhansk. "Lugansk, and there's two others," Witkoff replied.

Although Putin declared he had annexed the four regions, his troops still do not fully control most of the area. Much of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, including their regional capitals, remain unoccupied.

A wealthy real estate developer, Witkoff has emerged as the lead negotiator for Trump's effort to end the war, twice now traveling to Moscow, where he has said he spent several hours talking with Putin.

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In his interview on Carlson, Witkoff was effusive in his praise for Putin, calling him a "very smart guy" and noting Putin told him he had prayed for Trump after the assassination attempt against him during last years presidential campaign. Witkoff added that Putin had given him a portrait of Trump which he says the Russian leader had commissioned from a famous Russian artist.

"This is the kind of connection that we've been able to reestablish through a simple word called communication, which many people would say I shouldn't have had because Putin is a bad guy. I don't regard Putin as a bad guy," Witkoff said.

PHOTO: Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff attends and interview in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 18, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein/AP)

Witkoff also told Carlson he believed Russia "does not need to absorb Ukraine," saying, "They've gotten what they want. So why do they need more?" He also said he "100%" believes Russia does not want to invade Europe, saying he took Putin "at his word" on that.

Witkoff also repeated an unsupported claim made by Putin that Russian forces have surrounded a significant number of Ukrainian troops in Russia's Kursk region. Although Ukraine was forced to retreat from Kursk earlier this month, no evidence has emerged to suggest many Ukrainian soldiers are encircled, and both independent researchers and Ukrainian officials have said it is false.

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"Witkoff uncritically amplified a number of Russian demands, claims and justifications," the Washington D.C.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote.

Witkoff's comments could feed deep unease in Europe that the Trump administration, which is moving fast to restore relations with Russia, is more aligned with the Kremlin than NATO allies over the war in Ukraine. European officials and observers have also warned the administration, in its hurry to reach a deal, is vulnerable to manipulation by Putin.

The White House has argued its reengagement with Russia brings peace closer, but critics point out that the Kremlin has, so far, yet to make any significant concessions. Trump has claimed he isn't "aligned" with Putin. "I'm not aligned with Putin. I'm not aligned with anybody. I'm aligned with the United States of America, and for the good of the world," Trump said last month.

Vice President JD Vance on Monday defended Witkoff, writing on X he was doing an "incredible job."

Trump envoy Witkoff sparks outcry after backing Kremlin talking points on Ukraine originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
President Donald Trump expressed confidence in his national security adviser, Michael Waltz, in an interview with NBC News on Tuesday amid the fallout from senior officials inadvertently including a journalist on a private message chain discussing airstrikes in Yemen.

The Atlantic reported Monday that its editor was mistakenly included in a Signal group chat discussing sensitive war plans, shocking national security officials and members of Congress. POLITICO reported Monday that Waltz may be the fall guy within the White House.

Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he's a good man, Trump said in the NBC News interview.

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The president continued, saying that the journalists presence in the group chat had no impact at all and that the Houthi attacks were perfectly successful.

There are conversations happening between senior administration officials on what to do with Waltz, POLITICO previously reported, including forcing his resignation. You cant have recklessness as the national security adviser, one senior official who was granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberations said on Monday.

In response to reporting that Waltz is possibly on the chopping block, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday morning that Trump continues to have confidence in his national security team, including Mike Waltz.

Stories claiming otherwise are driven by anonymous sources who clearly do not speak to the President, she said.

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Earlier this month, The Atlantics editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, received a notification that he had been added to a group chat by Waltz titled, Houthi PC small group which appeared to include over a dozen other senior officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

The National Security Council confirmed that the text chain appears to be authentic to POLITICO, The Atlantic, and other media outlets, as did House Speaker Mike Johnson.

But the White House and other allies have downplayed the breach. Hegseth said in Hawaii on Monday that nobody was texting war plans, which Leavitt echoed Tuesday morning. Jeffrey Goldberg is well-known for his sensationalist spin, Leavitt said on X, asserting that no war plans were discussed.

The Atlantic has released several messages from the chain  including pre-planning and reactions to U.S. plans on striking Houthi forces in Yemen  but Goldberg withheld other messages, citing national security considerations.

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In a Tuesday morning appearance on MSNBCs Morning Joe, Goldberg said that he received a text in the chain from Hegseth, detailing the war sequencing, the attack sequence, weapons packages, targets.

I don't want to go into details, because I don't think it's responsible to put out operational issues, and I don't understand all the sources and methods issues that are raised by this from an intelligence perspective, Goldberg said. I saw Hegseth's response yesterday. It was just unserious.

Democrats and some Republicans on the Hill expressed anger and concern, both over what they said was the officials recklessness in not only adding a private citizen to sensitive discussions, but communicating through an unsecured channel. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) called it an extremely troubling and serious matter.

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) said that safeguards should be put in place to ensure this never happens again.

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Democrats were more critical. Only one word for this: FUBAR, Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), an Army veteran who sits on the Armed Services Committee, wrote on X, using an acronym that describes when something is completely messed up.

If House Republicans wont hold a hearing on how this happened IMMEDIATELY, Ill do it my damn self, Ryan added.

Still, many staunch MAGA allies are downplaying the leak. We dont know how much of this is accurate or not, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said on Fox News. Were griping about who is on a text message and who is not. I mean, come on.
(Bloomberg) -- The Senate has confirmed Christopher Landau, a former US ambassador to Mexico, as deputy secretary of State, highlighting the Trump administrations emphasis on the Americas in its foreign policy agenda.

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Landau was approved on Monday by a 60-31 vote.

At his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Landau emphasized the State Departments role in countering global mass migration. That and security were important focuses of his time in Mexico City starting in 2019, in President Donald Trumps first administration.

Those are also key themes of Secretary of State Marco Rubios work in the hemisphere to get nations to step up enforcement efforts and accept deportees.

During last years presidential campaign, Trump vowed to end illegal immigration and carry out the largest deportation in US history. His administration began with high-profile raids and deportation flights, sometimes on military planes, to Central and South America. He also sent troops to the border with Mexico, and illegal crossings fell to about 8,300 in February, the lowest level in decades.

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Landau, a Spanish speaker and son of a diplomat, was born in Spain and grew up in Canada and Latin America. He graduated from Harvard Law School and clerked for Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas before working for decades in private practice.

At his hearing, Landau said he would like to work with American companies to better compete with Chinese state-owned firms for opportunities around the world.

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Is the United States angling for a repeat of the Sino-Russian split?

In an Oct. 31 interview with right-wing pundit Tucker Carlson, President Donald Trump argued that the United States under Joe Biden had, in his mind, erroneously pushed China and Russia together. Separating the two powers would be a priority of his administration. "I'm going to have to un-unite them, and I think I can do that, too," Trump said.

Since returning to the White House, Trump has been eager to negotiate with Russia, hoping to quickly bring an end to the war in Ukraine. One interpretation of this Ukraine policy is that it serves what Trump was getting at in his comments to Carlson. Pulling the United States out of the European conflict and repairing ties with Russia, even if it means throwing Ukraine under the bus, can be seen within the context of a shift of America's attention to containing Chinese power.

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Indeed, after a recent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump told Fox News: "As a student of history, which I am -- and I've watched it all -- the first thing you learn is you don't want Russia and China to get together."

The history Trump alludes to is the strategy of the Nixon era, in which the United States sought to align with China as a counterbalance to the Soviet Union, encouraging a split between the two communist entities in the process.

Yet, if creating a fissure between Moscow and Beijing is indeed the ultimate aim, Trump's vision is, I believe, both naive and shortsighted. Not only is Russia unlikely to abandon its relationship with China, but many in Beijing view Trump's handling of the Russia-Ukraine war -- and his foreign policy more broadly - as a projection of weakness, not strength.

A growing challenge

Although Russia and China have at various times in the past been adversaries when it suited their interests, today's geopolitical landscape is different from the Cold War era in which the Sino-Soviet split occurred. The two countries, whose relationship has grown steadily close since the fall of the Soviet Union, have increasingly shared major strategic goals -- chief among them, challenging the Western liberal order led by the United States.

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Both China and Russia have, in recent years, adopted an increasingly assertive stance in projecting military strength: China in the South China Sea and around Taiwan, and Russia in former Soviet satellite states, including Ukraine.

In response, a unified stance formed by Western governments to counter China and Russia's challenge has merely pushed the two countries closer together.

Besties forever?

In February 2022, just as Russia was preparing its invasion of Ukraine, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping announced a "friendship without limits" -- in a show of unified intent against the West.

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China has since become an indispensable partner for Russia, serving as its top trading partner for both imports and exports. In 2024, bilateral trade between China and Russia reached a record high of $237 billion, and Russia now relies heavily on China as a key buyer of its oil and gas. This growing economic interdependence gives China considerable leverage over Russia and makes any U.S. attempt to pull Moscow away from Beijing economically unrealistic.

That doesn't mean the Russian-Chinese relationship is inviolable; areas of disagreement and divergent policy remain.

Indeed, there are areas that Trump could exploit if he were to succeed in driving a wedge between the two countries. For example, it could serve Russia's interests to support U.S. efforts to contain China and discourage any expansionist tendencies in Beijing -- such as through Moscow's strategic ties with India, which China views with some alarm -- especially given that there are still disputed territories along the Chinese-Russian border.

Putin knows who his real friends are

Putin isn't naive. He knows that with Trump in office, the deep-seated Western consensus against Russia -- including a robust, if leaky, economic sanctions regime - isn't going away anytime soon. In Trump's first term, the U.S. president likewise appeared to be cozying up to Putin, but there is an argument that he was even tougher on Russia in terms of sanctions than the administrations of Barack Obama or Joe Biden.

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So, while Putin would likely gladly accept a Trump-brokered peace deal that sacrifices Ukraine's interests in favor of Russia, that doesn't mean he would be rushing to embrace some kind of broader call to unite against China. Putin will know the extent to which Russia is now reliant economically on China, and subservient to it militarily. In the words of one Russian analyst, Moscow is now a "vassal" or, at best, a junior partner to Beijing.

Transactional weakness

China, for its part, views Trump's peace talks with Russia and Ukraine as a sign of weakness that potentially undermines U.S. hawkishness toward China.

While some members of the U.S. administration are undoubtedly hawkish on China -- Secretary of State Marco Rubio views the country as the "most potent and dangerous" threat to American prosperity -- Trump has been more ambivalent. He may have slapped new tariffs on China as part of a renewed trade war, but he has also mulled a meeting with President Xi Jinping in an apparent overture.

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Beijing recognizes Trump's transactional mindset, which prioritizes short-term, tangible benefits over more predictable long-term strategic interests requiring sustained investment.

This changes the calculation over whether the United States may be unwilling to bear the high costs of defending Taiwan. Trump, in a deviation from his predecessor, has failed to commit the country to defending Taiwan, the self-governing island claimed by Beijing.

Rather, Trump had indicated that if the Chinese government were to launch a military campaign to "reunify" Taiwan, he would opt instead for economic measures like tariffs and sanctions. His apparent openness to trade Ukraine territory for peace now has made some in Taiwan concerned over Washington's commitment to long-established international norms.

Insulating the economy

China has taken another key lesson from Russia's experience in Ukraine: The U.S.-led economic sanctions regime has serious limits.

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Even under sweeping Western sanctions, Russia was able to stay afloat through subterfuge and with support from allies like China and North Korea. Moreover, China remains far more economically intertwined with the West than Russia, and its relatively dominant global economic position means that it has significant leverage to combat any U.S.-led efforts to isolate the country economically.

Indeed, as geopolitical tensions have driven the West to gradually decouple from China in recent years, Beijing has adapted to the resulting economic slowdown by prioritizing domestic consumption and making the economy more self-reliant in key sectors.

That in part also reflects China's significant global economic and cultural strength. Coupled with this has been a domestic push to win countries in the Global South around to China's position. Beijing has secured endorsements from 70 countries officially recognizing Taiwan as part of China.

China's turn to exploit a split?

As such, Trump's plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war by favoring Russia in the hope of drawing it into an anti-China coalition is, I believe, likely to backfire.

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While Russia may itself harbor concerns about China's growing power, the two country's shared strategic goal of challenging the Western-led international order -- and Russia's deep economic dependence on China -- make any U.S. attempt to pull Moscow away from Beijing unrealistic.

Moreover, Trump's approach exposes vulnerabilities that China could exploit. His transactional and isolationist foreign policy, along with his encouragement of right-wing parties in Europe, may strain relations with European Union allies and weaken trust in American security commitments. Beijing, in turn, may view this as a sign of declining U.S. influence, giving China more room to maneuver, noticeably in regard to Taiwan.

Rather than increasing the chances of a Sino-Russia split, such a shift could instead divide an already fragile Western coalition.

Linggong Kong is a doctoral candidate in political Science at Auburn University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
President Donald Trump seemed so tickled by Elon Musks dig at The Atlantic that he had to repost it on his Truth Social page.

The first buddy took a swipe at the magazine Monday afternoon after its editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg published a bombshell report detailing how he was inadvertently added to a top-secret group chat of national security officials discussing plans to strike Houthi targets in Yemen.

Best place to hide a dead body is page 2 of The Atlantic magazine, because no one ever goes there, Musk wrote on X.

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The DOGE chief also reposted an article by the conservative satirical news website The Babylon Bee headlined 4D Chess: Genius Trump Leaks War Plans To The Atlantic Where No One Will Ever See Them.

Best place to hide a dead body is page 2 of The Atlantic magazine, because no one ever goes there https://t.co/10A01hObHO  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 24, 2025

Trump republished Musks post on Truth Social with a link to The Babylon Bee story.

The president had a few things to say about The Atlantic itself, even as he admitted that he was unaware of both Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldbergs stunning report and the Yemen operation central to it.

I dont know anything about it, the commander-in-chief told reporters at the White House on Monday. Im not a big fan of The Atlantic.

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To me, its a magazine thats going out of business. I think its not much of a magazine but I know nothing about it, Trump went on. Youre saying that they had what?

After a reporter explained what messages were exchanged in the group chat, Trump said: Having to do with what? What were they talking about?

National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes confirmed the veracity of the group chat to Goldberg. The military strike was carried out on March 15, killing 53 people.

This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, Hughes said. The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security.

The White House is expressing confidence in Mike Waltz, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying in a statement, As President Trump said, the attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective. President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his  Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) March 24, 2025

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that Trump continued to have confidence in his national security officials despite the massive leak.

As President Trump said, the attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective. President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, she said.
In ruling that Venezuelan immigrants accused of gang membership should get a chance to dispute the allegations against them, federal District Court Judge James Jeb Boasberg was simply adhering to the same legal tenets that guided him as a Washington, D.C., homicide prosecutor two decades ago.

He was held in the highest regard by fellow prosecutors and police officers, as well as the families of murder victims.

He was absolutely, totally adored by everybody, retired homicide Det. James Trainum of the Metropolitan Police Department told the Daily Beast on Monday. A straight shooterNothing could rattle him. He just took everything in stride, but really, really smart [and] fair. I just could not say enough good things about him.

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Trainum worked on a number of cases in which Boasberg was a prosecutor, including the murders of two 19-year-old deaf students in their dorm rooms at the Harvard of the hearing-impaired, Gallaudet University in D.C.

Eric Plunkett was battered to death in September of 2000. The case was still unsolved in February of 2001 when a second student, Benjamin Varner, was fatally stabbed.

Eric Plunkett, a student at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., was battered to death in September of 2000. / Last Memories

In the immediate aftermath of the second killing, an MPD K-9 cop discovered a bloody jacket in a dumpster outside the dorm. Trainum and Det. Jeff Williams clambered into the dumpster and began emptying it. They recovered a paring knife that proved to be the murder weapon.

A short time later, police arrested a 20-year-old freshman, Joseph Mesa. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity and went to trial. Boasberg teamed up with fellow Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Collins to prosecute the case.

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The first witness Boasberg called was Kathleen Cornils, mother of the murdered Eric Plunkett. Boasberg led her through an account of how she contracted German measles during her pregnancy and her son was left deaf and suffering from cerebral palsy concentrated in his legs. Boasberg made sure she also conveyed that Eric possessed an indomitable spirit and had been a joy to their family and everybody he encountered.

[Boasberg] was bringing Eric as a person into the courtroom, Cornils recalled.

As the case progressed, Boasberg took care to keep her and the family informed.

We had no experience with the judicial system, so everything was new to us, and he explained to us whathe was trying to get out of whoever was on his stand, she remembered.

Eric Plunketts case was still unsolved in February of 2001 when a second student, Benjamin Varner, was fatally stabbed. / Dignity Memorial

The accused took the stand and testified via a sign language interpreter that hands in black leather gloves had appeared before him and instructed him to kill his two roommates. He added that the hands had also ordered him to kill Boasberg.

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You are thinking about attacking me. But youve been able to control yourself, Boasberg replied through the interpreter. You havent attacked me, have you?

In his summation, Boasberg told the jury that the killings were in fact robberies, planned, calculated, deliberate and covered up.

He did it, and he was sane. Boasberg said. Convict him.

The jury deliberated for less than three hours before coming back with a guilty verdict.

An insanity defense doesnt work if youre not insane, Boasberg noted.

Mesa was sentenced to two terms of life-without-parole. Cornils was left feeling that Boasberg had been everything her family could have possibly wanted in a prosecutor.

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He did a fabulous job representing our family and our son in that case, she told the Daily Beast. So I have nothing but praise for what he did in that case, in our case We have maintained contact with him through the past 20 plus years, and we have a deep respect for him

She added, I would call him a friend.

With a Yale law degree, Boasberg could have gone right from school to cash in with a big Washington firm. He instead continued working homicide for rewards that cannot be measured in dollars.

Among the other cases Boasberg prosecuted was the shooting of seven young people outside the gates of the National Zoo on Easter Monday in 2000 by a 17-year-old armed with a 9mm semiautomatic pistol. The shooter was sentenced to 25 years.

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Boasberg also prosecuted a man who lured at least two women to secluded areas and then strangled them during sex. There was also a case in which the perpetrator donned a mask, invaded the victims home, and dragged him from the bed where he was sleeping with a woman and an infant before fatally shooting him.

In September of 2002, President George W. Bush nominated Boasberg to become an associate judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

I was so happy for him when he did make the bench, because I thought hed be a great judge, Trainum recalled.

American deportees are frog-walked into a massive prison complex in El Salvador. / Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images

Boasberg was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and he presided over more than 500 cases before President Barack Obama nominated him to become a district court judge in 2011. The confirmation process included written questions from then-Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Al).

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Q: Do you believe judges should ever base their decisions on a desired outcome, or solely on the law and facts presented?

A: Judges should not work from a desired outcome in assessing the law and facts. Instead, they should follow the law and facts to whatever outcome they dictate.

Q: Please discuss an example of a case where you have had to set aside your own desired outcome and rule based solely on the law.

A: I have not presided over cases in which my desired outcome was contrary to the law.

Q: Do you believe a judge should consider his or her own values or policy preferences in determining what the law means?

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A: No.

Boasberg was unanimously confirmed, and he stuck to the same basic legal principles. Nobody in Trumpworld grumbled when Boasbergs understanding of the law led him to facilitate the disclosure of Hillary Clintons emails and to question FBI surveillance warrant affidavits in the investigation into Russian attempts to influence the 2016 election.

After the 2020 election, Boasberg presided over the proceedings involving several Jan. 6 defendants, including Marc Bru of the Proud Boys. Boasberg displayed remarkable judicial restraint during Brus sentencing on Jan. 25, 2024.

This is not a court of law, this is a f---ing kangaroo court, Bru told Boasberg.  And you, sir, are despicable and repugnantYoure a clown and not a judge.

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Mr. Bru, Im happy to let you say whatever you wish, Boasberg replied. I havent interrupted you. The government hasnt interrupted you. I have treated you with courtesy in all of these proceedings. And I would askyou may not agree with many of the issues, but still conduct yourself civilly here.

The proceeding ended with Boasberg sentencing Bru to six years, in keeping with the fact that he was unrepentant after being convicted of assaulting multiple police officers.

Mr. Bru, is there a facility you wish me to recommend for the Bureau of Prisons to place you in? Boasberg then inquired.

Well, if you are going to continue to keep me as a hostage, I would rather go back to the area where Im from, Bru replied. And the closest one would be Sheridan.

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OK. And thats in which state? Boasberg asked.

Oregon, Bru said.

Im happy to do that, the never-rattled Boasberg said.

After the 2024 election, Trump pardoned Bru along with some 1,500 other Jan. 6 defendants.

Boasberg remained Boasberg. And that led him to order the Trump administration to desist when it moved to deport to El Salvador more than 200 Venezuelan migrants accused of belonging to the gang Tren de Aragua. At least two of them make a convincing case that they sought asylum in the U.S. because they had been threatened by the gang back home. Neither has a criminal record.

Trump now became the one to insult Boasberg, calling him a radical left lunatic judge and a grandstander, looking for publicity who is sitting behind a bench and has no idea whats going on.

First buddy Elon Musk called for Boasberg to be impeached.

Trumps minions continue to resist telling Boasberg exactly how and why they failed to comply with his order to halt the deportations. He has pledged to get to the bottom of it.

Meanwhile, the verbal assaults on the judge continue. A simple response comes from the mother of a murder victim who found Boasberg to be a perfect emissary of justice during his days as a homicide prosecutor that earned him his place on the bench.

Im only going to say one thing, Karthleen Cornils told the Daily Beast. I think the comments are very uninformed.
President Donald Trumps worst portrait is coming down. Just a day after the president complained about a portrait of him hanging at the Colorado State Capitol, Republican leaders in the states legislature moved to have the painting taken down, according to The Associated Press. Trump threw a Truth Social tantrum Sunday night over a portrait produced by artist Sarah Boardman for the states Hall of Presidential Portraits: Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, but the one in Colorado, in the State Capitol, put up by the Governor, along with all other Presidents, was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before. Trump called on Colorado Governor Jared Polis to take the portrait down. Republican Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen said he asked for Trumps portrait to be brought down and replaced with one that depicts his contemporary likeness. Colorado House Democrats said If the GOP wants to spend time and money on which portrait of Trump hangs in the Capitol, then thats up to them. The portrait went up in August 2019 after former Colorado Senate President Kevin Grantham set up a fundraiser to get it made.
Say what you will about Donald Trump, but the president expertly forces his political opponents into uncomfortable positions.

His administrations fight to deport members of Tren de Aragua (TdA), a violent transnational gang originating from Venezuela, is a perfect example. Trump may lose the initial legal battle, but hell break the Democratic opposition when it comes to deporting violent immigrants.

TdA isnt just another group of common thugs. The Tocoron prison gang turned multinational criminal syndicate is responsible for a litany of atrocities ranging from murder and extortion to human trafficking and drug smuggling. Thanks to our porous southern border, theyve set up shop across Tennessee and America.

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Adelvis Rodriguez-Carmona, a TdA gang member suspected of violent crimes in New York and Chicago, was arrested in Chattanooga and charged with activities related to sex trafficking. Despite a final deportation order in 2023, Rodriguez-Carmona had been released from custody on multiple occasions in different jurisdictions before his arrest in Tennessee.

Trumps Alien Enemies Act declaration likely wont win over the courts

In December 2024, law enforcement apprehended international fugitive Luis Alejandro Ruiz Godoy in Memphis. The high-ranking TdA operative with a history of human trafficking, robbery, terrorism, and weapons offenses had traveled into the United States via Mexico according to INTERPOL.

Earlier this year, the Department of Justice brought transnational sex trafficking charges against eight undocumented immigrants with TdA ties. The Venezuelan nationals operated an illegal commercial sex and sex trafficking enterprise out of Nashville motels from July 2022 through March 2024, according to court documents.

The Trump administration deported more than 200 alleged TdA members to the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, in El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 (AEA). This centuries-old statute grants the President broad powers to detain or deport nationals from enemy countries during times of war. The White House argues that TdA is intertwined with the Maduro regime in Venezuela and is undertaking an invasion of the United States.

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Theres just one problem  well, several. Courts are likely to view the administrations rationale as a stretch, especially since the U.S. isnt formally at war with Venezuela.

To use the AEA, the Department of Justice must show that TdAs domestic activities are an invasion or predatory incursion by a foreign nation or government. The court record developed to this point in the federal lawsuit leaves plenty of questions about whether the Trump administration has successfully met that statutory threshold.

So yes, Trump may lose the courtroom battle. But then what?

Will the ACLU and Democracy Forward, the groups who filed the initial suit, ask the judge to order the repatriation of TdA gang members from El Salvador back into the United States? If thats the case, then the Trump administration will simply work to deport those same individuals through other channels. Well end up in the same place at a slower pace.

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Opinion: Democrats called filibusters racist. GOP should thank those rejecting hypocrisy.

All the while, Trump will credibly argue that Democrats and liberal activist groups are advocating for violent gang members who shouldnt have been here in the first place.

Congress needs to act to grant Trump necessary deportation authority

As in so many other fights, Trump is less interested in legal precision than creating political pressure. Hes forcing the question: Should America quickly deport violent criminal immigrants who are here without legal status, or should we follow the Biden administrations lead and release them into the country while awaiting immigration proceedings?

This is where the legislative branch needs to start pulling its weight.

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Congress should amend the AEA to make explicit what should already be common sense  that the president can efficiently deport members of known foreign criminal organizations, particularly those like TdA, which have terrorized migrant and American communities alike.

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Congressional Democrats, already facing public discontent over border security and immigration enforcement, would then be boxed into a corner. Do they support a narrowly tailored amendment to remove dangerous gang members? Or do they continue the current legal limbo, effectively arguing for the rights of foreign criminals to remain on U.S. soil?

This isnt some hypothetical.

Trump is winning in the court of public opinion

Cities like Chicago and New York, led by progressive mayors, are grappling with the real-world consequences of criminal migrants slipping through the cracks. Sanctuary policies, overwhelmed shelters, and rising violent crime rates are all part of the growing backlash to unchecked illegal immigration. And in swing states  Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania  voters pay attention.

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Polling consistently shows that Americans, across party lines, support the deportation of illegal immigrants who commit serious crimes. Its a no-brainer. Yet, inside the Beltway bubble, common sense isnt so common. Trump, whatever his flaws, cuts through that fog with a blunt-force clarity: Youre either for deporting violent gang members, or youre not.

In the end, Trump may not succeed in using the Alien Enemies Act to remove TdA members, but hes already won by setting the terms of the debate. Hes made it clear that America has a choice  defend the rights of law-abiding citizens or protect foreign gangsters. If youre a member of Congress, especially a Democrat, thats not a political fight you want to have.

In politics, the court of law is often less powerful than the court of public opinion. In that arena, Trump is already several steps ahead.

USA TODAY Network Tennessee Columnist Cameron Smith is a Memphis-born, Brentwood-raised recovering political attorney raising four boys in Nolensville, Tenn., with his particularly patient wife, Justine. Direct outrage or agreement to smith.david.cameron@gmail.com or @DCameronSmith on Twitter. Agree or disagree? Send a letter to the editor to letters@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Congress must amend Alien Enemies Act to aid Trump's policy | Opinion
President Donald Trump on Monday announced the appointment of his one-time personal lawyer, Alina Habba, as interim US attorney for the district of New Jersey effective immediately.

Habba is currently serving as counselor to the president.

It is with great pleasure that I am announcing Alina Habba, Esq., who is currently serving as Counselor to the President, and has represented me for a long time, will be our interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, her Home State, effective immediately! Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

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The president continued his post by also announcing that John Giordano, who had been serving as the interim attorney in New Jersey, will now be nominated as the new ambassador to Namibia.

Congratulations to Alina and John! Trump concluded his post.

Habba wrote on X that she is honored to serve as interim US attorney for New Jersey. Just like I did during my time as President Trumps personal attorney, I will continue to fight for truth and justice. We will end the weaponization of justice, once and for all, she added.

Habba, a New Jersey attorney, emerged in Trumps orbit in 2022 when she was brought in to handle some of his civil lawsuits. But her prominence rose when she because the public face of Trumps legal defense during his civil fraud trial in New York. Habba went on to represent Trump as his lead trial attorney during the second defamation trial involving former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll, in which a jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in damages. During court appearances, Habba sat beside Trump at the defense table and often sparred with the judge.

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While Habba did not represent Trump during his criminal hush money trial, she often appeared in the spectator section and on television defending Trump against that case and the other indictments he faced. Habba was inside the courtroom when the verdict was read finding Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records.

Alina will be a zealous and tireless advocate for justice in the District of New Jersey and help ensure the focus is on fighting crime and protecting families instead of the weaponized practices of the prior Administration, Trump lawyer Chris Kise said. She has time and again proven her ability to take on major issues and to persevere under intense and challenging circumstances.

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(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump said he is nominating Susan Monarez, the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to be the agencys permanent chief.

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Dr. Monarez brings decades of experience championing Innovation, Transparency, and strong Public Health Systems, Trump said on his social-media platform on Monday.

Trump said Monarez would work closely with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., adding that the two would prioritize Accountability, High Standards, and Disease Prevention to finally address the Chronic Disease Epidemic and, MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN!

Before being tapped as the acting head of the CDC, Monarez was deputy director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, a federal agency created during the Biden administration that set out to fund innovative biomedical research.

Monarez has had a long career in government service, unlike some of Trumps other picks for top health roles in his administration. She worked on artificial intelligence and biosecurity issues in various roles in government, including in the Obama White House.

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Her selection follows the White Houses decision to pull the nomination of physician and former congressman Dave Weldon to lead the CDC earlier this month. Key Republican senators had expressed concern about his views on the current vaccine schedule for children.

Under Kennedys new leadership, the CDC has faced blowback over its plans to launch a new study on potential links between vaccines and autism and its decision to delay a meeting of outside experts on immunizations.

CBS News first reported Monarezs pick.

--With assistance from John Lauerman and Anne Cronin.

(Updates with additional background from the fourth paragraph.)

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JOHANNESBURG (AP)  U.S. President Donald Trump nominated conservative media critic and pro-Israel commentator Leo Brent Bozell III as ambassador to South Africa. The move Tuesday comes during strained diplomatic relations with the country, including over its stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The nomination of Bozell, an outspoken Israel supporter, comes at a time when relations between South Africa and the U.S are at a low. Bozell must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

The frosty relations saw South Africa's ambassador to the U.S., Ebrahim Rasool, declared persona non grata by the U.S. government over his comments about Trump and his administration and was forced to leave the country last Friday.

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Trump has been critical of South Africa's stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, including taking Israel to the International Court of Justice and accusing it of committing genocide in Gaza.

He has also falsely accused the South African government of targeting the minority white population in the country and illegally seizing their land through its recently enacted Expropriation Act and offered to grant refugee status to white people who want to relocate to the U.S.

Trump has also signed an executive order freezing all financial aid to South Africa.

Bozell is a founder of the Media Research Center, the Parents Television Council and other conservative media organizations. His son, Leo Brent Bozell IV, was one of the people who stormed the U.S. Capitol in 2021 and was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison last year.

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Bozell was previously nominated to head the U.S. Agency for Global Media, but his nomination was eventually withdrawn.

South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa is yet to announce the country's new ambassador the U.S., but this week claimed that reports about white people being targeted in South Africa were based on a completely false narrative.
Mike Waltz, the Trump administration official who reportedly added Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a highly sensitive group chat regarding war strikes in Yemen, is now striking out against the journalists story.

During a meeting with President Donald Trump where reporters were allowed to ask questions, the national security adviser claimed he has never met Goldberg and accused the journalist of making up lies  even though a spokesperson for the National Security Council confirmed the text thread Goldberg reported on was real.

Theres a lot of journalists in this city who have made big names for themselves making up lies about this president, Waltz said. Whether its the Russia hoax or making up lies about Gold Star families, and this one in particular Ive never met, dont know, never communicated with, and we are looking into and reviewing how the heck he got into this room.

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Waltz then attempted to save his job by changing the subject and praising his fearless leader.

But Ill tell you what, the world owes President Trump a favor, he said. Under Biden, global shipping was shut down. Pinprick attacks, months between them, our destroyers being fired upon dozens of times. President Trump took decisive action with his national security team, took out the head missileer, knocked out missiles, knocked out headquarters, knocked out communication sites. And for once, as we hear, as you all hear from every one of our allies, thank God for American leadership again, thank God for American strength. Youre welcome.

Waltz continued to kiss up to Trump and threw in an attack on Goldbergs reputation to boot.

So, look, this journalist, Mr. President, wants the world talking about more hoaxes and this kind of nonsense rather than the freedom that youre enabling, Waltz said. And a key part of our sovereignty is open sea lanes and knocking the crap out of terrorists, which is exactly what your team and [Defense Secretary] Pete Hegseth, a good friend and fellow veteran, is leading the charge on. And its an honor to be a part of it.

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Trump felt obliged to attack Goldberg as well and told reporters after Waltz spoke that the person that was on [the group chat[ just happens to be a sleazebag, so maybe thats just coincidence. I dont know ... hes basically bad for the country.

You can see the exchange below:

Mike Waltz: The lesson is there are a lot of journalists in this city who have made big names for themselves making up lies about this presidentThis journalist, Mr. President, wants the world talking about more hoaxes and this kind of nonsense. pic.twitter.com/DHYwt8uyT8  The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) March 25, 2025

Goldberg stands by his story and told The Bulwarks podcast on Tuesday afternoon that he is considering publishing more of the texts to counter the Trump administrations attempts to downplay the storys significance.

Related...
By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -A senior official in President Donald Trump's Justice Department directed a prosecutor to shred notes they took of a meeting about the possibility of dismissing corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams, a former senior prosecutor said in court filings made public on Tuesday.

The senior official, Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General (PADAG) Emil Bove, asked a judge in February to dismiss the case because it was distracting the mayor from helping Trump crack down on illegal immigration. Former Manhattan U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon resigned earlier rather than carry out a direction from Bove to seek the case's dismissal.

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In a statement, Bove said, "There were many people present in that meeting, and at no time did the PADAG direct the shredding of any material."

Adams has pleaded not guilty to charges he took bribes from Turkish officials in exchange for political favors.

On Tuesday, a draft letter addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi that Sassoon emailed to herself laying out her opposition to dropping the charges, was made public on the public docket for Adams' case.

In the draft letter, Sassoon described a meeting earlier this year between Bove, Adams' lawyers, and her team of Manhattan-based federal prosecutors.

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"Mr. Bove directed a member of my team to shred his notes after our meeting with defense counsel," Sassoon wrote.

Sassoon's draft letter did not accuse Bove of wrongdoing by directing the notes to be shredded.

A Justice Department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Nicholas Biase, a spokesperson for the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office, declined to comment.

Alex Spiro, a lawyer for Adams, said in an email, "There was a comment about note-taking because the government was unlawfully leaking information to the media in their reckless pursuit of Mayor Adams."

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Sassoon's final letter to Bondi, which was made public last month, said Bove "directed the collection" of notes a member of her team took at a January 31 meeting with Manhattan prosecutors and Adams' lawyers, but did not mention shredding.

The draft letter was included in dozens of pages of internal communications among the Manhattan federal prosecutors about the Adams case made public on Tuesday.

Bove, a political appointee of Trump's, and the president's former personal criminal defense lawyer, had cited the internal communications in a March 7 court filing in which he alleged there was "troubling conduct" at the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office.

U.S. District Judge Dale Ho in Manhattan ordered the communications be made public in response to requests from media outlets.

Ho has not yet ruled on the Justice Department's bid to dismiss Adams' case.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York;Editing by Noeleen Walder and Rod Nickel)
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseths ill-advised Signal chat planning an attack on Yemen went against a Pentagon warning from last week, and even Department of Defense regulations.

According to NPR, a department-wide email went out last week warning everyone in the DOD that a vulnerability was detected in the Signal messaging app, which Hegseth, along with several other administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance, used to discuss bombing Houthi targets in Yemen.

Specifically, the email stated that Russian professional hacking groups are employing the linked devices features to spy on encrypted conversations, and noted that Google identified Russian hacking groups targeting Signal Messenger to spy on persons of interest.

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As head of the DOD, Hegseth would have undoubtedly received that email. Even if he missed it, or habitually lets his work emails pile up, he should have known that using Signal for government business is an explicit violation of DOD regulations. This raises the question as to whether Hegseth and other officials were using Signal to avoid leaving records of their communications.

Unmanaged messaging apps, including any app with a chat feature, regardless of the primary function, are not authorized to access, transmit, process non-public DoD information. This includes but is not limited to messaging, gaming, and social media apps. (i.e., iMessage, WhatsApps, Signal), a 2023 department memo states.

Will Hegseth, or any of the other senior government officials in the chat group, who include Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and national security adviser Mike Waltz, face any accountability for using Signal to conduct national security operations, let alone any government business? Aside from violating DOD regulations, the chat may likely have been illegal.


WASHINGTON  A decade ago this month, America found out that Hillary Clinton used a private email server to communicate while serving as secretary of state  and later that a handful of the messages had classified markings.

The revelations dogged her 2016 presidential campaign, leading to a lengthy FBI investigation and Donald Trumps promise to put her in prison  lock her up! his rally crowds chanted  if he won. He was the victor, but he didnt pursue a tough-to-win prosecution of Clinton.

Now, two months into Trumps second presidency, the top officials in his administration were discussing sensitive military operations using a commercial, encrypted cellphone app called Signal, The Atlantic reported Monday.

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Sharing the article on X, Clinton was quick to suggest more than a whit of hypocrisy in the actions of Trumps national security officials  some of whom harshly criticized her for mishandling classified information and not properly following federal document-preservation laws.

She added an eyeballs emoji to the post and several incredulous words: You have got to be kidding me.

Mondays brief relitigation of Clintons server came after Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, reported that he was inadvertently included earlier this month in a national security group chat about military strikes on Yemeni Houthis  a force designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization.

According to The Atlantic, the participants appeared to have included Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and others. Some were identified only by their initials on the Signal thread.

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Goldberg said the Signal chats included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing of the strikes.

The thread appears to be authentic, National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said in a statement, calling the conversation  punctuated with emojis  a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. He said White House officials were reviewing how Goldbergs phone number was added to the chat.

Hughes also did not address why government officials sidestepped traditional government information systems to debate the timing of the strikes, share operational details about them in advance and celebrate their successful execution. The administration has not said whether the information was classified and at what level.

Asked by a reporter Monday afternoon whether classified information was shared, Hegseth attacked Goldberg as a guy that peddles in garbage and said that nobody was texting war plans.

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In the years since Clintons private server surfaced, the handling of classified information has become a major issue at the nexus of law, national security and politics. During President Joe Bidens administration, separate special counsels were empowered to investigate Trump and Biden over their retention of classified materials from stints in the White House  Trumps as president and Bidens as vice president. Trumps first vice president, Mike Pence, quickly returned classified information to the government and was not charged.

Trump refused to do so. The FBI raided his Palm Beach, Florida, resort home, Mar-a-Lago, in August 2022, and he was charged with crimes related to holding on to the classified material in federal court. A court dismissed those charges  along with a separate case involving the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol  after Trump won the 2024 election.

Trump had used the prosecutions as campaign-trail fodder to depict the Justice Department as a corrupt arm of the Biden White House  Biden was not charged  a message that rallied his political base and appealed to some voters outside it. Meanwhile, amid a proliferation of communication tools and new attention to mishandling of sensitive information, federal agencies took care to remind employees of proper protocols.

In 2022, for example, a top Pentagon leader sent a memo telling department employees that text messages also had to be preserved for recordkeeping in accordance with federal law.

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Miller, one of Trumps fiercest defenders, tore into Clinton the same year for leaving American secrets vulnerable to being intercepted by enemies.

One point that doesnt get made enough about Hillarys unsecured server illegally used to conduct state business ... foreign adversaries could easily hack classified ops & intel in real time from other side of the globe, Miller tweeted at the time.

In the chat published Monday, someone who, according to The Atlantic, appeared to be Miller (he went by the initials S M in the Signal conversation) effectively ended a debate over the timing of the strikes. When Vance had raised concerns, including a possible spike in the price of oil, the person who appeared to be Miller reminded the group that Trump had given the plan a green light.

In 2016, Rubio, then a senator from Florida, also sharply criticized Clinton for her use of a private server, saying it was incumbent upon leaders in government to make sure they follow the rules around classified material.

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Hillary Clintons actions have sent the worst message to the millions of hard-working federal employees who hold security clearances and are expected to go to great lengths to secure sensitive government information and abide by the rules, Rubio wrote on Facebook at the time. They dont take their oaths lightly, and we shouldnt expect any less of their leaders.

In 2023, Waltz, then a Republican congressman from Florida, criticized the Justice Department for not going after Jake Sullivan, who was national security adviser at the time, for sending top secret messages to Clinton on her private server.

Sullivan did not reply to an inquiry about The Atlantic story.

Ten years ago, Hillary Clinton's private email server burst into public view.

Vances office did not address the potential vulnerability of sensitive national security information in a statement Monday, focusing instead on the question of whether his advocacy for waiting to carry out the strikes represented a substantive break from Trump.The vice presidents first priority is always making sure that the Presidents advisers are adequately briefing him on the substance of their internal deliberations, Vance communications director William Martin said. Vice President Vance unequivocally supports this administrations foreign policy. The president and the vice president have had subsequent conversations about this matter and are in complete agreement.

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Former Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, a onetime Republican who is now a libertarian, noted Monday on X that officials in the group chat concluded that the attack could be carried out a month later without jeopardizing its purpose or effectiveness. Under the War Powers Act, the president is allowed to, and frequently does, authorize hostilities without Congress  which has the formal power to declare war  when there is an emergency.

The executive branch unlawfully sidestepped Congress, taking military action that top officials admit was elective, Amash wrote on X. The discussion establishes unequivocally that the strikes in Yemen are unconstitutional.

In the part of the thread that The Atlantic published, none of the officials voiced objections to using the encrypted app for such secret material. Nor did they mention a key feature of Signal that could frustrate federal recordkeeping rules: A user can make the messages disappear.

According to The Atlantic, some of the messages were set to disappear after a week; others were set to disappear after four.

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Usually, national security officials transmit classified information through government email accounts, phones and videoconferences designated for that purpose. They use the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System, or JWICS, for top secret communications and a more routinely used system called the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network, or SIPRNet, for material deemed to be secret.

When they meet in person to discuss sensitive information, officials use whats known as a Sensitive Compartmentalized Information Facility, or SCIF, which is a highly secure meeting space where phones, music buds or even smartwatches or other electronic equipment are not allowed.

All federal employees working on national security issues sign documents agreeing to adhere to strict laws on the handling of classified information. Cabinet members are subject to the same laws and regulations.

Your phones should be in a box outside of the SCIF that you should be working in, said another former National Security Council staffer under a Democratic president who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

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In its reporting, The Atlantic said it opted to withhold details of military actions that could harm national security if they were revealed to foreign actors  even though those details were accidentally shared with Goldberg.

The reason why we do things on a classified system is to protect our troops and our personnel overseas and to make sure it remains a surprise, said a second former NSC official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid angering the Trump White House.

Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, said he plans to get to the bottom of what happened in this instance  and find out whether there are others.

Our job is to make sure we call these folks on the carpet and say, How did this happen? Whos going to bear the responsibility? How do we make sure its not going to happen again, and how many other incidents havent been repeated so far? he said.

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The Intelligence Committee has an open hearing Tuesday featuring two officials who were apparently on the thread, according to The Atlantic  National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard (who allegedly went by TG on the Signal thread) and CIA chief John Ratcliffe. On March 14, Gabbard, who has no prosecutorial power, took a tough line against leakers.

Any unauthorized release of classified information is a violation of the law and will be treated as such, she wrote on X.

In an interview Monday, Goldberg said, We all make mistakes in texting. Usually it doesnt involve sharing imminent war plans with a large group of people, including some you dont even know.

But he added, The thought did cross my mind, imagine if it were someone else and not me, what the consequences would be. I think this is, you know, I think this could count from a security perspective  it could count as a, you know, a near miss.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
President Donald Trumps nominee to lead the troubled Social Security Administration told senators Tuesday that he would swiftly improve the agencys customer service and slash its payment error rate, all while protecting Americans personal information.

The bold promises, including a pledge to dramatically cut telephone answer wait times, come as Social Security faces steep personnel cuts as part of Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiencys review while the agency confronts ongoing customer service lapses.

Frank Bisignano, who is CEO of Fiserv, the worlds largest payments and financial technology company, was repeatedly pressed by both Republicans and Democrats during his Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing about the longstanding problems their constituents have in dealing with Social Security, which provides monthly payments to more than 73 million senior citizens, people with disabilities and others.

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I dont believe that this is going to take us years, he said of the improvements he plans to institute.  Theres many things we will solve in year one, and that would be my expectation.

If confirmed, Bisignano would take over an agency thats in the midst of a massive and chaotic reorganization spurred by the Trump administration and DOGE. Already understaffed, Social Security is contending with the departure of thousands of employees, many of them with deep institutional knowledge, as it seeks to shrink its workforce by 7,000 people, or 12%. It is also making significant changes to its services, which are expected to drive more customers into its field offices at a time when the agency is seeking to shutter locations.

These moves have former officials and advocates raising red flags that Americans who rely on the agency will have an even harder time getting their questions answered, filing claims and being approved for benefits. Eventually, some warn, the agencys complex computer systems could break down, causing an interruption in benefits.

Demonstrators gather outside of the Edward A. Garmatz United States District Courthouse in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 14, before a hearing regarding the Department of Government Efficiency's access to Social Security data. - Stephanie Scarbrough/AP

Democratic senators peppered the nominee with assertions that Trump and Musk are seeking to undermine the agency with false claims of fraud and service meltdowns so the administration can cut benefits and privatize Social Security, a goal of some Republicans. Bisignano dodged the questions, responding that he has never heard the president talk of privatization and that Trump is committed to protecting the program.

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Also, Bisignano repeatedly told Democratic lawmakers that he would protect Americans private data after the senators voiced concerns about DOGE having access to sensitive files. Last week, a federal judge blocked the agency from giving DOGE representatives access to agency data containing individuals personally identifiable information, and Social Securitys acting commissioner confirmed Monday that DOGE team members access to these systems has been revoked.

Vowing to improve customer service

Bisignano said he would draw on his extensive financial industry background to turn things around at Social Security. He promised to improve the telephone service, reduce the time it takes to process disability claims and slash the agencys improper payment rate, which now stands at less than 1%.

Taking 20-plus minutes to answer the phone is not really acceptable, and thats the reason why only 46% of the phone calls get answered, because people get discouraged and hang up, he told the senators. I think we could get that to under a minute.

Bisignano pointed to technology as a way to enhance services  using artificial intelligence to help telephone customer service representatives answer questions by providing them the information they need. But he also noted that improvements may not require more staff.

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Senators from both sides of the aisle also expressed concern about DOGEs plans to close local offices, but Bisignano said those decisions would be up to him.

I have no intent to close field offices, but Ive studied nothing on the topic. So, its a little hard to commit to something, he said.

Asked by Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, the committees ranking Democrat, to give DOGE a grade for its recent performance at the agency, Bisignano appeared to lay the blame for the chaos on acting commissioner Leland Dudek, who had been a mid-level staffer at Social Security. Trump elevated Dudek last month after he acknowledged working with Musks team, and Dudek has since rolled out many of the controversial changes at the agency.

I dont know if this is a DOGE issue. I think we have a leadership issue, Bisignano said.

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Some Social Security advocates, however, were not impressed with Bisignanos promises at the hearing, noting that he did not disavow the DOGE-led changes at the agency.

Significantly and alarmingly, Bisignano would not commit to ending Musk and DOGEs interference at SSA, nor to reversing any of their dangerous policies, Max Richtman, CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, said in a statement.

This story has been updated with additional details.

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(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trumps nominee to lead the Social Security Administration on Tuesday billed himself as an efficiency guy and said hes given no thought to privatizing the agency, which has become a prime target of Elon Musks dramatic cost-cutting crusade.

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Frank Bisignano, a financial technology executive, faced tough questions from Senate Democrats concerned that the Department of Government Efficiencys downsizing efforts at the agency could lead to privatizing it and ultimately impede the distribution of retirement, survivor and disability benefits to more than 70 million Americans.

Ive never thought about privatizing. Its not a word that anybodys ever talked to me about, he told the Senate Finance Committee. And I dont see this institution as anything other than a government agency that gets run for the benefit of the American public.

Senator Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Finance Committee, warned that Musk, who has likened Social Security to a Ponzi scheme, threatens to destroy the benefit.

The DOGE crowd is breaking a sacred promise to deliver Americans their earned Social Security benefits, Wyden said. Todays hearing is going to be an opportunity for our nominee to tell the American people: whose side is he on?

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I believe its a promise to pay, Bisignano said in response to a question about Musk calling the benefits program a Ponzi scheme. Its an 89-year institution so far. It will continue.

The agency has faced turmoil under the acting administrator Leland Dudek, a DOGE ally who was promoted after the former head resigned over concerns about Musks group access to the agencys private databases.

Just last week, Dudek threatened to shut down the office after a federal judge restricted DOGEs access to sensitive personal data on Social Security beneficiaries. He later backed down.

This week, the agency also installed Scott Coulter, the agencys DOGE team lead and a hedge fund manager, as Social Securitys chief information officer, according to a message from Dudek to employees seen by Bloomberg News. The agency did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

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The Social Security Administration is currently cutting its phone services, a move that advocates have argued could cripple the agency and make benefits inaccessible to disabled and elderly recipients. Bisignano, however, sought to assure senators that would not happen.

We will meet beneficiaries where they want to be met, whether in person, in field offices, on the web or on the phone, Bisignano said. On the phone, Im committed to reducing wait times and providing beneficiaries with a better experience. Waiting 20 minutes plus to get an answer will be of yester-year.

Musk has deployed at least 10 DOGE staffers to the agency in the effort to identify waste and abuse. But the data does not support claims of widespread fraud: from 2015 through 2022, Social Security estimated that it made almost $72 billion in improper payments  less than 1% of benefits paid, according to an inspector general report last year.

Bisignano, most recently the president of financial technology company Fiserv and a former JPMorgan Chase executive, on Tuesday pledged to get the error rate down.

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Trump has vowed to protect Social Security and continue distributing benefits. But critics are concerned that mass layoffs and substantial changes to payment processes will impede its work.

Senator Mike Crapo, the chair of the Senate Finance Committee, expressed support for DOGEs efforts but asked Bisignano to take a thoughtful, measured and data-driven approach and stay in touch with the committee on any changes.

Bisignano said he wasnt aware of any plans to cut Social Security benefits.

I dont think anyone would appreciate not getting their Social Security check on time, he said, adding that if any DOGE-related effort was inappropriate, it would be changed.

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--With assistance from Dana Hull.

(Updates to add Scott Coulter appointment to SSA chief information officer in the ninth paragraph)

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The White House has picked Susan Monarez, the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as the new nominee to lead the agency.

Monarezs selection comes after the White House abruptly withdrew the nomination of former Florida congressman Dave Weldon to lead the agency hours before his confirmation hearing was set to begin.

Weldons past comments linking vaccines to autism and alleged lack of preparedness helped doom his nomination, sources said.

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President Trump announced the nomination in a post on Truth Social.

As an incredible mother and dedicated public servant, Dr. Monarez understands the importance of protecting our children, our communities, and our future. Americans have lost confidence in the CDC due to political bias and disastrous mismanagement, Trump said in the post.

Prior to joining CDC and being named acting director, Monarez served as the deputy director for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), which is tasked with funding innovative, high-impact biomedical research, since January 2023.

President Trump tapped her at the start of his term to be acting head of the CDC, breaking precedent that the acting director come from within the agency.

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This is the first time a CDC director will need to be confirmed by the Senate, following bipartisan legislation signed by President Biden.

The expected nomination was first reported by CBS.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Donald Trump said the 2018 portrait had been purposely distorted

A portrait of Donald Trump is to be removed from the Colorado state capitol after the president called it truly the worst attempt to capture his likeness.

Mr Trump lashed out at Sarah Boardman, the British artist who painted the 2018 portrait, on his social media site Truth Social, claiming it had been purposely distorted and that she had lost her talent as she got older.

Now, the artwork is set to be removed after Republican lawmakers on Monday requested it be taken down and Democrats, who hold a majority in the Colorado legislature, signed off on the decision.

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According to Paul Lundeen, the Colorado senate minority leader, the painting is to be replaced by one capturing a contemporary likeness of the president.

Jarrett Freedman, the Colorado House Democrats spokesman, said: If the GOP wants to spend time and money on which portrait of Trump hangs in the capitol, then thats up to them.

In his Sunday evening complaint, Mr Trump said nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, but the Colorado portrait was purposely distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before.

The artwork depicts the president with a serious, thoughtful, non-confrontational expression, Ms Boardman said of her work.

The artwork is set to be removed after Republican lawmakers requested it be taken down

Ms Boardman has also painted former presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama, who Mr Trump said looked wonderful in his portrait.

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In the painting, Mr Trumps lips are pursed, his cheeks and chin slightly pudgy and his hair less voluminous than in his preferred portraits, several of which he subsequently posted to the Truth Social site after airing his grievance.

The offending portrait was commissioned during Mr Trumps first term and receiving the backing of Republicans.

Mr Trump blamed Colorados Democratic governor for putting it up.

I am speaking on their behalf to the radical Left governor, Jared Polis to take it down. Jared should be ashamed of himself, the president said.

Ms Boardman said: Any personal feelings about any subject are not relevant

A spokesman for Mr Polis responded that the governor was surprised to learn the president of the United States is an aficionado of our Colorado state capitol and its artwork.

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We appreciate the president and everyones interest in our capitol building and are always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience.

The painting has hung in Colorados capitol since 2019 after Kevin Grantham, then the Republican president of the state senate, launched a crowdfunding campaign for a new portrait that hit its target within 32 hours.

The offending portrait was commissioned during Donald Trumps first term and receiving the backing of Republicans - Thomas Peipert/AP

The decision to commission a portrait was sparked by Left-wing activists sneaking into the capitol and hanging a portrait of Vladimir Putin on an easel in front of the empty slot for Mr Trump.

It is the portrait, likeness, and essence of the subject which I strive to portray, Ms Boardman told the Colorado Times Recorder.

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Any personal feelings about any subject are not relevant and are left outside the studio per my training to leave those emotions at the door.

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A portrait of President Trump that has been hanging in the Colorado Capitol for years is coming down after the president trashed the painting as truly the worst and suggested it was intentionally distorted to make him look bad.

House Democrats said in a statement to The Associated Press on Monday that the painting would be removed at the request of Republican lawmakers, adding if the GOP wants to spend time and money on which portrait of Trump hangs in the Capitol, then thats up to them.

The portrait was unveiled nearly six years ago. Trump posted about his disdain for the portrait on Sunday and blamed Gov. Jared Polis (D), who was not in office at the time the artwork was commissioned and not involved in the 2019 unveiling a few months after he was sworn in.

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Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, but the one in Colorado, in the State Capitol  was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. In any event, I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one.

Trump, 78, also suggested that artist Sarah Boardman, who is in her 70s, must have lost her talent as she got older because her portrait of former President Obama was more flattering.

Boardman hasnt responded to The Hills requests for comment.

A Colorado Republican who played a key role in ensuring Trumps likeness would join the other presidential paintings at the state Capitol defended the artist, though he supports Trumps desire to have it removed.

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This is a person who is a good, qualified artist whose body of work will supersede this little hiccup long after were all gone, Kevin Grantham (R), who was president of the state Senate when portrait was commissioned, told The Hill on Monday. It wont affect her good reputation.

Shes a good person, to boot, he added.

Grantham, who is now a Fremont County, Colo., commissioner, spearheaded an online fundraiser in 2018 for the portrait. It raised enough to cover the $10,000 price tag in about 30 hours after a nonprofit group was unable to secure donations for the portrait during a wave of backlash against Trump during his first term. Grantham also took part in the artworks unveiling ceremony in August 2019.

I think how things were characterized were unfortunate, he said of suggestions about Trumps likeness being intentionally distorted or the artists age having an impact on the work. Im still really proud of the effort that we put in to get those funds raised.

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Grantham said he can empathize with anyone who finds an image unflattering not wanting it displayed for posterity.

The presidents no different, said Grantham, who said he voted for Trump three times and remains a supporter. Im the last person to ask for an art critique  its not my world.

He said the point of the portrait gallery is to revere the office of the president.

Its not to honor any single individual, he said. Leaving any of them out would be a disservice to the people of Colorado.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The Elon Musk-championed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) could end its mass firings of federal employees in the next two or three months, President Donald Trump said in a Monday Cabinet meeting. Despite fears the cuts will have negative economic and security impacts, Trump argued they were necessary. I have no idea how it plays out in the public, he said. But it's something that has to be done.

President Trump has suggested the Department of Government Efficiency may be nearing its halfway point in conducting mass firings of federal workers.

Trump addressed Cabinet members and DOGE boss Elon Musk in a Monday meeting, saying he expects DOGE to have culled the workforce to levels of his liking in the next few months.

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Were getting down to a point we think probably over the next two or three months, well be pretty much satisfied with the people that are working hard and want to be members of the administration and our country, Trump said.

Our country was riddled with fat, he added, and were getting rid of the fat.

DOGE has facilitated the elimination of about 25,000 federal probationary workers since its Jan. 20 inception, according to court documents, part of Trump and Musks aim to dramatically shrink the scope and power of the federal workforce.

Experts bone to pick with DOGE

While Cabinet secretaries near-unilaterally praised the work of DOGE in the meeting, experts and economists have sounded the alarms on the adverse impact of the mass cuts. In February, the U.S. Department of Agriculture fired and then tried to rehire employees assigned to combat the spread of bird flu, leading public-health experts to warn of the personnel chaos disrupting the departments productivity.

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Similarly, the Department of Energy last month sought to rehire hundreds of nuclear-bomb specialists after firing them weeks earlier. The administration has also eliminated 17 inspectors general, including the inspector of the Department of Defense. Theresa Payton, a former White House chief information officer under President George W. Bush, said the mass firings of those with insider government knowledge have potentially made the U.S. vulnerable by creating an opportunity for Russia and China to recruit possible informants.

Others worry about the economic impact of the cuts, warning the influx of federal workers looking for jobs and the elimination of private-sector government contracts could adversely impact the market.

Its not as simple as just, We think theres fraud, lets cut waste, lets cut expenses, investor Danny Moses, who predicted the 2008 market crash, told Fortune last week. And its not just about the federal workers, and its not just about the expenses out of those programs. Its about the contracts with the private sector.

Trump seemed to downplay the critiques of the special advisory to Cabinet members and press.

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Its not necessarily a very popular thing to do, he said in the meeting. I have no idea how it plays out in the public but it's something that has to be done.

The White House and DOGE didnt respond to Fortunes requests for comment.

The DOGE days of summer

Regardless of when DOGE will complete its workforce reductions, the advisory was always on a timeline. In the Jan. 20 executive order announcing the creation of DOGE, Trump said the special advisory would end July 4, 2026.

Trumps estimated completion of DOGEs firings would more or less coincide with the end of Musks status as a special government employee, which grants him certain permissions and access, but limits his work to only 130 days a year. By that math, Musks tenure would end on May 30. However, there are few outlined consequences for an official whose work exceeds this period, as the continuation of the status is enforced by the appointing official, in this case, Trump.

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If an SGE unexpectedly serves more than 130 days, they remain an SGE for the remainder of that period, according to a March 2024 ethics briefing from the U.S. Department of Commerce. But, during the next 365-day period, the appointing official should reevaluate whether the SGE should still be designated as an SGE.

Though Trump and Musk have presented a united front in continued plans for spending cuts, the president reined in DOGEs chainsaw-like approach following a Cabinet meeting on March 7, saying cuts should be made with a scalpel rather than a hatchet.

I dont want to see a big cut where a lot of good people are cut, Trump said. I want the Cabinet members to keep the good people, and the people who arent doing a good job, who are unreliable, dont show up to work, et cetera, can be cut.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
From left: Tom Streeter, Lindsay Fouts, Matt Milligan. (Photos provided)

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Tom Streeter clearly remembers the day he nearly died from depression, left untreated for years.

In the mid-1990s, Streeter was in North Carolina working on his dissertation when his mental health tanked.

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One day, I found myself sitting in my office, wondering how to kill myself, said Streeter, now 61. It occurred to me that maybe I ought to talk to somebody, because if I actually came up with a way that was acceptable, I was going to really be in trouble.

Streeter, whos now lived in Boone County more than 20 years, called a friend who referred him to a psychiatrist. Quickly, he got set up with talk therapy and was prescribed Zoloft, an antidepressant that had been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration a few years prior.

Hes been on Zoloft ever since and credits it with saving his life.

Its been 30 years, Streeter told the Lantern. Theres been all kinds of ups and downs, but I think, frankly, its the only reason Im here.

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Streeter and other Kentuckians whove taken selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to treat depression are angry and confused over recent national rhetoric surrounding the drug class. Those who shared their stories with the Kentucky Lantern overwhelmingly said antidepressants improved their lives, and, in some cases, saved them.

In a February executive order, President Donald Trump called for more research into SSRIs and directed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to study the threat posed by the medications in his role as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Kentucky experts agree that more research is always welcome, but say SSRIs are safe and effective at treating depression.

Still, the federal Make America Healthy Again Commission, which Kennedy will chair, is charged with understanding chronic diseases. It will assess the prevalence of and threat posed by the prescription of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants and weight-loss drugs, according to the executive order. Kentucky lawmakers have moved to establish a task force aimed at implementing the MAHA principles in Kentucky.

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Kennedys comments about SSRIs include saying they can be addictive and worse to quit taking than heroin  statements Kentucky experts say are false.

Thats a biologically inaccurate statement, because SSRIs are not addictive. Heroin is addictive, said Brighid Kleinman, a Louisville psychologist. Tapering off appropriately, it works every time. You dont taper off an SSRI and then have a craving to go back on it. Thats not how it works. You might find that your symptoms come back, in which case maybe it is helpful to be on it, but youre not thinking about it every day. Youre not wishing you had this drug. Youre not doing illegal things to try to get to it.

Early on  people would ask, what do they feel like? Well, when they're really working, they don't feel like anything. That's the whole point. I would experience emotions in a way that I'd actually  read about in books.

 Tom Streeter, who takes Zoloft for depression

Kentuckians who are on antidepressants to treat mental health issues find the recent rhetoric surrounding the medications upsetting.

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They are absolutely full of crap, Streeter said. Whatever their agenda is, it has nothing to do with anybodys well-being. Im not going to listen to a guy whos had brain worms  literal brain worms  tell me what should be going in my freaking head. It makes me very angry.

Streeter was referring to Kennedys experience being misdiagnosed with a tumor that turned out to be a brain worm.

He added: I dont know what these peoples agendas are. I dont care. Just leave me the hell out of it.

Kentucky medical experts, doctors and psychologists who weighed in on SSRIs said that overall, the medications are helpful for treating moderate to severe depression.

Who gets prescribed SSRIs?

SSRIs are used to treat depression, mainly, and may also treat anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Dr. Rif El-Mallakh, a professor of psychiatry and mood disorder expert at the UofL School of Medicine. (Photo provided)

Dr. Rif El-Mallakh, a professor of psychiatry and mood disorder expert at the UofL School of Medicine, said a lot is still unknown about the depressed brain.

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If you have a heart attack, we know that theres a blood vessel thats blocked and a piece of the heart dies, he explained. But when you get depressed, we dont actually know what is happening in the brain to create the symptoms.

Nevertheless, depression is clearly a dysfunction that results in a cascade of abnormalities like low energy, sleep disruption, inflammation and more.

Its a physical dysfunction of the body, but it doesnt produce direct physical symptoms, said El-Mallakh. We can measure physical abnormalities  but the symptoms tend to be more subjective, or at least they seem more subjective.

When a person is depressed, they may experience unwanted behavioral changes  like irritability  just like an involuntary sneeze, he explained.

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We do know that when youre depressed, that you have difficulty functioning. That is, youre unable to do your routine tasks. You are less effective in everything, said El-Mallakh. You might get up and do the dishes, but it takes you twice as long to do the dishes. You might indeed take care of your kids, but it takes more effort to take care of your kids.

Enter antidepressants, which can help regulate emotions, allowing people to better cope with stressors.

The idea is that your brain is not using the serotonin it has, and its using it up too fast, and these medications are helping keep the amount of serotonin stable in your brain, explained Dr. Fareesh Kanga, a University of Kentucky assistant professor of psychiatry.

What are SSRIs? How do they work?

Hannah Johnson, who holds a doctor of pharmacy and is an associate professor in the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, said people who have depression and anxiety may not be holding onto enough serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate moods, among other things.

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SSRIs block the serotonin reuptake transporter from suck(ing) up that serotonin, resulting in depressive symptoms. In doing so, Johnson explained, the medications allow more serotonin to hang out in the synapse.

Psychologists say the results are clear: their patients who get on antidepressants are often better able to thrive in therapy and handle stress.

Katie McBride is a Louisville psychologist. (Photo provided)

Katie McBride, a Louisville psychologist, said sometimes clients are stuck, be that due to complex trauma or severe depression.

When Im talking to clients, Im saying: youre functioning, but youre using all of your energy, like youre clinging to the side of a mountain, and  because of that, youre just in a survival mode because your symptoms are so severe. And so oftentimes, with the antidepressants, its kind of helping to take enough of the edge off, or to kind of get on the landing to some stability, McBride explained.

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With the medication, she said, youre not all the way away from the edge, but youre not having to use all of your energy to just  stay alive. With that extra energy, she said, clients can learn about their emotions and develop skills to manage their behavior.

Because of this, she said: the gold standard, if you will, is always  psychotherapy plus medication.

Dr. Caitlin Briggs, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Kentucky, said the medications are the first line treatments for both children and adults.

While Briggs agreed that its ideal to have both therapy and medication, she pointed to therapist shortages that can keep people from getting established with a therapist. Other times, symptoms of depression are so severe a person may not be able to participate in therapy right away.

Dr. Caitlin Briggs, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Kentucky. (Photo provided)

Sometimes a kid is severely depressed or severely anxious that its difficult for them to even participate or be receptive to the therapy, and a medication can really lighten the load a little bit and allow them to be able to participate better in the therapy treatment, said Briggs. And there are kids that, when theyve had the combination treatment, theyre able to come off of the medication at some point. And thats always the goal but we understand that thats not the case for everyone.

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Kleinman said SSRI experiences among her clients are overall good.

Theyre so mild, right? They are not a dangerous medicine, Kleinman said. It is perfectly fine to take an SSRI, and if it doesnt work for you, stop taking it. It makes sense to prescribe them as a first line of treatment to see if it helps, because theres so few downsides.

Those downsides Kleinman referred to  side effects of the medications  can include upset stomach in the beginning and, in some people, sexual dysfunction such as difficulty having an orgasm.

Often its having or sustaining an erection or feeling pleasure from sex, she said. Those are relatively common. Much of the time, doctors will either change your medicine or reduce your medicine, because theres so many different SSRIs that if youre having sexual side effects with one of them, you may not with another one.

Johnson, the pharmacy expert, said depression itself can cause sexual dysfunction, so its sometimes tricky to figure out if the disease is causing the issue or the treatment. The solution will vary person to person, she said.

Experts agreed: its important to have a long taper when stopping an SSRI, and to not quit the medications abruptly or without physician guidance. Stopping abruptly can result in discontinuation syndrome, Kanga explained, which can come with some unpleasant side effects that people without medical training sometimes misinterpret as a withdrawal, but is not.

The elephant in the room: the black box warning

Hannah Johnson holds a doctor of pharmacy and is an associate professor in the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy. (Photo provided)

SSRIs come with a black box warning from the FDA, which says people younger than 25 may experience a small increase in suicidal thoughts.

This was a blanket black box warning that they required all antidepressants to put onto their labeling  so they didnt specifically look at specific drugs and study specific drugs and assess for suicide or suicidal thinking or behaviors, Johnson explained. They just looked back at all of the studies of these medications and saw that there was potentially a small increase in suicidal thinking or behaviors, and then they just  globally labeled it and put it on all of the antidepressants.

The black box warning came after the FDA analyzed clinical trials and found a small number of young people experienced more suicidality after starting treatment, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The analysis showed that some children and teens taking antidepressants had a small increase in suicidal thoughts, compared with those taking a sugar pill (placebo), according to the Mayo Clinic. None of the people in the studies ended their lives. Other research shows antidepressants effectively treat depression in this population.

Experts emphasized: untreated major depression is a high risk factor for suicide. Prescribers will monitor a patient for increased energy when they start treatment.

This, too, is when talk therapy is helpful. Therapists can help people navigate new feelings and energy that come with treating depression with medication.

Dr. Fareesh Kanga is an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Kentucky. (Photo provided)

Its something that we definitely counsel people on and tell them about, Johnson said. But it shouldnt prevent someone from being able to get one of these medications if they are able to have the support and monitoring for increased suicide risk during that time frame.

Kanga pointed out that suicide is already a leading cause of death among children and adolescents. The COVID-19 pandemic and its related breaks from the social interactions of school didnt help, nor do intergenerational trauma and social media.

While, of course, we should put research money into cancer and into improving all aspects of childrens lives, Kanga said, if you want to stop having children die as children, we need to stop suicide, and we need to invest in mental health to do that.

When theyre really working, they dont feel like anything

Not only are SSRIs not addicting, experts say that when they work right, they wont feel like much of anything.

While some people might experience an emotional blunting, as McBride put it, Johnson said our goal is to have that full range of emotions when on antidepressants.

If someones feeling that numbness, then were not treating them with the right medication or the right approach, Johnson said.

Streeter thinks the misconception that antidepressants make people numb can be stigmatizing for people, though he is unbothered.

Nobodys going to throw any contempt at me that I havent thrown at myself, he said. So  I dont worry a hell of a lot about it. Early on  people would ask, what do they feel like? Well, when theyre really working, they dont feel like anything. Thats the whole point. I would experience emotions in a way that Id actually  read about in books.

Most experts who spoke to the Lantern said theres no danger in staying on antidepressants longterm. El-Mallakh has some concerns about long-term use, but admits his opinion is a minority position.

A time of terror and stigma

Matt Milligan, who is from Versailles, first got on an antidepressant in high school. He was suicidal, and he voiced it often.

His mother took him to a doctor who prescribed Effexor, which hes been on  with a few breaks  ever since. (Effexor is an antidepressant but in a different drug class than SSRIs).

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Still, Milligan says stigma around mental health is going backwards.

In the late 90s and early 2000s there was an effort to de-stigmatize all this stuff  mental stuff  and now its like were under the gun again, and we cant really talk about it, he said. Its like we have to go to our little online message groups or whatever, to just talk about  what were feeling or what were dealing with.

It makes people like me want to just slide back into the shadows where we can just kind of chill  and not have to worry about too much.

Milligan, 42, blames national politics and their trickle-down effect on Kentucky.

Currently  politically, its okay to be mean and disparaging towards people and  the meaner you are, the louder you are, the better you are, he said.

Brighid Kleinman is a Louisville psychologist. (Photo provided)

Kleinman has noted terror among her clients lately.

My patients are terrified that their lifesaving medicines are going to go away, or theyre not going to have access to the thing that allows them to get out of bed or not be too anxious to work, she said. I am seeing a lot of fear.

Lindsay Fouts, 42, said SSRIs helped her cope with real bad postpartum depression and they helped her manage thoughts of suicide. Now, the Louisville woman is worried about the future.

Im anxious about everything happening in Washington right now, she said. Im anxious about everything happening politically right now, very anxious. And I have anxiety, so it doesnt help.

Rob Mattheu, who said SSRIs helped him cope with anxiety and panic surrounding the loss of his father, has a live and let live mentality.

If you dont feel theyre right for you, then definitely dont take them, but dont dismiss the fact that theyve helped other people, the Fern Creek man, 54, said.

Experts said more research and education on SSRIs are always welcome, but cautioned against buying into misinformation.

For the people it works for, it can be life changing, Kleinman said. I dont think we should prescribe less of them. I think that our research needs to get better in terms of figuring out for whom SSRIs will be helpful.

Briggs said stigma has improved, but there remain populations who see mental health as something one can choose to believe in or not.

Its not necessarily something that you believe in, Briggs, the UK psychiatrist, said. Its not like Santa Claus, its not like the tooth fairy. Mental health is just as important as physical health. And if you dont treat your mental health, your physical health is not going to be as great.

If you dont feel theyre right for you, then definitely dont take them, but dont dismiss the fact that theyve helped other people.

 Rob Mattheu

There remain question marks around the future of antidepressants. For now, UofL psychiatrist El-Mallakh said it would be irresponsible to take away something from people that are sick.

I think that it is important to understand that everything we do is associated with potential problems. You can argue that hammers are associated with broken thumbs, right? So we need to eliminate hammers? No. We need to use the tool more effectively, he said. We need to understand that everything has its potential harm, and we need to deal with that, minimize that harm as much as possible.

Depression, he reiterated, is a disease that has to be treated.

Taking away the tools to treat our patients is wrong, he said. It is ethically wrong, morally wrong, scientifically wrong.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
A student goes through his locker in a hallway at an elementary school in Louisville, Ky. More than a dozen states in the past two years have launched or expanded programs that allow families to use taxpayer dollars to send their students to private schools. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

More than a dozen states in the past two years have launched or expanded programs that allow families to use taxpayer dollars to send their students to private schools. Now, President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress want to supercharge those efforts.

Trump in January issued an executive order directing several federal agencies to allow states, tribes and military families to tap into federal money for so-called school choice opportunities. Those can come in the form of education savings accounts, voucher programs, tax credits or scholarships. Trumps order also aims to expand access to public charter schools, which are free from some of the rules that apply to traditional public schools.

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Meanwhile in Congress, 24 Republican senators have signed on to legislation that would provide $10 billion in annual tax credits to individuals and corporations who make charitable contributions to organizations that provide private-school scholarships. A Nebraska Republican introduced a companion measure in the House.

Already this year, Idaho, Tennessee and Wyoming have approved school choice programs, and bills are advancing in Kansas, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas. A bill in Mississippi died before advancing. Most of the measures still in play would open programs to all families regardless of income, though some states would cap the total amount of money available.

Supporters of school choice say it gives parents control of their kids education  and an escape hatch if they are dissatisfied with their local public school. Many conservatives, religious institutions and private schools are in favor of school choice, along with some people of color who live in districts with underperforming public schools.

Every child is different. They learn in different environments. There are just so many factors, that I believe that parents should be the ones that make the decision on where their child is going to do the best and have the most success, said Indiana Republican state Sen. Linda Rogers. A former educator, Rogers has sponsored a bill in her state that would provide additional money to charter schools, which are considered to be a form of school choice.

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Opponents, including teachers unions, public school professionals and many rural lawmakers of both parties, say such measures undermine traditional public schools by shifting money away from them.

When we start to take from public schools, were hurting our kids, our lower-income kids. They will not prosper from this legislation, Tennessee Democratic state Rep. Ronnie Glynn said during the floor debate on a far-reaching voucher bill in his state.

Joshua Cowen, a professor of education policy at Michigan State University, said vouchers are a budget-buster for states.

Vouchers dont shift costs  they add costs, Cowen said in a phone interview. Most voucher recipients were already in private schools, meaning states are paying for education they previously didnt have to fund.

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The switch to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, which gave parents a front-row seat to watch what their children were  or were not  learning in their classes, contributed to the recent school choice momentum. So did parent frustration over prolonged public school closures.

I believe that parents should be the ones that make the decision on where their child is going to do the best and have the most success.

 Indiana Republican state Sen. Linda Rogers

Parents got a good look into sort of what was happening in schools, said Bella DiMarco, a senior K-12 education policy analyst at FutureEd, an independent think tank at Georgetown University. There was a lot of talk during the pandemic around school choice  of what public schools arent doing for their kids.

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The first modern school voucher program, created in Milwaukee in 1990, was a bipartisan effort to help lower-income families afford private schools. In recent years, more states have moved from school choice programs focused on certain groups, such as low-income students or students with disabilities, to universal programs open to students of all backgrounds.

Historically, the programs were always sort of targeted to students in need, DiMarco said. But in the last couple of years, the new push has been for these universal programs.

Currently, more than 30 states and Washington, D.C., have at least one school choice program. More than a dozen states now offer universal or near-universal access, allowing K12 students to participate in school choice regardless of income.

EdChoice, a nonprofit that advocates for school choice, estimates that 1.2 million students are attending private schools this school year with the help of public tax credits, scholarships or vouchers.

Different strategies

States that enacted school choice programs this year have pursued different strategies.

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The program Idaho enacted last month, for example, will provide an annual tax credit of $5,000 per child ($7,500 for students with disabilities) to help cover private education expenses.

Most voucher recipients were already in private schools, meaning states are paying for education they previously didnt have to fund.

 Joshua Cowen, a professor of education policy at Michigan State University

Tennessees new program will provide 20,000 scholarships of roughly $7,000 each. During its first year, half of the Tennessee scholarships will be reserved for households earning less than $173,000 for a family of four, but that restriction will be removed in subsequent years.

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About 65% of the Tennessee vouchers are expected to be awarded to students who already attend private schools, according to a legislative analysis.

Critics say the cost of the program will grow quickly, creating a hole in the states budget. Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who pushed hard for the proposal, suggested that Trumps executive order might provide additional resources. Lee told reporters he hasnt yet analyzed the order, but I think theres opportunity there.

The president wants to support states like ours who are advocating for school choice, Lee said in a news conference after lawmakers approved the measure. Lee was at the White House on Thursday when Trump signed an order calling for the U.S. Department of Education to be dismantled.

Texas lawmakers also are actively debating a voucher program, a longtime priority for Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who worked to defeat resistant rural Republicans in last years state legislative elections and who also attended the White House event. The Senate passed a bill that would provide $10,000 per student ($11,500 for students with disabilities) annually through education savings accounts. A similar House proposal is under review.

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Kansas is considering a universal refundable tax credit  $8,000 per child for accredited private school tuition and $4,000 for non-accredited private schools. The program starts with a $125 million cap, increasing annually if participation hits certain thresholds.

Ballot box defeats

School choice opponents question the wisdom of sending taxpayer dollars to schools that may lack certified teachers, follow nonstandardized curricula or discriminate in admissions. Many private schools have testing standards, maintain religious requirements or exclude LGBTQ+ students or those with certain disabilities, for example.

In some Republican-led states that have expanded school choice, Democrats have filed bills to increase oversight and place restrictions on these programs. A bill in Tennessee would require background checks for teachers at private schools that receive voucher money. And an Iowa bill would require that property tax statements include information on how much money education savings accounts subtracted from local public schools.

As voucher programs have grown, they have attracted greater scrutiny.

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ProPublica, an investigative journalism outlet, last year found that Arizonas universal voucher program has mostly benefited wealthier families. Some Arizona parents have tried to use voucher money to pay for dune buggies and expensive Lego sets, according to press reports.

Critics also note that despite recent legislative successes, school ballot initiatives fared poorly at the ballot box last fall.

Voters in Colorado rejected a measure that sought to enshrine school choice rights in the state constitution.

In Nebraska, voters partially repealed a state-funded private school scholarship program.

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And in Kentucky, voters overwhelmingly rejected a constitutional amendment that would have allowed the use of public money to support private schools, with 65% of voters  and a majority in every county  opposed.

Theres a handful of these billionaires that have been pushing vouchers for 30 years, said Cowen, the Michigan State University professor. The school choice movement is not necessarily driven by public demand, but rather by wealthy donors and political maneuvering.

Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@stateline.org.
A student goes through his locker in a hallway at an elementary school in Louisville, Ky. More than a dozen states in the past two years have launched or expanded programs that allow families to use taxpayer dollars to send their students to private schools. (Jon Cherry | Getty Images)

More than a dozen states in the past two years have launched or expanded programs that allow families to use taxpayer dollars to send their students to private schools. Now, President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress want to supercharge those efforts.

Trump in January issued an executive order directing several federal agencies to allow states, tribes and military families to tap into federal money for so-called school choice opportunities. Those can come in the form of education savings accounts, voucher programs, tax credits or scholarships. Trumps order also aims to expand access to public charter schools, which are free from some of the rules that apply to traditional public schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Meanwhile in Congress, 24 Republican senators have signed on to legislation that would provide $10 billion in annual tax credits to individuals and corporations who make charitable contributions to organizations that provide private-school scholarships. A Nebraska Republican introduced a companion measure in the House.

Already this year, Idaho, Tennessee and Wyoming have approved school choice programs, and bills are advancing in Kansas, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas. A bill in Mississippi died before advancing. Most of the measures still in play would open programs to all families regardless of income, though some states would cap the total amount of money available.

Supporters of school choice say it gives parents control of their kids education  and an escape hatch if they are dissatisfied with their local public school. Many conservatives, religious institutions and private schools are in favor of school choice, along with some people of color who live in districts with underperforming public schools.

Every child is different. They learn in different environments. There are just so many factors, that I believe that parents should be the ones that make the decision on where their child is going to do the best and have the most success, said Indiana Republican state Sen. Linda Rogers. A former educator, Rogers has sponsored a bill in her state that would provide additional money to charter schools, which are considered to be a form of school choice.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Opponents, including teachers unions, public school professionals and many rural lawmakers of both parties, say such measures undermine traditional public schools by shifting money away from them.

When we start to take from public schools, were hurting our kids, our lower-income kids. They will not prosper from this legislation, Tennessee Democratic state Rep. Ronnie Glynn said during the floor debate on a far-reaching voucher bill in his state.

Joshua Cowen, a professor of education policy at Michigan State University, said vouchers are a budget-buster for states.

Vouchers dont shift costs  they add costs, Cowen said in a phone interview. Most voucher recipients were already in private schools, meaning states are paying for education they previously didnt have to fund.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The switch to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, which gave parents a front-row seat to watch what their children were  or were not  learning in their classes, contributed to the recent school choice momentum. So did parent frustration over prolonged public school closures.

I believe that parents should be the ones that make the decision on where their child is going to do the best and have the most success.

 Indiana Republican state Sen. Linda Rogers

Parents got a good look into sort of what was happening in schools, said Bella DiMarco, a senior K-12 education policy analyst at FutureEd, an independent think tank at Georgetown University. There was a lot of talk during the pandemic around school choice  of what public schools arent doing for their kids.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The first modern school voucher program, created in Milwaukee in 1990, was a bipartisan effort to help lower-income families afford private schools. In recent years, more states have moved from school choice programs focused on certain groups, such as low-income students or students with disabilities, to universal programs open to students of all backgrounds.

Historically, the programs were always sort of targeted to students in need, DiMarco said. But in the last couple of years, the new push has been for these universal programs.

Currently, more than 30 states and Washington, D.C., have at least one school choice program. More than a dozen states now offer universal or near-universal access, allowing K12 students to participate in school choice regardless of income.

EdChoice, a nonprofit that advocates for school choice, estimates that 1.2 million students are attending private schools this school year with the help of public tax credits, scholarships or vouchers.

Different strategies

States that enacted school choice programs this year have pursued different strategies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The program Idaho enacted last month, for example, will provide an annual tax credit of $5,000 per child ($7,500 for students with disabilities) to help cover private education expenses.

Most voucher recipients were already in private schools, meaning states are paying for education they previously didnt have to fund.

 Joshua Cowen, a professor of education policy at Michigan State University

Tennessees new program will provide 20,000 scholarships of roughly $7,000 each. During its first year, half of the Tennessee scholarships will be reserved for households earning less than $173,000 for a family of four, but that restriction will be removed in subsequent years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

About 65% of the Tennessee vouchers are expected to be awarded to students who already attend private schools, according to a legislative analysis.

Critics say the cost of the program will grow quickly, creating a hole in the states budget. Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who pushed hard for the proposal, suggested that Trumps executive order might provide additional resources. Lee told reporters he hasnt yet analyzed the order, but I think theres opportunity there.

The president wants to support states like ours who are advocating for school choice, Lee said in a news conference after lawmakers approved the measure. Lee was at the White House on Thursday when Trump signed an order calling for the U.S. Department of Education to be dismantled.

Texas lawmakers also are actively debating a voucher program, a longtime priority for Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who worked to defeat resistant rural Republicans in last years state legislative elections and who also attended the White House event. The Senate passed a bill that would provide $10,000 per student ($11,500 for students with disabilities) annually through education savings accounts. A similar House proposal is under review.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Kansas is considering a universal refundable tax credit  $8,000 per child for accredited private school tuition and $4,000 for non-accredited private schools. The program starts with a $125 million cap, increasing annually if participation hits certain thresholds.

Ballot box defeats

School choice opponents question the wisdom of sending taxpayer dollars to schools that may lack certified teachers, follow nonstandardized curricula or discriminate in admissions. Many private schools have testing standards, maintain religious requirements or exclude LGBTQ+ students or those with certain disabilities, for example.

In some Republican-led states that have expanded school choice, Democrats have filed bills to increase oversight and place restrictions on these programs. A bill in Tennessee would require background checks for teachers at private schools that receive voucher money. And an Iowa bill would require that property tax statements include information on how much money education savings accounts subtracted from local public schools.

As voucher programs have grown, they have attracted greater scrutiny.

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ProPublica, an investigative journalism outlet, last year found that Arizonas universal voucher program has mostly benefited wealthier families. Some Arizona parents have tried to use voucher money to pay for dune buggies and expensive Lego sets, according to press reports.

Critics also note that despite recent legislative successes, school ballot initiatives fared poorly at the ballot box last fall.

Voters in Colorado rejected a measure that sought to enshrine school choice rights in the state constitution.

In Nebraska, voters partially repealed a state-funded private school scholarship program.

Advertisement Advertisement

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And in Kentucky, voters overwhelmingly rejected a constitutional amendment that would have allowed the use of public money to support private schools, with 65% of voters  and a majority in every county  opposed.

Theres a handful of these billionaires that have been pushing vouchers for 30 years, said Cowen, the Michigan State University professor. The school choice movement is not necessarily driven by public demand, but rather by wealthy donors and political maneuvering.

Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@stateline.org.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org.

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A student goes through his locker in a hallway at an elementary school in Louisville, Ky. More than a dozen states in the past two years have launched or expanded programs that allow families to use taxpayer dollars to send their students to private schools. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

More than a dozen states in the past two years have launched or expanded programs that allow families to use taxpayer dollars to send their students to private schools. Now, President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress want to supercharge those efforts.

Trump in January issued an executive order directing several federal agencies to allow states, tribes and military families to tap into federal money for so-called school choice opportunities. Those can come in the form of education savings accounts, voucher programs, tax credits or scholarships. Trumps order also aims to expand access to public charter schools, which are free from some of the rules that apply to traditional public schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

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Meanwhile in Congress, 24 Republican senators have signed on to legislation that would provide $10 billion in annual tax credits to individuals and corporations who make charitable contributions to organizations that provide private-school scholarships. A Nebraska Republican introduced a companion measure in the House.

Already this year, Idaho, Tennessee and Wyoming have approved school choice programs, and bills are advancing in Kansas, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas. A bill in Mississippi died before advancing. Most of the measures still in play would open programs to all families regardless of income, though some states would cap the total amount of money available.

Several South Dakota proposals were rejected this year, including efforts to create an education savings account program. Meanwhile, South Dakota already has a tax credit program for insurance company contributions to private school scholarships, which lawmakers have expanded several times.

Supporters of school choice say it gives parents control of their kids education  and an escape hatch if they are dissatisfied with their local public school. Many conservatives, religious institutions and private schools are in favor of school choice, along with some people of color who live in districts with underperforming public schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

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Every child is different. They learn in different environments. There are just so many factors, that I believe that parents should be the ones that make the decision on where their child is going to do the best and have the most success, said Indiana Republican state Sen. Linda Rogers. A former educator, Rogers has sponsored a bill in her state that would provide additional money to charter schools, which are considered to be a form of school choice.

Opponents, including teachers unions, public school professionals and many rural lawmakers of both parties, say such measures undermine traditional public schools by shifting money away from them.

When we start to take from public schools, were hurting our kids, our lower-income kids. They will not prosper from this legislation, Tennessee Democratic state Rep. Ronnie Glynn said during the floor debate on a far-reaching voucher bill in his state.

Joshua Cowen, a professor of education policy at Michigan State University, said vouchers are a budget-buster for states.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Vouchers dont shift costs  they add costs, Cowen said in a phone interview. Most voucher recipients were already in private schools, meaning states are paying for education they previously didnt have to fund.

The switch to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, which gave parents a front-row seat to watch what their children were  or were not  learning in their classes, contributed to the recent school choice momentum. So did parent frustration over prolonged public school closures.

I believe that parents should be the ones that make the decision on where their child is going to do the best and have the most success.

 Indiana Republican state Sen. Linda Rogers

Parents got a good look into sort of what was happening in schools, said Bella DiMarco, a senior K-12 education policy analyst at FutureEd, an independent think tank at Georgetown University. There was a lot of talk during the pandemic around school choice  of what public schools arent doing for their kids.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The first modern school voucher program, created in Milwaukee in 1990, was a bipartisan effort to help lower-income families afford private schools. In recent years, more states have moved from school choice programs focused on certain groups, such as low-income students or students with disabilities, to universal programs open to students of all backgrounds.

Historically, the programs were always sort of targeted to students in need, DiMarco said. But in the last couple of years, the new push has been for these universal programs.

Currently, more than 30 states and Washington, D.C., have at least one school choice program. More than a dozen states now offer universal or near-universal access, allowing K12 students to participate in school choice regardless of income.

EdChoice, a nonprofit that advocates for school choice, estimates that 1.2 million students are attending private schools this school year with the help of public tax credits, scholarships or vouchers.

Different strategies

States that enacted school choice programs this year have pursued different strategies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The program Idaho enacted last month, for example, will provide an annual tax credit of $5,000 per child ($7,500 for students with disabilities) to help cover private education expenses.

Most voucher recipients were already in private schools, meaning states are paying for education they previously didnt have to fund.

 Joshua Cowen, a professor of education policy at Michigan State University

Tennessees new program will provide 20,000 scholarships of roughly $7,000 each. During its first year, half of the Tennessee scholarships will be reserved for households earning less than $173,000 for a family of four, but that restriction will be removed in subsequent years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

About 65% of the Tennessee vouchers are expected to be awarded to students who already attend private schools, according to a legislative analysis.

Critics say the cost of the program will grow quickly, creating a hole in the states budget. Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who pushed hard for the proposal, suggested that Trumps executive order might provide additional resources. Lee told reporters he hasnt yet analyzed the order, but I think theres opportunity there.

The president wants to support states like ours who are advocating for school choice, Lee said in a news conference after lawmakers approved the measure. Lee was at the White House on Thursday when Trump signed an order calling for the U.S. Department of Education to be dismantled.

Texas lawmakers also are actively debating a voucher program, a longtime priority for Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who worked to defeat resistant rural Republicans in last years state legislative elections and who also attended the White House event. The Senate passed a bill that would provide $10,000 per student ($11,500 for students with disabilities) annually through education savings accounts. A similar House proposal is under review.

Advertisement Advertisement

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Kansas is considering a universal refundable tax credit  $8,000 per child for accredited private school tuition and $4,000 for non-accredited private schools. The program starts with a $125 million cap, increasing annually if participation hits certain thresholds.

Ballot box defeats

School choice opponents question the wisdom of sending taxpayer dollars to schools that may lack certified teachers, follow nonstandardized curricula or discriminate in admissions. Many private schools have testing standards, maintain religious requirements or exclude LGBTQ+ students or those with certain disabilities, for example.

In some Republican-led states that have expanded school choice, Democrats have filed bills to increase oversight and place restrictions on these programs. A bill in Tennessee would require background checks for teachers at private schools that receive voucher money. And an Iowa bill would require that property tax statements include information on how much money education savings accounts subtracted from local public schools.

As voucher programs have grown, they have attracted greater scrutiny.

ProPublica, an investigative journalism outlet, last year found that Arizonas universal voucher program has mostly benefited wealthier families. Some Arizona parents have tried to use voucher money to pay for dune buggies and expensive Lego sets, according to press reports.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Critics also note that despite recent legislative successes, school ballot initiatives fared poorly at the ballot box last fall.

Voters in Colorado rejected a measure that sought to enshrine school choice rights in the state constitution.

In Nebraska, voters partially repealed a state-funded private school scholarship program.

And in Kentucky, voters overwhelmingly rejected a constitutional amendment that would have allowed the use of public money to support private schools, with 65% of voters  and a majority in every county  opposed.

Theres a handful of these billionaires that have been pushing vouchers for 30 years, said Cowen, the Michigan State University professor. The school choice movement is not necessarily driven by public demand, but rather by wealthy donors and political maneuvering.

Advertisement Advertisement

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Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@stateline.org. South Dakota Searchlight contributed to this report.

This story was originally published by Stateline. Like South Dakota Searchlight, its part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org.
A student goes through his locker in a hallway at an elementary school in Louisville, Ky. More than a dozen states in the past two years have launched or expanded programs that allow families to use taxpayer dollars to send their students to private schools. (Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

More than a dozen states in the past two years have launched or expanded programs that allow families to use taxpayer dollars to send their students to private schools. Now, President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress want to supercharge those efforts.

Trump in January issued an executive order directing several federal agencies to allow states, tribes and military families to tap into federal money for so-called school choice opportunities. Those can come in the form of education savings accounts, voucher programs, tax credits or scholarships. Trumps order also aims to expand access to public charter schools, which are free from some of the rules that apply to traditional public schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Meanwhile in Congress, 24 Republican senators have signed on to legislation that would provide $10 billion in annual tax credits to individuals and corporations who make charitable contributions to organizations that provide private-school scholarships. A Nebraska Republican introduced a companion measure in the House.

Already this year, Idaho, Tennessee and Wyoming have approved school choice programs, and bills are advancing in Kansas, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas. A bill in Mississippi died before advancing. Most of the measures still in play would open programs to all families regardless of income, though some states would cap the total amount of money available.

Iowas Education Savings Account program, enacted in 2023, will remove all income limits for the 2025-26 school year.

Supporters of school choice say it gives parents control of their kids education  and an escape hatch if they are dissatisfied with their local public school. Many conservatives, religious institutions and private schools are in favor of school choice, along with some people of color who live in districts with underperforming public schools.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Every child is different. They learn in different environments. There are just so many factors, that I believe that parents should be the ones that make the decision on where their child is going to do the best and have the most success, said Indiana Republican state Sen. Linda Rogers. A former educator, Rogers has sponsored a bill in her state that would provide additional money to charter schools, which are considered to be a form of school choice.

Opponents, including teachers unions, public school professionals and many rural lawmakers of both parties, say such measures undermine traditional public schools by shifting money away from them.

When we start to take from public schools, were hurting our kids, our lower-income kids. They will not prosper from this legislation, Tennessee Democratic state Rep. Ronnie Glynn said during the floor debate on a far-reaching voucher bill in his state.

Joshua Cowen, a professor of education policy at Michigan State University, said vouchers are a budget-buster for states.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Vouchers dont shift costs  they add costs, Cowen said in a phone interview. Most voucher recipients were already in private schools, meaning states are paying for education they previously didnt have to fund.

The switch to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, which gave parents a front-row seat to watch what their children were  or were not  learning in their classes, contributed to the recent school choice momentum. So did parent frustration over prolonged public school closures.

I believe that parents should be the ones that make the decision on where their child is going to do the best and have the most success.

 Indiana Republican state Sen. Linda Rogers

Parents got a good look into sort of what was happening in schools, said Bella DiMarco, a senior K-12 education policy analyst at FutureEd, an independent think tank at Georgetown University. There was a lot of talk during the pandemic around school choice  of what public schools arent doing for their kids.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The first modern school voucher program, created in Milwaukee in 1990, was a bipartisan effort to help lower-income families afford private schools. In recent years, more states have moved from school choice programs focused on certain groups, such as low-income students or students with disabilities, to universal programs open to students of all backgrounds.

Historically, the programs were always sort of targeted to students in need, DiMarco said. But in the last couple of years, the new push has been for these universal programs.

Currently, more than 30 states and Washington, D.C., have at least one school choice program. More than a dozen states now offer universal or near-universal access, allowing K12 students to participate in school choice regardless of income.

EdChoice, a nonprofit that advocates for school choice, estimates that 1.2 million students are attending private schools this school year with the help of public tax credits, scholarships or vouchers.

Different strategies

States that enacted school choice programs this year have pursued different strategies.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The program Idaho enacted last month, for example, will provide an annual tax credit of $5,000 per child ($7,500 for students with disabilities) to help cover private education expenses.

Most voucher recipients were already in private schools, meaning states are paying for education they previously didnt have to fund.

 Joshua Cowen, a professor of education policy at Michigan State University

Tennessees new program will provide 20,000 scholarships of roughly $7,000 each. During its first year, half of the Tennessee scholarships will be reserved for households earning less than $173,000 for a family of four, but that restriction will be removed in subsequent years.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

About 65% of the Tennessee vouchers are expected to be awarded to students who already attend private schools, according to a legislative analysis.

Critics say the cost of the program will grow quickly, creating a hole in the states budget. Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who pushed hard for the proposal, suggested that Trumps executive order might provide additional resources. Lee told reporters he hasnt yet analyzed the order, but I think theres opportunity there.

The president wants to support states like ours who are advocating for school choice, Lee said in a news conference after lawmakers approved the measure. Lee was at the White House on Thursday when Trump signed an order calling for the U.S. Department of Education to be dismantled.

Texas lawmakers also are actively debating a voucher program, a longtime priority for Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who worked to defeat resistant rural Republicans in last years state legislative elections and who also attended the White House event. The Senate passed a bill that would provide $10,000 per student ($11,500 for students with disabilities) annually through education savings accounts. A similar House proposal is under review.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Kansas is considering a universal refundable tax credit  $8,000 per child for accredited private school tuition and $4,000 for non-accredited private schools. The program starts with a $125 million cap, increasing annually if participation hits certain thresholds.

Ballot box defeats

School choice opponents question the wisdom of sending taxpayer dollars to schools that may lack certified teachers, follow nonstandardized curricula or discriminate in admissions. Many private schools have testing standards, maintain religious requirements or exclude LGBTQ+ students or those with certain disabilities, for example.

In some Republican-led states that have expanded school choice, Democrats have filed bills to increase oversight and place restrictions on these programs. A bill in Tennessee would require background checks for teachers at private schools that receive voucher money. And an Iowa bill would require that property tax statements include information on how much money education savings accounts subtracted from local public schools.

As voucher programs have grown, they have attracted greater scrutiny.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

ProPublica, an investigative journalism outlet, last year found that Arizonas universal voucher program has mostly benefited wealthier families. Some Arizona parents have tried to use voucher money to pay for dune buggies and expensive Lego sets, according to press reports.

Critics also note that despite recent legislative successes, school ballot initiatives fared poorly at the ballot box last fall.

Voters in Colorado rejected a measure that sought to enshrine school choice rights in the state constitution.

In Nebraska, voters partially repealed a state-funded private school scholarship program.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

And in Kentucky, voters overwhelmingly rejected a constitutional amendment that would have allowed the use of public money to support private schools, with 65% of voters  and a majority in every county  opposed.

Theres a handful of these billionaires that have been pushing vouchers for 30 years, said Cowen, the Michigan State University professor. The school choice movement is not necessarily driven by public demand, but rather by wealthy donors and political maneuvering.

Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@stateline.org.

This story was originally published by Stateline, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org.
President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Social Security Administration on Tuesday distanced himself from some of the actions taken at the agency by officials linked to Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency.

Frank Bisignano, a veteran Wall Street executive and GOP donor tapped to lead the agency delivering $1.5 trillion annually to more than 70 million people, told the Senate Finance Committee when asked about DOGE's work on agency systems and databases that he will conduct a "total review" of the activities at the SSA if he is confirmed.

He also denied ever having spoken to acting SSA Commissioner Leland Dudek, who is reportedly aligned with Musk's team efforts, and initially said he has not been a part of any management and policy discussions with the DOGE teams.

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Last week, Dudek briefly threatened to shut down the agency after a federal judge blocked DOGE officials from accessing databases, only relenting when the judge issued a clarification saying his understanding of the ruling was "incorrect."

PHOTO: Frank Bisignano, President Donald Trump's nominee to be Commissioner of Social Security Administration, appears at his Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Mar. 25, 2025 in Washington. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

MORE: Acting Social Security chief now says he won't shut down agency after DOGE ruling

But under questioning from Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Bisignano admitted he had been in communication with Mike Russo, an agency official now serving as chief information officer, and said they knew each other from the private sector. Russo has been aligned with DOGE's work and has facilitated its activities at the SSA, according to multiple reports.

"I don't know him as a DOGE person," Bisignano said.

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On the broad DOGE activities, he said, "I'm happy to work with anybody who can help us, and I am fundamentally about efficiency myself."

Bisignano, currently the CEO of Fiserv, a financial data and payment company, argued his private sector experience will allow him to improve the quality and speed of the agency's service to the public.

He called Social Security "the most bipartisan thing we have" and denied that he has "thought about" privatizing the agency.

"It's not a word that anybody's ever talked to me about, and I don't see this institution as anything other than a government agency that gets run for the benefit of the American public," he told Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.

PHOTO: Frank Bisignano, President Donald Trump's nominee to be Commissioner of Social Security Administration, appears at his Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Mar. 25, 2025 in Washington. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

MORE: DOGE is searching through Social Security payments looking for fraud

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Democrats have repeatedly suggested the Trump administration's actions toward the agency, such as designating field offices for closure, firing staffers and requiring people to show up at a field office to verify their identities, instead of doing so over the phone, are meant to "hollow out" the SSA.

"This approach is a prelude to privatizing Social Security and handing it over to private equity," Wyden said.

Democrats also challenged Bisignano on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's comments on a podcast last week in which the billionaire said his mother-in-law wouldn't care about missing a payment from the agency and that only people committing fraud complain about services.

"I don't think anyone would appreciate not getting their Social Security check on time," Bisignano said.

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"So they're not fraudsters?" asked Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.

"It would be hard to get to that conclusion," he replied.

Asked if he agreed with Musk's comments about the program being a "Ponzi scheme," Bisginano said it is "a promise to pay."

PHOTO: Frank Bisignano testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on his nomination to be Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Mar. 25, 2025. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: Released JFK files reveal Social Security numbers of former staffers

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., appeared to extract a commitment from Bisignano to review the firings at the agency.

"When you have a system that is not working now, do you think it's a great idea to lay off half the employees?" Sanders asked.

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"Do I think it's a great idea to lay off half the employees when the system doesn't work? I think the answer is probably no," he replied.

Some Republican senators defended the DOGE actions at the agency, and most said they hope the administration will improve services and protect accessibility for those who want to be served at SSA field offices.

Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., played the SSA's waiting music from his phone and claimed his staffers were put on hold for hours and disconnected when they tried to test the agency's 1-800 number on Monday.

"We will meet beneficiaries where they want to be met, whether that's in person, in an office, online or on the phone," Bisignano said.

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In the past, Bisignano has said he would like to use artificial intelligence to find fraud at the agency, which Musk has claimed is rampant.

According to a 2024 report from the SSA inspector general, less than 1% of payments were improper between 2015 and 2022 and "most" of those were overpayments.

Trump SSA pick not seeking to privatize Social Security, will meet people 'where they want to be met' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump stood by his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, after The Atlantics editor-in-chief was accidentally added to a private, high-level chat on the messaging app Signal in which military plans were being discussed.

"Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man," Trump said Tuesday in a phone interview with NBC News.

Follow live politics coverage here

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Trump's comments were his first substantive remarks since The Atlantic broke the story, which detailed how journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently added to a group chat on a private messaging app in which plans for military strikes in Yemen were discussed. Goldberg said he was added to the discussion after he received a request from a user identified as Waltz.

Asked what he was told about how Goldberg came to be added to the Signal chat, Trump said: It was one of Michaels people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there.

Trump said Goldbergs presence in the chat had no impact at all on the military operation.

He expressed confidence in his team, saying he was not frustrated by the events leading up to The Atlantic's story. The situation, Trump said, was "the only glitch in two months, and it turned out not to be a serious one."

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Waltz said in a Fox News interview Tuesday night that he takes full responsibility for organizing the text group, and that a staffer was not to blame for Goldberg appearing in the group.

I take full responsibility. I built the  I built the group, Waltz told host Laura Ingraham. My job is to make sure everythings coordinated.

The Atlantics article sent shock waves across Washington on Monday. Democratic lawmakers demanded answers from the White House in multiple letters, with one from a group of Senate Democrats calling the situation an astonishingly cavalier approach to national security.

Top Democrats on the House Armed Services, Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Oversight committees wrote a separate letter, pushing for answers about other instances in which senior officials discussed national security issues using the Signal messaging service or any other messaging service application that has not been approved for the transmission of classified information.

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White House officials defended the chat, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claiming Monday that nobody was texting war plans. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday also claimed that war plans were not discussed and that "no classified material was sent to the thread."

"As the National Security Council stated, the White House is looking into how Goldbergs number was inadvertently added to the thread," she added.

In a statement about the incident, the National Security Council said the thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to our servicemembers or our national security.

Trump and Waltz spoke Monday about The Atlantics story, according to two sources familiar with their conversation.

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The group chat mishap was disclosed 10 years ago to the month after it was revealed that Hillary Clinton used a private email server at times during her tenure as secretary of state in the Obama administration. That revelation prompted staunch criticism from Republicans, several of whom appeared to be part of the Signal chat, according to The Atlantic.

Goldberg reported that he was skeptical about the Signal chat's authenticity at first. But when bombs began falling in Yemen at the time officials in the group chat had discussed it, he concluded that the chat was almost certainly real and left shortly afterward.

Trump briefly responded to a question about The Atlantics story Monday, saying I dont know anything about it and noting that the reporter asking him about the story was telling me about it for the first time.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
(NewsNation)  President Donald Trump on Monday issued an executive order declaring any country buying oil or gas from Venezuela will pay a 25% secondary tariff on trades with the United States.

In a social media post, Trump said Venezuela has been very hostile to the U.S. and that countries purchasing oil from Venezuela will be forced to pay the tariff on all U.S. trade starting April 2.

Patrick Duddy, former U.S. ambassador to Venezuela, told Morning in America he believes Trump is trying to punish Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros administration and compel compliance with American tariffs.

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Hegseth says nobody was texting war plans after group chat breach

Duddy said Chevron has been pumping about a fifth of the crude oil Venezuela has produced in the last 10 or so months. While that estimation is down from the total production some decades ago, it is significant and has been a lifeline for the Maduro administration, Duddy said.

I think the other aspect of the sanctions and tariffs that have been imposed earlier on Venezuela specifically is that tariffs imposed, more or less unilaterally, generally dont work, even as in the case of Venezuela, when the affected elements of the foreign economy are central to their to their GDP, he said.

Trump said the tariff is a result of Venezuela purposefully and deceitfully sending tens of thousands of high level, and other, criminals, many of whom are murderers and people of a very violent nature to the U.S.

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Appeals court judges push DOJ on deportation flights, due process

Trump has pushed for the deportation of Venezuelans he claims are part of the Tren de Aragua gang.

Within two weeks, the U.S. has flown hundreds of immigrants to El Salvador and Venezuela under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, kicking off a legal battle with federal judge James E. Boasberg, whose order to stop the first round of flights was not carried out.

Trump has accused Venezuela of being hostile to Americas repatriation efforts. Maduro later agreed to resume accepting flights from the U.S.

Maduro had paused accepting repatriation flights earlier in March after the Treasury Department pulled Chevrons license to export Venezuelan oil.

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Other reciprocal tariffs are set to begin April 2, including levies against Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Canada, India, China, the European Union.

NewsNations Anna Kutz 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.
This weeks revelation in The Atlantic magazine that President Trumps National Security team shared and discussed secrets about Yemen air strikes over the Signal messaging app reveals that the United States yet again fails to grasp that one of the first rules of intelligence is need to know. It also demonstrates an attitude befitting a bunch of rednecks swapping stories around a bar.

Supposedly these guys think military operations are trivial enough to put at risk in the cause of gossip and bravado. Never forget that the real casualties of vice-president JD Vance and defence secretary Pete Hegseths banter are brave men and women of the US armed forces who risk their actual lives to protect US interests. It demonstrates quite how ignorant the National Security team are of such operations. Firstly it is highly probable that the strikes were a team effort.

Intelligence from Gulf partners is likely to have been used. Such strikes involve a range of nations, not just the United States.

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And secondly, what Team Trump clearly doesnt understand is that upholding the freedom of navigation principle matters. If the West doesnt, then China will assert itself completely in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait; Russia will seek full control over the Northwest Passage.

In that scenario the US economy really will suffer. The isolationist Maga crowd just seem unable to comprehend that in todays world everything is connected. Every shift by the White House creates a ripple felt across the farthest oceans. Every weakening of resolve encourages every adversary.

Having observed Trump 2.0 these last 50 days, it is becoming abundantly clear that those in leadership roles really have not travelled very much. I would be surprised if many of them have a passport. They seem blindly ignorant that we live in an era of a globalised world. It is a world governed by the very rules the US and the West crafted after the Second World War; a world that embraced free trade. Those rules werent just about trade but about morality and democracy. The United States embraced its leadership role and prospered from it. But Trump 2.0 seems to want to reject all that and feed the electorates grievances.

A patriot loves his country. A nationalist hates his neighbours. That best sums up the Trump Administration. But that great Republican president Ronald Reagan called it right: We should beware of the demagogues who are ready to declare a trade war against our friends  weakening our economy, our national security, and the entire free world  all while cynically waving the American flag.

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The 1991 book Trumped! by John ODonnell, one of Trumps Atlantic City Casino bosses, tells us a lot about the President and his early days in business. His obsession with wearing suits, his conviction that the world was ripping off the US. A business agenda driven by personality politics, not commercial sense, goes back decades.

Every foreign diplomat should read it. The authors experience is a good guide to who is now leading the free world  or not as it turns out. Donald Trumps Atlantic City casino ventures eventually ended as rubble. This might explain why the Israelis are sceptical about his plans for another seaside resort. When assessing the current US administration, we should not let ourselves be distracted by our sympathies for the war on woke. Those policies might be good red meat to many of us but they are not the core functions of any government.

The war on woke is the easy bit. Building an economy, future proofing social policy and securing a nations defences are the hard yards. Anyone can demolish a building but few can build one.

When I heard Steve Witkoff, Trumps envoy on Ukraine and the Middle East, speak earlier in the week about Putin, I didnt know whether to laugh or cry. It was yet another step away from the USs moral leadership.

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Standing at Pointe du Hoc 40 years after D-Day President Reagan stated There is a profound moral difference between the use of force for liberation and the use of force for conquest.

The ex-real estate chum of Trump said Putin was not a bad guy , who could be taken at his word. He then went on to parrot Kremlin lines on Russias legitimate claim to parts of Ukraine. The leaked texts of Trumps security team reveal who they really are. They think bullying is leadership, allies are customers and trade is warfare.

That may play well in roadhouses of the Midwest but in the minds of our enemies it is an opportunity.

Rt Hon Sir Ben Wallace served as Secretary of State for Defence

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The Trump administration is planning to freeze tens of millions of dollars in federal grants to organizations providing family planning and other reproductive health services, as it reviews whether the funds violate the presidents order to cease all government-backed diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work.

A Health and Human Services spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal, which reported on the plan, that the department was reviewing grants to make sure they complied with the crackdown on DEI.

The freeze to the Title X program could impact as much as $120 million worth of grants to a network of roughly 4,000 clinics providing free and discounted pregnancy testing, contraception, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment, and evaluations and testing for infertility.

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Planned Parenthood, whose affiliates could lose roughly $20 million if the paused grants are ultimately cut, reacted with alarm.

The Trump-Vance-Musk administration wants to shut down Planned Parenthood health centers by any means necessary, and theyll end peoples access to birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, and more to do it, Planned Parenthood Federation of America CEO Alex McGill Johnson told the newspaper.

Elsewhere, the administration is reportedly weighing cuts to the Centers for Disease Controls HIV-prevention program.

Thousands of clinics could face funding cuts if review terminates Title X grants (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Trump has also resurrected federal rules barring funds from being spent on abortions in the U.S. and abroad, and has pardoned anti-abortion activists.

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His nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration has called for a review of a rule that allowed patients to get an abortion pill without seeing a healthcare provider in person.

The president has said he wants policymaking around abortion to be handled by the states, rather than the federal government.

The White House emphasis on making deep cuts to federal spending has also impacted U.S.-backed health work abroad.

The attempted funding freeze to the U.S. Agency for International Development has been estimated to put contraception access in jeopardy for one million women a week.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the Capitol on March 11 - Credit: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

Top intelligence officials and Republicans are trying and failing to downplay the revelation that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President J.D. Vance, and others discussed secret plans to bomb Houthi militants in Yemen in an unsecured Signal chat group that featured Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, because someone on it accidentally invited him. Meanwhile, the internet is reveling in the fallout as if it were petty online high school drama.

Derek Guy, an internet personality known for his fashion commentary, appeared to set off one meme trend on X by posting a photo of Kris Jenner wearing a robe and scrolling through her phone while in bed, writing: Me reading national security secrets bc ive been accidentally added to a group chat. Another user shared an image of Big Bird looking entirely out of place in a group made of up Darth Vader and imperial officers from Star Wars, with the caption: Me in the group chat for top secret air strikes. Another pop culture reference was the drug lord Stringer Bell, played by Idris Elba in the TV series The Wire, during a scene when he admonishes an underling for taking notes on a criminal conspiracy. Instead, a post on X had him incredulously ask, arranging war plans in a group chat? A meme that made the rounds on multiple social media platforms depicted a Wojak character standing in the corner at a party and thinking to himself, They dont know Im the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic.

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Others drew inspiration from the actual leaked chat messages. Liz Charboneau, vice president of research at the Democratic rapid response media organization American Bridge, screenshotted three emojis sent by Mike Waltz, the national security adviser who added Goldberg to the Houthi PC small group, after airstrikes that killed at least 53 people (mostly women and children, according to the the Yemeni Health Ministry): a punching fist, an American flag, and a fire emoji. Charboneau noted, if I text you this it means your secret is NOT safe with me. Dan Toomey, business journalist and host of Morning Brews Good Work, went a step further, posting a doctored image in which it appears that homeland security advisor has replied to a real message from Vice President Vance with a St. Patricks Day-themed horny copypasta that includes the phrase this means its time to lick some lucky LEPRECHAUN ass amid a deluge of suggestive emojis.

On Bluesky, one user turned a classic meme template of a man and woman flirting over text into a topical joke: You up? the woman writes, with the man replying, Were bombing Yemen tomorrow. Another post imagined Hegseth sending a message that said Yurkey instead of Turkey, with Vance, Waltz, and even Goldberg ridiculing him by repeating the typo. (A similar fake screenshot on X displayed the text Hey guys probably going to bomb Yemem tonight lmao, with another group member mocking the misspelling.) One fictive scenario involved Vance justifying the inclusion of a gamer friend with the screen name bonerdude in the group chat. And yet another viral Bluesky post warned that children could be texting state secrets in a Signal chat with abbreviations including tbh for Talkin Bout Houthis.

With Democrats hammering Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, FBI Director Kash Patel, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe (who confirmed he was in the group chat) over this security screw-up, and Hegseth and Trump simply smearing Goldberg and The Atlantic in an attempt to dismiss the story, its not clear how the scandal will shake out. Trumps opponents have a number of potential angles on the issue, from arguing that the White House is conducting an illegal war against Yemen to pointing out the vulnerability of sensitive security information (Gabbard and Ratcliffe have argued that no classified material was discussed over Signal) and the possibility that individuals covered their tracks by sending texts set to disappear after a short time: Goldberg reported that some of Waltzs messages were on a week-long timer and would vanish after that, but federal laws require the preservation of government records. Trumps absence from this working group of subordinates could also suggest that the president is out of the loop on U.S. military actions abroad.

For the moment, however, critics of the Trump regime at home and around the world are again in awe of the incompetence that has repeatedly made a laughingstock of his inner circle. The level of operational security on display at the White House this week was neatly summarized in an X post whose author declared that they were starting a new [Facebook] chat with my bros. The attached image showed an edit field for changing the title of the group, with the clever input NOT the yemen airstrikes groupchat. So apologies to Hegseth if he hoped to use that name going forward  its already taken.

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President Donald Trump wants DOGE to look at voter rolls.

According to an executive order, the DOGE office would help review public voter information.

No federal official has the power to remove a person from state rolls.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered the DOGE office to assist in reviewing publicly available voter rolls.

In a lengthy executive order, Trump asked the Department of Homeland Security to work with DOGE administrator Amy Gleason "to review each State's publicly available voter registration list and available records concerning voter list maintenance activities."

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It's unclear the extent to which DOGE would use the data. No federal official has the power to remove someone from the voter rolls.

"DOGE certainly has no power to kick people off rolls," Rick Hasen, an election law expert and a law professor at UCLA, told Business Insider. "But they could make a lot of noise trying to claim they've found fraud when they find that voter registration rolls are not being kept up to date."

The White House has repeatedly said Gleason leads the DOGE office. She recently declared in court that Elon Musk does not work for the rebranded US DOGE Service. But Musk is the de facto leader of DOGE, a point underscored by his appearance on Fox News Tuesday night with members of the DOGE team.

Multiple lawsuits have been filed over the DOGE office's efforts to obtain sensitive and nonpublic federal data. Unlike social security data, many states make their voter lists publicly available, often for a fee.

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According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a nonpartisan group that monitors state-level legislation, some states restrict access to their information.

Trump has repeatedly falsely claimed that he won the 2020 election. After his 2016 victory, he repeatedly claimed without evidence that fraud prevented him from winning the popular vote. In the lead-up to the 2024 race, Republicans raised concerns about non-citizens voting in the presidential race, an occurrence that remains rare and illegal. Recent audits of voter rolls have found extremely few numbers of noncitizens registered to vote. Georgia found 20 noncitizens registered to vote out of more than 8 million registered voters in the state.

During the first Trump administration, 44 states opposed a Trump election commission's sweeping request for voter information, according to a 2017 CNN report.

At the time, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, vice chair of the commission, had said the data would eventually be made public.

Hasen told Business Insider said Tuesday's EO could spark such a confrontation again.

"We will see what happens this time," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
It should come as no surprise that a president whose first term began with a dispute over the size of the crowd at his inauguration would begin his second term with a war over numbers. Yet, over the last few months, the Trump administration has unleashed a wave of attacks on official statistics whose scope is far wider than those of his first term. Data cant defend itself, but fights from Trumps first administration offer a road map for resistance.

Since the day of Donald Trumps inauguration, his administration has undertaken multiple actions undermining the integrity of census figures. First, the president issued an executive order revoking a Biden-era order affirming the long-standing precedent of counting noncitizens in the census. The new administration began taking down data from the bureaus website. Earlier this month, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick disbanded several outside advisory committees that provide technical expertise to the bureau. And the administration enacted hiring freezes that will halt census operations.

The census isnt the only data in the administrations sights. Lutnick also suggested that the government may separate government spending from calculations of the gross domestic product (GDP). That change, also supported by billionaire Elon Musk, would conceal the negative economic effects of the administrations gutting of federal agencies and programs.

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The administrations slash-and-burn approach is also threatening data confidentiality protections. Within the past week, federal judges in two separate cases have temporarily blocked Musks so-called Department of Government Efficiency from accessing peoples private data at multiple government agencies, including the Treasury Department and the Social Security Administration.Official statistics are the backbone of American democracy and a strong economy. Census counts affect not only how political representation is allocated in Congress, the Electoral College and state legislatures, but they also determine how trillions in federal aid flow to communities across the country. GDP calculations affect decisions made by investors, businesses and policymakers.

As for keeping the confidentiality of data, such protections are a bedrock commitment of both the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service. In addition to protecting Americans sensitive data, confidentiality is also essential for maintaining the quality and integrity of federal data. Research by the Census Bureau has found that confidentiality concerns  as well as low levels of trust in the federal government more generally  remain a major barrier to participation in the U.S. census, and thus to the accuracy of the data we use to allocate political representation and trillions in federal dollars.

Manipulating federal statistics is more than an attack on democratic governance. It could have significant economic ramificationsincluding misallocations of capital, investment bubbles or economic stagnation. Efforts to manipulate economic statistics could also have severe consequences for the U.S. credit rating, which affects the countrys borrowing costs, investor confidence and global financial stability.This attempted conquest of data is not an inevitability, however. The federal statistical system  while managed by executive branch agencies  belongs not to any single president or political party but to all of us. Stopping the assault on official statistics, as I document in my forthcoming book on the 2020 census, will require collective action beyond the Beltway.

Americans have a right  embedded in numerous sources of law and custom  to accurate official statistics free of manipulation. The Constitution charges Congress with the responsibility of carrying out an actual enumeration of the entire U.S. population (not just citizens). And, over the last half-century, Congress has passed laws that protect the confidentiality of responses to the census and other federal surveys.

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Congress has also passed numerous pieces of legislation to insulate these decisions from political interference. The Information Quality Act of 2000, for example, not only requires federal agencies to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility and integrity of statistical data, but also provides opportunities for public stakeholders to challenge flawed data. Lawmakers have given experts in the executive branch discretion in determining methods for collecting official statistics, but these laws are complemented by internal policy directives that require agencies to follow professional standards  rather than political prerogatives  when analyzing and presenting official statistics.These protections are not self-executing, of course. As I document in the book, it took acts of resistance by civil servants to protect the 2020 census from political manipulation, such as adding a citizenship question. Such manipulation would have reduced census participation in numerous states and cities. But, as one Republican redistricting strategist put it, the moves could engineer advantages in Congress for Republicans and non-Hispanic Whites. Even simple acts from civil servants, such as keeping careful records and making clear arguments about the costs and consequences of adding a citizenship question to the questionnaire, had profound impacts on the Trump administrations ability to enact its agenda.

At the same time, state and local governments and advocacy organizations also won important legal victories. These wins blocked the inclusion of a citizenship item on the 2020 questionnaire and significantly slowed the administrations subsequent effort to remove undocumented people from census counts that determine the allocation of seats in Congress. Outside courtrooms, states, cities and nonprofits ran get out the count campaigns targeting undercounted communities. In a climate of disinformation and the chaos of the Covid pandemic, these networks of officials and community partners were vital to boosting census participation and safeguarding its integrity.

Given the time-sensitive nature of census operations, exposing fabricated administrative records to daylight and winding down the clock through these lawsuits proved to be just as important as actually prevailing in court. The legal battles over the census offer important lessons for investors and state and local governments who might be harmed by todays efforts to manipulate GDP calculations.

To be sure, merely repeating the same strategies that worked to defend the 2020 census may not be enough this time. The current attack on official statistics arguably extends wider, goes deeper and relies on a far more coherent plan, in the form of the voluminous Project 2025. That playbook contemplates not merely restarting the assault on the census begun in the 2020 cycle, but also consolidating political control over the production of official statistics by merging all statistical agencies into a single bureau.Already the Trump team has shown far more resolve at hollowing out expertise at administrative agencies, clearing a path for statistical sabotage. And the administration can look to a Supreme Court which has shown an almost unparalleled deference to executive aggrandizement.

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Nevertheless, the battle over the 2020 census offers several valuable lessons for the present moment. Most importantly, it suggests that official statistics  however vital they are to the American economy, democracy and the rule of law  will not save themselves. What counts, in the end, is our collective capacity to protect them.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
UPDATED, with Gabbard comment and The Atlantic statement: The White Houses strategy to deal with the fallout over a Signal app security breach is a familiar one: Blame the media.

This time, its that the story is overblown.

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The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg wrote on Monday that he was mistakenly given access to a Signal group chat involving National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and other top Trump administration officials. At one point, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared plans for strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, hours before they were carried out.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt this morning attacked Goldberg, saying that he is well-known for his sensationalist spin.

She wrote, 1. No war plans were discussed. 2. No classified material was sent to the thread. 3. The White House Counsels Office has provided guidance on a number of different platforms for President Trumps top officials to communicate as safely and efficiently as possible.

On Monday, Hegseth also attacked Goldberg and suggested that The Atlantic editor-in-chief trafficked in hoaxes.

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But Goldberg said it was a lie that war plans were not discussed. He was texting attack plans. When targets were going to be targeted. How they were going to be targeted. Who was at the targets. When the next sequence of attacks were happening. I didnt publish this and I continue not to publish it because it felt like it was too confidential, too technical, and I worry, honestly, that sharing that kind of information in public would endanger American military personnel.

Its possible that Leavitt and Hegseth are playing a game of semantics: War plans vs. attack plans. Attacking the messenger is a common tactic any White House amid a brewing scandal, but its the natural pivot for Trump and his allies. When the president was asked about the story on Monday, he denied even knowing about it, but he quickly went on about The Atlantic and dismissed the publication as a failing media outlet. This morning, he told NBC News Garrett Haake that Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man. Trump called it Waltzs only glitch in two months, and it turned out not to be a serious one.

Elon Musk shared a post from the satire site The Babylon Bee and wrote, Best place to hide a dead body is page 2 of The Atlantic magazine, because no one ever goes there. Trump shared the post on Truth Social.

A Trump ally on Fox News, Jesse Watters, also tried to minimize the story, in a segment with the chyron, Weve all texted the wrong person before.

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Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe are testifying on Capitol Hill in a previously scheduled appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), the top Democrat on the committee, said that this was not only sloppy. It not only violated all procedures, but if this information had gotten out, American lives could have been lost.

Gabbard declined to get into specifics, and refused to say whether she was on the chat, but Ratcliffe did. There was no classified material that was shared in that Signal chat.

If there was no classified material. share it with the committee, Warner responded.

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Brit Hume, Hegseths former colleague at Fox News, dismissed the idea that war plans were not discussed. After Hegseths comments to reporters, Hume wrote, Oh for Gods sake, the administration has already confirmed the authenticity of the message. He was referring to a previous statement from the spokesperson for the National Security Council that confirmed the authenticity of the chat.

The Atlantic issued a statement later in the day, saying, Attempts to disparage and discredit The Atlantic, our editor and our reporting follow an obvious playbook by elected officials and others in power who are hostile to journalists and the First Amendment rights of all Americans. Our journalists are continuing to fearlessly and independently report the truth in the public interest.

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Theodore Roosevelt hated the idea of unelected judges stopping him and his allies in the Progressive movement from wielding government power as they saw fit. So Roosevelt advocated stripping the courts of their independence by subjecting both judges and judicial decisions to recall by popular vote.

"When a judge decides a constitutional question," Roosevelt argued in 1912, "the people should have the right to recall that decision if they think it is wrong." It must be "made much easier than it now is to get rid, not merely of a bad judge," Roosevelt declared, but of any judge. As far as Roosevelt was concerned, the Progressive movement "cannot surrender the right of ultimate control to a judge."

Sound familiar?

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Donald Trump's second presidential term is barely 3 months old, and a Rooseveltian offensive against the courts is already in full swing. Indeed, the Trump administration began attacking the independence of the judiciary almost as soon as the administration began appearing in federal court. "When judges egregiously undermine the democratic will of the people," declared Elon Musk, the head of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, "they must be fired or democracy dies!" "Radical left-wing judges are egregiously trying to stop President Trump from using his core constitutional powers as head of the Executive Branch and Commander-in-Chief," claimed White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. "They MUST be reined in."

Trump at least avoided using the overtaxed word egregiously, but he did call for the impeachment of judges whose decisions he does not like. "HE DIDN'T WIN ANYTHING!" Trump fumed after Judge James E. Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued the order blocking Trump's deportation flights. "I'm just doing what the VOTERS wanted me to do. This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges' I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED!!!"

There are many excellent reasons why Boasberg should not be impeached, including the fact that Boasberg's judgment against Trump is both persuasive and well-grounded in the law. Trump may claim that he has the unilateral authority to deport alleged criminal aliens without due process. But the administration's arguments in support of that sweeping claim fail to pass muster on multiple counts.

Under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, "whenever there shall be a declared war between the United States and any foreign nation or government, or any invasion or predatory incursion shall be perpetrated, attempted, or threatened against the territory of the United States, by any foreign nation or government," the president may direct the "removal" of "all natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects of the hostile nation or government, being males of the age of fourteen years and upwards, who shall be within the United States, and not actually naturalized."

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Trump invoked that law in his March 15 proclamation ordering the "immediate apprehension, detention, and removal" of alleged members of the street gang Tren de Aragua, who are allegedly "conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United Statesin conjunction with Cartel de los Soles, the Nicolas Maduro regime-sponsored, narco-terrorism enterprise based in Venezuela."

Except there is no "declared war" between the United States and Venezuela. And while Trump and his allies have certainly promoted the idea of a rhetorical "invasion" of the U.S. by unlawfully present aliens, that is merely a talking point. Such rhetoric does not alter the plain text of the Alien Enemies Act, which refers to military invasions by a "foreign nation or government." As James Madison explained in his "Report on the Alien and Sedition Acts," published on January 7, 1800, "invasion is an operation of war." The alleged crimes of the alleged members of a nonstate street gang do not magically become "an operation of war" just because the president says so in the hopes of unlocking extra powers.

Speaking of James Madison, he said that the role of the judiciary was to stand as "an impenetrable bulwark against every assumption of power in the legislative or executive." That description is probably as good of an explanation as any for why Trump, just like Roosevelt before him, is so eager to stop the courts from doing their job.

It is also worth noting exactly what sort of judicial rulings originally brought about Roosevelt's ire. The Rough Rider was particularly enraged by Lochner v. New York, the 1905 case in which the Supreme Court struck down a provision of New York's Bakeshop Act because it violated the right of economic liberty secured by the 14th Amendment. "The bakeshop case," Roosevelt seethed, had "usurped" the "deliberate judgment of the people on social and economic government policies."

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Lochner did invalidate one part of a popularly enacted law. But as Alexander Hamilton noted in Federalist No. 78, "whenever a particular statute contravenes the Constitution, it will be the duty of the judicial tribunals to adhere to the latter and disregard the former." In other words, the popularity of a statuteor the popularity of an executive orderhas nothing to do with its constitutionality. An unconstitutional act is still unconstitutional even if lots of people support it.

When Roosevelt attacked the courts, he did so from the political left. Trump is now doing it from the political right. Yet their respective attacks share much in common. It is a timely reminder that the independence of the judiciary remains of paramount importance no matter which political faction happens to occupy the halls of government at any given time.

The post Trump's Attack on the Courts Channels the Worst of Theodore Roosevelt appeared first on Reason.com.
Lockheed Martin has dominated the stealth fighter jet game for decades, but that's changing.

Boeing was awarded a contract for the Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance fighter.

The new F-47 fighter is set to go beyond the capabilities of Lockheed's fifth-gen F-22 and F-35.

Defense and aerospace giant Lockheed Martin has dominated the stealth fighter jet game, building not only the first operational stealth aircraft but also both US fifth-generation stealth fighter jets.

But the Trump administration's new decision on the new Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter was a stunning upset for Lockheed's industry-leading Skunk Works.

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President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the US Air Force's new sixth-generation stealth fighter, dubbed the F-47, will be built by Boeing. He said that the new fighter aircraft will be the most advanced, capable, and lethal aircraft "ever built," with unprecedented speed, maneuverability, and payload capacity, as well as "state-of-the-art stealth technologies."

A US Air Force F-22 Raptor deploys flares during a performance. US Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Stefan Alvarez

Lockheed, a leading player in stealth aircraft for nearly five decades, expressed disappointment in the decision.

"Lockheed Martin continues to work to advance critical technologies to outpace emerging threats and deliver true 21st Century Security solutions to our nation's military forces," the company said in a statement. "While disappointed with this outcome, we are confident we delivered a competitive solution. We will await further discussions with the US Air Force."

A leader in stealth aircraft

In the 1970s, long before the company merged with Martin Marietta in 1995, Lockheed Corporation's secret Skunk Works division developed the world's first operational stealth aircraft, the F-117 Nighthawk; it was designed around the idea of evading radar detection. From its introduction in 1983, the aircraft became a major Air Force asset and was later known for its prominent role in the first Gulf War.

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The Nighthawks flew over one thousand sorties in that war and struck Iraqi targets with a high success rate and without suffering any combat losses. The penetrating attack aircraft's stealth capabilities garnered much attention.

The aircraft has retired from combat, but it is still used as a training tool.

The F-117 Nighthawk was a dominant element of the Air Force. It's still used to train pilots today. Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon II/DoD

Lockheed was a prime contractor for the fifth-generation fighter, the F-22 Raptor, as part of a partnership project that also saw contributions from Boeing and Pratt & Whitney.

First introduced in 2005 as an air dominance solution to Russian and Chinese threats, the supersonic stealth fighter has long been considered the top US air superiority fighter.

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But its matchless capabilities and whopping $350 million price tag per fighter jet were overkill for the counter-insurgency wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The last of the F-22s was delivered in 2012.

The Air Force has been on the hunt for its successor, envisioning the the replacement to be a family of systems that can boost US air dominance by leveraging drones and other advanced capabilities. In 2021, Air Force leadership hinted the F-22 would not be part of the future fleet. The F-22 Raptor is expected to be replaced by the NGAD in 2030.

Lockheed was also the prime contractor for another fifth-generation stealth fighter, the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. The company went head-to-head with Boeing for this program, winning a contract with its X-35 design over the competing X-32.

The F-35 fighter jet is available in three variants: conventional takeoff and landing, short-takeoff and vertical landing, and carrier-based operations. The advanced single-engine fighter is flown by the US Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, as well as US partners and allies.

F-35B Lightning jets conduct take-offs and landings to maintain their carrier qualifications on the flight deck of HMS Prince of Wales on February 21. UK Ministry of Defense photo

The F-35 is one of the world's most advanced weapons programs; it is also the most expensive, with an expected lifetime cost of more than $2 trillion. It's been sharply criticized by some, such as Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk, for its design, costs, sustainability challenges, and developmental setbacks.

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While the F-47 award was a blow to Lockheed, it was a much-needed win for Boeing after a rough 2024 saw structural malfunctions, such as the Alaskan Airlines Flight 1282 door emergency, delayed production on new planes, and other company issues.

"We recognize the importance of designing, building and delivering a 6th-generation fighter capability for the US Air Force," said Steve Parker, interim president and chief executive officer for Boeing Defense, Space & Security, per the company's statement.

"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."

The new F-47 stems from two X-planes built under Defense Advanced Research Project Agency research and development contracts by Boeing and Lockheed; that project came out of a 2014 air dominance study. The secret designs laid the groundwork for the new sixth-gen F-47 fighter program.

Read the original article on Business Insider
President Donald Trump revived an old grudge against the FBI on Tuesday, declassifying materials related to the bureaus previous investigation of alleged collusion between his 2016 campaign and Russia and sanctioning a law firm tied to one of the key figures from that investigation.

During an afternoon meeting with U.S. ambassadors, Trump signed a memorandum declassifying all FBI files related to Crossfire Hurricane, the codename for the counterintelligence investigation that was taken over by special counsel Robert Mueller in 2017.

The memorandum directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to make those documents public immediately.

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Frankly, the FBI should be ashamed of themselves and so should the Department of Justice and so should Biden, Trump said. At the end of the nearly two year-long investigation, Mueller did not find evidence that Trump had criminally conspired with Russia, and declined to render a judgment on whether he had obstructed the investigation. Trump was never charged in relation to the investigation and has denied all wrongdoing.

Trump also signed an executive order sanctioning the law firm Jenner & Block, the fourth time the president has directly targeted a major law firm in recent weeks. Similar to previous orders, Tuesdays action strips security clearances from lawyers at the firm, cuts the firm off from government contracts and restricts firm employees from entering government buildings.

Jenner & Block has had a long history representing clients, paid and pro bono, in their most difficult matters since 1914, a firm spokesperson said. Today, we have been named in an Executive Order similar to one which has already been declared unconstitutional by a federal court. We remain focused on serving and safeguarding our clients interests with the dedication, integrity, and expertise that has defined our firm for more than one hundred years and will pursue all appropriate remedies.

The order singles out Andrew Weissmann, a key Mueller deputy who previously served as general counsel of the FBI and other prominent prosecutorial positions in the Justice Department. Weissmann has been a vocal critic of Trump since the end of the Mueller investigation, frequently attacking the president during cable news appearances and on social media.

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The numerous reports of Weissman's dishonesty, including pursuit of nonexistent crimes, bribery to foreign nationals, and overt demand that the Federal Government pursue a political agenda against me, is a concerning indictment of Jenner's values and priorities, the order states.

Weissmann, who previously worked at Jenner & Block in the 2000s, returned to the firm as a partner in 2020. He left the firm in 2021.

Hes a bad guy, Trump said of Weissmann when signing the order. Trump had already rescinded Weissmanns security clearance.

In explaining the order to the president and assembled reporters, White House staff secretary Will Scharf said the order was being issued to halt the firms use of racially and sexually discriminatory practices and its role in the weaponization of the legal system against American principles and values.
President Donald Trumps promises of a hasty end to the war in Ukraine were given a hard reality check Tuesday, with Russian officials saying the latest round of ceasefire talks with the United States ended without a written agreement and the Kremlin continuing to bomb Ukraine.

The media had been briefed to expect a statement following discussions in Saudi Arabia, but no such written conclusion was released. In an interview with Russian state television, the first deputy chairman of Russias defense committee, Vladimir Chizhov, blamed the position taken by Ukraine.

They sat for 12 hours and seemed to have agreed on a joint statement, Chizhov told Rossiya 24. However this was not adopted due to Ukraines position, he said, calling the holdup very characteristic and symptomatic.

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The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the conclusion of the talks.

While both sides have  in theory  agreed to a limited, 30-day ceasefire, Russian President Vladimir Putin has imposed conditions that would essentially constitute a Ukrainian surrender. Meanwhile, Kyiv says the Kremlin is clearly uninterested in peace given that it continues to launch nightly mass drone attacks against the country.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, second right, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, second left, at a previous round of talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last month.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters earlier Tuesday that there were no immediate plans for another call between Putin and Trump.

Ukraine, meanwhile, is still counting the casualties from an attack Monday in the city of Sumy  on a dense residential area, a childrens hospital and a school  with authorities so far reporting 101 people injured, including 23 children.

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Russia fired 139 more Iran-designed Shahed drones into Ukraine overnight, Ukrainian officials said. They added that while 78 were shot down, others caused damaged in the regions of Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Cherkasy and Odesa.

Instead of making hollow statements about peace, Russia must stop bombing our cities and end its war on civilians, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a statement Monday. Any diplomacy with Moscow must be backed up by firepower, sanctions, and pressure.

Three years after Putin invaded it, Ukraine has launched retaliatory strikes on targets related to the Kremlins war effort. On Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said it shot down a Ukrainian drone headed for an oil pumping depot that supplies the countrys energy exports.

The ministry said drone attack campaign launched by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "confirms his inability to negotiate." It added, "The Kiev regime continues to deliberately plan, prepare and carry out attacks on energy infrastructure."

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Russia and Ukraine have continued the mutual bombardment despite having agreed to a limited ceasefire in principle this month. The Kremlin, meanwhile, has issued demands tantamount to a Ukrainian surrender.

There have been subtly differing statements about what the ceasefire might cover, with American readouts referring to energy and infrastructure and the Kremlin referring only to energy infrastructure.

U.S. and Russian negotiators have also presented starkly different accounts of how the talks were going.

While Moscow's representatives have appeared circumspect, American officials have sounded optimistic about the talks in Saudi Arabia, even as a parallel ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip brokered by the White House has fallen apart.

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One of the heads of Russias delegation in Riyadh, Grigorii Karasin, was more forthcoming, calling the negotiations very useful.

We discussed everything. There was a busy, not an easy, dialogue, but very useful for us and for the Americans, he told Russias state-controlled Tass news agency Tuesday.

Of course, not everything was resolved, not everything was agreed upon, he added.

One issue being discussed is the "Black Sea Initiative," which was designed to help Ukraine ship grain abroad while minimizing the impact of sanctions on Russian food and fertilizer exports. Moscow killed the deal in 2023, complaining that Western countries were not honoring the second half of it.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia that would need "clear guarantees" to resume the deal and that the "guarantees can only be the result of an order from Washington to Zelenskyy."

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday that territory and "lines of demarcation" were among the subjects discussed in Riyadh, as well as a proposal by the United States to take control of a key nuclear plant in Ukraine.

"They are talking about ownership of the big nuclear power plant in particular," he said. Something like that would be fine with me, he added, calling it a "great meeting."

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy gave his most expansive account yet of his remarkable Oval Office bust-up with Trump and Vice President JD Vance last month.

He told Time magazine in an interview published Monday that he was defending the dignity of Ukraine during the discussion.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
President Donald Trump on Monday said that he will impose 25% tariffs on any country buying oil or gas from Venezuela. Patrick Duddy, former ambassador to Venezuela, told Morning in America he believes Trump is trying to punish Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros administration and compel compliance with American tariffs. #tariffs #Venezuela #Trump
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Many of the Venezuelans who fled the authoritarian leftist regime have openly criticized strongman Nicolas Maduro, and returning 'would be almost suicidal'. | Credit: Getty Images

Who has this status?

Temporary Protected Status is a program that protects from deportation immigrants whose home countries are unsafe because of war, disease, or environmental disaster. Congress created it in 1990 to cover a gap in the asylum system. At the time, the legal definition of refugee was extremely narrow, which meant that people fleeing the conflicts in Central America didnt qualify. Now, roughly 1.2 million immigrants from 16 countriesfrom Sudan to Afghanistan to Ukraineare in the U.S. under TPS, the vast majority of them from the collapsing nations of Haiti and Venezuela. These people are allowed to work (and pay taxes) while they stay, and many are well established in their communities. Although protected status is only temporaryallotted for six to 18 months at a timeit can be continuously renewed if home-country conditions warrant. The average TPS immigrant has resided in the U.S. for more than 20 years.

How is TPS under threat?

Upon taking office, Trump ordered that TPS be revoked for some 600,000 Venezuelans and 520,000 Haitians. Last month, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem lifted TPS protections for the two groups. Some 350,000 Venezuelans now have 60 days to leave the country, while another 250,000 Venezuelans will lose their status in September. In the case of Venezuela, Trump said TPS no longer applied because Venezuela had agreed to take the migrants back. But since many of the Venezuelans who fled the authoritarian leftist regime have openly criticized strongman Nicolas Maduro, returning would be almost suicidal, says Venezuelan activist Beatriz Olavarria. They set foot in Venezuela and they will be jailed. Trump offered no reason, though, for kicking out the Haitians. Most of them first came to the U.S. when a massive earthquake devastated the island in 2010; others fled the horrific gang violence of the past few years. Theyre set to lose their protective status in August. My heart is breaking, said Sherika Blanc, 34, who has lived in the U.S. for 15 years and has four American-citizen children. She now faces deportation to a country controlled by brutal militants, where most people live on less than a dollar a day.

Why is Trump opposed to TPS?

The Republican Party has long argued that TPS has become a de facto permanent residency program for immigrants from poor countries. The program was intended to be a short-term fix for people facing an emergency, but the T for temporary is now being ignored, with most TPS recipients getting automatically renewed year after year. And that, conservative critics say, leaves these immigrants in legal limbo: without a pathway to citizenship but also without any incentive to reintegrate into their home country. Republicans also say that Democratic presidents have used TPS, which is bestowed by the White House, as a way to get around immigration laws passed by Congress. President Joe Biden invoked the program to grant amnesty by executive fiat to millions of illegal aliens, the America First Policy Institute said in 2023.

Is there any pushback?

The administration is battling multiple lawsuits, brought by immigrant advocacy groups, the ACLU, and others, that seek to block the revocation of TPS. The order is plainly illegal, said UCLA law professor Ahilan Arulanantham. Terminations can only occur at the end of an extension. An exception could be made if the government declared Haiti and Venezuela to be safe, but both countries are listed under the State Departments most severe designation: Do not travel. Theres reason to believe the lawsuits will succeed. In his first term, Trump tried to end TPS designations for six countries but was blocked by the courts. If the administration prevails, though, it could begin deporting more than a million people over the next year. What happens then? The U.S. economy might take a hit. TPS households hold $8 billion in purchasing power and pay more than $1 billion in federal taxes a year, as well as nearly $1 billion more in state and local taxes. And TPS holders have a high labor participation rate: Haitians labor force participation rate is 88 percent and Venezuelans is 75 percent, well above the total U.S. populations rate of 63 percent. The prospect that they might be deported is terrifying for communities that rely on their labor. In Doral, Fla., known as Doralzuela, a third of the population is Venezuelan. Springfield, Ohio, was dying before some 15,000 Haitians arrived to revive it, and in recent years the citys revenue has exploded. People are making money from renting to them, providing services, employing them, said Springfield City Council member Carla Thompson. All of that is going to go away.

What about the immigrants?

Should you get deported, you are kind of left for dead, said Harry Jean-Baptiste, a Haitian living in Houston. Haiti is a desperately poor country overrun by blood-thirsty gangs that murdered nearly 6,000 people last year and displaced a million more. In Venezuela, a country from which 7.5 million people have fled since Maduro took power in 2013 and collapsed the economy, most people still rely on humanitarian assistance for food. Both countries would deteriorate further if their migrants came home, since both of their economies rely heavily on remittances from U.S.-based expats. Adelys Ferro, head of a group representing Venezuelan Americans, said she feels beyond betrayed by Trump. We are not here because we came as tourists, she said. We are here because we got kicked out from our country.

Are Ukrainians at risk?

Trump has suggested he might revoke TPS for the 240,000 Ukrainians who came to the U.S. fleeing the 2022 Russian invasion. Before leaving office in January, Biden tried to pre-empt such a move by extending Ukrainians status until October 2026, but Trump wants to cut that short. Ukrainians have gone through a lot, the president said, but some people think ending their protections is appropriate. Trump has already suspended Ukrainian Humanitarian Parole, another program that had allowed Ukrainian immigrants into the country. Given that Ukraine is an active war zone, deporting people there would be illegal under international law as well as U.S. law. And for the Ukrainians themselves, returning home would be returning home to nothing, said Issa Spatrisano of Catholic Social Services. The places where they lived have been bombed, destroyed. Their schools gone; their homes gone.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Responsible gun owners simply dont forget about where their guns are when they travel.

Thats according to a regional Transportation Security Administration official, who said forgetfulness is often the most common excuse travelers give when caught with firearms.

Most people claim that they forgot they had it with them, said TSA regional spokesperson Lisa Farbstein. If youre a responsible gun owner, you know where your gun is at all times.

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In 2024, TSA officers intercepted a record 34 firearms at Norfolk International Airport, but so far this year, just one gun has been detected  TSA officers stopped a Virginia Beach woman after finding a loaded gun in her carry-on bag.

Norfolk TSA officers intercept first gun of 2025 at ORF

The firearm, a .380 caliber handgun loaded with six bullets, was discovered at the security checkpoint back in January. TSA officers notified the Norfolk Airport Authority Police, who confiscated the weapon. The case will be referred to the Norfolk Commonwealths Attorney for possible criminal prosecution.

In North Carolina, TSA officers have found 50 loaded firearms in the first two months of this year.

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TSA officers find 50 loaded firearms at NC airports in first 2 months of 2025

Travelers who bring firearms to a checkpoint face significant consequences, including a civil penalty of up to $14,950. They may also lose their TSA PreCheck eligibility for at least five years and may have to go through enhanced screening. Additionally, local law enforcement may arrest or cite the individual.

Nationwide, TSA officers intercepted 6,678 firearms at airport checkpoints in 2024, with 94% of them loaded. While this marks a decrease in firearm interceptions per million passengers compared to 2023, the agency continues to emphasize the importance of responsible packing.

TSA: Virginia sets record for firearms seized at airport checkpoints in 2024

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They [TSA] remove the weapon from the checkpoint and the individual from the checkpoint to really investigate and see whats going on, Farbstein said. But the whole idea is that the weapon is typically confiscated by the police. Again, TSA does not confiscate the guns. Thats something the police do. So the threat item is then removed from the possession of the traveler.

Farbstein explained that once police confiscate a firearm, the immediate threat is eliminated. Whether the traveler can still catch their flight depends on the situation. If theyre arrested, making their flight is unlikely. However, if law enforcement releases them quickly, they might still have a chance to proceed with their travel plans.

Firearms are only permitted in checked baggage, provided they are unloaded, locked in a hard-sided container and properly declared at the airlines ticket counter. TSA encourages travelers to check its guidelines using the MyTSA app, which allows users to search for specific items and determine how they should be packed.

For more information on TSA regulations and travel tips, visit tsa.gov.

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A Turkish court on Tuesday placed seven journalists in custody after they were arrested while covering the protests in Istanbul, including a photojournalist for French news agency AFP, according to a media-freedom nonprofit and AFP.

AFP strongly condemns the detention of its journalist and photographer Yasin Akgul and calls for his immediate release. This is a serious attack on the freedom of the media, AFP said in a statement. AFP calls on the Turkish authorities to respect the freedom of the press and the work of journalists, essential pillars of any democratic society.

Six other journalists were also arrested on Tuesday, according to the Turkish free speech nonprofit Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA).

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Protests have been taking place across Turkey over the past week, including in the largest city Istanbul and the capital Ankara, amid anger over the jailing of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu  the main political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Imamoglu was arrested on corruption charges at his home last Wednesday, just days before he was to be nominated as a candidate in the 2028 presidential election.

He has denied the charges against him, and critics say the arrest represents a dangerous turning point for Turkey, which has become increasingly authoritarian in recent years, according to international monitoring groups. In a post on X, Imamoglu said, We will, hand in hand, uproot this blow, this black stain on our democracy I am standing tall, I will not bow down.

Authorities in Istanbul governorate banned protests and closed some roads in order to maintain public order and prevent any provocative actions that may occur.

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Since last Wednesday, 1,418 protesters have been detained, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, following six days of demonstrations that the government has deemed illegal.

While there are currently 979 suspects in custody, 478 people will be brought to court today, Yerlikaya said in a social media post. No concessions will be made to those who attempt to terrorize the streets, to attack our national and moral values, and to our police officers.

AFP photographer Akgul has covered Turkish political news for AFP for 10 years, according to the news agency.

An undated photo shows AFP photographer Yasin Akgul at the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art. - AFP/Getty Images

His imprisonment is unacceptable. This is why I am asking you to intervene as quickly as possible to obtain the rapid release of our journalist, said AFP chairman Fabrice Fries in a letter addressed to the Turkish presidency.

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Yasin Akgul was not part of the protest. As a journalist, he was covering one of the many demonstrations that have been organized in the country since Wednesday, March 19, Fries said. He has taken exactly 187 photographs since the start of the protests, each one a witness to his work as a journalist.

Media outlets and journalists critical of the government have long faced censorship in Turkey, according to Reporters Without Borders, which says tactics such as stripping them of press passes are commonplace.

The government controls about 90% of the national media in Turkey, Reporters Without Borders noted.

Meanwhile, Freedom House, a US-based nonprofit research organization, has labelled Turkey as not free when it comes to internet and media freedom, citing several laws enacted by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) that increase censorship and surveillance and criminalize online speech.

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The countrys strongman leader Erdogan has been in power since 2003, first serving as Turkeys prime minister, and later as president since 2014. In 2017, a referendum vote passed that expanded Erdogans presidential powers, potentially allowing him to remain in office until 2029.

Turkeys main opposition party, the Republican Peoples Party (CHP), said Tuesday that it is planning a rally on Saturday in Istanbul.

CNNs Mohammed Tawfeeq, Niamh Kennedy and Nadeen Ebrahim contributed to this report.

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From the start of Syrias civil war, Turkey and Russia found their interests in the country diverging, with Ankara supporting the armed rebels seeking to overthrow the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad and Moscow serving as one of Assads principal backers. Tensions between them were further amplified after Russias intensified intervention on Assads behalf in September 2015.

The two sides ultimately reached a working arrangement, setting up diplomatic mechanisms to manage their differences and tamp down the fighting until late last year, when a rebel offensive tacitly approved by Ankara toppled Assad on Dec. 8.

Having supported anti-Assad groups throughout the civil war, Turkey has recently emerged as the big winner in Syria. By contrast, Russias influence in Syria has drastically declined with interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, now in power.

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As a result, Syria will remain a source of tension in Turkish-Russian relations. Given Ankaras role in Assads ouster, the fall of Syrias regime further reinforced Moscows view of Turkey as an opportunistic player able and willing to severely undermine Russian interests. But whether as cooperative rivals or adversarial collaborators, Ankara and Moscow are likely to continue engaging with each other on the Syrian file and avoid hostilities.

To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter.

Frenemies in Syria

The two countries and their predecessor empires have centuries of experience both confronting and cooperating with each other. The Ottoman Empire fought a dozen wars with the Russian Empire between the 16th and 20th centuries. Throughout the Cold War, Turkeya founding NATO member whose leadership was staunchly anti-communistallied with the West against the Soviet Union. Yet, throughout their shared history, both sides also understood the importance of co-existing as Black Sea neighbors and pursuing economic ties when possible.

That history prepared them well for managing their tensions during the Syrian conflict. Those tensions reached their zenith in November 2015, when Turkey shot down a Russian warplane that had briefly entered Turkish airspace along the Turkish-Syrian border. Yet, they subsequently reset relations after Russian President Vladimir Putins government came to the defense of his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in the aftermath of a failed coup targeting Erdogan in July 2016. By contrast, that episode heightened tensions between Ankara and its traditional NATO allies.

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By 2016-2017, Turkey had essentially come to terms with Russias intensified military intervention in Syria, which helped the Assad regime regain control of much of the country. For all intents and purposes, Ankara gave up on regime change and focused its energy on securing the Turkish-Syrian border and combating the YPG, a militia that Ankara views as the Syrian offshoot of the Turkish Kurdish PKK, which has been fighting a decadeslong insurgency against Turkey.

Turkey and Russia have, to their credit, a record of successfully compartmentalizing issues, finding ways to cooperate on certain files despite major sources of tension in other areas of the relationship.

From that point onward, Turkey, Russia and Irananother of Assads backerssought to manage the Syrian crisis via the Astana Process, a forum through which they worked to advance common interests in Syria, such as preserving the countrys territorial integrity, defeating extremist groups such as the Islamic State and seeking a political solution to the conflict, at least until Assads ouster. In 2019, Russia and Turkey even coordinated their policies along the Turkish-Syrian border, with Moscow recognizing the validity of Ankaras security concerns vis-a-vis armed groups in Syria and potential spillover of the conflict.

In practice, the Astana Process reduced violence in Syria by essentially freezing the civil war through mediated agreements starting in 2017. In particular, a series of free passage deals saw armed rebels surrender territory in the south in return for being allowed to relocate to Idlib, a governorate in northwestern Syria along the Turkish border that the Assad regime lost control of in 2015. As a result, Idlib became a bastion for the Syrian opposition as well as a refuge for millions of displaced Syrians, with HTS ultimately establishing itself as the landlocked enclaves governing entity.

In 2020, the Syrian military, with full support from Moscow and Tehran, began a campaign to take back Idlib, but Turkey intervened militarily to thwart Damascus from achieving this goal. Ankaras main motivation was to prevent any large influx of refugees from Idlib into southern Turkey. Though Ankara never directly backed HTS, in protecting Idlib it became the groups indirect benefactor and de facto security guarantor. By November 2024, it was only with Turkeys tacit approval that HTS was able to launch its lightning offensive that took first Aleppo and then Damascus, ending 54 years of rule by the Assad familyand 61 years of Baathist political dominationin Syria.

Pragmatic Engagement

Facing a completely new reality in Syria, Russia has acted pragmatically. Officials in Moscow and their new counterparts in Damascus have engaged each other, with both sides seeing a value to maintaining bilateral relations despite the baggage of Russias past support for Assad. Russia and Syrias interim government are negotiating terms for a continued Russian military presence in Tartusa naval base it had leased for decades prior to the civil warand in Hmeimim, where Russia established an air base at the outset of its intervention in 2015. Moscow has also addressed a possible Russian role in helping Syria with postwar reconstruction and redevelopment.

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As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, Moscow has cards to play to further incentivize the new Syrian government to work with it in ways that enable the Russians to retain some degree of influence in Syria even with Assad out of the picture. With the U.S. for now maintaining its civil war-era sanctions on Syria, Damascus has its own motivations for keeping the door open to good relations with Russia.

With Turkey now serving as Syrias new kingmaker, the Russians understand that avoiding engagement with Ankara or disregarding Turkish interests in Syria is not an option. For Russia to make any major moves in Syria, it will have to coordinate with Turkey in one way or the other. Mindful of Turkeys leveragenot only in Syria, but also in relation to the Black Sea and UkraineRussias leadership wants to contain tensions with Ankara.

From Turkeys perspective, coordination with Russia on the Syrian front is important, especially given the unpredictability of U.S. President Donald Trump and the uncertainty surrounding his administrations approach toward Syria. If Trump pursues policies toward Syria that undermine Turkish interests, Erdogan could turn to Putin to counterbalance Washington. Ankara is also aware that Israel is currently lobbying the U.S. to support a continued Russian military presence in Syria as a means of countering Ankaras clout, at a time in which Turkish-Israeli tensions vis-a-vis Syria are hot. In this context, Turkeys leadership assesses that a fruitful dialogue with the Russians benefits Ankaras long-term interests.

Ultimately, Turkey and Russia view each other with much suspicion. The Turks fear Russias ambitions not only in the Middle East, but also in Eastern Europe. The past several months of developments in Syria will likely add new layers of friction to the Ankara-Moscow relationship. Nonetheless, Erdogans and Putins governments have, to their credit, a record of successfully compartmentalizing issues, finding ways to cooperate on certain files despite major sources of tension in other areas of the relationship.

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Always determined to drive a wedge between Turkey and the rest of NATO, while also recognizing Ankaras increased clout in the New Syria, Russia sees Turkey as a player it must work with as Moscow navigates post-Assad Syrias shifting landscape. Meanwhile officials in Ankara see Russia as a nuclear-armed global power that has the means to both severely harm Turkey and also give Ankara more options for maneuverability in a multipolar world, thus giving the Turks many reasons to maintain healthy relations with Moscow.

Moreover, despite their differences, Turkey and Russia still share common interests in Syria, including preventing the Islamic State from regaining a foothold in the country and countering Washingtons agenda when doing so serves their purposes. For these reasons, they are likely to continue engaging each other on Syria as well as other files, keeping relations respectful but also competitive.

Giorgio Cafiero is the CEO and founder of Gulf State Analytics, a Washington-based geopolitical risk consultancy that focuses on the Middle East, and an adjunct assistant professor at Georgetown University. Follow him on Twitter @GiorgioCafiero.

The post Turkey and Russia Will Remain Frenemies in Syria appeared first on World Politics Review.
By Tuvan Gumrukcu and Humeyra Pamuk

ANKARA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Turkey and the United States want to remove obstacles to defence industry cooperation, a Turkish Foreign Ministry source said on Wednesday, after talks between the NATO allies' top diplomats in Washington.

On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan kicked off a two-day visit to Washington, where he was expected to ask Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other U.S. officials to remove U.S. sanctions on Turkey and allow it back into a crucial fighter jet program.

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The visit comes as Ankara seeks warmer ties with Washington under the administration of President Donald Trump and just days after a phone call between Trump and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan that a top Trump aide described as "transformational".

The top Turkish diplomat's visit also comes at a critical time for Erdogan, after his main political rival and Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, was jailed pending trial on Sunday, prompting the largest anti-government protests in over a decade.

Ties between the U.S. and Turkey have drifted away from a strategic partnership in recent years as disagreements between the two long-standing treaty allies have widened.

The administration of former President Joe Biden kept Turkey at arm's length over what it saw as the fellow NATO member's close ties with Russia. Under Trump, who views Moscow much more favorably, Ankara is hoping for a warmer relationship with Washington. It also plans to capitalize on the personal ties between the two leaders.

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During the meeting between Fidan and Rubio on Tuesday, both sides "clearly put forth their political will to lift obstacles to cooperation in the defence industry field," the source said, adding they also followed up on matters discussed between Trump and Erdogan.

"Technical talks will be held for the resolution of existing problems," the person added, without elaborating.

During his first term, Trump initially ignored advice from his aides to impose sanctions on Turkey under its Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) over Ankara's acquisition of Russian S-400 air defence missile systems in 2019. He then took the step in 2020.

That acquisition also led to Turkey's removal from the F-35 jet program, where it was a manufacturer and buyer. Ankara says its removal is unjust and illegal, and has demanded to rejoin or be reimbursed for its investment in the program.

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Conversations between the allies on how to resolve the S-400 deadlock were ongoing under Biden. Turkey had pledged to keep the systems non-operational, a source familiar with the discussions said, but a breakthrough never came.

A Turkish official, requesting anonymity, told Reuters ahead of Fidan's visit that Ankara was aiming to agree with Washington that keeping the S-400s non-operational can be enough to resolve the matter.

RUSSIA IMPACT

During the Biden era, the allies had settled into a new phase of relations, with a more transactional focus rather than based on shared values, as differences over policies on Syria, the war in Gaza, and judicial matters persisted.

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Since coming back into office on January 20, Trump upended Biden's policy to isolate Moscow and provide unwavering support to Kyiv and instead focused on ending Russia's war in Ukraine. His shift spooked European leaders who feared Washington could be turning its back to Europe and bolstered Ankara's role as a potential partner in reshaping European security.

The Turkish official said discussions between Washington and Ankara had "taken a new dimension" after Trump's shift in approach to Moscow.

"If U.S. sanctions on Russia are to be lifted, it becomes illogical for CAATSA to be implemented on third countries. As much as this issue is about Turkey-USA ties, it is also about Turkey-Russia ties," the official added.

Sources familiar with the matter said the phone call between Erdogan and Trump may bring positive momentum to conversations in coming days, though no promises were made.

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"The president had a great conversation with Erdogan a couple of days ago. Really transformational, I would describe it," Trump's special envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff said in an interview with right-wing podcaster Tucker Carlson.

Exclusion from the F-35 program pushed Turkey to purchase 40 Lockheed Martin Block-70 F-16 fighter jets. However, despite agreeing on the procurement, there has been little progress on the acquisition for months.

The Turkish source said Fidan and Rubio also discussed head of state-level visits to be held in the coming period, without elaborating.

The two also emphasised the importance of stability in Syria and in the Balkans, while discussing efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, and the need for a ceasefire in Gaza, the source added.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu in Ankara and Humeyra Pamuk in Washington; Editing by Alistair Bell and Lincoln Feast.)
ISTANBUL (AP)  The head of Turkey's main opposition party visited jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Tuesday after six nights of massive protests calling for his release.

Imamoglu, arrested on March 19 on corruption charges, is seen as the main challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogans 22-year rule. His arrest has been widely viewed as politically motivated and sparked demonstrations, some turning violent, across the country. The government insists Turkeys judiciary is independent and free of political influence.

Ozgur Ozel, the leader of Imamoglu's Republican Peoples Party, or CHP, held a two-hour meeting with Imamoglu at Silivri prison, west of Istanbul. Ozel told reporters that he was ashamed on behalf of those who govern Turkey of the atmosphere I am in and the situation that Turkey is being put through.

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He described Imamoglu and two jailed CHP district mayors he also met as three lions inside, standing tall, with their heads held high  proud of themselves, their families, their colleagues, not afraid.

Ozel later spoke at what he said would be the last rally in front of Istanbul's City Hall, saying the party would appoint an acting mayor in Imamoglu's place in hopes of staving off a state-appointed replacement.

Ozel announced plans for a demonstration on Saturday at another location in Istanbul and warned the governor, a government appointee in charge of police, not to allow any violence at the final City Hall gathering.

If you provoke this square tonight, if you use tear gas or attack, I will change our plan for the coming days. I will make a call for 500,000 people to (come to) the place that will disturb you the most, he said.

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Crackdown on media and activists

Students across Turkey protested and occupied campuses on Tuesday after declaring a boycott of classes. In Istanbul, thousands gathered in a park before marching to Sisli district, where the elected mayor has been jailed and replaced with a government appointee.

Meanwhile, Turkish authorities have been cracking down on journalists as protests have grown.

The Media and Law Studies Association, a civil society group, said 11 journalists who were detained for covering banned protests in Istanbul were brought to the citys Caglayan Courthouse to answer charges of violating the law on meetings and demonstrations.

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The journalists were among more than 200 people prosecutors have recommended for imprisonment pending trial, including left-wing activists rounded up at their homes in raids early Monday. By late Tuesday, 172 people, including seven journalists, had been jailed ahead of trial.

Among those sent to pretrial detention was 22-year-old student Berkay Gezgin, who as a boy coined the phrase Everything will be great when he met Imamoglu on the campaign trail in 2019. The slogan has endured as a central part of the mayors political identity since.

Turkish media reported that U.S. citizen Michael Anthony Ganoe was deported for inciting the public to hatred during the protests.

The head of the CHP's Istanbul branch, Ozgur Celik, shared a letter he received from the prosecutors office ordering the removal of Imamoglu's posters. He said he would not comply.

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You will see more of Mayor Ekrem on the balconies of houses, in squares, on the streets and on the walls, Celik posted on X.

Demonstrations in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, as well as smaller cities and towns across Turkey, have been largely peaceful with protesters demanding Imamoglus release and an end to democratic backsliding. Some turned violent, with officers deploying water cannons, tear gas and pepper spray and firing plastic pellets at protesters, some of whom have hurled stones, fireworks and other objects at riot police.

The governors of Ankara and Izmir on Tuesday extended bans on demonstrations to April 1 and March 29, respectively. The ban in Istanbul currently ends on Thursday.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said early Tuesday that police had detained 43 provocateurs over what he said were vile insults hurled at Erdogan and his family at protests. Later he posted that 1,418 people had been detained since Wednesday last week, and 979 suspects were currently in custody. No concessions will be made to those who attempt to terrorize the streets, he wrote on X.

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Ozel and Imamoglu's social media accounts posted condemnations of insults hurled at Erdogan's mother.

Addressing a Ramadan fast-breaking meal in Ankara, Erdogan called on people to know their limits, maintain moderation and not to cross the line between seeking rights and insult and vandalism.

He added: Those who spread terror in the streets and want to turn this country into a fire have no destination. The path they take is a dead end.

Mayor's arrest and possibility of early elections

Imamoglu has been jailed on suspicion of running a criminal organization, accepting bribes, extortion, illegally recording personal data and bid-rigging  accusations he has denied. He also faces prosecution on terror-related charges and has been suspended from duty as a temporary measure.

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Alongside Imamoglu, 47 other people have been jailed pending trial, including a key aide and two district mayors from Istanbul. A further 44 suspects in the case alleging widespread graft at Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality were released under judicial control.

The U.N. Human Rights Office condemned widespread detentions in Turkey. All those detained for the legitimate exercise of their rights must be released immediately and unconditionally, spokesperson Liz Throssell said in a statement.

Although Turkey is not due for another election until 2028, there is a reasonable possibility that Erdogan will call for an early vote in order to run for another term.

Imamoglu has been confirmed as the candidate for the CHP and has performed well in recent polls against Erdogan. He was elected mayor of Turkeys largest city in March 2019, in a major blow to Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party, which had controlled Istanbul alongside its predecessors for a quarter-century.

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Police disperse protesters near City Hall in Istanbul

Security forces used a more subdued approach Tuesday to disperse anti-government protesters compared to earlier days.

Ozel, the leader of CHP, spoke at length near the Istanbul City Hall after threatening a larger demonstration if authorities used excessive force again.

Following his speech, officers said the road under the historic aqueduct where police and protesters held a standoff since the second day of the protests would reopen. Officers repeatedly asked protesters to leave.

Police advanced slowly on the group until it dispersed, with some physical altercations. A small crowd briefly sought refuge outside the City Hall.

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Protesters chanted anti-government slogans, demanded Erdogans resignation and staged a sit-in near the historic aqueduct.

One demonstrator, who declined to give his name due to fear of reprisals and detention by security forces, said protesters who threw stones at police did not belong there. He also called on Erdogan to resign.

Another protester, an 18-year-old who also withheld his name, said he was detained and then released after the Monday protests, Even though we did not scuffle with the police, they came and sprayed us with pepper gas," he said.

Footage of clashes on Monday circulated widely on social media, including of an officer spraying and yelling at fleeing demonstrators.

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Protesters on Tuesday sought to remain peaceful, singling out and removing those who threw objects or shouted insults.

Small fights between protesters broke out after groups accused each other of needlessly provoking the police. One man was struck in the head by a group of protesters after being accused of throwing objects at police.



Associated Press writer Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Robert Badendieck in Istanbul contributed to this report.
ISTANBUL (Reuters) -A Turkish court detained Agence France-Presse photojournalist Yasin Akgul as part of an investigation into protests over the jailing of Istanbul's mayor, Turkey's Journalists Union said on Tuesday.

According to the ruling document seen by Reuters, the court decided to keep Akgul in jail pending trial on a charge of attending illegal meetings and marches and not dispersing voluntarily despite warnings.

The union said Akgul was one of seven journalists remanded in custody by the court.

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Akgul and his lawyers said during their defence that he was covering the protests as a journalist and requested that he be released, according to the court document.

AFP chairman and chief executive Fabrice Fries called for Akgul's immediate release saying that he was not participating in the protests but was covering them as a journalist.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Tuesday that 1,418 people who took part in the nationwide protests had been detained since Wednesday, adding that 478 of them would face judicial authorities later in the day.

Meanwhile, many anti-government protesters said they were prepared for a long-term standoff after six nights of action and scattered clashes with police over the jailing of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, rejecting President Tayyip Erdogan's claim that their "show" will fizzle out.

(Reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun; Editing by Jonathan Spicer, Andrew Heavens and Mark Heinrich)
Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has urged supporters to boycott a list of companies and media outlets which it branded as government-aligned.

"We do not see those who do not see us," CHP politician Ozgur Celik wrote on social media platform X. The list includes a major coffee chain, food conglomerates, publishing houses and TV channels.

The CHP contends that the media groups listed avoid coverage of the recent protests sweeping the country or distort the details.

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Protests over the arrest and suspension of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu have been ongoing for nearly a week, with tens of thousands defying bans in Istanbul and other major Turkish cities.

A total of 979 demonstrators are currently in custody, according to Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

Imamoglu, seen as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's strongest political rival, denies corruption and terrorism-related charges levelled against him.
By Jonathan Spicer and Huseyin Hayatsever

ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Anti-government protesters in Turkey said they planned to keep up a campaign of demonstrations triggered by the jailing of Istanbul's mayor - the biggest such opposition action in a decade - despite mass arrests and clashes with police.

President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that what he dismissed as their "show" will fizzle out.

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But since the arrest of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu last week, hundreds of thousands of people have gathered in squares, streets and university campuses nationwide each evening chanting anti-Erdogan slogans and calling for Imamoglu's release, justice and rights. A court jailed Imamoglu on Sunday pending trial on corruption charges which he denies.

Protesters, opposition parties, European leaders and rights groups have called the detention of Imamoglu, Erdogan's main rival, a politicised and anti-democratic move.

The gatherings are banned but have carried on nonetheless, almost entirely peacefully until the late hours when police have used clubs and pepper spray in response to projectiles and arrested more than 1,400 people.

"I'll try to come as much as I can because the government has left us no justice," said one university student at Istanbul's Sarachane park.

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"I was scared when I first came, thinking we might get arrested. But I'm not scared now," she said.

At the main nightly protest at the park between city hall and a towering Roman aqueduct, most people have cheered speeches by opposition leaders while others, some 200 metres (650 feet) away, have chanted and faced off with hundreds of white-helmeted riot police.

Other people also told Reuters they expect to continue daily protests even as the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has said that Tuesday will mark the last day of planned events at Sarachane.

CHALLENGE TO ERDOGAN

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The continued protests pose a potential bind for Erdogan, who has called them "street terrorism". He has tolerated little criticism from the streets since authorities violently shut down the anti-government Gezi Park protests in 2013.

After a cabinet meeting in Ankara on Monday, the president accused the CHP of provoking citizens and predicted they would feel ashamed for the "evil" done to the country once their "show" fades away.

On Tuesday, speaking to a group of young people in a Ramadan fast-breaking meal, Erdogan urged patience and common sense amid what he described as "very sensitive days".

"Those who terrorize our streets and want to turn this country into a place of chaos have nowhere to go. The path they have taken is a dead end," Erdogan said.

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The government has rejected claims of political influence and says the judiciary is independent.

The hitherto more reserved CHP has in recent days repeatedly urged people out to the streets.

CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel, who has given hoarse-voiced speeches from atop a bus at Sarachane park each evening, has said the last event there on Tuesday would be both "a great end and big kick off" to new rallies elsewhere, vowing to fight on.

He said the party will launch its election campaign with a rally this Saturday for presidential candidate Imamoglu. The CHP-majority council will elect an acting mayor on Wednesday.

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On Monday at Sarachane, a physician said he hoped in coming days to also attend demonstrations at Silivri prison where the mayor is behind bars just outside the city.

"I hope it never stops," he said of the rallies. "We are here because of justice and democracy and because we don't believe that we are living in a democratic country."

Elsewhere in Istanbul on Monday evening a sit-in protest briefly blocked all traffic at the 19th-century Galata Bridge crossing the Golden Horn waterway.

Students have driven much of the civil disobedience and many have boycotted university classes since Monday. Many university professors observed a one-day protest strike on Tuesday.

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The United Nations Human Rights Office urged Turkish authorities to ensure that the rights to freedom of expression and assembly are guaranteed, in line with international law.

However, a court on Tuesday jailed, pending trial, seven journalists, including AFP photographer Yasin Akgul, for "refusing to disperse despite warning during a demonstration," a court document showed.

Since Imamoglu's detention, Turkish financial assets have plunged, prompting the central bank to use reserves to support the lira.

Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek told a call with international investors on Tuesday that authorities would do whatever was needed to tame the market jitters, and that the impact of the market turmoil would be limited and temporary.

(Reporting by Jonathan Spicer in Istanbul and Huseyin Hayatsever in Ankara; Additional reporting by Alistair Bell)
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested two people accused of forcibly stealing a mans wallet and cellphone on Monday.

MPD said the man was in the 3700 block of 14th St. NW when several people approached him. He told police that they assaulted him before taking his phone and wallet.

DC police search for six people after armed robbery in Southeast

MPD officers apprehended two of the suspects  a man and a woman.

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Authorities charged 51-year-old Toby Wood and 41-year-old Annette Hawkins with robbery (force & violence).

MPD said it was still investigating this robbery. Anyone with any information should call police at 202-727-9099 or text 50411.

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Two men are facing charges after a monthslong investigation into a 2024 fire that caused a Cape Cod restaurant to collapse.

22-year-old Jacob Ladner and 18-year-old Isabella Medeiros were arrested Monday afternoon on charges of burning a building, breaking and entering in the daytime with intent to commit a felony, wanton destruction of property over $1,200, and trespassing, according to State Fire Marshal Jon Davine.

On November 3, 2024, companies responding to Anthonys Cummaquid Inn on Route 6A for a report of a fire were met with heavy flames that kept firefighters from multiple towns on scene for hours.

The blaze spread quickly through the vacant building, threatening other buildings on the property along with an area of brush. It took all night, but the wind-fueled flames were eventually extinguished.

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One firefighter suffered a minor injury and was evaluated at the scene. The restaurant, however, was a total loss.

Firefighters were on scene fighting this fire for more than 10 hours, and we were extremely fortunate that no one was seriously injured, said Chief Enrique Arrascue. Fire is dangerous, destructive, and unpredictable. This intentionally set fire put first responders, the public, and the perpetrators themselves in danger.

Officials offered a $5,000 reward leading to information that could help with the arson investigation. After four months, Ladner and Medeiros were identified as suspects and taken into custody.

They will both be arraigned in Barnstable District Court.

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These arrests were the result of painstaking work by Yarmouth Police detectives and State Police fire investigators with the support and assistance of the Yarmouth Fire Department, said Yarmouth Police Chief Kevin Lennon. I want to thank the community and our residents for their patience as this process unfolded.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Two Columbus Division of Police officers working special duty were hurt early Saturday morning while removing an allegedly intoxicated man from Hollywood Casino.

Brian Toth, executive vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge #9, said the officers were trying to get the man a safe ride home. He said it could have been worse and he is thankful they are OK.

Some Ohioans may soon get their drivers license suspensions lifted

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They went from a very well from a situation of helping to almost a survival, Toth said.

Records from the Columbus Division of Police show officers responded to a radio call for officers in trouble at Hollywood Casino just after 4 a.m. Saturday.

Two of our officers were working special duty at the casino, trying to get someone who was really intoxicated to try to give them a ride home safely, as are walking them outside, Toth said. Everything just turned for the worse.

The arrest report said those two officers were trying to help Hollywood Casino security get Corey Newman, 26, to leave the property. The records say Newman refused. It describes Newman as intoxicated and reads, As officers detained Mr. Newman, Mr. Newman resisted and pulled away from them, wrestling with officers.

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It goes on to say the officers had to place Newman on the ground and said he tensed up and held his arms under his body to avoid handcuffs.

Cocaine in Doritos box found near child at west Columbus apartment, deputies say

Fighting with the police is absolutely no way to go, Toth said.

The report alleges both officers were hurt when Newman resisted arrest. One had to be taken to the hospital but is OK.

Newman is charged with two felony counts for obstructing official business.

He was issued a $4,000 bond during an arraignment hearing on Monday.

Toth said the FOP believes this number is too low.

Its very frustrating, you know, Toth said. Were asked to enforce the laws, were asked to help people but then we ask in return to be supported.

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Columbus police are working to fulfill a request for body camera footage of the incident.

Hollywood Casino said it has no comment on the incident.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP)  Two dogs were returned to their owner after being stolen during a burglary in Holyoke on Saturday.

Holyoke Police arrest man on multiple child rape charges

The Holyoke Police Department states that at 11:40 a.m. on Saturday, officers were called to a breaking and entering at an apartment on St. Jerome Ave. The residents said three people who they know had broken in, damaged their property, and stole two of their dogs.

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Later on that day, officers observed the suspected vehicle in the area of Appleton Street and Beech Street and performed a traffic stop. The suspects had a American Pitbull and French Bulldog inside the car and were then returned to their owner.

The three suspects were identified as 19-year-old Samuel Cardona of Springfield, 20-year-old Christalee Guzman of Holyoke, and a 15-year-old boy.

Both Cardona and Guzman were arrested and charged with:

Larceny Over $1,200

Breaking and Entering Nighttime for a Felony

Vandalizing Property

The 15-year-old who was arrested identity and charges have not been released due to his age.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
More than two dozen bar association groups signed onto a new memo released Monday that condemns Donald Trumps ongoing attacks on the rule of law, the independence of the legal profession and the right to counsel. Specifically, the signees  which includes major city bar associations like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, as well as groups like the Asian American Bar Association of New York, Metropolitan Black Bar Association and the Women Trial Lawyers Caucus  criticized Trumps latest of multiple presidential memoranda going after the legal community.

As my colleague David Kurtz unpacks here, the Trump administration action on Friday directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to take all appropriate action to refer for disciplinary action any attorney who engages in conduct the Trump administration doesnt like when challenging the administration in court. It all serves as an attempt to give Trump and his subservient DOJ, led by Bondi, a new excuse to attack the legal profession and to limit his enemies access to legal representation.

In just the last few weeks, Trump has targeted major law firms including Perkins Coie, Paul, Weiss and Covington & Burling, revoking the firms attorneys security clearances and blocking employees from federal buildings. Some have fought against the Trump administrations assault, others, like Paul, Weiss capitulated, throwing itself at the feet of the Trump administration last week.

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In the statement, sent to me by the New York City Bar Monday, the bar associations said Trumps latest actions against law firms violate fundamental principles of our legal system. An excerpt:

Our justice system is premised on the principle that all individuals and entities  regardless of their political, social, or economic standing  are entitled to representation. This foundational principle is not a privilege granted at the discretion of those in power; it is a cornerstone of democracy, enshrined in our Constitution, and protected by our courts. Attempts to intimidate or penalize lawyers for representing clients whose interests do not align with those of the government are antithetical to our democracy, violate the rule of law, chill attorneys from fulfilling their ethical and professional obligations, and undermine our system of justice. We call upon all branches of government to support the rule of law and the essential role of lawyers in our democracy, and to reject any efforts to use the tremendous power of the government against members of the legal profession for performing their duty. We further call upon our fellow members of the legal profession as well as members of the public at large to reject any attempt to harass or intimidate our countrys lawyers and judges for simply doing their jobs.

Headline Of The Day

The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans

The story of Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg being added to a Signal group chat about bombings in Yemen alongside the vice president, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other national security officials gets more bizarre by the hour. While Trump initially said he didnt know anything about the story and used the opportunity to remind reporters hes not a big fan of The Atlantic, the Trump administration is now acknowledging that an inadvertent number was added to a text chain and that officials were reviewing how that happened.

Democrats and Republicans in Congress are up in arms about the national security implications of the inadvertent mistake. (Goldberg was reportedly added to the text thread by Trumps national security adviser Michael Waltz).

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Dem Has Grave Concerns About Ed Martin

We reached out to some Democrats to ask about Ed Martins new, transparently bogus and partisan election integrity unit which will, Martin claims, be devoted to investigating instances of voter fraud and upholding voter integrity. In a comment to TPM, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), the top Democrat on the Senate Rules Committee, which oversees elections, responded calling it out for what it really is: another effort by the D.C. USAs office to address an oft-invoked Trump grievance.

Padilla said he has grave concerns about Martins unit, which he described as being led by a partisan election denier who defends January 6th insurrectionists will be more focused on attacking political enemies than protecting all Americans right to vote in free and fair elections.

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The Department of Justice and the Trump Administration have a responsibility to support election security and integrity, and the public deserves transparency about the real purpose and activities of this new unit in the D.C. U.S. Attorneys office, he added.

 Khaya Himmelman

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Two minors were taken into custody in West Palm Beach late Monday night after an armed carjacking of a rideshare driver, police said.

An Uber driver picked up a customer shortly before 11:30 p.m. in the 5600 block of Caribbean Boulevard, West Palm Beach Police said in a news release Tuesday. The customer put a long gun to the drivers neck and ordered him out of the car.

West Palm Beach officers issued a be-on-the-lookout alert to Riviera Beach Police for Uber drivers stolen car, which was found from license plate reader cameras. Riviera Beach officers then chased the car into West Palm Beach, the news release said.

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Both police departments pursued the car until it stopped in the 2700 block of Rosemary Avenue at Evergreen Cemetery. Two minors bailed from the car and fled, the department said.

They were taken into custody and booked in the Juvenile Assessment Center. Officers later found a BB gun and a handgun inside the Uber drivers car.
A government reshuffle in Estonia was completed on Tuesday with the swearing in of five new ministers under Prime Minister Kristen Michal.

The Baltic republic will be governed by a two-party coalition made up of Michal's Estonian Reform Party and Estonia 200, both described as economically liberal. It holds a narrow majority of 52 seats in the 101-member parliament in Tallinn.

The reshuffle was needed after Michal expelled the Social Democratic Party (SDE) earlier this month.

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The new coalition deal focuses on defence and security, along with economic competitiveness and cutting back bureaucracy. Defence expenditure is to rise to 5% of economic output, and the domestic arms industry is to be promoted.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 is seen as a direct threat in Estonia, which shares a border with Russia. The effects have also impacted the economy. Differences of opinion on how to deal with the situation led to the break-up of the previous three-party coalition.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  Two Peoria teens were indicted Tuesday in connection with the deadly shooting of a Far North Peoria man last November.

Dayquan D. Diggs and Harrington Wadlington, both 17, were charged with murder and burglary in connection with the Nov. 4, 2024, incident in the 8900 block of North Scrimshaw Drive.

Killed was 22-year-old Clay Megan, who had called police just after midnight to report several teens breaking into cars on his block.

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Officers were on their way to the scene when they learned that shots had been fired, and when they arrived, they found Megan on the ground with a gunshot wound to his neck. A gun was nearby, as were several shell casings in the street, according to court records.

Police were able to get surveillance video that showed an SUV with several people in or near it. People were trying to break into cars. It appears Megan saw them and came out of his home with a gun.

At that point, Diggs and Wadlington allegedly started shooting. The SUV then drove off and was later found. A bag of Doritos was found in the vehicle. DNA on the bag matched Diggs, according to court records.

Their ages and the murder charge meant their cases were automatically transferred from the juvenile division to adult court. Each faces a maximum of 40 years behind bars instead of a maximum of 60 years due to rulings by the Illinois Supreme Court in the past that capped what a juvenile could face.

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However, if a judge finds theyre beyond rehabilitation, each boy could receive up to 60 years if convicted of first-degree murder.

The murder counts allege they personally discharged the gun that killed Megan. That statement could mean they could face a 25-year tack-on to the base range of 20 to 40 years in prison. For juveniles, even if transfers, the tack-on isnt mandatory but at the discretion of the judge.

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Trump allies were divided Tuesday over the fate of Mike Waltz, with some MAGA-aligned insiders calling for the national security advisers ouster and others demanding he get another chance, despite bearing public responsibility for including a reporter on an unsecure group chat that discussed war plans.

Its a split that shows Waltzs unique position in the administration. Traditional defense hawks  who care most about the breach in security at the center of the controversy  are also more likely to want Waltz to stay. They view him as someone who, given his close personal rapport with President Donald Trump, can sell a more aggressive foreign policy to hardcore MAGA ideologues who are wary of more traditional Republican policies. This could apply to advocating for military strikes against Iran-backed rebels in Yemen or strengthening the U.S. military posture against Russia.

Other conservative commentators who view Waltzs positions as too neoconservative, however, were eager to use this episode to try and kickstart conversations on forcing him out.

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The debate emerging in Washington lays bare the fact that different factions are vying for influence over President Donald Trumps foreign policy agenda, and ultimately the future of the Republican Partys platform, according to interviews with five people familiar with the administrations internal thinking. All were granted anonymity to discuss internal party dynamics.

Many of Waltzs sympathizers, conscious of the criticisms against him, are emphasizing his importance to the presidents foreign policy agenda.

Waltz is integral to Trumps plans to restore American strength abroad, said one person close to the administration. Theres no doubt he screwed up here, but he can own it and move on.

Waltzs job appears to be safe. Trump told reporters on Tuesday afternoon in a Cabinet meeting that Waltz is a very good man and the attack in Yemen was ultimately totally successful.

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You have to learn from every experience. I think it was very unfair the way they attacked Michael, the president said of Waltz, who was in the room at the time. Trump instead directed his ire at the Atlantic journalist who had access to the Signal group chat, Jeffrey Goldberg, who he called a sleazebag.

But Trump has a history of changing his mind as public controversies brew. And even Waltzs allies feared some members of the MAGA movement would continue to quietly push for his ouster in the future, whether through Signalgate or other means.

They want an excuse to knife Waltz in the back because they think, erroneously, he isnt in line with Trumps foreign policy agenda, the person close to the administration said.

Schisms are growing between various Republican foreign policy circles as Trump settles into the Oval Office. One of those factions is a MAGA-branded version of former President Ronald Reagans peace through strength approach to the world which values proactive military actions and strengthening U.S. alliances. Another is a total re-alignment of U.S. foreign policy that questions alliance structures and U.S. military actions abroad, advocated by Vice President JD Vance and prominent conservative commentators like Tucker Carlson. Vance, according to the group chat records revealed by the Atlantic, privately opposed launching strikes on Yemen.

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Theres clearly a debate in the party on whether well stick with peace through strength or an entirely new brand of America First that upends that, said a senior Republican Senate staffer. And surprise surprise: Both sides are using this scandal to advance their agenda and say someone from the other side should be blamed or fired.

The staffer said there are numerous group chats with other GOP staffers, administration officials, and outside Republican experts debating the fallout of the Signalgate scandal and whether anyone should be fired in response. We all made sure no reporters are in those chats, the staffer quipped.

Among Waltzs defenders are top GOP lawmakers such as House Speaker Mike Johnson, who on Monday night said the national security adviser should absolutely not resign and is exceptionally qualified for the job.

Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) cast doubt on the veracity of the Atlantics reporting and defended Waltz, citing his long standing relationship with the president. This relationship goes back way before being named the position. I mean, he traveled on the campaign almost non-stop ... with candidate Trump," Banks said, "and he has President Trump's trust on the big issues of the day."

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Banks also pointed to the strikes in Yemen being successful regardless of the information shared in the Signal chat. I think the reason he's standing by Mike Waltz is because it was such a successful strike and it accomplished the mission.

Waltz coordinated the plans across agencies for the U.S. strikes in Yemen in the group chat, in which Vance voiced opposition to the proposed military operation. After the strike, Waltz texted the group chat emojis of a punch, an American flag and a flame.

Others argue the scrutiny should be on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Waltz, according to the Atlantic, created the group chat to coordinate meetings and erroneously added a journalist to it  but it was Hegseth who ultimately shared the most sensitive information, according to the Atlantics account, including targets for the strikes and attack sequencing ahead of the military operation.

If [Waltz] made a mistake in setting up the group, the rest erred in chiming in on it, said a second person close to the administration.

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One former defense official said that even though the administration spent political capital getting Hegseth through Senate confirmation  given the accusations of sexual assault, heavy drinking and abuse  he remains disposable and can be replaced, though not without giving the White House a black eye.

The National Security Council strongly pushed back against assertions that there were competing factions within the administration.

Anyone trying to drive a wedge between the national security leadership team misses the fact that these are professionals who collaborate and decisively carry out the presidents strong national security agenda, National security council spokesperson Brian Hughes said. Secretary Hegseths leadership at the Pentagon and the entire national security teams effectiveness is shown in the success of the ongoing operation against Houthi terrorists.

Waltz, notably, introduced Hegseth for his Senate hearing amid a hotly contested confirmation battle.

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They are brothers-in-arms who have put their lives on the line in defense of the American people in combat. They are friends, colleagues and work side-by-side to ensure President Trumps peace through strength agenda is fully implemented, Hughes added.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the two men have a close working relationship and have been personal friends for a number of years and will continue to work together to implement President Trumps America First agenda.

Regardless of how that internal debate plays out, however, Republican lawmakers are fuming over the potential security risks from the group chat  despite top Trump intelligence officials in a fiery congressional hearing today repeatedly asserting that no classified information was shared. The Atlantic article indicated otherwise, including that the attack was discussed before it was launched.

I think the whole thing is very unfortunate. We cannot allow it to happen again, said Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wy.).

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I just want folks to own up to their mistakes and not blame the Atlantic or the reporter. Be honest, said Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.). The worst part of this was transmitting highly classified information on an unclassified system, and one that Russia and China were clearly monitoring.

Connor OBrien, Jordain Carney and Eric Bazail-Eimil contributed to this report.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  The U.S. Coast Guard said the military branch will not take 36 Aids to Navigation (ATONs) out of the Missouri River.

In a letter to lawmakers last week, Rear Admiral David Barata said he decided to indefinitely cease the disestablishing of those ATONs on the river north of Blencoe, Iowa.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Aids to Navigation are buoys, day beacons, lights, and signals used to help a navigator figure out the position or safe course, along with warning about dangers or obstacles in the navigation.

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There have been recent projects announced in Siouxland to increase the traffic on the Missouri River, which makes navigation an important part of moving goods domestically and around the world.

Sioux City residents speak out on proposed property tax levy

The barge terminal in Sioux City is expected to be complete in the summer of 2025. While construction on the inland port authority in South Sioux City is anticipated to begin this month.

In the latter part of 2024, the U.S. Coast Guard announced its decision to removed the Aids to Navigation. This lead to multiple lawmakers, including Iowa Representative Randy Feenstra and Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, and local businesses and organizations asking the coast guard to reconsider the decision.

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Representative Feenstra released a statement on Tuesday about the coast guard not removing the Aids to Navigation from the river.

I am glad that the U.S. Coast Guard heard the concerns of our Western Iowa community and has decided to keep 36 Aids to Navigation in place on the Missouri River north of Blencoe. These devices ensure the safety of ships and their crews and keep our water supply chains moving effortlessly  allowing our farmers, businesses, and manufacturers to ship their goods and serve their customers. I will continue to advocate for robust investment in the Missouri River, the maintenance of these critical ATONs, and policies that support our waterways and grow our economy, said Representative Randy Feenstra (R) Iowa.

On Monday, Senator Ernst released a statement about ATONs staying in the Missouri River

I will always stand up for Iowans, and Im glad that, following my advocacy, our states critical role in commerce will continue. By ensuring the Missouri River will continue to have navigation aids, the nation and the world will be able to enjoy manufacturing and ag products straight from the heartland!, said Senator Joni Ernst (R) Iowa.

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Archeologists have been fascinated by the diverse nature of ancient Roman artwork for centuries, but these majestic statues and murals were just snapshots stuck in time. However, as recently as 2024, researchers discovered comic art that has breathed a bit of action and relatable dialogue into these proto-manga masterpieces.

This startling discovery occurred in a small town in Jordan, where researchers found two well-preserved funerary tombs. The walls were covered with hundreds of figures accompanied by "bubble-word" Aramaic inscriptions.

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Similar to other findings in Pompeii (where frescoes show whimsical scenes like a drunken man being chased by a donkey, or a silly-looking gladiator preparing for battle), these comics depict daily life and humorous anecdotes that illustrate that, although separated by millennia, modern people are not as different from ancient ancestors as we might assume.
March 25 (UPI) -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted 102,000 banned Artri King nutritional supplement pills worth an estimated $47,000 at the Cincinnati Port of Entry over the weekend.

The pills were shipped by the same entity in Mexico and were destined for the same residence in California, CBP officials said Tuesday in a news release.

The customs declaration for six packages containing the pills describes them as "Nutritional Supplement Natural INGR," according to the CBP.

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"Most people hear about CBP seizing narcotics shipments," CBP Chicago Field Office director of operations LaFonda Sutton-Burke said. "Shipments of unapproved pills are very dangerous, too."

Sutton-Burke said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved the potentially dangerous pills.

The pills "contain harmful chemicals which can lead to medical emergencies or even death," Simon-Burke said.

The Artri King pills are promoted as treatment for muscle pain, arthritis, osteoporosis, bone cancer and other conditions and are sold through some retail stores and websites, such as Amazon.com, Walmart.com and latinfoodsmarket.com.

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FDA lab analyses show the pills contain undeclared ingredients and are associated with liver toxicity and deaths.

The FDA in April 2022 issued a warning saying the pills contain diclofenac and dexamethasone, neither of which are listed among its ingredients.

"Consumers taking Artri King should immediately consult with their health care professional to safely discontinue use of this product," the FDA warning says.

Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid that FDA officials say commonly is used to treat inflammatory conditions.

Corticosteroids can impair a person's ability to fight infections and could cause high blood sugar levels, muscle injuries and psychiatric problems, according to the FDA.

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When taken over an extended periods or in high doses, they can suppress the adrenal gland, cause withdrawal symptoms and cause serious side effects when combined with other medications.

Diclofenac is a non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory drug commonly referred to as "NSAIDs" that could increase users' risks of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular medical events.

The drug also could cause serious gastrointestinal damage, including bleeding, ulcers and fatal perforations of the stomach and intestines.

It also might interact with other medications and significantly increase the risk of harmful medical reactions.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The American Society of Civil Engineers released its 2025 Report Card for Americas Infrastructure on Tuesday, giving the country a C. Its the highest grade the nation received since the organization began rating overall infrastructure performance in 1998.

The grade rose from a C- in 2021. ASCE officials said an increase in federal funding for infrastructure needs brought points up in several categories; however, aging systems in need of repairs kept the overall score in a mid-level tier.

Experts factor 18 categories of criteria into their report. Chair of the 2025 Report Card, Darren Olson, said the data collection process is intensive.

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CATS leaders set to wrap up public meetings in the west corridor

It takes us almost two years to get through this process, and we mined data from all available sources, whether its primarily government sources, nationwide data, or institutional data.

Letter grades in eight of the 18 categories improved from 2021 to 2025, including dams, hazardous waste, public parks, roads and transit. Two categories, energy and rail, received lower grades than the prior report card.

Olson said hes optimistic about the trends he sees.

If we continue this trajectory that were on with increased funding for our infrastructure, we can see the grade start to improve, which then really leads to a more efficient economy and saving every family money, he said. Thats money back in their pocket that theyre not spending when the infrastructure around them fails.

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Olson claimed families spend on average $2,700 per year on expenses like car repairs needed from traveling on subpar roads or perishable groceries that must be replaced after a power outage.

One of the key points outlined in the 2025 Report Card is that aging infrastructure systems are increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters and extreme weather events, creating unexpected and often avoidable risks to public safety and the economy.

Olson said rebuilding efforts in Western North Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene will likely focus on resiliency and sustainability. He said the challenge for engineers involves designing projects to sustain forces of nature previously considered unlikely.

What we saw when roads would overtop and culverts would wash out, all of the critical infrastructure in their water pipes, electrical pipes, they would all be lost to. And so, can we design our systems to be more resilient so maybe the roadway would still overtop, but it wouldnt fail so that once the storm has passed, that infrastructure would still be in a functional condition, he said.

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ASCE leaders will meet with members of Congress on Tuesday to further discuss the findings and outline legislative priorities.

The purpose of the report card is to bring infrastructure, which is out of sight and out of mind, into the focus so that we all can understand where were at with our infrastructure prior to the next failure occurring, Olson said.

The report card estimates that if current planned infrastructure investments are to stay stagnant for the next ten years, there will be an approximately $3.7 trillion gap in available funding and money needed for repairs. The gap grew from $2.59 trillion four years ago.

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Senior government officials mistakenly invited the editor in chief of the Atlantic to a group chat on the messaging app Signal, where the focus of conversation was U.S. airstrikes against rebel groups in Yemen. The app's use by high-ranking national security officials has raised the question: Just how secure is Signal anyway?

On March 11, Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic was accidentally invited by the Trump administration's national security advisor to connect on Signal. In the following days, Goldberg was added to a group chat that spoke of "operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying and attack sequencing," according to his reporting.

Signal is a free app that cybersecurity experts consider to be one of the most secure messaging services because of its end-to-end encryption.

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Simply put, text messages or calls are seen only by you, the sender and whoever is in your Signal group chat.

"We can't read your messages or listen to your calls, and no one else can either," the Signal website states.

Read more: ICE impersonators and other scammers are on the rise: How to protect yourself

If you're using only your smartphone's default messaging app, such as Apple's iMessage or Google Messages, there is a chance your messages won't be secure. This happens when you're an iPhone user who texts an Android user, because you're messaging from different platforms. Messages are end-to-end encrypted only if both people are using the same app.

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Signal also touts user protection because it doesn't use ads and doesn't track user data. It collects only minimal user data, such as your phone number, the date you joined Signal and the last date you logged on to the app.

Aside from top government officials, journalists and advocates use the app, but it's not limited to these groups of people.

With Signal in the news, experts are weighing in on whether the average user should consider it as an option for your everyday communication.

Why should you care about encrypted messaging?

Encrypted messaging "protects more than national secrets; it protects everyday privacy," said Vahid Behzadan, assistant professor of cybersecurity and networks, data and computer science at the University of New Haven.

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Most people unknowingly share sensitive information via text, such as personal addresses, passwords for Netflix and other accounts, or photos, according to Iskander Sanchez-Rola, director of artificial intelligence and innovation for Norton.

Encrypted apps ensure your messages are seen only by the person you intended to reach  and not third parties. That also means your "internet service provider or any potential malicious actors on your network wont be able to see them either," Sanchez-Rola said.

Cybercriminals are paying attention to your messages.

In December the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency stated that hackers affiliated with China's government, called Salt Typhoon, waged an attack on commercial telecommunications companies to steal users' data and prompted federal authorities to recommend everyone use only end-to-end encrypted communications.

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" Ninety percent of all cyberthreats now originate from scams and social engineering threats  a figure that has almost tripled since 2021," Sanchez-Rola said. "Everyday activities like forwarding messages or even clicking links and attachments can open the door to risks if your information isnt properly protected."

By using a messaging app that ensures end-to-end encryption, Behzadan said, you're protecting yourself from data breaches and identity theft, and corporate tracking and targeted advertising, and ensuring confidentiality in professional or legal communications, freedom from surveillance or unauthorized access, and insurance against potential policy or government changes that may erode privacy rights.

"In short, encryption helps preserve digital dignity and autonomy in an increasingly connected world," he said.

How is Signal a standout from other messaging apps when it comes to privacy?

All communications (messages, calls and video chats) are end-to-end encrypted by default, so you don't have to go out of your way to ensure it's a feature," Behzadan said.

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Unlike many platforms, Signal does not store metadata about who users communicate with, when or where.

"Its encryption protocol, the open-source Signal Protocol, is widely regarded as the gold standard in secure messaging and is even used by WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger for certain chats," he said.

Signals nonprofit structure also sets it apart: The organization doesnt monetize user data, which reduces incentives for surveillance or advertising-driven features.

Sanchez-Rola added a few more features that amplify securing your privacy:



Screenshot blocker. This prevents malicious apps on your phone from accessing screenshots, but doesn't prevent other people from taking screenshots of your conversations.

Disappearing messages. Messages automatically delete after a set time, configurable from five seconds to four weeks, after they've been read. So even if a malicious app gains access to your phone, it wont be able to retrieve messages that have been deleted.

Single-view media. This allows you to send photos, videos and voice messages that are automatically deleted from the recipient's device after they've been opened once.

Incognito keyboard. This prevents third-party keyboard apps from potentially collecting data about your typing, offering an extra layer of privacy, especially when sending sensitive information.

Usernames versus phone numbers. You can talk to people on Signal without needing to know their phone number  just by using their Signal username. This provides an extra layer of privacy.

How effective is Signal in protecting your privacy?

Signal's terms of service state you are responsible for keeping your device and your Signal account safe and secure.

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"The effectiveness of encryption isnt just about the technology; it also depends on how individuals use it. Encryption works best as part of a larger cybersecurity strategy," Sanchez-Rola said.

Behzadan shared a few important best practices. They include:



Enabling disappearing messages for sensitive chats.

Verifying safety numbers with trusted contacts.

Setting a strong PIN or enabling biometric lock.

Keeping the app and device updated.

Avoiding screenshots or storing sensitive info on unsecured devices.

"The recent incident involving U.S. officials underscores this: Even the most secure technology cant prevent human error, like adding the wrong person to a group chat," Behzadan said. "In cybersecurity, the weakest link is often the human element."

What are other encrypted messaging apps?

While Signal is the top recommendation among security experts, other apps offer encrypted messaging with varying trade-offs:



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WhatsApp : Uses the Signal Protocol but is owned by Meta and collects more metadata.

Threema : A Swiss-based app that doesnt require a phone number and focuses on privacy, though it has a smaller user base.

Element (Matrix protocol) : A decentralized and open-source option, popular among tech-savvy communities.

Wickr: Used in enterprise and government settings and now owned by Amazon.

The best choice depends on your specific needs, your threat model and what platforms your contacts use, because encryption works only if both parties use the same secure platform.



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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  U.S. and Russian officials are meeting Monday in Saudi Arabia to try to negotiate a ceasefire deal for the Russia-Ukraine war.

Even amid talks, attacks are still ongoing. Dozens of people were injured after a Russian strike damaged buildings and a school in Ukraine Monday.

Most importantly, we want to stop the killing thats going on, President Trump said.

U.S. leaders say the ultimate goal is peace.

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Today hopefully will be one step more in that direction, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

During a cabinet meeting Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on negotiations in Saudi Arabia, where US and Russian officials are working on a ceasefire deal.

It needs to be brought to an end. There is no military solution to this war. It has to end through negotiation, Rubio said.

The president said negotiations are focused on territory and whether the US should own a Ukrainian nuclear power plant that Russia seized early in the war.

Some people are saying the US should own the powerplant. And then work it that way because we have the expertise to fix it up, President Trump said. Something like that would be fine with me.

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The president also said Ukraine will sign a deal soon giving the U.S. some access to its rare earth minerals.

Russia and Ukraine have each agreed to a limited 30-day ceasefire on energy infrastructure. The State Department says negotiators are trying to expand that to a full ceasefire.

Thats the prize right now. theres no other prize, State Department Spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said.

Bruce says both sides will have to compromise but expressed confidence theyre nearing the finish line after more than three years of fighting.

Weve never been closer a breath away from a ceasefire, Bruce said. And then, full stop. Then, a discussion about an enduring peace.

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By Ryan Patrick Jones

(Reuters) - The United States has imposed sanctions on three Iranian intelligence officers for their alleged involvement in the disappearance of former FBI Special Agent Robert Levinson, the U.S. Treasury and State departments said in press releases on Tuesday.

The sanctions on Reza Amiri Moghadam, Gholamhossein Mohammadnia, and Taqi Daneshvar of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security are the latest linked to the disappearance of the former FBI agent, who Washington believes was abducted in Iran and died in captivity.

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As a result of the sanctions, any property of the men under U.S. jurisdiction must be blocked and Americans are generally barred from dealing with them. Foreign persons also risk blacklisting for dealing with them.

Irans treatment of Mr. Levinson remains a blight on Irans already grim record of human rights abuse, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. The Department of the Treasury will continue to work with U.S. government partners to identify those responsible and shine a light on their abhorrent behavior.

Levinson, who was working as a private investigator, disappeared in March 2007 after traveling to an island controlled by Iran for a meeting seeking information on alleged corruption involving former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

The three sanctioned individuals all played a role in Levinson's abduction, detention and probable death, as well as efforts to cover up Iran's responsibility, the Treasury Department said.

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The sanctions are being imposed under an executive order signed by former President Joe Biden, which seeks to hold to account terrorist organizations, criminal groups and other "malicious actors" who take hostages for financial or political gain.

The U.S. previously sanctioned two other Iranian officials in December 2020 who it accused of involvement in Levinson's disappearance.

(Reporting by Ryan Patrick Jones; Editing by Katharine Jackson and Andrea Ricci)
Kelsey Juliana and co-plaintiffs in Juliana v. United States hold a press conference in 2019 outside the Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Robin Loznak, courtesy of Our Childrens Trust)

The nations highest court declined to hear a petition that would have revived a landmark climate change lawsuit against the federal government, led by young Oregonians and their peers from across the country.

The courts denial ends 21 youths decade-long fight for a trial where they could hold the U.S. government accountable for accelerating global climate change through lawmakers policies and fossil fuel subsidies. Despite the setback, it has spurred dozens more cases like it in individual states and around the world.

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The nine members of the U.S. Supreme Court denied Monday a petition to throw out a lower courts decision to dismiss the case Juliana v. United States. The Supreme Court justices dismissed the petition without prejudice, meaning the plaintiffs could attempt to bring it back one day.

Juliana v. United States was first filed in U.S. District Court in Eugene in 2015. Eleven Oregon youths and 10 of their peers from Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, who were between 8 and 18 years old at the time the suit was filed, are listed as plaintiffs.

Among them is Miko Vergun of Bearverton, who said in a news release that she was proud of the impact the case has had on more than 60 similar lawsuits filed against other states and nations.

For almost ten years, weve stood up for the rights of present and future generations, demanding a world where we can not only survive, but thrive, Vergun said. Weve faced extreme resistance by the federal government, yet weve never wavered in our resolve.

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Vergun, now 22, has been involved in climate activism since she was in seventh grade, according to Our Childrens Trust. She was born in the Marshall Islands, a Pacific island nation, and attributed her activism to making sure that land stays above sea level.

In the U.S., the Juliana case most recently inspired Held v. State of Montana and Navahine v. Hawaii Department of Transportation, both of which led to 2024 decisions affirming the youth plaintiffs state constitutional rights to a clean, healthful and life-sustaining environment.

Since 2015, fossil fuel companies, the U.S. Department of Justice, former President Joe Biden, current President Donald Trump and Republican states attorneys general have filed court documents to dismiss the case and to keep it from going to trial.

Most recently, in May, three Trump-appointed judges on the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco sided with the U.S. Department of Justice in ordering the case be dismissed. In June Julia Olson, attorney for the youth behind the case, filed a request for a rehearing with the Ninth Circuit.

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Oregons U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat, filed a friend of the court brief urging the court to grant it. It was signed by 39 other congressional Democrats, including Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, state Rep. Val Hoyle, representing Oregons 4th Congressional District and former state Rep. Earl Blumenauer, who represented Oregons 3rd Congressional District.

The Supreme Courts decision today is not the end of the road and the impact of Juliana cannot be measured by the finality of this case alone, Olson said in a news release.

Olson said the trust would continue supporting other cases worldwide, and that she would see the U.S. government back in court one day soon. The Supreme Court did not address the merits of the case, and Our Childrens Trust noted in its news release that the court hears less than 2% of the cases its brought each year.

This fight is far from over, Olson said. This is a call to all young people who want to stand up to those in the executive office of the president who would silence you and threaten your health and safety  join us in protecting your constitutional rights.

This story was originally produced by the Oregon Capital Chronicle which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network, including the Daily Montanan, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
UK intelligence has analysed the successful strike carried out by Ukraines defence forces on the Russian strategic airbase Engels-2 in Russias Saratov Oblast on the night of 19-20 March.

Source: UK intelligence update dated 25 March on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: UK intelligence reported that on the night of 19-20 March, Ukraines defence forces launched a drone attack on an ammunition depot located at the Russian strategic aircraft airbase Engels-2.

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They stated it is almost certain that the struck area stored a range of aircraft munitions used in attacks against Ukraine.

As a result, the analysis suggests that significant losses are likely to disrupt the ability to carry out strike operations from the airbase in the short term.

"Russian aircraft have also highly likely been dispersed to surrounding airfields, as has become standard practice in response to Ukrainian deep-strike operations," UK intelligence noted.

The analysts also stressed that this was Ukraines most successful strike on a Russian ammunition depot in 2025.

A source in Ukraines General Staff told the media that the explosions at Engels-2 airbase were the result of joint operations by Ukraines Security Service (SSU) and the Armed Forces Special Operations Forces (SOF).

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The source revealed that the successful drone attack by the SSU and SOF led to a fire, explosions and secondary detonation of munitions near the airbase.

Background:

Recently, UK intelligence reported that Russias armed forces have likely suffered approximately 900,000 killed and wounded since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

UK intelligence has also analysed the condition of the Russian forces in the third year of the full-scale war against Ukraine and outlined its losses.

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(Bloomberg) -- Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has pledged 2 billion ($2.6 billion) of funding for social and affordable homes, in a move that could appease members of her Labour party who are unhappy about sweeping cuts in other areas of government spending.

Reeves unveiled the grants for social homes a day ahead of her spring statement, when she is expected to confirm billions of pounds in reductions to departmental budgets. Last week, the Labour government drew criticism from some backbenchers over plans to slash welfare payments by 5 billion.

A more popular part of Labours agenda is the target of building 1.5 million new residences over five years, and on Tuesday the Treasury said the designated cash would go toward projects that aim to complete by the end of the Parliament, which is due to end in mid-2029.

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Ministers urged providers to bid for the cash, which Reeves said would deliver up to 18,000 new homes, as well as jobs and opportunities.

We are fixing the housing crisis in this country with the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation, Reeves said in the statement. Shell officially announce the extra spending on a visit Tuesday to Stoke-on-Trent alongside Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who is also the housing secretary.

Weak growth forecasts and higher debt-servicing costs have made it more difficult for the chancellor to meet her fiscal rules, forcing her to find savings. Yet some Labour colleagues have argued she should borrow more or raise taxes on wealth.

Member of Parliament Rachael Maskell said Monday that the government was heading toward a return to austerity, which Reeves promised to avoid during last summers election. Fiscal rules have to come with a moral purpose, Maskell told Times Radio, adding that it was Labours responsibility to protect the poor.

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Some Labour MPs are also unhappy at reports that the government could cut public spending while reducing or ending a tax on tech companies.

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More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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LONDON (Reuters) - Britain urged Russia on Tuesday to agree to the "full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire" proposed by Ukraine after both countries reached a truce covering the Black Sea and energy strikes.

Britain's foreign office said in a statement it was in close contact with the United States and Ukraine following the conclusion of talks in Riyadh. It said it thanked the United States for its efforts brokering the ceasefire accords.

"President Zelenskiy has already shown Ukraine is the party of peace by proposing a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire," the foreign office said. "We hope that President Putin will agree to this without further delay."

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It comes after the office for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, cited by PA Media, said it was "hopeful of the progress" made so far.

(Reporting by Catarina Demony; Editing by Leslie Adler and Daniel Wallis)
Editors note: This is issue 19 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniaks weekly "Ukraine Reforms Tracker" covering events from March 1723, 2025. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial programs.

The Kyiv Independent is republishing with permission.

Benchmarks and soft commitments with the IMF



Tobacco tax hike law comes into effect after 106-day delay

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On March 25, draft law #11090, on increasing excise tax on tobacco goods was officially published and entered into effect  106 days after it was submitted for presidential signature.

Parliament advances bill enabling financial inclusion banks, supporting Ukrposhtas entry into banking

Ukraine's Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has passed draft law #13018-d in its first reading, laying the legal groundwork for the creation of financial inclusion banks  a new category of banking institutions operating under a limited license.

The proposed banks would be tasked with serving individuals lacking stable access to financial services, particularly those in front-line areas, recently liberated territories, and among socially vulnerable groups.

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The legislation is a critical step for Ukrposhta, the state postal operator, to launch its own financial institution.

Obligations to the EU



Parliament to vote on ARMA reform in final reading

The Verkhovna Rada is set to hold a final vote on draft law #12374-d, which aims to "reset" the National Agency for Tracing, Recovery and Management of Assets Derived from Corruption and Other Crimes (ARMA)  a key component of Ukraines anti-corruption infrastructure.

The proposed legislation includes:

stricter integrity and qualification standards for candidates vying to lead ARMA;

merit-based hiring via open competition, with involvement from the ARMA Public Oversight Council and representatives of civil society organizations;

introduction of independent external audits to assess ARMAs operational effectiveness;

a fixed deadline for selecting asset managers following asset seizure;

engagement of certified professional asset managers, who will bear legal responsibility for mismanagement

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The bills adoption and signing would allow Ukraine to meet one of the benchmarks under the Ukraine Facility, with a deadline set for the end of Q1 2025.

Lawmakers and Government submit competing bills to reform vocational education in Ukraine

Ukraines Parliament has registered competing bills aimed at overhauling the countrys vocational education system, one of the reforms tied to the EUs Ukraine Facility funding mechanism.

On March 14, a group of lawmakers introduced draft law #13107, followed by the Cabinet of Ministers alternative proposal, draft law #13107-2, submitted on March 24.

Both initiatives seek to modernize vocational education and enhance the institutional autonomy of vocational training institutions. Adoption of the legislation is required under Ukraines reform commitments to the EU, with a deadline set for the end of Q2 2025.

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Read also: Kyiv, Lviv airports not cooperating on reopening plans, Ryanair CEO says

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By Anastasiia Malenko and Yuliia Dysa

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said a truce with Russia covering the Black Sea and energy strikes was effective immediately on Tuesday, but warned that Moscow was already manipulating and distorting the accords.

He said he would ask U.S. President Donald Trump to supply weapons and sanction Russia if Moscow broke the deals.

The United States said earlier it had made separate agreements with Kyiv and Moscow to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea and to implement a ban on attacks on energy facilities in the two countries.

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"The U.S. side considers that our agreements come into force after their announcement by the U.S. side," Zelenskiy told reporters at a news conference in Kyiv, adding that he did not trust Russia to honour the arrangements.

The Ukrainian president, speaking later in his nightly video address, said Russia was already deceiving the world.

"Unfortunately, even now, even today, on the very day of negotiations, we see how the Russians have already begun to manipulate," Zelenskiy said.

"They are already trying to distort agreements and, in fact, deceive both our intermediaries and the entire world."

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He said the Kremlin was lying when it said accords on Black Sea shipping were linked to sanctions imposed on Moscow. Ukraine, he said, would do everything to implement the accords, but Russia had to understand that it would "receive a strong response" if it launched strikes.

The accords are the first aimed at halting energy strikes since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, triggering Europe's biggest conflict since World War Two. The fighting rages on across a 1,000-km (600-mile) front line.

'NO FAITH'

In his comments to reporters, the Ukrainian leader said the agreements set out no course of action if Russia broke them and that he would appeal to Trump if that happened.

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"We have no faith in the Russians, but we will be constructive," he said.

He said U.S. officials saw the energy ceasefire as covering attacks on other civilian infrastructure too and that ports should be covered by the Black Sea agreement.

Nightly Russian drone attacks have been a feature of life in big Ukrainian cities for months. So have power outages as missiles hammered the power grid. Kyiv has used drones to hit Russian oil refineries to raise the costs for its larger foe.

Ukraine, Zelenskiy said, presented U.S. officials during talks with a list of facilities that should be covered by the moratorium on energy strikes.

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The Kremlin issued a list of Russian and Ukrainian facilities subject to the moratorium on strikes, including oil refineries, oil and gas pipelines and nuclear power plants.

The deals were announced following two days of talks in Saudi Arabia between U.S. and Ukrainian officials on the one hand and U.S. and Russian officials on the other.

The White House said in a joint statement with Russia that it would help Moscow restore its access to the world market for agricultural and fertiliser exports.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine had not agreed to put that in its statement with the U.S. side.

"We believe that this is a weakening of position and sanctions," he said.

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Kyiv will regard any movement of Russian naval vessels beyond the east of the Black Sea as a violation of the spirit of the agreements, said Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov on X.

In such an event, Kyiv will have the right to self-defence, he said, implying that Ukraine could retaliate.

Kyiv, which has used naval drones and missiles to push Russia's fleet back towards the east of the Black Sea, would welcome third countries supporting the implementation of the accords, Umerov said.

"The American side really wanted all of this not to fail, so they did not want to go into many details. But in any case we will have to understand answers to each of the details," Zelenskiy said.

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Zelenskiy said Turkey could potentially be involved in monitoring in the Black Sea while Middle Eastern countries could track the energy truce, though he noted that had not been discussed yet with those countries.

Separately, Zelenskiy said the United States had presented Ukraine with an expanded version of a bilateral minerals deal that went beyond the initial framework agreement that the two sides agreed earlier but never signed following an acrimonious Oval Office meeting last month.

Zelenskiy said he had not been able to fully review the new proposal in detail yet, but that it did not include greater U.S. involvement in Ukraine's nuclear power sector, something that has been floated by Washington in recent days.

(Writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Gareth Jones, Ros Russell, Philippa Fletcher and Nia Williams)
Editor's note: The article was updated with media reporting that the meeting had concluded.

Ukrainian and U.S. delegations have concluded another round of talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on March 25, Ukrainian outlet Suspilne reported, citing undisclosed sources.

The meeting, which seemed to have lasted a little over an hour, followed 12-hour talks between the U.S. and Russia in Riyadh on March 24. Details of the latest round of talks have not been made public.

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The talks are part of U.S. President Donald Trump's ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire and a broader peace agreement in Ukraine. Trump has said the U.S.-Ukraine negotiations include discussions on territorial matters, demarcation lines, and the status of Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

The U.S. initially planned to meet with both Ukraine and Russia on the same day, but President Volodymyr Zelensky later said the first meeting with Kyiv would take place on March 23, a day before the U.S.-Russia talks.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, leading Kyiv's delegation, said military, diplomatic, and energy representatives were participating in the March 23 discussions.

"The conversation was constructive and meaningful  we discussed key issues, including in the energy sector," Umerov wrote on Facebook.

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Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed on March 24 that the Black Sea Initiative was a key topic in U.S.-Russia talks in Riyadh, according to state-owned TASS.

A similar arrangement existed under the 2022 Black Sea Grain Initiative, a U.N.- and Turkey-brokered deal that allowed Ukraine to export agricultural goods via the Black Sea despite Russia's full-scale invasion.

The agreement helped stabilize global food prices but collapsed in July 2023 when Moscow withdrew. Since then, Russian forces have repeatedly targeted Ukrainian port infrastructure.

A Russian ballistic missile struck Odesa's port on March 1, damaging facilities and a Panamanian-flagged civilian ship. Several other foreign vessels have been hit, including in October 2024, when multiple ships sustained damage in separate Russian strikes.

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The negotiations come amid concerns that Moscow is deliberately stalling peace efforts to strengthen its position. The Kremlin claimed last week that it had ordered a 30-day halt to strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure following a phone call between Trump and Putin.

Kyiv supported a mutual halt on energy strikes but later accused Russia of continuing attacks against civilian targets.

On March 21, Russia accused Ukraine of shelling the Sudzha gas metering station in Kursk Oblast, a key transit facility for Russian gas exports to Europe. Ukraine's General Staff denied the claim, calling it a staged provocation.

The U.S. and Ukraine initially supported a broader 30-day ceasefire that would include halting ground operations, but Russia rejected the proposal unless it included conditions undermining Ukraine's defense capabilities, such as a suspension of foreign military support.

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The Moscow Times reported on March 24 that Russia is deliberately prolonging peace talks to seize more territory and strengthen its negotiating position with the U.S.

Read also: Russia, US finish 12-hour-long negotiations in Saudi Arabia

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Ukraine and the United States have reached an agreement to ensure safe shipping in the Black Sea. According to the terms of the deal, any movement of Russian warships beyond the eastern part of the Black Sea will be considered a violation of the "spirit of this agreement".

Source: a statement by Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov who attended the talks in Saudi Arabia

Quote: "All parties have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.

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Important! The Ukrainian side emphasises that all movement by Russia of its military vessels outside of [the] Eastern part of the Black Sea will constitute violation of the spirit of this agreement, will be regarded as violation of the commitment to ensure safe navigation of the Black Sea and threat to the national security of Ukraine. In this case Ukraine will have full right to exercise [the] right to self-defence."

Details: The consultations also led to "all parties" expressing support for the involvement of "the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements".

The US also reaffirmed its support for facilitating the exchange of POWs, the release of civilian detainees and the return of forcibly deported Ukrainian children.

Ukraine and the United States also agreed to "develop measures for implementing the Presidents agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities of Ukraine and Russia".

Background: The White House, in turn, issued two separate statements following expert-level talks with representatives of Ukraine and Russia from 23 to 25 March.

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Key developments on March 25:

Black Sea ceasefire will take effect after some sanctions are lifted, Kremlin claims

Kremlin names energy facilities exempt from strikes during partial ceasefire

Ukrainian airstrike kills up to 30 Russian soldiers in Kursk Oblast, military claims

Russia seeks full control of partially occupied Ukrainian regions in talks with US, media reports

The ceasefire in the Black Sea will take effect only after Western sanctions on Russian food producers and exporters are lifted, the Kremlin said in a statement on March 25.

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The statement came after two-day talks in Saudi Arabia, during which Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. agreed to implement a ceasefire in the Black Sea and a ban on strikes against energy infrastructure. The three sides have agreed to "eliminate the use of force" and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea, the White House said.

In contrast with Russia's statement, Ukraine and the U.S. did not directly mention lifting sanctions against Moscow as part of the agreements.

Moscow's statement is at odds with President Volodymyr Zelensky's position. He said that Ukraine believes that the partial ceasefire should take effect on March 25.

Washington vowed to help restore Russias access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.

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The Kremlin said that the Black Sea ceasefire would come into effect after the West lifts the sanctions against Russia's Rosselkhozbank and other financial organizations involved in supporting international food trade operations and restores their connection to the SWIFT messaging system.

Moscow is also demanding that the West lift the sanctions on Russian food producers and exporters, as well as on Russian-flagged ships involved in food and fertilizer trade.

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Moreover, the Kremlin wants the West to remove sanctions on the import of agricultural equipment and fertilizers into Russia.

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Another condition for the ceasefire is that commercial ships in the Black Sea should be inspected, according to the Kremlin.

Zelensky views this move as a form of sanctions relief for Russia. He stated that Ukraine is unaware of the details, as the matter was discussed during U.S.-Russia talks.

"We didn't want it to be in the general document because this is a weakening of positions and sanctions," the president added.

He also said that Ukraine can turn to the U.S. in case the ceasefire is violated by Russia.

The Kremlin claimed that the ban on energy strikes had been in effect since March 18 and would be valid for 30 days with the possibility of extension.

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Despite the agreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, a week ago, Russia has continued its regular campaign of aerial attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

Read also: Putins ceasefire  Russia continues attacks on Ukrainian civilians

Kremlin names energy facilities exempt from strikes during partial ceasefire

The U.S. and Russia have agreed on a list of Russian and Ukrainian energy facilities that cannot be attacked during a partial ceasefire, the Kremlin said on March 25.

According to the Kremlin, the list includes oil refineries, as well as oil and gas pipelines and storage facilities, including pumping stations.

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The list also includes power production and transmission facilities, including power plants, substations, and transformers. Among power plants, the Kremlin specifically named nuclear power stations and hydroelectric dams.

Kyiv has yet to comment on this statement.

According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Kyiv has handed over a list of energy infrastructure that Moscow should not strike during the partial ceasefire. He did not specify the facilities on the list.

Read also: When ho(us)e becomes ho(me) (PHOTOS)

Ukrainian airstrike kills up to 30 Russian soldiers in Kursk Oblast, military claims

Ukraine's Air Force has struck a concentration of Russian military personnel in Kondratovka, Kursk Oblast, killing up to 30 Russian soldiers, the General Staff reported on March 25.

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"As a result of the strike, it (the target) was completely destroyed," the statement said, adding that Ukraine's pilots and Defense Forces will continue targeting Russian positions to reduce Moscow's military potential.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claims.

Kondratovka is a rural community in western Kursk Oblast, near the border with Ukraine. It is part of the historical region of Slobozhanshchyna.

Read also: Inside the new drone schools teaching the next generation of Ukrainian UAV pilots

Russia seeks full control of partially occupied Ukrainian regions in talks with US, media reports

Russia is pushing to gain full control over four occupied Ukrainian oblastsDonetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson  during negotiations with the United States in Saudi Arabia, the Moscow Times reported, citing sources familiar with the Kremlins strategy.

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Although Russian forces do not fully control any of these regions, the Kremlin demands them in their administrative borders, as defined in the Russian Constitution following their illegal annexation.

A Kremlin-linked official told the Moscow Times that Russia's President Vladimir Putin cannot afford to lose these territories politically, and Russia intends to solidify its grip on them at any cost.

"The Constitution has no mechanism for regions to leave Russia. We need all of Zaporizhzhia and all of Kherson," the official reportedly said.

The Kyiv Independent can't immediately verify these claims.

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Another Russian government source suggested that Moscow hopes Washington might pressure Kyiv to withdraw entirely from the occupied regions.

"Either Trump convinces them to leave, or we are told to enter prolonged negotiations while simultaneously using military force to secure control. That would be the worst scenario for us since river crossings are always costly operations," the source added.

As an alternative, Russia may attempt to seize additional Ukrainian territory, such as parts of Dnipropetrovsk or Sumy oblasts, and then offer an exchange for Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, another Russian official speculated. "We hope to find a way that avoids storming Kherson or forcing a crossing of the Dnipro River. That would mean thousands of casualties for us," he admitted.

As of late 2024, Russian forces controlled about 98.5% of Luhansk Oblast and 60% of the Donetsk region.

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Despite these challenges, Russian diplomats believe that a potential Trump administration may be indifferent to the exact borders of a future settlement.

"From what I understand, Trump wants a modern, well-armed, pro-Western Ukraine," a Russian diplomat told the outlet. "He cannot just hand over Ukraine entirely. But where exactly the border is drawnthat may not matter much to him."

Note from the author:

Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community.

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Following bilateral technical consultations between representatives of Ukraine and the US in Riyadh, an agreement was reached to implement "the presidents' agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities of Ukraine and Russia".

Source: Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov on Facebook

Quote: "All parties agreed to develop measures for implementing the presidents' agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities of Ukraine and Russia."

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Details: Umierov further noted that "all parties welcome the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements".

It was also mentioned that all sides will continue working towards achieving a sustainable and lasting peace.

Background: Following the negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia on 24 March, the US delegation also announced an agreement with Russia to work on a truce in the Black Sea and a ban on strikes against energy infrastructure.

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Ukraine's Air Force struck a concentration of Russian military personnel in Kondratovka, Kursk Oblast, killing up to 30 Russian soldiers, the General Staff reported on March 25.

"As a result of the strike, it (the target) was completely destroyed," the statement said, adding that Ukraine's pilots and Defense Forces will continue targeting Russian positions to reduce Moscow's military potential.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claims.

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Kondratovka is a rural community in western Kursk Oblast, near the border with Ukraine. It is part of the historical region of Slobozhanshchyna.

The attack comes amid ongoing fighting in Kursk Oblast, where Ukraine launched a cross-border incursion in August 2024.

Russian forces, reinforced by North Korean troops, launched a counteroffensive earlier this month, regaining significant ground, including the town of Sudzha.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that Ukrainian soldiers have been "surrounded" in Kursk Oblast, though Kyiv has denied this while acknowledging a retreat from Sudzha.

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U.S. and European intelligence contradict claims of an encirclement made by Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Reuters reported on March 20, citing undisclosed sources.

Read also: 1 killed, 110 injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over past day

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The military counterintelligence unit of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has detained a Russian military intelligence agent in Sumy Oblast who was assisting Russian forces in their offensive in the Kursk area and adjusting fire on Ukrainian units.

Source: SSU

Quote: "According to case materials, the traitor was recruited by the occupiers via a Telegram channel where he had posted comments in support of the Ruscists."

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Details: The SSU detained the Russian agent after discovering that he had joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces and was gathering intelligence for Russia. He initially enlisted in a rear-based unit before transferring to a combat brigade operating in the Kursk area.

The detaining of the Russian agent. Photo: SSU

The agent was collecting coordinates for Russian strikes on Ukrainian positions, including radio electronic warfare systems and artillery. He passed the information through a messenger app, using photos and maps.

The traitor was caught in the act of transmitting a report to Russian intelligence services. His phone was seized during the arrest. He has been taken into custody and faces a possible life sentence.

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The State Border Guard Service (SBGS) has stated that it maintains constant oversight over the procurement process delegated for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It emphasised that the overdue debt of UAH 1.7 billion (about US$40.7 million) related to the PHU Lechmar company does not concern the UAH 23 billion (about US$551.8 million) contract from the Ministry of Defence.

Source: Colonel Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda

Quote: "The undelivered products worth almost UAH 1.7 billion were overdue by a month and were supposed to be supplied at the end of February this year. However, this was due to force majeure circumstances confirmed by the authorised bodies, as stipulated by the contract terms. Such situations can arise during contract execution. Meanwhile, this particular case does not concern the supply of ammunition or the contracts worth UAH 23 billion."

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Details: The officer stated that the topic of UAH 23 billion, allocated to the State Border Guard Service for ammunition procurement for the Armed Forces, continues to be manipulated. He noted that information obtained from the SBGS and made public by MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak is being distorted regarding deliveries and suppliers.

Referring to the SBGS response to the MP, Demchenko explained that the recorded overdue debt under state contracts concluded by the SBGS with PHU Lechmar Sp. z o. o. in 2024 amounts to UAH 26.5 billion (about US$636 million). The accounts receivable represent the period between payment for products and their delivery within the contractually defined timeframe. Demchenko believes that it is misleading to claim that this timeframe resulted in overdue debt.

Demchenko added that in addition to the UAH 23 billion allocated for procurement delegation in 2024, the State Border Guard Service had also received UAH 5.8 billion (about US$139.2 million) and UAH 31.1 billion (about US$746.7 million). In total, this amounts to nearly UAH 60 billion (about US$1.4 billion). Taking into account the UAH 26.5 billion of accounts receivable, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have already received purchased equipment worth the remaining amount.

Quote: "Regarding the accounts receivable of UAH 26.5 billion, I note that 23 billion of this amount was allocated for procurement at the end of November 2024, with contract payments made at the end of December 2024. The delivery deadlines have not yet passed and are scheduled throughout the year. So, as of now, there are no overdue accounts receivable concerning the UAH 23 billion.

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The remaining amount of accounts receivable pertains to previous procurement delegations, and for some of these funds, the delivery deadlines have not yet expired.

The SBGS constantly monitors the status of accounts receivable and ensures legal actions in case of contract breaches by counterparties."

Background:

In December 2024, the Defence Procurement Agency of the Ministry of Defence stated that it had planned to use the UAH 23 billion (about US$551.8 million) transferred to the State Border Guard Service to finance pre-arranged contracts for the procurement of critical ammunition for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

As a result, the agency noted that it was forced to request additional funding from the Ministry of Defence and seek new opportunities to finalise and finance already prepared contracts.

The SBGS explained that it holds a second-level financial manager certificate for arms and military equipment procurement and has experience in concluding contracts for ammunition supplies. It also stated that PHU Lechmar had no outstanding contracts with the SBGS or any delays in deliveries.

On 24 March 2025, Yaroslav Zhelezniak, First Deputy Head of Ukraine's Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Tax, and Customs Policy, citing an official response from the SBGS, claimed that the company responsible for supplying arms through the border service had failed to fulfil its obligations on time for UAH 1.7 billion.

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Ukrainian officials remained in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia following their initial meeting with a U.S. delegation on March 23, an unnamed delegation official told the news outlet Suspilne on March 24.

Russian and U.S. delegations met in Saudi Arabia on March 24 following Ukraine's meeting with the U.S. a day earlier. Ukrainian and U.S. officials were reportedly expected to meet again depending on the outcome of the talks with Russia.

Another meeting has been scheduled between the Ukrainian and U.S. delegations, the official said.

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Initially, the U.S. planned to hold talks with both Ukraine and Russia on the same day. President Volodymyr Zelensky later said the meeting would take place on March 23, the day before.

The U.S.-Ukraine talks include discussions on territories, demarcation lines, and control of Ukraine's power plant, U.S. President Donald Trump said on March 24.

The teams also discussed a possible ceasefire over attacks on seaports.

"The discussion concerned a mutual ceasefire: we won't attack their (Russian) facilities at sea and rivers, and they won't attack our facilities, our Kherson and Mykolaiv ports, the greater Odesa ports," Presidential Office Advisor Serhii Leshchenko said on March 24.

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Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation, said the discussions included military, diplomatic, and energy representatives.

"The conversation was constructive and meaningful  we discussed key issues, including in the energy sector," Umerov wrote on Facebook.

The talks between Russia and the U.S. the following day lasted 12-hours. Journalists were asked to leave the hotel before the closed-door negotiations, Suspilne reported.

Read also: Editorial: What Steve Witkoff doesnt get about Ukraine (and Russia)

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Calls now come every other day, it seems, from around the state to a tiny museum in Hamtramck that has held the stories of Ukrainians in Detroit since they began arriving to work at the Dodge plant in 1912.

Americans are saying, What do I do to apologize for my nation? Where do I apologize on behalf of America?  said executive director Olga Liskiwsky.

The Ukrainian American Archives & Museum has been a presence in the community since 1958. Artists fill the gift shop with their artwork, jewelry, handmade dolls, painted eggs and beaded clothing now sold to help pay for injured soldiers.

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On March 18, Russia bombed a power station in the Slovyansk, Donetsk region, just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin promised President Donald Trump the strikes against energy infrastructure would stop.

Putin during the call reiterated his demand for an end to foreign military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine, according to the Kremlin. Trump, though, denied that the subject came up during an interview with Fox News, the Associated Press reported.Meanwhile, Detroit quietly holds Ukraine and Ukrainian families close.

What began as a reading room more than half a century ago has evolved into a space that attracts visitors from around the world.

Despite being on Joseph Campau Avenue, the storefront is easy to miss. It has been there for a decade now. A small yellow and blue Ukrainian flag hangs in the window.

Devoting the rest of my life to Ukraine

Dave Bonior, a former congressman from Hamtramck who spent three decades in state and national politics representing Macomb and St. Clair counties and parts of Oakland and Sanilac counties, grew up in a home where Ukrainian and Polish were spoken.

David Bonior

Ukraine is a big country, about the size of Texas. My grandfather migrated from Ukraine in 1912, when he was 18. He worked 30 years at the Dodge plant as a fireman, Bonior said.

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Im 79. I am devoting the rest of my life to Ukraine. Its very, very important to step up to be strong for democracy. Its something all our relatives have fought and died for. 

Bonior, the son of a printer who served in the U.S. Air Force from 1968-72 during the Vietnam War, plans to return to Ukraine at the end of March for the second time in 13 months.

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He works aggressively behind the scenes as someone who once held the powerful role of House majority whip, the enforcer of political party discipline in Washington, D.C. He was also chair of the Ukrainian caucus, a role in which he was preceded by Newt Gingrich, R-Georgia, and succeeded by Nancy Pelosi, D-California.

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World events, for Bonior, are personal. Three generations lived together in his childhood home near Holbrook and Lehman, just blocks from the Ukrainian museum.

These days he writes about Ukraine for the National Catholic Reporter newspaper and the Macomb Daily.

His home state is where about 39,000 Ukrainian Americans live now, according to the U.S. Census.

After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, thousands of Ukrainian nationals were approved to live and work in the state under President Joe Biden-era programs aimed at offering a temporary reprieve from war, Bridge Michigan reported.

Polish restaurants in Hamtramck are staffed with Ukrainian servers who moved to Detroit to be safer. One refugee, a former lawyer in Ukraine, cleans houses in Royal Oak with his wife to earn money. Their employer called the museum to ask whether the couple would be safe during these uncertain times.

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As the U.S. steps up deportations, Trump has considered revoking the legal status of some 240,000 Ukrainians living in the country under the humanitarian program, Reuters reported early this month.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tweeted that the Reuters report was fake news and then wrote: The truth: no decision has been made.

We are proud Americans

Waves of Ukrainians have settled in metro Detroit since the start of World War I in 1914. In the 1930s, Ukrainians coming to the U.S. didnt have luck getting bank loans, so they formed fraternal organizations throughout the country and borrowed money from each other.

Liskiwsky, who has run the tiny Ukrainian museum for eight years, translates historical books and documents into English and then archives materials. Growing up in Detroit, the Rosary High School graduate attended Ukrainian language school on Saturdays and went on to attend Harvard summer school to study Ukrainian history and literature. She later was certified to teach Ukrainian.

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As a child of immigrants, my parents always instilled in us that we are proud Americans, that this country gave them opportunities. Were asking, How can we remove intelligence sharing as Putin continues to bomb innocent civilians? Every day theres bombing.

(The Trump administration halted intelligence sharing with Ukraine after the highly publicized Oval Office blowup between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but resumed earlier this month.)

While her career includes stints at the legendary Motown Museum and The Henry Ford museum in Dearborn, Liskiwsky decided to run the site that is little-known to many outside the Ukrainian community. She wanted to invest in preserving her roots rather than pursue a national position despite so many encouraging her to do so.

I still have family in Ukraine, so it matters to me, she told me.

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Looking through books, she pointed to a picture from 1933 on Woodward Avenue in Detroit. It was a protest led by Ukrainian Americans against the manufactured famine in Ukraine organized by the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, Liskiwsky said.

They were isolating entire areas of Ukrainian peasants who didnt want to participate in collectivization of their farms. The Ukrainians wanted to retain ownership of the land that their families had farmed for generations," she said. "Stalin sent brigades of enforcers into the villages to remove all foodstuffs. Despite the fact that it was a bumper crop that year, all harvest was removed, and, out of desperation, people were burying food for their own survival. They were starving to death, she said.

Local families donate photos of their parents and grandparents from the past 100 years. Liskiwsky gently paged through documents and images. She talks about textiles and war bonds and stamps from all over Ukraine. Shes aided by an intern from Mumford High School provided by the Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Hamtramcks Ukrainian American Archives and Museum features a display of its traditional icons on Friday, March 21, 2025.

For more than a century, the Ukrainian church community has been strong, Liskiwsky said.

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We had a lot of businesses, bakeries, stores. We used to practice our music and dance in the hall.

In southwest Detroit, the Ukrainian National Temple  center of the Ukrainian American community beginning in the 1930s  is now a Spanish Pentecostal church in an original Ukrainian neighborhood off Michigan Avenue and Livernois.

More: She watched a Russian bomb land near her son  and change their lives

Catholics and Jews found refuge in Detroit

A majority of the people who came to metro Detroit from Ukraine were from western Ukraine and Byzantine Rite Catholics whose priests could marry, she explained.

There were large Jewish communities throughout the country because Jews were not allowed to live in Russia proper. They were only allowed to live in Ukraine or Belarus or Lithuania. It was called a Pale of Settlement (from 1791 to 1917). Jews were forbidden to live in Russia as part of an ethnic cleansing program," Liskiwsky said.

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"People now will come and say, My grandfather was Austrian. But hes listed in as a citizen of Austro-Hungary and ethnically is Ukrainian.  There was antisemitism then, in the 18th century. In 1876, the Russian Empire made a great proclamation that Ukraine does not exist and Ukrainian is not a language. They forbade Ukrainians from printing, from performing. Schools were closed.

Ukraine was independent for a brief period after World War I, but regained its full sovereignty and territory in 1991 with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The museum displays stamps and war bonds from past and present.

Families who have lived in Detroit for generations now reach out to try and help. They raise money selling donated items and handmade crafts to help pay for medical treatment or surgery for Ukrainian soldiers.

People reach out and share that the right side of their sons right face was blown off and they dont have money for surgery. Were constantly dealing with these sorts of heartbreaking situations, Liskiwsky said.

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Helpers are found all around, members of the Ukrainian diaspora:

Dr. Mark Hnatiuk is a craniolfacial surgeon from metro Detroit who goes to Ukraine through a program called Razom, and helps train surgeons  some of whom have lost children to the war.

Alex Tkachenko, a Ukrainian muralist whose art is in the Fisher Mansion and Motor City Casino, has works at the museum for sale to help raise money, too.

Emily Rutkowski runs Mishas Angels in Shelby County, raising money to get clothing, first aid kits, night goggles and anything else the soldiers might need. Rutkowski, who has roots in Hamtramck, is the granddaughter of the cook at the Polish Century Club.

All these things are circular, Bonior said.

More: Protesters in Detroit and Canada unify across river, rally against Trump presidency

Searching for lost children, keeping faith

Christina Dzul (pronounced Jewel), 69, of Grosse Pointe Farms, is the daughter of parents who fled from Ukraine during World War II with just the clothes on their backs.

Growing up in Detroit, Dzul attended a Ukrainian grade school, Ukrainian Immaculate Conception High School and then language school on Saturdays. She participated in Ukrainian dancing and never spoke English at home.

It would have been disrespectful, Dzul said. My grandmother was living in our house, too. We were raised with two languages.

She and her family have returned to Ukraine to see family and visit gravesites.

We still have family there, Dzul said. We are trying to help in every which way we can.

She and her husband, Dr. Andrew Dzul, an ear, nose and throat doctor, have been to the Polish border to help with medical care and language translation.

My niece was a television reporter in Kyiv who fled for her life when the main city was getting shelled, Christina Dzul said. She came to the U.S. because she speaks four languages and they made her a reporter in Washington, D.C. But she missed family so she went back. Now shes working for an organization trying to find more than 20,000 children abducted by Russia. She keeps track of all their names, their backgrounds. They have been able to get 200 or 300 back but there are 20,000 who have been taken.

Dr. Dzul, 71, serves on the board of the tiny Ukrainian museum and has traveled overseas to conflict zones.

The world has always felt the United States is a supporter of international peace and good deeds, he said. That whole system is completely falling apart.

Americans have questioned Trumps perceived admiration for Putin over Zelenskyy, who was elected in 2019.

Trump told Fox News on March 18 that he had a very good relationship with Putin, a former intelligence officer who has been president since 2012.

Human dignity is not negotiable

Donna Voronovich, 62, an architect from Bloomfield Hills and professor at Oakland University, is a board member at the museum whose parents immigrated as children from Ukraine to Canada and the U.S. after spending five years in displaced persons camps in Germany awaiting approval for refugee status during World War II.

I come from a long lineage of Ukrainian patriots, Voronovich said. My mother was a school psychologist and my father a chemical engineer. My fathers father was a doctor and my other grandfather was a veterinarian. My grandmother was a pharmacist. When they had to leave Ukraine, they left everything behind. They came with nothing but their education and their determination to persevere.

Hamtramcks Ukrainian American Archives and Museum board member Donna Voronovich, poses in the museum on Friday, March 21, 2025.

While passion for Ukraine is intense, Ukrainians are not special or unique in any way as far as love, patriotism or devotion to culture, Voronovich said. I think Ukraine is representative of basic humanity; people who want to live in freedom.

When Bonior talks about Ukraine, he cant help but include details about the Polish miracle, the largest refugee migration in 2022-23 since World War II. Some 13 million Ukrainians came across the border into Poland. No one was sent to a refugee camp but, instead, taken into homes and convents and monasteries and churches.

The nation absorbed its neighbors, providing language and education and food support with leadership from the Caritas Catholic relief charity, said Bonior, a social worker by training.

One of the places we went was Ukrainian Catholic University, Bonior said during a talk at the St. Clair Inn in September.

A lot of the university is made up of women now (while the men are off fighting). It was quite moving to hear what they had to say, he said. I remember this one woman, her name was Yanna, and she had a boyfriend fighting on the front line. She told us, The best people in our country are dying. When we lose our best people, we will be ready to become the best people. 

Ukrainians will never give up because its people have an unwavering spirit, a fearless nature, and an ability to persevere against all odds, Detroiters told me.

We are not afraid because we know that Ukraine is and always will be, Voronovich said.

As long as there is one Ukrainian alive, Ukraine exists.  Ukraines fight is the fight for every human being who ever had their identity or freedom threatened. Human dignity is not negotiable.

Phoebe Wall Howard is a former Detroit Free Press auto reporter who now writes a column on car culture, consumer trends and life called Shifting Gears" on Substack. Contact her at phoebe@phoebehoward.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ukrainian museum in Hamtramck becomes a wartime focus for help, pride
Anyone travelling to the UK will need to spend the price of a fish and chips dinner before even getting into the country, following the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) required upon arrival from April 2 onwards.

For the first week, it's set to cost 10 (around $13 or 12), and after April 8 the price will rise to 16 (around $21 or 19).

Officials are recommending that you apply for this at least three working days before your planned arrival and are asking you to download the UK ETA app for iOS and Android smartphones to do so.

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For anyone who doesn't have a smartphone or a compatible one, the government website gov.uk advises asking a friend or family member if you can use their device. The app can be deleted after completing the ETA application.

You can also initiate the application online in a browser. To do this, go to https://apply-for-an-eta.homeoffice.gov.uk/apply/electronic-travel-authorisation/how-to-apply and press the green Continue button to begin the application process.

In addition to answering a few security questions and providing address and place of work, travellers must upload a photo of their passport during the application process. Anyone over the age of nine must also scan their face with their mobile phone camera in the app during the application process. You pay only at the end of the process when the application is completed.

If the application is successful, your ETA will be sent by email. It then entitles you to multiple trips and stays of up to six months in a two-year period. The passport must be valid during this time.

Beware of rip-off services and fraud

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Consumer protection experts are warning travellers to avoid online services offering to apply for the ETA for you. The price for this is significantly higher than for an application made directly via the app.

According to the European Consumer Centre, these offers often appear when searching online for a UK ETA. In the worst case, you can end up being scammed. Then your money is gone and you don't get an ETA. For this reason, the consumer advice body suggests only applying for the ETA through the official channels.
BOSTON (WWLP)  Rising third-years with UMass Medical Schools Population-based Urban and Rural Community Health (PURCH) program, held an advocacy day at the State House pushing for policies that will benefit their patients in western Massachusetts.

The PURCH program is a specialized track and students complete their clinical experience at Baystate Medical Center, where they learn to address socioeconomic community issues alongside their patients health. For one Southwick native, this program is a bridge to her dream job serving her western Massachusetts community.

The impact of fentanyl crisis on one western Massachusetts city

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Ive gone to Baystate as a patient, Ive gone there as a learner, and I just wanted to continue my education through the Baystate health system to hopefully one day serve as a physician in western Mass, said Olivia Raymond, a PURCH student.

This year, students are pushing for Clean Slate legislation, which would automatically seal certain criminal records after a designated period of time has passed.

We know from studying social determinants of health that the more people can access housing and can access jobs, the more people can get health insurance and the healthier the community becomes, said PURCH student Jennifer Murphy.

Students also advocated for additional budget funding for the Healthy Incentive Program, which gives money back to families with SNAP benefits when they purchase healthy, locally-grown foods.

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About 10 to 15 percent of PURCH students stay in western Massachusetts after they graduate to be physicians at Baystate Medical Center.

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AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP)  The third annual UMass Spring Arts Festival is underway, offering the community more than 75 arts events, including concerts, performances, exhibitions, and faculty-led discussions.

Running from March 24 to May 9, the festival highlights the creative talents of students, faculty, and visiting artists through a mix of free and ticketed events.

Ludlow elects new selectmen, school committee members

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A collaboration between the Fine Arts Center and the College of Humanities and Fine Arts (HFA), the festival is a testament to UMass Amhersts dedication to the arts.

The Spring Arts Festival not only underscores an important partnership between HFA and the Fine Arts Center, but it also showcases the immense talent of students, faculty, and staff in our community, said Lupe Davidson, Dean of HFA at UMass Amherst.

The festival features a variety of artistic expressions, from student-led performances to internationally acclaimed musicians and scholars. A key event component is HFA Days, which invites the public to sit in on open classroom sessions spanning subjects like visual art, Afro-American studies, literature, linguistics, and philosophy.

The future belongs to creative leadersthose who innovate, experiment, and push boundaries, said Jamilla Deria, Director of the Fine Arts Center. The arts drive innovation, and this festival showcases the extraordinary talent and energy that make our campus a dynamic hub for the next generation of visionaries.

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Alongside faculty discussions and classroom experiences, the Spring Arts Festival will feature a lineup of performances, exhibitions, and special events, including:

Student Art Sale  March 28, noon to 4 p.m., Studio Arts Building

Juniper Literary Festival  April 4-5, celebrating poetry, fiction, and nonfiction

Fine Arts Center Outdoor Concert Series April 10: Skruple and The Baxbys at Southwest Residential Area beach April 17: South Pleasant Revival and The Greys at Southwest Residential Area beach

John Cameron Mitchell Performance  April 11, an evening with the actor and screenwriter

Meshell Ndegeocello Concert  April 24, a performance by the three-time Grammy winner

Bach Festival and Symposium  April 25-27, featuring world-renowned musicians and scholars

Spring Artwalk  April 19, featuring hands-on art activities, exhibitions, and free snacks

Xanadu Musical Production  May 2, 3, and 7, presented by the UMass Department of Theater

Bruce Hornsby & yMusic Performance  May 9, closing out the festival with a mix of classical and contemporary music

With a diverse lineup of events, the UMass Spring Arts Festival provides a platform for students and faculty to engage in meaningful artistic expression while inviting the greater community to participate.

A full schedule of events is available online.

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The international community, including the U.N. and "individual countries," will be involved in the U.S.-Russian talks on ending the war against Ukraine, Russian negotiator Grigory Karasin told state-owned news agency TASS on March 25.

Karasin, chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, took part in talks with the U.S. in Riyadh on March 24 and described the meeting as a broad but "difficult dialogue."

"Many problems were discussed. Of course, not everything was resolved, not everything was agreed upon," the Russian official added.

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The talks, which were said to focus on a possible renewal of the Black Sea Initiative, are part of the Trump administration's broader efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine. The Black Sea Grain Initiative was brokered by the U.N. and Turkey in 2022 to ensure navigation safety but broke down after Moscow withdrew a year later.

Karasin noted that the discussions will continue with the involvement of "the international community, first of all, the United Nations and individual countries." The official did not specify which countries would be included and in what capacity.

U.S. President Donald Trump's return to the White House marked a major shift in Washington's foreign policy. The temporary pause in military and intelligence support for Ukraine and the embrace of Moscow's talking points among Trump administration officials are causing concern in Kyiv and among European partners.

The U.K. and France are spearheading the so-called "coalition of the willing" to provide Kyiv with security guarantees, including a potential deployment of peacekeepers, amid the uncertainties of the continued U.S. support. French President Emmanuel Macron is reportedly considering a peacekeeping mission under the auspices of the U.N., a proposal rejected by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

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Read also: Editorial: What Steve Witkoff doesnt get about Ukraine (and Russia)

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
By Emma Farge

GENEVA (Reuters) - The U.N. migration agency chief told countries on Tuesday to expect even bigger programme cuts in 2026 after announcing a record budget drop of nearly 30% this year, as U.S.-funded programmes end and other donors retrench.

The International Organization for Migration had already announced a major scale-back in projects after U.S. President Donald Trump's foreign aid cuts, warning that it would affect thousands of staff and have a severe impact on migrants.

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The IOM's American Director-General Amy Pope said there would be a projected fall in its budget from $4 billion to $2.89 billion.

This is already affecting efforts to help refugee resettlement programmes and work in Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and with Rohingya refugees.

"(2026) is where we anticipate seeing the biggest impact on budget  not of course just because of the United States but we have heard from many of our donors that you anticipate additional cuts to your humanitarian and development financing," Pope said at a meeting in Geneva.

The U.S., which accounts for over 40% of IOM funding, said this month that 80% of programmes at the U.S. Agency for International Development had been cancelled.

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Pope said the IOM was still getting updates from Washington on the impacts but warned that even contracts approved by the U.S. government could expire later this year.

She added that the Geneva-based organisation estimates that 7,000 jobs will be affected -- up slightly from its previous estimate of 6,000 -- but some staff may be re-hired.

Pope was a White House adviser to U.S. President Joe Biden, raising questions about how she and the institution would fare under his successor Trump.

That issue was not addressed at the meeting but several countries urged Pope to lobby Washington to reverse the funding cuts.

(Reporting by Emma Farge, editing by Ed Osmond)
TOWN OF UNADILLA, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  A registered sex offender was taken into custody on Monday for additional sex crimes against a juvenile victim.

The Otsego County Sheriffs Office announced the arrest of Christopher DeMarco, 42, of Unadilla following an investigation into a report of a New York State registered Sex Offender unlawfully recording a juvenile victim while the victim was changing in a private room.

During an investigation, it was revealed that while the victim was in process of changing their clothes, DeMarco allegedly used a cell phone to covertly record the victim. DeMarco is a level II sex offender.

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During the investigation, it was also revealed that DeMarco was allegedly in possession of four internet accounts not registered on the New York State Sex Offender Registry. DeMarco was additionally found to have been convicted of Unlawful Surveillance in the second degree within the past ten years.

On March 24, following the execution of a search warrant at his residence, DeMarco was arrested and charged with Unlawful Surveillance in the First Degree, Unlawful Surveillance in the Second Degree, four counts of Sex Offender Failure to Notify Change of Address, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

DeMarco was processed and remanded to the Otsego County Jail to await arraignment. An order of protection was requested on behalf of the victim.

The Otsego County District Attorneys Office was consulted and recommended that DeMarco be held without bail due to having two or more felony convictions.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.
In Havana Markings documentary Undercover: Exposing the Far Right, investigators from the organization Hope Not Hate use hidden cameras and fieldwork to track down and expose members of violent far-right extremist groups in the U.K. and the U.S.

One of those members is American Holocaust denier Mark Weber who is secretly recorded in the film telling a crowd of white men that, The question every American should ask himself is can whites and Blacks live in America in the same society on the basis of equality and mutual respect? Liberals would say, Well, of course, or we should. Conservatives say, Well, its a good idea, but its going to take time until we reach that. The answer is no. Its not going to happen. Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln both grappled with this question, and each of them concluded that its not going to happen and the only answer is to remove Blacks from North America.

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The film centers on Patrik Hermansson, a senior researcher who infiltrated the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, and journalist Harry Shukman, who infiltrated far-right movements beginning in 2023 under Hermanssons guidance. Marking was given access to all of the footage Hermansson and Shukman collected over the course of two years. Marking is the first filmmaker in Hope Not Hates 20-year history that was granted behind-the-scenes access to the org.

It took a long time to gain the wider teams confidence, Marking told Variety. I had to prove myself ultimately, and that took many months. The key thing was that they trusted me not to compromise their safety and the success of the mission. I took security seriously and understood the dangers involved.

Last October, the BFI London Film Festival pulled the film from its lineup at the last minute over safety concerns.

I think the film is exceptional and easily one of the best documentaries I have seen this year, festival director Kristy Matheson told the Observer newspaper. However, festival workers have the right to feel safe and that their mental health and well being is respected in their workplace.

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The doc went on to premiere on the U.K. network Channel 4 and Danish television station DR. The film also screened at IDFA in November 2024 and is currently screening at Copenhagens CPH:DOX in the Education section  UNG:DOX. While Marking doesnt think that anyone who is committed to the far right would watch her film, she believes that there are swathes of people in the middle who are being manipulated by this stuff, especially online, who could watch this documentary and realize how easy it is to be misled.

Variety spoke to Marking in Copenhagen about the three years she spent making Undercover: Exposing the Far Right and U.S. distributors interest in the film.

Hope Not Hate gave you unprecedented access to their dangerous, undercover operations. How did that happen?

Marking: Originally, I was talking to HNH about a historical story, a straightforward past tense interview film. But every time I talked to (HNH founder and CEO) Nick Lowles, something extraordinary had just happened. He was being followed. His family was being harassed. The office was being hounded with hoax calls. It was a frightening time, and it suddenly seemed mad to be talking about something that took place 20 years ago: we agreed we had to start filming now. It was only six months later that Nick let me know they were also conducting an undercover investigation.

Did you ever feel in danger while making the film?

We knew right from the start this was a dangerous film to make. We follow three different storylines and there were differing levels of risk for each aspect. There were moments that we knew were risky in and of themselves: filming at extreme far-right rallies with no police presence, for example. Then, highlighting the illegal and obnoxious work of (far-right British agitator) Tommy Robinson has its own risks: he has form for harassing journalists he doesnt agree with and setting his legions of online fans against them. And then there were the legal dangers: one of our stories traces a million-dollar funding network back to Silicon Valley. Above all, though, the danger was that we might blow the cover of the HNH journalists or locations of their offices, etc. We had a huge number of protocols in place to ensure secrecy, using encryption, code words, and prioritizing meeting in person over using messaging apps. I also changed my appearance: not to be in disguise, just to blend in and disappear on shoots.

The far-right in Europe and the U.S. dont try to hide their racism/intolerance/antisemitism  i.e., Britains anti-immigrant rioters, Charlottesvilles Unite the Right, Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol attackers. Why did you think it was necessary to make a film about how the far right operates behind closed doors?

Well, some of the far right are open about what they believe, but many arent, and almost no one wants to admit how they are funded, or how they manipulate the narrative. We have layers here about what is said openly. Some might say they are anti-asylum-seekers in public, but refuse to admit they are racist, or they might say they hate Islam, but would never admit to anti-semitism, for example. When you go undercover, you see the true extent of the extremism, and importantly, the associations. Funding will often come from respectable sources who would not openly want to be connected to those more vocal.

How did you feel about the London Film Festivals decision to pull your film?

We were shocked, confused, and devastated! It was beyond cowardly and has set a dangerous precedent. It was sad that they couldnt see why it was so politically important not to pull the film: for us, yes, but also for political films in general. We asked repeatedly for alternative ways to screen the film in the festival setting: different locations or different platforms, but they wouldnt entertain it. They selected the film in early June, so they had over four months to put a safety protocol in place before the festival in October.

Do you think that by pulling the film, the festival gave even more power to the far right?

Fear is its own form of censorship, and literally the only people to benefit from that decision were the far right. Anyone familiar with the work of American historian Timothy Snyder will recognize the concept of obeying in advance. This was a perfect example.

Recently, Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner attempted to shut down the citys nonprofit art house cinema O Cinema following screenings of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land because he thought it was anti-semitic. Meiner didnt get his way, but do you feel like we are heading in a direction where politicians and film festivals will censor political films?

Yes, for sure. Its already happened to us, and we can see that the selection of films at some festivals is becoming weaker. There are different reasons, and there may be some genuine fears, but there should always be ways to create safe spaces  even if its virtual  to show political films. We believe in the right to watch films without the fear of intimidation and hope to ensure the resilience of the cinema industry for the long run.

What territories are you trying to sell to, and is there any hope that an American distributor will touch the film?

The film is selling very well to broadcasters in Europe and having a fantastic festival run. So far, we have had no bite whatsoever from the U.S. We cant believe the change in government hasnt had an effect on that.

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Undercover: Exposing the Far Right is a Marking Films Inc/Tigerlily production, directed and produced by Havana Marking and Natasha Dack.





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Maine Gov. Janet Mills enters the House chamber for the annual joint State of the Judiciary address on Feb. 25, 2025. (Photo by Jim Neuger/ Maine Morning Star)

In order to catch up with the amount of pay the average man made last year, a full-time working woman in the United States would need to toil through March 25.

As a symbolic reminder that theres more to do to ensure Maine women receive equal pay for equal work, Gov. Janet Mills issued a proclamation declaring March 25 National Equal Pay Day in Maine.

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The proclamation notes that even though Maine Equal Pay Day is recognized annually on the first Tuesday of April, the national day symbolizes how far into the year women in the U.S. must have worked to earn what men had earned by December 31, 2024.

Ensuring equal pay and access to good-paying jobs is not just about fairness  it strengthens families, reduces poverty, and drives economic growth, said Maine Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman in a news release.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the difference between median earnings for men and women in Maine who worked full-time, year-round in 2023 was roughly $8,900. Men earned a median of $61,300, while women earned $52,400. Those gaps are even bigger between white, non-Hispanic or Latino men and American Indian and Alaska Native women ($30,100), and Black or African American women ($25,200).

Asian women experience a smaller gap of $1,600 less than white or Latino men.

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Equal Pay Day highlights the ongoing struggle to appropriately value and support the work of Maine women  and the full Equal Pay Day calendar shows how the burden of the wage gap falls disproportionately on mothers, women of color, disabled women, and the LGBTQ+ community, said Elinor Higgins, executive director of Maines Permanent Commission on the Status of Women, a group appointed by the governor that advises the state on policy and social issues related to women and girls.

The governor pointed to recent progress on this front, namely a law passed in 2019 that discourages employers from basing wages on an employees salary history. Last week, the Legislatures Labor Committee split on a bill (LD 799) that would require employers to annually report gender-based wage gaps to the Bureau of Labor Standards. The Mills administration did not take a formal position on the legislation but raised several questions about implementation and enforcement.

Though Maines Equal Pay Law requires that employers pay workers an equal amount for work that is comparable in skill, effort, and responsibility, the 2019-2023 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates highlights persistent gaps in legal, health, sales, production and maintenance occupations in Maine.

In December, the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women released its 2024 biennial report, which found that gender disparities persist in part due to disproportionate caregiving responsibilities and insufficient access to services such as affordable, high-quality child and elder care.

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The gender wage gap is not about individuals, its about systems, said Destie Hohman Sprague, executive director of the Maine Womens Lobby. Womens work (traditional roles such as care and caregiving) pays less, and women earn less over a lifetime because of their unpaid caregiving roles.

Systems are solved with policies, and Maine policymakers have an opportunity to address this gap once by supporting bills that address pay transparency and workforce segregation, Hohman Sprague continued. They also must continue to build the caregiving structures, such as paid family and medical leave, childcare, and direct care, which supports pay equity over the long term.

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The Rhode Island Office of the Public Defender on Pine Street in Providence. (Photo by Will Steinfeld/Rhode Island Current)

Pay raises for Rhode Islands public defense attorneys were supposed to take effect eight months ago but remain on hold while the state updates its payroll system.

Thats according to Deputy Public Defender Matthew Toro, who spoke before the House Finance Subcommittee on Public Safety March 20 as part of the General Assemblys annual hearings meant to shape the states fiscal year 2026 budget.

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We have been delayed, delayed, and delayed, Toro told the subcommittee.

The General Assembly allocated $750,000 from the states general revenue in the states most recent budget fund to boost attorney salaries as a way to retain the 58 attorneys working in the understaffed Rhode Island Office of Public Defender and hopefully attract more staff.

The promised wage increase has kept attorneys from leaving, but Toro said they still have not been able to up their lawyers average pay above $94,000. He blamed a herculean task by the Rhode Island Department of Administration to update the states HR and finance system to a cloud-based one.

Work on the system began in January 2023 and is expected to be complete by the end of 2025, department spokesperson Karen Greco said in an email Monday.

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Toro told Rhode Island Current that the IT hurdles have been resolved and the raises are expected to finally be issued in the coming weeks.

What remains unresolved: the large caseload public defenders have to juggle.

Rhode Island Deputy Public Defender Matthew Toro testifies before the House Finance Subcommittee on Public Safety on March 20, 2025. (Screencap/CapitolTV)

A 2017 report by the National Association of Criminal Defense lawyers found that Rhode Islands Public Defender Office would require 136 full-time attorneys in order to provide reasonably effective assistance.

In his budget memo submitted to Gov. Dan McKee last October, Public Defender Collin Geiselman noted that felony attorneys routinely carry caseloads well above the national standard.

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Geiselmans memo notes an average of roughly 200 felony cases per attorney in 2024. The national standard set by the American Bar Association is 150 cases. Rhode Islands public defenders attorneys handled an average of roughly 700 misdemeanor cases in 2024, while the national standard is 400.

But the state is making some progress. Those averages are the lowest Rhode Islands public defenders have dealt with in the last five years, according to the memo. In 2019, attorneys handled an average of roughly 1,300 felony cases and almost 250 misdemeanor cases.

The agency has labored for many years under caseloads so large they jeopardize quality representation across the board, no matter how talented and dedicated our attorneys are, Geiselman wrote.

If the office could hire just two more attorneys to handle misdemeanor cases, Toro told the subcommittee he believes each of the existing attorneys would see their caseload reduced by 100.

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But such a request did not make it into McKees proposed budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. McKee spokesperson Andrea Palagi on Monday cited the states looming $223 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2026 as the governors reason for not wanting to fill the additional positions.

The administrations primary focus during this budget process was taking steps to right-size government, Palagi said in an emailed statement, adding that the state has added eight positions to the public defenders office since 2021.

That leaves any budget updates to the General Assembly, which is what brought Toro before the House Finance subcommittee on March 20.

We are fully aware of the financial picture for 2026, Toro told the subcommittee. Notwithstanding that, we are a constitutionally mandated service  the state has to provide our services.

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Toro called the offices request conservative.

We didnt come in and ask for scores and scores of lawyers, he said. We know the precious resources of the state are that: precious.

The challenges facing the overworked and underpaid public defenders office did not come as a shock to ACLU of Rhode Island Executive Director Steven Brown.

The workloads that these attorneys have is atrocious, and its something that should be of concern to anyone who cares about a fair criminal justice system, Brown said in an interview. They perform a critical public service.

Toro also remains hopeful that the General Assembly will consider budgeting for the additional hires, which in turn will help the public defenders office meet its mission of providing legal counsel to those who cant afford private attorneys.

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What better way to test those fairness values than with the poor, who lack economic resources and are charged with unpopular crimes, Toro told the subcommittee. If the systems fair to them, it will be fair to everybody.

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Luca Ascherman-Slavin, 21, of Boca Raton, Florida, is accused of buying new tires from a Union County automotive parts store using stolen credit card information and trying to resell them on Facebook Marketplace, the sheriff said.

However, Union County sheriffs detectives set up a meeting with Ascherman-Slavin in a Wesley Chapel parking lot to stop the crime, where he was arrested.

INSIDE LOOK: Union County crime labs crucial role in putting criminals behind bars quicker

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Ascherman-Slavin was charged with obtaining property by false pretenses, identity theft, and financial card fraud.

He posted a $50,000 secured bond and was released from jail.

Sheriff Eddie Cathey said he does not tolerate people from out of town committing crimes in Union County.

VIDEO: 14-year-old charged with making mass violence threats against Union County school
Cherrish Vick, secretary-treasurer with AFSCME Local 112, urges the Maryland Senate to move legislation that would reform the arbitration process for state workers. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters)

Labor unions called on senators Monday to act on a pair of worker protection bills that passed the House but are languishing in the Senate, with just two weeks left in the legislative session.

Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Maryland Council 3 (AFSCME) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) rallied in support of the bills  one to support laid-off federal employees and one to help state workers in future negotiations.

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These arent just workers, these are our neighbors, our friends, theyre our family, said House Majority Whip Jazz Lewis (D-Prince Georges), the lead sponsor of both bills awaiting Senate consideration.

The House has already passed both these bills, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to do the same  and I know they will, Lewis said at a news conference in the Prince Georges Delegation room in House office building.

The bills come at a time when state officials are trying to support government workers amid mass federal layoffs and a rocky economic outlook for the state.

House Bill 1424 would expand the use of two current employee-assistance funds so they could be used to assist federal workers who are laid off as the Trump administration rushes to slash the size of government. The bill also gives the attorney general authority to sue the Trump administration on behalf of the laid off workers.

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The bill passed the House 103-36 on March 11, and is slated for a hearing Thursday in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. A companion bill, Senate Bill 683, was discussed in Budget and Taxation in early March, but was never brought to a vote.

But Budget and Taxation Committee Chair Guy Guzzone (D-Howard), who noted that there are a number of federal workers who live in his district, said Monday evening that there is interest in the bill.

Lewis other bill, House Bill 159, would reform the states collective bargaining process to subject it to binding arbitration if the state and the unions reached an impasse in negotiations.

The bill, which has been filed every year since 2022, has never moved out of either chamber before. But the House passed it 101-37 in March 11 and sent it to the Senate, where it has been jointly assigned to the Finance Committee and the Budget and Taxation Committee.

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The Senate version of the bill received a hearing back in January in Budget and Taxation, but has not been brought to a vote.

Over the years, our jobs as state employees have gotten harder every day. Theres more work to do, theres more Marylanders to serve and there are more services that are needed, said Cherrish Vick, secretary-treasurer with AFSCME Local 112.

There just arent enough of us to do the work, she said at Mondays event. You know what happens? Lines get longer, services get delayed and lawsuits start piling up.

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She said that the bill would fix a broken negotiation process in state government and she is hopeful that the Senate will support the legislation.

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Without addressing either bill specifically in his remarks, Gov. Wes Moore (D) stopped by the event to provide comments in support of federal and state workers who live in Maryland and are affected by layoffs.

Maryland is strong because we are union strong, and we stand united in that, he said. We make sure that we take care of our people. And right now, our people are under attack.

Following his comments, Moore left the press conference early without taking questions.

Lewis said during the event that the governor supports his arbitration bill, but did not indicate where the governor stands on the Protect Our Federal Workers Act. The governors office did not immediately respond to a request to clarify his position on the bills.
(NBC News)  A United Airlines flight headed to Shanghai, China, had to turn around over the weekend after the pilot forgot to bring a passport, the airline company said.

The mishap happened Saturday afternoon on United Flight 198 from Los Angeles International Airport to Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

Couple held at Mexico jail after allegedly defrauding Cancun hotel out of more than $100K

Data on FlightAware.com showed the flight took off on time just before 2 p.m. but was diverted to San Francisco, landing just after 5 p.m. There were 257 passengers and 13 crew members onboard.

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United said in a brief statement that the pilot on the flight did not have their passport, so the plane had to return to California, where a new crew would take passengers to China. The plane left Saturday evening, about six hours behind schedule.

Read the full story on NBCNews.com.

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(FOX40.COM) The United Auburn Indian Community announced they have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Interiors approval of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians casino project in Vallejo, California.

Video Above: Sky River Casino announces expansion plans with hotel

In the lawsuit, UAIC claims the approval violates the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Indian Reorganization Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.

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UAIC also states that the approval of the casino project was, rushed and politically motivated, occurring just days before the end of the Biden Administration.

Uproar over national security lapse

The lawsuit also said the Department violated federal policy by not consulting with impacted tribal governments.

The approval of this casino is a blatant violation of federal law and sets a dangerous precedent for tribes that have followed the established rules for Indian gaming, said John L. Williams, Chairman of the United Auburn Indian Community. For decades, our tribe has worked to uphold the integrity of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and prevent opportunistic gaming proposals that ignore history and harm responsible tribal governments.

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According to UAIC, the proposed casino would be a massive, 615,000-square-foot development in a high-traffic corridor, on a sensitive habitat at the intersection of Highway 80 and Highway 37, near the gateway to the San Francisco Bay Area. They said the location is far from the tribes aboriginal homeland.

Some of their concerns include:

Encroachment upon the ancestral lands of other tribes

The environmental impact

Increased congestion

The protection of tribal cultural resources

The precedent of placing casinos in densely populated urban areas under questionable legal authority.

UAIC highlights the history of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians attempting to implement off-reservation casinos, claiming they attempted it in 1991, 2012 and 2019.

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The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians the U.S. Department of the Interior have not made a statement regarding the lawsuit.

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In March 2025, a rumor spread alleging that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth removed former Secretary of State Colin Powell's name from a webpage about noteworthy military figures on the Arlington National Cemetery website. The claim circulated following the removal of links to pages about Black, Hispanic and female veterans buried at the site, among other Department of Defense removals.

The Office of Army Cemeteries, a division of the U.S. Army, operates the prominent military cemetery just outside Washington. The Army and other military branches report to the DOD.

For example, one X user posted (archived) on March 20, "Hegseth has removed Colin Powell's name from a list of notable Americans, buried at Arlington National Cemetery. In fact all the names removed were people of color or women. Only white men were left on the list. Your thoughts?" Additional X users shared the rumor about Hegseth, who is white, and Powell, who was Black and died in 2021. Users on Facebook and other social media platforms spread the claim, too.

However, as of March 24, the cemetery website's page titled "prominent military figures" still featured a brief biography describing Powell's military service, in which he achieved the rank of a four-star Army general. Even so, while neither Hegseth nor anyone under the umbrella of the Defense Department entirely deleted Powell's name from the page, sometime between late February and early March, one or more people with access to edit the page removed a partial amount of biographical information pertaining to Powell's race, as well as one mention of his name from the biography of another noteworthy service member. Someone later restored those pieces of information on the page in mid-to-late March.

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The remainder of the rumor claiming "Hegseth removed the names of every person of color and every woman," and that "only white men were left in place," was not entirely true. In a post from Hegseth's personal X account, he called the entire rumor "fake."

In an email, Kerry L. Meeker, the chief of public affairs at Arlington National Cemetery, labeled the claim that someone removed Powell's name from the website "inaccurate." "All notable graves are represented on our website  including Colin Powell," she said.

She pointed us to a statement on the cemetery's website that mentioned "no service members have been permanently removed from the 'notable graves' section of our website." The statement also referenced "compliance with executive orders issued by the president and Department of Defense instructions."

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Jan. 20, 2025, the first day of his second term, seeking to end "illegal" programs and activities related to diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as DEIA, with the "A" standing for accessibility. The order targeted DEIA-related "mandates, policies, programs, preferences and activities in the federal government, under whatever name they appear."

Historical facts about Powell removed

An archived version of the Arlington National Cemetery website's "prominent military figures" page from late February 2025 displayed Powell's biography beginning with the sentence, "General Colin Powell, a Vietnam veteran, was the first African American to hold three of the U.S. government's highest positions: national security adviser (1987-1989), chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989-1993), and secretary of state (2001-2005)."

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By early March, another archived version of the page confirmed the removal of the fact that Powell was the first African American to hold the three positions. Sometime between March 17 and 21, one or more people restored this sentence to the page.

Between February and March, one or more people also removed, then later restored, a mention of Powell's name in the biography for Brig. Gen. Roscoe Conklin "Rock" Cartwright. The late-February version featured a sentence entirely removed from the page, reading, "Cartwright founded a social group that provided mentoring and leadership training to African American officers; prominent members included Generals Colin Powell (Section 60) and Roscoe Robinson Jr. (Section 7A)."

Colin Powell receives the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George H.W. Bush at the White House on July 3, 1991. (Howard L. Sachs/CNP/Getty Images)

'Anti-Asian stereotypes' and an apparent oversight

Other temporary removals from the "prominent military figures" page included 17 mentions of "African American," around a dozen for "black" and one for "Irish American." Many of the mentions of "African American" and "black" described milestones, such as Brig. Gen. Hazel W. Johnson-Brown, originally documented on the page as "the first African American woman general in the U.S. Army."

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The biography for Maj. Kurt Chew-Een Lee originally began by describing him as "the first Asian American officer in the Marine Corps." As of March 21, that fact, as well as the words "Asian American," no longer appeared on the page. The most recent version of his biography also removed the following sentence featured in previous years: "Kurt Chew-Een Lee's record of service not only honored his country, but also demolished anti-Asian stereotypes: 'I wanted to dispel the notion about the Chinese being meek, bland and obsequious,' he told the Los Angeles Times in 2010."

In an apparent oversight in the removal process of race-related content, as of March 17, the page still displayed Lt. Col. Alexander T. Augusta of the U.S. Army as "the highest-ranking African American officer of the Civil War," as well as "the Army's first black physician, the United States' first black hospital administrator (Freedman's Hospital, Washington, D.C.) and its first black professor of medicine (Howard University)."

Sometime between March 17 and 21, some mentions of "Black" and "African American" reappeared on the website, according to archived page captures. As of March 24, the lone mentions of "Irish American," "Asian American" and "anti-Asian stereotypes" had not reappeared.

After we asked Meeker about the removals from Lee's biography about demolishing anti-Asian stereotypes and the fact Augusta's biography still featured four mentions of his race, Arlington National Cemetery spokeswoman Becky Wardwell provided a link to a video from Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell. In the March 20 video, Parnell said, in part, "We want to be very clear, history is not DEI." He also discussed making mistakes and mentioned the usage of artificial intelligence to perform some content edits to comply with the Trump administration's orders.

Three women removed, then restored

Parnell's mention of errors possibly at least partially referenced the removal, and later restoration, of entries for three women on the "prominent military figures" page. Those women were Lt. Cmdr. Barbara Allen Rainey, "the first woman pilot in the Navy," Maj. Marie Therese Rossi, "the first American female combat commander to fly into battle" during the Persian Gulf War, and Lt. Kara Spears Hultgreen, "the first female carrier-based fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy, and the first woman to qualify as an F-14 combat pilot."

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All three women disappeared entirely from the cemetery website's page in late February or early March, and reappeared sometime between March 17 and 21, according to archived page captures.

Sources:

Burns, Robert, et al. "Colin Powell Dies, Trailblazing General Stained by Iraq." The Associated Press, 19 Oct. 2021, https://apnews.com/article/colin-powell-dead-covid-9c918dc1c137ebf368f2cbb461e4fad4.

Christensen, Laerke. "Arlington National Cemetery Removed Links to Webpages about Black, Hispanic and Female Veterans." Snopes, 14 Mar. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/arlington-national-cemetery-veterans/.

"Colin Powell | Biography & Facts." Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Colin-Powell.

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"Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing." The White House, 20 Jan. 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-and-wasteful-government-dei-programs-and-preferencing/.

"Learn More about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA)." New York Department of State, https://dos.ny.gov/dei.

"Organization." The United States Army, https://www.army.mil/organization/.

"Our Cemeteries." Office of Army Secretaries, https://armycemeteries.army.mil/About-Us/Our-Cemeteries.

"Wayback Machine." Archive.org, https://web.archive.org/.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  A controversial and highly-anticipated Black Mass is set to take place at the Kansas Statehouse in the days ahead. But what will happen during it?

27 News reached out to Chris Jones, a Religious Studies professor at Washburn University, to help explain the what and the why of the upcoming Black Mass. He said a Black Mass like the one being put on by the Satanic Grotto on Friday, March 28 is a way for modern-day Satanic groups to exercise their First Amendment Rights.

A way to get attention, its a way to have an impact, its a way to offend people, Jones said.

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Jones said if one of the goals of the Black Mass is to raise the profile of a group like the Satanic Grotto, then it can be an effective way to accomplish that. Since the Black Mass was announced, it has drawn widespread attention and condemnation from religious organizations like the Archdiocese of Kansas City for its alleged use of stolen communion hosts used during Catholic masses. The Kansas House of Representatives also passed a resolution on Thursday, March 20 criticizing the Black Mass at a vote of 101 to 15.

Advocates fight to keep Kansas StarBase program alive after teachers put on unpaid leave

Its not because they necessarily hate Christianity, its because they see Christianity as having this sort of dominant position in American society, and they want to challenge that, Jones said.

Michael Stewart, founder and President of the Satanic Grotto, spoke with Nexstars Kansas Capitol Bureau on March 13. He called the Black Mass an act of rebellion to show lawmakers there are other religions and beliefs in the Sunflower State.

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Jones encourages people to find the facts before rushing to make a judgement call about someone elses religious beliefs. He said the Satanic Grotto may be trying to show people the First Amendment not only protects the beliefs of the majority, but also the minority of citizens.

When youre looking at somebody elses religion, somebody elses culture, try to suspend judgement, in fact I will quote Ted Lasso, and say be curious, not judgmental, Jones said.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said the Black Mass could go along as planned on March 28 but would have to take place outside the Statehouse building. Stewart said he is still looking to hold the ceremony inside the Statehouse despite this directive.

Kansas gov. approves six new laws, including Move Over law

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  In the frantic seconds before a 15-year-old was shot by a Bloomington police officer, cries to Put the gun down, dont be stupid were heard over and over again.

Footage from the officers body camera and the squad cars dash camera were released Tuesday by the Illinois State Police, who are investigating the Feb. 25, officer-involved shooting as required by law.

Killed was Cole L. M. Turner, who was shot and killed in the 800 block of Arcadia Drive after officers responded to a report regarding an armed man. Turner had an airsoft pistol.

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The video released by ISP can be found on their website.

At a midday press conference, the state police, as well as the Bloomington police, spoke about the investigation. At the same time, States Attorney Erika Reynolds released her findings in a 13-page report that said the five police officers who shot Turner acted in a justified manner.

The prosecutors report

Reynolds said her review of the incident indicated that the officers actions were justified, reasonable and necessary to protect the public and themselves from great bodily harm.

The officers, she said, believed the teen was carrying a real gun. Even Turner, in talking to the officers, is heard saying yall know how much (expletive) money I just spent on this mother (expletive) gun?

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And others believed it was real too, the countys top prosecutor said in her report.

No witness told officers that they believed the object in the subjects hand was a toy, BB gun, air soft gun or the like, she wrote.

This is a replica of the airsoft pistol Turner was holding on Feb. 25 when he was shot and killed by police.

That, mixed with a report that an armed subject had already used a firearm in a threatening manner and that person matched Turners description, led officers to believe he was, in fact, armed and dangerous.

The officers were aware that any bullets fired by Turner in the heavily residential area could endanger their lives but also the lives of people in the area. They tried to evacuate the area, but could not undo the fact that the armed subject was surrounded on multiple sides by apartment buildings while in a heavily populated residential neighborhood.

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Turner, Reynolds noted, repeatedly made comments like Ill double tap ya or blow you (expletive) in.

The totality of the situation, she said, made the decision to fire by the five officers justified under Illinois law.

There is no doubt that the armed subject heard the commands to drop the gun and knew that the police officers on scene were prepared to use deadly force against him. Even with that knowledge, he chose to raise his weapon and point it at the officers.

The footage

Footage from the dash camera shows the squad car arriving at the scene at around 4:45 p.m., and then a person, presumably Turner, running around a corner. The officer is heard saying, Guys, I got him, before going around the corner in his squad car.

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The person who was fleeing then turns to face the officer and, in the footage, appears to reach into the waistband of his jeans. The officer gets out of the car and repeatedly tells the person to put the gun down.

The teen is seen going in between two cars and disappears. The officer is heard on the radio saying he believes the teen has a gun in his right hand. Repeatedly, the officer yells to put the gun down.

Put the gun down, dont be stupid.

It appears the boy replys with, I am not trying to be stupid.

Both continue talking back and forth as more officers arrive at the scene and can be heard in the background yelling to put the gun down.

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An officer asks, why are you doing this, man? to which the teen responds, I am not going back to (expletive) jail.

Officers continue on the camera footage to talk the teenager down, saying he will not get into trouble, despite being on probation. We can work through that, one is heard saying.

Footage shows police officers surrounding the teen, on the ground.

Things escalate between the teen and the officers when he begins to start screaming.

The officer one more time says if he does not drop the gun, he will be shot, to which the teenager can be heard saying, Oh, for real?

Then, several shots can be heard ringing out and striking the windshield of the car in front of the teen.

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A few minutes later, several officers and a canine can be seen walking to him as what appears to be a medical bag is opened and taken to the area. The dash cam video then ends.

Another video taken by someone inside the apartment, it appears to show the male leaning up on the car with what appears to be a weapon in his right hand before the shooting.

Why was the ISP involved?

Per state law, the state police investigates all officer-involved shootings to avoid any sense of bias or conflict.

The state police will conduct their investigation and when its done, turn over their findings to the McLean County States Attorney, who will make a final decision on whether the incident was within the bounds of police protocols.

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Under Illinois law, police are allowed to use deadly force if an officer reasonably believes, based on the totality of the circumstances, that such force is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or another.

The shooting was the second officer-involved shooting in McLean County in February. On Feb. 6, while trying to take two people into custody at a Lexington gas station, a Chenoa police officer and two state troopers shot Ryan Aeron Stanley Hurst, 18, after he pointed a gun at them.

Hurst survived and has since been charged in McLean County Circuit Court with attempted murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm at a peace officer and aggravated assault at a police officer, according to online court records.

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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  The White House is currently investigating how a reporter was added to a group chat with national security officials discussing military plans against the Houthis in Yemen.

Over on Capitol Hill, many lawmakers were angry and demanded answers as to how this happened.

The national security council has confirmed the message thread was authentic and is reviewing how the reporters number was added to the chain.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disputed reports of national security officials leaking military strategies in a group chat that included the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic.

Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist, said Hegseth.

Monday, the Atlantic revealed the reporter was accidentally added to a group chat that included top members of the administration, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Hegseth and more.

I dont know anything about it, said Trump.

The president denies knowing of this incident. The Atlantic reported the chat took place in Signal, an encrypted messaging app, and detailed military operations against Houthi targets in Yemen on March 15th.

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This is reckless, irresponsible and dangerous, said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

Democrats on Capitol Hill erupted over the leak at the hands of the presidents administration.

That suggests a really shocking, lack of situational awareness about exactly who was listening and exactly what the consequences were, said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.).

House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the administration.

Clearly, I think the administration has acknowledged it was a mistake. And they will tighten up and make sure it doesnt happen again, said Johnson.

Some lawmakers are calling for an investigation, as well as repercussions for the national security officials involved in this leak.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
LAWRENCE (KSNT)  A major delivery company is closing two of its facilities in Kansas later this year, forcing some of its employees to look for new work or shift where they live.

27 News spoke with Karen T. Hill, U.S. media relations manager for UPS, on March 25 about possible facility closures in Kansas. She confirmed the company is shuttering two facilities in Dodge City and Lawrence in 2025. These facilities will close on the following dates:

2601 East Wyatt Earp Building in Dodge City  Tuesday, May 20.

331 Northeast Industrial Lane in Lawrence  Tuesday, June 17.

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Advocates fight to keep Kansas StarBase program alive after teachers put on unpaid leave

Hill said this is part of an ongoing company-wide evaluation that has been in motion since January this year. UPS released the following statement on March 14 regarding network optimization.

UPS has an unwavering commitment to serving our customers around the world. As we announced in January, we are making exciting changes to optimize our network, improve efficiency and continue to deliver on our customer-first strategy. The changes underway include reassessing a small percentage of our U.S. operations. Our employees and customers remain a top priority for us during this process, and we will continue to provide industry-leading service to customers in every community we serve. We will also continue philanthropic investments through The UPS Foundation to build stronger communities, create a healthier environment and advance opportunities for all. UPS company statement issued on March 14.

Hill did not say how many employees these closures will impact. UPS is encouraging them to find work at other positions within the company at one of its other facilities in Kansas.

Employees are very important to us and were working to place as many of them as possible in other positions, Hill said.

Biologists to release more alligator snapping turtles in Kansas

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP)  The Greater Holyoke Chamber is excited to announce a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand opening of Urban Co-works newest facility!

Urban Co-works is a leading provider of innovative and flexible co-working spaces. Holyoke is a vibrant city with a growing community of professionals and entrepreneurs in need of flexible, collaborative spaces to work and thrive, said Jeff Goronkin, CEO of Urban Co-Works. Our team is excited to bring the Urban Co-Works experience to Massachusetts. We look forward to contributing to the citys economic development and offering a space that inspires creativity and connection.

How this Holyoke small business was impacted by St. Patricks Parade

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The newest location will support business professionals by providing a creative and collaborative environment for their needs. The facility features 55 private offices, three meeting rooms, an expansive event area with a fully equipped kitchen, and a coworking section with 20 workstations. Members will enjoy 24/7 access with a keyless entry system, free onsite parking, printing services, and complimentary beverages including coffee and tea.

Photos sent to 22News from Buzz Media via Urban Co-Works Photos sent to 22News from Buzz Media via Urban Co-Works Photos sent to 22News from Buzz Media via Urban Co-Works

Conference room rentals start at $45 an hour, and an office area for the day starts at $35 a day. Memberships for a co-working space start at $150 per month, or your office rental starts at $650 per month, giving flexibility without a lease. For more information, visit urbancoworks.com.

The ceremony is happening on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at 98 Lower Westfield Road in Holyoke. The Chamber is inviting the members of the community to attend the event.

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This ribbon-cutting celebration is more than a business launch, said Lisa Totz, Interim Director of the Greater Holyoke Chamber. It reflects Holyokes ongoing economic growth and the power of innovative partnerships. Urban Co-Works is set to become a key contributor to collaboration, innovation, and success for businesses and entrepreneurs in our community.

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.
An urgent warning has been issued for U.S. travelers heading to Puerto Rico this spring break.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health advisory on March 18 to address the ongoing rise of dengue virus infections, with activity remaining high in some parts of the U.S. and globally.

Dengue is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people, per the World Health Organization, and it is more common in tropical and subtropical climates.

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According to the CDCs advisory, transmission of dengue virus, also known as dengue fever, is high in the Americas region, which includes two popular travel spots: the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Spring and summer travel coincide with the peak season for dengue in many countries, increasing the risk of both travel-associated and locally acquired cases in the United States, the health organization noted.

The CDC marked the advisory about dengue as a level 1 health alert, meaning it conveys the highest level of importance about a public health incident.

Dengue virus infections remains high in many parts of the U.S. (Getty Images)

The CDC offered sound advice for travelers heading to high-transmission areas.

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In addition, take steps to prevent mosquito bites for three weeks after travel to avoid possibly spreading the virus to others if you are in an area where mosquitoes are active, the CDC wrote in the health alert. These activities will also lower the risk for other vector-borne diseases.

In Puerto Rico, the reported dengue cases have remained above the outbreak threshold since February 2024, per CDC. There was a public health emergency declared in March 2024 and has remained since. Throughout 2024, there were also 6,291 cases of dengue reported in Puerto Rico, with more than 52 percent of them requiring hospitalization.

So far, there have been 936 cases in Puerto Rico this year as of March 7, which is a 113 percent increase from how many cases there were this time last year.

In the U.S. Virgin Islands, a dengue outbreak was declared in August 2024. The emergency alert remains in effect, with 208 cases identified in 2024 and 30 identified in 2025, as of March 7.

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Meanwhile, there were 91 locally acquired cases of dengue reported in Florida in 2024. Among U.S. travelers, there were 3,483 cases identified in 2024, which is an 84 percent increase compared to the previous year.

Around the world, the concerns about dengue are even greater, with about four billion people living in areas with a risk of dengue, according to the CDC.

Dengue is a common disease in the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Outbreaks are frequently reported in other tourist destinations, such as the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.

The most common symptom is fever, followed by aches and pains throughout the body, vomiting, and a rash. Symptoms usually last from two to seven days, per the CDC. However, symptoms could become severe within a few hours, making the condition a medical emergency.

Nearly one in 20 people who get the infection will develop severe dengue, which can result in shock, internal bleeding, and death.
A simple urine test could accurately detect recurring kidney cancer in patients recovering from surgery for the disease, potentially sparing them from frequent follow-up scans, researchers suggest.

The AUR87A study, led by Swedish researchers, included 134 patients who were treated at 23 hospitals in the UK, Europe, US and Canada.

All had been diagnosed with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC)  the most common type of kidney cancer  which had not spread beyond the kidney and was treated with surgery.

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Most patients had their kidney completely removed.

This type of cancer returns in about a fifth of people, usually within one to two years.

Patients are monitored with CT scans, with their frequency based on the level of individual risk.

For the study, the group continued to have CT scans as part of their standard monitoring after the operation, alongside a urine test every three months.

These tests analysed the profiles of certain sugar molecules in the urine, known as glycosaminoglycans, and gave patients a score out of 100, known as the GAGome score.

After 18 months, cancer had returned in 15% of the group.

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The study found the urine test correctly detected recurrence in 90% of these patients.

It also correctly ruled out recurring cancer in a little over half the patients who remained cancer-free.

Saeed Dabestani, associate professor at Lund University and consultant urologist at Kristianstad Central Hospital in Sweden, said: CT scans often pick up small lesions that arent large enough to biopsy, and we currently dont know whether they are a sign of the cancer returning or not.

Our only option is to do more frequent scans to monitor more closely, which is unpleasant for patients and often brings little benefit.

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If you have a urine test that can accurately show whether the cancer has actually returned then you can better assess risk levels and reduce the frequency of the scans required.

Based on the results we have so far, its likely that we could safely halve the number of scans that patients have to undergo.

The findings are being presented at the at the European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress in Madrid and have been accepted for publication in the journal European Urology Oncology.

Researchers are currently recruiting a second group of patients for the AUR87A study, which results expected towards the end of the year.
Investing.com -- The Trump administration on Tuesday agreed to help Russia boost exports of its grain and fertilizer to global markets, as part of a deal between Russia and Ukraine to halt the use of force in the Black Sea.

Russian exports have been weighed by down by restrictions on access to European ports imposed by the Group of Seven countries, or G7. Ukraine has delivered numerous strikes to the Russian Navy, forcing it to pull out from large parts of the Black Sea.

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LONDON  As wake-up calls go, the alarms dont get much louder.

Allies of the United States see the group chat between top U.S. officials about a planned attack in Yemen that accidentally included a journalist as a jaw-dropping security breach which casts doubt on intelligence-sharing with Washington and the security of joint military operations.

Scary and reckless was the verdict of one European diplomat about the discussion on the Signal messaging app about strikes on Houthi rebels. Neil Melvin, a security expert at defense think tank the Royal United Services Institute, called it pretty shocking.

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Its some of the most high-ranking U.S. officials seeming to display a complete disregard for the normal security protocols, he said.

White House, DOD deny that Hegseth leaked military secrets in chat app

Beyond the security concerns raised by the leaked chat, U.S. officials addressed the countrys trans-Atlantic allies with disdain as Vice President JD Vance complained about bailing out Europe and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth slammed pathetic European freeloading.

The criticism is another blow to a long-standing relationship already strained by President Donald Trumps blunt America First approach and disregard for friendly nations.

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Melvin said that for Americas allies, the alarm clocks been ringing for a long time.

In public, however, European officials insisted all was well in the trans-Atlantic relationship.

We have a very close relationship with the U.S. on matters of security, defense and intelligence, said British Prime Minister Keir Starmers spokesman, Dave Pares. They are our closest ally when it comes to these matters, have been for many years and will be for many years to come.

Frances Foreign Ministry said, The United States is our ally, and France intends to continue its cooperation with Washington, as well as with all its allies and European partners, in order to address current challenges  particularly in the area of European security.

A growing divide

Since taking office, the Trump administration has halted government funding for programs that support democratic principles around the world and presented a less welcoming face to visitors.

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U.S. embassies in at least 17 countries have posted warnings for would-be travelers that engaging in behavior deemed harmful by the government could get them deported. Several European countries have issued warnings about visiting the United States after international tourists were caught up in Trumps border crackdown.

Trump has appalled allies with his repeatedly stated aim of taking over Greenland  an autonomous Danish territory that Vance and second lady Usha Vance are due to visit this week  and his desire to make Canada the 51st state.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his country has to take greater ownership of its own defense in the face of threats: We have to look out for ourselves.

Nathalie Loiseau, a member of the European parliament, told the BBC that she was flabbergasted by the breach.

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If I was [Russian President] Vladimir Putin, I would feel jobless. Russia has nothing more to do.  You dont even need to spy on the U.S. administration. They leak by themselves, she said.

US reliability questioned

The European diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, suggested the security breach could make allies question the reliability of the U.S. as a partner.

The diplomat expressed hope that the Signal lapse was due to a lack of experience in government rather than a deliberate disregard for security.

Asked if he had concerns about sharing intelligence with the U.S. after the Signal incident, Carney said, Its a serious, serious issue and all lessons must be taken. He said it would be important to see how people react to those mistakes and how they tighten them up.

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Britain could be particularly exposed by U.S. security breaches. Its intelligence network is entwined with the U.S. in the Five Eyes alliance, and the countries militaries work more closely than those of almost any other nations.

Britains Royal Air Force provided air-to-air refueling for U.S. planes during the strike on the Houthis, but U.K. Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard insisted British personnel had not been put at risk by the breach.

Weve got high confidence that the measures that we have got with our allies, including the United States, remain intact, he told lawmakers.

Ed Davey, the leader of Britains opposition Liberal Democrats, said the lapse showed the Trump administration cant be trusted to protect its own intelligence and it could only be a matter of time until our own intelligence shared with them is also leaked.

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This could put British lives at risk, he said.

Alex Clarkson, a lecturer in European and international studies at Kings College London, said the professionals and old hands who contained the damage during Trumps first term are largely gone.

So what were having now is  a manifestation of tendencies that were held in check that we already saw in the first round, he said.

American frustration

The U.S. has underpinned European security since World War II, and Trump is not the first president to bristle at the burden.

From the Obama administration [onward], theres been quite some frustrations in the U.S. security apparatus about the failure of the Europeans  to step up, Melvin said.

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Trump has gone much further than his predecessors in upending the decades-old security arrangements. He has long contended the U.S. needs to completely rethink its relationship with the rest of the world, saying other countries have been taking advantage of the nations military might by not paying enough for their own defense.

Trump has praised autocrats including Putin and sent chills through NATO during last years election campaign with his comment that Russia should do whatever the hell it wants to members that dont meet military spending targets.

Theres a real sense of divorce, that America is not just disinterested in the trans-Atlantic alliance but views Europe fundamentally as an adversary, said Max Bergmann, a former State Department official who now works at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Its very clear at this point, abundantly clear, that it will be next to impossible to count on the United States for the cause of defending democracy in the world, said Kevin Casas-Zamora, secretary-general of the pro-democracy group International IDEA.

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NATO leaders point out that Trumps criticism and the war in Ukraine have led to a majority of member states meeting the target of spending at least 2% of their gross domestic product on defense.

Trumps reelection and rapprochement with Putin has hastened European military plans, with nations scrambling to ramp up weapons production and create their own security structures  including a U.K.- and France-led coalition of the willing to help guarantee a future ceasefire in Ukraine.

Clarkson said Europe has more strength than many give it credit for, and severing the trans-Atlantic bond would hurt the U.S., too.

One shouldnt underestimate European military industrial capacity, he said. There are all kinds of things that can go wrong  but there is an element here also that the Americans are awakening a sleeping giant.

Riccardi reported from Denver, Colorado. Associated Press writers Ali Swenson in New York, Chris Megerian in Washington. John Leicester in Paris and Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed.
The White House announced Tuesday that it had reached separate agreements with Russia and Ukraine to allow for safe navigation in the Black Sea, eliminating a major roadblock for peace talks between the two countries.

The Trump administration, in two statements, said that technical-level talks between U.S., Russian and Ukrainian officials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, resulted in agreements to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.

The U.S. also said it would help restore Russias access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports and take steps to improve Moscows access to global shipping.

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Both sides, according to the U.S., also agreed to work toward the implementation of the energy infrastructure ceasefire Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to in calls with President Donald Trump earlier this month. And the U.S. reiterated its commitment to helping achieve the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.

Moscow, in its announcement, was more cautious. The Kremlin said in a Telegram post that the agreement to ensure safe transit through the Black Sea will come into effect once the U.S. lifts some financial sector sanctions and restrictions against companies that export food products and fertilizer. These details were not included in the U.S. statements.

A White House official, granted anonymity to discuss the negotiations with Russia, said "the Russians engaged us this afternoon with requests for more negotiations," indicating that the sanctions relief is still not a settled subject.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, expressed concerns about the agreement at a Tuesday press conference in Kyiv. But he insisted Ukraine made the right move. "It is early to say this will work," he said. "But we made the right thing to agree because nobody will blame Ukraine for not wanting peace."

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A successful agreement would be a major breakthrough. The issue of shipping rights and safety in the Black Sea has vexed negotiators seeking to end Russias three-year invasion of Ukraine and shore up global supply chains that depend on grain, seed oil and fertilizer exports from both countries.

The war has upended shipments of grain through the Black Sea, ratcheting up global fears about food shortages. Many countries in Africa and the Middle East depend on these exports to sustain their food supplies.

An initial impasse was resolved in July 2022, when Turkey and the United Nations brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed vital food supplies to move through the Black Sea without threat of attack.

But the deal broke down in 2023 after the Kremlin issued a new set of demands for renewing the agreement, including sanctions relief and allowing the participation of its ships. Successive efforts by Turkey and others to restore the deal fell short, though Ukrainian grain has nevertheless managed to make it through. Exports have even increased since 2023.
By Ted Hesson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration can pause refugee resettlement efforts while litigation over the freeze plays out in court, a federal U.S. appeals court said on Tuesday.

Refugees conditionally approved for entry by January 20 will be exempt from the pause, a panel of three judges on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said.

Trump, a Republican, immediately paused refugee resettlement after taking office on January 20, saying the program must ensure that refugees admitted to the U.S. "appropriately assimilate" and that taxpayer resources are not wasted. He called for the secretaries of Homeland Security and State to submit a report within 90 days to determine if it should be restarted.

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In late February, a Seattle-based federal judge temporarily blocked Trump's refugee program freeze. The same judge on Monday ordered the Trump administration to stop terminating contracts with groups that assist with refugee resettlement and restore cancelled agreements.

The groups hit by the funding freeze assist refugees in the U.S. with essential services such as housing and finding a job.

Former President Joe Biden, a Democrat, gradually increased refugee admissions during his four-year term, accepting 100,000 in fiscal 2024.

Another 100,000 refugees abroad had been fully vetted and ready to travel to the U.S. as of mid-January, a senior Biden administration official told Reuters at the time.

(Reporting by Ted Hesson; Editing by Chris Reese)
By Valerie Volcovici

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Army Corps of Engineers will complete as soon as next week its revised list of energy projects that could be fast-tracked under President Donald Trump's declaration of a national energy emergency, a U.S. Army Corps official told Reuters.

The Army Corps, a federal engineering service with permitting authority over projects involving wetlands and waterways, posted in February a list of more than 600 projects requiring faster environmental approvals, but then quickly removed the list from its website to give the agency more time to vet projects.

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The original list included high-profile projects such as Enbridge's Line 5 oil pipeline tunnel replacement under Lake Michigan, several natural gas power plants, and liquefied natural gas export terminals proposed by Cheniere and Venture Global. But it also included several potential errors, including some projects that had already been canceled or completed.

The heads of the Army Corps' eight geographic divisions will receive revised lists from the heads of 41 sub-districts by Friday, and then share the compiled list with Army Corps headquarters as soon as next week, said Shane McCoy, head of regulatory affairs for the Corps' Detroit office, on Monday.

Army Corps of Engineers headquarters did not immediately comment.

Trump had ordered the Army Corps to issue permits enabling the filling of wetlands and dredging or building in waterways as part of the January 20 emergency energy declaration, which was aimed at expanding U.S. energy production to meet projected soaring demand.

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Trump last week also invoked emergency powers to boost domestic production of critical minerals used across the economy as part of a broad effort to offset China's control of the sector.

On Monday, six Michigan tribal nations wrote to the Army Corps withdrawing as cooperating agencies in the review of the Enbridge pipeline tunnel through the Straits of Mackinac, saying they expected the project would be rubber-stamped regardless of their input.

"All of the tribes have withdrawn as a cooperating agency because the process is flawed and we don't want to be seen as supporting their flawed process," said David Gover, senior attorney with the Native American Rights Fund.

Enbridge spokesperson Gina Sutherland said the Line 5 tunnel is "critical energy infrastructure" and the company remains committed to including tribes in the project.

(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; additional reporting by Amanda Stephenson in Calgary; Editing by Rod Nickel)
HUNTSVILLE, Ala.  The U.S. Army is revamping how it conducts experimentation events, shifting from isolated events focused on individual warfighting functions to more integrated concept-focused designs in fiscal 2026, according to Lt. Gen. David Hodne, the director of the Armys Futures and Concepts Center.

The Armys massive experimentation event, Project Convergence, is not going away. The services capstone event will happen in the summer of 2026, but leading up to that, a series of experimentation events will integrate warfighting functions in new ways to address how the service will fight in the future, Hodne said Tuesday at the Association of the U.S. Armys Global Force Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama.

The Army has long held experimentation efforts within its Centers of Excellence, such as the Maneuver Fires Integrated Experiment, or MFIX, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and the Vanguard exercise primarily focused on intelligence capability, among others.

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Weve reorganized how were going to do those experiments, Hodne said.

The Army will first conduct its annual Title 10 war game in November 2025 and then move into a command-and-control, or C2, experiment in the early spring that will test the full range of C2 and counter-C2 capabilities and will be organized to test capability from the theater to brigade level, Hodne said.

Next, the service will conduct a cross-domain fires experiment at Fort Sill that will include all manners of fires, launched effects, rockets, cannons in both live and simulated environments.

The last integrated experiment will focus on expanded maneuver at Fort Benning, Georgia, also in the spring, according to Hodne.

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That will include expanded launched effects, autonomous systems, human-machine integrated formations and layered on top of all of them will be formation-based layered protection, Hodne said. This would involve air defense systems and survivability systems from higher echelons to the brigade and below.

The Army also plans to conduct two Future Studies Programs that will incorporate all of the learning from the three concept-focused experiments.

The service then plans to conduct its capstone Project Convergence event in the summer.

Overall, the effort offers a more coherent approach to our experimentation, Hodne noted.

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The new designs for experimentation events will also help industry partners understand how to support them because they will be more focused, according to Brig. Gen. Zachary Miller, Army Joint Modernization Command commander.

Additionally, the Army is looking to help industry by consolidating its call for proposals to participate in experimentation efforts which are currently posted all over the place, Miller noted.

I think thats going to be a lot more coherent starting in FY26 and that those events then will help us inform what were going to do in the big capstone in July and make sure that weve got the capabilities that are really helping us meet those needs, Miller said.
By Patricia Zengerle and Doina Chiacu

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump administration sought on Tuesday to contain the fallout after a magazine journalist disclosed he had been inadvertently included in a secret group discussion of highly sensitive war plans, while Democrats called on top officials to resign over the security incident.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe - both of whom were in the chat - testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee that no classified material was shared in the group chat on Signal, an encrypted commercial messaging app.

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But Democratic senators voiced skepticism, noting that the journalist, Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted operational details about pending strikes against Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, "including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing."

Committee members said they planned - and Gabbard and Ratcliffe agreed to - an audit of the exchange. The Senate's Republican majority leader, John Thune, said on Tuesday he expected the Senate Armed Services Committee to look into Trump administration officials' use of Signal.

"It's hard for me to believe that targets and timing and weapons would not have been classified," Senator Angus King, a Maine independent who caucuses with the Democrats, said at the contentious hearing, which featured several sharp exchanges.

Gabbard repeatedly referred questions about the exchange to Hegseth and the Department of Defense.

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She and Ratcliffe will face more lawmakers on Wednesday when the House of Representatives will hold its annual "Worldwide Threats" hearing. Democrats said they planned to discuss the Signal chat.

The revelation on Monday drew outrage and disbelief among national security experts and prompted Democrats - and some of President Donald Trump's fellow Republicans - to call for an investigation of what they called a major security breach.

"I am of the view that there ought to be resignations, starting with the national security adviser and the secretary of defense," Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon said at the hearing.

But Trump voiced support for his national security team when questioned about the incident at a White House event on Tuesday with Michael Waltz, his national security adviser, who mistakenly added Goldberg to the Signal discussion.

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Trump said the administration would look into the use of Signal. He said he did not think Waltz should apologize, but said he did not think Waltz and the team would be using Signal again soon. Later, in an interview with Newsmax, he indicated that a lower-level colleague of Waltz's had been involved in adding Goldberg to the chat.

Waltz, in an interview with "The Ingraham Angle" on Fox News, said, "I take full responsibility" for the breach, as he had created the Signal group, but he emphasized there was no classified information shared.

Waltz said the situation was "embarrassing" and that the administration would "get to the bottom" of what went wrong. He said Goldberg's number was not saved in his phone and he does not know how the journalist was mistakenly added to the chat group.

'BREACH OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION'

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Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia appeared to grow frustrated after Ratcliffe answered "I don't recall" to a series of questions about the content of the Signal chat.

"Director Ratcliffe, surely you prepared for this hearing today," Ossoff said. "You are part of a group of principals, senior echelons of the U.S. government, and now a widely publicized breach of sensitive information."

Some Republicans also wanted to know more. Senator Todd Young said he would inquire during a closed hearing later on Tuesday. "It appears to me there are some unanswered questions," the Indiana Republican said.

A former U.S. official told Reuters that operational details for military actions are typically classified and known to only a few people at the Pentagon and such top-secret information is usually kept on computers that use a separate network.

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National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said on Monday that the chat group appeared to be authentic.

Sensitive information is not supposed to be shared on commercial mobile phone apps. Additionally, Signal's ability to erase conversations would violate laws governing the retention of government records.

"This is one more example of the kind of sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior, particularly toward classified information ... of this administration," the committee's Democratic vice chairman, Mark Warner of Virginia, said.

SECURITY CONCERNS

Accounts appearing to represent Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Hegseth, Ratcliffe, Gabbard, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, and senior National Security Council officials were assembled in the chat group, Goldberg wrote on Monday.

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Gabbard acknowledged that she had been abroad during the chat, although she declined to say whether she was using a private phone.

The White House sought to play down the incident. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Goldberg of sensationalizing the story in a post on X.

Also on X, White House communications director Steven Cheung dismissed as "faux outrage" the concern over the inclusion of a journalist in a war-planning chat.

Hegseth told reporters on Monday that no one had texted war plans. Goldberg, appearing on CNN on Monday, called those comments "a lie."

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It remained unclear why the officials chose to chat via Signal rather than the secure government channels typically used for sensitive discussions.

Signal has a "stellar reputation and is widely used and trusted in the security community," said Rocky Cole, whose cybersecurity firm iVerify helps protect smartphone users from hackers.

"The risk of discussing highly sensitive national security information on Signal isn't so much that Signal itself is insecure," Cole added. "It's the fact that nation-states threat actors have a demonstrated ability to remotely compromise the entire mobile phone itself. If the phone itself isn't secure, all the Signal messages on that device can be read."

Republican Representative Don Bacon, a retired Air Force general who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, told reporters that Hegseth needed to take responsibility for the apparent breach, which he said put lives at risk.

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Asked about the claim that no classified details were shared, Bacon responded: "They ought to just be honest and own up to it."

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; additional reporting by Erin Banco, Doina Chiacu, Steve Holland and Jeff Mason; writing by Patricia Zengerle and Joseph Ax; editing by Don Durfee, Mary Milliken, Nick Zieminski, Howard Goller, Leslie Adler and Gerry Doyle)
US communications regulator the FCC has announced a new investigation into the US operations of Chinese telecoms companies - what it calls CCP-aligned entities - to determine the level of security risks they may pose.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced that he had established a new Council on National Security within the FCC, with the new investigation into Chinese telcos its first major initiative.

Dominant telecoms equipment providers Huawei and ZTE feature prominently on a wider list of targeted Chinese telecoms and tech companies that the FCC calls its Covered List.

The Covered List entities targeted in this FCC investigation are: Huawei Technologies Company, ZTE Corporation, Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, Dahua Technology Company, China Mobile International USA Inc., China Telecom (Americas) Corp., Pacifica Networks Corp./ComNet (USA) LLC, and China Unicom (Americas) Operations Ltd.

"Specifically, the FCC has launched a sweeping investigation into the ongoing US operations of CCP-aligned businesses whose equipment or services the FCC previously placed on its Covered List based on determinations that those equipment or services pose unacceptable risks to Americas national security," the FCC stated in its announcement.

"Despite being placed on the FCCs Covered List, some or all of those entities may still be operating in the US  either because they do not believe the FCCs Covered List prohibits particular types of operations or otherwise."

To open its investigation, the FCC sent Letters of Inquiry and at least one subpoena to the companies named on the Covered List and is now gathering responses to determine "any actions that may be necessary to further safeguard Americas networks and promote our national security."

The FCC has taken concrete actions to address the threats posed by Huawei, ZTE, China Telecom, and many other entities that pose an unacceptable risk to Americas national security, including by doing Communist Chinas bidding, Chairman Carr stated.

To safeguard our networks, the FCC has placed those CCP-aligned entities on our Covered List, and we have revoked many of the FCC authorisations that they had been operating under.

We have reason to believe that, despite those actions, some or all of these Covered List entities are trying to make an end run around those FCC prohibitions by continuing to do business in America on a private or unregulated basis.

"We are not going to just look the other way.

"The FCC, working through our new Council on National Security and in coordination with partners across the Federal government, will identify the scope of their ongoing activities and move quickly to close any loopholes that have permitted untrustworthy, foreign adversary state-backed actors to skirt our rules.



The FCCs investigation intends to gather detailed information about the Chinese companies' ongoing US businesses, as well as companies that may be "aiding their operations in the US."
(NewsNation)  Americans are crying foul over egg prices, and the United States is looking to the rest of the world for help.

An outbreak of bird flu has devastated U.S. farmers, driving up the cost of eggs by nearly 60% from February 2024 to 2025, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

One way the Trump administration is trying to combat soaring prices is by nearly doubling the nations egg imports from Brazil, Reuters has reported.

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Imported eggs, typically used for pet food, are now being used in processed foods like cake mixes and salad dressings. This helps take the strain off fresh eggs, so they can hit grocery shelves.

Egg prices should come down soon: Agriculture secretary

The Department of Agriculture has also launched efforts to help farmers recover from bird flu losses, improve biosecurity and fund vaccine research. The USDA has also eyed international egg suppliers  including Brazil, Turkey and South Korea  for assistance.

The Justice Department is investigating whether major egg producers have violated antitrust laws by sharing information about prices and supply.

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Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins last week told NewsNation egg prices should continue to fall, though Easter could cause a brief spike in costs.

They may go back up a little bit, but hopefully were in a good spot, Rollins said on Morning in America.

PETA asks Trump to use potatoes for Easter Egg Roll as egg prices rise

The administration is also considering regulation changes to combat the impact of bird flu. Millions of broiler chicken eggs  or eggs laid by chickens raised specifically for meat production  are destroyed because they dont meet refrigeration requirements set by the Food and Drug Administration.

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But advocates say these could be a valuable untapped resource. The FDA is reviewing a petition from the National Chicken Council to allow the sale of broiler chickens eggs, which could add about 360 million eggs to the market annually.

However, experts warn prices could still be volatile. Forecasts from the USDAs Economic Research Service suggest egg prices could rise between 15% to 74.9% this year, Axios has 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 NewsNation.
An assessment by the US Director of National Intelligence has stated that although Ukraine and Russia have shown a willingness to agree to a partial ceasefire, the leaders of both countries perceive the risks of a prolonged war as lower than those of an unsatisfactory peace settlement.

Source: Bloomberg, as reported by European Pravda

Details: This intelligence assessment was presented on Tuesday 25 March during the Senate Intelligence Committee's hearing on the annual Worldwide Threat report, during which senior US intelligence officials testified.

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According to the assessment, although Kyiv and Moscow have demonstrated a willingness to test a partial ceasefire, "leaders for now probably still see the risks of a longer war as less than those of an unsatisfying settlement".

Officials from the Trump administration are aiming for a cease-fire by 20 April, but Ukrainian and European officials see this as excessively ambitious, noting Russian President Vladimir Putin's efforts to delay the negotiations.

The assessment suggests that for Putin, "positive battlefield trends allow for some strategic patience, and for Ukraine, conceding territory or neutrality to Russia without substantial security guarantees from the West could prompt domestic backlash and future insecurity".

Nevertheless, both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seem to recognise the risks of a prolonged war. The assessment highlights that a drawn-out war could damage the Russian economy and lead to "undesired escalation with the West". Meanwhile, for Ukraine, the future of Western aid remains uncertain.

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Moscow continues to gain ground on the battlefield, with the assessment emphasising that a war of attrition favours Russia's military strength. It warns that this strategy "will lead to a gradual but steady erosion of Kyivs position on the battlefield, regardless of any US or allied attempts to impose new and greater costs on Moscow".

US intelligence also continues to see a risk that Putin could resort to nuclear weapons. "Russias inability to achieve quick and decisive battlefield wins, coupled with Ukrainian strikes within Russia, continues to drive concerns that Putin might use nuclear weapons," the assessment notes.

Background:

After discussions in Saudi Arabia on 25 March, the delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Russia reached an agreement to work towards a truce in the Black Sea and a ban on strikes targeting energy infrastructure.

However, Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov noted that further technical consultations are required to put these agreements into action.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Second lady Usha Vance is set to visit Greenland this week in what the Trump administration says is a demonstration of friendliness. The visit comes as the administration talks about Greenland being part of the U.S. in the near future.

Tommy Pigott, deputy spokesperson for the State Department, joins Elizabeth Vargas Reports to talk about the visit.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY)  University High School students were in for a treat on Monday as the U.S. Navy Strike Group visited the campus, giving hundreds of students a chance to dive into the multi-faceted work the Navy does.

This shows kids that theres opportunities outside of their local area, NC1 Permanent Recruiter for Morgantown Navy Recruiting Station Richard Sheldon said.

The interactive experience allowed students to test their flying skills through a team exercise, donning an immersive headset and experiencing what its like to serve aboard an aircraft carrier.

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Students also got to test their strength and team building through multiple tests and even a chance to see what work might be like from a submarine.

(WBOY image)

(WBOY image)

Navy Recruiting Command has three strike groups that travel across the country, and West Virginia gets a visit from one of these teams every couple of years. Before all students got a chance at the simulators, each group of about a hundred students was given a presentation about ROTC scholarships.

A look inside the most wish-listed Airbnb in West Virginia

Students like 10th-graders Gabriella Kuhns and Kai Lowther said this event has given them a whole new perspective on the work the U.S. Navy does.

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It was pretty cool, like you get to experience how people go through, Navy and stuff, what they do for it. I think its awesome, Kuhns said.

Everything here is team-oriented, so its not meant for an individual, its meant for a team, because in the Navy we have to act as a team in order to accomplish the mission. So, what were really trying to do here is show the students that if they were to join the Navy theyre part of a broader team, Sheldon said.

While these simulations are not exactly the same as recruits would experience during training, they give students an idea of what opportunities are at their fingertips.

(WBOY image)

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The News

US President Donald Trump defended National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who apparently added a journalist to a Signal group chat where top White House officials discussed sensitive military plans.

Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man, Trump told NBC News, instead blaming a staffer for including The Atlantics editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, to the chat on the encrypted messaging app and downplaying the leak.

Goldberg revealed Monday that he was privy to classified discussions between the officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about a planned US strike on Houthi forces in Yemen, days before the operation took place earlier this month.

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Also in the Signal conversation, Vance railed against Europes free-loading, highlighting the widening transatlantic schism.

SIGNALS

National security experts stunned at breach, as Republicans largely silent

Sources: CBS News, Politico, The Washington Post, Foreign Policy, Semafor

National security staffers were left rattled by the breach, and Democratic lawmakers demanded investigations: One senator called it one of the most egregious failures of operational security and common sense I have ever seen. Security experts questioned the use of a commercial messaging app to discuss highly sensitive and potentially classified details, which are usually reserved for secure government networks or in-person conversations inside secure facilities. The leak could have legal implications and make allies wary of sharing intelligence with the US, Foreign Policy wrote. However, GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested that those involved should not be disciplined; only a few Republican lawmakers have criticized the breach, with one saying such incidents can get our troops killed.

Trump administrations use of Signal brings national security and transparency risks

Sources: Axios, The Washington Post

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Americas biggest cyber threat is not Chinese and Russian spies, but high-ranking officials and government employees who accidentally leak or access classified information, Axios argued. Signal, an encrypted messaging app that nevertheless has the potential to be hacked, has been widely embraced by government workers since Donald Trumps reelection, including staffers at the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, The Washington Post reported, as a tactic to shield communications. Aside from the national security risks, federal workers use of such surveillance-dodging tactics of spies also presents a blow to efforts to document real-time history and public transparency in governance, one expert told The Post.

Chat leak reveals depth of Vances anti-Europe sentiment

Sources: Bloomberg, Politico, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal

In the Signal group chat, Vice President JD Vance railed against Europes free-loading, laying bare the extent of the Trump administrations disdain for European allies, Bloomberg wrote. Swedens former prime minister said Vances texts underscored his deep anti-European resentment, and Politico noted that one of the officials main preoccupations in the chat were how to make Europe pay for it. The messages point to a growing transatlantic schism: European powers are rethinking their dependence on American weapons systems, The Washington Post noted, while calls are growing to strengthen Europes nuclear deterrent, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The United States has agreed to assist Russia in accessing the global market for its agricultural products, according to a statement from the White House following the 24 March meeting in Saudi Arabia.

Source: European Pravda, citing the White House statement

Details: The statement notes that the United States will "help restore Russias access to the world market for agricultural and fertiliser exports".

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Washington also states that it seeks to "lower maritime insurance costs and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions".

Background:

Since 2022, Russia has been asserting that Western sanctions are damaging its food exports and threatening global food security despite the existence of numerous exemptions.

Meanwhile, the European Union plans to completely restrict imports of Russian agricultural products, citing the need to protect local producers.

Following the talks in Saudi Arabia, the delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Russia reached an agreement to work towards a truce in the Black Sea and a ban on strikes targeting energy infrastructure.

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Louis DeJoy resigned from his role as head of the US Postal Service on Monday, leaving the independent government agency at a time when it faces calls for privatization and scrutiny from the Trump administration.

In a statement released by USPS, DeJoy said while the 250-year old-service had made beneficial change to what had been an adrift and moribund organization, more work was necessary to sustain our positive trajectory.

It has been one of the pleasures of my life and a crowning achievement of my career to have been associated with this cherished institution, he added, noting that Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino will take the reins until the USPS Board of Governors names a permanent successor. A statement from USPS said there is no established timeline for the announcement of DeJoys replacement.

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DeJoy, who was appointed postmaster general as the agency struggled to survive financial woes from the Covid-19 pandemic, announced plans to step down in February.

The former businessman and GOP donor led the agency through the coronavirus pandemic and two high-turnout presidential elections that saw surges in mail-in ballots. He has sought to modernize the service, unveiling a 10-year plan in 2021 to stem ongoing losses.

Some of his plans drew criticism, with many claiming that his efforts to consolidate deliveries ultimately slowed them down.

He also advocated for raising the postage rates, saying in 2022 that Americans should get used to uncomfortable rate increases to help get the agency, which is self-funded, on better financial footing. A First-Class domestic postage stamp for a standard sized envelope is currently $0.73, up from $0.55, when DeJoy arrived at the agency.

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While the USPS is four years into a reorganization initiative designed to cut costs and improve efficiency, President Donald Trump has said he wants to see more changes. He has floated plans to give Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick oversight of the agency, which is currently overseen by its board of governors, not a Cabinet secretary.

Well, we want to have a post office that works well and doesnt lose massive amounts of money, and were thinking about doing that, and it will be a form of a merger, Trump said at Lutnicks swearing-in ceremony on February 21, days after DeJoy said he would resign. Itll remain the Postal Service, and I think itll operate a lot better than it has been over the years.

The move could be a first step towards privatization  a change tech billionaire and White House adviser Elon Musk called for earlier this month.

Days later, DeJoy told Congress that he had signed an agreement to let Musks Department of Government Efficiency work with the Postal Service. The agency, DeJoy said, will focus on improving the management of USPS retirement assets and the Workers Compensation Program, which he argued have been mismanaged.

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Roughly 30,000 employees have been cut from the agency since 2021, and there are plans to slash another 10,000 people through a voluntary early retirement program, he added. The agency currently employs approximately 635,000 workers across the US.

Mark Dimondstein, the leader of the the American Postal Workers Union, encouraged the USPS to ensure that its next postmaster general is opposed to privatization as he warned of a White House intent on breaking up and selling off the public United States Postal Service.

Ive said it before, and I will say it again, this attack on the USPS is part of the ongoing coup by oligarchs against the vital public services APWU members and other public servants provide to the country, he added. Privatized postal services will lead to higher postage prices, and a lower quality of service to the public.

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNNs Chris Isidore and Gabe Cohen contributed to this report.

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Pronto Software, a leading Australian enterprise resource planning (ERP) and analytics software provider is proud to announce it has been officially recognised with Australian Owned certification.

This certification underscores Pronto Softwares long-standing commitment to Australian businesses, innovation, and economic growth.

As a proudly Australian company, Pronto Software has been developing and delivering world-class technology solutions for more than 45 years. The Australian Owned certification verifies the companys strong local ownership and operation, reinforcing its dedication to supporting Australian businesses with tailored ERP and analytics solutions that drive efficiency and growth.

Why choose home-grown? Every year, hundreds of global technology companies enter the Australian market, but many dont offer on-the-ground support or understand the nuances of the local market.

Pronto Softwares deep local expertise allows it to create solutions specifically designed for the unique needs of Australian businesses, from compliance with local regulations to seamless integration with industry-specific workflows.

The company works closely with a diverse range of industries, including manufacturing, mining, distribution, retail, building and construction, and services, delivering cutting-edge ERP and analytics solutions that help organisations streamline operations and make data-driven decisions.

Chad Gates, Managing Director of Pronto Software, said being recognised as an Australian-owned business was a significant milestone for Pronto Software.

This certification highlights our deep roots in the Australian business community and our continued investment in local innovation, job creation, and customer success, he said.

As Australian organisations navigate an increasingly complex digital landscape, they need trusted, local technology partners who are on the ground, and can understand their challenges and can support them with secure, locally developed solutions. This certification reinforces our commitment to helping Australian businesses thrive.

The Australian Owned certification is awarded to businesses that meet strict criteria for Australian ownership and operation. This recognition not only strengthens Pronto Softwares reputation as a trusted local provider but also assures customers that they are partnering with a company that contributes directly to the national economy.

About Pronto Software

Pronto Software is an Australian developer of award-winning business management and analytics solutions. Pronto Xi, our ERP software, integrates accounting, operational and mobile features in a single system  optimising business processes and unlocking actionable insights. Over 1,500 organisations have leveraged our industry experience and innovation to increase growth and revenue.



For more information, please visit pronto.net
Louis DeJoy has resigned as postmaster general of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) amid uncertainty about the agencys future under President Trump.

DeJoy had notified the USPS board of directors in February that it was time for them to begin the process of identifying his successor. His resignation on Monday expedites that process and leaves Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino in charge until a permanent replacement is found.

While our management team and the men and women of the Postal Service have established the path toward financial sustainability and high operating performance  and we have instituted enormous beneficial change to what had been an adrift and moribund organization  much work remains that is necessary to change our positive trajectory, DeJoy said in a statement first reported by Reuters.

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DeJoy had served as Postmaster General since May 2020. He previously donated to GOP political campaigns.

The USPS has been under intense scrutiny in recent years, and Trump has indicated major changes could be coming for the agency as he and billionaire adviser Elon Musk seek to slash the size of government.

Trump said last month he was considering bringing the Postal Service under the control of the Department of Commerce, calling the USPS a tremendous loser of money.

Its been just a tremendous loser for this country, tremendous amounts of money theyve lost, Trump said at the time. And we think we can do something that will be very good and keep it a very similar way, but whether its a merger or just using some of the very talented people that we have elsewhere so it doesnt lose so much.

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Trump has previously mused about privatizing the Postal Service, and in 2020 the agency drew his ire amid his tirades against mail-in voting. Trump in 2020 opposed funding for the Postal Service as part of a stimulus package, suggesting the money was so the organization could take in mail ballots.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The U.S. has proposed signing a new "major" minerals deal with Ukraine based on a previous framework agreement, President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on March 25.

A day before, U.S. President Donald Trump said that he expected to sign the U.S.-Ukrainian mineral agreement "soon." Zelensky didn't mention any timelines.

The two nations had previously planned to sign a minerals deal on Feb. 28, but the plan was derailed after a heated clash between Trump and Zelensky at the White House.

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"After the framework deal, a full agreement is being developed. Now the U.S. has offered us a 'major' deal, their vision (of the deal)," Zelensky said.

According to Ukraine's president, officials have yet to explain to him further details about the agreement, which can be ratified by the Ukrainian parliament if a deal is made.

Zelensky also said that the new version of the agreement doesn't include a clause on Ukraine's nuclear power plants.

Previously, Trump said that Washington and Kyiv were discussing a deal under which the U.S. would own a Ukrainian power plant. He did not specify which facility he was talking about.

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Zelensky said he had discussed with Trump the possibility of U.S. assistance in restoring the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the largest nuclear facility in Europe. The plant, which is located in the town of Enerhodar on the east bank of the Dnipro River, remains under Russian occupation, and Ukraine has no access to the surrounding territory.

According to the initial version, the minerals agreement would establish a fund to which Ukraine would contribute 50% of proceeds from the future profits of the extraction of the state-owned resources, including oil, gas, and logistics infrastructure.

Ukraine rejected previous versions of the deal on the grounds that they lacked concrete security guarantees.

The final deal, which Kyiv approved, did not provide security assurances but did include a line that says the fund "will be reinvested at least annually in Ukraine to promote the safety, security and prosperity of Ukraine."

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The White House has characterized the agreement as a way for the U.S. to "recoup" the financial aid it has directed to Kyiv since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Read also: Black Sea ceasefire will take effect after some sanctions are lifted, Kremlin says

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By Kanishka Singh and David Brunnstrom

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S. panel on religious freedom said on Tuesday the treatment of minorities in India is deteriorating and it recommended sanctions be imposed on India's external spy agency over its alleged involvement in plots to assassinate Sikh separatists.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom also said in its annual report that communist-ruled Vietnam had stepped up efforts to regulate and control religious affairs. It recommended Vietnam be designated a "country of particular concern".

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"In 2024, religious freedom conditions in India continued to deteriorate as attacks and discrimination against religious minorities continued to rise," the commission said in the report released on Tuesday.

Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) "propagated hateful rhetoric and disinformation against Muslims and other religious minorities" during last year's election campaign, it said.

India dismissed the report on Wednesday, calling it part of a pattern of "biased and politically motivated assessments".

"The USCIRF's persistent attempts to misrepresent isolated incidents and cast aspersions on India's vibrant multicultural society reflect a deliberate agenda rather than a genuine concern for religious freedom," Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement.

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Washington has sought to build close ties with both India and Vietnam given their shared concerns about China's rising influence in Asia. Analysts say that as result Washington has overlooked human rights issues.

Since 2023, India's alleged targeting of Sikh separatists in the U.S. and Canada has emerged as a wrinkle in U.S.-India ties, with Washington charging an ex-Indian intelligence officer, Vikash Yadav, in a foiled plot. India labels Sikh separatists as security threats and has denied involvement.

Modi in April last year referred to Muslims as "infiltrators" who have "more children".

U.S. State Department reports on human rights and religious freedom have noted minority abuses in recent years. New Delhi calls them "deeply biased".

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Modi, who has been prime minister since 2014, denies discrimination and says his government's policies like electrification drives and subsidy schemes help all communities.

Rights advocates point to rising hate speech, a citizenship law the U.N. called "fundamentally discriminatory," anti-conversion legislation that critics say challenges freedom of belief, the revoking of Muslim majority Kashmir's special status and the demolition of properties owned by Muslims.

The panel recommended the U.S. government designate India as a "country of particular concern" for religious freedom violations and impose targeted sanctions against Yadav and India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) spy service.

The commission is a bipartisan U.S. government advisory body that monitors religious freedom abroad and makes policy recommendations.

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But it is unlikely the U.S. government will sanction RAW as the panel's recommendations are not binding.

SERIOUS VIOLATIONS

On Vietnam, the panel said a new decree issued this month allowed Vietnamese authorities to further demand financial records from religious organizations and suspend religious activities for what the report said were vaguely worded "serious violations".

As of December, the U.S. panel's Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List included over 80 prisoners whom the Vietnamese government punished for religious activities or religious freedom advocacy.

The Vietnamese embassy had no immediate comment.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh and David Brunnstrom in Washington; additional reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Editing by Stephen Coates and Angus MacSwan)
US and Russian delegations, following negotiations in Saudi Arabia on 24 March, have agreed to work towards a truce in the Black Sea and a ban on strikes against energy infrastructure.

Source: a White House statement following the meeting, as reported by European Pravda

The statement notes that both sides "have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea."

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Washington and Moscow also "agreed to develop measures" to implement the agreement "to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine," the statement says.

Additionally, it contains assurances that the United States and Russia "will continue working toward achieving a durable and lasting peace".

Furthermore, the US "will continue facilitating negotiations between both sides to achieve a peaceful resolution, in line with the agreements made in Riyadh," the White House stated.

Background:

According to Russian propaganda media outlets, the Moscow-Washington meeting lasted 12 hours with breaks.

The Kremlin stated that the primary focus of the discussions with the US delegation in Saudi Arabia was the resumption of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, from which Russia withdrew in 2023.

On Tuesday 25 March, the Ukrainian and American teams once again met in Saudi Arabia to discuss a potential truce between Kyiv and Moscow.

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Following separate talks with the United States in Saudi Arabia this week, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to "eliminate the use of force" in the Black Sea, according to readouts from the White House.

Russia and Ukraine "have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea," according to the readouts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy referred to the agreement as a "ceasefire" in the Black Sea, during a press conference on Tuesday.

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"The Ukrainian side emphasizes that all movement by Russia of its military vessels outside of astern part of the Black Sea will constitute violation of the spirit of this agreement, will be regarded as violation of the commitment to ensure safe navigation of the Black Sea and threat to the national security of Ukraine," Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said in a post on Facebook. "In this case Ukraine will have full right to exercise right to self-defense."

PHOTO: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to journalists during his press conference in Kyiv, Mar. 25, 2025. (Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images)

Both Russia and Ukraine also agreed to "develop measures to implement the agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities in Russia and Ukraine," according to the White House readouts.

In its readout on the talks with the U.S., Russia said the ban would last 30 days, as of March 18, "with the possibility of extending and withdrawing from the agreement in case of non-compliance by one of the parties."

All parties are working toward "achieving a durable and lasting peace," the White House readouts noted.

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The White House made a specific agreement with Ukraine over the exchange of prisoners of war, according to a readout on the Ukrainian talks in Riyadh.

"The United States and Ukraine agreed that the United States remains committed to helping achieve the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children," the readout stated.

The White House also made a specific agreement with Russia, focused on agriculture and maritime costs, according to a readout on the Russian talks in Riyadh.

"The United States will help restore Russia's access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transaction," the readout stated.

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The agreements on the Black Sea and Russian exports will only go into effect after sanctions and restrictions placed on certain Russian companies related to food and agriculture are lifted, Russia said in its readout.

Zelenskyy said that if either Russia or Ukraine feels the deal has been broken, they should appeal to the U.S.

"For the effective implementation of the arrangements, it is important to hold additional technical consultations as soon as possible to agree on all the details and technical aspects of the implementation, monitoring and control of the arrangements," Umerov said.

MORE: Dozens injured, including children, in strike on Ukraine as US-Russia talks resumed, officials say

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Monday's closed-door talks with Russia in Riyadh lasted for 12 hours, a source told Russia's state-run TASS news agency.

Grigory Karasin, the chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, who took part in the talks in Riyadh, told TASS that "the dialogue was detailed and complex but quite useful for us and for the Americans." Karasin added, "We discussed numerous issues."

The talks were expected to include discussions on a potential ceasefire in the Black Sea, Peskov had told reporters on Monday. That proposal, Peskov said, came from President Donald Trump and was agreed to by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting of the presidential council for culture and art, held via a video link in Moscow, Russia, Mar. 25, 2025. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Sputnik via Reuters)

A proposed pause in long-range attacks on energy and other critical infrastructure targets was also expected to be part of the discussions. Though Putin and Zelenskyy both agreed to the proposal in principle last week, cross-border strikes had continued.

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The U.S.-Russia meeting on Monday came on the heels of a meeting between the American and Ukrainian teams in Riyadh on Sunday. U.S. and Ukrainian representatives also held talks after the American meeting with the Russian team concluded, a source familiar with the discussions told ABC News.

The Ukrainian and U.S. delegations met again in Riyadh on Tuesday, Ukrainian officials said.

PHOTO: A tram passes along a street past a military mural entitled 'Ghost of Kyiv' in the Podil neighbourhood of Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 24, 2025. (Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: Ukraine, Russia exchange deadly drone attacks amid ceasefire maneuvering

On Monday, responding to another round of Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, Zelenskyy wrote on social media that "the war was brought from Russia and it is to Russia that the war must be pushed back. They must be the ones forced into peace. They are the ones who must be pressured to ensure security."

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On Monday night into Tuesday morning, Ukraine's air force said Russia launched one missile and 139 drones into the country, of which 78 drones were shot down and 34 lost in flight without causing damage.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces shot down five Ukrainian drones over occupied Crimea.

ABC News' Anna Sergeeva, Oleksiy Pshemyskiy, Will Gretsky, Ellie Kaufman and Guy Davies contributed to this report.

Russia and Ukraine agreed to 'eliminate the use of force' in the Black Sea, White House says following talks originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
CBS News has reported that the US and Russia will make a joint statement following talks in Saudi Arabia at 10:00 (Kyiv time) on 25 March.

Source: CBS News with reference to its sources

Quote from CBS News: "The statement is scheduled to be out at 04:00 in Washington, D.C., and 11:00 in Moscow, two of the sources said."

Details: The talks in Riyadh were aimed at reaching an agreement on a ceasefire in the Black Sea.

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According to CBS News sources, while the details of the statement are not yet clear, reports from the American technical team in Riyadh to the Trump administration looked optimistic.

One source mentioned that Ukrainian officials had also been informed about the outcome of the talks.

Background:

The Russian and US delegations have concluded their talks held on 24 March in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, where they focused on ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine. According to Russian propagandists, the meeting between Russia and the USA lasted 12 hours with breaks.

Earlier, the Kremlin revealed that the focus of the talks with the US delegation in Saudi Arabia was the renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative from which Russia withdrew in 2023.

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A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is urging the Trump administration to transfer more than $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to Ukraine instead of limiting assistance to interest earned on those funds.

In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio seen by Reuters on March 24, senators questioned the administrations willingness to use all available financial tools to pressure Russia into ending its war against Ukraine.

"How does the Administration view using all financial tools at its disposal to increase pressure on Russia to end the war?" the senators reportedly wrote in the letter. They also asked whether U.S. and EU-held Russian assets should be leveraged in negotiations with Moscow.

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Senators Todd Young and Lindsey Graham signed the letter, marking a rare instance of senior Republicans publicly urging a tougher stance on Russia. Democrats Richard Blumenthal and Tim Kaine signed it as well.

Pro-Ukraine Republicans in Congress have largely remained silent as Trump shifts U.S. policy closer to Moscow. The State Department has not yet responded to the senators' request.

Their letter, sent on March 21, coincided with U.S.-Russia negotiations in Saudi Arabia, where officials discussed a potential Black Sea maritime ceasefire as a precursor to broader peace talks.

Read also: Absolutely unacceptable  Ukrainian MPs react to Witkoffs statements on occupied territories

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For years, U.S. lawmakers have pushed to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraines reconstruction rather than rely on American taxpayer dollars.

In the letter, the senators pressed the administration on whether it plans to encourage the EU, G7, and other allies to use Russian sovereign assets for Ukraines benefit. They also inquired about allowing Ukraine to purchase defense equipment using these assets.

Following Russias 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. and its allies froze an estimated $300-350 billion in Russian sovereign assets, primarily held in European financial institutions.

Washington has refrained from fully seizing the assets due to legal concerns, instead opting to use interest earnings to provide aid to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Moscow has condemned any potential asset transfer as theft but has reportedly signaled a willingness to use frozen European funds for reconstructionprovided some of the money benefits the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.

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Read also: Ukraine war latest: Amid Russia-US talks in Riyadh, Russia fires missiles at Sumy, injuring 88

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A group of US senators from both parties is insisting that US President Donald Trump's administration agree not to limit itself to using the interest on frozen Russian assets but instead allocate the entire sum  over US$300 billion  to aid Ukraine, and push allies to take the same step.

Source: Reuters, citing a letter from the senators

Quote from the senators' letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio: "How does the Administration view using all financial tools at its disposal to increase pressure on Russia to end the war?"

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"Specifically, does the Administration believe that US and EU-held assets should be used as leverage in negotiations with Russia to bring an end to the war? If so, how?"

Details: The letter also asks whether the administration intends to develop a strategy to encourage the EU, G7 countries and other allies to use sovereign Russian assets and whether the US government supports Ukraine's use of Russian sovereign assets under US control to purchase defence resources.

The letter was signed by Republicans Todd Young and Lindsey Graham as well as Democrats Richard Blumenthal and Tim Kaine.

Reuters noted that US lawmakers had been calling for years to use confiscated Russian assets to help rebuild Ukraine and to pressure Moscow into reaching a peace agreement.

Background: The European Union stopped discussions on confiscating frozen Russian assets on 20 March.

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By Gwladys Fouche

OSLO (Reuters) - Norway's defence minister said he believes the United States remains committed to Europe's defence but the continent must take a bigger share of the costs of defending itself if Washington is going to live up to its security commitments.

American support for European defence has been a question mark recently as U.S. President Donald Trump has said NATO countries must hike defence spending to 5% of GDP, from a 2% goal presently, and said the U.S. may not defend those lagging.

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His position on Ukraine as its struggles against the Russian invasion is also a concern.

But Norway, a founding member of NATO, say U.S. support to Europe remains steadfast.

"We are not experiencing that U.S. (support) is collapsing," Tore O. Sandvik said in an interview.

"We have had it confirmed from both Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and from Trump himself to several European leaders, that the U.S. stand behind Article 5," he said, referring to the North Atlantic Treaty article enshrining collective security.

"For those who fear that the U.S. will not be there when needed, the answer is: 'increased responsibility for your own security'," he said.

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"Europe must take a bigger share of responsibility so that the U.S. lives up to its commitments'."

Sandvik was speaking before news emerged that top Trump administration officials had disparaged Europe in a messaging group chat that accidentally included a journalist.

According to screenshots of the chat reported by The Atlantic magazine, a person identified as Vice President JD Vance wrote "I just hate bailing Europe out again" and a person identified as Hegseth replied: "VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It's PATHETIC@."

ATLANTIC MONITOR

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Norway is the alliance's monitor for the vast 2 million square kilometre area of the North Atlantic used by the Russian Northern Fleet's nuclear submarines.

On land, from its side of the border it shares with Russia, Norway spies on military installations on the Kola Peninsula, including where Russia keeps some of its intercontinental nuclear missiles.

"We have a good dialogue with the Americans about this collaboration, which is extremely important for them," Sandvik said.

Norway, which reached the 2% spending target in 2024, is planning to double defence spending by 2036 from current levels, taking it above at least the 3% spending threshold.

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Already Oslo knows it will have to spend more.

"We are two-and-half months in a 12-year long-term defence plan and already we see that we have to revise it," Sandvik said, declining to give specifics.

(Reporting by Gwladys Fouche in Oslo; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
The White House will not discuss the details of a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine  including the status of Ukrainian lands illegally occupied by Russia until a ceasefire is reached, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters on March 24.

Bruce was questioned about the administration's views on these territories in light of recent comments by U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, who parroted Kremlin propaganda about the partially occupied regions in an interview on March 21.

"Is it the administration's view that Russia has a legitimate claim to these regions?" a reporter asked Bruce at a State Department press briefing.

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Bruce declined to comment on the matter, citing ongoing "diplomatic talks" between the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine.

"There's a lot of summits happening," she said.

"There's a lot of conversations happening, the supermajority of which I cannot comment on to you about those kinds of discussions or the commentary from which they may or may not have gleaned from."

U.S. officials cannot discuss the details of a peace proposal until there is "a full ceasefire" between Moscow and Kyiv, Bruce said.

"(U)ntil there is a ceasefire, that's when we can then discuss the differences in what proceeds after that when it comes to an enduring peace," she said.

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Read also: Ukrainians react to Witkoffs takes on occupied territories

Bruce's comments arrived as U.S. delegates concluded lengthy talks with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia on March 24. The closed-door negotiations, which lasted for 12 hours, were expected to focus on Washington's push for a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and a potential complete cessation of hostilities.

The U.S. held talks with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia the previous day.

Ahead of the Saudi Arabia talks, Witkoff spoke to far-right commentator Tucker Carlson about "these so-called four regions," an apparent reference to the Russian-occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts.

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After failing to correctly identify the regions by name, Witkoff claimed that "there have been referendums where the overwhelming majority of the people have indicated that they want to be under Russian rule."

Witkoff's assertion echoes Moscow's justification for its occupation of Ukrainian territory  a justification the international community has rejected. Russia annexed the four regions in September 2022, following sham referendums held at gunpoint.

A Kremlin official reportedly told the Moscow Times on March 24 that Russia aims to cement its hold over the four Ukrainian oblasts during peace negotiations with the U.S.

Read also: Editorial: What Steve Witkoff doesnt get about Ukraine (and Russia)

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The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) has agreed to allocate part of the funds allocated by Congress to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), as a judge reviews a case over the cancellation of its funding, RFE/RL reported on March 24.

The congressionally authorized grant funding for RFE/RL was terminated earlier this month after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered USAGM, a government agency overseeing RFE/RL, Radio Free Asia, and Voice of America, to be dismantled.

RFE/RL sued USAGM on March 18 over the termination of grant funding, arguing that the step violates federal laws and the U.S. Constitution.

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The decision to release part of the funds by March 26 was announced hours before a hearing in a U.S. federal court in Washington, D.C. The funding suspension threatened the media organizations continued operation.

RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus expressed hope the release of two weeks funding would sustain the broadcaster until the court rules on the case.

He said denying RFE/RL funds was unlawful, as "the (U.S.) Constitution grants Congress the exclusive power of the purse."

At a court hearing on March 24, USAGMs lawyer Abigail Stout argued the agency can terminate its grant agreement with RFE/RL if the broadcaster fails to meet its terms. RFE/RL is seeking full 2025 funding and a court injunction to secure it.

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In response, a lawyer representing RFE/RL said "it would make no sense" to allow agencies to withdraw funding already approved by Congress.

RFE/RL was founded early in the Cold War to counter Soviet propaganda in Eastern Bloc countries. It has since continued providing coverage of Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and countries in Central Asia, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and elsewhere.

Some European leaders announced they may proceed to help RFE/RL with funding. Martin Dvorak, the Czech European affairs minister, said on March 18 that the Czech initiative to fund RFE/RL has already received backing from 10 countries.

U.S. courts have previously sought to stall some of the executive's most radical cuts, which were presented as an effort to slash waste, including the gutting of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

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Trump's allies have publicly questioned the court's jurisdiction over the executive branch's decisions, raising concerns about a looming constitutional crisis.

Read also: A lot of problems for Russia  How Ukraines new 3,000km drone could boost Kyivs war effort

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Roiled by multiple investigations from the Trump administration, USC has announced a slate of cutbacks  including a staff hiring freeze  as it braces for what it called "federal funding uncertainty" in a letter released Monday.

Among the nine austerity measures are a reassessment of capital spending projects and restrictions on discretionary spending, according to the letter signed by university leaders including outgoing President Carol Folt.

The USC actions come at a time of unprecedented threats against universities by the Trump administration. It has vowed to cut federal funding  including key medical and science research grants  to institutions that do not comply with its directives. Trump has ordered campuses to squelch antisemitism; eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs; and ban transgender athletes from competing in womens sports.

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"Recent developments require us to take additional steps to increase our financial resilience in the face of exceptional financial uncertainty," said the letter, which noted that USC received about $570 million in research funding in fiscal year 2024. "Taking bold action now will help us to meet the challenges facing us while protecting and advancing our important academic and research missions for generations to come."

The belt-tightening plan, effective immediately, comes just months after an internal financial planning task force said in November that USC's $158-million budget deficit required various "cost containment measures."

The Trump administration has announced that USC faces investigations from the Department of Justice and the Office for Civil Rights over alleged antisemitism  and will be visited by a federal antisemitism task force. The scrutiny largely stems from allegations against pro-Palestinian protests last spring and an encampment that was cleared by police, who arrested some demonstrators.

The university has already made substantive changes: In February, USC deleted the website for its schoolwide Office of Inclusion and Diversity and merged it into another operation, scrubbed several college and department-level DEI statements, renamed faculty positions and, in one case, removed online references to a scholarship for Black and Indigenous students. Last spring it enacted restrictions on campus protests.

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USC is not alone in enacting cost-cutting plans under the threat of losing research funding. Earlier this month, the University of California  also under investigation by the Trump administration, which accuses it of campus antisemitism  announced a hiring freeze and other measures. Dozens of additional universities are subject to inquiries by the U.S. Department of Education over alleged antisemitism or race-based discrimination.

Read more: University of California orders hiring freeze, cuts in response to Trump threats

Several faculty members at USC said they had been bracing for Monday's announcement in light of Trump's recent actions.

"Candidly, there have been plenty of reasons to be annoyed with USC in the last 15 years, but this is not one of them," said Darby Saxbe, a psychology professor. "I think everyone recognizes this is universal to research [universities] across the country. The Trump administration is behaving with such hostility and capriciousness. ... There is so much malevolence."

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Sanjay Madhav, an associate professor of practice at the USC Viterbi engineering school, said he was most worried about the hiring freeze and how it could upend longtime plans and projects across the university, such as an ambitious computing initiative that is in the interviewing phase for faculty positions.

"We have ... candidates scheduled to fly in over the next few weeks," he said. "There is a lot of concern we could be interviewing all these candidates and potentially there could not be a job for them."

Yet Madhav, who is involved in a union organizing effort for non-tenure track professors, lamented that he and other similarly situated faculty "have no seat at the table and we have no input in terms of what decisions are made."

USC declined to comment, referring The Times to the Monday letter and the financial planning memo from November.

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Trump  who has railed against universities' "Marxist" diversity administrators and "radical left" accreditors  has moved swiftly to remake the collegiate landscape in a country that is often said to have the best system of higher education in the world.

Read more: How California schools, colleges are responding to Trumps DEI crackdown

Among other actions, the administration's National Institutes of Health issued a rule in February that slashes funding tied to medical research, which universities have said is integral to their operations and scientific discoveries. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction earlier this month that puts the cuts on hold.

Saxbe said the letter from Folt and others was the subject of discussion on a Slack group chat with colleagues who expressed "confusion" over how some of the cuts would be implemented and how far they could go.

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"We are just in this very bewildering landscape," she said. "We don't know how far to tighten the belt or for how long because there is so much uncertainty."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  The U.S. Department of Agriculture has cut funding to two nutritional food programs.

The effect is being felt by food banks in Alabama who said they will lose millions of pounds in food as a result.

The Community Food Bank of Central Alabama said within the last week and a half, the USDA has ended the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program. A USDA spokesperson stated its a COVID-era plan that is no longer sustainable.

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Cuts have also been made to the Emergency Food Assistance Program. Both programs provided food to places like the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama.

This is healthy options, healthy shelf-stable goods, but then also healthy fresh vegetable, fresh fruits, said David McGarr, the food banks communications manager. Things that people need to live a healthy nutritious life.

McGarr said the changes are why these shelves are empty.

These funds were frozen in January, and in the last week and a half, they have been cut, McGarr said.

Alabama House passes bill that would notify parents of childs traffic ticket

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Food distribution sites like the Salvation Army said they have not been impacted by the change. CBS 42 News looked around the Salvation Army of Greater Birminghams food pantry with area commander Robert Lyle.

He said it receives about half of its food from the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama. Despite the cuts to some programs, hes not worried about the future of his pantry.

We know if things get tough, we can put a plea out, and people will come forward, Lyle said. These churches in this community are loving people.

The Community Food Bank of Central Alabama said while its changing some of the ways it operates, it will continue to serve everyone in need. Its asking for donations to help fill the gap of what it has lost because of these program cuts.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
Greenland flatly denied inviting members of Donald Trumps administration to visit Monday, after the U.S. president claimed that the presence of White House officials had been requested.

A group including second lady Usha Vance, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and national security adviser Mike Waltz of group chat fame, are expected to arrive Thursday on the massive island territory that the U.S. president longed to control before even entering the White House.

Trump claimed Monday that officials from Greenland had requested to meet with a team from the U.S. government.

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People from Greenland are asking us to go there, Trump said.

But, in a statement on Facebook Monday, Greenlands government denied ever extending an invite to the White House.

Just for the record, Naalakkersuisut, the government of Greenland, has not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official. The present government is a caretaker government awaiting the formation of a new government coalition and we have kindly requested all countries to respect this process, the statement read.

Earlier this month, Greenland held a parliamentary election that saw the pro-independence center-right party Demokraatit come into power, as well as other sizable shifts in the islands representative government. The new leadership seems equally uninterested in Trumps bids to claim the autonomous territory from Denmark.

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Outgoing Prime Minister Mute B. Egede called Trumps fake invite part of his very aggressive bid for the territory. We are now at a level where this cannot in any way be characterized as a harmless visit from a politicians wife, Egede said, referring to Vance. The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that Greenlanders want to be Americans, despite multiple statements from officials and citizens to the contrary. Ahead of his inauguration, Trump sent his son Donald Trump Jr. on a futile mission to create the impression that there was a MAGA movement there. It seems something similar may be intended for Vances unbidden mini-break.

Trump hopes to acquire the Arctic island that is home to roughly 56,000 people because of its rich mineral resources and geopolitically strategic location.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  A delegation of U.S. leaders is headed to Greenland, a move that Greenlands prime minister is calling very aggressive as President Trump repeatedly expresses a desire to acquire the Danish territory.

Second Lady Usha Vance announced the surprise visit in a video posted to her official Instagram account.

Im so excited to share that Ill be visiting Kalaallit Nunnaat, Greenland, Vance said.

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Vance plans to travel to the Arctic island this week, where she says she will attend Greenlands national dogsled race and visit historical sites.

Trump National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright will also make the trip. The National Security Council says they will meet with servicemembers at the U.S. military base in Greenland.

Greenland Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede called the visit very aggressive in an interview with a local newspaper.

Though on Monday President Trump defended the delegation.

This is friendliness, not provocation, Trump said.

Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark, but President Trump has repeatedly said he wants the U.S. to take it over because of its minerals and strategic location.

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Greenlands going to be something that maybe is in our future. I think its important. Its important from the standpoint of International Security, Trump said.

Syracuse University International Affairs Professor Renee de Nevers says the U.S. is ignoring norms of international diplomacy.

I think a lot of people in Greenland see this as very disrespectful, de Nevers said. Unprecedented for such a high level delegation to travel to another country without an invitation and without much warning of any sort.

She points out Greenland recently held an election where voters overwhelmingly signaled a desire for independence from Denmark.

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I think there are plenty of people in Greenland who would like to have good and close ties with the United States. But that doesnt mean they want to be part of the United States. They want independence, de Nevers said.

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This story about generative AI was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for the Hechinger newsletter.

Will Geiger estimates that he read about 10,000 college application essays over the course of a years-long career in college admissions and scholarships before ChatGPT came on the scene in 2022.

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Shortly afterwards, Geiger began to notice that essays felt less and less like they had been written by 17- or 18-year-olds. He saw more hyperorganized five-paragraph essays; more essays that were formatted as a letter to someone; and certain examples and words being used over and over again by different students.

Geiger began to see less humanity shining through and more instances of words  like cornerstone and bedrock  that are not commonly used by typical teenagers.

They felt a little bit sterile, said Geiger, the cofounder and CEO of a company called Scholarships360, an online platform used by more than 300,000 students last year to find and apply for scholarships.

AI and College Admissions Essays: Dont Rely on ChatGPT to Write Your College Essay

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*This op-ed makes the case that students are smarter, more original, and more interesting than a computer.*

Curious, Scholarships360 staffers deployed AI-detection software called GPTZero. It checked almost 1,000 essays submitted for one scholarship and determined that about 42 percent of them had likely been composed with the help of generative AI.

With college acceptances beginning to roll in for high school seniors, and juniors starting to brainstorm the essays they'll submit with their applications in the fall, Geiger is concerned. When students use AI to help write their essays, he said, they are wasting a valuable opportunity.

The essay is one of the few opportunities in the admissions process for a student to communicate directly with a scholarship committee or with an admissions reader, Geiger said. That provides a really powerful opportunity to share who you are as a person, and I don't think that an AI tool is able to do that.

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Madelyn Ronk, a 20-year-old student at Penn State Beaver, said she never considered using ChatGPT to write the personal statement required for her transfer application from community college last year. A self-described Goody Two-shoes, she didnt want to get in trouble. But there was another reason: She didnt want to turn in the same essay as anyone else.

I want to be unique. I feel like when people use AI constantly, it just gives the same answer to every single person, said Ronk, who wrote her essay about volunteering for charitable organizations in her hometown. I would like my answer to be me. So I dont use AI.

Geiger said students fears about submitting a generic essay are valid  theyre less likely to get scholarships that way. But that doesnt mean they have to avoid generative AI altogether. Some companies offer services to help students use AI to improve their work, rather than to cheat  such as getting help writing an outline, using proper grammar or making points effectively. Generative AI can proofread an essay, and can even tell a student whether their teacher is likely to flag it as AI-assisted.

Packback, for example, is an online platform whose software can chat with students and give feedback as they are writing. The bot might flag grammatical errors or the use of passive voice or whether students are digressing from their point. Craig Booth, the companys chief technology officer, said the software is designed to introduce students to ethical uses of AI.

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A 2024 survey of college applicants found that about 50 percent had used AI for brainstorming essays, 47 percent had used it to create an outline, and about 20 percent had used it to generate first drafts.

Not all scholarship providers or colleges have policies on exactly how AI can or cannot be used in prospective student essays. For example, Common App forbids the use of generative AI but doesnt check individual essays unless someone files a report of suspected fraud. Jackson Sternberg, a spokesperson for Common App, declined to share how many reports of fraud they get each year or how they handle their investigations.

Related: A new partnership paves the way for greater use of AI in higher ed

Tools like GPTZero arent reliable 100 percent of the time. The Markup, a news outlet focused on technology, reported on a study that found writing by non-native-English speakers is far more likely to get flagged as being AI-generated than writing by native English speakers. And several other studies have found that the accuracy rates of such tools vary widely.

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Because detection software isnt always accurate, Geiger said, Scholarships360 doesnt base scholarship decisions on whether essays were flagged as being generated by AI. But, he said, many of the students whose essays were flagged werent awarded a given scholarship because if your writing is being mistaken for AI, whether you used the technology or not, for a scholarship or admissions essay, its probably going to be missing the mark.

Jonah OHara, who serves as chair of the admissions practices committee at the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, said that using AI isnt inherently evil, but colleges and scholarship providers need to be transparent about their expectations and students need to disclose when theyre using it and for what. Colleges that are using AI in the admissions review process also need to be transparent about that with prospective students, he said.

OHara, who is director of college counseling at Rocky Hill Country Day School in Rhode Island, said that he has always discouraged students from using a thesaurus in writing college application essays, or using any words that arent normal for them.

If you dont use hegemony and parsimonious in text messages with your friends, then why would you use it in an essay to college? Thats not you, OHara said. If you love the way polysyllabic words roll off your tongue, then, of course, if its your voice, then use it.

Related: AI might disrupt math and computer science classes  in a good way

Generative AI is, functionally, the latest evolution of the thesaurus, and OHara wonders whether it has put a shelf life on the college essay.

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There was a time when some professors offered self-scheduled, unproctored take-home exams, OHara recalled. Students had to sign an honor statement promising that everything they submitted was their own work. But the onus was on the professors to write cheat-proof exams. OHara said if the college essay is going to survive, he thinks this is the direction administrators will have to go.

If we get to a point where colleges cannot confidently determine [its] authenticity, he said, then they may abandon it entirely.

Contact staff writer Olivia Sanchez at 212-678-8402 or osanchez@hechingerreport.org.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue

Check out more Teen Vogue education coverage:
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox conducts a news conference broadcast by PBS Utah in Salt Lake City on March 20, 2025. (Pool photo by Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune)

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox issued his first veto for the 2025 Utah Legislature on Monday, saying it was a matter of public trust, accounting problems, legal issues and sending the wrong message to educators that led him to wield his pen.

Cox vetoed SB37  a rather wonky but important bill that would have fundamentally changed how the state handles property tax revenue thats used for schools.

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Currently, about $842 million collected from local minimum basic rate property taxes goes directly to school districts to bolster education funding. However, with SB37, sponsor Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, wanted to change that in order to create more budget flexibility and to equalize funding across school districts.

Under his bill, the property tax revenue would instead be diverted into the states general fund. After receiving the money, the Utah State Board of Education would then have 35 days to transfer an equal amount into local school district accounts. The bill would allow the board to use income tax dollars  which are required under the Utah Constitution to be reserved for education expenses  to replace those property tax dollars in the states general fund (which can be used for other priorities) before money would be sent back to school districts.

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While opponents, including various educator groups, worried it could jeopardize future education funding, Fillmore argued on the Senate floor it wasnt a clever way for state leaders to steal money from public education.

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The bill requires that whatever money is collected, the exact same amount of money in the exact same time frame with the exact same funding flexibility is distributed to school districts as soon as its collected, Fillmore said.

But the Utah State Board of Education opposed the bill. The day before lawmakers 45-day session ended, the board passed a resolution urging Cox to veto it. One board member, Sarah Reale, described the bill as really fishy and money laundering, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Why did Gov. Cox veto SB37?

Cox, in his veto letter issued Monday, expressed concerns that the bill would not only send the wrong message to educators about lawmakers commitment to public education, but also create accounting and legal challenges.

When it comes to trust, nothing is more critical or sacred than the way we handle taxpayer dollars, Cox wrote, adding that he decided to veto SB37 after he received veto requests from the Utah State Auditors Office, the State Board of Education, the Utah School Boards Association, and the Utah School Superintendents Association.

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Right now, Utahns are correctly told by their government that their local property tax dollars are going to fund their local schools. That arrangement is spelled out specifically in our annual property tax notices, and its a promise weve honored for decades, Cox said. SB37 represents a clear departure from this practice by moving those dollars into the states general fund, with income tax revenues replacing them before they go back out to districts.

Cox added that at a minimum, SB37s accounting would create a perception problem as we lose the direct connection between taxpayers and their neighborhood schools.

But the change is more than just a perception problem, Cox continued, adding that it could open the door to legal questions and accounting problems.

Let us know what you think...

Moving restricted property tax funding into the general fund creates significant technical and legal questions, he wrote. For one, its not entirely clear whether these property tax dollars, once they land in the general fund, still carry the restrictions that have always protected them for education use. Without that clarity, future legislatures could easily redirect those funds to other priorities and away from Utah schoolchildren. I oppose that change.

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Then, Cox added, theres the accounting side of things.

SB 37 sets up a complicated system where school districts have to track these dollars as both incoming and outgoing revenue, while the state does the same, the governor wrote. This grossing up makes financial statements look inflated, which creates confusion not just for taxpayers, but also for bondholders and auditors who rely on clean, straightforward reports.

Cox wrote that State Auditor Tina Cannon requested a veto of SB37 in the interest of keeping the process simple, clear, and transparent.

I worry that this bill puts that at risk, Cox wrote.

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But thats not the only reason why he decided to veto the bill.

Even if I were to ignore these legal and accounting issues, I also worry that this bill sends the wrong message to our schools and teachers about the value we place on our education funding, Cox wrote.

He highlighted that the Utah Legislature has provided a record $2.6 billion in education funding over the past four years, and that lawmakers should be commended for your leadership on this critical issue that is so important to our fellow Utahns.

I would never want to do anything that would undermine our shared commitment to education funding, he wrote.

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Cox said he appreciated the work that went into SB37. But for all these reasons  public trust; accounting and legal challenges; protection of education funding; and the message to our educators  Im vetoing the bill, he wrote.

Im confident that, working together, we can find a better path forward, he said.

Will Utah lawmakers override Coxs veto?

Through a Senate spokesperson, Fillmore did not immediately return a request for comment about Cox vetoing his bill.

The bill passed with healthy  but not veto-proof  vote margins in the Republican-controlled House and Senate. In the House, it passed on a 41-27 vote, while the Senate approved it 20-8.

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Its possible  but not certain  that lawmakers could convene a veto override session.

Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, issued a statement Monday night expressing disappointment in Coxs veto.

Vetoes are part of the legislative process. However, I respectfully disagree with the decision to veto SB37, which establishes a framework to provide a more fair funding structure, ensuring that every school district is treated equally in terms of state funding, Adams said. The bill does not cut education funding; rather, it stabilizes the funding system, ultimately providing better support for all of Utahs students.

In response to a question from Utah News Dispatch about whether legislative leaders are considering a veto override question, Adams did not rule it out as a possibility, but did not definitively say what lawmakers will do.

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In the next couple of weeks, we will have discussions with lawmakers and then decide how to proceed, Adams said. We remain committed to ensuring that Utahs education system remains well-funded, well-managed and prepared for the future. We look forward to engaging in further discussions with the governor and all stakeholders as we continue to build on Utahs legacy of educational excellence. I appreciate the governors commitment to working together to ensure Utahs continued success for generations to come.

The Utah Education Association, which is Utahs largest teacher union, applauded Coxs veto in a prepared statement issued Monday evening.

This bill would have redirected public education funds away from Utahs public schools and weakened local control, the UEA said. Utah must preserve education funds for their intended purpose: supporting the success of Utahs public school students.

Read the governors veto letter below:

SB37 Veto Letter 03242025

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IT service providers Interactive has appointed of Darren Broadbent as the new Sales Lead for South Australia.

Interactive says Broadbent brings more than 20 years of experience in business development and customer engagement, making him a pivotal addition to Interactives expansion in the region - and in his new role at Interactive, he will be responsible for facilitating growth in the South Australian corridor, forging strategic partnerships and driving customer success.

Darrens sales leadership style is grounded in an understanding of technology from both a hardware and software point of view, no matter the customers sector, notes Interactive, adding that before joining Interactive, Darren served as Team Leader in Maintenance Services and Account Executive at Data#3 and Business Development Executive/Cyber Security Practice Lead at Duco Limited.

Simon Durkin, Managing Director  Systems, at Interactive, said: Darrens expertise in scaling businesses through strategic customer engagement and driving brand awareness is a perfect fit for Interactive. Darrens appointment represents a significant part of our investment in the South Australian market, which is making an increasingly important contribution to Australias technology capability. Darrens proven track record in business growth will be instrumental in helping customers find the solutions they need in our wide range of services, enabling us to serve as a trusted technology partner.

Im excited to join Interactives industry-leading team and reach new heights in the South Australian corridor, comments Darren Broadbent.

Im passionate about helping customers improve their operations, and Interactive has a real opportunity to shake up the market in South Australia. We have the capability, and now its time to make sure our customers know what we can offer. Im eager to meet with our current and prospective customers, understand their needs, and offer solutions that provide greater value. South Australia is a growing market, and at Interactive, were ready to meet customers where they are.

Simon Durkin concludes We know its hard to find a technology partner that truly stands out, especially in a concentrated market. But now, South Australian businesses have another choiceone backed by 36 years of experience, supporting over 2000 customers across Australias industries. At Interactive, we dont just offer IT services; we bring deep expertise in cloud, cyber security and systems maintenance to help businesses thrive."
EAU CLAIRE  For UW-Eau Claire Psychology Professor April Bleske-Rechek, being able to engage in civil dialogue is a chance to engage with others and learn from different perspectives.

As part of an ongoing conversation, one question that is asked of universities is whether students are given the opportunities to engage in civil dialogue and free expression. As part of a survey that was conducted across the Universities of Wisconsin in fall of 2022, Bleske-Rechek said the results gave some insight into students perspectives on the matter.

What that data showed is that a lot of students are not comfortable with speaking up on campus and in their classrooms, especially when it comes to controversial issues, she said. Maybe this has always been the case  I dont know  but it has only been in the last few years that people have really started to ask how comfortable are students speaking up in the classroom on controversial topics.

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There were some pretty robust group differences. For example, students who are even moderate or somewhat conservative feel extra not comfortable speaking up, and there was even some data in there to suggest that students who are politically liberal know that students who are conservative are not comfortable speaking up.

As part of an initiative to help students build up skills to participate in discussions that may be on controversial topics, efforts at UW-Eau Claire have been on building up those skills and participating in discussions and civic engagement.

A study of Bleske-Recheks recently published in January by the SNF Ithaca Initiative detailed some of her findings, with the paper being titled Promoting Students Engagement with Civil Dialogue.

Supported by the UW-Eau Claire Foundation, Bleske-Rechek took part in a pilot study in the fall of 2023 on the effectiveness of the Unify America College Bowl, a program that pairs students with different political beliefs for a guided conversation. But one difficulty for her was with participation, noting that many students she talked to had anxieties or fears about participating, felt that they did not have strong enough political opinions to articulate their beliefs or believed that they were not especially skilled at articulating their point.

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Yet when they do it, they feel like it was worthwhile, she said.

Data from continuing years showed that roughly 76% of attendees said they are more comfortable having face to face conversations with people who have different viewpoints and 75% said they place more value on different viewpoints from their own.

I think when you have the opportunity to engage in conversation with somebody who isnt likely to share all of their views, you actually get the sense that they are just another American who is going about their business and wants people to get along, and you dont have to agree about everything, said Bleske-Rechek. And just because you disagree about one thing doesnt mean you disagree about everything. But, you dont ever know that unless you choose to engage.

In another vein of encouraging civil dialogue, students have organized a local chapter of BridgeUSA at the university named BridgeEauClaire.

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The club is the anti-debate club, in that the goal is not to win in a fight over polarized topics but to understand other perspectives and constructively share opinions, Assistant Professor of Political Science and club advisor Adam Kunz said in a press release from the university. BridgeEauClaire has allowed students to discuss important topics without feeling the pressure of putting a partisan label on their beliefs.

As part of their model, BridgeUSA says their mission is to empower young people to engage in constructive dialogue and disagreement to improve the quality of politics on their website.

If more faculty and administrators can encourage their students to participate in these activities, UWEC can be a Universities of Wisconsin leader in helping students break out of echo chambers and algorithmic, profit-driven partisan traps, Kunz said in the press release.

With a focus on how to encourage and bolster civil dialogue, part of the work is to see how skills can be built up to encourage conversations on pressing and relevant topics. Bleske-Rechek said there is a desirable difficulty with these conversations, as having opportunities and encouraging engagement may help overcome the difficulty.

UW-Eau Claire has a long tradition of bringing national and international thought leaders to campus so our community can engage with the most pressing topics of the time, UWEC Chancellor James Schmidt said in a press release. New experiences, like participation in the Unify America College Bowl or a BridgeEauClaire event, may help more of todays students develop the skills and confidence needed to engage in respectful discussions even when they know their classmates may hold different beliefs.
Tens of thousands of jabs have been rushed to Frances Reunion Island to fight a major outbreak of Chikungunya that has killed two people and put dozens in hospital.

Nearly three thousand cases of the mosquito-borne virus, which causes debilitating joint pain, were reported in the first week of March alone, bringing the total to 8,750 since the disease began spreading in August last year.

It is the worst outbreak of Chikungunya on the island  a part of France located in the Indian Ocean  since 2005, when about a third of the population were infected, killing 225.

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In an effort to contain the spiralling infections, Valneva, a French biotech company, responded to a French government request and sent 40,000 doses of its Chikungunya vaccine to the overseas territory.

Juan Carlos Jaramillo, Valnevas chief medical officer, said it has the capacity to supply more [vaccine] doses and is working closely with regional officials to prevent the virus from spreading internationally.

Chikungunya outbreaks spread rapidly, so it is crucial to vaccinate as many people as possible to help contain the virus, he said in a statement.

The vaccine will be rolled out on Reunion Island from the start of April, according to the European Centres of Disease Control (ECDC).

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The vaccine drive will target the most vulnerable, including those who are over 65, people working in vector control and anyone with severe co-morbidities over the age of 18.

A team of 150 health workers has been deployed to carry out daily fumigation operations and an emergency epidemic response has been activated on the island, according to the local authorities.

Like dengue and Zika, Chikungunya is spread by the Aedes mosquito - VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images

In 2023, the Valneva vaccine, known as Ixchiq, became the first chikungunya jab to gain regulatory approval by the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA).

While the vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection, there are currently no specific antibody treatments for Chikungunya.

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The disease is rarely fatal but causes similar symptoms to dengue and Zika virus  including fever, swelling, headaches, fatigue and rashes.

Like dengue and Zika, Chikungunya is spread by the Aedes mosquito. It gets its name from a word in the Kimakonde language spoken in southern Tanzania which means to become contorted and describes the stooped appearance of those afflicted with it.

The number of cases on Reunion Island has increased sharply in recent weeks, according to the ECDC. Most of them are concentrated in the south of the island, particularly in the Le Tampon region.

Local media reported last week that an 86-year-old and a 96-year-old had died from the virus, adding that one of the victims had underlying health conditions. At least 24 people have required treatment in hospital.

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Chikungunya is seen as an emerging global health threat, as warming global temperatures allow mosquitoes to thrive in new areas and spread the infection further than the subtropical regions it is usually found.

The outbreak comes less than a month after Reunion was ravaged by the strongest cyclone in 30 years. Three people were killed by the tropical storm.

Prof Lance Turtle, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Liverpool, said time will tell if there is a definitive link between the two events, but said it was plausible.

We dont fully understand what drives chikungunya outbreaks, but climate and temperature can influence this, he told The Telegraph.

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If there was lots of standing fresh water left over after the cyclone, which is likely, then mosquito populations can increase and that can help drive an outbreak.

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security

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{microsoft_credit="" caption="Emergency services secure the area around the Austrian public broadcaster ORF hedquarters in Vienna-Hietzing. A man has been detained after using a van to block the road in front of the headquarters of Austrian public broadcaster ORF and claiming he had placed a bomb inside the vehicle, Vienna police said on Tuesday. Max Slovencik/APA/dpa"}

A man has been detained after using a van to block the road in front of the headquarters of Austrian public broadcaster ORF and claiming he had placed a bomb inside the vehicle, Vienna police said on Tuesday.

The vehicle has been searched but no explosive device was found, a police spokesman said.

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Emergency services have set up a large exclusion zone around the site and have evacuated the buildings in the area.

Police continued to search the area after the van was cleared.

An ORF presenter, whose programme was cancelled due to the security threat, said on air that the man had threatened to carry out a bomb attack in front of the broadcaster's headquarters.

Police have so far not commented on the suspect's identity. Several slogans could be read on the side of the van, including one reading "Goodbye climate change."

Emergency services secure the area around the Austrian public broadcaster ORF hedquarters in Vienna-Hietzing. A man has been detained after using a van to block the road in front of the headquarters of Austrian public broadcaster ORF and claiming he had placed a bomb inside the vehicle, Vienna police said on Tuesday. Max Slovencik/APA/dpa

{microsoft_credit="" caption="Emergency services secure the area around the Austrian public broadcaster ORF hedquarters in Vienna-Hietzing. A man has been detained after using a van to block the road in front of the headquarters of Austrian public broadcaster ORF and claiming he had placed a bomb inside the vehicle, Vienna police said on Tuesday. Max Slovencik/APA/dpa"}
VAN ZANDT COUNTY, Texas (KETK)  An Edgewood man was arrested after deputies reportedly found illegal narcotics inside his vehicle.

According to the Van Zandt County Sheriffs Office, on March 17, a Van Zandt County criminal interdiction deputy saw a vehicle committing multiple moving violations and initiated a traffic stop.

Smith County Jail medication tech arrested for delivering pills to inmate, officials say

Mugshot of Timothy Dwayne Henson, courtesy of Van Zandt County Sheriffs Office

The deputy saw multiple indicators that the people in the vehicle were possibly concealing something illegal. A Wills Point PD K9 unit performed a search around the vehicle and were alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics. During the search, officials said suspected meth was located on Timothy Dwayne Henson of Edgewood.

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Henson was arrested and booked into the Van Zandt County Jail for possession of a controlled substance. Henson was released on March 18 after posting his $20,000 bond.

Officials said that this incident is an ongoing investigation.

2 people arrested in Cherokee County after meth, guns found inside home

Our criminal interdiction team has formed a strong bond with neighboring agencies resulting in even more success in stopping illegal narcotics within the county, Van Zandt County Sheriff Kevin Bridger said.

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Vice President Vance said hes traveling to Greenland on Friday, a move that comes after the Trump administration provoked backlash from officials in Greenland and Denmark when it was announced that second lady Usha Vance would be heading there.

There was so much excitement around Ushas visit to Greenland this Friday, that I decided that I didnt want her to have all that fun by herself, and so Im going to join her, Vance said in a video released Tuesday afternoon on the social platform X.

Vances announcement adds another layer of tension to an already fraught atmosphere surrounding his wifes planned visit, which officials in Denmark and Greenland reject as a provocation part of President Trumps repeated claims of his intent to take over the arctic island for what he says are international security concerns.

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Plans for national security adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright to also travel to Denmark are further inflaming tensions between Washington and Copenhagen and Nuuk, Greenlands capital.

Officials in Denmark and Greenland have denounced the visits. Greenland Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede called Waltzs visit in particular highly aggressive. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the U.S. delegation an unacceptable pressure and vowed resistance.

Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of Greenalnds Demokraatit party and poised to be the countrys next prime minister following elections earlier this month, said the visit showed a lack of respect for the Greenlandic people.

The trip comes as Vance and Waltz are embroiled in a major scandal surrounding the Trump administrations handling of classified intelligence. The vice president and national security adviser were part of a group chat on the messaging app Signal discussing attack plans against targets in Yemen, and that chat inadvertently included The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg.

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Vance said he is expected to travel to the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, where the U.S. Space Forces 821st Space Base Group is located, to visit Space Force members, known as Guardians.

Vance said the point of his visit is to check out whats going on with the security there of Greenland, saying the largely ice-covered island of 57,000 people is a primary target for adversaries looking to threaten the U.S. and Canada. He accused Denmark of failing to take Greenlands security seriously.

We want to reinvigorate the security of the people of Greenland because we think its important to protecting the security of the entire world, Vance said.

Unfortunately, leaders in both America and in Denmark, I think, ignored Greenland for far too long. Thats been bad for Greenland  its also been bad for the security of the entire world. We think we can take things in a different direction, so Im going to check it out.

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Greenland is a semiautonomous country, with Denmark responsible for the islands foreign policy and defense. Independence movements on the island are growing in strength, but there is a dispute on how quickly to separate from Denmark. The Demokraatit party, which won parliamentary elections earlier this month, is working to form a government, and its platform promises a slow break from Copenhagen.

But Trump has made acquiring Greenland a major feature of his foreign policy goals in his second term. He first proposed taking over the island during his first term but has increasingly hardened his designs, saying in a March 4 address to Congress that were going to get it [Greenland]. One way or the other, were going to get it.

Updated at 4:30 p.m. EDT

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Vice President JD Vance is heading to Greenland later this week, becoming the highest-ranking American official to journey to the Arctic territory President Donald Trump wants to bring under U.S. control.

Vance on Tuesday said he would travel to Greenlands Northwest coast on Friday to visit a Space Force base and check out whats going on with the security there. He will be joining his wife, Usha, who announced earlier this week she would travel with her son to see the national dogsled race. Vances office said Tuesday the visit to the Space Force base would occur instead of the dogsled race.

The president has made clear he wants to make the worlds largest island, an autonomous Danish territory, part of the U.S.  a trend for the president, whose sights are also set on Canada and the Panama Canal. Ahead of Trumps inauguration, a small group of allies, including Donald Trump Jr. and top fundraiser Charlie Kirk, visited Greenland, whose government has emphasized it does not intend to become part of the U.S.



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Leaders in both America and in Denmark I think ignored Greenland for far too long, the vice president said in a video announcing the trip. Thats been bad for Greenland, its also been bad for the security of the entire world.

He added that other countries had threatened to use Greenland to menace the U.S., Canada and Greenlanders themselves.

The second ladys announcement that she would visit the territory to celebrate the long history of respect and cooperation between our nations and to express hope that our relationship will only grow stronger in the coming years caused anger among Greenlandic political leadership.

Outgoing prime minister Mute B. Egede on Sunday called the American posture toward Greenland very aggressive and so serious that the level cannot be raised any further.

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The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us, and the message is clear, he added.

Trump on Monday told reporters that People from Greenland are asking us to go there. But the Greenlandic government refuted that claim, writing on Facebook that it has not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official.
Vice President Vance reportedly said that he disliked bailing Europe out again when discussing Trump administration plans to bomb Houthi rebels in a group chat featuring other administration officials.

According to a new report from The Atlantics editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, he gained access to a group chat on Signal featuring Trump administration officials such as Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In the group chat, officials talked about and went back and forth on details of attacks targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen, according to Goldbergs reporting.

Hegseth previously stated that the attacks in Yemen, which struck several targets over the course of three days beginning on March 15, were included in an unrelenting campaign that would continue until the Houthis halted their attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, which is an important maritime corridor.

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Goldberg reported that Vance said in the chat that he believed the strikes were a mistake, saying that 3 percent of U.S. trade moves through the Suez Canal, while 40 percent of European trade moves through the canal.

There is a real risk that the public doesnt understand this or why its necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message, Vance reportedly said.

I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now, he reportedly continued, stating that the attacks could result in oil prices going up. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc.

Hegseth then later reportedly stated that going forward with the strikes would appear decisive.

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If you think we should do it lets go. I just hate bailing Europe out again, Vance reportedly said.

Just two days before the attacks in Yemen, President Trump made a threat to place a 200 percent tariff on wine, Champagne and other alcohol coming in via Europe in the case of the European Union not removing a tariff on whiskey.

If this Tariff is not removed immediately, the U.S. will shortly place a 200% Tariff on all WINES, CHAMPAGNES, & ALCOHOLIC PRODUCTS COMING OUT OF FRANCE AND OTHER E.U. REPRESENTED COUNTRIES. This will be great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the U.S., Trump said on his Truth Social platform at the time.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.

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The owner of a Butner vape shop, Abdulghani Abdo Mohamed Alashmaly, was arrested for allegedly selling THC vapes to middle school students, according to WTVD.

Alashmaly, who owns Butner Tobacco and Vape on Central Avenue, faces multiple criminal charges, including five felonies, after an investigation by the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division.

The investigation began after ALE received a tip that students from Butner-Stem Middle School had purchased tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) vapes and vape cartridges from Alashmalys shop, which is located across the street from the school.

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ALSO READ: Vape shop owner accused again of asking teen to trade vapes for sex, court documents say

Several vape cartridges were also found on campus, further implicating the shop in the illegal sales.

During the investigation, ALE determined that the Delta9 products from Butner Tobacco and Vape had over 0.3% THC, making them illegal to possess and sell.

Alashmaly, 36, has been charged with multiple offenses, including felony possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana and felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver a Schedule I controlled substance.

He also faces two counts of Felony-Manufacture/Sell/Deliver/Possess Controlled Substances within 1000 feet of a school, among other charges.

VIDEO: Vape shop owner accused again of asking teen to trade vapes for sex, court documents say




SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP)  The U.S. government used an 18th-century wartime law to deport more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants earlier this month to El Salvador, where they were immediately transferred to the country's maximum-security gang prison.

And while a federal judge in Washington tries to determine whether the U.S. government defied his order to return the migrants while they were in the air and insists that they must get an opportunity to challenge their designations as alleged members of a notorious gang, there has been no word from El Salvadors president or judiciary about what the prisoners legal status is in that country.

That may change soon. On Monday, lawyers hired by the Venezuelan government took legal action on behalf of the Venezuelan prisoners seeking their release from the prison, which U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is scheduled to visit Wednesday.

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The U.S. says the Venezuelans deported on March 15 were members of the Tren de Aragua gang, a criminal organization that U.S. President Donald Trump declared an invading force, but has provided no evidence of their alleged membership. The Alien Enemies Act allows noncitizens to be deported without the opportunity to go before an immigration or federal court judge.

El Salvador hasn't had diplomatic relations with Venezuela since 2019, so the Venezuelans imprisoned there do not have any consular support from their government either.

Even Salvadoran citizens have been living under a state of emergency that has suspended fundamental rights since 2022 and the country's judiciary is not considered independent. All of which raises questions about the prisoners legal future in El Salvador.

What has El Salvador said about the prisoners status?

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Very little.

President Nayib Bukele announced the day after their arrival that the United States had sent what he called 238 members of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua to El Salvador and they were immediately sent to its maximum security gang prison. The U.S. government would pay an annual fee for their incarceration, Bukele wrote in a post on X.

El Salvadors Attorney Generals Office and Presidential Commissioner for Human Rights and Freedom of Expression did not respond to requests for comment about the legal status of the Venezuelan prisoners.

What do El Salvadors laws say about the prisoners' status?

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Lawyer David Morales, legal director for the nongovernmental organization Cristosal, said there was no legal basis for the Venezuelans imprisonment in El Salvador. He said he knew of no Salvadoran law or international treaty that would support their imprisonment.

They are illegal detentions because they havent been submitted to the jurisdiction of a Salvadoran judge, nor have they been prosecuted or convicted in El Salvador, he said. As such, their imprisonment here is arbitrary.

He said El Salvador's prosecutors office for human rights would have the authority to intervene, because it has a broad mandate when it comes to prisoners, but we already know that its not playing its role because it is dominated, subjected to political power.

What are lawyers doing?

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Lawyers hired by the Venezuelan government filed a legal action Monday in El Salvador aimed at freeing the 238 Venezuelans deported by the United States.

Jaime Ortega, who says he represents 30 of the imprisoned Venezuelans, said his firm filed the habeas corpus petition with the Supreme Courts Constitutional Chamber. He said that by extension they requested that it be applied to all Venezuelans detained in El Salvador.

Before it was filed, constitutional lawyer Enrique Anaya had suggested human rights organizations and the prisoners families should file habeas corpus petitions, essentially compelling the government to prove someones detention was justified as a mechanism to denounce (the situation) as well as to pressure the government.

Still, Anaya said the lack of judicial independence in El Salvador made success unlikely. Bukeles party removed the justices of the Supreme Courts Constitutional chamber in 2021 and replaced them with judges seen as more amenable to the administration.

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Who is going to decide these peoples freedom, U.S. judges, Salvadoran judges? Anaya asked. The habeas corpus petitions could at least show the illegitimacy of this vacuum.

How hard is it for Salvadorans to get out of prisons there?

El Salvador has lived under a state of emergency since March 2022, when Congress granted Bukele extraordinary powers to fight the countrys powerful street gangs.

Since then, some 84,000 people have been arrested, accused of gang ties. The state of emergency has allowed authorities to act without basic protections like access to a lawyer or telling detainees why they're being arrested. They can be held for 15 days without seeing a judge.

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Homicides have plummeted in El Salvador and the improved security has fueled Bukeles popularity.

But while Bukele has said some 8,000 of those arrested have been freed for lack of evidence, many more have found no way out.

Last year, the Due Process Foundation published a report showing that the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court had systematically rejected more than 6,000 habeas corpus petitions made by families of people arrested under the state of emergency.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
Were it not for bad weather, Jhon Chacin would have been aboard a flight to his native Venezuela on March 13, having volunteered to go home after giving up on an asylum request that was initially denied. Instead, his brother said, Jhon was among the nearly 300 Venezuelan men sent by U.S. immigration officials to El Salvador's notorious megaprison.

Eudomar Chacin spoke to his brother the day after he was supposed to have returned to Venezuela; because of bad weather they couldn't board the flight, Jhon said. According to Eudomar, Jhon, 35, was crying and told him he was scared because he was seeing unusual movements by staffers at the detention center in Texas where he was being held. Eudomar hasn't heard from him since.

Jhon Chacin, right, with his brother Eudomar Chacin.

I just feel like crying all the time  he is a good, healthy kid, he didnt have any vices, he is Christian, my family is all Christian," Eudomar, who's 56 and lives in Florida, told NBC News. "I want justice and freedom for my brother. And I want him to return to Venezuela.

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Like Eudomar, families of the men who were whisked away have been grappling with the horror of relatives suddenly going "missing" amid the politically charged U.S. government operation, as more relatives and attorneys push for answers and for their release.

At the same time, Venezuela's government is demanding that the deported men be released and returned to their country.

Millions have left Venezuela over the last decade, fleeing poverty and repression under President Nicolas Maduro. But following the U.S. deportation flights of Venezuelan men to the Salvadoran megaprison, Maduro vowed to "rescue our young people who are kidnapped, missing, without having committed a crime neither in the United States nor in El Salvador," and put in "Nazi-style concentration camps."

Maduro announced over the weekend that his government would begin accepting repatriation flights after a brief suspension on March 8, and following the U.S Treasury's announcement that it was withdrawing Chevron's license to export Venezuelan oil.

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Eudomar said he learned that his brother was in the Salvadoran prison because he spotted him in a Trump administration video of the mass relocation. Jhon's name also appeared on a list of those sent to the El Salvador prison that was published by CBS News. Seeing his name on the list left the family feeling "powerless," Eudomar said.

The Trump administration has claimed that it purged the country of members of Tren de Aragua gang members, backing its assertions with video of the men, chained and bent under the force of armed guards as they were shuffled from planes to the prison in the dark of night on March 15 and 16.

Families and attorneys of five other Venezuelan immigrants sent to El Salvadors mega-prison have told NBC News, Telemundo and MSNBC that their relatives were unjustly targeted and accused of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang based on having ordinary tattoos that don't necessarily signal gang affiliation, according to experts.

Jhon Chacin.

Jhon entered the U.S. through the CBP One app on Oct. 8 in San Ysidro, California; the app, launched by the Biden administration and terminated by President Donald Trump, was the only way to request asylum at the border. Since then, he had been held in detention in San Diego and later transferred to Texas.

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Before he left Venezuela, Jhon had spent 10 years working as a tattoo artist in the state of Zulia, using his own body as a canvas to show clients his talent, his brother said. Jhon left Venezuela at the end of 2022 and spent a year working in Colombia before making his way to Mexico through the dangerous jungles of the Darien Gap. He arrived in Mexico in May and waited five months for his CBP One appointment.

Eudomar said that his brother was often asked about his tattoos by U.S. authorities while he was in detention. He lost his asylum case and was planning to appeal. But when Trump became president and Jhon learned more about Trumps hard-line policies, he decided to sign papers to voluntarily be sent back to Venezuela.

Jhon Chacin at work as a tattoo artist in Zulia, Venezuela.

The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Jhon's case.

Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which allows the deportation of noncitizens in wartime, declaring that the U.S. was under invasion by the Tren de Aragua gang. With that law in use, those in custody are removed with no chance to disprove any gang affiliation or go forward with asylum claims or other immigration processes.

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Unable to communicate with the deportees, many of their relatives are increasingly desperate to speak on their behalf and are aiming to present a different portrait of their loved ones than the one presented by the administration.

The families and attorneys are contending with what legal and immigration experts say is an unprecedented action by the U.S.  sending migrants to detention in a third country.

That is a very unusual act, Veronica Cardenas, former assistant legal counsel for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told MSNBC on Monday. Theyre not just being removed to El Salvador, theyre being removed to be placed in detention centers and prolonging their detention, something that would be very illegal if they decided to do that here in the United States."

On Monday, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg denied the governments request to lift his hold on deportations made under the Alien Enemies Act, while a federal appeals court heard arguments from the Trump administration defending use of the wartime-law deportations.

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One of the federal appeals court judges, U.S. Circuit Judge Patricia Millett, pressed administration lawyers about their use of the wartime law, saying deportees werent given any due process before they were removed from the U.S., werent told where they were being sent and weren't given an opportunity to dispute that they were part of the Tren de Aragua gang. "Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemies Act," Millett said.

Trump also announced he would impose a 25% tariff on any country that buys oil or gas from Venezuela, because the country has sent tens of thousands of people to the United States who have a very violent nature.

CORRECTION (March 24, 2025, 9 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misspelled the last name of the circuit judge who pressed administration lawyers about their use of the Alien Enemies Act. She is Patricia Millett, not Millet.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The two planeloads of alleged Venezuelan gang members who were deported to El Salvador last week included eight female detainees who were later returned to the U.S., according to sworn declarations filed Monday.

A Venezuelan woman identified as S.Z.F.R. described in a sworn declaration how she was transferred to a detention center in El Paso, Texas, last week before being sent to El Salvador last Saturday along with seven other Venezuelan women.

"I asked where we were going and we were told that we were going to Venezuela," the Venezuelan woman said in the filing. "Several other people on the plane told me they were in immigration proceedings and awaiting court hearings in immigration court."

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MORE: 'Nazis got better treatment,' judge says of Trump administration's Alien Enemies Act deportations

The woman said all the detainees, including the women, were "arm and leg shackled" the entire time, including when they landed in another country for several hours while the plane refueled.

According to the woman, officials asked the detained men to sign "a document they didn't want to."

"The government officials were pushing them to sign the documents and threatening them," the woman said. "I heard them discussing the documents and they were about the men admitting they were members of TdA" or Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan gang whose criminal activity prompted President Donald Trump to invoke the Alien Enemies Act to deport its members with little-to-no due process.

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During a hearing Monday before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, an attorney for the ACLU said the organization plans to file the document that migrant detainees signed before they were sent to El Salvador.

PHOTO: Alleged members of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua who were deported by the U.S. government, are detained at the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador in a photo obtained Mar. 16, 2025. (Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia via Reuters)

"We will put into the district court the piece of paper that individuals are getting that specifically says, 'You're not entitled to review,'" Lee Gelernt, the attorney for the ACLU, said.

Officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not respond to a request for comment from ABC News.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued a restraining order last Saturday to temporarily block such deportations, leading Justice Department attorneys to challenge his order before the U.S. Court of Appeals.

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An official with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement last week acknowledged in a sworn declaration that "many" of the noncitizens deported last week under the Alien Enemies Act did not have criminal records in the United States. Administration officials have not been clear about the evidence they have that shows the detainees are gang members.

In her declaration filed Monday, S.Z.F.R. said that after they landed in El Salvador, the women remained on the plane after the men got off.

MORE: 'Many' alleged gang members deported by Trump didn't have criminal records in the US: ICE

"The remaining women asked, 'What happens to us?'" the woman said in the declaration. "I was told that the president of El Salvador would not accept women. I was also told that we were going back to detention in the U.S."

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According to S.Z.F.R., she was returned to the U.S. in the middle of the night.

In a separate sworn declaration, a Nicaraguan migrant said he was also returned to the U.S. after being on one of the planes that landed in El Salvador.

"I overheard a Salvadoran official tell an ICE officer that the Salvadoran government would not detain someone from another Central American country because of the conflict it would cause," the Nicaraguan man said in the declaration.

"I also heard him say that they would not receive the females because the prison was not for females and females were not mentioned in the agreement," he said.

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MORE: Trump administration escalates legal battle over alleged gang member deportations

The Nicaraguan migrant, who was not named, said he was forcibly removed from the plane when it landed in El Salvador and questioned about his citizenship.

"Everyone was scared, and some people had to forcibly be removed from the plane," he said.

Venezuelans deported last week included 8 women who were returned to US, court filings say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A Vermont State Police trooper who plunged into an icy pond in Cambridge to save an 8-year-old girl in 2023 has been once again recognized for her heroism that day.

Vermont State Police Trooper Michelle Archer has received a Carnegie Medal for Heroism, one of 17 people in the U.S. and Canada who risked death or serious physical injury to an extraordinary degree saving or attempting to save the lives of others.

Archer was patrolling in Cambridge on December 17 when two children fell through thin ice into a private pond off of Eastview Road. The landowner rescued one child. When Archer arrived, she grabbed a life preserver from her cruiser, dove into the pond and rescued the eight-year-old girl from the icy water.

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VSP trooper credited with saving life of 8-year-old girl in Cambridge

When I jumped into that frozen pond, the only thing I was thinking about was reaching that little girl and trying to save her life, Archer said.

You dont get into the profession of policing for accolades; you do it because you believe in serving your community and keeping people safe. As humbling as all the awards and attention are that followed what I did that day, nothing can overshadow the biggest reward of all: The little girl survived and fully recovered.

Last year, Archer received a Vermont State Police Lifesaving Award, among other honors. She was named a finalist for International Association of Chiefs of Police / Motorola Solutions Trooper of the Year.

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Vermont trooper involved in July 2024 shootout in Burke nominated for Trooper of the Year award

This recognition, coupled with numerous others that members of the state police have received in recent weeks and months, reflects so highly on each and every person who works for this agency, said Col. Matthew T. Birmingham, director of the Vermont State Police. Vermonters have much to be proud of when it comes to the state police, from these high-profile awards to the unsung, everyday acts of selflessness, bravery and heroism that people rarely hear about.

More information about the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission and the 17 newest recipients is available on the funds website.

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Gov. Spencer Cox pulled out his veto stamp Monday, rejecting a bill that would alter the way property taxes are managed to fund Utah K-12 schools.

Currently, local property taxes go directly to fund school districts  which are then, if needed, supplemented by the state to meet minimum funding standards for each student.

Senate Bill 37 would require school districts collecting revenue through local property taxes to remit those funds to the state rather than keeping them locally. The state would then be tasked to distribute the money to school districts to ensure adequate student funding.

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Its designed to centralize handling of funds and, in the words of the bills sponsor, Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, to function as a state budgeting tool so that we are treating all school districts equally.

In a letter addressed to lawmakers explaining the veto, Cox wrote that nothing is more critical or sacred than the governments handling of taxpayer dollars.

After receiving veto requests from the State Auditor, State Board of Education, the Utah School Boards Association, and the Utah School Superintendents Association, I have decided to veto Senate Bill 37, he wrote.

The governor added that SB37 calls for fundamental changes in how the state portion of property tax revenues for schools are collected and distributed.

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Right now, Utahns are correctly told by their government that their local property tax dollars are going to fund their local schools. That arrangement is spelled out specifically in our annual property tax notices, and its a promise weve honored for decades.

SB37 represents a clear departure from this practice by moving those dollars into the states general fund, with income tax revenues replacing them before they go back out to districts.

At a minimum, Cox wrote, such accounting creates a perception problem with the loss of a direct connection between taxpayers and their neighborhood schools.

But the change, he added, presents more than perception challenges.

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Moving restricted property tax funding into the general fund creates significant technical and legal questions. For one, its not entirely clear whether these property tax dollars, once they land in the general fund, still carry the restrictions that have always protected them for education use.

Without that clarity, future legislatures could easily redirect those funds to other priorities and away from Utah schoolchildren. I oppose that change.

The governor also wrote that he was concerned about the sheer number of bills introduced and passed each session  including education bills.

Lawmakers can ultimately decide SB37s fate

Now the proverbial ball that is SB37 is back in the Legislatures court.

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To override Coxs veto, a two-thirds majority vote would be required in both the Utah House and Senate.

Time will tell if lawmakers favoring SB37 have the votes needed to override the governor.

During the 2025 legislative session, the bill passed through the House with 41 yeas and 27 nays. The final Senate vote was 20-8.

Senate President Stuart Adams said he plans to discuss the veto with lawmakers over the next couple of weeks before deciding how to proceed.

Vetoes are part of the legislative process. However, I respectfully disagree with the decision to veto SB37, which establishes a framework to provide a more fair funding structure, ensuring that every school district is treated equally in terms of state funding, Adams said in a statement.

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The bill does not cut education funding; rather, it stabilizes the funding system, ultimately providing better support for all of Utahs students.

Adams added he and his colleagues are committed to ensuring Utahs education system is well-funded, well-managed and well-positioned for the future.

We look forward to engaging in further discussions with the governor and all stakeholders as we continue to build on Utahs legacy of educational excellence. I appreciate the governors commitment to working together to ensure Utahs continued success for generations to come.

Support for Coxs veto

In a statement released following the governors veto, the Utah State Board of Education said the value of public education funding was reaffirmed by Mondays executive action:

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The Board voted to formally request Governor Cox to veto SB37,  which would alter the flow of property tax revenue and change the way Utah schools are funded  during its March board meeting. We are grateful that the governor has chosen to stand alongside USBE and uphold Utahs commitment to strong public education and local control.

The Board will continue to partner with the legislature and the governors office to open doors of opportunity for all Utah children.

Meanwhile, the states largest public education employees union, the Utah Education Association, saluted Coxs actions:

The Utah Education Association applauds Governor Spencer Coxs decision to veto SB37. This bill would have redirected public education funds away from Utahs public schools and weakened local control. Utah must preserve education funds for their intended purpose: supporting the success of Utahs public school students.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  An individual was stabbed in the throat Sunday during a reported altercation at a Salt Lake County assisted living facility, according to court documents.

On March 23, authorities with the Unified Police Department (UPD) responded to reports of a fight in progress at an assisted living facility near 1000 E Murray Holladay Road. When they arrived, authorities allegedly found a knife at the scene and the victim bleeding from a wound in their throat.

Documents reveal text messages sent to victim in $1.5M life insurance murder case

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Mark Lloyd Yowell, 50, was arrested after multiple witnesses allegedly identified him as the perpetrator. Yowell allegedly lives in the same facility as the victim.

Due to Witness statements who saw the altercation first hand, and video evidence obtained, it was clear the AP was not acting in self defense, court documents read.

The video footage showed Yowell walking toward the victim with a knife and stabbing them, according to authorities. Officials did not elaborate on the circumstances surrounding the altercation and the alleged stabbing. Unified Police told ABC4 the victims wound was superficial and they were treated at the scene.

Yowell is facing one third-degree felony charge of aggravated assault. If convicted, he could face zero to five years in prison and up to a $5,000 fee. He was booked in the Salt Lake County Jail.

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ABC4 reached out to the assisted living facility and did not receive a response by the time of publishing.

This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available.

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STILLWATER, Okla. (KFOR)  A former Stillwater dental assistant whos accused of sexually assaulting patients while they were unconscious was back in court on Monday. Several victims testified before the judge and shared their stories in front of the court.

Cody Stolfa formerly worked as a dental assistant at an oral surgery center in Stillwater. A manager from the office told the judge that Stolfa worked there from March to October in 2021.

Former Stillwater dental assistant charged with sexually assaulting numerous patientsincluding minors, sharing footage online

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Stolfa is accused of sexually assaulting several patients who were under anesthesia from dental surgery.

Last year, prosecutors said they got a tip from Australia law enforcement where someone saw a video on a messaging app depicting Stolfa sexually assaulting a patient. He was arrested last July for that crime.

Following that arrest, Stillwater Police uncovered additional evidence showing he allegedly assaulted more patients.

On Monday, some of those victims testified before the court. For their privacy, News 4 is protecting their faces and names in video.

The state showed photos of the victims in a dental chair and asked them questions to confirm it was them in the photo.

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They also asked the victims if they were awake or aware of what was happening during their procedure. All of the victims said no.

Bond set for former dental assistant accused of sexually assaulting patients

One victim said, No, I was unconscious.

Stolfa listened to the victims talk with his head down, shaking his leg as the victims shared their story in the courtroom.

An investigator in the case also took the stand. She highlighted evidence she found inside a folder labeled naughty from an online storage site allegedly connected to Stolfas account.

Stolfa is also a suspect in a 2021 case from Oklahoma State University for taking video of people in a library on campus.

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His next day in court will be April 1 for his arraignment.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
MARIES COUNTY, Mo.  A 20-year-old man from Vienna was killed after his motorcycle ran off the right side of the road on Monday afternoon.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred on Highway 42 just west of Highway Z. The 2003 Suzuki motorcycle failed to negotiate a curve and traveled off the roadway before striking a fence and a tree.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

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This is the 5th traffic fatality in Troop I in 2025.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  For the upcoming Vietnam Veterans appreciation weekend, the City of Eaton will host The Wall.

The Wall is a smaller, double-sided replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. Standing six feet tall and 89 feet long, it was created by the non-profit Americas Freedom Tribute.

The vehicle escort for The Wall will be on Wednesday, March 26, starting at 2 p.m. in the Eaton Walmart parking lot. The tribute will escort The Wall throughout the town. The oldest Vietnam vet in Preble County, Victor Garcia, will be at the event.

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Donate blood before Spring Break, get a pickleball set

The escort will deliver The Wall to the Preble County Senior Center Campus.

Multiple different organizations will be a part of the escort, including Ohio Chapter 10 of Rolling Thunder. Rolling Thunder aims to bring awareness about Prisoner of War and Missing in Action (POW-MIA) issues. Over 81,000 Americans are still lost overseas.

There will also be a program on Thursday at noon. Garcia will be the grand marshall and speak at the event. He is a member of the Preble County Veterans Service Commission board.

To learn more about the weekends events, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
WEST TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Work will soon begin to repair a sinkhole in West Terre Haute.

It is located at U.S. Highway 40 and South Thorpe Place. South Thorpe Place will be closed for repairs during the week of March 31st to April 4th, which is also spring break for Vigo County Schools. County Commissioner Chris Switzer said, he hopes, work will only last a couple days. Switzer said, the issue was brought to their attention, by a concerned citizen.

Theres been a lot of work here recently with a new water line going out to the rest area, underground fiber, and this culvert has been replaced in several years so were happy to do this work just you know extremely thankful somebody let us know and gave us a tip about it so we can get to work quickly. said Switzer.

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Switzer said citizens can contact the County Commissioner Office anytime to let them know about issues like this.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com.
A laptop using an artificial intelligence program is displayed at a store. Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed a bill that would have made his state the second with comprehensive AI regulations. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed legislation Monday that would have required developers and companies using high-risk artificial intelligence systems to take steps to protect consumers from discrimination.

If signed into law, Virginia would have become the second state to enact comprehensive artificial intelligence rules, behind Colorado. The Virginia measure would have made companies responsible for protecting consumers from bias in areas such as hiring, housing and health care decisions.

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In his veto explanation, Youngkin said that while he supports responsible governance of artificial intelligence, the bills framework fails to account for the rapidly evolving and fast-moving nature of the AI industry and puts an especially onerous burden on smaller firms and startups that lack large legal compliance departments.

The bill, sponsored by Virginia Democratic state Del. Michelle Lopes Maldonado, would have required AI developers to disclose the intended uses of their AI system while assessing its risks and limitations. Businesses using these systems would then be required to implement risk management policies. Both AI developers and deployers would have been subject to civil penalties for noncompliance.

While many companies use artificial intelligence, the measure would have applied only to the ones developing and using high-risk AI systems, such as those used for employment decisions or financial services.

I think its really critical for us to create guardrails and frameworks that are flexible and breathable, so that we dont stifle innovation and creativity, Maldonado told the Virginia Mercury when introducing the bill in January.

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Opponents of the bill, including the Chamber of Progress, a center-left tech industry coalition, argued that it would hinder innovation and cost taxpayers.

AI should be regulated sector by sector, said Brianna January, Chamber of Progress Northeast state and local government relations director.

When you have an omnibus approach like HB 2094, you unintentionally stack the cards against smaller innovators that want to operate in the state because youre creating such a regulatory and liability framework that really only the big players can operate in, January said in a phone interview.

While the Trump administration has lowered some artificial intelligence guardrails in hopes of boosting innovation, states are continuing to establish policies for the safe use of AI, including measures to prevent algorithmic discrimination.

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Lawmakers in other states  including California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, Texas and more  are considering similar legislation to curb potential AI abuses.

Stateline reporter Madyson Fitzgerald can be reached at mfitzgerald@stateline.org.

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RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vetoed a slew of bills reforming labor and gun laws, blocking Democrats attempts to reintroduce legislation nearly identical to what they proposed unsuccessfully last year.

In addition to vetoing 158 bills, Youngkin signed roughly 600 and amended about 160 by the midnight Monday deadline, legislative records show. He also submitted 205 amendments to the budget bill, along with eight line-item vetoes.

Youngkins objections, which drew criticism from General Assembly Democrats, were not surprising. While the governor had not explicitly said what bills he would ax, he had suggested that he'd once again reject items he hadn't previously supported.

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You can imagine that if I vetoed it last year, theres a reasonable chance I will veto it again, Youngkin said at a news conference earlier this week.

The bills Youngkin nixed would have helped create a recreational marijuana retail market in Virginia and boost the minimum hourly wage from $12 to $13.50 next year, then $15 the year after.

Another vetoedmeasure would have halted the sale of certain semiautomatic firearms.

In revisiting legislation resurrected from 2024, he offered some of the same amendments he had last year. For instance, he again suggested that a proposed bill banning personal property taxes for the United Daughters of the Confederacy be taken up next year following a tax review.

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The Democratic-led legislature is slated to be back in Richmond on April 2 to take up the governors vetoes and amendments. On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell called Youngkin's actions disappointing.

I think theres been a lot of talk amongst Conservatives lately about focusing on affordability, and thats exactly what we did this session, Surovell said. The governor basically stuck a finger in an eye of every working Virginian with the vetoes he put out yesterday.

Lawmakers would need a two-thirds supermajority to override Youngkin's vetoes  an unlikely scenario given that Democrats have razor-thin majorities in the state Senate and House of Delegates.

Lawmakers only need a simple majority, however, to reject Youngkin's amendments. Still, the governor gets the final say on any legislation that arrives at his desk for a signature after lawmakers meet next week.

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Some other key actions taken by the governor include:

Labor reform

Youngkin blocked legislation that would have required employers to allow their workers to use sick days for both mental and physical health. In explaining his veto, the governor said the bill would increase the cost of doing business in the Commonwealth and adversely impact our business climate.

Youngkin also nixedbills that would repeal a ban on collective bargaining by public employees in line with a 2020 law that extended that right to local government workers. The proposed shift to unionization, Youngkin said, lacked the necessary funding, leaving agencies unprepared to manage the administrative and legal complexities involved.

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Energy battles

Some of the most heated debates during the legislative session were over green energy in Virginia, including solar panels. On Monday, Youngkin vetoed legislation that would have allowed local governments to require solar canopies for development projects. The governor also blocked a bill expanding facility requirements for a multifamily shared solar program.

Prescription drug affordability board

Last month with some bipartisan support, lawmakers passed legislation to create an independent prescription drug affordability board. The bill would have tasked the board with reviewing the affordability of prescription drug prices and setting cost ceilings within state-sponsored and -regulated health plans. Youngkin argued that the bill would limit patient access "to essential medication by prioritizing costs over medical necessity.

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Some success with campaign finance guardrails

Youngkin backed legislation prohibiting the use of campaign funds for personal expenses. Lawmakers passed such a policy after declining to advance a similar measure last year. Virginia was one of the few states lacking such a ban.

___

Olivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Democrat Dan Goughnour handily won a special election in western Pennsylvania on Tuesday, keeping majority control of the state House in his partys hands by a single seat.

Goughnour beat Republican Chuck Davis in a district in the Mon Valley region southeast of Pittsburgh, winning a seat that became vacant in January with the death of Democratic state Rep. Matthew Gergely.

In a second legislative special election Tuesday, in a suburban and farming part of Lancaster County, Democrat James Andrew Malone, the mayor of 4,500-population East Petersburg, was clinging to a narrow lead over Republican Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons. A Democratic flip of that district, if it occurs, would be a major upset but would not alter Republican control of the state Senate.

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As of late Tuesday, the race was too early to call. With 99% of the estimated vote counted, Malone led Parsons by 482 votes, or 0.89% of nearly 54,000 ballots cast, with an unknown number of provisional ballots left to be counted.

Parsons posted on social media late Tuesday that he was disappointed in the numbers and that it appears we will come up a little short.

Malone told WGAL-TV the national political environment was a factor.

Everyday voters are not liking what they're seeing in the federal level. They don't like the chaos, Malone said.

No matter the result, the Senate will remain comfortably in Republican control, and the chief executive is Gov. Josh Shapiro, a rising star among Democrats who is seen as a potential 2028 presidential candidate. The partisan divide and power sharing in Harrisburg  a dynamic that has prevailed for much of the past two decades  has prevented major changes in state law.

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After the House race was called, Goughnour said, Its overwhelming, but I feel good. He said his goal was to maintain common sense in Harrisburg and give his district a strong voice.

We knocked on thousands and thousands of doors, Goughnour said. We worked hard and didnt take anything for granted.

Goughnours victory means Democrats control the House by a single representative, 102 to 101. The party will be able to keep Democratic House Speaker Joanna McClinton of Philadelphia as the chambers presiding officer.

Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in a statement that the majority means state House Democrats can stand up to Trumps mayhem in Washington, prevent efforts to weaken Shapiro's authority and continue to expand job opportunities, strengthen schools and create safe communities in Pennsylvania.

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The Senate vacancy in northern Lancaster County was created when Sen. Ryan Aument, a Republican, quit to take a job working for U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick. Malone and the Democrats built on a strong advantage in mail-in ballots to combat the Republicans' significant voter registration edge.

On his way to narrowly winning Pennsylvania in November, President Donald Trump received 57% of the district vote, while McCormick, a Republican, received 56% in the district as he beat Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey. Aument ran unopposed in his last election in 2022.

Shapiro posted on social media that the results in Lancaster showed voters chose a better way forward  an embrace of competence, commonsense and a desire to bring people together.

Parsons is an establishment Republican, military veteran and former prosecutor who boasted about having visited the White House four times and working with Trump staff on policy issues.

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Malone said a high priority was lowering the cost of everyday essentials.

Honestly, we ran a good campaign, Malone said while votes were being tallied. We spoke to everybody about what we wanted to do, and frankly, a lot of people preferred us over the alternative.

Goughnour, the winner of the House race, will be resigning as a detective supervisor after spending well over a decade as a police officer in McKeesport. He is a Teamster and a first-term member of the school board in McKeesport, where he graduated high school. Goughnour is married and has three children.

Davis, a veteran volunteer firefighter and fire chief, is president of the White Oak Borough Council.

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The district is about 12 miles (19 kilometers) southeast of Pittsburgh, at the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers. Many of the towns that make up the district were part of the once-thriving steelmaking region, but the area is now economically challenged.

Democrats have held the Pennsylvania House majority since 2023, after they flipped 12 seats, the minimum needed to reclaim control after more than a decade. Since then, Democrats have maintained their majority by winning a series of special elections.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Voting will begin Tuesday in the upcoming school and special election.

November doesnt seem like that long ago, but 4 months and 20 days went by pretty quickly, and it is almost time to vote again.

Your Local Election Headquarters: Candidates, races and results on FOX4

On Tuesday, the first ballots will be cast for the school and special election.

Voters will decide whether to support bond issues in the Kansas City and Lees Summit public school districts.

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The City of Kansas City is seeking to renew its public safety sales tax, some of which will fund the construction of a new jail.

View the latest headlines from Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas at fox4kc.com

Election day is April 8, but voters do not have to wait until then to cast a ballot. No excuse absentee voting began at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Through April 7, three satellite locations will be open. Head to KCEB.org for sample ballots and more information.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
NORTHAMPTON, Va. (WAVY)  A man is dead after a fatal motorcycle crash on Fairview Road Monday night.

According to officials, around 6:20 p.m., troopers responded to the 23300 block of Fairview Road, near Lankford Highway, for reports of a single-vehicle crash.

Troopers arrived at the scene to find a male driver, later identified as 20-year-old Abelardo Gonzalez-Demers, dead due to injuries sustained from the crash. An investigation revealed that Gonzalez-Demers was driving above the speed limit when he lost control of the motorcycle and went into a ditch. Once crashing into the ditch, police said Gonzalez-Demers was thrown into a nearby light pole.

Police said the motorcycle was unregistered and had an unrecognizable vehicle identification number. Gonzalez-Demers was said to have not been wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

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The incident remains under investigation.

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
(KRON)  Members of the Valley Transportation Authority workers union, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265, held a vote to end a three-week-old strike in Fiesta Hall at the Santa Clara County Fairground on Monday afternoon.

The union voted to reject VTAs offer of an 11 percent raise. Eighty-three percent of the union voted no.

The VTA had presented the striking workers with a new offer on Sunday. The new proposed contract would give employees an 11 percent raise over the next three years  up from just 9 percent in the first contract offer.

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Cain Velasquez sentenced to 5 years in prison for 2022 shooting

VTA has put forward a more than fair proposal that ensures employees receive competitive pay and strong benefits for themselves and their families, the VTA said in a statement on its website. At a time when so many workers across industries are facing uncertainty and job losses, VTA is proud to offer stability and opportunity.

VTAs latest proposal reflects our commitment to our workforce, and we urge our employees to embrace this chance to secure their future and return to work, the VTA said.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan weighed in on the issue. He posted a thread of eight posts on X Monday night.

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I appreciate that ATU is fighting hard for their members. Thats their job, Mahan wrote on X. But the VTA needs to fight just as hard for our riders. And the reality is, if we pay more than we can afford in raises and benefits, services will be cut and riders will suffer.

The union, meanwhile, has accused the VTA of bullying and insulting members. In a post on social media, ATU Local 265 claimed VTA Assistant General Manager Greg Richardson called union members uneducated during contract talks.

Union leaders also issued a statement, slamming the VTAs most recent contract offer as insulting. Union members also claim the most recent offer fails to offer protection to striking workers from potential repercussions.

KRON4 will bring you updates on the latest developments in the VTA strike as they occur.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
EL PASO, Texas (EL PASO MATTERS)  Patrick Crusius, who has admitted to killing 23 people and wounding 22 others in a racist mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart in 2019, will no longer face the death penalty, El Paso Matters has learned.

DA: Victims families want Walmart case done with as soon as possible

District Attorney James Montoya, who took office on Jan. 1, called family members of those killed on Monday to inform them he wouldnt seek the death penalty in the Aug. 3, 2019, mass shooting, multiple family members told El Paso Matters. The family members asked not to be identified because of a gag order in place since 2022 that prohibited lawyers and potential witnesses from discussing the case with the media.

District Attorney James Montoya

Montoya declined to comment when contacted by El Paso Matters on Monday, citing the gag order. Defense attorney Joe Spencer also cited the gag order in declining comment.

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The removal of the death penalty as an option could lead to a quick guilty plea and life sentence, as happened with federal charges in 2023.

Crusius drove more than 10 hours from his home in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs on Aug. 3, 2019, and chose the Cielo Vista Walmart for his attack. Using a semiautomatic rifle, he killed 23 people and wounded 22 others. Officials have said theres no evidence anyone else was involved in the attack.

Shortly before the shooting, he posted a screed to a website frequented by white supremacists, saying the attack was meant to stop the Hispanic invasion of Texas.

Crusius surrendered to police officers a short time after the shooting while driving on Viscount Boulevard.

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The attack remains the sixth-deadliest mass shooting in United States history, and the deadliest terror attack aimed at Hispanics.

It is the deadliest U.S. mass shooting in which a suspect was captured and charged. Many mass shooters take their own lives or are killed by police.

In January 2023, the U.S. Justice Department announced that it would not seek the death penalty for the federal weapons and hate crimes charges Crusius faced. He quickly pleaded guilty and in July 2023 was sentenced to 90 consecutive life terms in federal prison, with a nonbinding recommendation from the judge that he serve his sentence in the nations most secure prison in Florence, Colorado.

The federal system does not include the possibility of parole.

Kaitlyn Melendez, then age 9, was with her grandfather, David Johnson, when he was among 23 people shot to death by Patrick Crusius at an El Paso Walmart on Aug. 3, 2019. She was accompanied by a service dog as she gave a victim impact statement July 5, 2023, at the first day of Crusius sentencing hearing. Nacho Garcia Jr./El Paso Matters

The Justice Department refused to say why it made the decision to not seek capital punishment. But the prosecution and defense both said during the sentencing hearing that Crusius had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, a mental health disorder characterized by delusions or hallucinations.

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Montoyas three predecessors as district attorney  Jaime Esparza, Yvonne Rosales and Bill Hicks  all said they would seek the death penalty against Crusius.

To order that a convicted killer in Texas be put to death, a jury must find unanimously that the person represents a future danger. The defense could have argued at trial that a sentence in the nations highest security prison would mean Crusius no longer presented a danger.

If a jury determines that someone represents a future danger, it then must weigh aggravating factors such as the defendants criminal history and the extreme violence of the crime against mitigating factors such as mental health in determining whether to recommend death or life in prison.

The state capital murder case was essentially put on hold to allow the federal prosecution to move forward first. The COVID-19 pandemic created complications for both the federal and state cases.

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The state case was complicated by the troubled two-year tenure of Rosales as district attorney. She faced repeated accusations of failing to move criminal cases forward, including the Walmart shooting. One of her associates also was accused of targeting the family of one of those killed at the Walmart because the family wouldnt go along with a plan to criticize the judge and a former prosecutor.

District Attorney Yvonne Rosales appears in a hearing before Judge Sam Medrano on July 1, 2022. Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters

Rosales resigned in December 2022 as she faced a petition to remove her from office on the grounds that she was incompetent. Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Hicks to replace Rosales.

Crusius lawyers have alleged prosecutorial misconduct by Rosales and Hicks in the handling of the case. Hicks has said his office has done nothing wrong and Rosales has faded from public view and not commented on the allegations.

At the end of 2024, two judges ruled that prosecutors in the District Attorneys Office had acted improperly in a number of cases by altering court records and withholding evidence from defense lawyers. Crusius attorneys likely would have used those findings as they pressed their misconduct allegations against prosecutors in the Walmart case.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Patrick Crusius, who has admitted to killing 23 people and wounding 22 others in a racist mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart in 2019, will no longer face the death penalty, El Paso Matters has learned.

District Attorney James Montoya, who took office on Jan. 1, called family members of those killed on Monday to inform them he wouldnt seek the death penalty in the Aug. 3, 2019, mass shooting, multiple family members told El Paso Matters. The family members asked not to be identified because of a gag order in place since 2022 that prohibited lawyers and potential witnesses from discussing the case with the media.

Montoya declined to comment when contacted by El Paso Matters on Monday, citing the gag order. Defense attorney Joe Spencer also cited the gag order in declining comment.

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The removal of the death penalty as an option could lead to a quick guilty plea and life sentence, as happened with federal charges in 2023.

Crusius drove more than 10 hours from his home in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs on Aug. 3, 2019, and chose the Cielo Vista Walmart for his attack. Using a semiautomatic rifle, he killed 23 people and wounded 22 others. Officials have said theres no evidence anyone else was involved in the attack.

Shortly before the shooting, he posted a screed to a website frequented by white supremacists, saying the attack was meant to stop the Hispanic invasion of Texas.

Crusius surrendered to police officers a short time after the shooting while driving on Viscount Boulevard.

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The attack remains the sixth-deadliest mass shooting in United States history, and the deadliest terror attack aimed at Hispanics.

It is the deadliest U.S. mass shooting in which a suspect was captured and charged. Many mass shooters take their own lives or are killed by police.

In January 2023, the U.S. Justice Department announced that it would not seek the death penalty for the federal weapons and hate crimes charges Crusius faced. He quickly pleaded guilty and in July 2023 was sentenced to 90 consecutive life terms in federal prison, with a nonbinding recommendation from the judge that he serve his sentence in the nations most secure prison in Florence, Colorado.

The federal system does not include the possibility of parole.

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The Justice Department refused to say why it made the decision to not seek capital punishment. But the prosecution and defense both said during the sentencing hearing that Crusius had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, a mental health disorder characterized by delusions or hallucinations.

Montoyas three predecessors as district attorney  Jaime Esparza, Yvonne Rosales and Bill Hicks  all said they would seek the death penalty against Crusius.

I am disappointed that the Walmart shooter will not face a jury for his crimes, but the decision to move forward with a trial or to enter a plea agreement is completely within the discretion of the district attorney and it is totally DA Montoyas decision at this point, not mine. I respect how difficult it must have been to make this decision, said Hicks, who was appointed district attorney by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022 and was defeated by Montoya in the November 2024 general election.

To order that a convicted killer in Texas be put to death, a jury must find unanimously that the person represents a future danger. The defense could have argued at trial that a sentence in the nations highest security prison would mean Crusius no longer presented a danger.

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If a jury determines that someone represents a future danger, it then must weigh aggravating factors such as the defendants criminal history and the extreme violence of the crime against mitigating factors such as mental health in determining whether to recommend death or life in prison.

The state capital murder case was essentially put on hold to allow the federal prosecution to move forward first. The COVID-19 pandemic created complications for both the federal and state cases.

The state case was complicated by the troubled two-year tenure of Rosales as district attorney. She faced repeated accusations of failing to move criminal cases forward, including the Walmart shooting. One of her associates also was accused of targeting the family of one of those killed at the Walmart because the family wouldnt go along with a plan to criticize the judge and a former prosecutor.

District Attorney Yvonne Rosales appears in a hearing before Judge Sam Medrano on July 1, 2022. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters)

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Rosales resigned in December 2022 as she faced a petition to remove her from office on the grounds that she was incompetent. Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Hicks to replace Rosales.

Crusius lawyers have alleged prosecutorial misconduct by Rosales and Hicks in the handling of the case. Hicks has said his office has done nothing wrong and Rosales has faded from public view and not commented on the allegations.

At the end of 2024, two judges ruled that prosecutors in the District Attorneys Office had acted improperly in a number of cases by altering court records and withholding evidence from defense lawyers. Crusius attorneys likely would have used those findings as they pressed their misconduct allegations against prosecutors in the Walmart case.

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The stunning revelation that top administration officials accidentally included a reporter in a group chat discussing war plans triggered furious discussion inside the White House that national security adviser Mike Waltz may need to be forced out.

Nothing is decided yet, and White House officials cautioned that President Donald Trump would ultimately make the decision over the next day or two as he watches coverage of the embarrassing episode.

A senior administration official told POLITICO on Monday afternoon that they are involved in multiple text threads with other administration staffers on what to do with Waltz, following the bombshell report that the top aide inadvertently included Atlantic editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg in a private chat discussing a military strike on Houthis.

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Half of them saying hes never going to survive or shouldnt survive, said the official, who like others was granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberation. And two high-level White House aides have floated the idea that Waltz should resign in order to prevent the president from being put in a bad position.

It was reckless not to check who was on the thread. It was reckless to be having that conversation on Signal. You cant have recklessness as the national security adviser, the official said.

A person close to the White House was even more blunt: Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a fucking idiot.



Goldberg got a request to join Signal, an encrypted messaging app, from a Mike Waltz on March 11, according to the publication . He was then included in a group chat dubbed Houthi PC small group with what appeared to be other top administration officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and others.

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A third person familiar with the fallout said Trump has spoken with Waltz about the matter  and the White House is, for now, standing by him.

As President Trump said, the attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective. President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including national security adviser Mike Waltz, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a Monday statement. The press office declined to comment further.

A fourth White House official said they were aware of internal pressure for Waltz to own his mistake  which could mean a possible resignation. But that official said what happens to Waltz largely depends on how Trump personally feels about the matter, and noted the involvement of other administration officials in the Signal chat as well.

Two of the officials said that while Trump may lay blame at the feet of Waltz for potentially compromising U.S. national security, he could just as easily be frustrated with Vance for stepping out of line from the administrations foreign policy in the chat, or target Hegseth as the one who allegedly shared sensitive details with the group.

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I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now. Theres a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself, Vance said, according to the Atlantics report. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc.

It has also created an opening for longtime Waltz detractors suspicious of his neoconservative ties to push for his removal. Waltz once advised former Vice President Dick Cheney on counterterrorism but, like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has in recent years shifted his foreign policy views to embrace a more America First approach.

Those concerns were amplified on social media Monday by a contingent of isolationist conservatives who questioned why Waltz had the Atlantic editor-in-chiefs cell phone number in the first place  suggesting it was evidence of Waltzs continued neocon sympathies.

And while Congress has been reluctant to cross Trump in his first two months in office, some members on Monday voiced concerns about the incident. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, said sending sensitive information over an unsecure network was unconscionable, while Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chair of the Armed Services Committee, told the New York Times that it was a concern and that his committee would definitely be looking into it.

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Defense hawks criticism of the incident is particularly noteworthy given their perception that Waltz is their guy in the administration, a sympathetic ear in a White House dominated by America First isolationists.

Still, the person close to the White House who dubbed Waltz a "fucking idiot," didn't expect any widespread repercussions from the incident.



"I dont think there are any longterm political consequences for Trump or the Administration, outside of this potentially costing Waltz his job," the person said.



But many Republicans on the Hill are hoping Waltz survives. Indeed, while GOP lawmakers privately said they believed some White House official would have to take the blame, House Republicans in particular have defended their former colleague Waltz.

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Speaker Mike Johnson told POLITICO that Waltz should absolutely not resign.

Hes exceptionally qualified for the job. He is trusted  trustworthy, Johnson said. He was made for that job, and I have full confidence in him.

Megan Messerly, Meredith Lee Hill and Adam Wren contributed to this report.
Neighbors around Griffith Road in Winston-Salem are opposing the plan to remake Myers Grocery Store, once a small, longtime family-owned grocery store and gas pump.

Though the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County planning board already recommended the effort, which would significantly expand the store into an approximately 3,300-square-foot convenience store with a patio and 12 gas pumps, immediate neighbors showed up to a city council hearing last week to protest the amount of traffic the redevelopment could add to the area.

Everybody agrees the traffic along Burke Mill Road has grown exponentially, said Gwen Reisman of Millhaven Landing. Its very hard for us to get out of our development.

Whether its something we need, Im not so sure we do, said Reisman of the store.

The proposed makeover for the store would be a huge upgrade over the current location at 2101 Griffith Road, which is much smaller than the developers proposal and now functions mostly as a gas station, convenience store and vape shop.

More than six decades earlier, the Myers family opened the little grocery store and gasoline station and struggled to comply over time with quickly changing regulations for underground gas storage.

Myers Grocery changed hands in 2023 when Glenn Myers, the prior owner, sold the land to the company Shyam Shlock LLC, according to deed records.

Walter Isaacson, the attorney for the developer, said new construction would include the demolition of the existing building for a new two-story building with a fresh food market section and 26 parking spaces.

Isaacson, who came to the March 17 council meeting and gave an overview of the project, said in his first comment that there hadnt been any opposition to the project.

Then about a dozen of Reismans neighbors appeared in the audience and several spoke against the redevelopment. Reisman told the council the neighbors hadnt opposed it previously because Isaacson and the developers hadnt notified them.

Among all of the concerns for the potential makeover of the store, the additional burden of traffic stands as the biggest and most important, according to the neighbors.

For years, the city of Winston-Salem has itself considered Burke Mill Road, which intersects with the Myers Grocery Store on Griffith Road, as a heavily congested area.

In 2019, Jeff Fansler, the citys assistant transportation director, called the road a perfect storm.

Betty Myers, one of the previous owners of the store, once told the Journal the same year that the traffic hurt their business because nobody wanted to turn left to get into their parking lot.

Most recently, city planning staff noted in a staff report that the redevelopment would most likely increase traffic on an already overburdened road.

Isaacson has contended in an interview with the Journal that the redevelopment is an opportunity to bring the store up to modern standards and said it wouldnt add a significant impact to traffic.

Isaacson also said the new plan for the store would help bring fresh food and produce to an area that needs it.

More than likely this store will cater to existing passerby traffic, Isaacson said. If approved, this store would not likely become a destination.

In last weeks council meeting and in interviews with the Journal since, neighbors have disagreed.

Dawn McElfresh, another Millhaven Landing neighbor who said shes been living in the area since 2016, said many residents petitioned the city some time ago to drop the speed limit on Griffith Road from 45 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour because of the heavy amount of traffic and car crashes.

McElfresh said there are also major flow issues on Stratford and around the Hanes Mall area causing drivers to avoid the heavy traffic.

Everybodys cutting through Griffith Road to get around those problematic areas, McElfresh said.

If youve ever been on Griffith Road, it is the only way, and its mostly local people who know that they can bypass all of Stratford Road which is not a very good (road) to be on, certainly at business hours, said Victoria Schwartz at the March 17 meeting.

McElfresh said many of the other residents of Millhaven Landing, which is mostly filled with those nearing retirement age, feel frustrated with the prospect of new development and additional traffic when the roads around the area arent suited for such big changes.

These areas were never ever built for the volume of traffic were experiencing now, McElfresh said.

Though Reisman admitted the renderings of the new Myers Grocery store did look beautiful, the problem, she said, is that customers would still have to cross oncoming traffic to get to the store.

When he was reached for comment last week, Isaacson said the development team was meeting with its engineers to discuss some of the traffic concerns presented by the neighbors and also said transportation concerns are typically addressed during the site planning process and not beforehand in the rezoning.

We believe that redevelopment of this longstanding corner market will provide better and safer access than currently exists by placing the new access drives further away from the intersection, Isaacson wrote in a statement. After we get input from our engineers, we will reach out to the people who attended the meeting and go over their questions and try to address them prior to the meeting next month.

The options are to improve this corner market to provide enhanced retail support, including fresh food, to the residents in the area or to leave the longstanding market store as is with limited options, he added. This area has grown significantly in the last few years, so many nearby residents desire to have an improved corner store.

Not all the neighbors in the immediate area are opposed to the redevelopment of the grocery store.

McElfresh said some neighbors in the Millhaven Landing development have expressed an interest in seeing the new project.

Tammie Greene, another Millhaven Landing neighbor, told the Journal not everyone in the neighborhood is opposed to the proposed expansion of the store.

To me it is laughable that this small group of vocal people, who live between a sewage treatment plant and a new neighborhood of 60 homes, is so worked up about a convenience store that is further away, Greene said.

I am in favor of this expansion, and I live here, Greene said.

Before the proposal even came to the planning board, Brant Godfrey, an adjacent property owner, said he supported the redevelopment of the store, which might help his plan to build upscale homes on his land in the future.

Isaacson has also maintained that multiple nearby property owners have advocated for the redevelopment of the store.

In their March 17 meeting, the city council voted to continue the rezoning decision. They will reach a final decision on April 21.
U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz is scheduled to discuss a possible ceasefire deal in the Black Sea with his Russian counterpart later on March 25, Fox News reported.

Waltz has been in contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin's top aide, Yuri Ushakov, to hammer out conditions on a potential ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

The resumption of a Black Sea Initiative that would include a cessation of hostilities in the Black Sea was the key focus of the talks between U.S. and Russian delegates in Riyadh on March 24.

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Neither party revealed details about the 12-hour talks, which were followed by a brief meeting between the U.S. and Ukrainian teams on March 25. Russian negotiator Grigory Karasin said that many issues had been discussed during the meeting, but "not everything was resolved."

The so-called Black Sea Grain Initiative was first brokered by the U.N. and Turkey in 2022 to allow Ukraine to ship out its grain despite Russia's ongoing invasion. The deal broke down a year later after Russia withdrew from the deal, claiming that its demands, namely pertaining to its fertilizer industry, had not been addressed.

Despite the initial deal breaking down in 2023, Ukraine has managed to unilaterally reopen the Black Sea corridor, in large part thanks to a sustained drone and missile campaign against the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Fox News also reported that Waltz does not plan to resign after reports of leaks of U.S. plans for strikes against Yemen. The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, reported on March 24 that he was accidentally added by a user named Mike Waltz to a Signal chat where top Trump administration officials discussed plans for the operation.

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This prompted rumors that Waltz might be forced out as a result of the embarrassing security breach. The advisor told his colleagues he had never met or spoken to Goldberg, according to Fox News.

Read also: Editorial: What Steve Witkoff doesnt get about Ukraine (and Russia)

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
HILLSBORO, Ore. (KOIN)  A man wanted by the Hillsboro police barricaded inside the Rodeway Inn before getting arrested, authorities told KOIN 6 News.

A heavy police presence responded to the scene near Hwy 217 and US 26.

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I will get around to writing about Jeffrey Goldbergs bombshell article in the Atlantic about how he was inadvertently included in a top-secret Trump administration text group discussing the planning for the recent U.S. strike on the Houthi terrorists in Yemen, but first I would like to describe for you how similar communications were conducted during the Iraq war.

A TOC is a Tactical Operations Center. Every unit engaged in combat from a division through a brigade down to a battalion and a company has its own TOC where plans are made for everything from defending the unit to movement of troops to engaging the enemy in combat.

Everything that happens in a TOC is secret. When I was embedded with an infantry company in a small base camp in downtown Mosul, every night there would be a convoy sent from the company to the brigade base camp to pick up the hot meal for the day. In the TOC, soldiers would be assigned to the convoy; a route from the company base camp to the brigade dining facility would be picked, with plans made for an alternate route if something unexpected came up. The time of departure for the convoy would be chosen. All of this was necessary because even something as simple as a convoy to pick up dinner was a combat operation. Previous convoys had come under fire from Iraqi insurgents, and it was known that insurgents had laid IEDs along likely routes from the company to the brigade base camp. Soldiers had been wounded in attacks on convoys to pick up dinner in that company and others, so planning for the convoy every afternoon was a serious matter.

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There was similar security and secrecy for TOCs at battalion and brigade and division levels, where larger movements of troops and combat operations to attack the enemy were planned. Everything was secret at every level. The maps were secret. The radio frequencies that would be used were secret. The plans themselves were, of course, secret. Transmission of a plan from one level of command to another was secret and carried out by a secure network using radios and satellite and microwave transmission. Everything transmitted on the network was encrypted, and no one other than commanders or people cleared with the highest level of secrecy was allowed near the secure laptops or transmission equipment.

That is how seriously an American combat military unit took the security around the transmission of something as simple as plans to go pick up a hot meal for supper.

The important word in the acronym TOC is operations. It's why all the care was taken to keep things secret. You don't want anyone to know what you're planning, because if your plans are found out, the enemy can make his own plans to counter yours.

In Washington DC, at the top of the government, a TOC is the Situation Room at The White House, or the Tank at the Pentagon, or a SCIF at the CIA or the State Department, Or even built into the homes of the Cabinet officials in charge of national security. Cell phones aren't allowed in any of those places, because they are, by their nature, insecure. Suppose a communication system must be used to transmit top-secret information. In that case, it must be one of those developed by the government using highly secure encryption developed especially for that purpose. Strategic plans, and the tactics to execute them, are the most important secrets the government has, because people's lives depend on them, and the targets of those plans are so important.

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This is why Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth should be fired not later this week but right this minute. He transmitted over the highly insecure Signal message network on his own cell phone the entire plans for the United States attack on Houthi terror installations in Yemen that was discovered by the apparent accidental inclusion of the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic in what was called the Houthi Principals Small Group. Principals in gov-speak means everyone in the Cabinet below the president. This group of Signal chatters included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Special Presidential Adviser Stephen Miller, CIA Director John Ratcliff, Special Middle East and Ukraine Negotiator Steve Witkoff and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles  a total of 18 high-level members of the Trump administration in all.

I should probably stop right here and note that any sort of plans for combat operations of the United States military should be need to know only  that is, the people who are made aware of the plans to conduct combat should be only those immediately involved in the planning and execution of the operation. Which raises the question, what were Susie Wiles and Stephen Miller doing in there? As members of the White House staff, they had nothing to do with the kind of high-level national security information being discussed in the chat group Goldberg got included in.

At least some of the subjects discussed by the group could be described as political. Vance and others were clear that they were unhappy with the United States bailing out Europe by clearing the shipping lanes through the Red Sea of Houthi attacks. Stephen Miller even demanded that we make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return.

Inevitably, however, the discussion on Signal got down to the attack plans themselves, which according to Goldberg, Hegseth gave out in full, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing. That, to be blunt, is the whole ball game. Goldberg did not reveal the plans in detail, as Hegseth did, because they could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel, particularly in the broader Middle East.

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Goldberg is correct about operational details, especially when it comes to the information about the targets that have been chosen for attack. After the attack had taken place, the administration bragged that they had killed several Houthi rebel leaders and commanders. Two things were dangerous about Hegseth sharing operational plans on an insecure network. First, if this Signal chat group had been hacked, the Houthi rebels could have repositioned their leaders to avoid or otherwise mitigate the attack. Second, that sort of intelligence would have been invaluable to the enemy because it would expose so-called sources and methods of how the intelligence had been gathered. The Houthis could have then tightened their security so that in the future it would not become known to U.S. intelligence.

Hegseth at least twice bragged to the group about his tight control of OPSEC, mil-speak for operational security. He was bragging, of course, on an insecure network that, according to what I have read, uses open-source privacy technology. Signal is owned by the Signal Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization funded by donations and a loan from Brian Acton, a co-founder of WhatsApp, which was sold to Facebook, making those involved in its founding the requisite Silicon Valley fortunes.

All the speculation that goofs like Hegseth and Gabbard and Ratcliff and the rest of them were amateurs and jokes has brought us to a place where the people supposedly in charge of our national security were celebrating the attacks on the Houthis by posting fist and flexed bicep and American flag and hands praying emojis along with reassurances to each other that they had said a prayer for victory.

So that's where we are, folks. Down in infantry company and battalion TOCs where security is taken so seriously that even making a tiny mistake will cost you your job, these are the people back in Washington, D.C. who are in charge of our national security overall. They were chatting with each other on the Signal app as they chowed down on steaks at the Palm while Hegseth white-knuckled it through everyone else at his table quaffing their Martinis and Negronis.

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We can be certain that the Chinese and Russians and North Koreans and Iranians have entire floors of their intelligence agencies devoted to decrypting so-called open-source apps like Signal and WhatsApp on the off chance that Trumps Cabinet appointees like Hegseth would be so ignorant and lazy that they would use them.

If you don't think this whole thing was watched by grim men in Moscow and Beijing rubbing their hands together with grand satisfaction about American folly, I've got a signed Trump Bible and deed to the Brooklyn Bridge to sell you for a five spot.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt boldly denied there being any discussion of war plans going on in a group chat between government officials which was accidentally infiltrated by journalist Jeffrey Goldberg earlier this month.

Though the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic plainly detailed how he ended up in the highly sensitive national security conversation in a bombshell expose published Monday, Leavitt still tried her hardest to rewrite the situation in a post on X Tuesday morning.

After first claiming that Goldberg was well-known for his sensationalist spin, she laid out a list of dubious facts about the fiasco.

1. No war plans were discussed. 2. No classified material was sent to the thread. 3. The White House Counsels Office has provided guidance on a number of different platforms for President Trumps top officials to communicate as safely and efficiently as possible.

Leavitt went on to note that the White House is investigating how Goldbergs number was inadvertently added to the thread and commended President Donald Trump for following through on the March 15 military offensive against Yemens Houthi rebels which was discussed in emoji-peppered texts on the encrypted messaging app Signal.

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Terrorists were killed and thats what matters most to President Trump, she concluded.

While Leavitt maintained that war plans were not part of the conversation, Goldberg had a very different account of what went down in the chat, which included Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance and a list of other prominent White House officials.

According to Goldberg, the texts included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing.

Hegseth used the same lines as Leavitt while addressing the ordeal on Monday after Goldbergs account was published.

Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again, he told the press while touching down in Hawaii.

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Nobody was texting war plans, Hegseth went on. Thats all I have to say about that.

Related...
Fires have broken out in warehouses in the Fastiv and Boryspil districts in Kyiv Oblast as a result of a Russian drone attack.

Source: State Emergency Service (SES); Kyiv Oblast Military Administration

Quote from SES: "At night, fires in warehouses in the Fastiv and Boryspil districts caused by the fall of UAV debris were extinguished. There were no fatalities or casualties."

Details: The SES also published photos and videos of the large-scale fires.

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

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Kyiv Oblast Military Administration noted that operational services continue to work to detect and respond to the consequences of the Russian attack.

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Background:

Earlier, it was reported that two people were injured in the Zaporizhzhia district in Zaporizhzhia Oblast as a result of a Russian drone attack on the night of 24-25 March.

Moreover, two people were injured and a fire broke out on the premises of a company as a result of the fall of debris from downed Russian drones in Poltava Oblast.

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Federal immigration law allows the government to deport a person for a decades-old criminal conviction, regardless of their ties to the United States and whether theyve completed their sentence and turned their life around.

For many people with criminal records, it raises the possibility of being removed from the U.S. and sent to a country where they have no connections.

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One of the few options a person has to reduce their chances of deportation under these circumstances is to receive a pardon from the president or a governor. While theres no guarantee itll enable them to stay in the U.S., it can help.

While outcomes vary case by case, pardons are mostly useful for immigrants with legal status as they can help reopen immigration cases, waive grounds for deportation, or clear pathways to apply for citizenship.

The pardon itself cant, doesnt stop immigration [authorities] from doing whatever theyre doing, said Stacy Taeuber, an immigration resource attorney at the Washington Defenders Association.

But in Washington, theres a pileup of cases that can make the clemency and pardons process time-consuming, and often inaccessible, for those facing deportation proceedings.

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Sen. Bob Hasegawa, D-Seattle, has proposed a bill to address this. Senate Bill 5103 would create an expedited process to allow the states Clemency and Pardons Board to review cases for those with a pending deportation order or proceeding.

If theyve paid their dues to society, they shouldnt be deported, Hasegawa said.

The bill passed the Senate 30-19 in February with only Democrats in support and now awaits action in the House. It is currently scheduled for a public hearing in the House Community Safety Committee on March 27.

What the process looks like

Washingtons Clemency and Pardons Board is made up of five unpaid volunteer members who meet quarterly. These hearings typically take about two hours, meaning, the board can only hear around 30 cases per year.

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After evaluating a case, the board sends its recommendation for whether a person should receive a pardon or commutation of sentence to the governor, who has the final say.

Immigration cases often require less time compared to other cases because most of the immigration cases involve non-violent convictions, where there is no victim, says Jennie Pasquarella, legal director at the Seattle Clemency Project.

But for many immigrants, the prospect of preparing an application, waiting around two years for a hearing, and then for the governor to act, makes this process effectively unavailable because they could face deportation in the meantime.

[This bill] reaffirms the authority of the board to expedite cases that are very time sensitive and that is true of these immigration cases, because they cant wait two years for a hearing they need, they need the relief right away, Pasquarella said.

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Meanwhile, in the House, Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland, has a bill to expand the Clemency and Pardons Board to ten members, with hopes of increasing the cases it can hear. House Bill 1131 was approved in a floor vote in early March with only one Republican in support. Its now awaiting action in the Senate, with a possible committee vote scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

How did we get here

The War on Drugs law enforcement crackdown in the 1980s and 1990s added non-violent felonies, including certain drug, theft, and burglary convictions to the category of offenses that could leave immigrants subject to deportation.

The Laken Riley Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law in January, requires further detention of immigrants if they are accused of certain crimes, setting the bar higher.

Theres a lot of crimes now that make [deportation] mandatory where there is no victim involved  most people would not consider to be serious  but yet they impose this really drastic consequence, Pasquarella said.

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Constitutional double jeopardy protections dont apply, explained Pasquarella, meaning someone can be convicted of a crime, serve their sentence, and years later face detention and deportation over the same offense.

Some of the people who end up in this situation have fled wars, were born in refugee camps, and arrived in the U.S. as children or young adults. Most convicted of a crime have a deportation order signed by a judge.

But deporting someone can be complicated. There are many countries that dont accept their citizens back due to a wide range of geopolitical reasons, Pasquarella said.

For example, countries like Sudan are in the middle of a civil war and dont have a functioning government. Cuba generally doesnt have diplomatic relations with the U.S. And others, like Laos, dont have repatriation agreements, which means they dont have a formal process to take people back.

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Immigrants facing deportation often have established ties in the U.S. and have not set foot in their home country for decades. Some may not even have countries they can be deported back to if they came from the former Soviet Union, potentially leaving them stateless.

Republicans skeptical

Opponents of Hasegawas bill, such as Sen. Leonard Christian, R-Spokane Valley, argued on the Senate floor that pushing someone ahead in the Clemency and Pardons Board line because of their immigration status is wrong because other people are waiting.

I dont think what our forefathers envisioned was moving one group above the other when it comes to justice, Christian said. Everybody in this state, in this country, deserves equal justice in the same amount of time.

But Taeuber said people need to look at the full context of what the cases mean for immigrants who could face deportation.

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These are human beings with long histories in the United States and families, and theyre members of our communities, their kids go to our schools, and they work jobs. These are human beings, just like the rest of us, she added.

Correction: A previous version of this story contained an incorrect vote tally for Senate Bill 5103.
There was thought to be no hope for Joseph Coates nearly a year ago. However, after his girlfriend begged for help from a Philadelphia doctor, the young Black man who had so much more life to live received help from the unlikeliest of places.

According to the New York Times, Coates had been suffering from POEMS syndrome, a blood disorder that hurts your nerves and other parts of your body. In the case of the 37-year-old Coates, his hands and feet became numb and he had an enlarged heart and kidneys that were failing.

Thinking there was nowhere else to turn, Tara Theobald, Coates girlfriend, reached out to Dr. David C. Fajgenbaum, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

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But, Dr. Fajgenbaum didnt use his own brain to discover a way to treat Coates rare blood disorder, he used artificial intelligence.

More from the New York Times:

In labs around the world, scientists are using A.I. 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. Thanks to versions of the technology developed by Dr. Fajgenbaums team at the University of Pennsylvania and elsewhere, drugs are being quickly repurposed for conditions including rare and aggressive cancers, fatal inflammatory disorders and complex neurological conditions.

Dr. Fajgenbaum used AI to come up with a unique solution using steroids, chemotherapy, and other untested treatments to help Coates disorder. Although there were initial worries that the treatment might worsen his life, it did the opposite and made him recover faster than anyone wouldve hoped.

It was so successful that four months later he was approved for the stem cell treatment that would improve his condition and currently, the 37-year-old is in remission.

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VERO BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) An 84-year-old and two sergeants were rescued after becoming stranded in the Fort Drum Marsh area, the Brevard County Sheriffs Office announced.

The man had gone out to take photos in the conservation area and lost his way and ultimately become disorientated, BCSO said.

Deputies with the Indian River County Sheriffs Office attempted to locate the man using drones and ground searches, but due to the thick brush and the location it took several hours before he was found.

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IRCSO Sergeants Luke Keppel and David Flores were able to find the man around 3 a.m., but were unable to make their way back out in the night, BCSO said.

Just before sunrise on Monday, crews were able to locate the victim and the two sergeants before taking multiple trips to get the three.

The video shows rescuers spotting the man before being hoisted into the helicopter.

Together we can do great things, BCSO said in a post on Facebook.

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The man was transported to a nearby hospital.

The Brevard County Fire Rescue also assisted in the search, BCSO said.

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Louis DeJoy, the controversial U.S. Postmaster General, entered retirement on Monday, just little more than a month after announcing his plans.

DeJoy, a Greensboro resident and the nations 75th Postmaster General, was appointed to the position by President Donald Trump during his first term in office. He served nearly five years.

DeJoy did not explain why he chose to accelerate his retirement plans. He alerted U.S. Postal Services Board of Governors on Feb. 19 that it is time to begin the process of identifying his successor.

However, DeJoys decision comes 10 days after he confirmed to Congress that USPS would eliminate 10,000 job positions and commit to slicing billions of dollars from its budget as part of cooperating with the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency. USPS has about 640,000 employees.

According to The Associated Press, the agreement also includes the federal General Services Administration in an effort to help the Postal Service identify and achieve further efficiencies.

I believe strongly that the organization is well positioned and capable of carrying forward and fully implementing the many strategies and initiatives that comprise our transformation and modernization, DeJoy said in a statement. I have been working closely with the Deputy Postmaster General (Doug Tulino) to prepare for this transition.

DeJoy said USPS has established the path toward financial sustainability and high operating performance  and we have instituted enormous beneficial change to what had been an adrift and moribund organization.

Much work remains that is necessary to sustain our positive trajectory, he said. I am confident that Doug will continue our positive momentum during the period when the governors undertake the important work of identifying and selecting the next Postmaster General.

USPA chairwoman Amber McReynolds said the governors greatly appreciate his enduring leadership and his tireless efforts to modernize the Postal Service and reverse decades of neglect.

McReynolds credited DeJoy with inspiring the Postal Service with strategic direction, a competitive spirit and a culture of achievement that comes from the successful implementation of large-scale change.

Critics of the USPS agreement with DOGE fear negative effects of the cuts will be felt across America. U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va., told AP that turning over the Postal Service to DOGE would result in it being undermined and privatized.

This capitulation will have catastrophic consequences for all Americans  especially those in rural and hard to reach areas  who rely on the Postal Service every day to deliver mail, medications, ballots and more, he said in a statement.

DeJoys background

DeJoys efforts as a prolific Republican fundraiser was a major factor in his appointment by Trump.

DeJoy served as head of fundraising for the 2020 Republican National Convention in Charlotte before the convention was moved amid the coronavirus pandemic.

He has donated more than $1 million to Trump campaigns and more than $1 million to the Republican Party. Trump attended a fundraiser at DeJoys Greensboro mansion on his first visit to North Carolina as president in 2017.

The U.S. Justice Department conducted an investigation in 2020 into contributions made to Republican candidates by employees at his former business, New Breed Logistics.

Still, DeJoy was one of a small number of Trump appointees to serve through the Biden administration.

The selection of DeJoys successor will likely be political in nature as well, given the Postmaster General position is appointed by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

In 2021, DeJoy, U.S. Postal Service staff and Board of Governors developed a 10-year plan to put the organization on a path toward financial sustainability and operational high performance.

DeJoy said the Postal Service has ironclad plans to reduce costs by over $4 billion annually, raise revenue by over $5 billion and adjust its operating network to integrate the delivery of all mail and package categories, achieving service standards that make modern-day sense and compete in the marketplace.

The major initiatives we are currently endeavoring are multi-year programs and it is important to have leadership in place whose tenure will span this future period.

DeJoy is married to Aldona Wos, herself a prolific fundraiser and donor. Wos served a controversial term as state health secretary during the administration of Republican Gov. Pat McCrory.

Snail-mailing election ballots

DeJoys first year as Postmaster General was consumed by concerns about how well the Postal Services would process and deliver absentee and mail-in ballots to state boards of elections during the 2020 general election.

DeJoy wasted little time implementing policy changes, such as removing processing equipment from service that delayed mail, often by weeks, before the election.

The delays were worrisome considering that during the pre-vaccine period of the COVID-19 pandemic, a record number of North Carolinians and Americans voted absentee to avoid waiting in line.

Democrats embraced absentee voting in higher than typical numbers, while Republican voters were urged to vote on Election Day.

Some states, such as North Carolina, allowed during the 2020 election for mailed ballots to arrive several days after Election Day as long as they were stamped by Election Day.

However, for the 2024 election, the Republican supermajority in the state legislature overrode then-Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers veto to require absentee and mail-in ballots to arrive by the 7:30 p.m. closing of the polls on Election Day.

During the 2024 election, Trump flip-flopped several times in his social media posts between questioning the effectiveness of the U.S. Postal Service and praising it as a viable option for Republican voters.

According to AP, the biggest concerns expressed by state boards of elections during the 2024 election were that properly addressed election mail was being returned  a problem that can cause voters to be automatically placed on inactive status  and that mail-in ballots were postmarked on time, but arrived after election deadlines.

Fundraising investigation

In 2020, multiple national and state media outlets reported DeJoy faced additional scrutiny after five people who worked for New Breed said they were urged by aides of DeJoy or by DeJoy himself to write checks and attend political fundraisers at DeJoys North Carolina mansion.

Two former employees told The Washington Post that DeJoy would later give bigger bonuses to reimburse for the contributions.

Campaign finance disclosures show that between 2000 and 2014, when New Breed was sold, more than 100 employees donated a total of more than $610,000 to Republican candidates supported by DeJoy and his family. Among the recipients were former Republican Gov. Pat McCrory and Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis.

In an August 2020 profile in the News & Record, the story said more questions are swirling around (DeJoy) than the suspect in a cheap detective novel.

Is he a Trojan horse in league with President Donald Trump, aiming to subvert the November elections by mucking up the delivery and return of millions of mail-in ballots?

Does he have conflicts of interest through stock investments in companies that do business with the Postal Service and through some of his Guilford County real-estate holdings?

U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C., contended in the profile that DeJoys track record in office shows hes engaging in whats considered to be an unconstitutional assault on the postal system at Trumps behest. Adams was the first among a subsequent chorus of Democratic legislators to call for DeJoys resignation.

DeJoy, who was not charged with a crime, denied he had repaid executives for contributing to Trumps campaign during questioning before a congressional committee.
National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, FBI Director Kash Patel and CIA Director John Ratcliffe testified Tuesday before the Senate Intelligence Committee at a public hearing on global threats facing the United States.

The hearing was expected to be overshadowed by questions about an Atlantic report in which editor Jeffrey Goldberg writes of his inclusion in a Signal group chat that included members of Trumps Cabinet discussing plans for a military strike on Yemen.

Ratcliffe and Gabbard were both part of the group chat, according to Goldbergs reporting. Others in the chat included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.

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The hearing was also expected to test how the top intelligence officials frame Americas changing relationship with Russia, typically seen as an adversary, given President Trumps efforts to end the war in Ukraine and restore ties with Moscow.

The hearing was slated to begin at 10 a.m.

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PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  The Bloomington Police Department is holding a news conference to discuss the Illinois State Polices findings in regard to Februarys deadly officer-involved shooting.

One month to the day after the shooting happened, the department announced they would be holding a press conference to announce what ISP found at 3 p.m. March 25, in the Community Room of the Bloomington Public Library.

Bryce Janssen, a spokesman for the Bloomington Police Department, said the shooting took place around 4:45 p.m. February 25, when officers were sent to the area after someone reported an armed man.

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When they arrived at the 800 block of Arcadia Drive, officers made contact with 15-year-old Cole L.M. Turner. Somehow, things escalated and shots were fired.

The officers struck Turner. Life-saving measures were taken, but he was pronounced dead on the scene by the McLean County Coroner, Janssen said.

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(NewsNation)  The Senate Intelligence Committee held an open hearing Tuesday on worldwide threats, which quickly devolved into discussion about a bombshell account from the Atlantics editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg.

Witnesses included National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and FBI Director Kash Patel. Their testimonies largely centered around claims from Goldberg, who was added to a group chat for Trump administration officials.

In the chat on encrypted messaging app Signal, Goldberg said officials discussed plans for an attack against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

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Speaker Johnson: Waltz, Hegseth shouldnt be disciplined over war plans Signal chat

Gabbard and Ratcliffe were reportedly included in the message thread, though only Ratcliffe confirmed his participation during the Tuesday hearing.

John Ratcliffe, Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel address Signal group chat leak

Gabbard refused to confirm whether she was part of the leaked message thread, telling Warner she would not comment because the incident is currently under review by the National Security Council.

She later clarified that no classified information was included in the chat, echoing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitts earlier claims.

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During the hearing, Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine, challenged Gabbards assertion that nothing sensitive was sent to the chat. King asked Gabbard to release the whole text stream so the public could have a view as to what transpired on this discussion.

Democrats slam Pete Hegseth over military strike plan texted to journalist

Ratcliffe told senators the CIA permits the use of Signal for work communications.

One of the first things that happened as CIA director was Signal was loaded onto my computer at the CIA, as it is for most CIA officers, Ratcliffe said.

He added that, to his knowledge, using the app is entirely permissible and lawful.

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Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., asked Ratcliffe if there were discussions about weapons packages or timing in the group chat, as reported by Goldberg.

Not that Im aware of, Ratcliffe said. Gabbard backed his response: Same answer, and defer to the Department of Defense.

Patel said he was briefed about the situation late last night and did not yet have an official update from the FBI. Warner requested more information by the end of the day.

Jeffries calls for investigation of top Trump officials after bombshell military breach

Signal chat leak shows sloppy, careless intelligence approach: Sen. Mark Warner

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) addresses National Security Agency Director General Timothy Haugh, FBI Director Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Jeffrey Kruse as they appear during a Senate Committee on Intelligence Hearing on March 25, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Committee chairman Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., addressed the leak during his opening statement, calling the situation an example of the administrations sloppy, careless and incompetent behavior surrounding classified information.

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Were these government devices? Were they personal devices? Had devices been collected to make sure theres no malware? Warner asked.

The Trump-Johnson alliance is working. For now

Theres plenty of declassified information that shows that our adversaries, China and Russia, are trying to break in to encrypted systems like Signal.

He added that if an intelligence or military officer participated in a similar chat, they would be fired.

Sen. Michael Bennett, D-Col., admonished Ratcliffe for his testimony, yelling, You need to do better. You need to do better.

Multiple protesters removed from Senate hearing

WASHINGTON, DC  MARCH 25: A protester is removed from the room as Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testifies during a Senate Committee on Intelligence Hearing on March 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. The hearing to examine worldwide threats comes a day after Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief for the Atlantic magazine, was inadvertently included on a high-level Trump administration Signal group chat on bombing plans in Yemen on Houthi targets. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

As Patel prepared to answer his first question from committee chairman Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., a protester interrupted the hearing.

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The biggest threat to public security is Israel, and the whole world knows it, the person said prior to ejection from the hearing. Stop funding Israel, stop funding Israel, stop funding Israel.

When prompted by Cotton to speak up if anyone else had grievances, another protester began yelling and was removed.

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A group of progressive House Democrats held a press conference Tuesday morning on the ongoing detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columba University graduate who led campus protests against Israels war in Gaza last year.

Among the lawmakers who planned to join: Reps. Delia Ramirez (Ill.), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Pramila Jayapal (Wash.) and Greg Casar (Texas).

Khalils arrest has spread fear among Pro-Palestinian activists and green card holders, no longer sure of their freedoms and protections.

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The Department of Justice on Monday accused Khalil of covering up work for multiple organizations in his application to become a permanent resident.

The press conference was scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. EDT

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  A lawyer for the state said the state doesnt need to follow county zoning rules for a proposed mens prison while lawyers for the plaintiffs said the state should in arguments made Tuesday before the South Dakota State Supreme Court.

Arguments for the plaintiffs started first followed by the defendants lawyer.

Federal judge will not overturn Piper death penalty

Neighbors Opposing Prison Expansion (NOPE) is appealing Lincoln County 2nd Circuit Court Judge Jennifer D. Mammengas dismissal of its case against the state of South Dakota.

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The lawsuit claimed the state should have followed Lincoln County zoning ordinances when it chose the site for the planned new mens prison between Harrisburg and Canton.

Mammenga wrote in her October opinion that the state (defendants) are immune from the lawsuit under the doctrine of sovereign immunity.

Tuesday the heart of the disagreement between the state and the plaintiffs were shared in court.

Arvid Swanson, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said in his arguments that the Supreme Court must consider the need to balance the interests of those affected by a possible new mens prison. The state should be required to follow the zoning ordinances of Lincoln County.

The state is immune from the suit based on its sovereign immunity, the defendants lawyer Grant Flynn said.

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During his arguments, Swanson cited 1970s case involving Lincoln County that he said shows the balance of interest should be considered for the prison site.

Flynn argued that the case does not indicate balance of interest. The case involved the city of Sioux Falls seeking to build a landfill outside of the citys jurisdiction, Flynn said.

With Sioux Falls, the city was venturing outside of its domain or jurisdiction, Flynn said.

No portion of South Dakota that exists outside a county, Flynn said. No county zoning should apply to the state, he said.

Swanson cited his review of several state laws that do not disclose exemptions from zoning. Zoning ordinance and laws are pretty clear, there are no exemptions, Swanson said.

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Swanson said the state prison selection process was in secret and when the site was announced, the process had turned the county board into a neutral party. It was up to the plaintiffs to take action, Swanson said.

Did the county have a duty to take action?, Salter asked Swanson during his arguments.

Swanson said the county should take action if there is a violation of a county zoning ordinance.

I think we were basically cut loose (and left to do it on our own), Swanson said.

Neighbors have a right to challenge a position if the county does not, Swanson said.

Judge Steven Swenson asked what is the basis for a county to apply zoning to a sovereign state?

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Judge Janice Kern asked about recently passed laws and any possible impact on the case.

Swanson said the states opinion on its abilities are cause for review not that the prison site is being re-evaluated.

During arguments, Judge Mark Salter said the lawsuit was not asking for relief to stop the construction of the prison directly. Its a due process claim, Salter said. Its asking for the state to work under county zoning ordinances, he said. Its asking for an opportunity to be heard, he said.

In response to Salter, Flynn said he doesnt disagree with what the lawsuit is seeking. Flynn said the plaintiffs desire to be heard is not justified in case law or prior court rulings.

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Later, near the close of his arguments, Flynn said the case was about the plaintiffs not wanting the prison in their area and this was an attempt to stop it from being built.

Zoning ordinances do not apply, Flynn said. The state is not required to follow the county zoning, he said.

Flynn was asked by a judge if the county had a ministerial duty to enforce county zoning.

Flynn said that is not an issue that applies to this lawsuit.

Declaratory relief is heavily involved in this case, Judge Patricia DeVaney said.

Flynn said the states position is that the appellants have not applied appropriately for declaratory judgment because they do not qualify.

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It is a plea for due process, Swanson said of the plaintiffs lawsuit., after Flynns arguments. The prison would drastically change the use and operation of the land, he said. Cant believe the state can so easily trample (interests), Swanson said.

NOPE opposes a proposed prison site between Harrisburg and Canton and filed a lawsuit against the South Dakota Department of Corrections, the state of South Dakota and DOC Secretary Kellie Wasko. The lawsuit claimed the state should have followed Lincoln County zoning ordinances when it chose the site for the planned new mens prison between Harrisburg and Canton.

Mammenga wrote in her October opinion that the state (defendants) are immune from the lawsuit under the doctrine of sovereign immunity.

The heart of the plaintiffs argument is that the state should be required to follow zoning laws on the site of a proposed mens prison.

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Defendants selection of the proposed prison site is not subject to Lincoln Countys zoning laws and comprehensive plan, when the general rule or the balances of interest test is reviewed and applied, Mammenga said in her ruling.

What to know about South Dakotas Supreme Court

The five members of South Dakotas Supreme Court are appointed by the governor from judicial districts and the picks are subject to statewide electoral approval three years after appointment and every eight years after that.

South Dakota Supreme Court Justices must retire at age 70 and the Supreme Court is final judicial authority on all matters involving the legal and judicial system in South Dakota.

The members of the South Dakotas Supreme Court are Chief Justice Steven Jensen, Janine Kern, Mark Salter, Patricia DeVaney and Scott Myren.

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Kern was appointed by Gov. Dennis Daugaard in 2014, Jensen was appointed by Daugaard in 2017 and Salter was appointed by Daugaard in 2018. Gov. Kristi Noem appointed DeVaney in 2019 and Myren was appointed by Noem in 2021.

The court travels throughout the state to hear oral arguments to give citizens in the state a better opportunity to see and hear how the court functions. The South Dakota Supreme Court allowed both television and still cameras in the Supreme Court in August 2001.

The South Dakota Supreme Court issues opinions on cases every Wednesday, which are made public on Thursdays.

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CLEVELAND (WJW)  Three suspects targeted two Northeast Ohio car dealerships Tuesday morning, breaking and entering and taking two dozen sets of keys to vehicles.

The alleged crimes started at 2:30 a.m. at Dams Auto LLC on St. Clair Avenue in Cleveland. At least three suspects pulled up in a Black Dodge Challenger, smashing out the front door glass to gain access to the building.

Theres three guys essentially running through the building, taking keys, flipping the place upside down, owner Dan Musa said.

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Cleveland men accused of selling weapons to undercover agents posing as Mexican cartel members

He believed the criminals were looking to steal two high-end vehicles from the dealership, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

So far, Im up to 21 keys that are missing, he said. At this point, I dont know if they stole any cars or not. Were still searching.

Less than 15 minutes later, the same criminals arrived at E Drive Motors in Euclid with a similar goal.

They were rummaging through keys, based on the location of where they went, they knew right where the keys were at, owner Evan Cutler said.

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Cutler said three sets of keys were taken, but the suspects failed to steal any cars because the dealership parks the vehicles strategically as a preventative measure.

They took keys to a 2010 Toyota Sequoia, 2011 Suzuki and a 2017 Jeep Cherokee, Cutler said.

The keys will cost hundreds of dollars to replace.

I would assume they stole a bunch of these keys and the plan is to come back later and possibly steal the cars one by one, Musa said.

Cutler said Euclid police were hot on the suspects trail, about 90 seconds behind them.

A couple of the officers said that they caught him here down the street on Babbitt, chased him down St. Clair into Cleveland in excess of 100 miles an hour, Cutler said. And thats when they just called it quits. And I think that they dispatched over from Cleveland and they couldnt find him.

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Man pulls gun in Solon road rage incident: police

Both police departments gave little to no information on this crime, other than an investigation is ongoing. Both owners are hopeful the men are caught.

They are believed to be three males, late teens to early 20s, traveling in a dark colored Dodge Challenger. They may have also visited the businesses in the days leading up to the crime spree.

Based on the vehicle registrations of Black Dodge Challengers R/T with special wheels that that car has, Im thinking that they can narrow it down to maybe 50 or 60 that they can track down, Cutler said.

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WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI)  Voters in the Watertown City School District will get a chance to weigh in on Tuesday, March 25 on a $110 million capital improvement project.

District voters will decide on the project that will help on improving infrastructure at nine different buildings.

Watertown City School District voters to consider $110 million capital project in March

A number of the improvements being made will focus on improving building safety and controlling temperatures in the classroom.

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According to the district, $32 million will go to the high school building on Washington Street; $22 million for North Elementary School; $12 million to Case Middle School; $9 million at the H.T. Wiley Intermediate; $9 million Knickerbocker, Sherman, Ohio Elementary schools; $6 million for Starbuck Elementary and $2 million for the building on Massey Street.

The district said that there will be no tax increases as part of the proposal. A total of $94.6 million or 86-percent will come from New York State aid. Another $10 million will come from its capital reserve, which around 10-percent of the project. The other just over five percent will be $5 million in retiring debt.

Board meetings with budget presentations were held on Feb. 25 and March 4.

Voting will be held from noon until 9 p.m. with voters north of the Black River casting their ballots at North Elementary. District voters south of the Black River will have their say at Watertown High School.

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Trump responds to a question from the media during a meeting with ambassador nominees in the Cabinet Room of the White House. The president took questions that largely concentrated on the Signal text string between the president's national security staff regarding U.S. attacks in Yemen that were accidentally leaked to journalist Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic. Photo by Shawn Thew/UPI
Wendy Williams is holding on to hope as she faces another hurdle in her fight for independence.

The former talk show host is reportedly awaiting a new cognitive evaluation, a critical step that could determine her future under court-ordered guardianship.

Wendy Williams' ordeal began in 2022 when she was placed under financial guardianship, a move that did not sit well with her and her loved ones.

Wendy Williams Supposedly Clings To Hope As She Awaits Crucial Evaluation

MEGA

Williams is staying optimistic as she faces yet another delay in her fight for independence. The 60-year-old is still waiting for a new cognitive evaluation, something her court-appointed guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, has some level of control over.

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While it has been a frustrating and lengthy process, sources say Williams has "been told she has to be patient, which is hard but she's staying positive." Despite the challenges, the star remains determined. A source reveals she is "hanging on" and fully committed to winning back control of her life.

In Touch reports that while Morrissey previously suggested a future evaluation would be unlikely to change Williams' prior diagnoses, a source shares that:

"The outpouring of support from fans and from her family who are working tirelessly to get her out of that hell hole has given her a real jolt in the arm."

The TV Personality Fights Back, Calls Guardianship 'Emotional Abuse'

MEGA

Williams refuses to stay silent in her ongoing fight against court-ordered guardianship. The former presenter has been adamant that she is not cognitively impaired, describing her legal arrangement as "emotional abuse."

During a January appearance on "The Breakfast Club," Williams opened up about her living situation in an assisted facility. In her words:

"I'm in this place where the people are in their 90s and their 80s and their 70s. I keep the door closed. I watch TV. I listen to the radio. I watch the window. I sit here, and my life goes by."

Subsequently, while on "The View" in March, she did not hold back about her frustrations with her guardian, Sabrina Morrissey. "I don't want Sabrina, period," she stated, revealing she sought independent medical evaluations to prove her competence.

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"It was my choice to get an independent evaluation on my incapacitation. They say I have incapacitation. I do not," she added emphatically.

The Media Personality's Guardian Pushes Back Against Criticism

Licensing / MEGA

The battle over Williams' guardianship heats up as her court-appointed guardian fought back against public backlash. Morrissey's attorney stressed that the guardianship was not a personal decision but a court-ordered measure after Williams was legally declared incapacitated last August.

The Blast reports that the attorney described Williams' living conditions as high-quality, stating she resides in a facility with amenities such as a "spa, a workout room, excellent food, a dining room, and outside terraces," countering claims that she is being mistreated.

The lawyer also reinforced concerns about Williams' cognitive health, pointing to her diagnosis of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), a degenerative condition that causes memory and behavioral decline.

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Despite accusations that Williams is being isolated, Morrissey's legal team insists she is free to contact or visit her family at any time. The attorney further criticized media reports, calling them "untrue, inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading."

Wendy Williams' Claims Clash With Guardian's Defense

News Licensing / MEGA

In an unexpected turn, contrasting accounts surfaced regarding her living situation. While Morrissey's lawyer claims everything is in order, Williams argues otherwise, pointing to limitations on her freedom.

Reports suggest the mother-of-one faced significant visitation restrictions, with only a select few allowed to see her since entering assisted living.

While her guardian's legal team highlights two trips to Florida to visit her family, sources claim a judge initially denied her request to visit for her father's birthday.

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Apart from that, Williams also alleges that she rarely gets to enjoy the amenities noted by her guardian's lawyer. She is reportedly confined to a fifth-floor memory care unit and requires special permission to access features like the spa.

The Former Radio DJ's Guardianship Under Investigation

Backgrid/MEGA

Authorities in New York launched two separate investigations into Williams' court-ordered guardianship amid growing concerns about her well-being.

The Blast reported that Adult Protective Services (APS) interviewed Williams about her living conditions at the assisted living facility. As part of the probe, APS also reached out to Williams' inner circle, including her niece, Alex Finnie, to discuss the restrictions placed on her.

Additionally, law enforcement conducted a welfare check on Williams, and reports indicate that an NYPD patrol car was seen outside her residence two weeks ago, signaling the seriousness of the situation.

With mounting pressure from loved ones, Wendy Williams' fight for freedom is far from over, and the next move could change everything.
"There are some places that are not coming back and some people that are not coming back, but that's just part of the new normal," Pastor Michael Long said amid the devastation from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina.

It has been six months since Helene unleashed biblical flooding and tree-snapping winds across the Southeast, and Grove Stone Baptist Church in hard-hit Black Mountain, North Carolina, is still serving free meals to families in the Black Mountain community every Monday. This regular ritual is one of many simple acts of kindness that has fueled folks who are struggling amid the long-term recovery.

People serve a hot meal to those in need in Black Mountain, North Carolina. (AccuWeather/Bill Wadell)

"Here we are six months later after the storm. There's still a lot of [people in] need and a lot of people still willing to pitch in and help out these families," Long told AccuWeather National Reporter Bill Wadell.

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The church is a beacon of hope amid the destruction, with some towns still strewn with debris, a constant reminder of what was the deadliest hurricane since Katrina in 2004.

But the scars left by Helene run deep, well beyond the physical damage from the wind and rain.

Survivors struggling with PTSD, weather anxiety

"We want to let people know that we're still struggling," Brandon Johnson told Wadell. Johnson is the Executive Director of Madison County Arts Council and has been hard at work to clean and repair the flood damage left by the storm.

But his words also have another meaning that resurfaces anytime the weather takes a turn.

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"My 11-year-old can't go to sleep when it's windy. My 3-year-old draws pictures and says there's a hurricane. It's hit everybody in different ways," Johnson recalled.

"The other night, we had some severe weather come through, and I talked to a bunch of people and was like, I didn't sleep at all. I woke up 10 or 11 times, literally jumped out of bed at one point thinking I heard a tree that was coming down since we had a tree fall on our house."

Pastor Long echoed the sentiment, adding that "when the wind starts coming and the rain, there are a lot of people that get PTSD."

He is encouraging those struggling with the mental aspect of recovery to ask for help, as they are not the only ones navigating through the challenging recovery efforts.

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With so much damage still evident, western North Carolina has become a site for "disaster tourism."

This can be dangerous as people unfamiliar with the region may find themselves on roads that are still compromised due to Helene, or they may get in the way of ongoing cleanup efforts. However, Johnson said visitors can provide some help to the communities.

"We are very sensitive to disaster tourism. Don't come just to look around, come here and buy lunch, come here and do something to support folks," Johnson said, "Just be curious about it, understand that this place has gone through an incredibly traumatic six months."

Additional reporting by AccuWeather National Reporter Bill Wadell.
North Carolina children under age 14 would not be allowed to sign up for a social media platform account if a state House bill becomes law.

Those ages 14 and 15 would be allowed to create an account with parental or guardian permission.

Republican-sponsored House Bill 301, titled Social Media Protections for Minors Under 16, was filed March 5 with Rep. Jeff Zenger, R-Forsyth, as lead sponsor.

The bill cleared the House Judiciary 2, Commerce and Economic Development on April 1 The next step is the gatekeeper Rules and Operations committees before a potential floor vote.

The law would be made effective retroactive to March 1.

Federal law sets a minimum age of 13 to have a social media account, but children younger than that are able to create their own account whether with or without parental consent.

Social media focus

HB301 does not list specific social media platforms.

However, the bill was amended during the Judiciary 2 committee to clarify that the definition of a social media platform does not include:

*An online service, website, or application where the exclusive function is email or direct messaging consisting of text, photographs, pictures, images or videos shared only between the sender and the recipients, without displaying or posting publicly or to other users not specifically identified as the recipients by the sender;

* A community forum where the primary purpose of the forum is for customer self-service support related to products, sellers, services, events or places, or any combination thereof;

* An interactive video game service equipped with parental control that must be deactivated for a minor to use,

* Online shopping and e-commerce.

Platforms are described as: allowing content to be uploaded or viewed; at least 10% of daily active users are under age 16 who spend at least two hours daily on the platform; uses algorithms on user activities; allows for infinite scrolling, push notifications, auto play videos and for displays of personal interactive metrics.

Platforms with accounts for youths under age 14 would be required to terminate those accounts and delete all personal information of the account holder.

For those ages 14 and 15, a parent or guardian can authorize the social media platform account while retaining the authority to terminate the account. All personal information of the account holder also would be deleted.

The N.C. Justice Department would be in charge of enforcement and levying fines for violations of up to $50,000 per violation, plus attorney fees. Punitive damages could be assessed as well for patterns of knowing or reckless conduct.

The bill would allow individuals to sue the social media platforms for potential violations with a potential award of up to $10,000 per violation.

Social media platforms, according to Gov. Josh Stein, were designed by brilliant engineers to addict you.

They dont care about your health and well-being. In fact, they dont see you as people. They see you as products that they can exploit to make money.

North Carolina is among more than 40 states that is suing Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, alleging that it has exploited and manipulated children by creating a harmful and addictive app.

In addition, the lawsuit says that Meta has illegally collected data on users under the age of 13 without their parents consent.

Rates of social media use are skyrocketing. A 2023 survey from the Pew Research Center showed that nearly 1 in 5 teenagers are on YouTube and TikTok almost constantly.

Social media has also created fear within the school system, such as students being able to communicate threats of mass violence on school property after each posted threats on their social media pages.

Media impact

The age verification system would be required if at least 33% of its total content is considered as potentially harmful to minors.

Covered are news-gathering organizations, such as newspapers, radio and television stations and wire services.

The bill defines online materials potentially harmful to minors as including: any that the average person applying contemporary community standards would find, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest or depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct and when taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.

A commercial entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes material harmful to minors on a website or application, if the website or application contains a substantial portion of material harmful to minors, must use either anonymous age verification or standard age verification to verify that the age of a person attempting to access the material is 16 years of age or older, and prevent access to the material by a person younger than 16 years of age.

Those entities also could be subject to fines of up to $50,000 per violation.

Another section of HB301 could require online news-gathering media outlets and other commercial entities to establish an age-verification mechanism if they post, publish or distribute materials deemed to be potentially harmful to those under age 16.

The bill clarifies the age verification requirement does not apply to any bona fide news or public interest broadcast, website video, report or event and does not affect the rights of a news-gathering organization.

Mike Tadych, an attorney who represents the Journal and the News & Record, said the language addressing bona fide media outlets was likely included in an attempt to dissuade them from challenging the bill in the legislature, or in the court system if it becomes law.

Newspapers could get involved as a representative of the public interest with this legislation on First Amendment rights issues, Tadych said.

The legislation is vague enough, Tadych said, that there could be eye-of-the-beholder scenarios on print and visual coverage of graphic or obscene issues on website available to the public, such as sexual exploitation of children, homicides and undocumented immigration deportations.

There likely will be multiple challengers to the legislation outside the media, Tadych said.
The West Virginia House of Delegates on Monday rejected a bill that would have allowed parents to seek out religious and philosophical exemptions for school vaccinations.

The House, which is composed of 9 Democrats and 91 Republicans, voted 56-42 against the bill, meaning parents and guardians must continue to get their children vaccinated if their children attend West Virginia schools. Two lawmakers were not present or did not vote.

The bill would have mandated that public schools accept the exemptions while private and religious schools have the option to do so. The state Senate voted in favor of the bill. However, the Senates version of the bill wouldve mandated that all schools  including public, private and religious ones  accept the exemptions.

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Regardless, the House vote blocks a January executive order from West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) that would have allowed families to claim religious or conscientious exemptions for their school-aged children.

According to West Virginias News, some lawmakers celebrated the bill not passing and called on Morrisey to rescind his executive order.

Today, members of both parties stood together to prioritize the safety and well-being of West Virginians, said Del. Anitra Hamilton (D-Monongalia). Weve sent a clear message that the health of our children and communities must always come first.

Governor Morrissey must now immediately rescind his ill-advised, dangerous, and deadly executive order, respecting the clear voice of our constituents, said Del. Mike Pushkin (D-Kanawha). This administration cannot continue to put political pandering ahead of the health and safety of West Virginia families.

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Mondays vote comes after a group of former state health officers wrote a letter warning lawmakers about non-medical exemptions on Friday.

Dr. Matt Christiansen, Dr. Ayne Amjad and Dr. Cathy Slemp argued the financial implications of loosening vaccine requirements, leading to an outbreak, are substantial.

The cost of a measles outbreak is estimated at $33,000 per case (Pike, et al. 2020), they wrote. In West Virginia, the vast majority of these costs would fall to already strained systems  Medicaid, PEIA, CHIP, the Bureau for Public Health and Local Health Departments. And there are broader societal costs: lost work days, childcare closings, business losses, and days out of school.

They also added that strong immunization laws protect our freedom to live without fear of preventable diseases.

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They protect children with cancer, newborns too young to be vaccinated, pregnant people and the elderly. Weakening these laws will not return us to the rampant disease rates of yesteryear, but will result in some fully preventable illness, birth defects, outbreaks and, yes  on rare but devastating occasions  death, the letter continued.

Currently, all states and Washington, D.C., allow for medical exemptions for school vaccinations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to data from the National Conference of State Legislatures, 30 states and Washington, D.C. allow for exemptions for religious reasons while 13 states allow religious or personal exemptions. (Two states dont specify whether the nonmedical exemptions can be religious or personal.) Finally, just five states, including West Virginia, dont allow any nonmedical exemptions.

The topic of vaccinations has been a polarizing topic for many, as seen in the decline of child vaccination rates in recent years.

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As such, a measles outbreak across multiple states has led to hundreds of people contracting the vaccine-preventable disease.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is notably anti-vaccine and has spread numerous false claims about vaccines, was confirmed to his role as Health and Human Services secretary earlier this year. But experts warned ahead of time that Kennedys anti-vaccine standpoints could lead to a public health crisis.

Then, two weeks after his confirmation, an unvaccinated 6-year-old child died after contracting the measles amid an outbreak in Texas. The child is the first person to die from the disease in over a decade.

At least one other person has died amid the outbreak this year, according to the CDC.

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Kennedy has downplayed the measles outbreak, telling reporters in February that the outbreak is not unusual and we have measles outbreaks every year.

This past week, the parents of the child who died, who are anti-vaccine, said that they still hold those views.

Rep. Kim Schrier (D-Wash.), a pediatrician, slammed Kennedy for the measles outbreak and for his response to the 6-year-olds death.

I do blame him and others like him who, for the past 20 years, have been spreading lies about vaccines, which are safe and effective. And that has been proven time and again, Schrier said. This is settled science.

Related...
By Olivia Le Poidevin

GENEVA (Reuters) -Western coastal areas of Yemen are on the verge of a catastrophe due to malnutrition, the United Nations children's agency (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.

"We've seen figures of 33% severe and acute malnutrition in certain areas. Especially on the west coast, in Hodeidah it is on the verge of a catastrophe...where thousands will die," Peter Hawkins from UNICEF told reporters in Geneva via video link in Sanaa.

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Aid cuts by the U.S. and other donors, coupled with a severe lack of food distribution in 2024, has contributed to critical situation in some areas.

One in two children under the age of five years are malnourished in Yemen, alongside 1.4 million pregnant and lactating women, according to the agency.

"This catastrophe is not natural - it is man-made. Over a decade of conflict has decimate Yemen's economy, healthcare and infrastructure. More than half of the population rely on humanitarian aid," Hawkins added.

Earlier this month Medecins Sans Frontieres warned that malnutrition was growing in Yemen with needs outpacing current treatment capacity. It appealed for more support following a decline in humanitarian funding for the country.

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UNICEF has appealed for an additional $157 million for 2025 and says its current appeal is only 25% funded.

Since taking office on January 20, U.S. President Donald Trump paused USAID programmes for 90 days, while his administration reviews if they align with its 'America first' policy.

(Reporting by Olivia Le PoidevinEditing by Madeline Chambers)
Maturity is being able to admit when you might have gotten it wrong. And, in this case, I actually really hope I was.

Recently, I lamented the fact that the latest Marquette Law School poll found a lot of Wisconsinites still didnt know much about the Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates Brad Schimel and Susan Crawford.

I chalked it up to Trump-era attention-suck  the way his administration has been eating up every headline, every chyron, every algorithmic inch of our feeds. I couldnt help but compare it to the 2023 state Supreme Court race, which felt all consuming at the time and ended with record-shattering spring turnout.

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In turn, I privately predicted this years turnout would be lower.

But if early voting numbers are any indication of whats to come between now and when polls close on April 1, color me dead wrong.

Wisconsin early voting for April 1 election robust

As of March 20, the number of early ballots cast  including both in-person and returned absentee  was nearly double what it was at this same point in 2023.

Yes, its only a couple days into early voting. But still  this matters.

Its a promising sign that the Wisconsin electorate has not shrunk in the face of overwhelming, exhausting barrage of news and ads surrounding yet another pivotal race.

If you havent voted yet  or if youre still unsure whats even on your ballot  heres a quick rundown. The marquee race pits former Gov. Scott Walker-appointed conservative Waukesha judge and former Attorney General Brad Schimel against liberal Dane County judge Susan Crawford, first elected to the bench in 2018. The winner will shape the ideological balance of the court  which flipped 4-3 liberal in 2023 when Justice Janet Protasiewicz defeated Dan Kelly.

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The 2023 race broke national spending records, and 2025 has already topped that. Theres big money on both sides, but Elon Musk and his Super PAC have spent more than $10 million.

Brittany Kinser vs. Jill Underly for State Superintendent

Voters will also choose the next Superintendent of Public Instruction  the person who oversees everything from teacher licensing to budgeting for Wisconsins 421 public school districts. Should the Trump administration fully dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, the Wisconsin DPI Superintendent will have an unmatched degree of control and power over the trajectory of public education in the Badger State.

The incumbent, Jill Underly, is backed by Democrats and teacher unions. Shes a longtime public educator who supports more school funding, better teacher pay and stronger local control.

Her critics would say shes dropped the ball on overseeing MPS and have also denounced her overhaul of school achievement standards last year.

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Her challenger, Brittany Kinser, is an education consultant and charter school executive who once led a pro-voucher nonprofit. While she calls herself a Blue Dog Democrat, her campaign is backed by the Wisconsin GOP and a number of figures in Wisconsins right-wing media ecosystem. Her critics argue she would expand private school voucher programs that drain resources from public schools.

Voter ID referendum also part of Wisconsin elections 2025

And whats a Wisconsin election without a statewide referendum? This years statewide referendum asks whether Wisconsins existing photo ID law  already among the strictest in the country  should be added to the state constitution.

Editorial: Elon Musks despicable disinformation tampers with WI Supreme Court election

You already need an ID to vote in Wisconsin. This change would just make that rule nearly impossible to repeal or adjust, even if future courts or lawmakers tried.

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Supporters say it protects election integrity. Critics say its voter suppression wrapped in constitutional permanence. Also? Again  its already a law.

Your ballot may also include local races  city council, school board, circuit judges  and referendums for things like school funding. You can preview your full ballot at myvote.wi.gov.

So, maybe the story of this election wont be low turnout. Maybe itll be that  once again  Wisconsinites showed up. In the face of billionaire meddling, disinformation and constitutional sleight-of-hand, maybe we proved (again) that were paying attention. That we still believe in public schools. In fair courts. In our own ability to shape what comes next.

Maybe this election is another reminder that democracy doesnt work unless we work it. And the good news? We still can. So, lets finish strong. Vote early. Vote informed. Vote like your future is on the ballot.

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Kristin Brey is the "My Take" columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: WI spring elections are high stakes. What's on the ballot? | Opinion
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  A hearing is set to be held at the State House this week on a proposal that would ban assault-style firearms in Rhode Island.

While fully automatic weapons, such as machine guns, are already illegal in Rhode Island, the Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025 (H5436) aims to prohibit the purchase, sale, manufacturing, and possession of certain weapons, including semi-automatic shotguns, rifles and pistols.

In the video above, Boston Globe columnist Dan McGowan joined Patrick Little on 12 News This Morning to go in-depth about the proposed ban.

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RI gun shop owner warns new assault weapons bill could put him out of business

MORE: Globe RI & 12 News Stories



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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
In the days following U.S. District Judge James Boasbergs decision on March 15 to issue a temporary restraining order stating that the Trump administration may not proceed with its deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador, Stephen Miller, White House homeland security adviser and deputy chief of staff for policy, wrote on X that district court judges have overstepped their legal bounds.

It takes 5 Supreme Court justices to issue a ruling that affects the whole nation, Miller tweeted on March 20. Yet lone District Court judges assume the authority to unilaterally dictate the policies of the entire executive branch of government. When asked to clarify what Miller meant by unilaterally dictate, a White House spokesperson wrote in an email to The Dispatch Fact Check, I think his X post is pretty clear.

Millers post appeared to be a response to a court case over the deportation of alleged members of a Venezuelan gang. President Donald Trump on March 15 issued a proclamation invoking an 18th-century law, the Alien Enemies Act, to remove individuals the government suspects are part of a Venezuela-based gang, Tren de Aragua, from the country. Five detained Venezuelans residing in the U.S., represented by legal advocacy groups including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Foundation and the Democracy Forward Foundation, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration contending the government violated their due process rights. Later that day, Boasberg issued a temporary restraining orderboth verbally and soon after in a written orderblocking the Trump administration from following through with deportations under the Alien Enemies Act. Yet, the administration later said that two planes carrying 137 alleged Tren de Aragua members to El Salvadorwhich agreed to imprison the accused offenders in exchange for $6 millionhad already departed and were above international waters at the time Boasbergs written order was issued.

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However, Boasbergs temporary restraining order was not a ruling on the merits of the case, and district court judges do not unilaterally dictate executive branch policy decisions. Litigation against the executive branch generally starts in district courts, but that is only the first step. Rulings issued by district court judges can work their way through the appeals courts, potentially all the way to the Supreme Court.

Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order to maintain the status quo until a broader caseto determine whether the Trump administration had the legal authority to deport alleged Tren de Aragua gang members to El Salvadorian prisonscould be heard. Because the named Plaintiffs dispute that they are members of Tren de Aragua, they may not be deported until a court has been able to decide the merits of their challenge, Boasberg wrote in a decision on Monday upholding his initial ruling.

The Trump administration has already appealed Boasbergs temporary restraining order to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Three federal judges on that appellate court heard arguments Monday as to whether it should reverse Boasbergs temporary restraining order or leave it in place. While temporary restraining orders technically cannot be appealed, the administration is arguing that the order more closely resembles a preliminary injunction than a temporary restraining order. Unlike preliminary injunctions, which require a hearing before being issued, temporary restraining orders are expedited to prevent the possibility of immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage that could arise from the defendants action under litigation. As The Dispatchs Sarah Isgur stated on a recent Advisory Opinions podcast episode, Preliminary injunctions are immediately appealable. Temporary restraining orders generally are not. In many cases, Isgur explained, the Trump administration is appealing [the temporary restraining orders] anyway and saying, you cant just label something not appealable if, in fact, it is a preliminary injunction-ish type order. The question of whether Boasbergs temporary restraining order is indeed a temporary restraining order, and not a preliminary injunction, will be central to the case the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear and decide on.

Still, theres the actual merits of the case. The Trump administration argues its deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members is wholly legal under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. That law authorizes the presidentonly in times of declared war  or any invasion or predatory incursion against U.S. territoryto remove all natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects of the hostile nation or government threatening U.S. sovereignty. The Trump administration stated in its proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act that Venezuela is functionally a hybrid criminal state that is perpetrating an invasion of and predatory incursion into the United States.

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Many of the deported individuals have denied any involvement with Tren de Aragua and other violent entities and have not been prosecuted for violent crimes. A significant question in the merits case is whether these individuals were deprived of due process rights. Other questions the merits case may examine are whether Venzuela is a hostile nation or government and whether violent gang-related activity in U.S. territory amounts to an invasion or predatory incursion.

Boasberg will ultimately rule on the broader merits, but that ruling may not necessarily be the final say in the legal dispute, either. The losing party, either the Trump administration or the legal advocacy groups representing the five Venezuelans detained in the U.S. and flown to El Salvador, will have the option to appeal the case to a federal appellate court. That decision from the appeals court can also be appealed to the Supreme Court, although the nations highest court selects which cases it chooses to take up. If the Supreme Court opts against hearing a case, then the appellate courts ruling stands.

If you have a claim you would like to see us fact check, please send us an email at factcheck@thedispatch.com. If you would like to suggest a correction to this piece or any other Dispatch article, please email corrections@thedispatch.com.

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President Donald Trump on Tuesday downplayed the use of a Signal group chat reportedly among top officials to discuss a U.S. attack on Houthis in Yemen -- brought to light when a journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic, was "inadvertently" added to the chat.

Trump claimed there "was no classified information as I understand it," when he was peppered with questions on the reported mishap during a meeting with his ambassadors at the White House. Trump came to the defense of national security adviser Michael Waltz and touted the military operation as a success.

"They used an app, if you want to call it an app, that a lot of people use. A lot of people in government use, a lot of people in the media use," Trump said.

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MORE: The Atlantic editor details moment he realized he was included in Yemen group chat

PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks next to Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles as he meets with U.S. Ambassadors in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, Mar. 25, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, wrote in a piece published Monday that he was added to a group chat in the commercially available Signal app in which officials, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Waltz, were discussing impeding strikes on Houthi militants in Yemen. Goldberg said he was apparently added to the chat by Waltz.

The story in The Atlantic only described the operational part of the message chain, but did not divulge specifics.

When asked if anyone would be fired as a result of the firestorm, Trump responded: "We've pretty much looked into it. It's pretty simple, to be honest ... It's just something that can happen. It can happen."

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Trump attacked The Atlantic as well as Goldberg and doubled down on the success of the airstrikes.

"Well, I mean, look, we look at everything and, you know, they've made a big deal out of this because we've had two perfect months," Trump said.

Waltz said he had technical experts -- rather than the FBI -- looking into the matter and told Trump, "We're going to keep everything as secure as possible. No one in your national security team would ever put anyone in danger."

PHOTO: President Donald Trump meets with US Ambassadors in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, Mar. 25, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

The Atlantic pushed back against Trump's claims.

"Attempts to disparage and discredit The Atlantic, our editor, and our reporting follow an obvious playbook by elected officials and others in power who are hostile to journalists and the First Amendment rights of all Americans," the magazine said in a statement Tuesday evening. "Our journalists are continuing to fearlessly and independently report the truth in the public interest.

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"Jeffrey Goldberg was the recipient of information about and discussion of military planning among the countrys top national security leaders when he was inadvertently added to their non-secure messaging group," it added. "This is stunning  and was confirmed yesterday by the National Security Council."

Democrats on Capitol Hill sounded off against the administration over the incident throughout Tuesday.

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., a Marine veteran, said during a news conference that the Signal group chat national security breach "put American lives at risk."

Moulton said Trump administration officials are lying about the incident, which is "not in the leadership manual for our armed services."

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"Oh, this information wasn't classified? Without even knowing the full details, we know that the time of attack for this operation was in the message. Let's be clear: That's classified information. That's all you need to know," he added.

MORE: Trump administration live updates

The congressman acknowledged that there is "no excuse here but there is also clearly no accountability, and it's very clear that Secretary Hegseth, with how he is handling this, has no honor, has no sense of duty and has absolutely zero accountability for his own actions."

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called for Hegseth to be fired over the group chat.

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"Pete Hegseth is the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in American history," he said in a statement. "His behavior shocks the conscience, risked American lives and likely violated the law."

Earlier Tuesday, Democrats grilled Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe over the use of Signal and the information discussed on the chat.

The intelligence officials, who were testifying as part of a previously scheduled hearing before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, also asserted there was no classified information included in the message chain.

PHOTO: Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director, John Ratcliffe testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on 'Worldwide Threats,' on Capitol Hill in Washington, Mar. 25, 2025. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Facing questions from Senate Democrats on why information on attack sequencing or timing, as reported by The Atlantic, would not be considered classified, Ratcliffe said Defense Secretary Hegseth had authority to determine what was classified or not. Gabbard deferred such questions to the Defense Department.

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Ratcliffe also said he believed national security adviser Waltz intended the chat to be "a mechanism for coordinating between senior level officials, but not a substitute for using high side or classified communications for anything that would be classified."

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, the vice chairman of the panel, slammed the incident as "sloppy" and said others would have been fired for the same conduct. Warner also pressed officials to share the messages with lawmakers after they said they contained no classified information.

"If there was no classified material, share it with the committee. You can't have it both ways," he said.

Republicans on the panel did not raise as many questions on the issue during the hearing, which had been set to focus on worldwide threats. Though Sen. Todd Young, a Republican of Indiana, said he would be asking questions about the Signal incident in a closed-door session.

PHOTO: Ranking Member, Sen. Mark Warner speaks during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on 'Worldwide Threats,' on Capitol Hill in Washington, Mar. 25, 2025. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Officials with the White House's National Security Council said they "are reviewing" how Goldberg could have been mistakenly added to the 18-member group chat that included several of the nation's top military officials.

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Press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the review on Tuesday, but said that "no 'war plans' were discussed." She added that no classified material was sent to Signal group chat.

MORE: What to know about Signal, which the Pentagon previously discouraged workers from using

"The White House Counsel's Office has provided guidance on a number of different platforms for President Trump's top officials to communicate as safely and efficiently as possible," she said.

"At this time, the message thread that was reported appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain," NSC spokesperson Brian Hughes said in a statement, which was sent to ABC News after first being published by The Atlantic.

PHOTO: National Security Advisor Mike Waltz speaks during a meeting with President Donald Trump and US Ambassadors in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, Mar. 25, 2025. (Win Mcnamee/Getty Images)

The scope of the review, including whether it would attempt to determine why high-level discussions about military planning were taking place outside of official channels, was not immediately clear from Hughes' statement.

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Trump did not commit to changing procedure or cutting off completely the use of Signal within the administration as a result of the fiasco.

"I don't think it's something we're looking forward to using again. We may be forced to use it. You may be in a situation where you need speed as opposed to gross safety, and you may be forced to use it, but, generally speaking, I think we probably won't be using it very much," he said.

Despite his effort to downplay the incident, President Trump repeatedly indicated he does not like this means of communication, saying he thinks it is best to be in the Situation Room for these conversations.

"Sometimes somebody can get onto those things. That's one of the prices you pay when you're not sitting in the Situation Room with no phones on, which is always the best, frankly," Trump said.

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"Look, if it was up to me, everybody would be sitting in a room together," Trump later said. "The room would have solid lead walls and ceiling and a lead floor. But, you know, life doesn't always let you do that."

ABC News' Fritz Farrow, Luis Martinez, Lauren Peller, Lalee Ibssa, Isabella Murray, Ivan Pereira and Meredith Deliso contributed to this report.

Trump downplays Yemen war plans group chat fiasco: 'It can happen' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
White House and Pentagon leaders are denying accusations that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth improperly shared military secrets and classified information outside of secure channels ahead of military airstrikes against Houthi targets earlier this month.

But lawmakers  including a few Republicans  are demanding more information about top administration officials use of a group chat on the commercial app Signal that accidentally included a journalist from The Atlantic in conversations ahead of the launch of the military operation, to see if any laws were broken.

Officials from the National Security Council have publicly acknowledged that numerous top administration officials used the app to communicate ahead of the first airstrikes on March 16. The participants list included Hegseth, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Vice President JD Vance, among others.

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It also included Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, apparently added by mistake. In a story published Monday, Goldberg said the conversation included operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing.

Top Trump officials accidentally shared war plans with media

White House officials dismissed concerns about the mistake on Tuesday. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on social media that no war plans were discussed in the chat and disputed claims from Goldberg that he saw classified material on the thread.

Similarly, in a press gaggle Monday, Hegseth attacked Goldberg as a deceitful journalist and accused him of peddling hoaxes without directly addressing the use of the non-secure channel for operational planning.

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He also called the attacks a success, and said that should be the focus of the issue.

Still, in a statement to reporters on Monday, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., called the existence of the chat group definitely a concern and said he believes that mistakes were made by senior officials. He vowed to hold classified briefings on the issue in the coming days.

Democratic lawmakers said that doesnt go far enough.

A group of 14 Democratic senators on Monday demanded disciplinary action against some or all of the chat group participants for an egregious breach of public trust in the information leak.

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It does not take much imagination to consider the likely ramifications if this information had been made public prior to the strike  or worse, if it had been shared with or visible to an adversary rather than a reporter who seems to have a better grasp of how to handle classified information than your National Security Advisor, the senators wrote.

This is an astonishingly cavalier approach to national security.

House Armed Services Committee ranking member Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., said in a social media post that its time to start seriously worrying about the competency of President Trumps national security team. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. and ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, called for Waltz and Hegseth to resign.

Trump, in an interview with NBC News on Tuesday, brushed aside the controversy, saying that Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man.

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On Monday, in a press event with reporters, he joked that the information leak could not be too serious because the strikes against the Houthis were effective and lethal.

Potential violations

Military operations  especially those about to occur  are highly sensitive U.S. secrets, which can put service members and American intelligence methods at risk. And while many of the officials participating in the group have the authority to declassify information themselves, theres no public indication that they took formal steps to that effect.

Trump himself has a history with classified information. In his first term, he posted a picture of a rocket explosion inside Iran on Twitter, the social app now known as X. The image was taken from a highly classified U.S. spy satellite, but the president chose to release it without a formal approval process, usually required to publish such information.

U.S. government regulations also prohibit the use of personal devices or commercial messaging apps like Signal to discuss national security information. And though Signal is an encrypted app, that doesnt mean its secure. Foreign governments can hack into and monitor personal cell phones, recording every keystroke made on the device. Such a breach wouldnt immediately be clear, a former senior national security official said, speaking anonymously to avoid potential retaliation.

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The White House Counsels Office has provided guidance on a number of different platforms for President Trumps top officials to communicate as safely and efficiently as possible, Leavitt wrote Monday. Her post didnt address whether Signal was one such platform, or what it would mean for broader U.S. intelligence standards.

That said, the president could retroactively say that he had authorized group chats like the one Goldberg was invited to, shielding the officials involved. Trump argued in his interview with NBC Tuesday morning that there was no immediate consequence to the chat, calling the episode a glitch.

Theres a very real world in which this whole thing happens and its embarrassing and its mortifying, but no one gets fired, said Jamil Jaffer, head of George Mason University Antonin Scalia School of Laws National Security Institute.

A Defense Department memorandum from October 2023 specifically instructs senior military leaders not to use non-DOD accounts or personal email accounts, messaging systems or other non-public DOD information systems  except approved or authorized government contractor systems  to conduct official business involving controlled unclassified information or for classified national security files.

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Department officials have also not publicly announced Signal as an authorized platform for military personnel use.

On Tuesday, John Ratcliffe, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee that Signal is permissible to use for work purposes for his agency provided that the messages are also preserved elsewhere to conform with public records standards.

Ratcliffe confirmed that he was also on the Houthi airstrike chat group. Both he and Gabbard insisted that no classified information from the intelligence community was shared in the conversation.

FBI officials said they are still reviewing the incident, and have not yet committed to a full investigation. Warner and other Senate Democrats are pushing for one, calling it critical to public confidence in the administration.
Reuters sources have reported that "progress was being made" following the talks between the United States and Russia in Riyadh and a "positive announcement" is expected.

Source: Reuters, citing sources

Details: A source in the White House reported that "progress was being made" during the talks in Riyadh and a "positive announcement" is expected "in the near future".

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A Russian source told Reuters that the talks had concluded late on Monday 24 March and a draft joint statement had been sent to Moscow and Washington for approval, with both sides intending to publish it on Tuesday 25 March.

The White House stated that the initial goal of this round of Saudi talks was to secure a ceasefire in the Black Sea and to renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative from which Russia withdrew in 2023.

Background:

The US and Russian delegations have concluded their talks held in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, where they focused on ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Prior to that, on 23 March, the US and Ukrainian delegations held talks in Riyadh.

Ukraines Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated earlier that the aim of these meetings was to "determine the parameters of the proposals for various ceasefire regimes currently under discussion".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the Ukrainian delegation will have another round of talks with the US delegation after the US finish their talks with Russian representatives.

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The United States anticipates a "positive announcement" following the latest round of talks between U.S. and Russian delegates in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Reuters reported on March 24, citing an unnamed White House source.

Delegates from Moscow and Washington held a 12-hour meeting in Riyadh on March 24 to discuss the possibilities of a ceasefire in Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. The talks reportedly focused largely on a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea.

The U.S. believes the recent talks were productive and expects "a positive announcement" soon, an unnamed White House source told Reuters.

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The announcement is expected "in the near future," the source said.

The U.S. and Russia plan to release a joint statement on the meeting on March 25, a Russian source said. A draft statement has reportedly been sent to both parties for approval.

Reuters earlier reported that the U.S. delegation was led by Andrew Peek, a senior director at the U.S. National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior State Department official.

The Russian delegation reportedly includes Grigory Karasin, chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, and Sergey Beseda, an advisor to Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Alexander Bortnikov.

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The talks are the latest step in U.S. President Donald Trump's attempt to secure a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected Washington's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire during a call with Trump on March 18, but offered to immediately impose a partial ceasefire on energy sector attacks.

Despite the agreement, Russia continued its regular campaign of aerial attacks against Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.

A U.S. team also met with a Ukrainian delegation in Riyadh on March 23, the day before the Russia talks. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who led the Ukrainian side, called the meeting "constructive and meaningful."

The Ukrainian officials reportedly plan to remain in Saudi Arabia an extra day for further talks with the U.S.

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Read also: Ukraine war latest: Amid Russia-US talks in Riyadh, Russia fires missiles at Sumy, injuring over 90

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STORY: Top Trump administration officials mistakenly texted war plans to a group that included a journalist, the White House said on Monday, in a misstep that has drawn swift condemnation by Democratic lawmakers.

The editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, said in a report on Monday that on March 13 he was unexpectedly invited on to an encrypted group chat on Signal messenger called the "Houthi PC small group."

Messages in the group made Goldberg aware that large-scale U.S. strikes on Yemen's Houthi rebels were coming hours before they started.

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The strikes, over Houthi attacks against Red Sea shipping, came on March 15.

Before they began, Goldberg said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted operational details about the plan in the group, including, quote, information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing."

The chat also included accounts that appeared to represent Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and others.

At one point the person identified as Vance appeared to question whether U.S. allies in Europe, more exposed to shipping disruption in the Red Sea, deserved U.S. help.

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A person identified as Hegseth replied: "VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It's PATHETIC."

President Donald Trump's nominee for National Counterterrorism Center director Joe Kent, was apparently on the Signal chain despite not yet being confirmed by the Senate.

White House National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said the chat appeared to be authentic, and that the NSC was reviewing how a quote inadvertent number had been added.

When asked about The Atlantic report on Monday, Hegseth denied sharing war plans in the chat and attacked Goldbergs credibility.

Hegseth: "So you're talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who's made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again, to include the I don't know, the hoaxes of 'Russia, Russia, Russia' or the 'fine people on both sides' hoax or 'suckers and losers' hoax. This is a guy who peddles in garbage It's what he does.

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Journalist: "Why were those details shared on Signal and how did you learn that a journalist was privy to the targets, the types of weapons used?"

Hegseth: I've heard that was characterized, nobody was texting war plans. And that's all I have to say about that. Thank you."

In an interview on CNN late on Monday, Goldberg responded to Hegseth's denial, saying quote, "No, that's a lie. He was texting war plans."

Mr. President, this is one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence I have read about in a very, very long time.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democratic lawmakers have called the use of the Signal group illegal and demanded an investigation.

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"I don't know anything about it."

Trump told reporters at the White House Monday that he was unaware of the group chat incident.

The White House has given no sign so far that the breach would lead to any staffing changes.
The White House on Tuesday played down a growing scandal over a journalist gaining inadvertent access to a secret US administration chat group discussing an attack on the Houthi militia in Yemen.

Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic, was "well-known for his sensationalist spin."

No war plans had been discussed and no classified material had been sent on the encrypted messaging app Signal, Leavitt said. The White House was investigating how Goldberg's number was added to the thread, she said.

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Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the US National Security Council, earlier confirmed that the chat history was authentic and announced an internal investigation into the incident.

Leavitt then turned to the content of the chat, insisting that the strikes on the Houthis had been successful, thanks "to the strong and decisive leadership of President Trump and everyone in the group."

The chat included Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior government officials. According to Goldberg, the chat covered both military tactics and political messaging related to a planned strike against Houthi rebels.

The incident has prompted calls for an investigation from opposition leaders in the US Senate.

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Democrat Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, described the breach as "amateur behaviour" in a post on X.

"This kind of security breach is how people get killed. How our enemies take advantage. How our national security falls into danger," Schumer wrote, calling for a "full investigation into how this happened and the damage it created."
The White House on Tuesday sought to downplay the significance of a journalist being added to a group chat of administration officials discussing plans for attacks against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt argued in a post on the social platform X that no war plans were discussed in the chat on the Signal app, echoing comments Monday night from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. She also asserted that no classified material was sent to the thread.

Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic who was included in the group chat by mistake, has said war plans were discussed in the chat.

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He was texting attack plans. When targets were going to be targeted; how they were going to be targeted; who was at the targets; when the next sequence of attacks was happening, Goldberg said Monday night on CNN.

Leavitt, who dismissed Goldberg as well-known for his sensationalist spin, also said the White House Counsels Office has provided guidance on platforms administration officials can use to communicate. Its unclear if Signal, an app that offers encryption as well as features like disappearing messages, is an approved platform.

As the National Security Council stated, the White House is looking into how Goldbergs number was inadvertently added to the thread, Leavitt posted.

Thanks to the strong and decisive leadership of President Trump, and everyone in the group, the Houthi strikes were successful and effective, she added. Terrorists were killed and thats what matters most to President Trump.

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Lawmakers and national security experts expressed alarm at Goldbergs revelation that he was added to the group of administration officials, with some calling for firings over the incident.

The National Security Council confirmed the authenticity of the group chat Monday.

Updated at 9:24 a.m. EDT

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The White House announced Tuesday it came to an agreement with Ukraine and Russia to eliminate the use of force in the Black Sea, as well as end strikes on energy facilities, marking one of the more significant steps the Trump administration has seen toward a stop in fighting.

The agreement will ensure safe navigation and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea, a critical waterway for Ukraines exports. The announcement did not include a start date for the truce.

Russian state media TASS said the Kremlin was in favor of restarting talks about the Black Sea Initiative, which was a proposed deal in 2022.

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The White Houses announcement comes two days into the latest round of shuttle diplomacy in Saudi Arabia. U.S. officials have held a series of meetings with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators.

Earlier Tuesday, Russian officials said there was no ceasefire deal yet, with negotiations focused on two limited ceasefire agreements after Russian President Vladimir Putin declined a broader 30-day ceasefire.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters Russia is still analyzing the results of the talks, but the details would certainly not be made public, though dialogue between the countries would continue.

However, the White House released a pair of statements announcing the agreements with Ukraine and Russia.

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The White House said it agreed with Ukraine to exchange prisoners of war, release civilian detainees, continue the plan to ban strikes against energy facilities in Russia and Ukraine and continue working toward achieving a durable and lasting peace.

The administration also announced it had come to an agreement with Russia to restore the countrys access to the world market for agriculture and fertilizer exports, as well as lowering maritime insurance costs and access to ports and transaction systems.

The United States reiterated to both sides President Donald J. Trumps imperative that the killing on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict must stop, as the necessary step toward achieving an enduring peace settlement, the White House said.

The Trump administration thanked Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for Saudi Arabias help in facilitating the discussions.

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The White House said it will continue facilitating negotiations between both sides in line with agreements made over the last few days.

Updated at 12:30 p.m. EDT

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The News

The White House said Russia and Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire in the Black Sea Tuesday following talks earlier this week in Riyadh. It was unclear when the truce would take effect, as the Kremlin issued its own statement stressing certain preconditions that must be met first.

Among them is lifting of limits on agricultural exports  Russia is a major wheat producer  and for Russian banks to be reconnected to the global SWIFT payments system.

While the White House announcement signaled progress in negotiations, the piecemeal nature of the agreements so far and Russias demands reinforced analysts concern that Moscow is playing for time to see what concessions it can get, Bloomberg wrote, as US officials work to fulfill President Donald Trumps campaign promise to end the war.
The Trump administration scrambled Tuesday to contain spreading political, diplomatic and intelligence damage from the shocking leak of secret American military attack plans shared by top officials on an unsecure group chat on Signal that included Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg.

As angry lawmakers demanded answers, Donald Trump officials on the Signal chat sought to downplay the significance of the stunning breach by Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, National Security Administrator Mike Waltz and others about the recent attack on the Houthis in Yemen.

My communications were  entirely permissible and lawful and did not include classified material, CIA Director John Ratcliffe said at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing.

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Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard refused to confirm her participation in the group chat and repeatedly insisted the information shared on the chat was not classified.

Hegseth trashed Goldberg and claimed he didnt share any war plans, even though other officials confirmed that he shared details of military assets and timing of the attacks, which were deemed a success.

Trump himself denied that the breach amounted to a major violation of security protocols and defended Waltz, who Goldberg says inadvertently added him to the chat group where officials discussed detailed plans for the March 15 attacks on the pro-Iran militia group.

Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man, Trump told NBC News, when asked if he still had confidence in his top national security aide.

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Goldberg Tuesday scoffed at the denials and efforts to soft pedal the extent and potential danger of the breach.

It was so dangerous to kind of release into the wild  of a commercial messaging app  things that are going to happen in the immediate future, he said. And some of these things involved  American pilots.

Democrats and Republicans alike expressed deep concern about the lack of basic security practiced by the senior officials, especially the fact that no one checked the identities of those on the chat.

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colorado, berated Ratcliffe for allowing the chat to include sensitive military details without verifying whether unauthorized people like Goldberg were included.

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This sloppiness, this incompetence, this disrespect for our intelligence agencies is entirely unacceptable, Bennet said. Its embarrassing. You need to do better.

Is this just one more approach to how careless you keep your secrets in this administration? asked Sen. John Warner, D-Virginia.

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton slammed the officials for dodging simple questions and denying that anyone made any mistakes.

Theyre trying to cover their posteriors, Bolton, a prominent hawkish conservative, told CNN. They know there was classified information in that chat (and) I think theyre very nervous.

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Goldberg said he is considering whether to publish all the information disclosed, a position that could be bolstered by the Trump officials claims that there was no classified or damaging information in the chat.

The veteran journalist, who said he was flabbergasted at being added to the group chat in the first place, has said he did not disclose any information about the planned attack in real time.

The Atlantic Monday published his account of what was shared with him on the chat, including remarkable secret discussions among the officials about the attack.

The text chain contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on pro-Iran Houthi rebels in Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing, Goldberg reported.

The strikes on the group, which have been blamed for attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, began two hours after Goldberg received the details.
The 23andMe headquarters in Sunnyvale, California in 2024. Credit - Justin Sullivan--Getty Images

The genetic testing company 23andMe, which holds the genetic data of 15 million people, declared bankruptcy on Sunday night after years of financial struggles. This means that all of the extremely personal user data could be up for saleand that vast trove of genetic data could draw interest from AI companies looking to train their data sets, experts say.

Data is the new oiland this is very high quality oil, says Subodha Kumar, a professor at the Fox School of Business at Temple University. With the development of more and more complicated and rigorous algorithms, this is a gold mine for many companies.

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But any AI-related company attempting to acquire 23andMe would run significant reputational risks. Many people are horrified by the thought that they surrendered their genetic data to trace their ancestry, only for it to now be potentially used in ways they never consented to.

Anybody touching this data is running a risk, Kumar, who is the director of Foxs Center for Business Analytics and Disruptive Technologies, says. But at the same time, not touching it, they might be losing on something big as well.

Read More: 23andMe Filed for Bankruptcy. What Does That Mean For Your Account?

Training LLMs

Companies like OpenAI and Google have poured time and resources into making an impact on the medical field, and 23andMes data trove may attract interest from large AI firms with the financial means to acquire it. 23andMe was valued at around $48 million this week, down from a peak of $6 billion in 2021.

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These companies are striving to build the most powerful general purpose models possible, which are trained on vast amounts of granular data. But researchers have argued that high-quality data sources are drying up, which makes new and robust information sources all the more coveted. A TechCrunch survey of venture capitalists earlier this year found that more than half of respondents cited the quality or rarity of their proprietary data as the edge that AI startups have over their competition.

I think it could be a really valuable data set for some of the big AI companies because it represents this ground truth data of actual genetic data, Kazlauskas says of 23andMe. Some of the human errors that might exist in bio publications, you could avoid.

Kumar says that 23andMes data could be especially valuable to companies in their push for agentic AI, or AIs that can perform tasks without the involvement of humans, whether in medical research or company decisionmaking.

The whole goal of agentic AI models has been a modular approach: you crack the smaller pieces of the problem and then you put them together, he says.

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Representatives for Google and OpenAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Industry-Based Value

23andMes data could also be valuable across different industries using AI to sort through vast amounts of datafirst and foremost, medical research.

23andMe already had agreements in place with pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, which tapped into the companys data sets in the hopes of developing new treatments for disease. Kumar says that at Temple, he and colleagues are working on a project to create personalized treatment for ovarian cancer patientsand have found that genetic data can be very, very powerful in understanding structures that we were not able to understand, he says.

However, Alex Zhavoronkov, founder and CEO at Insilico Medicine, contends that 23andMes data may not be as valuable as some think, especially in relation to drug discovery. "Most low hanging fruits have already been picked up and there is significant data in the public domain published together with major academic papers, he wrote in an email to TIME.

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But companies in many other industries will likely be interested, too. This is an abnormally large and nuanced data set: This amount of genetic data, especially that which comes with personal health and medical records, is rarely publicly accessible, says Anna Kazlauskas, CEO of Open Data Labs and the creator of Vana, a network for user-owned data. All of that contextual data makes it really valuableand hard data to get, she says.

Potentially interested industries include insurance companies, who could use the data to identify people with greater health risks, in order to up their premiums. Financial institutions could track the relationship between genetic markers and spending patterns in the process of assessing loans. And e-commerce companies could use the data to tailor ads to people with specific medical conditions.

Ethical and Privacy Concerns

But companies also face significant reputational risks in getting involved. 23andMe suffered a hack in 2023 which exposed the personal data of millions of users, severely hurting the companys reputation. Bidders who come from other industries may have even less data protection than 23andMe did, Kumar says. My worry is that some of the companies are not used to having this kind of data, and they may not have enough governance in place, he says.

This is especially dangerous because genetic information is inherently sensitive and cannot be altered once compromised. The genetic information of family members of people who willingly gave their data to the company are also at risk. And given AIs well-known biases, the misuse of such data could lead to discrimination in areas like hiring, insurance and loans. On Friday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta released an urgent alert to 23andMe customers advising them to ask the company to delete their data and destroy their genetic samples under a California privacy law.

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Eva Galperin, director of cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, worries that 23andMes genetic data might exist in a state of permanent flux on the market. Once you have sold the data, there are no limits to how many times it may be resold, she says. This could result in genetic data falling into the hands of organizations that may not prioritize ethical considerations or have robust data protection measures in place.

Insilico Medicines Zhavoronkov says all of these fears mean that potential AI-related bidders will be dissuaded from trying to purchase 23andMe and its data. Their dataset is actually toxic, he says. Whoever buys it and trains on it will get negative publicity, and the acquirer will be possibly investigated or sued."

Regardless of what ultimately happens, Kazlauskas says she is at least thankful that this conundrum has opened up larger conversations about data sovereignty. We should probably, in the future, want to avoid this kind of situation where you decide you want to do a genetic test, and then five years later, this company is struggling financially, and that now puts your genetic data at risk of being sold to the highest bidder, she says. In this AI era, that data is super valuable.

With reporting by Billy Perrigo

Contact us at letters@time.com.
President Donald Trump wants a lasting peace in Europe after Russias war against Ukraine. And he also wants the United States to remain the worlds superpower, and for NATO to be stronger, not weaker. To help secure those goals, the United States must remain the leader of the NATO alliance. But there are reports that new advisers inside the Pentagon are advocating for the president to surrender a key U.S. military role, that of Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). This would make the U.S. less powerful, render it less influential with European forces, and increase the risk of deterrence failure.

When America assumed its place as leader of NATO, President Harry Truman appointed Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower as the alliances first SACEUR. After America fought alongside the Allies to liberate Europe, its hand at the helm at SACEUR visibly demonstrated its commitment to preserving the peace in Europeand, more specifically, its indispensable role as the ultimate security guarantor of the alliances nuclear weapons. The SACEUR determines the overall direction of the military alliance, and plans and directs all NATO military operations. This American four-star general is also the Commander of U.S. European Command, and he is physically located in Mons, Belgium, at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE).

American control of the SACEUR position has not only been good for Europe, it has also been good for the United States: It has contributed to fostering the peace necessary for governments and societies to devote time to human flourishing, productivity, and commerce. Other Europeans might want to take over the role (as French President Emmanuel Macron periodically volunteers to), but no country has the kind of influenceeconomic, military, diplomatic, moralas the United States, and this remains true even in an age of chest-thumping realism trending toward cynicism. The United States remains the coalescing force in the Alliance, the only nation in the world with the hard-earned ability to drive consensus across disparate democratic nations to counter shared adversaries. The most effective way to push for even more contributions from allies, adapt locations and numbers of military forces and capabilities, and make a more credible and effective integrated NATO military architecture is keeping the SACEUR position in American hands, not vacating it and submitting American forces to the command of a European officer. The United States gets nothing by handing over this power, but it does court disaster.

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Of course, it is true that American security backing has also had the unintended consequence of allowing Europeans to get overly comfortable. Some European capitals, under the protection of the United States, have audaciously made deals with Russia for cheap oil, effectively funding Russian President Vladimir Putins war machine. Other countries have heavily invested in social welfare programs at the expense of defense spending. Trump has urged Europeans to do more to share the burden of the alliances funding, and new advisers in this second Trump administration may think giving up SACEUR would force the Europeans to do more.

But there has already been progress on that front without going to such drastic measures. Of the 32 countries in the NATO alliance, 23 now invest at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product in defense, a NATO target that many countries consistently fell short of. At the outset of Trumps first term, just seven countriesincluding the United Statesmet that target.

Russias invasion of Ukraine has tested NATO. But its also led Finland and Sweden to join the alliance, and motivated the European Union to increase defense spending dramatically. But Putins gamble could still very well pay off for Moscow, depending on the Trump administrations next stepshow it leads peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and shapes the European security architecture going forward.

Even the most reliably pro-American European countries like Poland are questioning if the Trump administration really does want to make NATO stronger like it claims. Abandoning the SACEUR role would only further validate these concerns, likely cementing European Union plans to pivot away from U.S. defense manufacturers and toward rebuilding the blocs own defense capabilities. The 27 EU nations have placed about two-thirds of their orders with U.S. defense companies in recent years, and that percentage falling would mean not only an economic hit for the United States, but less control over supply chains and logistics.

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With the United States facilitating negotiations between Russia and Ukraineand encouraging European allies to invest more in their own defensewe cannot afford the signal that voluntarily surrendering our SACEUR leadership role would send. Just as the Trump administration has encouraged allies to decouple from Russian energy and to rearm, it must now work to strengthen and improve NATOs military architecturenot undermine American influence in the alliance and weaken its cohesion.

If Trump wants to be a peacemaker, he should stick with the plan to make NATO stronger: We can use the aggregate strength of our European allies to deter further Russian aggression, even as the United States makes big moves to counter China. And he can do that best when an American is sitting in the Command chair.

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Apartment buildings and houses are pictured in Nuuk, Greenland, on March 24, 2025. Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede accused Washington of interfering in its political affairs with the visit of an American delegation to the Danish territory coveted by U.S. President Donald Trump. Credit - Juliette PavyGetty Images

On Thursday, Second Lady Usha Vance will be visiting Greenland along with a U.S. delegation. The trip, the White House says, is meant to celebrate Greenlandic culture and unity with Vance scheduled to visit historical sites, learn about Greenlandic heritage, and attend Greenlands national dogsled race. Trumps national security advisor, Mike Waltz, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright are also expected to make a visit.

But the visit has been condemned by Greenlands leaders, especially as the Trump Administration has continued its brazen push for control of the region. In a speech at the joint session of Congress on March 4, President Donald Trump spoke of the importance of letting the people of Greenland determine their own future before admitting, We need it really for international world security, and I think we're going to get it one way or the other.

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The trip also comes as Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, is facing a new future in the face of climate change. Rising temperatures are accelerating the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet, the largest ice mass in the Northern Hemisphere. The impact, coupled with warming oceans, has altered the areas ecosystems and food security.

On the surface, it seems these changes may be opening up new economic and strategic opportunitiesones the U.S. and others may want to tap. But the reality is more complicated than that.

There's a perceived military benefit and there's a perceived economic benefit, says Paul Bierman, professor of natural resources at the University of Vermont. Greenland is strategically located in the Atlantic Ocean between the U.S., Russia, and China, and contains a trove of natural resourcesminerals, oil, and natural gasthat is largely untapped. But Bierman adds: I actually think both of these [ideas] are false.

Natural Resources

There are 31 million barrels of undiscovered oil in East Greenland, according to a 2007 U.S. Geological Survey study. And Greenland is home to minerals like lithium, niobium, and zirconium, all of which are useful for the production of batteries, electronics, and electric cars. But experts say that accessing these resources is not as easy as it sounds.

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The reason much of the resources remain untapped is in part because they are not easily accessible. Greenland has a limited road network and a population of less than 60,000and a large portion of the region is built on permafrost, which presents building challenges. Its a tricky ground to create infrastructure on, says Asa Rennermalm, professor at the Department of Geography at Rutgers.

Climate change has spurred hopes of a mineral gold rushas the receding ice could make accessing these natural resources easier. Many areas of Greenland, however, are currently closed off to extraction. In 2021, the territorys parliament voted to stop oil and gas exploration due to environmental concerns, and also banned uranium mining that same year.

Greenland's changing climate also holds potential for the U.S.'s artificial intelligence ambitions. During a Feb. 12 Senate hearing on the acquisition of Greenland, Rebecca Pincus, director of the Polar Institute at the Wilson Center, spoke of the potential for the melting ice sheet to provide the energy for hydropower-fueled AI data centers.

A New Trade Route

Melting sea ice could open up a new trade routeone which President Trump seems to be vying for control over. What we're seeing globally in the Arctic is a dramatic decrease in the coverage of sea ice, says Bierman. And so as the Arctic Ocean has less and less sea ice, it potentially is open to vessels that are not icebreakers to get through.

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Trumps former national security adviser Robert OBrien has said that Greenlands location is critical not only in its relation to China and Russia, but also as an alternative shipping route as climate change makes the Panama Canal more unreliable. Prolonged drought, exacerbated by climate change, has lowered water levels in the canal, making it harder for ships to pass through.

[Greenland is] strategically very important to the Arctic, which is going to be the critical battleground of the future, because as the climate gets warmer, the Arctic is going to be a pathway that maybe cuts down on the usage of the Panama Canal, OBrien said in an interview with Sunday Morning Futures in December.

China and Russia launched a joint shipping corridor along the Arctic Sea in 2023that year alone, 80 voyages reached Chinese ports through the route. We have a lot of our favorite players cruising around the coast, and we have to be careful, Trump told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte earlier this month, referring to the potential security risk that open Arctic waters might pose.

Climate Risks

Experts say that the Trump Administrations focus is nearsightedand ignoring a much bigger issue. The Arctic is warming at a rate three to four times faster than the rest of the worldand Greenlands ice sheet lost 2.5 million liters (over 660,000 gallons) of fresh water per second last year.

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The melting ice sheets are not going to make resource extraction any easier. There's this fantasy that the ice sheets are going to melt away overnight, and all these new exotic minerals are going to appear where they used to be a thousand feet of ice, says Bierman. That's not going to happen.

Ice melt caused by climate change can trigger landslides, which can damage mining infrastructure in seconds. It's going to destroy the port infrastructure, or, if you're unlucky enough, destroy your mine, says Bierman.

Whats more, if Greenlands ice sheet were to melt completely, it would raise global sea levels by 23 ft. Even just a fraction of that is going to have huge impacts on global sea level rise, says Rennermalm.

It will radically change the rest of the worldcoasts from Mumbai to Mar-a-Lago could be underwater. If we don't take care of that ice sheet. There are estimates in the many trillion dollars of economic losses if that happens, and that's going to eclipse any critical minerals, says Bierman. That to me is the piece that doesnt fit in the four year political cycle.

Write to Simmone Shah at simmone.shah@time.com.
Vimbai Masiyiwa was on a family safari in Zimbabwes Victoria Falls National Park when a guide made an offhand remark that stuck with her. Dont worry, its a lot more beautiful when we get to the lodge, the guide said. The commentmeant to gloss over the poverty outsideleft Masiyiwa unsettled. Why was the reality of local communities something to be ignored?

Vimbai Masiyiwa, co-founder and CEO of Batoka Africa, is reshaping the safari experience as one of the first Black woman to own a safari lodge group in Africa. She launched the company to blend luxury with local impact, using tourism to empower communities and support long-term change. Photograph By Kleinjan Groenewald via Batoka Africa and Zambezi Sands Lodge Production and Styling By Happy Go lucky

Masiyiwa, now 30, decided to change the narrative and opened her own safari company, Batoka Africa. As the first female safari lodge owner, Masiyiwa loves her home country of Zimbabwe and ensures her company focuses on the human element.

Once you look after people, and people see that theyre important, they see the value of the wildlife around them and protecting that wildlife, she says about their first luxury lodge, Zambezi Sands River Lodge, which opened in June 2023.

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But Masiyiwa remains an outlier. Despite the safari industry generating over $12 billion annually, only 15 percent of the Africa Travel and Tourism Associations safari businesses are Black owned.

However, a small but growing group of African entrepreneurs is working to change thatredefining who benefits from Africas wildlife and reshaping the future of safaris.

Guests at Batoka Africa can explore handcrafted art and jewelry made by local artisansan invitation to connect with and support the surrounding communitys creative talent. Photograph By Kleinjan Groenewald via Batoka Africa and Zambezi Sands Lodge Production and Styling By Happy Go lucky

Who benefits from Africas safari industry?

For more than a century, safaris have been shaped by outsiders. The underrepresentation of Black ownership in the safari industry is rooted in historical, economic, and systemic challenges, says Naledi Khabo, CEO of the Africa Tourism Association. Historical land dispossession has resulted in limited land ownership opportunities.

The safari industry began in the late 19th century, during the colonial era, when European explorers and American adventurers traveled to the interiors of East and Southern Africa for cartography and game hunting. To this day, many safari lodges and camps are primarily owned by white male individuals, mainly serving white, affluent international travelers.

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(Meet Zimbabwes formidable female rangers.)

Khabo explains that establishing and running safari lodges demands substantial capital for land acquisition and infrastructure, and access to funding remains extremely scarce. The movement for more Black-owned safaris extends beyond representation, she adds.

African-owned camps will result in stronger cultural representation and integration in the guest experience, making for more meaningful experiences, says Khabo. By engaging with the community, conservation efforts will be deepened because the local community will have a vested interest.

With 360-degree views of the African wilderness surrounding the lodge, the Zambezi Sands communal areas are designed to transform guests into a state of utter relaxation through thoughtfully designed interiors. The use of bespoke pieces crafted from authentic and eco-friendly materials provides exceptional comfort and luxury while honouring and respecting the natural beauty that surrounds the lodge. Photograph By Kleinjan Groenewald via Batoka Africa and Zambezi Sands Lodge Production and Styling By Happy Go lucky

With 360-degree views of the African wilderness surrounding the lodge, the Zambezi Sands communal areas are designed to transform guests into a state of utter relaxation through thoughtfully designed interiors. The use of bespoke pieces crafted from authentic and eco-friendly materials provides exceptional comfort and luxury while honouring and respecting the natural beauty that surrounds the lodge. Photograph By Kleinjan Groenewald via Batoka Africa and Zambezi Sands Lodge Production and Styling By Happy Go lucky

An enhanced safari model

While most safari-goers only see Africas glamorous side, the unglamorous parts inspired Zimbabwean entrepreneur and former guide Beks Ndlovu to open African Bush Camps (ABC). This award-winning safari company is known for its high-end lodges and camps near protected areas that focus on conservation and empowering local communities through its foundation.

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The abject poverty on the outskirts of these beautiful national parks, the horrible onslaught of wildlife year after year in certain areas that disappear, and the shirking of habitats really got to me, he shares.

(These five trends are transforming traditional safarisfor the better.)

In 2006, Ndlovu opened his first campSomalisa Campin Zimbabwes Hwange National Park with just 16 staff members, hoping to create ambassadors in the industry and inspire others. Today, ABC operates 17 luxury bush camps across Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Zambia, employing 700 residents.

But breaking into the industry wasnt easy. Zimbabwes economic collapse and political instability scared off early clients. Another challenge he endured, and some continue to face, is building trust. At the beginning, potential clients did a double take and wondered how secure it was to do business with an African-owned property, says Ndlovu. But what helped was that he had come from the very fabric of the industry as a reputable guide.

Up-close wildlife encounters are at the heart of the safari experiencebut who leads them is changing. Companies like Batoka Africa, African Bush Camps, and Volcanoes Safaris are investing in local talent, training some of the continents top guides to ensure safaris are not only immersive, but rooted in African expertise. Photograph By Kleinjan Groenewald via Batoka Africa and Zambezi Sands Lodge Production and Styling By Happy Go lucky

Masiyiwa echoes this experience, noting that she heard from one agent recently that a guest didnt choose their lodge because they werent secure about the level of service they would receive. Changing that takes generationsits about shifting mindsets and dismantling institutional racism, she says.

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Praveen Moman, founder of Volcanoes Safaris, faced a different set of challenges in 1997 when he opened his first lodge, Mount Gahinga Lodge, near Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in southwestern Uganda, bordering Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). His venture came just three years after the Rwandan genocide during a period marked by upheaval and instability as rebels and refugees moved across the region.

When Moman searched for a lodge site in Rwanda a few years later, he saw refugees returning from the DRC with nothing to eat. Having experienced displacement himselfhis family fled Uganda during the 1970s Asian Expulsionhe returned decades later to establish Volcanoes Safaris, just as Rwandas national parks were reopening and tourism was reviving.

But finding skilled staff was nearly impossible since they either left the country or died, or thered be nobody to teach them, Moman says.

Though this was a difficult start, it led to a philosophy of not relying on outsiders. We had to build up our own peoples skills and abilities. We just set about empowering, training, and making our staff believe they could be managers, be part of the leadership team, and grow and learn, says Moman, adding that what makes the lodges unique is that theres genuine warmth and spirit of welcome that make us be part of the family.

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Today, Volcanoes Safaris is a leader in great ape ecotourism and conservation, operating three gorilla lodges and two chimpanzee lodges across Uganda and Rwanda, with 300 staff members from the surrounding areas.

Why investing in people and wildlife matters

Wildlife protection is a key tenet for many top safari companies. After all, without wildlife, tourism falters. Many safaris also support local communities through jobs, training, and guest donations. Still, Khabo says African-owned lodges go further, ensuring their impact is more deeply rooted in the surrounding communities.

(Here's how luxury safaris make a difference.)

One of the most striking examples is the Batwa people, some of Central Africas earliest inhabitants. For 60,000 years, they lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. During the 1990s, they were evicted without compensation from their ancestral rainforests in Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC when governments began opening national parks to protect mountain gorillas. Having no agricultural traditions, land titles, or alternative livelihoods, the Batwa suffered a devastating loss of cultural identity and were left with nothing.

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When Moman was setting up his first lodge, he saw firsthand how the Batwa struggled to survive in nearby shantytowns. Initially, he brought guests to witness their plightbut he quickly realized he didnt want to exploit human misery as a tourist attraction. Instead, he took action and decided to build Gahinga Batwa Village near Mount Gahinga Lodgeproviding permanent housing, a community center, and farmland for over 100 people. Lodges should not exist as isolated islands and isolated places for the rich without connecting to the world, he says.

Beyond housing, Volcanoes Safaris also helps the Batwa with healthcare and education. Some Batwa kids from our Batwa Village are coming top of the class, Moman says. The company has also created the Kyambura Buffer Zone, a protected area that prevents chimpanzees from being poached and stops wildlife from encroaching on farms.

(Here are the four best safari trips that support local communities.)

African-owned companies like Batoka Africa and African Bush Camps are opening doors for more women to become professional guides, challenging long-held norms in an industry long dominated by men. Photograph By Kleinjan Groenewald via Batoka Africa and Zambezi Sands Lodge Production and Styling By Happy Go lucky

Other African-owned safari companies are making a difference in other ways. Since the beginning, Batoka Africa has integrated community projects to support local economies. For example, one staff member belongs to a womens sewing collective that crafts the lodges amenity kits, bags, and napkins, some of which are available for guests to purchase.

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ABC assists with alternative livelihoods so people can generate income without burning trees and selling charcoal for revenue. The company also trains and encourages female guides, bringing more women into an industry historically dominated by men. Through the African Bush Camps Foundation, Ndlovu ties conservation to community empowermentbut for him, the goal is more than sustainability; its regeneration.

Its the holistic full picture where we tell and live our story, he says. A story told by somebody who speaks like them, looks like them, and has the same background as them to inspire others to believe this is an industry and a career that we can build and have a meaningful and impactful agenda around the places we operate.
Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of California, launched his 2028 presidential bid on March 6 via, of course, a podcast. This Is Gavin Newsom was released on all the usual platforms with two of the strangest interviews in modern political history.

On the first episode Newsom, who as mayor of San Francisco issued marriage licenses to gay couples back in 2004, hosted Charlie Kirk, the conservative media personality who spent last autumn preaching that gay marriage should be banned. The fourth show saw Newsom, who backed Joe Biden to the bitter end, go head-to-head with Steve Bannon without once challenging Bannons claims that Biden stole the 2020 election. Hes since interviewed conservative commentator Michael Savage, Democratic governor Tim Walz and New York Times columnist Ezra Klein.

This has appalled just about everyone in American politics. In the UK, were used to former spin doctors and MPs presenting podcasts with gentle jousting over the centre ground. But in partisan America, the idea that a Democratic governor would have a genial chat with a Republican firebrand has shocked and angered both sides.

The bipartisan site The Hill headlined its review No one wants a Gavin Newsom podcast  not even Democrats. Californian state assembly Democrat member Alex Lee has condemned the show as terrible, former Illinois congressman Adam Kinzinger tweeted that the pod was unforgivable and insane, while the liberal New Yorker magazine condemned it as ill-fated and embarrassing. Even Jane Fonda joined the pile-on, using the Bannon interview as an excuse to compare Newsom with Neville Chamberlain.

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Republicans, meanwhile, seem spooked for different reasons. When asked if Newsom could give Republicans problems, Steve Bannon said hell, yes, while the conservative commentator Megyn Kelly warned GOP-ers to stop joining the California governors show. After Kirk appeared on the show, he wrote a column on the Fox News website advising Republicans to beware.

Given this furore, youd expect quite a lively show but, for British listeners used to a more informed style of interviewer, This Is Gavin Newsom is strangely soft and even a little bland. Newsom almost feels like the liberal Trump podcaster Theo Von, whose schtick is slightly baffled interest and a willingness to let his guests steamroller the chat. He murmurs along with his guests and asks surprisingly supportive questions.

Gavin Newsom with his first podcast guest, Charlie Kirk

As Charlie Kirk talks about building his conservative movement Turning Point, Newsom chucks in the odd love it and laughs with a certain delight as Kirk runs through his CV. Is that confidence or narcissism? is about as punchy as he gets.

At one point, Bannon runs through rebuilding the Maga base after the stolen election, Newsom strikes back: Well, I appreciate the notion of agency. The New York Times headlined its review What on Earth is Gavin Newsom Doing?

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The answer? According to Newsom its time to have a conversation. Its time to have honest discussions with people that agree and disagree with us. Its time to answer the hard questions and be open to criticism, and debate without demeaning or dehumanizing one other.

Which translates as running for president in plain sight by trying to speak to Bannon and Kirks audience  proving hes the most Maga-fluent Democrat on the block. He is definitely not auditioning for a job as an interviewer. Newsom spends an awful lot of time appreciating his guests points  so much so that one commenter underneath the shows YouTube feed posted this podcast should be called, I Appreciate That with Gavin Newsom.

There isn't a single modern topic that liberals won't analogize to WW2. Jane Fonda now says that Gavin Newsom went from Churchill to Chamberlain simply by talking to Steve Bannon. pic.twitter.com/5kKNlDGdFA  Clint Russell (@LibertyLockPod) March 14, 2025

Newsom is trying to slide into the podcasting world for obvious reasons. 1960 was the first TV election, 2016 went to social-media and 2024 was long-form podcasts and live streams on Twitch and YouTube, which are dominated by Maga bros. According to research from the Pew Centre in 2023, 46 per cent of Republicans had listened to a podcast in the previous 12 months while Democrats came in slightly higher at 54 per cent. And yet, during the Biden Administration, about a dozen Republicans were both active podcast hosts and sitting members of Congress, while few Democrats tried.

The biggest bro of them all, Joe Rogan, all but handed over his show over to the Trump campaign during the final weeks of the election, letting JD Vance and Elon Musk chunter away before an extended interview with the candidate led to him endorsing Trump the day before the election.

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After their defeat, Democrats started wishing for a Joe Rogan of the left. Google the phrase and youll see reams of analysis  including many commentators on both Left and Right arguing that the Left cant create a new Joe Rogan.

But back in 2020, there was a Joe Rogan of the left  Joe Rogan. Hes socially liberal, insists hes not homophobic, is pro-choice and hes a fan of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Hes basically Frankie Boyle.

Joe Rogan with President Donald Trump, in November 2024 - Jeff Bottari

During the 2020 Democratic primaries Rogan interviewed Tulsi Gabbard, Andrew Yang, and Bernie Sanders before coming out as a Bernie Bro. At which point the liberal establishment erupted in fury and worked as hard as it could to distance Rogan from the party.

The Sanders campaign must reconsider this endorsement, the Human Rights Campaign wrote at the time, after digging up transphobic and racist remarks from Rogans past. In 2024, Harris staffers claimed shed wanted to do Rogan  and Rogan claimed hed wanted to interview her. But the closest she got was Howard Stern, shock jock turned centrist dad.

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Its unclear exactly who Newsom is aiming the podcast at. Its certainly not the Joe Rogan audience, as Newsom is not funny  at all. In fact, Andy Burnham has better gags. His supportive murmuring feels part therapist, part suburban enthusiast. Clearly, he sounds like hes trying to explain to the Democrats why they lost. He also seems to be ingratiating himself with the Maga movement. And in one way, he truly is bringing the country together if the left, the right and the centre are all appalled.

Governor Gavin Newsom meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, October 2023 - AP

And yet. The political tip sheet Pucks podcast, The Powers That Be, gave him a careful thumbs up, suggesting itll appeal to the suburban dad and mom types, the sort of moderates who want to hear things they wouldnt hear elsewhere, and to hear political opinions.

Newsom has political form in the impossible and unpopular. His first elected position in San Francisco was for the citys Board of Supervisors, representing the wealthiest and most Republican districts. He introduced drug treatment programs for the homeless, which was opposed by Right and Left. He ran for mayor as a centrist, introducing measures that alienated both Right and Left. He annoyed Democrats by not declaring San Francisco a sanctuary city. He infuriated Republicans with his unilateral introduction of gay marriage. Since becoming governor, hes faced several recall petitions  again from Right and Left. In fact, on the face of it, his entire career has been a series of blunders and missteps. And yet, somehow, he keeps on getting elected.

Hes the Millwall of West Coast politics. His podcast is ridiculous. Its not funny. It doesnt challenge anyone. Its clearly not good. But, and heres a terrifying thought, what if its working?

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While bringing new life into the world is often viewed as one of life's most joyful moments, childbirth continues to pose serious risks for women - with more than 287,000 maternal deaths recorded during or shortly after pregnancy in 2020 alone.

Even though maternal mortality has significantly declined in recent decades, and most high-income countries report fewer than 10 deaths per 100,000 births, childbirth can still lead to severe complications, especially in regions with limited access to quality healthcare.

Interestingly, recent research led by the University of Vienna in Austria has shown that, unlike humans, Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), commonly known as snow monkeys, experience no maternal deaths linked to childbirth.

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The study, which was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), reveals that despite having a similar pelvis-to-head ratio as humans, these Old World monkeysa diverse group of primates within the Cercopithecidae family, notable for their non-prehensile tails and wide geographic distributionrarely encounter complications during delivery.

Investigating macaque childbirth

One of the main causes of maternal mortality in humans is the evolution of large brains, resulting in large fetal heads that struggle to pass through a narrow birth canal. This issue contributes to mortality rates of up to 1.5 percent in countries lacking sufficient medical care.

To investigate whether macaques face similar birth complications and maternal mortality as humans, scientists and midwives from the University of Vienna, the Medical University of Vienna, the Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research (Klosterneuburg), and Kyoto University (Japan) analyzed long-term demographic data from semi-free-living Japanese macaques at Affenberg in Landskron, Austria.

Japanese macaques give birth to their infants between spring and early summer and nurse them for seven months to a year. Credit: Angela Stojan

Barbara Fischer, PhD, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Vienna and one of the study's authors, explains that among 281 infants born to 112 female macaques during this period, not a single maternal death occurred.

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In an interview with Interesting Engineering (IE), Fischer says it was fascinating to study macaque births to understand what makes them similar and different from the human experience. "Why did childbirth evolve to be so difficult in humans," Fischer told IE. "Macaques are closely related to humans, they are primates, and they also give birth to really large fetuses, compared to the size of the birth canal of their mothers - just like humans."

Fischer emphasizes that the key finding is especially striking because Japanese macaques give birth to fetuses that are proportionally as large as those in humans. Yet, they show no signs of birth-related maternal mortality.

Understanding the differences

On why Japanese macaques face no mortality risks, the evolutionary biologist explains that this remains unknown. However, she suggests one possible reason is their different pelvic anatomy, as their birth canal does not require the fetus to rotate during delivery, unlike humans.

"This makes birth presumably simpler and less error-prone in macaques," Fischer highlights. "They also possibly have a pelvic girdle and pelvic floor that becomes more flexible around birth, which they can afford in contrast to humans because they do not walk upright."

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"We think that the pelvic girdle and pelvic floor muscles in macaques have greater flexibility during labor compared to humans and that the birth dynamics are less restricted due to differences in pelvic morphology," she points out.

Moreover, Fischer says that loosening the pelvis would pose greater problems for an upright-walking species like humans than for quadrupedal animals such as macaques. "Macaque fetuses might also have skulls that are just as malleable as human fetuses' heads, which aids during birth."

A female Japanese macaque nursing her six-month-old infant in winter. Credit: Angela Stojan

Meanwhile, Katharina Pink, PhD, an evolutionary anthropologist and midwife at the Medical University of Vienna, and lead author of the study, believes there may be valuable lessons to learn from macaque births that could help improve approaches to human childbirth.

"We were able to show for this population that not a single female has died in connection with the birth of her young within the last 27 years," Pink says, emphasizing that macaques move freely during birth and they often squat and change their birthing positions.

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"Movement, in combination with the anatomical condition, is key for a successful birth," Fischer continues. "This should be actively enabled for women who give birth."

Lessons for human childbirth

Scientific reports on births among free-living, non-human primates are rare, as most births occur at night or in the early morning hours, making them difficult to observe and document. However, observed birth events suggest that non-human primates instinctively adopt standing or squatting labor positions, likely making optimal use of their pelvic flexibility to ease delivery.

According to Fischer, the freedom to move and adopt intuitive birthing positions plays a crucial role in how macaques easily navigate labor. "Birth is a highly dynamic process," she adds. "Since there is not much space in the birth canal, using it efficiently by moving around and changing position is key."

Fischer highlights that this study offers the first reliable long-term data for estimating maternal mortality in non-human primates. "Maternal mortality in connection with birth is very difficult to measure, even in humans," she says. "There is no reliable data available for other primate species - single observations of birth events do exist, but this does not give a good overview of how risky birth is in other primate species, compared to humans, under natural conditions."

Medical University Campus at the Vienna General Hospital in Austria. Credit: MedUni Vienna/AKH Vienna

The team spent years gathering the data, which Fischer describes as extensive and demanding work. "This research was only possible thanks to the effort the researchers at Affenberg have put into collecting these data over tens of years," she adds. "Our work also shows how valuable long-term data is for answering diverse research questions, not just about primate behavior, but also about evolution."

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The researchers now aim to expand their comparative studies to other primates, hoping to understand the evolution of childbirth better and identify precisely why macaques avoid birth complications.

Pink believes studying natural primate birthing behaviors could inspire new, less invasive approaches to maternal healthcare. "These observations could inspire future studies to understand better how freedom of movement during physiological birth can lead to more individualized and less invasive care for mothers," Pink concludes.
King Charles and Queen Camilla's upcoming travel plans have changed.

When the royal couple heads to Italy next month, they won't be meeting with Pope Francis as planned. The 88-year-old Holy See is being advised to rest following his recent 38-day hospitalization for double pneumonia, meaning his visit with Charles, 76, and Camilla, 77, will be postponed.

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According to People, the king and queen sent Pope Francis their best wishes and hope to see him at the Vatican sometime soon.

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It was revealed last week that Charles wrote a letter to Francis amid his recovery, with a palace source saying it was the couple's "hopes and prayers that Pope Francis health will enable the visit to go ahead."

The now-postponed meeting was reportedly a highly anticipated one as this is the year of a Papal Jubilee, which takes place every 25 years.

Related: Internet Stunned by the Jobs Pope Francis Had Before Becoming Religious Leader

Francis has been dealing with a variety of health setbacks over the past month, including the development of steroid-induced diabetes, a respiratory crisis, and slight kidney failure, though he's been improving steadily.

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Ahead of his release from the hospital on March 23, the Vatican shared the first new photo of Francis since he was admitted. In the picture, Francis sat in a wheelchair in the private chapel of Gemelli Hospital, where he was being treated at the time.

Next: King Charles Makes Rare Comment About Son Prince Harry
The simple answer is that the Marines make it look effortless  but its also more than that.

Body bearers, as the name implies, are U.S. troops specially tasked to carry the remains of their services honored dead to their final resting place. For the Marine Corps body bearers at Arlington National Cemetery, its an honor theyre willing to put their rest of their lives on hold for. For those Marines charged with holding up the standard of flawless funerals its kind of a requirement.

Like everything else the Corps does, being a body bearer is much more difficult than in other branches. Marine Corps Body Bearers pride themselves on being the only branch to use six pallbearers to carry a casket. The other branches use eight. Unlike everything else it does, its not because they have to, its a point of pride. To perform upwards of five funerals a day holding caskets that can weigh up to 800 pounds while keeping each at a perfect elbow-level requires incredible strength and stamina.

U.S. Marine Cpl. Alex Thomas, a tactical signals intelligence operator with 1st Radio Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, bench presses 225 pounds for the body bearer initial strength test at Paige Field House on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, May 23, 2022. The body bearers are an elite group of Marines whose primary mission is to carry the caskets of Marines, Marine veterans and family members at Arlington National Cemetery. In order to become a body bearer, Marines must pass a specialized initial strength test. The test consists of 10 repetitions of 225-pound bench press, 135-pound behind the neck press, 115-pound straight barbell curl and 315-pound barbell squat. barbell squat. Thomas is a native of Coatesville, Pennsylvania. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Nataly Espitia)

You go through the training mentally and physically for six to twelve months, said Justin Shevlin, a Body Bearer Instructor at Marine Barracks Washington. Its a self-paced course and it depends on the Marine individually as a body bearer candidate, youre gonna find yourself hurting almost 24-7. The physical strain that your body goes through day in and day out its not an easy school.

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Body Bearer Marines go to Ceremonial Drill School (CDS), which requires an initial strength test, which requires them to perform a 225-pound bench press, a 315-pound squat, a 135-pound behind-the-head military press and a 115-pound straight bar curl.

Its takes a little bit to get used to, Body Bearer Michael Ryder of the Marine Barracks in Washington said in a 2014 interview. In my experience, it was harder than boot camp its a grind. If you can pass the initial strength test, thats when your CDS journey begins.

From there, Body Bearer Marines train with trash cans full of cement and caskets loaded with weights so they can lift and carry the required minimum of 200 pounds. They breathe through their noses so they dont give any hint that theyre exerting themselves.

For anyone whos ever seen a burial at Arlington National Cemetery, its not hard to understand why. The ground isnt always even or level, theres no guaranteed body weight for the departed and if the caisson breaks, they will have to carry the casket all the way to the gravesite. The most difficult test of strength is that Marines raise the casket to eye level and hold it for ten seconds before setting it down on the final resting place.

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Viewers will be astonished to see that their work is done in swift, graceful and respectful movements. During their tours as a Body Bearer, each Marine will perform hundreds of funerals.

One of the biggest mental obstacles our candidates face during their time in CDS is that they need to learn how to be selfless, Shevlin added. Candidates tend to focus on their own needs and not on the big picture of what a Body Bearer means being a Body Bearer is important to me because I get to perform those funerals for the loved ones, those family members, and really show what type of hero that person was.

Just about every day is somebodys worst day, said Ryder. Its one of those jobs that is taxing on your emotions, but when you get it perfect, perfect for the family, everything is worth it.
Republican politicians owe the pro-choice community a thank you card for saving the right from the worst impacts of their policies. After the Supreme Court overturned nearly five decades of abortion rights in the infamous Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health case, the fallout has been terrible: women nearly bleeding to death in hospital parking lots, women having to be airlifted to safer states for abortions, and, unfortunately, a few highly publicized deaths because abortion bans prevented timely care. Still, the impacts have fallen far short of what anti-choice activists hoped and what pro-choice activists feared. There haven't been hospitals filling up, as they did in the days before Roe v. Wade, with patients mutilated from botched abortions. It's not because women have, en masse, given up and submitted to forced childbirth. On the contrary, the birth rate continues to decline while the abortion rate went up after the Dobbs decision.

Sociologist Carole Joffe and law professor David Cohen explore a major reason why in their new book "After Dobbs: How the Supreme Court Ended Roe but Not Abortion." (Full disclosure: I blurbed the book.) Both abortion providers and activists reacted to the Dobbs decision by rising up and creating, almost overnight, an infrastructure of helpers to make sure that women in red states still had access to safe abortion, despite the bans Republicans were rapidly passing. Even though it's shielded Republicans from the political consequences of their hateful policies, this small army of pro-choice patriots has managed to protect women's health, despite the often-daunting obstacle before them.

Joffe and Cohen spoke with Salon about these often unsung heroes, and the ongoing Republican war to take this crucial healthcare access away. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

In your previous book "Obstacle Course," you wrote about the hoops that women have had to go through to get abortions, even in the pre-Dobbs era. This book is "After Dobbs." What changed in the years since Roe vs. Wade was overturned?

Joffe: It's like before Roe, but on steroids. People have to travel further. Before Dobbs, 1 out of 10 patients had to go out of state. Now it's 1 out of 5. But even though things are harder, many people are surprised that the number of abortions has risen in the United States since Dobbs. Our book helps explain that. It's because of the extraordinary efforts of the abortion-providing community, the advocacy community, the activist community. There's been a huge amount of money and organization that mobilized right after Dobbs. For some, abortion became more feasible. Not necessarily easier, but more feasible. Obviously, some people were still left behind.

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Even though our book, in some respects, tells a surprisingly upbeat story, we have no illusions. We end the book on a note of caution. Everything boils down to sustainability. Will the donations keep coming? Will the activists and providers still keep working their butts off? And of course, what will the Trump administration do?

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Cohen: One of the big differences is that Dobbs mobilized pro-choice states to do things that they've been asked to do for decades, which is to take an inventory of their laws, see what restrictions are on the books, and get rid of them. There were so many restrictions, even in good states, and the legislators didn't seem to care. Dobbs made them care. And so you saw states that got rid of, for instance, physician-only requirements or waiting periods or minors restrictions. They started paying under Medicaid and funding clinics through other ways. Dobbs got people to pay attention, who should have been paying attention. Now, in a lot of states, abortion is more accessible than it was before.

Providers are taking a lot of risks under threat, such as red states demanding they be extradited if they help women get abortions. But there's also an army of activists and donors connecting women to those providers.

Cohen: Many providers in blue states are under telehealth shield laws that allow them to mail pills to people in other states. It's not many, but they can mail out pills in large numbers. There are about 10,000, maybe more, pills mailed every month from these telehealth shield providers. They are providing abortion care to people in abortion ban states, so those people don't have to travel.

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The other part of the equation is the activists, the everyday people who want to help. They're helping in small to huge ways. The drive for someone who needs to get from an airport to the clinic a couple of miles away, after they've traveled from Florida? That 10 or 15 minutes changes someone's life. But others are driving patients cross country or accompanying people on flights several states away. They're housing people overnight, coordinating their travel, or donating money to fund it. It's unjust. It should not be this way, but while it is this way, they're going to do everything they can to help the people who need care right now. We have to fight for the long term to change this, but in the meantime, there are still people who need care. We have a chapter about folks like that in the book, showing the extraordinary lengths they go to to get people care.

Joffe: We report on a patient who got rerouted because of a snowstorm. The patient navigator rebooked the patient at another appointment at a clinic in Las Vegas, changed her flight, and got her a hotel. All within a couple of hours. It's just extraordinary how the system worked on very short notice.

It's inspiring to see how many people are helping women get the care they need. What impact is it having on patients themselves?

Joffe: Most people don't have to worry about getting on an airplane for basic healthcare. In some cases, patients have literally never been in an airport before. They don't know how to deal with TSA, didn't know what you could bring and could not bring. The staff at the National Abortion Federation told us patients who brought two bigger suitcases or tried to pack a whole bottle of shampoo. They have to be talked through even this process. Then there are ones left behind. These are people so poor, they don't even have a computer. They don't even know that there are organizations to help or about abortion funds. There are single parents with three or four kids. There's no way in hell they can get on a plane.

One story that struck me in the book was the group of Texas ministers helping patients fly from Dallas to New Mexico. Can you tell me more about that?

Joffe: Before Roe, Dr. Curtis Boyd was a very active abortion provider, with a clergy consultation service. He had a clinic in Dallas as well as in Albuquerque, and he had a long-standing relationship with the Unitarian church in Dallas. I mean, Dr. Boyd himself was, at one point, a minister. After Dobbs, his patients who qualified for medication abortions were helped by a minister group in Texas. They were met by a minister who flew with them, and once they got to New Mexico, would accompany them to the clinic. Since then, things have gotten a lot tougher, in terms of legal surveillance. So that program sadly no longer exists to our knowledge.

Because activists and doctors have been so good at filling in the gaps, anti-choice forces are reacting. Texas and Louisiana are going after a New York doctor who sent abortion pills out of state. The governor of New York said, basically she'd extradite this doctor over her dead body. What does the current legal situation look like? What should readers know about the dangers?

Cohen: There's almost no criminal risk for people who are providing care physically located in a state where abortion is legal and someone travels to them. There is a risk that the patient goes home and an angry boyfriend or ex or parent tries to sue the doctor, even though the abortion took place out of state. Still, that's a very low-risk proposition. The providers who are at the highest risk are the ones we talked about before, the shield providers who are mailing pills into states where there are abortion bans. The anti-abortion movement is, right now, flummoxed about what to do about that. The numbers are so high, almost 10,000 abortions per month. Antis are trying different attacks, because, as we all know, they don't just want to stop abortion happening by providers in their borders.

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Joffe: They wanna stop as much abortion as they possibly can. Louisiana wants New York to extradite a doctor, so they can prosecute her for mailing abortion pills into their state. New York has a shield law, however, so the governor and the Attorney General of New York have said they will protect the doctor. Eventually, will probably wind up in federal courts, maybe the US Supreme Court. Right now the doctor is still, to the best of my knowledge, providing care to people and mailing pills. And to the best of my knowledge, it hasn't stopped any of the shielded providers from doing so. They understand the risk, but they think it's important to take this risk because there are so many people who need care in the states where abortion is banned. One of the inspiring stories of the post-Dobbs era is people who know that they are needed. They have the training to do it. They have the technology to do it. There's some risk, but they're doing it anyway because people need the care they can provide.

This is too recent for your book to cover, but there's a whole new case in Texas. The state's attorney general is accusing a midwife of illegally providing abortions. We don't yet know if there's any truth to these charges, but what's your sense of how much red-state abortion is happening outside of the channel of doctors mailing women abortion pills? What are the risks of people offering this more direct care?

Cohen: We know there are informal networks of people distributing pills not as part of a medical clinic, just volunteers. They're like mutual aid groups who have gotten pills through one way or another. To the best of my knowledge, that's happening in every state with abortion bans. I've heard varying estimates of the volume they're doing, from just a few to quite a lot. It's really unknown. The studies from the Society of Family Planning and Guttmacher do not include informal network distribution of pills.

As far as what [Texas Attorney General] Ken Paxton is alleging, first of all, I don't trust a word that comes out of his press office. For all we know, this midwife was providing miscarriage management, and Paxton thinks it was an abortion. We must be super skeptical of everything he says.

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Joffe: The similarity with the pre-Roe era is that law enforcement was more likely to go against people under the rank of physician: nurses, midwives, and lay people who had learned to perform abortions. And we know that the accused is a woman of color. Like David, I am deeply, deeply, deeply skeptical of anything Ken Paxton says.

Cohen: Maybe the big story here isn't that Texas midwife was charged with alleged illegal abortions, but that Texas closed three clinics providing prenatal care for low-income Spanish speakers. Those clinics are now closed and people aren't getting care.

Anti-choicers were ecstatic after Dobbs. You heard highfalutin' rhetoric about how they were going to end abortion in the U.S. forever. Project 2025 has language about "ending" abortion. What does your research tell us about how realistic that goal is?

Joffe: Even if the FDA manages to withdraw the approval of mifepristone, the first pill used in a medication abortion, they're not going to withdraw approval of misoprostol, which is widely used in other medical procedures. [Note from the editor: While both pills are recommended, misoprostol by itself will usually terminate a pregnancy.] Now that these networks exist, even if there's a national ban, there always are going to be these pills available. There are also groups sending them over the border from Mexico, or ordering the pills from Aid Access. You can but these pills in Europe. However, there will likely be more cases like what happened to this midwife in Texas. There will be more prosecutions, I assume, but they will never stop abortion.

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Cohen: We've seen this historically. We've seen this around the world. Where abortion is banned, people still get abortions. If they crack down even more, there will be more prosecutions. But there will always be people who are committed to making sure people have the freedom to live the life they want and have their bodily autonomy. People who say, "I am so committed to that principle that I'm going to use my time, my money, my skills, my license." Whatever someone has to offer, they will help people access this form of care.

As much as the anti-abortion movement was saying this is going to end abortion, everyone in the abortion rights and justice movement feared Dobbs would dramatically cut back on the number of people getting abortions. But they were wrong. We should have known better, because the people we interviewed for the book, we've known how committed they are for a long time. We knew they would find some ways. I never thought it would be as successful as it's been. Yes, there are people left behind. We need to make sure fewer people are left behind, but they're doing their best to care for the people they can see.

The anti-abortion movement, like you said, were so excited. A year later, the reports were that they were depressed at their conferences. They haven't been able to stop abortion. Abortion is never going to be ended, because people are going to fight for it. People who need it will seek it out and find ways to get it.
The stunning revelation that The Atlantics editor-in-chief was inadvertently added to a group chat detailing recent airstrikes in Yemen has called into question the U.S. governments ability to safeguard sensitive information and has exposed a potentially big legal problem.

President Donald Trump said it was not a serious glitch that Jeffery Goldberg was inadvertently added to a Signal chat group with national security adviser Mike Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, where they discussed sensitive military operations.

The White House claimed no classified information was shared in the chat, a position reinforced by Tulsi Gabbard at Tuesdays Senate hearing into the fiasco.

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Despite what the White House says, the blunder could have serious legal implications for the Trump administration, legal experts and lawmakers said.

Their behavior blatantly violated security regulations designed to prevent exactly this kind of leak, which would trigger administrative punishments, attorney Mitch Jackson wrote on his Substack, citing the Espionage Act, the Federal Records and Presidential Records Acts, among others.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that The Atlantic journalist Jeffery Goldberg was a deceitful journalist when asked for his response to the leak. The White House confirmed the chat group was authentic and now legal experts say the leak violated federal laws (REUTERS)

Jacksons assertion is backed by Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren and Elissa Slotkin. This is blatantly illegal and dangerous beyond belief, Warren furiously posted on X in response when the story broke Monday.

Laws like the Espionage Act, the Presidential Records Act and the Federal Records Act lay out clear rules for how you can handle classified information, Slotkin added. And those laws apply to every one of the people on that text chain.

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Here is a look at the federal law violations that have potentially occurred from the incident:

The Espionage Act

The World War Iera law makes it a crime to mishandle any information about national defense and is specifically written to protect military and defense intelligence.

The question for lawyers will be whether the use of an unclassified cell phone and commercially available communications application constitutes a reasonable belief that the information could be obtained by an adversary and used against the U.S., global security and cyber expert Nicholas Reese, an adjunct instructor at NYUs School of Professional Studies Center for Global Affairs, told The Independent.

Jackson wrote on his Substack said that prosecutors can argue the leak meets certain criteria of the Espionage Act.

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The operational strike plans for Yemen meet the definition of national defense information  they were high-level military plans and intelligence details regarding an ongoing operation, Jackson said. By using an unsecured Signal chat, they effectively transmitted war plan details to an unauthorized person (journalist Goldberg) who had no security clearance.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, pictured with Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, was grilled at a Senate Committee on Intelligence Hearing Tuesday. Gabbard refused to say whether she was on the group chat (Getty Images)

The lawyer added that even if officials did not intend for the journalist to see the plans, they demonstrated at least gross negligence in containing the information. This unauthorized disclosure of war plans to someone not entitled to receive them appears to satisfy the Espionage Acts criteria, Jackson said.

Slotkin also cited the Espionage Act in a post on X. If these were regular soldiers or a civilian CIA officer like I was, they would be reprimanded, likely fired, prosecuted and possibly jailed, Slotkin said. But this Administration believes they are above the law  and seemingly dont care what U.S. forces and U.S. operations they put at risk.

The Presidential Records and the Federal Records Act

There are strict laws in place when it comes to handling and preserving government records. Goldberg claims some of the messages in the group chat were set to disappear after one week. Official communications from the government are to be archived automatically or those involved are meant to preserve the messages.

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There is no evidence so far that anyone in the group preserved the messages. Its an attempt to avoid accountability under the Official Records Act, said General Barry McCaffrey.

Records retention is not just for accountability, Illinois Rep. Sean Casten added in a post on X. If our adversaries can breach your unsecure comms and you don't archive your end, it's effectively impossible to triage how much damage you caused. They are covering their own asses while risking all of ours.

Jackson said that the Signal chat used by the group outside of official channels was exactly the kind of communication that falls under the definition of an official record.

Lawmakers and scholars argue that the leak has violated several federal laws. This Administration believes they are above the law, Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin said in a post on X. President Donald Trump defended the officials. (Getty Images)

If the officials willfully used Signal specifically to avoid creating a record (for instance, to keep the discussions off the books), that could be viewed as the unlawful removal or concealment of records, Jackson said.

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By instead confining deliberations to an encrypted app and excluding the normal archival systems, they effectively concealed official records from the government.

Should evidence show an intent to evade record keeping, 18 U.S.C.  2071 could be invoked, the attorney added.

In addition to potentially violating these laws, NYUs Reese noted that U.S. allies will be questioning the extent to which classified information they can share with American intelligence officials.

Sharing time sensitive military operational details over a commercial communications application shows a shocking level of disregard for the sensitivity of classified information at the top of the U.S. security establishment, Reese said. Its disregard for good security practice in this case will certainly be noticed by foreign partners and adversaries alike.

Signal not approved for discussing military ops

Signal uses end-to-end encryption and is widely regarded as one of the most secure messaging platforms for the public. It prevents any third-party from viewing conversation content or listening in on calls.

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Messages and calls sent on Signal are scrambled and only the sender and recipient at each end will have the key to decipher them. Signal's encryption protocol is open source, meaning anyone that it's freely available for anyone to inspect, use or modify.

The Signal app is not authorized for discussing military operations. Experts said we should be worried about the security breaches we have not yet heard in this case (AP)

But it is not approved for discussing military operations, experts said.

If a state or other malicious state actor broke Signal's encryption, they would not exactly hold a press conference to announce it, NYUs Reese told The Independent. Just because we are not aware of a breach in Signal's security does not mean there isn't one. The highly secure nature of Signal makes it an enticing target for malicious cyber actors because they assume that people will share more sensitive data there. We should be worried about the breaches we have not heard of yet in this case.

Hegseths own department has referred to Signal as an unmanaged messaging app previously, and the platform was not authorized to transmit non-public DOD information, according to a Department of Defense 2023 memo.

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Unmanaged 'messaging apps,' including any app with a chat feature, regardless of the primary function, are NOT authorized to access, transmit, process non-public DoD information. This includes but is not limited to messaging, gaming, and social media apps. (i.e., iMessage, WhatsApps, Signal), the memo said.

One former senior Defense Department official told the Washington Post that she and her colleagues did use Signal on occasion but never to discuss sensitive information. I would worry deeply about the ability of a foreign nation to be able to penetrate any of our unclassified tech, she told the newspaper. This is not how you conduct national security.
Editors Note: This story has been updated to reflect the correct information about city manager candidates.

WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  Its been seven months since long-time former Wichita Falls City Manager Darron Lieker resigned.

Now, city councilors are set to tap his replacement.

The first one on the list is current Graham City Manager Eric Garretty. According to his LinkedIn page, hes spent 10 years in local government after 29 years in the US Marine Corps.

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Expansion at RBNC for Nature Preschool program

Hes held the position in Graham since 2022, before he held the same position in Mexia, Texas, for five years. He was the Budget Manager for the city of Fort Worth for nearly two years.

Jeffery Jenkins is a Midwestern State University graduate, holding a bachelors degree in political science and history and a masters in public administration.

He has been the Deputy City Manager in Taylor, Texas, since 2017.

Hes held the city manager role for Henrietta and Lucas, Texas.

Bob Cowells latest stop was Roanoke, Virginia. He held the citys top position for seven years before resigning on June 7, 2024.

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Cowell spent nearly four years as deputy city manager in Amarillo. He has about 30 years of experience in city and county government across four states.

Tiffany Fell is currently Clarksburg, West Virginias city manager. Shes held the position since June 2023.

Fell is from Springfield, Canada. She served the city of Springfield as an elected council member, director of communications, and interim chief administration officera position with the same responsibilities as a city manager.

Scot Rigby resigned as the city manager of Edmond, Oklahoma, in January this year. He had held the position for three years.

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Previous employment includes Assistant City Manager in Wichita, Kansas, and multiple roles in Mesa, Arizona.

Wichita Falls City Councilors are meeting in a special session on Tuesday, March 25, at 8 a.m. to discuss a possible appointment.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)Jersey Mikes is giving back on Wednesday, March 26; all you have to do to help is buy a sandwich.

Across the country, Jersey Mikes Day of Giving donates 100% of sales on the last Wednesday of March to a local partner charity of the locations choice.

Here in Wichita Falls, the Jersey Mikes store will donate all its proceeds to the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank.

Since 2011, when Jersey Mikes began its Month of Giving campaign, more than $113 million has been donated to local charities.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com.
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  The Wichita River Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas will have its first meeting at the Forum on Saturday, March 29, from 2 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

During this meeting, retired Wildlife Biologist Ricky Linex from the Natural Resources Conversation Service will present Medicinal Applications of Native Plants by Native Americans.

This program will highlight the medicinal applications of more than 45 native plants used by many tribes across Texas and the Southern United States to treat illness, including the treatment method.

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This program is free and open to the public.

For more information please contact Julia Eriksen at Wichita-River-Chapter@NPSOT.org or call (512) 423-8352 and check out their Facebook page.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com.
A woman was arrested after her husband was stabbed in their home.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Saturday before 3 p.m., Bellfontaine police and medics were called to a home in the 600 block of West Columbus Avenue for a stabbing.

TRENDING STORIES:

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Upon arrival, officers found the victim sitting on a mobility scooter in the kitchen of the home, according to our news partners at Peak of Ohio.

The man told police his wife, Audrey Gibson, 29, had stabbed him.

She was arrested.

While being handcuffed, Gibson stated multiple times that she didnt mean to hurt the victim and she didnt want the victim to hurt one of the many dogs inside the home, Peak of Ohio reported.

Medics took the man to Mary Rutan Hospital for treatment, and he was later transferred to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center for further care.

Gibson is booked in the Logan County jail for felonious assault.

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HEBRON, West Bank (AP)  Only a few weeks ago, Hamdan Ballal stood on a stage in Los Angeles accepting an Oscar for the film No Other Land, a documentary depicting his West Bank villages struggle against Israels occupation.

On Tuesday, Ballal  his face bruised and clothes still spotted with blood  recounted to The Associated Press how he was heavily beaten by an Israeli settler and soldiers the night before. The settler, he said, kicked his head like a football during a settler attack on his village.

The soldiers then detained him and two other Palestinians. Ballal said he was kept blindfolded for more than 20 hours, sitting on the floor under a blasting air conditioner. The soldiers kicked, punched or hit him with a stick whenever they came on their guard shifts, he said. Ballal doesnt speak Hebrew, but he said he heard them saying his name and the word Oscar.

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I realized they were attacking me specifically, he said in an interview at a West Bank hospital after his release Tuesday. When they say Oscar, you understand. When they say your name, you understand.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to the claims that Ballal was beaten by soldiers. The settler whom Ballal identified as his attacker, Shem Tov Luski  who has threatened Ballal in the past  denied he or the soldiers beat him and told the AP that he and other Palestinians in the village had thrown stones at his car. He said he didn't know Ballal was an Oscar winner.

The Israeli military said Monday it had detained three Palestinians suspected of hurling rocks as well as one Israeli civilian, who was soon released. Ballal denied throwing stones.

Im dying!

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The attack took place Monday night in the southern West Bank village of Susiya. Its part of the Masafer Yatta region featured in No Other Land, which depicts the Palestinian residents attempts to fend off settler attacks and the militarys plans to demolish their homes.

At around sunset, as residents were ending their daylong Ramadan fast, roughly two dozen Jewish settlers along with police entered the village, throwing stones at houses and breaking property, witnesses say. Around 30 soldiers arrived soon after. Jewish Israelis in an activist group supporting the villagers showed video of themselves also being attacked, with settlers hitting their car with sticks and stones.

Ballal said he filmed some of the damage caused by the settlers. Then he went to his own home and locked it, with his wife and three young children inside.

I told myself if they will attack me, if they kill me, I will protect my family, he said.

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Ballal said Luski approached with two soldiers. He said Luski hit him on the head, knocked him to the ground and kept kicking and punching him in the head. At the same time, one soldier hit him on the legs with his gun butt, while the other pointed his weapon at him, he said.

Lamia Ballal, the directors wife, said she was huddling inside with their children and heard him screaming, Im dying!

Luski told the AP that he and other settlers had come to the village to help a fellow settler who said he was being attacked by Palestinian stone-throwers. He said dozens of masked Palestinians attacked his car with stones, including Ballal. "He broke my window, threw a stone at my chest, he said.

He said when soldiers arrived, he led them to Ballal's house to identify him as one of the attackers but denied that he hit him or that settlers attacked any property in the village. Luski said he had footage of the nights events but when asked to show it to the AP, he responded with a string of expletives.

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On Tuesday, a small bloodstain could be seen outside Ballal's home, and the family cars windows were shattered. Neighbors pointed to a nearby water tank with a hole in the side that they said had been punched by the settlers.

Detention

Lea Tsemel, the attorney representing Ballal and the two other Palestinians detained with him, said they were taken to an army base, where they only received minimal care for their injuries from the attack. She said they had no access to them for several hours after their arrest.

Ballal said he had no idea where he was being held, could see nothing and was freezing from the hours spent blindfolded under the air conditioner.

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The three were transferred to an Israeli police station at the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba and were released Tuesday afternoon.

All my body is pain, he told the AP immediately after his release as he walked, limping, toward a hospital in the nearby Palestinian city of Hebron.

Doctors at the hospital said Ballal had bruises and scratches all over his body, abrasions under his eye and a cut on his chin but no internal injuries. The two other detained Palestinians also had minor injuries.

Confrontations with settlers

In a widely circulated video from August, Luski and several other masked settlers are seen arguing with Ballal. Luski shouts profanity at him and tries to provoke him into a fight.

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This is my land, I was given it by God, Luski says. Next time it wont be nice. He taunts Ballal with the prospect of being sent to Sde Teiman, a notorious military prison holding Palestinians detained from Gaza, where five soldiers have been charged with raping a detainee with a knife.

Rape for a higher cause, he says in Hebrew, then blows Ballal a kiss.

The film No Other Land, a joint Israeli-Palestinian production, chronicles the situation in Masafer Yatta, which the Israeli military designated as a live-fire training zone in the 1980s and ordered the expulsion of the residents, mostly Arab Bedouin. Around 1,000 residents have largely remained in place, but soldiers regularly come in to demolish homes, tents, water tanks and olive orchards.

Settlers have also set up outposts around the area and at times destroy Palestinian property. Palestinians and rights groups say Israeli forces usually turn a blind eye or intervene on behalf of the settlers.

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The film has drawn ire in Israel and abroad, as when Miami Beach proposed ending the lease of a movie theater that screened it.

Basel Adra, another of the films co-directors and a prominent Palestinian activist in the area, said theres been a massive upswing in attacks by settlers and Israeli forces since the Oscar win.

Were living in dark days here, in Gaza, and all of the West Bank," he said. "Nobodys stopping this.

Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. The Palestinians want all three for their future state.

Israel has built well over 100 settlements, home to over 500,000 settlers who have Israeli citizenship. Most of the international community considers the settlements illegal.

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The 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank live under seemingly open-ended Israeli military rule, with the Western-backed Palestinian Authority administering population centers.

The war in Gaza has sparked a surge of violence in the West Bank, with the Israeli military carrying out widescale military operations that have killed hundreds of Palestinians and displaced tens of thousands. There has been a rise in settler violence as well as Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

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AP correspondent Natalie Melzer in Nahariya, Israel, contributed to this report.

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Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Dry conditions, wind and trees downed by Hurricane Helene fueled wildfires in North Carolina and South Carolina, where evacuation orders were in effect Tuesday.

Many people in the area are still getting over the hurricane that hit in September, according to North Carolina Forest Service spokesperson Bo Dossett.

A lot of the damage and the blowdown, the downed trees from Hurricane Helene are contributing to the difficulties that our firefighters are facing trying to contain this fire and so that has just been kind of one ongoing crisis from September all through into the spring for a lot of these residents, Dossett said. This is one more thing that theyre having to deal with on top of what they experienced back in the fall.

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The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for parts of the South Carolina Upstate, western North Carolina and northeast Georgia through Tuesday night, as conditions were expected to be favorable for the rapid spread of wildfire with lingering dry air and winds picking up to 10 to 20 mph (16 to 32 kph) and gusting 25 to 35 mph (40 to 56 kph).

Mandatory evacuations were in effect for 146 properties in rural Polk County on Tuesday, about 80 miles (129 kilometers) west of Charlotte, North Carolina, according to county spokesperson Kellie Cannon. Three fires there have burned at least 9.6 square miles (25 square kilometers) in that county and in neighboring Henderson County as of Tuesday, and the two larger fires are uncontained, according to the forest service. Officials released maps Tuesday that show evacuation zones in the two counties.

The Black Cove Fire is one of the larger blazes. Officials said a downed power line sparked that fire, but the causes of the other two fires are under investigation.

Henderson County has issued voluntary evacuation orders and opened an emergency shelter. Volunteer fire departments were on standby, Henderson County spokesperson Mike Morgan told WLOS-TV.

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Especially near some of the homes where if the fire did jump, we can be there to help protect those homes, Morgan said. Were here to monitor the situation very closely.

Two fires were burning in the mountains of South Carolina. The fires in Table Rock State Park and nearby Persimmon Ridge have burned a combined 2.3 square miles (5.9 square kilometers), the South Carolina Forestry Commission said. Officials said both fires were ignited by human activity and neither were contained as of Monday night.

No injuries were reported, and no structures were imminently threatened as of Monday night, but voluntary evacuations were issued for about 100 homes over the weekend. On Tuesday morning, the forestry commission updated an earlier announcement to say no evacuations were planned near the Persimmon Ridge Fire, but residents were urged to be prepared to leave their homes if an evacuation is suggested in the future.

The weather over the next few days remains concerning, as relative humidities are expected to remain very low, and the forecasted wind speeds will still be conducive to spreading the fire, the forestry commission said.

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Dry weather and millions of trees knocked down by Hurricane Helene last year are creating a long and active fire season in the Carolinas, according to North Carolina State University forestry and environmental resources professor Robert Scheller. Scheller predicted this busy fire season if the region saw dry weather after the hurricane.

Helene just dropped tons of fuel on the ground, Scheller said. Then these flash droughts allow that fuel to dry out very fast.

Despite recent rain, most of the Carolinas are abnormally dry or experiencing a moderate drought, according to federal monitors.

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This story has been corrected to show that officials were not recommending evacuations near the Persimmon Ridge Fire, but residents should be prepared to leave their homes if one is suggested.
WINCHESTER, Ky. (FOX 56)  The Winchester Police Department is mourning one of its own, a six-year-old golden doodle named Abe. Abe was the newest K-9 officer and therapy dog assigned to the force in October 2023.

While his time as an officer was short, Abes handler, Capt. Steve Charles, said his impact was larger than life. He gave lots of love but also received it, becoming a valued addition to the Winchester Police Department and the Clark County Public Schools family.

From the Winchester Police Department to the Clark County school community, Abe was a friend to everyone he came across.

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It was rough; he lived with me; my children loved him. He was part of the family, said Charles.

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Abe began his work in the fall of 2023, and like every officer, he took his job seriously. Patrolling the halls of every single Clark County public school, Abe brought comfort and smiles beyond the classroom.

The goal was two schools a week, but we really went on invitation basis from them, so we werent showing up unannounced, said Charles. He was able to go to the schools and just hang out for hours with the kids, whether its hanging out in the room with them, walking the hallways, and he also was able to create that connection that kids who would normally not approach me and talk to me when I go to the schools and walk around, came up, spoke to me. We had those communications because they had to talk to me because I had the dog they wanted to pet. So, it worked out really well, and I was able to have conversations with kids who said that they would not have come up to me if it hadnt been for Abe.

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Earlier this year, Abe wasnt acting himself, and thats when a trip to the vet uncovered a devastating diagnosis.

I took him to a Boonesboro Animal Clinic, and they did an x-ray on him and saw they had a mass on him. I went to do an ultrasound in Lexington, and thats when they confirmed that they believed it was cancer, and so they referred me to an oncologist, BluePearl, in Louisville. We went to BluePearl, and they did some further tests and testing all day, said Charles. And they came back and said that it was terminal, and he had a large mass. Plus, he had a lot of polyps in his lungs that were impossible to remove, and thats when we realized that there was no treatment.

Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news

The department made the difficult decision to lay Abe to rest, giving their beloved friend a heros treatment on his way to heaven.

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They told us that he probably wouldnt last a week because it was so advanced, and luckily, with medications, steroids they were given him, and things like that, he lasted a little over a month, which is a blessing. We were able to get a lot more time with you, said Charles. The sendoff was amazing. He was able to be given a proper officer send-off there. They were very great to us; they shut down the facility basically for us, which was huge because we had a lot of people there. It was rough because we saw him basically deteriorating here, but he was in good spirits up until that last four-day stretch; he went downhill very quickly, and we knew he was telling us it was time.

Charles said that Abes ashes sit on his desk in his office as a daily reminder of the friend he lost. As for a new therapy dog, Charles said that while no one can replace Abe, he hopes to see a new one in the future.

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DE SOTO, Wis. (WFRV)  A 39-year-old Wisconsin man was arrested Sunday night after allegedly trespassing on private property and displaying a handgun when confronted, authorities say.

According to the Vernon County Sheriffs Office, a report was made around 6:30 p.m. regarding a person trespassing on private property along State Highway 82 in rural De Soto, near the Iowa-Wisconsin border.

Texas man, Wisconsin woman arrested for allegedly smuggling meth into state

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When the property owners attempted to confront the individual, the suspect fled in a vehicle. Witnesses reported that the suspect allegedly brandished a handgun while leaving.

Deputies responded to the scene and found several items near where the vehicle had been parked. Authorities later identified the suspect as 39-year-old Lukas Mesa of Mauston.

At approximately 8 p.m., deputies from the Vernon County and Crawford County Sheriffs Offices responded to Ridge Street in De Soto after receiving reports that Mesa was parked in the area. When a deputy arrived, Mesa allegedly fled again.

The investigation continued into Monday, and around 1:30 p.m., Mesa was taken into custody without further incident at a residence on Smythe Avenue in De Soto.

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Mesa made his initial court appearance Tuesday, where a judge set his cash bond at $2,500.

66-year-old Appleton man gets 21 years in prison for sexually assaulting children since 2006

Additionally, 37-year-old Nicholas Smythe was taken into custody during the investigation on a probation warrant.

No further details have been released.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Megan Kling was nine weeks pregnant when a gush of blood made her panic.

"I'm having a miscarriage," was the first thought that crossed her mind.

She immediately called her nurse. They decided she should come in for a blood test to determine if her hormone levels were normal for a healthy pregnancy.

Kling got in her truck, bought a snack and parked across the street from the Krohn Clinic in Black River Falls. She wanted to be close when the nurse called back with an appointment time. She called a close friend who had suffered several miscarriages for support.

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"I was just eating my chips and salsa, trying to cope," Kling, 34, said.

The previous week she and her husband, Sam, had gone together for the eight-week ultrasound. Everything was normal.

But she couldn't shake the memories of her last pregnancy. She'd been 21 weeks pregnant when she found out the child she was carrying had not developed kidneys, a fatal abnormality. Wisconsin's abortion laws forced Kling to leave the state to deliver her son, which she felt was the safest and most humane option. Nolan Robert Kling, the couple's first son and third child, was born and died on Nov. 10, 2023.

Just shy of a year later, sitting in her car and waiting for her appointment, Kling didn't yet realize those same laws would also affect the care she would receive during her fourth pregnancy.

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When Hailey Olson, her OB nurse, called back, Kling walked over to the clinic and took the blood test. The results were normal. She and the baby were fine.

"I felt like I had dodged a bullet," Kling said.

Wanting to try again

Kling felt she was ready to try and have another baby about six months after Nolan's death.

She had been working with a grief counselor who specializes in infant deaths. She lost the weight she had gained while pregnant with Nolan. She was eating healthy and exercising. Her career in agronomy sales requires her to travel but she still had time to spend with daughters, Elma, 3, and Greta, 5.

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"I felt like me again," Kling said in an interview with the Journal Sentinel in the kitchen of her farmhouse in Taylor, a central-Wisconsin village of around 500 residents near Black River Falls.

Still, she and Sam didn't tell too many people they were pregnant again.

"Prior to my belly growing, it was easier to put this pregnancy on a shelf and not think about it too much," she said. "Because to think about it was a little terrifying."

One person she did confide in was her own doctor, Dr. Kaitlyn Cunningham. Kling told her during a postpartum appointment not long after Nolan's death that she wanted to have another baby.

Dr. Kaitlyn Cunningham has been practicing family medicine and surgical obstetrics at the Krohn Clinic in Black River Falls for nearly four years.

A year before, Cunningham had played a crucial role, helping Kling navigate the birth of her son after the couple learned Nolan's kidneys had not developed, a condition known as bilateral renal agenesis.

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Because Kling was only 23 weeks pregnant and her baby's heart was still beating, her request to be induced in order to deliver her son was considered an abortion. Abortions are not allowed in Wisconsin past 20 weeks.

Kling and Sam went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Since 2023, there are no gestational age bans in Minnesota. In practice, clinics and hospital systems still determine their own policies, many of which still include a 24-week gestational age limit. Kling was induced, and Nolan was born. She and Sam took turns holding their son as he struggled to breathe, then took his last breath.

Delivering Nolan without Cunningham and away from home was an added layer of difficulty to an already difficult pregnancy.

Kling and Cunningham wanted to prevent that from happening again.

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To that end, the anatomy ultrasound that identifies the presence and size of the organs was done a week early, when Kling was 19 weeks pregnant. Performing the ultrasound any earlier ran the risk of the organs being too small to provide accurate results, Cunningham said.

"We wanted to make sure if there were any sort of timeline issues with having things done in Wisconsin, we'd be able to do it here," Cunningham said.

Once again, Kling and her husband went together to the ultrasound.

They held hands and did their best to suppress their nerves as the baby's image appeared on the ultrasound monitor. The same ultrasound technician, Tiffany Jerome, performed the scan. Olson, her nurse, and Cunningham had arranged for the ultrasound results to be read immediately.

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"I just kept visualizing having a healthy labor, a healthy delivery and getting to that end goal of holding a healthy baby in my arms and feeling our family was complete," Kling said. "I just needed to get there."

It was Cunningham who came in to deliver the ultrasound results.

"I was hoping I could tell you everything is normal," Kling remembers Cunningham saying. "The amniotic fluid is normal. But the baby only has one kidney."

Sharing the good news

Kling knew from researching Nolan's condition the previous year that people can survive with one kidney. But Nolan's brain and heart also had abnormalities, and these organs all develop around the same time.

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As they did while pregnant with Nolan, she and Sam drove to Emplify Health hospital, formerly Gunderson Health System, in La Crosse for a higher-level ultrasound and to meet with a maternal-fetal medicine doctor.

The results were the same as they had received from Cunningham: The baby had one kidney. Everything else was fine.

"It was the shortest appointment ever," Kling said. "The doctor told me my baby was fine. One kidney does not make me a high-risk pregnancy. I could still deliver in Black River Falls."

The couple returned home hopeful. Their daughters had started kissing and talking to her belly. Kling and Sam started sharing their news, their "good news" with more family and friends.

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"We were able to enjoy Halloween with the confidence that our baby was healthy," Kling said.

The previous Halloween, they had just recently learned Nolan was not going to survive.

The family marked the one-year anniversary of his birth and death by assembling a gift bag. Kling and her daughters took it to Black River Health Hospital with instructions to deliver it anonymously to the first baby boy born close to Nov. 10, the day Nolan died.

"It felt weird to have a cake, and it felt wrong to do nothing," she said.

23 weeks, again

The weekend before Thanksgiving is the opening of deer hunting season in Wisconsin. The family has a deer stand on their land. As she does most years, Kling went out for a few hours. But she was tired, not as excited as she usually was about it.

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"I just didn't feel like myself," she said.

The baby wasn't feeling right to her, either. She wasn't feeling as much movement.

She was 23 weeks pregnant, and she had lost Nolan at 23 weeks and two days.

She knew from working with her grief counselor that a pregnancy typically gets easier once you get past the time of gestation when you lost your last baby.

As she did when she experienced the gush of blood, she thought not feeling the baby move was all in her head. She called her nurse and set up an appointment for Monday. She didn't tell Sam she was going to the doctor. There was no need to worry him, she thought.

"It's all in my head."

At 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 25, she went to the appointment alone.

The nurse tried first. Then Cunningham was called into the exam room. Neither could hear a heartbeat or detect any cardiac activity or fetal movement.

"I'm not an ultrasonographer or a radiologist," Cunningham remembers telling Kling. "There is a minuscule chance I'm wrong. But I am confident your baby has died."

Cunningham, her nurse Olson and ultrasound tech Jerome  the same women who had cared for Kling through her last pregnancy loss  wrapped around her like a cocoon.

They held her, hugged her and cried together for the loss.

'I just needed a pill'

When Sam arrived at the clinic, a decision had to be made quickly. As with Nolan, the couple faced the same two options: wait for Kling's body to naturally go into labor or induce her, allowing her to go into labor and deliver vaginally.

Not wanting to continue carrying her baby who she knew was no longer alive, Kling again chose to be induced.

From her experience with Nolan, she remembered having to sign paperwork to receive two medications, misoprostol and mifepristone.

Mifepristone was given first. It blocks the hormone progesterone, which is essential for maintaining a pregnancy. This interruption of progesterone leads to the shedding of the uterine lining and the expulsion of the fetus. Misoprostol is then given to stimulate uterine contractions.

When taken together, as Kling did in Minnesota, the medications speed up the process of a miscarriage or stillbirth, decreasing the odds that symptoms like bleeding and cramping will cause infection and hemorrhaging.

Speeding up the process with both medications will "more reliably complete the miscarriage," which reduces the need for surgical interventions when compared to only administering misoprostol, according to groundbreaking 2018 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The surgical options  either dilation and curettage or dilation and evacuation  depend on how advanced the pregnancy is, but both involve dilating the cervix and removing the fetus, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Despite the research, mifepristone's availability is hindered by the absence of FDA approval of mifepristone explicitly for miscarriage management and because its Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy drug classification limits clinicians ability to prescribe it.

This drug classification, which also includes chemotherapies and opioids, requires additional criteria on doctors who want to provide it. In addition to having a normal medical license, doctors must also have a prescriber agreement with Danco Laboratories or GenBioPro  the country's two mifepristone manufacturers  to prescribe or administer it.

Both companies declined to provide the Journal Sentinel with the number of doctors in Wisconsin who are certified to administer the drug.

Cunningham said in her experience, it's "one of the most difficult drugs to access."

She is not certified to prescribe it, and Kling did not receive it for her delivery in Wisconsin.

Kling said the fact she was unable to receive mifepristone in Wisconsin opened her eyes to another way maternal health care is negatively impacted by abortion bans.

With Nolan, she learned an induction was considered an abortion if the fetus was still alive but had no chance to survive. This time, a drug that could lower her risk of infection and hemorrhaging was off-limits because it is used to perform abortions.

This time was more subtle. I didnt have to leave the state for my care. I only needed mifepristone," Kling said. "And thats what infuriates me. Its not like I needed a specialty surgeon or a high-tech facility. I just needed a pill.

Megan Kling holds her 3-year-old daughter, Elma, at her home in Taylor, a small village near Black River Falls. Elma and Kling's 5-year-old, Greta, each hold a heart-shaped pillow. Dr. Kaitlyn Cunningham, who practices family medicine and surgical obstetrics at the Krohn Clinic in Black River Falls, made the pillows for the family in remembrance of the two children who died prior to birth.

Struck by lightning, twice

Around 7 a.m. on Nov. 26, she was induced. It was all too familiar, she said. She knew what to expect.

"I had spent so much time visualizing labor and delivery for a healthy baby that I decided to focus on the only thing I could focus on, which was to do whatever I could to allow my body to labor and let the medication work as efficiently as possible," Kling said.

Around 4 p.m., after painful contractions and eight hours of labor, she gave birth. The baby was placed on a cart, taken out of the room, washed, and brought back on an ice pack.

Just as they had with Nolan, Sam and Kling took turns holding their baby. It was a girl. They named her Katie Ann Kling. She had the same button nose as Nolan, Elma and Greta.

"I can't even explain the level of helplessness you feel as a parent to hold a baby in your arms who is struggling while taking their last breaths  knowing there is nothing you can do about it," Kling said. "With Katie, I could hold her and look at her, but instinctively, I knew she had passed already. It wasn't the same level of trauma."

An autopsy showed the pregnancy ended in a stillbirth for two reasons: umbilical cord stricture, meaning the umbilical cord is too narrow, and a hyper-coiled umbilical cord.

Each independently increase the risk of a stillbirth, Cunningham said.

A healthy, 10-centimeter umbilical cord coils two times. The umbilical cord to Kling's baby had seven. Both umbilical cord defects make it more difficult for blood to flow from the mother to the developing fetus, meaning it does not receive adequate amounts of oxygen and nutrients.

Cunningham said she explained to Kling that having two pregnancies end due to non-genetic, rare abnormalities is like "being struck by lightning twice."

My body throughout these last two pregnancies has done everything it is supposed to do. I never even had a high blood pressure reading. I have not been high risk," Kling said. I feel like the universe is really cruel.

Greta Kling, 5, holds a remembrance pillow for her sister, Katie Ann Kling, who was stillborn on Nov. 26, 2024.

Real mothers, real families

Abortion was never a topic Kling gave much thought. She considered herself a conservative voter. While she never saw herself choosing that option for herself, she felt every woman should have a choice. But the topic never dictated who she voted for.

She and her husband always associated the term abortion with an unwanted pregnancy.

"It was difficult for us to use that term, at first, because Nolan was very much a loved, wanted pregnancy," she said. "That experience opened my eyes to how abortion can't be separated from maternal health care."

She grew increasingly angry that any women should feel shame or guilt over their decision to choose what they view is best for them and their families.

Once she started to share her story, politicians and national pro-abortion groups began asking her to campaign for them. But she is protective of her story and picks her platforms carefully.

She appeared in 30-second TV ad for the democratic candidate running in her district for Congress but turned down a request from the Biden-Harris campaign.

"Im cautious about my story getting wrapped up in the polarized political agendas. This should not be a republican verses democrat issue," Kling said. "This is about real mothers and real families. Its time we talk about the negative impacts that occur when government policy interferes with health care."

In 2022, more than 40 medical organizations and advocacy groups petitioned the FDA to ask for miscarriage management to be added as a use for mifepristone and to ease the restrictions around who can prescribe it.

The following year, the agency removed the requirement that the drug had to be administered in person, meaning it could be mailed to patients or provided by pharmacies.

The change hasn't moved the needle much in Wisconsin, where the state Supreme Court has yet to issue its ruling on the state's 1849 "abortion ban." While Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has again begun providing abortion care based on its confidence in a lower court's ruling, many other providers and pharmacies are waiting for the state's high court.

Last year, an effort to scale back mifepristone access made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In an unanimous decision in June, justices ruled the coalition of anti-abortion doctors lacked legal standing to bring their case, despite their sincere legal, moral, ideological and policy objections to mifepristone.

Attorney Erin Hawley with Alliance Defending Freedom, who represented the anti-abortion doctors, called the ruling disappointing.

We will continue to advocate for women and work to restore commonsense safeguards for abortion drugs," Hawley said.

Dr. Allison Linton, an obstetrician-gynecologist and the chief medical officer at Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, said she would imagine most providers would pride themselves on wanting to provide the highest standard of care. Yet when it comes to acknowledging the studies and that women experiencing a miscarriage could expel uterine tissue and the fetus more completely and more quickly, thereby reducing the risk of infection and hemorrhaging, "this option is given a pass."

"You cant separate abortion from miscarriage management. They are the same thing," Linton said. "When hospital systems don't allow its practitioners to get mifepristone, it leaves all of their patients in the lurch when they need the medication."

Advocates for abortion access say that denying women the best care is why women suffering miscarriages are dying in states with strict abortion bans, like the three women in Texas, or are being denied care until they are near death.

The right to choose now drives Kling's vote.

Not giving up

Two pregnancies and two losses, within one year and 16 days. Katie Ann Kling died on Nov. 26, 2024. Nolan Robert Kling died on Nov. 10, 2023.

Following Nolan's death, Kling said her short-term goals included focusing on her career, having another child in 2025 and keeping Nolan's memory alive.

Now, the family is committed to keeping the memories of Nolan and Katie alive, and completing their family by bringing one more child into their home.

"I'm not giving up," Kling said. "I can't have the last baby of mine I hold be a cold one."

On Christmas Eve, Cunningham drove to the Kling's home to deliver two heart-shaped pillows to the family. The pillows are filled with rice equal to their weights. Katie's is light blue and weighs just less than a pound. Nolan's is dark blue and weighs 1 pound, 3 ounces.

Cunningham said this was her way of finding closure.

"She is doing better than I am doing," Cunningham said. "She is the strongest person I know."

Greta remembers when her mom was pregnant with Nolan and Katie. Elma, who just turned 3, only remembers her mom's pregnancy with Katie. The pillows change that, prompting discussion and remembrance in a not-always somber but playful way.

"Elma, pick up Nolan," Kling says to her youngest daughter on a recent day. "Greta, you get Katie."

And they do, tossing them in the air and catching them, then rocking the heart-shaped pillows like babies in their arms.

Jessica Van Egeren is a general assignment reporter and deputy breaking news editor with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at jvanegeren@gannett.com.

This story has been updated to clarify information concerning abortion laws in Minnesota.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin mom's pregnancy affected by abortion laws, again
The seven members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court hear oral arguments. (Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner)

Ive studied the rulings of the Wisconsin Supreme Court for well over a decade, and for most of that time, the court tended to put corporations and employers over workers or consumers. That has changed in the last couple of years. And now that voters have elected a pro-worker majority, billionaires like Elon Musk are spending big to return a pro-corporate majority to power.

In a 2023 report that I authored for Peoples Parity Project Action, we found that the state Supreme Court had ruled for corporations or employers in most of the cases where individuals were on the other side. The report commented on the stakes of that years election: Instead of the reactionary justices whove put corporations over workers, [Wisconsinites] could have a majority that gives everyone a fair shot.

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In the weeks after our report was released, around the time of the spring 2023 election, the high court ruled for workers or consumers in several cases. Later that year, Judge Janet Protaseiwicz was sworn in, forming a progressive, pro-democracy majority.

Around a year ago, this new majority ruled along ideological lines in a case that impacted workers across the state. The appeal involved unemployment insurance for Catholic Charities and some affiliated charities that help the poor and people with disabilities find jobs. The nonprofit employers tried to argue that they were exempt from the unemployment insurance system under the ministerial exception, which applies to employers that are both controlled by a religious organization and operated primarily for religious purposes.

The court ruled 43 that the organizations arent operated primarily for religious purposes. The justices examined the activities of the groups (job training, help with daily living activities, etc.) and concluded that they arent religious. As the court notes, the smaller charities werent even receiving funding from Catholic Charities and were primarily funded through government contracts.

The majority emphasized that the unemployment statute has always been interpreted broadly to cover as many workers as possible, ever since the state became the first to set up such a system in 1932. The statute says that unemployment compensation addresses an urgent public problem by sharing the burdens of unemployment.

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This ruling meant that dozens of Catholic Charities workers and all of its sub-organizations employees  the people who help people in need find jobs  can get unemployment benefits if they lose their jobs through no fault of their own. The Freedom from Religion Foundation noted that a ruling in favor of Catholic Charities would have jeopardized unemployment insurance for thousands of workers at religiously-affiliated hospitals and colleges.

Justice Rebecca Bradley, whose dissent was partially joined by the other conservatives, began with a Bible verse and an invocation of Jesus Christ himself. She argued for deferring to an employers stated motivations to determine if its workers are ministerial.

Bradley also argued that the majoritys ruling violates the First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion. The case is now headed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has expanded the First Amendment rights of religious employers at the expense of their workers. Though this case implicates the First Amendment, most cases involving workers only involve state law. This means that the Wisconsin Supreme Court gets the final say.

Right now, billionaires and corporations are spending big to end the pro-worker majority and put the state Supreme Courts power back in the hands of right-wing justices who will rule in their favor. With Musk-aligned groups pouring in at least $12 million, spending in the race is on track to break the record for spending in a U.S. judicial election  a record set in 2023 in Wisconsin, the election that changed control of the court.

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The pro-corporate majority that presided over the state for a decade-and-a-half first came to power in 2008. In that years election, corporate interests deliberately targeted a justice who had ruled against the manufacturers of dangerous lead paint. This majority was mired in conflicts of interest and bitter interpersonal conflicts. In 2010, they adopted an ethics rule that was literally written by a corporate-funded group that backed the conservative justices. A few years later, they shut down a campaign finance investigation into big business groups that had spent millions to get them elected.

For billionaires and corporations, the stakes are clear in this years high court election. Wisconsin judges are ruling on cases affecting voters, workers, and people facing criminal charges.

In one case, Musks Tesla car company is currently appealing a judges decision to deny it an exemption to a state law that prohibits car companies from owning car dealerships. Musks company wants to open four dealerships throughout the state  at a time when those dealerships are facing hundreds of protests in states around the country. If a Tesla customer sues the company, Musk would probably prefer that a pro-corporate judge hear the case.

With the courts current majority in power, workers and consumers actually have a shot at justice. The justices have made progress in protecting democracy. They finally struck down gerrymandered election districts and overturned a prior ruling that barred the use of ballot drop boxes.

Musk and his wealthy friends want to take all of that away. But in Wisconsin, the voters decide who sits on their states highest court.

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Supreme Court candidates Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel debate at Marquette Law School Wednesday evening, March 12. (Photo by Henry Redman/Wisconsin Examiner)

The race for an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court continues to draw record-breaking campaign donations, with both candidates receiving contributions from billionaires and out-of-state donors.

With less than a week left in the race that will decide the ideological balance of the Court between Dane County Judge Susan Crawford and Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel, observers believe the total amount raised will reach $100 million by Election Day on April 1. That amount makes the race the most expensive state court election in U.S.history and far surpasses Wisconsins record of $56 million, which was set when Justice Janet Protasiewicz defeated former Justice Dan Kelly in the 2023 race.

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On Monday, the Crawford campaign announced that it had raised $17 million since early February and $24 million since she entered the race last summer.

Full campaign finance reports of the reporting period are not yet available, but late contribution reports filed on Monday show Crawfords campaign received more than $1.2 million in just the last few days, including more than $600,000 of in-kind donations from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

The report also shows a number of contributions to Crawford of more than $1,000 from donors across the state and the U.S., including a $5,000 donation from the actor Kevin Bacon and $1,000 from former state Department of Revenue Secretary Peter Barca.

Schimels late-filing report showed he received about $1.2 million from the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

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State law puts a $20,000 limit on individuals donations to a judicial campaign, however both candidates are benefiting from a workaround that allows unlimited donations to both political parties, which can in turn transfer unlimited amounts of cash to the campaigns.

Schimels campaign has also received $13 million in outside support from a political action committee associated with Elon Musk. Musk has been an outspoken supporter of Schimel, and Musks America PAC, which he used to back President Trump during the 2024 election, has offered Wisconsin voters $100 to sign a petition opposing activist judges and has sent staff to knock on doors in Wisconsin. Schimel was also endorsed by President Donald Trump over the weekend. WisPolitics reported last week that Musk had also given $2 million to the state Republican party, the largest contribution ever recorded to the state GOP.

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President Trump signed an executive order last week that would begin the process of dismantling the Department of Education once and for all.

Were going to eliminate it, and everybody knows its right, Trump said during a signing ceremony on March 20. Were not doing well with the world of education in this country, and we havent for a long time.

Trumps order argues that the departments functions can, and should, be returned to the States.

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Unlike some other Cabinet-level agencies that have broad, nationwide authority over the areas they oversee, the Education Department has a comparatively minor role in how education works in the United States. For the most part, schools across the country already have their policies set at the state and local level, which is also where the majority of funding comes from. The federal government provides just under 14% of the $857 billion spent nationally on K-12 public education, according to figures from the Education Data Initiative.

Despite Trumps order, there is a lot of uncertainty over what happens next. He does not have the authority to unilaterally eliminate the agency. Only an act of Congress can do that. But Trump has already taken steps to shift some of the Education Departments responsibilities to other agencies. All of this upheaval has raised serious questions about whether states will continue to receive money for schools from the federal government.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon tried to counter those concerns during an interview with CNN on Sunday, saying theres not going to be any defunding of programs that directly affect students.

But unless Congress passes a bill that enshrines McMahons promise into law, the future of federal education funding will remain in limbo  and even that might not protect those programs from the widespread cuts that Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency has been making across the government.

Where federal dollars go

Even though most education funding comes from state and local governments, schools would still feel a huge impact if they stopped receiving money from the federal government.

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Some states would be affected more than others. Federal education funds are distributed by several agencies. By far the largest share comes from the Education Department, specifically through programs designed to support poor children and kids with disabilities. So while big states like California receive the most total money, its actually some of the smallest, least wealthy states that get the most significant amount on a per-student basis.

States also fund their schools at different levels, which means theyd have a bigger hole to fill if federal money suddenly dried up.

Mississippi, for example, gets $3,000 per student from the federal government to supplement about $10,000 from state and local sources. That means federal funds make up nearly a quarter of the states education budget, the most of any state. A total of 22 states rely on federal money for at least 15% of their education funding. On the other hand, federal funds make up less than 10% of the education budget in five states, all of them in the Northeast.

The Education Department has two major programs that send money to states. The first is Title I, which provided $18 billion in 2023 for schools with a high population of low-income students. The other is special education funding through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which accounted for nearly $14 billion the same year.

If Title I and IDEA funding went away, some states would miss out on billions of dollars designed to go to the students who need support the most.

McMahon told CNN that both of these programs are safe, regardless of what happens to the structure of the Education Department in the coming months. But Project 2025, the conservative playbook that has informed many of the actions taken by the Trump administration since he returned to office, calls for ending Title I within the next decade and turning IDEA into a no-strings block grant that imposes no limitations on how the money is spent.
Hungarian airline Wizz Air is ready to return to Ukraine and is close to reaching an agreement on resuming commercial operations with some Ukrainian airports.

Source: CEO Jozsef Varadi during the Logistics as a Driver of Economic Growth conference organised by the think tank We Build Ukraine

Details: Varadi stated that Wizz Air has big plans for Ukraine and sees significant potential in the country's aviation sector.

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He mentioned that Wizz Air was planning not only to operate flights to Ukraine but also to restore operational bases and resume flights from the country.

Varadi reported that Wizz Air has developed a plan to establish a network of around 100 routes within the first six months of resuming operations, aiming to achieve an annual passenger flow of five million.

Varadi added that they were already prepared and actively negotiating with airports in Lviv and Kyiv, being close to finalising a commercial agreement.

Background:

Ryanair, one of the world's largest low-cost airlines, has developed a five-year plan to resume flights to Ukraine, but CEO Michael OLeary says the airports the company has approached with the proposed deal are ignoring it.

Ryanair is preparing a plan to restart flights to Ukraine within four to six weeks after the war with Russia is suspended.

Viktor Mykyta, Deputy Head of the Ukrainian President's Office, told Forbes Ukraine that every effort would be made to reopen the airport in the city of Uzhhorod, but the final decision lies with the military personnel.

Wizz Air intends to resume flights to Ukraine shortly after a ceasefire with Russia is announced, restoring about 30 inbound routes within six weeks.

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A 24-year-old woman from San Bernardino County is in custody, accused of attempted murder during a road rage incident after investigators used automated license plate readers (ALPRs) to track her vehicle, officials with the California Highway Patrol announced.

According to a CHP news release, the March 16 roadway violence unfolded at around 8:15 a.m. in the westbound lanes of the 10 Freeway, east of Riverside Avenue in the San Bernardino area.

A motorist in a gray Nissan Rogue, now identified as Loma Linda resident Angeline Marie Gable, was reportedly angered over a lane change when she pulled alongside the victim, the driver of a black 2024 Honda Civic.

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Authorities said that Gable pulled out a handgun and fired several rounds at the Honda, striking it numerous times.

A loaded semi-automatic firearm allegedly located in the 24-year-old suspects vehicle on March 16, 2025. (CHP) Bullet holes seen in a 2024 Honda Civic after an Inland Empire road rage shooting on March 16, 2025. (CHP)

A witness to the road rage shooting immediately called 911 and reported the incident.

Responding CHP officers located the victims vehicle, contacted the male motorist and noted the bullet holes in his car.

The Office of Criminal Investigations Emergency Notification and Tactical Alert Center, located in Sacramento, provided real-time investigatory assistance and discovered a FLOCK Safety camera had captured an image of the suspect vehicle, the release stated.

An ALPR system, Flock Safety cameras are widely used by law enforcement agencies in California and across the country for their database of information that includes vehicles color, make, model and even identifiers like decals and stickers.

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Using information from the Flock system, officers with the Fontana Police Department spotted the 24-year-old suspects vehicle just after 5 p.m. the same day and conducted an enforcement stop.

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Gable and another adult female were detained until CHP officers responded and took both women into custody for questioning, while the Nissan Rogue was impounded for evidence. During the vehicle inventory, detectives located a loaded firearm that matched the description provided by the witness, officials said.

Deliberate acts of violence such as these will not be tolerated, CHP Captain Lance Berns said.

Gable was booked at the San Bernardino County Detention Center on multiple felony charges, including attempted murder and discharging a firearm at an occupied vehicle.

No additional information was provided about the 24-year-olds unidentified female passenger and whether she was present during the road rage incident or if she was facing any charges in the matter.

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CEDAR CITY, Utah (ABC4)  A woman was airlifted with a head injury after a snowmobiling accident in the Dry Lakes area near Cedar City, according to the Iron County Sheriffs Office.

At around 11:50 a.m. on March 24, Cedar City dispatch received a 911 call regarding a snowmobiling accident near the Twisted Forest Trailhead in the Dry Lakes area. A woman  reportedly in her late 20s or early 30s  had been riding a snowmobile when she crashed into a tree.

Witnesses at the scene found the victim unconscious, according to a press release from the Iron County Sheriffs Office. The woman reportedly had visible head injuries and facial bleeding.

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Documents reveal text messages sent to victim in $1.5M life insurance murder case

Courtesy of Iron County Sheriffs Office

Immediate stabilization efforts were initiated as she regained consciousness; however, her awareness remained impaired, the release states. Observers accompanying her noted that a male passenger on the snowmobile suffered no significant injuries.

A Life Flight team out of St. George was initially placed on standby while an Iron County Search and Rescue team responded to the location. Responders gave medical treatment on site, but due to the severity of the womans injuries  including a potentially broken collarbone, dislocated shoulder, and neck and back pain  air transport was called in.

After the woman was considered stabilized, a helicopter transported her to St. George Regional Hospital for treatment. Her current condition has not been released.

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The identity of the victim has not been released at this time.

No further information is currently available.

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  A young mother of four diagnosed with an extremely rare form of kidney cancer has died.

In June, News 8 shared the story of Aiyana Mitchell, a then-24-year-old in Kent County who was diagnosed with Stage 4 renal medullary carcinoma. Mitchell spent her final months making sure her kids would be taken care of.

24-year-old Grand Rapids woman battles extraordinarily rare kidney cancer

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Im definitely trying to work towards stability, especially because life is not promised for me, Mitchell told News 8 at the time. I dont want my kids to be homeless if anything happens to me.

Mitchell died early Sunday, March 16. She was laid to rest this week surrounded by friends, family and community members who helped her and her children.

A photo of Aiyana Mitchell on the program for her funeral.

Phyllis Potter is a member of Shields of Hope, a Zeeland nonprofit that has helped hundreds of families. Its all made possible by donations. Mitchell first reached out to Potter last fall. After just breaking out of homelessness, Mitchell needed help paying her utility bill and had no furniture in her home for her four children.

Even in the face of death, Mitchells perseverance and dedication to her children were clear to Potter.

An undated photo of Aiyana Mitchell. (Courtesy)

I just loved her spirit, Potter said. And I loved how somebody so young and knowing they were dying could have such an outlook on life. It was all about creating memories for her kids.

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Just months before, Mitchell was diagnosed with Stage 4 renal medullary carcinoma. It had spread throughout her body. Only a few hundred people have ever been diagnosed with the disease.

Theyre just trying to keep me comfortable now, Mitchell told News 8 in June 2024. This is not something thats reversible. Thats like the worst news to ever get as a 24-year-old, like, my life just began.

Dr. Emerson Lim, a medical oncologist at Corewell Health who focuses on bladder, prostate and kidney cancers, told News 8 last June theres no good screening for the disease. And because its so rare, he said there have been no clinical trials studying how to effectively treat it. Doctors usually rely on chemotherapy.

Renal medullary carcinoma affects those with sickle cell disease or sickle trait. Just 1 in 20,000 people with those conditions can develop it. And of the 80,000 people who develop kidney cancer each year in the United States, less than 1% of those patients have this disease. Doctors say renal medullary carcinoma predominately affects people of color with those conditions.

An undated photo of Aiyana Mitchell. (Courtesy)

She was so sick and struggling to breathe, Potter said. So weak, but still so involved in those kids. Playing with them, building blocks with them, playing games with them. Her strength was amazing.

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Mitchell shared her story with News 8 to spread the word about the disease. She wanted people to listen to their bodies and not ignore any troubling signs. She also hoped people would advocate for themselves until they got answers.

After the story, the community donated thousands of dollars to Mitchells GoFundMe. Shields of Hope and other organizations helped get Mitchell and her children what they needed. They also helped make her wish of having an amazing Christmas with her children come true.

It was absolutely magical, Potter said. There were more gifts in that home, and not just the Christmas gifts we ask for or my kids ask for, but toilet paper, grocery and clothes.

It took weeks for them to open all the presents, Potter said.

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Potter said Mitchell wanted to leave a legacy for her kids to never give up, no matter the circumstances.

She wanted people to know in the darkest moments, you cant stop fighting, she said. You have to continue to fight. She was going to fight despite knowing she had nine months.

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GRAFTON, W.Va. (WBOY)  A woman has been charged with murder after allegedly injecting her mother with insulin that had not been prescribed to her, causing her death in 2023.

Just before midnight on May 25, 2023, officers with the Grafton Police Department were dispatched to assist with a call of a cardiac arrest at an apartment on Howard Street where EMS had found the patient dead, according to a criminal complaint.

Kelly Moore

When officers arrived, they spoke with Kelly Moore, 61, of Arthurdale, who said that her mothers blood sugar was 250, so she gave mom 20 units of her [Moores] insulin, officers said.

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Upon entering the apartment, officers heard Moore on the phone stating Its bad' and said Moore appeared angry and annoyed when she got off the phone; at that point, Moore gave officers her identification and the identifying information for the deceased, 81-year-old Ethel Lucille Moore, according to the complaint.

New details released in Clarksburg stabbing death

Officers photographed the scene before returning to speak with Moore, who said she had gone to bed around 8:30 p.m. because her sugar was really low, officers said.

Moore told officers that Ethel had been feeling bad for a couple of days, and had received a hip replacement on May 19, 2023, before returning home on May 22, and that Ethels blood sugar was really high today, so Moore said she gave her some of my insulin, which she said was a total of 20 units, according to the complaint.

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During that conversation, Moore told officers that Ethel had all kinds of s*** wrong with her, including heart problems, arthritis all over and dementia, and when Moore talked about Ethels dementia, she seemed very annoyed and stated, Thats why Im here with her.

Officers located the used insulin vial on the kitchen table and noted it to be an empty Lilly LisPro Injection Kwik Pen U-100, which comes with 100 units of insulin when unused, but Moore told officers the pen was not full when she injected Ethel with it, according to the complaint.

A medical examiner arrived on scene, and when speaking with Moore learned that the insulin she had injected Ethel with was prescribed to [Moore] and that Ethel had never been prescribed insulin, officers said.

When Moore was asked why she would give Ethel insulin when it had not been prescribed to her, she said Ethel had taken her blood sugar readings twice [that day] and that it was really high and that Ethel had told [Moores] sister that she wasnt doing nothing for her, according to the complaint.

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According to Moore, Ethels blood sugar reading was was 250 or 260 something' at 8:30 p.m. that day after Ethel had eaten two small scoops of ice cream because her blood sugar was high and [Ethel] was convinced it would lower [it].

Moore indicated that she administered 30 units of fast-acting insulin to herself in the belly, and that she had given Ethel 20 units at the left deltoid, according to the complaint.

Clay County man, woman charged in infant abuse case

Officers noted that Ethels listed weight was 130 pounds and that Moores was 275, and that the instructions listed on the insulin container said for Moore to inject herself with 30 unites three times daily, officers said.

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Moore told officers she had lived with Ethel since 2022 and went on to explain that she was the only one not married, so she got elected to stay with Ethel because there wasnt anybody else to do it, according to the complaint.

On Aug. 22, 2024, the Taylor County Prosecutors Office received a fax from the West Virginia Chief Medical Examiners Office with the death investigation and post-mortem examination for Ethel which showed she had died as a result of insulin shock, showing an insulin assay of 93mcIU/mL when a reference range was meant to be from 2-25mcIU/mL, officers said.

On March 10, 2025, officers received the West Virginia Death Certificate for Moore which lists the cause of death as Insulin Shock from a relative of Ethel who stated that she had believed [Ethel] died as a result of complications from her hip replacement surgery and that Moore had never mentioned to her anything about injecting [Ethel] with insulin, according to the complaint.

Moore has been charged with murder. She is being held in Tygart Valley Regional Jail without bond.

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SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A woman accused of stealing more than $56,000 in merchandise from San Francisco retailers pleaded not guilty to all charges on Monday, according to the San Francisco District Attorneys Office.

Jayla Glaser was charged in connection to five retail thefts at Sephora and Veo Optics between August 2024 and Feb. 20, 2025.

Prosecutors said the spree started on Aug. 26, 2024, when Glaser and an accomplice allegedly stole $5,034 worth of merchandise from the Sephora at 2083 Union Street. On Jan. 15, 2025, Glaser returned to the same Sephora location with an accomplice and allegedly stole $700 in merchandise. The Union Street Sephora was hit a third time three days later, with Glaser accused of taking $7,000 worth of merchandise.

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VIDEO: Thieves chain door to vehicle to break into San Jose liquor store

On Feb. 3, the DAs office said Glaser and an accomplice visited the Sephora at Two Embarcadero Center and stole approximately $4,000 in merchandise. That same month, on Feb. 20, over $40,000 worth of luxury eyewear was allegedly stolen by Glaser and an accomplice from Veo Optics at 2100 Union Street.

Glaser faces multiple charges, including one count of organized retail theft with intent to resell, four counts of second-degree commercial burglary, four counts of grand theft and one count of petty theft with two or more priors.

A San Francisco County Superior Court judge granted the prosecutions request to keep Glaser detained pending trial. A preliminary hearing is set for April 4.

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WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  An Arlington woman was sentenced to prison on Friday, March 21, 2025, after pleading guilty to causing a crash in July 2022 while intoxicated behind the wheel that later claimed the life of 57-year-old Natalie Brown.

Allyson Forbins in the 30th District Court on Friday, March 21, 2025 (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL)

Allyson Renea Forbins, 60, of Arlington, pleaded guilty to intoxicated manslaughter with a vehicle and intoxicated assault with a vehicle on Friday morning, March 21, in the 30th District Court, with Judge Jeff McKnight presiding.

As a part of the plea bargain, Forbins was sentenced to five years in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility on each of the two counts, set to run concurrently.

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PREVIOUS STORY: Jaws of life used in pin-in wreck on Old Iowa Park Road

Allyson Forbins in the 30th District Court on Friday, March 21, 2025 (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL)

The charges against Forbins stem from a head-on collision in the 2800 block of Old Iowa Park Road in the summer of 2022.

According to authorities, first responders arrived on the scene of the crash just after 7 p.m. on July 22, 2022, where a vehicle driven by Forbins had been heading west before swerving into the eastbound lanes and striking a white GMC Terrain head-on.

Scene of the head-on collision involving Forbins on Old Iowa Park Road on July 22, 2022 (Photo credit: KFDX/KJTL)

As a result of the crash, Brown was pinned in the vehicle and had to be removed with the jaws of life. Brown sustained serious injuries and was transported to United Regional, where she underwent several surgeries. More than a week later, on August 4, 2022, Brown died as a result of her injuries.

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The passenger of the GMC Terrain was also hospitalized with several injuries as a result of the crash but later recovered.

RELATED: Alleged drunk driver indicted for womans death

Scene of the head-on collision involving Forbins on Old Iowa Park Road on July 22, 2022 (Photo credit: KFDX/KJTL)

Police said when they questioned Forbins after the crash, she told them she didnt remember anything about the crash. Forbins then told officers she had been drinking, which led authorities to conduct a blood draw on her at the hospital.

Forbins blood-alcohol level was later discovered to be 0.26 grams per 100 milliliters at the time of the crash, nearly four times the legal limit of 0.07 grams per 100 milliliters.

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.

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PULASKI COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56)  The case against a woman charged in connection with a deadly moped crash in Pulaski County is moving forward.

In October, then-19-year-old Kayleigh Dismuke was driving on US Highway 27 when she hit a moped driven by 31-year-old Dino Collins of Cincinnati.

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He was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

Today in court, Dismuke pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter and two DUI charges.

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She also waived her right to trial by jury and was sentenced to seven years behind bars.

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A mother of two from Tennessee is speaking out after she says she was injured when she fell onto a dolphin's fin while taking part in a dolphin experience in Jamaica.

Cierra Stockard said while on vacation with friends on March 16, she decided to opt for an experience with dolphins known as the "Dolphin Royal Swim" at Dolphin Cove Jamaica, a marine park with multiple locations throughout Jamaica, according to its website.

The experience allows users to be "towed by two friendly Dolphins or feel the energy of these social marine mammals while they foot-push you to then splash into the water at maximum speed," the website states.

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Stockard said she was being pushed by the dolphins into a standing position when she fell into the water and landed on a dolphin's fin.

"The dolphin on my left side was kind of swimming a little bit faster than the dolphin on my right side, so it made me unbalanced," Stockard said in an interview that aired Tuesday on "Good Morning America." "I just knew I was gonna fall into the water. I just didn't expect to hit the fin."

Stockard said she landed on the dolphin's fin so hard she felt like she had been struck by a car.

"It felt like I was in a car accident because it hit me super hard," Stockard said. "I started panicking."

PHOTO: Cierra Stockard speaks with ABC News about injuries she says she incurred while swimming with dolphins in Jamaica. (ABC News)

According to Stockard, the dolphins appeared to try to help her after the incident.

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"They came and rubbed against me and stopped their bodies from swimming to be right beside me," she said.

Stockard told "GMA" the impact with the dolphin's fin left her with a grapefruit-sized hematoma, a blood clot that is typically caused by a broken blood vessel, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Former Yankees player Brett Gardner's 14-year-old son dies while on vacation

Stockard -- who says she has sickle cell anemia, a group of disorders that affect the part of red blood cells that carry oxygen, according to the NIH -- told "GMA" she was rushed to a local hospital where she had to undergo surgery.

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After spending time hospitalized in Jamaica, Stockard traveled home to Tennessee on March 24 and was admitted to a local hospital for further treatment.

Dolphin Cove did not respond to ABC News' multiple requests for comment.

Exclusive: 'Black-ish' star Jenifer Lewis reveals devastating accident during a trip

Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a nonprofit organization that represents over 250 zoos and aquariums globally, told "GMA" that people should be aware of the risks of interacting with wild animals, even in controlled environments.

"Well-designed animal experiences can be excellent opportunities to connect with nature, but they are wild animals," said Ashe, who is not associated with Discovery Cove. "No matter what condition they are in, they are wild animals, so people need to know that they are up to the experience."

Woman says dolphin injury at popular Jamaica attraction felt like a 'car accident' originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A female pedestrian was seriously injured after being hit by a vehicle on Monday night, according to Buffalo police.

Police said that the woman was struck at the intersection of Seneca Street and Stevenson Street. Emergency crews responded, and the vehicle remained at the scene.

This is a developing story, and we will update this story as soon as more information becomes available.

Latest Local News

***

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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.

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WOODBRIDGE, Va. (DC News Now)  Police in Prince William County said a woman was shot Monday evening.

Officers from the Prince William County Police Department responded to the 13100 block of Tazanari Way in Woodbridge just after 7:30 p.m. There, they found a woman who was shot.

19-year-old found guilty of 2022 Woodbridge murder

She was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspect was arrested. Police said the two knew each other.

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The federal government employed around 3 million people last year. But by next years Equal Pay Day, progress on wage transparency and equity could drop dramatically for the countrys largest employers  a warning sign for the rest of the nations private sector workers.

Tuesdays Equal Pay Day, meant to highlight wage inequality across gender and race, falls during an unprecedented period of governmental upheaval. Between unprecedented mass layoffs, President Donald Trumps reshaping of labor boards, and a targeted backlash to diversity advancements, many gains made among the federal workforce could disappear, experts say.

Its not unusual to have different emphases across Republican and Democratic administrations, different levels of enforcement, said Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families, a national nonpartisan organization that advocates for family policy. Whats different this time around, unlike the first Trump administration and [any other] since [former President Lyndon B.] Johnsons administration, they have sought to eliminate the underlying executive actions and infrastructure that is critical to doing robust enforcement.

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During Trumps first term, he directed the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), a labor board dedicated to investigating discrimination charges, to stop collecting pay data on race and gender from large companies  which a federal judge overruled soon after. He also rolled back the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces executive order, which required federal contractors to comply with 14 labor and civil rights laws, including a paycheck transparency rule.

Trumps latest attempts to reshape and freeze agencies like the EEOC and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which handles unionization processes, are yet another step away from addressing wage discrimination complaints from the nations workforce.

If you dont have the ability to track or try to prove or enforce non-discrimination laws, thats going to be worse, said Elise Gould, a senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), a left-leaning think tank. Those [cuts] are hugely detrimental. Theyre going in the wrong direction.

The so-called Department of Government Efficiency, billionaire Elon Musks cost-cutting effort, has fired an estimated 32,000 employees so far, in addition to the 75,000 who have taken deferred buyouts. The group has not published any comprehensive data about those who have been dismissed, including their gender or race.

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Coupled with mass layoffs is the administrations move to aggressively weed out diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts in the federal government, including firings of high-profile women, Democrats and people of color. This could squash any future conversations about pay equity under this White House, said Kelly Dittmar, director of research for the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. The arguments to address inequalities are about systemic changes, rather than individual cases  a theme the current administration has been pushing back on for months, she added.

Theres no expectation that they would prioritize this issue. They havent before, Dittmar said. Theres very little pressure from their base to do so. And in the current climate, which I do think is even different than the first [term] theyre doubling down on [a backlash to diversity] for a whole host of reasons.

While data is not yet available for Trumps current staff, women working under his first year in office earned 69 cents to every $1 a man made, wider than the national wage gap at the time of 82 cents per dollar. His first term saw an estimated 37 percent pay gap among staffers, per the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank  a large jump from the last year of former President Barack Obamas administration, which was estimated to be somewhere under 20 percent.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment about any current or future policies concerning wage equality. Congress requires the administration to publicly share salary information annually on July 1.

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Former President Joe Biden got closer to narrowing the gap, particularly toward the end of his term, with a $93,752 average salary for women compared to $94,639 for men. His administrations efforts to combat inequality included raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour in 2022 for 370,000 federal employees and contractors. He also issued a new rule that barred more than 80 federal agencies from considering workers current or past pay in setting their salaries, a practice that has suppressed wages for women by carrying inequities from one job to the next.

Women comprised around 56 percent of Bidens senior staff, an increase from Obama and Trumps administrations. Women are already less likely to be Republican, and fewer conservative women work in politics, furthering the current administrations potential divide, Dittmar said.

Government jobs have traditionally had more transparency in wage gaps compared to the private sector, Dittmar said, with clearer guidelines about seniority and salaries. Addressing the inequities at the federal level has the additional benefit of giving other industries clues and examples of progress, she said.

And the recent tampering with labor board functions sends a very different message to the private sector than previous administrations, Frye said: Nobody is monitoring business practices.

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Nobody is watching, and nobody is paying attention to whether or not youre discriminating, Frye said. Its hard to say what exactly the private sector pay practices will look like because nobody is going to be scrutinizing it terribly closely. And they know that, and we know that.

Equal Pay Day has traditionally been held on the symbolic day a woman would have to work to have earned as much as a White man during just the prior year. Wage gaps across the country have decreased between men and women of all races, according to data from the Economic Policy Institute. In 2024, women were paid 18 percent less on average than men, controlling for all factors.

For every White man who earned $1 in 2023, Black women earned 64 cents, Latina women earned 51 cents, Native American women earned 52 cents, and AAPI women earned 82 cents, according to the National Partnership for Women and Families.

The progress after the pandemic shutdown years showcased a tight labor market, according to Gould. This is likely to change over the next year based on the recent waves of federal layoffs and future job insecurity. When unemployment is low, companies have less discretion in hiring, and are more likely to make their offers competitive to entice workers, she said.

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But a potential incoming recession means historically disadvantaged workers get hurt first, Gould added.

The economic uncertainty thats being shown right now, whether it has to do with deportations or tariffs or all the playoffs at the federal level that are trickling through contractors and into the private sector, thats going to have a huge impact, she said.

The post Women already earn less. Trumps labor cuts could make the pay gap easier to hide. appeared first on The 19th.

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Staysha Quentrill is a midwife helping Black and brown Appalachian women get the care they need to deliver healthy babies. She advocates for patients to have better access to midwives outside of hospitals and helped draft a West Virginia bill to make this possible.

As the Guardian reported: "Research shows more positive health outcomes and greater satisfaction when patients share the same race or ethnicity as their providers."

Quentrill's goal is to get professional midwives licensed  not just certified  so that their services are covered by insurance and Medicaid. This is crucial because resource extraction in the region negatively and disproportionately affects the small percentage of nonwhite Appalachians there, according to research from ProPublica.

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As a 35-year-old mother of seven, Quentrill is concerned about the many parts of West Virginia that have no hospitals or birthing centers. Expectant mothers there often cannot access prenatal care or must travel long distances to get it.

Nonpartisan research group March of Dimes gave West Virginia an "F" grade for preterm birth rates because of its 13.1% rate of babies born before 37 completed weeks of gestation.

Even women who live near larger towns and cities frequently can't get the care they need. About 30% of West Virginia's population is on Medicaid, and insurance does not cover home births and certified nurse midwife care.

However, Quentrill has discovered that the women she helps with childbirth are more comfortable with midwives they have commonalities with and can relate to.

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"In a world where microaggressions happen and racism can be so subtle, having somebody with you that you've created a bond with can let those [vigilant] parts of yourself down," Quentrill said. "That way you can just be fully present for the birth instead of having some sort of guard up to protect yourself."

Looking ahead, Quentrill is looking to adapt her services to help more minority patients. She is interested in providing free childbirth classes for patients and post-birth caregiving instruction for their family members.

Meanwhile, some of Quentrill's past patients are inspired by her work and following in her footsteps. One woman who trusted Quentrill with her at-home birth is now pursuing a public health degree and working as a breastfeeding peer counselor.

Wherever you live, you can also take local action to support affordable care for expectant mothers and donate to organizations that support climate resilience and sustainable public health. These actions are a step in the right direction because of how closely linked climate issues are to maternal health.

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"When it comes to Black and brown midwives, we're tasked to create care for Black and brown people," Quentrill said, and to "fix this problem that we didn't cause."

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  The Woodbury County Auditor is urging voters to update their voter registration.

County Auditor Michelle Skaff and Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate are sending alerts to residents that some Woodbury County residents may be receiving mailers in the next few weeks as a reminder to update their registration.

The mailers will include a notice that they are doing voter registration list maintenance and are in the middle of the auditing process. The notices are called No Activity notices.

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The mailers are being sent in compliance with the National Voter Registration Act, which requires contact to be made with voters in order to ensure that their information is accurate and up to date.

Candidate townhall for North Sioux Citys new governing body

Ongoing voter registration list audits and maintenance processes are critical to keeping Iowa voter rolls clean and accurate, Pate said. While we encourage Iowans to keep their voter registrations up-to-date, Iowas Same-Day Voter Registration safeguard ensures Iowans can register and vote on Election Dayensuring every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast a ballot.

Voters that find themselves in inactive status can return to active status by requesting an absentee ballot, voting in an election, re-regsitering, or updating their registration.

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Voters who have questions about their voter registration status can reach out to the Woodbury County Auditors office at 712-279-6465 or visit www.VoterReady.Iowa.Gov.

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WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WPRI)  Globe Park Elementary School is extending its school days by 28 minutes for the remainder of the year in an effort to comply with the states guidelines.

In a letter to families, Woonsocket Superintendent Dr. Patrick McGee explained that the decision stemmed from the water leaks that forced the school to close for five days earlier this year.

Though the district requested the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) forgive those missed days, the state reiterated that the school needed to make up that time.

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Instead of cutting into April vacation or tacking additional school days onto the end of the academic year, the school decided to instead add 28 minutes onto each day.

But not everyone is on board with the districts decision to extend the school day.

Its frustrating to say the least, said parent Savanna Noe. Right now, its the parents and the families and the staff that are suffering. Its not right.

McGee explained that child care and bus services are still available. But for some parents, that isnt enough.

Unfortunately, I dont have my own transportation, so this 28-minute extended day is pushing not only my schedule, but my familys schedule, which allows me to pick up my child at the end of the day, Noe said.

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Theres now a petition circling online urging the district to change course. The petition argued that the five-day closure was due to the districts long-standing negligence in maintaining the schools roof, which has been leaking since 2016.

It is completely unfair to require students to make up this lost time when the closure was the direct result of the districts failure to properly maintain school facilities, the petition stated. Parents firmly believe that children should not be held accountable for the consequences of administrative neglect.

The responsibility for this situation falls on those who failed to address the leaking roof for nearly a decade, not on the students who were displaced from their classrooms through no fault of their own, the petition continued.

The petition offers three possible solutions to making up the lost time, which include the state waiving the five missed days, the district implementing virtual learning or the school integrating missed instruction into existing class time.

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Extending the school day places unnecessary stress on students, disrupts family routines, and is an inadequate solution to lost instructional time, the petition concluded.

The Woonsocket School Committee is slated to convene Wednesday, though its unclear whether the school day extension will be brought up.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  On the surface, the death of Paul Lockhart seemed like a tragic, but simple accident.

In October 2023, while on a business trip in Kansas City, Paul was found dead in a hotel room.

Fake 911 calls made before thousands stolen from KCK bank in January: affidavit

The police ruled it as an accidental death, but now, evidence shared with the family suggests there may have been foul play involved.

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Questions have been unanswered and unaddressed, Lora Lockhart, Paul Lockharts Neice said.

His family, particularly his niece, is left grappling with the unanswered questions surrounding his death.

Paul Lockhart was no stranger to travel. As a dedicated worker in the construction industry, he frequently visited cities across the country for his job. It was an ordinary part of his life.

But something was different this time. It was more than unusual for Paul not to show up for work as expected.

Lora remembers the shock of hearing that Paul had failed to show up for his job that fateful day.

On top of the grief, you have some disheartenment around the lack of answers and the lack of pursued justice, she said.

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Paul got to his hotel on Oct. 17, 2023, ready for another day of work.

KCK police ask for help in locating missing father

But by the next morning, he was dead. How he diedand whyremains a mystery that his family feels has been neglected.

Surveillance footage from the hotel tells a story that raises more questions than answers.

Police reports reveal that a woman met Paul in the lobby, and the two went upstairs to his room together. Minutes later, the same woman was seen meeting another woman in the lobby, and the two of them headed back to Pauls room.

An hour later, both women left the hotel. But then, the first woman returned alone to Pauls room. She left with items that she hadnt been carrying before.

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What happened during that hour? What could these women know about Pauls death?

The investigation uncovers even more troubling details. After leaving the hotel, one of the women crashed Pauls car.

She then fled to a waiting vehicle where the other woman had been seen going to.

There is a danger out there, and at this point, we dont know, Lora said.

Despite the suspicious circumstances, the Kansas City Police Departments response has been lackluster at best, according to the family.

Police were called to the scene after the crash, but they only knocked on Pauls door. They never entered.

It wasnt until several hours later, when Paul missed work, that a welfare check was conducted. When hotel staff entered his room, they found Paul dead, naked and hanging halfway off the bed.

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The medical examiners report revealed that Paul had died from fentanyl overdose. The cause of death was ruled an accident, and the case was quickly closed.

For Pauls family, this official conclusion felt like a dead end.

Lora explained how this ruling didnt sit right with them: He was a hard, hard worker, committed to traveling to make places better, to construct buildings in other cities, she said.

As fentanyl deaths continue to rise across the country, the Lockhart family feels that their loved ones death has not been fully investigated. Theyre frustrated by the lack of transparency and progress in the investigation.

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GESD mom wins fight for preliminary injunction, allowed back on school grounds

Lora voiced her frustration, saying, Really hope we can get somewhere to get justice served.

Pauls family refuses to let his case fade into obscurity. Theyre determined to find out what really happened to him, and they wont rest until they have answers.

The Lockharts will meet with detectives once again on April 7, hoping that this time, the case might finally move forward. But will they get the justice they seek?

FOX4 reached out to KCPD and early in the afternoon, they said theyll see what they could provide us. More than four hours later, we hadnt heard back and reached out again.

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That time, they responded saying that the case was closed but didnt provide much of anything besides that.

FOX4 will continue to keep you updated as this case unfolds.

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NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  10 On Your Side got an up close look at the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) during its COMPTUEX training exercise. The aircraft carrier is the largest in the world.

Were out here in our COMPTUEX advanced training, integrated training. Its world class training for the entire Carrier Strike Group, explained Rear Admiral Paul Lanzilotta, Commander of Carrier Strike Group Twelve.

USS Gerald R. Ford carries out training exercise

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While on board, we also witnessed flight operations from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 and spoke with Captain David Dartez.

Youve seen or read a lot of the events going on in the Red Sea right now. That is a lot of air wing work, he explained.

The worlds largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), participates in an integrated phase training event, March 23, 2025. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is underway in the Atlantic Ocean completing integrated naval warfighting training. Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) is the Joint Forces most complex integrated training event and prepares naval task forces for sustained high-end Joint and combined combat. Integrated naval training provides Americas civilian leaders and commanders highly-capable forces that deter adversaries, underpin American security and economic prosperity, and reassure Allies and partners.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maxwell Orlosky)

As of Monday, the strike group is expected to deploy this summer to the Sixth Fleet area of operations, replacing USS Harry S. Truman. There is potential for those sailors to end up in the Red Sea, but the Navy said they have been training to perform in all unique battle spaces they could encounter.

I know that some of these aircraft and some of the sailors might go in harms way, said Capt. Dartez. And we need to make sure theyre prepared.

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There is some criticism stemming from the cost curve analysis regarding missiles costing millions of dollars being used to shoot down adversary drones averaging between $20,000 and $50,000 each.

Last week, Admiral Daryl Caudle acknowledged new weaponry, the Coyote and Roadrunner systems, helping decrease the cost curve.

Its an attempt to get after the cost curve, give officers more choices, and ultimately be more effective in defending the high value unit, said Capt. Mark Lawrence, Deputy Commander, Destroyer Squadron TWO.

Rear Admiral Lanzilotta issued a reminder that all assets available to the strike group, including guided missile destroyers guns, are utilized.

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That is a very effective weapon. When you see destroyer on the high seas, with five inch guns pointed in your direction, you better thinking twice about whats coming next, he said. Because its a very effective weapon.

Concern for the mental health of sailors was also part of the conversation. The Navy says theyve taken steps to improve living spaces and are offering self serve laundry machines.

Theyre even keeping a dog, Sage, from Mutts with a Mission, who will live on board the Ford. Sailors said having Sage on board brings a little bit of home with them on deployment.

Stay with WAVY.com for more local news, weather and traffic.

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Several Lincoln residents fed up with the noise and speeding cars along O Street urged the City Council on Monday to enact changes that would allow police to impound the cars of drivers ticketed for various offenses, though others said it would unfairly penalize car owners.

Lancaster County Public Defender Kristi Egger said she opposes the changes, not because shes in favor of people racing down O Street, but because of the effect on families, many of whom are living paycheck to paycheck. Many of those families have just one car and may not be able to afford to get it out of impound immediately.

That means mom and dad cant use the vehicle to get to work, they cant get their kids to school or daycare or to counseling or treatment or even get groceries, she said. If people cant get to work they lose their jobs and the cycle of poverty just keeps going.

Spike Eickholt, with ACLU Nebraska, said in practice, towing and impounding a car is a penalty, and, while police can ticket and arrest people, they dont have the authority to impose penalties  that should be left tot the courts.

City Attorney Yohance Christie told the council impounding vehicles is an administrative action, not criminal.

The mayors office and police propose adding a new section to city code that would allow police to impound the vehicles of drivers ticketed for reckless or willful reckless driving, fleeing to avoid arrest, racing or illegally operating racetracks if officers deemed them drivers of disorderly vehicles.

Those disorderly vehicles could be impounded and towed, where they would be immediately released to the registered owner for a first offense. Those cited for a second or subsequent offense would have their car towed and held for 10 days.

The car owners would have to pay whatever fine is assessed for the original offense, plus the $57 towing fee, a $50 administration fee and an average $8-a-day storage fee.

In addition to the disorderly vehicle section, the proposed code changes include updated definitions to clarify language. For instance, the term racing would replace speed contest, and the code sets out where that would be prohibited.

The maximum penalty for racing would be a $500 fine and up to six months in jail.

All operation of race tracks would be prohibited unless the city approved a special permit in specific zoning areas.

The catalyst for the new ordinance was racing and speeding along O street, especially on weekend nights, though the new penalty could be imposed anywhere. Whether to impose it would be left to the officer's discretion.

Between Jan. 1, 2023, and Oct. 27, 2024, police issued 711 citations for offenses covered in the code to 576 people, LPD officials said. Since 2020, dangerous driving activities have resulted in 700 nighttime crashes, more than 800 injury crashes and six fatalities on O Street.

That includes a 2022 Memorial Day weekend crash that sent two cars into a crowd of bystanders, killing two people and injuring 20 others gathered near the intersection at 52nd Street to watch the annual cruise night.

Several residents told the City Council something needs to be done to address the problem, which has gotten worse in recent years.

Charlie Ahearn said beginning Thursday night through early Monday morning, cars race all night, waking him up, and it's a safety issue.

Whatever you can do to reduce the danger on O Street is a good idea, he said.

Bruce Sandhorst, who lives near 33rd and N streets, said hes at ground zero and the situation has gotten worse over the last decade.

It never used to be this bad, he said. A lot of it is the sound. We can no longer sit on our patio and have a conversation. When we sit in our family room and the subwoofers go, the pictures rattle on the wall.

He worries about his own safety driving down the street, he said.

I just want to applaud you guys for this effort, because something needs to happen.

A couple of car enthusiasts said the proposed changes will just make things worse and what the city needs is some place for people to go to race legally.

Ive been cruising O Street since I was legally allowed to do so, said Micah Huggenberger. I used to be one of your biggest problems.

He said the existing violations and fines work and adding to them will make drivers more likely to flee. Whats needed is a better police presence, and officers who have more contact with young drivers. Even better, he said, would be a place they could legally gather.

Im in favor of getting this to end. Its out of control, but Im opposed to the way youre going about it.

Jim Brewer said those who want a place to gather need to work with the city to make that happen, not expect someone else to do it for them.

How many lives do we have to lose? he said. Stupid is stupid. Its time to put the hammer down.

City Council members peppered the opponents with questions, including what other solutions theyd offer. Among those was education for young people or a diversion program.

Councilman Tom Duden said opponents talk about the inconvenience to families, but losing a child or totaling a car is worse.

"They're trying to save lives here. That's why we're here."

The council will vote on the changes March 31.
Israel has resumed attacks in force on Gaza this week, breaking a two-month ceasefire and undermining U.S. President Donald Trumps claim that he would end both the Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine conflicts quickly and easily.

To some, Trumps seeming empowerment of both Israel and Russia, coming on the heels of former President Joe Bidens earlier failure to deter Russian aggression or use U.S. leverage with Israel to prevent the flattening of Gaza, only proves that the international rules-based order Trump is openly seeking to flout may have never been as sturdy as it seemed.

But as I put it in an interview on the American Prestige podcast last week, the rules-based order may be weaker than many may want, but it is stronger than they may think. It can even withstand efforts to break it by the U.S., which disregards rules and institutionsand permits Washingtons adversaries and allies to do the sameat its peril.

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To be sure, as one of the podcasts hosts pointed out, when even a U.S. president who defends the rules-based order, like Biden, fails to bring an ally that is committing crimes against humanity to heelto say nothing of an advocate of might makes right, like Trump, failing to do soit certainly increases the likelihood those crimes will continue. That might appear to confirm the view that rules matter little in international affairs, even when great powers pay lip service to them.

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But part of the problem is the gaps in the rules-based order itself. In this case, international law does not currently compel third parties to withhold aid from the parties to a conflict committing aggression or crimes against humanity, or come to the aid of those that are the victims of either. That should changeand it could if a Treaty on Crimes Against Humanity were adopted.

To be sure, such rules do exist with regard to genocide, which is a very specific crime defined as any one of several acts when those acts are carried out with the intent to destroy in whole or in part a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. The Genocide Convention not only prohibits such actsincluding but not limited to wilful killing, bodily harm and infliction of conditions on a group calculated to ensure their destructionbut also requires third parties to prevent and punish such acts. This was the basis of South Africas effort at the International Court of Justice to seek a stay of hostilities in Gaza until the court made a legal determination over whether Israel was guilty of the crime of genocide there: South Africa claimed it was required under international law to do what it could to prevent or punish what it viewed as a potential genocide, rather than to stand by.

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But scholars and legal experts are split on whether Israels atrocities in Gaza constitute genocide. A September 2024 report from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights argues that Israels actions are consistent with the characteristics of genocide. So do some rights groups and numerous legal scholars. Others have argued that the crimes fall below this threshold. The International Court of Justice has yet to rule on the matter, while the International Criminal Courts investigation into the situation in Gaza does not include charges of genocide.

Like other elements of the international rules-based order, at minimum the Crimes Against Humanity treaty would serve an important standard-setting function.

The debate as a whole underscores how high the bar is set for proving a party is guilty of genocide, largely because it is a crime of intent. If a prosecutor cant show that the acts were undertaken with the actual intent to destroy the group as such, they dont qualify. And if they dont qualify, then third-party complicity in or incitement of these acts could not trigger criminal prosecutions under the Genocide Convention against leaders of the relevant third-party state.

And yet regardless of whether Israels acts meet the strict definition of genocide, no observer familiar with international humanitarian law could conclude that Israel is not at minimum committing what could reasonably be prosecuted as crimes against humanity. Israels bombardment of hospitals, schools and entire neighborhoods has involved over 25,000 tons of explosive weaponsas much as two nuclear bombsthat in urban areas cannot be used discriminately, as required by international law. Its withholding of humanitarian aid easily constitutes starvation of a civilian population, another war crime. When carried out on a widespread and systematic basis, these acts also constitute crimes against humanity prohibited under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which is why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under indictment by that body.

In the case of crimes against humanity, however, there isremarkablyno similar affirmative obligation on third-party states not to incite, abet or encourage such acts, or to prevent them once they begin, as there is for genocide. A few precursors to such an obligation exist. For example, the Arms Trade Treaty, which is in force, prohibits third-party states from selling arms to countries engaged in using those arms to commit violations of humanitarian law. But the U.S. hasnt ratified it, and it is not clear whether a violation of that treaty would meet a standard for criminal prosecution. As for the concept of crimes against humanity itself, these crimes are enumerated as bearing individual criminal responsibility under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, but the concept of complicity, abetment or failure to prevent is not an explicit part of the statute, which sets out to punish only those actually committing or directing commission of the crimes.

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Nor is the responsibility of third parties to intervene to stop ongoing atrocities codified in international law. At best, the responsibility to protect is enumerated in soft law, but this does not have the power to compel third parties to act and is rather a limited right of humanitarian intervention rather than a duty. But as political scientist Ian Hurd points out, the U.N. Charter simultaneously also places obstacles on states unilateral actions to stop alleged crimes. While it empowers the Security Council to act and authorizes third parties to assist in collective defense until such time as the Security Council does so, it does not actually require states to do so.

And this is where a Treaty on Crimes Against Humanity could perhaps have its most important effect once actually negotiated and in force: clarifying the role of third-party states in preventing and punishing such crimes, and expanding the scope of individual criminal responsibility to include third-party actors. Such a treaty is now in the drafting stages and includes a provision to criminalize aiding, abetting or otherwise supporting the commission of such crimes. Were it in force already today, and were the U.S. a party to it, U.S. leaders could be criminally liable for arming Israel, and Trump could be liable for inciting ethnic cleansing and forced displacement with his calls for removing all Palestinians from Gaza.

Of course, the absence of such binding treaty law thus far hardly excuses Washingtons continued support for Israel despite Netanyahus obvious campaign of annihilation against the Palestinian people. This was bad enough when Biden was simply doing far too little to stay Netanyahus hand. Even if there is no law compelling the U.S. to act, numerous international standards prohibit Israel from committing these crimes, and such rules have greatest power when third parties do what they can to enforce them through out-casting, shaming and other forms of pressure. This sometimes occurs, as in the case of Russias invasion of Ukraine, but often it is too little, too late.

Biden did orchestrate a shaming campaign against Russia, but Trump has now undermined that. And neither the U.S. nor Europe has invoked the U.N. Charter rules to justify actual support to Ukraine in the form of boots on the ground, something the charter permits but does not require. And while Bidens administration made a concerted effort to end the war in Gaza, get humanitarian aid in and minimize the worst of Israels siege warfare tactics, he himself chose not to do the thing most needed: to make military aid to Israel contingent on a cessation of crimes against Gazan civilians. Nor did international law compel him to do so. Whether or not it would have made a difference if the Crimes Against Humanity treaty had already been in place with provisions to bind states that willfully support the commission of such crimes remains counterfactual speculation.

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In the case of Trump, he initially doubled down on his threats to ethnically cleanse Gaza, and he has more recently threatened that there would be hell to pay if Hamas does not release all of the hostages it is holding in Gaza. Given his blatant disregard for international rules, it seems likely that he would be doing these things whether or not a treaty were in place to hold him accountable for abetting crimes against humanity. For the same reason, were such a treaty ready for signature today, it is unlikely the U.S. under Trump would sign or ratify it. Even if it did, it is unlikely a U.S. president would ever end up in the dock.

That said, if Israel were to go through with its threat this week to completely destroy Gaza, such statements could provide the evidence of intent to provoke a genocide indictment from the ICC. And given that Trump is now on record as encouraging such acts, it could expose U.S. leaders and officials to criminal indictment as well. It is possible this is one reason that Trump has since seemed to lose interest in the idea of forcibly displacing the Palestinians, another act that could be considered genocidal. If the same were true of other crimes against humanity, it is possible U.S. leaders would do better at encouraging Israeli restraint. Like other elements of the international rules-based order, at minimum the Crimes Against Humanity treaty would serve an important standard-setting function. It would give the world as a whole more power to hold countries like the U.S. accountable for incitement and abetment of crimes by their allies; rhetorical tools for other third parties to create and sustain coalitions of the willing to deter the worst; and at least hope of a clearer path to hold former leaders accountable for their words and actions that harm civilians. This matters, because history shows that dictators rarely stay in power forever.

Charli Carpenter is a professor of political science and legal studies at University of Massachusetts-Amherst, specializing in human security and international law. She tweets at @charlicarpenter.

The post The World Could Use a Crimes Against Humanity Treaty appeared first on World Politics Review.
A Japanese man who spent more than 40 years on death row until he was acquitted last year has been awarded $1.4 million in compensation, a court said on Tuesday  roughly $85 for each day he was wrongfully convicted.

Former professional boxer Iwao Hakamata, 89, was sentenced to death in 1968 for a quadruple murder despite repeatedly alleging that the police had fabricated evidence against him.

Once the worlds longest-serving death row inmate, he was acquitted after a DNA test showed that the bloodstained clothing which was used to convict him was planted long after the murders, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK.

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The Shizuoka District Court confirmed to CNN that Hakamata had been awarded more than 217 million yen  a payout that represents about US$85 per day since he was found guilty.

His legal representative Hideyo Ogawa described the compensation as the highest amount ever handed out for a wrongful conviction in Japan, but said it could never make up for what Hakamata had suffered.

I think the state (government) has made a mistake that cannot be atoned for with 200 million yen, the lawyer said, according to NHK.

Hakamata retired as a professional boxer in 1961 and got a job at a soybean processing plant in Shizuoka, central Japan.

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Five years later he was arrested by police after his boss, his boss wife and their two children were found stabbed to death in their home.

Hakamata initially admitted to the charges against him, but later changed his plea, accusing police of forcing him to confess by beating and threatening him.

He was sentenced to death in a 2-1 decision by judges in 1968.

The one dissenting judge stepped down from the bar six months later, demoralized by his inability to stop the sentencing.

Hakamata, who has maintained his innocence ever since, would go on to spend more than half his life waiting to be hanged.

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New evidence led to his release in 2014 pending a retrial, which acquitted him last year.

His case brought global scrutiny to Japans criminal justice system, where conviction rates stand at 99%, according to the Ministry of Justice website, and fueled calls to abolish the death penalty in the country.

Hakamatas sister Hideko, who had long campaigned for his release, told CNN last year that decades of imprisonment had wrought irreversible damage on her brothers mental health.

Hakamata was living in his own world, she said.

Sometimes he smiles happily, but thats when hes in his delusion We have not even discussed the trial with Iwao because of his inability to recognize reality.

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Despite the West Virginia House of Delegates rejecting a bill that would allow religious exemptions to school vaccine requirements, Gov. Patrick Morrisey's office says his executive order for religious exemptions still stands. (Getty Images)

Despite a rebuke to religious exemptions to school vaccine requirements by state lawmakers Monday, the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health said Tuesday it will continue to abide by an executive order from Gov. Patrick Morrisey requiring religious exemptions.

Yesterdays House vote on Senate Bill 460 does not affect Gov. Morriseys executive order allowing for religious exemptions for school vaccines, Gailyn M. Markham, deputy director of communications for the Office of Shared Administration, wrote in an email. The West Virginia Department of Health will continue to abide by and comply with that order.

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Julie Bertram, health services coordinator for Wood County Schools, said since the Jan. 14 executive order, the Bureau for Public Health has responded to a few families in her school system who have requested religious exemptions that the state would take no action in court over the child not meeting the immunization requirements. The families, school nurses and the school system should also get a copy of the letter from the bureau, she said.

School nurses then notify the families that they received a letter about their exemption from the Bureau for Public Health and that their child may enter school.

Bertram said after the Legislature rejected the bill, she questions whether the letter qualifies as an exemption.

The state Department of Education has not given school nurses, who have historically enforced the immunization laws, any new guidance on the matter Tuesday, Bertram said.

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A spokesperson for the state Department of Education did not immediately respond to a question about how the department had advised parents who ask about religious exemptions.

The House voted down Senate Bill 460 with a vote of 42 yays and 56 nays on Monday. The legislation would have allowed families who object to the shots on religious grounds to submit a written statement to their school administrator in order to be exempt from the requirements. The states private and parochial schools would have been able to set their own requirements for vaccines. It also would have revamped the process the state has for medical exemption for vaccination requirements, allowing a childs medical provider to submit a medical exemption without needing approval from the state immunization officer.

Until the executive order, West Virginia was among only five states in the country that allowed only medical exemptions to the school vaccination requirements. Following the vote Monday, state Democrats called on the governor to rescind the executive order.

A spokesman for Morrisey said the order remains in effect and would not be rescinded.

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We still have three weeks of [the legislative] session, so they may try to bring [the legislation] back, but Im pretty sure that West Virginians have spoken, Bertram said. I think the legislators have gone out and spoken to the communities, theyve polled West Virginians, and I think they feel pretty strongly, thats how they could get those Republicans on board with them that West Virginians are not for this, the vast majority.

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A sign in Wheeling, W.Va.'s one legal camping area outlines rules and the boundary for the site. The West Virginia Senate is considering a bill that would ban camping on public property throughout the state. (Daniel Finsley | Finsley Creative for West Virginia Watch)

The West Virginia Senate is considering legislation that would prohibit homeless people and others from camping on public property throughout the state. Homeless services providers say the resources it would take to enforce such a ban would be better spent to bolster the states emergency shelter network and affordable housing.

House Bill 2382 would impose up to a $500 fine or 30 days in jail for camping or storing personal belongings on streets, parks, trails or other public property. It defines camping as using backpacks, sleeping bags, blankets and other equipment.

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The bill has already been approved by the House of Delegates. The Senate Judiciary Committee last week amended the bill to add that law enforcement may refer people to shelters, mental health or addiction services instead of imposing a penalty.

The bill was referred to the Senates Rules Committee on second reading Tuesday due to calendar management, a spokeswoman for the Senate said.

Mark Phillips, president and CEO of Catholic Charities West Virginia  an organization that provides homeless services throughout the state, including an emergency shelter in Morgantown and a day shelter in Wheeling  testified last week that though the legislation allows law enforcement to tell people about resources to get help finding shelter, the state does not have enough emergency shelter beds for every homeless person.

The state has approximately 600 emergency shelter beds during the winter, and about half that during the warmer months, he said.

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There were about 1,800 sheltered and unsheltered homeless people counted during the 2024 Point in Time count.

During an interview, Phillips said his main concern with the bill is that its an attempt to hide homelessness rather than addressing the reasons people end up without housing.

The primary concern just seems to be getting people who are experiencing homelessness off a street or park or wherever, and moving them somewhere, even if that doesnt help the root cause of the problem, he said.

According to the state Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, it costs about on average $20,000 per year to jail someone. Phillips said it would be cheaper to fund shelters.

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These shelters are specifically structured to help people move back toward housing, whether thats counseling toward treatment, counseling toward mental illness, or breaking down barriers to housing, whatever it is, thats what these places do, he said. To put people experiencing homelessness right into a prison system that we know does not work for people experiencing homelessness, just continues to perpetuate the problem. These people would just end up right back on the street, and now they have an additional something on their record.

The bill would push the cost of enforcement to the cities and counties when it could be funding housing initiatives, he said.

In Charleston, the two emergency shelters stay full, said Traci Strickland, executive director of the Kanawha Valley Collective, a continuum of care that serves Kanawha, Clay, Boone and Putnam counties.

Im sure this morning, like every other morning, we had people line up at our centralized assessment office to try to get a bed in shelter, and theyre going to be told that there arent beds available, that the beds are full, Strickland said.

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Beyond the lack of shelter beds, Strickland said people have a hard time finding and securing affordable housing because of their history with homelessness and mental illness.

We have individuals experiencing homelessness that want to be in shelter or want to be housed, and we have agencies that are working really hard to make that happen, but there are barriers every step of the way, she said.

A shortage of affordable housing units in the state also contributes to homelessness, providers say.

West Virginia has a shortage of about 25,000 low income housing units, according to the latest analysis by the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

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Criminalizing homelessness is a harmful policy that not only fails to address the root causes of homelessness, but also exacerbates economic challenges in rural communities and states, said Lauren Frederick, continuum of care director for the West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness.

Focusing on criminalization ignores long-term solutions like affordable housing, mental health care and job programs, which are more effective and cost-efficient, she said. Investing in affordable housing and support services is a more compassionate, sustainable and cost-effective solution to homelessness.

While homeless providers generally do not support encampments as an ideal situation for communities or the people living in them in encampments, Frederick said theres a cost-effective, humane way to dismantle an encampment, offering connection to permanent housing resources and proper notice to those living there to arrange to remove their belongings.

Criminalizing homelessness does nothing to address the root issues that cause homelessness. It simply adds more barriers for people to have to overcome to try to get out of it, said Ashley Hawkins, director of community relations for the West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness.

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Homeless people very likely cannot afford the fine associated with the offense, and criminal offenses on a persons record can prevent access to housing assistance and be a deterrent to a landlord, she said.

Del. Geno Chiarelli, D-Monongalia

Adding barriers to people is never going to help solve the problem, Hawkins said. What would help solve the problem is if there was a bit more of a focus on long-term housing situations, on mental health, on job programs, things of that nature that actually address some of the causes. This does not.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a camping ban in Grants Pass, Oregon last summer, dozens of local governments around the country have passed similar laws as they grapple with record levels of homelessness amid a shortage of affordable housing.

In West Virginia, Morgantown, Clarksburg, Bluefield and Princeton passed camping bans last year. Morgantown residents successfully petitioned to have the ban reconsidered. The issue is expected to be decided during the citys election next month. Del. Geno Chiarelli, R-Monongalia, the lead sponsor of House Bill 2382, said he introduced the legislation in response to Morgantowns camping ban possibly being overturned.

Sen. Mike Stuart, R-Kanawha

Proponents of camping bans say encampments are a deterrent to economic development and discourage people from using public parks and spaces.

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An attorney for the Senate Judiciary Committee said that, should it become law, House Bill 2382, would allow municipalities to authorize camping within certain areas in their jurisdictions.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Mike Stuart, R-Kanawha, said House Bill 2382 is not aimed only at homeless people, but could be used during anti-Israeli protests.

This would apply, you see these outrageous pro-Hamas demonstrations that are violent in places like New York, Stuart said. This would apply there, where some of those violent radical groups are camping and disturbing the peace. It would apply.

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In his second term, President Trump has made no secret of his desire to expand Americas northern borders. Canada, he says, was meant to be the 51st state. And he insists the island of Greenland  a semiautonomous territory of Denmark  should belong to the U.S. as well.

I think were going to get [Greenland], Trump told Congress earlier this month. One way or the other, were going to get it.

But according to a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll, fewer than one in five Americans actually want the U.S. to get their northern neighbors.

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The survey of 1,677 U.S. adults was conducted from March 20 to 24, just as the White House was announcing plans to send a delegation of senior officials, including second lady Usha Vance and national security adviser Michael Waltz, to Greenland later this week  plans that Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute B. Egede described as highly aggressive.

The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us, Egede said Sunday. The mere presence [of Waltz] in Greenland will no doubt fuel American belief in Trumps mission  and the pressure will increase.

Noting the "excitement" surrounding the second lady's visit, Vice President JD Vance announced Tuesday that he would now be accompanying his wife to Greenland.

"There was so much excitement... that I decided that I didnt want her to have all that fun by herself," Vance said in a video posted on X. "And so Im going to join her."

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Yet the U.S. public seems somewhat less enthusiastic than Trump and Vance about expanding America's northern borders.

Asked by Yahoo News and YouGov whether they would favor or oppose America annexing Greenland, a mere 19% of respondents say they would favor the move.

The number who would favor Canada becoming Americas 51st state is even lower, at just 17%.

On the flip side, roughly half of Americans oppose annexing Greenland (49%), and a clear majority oppose acquiring Canada (57%). Another third or so  26% for Canada, 32% for Greenland  say theyre not sure what to think.

Republicans tend to favor annexing Canada (26%) and Greenland (38%) at higher rates than Democrats (11% and 7%, respectively). But even then, the vast majority of Republicans are opposed or unsure.

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At the same time, the idea is far from popular among independents, who tend to decide elections. A full 53% of these nonaffiliated Americans oppose annexing Greenland; 62% oppose adding Canada as the 51st state.

Trump has been undeterred, however. In his inaugural address, he vowed that the United States will once again consider itself a growing nation  one that increases our wealth, expands our territory, builds our cities, raises our expectations and carries our flag into new and beautiful horizons.

Since then, the president has refused to rule out forcibly taking Greenland  a vast, ice-covered territory of growing geopolitical and economic importance  despite the fact that 85% of the islands citizens oppose the idea. He also has ruptured 150 years of cordial relations with Canada, hitting Americas closest ally with steep new tariffs and repeatedly mocking the countrys former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as Governor Trudeau.

We dont need their cars. We dont need their lumber.  We dont need their energy. We dont need anything, Trump recently told Fox News. One of the nastiest countries to deal with is Canada.

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In contrast, more than two-thirds (69%) of Americans  including 60% of Republicans  view Canadians favorably, according to the new Yahoo News/YouGov poll.

Americans are more divided, meanwhile, over another question: whether Trump has spent the first two months of his second term "focused on America's most important issues" (43%) or "focused on issues that aren't very important" (45%).

__________________

The Yahoo News survey was conducted by YouGov using a nationally representative sample of 1,677 U.S. adults interviewed online from March 20 to 24, 2025. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2024 election turnout and presidential vote, party identification and current voter registration status. Demographic weighting targets come from the 2019 American Community Survey. Party identification is weighted to the estimated distribution at the time of the election (31% Democratic, 32% Republican). Respondents were selected from YouGovs opt-in panel to be representative of all U.S. adults. The margin of error is approximately 2.6%.
A recent string of legal U.S. residents being detained or deported following information found on their cellphones is worrying some travelers that they'll be stopped when traveling through the country's border.

Under orders by the Trump administration to increase national security  including a full review of visa programs by the U.S. State Department and a potential travel ban on more than 40 countries  more travelers are facing scrutiny by immigration and border control officers, including a search through your electronic devices by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

But if border control asks for your phone, do you have to give it to them? Here's what travelers should know.

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More: Is the US headed toward recession? Here are some things Texans can do to prepare

Can border control search your devices?

Although seemingly rare in recent years, border control agents have the authority to search electronic devices, including cellphones, laptops, and iPads. Now, under the new administration, which has prioritized policies surrounding immigration and border control, this practice is becoming more frequent.

For example, Lebanese physician and Brown University assistant professor Rasha Alawieh was flagged at Boston Logan International Airport by CPB after returning from a family visit. Officers discovered photos and videos on her cellphone related to Hezbollah. As a result, her visa was canceled, and she was deported back to Lebanon.

According to the CBP website, these searches are intended to "enforce the law at the U.S. border and protect border security."

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From a national security perspective, they're also seeing if there is any criminal data or activity on your devices, CBP Assistant Commissioner Hilton Beckham said in a statement to USA TODAY.

Critics argue that this infringes on free speech, particularly as social media posts on political issues are now triggering searches and leading to deportations. A notable example occurred with an Indian Columbia University Ph.D. student, whose visa was revoked after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided her apartment. The raid was prompted by her pro-Palestinian posts on social media and participation in campus protests, leading her to self-deport to Canada.

Similar stances may be expressed in text messages or photos, which could lead officials to flag an immigrant based on their political opinions and speech.

What do CBP officers do when they search your devices?

There are two types of searches: basic and advanced. A basic search involves manually reviewing the content on your devices, such as photos or videos, including any deleted files still stored on your phone.

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An advanced search occurs when an officer uses external equipment to review, copy, or analyze content on your device, but only if theres "reasonable suspicion of a violation of law enforced or administered by CBP or a national security concern." This type of search requires approval from a senior manager before it can be conducted.

During these searches, your device is typically in airplane mode or offline, so the officer can only access the content on the hard drive or operating system. They are not permitted to access your work email or anything stored in the Cloud. However, if your social media profiles are public, it may be easy for officers to view them from their end.

What are my rights during a device search?

The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, but this protection is limited within 100 miles of international borders. At any port of entry, searches are considered reasonable, meaning no warrant is required.

This allows for searches at any time and for any reason.

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If you consent to a search, officers can examine your person and luggage. U.S. citizens who refuse a search must still be allowed entry into the country. However, for foreign nationals, even those with approved visas, the situation is more uncertain.

What should you do if CBP requests your device?

Since border control has the authority to search devices without a warrant or probable cause, challenging these searches is difficult.

Instead of denying consent, Susanne Heubel, senior counsel at New York-based immigration law firm Harter Secrest & Emery LLP, advised USA TODAY that individuals should clarify with CBP that they are not granting permission but acknowledging the agencys right to conduct the search.

Heubel recommends travelers say something along the lines of: "I understand what's going on. I'm just telling you, for the record, I'm not agreeing to this, but I'm letting you do it because I know that you have the right to search my device without a warrant and without probable cause."

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More importantly, she told USA TODAY that travelers should be proactive when bringing devices through CBP. By being mindful of what they post online or in written text, travelers can avoid issues. However, if you plan to clean up your devices, she advises doing a hard delete, not just removing files to a deleted folder, as those files can still be accessible on the phone.

Additionally, travelers should bring as few devices as possible, especially since many devices can sync with one another. Its easier to clean up one device than multiple devices.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: CBP can search your devices. What to know if crossing Texas border
A New York man is accused of posing as a government agent in a scam to defraud a 72-year-old Newton woman out of nearly half a million dollars, the district attorney said Tuesday.

Vishal Kumar, 23 of Queens, New York has been arraigned on charges of extortion, larceny over $250 from a person over 60 and conspiracy, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said in a statement.

Kumar was indicted by a Middlesex County Grand Jury on Feb. 26. At his arraignment, Kumar was ordered held in lieu of $500,000 cash bail. His next court date is April 2.

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On or about Dec. 4, 2024, the victim received a telephone call from people claiming to be agents of the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, Ryan said.

The callers allegedly told the victim that someone had opened 22 accounts in her name. They claimed that the woman was responsible for $2 million dollars in those accounts, which was being used in illegal narcotics transactions, Ryan said.

When the victim told the agents that she had not opened the accounts, she was told that to stop any identity theft, she would have to transfer all her assets to the U.S. Treasury and that she would be given Treasury checks to secure those assets, Ryan said.

The victim was told that if she did not cooperate, the FBI would arrest her.

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Another caller then contacted victim and claimed to be her case manager from the U.S. Treasury.

That person directed her to transfer her money to the Treasury by purchasing gold bars, after which, her social security number would be changed and her money returned. The victim was directed to buy gold bars and deliver them to couriers at times and locations specified by the caller.

Over the next month, and fearing arrest, the victim liquidated hundreds of thousands of dollars from her retirement account to purchase gold bars, Ryan said.

Twice the victim delivered to a courier sent by the scammers.

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On Dec. 17, she delivered 12 bars of gold worth approximately $342,000. Then, on Dec. 24, she delivered three bars of gold worth approximately $88,955.43.

On Dec. 26, the victim also wired $49,755 to a bank account at the direction of the scammers, Ryan said.

The scammers told the victim that her gold would be secured by Treasury checks, Ryan said. Although she was sent images from the agents, which they represented to be Treasury checks, the victim ultimately lost over $480,000.

The victims family later learned that the victim was being coerced into liquidating her assets, and reported it to law enforcement. Police launched an investigation.

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An undercover officer posed as the victim and delivered a package, which was supposed to contain $165,000 in gold bars, to Kumar.

Kumar first confirmed the code-word given to the victim by the fraudster posing as federal agent on the telephone. Newton Police detectives and FBI special agents arrested Kumar after he confirmed the code-word and took the package, Ryan said.

The U.S. Secret Service later confirmed that the images of the checks were counterfeit.

This elaborate scheme illustrates several common aspects of these financial scams, Ryan said.

Kumar and his alleged co-conspirators used multiple points of contact to build trust, they posed as official government agents, assigned a case worker in an effort to appear helpful to the victim and even created fake documents to serve as receipts, Ryan said.

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Additionally, the perpetrators sought to strike fear in the victim, using the threat of criminal prosecution to pressure her into making huge financial payments, Ryan said.

These scams thrive in secrecy, Ryan said. Fortunately, in this case, the victim and her family were able to enlist the help of law enforcement within a fairly short period of time which put a stop to this exploitation but not before the victim suffered a staggering loss of nearly half a million dollars.

An investigation into the role of Kumars co-conspirators is ongoing, Ryan said.

If you are a victim of fraud or attempted fraud you can report it to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.

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For more information and tips, view the FBI Fraud Alert here.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Young unemployed people should be forced to enrol in National Service or face losing their benefits, the former chairman of Tesco has said.

John Allan said the Government should exercise a bit of coercion to get young people into the workforce as the number of people aged between 16 and 24 who are not in education, employment or training (Neet) soars.

Mr Allan, who was also served as the chairman of Barratt Developments, one of Britains biggest homebuilders, told Times Radio that Neets should be pushed to do military training or municipal work.

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Mr Allan said: You could make some benefit payments conditional, particularly in that age group on people really seeking work.

You could find work for people to do municipal work.

I think getting people into the habit of getting out of bed in the morning, going and doing some useful work is very habit-forming once people have done it for a while.

Or we could reintroduce military training for people who are not working. That would be a way of actually helping us with, you know, stepping up our defence capability as well, which is another important issue.

It comes as Liz Kendall, the Work and Pensions Secretary, has drawn up plans to save 5bn from a benefits crackdown as the Chancellor scrambles to balance the books in her Spring Statement on Wednesday.

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The number of 16 to 24-year-olds who are classed at Neets has surged by nearly a quarter since the pandemic began and now totals nearly 1m  the highest level since records began in 2013.

However, Mr Allan said the older generations negative view of younger people and their work ethic was misjudged.

He added: I think theres no reason to believe that the generation that are currently in that sort of Neets group are any less prepared to work, provided theyre given the training and given the opportunities.

And perhaps given not just a bit of encouragement, but a bit of coercion to actually get started.

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Mr Allan also called for urgent, accelerated training programmes to help tackle a worker shortage in the construction industry as the Government presses ahead with its manifesto pledge to build 1.5m homes over this parliament.

He said: The Government are committed to building 1.5m homes ... The next challenge will be finding the people to actually build the houses.

The Polish plumbers are not coming back. Theyre doing very nicely in Poland at the moment. We need to train our own.

Mr Allan stepped down from his role at Tesco after eight years as chairman in 2023, following allegations over his behaviour towards women. Mr Allan strongly denied three of the four misconduct claims against him.

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There are more than 35,000 vacancies in the construction sector, according to official figures. More than half cannot be filled because applicants do not have the necessary skills  the highest rate of any sector.

Rachel Reeves announced 600m in new investment on Sunday to train up to 60,000 new skilled construction workers by 2029.

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RICHMOND  At an event in the Patrick Henry Building in Richmond Monday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced that he prepared 205 budget line amendments and eight item vetoes to the General Assemblys proposed budget amendments.

Youngkin stressed that despite potential cuts at the federal level, Virginias economy remains strong. The budget plan keeps in place $1.1 billion in tax relief through one-time tax rebates and an increase in standard deductions. Still, part of his economic plan redirects $300 million to the states rainy day fund.

Anyone who believes that significant change doesnt come with near-term uncertainty hasnt been through significant change, he said, noting the General Assembly has formed special committees to consider the potential impact of cuts.

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I am confident that they will agree that our amendment package, that brings together tax relief for Virginians who need it with continued record investment in critical areas while increasing our reserves, not overburdening future years with too much program spending and not taking on incremental debt, will in combination position Virginia to stand strong going forward, he said.

Youngkin acknowledged that there may be painful economic dislocation as a result of sweeping cuts to federal programs and the workforce, but said they were necessary to restore fiscal discipline at the federal level.

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In odd years, the governor and legislature propose an amendment to the existing biennial budget. Youngkin put forward an initial budget proposal in January to amend last years two-year spending plan. The Senate and House each made their own changes to that proposal, and then a conference budget amendment between them was sent back to the governor. He had until the end of Monday to veto or amend line items.

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One item Youngkin reintroduced to the budget, which the Democrat-controlled legislature had removed, is a provision that would preclude localities from receiving state funding if they do not comply with federal immigration authorities.

I think (the General Assembly) should include it, Youngkin told reporters. Northern Virginia has not cooperated. Fairfax County keeps saying, were not going to cooperate with ICE.

On tax relief, though Youngkin initially favored credits to offset Virginias car tax, he kept in place a Democrat-backed proposal to issue one-time tax rebates and increase the standard tax deductions.

Youngkin also reintroduced funding for a school voucher program and for lab schools. The school voucher program would provide scholarships to attend private schools for 5,000 students. The $25 million provision is pared down from his initial ask of $50 million for the program. Similarly, the governor reduced his initial request for $25 million for lab schools, which was absent from the conference budget, to $15 million this time around.

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The governor said he also planned to introduce a line amendment that would create a gaming commission to regulate gambling. The House version of the budget contained a provision that created a gaming commission, but that language was removed from the final conference budget.

Youngkins amendment package includes an additional $55 million for affordable access to higher education, and he suggested that he would also add in a cap on tuition increases to no more than 2.5% a year. He also touted an additional $60 million in tuition waivers toward the Virginias Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program.

Youngkin also had until the end of Monday to act on bills passed by the General Assembly this year. Last week he signed more than 300 bills, but be was expected to veto some legislation.

The governors package of budget amendments also includes funding for maternal health measures like the maternal mobile health hub, an initiative he said would be funded by moving its funding from the Department of Health to the Department of Medical Assistance Services. Youngkin said he also restored funding for doula services  the $1 million in increased funds for doulas and community health workers was increased in the House version of the bill, but ultimately didnt make it into the conference version.

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Youngkin also said he would reintroduce a $5.4 million increase, down from $6.8 million in the initial ask and absent from the legislatures versions of the budget, to go toward school resource officers.

The General Assembly will reconvene April 2 to vote on the line-item amendments as well as other legislative actions. It takes a simple majority in the legislature for the governors line-item amendments to be approved, and a two-thirds majority to overturn any line-item vetoes.

Kate Seltzer, 757-713-7881, kate.seltzer@virginiamedia.com
BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL)  Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has signed a bill into law that will give localities more opportunity to regain control of blighted properties.

Massive fire burns through former Virginia college: A tragedy for our city

SB1476 was filed by state Sen. Todd Pillion at the behest of the City of Bristol, Virginia. The law allows localities such as Bristol to petition the circuit court to appoint a special commissioner, who can oversee and execute the transfer of ownership of a blighted and vacant property.

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In order for a property to be eligible, it must have been vacant for at least five years and deemed tax delinquent. Additionally, a property must be declared blighted according to state code.

Bristol city leaders prep for demolition of burned buildings on former VI campus

The transfer of the deeds could only occur after the property owner and all involved parties had the chance to present their arguments and evidence in court.

The City of Bristol, Virginia urged Pillion to file the legislation after a massive December 2024 fire destroyed the former Virginia Intermont College campus. The property had seen several fires prior to December and had already been classified as blighted by the city council.

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Virginia Intermont community devastated by campus fire

At the time of the fire, Virginia Intermont had been vacant for more than 10 years.

On behalf of the City of Bristol, I want to thank Governor Youngkin for signing SB1476 and Senator Pillion for his leadership in carrying this important legislation, Bristol, Virginia Mayor Becky Nave stated in a news release from Pillions office. For Bristol, this is especially important as we look toward the future of the Virginia Intermont site, ensuring we can do something great with it rather than repeating the past. We also have several other blighted properties that this bill could positively impact, helping us revitalize our community and drive economic growth. I appreciate the bipartisan support that made this legislation a reality and the commitment to strengthening our cities and towns.

Pillion said in the release that the legislation will benefit communities across Virginia and will make them safer.

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Blighted properties are not just eyesores  they are a drain on the vitality of our neighborhoods and a hindrance to community and economic growth, Pillion said in a statement. There is also a legitimate public safety risk as we saw in the December 2024 Bristol fire. This law will help communities breathe new life into neglected areas and create stronger, more vibrant neighborhoods.

At the time of the fire, the Virginia Intermont property was owned by U.S. Magis International, a Chinese-owned company that purchased the campus in 2016, two years after the college closed.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ELKHART  Representatives of organizations that serve youth in Elkhart County are getting the latest data to help them better understand trends and make decisions.

The Indiana Youth Institute has published the Indiana Kids Count Data Book for the past 31 years. It serves as an annual profile of youth in Indiana, tracking trends in areas like mental health and poverty and comparing Indiana to neighboring states.

Our mission is to support kids, and we do that by supporting you, Chelsea Naylor, senior outreach manager for the Northwest Region, told a gathering Friday. We know when youth workers have access to data, resources and trainings, youre better able to serve kids and kids are better off.

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The data book is available at https://iyi.org.

More than just a report on kids, the data book is also an indicator of how well adults are meeting their needs, according to Ashley Haynes, vice president of Data and Communications.

The data book is more than just a collection of numbers and statistics. Its a report card for us as adults, she said. It tells us the challenges our kids are experiencing, it tells us where were making some great strides and improvements and it helps us generate conversations abut what we can do with that data.

Haynes said almost 60,000 kids in Elkhart County will be growing up in a dramatically different world than their parents did.

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There are over 1.5 million children living in Indiana. Here in Elkhart County, there are 57,167 youth under the age of 18, she said. And across our state, this generation is more diverse than our adult population and we know they are inheriting a world that is very different from the one most of us grew up in.

She said in 2024, Indiana ranked 15th in the country for economic well-being and 17th in education, but was 31st in family and community and 32nd in health, according to data collected by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Haynes said education was the only area where Indiana improved from 2023.

The poor health ranking extends to mental health as well. The percentage of youth who reported depression or suicidal thoughts was lower in 2024 than in recent years but mental health care can be hard to obtain.

In 2022, Haynes said, 59.7 percent of caregivers reported difficulty obtaining mental health care for their child and 62 percent of LGBTQ youth who wanted mental health care were unable to receive it. Both numbers put Indiana behind its neighbors.

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Despite the state consistently ranking low in health, Haynes said, the steady drop in substance use among students in grades 7-12 is encouraging. She said since 2018, alcohol use fell from 17.5 percent to 9 percent, vaping from 16.9 percent to 6.6 percent, marijuana use from 9.7 percent to 5.2 percent and cigarette smoking from 5.7 percent to 1.5 percent.

And while overall usage rates have declined, many of our students still perceive these substances as relatively harmless, she said. This perception gap presents a challenge in preventing future substance misuse and addiction.

The states overall ranking for youth well-being in 2024 was 27th, which Haynes noted is in the bottom half of the country. Indiana placed second among its immediate neighbors.

There are positive trends in the data. Teen birth rates are down, poverty is at its lowest in a decade and youth employment is on the rise. But we also see some pressing concerns, she said. Early childhood enrollment remains low, food insecurity is increasing and the pandemic is still impacting our kids and their educational success.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that no agreements have been made with Ukraine regarding the territories, but it is clear that the US and Russia are discussing these issues.

Source: Zelenskyy in a conversation with Ukrainian journalists aired by Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne

Quote: "I think the American side is discussing territories with the Russians... We're concerned that its the United States that should have influence on Russia, not vice versa. That's the key thing for us. President Trump has enough power, tools, sanctions, etc. to push Putin into ending this war. We're concerned when they discuss something about us without us."

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Details: However, Zelenskyy believes that, based on statements from officials and media reports, it is clear that Moscow and Washington are raising the issue of territories.

"And there have been no agreements with us on the territory. They know this is a sensitive issue. I've been saying this from the very beginning.

I believe it will be the most difficult to [negotiate] with the Russians on two matters: a complete ceasefire... and the issue of territories because the Russians do not want to end this war," he added.

Background:

The White House released two separate statements following expert-level negotiations with representatives of Ukraine and Russia from 23 to 25 March.

Ukraine and the US agreed to ensure safe shipping in the Black Sea, and any movement of Russian military vessels beyond the eastern part of the Black Sea will be considered a violation of the "spirit of this agreement".

Ukraine and the US also agreed "to develop measures for implementing the presidents' agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities of Ukraine and Russia".

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit France on the evening of Wednesday 26 March, where he will be received by his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.

Source: Le Monde, citing a statement from the Elysee Palace, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Macron will receive Zelenskyy in the evening of 26 March to prepare for the security summit scheduled for Thursday 27 March.

"The head of state will reaffirm to President Zelenskyy that France will make the continuation and strengthening of military and financial support for Ukraine its key priority," the Elysee Palace said in a statement.

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Back on 21 March, Macron announced that the summit of the coalition of the willing on Ukraine would take place on 27 March in Paris, with Zelenskyy in attendance.

Background:

The coalition of the willing, which is laying the groundwork for future post-war security arrangements, first met in early March in London.

Since then, several meetings of the coalition have taken place in various formats. On 15 March, for instance, military leaders gathered near London to discuss plans for a possible deployment of international forces to Ukraine.

Bloomberg reported that France and the United Kingdom are holding talks with 37 countries about forming a coalition of the willing to support Ukraine in the event of a peace settlement.

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Moscow is attempting to manipulate the lifting of sanctions as a condition for a ceasefire in the Black Sea.

Source: Zelenskyy in an address on 25 March

Quote: "Ukraine is ready to work as quickly and transparently as possible to end the war. But, sadly, right now, on the day of the talks, we see how the Russians have begun to manipulate. They are already trying to distort the agreements and actually deceive both our mediators and the whole world."

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Details: Zelenskyy added that the White House has issued clear statements refuting the Kremlin's claims, which once again prove to be false  specifically, that the supposed ceasefire in the Black Sea is tied to sanctions and that it was allegedly set to begin on 18 March.

"Moscow is always lying and it's up to the world and everyone who really needs peace to decide whether Russia will be allowed to lie again," the president added.

He noted that if the Russians dare to launch new attacks, they will receive a firm response.

Quote: "And if the Russians then spin tales claiming that the strikes did not target energy or civilian infrastructure, everyone will see the truth. Id also like to remind you that since 11 March, the US proposal for a complete and unconditional ceasefire has been on the table  everywhere, not just in the energy sector or the Black Sea. It was Russia that refused to agree to it."

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Details: The president noted that Russia's actions in the coming days "will reveal a lot if not everything. If air raids resume, if military activity in the Black Sea continues, or if Russia resorts to further manipulation and threats, new measures against Moscow will have to be taken."

Background: Following meetings with the US delegation, Russia has put forward a number of demands related to the easing of sanctions in order to agree to a ceasefire in the Black Sea.

The Kremlin stated that the safety of shipping would come into effect after a number of sanctions were lifted, namely:

from Rosselkhozbank and other banks involved in the export of food and fertilisers;

from companies producing and exporting food and fertilisers, as well as companies insuring the relevant cargoes;

from Russian-flagged vessels transporting food and fertilisers and the servicing of such ships in ports;

on the supply of agricultural machinery and other goods used in the production of food and fertilisers to Russia. However, this note was not included in a White House statement issued following the meetings.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed hope that Washington's confidence in claims made by Moscow will eventually fade. His remarks come amid controversial statements by Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy to the Middle East, regarding Ukraine.

Source: Zelenskyy in a conversation with journalists on 25 March, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy stated that Witkoff's remarks about Ukraine have "big downsides, but there are also upsides".

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"Sadly, a lot of the information disseminated by certain people... closely aligns with the Kremlin's narrative," Zelenskyy stated, citing the holding of "referendums" in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine as an example.

He said it's regrettable that "there are some high-level voices in the United States that are spreading... Russian narratives".

"I believe that Mr Witkoff spent much time in dialogue with Putin," Zelenskyy added.

The Ukrainian president noted that Moscow, for example, had promised the United States a ceasefire, but it "did not work out because the Russians do not want it".

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"And because of this, the Russians will be trusted less and less each day. I hope  and I now see this hope as realistic  that all Russian narratives will no longer be trusted," he concluded.

Background:

In an interview with former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson, Witkoff effectively recognised the "referendums" that Russia held in the occupied territories of Ukraine in 2022.

In the same interview, Witkoff claimed that Ukraine's membership in NATO was incompatible with a potential peace deal with Russia.

Commenting on the interview, the European Commission reiterated its unwavering support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and stressed that the sham "referendums" held by Russia in the occupied territory of Ukraine had been wholly rigged.

A Ukrainian MP demanded that Witkoff be removed from office after his shameful remarks regarding Ukraine.

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The Ukrainian side has submitted to the United States a list of facilities it believes should be covered by Washingtons initiative to refrain from strikes on Ukraine and Russia's energy infrastructure.

Source: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting with journalists on 25 March, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy stated that the US proposal to refrain from attacks on energy infrastructure implies that "we do not target their [Russian  ed.] energy sector  they do not target ours".

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"We separately, just in case, provided [during the meeting in Riyadh  ed.] all our [energy] facilities. We submitted a list of facilities that, in our opinion, should not be targeted," he said, adding that Kyiv was "very prepared" for the meeting.

Zelenskyy also noted that the proposal for a ceasefire in the Black Sea applies only to civilian shipping and includes a ban on targeting ports.

Background:

Following negotiations in Saudi Arabia from 23 to 25 March, delegations from the US, Ukraine and Russia agreed to work towards a truce in the Black Sea and a ban on strikes against energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umierov stated that additional technical consultations are needed to implement the agreements on halting attacks in the Black Sea and on energy facilities.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced the next rounds of meetings between Ukrainian and American delegations to end Russia's war against Ukraine.

Source: Zelenskyy in a conversation with journalists on 25 March, as reported by European Pravda

Details: When asked if the next rounds of Ukraine-US talks have been scheduled, Zelenskyy said: "We agreed that they will take place. Soon."

Background:

Ukrainian and US delegations held meetings in Riyadh on 23 and 25 March, before and after the meeting between the US and Russian delegations.

After discussions in Saudi Arabia on 25 March, the delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Russia reached an agreement to work towards a truce in the Black Sea and a ban on strikes targeting energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umierov stated that additional technical consultations are needed to implement the agreements on halting attacks in the Black Sea and on energy facilities.

Meanwhile, Russia has put forward a number of demands related to the easing of sanctions in order to agree to a ceasefire in the Black Sea.

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The United States has proposed a new version of the minerals agreement to Kyiv, which will immediately provide for ratification in parliament beyond the original framework agreement.

Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a conversation with journalists on 25 March, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy noted that Washington had proposed a new version of the minerals agreement to Ukraine.

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"This is a large, complete agreement, the vision of the American side. Following the earlier steps  such as the framework agreement and its subsequent development  the American side has now proposed a full agreement to us at once," he said.

Zelenskyy noted that the details of the new US proposal "are not yet available".

"This is already a serious document. But such a document will be developed by the parties and then submitted to the parliament for ratification," he added.

The president explained that "the issue of nuclear power plants is not there".

Background:

Zelenskyy's remarks come after US President Donald Trump announced that an agreement on rare earth metals would be signed with Ukraine "soon".

Following talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah on Tuesday 11 March, the presidents of the United States and Ukraine agreed on an agreement on developing Ukraine's critical mineral resources.

Afterwards, Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, announced that the Kyiv-Washington framework agreement on mineral resources had been finalised and that Ukraine was ready to sign it at any time.

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Kyiv views the US agreement to facilitate Russia's access to global markets for agricultural products and fertilisers as a weakening of sanctions against Moscow.

Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a conversation with journalists on Tuesday 25 March, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Notably, this assistance to Russia is outlined in a US statement following talks between Moscow and Washington in Saudi Arabia. Specifically, the statement mentions that the United States will "help restore Russias access to the world market for agricultural and fertiliser exports".

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Following the US talks with Ukraine and separately with Russia in Riyadh, the US administration released two nearly identical statements. However, the second paragraph, which tackles the issue of Russian agricultural products and fertilisers, appears only in the statement on negotiations with Russia and is absent from the one concerning Ukraine.

President Zelenskyy explained that the statements differed because Ukraine could not agree to such a concession to Russia. "This issue was not on the agenda before the meeting. As far as we know, the Russians raised the issue of the US side's assistance to the Russians in transporting their agricultural products... We did not agree to have this in our common statement," he said.

He added that this is "a weakening of positions and easing of sanctions". However, the president noted that Ukraine does not know the details of this point, as Ukrainian officials were not present at the US-Russia meeting.

"[Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem] Umierov contacted me. I stated that easing certain restrictions on Russian agricultural products is not the same as discussing an unconditional ceasefire or even a partial one  whether in the air or at sea," Zelenskyy said.

Background:

After discussions in Saudi Arabia on 25 March, the delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Russia reached an agreement to work towards a truce in the Black Sea and a ban on strikes targeting energy infrastructure.

However, Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov noted that further technical consultations are required to put these agreements into action.

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This Pasco mechanic isnt a felon or violent. So why was he arrested by ICE?
This past May, 28 Villanovansstudents, alumni, faculty and stafftook part in a traditional Pellegrinaggio Augustiniano but from a perspective not often explored. In addition to examining significant sites in St. Augustines life, the participants of Villanovas first-ever Womens Pellegrinaggio Augustiniano also considered the lives and legacies of the women who have influenced Augustinian thought and spirituality.

The idea was to take the concept of Villanovas Augustinian mission and view it through a lens of gender equity, says Terri Boyer, EdD, 95 CLAS, the founding director of the Anne Welsh McNulty Institute for Womens Leadership. Were not looking at just St. Augustine of Hippo but at how women have shaped this Augustinian tradition and where they lead in it.

A mostly female group of varied ages and backgrounds, the pilgrims traveled from Milan to Ostia over eight days for a journey filled with self-discovery, reflection and strong community-building. Moreover, there was a chance to expand their understanding of Augustinian spirituality by connecting with women who have been underrepresented in the tradition. Often we think of history belonging to men because they wrote it, says Chesley Turner 05 CLAS, 19 MS, director of Villanovas Center for Church Management. But women have been catalysts, leaders and motivators from the beginning.

Historical site visits and discussions focused specifically on St. Monica, St. Clare of Montefalco and St. Rita of Cascia. Colleen Mitchell, associate director of Outreach for the Augustinian Institute at Villanova University and assistant teaching professor in the Augustine and Culture Seminar Program, was particularly inspired by the example of St. Monica, St. Augustines mother. To walk the ancient paths of Monica in Ostia was incredibly special because shes a rich and vivid saint in her own right, and being there gave us a chance to talk about that.

Equally impactful were opportunities to interact with Augustinian contemplative sisters while participating in vespers at Lecceto and Montefalco. Even if you couldnt understand the prayers they were singing, their amazing enthusiasm for living in an Augustinian community was moving for everyone, says Dr. Boyer, who created daily and specific reflective learning components to promote leadership development and spiritual growth during the pilgrimage.

The power of the Pellegrinaggio is that it helps you embrace your values and recognize that it does matter how you live your life, observes Turner. Its a way to see ourselves as part of the legacy of Augustine.
China's BYD is the most popular brand among applicants in a government programme to support businesses' purchases of electric vehicles, the Energy Ministry said in a post on social media on Saturday.

Applications for subsidies for the purchase of over 1,500 BYD models have been submitted in the scheme, the ministry said.



Applications for support for the purchase of over 1,100 Tesla models have been received, making the brand the second most popular in the scheme. Businesses have applied for support for the purchase of more than 500 Hyundai models, putting the brand in third place in the scheme.



Other popular EV brands in the programme include Volvo, Kia, Volkswagen and Cenntro.



So far, applications for the purchase of some 6,800 EVs have been submitted in the programme that runs until the end of March.



Businesses may apply for grants of between HUF 2.8m and HUF 4m per vehicle, depending on battery capacity, in the programme funded from the European Union's REPowerEU.



Energy Ministry extends EV subsidy scheme



The Energy Ministry has announced the extension of a scheme to support purchases of electric vehicles until the HUF 30bn funding allocation is used up.



In a post on social media on Saturday, the ministry said applications for around HUF 28bn of the funding had been submitted.



The scheme had been set to wind up at the end of March.



Businesses may apply for grants of between HUF 2.8m and HUF 4m per vehicle, depending on battery capacity, in the programme funded from the European Union's REPowerEU.



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New Delhi: Sunny Deol has confirmed that Lahore 1947, one of the most highly anticipated films of the year, is set to release this year under the banner of Aamir Khan Productions. The film marks a significant collaboration between some of the biggest names in the industry, with Sunny Deol, Rajkumar Santoshi, and Aamir Khan joining forces for the first time.

During the trailer launch of his upcoming film Jaat, Sunny shared his excitement about the project, saying, "I was hoping to do big films, and it's happening now. Lahore 1947 is coming this year." His enthusiasm for the film was evident, as he spoke about how it adds another major project to his growing lineup.

Lahore 1947 promises to be a groundbreaking cinematic experience, with Aamir Khan taking on the role of producer, bringing his expertise and vision to the film. Directed by the renowned Rajkumar Santoshi, the movie features a stellar cast led by Sunny Deol and Preity G. Zinta in pivotal roles. Fans are eagerly awaiting more details about the project, which is expected to make waves in the industry when it releases.
AI is altering the way in which art gets imagined, generated, and sensed. What existed as the idea of a science fiction dream, is now a concrete reality. AI is now driving music, visual arts, writing, and even performing arts. From machine-painted images to computer-created symphonies, technology is transforming artistic innovation. The effects are far-reaching. It presents new means and opportunities to artists, and tests conventional perceptions of art and creativity.

For Indian creative professionals, this transformation presents opportunities and challenges. With AI, there are more participants in creative professions. It gives access to techniques and tools more easily. Nevertheless, it does pose some relevant questions such as: What is originality when a machine produces art? How do you quantify authenticity? What's the future like for a human creator? This article tries to answer these questions and discusses the impact of AI in the creative arts.

How artificial intelligence is redefining art practices

Visual arts: The impact of AI on visual arts is undeniable. Software such as DALLE, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion allow artists to create original images from basic text prompts. These AI algorithms employ deep learning to inspect enormous image databases and generate new visuals that vary from realistic portraits to abstract patterns. For instance, a painter may enter a line such as "an abstract painting of a beach in Goa," and the AI produces its own version of this concept in a matter of seconds.

The impact of AI on visual arts is undeniable. Software such as DALLE, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion allow artists to create original images from basic text prompts. These AI algorithms employ deep learning to inspect enormous image databases and generate new visuals that vary from realistic portraits to abstract patterns. For instance, a painter may enter a line such as "an abstract painting of a beach in Goa," and the AI produces its own version of this concept in a matter of seconds. Music production : Artificial intelligence tools such as AIVA (Artificial Intelligence Virtual Artist) and Amper Music are transforming music composition. These websites scan patterns in current music and create new pieces in different styles and genres. Musicians utilise AI to blend tracks, compose background scores, and play around with sounds they may not have thought of otherwise. For small production units and independent artists, AI lowers the cost of high-quality music production, enabling them to compete with large studios. AI can even produce adaptive music for apps and video games, in which the music adapts dynamically in response to user actions.

: Artificial intelligence tools such as AIVA (Artificial Intelligence Virtual Artist) and Amper Music are transforming music composition. These websites scan patterns in current music and create new pieces in different styles and genres. Musicians utilise AI to blend tracks, compose background scores, and play around with sounds they may not have thought of otherwise. For small production units and independent artists, AI lowers the cost of high-quality music production, enabling them to compete with large studios. AI can even produce adaptive music for apps and video games, in which the music adapts dynamically in response to user actions. Writing and content creation: In composition, tools like ChatGPT and Jasper AI aid authors in creating work efficiently. It can write articles, provide suggestions for stories, and even come up with poems. For businesses, AI can generate marketing texts, social media content, and product descriptions while saving time and ensuring consistency of voice. But whereas AI can produce well-written content, it tends to lack the human touchlike emotional depth and cultural nuancethat only a human author can deliver.

In composition, tools like ChatGPT and Jasper AI aid authors in creating work efficiently. It can write articles, provide suggestions for stories, and even come up with poems. For businesses, AI can generate marketing texts, social media content, and product descriptions while saving time and ensuring consistency of voice. But whereas AI can produce well-written content, it tends to lack the human touchlike emotional depth and cultural nuancethat only a human author can deliver. Performing arts and digital media: The application of AI to the performing arts is also expanding. Software is used to generate virtual avatars, animate characters, and create video and film visual effects. Choreographers can utilise AI to conceptualise dance steps, and moviemakers generate virtual sets and reduce production expenditure and time. A nice example is applying AI in the movie "The Irishman", where de-aging technology was used to change the look of actors so that a director could narrate a story over decades without constantly casting.

Advantages of AI in artistic innovation

1. Improved efficiency and productivity

AI does repetitive tasks such as editing, formatting, and drafting. Designers, for example, can use Adobe Sensei to automate photo editing and come up with design concepts. This way, the artists have more time to deal with the creative aspect of the task rather than being bogged down by procedural work.

2. Facilitating collaboration between humans and AI

More and more, AI is considered an artistic collaborator. Artists work with AI-made ideas and improve and adapt them with their own spin to come up with a new piece of art. It can create brand-new, cutting-edge art pieces that would neither have been developed by humans nor AI on their own.

Challenges of AI in artistic innovation

1. Concerns over originality and authenticity

Algorithms learn from going through past work, and that could result in something capable of imitating but not inventing. AI can paint in the manner of Dali but not invent a new school of art or inject personal experience into the painting. It raises the issues of originality and, if at all, work done by AI could be "creative."

2. Ethical and legal issues

AI content raises problems of ownership and copyright. If a painting is produced by an AI program or a story written by one, who owns the rights to itthe user, the developer of the AI tool, or no one? The European Union's AI Act attempts to address such issues by requiring AI systems to provide explanations for their choices that are intelligible so as to increase accountability and transparency. Indian companies can also adopt similar regulations to ensure that there are moral practices in creative industries.

3. Effect on job functions

As more AI tools are used, the function of creative professionals is evolving. Rather than being the prime creators, they are now working as AI curators or prompt engineers, helping the AI tools create outcomes as required. It requires new skills and adaptability, but it also opens opportunities for the adaptable ones.

AI's impact on creative art is deep, providing new tools, broadening creative horizons, and increasing productivity. But it also raises challenges of originality, ethics, and changing roles of human creators. The answer is to use AI as a collaborator, not a competitorwhere technology complements human creativity without eclipsing it.

For businesses, including NBFCs and those that sell on online marketplaces, leveraging AI in creative ways can enrich brand experiences and make content creation simpler. However preserving the human touch is still key to creating meaningful connections with consumers. As AI advances, the ones who are able to adapt and balance between human and machine creativity will pave the way forward for art and innovation in the future.

(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.)
As the holy month of Ramadan approaches its conclusion, Muslims worldwide prepare for Jumat-ul-Wida, also known as Alvida Jummah, the last Friday of fasting before Eid-ul-Fitr. This special day is observed with congregational prayers, sermons, and acts of charity as devotees seek divine blessings.

When is Alvida Jummah 2025?

Ramadan 2025 began on March 2, and March 28 (Friday) marks Jumat-ul-Wida, the last Friday of the month. It is a significant occasion for Muslims, who gather in mosques for special prayers and sermons ahead of Eid celebrations.

Alvida Jummah Prayer Timings

On Alvida Jummah, Muslims offer Jummah Namaz, a special Friday prayer held in mosques worldwide. The Zuhr prayer on this day is accompanied by a sermon before the main prayer.

In Delhi, the Jummah prayer on March 28 is expected to begin at 12:33 PM, with the sermon at Jama Masjid starting around 1:00 PM and the main prayer at 1:302:00 PM.

Prayer timings vary by city, with some mosques conducting multiple congregations between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM to accommodate large gatherings.

Alvida Jummah and the Importance of Zakat

Charitable giving, known as Zakat, is an integral part of Ramadan. On Jumat-ul-Wida, many Muslims donate alms to the needy, fulfilling one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Additionally, the last ten nights of Ramadan include the Night of Power (Lailat-ul-Qadr), believed to be the night when the Quran was revealed. This year, Lailat-ul-Qadr is expected on the night of March 27.

When is Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 in India?

Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated after Ramadan ends, depending on the moon sighting:

 If Ramadan lasts 29 days, Eid will be observed on March 31 (Monday).

 If Ramadan lasts 30 days, Eid will be on April 1 (Tuesday).

Eid-ul-Fitr in India usually falls one day after Saudi Arabia, where celebrations will take place on either March 30 or 31.

(This article is intended for your general information only. Zee News does not vouch for its accuracy or reliability.)
Delhi Budget 2025: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta unveiled a maiden Rs 1 lakh crore Budget for FY26, focusing on ten key areas, including electricity, roads, water, women's, senior citizens, connectivity and more. She called it a "historic Budget" and proclaimed the end of an era marked by "corruption and inefficiency."

With the aim of making Delhi a world-class capital with the largest electric public transport bus fleet, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday allocated Rs 12,952 crore for improving the citys transport sector in the Budget 2025-26.

Free Travel for Women And DTC Financial Woes

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta announced a scheme to provide smart cards for free travel to women on public transport buses. She criticized the 14,000 crore loss incurred by the DTC, as highlighted by a CAG report. "There was a pink ticket scam in the previous government in the name of offering free travel to women," she claimed.

The Chief Minister allocated Rs 2,929 crore for Delhi Metro projects, pointing out that the previous AAP government had failed to clear its Rs 6,000 crore liability to the Centre for Phase IV of the Delhi Metro.

Environmental Measures And Waterlogging Prevention

She further promised to establish 12 new air monitoring towers and 32 water quality monitoring centers in the coming year. To prevent waterlogging and the resulting traffic jams, she allocated Rs 603 crore for drain cleaning. Adding further, she announced the creation of a Rs 30 crore Integrated Command and Control Centre to monitor public complaints with the objective of "perform, reform, and transform."

Support for Farmers: Rs 9,000 Annual Assistance

In a move to support Delhis farmers, the CM announced an annual payment of Rs 9,000 per farmer, which includes Rs 6,000 from the Centre under PM-Kisan and a Rs 3,000 top-up from the Delhi government. She allotted Rs 5 crore for this top-up.

Relief for Senior Citizens

She provided relief to senior citizen associations, whose grants had been halted for the last four years. The CM allocated Rs 20 crore to these associations, promising to clear dues and increase their annual grant.

Health and Nutrition Initiatives:

The CM allocated Rs 210 crore to support pregnant women's nutrition, aiming to improve maternal health and well-being. This initiative is part of the government's broader efforts to enhance healthcare and provide essential nutritional support to expecting mothers across Delhi.

Expansion of Anganwadis And Childcare Facilities

CM Gupta announced the opening of 500 new Anganwadis and allocated Rs 50 crore for the scheme, along with Rs 206 crore for upgrading 1,000 existing Anganwadis, which serve as daycare centers for children of poor working women. For working women, the CM introduced the Sakhi Niwas Yojana, which includes opening new hostels and increasing the number of existing hostels from 14 to 16.

Skill Development For Homeless

She also allocated Rs 5 crore for skill development programs for homeless individuals living under flyovers, ensuring their well-being during extreme weather conditions.

Rural Development and Village Empowerment

Adding further, the Chief Minister pledged to empower farmers and villagers in Delhi by reviving the Rural Development Board, allocating Rs 1,157 crore for various development projects in the citys villages. Furthermore, a welfare board for gig workers and construction workers was also announced as part of the Budget.
A Saunders County woman and longtime Republican political activist was elected chair of the Nebraska GOP on Saturday at the party's State Central Committee meeting in Kearney.

Mary Jane Truemper, who had been the party's vice chair, succeeds former chair Eric Underwood, who rose to power in 2022 when right-wing activists took over the state party, which until then was run by establishment figures loyal to then-Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Underwood endorsed Truemper in her bid to replace him as chair, backing the 65-year-old over David Plond, the party's treasurer who won the endorsement of former gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster, a longtime adviser to President Donald Trump. Plond will continue to serve as treasurer.

In an interview Monday, Truemper said she's "feeling excited" to head the party for the next two years, during which the state will face Omaha and Lincoln city elections this year and a round of statewide and legislative races next year, buoyed by a potential primary challenge to Republican Gov. Jim Pillen.

"I think good times are ahead and it's an exciting time to be in politics in general in the United States, and, I think, Nebraska," she said.

A one-time Douglas County Board candidate who has been involved in Nebraska politics since 2003 when she moved to the state from Georgia, Truemper said her foremost priority as chair "is electing Republicans up and down the ballot."

She said she will work to make sure the party fields candidates even in races where Republicans have not historically been competitive in while focusing, too, on voter registration efforts.

Truemper said the party will also "look at some bigger ideas" for its state legislative agenda while seeking to broaden its donor base. And, she said, she plans to prioritize educational trainings and development to ensure "people at all levels of our organization" are well-versed in political and legislative processes.

"We have a lot of new people," she said. "And as people come into the party, we want to make sure that we that we offer educational opportunities so that they can be up to speed on how the process works and what are effective ways to operate."

The Republican Party's hold on Nebraska's electorate has only grown stronger in recent years as the GOP has expanded its voter base at a higher pace than the state's Democratic Party. Republicans, who now account for nearly 50% of state voters, have their largest voter registration advantage over Democrats in Nebraska in at least 50 years.

Republicans, too, have maintained their hold on statewide offices, all five of the state's congressional seats and a filibuster-proof majority in the Legislature.

But Truemper nonetheless inherits a party that has remained fractured since July 2022, when Underwood unseated GOP Chairman Dan Welch in a move that prompted the resignations of a dozen GOP leaders.

Tensions boiled into public view again last year when the state party withheld primary endorsements from Nebraska's incumbent federal delegates and instead endorsed three of the incumbents' right-wing primary challengers.

That move prompted a group of 26 conservative state senators to sign a public letter endorsing the incumbents while some lawmakers aired their frustrations with the party on the floor of the Legislature, calling the party "broke."

The Nebraska GOP has raised and spent less money since its break with allies of Ricketts, who is one of the most prolific political donors in the state.

From January 2019 through December 2020, the party raised $5.19 million and spend $5 million on federal races, according to FEC filings. From January 2023 through the end of last year  the first presidential election cycle since grassroots activists took over the party  it raised $2.87 million and spent $2.81 million on federal races.

The Nebraska GOP had $52,444 on hand in its federal account at the end of February. The party isn't required to disclose how much is in its state-level campaign account.

Truemper said she hopes to develop "a very broad base of donors" so the party isn't reliant on a small group of deep-pocketed donors to fund its operations.

And while she acknowledged that the party had been fractured in 2022, she cited her own personal relationships with Nebraska's state and federal officeholders that she hopes will help Republicans move on.

"I know that it takes a lot of energy to stay mad and resentful, and I'm a forward-thinking person and a forward-looking person, so I don't hold onto the past," she said.

"That's not a good habit to get into in politics. And so I'm very hopeful that any resentment that might still be out there will be able to dissipate and (we can) work together to grow the party, to elect Republicans and to also move the state forward."
New Delhi: Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced that the new Income Tax Bill will be taken up for discussion during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. Speaking extensively about the Finance Bill 2025 in Parliament today, Finance Minister Sitharaman emphasized that the bill provides unprecedented tax relief to honor taxpayers.

The new Income Tax Bill, tabled in Lok Sabha by Sitharaman on February 13, aims to replace the existing Income Tax Act of 1961 and introduce reforms affecting various taxpayer categories, including individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations. As part of the July 2024 Budget, the government proposed a comprehensive review of the Income Tax Act of 1961 to make it more concise, clear, and reduce disputes and litigation.

On March 18, the government invited stakeholders to submit their suggestions on the newly introduced Income Tax Bill 2025. The bill is currently under review by the Select Committee for detailed examination. Responding to questions on the Finance Bill 2025 today, Sitharaman reaffirmed the Union government's commitment to providing tax certainty and streamlining business regulations as part of its broader vision to build a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

"The Budget aims to implement reforms to build Viksit Bharat by 2047. It focuses on tax certainty, ease of doing business, and includes a new Income Tax Bill, which is currently under review by a special committee. This Bill is not a part of the Finance Bill," Sitharaman stated.

Tax and Tariff Reforms

Elaborating on tax reforms, she announced a reduction in customs tariff rates on industrial goods, cutting the number of tariff slabs from 21 to just eight. She also clarified that under direct tax provisions, either a cess or a surchargebut not bothcan be levied on an item.

"We have removed seven custom tariff rates on industrial goods, reducing the number from 21 to 8. We have ensured that no single item is subject to both cess and surchargeonly one can be levied," said Sitharaman, speaking on direct taxes.

Exemptions on Indirect Taxes and GST Adjustments

Addressing concerns over indirect taxation, Sitharaman assured that prasadam from temples, mosques, churches, and gurdwaras will remain exempt from GST. She further mentioned that a Group of Ministers (GoM) is evaluating GST reductions on ingredients used in preparing these prasadam.

Adding further, she announced that imported drugs for rare diseases, whether for individual patients or research organizations, have been exempted from Integrated GST (IGST).

Customs And Trade Policies

Highlighting the Customs proposal, Sitharaman said that the government aims to rationalize tariff structures and address duty inversion, ensuring a more balanced and competitive trade environment. "These reforms will support domestic manufacturing, enhance value addition, boost exports, facilitate trade, and provide relief to the common people," she added.

She further emphasized, "In Budget 2025, we aim to boost domestic production and enhance export competitiveness by reducing duties on raw materials and inputs, making domestic products more cost-effective."
New Delhi: The total number of refills of LPG cylinders by poor households under the PM Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) have doubled in the past five years, the Lok Sabha was informed recently.

Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi informed the Lok Sabha that as on March 1, 2025, there are 10.33 crore PMUY connections across the country.

"...As a result of various steps taken by Government to improve access and affordability of domestic LPG for PMUY consumers, per capita consumption of PMUY beneficiaries (in terms of no. of 14.2 kg LPG cylinders taken per year) has increased from 3.68 (FY 2021-22) to 3.95 in FY 2023-24, and 4.43 in FY 2024-25 (as on 01.03. 2025)," he added.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was launched in May, 2016 with an objective to provide deposit free LPG connection to adult women from poor households across the country.

To make LPG more affordable to PMUY consumers and ensure sustained usage of LPG by them, Government started a targeted subsidy of Rs.200/- per 14.2 kg cylinder for up to 12 refills per annum (and proportionately pro-rated for 5 Kg connections) to the PMUY consumers in May 2022.

In October 2023, Government increased the targeted subsidy to Rs.300 per 14.2 kg cylinder for up to 12 refills per annum (and proportionately pro-rated for 5 Kg connections). After a targeted subsidy of Rs. 300/cylinder to PMUY consumers, Government of India is providing 14.2 Kg LPG cylinders at an effective price of Rs.503 per cylinder (in Delhi). This is available to more than 10.33 crore Ujjwala beneficiaries, across the country.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday reiterated his adherence to Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackerays principle of "80 per cent social work, 20 per cent politics," amid a controversy involving stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra.

Shinde made the remarks after the state assembly passed a unanimous resolution congratulating him for receiving the 'Adya Jagatguru Shri Sant Tukaram Maharaj Puraskar,' a prestigious award from the Warkari community earlier this month.

In my 40-year-long career, I have followed Balasaheb Thackeray's principle of 80 per cent social work and 20 per cent politics and pledged to continue working for the common man, Shinde said.

Shinde has remained silent on the controversy so far.

The deputy CM dedicated the award to the people of Maharashtra and credited his work as chief minister for the Mahayuti alliances electoral success. It is due to the work I did as chief minister that the state gave a landslide victory to the Mahayuti comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP. We will continue to work for the people. Our responsibility has increased, he said.

Shindes remarks come amid a row over Kamras alleged defamatory remarks against him. Kamra, during a recent stand-up performance in Mumbai, referred to Shinde as a 'traitor' and parodied him using a modified version of a Hindi song from Dil Toh Pagal Hai to mock his 2022 rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray.

The comments sparked protests from Shindes Shiv Sena faction, with party workers gathering outside Mumbais Hotel Unicontinental, where Kamras show was filmed. The protesters allegedly ransacked the venue, leading to police action.

The Mumbai police registered an FIR against Kamra for making defamatory remarks against Shinde. Additionally, 12 Shiv Sena workers were arrested for vandalizing the Habitat Studio inside the hotel. The police also booked 40 party workers for the incident.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday demanded an apology from Kamra, accusing him of insulting Shinde. However, opposition parties have backed the comedian, criticizing the governments response to the controversy.

The resolution honoring Shinde was moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil, who lauded his political journey and legislative contributions. Meanwhile, Shinde called for unity between the government and the opposition, stating, We have to make the common man in the state a superman and improve peoples lives.

(With PTI inputs)
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta has allocated Rs 100 crore for setting up Atal Canteens in city slums to provide nutritious and subsidised food at 100 locations. The BJP has promised to set-up subsidized canteens in the city if voted to power. This was the BJP government's maiden budget in the state after being voted to power earlier this year, ousting Aam Aadmi Party.

What Are Atal Canteens?

Atal Canteens are government-supported food outlets set up in various Indian states to provide low-cost, nutritious meals to underprivileged communities. Named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, these canteens aim to combat hunger and support low-income individuals by offering meals at highly subsidized rates.

Inspired by successful models like Tamil Nadus Amma Canteens and Karnatakas Indira Canteens, this scheme seeks to ensure food security for economically weaker sections, making nutritious meals accessible and affordable.

In Delhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) included the Atal Canteen Scheme in its 2025 election manifesto, promising to establish canteens in every slum cluster.

Who Will Benefit?

The Atal Canteens will be opened near slums, thus mostly benefitting the slum dwellers and daily-wage workers. Under this initiative, people in need would have access to hot, cooked meals for just Rs 5. However, anyone can visit the canteen to get the subsidized food.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday launched a fresh attack on the Aam Admi Party (AAP) and former CM Arvind Kejriwal during the Delhi budget session, firing 'sheeshmahal' jabs. She exaggerated that the BJP-led government in Delhi is all set to build houses for the poor.

"There is a lot of difference between us... you made promises, we will fulfil them. You abused other states' governments, we will work together. You made the 'sheeshmahal', we will build houses for the poor. You installed (gold) toilets worth lakhs, we will make toilets for the poor..." she said during the budget session.

#WATCH | #DelhiBudget2025 | CM Rekha Gupta says, "... There is a lot of difference between us and them (AAP)... You (AAP) made promises, we will fulfil them. You abused the governments of the other states, we will establish harmony and work together... You made 'Sheesh Mahal', we pic.twitter.com/41fWqtK9Pm  ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2025

While unveiling the budget for 2025-26, Delhi CM said that the budget has a significant rise of 31.58 per cent from the previous year, with a total allocation of Rs1 lakh crore for various sectors.

"In 2024-2025, the budget was Rs 76,000 crore, and this time the budget is Rs 1 lakh crore, which is an increase of 31.58 per cent. We can call it the biggest increase in any budget in the country," said Gupta.

In the new budget, the education sector received a significant boost, with an increased allocation of Rs 19,291 crore, marking a 17% rise from the previous year's budget of Rs 16,396 crore.
In recent months, an alarming trend has emerged among Punjabs youth. Many young people, lured by promises of a better life abroad, have fallen prey to illegal migration brokers. These brokers use enticing offers to mask the true dangers of the journey, which often ends in tragedy and deportation. Recent deportation cases from the USA have brought this harsh reality into the spotlight, warning others of the severe risks involved.

One such case is that of Sukhpal Singh from Bathinda. According to a tweet by the US Embassy, Sukhpals journey was nothing short of harrowing. He traveled for 15 hours by sea and then walked 4045 kilometers through treacherous hills and deep valleys, only to be arrested in Mexico. He recalled, "We were lodged in a dark cell for 14 days, and we never saw the sun. There are thousands of Punjabi boys, families and children in similar circumstances." Sukhpals testimony, reported on X handle of US And India, vividly captures the extreme dangers and inhumane conditions faced by these migrants.

Deportees appeal to Indians to avoid illegal migration: Sukhpal Singh traveled 15 hours by sea and walked 40-45 kilometres through hills that were flanked by deep-treacherous valleys only to be arrested in Mexico. "If someone got injured, they were left to die. We saw many bodies pic.twitter.com/rbWfhgLM2h  U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) March 22, 2025

Another deportee, Harpreet Singh from Chandigarh, shared his painful experience in an interview with the media. Harpreet explained, "I trusted the promises of a better life, but instead, I found myself lost in a nightmare. The fake travel agents deceived me with false hopes, and now I am back home, feeling broken and scared." His words resonate with many families in Punjab who are left to cope with the aftermath of shattered dreams and broken futures.

These individual stories reveal a larger, troubling picture. Despite Punjabs fertile land and rich agricultural heritage, many young people feel trapped by a lack of local employment opportunities. Over the years, government efforts to move farmers away from traditional practices have not been enough to create the kind of economic change that inspires hope. Consequently, the false promises of prosperity abroad become even more attractive.

Fake travel agents take advantage of this desperation. They promise wealth and stability, only to leave hopeful migrants exposed to dangerous routes and exploitation. The illegal migration trade has now intertwined with human trafficking networks that continue to thrive on the vulnerability of Punjabs youth. With each deportation, the social and economic fabric of the community is further strained, as families are separated and dreams are left in ruins.

Local community leaders are calling for urgent reforms. They stress the need for improved job opportunities and the development of real infrastructure that can empower young people to become entrepreneurs. The focus, they argue, should be on building a sustainable future within Punjab rather than chasing illusory promises abroad.

The recent deportationshighlighted by the heart-wrenching accounts of Sukhpal Singh and Harpreet Singhserve as a stark reminder that illegal migration is not a solution. Gunbir Singh, chairman of the Dalbir Foundation, said, "Instead, it is a dangerous path that can lead to unimaginable hardship. It is now more important than ever for both government authorities and community leaders to address these issues head-on, ensuring that Punjabs youth are offered genuine opportunities to thrive at home."
Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls: With a little more than one year to go for the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, the AIADMK and the BJP are looking to solidify their presence and regain ground in their strongholds. The DMK is ruling the state for the second consecutive term and may look for a third term next year. With the assembly polls in sight, two AIADMK leaders are in Delhi, hinting at a possible reunion talks with the BJP.

According to media reports including that of the Indian Express, AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami is slated to hold a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. If the BJP and the AIADMK come together ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly polls, it could prove to be a defining moment in state politics. Despite its downfall, the AIADMK remains a political force to reckon with in the state as no other political party has such a wide appeal in the state apart from the DMK.

There are no major options available for the BJP and the AIADMK in the state with the DMK and the Congress in power. With the BJP and AIADMK increasing their vote share in the last polls, their coming together can boost the alliance's prospects.

According to reports, the BJP is ready to play the second fiddle in the state, just like Andhra Pradesh where it's a junior partner of the Telugu Desham Party. The AIADMK leaders are of the opinion that if the BJP agrees to their concerns, then the alliance is possible.

The AIADMK first forged an alliance with the BJP during a turbulent period following the 2016 demise of J. Jayalalithaa and the ensuing split within the party. At the time, several decisions made by the AIADMK-led government were widely perceived as being influenced by the BJP.

However, after the DMK's sweeping victories in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Edappadi K. Palaniswami gradually distanced himself from the BJP, officially severing ties in September 2023. Growing ideological differences, particularly regarding the approach of Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai, further deepened the divide.

According to sources, the AIADMK's reconsideration of an alliance now hinges on specific conditions. One key demand is the establishment of a high-powered steering committee to oversee interactions with the BJPone that would wield more authority than Annamalai, signalling that AIADMK's top brass seeks direct engagement with the BJP's central leadership. Additionally, the AIADMK insists that the BJP withdraw support for party dissidents T. T. V. Dhinakaran and O. Panneerselvam, as past attempts to reintegrate them into the AIADMK fold had created friction.

Despite these demands, BJP leaders may find them acceptable, given that the AIADMK has not sought Annamalais removal. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to express confidence in Annamalais leadership, reinforcing his pivotal role in steering the BJPs ambitions in Tamil Nadu.
By Prashobh Devanahalli

Bengaluru: Karnataka's political landscape is witnessing a storm after Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna claimed that 48 individualsincluding legislators, central leaders, and judgeshave fallen victim to honey-trap schemes. These revelations have ignited heated debates, disrupted Assembly proceedings, and intensified factional battles within the ruling Congress party.

What Is a Honey Trap?

Before delving into the controversy, it is essential to understand the concept of a "honey trap." According to Wikipedia, honey trapping involves using romantic or sexual relationships to manipulate individuals for political, espionage, or monetary gains. The perpetrator lures the target into a deceptive relationship to extract sensitive information or influence their decisions.

Honey Trap Allegations

The controversy erupted on March 21, 2025, during a joint session of the Karnataka Legislature, where members were discussing the state budget. During the session, BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal alleged that a minister from Tumakuru was a victim of a honey-trap scheme.

In response, Minister K.N. Rajanna confirmed that such operations were rampant and claimed that Karnataka had become a factory of CDs and pen drives, hinting at widespread blackmail in political circles. Rajanna further stated that he would file a formal complaint with Home Minister G. Parameshwara and demanded a high-level probe to expose the perpetrators.

The allegations gained more traction when Rajannas son, Rajendra (MLC), revealed in an interview with Zee News that both he and his father had been targets of honey-trap attempts. While he did not explicitly name the culprits, he hinted that the trap might have been set by Congress members themselves.

Political Reactions

Home Minister G. Parameshwara assured that a high-level investigation would be launched once Rajanna submitted a written complaint. However, the BJP accused the Congress government of running a "honey-trap factory" and demanded a CBI investigation. The issue escalated further when 18 BJP MLAs were suspended for disrupting the Assembly proceedings over the controversy.

Meanwhile, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court, seeking an independent probe by either the CBI or a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The petitioner stressed the need for a court-monitored investigation to ensure fairness and transparency.

Allegations Against D.K. Shivakumar

The scandal has also intensified factional fights within the Congress. Minister K.N. Rajanna, along with Minister Satish Jarkiholi, has been advocating for D.K. Shivakumars removal as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president. This is in line with the All India Congress Committee (AICC) decision to follow a one leader, one post policy.

Furthermore, BJP MLA Muniratna directly accused Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of being the mastermind behind the honey-trap scandal. Notably, Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs faction did not refute these allegations, further fueling speculation.

Kharges Emergency Meeting

As the controversy spiraled, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge visited CM Siddaramaiahs residence for a high-level meeting. While Kharge publicly stated that his visit was to check on Siddaramaiahs health, sources revealed that the discussion centered around the honey-trap scandal.

Kharge reportedly questioned Siddaramaiah about why Congress leaders had allowed Rajanna to bring up the issue in the Assembly. To this, Siddaramaiah cryptically responded, Whom should I convince? The person who was targeted by the honey trap or the one who orchestrated it?

D.K. Shivakumars Response

Initially, D.K. Shivakumar downplayed the controversy, stating, "If someone says hello, there will be a hello back. Thats how honey traps happen." Later, when asked whether the issue embarrassed the government, he deflected responsibility, saying, "Ask the Chief Minister."

Regarding Rajannas allegations, he stated, As KPCC president, I asked him to submit any evidence if he had it. He told me he had nothing. I advised him to file a complaint if he had proof. What more can I say?"

The allegations against D.K. Shivakumar could make his path to becoming the next Chief Minister of Karnataka difficult. According to sources, state Congress leadersmainly from CM Siddaramaiahs factionwill be meeting the high command. Whether D.K. Shivakumar is behind the honey-trap scandal or not, proving his innocence within the party is an uphill task. Will the state Congress leaders accept him? That remains a million-dollar question for the AICC.

Is Rajanna Holding Back?

Until now, Rajanna has not filed any complaint regarding his own allegations of the honey-trap case. Has he raised this issue for political gains? Or is he waiting for the right time?

The unfolding honey-trap scandal has exposed vulnerabilities within Karnatakas political establishment. With ongoing investigations, the case could have far-reaching implicationsnot only for Congress internal power struggles but also for state politics as a whole. The controversy highlights the urgent need for ethical governance and transparency to restore public trust in democratic institutions.
Telangana Tunnel Collapse: The rescue team found a second body of a worker on Tuesday from the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Nagarkurnool which collapsed on February 22 entrapping eight workers, The Indian Express reported citing a top rescuer.

"Today, in the early morning hours, we found another dead body stuck in a position, and we are currently working to retrieve it." the rescue teams said, ANI reported.

Meanwhile, the body has not been identified yet.

The SLBC tunnel collapse incident took place on February 22 in which Eight workers were trapped inside the tunnel. One of the bodies of the trapped workers - Gurpreet Singh was recovered on March 9. Chief Minister Telangana Revanth Reddy had announced a financial aid of Rs 25 lakhs for the kins of the deceased.

Earlier, the Telangana Chief Minister directed officials to expedite rescue operations to locate and bring out the workers trapped inside the SLBC tunnel. The Chief Minister instructed Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari to appoint senior IAS officer Shiva Shankar Loteti as a Special Officer to "continuously monitor the rescue operations."
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is on an official tour to Britain, did early morning jogging in London wearing slippers. The video was shared by All India Trinamool Congress leaders on their social media platforms. In the video, Banerjee can be seen jogging with her team in her trademark saree and slippers. Not only this, the Bengal CM also did backward jogging. Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had gone on a morning walk in London during his visit to the country earlier this year.

Watch: Mamata Banerjee's Morning Jogging In London

Sharing the video on X, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said, "London. Morning. The Chief Minister said, 'Not a walk, just a warm-up. Video of Hyde Park.' A little later, going to the High Commission."

Earlier yesterday, CM Banerjee met the Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Vikram K. Doraiswami. "It was a privilege to be hosted by Shri Vikram K. Doraiswami at India House, London, for a high tea reception. The gathering brought together a diverse spectrum of voices united in their commitment to strengthening Bengal-Britain ties. As we navigate a changing world, meaningful partnerships driven by trust are more vital than ever. Todays exchange reaffirmed the immense potential that lies ahead," she said on X.

It was a privilege to be hosted by Shri Vikram K. Doraiswami at India House, London, for a high tea reception.



The gathering brought together a diverse spectrum of voices united in their commitment to strengthening Bengal-Britain ties.



As we navigate a changing world, pic.twitter.com/ZBfeQKyPNQ  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 24, 2025

Talking about Bengal and Britain's ties, she said, "Bengal and Britain share a relationship that spans centuries, rooted in history, culture, and commerce. As we landed in London yesterday, we stepped into a city that, much like Kolkata, carries the weight of its past while embracing the dynamism of the present. Before the days engagements commenced, I took a moment to immerse myself in the essence of Londons timeless grandeur. From its iconic landmarks to its storied streets, the city exudes an old-world charm that speaks of history and evolution  values that Bengal, too, holds close to its heart."

Bengal and Britain share a relationship that spans centuries, rooted in history, culture, and commerce. As we landed in London yesterday, we stepped into a city that, much like Kolkata, carries the weight of its past while embracing the dynamism of the present.



Before the days pic.twitter.com/xNx4tZ0crl  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 24, 2025

Banerjee further said that with a packed itinerary, she looks forward to deepening Bengals engagement with Britain and reinforcing enduring ties.
Actor Amy Jackson (33) and Hollywood star Ed Westwick (37) have welcomed their first child together, a baby boy named Oscar Alexander Westwick. The couple took to Instagram to introduce their little one, sharing a series of heartwarming black-and-white photos.

Amy Jackson and Ed Westwicks First Photos With Baby Oscar

The stunning photos capture the couples overwhelming joy. In the first picture, Amy is seen cradling Oscar, wrapped in a personalized blanket with his name, while Ed tenderly kisses her on the cheek. The second image focuses on one of the parents holding Oscars tiny hand, while the third captures Amy softly kissing her baby boys forehead. Sharing these intimate moments, the couple captioned the post, Welcome to the world, baby boy. Oscar Alexander Westwick.

See the pics here:

Their Love Story and Journey to Parenthood

Amy and Ed tied the knot in August 2024 in a romantic wedding in Italy. Their relationship began in 2022, and just two months after their wedding, they announced Amys pregnancy, marking a beautiful new chapter in their lives.

Amy was previously engaged to George Panayiotou, with whom she shares a son, Andreas. The couple parted ways in 2021, and Amy later found love with Ed.

Amy on Marriage and Family

In an earlier interview with People, Amy opened up about what marriage means to her, saying, For me, [marrying Westwick] means having a life partner to adventure with, to share love and support, to create a beautiful family, and to have each others backs throughout all of lifes moments.

With the arrival of baby Oscar, Amy and Ed step into an exciting new journey as parents, cherishing every moment of their growing family.
Mumbai: Actress Shubhangi Atre, best known for her role in Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai, expressed her sorrow over the tragic passing of the show's writer, Manoj Santoshi.

She took to social media to pay tribute to the talented writer, recalling his contribution to the show. In an emotional tribute, Shubhangi shared her feelings, writing, Ek Mahaan aur jaadui lekhak hum sabko Avida kehkar kisi aur duniya me chale gaye. Iss dukh aur sadme ko kabhi nahi bhulaya jaa sakta. But they say 'life is not long, it should be big.' You made this meaningful, Manojjii. Aap bahut yaad aayenge.

She also shared her throwback photos with Manoj Santoshi. Santoshi's untimely demise has left a void in the industry, and his colleagues and fans are mourning his loss.

Manoj Santoshi, the talented writer behind the hit show Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai, breathed his last on Monday after a prolonged battle with liver cancer. According to reports, the writer fought the disease with great courage before succumbing to it. He passed away in his hometown of Aligarh, where he was surrounded by his loved ones during his final moments. Confirming the sad news, a source shared, Manoj passed away early morning today in his hometown Aligarh. His family was present with him.

The news of Manoj Santoshi's battle with liver cancer came to light last month when 'FIR' actress Kavita Kaushik took to Instagram, requesting fans to pray for his recovery. In her post, she highlighted the support that Santoshi had received from producer Binaifer Kohli and actress Shilpa Shinde.

You may know him as the writer of Bhabhi ji ghar par hai, Happu paltan, jeeja ji chatth par , Madam may i come in , last few episodes of f.i.r , office office and various other comedies. Today i ask you all to Pray for Manoj Santoshi.. as he is in the hospital with a crumbling liver, Angels like @binaiferkohli and her entire team is fighting to save him, pls pray for this wonderful human, big shout out to the amazing @shilpa_shinde_official for taking care of him, Kavita had written in an Instagram post.

Manoj Santoshi, a well-known writer, was also behind the popular shows Jeeja Ji Chhat Par Hain, May I Come In Madam, and Yes Boss.
In a major development in the Disha Salian death case, an FIR has been registered against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, along with Bollywood figures Rhea Chakraborty, Dino Morea, and Suraj Pancholi, among others. The complaint was lodged by Dishas father, Satish Salian, through his legal representative on Tuesday.

Speaking about the FIR, the advocate stated, Today, we have officially filed a written complaint at the CP office, which has been accepted by the JCP Crime Branch. The accused named in the FIR include Aaditya Thackeray, Dino Morea, Suraj Pancholi and his bodyguard, former Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh, dismissed cop Sachin Vaze, and actress Rhea Chakraborty.

The complaint also alleges that Parambir Singh played a key role in covering up the case. He was the mastermind behind the cover-up, conducting a press conference to mislead the public and protect Aaditya Thackeray. The FIR contains all the details, including NCBs findings that allegedly link Thackeray to a drug network, the advocate added.

#WATCH | Disha Salian Murder case | Mumbai: Disha Salian's father Satish Salian's advocate, Nilesh Ojha says, "... Today, we have filed a written complaint to the CP office and the JCP Crime accepted it and this complaint is the FIR now... Accused are Aaditya Thackeray, Dino pic.twitter.com/dzfPszOR9v  ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2025

Dishas father had earlier approached the High Court seeking an FIR against Aaditya Thackeray. He also filed a petition demanding a fresh CBI investigation into his daughters death, citing suspicious circumstances and potential political interference.

Background of the Case

Disha Salian, a 28-year-old talent manager and former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died on June 8, 2020, after allegedly falling from the 14th floor of a residential building in Malad, Mumbai. Her death occurred just six days before Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence on June 14, 2020.

The case has been shrouded in controversy, with multiple theories and allegations emerging over the years. With the recent FIR, the demand for a fresh investigation has gained momentum, reigniting public interest in both Disha and Sushants untimely deaths.

Further developments in the case are awaited as the legal battle continues.
Tel Aviv: Oscar-winning Israel-Palestine documentary "No Other Land," co-director Hamdan Ballal was allegedly attacked by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank and taken away by Israeli soldiers as per his colleague Yuval Abraham and other eyewitnesses, reported Variety.

As per Variety, Abraham claimed that Ballal was injured and bleeding from his head before the soldiers invaded his ambulance and took him away.

Taking to his X handle, Abraham wrote, "A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal, co-director of our film 'No Other Land. They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding. Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him. No sign of him since."

A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal, co director of our film no other land. They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding. Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him. No sign of him since.  Yuval Abraham (@yuval_abraham) March 24, 2025

As per CNN, Abraham did not witness the incident himself.

Oscar awardee 'No Other Land' documentary's co-director Basel Adra also recalled the incident to CNN after he went to the West Bank village of Susya in response to Ballal's call of distress.

"Outside Ballal's home was a group of Israeli settlers, some of whom were throwing stones. Israeli police and military were also outside the home, and Israeli soldiers were firing at anyone who tried to get close," said Adra as quoted by CNN.

As per the outlet, the Israeli military said it had arrived at the scene of a "violent confrontation" between Palestinians and Israelis who were throwing rocks at each other. It said a fight had broken out after several "terrorists hurled rocks at Israeli citizens, damaging their vehicles."

Three Palestinians and an Israeli were then taken in for questioning after "several terrorists" threw rocks at the security forces, it said, as quoted by CNN.

The alleged attack came just three weeks after 'No Other Land' won the Academy Award for best documentary. On stage, directors Abraham, Ballal, Basel Adra and Rachel Szor highlighted a call for action to the destruction happening in Gaza.

'No Other Land' follows a Palestinian family living in the West Bank as their home gets destroyed by the Israeli government and they face displacement.

But amidst the dire conditions, Adra and Abraham, an Israeli journalist, form an unexpected friendship and work together to document the story.
New Delhi: In the spirit of compassion and solidarity during the sacred month of Ramadan or Ramzan, actor-dancer Raghav Juyal in association with the Bhamla Foundation stepped out to distribute food grains to those in need at Dharavi, Mumbai.

Addressing the gathering, Raghav Juyal shared his heartfelt wishes, saying, "First and foremost, Ramadan Mubarak to everyone. This is a very sacred month, and I understand how challenging it can be, especially with the heat. I dont want to take up much of your time, but I assure you that once the fasting period is over, I will return. I would love to sit with you all, share a meal together, and enjoy something prepared with love. Im a big foodie, and I cant wait to experience that joy with you. I am truly grateful to the organizers for inviting me and giving me the opportunity to be here. Ive always wanted to visit, and Im so happy to finally meet you all in person."

On the work front, Raghav Juyal was last seen in Kill and Yudhra.
Sonali Sood, wife of Bollywood actor and humanitarian Sonu Sood, was reportedly involved in a major car accident on the Mumbai-Nagpur highway. The mishap, which occurred late on March 24, left her and her nephew injured, while her sister escaped with minor injuries.

According to Hindustan Times, Sonali was traveling with her sister and nephew, who was driving at the time of the accident. Following the crash, both Sonali and her nephew were rushed to Max Hospital in Nagpur, where they are currently receiving medical treatment.

Upon hearing the news, Sonu Sood immediately flew to Nagpur and has been by his wife's side since the accident. A spokesperson for the actor confirmed the incident, stating, "Yes, Sonali has met with an accident. Sonu is currently unavailable."

Hospital authorities have placed Sonali and her nephew under observation for 48-72 hours, ensuring they receive the necessary medical attention. No official statement has been released by Sonu Sood regarding the incident.

Sonali Sood, a film producer and MBA graduate from Nagpur University, has largely stayed away from the limelight. The couple, married since 1996, shares two sons, Ayaan and Ishant.

More updates are awaited as details regarding the accident emerge.
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.

PFRDA Regulations enable enrolment of three categories of central government employees in Unified Pension Scheme --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.

Unified Pension Scheme enrolment and claim forms direct link

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.
The vegetable chopper stands as a necessary appliance in kitchens to perform food preparation tasks in less time and efficiently. People who choose manual choppers benefit from precision while electric choppers provide users with convenience thus making cooking work smoothly. In this, we discuss the four best vegetable choppers that will assist you in choosing the ideal gadget for your use.

1. Roposo Clout Food Chopper, Steel Large Manual Hand-Press Vegetable Chopper Mixer

Image Source- Marvelof.com

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Roposo Clout Food Chopper is a heavy-duty hand chopper for bulk. With a stainless steel blade mechanism, it chops vegetables, fruits, and even nuts easily without having to put in much effort.

Key Features:

Durable Stainless Steel Blades: Provides sharp and effective chopping.

Large Capacity: Suitable for bulk chopping.

Hand-Press Mechanism: Offers full control over the chopping consistency.

Multipurpose Use: The machine serves multiple purposes because it cuts vegetables while also preparing both nuts and herbs.

Easy to Clean: Easily removable parts.

Requires manual effort, which may be tiring for a few users.

2. La' Forte Mini String Manual Chopper 500 Ml

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This small and effective string chopper by La' Forte is ideal for tiny kitchens and instant chopping needs. The string mechanism of the chopper is easy to use.

Key Features:

500ml Capacity: Perfect for mini-meal preparations.

Pull-String Mechanism: Smooth operation without electricity.

Sharp Stainless Steel Blades: Cuts with fine accuracy.

Lightweight and Compact: Portable and convenient to store.

BPA-Free Plastic Body: Safe for food use.

Not suitable for hard vegetable chopping like potatoes or carrots.

3. Slursh Electric Mini Vegetable Chopper

Image Source- Marvelof.com

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For those who want an electric option, the Slursh Electric Mini Vegetable Chopper is a light but efficient machine that cuts vegetables with ease at the touch of a button.

Key Features:

Electric-Powered: Effortless.

Rechargeable Battery: No constant need to plug in.

One-Touch Operation: The device fits small spaces so it maintains proper counter usability.

Compact Size: This does not take up too much space on the countertop.

Stainless Steel Blades: Provides even and smooth chopping.

The appliance operates with a limited battery lifespan before requiring frequent charging sessions.

4. Crest Innovate Apache Chopper

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The multi-purpose heavy-duty Crest Innovate Apache Chopper is an optimal tool for simple vegetable preparation. This product incorporates high-quality materials and precise cutting blades, making chopping vegetables efficient and rapid.

Key Features:

Heavy-Duty Construction: This equipment exhibits endurance because of its ability to serve users over extended periods.

Sharp blade: The device features effective blades for cutting which work on different vegetable types.

Ergonomic Handle: The chopper contains a handle designed for ergonomic use which enhances operator control throughout the operation.

Dishwasher safe: The cleaning process of the appliance is dishwasher-friendly which simplifies maintenance work.

Multipurpose Usage: The product serves multiple purposes to cut vegetables alongside fruits and nuts.

Occupies more storage space than small choppers.

Choose the right vegetable chopper as per your need. Users who need a compact kitchen appliance should choose the La' Forte Mini String Chopper because of its small size yet functional design. Users searching for an effortless chopper operation should purchase the Slursh Electric Mini Chopper. And finally, the Crest Innovate Apache Chopper is an excellent choice in case you require a multipurpose heavy-duty chopper. All the choppers have their benefits and a small limitation, but all are great tools to ease meal preparation. Choose the one that best fits your cooking level and ease your chopping.

Disclaimer: At IDPL, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. It should not be construed as an endorsement to buy. IDPL may make a very small commission from its sale if one chooses to buy the product from any of the links in this article.
Canada is all set to go for its much-awaited national polls on April 28 after the same was announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney. However, the Canadian spy agency has warned that countries like India, China, Pakistan and Russia may look to alter the results of the polls as these nations have the potential to do so.

The comments by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service came at a time when the relations between New Delhi and Ottawa were already going through a tumultuous phase.

Addressing a press conference, Vanessa Lloyd, the deputy director of operations at the CSIS, said, "Hostile state actors have become increasingly belligerent and emboldened to advance their objectives in both the physical and cyber realms in any way necessary while seeking to silence those who challenge their narrative."

Canada had earlier alleged India and China's role in the 2019 and 2021 general elections but the probe result said that no such evidence was found.

"The PRC (People's Republic of China) is highly likely to use AI-enabled tools to attempt to interfere with Canada's democratic process in this current election," she said, adding that Beijing may use social media to build fake narratives to manipulate poll results.

Talking about India, she said, "We have also seen that the government of India has the intent and capability to interfere in Canadian communities and democratic processes to assert its geopolitical influence."

India has earlier rejected all such allegations saying that New Delhi has no role in Canada's internal affairs.
India strongly rebuked Pakistan on Tuesday for once again raising the Jammu and Kashmir issue during a United Nations Security Council debate on peacekeeping reforms. India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, asserted that the region is an integral part of India and called on Pakistan to vacate the areas it has "illegally occupied."

Indias representative, Harish, hit back after Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister, brought up the Jammu and Kashmir issue during a UN Security Council debate on the future of peacekeeping.

Speaking at the session, Harish dismissed Pakistans references to Jammu and Kashmir as "unwarranted" and accused the neighboring country of attempting to "divert attention" from core discussions on peacekeeping.

He stated, "India is compelled to note that the delegate of Pakistan has yet again resorted to unwarranted remarks on the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Such repeated references neither validate their illegal claims nor justify their state-sponsored cross-border terrorism."

Harish further underscored that Pakistan has no legitimate claim over Jammu and Kashmir. "Pakistan continues to illegally occupy the territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which it must vacate," he said, making it clear that India would not tolerate challenges to its sovereignty at international platforms.

Rejecting Islamabads attempts to use the UN forum for its "parochial and divisive agenda," Harish advised Pakistan against diverting the focus of the debate. "We would advise Pakistan not to try to divert attention of this forum," he said, adding that India would not engage in a lengthy rebuttal. "India will refrain from exercising a more elaborate Right of Reply," he concluded.

Last week too, India dismissed Pakistans allegations of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir at a UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva. Reaffirming its stance, India said it seeks peaceful ties but asserted that Islamabad must first create a terror-free environment for any meaningful dialogue.

(With ANI inputs)
New York: US President Donald Trumps threat to impose a 25 per cent tariff on exports from countries that buy oil from Venezuela would hit India which already fears reciprocal US taxes next month.

Trump announced on Truth Social on Monday that any country that purchases Oil and/or Gas from Venezuela will be forced to pay a Tariff of 25 per cent to the United States on any Trade they do with our Country.

India imported 63,115 barrels per day (bpd) in 2024, according to reports.

It will also hit New Delhis plans to increase cooperation in the petroleum field with Venezuela.

Trump said that the 25 per cent tariffs will come into force on April 2, when he plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on all countries. The new threat came amid reports that the reciprocal tariffs may be less drastic and directed at certain sectors.

Trump linked the levy to his battle with Venezuela over the members of the gang, Tren de Aragua (TdA), which he designated as a foreign terrorist organisation.

He accused the Venezuelan government of purposefully and deceitfully sending over the members of the gang linked to murders and other crimes across the country and made it a part of his campaign against terrorism.

Several other countries will be hit by the tariff  and that including China, which is Venezuelas biggest importer.

But the US is itself among the top importers of Venezuelan oil getting 228,000 bpd from it last year.

Trumps administration gave the US oil company Chevron two months to end its operations in Venezuela that export oil to the US.

India has been looking to expand its trade with Venezuela

Venezuelas Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who holds the petroleum portfolio, visited India in February during the Energy India Week event.

She met with Indias Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and other officials.

Energy Watch said Puri had sounded hopeful of increasing imports from Venezuela.

It quoted him as saying during Energy Week, Earlier, Venezuelan oil was not available in the market because of international constraints. Now, all the signals point in the direction of those constraints being eased.

So, if your question to me is can you expect more oil to come from Venezuela, my answer will be, yes, one can provided these processes are sorted out, he said.

He added, I am looking at it with great optimism to these issues getting resolved.

But those hopes now appear dashed.

Venezuela has long been under US sanctions over what Washington said was President Nicolas Maduro.

Under former US President Joe Biden, the sanctions were eased with a general waiver, but it was rescinded last year when Maduro was accused of not holding fair elections.

Bidens administration gave specific, restrictive waivers which Trump abolished.
Washington, DC: Former national security officials have reacted with shock after revelations that senior members of President Donald Trump's administration shared operational plans for military strikes in Yemen via an encrypted messaging app, inadvertently adding a journalist to the discussion, CNN reported.

According to The Atlantic, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz started a Signal group chat with Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe to discuss US airstrikes against Houthi militants in Yemen. In a critical mistake, Waltz also added Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who remained in the chat throughout the discussion, witnessing the exchange of sensitive details before removing himself.

The messages contained highly sensitive information, including details about the timing of the strikes, the specific targets, and the weapons being deployed. Hegseth reportedly shared "operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the US would be deploying, and attack sequencing." Ratcliffe, meanwhile, sent "information that might be interpreted as related to actual and current intelligence operations." Former officials have stated that such information would almost certainly be classified at the highest level.

The breach has sparked widespread condemnation among former intelligence and military officials. "Dear Sweet Baby Jesus," one former senior US official said upon learning of the incident. Another simply responded, "No," when asked if such a breach had ever occurred in the Biden administration.

Security experts have warned that using Signal for discussions of this nature violates every established protocol for handling classified information. "They broke every procedure known to man about protecting operational material before a military strike," a former senior intelligence official said. "You have a total breakdown in security about a military operation."

Although Signal is considered highly secure due to its open-source encryption, it is not authorised for transmitting classified government communications. The Pentagon specifically prohibits the use of messaging apps like Signal to handle "non-public DoD information." Additionally, intelligence agencies have warned that foreign adversaries, including Russian-linked spies, have attempted to compromise Signal accounts.

A Western intelligence official emphasised that while Signal has strong encryption, it should never be used for government operations. "It should never be used for classified or operational data, let alone policy discussions at a top government level," the official said. "This kind of breach could impact the level of trust between partners and allies."

Some former officials have raised concerns that the incident could constitute a violation of the Espionage Act, which criminalises the mishandling of national defence information. However, it remains unlikely that any investigation will be launched, as the officials involved--including Hegseth, Vance, and Rubio--would be responsible for initiating such a probe. The Justice Department typically relies on a formal referral from the agency that owns the classified information, in this case, the Department of Defence.

"If anyone else did it, no question it would be investigated," a former Justice Department official said.

Trump distanced himself from the controversy, claiming he was unaware of the situation. "I don't know anything about it," Trump told reporters when asked about The Atlantic's report. "It couldn't have been very effective, because the attack was very effective. I can tell you, I don't know anything about it. You're telling me about it for the first time," CNN quoted Trump as saying.

The transfer of classified information from a secure system to Signal would have required manual intervention. A former senior US defence official explained that such a transfer would not have happened accidentally. "Hegseth somehow had to transfer it or copy it to get it onto Signal in the first place," the official said.

"You can't forward a classified email to an unclassified system. You would either have to print it out or type it up while looking at both screens. So he had to have done it or somebody would've had to have done it for him that way."

Former Defence Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta did not hold back in his criticism. "Somebody needs to get fired," Panetta told CNN. "How the name of a journalist was added to that list - this is just a serious blunder." He warned that if someone other than Goldberg had received the messages, they could have alerted the Houthis, leading to retaliatory attacks on US forces. "They in turn could have... attacked US facilities in the Red Sea, causing casualties of our troops."

Brian Hughes, National Security Council spokesperson, attempted to downplay concerns. "This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain," Hughes said in a statement to CNN. He claimed the discussion demonstrated "deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials" and insisted that "the ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security."



However, messages from Vice President Vance suggest internal hesitation about the strikes. "I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now," Vance wrote in the chat, according to The Atlantic. "There's a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc."

Trump administration officials have not addressed the security concerns but have instead focused on Vance's remarks. William Martin, communications director to the vice president, defended him, stating, "The Vice President's first priority is always making sure that the President's advisers are adequately briefing him on the substance of their internal deliberations. Vice President Vance unequivocally supports this administration's foreign policy. The President and the Vice President have had subsequent conversations about this matter and are in complete agreement."

Democratic lawmakers immediately expressed outrage, with some calling for congressional scrutiny. Rep Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, described the situation as deeply alarming, CNN reported.

"I am horrified by reports that our most senior national security officials, including the heads of multiple agencies, shared sensitive and almost certainly classified information via a commercial messaging application, including imminent war plans," Himes said, citing the "calamitous risks of transmitting classified information across unclassified systems."

"If true, these actions are a brazen violation of laws and regulations that exist to protect national security, including the safety of Americans serving in harm's way," he added.

The incident has also drawn attention to past Republican criticism of private communications in government. In 2016, Rubio attacked Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server, saying, "Hillary Clinton put some of the highest, most sensitive intelligence information on her private server because maybe she thinks she's above the law. Or maybe she just wanted the convenience of being able to read this stuff on her Blackberry. This is unacceptable. This is a disqualifier."
Everyone seems so scared of the word government regulation when it comes to health care. Why? In part, this is because those against regulations (everyone making money off health care) make sure to scare laypeople into equating such action with socialism. Fear of concept is not a good argument against regulating monopolies that are bankrupting millions of Americans. Pretty sure most Americans would be happy to have limitations placed on drug companies if that meant they could afford their medications. Others are concerned that once the government becomes more involved, access will be limited. Valid concernthe government has not proven itself to be the most effective and efficient agency. However, this unfortunate concern regarding access is already a reality. Wait times and delays in care already exist, given the shortage of doctors. And thats just exacerbated the farther you get from a metropolitan area. The government has legitimate responsibilities that cant be replaced by private entitiesthe latter are motivated by profit and not the general welfare of its society. Keep in mind, there are many services the government provides that do not generate profitprofit is not the point of government.

Weve regulated health care with limits before; the ACA implemented many regulations with the intent of reducing ballooning profit and decreasing costs to consumers. The intent behind the ACA was noble and on point: forbidding insurance agencies from using pre-existing conditions to exclude coverage and allowing young adults to stay on their parents insurance are two great examples. The implementation and reality of the ACA missed a lot of marks as insurance and drug companies created workarounds to defang the original intent of the law. Whats needed is major limitations and even moratoriums. But thats highly unlikely to happen when our government is controlled by moneynot good intentionsand our politicians are corrupted by greed and re-electionnot the general welfare of their constituents. When a company is making hand-over-fist money, it isnt just going to give that up without some sort of legal regulation. Only the government has the authority to enact laws that can rein in some of the outlandish profit being made by those in health careat the expense of Americans and their health. That means our congresspersons should lead the way. Sadly, it seems, most are too busy following the money.

Lets start there: Ban political contributions by for-profit drug companies. Such money should go towards lowering the costs of drugs, not lining politicians pockets. Surprisingly, though, the most recent contributions arent as impressive as one would think. Big pharma PAC contributions were less than $1 million per company in 2024. Not surprisingly, they contribute on both sides of the aisle, giving to Republicans and Democrats. When politicians get sizeable donations from a company, you have to imagine that it influences what laws they support and how they vote. Drug companies dont need more influence than the average consumer.

Actually, drug companies are spending way more on consumersads to consumers. While doctors need to learn about new drugs that are more effective or with fewer side effects than the ones we learned about in medical school, the average layperson does not. In 1997, pharmaceutical companies spent $15.6 billion on advertising to physicians (sending paid representatives to doctors offices to talk about a drug, free samples, or compensating physicians for giving talks about the drug). That amount increased to $20.6 billion in 2016. During that same time period, pharmaceutical companies increased spending directed towards laypersons from $1.6 billion to $6 billion. This often successfully convinces patientsnot doctorsof the benefit of their drugwithout any unbiased or counter information. One obvious downside: I have to spend 20 minutes of my patients visit convincing them why they dont actually need the drug they saw on TV. And this is not to say that the patient couldnt benefit from a drug theyve heard about on TV. But I can honestly say that Ive never learned about a new drug that has been scientifically proven beneficial for me to prescribe to a patient from any patient directly. Not to mention, patients are usually happy to get further education and viewpoints, but not every physician has the time to have that discussion. Without taking the time to educate, the patient walks away feeling unheard and frustrated. That, or the patient just finds a new physician to give them what they wanted in the first place. Its hard for a doctor to refuse the care for which a patient is asking. Its way easier to just write the prescription than to spend 20 minutes educating the patient. God forbid the satisfaction scores that patients give doctors go downthe same scores that may be tied to compensation and/or job stability in an employed situation. Such a scenario perpetuates the cycle of bad medicine.

Why do we allow drug companies to advertise directly to consumers? The average person has not studied pharmacology, various types of medical trials, or the comparative pricing of similar drugs. Having such a background is important to be able to determine if its a good drug and if that drug is right for a particular individual. Without that knowledge, it comes down to having the best salesperson, the best jingle, or the most catchy commercial. None of that truly helps the patient. Yet, big pharma spends billions on advertising annually. In 2022, advertising for the top 10 drugs cost companies between $111.8 million and $315.8 million dollars per drug for national TV ads. Think of how much cheaper the drug would be if they eliminated spending on TV ads. Or how much more research could be done? Its been shown that drug companies spent more than 19 times on marketing than they did on R&D.

After an SNL skit made fun of a super bowl ad back in 2016 for a medication to help constipationespecially constipation after taking narcotics, Ford Vox said it best: This skit is savvy satire that portrays the medicalization and commercialization of a street drug and that seemingly absurd scenario speaks to the underlying truth that a haywire medical system ruled by corporate greed, bad regulations, and complacent doctors actually generated this problem in the first place. SNL also lampooned our increasingly absurd prescription drug ads, which are so pervasively out of control that Super Bowl audiences were treated to a cutesy ad for opioid-induced constipation. Think about that a pharmaceutical company spent millions advertising a drug that treats the side effects of another overprescribed drug, to the worlds most general audience.

Just this month, Hims & Hers released a controversial Super Bowl commercial that had many arguing that they didnt list the possible side effects of their medications. Guess what? They dont have to. They are not selling an FDA-approved medication, so they dont have to follow the same regulations and rigorous testing that the rest of the drug companies and their drugs do. And does the layperson have any idea of that difference? I venture to say no. And some congresspersons are trying to take action; Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois and Republican Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas sent a letter to the FDA asking the agency to take action: To the extent this falls within a regulatory loophole for the FDAs authorities, we plan to soon introduce bipartisan legislation to close this gap, so that patients are not deceived by advertisements that glaringly omit critical safety and side effect information. On many things, physicians question Robert F. Kennedys ideas. On this point, I agree completely: Just ban the ads in the first place  problem solved.

While no governmental limitations have been put on what drug companies can contribute to political campaigns or spend on national advertising, the ACA did put limits on what drug companies could spend on doctors. Most physicians (94 percent) have some type of relationship with the pharmaceutical industry. Such relationships involved receiving food in the workplace (83 percent), receiving drug samples (78 percent), etc. The ACA said that what drug companies spent on doctors had to be educational. So they couldnt spend money on pens with their drug or company logo and pass them out to doctors anymore. They couldnt pay for doctors meals at a fancy restaurant or send them to a weekend conferenceor could they? This is where the workarounds come into play. Drug companies can still take doctors to dinner as long as there is that educational speakerand thats usually a doctor they pay to give a presentation. This often ends up being a nice dinner for office staff (with or without the doctor attending) who dont necessarily care about or even listen to the educational presentation. Everyone loves a free mealor to be able to provide your staff with a fancy dinner. But rewarding staff at the expense of the drug company is part of the problem. By rewarding our staff with drug company money, doctors are complacent. Unfortunately, we know the drug companies can afford to do this more than we can. So we acquiesce. However, having the drug company pay for my staffs meals is not going to improve the health of my patients. Therefore, its a waste of drug company moneywhich adds up to as much as $2.2 billion per year.

Not to say that relationships between physicians and industry dont have positive effects on patient care. Certain drugs wouldnt exist if physicians didnt enroll patients in manufacturers clinical trials and provide companies with advice on drug development. Even attending an industry-sponsored dinner may result in physicians prescribing beneficial drugs for their patients. But, there is no reason why an educational activity needs to be accompanied by an expensive meal or a trip to a tropical resort, as Eric G. Campbell, PhD said. Ultimately, those expenses get pushed back onto the consumer.

In addition, its a slippery slope of quid pro quo when it comes to doctors benefiting from drug company handouts. It might even be subconscious on the part of physicians. This also plays out with free samples. Drug companies arent giving out samples to help patients; they do it because it influences prescription writing and maximizes profits. I can make the argument that free samples are great! They allow a patient to try an expensive medication before committing to purchasing it. If it doesnt help them, they arent out anything. However, if it does, they often cant afford to keep taking it when I prescribe it. So, we havent helped anyone. Often, physicians feel free samples help the neediest patients, but this notion hasnt proven true. In fact, wealthy or insured Americans are more likely to receive free drug samples than poor or uninsured Americans. And all those samples come at a cost. In 2012, drug companies gave out $5.7 billion worth of free samples. These billions are adding up.

As mentioned, the ACA limited what drug companies could spend on doctors. Meanwhile, there are no limits on what drug companies can spend on their CEOs. CEO salary is just part of their overall annual pay/total compensation. Salaries are impressive enough, but total compensation can be staggering. In 2022, the top 10 pharmaceutical company CEOs made $28 million/year or more, with the highest paid getting more than $124.9 million, thanks to stock option awards worth the majority of that. For 2023, the top 10 Big Pharma executives compensation ranged from $20.3 million to $28.4 millionthe latter was a 116 percent increase from 2022 for Johnson & Johnsons Joaquin Duato.

And not to say these executives arent leading vital and life-changing companies. They are. But I argue that doctors are leading vital and life-saving practices as well, while getting paid less each year for it. America is one of the leaders, if not the leader, in the global drug industry. American drug companies pay for more of the research and studies regarding drugs than other countries. But most of the time, theres a huge payback when they produce, paten,t and then market a successful drugwith the exclusive rights to that drug for at least 10 years. But its all still about the money; the drug companies cant deny that. They spend billions more dollars on executive compensation, dividends, and stock buyouts than they spend on research and development. In 2022, J&J spent $17.8 billion on stock buybacks, dividends, and executive compensation and just $14.6 billion on R&D. That same year, Bristol Myers Squibb spent $12.7 billion on stock buybacks, dividends, and executive compensation and only $9.5 billion on R&D. When 9.2 million adults (8.2 percent) reported not taking medications as prescribed due to cost, I think its reasonable to enact percentage reductions, compensation caps, or some other cost-containment formulary for the heads of drug companies. They arent going to do it on their own.

As Ive stated before, health care is not a standard market. We cant rely on the laws of supply and demand, nor can we trust corporate America to curb profits in order to provide affordable and adequate health care. We still have arguably the best health care in the world, but the average American, even with insurance, often cant access it. Or patients go bankrupt when they do. For all these reasons, the system needs some major overhauling. Drug companies have to be a part of this change:

ADVERTISEMENT

Banning political donations by drug companies saves hundreds of thousands of dollars and removes improper influence. Banning ads to laypersons and banning free drug samples saves literally billions of dollars as well as eliminating safety concerns. Finally, limiting drug company CEO compensation just seems fair. Who is honestly going to argue against that?

Alisa Berger is a urologist.
Commentary: More joint efforts needed to sustain positive momentum in China-Japan ties

Xinhua) 08:13, March 25, 2025

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in Tokyo, Japan, on March 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)

China and Japan are bound by deep economic ties and a shared stake in regional stability. At a time of mounting global uncertainties, a constructive relationship serves not only their national interests but also the broader region.

BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- After a six-year hiatus, China and Japan have resumed their High-Level Economic Dialogue, a major step toward deepening cooperation between Asia's two largest economies.

Beyond the economic realm, the two countries' foreign ministers also reaffirmed their commitments to ensuring stable and constructive bilateral ties.

This warming trend highlights both sides' consensus that China and Japan, as close neighbors, share extensive common interests and great potential for cooperation.

The momentum of improvement in China-Japan relations has not come easily. As Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted in Tokyo, China and Japan have been working to improve bilateral relations since Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba took office.

In November last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ishiba reached important common understandings on following the four political documents between China and Japan, comprehensively advancing the strategic relationship of mutual benefit, and building a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship fit for the new era. Since then, through joint efforts, China-Japan relations have shown signs of steady improvement.

There are good reasons to keep this momentum going. China and Japan are bound by deep economic ties and a shared stake in regional stability. At a time of mounting global uncertainties, a constructive relationship serves not only their national interests but also the broader region.

The latest economic dialogue yielded 20 key points of consensus, covering a range of areas from green development to service trade and supply chains. But talks alone will not be sufficient. Both countries must continue working together to put the agreements into action, ensuring that cooperation delivers real benefits.

Sustaining practical cooperation requires deeper political trust. The four political documents that guide China-Japan relations provide a clear framework for long-term stability. Respecting these commitments, including those on historical issues and Taiwan, will help prevent political differences from overshadowing cooperation.

A correct understanding of history remains a crucial test of Japan's adherence to its post-war commitments. It is the political foundation for Japan's good relations with its neighbors and a key benchmark for evaluating Japan's dedication to peaceful development.

The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests and the one-China principle is the political foundation of China-Japan relations. In recent years, certain Japanese politicians and anti-China forces have sought to send erroneous signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. Japan must honor its commitments, handle Taiwan-related issues prudently, and take concrete actions to support the steady progress of bilateral ties.

The reality is inescapable: China and Japan are neighbors that cannot be wished away. They are two major countries deeply connected economically and strategically vital to the whole region.

By intensifying dialogue, expanding common ground and managing differences wisely, the two countries can build a relationship benefiting both themselves and the world at large.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
CHIZ: SENATE VIBER CHANNEL TO PROVIDE ACCURATE INFO ON LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES

The Senate of the Philippines has launched its official Viber channel designed to serve as a reliable platform for disseminating current and accurate information on legislative activities and official events to the public.

The Senate Viber Channel is a resource hub for institutional photo releases and statements, committee hearing schedules, and plenary session updates. Through engaging content, it will also offer relevant information about the rich history and legacy of the institution.

Benefiting media entities and the public, the channel will provide direct access to timely and accurate information, a fulfillment of the Senate's commitment to transparency and accountability.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" G. Escudero believes that the establishment of the Senate channel offers a strategic opportunity to enhance information dissemination given the popularity of calling and messaging apps among Filipinos here and abroad.

Apart from efficient information dissemination, the Senate Viber Channel will also serve as an effective tool to combat the spread of fake news and misinformation in social media.

"Misinformation is a plague, and in the age of instant communication, it spreads like wildfire. The Senate Viber Channel is a shield against that plague," Senate President Escudero said.

"It is our responsibility to equip our citizens with verified facts and empower our people to make responsible choices. Providing the people with reliable and readily accessible sources of information is a crucial step toward fulfilling this goal," he added.
We have come together to stay together: Uddhav

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23:44 School run by RSS affiliate in MP ransacked Representational image Miscreants ransacked a school, run by a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated outfit, in Madhya Pradesh's Shahdol district, the police said on Tuesday. The incident occurred at Akhetpur under the Beohari police station area on Monday night when a group of persons barged into Saraswati... Read more >

23:39 Air India CEO, senior executives to fly economy under new policy Air India CEO, top-notch executives and senior commanders may be seen flying in the airline's economy class across Indian cities as part of the carrier's new travel policy for its staff, which comes into effect in phases from next month, according to sources. The airline, which went back... Read more >

23:33 First indigenously-built MRI scanner to be installed in AIIMS-Delhi First indigenously-built MRI scanner/ANI Photo India has developed its first indigenous MRI scanner that will be installed at AIIMS-Delhi by October for clinical trials and evaluation. The initiative is aimed at considerably reducing the cost of Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanning and reliance on imported machines, thus allowing wider... Read more >

22:51 Punjab police book pastor Bajinder Singh for assault The Punjab police on Tuesday booked Bajinder Singh on assault and other charges based on the complaint of a woman, days after a video purporting to show the self-styled Christian preacher slapping and arguing with her became widely circulated on social media. The Mohali police launched an... Read more >

22:30 Russia, Ukraine agree to Black Sea ceasefire: US File image The United States said on Tuesday it reached pacts with Ukraine and Russia for safe navigation in the Black Sea and to stop attacks by the two countries on each other's energy facilities, according to a report by The Guardian. The White House posted the two statements on its website from its... Read more >

22:30 Russia, Ukraine agree to Black Sea ceasefire: US File image The United States said on Tuesday it reached pacts with Ukraine and Russia for safe navigation in the Black Sea and to stop attacks by the two countries on each other's energy facilities, according to a report by The Guardian. The White House posted the two statements on its website from its... Read more >

22:24 Bengaluru: Wife, mother-in-law arrested for real estate agent's murder Days after a 37-year-old real estate agent was found murdered near an under-construction building in BGS Layout, his wife and mother-in-law were arrested in connection with the crime, the police said on Tuesday. Yashasvini (19) and her mother, Hema Bhai (37), were arrested on Monday for the... Read more >

22:09 Traffic to be diverted on Delhi-Gurugram Expressway Vehicular movement will be restricted on Delhi-Gurugram Expressway on NH-48 for six hours from Wednesday midnight due to the construction of a foot overbridge, according to the Gurugram Traffic Police advisory. The construction will be undertaken near Narsinghpur from Wednesday midnight... Read more >

21:39 India, China agree to work together for next SR meet in Delhi India and China on Tuesday agreed to work together to make substantial preparation for the next meeting of their Special Representatives (SR) on the boundary question that is set to be held in the national capital later this year. The decision was taken at a fresh edition of talks held in... Read more >

21:18 ISIS greatest threat to Russia's security, says Russian envoy in Pak Russia's Ambassador to Pakistan Albert P Khorev on Tuesday identified ISIS as the greatest threat to Russia's national and regional security, a media report said. He told the Express Tribune that Afghanistan's efforts to combat militancy were inadequate but attributed it to economic... Read more >

20:51 Sena-UBT MLC attacks minister Rane over 'divisive' remarks Maharashtra minister Nitish Rane Shiv Sena-UBT legislator Anil Parab on Tuesday attacked Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane, accusing him of making divisive and dangerous remarks that could disturb communal harmony. Speaking in the state legislative council, Parab also took a dig at Rane for projecting himself... Read more >

20:35 Thane cops book Kamra for 'traitor' remark on Shinde Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra An FIR was registered against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra in Thane district of Maharashtra for allegedly defaming Shiv Sena head and deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the police said on Tuesday. Kamra was booked under section 356(2) (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on a... Read more >

20:33 Jacqueline Fernandez to miss performing at IPL due to mom's ailing health Actor Jacqueline Fernandez will skip performing at the IPL ceremony in Guwahati on Wednesday as her mother is not keeping well. A source close to the actress informed, Jacqueline's mother is still in the ICU recovering. As the family awaits further update from the doctors. In these... Read more >

20:18 Rupee falls 13 paise to settle at 85.74 against US dollar The rupee snapped its seven-session rally and settled with a loss of 13 paise at 85.74 (provisional) against the US dollar on Tuesday, as increased demand for dollars from importers, coupled with the greenback's recovery against major currencies, weighed on the rupee. Forex traders said the... Read more >

19:57 NCPCR seeks FIR in Class 9 student's suicide at Navi Mumbai school The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has sought a first information report in connection with the suicide of a Class 9 student who jumped off a school building in Navi Mumbai last month, flagging his father's allegation about bullying at the school. A Class 9 student... Read more >

19:29 Odisha assembly suspends 12 Cong MLAs for 7 days File image Odisha assembly Speaker Surama Padhy on Tuesday suspended 12 Congress MLAs for seven days over indiscipline in the House. The action against the Congress legislators came after the House adopted a motion moved by government Chief Whip Saroj Pradhan. The suspended MLAs include Congress... Read more >

19:20 6 held in connection with BJP leader Gulfam Singh Yadav's murder case The police on Tuesday arrested six persons in connection with the murder of BJP leader Gulfam Singh Yadav, who was allegedly killed with a lethal injection, the police said on Tuesday. The incident occurred on March 10 when Gulfam Singh Yadav, 60, was at his village farm and three... Read more >

18:59 Actor Sonu Sood's wife, two others injured in accident Bollywood actor Sonu Sood Bollywood actor Sonu Sood's wife Sonali and two others suffered minor injuries in a car accident in Nagpur, the police said on Tuesday. The accident took place around 10.30 on Monday night, said an official. The car in which Sonali Sood was travelling with her sister and nephew rammed... Read more >

18:33 'NCP-SP leaders behind minister's extortion bid' Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday alleged leaders of the opposition Nationalist Congress Party-SP were involved in a conspiracy against his cabinet colleague Jaykumar Gore in a case involving a woman. Replying to a motion initiated by the opposition in the state... Read more >

18:24 Two Maha cops suspended over VIP treatment to arrested BJP man Two policemen were suspended in Maharashtra's Beed district on Tuesday after a video showing a local BJP worker, arrested in a case of assault, receiving a special treatment went viral, officials said. Beed superintendent of police Navneet Kanwat suspended two policemen attached to the... Read more >

18:04 Neha Kakkar breaks down at Melbourne concert, apologises to fans for arriving late Singer Neha Kakkar broke down and apologised profusely to her fans after she allegedly arrived three hours late for her concert in Melbourne, Australia. In a video, posted on Reddit by a user, the singer is seen crying on stage while some audience members booed for apparently arriving late... Read more >

17:43 IndusInd Bank shares tank over 5% Shares of IndusInd Bank tanked over 5 percent on Tuesday following reports that external auditor PwC is likely to submit its report to the bank's board on Friday regarding accounting discrepancies in its derivatives portfolio. The stock dropped 4.76 percent to settle at Rs 637.30 apiece on... Read more >

17:25 BSE Sensex top gainers today Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty eked out gains to extend their winning run to the seventh day on Tuesday, largely driven by gains in select bluechips like HDFC Bank, Infosys and Ultratech Cement. Retreating from its early highs, the 30-share BSE Sensex closed higher by 32.81 points... Read more >

17:01 Army rejects social media post's claims that China hacked its aircraft File image Army has rejected claims made by a social media post that one of its Remotely Piloted Aircraft was hacked by the Chinese side, and urged media houses and social media users to refrain from carrying unverified and misleading content, sources said. The Army remains fully committed to the... Read more >

16:41 Loader arrested for theft of 75 smartphones at IGI Airport, 36 recovered The Delhi police arrested a ground handling employee for allegedly stealing a shipment of high-end smartphones worth lakhs of rupees, an official said on Tuesday.The accused has been identified as 28-year-old Monu alias Nikhil Kumar and 36 of the stolen mobile phones have been recovered so far,... Read more >

16:36 Kunal Kamra given money, alleges Shiv Sena MP Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske alleged on Tuesday that stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, who has been in the eye of the storm over his jibe at Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has been given money to make such statements to divert people's attention from the Disha Salian death... Read more >

16:24 UP reports highest number of ragging complaints in medical colleges in 2024 Uttar Pradesh reported 33 -- the highest number of ragging-related complaints in medical colleges in 2024 followed by Bihar with 17, Rajasthan with 15 and Madhya Pradesh with 12, Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.The National Medical Commission... Read more >

16:23 Naxalite with Rs 25 lakh bounty killed in C'garh A Naxalite carrying a reward of Rs 25 lakh on his head was among three ultras killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Tuesday, police said. The gunfight took place at around 8 am in a forest along the border of Dantewada and Bijapur districts when... Read more >

16:06 Kalyan Banerjee calls Shivraj Chouhan 'dalal' Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee on Tuesday accused Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of acting as a dalal (broker) for the rich as he slammed the Union government over pending central funds for West Bengal. The BJP immediately hit back with... Read more >

16:05 Lok Sabha passes Finance Bill 2025 with 35 govt amendments The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Finance Bill 2025, along with 35 government amendments, including one that abolishes a 6 per cent digital tax on online advertisements. With the passage of the Finance Bill 2025, the Lok Sabha completed its part of the Budgetary approval process. The... Read more >

15:57 Disha Salian's father seeks FIR against Aaditya Satish Salian, father of former celebrity manager Disha Salian, on Tuesday, submitted a complaint to the Joint Commissioner of Police demanding the registration of a case against Shiv Sena-UBT MLA Aaditya Thackeray and others in connection with his daughter's death in 2020.Salian visited the... Read more >

15:32 Delhi govt to relocate Tihar jail Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday announced plans to relocate Tihar jail to the city's outskirts and allocated Rs 10 crore for survey and consultancy services for the same in the budget for 2025-26. The decision stems from safety concerns due to the jail's proximity to... Read more >

15:11 A gentleman departs. RIP, Shishir Bhate Shishir with his wife, daughter and son-in-law Newsrooms are by nature inured to news of death, and so the pall of gloom that has descended with the news of the passing of a dear former colleague, Shishir Vinay Bhate, is testimony to his popularity, yes, but also to the impact he left behind in the years he helmed the Business Desk at... Read more >

15:00 T'gana tunnel collapse: Another body extricated Body of one of the seven persons who remained trapped inside the partially collapsed SLBC project tunnel here for over a month was found on Tuesday, officials said.This takes the total number of bodies retrieved so far to two.The mortal remains of the individual were found on Tuesday morning, an... Read more >

14:50 Madhumita Shukla murder case: SC dismisses plea challenging premature release of Amarmani Tripathi The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea challenging the premature release of former Uttar Pradesh minister Amarmani Tripathi and his wife Madhumani in poet Madhumita Shukla murder case. The Uttar Pradesh prisons department had in 2023 issued an order for the premature release of... Read more >

14:40 Cash row: SC's in-house committee begins inquiry Three members of the Supreme Court-appointed in-house committee on Tuesday commenced its inquiry into the alleged cash discovery row involving Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, sources said.They said the three members -- Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab... Read more >

14:23 Diarrhoea, Viral Infections Spur Probiotics Sales Buttermilk is a good probiotic drink Probiotics and oral electrolytes sales have been growing at a fast clip in the gastrointestinal therapy segment, clocking a 23 per cent and 21 per cent five-year compounded annual growth rate (CAGR), respectively, according to data sourced from market research firm Pharmarack. Antidiarrheals... Read more >

14:15 Judge cash row: RS Chairman to meet Floor leaders Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar Tuesday called a meeting of the leaders of various parties to decide the course of action the House should take on pleas by some MPs seeking discussion on the alleged discovery of cash from the official residence of a Delhi high court judge. Meeting of... Read more >

13:54 Separatism has become history in Kashmir: Shah Two constituents of the Hurriyat Conference -- J-K People's Movement and the Democratic Political Movement -- have announced the severing of all ties with separatism, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday. Welcoming the move, Shah asserted that the unifying policies of the Modi... Read more >

13:43 Foods That Heal: 7 Top Anti-Inflammatory Foods Medical News Today explains that when you are suffering inflammation in your body, 'there will be higher levels of substances known as biomarkers'. Inflammation, when it persists, can cause a whole bunch of of chronic diseases, be it type 2 diabetes, heart ailments or... Read more >

13:37 Kangana on Kamra: Who are these people, what credentials? Bharatiya Janata Party MP and Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut slammed standup artist Kunal Kamra for his alleged disparaging remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Being asked about the demolition of her office by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in 2020... Read more >

13:32 SC refuses to withdraw CRPF security cover of Unnao rape survivor The rapist, Kuldeep Sengar The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to withdraw the CRPF security cover of the Unnao rape survivor, saying there was still a perception of threat. A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and P B Varale, however, removed CRPF security cover given to her family members and other witnesses noting... Read more >

13:15 'Pakistan is Seen as a State Devoid of Hope' Afghanistan, Iran, and the security of Pakistan's nuclear programme are issues that will inevitably draw Trump's attention. When that happens, Washington will likely note China's growing presence in Gwadar and seek to exploit local Baloch resentment toward Beijing, notes journalist and... Read more >

12:59 Kamra's decision not to apologise is right: Congress After stand-up artist Kunal Kamra refused to apologize for his remarks allegedly targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar on Tuesday said that Kamra's decision not to apologise is right as he has not taken anyone's name. Criticising the... Read more >

12:36 Tata AutoComp To Buy IAC Sweden Tata AutoComp Systems, an automotive components manufacturer, said on Monday that it would acquire International Automotive Components Group Sweden AB (IAC Sweden) for an undisclosed sum.The 2024 revenue of IAC Sweden, which manufactures interior systems and components for the automotive... Read more >

12:31 Tripura to check forest cover loss due to 'wrong' implementation of law Forest and tree cover in India The Tripura government has decided to check the forest area in the state following reports that the green cover has come down because of various reasons, including incorrect implementation of a 2006 Act. As the state government found that a section of forest dwellers have been harming the woods,... Read more >

12:16 Real gaddars are Aaditya, Uddhav Thackeray: Shiv Sena Shiv Sena leader Raju Waghmare on Tuesday criticized comedian Kunal Kamra for his recent remarks, demanding that Kamra apologize or face legal action. Waghmare accused Kamra of insulting the Thackeray family and claimed that Kamra's statements were offensive to both Aaditya and Uddhav... Read more >

11:41 Shiv Sena won't leave him: Maha ministers browbeat Kamra Kunal Kamra has said he won't apologize Stand-up Artist Kunal Kamra's refusal to apologize for his remarks made during a recent show has sparked strong reactions from Maharashtra government officials including Maharashtra's Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam and Minister Gulab Patil. MoS Home Yogesh Ramdas Kadam on Tuesday... Read more >

11:14 EPS heads to Delhi AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami is headed to Delhi today to meet top BJP leaders. Read more >

11:05 M&M In Talks To Acquire Promoter Stake In SML Isuzu To ink a deal that will enhance Mahindra and Mahindra's commercial-vehicle portfolio, M&M is in talks to acquire the promoter's stake in SML Isuzu, according to sources close to the development. SML Isuzu's portfolio includes school buses.In December last year, Sumitomo Corporation, the... Read more >

11:03 Vikram Sahu To Take Over As Bank of America's India Country Executive Vikram Sahu, who is currently heading global equity research for Bank of America in New York, is set to succeed Kaku Nakhate as the US-based bank's India country executive, according to an internal memo reviewed by Business Standard.Nakhate has been leading the bank's India operations as... Read more >

10:43 Kunal Kamra gets police summons to appear today Maharashtra's Khar Police has sent a summon to standup artist Kunal Kamra, asking him to appear before the investigating officer at 11 am today.As per Mumbai police, Kunal is not in Mumbai right now. MIDC police had registered an FIR against Kunal Kamra for his remarks during a stand-up comedy... Read more >

10:15 Shinde: Freedom of speech is there but... Update: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has likened comedian Kunal Kamra's jibe at him to taking supari (contract) to speak against someone, and said a decorum should be maintained while taking jibes, otherwise the action causes a reaction.Freedom of speech is there, but there... Read more >

10:07 Took supari, action causes reaction: Shinde on Kamra Maharashtra Dy CM Eknath Shinde reacts to comedian Kunal Kamra's remarks: Freedom of speech is there; we understand satire, but there should be a limit. This is like taking 'supari' (contract) to speak against someone. The other person should also maintain certain level, otherwise, action causes... Read more >

09:50 I've lived through what happened to Kamra: Hansal Mehta Filmmaker Hansal Mehta has voiced his support for stand-up artiste Kunal Kamra amid a massive controversy that erupted after he allegedly passed disparaging remarks on the Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in his latest standup act. The director who is known for films like 'Shahid',... Read more >

09:47 Release Interim Data On 7th Economic Census... The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance has urged the ministry of statistics and programme implementation (MoSPI) to 'salvage some useful data' from the fieldwork of the 7th Economic Census and come up with interim data.In its latest report submitted to Parliament, the committee notes... Read more >

09:25 Is the king home? Mamata Banerjee outside Buckingham Palace West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and her entourage are in London. Banerjee posted on X: Bengal and Britain share a relationship that spans centuries, rooted in history, culture, and commerce. As we landed in London yesterday, we stepped into a city that, much like Kolkata, carries the weight of its... Read more >

09:22 Trump's NSA accidentally texted journalist war plans US NSA Mike Waltz Former national security officials have reacted with shock after revelations that senior members of President Donald Trump's administration shared operational plans for military strikes in Yemen via an encrypted messaging app, inadvertently adding a journalist to the discussion, CNN... Read more >

09:14 India must brace for 9-10% power demand surge in 2025 India should prepare for a nine to 10 per cent growth in peak electricity demand this summer with the country expected to experience more heatwaves, experts have warned. Last year, the all-India peak electricity demand crossed 250 gigawatts (GW) on May 30, which was 6.3 per cent higher than... Read more >

09:04 Sebi To Launch Settlement Scheme For Brokers Linked To... File pic The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is set to introduce a settlement scheme for over 100 stock brokers who faced regulatory scrutiny for their association with algorithmic trading platforms promising guaranteed returns.Each broker may be required to pay a settlement amount of Rs 1... Read more >

09:00 Act of revenge: Nagpur riots accused kin on demolition drive The brother of Yusuf Sheikh, an accused in the March 17 communal violence in Nagpur, has claimed the civic body started demolition of a portion of their house despite the family having all sanctions and possessing documents for the building.Ayaz Sheikh claimed the house of his brother was built... Read more >

08:53 Engineering Goods Exports Dip 8.6%, First Fall Since April 2024 Dragged down by iron, steel, aluminium and copper, India's engineering goods exports declined from $9.94 billion in February last year to $9.08 billion the same month this year, down 8.62 per cent year-on year (Y-o-Y), according to the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) India.This marked... Read more >

08:44 What You Must Know About New Finance Secretary The appointments committee of the Cabinet approved Ajay Seth's appointment as finance secretary in the Union ministry of finance on Monday.Seth is currently the secretary in the department of economic affairs in the finance ministry and holds additional charge as revenue secretary.A 1987-batch... Read more >

08:27 Why India is 'Prioritising' BTA With US The US is committed to advancing a 'productive and balanced' trade relationship with India, a spokesperson for its embassy in New Delhi said Monday, ahead of trade talks and the April 2 rollout of reciprocal tariffs, which American President Donald Trump suggested could have flexibility in... Read more >

08:14 Will not apologise, don't fear this mob: Kunal Kamra Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has said he will not apologise for his controversial comments about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and criticised the vandalism of the venue in Mumbai where the comedy show was recorded. The 36-year-old comedian has kicked up a major political... Read more >

01:40 RG Kar doc was under mental stress, sought help month before death: Psychiatrist Students protest against doctor's death in Kolkata/File image A consultant psychiatrist on Monday claimed that the RG Kar hospital rape and murder victim was under acute mental stress for various reasons and had sought professional help from him around a month before her death on August 9 last year. Long duty hours, discrimination in allotment of... Read more >

00:17 Bird strike forces Bengaluru-bound IndiGo flight to abort takeoff in Kerala File image A Bengaluru-bound flight was cancelled after the aircraft suffered a bird hit at the international airport in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday morning. The incident occurred just before takeoff, with 179 passengers on board, airport sources said. IndiGo flight 6E 6629, operating from... Read more >
The 14th edition of the Macau Literary Festival is slated to run until March 30, bringing together different forms of artistic expression and exploring the role of literature and the arts in a changing world.

The festival opened last week with a pre-opening event and features a range of activities, including panel discussions, exhibitions, performances, and workshops.

According to organizers, this years event offers a wide range of events over the 10-day program, including workshops on photography, illustration, and creative writing.

Notable events include film screenings of critically acclaimed works and book launches by authors such as Sonia Leung, Valerio Romao, and Tony Banham.

Music and poetry performances will also be featured throughout the festival, highlighting the integration of different art forms.

The literary festival hopes to provide an opportunity for reflection on the past while addressing the future of literature and the arts in a rapidly evolving world.

Last week, the festival began with an opening ceremony at the Former Barra Slaughterhouse.

During the ceremony, festival director Ricardo Pinto outlined the festivals objective to connect various forms of art.

For Pinto, Poetry, music, photography, cinema, history, and fiction bring us together once again for this 14th edition of The Script Road, he said, as cited in a Ponto Final report.

Vice-director of the festival, Yao Jingming, spoke about the role of literature in shaping human experience.

Literature is a beacon of the human spirit that guides us in our search for the meaning of life, Yao said. He emphasized that despite advancements in science and technology, literatures humanistic and spiritual values remain unchanged. Yao also noted how literature can bridge gaps between different cultures, promoting empathy and understanding.

After the opening ceremony, the festival continued with the inauguration of New Independences, a photography exhibition by Alfredo Cunha.

The exhibition marks the 50th anniversary of independence for Portuguese-speaking African countries, showcasing images from Angola, Mozambique, and other nations.

Curated by Joao Miguel Barros, the exhibition is organized into five themes, offering a visual exploration of the history and cultural identity of these nations.

The day also featured a panel discussion on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on literature, titled Poetic Writing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Challenges and Opportunities.

Poets Xu Jinjin, Zang Di, Chan Ka Long, and Shanshan Wang took part in the conversation.

From March 25 to 27, the festival offers a range of film screenings and discussions, with highlights including Luis Filipe Rochas Amor e Dedinhos de Pe and Sinais de Fogo, along with documentaries such as A Medida que Fomos Recuperando a Mae and A Mulher que Morreu de Pe.

The festival will culminate in a series of closing events on March 29 and 30, featuring debates on topics like womens novel writing, social changes in 2025, and the relationship between poetry and music.

Discussions will also cover subjects from the history of Angola to climate change and Lusophone literature.

A book launch will showcase works by Marina Pacheco, Lin-Tchi-Fa, Tony Banham, Paul French, and Thomas DuBois. Additionally, an illustration and short story session will include participants Catarina Mesquita, Lydia Ieong, and Rodrigo de Matos.

The festival will conclude with A Banquet of Stories  Seven Dishes, Seven Traditions, a sensory experience combining storytelling and gastronomy.

This Saturday, the festival will host a concert featuring Writing Myth and The Surrealists at the Dom Pedro V Theater at 8:30 p.m., while on March 30, a guided walk workshop will be hosted by Jason Wordie, where they will explore the historical Barra District. Staff Reporter
Artyzen Hospitality Group in Macau participated in Earth Hour 2025, embracing the global theme, Give an Hour for Earth, doing something you love.

On March 22, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., both Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau and Grand Coloane Resort dimmed or switched off non-essential lighting across various areas, including exterior buildings, landscapes, and resort spaces

Earth Hour, organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), encourages individuals, businesses, and communities to switch off lights for one hour, raising awareness about sustainability and environmental conservation.

Guests were also invited to participate by turning off lights in their rooms.

As part of the celebration, special treats were offered, including complimentary handcrafted strawberry mochi at Kam Lai Heen and cocktails at Panorama Lounge.

Earth Hour is more than just switching off the lightsits a symbol of our ongoing commitment to sustainability, said Rutger Verschuren, area vice president of Macau & Hengqin of Artyzen Hospitality Group and general manager of Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau.
Unilateral measures, be they tariffs or economic sanctions against a particular country or particular countries, are often not compatible with World Trade Organization rules. Among all the countries, the United States has taken by far most of the unilateral measures against other countries, be they its perceived adversaries or longstanding allies like Canada and the European Union.

On Feb 1, for example, the US imposed sweeping tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China. These include 25 percent tariffs on most goods from Canada and Mexico, 10 percent on energy imports from Canada, and 10 percent on all Chinese goods. In March the US administration announced to double tariffs on all Chinese imports to 20 percent in excuse of so-called fentanyl abuse.

The moves are in violation of the US obligations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 of the WTO. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 as specified in Annex 1A of the WTO is legally distinct from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade established in 1947, which was replaced by the WTO in 1994.

The unilateral imposition of punitive tariffs by a WTO member is against its binding tariff obligations under the Schedules of Concessions of GATT 1994. According to their binding commitments, WTO members can only reduce their tariff rates. The exorbitant tariffs imposed by the US on Canada, Mexico and China therefore contravene its tariff commitments to the WTO.

Whats more, the US unilateral tariffs violate the principle of most-favored-nation under GATT 1994. The principle of most-favored-nation requires WTO members to treat products from all other members equally. By imposing tariffs on specific countries, the US has denied their products from enjoying the same tariff rate as products from other WTO members, which is discriminatory and a contravention of this principle.

GATT 1994 allows a WTO member to deviate from its obligations on the ground of national security, provided the member proves that certain products are a threat to its national security, the imposition of tariffs is necessary to safeguard national security, and there is no moderate but equally effective means to deal with the issue.

But without making the slightest of efforts in this regard, the US has imposed unilateral tariffs, thereby violating the WTO agreement. Any other WTO member would have meticulously elaborated the applicability of the GATT 1994 exception clause before citing the exception. For example, such a member would have carefully examined what the real cause of the so-called fentanyl abuse crisis is and whether the fentanyl crisis is relevant to national security according to WTO rules before claiming the selected countries are responsible for fentanyl trafficking, and the national security exception clause is applicable.

The US did not bother doing so. In fact, the US imposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico as they have long been abusive of US, referring to the US trade imbalance with the two countries. But a trade imbalance is the result of trade among countries based a trading system promoting free trade, the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement in this case.

It is clear that national security is merely a pretext for the US administration to ignore its obligations toward Canada and Mexico according to the USMCA, and launch a tariff war against them. As a matter of fact, the US administration is using tariffs as a means to address domestic issues, including illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking.

The US is hell-bent on ruling the world, by ruthlessly resorting to unfair measures to target other countries, especially those that it perceives as rivals or competitors. This US logic, which has shaped the countrys approach to international trade, is facing a legitimacy crisis now.

In contrast, Beijing, despite Washington imposing punitive tariffs on Chinese goods, has approached the WTO dispute settlement mechanism to resolve the issue. China has taken countermeasures against the US, though, just in accordance with general international law.

When a WTO member facing an unjustified trade war launched by another member turns to the WTO dispute settlement mechanism, instead of taking unilateral measures, to resolve the issue, it actually lends the biggest support to the WTO system. As a major player in the WTO, China has always emphasized that trade disputes be resolved through the WTO dispute settlement mechanism and opposed taking unilateral measures.

At a time when the US is out to wreck the multilateral trading system, Chinas upholding of the WTO rules will inspire other WTO members to adhere to the established trade rules. One has reason to believe that other WTO members will stand up to the US unilateral trade measures and work together to reform the WTO and reenergize the WTO dispute settlement mechanism, and ensure the US unilateral tariffs do not undermine the foundation of the multilateral trading system. Kong Qingjiang. The author is dean of the Academy for the Foreign-Related Rule of Law at China University of Political Science and Law, China Daily
The Chief Executive (CE), Sam Hou Fai, met with the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hua Chunying, on Sunday.

In a press statement, the Government Information Bureau said both sides exchanged views on topics such as Macaus further enhancement of its external contacts and advancing appropriate economic diversification in the meeting at the governments headquarters.

At the meeting, the CE noted Macaus roles and advantages: Macau enjoys prosperity, stability, peace, and harmony and is a successful example of the One country, two systems principle. Macau has a rich historical and cultural heritage and serves as a platform for exchanges and cooperation between China and the rest of the world.

Sam also added that the local government would strengthen its external contacts, especially in Portugueseand Spanish-speaking countries and Southeast Asian markets, to promote economic diversification.

Sam hoped the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would help and support Macau during this process.

The Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China in the MSAR, Liu Xianfa, and the Secretary for Administration and Justice of the MSAR, Andre Cheong, were also present at the meeting. RM
A comedian popular for his biting political humor is being investigated for possible defamation over jokes made about an Indian state leader who is an ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in yet another case raising questions over freedom of speech in the country.

Police in the western city of Mumbai opened the investigation yesterday against Kunal Kamra over a comedy skit referring to Eknath Shinde, the second highest elected leader of Maharashtra state, following a complaint filed by a politician from Shindes Shiv Sena party.

Kamra had made the remarks in a comedy skit, but it was unclear when the performance took place.

A video clip of the skit Kamra posted on his Instagram profile on Sunday showed him taunting Shinde in a parody song. Kamras use of the term traitor particularly triggered Shiv Sena party workers and on Sunday they ransacked the studio where he had performed the skit.

Police are also investigating the vandalism.

One lawmaker from the party Sunday threatened Kamra, saying he would be chased by the party workers throughout the country. You will be forced to flee India, lawmaker Naresh Mhaske warned Kamra in a video message.

Shinde has not commented about the matter, but Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Kamra should apologize for his remarks.

We respect freedom of expression, but recklessness will not be tolerated, Fadnavis told reporters.

Kamra has made no comment on the investigation, but late Sunday he shared on his Instagram a picture of himself holding the Indian Constitution with caption: The only way forward.

The Habitat Comedy Club, where Kamra had performed, said it was shutting down following the vandalism.

We are shocked, worried and extremely broken by the recent acts of vandalism targeting us, it said in a statement Monday, adding that the club will remain shut till we figure out the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting ourselves and our property in jeopardy.

Kamra has faced the ire of Hindu nationalist groups and political parties in the past, particularly for jokes about Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party politicians.

Other Indian comedians have been arrested or had shows canceled for making fun of politicians or making references to the Hindu religion or national icons. MDT/AP
The Administrative Committee of the Guangdong-Macau Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin held its ninth meeting over the weekend. The meeting reviewed the 2025 work report of the Cooperation Zones Executive Committee and the annual report on key tasks.

It also included a review of the execution of the 2024 budget, a draft of the 2025 budget, the 2025 governmental investment project plan for the Cooperation Zone, and the industrial development plan of the Cooperation Zone (2025-2029).

The meeting was co-chaired by Sam Hou Fai, Chief Executive (CE) of the Macau Special Administrative Region, and Wang Weizhong, Governor of Guangdong Province.

At the meeting, Sam noted various work within the Cooperation Zone that had made positive progress over the past three years, with the integration level between Hengqin and Macau gradually increasing. He emphasized that this integration has enhanced support for Macaus appropriate economic diversification.

During the meeting, both sides also studied President Xis important directives, further clarifying the work plan for the second phase of the Cooperation Zone.

Sam stressed the need to focus primarily on the key tasks for this year, consolidate consensus between Guangdong and Macau, and ensure the successful implementation of the work in Hengqin.

The CE also proposed four aspirations for the next stage of development in the Cooperation Zone.

First, he emphasized the need to study and adhere to President Xis important proposition of Macau + Hengqin, aiming to understand its deeper meanings and practical implications fully. He expressed the hope that this approach would help create new opportunities for constructing the Cooperation Zone.

Second, he called for intensified efforts in reform and innovation, advocating for a bolder and more proactive approach to policy innovation.

He stressed the importance of aligning rules and developing an effective integration mechanism to overcome deep-rooted constraints hindering Hengqins development.

Third, he urged further enhancement of work-style development, encouraging diligence and initiative while fostering a pragmatic and proactive work ethos.

He also highlighted the significance of cultivating a work environment characterized by unity and progress.

Lastly, Sam proposed increasing local support through closer coordination between Hengqin and Macau, aiming to advance various aspects of the Cooperation Zone and achieve significant breakthroughs.

Sam recalled that the MSAR government had established a leading group to construct the Guangdong-Macau Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and enhance support for it in various areas, including policy, law, personnel, and resource allocation.

He also stated that specific measures would be introduced in the future regarding industry, peoples livelihoods, legal revisions, and policy coordination between Hengqin and Macau.

These measures are intended to encourage increased investment in Cooperation Zone projects, particularly from Macau capital.

On his part, Governor Wang noted that during President Xis inspection of Hengqin, he outlined the three key points and three have-nots assessment criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of the Cooperation Zones development and construction.

Wang highlighted that these guidelines offer direction for advancing the Cooperation Zones construction from a new starting point and serve as a foundation for further development.

He also emphasized that this year marks the beginning of the second phase of construction in the Cooperation Zone and stressed the importance of studying and adhering to the significant speeches and directives of Xi.

Wang noted that the initial purpose of developing Hengqin was to support Macaus economic diversification.

In line with this objective, Wang stressed the need to make more significant efforts to develop the four new industries while advancing the construction of key industrial platforms.

These include the Guangdong-Macau Integrated Circuit Design Industrial Park, the Traditional Chinese Medicine Technology Industrial Park of Cooperation between Guangdong and Macau, the Cross-boundary E-commerce Industrial Park, and the Hengqin-Macau Innovation Industrial Park.
Police have arrested five mainland men suspected of illegal money exchange, seizing over MOP140,000 in cash and chips. The investigation began after a mainland gambler reported that MOP200,000 of her MOP750,000 winnings was stolen by a friend. When police arrived, they found three money changers in a hotel room, leading to their arrest, while two more were caught in another room. The suspects admitted to operating earning HKD60 per MOP10,000 exchanged. Aggravated theft is still under investigation.

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The new Leisure Area in Alameda da Harmonia, Seac Pai Van, officially opened yesterday. Spanning around 2,730 square metres, the area features outdoor facilities for all age groups, including a childrens play zone with climbing structures and a 24-hour fitness area for adults. The Municipal Affairs Bureau hopes to create diverse leisure environments with rich elements that meet the demands of the people living in the neighborhoods for leisure facilities, the bureau said.

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South Koreas Constitutional Court overturned the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, reinstating the nations No. 2 official as acting leader yesterday while not yet ruling on the separate impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his shocking imposition of martial law late in December.

Many observers said the 7-1 ruling in Hans case did not signal much about the upcoming verdict on Yoon, as Han wasnt a key figure in imposing martial law. But the ruling could still embolden Yoons staunch supporters and ramp up their political offensive on the opposition.

Speaking with reporters following his reinstatement, Han thanked the court for what he called a wise decision and promised to focus on tackling urgent matters, including a fast-changing global trade environment, in an apparent reference to the Trump administrations aggressive tariffs policy. He also called for national unity, saying: Theres no left or right  what matters is the advancement of our nation.

South Korea has been thrown into huge political turmoil, since Yoon, a conservative, declared martial law on Dec. 3 and sent hundreds of troops to the liberal-controlled National Assembly and other places in Seoul. Yoons decree lasted only six hours as enough lawmakers managed to enter an assembly hall and voted it down quickly.

The impeachment arguments

The assembly impeached Yoon on Dec. 14, alleging he violated the constitution and other laws by suppressing assembly activities and trying to detain politicians. Yoons impeachment made Han acting president until he was impeached in late December.

The unprecedented, successive impeachments that suspended the countrys top two officials intensified domestic division and deepened worries about the countrys diplomatic and economic activities.

Han, who attempted to reassure diplomatic partners and stabilize markets during his time as acting president, was accused in the impeachment motion of abetting Yoons martial law declaration and obstructing efforts to restore the Constitutional Courts full membership and investigate Yoons alleged rebellion.

The nine-member court at the time had three vacancies, but ousting Yoon would require support from at least six justices. After Han was suspended, his successor as acting president, Choi Sang-mok, appointed two new justices but left the ninth seat vacant.

Seven of the Constitutional Courts eight justices ruled to overturn or dismiss Hans impeachment. They ruled the accusations against him werent against the law or werent serious enough to remove him from office or his impeachment motion didnt even met a required quorum when it passed thorough the assembly. One justice upheld Hans impeachment.

The Democratic Party expressed regret over the courts decision to reinstate Han and urged it to dismiss Yoons case quickly. Yoons office welcomed Mondays ruling, saying it shows again the oppositions abuse of impeachment motions were reckless, malicious political offensive.

Whats next?

Observers earlier had predicted the Constitutional Court would rule on Yoons case in mid-March, but it hasnt done so, sparking varied speculation on possible reasons.

Todays verdict will give hope to Yoons supporters for a similar fate and hope for Yoons opponents for his ouster, said Duyeon Kim, a senior analyst at the Center for a New American Security in Washington. But its too soon to predict the courts verdict on Yoon because the specific details of both cases and allegations are different.

Kim said the the reinstatement of Han, a career bureaucrat, will bring more stability to South Korea compared to when his powers as acting president were suspended.

Massive rival rallies backing Yoon or denouncing Yoon have divided the streets of Seoul and other major cities in South Korea. Earlier surveys showed that a majority of South Koreans were critical of Yoons martial law enactment, but those supporting or sympathizing with Yoon have later gained strength.

Yoon argues that his martial law introduction was a desperate attempt to bring attention to the wickedness of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party which obstructed his agenda and filed many impeachment motions against senior officials. Yoon critics counter he likely tried to use military rule to frustrate possible special investigations into scandals involving him and his wife.

Senior military and police officers sent to the assembly have said that Yoon ordered them to drag out lawmakers to prevent a floor vote to overturn his decree. Yoon says the troops deployment was designed to maintain order.

If the court upholds Yoons impeachment, South Korea must hold a presidential election to choose his successor. If it rules for him, Yoon will regain his presidential powers.

Yoon has separately been charged with rebellion in connection with his martial law decree, a charge that carries the death penalty or a life sentence if he is convicted. HYUNG-JIN KIM, SEOUL, MDT/AP
The Health Bureau (SSM) has reported that the Office for the Prevention and Control of Tobacco and Alcoholism of the SSM was notified by the Customs Service (SA) that a batch of suspected illegally imported tobacco products was found in a shop located on Rua Dois do Bairro Va Tai in Macau.

The SSM dispatched staff to the shop to conduct an inspection, which revealed that the products did not comply with legal labeling requirements. The inspectors also found that the e-cigarette products imported into Macau were prohibited.

After the investigation, authorities discovered 300 packs of cigarettes (6,000 units) whose packaging did not bear the labeling required by Law No. 5/2011 (Smoking Prevention and Control Regime), as well as 265 e-cigarettes.

According to the SSM, there is evidence that these products were imported after the law prohibiting the import and export of e-cigarettes took effect on December 5, 2022.

The SA has seized the cigarettes and e-cigarette products, and the SSM will initiate the respective sanctioning procedure. Once the violations are confirmed, the culprits may face a fine of up to MOP200,000, and the seized products will be destroyed.

The SSM recently announced that Macau has already surpassed the World Health Organization (WHO) goal of reducing tobacco consumption.

Since the tobacco control law was introduced in 2011, tobacco consumption has fallen by 31.4%, surpassing the 30% reduction target proposed by the WHO.

According to the SSM survey results, consumers of tobacco and related products over the age of 15 represent 11.6% of this population, a relative reduction of 31.4% compared to the 16.9% recorded in 2011.

This figure means that 64,700 of the 559,900 people over 15 years old living in Macau are smokers. Of these, the vast majority (86%) smoke daily and prefer conventional cigarettes (96.8%). The use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products in Macau is almost negligible (0.6% and 0.2%, respectively) due to the restrictions on the import of these products that are in force.

2023: A Year of Exceptions

The SSM report also noted that the consecutive decline in the rate of tobacco product consumption in Macau was interrupted in 2023 when consumption increased.

The results show an increase of 0.5% from 2022 (11.1% to 11.6% in 2023).

According to the health authorities, this increase was attributed to the smoking habits of non-resident workers and non-resident students in Macau. During the same period, tobacco consumption among residents still recorded a drop.

Addressing measures that may be enforced soon, the SSM noted the intention to implement a complete ban on e-cigarettes, including the use and possession of these types of products, along with stricter regulations for other tobacco products.

Despite these expressed intentions, there is not yet a concrete timeline for these regulatory amendments.
The Office of the Secretary for Security (GSS) has announced the conclusion of internal disciplinary procedures regarding a case of indecent behavior involving three students from the Academy of Public Security Forces.

The incident, which occurred in September 2023, involved two police trainees touching each other inappropriately, while a third person recorded the activity with a mobile phone.

The footage was subsequently released to the public via social media, with users able to identify the location as well as the uniforms identifying those involved as police academy recruits.

Following an internal review, the Secretary for Security, Wong Sio Chak, approved the decision to terminate the public employment of all three students.

According to the Secretary, the students were dismissed shortly after the video was released due to their failure in the Personal Performance module, attributed to their misconduct.

The GSS emphasized its commitment to maintaining discipline and professionalism in training security personnel, reaffirming that any actions violating the standards of conduct and integrity expected of future security officers would be addressed strictly and promptly.

The GSS also expressed a zero-tolerance approach to behavior that could compromise the reputation and credibility of the institution. LV
US negotiators worked to hammer out details of a proposed partial ceasefire in Ukraine yesterday, meeting with representatives from Russia a day after holding separate talks with the Ukrainian team. Each side has accused the other of undermining efforts to reach a pause in the 3-year-old war.

Kyiv and Moscow agreed in principle Wednesday to a limited ceasefire after US President Donald Trump spoke with the countries leaders, but the parties have offered different views of what targets would be off-limits to attack.

While the White House said energy and infrastructure would be covered, the Kremlin declared that the agreement referred more narrowly to energy infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he would also like to see railways and ports protected.

Talks are expected to address some of those differences, as well as a potential pause in attacks in the Black Sea to ensure the safety of commercial shipping.

US and Russian representatives began meeting in the morning in the Saudi capital, Russias state Tass and RIA-Novosti news agencies reported. The U.S. and Ukrainian teams met on Sunday in Riyadh, and more contacts were expected, though it was not clear when.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday the Russian military is fulfilling President Vladimir Putins order to halt attacks on energy facilities for 30 days.

Peskov accused Ukraine of derailing the partial ceasefire with an attack on a gas metering station in Sudzha in Russias Kursk region. Ukraines military General Staff rejected Moscows accusations and blamed the Russian military for shelling the station, a claim Peskov called absurd.

Meanwhile, Russian troops launched a new barrage of drones, including decoys, into Ukraine overnight into Monday, according to Ukraines air force, causing some damage and injuries.

Before the latest attack, Zelenskyy said in a televised statement Sunday evening that since March 11, a proposal for an unconditional ceasefire has been on the table, and these attacks could have already stopped. But it is Russia that continues all this.

He added that Ukraines partners  the US, Europe, and others around the world  should step up pressure on Russia to stop this terror.

Zelenskyy has emphasized that Ukraine is open to a full, 30-day ceasefire that Trump has proposed. But 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 Kyiv and its Western allies.

Speaking on Fox News Sunday, Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff said he expected some real progress at the talks in Saudi Arabia, and that a pause in hostilities between both countries in the Black Sea would naturally gravitate into a full-on shooting ceasefire.

Serhii Leshchenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidency, said the delegation remained in Riyadh yesterday and expected to meet again with the Americans.

Asked about reports speculating that China might send peacekeepers to Ukraine to enforce any future peace deal, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun responded yesterday with an unequivocal no.

Let me stress that the report is completely false. Chinas position on the Ukraine crisis is clear and consistent, Guo said at a daily briefing.

China has provided Russia with trade earnings from oil and other natural resources, along with diplomatic backing, but has not given any weapons or sent any personnel. China is, however, on close terms with North Korea, which has sent troops to fight alongside the Russian army.

A massive targeted cyberattack hit Ukrainian state railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia on Sunday, the company wrote on Telegram, adding that the restoration of its systems was ongoing as of Monday morning.

The company said the attack did not affect train movements or schedules, but that the online booking system was currently unavailable.

The railway continues to operate despite physical attacks on the infrastructure, and even the most vile cyberattacks cannot stop it, the company wrote.

Meanwhile, Ukraines Special Operations Forces claimed to have destroyed four military helicopters in Russias Belgorod region with the use of American-supplied HIMARS rocket systems.

The special forces published drone footage of what they said was the attack on their Telegram page yesterday.

The group wrote that the strikes had occurred at a concealed jumping-off point for Russian aircraft used in surprise attacks on Ukrainian forces.

Russian troops, meanwhile, fired 99 attack and decoy drones into Ukraine overnight Sunday, according to Ukraines air force, of which 57 were shot down and 36 were lost from radar. MDT/AP
High schoolers and their parents have persuaded the Madison School District to consider implementing a weighted grading system in response to two new programs that promise top-performing students admission to Universities of Wisconsin campuses.

Weighted grading, which rewards students for taking more challenging classes, could be implemented as early as next school year, school officials say, and would come in response to the UW systems Direct Admit and Wisconsin Guarantee programs.

Direct Admit essentially allows eligible students to sidestep the traditional application process and gain automatic admission to certain UW schools, while Wisconsin Guarantee guarantees admission to UW-Madison to those who rank in the top 5% of their classes and to other four-year UW campuses to those who rank in the top 10%.

The Wisconsin Guarantee program in particular has presented a challenge to Dane County public school districts, many of which had abandoned traditional high school class rankings and are now having to come up with ranking systems to meet the requirements of the law and in time for the 2025-26 academic year.

Its also laid bare what could be an inequity in the new guaranteed-admission regime because most Dane County public high schools also dont weigh their grades for difficulty  meaning that, in theory, students who get straight As in all regular-level classes could have a better chance at getting in to UW than students who take more challenging honors and advanced placement classes but also have a few Bs sprinkled in with their As.

Under the grading system used by Madison and almost all other Dane County districts, students are not rewarded with additional Grade Point Average credit for taking more challenging classes.

That means, for example, that whether a student gets an A in a history, an honors history or an advanced placement history class, that A always translates into a 4.0 GPA on the traditional 4.0 grading scale.

But under weighted grading schemes, an A in an advanced history class would translate into something higher than a 4.0, such as a 4.5 or 5.0, and especially diligent students could end up with GPAs higher than 4.0 on the traditional 4-point scale, thus boosting their class ranking and chances of getting into the UW institutions of their choice.

On March 17, the district emailed an online survey to parents and guardians to gauge their input on a possible shift to weighted grading, and its also soliciting feedback on the idea from students and staff, according to spokesperson Ian Folger.

Under the districts timeline for potentially implementing the weighted system, last fall was spent collecting data from other school districts about their approach to the new UW admissions landscape and weighted GPAs in particular.

This winter is being spent gathering input from school staff, and this spring, we are surveying all high school students and families to gather their feedback, which will be a key component of our decision-making process, Folger said.

The district also is working with colleges to learn whether and how they use weighted grades in their entrance criteria and acceptance practices, he said, and over the summer, district administration will formulate any potential recommendations for the 2025-26 school year as the earliest time frame for any shifts.

Please note that those recommendations could include maintaining current practice, Folger said.

A weighted grading system would not be applied retroactively to advanced classes current students already have taken, he said.

Standards-based grading, too

In addition to the potential rollout of weighted grading, the district was already in the process of implementing standards-based grading at its high schools.

Standards-based grading is aimed at providing a better picture of how well students are meeting specific learning standards. Biology students at East High School, for example, have been evaluated on standards such as summarizes, analyzes and applies important information from scientific graphs and uses a claim, evidence and reasoning to explain a phenomenon.

Students are then rated as either Advanced, Proficient, Developing or Emerging on each standard.

Madison School District could nix letter grades by 2026 Some classes at East High have been trying out a system in which students are graded, instead, on how well they meet specific academic standards.

So far, the system is only being piloted for some students at East, but the district has its eye on rolling it out across all high schools starting in the 2026-27 school year.

That doesnt mean letter grades would go away, however, Folger said.

Student progress in Infinite Campus, the districts student information system, will include the proficiency level for each standard addressed, he said, as well as a letter grade and percentage, like those used in a traditional grading system.

At the end of each semester, a final letter grade based on the proficiency levels for the course standards will become part of each students transcript and used to calculate a Grade Point Average, he said.
While local school referendums arent the flashiest thing on the upcoming April 1 ballot  and certainly arent drawing record-breaking campaign dollars like the state Supreme Court race  a handful of Dane County-area school districts are asking voters to approve referendums.

Five small-town and rural Dane County-area schools  Belleville, Columbus, Deerfield, Marshall and New Glarus  are all approaching their voters next week to effectively renew existing operating referendums or fortify their schools security features.

Overall, there are 89 referendum questions being posed to voters across the state on April 1. Sixty of them are operational referendums, which would increase the amount of taxes a district could levy on its constituents for a limited number of years or permanently, based on whether its recurring or not. The remaining third are largely to take on debt for school repairs, new buildings and upgrades to utility systems.

Belleville

To be decided:

Should the district be allowed to increase its levy limit by $2.85 million for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, and $3.1 million for the 2027-28 school year, for a total of $8.8 million?

Belleville is asking for $8.8 million over three years for operations and improving security at the schools. If passed, the referendum would help maintain the districts status quo, allow for competitive wages and benefits for staff and help close a $1.2 million budget shortfall, district administrator Jim Schmitt said.

The district aims to help students who need additional educational support, Schmitt said. It could also put back some of the areas its fallen short on, like art, English and social studies at the secondary level, he added.

If the referendum fails, the district might have to contend with losing 20 staff members, somewhere between 15% and 17% of its employee base, and cutting class sections across the district. It would also mean digging into the districts savings.

By eliminating a teacher, you now cut down the opportunities that your kids have, Schmitt said.

At the elementary school, it would mean larger class sizes, which hover in the upper-20s; at the middle and high schools, the range of class options students would decrease, with a reduced staff.

A successful referendum would cost taxpayers about $100.33 more a year per $100,000 of property value, according to a cost calculator on the district website.

Columbus

To be decided:

Should the district be allowed to increase its levy limit by $1.75 million each year for the next four years, starting this fall, for a total of $7 million?

Columbus is asking voters to approve a $7 million operating referendum as it contends with projected budget shortfalls.

The district used federal COVID-19 stimulus funds to cover its budget shortfalls and has dipped into its reserves to make ends meet in recent years. It has also reduced staffing, cut other expenses by 5% and delayed other planned spending.

Superintendent Jake Flood said in a statement that regardless of the outcome, the referendum or a lack thereof would have a significant impact on the student experience. With additional funds, the district would be able to continue its educational experience, retain staff and keep optimal class sizes; without, all of those things would be at risk, Flood said.

If passed, the referendum would cost taxpayers about $71 per $100,000 of property value.

Deerfield

To be decided:

Should the district be allowed to increase its levy limit by $1.75 million each year, for the next five years, starting this fall? Over the span of five years, taxpayers will be asked to increase their levy by $8.75 million.

Deerfield is likewise asking voters to keep the status quo for the next five years with a renewed, but limited, operating referendum.

The district, which has been getting by on non-recurring operational referendums since 2008, has seen no new state funding in six of the last 10 years, district administrator Michelle Jensen said. Its been running a budget shortfall of $500,000 each of the last two years, as the previous referendums dollars werent enough to make up for increased costs.

The district has one of the lowest per-student levies in the state, and state aid increases havent kept up, Jensen said.

A passed referendum would allow the district to maintain all of its programming, she said. Without, the district would need to consider cuts, starting first with things that will inflict the least amount of damage onto the student learning experience, but would ultimately need to look at cutting staff.

Not by any means are we an extravagant district, she said. We have one of the lower salary thresholds around than other schools in Dane County, but thats the trade-off when youre in a small community.

In a community survey by independent consultant School Perceptions last year, the majority of people said theyd support a referendum and, on average, were against the cutting of services such as transportation, increasing class sizes or delaying technology or curriculum updates.

The district last passed a capital referendum in 2023, to upgrade the middle and high school. Its current operating referendum, passed in 2020, is set to expire in June.

Marshall

To be decided:

Should the district be allowed to borrow $5.3 million to repair windows and the roof at the elementary school and to install secure entrances at all of the districts four school buildings?

Fresh off a successful operating referendum this fall, Marshall school leaders this time want to fix failing school facilities and beef up security, following recent shooting incidents in Mount Horeb and Madison.

This request has come before voters before and narrowly failed, but district leaders believe improving schools security couldnt wait, spokesperson Michele Miller said.

While district staff must allow people in the front doors, theres nothing to stop them once theyre in, Miller said. Therefore, the district wants to remodel the front entrances to create a holding area, improve each offices sight lines to the front door and improve internal lockdown systems.

That project is slated to cost $3.6 million, she said. The other portion of the referendum, to replace the elementary schools original roof and windows, would cost $1.7 million. For taxpayers, it would cost them an additional $23 per $100,000 in property value a year.

The roof and windows are original to the elementary school, built in 2004. The roof, despite being repeatedly patched, still leaks and staff put out trash cans to catch water; much of the weather stripping and the wood holding the windows in has rotted away. Snow and rain find their way in.

For the health and safety of our staff and students in that building, were looking at really needing to make sure that they can stay warm, that they can stay cool when they need to and that they have a roof thats not leaking over their head, Miller said.

New Glarus

To be decided:

Should the district be allowed to increase its tax levy permanently by $2.5 million dollars annually to pay for recurring expenses, such as for staff, building maintenance and extra-curricular activities?

The referendum would allow the district to maintain the status quo, district administrator Jennifer Thayer said.

The recurring referendum is set to replace an expiring operating referendum thats become necessary because of a lack of state funding, Thayer said. Lawmakers have fallen behind about $3,300 per student in state aid, Thayer explained, equating to about $3.3 million for a district of New Glarus size.

The additional levying power would allow the district to keep class sizes about the same, retain staff and maintain extracurricular activities. Without it, the district would need to make cuts and potentially dig into reserve balances and rely on short-term borrowing.

The consequences are that were going to have to look really closely at our budget and make really hard decisions, Thayer said.

Should the referendum pass, it would have no additional impact on property taxes, and its possible the districts mill rate could drop further, she said.

The district passed previous referendums in 2023 for operations and in 2021 for a new elementary school.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that New Glarus schools are asking for a recurring referendum.
Twin Falls County Commissioner Brent Reinke oversaw two executions by lethal injecting using pentobarbital when he was the director of the Idaho Department of Corrections for eight years under Gov. Butch Otter, ending in November 2014.

Execution by firing squad was on the books back then as a backup to lethal injection. But last week Gov. Brad Little signed into law House Bill 37, making Idaho the only state in the nation to have firing squad as the primary method for execution. The law goes into effect July 2026.

IDOC Director Josh Tewalt resigned from his position on Wednesday. Little stated in a press release that Tewalt planned to retire this year but agreed to keep the job for most of the legislative session.

An IDOC spokesperson on Friday declined a Times-News interview request.

Reflecting on his time as head of corrections, Reinke said executing an inmate is the most difficult sentence to carry out and takes months of careful planning. It requires balancing who you are, what you believe and whether or not you could lead that effort.

Its nothing to celebrate, Reinke said. But it is the law of the state of Idaho and, if youre going to be in those positions, you have to have the courage to carry out the laws of the state of Idaho. Thats what youre employed to do.

With the new law in place, the corrections department will get to work over the next year retrofitting the F Block at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna to accommodate execution by firing squad, a press release stated.

During his tenure, Reinke said the F Block had a chamber designed for injection executions with a glass wall and dividing walls to separate the victims families and the family of the condemned.

We carried that out to the T and we were very successful, Reinke said. If you want to refer to an execution as being successful, we were, because we were not the story after the event.

Last February, the corrections department botched the attempted execution of inmate Thomas Creech, who was 73 at the time. The Associated Press reported that three medical team members tried to find a vein eight times before the warden halted the execution.

Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, sponsored HB 37.

In my view, this firing squad is more humane because it is quick and certain, Skaug told the House Judiciary, Rules and Administration committee on Feb. 3.

During testimony for the bill, LaMont Anderson, a 27-year veteran litigator for the Attorney Generals office, said the biggest advantage of death by firing squad is less litigation.

He referenced two death row inmates, Gerald Pizzuto and Creech. The 9th Circuit Court sentenced Pizzuto to death in 2002, Anderson said, and he has since complained that pentobarbital would have adverse effects due to his medication and health condition.

For two decades now, Anderson said, the state has been litigating nothing but the method of execution.

Bullets arent going to interact with medication, Anderson said. Were not going to have that problem.

Reinke said he does not have enough information to say if he would prefer one method over the other, but he has heard from national meetings that firing squads are very effective.

But it wasnt his job to determine how sentences are carried out  thats up to the Idaho Legislature and the governor.

Its what we are to do as administrators in those roles, Reinke said, to carry out the law of the state, and if you cant do that, then you shouldnt be in that position. Im not the judge and jury.

Some refer to firing squads as barbaric, Skaug said during the committee hearing, but he believes it brings quick justice.

Twin Falls resident Kate Lopez testified before the committee to state her opposition, calling the bill barbarism of the mind and body. She asked the legislators if this is what they want to be known for.

To make this method of execution the primary method used by Idaho will put an indelible stain on our state, Lopez said. Who wants to visit and spend tourism dollars in a state with wild-west justice?
SN Aboitiz Power Group (SNAP), a joint venture of Scatec of Norway and Aboitiz Power Corp., broke ground on the first battery energy storage facility in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

SNAP said the 40-megawatt Binga battery energy storage system (BESS) facility is co-located at the Binga hydro power plant in Itogon, Benguet.

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The Binga BESS is SNAPs first battery storage project in Benguet province and the third in its fleet.

The Binga BESS project builds on the 24-MW Magat BESS and the ongoing development of the 16-MW Magat BESS Phase 2, which together will bring SNAPs total battery storage capacity to 80 MW by 2026.

We are proud to break ground on our first BESS in Benguet and the first BESS facility to reach financial close and start construction in the Cordillera Administrative Region. This project underscores our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the countrys energy transition, said SNAP president and chief executive Joseph Yu.

SNAP chief operations officer Mike Hosillos reaffirmed the companys commitment to responsible operations and sustainable practices, highlighting the importance of transparency and collaboration with the local community.

We deeply value the trust and support of this community, and we pledge to operate responsibly, sustainably, and transparently. From environmental stewardship to local job creation, we are committed to being not just a facility in this community but a true partner in its growth, he said.

The Binga BESS project demonstrates the optimization of the countrys energy system. SNAP continues to enhance grid stability while reinforcing its commitment to green energy, said Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla.

Ambassador of Norway to the Philippines Christian Halaas Lyster said the installation of BESS in Binga is another breakthrough in SNAPs commitment to innovative renewable energy solutions.

Renewable energy is weather dependent; balancing the grid requires batteries. Todays event is not only important for SNAP but for the Philippines, enabling the country to achieve its goal towards 30 percent renewable by 2030. From Norways side, we are committed to contributing so that you can achieve a green energy future. The Norwegian Embassy in Manila is truly dedicated to work closely with energy and industry stakeholders to push the green energy agenda, Lyster said.
The camp of former President Rodrigo Duterte insisted Tuesday before the Supreme Court (SC) that he was abducted and that a local law was not enough to authorize his transfer to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.

Dutertes legal team, led by his daughter Veronica Duterte through lawyer Salvador Paolo Panelo submitted the traverse comment before the SC, noting that Republic Act (RA) No. 9851the Philippine International Humanitarian Lawwas enacted in 2009, while the Rome Statute was forwarded to the Senate for concurrence in 2011.

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They further contended that when RA No. 9851 was being deliberated, the Rome Statute was not yet in force in the Philippines, and the ICC had not yet acquired complementary jurisdiction.

Clearly, the respondents weaponized the ICC, and violated FPRRDs (former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) fundamental rights, for what appears to be political gain, the comment stated.

The legal team also emphasized that the ICC prosecutors request for an investigation into the Philippine situation, dated May 24, 2021, occurred after the Philippines withdrawal from the Rome Statute, which took effect on March 17, 2019.

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla declined to comment extensively, citing the sub judice nature of the case. No comment, no comment muna, kasi ano yan, subjudice, I think we should respect the means and bounds by which we will hear the cases in the Supreme Court so its not good to comment on these matters, he said.

However, Remulla firmly denied the abduction claim. Thats a semantic phraseology that is very biased, we cannot operate that way because clearly they are already under competent judicial authority with the ICC tribunal hearing the cases, he stated.

Vice President Sara Duterte confirmed that they are finalizing a shortlist to add a Filipino lawyer to former President Rodrigo Dutertes ICC defense team. She explained that a Filipino lawyer is needed who can argue regarding Philippine laws.

There is no Filipino lawyer yet at the moment. We are currently working on a shortlist, she said.

She said that she still needs to get the lawyers cleared by the ICC, and formally placed into the legal team. and that once those tasks are completed she intends to return to the Philippines.

The thing here at the ICC is that the team is not yet complete. Getting papers for other lawyers. So, thats what I need to finish. I need to introduce the lawyer in charge for PRRD inside and to the outside world. To my siblings and to Cielito so that I can return to the Philippines and then just come here when needed.
Mark Carney is the new leader of the Liberal Party and prime minister. He has miraculously resuscitated the Liberals, capitalizing on the fears raised by Trumps threats. But while Carney may fight against Trump, the question remains: In whose interests?

[This article was originally published on Marxist.ca on 14 March 2025. Since then, Mark Carney has called a snap election for 28 April.]

Liberals back from the dead

Carney completely dominated the Liberal leadership race, winning 85.9 per cent of the vote. Runner-up and former Trudeau sidekick Chrystia Freeland came away with only eight per cent. Carney even trounced Freeland in her own ridingsignalling above all else a desire to distance from the hated Trudeau.

Canada now has a former banker, never elected to any political post in his life, in the most important seat of the country. He was also elected in a leadership race in which only 38 per cent of registered Liberals votedjust over 150,000 people. And this happened after the hated Liberals appealed to the representative of the British King to cancel parliament in order to buy time to sort out their problems! So much for living in a democratic country.

According to some polls, with Carney as leader the Liberals are now in a dead heat with Pierre Poilievres Conservatives. This meteoric rise can be attributed almost entirely to the changed political dynamic brought upon by Donald Trumps threats against Canada.

Prior to this, the Liberals found themselves in an abject crisis. Having overseen the largest cost-of-living crisis in a generation, anger against Trudeau was at an all time high. Poilievre, arguing that Canada is Broken, benefited massively from the dissatisfaction with the status quo, denouncing the government for everything under the sun.

But with an economic disaster looming, Carney is being seen by many as a safe pair of hands to steer through the crisis.

The question is: safe for who?

Carney and Poilievre: Two sides of the capitalist coin

While Carney has said that he will put people before money, and has criticized Poilievre for worshiping at the altar of the free market, when we look at their programs, they are identical on all fundamentals.

In fact, it would be difficult to find someone in politics who is more of a direct representative of the ruling class than Mark Carney. Hes been governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, and worked for companies like Goldman Sachs, Brookfield Asset Management, and Bloomberg, which collectively manage trillions of dollars of assets.



In terms of their programs, both Poilievre and Carney have stated that they want to end Trudeaus deficit spending and balance the budgeta euphemism for austerity. In fact, Carney is going further than Poilievre. Hes said hell balance the budget in three years, while Poilievre has been more vague.

In terms of their programs, both Poilievre and Carney have stated that they want to end Trudeaus deficit spending and balance the budgeta euphemism for austerity. In fact, Carney is going further than Poilievre / Image: Public domain

Both Carney and Poilievre want to increase military spending to the two per cent NATO target. But Carney has actually said he would do this by 2030two years before the target set by Trudeau while Poilievre wouldnt commit to a timeline, blaming the dumpster fire of a budget he was going to inherit.

Also, both Carney and Poilievre have stated that they will remove the Carbon tax and cancel the scheduled capital gains tax hike.

Liberals pivot to austerity

In 2015, Justin Trudeau rose to power, riding a wave of popular anger against the hated Harper Conservative government. His approach marked a stark contrast from the previous Martin/Chretien Liberals who obsessively balanced the budget by carrying out massive cuts to healthcare and education spending. Instead, he ran a deficit every single year.

Carney is a decisive break from that. To give any indication of the direction Carney is heading, we just need to look at his acceptance speech on March 9 where he started by worshiping former Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chretien, who he claimed made history by making courageous decisions, and inspired him to continue your tradition of fiscal responsibility.

For those who either werent around or have a short memory, the Chretien government in the 1990s carried out the largest cuts to healthcare and education spending in the history of the country.

Carney is already reaching out to the most fiscally conservative Liberal leaders across the country, trying to assemble his team. Carlos Leitao, who was the finance minister in Quebec and oversaw brutal cuts to social spending has confirmed that hes in discussions with Carney. Were going to review, program by program, to see if its still relevant to maintain this, or to eliminate them altogether. Sounds like Elon Musk? Nope, thats Leitao in 2014, whom Carney wants on his team.

Its also come to light that Carney is courting former premier of Quebec, Jean Charest. Charest is best known for provoking and being tossed out of power by the largest student movement in the history of the country, when he tried to double tuition in 2012, amongst a slew of other austerity measures. Charest began his career as a federal Conservative and tried to run for the federal Conservative leadership but ultimately lost to Poilievre. Others, like former B.C. premier Christy Clark are also considering jumping on board. She is likewise hated for her corruption, attacks on unions, and deregulation.

Of course, Carney isnt openly talking about austerity. He does, after all, need to get elected. Instead, Carney throws a lot of technocratic dust in the air, talking about splitting the federal budget into the operational budget and capital spending. He says hell balance the operational budget while running a small deficit in capital spendingspend less, invest more, according to his slogan.

In plain English, what this means is that he is prepared to go into debt to fund corporate projects but not social services.

Indeed, the operational budget is things like wages for public employees, spending on programs like EI, and transfers to the provinces for healthcare and education. Carney claims that he wont make cuts to services, but thats impossible if Carney wants to balance the budget. He plans to cap public sector employees and review program spending.

But the idea that cutting waste (a term that both Poilievre and Carney use) is enough to balance the budget is pure fantasy. In 2023 federal program spending amounted to $450.3 billion, and the federal deficit was $61.9 billion. To meet the NATO target right now, Canada would need to increase military spending by an additional $20 billion. Balancing the budget and increasing military spending at the same time would require an 18 per cent cut in spending. Carney could fire every single federal employee, and still need to find another $21 billion in cuts.

The dilemma facing the ruling class

The ruling class in Canada faces a huge dilemma. The economic prospects are gloomy and the trade war with the U.S. threatens a catastrophe. The two options of Poilievre or Carney present us with two bad paths.

Poilievre claims that he will cut corporate welfare but if this happens, many companies who rely on it would simply shut down, resulting in tens of thousands of job losses.

On the other hand, Carney promises a more interventionist government stating that Markets are the most powerful tool we have ever invented. [] When theyre governed badlyor not at alltheyll deliver enormous wealth for a lucky few and hard times for the rest.

According to Carneys plan, he is prepared to go into debt to fund capital investments; that is, one-time expenditures like on infrastructure. The claim is that this will catalyze enormous private investment. This is just a convoluted way of saying hell subsidize private corporations.

But this is exactly what governments at all levels across Canada have been doing for years, from pandemic subsidies, to purchasing the Trans Mountain pipeline, to giving handouts to Volkswagen and Northvolt. None of these instances were followed by enormous private investment, just capitalists pocketing free money.

So Carney and Poilievre are both scrambling to find a way out of the dilemma facing the system. But neither of their so-called solutions will catalyze enormous private investment (Carney) or unleash the free market (Poilievre). Capitalism has failed and the golden days are not coming back.

Carney a safe pair of hands for the ruling class

Prior to Trudeaus resignation, a layer of the Canadian bourgeoisie, unhappy with Trudeaus costly political gimmicks and his proposed capital gains tax were lining up behind Poilievre who represented the more austere option. They understood that faced with the crisis of the system, they needed to decrease the debt and eliminate barriers in the way of private investment in order to make Canada more competitive on the world market.

But if we are to be honest, the ruling class never quite trusted Poilievre, chafing from his populist, anti-elite, anti-Bay Street rhetoric. They understood that appealing to the working class against the financial elite is a dangerous game, one they were unwilling to play.

Therefore Carney is the saving grace for the ruling class. He represents the safe pair of hands that it needs to pilot the ship through stormy waters. But this will be easier said than done.

Over the history of Canada, the Liberal party has carefully balanced between defending the interests of the system, while at the same time throwing some crumbs to the working class to ensure class peace. This strategy has been aptly described as getting money from the rich and votes from the poor, with the pretext of protecting one from the other. And this worked for a period of time.

But those days are decisively over. If Carney wins the coming election, this approach will be completely untenable. If we read between the lines, Carneys government will be decidedly more right-wing and fiscally conservative than Trudeau. While he tries to be the smiling face of the system, claiming that he can meet the needs of both the capitalists and the workers, this is no longer possible.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, held a meeting on Monday in Rabat with the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, within the framework of ongoing consultations on the Sahara issue.

The meeting is part of a regional tour undertaken by the UN envoy, who is currently engaging with various stakeholders in the region, ahead of informal consultations on the Sahara at the UN Security Council, scheduled for mid-April 2025.

The meeting, which took place in the presence of Omar Hilale, Moroccos permanent representative to the United Nations, addressed a range of topics, with particular emphasis on the growing international support for Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara and the autonomy proposal put forward in 2007 by Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI.

During the meeting, the Moroccan delegation highlighted the international momentum driven by King Mohammed VI, for Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara and the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative.

It recalled, in this connection, that the Sovereign had urged the United Nations, in a speech on November 6, 2024, marking the 49th anniversary of the Green March, to assume its responsibility and spell out the major difference between the real, legitimate world  represented by Morocco in its Sahara  and a world which is frozen in time, and which is disconnected from reality and the developments that have taken place.

During the meeting, both Nasser Bourita and Omar Hilale reiterated Moroccos unwavering support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his personal envoy, emphasizing the Kingdoms commitment to reaching a political, realistic, pragmatic, and sustainable solution exclusively based on the Moroccan Initiative for Autonomy, within the framework of Moroccos sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Morocco, which stands firmly on the side of international legality, steadfastly defends its territorial integrity and sovereignty, receiving consistent and robust support from the global community in its efforts to resolve a conflict that has persisted for nearly five decades.

Morocco, which stands firmly on the side of international legality, steadfastly defends its territorial integrity and sovereignty, receiving consistent and robust support from the global community in its efforts to resolve a conflict that has persisted for nearly five decades.

In his address on November 6, 2024, marking the 49th anniversary of the Green March, King Mohammed VI urged the United Nations to take their responsibility and highlighted the stark contrast between two opposing paradigms: the one represented by Morocco in its Sahara, grounded in realism and legitimacy, and the other, based on an outdated vision that is increasingly disconnected from the evolving reality of the world.

During the discussions with Antonio Guterres Personal Envoy, both Nasser Bourita and Omar Hilale reiterated Moroccos unwavering support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his envoy, emphasizing the Kingdoms commitment to finding a political, realistic, pragmatic, and sustainable solution exclusively based on the Moroccan Initiative for Autonomy, while maintaining the countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It is important to note that Staffan de Misturas visit comes just days before informal consultations at the UN Security Council. This regional tour is conducted in anticipation of a key meeting scheduled for mid-April, as announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the forthcoming Security Council meeting, a briefing will be delivered not only by the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, but also by Alexander Ivanko, the head of the MINURSO mission, to update the Security Council members on the latest developments in the Sahara.

Prior to the Security Council Meeting, French and American delegations paid visits to Laayoune to meet with representatives from MINURSO. These two permanent members of the Security Council sent delegations to assess the situation on the ground, particularly in light of recent developments.

In late January, a delegation from the US military, attached to the American Embassy in Rabat, visited Laayoune and the town of Mahbes to monitor the situation along the border, which has seen a series of attacks and acts of aggression by the Polisario militia.

This delegation engaged in discussions with Alexander Ivanko and Major General Fakhrul Ahsan, commander of the MINURSO mission, according to press reports that quoted sources close to the matter.

Last week, a group of French diplomats and security officials from the French Embassy in Rabat also made a visit to the Sahara, where they held discussions with MINURSO representatives as part of their ongoing monitoring and involvement in the issue of the Sahara.
Ethiopia is grappling with ongoing malaria and cholera outbreaks, which have collectively led to 59 deaths as of February, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The country recorded 909,146 malaria cases, resulting in 34 deaths, with outbreaks spread across 1,173 districts, according to a health cluster bulletin report published on Monday March 24.

The cholera situation is also concerning, with 857 cases and 25 deaths reported primarily in the Gambella and Amhara regions. The cholera outbreak remains active across 16 districts, with a case fatality rate of 2.92%.

The WHO report outlined significant challenges in controlling the cholera outbreak, particularly due to shortages of water, sanitation, and hygiene supplies in affected areas. These shortages are hindering both treatment efforts and preventative measures, exacerbating the spread of the disease. The report also stressed that ongoing conflicts in various regions of Ethiopia continue to hinder public health efforts, trapping vulnerable populations in hard-to-reach areas, further complicating the delivery of aid and healthcare services.

In response to the cholera crisis, Ethiopia has undertaken a massive vaccination campaign, administering oral cholera vaccines to more than 10 million people as part of efforts to curb the diseases spread. Despite these efforts, the health situation remains strained, with additional challenges posed by recent earthquakes in some regions, which have prompted further emergency health responses to address the growing needs.
Kenya has formally requested a new lending program from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which will incorporate unused funds from the current program, following the mutual decision to end the ninth and final review of the agreement last week.

On March 24, 2025, Finance Minister John Mbadi clarified that the decision to halt the review was due to time constraints and denied reports suggesting a fallout between Kenya and the IMF. The current program, which was set to expire next month, includes a $3.6 billion Extended Credit Facility and Extended Fund Facility, with around $800 million still unused.

Despite reports indicating that Kenya had missed some targets required for the program, Mbadi stressed that there was no disagreement with the IMF. He reassured that the IMF had found Kenyas economic fundamentals to be stronger than expected, particularly in terms of debt sustainability. Kenya has faced challenges in reducing its fiscal deficit and improving revenue collection, key conditions for the IMFs support. Mbadi further emphasized that the carryover funds from the ninth review would potentially be included in the new program, with discussions ongoing.

The IMF, for its part, has not provided specific details regarding the new program request but confirmed that talks between the Kenyan government and the Fund are in progress. While Kenya failed to meet some targets during the seventh and eighth reviews, the IMF board approved the disbursement of funds tied to these reviews last October. With the IMFs support still in place, Kenya is hopeful that the new program will address its fiscal challenges and continue to foster economic growth.
Zambias Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) is set to invest $500 million over the next two years to enhance its solar power generation and expand its power transmission capacity.

A key component of the investment is aimed at doubling the capacity of the power transmission line linking Zambia to the Democratic Republic of Congo, which currently has a 250 megawatt (MW) capacity. The new initiative will increase the lines capacity to 550 MW, ensuring that electricity from new projects reaches consumers more efficiently.

The investment plan reflects Zambias push to improve its energy infrastructure, particularly after emerging from a four-year sovereign debt default. Chief Financial Officer Mutale Mukuka explained that the majority of the funding will come from third-party investors, and the company is looking to attract financial backing for the projects. CEC has focused on increasing transmission capacity, ensuring that power generated by new energy projects can reach the growing demand in both Zambia and neighboring countries.

The renewed interest in Zambias energy projects follows the countrys recovery from the sovereign debt crisis and the challenges posed by an El Nino-induced drought, which significantly reduced hydropower generation. CECs efforts to invest in solar power and expand transmission lines are crucial steps toward stabilizing the national energy supply and strengthening regional cooperation within the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).
South Africa has presented an ambitious vision for its upcoming G20 presidency focused on solidarity, equality, and sustainability as the nation prepares to assume leadership of the influential economic forum from December 2024 through November 2025.

Addressing an informal United Nations General Assembly plenary in New York, South African G20 Sherpa Zane Dangor outlined a comprehensive agenda centered on equitable development and inclusive growth. Through solidarity, we seek to achieve a future that is people-centered, development-oriented, and inclusive, Dangor stated, emphasizing the interconnected nature of global challenges.

The South African presidency intends to prioritize fairness across economic, gender, racial, and geographic dimensions while developing sustainable policies balancing present needs with future generations welfare. Specific initiatives include strengthening disaster resilience, ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries, and addressing disproportionately high capital costs that impede developing nations growth potential.

Climate action figures prominently in South Africas agenda, with plans to leverage the Just Energy Transition Partnership framework and harness critical minerals for sustainable development. Dangor welcomed the African Unions recent inclusion in the G20, describing it as a crucial opportunity to amplify African voices in global economic governance.

General Assembly President Philemon Yang reinforced the G20s vital role in addressing global inequities, highlighting its potential contribution to implementing the recently adopted Pact of the Future. UN Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua similarly emphasized the G20s pivotal position in maintaining climate commitments ahead of COP30.

The G20, representing 85 percent of the global economy, 75 percent of world trade, and two-thirds of the global population, faces mounting expectations under South African leadership to deliver meaningful progress on inclusive growth and sustainable development frameworks.
Chad has strongly condemned on Monday March 24 the recent threat from Sudanese General Yasir al-Atta, deputy commander of Sudans Army, to target its airports, calling it a declaration of war.

This comes after al-Atta accused Chad of allowing the use of its airports for smuggling weapons to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Chad, which has maintained a neutral stance in Sudans ongoing civil war, stated that it would respond according to international law if any part of its territory was threatened. The Sudanese army has long accused the UAE of backing the RSF, which is fighting against Sudans army in a brutal two-year civil war.

The war in Sudan has generated growing regional instability, drawing in neighboring countries like Chad and South Sudan, both accused of supporting the RSF, though they deny these allegations. Chad has criticized Sudan for escalating tensions and urged a ceasefire and constructive dialogue. Chads position is particularly sensitive as it is hosting hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees, many from Darfur, which remains largely under RSF control. As the RSF has continued its offensive in Darfur, it has claimed the strategic town of al-Malha, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and complicating peace efforts.

The Sudanese conflict has had devastating consequences, including the closure of vital supply routes and the destruction of key infrastructure, such as hospitals and markets in areas like al-Malha. The RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, remains entrenched in parts of Khartoum, while the Sudanese army has seized crucial locations, including the central bank and the intelligence agency headquarters. While both sides continue to hold key areas, analysts warn that the wars outcome could lead to a de facto partition of Sudan, with each faction controlling separate zones of influence, further complicating any potential peace process.
The cholera crisis in eastern and southern Africa has reached alarming levels, with over 178,000 confirmed cases across 16 countries from January 2024 to March 2025, according to the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF).

The outbreak has claimed approximately 2,900 lives, many of whom are children. Limited access to water, sanitation, hygiene, and health services has significantly contributed to the rapid spread of the disease. UNICEF has called for continued commitment from governments, the private sector, and individuals to address these dire conditions and protect the future of children in the region.

South Sudan and Angola have been particularly hard-hit by cholera outbreaks, with South Sudan reporting more than 40,000 cases between September 2024 and March 2025, including 694 deaths, marking its worst cholera outbreak in two decades. Angola has also seen a significant increase in cases, with over 7,500 reported, along with 294 deaths across 14 provinces. The situation in both countries remains critical, with children under 15 years old accounting for a significant portion of the cases50 percent in South Sudan and 40 percent in Angola.

The ongoing cholera outbreaks are exacerbated by a severe lack of safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services in the region. UNICEFs 2022 data revealed that nearly 120 million people in eastern and southern Africa, including 60 million children, lack access to clean water. Furthermore, over 174 million people in the region do not have hygiene facilities at home, and up to 71 million people practice open defecation. Climate shocks, such as floods and droughts, have further strained infrastructure, increasing the risk of cholera and other disease outbreaks. UNICEF has urged governments and stakeholders to prioritize investments in resilient water and sanitation systems to safeguard public health and prevent further suffering.
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Credit: Journal of Experimental Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1084/jem.20241253

Women have a higher proportion of key immune cells between puberty and menopause, which may be linked to the sex hormone estrogen and explain why they are less susceptible to certain infectious diseases than men, according to a new study led by researchers at UCL.

The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, is one of the first to explore how sex chromosomes and sex hormones combine to influence the immune systems of healthy individuals across a wide range of ages and gender profiles.

Explaining the importance of the paper, Dr. Elizabeth Rosser, a senior author of the study from UCL Division of Medicine and at the Center for Adolescent Rheumatology at UCL, said, "Sex and gender are frequently overlooked in medical research, despite evidence that many females typically produce 'stronger' immune responses to infections such as COVID-19 than males, while also having a greater risk of developing autoimmune conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

"The primary sex hormonesestrogen in females and testosterone in malesare thought to play a role in these differences, as are the sex chromosomes (XX in people registered female at birth, and XY in people registered male at birth).

"However, very little is known about how immune health outcomes may change during puberty or menopause, or for transgender individuals in receipt of gender-affirming or puberty-suppressing hormone treatments."

In order to examine how hormones and biological sex influence the production of 31 different immune cell types, the team analyzed blood samples from 283 individuals between the ages of 6 and 84 years.

Of these, 203 were cisgender females and cisgender males, including post-menopausal women receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT). They also analyzed samples from 80 transgender females and males receiving gender-affirming or puberty-suppressing hormone treatments.

The results indicated that cisgender females (XX chromosomal background) have higher levels of specific white blood cells, known as class-switched memory B cells, than cisgender males (XY chromosomal background).

Class-switched memory B cells, which are a major component of the immune system, have undergone a process known as "class-switching" that makes them highly efficient at fighting infections that the body has encountered before. But these "specially trained" B cells may also lead to more severe symptoms if the person has an autoimmune disorder, where a person's immune system attacks their own healthy tissues.

Crucially, researchers found that these sex differences were only seen between individuals who had completed puberty, but not yet (in the case of cisgender females) gone through menopause. Along with the fact that B cells have receptors for estrogen, this finding suggests that estrogen, which is found at much lower levels in females before puberty and after menopause, may be associated with the increase in class-switched memory B cells.

Professor Coziana Ciurtin, principal investigator of the study from UCL Division of Medicine and the Center for Adolescent Rheumatology at UCL, said, "Our study has identified some evidence that estrogen plays an important role in the abundance of class-switched memory B cells in females, but more research is required to fully understand the biological mechanisms at play.

"However, these findings could partially explain the sex differences we see in many infectious diseases, vaccine responses, and autoimmune disorders, and add to the growing evidence that sex and gender are critical factors to be considered in immunological studies."

The authors say that despite the differences in class-switched memory B cells observed in the different groups, it is not possible to conclude that these differences are "good" or "bad" in terms of overall health.

While cisgender females do have better protection against infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and hepatitis B, this is balanced out by being more susceptible to autoimmune conditions such as lupus. For groups whose B cell populations more closely resemble those in cisgender males, the opposite could be true. Future research would be needed to address this.

The team found that in transgender males (XX chromosomal background) receiving treatment to block their production of estrogen, levels of class-switched memory B cells were significantly reduced when compared to cisgender females of the same age. These levels were comparable to those seen in cisgender males.

However, when they analyzed samples from transgender females (XY chromosomal background) who were taking estrogen to affirm their gender, their levels of class-switched memory B cells were comparable with those seen in cisgender males.

Professor Lucy Wedderburn from the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Director of the Center for Adolescent Rheumatology at UCL, said, "The X chromosome carries numerous genes that are important for human immune responses, so it was critical to find out whether the effects of estrogen would be the same in cisgender females and transgender males with two X chromosomes, versus cisgender males and transgender females with only one X chromosome.

"This data from our Center demonstrates that sex hormones and chromosomes work in tandem to impact immune responses, with estrogen only influencing the frequency of class-switched memory B cells in individuals with an XX chromosomal background."

In the samples from cisgender females aged 4060 years who were receiving HRT, estrogen was associated with a significant increase in class-switched memory B cells. This further suggests that estrogen is only associated with this increase in people with two copies of the X chromosome.

The authors say that the research highlights the need for further high-quality, long-term studies to examine the impact of hormonal treatment on infection and autoimmunity risk across a range of sex chromosomal backgrounds and stages of life.

Dr. Hannah Peckham, first author of the study from UCL Division of Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and the Center for Adolescent Rheumatology at UCL, said. "Our study demonstrates that improvements in diversity and inclusion practices within medical research will not only advance our scientific understanding of sex-biases in disease outcomes, but potentially shed light on novel strategies for personally tailored health care and potentially mitigate against health inequalities."

More information: Hannah Peckham et al, Estrogen influences class-switched memory B cell frequency only in humans with two X chromosomes, Journal of Experimental Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1084/jem.20241253 Journal information: Journal of Experimental Medicine
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Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in American men. Further, non-Hispanic Blacks have a higher incidence of prostate cancer and are more likely to die from it than are non-Hispanic whites. A biopsy is recommended if a patient has certain risk factors like age, family history, symptoms and screening test results. When the biopsy sample is taken, physicians use either ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to guide the procedure.

In a new study, researchers at Thomas Jefferson University combed through one of the largest cancer databases to assess the use of MRI in diagnosing prostate cancer from 20122019 and whether this choice contributes to disparities in cancer care. The paper is published in the JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

"According to clinical guidelines, MRI is better at identifying cancers and has been increasingly used over the past decade," says Christiane El Khoury, PharmD, assistant director of cancer research administration at Jefferson and first author of the study. Studies have found that MRI-guided biopsies reduce the number of future biopsies a patient may undergo. However, the technology is more costly and may incur more out-of-pocket expenses.

Dr. El Khoury and her colleagues at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer CenterJefferson Health found that there continues to be a gap in MRI use between Black and white patients. The good news is that the gap was halved in 2019 when it was about 20% compared to 2012, when it was 43%.

However, other disparities persist. Rural patients are 35% less likely than urban patients to have used MRI diagnostics, and that gap was relatively stable over the study period. In addition, the study identified regional differences, with far less MRI use in South and Central U.S. compared to the West. The research team, led by Grace Lu-Yao, Ph.D., population science researcher and professor at Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer CenterJefferson HealthJefferson Health, plans to dig more deeply into geographic disparities to look for clusters of high or low utilization.

"We're passionate about this research: finding drivers of disparities," Dr. El Khoury says, adding that the hope is to enhance access to MRI and potentially improve prostate cancer outcomes.

More information: Christiane J El Khoury et al, Disparities in the utilization of magnetic resonance imaging for prostate cancer detection: a population-based study, JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2024). DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djae234
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Tiny fragments of plastic have become ubiquitous in our environment and our bodies. Higher exposure to these microplastics, which can be inadvertently consumed or inhaled, is associated with a heightened prevalence of chronic noncommunicable diseases, according to new research being presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.25), held March 2931 in Chicago.

Researchers said the new findings add to a small but growing body of evidence that microplastic pollution represents an emerging health threat. In terms of its relationship with stroke risk, for example, microplastics concentration was comparable to factors such as minority race and lack of health insurance, according to the results.

"This study provides initial evidence that microplastics exposure has an impact on cardiovascular health, especially chronic, noncommunicable conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke," said Sai Rahul Ponnana, MA, a research data scientist at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Ohio and the study's lead author.

"When we included 154 different socioeconomic and environmental features in our analysis, we didn't expect microplastics to rank in the top 10 for predicting chronic noncommunicable disease prevalence."

Microplasticsdefined as fragments of plastic between 1 nanometer and 5 millimeters acrossare released as larger pieces of plastic break down. They come from many different sources, such as food and beverage packaging, consumer products and building materials. People can be exposed to microplastics in the water they drink, the food they eat and the air they breathe.

The study examines associations between the concentration of microplastics in bodies of water and the prevalence of various health conditions in communities along the East, West and Gulf Coasts, as well as some lakeshores, in the United States between 2015 and 2019.

While inland areas also contain microplastics pollution, researchers focused on lakes and coastlines because microplastics concentrations are better documented in these areas. They used a dataset covering 555 census tracts from the National Centers for Environmental Information that classified microplastics concentration in seafloor sediments as low (0 to 200 particles per square meter) to very high (more than 40,000 particles per square meter).

The researchers assessed rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and cancer in the same census tracts in 2019 using data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They also used a machine-learning model to predict the prevalence of these conditions based on patterns in the data and to compare the associations observed with microplastics concentration to linkages with 154 other social and environmental factors, such as median household income, employment rate and particulate matter air pollution in the same areas.

The results revealed that microplastics concentration was positively correlated with high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke, while cancer was not consistently linked with microplastics pollution. The results also suggested a dose relationship, in which higher concentrations of microplastic pollution are associated with a higher prevalence of disease. However, researchers said that evidence of an association does not necessarily mean that microplastics are causing these health problems.

More studies are required to determine whether there is a causal relationship or if this pollution is occurring alongside another factor that leads to health issues, they said.

Further research is also needed to determine the amount of exposure or the length of time it might take for microplastics exposure to have an impact on health, if a causal relationship exists, according to Ponnana. Nevertheless, based on the available evidence, it is reasonable to believe that microplastics may play some role in health and we must take steps to reduce exposures, he said.

While it is not feasible to completely avoid ingesting or inhaling microplastics when they are present in the environment, given how ubiquitous and tiny they are, researchers said the best way to minimize microplastics exposure is to curtail the amount of plastic produced and used, and to ensure proper disposal.

"The environment plays a very important role in our health, especially cardiovascular health," Ponnana said. "As a result, taking care of our environment means taking care of ourselves."

Ponnana will present the study, "Microplastic Concentration, Social, and Environmental Features and Their Association with Chronic Disease Prevalence: An Analysis Across U.S. Census Tracts," Sunday, March 30, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. CT / 14:00 UTC in Moderated Poster Theater 2.

In a separate study presented at ACC.25, researchers from a different group reviewed the scientific literature and found that studies showed a strong correlation between microplastics in plaques in the heart's arteries and the risk of adverse cardiovascular events, suggesting that the presence of microplastics could play a role in the onset or exacerbation of serious heart problems.

Eesha Nachnani of the University School of Nashville will present the study, "Plastic Perils: The Hidden Threat of Microplastics in Cardiovascular Health," on Monday, March 31, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. CT / 14:00 UTC in South Hall.
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GPs who conduct their appointments in person are more likely to have satisfied patients, according to a new study by University of Manchester researchers.

According to their study published in the British Journal of General Practice, satisfaction levels were lower in practices that rely more on both telephone appointments and consultations with non-GP staff.

Advanced nurse practitioners, physician associates, practice-based pharmacists and even paramedics have increasingly worked in place of GPs in the past few years.

The study also theorizes that patient satisfaction could increase by 1% when 10 additional face-to-face GP appointments per 1,000 patients per month are added.

The findings are released amid recent changes to a government policy that aims to place more emphasis on non-GP roles to fill gaps in primary care provision.

However, critics of the policy argue that the new roles can be a cheap substitute that blur the lines between doctors and non-doctors.

The study is the first to use national appointment data to investigate the complex relationships between patient satisfaction, access, preference for a specific GP, and support for managing long-term conditions against appointment volume, modality (telephone or face-to-face), and practitioner type.

The data set of more than half a million English patients from 5,500 practices was taken from the General Practice Patient Survey (GPPS) and NHS Digital's practice level appointment data, covering August 2022 to March 2023.

The study found that 69.5% of appointments were face-to-face and 27.2% were on the telephone. Only 29.6% of appointments were face-to-face with a GP and 18.4% were GP telephone appointments.

The researchers also found that practices with a larger number of telephone consultations had less satisfied patients. This dissatisfaction was still present and decreased only slightly when telephone calls were carried out by GPs, rather than non-GP staff.

The correlation coefficient between face-to-face appointments and overall satisfaction was 0.096, showing that practices with a greater percentage of face-to-face appointments were more likely to have patients with higher overall satisfaction.

However, the figure for GP face-to-face appointments was 0.167 showing that GP face-to-face appointments have an even stronger correlation.

The study also found that:

Practices offering more on-the-day appointments had reduced satisfaction with access compared to practices that offered appointments days or weeks in advance.

Greater numbers of appointments of any type with any staff member overall resulted in improved patient satisfaction.

Greater numbers of GP appointments at a practice were associated with reduced unmet health needs.

Dr. Patrick Burch is an academic clinical lecturer at The University of Manchester and a practicing GP. He said, "This study of appointments from over 5,500 practices showed that more appointments, particularly with face-to-face with GPs, tended to be associated with more satisfied patients who were better able to meet their health needs.

"While telephone and IT-assisted appointments have an important role to play in general practice, we would cautiously welcome an overall increase in the proportion of face-to-face consultations.

"Until recently, simply employing more GPs was not seen as feasible. However, given that 6 out of 10 job-seeking GPs have struggled to find a vacancy to apply for over the past year, this may now be a potential option.

"We would also welcome measures that free up GP time to enable more patient appointments."

He added, "A greater proportion of telephone appointments were associated with decreased satisfaction in general, especially when provided by non-doctor roles.

"Non-GP clinicians employed in primary care since 2019 has increased by 21,600 full-time equivalent staff members.

"As primary care funding has not gone up significantly, arguably this cash is now being used to pay other less expensive clinicians rather than GPs.

"The reasons for the findings behind this study are likely to be complex, but there is undoubtedly an important role for non-GP clinicians in primary care.

"Patient satisfaction is not the only measure of success in general practice, but it is important that policymakers take note of the link between patient satisfaction and the numbers of appointments with GPs."

In the paper, appointments were only divided into GP or non-GP, with no other categories used. As a proportion, if one goes up, the other goes down.

More information: Patrick Burch et al, Relationship between the volume and type of appointments in general practice and patient experience: an observational study in England, British Journal of General Practice (2024). DOI: 10.3399/BJGP.2024.0276 Journal information: British Journal of General Practice
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Gum gets some of its chewiness from polymers similar to those used in car tires.

Chewing gum releases hundreds of tiny plastic pieces straight into people's mouths, researchers said on Tuesday, also warning of the pollution created by the rubber-based sweet.

The small study comes as researchers have increasingly been finding small shards of plastic called microplastics throughout the world, from the tops of mountains to the bottom of the oceanand even in the air we breathe.

They have also discovered microplastics riddled throughout human bodiesincluding inside our lungs, blood and brainssparking fears about the potential effect this could be having on health.

"I don't want to alarm people," Sanjay Mohanty, the lead researcher behind the new study which has not yet been peer-reviewed, told AFP.

There is no evidence directly showing that microplastics are harmful to human health, said Mohanty of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

The pilot study instead sought to illustrate yet another little-researched way that these mostly invisible plastic pieces enter our bodieschewing gum.

Lisa Lowe, a Ph.D. student at UCLA, chewed seven pieces each of 10 brands of gum, before the researchers then ran a chemical analysis on her saliva.

They found that a gram (0.04 ounces) of gum released an average of 100 microplastic fragments, though some shed more than 600. The average weight of a stick of gum is around 1.5 grams.

People who chew around 180 pieces of gum a year could be ingesting roughly 30,000 microplastics, the researchers said.

This pales in comparison to the many other ways that humans ingest microplastics, Mohanty emphasized.

For example, other researchers estimated last year that a liter (34 fluid ounces) of water in a plastic bottle contained an average of 240,000 microplastics.

'Tires, plastic bags and bottles'

The most common chewing gum sold in supermarkets is called synthetic gum, which contains petroleum-based polymers to get that chewy effect, the researchers said.

However packaging does not list any plastics in the ingredients, simply using the words "gum-based".

"Nobody will tell you the ingredients," Mohanty said.

The researchers tested five brands of synthetic gum and five of natural gum, which use plant-based polymers such as tree sap.

"It was surprising that we found microplastics were abundant in both," Lowe told AFP.

David Jones, a researcher at the UK's University of Portsmouth not involved in the study, said he was surprised the researchers found certain plastics not known to be in gum, suggesting they could have come from another source in the lab.

But the overall findings were "not at all surprising," he told AFP.

People tend to "freak out a little bit" when told that the building blocks of chewing gum were similar to what is found "in car tires, plastic bags and bottles," Jones said.

Oliver Jones, a chemistry professor at Australia's RMIT University, said that if the relatively small number of microplastics were swallowed, they "would likely pass straight through you with no impact".

"I don't think you have to stop chewing gum just yet."

Lowe also warned about the plastic pollution from chewing gumparticularly when people "spit it out onto the sidewalk".

The National Confectioners Association, which represents chewing gum manufacturers in the United States, said in a statement that the study's authors had admitted "there is no cause for alarm".

"Gum is safe to enjoy as it has been for more than 100 years," it said, adding that the ingredients were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The study, which has been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal, was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Diego.

 2025 AFP
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Scientists from the Institut Pasteur, in collaboration with Kumamoto University in Japan, have assessed a new rapid diagnostic test to identify pregnant women at elevated risk of transmitting hepatitis B to their babies. This diagnostic tool could help eliminate hepatitis B by preventing mother-to-child transmission during childbirth, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Hepatitis B is a liver inflammation caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is the second-leading infectious cause of death globally after tuberculosis. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HBV is crucial for global elimination of hepatitis B. The results were published on March 14, 2025 in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology.

Hepatitis B is a viral disease that affects the liver and can lead to severe complications, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. There are more than 254 million people living with hepatitis B, who can potentially transmit the virus, and more than 1.1 million deaths every year. In many resource-limited countries (particularly across sub-Saharan Africa and the Asia-Pacific region), chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections affect 4 to 8% of the adult population.

Infection is less common in Western Europe and North America, where chronic carriers account for less than 1 to 2% of the population. In France, an estimated 143,000 individuals live with HBV. The virus is transmitted through bodily fluids and secretions. Statistics show that the most common routes of transmission worldwide are mother-to-child transmission and transmission between children.

Effective vaccination has been available since 1981, but antiviral therapy does not yet definitively cure hepatitis B. Existing tests used to assess a person's risk of transmitting hepatitis B, such as those measuring viral load, are often costly and require specialized laboratory equipment, limiting their accessibility in resource-limited regions.

Preventing mother-to-child transmission

Preventing mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B is a crucial component of strategies to eliminate hepatitis B. As well as vaccinating newborn infants, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends HBV screening for pregnant women. If this screening test is positive, a second test is required to measure the amount of virus present, as women with high viral loads are more likely to transmit the virus to their babies. Those at high risk can then receive preventive antiviral treatment to reduce the chance of transmission.

The first-line screening test, which detects the HBV surface antigen, is affordable and accessible in many low-income countries. But the second test, which uses PCR to measure viral load, is rarely available in these countries. This test, essential for assessing the risk of mother-to-child transmission, requires advanced laboratory equipment and costly reagents for viral quantification.

A rapid point-of-care test that can be used in decentralized settings to accurately identify women with high levels of the virus could provide a solution to this problem.

A reliable, rapid test to assess the risk of mother-to-child HBV transmission

The new rapid test assessed by Dr. Yusuke Shimakawa, a scientist in the Epidemiology of Emerging Diseases Unit at the Institut Pasteur, in collaboration with Prof. Yasuhito Tanaka from Kumamoto University and the company Fujirebio, offers an innovative solution that detects "HBV core-related antigen," considered as a reliable marker of active infection, and can be used even in regions with no laboratory access or electricity. It is inexpensive to produce, easy to use, does not require electricity, remains operable in temperatures up to 39C and has a rapid turnaround time of just 45 minutes.

"Results show that this new test is highly effective at identifying women with a high viral load and offers significant advantages in speed and ease of use compared to traditional methods, such as PCR. This test can be used to reliably identify pregnant women who should benefit from preventive antiviral treatment at the point of care," explains Yusuke Shimakawa, the lead author of the study and a scientist in the Institut Pasteur's Epidemiology of Emerging Diseases Unit.

Global impact on hepatitis B management

The nature of the test means that it could be easily integrated into routine antenatal care in decentralized, resource-limited settings. This breakthrough could have a significant impact on hepatitis B management in low- and middle-income countries, where access to health care is often limited. The rapid test will enable early detection and intervention, thereby reducing the spread of the infection and development of related complications.

The research team is continuing its work to improve the test with a view to large-scale implementation. Additional research is under way to assess the efficacy of the test among pregnant women in different clinical and geographical settings.

More information: Jeanne Perpetue Vincent et al, Hepatitis B core-related antigen rapid diagnostic test for point-of-care identification of women at high risk of hepatitis B vertical transmission: a multicountry diagnostic accuracy study, The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/S2468-1253(25)00015-9 Journal information: The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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A new study indicates high levels of emotional distress and anxiety in the days following the Iranian drone and missile attack on Israel on April 13, 2024. Published in European Journal of Psychotraumatology, the study was conducted by Prof. Boaz Ben-David, Dr. Ortal Shimon-Raz, and Tchelet Bressler from the Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology at Reichman University, Dr. Lia Ring from Ashkelon College, and Prof. Yuval Palgi from the University of Haifa. The study, which was based on a sample of over 600 adults, presents a concerning picture of the immediate emotional consequences of the attack.

The key findings reveal that 41% of participants experienced peritraumatic distressan intense emotional and physical reaction during or immediately after a traumatic eventand 19% reported significant levels of anxiety. These figures are exceptionally high, nearly double the distress rates recorded in Israel during previous rounds of conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study's findings indicate that a history of exposure to previous traumatic events, whether in the context of previous wars or personal life experiences, was not a significant factor in the levels of distress measured after the April 13 attack. However, a clear link was found between post-traumatic distress in the wake of the events of October 7 and traumatic reactions to the Iranian attack.

In other words, it was not the prior exposure to trauma itself that had an impact, but rather the way in which the individual had processed and coped with that trauma. It was also found that additional factors, such as difficulty sleeping and frequent media consumption during the attack, were associated with higher levels of distress and anxiety.

According to the researchers, these findings underscore the need for early identification of traumatic reactions and timely therapeutic intervention to mitigate the risk of long-term psychological harm. The study also highlights the widespread emotional distress experienced by Israel's adult population on the night of the first Iranian attack, emphasizing the need for tailored psychological interventions during times of crisis.

Prof. Boaz Ben-David of the Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology says, "In the State of Israel, the morning after a missile attack, we were all required to continue with our daily routinesgetting up, going to work, making sandwiches for our children and sending them off to schoolas if we had not just experienced a significant traumatic event. There was almost no attention given to this at the national level, but it is very important to acknowledge and validate these feelings.

"The findings that emerged from our study reinforce the need for initiatives like the psychological first aid project that was established at the Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology at Reichman University. This project, developed in collaboration with faculty and students, takes mental health professionals out of traditional treatment rooms and into the field.

"Instead of waiting for patients to seek help, they provide immediate assistance, for example at the support centers for the families of the hostages, offering anyone in need to sit down with them for a short conversation. This can serve as an essential first step in emotional recovery.

"Our findings unequivocally demonstrate the profound impact of security crises on mental health in the immediate term. The fact that people experience such high levels of distress within just a few days highlights the need for rapid interventions and emotional coping tools in the early stages of a crisis.

"It is also important to recognize that the emotional response to such events is not limited to people with a history of trauma; even those who have never experienced a traumatic event may suffer significant emotional distress. Therefore, we must focus on identifying response patterns, increasing accessibility to mental health support, and raising awareness to ensure that everyone at risk receives the appropriate support at the right timewithout making assumptions about who needs help."

More information: Boaz M. Ben-David et al, Trauma echoes: factors associated with peritraumatic distress and anxiety five days following Iranian missile attack on Israel, European Journal of Psychotraumatology (2025). DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2446070
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A recent study conducted by Nora Medina, Ph.D.a postdoctoral researcher of family and community medicine at Thomas Jefferson Universityalong with colleagues from the University of Chicago, highlights the importance of the emotional bond that a mother establishes with her child during pregnancy.

The findings are published in the Infant Mental Health Journal: Infancy and Early Childhood.

The study team followed 160 young, low-income, racially diverse mothers from pregnancy until their children were two and a half years old. Mothers who felt more connected to their babies during pregnancy were more likely to have a healthier, positive relationship with their children later. Additionally, those who had more challenging relationships with their own parents had weaker prenatal connections and expressed more anger and other negative feelings toward their infants.

The research fills a gap in existing studies, which have not extensively explored how mothers' attachment to their babies during pregnancy serves as a foundation for parent-child relationships later in life.

In addition, Dr. Medina's research addresses historical misconceptions about young, low-income mothers as being problematic parents. The large majority of the young mothers in this study had strong prenatal connections to their infants and positive relationships with their toddlers.

"Parenting is challenging, and young, low-income mothers face additional stressors," Dr. Medina says. "I focused on studying mother-infant relationships within this population to produce findings that may inform parenting support programs more closely aligned with the lived experiences of young, low-income mothers."

Dr. Medina suggests that support to promote strong parent-child relationships should begin during pregnancy. Interventions should help young mothers explore their past relationship experiences and recognize how they shape their expectations of parenthood. Programs that incorporate perinatal social workers or doulas could help facilitate these discussions and encourage healthier attachment patterns.

Despite the promising insights, Dr. Medina says funding remains a key barrier to the accessibility of such support programs. Moving forward, she hopes to further investigate how familial and community-based support can help strengthen early mother-child bonds and improve long-term outcomes for young mothers and their children.

More information: Nora Y. Medina et al, Young mothers' prenatal attachment and later attachmentrelated representations of their young children, Infant Mental Health Journal: Infancy and Early Childhood (2025). DOI: 10.1002/imhj.22162
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M3FM architecture. Credit: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56822-w

Lung cancer is one of the most challenging diseases, making early diagnosis crucial for effective treatment. Fortunately, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming lung cancer screening, improving both accuracy and efficiency.

While current screening methods like low-dose CT help confirm suspicions of lung cancers, they often suffer from high false-positive rates and variability in reporting incidental yet critical findings, such as those pertaining to cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, the screening rate for low-dose CT remains low (<10%), due to a global shortage of radiologists.

A new study published in Nature Communications introduces a multimodal multitask foundation model that significantly enhances the capabilities of low-dose CT. This AI model improves the prediction of lung cancer risk by 20% and cardiovascular risk by 10%.

Developed and tested by an interdisciplinary team from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Wake Forest University (WFU), and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), this model is the first of its kind to simultaneously address more than a dozen related tasks, incorporating data from multiple sources including CT scans, radiology reports, patient risk factors, and key clinical findings.

The first author of the study is Chuang Niu, Ph.D., research scientist at RPI. The corresponding authors include Ge Wang, Ph.D., Clark-Crossan Chaired Professor and director of the Biomedical Imaging Center at RPI, Christopher T. Whitlow, M.D./Ph.D., professor at WFU, Mannudeep K. Kalra, M.D., professor at MGH. Key collaborators at RPI include Pingkun Yan, Ph.D., and Christopher D. Carothers, Ph.D., as well as other important co-authors.

The potential clinical impact of this work is immense. By integrating CT images with text information, the model significantly improves the detection and prediction of lung cancer, a critical factor in improving patient outcomes.

Also, one of the major benefits of using foundation models in medicine is that when trained with large-scale screening CT scans and other data types, these models can boost the model performance in related new tasks. For instance, this model can improve performance in fields such as oncology, where task-specific data is often limited.

"This work has been significantly accelerated using RPI's high-performance computing facility," said Wang. "Now, our multi-institutional team is further enhancing our foundation model on an increasing size of multimodal data, using both our own GPUs and New York State's Empire AI high-performance computing facility.

"The collaboration across leading institutions underscores the growing synergy between artificial intelligence and medical research, with the potential to revolutionize how diseases are detected and treated."

"Dr. Wang and his team are making important strides toward improving human health by combining the power of medical imaging, AI, and high-performance computing. RPI has always been at the forefront of computational sciences and engineering, providing faculty and students access to the world's best computational infrastructure to accelerate development and translation of transformative ideas.

"We are excited about what this work means for the future of early detection of diseases and look forward to seeing further advances," said Shekhar Garde, Ph.D., the Thomas R. Farino Jr. '67 and Patricia E. Farino Dean of the School of Engineering at RPI.

More information: Chuang Niu et al, Medical multimodal multitask foundation model for lung cancer screening, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56822-w Journal information: Nature Communications
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A groundbreaking new study of young people's digital media use has revealed surprising results, including evidence that smartphone ownership may actually benefit children.

The study also suggests a link between social media posting and various negative outcomes, as well as data connecting cyberbullying to depression, anger and signs of dependence on digital media.

The Life in Media Survey, led by a team of researchers at the University of South Florida in collaboration with The Harris Poll, conducted a survey of more than 1,500 11-to-13-year-olds in Florida. The findings will inform a 25-year national study that will track young people's digital media use and well-being into adulthood.

Key findings

Children who have their own smartphones fared better than kids who don't on nearly every measure of well-being assessed. Kids with smartphones were less likely to report depression and anxiety symptoms, and more likely to spend time in-person with friends and report feeling good about themselves than kids who don't have their own smartphones.

Efforts to limit digital media use among kids don't appear to be working, as more than 70% of 11-year-olds surveyed have their own smartphone, with many acquiring them by the age of eight and a half.

Posting publicly to social media was associated with multiple harms. Children who often post to social media platforms were twice as likely than those who never or rarely post to report moderate or severe symptoms of depression, moderate or severe symptoms of anxiety and having sleep issues.

Even the smallest amount of cyberbullyingbeing called a mean or hurtful name onlineis associated with adverse outcomes.

Nearly six in 10 respondents said they endured a form of cyberbullying in the past three months. Those children were more likely than those who were not bullied to report feeling depressed most days in the past year, getting angry and losing their temper and finding it hard to stop using technology.

The percentage of kids surveyed who have their own smartphone, from initial findings from the USF Life in Media study. Credit: USF

The percentage of underage kids surveyed who have their own social media accounts, from initial findings of the USF Life in Media study. Credit: USF

"We went into this study expecting to find what many researchers, teachers and other observers assume: smartphone ownership is harmful to children. Not only was that not the case, most of the time we found the oppositethat owning a smartphone was associated with positive outcomes," said Justin D. Martin, lead researcher on the project and the Eleanor Poynter Jamison Chair in Media Ethics and Press Policy as USF.

Based on the findings, the research team provides a few recommendations:

Allowing children as young as 11 to have their own smartphone is likely fine and may be beneficial. Parents should discourage young children from posting publicly on social platforms.

Parents should also be on alert for the slightest signs of cyberbullying, which is prevalent and harmful. Don't let kids sleep with their smartphones. One in four kids surveyed sleep with a smartphone in their hand or in bed. Children who keep their phones in their bed don't get enough sleep compared to those who sleep with phones in another room.

"Our findings indicate that the effects of smartphone ownership are complex. It's what kids do with cell phones and challenges in regulating their device use, rather than merely owning a smartphone, that may cause difficulties or inversely benefit their lives," said Wendy Rote, USF associate professor of psychology.

Kids reporting sleeping problems related to smartphone use, from initial findings of the USF Life in Media study. Credit: USF

Informed by this survey, the research team will now prepare to start a nationwide, long-term study of some 8,000 children in early adolescence.

The Life in Media Survey is the first lifespan study of its kind examining digital media use. It sets out to track participants from youth to adulthood to learn more about the long-term health and wellness impacts of smartphones, social media and other digital media and devices.

Research will be conducted over the next 25 years, and data collected every six months will give ongoing insight to parents, teachers, researchers, health providers and others on the impact of digital media use on children and as they age into adults.

"Our data provide a snapshot of how the media influences young people in the moment. But many of the problems and benefits of media use accumulate over time, which is why it is essential to also conduct a long-term study to accurately assess the effects of digital media on well-being through an individual's life," said Stephen Song, co-principal investigator and USF assistant professor of journalism.

The percentage of kids who feel good about themselves based on device ownership, from initial findings of the USF Life in Media study. Credit: USF

Researchers hope to determine how digital media impacts and changes attitudes, behaviors and health throughout people's lives. For example, over time, the Life in Media Survey will be able to provide specifics about the impact of six-second videos on developing brains, the effects of staring at screens for five hours a day on eyesight and how online socialization in childhood affects sociability at age 30.

The survey was conducted by The Harris Poll, a global market research firm that also collaborated with the USF team in constructing the questionnaire and analyzing the data. All data was collected from Nov. 12Dec. 9, 2024, via online surveys and obtained with parental permission.
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Eating undercooked meat is never a good ideait can give you a nasty case of food poisoning within 24 hours. And there are other, longer-term risks to be wary of too.

Spare a thought for the patient who attended a Florida hospital to be X-rayed following a fallonly to discover he was riddled with parasitic eggs that had turned into thousands of cysts inside his body.

Sam Ghali, an urgent care doctor from the University of Florida, recently shared an image of the X-ray on social media, explaining that the patient had developed the condition after eating undercooked pork infected with tapeworm larvae.

Pork can carry taenia solium larvae, a parasitic tapeworm. After eating infected pork, the larvae get into body tissues where they form cystsa condition called cysticercosis. The larvae can travel anywhere in the body including muscles, liver, lungs and kidneys before decaying, which can lead to infections.

While in many tissues the larvae may develop undetected, in the skin or muscles noticeable bulges may appear.

Cysticercosis can be diagnosed through a variety of tests, including imaging, blood tests and potentially a lumbar puncture to look at cerebrospinal fluid.

Parasites on the brain

If you're particularly unlucky, larvae cysts could travel to the brain, leading to neurocysticercosisa main cause of acquired epilepsy worldwide.

On entry to the body, the parasite is in "immunologic equilibrium" with its hostmeaning that it suppresses the body's various immune responses and causes only minimal, if any, tissue inflammation. Eventually, though, neurocysticercosis can cause worrying symptoms including severe headaches, blindness, convulsions and epileptic seizures.

In the final stage of the disease, the cysts degenerate and die, leaving a small calcified scar behind. This remnant often invokes an immune response in the body which can further increase calcificationthe buildup of calcium deposits in body tissues. Calcified brain scars can contribute to symptoms including seizures long after the cyst has degenerated.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr's claim in his 2012 divorce deposition that previous health issues were "caused by a worm that got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died" is a now notorious example of possible neurocysticercosis.

RFK Jr. also described the effects of the parasite in his deposition: "I have cognitive problems, clearly. I have short-term memory loss, and I have longer-term memory loss that affects me."

Wash your hands

Intestinal infection by an adult tapeworm is called taeniasis. In humans, although the tapeworm can cause an upset stomach, it can also be asymptomaticapart from rice grain-sized eggs in the feces.

There are three tapeworms that can lead to taeniasis: taenia saginata, taenia solium and taenia asiatica. Taenia saginata is transmitted by cattle whereas taenia solium and taenia asiatica are transmitted by pigs. Once in the intestines, these tapeworms continue to grow. After approximately four months, they release hundreds of proglottids (fertilized eggs) into the host's gastrointestinal tract. These proglottids are expelled from the body in feces but are instantly infectious.

As well as eating infected meat, humans can be infected by drinking contaminated wateror by infected people not washing their hands after going to the toilet and then preparing food.

How to kill a tapeworm

Anthelmintic drugs, including praziquantel and niclosamide, either kill or paralyze the tapeworm, making it easier for the body to expel it through feces.

But some studies report that approximately 38% of cysts calcify after taking anthelmintic drugs, worsening symptoms. Anti-inflammatory drugs may be used to treat neurocysticercosis cases, to prevent additional calcification occurring as part of the inflammatory response.

In developing regions of the world, or where some of these drugs are not licensed or less accessible, more traditional remedies may be used to kill tapeworms or expel them from the body, while preventing infectious proglottids from being released. Studies show that eating a combination of pumpkin seeds and areca nuts allowed almost 80% of people with intestinal tapeworms to pass them whole.

To avoid contracting a tapeworm or cysticercosis, observe basic hygiene measures such as regular hand washing. Also wash and peel your vegetables in clean water before eating them.

If seeing the effects of cysticercosis hasn't put you off pork for good, avoid the risk of infection by ensuring your pork is properly cooked to at least 80C for 10 minutes to kill all tapeworm eggs. Lower temperatures work too, but require longer cooking times. Of course, cooking meat thoroughly like this should also help you avoid any nasty cases of food poisoning.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Aedes mosquito. This species can transmit diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. Credit: NIAID

Zika virus and dengue virus are very close relatives. Both are mosquito-borne flaviviruses, and both specialize in infecting a host's dendritic cells.

But a study in Nature Communications, led by scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) and UC Diego, shows that these two viruses have vastly different ways of making us sick.

Zika virus uses stealth mode. Zika virus slips into dendritic cells and blocks the dendritic cells from alerting nearby T cells to danger. It's the classic horror movie clichethe creeper is already in the house, and the phone lines have been cut.

Dengue virus prefers shock and awe. Dengue virus pushes dendritic cells to churn out molecules called pro-inflammatory cytokines, which send the immune system into overdrive. The virus spreads to new host cells as the body grapples with this overwhelming immune response.

Understanding these different infection strategies is key to developing life-saving vaccines, says LJI Professor Sujan Shresta, Ph.D. Her team is working to develop vaccines that harness virus-fighting T cells to combat Zika virus, dengue virus, and other flaviviruses with pandemic potential.

"Our ultimate goal is to develop vaccines against these very difficult viruses," says Shresta, who co-led the new study with UC San Diego Professor Aaron Carlin, M.D., Ph.D. "Understanding how these viruses manipulate the immune response can help guide the development of the best vaccine approach."

Why Zika-infected dendritic cells can't call for help

This new collaboration is the first to show exactly how Zika virus accomplishes its sneak attack. Using a technique pioneered by Carlin during his postdoctoral work at UC San Diego and LJI, the researchers isolated only Zika- or dengue-infected dendritic cells derived from human blood samples. Then they examined gene expression in these cells to see how they responded to the infection.

The Zika-infected dendritic cells did very littleand the researchers could finally see why. They found that Zika virus actively suppresses an important molecule in cells, called NF-B p65. Without NF-B p65, dendritic cells get stuck in an immature state and cannot promote T cells to fight the infection.

In contrast, dengue virus really stimulates dendritic cells to make lots of pro-inflammatory cytokines and respond aggressively to the presence of the virus.

This discovery helps explain why many people develop a weaker immune response to Zika virus versus dengue virus, says Ying-Ting Wang, Ph.D, former LJI postdoctoral fellow and first author of the current study. The new research also provides a clue to how Zika virus manages to break past immune defenses in the placenta to infect developing fetuses.

"Zika virus inhibits any kind of productive dendritic cell response," says Carlin. "We think that's a key to its pathogenesis, its ability to spread silently and persist within humans that it infects."

Right now, there are no effective vaccines or therapeutics against Zika virus or dengue virus. The new findings may help scientists outsmart these viruses.

"Looking at these human cell cultures helps us understand what's going on in people," says Shresta. "Our findings inform how we might develop vaccines and antivirals that manipulate these cellular pathways."

Why Zika and dengue vaccines are critical

Shresta and Carlin are eager to move forward with flavivirus research. They know there's no time to lose.

Many mosquito-borne viruses are spreading rapidly as disease-carrying Aedes mosquitoes expand into new habitats. In fact, last year was the worst on record for reported dengue virus cases. Dengue virus infected between 100 million and 400 million people in 2024, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). These cases included the first-ever cases of locally transmitted dengue virus infection in San Diego County.

Many flaviviruses also have pandemic potential. In a 2024 report, WHO listed Zika virus, dengue virus, West Nile virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, and yellow fever virus among the top pathogens for research "prioritization" in preparation for the next pandemic.

Shresta has monitored the spread of these viruses in recent years. As she explains, many of these viruses overlap in the same regions. As a result, millions of people are at risk of infection from a variety of flaviviruses that attack dendritic cells from different angles.

Shresta is leading efforts at LJI to develop a "pan-flavivirus" vaccine that might combat many flaviviruses at once.

"Our challenge is to develop vaccines that are both safe and effective against not just one virus, but all these closely related flaviviruses," says Shresta.

At the same time, Carlin is looking to develop antivirals that might interfere with Zika's ability to suppress NF-B p65. He'd also like to investigate exactly how dengue virus over-stimulates the immune system.

"Understanding how dengue virus stimulates that shock-like phenotype in people would allow for precision-guided therapies that prevent death and hospitalization without inhibiting our immune system's ability to clear the virus," says Carlin.

Additional authors of the study include Ying-Ting Wang, Emilie Branche, Jialei Xie, Rachel E. McMillan, Fernanda Ana-Sosa-Batiz, Hsueh-Han Lu, Qin Hui Li, Alex E. Clark, Joan M. Valls Cuevas, Karla M. Viramontes, Aaron F. Garretson, Rubens Prince dos Santos Alves, Sven Heinz, and Christopher Benner.

More information: Zika but not Dengue virus infection limits NF-B activity in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells and suppresses their ability to activate T cells, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57977-2. www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57977-2 Journal information: Nature Communications
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the certificate of registration (CoR) of Unitara Finance Ltd, a decision made under Section 45-IA (6) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. This order was issued on 24 March 2025.

Unitara Finance had been operating as a non-banking financial company (NBFC). Its registered office was located in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

As a result of this cancellation, Unitara Finance is no longer allowed to operate as an NBFC. This means the company must immediately cease any activities related to lending, asset management, or other financial services typically governed by RBI.

Although the RBI has not disclosed the specific reasons for this decision, such actions are typically taken due to non-compliance with regulatory requirements, financial instability or other issues that fail to meet the standards set by RBI.
The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed an interim injunction application filed by Swiss pharmaceutical giant F Hoffmann-La Roche AG against Indian drugmaker Natco Pharma Limited alleging that the latter company was unauthorisedly manufacturing its drug Risdiplam, an oral medicine for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).

In what could be a significant ruling, the Court has held that the public good outweighs the profits of a company, considering that the drug is not available at an affordable price in India.

Justice Mini Pushkarna held, "A drug which is the only one available for treatment in India, for a rare disease, its availability to the public at large at very economical and competitive prices, is a material factor which a Court will consider at the time of dealing with an application for interim injunction. Besides, the plaintiffs can be compensated by way of damages. However, there exists no right for the public to lessen or compensate itself."

SMA is a severe, progressive neuromuscular disorder that leads to the degeneration of motor neurons, resulting in muscle weakness and atrophy. It is the leading genetic cause of infant mortality, affecting approximately one in 10,000 live births globally and one in 7,744 live births in India. The disease is caused by mutations in the SMN1 gene, leading to a deficiency of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein, which is crucial for the proper functioning of motor neurons.

Until recent years, SMA management was limited to supportive care, but advancements in medical science have led to the development of disease-modifying therapies. Evrysdi (Risdiplam), developed by Roche, is a major breakthrough in SMA treatment as it is the first oral therapy for the disease. Roche introduced Evrysdi in India in July 2021, bringing hope to many SMA patients. However, the high cost remains a major barrier. A year's supply of Evrysdi can range from 2.2 million to 7.2 million , depending on the patient's weight and dosage requirements.

Roche alleged that Natco Pharma was preparing to commercially manufacture Risdiplam, infringing its Indian patent, which expires in 2035. Natco challenged the validity of Roche's patent for Risdiplam, arguing that the drug was already covered in Roche's earlier international patent and its corresponding US patent. Natco claimed that Roche was trying to extend its patent rights unfairly (evergreening) by obtaining a new patent for a specific version of the drug in India while avoiding filing the broader original patent there, which would have expired sooner.

The Court found that Natco had raised a strong challenge to the validity of Roche's patent for Risdiplam. It cited anticipation by prior publication [Section 64(1)(e)], obviousness [Section 64(1)(f)] and misrepresentation [Section 64(1)(j)] as key reasons. It noted that Risdiplam was implicitly covered in Roche's earlier international patent, as proven by Roche's own admissions in US, Australian and Canadian patent filings.

Justice Pushkarna also emphasised the importance of public interest in deciding whether to grant an injunction. Referring to Justice Prathiba M Singh's book on Patent Law, the Court highlighted that at the interim stage, courts must consider the impact of an injunction on public access to essential medicines. Quoting the book, the Court said:

"At the interim stage, the impact of an injunction if granted on the public would also be considered by the Court. In addition to the three conditions for grant of injunctions, a fourth factor, i.e., public interest, has also been applied in few patent cases."

The Court also referenced previous rulings where the Delhi High Court refused an injunction for a cancer drug due to high pricing and limited availability.

"The approved drug, i.e., Risdiplam, which is marketed under the name Evrysdi, is not available at reasonably affordable prices in India. Thus, if a party is able to manufacture the drug and make it available at an affordable price, in such a case, the public interest would have to outweigh the need for grant of injunction."

Applying the same principle, the Court noted that SMA is a debilitating disease with no cure, and Risdiplam (Evrysdi) is the only approved drug for treatment in India.

Finally, the Court concluded that denying an injunction would ensure wider access to treatment, while Roche could still be compensated through damages if it later won the case.
In a striking revelation, the Indian government has disclosed that, while the State Bank of India (SBI) is earning significant fee income from automated teller machine (ATM) cash withdrawals, other public sector banks (PSBs) are struggling with financial losses in this domain. During the past five years, SBI earned an income of Rs2,043 crore from cash withdrawals at ATMs, while nine PSBs suffered a loss of Rs3,738.78 crore. On a cumulative basis, Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Canara Bank are the only other two PSBs that have earned a profit of Rs90.33 crore and Rs31.42 crore from ATM cash withdrawals, according to a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

According to the government's reply, SBI has consistently earned higher fee income from ATM transactions over the past five years, while other PSBs have suffered losses. The year-wise ATM fee income (or losses) figures for SBI and other PSBs are as follows:

NK Premachandran, a member of Parliament (MP), has asked the government about money earned by PSBs after the stipulated limit for withdrawals from ATMs.

Pankaj Chaudhary, minister of state for finance, says as per guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), customers are eligible for five free transactions, including financial and non-financial transactions, every month from their own bank ATMs. "They (customers) are also eligible for a fixed number of free transactions, including financial and non-financial transactions, from other bank ATMs, viz. three transactions in metro centres and five transactions in non-metro centres. Beyond the free transactions, charges are levied for each ATM transaction, as per the respective Board approved policies of banks, and the ceiling or cap is Rs21 plus applicable taxes, if any, per transaction."

The response revealed that SBI, India's largest PSB, has successfully turned ATM cash transactions into a significant source of fee income, mainly due to its extensive network and structured fee policies. In contrast, other PSBs have been incurring losses, unable to balance operational costs against declining transaction volumes and fee structures.

Data shared by RBI shows that as of January 2025, PSBs have 135,908 ATMs installed across the country. As expected, SBI has the highest number of ATMs at 64,993 installed. It is followed by PNB at 12,974 ATMs and Canara Bank at 11,968 ATMs.

Additionally, banks are required to comply with RBI guidelines on service charges and minimum balance requirements which, often, limit their ability to recover costs effectively.

RBI's circulars from 2014 and 2015 permit banks to determine service charges based on their board-approved policies, but most PSBs have not been able to structure these in a way that makes ATM operations financially sustainable.

Mr Chaudhary, the minister, clarified that banks are allowed to set their own penal charges and service fees within the framework of RBI regulations.

However, it also noted that SBI has not been levying any penalties on customers for non-maintenance of minimum balance in regular savings accounts since March 2020, a move aimed at making banking more accessible but also potentially impacting revenue streams for smaller banks.

For accounts under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), no minimum balance is required, ensuring financial inclusion but further limiting banks' ability to generate revenue from these accounts.

As ATM usage patterns evolve with increasing digital transactions, PSBs need to recalibrate their ATM strategies to sustain operations and improve financial viability. SBI's ability to generate significant fee income from ATM transactions while other PSBs struggle presents a stark contrast that demands urgent policy attention.

With customer preferences shifting towards digital banking, the future of ATM fee income for PSBs will depend on how efficiently they adapt to the changing landscape while ensuring that financial inclusion remains a priority.
Giving some hope for the listing of National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), which has been pending for several years, Tuhin Kanta Pandey, the newly appointed chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) says the market regulator will assess the proposal from the stock exchange.

Responding to a question about NSE's initial public offering (IPO) proposal after the SEBI board meeting, Mr Pandey says, "We will apply our minds to NSE's IPO proposal. We will look into the issues around it and how we can take it forward."

The NSE has faced regulatory hurdles for years, delaying its plans to go public. Discussions and speculations about the potential listing of NSE have been ongoing for several years, but no official timeline or details have been released.

According to reports, SEBI's review of NSE's proposal may clear the path for the Exchange to list its shares.

Last year in December, miffed with regulatory refusal to grant a no-objection certificate for the IPO of NSE, a group of investors led by the People Activism Forum once again approached the Delhi High Court (HC), seeking directions for SEBI to approve the listing of shares of the country's biggest bourse.

According to a report from Economic Times (ET) , the People Activism Forum argued that even three months after NSE reapplied for SEBI's green light on 27 August 2024, the market regulator was yet to provide a valid justification for withholding permission for the IPO or the listing of NSE shares.

The investors claim that existing shareholders of the Exchange are being denied the opportunity to unlock the value of their shares, while the general public is being deprived of the chance to participate in NSE's profits through the open market, the report says.

In August 2024, NSE sought fresh approval from SEBI to move forward with its IPO. This update, detailed in NSE's latest annual report, follows a series of regulatory challenges that have previously affected its listing efforts.

In its April 2019 order, SEBI had imposed a significant penalty on the Exchange amounting to over Rs1,000 crore with interest. Additionally, the regulator had barred NSE from raising funds through equity, debt, or other securities for six months. This restriction ended on 30 October 2019.

However, due to a significant reduction in the number of shares offered for salespecifically by more than 50%SEBI required NSE to file new offer documents. As a result, the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) submitted earlier was returned. Subsequently, NSE approached SEBI again in 2022 but was instructed to hold off at that time.

Recent updates indicate that NSE has reignited its efforts to get listed. Despite the expiration of the previous restriction, NSE is still awaiting SEBI's response to its latest request. The Exchange has asked SEBI for a no-objection to proceed with its IPO plans and to refile the DRHP. As stated in its annual report, "NSE has requested SEBI to convey its no-objection to enable it to proceed with its IPO plan and for filing the DRHP. Response from SEBI is awaited."

SEBI's decision will be crucial for NSE's plans to list publicly and advance its financial strategy following a challenging regulatory period.

As reported by Moneylife, in January 2024, Ashish Chauhan, managing director (MD) of NSE, with the approval of its board of directors, had written to SEBI seeking an 'amicable' closure to all pending litigation in connection with the Colo scandal of 2015, either by settlement or payment of penalties.

"In some residual cases, fines imposed by SEBI may be paid without contest and a few appeals are already in the process of being withdrawn. A start was made in July this year when NSE sought to withdraw an appeal before the securities appellate tribunal (SAT) in a case involving the sharing of illegal data by favoured academic consultants with their relatives. NSE will pay the fine imposed by the regulator in that case." ( Read: NSE's Co-location Scandal: Close Issue, List and Usher Transparency

In October 2024, NSE paid Rs643 crore for itself and on behalf of nine others, including its former managing director and chief executive officer (MD&CEO) Vikram Limaye, to settle a case related to bypassing the trading access point (TAP) system. Those who settled the TAP case include: Umesh Jain, GM Shenoy, both former chief technology officers (CTOs), Narayan Neelakantan, former chief information security officer (CISO), VR Narasimhan, former chief regulatory official (CRO), and other former key employees Kamala K, Nilesh Tinaikar, R Nandakumar and Mayur Sindhwad.

SEBI's investigation into the TAP architecture and network connectivity revealed that NSE did not take remedial measures to prevent or discourage any possible bypass of TAP. TAP was a software application deployed by NSE in 2008 on the servers of trading members (TMs) for managing connections and messages for orders and trades. TMs, registered with NSE, connected to TAP to establish communication with the NSE trading system. While NSE introduced 'trimmed TAP' in December 2013 and 'direct connect' in February 2016 as an alternative to TAP, it continued with TAP until September 2019 in the equity segment and until November 2020 in the securities lending and borrowing segment. ( Read: NSE Pays Rs643 Crore To Settle TAP Case against Ex-chief Vikram Limaye, 8 Other KMPs
Former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has played down President William Rutos upcoming development tour of Meru.

Mwangaza, once a strong ally of the president, claimed that the only project Ruto can genuinely take credit for in Meru is her impeachment and the installation of a new governor.

She took aim at Members of Parliament, county assembly members, and other local leaders, accusing them of prioritizing her removal since her election in 2022 instead of focusing on development.

I precisely point it out that the 11 Members of Parliament, the Senator, current and former Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and 47 MCAsafter working together for two and a half yearshave only managed to complete one project: Governor Kawira Mwangazas impeachment project. It is the only project these leaders can proudly invite the President to launch and commission, Mwangaza stated in an early morning Facebook post Monday.

She further alleged that these leaders made multiple trips to State House and the Deputy Presidents residence, pleading for her ouster.

They have been to State House so many times but they could not beg for development projects. Some of them could prostrate themselves before the Head of State, urging him to endorse my impeachment. As a result, they have no development to show in their constituencies, she claimed.

Mwangaza challenged her political rivals to showcase their achievements, cautioning them against taking credit for projects initiated by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Despite facing political turmoil for two years, my work is visible across the county, she added.

While reaffirming her friendship with President Ruto, Mwangaza insisted that he had been misled into supporting her impeachment.

The former governor vowed to stage a political comeback in 2027, promising to unseat all her rivals in a sweeping wave. She also announced plans to launch her own political party within the next six months.

Despite my removal from office, I still have the support of the majority of Meru residents. We must send all political brokers home in 2027. I will support President Ruto based on the work he will have done in Meru, she stated.
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has issued a notice to over 100 businesses, urging them to clear goods that have remained uncollected in its warehouses.

In a gazette notice, KRA warned that companies must collect their goods within 30 days or risk having them auctioned.

The consignments, which were intended for Kenya and neighboring South Sudan, are currently stored at the KRA Customs Warehouse and the Inland Container Depot in Nairobi.

Items slated for auction include upholstery materials, electronics, industrial machinery, and textiles. The auction is scheduled to take place in May 2025.

KRA has also listed a range of other goods set for auction, including sugar, biscuits, kitchenware, automotive lubricants, cigarettes, and meat products. Additionally, aluminum solar mounting systems, electric motor spare parts, and various grocery items will be up for bidding.

Citing Section 42 of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004 (EACCMA 2004), KRA emphasized that any goods not cleared within the deadline would be deemed abandoned and disposed of in accordance with the law.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 42 of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004, as amended (EACCMA 2004), notice is given that unless the under-mentioned goods are entered and removed from the custody of the Customs Warehouse Keeper, Inland Container Depot, Nairobi, within thirty (30) days of this notice, they will be treated as abandoned and will be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of EACCMA 2004, the notice stated.

KRA confirmed that the auction will take place online between May 5 and May 9, 2025.

Interested buyers have been encouraged to inspect the items at designated locations on April 30 and May 2, 2025, during official working hours.

The auction will be conducted at various locations, including the Syokimau Inland Container Depot, Autoport, and the Inland Container Depot in Nairobi. The goods, packed in 40-foot and 20-foot shipping containers, include a diverse range of commercial and industrial products.

In an earlier announcement on March 11, KRA scheduled another public auction for Wednesday, March 26, featuring uncollected items such as sofa sets, chairs, car parts, and other goods stored in its warehouses.

This auction, held in partnership with Phillips International Auctioneers, aims to dispose of obsolete furniture, office equipment, and assorted goods from KRA facilities nationwide.
Kenya Seed Company (KSC) chairperson Wangui Ngirici has accused President William Ruto of betraying her despite her efforts to popularize the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in Mount Kenya ahead of the 2022 elections.

Ngirici, who believes she was shortchanged when she lost the UDA ticket to Governor Anne Waiguru in 2022, announced her bid for the 2027 Kirinyaga governor seat, vowing to run as an independent candidate.

I made UDA popular in Kirinyaga and recruited members, but what I received from President Ruto was betrayal. I am not ready for another betrayal. I will be an independent candidate come 2027, the former Kirinyaga Woman Representative declared.

Speaking at Thiba Grounds in Mwea East during a thanksgiving event spanning five sub-counties, Ngirici called on Ruto to complete stalled development projects initiated by former President Uhuru Kenyatta. She stressed that these projects, once completed, could significantly improve the lives of Kirinyaga residents.

President Ruto must ensure projects started during Uhuru Kenyattas tenure are completed. We are not begging but demanding, Ngirici said.

Meanwhile, Ruto is expected to commission major infrastructure projects in Kirinyaga, including General Kassam Stadium in Gichugu, the Ksh311 million Wanguru Stadium, and a 55-kilometer road network worth Ksh2 billion. He will also inspect an affordable housing project in the constituency.

Gichugu MP Robert Gichimu emphasized that the new road network, the longest ever built in Gichugu, will connect all wards, improving transport for residents and businesses.

The national government allocated funds, making this a reality for our farmers, who can now easily transport their produce to the market, Gichimu noted.
A police officer assigned to State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed shot and killed a man in Kawangware, Nairobi County, following a confrontation on the night of Sunday, March 23.

According to a police report, the officer later reported the incident at Muthangari Police Station, claiming that three men attacked him, and one attempted to snatch his Ceska pistol.

The officer stated that he fired several warning shots into the air to scare off his attackers before fleeing to the police station to report the incident.

He alleges that today, 23/3/2025, at around 2000hrs, he alighted from a motorcycle at Kwa Mungai within Amboseli, approximately 4km west of the station. As he was walking home, three unknown men confronted him. One of them struggled with him and managed to snatch his Ceska pistol, serial number F4899. However, he held onto the muzzle and eventually regained control of the firearm, the report read.

The officer further claimed that another man blocked his path, forcing him to fire multiple shots into the air to scare them away. He later reported the incident, stating that he had sustained a fracture on his left hand and an injury on his left shoulder.

However, when officers from Muthangari Police Station arrived at the scene, they discovered that the officer had shot a man, identified as 35-year-old Amos Langat, multiple times in the stomach and chest.

Langat was rushed to Mary Immaculate Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

NPS officers from Muthangari Police Station visited the scene and established that one Amos Langat, a Kalenjin male adult aged about 35 years, was shot multiple times in the stomach and chest after a confrontation. He was rushed to Mary Immaculate Hospital, where he passed on, the police report stated.

Langats body was later moved to Chiromo Mortuary, where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

Meanwhile, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have launched an inquiry into the incident. Authorities have also seized the officers Ceska pistol and a magazine loaded with three rounds of 9mm ammunition as evidence.
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has called on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to broaden his political vision and engage communities beyond the Mount Kenya region.

Speaking on Monday, March 24, Wamuchomba acknowledged Gachaguas strong backing from Mount Kenya but urged him to shift his focus to national unity.

Rigathi needs to realize that he has the mountain with him; he does not have to keep emphasizing it. He must also dissociate his campaigns from the mountain narrative because he has already fought for it enough. He needs to be seen as more accommodating to other communities, she stated.

She encouraged Gachagua to channel the same passion he has used to champion Mount Kenyas interests into addressing broader national concerns.

The same energy he has been using to fight for the mountain, he needs to use to advocate for people who are evicted in other areas and the forgotten communities of this country. If he really is a national leader, we need to see him fighting for other Kenyans, she added.

Also Read  Gathoni Wamuchomba Discloses the Origins of DP Gachaguas Struggles

Beyond Gachaguas political future, Wamuchomba, a vocal supporter of Gachagua, pointed out that President William Rutos strained relationship with the Mount Kenya region gextends beyond Gachaguas removal from office. She pointed to economic hardships and broken promises as the key sources of discontent.

The people of Mount Kenya are not happy with the President, and he knows it. Even if Rigathi were still the Deputy President, he would be in the black book just like Ruto is, she asserted.

Wamuchomba stressed that business owners and farmers in the region feel abandoned by the government, fueling widespread frustration.

The mountain people are very upset with the regime because they are the business community, they are the farmers, and they still feel that this government has been suppressive, she added.
Many of Dana Haugaards favorite stories about students making art involve those who dont necessarily think of themselves as artists.

Take pre-med student Ameer Rifai, who graduated in 2023 with a co-major in biology and integrated visual arts (IVAC). For his IVAC honors thesis, he researched the life of his Syrian immigrant family in the years before he was born  back when his eldest siblings were still young.

Rifai worked from film negatives and printed out old photos of family vacations and gatherings. Combining his passions for photography and science, he placed these images under a microscope.

He worked with [associate professor] Jason Francisco to capture these microscopic views of family life that he then printed five-feet-by-five-feet wide, so they became abstract compositions that were really quite stunning, says Haugaard, director of visual arts and associate teaching professor in the Department of Film and Media.

For years, Emorys visual art instructors have used sculpture, painting, printmaking and other media to help students create striking artwork from the ideas that compel them.

New changes are allowing them to reach more students  artists and non-artists alike.

First, there are the recent additions of more full-time visual arts faculty  such as assistant professor Krista Clark and assistant teaching professor Aaron Putt. In spring 2026, the visual arts will nearly double its teaching space as the film and media program moves its sound stage from the visual arts building to a new location at Emory Point. More exhibits in the buildings spacious art gallery are on their way as well.

Expanded space, expanded classes

Kevin Karnes, senior associate dean of faculty and divisional dean of arts, calls the expansion of visual arts nothing short of game changing.

It will allow us to increase our offerings in the visual arts, including courses that are in extraordinarily high demand already, he says. Such classes include everything from introductory drawing and printmaking, to advanced videomaking to opportunities to study art abroad.

Karnes expects the changes to double the number of students taking visual arts classes.

At the same time, plans call for maintaining relatively small class sizes. That keeps them really special, Haugaard says. Were able to know everyones name and engage in profound critical dialogue together.

We are coming out very loudly and proudly, making a commitment to invest in artistic programming and faculty across the arts and humanities, says Karnes, who notes that the ability to take a drawing or photography class matters to students, regardless of major. They expect to be able to come here and study the visual arts at Emory at the same level as they study mathematics or economics or philosophy.

Giving options and nourishing souls

Thats true for Olivia Sung, a senior pursuing a co-major in psychology and integrated visual arts.

Sung recalls choosing Emory over another college precisely because Emory gave her the choice to double major. While psychology first captured her imagination in high school, her passion for art is more deeply ingrained. Its always been an ongoing project in my life, she says, so doing both was non-negotiable.

The latest chapter of her ongoing project is her senior capstone series: a collection of delicate oil paintings featuring sheep. The project builds upon a series she began in the fall relating to a family health crisis. Sung calls creating the work a very cathartic way of expressing what I was feeling.

Having a space to express himself was important for Rifai as well. I think the best word for it is nourish, he says. Art helped nourish my soul at Emory.

From creation to curation

As it builds capacity for its studio courses, visual arts is also expanding the scope of its gallery program thanks to a grant from the Office of the Provosts Arts and Humanistic Inquiry Initiative.

Starting in fall 2025, a course that actively involves students in organizing and curating exhibits at the visual arts gallery will be offered twice as often  in both the spring and fall.

So, theyre playing a role in conversations about: What art are we choosing and why? What is the gestalt of the show? explains Haugaard.

For students interested in working in galleries or the auction world, the class offers valuable real-world experience engaging with artists.

It also gives students the chance to learn about practical matters such as how to create wall labels and hang a piece of art by carefully considering the space and surrounding artwork.

Art classes for chemists  and everyone else

Many of the visual arts classes are also intended for students who dont necessarily envision careers in the arts.

If a biology student wants to take, say, a sculpture class, we need to be able to offer them that, Haugaard says.

After all, thats how he got his own start as an artist.

While majoring in biology as an Emory undergraduate student, he felt himself drawn, more and more, to visual arts.

I can pinpoint the minute my life changed directions, he says. I wanted to take a photography class, but it was full, so I landed in a sculpture class and everything just kind of clicked.

His own story, which includes a successful career as a sculptor and arts educator, makes him an enthusiastic champion of potential young artists.

Being able to provide that space for others is really important, he says, because they don't know if they want to do it or not until they try.

In fact, he posits, its often his students who lack previous artistic experience and ideas of what art is supposed to be who create the freshest work.

The mix of majors and non-majors in visual arts classes makes them so much more interesting, says Sung, who is considering a career as a gallerist.

As an example, she mentions a friend from an intermediate sculpture class majoring in chemistry. Hes making a sculpture about chemistry equations, Sung says. Certain equations reflect how lonely he felt during the start of college and the chemical bonds in others reflect how he grew to have friends.

Like Sung, the ability to double major in film and media and biology was key to Rifais decision to come to Emory.

Id been taking photos since I was 13 and didnt want to lose that part of myself, he says.

Rifai regarded his Emory photography classes as an important counterpoint to his pre-med curriculum. Everyones concerned about the next research or internship opportunity, he says, so theres a beauty to stopping to create something physical with your own hands.

Rifai, who starts medical school in the fall, says his time at Emory helped crystallize the importance of art in his life. These days, he says he even sees a certain artistry in the specialty of surgery, which he hopes to pursue while he continues to take photographs in his spare time.

I believe that everyone is creative, he says, and Im glad theres this push at Emory to encourage the creativity within every student.
SMPL New Delhi [India], March 25: Tasva, the wedding wear brand for the modern Indian man, launched by ABFRL in collaboration with ace couturier Tarun Tahiliani - has unveiled its spectacular flagship store in the heart of Pune. Spanning 2400 sq ft in the prestigious MG Road area, the new store reinforces Tasva's commitment to delivering luxury and elegance through meticulously crafted garments and a unique shopping experience. The grand opening was graced by Bollywood celebrity, Vijay Varma, alongside Ashish Mukul, Brand Head, Tasva. More than just a retail space, the Pune store is an experience. Designed to resonate with the evolving tastes of India's cosmopolitan man. With its blend of heritage-inspired aesthetics and contemporary sophistication, the store reflects Tasva's vision of redefining modern Indian menswear. The store showcases Tasva's festive collection featuring stunning kurta sets and bundis, with vibrant screen prints and modern silhouettes adding a fresh twist to traditional attire. Meanwhile, the wedding collection offers luxurious sherwanis, achkans, indo-western and bandhgalas, crafted from opulent fabrics and detailed with intricate embroidery work. "We wanted our flagship store in Pune to embody the essence of Tasva - a seamless blend of style, tradition, and craftsmanship," said Ashish Mukul, Brand Head, Tasva. "Every detail, from the store design to the layout, has been meticulously curated to create a smooth and immersive shopping journey, offering our clients a unique Tasva experience." With highly trained stylists offering personalized advice and assistance, the Pune store ensures an unmatched retail experience. Renowned designer Tarun Tahiliani, the creative force behind Tasva, shared his thoughts on the launch: "At Tasva, we have reimagined Indian menswear with a superior fit that rivals the precision of Western tailoring, seamlessly infused into traditional attire. Every garment is meticulously crafted to provide a sharp, refined silhouette while ensuring effortless movement and comfort. Indian wear has long been associated with grandeur, but we believe it should also offer impeccable ease--so men can celebrate their special moments with confidence and grace. Pune has always appreciated fine craftsmanship, and we are excited to bring Tasva's signature sophistication to the city" Expressing his excitement about the launch, Vijay Varma said, "I have spent two incredible years as a college student in Pune, and being here for this launch feels like a full-circle moment." Sharing his personal experience with Tasva, he added, "I've worn Tasva multiple times, and what truly stands out to me is how effortlessly light and comfortable the garments are, without compromising on elegance. That's exactly what's needed for weddings and special occasions--something that looks regal yet feels easy to wear. Pune has always been a city that appreciates great craftsmanship, and I'm excited to present Tasva to the people here." With a growing presence in major cities across India, Tasva continues to set new benchmarks in premium ethnic menswear, offering garments that celebrate tradition, craftsmanship, and modern sophistication. Whether it's a wedding or a special occasion--special days deserve a Tasva! Store Address: - Tasva, Near Vasupujya Swami Maharaj Temple, 658 Sachapir Street, MG Road, Camp, Pune, Maharashtra 411001 Timings: 11:00am - 9:00 daily Also, available on www.tasva.com About Tasva Tasva, a wedding and occasion wear brand for the modern Indian man, is a brand launched by ABFRL in collaboration with ace couturier Tarun Tahiliani. Tasva is dedicated to offering classy and comfortable Indian wear. With a strong emphasis on craftsmanship and contemporary style, Tasva is redefining Indian wear for the modern man. The brand offers an extensive range of kurtas, kurta bundi sets, sherwanis, Indo-western outfits, footwear, and accessories. The brand's exquisite products are available at exclusive Tasva stores across India and online at www.Tasva.com About Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited ABFRL is part of a leading Indian conglomerate, The Aditya Birla Group. With revenue of Rs. 13,996 Cr. spanning retail space of 11.9 million sq. ft. (as on March 31, 2024), it is India's first billion-dollar pure-play fashion powerhouse with an elegant bouquet of leading fashion brands and retail formats. The Company has a network of 4,664 stores across approximately 37,205 multi-brand outlets with 9,563 point of sales in department stores across India (as on 31st March 2024). It has a repertoire of India's largest brands in Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly and Peter England, established over 25 years. Pantaloons is one of India's leading fashion retailers. Company's international Brands portfolio includes - The Collective, Amongst India's largest multi-brand retailers of international brands and has long term exclusive partnerships with select brands such as Ralph Lauren, Hackett London, Ted Baker, Fred Perry, Forever 21, American Eagle, Reebok, Simon Carter and Galeries Lafayette. The Company's foray into branded ethnic wear business includes brands such as Jaypore, Tasva & Marigold Lane. The company has strategic partnerships with Designers 'Shantanu & Nikhil', 'Tarun Tahiliani', 'Sabyasachi' and 'House of Masaba'. In addition, to cater to the needs of digitally native consumers, ABFRL is building a portfolio of Digital-first brands under its technology led 'House of D2C Brands' venture TMRW. TMRW is on a path to building a portfolio of Digital First brands in partnership with founders of emerging brands in the E-Commerce market. The Company in Sept 2023 completed the acquisition of 51% stake in TCNS Clothing Co. Ltd. TCNS is India's leading women's branded ethnic apparel company that designs, markets and retails portfolio of women's branded apparel across brands W, Aurelia, Wishful, Elleven & Folksong. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], March 25: At Karnavati University, education is envisioned as a dynamic interplay between knowledge and action and believe that the foundation of a progressive society lies in cultivating thought leaders who embark on a mission to create impact with purpose. This ideology finds its expression in the university's uniquely curated flagship events and institutional platforms, each designed to expose students to pioneering thought leadership and immersive experiences. Ahmedabad Design Week Ahmedabad Design Week, Karnavati University's annual ode to design & innovation, is a global confluence bringing together visionaries shaping diverse & distinct narratives on the evolving landscape of design and the youth's pivotal role. The presence of esteemed personalities including Piyush Goyal, Gen. M M Naravane, the Chief of Army Staff, Indian Army. Dr Thomas Garvey & Board Members of World Design Organisation elevated the platform, paving the way to in-depth industry insights for design aspirants, academicians, researchers & visitors. Innovation at KU is not just a concept, it is a culture. Karnavati University's startup incubators Karnavati Innovation & Incubation Foundation (KIIF) and Defence Design & Technology Incubator of India (DDTII) are a testament to this spirit. With over 250 unique startups, these platforms foster entrepreneurial talent in a spectrum of sectors such as defence, AI, health teach & more. Esteemed dignitaries including Prof. T . G Sitharaman. Chairman, AICTE, Maj. Gen. S S Virk, GOC, 11th Infantry Division and MoU signing with Lt. Gen J S Nain, GOC, Southern Command of the Indian Army have not only strengthened the credibility of these ventures but also inspired the next generation of innovators and problem solvers. In a rapidly transforming global landscape, governance and policy-making remain crucial domains for youth engagement. Chhatra Niti Ayog, hosted by Karnavati University brings forward young minds face-to-face with the frameworks that shape the nation. Distinguished voices such as Prof. Anil Sahasrabuddhe, Chairman of NAAC and Dr S Somanath, Former Chairman of ISRO, enabled students to view policy not just as a general idea but as a tangible tool of change. At Karnavati University, the presence of such trailblazing leaders & decision-makers stands as an inspiration for the generation next to believe in service before self and lead in the pathway to nation building. (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)
SMPL New Delhi [India], March 25: The CUET exam is evolving, with key changes in its pattern and syllabus. Understanding these updates early will give you a strategic advantage. Let's explore what's new and how to prepare effectively. The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) has become the gateway for students aiming to secure admission into prestigious central universities across India. Every year, the National Testing Agency (NTA) refines the examination structure to make it more efficient and student-friendly. As we step into the exam, aspirants must stay updated with the latest modifications in the CUET exam pattern 2025 to ensure they align their preparation strategies accordingly. Key Changes in CUET Exam Pattern 2025 The CUET Exam 2025 has undergone several changes, enhancing the fairness and reliability of the selection process. Here's what aspirants need to be aware of: 1. Reduction in Subject Choices The number of available subjects has been reduced from 63 to 37. The revised structure includes 13 languages, 23 domain-specific subjects and the general test. Subjects such as Entrepreneurship, Teaching Aptitude, Fashion Studies, Tourism, Legal Studies and Engineering Graphics have been removed. Candidates must now carefully select their subjects to align with their desired courses. 2. Limit on Subject Selection Aspirants can now choose only five subjects, whereas previously, they could choose up to six. This adjustment requires students to be more strategic in their subject selection to optimize their performance in university admissions. 3. Exam Mode and Duration Standardization The CUET UG 2025 will be conducted entirely in the Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. Each subject will have a fixed duration of 60 minutes, ensuring a standardized testing experience for all candidates. 4. Exam Dates and Application Process The CUET UG 2025 exam is scheduled to take place from May 15 to May 31, 2025. The online application process began on February 27, 2025, and the deadline for submission was extended to March 24, 2025, until 11:50 PM IST. The fee payment deadline is March 25, 2025, with the correction window open from March 26 to March 28, 2025. 5. Dual Exam System: A Second Chance for Improvement CUET 2025 introduces a dual exam system, allowing candidates to take the test twice. This provides them with an opportunity to improve their scores, reducing pressure on a single attempt and increasing their chances of securing admission to their preferred universities. Impact of the Changes on Aspirants Given these modifications, students must adapt their preparation strategies accordingly: * Selective Subject Preparation: With fewer subjects to choose from, aspirants must focus on mastering their chosen five subjects. * Enhanced Time Management: The fixed 60-minute duration per subject means candidates need to improve their speed and accuracy. * Concept-Based Learning: The removal of rote-based subjects emphasizes a greater need for conceptual clarity and reasoning. * Mock Test Practice: Since CUET is now standardized, practicing with the latest NTA CUET mock test papers will help candidates familiarize themselves with the CBT mode and exam pattern. CUET Syllabus 2025: Key Updates The CUET syllabus for 2025 has been restructured to include more application-based and reasoning-based questions. The exam now assesses: * Application on concepts rather than simple memorization. * Case-based and assertion-reasoning questions, particularly in Science and Social Science subjects. * Logical reasoning and data interpretation skills, making analytical preparation a necessity. How to Prepare for CUET 2025? With such drastic changes in the exam pattern, students need a structured plan to effectively prepare for the exam. Here's how one can tackle the exam effectively: 1. Use Updated CUET Exam Books Selecting CUET exam books that align with the revised syllabus and question trends is crucial. Books focusing on conceptual clarity, practice papers, and previous years' questions will be most beneficial. 2. Practice with NTA CUET Mock Test Papers 2025 Since the exam is fully computer-based, solving NTA CUET Mock Test Papers 2025 will help aspirants get comfortable with the exam interface, question format, and time management. Candidates can refer to leading publishers like Oswaal Books, which offer mock tests tailored to the latest exam pattern. These updated resources provide a more effective way to familiarize candidates with the revised format and improve their preparation. 3. Consistent Subject-Wise Preparation Students should allocate dedicated time to each of their selected subjects. As the exam is now set to focus on concept-based questions, students should focus on ensuring a deep understanding of concepts and their applications. 4. Develop Speed and Accuracy Practicing speed-solving techniques and efficient time allocation will be essential for managing the 60-minute subject-wise exam duration effectively. One of the most effective ways to improve speed is to attempt mock tests in time constraints. Engaging in this practice will cultivate the ability to solve problems swiftly and manage time efficiently. Conclusion The CUET Exam Pattern 2025 emphasizes analytical thinking and application-based learning. While these changes present new challenges, they also encourage students to develop critical reasoning skills. By staying informed, selecting the right subjects, and practicing with the latest mock test papers, aspirants can enhance their performance and secure admission to top universities. Early preparation, strategic practice, and a clear understanding of the exam format will be key to success in CUET 2025. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Indian stocks continued their upward movement on Tuesday's opening, marking a consecutive rally for the seventh session. The Nifty 50 index opened at 23,751.50 with a gain of 93.15 points or 0.39 per cent, while the BSE Sensex was up by 311.90 points or 0.40 per cent to open at 78,296.28. Experts stated that the market is recovering due to buying by foreign investors; however, challenges still remain as Trump is set to announce new trade tariffs on April 2. Ajay Bagga Banking and Market Expert told ANI "Indian markets are benefitting from a sharp short covering by FPIs and some domestic investors who have been wrong footed by the strong 4 per cent jump in the benchmark indices and the 7 per cent plus jump in the broader indices last week. The FPI net inflow in the cash markets is the first after December and September of 2024". He further stated, "The global sentiment improving is also helping. April 2nd remains a challenge for global trade. The news broken by the Wall Street Journal that the Trump Reciprocal Tariffs will be less broad based, and will have many exceptions given to sectors and countries, has led to a global relief rally." In the sectoral indices on NSE, Nifty PSU Bank gained 0.62 per cent after surging more than 3 per cent on Monday. All sectors are in the green, showing signs of recovery. Nifty Auto gained 0.51 per cent, Nifty IT was up by 0.87 per cent, and Nifty PSU Bank also gained 0.62 per cent. The top gainers in the Nifty 50 opening session include Ultratech Cement, HCL Tech, TCS, Infosys, and Wipro, while the top losers include Dr. Reddy's, Britannia, IndusInd Bank, and Apollo Hospitals. Akshay Chinchalkar, Head of Research, Axis Securities said "The Nifty rose for the sixth straight day yesterday, but the demand for protection via the India VIX also jumped, given the swiftness of the recent advance. Although overall breadth has been firmly positive, the advance has been vertical, with three upside gaps opening up since the March 17 low. That has sent some near-term oscillators to overextended territory, so bulls need to exercise caution. Resistance for the day is expected to be seen in the 23827 and 23960 zone, while first support sits near 23402". In other Asian markets, except for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index and South Korea's KOSPI index, all other markets gained and were trading positively at the time of filing this report. Nikkei 225 was up by 0.7 per cent, while the Taiwan Weighted Index gained 0.72 per cent. (ANI)
NewsVoir Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 25: In a significant move to bolster India's renewable energy landscape, Value Plus Retail, North India's largest electronic retailer, proudly announces the launch of its in-house rooftop solar brand, AISEN Solar. This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision for a sustainable and self-reliant India, aiming to address the growing demand for reliable solar energy solutions in Uttar Pradesh (UP). Addressing Consumer Concerns in the Solar Market The Indian rooftop solar sector has witnessed exponential growth, with the market expected to reach $6.17 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 15.19%. Uttar Pradesh is emerging as a key player in India's renewable energy sector, actively tapping into various segments to meet its energy requirements. The state's renewable energy share (excluding large hydro) in the total power mix is currently 17%, surpassing its Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) target of 15% for 2023-24. However, this rapid expansion has also led to the emergence of numerous new entrants, causing consumers to express concerns about the longevity and reliability of installations, especially when many providers lack physical storefronts for product verification and post-sale support. Value Plus Retail's Commitment to Quality and Trust Addressing these consumer concerns, Value Plus Retail leverages its three-decade legacy of trust and excellence in the electronics sector to introduce AISEN Solar. This new venture ensures customers have the unique advantage of experiencing products firsthand at any of the 150+ Value Plus stores across North India, and 100+ Stores in Uttar Pradesh including major cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, and Varanasi. Unlike many online-only solar solution providers, AISEN Solar ensures transparency and reliability by allowing customers to visit, inspect, and purchase from a physical retail store, giving them complete confidence in product quality and the assurance of dedicated after-sales service. "AISEN Solar, backed by Value Plus, is committed to becoming the #1 Rooftop Solar Brand in Uttar Pradesh within the next 2-3 years. Our wide retail network and deep-rooted trust in the market provide a significant advantage in delivering reliable and high-quality solar solutions to our customers," quoted Karan Agarwal, Director of Value Plus. Empowering Uttar Pradesh's Green Transition With a robust network of retail outlets, Value Plus Retail is poised to lead the green energy transition in UP. The launch of AISEN Solar not only provides consumers with accessible and dependable solar solutions but also aligns with the national agenda to increase rooftop solar installations. Notably, the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana aims to add 30 GW of solar capacity through residential rooftop installations, significantly contributing to India's renewable energy goals. With UP emerging as a key player in India's solar transition, AISEN Solar aims to drive a large-scale adoption of rooftop solar solutions by offering affordable, efficient, and trustworthy energy alternatives for homes and businesses. Established in 2007, Value Plus Retail has grown to become North India's largest electronic retailer, offering a wide range of consumer electronics including Mobile Phones, Laptops across top Brands and home appliances. With a steadfast commitment to quality, customer satisfaction, and innovation, the company continues to adapt to evolving market dynamics, now venturing into renewable energy solutions with the introduction of AISEN Solar. (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 25: Patti White, the Co-founder and CEO of Hemex Health, has been honored with the prestigious ET Inspiring Women Leaders Awards at the ET Women Conclave held at Gurugram. The event was organized by the Times Group to recognize exceptional contributions by women leaders across various fields. Patti White is the Co-founder and CEO of Hemex Health, bringing over 25 years of experience in medical technology. Throughout her career, she has launched over 20 successful products, many tailored for emerging markets. Her expertise spans various medical fields, including cardiology, critical care, pain medicine, ophthalmology, behavioural health, and diagnostics. Prior to founding Hemex Health, Patti held significant roles, such as leading marketing for Hewlett Packard's $400 million PC business and its $100 million Cardiology division. She has also been instrumental in startups that developed low-cost patient monitors, achieving sales exceeding $100 million. Patti's advice to the young girls: "I advise young women aspiring to excel in health technology to build a strong foundation in fields such as biomedical engineering, artificial intelligence, regulatory affairs, or data science. Understanding the business side of healthcare is equally crucial. Developing effective communication skills and cultivating a supportive network are essential steps toward success. Recognizing that women in science may encounter biases, I encourage resilience in overcoming obstacles. As you progress in your careers, remember to 'pay it forward' by mentoring other young women in your sphere. Aligning your work with personal values and interests is fundamental to achieving fulfillment and making a meaningful impact in the field." A quote she believes in- "Find your passion in life and live your best, joyous life. And if you can, leave the world a better place for your having lived." About the Company: Hemex Health & HemexDx Hemex Health is committed to making high-quality medical diagnostics accessible and affordable, especially in challenging and remote settings. By transforming proven research into cost-effective, intuitive devices, the company aims to empower frontline healthcare providers with reliable diagnostic tools. Hemex Health's flagship product, the Gazelle diagnostic platform, exemplifies this mission by offering portable and accurate testing solutions for diseases like sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. HemexDx Private Limited, a subsidiary of Hemex Health, focuses on delivering affordable, user-friendly, point-of-care electrophoresis diagnostics for hemoglobin variants, particularly in developing regions. The company operates in over 45 countries, with 2,900 customer sites, and has tested 1.7 million patients to date. HemexDx is ISO 13485 certified, and its Gazelle platform is CE approved, ICMR validated, CDSCO approved, and recognized as a confirmatory test by the National Health Mission (NHM) of India. HemexDx Product: Gazelle Diagnostic Platform The Gazelle diagnostic platform is a versatile, portable, battery-powered device equipped with GPS and Bluetooth capabilities, designed to meet the diagnostic needs of diverse healthcare settings. Developed in collaboration with Case Western Reserve University, Gazelle integrates two core technologies: microchip electrophoresis and fluorescence immunoassay (FIA). It allows for printing and digital transfer of results, enhancing its usability in various environments. The Gazelle Hb Variant test can identify and quantify 19 phenotypes of hemoglobin variants within 10 minutes, making it a valuable tool in the early detection and management of hemoglobin disorders. Notably, it has been recommended for India's NHM's Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission 2047. Future developments for the Gazelle platform include parameters for ferritin, serum proteins, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), microalbumin: creatinine ratio, vitamin B12, and C-reactive protein (CRP), aiming to broaden its diagnostic capabilities and further support global health initiatives. (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)
HT Syndication Kathmandu [Nepal], March 25: SMC Agri Ltd. (Madhusudan), a leading name in the agricultural and food industry, is proudly participating as the Diamond Sponsor at the prestigious 11th GAI Food, Beverage & Hospitality Expo 2025 in Nepal. The event, which brings together innovative minds and industry leaders, is seen as a platform where ideas thrive, and businesses grow. The company, known for its commitment to innovation and quality, is dedicated to driving business growth in the agricultural and food sectors. By showcasing a diversified range of frozen foods - Frozen French Fries, Frozen Mixed Veg, Frozen Peas, Frozen Sweet Corn, Frozen Baby Corn & other products under the Frozen Vegetable Category - SMC Agri Ltd. (Madhusudan) aims to highlight its role in shaping the future of the food and hospitality industry with smart and sustainable solutions. The expo is recognized as a significant opportunity for networking, learning, and growth. SMC Agri Ltd. (Madhusudan) is actively seeking to expand its network by connecting with potential distributors and exploring new opportunities in Nepal's dynamic market. The company's participation underscores its commitment to strengthening its presence in the region and contributing to the growth of the agricultural and food industry. Director, Amit Aggarwal of SMC Agri Ltd. (Madhusudan) stated, "We are thrilled to be the Diamond Sponsor at the 11th GAI Food, Beverage & Hospitality Expo 2025 in Nepal. This platform allows us to showcase our commitment to quality and innovation in the Frozen Food sector. We are eager to connect with Industry Leaders and potential Distributors and explore new avenues for growth in this dynamic competitive market. Our aim is to contribute significantly to the sustainable development of the food and hospitality industry in the region." With a focus on innovation and sustainability, SMC Agri Ltd. (Madhusudan) is poised to play a pivotal role in transforming Nepal's food and hospitality landscape, leaving a lasting impact on the industry. The company's efforts align with the expo's mission to foster collaboration and drive progress in the industry. As the event unfolds, SMC Agri Ltd. (Madhusudan) is expected to engage with stakeholders, share insights, and showcase its high-quality products, further solidifying its reputation as a leader in the field. The company's participation is seen as a testament to its dedication to excellence and its vision for a sustainable future. SMC Agri Limited. For Business Enquiry: https://www.linkedin.com/company/smc-agri-ltd/posts/?feedView=all (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by HT Syndication. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 25: L&T Finance Ltd. (LTF), one of the leading Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) in the country, announced the launch of the 'LTF Pearl Anniversary Challenge,' a hackathon focused on developing innovative models to enhance credit assessments for farmers across India. The challenge aims to leverage data science and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to better predict farmer incomes, enabling fairer and more accessible lending practices. The challenge invites AI and data science professionals or students to create models using a rich dataset encompassing weather monitoring, soil quality data, crop yield information, commodity price dynamics, land records, and other relevant information. The initiative's mission is to drive innovation in LTF's credit assessment by building upon the existing advanced statistical, machine learning, and Generative AI techniques, ultimately empowering the farming community. Sudipta Roy, Managing Director & CEO at LTF, said, "We are committed to broadening financial inclusion, especially for the underserved farming population of the country. Farmers often face challenges in accessing credit at fair prices due to limited credit tracks, making them vulnerable to predatory lending. As a leading tractor financier in the country, LTF employs state-of-the-art models that leverage statistical and machine learning models to assess the creditworthiness of our farmers. However, we believe that with significant technological advancements taking place across the world, there's always room for more enhancements. The 'LTF Pearl Anniversary Challenge,' which was unveiled at RAISE' 24, a premier AI event in the BFSI sector, is a call to the data science community to take up an interesting challenge of unlocking the full potential of our data assets and developing cutting-edge solutions that open doors of credit for deserving farmers across the country. We encourage participants to explore and integrate alternative public or private data sources to further enhance their models." Dr. Debarag Banerjee, Chief AI and Data Officer at LTF, said, "Through the 'LTF Pearl Anniversary Challenge,' we are inviting the brightest minds to collaborate on a real-world use case to develop practical and impactful innovative models that will bring tangible social impact to the farmer community at large. This is a rare opportunity for AI and data science professionals or students to actively shape the future of farmer finance by working alongside LTF to make a real difference." LTF is seeking innovative economic models to transform farmer credit scoring. The Company is providing access to its data and is encouraging the use of alternative data sources to eliminate unwarranted loan rejections for deserving farmers. The winning solution will be evaluated based on the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of predicted farmer income on unseen data. The top performing teams and individuals will be awarded Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals, along with cash prizes, details of which are available on the Pearl Challenge website. In addition to monetary prizes, winners may also be offered job opportunities at LTF and will have the chance to contribute to impactful financial solutions within the agricultural sector. Participants can form teams to collaborate on their submissions. There is no fee to enter the competition. Team registration closes on April 14, 2025, followed by the solution submission deadline on May 14, 2025. The winners will be announced on August 1, 2025. Register now at: www.ltfraise.com/PearlChallenge For queries, please contact: pearlchallenge@ltfs.com L&T Finance Ltd. (LTF) (https://www.ltfs.com), formerly known as L&T Finance Holdings Ltd., (LTFH) is a leading Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), offering a range of financial products and services. Headquartered in Mumbai, the Company has been rated 'AAA' - the highest credit rating for NBFCs - by four leading rating agencies. It has also received leadership scores and ratings by global and national Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) rating providers for its sustainability performance. The Company has been certified as a Great Place To Work and has also won many prestigious awards for its flagship CSR project - "Digital Sakhi"- which focuses on women's empowerment and digital and financial inclusion. Under Right to Win, being in the 'right businesses' has helped the Company become one of the leading financiers in key Retail products. The Company is focused on creating a top-class, digitally enabled, Retail finance company as part of the Lakshya 2026 plan. The goal is to move the emphasis from product focus to customer focus and establish a robust Retail portfolio with quality assets, thus creating a Fintech@Scale while keeping ESG at the core. Fintech@Scale is one of the pillars of the Company's strategic roadmap - Lakshya 2026. The Company has around 2.5 Crore customer database, which is being leveraged to cross-sell, up-sell, and identify new customers. For more information: X, Facebook, Linkedin, Youtube. (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)
"I look forward to discovering the new generation of Chinese filmmakers and their ways to narrate a story at the Shanghai International Film Festival," renowned Italian filmmaker Giuseppe Tornatore has said.

Italian film director Giuseppe Tornatore has handwritten a congratulatory note to the upcoming 27th Shanghai International Film Festival. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]





In an interview with Xinhua at his office in Rome, Italy, Tornatore showed reporters the Chinese version poster of The Legend of 1900, a film that depicts the story of a piano prodigy who lives his entire life on a ship. The film has been released twice in Chinese theaters and received positive feedback.

"I'm very happy that Chinese audiences like my films," he said.

Tornatore has been appointed jury president for the main competition section of the Golden Goblet Awards at the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival, which is scheduled to be held from June 13 to 22.

"It was a big honor for me. I'm sure that in Shanghai I will see good movies," he said.

Tornatore noted that Chinese films have achieved notable success in international markets in recent years, and Films such as Ne Zha 2, The Wandering Earth 2 and Caught by the Tides have earned international acclaim.

Renowned for his masterpieces including Oscar-winning Cinema Paradiso, Tornatore emphasized that the key to making films loved by global audiences is staying true to one's own heart.

"Cinema Paradiso is a great example. When I decided to make this film, I wasn't thinking about how to win the approval of audiences in Europe, the U.S., or China. Instead, I wanted to tell a personal story. I tried to make sure the characters and everything in the film were believable so that the audiences could connect with them," Tornatore said.

The film director said he enjoys watching Chinese films. "I love this different point of view that other cinematographers bring, and I can also learn about the story of China and the culture of Chinese people."

Speaking of the influence of AI and other emerging technologies on the film industry, Tornatore said he is interested in AI and believes it offers new possibilities for both film production and the restoration of classic films.

"My dream is to make a film entirely on my own without the help of anybody and to have my grandfather as the main character. AI can give me this opportunity," Tornatore said.




NewsVoir New Delhi [India], March 25: Sapna Sharma, Director - Chief Technology Officer at Korecent Solutions Pvt. Ltd., has been honoured with the "ET Most Inspiring Woman Leader" award at the ET Women Conclave 2025, hosted by The Times of India. She received this distinguished recognition from celebrated actress and industry icon Sonali Bendre at an exclusive ceremony at Hyatt Gurgaon. A visionary in enterprise technology and digital transformation, Sapna has been pivotal in driving innovation, modernizing open-source ERP solutions, and optimizing industry automation. As a client-focused leader, she identifies business challenges and architect-tailored solutions and ensures seamless project execution with rapid turnaround times. Under her leadership, Korecent has strengthened its presence as a trusted consulting partner across the U.S. and European ERP markets. A Leader, Mentor, and Advocate for Business Transformation Beyond her extensive technical expertise, Sapna Sharma is a leader with a deep commitment to fostering client success, mentoring future innovators, and driving business transformation through technology. She is recognized for her expertise in bridging the gap between complex technological innovations and real-world business needs, ensuring organizations thrive in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Her leadership at Korecent is rooted in a people-first philosophy--where empowering her team, guiding clients through digital transformation, and championing inclusive innovation in enterprise technology is at the core of her approach. She believes that true success in transformation goes beyond simply implementing advanced solutions. it requires a strategic vision, a profound understanding of client challenges, and a collaborative mindset that drives sustainable growth and enables businesses to scale effectively. As a mentor, Sapna is passionate about knowledge-sharing and professional development within the tech industry. She actively supports young professionals, particularly women in technology, by offering guidance, mentorship, and opportunities to grow in leadership roles. Her advocacy for diversity and inclusion in the tech space reflects her belief that innovation flourishes in environments that embrace varied perspectives and experiences. Reflecting on the Honor, Sapna Sharma, Director - Chief Technology Officer, Korecent Solutions Pvt. Ltd. shared, "Leadership is about more than just words--it's about embodying the values we preach and inspiring others to rise alongside us. I am truly honoured to receive the 'ET Most Inspiring Woman Leader' award from the inspiring Sonali Bendre. This recognition is a testament not just to my journey, but to the passion, resilience, and innovation that my team and I bring to empowering businesses across the globe. It strengthens my unwavering commitment to continuous transformation, fostering client success, and mentoring the next wave of technology leaders." Redefining Business Success through Technology Under Sapna's leadership, Korecent is at the forefront of digital transformation, offering businesses customized ERP solutions that drive efficiency, agility, and long-term growth. By championing a consultative approach, she ensures that technology is not just a tool but a strategic enabler that aligns with business goals, fosters operational excellence, and creates tangible impact. The ET Women Conclave 2025 serves as a premier platform celebrating exceptional women leaders who are reshaping industries and redefining leadership. Sapna Sharma's recognition at the event underscores her exceptional contributions to the technology sector, her unwavering commitment to client success, and her role in shaping the future of enterprise solutions. This accolade further cements her status as an inspiring figure in the tech world, demonstrating that technology leadership is not just about expertise but about vision, collaboration, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Headquartered in U.S with an offshore delivery centre in Chandigarh Tri-city, Korecent is a bespoke ERP Solution provider and digital transformation company that empowers enterprises by implementing cutting-edge solutions. It is a leading provider of custom business solutions, specializing in ERP implementation, and enterprise consulting. As a trusted Frappe ERPNext partner and Oracle NetSuite, Korecent delivers innovative, scalable, and efficient solutions that drive operational success for businesses worldwide. For more information, please visit korecent.com. (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)
REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited (RECPDCL), a wholly owned subsidiary of REC Limited, the Maharatna CPSU under the aegis of the Ministry of Power, handed over the project-specific SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) of the ISTS Transmission Project under the TBCB route, viz, Ratle Kiru Power Transmission Limited to IndiGrid 2 Private Limited on March 24th March 2025 at Gurugram. According to a release by RECPDCL, IndiGrid 2 Private Limited emerged as the Transmission Service Provider (TSP) through the Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) process conducted by RECPDCL, the Bid Process Coordinator for developing the transmission project on a Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) basis. T.S.C. Bosh, CEO of RECPDCL, handed over the SPV to Puneet Singh Chauhan, Vice President & Head (Commercial) of IndiGrid 2 Private Limited, in the presence of senior officials of RECPDCL, IndiGrid 2 Private Limited, and Central Transmission Utility of India Limited. The project's implementation period is 24 months. The scheme covers the construction of 150 kms of 400 KV transmission line between Samba (J-K) and Jalandhar (Punjab), 35 kms of 400 KV line between Kishenpur (J-K) and Samba, including other associated works. The estimated cost of the project is around Rs. 1,407.44 Crore. REC Limited is an NBFC focusing on Power Sector Financing and Development across India. Established in 1969, REC Ltd. has completed over fifty-five years in the area of its operations. It provides financial assistance to complete the power-sector value chain for various types of projects, including Generation, Transmission and distribution, and Renewable Energy. Recently, REC has also diversified into the non-power Infrastructure and logistics sector to cover areas such as airports, metros, railways, ports, bridges, etc. REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of REC Limited, has been providing knowledge-based consultancy and expert project implementation services to several state power distribution companies/power departments of states. RECPDCL has also been implementing transmission projects in the UTs of J-K and Ladakh. RECPDCL has also been acting as Bid Process Coordinator (BPC) for Inter-state as well as Intrastate transmission projects and RE-bundling projects implemented through tariff-based Competitive Bidding (TBCB). RECPDCL with its expert consulting, project implementation and transaction advisory services is thus playing a key role across the power sector value chain of the country. (ANI)
In a significant step towards elevating India's global position in emerging technologies, Global Head of IBM Corporation, an American multinational Technology Company headquartered in New York with presence in over 175 countries, Arvind Krishna called on Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh to explore potential collaboration in Quantum, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and geospatial AI solutions. The meeting between the two delegations took place in the backdrop of India's recently launched National Quantum Mission, positioning the country as a global leader in quantum technologies, according to a release by Ministry of Science & Technology. During the discussion, both sides acknowledged the transformation of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi which has placed this country as a frontline nation in AI and next-generation technologies, the statement added. Further as per the release, they deliberated on possibilities of integrating geospatial AI solutions to drive innovation and technological advancements across various sectors. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, reaffirmed the Government of India's pro-technology stance and its commitment to fostering a robust innovation ecosystem. He highlighted the government's proactive approach in welcoming private sector participation, citing recent breakthroughs in the space sector following its unlocking for private investment. He also referenced the Union Budget announcement allowing non-government sectors to participate in nuclear energy development as a testament to India's commitment to deep-tech innovation. Emphasising the need for global collaboration, Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that India is now more open than ever to partnerships with private sector players to scale up technological advancements at a global level. He highlighted the role of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) in creating a strong research ecosystem and expressed confidence in the potential of Indian youth to achieve the goals of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. The Union Minister reiterated the government's unwavering support for a deep-tech enabled India, emphasizing indigenous solutions and self-reliance in critical technologies. He also asserted that India is at par, if not ahead, of other nations in the field of emerging technologies. Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, actively participated in the discussions, assuring full support from government institutions to facilitate technological collaborations. From the IBM delegation, Sandip Patel, Country General Manager and MD; Kishore Balaji, Executive Director - GRA; and Amith Singhee, Director, IBM Research India & CTO, were also present, expressing their commitment to deepening IBM's engagement with India's technology ecosystem. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party MP and Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut slammed standup artist Kunal Kamra for his alleged disparaging remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Being asked about the demolition of her office by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in 2020 and the vandalism of the studio where Kamra had performed, the 'Emergency' actor said that what happened with her was "illegal", but what has happened now is "legal action". While speaking to the media, Kanagana said, "The way he (Kamra)was mocking me, what happened with me illegally...I will not connect these two incidents. What had happened with me was illegal, but here is being done legally." "You might be anyone, but insulting and defaming someone. A person for whom his/her respect is everything, and you insult and disregard them in the name of comedy. Shinde ji used to drive rickshaws, and now he has come so far on his own," she added. She accused Kamra of defaming and disregarding people in the name of comedy for "2 minutes of fame," and questioned what are the "credentials" of Kamra. She also raised 'concerns' on where the society is headed. "Who are these people, and what are their credentials? Who couldn't do anything in their lives...If they can write, they should do so in literature. Abusing people and our culture in the name of comedy. We should think about where society is heading when someone does this only for 2 minutes of fame," she added. On Monday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday slammed comedian Kunal Kamra's remarks against Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, stating that such acts can't be justified as "freedom of speech". Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis stressed that while there is freedom to perform stand-up comedy, it does not extend to making "unchecked statements". He further demanded Kamra to apologise. "There is freedom to do stand-up comedy, but he cannot speak whatever he wants. The people of Maharashtra have decided who the traitor is. Kunal Kamra should apologise. This will not be tolerated," he asserted. Fadnavis criticised Kamra's actions as an intentional attempt to defame Shinde, stating, "There is the right to comedy, but if it is being done to defame our Deputy CM Eknath Shinde purposely, it is not right." The Maharashtra CM also took a jibe at Kamra, linking him to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and said, "Kunal Kamra has posted the same red Constitution book shown by Rahul Gandhi. Both of them have not read the Constitution. The Constitution allows us freedom of speech, but it has limitations." Fadnavis underscored the mandate of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, stating, "People have voted and supported us. Those who were traitors were sent home by the people. They showed those who insulted the mandate and ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray their place." He further cautioned against crossing boundaries under the guise of humour, adding, "One may create humour, but making derogatory statements cannot be accepted. One cannot encroach on others' freedom and ideology. This cannot be justified as freedom of speech." Kunal Kamra 'Naya Bharat' titled comedy video aired on Youtube on Monday in which he took jibes at Indian political scenarios and Maharashtra politics. (ANI)
Oscar-winning Israel-Palestine documentary "No Other Land," co-director Hamdan Ballal was allegedly attacked by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank and taken away by Israeli soldiers as per his colleague Yuval Abraham and other eyewitnesses, reported Variety. As per Variety, Abraham claimed that Ballal was injured and bleeding from his head before the soldiers invaded his ambulance and took him away. Taking to his X handle, Abraham wrote, "A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal, co-director of our film 'No Other Land. They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding. Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him. No sign of him since." https://x.com/yuval_abraham/status/1904235552620339365 As per CNN, Abraham did not witness the incident himself. Oscar awardee 'No Other Land' documentary's co-director Basel Adra also recalled the incident to CNN after he went to the West Bank village of Susya in response to Ballal's call of distress. "Outside Ballal's home was a group of Israeli settlers, some of whom were throwing stones. Israeli police and military were also outside the home, and Israeli soldiers were firing at anyone who tried to get close," said Adra as quoted by CNN. As per the outlet, the Israeli military said it had arrived at the scene of a "violent confrontation" between Palestinians and Israelis who were throwing rocks at each other. It said a fight had broken out after several "terrorists hurled rocks at Israeli citizens, damaging their vehicles." Three Palestinians and an Israeli were then taken in for questioning after "several terrorists" threw rocks at the security forces, it said, as quoted by CNN. The alleged attack came just three weeks after 'No Other Land' won the Academy Award for best documentary. On stage, directors Abraham, Ballal, Basel Adra and Rachel Szor highlighted a call for action to the destruction happening in Gaza. 'No Other Land' follows a Palestinian family living in the West Bank as their home gets destroyed by the Israeli government and they face displacement. But amidst the dire conditions, Adra and Abraham, an Israeli journalist, form an unexpected friendship and work together to document the story. (ANI)
Bigg Boss Kannada fame Vinay Gowda and Rajath Kishan have been arrested by the Karnataka police under sections of the Arms Act, 1959 (U/s-25(1B)(B)) of the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita (BNS), according to police officials. A complaint was filed against both Vinay Gowda and Rajath Kishan in which they could be seen allegedly showing a machete in a video, after which police took necessary action against the two individuals. "Big Boss Kannada fame Vinay Gowda and Rajath Kishan arrested under sections of Arms Act, 1959 (U/s-25(1B)(B)); Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 (U/s-270,r/w 3(5)) after a complaint was filed against both showing a machete in a video for reel", S Girish, DCP West Bengaluru said in his statement. Vinay Gowda made a reel with Rajath Kishan. In these reels, Gowda is allegedly holding a long machete, wearing cooling glass, and walking in slow motion while copying the style of actor Darshan. As the video went viral on social media, an FIR was registered against both individuals. As per the complaint, holding a machete for a reel in public and creating an atmosphere of fear is now the cause of the problem. Also, these reels have been shared on an Instagram account called Bujji. After watching this video, the police registered an Arms Act case against both of them. Carrying and reeling weapons in public, creating an atmosphere of fear, is an offence under the law. In this background, FIR has been registered against these two. (ANI)
A man was killed by contract killers hired by his wife and her lover in Uttar Pradesh's Auraiya, the police officials said. According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Auraiya Abhijeet R Shankar, the police received information about an injured person on March 19. The police immediately reached the spot and rushed the injured person, who was identified as Dilip Yadav, to the hospital. The victim succumbed to his injuries, after which the police registered a murder case against an unknown person. "... The police received information about an injured person on 19 March. On receiving information, the police immediately reached the spot and took the injured to the hospital. The victim had been identified as Dilip Yadav... After the person died during treatment, a murder case was registered against an unknown person", R Shankar said to ANI on Monday. The police began investigating the matter. They identified one person from the cameras installed near Ramj Nagar and deployed teams to look after him. He was arrested on Monday along with his aide. It was found that the aide, Anurag Yadav, was in a relationship with Dilip's wife, Pragati, for the past four years, the Auraiya SP informed. The police revealed that Anurag planned the whole murder on instructions of Pragati and had a deal worth Rs 2 lakhs for committing the murder. Search for other people involved in the crime is underway. "As part of the cameras installed in Operation Trinetra, we identified one person, Ramji Nagar. We deployed teams to look for him and today he and his aide have been arrested. We also found that another aide of the two arrested people, Anurag Yadav, was in a relationship with deceased Dilip Yadav's wife, Pragati Yadav, for the last four years. It was also found that Anurag Yadav planned the whole murder on instructions of Pragati Yadav... Anurag had a deal with Ramji Nagar at a cost of Rs 2 lakhs... We are looking for others involved in the conspiracy...", Shankar said. (ANI)
Upon his arrival at BSF HQ, ADG Ravi Gandhi was accorded a Guard of Honour. He also paid homage to those who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation.

He was briefed by the Frontier IG on operational preparedness and key strategic matters.

Ravi Gandhi, ADG also called on honorable CM of Tripura ,Manik Saha, Chief secretary J K Sinha, IAS and DGP of Tripura police Amitabh Ranjan, IPS. During the meeting the current security scenario and various issues pertaining to the state of Tripura were discussed.

As part of his itinerary, ADG Ravi Gandhi will visit a number of border deployed units to assess the ground situation and interact with field commanders and jawans. His visit aims to reinforce operational efficiency and boost the morale of BSF personnel. (ANI)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attended an event in Mumbai on Monday in honour of a senior BJP leader and former Sikkim governor. While speaking during the event, Devendra Fadnavis recalled the incident from the 2014 state assembly polls. Fadnavis threw light on the alliance talks with Shiv Sena and their proposal on which they wanted to fight the elections together. The Maharashtra CM said that they proposed Shiv Sena to fight elections on 147 and themselves on 127 seats, whereas the rest seats were kept for other alliance partners. However, he revealed that Shiv Sena wanted to fight elections on 151 seats due to which the alliance talks failed. BJP and then Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray fought the 2014 Maharashtra Assembly elections alone. Fadnavis asserted that they had proposed Shiv Sena to keep the CM post but they were not ready for settlement. "When the talks of alliance started, the Shiv Sena of that time had decided in its mind that it had to contest only 151 seats. Whereas our proposal was that we would contest on 127 seats and Shiv Sena would contest on 147 seats, we would give the remaining seats to our smaller alliance partners... Due to this reason, the matter could not move forward even though we explained to them a lot that we would contest on 127, and you contest on 147, you would have the Chief Minister, and we would have the Deputy Chief Minister... They were not ready to have a settlement..." , CM Fadnavis said. The BJP won 122 seats in the 2014 Maharashtra elections, and Devendra Fadnavis was elected the state's CM. Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the BJP after the polls and was part of the government. (ANI)
The Tripura Government has announced the construction of an ultra-modern Eco Park will in Sachindranagar Colony, Jiraniya to boost the state's tourism industry on the global map and attract domestic and international tourists. The park will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore. The park will be modelled after Nico Park in Kolkata and will be developed under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 project of the Central Government. Rapid progress has been prioritized following the project's approval. With this vision in mind, Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, accompanied by Rajib Kaul, Managing Director of Kolkata Nico Park, Chairman Rahul Mitra, Arup Goswami, Tourism Secretary Uttam Kumar Chakma, and other officials, visited the site along with residents to assess the area. Expressing his optimism, Minister Chowdhury stated that the construction of this park will not only create employment opportunities but also enhance the standard of living for local residents, benefiting the people of the region significantly. This initiative marks a significant step in Tripura's tourism and infrastructural development, paving the way for greater economic and social progress. Earlier on Monday, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said that the state government has taken a series of steps to develop Kokborok and other minority languages and informed the assembly that the process of recruiting around 401 Assistant Professors is underway. The CM was speaking on the the second day of the Tripura Legislative Assembly session while replying to cut motions on Supplementary Demands for Grants for the Financial Year 2024-25. "For the development of Kokborok and other minority languages, the present state government has been working tirelessly. For this, the state government has taken several steps for the progress and development of Kokborok and other minority languages, and for implementing these steps in the 2024-25 Financial Year, a fund of Rs 2 crore 16 lakh 78 thousand was provided, along with supplementary grants of Rs 52 lakh 98 thousand", CM Saha said. "For students of Kokborok and other minority languages who can read in their mother tongue, we have been organizing seminars, workshops, and also publishing books, for which funds are necessary. In these circumstances, we cannot decrease the amount," he said. Saha, who also holds the Education portfolio, said that the state has 25 degree colleges, 5 professional degree colleges, 6 polytechnic institutions, and 1 degree technical institute and 3 NCC Units under the Higher Education department. (ANI)
China willing to expand all-round cooperation with ADB: Chinese premier

Xinhua) 08:30, March 25, 2025

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda on Monday in Beijing, expressing willingness to further expand all-round cooperation between China and the ADB.

Li said in recent years, affected by geopolitical turbulence and rising protectionism, the world economy has recovered slowly with increased instability and uncertainty.

Li called on Asian countries to strengthen solidarity and coordination, adhere to multilateralism, advance regional economic integration, break down barriers to the flow of trade, investment and technology, and maintain the stability and smooth flow of industrial and supply chains.

At the same time, all sides should strengthen macro policy coordination, deepen exchanges and cooperation in science and technology innovation, enhance the efficiency and resilience of the Asian economy, better withstand various risks, and join hands to achieve common development, Li added.

Noting that the ADB is an important multilateral development institution in the Asia-Pacific region, Li said China is ready to further expand all-round cooperation with the ADB, push the partnership to a new level, better achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and provide more public goods for the region.

The premier said both sides should strengthen financial cooperation in such fields as environmental protection, green and low-carbon development, elderly care and medical care, and deepen knowledge cooperation in such fields as the development of emerging industries, fiscal and tax system reform, and aging response.

China is ready to share its useful experience in poverty reduction and digital economy with other developing members in the Asia-Pacific to support them in better meeting challenges and achieving sustainable development, said Li.

Kanda said at a time when international trade is increasingly fragmented, China is committed to further deepening reform and high-level opening-up, which not only achieves steady growth of its own economy, but also makes important contributions to economic growth in Asia and the world at large.

ADB attaches great importance to cooperation with China, and is willing to take the 40th anniversary of cooperative ties as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with China in knowledge innovation, green development and other fields, promote the development of the Asia-Pacific region, and push the cooperative partnership between both sides to a higher level.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
"Our history and culture are very important to understanding the present moment and where we're heading in the future," said Apple CEO Tim Cook on Monday.

Apple CEO Tim Cook on an interview with China Daily in Beijing on Monday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]





"What technology does and what our products do is to help expand the audience (for traditional culture)," Cook said shortly after watching a classic excerpt from 400-year-old Kunqu Opera play, Peony Pavilion, which was performed by the Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre in Beijing.

During the event, model-actress and director Chang Chunxiao introduced her ongoing short documentary shot on iPhone, The People in the Time Tunnel, which features behind-the-scenes stories about the Beijing theater's new interpretation of Peony Pavilion.

"Only a few of us could fit in the theater and enjoy it, but with the video we're able to capture that for the world. It enables us to connect with our history in a much deeper way and with many more people," Cook told China Daily.

"I love Chinese calligraphy. I think it's one of the most beautiful art forms in the world, and preserving that is so important."

Actresses from the Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre perform a classic excerpt from 400-year-old Kunqu Opera play, Peony Pavilion, at an event organized by US tech giant Apple Inc in Beijing on Monday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]





Cook said he sees the importance of preserving the history and culture in a country with 5,000 years of history, and "there's so much in the past that can be learned from and used to make our lives better in the present moment".

Speaking of the current trend of artificial intelligence, Cook said technology, at its best, is for enriching people's lives, and for making people not only more productive but more creative as well.

"But it does not and it should not replace (human beings). It's a complement rather than a replacement," Cook said.




Congress MP Manish Tewari has submitted an Adjournment Motion in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, seeking to suspend the regular business of the House to discuss urgent concerns regarding alleged aberrations in the higher judiciary. In his notice, Tewari emphasized the importance of addressing the matter of national significance. He pointed out that the executive, legislature, judiciary, and a free press are the four pillars supporting India's democracy. The alleged aberrations in the judiciary, according to Tewari, have raised concerns within the legal community and among citizens across the country. "The recent reports of alleged aberrations in the judiciary have disturbed the legal fraternity and other citizens across the country. Parliament, being the supreme legislative body that exercises oversight on both the executive and even an independent judiciary, must rise to the occasion," Tewari stated in his motion. The Congress MP called on the government to provide a comprehensive statement on the floor of the House regarding the incidents in question, as they have raised concerns about the integrity, impartiality, and fairness of the judicial system. Tewari sought the permission of the Chair to raise this matter urgently, highlighting its importance in ensuring the continued trust and confidence of the public in India's judicial processes. Meanwhile, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Monday witnessed adjournments as treasury benches sought to corner Congress over purported remarks of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar relating to the Constitution with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Union Health Minister JP Nadda leading the BJP's attack. The Congress hit back and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh submitted a breach of privilege notice against Rijiju in Rajya Sabha. Ruckus had erupted in Rajya Sabha on Monday over Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's remarks with BJP leaders alleging that he had talked of "changing the Constitution". (ANI)
After receiving an input regarding the presence of terrorists, a joint operation was launched by J-K Police and troops of Rising Star Corps in the general area of Saniyal Hiranagar on Sunday night.

Earlier on Monday, Security personnel had deployed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in continuation of the cordon and search to track down terrorists.

The Rising Star Corps of the Indian Army in a post on X, updated that "warlike" caches were found in the area.

The post read, "Joint operation by @jmukmrpolice & #RisingStarCorps in Saniyal, #Hiranagar on 23 March, led to the recovery of warlike stores. Operations in progress."

According to officials, the operation began on the night of March 23 after credible intelligence indicated terrorist activity in the region.

"Based on Intelligence Input regarding presence of terrorists, a Joint Operation has been launched by @JmuKmrPolice & troops of #RisingStar Corps on 23 Mar 25 in general area Saniyal #Hiranagar. Operations in Progress," the Rising Star Corps, Indian Army, stated in a post on X.

The operation follows a firing incident reported in the Hiranagar area of Kathua during an ongoing search by security forces.

"A firing incident was reported in the Hiranagar area of Kathua after a search operation was underway," Jammu and Kashmir Police confirmed.

Security forces remain on high alert as the cordon and search efforts continue, with the UAVs assisting in tracking movements in the area. (ANI)
Gupta expressed her optimism for Delhi's future, saying, "Bajrang Bali will do the best for Delhi. Delhi will progress, and Ram Rajya will be established."

Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma also shared his excitement about the first Budget, terming it "a historic budget."

Verma further stated, "The people of Delhi will rejoice..." indicating that the budget would bring positive changes to the people of the national capital.

Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra echoed Verma's sentiments, calling the Budget "historic" and emphasizing that it is "the budget for the development of Delhi."

The BJP-led Delhi government is set to present the Budget 2025-26, its first Budget in 26 years in the national capital. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who also holds the portfolio of Finance Minister will present the Budget 2025-26 today.

The Cabinet meetings, which were usually held at the Assembly during the reign of former CM Arvind Kejriwal, will now be held at the Delhi Secretariat. Followng the meeting Gupta will proceed to the Vidhan Sabha and present the budget.

This Budget Session is significant, as it follows the recent 2025 Delhi Legislative Assembly election, which saw the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) return to power after 27 years.

Earlier on Monday, a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) was tabled by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta in the Assembly. It highlighted operational inefficiencies and financial losses, leading to criticism of the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

The report evaluates DTC's key operational and financial aspects, pointing to inefficiencies and areas needing improvement. It examines fleet management, revenue generation, operational sustainability, and adherence to public transport policies. (ANI)
Congress leader Ram Chandra Kadam raised serious concerns about the increasing atrocities against women. He emphasized that it is the government's responsibility to decide how the House will function but stressed that Congress is actively bringing attention to issues affecting women. "It is the government's responsibility to decide how the House will run... Congress is raising the issue of increasing atrocities against women... We are demanding that a House committee should be formed for women..." Kadam said during the session. The Congress leader also voiced frustration over the treatment of Congress members within the Assembly. "We are being treated badly in the House," he remarked, highlighting the challenges faced by the opposition party. Further, Kadam underscored the historical role of Congress in shaping India's legislative framework, asserting, "All the good laws in the country today are the gift of Congress." The Congress State President Bhakta Charan Das has also given a call to lay eige to the Odisha assembly on March 27 demanding justice for women. According to the Congress during the BJP's 9-month rule in the state more than 18000 women have been victims of harassment in Odisha. The Congress claims that the oppression of women in the state has reached its peak. The Congress MLAs had also protested in the Odisha Assembly premises on March 11, against the alleged rise in the incidents of crimes committed against women in the state. Congress state president Bhakta Charan Das said the safety and protection of women had to be ensured by the government. "The safety and protection of women has to be ensured by the government...gang rapes are being committed, younger girls are being raped," he said. Another Congress leader Srikant Jena said that Odisha was heading to become the "number one state" in crimes committed against women. "Odisha is becoming the number one state in the crimes against women... not only in our state, but all the other states there has been a rise of crime against women... Why is this happening?" Jena said speaking to ANI. (ANI)
Following the meeting, CM Gupta will proceed to the Vidhan Sabha to present the budget.

Earlier, ahead of the presentation of the BJP government's first budget in the Delhi Assembly in over 26 years, CM Gupta visited the Hanuman Temple in Connaught Place to offer prayers.

Gupta expressed her optimism for Delhi's future, saying, "Bajrang Bali will do the best for Delhi. Delhi will progress, and Ram Rajya will be established."

Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma also shared his excitement about the first budget, calling it "a historic budget."

Verma further stated, "The people of Delhi will rejoice..." indicating that the budget would bring positive changes to the people of the national capital.

Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra echoed Verma's sentiments, calling the budget "historic" and emphasizing that it is "the budget for the development of Delhi."

The BJP government in Delhi is set to present the Budget 2025-26, its first budget in 26 years in the national capital. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who also holds the portfolio of Finance Minister, will present the Budget 2025-26 today.

This Budget Session is significant, as it follows the recent 2025 Delhi Legislative Assembly election, which saw the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) return to power after 27 years.

A day earlier, a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) was tabled by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta in the Assembly. It highlighted operational inefficiencies and financial losses, leading to criticism of the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

The report evaluates DTC's key operational and financial aspects, pointing to inefficiencies and areas needing improvement. It examines fleet management, revenue generation, operational sustainability, and adherence to public transport policies. (ANI)
Ahead of Ram Navami, the police administration in Ayodhya has made watertight security arrangements to ensure the safety and smooth flow during the festival. The city is filled with excitement as preparations for the celebration of Lord Ram's birth anniversary, known as Ram Utsav, are in full swing. Talking about the upcoming festival Ram Navami, IG of Ayodhya division Praveen Kumar said, "The Parikrama, which starts on Chaitra Ram Navami, attracts a large number of devotees. The crowd also visits Devkali temples and Kamakhya Dham during Navratri. Given the high number of devotees, arrangements have been made for crowd management, especially for those planning to bathe in the Saryu River and visit nearby religious places." He further spoke about the arrangements being made for the smooth flow of the crowd during the festival, "To manage the heavy crowd and scorching heat, authorities have planned route diversions for traffic, ensuring that people can travel smoothly. In case of an increase in crowd size, further diversion plans will be implemented, as has been done in the past." "We have made arrangements for the people to see it through different screens and it will remain in circulation there, so it is obvious that people will see it at the location. People take shelter in ashrams like Kanak Bhawan, they can also watch. In the country and abroad,, they will be able to watch it live on social media, such arrangements have been made," the IG added. Additionally, live screenings of the Ram Navami celebrations will be arranged for people who cannot be at the event. These celebrations will also be broadcast on social media, allowing people both in India and abroad to watch the event live. Authorities are committed to making sure the festival is enjoyable for everyone, with the cooperation of the local people and district officials. (ANI)
Congress leader Udit Raj has proposed the implementation of reservation in the judiciary as a measure to reduce corruption, inefficiency, and caste bias. In a post on the social media platform X, Raj emphasized that reservation would diversify the caste representation among judges and improve the judicial system. "Reservation should be implemented to reduce corruption and inefficiency in the judiciary. This will reduce the number of judges from one family and one caste. A corrupt judge will be afraid that there will be fewer people from his caste and kin to protect him. He will give judgment after careful consideration," said Raj in his post. Raj further argued that judges from Dalit, OBC, Minority, and Tribal communities would be less likely to show bias in their decisions, as there would be no upper-caste judge to shield them in case of errors. "Judges from Dalit, OBC, Minorities and Tribal communities will not show bias in hearing cases because there will be pressure from the upper caste judge. There will be no one to protect them if they commit a mistake," he added. The Congress leader also criticized the current judicial collegium system, claiming that it is dominated by upper-caste judges. He believes that implementing reservation would create a better balance and reduce the bias in the justice system. He also pointed out that reservation could help prevent disparities in cases, stating, "Political people will get justice and the situation of Lalu getting jail and Mishra getting bail will reduce. At present, checks and balances have deteriorated and will be automatically established with reservation." Meanwhile, days after the Karnataka government granted four per cent reservation to minorities in public contracts, BJP MP Mayank Nayak on Monday slammed the move and accused the Congress of playing "politics of religion." He also slammed remarks of the Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar related to Constitution. "Karnataka government has announced to provide 4 per cent reservation to the Muslim community in public contracts. Who is doing the politics of religion and giving reservations based on religion? Today, there was a ruckus in the Rajya Sabha and Union Minister JP Nadda strongly objected to the matter that reservation should not be made based on religion," he said. (ANI)
Amid the controversy surrounding the alleged discovery of cash at the residence of Delhi High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saugata Roy on Tuesday emphasised the need for a fair probe on the matter. The TMC leader addressed the recent developments in the case, noting, "Nobody is considered guilty till there is a proper investigation." He stated that the Supreme Court had been handling the matter and that it was not an issue to be discussed by politicians. "The Supreme Court has appointed a committee and transferred the concerned judge to Allahabad High Court. It is not for politicians to debate and discuss this issue," Roy added. Earlier on Monday, the Delhi High Court released an official update to its supplementary cause list, announcing the immediate withdrawal of judicial responsibilities from Justice Yashwant Varma until further notice. Justice Varma got embroiled in a significant controversy after a fire incident at his residence on March 14, 2025, led to the alleged discovery of a substantial amount of cash. Justice Varma has, however, vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that neither he nor his family owns the cash. He has also termed it a deliberate conspiracy aimed at framing him. Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding Justice Varma continued to intensify as the Allahabad High Court Bar Association on Monday urged the Chief Justice of India (CJI) not to proceed with the transfer of Justice Varma, stressing that no court should be used as a "dumping ground". Speaking to ANI, President of the Allahabad HC Bar Association Anil Tiwari demanded that all judgements delivered by Justice Varma during his tenure be thoroughly reviewed to restore public confidence in the judicial process and suggested that the judge remain under the close watch of the Supreme Court until proceedings are concluded. (ANI)
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday presented the Budget 2025-26 for the national capital. She stated that this year the Delhi government's Budget is Rs. 1 lakh crores. Calling the Budget "historic," the Chief Minister said that this is a budget of transformation from a dire economy to Viksit Delhi. "This is not an ordinary budget. Delhi and whole country is watching this. They all have very hope with new government. This budget is not just an account or ledger; this is budget of transformation from bad economy to Viksit Delhi. The Delhi government's budget this year is Rs. 1 lakh crores. This budget is historic. We are presenting a budget of Rs 1 lakh crore. This is 31.5 percent more than last year," CM Gupta stated in the assembly. Addressing the assembly, CM Gupta stated that the Delhi government has allocated Rs 5,100 crores for the Mahila Samridhi Yojana. She also proposed Rs. 28,000 crores for capital expenditure in the national capital. To develop infrastructure for better connectivity with the NCR region, Rs. 1000 crores was allocated. The Chief Minister said, "Soon people will get the benefit of Ayushman Yojana, Ayushman Arogya Mandir. Along with the five lakh from the Center, the Delhi government will give a top-up of five lakh to the people of Delhi under Ayushman, Rs 2144 crores are being allocated for this. We had announced a reward of Rs 2500 for the women of Delhi. A provision of Rs 5,100 crores has been made to implement it under Mahila Samridhi Yojana," the Chief Minister stated in the assembly. "For women's safety, more than 50,000 cameras will be installed. Rs 3843 crores are allocated for road and bridge infrastructure. Rs 696 crores have been allocated to provide basic facilities in slums and JJ colonies," she added The Delhi CM targeted the previous AAP government for their inaction and claimed that the government income decreased because the government revenue was going into the "pockets" of liquor mafia and PWD contractors. CM Gupta said, "The previous government failed in every aspect of development... Yamuna was unclean, road were damaged, air pollution was high. Delhi Jal Board, DTC... were facing losses. Dirty water and overflowing sewers became Delhi's identity. Being handed over such a government and running it is no less than a challenge..." "The previous government did not have the will. Those figures were the result of financial mismanagement. Government income decreased because the government revenue was going into the pockets of liquor mafia and PWD contractors. The days of mismanagement of the disaster government are over," she added. CM Gupta arrived at the Vidhan Sabha with the Budget document ahead of the Budget presentation. She was accompanied by his cabinet members. Earlier today, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta held a cabinet meeting ahead of the presentation of the first Budget of the newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the national capital. Ahead of the presentation of the BJP government's first budget in the Delhi Assembly in over 26 years, CM Gupta visited the Hanuman Temple in Connaught Place to offer prayers. Gupta expressed her optimism for Delhi's future, saying, "Bajrang Bali will do the best for Delhi. Delhi will progress, and Ram Rajya will be established." Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma also shared his excitement about the first budget, calling it "a historic budget." This Budget Session is significant, as it follows the recent 2025 Delhi Legislative Assembly election, which saw the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) return to power after 27 years. (ANI)
Assam Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass on Tuesday said that the Panchayat elections in the state will be held in the month of April. "Our government is ready to conduct the panchayat polls in the state. The Assam State Election Commission will conduct the panchayat polls. We urge the State Election Commission to announce the poll dates as soon as possible. If the State Election Commission announces the poll dates on April 3 then the election process will be completed by May 3, if the poll date is announced on April 4, 5 or 6 then it will be completed by May 4, 5 or 6. So we request the State Election Commission to announce the poll dates as soon as possible," Ranjeet Kumar Dass told ANI. He further said that, this time there will be no political parties affiliated candidates in the Gram (village) panchayat level. "The political parties affiliated candidates will be only in Anchalik panchayat and Zila Parishad level. Apart from this the previous two child norms and educational qualification norms will also be applicable in this election," Ranjeet Kumar Dass said. The Assam government passed the Assam Panchayat (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the state assembly. According to the new amendment bill all Haats within the territorial jurisdiction of the Gaon Panchayat or Anchalik Panchayat or Zilla Parishad shall be settled in the manner as may be prescribed for a period coinciding with and not exceeding one Panchayat Year by inviting tenders at the office of the respective Gaon Panchayat or Anchalik Panchayat or Zilla Parishad by its President, the State Government will transfer such Government Haat which has settlement value of Rs 5 lakh upto Rs 10 lakh in a year to the Anchalik Panchayat within the jurisdiction of which the Haat is situated, the Haats falling under the jurisdiction of Zilla Parishad with a yearly settlement value of more than Rs 10 lakh shall be settled by the Zilla Parishad concerned for a period coinciding with and not exceeding one Panchayat Year in the manner as may be prescribed. The powers of examination and final acceptance of such tenders shall be vested in the Standing Committee as under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 81: Provided that a transfer under this sub-section above, shall be given effect from the following Panchayat Year of such income and few other amendments. (ANI)
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met with Apple CEO Tim Cook in Beijing on Monday, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Commerce.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on topics including Apple's business development in China, as well as China-U.S. economic and trade relations.

Wang noted that the Chinese economy has demonstrated strong resilience and vitality, becoming a fertile ground for innovation-driven development.

China remains unwavering in its commitment to expanding its opening-up to the world, providing foreign-funded enterprises with a level playing field, and supporting their products' equal participation in consumption-boosting policies such as trade-in programs, Wang said.

He also expressed the hope that Apple will expand its investments in China and integrate deeply into the Chinese market to share in the opportunities of the market's development.

Wang emphasized that trade wars produce no winners and protectionism offers no way forward. As the world's two largest economies, strengthened China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation aligns with economic principles, whereas decoupling and supply chain disruptions would harm all parties' interests, he said.

Noting that the unilateral tariff increases and other restrictive measures adopted by the U.S. side have created uncertainties for the world economy, he said that China stands ready to work with the United States to create a more stable policy environment for businesses through equal dialogue.

Apple will continue to increase investments in sectors such as supply chains, research and development, and social responsibility in China, aiming to support the country's high-quality development, Cook said.

Cook emphasized that the company stands ready to play an active role in promoting the stable, healthy development of China-U.S. economic and trade relations.
Uttar Pradesh Minister AK Sharma on Tuesday hailed the completion of eight years of the Yogi Adityanath-led government, crediting it with transforming the state through good governance and progress across multiple sectors. Speaking to ANI, Sharma highlighted the government's focus on public welfare and security over the past eight years and the administration's efforts to streamline services and ensure accountability. "I congratulate the people of Uttar Pradesh on eight years of good governance in the state under the Yogi Adityanath government," he said. He spoke of progress in every field, including the safety of women and infrastructure, underscoring the development of the industrial sector in the state. "In these eight years, the state has progressed in every field, including the safety of women. Infrastructure development has also been done under this government... Emphasis has been laid on the development of the industrial sector," the minister said. Sharma also took pride in the recently concluded Mahakumbh, managed by his Urban Development Department, held in Prayagraj and reflected on the success of the event that drew millions of devotees. "Mahakumbh was held under the management of the Urban Development Department, and it brought laurels to Uttar Pradesh," he added. Earlier on Monday, speaking at a programme marking his government's eight-year tenure, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said that the state had transformed from a BIMARU state into the "growth engine of the nation's economic development". "UP was considered among the BIMARU states 8 years ago; people only knew it as labour power. Today, it has emerged as the growth engine of the nation's economic development," he said at a press conference. The Chief Minister also spoke about the neglect of the agriculture sector before 2017 and highlighted his government's efforts to boost agricultural productivity. "The agriculture sector was neglected before 2017... UP has an abundance of agricultural possibilities and water resources... We could have grown as a basket of agricultural production in the country. We could have multiplied farmers' income with the help of technology. But before 2017, farmers were committing suicide... Farmer welfare schemes had been pending for 4 decades," he added. On law and order, he cited the successful organisation of the Prayagraj Mahakumbh as an example of Uttar Pradesh's improved security environment. On Monday, a programme was organised in Lucknow to commemorate eight years of the Yogi Adityanath government. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, Minister Brajesh Pathak, Minister Chaudhary Bhupendra Singh, and several other ministers and dignitaries attended the event. (ANI)
The Maharashtra State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] on Tuesday issued a scathing condemnation of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's NDA-led State government's "Special Jana Suraksha Bill" (Special Public Safety Bill), calling it an anti-democratic measure designed to suppress dissent. In a press statement, the CPI(M) demanded immediate withdrawal of the legislation, warning that it grants sweeping powers to even low-ranking police officers to stifle organised resistance against government policies. The party accused the BJP-led Maharashtra government, where Fadnavis also holds the Home portfolio, of masking its intent to crush democratic voices under the pretext of curbing "Urban Naxals." "The purported objective of the Bill, in the words of CM Fadnavis, is to curtail 'Urban Naxals'. The real objective is to suppress the voice and acts of organised democratic resistance," the statement read. With the ruling alliance's commanding majority in the State legislature, the CPI(M) expressed concern that the Bill's passage is almost certain, equipping authorities with "draconian powers" to target dissenters. "If passed, which is a surety given the massive majority the ruling alliance commands in the state legislature, it will give draconian powers even to the lowest-level police officers," the statement added. Highlighting the public's struggles, the CPI(M) noted, "The people of Maharashtra are facing extreme hardships due to the anti-people policies of the BJP-led state and central governments," citing issues like farm produce prices, crop insurance, MGNREGA work, land rights, minimum wages, and caste-based oppression. The party argued that instead of addressing these grievances, the government is "dynamiting people's democratic rights" to favour "corporate communal forces". The Bill, it claimed, is a tool to bolster this agenda against public interest. The CPI(M) criticised the Bill's vague provisions, which allow the state to declare any act or organisation "illegal unilaterally". It explained, "The state government has arrogated to itself the sole right of declaring any act or organisation 'illegal'," with penalties including three years' imprisonment and a Rs 3 lakh fine for members and up to seven years' imprisonment and a Rs 5 lakh fine for supporters or facilitators. The party warned that such measures aim to dismantle labour and civil society organisations. Pledging resistance, the CPI(M) vowed, "While condemning this neo-fascist attack by the Maharashtra government, [we] vow to fight it back tooth and nail by mobilising its mass base, as well as all sections of broad left and democratic opinion." (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP and National President of the BJP OBC Morcha, K Laxman, has sharply criticized the Telangana government for including 90% of Muslims in the OBC (Other Backward Classes) category. Laxman accused the government of undermining the rights of the OBC community and using this categorization for vote bank politics. "Since Congress has come to power in Telangana, Rahul Gandhi had said during the Telangana caste census that this will become a roadmap for the whole country. But now, 90% of the Muslims have been included in the OBC category. This way, the rights of OBC are being taken away," said Dr. Laxman, speaking to ANI. The BJP leader further accused the Telangana government of manipulating the reservation system for political gain. He added, "Vote bank politics is being played," pointing out how such moves were being used to garner votes rather than ensuring the welfare of actual backward communities. Dr. Laxman also referenced recent statements by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who suggested that his government would grant 4% reservation to Muslims, even if it meant altering the Constitution. "Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar said that they will even change the Constitution, but will give 4% reservation to Muslims," Laxman remarked. Earlier, Congress leader Udit Raj in a post on X had proposed the implementation of reservation in the judiciary as a measure to reduce corruption, inefficiency, and caste bias. Raj emphasized that reservation would diversify the caste representation among judges and improve the judicial system. "Reservation should be implemented to reduce corruption and inefficiency in the judiciary. This will reduce the number of judges from one family and one caste. A corrupt judge will be afraid that there will be fewer people from his caste and kin to protect him. He will give judgment after careful consideration," said Raj in his post. Raj further argued that judges from Dalit, OBC, Minority, and Tribal communities would be less likely to show bias in their decisions, as there would be no upper-caste judge to shield them in case of errors. "Judges from Dalit, OBC, Minorities and Tribal communities will not show bias in hearing cases because there will be pressure from the upper caste judge. There will be no one to protect them if they commit a mistake," he added. The Congress leader also criticized the current judicial collegium system, claiming that it is dominated by upper-caste judges. He believes that implementing reservation would create a better balance and reduce the bias in the justice system. He also pointed out that reservation could help prevent disparities in cases, stating, "Political people will get justice and the situation of Lalu getting jail and Mishra getting bail will reduce. At present, checks and balances have deteriorated and will be automatically established with reservation." (ANI)
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP T. Siva on Tuesday assured that his party will always stand by minorities, particularly Muslims. He also expressed his support for party chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin's commitment to safeguarding the rights of Muslims. "...He is also the leader of DMK. Whatever decisions he takes are ours. DMK has always stood by the welfare of Muslims and protected them. We have also announced schemes that have been welcomed...we will always stand by Muslims and minorities," the DMK member of Parliament told ANI. On Monday, Stalin attended an Iftar Party organised by the State Minority Rights Division and emphasised the longstanding and strong bond between the DMK and the Muslim community, highlighting the party's commitment to safeguarding community rights. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Stalin, reflecting on the policies of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, reiterated that the DMK government has consistently supported Muslims, pointing to key initiatives such as the reinstatement of Miladi Nabi as a government holiday. "There has always been a strong connection between the DMK and Muslims. I feel so happy to see today's invitation, where the photo of former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Karunanidhi, and Quaid-e-Millat is seen together. Karunanidhi had announced a government holiday for Miladi Nabi. During the AIADMK regime, this holiday was removed, but after the DMK came to power again, our leader, the late Karunanidhi, reinstated the government holiday, and it continues to exist till today," he said. "Like our leader, who had a very good relationship with Muslims and had given numbers of schemes for Muslims, we Dravidian Model Government also follow the same path Karunanidhi taught us," Stalin said. He further emphasised that the DMK will always oppose the schemes which are against Muslims. "But we DMK will always oppose the schemes and laws which are against Muslims and we will always be a great support to our Muslim community people," the Tamil Nadu CM asserted. (ANI)
Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Tuesday accused Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju of breaching the privilege and insulting the House after he sought clarification from Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge regarding the Congress' position on reservation for Muslims. Speaking to ANI outside parliament, Tagore hoped that the privilege committee will take action. "Parliamentary Affairs Minister has breached the privilege and insulted the House itself. Being Parliamentary Affairs Minister (Kiren Rijiju), he should not have done this thing. This is a valid reason for breach of privilege... I hope the privilege committee takes action. Though, till now in Lok Sabha, no privilege committee has been set up," Tagore said. This comes after Rijiju sought clarification from Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge regarding the Congress' position on reservation for Muslims. He said Shivakumar's remarks were "extremely serious". Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Monday witnessed adjournments as treasury benches sought to corner the Congress over purported remarks of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar relating to the Constitution, with the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Union Health Minister JP Nadda leading the BJP's attack. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Monday submitted a breach of privilege notice to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar against Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju for "misleading" the House over Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar's reported remarks on the Constitution. DK Shivakumar, also slammed the BJP over its protest on his purported remarks relating to the Constitution and said the party is trying to twist his remarks and he is consulting his legal team. "I don't want to comment much on it. There is no hide and seek in this issue. On quotas, there are several judgements which have come, and after every judgement, amendments have been made to the Constitution; there is nothing else. So they (BJP) are trying to twist it. They don't have any issues. I am happy that Jairam Ramesh has moved a privilege motion. I am also consulting legal experts," the Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister said. (ANI)
Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi on Tuesday staunchly defended the state's language policy, invoking the legacy of late DMK leader M Karunanidhi while addressing concerns over the triple language policy under the New Education Policy (NEP). Speaking in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Anbil Mahesh said, "All members have been insisting on an important issue. As per DMK, it's our leader Karunanidhi who introduced the Tamil Thai Valthu (Tamil anthem), the Thirukural in government buses, the Valluvar Kootam constructed by him, a separate department for Tamil language development, government orders in Tamil, and made Tamil a classical language." Highlighting Karunanidhi's contributions, he challenged, "There are 122 big languages in India and 1,599 languages in total. Search across India to see if anyone else worked to save their mother tongue like our leader Karunanidhi did." The minister's remarks came in response to Opposition Deputy Leader RB Udayakumar, who raised concerns over a letter from Tamil Nadu's Chief Secretary to the Union Government, suggesting ambiguity and hinting that the state might have accepted the NEP's triple language policy. Mahesh clarified the state's stance, saying, "Our Chief Secretary specifically wrote that, based on the recommendation of a Union committee, we will form a state-level committee headed by the Principal Secretary of the School Education Department. Based on that committee's recommendations, we will decide. The committee has not accepted anything yet." He reiterated the DMK's commitment to the path laid by Karunanidhi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, adding, "We don't need money (funds). That's why our CM said if we take your (Union Government's) 2,000 crore rupees, it would be a sin to drag Tamil society 2,000 years back. We don't want that scheme, even if you offer 10,000 crore." Taking a swipe at the BJP, the minister criticised their "equal education" signature campaign, saying, "Here in our state, a party (BJP) campaigns in the name of equal education. It's our leader, Karunanidhi, who brought equal education to our soil... It's a double-standard act by the national party members. I severely condemn this." Anbil Mahesh hinted at an impending major announcement from CM Stalin, noting, "The statement to be announced by our Chief Minister will be a big one--an eager expectation not just for me but for all Tamil people." The MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government has locked horns with the Central government over the three-language formula proposed in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the delimitation exercise. (ANI)
Congress MP Praniti Shinde on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Centre and Maharashtra government over the issue of farmers. Shinde alleged that when she was asking questions in Lok Sabha regarding agriculture and Maharashtra farmers her mic was turned off. Slamming the Maharashtra government, the Congress MP said that the state government is only focusing on irrelevant issues. "When I was asking questions regarding agriculture and brought it to the record that in Maharashtra, more than 30,000 farmers have committed suicide and more than 700 farmers died during the farmers' protest, my mic was turned off. It was an important question. Why are farmers leaving agriculture? Why are farmers committing suicide? Farmers are not being provided with loans...but the Maharashtra govt is only focusing on irrelevant issues," Shinde told ANI. During the Lok Sabha session, when Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was answering queries, opposition members started protesting. TMC MPs staged a protest against him. Meanwhile, Opposition MPs from Kerala, including Congress' Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, staged a protest over the MNREGA issue in Parliament. Congress MP and LoP Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also joined the protest for a short time. Speaking on the issue, Congress MP KC Venugopal accused the Central government of bringing this scheme to an "end." Venugopal highlighted that under the MGNREGA Act, if wages of the workers were delayed for more than 15 days, they should receive interest on the delayed payments. He pointed out that many MNREGA workers in Kerala have not received their wages, and despite raising the issue, there was no clear response from the central government. Venugopal criticized the central government, accusing them of trying to end the MNREGA scheme. "As per the provisions of the MNREGA Act, if the wages of the works have been delayed for more than 15 days, then there should be a provision of interest to be given to them. Unfortunately, MNREGA workers do not receive their salaries in all areas of Kerala. There is no concrete answer from the central minister on this. The central government is trying to finish this scheme," KC Venugopal told ANI. The second part of the Budget Session of the Parliament commenced on March 10 and will go till April 4. (ANI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Minority Morcha is set to launch its "Saugat-e-Modi" campaign, aiming to distribute special kits to 32 lakh underprivileged Muslims across the country ahead of Eid. The initiative, kicking off from Nizamuddin in Delhi on Tuesday under the guidance of BJP National President JP Nadda, seeks to ensure that poor Muslim families can celebrate the festival without any hardship. As part of the campaign, 32,000 Minority Morcha workers will collaborate with 32,000 mosques nationwide to reach the needy. National President of the BJP Minority Morcha, Jamal Siddiqui, outlined the campaign's broader vision, stating that during the holy month of Ramadan and upcoming occasions like Eid, Good Friday, Easter, Nauruz, and the Indian New Year, the Minority Front will reach out to those in need through the "Saugat-e-Modi" campaign. Eid Milan celebrations will also be organised at the district level, he added. The National Media Charge of the Minority morcha, Yasir Zilani, explained that the "Saugat-e-Modi" scheme is a campaign launched by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with the goal of promoting welfare schemes among the Muslim community and gathering political support for the BJP and NDA. The campaign is particularly significant as it focuses on the occasions of Ramzan and Eid. Under this campaign, the BJP Minority Morcha plans to reach out to 32 lakh Muslim families and collaborate with 3 thousand mosques. The kits distributed under the "Saugat-e-Modi" campaign will contain a variety of items. Along with food items, the kits will include clothes, vermicelli, dates, dry fruits, and sugar. Women's kits will contain fabric for suits, while men's kits will include kurta-pyjamas. According to sources, the cost of each kit will be around 500 to 600 rupees. (ANI)
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said that no complaint had been registered in connection with the alleged honey trapping controversy. "So far, no complaint has been registered yet," Parameshwara told reporters. Further, on the issue of phone tapping, the Karnataka Home Minister said that he has verified with the concerned department but no complaint has been registered. "No one has filed a complaint with me so far. Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka, has also made a statement. I have verified with the concerned department that no complaint has been registered yet," he said. Reacting to Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's recent statement on the Constitution, Parameshwara said, "Shivakumar has already clarified that his statement has been twisted." Karnataka Minister KN Rajanna claimed he was a victim of a honey trap attempt and said, "Today, I am going to file a complaint by meeting the Home Minister in person." On Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a PIL seeking an independent probe by the CBI or SIT into the alleged honey trapping of legislators, public servants, and judges in Karnataka. The plea filed by a Jharkhand resident, Binay Kumar Singh, sought an independent probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising police officers who are not subject to the control or influence of the State of Karnataka. The petition, filed through advocate Barun Sinha, urged the apex court to monitor the investigation either by the apex court or by a monitoring committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge. Earlier, cooperation minister KN Rajanna alleged that 48 people have fallen victim to "honey traps" in the state, and their obscene videos have been circulated. The Congress MLA claimed that the list was across party lines, including state and national leaders. "There were very serious and troubling allegations made on the floor of the Karnataka state legislature that a person aspiring to be the chief minister of the state has been successful in honeytrapping several persons, amongst whom are judges. The allegations have been made by a sitting minister who has claimed himself to be a victim, thereby lending credibility to the serious allegations," the petition read. (ANI)
The first meeting of the Nagaland Solar Mission was held under the Chairmanship of the state Chief Secretary Dr J Alam, at the Conference Hall of the Chief Secretary on Monday. The scheme PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, for the installation of Rooftop Solar in residential households in Nagaland, will be implemented under this Mission. Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved PM Surya Ghar, Muft Bijli Yojana on February 29, 2024, for installing rooftop solar and providing free electricity up to 300 units every month for one crore households. Under this scheme, the consumers may benefit from RTS installation by importing lesser grid supply thereby reducing their monthly electricity bill. Further, to lighten the investment burden of the household for installing an RTS system, the Government of India shall provide subsidies ranging from 60 per cent to 54 per cent for 1KW to 3KW of the RTS benchmark costs. Hence to align with the national endeavours toward green energy transition, the State Government has decided to supplement the Government of India subsidy by providing additional state subsidies from 36 per cent to 31 per cent for 1KW to 3 kW respectively of the benchmark cost of RTS installation. An amount of Rs 10 crore has been budgeted during the financial year 2025-26. Under this initiative of the GoI and State, Rooftop Solar will become affordable for the residents as the total subsidy will now range from 96 per cent (up to 2KW) to 85 per cent (up to 3 KW) of the benchmark cost. For implementation of the Scheme, a Solar Mission Team will be formed at the Directorate Level and a Solar Mission Cell at the Secretariat level. The meeting was attended by the Finance Commissioner, Secretary of Power, Engineer in Chief, Power and other Officials from the Power Department. (ANI)
Guest speakers at the Symposium on Macro Policies and Economic Growth at the China Development Forum (CDF) 2025 expressed optimism about China's economy despite global uncertainties.

The Symposium on Macro Policies and Economic Growth at the CDF 2025 is held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, March 23, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China Development Forum 2025]

The symposium held in Beijing on March 23 highlighted the significant transformations and uncertainties the world is undergoing, driven by shifting geopolitical dynamics, trade disruptions, financial instability and rapid technological advancements.

In light of increasing external uncertainties and instabilities, Han Wenxiu, executive deputy director of the General Office of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs, stated, "China will respond to external uncertainties with high-quality development, striving to provide a 'stable anchor' for global economic growth." He also expressed confidence that China's commitment to high-quality development will add stability and certainty to global prosperity and development.

Han Wenxiu, executive deputy director of the General Office of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs, speaks at the Symposium on Macro Policies and Economic Growth at the CDF 2025, Beijing, March 23, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China Development Forum 2025]

Such optimism about China's economic achievements and prospects was echoed by the foreign guest speakers attending the CDF.

"Over the past four decades, China has achieved one of the most remarkable development transformations," said Dilma Rousseff, president of the New Development Bank and former Brazilian president.

Masato Kanda, president of the Asian Development Bank, also praised China's economic achievements over the past 40 years, noting the significant progress made in lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and establishing globally competitive industries and vibrant cities .

Innovation is another key focus at this year's CDF, particularly in AI and green development sectors, both vital for tackling global economic challenges.

According to Joseph Stiglitz, a professor at Columbia University and the 2001 Nobel laureate in economics, China's innovative achievements in solar panels, renewable energy and electric vehicles are crucial for the world's efforts to address climate change.

"Technological innovation has long been at the core of China's national strategy," Rousseff noted. She praised the recent achievements of China's AI pioneer DeepSeek for its role in transforming both high-tech and traditional industries.

Looking ahead, opening up and international cooperation will be essential amid the uncertain international situation.

"Regardless of the evolving international landscape, China will steadfastly promote high-level opening up, and steadily expand institutional openness," Han said, calling for collaborative efforts that promote mutual benefits.

Lan Fo'an, Chinese minister of finance, said, "We are confident in China's future development and are willing to work together with countries around the world to create a better future."

Rousseff and Kanda reinforced this sentiment, emphasizing that China's experience in economic development will provide valuable insights for the Global South, the Asia-Pacific region, as well as emerging markets and developing countries.

The China Development Forum 2025, themed "Unleashing Development Momentum for Stable Growth of Global Economy," was held in Beijing from March 23 to 24.

Around 750 foreign representatives and 130 domestic attendees, including entrepreneurs, government officials, experts and representatives from international organizations, participated in the forum, which was co-hosted by the Development Research Center of the State Council and the China Development Research Foundation.

Participants attend the Symposium on Macro Policies and Economic Growth at the CDF 2025 in Beijing, March 23, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China Development Forum 2025]
Reacting to bulldozer action in Nagpur against the violence accused, Congress leader Husain Dalwai on Tuesday said that the Maharashtra government had brought Uttar Pradesh's politics to the state. "The Supreme Court and the High Court have decided on this matter earlier, that if someone has an unauthorized construction, then they should be given a notice... Bringing bulldozers and sabotaging in this way, it is UP's politics they have brought here... I want to tell the government that this is not UP, this is Maharashtra and Shivaji Maharaj used to rule here... and he ruled by law. If a government starts ruling with the law in their hands, then it is wrong," the Congress said. On Monday, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation anti-encroachment squad demolished illegal construction at the house of accused Yusuf Sheikh and Faheem Khan in the Nagpur riots case. This follows violent clashes 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. On March 22, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that 92 people have been arrested in connection with the March 17 violence in Nagpur, which involved incidents of stone pelting and vehicles being torched. Fadnavis, who also serves as the state's Home Minister, said that the violence was triggered by rumours spread on social media alleging that a holy 'chadar' had been burnt on that day. He also said that damages caused during the violence would be recovered from the rioters. "Whatever damage has happened will be recovered from the rioters. If they do not pay the money, their property will be sold for the recovery. Bulldozers will also be used wherever required," Fadnavis added. Accused Faheem Khan was arrested on March 19; he has been remanded in custody. Khan is a leader of the Minorities Democratic Party. (ANI)
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee sharply criticized Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Chouhan over the allocation of Central funds to West Bengal. Banerjee stated, "We have been saying that Central funds due to West Bengal should be given to the state." Banerjee further accused Chouhan of being against the people of West Bengal, adding, "Shivraj Chouhan is against the Bengali people. They have been trying to form a government there (West Bengal), but they will not be able to do so." He claimed that Chouhan's actions were harmful to the poor, alleging, "They are not doing anything for the poor. Shivraj Chouhan is a 'Dalal' for the rich people. He never worked for the poor in Madhya Pradesh." Earlier, TMC MPs in Parliament staged a protest today, accusing the Union Government of halting MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) funds to West Bengal. The protestors raised slogans demanding the immediate release of the funds, which they claim are vital for rural employment and welfare in the state. Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, joined the protest briefly, offering his support to the TMC's cause. Meanwhile, Opposition MPs from Kerala, including Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra staged a protest over the MNREGA issue outside the premises of Parliament on Tuesday. Congress MP KC Venugopal said, "As per the provisions of the MGNRE Act, if the wages of the works have been delayed for more than 15 days, then there should be a provision of interest to be given to them. Unfortunately, MNREGA workers do not receive their salaries in all areas of Kerala. There is no concrete answer from the central minister on this. The central government is trying to finish this scheme." Venugopal highlighted that under the MGNREGA Act, if wages of the workers were delayed for more than 15 days, they should receive interest on the delayed payments. He pointed out that many MNREGA workers in Kerala have not received their wages, and despite raising the issue, there was no clear response from the central government. Venugopal criticized the central government, accusing them of trying to end the MNREGA scheme. (ANI)
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday demanded an apology from the Congress party and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar over his reported statement on the Constitution. "Congress Party and DK Shivakumar should apologize. They have made their hidden agenda public. Congress has always insulted BR Ambedkar and amended the Constitution many times... Congress should apologize to the country for DK Shivakumar's statement," Shivakumar told ANI. Reacting to DK Shivakumar's recent statement on the Constitution, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said, "Shivakumar has already clarified that his statement has been twisted." This came amid an escalating row over the Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister's alleged remarks on the constitutional changes to accommodate "religion-based" reservations in Karnataka. Earlier, DK Shivakumar also hit back at the BJP over the matter, accusing the party of misquoting him and spreading fake news. Announcing his next steps, Shivakumar said, "I will take a breach of privilege on this. I will fight a case. They are misquoting me," and further accused the BJP of a deliberate campaign to mislead. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha also witnessed adjournments as treasury benches sought to corner the Congress over purported remarks of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar with the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Union Health Minister JP Nadda leading the BJP's attack. Congress MP Manickam Tagore filed a Notice of Question of Privilege in Lok Sabha against Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday, accusing him of misleading the House on March 24. Tagore claimed that Rijiju made false statements about Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, which he believes is a breach of privilege and contempt of the House. The notice reads, "I hereby give notice of a question of privilege against Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, for blatantly misleading the House on 24 March 2025, in terms of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha." Shivakumar's remarks sparked a massive row and drew backlash from BJP leaders over the Karnataka state cabinet approval of an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, which aims to provide a four per cent reservation in tenders to minority contractors. (ANI)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday said that except the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), all parties have extended their support to their resolution against the three language formula, adding that nobody is against any language but cannot accept any language imposition. "Except BJP, all parties have supported it (resolution against three languages). We are firm that we will never accept it (triple language policy). I came to know that opposition leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami has gone to Delhi. We hope that the opposition leader (Edappadi K. Palaniswami) will raise this issue. It's not a money issue but a rights issue. It's the state's twin language policy. Nobody is against any language but cannot accept any language imposition. Hindi language imposition will not only be a third language but it's will destroy culture. So, to save India's federalism and state rights, we are forced to take the right decisions and actions. I will publish a statement very soon in this regard," CM Stalin said. Earlier on March 22, the Joint Action Committee on delimitation was held in Chennai under the leadership of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. After the meeting, the committee unanimously adopted the resolution, which asserts that "any delimitation exercise carried out by the Centre should be done transparently and after discussion and deliberation with all stakeholders" Addressing a press conference, DMK MP Kanizmozhi stated that the JAC has expressed its deep concern about the lack of "transparency and clarity" in the delimitation exercise without any consultation with the various stakeholders. "I would like to read the resolution which has been passed. The JAC (Joint Action Committee) expressed its deep concern about the lack of transparency and clarity in the delimitation exercise without any consultation with the various stakeholders. The JAC expressed its appreciation to the CM of Tamil Nadu for taking up this initiative to safeguard the political and economic future of performing states in India. Based on the various points and scenarios put forth by representatives during the discussion, the JAC unanimously resolved that Any Delimitation exercise carried out by the Union Government to improve the content or character of our democracy should be carried out transparently enabling political parties of all states, state governments and other stakeholders to deliberate, discuss and contribute," Kanizmozhi said. The meeting was attended by various political leaders, including Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Odisha Congress President Bhakta Charan Das, and Biju Janata Dal leader Sanjay Kumar Das Burma, among others. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has said that the next meeting on the delimitation of constituencies will be held in Hyderabad, Telangana. (ANI).
In a fresh attack on Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gaurav Bhatia on Tuesday demanded the resignation of Congress MP Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi till they make a full disclosure of their relationship with the Quattrocchi family. During a press conference on the Bofors issue, BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia claimed that the Ambassador of India to Italy between 1984-1988 had made a statement that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was the kingpin facilitator, and he had very close relations with Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi. "...Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should resign from their position and post till they make a full disclosure of their relationship with the Quattrocchi family. This is the least they can do for the citizenry of the country... The ambassador of India to Italy between 1984-1988 has made a statement that (former PM) Rajiv Gandhi was the kingpin facilitator, and he had very close relations with (businessman) Ottavio Quattrocchi," Bhatia told mediapersons. "The then CAG stated that the evaluation of the competing guns was seriously flawed," he added. The CBI registered the case in 1990, three years after a Swedish radio channel alleged that Bofors paid bribes to Indian politicians and defence officials to clinch the deal. The allegations created a big scandal for the Rajiv Gandhi government and have been used by rival parties to target the Congress. The scam pertains to allegations of a Rs 64-crore bribe in a Rs 1,437-crore deal with Swedish firm Bofors for the supply of 400 155mm field howitzers, which played a significant role in India's victory during the Kargil War. Earlier on March 7, Advocate Ajay Aggarwal, who is pursuing the Bofors scandal case in the Supreme Court, revealed that he had a positive conversation with private investigator Michael Hershman over a WhatsApp call. They discussed the Rs 64-crore Bofors bribery scandal from the 1980s, and Hershman agreed to meet Aggarwal in the USA to share new information he possesses about the case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has recently sent a letter rogatory (LR), or judicial request, to the United States, seeking Hershman's cooperation and evidence. Hershman, a private investigator known for his expertise in uncovering corruption, has expressed his willingness to provide new details that could shed light on the decades-old scandal. The audio recording of their conversation captures Hershman's positive response and readiness to meet and discuss the case further. He emphasised that the Bofors issue has been allowed to linger for an extended period without any substantial action being taken by the government to uncover the truth. During their conversation, Advocate Ajay Aggarwal convinced Hershman to meet in the USA, as he is currently undergoing visa formalities for travel. Hershman claimed that he is not aware of any formal request from the government regarding the CBI's recent LRs but stated he is ready to provide all the information he possesses in the matter. During an interview with ANI, Advocate Ajay Agarwal revealed that, based on an RTI response, only Rs 5 crore was spent on the investigation. He further asserted that when the Delhi High Court quashed the proceedings against the Hinduja brothers, it wrongly noted that the CBI had expended 250 crore on the investigation." Advocate Ajay Agarwal is a Supreme Court lawyer and politician. In the 2014 general elections, he ran as the BJP candidate from Rae Bareli, where he faced off against Congress president Sonia Gandhi but failed. Hershman, the head of Fairfax Group, had visited India in 2017 and alleged that the then Congress government derailed the investigation into the Bofors case. During his stay, he appeared on various platforms, alleging that the investigation into the scam was derailed by the then government and stating he was willing to share details with the CBI. He claimed that he had been appointed by India's Finance Ministry in 1986 to investigate violations of currency control laws and money laundering, some of which were linked to the Bofors deal. He also expressed his willingness to share information with Indian agencies. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday reserved an order on the Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid's plea seeking permission to attend the ongoing Parliament session in custody. He sought permission to attend the parliament session in custody. A division bench of justices Chandra Dhari Singh and Anup Jairam Bhambhani reserved the order after hearing the submissions of counsel for Engineer Rashid and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The bench said, " We will pass an order." Senior advocate N Hariharan and advocate Vikhyat Oberoi appeared for Abdul Rashid Sheikh (also known as Engineer Rashid) and argued that I am asking for permission to attend Parliament Session. "Earlier I (Engineer Rashid) was granted custody parole by the single judge bench," the counsel argued. The NIA opposed the plea and submitted that there were serious charges against the petitioner. Senior advocates argued that serious conditions can be imposed. NIA said that once you enter the parliament court conditions would not apply. What happenes If he makes a speech there, NIA asked. The counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner was allowed to campaign for the elections despite facing charges at the time also. It was further submitted that Engineer Rashid was allowed to take oath in parliament. "My (Engineer Rashid) allegiance to this country is beyond any doubt. I was granted interim bail for the campaign, not opposed," the counsel argued. While opposing the plea, NIA said that there was a Violation of the jail rule, he was found with the mobile phone. He can borrow anyone's phone and can contact anybody from Parliament. He is not in the custody once he enters the parliament. "No fundamental right to attend the parliament. The plea should be rejected on merit," ASG Rajkumar Bhaskar Thakare submitted. At this point, Justice Bhambhani said, "He (Petitioner) was allowed to attend the parliament. People in custody are allowed to attend weddings, and perform the cremation ceremony." NIA submitted that those reliefs are on humanitarian grounds. What if the accused faces anti-national charges, and makes a statement, once damage is done, it is done. Senior advocate argued that,"I (Engineer Rashid) am not asking for bail, send me in custody. I'm not asking for interim bail." Justice Chandra Dhari Singh said, " Once he enters parliament, the custody is gone." "My custody can be ensured through the speaker," the senior counsel argued "Do we have the power to direct the speaker," the bench asked. "Yes, my lord, you did this," senior advocate submitted. On the other hand, NIA submitted that there are allegations against Rashid of collecting funds for terrorist activities in India. He has no right to attend the parliament. Justice Bhambhani said, " You are asking us to ignore the fact that he is an elected representative. There is a provision for going out of jail in custody. What is the conflict, where is it?" "Please don't undermine the power of speaker and Lok sabha secretariat to control," Justice Bhambhani said. At this point, Justice Chandra Dhari Singh said to counsel for the petitioner, " 43 D coming in your way, therefore you are not pressing for interim bail or custody parole." Justice Bhambhani asked the ASG Thakare if Security officials in plain clothes can be sent to parliament? The ASG submitted that Special permission from the secretary general of Lok Sabha secretariat will be required to allow one personnel with him. Engineer Rashid's plea for custody parole to attend the parliament was rejected by the special NIA court on March 10. Engineer Rashid's plea for regular bail was also dismissed on March 21 by the special NIA Court. (ANI)
The government of India is committed to the construction and modernization of critical border infrastructure, such as fencing, border outposts, floodlights and roads, to enhance security along international borders, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Nityanand Rai shared this information in a written reply, to questions on border security. The question asked was, "Whether the Government faces delays in constructing critical border infrastructure like fencing, outposts and reads due to funding shortages and inter-agency disputes. If so, the steps being taken to expedite these projects, especially along sensitive borders like India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh" The MoS in his reply stated, "The government of India is committed to the construction and modernization of critical border infrastructure, such as fencing, border outposts, floodlights and roads, to enhance security along international borders. The Ministry conducts regular reviews with executing agencies and State Governments/UT Administrations to ensure timely completion of border infrastructure projects." He further added, "Additionally, dedicated State-Level Steering Committees periodically review the progress of border works along the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders to facilitate smooth execution." A second question posed to the Mos Home asked, "The manner in which the Ministry plans to address these vulnerabilities which compromise national security?" In his written reply the MoS stated, "A comprehensive and multi-pronged approach has been adopted to strengthen border security and address potential challenges. This includes detailed vulnerability mapping, deployment of additional manpower, and the use of specialized surveillance equipment which have been installed at strategic locations." "Apart from the above, measures such as round-the-clock patrolling, anti-tunneling exercises, and installation of border floodlights and security fences ensure robust security mechanisms at international borders," the MoS further stated. Earlier, Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Nityanand Rai shared the information in a written reply, stating that the 2,601 Bangladeshis were apprehended between January 1, 2024, and January 31, 2025. (ANI)
The remark comes in the wake of an alleged incident in the Assam Assembly on Monday, where Congress MLAs reportedly assaulted Deputy Speaker Numal Momin, a veteran tribal leader.

In his X post, Sarma claimed the attack occurred "simply because they don't agree with his FOE."

https://x.com/himantabiswa/status/1904466634053746789?s=46&t=zBTHsvqlfHYa-YOt3RKX4A

"Congress has no right to lecture anyone on Freedom of Expression. Yesterday in the Assam Assembly, their MLAs assaulted the Deputy Speaker, a veteran tribal leader, simply because they don't agree with his FOE," he said.

The controversy erupted following a confrontation involving Congress MLA Nurul Huda and the Deputy Speaker, raising questions about democratic conduct in the state legislature.

On Monday, following protests by Congress and AIUDF against a BJP MLA, Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika also accused Congress MLA Nurul Huda of physically assaulting Deputy Speaker Numal Momin.

Hazarika called the attack a direct insult to the Assembly and the Constitution.

Taking to social media X, Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika wrote, "Congress MLA Nurul Huda physically assaulting the Hon'ble Deputy Speaker, ALA, Dr. @DrNumal is not only a condemnable act, it is also a direct insult to the Assembly and the Constitution."

He further added, "The Assam Legislative Assembly is a sacred place of democracy, where such unconstitutional behaviour is completely unacceptable. Such actions go against the true values of Assam and Bharat. Shame!"

The Congress legislators had staged a protest by wearing black shirts while the AIUDF legislators staged a protest with some bamboo structures. The AIUDF legislators also attempted to bring some bamboo structures inside the Assembly but they were prevented by security personnel.

They were protesting against BJP MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi for allegedly attempting to attack opposition legislators and using abusive language inside the State assembly during a heated debate in the House on March 21.

The opposition legislators also criticised the role of the Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly and demanded the Speaker take action against BJP MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi. (ANI)
The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the 'One Nation, One Election' bill is holding a meeting in New Delhi. Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), PP Chaudhary told ANI that Attorney General of India R Venkataramani and Justice DN Patel, the former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court will participate in the meeting and interact with the members. "...Former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court DN Patel will come. Members will interact with him, and after that, there will be interaction with Attorney General of India R Venkataramani...", he said. On the extension of time for submission of the report, PP Chaudhary said that the members maintained that they should be given ample time to hold consultations with all the stakeholders. "All the members believed that all stakeholders should be given adequate opportunity very effectively and after listening to everyone, we should submit the report in a very transparent manner, that is why time should be sought and the Parliament extended the time...," he added. The Lok Sabha on Tuesday approved the motion to extend the tenure of the JPC on 'One Nation, One Election' up to the first day of the last week of the Monsoon Session, 2025. PP Chaudhary had moved the motion in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday regarding an extension of time for presenting the report on the "One Nation, One Election" Bills ('Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024') . The bills under consideration include the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The last meeting of JPC was held on March 18 in which former Solicitor General of India Harish Salve participated, PP Chaudhary had told ANI. The Constitution Amendment Bill on 'One Nation, One Election,' currently under review by the JPC, proposes aligning the election cycles of the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. (ANI)
The Assam Rifles Commander Conference 2025 was held at Headquarters Directorate General Assam Rifles in Laitkor, Shillong on Tuesday. The conference, chaired by Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera, AVSM, SM, the Director General of Assam Rifles and was attended by Formation Commanders, Battalion Commanders, and Staff Officers from Headquarters DGAR and Formations, according to the press statement. Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera, AVSM, SM, DG Assam Rifles complimented all ranks of the Force for their professional conduct and performance under challenging circumstances. He emphasised on the importance of maintaining security and sanctity of the Indo-Myanmar Border and Kashmir Valley and said that the Assam Rifles should be prepared for all contingencies and security challenges arising in the future. The Assam Rifles Commander Conference 2025 focused on enhancing the capability and combat potential of the force, with discussions centred on strengthening its operational effectiveness. A key agenda was preparing a roadmap for acquiring next-generation weapon systems and military equipment to modernize the Assam Rifles. As per the statement, the conference also provided a platform for formations and units to share best practices and lessons learned, aiming to improve overall efficiency. Additionally, significant emphasis was placed on training and skill development to ensure soldiers remain well-equipped to handle evolving security challenges. The Director General complimented the Formation and Unit Commanders for ensuring peace and tranquillity in their respective areas of responsibility. He also exhorted them to be ever-vigilant on the volatile and dynamic environment under which the Force operates. The Assam Rifles Commander Conference 2025 provides a valuable platform for the Commanders to deliberate on critical issues related to combat potential, operational readiness, administrative issues and human resource management issues. On the occasion the top three distinguished Fmn/Units were honoured with the prestigious Rajbhasha Trophies 2025 for their exceptional contribution to the promotion and implementation of the Hindi language in which the 27th Assam Rifles secured 1st Prize, Headquarter Inspectorate General Assam Rifles (South) 2nd Prize and 28th Assam Rifles clinched 3rd Prize. The conference concluded with a renewed commitment from all attendees to uphold the highest standards of operational excellence and to continuously strive for excellence in all spheres.(ANI)
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has signed a State Council decree to unveil the regulation on implementing the anti-foreign sanctions law, comprising 22 articles, set to take effect on Monday.

According to the regulation, China will enhance its countermeasures. It specifies the seizure, detention and freezing of "other types of assets," "relevant transactions, cooperation and other activities" that are prohibited or restricted as well as "other necessary measures" stipulated in the anti-foreign sanctions law.

China will also refine countermeasure procedures and strengthen coordination among various departments under the State Council, according to the regulation.

China will enhance the enforcement of countermeasures. The regulation stipulates that if countermeasures are not implemented in accordance with the law, relevant departments have the authority to mandate corrections and may prohibit or restrict certain activities of the involved parties.

Organizations and individuals subject to countermeasures may request suspension, modification, or cancellation of the imposed measures if they rectify their actions and mitigate the consequences, according to the regulation.
Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske alleged on Tuesday that stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, who has been in the eye of the storm over his jibe at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has been given money to make such statements to divert people's attention from the Disha Salian death case. The Shiv Sena MP also hit out at Shiv Sena Chief (UBT) Uddhav Thackeray and MP Sanjay Raut, accusing them of taking the support of people like Kunal Kamra. "Kunal Kamra has been given money to make such statements to divert people's attention away from Disha Salian's case. Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut are left with no workers, which is why they are putting forward people like Kunal Kamra," he told ANI. Shiv Sena MP warned that Kunal Kamra will face a "reaction" for his remarks and threatened that Kamra can't walk "freely" in Maharashtra. "He will face the reaction as Shiv Sena is a party of reaction. We are Shiv Sainiks, and if someone talks rubbish about our leader, we will not tolerate that. We are ready to face all the consequences, but Kunal Kamra cannot roam freely in Maharashtra and India,"Mhaske added. Earlier, Aditya Thackeray hit back at critics who linked him to the Disha Salian death case, accusing them of trying to defame him for the past five years. Thackeray emphasised 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 the media. Earlier on Tuesday, Kamra's refusal to apologise for his remarks made during a recent show has sparked strong reactions from Maharashtra government figures including Maharashtra's Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam and Minister Gulab Patil. MoS Home Yogesh Ramdas Kadam said that Kamra would be punished for his behaviour, which he described as "unacceptable." Kamra on Monday released a statement on his official social media handle saying that he would "not apologise" for his act. Earlier, Mumbai Police sent a summons to the stand-up artist asking him to appear before the investigating officer on Tuesday. As per Mumbai police, Kamra is not in Mumbai right now. MIDC police had registered an FIR against Kamra for his remarks during a stand-up comedy show, which was transferred to Khar police for further investigation. The Shiv Sena workers vandalised The Habitat in Mumbai after Kamra's remarks about Eknath Shinde on Sunday. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a petition filed by British Citizen Christian James Michel, seeking Modification to the bail conditions in the money laundering case linked to the AgustaWestland helicopter deal. The bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued the notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for its response. The matter is scheduled for its next hearing on April 22. Christian James Michel has filed a plea requesting the waiver of the bail condition mandating a surety of Rs five lakh. As a foreign national with no familial ties or significant connections in India, he has sought either a modification or removal of the requirement to provide an Indian surety. The same bench on March 4, 2025 granted bail to Christian James Michel in the matter. While granting bail to Christian James Michel in the money laundering case, the high court directed him to provide a personal bond and a surety of Rs five lakh each, in addition to surrendering his passport to the trial court. Through a plea, James further requested the revocation of the passport surrender condition, stating that his passport has expired and obtaining a new one would take an estimated 4 to 8 weeks. On February 18, the Supreme Court granted bail to Christian Michel James, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland chopper scam, stating that "the trial may not be completed in the next 25 years at this pace." Michel was arrested and extradited on December 4, 2018, while the FIR was registered in 2013. The Rs 3,600-crore scam involves the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland. On February 22, the trial court granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) permission to separate the trials of the accused in the AgustaWestland chopper case. The ED sought to begin the trial against individuals who received summons and participated in the investigation separately from those who have not been served summons or have evaded investigation. Special Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal noted that separating the trials would be in the interest of justice and ensure a fair and speedy trial, as per Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Consequently, files of the accused persons who have yet to be served will be separated from those who have already been served or are currently facing inquiry before the court. The case, investigated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, involves a total of 60 accused, 21 of whom have neither joined the investigation nor been served summons by the ED to date. The court observed that the first prosecution complaint was filed on November 24, 2014, while the latest, dated November 21, 2024, represents the 12th supplementary prosecution complaint, highlighting a decade-long gap. James was extradited from Dubai in December 2018 and subsequently arrested by the CBI and the ED. He is one of the three alleged middlemen under investigation in the case, alongside Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa. According to the CBI's chargesheet, the deal signed on February 8, 2010, for the supply of VVIP helicopters worth 556.262 million euros caused an estimated loss of 398.21 million euros (approximately Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer. The ED's chargesheet filed against James in June 2016 alleged that he received 30 million euros (about Rs 225 crore) from AugustaWestland. The AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, during the Congress-led UPA Government and refers to a multimillion-dollar corruption case where money was allegedly paid to middlemen and Indian officials in 2006 and 2007 to purchase helicopters for high-level politicians. Following significant controversy and allegations of corruption, the Government of India ordered an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 12, 2013. Subsequently, the ED registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in 2014. (ANI)
The body has been shifted to the Nagarkurnool General Hospital for post-mortem examination.

Rescue teams are continuing their search operations to ensure that no one else is trapped inside the tunnel, which collapsed on February 22, entrapping eight workers.

One of the bodies of the trapped workers - Gurpreet Singh, was recovered on March 9. The Chief Minister of Telangana, Revanth Reddy, had announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakhs for the kins of the deceased.

On March 11, robotic teams entered the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel to search for and rescue the trapped workers. 110 rescue personnel, along with Anvi Robo experts, carried out the operations.

Calling the incident a national disaster, the Telangana Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies, Uttam Kumar Reddy, emphasised that the state government is utilizing the best global technology to overcome the challenges in the final stretch of the 14-kilometre-long tunnel.

On March 6, two cadaver dogs from the Kerala Police and their handlers were brought to assist in the rescue operations at the Telangana tunnel collapse site.

On February 22, a three-meter section of the roof of an under-construction stretch of the SLBC tunnel collapsed at the 14 km mark near Domalapenta in the Nagarkurnool district in Telangana. The collapse occurred just four days after construction work had resumed following a lengthy hiatus. While some workers managed to escape, eight got trapped earlier. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked Delhi Police to file a note on the role of accused Tasleem Ahmed. He is accused in the larger Conspiracy of the Delhi riots and sought regular bail. A division bench of Justices Chandra Dhari Singh and Anup Jairam Bhambhani asked the Delhi Police Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Amit Prasad to file a short note on the particular role ascribed and foundational material against Tasleem Ahmed. The bench said that the record is voluminous, so you (Delhi Police) need a short note of his role. The matter was listed on April 8 for a hearing. Advocate Mehmood Pracha appeared for Tasleem Ahmed. Another bench, headed by Justice Navin Chawla, heard senior advocate Rebecca John's rebuttal arguments for Abdul Khalid Saifi, the accused. Tasleem Ahmed and Abdul Khalid Saifi are accused along with Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, Tahir Hussain and others in a larger conspiracy of the Delhi riots case of 2020. They have been booked under the anti-terror law UAPA in connection with the riots that broke out in North East Delhi in 2020. Advocate Mehmood Pracha had earlier submitted that Tasleem Ahmed's case was different from that of other co-accused persons. On February 22, 2024, the trial court dismissed his bail plea. He had sought regular bail on the grounds of parity with three co-accused, Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita, and Asif Iqbal Tanha, in a larger conspiracy related to the Delhi Riots of 2020. Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal, and Asif Iqbal Tanha were granted regular bail by the Delhi High Court on 15.06.2021 after the court allowed their appeals against the trial court order. Special judge Sameer Bajpai said that the earlier bail application of the accused, Tasleem Ahmed, was rejected by the predecessor court on March 16, 2022. The court held the allegations against the accused prima facie true. The court held that, hence, the embargo created by section 43D of UA(P)A applies to the grant of bail to the accused, as well as the embargo contained in section 437 CrPC. The council earlier had argued that the applicant, apart from deserving bail on merits alone, is now also entitled to be set at liberty on the grounds of parity. On the other hand, the Special public prosecutor (SPP) opposed the application. He mentioned that in the earlier bail application, the applicant had also raised grounds of parity, and this court had been pleased to deal with the said plea, and the applicant was not given any favour. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday asserted that they succeeded in their goal of organizing the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj with 66 crore devotees in 45 days in a temporary city. CM Yogi attended the inaugural ceremony of the two-day national seminar on 'Contribution of Yogiraj Baba Gambhirnath of Indian Yoga tradition' organized at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University. "I held the first meeting regarding the Maha Kumbh in November 2022. It took a year to finalize everything and then to implement it on the ground. If a good team isn't selected, the situation will be similar to what happened during the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. The CWG had ended, but the stadiums were still being built. Some people started criticizing the Maha Kumbh. I knew that the 7,000 crore Rs we were spending was the hard-earned money of the people of Uttar Pradesh, but in return, we would give Uttar Pradesh a three lakh crore Rs return and show the world that faith can become a cause of prosperity. We had not understood its strength," CM Yogi said. "We succeeded in our goal. The Maha Kumbh was magnificent and divine. The world was amazed to see the spiritual and cultural organization of India, with 66 crore devotees in just 45 days in a temporary city," he said. He further emphasized that 66 crore devotees coming to Prayagraj, where they bathe in Maa Ganga and take a sip of water shows the spiritual strength of India. "The power of spirituality cannot be bound by the limitations of the physical world," he pointed out. The Uttar Pradesh CM also highlighted that India's Upanishads are the greatest treasures not only in this physical world but also if one wants to understand the mysteries of the universe. "The problem was not in the world but within us. We had distanced ourselves from Upanishads. The result of this is visible today. The world that once ran behind us, we are now running after that world," he said. "In the past 10 years, we have seen India change. Earlier, no one paid attention to India. But after 10 years of transformation, today, everyone wants to come to India. Everyone feels proud of India. Today, 193 countries around the world are practicing Indian yoga techniques. Even an atheist country like China organizes yoga events. The same China, which once did not believe in religion, is now researching Buddhist philosophy. Isn't this India's victory?" CM Yogi Adityanath highlighted. (ANI)
Union Minister Chirag Paswan and senior BJP leaders and NDA allies in Bihar have defended the distribution of 'Saugat-e-Modi' kits, asserting that the initiative aligns with the government's commitment to inclusive development. On the Opposition's allegations that 'Saugat-e-Modi' kits are an electoral stunt, Chirag Paswan underscored Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision and accused the Opposition of "destroying" Bihar when were in power. "My PM Narendra Modi ji believes in 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. With this, our Central-state government is moving forward. Those who are sensing politics in this, also have the opportunity when they are in power, but apart from destroying Bihar they have done nothing. Now with PM's vision, Bihar is heading towards becoming a developed state," said MP Chirag Paswan, while speaking to the media on Tuesday. BJP MLA Pawan Jaiswal also defended the initiative, citing the party's longstanding governance principles. "Our 'mool mantra' is Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, on which the NDA government and PM Modi work. It is not being done for the first time. We came up with a law against triple talaq. At that time too, RJD provoked people and staged a protest. Today, we are seeing that PM Modi's government works for the upliftment of everyone," Jaiswal said in Patna. Bihar minister Md Zama Khan expressed gratitude towards the ruling NDA coalition, saying, "I am sure it will be given. In the presence of CM Nitish Kumar, the NDA government and PM Modi will definitely give us 'Saugat' (gifts). I am thankful to the NDA government." The BJP's initiative has drawn attention as political parties in Bihar gear up for the upcoming elections. Opposition parties have raised concerns over the timing of the distribution, alleging it as a political move ahead of the polls. BJP Minority Morcha is set to launch its "Saugat-e-Modi" campaign, aiming to distribute special kits to 32 lakh underprivileged Muslims across the country ahead of Eid. The initiative, kicking off from Nizamuddin in Delhi on Tuesday under the guidance of BJP National President JP Nadda, seeks to ensure that poor Muslim families can celebrate the festival without any hardship. As part of the campaign, 32,000 Minority Morcha workers will collaborate with 32,000 mosques nationwide to reach the needy. National President of the BJP Minority Morcha, Jamal Siddiqui, outlined the campaign's broader vision, stating that during the holy month of Ramadan and upcoming occasions like Eid, Good Friday, Easter, Nauruz, and the Indian New Year, the Minority Front will reach out to those in need through the "Saugat-e-Modi" campaign. Eid Milan celebrations will also be organised at the district level, he added. (ANI)
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is set to introduce UPI integration for claims processing, a move aimed at enhancing efficiency and reducing transaction time, Labour and Employment Secretary Sumita Dawra said on Monday. Speaking on the initiative exclusively with ANI, Dawra said EPFO currently has around 7.5 crore active members who maintain their PF accounts and contribute towards their pension. "We have undertaken significant work in this regard. Claims up to Rs1 lakh have been automated, self-correction mechanisms have been introduced, and unnecessary processes have been eliminated. Additionally, we have integrated databases, reducing the claim processing time to just three days," she said. Dawra further highlighted that, for the first time, EPFO has established a centralized database. "Our next step is to incorporate UPI into the system. We have received suggestions from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) regarding this integration and have submitted a proposal to EPFO for consideration. After conducting the necessary testing, we expect to roll out the UPI frontend for EPFO claims by the end of May. This will benefit all members, as they will be able to view their EPFO accounts directly in the UPI interface and make auto-claims. The approval process will be instant If the consumer is eligible, ensuring quick credit to their accounts," she stated. She added that stabilizing the centralized database will take around two to three weeks, following which the frontend for UPI integration will be made ready. On pension reforms, Dawra said, "There are 78 lakh pensioners in EPFO, and earlier, only a few banks were notified for pension disbursement. Last year, we sought advice from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and now we have implemented a centralized pension system. Pensioners are benefiting from this as they can now receive their pension from any bank." Highlighting the government's Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) scheme, Dawra said, "The incentive announced in the Budget has been increased from Rs10,000 crore to Rs20,000 crore this time. This historic outlay will benefit everyone--first-time employees, existing workers, etc. The government has also ensured that platform workers receive health coverage, with all their charges covered under the online PMJAY scheme." (ANI)
Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) General Secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth on Tuesday declared that her party would not cooperate with the central government, even if they face defeat over the delimitation issue. Speaking to the media, Premalatha emphasised that the DMDK would inform the public about the party's alliance ahead of the 2026 elections. "We will not cooperate with the central government even if we lose. Surely, we will fight against them (the central government)," she said. "We will inform everyone about the DMDK alliance before the 2026 elections," the DMDK General Secretary said. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday announced that all-party parliamentarians from the state will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to push for their demand for fair delimitation. Stalin emphasised that Tamil Nadu had led the charge on the issue by passing a legislative resolution, holding an all-party meeting, and forming an all-India Joint Action Committee, making a significant impact at the national level. "The demand made by Tamil Nadu is for fair delimitation. It is the first state in India to pass a legislative resolution, an all-party meeting, and an all-India Joint Action Committee, which has had an impact on the Indian level. To take this to the next level, all-party parliamentarians from Tamil Nadu are set to meet the Honourable Prime Minister and press our demand!" posted Stalin on X. The Tamil Nadu government has been vocal about its opposition to any delimitation process that could reduce the state's representation in Parliament due to population control efforts. The proposed meeting with the Prime Minister aims to ensure that Tamil Nadu's concerns are addressed in any future changes to parliamentary seat allocation. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin called a Joint Action Committee meeting on Saturday to discuss the issue of delimitation. Leaders from various states gathered in Chennai to express their concerns with the proposed exercise. The Joint Action Committee also passed a resolution on the issue of delimitation, expressing concern over the "lack of transparency and clarity" from the Union government. The JAC unanimously demanded greater transparency from the Union government regarding any delimitation exercise and called for the extension of the freeze on Parliamentary constituencies based on the 1971 Census Population for another 25 years. The JAC, led by Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, urged the central government to "not penalise" the states which have effectively implemented the population control program. (ANI)
A serving Indian Army officer, Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath, was allegedly assaulted by Punjab Police personnel outside a dhaba in Patiala on the night of March 13, leading to the registration of an FIR and a police inquiry. The Western Command has confirmed that the officer is undergoing treatment and recovering from his injuries. Speaking about the incident, Lt. Gen Wadhwa, Chief of Staff, HQ Western Command, said, "I am addressing you all about the unfortunate incident wherein Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath was assaulted by certain Punjab policemen outside a dhaba at Patiala." The officer was initially taken to a civil hospital for treatment before being shifted to the military hospital. He later received further treatment at the Command Hospital in Chandimandir and is currently recuperating from his injuries. Lt. Gen. Wadhwa added that the Punjab Police had expressed regret over the "undesirable actions" of their personnel involved in the incident. "They have identified the policemen involved and issued their immediate suspension as well as transfer out of Patiala," he added. On Friday, an FIR has been registered at the Civil Lines police station based on the complaint lodged by Colonel Bath. The investigation has been handed over to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by an Additional Director General of Police, with a directive to complete the probe at the earliest. "An FIR based on the complaint launched by Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath was registered at the Civil Lines police station...The probe is now being undertaken by the Special Investigation Team under an additional Director General of Police to be completed in the earliest possible time frame."Lt. Gen Wadhwa said. "We reiterate the need for a fair and honest investigation in a transparent and time-bound manner to punish the guilty and restore faith in the system," Lt. Gen Wadhwa added. On Friday, an FIR was registered in Police Station Civil Lines, Patiala, on the statement of Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath as recorded on March 14 regarding an unfortunate incident of assault by police officials which occurred on the intervening night of March 13/14. The statement of Colonel Bath named the police officials who assaulted him and also gave the roles attributed to each person in the assault. Later, on March 22, four Patiala police officers were suspended and transferred for allegedly assaulting Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath in Punjab's Patiala, a senior police officer said. (ANI)
All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) Spokesperson Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas on Tuesday slammed the Central government over Waqf (Amendment) Bill, saying that the bill "has been brought in with a communal intention" Speaking to ANI, SQR Ilyas said that the AIMPLB is not doing any politics "We have only said that the Waqf Bill, which has been brought in, is just with a communal intention...That bill only captures the Waqf property...They are trying to mislead the people. He said that AIMPLB believes that the bill should be taken back, "This is an unconstitutional bill and has been brought only with a communal intention." On Sunday, AIMPLB announced a nationwide agitation against the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill. A statement issued by Mohd Vaquar Uddin Latifi, Office Secretary of the (AIMPLB) said," Following a massive and successful protest in Delhi on March 17, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has announced a nationwide agitation against the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill. SQR Ilyas, spokesperson of AIMPLB and Convener of the Action Committee Against the Waqf Bill, expressed gratitude on behalf of the Board to all Muslim organizations, civil society groups, and leaders from Dalit, Adivasi, OBC, and other minority communities. "Without the united support of these groups, the success of the Delhi demonstration would not have been possible," he said. He also extended thanks to the opposition parties and Members of Parliament who not only participated in large numbers but also firmly rejected the proposed legislation. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to address these challenges by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. The proposed amendment aims to address these concerns and ensure that Waqf properties are utilised for the intended purposes, benefiting the Muslim community and the country as a whole. (ANI)
A doctor writes tuberculosis prevention information on the health bulletin board at his clinic in Yangang Village of Yudu County, east China's Jiangxi Province, Aug. 15, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping and also the World Health Organization (WHO) goodwill ambassador for tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS, on Monday called on the international community to commit more, invest more and deliver more on global TB prevention and treatment.

In a written statement to the WHO World TB Day 2025, Peng said that with the powerful drive of the WHO and sustained efforts of the international community, notable progress has been achieved in the global fight against TB, and 79 million lives have been saved since 2000.

It is of great significance that the WHO hosted the virtual meeting to encourage discussions on "Commit, Invest, Deliver," rally the strength of all parties to tackle the public health challenge of TB, and make solid strides toward the goal of ending the epidemic, she said.

Peng said that over the past more than 10 years, she has visited many medical facilities, schools and communities both at home and abroad, and witnessed the encouraging progress in TB response in different parts of the world, especially in China.

Placing great emphasis on TB prevention and treatment, the Chinese government has included TB response in the Healthy China strategy and formulated a national plan to guide relevant efforts, she said.

At the same time, China has been committed to facilitating the rapid development of TB control technologies, and made its "patient-centered support and care" more scientific and feasible. Thanks to the tireless work of all those working on TB prevention and treatment, the cure rate of the disease in China has been kept above 90 percent, she said.

Peng said removing the threat of TB is the shared aspiration of all. But the fight remains difficult and challenging, and achieving the goal of ending TB epidemic is still an arduous task, which requires the international community to come together to commit more, invest more and deliver more.

Peng pledged to continue to work with all parties to advance TB prevention and treatment, safeguard people's health with love, and share warmth and kindness with unwavering dedication.

"Let's all contribute to building a global community of health for all," she said.
The meeting, which lasted approximately 30 minutes, focused on discussions regarding the rejuvenation of Silsako Beel (wetland) and various projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission in Assam, an official statement said.

The statement also mentioned that during the meeting, both leaders deliberated extensively on strategies to restore Silsako Beel, a significant wetland in the state, alongside other initiatives aimed at enhancing water supply and management under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

Following the meeting, Chief Minister Sarma took to X, stating, "Today in New Delhi, I had a very good meeting with Hon'ble Union Minister Shri @CRPaatil Ji. We spoke at length about our plans to rejuvenate Silsako Beel and other issues pertaining to the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission in Assam." (ANI)
National Conference leader Tanvir Sadiq on Tuesday strongly criticised the demand made by a Delhi BJP MLA to shut meat shops during the Hindu festival of Navratri, calling it an attempt to impose religious beliefs on others. Reacting to the proposal, Sadiq asserted that India is a secular nation and should uphold the principles of religious freedom. "This country is based on secular sentiments...Then similarly, in restaurants, carts should be shut during Ramzan. This is an imposition by a fringe element. Imposing one's religion on anyone is wrong," said Tanvir Sadiq. Earlier, BJP MLA from Patparganj assembly constituency Ravinder Singh Negi on Tuesday urged meat shops near temples to remain closed on Tuesday and during the Navratri. He said he was upset to see a meat shop open in front of a temple and requested the shopkeepers to close on Tuesdays, which they agreed to. Speaking to ANI, BJP MLA from Patparganj assembly constituency Ravinder Singh Negi said, "... A few days ago, when I went to the temple on Tuesday, I saw that a meat shop was open right in front of the temple. I felt very bad seeing this, so I requested the traders to close the shops outside the temples on Tuesday. They readily accepted, and now shops have started closing on Tuesday in Patparganj..." He further added, "We would like the meat shops in front of temples to remain closed during the holy fast of Navratri. I will also write a letter to the DM about this. I will try my best to keep meat shops closed on Tuesday in my assembly..." Negi also plans to write to the District Magistrate to ensure this practice continues. In other states, leaders also took the initiative to close the meat and liquor shops near temples and religious places. (ANI)
Amid a row over stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, who has been in the eye of the storm over his jibe at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant said on Tuesday that the latter is getting more attention than he deserves. Speaking to ANI, Samant challenged Kamra to come to Maharashtra and speak his mind rather than making comments from the comfort of Pondicherry. "People are giving more attention to Kunal Kamra than he deserves...He should come to Maharashtra and not speak just by sitting in Pondicherry... He has spoken ill for several people, and those who are supporting him are more deformed than he is," Samant said. Earlier today, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske alleged on Tuesday that stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has been given money to make such statements to divert people's attention from the Disha Salian death case. "Kunal Kamra has been given money to make such statements to divert people's attention away from Disha Salian's case. Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut are left with no workers, which is why they are putting forward people like Kunal Kamra," he told ANI. Shiv Sena MP warned that Kunal Kamra would face a "reaction" for his remarks and threatened that Kamra couldn't walk "freely" in Maharashtra. Earlier on Tuesday, Kamra's refusal to apologise for his remarks made during a recent show has sparked strong reactions from Maharashtra government figures, including Maharashtra's Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam and Minister Gulab Patil. MoS Home Yogesh Ramdas Kadam said that Kamra would be punished for his behaviour, which he described as "unacceptable." Earlier, Mumbai Police sent a summons to the stand-up artist asking him to appear before the investigating officer on Tuesday. As per Mumbai police, Kamra is not in Mumbai right now. MIDC police had registered an FIR against Kamra for his remarks during a stand-up comedy show, which was transferred to Khar police for further investigation. The Shiv Sena workers vandalised The Habitat in Mumbai after Kamra's remarks about Eknath Shinde on Sunday. (ANI)
More than 114 accused have been detained and thirteen cases have been filed in connection with the March 17 incident of violence in Nagpur that involved stone pelting and vehicles being torched following rumours that a that a holy 'chadar' had been burnt on that day. Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal told ANI, "Action is continuously being taken against those involved in the incident. Thirteen cases have been filed in connection with the incident and more than 114 accused have been detained. In a few instances, they (accused) were from outside and some were from Nagpur." On Monday, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation anti-encroachment squad demolished illegal construction at the house of accused Yusuf Sheikh and Faheem Khan in the Nagpur riots case. This follows violent clashes 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. On March 22, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that 92 people have been arrested in connection with the violence. Fadnavis, who also serves as the state's Home Minister, earlier said that the violence was triggered by rumours spread on social media alleging that a holy 'chadar' had been burnt on that day. He also said that damages caused during the violence would be recovered from the rioters. "Whatever damage has happened will be recovered from the rioters. If they do not pay the money, their property will be sold for recovery. Bulldozers will also be used wherever required," Fadnavis had said earlier. Accused Faheem Khan was arrested on March 19; he has been remanded in custody. Khan is a leader of the Minorities Democratic Party. (ANI)
UP Police arrested six individuals on Tuesday in connection with the murder of BJP leader Gulfam Singh Yadav, who was allegedly killed due to political rivalry in Sambhal district, officials said on Monday. Superintendent of Police KK Bishnoi stated that Yadav was attacked using an injection and succumbed to his injuries at Aligarh Medical College. He was assaulted in a village before being rushed to the hospital, where doctors announced him dead. "Gulfam Singh Yadav was attacked with an injection and was killed in a village. The police took him to Aligarh Medical College, where he died. Now, the case has been solved. The deceased was killed due to political vendetta. This mechanism was adopted so that no one could catch the culprits," Bishnoi said. Meanwhile, on Sunday Jama Masjid Sadar and Shahi Mosque Committee Chief Zafar Ali was brought to the Moradabad Jail after he was produced before the Chandausi court in connection with the November 24 Sambhal violence. Zafar Ali's lawyer Vinod Kumar Singh stated that bail was requested for Ali but the magistrate does not have the right to give bail. Singh said that the bail plea will be filed in the session court on Monday. He added that the violence happened on November 24 whereas Zafar gave byte on November 25 due to which such case did not apply to him. "Bail was requested for Zafar Ali. The magistrate has no power to grant bail. We argued over it and got it rejected. Tomorrow, the bail will be filed in the session court. The incident was on November 24, and Zafar Ali gave byte on the 25th. This offence did not apply to him; he was not even present at the scene of the incident. This action is wrong. First, he will be sent to jail, and then from there, after the proceedings are over, he will be taken to the hospital," Vinod Kumar Singh said to ANI on Sunday. Uttar Pradesh Police arrested Jama Masjid Sadar Chief and Shahi Mosque Committee head Zafar Ali in connection with the Sambhal violence that erupted on November 24 last year, over a court-ordered survey of the mosque. (ANI)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth approximately Rs 36.21 crore in connection with the case against chartered accountant Amber Dalal and others in a money laundering case, the agency said on Tuesday. As per the ED, the attached properties include 10 immovable assets located in Mumbai and Kolkata, along with movable assets in the form of fixed deposits, shares, mutual funds, and investments in alternative funds. The ED's Mumbai Zonal Office executed the attachment on March 21 as part of its ongoing investigation into the financial irregularities linked to the accused under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. ED initiated an investigation based on the First Information Report registered by the Mumbai Police against Amber Dalal, proprietor of Ritz Consultancy Services. Amber Dalal is accused of taking money from investors through a Ponzi scheme by promising high returns and investments in commodity trading and then absconding with their money after giving initial returns. "It has been gathered that the amount of money raised by Amber Dalal is more than Rs 600 crore from 1,300 investors," the ED said in a statement. ED investigation revealed that various individuals were working as commission agents to solicit new clients for Amber Dalal's investment in Ritz Consultancy Services. "These agents did not conduct any due diligence about the scheme being run by Amber Dalal. The commission agents did not verify whether the funds raised from the investors were actually being invested in commodity trading. These agents did not have any MOUs or agreements for referring clients, and yet they received a huge part of investors' funds as commission from Ritz Consultancy Services. Thus, the commission agents enjoyed the commission without conducting any due diligence and enriched themselves at the expense of investors," said the ED. Further, the federal agency said that an investigation revealed that Vinay Mohindar, through his entities, helped Amber Dalal park the funds raised from the investors in foreign jurisdictions. "Investor's funds have been transferred by foreign-based entity of Amber Dalal to the foreign-based entities of Vinay Mohindar in the guise of sham transactions," the ED said. ED further said that Amber Dalal was arrested during the investigation, and a Prosecution Complaint has been filed under the provisions of the PMLA, 2002. "Properties amounting to the tune of approximately Rs 104.35 crore, including an immovable property in Dubai, has been attached and freezed in the case till date," the agency said. Amber Dalal is currently in judicial custody, and further legal proceedings are underway. (ANI)
Bilaspur police has arrested the second shooter involved in the firing incident on former Congress MLA Bamber Thakur, officials said on Tuesday. The accused, identified Ajay Kumar, is a resident of Haryana's Jhajjar district was arrested and produced before the court on Tuesday. The court has sent him to judicial custody till April 7. This arrest marks a significant step in the investigation of the March 14 attack, when armed assailants opened fire on Bamber Thakur at his wife's government residence in Bilaspur, leaving the former MLA and his PSO injured. With Ajay Kumar's arrest, the number of individuals in custody has risen to five. Earlier, the police had arrested Manjeet Nadda, Rohit Rana, Ritesh Sharma, and shooter Sagar. All are currently in judicial custody. Meanwhile, three more individuals have been summoned for questioning, and arrests are expected soon, police said. Superintendent of Police Sandeep Dhawal confirmed the development and reiterated that the investigation is progressing swiftly. Police teams remain on high alert, and efforts are being made to trace the remaining links in the conspiracy. Assailants shot at former Congress MLA Bumber Thakur at his residence in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur on the day of Holi, Thakur was admitted at the at the IGMC Hospital in Shimla. Earlier in the day, Bumber Thakur made shocking allegations against BJP MLA Trilok Jamwal, claiming that he protected the drug mafia and orchestrated the assassination attempt against him. Upon his release from GMC Hospital, Thakur went straight to the Assembly premises and alleged that the attackers, who had been stationed in Bilaspur for over a month, were closely associated with Jamwal and had confessed to their crime. Thakur said, "They want to kill me; the shooters who have been caught have confessed to their crime. Those who orchestrated this conspiracy against me are all closely associated with Trilok Jamwal. These people are drug traffickers. One of them has 43 cases against him, and another has 36 cases related solely to chitta (heroin) smuggling. These people fund Trilok Jamwal, and he enables their illicit trade." Thakur further alleged that the attackers had been stationed in Bilaspur for over a month in a planned conspiracy against him. "Two years ago, just before elections, my son was attacked from the same house where these conspirators were staying. Now, they tried to kill me. The police were informed within five minutes of the attack, but instead of sealing the area, they allowed the shooters to escape. If the Bilaspur borders had been sealed immediately, this incident could have been prevented," he claimed. (ANI)
A bill that seeks to shift the approach to disaster management from reactive to proactive with renewed thrust on prevention, mitigation, and preparedness was passed by Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was passed after a reply by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who said changes that have taken place in the field of disaster management in the last 10 years have helped India emerge as a national as well as regional and global power. The bill had earlier been passed by the Lok Sabha. It will enable the government to brave calamities with a whole-of-the-government approach by fostering seamless synergy among agencies. The legislation empowers the NDMA and the SDMA to build databases to foster better preparedness and the swiftest response. Amit Shah rejected the concerns of opposition members that there would be a centralisation of power due to provisions of the bill. He quipped that parties opposed to the BJP will stay in the opposition for the next 15-20 years, and the BJP and its allies will do whatever is to be done. "Some members raised the question of what is the need for the amendment. I want to tell them that if a building is not repaired in time, it collapses...They (Opposition) think that maybe they will come and change it, but nobody's turn will come for the next 15-20 years. Whatever has to be done, we have to do it...The Disaster Management Act was implemented for the first time in 2005," he said. "Under this, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), SDMA (State Disaster Management Authority) and District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) were formed...Now, concerns are being expressed that there will be a centralization of power. If you read the entire Bill carefully, then the biggest responsibility of implementation lies with the District Disaster Management which is under the State Government. Therefore, there is no possibility of harming the federal structure anywhere...," he added. The bill seeks to build a disaster-resilient India by empowering response forces to shield citizens from any kind of calamity. "We all have to accept that the changes that have taken place in the field of disaster management in the last 10 years have made us emerge as a national as well as regional and global power. This bill is to sustain India's success story for a long time. No one should misunderstand me, I am not talking about the success story of the government, but the success story of India...," he said. The bill seeks to strengthen the efficient working of the National Disaster Management Authority and the State Disaster Management Authorities. It seeks to amend Disaster Management Act, 2005 and bring more clarity and convergence in the roles of Authorities and Committees working in the field of disaster management besides providing statutory status to certain pre-Act organisations like the National Crisis Management Committee and the High Level Committee. The bill seeks to empower the National Disaster Management Authority and the State Disaster Management Authorities to prepare the disaster plan at national level and state level instead of the National Executive Committee and the State Executive Committee. It provides for creation of disaster database at national and state level and make provision for constitution of "Urban Disaster Management Authority" for State Capital and large cities having Municipal Corporation. (ANI)
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) India has taken a 'suo motu' congnisance of a media report where a class IX student belonging from a Schedule Caste was assaulted by some upper caste boys from his locality in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district, said an official press release by NHRC on Tuesday. According to an official release, the incident took place when the victim onboard a bus, was traveling with his father for his exam, where perpetrators attacked him by the perpetrators, who dragged him out of the bus and assaulted him with a sickle. The left hand fingers of the victim were severely injured in this attack, and the father of the victim was also assaulted when he tried to save his son, the release added. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) India has issued notices to the Director General of Police, and the District Collector, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks, the press release said. The commission has observed that if the content of the news is true, then it raises a serious issue of human rights violation of the victim student. The Press release from NHRC also mentioned, that according to a media report carried on 12th March, 2025, the attackers managed to escape from the scene of the incident and the victim boy was admitted to the Tirunelveli Government Hospital. After a seven hour-long surgery, a team of doctors managed to re-attach the fingers of the boy, the press release added. (ANI)
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday assured that necessary action will be taken once the legal team and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah discuss the alleged honey-trapping of public servants and lawmakers. "I will discuss this with the legal team and also with the Chief Minister for the next course of action. There is no further discussion on this until and unless we discuss and take necessary action...," said Parameshwara while speaking to the media. The incident has sparked widespread concern, with many calling for a thorough investigation. Karnataka's political landscape is abuzz with allegations of honey-trapping involving public servants, including judges. Parameshwara revealed that Cooperative Minister KN Rajanna had submitted a representation regarding the alleged honey-trap attempt, following an assurance of a suitable inquiry. He stated that the matter was first raised in the state assembly on March 20. "On the 20th of this month, there was an issue raised by the opposition members that there was a honey trap attempt on many of the members of the legislature, also some of the ministers. At that point, Basavaraj Yatnal mentioned the name of the cooperative minister, Rajanna. And Rajanna got up in the assembly and said, yes, there was an attempt, and I am going to give a representation to the Home Minister. Further, I request that the government and the Home Minister take necessary action. Accordingly, I, as a Home Minister, assured the house that a suitable inquiry would be made if there was a representation or a complaint. Now, three to four days later, Rajanna, the cooperative minister of the government, has given me a representation, and I have received it," said Parameshwara. Earlier today, he said that no complaint had been registered in connection with the alleged honey-trapping controversy. Further, on the issue of phone tapping, the Karnataka Home Minister said that he has verified with the concerned department, but no complaint has been registered. "No one has filed a complaint with me so far. Leader of the Opposition, R Ashoka, has also made a statement. I have verified with the concerned department that no complaint has been registered yet," he said. On Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a PIL seeking an independent probe by the CBI or SIT into the alleged honey trapping of legislators, public servants, and judges in Karnataka. The plea filed by a Jharkhand resident, Binay Kumar Singh, sought an independent probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising police officers who are not subject to the control or influence of the State of Karnataka. The petition, filed through advocate Barun Sinha, urged the apex court to monitor the investigation either by the apex court or by a monitoring committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge. Earlier, cooperation minister KN Rajanna alleged that 48 people have fallen victim to "honey traps" in the state, and their obscene videos have been circulated. The Congress MLA claimed that the list was across party lines, including state and national leaders. "There were very serious and troubling allegations made on the floor of the Karnataka state legislature that a person aspiring to be the chief minister of the state has been successful in honeytrapping several persons, amongst whom are judges. The allegations have been made by a sitting minister who has claimed himself to be a victim, thereby lending credibility to the serious allegations," the petition read. (ANI)
You are here: China

Photo taken on Sept. 14, 2012 shows the Diaoyu Islands. [Photo/Xinhua]

Between Friday and Monday, the China Coast Guard (CCG) expelled several Japanese fishing vessels that had unlawfully entered China's territorial waters around Diaoyu Dao, according to a spokesperson for the CCG on Monday.

In the process, the CCG vessels enforced necessary, lawful management and control measures against the Japanese vessels, and issued warnings to drive them out of the area, CCG spokesperson Liu Dejun said.

Noting that Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands are China's inherent territory, Liu urged the Japanese side to immediately cease all illegal activities in these waters.

The CCG will continue to conduct regular law enforcement activities in the territorial waters of Diaoyu Dao, with the aim of safeguarding China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, Liu said.
According to the release, the woman had illegally crossed the India-Pakistan International Border near the Anupgarh area of the Sriganganagar sector on March 17, 2025, and entered Indian territory.

She was apprehended by the BSF and subsequently handed over to the local police before being repatriated.

The handover was carried out following a medical examination, reflecting a humanitarian approach, as confirmed by the Public Relations Officer, Frontier Headquarters, Border Security Force. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday that the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, will increase the capacity, intensity, efficiency and accuracy of the country in disaster response. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during the discussion on the Bill, Shah said that the Disaster Management Act was brought for the first time in the year 2005, and under this NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority), SDMA (State Disaster Management Authority) and DDMA (District Disaster Management Authority) were formed. He said that in this bill, the biggest responsibility in the aftermath of disasters has been given to DDMAs, which is under the state government, thus, there is no question of any damage to our federal system. He said that for financial assistance, the National Disaster Response Fund and National Disaster Mitigation Fund were created. The Home Minister said that the Finance Commission has made a scientific arrangement for disaster relief, and the Modi government has not given a single penny less than the prescribed amount to any state; rather, it has given more. "The budget of SDRF was Rs 38 thousand crores during the year 2004 to 2014, which was increased to Rs 1 lakh 24 thousand crores by the Modi government during 2014 to 2024. Rs 28 thousand crores were given to NDRF from 2004 to 2014, while Rs 80 thousand crores were given from 2014 to 2024," Shah highlighted. He also highlighted that the government has increased the total amount from Rs 66 thousand crores to more than Rs two lakh crores. "The Modi government has given more than three times the money to the states from the central funds. Apart from this, a National Disaster Response Reserve of 250 crores was created, the first National Disaster Management Plan was released in 2016 which is completely in line with the Sendai framework, the Subhash Chandra Bose Disaster Management Award was established in 2018-19 and the first phase of National Cyclone Risk Mitigation was done in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh in 2018," Shah said. He said that in 2020-21, the Home Ministry decided that the Inter-Ministerial Consultative Team (IMCT) would first go and do an immediate review, and the Modi government made a provision to provide immediate assistance by sending 97 IMCTs within 10 days in five years. Further, the Union Home Minister said that this Bill will make both NDMA and SDMA effective, and a disaster database will be created at the national and state level. It envisages the creation of an Urban Disaster Management Authority, which will be completely under the state governments. "Apart from this, this Bill will also give statutory power to NDMA and SDMA in creating a blueprint for 100 per cent implementation of the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission," he said. Shah emphasized that they have declared the disaster in Wayanad, Kerala as a disaster of severe nature. "Rs 215 crore was immediately released from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). Rs 36 crore was sent for debris removal, which has not been spent yet. Apart from this, assistance of Rs 153 crore was given based on the IMCT report. The state government has estimated the need for Rs 2219 crore for normalizing the situation and reconstruction, out of which Rs 530 crore has been given. Along with this, other measures have been suggested to get additional assistance from a special window," he said. Amit Shah said that for the Central Government, citizens of all states, including Kerala, Ladakh, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh, are equal, and they do not discriminate against anyone. (ANI)
According to the DGCA, Indian carriers will operate 25,610 weekly flights to and from 129 airports during the summer period, which runs from March 30 to October 25, 2025.

The domestic airline's schedule has been finalised after the slot conference meeting, which was held in February 2025.

Indian carriers will see an increase in air traffic, with 25,610 weekly flights, up 5.5% from last year's 24,275 departures per week.

Scheduled airlines have proposed seven new airports, including Ambikapur, Datia, Bidar, Porbandar, Pakyaong, Rewa, and Solapur.

DGCA added that out of 129 airports, Ambikapur, Datia, Bidar, Porbandar, Pakyaong, Rewa, and Solapur are the new airports proposed by the scheduled airlines, whereas operations from Azamgarh and Rupsi airports were suspended in the Summer Schedule 2025.

The DGCA also mentioned that IndiGo will operate the highest number of weekly domestic flights, with 14,158 departures scheduled, followed by Air India (4,310) and Air India Express (3,375).

Meanwhile, SpiceJet's slots have decreased by 25% from 1,657 departures last year to 1,240 departures this year.

DGCA also highlighted that regional airlines like Alliance Air and Flybig have seen significant decreases in scheduled departures, 41.96% and 30.98%, respectively.

Airlines like Fly 91 have seen significant growth of 515 percent as it has been allowed 123 departures as compared 20 departures in last year summer schedule, DGCA added. (ANI)
Early morning raids were conducted in the villages Kralpora, Khurhama, the main town of Kupwara, and Trussu Dragmulla.

Led by senior officers, the police carried out searches at the residential premises of separatist elements suspected of involvement in unlawful activities that pose a threat to public order and national security.

During the search operations, law enforcement officials seized incriminating material linked to the activities of these banned outfits. The recovered items are now under investigation, forming a crucial part of multiple FIRs registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The raids were conducted in the presence of Magistrates and independent witnesses to ensure full legal adherence and procedural transparency.

Kupwara Police remains committed to dismantling unlawful networks and taking strict action against individuals attempting to disrupt peace and stability in the region.

Similar searches were conducted at the houses and premises of suspected members of unlawful associations throughout the district of Kulgam. (ANI)
Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday amid speculation that the two parties could again join hands ahead of assembly polls next year in the southern state. The meeting took place at the residence of Amit Shah in the national capital. Palaniswami had arrived in New Delhi earlier in the day. AIADMK leader M Thambidurai was also present in the meeting. The meeting assumes significance as AIADMK was an ally of BJP in NDA before parting ways in 2023 and the two parties are gearing up for assembly polls next year. In the past two elections to Lok Sabha and previous assembly polls, AIADMK has not been able to put up a strong show and has also faced factionalism. BJP is keen to improve its prospects in Tamil Nadu after a determined effort in the last Lok Sabha polls in which it could not win a seat in the southern state. Sources said further talks could be held between leaders deputed by the central BJP leadership and AIADMK leaders. Earlier on Tuesday, Tamil Maanila Congress President GK Vasan met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. Vasan described the meeting as a "courtesy call." "Today (25.03.2025) at the Parliament House, New Delhi, a courtesy call was held on the Honorable Union Home Minister Mr. @AmitShah," Vasan posted on X after meeting Shah. DMK won 133 seats in the 234-member Assembly in the 2019 assembly elections. The BJP and ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu have been at loggerheads over a range of issues. BJP leaders have accused DMK of trying to use "language issue to hide its corruption." Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday announced that all-party parliamentarians from the state will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to push for their demand for fair delimitation. Stalin emphasised that Tamil Nadu had led the charge on the issue by passing a legislative resolution, holding an all-party meeting, and forming an all-India Joint Action Committee, making a significant impact at the national level. "The demand made by Tamil Nadu is for fair delimitation. It is the first state in India to pass a legislative resolution, an all-party meeting, and an all-India Joint Action Committee, which has had an impact on the Indian level. To take this to the next level, all-party parliamentarians from Tamil Nadu are set to meet the Honourable Prime Minister and press our demand!" posted Stalin on X. The Tamil Nadu government has been vocal about its opposition to any delimitation process that could reduce the state's representation in Parliament due to population control efforts. (ANI)
The Haryana Cabinet, which met under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini in Chandigarh on Tuesday, approved an increase in the honorarium for part-time members of the Second Haryana State Law Commission, said an official release. The honorarium has been raised from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000 per month through an amendment to notification no. 03/01/2021-4AR dated May 26, 2021. The Commission serves as the primary body for initiating law reforms in the state. Both part-time and full-time members of the Commission are typically responsible for defining specific topics and references for the Commission's work, the statement added, Earlier, the Haryana government brought in a one-time tax settlement scheme, aimed at providing some tax relaxation and waiving off of penalties for small traders. Over and above the tax exemption and penalty waiver off, the state government under Nayab Singh Saini decided that it would exempt 60 per cent of the outstanding amount (less than Rs 10 lakh) that is due for payments. "For disputed taxes under Rs 10 lakh, taxpayers will pay 40 per cent of the outstanding amount," the chief minister said. For disputes Rs 10 lakh to Rs 10 crore, taxpayers will pay 50 per cent of the outstanding amount. For disputes above Rs 10 crore, taxpayers will have to pay full outstanding amount. They will be able to take the benefits of the tax and penalty exemption. This one-time settlement scheme will come into effect starting April 7, the chief minister announced, speaking to reporters after the launch event. (ANI)
Amid a row over stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, who has been in the eye of the storm for his remarks at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar stated Tuesday that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that action will be taken as per the law. "Our CM Devendra Fadnavis had responded on this issue on behalf of the government... Our CM has said that action will be taken as per the law," Pawar told reporters while explaining the stand of the Maharashtra government on the matter. CM Fadnavis has taken a strong stand on the alleged disparaging remarks made by stand-up artist Kunal Kamra against Eknath Shinde. The Chief Minister while speaking in the state Assembly on Monday stated that the government would not accept freedom of expression if it leads to tyranny. The CM said, "We appreciate humour and satire. We accept political satire, but we do not accept freedom of expression if it leads to tyranny." He stated that Kamra staged "low-quality" comedy. "This artist makes statements against the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice; he wants to gain fame by creating controversy. He targeted Eknath Shinde and staged a low-quality comedy," adding that the people will decide whether Eknath Shinde is a traitor or a selfish person. Further referring to Eknath Shinde as the heir to Balasaheb Thackeray's legacy, he questioned the opposition, asking whether they had given a "supari" for the stand-up show. "Balasaheb Thackeray's legacy is with Eknath Shinde... and those on the opposite bench support him, have you given a supari? This Kamra tweeted a photo of the Constitution; if he had read the Constitution, he would not have committed such atrocities," he added. "No one has the right to insult anyone. He can write poems or satire on us, but if he insults us action will be taken. Then don't be shy, these things will not be tolerated in Maharashtra," the CM added. Shiv Sena has strongly objected to the comments made by Kamra. Meanwhile, the opposition alliance in Maharashtra has criticized the Mahayuti government for the "breakdown of law and order." Earlier, Mumbai Police sent summon to the stand-up artist asking him to appear before the investigating officer on Tuesday. As per the Mumbai police, Kamra is not in Mumbai right now. MIDC police had registered a first information report against Kamra for his remarks during a stand-up comedy show, which was transferred to Khar police for further investigation. The Shiv Sena workers vandalised The Habitat in Mumbai after Kamra's remarks about Eknath Shinde on Sunday (ANI)
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin attended the Iftar party organised by the DMK minorities rights wing on Tuesday. While addressing the event, Udhayanidhi Stalin expressed his happiness and stated that DMK and Muslims have had a pretty long relationship. He added that the centre have brought a new problem with the Waqf Amendment Bill and added that his party is working for Muslims. "I am happy to meet you all during Ramzan... DMK and Muslims have a long-standing relationship. The Union government introduced Triple Talaq and NRC, and every year, minorities are harassed. Now, the Union government has brought a new problem, which is the Waqf board bill... DMK is working for Muslims", Udhayanidhi Stalin said on Tuesday. Stalin further emphasized that it was M Karunanidhi who sanctioned leaves on Milad Un Nabi and started the Urdu Academy. "DMK is working for Muslims. It's Karunanidhi who sanctioned leave for Milad Un Nabi. It's DMK, which started Urdu Academy... DMK and Dravidian Model government will always be there for Minorities, and I want you all to support us...", Tamil Nadu Deputy CM further said. There has been a longstanding tussle between the opposition and the Union Government ever since the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 came into the parliament. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has been protesting against the bill and has called for its nationwide agitation. Earlier, AIMPLB Spokesperson Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas on Tuesday slammed the Central government over Waqf (Amendment) Bill, saying that the bill "has been brought in with a communal intention." Speaking to ANI, SQR Ilyas said that the AIMPLB is not doing any politics, "We have only said that the Waqf Bill, which has been brought in, is just with a communal intention...That bill only captures the Waqf property...They are trying to mislead the people. He said that AIMPLB believes that the bill should be taken back, "This is an unconstitutional bill and has been brought only with a communal intention." (ANI)
Police used tear gas to disperse protesters in Balochistan's Panjgur district as a shutter-down strike continued for the third day following a call by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). Various cities in Balochistan observed similar strikes over the weekend in response to the BYC's protest call against the recent arrests of its leadership and a crackdown on its sit-in in Quetta, Dawn reported. BYC chief organiser Dr Mahrang Baloch and 16 other activists were arrested from their protest camp at Quetta's Sariab Road on Saturday, a day after the group claimed three protesters had died due to police action. In a post on X, the BYC said the Panjgur protest had entered its third day "amid firing and state violence" as demonstrators demanded an end to "state repression, enforced disappearances, and the targeting of peaceful protesters." The group also said a protest was held in Kalat, where protesters "raised slogans condemning enforced disappearances, police brutality, and the violent suppression of peaceful demonstrations across Balochistan." It described the demonstration as part of a "growing wave of resistance" against the crackdown. In Quetta, the BYC alleged that "security forces once again opened fire," leaving several protesters "critically injured." It shared visuals of the wounded and stated, "The state's repression is intensifying, stand with us against this tyranny." Separately, Mahrang Baloch's family has faced restrictions in meeting her. In a post on X, her sister, Nadia Baloch, said only she was allowed to meet Mahrang after three hours of pleading, while her younger sister, Iqra, was denied access. "After pleading for three hours and threatening jail staff that I would go on a hunger strike outside if I wasn't allowed to meet my sister Mahrang Baloch, I was finally permitted to see her but only for a couple of minutes," she said. "When I met her, Dr Mahrang looked strong, smiled, and conveyed this message: 'Tell my nation to stay strong, continue their peaceful protests and marches for justice,'" Nadia added. On Sunday, Nadia and cousin Asma Baloch had claimed they were not allowed to meet Mahrang at Quetta District Jail, where she is detained under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) provisions. Her arrest has not been officially disclosed. Speaking to Dawn.com, Nadia said the family was made to wait for hours before being allowed a brief meeting. She also said Mahrang's lawyer had been denied access for two days. "When I met Mahrang Baloch after three hours, I became emotional and my eyes welled with tears. However, Mahrang smiled and told me to keep my spirits up and be like her," she said, adding that her sister remained determined despite the conditions of the jail. Mahrang reportedly expressed concern over the fate of the deceased protesters, fearing they would be buried without recognition. "Mahrang neither had the knowledge in which case she was arrested and transferred to Quetta Jail nor had she been informed about her nomination in any case," Nadia said. She also said Mahrang and another Baloch activist were being kept separately from other prisoners. "Mahrang said, 'Every possible effort is being made to intimidate us, but we will not back down from the struggle for our rights and justice. I will continue to struggle for the recovery of the missing persons and raise my voice on every platform. Such arrests and cases cannot hinder or disrupt my path.'" Quoting Mahrang, Nadia further stated, "We have to remain united and raise our voices peacefully so that the world understands our legitimate demands because every sacrifice is taking us closer to the destination." Mahrang also told her family that she had pressured jail authorities to allow their visit. "'I came to know from the jail authorities that my family members had come for a meeting and they were not being allowed, so I told them that if my family members and my lawyer were not allowed to meet me, I will lock this room from the inside and whatever harm I'd do to myself, the jail authorities will be responsible for it and the jail authorities will answer to the Baloch nation, so maybe that is why you people were allowed to meet,'" Nadia quoted her as saying as per reports by Dawn. Separately, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai said she was "disturbed and concerned" about Mahrang's detention. "She represents millions of voiceless people -- women and children -- who are facing human rights violations in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is her right to protest and speak out for the most vulnerable people -- and she must be immediately released. I stand with Mahrang Baloch," she wrote on X. International human rights lawyer Kurtulus Bastimar said he was taking the matter of Mahrang's "arbitrary arrest and detention" to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. (ANI)
Former national security officials have reacted with shock after revelations that senior members of President Donald Trump's administration shared operational plans for military strikes in Yemen via an encrypted messaging app, inadvertently adding a journalist to the discussion, CNN reported. According to The Atlantic, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz started a Signal group chat with Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe to discuss US airstrikes against Houthi militants in Yemen. In a critical mistake, Waltz also added Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who remained in the chat throughout the discussion, witnessing the exchange of sensitive details before removing himself. The messages contained highly sensitive information, including details about the timing of the strikes, the specific targets, and the weapons being deployed. Hegseth reportedly shared "operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the US would be deploying, and attack sequencing." Ratcliffe, meanwhile, sent "information that might be interpreted as related to actual and current intelligence operations." Former officials have stated that such information would almost certainly be classified at the highest level. The breach has sparked widespread condemnation among former intelligence and military officials. "Dear Sweet Baby Jesus," one former senior US official said upon learning of the incident. Another simply responded, "No," when asked if such a breach had ever occurred in the Biden administration. Security experts have warned that using Signal for discussions of this nature violates every established protocol for handling classified information. "They broke every procedure known to man about protecting operational material before a military strike," a former senior intelligence official said. "You have a total breakdown in security about a military operation." Although Signal is considered highly secure due to its open-source encryption, it is not authorised for transmitting classified government communications. The Pentagon specifically prohibits the use of messaging apps like Signal to handle "non-public DoD information." Additionally, intelligence agencies have warned that foreign adversaries, including Russian-linked spies, have attempted to compromise Signal accounts. A Western intelligence official emphasised that while Signal has strong encryption, it should never be used for government operations. "It should never be used for classified or operational data, let alone policy discussions at a top government level," the official said. "This kind of breach could impact the level of trust between partners and allies." Some former officials have raised concerns that the incident could constitute a violation of the Espionage Act, which criminalises the mishandling of national defence information. However, it remains unlikely that any investigation will be launched, as the officials involved--including Hegseth, Vance, and Rubio--would be responsible for initiating such a probe. The Justice Department typically relies on a formal referral from the agency that owns the classified information, in this case, the Department of Defence. "If anyone else did it, no question it would be investigated," a former Justice Department official said. Trump distanced himself from the controversy, claiming he was unaware of the situation. "I don't know anything about it," Trump told reporters when asked about The Atlantic's report. "It couldn't have been very effective, because the attack was very effective. I can tell you, I don't know anything about it. You're telling me about it for the first time," CNN quoted Trump as saying. The transfer of classified information from a secure system to Signal would have required manual intervention. A former senior US defence official explained that such a transfer would not have happened accidentally. "Hegseth somehow had to transfer it or copy it to get it onto Signal in the first place," the official said. "You can't forward a classified email to an unclassified system. You would either have to print it out or type it up while looking at both screens. So he had to have done it or somebody would've had to have done it for him that way." Former Defence Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta did not hold back in his criticism. "Somebody needs to get fired," Panetta told CNN. "How the name of a journalist was added to that list - this is just a serious blunder." He warned that if someone other than Goldberg had received the messages, they could have alerted the Houthis, leading to retaliatory attacks on US forces. "They in turn could have... attacked US facilities in the Red Sea, causing casualties of our troops." Brian Hughes, National Security Council spokesperson, attempted to downplay concerns. "This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain," Hughes said in a statement to CNN. He claimed the discussion demonstrated "deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials" and insisted that "the ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security." However, messages from Vice President Vance suggest internal hesitation about the strikes. "I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now," Vance wrote in the chat, according to The Atlantic. "There's a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc." Trump administration officials have not addressed the security concerns but have instead focused on Vance's remarks. William Martin, communications director to the vice president, defended him, stating, "The Vice President's first priority is always making sure that the President's advisers are adequately briefing him on the substance of their internal deliberations. Vice President Vance unequivocally supports this administration's foreign policy. The President and the Vice President have had subsequent conversations about this matter and are in complete agreement." Democratic lawmakers immediately expressed outrage, with some calling for congressional scrutiny. Rep Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, described the situation as deeply alarming, CNN reported. "I am horrified by reports that our most senior national security officials, including the heads of multiple agencies, shared sensitive and almost certainly classified information via a commercial messaging application, including imminent war plans," Himes said, citing the "calamitous risks of transmitting classified information across unclassified systems." "If true, these actions are a brazen violation of laws and regulations that exist to protect national security, including the safety of Americans serving in harm's way," he added. The incident has also drawn attention to past Republican criticism of private communications in government. In 2016, Rubio attacked Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server, saying, "Hillary Clinton put some of the highest, most sensitive intelligence information on her private server because maybe she thinks she's above the law. Or maybe she just wanted the convenience of being able to read this stuff on her Blackberry. This is unacceptable. This is a disqualifier." (ANI)
Cleaners collect garbage on the Hanjiang River, a major source of water for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, in Shiyan city, Hubei province, on March 21, 2025. [Photo/China Daily]

China has made remarkable progress in rejuvenating its waterways as it endeavors to uphold "river ethics", seeking to safeguard the rights of rivers for sustainable existence.

The latest progress was shared at the 2025 World Water Day Open Day in Beijing's Tongzhou district on Saturday, where the northernmost section of the famed Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is located.

Addressing the event, Peng Jing, president of the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, said the theme of this year's event was about celebrating the living heritage of artificial waterways such as the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.

The canal is the world's longest and oldest artificial waterway that is still in use today. But due to reasons such as changes in river course and poor maintenance, this ancient waterway that once connected five major rivers has been disconnected for the past century.

In 2022, the Chinese government launched an initiative to bring life back to the more than 1,700-kilometer Grand Canal with water from the South-to-North Water Diversion Project.

Over the years, the project has transferred billions of cubic meters of water from the south to supplement the dry and populous north. Thanks to the diversion, water systems in the north can recover from overuse, people have better quality water to drink and from 2022 on the disconnected canal has resumed full flow, Peng said.

It's encouraging to see the modern artificial waterway support the ancient canal, which dates back nearly 2,500 years, and revitalize natural rivers and people who depend on them, she said. It demonstrates the co-dependent relationship between humans and water.

"I believe the story of the Grand Canal proves one simple thing: That harmony between humans and water is achievable. By protecting, passing on and harnessing the flowing legacies, humans are given a chance to survive our current crises and grow further," she noted.

Li Haihong, who heads IWHR's technical team for the river ethics program, said that the resumption of full flow in the once disconnected sections of the Grand Canal is an example demonstrating China's commitment to the practice of river ethics. "River crises occur because humans have emphasized their rights during development while neglecting their duties, leaving the rights of rivers unprotected. Constructing river ethics is about strengthening human responsibilities and duties and protecting the rights of rivers," she said.

Li said the canal used to play a vital role in promoting the economic and cultural development and exchanges between the country's north and south, and people and the canal once lived in harmony.

Since 1855, however, the northern section of the canal had ceased to flow, making it lose its vitality, she said.

Since 2022, more than 800 million cubic meters of water has been diverted to the canal, restoring its vitality. Over 300 million cubic meters of water has been diverted to irrigate more than 53,300 hectares of farmland along the canal, replenishing the groundwater.

Li noted the Xiliao River in Northeast China, which is the only major river among China's seven largest rivers with an interrupted flow, as another example demonstrating China's commitment to river ethics.

Thanks to a 2020 initiative to supplement rain water and floodwater into it, the watercourse has had water in its trunk for the last five years, she said.

According to a recent release from the ministry, its efforts to supplement water in the Yongding River, which dried up in 1996, has also significantly rejuvenated the mother river of Beijing. The river has seen water flow continuously along its entire length for five straight years since 2021, it noted.

River ethics were included in one of four initiatives proposed by China's Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying in March 2023 during the 10th United Nations Water Conference. "We should respect the right of rivers to survive in nature, treat water as a living entity, develop river ethics, protect river health and achieve a harmonious coexistence between humans and rivers," he said.

The minister has been advocating for river ethics at least since 2009 when he headed the Yellow River Conservancy Commission, an affiliate of the ministry that oversees the management of the Yellow River, China's mother river.
A bipartisan bill introduced in the US Congress on Monday seeking to impose sanctions on Pakistan's Army chief, General Asim Munir, for his alleged role in persecuting political opponents, including former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, The Hill reported. The legislation, titled the "Pakistan Democracy Act," was introduced by Reps. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) and calls for targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. The bill mandates that within 180 days, the US government identify individuals involved in political persecution in Pakistan and impose penalties, including visa bans and restrictions on entry into the United States. It explicitly accuses Munir of "knowingly engaging in the wrongful persecution and imprisonment of political opponents" and urges similar action against others complicit in the crackdown. Wilson has been vocal about his stance on Khan's imprisonment, which he describes as politically motivated. "Mr. Khan is clearly a political prisoner," Wilson told The Hill, reiterating that he had urged the US administration to pressure Pakistan's military leadership through visa bans and other means to restore democracy and secure Khan's release. The bill allows for the removal of sanctions if Pakistan ends military rule, restores civilian-led democracy, and releases all detained political figures. Khan, who was removed from office in 2022 through a no-confidence vote, was arrested in August 2023 on corruption charges. His supporters alleged that the charges are politically motivated and orchestrated by the military to prevent his return to power. Lawmakers from both major US parties have repeatedly called for his release, including Reps. Greg Casar (D-Texas), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), and Jack Bergman (R-Mich.). Richard Grenell, a former Trump administration official, has also expressed support for Khan. In December, he posted on social media platform X: "Watch Pakistan. Their Trump-like leader is in prison on phony charges, and the people have been inspired by the US Red Wave. Stop the political prosecutions around the world!" His post received over 12 million views and was widely shared by Khan's supporters. Earlier this month, President Trump, in a joint address to Congress, thanked the Pakistani government for aiding in the arrest of an Islamic State (ISIS) member linked to the 2021 Kabul airport attack. Last week, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce declined to comment on Khan's situation, stating that the administration does not interfere in other countries' internal affairs, reported The Hill. Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to the US and a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, was skeptical of Washington taking significant action. "It is unlikely that sanctions would be imposed on Pakistan just to secure the release of a populist but anti-American politician," Haqqani said, referencing Khan's past rhetoric against US policies. After his removal, Khan repeatedly accused Washington of orchestrating his ouster in collaboration with Pakistan's then-opposition. He claimed the US wanted him gone due to his independent foreign policy and stance against American influence. His rallies were marked by anti-American slogans, framing his removal as an attack on Pakistan's sovereignty. The Biden administration has denied any involvement. Wilson acknowledged his differences with Khan's views but argued that political disagreements should be addressed democratically. "But political differences should be dealt with at the ballot box," he said. Michael Kugelman, South Asia director at the Wilson Center, also downplayed the likelihood of sanctions, pointing out the contradiction in Khan's camp calling for US intervention. "For many observers in DC, there is something deeply ironic about Khan supporters blaming the US for Khan's ouster and then calling on it to rescue him," he said. He noted that while Khan's supporters argue this is about reversing interference, that assumption itself is politically charged, as per reports by The Hill. Haqqani suggested that the lawmakers' push was more about domestic politics than actual concern over Pakistan's internal affairs. "Several members of Congress are unaware of Khan's track record, as some have mistakenly described him as a friend of the US, which he has never claimed to be," he said. (ANI)
Taiwan recorded the presence of 21 Chinese aircraft, 6 PLAN vessels and 2 official ships around its territory on Tuesday. Sharing details in a post on X, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence recorded the Chinese activity up until 6 AM (UTC +8). It noted that 20 sorties crossed the median line and entered into Taiwan's northern, southwestern, and southeastern ADIZ. "21 PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN vessels and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 20 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern and southeastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded", MND wrote on X. https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1904337439315083724 On Monday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence detected 9 sorties of Chinese aircraft 8 vessels, and 2 official ships operating around its territory on Monday. On Sunday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said they detected 13 Chinese aircraft, eight vessels and two official ships operating around itself. A hike in activity was seen on Saturday when Taiwan detected 47 sorties of Chinese aircraft and seven Chinese vessels until 6 am (local time).Amid this backdrop, Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation and Communications is considering amendments which will require vessels of all sizes to install automatic identification systems (AIS) in a bid to track ships near Taiwan's shores as well as prevent Chinese incursions, the Taipei Times reported. In light of recent incursions by China, Taiwan's annual Han Kuang military exercises will focus on China's increasing use of "gray zone" tactics and the possibility of an invasion by 2027, the Ministry of National Defence announced, Taipei Times reported. The decision comes as security experts and military officials worldwide continue to cite 2027 as a key deadline for Taiwan's defence strategy. Former US Navy admiral Philip Davidson previously warned that China could attempt to invade Taiwan by 2027. While Beijing denied the claim at the time, calling it a US pretext to boost military spending, the year has since been widely referenced in discussions on defence planning. Former US Indo-Pacific commander John Aquilino reiterated last year that with a 2027 timetable set by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the US military must be prepared for contingencies before then. (ANI)
Leading Baloch human rights body, Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) central leader Sammi Deen and deputy organizer Lala Wahab were arrested on Monday as police cracked down on the protest in Karachi. After their arrests, BYC issued a strongly worded statement where it said that it will not be silenced by Pakistan's crackdown on BYC;s leadership. BYC condemned the "barbaric arrest of BYC leadership" and called "act of state terrorism by the fascist Pakistani regime against the Baloch people". "This cowardly and repressive move exposes Pakistan's authoritarian brutality, where the state apparatus operates with impunity to crush all voices demanding justice and human rights. The Pakistani state's fascist machinery, in collaboration with the Sindh police and the Pakistan Peoples Party-led provincial government, has once again demonstrated its vicious intent to eliminate all forms of peaceful resistance", the post said. It added that the abduction-style arrests of the human rights defenders are a part of Pakistan's "long-standing genocidal policy against the Baloch people" which is marked by enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and mass repression. It further highlighted that the use of colonial-era laws such as Section 144 to criminalize dissent is a desperate attempt to whitewash state barbarism. "The Pakistani state, built on the foundation of militarized oppression, continues to treat Baloch activists and our leadership such as Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Sammi Deen Baloch, Lala Wahab Baloch, Bebagar Baloch and others. This shameless tyranny not only tramples democratic freedoms but also exposes the Pakistani state's hypocritical and deceitful posture before the international community", the post added. BYC in its concluding remarks gave a call to international human rights organizations to hold the Pakistani state accountable for its atrocities and crimes against humanity. "The world must not ignore Pakistan's fascist oppression, which continues to violate every principle of justice, freedom, and human dignity. The time for silence is over. The Pakistani state must face global condemnation and consequences for its state-sponsored terrorism. The voices of the oppressed will not be erased--Balochistan will resist", it said in its conclusion. https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1904268050150613359 International figures have condemned the arrest and the treatment of Baloch activists. Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, criticised the crackdown on protesters in Quetta. The arrests have sparked wider concerns regarding the Pakistani authorities' handling of dissent in Balochistan. (ANI)
A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.5 hit New Zealand on the early hours of Tuesday according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS). Sharing the details of the earthquake in a post on X, the NCS noted that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres off the West Coast of South Island of New Zealand. "EQ of M: 6.5, On: 25/03/2025 07:13:11 IST, Lat: 46.78 S, Long: 166.28 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Off W. Coast of South Island New Zealand", it wrote on X. https://x.com/NCS_Earthquake/status/1904353840583061864 New Zealand's Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery, Mark Mitchell shared updates and follow-ups. In a post on X, he said that potential danger exists near the shoreline and requested people to stay away from the beach and water bodies. Mitchell noted that an emergency mobile alert was thus issued for the bottom of the island and highlighted hat strong and unusual currents may be experienced. "An Emergency Mobile Alert has been issued for the bottom of the South Island. Evacuations are NOT required but there is potential danger near the shoreline. We are asking people to stay away from the beach and water. Strong and unusual currents may be experienced." https://x.com/MarkMitchellMP/status/1904361672426590471 The National Emergency Management Agency of New Zealand (NEMA) issued a national advisory for tsunami activity. It said that coastal areas of New Zealand could expect to see unpredictable surges at the shore following the earthquake. It noted that areas under threat are the West Coast of the South Island from Milford Sound to Puysegur Point. Highlighting that danger persists for swimmers, surfers, fishers, or anyone near the sea, NEMA asked people to move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries. It further elaborated, "People on boats, live-aboards and at marinas should leave their boats/vessels and move onto shore. Do not return to boats unless instructed by officials." NEMA noted that as of now there is not a need to evacuate areas, however, "strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this Advisory is cancelled." The information, which was provided by NEMA was issued following an assessment of information available. It gave a call for people to listen to the radio or TV for updates, or check www.civildefence.govt.nz . (ANI)
During an official outreach program in Cardiff on March 23, Tsering Yangkey, the representative of the Dalai Lama to the United Kingdom, met prominent Welsh leaders to call for action against China's continued repression of Tibet. According to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the key engagements were organised with the help of longtime Tibet supporter Eilian Williams and the Regional Coordinator of the Tibetan Community in Britain (TCB). According to information provided by CTA, Yangkey sat down with Mark Drakeford, Member of Senedd (Welsh Parliament) from the Labour Party. Yangkey urged Drakeford to use his position within the UK's Labour government to push for the closure of Chinese-run colonial boarding schools in Tibet, which are part of China's broader efforts to forcibly assimilate Tibetan children and erase their cultural identity. She also raised serious concerns about the Chinese government's transnational repression against Tibetans living in the diaspora. Furthermore, Representative Yangkey emphasised the Chinese regime's ongoing efforts to suppress the Tibetan language, urging Drakeford to bring attention to the issue within the Welsh Parliament. As per the report, Mark Drakeford expressed his concern about the alarming repression of Tibetan linguistic rights and confirmed that while foreign policy is largely under Westminster's jurisdiction, he would collaborate with his colleagues in the Welsh Parliament to support motions and statements advocating for the preservation of the Tibetan language in Tibet. During the meetings, Representative Yangkey also presented a briefing paper highlighting the urgency of defending the Tibetan language against Chinese government policies aimed at cultural assimilation. The document called on both leaders to raise the issue in the Welsh Parliament. Last year, Tsering Yangkey, a civil servant from the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Dharamsala, was appointed as the new representative of Dalai Lama to the United Kingdom. This marked a significant milestone, as it was the first time in 15 years that a senior Tibetan civil servant from Dharamsala took the helm of the Office of Tibet in London. (ANI)
The All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU- Unified Socialist) burnt the effigy of Deepak Khadka, Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation protesting the deposition of Nepal Electricity Authority Chief Kulman Ghising. A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday evening sacked the incumbent Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority- Kulman Ghising from the post. Ghising who has been regarded as the person to put an end to power cuts in the Himalayan nation has been deposed from the post citing his poor performance. The cabinet instead has appointed Hitendradev Shakya, the brother-in-law of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli as the successor of Ghising. "The government yesterday (Monday) decided to depose Kulman Ghising, the Director General of the Nepal Electricity Authority, we have hit the streets against it. Kulman Ghising is a government staff who really cared for the welfare and well-being of the people, he rescued the nation from the situation when the nation was reeling under an 18-hour power-cut, and there was the dominance of cartels which he ended. Now he has been removed from the post by the incompetent government and its minister Deepak Khadka is more responsible for creating trouble for him by asking for clarifications multiple times. He also established his own cabin at the Nepal Electricity Authority creating problem for him finally resulting in deposition of Ghising," Ashok Thapa, one of the protestors from the student union told ANI. Previously, the cabinet had sought an explanation multiple times after the departmental minister failed to remove Ghising. To justify his dismissal, his performance was deliberately rated poorly. Credited for bringing reformation in Nepal's electricity sector and ending about 18-hour power cuts, Ghising has a large following and the support of the public. Lately, the Managing Director Ghising and the Energy Minister Deepak Khadka have been at loggerheads. Earlier in the first week of March, the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation awarded a zero score to Kulman Ghising in the work performance evaluation. "Kulman Ghising had about three months of his tenure left in the office but he was removed from the office through a political coup. This reactionary move by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, we have hit the street again to protect this democratic system," Narayan Sharma, another protestor told ANI. Ghising received a zero score based on performance evaluation for the fiscal year 2023-24. Ghising had submitted a detailed report to the ministry claiming 98.99 per cent marks and including key performance indicators for evaluation. Ghising submitted an evaluation report on January 9 claiming 98.99 per cent marks for the work performed in fiscal year 2023-24. The NEA said that Ghising had previously received scores of 94.23 per cent and 98.94 per cent from the Energy Ministry in the performance evaluations for fiscal years 2021-22 and 2022-23, respectively. Ghising is entitled to an incentive allowance based on his performance evaluation score. The NEA earned a profit of Rs 14.46 billion in the last fiscal year. In fiscal year 2015-16, the NEA had incurred a net loss of Rs 8.89 billion. However, in 2016-17, it earned a net profit of Rs 1.5 billion, marking the beginning of its profit-making history. Since then, the NEA has remained consistently profitable. Eight years ago, it had an accumulated loss of Rs 34.61 billion rupees. But it has now accumulated a profit of Rs 47.41 billion. In the last fiscal year, the NEA reduced electricity leakage in the system to approximately 12.73 per cent. Until eight years ago, electricity leakage stood at 25.78, while in the fiscal year 2022-23, it was 13.46 per cent. Over the past eight years, the NEA has achieved significant success in electrification. In fiscal year 2015-16, electrification coverage was only 58 percent. Three years ago, it was 89.7 per cent, and now it has reached 99 per cent. During the last fiscal year's monsoon season, the NEA exported surplus electricity to India after domestic consumption, earning Rs 17.07 billion. In the last fiscal year, Nepal exported electricity worth about Rs 130 million more than it imported, achieving a historic milestone of transitioning from a net electricity importer to a net exporter. Ghising was appointed managing director of the NEA for a second four-year term by a Cabinet decision on August 9, 2021. Based on the Cabinet's decision, a performance agreement was signed between the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation and Ghising on January 19, 2022, incorporating various indicators of NEA reforms. (ANI)
The third edition of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India's flagship magazine, 'Inspiring India' highlights the stories of inspiring leaders, changemakers, and groundbreaking innovations driving progress across the country. The magazine edition, launched recently, features a special message from Jagat Prakash Nadda, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, and Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers. It brings forth stories showcasing transformative initiatives like strides in digital health U-WIN, growing entrepreneurial ecosystem with a feature on Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, and his WTFund, Nigar Shah, the trailblazer scientist behind the country's first solar mission and an inspiration for women in STEM, UNDP India Youth Champion Sanjana Sanghi who shared her reflections as a young artist. UNDP National Advocate for SDGs Bhumi Pednekar has emphasised on how small actions and mindful choices can drive sustainable change. Through spotlighting powerful stories and groundbreaking ideas, this edition of 'Inspiring India' celebrates the people, and the actions and innovations driving meaningful change across the country. Angela Lusigi, Resident Representative, UNDP India said, "This edition marks the third in the Inspiring India series, and we at UNDP are excited for you to explore the incredible stories of innovation within. With these interviews and features, we invite you into a world where simple solutions spark extraordinary change. We hope you are inspired to start your own journeys because innovation is not just about a good idea--it is a way of life in India, where even the smallest actions can create a better future for us all." The issue includes an exclusive interview with UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Michelle Yeoh, who continues to advocate for gender equality globally. The magazine also features a compelling story on the iconic Jaipur Foot and sheds light on its impact on mobility and dignity for persons with disabilities. The magazine showcased how women farmers in Telangana have pioneered an ingenious new seed storage method in response to climate change disruptions. A feature on the IIT Madras student-led innovation lab highlighted cutting-edge solutions emerging from India's youth, the statement highlighted. The issue further highlights six standout stories from the Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge supported by the Atal Innovation Mission to enable social entrepreneurs, along with five groundbreaking inventions accelerating progress on Sustainable Development Goals. (ANI)
The ongoing Diamer-Bhasha Dam protest in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) has entered its 38th consecutive day, with demonstrators pledging to continue their sit-in until their demands are addressed. A recent video shared by Pamir Times on Monday highlighted the increasing presence of religious elements within the protest movement. Protesters, using religious symbolism and rhetoric, reinforced their resolve, with many invoking religious fervour to underline their demands. Speakers at the protest emphasised their commitment to the 31-point Charter of Demands, which calls for the fulfilment of rights that the demonstrators claim have been ignored by the authorities. One speaker addressed the crowd, declaring, "We are standing against injustice, and our 31-point charter must be met." Others voiced their readiness to make significant sacrifices, invoking religious themes to rally support, with one protester warning, "We are preparing for jihad, we will place our chests in front of your bullets." Religious slogans, such as "Ulema, scholars are still alive," underscored the growing influence of religious ideology in the movement. Protesters also issued stern warnings against any attempts to disrupt their activities, particularly during the upcoming Eid celebrations. One speaker ominously stated that those responsible for obstructing the protest or hindering the celebrations would face severe consequences. The ongoing protests in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) are fuelled by longstanding concerns over inadequate compensation, the absence of resettlement, and insufficient support for livelihoods. These unresolved issues have left many communities in the region vulnerable and discontented. Protesters are determined in their demands, insisting they will not relent until fair compensation is provided and accountability is upheld. The people of PoGB often face significant neglect in crucial areas, worsening their marginalisation. Politically, they are underrepresented in government bodies, leading to a lack of effective advocacy for their rights and interests. This political exclusion prevents them from influencing decisions that affect their communities directly. (ANI)
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has expressed optimism ahead of the visit of an American delegation which wil hold talks on the contours of a proposed bilateral agreeement on the India-US trade ties. Speaking to mediapersons here on Tuesday, Tharoor said he hoped for a constructive discussion to emerge out of talks wherein Indian trade is not seriously affected. "Americans have sent a delegation and we are expecting them to spend four days talking to the Commerce ministry people on our side. The problem is that US President Donald Trump has taken a very strong stand that from April 2, a reciprocal tariff will apply," Tharoor said. "And because India does apply tariff lines to a number of American exports to India, if you strictly understand what reciprocal means, it would mean that our exports to America will also be affected. So I'm hoping that in the talks they'll find some sensible outcome" he said. Highlighting the trade surplus India has with the US, the Congress MP said, "You know we have a 45 billion dollar trade surplus of America. Some of it will certainly be reduced now, but we don't want it to seriously affect our exports and our economy and our trade balance. So I'm hoping there'll be a good constructive discussion and we'll be able to find some sensible outcomes. " Commenting on the various new developments which the Trump 2.0 administration has brought forward, the Congress MP said that the world has to "be conscious, react and if necessary, negotiate a different solution". US President Donald Trump has put April 2 as the deadline for imposition of reciprocal tarrifs. US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch, is on a India visit beginning today till March 29 along with a delegation of US government officials, US embassy spokesperson said. As per the US Embassy spokesperson the delegation will be in India from March 25-29 for meetings with Indian interlocutors as part of ongoing bilateral trade discussions. "We value our ongoing engagement with the Government of India on trade and investment matters and look forward to continuing these discussions in a constructive, equitable, and forward-looking manner," the spokesperson noted. (ANI)
In response to the call given by the Balochistan National Party-Mengal, a shutter-down strike was observed in Gwadar and other coastal cities of Balochistan on Tuesday to offer support to the Baloch Yakjehti Committee's (BYC) recent protests against a police crackdown and arrests of its leaders, Dawn reported. All businesses, banks, shops and petrol pumps in the city remained shut to protest against the arrests and cases lodged against all BYC women leaders, including Mahrang Baloch, Bebo Baloch and Sammi Deen Baloch. Traders association observed a complete shutter-down strike in Ormara, a city 270 kilometres away from Gwadar. Shops remained shut in Pasni, another coastal city town at a distance of 142 kilometres from Gwadar, Dawn reported. This shutter-down strike comes a day after the Karachi police detained BYC leader Sammi Deen Baloch and several other activists during a protest against recent arrests of BYC leadership and crackdown on the Quetta sit-in. On Friday, police used tear gas and water cannons and fired blank shots to disperse BYC protesters, who held a sit-in on the Sariab Road, against alleged enforced disappearances, including its leader Bebarg Baloch. Both BYC and the Balochistan government reported casualties on their sides due to each other's actions. The BYC claimed that three people died and 13 others were injured while police said that around 10 of their personnel sustained injuries, Dawn reported. The situation further escalated after Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch was arrested in the early hours of Saturday and was booked along with 150 others under terror charges. In response to BYC's call, a shutter-down strike was observed in various cities of Balochistan, including Quetta, Kalat, Turbat, Mastung, Panjgur, Kharan, Chaghi, Dalbandin and Dhadar. Separately, BPN-M president Sardar Akhtar Mengal announced a long march from Wadh to Quetta on March 28 against the arrest of BYC leaders. In a post on X, Mengal stated, "I announce a long march from Wadh to Quetta, against the arrest of our daughters and the desecration of our mothers and sisters. I will lead this march myself, and invite all Baloch brothers and sisters, young and old, to join us in this march. This is not just a matter of the arrest of our daughters, it is a question of our national dignity, our honor, and our very existence." "We will not remain silent until our mothers, sisters, and daughters are safe. Our movement is peaceful. We have come out against oppression and injustice. And we will not stop until justice is served. Our march from Wadh to Quetta is not just a journey of steps, but a journey of conscience. He who is silent is also guilty. Now is the time for us to become one voice. Details and next steps will be shared soon," he added. https://x.com/sakhtarmengal/status/1904256043774837004 The BYC welcomed BNP's decision to hold a long march, calling it a "commendable step." The group said that it stands in full support of every act of public struggle and mass resistance. Taking to X, BYC stated, "We stand in full support of every act of public struggle and mass resistance. At this critical time, we believe that all political and social forces within Baloch society must embrace the path of collective resistance. Only through a unified movement we can dismantle this colonial system." "Seeking justice within a structure built on oppression and tyranny only reinforces its foundations. True justice can only be achieved by completely uprooting the system of repression. The defeat of tyranny is possible only through sustained public resistance. The Balochistan National Party's announcement of a long march is a commendable step, and we respect this decision," it added. https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1904293286808076638 In a separate post on X, BYC urged prominent activists, academics, artists and human rights organisations to use social media to raise awareness about the on-going Baloch genocide in Pakistan. "We are reaching out to ask for solidarity from resistance movements across the globe. We ask prominent activists, academics, artists and human rights organisations to use social media to raise awareness about the on-going Baloch genocide in Pakistan. Share, repost and speak out against the Pakistani state's actions in Balochistan," BYC posted on X. (ANI)
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U.S. President Donald Trump attends an event celebrating the Greek Independence Day at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said that he may "give a lot of countries breaks" on tariffs, as his April 2 deadline to impose "reciprocal tariffs" on U.S. trading partners draws closer.

"I may give a lot of countries breaks, but it's reciprocal," Trump told reporters at the White House Monday afternoon.

He noted that the European Union (EU) has agreed to lower car tariffs to 2.5 percent as part of a deal with the Trump administration.

"We'll be announcing some additional tariffs over the next few days, having to do with automobiles, cars, and having also to do a little bit with lumber down the road, lumber and chips," Trump continued.

"But for the most part, April 2 will be a big day, that will be reciprocal day, and we'll be bringing some of the money back that's been taken from us," Trump said.

Earlier in the day, Trump announced on social media that he'll impose 25-percent tariff on any nation that purchases oil and/or gas from Venezuela, accusing the Latin American country of sending "tens of thousands of" criminals to the United States.

When asked by a reporter whether the 25-percent tariff is "on top of existing tariffs," Trump said "yes."

With key U.S. economic indicators showing concerning trends, economists and investors warn that the risk of a "Trumpcession" has grown due to unpredictable trade and economic policies.

Earlier this month, Bruce Kasman, JPMorgan's chief global economist, expressed heightened concerns about the U.S. economy. He told reporters in Singapore that the investment bank now estimates a 40 percent chance of a U.S. recession this year.
Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has accused police of blocking Baloch activist Sammi Deen Baloch's release despite the court ordering her release. The BYC called the targeting of Sammi Deen Baloch an "attempt to suppress the Baloch resistance" and vowed to continue the struggle against oppression. The BYC accused the police of locking the main gate of the court and trying to re-arrest Sammi Deen Baloch using a "fabricated case." The group said that all detained protesters were released in Karachi. In a post on X, BYC stated, "All Detained Protesters Released in Karachi, But Police Block Sammi Deen's Release All detained protesters in Karachi have been released following court orders. However, despite the court ordering the release of BYC Central Committee leader Sammi Deen, police have locked the main gate of the court and are attempting to re-arrest her by applying a fabricated case." "This blatant disregard for judicial orders once again proves that the state and law enforcement agencies do not even follow their own courts. The continued targeting of Sammi Deen is yet another attempt to suppress the Baloch resistance, but the struggle against oppression remains unshaken," it added. https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1904460601969279118 In a separate post on X, BYC urged prominent activists, academics, artists and human rights organisations to use social media to raise awareness about the on-going Baloch genocide in Pakistan. "We are reaching out to ask for solidarity from resistance movements across the globe. We ask prominent activists, academics, artists and human rights organisations to use social media to raise awareness about the on-going Baloch genocide in Pakistan. Share, repost and speak out against the Pakistani state's actions in Balochistan," BYC posted on X. The BYC said that the sit-in at Shaheed Fida Ahmed Chowk in Kech continues for the fourth day against the "state's brutal crackdown and the arrest of BYC leaders, including Mahrang Baloch, Sammi Deen Baloch, Lala Wahab and Bibagar Baloch and others. In a post on X, BYC stated, "Fourth Day of Sit-in Continues at Shaheed Fida Ahmed Chowk, Kech The sit-in at Shaheed Fida Ahmed Chowk, Kech, has entered its fourth day as protesters remain steadfast against the state's brutal crackdown and the arrests of BYC leaders, including Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Sammi Deen, Lala Wahab, Bibagar Baloch, and others. Despite threats, intimidation, and ongoing repression, the protesters continue their demonstration, demanding the immediate release of all detained activists and an end to enforced disappearances." https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1904445602597085597 On Monday, Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) central leader Sammi Deen and deputy organizer Lala Wahab were arrested as police crack down on the protest in Karachi. After their arrests, BYC issued a strongly worded statement where it said that it will not be silenced by Pakistan's crackdown on BYC;s leadership. BYC condemned the "barbaric arrest of BYC leadership" and called "act of state terrorism by the fascist Pakistani regime against the Baloch people". "This cowardly and repressive move exposes Pakistan's authoritarian brutality, where the state apparatus operates with impunity to crush all voices demanding justice and human rights. The Pakistani state's fascist machinery, in collaboration with the Sindh police and the Pakistan Peoples Party-led provincial government, has once again demonstrated its vicious intent to eliminate all forms of peaceful resistance", the post said. It added that the abduction-style arrests of the human rights defenders are a part of Pakistan's "long-standing genocidal policy against the Baloch people" which is marked by enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and mass repression. It further highlighted that the use of colonial-era laws such as Section 144 to criminalize dissent is a desperate attempt to whitewash state barbarism. (ANI)
The Fashion Design Department of the University of Haifa recently concluded a nine-day study trip to India, blending innovation, sustainability, and traditional craftsmanship. The group of students, led by the Department head, Rachel Getz Saloman, and lecturer Tamara Efrat, participated in an intensive program of workshops, research, and creative collaborations. According to the Israel Embassy in India statement, the visit was part of their course "Fashion Studio--Craft Smart Technologies," which aimed at exploring the intersection of heritage craft and contemporary design. The Embassy facilitated a cross-cultural exchange in the field of fashion and design. According to an Israel Embassy in India statement, the students collaborated with Instant Karma, an advanced technology factory in Delhi, where they learned about sustainable design practices and created clothing sets combining hand-crafted pieces with technologically manufactured items. The Israel Embassy in India stated in a statement, "In collaboration with the JD Academy of Textiles and Fashion, arranged with the support of Ms. Avital Barak, Cultural Attache at the Israel Embassy in New Delhi, the students spent a day at the academy. They attended a lecture, toured the campus, and participated in a batik workshop to further enhance their understanding of traditional textile methods." The students also visited Rajasthan's Jaipur city, where they learned about the state's textile heritage. They explored India's rich block-printing industry and took part in hands-on workshops, including tie-dye, embroidery, and local printing techniques, gaining first-hand experience of India's celebrated artisanal traditions. In the statement, Rachel Getz Saloman said, "I welcome this wonderful collaboration. India is an empire of inspiration for designers and artists. It is a place where craft is alive and kicking and is at the heart of culture and society. For us, this is an unforgettable experience and I sincerely thank the Israeli Cultural Attache in New Delhi, the JD Academy, and the Instant Karma factory for this opportunity. I hope this collaboration will continue and I very much look forward to coming here next year." The Israel Embassy in India expressed commitment to promoting meaningful partnerships that boost cultural exchange, creativity, and innovation. It further said, "This partnership stands as a testament to the growing people-to-people relations between India and Israel." (ANI)
Israel's military has announced that a Hezbollah commander, Hassan Kamal Halawi, was killed in an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon's Nabatieh on Monday, The Times of Israel reported. The IDF said it targeted and killed the chief of Hezbollah's anti-tank missile unit, Hassan Kamal Halawi, in southern Lebanon. It said that Halawi was responsible for several terror attacks against Israel and continued to engage in terrorist activity against Israeli civilians. In a statement, the Israeli army said, "During the war, Halawi was responsible for numerous terror attacks against the State of Israel. He facilitated the movement of operatives and the supply of weapons into southern Lebanon. In recent months, Halawi continued to engage in terrorist activity against Israeli civilians." The IDF said that Halawi was targeted as he posed a threat to Israel, The Times of Israel reported. Earlier on Saturday, Israel's military conducted multiple waves of airstrikes across Lebanon, targeting suspected Hezbollah sites. Lebanese Health Ministry said that at least seven people were killed and 40 others were injured in strikes on Saturday, CNN reported. On Saturday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz directed army to carry out a "second wave" of attacks on southern and eastern Lebanon in response to Hezbollah rocket fire toward Israel and "in continuation of the first wave of attacks this morning," according to a statement released by Israel Prime Minister's office, CNN reported. The statement further said, "The Lebanese government is responsible for everything that happens on its territory." The barrages marked the most significant eruption of violence between Israel and Hezbollah since a ceasefire was implemented. The IDF said its latest strikes targeted "Hezbollah command centers, infrastructure sites, terrorists, rocket launchers, and a weapons storage facility." It said the strikes were conducted to at least five projectiles fired from within Lebanon toward Israel; three were intercepted by the Israeli air force, and two did not cross the border. In a statement, Katz said, "We promised security to the Galilee communities - and that is exactly what will happen." Hezbollah has denied any involvement and said that it was committed to the truce. Hezbollah accused Israel of using the rocket fire as a "pretext" to target Lebanon, CNN reported. Lebanon's presidency has condemned "attempts to drag once again into a cycle of violence." According to the statement, Lebanon President Joseph Aoun had directed the army to protect the people of Lebanon and investigate the rocket attacks. (ANI)
A Karachi court has placed journalist Farhan Mallick under a 14-day judicial remand for allegedly broadcasting "anti-state" content on his YouTube channel, according to a report by Dawn. Mallick, the founder of Raftar media agency and a former news director at Samaa TV, was arrested on March 20 under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and the Pakistan Penal Code. Despite the Federal Investigation Agency's request for an extension of Mallick's physical remand, the court denied it, scheduling a bail hearing for March 27, Dawn reported. Mallick faces allegations under sections of the PECA, including provisions that penalise the spread of fake news, defined as information likely to incite panic or unrest. According to Dawn, Mallick's arrest has sparked outrage among media organisations and rights activists. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemned the charges, labeling them as state harassment against Mallick and Raftar. They emphasised the case's broader implications for media freedom in Pakistan. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also called for Mallick's immediate release, highlighting a disturbing trend of government retaliation against journalists. In the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders ranked Pakistan 152 out of 180 countries, highlighting a severe decline in press freedom. According to a Paris-based NGO, the Pakistani government has intensified repression of online dissent through internet shutdowns, access throttling, and social media suspensions, severely limiting free expression. Journalist safety has also deteriorated, with seven reporters killed in the first half of 2024--a record high. Despite efforts by NGOs and international organisations to improve conditions, the landscape remains perilous, characterised by fear and self-censorship among journalists, particularly regarding criticism of military and intelligence agencies. Reporters Without Borders said that "vague laws" like the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act are used to suppress dissent rather than protect journalism. (ANI)
Anshuman Gaur, presently serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Hungary. Gaur is an Indian Foreign Service Officer of the 2001 batch. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly. In a statement, the MEA stated, "Shri Anshuman Gaur (IFS: 2001), presently Joint Secretary in the Ministry, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Hungary." "He is expected to take up the assignment shortly," it added. Relations between India and Hungary have been close and friendly, multifaceted and substantive. They have survived the vicissitudes of political and economic changes, particularly in Hungary and the reorientation of its foreign policy in the post-Cold War period, according to the Embassy of India in Hungary statement. The people of Hungary are extremely grateful for India's role in the 1956 uprising in Hungary. The economic relationship between the two nations has also been strengthened with investments of approximately USD 3.3 billion from India to Hungary. The bilateral trade between India and Hungary has crossed 1.2 billion in 2023, according to the Embassy of India in Hungary statement. Recently, Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Peter Szijjarto, visited New Delhi to attend the 10th edition of Raisina Dialogue from March 17-19. He also visited New Delhi in February to attend the CII-India Europe Business and Sustainability Conclave held on February 21-22. (ANI)
Rubin, in his recent article for 19FortyFive, suggested that Yunus, renowned for his pioneering work in microfinance, is now overseeing actions that suppress journalistic freedom and enable hardline Islamist groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami to exert influence over the nation's socio-political landscape.

Rubin drew parallels between Yunus's current actions and those of other Nobel laureates who, after receiving the prize, have been criticized for policies or actions that contradict the principles of peace and human rights.

He cited Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's involvement in the Tigray conflict and Aung San Suu Kyi's response to the Rohingya crisis as examples.

The article highlighted the persecution of journalists under Yunus's interim government. Freelancers Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed have reportedly been imprisoned on baseless charges, with limited contact with their minor daughter.

Over 1,000 journalists "deemed too secular" have allegedly been dismissed, and prominent journalist Julfikar Ali Manik has become a target due to his focus on Islamist movements, he added.

Rubin also expressed concern over the treatment of Fazle Karim Chowdhury, a respected leader and advocate for human rights and minority protection.

Chowdhury's constituency, Raozan, has been a haven for Bangladesh's Hindu community, and his persecution raises alarms about the safety of minority groups under the current administration.

In light of these developments, Rubin called on the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to consider imposing Global Magnitsky Act sanctions on Muhammad Yunus, emphasizing that the Nobel Peace Prize should not serve as a shield for actions that undermine human rights and press freedom.

These observations are based on Michael Rubin's article in 19FortyFive. For a comprehensive understanding of the situation, readers are encouraged to consult multiple sources and perspectives. (ANI)
The 33rd meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held in Beijing today. During the meeting, the officials of the two nations reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas and agreed on the early resumption of cross-border cooperation and exchanges, including on trans-border rivers and Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) press release, both nations explored various measures and proposals to implement the decisions taken during the meeting of the Special Representatives on the India--China boundary question in Beijing in December 2024 and advance effective border management. The two sides agreed to maintain and strengthen diplomatic and military mechanisms. In a press release, the MEA stated, "Held in a positive and constructive atmosphere, the meeting comprehensively reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas. Peace and tranquility on the border are critical for the smooth development of overall bilateral relations." "The two sides explored various measures and proposals to give effect to the decisions taken during the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives on the India-China boundary question in Beijing in December 2024 and to advance effective border management. The two sides agreed to maintain and strengthen relevant diplomatic and military mechanisms towards this end. They also exchanged views on early resumption of cross-border cooperation and exchanges, including on trans-border rivers and Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra," it added. According to the MEA statement, Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia), led the Indian delegation to the meeting, and Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led the Chinese delegation. The two sides agreed to work together to substantially prepare for the next meeting of the Special Representatives (SR), which will be held in India later this year. The Indian delegation leader paid a courtesy call on China's Assistant Foreign Minister, Hong Lei. Earlier, on March 16, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed optimism about India's relationship with China, emphasizing the importance of learning from each other and understanding one another. PM Modi acknowledged the ancient cultural and civilizational ties between the two nations, noting that there's no real history of conflict between them. He said that the two nations are now working to restore conditions to how they were before 2020, with PM Modi emphasizing the importance of rebuilding trust, enthusiasm, and energy. Speaking in a podcast with AI researcher Lex Fridman, PM Modi also advocated for healthy competition between the two nations, emphasising that competition should never turn into conflict. "Look, the relationship between India and China isn't something new. Both nations have ancient cultures and civilizations. Even in the modern world, they play a significant role. If you look at historical records, for centuries, India and China have learned from each other. Together, they have always contributed to the global good in some way," he said. PM Modi acknowledged a return to normalcy at the border. He said, "It is true that there have been ongoing border disputes between us. And in 2020, the incidents along the border created significant tensions between our countries. However, after my recent meeting with China's President Xi Jinping, we have seen a return to normalcy at the border. We are now working to restore conditions to how they were before 2020. Slowly but surely, trust, enthusiasm, and energy will return. But of course, it will take some time since there's been a five-year gap." PM Modi expressed optimism about improving relations with China following a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. In October last year, PM Modi held a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the margins of the BRICS Summit held in Russia's Kazan. (ANI)
Sharjah [UAE], March 25 (ANI/WAM): The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI)'s Board of Directors has reviewed the Chamber's strategic roadmap for 2025-2027, designed to drive transformative improvements in performance, operations, and service excellence. The strategy focuses on supporting business sustainability and growth, anticipating future business trends, shaping the business landscape, and enhancing its competitiveness and leadership. This took place during SCCI's second periodic board meeting for 2025, held at its headquarters and chaired by Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI. The meeting was attended by Sheikh Majid Faisal Khalid Al Qasemi, First Vice Chairman of SCCI, and Waleed AbdelRahman BuKhatir, Second Vice Chairman of SCCI, along with other board members. Also present were Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of SCCI; Maryam Saif Al Shamsi, Assistant Director-General for Support Services Sector at SCCI, and Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Business Sector at SCCI. The gathering also included senior officials from the Chamber's departments and affiliated entities. During the meeting, the Board discussed the strategic plans and operational frameworks aimed at achieving the objectives of the Chamber's 2025-2027 strategy. These objectives include strengthening Sharjah's economic landscape, promoting entrepreneurial excellence, and supporting businesses across key fields, including commercial, industrial, professional, agricultural, and digital sectors. The Sharjah Chamber's new strategy emphasises delivering world-class services to enhance competitiveness, enabling local enterprises to expand internationally, and unlocking new global trade opportunities. The strategy also aims to support innovation and entrepreneurship by fostering a growth-oriented and sustainable business environment. It focuses on enhancing economic and social sustainability, facilitating investment-driven economic projects that reinforce Sharjah's economic framework, and supporting sustainability initiatives to ensure a viable and sustainable economy. Furthermore, the strategy seeks to establish a robust and integrated economic ecosystem, strengthen strategic partnerships with local and global stakeholders to optimise economic value chains, and attract high-value investments to the emirate of Sharjah. The meeting provided an overview of the Sharjah Chamber's key initiatives and achievements during the first half of 2024, addressing various agenda items, with a particular focus on updates to ongoing projects. These initiatives focus on enhancing the services and activities provided by the Chamber and its subsidiaries, strengthening private sector competitiveness, optimising institutional and operational efficiency, fostering human capital development, and actively promoting Sharjah's investment landscape and business opportunities. Abdallah Sultan Al Owais said that the Sharjah Chamber's 2025-2027 strategy reflects its commitment to realising the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The strategy aims to enhance Sharjah's economic standing, strengthen its competitive environment, diversify its production base, and bolster its investment climate, ensuring that the emirate remains a key hub for successful investment projects. He noted that the Chamber is committed to fostering high-value investments, advancing the digital economy, and contributing to infrastructure development as fundamental pillars for future growth. The strategy also prioritises sustaining service excellence for clients, members, and private sector entities, supporting entrepreneurship, investing in human resources, and embedding a culture of corporate excellence. For his part, Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi outlined the Sharjah Chamber's key achievements during the second half of 2024, highlighting SCCI's strategic initiatives to foster institutional excellence and elevate service quality for its members. He emphasised that these achievements are fully aligned with predefined performance benchmarks aimed at supporting the Chamber's overarching objectives of solidifying Sharjah's status as a leading regional investment destination while actively championing the interests and expansion of the private sector. The trade missions organised by the Sharjah Chamber have yielded significant success, with recent visits to Uganda and Kenya effectively bolstering the competitiveness of its members and introducing them to new investment opportunities in line with the broader economic diversification strategy. Moreover, during the second half of the past year, the Chamber held numerous business meetings with official, diplomatic, and trade delegations facilitating strategic business partnerships between Sharjah's private sector and global markets. It also organised meetings with sectoral business groups and key entrepreneurs to explore future growth opportunities and propose strategies to strengthen the business ecosystem. Discussions at SCCI's board meeting further addressed the Chamber's plans to support Sharjah's vision of strengthening its economic network with countries worldwide, forging new economic partnerships, facilitating the international expansion of local enterprises, driving their global success, and attracting top talent and investors from around the world. The meeting also discussed the Sharjah Chamber's efforts to ensure the highest level of success for the Sharjah Ramadan Festival, which attracts a significant number of shoppers from across the UAE. The festival plays a key role in boosting the retail sector, stimulating the marketing movement, and increasing sales. (ANI/WAM)
Tel Aviv [Israel], March 25 (ANI/TPS): Israel and Albania signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday to strengthen cooperation in health and medical innovation. The agreement, signed in Jerusalem by Israeli Health Minister Uriel Bosso and visiting Albanian Health Minister Albana Kocio, focuses on joint projects in digital health, emergency preparedness, medical research, and technological development. "Albania sees great importance in strengthening relations with the State of Israel and in deepening the connection with the Ministry of Health and the Israeli medical system. Expanding our cooperation will help improve health services for citizens and help us find ways to promote professional manpower and other issues in the fields of medicine," Kocio said. "The cooperation signed today is based on shared values of medical innovation, human solidarity, and preserving the health of both peoples," said Bosso. "Health has been and will remain a bridge between countries and cultures, and we are proud to continue strengthening ties with Albania for the benefit of the health and well-being of the citizens of both countries." (ANI/TPS)
Protesters in Nepal on Tuesday resorted to hitting the street demanding reinstatement of Nepal Electricity Authority chief Kulman Ghising, who was suspended from post on Monday evening. In various protests held in Kathmandu, dozens of protesters skirmished with Nepal police near the parliament as they attempted to break the restricted area. Later in the evening, the All Nepal National Independent Students Union (Revolutionary) burned the effigy of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, protesting the move to depose Ghising. The cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar on Monday evening decided to relieve Managing Director Ghising of his post. During the protest, the protesters raised slogans such as 'Ujyalo Nepal Zindabad, Adharo Sarkar Murdabad, 'Ujyalo Nepal Zindabad, ' and 'Kulman Ghising Zindabad. ' Within 24 hours of Ghising's deposition, Hitendra Dev Shakya officially assumed office as the Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). The same meeting removed Ghising from the post and appointed Shakya as his successor. Shakya had previously led NEA but was replaced by Kulman Ghising. His legal battle challenging this removal remained unresolved, with his petition pending before the Supreme Court for years. Despite his attending 31 hearings, a verdict was never reached, and his four-year term expired while awaiting a decision. Now, backed by the ruling alliance of the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, Shakya has returned to the top position at NEA. His initial four-year tenure, which began in 2077 BS under then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, was cut short after Sher Bahadur Deuba's government reappointed Ghising in 2078 BS. With his term technically set to end in just six days, Shakya's reappointment comes amid public outrage over Ghising's dismissal. The move has drawn criticism, with concerns that political interests have taken precedence over institutional stability. Previously, the cabinet had sought an explanation multiple times after the departmental minister failed to remove Ghising. To justify his dismissal, his performance was deliberately rated poorly. Credited for bringing reformation in Nepal's electricity sector and ending about 18-hour power cuts, Ghising has a large following and the support of the public. Lately, Ghising and the Energy Minister Deepak Khadka have been at loggerheads. Earlier in the first week of March, the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation awarded Kulman Ghising a zero score in the work performance evaluation. "Kulman Ghising had about three months of his tenure left in the office, but he was removed from the office through a political coup. With this reactionary move by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, we have hit the street again to protect this democratic system," Narayan Sharma, another protester, told ANI. Ghising received a zero score based on performance evaluation for the fiscal year 2023-24. Ghising submitted a detailed report to the ministry claiming 98.99 per cent marks and included key performance indicators for evaluation. Ghising submitted an evaluation report on January 9 claiming 98.99 per cent marks for the work performed in the fiscal year 2023-24. The NEA said that Ghising had previously received scores of 94.23 per cent and 98.94 per cent from the Energy Ministry in the performance evaluations for fiscal years 2021-22 and 2022-23, respectively. (ANI)
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Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Italy's Senate President Ignazio La Russa in Beijing, capital of China, March 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

Zhao Leji, China's top legislator, held talks with Italy's Senate President Ignazio La Russa in Beijing on Monday.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said that key to the healthy and steady development of China-Italy relations is the commitment of both sides to mutual respect, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and pursuing win-win cooperation.

China appreciates Italy's adherence to the one-China principle and is willing to tap into cooperation potential in shipbuilding, aerospace and new energy, Zhao said, adding that cooperation in the fields of culture, art, tourism and education should also be strengthened.

He called for increased exchange between the NPC and Italy's parliament within bilateral and multilateral frameworks.

He said China is ready to work with the EU to use the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to promote the sustained, steady and sound development of China-EU relations, and hopes Italy will continue to play a positive role in this regard.

He said companies from all over the world, including those from Italy, are welcome to seize cooperation opportunities in and grow alongside the Chinese economy.

La Russa said that Italy and China can work together to make new contributions to world peace and stability. Italy hopes to expand cooperation in the fields of the economy, trade, science, technology and culture to promote the continuous development of bilateral relations and the sound, steady development of EU-China relations.

He added that Italy's Senate is willing to take on closer exchanges with China's NPC.
During the meeting, S Jaishankar and Julie Bishop exchanged views on the political situation.

In a post on X, Jaishankar stated, "Glad to meet UN Special Envoy of the SG on Myanmar Julie Bishop this evening in Delhi. Discussed our border stability, refugee situation, trans-national crime out of Myanmar and providing economic support. Exchanged views on the political situation."

https://x.com/drsjaishankar/status/1904532881684173240

In April last year, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the appointment of Julie Bishop of Australia as his Special Envoy on Myanmar.

In February this year, India and Myanmar discussed possibilities in areas of pharmaceuticals, pulses & beans, petroleum products and greater use of the recently launched Rupee-Kyat Trade Settlement Mechanism to foster mutual growth.

The discussion between the two countries was attended by Jitin Prasada, Union Minister of State of Commerce and Industry and HE U Minn Minn, Deputy Minister for Ministry of Commerce, Myanmar. During the meeting, both sides emphasised the potential for enhanced bilateral trade, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry release.

During the meeting, leaders of India and Myanmar deliberated on the potential areas of collaboration to promote bilateral trade and also acknowledged the importance of resuming border trade through roads and agreed to take steps on this issue. (ANI)
The Belgian government is closely monitoring the case of fugitive Indian businessman Mehul Choksi, emphasising that it is being handled with significant attention, according to David Jordens, Spokesperson and Head of Service for social media and press at Belgium's Federal Public Service (FPS) Foreign Affairs. When asked about Choksi's possible presence in Belgium, Jordens stated, "I can confirm that the Federal Public Service (FPS) Foreign Affairs is aware of this case and attaches great importance and attention to it. However, we do not comment on individual cases. Furthermore, this case falls under the competence of the Federal Public Service Justice." His remarks indicate that while the Belgian government is monitoring the situation, jurisdiction over the matter primarily lies with the justice department. Jordens further assured that FPS Foreign Affairs continues to actively follow developments related to the case. While no additional details were disclosed regarding Choksi's whereabouts, the statement affirms that Belgian authorities are engaged with the case and remain informed of any significant updates. Earlier, Antigua & Barbuda's Foreign Minister, E.P. Chet Greene, addressed Choksi's status, clarifying that he had left the island for medical treatment abroad but remains a citizen of the country. Speaking to ANI, Greene stated, "Mehul Choksi is not on the island, I am told he left Antigua for medical attention abroad. He remains a citizen of Antigua & Barbuda. Your Government and my Government are working together on this matter. We have some traditions in democracy. We both respect the rule of law. Matter of Mehul Choksi has been subjected to legal review. Until such time it is reviewed and determined, there is nothing I can say, or any of us can say or do." Choksi, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, is wanted by Indian authorities for his alleged involvement in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, in which they are accused of defrauding the bank of over Rs14,000 crore. Greene highlighted that the governments of India and Antigua & Barbuda continue to cooperate while ensuring adherence to legal procedures and democratic norms. (ANI)
Sweet Briar Colleges wine Earned the Rose won a gold medal in the Virginia Governors Cup 2025 wine competition, bringing attention to the colleges vineyards and other agricultural and sustainability opportunities for students.

We are incredibly honored to receive this distinction for our wine and our college farm, SBC President Mary Pope M. Hutson said in a February news release. We are fortunate to be part of the commonwealths legacy of excellence in agriculture.

SBCs 2023 Leading the Way Chardonnay and 2023 Meadow Merlot also earned silver medals, the release said.

The competitions gold medal wines are included in the Virginia Gold Medal Wine Trail, which offers unique tasting adventures throughout the state, the Virginia Wine website said.

Earned the Rose was crafted from merlot grapes, which are grown in 18 acres of grapes in two separate SBC campus vineyards, said Lisa Powell, faculty member in environmental science and agriculture, in an interview with The News & Advance.

Powell is one of the leaders of Sweet Briar College Farm, the agricultural production arm of SBC responsible for wine-making from campus vineyards.

Sweet Briar College Farms wines are made in collaboration with Michael Shaps Wineworks in Charlottesville, Powell said.

She said SBC used to sell its production to another winery, but in 2023, the college pursued a farm winery license to start selling its own wine.

Powell said in the news release that the wines were named to honor and celebrate the colleges traditions, academic excellence and sustainability initiatives.

As every alumna knows, SBCs motto is she who earns the rose may bear it, which led naturally to a name for the rose, Powell said in the release.

Powell said its fairly rare for a rose wine to win gold in the Governors Cup, and some Virginia wine-tasting experts complimented the wine after unofficially tasting it.

They really complimented just how interesting the wines flavors are, she said. The way that fruit notes come through, despite the fact that it is a dry rose, and just how it has this really kind of lovely feel in your mouth, even your throat, as youre drinking it.

Powell said the Leading the Way Chardonnay has a delicate, well-balanced flavor that goes with many different foods. Its name celebrates the colleges womens leadership core curriculum.

The Meadow Merlot is a light but complex red wine, and its name honors the colleges conservation and stewardship efforts, she said.

We really emphasized those wines as telling stories about Sweet Briar and representing different aspects of our curriculum and the learning opportunities that we provide for our students on our beautiful college landscape, Powell said.

She said SBC is glad to have variety in the wine it offers.

For those who gravitate towards white wine, those who gravitate towards red wine, and, of course, those who love all things pink, which is Sweet Briar, Powell said.

Agricultural opportunities for students

Hutson said SBC prepares students to leverage opportunities for sustainability on its campus and in the community.

Students can take courses or participate in our Willits Food Systems Fellows Program and gain hands-on experience in activities that range from pruning the vines to representative grape sampling and even bottling the wines, Hutson said in the news release.

Powell also leads the colleges Center for Human and Environmental Sustainability, which offers the fellows program.

She said students in the program gain hands-on experience in other campus agricultural operations, such as working in the campus greenhouse and tending to bees in the apiary.

Last summer, students visited the bottling facility when it was time to bottle the Meadow Merlot and learned how the process works. She said later in the summer when it was time to harvest the grapes, students learned how to take representative samples of them.

Powell said this semester she is teaching an upper-level vineyards course in SBCs environmental science program where students are learning about what it takes to start and tend a vineyard in Virginia.

And were having a number of amazing guest speakers from around Virginia, from different wineries, as well as from educational institutions who are coming and helping our students even deepen their experience and get different perspectives on viticulture, Powell said.

The center also offers a leadership and sustainable agriculture and food systems certificate program, which Powell said students in any major can complete. She said the credential signals to potential employers or graduate schools that students have an understanding of and hands-on experience with agriculture.

Theyve actually gone out there and been in the field or in the greenhouse or in the apiary, Powell said. So, theyve gotten their hands dirty, so to speak, and theyre going to be able to bring that kind of understanding and appreciation for all that goes into our agriculture and food and beverage systems to whatever career theyre doing.

Helping to tell our story

Powell said SBC was excited to have its wines evaluated in an official capacity so the college could set goals for the future.

We just were very excited to start being part of the Virginia wine sector and the amazing tradition of Virginian wine and agriculture through this competition, Powell said.

SBC held a gold medal launch tasting event in early March to celebrate the gold medal wine.

Early March is always a time when we celebrate the history of Sweet Briar and the present and the future of the college, Powell said. And so, we thought that it would be a wonderful opportunity to combine that celebration with this celebration of earning a gold medal in our very first year of entering.

Powell said she thinks its exciting and encouraging for SBC to receive this recognition so early in its winery and vineyard operations.

I think its just a really wonderful opportunity that will help us share with the world all of the things that we have to offer on our campus, Powell said. Both for students and all the opportunities to learn about agriculture, food and beverage systems, and for the general public to experience the incredibly beautiful landscape at Sweet Briar, and now this delicious wine that is a product of our landscape and is really helping to tell our story.
Local residents joined more than two dozen U.S. Postal Service workers in Lynchburg on Sunday to rally against potential major service cuts to the post office and a possible privatization of the USPS by the Trump administration.

The afternoon rally, at the post office on Odd Fellows Road, was organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 325 and the National Rural Letter Carriers Association, whose members and supporters held signs that read leave the post office alone and U.S. mail not for sale.

Paula Johnson, president of the NALC local branch, said her union is worried about the impact of any possible actions by the Trump administration on her members jobs and how it would affect residents who rely on the post office.

We do a fantastic job as workers at the postal service. And its a service, she said about any attempt to privatize the USPS and turn it into a for-profit entity.

Sara Tallini, a member of the National Rural Letter Carriers Association who lives in Buckingham County, said she traveled to Lynchburg to oppose the privatization of the USPS.

Tallini emphasized it would not be profitable to serve rural communities if the USPS were privatized.

Protecting the USPS should be a bipartisan issue, according to Tallini. We are woven into the Constitution. We are for the people. We are by the people, she said, pointing to Article I of the Constitution. Privatization would be detrimental to all of us.

President Donald Trump is weighing plans to transfer the USPS to the Department of Commerce, and eliminate its bipartisan board of governors. In December, Trump also said privatizing the USPS is not the worst idea Ive ever heard.

Virginians who live in rural areas rely on the USPS to receive prescription drugs, checks, online purchases, voting ballots and other items. Private shippers such as FedEx and UPS often find serving rural areas unprofitable, leading to higher costs or even limited service. The USPS has a legal obligation to serve all postal addresses, including those in remote areas, at uniform rates.

Lisa Wiebking, a letter carrier for 34 years, said she attended the rally to demonstrate how important the USPS is to the community, especially older residents.

Were bringing medications to them that they need. We check on our elderly customers, she said. Its not just about taking a piece of mail or a package. Its about building relationships within our community.

At this point, Wiebking said she does not know what will happen to the USPS during Trumps second term in office. But she and her colleagues want the public to understand the important role the USPS has played since the start of the country.

The U.S. Postal Service began with the Second Continental Congress in 1775. It continued when the U.S. Constitution empowered Congress to establish post offices in 1787. Congress exercised those powers with the passage of the Post Office Act of 1792, which made postal services a permanent fixture of the federal government.

In 1970, Congress passed the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, a law that abolished the U.S. Post Office Department and created the U.S. Postal Service, an independent agency authorized by the U.S government as an official service for the delivery of mail. With the passage of the law, the four main postal unions won full collective bargaining rights.

Even during the pandemic, we never stopped. A lot of people couldnt get out of their house, and we might have been the only person these people saw all day coming to their doors, Wiebking said about the work of letter carriers.

In recent days, postal workers and supporters of the USPS have been demonstrating across Virginia and the rest of the country against possible plans by Trump and the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to scale back the post office or privatize it.

About 50 people participated in the Lynchburg rally on Sunday. Erik Callands, a city carrier for the USPS, said he joined the rally to speak out against any drastic changes from happening to the post office so that everyday citizens keep their mail services.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is working with DOGE on plans to cut billions of dollars from the U.S. Postal Service budget, according to a letter he sent to members of Congress last week.

Ronnie Durie, a former member of the United Paperworkers International Union in Lynchburg, said he turned out Sunday because he wanted to show solidarity with his fellow union members who work for the USPS. I still havent forgotten where I came from and what unions did for me, he said. And so, Im here to support these brothers and sisters.

Durie said he is worried about how layoffs across the federal government will affect the nation now and for years down the road.

This is a crucial time in our history, he said. People need to really pay attention to this and take a stand. Dont sit back and think its going to be all right tomorrow.
GAZA, Mar 25 (News On Japan) - Gaza authorities announced on March 24th that two journalists were killed in an Israeli military strike.

According to Asahi Shimbun, one of the victims was 29-year-old Muhammad Mansour, who worked as a local correspondent for the newspaper. Al Jazeera reported that the other journalist was 23-year-old Hossam Shabat, a reporter for the Middle Eastern satellite broadcaster.

Both were working in Gaza at the time of the attack.

Journalists working in Gaza operate under extremely challenging and dangerous conditions, especially during periods of conflict. The Gaza Strip, a densely populated Palestinian territory, has been the site of repeated and intense military confrontations between Israel and armed groups like Hamas. In such an environment, journalists play a crucial role in documenting events on the ground, often risking their lives to report on military strikes, humanitarian crises, and political developments.

Many of the journalists in Gaza are local freelancers or stringers working for international media outlets such as Al Jazeera, Reuters, the Associated Press, and major newspapers like Asahi Shimbun. These reporters often do not have the same protections or resources as foreign correspondents, yet they are typically among the first to arrive at the scenes of bombings, protests, and other volatile situations.

The risk to journalists in Gaza is high. Press freedom organizations such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have repeatedly raised concerns about the safety of media workers in the region. Journalists have been killed, injured, or detained while covering events, and press infrastructure has occasionally been targeted during military operations.

Despite the danger, Gaza-based journalists continue to provide critical reporting that offers the international community a firsthand account of the impact of the ongoing conflict on civilians. Their work is essential for ensuring transparency and accountability in one of the most volatile and heavily scrutinized areas of the world.

Source: Kyodo
OSAKA, Mar 25 (News On Japan) - The Osaka High Court, presided over by Judge Kumiko Honda, ruled on March 25th that provisions in Japans Civil Code and Family Register Act that do not recognize same-sex marriage are unconstitutional, marking the fifth such ruling by a high court in the country.

The decision came in an appeals case filed by three same-sex couples from Aichi, Kyoto, and Kagawa prefectures, who were seeking 1 million yen each in damages from the government. The court found that the provisions violate Article 14, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality under the law, as well as Article 24, Paragraph 2, which upholds human dignity and the essential equality of the sexes.

The ruling follows similar decisions by the Sapporo, Tokyo, Fukuoka, and Nagoya High Courts, aligning the Osaka High Court with a growing judicial consensus that the current legal framework discriminates against same-sex couples.

However, the court rejected the couples demand for compensation, consistent with the earlier ruling by the Osaka District Court. Notably, the Osaka case had been the only one in which a lower court previously ruled that the current laws were constitutional.

Source: Kyodo
Burkina Fasos Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore, has commended Moroccos leadership at the helm of the African Unions Peace and Security Council (CPS-UA).

Traore commended Rabats diplomatic approach in convening informal consultations on March 18 with six African nationsBurkina Faso, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Sudanall currently undergoing political transitions.

The meeting, held under Moroccos presidency of the AU-PSC in Addis Ababa, provided these countries with an important platform to discuss their paths toward stability and reintegration into the African Union.

The six nations that participated in the consultations have faced AU suspensions following political upheavals. The March 18 discussions were a significant step in their reintegration efforts.

Traore reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Moroccos efforts in making its tenure a success.

As the current chair of the AU-PSC, Morocco has prioritized a diplomatic approach to foster peace, security, and governance across the continent. The recent consultations allowed representatives from the suspended AU member states to share updates on their democratic transition efforts and engage with the AUs peace and security body.

This initiative aligns with Moroccos broader African policy, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, which focuses on regional stability and sustainable development.
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The recent U.S.-brokered Russia-Ukraine peace talks highlighted growing divisions between Washington and Brussels, bringing trans-Atlantic relations to a historic low, an Italian geopolitical analyst has said.

Sergio Fabbrini, a political science professor at Rome's LUISS University, told Xinhua that the exclusion of Europe from the talks underscores the EU's declining influence in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, due in large part to the bloc's lack of unified foreign policy coordination.

"This episode reveals the European Union's structural weakness," he said during a university conference on Monday. "Without a central authority to speak for all members, the bloc struggles to assert itself on the global stage, particularly when the U.S. chooses to act unilaterally."

This institutional fragmentation, he said, coincides with the skeptical view of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration of the EU. The U.S. president has repeatedly characterized the EU as "an institution designed to undermine American interests rather than bolster global security."

Fabbrini emphasized the fundamental divergence in how both sides perceive the Ukraine crisis. "For Europe, this is an existential security threat happening on our doorstep. For Washington, it's a geopolitical calculation involving great powers," he said.

The professor warned that the current tensions mark "one of the worst crises in trans-Atlantic history," urging Europe to develop more independent diplomatic capacity.

"Geographical reality demands that Europe take greater responsibility for its own security architecture while maintaining equilibrium between national interests and collective European stability," he said.
A total of 956 Nigerians have been evacuated from Libya so far this year, with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Nigeria and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMI).

The returnees, which include 683 women, 132 men, 87 children, and 54 infants, were brought back in six separate trips between January and March 2025. The first return flight took place on January 28, followed by several others in February and March. This ongoing effort is part of the Nigerian Federal Governments commitment to supporting Nigerians stranded abroad.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), reiterated the commissions constant warnings about the dangers of irregular migration routes, particularly through Libya. A war-torn country, Libya remains a major transit point for many trying to reach Europe, often through perilous and deadly journeys. Dabiri-Erewa stressed that Nigerians should avoid such dangerous routes, and emphasized the importance of legal and regulated migration.

In her statement, Dabiri-Erewa underscored the Federal Governments dedication to safeguarding the rights and dignity of Nigerians both at home and abroad. She called for enhanced cooperation with government agencies, NGOs, and the media to raise awareness about the risks of irregular migration and promote safer, legal alternatives. Over the past few years, more than 15,000 stranded Nigerians have been brought back to their homeland through similar evacuations.
Moroccos progress in consolidating the rule of law and promoting human rights was highlighted on Monday at a roundtable discussion in Londons Westminster Parliament.

The event, which was attended by members of both Houses of the British Parliament, diplomats, and representatives of the Moroccan and Arab communities in the UK, focused on the issue of human rights in the Middle East and North Africa region, with a focus on the Moroccan experience.

Speaking at the event, Amina Bouayach, president of Moroccos National Council for Human Rights (CNDH), noted that over the past two decades, Morocco has shown a strong commitment to justice and human rights, and recalled that last year the Kingdom celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission, a historic initiative that paved the way for democratic reform.

This initiative marked a crucial stage in the consolidation of the rule of law in Morocco, laying the foundations for a singular Moroccan approach to the issue of human rights and the management of public affairs, Bouayach emphasized.

Since then, she added, the process of major reforms undertaken in Morocco, such as the 2011 Constitution, advanced regionalization, and the Family Code, has been guided by three fundamental principles: consensus-building among all stakeholders, innovation to design solutions adapted to the national context, and inclusiveness, ensuring the participation of stakeholders from the Kingdoms 12 regions in a truly participatory process.

After reviewing the steps taken by Morocco to strengthen freedom of expression, Bouayach announced that Morocco is undertaking a comprehensive reform of social protection to guarantee universal health coverage by 2026. This reform represents a crucial step towards social justice and economic inclusion, she said.

Turning to the promotion of womens rights and gender equality, she asserted that the reforms undertaken have encompassed both the private and public spheres, reflecting a holistic approach to gender equality.

She highlighted the historic reform of the Family Code, designed with a participatory approach in line with the vision of King Mohammed VI, first in 2004, before setting the process in motion again in 2023, reaffirming thus Moroccos commitment to social justice and the advancement of womens rights.
Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photos: Getty Images

There is a growing rallying cry in the citys mayoral race: D.R.E.A.M., or in other words, Dont Rank Eric or Andrew for Mayor.

Progressive groups and candidates are urging voters ahead of the June Democratic primary to fill out their ranked-choice ballot without Andrew Cuomo or Mayor Eric Adams, with the goal of ultimately ensuring neither man receives the necessary votes to become the presumptive mayor.

One of the first groups to promote the idea was United Auto Workers Region 9A, which represents union members in the city. In December, its political council announced its unranked slate of endorsed candidates in the mayoral race: Comptroller Brad Lander, Queens state senator Jessica Ramos, and Queens assemblymember Zohran Mamdani. It also included a clear warning to members: Dont rank Adams. In February, with Cuomos entry into the race all but assured, the union revised its guidance to include the former governor, writing that members are united behind our D.R.E.A.M.

Brandon Mancilla, the director of UAW Region 9A, says the decision against ranking the two men was an easy one. Mayor Adams, over the last three to four years as mayor of the city, weve seen a lot of cuts, a lot of misplaced priorities, taking a knee to whatever Donald Trump wants, essentially just not running the city, Mancilla says. That has been a red line for our members.

As for Cuomo, Mancilla cited his lack of apparent support for a UAW strike at upstate General Motors auto plants when he was governor, saying Cuomo has never made an appearance at any of their picket lines. At this point, the UAW has gotten President Biden to show up to the picket line right during last years strike, and, in 2019, Cuomo refused to do that in a state that is very proud of its union density and being a pro-union state, he says. So, we dont think he has working class peoples needs in mind. Hes running to empower himself and thats basically something that our members dont want to go back to.

At the same time, another D.R.E.A.M. campaign was taking form. New Yorkers for a Better New York Today launched dreamfornyc.com in February after months of planning, featuring hats and shirts with the slogan and backed by a social media campaign targeting Cuomos record. And now the issue is coming up at campaign events and forums across the city, with more candidates officially joining the D.R.E.A.M. team.

I wholeheartedly support this approach and Ive said ever since we launched our campaign in late October that I would only be critiquing disgraced New York executives, whether past or present, says Mamdani.

Shortly after Cuomo joined the race, Ramos shared a video on social media criticizing his handling of the pandemic and urging voters to embrace D.R.E.A.M. We dont need City Hall to be a refuge for scandal-ridden men, she said.

The Cuomo campaign, so far, appears unfazed by the strategy. Our city is in crisis  a crisis of affordability, of quality of life and of leadership, and in this race, Governor Cuomo, and Governor Cuomo alone, is the only proven, tested leader to tackle these issues head on and who voters know can get the job done. New Yorkers arent stupid: these are serious times that demand a serious Mayor, not performance art from defund the police, DSA-extremist and anti-Israel activists, Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for the campaign, said in a statement.

With Cuomo currently leading in the polls and the moderate lane of the field growing with the recent entry of City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, candidates in the progressive bloc appear ready to wield ranked-choice voting to their advantage. Its a marked change from 2021, when candidates largely eschewed strategic approaches to the race, such as backing each other in case the other was eliminated as votes were tabulated. The lone exception was a late-stage joint endorsement between Andrew Yang and Commissioner Kathryn Garcia, who each vowed to rank the other second and urged their voters to do the same. Garcia was runner-up to Adams.

Had Maya Wiley and Kathryn Garcia cross-endorsed each other a month out from the election, one of them very likely would be mayor today and we wouldnt have a mayor who had sold us out to Donald Trump for a pardon for his crimes, says Lander.

Thats why progressives are hoping this time will be different. Thats where the D.R.E.A.M. strategy is really helpful and very smart, says Ana Maria Archila, co-director of the New York Working Families Party. It helps guide voters, gives them clear direction about what not to do. Obviously, the other element is making sure that we guide voters about what to do.

Mamdani, who has been second behind Cuomo in recent polls, is open to joint endorsements. I have told other candidates and campaigns directly from the very beginning of this race that I am interested in cross-endorsements as we get closer to Election Day because we must turn the page on this failed leadership and we must utilize every single tool at our disposal to ensure that all of our supporters understand that where they have five options, they should use them, and that none of them should be Eric Adams or Andrew Cuomo, he says.

While Brooklyn state senator Zellnor Myrie said hes not opposed to cross-endorsements down the line, he said each campaign must present a case to voters that stands in strong contrast to the records of Cuomo and Adams. Im excited about what ranked-choice voting provides for voters. I think it gives people the opportunity to express their preferences in a way that they might not have had in the past and I do think that it allows for candidates to focus on presenting what their vision for the city is, and I feel good about our ability to do that in this field, he says.

This is the sort of collaboration the UAW was ultimately hoping for when it dreamed up D.R.E.A.M. I dont think were quite there yet to see the cross-endorsements and that kind of thing, but weve been very clear also with the candidates weve endorsed that thats what we would like to see, Mancilla says. We would like to see them get to the point that theyre also endorsing each other. If Im number one on your ballot, heres who I believe should be number two. Because in the end, thats the way that progressive labor voices are going to be able to come out on top, instead of letting the field get divvied up.

Correction: This article previously misstated when DreamforNYC started its campaign.

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Michael Waltz and Pete Hegseth, chat buddies. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

There are many different ways to explain Donald Trumps improbable rise to the presidency in 2016, ranging from mere fatigue with Democratic governance to a vast revolt against a bipartisan Establishment pushing globalization. But all accounts would converge on one important detail: He would not have won his incredibly narrow Electoral College victory had not Hillary Clintons reputation been battered by many months of criticism over her use of personal email to handle sensitive official business. Hillarys emails and the interminable drumbeat over them from both conservative and mainstream media damaged perceptions of her trustworthiness and also generated crucial headlines late in the campaign, obscuring what looked to be a fatal Trump scandal associated with the Access Hollywood tapes.

Given this history, along with the paranoia characteristic of national-security types generally and MAGA people specifically, youd think secure comms on any discussions remotely related to national security would be a categorical imperative for any Trump administration. But youd think wrong, given the incredibly sloppy handling of high-level discussions over plans to attack Houthis in Yemen that came to light because Team Trump brought the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, into its group chat on Signal.

Most of the uproar over this bizarre incident has focused on national-security adviser Michael Waltz, who accidentally added Goldbergs name and phone number to the chat, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who discussed operational details of the attacks outside of secure channels. But the entire group of Cabinet-level officials chatting away in Goldbergs silent presence are guilty of inadequate security precautions. Many of them, in fact, were very outspoken about the terrible misconduct involved in Clintons emails (along with others involving the Obama and Biden administrations) back in the day, as CNN reminded us in delicious detail:

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host; White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller; national security adviser Mike Waltz; and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have all made public comments in the past attacking officials under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden for allegedly being sloppy with sensitive government information.

Much of that criticism has revolved around Hillary Clintons use of a private email server when she was Secretary of State under President Obama 

[Marco] Rubio, identified by Goldberg in the chat as MAR, repeatedly attacked Clinton over the issue in 2015 and 2016  tweeting about it at least a dozen times.

In an August 2015 Fox News interview, Rubio noted that classified information should only be viewed in a secure room to protect it from unauthorized access or surveillance.

You most certainly know you shouldnt be talking about it or passing it on in an email, particularly to a private server like the one she had. What they did is reckless  its complete recklessness and incompetence.

Thats a fair description of what we have in the current case. But Rubios far from the only hypocrite here:

In a November 2016 Fox News appearance, Hegseth called Clintons use of the email server, criminal.

People have gone to jail for 1/100th of what  even 1/1,000th of what Hillary Clinton did 

Waltz, who invited the Atlantic journalist to the group chat, similarly tweeted his outrage that the Department of Justice did not pursue charges against Clinton for her private messages.

Bidens sitting National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan sent Top Secret messages to Hillary Clintons private account. And what did DOJ do about it? Not a damn thing, Waltz tweeted in June 2023.

There are additional quotes sternly condemning insecure comms and leaks to the press from Stephen Miller and Tulsi Gabbard, both apparent participants in the Houthi group chat. Indeed, the air in Washington is full of the soft clucking of chickens coming home to roost. Clinton certainly appreciated the irony:

 You have got to be kidding me.https://t.co/IhhvFvw6DG pic.twitter.com/bnNG4dGSpI  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 24, 2025

But Team Trump could at least mitigate the damage by admitting its errors and moving on. Instead, it is shooting the messenger who drew attention to its incompetence, as Axios reports:

Hegseth, who briefly spoke to reporters after landing in Hawaii Monday, lashed out at Goldberg for The Atlantics history of publishing negative stories about President Trump.

Youre talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again, Hegseth said, attacking Goldbergs reporting on the Russia investigation and allegations that Trump called fallen veterans suckers and losers.

Asked why details of the operation were shared on Signal, an encrypted messaging app available to the public, Hegseth denied that part of Goldbergs reporting.

Ive heard how it was characterized. Nobody was texting war plans. And thats all I have to say about that, the former Fox News host said.

Goldberg later responded to Hegseth on MSNBC, alleging that the texts he withheld included precise details of the attack on the Houthis  including the specific time, specific targets and sequencing of the operation.

Perhaps even more to the point, Hegseths claims that Goldberg is a fake journalist motivated mainly by animus to Trump makes the idiocy of including him in any sort of Cabinet-level discussion even clearer.

These people screwed up royally, and they should come clean about their collective responsibility for sloppy communications management and stop lashing out at media for reporting it. A retroactive apology to Clinton is probably too much to ask for, but she will have the satisfaction of watching Trumps high command cut themselves with the same knife they used to strike her down.

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.

The case for ousting Waltz: This whole thing is basically national security adviser Mike Waltzs fault as hes the one who accidentally invited Goldberg to the chat. Some have suggested Waltz had the journalists contact information saved in his phone because he has been leaking information to him. However, Waltz might just have made a mistake; maybe he meant to invite someone else, such as U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer. Waltz claimed on Tuesday that he never met, dont know, never communicated with Goldberg, for what its worth (and maybe not much: a photo later surfaced of the two men standing together at a 2021 event Golberg moderated).

Will it happen? If anyone gets punished, its most likely to be Waltz. Some America First conservatives were already suspicious of the former Dick Cheney advisers neoconservative past. Politico reported that Waltzs fate is the subject of much debate in group chats among fellow members of the Trump administration:

Half of them saying hes never going to survive or shouldnt survive, said the [senior administration] official, who like others was granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberation. And two high-level White House aides have floated the idea that Waltz should resign in order to prevent the president from being put in a bad position.

It was reckless not to check who was on the thread. It was reckless to be having that conversation on Signal. You cant have recklessness as the national security adviser, the official said.

A person close to the White House was even more blunt: Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a fucking idiot.

That may be the general consensus among Waltzs colleagues, but the decision is ultimately up to Trump:

A fourth White House official said they were aware of internal pressure for Waltz to own his mistake  which could mean a possible resignation. But that official said what happens to Waltz largely depends on how Trump personally feels about the matter and noted the involvement of other administration officials in the Signal chat as well.

The White House response: A day after the story broke, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump still has full confidence in his team.

As President Trump said, the attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective. President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including national security adviser Mike Waltz, Leavitt said in a statement.

A day later, Trump told NBC News, Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man. Days later, Trump told Meet the Press that he doesnt fire people because of fake news and because of witch hunts.

On March 30, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump has decided not to fire Waltz for now, but the damage to his reputation has put him on shaky ground in the White House. The paper reported that the president is mainly mad that Waltz had an Atlantic journalists number in his phone, but he doesnt want the media and Democrats to claim a scalp so early in his second administration:
Despite potential benefits, there are concerns about the practicalities of US involvement, including maintaining power supply during attacks, the lack of Western experience with Soviet-designed reactors, and the need to preserve Ukrainian control over its nuclear facilities.

Experts have expressed cautious support for the proposal, highlighting the potential security guarantees and the shift away from Russian nuclear technology, but also noting concerns about operational challenges and Ukrainian sovereignty.

The US and Ukraine have discussed the possibility of establishing a US presence at Ukrainian nuclear power plants to provide security and assistance, particularly at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya station.

The US could have boots on the ground in Ukraine -- though not in the way many might expect.

During a recent phone call between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where Ukraine agreed to pause attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure for 30 days, the idea emerged of establishing a US presence at Ukrainian nuclear power plants.

Zelenskyy said that in the conversation with Trump, he discussed the possibility of US assistance in restoring Zaporizhzhya, Europe's largest nuclear power station, which has been under Russian occupation since March 2022.

"I said that just de-occupying [Zaporizhzhya] is not enough, because there must be infrastructure there: water supply, technical personnel, and many more steps so that [in the future] the station starts bringing money and electricity to people," Zelenskyy said about the phone call.

According to a White House readout of the March 19 call, Trump told Zelenskyy that US ownership of Ukraine's electrical supply and nuclear power plants "would be the best protection for that infrastructure."

Plan For US Nuclear Staff In Ukraine

Experts who spoke to RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service cautiously welcomed the proposal, saying it would be a strong security guarantee and a step in the right direction for Ukraine's nuclear power to shift from Russia to the West.

"I believe that if Mr. Trump made such a proposal, Ukraine should not refuse, but should agree to it, with certain conditions," said Volodymyr Omelchenko, energy program director at the Razumkov Center, a Kyiv-based think tank.

Those conditions, he suggested, would include guaranteeing complete Ukrainian control and ensuring Enerhoatom, the state-owned nuclear power enterprise, remains the sole operator.

"No one else knows the specifics of the [Zaporizhzhya power plant], except for Ukrainian specialists, since each nuclear unit has its own individual specifics," Omelchenko said.

Ukraine has 15 operable reactors across four nuclear plants -- one of which, the Zaporizhzhya plant, is occupied by Russia. Two reactors are officially under construction but no active work has been reported in more than 30 years, according to the 2024 World Nuclear Industry Status Report.

Of the 15 nuclear reactors, 12 are Soviet-era reactors connected to the grid before Ukraine gained independence in 1991. The country's Soviet-era nuclear fleet provides over half of the country's energy.

Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plants Under Fire

The situation in Ukraine is unprecedented. Active war has never been fought in a nation with multiple nuclear power plants. In addition to the occupation of Zaporizhzhya, Russian drones have buzzed uncomfortably close to the Khmelnytskiy nuclear plant in western Ukraine. Missiles and drones have flown close to the Rivne plant in western Ukraine. And, in February, a Russian drone struck the shelter covering the ruins of Chernobyl's destroyed reactor.

"The presence of American business, American interests there, will be a kind of security guarantee," said political expert Igor Reuterovich. While Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian infrastructure, the presence of American personnel on the ground would be seen as a potential red line that Moscow would be hesitant to cross.

In recent years, Ukraine has been trying to reduce its dependency on Russian nuclear technology. An agreement between global nuclear giant Westinghouse and Enerhoatom was signed in June 2022, guaranteeing that the company would provide all the nuclear fuel for Ukraine's reactors, breaking the monopoly Russia once held. There are also plans under way to build new reactors using US technology at the Khmelnytskiy nuclear power plant.

"It is clear that there is a guarantee of safety here, but also an interest in important investments, cooperation with Westinghouse and other American companies, [and the] supply of equipment.... There are many positives in involving Americans," Omelchenko said.

Concerns About US Presence In Ukraine

The devil, of course, is in the details. In a March 20 CNN article, Western experts poured cold water on the idea of the US running Ukrainian nuclear plants. Of concern was maintaining a stable power supply and sufficient water for cooling amid ongoing attacks on infrastructure. And in practical terms, the experts said, Western nuclear technicians lacked experience working with the Soviet-designed VVER reactors used in Ukraine.

There has also been a discrepancy regarding what exactly was discussed between Trump and Zelenskyy in their March 19 phone call. According to the Ukrainian president, the two leaders' discussion focused exclusively on the Zaporizhzhya plant. The White House statement, however, mentions "plants" in the plural --not just Zaporizhzhya.

While Zelenskyy is eager for US help, he is committed to preserving Ukraines sovereignty, especially in a sector so closely tied to national security. In the phone call with Trump, he stated clearly that "all nuclear power plants in Ukraine are owned by the Ukrainian people."

One possible compromise that experts have suggested would be putting Americans on the supervisory boards of nuclear plants or even Enerhoatom itself -- a move that would provide influence and security without transferring ownership.

For others, US involvement would not be enough to remedy the situation. "There can only be one way to return Zaporizhzhya [to Ukraine]" said political expert Vadym Denysenko, and that's "if Russian troops leave [the nearby city of] Enerhodar...and this territory in general. I don't see any other options."

Chernobyl, the site of the infamous nuclear catastrophe in 1986, shows the limitations of an international presence. Even with significant international funding and a high global profile, the nonoperational Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant still became a target during the conflict.

That occurred on the night of February 14, when a Russian drone with a high-explosive warhead hit the vast shelter that stops radiation from escaping from the destroyed fourth reactor.

"If American specialists...come to Ukrainian energy facilities and stay there, then of course there will be less chance that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will shoot at these facilities," Serhiy Taran, a Ukrainian political scientist, told RFE/RL.

"They should hire security personnel," though, added Taran, "and it would be desirable that this security personnel be armed with air defense systems."

By RFE/RL

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
Amid concerns over U.S. President Donald Trumps hard-hitting tariff policy, diversified Indian financial services company Motilal Oswal has suggested that India could strengthen its domestic industries and ramp up local production. Trump has a history of imposing heavy tariffs on India, including 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum imposed in 2018. The tariffs had an inimical effect on Indias trade with the U.S., with steel exports plunging 46% one year after the tariffs were announced.

Meanwhile, Indias heavy reliance on oil imports leads to huge capital outflows and a weaker rupee. India imports 87% of its oil, mainly from Russia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the U.S. India spent $132.4 billion on crude oil imports in the 12 months up to mid-2024, a 16% Y/Y drop thanks to lower oil prices. Luckily, India is well endowed with substantial oil reserves. Last year, S&P Global Commodity Insights reported that four largely unexplored sedimentary basins in India could hold up to 22 billion barrels of oil. In effect, lesser-known Category-II and III basins namely Mahanadi, Andaman Sea, Bengal, and Kerala-Konkan contain more oil than the Permian Basin which has already produced 14 billion of its 34 billion barrels of recoverable oil reserves.

Related: $70 Oil? Analysts Cut Forecasts as Supply Surges



Rahul Chauhan, an upstream analyst at Commodity Insights, has emphasized the potential of Indias unexplored Oil & Gas sector, "ONGC and Oil India hold acreages in the Andaman waters under the Open Acreage Licensing Program (OALP) and have planned a few significant projects. However, India still awaits the entry of an international oil company with deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploration expertise to participate in current and upcoming OALP bidding rounds and explore these frontier regions," he has declared.

Currently, only 10% of Indias 3.36 million sq km wide sedimentary basin is under exploration. However, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri says that figure will jump to 16% in 2024 following the award of blocks under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) rounds. So far, OALP has resulted in the award of 144 blocks covering about 244,007 sq km. Under OALP, India allows upstream exploration companies to carve out areas for oil and gas exploration and put in an expression of interest for any area throughout the year. The interests are accumulated thrice a year following which they are put on auction. According to Puri, Indias Exploration and Production (E&P) activities in the oil and gas sector offer investment opportunities worth $100 billion by 2030.

India boasts significant discoveries in the Krishna-Godavari, Barmer, and Assam basins, but exploration in other areas has been slower to develop. Of India's 3.14 million square kilometers of sedimentary basins, 1.3 million sq km are in deep waters. India had its first foray into deepwater exploration in the Bay of Bengal in 2024 in the Krishna-Godavari Basin, courtesy of India's state run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). ONGC said it was planning to spend over $10 billion developing multiple deepwater projects in its KG-DWN-98/2 block in that basin.

Meanwhile, state-owned upstream company Oil India Ltd is looking to start exploration activities in Nagaland

We have a total of 30 blocks under the OALP. We have already drilled all wells under the awarded OALP blocks, except in Nagaland. We are pursuing the ministry and they have set up a high power committee involving OIL, ONGC, government officials, to discuss the issue with the Government of Nagaland and resume exploration, the official said.

Unlike Pakistan, India is likely to have little trouble attracting the oil and gas majors. Indeed, British energy giant BP Plc (NYSE:BP) has been hunting for more opportunities in the country. BP has forged a joint venture with Indian multinational conglomerate Reliance Industries to operate 1,900 fuel retail stations across India and produces oil and gas from a deepwater block in the Krishna-Godavari basin. The JV has teamed up with ONGC to bid for exploration rights for an offshore block in India.

Analysts have predicted that India is set to become the key driver of global oil demand growth, overtaking China.

Chinas role as a global oil demand growth engine is fading fast, Emma Richards, senior analyst at London-based Fitch Solutions Ltd, told The Times of India. According to the analyst, over the next decade, Chinas share of emerging market oil demand growth will decline from nearly 50% to just 15% while Indias share will double to 24%.

A rapidly growing population, which has likely surpassed Chinas, is expected to be the main driver of consumption trends in India. Meanwhile, the countrys transition from traditional gasoline and diesel-fueled transport is expected to lag other regions, in sharp contrast to Chinas skyrocketing adoption of electric vehicles and clean energy in general.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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On 1 March 2025, after his first Cabinet meeting, U.S. President Donald Trump said the Taliban should return the equipment the U.S. abandoned in Afghanistan as it withdrew in August 2021. He added that U.S. troops should return to Bagram air base, which he claimed was occupied by Chinese troops.

This isnt the first time Trump demanded the return of U.S. equipment.

On the eve of his inauguration in January 2025, Trump declared that future financial assistance to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan would depend on the return of the abandoned U.S. military equipment. (The U.S. Department of Defense estimated that over $7 billion in military equipment was abandoned when U.S. forces evacuated Afghanistan in August 2021. Between October 2021 and December 2024, the U.S. provided over $3.6 billion in assistance to Afghanistan according to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.)

In February 2025, the Taliban replied the abandoned weapons were spoils of war and would be used against attempts to seize them.

We can safely put aside any talk of U.S. troops returning to Afghanistan, but even if the Taliban agreed to return the abandoned property, how would it happen?

Related: Indias Peak Electricity Demand Set to Jump By 10% in 2025

The U.S. may increase sanctions and promise to reverse them if the Taliban cooperate, but Washington will be loath to make any serious concessions to Kabul, like releasing Afghanistans $7 billion of seized foreign exchange reserves, or recognizing the Taliban-controlled government in Kabul.

The U.S. may also stop financial assistance, but that may encourage China to replace the American cash, further solidifying its increasing support for Afghanistan, and demonstrating its ability to marginalize the U.S. in Eurasia. Beijing and Kabul have exchanged ambassadors, and the Taliban envoy was publicly received by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, a clear sign that China recognizes the Taliban government without a formal say-so.

When U.S. forces were fighting in Afghanistan there were two overland supply routes, the Northern Distribution Network (NDN), which crossed Europe, Russia, and Central Asia, and a southern route from Pakistans Karachi port to the Khyber Pass and Torkham Gate, centuries-old passages to Afghanistan.

The NDN option is likely unavailable now, unless Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin conclude a grand bargain that will likely be tied to the war in Ukraine, though the Russian leader may not relish the thought that all that gear may wind up in Poland or the Baltic states. Logistically, its do-able, politically, probably not.

And the NDN option will require the cooperation of the Central Asian republics that are busy growing their ties with Afghanistan and may not want to dilute their efforts by facilitating the return of the abandoned property.

The republics are positively disposed to Washington, but they will check with Moscow before they say yes to Washington. Though the republics are asserting their own stances on regional issues, they sit between China, Russia, Afghanistan, and Iran and must balance among their four forever neighbors, Washington and Brussels which are distant but can inflict economic pain.

The republics may have laws that prohibit or restrict the transfer of military equipment to third parties, so the republics executives may have to secure the consent of the legislatures, and there is no guarantee that the outcome of that bargaining will always support U.S. interests. And its no secret where the rail lines are, which will provide excellent opportunities for protesters and activists who are opposed to shipments of military equipment, the republics governments, or U.S. policy in general.

The Pakistan route may be available but what will Pakistans ruling military attempt to extract for the use of its railways and ports?

U.S.-Pakistan relations are at a low point, as the U.S. recently sanctioned four Pakistani organizations for supporting Islamabads ballistic missile program which is developing missiles that could strike beyond the South Asia region and was characterized by the White House as an emerging threat. In January 2025, Former Prime Minister Imran Khan was sentenced to 14 years in jail on corruption charges that were widely seen as politically motivated.

Pakistan has suffered increasing terrorist attacks since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, calling into question the ability of the government extend its writ to the violent trial areas bordering Afghanistan. And the U.S. military and security services will recall the warning of a former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence sponsored the Haqqani network that attacked U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Will Pakistan demand the U.S. tilt away from India as the price of access? That will be hard for the Americans to do as Trump recently feted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a White House meeting as a much better negotiator than me. The two leaders agreed to work to resolve outstanding trade disputes and double bilateral trade in five years to $500 billion.

The U.S. is Indias biggest trade partner ($119 billion/year), though India is the number 10 trade partner for the U.S. ($129 billion/year.) In contrast, in 2024, the U.S. exported $2.1 billion in goods to Pakistan, and imports were $5.1 billion.

And it is doubtful the U.S. will send Pakistan any weapons that will give it an edge vis-a-vis India, which the U.S. has exclusively designated a "Major Defense Partner," which expedites arms transfers that have totaled $83.6 billion for fiscal years 2022 to 2024. India is buying top of the line gear such as the C-17 military transport aircraft, AH-65 attack helicopters, and the

P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft, all music to Trumps ears.

And even if the U.S. pledges to destroy the equipment once it gets to Europe, theres no way to hold it to that. The European nations hosting the destruction facilities (if they even exist) will get a vote on how fast, if ever, that happens as the U.S. military vehicles are treated with a Chemical Agent Resistant Coating, a treatment that contains Volatile Organic Compounds, that are strictly regulated by the European Union and the U.S.

Theres one other route out of Afghanistan that is relatively short and safe: Iran.

Afghanistan and Iran are working to improve relations and move beyond the animosity that is featured in relations between the Islamic Republic and the Taliban. Irans foreign minister recently visited Kabul and the two sides pledged to ease tensions and increase security along their porous borders, increase trade (Iran has granted Afghanistan unrestricted access to Chabahar port; the Taliban invested $35 million in Chabahar, signaling it will prefer ports in Iran over those in Pakistan), and come to agreement on sharing water resources (Iran relies on the Helmand River which flows from Afghanistans highlands.)

The Taliban may take Trumps offer-demand and suggest the equipment be delivered via Iranian ports, which are allegedly controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which was been sanctioned by the U.S. as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

The Taliban and the IRGC will then demand the U.S. submit an application for an export license and end-user certificates and an and will pile on the fees for the license, dangerous goods shipments, armed escorts, port fees, etc., etc. It will all be good fun watching the Americans fume and hyperventilate over the prospect of having to ask Tehran and Kabul for permission to do anything, and pay them besides.

What to do?

Pakistans military bosses will be willing if the price right, but it may upset relations with India and Trump, who personalizes relations between countries, wont want to upset Modi especially as he sees a growing economic relationship between Washington and New Delhi. The Central Asian republics will be amenable if Russia is OK with it, and thats assuming they have no legal prohibitions on the transit of third-party military equipment.

Dealing with Iran may not pbe ossible due to Iranian distrust of anything America proposes, and U.S. domestic opposition to any policy that financially rewards Iran, especially as Israels American confederates are agitating for an attack on the Iranian nuclear establishment.

Why not just leave the gear in Afghanistan? The Taliban arent using it to invade their neighbors (though it is helping them cement their control of the country) and Washington may make headway in Kabul by providing intelligence that the Taliban can use to neutralize the Islamic StateKhorasan (IS-K) and Al Qaeda. This should find some favor with the Americans as Al Qaeda attacked America on 11 September 2001, killing 2,977; IS-K is responsible for a suicide attack on Kabul airport as U.S. forces were departing, killing 13 American troops and 170 Afghan civilians.

In February 2025, the Taliban declared the Doha Agreement  the U.S.-Taliban peace deal  to no longer be valid as it was limited to a specific set of circumstances, and that Kabul had met its key obligation by preventing the country from being used as a platform for attacks against the U.S. and its allies. That action passed without comment by the Trump administration because

In March 2025 the Taliban returned an American tourist who went walkabout in the country in September 2022, and Washington lifted the bounties on three top Taliban leaders, including Sirajuddin Haqqani, leader of the Haqqani Network that attacked U.S. troops and the ousted Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Though both sides are making positive moves, the Taliban probably have low expectations that the Americans will seize a significant opportunity. In late 2001, Taliban leader Mullah Omar offered his surrender to Hamid Karzai, installed by the Americans as the leader of Afghanistan. The Americans refused the surrender, but the Taliban made several more attempts before retiring to Pakistan to plan the resistance.

And if the Taliban ever decide to negotiate, that payoff will have to be substantial enough to stanch defections to IS-K and Al Qaeda, handing a defeat to the Kabul-based moderates, such as Mullah Omar and Sirajuddin Haqqani (yes, thats where we are right now), and victory to the hard-liners in Kandahar who will then likely ally with IS-K and Al Qaeda, all but guaranteeing spillover violence (with refugees) to Iran, Pakistan, and Central Asia, and the likelihood IS-K and Al Qaeda will attack the U.S. or its friends.

So, yes, in the interest of peace and stability, the U.S. may have to ensure the Taliban remain intact.

Instability in Iran and Pakistan may be popular with some Beltway Bismarcks, but it will damage economies in the region and disrupt the numerous transport projects that will link Europe and Asia. China, Russia, and Iran will be able to present themselves as the moderating elements compared to the chaos agents from America.

Trumps best options: noisily pivot away from this topic, quietly pursue confidence-building steps with Kabul, and order the security services to provide the Taliban with information they can use to defeat IS-K and Al-Qaeda.

By James Durso

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On Tuesday, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy discussed the Alaska LNG project and other potential energy and trade cooperation with South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, as the U.S. Administration is looking to attract Asian investors in the $44-billion Alaska LNG export project.

Dunleavy and other Alaska state representatives and energy officials have been touring Americas north Asian allies Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea to pitch the benefits of Alaskas LNG for Asian markets.

State firm Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) seeks to advance the Alaska LNG project, designed to deliver North Slope natural gas to Alaskans and export LNG to U.S. allies across the Pacific.

The project is strongly supported by the Trump Administration, which has been also pressing Japan and South Korea to buy more LNG as a way to reduce Americas trade deficit with its Asian allies.

Earlier this month, Governor Dunleavy said that Alaska LNG could begin exports by 2030.

Last week, Taiwans state-held oil and gas company CPC Corporation signed a letter of intent to invest in the Alaska LNG export project and buy LNG from it, as part of a move to bolster its gas supply and energy security. The preliminary deal was signed between CPC and Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) in the presence of Alaska Governor Dunleavy.

If built, Alaska LNG would be Taiwans closest LNG supply source among all U.S. LNG export facilities. The fuel from Alaska LNG wouldnt need to pass through the Panama Canal, which will effectively shorten shipping time, reduce voyage risks, and improve the reliability of Taiwans natural gas supply, the Taiwanese Ministry of Economic Affairs said last week.

Despite the signals that Asian partners are willing to discuss potential participation in Alaska LNG, Japanese companies are concerned that the costs may be too high considering the cold weather in Alaska and the scale of the pipelines needed to bring the project on stream.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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China, the biggest buyer of oil from Venezuela, saw trade with Venezuela stall on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Monday 25% tariffs on the goods of any country buying Venezuelan oil.

Traders and refiners in China were caught off guard by Mondays executive order and are waiting to see whether Beijing will have some direction on the matter, trading sources told Reuters.

China is the biggest buyer of Venezuelan oil and is estimated to be importing via various  often opaque  channels about 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and fuel from Venezuela. A large share of the cargo is being rebranded as coming from Malaysia after trans-shipments in Asian waters.

Some Chinese buyers are now refraining from touching Venezuelan oil amid the latest uncertainty from the U.S. sanctions and trade policy.

The worst thing in the oil market is uncertainty. We won't dare touch the oil for now, a senior executive at a regular Chinese trader of Venezuelan oil told Reuters.

On Monday, President Trump said in an executive order that On or after April 2, 2025, a tariff of 25 percent may be imposed on all goods imported into the United States from any country that imports Venezuelan oil, whether directly from Venezuela or indirectly through third parties.

The duties imposed by the order will be on top of all other tariffs currently in place.

The U.S. has a 20% tariff on Chinese imports.

Any country that allows its companies to produce, extract, or export from Venezuela will be subject to new tariffs, and any companies will be subject to sanctions, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in comments on the executive order.

China appeared to dismiss the latest U.S. trade move.

Asked by a Reuters reporter at the regular press conference on Tuesday whether China would stop its oil purchases from Venezuela to comply with the order, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said The U.S. has long abused illegal unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, and grossly interfered in the internal affairs of other countries. China firmly opposes such actions.

Trade wars and tariff wars have no winners. Imposing additional tariffs will only inflict greater losses on American businesses and consumer, Guo added.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Chinese investment in ASEAN expands to benefit both sides

08:31, March 25, 2025 By Prime Sarmiento, Yang Han, Yang Wanli ( China Daily

Screens show information about Chinese electrical appliance maker Midea Group's 5G factory in Chonburi province, Thailand. (Photo/Xinhua)

Five years after Chinese smartphone maker Oppo debuted in its home market, the company ventured overseas in 2009 and introduced its products to Thailand.

Oppo hasn't looked back since. Not only did it capture a large market share in Thailand, but it also succeeded in branching out across Southeast Asia, with showrooms all over the region and a factory in Indonesia.

In 2024, Oppo overtook South Korea's Samsung to become the top smartphone brand in Southeast Asia with an 18 percent market share, or 16.9 million shipments, according to a report by global technology analyst Canalys, which attributed Oppo's success to its product calibration and high-end investment.

Shi Shuai, chief executive officer of Oppo Asia-Pacific, said the company has been working to promote local authorization, cultivate local talent, and integrate into local cultures. He cited Oppo's factory in the city of Tangerang, west of the Indonesian capital Jakarta  the company's first manufacturing plant outside China  as an example, with the factory creating job opportunities for Indonesians, and contributing to long-term economic development.

Oppo's success in Southeast Asia shows how Chinese investment in the region has evolved over the past decade  with a strong focus on digital industries and advanced technology that is responsive to domestic market needs, conscious of corporate social responsibility, and contributes to the local economy.

"Chinese firms seem to place greater emphasis on being good corporate citizens in their adopted locales. It is a common refrain among Chinese multinationals that they must benefit local communities and support local employment," Erica Tay, director of macro research at Kuala Lumpur-based Maybank, told China Daily.

Tay said while the first wave of Chinese direct investments in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the early 2000s was mostly in State-owned enterprises involved in heavy industries, the second wave was aimed at private sector digital industries, and advanced manufacturing.

Chinese manufacturers that have expanded their capacity in ASEAN have been able to tap into abundant supplies of labor, land, and energy, Tay said. These companies are also able to access a new market in ASEAN  the world's fifth-biggest economy with a combined population of over 670 million.

"In search of new markets where competition is less stiff than back home, Chinese firms have expanded their footprint by addressing the needs of ASEAN consumers," Tay said, adding that Chinese tech and e-commerce giants, tried and tested in the domestic market, are equipped to compete in emerging ones in Asia.

A staff member displays a model of an electric multiple-unit train at the signing ceremony of a joint venture agreement between China Communications Construction Company and Malaysia Rail Link in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on Dec 18. (Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua)

These companies have also benefited from the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area, which gives goods produced by Chinese companies in their ASEAN bases preferential access in fast-growing consumer markets.

Manufacturing has long been a significant driver of FDI growth in ASEAN. In 2023, it comprised more than $50 billion of FDI inflows, or 22 percent of the total, according to the October joint report by the ASEAN Secretariat and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

China was the third-biggest source of FDI in 2023, hitting $17 billion, a year-on-year increase of nearly 20 percent.

The report noted that FDI from China is on "an upward trend"  rising from less than $4 billion in 2010. The number of Chinese enterprises operating in ASEAN increased from 2,600 in 2012 to 6,500 in 2022.

The Chinese private sector has "gradually internationalized" toward ASEAN, it said.

Textile and garment manufacturers invested in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam; electronics companies ventured to Malaysia and Vietnam, while technology companies went to Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

In contrast, Chinese companies that invested in ASEAN more than 20 years ago were State-owned enterprises mostly involved in mining and oil exploration, construction, hydropower, and in the development of special economic zones and industrial parks.

Before 2018, the year when China-US trade tensions started, nearly half of Chinese FDI was mostly in real estate and finance.

But after then US president Donald Trump decided in June 2018 to impose a 25 percent tariff on $50 billion of Chinese exports, China's investment pattern in ASEAN started changing. From 2020 to 2023, investment in manufacturing increased at an annual average rate of 33 percent, compared with less than 10 percent in the years 2010 to 2018, the report said.

The supply chain disruption caused by the pandemic has also pushed many Chinese manufacturing companies to diversify abroad, with ASEAN a primary beneficiary of increased Chinese FDI in manufacturing.

Strategic opportunities

Analysts and industry players expect that Trump  who started his second term as president by slapping an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods in February  will push more Chinese companies to move production out of China to ASEAN countries.

"Chinese companies are facing strategic opportunities amid the golden decade of going global," Feng Qingqiang, general manager of Youdao Ads, told China Daily.

Youdao Ads is a digital marketing solution provider launched by Youdao Inc, a subsidiary of Chinese internet company NetEase Group. By using emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the platform connects over 10 million influencers, and reaches over 2 billion users worldwide in 75 countries and regions.

With the improvement of the Chinese manufacturing sector and brand management capabilities, coupled with a slowdown in domestic consumption growth, there are more opportunities for international expansion, said Feng. Many high-quality, innovative, and cost-effective Chinese products are becoming increasingly competitive in overseas markets, he added.

Southeast Asia's geographical location, young population, and the similarity of its current economic development to China's past growth, present significant market potential for Chinese enterprises, Feng said.

"After the pandemic, the e-commerce market in Southeast Asia has seen rapid growth, with the e-commerce penetration rate in key regional countries to reach 6.5 percent by 2025, a notable increase from the pre-pandemic level of 5 percent," he said.

In Malaysia, China is one of the top three FDI sources, hitting over 28 billion ringgit ($6.33 billion) in 2024, according to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority.

Safwan Nizar Johari, acting investment consul for the Malaysian consulate in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, said most of the recent Chinese investments are in EV, battery, and other allied industries.

After China and Malaysia celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2024, Chinese companies are keen to do business in Malaysia as the multicultural country has a big ethnic Chinese population, Safwan said. "So it's easy for a Chinese company to do business in our country. When they go to Malaysia, they say many people can speak Chinese, there are many similarities with Chinese culture," he said.

Safwan said Malaysia also positions itself as a regional hub, allowing Chinese companies to use it as a production base to export around ASEAN.

One of these companies that bet big in Malaysia is the Geely Holding Group from Zhejiang province.

In 2017, the Hangzhou-based carmaker acquired a 49.9 percent stake in local car manufacturer Proton, with the goal of jointly developing it into the No 1 brand in Malaysia and one of the leading brands in ASEAN.

"Following years of integration, Proton has achieved a comprehensive transformation in research and development, manufacturing, quality, procurement, and marketing, securing the second position in sales and market share in Malaysia for six consecutive years," a Geely spokesperson told China Daily.

An employee works at an electronics factory of Shanghai Greatway Industry Co in northern Vietnam in October. (Yao Qilin/Xinhua)

Jobs, shared prosperity

In Thailand, Chinese firms accounted for more than 42 percent of the 981.65 billion baht ($28.9 billion) total investment by foreign entities in 2024, according to the Department of Business Development of Thailand.

Chinese automakers and electronics companies are the top investors. Chinese EV production facilities, most of which are located along the kingdom's Eastern Economic Corridor, recorded a total production capacity of 474,000 vehicles in 2024, according to the Kasikorn Research Center. Production capacity is forecast to rise to 620,000 this year.

Wichai Kinchong Choi, senior vice-president of Kasikornbank, highlighted the role of Chinese innovative technologies in helping transform Thailand into an EV production hub in Southeast Asia.

"While we have witnessed Western economic power using protectionism and trade barriers to benefit its own interests at the expense of fair competition, multilateralism, and free trade are firmly believed to maintain the future direction for successful and sustainable world economic growth for more years to come," Wichai said.

Narongsak Putthapornmongkol, president of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, said Chinese factories have created many jobs in Thailand. The Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone has helped boost Thai export volume to $3 billion over the past year and provided jobs for more than 55,000 Thai people, according to the chamber.

Oppo's factory in Indonesia has nearly 20,000 local employees and contracts with local suppliers, according to Shi, CEO of Oppo Asia-Pacific. Oppo has worked with local vocational colleges on internship programs, supplying a significant number of skilled technicians to Indonesia.

Ma Si, Li Fusheng, and Cheng Yu in Beijing contributed to this story.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
You are here: World

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A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Tuesday said China will unswervingly promote high-quality development and high-standard opening-up, welcoming companies from all countries to seize opportunities, invest in China and plan for the future.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks when asked to provide more information about the China Development Forum 2025 at a daily news briefing.

With the theme "Unleashing Development Momentum for Stable Growth of Global Economy," the China Development Forum 2025 ran from March 23 to 24.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended the opening ceremony of the forum on Sunday in Beijing and delivered a keynote speech.

In his speech, Premier Li encouraged all parties to observe China's development vitality through the economic highlights of the Spring Festival, comprehend its economic policies via China's "two sessions," and consider the righteous path for global development amid evolving international dynamics, said Guo.

This demonstrates China's confidence and resolve in driving sustained economic growth, while underscoring its commitment to serving as a stabilizing and anchoring force for global peace and development, Guo added.

Guo noted that the forum attracted over 750 foreign representatives, with a broader national representation of participating multinational corporations. The number of first-time attending multinational companies has also increased, with a wider coverage of industry categories, he said.

"This indicates that foreign-funded enterprises continue to hold optimism and businesses' investment enthusiasm in China, expressing their confidence in the country's economic development prospects," Guo added.

Noting that China will unswervingly promote high-quality development and high-standard opening-up, Guo said China welcomes companies from all countries to seize opportunities, invest in China, and plan for the future, aiming to foster stable global economic growth, jointly resist unilateralism and protectionism, and achieve greater development through mutual benefit.
Russia on Tuesday said that it would not make public details of the 12 hours of talks with the U.S. on Ukraine which ended on Monday amid expectations that a joint U.S.-Russia statement would be issued shortly.

After all, this is about technical talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

Technical - meaning the talks with getting into details so, certainly, the content of these talks will not be made public for sure. This is something that should not be expected, Russian news agency TASS quoted Vladimir Putins spokesman as saying.

Peskovs words raised doubts over whether any progress was made in Mondays round of talks which took place in Saudi Arabia.

Currently, the reports made [by the delegations] to their capitals are being analyzed, and only later it will be possible to speak of any understanding, the Russian official said.

Peskov also declined to name which other countries could be involved in the talks.

The reports shared by the U.S. technical team with the Trump Administration seemed optimistic, sources with knowledge of the matter told CBS News on Tuesday.

The U.S.-Russia talks were held a day after separate U.S.-Ukraine talks on Sunday, which were described as productive by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

We have concluded our meeting with the American team.

The discussion was productive and focused  we addressed key points including energy, Umerov posted on X on Sunday.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyys goal is to secure a just and lasting peace for our country and our people  and, by extension, for all of Europe. We are working to make that goal a reality.

Last week, Putin agreed to impose a 30-day suspension on attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in exchange for an identical halt of attacks on Russian infrastructure from the Ukrainian side. However, hours after the Putin-Trump call last Tuesday, Russia and Ukraine traded accusations of hits on the energy infrastructure of the other.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The outcome of a Russian claim against Shell for alleged unpaid natural gas deliveries is uncertain, the supermajor said on Tuesday, adding that it is not possible to estimate the amounts of any possible payments and obligations.

Shell withdrew from its operations in Russia shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

In early October 2024, a Russian prosecutor filed a court claim in Moscow against eight Shell group entities, including Shell plc and Shell Energy Europe Limited (SEEL).

The prosecutor seeks, among other things, monetary relief of about $1.62 billion (1.5 billion euros) from SEEL to Gazprom Export for alleged unpaid gas deliveries in 2022, Shell said in its annual report published today. The prosecutor also seeks declarations that Shell illegally abandoned in support of Sakhalin Energy Investment Company.

In Sakhalin, Shell was a minority shareholder in the Sakhalin LNG project before withdrawing from Russia.

Last year, the Russian government decided to sell Shells minority stake in the Sakhalin LNG project to state-controlled giant Gazprom for $1 billion, reversing a previous decision to have LNG producer and exporter Novatek have the stake, which Shell abandoned after the invasion of Ukraine.

On January 30, 2025, SEEL filed a written postponement motion in the Moscow court proceedings regarding SEEL's non-payment of Gazprom Exports gas invoices and Sakhalin. At a court hearing on February 14, 2025, the judge postponed the proceedings until the next hearing, which is scheduled for April 14, 2025, Shell said.

At this time, it is not possible to reliably estimate the magnitude and timing of any possible obligations or payments in respect of the matters above or whether any payments will be due, the supermajor said in its annual report.

There remains a high degree of uncertainty regarding the ultimate outcomes, as well as the potential effect on future operations, earnings, cash flows and Shell's financial condition, it added.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The Venezuelan government has reduced the work week for public servants in the country in a bid to reduce energy consumption amid a weather-related supply crunch, Bloomberg has reported, citing a government document mentioning a climate event affecting hydropower supply.

We will have six weeks of energy savings, Diosdado Cabello, interior minister, said, as quoted by the publication. We must take precautions to avoid taking more drastic measures in the future. According to the Bloomberg report, warm weather has reduced the amount of available water in dams in the Andean part of the country.

Venezuela has been struggling with securing energy supply for years amid U.S. sanctions that have greatly reduced its oil income along with infrastructure mismanagement. Despite the U.S. sanctions, Venezuela last year enjoyed an over 10% increase in oil imports, to the highest since 2019, at 772,000 barrels daily. Some 200,000 bpd of this went to U.S. Gulf Coast refiners, despite the sanctions, after the Biden administration granted Chevron a waiver so it could resume operations in the South American nation.

President Trump, however, has refused to extend Chevrons sanction waiver, instead opting for a double down on more sanctionsthis time in the form of tariffs. Earlier this week, Trump announced that any country that buys oil and gas from Venezuela will face 25% tariffs on its trade with the United States. The tariff slap is part of Trumps push to curb illegal migration, including from Venezuela, which, he said, had sent tens of thousands of people to the U.S. who have a very violent nature.

China is by far the biggest buyer of Venezuelan oil, taking in some 500,000 barrels daily, both directly and indirectly, according to Reuters, accounting for the bulk of total exports, based on the latest figures. India also imports Venezuelan crudein growing volumesas do Italy, Spain, and Cuba.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Its Happening  Oregon Legislature Begins Work on Repealing the State Wildfire Maps

Dave Hunnicutt

Oregon Property Owners Association,

After weeks of work, the Oregon House and Senate Republicans filed House Bill 3944 to repeal the Oregon wildfire hazard maps, the first step in what is likely to be a bipartisan effort to repeal the map and improve Oregons wildfire program.

Additionally, Senator David Brock Smith, a Republican from the South Coast Region, introduced two amendments to existing bills, SB 678 and SB 83, that are identical to HB 3944 to make sure this conversation takes place on the Senate side as well.

OPOA worked closely with legislators in both the Oregon House and Oregon Senate in preparing this bill and ensuring that the bill repealed both the map and the state regulations that have caused so much chaos and confusion since they were first approved in 2021. In addition, the bill declares null and void any hazard or WUI designation imposed upon property because of either the 2022 or 2025 maps.

In this article, well cover HB 3944 section by section, highlighting exactly what each section does. Well also tell you which parts of SB 762 will remain should this bill pass, and why a map repeal must pass this legislative session in order to protect property owners and improve Oregons wildfire program.

HB 3944 Summary

But for those who dont want to get into the weeds, here is a high-level overview of what HB 3944 does:

Eliminates the state wildfire map;

Eliminates OSFMs authority to impose defensible space regulations;

Eliminates DCBS authority to mandate home hardening requirements for new homes;

Allows OSFM to create a defensible space model code, with limitations, which local governments can choose to adopt, or choose to ignore;

Restores local governments ability to regulate defensible space and home hardening, with limits, which was Oregon law prior to the passage of SB 762;

Keeps OSFMs community risk reduction program and ODFs landscape resiliency programs, which have been used by the agencies to obtain federal and state funds to greatly enhance wildfire protection in Oregon, create grant programs allowing property owners to obtain state assistance to create their own voluntary defensible space or home hardening, put out wildfires before they become conflagrations, promote forest thinning and proscribed burns in areas near the WUI, and provide much needed firefighting equipment in rural Oregon;

Eliminates all final orders designating hazard designations issued by ODF in January.

What HB 3944 does NOT do:

HB 3944 does not repeal all of SB 762. As weve written before, a full repeal isnt likely since the legislature and Governor wouldnt support it. That is because there are parts of SB 762 that benefit property owners such as utility wildfire mitigation plans, support for prescribed burns and emergency shelters, the Oregon Conservation Corps program for youth wildfire risk reduction work, grants for small woodland owners, and resources like automated wildfire detection cameras that allow for faster wildfire detection and response.

HB 3944 does not eliminate the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). Instead, it restores a clear, older definition used for 25 years before SB 762. HB 3944 makes the WUI only about funding projects like defensible space and wildfire mitigation not about regulations. Local governments remain free to create their own WUI definitions or maps. This was the authority they had prior to SB 762.

HB 3944 doesnt cut critical federal funding opportunities. Having a WUI definition qualifies Oregon for federal wildfire funds, ensuring resources go to areas with the biggest impact, like where homes and wildlands meet. HB 3944 ensures taxpayer money is spent wisely to reduce wildfire risks without creating new state regulations tied to the WUI.

Why OPOA Supports This Bill

HB 3944 is a practical, no-nonsense response to the wildfire management challenges Oregon has faced in recent years. The bill repeals the most flawed and overreaching aspects of SB 762such as the disastrous wildfire hazard maps and burdensome state regulationswhile preserving the programs that genuinely protect property owners and reduce wildfire risks.

By emphasizing local control, HB 3944 returns power to the communities most affected by wildfire policies, empowering them to make decisions that reflect their unique needs and circumstances. At the same time, it ensures that taxpayer dollars are spent where they matter most, supporting voluntary efforts to improve defensible space, promote forest thinning, and enhance wildfire readiness in rural Oregon.

Make no mistake, passing this bill will require a unified effort. The road ahead is steep, and success will depend on the collective voices of property owners, local leaders, and all who care about restoring common sense to Oregons wildfire program.

We need you to take actionreach out to your legislators, spread the word, and champion this bill and its Senate counterpart. Together, we can repeal these harmful policies, protect property rights, and build a safer, stronger future for our state. Lets make it happen!

Section-By-Section Analysis

NOTE: If youre reviewing the language of House Bill 3944, its important to understand how to read a bill. Each section is clearly labeled with bold, capitalized, and underlined text. Italicized words in brackets or sentences indicate existing law that will be removed if the bill passes, while bolded text represents new language that will be added to the law. This format helps clarify what is being repealed or amended versus what will be newly established.

For example, we can rewrite this nursery rhyme like a bill:

Mary had a little [lamb] rabbit whose [fleece] fur was white as snow.

If this bill passed, the new language would be:

Mary had a little rabbit whose fur was white as snow.

With that in mind, lets dive into HB 3944 section by section.

SECTION 1 (pg. 1, lines 10-13): This section repeals a number of provisions of current law that were created by SB 762 and a few sections of SB 762 that were passed but not assigned to a statute. In the order they appear in the bill, here are the statutes/SB 762 provisions being repealed by HB 3944, and what each statute/section does:

Repeals ORS 455.612: This statute contains the home hardening (R327) requirements for new homes and remodels in the high hazard/WUI wildfire mapped areas. R327 code requirements, which predated SB 762 and the wildfire map, will remain as part of the state building code, but they wont be tied to any map or any private property, since the map is being repealed.

Repeals ORS 455.614: This statute requires the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Service to maintain a mapping tool showing wildfire areas where the home hardening standards applied and the requirements for complying with the R327 code in those areas. Since HB 3944 repeals the state wildfire map, theres no need for this tool.

Repeals ORS 476.390: This statute defines defensible space. The same definition is being added as an amendment to ORS 476.392. Since the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) authority to enforce defensible space regulations is being repealed, meaning ORS 476.394 becomes unnecessary, theres no reason to have a separate statute that only contains a definition of defensible space. You can just incorporate that definition into ORS 476.392. In other words, this is just a style fix for the legislature, but it makes sense.

Repeals ORS 476.394: This statute prohibits a county/city from using OSFMs defensible space requirements as a criterion to approve or deny a land use application. Since HB 3944 removes OSFMs defensible space regulatory authority, theres no need for this statute.

Repeals ORS 476.398: This statute removes OSFMs requirement that they report each biennium to the legislature on their defensible space efforts.

Repeals ORS 477.027: This statute directs the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) to define the wildland urban interface (WUI). ODFs current definition of WUI is overbroad and includes rural areas that are miles from anything remotely urban and should not be considered part of the WUI. In its place, HB 3944 creates a much tighter definition of WUI that ensures that state and federal funding to reduce wildfire risk in the WUI goes to areas that definitely need the help.

Repeals ORS 477.161: This statute requires ODF, in conjunction with OSFM and local governments, to establish baseline standards for wildfire protection in areas outside of ODF forest protection districts. Since Section 29 of SB 762 mandated the counties to meet those baseline standards by January 1, 2026, this statute eliminates local control and is being repealed.

Repeals ORS 477.490: This statute is the mapping statute. This is obviously the most important and obvious statute to repeal as it repeals the map in its entirety.

Repeals Sections 12a and 12b, SB 762: These sections established deadlines for DCBS home hardening requirements under ORS 455.612. Since HB 3944 eliminates DCBS authority to impose home hardening requirements in wildfire areas, these sections need to be repealed as well.

Repeals Section 29, SB 762: This section required all counties to establish baseline standards for wildfire protection in areas outside of ODF forest protection districts by January 1, 2026. Since HB 3944 repeals ORS 477.161 (see above), this section was unnecessary and needs to be repealed.

SECTION 2 (pg. 1, lines 17-24, pg. 2, lines 1-45, pg. 3, lines 1-17): This section is directed to OSFMs defensible space program. Heres what it does:

Amends ORS 476.392 to eliminate the requirement that OSFM adopt defensible space requirements, apply those requirements in mapped wildfire areas, and enforce the requirements. OSFMs defensible space regulations are eliminated.

Adds a definition of defensible space (the same definition currently found in ORS 476.390  see the third bullet point under Section 1) and retains OSFMs ability to administer a community risk reduction program. The community risk reduction program enables OSFM to obtain state and federal funding to establish non-regulatory educational, response planning, and community preparedness efforts incorporating defensible space.

In the last two years, OSFM has directed $21 million in grant funds to local communities to use for direct defensible space work on the ground, not local mandates. OSFM has also funded a one-time voluntary incentive program to encourage property owners to seek a defensible space assessment of their property with OSFM.

Participants receive a $250 gift card to offset defensible space reduction costs. In addition, OSFM has used money allocated by the legislature under SB 762 to purchase additional firefighting equipment for fire departments in wildfire prone areas, award grants to local fire districts to hire additional personnel, and pay for pre-positioning by fire units during wildfire season so that firefighters are in the vicinity of a wildfire before it starts, and can more rapidly extinguish it.

In other words, the amendments eliminate OSFMs requirement to establish defensible space requirements and their enforcement authority to enforce any requirements they may choose to adopt on private property but allow OSFM to administer a community risk reduction program in order to obtain state and federal funding for the program.

Directs OSFM to prepare a defensible space model code which local governments may adopt, if they choose to do so . When drafting the model code, OSFM is limited to standards in the Internation WUI Code, meaning that OSFM cannot exceed those code requirements. The bill makes it clear that a local government can choose to adopt the model code, parts of the model code, or none of the model code or any other code. In other words, the choice to establish defensible space requirements rests entirely with local governments. This was the law prior to SB 762, and HB 3944 returns Oregon to that point. Authorizes OSFM to provide direct assistance to local governments to implement defensible space programs in their jurisdictions, if the local government requests assistance.

SECTION 3 (pg. 3, lines 21-30): This section amends ORS 477.015 to adopt a definition of the wildland urban interface. This statute currently directs ODF to create a definition of the WUI. ODF did so in 2022, but ODFs definition was very broad, including areas that no reasonable person would consider to be urban. The WUI is intended to be an urban or suburban area where a large concentration of homes intermix with wildland fuels. In these areas, a wildfire can quickly involve multiple homes in a very short time, with the risk to spread directly into a city.

We know that some are arguing that the legislature should just eliminate any definition of WUI from state law. There are multiple problems with that argument. First, thats exactly what SB 762 did  it deleted the legislatures definition of forestland-urban interface that was completely uncontroversial and had been in place since 1997 when Republican legislators first realized the need to direct firefighting resources into the WUI and passed Senate Bill 360 (1997). In its place, SB 762 directed ODF to define the WUI by administrative rule. ODF did just that, and we know the results.

If the legislature doesnt define the WUI, ODF can do so. If ODF chooses not to define the WUI, each local government can do so. None of the definitions will be as precise as the definition in HB 3944, which is nearly identical to the definition from SB 360 that the state used without controversy for nearly 25 years before SB 762 repealed it.

Second, HB 3944 removes any state regulatory impact from the WUI definition. In other words, neither ODF nor OSFM can impose defensible space or home hardening regulations based upon the definition of WUI. A local government could certainly impose defensible space or home hardening regulations within the WUI, but they could do that before SB 762, and re-establishing the system of local control that had been in place for nearly 25 years is a far superior option than mandating that a state agency define and regulate within the WUI, which is what SB 762 created.

The WUI definition in HB 3944 is used only for purposes of directing OSFM and ODF funding for defensible space, home hardening, prescribed burns, thinning projects, etc that mitigate wildfire risk, and is not used for regulatory purposes.

Third, there is nothing in HB 3944 that requires a local government to adopt a WUI. Local governments can certainly create a WUI map, but they could do that before SB 762, and can create their own WUI definition even if HB 3944 doesnt contain a WUI definition.

Fourth, there are federal funding programs available to states that have a WUI definition. This is because directing resources into the WUI provides the greatest bang for the buck when using limited resources. Oregon will never be able to fully fund a wildfire program  the scope of the problem is just too big. That means that any money the legislature or Congress directs to reducing wildfire impacts should be targeted to areas where it produces the greatest benefit  in many cases, thats the WUI, where you have a mix of homes and wildland fuels that can create an immediate conflagration if the right conditions exist, and spread directly into urban areas, where even greater damage can occur.

There is no truth that OSFM will use state or federal funds to provide grants to local governments to draft WUI maps or regulations. As discussed above, OSFM has used state funding to award grants to local governments for boots on the ground projects that directly reduce wildland fuel loads. The goal is to reduce wildfire risk and damage, not create new regulations. Moreover, unlike a state agency, if your local government creates new WUI regulations, you can replace them.

Directing wildfire efforts into the WUI provides the best use of state and federal wildfire funds as it protects the greatest number of Oregon homes for the least amount of money, enabling wildfire funds to be used in more parts of Oregon. Having the legislature define the WUI ensures that a future state agency or local government will not be able to define the WUI in a manner that is overbroad.

By eliminating the wildfire map, there is no regulatory impact from being included in the WUI. There was discussion of eliminating the definition of the WUI, but keeping the definition ensures that taxpayer resources are being spent in the best manner possible to reduce wildfire risk for the greatest number of Oregonians, while at the same time ensuring that the state will not have authority to regulate properties based upon their location in the WUI, and ensuring that a future agency or governor will not be able to define the WUI.

SECTION 4 (pg. 3, lines 31-45, pg. 4, lines 1-45, pg. 5, lines 1-9: This section amends ORS 477.503 (part of the original SB 762) to direct ODF to focus on directing community wildfire risk reduction efforts on protecting human life and property within the WUI. For the reasons stated above, with the limited state and federal dollars available for wildfire protection efforts, focusing on thinning and prescribed burns in areas near the WUI is the best way to protect the greatest number of Oregonians.

SECTION 5 (pg. 5, lines 13-45, pg. 6, lines 1-45, pg. 7, lines 1-5: This section adds a new member to the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council, the Council that Sam and I sit on. The new member will be a firefighter with experience fighting structural wildfires in the WUI. The Council is a volunteer council with no authority other than to make recommendations to the legislature and governor, and a firefighter with experience in the WUI is a needed position for the Council.

SECTION 6 (pg. 7, lines 9-45, pg. 8, lines 1-45, pg. 9, lines 1-45, pg. 10, lines 1-45, pg. 11, lines 1-45, pg. 12, lines 1-45, pg. 13, lines 1-45, pg. 14, lines 1-45, and pg. 15, lines 1-45): This section takes up multiple pages of the bill to accomplish one small purpose  eliminating the requirement on the Sellers disclosure form requiring the Seller to disclose to the Buyer whether their land is within the WUI.

SECTION 7 (pg. 16, lines 1-45, pg. 17, lines 1-27): This section amends ORS 197.716 to eliminate a reference to ORS 477.027, which is being repealed by the bill.

SECTION 8 (pg. 17, lines 28-45, pg. 18, lines 1-40): This section amends ORS 215.291 to delete reference to the map and home hardening provisions.

SECTION 9 (pg. 18, lines 41-45, pg. 19, lines 1-45, pg. 20, lines 1-14): This section amends ORS 215.495 to delete reference to the map and home hardening provisions.

SECTION 10 (pg. 20, lines 15-37): This section amends ORS 477.748 to delete the reference to property in the high hazard zone, which is part of the map being repealed.

SECTION 11 (pg. 20, lines 38-45, pg. 21, lines 1-12): This section amends ORS 526.272 to correct the citation to the definition of the WUI, which is being changed by Section 3 of the bill.

SECTION 12 (pg. 21, lines 16-22): This section provides that all hazard map designations are null and void, as if they never existed. Four years of needless stress, drama, wasted resources

The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not represent the opinions or positions of any party represented by the OPOA Legal Center on any particular matter.


By Associated General Contractors,

SALEM, Ore  March 24, 2025  Contractors challenging Governor Tina Koteks executive order mandating union-only project labor agreements on state construction projects scored a major victory in court today. Marion County Circuit Court Judge Thomas M Hart placed an injunction on Koteks order, preventing the state from moving forward with implementing the discriminatory requirements on taxpayer funded projects until the court considers the broader merits of the case.

The judges ruling reinforces what our local contractors have been saying since the order was issued last December, stated Mike Salsgiver, CEO of the Associated General Contractors, Oregon-Columbia Chapter. The governor lacks the authority to unilaterally alter Oregons system of competitive bidding and open and fair competition.

By granting the injunction the court found that contractors were likely to succeed in their efforts as well as suffer irreparable harm if agencies were required to include union-only requirements in state construction contracts. Judge Harts ruling prevents the implementation of project labor agreements while the case is still pending.

The Associated General Contractors, Oregon-Columbia Chapter, Associated Builders and Contractors, Pacific Northwest Chapter, Northwest Utility Contractors Association, the National Federation of Independent Business, along with thirteen Oregon contractors are jointly challenging the executive order.

PLAs inflate the cost of taxpayer-funded construction projects by artificially reducing the number of companies, including locally owned family businesses, who are able to do the work, explained Jenny Dixson, Executive Director of the Northwest Utility Contractors Association and another of the plaintiffs in the case. Worse, they prevent the vast majority of Oregon construction workers from working on projects financed with their own tax dollars.

Our members appreciate Judge Harts ruling and his common-sense review of the facts, Laurie Kendall, President of the Associated Builders and Contractors, Pacific Northwest Chapter said. The ruling protects the rights of all contractors  union and non-union  to compete.

NFIBs small business members welcome todays decision, said Anthony Smith, NFIB Oregon State Director. Theyre looking forward to continuing to bid on public projects  and get them built. There are limits to executive power and were grateful to the court for this acknowledgment.

The associations filing suit are made up of both union and non-union contractors. Three of the contractors filing suit are certified women or minority-owned businesses by the state.

###

ABOUT AGC  Since 1922, the Associated General Contractors Oregon-Columbia Chapter has served as the voice of the commercial construction industry. With nearly 830 member companies, AGC is the only trade association representing the full range of commercial construction companies, from industrial to building, heavy highway to multi-family residential. The organization provides its members with a forum for the exchange of ideas and services designed to enhance the professionalism of the construction industry, including workers compensation and health insurance, legislative and governmental representation, safety management consulting, professional education, and training and workforce development programs.

ABOUT NWUCA  The Northwest Utility Contractors Association is a nonprofit trade association that represents the best interests of contractors engaged in the construction of utility lines, excavation, site work, and trenchless technology, and associate members that support the industry throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. Their mission is to preserve the identity and common interests of the utility contracting industry; promote better relations between utility contractors and governmental agencies, general contractors, labor, engineers and the public at large; foster, encourage and maintain safety standards; represent the common interests of utility contractors at national, state and local levels; and to engage in research to aid the utility contracting industry.

ABOUT ABC  Founded on the merit shop philosophy, the Associated Builders and Contractors, Pacific Northwest Chapter is one of 67 chapters across the country that help members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work. ABCs membership represents all specialties within the U.S. construction industry and is comprised primarily of firms that perform work in the industrial and commercial sectors.

ABOUT NFIB  For more than 80 years, NFIB has been the voice of small business in Congress and in all 50 state capitals. Through advocacy, NFIB gives small and independent businesses a role in governmental decision-making. NFIB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven association. Since its early history, NFIBs state and federal agendas have been determined through a one-member, one-vote balloting process. The typical NFIB member employs between one and nine people and reports gross sales of about $500,000 a year.
NORMAL  About 650 tenure and tenure-track faculty members at Illinois State University continued gearing up for a potential strike Monday by filing a notice with the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board.

The filing of an intent to strike came days after United Faculty of ISU said its members "overwhelmingly" passed a strike authorization vote Friday. The 10-day notice is stipulated by law, and could allow a work stoppage to begin as early as April 4.

In a statement, the union said filing the notice does not mean their members will certainly go on strike, but it allows the union to move forward with one "if needed."

Negotiations with ISU's administration began 13 months ago on Feb. 28, 2024. Additional bargaining sessions with a federal mediator are set for March 28, April 2 and April 4.

The union said unresolved items include workload and compensation levels, parental leave policies and university commitments to student mental health resources.

When asked for comment, a spokesperson for ISU shared a statement Wednesday, March 26 from ISU provost and vice president of academic affairs Ani Yazedjian. The provost noted ISU and union representatives met for more than 10 hours on Monday, during which the school learned the union filed its intent to strike notice. The university also presented a revised economic proposal to the union on Monday with improved raise rates.

The provost said the union's proposal would encompass average salary increases of 28% over the next 33 months. Yazedjian said that would exceed $40 million in added cost to the university over the course of the contract.

"Illinois State maintains that the unions Monday salary demands ... are unrealistic based on the universitys current financial position, enrollment projections, anticipated state funding, uncertainties regarding how developments in Washington will influence federal funding for higher education, and the volatility of the overall economic climate," she said.

Yazedjian, among other administrative officials, issued statements on Friday and Wednesday that said ISU officials remained committed to good faith negotiations with the union to reach a contract that reflects the needs of all stakeholders of the institution.

However, the statement, in which Yazedjian was joined by Glen Nelson, vice president for finance and planning, said university leaders also hold as a principle that ISU must stay fiscally prudent, resilient and sustainable for the long term.

A website on which the university shares contract negotiation information was updated Wednesday with a statement indicating ISU administration was "disappointed" by the strike authorization vote.

"Given the significant progress made in our most recent mediation sessions, Illinois State is disappointed in the unions decision to take this action and remains confident that more progress can be made through continued dialogue," according to the website.

As of an offer made Monday by the university, it proposed 20 days of paid parental leave for all tenure track faculty; enhanced salary raise models including increases for all tenure track and tenure faculty based on 2.5% of their base salaries, and a merit-based raise offer of 1.25% to be determined by department chairs and peer tenure faculty.

Additional raise options would be made to all full professors every fifth year after promotion to full professor, in addition to a $2,000 increase to annual base salaries for all current full professors promoted from the rank of associate professor during their tenure at ISU. The offer would also establish minimum entry-level annual base salaries for new assistant, associate and full professors; as of Monday, the union had accepted terms on base salaries, ISU said.

Over 33 months, ISU said its offer would salary increases that average out at 13% for assistant professors, more than 18% for associate professors and more than 19% for full professors.

In referencing the university's audit for fiscal year 2024, the two vice presidents noted in their statement that ISU's funding pool that pays for the faculty and staff's salaries and benefits ran a $7.1 million deficit that year and is projected to increase to a $15 million deficit by fiscal year 2026.

While the university said it's optimistic that it can come to an agreement with United Faculty of ISU, the institution has also initiated academic contingency planning to ensure it can minimize disruption of a possible strike. ISU said it will make every effort to keep up timely grading and meet course objectives.

"No matter the outcome, the university is working to minimize the impact on our students and campus and keep you informed of any potential developments," the statement added.

ISU encouraged students to stay on top of their coursework and maintain their academic process. In the event of a strike, students would be sent course-specific details to their class Canvas websites or to their ISU email accounts.

Students should regularly monitor those channels if a strike date is announced, ISU said.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include statements provided by ISU on Wednesday, March 26.
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ffects of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) supplementation and oviposition by TPW on tomato plants. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2427314122

A team of entomologists and botanists at the International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology in Nairobi and the University of Pretoria has found that adding silicon to soil can help tomato plants fight off the destructive South American tomato pinworm. The study is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The South American tomato pinworm is the larva of Tuta absoluta, a species of moth. Over the past several decades, the moth has migrated to North America, Europe and Africa, and in the process, its larvae have become a major pest, responsible for destroying billions of dollars' worth of crops every year. The pests have become resistant to most of the chemicals developed to kill them, and efforts have arisen around the globe to find an effective solution. In this new effort, the research team tested the possibility of adding silicon to the soil.

Botanists have long known that adding silicon to soil can help some plants resist certain pests. That led the researchers on this new effort to test whether the chemical element might help tomatoes fight off pinworms. They added different amounts of silicon to soil samples used to grow tomato plants and exposed them to moths.

The researchers found that adding silicon to the soil caused the plants to produce a dark goo at the base of the tiny hairs on their stems. They then found that the moths appeared to prefer laying their eggs on the goo rather than the leaves of the plant.

When the pinworms hatched, they consumed the goo, which lacked adequate nutrients to keep them alive, and they died of starvation. They also found that the goo caused changes to the microbiome of the pinworms, leading to changes in their excrement that emitted gases attracting insects that feed on pinworms.

The research team acknowledges that their work is just an initial step in using silicon to protect tomato plants and hope further testing will confirm its effectiveness.

More information: Kokou R. Fiaboe et al, Nanosilica supplementation in tomato increases oviposition on stems and caterpillar mortality in the tomato pinworm, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2427314122 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

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Scottish shortbread, one of the region's most well-known desserts, served as the perfect testing ground to explore the effects of fat content in vegan butter alternatives. Credit: Avery Thompson/AIP.

Butter is a key ingredient in many baked goods, but for those who are lactose intolerant, finding a good alternative can be a challenge. Vegan butters can sometimes have the wrong consistency, or produce bakes that are not quite right, leaving bakers frustrated or unwilling to try dairy-free alternatives.

In Physics of Fluids, researchers from the University of Strathclyde examined the properties of several vegan or dairy-free butter alternatives inside one of the region's most well-known snacks: Scottish shortbread.

"We have a Ph.D. student in the group who is a vegan, and he turns all of our baking habits upside down," said author Juliane Simmchen. "One day I bought some vegan butter alternatives, and I thought, 'This doesn't look anything like it should.'"

Perplexed by the difference in consistency, Simmchen and her colleagues decided to test these alternatives using the equipment in their lab. They selected three types of vegan butter substitutes with different levels of fat and compared their consistencies and responses to heat. Following those experiments, they moved on to taste testing with actual biscuits.

The researchers gathered a few dozen volunteers to sample shortbread cookies baked with dairy butter and the vegan alternatives. Their goal was to find the vegan butter that produced a biscuit closest to the traditional shortbread, and here there was a clear winner.

"When comparing the vegan alternatives, the one with the highest fat content gave the most positive results from the testers," said Simmchen.

"It behaved very similar to butter, which also has a high fat content. The one with the lowest fat content made a very different dough. It didn't bake that well, and was more doughy and less crumbly. Many people strongly disliked it."

Butter typically has a fat content of around 80%, and Simmchen recommends choosing a vegan butter with a similar consistency.

As for why people should bake vegan cookies in the first place, Simmchen believes that baked goods are better when they can be shared with everyone. If she has a choice, she now prefers vegan bakes.

"I really like the traditional Scottish shortbread, but I'm adapting my recipes with vegan options because they're more inclusive," said Simmchen. "If I can make something of a similar quality and have more people participate, then I go for the vegan option."

More information: Rheology and sensorial properties in traditional and plant-based (vegan) shortbread, Physics of Fluids (2025). DOI: 10.1063/5.0255346 Journal information: Physics of Fluids
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Artist's concept of the Artemis-enabled Stellar Imager on the lunar surface. Credit: NASA

What's on and in a star? What happens in an active galactic nucleus? Answering those questions is the goal of a proposed giant interferometer on the moon. It's called the Artemis-enabled Stellar Imager (AeSI) and would deploy a series of 1530 optical/ultraviolet-sensitive telescopes in a 1-km elliptical array across the lunar surface.

A U.S. team of scientists and engineers led by Dr. Kenneth Carpenter at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, working in collaboration with Goddard's Integrated Design Center, has finished a 9-month feasibility study for AeSI and published its findings.

AeSI is based on an earlier concept for a free-flying UV/optical space interferometer called Stellar Imager (SI). According to Carpenter, they watched the steady progress made on NASA's Artemis campaign to establish habitats and supporting infrastructure on the lunar surface. The idea of a moon-based facility started looking much more feasible and competitive with the free-flyer.

"We thus proposed to the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program to develop a variant of the SI concept, named Artemis-enabled Stellar Imager (AeSI), that could potentially be built, deployed, operated, and serviced in collaboration with the Artemis campaign," he said.

Artemis opportunities and an interferometer

NASA's proposed return to the moon via Artemis missions offers astronomers a chance to deploy an interferometer and other telescopes. That would take advantage of an environment supported by the Artemis infrastructure and free of some of the constraints that Earth-based or space-based arrays could experience.

The study focuses on a number of scientific goals. The research paper states, "This mission would enable revolutionary science, including: imaging the surfaces of nearby (~4 pc) solar-type stars and more distant (>2 kpc) supergiants to study magnetically driven activity (plages, starspots, convection), imaging accretion disks around nascent stars, and resolving the regions around the central engines of active galactic nuclei (AGN)." The report is published on the arXiv preprint server.

Imaging the surfaces of stars gives clues to activities deep inside. If those stars are similar to the sun (i.e., main-sequence stars), that would give deeper insight into what our nearest star is doing. AeSI observations will also help scientists understand the dynamo activity that drives the magnetic activity of the sun and other stars, according to Carpenter.

"Our proposed primary study of sun-like stars uses a combination of high spatial resolution stellar imaging to observe the cyclical time evolution of surface manifestations of magnetic activity and high time and spatial resolution asteroseismology to probe the interior structure of the star, to obtain the information necessary to build truly predictive models of solar/stellar magnetic activity," he said.

Simulations of AeSI observations of stars and the hearts of AGN. Credit: NASA

Delving into stars from the moon

Let's take a look at a quick summary of the AeSI's possible targets. It could study such main-sequence stars such as Alpha Centauri A, Procyon A, Sirius A, and Epsilon Eridani to gather details of their surface activities and the magnetic activity that drives them. That interferometric data could then be coupled to spatially-resolved asteroseismology studies to give more accurate insight into exactly what's happening inside those stars. In addition, it could help scientists understand how stellar activity affects the existence and habitability of their planets.

Beyond understanding what happens to those stars (and the implications for the sun), interferometry studies would also have immediate applicability toward forecasting solar activity and its impact here on Earth. AeSI would provide high spatial- and temporal-resolution imaging capabilities, which would give us a look at stellar surfaces and how they vary through a magnetic cycle.

Scientists would be able to "see" magnetically driven activity such as starspots (similar to sunspots), hot plages, and convection activity. Active regions on the sun and other stars are very bright. On the sun, they dominate the wavelengths of light most important for predicting the impact of the sun's activity on its surrounding planets, including Earth.

Studying more complex and distant objects

The AeSI installation on the moon would also provide highly detailed looks at accretion disks around other stars. These regions can be challenging to observe in high detail. That's because they're often tough to separate out from their star. Supernovae are another known target, particularly the ejecta from the catastrophic explosions that end the lives of supermassive stars. AeSI may help astronomers detect the expanding debris clouds during the earliest stages of a supernova outflow.

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AeSI should also be able to image the complex events occurring in active galactic nuclei. In particular, AGN winds appear to exist around most of these objects. Their velocities and the amount of mass loss carry clues to the structure of the object at the heart of the galaxy. AeSI measurements of these regions may also contribute to more accurate distance measures for such objects (quasars) and help measure the cosmological constant.

Such studies will need the capability of an expanded AeSI array, said Carpenter.

"Because of the distance of even the brightest AGNs, we would need large outer array diameters to be able to resolve the regions around the central engines, which are likely the only portions bright enough to be successfully detected by AeSI," he explained.

"We are exploring ways of increasing the UV sensitivity of AeSI by potentially using mirror coatings with higher UV reflectivity than currently possible, improved UV detectors, and perhaps larger mirror elements. These improvements would dramatically improve our ability to study a broader sample of AGNs and more portions of individual ones."

Implementation of the AeSI

The basic mission design for AeSI depends on deployment by astronauts and/or robots during the upcoming Artemis missions. Each element in the array will be a one-meter telescope deployed on a small rover. The array will expand or contract as needed for specific observations. Data from the array will be collected by a central beam-combining "hub" and reconstructed to create images of its target stars or other objects.

The moon presents a very good, stable environment for AeSI. It has no atmosphere to muddle the view for the telescopes, which means adaptive optics aren't needed to correct for air movement. This also means the interferometer can operate at much shorter wavelengths than any Earth-based array. Two challenges to be considered (aside from the delivery of the telescopes and supporting hardware and the actual construction process) are dust and seismic motion during moonquakes. These can be dealt with, however.

Waiting for Artemis

If this mission concept is chosen for implementation by NASA, the biggest question will be: when and where will it be deployed? It all depends on the progress of the Artemis campaign and the capabilities it might supply for neighboring observatories. Currently, the first crewed mission won't take place until spring 2026 (at the earliest). Followup flights will position more infrastructure in place, and the cadence for those flights remains unknown. So, realistically speaking, the earliest AeSI could be implemented would be the late 2030s or early 2040s.

As to where the interferometer will be deployed, the team suggests several lunar south pole locations, preferably near where prior Artemis infrastructure is built, to enable easy access by Artemis astronauts or robots. However, the possibility of locating at more distant, lower latitudes is also of interest if Artemis could support that, since it would enable observations of more of the sky.

The next steps for the AeSI team are to do more R&D on the technology required for the interferometer and to continue to explore additional science investigations that it could be adapted to support.

More information: Kenneth G. Carpenter et al, NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Phase I Final ReportA Lunar Long-Baseline UV/Optical Imaging Interferometer: Artemis-enabled Stellar Imager (AeSI), arXiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2503.02105
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Great white shark breaches the surface in pursuit of its prey in False Bay, South Africa. Credit: Chris Fallows, Apex Shark Expeditions

Known for their powerful ability to launch out of the water in pursuit of prey, the loss of great white sharks from False Bay in South Africa has scientists and conservationists concerned about the rippling effects on the ecosystem.

A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, has uncovered evidence of far-reaching ecosystem consequences following the disappearance of great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) from False Bay, South Africa.

The research, conducted by scientists at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science, spans more than two decades and documents cascading ecological disruptions, underscoring the crucial role apex predators play in maintaining ocean health.

Historically abundant in False Bay, great white sharks have experienced a dramatic decline and subsequent disappearance. Potential factors contributing to their loss include decades of unsustainable captures in nets intended to protect bathers and some recent instances of predation by orcas.

The absence of great white sharks has led to an increase in Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus) and sevengill sharks (Notorynchus cepedianus) and an associated decline in fish that the seals feed on and smaller shark species that the sevengills prey on, illustrating the ripple effect of losing an ocean top predator.

The study provides real-world evidence of food web cascades driven by the loss of top-down predation pressure from great white sharks, consistent with ecological theory and laboratory experiments.

Using a combination of long-term boat-based surveys of shark sightings, citizen science observations on Cape fur seals, and Baited Remote Underwater Video Surveys (BRUVS) of fishes and small sharks, the study provides evidence that the absence of great white sharks has triggered significant shifts in the marine food web.

Yakira Herskowitz, a co-author of the study and a Rosenstiel School former graduate student analyzes underwater video data collected for the study. Credit: Yakira Herskowitz

"The loss of this iconic apex predator has led to an increase in sightings of Cape fur seals and sevengill sharks, which in turn has coincided with a decline in the species that they rely on for food," said Neil Hammerschlag, Ph.D., the study's lead author.

Hammerschlag conducted the research while at the Shark Research and Conservation Program at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School. "These changes align with long-established ecological theories that predict the removal of a top predator, leading to cascading effects on the marine food web."

"The use of underwater video surveys conducted more than a decade apart provided us with a snapshot of the food web both before and after the disappearance of white sharks from False Bay," said Yakira Herskowitz, a co-author of the study and a Rosenstiel School former graduate student that analyzed underwater video data.

"The number of individuals of a given species recorded on the videos not only informs us about their numerical abundance, but also their behavior, as species under increased predation risk often become more elusive and are thus less likely to be detected on our cameras."

The researchers say the study provides empirical evidence that the disappearance of great white sharks creates profound consequences for marine ecosystems. "Without these apex predators to regulate populations, we are seeing measurable changes that could have long-term effects on ocean health," Hammerschlag added.

The findings emphasize the importance of global shark conservation efforts, as their loss could have long-term consequences on marine ecosystems. Given the global reliance on healthy oceans for food, recreation, and ecosystem services, protecting large sharks is essential to maintaining biodiversity.

More information: Neil Hammerschlag et al. Evidence of cascading ecosystem effects following the loss of white sharks from False Bay, South Africa, Frontiers in Marine Science (2025). DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2025.1530362 Journal information: Frontiers in Marine Science
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

There may be no kitchen table issue in America more critical than the price of food.

So when the price of eggs rose over 40% from 2024 to 2025, it became a headline news story in Colorado and across the nation.

Public officials and the media blamed high egg prices on bird flu outbreaks and said containing the outbreak in supply chains would lower prices. In early March 2025, egg prices fell in the U.S., but these trends are likely to reverse due to higher seasonal demand during Easter and Passover.

Rising prices and market volatility have led to food costs climbing to 11.4% of American's disposable income, the largest percentage since 1991.

Arresting these rising costs, as I argue in my 2023 book, means reinventing supply chains to address the growing supply, demand and price volatility that has created uncertainty for consumers since the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.

I have described global supply chains, and supply chains in the U.S. in particular, as "efficiently broken." By this I mean that they aspire to offer low prices from economies of scale but lack sufficient resiliency to create stability.

Without addressing the systemic weaknesses in supply chains, I believe major health and economic disruptions will continue to happen in Colorado, nationally and around the world.

Cage-free eggs

Colorado faces a double whammy where egg prices are concerned.

It's one of nine states with a cage-free egg mandate, which requires all eggs sold in the state to come from cage-free facilities. The regulation has been shown to increase the price of eggs by as much as 50%.

Over the past two decades, cage-free egg laws have been passed in states as consumers have grown more concerned with the welfare of farm animals. What that means varies from state to state because the term cage-free isn't regulated by a federal agency. In Colorado, egg-laying hens must be housed in a cage-free system and must have a minimum of 1 square foot of usable floor space per hen.

Colorado is the 28th largest egg producer in the U.S., far behind Midwestern states such as Iowa, Indiana and Ohio, but it has a few large producers such as Morning Fresh Farms, as well as smaller ones such as the Colorado Egg Producers Association, a collection of seven family-owned farms.

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Colorado's cage-free egg law went into effect in January 2025around the same time that consumers noticed bare egg shelves at their supermarkets. Many consumers and some elected Republicans in Colorado blamed the cage-free law.

Nevada is pulling back on its cage-free egg mandate to deal with the challenge of unaffordable egg prices.

But cage-free laws are not the main driver of increasing egg prices, as I've noted in my research. Like many others, the egg supply chain needs to be reinvented to balance price, scale, resiliency and stability.

Supply chain issues

What is driving up the prices of eggs and other consumer goods is the concentration of producers. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed just how vulnerable prices and supply chains are.

Five years ago this month, when the pandemic started, many products became unavailable and more expensive.

In 2022, a major product recall of Similac led to a baby formula shortage in the U.S. The baby formula market is highly concentrated, with four companies responsible for approximately 90% of the domestic market. A large-scale facility that produced the baby formula was found to have unsanitary conditions and contaminated products. Pulling this one facility offline at the same time the nation was coping with pandemic-related supply chain issues led to the shortage.

Then at the beginning of 2024, supplies of insulin ran short due to production issues at Eli Lilly, one of the three companies responsible for over 90% of the U.S. insulin market.

And in the second half of 2024, hospitals couldn't get enough IV fluid due to damage caused by Hurricane Helene to a Baxter factory in North Carolina that manufactures approximately 60% of IV fluids in the U.S. This factory had been relocated to North Carolina from Puerto Rico due to the supply impact from Hurricane Maria that damaged the island in 2017.

In all of these cases, the supply chain was easily interrupted due to a reliance on a few large producers. In 2025, bird flu and eggs are just another example of America's "efficiently broken" supply chain.

Bird flu and cost of eggs

In the U.S., the top five egg producers are responsible for 40% of hens, with Mississippi-based Cal-Maine Foods alone responsible for 13% of total U.S. production.

An average-sized production facility in the U.S. can house 75,000 to 500,000 hens. Large facilities can house over 4 million. The mass production of eggs from these facilities means eggs are, in stable times, cost effective for the American consumer. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, eggs in the U.S. never surpassed $3 a dozen, and it was an affordable food solution compared with processed foods.

But this scale and efficiency comes at the price of resiliency during something like a bird flu outbreak. Larger farms create a higher risk of viral outbreak, which leads to the need for culling millions of birds and a heightened risk of viral replication and mutation.

The solution may increase prices

Policymakers want to reduce the spread of disease at American egg factories to mitigate the spread of bird flu. But these measures are expensive.

Factory farms increase the potential for viruses to spread rapidly and even mutate. Therefore, bird flu is a more serious precursor of supply chain disruption than a hurricane or product recall because it has the potential to create a public health crisis.

One solution to limit the spread of bird flu is to regulate the number of hens allowed in a single facility. This would lead to smaller and more farms across the U.S., but also higher consumer prices.

This solution would mirror other countries such as Canada, where the average facility size is much smaller than in the U.S. and eggs and poultry cost significantly more. That's whyunder the terms of the United States-Mexico-Canada AgreementCanada has quota and tariff protection from American companies flooding its market with eggs and poultry that would cost consumers two to three times less.

Yet in March 2025, the price of eggs in Canada is 50% cheaper than eggs in the U.S. because the country has not suffered the same damages from bird flu.

Following Canada's lead wouldn't result in egg prices as low as giant factory farms, but it would protect American consumers from the periodic price shocks caused by disease or localized weather events that disrupt supplies.

Despite the threat of a public health crisis, American consumers don't want to pay more for eggsand their leaders have promised they won't have to.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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A section of South Dakota's Wind Cave seen under normal white light (left image) transforms into something otherworldly when placed under UV light (right image). Credit: Joshua Sebree

Deep below Earth's surface, rock and mineral formations lay hidden with a secret brilliance. Under a black light, the chemicals fossilized within shine in brilliant hues of pink, blue and green. Scientists are using these fluorescent features to understand how the caves formed and how life is supported in extreme environments, which may reveal how life could persist in faraway places, like Jupiter's icy moon Europa.

The researchers presented their results at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), held March 2327.

As it turns out, the chemistry in South Dakota's Wind Cave is likely similar to places like Europaand easier to reach. This is why astrobiologist Joshua Sebree, a professor at the University of Northern Iowa, ended up hundreds of feet underground investigating the minerals and lifeforms in these dark, cold conditions.

"The purpose of this project as a whole is to try to better understand the chemistry taking place underground that's telling us about how life can be supported," he explains.

As Sebree and his students began to venture into new areas of Wind Cave and other caves across the U.S., they mapped the rock formations, passages, streams and organisms they found. As they explored, they brought along their black lights (UV lights), too, to look at the minerals in the rocks.

Under the black light, certain areas of the caves seemed to transform into something otherworldly as portions of the surrounding rocks shone in different hues. Thanks to impurities lodged within Earth millions of years agochemistry fossils, almostthe hues corresponded with different concentrations and types of organic or inorganic compounds. These shining stones often indicated where water once carried minerals down from the surface.

"The walls just looked completely blank and devoid of anything interesting," says Sebree. "But then, when we turned on the black lights, what used to be just a plain brown wall turned into a bright layer of fluorescent mineral that indicated where a pool of water used to be 10,000 or 20,000 years ago."

Several fluorescence measurements of a zebra calcite in Wind Cave were taken using portable spectrometers. Credit: Joshua Sebree

Typically, to understand the chemical makeup of a cave feature, a rock sample is removed and taken back to the lab. But Sebree and his team collect the fluorescence spectrawhich is like a fingerprint of the chemical makeupof different surfaces using a portable spectrometer while on their expeditions. That way, they can take the information with them but leave the cave behind and intact.

Anna Van Der Weide, an undergraduate student at the university, has accompanied Sebree on some of these explorations. Using the information collected during that fieldwork, she is building a publicly accessible inventory of fluorescence fingerprints to help provide an additional layer of information to the traditional cave map and paint a more complete picture of its history and formation.

Additional undergraduate students have contributed to the study. Jacqueline Heggen is further exploring these caves as a simulated environment for astrobiological extremophiles; Jordan Holloway is developing an autonomous spectrometer to make measurement easier and even possible for future extraterrestrial missions; and Celia Langemo is studying biometrics to keep explorers of extreme environments safe. These three students also presented their findings at ACS Spring 2025.

One of Sebree's students, Jacqueline Heggen, showing off glowing formations within Wind Cave. Credit: Joshua Sebree

Doing science in a cave is not without its challenges. For example, in the 48-degrees Fahrenheit (9-degrees Celsius) temperature of Minnesota's Mystery Cave, the team had to bury the spectrometer's batteries in handwarmers to keep them from dying.

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Other times, to reach an area of interest, the scientists had to squeeze through spaces less than a foot (30 centimeters) wide for hundreds of feet, sometimes losing a shoe (or pants) in the process. Or, they'd have to stand knee-deep in freezing cave water to take a measurement, and hope that their instruments didn't go for an accidental swim.

But despite these hurdles, the caves have revealed a wealth of information already. In Wind Cave, the team found that manganese-rich waters had carved out the cave and produced the striped zebra calcites within, which glowed pink under black light.

The calcites grew underground, fed by the manganese-rich water. Sebree believes that when these rocks shattered, since calcite is weaker than the limestone also comprising the cave, the calcite worked to expand the cave too. "It's a very different cave-forming mechanism than has previously been looked at before," he says.

And the unique research conditions have provided a memorable experience to Van Der Weide. "It was really cool to see how you can apply science out in the field and to learn how you function in those environments," she concludes.

In the future, Sebree hopes to further confirm the accuracy of the fluorescence technique by comparing it to traditional, destructive techniques.

He also wants to investigate the cave water that also fluoresces to understand how life on Earth's surface has affected life deep underground and, reconnecting to his astrobiological roots, understand how similar, mineral-rich water may support life in the far reaches of our solar system.

More information: 4197876 - Developing a cave science spectral database for fluorescence inventory | Poster Board #961 4188774 - Spectroscopic analysis of caves: The influence of organic overburden on karst speleothems
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Wetlands in the Middle Yangtze River Basin (MYRB) are facing significant ecological challenges due to climate change and human activities. A recent study investigated the spatiotemporal changes in wetland ecological quality from 2001 to 2020 and projected future trends under different climate scenarios.

Using advanced models, researchers found that wetlands are increasingly threatened by urbanization and agricultural expansion, with notable declines in habitat quality. The study highlights the urgent need for targeted conservation strategies to mitigate these impacts and preserve the region's biodiversity.

Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, providing critical services such as water purification, flood control, and habitat for diverse species. However, they are under severe threat from land-use changes, climate change, and human activities.

Over the past century, approximately 50% of global wetlands have been lost to industrial, agricultural, and urban development. In the wetlands in the Middle Yangtze River Basin (MYRB), rapid urbanization and land reclamation have led to significant reductions in wetland areas, posing risks to regional ecological security. Based on these challenges, there is a pressing need to conduct in-depth research on wetland dynamics and their future under changing environmental conditions.

A study published in the Journal of Geographical Sciences on 11 January 2025, by researchers from the China University of Geosciences and the National University of Singapore, examined the ecological quality of wetlands in the MYRB from 2001 to 2020.

Using the random forest algorithm and the PLUS model, the team projected future wetland habitat quality under various climate scenarios. The research provides critical insights into how wetlands may evolve under different socioeconomic and environmental conditions, offering a foundation for future conservation efforts.

The study revealed that from 2001 to 2020, forests and water bodies in the MYRB experienced significant changes, with forests increasing by 3.9% under the SSP1-2.6 scenario but decreasing by 1.2% under SSP5-8.5. Wetlands, primarily concentrated in the central and eastern MYRB, showed high ecological quality in the southwest but faced degradation in urbanized areas.

The research projected that under the SSP2-4.5 scenario, wetland areas would decrease by 13.3% by 2080, while the SSP5-8.5 scenario predicted severe habitat degradation due to rapid urbanization and agricultural expansion. The study also highlighted that areas with lower habitat quality were predominantly in urban zones, emphasizing the impact of human activities on ecological degradation. These findings underscore the vulnerability of wetlands to future environmental changes and the need for proactive conservation measures.

Dr. Yang Peng, the lead author of the study, stated, "Our findings highlight the critical role of wetlands in maintaining ecological balance and the urgent need for policies that address the dual pressures of climate change and urbanization. Without targeted interventions, the degradation of wetland habitats could have far-reaching consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Yangtze River Basin."

The study's findings have significant implications for land-use planning and wetland conservation in the MYRB. By identifying areas most vulnerable to ecological degradation, policymakers can prioritize conservation efforts and implement strategies to mitigate the impacts of urbanization and climate change.

The research also provides a framework for future studies on eco-hydrological processes, offering valuable insights for sustainable development in other river basins facing similar challenges. As wetlands continue to play a crucial role in global ecosystems, this study underscores the importance of integrating ecological considerations into regional development plans.

More information: Peng Yang et al, Wetland and habitat dynamics in the evolving landscape of the Middle Yangtze River Basin, Journal of Geographical Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s11442-025-2314-7

Provided by IGSNRR CAS
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As climate change continues to accelerate at an alarming pace, innovative and scalable solutions are more critical than ever. This week, the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and the International Union for Microbiological Societies (IUMS) released "Microbial Solutions for Climate Change," a report developed by their scientific advisory group (SAG) of global experts.

The report outlines innovative microbial technologies that can significantly contribute to climate change mitigation and underscores the urgent need for coordinated global action across nations and sectors.

Coinciding with the report's release, the SAG also published an article in Nature, providing a comprehensive framework for assessing and implementing microbial solutions. The framework goes beyond technical viability, emphasizing that microbial products must also offer economic returns, ensure safety and deliver tangible societal benefits to be successfully adopted.

"Microbial-based innovations offer a powerful opportunity to combat climate change with scalable, sustainable solutions that can be implemented globally," said Nguyen Nguyen, Ph.D., Director of ASM's American Academy for Microbiology.

"Leveraging the potential of microbes will be a critical asset to the collection of strategies for tackling rising greenhouse gas emissions and global environmental change."

"Microbial Solutions for Climate Change" evaluates both the technical and economic feasibility of microbial innovations, emphasizing solutions that prioritize human health and safety, reduce social inequities and promote economic well-being for the global population.

The report identifies three key microbial-based innovations that can help humanity adapt to and mitigate the rapid pace and adverse consequences of climate change:

Microbes for a non-fossil carbon economy. Microbes for food security and ecosystem resilience. Microbes for urgent methane mitigation.

Supported by the accompanying Nature article, the report underscores the necessity of global collaboration among scientists, industry partners, scientific societies and governments.

From policymakers who can shape environmental regulations and create incentives for sustainable practices to professional societies that can foster partnerships and drive innovation, every stakeholder has a critical role in advancing microbial solutions to combat climate change.

The Nature article introduces a strategic framework to guide the effective implementation of microbial solutions. The framework discusses several important considerations, beginning with assessing technical feasibility.

It highlights the importance of evaluating economic feasibility from both commercial and societal perspectives to demonstrate the viability and desirability of these solutions. Additionally, the framework emphasizes the need for biosafety considerations, calling for risk assessments, surveillance and oversight systems to ensure safe and responsible scaling of microbial solutions.

The authors emphasize that microbial interventions should not stand alone but be integrated alongside other global climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, such as solar and wind energy and reforestation.

"We believe microbes hold the missing ingredient needed for the next climate breakthroughs," said Rino Rappuoli, Ph.D., IUMS President.

"We encourage leaders of climate initiatives across all sectors to incorporate microbial processes into climate research and sustainable solutions. We are ready to partner with you to address this climate challenge."

More information: Report: Microbial Solutions for Climate Change Rino Rappuoli et al. Microbes can capture carbon and degrade plastic  why aren't we using them more? Nature (2025). www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00875-w Journal information: Nature
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An example of the sequence of Single-Rare-Event Condition (a), Double Rare Events Condition (b) and UI Double Rare Events Condition (c), respectively. The numbers at the bottom denote the timing relative to the utterance. A negative value indicates a timing before the utterance, while a positive value signifies a timing after the utterance. Two kinds of monsters, black and red, were used alternately across trials so that participants would not lose interest. (a) An example of rare-event timing #-5. A monster emerged from a pipe, completed a specific action in 0.86s, and then disappeared back into the pipe. The next monster emerged after a 1-s interval. (b) An example of the rare-event timing #-6 / #-1. Two distinct actions were used for 1st rare event and 2nd rare event, respectively. (c) An example of the rare-event timing #-2 / #+3. Credit: PLOS ONE (2025). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317433

"Did you see that?" It is a simple phrase we hear every day, but how do we know what "that" refers to? A new study from Kyushu University, published in PLOS One, reveals that children and adults use different strategies to interpret such verbal uncertainties, offering fresh insights into the development of human language comprehension.

Imagine watching a quiet night sky. When a shooting star streaks across the sky and someone asks, "Did you see that?", we naturally understand they are referring to the shooting star, not the twinkling stars in the background.

"In a shared conversational environment, a shooting star is a striking event that draws attention, making listeners easily associate 'that' with this moment," explains Research Fellow Reiki Kishimoto and Professor Kazuhide Hashiya from Kyushu University's Faculty of Human-Environment Studies.

Our daily conversations are full of ambiguity. Yet, communication usually flows smoothly because listeners can identify key cues from countless possibilities and interpret the speaker's intent. These cues often include attention-grabbing events or things that just happened.

To study how these interpretation skills develop, researchers at Kyushu University conducted psychological experiments with Japanese children (ages 710) and adults.

Participants were shown a series of animations featuring nine monsters that appeared one by one from left to right. While eight of the monsters performed the same actionsuch as playing the guitarone monster did something different, like eating. After the last monster appeared, participants heard the Japanese phrase "Ima-no mita?" (meaning "Did you see that?") and were asked to freely select which event they thought "that" referred to.

Researchers at Kyushu University designed animations to examine how children and adults use recency and rarity to interpret ambiguous information. In the animations, nine monsters appeared one by one from left to right, with one behaving differently. At the end, participants heard "Did you see that?" and were asked to choose the event(s) they thought it meant. (Kyushu University)

The results show that most children and adults select either the last monster or the one that performed differently. This suggests that recency and rarity serve as common cues for resolving ambiguity across age groups. However, children are significantly more likely to select the last monster than adults, taking "that" to mean simply what just happened.

Children and adults also process rarity and recency differently. As the uniquely behaving monster appears later in the sequence, adults gradually increase their likelihood of selecting it. In contrast, children only show a clear preference for the rare event when it was the very last one. For children, rarity is considered separately from recency, whereas for adults, these two factors interact and are integrated.

"Adults perceive temporal distance as a flexible, continuous variable rather than a fixed point in time. They also use multiple cues to figure out the speaker's intent," explains Kishimoto. "We believe such interpretation strategies require more cognitive resources."

The team hopes their findings will have implications for dialog robot development and contribute to better support systems for individuals with communication difficulties, including some autistic children.

Kyushu University researchers found that when asked "Did you see that?", adults increasingly chose the rare event as it appeared closer to the question, while children's preference for the rare event spiked only when it occurred last. Credit: Kyushu University

"Understanding ambiguous references often requires going beyond the literal meaning to grasp context, which can be challenging for some children with autistic traits," Kishimoto adds. "By uncovering these interpretation mechanisms, we can improve clinical interventions, help children develop communication skills, and form stronger social connections."

Looking ahead, the team plans to explore how interpretation patterns vary across cultures and languages, and how other sensory cues, like sound, can influence the interpretation of ambiguous information.

"Communication has been evolving rapidly, with the rise of SNS and other one-to-many communication forms, knowing how people process and focus on information is more important than ever," concludes Kishimoto. "We hope our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of human social interaction in this changing landscape."

More information: Reiki Kishimoto et al, Recency and rarity effects in disambiguating the focus of utterance: A developmental study, PLOS ONE (2025). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317433 Journal information: PLoS ONE
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Hydrology plays a large part in determining P availability and sustainability. Credit: Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adq0027

Along with nitrogen and carbon, phosphorus is an essential element for life on Earth. It is a central component of molecules such as DNA and RNA, which serve to transmit and store genetic information, and ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which cells need to produce energy.

Phosphorus may also have played a key role in the origin of life. Certain conditions are needed to trigger the start of the biochemical processes that precede life. One of these is the presence of sufficient phosphorus. Its availability regulates the growth and activities of organisms. Unlike nitrogen or carbon, however, phosphorus is relatively rare at Earth's surfacewhich was the case in the era before life existed as well as today.

It is precisely because phosphorus is rare and so difficult to obtain, yet subject to high demand by living organisms, that scientists have long wondered how life could have arisen at all.

To answer this question, they conducted experiments in the laboratory. These showed that prebiotic chemistry requires very high concentrations of phosphorusabout 10,000 times more phosphorus than naturally occurs in water. This raises the question of how and where such high concentrations of phosphorus in water occurred on Earth billions of years ago.

Earth scientist Craig Walton has a new answer: large soda lakes without natural runoff could maintain phosphorus concentrations for a sufficiently long time, even if life begins to exist in them at some point (and continuously consumes phosphorus). The results of the study have been published in the journal Science Advances.

Such lakes lose water only through evaporation. This means that phosphorus is left in the water instead of being washed away through rivers and streams. As a result, very high concentrations of phosphorus can build up in these soda lakes.

As early as 2020, researchers from the University of Washington had suggested that soda lakes could be the cradle of life. Walton has now taken this further. The researcher is investigating questions about the origin of life from a geochemical perspective as part of a Nomis fellowship at ETH Zurich's Center for Origin and Prevalence of Life (COPL).

Not every soda lake is suitable; Walton excludes small ones. "As soon as life develops in them, their phosphorus supply would be depleted faster than it is replenished. This would nip in the bud both the chemical reactions and the developing life," says Walton.

In large soda lakes, on the other hand, the phosphorus concentrations are high enough to sustain both the basic chemical reactions and life over the long term. These high concentrations are achieved through a high volume of inflowing river water, which contains phosphorus, while water only leaves the lake through evaporation. Since phosphorus does not evaporate easily, it stays behind and accumulates in the lake.

One example of such a large soda lake is Mono Lake in California. It is about twice the size of Lake Zurich. In Mono Lake, the phosphorus concentration remains constantly high, allowing a wide variety of organisms to flourish. This is crucial because in small lakes, the phosphorus is used up before new amounts can be formed.

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Phosphorus in Mono Lake is therefore maintained at a high concentration, which means that a lot of phosphorus regularly flows in without the phosphorus content dropping too quickly.

Walton and his team therefore consider large soda lakes that had a constant high phosphorus supply in the early history of Earth to have been an ideal environment for the origin of life. The researchers assume that life is more likely to have originated in such large bodies of water than in small pools, as Charles Darwin had suspected.

The origin of life could therefore be closely linked to the special environment of large soda lakes, which, due to their geological setting and phosphorus balance, provided ideal conditions for prebiotic chemistry.

"This new theory helps to solve another piece of the puzzle of the origin of life on Earth," says Walton.

More information: Craig R. Walton et al, Large closed-basin lakes sustainably supplied phosphate during the origins of life, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adq0027 Journal information: Science Advances
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Map of the Caatinga biome. The area is restricted to northeastern Brazil. Credit: Molecular Biology Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s11033-025-10307-7

The latest review article from the Interdisciplinary Center for Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR) in Portugal opens up horizons for the identification of bee species in a diversity of ecosystems and was based on the Caatinga biome in Brazil.

Pollinators, especially bees, are crucial for maintaining ecosystems, but they also play a fundamental role in plant reproduction. At a time when human food needs depend heavily on pollination, bees and other pollinators have suffered from threats such as pollution, the use of pesticides, intensive agriculture and monocultures, lack of water, deforestation and climate change. Studying their diversity is therefore essential if we are to conserve these species.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), more than 75% of the world's production of fruit and seeds for human consumption depends on pollination. This is why studies focusing on new methodologies for the identification, distribution, ecology and conservation of these animals are more important than ever.

A recent review article, "Barcoding the Caatinga biome bees: a practical review," published in the journal Molecular Biology Reports, presents significant advances in this area. Conducted by researchers from CIIMAR's Ecosystem Monitoring and Sustainability groupPedro Rodrigues, Claudia Teixeira, Laura Guimaraes and Nuno Ferreirathe study developed and improved tools for identifying bee species, which are now available globally.

The model area for this work was the Caatinga biome, a highly specialized biome unique to Brazil that covers an area of 826,411 km2 and has a flora and fauna rich in endemism. By complementing traditional morphological identification with molecular biology and barcoding techniques, which use the "DNA barcode" of these species to identify them, the study made it possible to expand our knowledge about bee species in this habitat.

This study enabled the identification of 75 more species and nine more genera than were last described for this biome representing a significant advance. However, the team warns that these results may "not yet reflect the total biodiversity that can be found" and points out that there is a need for further efforts to catalogue the existing wealth.

75 more species identified

This is not the first time that bee species have been identified in the Catinga biome. The last time was 25 years ago, using only traditional methods. The new study is more comprehensive and a much more complete review. It can now be used for the preservation and conservation of species in the unique Caatinga biome.

The use of these barcoding techniques can be powerful tools in the conservation of the Caatinga biome, making it possible to identify the species present, whether they have been described or not. Having expanded our knowledge of the species in this area, the resources generated as part of this work can also serve as a basis for the research being carried out there.

According to Teixeira, author of this study, "As well as bringing new information about the current state of the ecosystems, the tool is easily reproduced, providing any researcher with a solid basis for future investigations to understand local biodiversity."

According to the researcher, however, the impact of this knowledge is much broader. "Species identification and monitoring can also be very useful for understanding trends in the decline or increase of bee populations," especially in the context of a changing climate.

"By identifying and cataloging pollinating insect species, such as bees, which play such pivotal roles in pollination, this work also aims to highlight the importance of these species for ecosystems, and the ecosystem services that benefit society, such as food production, maintenance and diversity of vegetation, with direct impacts on the economy." Thus, this work contributes not only to conservation, but also to raising awareness about the role of pollinators.

The Caatinga biome

The Caatinga is a biome, i.e., a large ecological community with unique characteristics that expands over a large area. It is exclusive to Brazil and is characterized by unique fauna and flora adapted to extreme conditions, which vary between periods of extreme drought and periods of intense rainfall.

It has a semi-arid climate, vegetation with few leaves and adapted to periods of drought whose growing conditions are on a par with the challenges that climate change has brought to other areas of the world. Despite the ecological importance and biodiversity of this biome, many of the species that inhabit it are unknown, as are their characteristics and functions.

More information: Pedro Rodrigues et al, Barcoding the Caatinga biome bees: a practical review, Molecular Biology Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s11033-025-10307-7

Provided by CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research
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Image of a dog skull found at Nescot. Credit: Ellen Green

A recent study by Dr. Ellen Green, published in the International Journal of Paleopathology, analyzed the faunal assemblage recovered from the Romano-British ritual shaft at Nescot. Despite only being used for a relatively short time, the shaft contained one of the largest dog assemblages ever recovered in Roman Britain.

Dogs were an important part of Roman life and served as hunters, herders, and companions. The Romano-British dogs in particular were especially recognized for their hunting prowess, as even the Greek geographer Strabo mentions that one of Britannia's chief exports was hunting dogs.

According to Green, dogs were associated with a number of religious and ritual functions. "It is very difficult to pin down the role of the dogs. Within the Roman world, dogs were associated with a large number of gods and symbolic concepts, including the underworld (often acting as guards or psychopomps), fertility, healing, and protection.

"They also appear in many native Iron Age ritual deposits, but since we don't have any textual evidence from this period, it is impossible to know what they represented to the people who buried them. They also were very common animals in Romano-British day-to-day life."

Some chthonic (underworld) gods that dogs were associated with include Pluto (god of the underworld) and Hecate (goddess of witchcraft, sorcery, and the moon).

Because of this range of different associations, determining what functions dogs had in ritual contexts is often difficult.

The interpretation is made even more difficult by the fact that, despite being found in most Romano-British sites, dog remains usually only constitute between 2% and 4% of faunal assemblages.

The Nescot ritual shaft is unique in that it is made up of 10,747 individual animal bones, of which at least 5,436 belong to dogs.

The Nescot College Former Animal Husbandry Center, located in Ewell, Surrey, was excavated in 2015 by Pre-Construct Archaeology.

The excavations revealed an old Roman quarry pit made up of a 4 m deep oval shaft with backfill dating to the late first and early second centuries CE.

A: ulna showing grooving, eburnation and osteophytic lipping. B: calcaneus with a cystic lesion on the joint surface. C: scapula with potential osteochondritis dissecans on the glenoid fossa. D: scapula with pitting on the joint surface indicative of degenerative joint disease. E: two thoracic vertebrae with osteophytic lipping around the vertebral bodies. F: distal femur with eburnation, contour change and osteophytic lipping on the lateral condyle and enthesial ridging on the lateral portion of the bone. Credit: International Journal of Paleopathology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.02.005

The shaft comprised three phases, with the first two containing the majority of the faunal remains, some human remains, coins, metalwork, pottery sherds, and gaming tokens. By contrast, phase three contained only a few faunal remains and some pottery sherds.

Analysis of the faunal remains revealed that a minimum of 140 dogs had been deposited. Green elaborates, saying, "The shaft likely represented a wide range of different dogs, but the majority were small, and several had chondrodysplasia. This means they would have had disproportionately short limbs to body and head size, like a modern corgi. We also know the Romans had dogs similar to the modern Maltese, which would be a fit for the size of the dogs at Nescot."

The Nescot dogs seem to have been relatively well cared for, not only showing few pathologies but those that did display pathologies could, in many cases, be attributed to old age, such as spondylosis deformans (a degenerative condition of the spine), ossified costal cartilage (bonification of the cartilaginous extensions of the ribs) and fusion of the fibula and tibia in some specimens.

One exception was the relatively high number of scapular lesions, often attributed to excess exercise, poor nutrition, or genetics. Since these dogs were too small to have been used in physically strenuous activities, it is more likely these lesions were the result of inbreeding.

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Based on these findings, the Nescot dogs seemed to have been relatively well cared for and, in some cases, older individuals. Furthermore, based on the lack of cutmarks, it is unlikely they were deposited due to butchery or skinning activities.

The presence of human remains, as well as comparison to other ritual shafts with similar deposits, indicate that the Nescot dogs were likely the result of ritual deposition.

Once analyzed, Green compared the Nescot assemblage to remains found at Springhead sanctuary and Springhead settlement as well as to the data collected from various regions and periods of Roman Britain. The results suggested that dogs sacrificed in more urban areas were more likely to stray, while those at more ritual-specialized sites were more likely to be healthy and well-cared-for individuals.

"I think that, most likely, they were selected based on specific cultural criteria. The Romans had rules about what type/color/age, and sex of animal was appropriate to sacrifice for which god or festival, so the idea of cultural selection would have been quite normal for them," Green says.

"While some of the pathologies noted can be genetic, which is why I suggested a degree of inbreeding, I would have expected far more congenital conditions to be present if they had all been from one curated population, as well as a greater uniformity in size."

The exact use of the ritual shaft cannot be determined with certainty; however, based on the excavation, the third phase of the shaft's use was one of transition from ritual deposits to a more mundane rubbish disposal. Several factors support this interpretation, including a much smaller faunal assemblage, suggesting a decreased intensity of deposition.

Additionally, of those faunal remains, a significant amount showed evidence of cut and chop marks as well as fresh breaks, likely the result of marrow extraction, which implies that the remains were treated more like food waste than sacrificial offerings. Shortly after, by the early second century, all deposits, ritual or otherwise, into the shaft ceased completely.

More information: Ellen Green, The pathology of sacrifice: Dogs from an early Roman 'ritual' shaft in southern England, International Journal of Paleopathology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.02.005

 2025 Science X Network
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Credit: Current Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.02.060

Would you answer someone's cry for help if that someone was sitting unharmed in front of you? Most probably would not, and bats have similar reservations, according to a new study published in Current Biology in which researchers from the Museum fur Naturkunde Berlin and the University of Naples Federico II show that bats can reconcile what they see or smell with what they hear to assess the reality of a situation.

When bats are caught by predators, they produce distress calls, loud, harsh vocalizations that may startle the predator into releasing its prey or alert conspecifics to the situation at hand. Often, bats approach conspecifics calling in distress, probably to assess the danger or provide help in the form of predator mobbing. The scientists used this scenario to test whether bats can recognize group members individually based on voice cues.

The research team, consisting of Mirjam Knornschild, Martina Nagy, and Danilo Russo, first analyzed the acoustic properties of distress calls from wild Greater Sac-Winged Bats, Saccopteryx bilineata, in Panama. They discovered that distress calls carry distinct vocal signatures, allowing individuals to be statistically discriminated by their voices alone.

To confirm that these vocal fingerprints are meaningful for the bats, the researchers confronted them with playbacks of distress calls from group members. Broadcast from around the corner of their day-roost, these playbacks mimicked a group member in immediate distress. The scientists used a violation-of-expectation paradigm, providing information about group members that aligned or conflicted with one another. This approach allowed them to test how bats respond to conflicting sensory cues.

In the plausible scenario, bats heard distress calls from a group member that had just left the day-roost. In the impossible scenario, bats heard distress calls from a group member that was still present in the day-roost while another bat had left the group.

Remarkably, bats only reacted to the plausible scenarioin the impossible scenario, when the caller's voice came from a different location than the caller's current roosting spot, the bats ignored the distress call playbacks entirely. This means that the bats can reconcile sensory inputs and reject contradictions, a hallmark of advanced cognition.

"Our findings demonstrate that these bats possess a high level of cognitive sophistication," says Knornschild. "By integrating information from multiple senses, they can interpret social signals and respond appropriately, which is critical for their social interactions."

The study provides new insight into how vocal individuality supports complex social structures in bats. "Greater sac-winged bats live in stable social groups where individual recognition is probably crucial for social interactions. We observed that dominant males were the first to respond to distress calls, reflecting their crucial role in colony defense," Nagy notes. The team further found that larger groups reacted stronger, suggesting that larger groups may exhibit greater collective responsiveness.

The results underscore the importance of multisensory integration in social animals, enriching our understanding of animal communication and cognition. "The ability to integrate sensory information for individual recognition is a hallmark of advanced cognition, seen in species like primates and elephants," explains Russo. "Our study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on animal communication and highlights the cognitive capabilities of mammals with complex social lives."

More information: Mirjam Knornschild et al, Bats resolve conflicting sensory information for individual recognition, Current Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.02.060 Journal information: Current Biology

Provided by Museum fur Naturkunde Berlin
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Senegal's Lake Retba, widely known as the "Pink Lake", is a tourist magnet.

The waters of Senegal's Lake Retba are back to their famous pink hues three years after floods washed away their rosy tingeand businessfolk and tourists are thrilled.

No sooner had the news hit social media when Julie Barrilliot, 20, bought a plane ticket to fly over from France.

Widely known as the "Pink Lake," Retba is a magnet for tourists, lying 40 kilometers (25 miles) northeast of the capital Dakar.

Separated from the Atlantic by a narrow dune, the shallow lake is so densely laden with salt that, as in the Dead Sea, bathers float like corks.

Harvesting and selling the saltthat plays a key role in imbuing the lake with its signature tingefrom its waters is a lucrative sideline.

But in late 2022, unusual and heavy flooding hit the region, likely aggravated by climate change scientists told AFP at the time, and disturbed the ecological balance of the lake.

Afterwards, the water lost its pinkish color, proving a hammer blow to salt producers, traders, hotel owners and other commercial activities linked to the legendary "Pink Lake".

"In 2023, we noticed that our activities were slowing down and we undertook to rent a pump to extract the excess water from the lake, which had engulfed the entire ecosystem favorable to its pink hue," Amadou Bocoum Diouf, manager of the Chez Salim hotel, told AFP.

Heavy floods in 2022 left Lake Retba without its famous pinky hue.

"Its depth had gone from two to six meters (6.6 to 20 feet)," Diouf, who is also president of the union grouping traders and hoteliers of the lake, added.

The pumping operation cost them several million CFA francs (several thousand euros) before the government stepped in, he said.

"But it's not all pink?" remarked Barrilliot disappointedly, who tried to console herself with a horse ride near where she was staying.

The hotel manager Ibrahima Mbaye, who heads an association to protect the lake, tried to reassure her that within an hour or two the pink color would be back.

"For there to be pink, it needs warm sun and a fresh wind," Mbaye said. His Gite du Lac hotel has been swamped with phone calls from operators and foreign tourists wanting to know for sure that the lake is back to its famous color.

And just before midday, the waters' shimmer turned to pink.

Harvesting and selling the salt from the lake waters is a lucrative sideline.

'Capricious'

Mbaye said that when the conditions are right, there is a high concentration of salt in the lake coming from sea water.

"In contact with the sun, this salt concentration produces a large amount of evaporation, conducive to the proliferation of micro-organisms, particularly those called pink algae," he added.

Cheikh Mbow, from the state-run National Ecological Monitoring Committee, told AFP that cyanobacteria produced the pink when its red pigment diluted in the water.

When a bus load of tourists pulled up on the pinkest side of the lake, Mbaye's eyes lit uphis pride at seeing the stretch of water where he was born and that was once the finish line of the legendary Dakar Rally was obvious.

Mouadou Ndiaye, who sells bags and sachets of salt, ran over to the French visitors hoping for some sales before they departed.

Separated from the Atlantic by a narrow dune, the shallow lake is densely laden with salt.

The loss of colour hit many livelihoods around the lake.

Salt plays a key role in imbuing the lakes with its signature tinge.

"We've hardly had any tourists for more than two years," the 60-year-old said, slightly out of breath and barefoot on the sandy, shell-strewn ground.

He stuck it out during the less-than-rosier times, while many others threw in the towel.

"Many left for the towns and surrounding villages," Maguette Ndiour, head of the Pink Lake salt producers' group, said.

Residents fear intensive building will lead to the lake becoming polluteda small group of protesters held a rally that day against plans for 1,000 dwellings near the lake.

Mbow, of the ecological monitoring committee, warned that even minimal pollution could tip the balance.

"It's essential to reduce the negative impact of human activities," he said.

As the sun started to go down by late afternoon, the pink of the lake had begun to fade. "Sometimes it's capricious but it's always beautiful," Ibrahima said, smiling.

 2025 AFP
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Aspirations transform migration from mere physical movement into a deeply personal conviction, reshaping how individuals see themselves and their futures. Credit: NEOM/Unsplash

When governments, policymakers or the news media discuss migration, the focus is almost exclusively on those who physically cross borders, seek asylum or arrive at ports of entry. But migration does not begin at the moment of departure or upon arrival. It starts much earlier, as an aspiration.

Recent surveys show a sharp rise in global migration aspirations. In Canada, a Gallup poll found that 20% of the population surveyed want to leave and much of this increase occurred since 2021.

In the United States, that figure has hit a record 21%. These figures challenge the common assumption that Canada and the U.S. are simply migration destinations. Increasingly, they are also places people aspire to leave. But what fuels migration desire?

As a scholar of religion and migration, my recently published research focuses on aspiring migrants: those who dream and plan for a future elsewhere, even if they never leave.

While studies have shown how religion might aid or hinder a person's integration into new societies, I explore how religion shapes who wants to migrate in the first place and why.

Not everyone who wants to migrate will ultimately do so, but their aspirations matter. Migration aspirations influence education, career choices, family formation and even political engagement. Yet, the forces behind these aspirations remain largely understudied.

Who wants to migrate?

My interviews with young Ghanaians between the ages of 20 and 35 reveal that migration is not just about where people go. It's also about who they believe they are meant to be.

Analyzing 565 surveys and 25 in-depth interviews, I found that the aspiration to migrate was widespread, with nearly 78% of those surveyed expressing a desire to migrate. However, aspirations were not evenly distributed.

University students were the most eager to migrate, often viewing higher education abroad as a stepping stone. Family history also shaped migration aspirations. Those with relatives abroad and no prior travel experience were significantly more likely to want to leave, suggesting the influence of migrant social networks.

Yet the strongest predictors of migration aspirations among participants were experiences like dreams, prophecies and intuitions that were considered religiously significant.

Individuals who reported having migration-related dreams were more than twice as likely to express a strong desire to migrate, while those who believed migration was part of a divine plan were more than three times as likely. These findings challenge the traditional idea that migration is purely an economic decision, highlighting the role of religion and spirituality.

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Spiritual experiences and migration

Dreams, prophecies and intuitions do more than inspire migration desires. They shape how people perceive and legitimize migration. These experiences transform migration from mere physical movement into a deeply personal conviction, reshaping how they see themselves and their futures.

Participants in my study who had migratory dreams described them as vivid, immersive experiences in which they found themselves leaving their homeland, boarding airplanes or settling in foreign countries.

These dreams transported them into sensory encounters with airports, unfamiliar climates like snowfall and racially diverse communities. Such dreams made migration feel imminent, influencing behaviors such as preparing travel documents and expanding social networks.

Prophecy in many religious traditions are declarations made by spiritual leaders, often perceived as divine revelations about an individual's life, future or destiny. In the context of migration, these prophecies foretell a person's foreseeable journey abroad, shaping their understanding of the future.

Migratory prophecies are often delivered in Pentecostal-Charismatic churches, through sermons, prayer sessions or direct pronouncements from pastors. Their significance lies not in predictive accuracy, but in their ability to inspire, shape emotions, and guide behaviors regarding migration.

These prophecies legitimize a person's migration aspirations as part of a divine plan, enhancing the aspiring migrant's self-perception as one destined for success. They foster an internalized identity of a successful migrant even before the individual embarks on their journey, highlighting their potential to elevate social status and bring honor to their families and communities.

Intuitions attributed to divine prompting also generate an inner certainty about migration. People feel an inexplicable but profound conviction that they must migrate, leading them to align their life decisions with what they perceive as a higher plan.

By reinforcing deeply held aspirations, spiritual experiences do not just shape the desire to migrate; they construct the migrant's very sense of self, embedding migration into their personal identity long before they ever set foot on foreign soil.

Informing policy

Most migration policies focus on border control, but rarely consider the social and cultural dynamics that shape migration. Dreams, prophecies and intuitions act as indicators of unmet aspirations.

Understanding these experiences can help migration policymakers create strategies that are cross-culturally sensitive and context-specific. These strategies should move beyond the economics of migration to address the full spectrum of human motivations.

Additionally, governments and news media must confront idealized narratives of migration destinations portrayed as utopias of opportunity. When such expectations clash with the stark realities of labor exploitation, cultural alienation and systemic racism, the resulting disillusionment can profoundly affect the well-being of individuals and communities.

A responsible approach to migration must present a balanced view, acknowledging both opportunities and challenges, while preparing aspiring migrants for the complexities of their journeys and recognizing their aspirations as integral to their personhood.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Children's musical abilities develop at different rates and not always to the same extent. But what factors play a role? Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (MPIEA) in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, have developed a questionnaire to assess the musicality of 3- to 10-year-olds.

With this method, educators can, for example, recognize developmental processes, identify musically talented children at an earlier stage, and provide targeted support for musical education. The questionnaire is available in German and English and was recently published together with the study results in the journal PLOS ONE, where it can be downloaded free of charge.

Universal patterns, such as the acquisition of basic rhythm and pitch recognition, play an important role in musical development during childhood. However, there are also highly individual patterns based on environmental, educational, and innate factors. In order to accurately document these and thus fill a gap in research, the team of researchers developed the "Child Musicality Screening" as part of a total of three studies.

"By using the evaluation form as a standardized tool to assess children's musicality, we can gain a deeper understanding of developmental processes. Until now, valid measurement tools for quick and scalable screening have been lacking," explains first author Verena Buren of the MPIEA.

A total of 810 adults who regularly interact with children participated in the first study. The researchers first used questionnaires to define key dimensions of children's musicality: enthusiasm and motivation, as well as music perception and production. The results of the second study, in which parents and educators participated, confirmed the identified dimensions. In the third study, the researchers demonstrated the reliability of the questionnaire using German and English samples.

"The screening is not only useful for research into correlations with other cognitive abilities or environmental influences. It could also be used in practice, for example, in educational institutions. Teachers could apply it to adapt their teaching approaches and ensure that each child gets the most out of music lessons," concludes Verena Buren.

More information: Verena Buren et al, Screening musicality in children: Development and initial validation of a new tool for rapid assessment of musical profiles, PLOS ONE (2025). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317962 Journal information: PLoS ONE
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An artistic representation of the antibiotics found in frogs. Credit: Jianing "Jenny" Bai

Frogs have thrived for hundreds of millions of years, spreading across virtually every corner of Earth, from tropical jungles to subarctic forests. Throughout their evolution, they have developed remarkable defensesincluding previously unreported antibioticsagainst the hordes of bacteria that thrive in their moist environments. Variants of these compounds may one day protect humans from drug-resistant pathogens.

In a new paper in Trends in Biotechnology, Cesar de la Fuente, Presidential Associate Professor in Bioengineering and in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science (Penn Engineering), in Psychiatry and Microbiology in the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM), and in Chemistry in the School of Arts & Sciences, describes the creation of synthetic peptides, a class of antibiotics, derived from the secretions of a frog commonly found in South Asia.

Nature's antibiotic toolkit

The paper builds on previous work from de la Fuente's lab, which has discovered novel antibiotics in a range of unlikely places: the DNA of extinct organisms, including the woolly mammoth; the DNA of Neanderthals; and the human gut microbiome.

"Each study is motivated by imagining environments where evolution would spur the creation of antibiotics," says de la Fuente. "Amphibians live in very microbe-rich environments. They very rarely get infected despite being surrounded by microbes, so they must produce antimicrobial compounds."

In 2012, researchers in China discovered that Odorrana andersonii, a species of frog first described in the late 19th century by a Belgian naturalist and named for its distinctive odor, secretes a peptide with antimicrobial activity, dubbed Andersonnin-D1.

However, that peptide tends to form clumps, increasing the likelihood of toxic side effects and diminishing its efficacy at fighting bacteria, making it unsuitable for clinical use.

Improving nature's molecules

In the new paper, de la Fuente and his co-authors demonstrate how "structure-guided design," a process involving minute changes to the peptide's chemical structure, yields multiple antibiotic candidates without the drawbacks of the unmodified peptide.

"With structure-guided design, we change the sequence of the molecule," says Marcelo Torres, a research associate in the de la Fuente lab and co-author of the paper, "and then we see how those mutations affect the function that we are trying to improve."

Turning peptides into potential therapies

After going through two rounds of structure-guided design, the researchers then tested the resulting synthetic peptides against a range of bacteria. In preclinical models, the team found that the new compounds were as effective as last-resort antibiotics like polymyxin B in targeting harmful bacteria, without affecting human cells or beneficial gut bacteria.

The researchers extracted a peptide from Odorrana andersonii, a frog found in South Asia, and used it to derive new antibiotics. Credit: De la Fuente Lab

The researchers developed and tested their peptides not only in single cultures but also in more complex bacterial communities, which allowed them to measure the effects in a more realistic microbial setting. "Those experiments are very difficult to set up because you need to grow different bacteria at once," says de la Fuente. "We had to come up with the specific ratio of each bacterium to have a sustained community."

If additional preclinical testing goes well, the researchers will submit the peptides for what are known as Investigational New Drug (IND) enabling studies, the last step prior to applying for approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, at which point the drugs could be clinically tested.

De la Fuente underscores nature's profound potential in medical innovation. "We are excited that frogsand nature in generalcan inspire new molecules that could be developed into antibiotics," he says. "Thanks to the power of engineering, we can take those natural molecules and turn them into something more useful for humanity."
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Credit: Science of The Total Environment (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177837

A study by researchers across multiple disciplines at the University of Kentucky has offered the most in-depth look at what's flowing through Kentucky's streams and rivers, and how these waterways can be safeguarded.

The work, published in Science of the Total Environment and led by Tiffany Messer, UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) Gatton Foundation Endowed Chair, examined watersheds across the stateeach representing a different land-use backdrop.

"About 95% of Kentucky's drinking water comes from surface water, meaning that whatever ends up in our rivers and streams will eventually make its way into our water treatment systems," said Messer, also an associate professor in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (BAE).

The team behind this study includes researchers from the Kentucky Water Research Institute, Martin-Gatton CAFE's Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agriculture Research Service at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

"Our goal was to understand exactly what contaminants are present and how different land uses influence water quality, so we can develop targeted strategies to protect both people and the environment," said Messer.

A comprehensive sampling strategy

The researchers employed two complementary methods to capture a complete picture of contaminants over an extended period.

First, they collected traditional "grab" samples each montha quick snapshot of the water's condition at a specific moment. At the same time, they deployed Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Samplers (POCIS)membrane-like devices left submerged for 30 days at a time. While grab samples can show the immediate levels of pollutants, these long-term samplers pick up traces of chemicals that might only be present sporadically, creating a more accurate account of average water quality conditions.

Over the course of eight months (March through October 2022), the researchers detected 77 contaminants. These ranged from conventional pollutants like fertilizers and trace metals to emerging contaminants such as personal care products and prescription drugs. By analyzing the data in concert with flow measurements from U.S. Geological Survey monitoring stations, the team could link changes in contaminant levels to rainfall, flooding events and seasonal factors.

One of the key takeaways was how strongly land use in different areas of Kentucky affected contamination "fingerprints."

"We found that every region had its own unique set of contaminants. In urban areas, we detected more chemicals from lawn care, pet products and wastewater, including caffeine and certain pharmaceuticals," Messer said. "Agricultural areas had higher levels of herbicides commonly used in farming, while the mining region showed elevated sulfate levels from mine drainage. Each landscape tells a different story about the sources of pollution."

Beyond identifying these chemicals, the researchers examined whether levels ever topped standards set to protect fish and other aquatic life. In five cases, concentrations exceeded guidelines for freshwater organisms, meaning that these contaminants could potentially harm wildlife. Since most of Kentucky's drinking water originates in surface waterways, these findings highlight the need for careful monitoring and management.

"During heavy rains, runoff from fields, roads and industrial sites rose significantly, flushing many of these pollutants into local streams in intense bursts," Messer said. "These spikes were most pronounced in agricultural and urban areas, suggesting that improved runoff management could curb pollution peaks.

"Meanwhile, antibiotics and prescription drugs suggest that wastewater infrastructure may need upgrades in specific communities to filter out pharmaceuticals more effectively before water is discharged downstream."

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Searching for sustainable solutions

Identifying contaminants is only the first step. Messer's team is already testing natural, low-cost treatmentsparticularly using constructed wetlandsto strip chemicals from the water before they become a threat to environmental or public health. Preliminary results, soon to be published in two additional papers, show that well-designed wetlands can effectively remove a broad spectrum of contaminants.

An integral part of this project has been a high school outreach initiative, called mesoWheels. According to Messer, this direct community engagement helps everyone see water quality as something they can actively protect.

"More than 1,000 students from 15 schools across Kentucky have taken on classroom experiments that mirror our team's research," said Messer. "These hands-on activities not only teach vital scientific principles but also invite young people to investigate their local streams, discuss environmental stewardship and propose their own ideas for solutions."

With most of the state's residents dependent on surface water, the findings carry important implications. Understanding which contaminants are presentand how they get therehelps policymakers, water treatment facilities, farmers and everyday citizens decide where to focus clean-up efforts. From guiding regulations on fertilizer application to encouraging upgrades to wastewater systems, Messer said the research is a springboard for evidence-based decisions aimed at protecting both human and ecological health.

"The team's forthcoming publications will explore in greater detail the specific designs and performance of these constructed wetlands, offering stakeholders practical solutions for pollutant removal," Messer said.

"For now, the takeaway is clear: While water contamination in Kentucky stems from many sources, there are tangible, cost-effective ways to reduce it, and local communitiesengaged through classroom participationare already helping pave the way toward cleaner, safer streams and rivers for all."

More information: Emily Nottingham Byers et al, The occurrence and persistence of surface water contaminants across different landscapes, Science of The Total Environment (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177837 Journal information: Science of the Total Environment
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Units 6 and 7 in the Northern Cemetery, with detail of burials in the Unit 7 tomb. Photos of pottery from the tomb, including a Nubian style blacktopped redware bowl and the Ushabti of Tahut in situ (prepared by Smith). Credit: Journal of Anthropological Archaeology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jaa.2025.101668

Skeletal analysis at Tombos, an ancient Egyptian colonial settlement in Nubia, reveals a more complex labor and social hierarchy than previously understood. Researchers from Leiden University, Purdue University, and the University of California at Santa Barbara, reassessed physical activity patterns in the community, indicating that individuals interred in pyramid tombs were not exclusively elite officials but included individuals who engaged in physically demanding labor.

The findings challenge previous interpretations of social stratification in an Egyptian colonial settlement, particularly regarding labor and burial practices.

Tombos was established during the Egyptian New Kingdom (1400650 BCE) as part of an imperial strategy to maintain control over Nubia. Previous research suggested that the settlement's population engaged in relatively low levels of physical labor, leading to interpretations that its residents were minor officials, professionals, and craftspeople.

Previous analyses supported this theory by demonstrating minimal skeletal adaptations associated with strenuous activity. Expanded excavations and additional biomolecular testing allowed researchers to reassess these earlier conclusions.

In the study, "Daily life in a new kingdom fortress town in Nubia: A reexamination of physical activity at Tombos," published in the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, researchers conducted a bioarchaeological analysis of skeletal remains from three cemetery areas at the site: the Western, Northern, and Eastern cemeteries.

Entheseal changes (skeletal markers of muscle and ligament attachment) were analyzed to evaluate physical activity levels. When people use certain muscle groups repeatedly or carry heavy loads, the attachment sites (entheses) can develop extra ridges or irregularities. By examining these changes, researchers can gauge the intensity and kinds of physical work performed during a person's lifetime.

Skeletal remains originated from tombs of different architectural styles, including Egyptian-style pyramid and chapel tombs, chamber tombs, and Nubian-style tumulus burials. Burial positions at Tombos vary between Egyptian-style extended burials and Nubian-style flexed burials, reflecting cultural identities within the ancient colonial settlement.

Researchers assessed burial position alongside skeletal evidence of physical activity to determine whether labor intensity was connected to burial traditions.

A skeletal cohort included 110 individuals from three cemeteries at the Tombos site. A total of 17 fibrocartilaginous entheseal sites per individual were analyzed using a standardized six-point scale.

Higher entheseal scores were observed in individuals from pyramid and chapel tombs, suggesting engagement in repetitive strenuous labor. Chamber tombs contained individuals with moderate entheseal scores, aligning with earlier interpretations that middle-class officials, scribes, and craftspeople were interred in these structures. Lower entheseal scores characterized many individuals in Nubian burial mounds, indicating lower levels of physical exertion.

Strontium isotope analysis was used to identify individuals' geographic origins, distinguishing between those who were local to Tombos and those who migrated from other regions. Skeletal markers showed no significant difference in activity levels between locals and migrants, suggesting that migration status did not affect labor patterns.

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Individuals buried in pyramid tombs included both elite officials and laborers, contradicting assumptions that monumental tombs exclusively housed high-status individuals. Evidence from mortuary practices suggests that some lower-status individuals were buried alongside elites, possibly as household staff or workers attached to elite families.

Flexed burials associated with Nubian traditions exhibited some lower entheseal scores, suggesting that Nubian identity did not always correlate with increased physical labor.

Reuse of tomb structures over centuries complicates interpretations of status and burial patterns, yet skeletal data suggest that New Kingdom colonial settlements included a broader socioeconomic spectrum than previously recognized.

Researchers state that the notion of New Kingdom towns as elite-only enclaves is flawed. Entheseal data from individuals buried in pyramid tombs indicate that some lower-status individuals with physically demanding roles may have been interred alongside elites.

Low entheseal remodeling scores among certain local women buried in flexed positions suggest they were not exclusively laborers, but may have played a role as social brokers between Egyptian colonists and the local population through intermarriage rather than an exploitation of local labor to serve the colonists.

More information: Sarah Schrader et al, Daily life in a New Kingdom fortress town in Nubia: A reexamination of physical activity at Tombos, Journal of Anthropological Archaeology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jaa.2025.101668

 2025 Science X Network
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

SpaceX sent up a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office from the Space Coast on Monday afternoon.

A Falcon 9 rocket on the NROL-69 mission lifted off at 1:48 p.m. Eastern time from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 40.

The first-stage booster flew for the second time and made a recovery landing at Canaveral's Landing Zone 1, meaning parts of Central Florida may have heard one or more sonic booms.

This was the 24th launch from the Space Coast in 2025, with all but one coming from SpaceX.

The NRO partnered with the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command for this mission, flying under the National Security Space Launch program. NROL-69 was awarded to SpaceX as part of two missions worth $160 million in 2021. It was originally targeted to fly no later than fall of 2023.

The mission logo for the NROL-69 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. The NRO designed, built and will operate the secretive payload, which has an origami hummingbird featured on its mission emblem along with the Latin phrase "Numquan Hibernare," meaning "never hibernate."

"The Hummingbird illustrates the speed and agility with which we provide an advantage to the nation and its allies," reads the mission press packet. "Our bird is ever vigilant."

The NRO has flown two missions with SpaceX previously, although this is the first under the NSSL Phase 2 contract orders that were doled out from 2020-2024. SpaceX has just one more to fly for the NRO as part of that contract's awards while United Launch Alliance has six among the Phase 2 contract awards lined up.

ULA's national security missions, though, await the Space Force's certification of its Vulcan rocket before it can begin knocking out what has grown to be a backlog of 25 missions awarded over Phase 2's five years of task orders.

The Space Force has moved on to ordering new missions under an NSSL Phase 3 contract, but big ticket task orders have yet to be announced. Total values for the new orders have not been announced, but the entirety of Phase 2, which was split between just ULA and SpaceX, was worth $8.5 billion.

It did award smaller awards already under what it's calling Lane 1 of the Phase 3 contract, which is designed to open up NSSL missions to newcomers such as Firefly Aerospace, Rocket Lab or Relativity Space eventually.

The first orders, though, including a pair of launches for the NRO, went to SpaceX.

2025 Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Montana Senate was at an impasse on Monday over how to punish Hamilton Republican Sen. Jason Ellsworth after he attempted to use state money he had control over to arrange a contract for his longtime friend and former business partner.

The chamber considered two punishments: One to expel him from his post and another that some lawmakers and staff described as censure-plus, which would have censured Ellsworth and revoked a few legislative powers.

Senate Republicans this session have been working toward removing Ellsworth, with one attempt to do so nearly two months ago. Democrats, meanwhile, contend they are protecting the Republican from political retribution for joining them on major votes.

Democrats have a stake in preserving Ellsworth's place in the chamber, too, as his vote helps maintain their working coalition with nine moderate Republicans who have sided with the Democrats over majority leadership.

Most Democrats argued Monday that expulsion would be disproportionate to the ethics violation, and put forward a censure option that Republicans asserted didnt meet the severity of Ellsworths actions.

Ellsworth voted against his own expulsion and for the censure motion that would have allowed him to return to the Senate in full after three weeks. Neither motion succeeded.

Both motions needed a two-thirds majority, a tally of 34 votes. The expulsion motion came seven votes short and the censure motion failed by 11 votes. All but four Democrats joined nine Republicans in voting against the expulsion.

Facts speak for themselves here, said Sen. Forrest Mandeville, R-Columbus, who chaired the ethics proceedings into Ellsworths conduct. There was a deliberate attempt to grab $170,100 for a buddy on the way out the door. That is wrong.

Ellsworth, chiming in during the hearing, continued to deny violating any rules, regulations or laws, but said he regretted creating the appearance of a conflict of interest.

I fear the appearance that Ive fallen short, he said. While I have not had and do not have a personal or private interest in this matter, I understand the appearance of one may exist. And the appearance of impropriety may impugn the integrity of this body.

Ellsworth later declined to comment on the vote or if hell continue to appear at the Capitol in person. He began voting remotely in early March, claiming the ethics saga had created health problems that precluded his in-person participation.

Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, and Senate President Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, both said they would next sit down and negotiate how to move forward with addressing Ellsworths actions. Flowers is staunchly against expulsion while Regier is in favor of it, and neither one indicated following the floor debate they would soften on their stances. But both said they are not comfortable with Ellsworth going unpunished.

Immediately after the stalemate, both parties began jockeying to control the narrative.

Senate Democrats put out a press release titled Senate Republicans Fail to Hold Senator Ellsworth Accountable, and minutes later, Sen. Tom McGillvray, R-Billings, sent out a press release titled Senate Democrats Vote to Protect Republican Corruption.

When the motion to outright expel Ellsworth failed on the Senate floor, Sen. Josh Kassmier, a Fort Benton Republican and a leader of the Nine GOP legislators who have partnered at times with Democrats this session, offered a detailed censure option.

The motion would have permanently removed Ellsworth from the powerful Senate Finance and Claims Committee; removed him from the idle Executive Branch Review Committee; disqualified him from any interim committees in the coming biennium; and revoked his floor privileges through April 12, maintaining his ability to vote but blocking him from engaging in policy debates or appearing on the Senate floor.

Some Republican legislators opposed to the censure noted the motion would allow Ellsworth to remain on several key committees, including Business and Labor, Fish and Game, and Local Government.

On the floor Monday, Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, called the proposed censure a joke and a slap on the hand, while Sen. Chris Pope, a Bozeman Democrat and ethics committee member who voted against expulsion, called it a very, very serious and indelible black mark on a senators record forever.

Four Democrats voted to expel Ellsworth. Sen. Emma Kerr-Carpenter, D-Billings, said Ellsworth had failed to meet the high expectations of his office and was only apologizing now that his back is against a wall.

As I read the ethics committee report, the most troubling thing to me was that the senator in Seat 31, by virtue of his position of power, very nearly stole tens of thousands of dollars from Montana taxpayers, Kerr-Carpenter said during the debate.

Flowers has repeatedly reminded members that the ethics committees work was focused to the lone charge of failing to disclose his relationship with Bryce Eggleston, the Stevensville contractor and Ellsworths friend who ultimately obtained the contract, and then canceled it once the business deal was out in plain view.

Flowers also pointed out that the contracts were cancelled before Eggleston received any money. However, the Legislative Audit Division found Ellsworths actions were an abuse of his government position and a waste of state resources. The Department of Justice is also currently investigating any criminal wrongdoing in connection with the contracts.

Ellsworth has been embroiled in multiple public controversies over the years, and Democrats expressed opposition to bringing those into the discussion, again attempting to narrowly focus the matter.

Some Democrats urged the chamber to consider a punishment that would allow Ellsworth to regain the trust of the chamber.

This is not a sledgehammer. Were not a mob. Were a deliberative body, Pope said Monday. Even someone who has fallen can rise again and  reconstruct their life, so lets be mindful.

Nonetheless, Hertz went through a timeline of Ellsworths past offenses on the floor.

In 2023, Ellsworths ex-fiancee requested a protective order and accused him of shoving and choking her, pushing her down a flight of stairs and pointing a gun at her.

The request for the protective order was ultimately withdrawn and Ellsworth was not charged in connection with the case.

Before that, he pleaded guilty to obstructing a peace officer after claiming legislative privilege during a traffic stop; he was clocked driving at 85 miles per hour in a 55-mph construction zone in Broadwater County.

During that traffic stop, Ellsworth implored the Montana Highway Patrol trooper to release him because the senator was familiar with Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen.

Still, Senate Republicans elected him as president to lead the upper chamber in 2023.

We should have done something to this senator long ago. Thats our fault, Hertz said. This behavior will not stop unless we stop it today.

And one of those past issues has eked its way into Ellsworths ethics case.

Before Ellsworth held elected office, he was ordered by a judge in 2009 to pay the Federal Trade Commission $600,000. The FTC accused Ellsworth of charging customers without their consent via his magazine telemarketing company. The ethics committee used this case to initially tie Ellsworth to Eggleston, a general manager of the company.
Sedena has green light to build along Bacalar Lagoon

Bacalar, Q.R.  According to state officials, Sedena has a green light to build along the Bacalar Lagoon. The State Secretary says details surrounding the project have not been made public since it is a military zone.

State Secretary Cristina Torres says the Ministry of National Defense (Sedena) building project has all the necessary permits to construct a facility for its military members. The single-level building will be a retirement home.

We are working on communicating with the public. It was very clear that at first it was a matter of information, but now it has been clarified. The designs have been seen, everything has been seen, she said adding that since it is a military zone, the details of the project could not be made public.

In response to ongoing protests and complaints, the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) and the National Water Commission (Conagua), among others, have said they would verify the project.

Bacalar Citizen Council spokesperson Carlos Mendoza Gutierrez stated that the working group confirmed that the Sedena project met all the requirements and could therefore move forward.

Hours before the meeting, Conaguas Erika Ramirez Mendez, said that an inspection would be carried out at the construction site, which is located in front of the San Felipe Fort.

Ramirez Mendez said during their tour, documents were in order and there was no irregularities or environmental damage.

On Monday, protestors blocked a lane of highway while authorities toured the worksite. Protestors have been at the site since the start of construction more than a week ago.
Its jarring, maybe, to think of Flannery OConnor as an old lady. Then again, to our eyes, in photographs from the last years of her life, maybe she looks already old. In our imagination, she stands forever on the front porch steps of Andalusia, the Georgia farm where she lived with her mother, in her cat-eyed glasses, staid housedresses, puffs of hair either side of her face. I was born in November 1964, three months and three days after OConnors death. My bookish grandmother, married in 1925, the year OConnor was born, looked in her 60s an awful lot like those photos. Women in their 30s dont look like that anymore.

And then theres the fact of her illness. On the steps of Andalusia, she stands on crutches. The lupus that eventually killed her, and the various treatments for it, aged her body, if not her spirit. Sally Fitzgerald, who edited the 1979 collection of OConnors letters under the title The Habit of Being, remembered the rumblings of something wrong in the period before her friends diagnosis with the autoimmune disease. When, in December 1950, I had put Flannery on the train for Georgia she was smiling perhaps a little wanly but wearing her beret at a jaunty angle.  By the time she arrived she looked, her uncle later said, like a shriveled little old woman. The lupus savaged her organs while the steroids swelled her face and disintegrated her hips. In her 20s and 30s, she could manage two hours of writing every morning after the daily 8 a.m. Mass at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Milledgeville.

The rest of the time, she recuperated, raised peafowl, wrote letters, and received visitors. She traveled rarely, though she was persuaded, not without reluctance, in 1958, to undertake an arduous pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in search of a physical healing that did not occur. Although she also made a remarkable number of appearances to read her work and talk to university audiences about fictionbecause she needed money, and those events paidher adult life, from the time of her diagnosis, was marked by the constricted routines of someone many decades older than she was.

But how youthful, in any conventional sense, had her spirit ever been? Even as a child in Savannah, Georgia, Mary Flannery OConnor seems to have exuded an air that was not exactly childlike. The only child of Edward Francis OConnor, who would die of lupus when his daughter was 15, and Regina Cline OConnor, with whom she lived out the last 12 years of her life at Andalusia, Flannery OConnor would grow up to write child characters who were perhaps only slightly exaggerated caricatures of her young self. The little girl in A Temple of the Holy Ghostwho famously thinks she could be a martyr if they killed her quickis the sort of betwixt-and-between character, awkwardly juvenile in her humor and preternaturally sharp in her observations, that we might picture as the young Mary Flannery herself.

The nationally distributed short film of her, at six, demonstrating how she had taught a chicken to walk backward, reinforces this image of the child eccentric, whom we also see in photographs scowling at books, or simply looking fierce. I have known old ladies with that affect. One belligerent old lady of my own Southern childhood used to smoke in church; nobody had the nerve to make her stop. Its not hard to imagine that she had been always that way, even as a tiny, cherished girl in dresses with lace insertion: set in her ways and slightly terrifying. So it is not precisely the case that Flannery OConnor, dying at 39, remains in our imaginations forever young. Whats more true is that she remainsherself, never conventionally young among the young women of her day, though she did not live to grow old. She seems to have been the same person always. For us, 60 years after her death, she remains the writer of startling range, the writer who could begin a short storyGreenleaf, saywith a transcendently gorgeous moonlit scene, in crystalline prose, depicting a bull eating roses, and end it with the same bull goring the protagonist to death, and call that storys trajectory the action of grace.

~ ~ ~

On the publication of her first novel, Wise Blood, in 1952, the British novelist Evelyn Waugh remarked, in what amounts to a master class in dubiousness, that if this is really the unaided work of a young lady, it is a remarkable product. Her mother was outraged by the supposed implication that Mary Flannery wasnt a ladyWHO is he?but again, its that young that strikes me now. Not yet 30, OConnor had blown right past girlish idealism to land on the protagonist blinds himself with lye square. She seems, herself, in the free country of her own imagination, to have been a remarkable product.

If its difficult to pinpoint true literary heirs to Flannery OConnorand it isthat she was, in fact, suis generis is part of the problem. While in the beginning there were basics of craft she had to master, as any fledgling writer does, the vision was there, more or less in its completeness. As her eventual mentor and friend Caroline Gordon remarked in an early letter to OConnors publisher: This girl is a real novelist.  At any rate, she is already a rare phenomenon: a Catholic novelist with a real dramatic sense, one who relies more on her technique than her piety. Famously, however, and inseparably from her technique, OConnor read a bit of Thomas Aquinas Summa every night before bed. In her writing she worked out, on the surreal stage of the 1950s rural South, the reality that Thomas articulated, in a way that nobody before or since has quite been able to do.

Like Gerard Manley Hopkins, she is a writer from whom a disciple might learn much, but its impossible to write like that without being too obviously an imitator. Grit lit Southern writers, such as Larry Brown, Harry Crews, and Dorothy Allison, take up OConnors interest in the sometimes violent dramas of rough rural people but lack the vision of faith that makes her work transcendent, and not merely dark. Such contemporary Southern Catholic writers as Katy Carl embrace OConnors instinct for eucatastrophe as part of a religious understanding of how the universe works. Yet no writer today really has quite matched OConnor in her uncompromising strangeness, inseparable from her particular holistic artistic and theological intellect.

Part of the problem, too, is that the context in which OConnor flowered no longer exists. The publisher Robert Girouxgodfather to much of the best mid-20th-century American writingis dead. Caroline Gordon is dead. There are no mentors anymore on the landscape of American letters who will tell a young writer, with absolute iron-clad conviction, that the omniscient narrator speaks Johnsonian English. I wonder sometimes how many people remember that the phrase Johnsonian Englishif theyve ever heard itactually means something, that there was a Dr. Johnson who wrote English, which they, too, could read.

~ ~ ~

But lest we feel too complacent about the superiority of the past and its more comprehensive knowledge, lets also recall that the particular troubled world that OConnor inhabited has passed away, and that there are things we dont miss about it. I miss the eccentric Southern ladies of my childhood and the way they spoke, always in marveling tones, calling you dahlin. I do not miss what I very well remember, from as late as the mid-1970s, a decade after OConnors death in the year of the Civil Rights Act: that the black maid who worked all day in a white persons house rode in the back seat of the car when her employer drove her home.

How OConnor herself navigated the racially segregated South has been a matter of some debate in recent years. Letters to Maryat Lee, written late in her life, confide disturbing revelations about her reflexive distaste for the black people who shared her daily existence, and her inability, in fiction, to penetrate their inner lives. In 2020, in a reaction to complaints regarding these revelations, Loyola University Maryland removed OConnors name from one of its residence halls. Contemporary readers, unsettled by these frank admissions of racial prejudice, perhaps especially because they are the admissions of a writer of religious faith, have asked whether they shouldor even can, as moral peopleread Flannery OConnor anymore.

Only the reader can answer this question for him- or herself. But its worth considering that as a writer of religious faith, Flannery OConnor believed in, and understood, sin. She believed in, and understood, original sin as a corruption of the whole weft of the universe, and as a corruption of the individual human soul. She understood racial prejudice, including her own, not as the original sin, but as a manifestation of it. When she writes to Maryat Lee, a Milledgeville, Georgia, native living in New York City, of disliking black people, its in the nature of a confidence to a trusted friend, and one who would not nod and affirm her admission.

Which is to say, her words have the quality of a confession: a confession of shortcoming. No one in OConnors fictional universe comes under more moral scrutiny than she does herself. Her short story self-portraitsthe child in A Temple of the Holy Ghost, Asbury in her late story The Enduring Chillare hardly flattering. If, as Jessica Hooten Wilson has speculated in her treatment of OConnors unfinished third novel, Why Do the Heathen Rage, OConnor was planning to confront racial issues more directly in the project she was working on when she died, it was because she saw the civil rights struggle in the South as a dramatic figure for the larger theme of sin and conversion. And she would have been driven to this artistic confrontation because, above all, she recognized herself as a sinner.

Its strange to think of Flannery OConnor as growing old, because she never did. Time has moved on, even in the traditionally slow-moving South, and we might be tempted to say that it has left her behind. Still, today, on her hundredth birthday, we recognize her utter singularity of personality and intellect, the severe timelessness of her art.
Perhaps youve noticed growing signs of local resistance to the chaos unfolding in Washington, D.C. Most of the latter has been engineered by President Donald Trump and his billionaire sidekick, Elon Musk. Here are a few Roanoke examples from just the past week:

Wednesday evening, roughly 60 folks concerned about the direction of this nation convened a 90-minute meeting at Melrose Towers. There, many residents depend on Social Security and Medicaid  two programs Musk has promised to slash. Roanoke Mayor Joe Cobb, a Democrat, was present, along with representatives of U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and state Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke. U.S. Rep. Ben Cline, R-Botetourt, was not.

Thoughtfully, participants brought along an empty suit, labeling it Wheres Ben? A friend of mine, Greg Schwartz, snapped a photo. Sunday afternoon, dozens of workers from the U.S. Postal Service waved signs along Williamson Road. It was among hundreds of similar gatherings across the country, organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers. The unions predicting the Trump administration will try to privatize the U.S. Postal Service, which employs 640,000 workers. One of the first anticipated cuts is daily mail service in rural areas, the union warned.

Then Monday in Roanoke, about 200 people demonstrated outside Clines office on Franklin Road. As a Tesla passed that lunchtime crowd, a chorus of unhappy boos and groans arose in the air. Organized by Roanoke Indivisible, those protests have occurred every Monday in March. The protestors, who first gathered on Presidents Day last month, are asking Cline to hold a town hall meeting but it appears that message is not getting through. On Feb. 26, I emailed Maggie Clemmons and asked if her boss was going to hold any town hall meetings. I did not receive a response. Mind you, most of the above occurred in Roanoke in merely the past five days. More is coming, and similar pockets of resistance are bubbling up all over. One place is the New River Valley, where some big things are underway.

The big event kicks off 2 p.m. April 6 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Blacksburg, 1301 Gladewood Drive. You might recall that last year, thats where a series of meetings under the banner Defending Democracy occurred beginning in March 2024. More than 20 different New River Valley-center organizations will take part, said Virginia Tech Professor Emeritus Jim Bohland, one of the organizers of Defending Democracy last year.

Many people who showed up in 2024 didnt believe Trump would win the last election, Bohland said (I was among them). Now, even some people who voted for Trump are walking around saying, This isnt what I voted for, Bohland noted. Were basically trying to raise the consciousness of people, Bohland told me. If you dont resist now, it may be too late, later. A flyer for the April 6 event asks: Are you concerned about the future of our democracy?

It answers: DO SOMETHING! and adds Come, Learn, Engage, Take Action. Among the resisting organizations attending the April 6 event are the Blacksburg Refugee Partnership, Citizens for Arsenal Accountability, Justice Advocates, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and NAACP branches from Montgomery and Floyd counties and the city of Radford. The Virginia Organizing Project, Our Bodies, Our Choice, Red, Wine & Blue and the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy will be on hand as will other organizations, Bohland said.

Bohland noted that some people might want to protest the Trump administration on environmental grounds, or abortion rights grounds, or to stem gun crimes and the widespread availability of firearms. A wide variety of New River Valley activist organizations will be represented, Bohland said. The meeting is with organizations from the New River Valley, although some have Roanoke chapters, Bohland said. Although attendees from Roanoke are welcome, we dont want folks from Roanoke coming expecting organizations from Roanoke. It is primarily a New River gathering, Bohland said.

Perhaps youve noticed growing signs of local resistance to the chaos unfolding in Washington, D.C. Most of the latter has been engineered by President Donald Trump and his billionaire sidekick, Elon Musk.

Here are a few Roanoke examples from just the past week:

Wednesday evening, roughly 60 folks concerned about the direction of this nation convened a 90-minute meeting at Melrose Towers. There, many residents depend on Social Security and Medicaid  two programs Musk has promised to slash.

Roanoke Mayor Joe Cobb, a Democrat, was present, along with representatives of U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and state Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke. U.S. Rep. Ben Cline, R-Botetourt, was not.

Thoughtfully, participants brought along an empty suit, labeling it Wheres Ben? A friend of mine, Greg Schwartz, snapped a photo.

Sunday afternoon, dozens of workers from the U.S. Postal Service waved signs along Williamson Road. It was among hundreds of similar gatherings across the country, organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers.

The unions predicting the Trump administration will try to privatize the U.S. Postal Service, which employs 640,000 workers. One of the first anticipated cuts is daily mail service in rural areas, the union warned.

Then Monday in Roanoke, about 200 people demonstrated outside Clines office on Franklin Road. As a Tesla passed that lunchtime crowd, a chorus of unhappy boos and groans arose in the air.

Organized by Roanoke Indivisible, those protests have occurred every Monday in March. The protestors, who first gathered on Presidents Day last month, are asking Cline to hold a town hall meeting but it appears that message is not getting through.

On Feb. 26, I emailed Maggie Clemmons and asked if her boss was going to hold any town hall meetings. I did not receive a response.

Mind you, most of the above occurred in Roanoke in merely the past five days. More is coming, and similar pockets of resistance are bubbling up all over. One place is the New River Valley, where some big things are underway.

The big event kicks off 2 p.m. April 6 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Blacksburg, 1301 Gladewood Drive. You might recall that last year, thats where a series of meetings under the banner Defending Democracy occurred beginning in March 2024.

More than 20 different New River Valley-center organizations will take part, said Virginia Tech Professor Emeritus Jim Bohland, one of the organizers of Defending Democracy last year.

Many people who showed up in 2024 didnt believe Trump would win the last election, Bohland said (I was among them).

Now, even some people who voted for Trump are walking around saying, This isnt what I voted for, Bohland noted.

Were basically trying to raise the consciousness of people, Bohland told me. If you dont resist now, it may be too late, later.

A flyer for the April 6 event asks: Are you concerned about the future of our democracy?

It answers: DO SOMETHING! and adds Come, Learn, Engage, Take Action.

Among the resisting organizations attending the April 6 event are the Blacksburg Refugee Partnership, Citizens for Arsenal Accountability, Justice Advocates, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and NAACP branches from Montgomery and Floyd counties and the city of Radford.

The Virginia Organizing Project, Our Bodies, Our Choice, Red, Wine & Blue and the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy will be on hand as will other organizations, Bohland said.

Bohland noted that some people might want to protest the Trump administration on environmental grounds, or abortion rights grounds, or to stem gun crimes and the widespread availability of firearms.

A wide variety of New River Valley activist organizations will be represented, Bohland said. The meeting is with organizations from the New River Valley, although some have Roanoke chapters, Bohland said.

Although attendees from Roanoke are welcome, we dont want folks from Roanoke coming expecting organizations from Roanoke. It is primarily a New River gathering, Bohland said.
Although skeptics require other evidence to confirm either of these theories, some of the following scenarios may explain the Marfa lights.

1. Car Lights

In the early 2000s, physics students from the University of Texas (Dallas) investigated the viewing platform's proximity to Highway 67, theorizing that headlights were behind the phenomenon. They conducted several experiments and found that with each car passing, something resembling Marfa lights appeared simultaneously.

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Although this revelation seems to close the case quickly, it doesn't account for the first recorded sighting by a white settler in the area.

In 1883, young cowhand Robert Reed Ellison witnessed Marfa lights near Paisano Pass. This predates the first cars to arrive in Texas by 16 years, as well as the construction of Highway 67 by roughly four decades.

2. UFOs

Flying saucers or other unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) may explain the Marfa lights. However, many skeptics often point to the viewing area location being so close to a World War II airfield that supported thousands of servicemembers between 1942 and 1947.

This is not to say that the military hasn't traditionally remained tight-lipped about potential extraterrestrial activity. Although you would expect that some information would have been released by now.

3. Atmospheric Phenomena

Natural gas leaks mixing with the sun and air to cause a chemical reaction similar to St. Elmo's fire is a common scientific explanation that many skeptics hold. However, no one has ever been close enough to Marfa lights to test this theory.
SIOUX CITY  It began in a sideline in a residential kitchen. But it couldn't stay there forever.

Jake and Lexa Hawkins began baking in their home during the pandemic and became a fixture at the Sioux City Farmers Market with their cookies, bars, brownies, rolls and cupcakes. In late 2022 they signed a lease for a commercial space at 515 Fourth St., the building where ArtSUX gallery is, and their Crumb. bakery took root there, gradually, as they built a commercial bakery.

Beginning last fall, they opened Crumb. (which they stylize in lowercase as crumb.) to the public on a limited basis -- visitors are welcome from 8 a.m. until noon Saturdays.

The Journal spoke with Jake Hawkins for its Five Questions series. Questions and answers have been edited for style and clarity.

How's it been going in your Fourth Street space, compared to baking at home?

"Moving from our home to the kitchen space has been great -- for being able to make that separation between work and home life. It's definitely eased the stress of having a full bakery running from our kitchen and dining room. So that's been good from a logistics standpoint. It's given us a little more visibility in the community. It's given us more capacity to do things a little bit quicker, and with commercial-grade equipment. So that's all been a good thing. It's made prepping for the Farmers Market the past two seasons a little less stressful."

What's hot right now in the world of baked goods? Is there anything that's really buzzy?

"For us, we do a lot of breakfast pastries and things like that. Sioux City's got a great community of all sorts of bakers, from commercial, retail stores, to home bakeries that do cookies and all sorts of other stuff. But our breakfast items seem to be popular. So, cinnamon rolls, pecan rolls, quiches, scones, and then just in January we started to offer from-scratch bagels that we make down there. New York style bagels."

Why does Crumb. have a period at the end?

"That's a good question. When we started the business, I just put the word Crumb down in Microsoft Word and started scrolling through some fonts and things like that. And then, it just looked like it needed something else. So I put a period at the end of it, and then the tag-line of 'Good. Scratch. Food.'"

Do you have any recipes or products you're "famous" for?

"I would say that, in the beginning it would've been our chocolate chip cookies, were the product that people were really craving. But what I'm picking up from customer feedback over the past couple months or so is, they're saying 'Try everything.' We do everything in small batch, so it gives us a little bit of flexibility on what we make, and we try just to make it with the best ingredients that we have. (This) is going to sound very, I don't know, egotistical, but -- we wouldn't sell anything that we wouldn't eat ourselves. And the reception for all of our products has been, pretty well-received."

Are there any baked goods that you don't know how to make, or can't make?

"We've had a few requests, even from some local businesses, to do things like -- croissants for sandwiches, and things like that. The idea of having to do the lamination and all of that stuff is a little bit more than what I'm comfortable doing. And then we've also had some requests for doing bread, different kinds of breads. There's a whole bunch of very talented sourdough bread makers out there, and that's one that we haven't really dabbled in yet, due to the art and science balance that those bakers have perfected."

BONUS QUESTIONS:

You mentioned "lamination" with the croissants -- what is that? I'm familiar with lamination at a library, laminating a piece of paper.

"That's where you layer the dough and the butter repeatedly to get the flaky texture of the croissants."

Do you and your wife still both have full-time jobs outside the bakery?

"Yes, that's why we're only open on Saturdays, because we still maintain our full-time jobs. We still do the custom orders that people call in from the website. So that's -- we've found a good balance with that. We do have a couple other businesses in town that offer our products on their menu. So we just, right now it's a good balance for, having a full-time job, keeping the bakery moving in a positive direction, and maintaining the work-life balance."

And you've been able to find a good balance with all those obligations?

"Most of the time. Most of the time."
Dear Prudence is Slates advice column. Delia Cai is filling in as Prudie for Jenee Desmond-Harris while shes on parental leave. Submit questions here.

Dear Prudence,

I no longer manage giving gifts to my husbands side of the family. We each take care of our own. With my husbands agreement, Im also no longer our family liaison for communications with in-laws either. When my mother-in-law texts me asking about my husbands flight information, I text back, Im not sure, but [Matt] probably has that info, to encourage her to ask him directly. I do the same with needing a break during big family events. I put up with as much as possible (Im neurodivergent and get overstimulated easily), then excuse myself to the kitchen or take the dog out for a bit. I thought it was working great.

But then, in a disagreement my husband had with his sister over something totally unrelated, she responded with a THREE-PAGE EMAIL about how miserable I am and how I have always hated their family. She specifically cited the instances above, including that I no longer give them gifts (apparently, my husband isnt as diligent with remembering birthdays). What do I do here? I dont feel guilty. Im just bewildered at how differently two people could see a situation. My husband is still on chilly speaking terms with them, but I havent really bothered to reach out since the letter wasnt addressed to me. Any advice?

Thought I Covered My Bases

Dear Bases,

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Part of me thinks that you should keep doing what youre doing to maintain the boundaries and division of responsibilities that you and your husband have agreed on for handling matters with your respective families. But theres also a difference between serving as a liaison between your husband and mother-in-law and cultivating your own separate relationships with your mother-in-law, and his family at large. I can imagine that if your only interactions with your mother-in-law (and possibly sister-in-law) are these kind of deferrals or redirects to your husband, she is interpreting that as a sign that youre not interested in speaking with her at all (whereas, in reality, you just dont want to be the go-between for her and her son on logistical issues). Your mother-in-law likely has aired these opinions with your sister-in-law; hence the three-page email and the shared family resentment.

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It might be worth having a lunch or a coffee with your mother-in-law, or simply taking some time one-on-one with her the next time everyone is all together. You dont have to mention your sister-in-laws letter, but you could be very direct and ask something along the lines of, You know, Matt and I agreed a while ago that it was best to let each other handle basic logistics and planning with our respective parents and families. That seems to be working well for our marriage, and it leaves room for you and I to build a relationship on our own terms. What do you think of that? Youre basically saying, I dont want our relationship to just be a matter of these random practical interactions; Id like to get to know you and form a real relationship of our own. The same conversation may be helpful to have directly with your sister-in-law, too.

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You might even make a play at relatability and ask how these women handled relations with their in-laws, if applicable. Overall, I wouldnt go in with too high of expectationsvery few people are besties with their in-lawsbut I think it just sounds like you and your husbands family need to figure out your relationship dynamic with each other. They might be the kind of people who interpret planning and logistics as a form of relationship-building, which you dont. But this kind of affirmation might help them understand that your boundaries arent a personal attack on any one individual, or an expression of your misery. Youd simply like to relate to them in a different way.

Get advice from Prudiesubmit a question! Please keep questions short (<150 words), and dont submit the same question to multiple columns. We are unable to edit or remove questions after publication. Use pseudonyms to maintain anonymity. Your submission may be used in other Slate advice columns and may be edited for publication. Thanks! Your question has been submitted. Dear Prudence, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to Dear Prudence following up) Submit

Dear Prudence,

Im in a group chat with some friends where we share cat memes, talk about our workdays and relationships, make plans, etc. We all live in the same area and see each other frequently. In this group are Samantha and Patricia, who are friendly but not close. I used to be extremely close with Patricia, but weve drifted apart in the last couple of years.

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Last week, Samantha, a teacher, shared a funny story that included a screenshot from her text conversation with a parent. The students first name was visible, but all other identifying information was blacked out. Patricia voiced concern about her sharing this information about the child. Their exchange was very tense. No one else felt Samantha had done anything wrong. Samantha acknowledged she should have edited out the kids name and Patricia seemed pacified. Apparently not, though, as Patricia went to Samanthas principal and shared the screenshot with the principal, saying she was concerned for the student due to Samanthas indiscretion.

The principal said the screenshots were likely harmless, but a formal complaint was made and had to be dealt with seriously, resulting in an official reprimand to Samantha, a human resources investigation, and a warning that her contract would likely not be renewed. Its been over a week since this happened, and the gal pals are still incensed and afraid of Patricias wrath. They feel Patricias actions were self-righteous and overstepping at best (kind of par for the course for her personality), and cruel and vindictive at worst. As the previously closest one to Patricia, Im the only one still talking to her at all and she very much sees herself as the victim in this situation. She thought she was doing the right thing and now feels she is being treated unfairly. How do I deal with Patricia? Im about to have my first kid. She has not been there for me lately, and Im floored shes behaving this way. She has put me in the middle before with her choices and I have too much of my own stuff going on to deal with this again.

Not Here for the Martyrdom

Dear Martyrdom,

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Regarding the screenshots of the conversation between Samantha and the parent, I find it troubling that Patricia would go to such great lengths to either prove her point or to outright embarrass Samantha. If the screenshots were truly as innocuous as you suggest (and it sounds like they were), a concerned friend would maybe raise the issues of privacy (ideally one-on-one, and certainly not openly in a group chat). A good friend would not escalate the issue without a private conversation held in good faith. Thats kind of the whole point of friendship; you believe in the best of each other, even when theres a chance that someones made a mistake.

But Patricias behavior proves that she has little consideration for a friends feelings (or employment!) over her own sense of righteousness. Perhaps you happen to have a knack for handling her rigidness, you two share certain values, or maybe you simply havent been subjected to her judgment yourself. But I would be very, very careful around this person. If she can behave this way toward Samantha, she will very likely not think twice about doing the same to you, should you act in a way that displeases her. My advice: Be grateful that shes been a bit distant and hasnt showed up for you. Id keep it that way. With a baby on the way, you have a perfect excuse for staying out of the loop on both the inter-group dynamics and Patricias particular antics.

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Dear Prudence,

I own a duplex. One side is a one-bedroom and the other has three bedrooms. My late father and his partner, Susan, moved into the smaller place after he got sick and couldnt afford anything else. Susan only worked a part-time job and was the primary caregiver of my father until he died. What little he left behind was split between the two of us. That was two years ago. Susan has a lease with me, but she doesnt even pay a third of the market rent. I cant even cover my property tax with the rent she gives me. She is constantly been behind on her payment and always has an excuse. Her kids constantly need bailing out.

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I feel guilty and angry because Susan isnt my mother. My dad loved her, but I dont think that obligates me to support her for the rest of my life. Bringing up the subject to Susan makes her cry and say she has nowhere else to go and this is her home.

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The house needed enough major repairs and my hours got cut at work so I had to go out and get some temporary housemates. I hated it. Frankly, I cant keep on like this. I could easily rent out the larger side and take over the one bedroom, but that means making Susan move. What do I do here? Susan has been working full-time since my dad died, but I know she has nothing in the way of savings. Her lease is up this summer. I dont want to blindside her but I also dont want to spend months dodging her guilt trips.

A Hard Place

Dear Place,

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The kindest thing you can do is to give Susan ample notice that you cant renew her lease this summer. After all, its not helpful to either of you if you have to go into debt and become unable to maintain the house properly.

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Perhaps you can offer to help her with the apartment-hunting process or even moving out. She might guilt-trip you, but you just have to be very clear about why this is the better choice for her as wella new place will likely help her move on with her life, and shell definitely benefit from living somewhere without a semi-resentful landlord (plus your roommates) who can barely afford to make much-needed repairs.

Dear Prudence,

I dont get along with my in-laws. In general, were just very different people but I also have some very specific beefs with them over things theyve done to me over the years. For a couple of years now, whenever were with them, they will not take their wallets out to pay for anything. We cover all their meals and expenses. Now theyre retired and they own a ton of timeshare points that Im sure cost them a fortune in monthly fees. Theyve started asking us when well all go to Japan together, as they know we want to go there. I see what theyre doing: Theyre hoping to use us to subsidize their timeshare fees, enabling them to afford to take trips at all. Theyll pay for the room; we pay for everything else. But they havent come out and said this. Theyre just trying to push it into existence.

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I dont appreciate being passive-aggressively forced to accept this and I absolutely hate the idea of them coming along on every vacation we take until they die. Ive tried talking to my husband before about how they expect us to pay for everything and he says theyre not doing it on purpose. I think they are but Im scared to bring it up with them because theyll just cry crocodile tears and Ill be the bad guy, as per usual. Am I a complete jerk for balking at this? Should I just try to accept what theyre doing? The truth that I cant say is that I just cant stand them and dont want to be forced to spend even more time with them, let alone be pushed into paying for the privilege.

Cant Take Another Trip

Dear Trip,

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It does sound like youre talking about two separate issues with your in-laws here. Theres the money issue, in that there needs to be some kind of agreement brokered between you and your husband (which your husband would then communicate with his parents) about how expenses should be handled on a joint trip. But then theres the bigger issue of these trips themselves, which you simply dont want to go on.

You should address this latter issue head-on with your husband. Youll need to sit down together and go into heavy negotiation mode together to figure out a few compromises on how to address the upcoming year or so of vacation opportunities. Youll need to calmly communicate how difficult or frustrating you find traveling with your in-laws, while also hearing out what will likely be your husbands concerns about being a good, dutiful son who wants to spend time with his parents.

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Youll both then need to get creative about potential solutions. Is it possible for your husband to take a trip or two per year with his parents on his own? Can you go on these trips, but then take two or three days on the trip to do exactly as you please all by yourself? Would your in-laws be better assuaged if the two of you went to visit them more on their home base (or vice versa)? There are a few different models you can try that arent A) simply accepting your fate and going along on these trips, and B) completely balking at them entirely. Once you and your husband agree on a new way to handle traveling with his parents, then you will need to go into negotiation mode again to agree on certain boundaries or spending limits for these trips themselves.

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Dear Prudence,

Im an 18-year-old woman and I recently worked up the nerve to ask out a friend of mine, who is also an 18-year-old woman. Luckily for me, it was a success! We have plans to go out in about two weeks and I couldnt be more excited. What Ive now begun to worry about is the date itself. Were been friends for several years so weve hung out one-on-one plenty of times. Were also fairly touchy people in general. Combined with our shared inexperience, Im worried our date will end up feeling like a normal friend meet-up. Any advice for how to (subtly) escalate our dynamic?

Friends-to-Lovers, Fingers Crossed

Dear Lovers,

Dont sweat it so much, especially ahead of this first date. Its not helpful to try to control the outcome or predict whats going to happen before an important date.

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All you can do is show up and be as present as possible, even if it feels awkward or doesnt seem to fit your expectations at first. If youre starting to worry that the date feels too platonic, express this concern aloud to her. It will feel a million times better to discuss this concern with her, because then you can work as a team to figure out how to change the dynamic if need be. (In general, my rule for relationships always boils down to: Dont get so wrapped up about analyzing the dynamic yourself that you forget to articulate your needs and wants out loud. Relationships are a two-person job!)

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My guess is that once you express a bit of vulnerability with your date, the sparks will start flying if they havent already. To me, thats the real magic of romance: feeling safe, seen, and comfortable enough where you can be open about your fears and insecurities with one another. Friends obviously do that for one another to a degree, but when serious vulnerability is combined with basic attraction, things usually get very steamy, very quickly.

Delia

Classic Prudie

I got married just before Christmas and am hoping to be divorced or annulled by the end of January. Obviously, that wasnt the plan originally. I never cared about getting married, but I wasnt opposed to it. So when my boyfriend proposed in 2020, we decided to go for it. We each took on about half the responsibility for organizing the wedding, but I think I was pretty reasonable about compromise when he really wanted something. My only hard-and-fast rule was that he would not rub cake in my face at the reception
Good Job is Slates advice column on work. Have a workplace problem big or small? Send it to Laura Helmuth and Doree Shafrir here. Its anonymous!

Dear Good Job,

My husband and I have been married for three years. Hes applying to medical school and hasnt had a job during our whole marriage because his job is getting into medical school. But hes been terrible at this job! Ive been working to support us for these past three years, which I am happy to do. But it doesnt seem he is an putting equal effort into his applications. Hes pushed the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) back three times and is now studying for it full-time.

However, he often wakes up late in the day and has to skip the gym to get in a hurried day of studying. I know he has anxiety about getting into medical schoolbut it really just doesnt seem like hes doing the best he could do. I take on more responsibility for taking care of our dog, cleaning the apartment, cooking meals, and doing dishes after coming home from a nine-hour workday. I dont know what else I could do to ease his anxiety or take on more household chores so he can focus on his application. I also dont know how much more of this unequal balance I can take. Help!

Tired of His Job

Dear Tired,

So, let me get this straight. Your husband, under the guise of applying to medical school, has been doing almost nothing for three years while you have been (checks notes) working full-time, cleaning the house, making meals, and also doing the dishes, walking the dog, and who knows what else Im exhausted already. I know you intended to be supportive, but it sounds like that support has overtime just enabled him.

So Im going to say this gently and I hope kindly: I dont think your partner has any plans to actually apply to medical school. And if this is how hes acting before he even goes to medical school (which, again, he has no intention of actually applying to, but just bear with this thought exercise), I dont even want to imagine what hes going to be like once he starts. I shudder to think about his approach to chores once he has regular course exams to study for.

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I dont think you should help ease his anxiety anymoreinstead, the time has come for you to have an honest conversation with him about how unequal this partnership is. Before and during that conversation, I would urge you to think carefully about whether this is a partnership you want to stay in.

If you do want to stay in this marriage, I think your husband needs to get into individual therapy as soon as possible. He has some mental health challenges he needs to work through on his ownones you cant fix for him. The two of you also start couples therapy and read Eve Rodskys Fair Play, as a way to renegotiate what your marriage looks like and who does what. A new division of labor needs to start right away.

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Laura Helmuth and Doree Shafrir want to help you navigate your social dynamics at work. Does your colleague constantly bug you after hours? Has an ill-advised work romance gone awry? Ask us your question here!

Dear Good Job,

I work with my friend Callie. We have always been close, since we both started at the company at around the same time. I was even in her wedding party. Three years ago, she had a baby and has stopped socializing with me outside of work. We used to catch dinner all the time but every time I offer, Callie either makes an excuse or flakes. I would accept that she is just busy, but she keeps mentioning how she misses me and wants to do things. Then she never follows up.

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It is very frustrating for me because all the effort to maintain our friendship falls in my lap. Recently, two other women transferred to our department and we all hit it off. We have been doing things outside of work. We even joined the same gym and coordinate the classes we take. Callie has recently texted me about how hurt she is that I leave her out and never bother to try and hang out anymore. I apologized to keep the peace but part of me was very much annoyed. I asked Callie yet again if she wanted to get dinner or brunch with me so we could catch up. I even suggested we get coffee before work one early morning. Callie agreed and then flaked on me at the last minute. Since then, I have been not making any effort at all and I know Callie is very unhappy with me. She is short with me at work and looks sour if I interact with my other friends. What should I do here? I do miss our friendship but this juvenile behavior is ridiculous.

Work Buddy

Dear Work Buddy,

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You say you miss your friendship, but you havent really been close for three years. From your perspective, youve made many attempts to maintain your relationship with her, which have all been rebuffed. Im not totally seeing what you are getting out of this friendship at this point or why you would want to keep it going, other than nostalgia or avoiding work awkwardness. Was she actually a good friend to you before she had a baby, or was she more of a situational friend? Your letter made me think of that old chestnut: People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. It seems as though Callie came into your life for a reasona great work pal!and now that your lives have diverged, its possible that the time for your friendship is over.

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I think you can simultaneously give her grace for her life changing after she had a baby, and also acknowledge that the way shes handled the change in your relationship feels immature. Theres really no excuse for openly acting jealous of your other friends. As a last attempt at salvaging the friendship, if youre up for it, you could ask her to grab lunch or coffee with you during work hours. I would confront the situation head-on by saying something like, I know things between us havent been the same for a while. I miss our friendship, and youve said you miss me too, but I feel like Ive repeatedly made attempts to hang out with you that youve flaked on. So Im left wondering whether you really still want to be friends. Youll either be able to have an honest conversation and keep the friendship, or youll learn that she would rather just stew in her jealousy than actually do anything to strengthen your bond.

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Dear Good Job,

Ive worked at the same job for three years. It was always a pretty far commute, but I recently bought my first house and now the commute is even longer. My days are long (leaving the house at 5 a.m. and getting home at 9 p.m.) so for at least six months of the year, Im driving to and from work in the dark, in the rain, and I have anxiety attacks because Im scared of driving even in the best of conditions. But its the first time Ive ever had a boss who has never made me feel terrible, and my schedule is fantastic (I get to pick my own days, and if I want to go on vacation, I just dont sign up for shifts, rather than having to ask permission).

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Im so worried about finding a job with a better commute and ending up with a boss who uses power/shame/insults to make me feel bad. Ive had SO many bad experiences with managers and bosses that I feel trapped in this job with the horrible commute but a great boss. A few months ago, I applied for and got a job two minutes from my house, that would have come with a pay raise, and I turned it down because the manager who interviewed me gave me such bad vibes. I dont really have any friends in my field I can ask for recommendations from. What should I do? How can I either vet a manager beforehand or get over my fear of having a bad one?

Bad Boss Trauma

Dear Bad Boss Trauma,

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I think youre doing exactly what you should be doing! You have a great manager and a great job with a crappy commute, but youre in a position where you can kind of wait for the right job to come along.

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You got bad vibes from a potential new manager and you listened to themthat is a good thing! I have had more than one job where I wish I had listened to my gut about my managers. (I learned if they want you to start ASAP, that often means that the last person did not leave on good terms. In my case, it was that she had walked off the job in tears. I wish I had done some gut-listening on that one!) I say you continue to listen to your intuition, apply for jobs, and only take one that feels completely right for you (and has a better commute). Youve got this!

Doree

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Classic Prudie

When I was in high school and college, the main way I dealt with my anxiety was to tell lies. It got really bad, I had to confront myself about it, and thankfully, I cleaned up my act. Id been very good for a while, but I slipped up in a minor, stupid way. A couple of months ago, I took a vacation and told all my co-workers I went to a different place that I actually went (something like saying I went to Chicago when I went to New York instead). I have now started dating one of those (now ex) co-workers, and its likely that she will at some point be faced with hard evidence that I straight up fabricated a vacation.
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Three years ago, Nayib Bukele, the president-cum-dictator of El Salvador, had a message for American lawmakers: OK boomers  You have 0 jurisdiction on a sovereign and independent nation. We are not your colony, your back yard or your front yard. But since then, it seems hes had a change of heart.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration deported more than 200 immigrants to a prison in El Salvador, defying a federal judges order to halt the flights. The move is part of the administrations attempt to speed up deportations, invoking the legally questionable but definitely outdated Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Set aside, if you can, the executive overreach and suspension of constitutionally guaranteed rights, and a troubling picture still emerges. A foreign government is incarcerating hundreds of immigrants on the United States behalf, in a country most have never set foot in.

Why El Salvador? Well, it offered.

We have offered the United States of America the opportunity to outsource part of its prison system, Bukele wrote online in February, following Secretary of State Marco Rubios visit to San Salvador. America is indeed the land of opportunity. Video footage, posted by Bukele on March 16, shows the immigrants arriving at a Salvadoran mega-prison. The men are manhandled by prison guards and have their heads shaved. In response to the federal judges order, Bukele responded like an internet troll instead of a head of state. Oopsie  Too late , he wrote on X.

There are many reasons to be worried: the documented human rights violations in El Salvadors prison system, the suspension of due process, and the dismantling of an already broken immigration system. But despite how egregious this latest move is, it is part of a larger trend, one Bukeles government has encouraged. The United States interests are being prioritized over the well-being of the Salvadoran people. Trump wants Canada to be the 51st state. If Bukele has his way, El Salvador will be No. 52.

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Bukele has repeatedly sold out his peopleand received pretty good press in the process. In 2021 he made Bitcoin legal tender nationwide, and though the experiment has largely been a failure, it has attracted crypto bros and tech opportunists. (Elon Musk and Bukele are shameless fans of each other.) He has proposed a number of initiatives to make foreign investment in El Salvador easier: a law expediting citizenship for foreigners willing to donate Bitcoin, thousands of free passports for skilled workers looking to immigrate, tax exemptions primarily aiding business based outside the country.

None of these initiatives is for the benefit of people living in La Libertad, San Vicente, or La Union. In fact, they often shoulder the burdenas in the case of Bitcoin City, the peak embodiment of Bukeles dreams of a tax-free economic hub. As Camilo Freedman reported for the Guardian, hundreds of families have been displaced by construction. Mangrove forests, which sustain ecosystems and provide a partial respite from hurricanes, are at increased risk. Resources are being extracted from the land, and those who will profit most from it would struggle to find the country on a map. This is, fundamentally, how a colony functions.

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There is a long, bloody history of American influence over El Salvador. The Salvadoran diaspora in the Statessome 2.5 million of usexists largely because of U.S. foreign policy, namely the millions Ronald Reagan poured into a 12-year civil war. Remittances sustain the countrys economy, making up nearly a quarter of its gross domestic product. Since 2001, the U.S. dollar has been the national currency. Social illsshared by the two countries but felt most acutely by their poorest and most vulnerable citizenswere jointly created. MS-13, a favorite boogeyman of the Trump administration, originated in Los Angeles and expanded its influence through Salvadoran law-and-order failures and the U.S. deportation machine.

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A shared history begets shared problems. The domination of one country over the other has gotten us nowhere. To make life better for people on both sides of the border, collaboration is worth a shot. The U.S. government could try to atone for the many ways it has hurt its neighbors. El Salvador could curtail the corruption that has defined its postwar governments and work to strengthen, not undermine, democracy. Instead, Bukele has chosen to capitulate to foreign interests and gleefully do the dirty bidding of a foreign government, all at the cost of his constituents. (One can almost picture the campaign poster for his unconstitutional third term: Nayib Bukele, taking the neo out of neocolonialism!)

Its unlikely that Bukele will wake up tomorrow and sell El Salvador to the U.S. for a couple of Bitcoins, but his policiesand dictatorshipare already hurting ordinary Salvadorans. And Americans. And, for good measure, Venezuelans. Though he is undeniably popular, in his country and throughout Latin America, the approach is unsustainable. El Salvador will not survive if it cannot advocate for its own interests. Ill repeat a Cold War adage I read years ago: El Salvador cannot become another Puerto Rico.
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The fact that the Atlantics editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, found himself included in a Signal chat among President Donald Trumps top officials, who were discussing the details of an upcoming U.S. military attack on Houthi militias in Yemen, is an even bigger calamity than it may have seemed at first disclosure.

Its a bigger calamity as a security breach, as a case study in slipshod decisionmaking, as an evasion of responsibility (in the way the act was subsequently shrugged off), andvery likelyas an aggravation of the transgressive impulses that have tarnished Americas reputation as a reliable ally, or a reasonably stable world power, in the mere two months since Trump returned to the White House.

First, and most jaw-dropping, is that this conversationinvolving Vice President J.D. Vance, national security adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and 14 otherstook place over a commercial chat channel.

Signal, which relies on end-to-end encryption, is more secure than most chat apps, but it is far from impenetrable. In any case, conversations about attack plans generally take place in person, in a roomin the White House, the Pentagon, or some other scrubbed facilitywhere participants are not allowed to bring in cellphones (because, even inside such facilities, phones can be hacked). Those who cant make it to the meetingsuch as Hegseth, who was in Asia at the time, or Vance, who was in Michiganusually take part via highly classified communications systems far more secure than the likes of Signal.

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Second is the mystery of how Goldberg got included. In his Atlantic article, which ran online Monday (and which you should read in its entirety), the veteran journalist recalls being surprised, so much so that, as the texting was in progress, he wondered if it was realif perhaps he was getting set up in a fake-info game. (He waited until the attack was complete, then called officials to authenticate the conversation, before writing the article; even then, he omitted the most highly classified secrets, including details about the timing, the weapons used, and the precise targets.)

Most likely (though Goldberg doesnt say so), he was already on Waltzs list of Signal contacts and somehow got corralled in with this group. At the very least, this oversight reveals extreme carelessness. Apparently, none of the participants, scrolling down the less-than-encyclopedic list of names, stopped to wonder about the identity of JG.

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Subsequently, Waltz took the blame. Trump waved off the offense, calling Waltz a good man who has learned a lesson. The president said he knew nothing about the incident, adding, Im not a big fan of the Atlantic. Taking his customary cue from the boss, Hegseth, upon landing in Hawaii, lambasted Goldberg as a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist whos made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time againciting in particular the 2020 Atlantic article reporting that Trump had once referred to fallen soldiers as suckers and losers. (Waltz might yet come in for Trumps wrath. The mere presence of a journalistespecially this journaliston a Signal contact list may be grounds for dismissal after some interval.)

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In defaming Goldberg, Hegseth ignored or forgot the fact that Trumps White House chief of staff at the time, retired four-star Gen. John Kelly, later identified himself as the source of the suckers and losers story. Hegseth may also have spoken before learning that National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes had publicly said Goldbergs account of the Signal chat seemed authentic.

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So how serious was this Signal conversation as a security violation? First, lets compare it with the Republican Partys blue-chip example of a security violation: Hillary Clintons sending and receiving classified information through her personal cellphone while she was Barack Obamas secretary of state. Hillarys email became the rallying cry for GOP activistsone of the dangerous offenses for which the FBI should lock her upduring the 2016 presidential race between her and Trump.

The Trump teams Signal chat contained information that was about as top secret and timely as one can imagine. Back in 2016, the FBI examined 30,000 emails that Clinton turned over and found that 110 of themthe back-and-forth of 52 email chainscontained classified information. Of those, just eight had material that agents claimed she should have known was top secret. (Only 36 had secret info; eight had confidential info.)

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Seven of those eight top-secret emails discussed CIA drone strikes, mainly on Pakistan and Yemen. Unlike military drone strikes (which are public), CIA drone strikes are by nature top secret (because they occur in areas where the U.S. is not at war), but Clinton and her aides were discussing the days newspaper stories about those strikes. In other words, those getting hit by the drones already knew about them; if foreign agents were listening in, they wouldnt have learned anything that wasnt out there. The other email discussed a phone conversation with the prime minister of Malawi; at least at the time, chats with foreign leaders were by nature top secret.

A little later, but still before the election, the FBI scrounged through bits and pieces of 30,000 more emails that, for whatever reason, Clinton did not turn over. They found threethreethat contained classified information: one secret, two confidential.

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And thats it. Nothing about ongoing or upcoming military campaigns or any other sorts of operations, the disclosure of which could have significantly damaged U.S. security. And yet those emailsthe subject of three front-page stories in one issue of the New York Times, among many othersmay well have cost Clinton the election. Trump referred to them many times as serious leaks that should disqualify her from the presidency.

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But a major military attack scheduled to take place in a matter of hours, described and discussed in detail over a commercial appthats just a mistake by a good man. A few in the GOP couldnt let it go quite that easily. Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, a retired one-star general in Air Force intelligence, called the incident embarrassing and wrong, explaining, You dont put classified information on unclassified devices like Signal. And theres no doubtIm an intelligence guyRussia and China are monitoring both their phones, right? So putting out classified information like that endangers our forces.  Its just wrong.

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Were Russia and China, or any other foreign powers, monitoring this chat? We may never know, but its possible. One official on the line, Steve WitkoffTrumps longtime real-estate friend and now his emissary to peace talks with Russia, Ukraine, and various countries in the Middle Eastwas in Moscow at the time. Its a fair bet that Russian hackers were deeply inside his phoneand, therefore, in all the others.

If the Russians were listening, they could have passed on the intel to their allies in Iran, who could have in turn supplied it to the Houthi militias, which they arm. Or the transactions could as yet take place, for future reference and favors.

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Related From Slate A Potentially Dangerous Consequence of America First Read More

What about the rest of the world, which is watching all this very closely? Leaders of many U.S.allied countries were already worried about whether they could share secrets with U.S. intelligence agencies headed by the likes of Tulsi Gabbard, who avidly parrots Kremlin propaganda points. Now it seems even Waltzone of the few seemingly professional stalwarts in Trumps senior entourageis careless with secrets. And Trump, who has his own record of mishandling highly classified documents, doesnt seem to mind.

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Then there was one hair-raising exchange during the chat, as Goldberg transcribes it. Vance voiced opposition to attacking the Houthis just because theyre threatening to endanger shipping in the region. I think we are making a mistake, he wrote. Just 3 percent of US trade runs through the suez. 40 percent of European trade does. Later on, he noted: I just hate bailing Europe out again. Hegseth replied three minutes later, VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. Its PATHETIC. But  we are the only ones on the planet (on our side of the ledger) who can do this.

Well, at least the SecDef got that right, and Vance was wrong in another way: About 20 percent of all global shipping goes through the Suez route that the Houthis have attacked many times. That affects U.S. prices and security as much as almost any other country.

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Still, many Europeans (and some key Asians too) would have noticed that, behind their backsdespite their efforts to massage Trumps ego, and their very real massive increases in defense spendingthe vice president and secretary of defense are still dissing Americas key allies.

The allies still need the U.S. for security and much else. But the strain on those alliances is building by the day: Vance and Elon Musk have thrown their rhetorical support behind Germanys most far-right-wing party; Trump has had kind words for Putin while hes slammed Canadians as nasty. And second lady Usha Vance will be taking a trip to Greenland this week, a visit the White House has billed as a friendly form of soft diplomacy but which most of the locals cant help but view as a reconnaissance expedition, given Trumps repeated determination to get the large icy landmass one way or another. In the context of all this, allies can reasonably look at the Signal chat as another indication that its time to start cutting ties with Washington and start binding ties with one another.
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On Monday, Donald Trumps Department of Justice made two arguments in two different courts that, taken together, amount to a legal claim of near-dictatorial power by Trump. First, it informed a federal appeals court that the president has authority to declare any noncitizens to be alien enemies and to deport them to foreign prison, where they will be forced to perform hard labor indefinitelywithout notice, a hearing, or any meaningful opportunity to prove their innocence. Second, it refused to provide U.S. District Judge James Boasberg with details of these mass deportation operations, even in a closed courtroom, even under seal, insisting that Boasbergs authority must yield to the mandate of the electorate. In other words, Trumps electoral victory grants him an absolute right to conduct these deportations, rendering them unreviewable by the judiciary.

This is not a constitutional argument, and it barely pretends to be. It is more akin to an argument from an archaic notion of the divine rights of kings: Trump is our ruler, it holds, such that anything he does is intrinsically lawful. In a constitutional democracy, of course, the president is not a sovereign whose authority is above question or limitation. Even the most extreme versions of presidential powers have limits of some kind. But this administration is relentlessly pushing a theory of executive power to dangerous new extremes, smearing lower courts that stand in its way.

Mondays illustration of this tactic marked yet another escalation in the Justice Departments fight to bar the judiciary from any involvement in its deportation of Venezuelan migrants. The president has invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 as the legal basis to round up, detain, and expel migrants whom he accuses of belonging to the Tren de Aragua gangon the basis of outlandishly flimsy evidence. He claims that he can use the act because, he says, this gang qualifies as a foreign nation or government whose actions amount to an invasion or predatory incursion. And on March 15, the Trump administration began sending alleged gang members to a prison in El Salvador, where they will be subject to humiliating and degrading treatment, hard labor, and torture.

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This interpretation of the act is legally incoherent. So in response, in an emergency hearing convened that evening as the government rushed to move detainees in the dark, Boasberg ordered the government to turn the flights around, finding that the Alien Enemies Act did not apply because Tren de Aragua is not a foreign nation engaged in an invasion. But the administration refused to comply, evidently defying his order. Nine days later, this Monday, Trumps Justice Department asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to intervene and freeze Boasberg out of the case altogether. In other words, the current constitutional crisis is about to escalate quickly.

During oral arguments, under questioning from Judge Patricia Millett, the full scope of the Justice Departments arguments grew chillingly clear. Drew Ensign, the midlevel DOJ attorney leading this case, insisted that the administration had complied with the Constitution when it accused over 200 migrants of gang membership and expelled them to an El Salvador prison in a matter of hours, with no opportunity to contest their guilt or removal. Millett sounded shocked. There were planeloads of people. There were no procedures in place to notify people, she told Ensign. Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemy Act. Shes right: Although the chief Supreme Court precedent cited by the government in support of its position allowed for the removal of Germans during and after World War II, those individuals received a hearing at which the government had to show that they were, in fact, Nazis. The Venezuelan migrants subject to Trumps order, by contrast, received nothing of the sort.

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If the government says, We dont have to give process for that,  Millett continued, yall could have picked me up on Saturday and thrown me on a plane, thinking Im a member of Tren de Aragua and given me no chance to protest it. Ensign had no good answer except to insist that each migrant, once targeted for removal, could somehow have filed individual objections in the hours before they were expelled to El Salvador. (But at that point, according to the government, they have no further recourse in court.) As Millett pointed out, it is absurd to imagine that these migrants, many of whom do not speak English, could hire a lawyer and file a petition in that fleeting period of time, let alone secure a hearing. Ensign suggested that because five migrants were represented by the ACLU and managed to file before the proclamation was published, every last migrant had sufficient notice and process. This is, as Millett said over and over, not what the Constitution requires. And yet the other two judges on the panelKaren Henderson and Justin Walker, both Republican appointeesmay side with the government anyway. (Henderson gave no indication of which way she was inclined to vote; Walker appeared to be largely receptive to a compromise position that favors the government.)

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A few hours later, the DOJ presented Boasberg with an even more shocking claim: Trumps victory in 2024, it wrote, wholly shields his administration from judicial scrutiny over its alleged defiance of a court order. The DOJ has been insulting Boasberg in increasingly contemptuous terms as he attempts to probe its conduct in this dispute, (falsely) accusing him of engaging in highly unusual and improper procedures and seeking to disqualify him from the case altogether. Trump himself has called for Boasbergs impeachment. To understand the facts underlying the mass renditions of Venezuelan migrants to a mega-prison in a third country, Boasberg has sought a few basic details about the March 15 flights in order to determine whether the government openly flouted his directive, as the plaintiffs assert. After declining to do so on various dubious legal grounds, on Monday night the Justice Department formally refused to give him those details, filing a notice purporting to invoke the state secrets privilege as an excuse.

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This privilege is an evidentiary rule, rooted in a 1953 Supreme Court decision that under certain circumstances allows the government to withhold extremely sensitive information that could endanger national security. Trumps Justice Department, though, is now attempting to refashion it as a grant of sweeping immunity from judicial scrutiny, sanctions, or contempt. The filing invoking the doctrine loftily declares that the president has plenary authority, derived not just from the Constitution but also from the mandate of the electorate, to remove designated terrorists without any meaningful judicial review or oversight. The government may thus conceal information from Boasberg, and any other court, about its alleged defiance of his order by virtue of the fact that the president won an election. And Boasberg may not penalize it for its intransigence.

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In reality, many of the particulars that Boasberg seeks are already publicly available, because administration officials themselves have posted them (including flight times and tail numbers) on social media or boasted about them on TV. And yet, according to the DOJ, the government has a constitutional prerogative to withhold even these facts from the judiciary. It refuses to offer them under seal or privately in Boasbergs chambers. Pursuant to the mandate of the electorate, it will not let the judge glimpse any of this informationincluding whether it was Trump or his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, who signed the proclamation. (Under the laws terms, the president must sign the document, and Trump says he hasnt.)

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Taken as a whole, the argument being advanced in the federal courts seems to be as follows: The administration is claiming that it can declare supposed membership in a gang as a war or foreign invasion under an 18th-century statute, then round up alleged alien terrorists on the flimsy basis of tattoos and nationality, then toss them on flights to be held in brutal work camps on foreign soil without judicial review in any court, and that no judge anywhere in this country can review the underlying factual basis for these actions. Indeed, as the DOJs Ensign indicated at oral arguments Monday in the D.C. Circuit, no court was entitled to know even the number of people on those planes or the locations where they were seized.

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But dont miss the dangerous move here: The DOJ is arguing that the ultimate basis for this infinite executive power to keep national security matters hidden from the courts depends not on any legal precedent or provision of the Constitution but instead on the vast black velvet cloak the department calls the Mandate of the Electorate, which evidently immunizes all presidential actions from scrutiny by anyone, anywhere. As Stephen Miller put it last week, the president ran for office on the promise of mass deportation, and thus his very existence in the Oval Office embodies that unchecked power. This is tantamount to claiming not merely that when the president does it, that means its not illegal, but also that every campaign promise becomes an unreviewable legal mandate. Absolutely nothing in the Constitution authorizes this kind of power grab. It represents a bold escalation of an already lawless theory of inexhaustible presidential authority, and a terrifying guarantee that, as Ensign all but promised the appeals court Monday, the next secret dragnet is coming the very instant the courts sign off on the latest one.
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In the early months of the first Trump administration, the GOP megadonor Kelcy Warren, an oil billionaire whose company was building out the infamous Dakota Access Pipeline, appeared on CNBC to discuss his lawsuits against the environmental organization Greenpeacedeclaring outright that he intended to cease funding for the advocacy group. Eight years later, it appears he may have succeeded.

Last Wednesday, after two and a half days of deliberation, the jury in a North Dakota state court ruled against three Greenpeace entitiesGreenpeace USA, Greenpeace Fund, and Greenpeace Internationalon two of the charges brought by Energy Transfer, the parent corporation for the DAPL. Greenpeaces domestic and international headquarters were convicted of harming Energy Transfers business via defamation and of engaging in tortious interference by co-signing a wider campaign for big banks to boycott Energy Transfer. The only charge the organization escaped was an allegation of illegal trespass upon the DAPL grounds. Nevertheless, those two convictions were enough to put all three Greenpeace branches on the hook for a whopping $660 million, with the majority of that burden likely falling upon Greenpeace USA, deputy legal counsel for Greenpeace USA Deepa Padmanabha told me. (In a statement outside the courthouse following the decision, Energy Transfers lead attorney called the ruling the facts, not the fake news of the Greenpeace propaganda machine.)

The Greenpeace trio will not have to hand over that cash just yet, since we are going to be appealing this judgment to the North Dakota Supreme Court, Padmanabha said. Still, its not a secret that we dont have $660 million. Its also not a secret that the Supreme Court for a heavily fossil-fueled red state is not likely to overrule the verdictsnot least since, during the trial itself, North Dakotas top court slapped down emergency filings from Greenpeace and from trial reporters. (One, to look into a local pink slime propaganda campaign that Energy Transfers Warren may have helped fund; the second, to open up the court proceedings to the view of the wider public.)

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Greenpeace is not done fighting this persecution for now, neither here nor internationally. In a countersuit that will likely move forward next month, the Netherlands-based Greenpeace International is challenging Energy Transfers litigation under European Union law, which now forbids strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPPs. Greenpeace International and its allies believe that Energy Transfers suit was an egregious practice of this censorious legal tactic, considering that Greenpeace as an institution was not a ringleader of the Standing Rock protests on the ground or in the public campaigns against the DAPL and its funding. Volunteers and staffers with the org were certainly minor players in both capacities, but the direct-action protests themselves were led by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, whose battle against the DAPLs encroachment upon sacred sites and water sources earned backup from celebrities and environmental activists months after it had already gotten going.

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After failing to take those Standing Rock Sioux leaders to court, Energy Transfer hounded Greenpeace itself for eight straight yearsdespite Greenpeaces lack of protest leadership, and despite the fact that the first Trump administration allowed the DAPL to finish construction in 2017. To Padmanabha, the reasons Greenpeace made for such an appealing target probably have to do with the 54-year-old nonprofits outsize influence, notoriety, and fame: I think there was this idea that if we can scare Greenpeace into silence, if we can knock them out, then who else is going to show up to protest?

First, Energy Transfer attempted a federal RICO suit against Greenpeace, which was dismissed two years later. It then refiled in state court in a very strategic location: North Dakotas Morton County, an area all but economically wedded to fossil fuels and populated by non-Indigenous conservatives who didnt care much for the DAPL uprising. In addition, North Dakota is one of the few states in the nation without an anti-SLAPP statute on the books. (Even the oil-and-gas empire of Texas has protections against SLAPPs.)

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So although the $660 million fine is steep, it isnt the most significant or damaging aspect of this whole affair, which will inevitably carry broader consequences for any individual or organization even tangentially linked to a controversial cause. Having already catapulted off an absurd premisethat Greenpeace single-handedly organized widespread protests against the DAPL and did lasting damage to Energy Transfers revenue streamthe trial itself, as documented by the journalists present there, was a farce.

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The 12-member jury pool was, on the whole, chock-full of oil-and-gas-linked locals whod expressed negative views about the DAPL protests. One juror was even discovered to be an employee of a company that owns a minority stake in the DAPL. Several witnesses, Standing Rock Sioux members, and cops all testified that Greenpeace was not considered to be a leader of the rallies; indeed, many Indigenous citizens were purportedly unaware what Greenpeace was. (In a statement released during the trial, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribes chairwoman referred to the proceedings as an attempt to silence our Tribe about the truth of what happened.)

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Energy Transfers own CEO claimed to have no personal knowledge of Greenpeaces involvement in the demonstrations, per the North Dakota Monitor, and alleged that the Standing Rock Sioux had made a secret deal with a different environmental orgEarthjusticeeven as he admitted he had no evidence to back up that claim. According to the climate reporter and Drilled Media editor Alleen Brown, the former head of the DAPL was paid $1,200 an hour to testify at this trial, although he no longer works for Energy Transfer and had to be flown in. And cops whod served at Standing Rock claimed that there was NO excessive force used against non-violent protesters, per Brown, even though the DAPL gained national infamy because of the documented videos of police brutality against those rallygoers; that footage had spurred yet more activists to show up and protest in solidarity. In a move the Monitor deemed unusual, the court did not allow any recordings of the trial, including handwritten reporter notebooks. The state Supreme Court also shut down pleas to broaden public access. Independent trial monitors and attorneys helped reporters publicize the proceedings and referred to the three-week affair as a deeply flawed trial with multiple due process violations that denied Greenpeace the ability to present anything close to a full defense.

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Make no mistake: If Greenpeaces minimal involvement in the DAPL protests is deemed legally unacceptable, the free-speech ramifications will be drastic. Amnesty International declared that this outcome will have a chilling effect on those campaigning to expose wrongdoing by powerful companies. An ACLU senior staff attorney warned the Guardian, No one will feel safe protesting corporate malfeasance.

This ruling holds only in North Dakota for now, but it sends a message to all other litigation-happy oil companies: If you can find someone with the barest association with a specific movement and find the right place to sue them, youll potentially be able to bankrupt them out of further opposition. This ruling also arrives at a time when several U.S. states have outlawed oppositional action to critical infrastructure (e.g., pipelines), and the Trump administration grants oil-and-gas companies mass impunity for their pollution and landscape wreckage and emissionswith the help of a former North Dakota governor.

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Although this event will make protests even costlier and more dangerous, it wont stop them outright. The Standing Rock, for one, are still fighting the DAPL in court. Earlier this month, a dozen protesters whod agitated against the Mountain Valley Pipeline were let off with only community-service hours as punishment. In Norway, Greenpeaces local branch is teaming up with young climate activists to sue the national government over its approval of at least three new oil projects. And, as Greenpeaces Padmanabha informed me, the trial may not have received the benefit of public view, but Greenpeace did receive the support of many allies who showed up to the courthouse throughout the ordeal: local Indigenous citizens, Unitarian church members, and even sympathetic residents of Morton County.

I dont think Greenpeace is well known in that community, but I did encounter many people who want to understand who we are, our Quaker founding, and our commitment to nonviolence and exercising constitutionally protected rights, she said. When I had the opportunity to engage in dialogue, there was a lot of support for that.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20250325/guarantees-for-russia-from-ukraine-may-be-solely-result-of-us-order-to-zelensky---lavrov-1121686065.html

Guarantees for Russia From Ukraine May be Solely Result of US Order to Zelensky - Lavrov

Guarantees for Russia From Ukraine May be Solely Result of US Order to Zelensky - Lavrov

Sputnik International

Russia and the US, first of all, discussed in Riyadh issues of the safe navigation in the Black Sea, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

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"We will need clear guarantees, and there may be guarantees, given the sad experience of agreements with Kiev, guarantees may be solely the result of an order from Washington to Zelensky and his team to do one way and not another," Lavrov said.European countries directly contradict the position of the administration of US President Donald Trump, which talks about the preliminary parameters for the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, Sergey Lavrov has said. The United States understands that only Washington can get Kiev to stop terrorist attacks and shelling of civilian targets in Russia, the minister said."Without them [Western states], Ukraine would have been defeated long ago ... But you see, both London and Paris are pumping Ukraine with weapons," Lavrov added.Russia and the US, first of all, discussed in Riyadh issues of the safe navigation in the Black Sea, Lavrov said."The issues discussed there, as agreed by [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and [US President Donald] Trump, were, first of all, issues of the safe navigation in the Black Sea," Lavrov said.The Black Sea initiative was discussed in Riyadh as a priority, the minister said."Our position is simple ... We cannot take this man's [Ukrainian President Zelensky's] word for it. We want the grain market and the fertilizer market to be predictable, so that no one tries to disrupt out access to this market, not only because we wanted to make a legitimate profit in a fair competition, but also because we are concerned about the food security situation in African countries," the minister added.The Russian delegation at the meeting in Riyadh on the maritime truce asked for no ambiguities in the new Black Sea initiative, Lavrov added.Russia wants no one to try to disrupt its access to the grain and fertilizer market, Lavrov said.Russia is also concerned about food security in countries of the Global South and the East, which are suffering from "the games of the West," the minister added.Western countries that want to send a peacekeeping mission to Ukraine are dreamers proving their political insolvency, Lavrov said."These dreamers are certainly proving their complete political incompetence every day," Lavrov said.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his team are in constant contact with Russia on the Russia-UN memorandum on the export of fertilizers and grain, Lavrov said.The desire to contain and defeat Russia was the desire of Napoleon and Hitler, and we have already been through all of this, Sergey Lavrov said."The desire to contain Russia, not just to contain it, but to defeat it, someone even said it was necessary to humiliate [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is a desire, as it turns out, historians can probably correct me, but my sense of history is that we have all been through this before. With Napoleon and Hitler the goals were the same," Lavrov said

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250325/results-of-russia-us-talks-in-riyadh-reported-to-moscow-and-washington---kremlin--1121685347.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250325/houthis-say-attacked-ben-gurion-airport-uss-harry-truman-aircraft-carrier---reports-1121683619.html

US Confirms Attacks on Yemen

US Confirms Attacks on Yemen

Sputnik International

Yemeni movement Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, said it launched two ballistic missiles at Israels Ben Gurion International Airport, the Almasirah broadcaster reported on Tuesday.

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CENTCOM has published a video on X of fighter jets taking off from a runway with the words Give em Hell Harry, which may be a reference to the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier.The Houthis also attacked the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and other warships in the Red Sea with missiles and drones, the report added. Over the weekend, the United States mounted dozens of strikes targeting Yemen's northern and central regions under Houthi control, including the capital of Sanaa. The strikes killed more than 50 people and injured almost 100, according to the Houthis. The Shia movement retaliated by attacking US aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman and other warships in the Red Sea with missiles and drones.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250325/israel-army-claims-strike-on-military-targets-at-syrian-bases-1121684964.html

Israel Army Claims Strike on Military Targets at Syrian Bases

Israel Army Claims Strike on Military Targets at Syrian Bases

Sputnik International

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed a strike on military targets at Syrian bases Tadmor and T4.

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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck military capabilities that remained at the Syrian military bases of Tadmur and T4, the Israeli military said in a statement, referring to bases in Palmyra and another 50 kilometers west of the city. It added: The IDF will continue to act in order to remove any threat posed to the citizens of the State of Israel. A similar strike targeting military strategic capabilities took place on Friday night. Tiyas Airbase (T-4) Tadmur After the change of power in Damascus in early December last year, the Israeli army began striking military targets of the former Syrian army. Weapons depots, military airfields, and air defense systems located in various provinces of Syria were subjected to massive strikes.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250117/qatari-prime-minister-says-israel-must-leave-buffer-zone-with-syria-1121443120.html

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the israel defense forces (idf) claimed a strike on military targets at syrian bases tadmor and t4.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20250325/jd-vance-was-right-europe-needs-the-red-sea-a-lot-more-than-america-1121688542.html

JD Vance Was Right: Europe Needs the Red Sea a Lot More Than America

JD Vance Was Right: Europe Needs the Red Sea a Lot More Than America

Sputnik International

In a group chat leaked to media on US Yemen attack plans, the VP expressed disdain at the prospect of bailing Europe out again using American military power. Who really stands to gain spending US blood and treasure to restore freedom of navigation in the Red Sea?

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yemen

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cosco

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liquefied natural gas (lng)

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ShippingAmong the big five global shipping giants that stopped transit through the Red Sea, four are European (MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd), one Chinese (COSCO), and none American.US shippers like Matson, APL, SeaLand, Crowley and TOTE operate Pacific and Americas routes and were largely unaffected by Houthi activities.Retail & ManufacturingThe cost of a shipping a container from Asia to the US jumped 160-220% from 2023-2024. Shipping the same container from Asia to the Mediterranean shot up 285%, and up to 400% to Northern Europe, a disaster for consumers and producers alike.For example, while 25-30% of US Asia-sourced automotive parts were shipped via the Red Sea before the crisis, in Europe it was 70%, causing brief car factory shutdowns in Belgium (Volvo) and Germany (Tesla), but none in the US.Same story in other sectors, with the Red Sea once transiting:EnergyOnly 2 to 2.5% of US oil needs shipped through the Red Sea before the crisis. And Europe? As much as 80-90% of its 30-35% MENA-sourced imports.95% of US natural gas needs are met domestically, with Qatar selling 1% of the remainder, having to reroute these exports away from the Red Sea. And Europe? 20% of its LNG imports are Gulf country-sourced, 100% of them going through the Red Sea before the crisis.Thanks to the dual crises in the Middle East and Ukraine, US oil exports to Europe jumped from 1.8-2.2 million bpd in 2023-2024, while LNG exports grew from 1.07-1.2 trillion cubic feet, and US market share up from 35-45%.So really, why should the US bail out the Europeans, as Vance put it, by launching aggression against Yemen?

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250324/trump-team-unwittingly-sends-yemen-strike-plans-to-editor-of-neoliberal-magazine-the-president-1121682439.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250316/heres-whats-really-behind-trumps-surprise-bombardment-of-yemen-1121646349.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250325/results-of-russia-us-talks-in-riyadh-reported-to-moscow-and-washington---kremlin--1121685347.html

Results of Russia-US Talks in Riyadh Reported to Moscow and Washington - Kremlin

Results of Russia-US Talks in Riyadh Reported to Moscow and Washington - Kremlin

Sputnik International

The results of the recent Russia-US talks held in Riyadh have been reported to both Moscow and Washington, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

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Russias delegation at the discussions, which took place on Monday, was led by Senator Grigory Karasin and Sergey Beseda, advisor to the Federal Security Service chief.The main focus of the meeting was to discuss details surrounding the potential resumption of a deal concerning safety of navigation in the Black Sea. Such an agreement was initially brought up by Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump during their latest phone conversation.Peskov confirmed that the outcome of the meeting has been communicated to the respective capitals and is currently being analyzed. However, no further details about the specific results of the talks have been shared with the public. The Kremlin spokesman also indicated that contacts between Russia and the United States would continue, but no specific plans for future meetings have been outlined at this time.When asked about the possible involvement of other countries in future negotiations, Peskov refrained from commenting. He stated that as of now, there is no talk of holding a trilateral meeting involving the US, Russia, and Ukraine, emphasizing that such discussions are not on the agenda.Peskov also made it clear that the content of the talks would remain confidential, describing the negotiations as "technical" in nature, involving detailed discussions. He reiterated that the technical aspects of the talks would not be made public, and further assessments will be made once the outcome has been fully reviewed by the capitals.Regarding the possibility of a high-level conversation between Presidents Putin and Trump, Peskov noted that no such plans have been made at this point, but such a meeting could be arranged quickly if necessary.In related news, Peskov also addressed the tragic deaths of three Russian journalists in the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR), attributing their fate to a targeted artillery attack by Ukraine. The victims were identified as Izvestia correspondent Alexander Fedorchak, Zvezda cameraman Andrey Panov, and the film crew's driver Alexander Sirkeli. Peskov condemned the attack, stating that the shelling was aimed directly at the journalists with the intent to kill.The Kremlin spokesman also expressed concern over the ongoing violence against journalists in conflict zones, calling out the lack of sufficient international response to such acts of aggression. He labeled the refusal of some international representatives to address the assassination attempts against Russian journalists as unforgivable. The Kremlin offered condolences to the families of the deceased and wished for the speedy recovery of those injured in the attack.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250323/us-expects-tangible-progress-from-negotiations-with-russia-in-saudi-arabia-1121674984.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250325/russia-urges-world-to-condemn-ukrainian-deadly-attack-on-russian-journalists-1121683924.html

Russia Urges World to Condemn Ukrainian Deadly Attack on Russian Journalists

Russia Urges World to Condemn Ukrainian Deadly Attack on Russian Journalists

Sputnik International

Commenting on the deadly attack of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Russian journalists, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova urged the global community to condemn Kiev's crimes.

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On Monday, Russian media agency Izvestia reported the death of its correspondent Alexander Fedorchak in the area of the special operation as a result of an artillery strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Later, Russian broadcaster Zvezda reported that its cameraman Andrey Panov and film crew driver Alexander Sirkeli had also been killed, while its correspondent Nikita Goldin severely wounded. Lugansk People's Republic head Leonid Pasechnik said that six people, including three media workers, had been killed as a result of artillery shelling of the Kremensky municipal district by the Ukrainian forces. Zakharova emphasized that the ongoing brutal murders of Russian media employees required an appropriate response from relevant international agencies, "primarily the UNESCO Director-General, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and, in general, all supranational human rights structures that advocate for the protection of the rights of journalists and the right to free access to information." She also noted that Russia's investigators would take all necessary actions to identify and prosecute those involved in these crimes.

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Wheelin N Stealin stole the spotlight in the $8,600 featured trot at The Raceway at Western Fair District on Monday, March 24, delivering a strong wire-to-wire victory.

Sent off as the 4-5 favourite in the conditioned claiming trot, the four-year-old gelding surged to the lead off the gate and never looked back, setting fractions of :31, 1:02.1 and 1:31.4 before stopping the clock in 2:01.2, winning by half of a length. He held off a persistent challenge from Mass Money (Austin Sorrie), who settled for second, while Livingitlarge (Lorne House) battled late to secure third.

It was a one-man show for George Ketros, who drove, trains and co-owns Wheelin N Stealin with Mary Ketros of Arthur, Ont. The son of Wheeling N Dealin-P L Corina has now won three straight races, bringing his career total to five victories from 21 starts. The pacers seasonal earnings climb to $23,165, while his lifetime bankroll increases to $43,195.

To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - The Raceway at Western Fair District.

(Standardbred Canada; photo of Wheelin N Stealin from a previous win at Woodbine Mohawk Park)
Hanover Shoe Farms is partnering with the Equine Pregnancy Lab at the Cornell University Baker Institute for Animal Health, part of the College of Veterinary Medicine, to study early pregnancy loss in the Standardbred mare.

Russell Williams, President and CEO at Hanover Shoe Farms, will be collaborating with Dr. Mandi de Mestre, the Mcconville Professor of Equine Medicine and Director of the Baker Institute for Animal Health, to investigate the genetic causes of equine early pregnancy loss in Standardbreds.

It is widely observed that 10-15 per cent of all confirmed horse pregnancies fail to result in live birth and Dr. de Mestre has studied this phenomenon for more than 15 years during her time at the Royal Veterinary College in London, England and now at New York's Cornell University. She has found that over 50 per cent of pregnancy losses are attributed to genetic abnormalities in the fetus including chromosomal errors.

Dr. de Mestre's previous studies utilized a Thoroughbred model primarily and she is eager to extend this project to include

Standardbreds, which use Artificial Insemination (Al) as the primary breeding method.

"As the largest Standardbred breeding farm in North America, Hanover Shoe Farms is a welcome partner for the collaboration, and their outstanding staff and noted excellence at managing a large and valuable herd will provide the project with the support to explore the important contribution of this condition in the Standardbred," said Dr. de Mestre.

(With files from Hanover Shoe Farms)